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https://www.wikihow.com/Jump-in-Dark-Souls | How to Jump in Dark Souls | To jump in Dark Souls while playing on the Xbox 360, start by pointing the left joystick in the direction you want your character to move. As your character is moving, press and hold the “B” button on your controller to make your character run, since you can only jump while your character is running. Once your character starts running, release the “B” button, then quickly tap “B” again to make them jump. If you're playing on the PlayStation 3, the steps to jump are the same, but you'll need to press the circle button because the PlayStation 3 controller doesn't have a “B” button. | Point the left joystick in the direction you want your character to run. Press and hold the “B” button on your Xbox controller. Your character will start running. Release the “B” button, then quickly tap “B” again. Your character will jump. Point the left joystick in the direction you want your character to run. Press and hold the circle button on your PS3 controller. Your character will start running. Release the circle button, then quickly tap the circle button again. Your character will jump. | Point the left joystick in the direction you want your character to run. Press and hold the “B” button on your Xbox controller. Release the “B” button, then quickly tap “B” again. Point the left joystick in the direction you want your character to run. Press and hold the circle button on your PS3 controller. Release the circle button, then quickly tap the circle button again. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Panic-Attacks | How to Stop Panic Attacks | If you're having a panic attack, take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. After holding your breath, begin breathing deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth. This may help with feelings that you can't breathe, and it may also help return your heart rate to normal and make you feel like you're in control of your body again. Try to focus on your senses and what is actually around you, like things you can touch or smell, as this can also help you feel more in control. | Recognize the physical symptoms. During a panic attack, your body goes into a natural fight-or-flight response, just as if you were in a truly terrifying and dangerous situation, only no dangerous situation is actually occurring. Symptoms that are commonly experienced during a panic attack include: Chest pain or discomfort Dizziness or faintness Fear of dying Fear of losing control or impending doom Feeling of choking Feeling of detachment Feeling of unreality Nausea or upset stomach Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or face Palpitations, fast heart rate, or pounding heart Sweating, chills, or hot flashes Trembling or shaking Control your breathing. Most panic attacks cause rapid and shallow breathing which fuels the attack, causing the symptoms to linger. By controlling your breathing, you can help to return your heart rate to normal, lower your blood pressure, slow the sweating, and re-establish a feeling of being in control. One method to slow your breathing is to take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. This balances levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide and reduces the feeling that you cannot breathe. After holding your breath, then begin deep, diaphragmatic breathing. Breathe in slowly and deeply, then exhale even more slowly. To practice diaphragmatic breathing, try sitting in a chair with 1 hand on your chest and the other a little below your rib cage. Sit comfortably with bent knees, and relaxed shoulders and neck. Next breathe in slowly through your nose and let your stomach expand, keeping your upper chest as still as possible. Slowly exhale, tightening your stomach muscles, and keep your upper chest still. The hand on your stomach area should move out as you inhale, then back in as you exhale, with the hand on your upper chest remaining as still as possible. Another method is the 5-2-5 method. Inhale with your diaphragm for 5 seconds. Hold your breath for 2 seconds. Then exhale for 5 more seconds. Repeat 5 times. Breathing into a paper bag is not routinely recommended anymore. It may not be as beneficial as was believed in the past, and may even be detrimental. Take prescription medication. One of the most effective ways to stop a panic attack is by taking oral agents classed as anti-anxiety medications, usually benzodiazepines. Common drugs used to treat panic attacks that are classed as benzodiazepines include alprazolam, lorazepam, and diazepam. These agents have a fairly rapid onset and can help to relieve symptoms within 10 to 30 minutes. Other agents prescribed that fall in the group of benzodiazepines start to work a little slower but stay in your blood stream longer. Examples of these agents include clonazepam, chlordiazepoxide, and oxazepam. These agents are often prescribed in low doses to take regularly until the panic attacks become more manageable by using other types of medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or participating in cognitive behavioral therapy. Try to continue your activity. As much as possible, carry on normally and continue with your current activity and daily routine to prevent the panic from consuming you. Continue talking, moving, and keep your thoughts focused. By doing so, you are sending messages to your brain, and your panic, that there is no danger, no alarm, and no reason to be in a fight-or-flight state. Avoid running away. If you have a panic attack at a specific place, maybe a grocery store, then you may want to run away and leave the store as quickly as possible. By staying where you are, and taking control of your symptoms, you are taking steps to train your brain in recognizing the absence of real danger in the grocery store. If you run away, your brain begins to associate that place, and maybe all grocery stores, with danger, and may create feelings of panic each time you enter a grocery store. Focus on other things. With the help of a therapist, you can learn ways to naturally focus your thoughts, and take control of the panic. Examples include drinking something either warm or cold, taking a short walk, singing along to a favorite song, talking with a friend, and watching TV. Additional things to try in order to focus on something other than the panic include stretching exercises, doing a puzzle, changing the air temperature, rolling down the window if you are in a car, going outside for some fresh air, or reading something that is interesting to you. Distinguish between a stressful experience and a panic attack. While both types of experiences are similar in that physical reactions occur, such as elevated blood pressure, sweating, and increased heart rate, they are distinctly different events. Stressful experiences happen to everyone at one time or another. The body's natural fight or flight instinct may be activated during a stressful or anxious situation, just as it is during a panic attack, but there is always a trigger, event, or experience that is directly tied to the reaction. Panic attacks are not tied to an event, are unpredictable, and the severity of an attack can be extreme and terrifying. Implement relaxation techniques. Take steps to calm down by using established methods of relaxation to take control of the exaggerated stressful or anxious experience. If you suffer from panic attacks or panic disorder, working with a cognitive behavioral therapist will help you learn relaxation strategies to take control of the panic when it starts. Use your senses to tackle the attack. Whether you experience a panic attack, an anxiety attack, or find yourself in a stressful situation, by focusing on your senses, even for just a few moments, you can slow down the unwanted physical symptoms that are happening. Use your eyesight to notice pleasant things in your immediate surroundings. If you are in a safe place, try closing your eyes and visualizing your favorite flower, favorite painting, favorite beach, or something that makes you feel more relaxed. Stop and listen to what is around you. Try to find music in the distance, hear the birds, the wind or the rain, or even the hum of traffic on a nearby highway. Try to find something new that you can hear, other than the sounds of your heart beating and sounds that are part of the stressful event. Continue to apply the senses by identifying the smells around you. Perhaps you are inside and someone is cooking, or you are outside and you can smell rain in the air. Focus on the sense of touch. You may not realize it but you are always touching something. If you are seated, focus on the way the chair feels, or notice if the table your arm is resting on is cold, or warm, or if you can feel a breeze on your face. By taking those few moments to review what your senses are experiencing, you have redirected the focus away from the panic, anxiety, or stress. This is clearly not resolving the cause of the panic, anxiety, or stress, but concentrating on your senses is useful in addressing the unwanted physical reaction your body may be experiencing. Talk to your doctor about your attacks. Your doctor may treat you with recommended medications or may refer you to a mental health professional to evaluate and prescribe medications. Both a regular doctor and a mental health physician will likely recommend a cognitive behavioral therapist. Many panic attacks are commonly related to other underlying disorders, including some mental health conditions and some medical problems. Talk to your doctor to rule out an underlying medical condition. Seek medical help sooner rather than later. Studies show that people that are treated for panic attacks and panic disorder early, have better overall outcomes with fewer complications. Take medications as prescribed. Commonly used agents include benzodiazepines, both rapid acting and intermediate acting. Benzodiazepines are considered addictive, so be sure to take them exactly as your doctor advised. Taking more than is recommended is dangerous and can cause serious and potentially fatal withdrawal effects if taken chronically. Take rapid acting agents only when needed. Rapid acting agents help to manage the symptoms when you feel a panic attack beginning. These are often prescribed to have available if needed, or when you begin to have a panic attack. Take these agents only when needed to avoid becoming tolerant to the prescribed dose. Examples of medications prescribed to take when an attack begins, on an as needed basis, are lorazepam, alprazolam, and diazepam. Take longer acting agents routinely, or as prescribed. The intermediate agents take a little longer to start working, but have longer lasting effects. These medications are often prescribed for routine dosing, to help you avoid attacks, until further steps, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can be taken. Examples of intermediate acting agents include clonazepam, oxazepam, and chlordiazepoxide. Take an SSRI. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly known as SSRIs, are effective in treating panic attacks and panic disorder. SSRIs that are FDA approved for use in treating panic symptoms include fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline. Duloxetine is a closely related agent and is also approved for use in the treatment of panic symptoms. Work with a cognitive behavioral therapist. This form of therapy is key in training your brain and your body to overcome panic attacks, and help you reach a point where they no longer occur at all. Know what to expect from cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapists trained in this form of psychotherapy use 5 fundamentals as they work with people that suffer from panic attacks. The 5 areas of focus include the following: Learning about the illness helps you to better understand what is happening that causes the frightening symptoms experienced when a panic attack occurs. Monitoring and recording dates and times of events, like keeping a diary or a journal, helps both you and the therapist to identify triggers that cause the attacks to begin. Breathing and relaxation techniques are a part of the tools used to reduce the severity of symptoms. Rethinking is used to help alter the perception of an attack from what feels catastrophic to what is realistic. Providing exposure, safely and in a controlled manner, to places or events that are triggers for your attacks, helps to train your brain and body to react differently. Consider an evaluation for panic disorder. Panic disorder is diagnosed when 4 or more of the above symptoms are present. Early treatment for panic disorder improves overall outcomes and reduces possible complications associated with continued attacks. | Recognize the physical symptoms. Control your breathing. Take prescription medication. Try to continue your activity. Avoid running away. Focus on other things. Distinguish between a stressful experience and a panic attack. Implement relaxation techniques. Use your senses to tackle the attack. Talk to your doctor about your attacks. Seek medical help sooner rather than later. Take medications as prescribed. Take rapid acting agents only when needed. Take longer acting agents routinely, or as prescribed. Take an SSRI. Work with a cognitive behavioral therapist. Consider an evaluation for panic disorder. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Visit-Report | How to Write a Visit Report | To write a visit report, start by including a general introduction that tells your audience where and when you visited, who your contact was, and how you got there. Once you have the introduction written out, take 1 to 2 paragraphs to describe the purpose of the site you visited, including details like the size and layout. If you visited a business, talk about what the business does and describe any specific departments you went to. Then, summarize what happened during your visit in chronological order. Make sure to include people you met and what they told you. Toward the end of your report, reflect on your visit by identifying any strengths and weaknesses in how the site operates and provide any recommendations for improvement. | Look over the requirements of your visit report. There is no 1 way to write a visit report. If you're a student, check the assignment from your instructor. If you're a consultant or professional working for a company, look at other visit reports from your company to use as a model. Reports are usually only 2-3 pages long, but in some cases, these reports may be much longer. In some cases, you may be asked to give recommendations or opinions about the site. In other cases, you will be asked only to describe the site. Ask your boss or instructor for models of other visit reports. If you can't get a model, look up samples online. Start the paper with general information about the visit. This will serve as your introduction. In a paragraph, tell your audience when you visited the site and where the site is located. State who your contact was at the site. If extensive travel was needed, you may also briefly state how you arrived at the site. Define the purpose of the site. In 1-2 paragraphs, describe what type of site it is. Is it a factory, construction site, business, or school? Include details about the size, layout, and equipment used at the site. State how many people work at the site or who owns the site. If you visited a factory, explain what it is producing and what equipment it uses. If you visited a construction site, describe what is being constructed and how far along the construction is. You should also describe the terrain of the site and the layout. If you're visiting a business, describe what the business does. State which department or part of the business you visited. If you're visiting a school, identify which grades they teach. Note how many students attend the school. Name the teachers whose classes you observed. Explain what happened during the visit in chronological order. Start at the beginning of your visit. What did you do? Who did you meet? Describe the events of the day going until you left the site. This may be anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages long. Make sure to include: Who did you talk to? What did they tell you? What did you see at the site? What events took place? Did you attend a seminar, Q&A session, or interview? Did you see any demonstrations of equipment or techniques? Summarize the operations at the site. In as much detail as possible, describe the processes and procedures at the site. If they use any special techniques, state how these techniques are performed. If they manufacture something in a particular way, give a step-by-step account of this process. For example, at a car factory, describe whether the cars are made by robots or humans. Describe each step of the assembly line. If you're visiting a business, talk about different departments within the business. Describe their corporate structure and identify what programs they use to conduct their business. Describe what you learned at the site if you’re a student. Draw connections between what you learned at the site and what you learned in class. State how seeing the site helped you understand what you are learning in class. You might ask yourself: Is there something you didn't realize before that you learned while at the site? Who at the site provided helpful information? What was your favorite part of the visit and why? Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the site. Note which processes, policies, and practices work well at the site. If you notice any flaws, describe these as well. Try to be as specific as possible. Name the exact machine, equipment, process, or policy that could be fixed. For example, you might state that the factory uses the latest technology but point out that employees need more training to work with the new equipment. If there was anything important left out of the visit, state what it was. For example, maybe you were hoping to see the main factory floor or to talk to the manager. Provide recommendations for improvement if required. If you're asked to provide recommendations, take a few paragraphs to share your thoughts and observations. Identify problematic areas in the site and provide specific, actionable recommendations to improve them. Tailor your recommendations to the organization or institution that owns the site. What is practical and reasonable for them to do to improve their site? Be specific. Don't just say they need to improve infrastructure. State what type of equipment they need or give advice on how to improve employee morale. Add a title page to the beginning of your report. The title should be the name of the visit and site, such as "Visit to Airplane Factory" or "Corporate Headquarters Visit Report." Under the title, include your name, your institution, and the date of the visit. Do not put any other information on this page. If you are following a certain style guideline, like APA or Chicago style, make sure to format the title page according to the rules of the handbook. Write in clear and objective language. Keep your sentences short and concise. Avoid writing with too many adjectives or flowery language. This will make your report clear and direct. Don't just say “the visit was interesting” or “I was bored.” Be specific when describing what you learned or saw. Include any relevant pictures if desired. While pictures are usually not required, they may be helpful in some visit reports. Group photographs, images of machinery, or graphics demonstrating the layout of the site might be helpful. Proofread your report carefully. Check for any grammatical errors or typos. Ask someone else to read over it for you to make sure it sounds good. If you're a student, check your professor's guidelines to make sure that you have all of the required parts. | Look over the requirements of your visit report. Start the paper with general information about the visit. Define the purpose of the site. Explain what happened during the visit in chronological order. Summarize the operations at the site. Describe what you learned at the site if you’re a student. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the site. Provide recommendations for improvement if required. Add a title page to the beginning of your report. Write in clear and objective language. Include any relevant pictures if desired. Proofread your report carefully. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Instructions | How to Write Instructions | If you need to write out instructions for a task, start by performing the task yourself. Write down everything that you have to do in order, and include any specific details a reader might need to know. Start your steps with action verbs like “Add,” “Paint,” or “Cut” so the reader clearly understands what they need to do. Open with an introduction to let the reader know what the instructions are for, as well as anything important they might need to know before they start. Also, include a list of supplies or ingredients the person might need. | Know your audience. The first thing to do when writing instructions is to know your audience. Who are you writing for? Are these people experts or novices? Knowing your audience helps you choose your words, your level of detail, and the way you structure the instructions. For example, if you were explaining how to bake a cake to a professional chef, you wouldn't have to explain how to fold in the ingredients, why it's important to bring the eggs to room temperature, or the difference between all-purpose and self-rising flour. If you were explaining this to someone who doesn't know how to cook, these definitions and explanations may make the difference between a good cake and a bad cake. Err on the side of caution and don't treat the audience as an expert. This ensures your instructions are always clear and able to be followed. Identify any tools needed. Before you begin, you want to make sure you state clearly what is required to successfully complete the instructions. This might be a list of ingredients or a group of tools. Perform the task. One great way to get clear instructions is to go through the process yourself. This way, you can write down specific steps. If you try to do something from memory, you may not remember everything. Then have someone else perform the task. Ask them for feedback about any confusing or unclear steps. Be careful not to leave something out. If you skip important steps, you make it impossible for the reader to complete the task. Also make sure you don't write the steps out of order. For example, if you say, "Mix the ingredients with a mixer. Place in the oven at 350 degrees," the reader may think you place the mixing bowl in the oven. Keep it simple. Effective instruction is simple. Don't use long, involved paragraphs. Instead, use short, clear sentences, bullet points, and visual aids. Use active words. Instructions should be full of active, descriptive words. Start your steps with action verbs. This gives the reader a clear action to perform. Each step should read as a command and use the imperative mood. When defining or explaining, use as much descriptive language as possible. For example, say "Add two eggs" instead of "Two eggs should be added to the cake mix." Add only necessary information. When you include additional information, make sure that you are including only what is necessary. Ask yourself, "Does the reader need to know this definition to understand the instructions?" or "Does the reader need this tip to successfully complete this task?" Refrain from adding unnecessary information. Unneeded definitions, tips, steps, or information can confuse your readers, making it difficult to follow the instructions. Address the reader. When writing instructions, you should address the reader. Do this using the word "you." This helps lead the reader personally through the steps. Be specific. When writing instructions, be as specific as possible. Outline exactly what they do. This includes which way they turn a wrench, how many feet they walk, or what the consistency of the cake should look like when they are done. Give all measurements exactly. If someone needs to cut off 5/8-inch of a board, say that. For example, if you are baking a cake, don't wait until step 4 to say, "Before mixing the ingredients, sift the flour and bring the eggs to room temperature." Use sequence and time transitions. Transitions help connect the steps to each other. They also help relate the ideas. In instructions, you will use sequence and time transitions. This helps the reader understand the step-by-step instructions. Some common transitions are: first, next, then, finally, after, before. Include an introduction. Before you start detailing the instructions, you need to give the reader a brief introduction. This introduction explains what the reader should be able to do after the instructions. It also provides an overview of the procedure. This should be written in clear, plain language. State the purpose of the instructions, who should read the instructions, and what situation might need the procedure. You can talk about what the procedure doesn't do. You can also provide background information in the intro. The introduction can mention any warnings or important information that is needed before the reader begins the process. But remember most people will skip the intro, so don't put anything important in the introduction that you don't put somewhere else. For example, "These instructions provide information on how to bake a chocolate cake. The first section explains how to combine the wet and dry ingredients, and the second section explains how to bake properly."#Place the steps in sequential order. Instructions need to be in a specific order. The tasks should logically follow one after another. Step 1 has to be completed before you can move on to step 2. Organization is pivotal for writing instructions. If it doesn't matter which order something is done in, start with the most important. Organize your steps into prerequisites. Instructions are made up of sequential interrelated tasks. Before you start writing your instructions, you have to decide which steps are prerequisites. This means that you have to decide what has to be done first to complete the overall task. For example, if you are baking a cake, you have to heat the oven, mix the ingredients, and make the frosting before you can complete the cake. Break the instructions into separate tasks. Most instructions contain multiple tasks that must be completed for the procedure to be finished. Organizing the instructions into separate parts for each task helps the instructions read clear and as simply as possible for the reader. For example, if you are working on a car, there are different things you have to do before getting to the engine. You have to place the car on a jack, remove other car parts, or remove covers. Each of these tasks require their own sets of instructions. You should break each task down into a separate part with its own unique set of instructions. These parts, just like the steps, go in sequential order. You can't remove the engine cover before jacking the car or removing the part blocking it. Parts should be listed in the order that they need to be completed. Try to keep each task around 10 steps. If you go over 10 steps, find another task or part to break the procedure into. This helps people be able to go back and track their progress. They will know when they have successfully completed a part. Additionally, if they made a mistake, they can go back and fix it without having to redo the entire set of instructions. Label each task clearly. To help the reader understand the instructions, label each section of the instructions clearly. The heading of the task should summarize what that specific task or part covers. The reader should understand the task they will learn how to do before they begin. Place one step in one sentence. The sentences for the steps should be short and only include one step per sentence. This ensures that you break down the task into separate actions instead of making each step with multiple actions. If a step has a related action that must be completed together, explain them in their sequence in the same sentence. For example, "Before pouring the cake in the pan, coat the pan with cooking spray" or "Coat the pan with cooking spray. Then pour the cake into the pan." Provide trackable steps. One important key to instructions is helping your reader track his or her progress. Provide substeps that allow them to see they have done something correct. It might look like this: "When you have ___________, you will see _________." For example, "When the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the middle. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done." Include any alternate steps. For some steps, there might be multiple ways of doing the same thing. Make sure to explain the different ways the step can be accomplished. If there are conditions which make one step better in a certain situation, make sure to discuss that. If one step is easier, cheaper, or more effective, make sure to explain that. Use substeps if necessary. For some procedures, you may need to break it down further with substeps. Substeps should only be used if they are too small to be considered their own step. Substeps help break down the step into separate parts or sequences of events. Add supplementary information into the substeps. This information gives you further detail about the step, such as what something might look like before and after or why the step is important. Place warnings and conditions at the beginning. If there are things the reader needs to know, do, or understand before beginning the task, make sure you tell them that at the beginning of the step. Anticipate problems. Think about places where your readers might run into problems. Then offer troubleshooting advice. You can also provide examples of things that might go wrong if they have completed a step incorrectly. This step is extremely important. If you have completed the instructions yourself, you will already know where you might encounter problems. That's why it's important to go through the process as you are writing the instructions. Finish the instructions. This is very important. Some instructions are not complete when the last nail is hammered or the cake comes out of the oven. Think about what else the person needs to do. If you can think of a "Now what?" you still have other steps to add. Format the instructions. When writing instructions, make sure to format them clearly. This helps the reader understand how to read the instructions and not get confused. Use a headings to label each discrete part of the instructions. Use numbers when listing the steps in order. Use bullets to list alternatives, additional information, or anything else under the steps. Visually separate the steps. Place a space between the steps to show a difference. Choose an effective title. The title of the instructions should give an exact preview of what the instructions will explain. For example, "Instructions for Baking an Eggless Chocolate Cake" is much more specific than "Chocolate Cake." Use visuals and diagrams if necessary. Some instructions require diagrams, pictures, charts, or other visual aids to help. Supplement the instructions with these visuals when needed. The visuals should repeat the ideas in the prose, not present any new information. Visuals are supplement material. Make sure visuals are near the prose. It should go above, below, or beside the step. | Know your audience. Identify any tools needed. Perform the task. Keep it simple. Use active words. Add only necessary information. Address the reader. Be specific. Use sequence and time transitions. Include an introduction. Organize your steps into prerequisites. Break the instructions into separate tasks. Label each task clearly. Place one step in one sentence. Provide trackable steps. Include any alternate steps. Use substeps if necessary. Place warnings and conditions at the beginning. Anticipate problems. Finish the instructions. Format the instructions. Choose an effective title. Use visuals and diagrams if necessary. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Christmas-Lights-Flash-to-Music | How to Make Your Christmas Lights Flash to Music | To make your Christmas lights flash to music, start by getting a control system that you can hook up to your computer and lights. You'll also need to download free software on your computer that will sync your music and lights, like Hinkle's Light Sequencer or Light-O-Rama. Once you have a control system and some software, you can hang up your Christmas lights and use the software to program them with your song of choice. | Decide how big you want your lights show. You can decide to have your lights draped across your whole home, either inside or outside, or choose specific spots on your house and in your front garden. Keep the following in mind while you're planning your lights show: A channel is a unit of lights that can be controlled individually. For example, a single bush in your yard may be a channel if you drape one set of lights over it. All the lights in a channel work as a single unit. Unfortunately, you can't flash an individual light bulb. 32 to 64 channels is a good size to start with if you're never programmed lights to music before. Any bigger than that, and you'll probably curse the day you ever decided to take on the project (or the day your spouse made you take it on). Stock up. The best time to buy lights is the day after Christmas. Often, you'll find lights that were normally priced around $2 a strand fall to $0.50. Check out Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Home Depot, K-Mart, and other department stores for the best deal. Use the internet to price-hunt. Obtain a control system. You will need hardware that hooks up to your computer. You can buy a system completely built, a kit, or a full do-it-yourself system. A fully built system will work right out of the box. It will cost you about $20 - $25 per channel. A fully built system can be purchased from online vendors. Choose this option if you do not want to do any electrical work (especially soldering), or don't have the slightest clue about where to start. A kit is a little more hands-on. It will cost from $15 or so per channel, but it's pretty much the same thing as a fully built product without the enclosure. Because it is very simple to place an electronics board in an enclosure, this may be a great option if you're looking to save money. Some vendors sell everything you need to build a control system, including the bare circuit board and the parts. If you are willing to solder a little bit, try this A DIY system costs roughly $5 per channel and up. The price depends on how much you actually do yourself. A system consists of a controller, which communicates with your computer, and solid state relays (SSRs), which actually switch the lights. SSRs can be bought or made yourself. With a DIY option, you will spend lots of time making your hardware, but the cost savings should make up for it. You'll also have the ability to totally customize your hardware, and will be able to fix problems easily. Get help. This can be a very big and complicated project, and often can seem overwhelming if you're just getting started. Have interested friends or family members help you, or sign up for help at some of the forums listed below. Depending on the degree of difficulty, give yourself anywhere from 2-6 months of prep time before you can expect your lights show to be fully operational. It may sound like a lot of time, but you'll need it. Get software. For the low-tech layman, you'll be able to buy software that will help you program your lights. There is also free software available for Do-It-Yourself systems (see the links section). If you're ambitious and more of a tech-wizard, you may wish to hand-code a program in almost any major programming language. Note, however, that you won't be able to use this option for pre-built products, as most of their protocols are closed-source. The software that you choose will basically break the song you're syncing your lights to into very short segments (.10 second), letting you program each channel of lights to turn on, turn off, fade, twinkle or shimmer. There are essentially three commercial options for software. Light-O-Rama is the vendor for most residential lights displays. It is, however, pretty complex, and can take as much as four hours per minute of the song to program 32-48 channels. Animated Lighting is more expensive but easier to program. Some residential light displays and most commercial ones choose Animated Lighting. D-Lights is the second from the least expensive of the bunch, but you need to have some passing familiarity with and knowledge of control systems and electrical engineering. Hinkle's Lighting Sequencer is actually a free software that is simple yet powerful on incandescent light bulbs, LEDs, and RGB LEDs. Design your display. Design the actual outside portion of your display. Common elements to include are: Mini lights or net lights go on landscaping. Icicle lights or c-series lights usually go on the roof. Mini Trees are two- to three-foot-tall trees, often made of tomato cages wrapped in lights of one or multiple colors. Arranged in a line or a triangle, they are very useful in an animated display. A Mega Tree usually consists of a large pole with lights extending from the top to a large ring around the base. Again, it is very useful in animation. Wireframes are metal frames with lights attached. Blow molds are plastic lighted sculptures of deer, Santas, etc. They are usually placed throughout the yard. C9 Lights are bulbous, colorful lights that usually go on the yard perimeter. Program your show. Here comes the time consuming part! Decide on music that you will synchronize to, then start programming on your time grid. Don't do everything at once. This will probably take a couple of months, depending on the length of your show and how many channels you have. How program your show varies, depending on the software program you choose. Let them hear you. Use a way that will create a spectacular sound yet keep everybody at peace. Speakers playing the same music over and over again would drive the neighbors crazy, so in most cases you will need to broadcast over an FM frequency. Please see the warnings section at the bottom of this page. Respectfully inform your neighbors of your plan to create an animated display; having the neighbors on your side is important if you want your display to last long enough for other people to see it. Stick to a single showing at the top of the hour, once or twice a night. If the neighbors know that the display will only last three minutes, and will show nightly at 8 and 9 PM, they'll probably be more understanding than if you blasted it regularly from 6-9. Get powered up. Make sure your home has enough outside power to run your lights. A typical mini light strand, for example, draws about 1/3 amp. Speaking of power, computerizing your display will have a lower electric bill than a static display since not all the lights are on at once. Please see the warnings section at the end. Publicize. Put a sign in your yard. Make a website. List on a display listing site. Tell your friends. Doing all this work will not be worth it if no one comes to see your display. Don't go to extremes, but make sure people know about you. Again, inform your neighbors that you are publicizing your display. They'll be much more accommodating if they know your plan to attract attention from around the neighborhood. Maintain your display. Go outside every morning and check your display. Repair or replace broken lights or damage caused by weather or vandals. Make sure things are ready to run that night. Finished. | Decide how big you want your lights show. Stock up. Obtain a control system. Get help. Get software. Design your display. Program your show. Let them hear you. Get powered up. Publicize. Maintain your display. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Spot-Fake-Nikes | How to Spot Fake Nikes | When shopping for Nike shoes online, check a seller's ratings and reviews before committing to a purchase. Be wary of listings that use stock images instead of original photos, and stay away from any sellers that advertise “custom,” “variant,” or “sample” Nikes. Avoid shoes listed at half-price or lower since they are usually fake, especially if they ship out of a distant country like China. When in doubt, ask for additional pictures so you can compare them with official photos from Nike. | Investigate Nike shoes sellers on the Internet. Be extremely cautious when purchasing Nike shoes on the Internet. Since you don't actually have the physical product in front of you, you can very easily be throwing money at a fake shoe. To avoid purchasing a fake: Read website ratings and reviews before buying anything. Bad reviews is an obvious sign that the seller is not reliable or reputable. However, be careful because some sites will choose to only show “good” reviews. Do a third party search by inputting the seller in a third party search site and examining their reputation there instead of on the seller's site. Ensure you are protected from fraud. Some online websites provide their customers with a return policy, even if the seller is a third party of the site. Having security that you will get your money back will protect you losing if you do happen to purchase fake Nike shoes. Avoid sellers that substitute stock shoe photos for pictures of actual Nike shoes. A stock shoe photo is more aesthetically appealing but it's not what you should be looking for when purchasing shoes online. A photo that is obviously shot within a home ensures that the pair actually exists and its condition can be matched with the photo. You could try to contact the seller and ask them to take another photo of the shoe with an item that determines the date or authenticity of the photo. For example, ask the seller to take a photo of the shoe next to today's newspaper. Avoid items that claim to be "custom," "variant" or "sample" Nike shoes. True Nike shoe samples only come in men's U.S. size 9, 10, 11, women's 7 and children's 3.5. There are also no such real Nike shoes that are “custom” or “variant”. View the seller's entire inventory. For unknown reasons, counterfeiters tend not to sell U.S. sizes 9 or 13 and above. Older Nike shoes that are out of production are almost never available in a full sizing run. For example, if you're searching for a pair of vintage Nikes and find a site that has a stock of 200, they are likely fakes. Avoid Nike shoes priced far below their normal value. The shoe is either fake or extremely damaged. Generally, a Nike shoe that is priced in half is most likely fake. A reasonable discount is more realistic, especially if the shoe is a limited edition or vintage. A seller might price it extremely high and offer you the chance to haggle to a ridiculously low price. Be careful, especially since you don't have the physical shoe to verify its state and existence. Check the shipping estimation. If it will take between 7 and 14 days to deliver your shoes, they are likely traveling from China (a verified source of fake Nike shoes) or from another distant country. If you must order Nikes online, it's best to purchase them directly from the company's website or from the list of authorized [ Nike retailers. ] Don't buy shoes that are available before the official release date. It is almost guaranteed that any shoe available before the official release date will be a counterfeit. These shoes may look like an upcoming design but are most likely modelled very closely to look like it. Early release photos allow counterfeits to be produced without originals to be compared with and many people fall into the trap of attempting to get their hands on a pair before everyone else. Verify your Nike shoes. Once you find shoes you like, take more steps to verify their authenticity. Double check with Nike or a trusted retailer's website to compare them with an image of the original shoe. Ask the seller to verify that the shoes are authentic. You can also ask for their supplier's contact information for further information. Examine the packaging. Most fake Nike shoes do not come in an original Nike box. Instead, they are shrink-wrapped in clear plastic or don't come in a box at all. Most of the boxes for fake Nikes are hastily glued together and therefore not as sturdy as true Nike boxes. Examine the condition of the shoes. If you have owned similar Nike shoes in the past, compare them to your new shoes. If the two pairs significantly differ in quality, your new shoes are likely fake and may fall apart within the first several days of use. Real Nikes are always softer than fake ones. This is because they are made from real leather, while fake Nikes are manufactured from pleather. The midsoles of fake Nike shoes tend to have visible dots from the manufacturing process, unlike real Nikes. Check the lacing. Real Nike shoes are usually fully laced, while fakes tend to skip every other lacing hole. Examine the SKU number on the box and the labels inside of the shoes. Every pair of authentic Nike shoes comes with an SKU number that is identical to the SKU number on their box. If the numbers are missing or do not match, they are likely fakes. Check the tongue label. Often, fake Nike manufacturers put outdated sizing labels on the inside of the shoe. For example, a fake label may tell you the shoe was designed in 2008 when in fact Nike first manufactured that item in 2010. Try the shoes on. The soles of most fake Nike sneakers feel plastic-y and don't have much traction, while real Nike shoes have BRS 1000 rubber soles. Most fake Nike sneakers do not fit true to size. They generally are 1/2 size smaller and significantly narrower than real Nikes. Try the same Nike shoe in a trusted retailer to get an accurate reading of how it feels. | Investigate Nike shoes sellers on the Internet. Avoid sellers that substitute stock shoe photos for pictures of actual Nike shoes. Avoid items that claim to be "custom," "variant" or "sample" Nike shoes. Avoid Nike shoes priced far below their normal value. Don't buy shoes that are available before the official release date. Verify your Nike shoes. Examine the packaging. Examine the condition of the shoes. Examine the SKU number on the box and the labels inside of the shoes. Try the shoes on. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Good-Personal-Injury-Lawyer | How to Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer | To find a personal injury lawyer, start by asking your friends or family members for a referral as this will help you determine if the lawyer is good. Alternatively, make a list of potential candidates and narrow it down based on their areas of expertise so you're only looking at lawyers who focus on your particular type of case. If you want to find out more information about a lawyer, check their social media pages to get an idea of how they operate. Additionally, search online to find out if any bar complaints have been filed against them. | Understand the benefits of a qualified lawyer. Personal injury is a specialized area of law. Even though an attorney may be licensed to practice before the court, she may not have the knowledge of the complexities of personal injury law and how to apply them to your case for the best outcome. The body of law grows and changes daily. A qualified personal injury attorney keeps abreast of the latest developments in both state statutes and the case law coming out of the courts. Many personal injury cases involve working with an insurance company. You need a lawyer that has established relationships with the auto and health insurance companies that do business in your state. The right personal injury lawyer understands all facets of your case and the compensation you may be entitled to. The car wreck or the faulty product is usually just the first incident in the chain of your injury and recovery. The repercussions of a serious injury can last for the rest of your life. A skilled lawyer takes the long view and crafts a settlement that meets all of your needs. Identify your injury. Even something as obvious as a car accident has several parts. You were physically injured and your car was damaged, but there may be more layers. For example, you lost wages going to medical appointments, your home had to be remodeled to accommodate a wheelchair, you had to rent special equipment, or worse, you or a family member was left disabled and needing permanent care. In cases of slander or defamation, you may have lost a job or business and now you can't find a job. At this stage, don't worry if you don't get it exactly right. Your lawyer will do a thorough analysis of your case. However, you need to have a general idea of your injuries in order to pick a qualified lawyer. Start your case journal. Before you talk to a personal injury lawyer, write down what you know about the incident. Start with the date and time and the names of everyone you can think of that were involved. If there was a physical accident, list the address. This is the beginning of your case journal. You will record everything you do that is connected with your case from medical appointments to discussions with attorneys and insurance companies. Assemble your documentation. Pull together every scrap of paper you can find that relates to your case. At this point, don't try to judge what is or isn't important. That's your lawyer's job. Any tickets, reports, even business cards, that you received from law enforcement or emergency responders during or after the event. Your insurance documents and anything you have received from any insurance company involved in the event. Paperwork and receipts regarding your car or the product that led to your injury. Pay stubs and a year or two of tax returns to show your income and employment or business record. Receipts for anything you had to pay out-of-pocket for, including doctor appointments, prescriptions, medical equipment, over-the-counter medicines, or vehicle rentals related to your injury. Print-outs of emails and screen shots of text messages relating to your injury. Newspaper clippings or print-outs of news articles from the Internet about your injury. Assemble a list of potential lawyers. Most attorneys are still hired based on referrals. Ask your friends and family if anyone has used a personal injury and if you can recommend one. This is a good way to make an initial list of personal injury attorneys that practice in your area. You want someone familiar with not only the laws of your state, but the procedures in your county. Additionally, ask any attorneys (even if they are not personal injury lawyers) you know and ask them who they would hire if they were injured.However, you can also go through the phone book, conduct Internet searches for your area, and jot down information from advertisements, including television and billboards. If you were injured in a large-scale event, such as a train accident, you will likely be contacted by lawyers soliciting your business. The classic image of the "ambulance chaser," should give you pause. You can put them on your list. They may turn out to be aggressive, experienced, and competent, but you should research and evaluate them like you would any other attorney. Narrow the list to those who handle your type of injury. A car wreck expert may have a great track record, but may not have expertise in medical malpractice or defamation. You want someone who is an experienced in your type of case. Advertisements can help you cull the list. The back cover of the phone book may tout expertise in medical malpractice, but you need a product liability specialist. That makes it an easy yes or no. Call the office and ask if your case is the type they handle. If the receptionist doesn't know, ask to speak to a paralegal or an attorney. Run an Internet search of the lawyer's name and see what kind of articles, and even case law, comes up in the results. This can give you a good feel for the type of cases they prefer to litigate. Check for disciplinary action. Each state has rules of conduct for attorneys. Actions against attorneys, called bar complaints, are investigated and ruled on by the disciplinary authority for the state. Most states maintain an online database of serious disciplinary violations and the actions taken, including disbarment. The existence of a bar complaint should be taken into consideration, but not be dispositive on your choice of attorney. Complaints can be as simple as failure to pay the annual bar dues and many are lodged by disgruntled clients. If you have any doubts, ask the attorney for an explanation. Examine the attorney's online presence. A law firm's virtual footprint can tell you a lot about how they do business. From the attorney's website to their social media, you can get a lot of information to help you narrow your list down before you start conducting consultations about your case. Check the online review sites. Once you have made your first cut, run an Internet search with the lawyer's name followed by "review" or "complaint." While one bad or one good review may not be dispositive, a pattern of reviews can give you an idea of how the attorney conducts business. Review their social media presence. The law firm or individual attorney may have a public Facebook page,Twitter profile, or Linkedin page. These profiles can give you some insight into the philosophy and attitude of the attorneys. Are they friendly and engaging or very formal? Is there discussion of favorable verdicts and settlements along with links to useful information or does the attorney rant about politics? This is a good way to see if this is someone you want to work with. The website or blog should be up-to-date with fresh content. If the last article was dated two years ago, this could indicate a lack of attention to detail. Analyze the section on verdicts and settlements. You are looking for cases similar to yours and to see how much the attorney was able to recover in damages. Prioritize your attorney list. After doing your initial evaluation, you should be leaning toward or away from some of the personal injury lawyers on your list. It's time to rank your list from most likely to least likely. Make an appointment. A personal injury attorney should offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case, usually 30 to 45 minutes. Take your case journal so you will be prepared to give a broad overview of your situation. Be on time. Give yourself plenty of time to find the office and park. Aim for 10 to 15 minutes early. Worry less about the quality of the office than its professionalism. Since fees pay for everything, a plain office can indicate an attorney who is careful with money and doesn't waste anything on appearances. More important is the friendliness and efficiency of the lawyer and his staff. Meet with the attorney. You may be interviewed by a paralegal or younger attorney. Make sure you ask and understand who you will be working with. Ask who you would be your primary contact. Does the attorney take his own calls or will you be dealing with a paralegal or junior associate? If so, you want to meet them before you sign a retainer. Evaluate the attorney's staff and resources. Complicated personal injury litigation may require everything from assistance with criminal charges and counter-claims (for example, if you were the driver of one of the vehicles) to investigators and auditors to locate witnesses and evaluate financial and medical records. Confirm that the attorney has the skill and resources for your type of case. Ask about verdicts and settlements. Don't be afraid to ask about potential strategies for your case and if they have litigated in your county. The law typically only gives you one chance, or "one bite at the apple." You want to feel comfortable and have confidence that your attorney will get it right the first time. Ask about the fee schedule and expenses. Most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingent fee agreement meaning that they collect only if the case is successful. However, there may be other expenses including filing fees, deposition costs, and other charges. Ask for a list of expenses that you may be responsible for in writing. Ask if you will be billed monthly or at the end of the case. Find out if there are any upfront costs that you will be expected to pay before the lawyer will take your case. A typical contingency fee is one-third of your settlement. Get the percentage number in writing. If your case has the potential of a very large verdict, the percentage may be negotiable, but don't expect to haggle. Be warned that an attorney who touts that he is the lowest priced in terms of percentage, may expect you to pay more of the expenses. Consult with several attorneys. Like any other professional, even when you think you have found "the one," you should talk to several attorneys and compare the costs, their reputation, and your impression of them. You must decide if this is someone you want to be in business with for several months to several years. If you find an attorney you like, but who cannot take your case ask them for recommendations. Typically, personal injury attorneys know a lot of similar lawyers through professional associations and they may be able to direct you in the right direction. Additionally, if you turn out to have a fairly specialized injury - they may be able to tell who they know would be best suited to handling your case. Review the retainer agreement. The proposed agreement should be clearly written, complete, and understandable. Ask any questions you have before you sign. To meet the ethical standards of the legal profession, the retainer agreement must contain certain information. The agreement must clearly state the "the basis or rate of the fee." For a personal injury case, it will show the percentage of the recovery the lawyer will take as well as any expenses that are your responsibility. The agreement must clearly state the scope of the lawyer's representation. This is also vital. If the lawyer agrees to negotiate with the insurance company, but the case ends up going to trial, if the trial wasn't included in the agreement, you could be charged extra. Ask how appeals will be handled. Finally, the agreement should state how it can be terminated by either parties. This is important if you come to a sharp disagreement with your attorney or feel he isn't acting professionally or competently. Depending on the stage of your case, this termination may require the approval of the court. Ask for an original signed copy of the retainer and keep it with your important documents. Make all agreed payments on time and cooperate with your personal injury attorney during your case. Don't miss appointments and don't be impatient. You've done your homework and found the best attorney for you and your case. | Understand the benefits of a qualified lawyer. Identify your injury. Start your case journal. Assemble your documentation. Assemble a list of potential lawyers. Narrow the list to those who handle your type of injury. Check for disciplinary action. Examine the attorney's online presence. Prioritize your attorney list. Make an appointment. Meet with the attorney. Evaluate the attorney's staff and resources. Ask about the fee schedule and expenses. Consult with several attorneys. Review the retainer agreement. Ask for an original signed copy of the retainer and keep it with your important documents. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-Canine-Ear-Infections | How to Diagnose Canine Ear Infections | If you're trying to diagnose a canine ear infection, watch to see whether your dog is scratching its ear more than usual, which could be a sign of an infection. Your dog may also shake or tilt its head or rub its ear against furniture, toys, or the floor. Lift the flap of your dog's ear and check for swelling, an unpleasant odor, redness, scabs, or discharge inside of the ear. All of these could mean that your dog has an ear infection. If you notice any of these signs, take your dog to the vet right away to get antibiotics. | Notice if your dog is scratching its ear. Your dog may be experiencing some discomfort. If you see it scratching or rubbing its ear more than usual, that could be a sign of an ear infection. The dog may also whine. Alternatively, your dog may rub its ear against objects, such as furniture or toys. Watch for head shaking or tilting. Your dog could be doing this because it's feeling discomfort. It could be a back-and-forth motion, or you may just see the dog holding its head to one side. This can also be a symptom of ear mites. Either way, it's best to take the dog to the vet. Examine the ear to check for brown, yellow, or bloody discharge. You may notice either wet or dry discharge. At first, the discharge may just appear deep inside the ear, but it could also be dripping out. If you don't see discharge, that doesn't mean that the dog doesn't have an infection. If the dog has other symptoms, it's best to take the dog to the vet. Smell the ear to see if it has an odor. Healthy dogs don't have smelly ears, so an unpleasant odor in your dog's ear means something is wrong. A pungent, unpleasant odor ear odor may mean it's infected. Look for swelling, redness, or scabs. Compare the dog's affected ear to the other ear to check for swelling and redness. It's normal for the ear to be pink, but a deep red could mean an infection. You may also notice scabbing, especially if the dog has been scratching its ear. Watch for loss of coordination or walking in circles. The dog may lose its balance and become uncoordinated if the infection is affecting its middle ear. You may notice the dog leaning, staggering, or walking in circles. If you notice a loss of coordination in your dog, take it to the vet immediately as this is a sign of a serious infection. Watch for vomiting. A severe infection can also cause vomiting, especially after the dog has lost its balance. If your dog is showing signs of infection, you should take the dog to the vet immediately. Take your dog to the vet. Since there are many potential causes for the ear infection, it's important that the vet examine your dog. Your dog may need an antibiotic to treat the infection, which the vet can prescribe. Soon, your dog will be feeling much better! Make a list of your dog's symptoms to bring with you. You should also note when they started and if they've worsened over time. Allow the vet to examine your dog’s ear canal and ear drum. They may need to sedate your dog in order to examine the ear and ear drum. This is because the dog may be in pain and could resist the exam. While it sounds scary to have your dog sedated, it's a common procedure that makes the exam easier for the dog. Expect your vet to take a sample of the discharge using a swab. The vet will insert the swab into the dog's ear canal to take a sample. The vet can test this sample to determine what is causing the infection. If there is discharge, the vet may examine it in the clinic and do a culture to determine what kind of antibiotics are needed for the infection. They may also send it off to a lab in order to determine the best treatment, which could take a few days to a week to complete. Agree to other diagnostic tests if necessary. In many cases, the vet can make a diagnosis after examining the dog and taking a sample. However, sometimes the vet wants to do more tests so that they can help your dog feel better. They may decide to do a blood test, urinalysis, MRI, or CT scan. A blood test and urinalysis can help the vet determine what is causing the infection, such as a particular bacteria. The MRI and CT scan will allow the vet to see the possible infection. They can also check if something is caught in the dog's ear, which could be causing pain and discomfort. For example, a twig may have gotten caught in the dog's ear. MRI and CT scans are specialized tests that are typically performed at universities. Allow the vet to clean out your dog’s ear. The vet will do a deeper than usual cleaning of the dog's ear. They will remove any debris and buildup that are complicating the infection or causing the dog discomfort. They will also flush the ear with an antiseptic solution. If the dog is not already sedated, the vet may choose to give it a sedative before cleaning the ear. This makes the treatment more pleasant for the dog. Give your dog its medication if the vet prescribes one. Most canine ear infections are easily treated using medications like antibiotics. The vet may prescribe either topical or oral treatments. As long as you follow your vet's instructions and administer all of the medication, your dog should recover. If they don't then you should take them back to the vet. You may be able to give your dog its medication in food so that it's less resistant to it. Your vet may prescribe your dog antifungal topical medications and ear washes if your dog has a yeast infection. If your dog has allergies that are causing its ear infection, your vet may prescribe steroids. If your dog is in pain, your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory pain medications. Expect the vet to keep the dog overnight for severe infections. This usually only happens if the infection has gotten very serious. The vet will need to give the dog antibiotics and monitor its condition. Although you might worry about leaving your dog at the vet, it can help the dog recover faster. You can be sure that your dog is getting the care it needs to feel better! In some cases, the dog may need to stay in the vet's office for a few days. This will only happen if your dog is very ill. An ear infection that has lasted for a long time could cause neurologic issues in the dog. The vet may test for neurologic issues while the dog is staying in their office. Take your dog to the vet for a check up. After your dog is diagnosed and prescribed treatment, you'll need to take it back to the vet for a check up. The vet will make sure that your dog has fully recovered. Your vet may need to do more diagnostic tests if they believe the dog still has an infection. Allow the vet to surgically drain the dog’s ears for chronic infections. Very rarely, the vet may need to do minor surgery on your dog. It sounds scary, but it's a relatively simple procedure. Your dog will not experience any pain or discomfort. This may happen if your dog has frequent, recurring ear infections. Your vet will discuss this option with you if they recommend it. In rare and serious cases, vets perform a surgery called total ear canal ablation (TECA) to remove the infected tissue in the ear. | Notice if your dog is scratching its ear. Watch for head shaking or tilting. Examine the ear to check for brown, yellow, or bloody discharge. Smell the ear to see if it has an odor. Look for swelling, redness, or scabs. Watch for loss of coordination or walking in circles. Watch for vomiting. Take your dog to the vet. Allow the vet to examine your dog’s ear canal and ear drum. Expect your vet to take a sample of the discharge using a swab. Agree to other diagnostic tests if necessary. Allow the vet to clean out your dog’s ear. Give your dog its medication if the vet prescribes one. Expect the vet to keep the dog overnight for severe infections. Take your dog to the vet for a check up. Allow the vet to surgically drain the dog’s ears for chronic infections. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Started-Dog-Mushing | How to Get Started Dog Mushing | If you want to get started in dog mushing, attend races in-person or watch them online so you can get a better feel for the sport. Then, offer your help to other mushers either in-person or online via the Sled Dog Central website so you can learn how to train sled dogs. During this training phase, start figuring out how much you will need to spend on dogs, equipment, and housing in order to start your own team. When you're ready to form your own team, use online listing websites to find affordable sled dogs. | Look into beginner dog sled trips. Look online for entry-level dog sledding expeditions where there is no experience or gear required. Courses can range from simple dogsled trips to dog sledding courses, ski camping, and private "drive your own team" dog mushing. Research your options online to customize your ideal trip. For instance, Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge in Minnesota offers a range of packages, including a 5-day intensive dog sledding trip where participants receive a complete training in dog sledding and winter survival skills. Attend races. A good way to get a feel for dog mushing is to observe it firsthand at an event or race. Consider visiting Alaska, where dog sledding has been the national sport since 1972, for the annual Iditarod race - a dog sledding competition that attracts tourists from across the globe. Outside of the Iditarod, smaller races take place fairly regularly, sometimes on downtown streets during festivals or events. Visit the website for Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, at https://www.anchorage.net/ to keep up to date on what races might happening on different dates. Visit a sled dog kennel. An integral part of mushing is getting close to the sled dogs that will be pulling you, and understanding how they live. In addition to dog sled rides or demonstrations, many mushers will offer tours of their sled dog kennels to visitors. For instance, the Happy Trails dog kennels in Alaska "owned by four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser" offer the chance to meet 30-60 sled dogs. Visitors do not get sled rides, but instead can observe a short, six dog sled run and have photo ops with the team. Go to mushing school. For intensive lessons in dog sledding, consider taking classes at a mushing school. Opt for a school or organization that does not require you to own your own sled dogs or equipment. Be sure to research the school's credentials or get referrals from other mushers before signing up. For example, the Noble Paws mushing school in Fairbanks, Alaska, teaches participants how to run their own sled dog team ($100 for two 90 minute sessions). Join a dog mushing association. There are dozens of dog sled associations across the US which aim to promote mushing and unite members who are passionate about the hobby, sport, and sled dogs. Requirements for membership vary between clubs, but may be open to sled racers, spectators, and volunteers alike in some cases. Visit http://www.sleddogcentral.com/clubs_usa.htm for a list of sled dog associations in the US. For example, the Colorado Mountain Mushers Association offers membership to both individuals and families (for $25 or $35 a year, respectively), in their capacity as either mushers or volunteers at races and events. Help train sled dogs. It can take several years to train sled dogs, so mushers often welcome help from others interested in the hobby. Ask mushers at races if they need help, or visit the Sled Dog Central website at http://www.sleddogcentral.com/beginners/mentor_list_usa_states.htm for a list of mushing mentors from across the country. Helping to train dogs will provide critical experience with sled dogs and mushing without the commitment of having your own team, or the responsibility of vet and food bills. You can also offer to work as a handler for mushers, cooking and feeding dogs, and helping with other tasks in preparation for races. This kind of mentorship will also teach you everything you need to know about the equipment, training, and time necessary to start your own dog team. Wait to start your own dog sled team. Getting into the sport of dog mushing should not mean rushing to put together your own sled team, which is a tremendous undertaking. It is best to spend at least a year or two participating in dog sledding and getting acclimated with all aspects of the sport, including taking care of sled dogs , before committing to it long-term. You can use this initial period when you start dog sledding to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision. Figure out equipment costs. As part of your reflection process, look up the prices for harnesses, tug lines, gang-lines, necklines and booties for your potential dog sled team. Find a local musher whom you can talk to and learn the equipment basics from. They can also advise you as to what equipment would be best for your needs. Save money for land. A big consideration in deciding whether or not to run your own dog sled team is whether you have (or can obtain) enough land to house the dogs. A suitable dog yard for 10 sled dogs will require at least 1,000 square feet of pens. Be realistic and start saving money as soon as possible if you intend to pursue mushing with your own team. Find dogs for your sled team. The best way to find sled dogs to add to your team is to ask other mushers if they know of any for sale. Network and meet other mushers at races or mushing association get togethers, or consult online listings and internet sled dog groups. Ideally, you should look for already-trained sled dogs who are relaxed, happy, hard-working, and spayed or neutered. Contact large operation tour guide mushers, big kennels, shelters, and rescue groups to see if they have any sled dogs available. Make wise purchases. Always visit a sled dog that you are thinking of buying at its current dwelling before bringing it home. Check out the conditions it's being kept in, and look for signs of illness, injury, or an aggressive personality (e.g. dogs who move slowly or appear sullen). Be weary of owners who may be trying to unload a dog they no longer want on you; a good musher and owner will do their best to make sure their dog is a good match for you and your team. Ask the owner if they will take the dog back if it is not a fit for your team. This will make the decision process a lot simpler. Plan your dogs’ accommodations. Starting a dog team means housing your sled dogs, which is a big commitment of time and money. If you are planning to house the dogs in your home, plan spacing accordingly (e.g. where to feed them and have them sleep). Sturdy sled dog breeds like Huskies can live outside in cold temperatures, but a kennel to house them will require a vast amount of space (10 sled dogs require 1,000 square feet of pens, or 1,450 square feet for tethers) and a significant amount of cleaning and upkeep. Ask other mushers for advice, contacts (e.g. a company to install fencing), and price estimates for building a kennel. Even mushers who primarily house their sled dogs indoors require some sort of outdoor confinement system. Purchase mushing equipment. Be sure to equip your sled team with high-quality gear to get off to a good start. Ask other mushers for advice about the most reliable brand and equipment options. If money is an issue, look in local ads or online for second-hand mushing equipment, which should include: A lightweight, sturdy sled Harnesses Dog booties Dog jackets Thermal gear Bond with your team. Patience and practice are key for streamlining your sled dog team. Allow bonding time for you and your dogs (e.g. devote time to spending time outdoors playing with your new sled dogs) and take advantage of your dogs' natural instinct to pull to make training a fun experience. If the process does not happen naturally as you continue taking your dogs out to practice, enlist the aid of a fellow musher who might have advice on how to get your team into gear. Note that your new sled dogs will need time to get accustomed to the sound of your voice, and to build trust. Teach basic commands. Teach or reinforce basic commands to establish your dominance non-violently, and to gain your dogs' respect and trust. To start, review and practice the five basic commands:"Sit”,"Stay", "Lay down”, ”Heel”, and "Come here.” Visit the American Kennel Club website at http://www.akc.org/content/dog-training/articles/teach-your-puppy-these-5-basic-commands/ for instructional details and videos. Practice extensively. The most important part of training a dog team is to get the dogs to learn each other's rhythms and work together. To achieve this, run the dogs as much as possible for practice before events or races. If your team slows down at difficult points (e.g. steep hills), be firm and make them work harder to get over the hurdles. This is the best way to ensure that they will not be overwhelmed during a race, and less likely to hesitate in such situations in the future. Always reward your dogs' perseverance and accomplishments with ample praise. | Look into beginner dog sled trips. Attend races. Visit a sled dog kennel. Go to mushing school. Join a dog mushing association. Help train sled dogs. Wait to start your own dog sled team. Figure out equipment costs. Save money for land. Find dogs for your sled team. Make wise purchases. Plan your dogs’ accommodations. Purchase mushing equipment. Bond with your team. Teach basic commands. Practice extensively. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Stainless-Steel-Dishwasher | How to Clean a Stainless Steel Dishwasher | To clean the outside of a stainless steel dishwasher, look closely at the steel to try to find the grain. The flecks and striations in the steel will all be lined up the same way, either side-to-side, up and down, or diagonally. Once you identify the grain, wipe down the stainless steel with a damp, soapy cloth, always moving the cloth in the direction of the grain. After you wash it, use a dry sponge or dishcloth to dry the dishwasher, still moving in the direction of the grain. Do not use abrasive cleaning materials or harsh chemicals like chlorine on your dishwasher. | Locate the grain of the stainless steel. Stainless steel dishwashers and other products have a differentiated surface, with small flecks or striations in it. These flecks or striations are collectively known as the grain of the stainless steel. Conduct a close visual inspection of your stainless steel dishwasher to determine what direction the grain is oriented in. It might be up/down, left/right, or diagonally oriented. Wash the outside of the dishwasher. Dip a sponge or dishcloth in warm, soapy water. Move it along the surface of the stainless steel dishwasher in a motion consistent with its grain. For instance, if the grain of your stainless steel dishwasher is oriented up/down, wipe with your sponge or dishcloth using an up/down motion. If you wish, you could substitute a specially-formulated stainless steel cleaning product for warm, soapy water. Bar Keeper's Friend, for instance, is a popular product. Dry the stainless steel dishwasher. Once you've washed the stainless steel dishwasher, use a dry sponge or dishcloth to dry it. Wipe away the warm, soapy water by moving the cloth or sponge along the direction of the dishwasher's grain. In other words, if the grain of your stainless steel dishwasher is oriented in an up/down direction, move the dry cloth or sponge in an up/down direction. Do not use abrasive cleaning materials. Cleaning solutions that contain chlorine should not be used to clean the exterior of your stainless steel dishwasher. This could cause corrosion. Likewise, do not use steel wool or other harsh cloths, as doing this could lead to scratching the surface. Run the garbage disposal. Your stainless steel dishwasher drains into the same pipe your sink does. To keep the drain clear and effectively drain the water from the stainless steel dishwasher, run your garbage disposal before you start cleaning it. Check the drain. Remove the bottom rack on your stainless steel dishwasher. Examine it for clumps of debris that might cause it to drain improperly. Remove anything that might be clogging the drain. If you can easily access the drain, scrub it with some soapy water to clean it. Run the wash with vinegar. Fill a dishwasher-safe cup on the top rack of the stainless steel dishwasher with vinegar. Slide the rack back in the stainless steel dishwasher and close the door. With only the cupful of vinegar inside, turn the stainless steel dishwasher on and run it on the highest water temperature setting. The vinegar will help loosen grease and grime, and remove any odor that the dishwasher might have acquired. Use distilled white vinegar or specialized cleaning vinegar. Wash again with baking soda. When the first wash cycle is done, sprinkle the bottom of the stainless steel dishwasher with baking soda. Run the dishwasher on a short cycle with water at the highest temperature. Baking soda will help you remove stains from your dishwasher. Wipe the edges along the door. Check the area around the dishwasher door for debris and grime. Some dishwashers cannot adequately clean this area, which leads to an accumulation of yucky material. If you see anything, use a damp cloth to wipe the area down. Additionally, use a damp cotton swab to clean along the ridges of the seal. Wash the filter. The stainless steel dishwasher's filter collects prevents large debris from entering the drain. You'll probably have to use a screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the grate in place. Some newer stainless steel dishwashers, however, have filters that simply pop out when turned. Rinse the filter in your sink under warm water. Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush in warm, soapy water. Use the toothbrush to scrub the filter until clean. Replace it after cleaning. Not every stainless steel dishwasher has a filter. If you can access the filter in your dishwasher, try to clean it every 3 months. Clean the utensil rack. The utensil rack is a small container attached to the dishwasher rack. You might have just one, or one on each rack. Remove it and rinse it in the sink beneath warm water. Use a sponge dampened with warm, soapy water to clean the inside and outside of the utensil rack. If the utensil rack does not detach, just clean it inside and outside with a damp sponge or dishcloth. Do not use bleach to clean your stainless steel dishwasher. Stainless steel is pretty tough, but bleach can cause it to corrode. Instead, use a milder substance like dishwasher-safe detergent. Remove the spray arms. Most stainless steel dishwashers have two spray arms – one beneath each rack of the dishwasher. Pull each rack out. Untwist the spray arms by loosening the central bolt that holds them in place. They generally twist off quite easily by hand. The top spray arm is usually affixed to the bottom of the top dish rack. The lower spray arm is usually affixed to the bottom of the dishwasher itself. Rinse the spray arms off. Take the spray arms to your sink. Run them under warm water. Be sure to get water in the central hole and along the entire length of each spray arm. Use a toothpick to clean the spray holes. Along the top side of each spray arm is a series of small holes. When the stainless steel dishwasher is in operation, water is ejected from these holes. But over time, they might become clogged with gunk. To keep them clear, poke a toothpick through each hole to get them clean. There are usually eight to ten spray holes on each spray arm. | Locate the grain of the stainless steel. Wash the outside of the dishwasher. Dry the stainless steel dishwasher. Do not use abrasive cleaning materials. Run the garbage disposal. Check the drain. Run the wash with vinegar. Wash again with baking soda. Wipe the edges along the door. Wash the filter. Clean the utensil rack. Do not use bleach to clean your stainless steel dishwasher. Remove the spray arms. Rinse the spray arms off. Use a toothpick to clean the spray holes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Poinsettias-Growing-To-Next-Christmas | How to Keep Poinsettias Growing To Next Christmas | If you look after your poinsettia properly, you should be able to keep it growing until next Christmas. During warm weather, you can keep your poinsettia outdoors in the shade, but you'll need to bring it inside for the fall and winter. During cold weather, keep it in a cool room with indirect sunlight. Make sure you let the soil dry before watering it again, since poinsettias don't need as much water during colder weather. Sprinkle some plant fertilizer on its soil every 2 weeks to give it a nutrients boost. If you spot bugs on your poinsettia, dab them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to avoid an infestation. | Inspect the plant for bugs (most plants won't show bugs in the greenhouse but they will show up after about two weeks in the home). If the plant is infected, it is best to throw it out and purchase another for keeping over. If you want to keep over that particular plant, several applications of soapy water to the plant and potting soil should rid it of most infestations. Mealy bugs are the main concern and can be removed by dabbing them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. However, this should be done before the infection spreads or gets too large or you may never kill them all. Place the plant in a cool (not cold) room with curtain filtered sunlight and cut back on the watering. The plant should be allowed to go dry to the touch between watering and be watered only sparingly (over-watering is the leading cause of plant death in the winter months inside, the plant is not actively growing and is not taking up the normal food it would during the growing season, and if watered to much the plant will end up sitting in water and problems like moss, mold, rot and leaf yellow may accrue). When the temperatures at night get above 10 C, the plant can then be moved outside. Decide what kind of plant you want to end up with for Christmas. If a small bushy plant is your goal, the entire plant should be trimmed down to about "inches above the main trunk. If you want a larger plant, simply pinch the tops of each main branch and continue this until about July. If a topiary is your goal, then remove all of the branches except for the tallest, straightest main branch and do not pinch the plant on the top, just remove the side shoots for the remainder of the season. Do not set the plant in full sun at first. Doing this will cause what leaves are left to scorch and fall off and may kill the weakened plant. Place the plant in full shade then move the plant out of the shade in two weeks to part shade then two weeks later to full or part sun for the remainder of the season. This will allow the plant to harden off and get used to the new conditions outside. Start watering regularly. Fertilize every fifth watering or every two weeks (whichever comes last) with a poinsettia fertilizer or house plant fertilizer. Or, if you would like, try a diluted evergreen fertilizer to help promote leaf growth (at this stage all you want is leaf growth, no flowers). When it is time to bring the plant in for fall, start the processes of turning the top leaves red (or pink or whatever color they were last winter). This process can take up to 2 months and sometimes longer, depending on conditions and the variety of plant you have. Switch from a nitrogen based fertilizer to an even houseplant fertilizer or one made for poinsettias, and reduce fertilizing by half. Begin the routine of long nights/short days needed to initiate buds: 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness, 11 hours of bright sunshine each day. Keep temperatures in the low 60's at night. Turn pot regularly for even light. (Note: Darkness must be total - light from a street lamp or even that cast by headlights from passing cars is enough to disrupt bud formation.) Discontinue darkness routine after about 2 months and place plant in the sunniest window in the house. Reduce fertilizer: don't over water! Grow outdoors when possible. Depending on your climate, poinsettias tend to due better outside than in, so grow them outside where they get partial shade in the afternoon. If it gets too hot and dry, their growth might slow. Be realistic about the plant's appearance. You will never get that "store bought" look again, as they are literally tree sapping. If you want some "store bought" looking plants, take cuttings from your plants (don't worry you can still flower the parent plants too) from late April, up until you bring them inside to flower. You can use rooting hormone, but poinsettias seem to root well in just compost (such as compost made from yard waste like grass clippings). Focus on the timing of the flowering. Depending on when you want the poinsettia to be fully flowering and how you intend to care for them after flowering, determines on when you start flowering them. If you want them in full bloom by Thanksgiving, start on October 1st and by Halloween for Christmas. You can start earlier, but you need to maintain light timing to keep them flowering throughout the season. Put the plants in a dark room, closet or cabinet. Choose a spot which is lightproof, for the most part. Use warm white CFLs or warm white fluorescent tubes. It's necessary to use "warm white" as opposed to regular grow lights because the plant needs the extra red light; this, plus the timing, will ensure flowering. Make sure you have enough light too. One 26watt CFL (100watt equivalent) for two or more plants won't be enough. Use one 26 watt CFL per cutting about 1 and 1/2 feet above them to just 1 foot (0.3 m). Make sure you can adjust the height, as they will grow fast during flowering. HPS lights can be used too. Be careful with HPS lights though, as local law enforcement might think you are flowering another Mexican plant with the same light cycle! HPS light give off signatures they use to help track unlawful botanists. Set the timing. Set the timing to suit. A good one is to use standard banking hours, 9am to 5pm. Do not disturb the plants when the lights are off. While 14 hours of darkness is said to be enough, 16 hours works every time (with warm white). Check for flowering indicators. The first signs they have begun to flower is what you might call "rusting out". This is when the top leaves quite literally "rust out" as they think it's fall. Leave the plant under the light until it has fully flowered. You may want to leave the plant in your makeshift nursery the whole season and bring it out for company and the day of the holiday you want to display it. Even the plants you buy this year would benefit and be a good plant to make cutting from next year, so put them in the nursery too. Avoid letting the plant have more than 10 hours of light a day. This will keep it flowering long after the season is over. Take good care of it: keep the plant watered properly, keep it away from whiteflies, and give it plenty of light during its day cycle. Given this care, the plant can flower well past Mother's Day! If the plant is still flowering for too long, put it under light with 24 hours of on time to get it to vegetate. You may find that some plants will still have flower buds on when you place them outside for the summer. | Inspect the plant for bugs (most plants won't show bugs in the greenhouse but they will show up after about two weeks in the home). If you want to keep over that particular plant, several applications of soapy water to the plant and potting soil should rid it of most infestations. Place the plant in a cool (not cold) room with curtain filtered sunlight and cut back on the watering. Decide what kind of plant you want to end up with for Christmas. Do not set the plant in full sun at first. Start watering regularly. When it is time to bring the plant in for fall, start the processes of turning the top leaves red (or pink or whatever color they were last winter). Grow outdoors when possible. Be realistic about the plant's appearance. Focus on the timing of the flowering. Put the plants in a dark room, closet or cabinet. Use warm white CFLs or warm white fluorescent tubes. Set the timing. Check for flowering indicators. Avoid letting the plant have more than 10 hours of light a day. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Strip-War | How to Play Strip War | Strip War is a fun, adult card game that can make an exciting date night in. The aim of the game is to win your partners cards and get them to take all of their clothes off. Before you start, make sure you're both wearing the same number of clothes so the game will be fair. To set up the game, shuffle a deck of cards and deal them evenly between you. To play, you'll both need to reveal the top card of your pile at the same time. The player with the highest card wins both cards and puts them on the bottom of their pile, while the loser has to remove an item of clothing. If you turn over the same card, you both have to place one card face-down, then another face-up. The winner takes all 4 cards, and the loser takes off an item of clothing. Keep playing until one player is naked or wearing only underwear. | Pick your opponent. This is a raunchy game, so you'll want to play with someone you're comfortable with! War is typically played with just two people, but feel free to play with more. While regular War isn't much of a party game, Strip war is an excellent one! War also pairs nicely with your significant other and a bottle of wine. Consider making your next date night a game night. Count your articles of clothing. Make sure you and your opponent are wearing the same number of items so you have the same amount of pieces to lose. It's also important to determine which pieces of clothing are fair game. For example, it's a pretty uneven (and boring) game if one person is removing socks and jewelry while the other is taking off their shirt and pants! Figure out what people realistically will and will not take off. If not everyone feels comfortable removing everything, indicate that now. Shuffle the deck and deal each person 26 cards. Keep the cards facing down so neither you nor your opponent knows which cards you have. Arrange your cards into a neat stack in front of you. The cards that you're flipping over should be a surprise to both you and your opponent. It makes the game much more exciting when neither of you know what to expect. Determine the hierarchy of all the cards. The numerical cards are self-explanatory. The royal cards rank King, Queen, and then Jack from highest to lowest. The card typically in question is the ace. Decide with your opponent if it should be the very lowest card (1) or the highest card, above the King. Flip over the top card in your stack as your opponent does the same. Whoever has the highest card of the two takes both cards and places them in a separate stack next to them. Continue doing this as you go through your entire stack of cards. Once you run out of cards in your deck, pick up the stack of cards you've won and continue with that deck. This continues until someone has won the entire deck. Remove an article of clothing when you lose a hand. In other words, you strip when you've completely run out of clothing to remove. It's up to you and your opponent to decide which articles of clothing are removed, and in what order. You can plan the order in which articles of clothing are removed, i.e. shirt, then pants, then undergarments. If you're feeling trusting, you can let the winner choose what article of clothing the loser has to remove. Play until someone has removed all of their clothing. Because only one article of clothing is removed per hand, this method of Strip War requires lots of time. It is guaranteed to be raunchy, however, because you play until someone is completely naked! Set up as if you were playing a normal game of war. Shuffle the deck and deal each person 26 cards. Count your articles of clothing to ensure that you and your opponent are wearing the same number of items. With your stack of cards face down, begin playing by flipping a card. Whoever has the higher card takes both. Go to “war” if you and your opponent play cards of the same rank. Anytime you put down equal cards, e.g. if you both put down Queens or both put down sevens, you have to play War to break the tie. You and your opponent both put down the next card in your stack face down, and the following card face up. Whoever has the higher face-up card takes all six cards that are now on the table. If the face-up cards are the same, play War again until someone has a higher card. Remove an article of clothing if you lose a War tiebreaker. You and your opponent can either plan which articles of clothing are removed in which order, or you can let the winner of the tiebreaker decide which article of clothing the loser must remove. If the first tiebreaker face-up cards match and there has to be a second tiebreaker, the loser has to remove two articles of clothing. The same goes for three consecutive tiebreakers, and so on. Play until someone has won all of the cards in the deck. This goal of this version of Strip War is the same as regular War, and it takes less time than the first method of Strip War because only one game is played. Because you do not know how many tiebreakers you may have in a game, you may end up stripping off multiple articles of clothing or none at all. This may be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on how you look at it. Shuffle and deal the cards evenly among the players. Because there are 52 cards in a deck, they can't always be perfectly divided among multiple players. Make sure that everyone is starting with the same number of cards, and put whatever spare cards to the side. If there are three players, everyone gets 17 cards and there is one spare. With four people, everyone gets 13 cards. With five people, everyone gets 10 and there are 2 spare cards. Count the articles of clothing everyone is wearing. Everyone needs to be wearing the same amount of clothing in order to start off on an equal playing field. As a group, decide the order that clothes will come off. Flip the top card over. Whoever has the highest card gets to keep every single card on the table. Additionally, the person to win the first play gets to take the spare cards, if there are any. With more people playing, the more cards you can win. There is also a higher chance of having to go into a War tiebreaker with multiple players. Go to “war” if you and anyone else plays cards of the same rank. Everyone goes to War, not just the players with matching cards. Each player places a card face down, and the following card face up. Whoever has the highest face-up card takes all the cards in play. The losers of the tiebreaker all have to remove one article of clothing, either predetermined or chosen by the winner. Everyone other than the one winner of the tiebreaker ends up stripping. Play until someone has won all of the cards in the deck. Odds are that there will be multiple tiebreakers needed with several cards being played at once. However, you may want to play multiple games so that you can guarantee everyone gets sufficiently nude! Players that run out of cards are removed from the game. | Pick your opponent. Count your articles of clothing. Shuffle the deck and deal each person 26 cards. Determine the hierarchy of all the cards. Flip over the top card in your stack as your opponent does the same. Remove an article of clothing when you lose a hand. Play until someone has removed all of their clothing. Set up as if you were playing a normal game of war. Go to “war” if you and your opponent play cards of the same rank. Remove an article of clothing if you lose a War tiebreaker. Play until someone has won all of the cards in the deck. Shuffle and deal the cards evenly among the players. Count the articles of clothing everyone is wearing. Flip the top card over. Go to “war” if you and anyone else plays cards of the same rank. Play until someone has won all of the cards in the deck. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Your-Mind-off-Things | How to Take Your Mind off Things | To take your mind off of something, do something that you really enjoy, whether it's reading a good book, cooking a new recipe, or listening to your favorite music. Doing an activity you enjoy can help distract you from whatever it is you don't want to think about. You can also try exercising, like going for a run or doing some yoga. Exercise shifts your focus from your mind to your body, and it releases endorphins that put you in a better mood. If you can't fall asleep because you keep thinking about something unpleasant, try writing down your thoughts in a journal. Getting your thoughts down on paper can help clear your mind so it's easier to drift off. If nothing else is working, consider talking to someone you trust about what's going on. Avoiding unpleasant thoughts can sometimes make them worse, and talking about how you feel with someone might help you feel better. | Confront your anxieties. While it may seem counter intuitive, the best way to take your mind off of problems in the long term is to confront and overcome them. Otherwise, the same issues will continue to crop up and cause anxiety until they are dealt with. Ruminating -- a tendency to replay anxious thoughts over and over in your mind -- is a mental habit that has to be broken. Begin by allowing yourself to consider the root source of your anxious thoughts. What is the scenario you fear most, and why do you worry about it? After you have identified the source of your anxiety, let yourself imagine the worst-case scenario. Often we let open-ended scenarios frighten us, when in reality we can handle the worst-case scenario. Ask yourself, what is the worst thing that can happen, and can I handle it? Set a time limit on worrying. It is impossible to force yourself to not worry about your problems, especially if the problems present real challenges to your daily life (like finances or relationships). Giving yourself a set time period each day to worry can help you find freedom the rest of the day. Schedule 20-30 minutes at the same time every day to think about the issues that worry you. Remind yourself at other times that it is not the time to worry. Be sure your "worry period" is early enough in the day that it does not interfere with your sleep. Consider meditation. Contrary to what you might see on TV, meditation doesn't have to be complicated, spooky, or mystical. Lots of ordinary people practice simple varieties of meditation to help calm their minds. Meditation is about developing the discipline to quiet or focus your mind. Start by sitting in a comfortable, quiet room free of distractions. Sit in a position that is comfortable for you, but keep a straight back and good posture. Use a chair if you prefer. Close your eyes gently and breathe naturally in and out through your nose. Focus your attention on the way the air feels entering your nose, then your throat, then your lungs; and then on how it feels leaving again. If you find it hard to focus on your breath and your mind starts to wander, just gently redirect your thoughts back to your breath. You can do this for just a few minutes and then gradually increase the time you spend clearing your mind. Do some yoga. Like meditation, yoga is a common but often misunderstood mind and body exercise that many people use to calm and center themselves after a long day. Like meditation, it can be relaxing and quieting, but unlike meditation it also involves a sometimes-rigorous exercise component that helps to keep you in shape and makes you actively focus on things other than whatever is bothering you. Try investigating a yoga studio in your area. Many studios will allow you to take a class for no charge to see if it's a good fit for you. If you can't afford classes in a studio or gym, consider your local community center or YMCA, which often have yoga and other classes at a discount or on a pay-per-class basis. If group classes are not right for you, purchase a DVD series or try YouTube lessons. These can be just as effective as a course in a studio, and when you learn the moves well enough, you can do them without the video. Hide your triggers. Whatever it is that is bothering you, distracting you, or stressing you out, put it somewhere out of the way for a while and ignore it. If you just got home from work, hide your laptop, your phone, those bills that are overdue, and all the other things that you associate with working. If you just broke up with someone, clear out all the things that remind you of that person. Make it too difficult to think about the things that are bothering you. For many people who struggle with general anxiety, avoiding television or internet news feeds can help, since the news is often sensationalized to capitalize on your worries. Go for a hike. Spending time in a park, the woods, around a lake, or in a nearby meadow can help ground you to your surroundings, keeping your mind off troubling things. In addition to benefits to your physical health, spending time outdoors has been shown to improve concentration and increase reported levels of happiness. It's important that you don't allow your time outdoors to become a place to dwell on the issues that are bothering you. During your hikes, pause to notice the texture of the grass or the changing light on a tree or mountain, the ripples of a lake. Sets of serenity can be built in our minds and they are places where we can go more simply in our minds. Remember this. If you find it hard to focus on your surroundings and your mind wanders back to your troubles, consider setting out on your walk or hike with a specific purpose in mind, such as collecting interesting seed pods, identifying various types of birds, or tracking wildlife. Having a task to do can help refocus your attention. Listen to music. Music is a great way to just let loose and dance, or meditate and relax. Whatever style of music you favor, listening actively can help clear your mind and leave you feeling refreshed. Music with slow, methodical beats can put you in a meditative state and has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety much like hypnosis and meditation. Alternately, if you don't want to relax but still need a distraction, try listening to music with complicated lyrics that you'll have to follow closely. Staying closely engaged will help to keep your mind off other things. Check out Leonard Cohen, Patty Smith, Bill Callahan, or Vic Chesnutt. Read a good book. Using literature to improve your mental health is known as bibliotherapy, and it is a surprisingly effective way to clear your mind of your own issues and focus on someone else's story. Pick a book in a genre that you find interesting and allow yourself to be immersed in the lives of the characters. Try looking at your local library or check out www.goodreads.com for suggestions from other readers. Exercise. If you're not doing anything, it's hard to keep your mind from the issues you want to avoid. Additionally, exercise has been shown to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and ward off depression. Find a type of physical exercise that you enjoy, whether it be aerobics at the gym or shooting hoops at the park. Read more about the following great methods of exercise that you can do all yourself: Lift weights Circuit train Jog Swim Play basketball Box Volunteer your time. One great way to get your mind off your own problems is to focus on serving others. Call up your local homeless shelter, animal shelter, food bank, or other organization. Every community has ways to get involved. Studies show that volunteering 100 hours a year increases overall feelings of satisfaction with life, provides a buffer for stress, and even improves physical health. Try out a new recipe. You can engage your mind, your hands, and your taste-buds. Find a delicious new recipe that you'd like to try, get all the ingredients, and start cooking. And if you don't want to put on the pounds from your cooking explorations, donate it to a family in need in your community. Try out some of these great recipes: Braise beef Make a casserole Bake a pie Make fried chicken Make vegan cupcakes Make something. Instead of focusing on the issues that are bothering you, do something productive with your time that will keep both your hands and your mind busy. Pick a project that you've always wanted to try. Draw a picture , or paint. Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, spending some time doing Bob Ross imitations or launching paint at a canvas Jackson Pollock-style can be a great way to unwind. Make small collages with newspaper, magazines, and other found-photo cutouts. You can then turn these collages into postcards and send them to your friends. Write in your diary or journal , or write a story , or try out your poetry skills. Writing is a great way to get your mind off of things, so long as you choose a different topic to write about than the one you're trying to avoid. . Clean the house Get out the vacuum, cleaning products, and clean up your living space. Cleaning your living space can symbolize a fresh start and help you refocus your energy on improving your own living area. In fact, living in a messy space can cause feelings of stress that can be overwhelming. Start with a quick clean, tidying everything up, throwing away garbage, and straightening generally. Then, go into your deeper clean mode, vacuuming, dusting, and scrubbing. Throw away anything that is broken or unusable and donate anything that works but you no longer need. Call your friends. One way of taking your mind off things is to be with other people. Don't let yourself spend time being distracted and depressed alone. Call some friends and plan to do something together, or get some close friends to come over and have a movie night , a dinner party, or play a game of some sort. You may want to take your mind off things, but you may also want to talk out the thing that's bothering you or distracting you. If you're feeling upset over a break-up, a recent disappointment, or some other issue, it might be a good idea to have some sympathetic friends to talk with instead, rather than distract. Spend time with family. Whether you live at home or not, whether you have a big family or a small family, whether you are close with your family or not, spending some quality time with your family can help take your mind off other things. Organize plans to do something out with your family, or you could just head to the homestead and spend time at home. Even if you're just eating dinner and watching television, doing it with your family can be more relaxing and comforting than anything else. Head to a public place. If your family and friends are busy, consider heading to a public place and just being around people. Even if you don't want to sit somewhere and try to talk to strangers, people watching can be a nice way of keeping your mind off things. Head to the library, a coffee house, a bar, a local park, or a record store to socialize or people-watch. While it's true that bars can be great neighborhood hangouts and places to socialize over a few drinks, drinking is not recommended as a way to distract your mind, as it can lead to serious problems with alcohol dependency. Go to the bar to socialize, not to drink your trouble away. Write an old-fashioned letter or postcard to distant friends. If you can't have your friends come to you, send something to your friends. Write up a letter to get in touch, asking questions to help catch up and filling your friend in on your own life. Want to go really old school? Make a mix tape and send it to a friend in the mail. | Confront your anxieties. Set a time limit on worrying. Consider meditation. Do some yoga. Hide your triggers. Go for a hike. Listen to music. Read a good book. Exercise. Volunteer your time. Try out a new recipe. Make something. . Call your friends. Spend time with family. Head to a public place. Write an old-fashioned letter or postcard to distant friends. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Wear-White-Jeans | How to Wear White Jeans | To wear white jeans, choose a style that complements your figure, keeping in mind that while black has a slimming effect, white has the opposite effect. For example, if you're curvy, go with straight-legged white jeans with a high, contoured waistline to highlight your figure. If you have an athletic build, embellishments on the back pockets can create a fuller appearance. Experiment with bright colors and patterns when choosing a top, since white bottoms create a great backdrop for color. | Explore various prints with your white jeans. The solid color of white jeans will provide an excellent anchor for different patterns and prints. Some designs you might try with your white jeans are: Plaid Horizontal patterns Pinstripe lines Try your jeans with tie-dye. The white of your jeans can offer nice counterpoint to a stylish, tie-dyed tank top. Match your accessories to the primary color in your tie-dye top, and consider: Matching heeled sandals A matching handbag Test drive your white jeans with an oxford shirt. A men's oxford shirt with rolled up sleeves and the top button left popped is a simple way to complement your white jeans. Some heels that match your main accent color, like black, can add some extra flavor to this look. Experiment with colors. White is very versatile, and depending on your complexion, many colors might go well with your white jeans. Your look might pair well with a similarly light colors, like a light colored denim. Add an accent color with pop, like mustard yellow or lime green. Repeating designs, like stripes and polka dots, can work well too, especially if the pattern has some white in it. Neon colors should not be discounted; a neon color will be as bright and beautiful as your white pants. A solid colored shirt with an accompanying set of boldly colored beads might be just what you were looking for. Create a dressy look with your white jeans. Compliment your white jeans with the ever trendy colors black and gold. You might consider a black top in lace or chiffon ti give an extra touch of elegance, though a black blouse and lace trim might look smashing as well! Finish your dressy white jeans look off with gold accessories and stylish black heels. To create better cohesion between the black and white colors of your outfit, consider shoes that have a black and white color scheme. Determine your body type. The shape of your legs and rear will influence the kind of jeans that are most flattering for your figures. You should also keep in mind that where black has a slimming effect, white tends to give the impression greater fullness. Look at the following list and choose the shape that best matches your body: Straight figured individuals will have a chest and waist that are roughly the same size, with an only slightly tapered waist. Hourglass figured individuals have an equivalent chest and hips with a well defined, smaller waist. Full hips and large thighed individuals will have fuller, more curvaceous lower body. Play up your curves for straight figures. You can accomplish this by choosing a pair of jeans that make use of pocket decorations, like stitching. Flaps and other stylish embellishments to the back pockets will give your bum a perkier appeal. You should try to distance yourself from bell shaped white jeans or pairs that make use of flared designs. These can throw off the natural symmetry of your figure. Bypass straight cut waists for hourglass figures. A straight cut along the waist of your pants can create a gaping appearance or discomfort for your hourglass figure. A contoured waistband will save you from this fashion faux pas. You might also try on a pair of straight-leg jeans. These can bring balance to hourglass figures. Keep away from jeans too wide-legged in cut. These can give a boyish impression to your figure. Find a higher rise in the back for full legs and thighs. A pair that has both a contoured waist band and a higher rise to its cut in back than in front will contain your curves in the most flattering way. The better fit of this cut will also prevent the jeans from sliding down. Legs that are tapered can not only be uncomfortable for this body type, but the slimming effect of a taper will make your thighs appear even larger. Counterbalance your tummy with a front rise in the waist. White jeans that rise in front will prevent the appearance of the dreaded "muffin top." With this cut of jeans, you can still rock the white jean-style! Pants that are stiff and have little give to the fabric can dig into your stomach and feel uncomfortable. These cuts should be avoided. Try your potential purchase before paying. Sometimes even the classiest pair of pants are best suited for the rack and not your closet. Take a good look at every aspect of the jeans before you purchase them. Make sure there is no discomfort when sitting, bending, or in various positions. You may also notice that the fabric of certain pairs of jeans are more transparent than others. Take this into account also. Jeans that reveal underclothes will require nude or white colors worn beneath. Choose a blouse-like top for straight figured women. Adding a top according to your body type will ensure your jeans and your top bring out your best features and will create cohesion between all parts of the outfit. Tops that make use of ruching or a draping style can give the appearance of greater shapeliness. Tops to consider might have: Boat-necks Nipped or belted waists V or U-necks Ruching or flowing fabric around the bust Show off your hourglass figure. Anything that hugs your curves should be prioritized when you're choosing a top to pair with your white jeans. These kind of garments will allow the natural femininity of your body to shine through! Some tops you might try: V-neck shirts Wrap tops Tops with belts Balance full legs and thighs with longer tops. If you have full legs and thighs, longer tops will reduce focus on this feature and allow for greater appreciation of the entire outfit. True fashion is a balancing act, after all! Try tops with shirttails for a harmonious balance. Longer tops will draw the eye away from the fullness of your legs and thighs by balancing the disproportion between the two. Some tops for your consideration : Sweaters (hip length) Jackets (hip length) Puffed/ruched sleeved tops Tops with padded shoulders Contain your tummy instead of emphasizing it. A figure that has a little bit of a tummy can benefit from a top that skim the skin of your body. Large and billowy tops can end up accentuating the belly and be less than flattering. Lightweight garments, including Empire-waist tops, might work well with your white jeans. Ideal tops for those with a tummy include: Asymmetrical tops Tops with front draping Tops with front ruching Long Cardigans Ponchos Safeguard the fabric of your jeans, if able. Stains and blemishes show up bright as day on white fabric, but you might be able to lessen these by applying a special protectant, like Scotchgard™. Check the tag of your pants before doing this, as you may be inadvisable to Scotchgard™ some pairs of pants. If there are no warnings on the label about pretreatment to prevent stains, apply your protectant according it its directions to your jeans to defend against stains. Be wary dyes rubbing off on you. It is especially easy to overlook a purse or handbag, but over the course of an entire day, the ink from these might rub off on your white jeans. Dark indigo, and colors like it, are potent and transfer easily. This is especially true for new clothing. Wash your white jeans frequently. Wearing your white jeans too frequently can cause the fabric to become dull and lose some of its original luster. To prevent this from happening, you should only wear your white jeans once or twice before laundering. You might also add a whitening product or booster, like baking soda, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide, to the wash while cleaning your white jeans. Following care instructions. Some fabrics are treated with products before being sold to protect the quality and color of the fabric. These pretreated clothes may have special washing instructions that you should follow, but generally, you will want to wash your white jeans with similar colors in warm water. Don't overload your washing machine. Doing so prevent your garments from rinsing all the way through. and whatever detergent remains can create yellow spots on your jeans over time. Refresh the color of your jeans. Especially if you have a favorite pair that have seen better days, if your jeans are beginning to look less bright than you'd like, try a soak in warm water with some color safe bleach added. Set a timer for about 30 minutes, rinse your jeans when time's up, and then go about drying as you normally would. | Explore various prints with your white jeans. Try your jeans with tie-dye. Test drive your white jeans with an oxford shirt. Experiment with colors. Create a dressy look with your white jeans. Determine your body type. Play up your curves for straight figures. Bypass straight cut waists for hourglass figures. Find a higher rise in the back for full legs and thighs. Counterbalance your tummy with a front rise in the waist. Try your potential purchase before paying. Choose a blouse-like top for straight figured women. Show off your hourglass figure. Balance full legs and thighs with longer tops. Contain your tummy instead of emphasizing it. Safeguard the fabric of your jeans, if able. Be wary dyes rubbing off on you. Wash your white jeans frequently. Following care instructions. Refresh the color of your jeans. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Live-Life | How to Live Life | To live life, identify some of your big goals in life and taking small, consistent steps to accomplish them so you don't become overwhelmed by trying to do too much at once. Also, don't be afraid to try new things, like volunteering or picking up a new hobby, which will help you meet people and better yourself. In addition, nurture the relationships with people who are already in your life by spending time with them or doing something nice for them to show that you appreciate them. | Nurture the relationships in your life. It can be easy to take the people we love for granted. Yes, friends and family are what get us through the tough times, but they are also there for the good times as well -- the problem is that we don't always notice. Show them in little ways that you care. Bring flowers for your mom when it's not her birthday. If you're a wiz at working on cars and you hear your friend's car sputtering, offer to change the spark plugs. A small gesture of love can a long way in making those who are special to you feel good! When you have a conflict with a loved one, be willing to work it out. Giving up and slamming the door behind you is not the path to happiness! Sometimes it can be as simple as accepting an idea or opinion that is different from our own. The person will probably recognize that that wasn't easy for you to do and will appreciate you all the more for it. Take action. Don't just think about what you want to do in life. Get out there and do it! You're responsible for making things happen in your life, no one else. Many people at the end of their life wish they would have stepped out more on the tether rope of life. Don't you be one of them! The key really is action. Don't bite off more than you can chew, though. Otherwise, you might quit. Small, incremental steps and consistency is how you accomplish big goals in life. Chose short-term goals that are clearly connected to the bigger picture of what you ultimately want in life and who you want to become. Set aside regular time to review and reflect on your progress, which will help you maintain focus and motivation. Focus on areas of neglect. Have you noticed that you love beautiful surroundings yet your personal space is a mess? Then start working on creating that gorgeous environment for yourself, and then invite your friends over when you're done! Did your art teacher in school comment on the amazing artwork you would create? Even though you've thought about it, you still haven't created one thing since graduation. So pick up some paints today, and start rendering those Picasso-like pieces that you have in your head! Manage your time well. Each day, make a list of your three most important tasks (called MITs) that need to be completed in any given week. Make another list of smaller, less important tasks which, if you don't do, could cause problems for you later on. These might include writing a brief letter, responding to emails, making calls, completing paperwork, etc. Set a time later in the day to do them all at once (say 4:30 p.m.). Then, start working on your MITs for the day, and when the time rolls around, do the smaller tasks. Towards the end of the day, take a look at what still needs to be done. Transfer tasks from the small list to the next day, and continue focusing on the MITs. This method ensures that the bulk of your time isn't consumed by tasks less important than the bigger priorities in your life. Like anything new, it will take time to perfect, but stay with it. Eventually, you will be an expert at managing time versus it managing you! Take on a new fitness challenge. Consider incorporating a 30-day fitness challenge into your routine. It's a terrific way to supplement your regular workout regimen. Most challenges only take 20 to 30 minutes a day to complete; however, you'll be considerably more active than you usually are. The reason 30-day fitness regimens typically have good results is because they entail 5 SMART principles, which means they are time-bound, specific, achievable, relevant and measurable. Think about doing a plank, kettlebell swing, or pushup challenge. The choice is yours based on what part of the body you wish to train the most. Keep in mind, however, that a 30-day fitness challenge is not meant to replace your normal routine. In theory, you're supposed to still maintain what you're doing regularly. You will probably be a little sore at first but, by the end, you should be moving right along with both routines, not to mention in much better shape. Here's an example of how to incorporate the SMART principles using kettlebells: Specific - I'm going to do a 30-day fitness challenge incorporating kettlebell swings. Measurable - I will do 500 swings 20 times within 30 days in order to reach 10,000 swings total. Achievable - I will reach my goal by breaking them down into 5 rounds each with sets of 10, 15, 25 and 50 repetitions. Relevant - I wish to build the core part of my body, and this is one of the best ways to do it. Time-bound - My goal is to reach 10,000 swings within 30 days. Consider training for either a 5K or for a smaller event. This has become a huge sport with almost too many benefits to list here. Signing up for one will help you stay in shape, get your competitive juices flowing, hone your discipline, and you'll meet lots of people. If you haven't run in one before or you're a little out of shape, consider participating in a shorter run, or only do the walk portion of the event. You should be able to find a 5K event where you live. If not, find out where a race is being held, train every day or every other day for 30 days, and go there. Volunteer for an organization that does meaningful work. Volunteering gives you new skills while putting into practice ones you've already developed. It's also a great way to meet new people, and you'll be participating in worthwhile activities with other like-minded people. Further, you'll be helping to make change in an area you're passionate about. Think about volunteering with kids. There are lots of areas you can delve into here. You can participate in a youth group, be a mentor, help out in juvenile detention, or work with one of the big scouting organizations. This could be a ideal direction to go in if you're planning on becoming a youth worker or a teacher. Offer your time at a local animal shelter. If you want instant gratification, do this. There is nothing like a scrawny puppy with big eyes looking up at you as your putting food in his bowl to make you feel good. You could also work in fund-raising – an area that's highly needed in animal rescue work, train to be a vet's assistant, or work in the field picking up stray cats and dogs. Just like the rewards, the choices are endless. Start making and baking things in your kitchen. Your family and friends will probably like this new hobby of yours a lot. You can make yummy jams, tasty pickles, or become a cupcake aficionado. Once you've got the recipes down, think about entering your scrumptious creations in a local taste contest or one of the fairs in your area. You can also make homemade beer. If you can boil water, you can brew beer – even premium, at the fraction of the cost of commercial beer. Home brewing beer has come a long way since it was first legalized in 1979. (A one-person household can make 100 gallons a year and a family household can make 200 gallons.) Over the years, the techniques have been refined and the variety and quality of supplies and brewing ingredients that are available practically ensure great results. These days home brewing has reached a state of high science. But, you don't have to practice at that high a level to make a tasty beer. Brewing is an inexact and forgiving science, which allows for experimentation. To learn, just look online or in your local book store. Each will describe a different procedure for fermenting and brewing and will include recipes unlike the rest. Interestingly, most of them produce terrific results. Finding the ingredients and equipment for home brewing is not the big challenge it used to be. Chances are good even that there's a beer-making store where you live. If not, you can get everything you need by mail. Trace your family tree. This fascinating topic is called genealogy. There are plenty of courses available online on how to chart yours (or other people's) family history. It can take time to do it properly, but when it's finished, it's a keepsake your whole family will appreciate. It also makes a great gift for one or more of your relatives. There isn't a limit in how far back you can go. Keep in mind you need to be fairly detailed oriented and have a detective-type mind to be able to do a thorough and accurate genealogy report. Begin recording what you already know about your family. Start with yourself and enter as much information as possible. Preserve important stories and family information by developing a family tree generation by generation. Record marriage and death dates, names, birth dates, and other facts that you know. Take risks. No successful person has gotten where they are without pushing through “perceived” limitations and failures. Winston Churchill flunked the sixth grade. Oprah Winfrey was told she wasn't fit enough for television. Colombia Pictures thought that Marilyn Monroe wasn't pretty enough, and Walt Disney was told he lacked imagination! However, none of these individuals sat around and sulked in their apparent faults. They went out and made it happen and you can, too! Meet new people. Join a group that has the same interests as you, like veganism or chess. When you see someone you would like to meet, be natural and ask him or her about something that pertains to the moment. Does this cheese have rennet or is it a vegan cheese? Volunteering is another great way to meet people. It gets you out of your normal routine and helping others is a good feeling, too. Learn to tolerate uncertainty and possible rejection. For all kinds of reasons, someone may not want to get to know you, and you may never know why. Try not to take it personally because they really don't know you. Perhaps he or she is a particular religion or race and has been raised to only become friends with people from his or her community. Challenging experiences, emotions, and relationships are an important part of life. They can help you grow and learn, even if they initially make you feel sad or angry. Wander into the unknown, even if you fall on your face. It's okay to fail. It's how we learn what works and what doesn't. Whether it's an inspired idea, a blind date or an unexpected career opportunity, embrace it as a chance to grow. Too many people live in fear, and never tap into how great they really are! Most people have lots of opinions. Take into consideration what others say, but you don't always have to believe what they say about you. Often, it's just projections based on their own fears! Many are fine going unnoticed in the world, not straying from the opinions of others, and not ruffling any feathers. On the inside, though, these are the ones hoping for positive change. Be the lone duck from the crowd, and stay true to yourself. As long as you're not hurting anyone or yourself, then it's fine. The most important thing is you tried. It takes confidence to put yourself out there, so pat yourself on the back for it! There are many people on the planet. Eventually, you will find your tribe. Set aside two weeks to visit a developing country, like Thailand, Vietnam or Laos, for $500 or less. While there are some pricey hotspots in the world, these three countries are doable if you're on a budget. You can visit one of them for two weeks for about $500, excluding airfare. This covers accommodation, drinks, food, transportation and other on-the-ground expenses. Thailand is popular and for good reason. Cheap dining and accommodations, inexpensive trains and buses, beautiful mountains and beaches, and a happening metropolis in Bangkok all contribute to the perfect destination place for the budget traveler. Vietnam is another great place to make your money to go far, and it's a beautiful country with so much to offer. Accommodation is inexpensive while still being comfortable and clean, the food is some of the best and cheapest in the world, and traveling by bus means you will save a fortune. As a backpacker destination, Laos has been gaining in popularity in recent years but the costs are still within reason. This stunning part of the world is known for its laid-back lifestyle and its gorgeous scenery. Quit your day job and travel. Ask yourself, do you love what you do? If it isn't a loud, enthusiastic YES, then it may be time to do something about it! First, sell everything that you don't absolutely need. Two, save at least one or two months' salary. And three, either volunteer your services, teach English online, or teach at an actual school in a developing country. Believe it or not, there are a lot of companies, individuals and non-profits looking for all kinds of help in developing countries. You could volunteer in an administrative capacity at a Tibetan school in India, on a coffee farm in Honduras, or on a horse ranch in Mexico. The choice really is yours. There are several big websites that regularly post ads for people, companies and NGOs that are looking for volunteers. Though they don't pay, most cover room and board. You just have to get there and have some money for living expenses each month. You can also teach English online or at an actual school abroad. If you teach online, you can either freelance or work through a company. If it's through a company, they may require you to have an “English as a Foreign Language” (EFL) certificate, which is only a short, inexpensive course. There are also hundreds of schools on the Internet canvassing for teachers on a regular basis – entry level or experienced; many require an EFL certificate but some do not. Most provide room, board and a decent salary. The biggest criteria for teaching EFL are patience, creativity, organizational skills and English fluency. Read travel blogs. Most of these writers are not being to paid to write. So you will usually get a personal, honest glimpse into what a country looks like. Since you're on a budget, veer towards backpacking blogs. Along with giving you a frank portrait, many also give lots of details on what things cost. Peruse travel forums. Many travelers sharing on websites have just come from your future destination, are genuine and want to help. Though take what they say with a grain of salt. It's part of human nature to filter memories through a few specific events, negative ones usually. | Nurture the relationships in your life. Take action. Focus on areas of neglect. Manage your time well. Take on a new fitness challenge. Volunteer for an organization that does meaningful work. Start making and baking things in your kitchen. Trace your family tree. Take risks. Meet new people. Learn to tolerate uncertainty and possible rejection. Wander into the unknown, even if you fall on your face. Set aside two weeks to visit a developing country, like Thailand, Vietnam or Laos, for $500 or less. Quit your day job and travel. Read travel blogs. Peruse travel forums. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-the-Violin | How to Play the Violin | To play the violin, start by holding the neck of the violin with your left hand and bringing the butt of the instrument up to your neck so the lower back of the violin is resting on your collarbone. Then, loosely grip the bow with your free hand and place the flat side of the bow hair halfway between the bridge and the fingerboard. When you're ready, play a note by pulling the bow along the string, keeping it straight and parallel to the bridge. If you want a louder note, apply more pressure, and if you want a softer note, apply less pressure. | Buy or rent a violin. If you're just starting out with the instrument, there's no need to spend an excessive amount of money on a violin, but like most instruments, the quality of the violin generally rises as the price goes up. Expect to spend a few hundred dollars on a decent beginner's violin. Buy full size or 4/4, if you're an adult. The violin is a small instrument, but there are specially designed smaller sizes available. These are generally only intended for younger children, so be sure the violin you're buying is full size unless you're very small. You can ask the shop for a recommendation if you aren't sure. You can also ask the shop to measure your arm length to see what size violin you need. When holding the violin in the playing position, straighten your left arm and the tops of your fingertips should be near the top the violin scroll. If your arm is way past the top, the violin is too small. Buy from a reputable seller. Music stores stake their reputations on selling solid instruments that are free of obvious flaws and damage. As a beginner, you won't be able to coax a very pleasant sound from your instrument for some time, so flaws in privately sold violins might not be apparent to you until it is far too late to complain. Only buy from a store or individual you can trust. Check the accessories. Unless you have purchased the instrument only, your violin outfit should come with a violin with four strings, a bow, and a carrying case and most of the time a chin rest and rosin for your bow. In most cases, the person who sells you the violin will be happy to string it for you, which has the added bonus of double-checking to be sure the tuning pegs (the knobs at the scroll, or top, of the violin) are properly fit to the scroll. A hard case is important because violins are such delicate instruments. Strings come in three basic varieties: gut, which is expensive and difficult to take care of, but which offers a complex range of sound; steel, which is loud and bright but can sound scratchy, and synthetic, which is smooth, clear, and not as unpredictable as gut. Each type's name refers to the core material around which metal wire is wrapped to create the string. Most beginners should go with synthetic core strings, such as nylon core. The bow should be new, or newly re-haired. You can check this by looking at the hair of the bow (the fine, white or off-white fibers) and ensuring that the color is uniform and bright along its entire length. The hair of the bow should be a uniform width from end to end. Bows wear down over time. You can get your bow re-haired for a small fee at most music shops. Purchase other items. Nearly all violinists use a chin rest, which is a cheap, ergonomic piece of (usually black) plastic that clamps near the base of the violin and allows it to be held securely by your chin. This is usually attached to the violin when the violin is built. Aside from that, be sure you have some rosin (coagulated sap) for your bow, a music stand, and a book of beginner lessons or songs, preferably in a format that will open flat. Some violinists, especially beginners, also purchase a shoulder rest, which is a violin-width pad that sits on your shoulder underneath the violin and makes it easier to hold. Many people start with a shoulder rest and eventually remove it after a few years. If the violin seems to dig into your shoulder when you play, consider purchasing one. Fiddlers, if they sing while performing, often hold the violin in the crook of an arm while playing, with the butt resting against their shoulder. For them, chin rests and shoulder rests are generally pointless. A tuner is a small device that clips on to the scroll or the pegs of the violin. It is useful for beginners if you are teaching yourself, as it can be used to make sure you are playing the notes correctly. But once you know how to play the notes, the tuner isn't of much use anymore except for tuning the instrument itself. Be sure to take it off before big performances though, as it looks unprofessional. Tighten the bow. Once you've set up your music stand and sheet music, open the case and remove the bow. The hair of the bow should be limp. Tighten the bow hair by turning the end screw clockwise until the space between the hair and the stick is big enough to pass a pencil through cleanly from tip to tip. The hair shouldn't be too limp, or too tight. The hair should not be parallel to the wooden part of the bow, but with the wooden part curving slightly toward the hair. Don't use your pinky finger as a gauge because the oil from your skin will transfer to the hair, which needs to remain oil-free to get the best sound from the strings. Rosin the bow. Rosin comes in two types, dark and light; either is fine to use, and neither is expensive. In warmer climates, light is preferred, dark is recommended in more northern areas. If you live in an unpredictable climate, it is advisable to have both. It's usually a rectangle of hard, translucent material in a paper or cardboard casing that's open on two sides. Grip the rosin by the papered sides and gently but vigorously rub it up and down along the length of the bow hair three or four times. The goal is to transfer some of the rosin “dust” onto the hair, making it stickier. You will need to rosin your bow about every time you practice. If you don't think the rosin is producing any "dust", take a key, sandpaper, a coin, or any other sharp object, and lightly scratch the rosin. You will see some light streaks if you scratched hard enough. Too much rosin will cause the bow to grip too well, producing a scratchy sound. If you over-rosin your bow, it's fine; it'll just take a few hours of playing to bring it back down to the correct level. If this is a newly haired bow, it may need more rosin than normal. Draw the flat side of the bow hair across a string to see if it makes a clear sound after three or four strokes of rosin. If it doesn't, add a couple more. Tune the violin. Set the bow aside for a moment and take the violin out of the case. The strings, in order from lowest tone to highest, should be tuned to G, D, A, and E. You can usually purchase an electric tuner from $15 to $20 depending on the quality and brand. Major adjustments can be made with the tuning pegs in the scroll of the violin, but if the tone seems only a little bit off, use the tiny metal dials near the bottom, called fine tuners , to make your adjustments instead. Once you're satisfied, return the violin to the open case for a moment. You probably would like to have a professional tune your violin first. Rely on a tone whistle to find the correct notes, or simply look sound files up on the Internet. Not all violins have fine tuners, but they can be installed by a shop. Some violins may have only one fine tuner, on the E string. Some violinists can make do with just that one fine tuner, while others may prefer to get the rest. Grip the bow. Use the balance point to learn to hold the bow and even out the weight. When you think you are ready to grip the bow like a professional, start by gently laying the middle part of your index finger on the grip (the slightly padded part of the stick, usually a few inches above the tightening knob). Place the tip of your pinky on the flat part of the stick near the base, keeping it slightly curved. The ring and middle fingers should rest with their middle parts in line with the tip of your pinky, and their tips on the side of the frog (the black piece that connects the tightening knob to the hair). Your thumb should rest underneath the stick, at the front of the frog, near or on the bow hair. It might feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but over time, it will form into a habit. Your hand should be relaxed and loose, and somewhat rounded as if holding a small ball. Don't let your palm close or rest on the bow. This reduces the control you have over the movement of the bow, which becomes increasingly important as your skill increases. Hold the violin. Stand or sit with a straight back. Pick it up by its neck with your left hand and bring the butt of the instrument up to your neck. Rest the lower back of the violin on your collar bone and hold it in place with your jaw. To learn notes, however, you should hold it guitar style and buy a music book. It helps a whole lot. Your jaw, just under the earlobe (not your chin), is supposed to be resting on the chin rest. This helps prevent the instrument from sliding off your shoulder. (This is also why violinists on TV always seem to be looking down and to the right. Perfect your hand position. Place your hand under the top part of the neck and support the violin so that the scroll is pointing out away from you. Hold it steady by resting the side of your thumb on the neck, and allow your four fingers to arch over the fingerboard, which is the black plate covering the front of the neck. Beware of the "waiter hand" where your left wrist is touching the fingerboard, just like how some waiters hold plates of food. This, too, could turn into a habit if you don't fix it. As a beginner, your hand should be as far up the neck as possible while still allowing your pointer finger to come down on the fingerboard. Eventually, you'll learn to slide your hand up and down to reach higher notes quickly. Play the strings. Place the flat side of the bow hair approximately halfway between the bridge (the flimsy-looking wooden stand 3/4 of the way down the strings that keeps them tented) and the fingerboard, so that it's directly over the belly (front body) of the violin. Pull the bow along the string as straight as you can, parallel to the bridge, applying a small amount of pressure. A sound should emanate from the violin. Also, tilt the bow hair towards bridge at a 45-degree angle. More pressure equals louder sound, but too much pressure makes it scratchy. Light pressure should produce a continuous tone from end to end of the bow; if there are gaps, the bow needs more rosin. If you play too close to the bridge, it may also sound scratchy. Tilt the bow slightly toward the scroll and your tone will be more focused, producing a more professional sound. Practice playing open strings (G,D,A and E in order from top to bottom string). Open strings are simply strings played without fingertips on them. Rest the neck of the violin in the space between the left thumb and first finger. Hold the bow with your wrist, elbow, shoulder and contact point on the string within one plane. Change strings by raising or lowering the elbow to bring the bow to the proper height. Try short strokes of 6 inches (15.2 cm) or so in the middle of the bow at first, then try half strokes from the frog to the middle and back again. Work your way up to full-length strokes. Short and long strokes are both important techniques for playing the violin, so don't feel as though you're wasting time practicing with short strokes. Continue practicing until you can play one string at a time without touching the other strings. It's important to develop control so you don't accidentally play a note you didn't want to play. Practice playing other notes. It takes a lot of practice to master the pressure and positioning required to get your fingers to produce clear notes on the fingerboard. Start with your strongest finger, the pointer finger. Using the tip only, press down firmly on the highest string (the E string). You don't need to use as much pressure as you do with guitar strings; a modest but firm amount is enough. Draw the bow across the E string to produce a slightly higher note. If you are holding the violin properly, your finger should naturally come down about half an inch below the nut (the top of the fingerboard), producing an F note. Add notes. Once you're able to produce a clear note, try putting the tip of your middle finger down a little ways below the pointer finger on the fingerboard. Keep both fingers down and play another, higher note. Finally, set the ring finger ahead of the middle finger and repeat the process. The pinkie is also used, but takes considerably more practice to master. For now, just worry about the other three fingers. Add strings. Try playing four notes (open, pointer, middle, and ring) on all four strings. Pay attention to the amount of pressure you need to produce a clear note on each one. Practice scales. A scale is a series of notes that ascend and descend in a pattern of steps (usually 8, sometimes 5) that starts at one note and ends at a higher or lower version of the same note. An easy (and useful) scale for beginners is the D Major scale, which starts on the open D string. From there, place your fingers down in order (as described above) and play each note: D (open), E, F sharp, G (which should be produced by your third, or ring, finger). To complete the scale, play the next highest open string, A, and then repeat the pattern on the A string to play B, C sharp, and finally D with your third finger. When properly played, the D Major scale (and in fact, every major scale) should match the sound of the famous “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do” singing scale. If you don't know what that is, look it up online or watch the musical film “The Sound of Music,” which features a memorable and well-known song called “Do Re Mi” that explains it. If you can't seem to get the sound right, remember: place the first finger a finger's width from the nut, the second finger a finger's width from the first, and the third finger touching the second. If you prefer, ask your music shop or teacher to tape the finger positions for you with white tape, so you have a visual guide. Other scales, such as minor, harmonic, and even pentatonic (5-note) scales exist, but those can be studied, practiced, and internalized later. Practice every day. Start with a short time (15 or 20 minutes) and work a little longer every day until you reach an hour, or you can't find any more time to play. Serious violinists often practice for 3 or more hours per day; then again, many violinists at that level get money for playing. Practice as much as you reasonably can, and keep at it. Even sounding good enough to play a few simple songs can take months, but eventually, things will begin to come together. | Buy or rent a violin. Check the accessories. Purchase other items. Tighten the bow. Rosin the bow. Tune the violin. Grip the bow. Hold the violin. Perfect your hand position. Play the strings. Practice playing open strings (G,D,A and E in order from top to bottom string). Practice playing other notes. Practice scales. Practice every day. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-BBQ-Chicken | How to Make BBQ Chicken | To make BBQ chicken, start by cutting up a whole chicken and seasoning the pieces with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you enjoy. Then, sear each piece of chicken in a skillet for about 5 minutes, or until both sides are browned. Next, transfer the chicken to 2 baking dishes, separating the white and dark meat, and spread barbecue sauce over each piece. Finally, cook the chicken at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes for the breasts and 70 minutes for the legs, and add more barbecue sauce before serving. | Combine the dry rub ingredients. Place all of the dry rub ingredients in a resealable plastic container and mix thoroughly using a whisk, fork, or spoon. You could use a non-resealable bowl, but using a resealable plastic container allows you to save some of the rub for later if you decide not to use the entire batch now. Note that this recipe produces about 2 cups (500 ml) dry rub. This dry rub is also fairly spicy. While much of the heat will fade once you dust the dry rub off the chicken, a good portion of it will still remain. If you prefer a milder taste, you can reduce the amount of cayenne pepper, chili powder, and paprika. You could also skip the dry rub completely and simply use salt and pepper to season the chicken. Place the chicken in a plastic bag or baking dish. Transfer the cut-up chicken to a non-reactive container, like one made of glass or plastic. A resealable plastic bag also works well and may actually make it easier to spread the spice around. Sprinkle the dry rub over the chicken. Dust the chicken with a generous amount of the dry rub. Once you are satisfied with the amount of dry rub on the chicken, use clean hands to gently pat it down. If you use a plastic bag, you can place dry rub in the bag, seal it, and turn it over several times to coat the chicken. You do not necessarily need to use all of the dry rub at once, but you may do so if you prefer a stronger flavor. Otherwise, start with 1/4 to 1/2 of the mixture and add more only if needed. Do not contaminate the unused dry rub with any that has come into contact with the chicken. Let the chicken sit. Loosely cover the seasoned chicken and place it in the refrigerator. Let sit a few hours to overnight. You could technically use the chicken right away, but allowing it to sit will help the chicken absorb more of the flavor from the dry rub. Sauté the onion, garlic, and salt in butter. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Slowly add the onion, garlic, and salt, cooking just until the onion becomes tender. Use a saucepan made of a nonreactive material. The garlic and onion must be sauteed gently. Do not allow them to brown at this stage. Add the red pepper, paprika, chili powder, and black pepper. Stir the ingredients in and cook for a full minute. You need to give the spices enough time to cook before adding the next set of ingredients. If not, the spices will not build up enough aroma or flavor. Stir in the water, vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. After thoroughly mixing these ingredients into the seasoned onions and garlic, let the mixture reach a simmer. Mix in the molasses and tomato paste. Stir the molasses into the sauce. As soon as the molasses is incorporated, whisk in the tomato paste. To make whisking the tomato paste easier, scoop it up from the can or measuring cup using your whisk and transfer it into the saucepan directly. Instead of trying to remove the paste off the whisk by "tapping" the utensil on the side of the pan, simply whisk the barbecue sauce with the clump of tomato paste still attached to the whisk. As you continue whisking, the paste will dissolve into the sauce. Continue whisking until smooth. Let the sauce reach a simmer once more, still over low heat. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Let the sauce simmer on low heat until it becomes thick and smooth. Leave the saucepan uncovered. Stir the sauce occasionally as it simmers. Separate the sauce into two parts. Transfer 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) of the sauce to a bowl to use while preparing the chicken. Place the rest of the sauce in a resealable container and store in the refrigerator. You cannot serve cooked chicken with sauce used to prepare raw chicken, so the stored sauce is the portion that you will serve alongside the chicken once you finish cooking it. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius). Simultaneously heat 1/4-inch (2/3-cm) cooking oil in a 12-inch (30-cm) skillet. Sear the chicken. Remove the chicken from the dry rub, shaking off any excess rub still clinging to the skin. Place the chicken skin-side down in the preheated skillet and cook until well-browned on both sides. Turn the chicken once during the searing process. Each piece of chicken will need to be seared for roughly 5 minutes. Cook the chicken in batches. Do not crowd the skillet. Transfer the chicken into two baking dishes. Place the chicken skin-side up into the two dishes, separating the breast portions (white meat) from the leg portions (dark meat). Add 2 Tbsp (30 ml) water to each dish. Use 2-quart to 3-quart (2-liter to 3-liter) baking pans made from glass or another nonreactive material. The dark meat and white meat need to cook for different amounts of time, which is why the pieces should be separated into different dishes. Spoon the reserved sauce over the chicken. Make sure that the sauce is spread evenly. Loosely cover each dish with parchment paper and follow by tightly covering each dish with aluminum foil. Cook the chicken until done. The leg portions will need to be cooked for 70 to 75 minutes, while the breast portions will only need 30 to 40 minutes. Refrigerate the breast portions until ready to bake. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius). Uncover the dish and spoon more sauce over the chicken to prevent it from drying out. Continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes. At this point, you can use your refrigerated serving sauce on the chicken since the meat should already be done and safe to consume. Continue cooking until the meat is well-glazed and tender. Serve warm. The chicken should also be served alongside any remaining barbecue sauce. Preheat the grill. You can grill the chicken using a charcoal grill or a gas grill. The choice is ultimately yours, but either way, half the grill should be heated to a medium-hot temperature while the other half should be cooler. A gas grill burns cleaner, but a charcoal grill will produce a smokier flavor. To preheat a gas grill, switch on the burners of one side of the grill only. If the burners have temperature control settings, choose a medium-high setting. To preheat a charcoal grill, pile all of the charcoal on one side of the grill. Light the coals and allow them to burn down until a fine layer of white ash forms on top and the flames have burned away. Transfer the chicken to the cool side of the grill. Use tongs to transfer the chicken to the unlit side of the grill, placing the pieces skin-side down. You can shake off some of the excess rub, but for this method, you still want a considerable amount of the rub to remain in order to produce a stronger flavor. Cook 25 to 30 minutes. Cover the grill and cook the chicken until it turns golden-brown. Covering the grill allows more heat to build up, cooking the chicken quicker and more thoroughly. You will need to move the pieces around halfway through the cooking process. The pieces closer to the coals or active burners will need to be swapped with the pieces furthest from the heat. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken at the end of this stage. It should read about 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius). Move the chicken and coat with sauce. Transfer the chicken to the hotter side of the grill and brush your reserved sauce over the pieces. Turn the chicken as often as necessary to make sure that it is completely coated with sauce. Cook until crisp. Once done, the sauce should appear caramelized and the skin should be crispy on all sides. Turn the pieces and glaze with more sauce as needed to make sure that the chicken cooks evenly. This part of the process will require your full attention, and you will need to leave the grill uncovered. This part of the cooking process can take another 10 to 20 minutes. Serve warm. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving it with the refrigerated portion of your barbecue sauce. . Make honey BBQ chicken Sweeten your favorite barbecue sauce with a little honey before using it as a glaze for your chicken. . Try something different with a gourmet BBQ chicken recipe An elegant yet simple barbecue sauce for chicken can be created with a bottle of tomato-based Russian dressing, an envelope of dry onion soup mix, and a jar of apricot preserves. . Prepare barbecue chicken with beer A beer-honey barbecue sauce can be spread over chicken to give it a more complex flavor. . Give your BBQ chicken a smoky flavor The addition of liquid smoke, when combined with a sauce made of ketchup, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg, and garlic, gives drumsticks or whole chickens a rich, smoky flavor, even when it is not cooked on the grill. . Cross cultures with a Filipino-style barbecue chicken When made this way, chicken is cooked in a sauce made with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, achuete powder, onion, and lemonsito juice. Create Asian-inspired sticky chicken. Like most barbecue sauces, the sauce for this chicken is made with a ketchup base and a bit of brown sugar. The flavors of soy sauce and garlic are mixed in to create an interesting contrast, however. Use a different barbecue sauce. You can always substitute the barbecue sauce described in this recipe with your favorite homemade or commercial sauce. If you want to try something new, you could also consider a few of the following. Make a simpler sauce. A very basic, mild, yet flavorful barbecue sauce can be made with nothing more than ketchup, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, brown sugar, and paprika. Prepare a sweet and spicy sauce. A tomato base is livened up with the addition of chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper, but the addition of brown sugar and sweet Hungarian paprika give this spicy sauce a hint of sweetness, too. Make a mustard-based barbecue sauce. Most BBQ sauces contain ketchup, but this version combines yellow mustard with other traditional barbecue sauce ingredients to form something a little more unique. | Combine the dry rub ingredients. Place the chicken in a plastic bag or baking dish. Sprinkle the dry rub over the chicken. Let the chicken sit. Sauté the onion, garlic, and salt in butter. Add the red pepper, paprika, chili powder, and black pepper. Stir in the water, vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix in the molasses and tomato paste. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Separate the sauce into two parts. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius). Sear the chicken. Transfer the chicken into two baking dishes. Spoon the reserved sauce over the chicken. Cook the chicken until done. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius). Serve warm. Preheat the grill. Transfer the chicken to the cool side of the grill. Cook 25 to 30 minutes. Move the chicken and coat with sauce. Cook until crisp. Serve warm. . . . . . Create Asian-inspired sticky chicken. Use a different barbecue sauce. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Hula-Skirt | How to Make a Hula Skirt | To make a hula skirt out of paper bags, cut along one side and the bottom of a bag so you're left with a large rectangle shape. Repeat this process for as many bags as you need to fit around your waist. Next, lay the cut bags out in landscape form and cut fringe strips into them, leaving approximately 2 inches at the top for the waistband. Then, cut a piece of string for a waistband and tape it to the top side of your bags. Finish by tying the skirt around your waist in a bow. | Gather up your materials. You'll need raffia or ribbon (2-4 large packages), scissors, a measuring tape, and a sturdy string, such as yarn or twine. You'll also need a sink or bowl to soak your raffia / ribbon in, and a flat surface where you can lay the raffia / ribbon out to dry. If you want an extremely dense hula skirt (one that you cannot see through), you'll probably need about 4 large packages of raffia or ribbon. If you want a lighter skirt, 2 large packages should be enough. All of these supplies can be purchased online or at your local craft store. (optional) Dampen your raffia or ribbon by soaking it in water. Start by unrolling your raffia / ribbon. It will most likely be bent, curled, and kinky from being rolled into its packaging, so soaking it and laying it flat to dry will straighten it out. Submerge the raffia or ribbon in a sink or bowl full of hot water for 5 minutes. (optional) Dry your raffia or ribbon. As you remove your raffia or ribbon from the water, lay it on top of a towel on a flat surface to dry. It will take a few hours to dry, and should feel completely dry to the touch before you begin attaching it to your skirt. Measure the length of your hula skirt. While the raffia / ribbon is drying, take your measuring tape and measure the length from your waist to your knees (or however long you want your hula skirt to be). Write down this measurement so you don't forget it. Cut your raffia or ribbon to the proper length. Find the measurement you wrote down in the last step, then double this number and add 2 inches. For example, if you want the skirt to be 15 inches long, cut your raffia / ribbon into 32 inches pieces. You have to double the length of your raffia / ribbon because each piece will be folded in half and end up being two strands of fringe for your skirt. Measure your waist to determine the width of your skirt. Take your measuring tape and wrap it around your waist to see how long you need to cut your string. Then, take that measurement and add 12 inches. This added length will be used to tie and untie your skirt. This string will be your waistband. For example, if your waist is 30 inches, cut your string so that it is 42 inches long. Tie each piece of raffia or ribbon to your waistband string one at a time by using Larks head knots. Look here for visual instructions on tying Larkshead knots. To tie a larks head knot, start by taking a piece of raffia or ribbon and folding it in half. Take the looped end of your folded raffia or ribbon and slide it under your waistband string. The looped end should be below the waistband, and the loose ends should be above the waistband. Now, take the loose ends of your raffia or ribbon and fold them towards you, around your waistband string. Slip the ends through the loop and pull tightly to secure your raffia / ribbon to the waistband. Do this with each piece of raffia or ribbon until your hula skirt is complete. It should take 2-3 entire packages. Leave 6 inches on each end of your waistband string so you can tie and untie your skirt. Tie the skirt around your waist. Use a bow instead of a knot so that you'll be able to tie and untie your skirt. Have fun in your new hula skirt! Gather all of your materials. You'll need grocery bags (typically 1-2, depending on how big your waist is), a pair of scissors, a pencil, a thick string (such as yarn or twine), and either packing tape or a stapler. Having a ruler will also help, but isn't absolutely necessary. Cut your paper bag. Start by cutting along one of the corner seams of the bag all the way to the bottom. Then, cut off the entire bottom of the bag by cutting around the perimeter of the bottom. Your bag should now be in a long rectangle shape. If you are going to use more than one bag, repeat this step with each bag. To see how many bags you need to use, wrap one horizontally around your waist. If it goes all the way around you, you only need to use one. If the bag leaves more than a couple inches showing, you'll need to add an additional bag. You won't always need to use entire bags. For example, it might take a bag and a half of a bag to fit around your waist. It's just paper, so you can cut and tape the exact amount of paper bag that you need. Lay your paper bag out on a flat surface so that it is horizontal / landscape. If there are any words or logos on the bag, leave them facing upwards. The upward facing side of the bag will end up being the inside of your hula skirt. This way, the words or logos won't show when you're wearing your skirt. Draw the waistband onto your bag. Drawing an outline for your waistband will show you where to stop cutting when you're making the fringe of your skirt. Take your ruler and measure 1-2 inches down from the top of the bag (depending on how thick you want your waistband to be), and make a small mark with a pencil. Then, place your ruler horizontally on the mark (your ruler should be parallel to the bag), and trace a straight line across the entire top of your bag. This line will mark off the waistband of your hula skirt. Cut strips into your bag to create the fringe part of your skirt. Starting on the right end of your bag, cut strips into your bag by starting at the bottom and cutting upwards until you reach the waistband outline. Strips should be 1/2 inch - 1 inch, depending on how think you want your fringe to be. Cut strips across the entire bag. Repeat this with any additional bags you are using. Leave the bag(s) laying flat while you do the next step. Cut your string. Wrap the string around your waist to see how much you'll need. Be sure to include a few extra inches of string on each side for you to tie and untie your hula skirt. Then, cut the string. After the string is cut, lay it along the waistband portion of the skirt that was not cut. Center the string to leave a few inches on each end of your skirt to tie and untie it. If you are using multiple bags, lay the bags side by side and tape or staple the end of the waistbands together. You will lay the string along the top of the entire width of your skirt. Tape or staple your string onto your skirt. Be sure that the string is secured well to your skirt, otherwise your skirt will not stay on. Use a heavy-duty tape, like packing tape or masking tape. Tape the string down along the entire waistband. If using staples, it's best to add a staple every 2 inches. Put the skirt on! Pick the skirt up and tie it onto your body. Use a bow so that it is easy to tie and untie your skirt. The tape or staples should be on the inside of your skirt, so that they cannot be seen from the outside. | Gather up your materials. (optional) Dampen your raffia or ribbon by soaking it in water. (optional) Dry your raffia or ribbon. Measure the length of your hula skirt. Cut your raffia or ribbon to the proper length. Measure your waist to determine the width of your skirt. Tie each piece of raffia or ribbon to your waistband string one at a time by using Larks head knots. Tie the skirt around your waist. Gather all of your materials. Cut your paper bag. Lay your paper bag out on a flat surface so that it is horizontal / landscape. Draw the waistband onto your bag. Cut strips into your bag to create the fringe part of your skirt. Cut your string. Tape or staple your string onto your skirt. Put the skirt on! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paper-Robot | How to Make a Paper Robot | To make a paper robot, first make a small cube and a larger rectangular cube from cardstock. Then, cover the cubes with tin foil and glue them together to make the robot's head and body. Next, cut colored construction paper into strips, fold them into accordion pleats, and attach them for arms. Also, roll some construction paper into tubes and attach them to your robot to make legs. Finally, glue on button eyes, bead ears, and paper feet before you poke holes in the robot's head and stick in pipe cleaner antennae. | Collect your supplies. You will need plain white card stock, 5-6 sheets of different colored construction paper, and some acrylic silver spray paint. Super glue, tape, a ruler, and scissors are all necessary to help build your robot. You may also want to add different colored pipe cleaners, buttons, and beads onto your robot. Draw four connected squares. First, you will want to find paper which is thick, like card stock. The dimensions of your cube will be 2X2X2 inches. Using a ruler, draw a 2X2 square on the paper. You can use a protractor to check whether each of the angles are 90 degrees. After you have drawn the first square, you will now have to draw three more of equal size. The next three will go directly next to the first square. Each new square will use a line from the previous square. Continue this until you have four squares, all connected together in one large rectangle. You will now have a rectangle of four connected squares, with a total dimension of 2X8 inches, and three visible pencil lines. Connect two more squares to the rectangle. The last two squares are placed apart from another, at square number two on the rectangle. Place a square on each side of that rectangle at the same position. You should now have what looks like a cross. Cut out the cube. Use scissors to cut around the outside edges of the cross. Do not cut on the inside pencil marks. After you have cut out the cross, throw the excess paper away. Join the edges of the cube together. For this step you can use either glue or tape. Fold up the three squares at the top of the cross. Lift up the long end of the cross and fold the top over. You should now have what looks roughly like a cube. Use small pieces of tape, or dabs of glue, to join together the edges. If you use glue, hold the edges together for at least 30 seconds so that the glue can dry. Make a cuboid out of heavy paper. This follows the same steps as the normal cube. The only difference is the dimensions. Draw a 2X4 inch rectangle. On top of that rectangle, on the long side, draw a 4X8 rectangle. Make sure that the lines of both rectangles connect with one another. On top of that rectangle, draw another 2X4 rectangle. Then, on top of that one, draw another 4X8 rectangle. At the end, you should have a rectangle that is 4X20 inch rectangle, with three pencil marks. Remember, 4 inch sides need to match up with 4 inch sides. 8 inch sides need to match up with 8 inch sides. For example, when drawing the 4X8 rectangle above the 2X4 rectangle, the 4 inch sides need to match up. On both sides of one of the 4X8 rectangles, draw a 8X2 rectangle. At the end, you should have what looks like a cross. Cut out the cross. Use a pair of scissors and cut out the cross. Fold up the two 8X2 rectangles, and one 2X4 rectangle. Then fold up the other section, so that you end up with a rectangular cube. Use dabs or glue, or small tabs of tape to secure the edges. If you use glue, hold the edges down for 30 seconds to ensure that the glue dries. Paint your boxes or wrap them in tin foil. If you decide to paint your boxes, you will need to buy acrylic silver spray paint. Take them outside so that fumes don't build up indoors. Spray from about 1-2 feet away. Make sure that you get all the sides and edges. You can let one side dry before you spray paint the other sides. If you decide to wrap your boxes in tin foil, simply peel off large sheets of tin foil. Cut two long strips which will wrap around both boxes. You also want to cut out four smaller pieces to wrap around the smaller areas and edges. You can either wrap the tin foil tightly around the cubes, or glue them down with dabs of super glue. Attach the two boxes together. Take the cube and place it on one of the 2X4 rectangles in the cuboid. Place the cube in the center of that rectangle. Place a good amount of super glue underneath that cube and press down for 15 seconds. Cut out two strips of construction paper. Choose any color you would like, but darker colors work best. You want to cut out two strips, each that are 1X7 inches long. Accordion fold the two strips. This means that the first 1/2 inch you will fold up, the next 1/2 inch you will fold down, the next 1/2 inch up, etc. Do this to both strips until they have been completely accordion folded. Glue the accordion folds to the body. Place a dab of super glue about one inch below the head of the robot, on both sides of the body. Take the ends of your accordion folds and press them against the super glue. Hold them there for fifteen seconds so that the glue can dry. Cut out two squares out of construction paper. Each of these squares should be 4X4 inches. After you have cut them out, feel free to dispose of any excess construction paper. The color of this construction paper should match what you chose for the arm accordion folds. Roll the squares. Take each of the squares in your hands and roll them like a cigar. You want to make sure you leave at least an inch or two in diameter. Then take a small piece of tape and place it on the overlapping edge so that the roll stays in place. Secure the legs to the body. Spread super glue around one of the ends of your roll. Do this to both of the legs. Then press and hold them on the underside of the body (large rectangular cube). The legs should be the same distance from one another, and about a 1/2 inch inwards from the edges. Hold the legs there for 15 seconds to allow the glue to harden and dry. Glue on eyes to your robot's head. Choose from a vast array of buttons or small items you might want to use as eyes. You might want something shiny, so that it matches the essence of a robot. After you have chosen the buttons you wish to use as eyes, super glue them onto the head. Make sure that they are placed on the front of the head, each about an inch inwards from the sides. Poke holes into the robot's head. You can do this with a sharp knife, or a pair of scissors. You want to do this on the top part of the head. Each hole should be about an inch inwards from the edges. Make sure the holes are tiny, otherwise the antennas won't hold. Take a pipe cleaner and cut it in half. Stick one piece in one of the holes and one in the other. Bend them slightly as if they are receiving signals. Cut out small paper squares. These can range from 1/4 inch squares to 1/2 inch squares. Cut these out of construction paper using scissors. Make sure you are using a multitude of different colors. Glue them on the front of the main body. You can do these in any order you wish. Press each of the pieces down for 15 seconds to allow the glue to dry. These squares will represent blinking lights/electronics on the robot. Create feet for your robot. Cut out two circles, each the same size, about 2 inches in diameter. If you have a hard time drawing a perfect circle, try to find a small circular object, like the end of a paper towel roll, and trace the edge of it. You should use a different color than the color you used for the legs and arms. Place your robot down on its back. Place glue around the edges of the lower paper legs. Press each of the circles onto the legs, and hold them for 15 seconds. This will allow the glue to dry. Make ears for your robot. Find two small beads that are the same color. You will want to use gold or silver beads. Take a small amount of super glue on each side of your robot's head. Place a bead on each side, and hold them against the super glue. Make sure to hold them for 15 seconds to allow the glue to dry. Finished. | Collect your supplies. Draw four connected squares. Connect two more squares to the rectangle. Cut out the cube. Join the edges of the cube together. Make a cuboid out of heavy paper. Cut out the cross. Paint your boxes or wrap them in tin foil. Attach the two boxes together. Cut out two strips of construction paper. Accordion fold the two strips. Glue the accordion folds to the body. Cut out two squares out of construction paper. Roll the squares. Secure the legs to the body. Glue on eyes to your robot's head. Poke holes into the robot's head. Cut out small paper squares. Create feet for your robot. Make ears for your robot. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Convert-Tenths-of-a-Pound-to-Ounces | How to Convert Tenths of a Pound to Ounces | To convert tenths of a pound to ounces, start by multiplying the numbers to the right of the decimal point by 16, since there are 16 ounces in every pound. If, for example, you're working with 17.5 pounds, you would multiply 0.5 by 16 to get 8. That means your final answer would be 17 pounds, 8 ounces. If your converted ounce measurement has decimal places, you would need to round it to the nearest whole number. For example, round 6.992 ounces to the next whole number to get 7 ounces, since 0.9 is greater than 0.5. | Identify the part of the number that you're going to convert. Your starting point should be a number like 5.75 pounds. The.75 denotes the tenths of a pound, so that's the part that you would be converting. Note that the number before the decimal, the 5, is your total number of whole pounds. Type the number of tenths of a pound into your calculator. Make sure that you include the decimal. It will probably automatically add a zero, in which case your number will look something like 0.75 pounds. Multiply that number by 16. There are 16 ounces in every pound, so to convert from tenths of a pound to ounces, you just multiply by 16. The answer will be your total number of ounces. 0.75 times 16 ounces equals 12 ounces. Note that to reverse this process, you simply have to divide by 16 rather than multiplying. So, if your original quantity is 5 pounds, 12 ounces, you could just divide 12 by 16 to get 0.75 pounds. Then add the 5 back in, and 5 + 0.75 equals a total of 5.75 pounds. Write your original number in pounds and ounces. The number of whole pounds from your original number is all the numbers to the left of the decimal. The number of ounces is the answer that you got when you multiplied the tenths of a pound by 16. For the example of 5.75 pounds, the answer would be written 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Write down the number you want to convert. For this method, your number should include decimals. For example, 4.8125 pounds or 0.25 pounds. Underline all the numbers to the left of the decimal point. This number tells you how many whole pounds you have. If you have 4.8125 pounds, 4 is left of the decimal point, so you'll underline the 4. If you have a bigger number, as with 17.5 pounds, underline all of the digits before the decimal point. In this case, you'd underline 17. If the number to the left of the decimal is zero, as with 0.25 pounds, your final answer will only include ounces. You can say "zero pounds" if you want, but it's implied if you just list the ounces. Identify the tenths of a pound. This should include all of the numbers that you didn't underline in the last step. In other words, it's all the numbers to the right of the decimal point. For 4.8125 pounds, the tenths are 0.8125. For 17.5 pounds, the tenths are 0.5. For 0.25 pounds, the tenths are 0.25 Set up your equation. First, you need to know that there are 16 ounces in every pound. So your equation will be 16 times the total tenths of a pound, which is the number you identified in the previous step. Multiply the equation. If the answer has decimal places, you can round it to the nearest whole number. Generally, you round down if the decimal is.4 or lower, and round up if the decimal is.5 or higher. 16 x 0.8125 pounds = 13 ounces 16 x 0.437 pounds = 6.992 ounces. We can round that to 7 ounces, because 0.9 is higher than 0.5, so we round up. 16 x 0.7 pounds = 11.2 ounces. We can round 11.2 to 11 ounces, because 0.2 is lower than 0.4, so we round down. Combine your total number of whole pounds and your total number of ounces. Generally, the larger measure is listed first, so you'll say pounds first, and then the ounces. 4.8125 pounds becomes 4 pounds, 13 ounces. 17.5 pounds becomes 17 pounds, 8 ounces. 0.25 pounds becomes 4 ounces. Write down the number you want to convert. For this method, your number should begin written as pounds and ounces. For example, 7 pounds, 2 ounces. Circle the number of whole pounds. It should be fairly clear from how you wrote the measurement in step 1, but it's just the number of pounds. When you're done with the conversion, this number will be what you write first, to the left of the decimal point. For 7 pounds, 2 ounces, you would circle the 7. For 15 pounds, 6 ounces, you would circle the 15. If your original measurement is only written in ounces, and the total number of ounces is less than 16, the number of whole pounds will just be zero. For example, 13 ounces could be written 0 pounds, 13 ounces. If your original measurement is just written in ounces, and the total number of ounces is greater than 16, then the total number of pounds will be included as all the numbers to the left of the decimal point in your answer at step 5. For example, 100 ounces divided by 16 equals 6.25 pounds. We don't have to look at the original measurement to find the total pounds, because it's included before the decimal point in the answer. Identify the number of ounces. Again, this should be clear from how you've written the measurement in step 1. If you have 7 pounds, 2 ounces, then there are 2 ounces. Set up your equation. There are 16 ounces in every pound. To find your tenths of a pound, you want to divide your total number of ounces by 16. This should give you all the numbers that come after the decimal point. Divide to solve the equation. If you want, you can round so that you have fewer numbers after the decimal. The answer will be less precise, but simpler. To round, just choose the number you want to end with, then look at the next digit. If it's 4 or less, the first number stays the same. If it's 5 or more, the first number rounds up by 1. 2 ounces divided by 16 equals.125 pounds. If you wanted to round it to the tenths place, which is the number right after the decimal point, you would look at the next number. Here, the next number is 2, and 2 is less than 4, so we would round to.1 pounds. 100 ounces divided by 16 equals 6.25 pounds. In this case, you not only get your tenths of a pound, you also get the total number of whole pounds, which is the number before the decimal. Say you want to round 6.25 pounds to the tenths place. 5 is the next number, and it is equal to or greater than 5, so you would round up. The rounded answer would be 6.3 pounds. Now combine your previous answers for the number of whole pounds and the converted tenths of a pound. This number is your final answer. 7 pounds, 2 ounces can be written as 7.125 pounds. 100 ounces is 6.25 pounds. | Identify the part of the number that you're going to convert. Type the number of tenths of a pound into your calculator. Multiply that number by 16. Write your original number in pounds and ounces. Write down the number you want to convert. Underline all the numbers to the left of the decimal point. Identify the tenths of a pound. Set up your equation. Multiply the equation. Combine your total number of whole pounds and your total number of ounces. Write down the number you want to convert. Circle the number of whole pounds. Identify the number of ounces. Set up your equation. Divide to solve the equation. Now combine your previous answers for the number of whole pounds and the converted tenths of a pound. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-German-Shorthaired-Pointers | How to Care for German Shorthaired Pointers | To care for your German short-haired pointer, give it at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise every day since it's a high-energy breed of dog that loves being active. Along with walking and playing with it regularly, make it a habit to clean its ears at least once a week by using gauze wrapped around your finger since this breed is more prone to ear infections. German short-haired pointers are also susceptible to droopy lower eyelids where dust and dirt can get caught, so you may need to flush your dog's eyes out with a saline solution every now and then to prevent irritation. | Choose the proper dog food for your GSP's activity level. German short-haired pointers have a metabolism similar to that of most other species of dog, so a GSP with an average level of daily activity should be fine with regular adult dog food. If your GSP is a working dog or is just very active, look for a high-energy adult dog food. You can determine if a food is high-quality is by reading the ingredients. If the first two ingredients listed are meat (not meat by-products), then the food is most likely a high quality food. Some dog food companies make dog food that is formulated for medium-sized dogs. This might be a good option for your GSP. Check with your dog's veterinarian or ask your breeder for suggestions if you are not sure what to feed your GSP. If the breeder was using a specific brand of food, then it is a good idea to stick with that brand. Consider your GSP's age. Depending on the age of your GSP, you may need to choose a special age-specific food. For example, if you have a GSP puppy, then you will need a puppy food. If you have an older adult dog, then you will need to choose a senior food. Your dog's age may also affect the number of times that you need to feed him. Adult GSPs will need to be fed twice per day, but puppies may need to be fed more often. If your puppy is: eight to 12 weeks, then do four feedings per day three to six months, then do three feedings per day six months to one year old, then do two feedings per day Develop a regular feeding schedule. Some people choose to free-feed their dogs, which can result in the dog becoming overweight or obese. Therefore, it is better to maintain a regular feeding schedule for your GSP and to measure his food portions. To determine how much to feed your dog, you will need to consider his weight and activity level. Check your dog's food package for a basic guideline on how much to feed your dog according to his weight. If you are still not sure if you are feeding the right amount of food to your GSP, then check with your dog's veterinarian. Most GSPs require between two to five cups of dry food per day. The more active your GSP is, the more food he will need. For example, a dog that is mostly sedentary would probably only need two cups per day, while a GSP that is very active will probably need closer to five cups of food per day. Divide your dog's daily food intake into two meals. For example, if your dog needs two cups of food per day, then you could give him one cup in the morning and one cup in the evening. Provide plenty of fresh clean water. GSPs get thirsty from all of their physical activity, so they need to have access to a bowl of fresh, clean water at all times. Stainless steel bowls are ideal because these are less bacteria-friendly. Keep the bowl of water somewhere that is easy for your GSP to access. Clean the water dish and change out the water it at least once per day. Give your GSP a few treats. Treats are a great way to reward your GSP, but try to keep treats to a minimum to avoid the chance of your GSP becoming overweight. If you want to feed treats try these nutritious, low-calorie foods: baby carrots rinsed canned green beans cooked sweet potatoes, sliced a few frozen peas or blueberries Steer clear of foods that are toxic to your GSP. You will need to avoid feeding your GSP certain human foods that can make them ill or kill them. These foods include: avocados alcohol chocolate grapes and raisins macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans, and walnuts onions, garlic, and chives yeast dough xylitol (often found in sugar free foods) Brush your GSP's coat with a rubber brush. Even though GSPs have short coats, they will still shed if they are not brushed on a regular basis. To reduce shedding, use a rubber brush to go over your GSP's coat about once or twice per week. Start brushing your GSP from a young age so that he will be used to it. To make it more pleasant for him, try giving your GSP a treat after you finish brushing him. Inspect and clean your GSP's ears weekly. GSPs are more prone to ear infections than some breeds, so it is important to inspect and clean your GSP's ears at least once per week. To clean your GSP's ears, you will need to use a damp (not wet) piece of cotton gauze to wipe out the inside of your dog's ear flap. Wrap the gauze around your finger and use your finger to gently wipe the inside of your GSP's ear flap and ear. Do not try to stick the gauze deep into your dog's ears or use a cotton swab on your dog's ears. Check your dog's ears often as well to see if he has any debris or wax buildup in his ears. A good time to check your GSP's ears is when you are brushing him. If you notice lots of wax buildup, discharge, or a bad smell coming from your GSP's ears, then take him to see your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can do a deep cleaning, check for infections, and provide medication for your dog's ears if needed. Trim your GSP's nails. Nail upkeep is important for GSPs because long nails may pose an injury hazard for these active dogs. If your GSP is active, then you may not need to trim his nails often or even at all, but you should trim your GSP's nails whenever they start to click on the ground while he is walking. Be careful to avoid the quick when you trim your GSP's nails. The quick is a blood vessel inside of a dog's nail and it can be extremely painful if you hit it. To avoid cutting the quick, trim a small sliver of nail at a time and check the trimmed surface as you go. If you start to notice a circle on the trimmed surface, stop cutting. The quick is just below this circle. Clean your GSP's teeth. Care for your GSP's teeth by brushing them regularly from the time your GSP is a puppy. You can teach your GSP to like brushing by placing a bit of peanut butter or liver on a dog toothbrush and allowing him to lick the toothbrush. After doing this a few times, he should be more accepting of the toothbrush. Never use human toothpaste on your GSP. Human toothpaste contains ingredients, such as fluoride, that are toxic to dogs. Flush your GSP's eyes with saline solution if needed. GSPs are prone to droopy lower eyelids, which can make it more likely that dust, dirt, and other particles will get into their eyes and cause irritation. If you are spending long periods outdoors with your GSP, then you may need to flush your GSP's eyes out with saline solution now and then to remove these particles. To flush your GSP's eyes out with saline solution, you will need to hold your dog's eyelid open and gently squeeze saline solution into your dog's eyes from just above his eyes. This is much easier with a friend and you will need to be careful not to allow the bottle tip to touch your dog's eye or it may cause injury. Flushing out your dog's eyes with saline solution is similar to giving a dog eye drops but more solution may be required to flush out dust particles and debris from your dog's eyes. Ask your veterinarian for some special saline fluid for your GSP's eyes. Your veterinarian can also demonstrate how to use it. Exercise your GSP often. GSP's are high-energy dogs and they require at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. Two 30 minute exercise sessions per day are even better. That is why GSPs are best for people with active lifestyles. Try taking your dog along with you on morning walks or runs. Some dogs can even learn to run beside a bike while you ride. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, then consider hiring someone to take your dog for morning runs. You might also consider taking your GSP to a local dog park to play. Otherwise, it is possible that your dog will develop behavioral issues due to boredom and pent up energy. Play fetch with your GSP. GSPs are great fetchers, so playing with a Frisbee or tennis ball in the backyard can be an excellent way to help your GSP get some exercise. Try heading out to your yard once per day to play a game of fetch with your GSP. Playing fetch is also a good way for you to bond with your GSP. Make sure that you have somewhere safe to play fetch with your GSP so he will not be near traffic or other hazards. Give your GSP chew toys. GSPs like to chew, so it is a good idea to provide things like rope toys and rawhide bones for your GSP to chew on. If not provided with something to chew on, your GSP may find an item such as a shoe or something else that is important to you. Try alternating your GSP's chew toys so that he does not get bored of them. Try taking a toy away and exchanging it with a new toy every day of the week. Spend plenty of time with your GSP. GSPs are bred to hunt and track, so they are used to spending lots of time around humans. Even if you do not plan to take your GSP hunting, you should take him along with you to do other things as much as possible. For example, you might take your GSP with you for a hike, a day at the beach, or on a visit to a friend's house. . Consider crate training your GSP Crate training is an excellent way to provide your GSP with a secure space to retreat to when he is feeling scared or overwhelmed. If you decide to use a crate, get one that is large enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lay down in. It should not be any bigger. Place some comfortable bedding and a favorite toy in your GSP's crate to make it a comforting space. Keep the crate open for the first couple of weeks and allow your GSP to investigate the crate and use it as he pleases. After a couple of weeks, you can start to close the door when your GSP is in his crate. Do not keep your GSP in his crate for more than a few hours. Dogs are not meant to be kept in crates for long periods of time. Never use a crate to punish your GSP. Crates are meant to be safe places and your dog should not be afraid to go into his crate. Teach your GSP basic commands. Teaching your GSP some basic commands is another great way to stimulate his mind and enhance your bond. Start by teaching your GSP how to do things like sit, stay, shake, lay down, and heel. You can teach your dog these commands on your own or take a class with your GSP. Use positive reinforcement to train your GSP. Never hit him or yell at him if he disobeys. Instead, provide your GSP with treats, praise, and petting when he does something well. Keep training sessions short and regular. Your GSP will be more likely to maintain his concentration if sessions are kept between five to 10 minutes long. Try to do at least one training session every day. After your GSP has learned these commands, you can teach him some more advanced ones as well. GSPs are intelligent dogs so they are easy to train. Socialize your GSP. GSPs tend to have even temperaments and do not act aggressively towards people, but a poorly socialized GSP may be frightened or confused by new types of people or children. Make sure that you socialize your GSP well from the time he is a puppy. Take him out with you and invite people over so that your GSP puppy encounters all sorts of things such as: children and babies men and women other dogs cats people in hats, holding umbrellas, wearing boots, etc. loud noises crowds cars and bikes Keep your GSP indoors. GSPs do best when they are around people, so housing your GSP indoors is ideal. Make sure that your GSP has a soft bed and that his sleeping area is free from drafts. Due to the short coat of these dogs, they can become cold in the winter. Place a collar with an ID tag on your GSP. GSPs are athletic tracking dogs, so there is always the chance that your GSP will run off if he catches an interesting scent. To ensure that your GSP is returned safely to you, make sure that your GSP is always wearing a collar with tags that provide your address and phone number. You may also want to consider having your GSP implanted with a tracking chip so that he will be identifiable even if he loses his collar. Take your GSP for regular veterinary check-ups. As with all dogs, it is important to take your GSP to see a veterinarian at least once per year for a check-up and to get vaccinations and tests as needed. If you do not already have a veterinarian for your GSP, then find one as soon as possible and take your dog for an initial check-up. Your GSP will need to get vaccines and medicine for: Lyme disease Rabies Heartworm Fleas and ticks Spay or neuter your GSP. If you don't plan to breed your GSP, then you should have your dog spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering help to control the pet population and it can also prevent your dog from developing some negative behavioral issues. Spaying and neutering may even protect your dog from certain types of cancer and some other health problems. Spayed female dogs are less likely to get certain types of cancer and infections. Male and female dogs that are not fixed are more likely to roam, be aggressive, or engage in other territorial behaviors. Request tests to watch for breed-specific diseases. GSPs are healthy dogs, but they are susceptible to a few diseases. These include hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, von Willebrand's disease, entropion, and gastric torsion. To keep your GSP healthy, your veterinarian may perform regular tests on your GSP, but you can also request them. These tests include: thyroid test hip exam heart exam eye exam tests for von Willebrand's disease | Choose the proper dog food for your GSP's activity level. Consider your GSP's age. Develop a regular feeding schedule. Provide plenty of fresh clean water. Give your GSP a few treats. Steer clear of foods that are toxic to your GSP. Brush your GSP's coat with a rubber brush. Inspect and clean your GSP's ears weekly. Trim your GSP's nails. Clean your GSP's teeth. Flush your GSP's eyes with saline solution if needed. Exercise your GSP often. Play fetch with your GSP. Give your GSP chew toys. Spend plenty of time with your GSP. . Teach your GSP basic commands. Socialize your GSP. Keep your GSP indoors. Place a collar with an ID tag on your GSP. Take your GSP for regular veterinary check-ups. Spay or neuter your GSP. Request tests to watch for breed-specific diseases. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Perform-an-Intervention | How to Perform an Intervention | If your loved one needs help with their addiction, you can stage an intervention to encourage them to get clean. Talk to their close family and friends to put together a small team of people your loved one is likely to listen to. Meet up before the intervention and draft a treatment plan to present to the person. This can include details of local therapy, support groups, and rehab programs. You can also help them on an individual basis. For example, someone can drive them to and from treatment so they'll be more likely to go. Once you've planned your intervention, set a time and place, and invite the person over for dinner or to hang out. That way, they'll be more likely to come. When they arrive, have each person express their concern and offer their support. Then, present your treatment plan and encourage your loved one to get help immediately. | Consult with a professional. To ensure the best chances for success, you should consult with someone who has experience helping addicts and conducting interventions. A professional interventionist will be able to guide you and other family member through the process, increasing chances that the intervention will be successful. You can meet with the professional beforehand to plan things out, and you may even want to invite him or her to the intervention to act as a facilitator. It's especially important to consult with a professional if the following is true: The person has a history of mental illness. The person is likely to get violent in reaction to the intervention. The person has exhibited suicidal behavior. Form an intervention team. This should be composed of five or six people the person in question is close to and respects. The person's parents, siblings, trusted relatives and best friends are likely candidates. Invite people who have been impacted by the person's addiction and are invested in the person's future. It's important to invite people who can be relied upon to be there for the person in times of need, since the intervention is just the first step on the road to recovery. Don't invite people the person doesn't like or trust. The person you're trying to help could end up becoming upset and leaving instead of being receptive to getting help. Don't invite people who might disrupt the intervention by getting too emotional or coming to the person's defense. For example, the person you're trying to help might be close to his little sister, but if she might end up taking his side and telling people he doesn't really need to go to rehab, she'll be doing more harm than good if she's there during the intervention. If you think a certain person should be there, but he or she might disrupt the intervention, have him or her write a letter that can be read out loud instead of coming in person. Find the right treatment plan. The treatment plan you put forward is a central part of what makes interventions effective. Just telling the person that you think there's a problem isn't going to be enough to help him or her stop the addiction. Laying out a well-researched treatment plan the person can begin right away is better than just saying "you need to get treatment." The treatment plan should incorporate ways your loved one can get professional help to overcome his or her addiction. This could mean going to rehab, getting psychotherapy, or beginning some kind of outpatient treatment program. Research facilities and decide what makes the most sense for the person you're trying to help. Figure out what steps are required for admission, and have everything set up in advance. You may also need to figure out how the treatment will be funded. Prepare a list of support groups that your loved one can sign up for right away. You might want to offer to drive the person to the Have a plan in place for making sure the person physically gets to the treatment facility. If it's an inpatient facility, have a plan of action for transporting the person there. If it's an outpatient facility, assign a loved one to be responsible for driving the person to and from the facility on a regular schedule. Decide on consequences to put forward. Each person involved in the intervention should put forward consequences that will be put into place if the person refuses the treatment plan. Difficult as it may be, each person must be willing to make a big change in order to help the person make a new start. The biggest goal is to help the person realize that his or her addictive behavior will no longer be enabled by loved ones. This will make it much harder for the person to continue his or her addictive behaviors. If family members have been hosting the person or lending him or her money, consequences might include cutting off financial aid, or asking the person to find another place to live. For those closest to the person, the consequence might be getting a divorce or changing the relationship in another way. Consider legal consequences as well. For example, instead of bailing the person out of jail after a drunk driving incident, family and friends might vow not to help out next time. There will be no more “rescues.” Choose a location and time. Once the intervention has been planned out, settle on a date and time when everyone can be there. Pick a private place where the person feels comfortable, like a loved one's home. Each person who is to be present at the intervention should understand the gravity of the situation and be sure to arrive at the designated time. Having a no show could end up being disruptive to the intervention. Have a rehearsal. Since the intervention meeting can be very emotional, having a rehearsal beforehand can help. It's very important to keep things on track during an intervention, and rehearsing the entire session will help people stick to the plan when the time comes. If you plan to have a professional interventionist there to guide the session, see if you can schedule a rehearsal with everyone present. Communicate openly with one another and take notes on what the loved one is doing that is harmful to himself and others. Gather the facts about the person you are dealing with. Make confidentiality a clear rule for all partakers in the meeting. Consider creating a list of actions and behavioral patterns that will no longer be tolerated. Next to each activity, write what your action will be if the person continues these behaviors. Have people write down what they plan to say. It's not necessary for people to memorize their lines; this isn't a performance. The important thing is to cover all the bases without straying too far from the program. Anticipate the person's reactions and have responses ready. If the person reacts defensively or with anger, everyone should be prepared to handle it without disrupting the intervention. Invite the person to the meeting without telling them what it is. If you tell the person what's going on, chances are they're not going to come. In order to make sure the person shows up, it's necessary to omit the information that his or her family and friends are staging the intervention. Come up with a plan for having the person go to the meeting spot without being clued in to what's going on. For example, you could tell the person to come to your house for dinner, or meet at a friend's house to hang out. Make sure the plan doesn't seem contrived. Ask the person to do something that's not out of the ordinary. Everyone should already be gathered in the space by the time the person gets there. When the person arrives, state that it's an intervention and tell the person that everyone has something they want to say. Have each member speak. Following the rehearsed format for the meeting, everyone should go around and read his or her prepared statement. If a professional interventionist is involved, he or she can act as the leader of the meeting and call on people to speak. Give each family member or friend the chance to say how the person's actions have personally affected their lives, and how much they love the person and want things to get better. Yelling or acting angry and confrontational is not advised. The person you're trying to help might just get up and walk away if this takes place. People should keep these feelings to themselves for the sake of having a successful intervention. That said, it's fine to express some amount of emotion. Expressing sadness and hope that things will get better could help move the person to action. It's OK to cry. Avoid trying to lighten the mood or otherwise derail the serious discussion taking place. Present the treatment plan. After everyone has spoken, the leader of the group (or the interventionist) should present the treatment the treatment plan to the person. Make it clear that the treatment plan has been thoroughly researched and recommended by experts, and say that everyone believes it's the person's best bet for getting better. Ask the person to make an immediate decision to accept the plan. Discuss what will happen if the option isn't taken. It should be made clear that if the option isn't taken, there will be consequences. Be ready for the person to express anger, start crying or even laugh. Stress the seriousness of the situation and don't back down. End the meeting with concrete next steps. As soon as the intervention meeting is over, the person should begin treatment of some kind. This might mean physically escorting him or her to a facility where they can start detoxing or undergoing treatment, or it might mean starting therapy or an outpatient program. Have the person make a commitment to going through the entire treatment process and doing whatever it takes to stop the addiction from progressing further. Support the person if he or she chooses treatment. It might be awhile before you can determine whether the intervention was successful. Even if the person is initially receptive to treatment, there's a long way to go before things will feel stable and secure again. Help him or her feel connected and supported throughout this difficult period. It's important for everyone involved in the intervention to do their part to make the process as smooth as possible. Many people feel cynical and negative during recovery, complaining about the treatment facility, the therapist, the other members in the support group, and so on. Do not give in if the person asks to end the treatment plan early. Resist the temptation to commiserate, since this can damage the person's resilience. Don't accept half measures. The person may argue that just two weeks of rehab was enough to cure the addiction, or that going to counseling three times a week is too much. Do what you can to help the person stick to the original treatment plan that was approved by a professional, since half measures don't usually work. Be prepared for the person to refuse treatment. Sometimes denial and anger end up winning the day, and the person decides not to get treatment. There's no way to force someone to get treatment if he or she just isn't ready. The most you can do is strongly encourage the person to go forth with the treatment plan, and make it clear you'll support him or her along the way. Even if the person refuses treatment, this doesn't mean the intervention was pointless. Now the person knows that his or her family thinks there's a serious problem. By getting these issues out in the open, family can stop the process of enabling the person's addiction. Enforce the consequences. As painful as it might be, it's important to enforce the consequences that you planned to put in place if the person refused treatment. Allowing the person to just continue living the same way as before the intervention is never going to help. Until the person has full control over his or her addiction, there's always danger that a crisis will happen. The best thing you can do is cut off funding, break up with the person, or do whatever you personally know will create a significant life change that may help the person take a new path. If another crisis happens later, take advantage of it. For example, if the person ends up in jail or in the hospital, use that experience to show the person that he or she really does need treatment. Having a second intervention may be helpful. Remember, you are helping him or her to heal. Sometimes, we need to endure the pain of a loved one in order to provide the person with the help needed to get well. | Consult with a professional. Form an intervention team. Find the right treatment plan. Decide on consequences to put forward. Choose a location and time. Have a rehearsal. Invite the person to the meeting without telling them what it is. Have each member speak. Present the treatment plan. End the meeting with concrete next steps. Support the person if he or she chooses treatment. Be prepared for the person to refuse treatment. Enforce the consequences. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chocolate-Apples | How to Make Chocolate Apples | To make chocolate apples, start by pushing a wooden skewer into the core of each apple you're using. Then, set the apples aside and melt some chocolate using a double boiler. Once the chocolate is fully melted, dip the apples into it, spinning them around so they're fully covered. If you want to add any sprinkles, nuts, or other garnishes, do it while the chocolate is still wet. Finally, place the dipped apples on some wax paper and put them in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to harden the chocolate. | Mix the dry ingredients for the chocolate sauce. Combine 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 ⁄ 2 tablespoons (22.2 ml) of all purpose flour, and 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder in a bowl. Mix them together with a fork or whisk to combine them evenly and remove any lumps there might have been. Combine wet ingredients for chocolate sauce over heat. Bring a saucepan up to medium heat, then add 1 1/4 cups of milk, 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) of unsalted butter, and ⁄ 2 tablespoon (7.4 ml) of vanilla extract. Stir the ingredients until the butter has melted completely. Add more vanilla extract for stronger flavor, but don't go overboard! Add the dry ingredients a small portion at a time. If you try to dump all the dry ingredients into the saucepan at once, you'll have a flour-bomb. Instead, add the dry ingredients little by little, whisking them into the wet ingredients to even out any lumps. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer. Keep stirring the sauce to keep it from burning over the higher heat. After about five to six minutes, turn off the heat completely and add a pinch of salt to add depth to the flavor. Crush the candy canes into powder. There are many ways you can do this, so use whatever is handy in your kitchen. The most obvious method would be to use a mortar and pestle. Snap the candy into smaller, more manageable pieces, and put them in the mortar a few at a time. Use the pestles to grind the candy down into a powder or small shards — whichever you prefer. You can also use a hammer or meat tenderizer. Place the candy cane in a sealable plastic bag, snapping it into smaller pieces to fit if needed. Place the bag on a stable surfaces, then pound at the candy with the hammer or meat tenderizer until it reaches the texture you prefer. Use whatever you can find around the house. Be creative, but be safe. Peel and core your apples. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer skin from the apple, being careful not to cut your fingers in the process. Stand the apples up, then, using a sharp knife, slice down along the edges of the core to remove the edible flesh of the apple from the inedible core. Cut the edible flesh into smaller slices as you see fit. Top the apple slices with chocolate sauce and crushed candy cane. Lay them out either on a large plate or over a length of tin foil, if you want to avoid the extra dishes. You can finish your chocolate apples any way you like. Some choices might include: Dip the entire apple slice in chocolate sauce, or dip only half the slice. Use a spoon to drizzle chocolate sauce lightly over the apple slices. Wag a spoonful of sauce quickly back and forth, allowing the chocolate to drizzle down lightly over the apple slices. Top them with the crushed candy, letting the sauce work as an adhesive. Put out a bowl of chocolate sauce and a bowl of crushed peppermint, allowing your guests to dip and sprinkle themselves, deciding how much garnish they want for their apples. Refrigerating them before serving them sets the chocolate a little bit, which some people prefer. Wash and dry your apples. You can use whichever type of apple you like, but the tartness of Granny smith apples goes well with the sweetness of chocolate. Remove any produce stickers that might be on the apples' skin, then rinse them under water to remove any chemicals or germs that might be on the surface. Dry them with a clean towel. Push a wooden skewer into the core of each apple. This will allow you to eat the apple like a lollipop once it's been dipped in chocolate. You may have to press firmly, but you should be able to ease a stick into the apple fairly easily. Cut 16 ounces of chocolate into small pieces. If you can find good quality chocolate in chocolate chip form, skip this step. However, if you bought a bar of chocolate, you'll need to cut it up into smaller pieces. If you bought a chocolate bar that snaps easily into bite-sized pieces, break it up along the suggested lines. If it's a solid bar, use a sharp knife to break the chocolate bar down into very small chunks. If the pre-portioned pieces of chocolate from your bar are too large, run your knife through those, too. The smaller the pieces, the more quickly and easily the chocolate will melt down into a sauce. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler. If you try to melt chocolate over high heat too quickly, you might burn the chocolate and ruin your whole sauce. To guard against that, use the double boiler method to steam the chocolate gently from below, warming it evenly and preventing it from burning. To create a double boiler, you'll need a large saucepan; a double boiler pan that fits over the saucepan, but does not touch the bottom of it; and a stirrer. Fill the bottom of the large saucepan with water, making sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the double boiler pan when it's in place. Place the saucepan, water, and double boiler pan combination over medium-low heat on the stove. Place the chocolate pieces in the double boiler pan. As the steam from the hot water rises up to the double boiler pan, the chocolate will begin to slowly melt. Stir the chocolate to speed up the melting process and ensure an even texture to the sauce. When the chocolate has melted through, turn off the heat source. Dip the apples in the melted chocolate. Hold each apple by the skewer, and dip it into the chocolate in the double boiler pan. Roll it around to make sure that the apple is completely covered by chocolate sauce. Garnish the apples. If you want to add any other toppings to the chocolate apples, do it immediately after rolling the apple in the chocolate sauce, while it's still wet. You can top the apple with anything that strikes your fancy. Some common toppings include chopped hazelnuts, sprinkles, crushed candy canes, and so on. You can dip the apple into a bowl of the topping, or you can sprinkle the topping over the apple. Place dipped apples on wax paper and refrigerate to harden. Place a sheet of wax paper over a cookie pan, then place each apple upside down on the wax paper. The skewer should be sticking up toward the sky. Place the cookie pan in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden once more, then you're ready to serve your chocolate apples! | Mix the dry ingredients for the chocolate sauce. Combine wet ingredients for chocolate sauce over heat. Add the dry ingredients a small portion at a time. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer. Crush the candy canes into powder. Peel and core your apples. Top the apple slices with chocolate sauce and crushed candy cane. Wash and dry your apples. Push a wooden skewer into the core of each apple. Cut 16 ounces of chocolate into small pieces. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler. Dip the apples in the melted chocolate. Garnish the apples. Place dipped apples on wax paper and refrigerate to harden. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-an-Outdoor-Concrete-Patio | How to Paint an Outdoor Concrete Patio | To paint an outdoor concrete patio, start by repairing any cracks or crevices in the surface and cleaning it thoroughly. Next, mask off any areas you want to protect with painter's tape, apply a coat of primer to the surface, and let it dry completely. Apply a coat of paint around any edges or joints with a small brush, then use a roller to apply the first coat of paint to the rest of the surface. Let the paint dry before deciding to apply additional coats! | Clear the surface. Remove all furniture, decorations, plants, pots, toys, and any other items you have on your patio. You need a clear surface to work with to ensure your patio is cleaned properly and painted evenly. Cover plants and landscaping near the patio with tarps to protect them from cleaning solutions and water run-off. Repair cracks in the concrete. Clean out the crack(s) with a wire brush. Vacuum or blow out any dust and dirt, or use a broom to make sure the crack is clean. Fill the crack with masonry crack filler. Depending on the brand, either apply the filler with a scraper, or a caulking gun (if necessary). To fill deeper or wider cracks, fill them by a quarter-inch (six mm) at a time. Allow the product to dry between applications according to label instructions. For best results, repair cracks in completely dry concrete. If the concrete is slightly damp, dry with a blow dryer or heat gun, then wait fifteen minutes. If more water has seeped into the crack, protect the concrete from water until it dries on its own. Sand down grout- or concrete-based fillers with fine sandpaper, then clean the area a second time. (Do not sand self-leveling or latex-based sealants). Remove moss, roots, and vines. Pull out anything that has grown on the surface of the concrete, and spray the patio down with a pressure washer if you have one. If you don't have a pressure washer, remove what you can by hand, sweep the patio, and hose it down to remove any excess clumps, dirt, or debris. Borrow a power washer from a neighbor or rent one from a tool rental company or home and building store if you don't have one of your own. A pressure washer will be very useful for cleaning and rinsing your concrete patio prior to painting. To clear a large amount of vegetation, spray a broad-spectrum herbicide such as glyphosate (Roundup) at least two weeks before cleaning. Clean the concrete surface. Concrete can absorb and trap dirt and grease. To ensure it is completely clean and has a fresh surface for paint to adhere to, scrub the concrete with a product that will draw substances out, such as trisodium phosphate, muriatic acid, or phosphoric acid. These products will also help remove old paint, which needs to come off before repainting.These products are not designed to remove old paint. Read all safety information before you begin. Many concrete cleaning products require everyone in the area to wear rubber gloves, eyewear, masks, rubber boots, and protective clothing. Rinse the concrete so the surface is wet. Apply your cleaning solution (acid, trisodium phosphate, or other cleaner) as per the manufacturer's instructions. Scrub the concrete with a stiff brush. If you use muriatic or phosphoric acid, this process is called etching, and will ensure the concrete has a sandpaper-like texture that paint will stick to better. Etching should be done before painting new or bare concrete. Flush the surface. It is best to use a power washer, as this will wash away excess debris, old paint, and efflorescence, a whitish salt deposit that forms on surfaces like concrete and stucco. If there is still any old paint left on the concrete, scrub it with a wire brush and continue power washing until it's gone. If you used an acid solution to etch the concrete, neutralize the pH on the surface by sprinkling baking soda over top before rinsing. Especially after etching, be sure to rinse the concrete with water until no chalky powder comes off the surface when you touch it with your fingers. Test the concrete for moisture content. Before painting your patio, make sure that paint will adhere in the first place. All concrete is porous and absorbs moisture, but if your concrete patio contains too much moisture, you won't be able to paint it until you correct the moisture content. Take an 18-inch by 18-inch square of aluminum foil or thick plastic and tape down all four sides, sealing the square to the concrete with tape. Wait 16 to 24 hours. After that time, carefully remove the square of foil or plastic and check the concrete and the underside of the square for condensation or moisture. If the concrete is still damp, wait until weather allows complete drying. Protect the area from sprinklers and garden runoff. Proceed once the concrete is completely dry. Select your paint. Since you are painting concrete in an outdoor area, not just any paint will suffice. Regular exterior paint will likely crack on a concrete surface and peel off shortly after being applied. There are several types of paint that will work for your outdoor concrete patio, and they include: Concrete paints that contain sealants or waterproofing features, so the paint is designed to resist water, salt, oil, and grease. This is a good choice for paint because it's specifically designed for outdoor concrete and resistance to various substances and elements. Latex, water-based, or oil-based exterior paints that are designed for floor, patios, or porches. These paints are also a good choice, as they are designed for exterior use and are specific to withstand foot traffic. Masonry paints that contain added binders and epoxies. While it may bond well with the concrete, it won't necessarily protect your concrete from the elements. Garage floor coatings with colorful additives to protect and decorate at the same time. Choose a color. To help you decide what color to paint your patio, consider what color the exterior of your house is, and what color your patio furniture is. Take color swatches with you to the paint store so you can compare your existing decor with your paint choices. Don't be afraid to ask the paint specialist for help and advice! Consider using a primer. A concrete or block primer will give you a nice, even surface to work with, instead of the uneven, porous surface of non-primed concrete. It will also reduce the number of coats required to properly cover your surface. Choose an exterior-grade primer if you're going to use one, and make sure it's designed for concrete. Concrete primers are often called concrete, masonry, or bonding primers. Primer has a lower viscosity than paint, so it absorbs into the concrete substrate a lot better. Once it's absorbed in, it creates a binder that the paint will stick to. If you don't use a primer and there's any moisture under your patio, the paint will peel right off. Determine how much paint you need. Once you've decided what kind of paint you're going to use, you will need to do some basic calculations to determine how many cans of paint you'll need to cover the patio surface. Check the paint can or manufacturer's website regarding how much coverage one can provides, and compare that with the square footage of your patio. Square footage is determined by multiplying the length by the width of the area you are dealing with. Don't worry if your patio isn't perfectly square or rectangular: you just need a basic idea of the area you're going to cover. Don't forget to take into account whether you plan on applying multiple coats. A primer will reduce the likelihood of having to apply more than one or two coats of paint. Assemble your tools and equipment. Before getting started, get together all the tools you're going to need for painting. The best painting tools for this will be a masonry brush, a high-capacity roller, or a texture roller. The equipment you'll need may include: Primer (optional) and paint A paint roller frame and cover A paint tray Roller and brush extenders Masking or painter's tape Thick and thin brushes Plastic or painter's tarps Protect your surfaces. Use tape to line the surfaces touching your concrete patio, such as deck edges, exterior walls, doors or windows, and other areas that you don't want to accidentally paint. Cover the ground nearby with tarps if necessary. Choose the right day. Ideally, begin painting on a dry day when there has been no rain in the previous 24 hours, and none is expected in the long-range forecast. The best temperature for outdoor painting is about 50 F (10 C). Apply your primer. Make sure your patio is completely dry before beginning to paint or prime. Pour your primer into a paint tray. Take one of your thinner brushes and dip it into the primer a few times. Wipe off the excess on the inside of the paint tray, and make sure the brush has an even coat of paint on it. Start by applying primer with the brush around any edges or places where the patio touches other buildings or parts of the house. Use a roller or thicker brush and extender to apply primer to the rest of the patio. Apply in two different directions for even coverage. Let your primer dry. While it should be dry in about two hours, wait at least eight hours before you begin painting. However, don't let more than 30 days elapse. If you are reusing your brushes, rollers, and trays, make sure you clean them well and let them dry before reusing them. Pour your paint into the paint tray. The tray will make it easier to coat your brushes or rollers evenly with paint, and this will make it easier for you to apply even coats of paint to your patio. Paint around your patio edges. Use a smaller paint brush to apply a coat of paint around any edges, joints, or other areas that are too awkward for the roller or larger brush. Be sure to use the smaller brush to apply paint to any part of the patio adjoining areas where you placed tape, to ensure you don't get paint on other walls, decks, or windows. Apply your first coat of paint. Choose a starting point, such as an interior corner against the house, and work your way out from there. Don't paint yourself into a corner or center where you won't be able to get out again without walking over fresh paint. Use even brush or roller strokes to apply a thin, even layer of paint. Attach your roller or brush to your extender so you can remain standing while painting. This will help prevent injury to your back, knees, and wrists. If you're using a brush instead of a roller, ensure it's big enough to cover a large area so that your paint doesn't dry before you finish a section. Let your first coat dry. Concrete and exterior paints can take six or more hours to dry before they're ready for additional coats, so be sure to check the manufacturer's recommendations. Apply the necessary coats. Follow the same steps as before. Use a smaller brush around delicate or awkward edges and a larger brush or roller to complete the coat. Apply a sufficient number of coats to achieve the desired depth of color you want for your patio. Two or three coats are usually required. Apply each new coat in a different direction than the last, to ensure even coverage. Allow the paint to dry and cure. While you will likely be able to walk on your patio after 24 hours, you should wait about seven days before replacing furniture. | Clear the surface. Repair cracks in the concrete. Remove moss, roots, and vines. Clean the concrete surface. Flush the surface. Test the concrete for moisture content. Select your paint. Choose a color. Consider using a primer. Determine how much paint you need. Assemble your tools and equipment. Protect your surfaces. Choose the right day. Apply your primer. Let your primer dry. Pour your paint into the paint tray. Paint around your patio edges. Apply your first coat of paint. Let your first coat dry. Apply the necessary coats. Allow the paint to dry and cure. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Season-Brown-Rice | How to Season Brown Rice | If you want to season your brown rice, try adding herbs and spices as soon as your rice finishes cooking. To cook your rice with herbs and spices, bring your rice and water to a boil, then set it to simmer for 35 to 45 minutes. Once your rice is fully cooked, add your seasonings, like soy sauce, dried basil, ground ginger, or cayenne pepper. If you want more subtle flavors, use whole spices. Otherwise, ground spices will bring out the flavor much more. Allow your rice dish to sit for 5 minutes to absorb the flavor before serving it. | Combine your rice with cooking oil or melted butter in a pan. Put 1 cup (175-185 grams) of rice into a pan and pour enough cooking oil or butter in to evenly coat it, usually 1 tablespoon (15 mL). Toast the rice in the oil over medium heat. You'll know it's starting to toast once you smell a nutty aroma. Avoid grapeseed and canola oil. Instead, use fattier oils like sesame oil, coconut oil, or olive oil to get more flavor. Mix in the herbs and spices of your choice. Your choice of herbs and spices will depend on the specific flavor profile or ethnic cuisine you're interested in making. Regardless of what seasonings you choose, sprinkle them over your toasting rice a little bit at a time until they are at the strength you like based on your own tastes. Seasonings like oregano, pepper, parsley and turmeric go well with brown rice, usually in amounts between ¼ teaspoon (1 gram) and 1 teaspoon (4 grams) depending on your tastes. Adding aromatic seasonings in small amounts (a single shallot, a clove of garlic, or 1 tablespoon (14 grams) of chopped ginger) will give your rice tons of flavor. Add 2.5 cups (590 mL) of boiling water to the pan. While your rice is toasting, boil water separately in a pot or kettle. When it has reached a boil, pour it over your seasoned rice in the pan. Simmer the rice for 20 minutes. After adding the boiling water, stir the contents of your pan and then cover it with a lid. Cook the mixture on low for 20 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, let it stand for 5 minutes, then uncover it and fluff it with a fork. Put the rice and broth in a large pot. Mix 1 cup (175-185 grams) of rice and 2.5 cups (590 mL) of broth together in a pot. Make sure to use a pot with a wide base, so that the heat from your stove disperses as evenly as possible. You can also consider using a liquid mixture of half broth and half water to add some flavor to your rice without making it too rich depending on your tastes. Bring the broth to a boil. Cook your rice and broth mixture on high heat until the broth begins to bubble. You should stir the mixture regularly during this stage to prevent the rice from sticking to your pot. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 40-50 minutes. Turn your stove down to low heat and cover your rice and broth mixture with a lid. Let the mixture simmer until the rice has absorbed most of the moisture and has a tender texture. Stir your rice occasionally to keep it from sticking to your pot. Let your cooked rice stand for 5 minutes covered and then fluff it with a fork. Bring rice and water to a boil. Combine your rice and water in a small saucepan at a ratio of 2/3 cup (115-125 grams) of rice to 1.3 cups (310 mL) of water. Cook the rice and water on high heat until it begins to bubble. Simmer the rice for 35-45 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and cover your rice. Cook the rice at a low simmer until it has absorbed all of the moisture in the saucepan. The rice should be tender but not mushy. Mix your seasonings into the rice. Add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of soy sauce, 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) of dried basil, 0.25 teaspoons (1.2 mL) to 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) of ground ginger, and 0.125 teaspoons (0.62 mL) of cayenne pepper to your cooked rice. Allow your rice to sit covered for 5 minutes and then fluff it with a fork You can also season your rice with other herbs and spices according to your tastes. The herbs and spices you use will depend on your own personal tastes and the cuisine you're trying to prepare. Whole spices will give your dish a more subtle flavor, while ground spices will help bring out the flavor of your rice. Adding a bay leaf to your pan will give your dish an earthy flavor that will complement almost any rice dish. | Combine your rice with cooking oil or melted butter in a pan. Mix in the herbs and spices of your choice. Add 2.5 cups (590 mL) of boiling water to the pan. Simmer the rice for 20 minutes. Put the rice and broth in a large pot. Bring the broth to a boil. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 40-50 minutes. Bring rice and water to a boil. Simmer the rice for 35-45 minutes. Mix your seasonings into the rice. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Ballet-Bun | How to Make a Ballet Bun | To make a ballet bun, start by brushing your hair and pulling it back into a smooth ponytail at the crown of your head. Then, secure the ponytail with an elastic and spray a little hairspray on it for extra hold. Next, twist your ponytail clockwise into a tight rope, then wind the rope clockwise around the ponytail holder. After that, put bobby pins that match the color of your hair all around the bun to keep it in place. | Brush your hair free of tangles. Get your hair straight and even, brushing it straight back as if you were putting it into a ponytail. A little water can help smooth things out and make your hair more manageable, when the need arises. Pull your hair back into a ponytail, using a comb or brush to remove the bumps. If necessary, spray the hair with a quick-drying hairspray. The best height is right on the crown of your head, so that you could just see the top of the ponytail poking up if you look in the mirror. A tight ponytail ensures you have fewer wisps of hair coming free and keeps you from having to re-do your bun later. The ponytail should be tight, but not so tight that it causes tension and breakage. Secure the ponytail with an elastic. It is important to have a strong foundation for your bun so it doesn't fall down. A small elastic will hold the hair in place while you craft your bun. You can then spray a little hairspray onto the ponytail to give it a little extra hold. Twist the ponytail into a tight rope. A tight rope will lead to a more secure bun, but don't make it so tight that it breaks your hair or hurts. Some ballerinas like to create their bun in 2 parts by splitting their hair in half to make twisting easier. If you do this, simply repeat the following steps for both halves. Start to tightly wind the strand of hair around the ponytail holder. Follow the direction you twisted in for a neat, tight bun. If you twisted clockwise, wrap clockwise. You want to keep the rope of hair close to the ponytail holder. Use bobby pins to start securing everything down. Fasten the hair with bobby pins that match your hair color. Place pins at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock, if your bun was a clock face. Place extra pins in between these sections as well, especially if your hair is thick. If the first half of your bun feels a little shaky, put more bobby pins in if desired. Many ballerinas prefer the U-shaped pins, as they capture more hair and hold longer. Repeat these same steps for the second half of your ponytail, if necessary. If you do, make sure your twist and turn the second half the opposite way as the first. Spray with hairspray if there are any wisps or frizzy hair. This also helps secure the bun, though it is not strictly necessary. Spritz your hair with some water before beginning. This can make the hair a bit easier to manage, and keep loose strands from flying off. Use water and a comb to really straighten out your hair, combing out any bumps or fly-away hairs causing problems. If you have thicker or unruly hair, a little gel may be helpful, too. Add a little texturizing spray before "bunning" for a better hold. If you've recently washed your hair, and everything is silky smooth, you might try a texturizing spray to give the strands some hold. Like most up-dos, this look is a bit easier to pull off with "day old" hair. But, if you're fresh and clean, some texturizer should do the trick. Use your other hand to curl the hair around your ponytail. With one hand around your tight coil of hair, use the other hand to keep to press and hold the bun around your ponytail as you wrap it. The curl between your thumb and first finger, for example, is a great tool to help mold a perfectly rounded bun. Split the ponytail down the middle and build the bun in 2 parts. For girls with thinner hair, or for a more "classic" look, you just twist the entire ponytail. But for girls with thick or uneven length hair, or for a slightly more secure hold, you can go with the "2-part" method. Simply pull the ponytail in half, then twist and wrap both halves around the base of the ponytail for a "figure 8" bun. If you're doing the bun in 2 parts, simply repeat the exact same process for both parts. However, when you get to the wrapping and pinning, just make sure the 2 strands are wrapped in opposite directions (1 clockwise, 1 counter-clockwise). Cover your bun with a hair net that matches your hair color for extra security. If you have blonde hair, don't use the gray hair net because then your bun looks purple. If you're a brunette, don't use the blonde hair net because then you have a lighter bun than the rest of your hair. | Brush your hair free of tangles. Pull your hair back into a ponytail, using a comb or brush to remove the bumps. Secure the ponytail with an elastic. Twist the ponytail into a tight rope. Start to tightly wind the strand of hair around the ponytail holder. Fasten the hair with bobby pins that match your hair color. Spray with hairspray if there are any wisps or frizzy hair. Spritz your hair with some water before beginning. Add a little texturizing spray before "bunning" for a better hold. Use your other hand to curl the hair around your ponytail. Split the ponytail down the middle and build the bun in 2 parts. Cover your bun with a hair net that matches your hair color for extra security. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-How-Old-a-Betta-Fish-Is | How to Tell How Old a Betta Fish Is | To tell how old a betta fish is, measure the fish and asses the size of its fins. Adult bettas will usually be around 3 inches long and have long, flowing fins, while juveniles will be smaller with shorter fins. Another way to tell age is by looking at the coloring of the betta. Bettas are vibrant and colorful when young and generally become duller and more faded as they age. You can tell if bettas are old by seeing if they have a humped body or cataracts in their eyes. | Check your betta's size. Normal adult bettas are usually around 3 inches (7.6 cm) in length. Hold a measuring tape up to your fish's tank and see how long it is. If your betta is less than the average, your betta is most likely a juvenile. It can be hard to measure a betta exactly. In most cases, it will be enough to simply get an estimate by holding up a measuring tape against the glass. Be patient since most healthy bettas do not stay still often. Check your betta's fins. Adult bettas have nice and beautiful flowing fins. If your betta has this characteristic, this is a good sign that it is an adult. If it has tiny fins, then it is either a juvenile or a baby. Make sure you know the sex of your betta. Female bettas never get long, flowing fins like the males do. Don't confuse normal wear with injuries from diseases. Crowntails naturally have 'torn'- looking fins. Assess the color of your betta. In general, young bettas are vibrant and middle-aged bettas are slightly faded. The color of the scales of an older betta will be slightly faded and muted. Look for changes in your fish's body. You might notice that with every day, your betta seems to be getting paler or even with daily feeding your fish gets skinnier. These are signs of an aging betta. Pay attention to changes in energy. Your betta will flare with much less gusto than it used to when it get old. After so many years, many bettas lose the enthusiasm to flare. Also, while a healthy adult betta will swim around vigorously in its tank, old bettas will hide behind plants and décor and swim sluggishly. When feeding your betta, watch it to see how quickly it spots its food. Old bettas may swim slowly to their food and miss it a couple of times before spotting it. Look for cataracts on the betta's eyes. Old bettas tend to have "cataracts," which are filmy or hazy spots inside the eye. This is normal for old bettas, and will happen no matter how big the tank you have is or how clean you keep the water. | Check your betta's size. Check your betta's fins. Assess the color of your betta. Look for changes in your fish's body. Pay attention to changes in energy. Look for cataracts on the betta's eyes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Anxiety-Attacks | How to Treat Anxiety Attacks | If you are experiencing symptoms like a racing heart, debilitating terror, or trouble breathing, you may want to treat yourself for an anxiety attack. Look for a quiet place where you can practice deep breathing exercises, which will naturally relax your body. Then, breathe in slowly for a count of 4, hold your breath for 1 or 2 counts, and release the air for 4 counts. You could also try to overcome your panic by saying positive statements to yourself, like "I am completely safe," "I am not in danger," "This feeling will pass," and "I am getting calmer by the minute." However, consider calling a friend if you would rather talk through your feelings with someone you trust. | Recognize the symptoms. There are several symptoms of an anxiety attack, and each person has a unique feeling when an attack happens. In the middle of a panic attack, your body enters “fight or flight” mode. Since this response can't be sustained long-term, an attack generally fades after a few minutes. Nonetheless, some people experience repeated attacks that span hours. The most common symptoms of an attack are: Racing heart Feeling flushed or hot Debilitating terror Experiencing chest pains Having trouble breathing Experiencing “pins and needles” in the fingers or toes Thinking that you will die Feeling claustrophobic Breathe deeply. One of the common side effects of an attack is not being able to catch your breath. Therefore, mastering deep breathing can be one of your strongest weapons during an attack. Try to control your breathing by placing one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Exhale sharply and let your upper body fall into a relaxed state. Now, breathe in slowly through your nose for 4 counts. You should feel the hand on your belly moving outwards. Pause and hold the breath for 1 or 2 counts. Now, gradually release the air out through your mouth for 4 counts. Repeat the process for several minutes as the natural relaxation response comes into effect. Try to find a quiet place. Frequently, panic attacks are set off by feeling overwhelmed in a large group of people. Go to a quiet room or corner where you can feel your back against a wall, grounding you. Sit down if you can, and drink some water. While getting away from your environment may help, you want to try your best to resume your usual activities as soon as possible. You can stop panic attacks that occur during any activity by learning relaxation and grounding techniques. Reorient yourself to the environment. Derealization and/or depersonalization involve feeling as though you are disconnected from the surrounding environment or from your body respectively. Some people experience these sensations during anxiety attacks. Grounding techniques are an effective remedy for derealization and depersonalization. Connect with your reality by grounding yourself in what is tangible and pulling your attention away from panic. Attempt to close your mind off to one sense at a time while practicing deep, calming breathing. Stand up and feel your feet touching the ground. Only focus on how it feels to be standing, how your feet feel in your shoes or against the floor if barefoot. Then, rub your fingers along the wall. Think about how that feels. Notice how your hair feels up against your ear, or how your clothes feel on your body. Finally, listen to the noises around you. What sounds do you hear? Continue to breathe deeply as you connect with the different sensations. Fend off anxiety with water. Once your breathing has steadied, you might feel confident enough to go to a bathroom to wash up. If possible let the water run over your face or dip your face into the sink for a few seconds. The refreshing feeling can sometimes help calm you down. Another strategy for diverting your attention away from anxiety is holding an ice cube in the palm of your hand (covered with a paper towel if you like). Hold onto the cube for as long as you can; then, switch hands. Your attention becomes focused on the discomfort of the cold ice and less on your panic symptoms. Talk to a friend or someone you trust. Sometimes they can help you talk through your feelings; sometimes just having someone to talk to can keep your mind preoccupied and get you through a panic attack. Avoid criticizing yourself. Many people who experience panic have a tendency to beat themselves up or criticize themselves. Try to go easy on yourself in the midst of an attack. Getting angry or upset without yourself for not being strong enough or succumbing to an attack won't help. Replace self-criticism with compassion. Be gentle with yourself as you would a friend. Instead of judging yourself for not snapping out of it, hug yourself and inwardly tell yourself to take the time you need to calm down and relax. If you are guilty of being hard on yourself, think about the statistics. Having an anxiety attack does not make you weak or crazy. More than 6 million people in America struggle with panic disorder. What's more, if you are female, you are twice as likely to be afflicted by this condition. Remind yourself that you have survived before. A common thought during a panic attack is that you are going to die. Fear and dread hold your common sense captive and all you can think about is escaping this feeling. It may be helpful to remind yourself that you have lived through an attack before. You are a survivor. All you have to do is continue to control your breathing and eventually the attack will pass. Talk yourself back to a calm state. Positive self-talk is an incredibly useful strategy for overcoming panic during an attack. In addition, regularly using this form of thinking can also minimize the level of anxiety you feel throughout the day. Tell yourself the following: ”I am completely safe.” ”I am not in danger.” ”This feeling will pass.” ”I am getting calmer by the minute.” See a psychiatrist for medications to ease anxiety attacks. Doctors generally prescribe anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication to individuals who suffer from panic disorder. These medications are extremely powerful as many reduce the symptoms of anxiety attacks immediately. Anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines and tranquilizers, function by reducing the excess activity in the brain. Depending on the dosage, these drugs may provide relief from anxiety within thirty minutes to an hour after ingestion. They also come with side effects like depression, drowsiness, impaired thinking, and dizziness among others. Antidepressants have been found to treat the symptoms of anxiety, too. However, these medications are often prescribed to treat chronic anxiety and will not be helpful during acute anxiety attacks. You would take them to prevent attacks rather than to relieve one. Talk to your doctor about how to use your medications. Follow the instructions carefully, if your doctor has prescribed medication. Many anti-anxiety medications have addictive qualities; taking more than prescribed can be dangerous. And, remember, never share your prescriptions medications with other people. Participate in therapy. Most people find that panic disorder is treated effectively with a regimen of both medication and psychotherapy. A research-backed and long-lasting therapeutic solution, for panic disorder and anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy involves identifying the sources of fear, recognizing faulty thinking patterns, and developing healthy coping mechanisms to life stressors. You may see positive results after approximately three to four months, if not sooner, of participating in this approach. Avoid stimulants. If you are prone to panic attacks, you will do well not to consume caffeinated products such as tea, coffee, and even chocolate. If you smoke, you may want to quit since nicotine is a stimulant as well. Alcohol, in small doses, can even serve as a stimulant. These chemicals often worsen anxiety by exciting your central nervous system and generating energy that creates panic. Exercise regularly. When you get your body moving, even if only for a 10-minute walk, you may find your mood is vastly improved. Research has found that, for some people, aerobic exercise can elevate your mood, decrease tension, and improve sleep and self-esteem. Data suggests that frequency is more important than how long you exercise, so instead of going for a marathon gym session over the weekend, try to work in a 15–20 minute walk every day. | Recognize the symptoms. Breathe deeply. Try to find a quiet place. Reorient yourself to the environment. Fend off anxiety with water. Talk to a friend or someone you trust. Avoid criticizing yourself. Remind yourself that you have survived before. Talk yourself back to a calm state. See a psychiatrist for medications to ease anxiety attacks. Talk to your doctor about how to use your medications. Participate in therapy. Avoid stimulants. Exercise regularly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Test-THC-Levels | How to Test THC Levels | To test the THC levels in your marijuana, you'll need a home testing kit. To use one, just mix a few drops of testing solution with a small amount of marijuana. Then, place a drop onto a test slide, wait 10 minutes, and check the color against the color chart. To test THC levels in your body, you can get a blood serum or saliva test in a drug screening lab. You can also get a urine or hair follicle test, but these only show recent marijuana use. Keep in mind that even common tests aren't completely accurate for detecting THC levels in the body. | Buy a home test kit. There are kits available for detecting the type and concentration of both of the two main compounds (or “cannabinoids”) found in marijuana, THC and CBD. In this case, you'll want to choose a kit that looks for THC in particular. A combination kit that tests for both THC and CBD will also give you the information you're looking for, though the results may be slightly more difficult to interpret. You should be able to pick up a cannabinoid test kit at your local clinic or dispensary. If you don't have one of these places in your area, try looking online. Home test kits typically sell for between $20-100, depending on the level of precision you're looking for. Choose a strain of marijuana for testing. Running a quick test will make it possible to find out approximately how much THC is in the strain you're using. This can be useful if there was no medicinal information on display when you bought the product, or if you want to verify the contents on your own to determine the best dosage. Only test one type of cannabis at a time. Make sure the strain you're testing hasn't been in contact with any other strains—this could throw off your reading. In most places where marijuana is legal, vendors are required by law to provide the cannabinoid content for the strain they sell. However, this is not always the case. Home testing is a good way to learn more about a certain strain before you put it in your body. Read through the instructions carefully. Home test kits are relatively simple to use, but they all work a little bit differently. Look over the included instruction booklet or procedural summary on the back of the box to learn exactly how to conduct the test. Otherwise, there's a chance that the results might not be accurate. Most kits contain multiple tests, which can give you a second chance if you make a mistake the first time around. Place a small amount of marijuana in the small test vial. Separate out roughly ⅕ gram and drop it onto the bottom of the vial. It only takes a minimal amount to achieve accurate results. The kit you're working with should specify the exact amount of cannabis you'll need to use. Break up large clumps to allow the sample to fit inside the vial and infuse into the testing solution. A pair of tweezers may come in handy for handling tiny test samples. Add the testing solution to the vial. Squeeze a few drops from the bottle of clear solution included with the kit. Use only as much as directed. The solution will act as a solvent to draw out the compounds in the cannabis and make them easier to identify. Basic test kits tend to only call for about 1 ml of fluid, while more sophisticated systems may require as much as 15 ml. If your kit came with more than one testing solution, make sure you add each in the correct proportion. Close and shake the vial. Secure the snap-top lid, double checking that it's properly sealed. Shake the vial back and forth vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or long enough to partially disintegrate the cannabis sample inside. When you're done, prop the vial upright against the box or another surface so the sample stays pooled at the bottom. Hold your thumb over the lid of the vial while you shake it to keep it from coming open accidentally. Transfer the solution to a test slide in slide-based kits. Some home test kits use glass slides rather than vials. Once you've dissolved the sample in the testing solution, use the pipette tool to add a drop to a fresh slide. Then, place one end of the slide in a shallow dish filled with the remaining solution. After a few minutes, the solution will slowly wick up the slide, separating the various compounds into distinct, easy-to-read layers. Slide tests are more nuanced and are designed to make the color-coded results easier to interpret. They are often used with combination kits. Wait 10 minutes for the sample to react. Set a timer to go off after the exact interval listed in the instructions. As it sits, the solution will gradually begin to change colors. A deeper color means higher levels of a certain cannabinoid. Let the sample sit for the full 10 minutes. If you check it before it's had enough time to reach its final shade, the resulting reading will be incorrect. Check the sample against the color chart included with the test kit. The color chart will most often be located on the box or somewhere within the printed instructions. Hold the vial up to the section of the chart it matches most closely. A quick comparison will tell you the approximate concentration of THC in the strain you're testing. Color charts will usually be labelled to indicate a range of potency rather than an exact percentage. For example, a sample that comes back light blue may contain only 5% THC, while one that's royal or navy blue might be closer to 20%. If you're using a slide test, make sure you're looking at the layer that corresponds to THC to avoid confusing the reading for that of another compound. Evaluate your testing options. Blood serums and saliva tests are the most commonly used methods of testing THC levels. Other types of tests, like urine screenings and hair follicle analysis, are considered unreliable because they only indicate that marijuana has been used recently. They may not pick up THC at all after it has passed out of the user's system. Look up drug screening labs in your area to find out if there's somewhere you can go to have a blood or saliva sample taken. If you live in Australia, you might be able to purchase a home saliva-testing kit to check your THC levels. Perform your tests as soon as possible. There are many factors that determine how long THC will show up in a standard fluid test, including your body composition, blood chemistry, and the type and amount of cannabis you've used. In order to reduce the ambiguity of the results, it's important to run a sample as soon as possible. Depending on how frequently you use marijuana, you may have a few hours to a few days before all detectable traces have disappeared from your system. In most parts of the world where THC is labeled as a controlled substance, the acceptable legal concentration you're looking for is 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood or less. Because of how rapidly THC breaks down in the body, a fresh sample will usually have deteriorated before it can be processed. Accept the limitations of body-level THC tests. To date, there is no surefire way to detect THC while it's active in the body. It's important to be aware that whatever test you use might not be totally accurate, especially if you're conducting it yourself without the benefit of specialized lab equipment. A rough estimate may be the best you're able to get. It's difficult even for most researchers to interpret the effects and lifespan of THC in the body. Familiarize yourself with the laws pertaining to marijuana use in your area. Be aware that marijuana can only be obtained legally in places where medicinal or recreational use is allowed. THC in particular is often classified as a controlled substance, which means being caught with it without a permit can get you into serious trouble. Having an understanding of the law will help you stay safe and avoid unfortunate consequences. You could be subjected to a hefty fine or even jail time for the unlawful purchase, possession, or use of marijuana. | Buy a home test kit. Choose a strain of marijuana for testing. Read through the instructions carefully. Place a small amount of marijuana in the small test vial. Add the testing solution to the vial. Close and shake the vial. Transfer the solution to a test slide in slide-based kits. Wait 10 minutes for the sample to react. Check the sample against the color chart included with the test kit. Evaluate your testing options. Perform your tests as soon as possible. Accept the limitations of body-level THC tests. Familiarize yourself with the laws pertaining to marijuana use in your area. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Figure-Out-Your-Yearly-Salary | How to Figure Out Your Yearly Salary | To figure out your yearly salary, start by multiplying the number of hours you work each week by 52 to determine how many hours you work a year. Next, multiply your hourly wage by the total number of hours worked. Then, make sure to account for any unpaid time off. For example, if you have a 2 week unpaid vacation, multiply the number of hours you worked by 50 instead of 52 to account for the 2 unpaid weeks. | Find out your hourly wage. You probably already know how much you make per hour. For example, you might make $15/hour. But if you don't, you'll need to find this information. Your hourly wage should be listed on your pay stub, if your employer provided one. If you aren't sure, you can also ask a manager, or someone in the personnel/human resources department. Calculate the total hours you work each year. Multiply the number of hours you work each week by 52, the number of weeks in a year. Remember, too that you should include any vacation hours earned or paid in a year. For instance, if you work 50 weeks out of the year, but you earn a two-week paid vacation, then your total weeks paid is 52. If you take unpaid vacations, then take this into account as well. For instance, if you work 40 hours a week, your math would look like this: 40 hours * 52 weeks = 2080 hours a year. Multiply your hourly wage by the number of hours you work each year. Now, all you have to do is multiply your hours by your wage. Following the example above, $15 * 2080 = $31,200. This is your annual salary. Keep track of your hours. Write down the number of hours you work each day. At the end of the week, calculate how many hours total you worked. You can use a variety of electronic applications, online software, or even just write it in a notebook. If your hours vary from week to week, you will want to keep track of your hours for a longer period of time. Then, you can average the numbers. For example, if you work 10 hours one week, 25 the next, 15 the following, and 30 the last week, you end up with 80 hours for the month. Divide this by 4 weeks and you get an average 20 hours a week. If your hours vary a great deal between different times of the year, you may need to track an even longer period. For example, imagine you work 50 hours a week for a couple of weeks around the holidays, but only 20 hours a week during the summer. This is going to affect your calculations a lot. In the case of large variations, you might even have to track your hours over a whole year to get an accurate figure. Determine how many overtime hours you worked. If you work more than 40 hours in a 7-day period, your employer must pay you at one and a half times your regular wage. In other words, you should receive a half-hour credit for every hour you worked over 40 hours in a week. The formula for this calculation is: Total weekly payroll hours = Actual hrs worked + [.5 * (actual hrs worked - 40)] For example, say you work 45 hours one week. This is 5 hours of overtime. Multiply 5 by.5. This gives 2.5 extra hours.. Add this to the 45 regular hours. For this calculation, your hours for the week are then 47.5, rather than 45. Calculate how many hours you work in a year. To figure this out, multiply the average weekly payroll hours by 52. For example, if you usually work about 45 hours a week, multiply 47.5 hours (adjusted for overtime) by 52. This equals 2,470 hours a year. If you track your hours for a whole year, you can simply add them up, rather than multiplying a weekly average by the number of weeks worked. Calculate your salary. Multiply the number of hours by your hourly wage. For example, if you make $15/hour multiply 2,470 by $15. This equals an annual salary of $37,050. Include bonuses. Add any bonuses, commissions or incentive payments you got to the annual salary figure. Many hourly positions have incentive arrangements that add to the hourly wage. For example, you might receive bonuses based on productivity, leadership, or tenure (length of time at the job). Some employers provide a holiday bonus to all employees each year. Sticking with the example in Part 1, imagine you get $200 bonus every year. Your math would look like this: $31,200 + $200 = $31,400. If you receive a commission or other variable bonuses, you'll need to keep track of them over the course of a year to include them here. For example, imagine you get a $50 bonus every time you reach a certain level of sales. If you get this bonus 12 times over the course of a year, you multiply $50 time 12, getting $600. Sticking with the above example, you would then add $31,400 + $600 to get $32,000. Deduct benefits and payments. If you're paying into your health care or a 401(k), you may want to subtract these costs to get a measure of your "take-home pay." These amounts are still technically a part of your income. But, they represent money that does not increase your purchasing power. Look at your pay stub to find out how much is deducted for these expenses each month. To get an annual figure, multiply the monthly payment by 12. Subtract it from your annual income. For example, if health care costs you $150 a month and you're putting $200 into a 401(k), that adds up to $350. $350 x 12 = $4200. Subtract this from your annual salary. Determine how much you pay in taxes. This will let you figure out your salary before or after taxes. You'll need to look up where you fall in the federal tax bracket to determine how much you'll pay in federal income tax. Your annual income will determine how much you are taxed. There are online tax bracket calculators that can help you figure this out if you don't know which bracket you are in. Your state tax will depend on where you live. Some states have no income tax. For those that do, it will probably be about 5-6%. You can find your state's income tax rate online. Subtract your income tax percentage from 100%. For example, if you're in the 20% bracket, you'd end up with 80%. Change this percentage to a decimal by moving the decimal point two places to the left. For example, if you keep 80% of your income, the decimal equivalent would be.80 (or just.8). Multiply your monthly income by the decimal to get your pay after taxes. You can calculate either your monthly or annual pay in this way. If you make $2800 a month and fall in the 30% tax bracket, your decimal equivalent is.7. Multiply $2800 x 0.7 to get $1960 a month. This is the amount you receive after taxes are taken out. | Find out your hourly wage. Calculate the total hours you work each year. Multiply your hourly wage by the number of hours you work each year. Keep track of your hours. Determine how many overtime hours you worked. Calculate how many hours you work in a year. Calculate your salary. Include bonuses. Deduct benefits and payments. Determine how much you pay in taxes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fold-a-Note | How to Fold a Note | To fold a note into a square, start by folding it in half vertically twice so it's a quarter of its original width. Then, fold the upper left corner down to the right edge of the paper, and fold the lower right corner up to the left edge. Next, fold each corner over again the same way. Now, flip the paper over, and fold the upper triangle to the right and the lower triangle to the left. Once you've done that, flip the paper back over, and fold the lower triangle up to the meet the upper triangle. Finally, fold the upper triangle down to the bottom edge of the note, and slip the tip of the triangle into the pocket at the very bottom. | Place a square note on your work surface so it looks like a diamond. If you wrote your note on a rectangular piece of paper, fold one of the long edges inward to make your note into a square. Position the note so the writing is face-up and the corners are at the top, bottom, and each side of your work surface. If you want to make your note extra special, write it on the non-colored side of a square piece of origami paper. Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner and unfold it. Fold the paper in half horizontally and crease it. Unfold it so the diamond has a line running horizontally through the middle between the 2 side corners. Your note will now look like the type of diamond on playing cards but with a horizontal crease in the middle. Fold the left corner to the right corner and unfold it. This time, fold the paper in half vertically. Crease the note so there is a line running through the middle. Your note will now look like a diamond in front of you with vertical and horizontal creases running through the center. Fold the top corner down to the center of the horizontal crease. Take the top corner and fold it down until the point meets the horizontal crease in the middle of the note. Crease it so it stays folded. Your note will now look like a diamond jewel instead of the type of diamond from playing cards. Fold the bottom corner up to the top edge. Take the bottom corner and fold it up away from you until the point meets the top edge. Make a sharp crease in the fold. Your note will now look like a diamond jewel with the bottom point cut off. Bring the bottom left and right edges to the vertical center crease. Fold the left and right sides up at an angle so that the bottom edges line up with the vertical center crease. Crease them so they stay folded. You will now have what looks like a heart with sharp edges. Hide the top and side corners at the back of the note to round the heart. Fold the 2 top corners as well as the left and right corners back behind the heart. Crease them well by running your fingernail along the folds to keep them tucked back behind the heart. Your note is now ready to be delivered with your message of love! Fold the note into vertical quarters. Lay the note vertically in front of you, face up, and fold the paper in half vertically. Make a second vertical fold so that the paper is now 1/4 of its original width. Note that the height or length of the paper will remain unchanged. Bring each corner inward like a triangle. Fold the upper left corner diagonally to the right so the edge of the folded corner is flush with the edge of the paper strip. Fold the bottom right corner diagonally to the left in the same manner. Make sure you only fold enough of the end so that the edge of the folded corner remains perfectly aligned with the edge of the paper strip and does not overlap at all. Make another inward diagonal fold on each end. Fold the upper triangle down and to the right so that it meets the edge of the paper strip on the other side. Fold the lower triangle up and to the left the same way so that the edge of the triangle and the paper strip are flush. There will be a slanted parallelogram on each end. The first 2 triangles you folded will be hanging off the main body of the paper. Flip the note and fold in the triangles on each end horizontally. Turn the note over so the back side is facing you. Fold the upper triangle down to the right and the lower triangle up to the left so that you have 1 parallelogram shape composed of 4 different triangle sections. You will be left with 2 triangles that hang off the main body of the note but are aligned with the edges of the main body. Flip the note back over and fold the lower triangle portion up. Turn the note back over so the front side is facing you again. Fold the bottom edge of the back lower triangle up to meet the lower edge of the front upper triangle. You will now be left with 1 triangle hanging off of the main square body. Fold the upper triangle portion down. Fold the top edge of the back triangle over the front of the note so that it meets the bottom edge of the note. Your note will now look like a square. The only thing remaining is a final maneuver that holds the note together. Slip the outermost triangle into the lowest pocket. Move the tip of the triangle facing you into the pocket at the very bottom of the note. Tuck it in securely to keep your note together and secret. You will be left with a square note divided into 4 separate triangular sections. Put your note in front of you and fold it in half vertically. Lay the piece of paper in front of you on a flat surface with the note facing you. Fold it down the middle vertically and crease it so it is long and skinny. Note that the width will be halved but the height will remain unchanged. Crease the bottom left and top right corners into triangles. Bring the upper right corner diagonally down and to the left so the edge is flush with the edge of the paper, then crease it. Fold the lower left corner diagonally up and to the right so the edge is flush with the edge of the paper, then crease it. Unfold the corners so you can see the crease marks. The edge of each corner will be aligned with the edge of the note when you fold them. Fold the bottom right and top left corners into triangles. Bring the upper left corner diagonally down and to the right and the bottom right corner diagonally up and to the left so the edges of the triangles are flush with the edges of the paper. Crease them and then unfold them to leave visible lines. Make sure to crease the edges well so that the folds leave easily visible marks. You can do this by running a fingernail over the folds before you unfold them. Bring the top and bottom edges of the paper inward to the corners of the creases. Fold the top edge of the note down widthwise so that the crease marks left behind by your previous folds overlap evenly. Fold the bottom edge up in the same manner. At this point you will be decreasing the length of the paper. The width will stay the same. Tuck the folded corners in to make each end of the paper into an arrow. Push in on each corner so that the start folding inwards. Press the corners in between the top and bottom layers of paper until you create an arrow. When you've done this step, there will be a triangle-shaped arrow at the top end of the paper and at the bottom end. When looking at the top triangle from the bottom, each tucked-in corner will form an "M" shape. Fold each vertical side towards the center under the flaps of the arrows. Slightly lift the edges of both triangles to exposing the bottom portion of the note. Bring the flat edges of the note in vertically toward the exact center and crease them to tuck them in between the layers of the arrows. You will now be left with a double-sided arrow shape with a middle body that is skinnier than the width of the arrows. Each outside edge will meet with the exact vertical center of the note. Overlap the arrows and fold the note in the middle. Bring the bottom arrow up so that it overlaps the top arrow. Crease the note in the middle horizontally. You will now have just a single-sided arrow. Slip the bottom layer into the top arrow to secure your note. Slightly unfold the note so that you will be able to slip the tip of the top arrow under the bottom arrow. Tuck the top arrow into the fold of the other arrow underneath and flatten the whole note. You will now be left with a secure arrow that has 1 head and your secret note inside. Fold the note in half vertically so it is long and skinny. Put the note flat in front of you so that it is oriented like a normal sheet of note paper. Fold it like a hot dog and crease the middle so it stays folded. The width will be halved while the height will remain unchanged. Crease 1 upper corner and 1 lower corner into triangles. Bring the upper left corner diagonally down and to the right so that the edge of the folded triangle is flush to the edge of the main body. Fold the lower right corner diagonally up and to the left in the same manner. Unfold both triangles after you crease them. Make sure to crease the folds well before you unfold them so you can still see the lines. Repeat the previous folds with the other 2 corners. Bring the upper right corner diagonally down and to the left and the lower left corner diagonally up and to the right. Crease them well and then unfold them. The edges of both triangles will be flush to the edge of the main body of the note when you fold them. Fold the top and bottom edges of the note inward. Bring the top edge down so that the corners meet the start of the marks made by your triangle folds. Do likewise with the bottom edge by bringing it up to meet its corresponding crease marks. You will now have a rectangle slightly smaller than the rectangle you started with. Push the folded corners in gently to create arrows. Push in on each corner so that they turn inwards.. Tuck the corners in between the top and bottom layers of the note to make them into a triangle. From the front, the resulting shape will look like a short rectangle with a triangle on the top and triangle on the bottom. When viewed from the bottom of the fold, each tucked corner will form an "M" shape. Flip the paper and fold the bottom triangle up. Fold the bottom triangle up from the bottom of the note, on the backside, so the base of the triangle lines up with the bottom of the paper. This will create a straight edge at the bottom. Your note will now look like a square with a triangle on top. Think of it as a house shape. Fold the upper triangle down and crease it. Bring the point of the upper triangle down so that it meets the base of the lower triangle. Crease it well and unfold it temporarily. Note that the base of the upper triangle does not need to line up with the top of the paper. It is more important that the point of the upper triangle meets the base of the lower triangle. Form a small diamond with the bottom corners. Take the top layer of the bottom right corner and fold it up so that it meets the point of the bottom triangle. Repeat this with the bottom left corner to make the diamond shape. You will be looking at a square with a diamond in the middle and a triangle on top. Refold the top triangle and form a diamond with its corners. Fold the top triangle down so it overlaps the bottom triangle again. Fold the top layer of the right and left corners down to meet the tip of the upper triangle. This is just the inverse of what you did at the bottom of the note. Bring the bottom corners in temporarily to make a horizontal crease. Take the bottom tip of each half of the newly-created top diamond. Bend the tips inward toward the top tip of the diamond. Crease the folds well and unfold them back to the previous shape. The goal here is to create a horizontal crease across the left and right sides of the newly-created top diamond. Pull the flaps of the bottom diamond into those of the top. Bring each half of the bottom diamond up so that it crosses the base layer of the paper. Make sure each side is resting behind the corresponding half of the top diamond. The note will now look like a rectangle with 2 loose flaps on the upper diamond. Tuck the flaps of the upper diamond into the newly-created pockets to secure them. Carefully unfold each flap. Fold the flaps in the opposite direction and tuck them into the top-most pockets. You will now have a rectangular note with a secure diamond on the front. Flip the paper over and fold the sides in. Turn the note over so the back side is facing you. Fold the right vertical edge to the left and the left vertical edge to the right so it slightly overlaps. Only fold the edges as far as they will go comfortably and without ripping them. Tuck the left side into the right side and flip the note over. Slip the points of the left side into the corners of the right side to secure the shape. Turn the note over to the front once more. You will now have a securely folded note with a diamond on the front and your message secretly written inside! | Place a square note on your work surface so it looks like a diamond. Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner and unfold it. Fold the left corner to the right corner and unfold it. Fold the top corner down to the center of the horizontal crease. Fold the bottom corner up to the top edge. Bring the bottom left and right edges to the vertical center crease. Hide the top and side corners at the back of the note to round the heart. Fold the note into vertical quarters. Bring each corner inward like a triangle. Make another inward diagonal fold on each end. Flip the note and fold in the triangles on each end horizontally. Flip the note back over and fold the lower triangle portion up. Fold the upper triangle portion down. Slip the outermost triangle into the lowest pocket. Put your note in front of you and fold it in half vertically. Crease the bottom left and top right corners into triangles. Fold the bottom right and top left corners into triangles. Bring the top and bottom edges of the paper inward to the corners of the creases. Tuck the folded corners in to make each end of the paper into an arrow. Fold each vertical side towards the center under the flaps of the arrows. Overlap the arrows and fold the note in the middle. Slip the bottom layer into the top arrow to secure your note. Fold the note in half vertically so it is long and skinny. Crease 1 upper corner and 1 lower corner into triangles. Repeat the previous folds with the other 2 corners. Fold the top and bottom edges of the note inward. Push the folded corners in gently to create arrows. Flip the paper and fold the bottom triangle up. Fold the upper triangle down and crease it. Form a small diamond with the bottom corners. Refold the top triangle and form a diamond with its corners. Bring the bottom corners in temporarily to make a horizontal crease. Pull the flaps of the bottom diamond into those of the top. Tuck the flaps of the upper diamond into the newly-created pockets to secure them. Flip the paper over and fold the sides in. Tuck the left side into the right side and flip the note over. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Access-the-Caps-Lock-Key-on-an-iPhone | How to Access the Caps Lock Key on an iPhone | Open your keyboard in one of your iPhone's apps, then double-tap the upward arrow in the lower-left corner. | Open your iPhone’s Settings. This is a gray cog icon on your home screen that may be in a folder labeled “Utilities.” Tap General. Scroll down and tap Keyboard. It's in the sixth set of options. Slide the “Enable Caps Lock” button to the “On” position. It will turn green. This will allow you to use Caps lock on your keyboard to type in all capital letters. It may already be in the “On” position, and you won't need to do anything. Open your iPhone’s keyboard. This will happen automatically when you tap a text field you can type in such as a search bar, the address bar for Safari, a note in your Notes app, or the bar at the bottom of a conversation in Messages. Double-tap the arrow in the lower-left of your keyboard. A line will appear under the arrow if you have done this correctly, and Caps Lock will be turned on. To perform a double-tap, you need to tap twice quickly. If you wait too long between taps, it will not work. In earlier iOS versions, the arrow will be white with a blue background when Caps Lock is on. Tapping once on the arrow is similar to pressing ⇧ Shift on a computer keyboard, and will allow you to type one capital letter. Begin typing. You will be able to type capital letters until you tap the arrow again. When you leave the keyboard that displays the alphabet, such as when you tap 123 or access your emoji keyboard, it will also turn Caps Lock off. | Open your iPhone’s Settings. Tap General. Scroll down and tap Keyboard. Slide the “Enable Caps Lock” button to the “On” position. Open your iPhone’s keyboard. Double-tap the arrow in the lower-left of your keyboard. Begin typing. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cement | How to Make Cement | To make cement from scratch, buy or collect limestone and break it into 2 inch chunks. Put the chunks into a kiln, set the kiln to 900 °C, and let the limestone bake for 4-5 hours. Be sure to wear a respirator when you pull out the limestone, then let it cool completely. Once it's cool, slip on work gloves and crumble the limestone into a fine powder with your hands. The resulting powder is cement, which you can mix with water, sand, and gravel to make concrete! | Purchase or collect limestone. If you live near a riverbed or other area where limestone is prevalent, you may be able to find limestone naturally. If not, you'll need to purchase limestone. It can typically be found at landscaping supply stores, and may be available at large plant nurseries or garden centers. If you're unsure whether or not the rock that you've collected is limestone, use a coin to scratch the surface of the rock. Limestone is soft and can be scored by the edge of a coin. Break the limestone into small pieces. Take sturdy shovel and stab it into the limestone in order to fracture the rock and break it apart. You'll be heating the rock in a kiln for an extended period of time, and the smaller you can break up the chunks of rock, the less time you'll have to heat them. Aim to break the limestone into pieces not larger than 2 inches (5.1 cm) across. Cook the limestone in a kiln or outdoor oven. In order to ready the limestone for use in cement, place it in a kiln or outdoor wood oven. Turn the kiln up to 900 °C (1,650 °F), and leave the limestone to “bake” for 4 or 5 hours. Always wear thick work gloves when working with a kiln. The gloves will also be useful when you're pulling the baked lime back out of the kiln, since it could severely burn your skin. Let the baked limestone cool. After the 4 or 5 hours have passed, pull the baked limestone out of the oven or kiln. Set it nearby and let the chunks cool off before you touch them. Be careful not to breathe in fumes from the baked limestone, as they are caustic and could damage your lungs. The baked limestone is called quicklime. Consider wearing some kind of respirator when pulling the quicklime out of the kiln. Quicklime is harmful to the body, and even breathing in its dust can harm your lungs. Crumble the baked limestone chunks. If the limestone has been baked for long enough, it should have a dry, crumbly consistency. Put on a pair of work gloves and use your hands to crumble the cooled limestone into a fine powder. The resulting powder is cement, which you can mix with water, sand, and gravel to make concrete. If you need to store some of the crumbled quicklime for later use, store it in an airtight container. Select the right type of cement. Large hardware stores and home-supply stores (such as Lowe's or Home Depot) will stock a large variety of cement types. For example, if you're setting gate posts, purchase an anchoring cement. If you're laying a patio or a driveway, opt for a fiber reinforced cement. If you are using the cement for a variety of projects or are not familiar with using cement, purchase either a regular (multi-purpose) or fast-setting mix (like Quikrete). Consult the sales staff at the hardware store for additional help selecting a type of cement or concrete. Purchase cement with aggregate if you’re laying thicker concrete. If you are laying a single layer of concrete that will be thicker than ⁄ 4 inch (1.9 cm)—such as a building foundation or driveway—purchase cement with aggregate mixed in. Aggregate is stones and gravel added to the cement mixture to make it stronger and less likely to crack. If you prefer not to buy cement with aggregate already included, you can also purchase gravel at a hardware store and add this into the aggregate-free cement later. Put on two layers of hand protection. Cement is messy, and it will likely get all over your hands. If cement contacts your skin directly, brush it off immediately. To protect your hands, first put on a pair of latex gloves. Then, over these, put on a pair of sturdy work gloves. To protect your eyes, you should also always wear a pair of safety goggles when working with cement. Since cement will harm your lungs, think about wearing a surgeon's mask or bandana over your mouth when pouring dry cement. Cut open the bag of cement and empty the contents in a wheelbarrow. Use the blade of your shovel to stab an opening in the bag near one end. Then grab the cement bag firmly by the other end, and upend it so the powder spills out into the wheelbarrow. If you prefer to use a machine mixer rather than mixing by hand, you'll pour the opened bag of cement into the machine basin. Avoid shaking the bag as your pour out the cement powder. It's very dusty, and shaking the bag will fill the air with cement powder. Add water to the cement powder. Using a garden hose, add a reasonable amount of water to the center of the dry cement powder. Start by adding about 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water. It's best to start out with a smaller amount of water and add more as needed—it's inconvenient to add a second bag of cement if you add to much water to the first batch. If you're mixing multiple bags of cement, you'll quickly get the hang of how much water is necessary. Mix the water into the cement powder. Use your shovel to stir the water into the dry powder. Pull the dry cement mix from the outer edge of the wheelbarrow into the wet center, and stir until there is no dry powder left in the wheelbarrow. Ideally, the cement should be a little runny at this point, about the consistency of thin putty. Stir slowly, so that the water doesn't slosh over the sides of the wheelbarrow. If you're using the mixing machine, simply flip the “On” switch and let the machine stir for you. Add a shovel-full of sand if required. Most fast-setting bags of concrete mix will already contain sand, so you won't need to add any. If you purchased cement without sand already mixed in, add 3 or 4 shovels-full of sand to the soupy concrete mixture, then stir until the sand has been worked in. The technically correct ratio of mixing cement with sand is 1 part cement, 3 parts sand, and 3 parts water. However, you can customize this ratio as you see fit. For most projects, you won't need 3 times as much sand as cement. Start with a 1:1 ratio instead. If you're planning to add aggregate to your concrete mixture, add the aggregate now as well. Add sand and aggregate separately to ensure that each gets fully mixed into the wet concrete. Gather thick, clay-rich mud. If you are located near a river, lake, or other body of water, you can gather mud from its banks. Otherwise, you may need to make your own mud by digging up clay-rich soil and adding water to it. The clay should be a thin consistency so that it will mix well with dry grass. A clay-rich mud or soil will result in a strong, durable cement. Gather an armload of dry grass. Walk to a nearby field or riverbank and pull up a large armload of old, dead grass. You'll use this to mix with the mud. Green grass will not work. The grass needs to be dry and hard in order to make suitable survival cement. Cut the grass to a usable length. The grass that you've harvested will probably be very long, which will prevent it from mixing well with the cement. Solve this problem by using a field knife to cut the grass down into a suitable length. It will be most convenient if you do this on top of a large tarp. For most projects, the grass will work best when cut into sections between 6 inches (15 cm) and 12 inches (30 cm). Pour the mud out on the tarp. Do this near the location where you've set the cut grass stalks. Once the mud is on the tarp, set about half of the grass on top of the mud. Stomp the mud and grass together. Either wearing shoes that you don't mind getting muddy, or barefoot, step up and down on top of the mud and grass mixture until the two elements have been fully smashed together. If you don't want to get your shoes or feet dirty, fold a corner of the tarp on top of the mud and grass and stomp on top of that. Roll the mud and grass back on itself. At this point, the mud and grass will be smashed into a flat layer. Pick up one edge of the tarp, and lift until the mud/grass mixture folds back over itself. Do this a couple of times, until the mixture is roughly in a round shape. Add the rest of the grass and stomp again. Place the remaining half of the dry grass stalks on top of the mud and grass mixture. Walk in place on top of the mixture, using the same technique as before. This will force all of the newly-added grass to fully blend with the mud/grass mixture, leaving you with well-blended survival cement. At this point, your survival cement is finished. Begin shaping and working with it immediately, as the mud will dry quickly. You can form your batch of survival cement into a series of bricks, which can be built into a small hut in adverse survival conditions. In non-survival situations, you could use these cement bricks to build a retaining wall or fire pit. | Purchase or collect limestone. Break the limestone into small pieces. Cook the limestone in a kiln or outdoor oven. Let the baked limestone cool. Crumble the baked limestone chunks. Select the right type of cement. Purchase cement with aggregate if you’re laying thicker concrete. Put on two layers of hand protection. Cut open the bag of cement and empty the contents in a wheelbarrow. Add water to the cement powder. Mix the water into the cement powder. Add a shovel-full of sand if required. Gather thick, clay-rich mud. Gather an armload of dry grass. Cut the grass to a usable length. Pour the mud out on the tarp. Stomp the mud and grass together. Roll the mud and grass back on itself. Add the rest of the grass and stomp again. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Circuit | How to Make a Circuit | To make a circuit using a battery, start by screwing a bulb into a bulb holder. Then, remove 1 inch of wire covering from the end of a red copper wire and black copper wire. Next, connect the red wire to one side of the bulb holder and the other end to the positive terminal on the battery. Afterwards, connect the black wire to the other terminal on the bulb holder. Finally, touch the other end of the black wire to the battery to light up the bulb. | Screw a bulb into a bulb holder. A bulb holder is a device made to hold a light bulb. It also has 2 terminals. One is for a positive lead and the other is for a negative lead. This allows you to pass a current through the light bulb in the holder. Be sure to use a low-powered light bulb (e.g., in the range of 1-10 volts). Remove about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of wire covering from each end of 2 copper wires. You should use 2 different colored copper wires. This will help you differentiate between the positive and negative lead. Use a knife or wire strippers to cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the plastic insulation (the colored part) off of each end of both wires. This exposes the copper wire underneath. Red and black wires are the most common, but you can use other colors too, like red and white. Don't cut through the actual wire. You just need to cut through the plastic insulation that is covering the wire. Once you have cut it, you can peel or slide it off of the wire. Take care not to cut too deep as you are cutting through the plastic insulation over the wire. If you cut into the copper wire itself, you could weaken it and cause it to break. Connect the positive lead. Generally, red wire is used to connect the positive end. One end of the red wire will connect to one side of the bulb holder. The other end of the red wire should touch the positive lead on the battery. If you weren't able to get any red wires, then choose 1 of your 2 colors to be the positive wire. Connect the negative lead. Black wire is usually used to connect the negative end. Again, one end of the wire should touch the terminal on the bulb holder (not the same terminal as the positive wire). The other end of the wire can be left unattached until you are ready to light the bulb. Light the bulb. Touch the unattached end of the negative (black) wire to the negative terminal on the battery. This completes the circuit and allows electricity to flow. The electricity is forced to flow through the light bulb, which causes the bulb to light up. Set up the power pack. The power pack should be on a flat, level surface. Plug the power pack into an outlet. This will provide a steady supply of power to your circuit. Plug the wire leads into the power pack. Make sure to choose a light bulb with a voltage that's within the voltage range of the power pack. If the power pack has an adjustable voltage range, set it to the lowest possible voltage when you turn on the power so that you don't burn the bulb. Connect the light. Screw the light into a bulb holder. Then connect each lead from the power pack to one of the terminals on the bulb holder. Once both leads are connected, the light will light up. If the light does not light up, check that the leads are well connected and the power pack is plugged in and turned on. Adjust the voltage. You can turn a dial on your power pack to cause the voltage to fluctuate. Doing this can demonstrate how the brightness of the light changes as a result of higher or lower voltages. The light should get dimmer as the voltage goes down, and brighter as the voltage goes up. Don't turn on the voltage any higher than what the bulb is rated for. Cut 1 wire lead. Remove power from the circuit before cutting any leads. It does not matter if you cut the positive or negative lead. You can use a pair of wire cutters to cut the lead anywhere in the circuit. The switch will provide control of the circuit no matter where it is located. It is dangerous to cut into a live wire (one with power on it). Always disconnect the circuit before cutting leads. Attach the lead wire from the battery to the switch. Once you have cut 1 of the lead wires, you can attach it to the switch. The switch will have 2 simple terminals. Attach the lead wire coming from the battery to one of these terminals. Leave the other terminal alone for right now. Attach the lead wire from the switch to the bulb. The second piece of wire should be attached to the bulb holder terminal. Attach this piece of wire to the second terminal on the switch. This will again complete the circuit. Unlike in the previous experiment, this will not complete the circuit and turn the bulb on. In order for that to happen, you have to flip the switch! When you attach the switch to the circuit, make sure the switch is off (open). If you leave the switch on (closed), there will be voltage present when you attach the wire from the switch to the bulb holder terminal. You can also open the circuit by removing the light bulb from the holder. Toggle the switch. As you flip the switch on and off, it will open (break) and close (complete) the circuit. This will either prevent or allow electricity to flow. When the circuit is open, the light will be off. When the circuit is closed, the light will turn on. | Screw a bulb into a bulb holder. Remove about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of wire covering from each end of 2 copper wires. Connect the positive lead. Connect the negative lead. Light the bulb. Set up the power pack. Connect the light. Adjust the voltage. Cut 1 wire lead. Attach the lead wire from the battery to the switch. Attach the lead wire from the switch to the bulb. Toggle the switch. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Pen-Ink-Stains-from-a-Silk-Dress | How to Remove Pen Ink Stains from a Silk Dress | If there's a pen ink stain on your silk dress, luckily there are several ways to remove it with cleaners that you likely already have in your home. When possible, treat the ink stain immediately so it doesn't have time to set. If the stain is recent, try blotting it with a cloth or paper towel to absorb any excess ink. Then, lay some paper towels under the affected part of the fabric and spray it with hairspray until the area is saturated. Once the stain is wet, dab at the ink with a clean cloth to lift the ink. If this doesn't work, pour some rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth and dab at the stain until the stain lifts. | Blot the stain with paper towel. Treating the ink stain immediately will make removing the stain much easier. If the ink stain is recent and hasn't set into the material, blot the ink stain with a cloth or paper towel before using any cleaning method. Blotting the stain will absorb the excess ink from the dress so that the stain is easier to remove. Place the stained silk over a paper towel. Though it is not often used as a cleaning substance, hairspray is one of the most effective ways to remove ink from a variety of materials, including silk. Before you use the hairspray to clean the ink stain, first place the stained portion of the silk dress over a paper towel or a towel. The paper towel or cloth will absorb the ink that may bleed through the dress as you try to remove it. You may need to put the paper towel or cloth inside the dress directly against the stained section so that the ink doesn't bleed to the back of the dress. Spray the stain liberally with hairspray. After you lay the stained portion of the dress over the paper towel, shake the can of hairspray, then aim it at the ink stain. Spray the hairspray on the stain until it is completely saturated. Use an alcohol-based hairspray as opposed to an alcohol-free hairspray. Don't let the hairspray dry. Dab the stain with a clean cloth. Once you have wet the stain with the hairspray, immediately dab at the ink stain using a clean cloth with gentle tapping motions. You should see the ink lifting from the dress and transferring to the cloth. Keep dabbing until the stain is completely removed or until the dabbing isn't having any effect. Dab with patting motions instead of rubbing. Rubbing the stain can cause it to ingrain into the fabric, making it even harder to remove. Repeat spraying and dabbing until the stain has been removed. If the first round of spraying the stain with hairspray and dabbing didn't remove the ink stain, spray the stain again until the stain is soaked. Then dab the stain with a clean section of the towel to lift up more of the ink. Repeat the process of reapplying hairspray and dabbing with a cloth or paper towel until you don't see any more ink lifting. If you did remove the stain, wash your silk dress as usual to remove any leftover hairspray. If using hairspray on the stain didn't fully remove it, try another method of removing the stain. Place the stained section over a clean cloth. If cleaning the ink stain with hairspray wasn't fully effective, you may need to use rubbing alcohol, which is a more powerful cleaning solution. To begin, place the stained portion of the dress over a cloth or paper towel, just as you did before you sprayed with dress with hairspray. Apply rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth. After you lay out your silk garment, pour about 2 teaspoons (9.85 ml) of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) to a clean cloth. Use a clear rubbing alcohol as opposed to wintergreen alcohol, since the green pigment of wintergreen alcohol can stain your silk dress further. Dab the stain with the soaked cloth. Once you add the rubbing alcohol to the clean cloth, dab at the stain with gentle tapping motions just as you did when using the hairspray. Continue patting until you don't see any more of the ink lifting from the stained portion of the dress. Blow the stained area with a hairdryer. Rubbing alcohol can sometimes leave a faint ring-like stain where it is applied. However, if you use a hairdryer to blow hot air on the stain directly after dabbing with the rubbing alcohol, you won't have to worry about the ring- like stain. Use the hairdryer to blow on the stained area until it is dry. Make sure to use the hairdryer directly after dabbing so that the rubbing alcohol doesn't have time to dry. Repeat steps 2-4 until the stain is removed. If dabbing with rubbing alcohol didn't work to fully remove the stain, repeat the process of dabbing the stain with rubbing alcohol and drying with hairspray until the stain is removed or you aren't making any more progress in lifting the stain. If you were successful in removing the stain, launder your garment as usual. If you didn't fully remove the stain, try another method to get it out. Make a solution of dishwashing soap and water. If dabbing at the stain with hairspray and rubbing alcohol didn't work, you may need to soak your silk dress in a solution of dishwashing soap and water to get the rest of the stain out. In a large basin or container, mix 3 parts dishwashing solution with one part water. Use a clear dishwashing soap as opposed to a colored soap. Soak the stained dress for 15 minutes. Place the ink-stained dress in the basin of dish detergent solution, making sure that the stained section is fully submerged in the liquid. Soak the dress for 15 minutes to target the stain. Rinse the fabric in hot water. After you soak the dress for 15 minutes, take the dress out of the dishwashing solution and run hot water over it until the solution seems to be washed out and the water is no longer sudsy. Then launder the silk dress as usual. | Blot the stain with paper towel. Place the stained silk over a paper towel. Spray the stain liberally with hairspray. Dab the stain with a clean cloth. Repeat spraying and dabbing until the stain has been removed. Place the stained section over a clean cloth. Apply rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth. Dab the stain with the soaked cloth. Blow the stained area with a hairdryer. Repeat steps 2-4 until the stain is removed. Make a solution of dishwashing soap and water. Soak the stained dress for 15 minutes. Rinse the fabric in hot water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Graduation-Leis | How to Make Graduation Leis | To make a graduation leis out of candy, start by cutting a 4-foot long piece of cellophane that's about 6 inches wide. Place a small candy bar length-wise on top of the cellophane. Take the long, top edge of the cellophane and roll it around the candy, forming a tube. Then, secure the ends of the candy bar with a piece of tape or ribbon. If you like, you can tie ribbons right above the end of the candy bar, making sure they match your school's colors. Tuck another candy bar into the tube, wrap it, and tie it. Repeat this process until you are close to the end of your cellophane. Trim any excess cellophane, then tie the ends together in a double-knot. | Fold a dollar bill into a fan. Starting from one of the narrow ends, fold your bill like a fan or accordion using ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) folds. Do this for all of the bills that you have. You will need about 30 to 35 bills. Make some more fans using colored paper, if desired. Cut some colored paper down to the same size as your bills, about 2½ by 6 inches (6.35 by 15.24 centimeters) first. Then, fold them into fans starting from the narrow edge. You will need about 30 to 35 pieces as well. Add school spirit by using one or both of your school's colors. Cardstock or colored printer paper will give you a nicer look, but you can use construction paper if you have nothing else. Tape the edges of your fan together. Fold your fan in half, widthwise. Tape the two side edges together. When you are done, you should have a half-circle, fan shape. Do this for all of the folded bills and colored pieces of paper. Set them aside when you are done. Cut a 4-foot (1.2-meter) long piece of ribbon. This will make the base of the lei. The ribbon can be any color you want, but something that matches one of the school's colors would be ideal. Seal the ends of the ribbon with a flame. This will keep it from fraying. Start taping the folded fans to the ribbon. Place the flat side of your first fan against the ribbon. Fold the two ends together over the ribbon, sandwiching it in between. You should now have something that looks like a disk. Tape the two ends of the paper together to secure the disk. Start from the center of the ribbon and work your way outward. Continue taping the folded fans to the ribbon. Alternate between money and paper. You can do money-paper-money, or money-money-paper. Stop when you have about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) of ribbon left on each side. Tie the ends of the ribbon together. If you have enough ribbon left over, you can tie the ends into a bow. This is not completely necessary, but it will give the lei a nicer touch. Cut some cellophane about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) wide. You can use any color you want, even clear. You could also use one of the school's colors to get into the school spirit. Place a small candy bar on top of the cellophane. Set the cellophane down on a flat surface. Place a small candy bar on top of it, about 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) from one of the narrow ends. Make sure that both are oriented horizontally. It's best if you use wrapped candies so that they don't melt. If the candies are very small, you could fit 3 to 4. Wrap the cellophane around the candy bar. Starting from the long, top edge, roll the cellophane around the candy, forming a tube. If you need to, secure the cellophane with a piece of tape first. Tie a piece of curling ribbon to either side of the candy. Cut two 6 to 8-inch (15.24 to 20.32-centimeter) long pieces of curling ribbon in one of the school's colors. Tie each ribbon to either side of the candy bar. You can tie the ribbon into a bow or a simple double-knot. If you use a double-knot, consider curing the ribbon with scissors. Use one of the school's colors for the ribbon, if possible. Tuck another candy bar into the tube. You will need to tuck, wrap, and adjust the cellophane around the candy bar. Tie another piece of ribbon right above the candy bar. Continue adding candies until you are close to the end of the cellophane. Tie a piece of curling ribbon around the cellophane around each candy that you add. Consider alternating the ribbon colors for a more interesting lei. Be sure to match them to the school's colors! Make the lei longer, if necessary. The standard 3-foot (0.91-yard) long piece of cellophane may not be long enough to make a lei. If yours is too short, cut another strip of cellophane, and tape it to the end of your lei. Continue adding candies and ribbons until the cellophane is filled. Something around 4 feet (1.2 meters) would be ideal, so trim off any excess. Tie the ends together. When you are close to the end of the lei, tie a piece of ribbon around the cellophane, just above the last candy bar. Bring both ends of the lei together, and tie them into a secure, double-knot. For an added touch, tie a piece of ribbon around the knot in a bow. | Fold a dollar bill into a fan. Make some more fans using colored paper, if desired. Tape the edges of your fan together. Cut a 4-foot (1.2-meter) long piece of ribbon. Start taping the folded fans to the ribbon. Continue taping the folded fans to the ribbon. Tie the ends of the ribbon together. Cut some cellophane about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) wide. Place a small candy bar on top of the cellophane. Wrap the cellophane around the candy bar. Tie a piece of curling ribbon to either side of the candy. Tuck another candy bar into the tube. Continue adding candies until you are close to the end of the cellophane. Make the lei longer, if necessary. Tie the ends together. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Headlights | How to Clean Headlights | If your headlights are looking hazy or fogged over, you can clean them using a few simple supplies to get them looking new again. First, wash your headlights with soapy water and let them dry. Then, apply painter's tape around the perimeter of each headlight so you don't accidentally damage the surrounding paint. For a quick fix, apply toothpaste to a damp cloth and buff the toothpaste into each headlight for about 5 minutes. Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and it can help remove any buildup on your headlights. Rinse off each headlight with water and let them air dry. You can also try using baking soda and vinegar. Mix 2 parts white vinegar with 1 part baking soda, and rub the mixture into each headlight with a cloth for a few minutes. Rinse your headlights with water and repeat if needed. For really hazy headlights, try wet sanding them. First, wet the headlights and some 1000-grit sandpaper with water. Then, sand each headlight using horizontal strokes for 5 to 10 minutes, keeping the sandpaper wet at all times. Repeat with 2000-grit and then 3000-grit sandpaper, changing the direction you sand in each time. Finally, polish and wax your headlights to really make them shine. | Inspect the headlights to see what approach makes most sense. If you've noticed that your headlights are hazier or not as crisp as they once were, examine them in daylight, both on and off. It's important to figure out how bad the damage is to know which cleaning methods will be the most effective, whether you need to get the headlights examined professionally, or whether the headlights might need replaced. Look for major abrasions and scratches that might be signs of more serious issues. Wash the headlights with regular car soap. Regular road grit and grime can make your headlights look dirty and hazy to a degree that can make a more accurate diagnosis difficult. Before you start looking for specific problems, just give your car a wash with regular warm water and car wash soap. Wipe down the headlights and let them dry thoroughly. Examine them clean to look for specific issues. Look for hazing. Haziness will occur when all of the hard coat has worn off the headlights and the soft polycarbonate is exposed, beginning to absorb scratches that creates hazing. The lens will soon be covered in a rough dark yellow crusted surface. If this seems to be the problem, doing a cheap quick clean will be an effective way of slowing the degeneration of the headlights, but a more comprehensive clean may be called for. Look for yellowing. This occurs when all of the hard coat is beginning to thin out and lose adhesion to the polycarbonate lens. The UV wavelength spectrum creates a new repeating unit in the carbonic chain which absorbs blue light, and results in a yellowish appearance. If you notice yellowish coloring on the headlights, you need to opt for a more comprehensive clean, using Rain-X or some polishing compound to clean them up and correct the damage. A thin layer of transmission fluid can temporarily clear them up as well. Look for peeling and cracks. When the hard coat begins to deteriorate, you will notice spotting in certain areas such as the upper region or the corners. The hard coat can appear to flake off or peeling off. Eventually, you'll see cracks deep into the lens, which means the headlights will need to be resurfaced by a professional. If this is the case, you might need to replace your headlights or have them resurfaced, which might end up costing more. In the meantime, clean them up as best you can using a quick method and start pricing new headlights. Have glass headlights examined by the pros. Most headlights are plastic and will exhibit the symptoms described above. Glass headlights, as are found on classic cars and older models, are more complicated and are best examined by professional body technicians. If your glass headlights are wearing out, take them in and have them checked. Get a few grades of wet/dry sandpaper. To start with, you're going to buff out the headlights, using an increasingly-fine series of wet/dry sandpaper. 3M is usually the best brand for the job, and you typically want to have at least one coarser grade (1500 or so) and a finer grade to finish abrading the headlight (around 2000). If you want to start with coarser sandpaper, that's up to you. Tape off the headlights. Any time you're using sandpaper around the car, you want to make sure you don't get too vigorous and scratch the paint. For this reason, it's usually a good idea to use some painter's tape around the edge, where the lights meet the painted part of the car, to avoid scratching up the paint. This isn't necessary, but it's worth taking the extra few minutes to protect your paint job. Before you get started sanding, it's usually a good idea to wipe down the headlights once more, using clean paper towels and a bit of rubbing alcohol. This should dry quickly and you'll be ready to go. Wet the sandpaper and start sanding. Using a water spray bottle or a small bucket, wet sand the headlights thoroughly with your coarser grit sandpaper. Use even pressure and sand away at the headlight, until you have an even, dull finish. If the factory coating begins to come off, you will notice a hazy "line" begin to appear and change shape as it is sanded off. It is generally best to sand the coating completely off. Switch to the finer grade of sandpaper. After going over the headlights with your coarse paper, switch to a sandpaper with a higher grit-count and repeat the process until the finish changes from dull to kind of "satiny." On headlights with an interior texture where you cannot necessarily see the bulb, you can usually stop at 1500 grit paper. The headlights will look hazy, but even and not yellow. Choose a buffing compound. Once you've sanded down the headlights and worked out the hazing, it's time to switch to a buffing compound of some kind. Lots of different choices are available, including McGuire's, M105, and 3M compound. Visit the auto parts store for a variety of options. Aluminum polishing compounds are the best bet to get the headlights into good shape. Non-abrasive bathroom acrylic tub and sink cleaner is designed for plastics, works well and may already be under your sink. If you're looking for a cheap option, plain blue toothpaste is a common substitute. Use plain blue toothpaste, not anything with peroxide, whitening agent, or other additives. Add buffing compound to a clean microfiber cloth. Take a clean towel, apply a quarter-sized glob of buffing compound, a pick a small area of the headlight to focus on, say 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 centimeters). Work it in a circular motion, polishing repeatedly and uniformly in your little square. It should take less than five minutes or so for the section to start looking clearer. Once you've buffed a square, move on to the next one. If you want to use a hand drill with a buffing kit, you can apply buffing compound directly to a foam pad that will spin on the drill, then buff the headlights at a low RPM. Using gentle pressure, slowly ease the RPMs up, moving the pad uniformly around the headlight. Go slowly, about an inch a second. This will go much faster than polishing by hand. Continue buffing until your headlights look clear. It'll take some elbow grease, because you may want to add as many as three coats of buffing compound to get your headlights like you want them. Go until you're satisfied with the clarity and the sharpness of the light. You can test your headlights by shining them against the wall of the garage, or some other flat surface. Consider having plastic adhesion added. If you want to really seal your headlights and keep them in good shape, you might consider having a local auto body shop mask and spray the headlights with a plastic adhesion promoter, like Bulldog. That plus a few coats of automotive clear-coat helps to extend the life of headlights considerably, and should only cost between $20-50, depending on the shop. A less expensive option is acrylic floor wax. Apply a coat and let dry. Multiple coats can be applied for a more durable finish and it can be re-applied as necessary. | Inspect the headlights to see what approach makes most sense. Wash the headlights with regular car soap. Look for hazing. Look for yellowing. Look for peeling and cracks. Have glass headlights examined by the pros. Get a few grades of wet/dry sandpaper. Tape off the headlights. Wet the sandpaper and start sanding. Switch to the finer grade of sandpaper. Choose a buffing compound. Add buffing compound to a clean microfiber cloth. Continue buffing until your headlights look clear. Consider having plastic adhesion added. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Visit-the-White-House | How to Visit the White House | To visit the white house as a United States Citizen, fill out the online form on your congressmember's website to request a public, self-guided tour. You'll need to submit your request up to 3 months ahead of time, and then you will receive a confirmation email 2 weeks before the date of your tour. If you're not a U.S. citizen, call your country's embassy in Washington, D.C. to have your tour arranged through the State Department. | Request a public tour through your House representative. If you're a U.S. citizen, you can request to take a public, self-guided tour of the White House through your representative in the House. These tours are free and will take you through the East Wing and White House Residence. To find who your local congressmember is, go to https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative. Fill out the online request form on your congressmember’s website. Find your congressmember's website online by googling or looking on the House of Representatives' website. Look for their “Services” or “Visiting DC” page, or search for “White House tours” on their website. Fill out the request form there to start your tour booking process. You'll be asked to give the dates that you're available for the tour, the number of people, and your contact information. Choose a non-holiday date, on Tuesday through Saturday. The White House is only open for public tours on certain days and hours, so plan your visit accordingly! It's closed on federal holidays as well. All tours are subject to last minute cancellation, so try to plan an alternate activity on the same day, just in case. Submit your request up to 3 months ahead of time. You can submit your tour request up to 3 months ahead of time and as late as 3 weeks before, but you should try to submit as soon as possible. Spots fill up fast, especially during busy times like summer and winter breaks. Look for a confirmation email from the White House 2 weeks before your requested date. Once you've submitted your request, you'll have to wait for a while before hearing back. The White House won't let you know that you've received a tour until about 2 weeks beforehand, due to security reasons. Try to be patient in the meantime! Plan the rest of your trip to the capital to keep yourself busy. You might want to see other sights, like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, or Capitol Hill. Contact your embassy to schedule a tour if you’re not a US citizen. If you're a foreign visitor wanting to tour the White House, call your country's embassy in Washington, D.C. Your tour will be arranged through the Protocol Desk at the State Department. Your embassy officials will let you know what steps you'll take to request a tour. You can find your embassy's contact information at https://www.embassy.org/embassies/. Call the Visitors Office information line if you have any questions. If you need to make last minute changes or have any questions about scheduling, the tour experience, or anything else, call the White House Visitors Center. Their hotline is available 24 hours a day. Call the Visitors Office at 202-456-7041. Take the Garden Tour for a free stroll of the White House grounds in spring or fall. White House Garden Tours are offered 2 weekends per year—once in the spring and once in fall. Instead of reserving your tickets months in advance, like you would with a regular White House tour, you'll simply pick up tickets on the day of the event. The Garden Tours are public and free of charge as well. You won't be able to go inside the White House, but you will be able to walk around the gardens, grounds, and lawns. Check the White House website in spring for the public tour dates. The Garden Tour dates and times are announced every year in the spring. They'll be announced on the White House website as well as in the news and on social media, so keep an eye out! The tours are typically held in April and October. Pick up free tickets at the National Park Service tent near the White House. All attendees, including children, will need a ticket to get in. You can pick them up from a National Park Service tent on the days of the Garden tours. Get there early, since lines are usually very long and tickets are first come, first serve. Make sure your whole group goes with you as well—you can only pick up one ticket per person. Keep an eye out for ticketing time announcements, which will be decided a few weeks before each tour. The ticket tents typically open in the morning. Avoid bringing prohibited items like backpacks, food, and tablets. Just like with regular White House tours, there are a number of items that won't be allowed on the grounds during the Garden Tours. These items include: Suitcases and oversized backpacks Tablets Food and beverages Selfie sticks Balloons Weapons and toy weapons Fireworks Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes. There isn't an official dress code for visiting the White House, but you should wear something appropriate and comfortable for walking and for the weather. There is no place to store items while you're in the White House, so if you wear a heavy coat, make sure you're OK to carry it around during the tour. Avoid wearing clothes with anti-U.S. slogans. Use public transportation to get to the White House. There are no visitors' parking lots around the White House, so it's recommended to take public transportation to get to your tour. Check the instructions given to you by the White House for the best time to arrive. The Metro is the easiest option if you're not staying in walking distance, and the closest stations are: Federal Triangle, on the blue and orange lines Metro Center on the blue, orange, and red lines McPherson Square, on the blue and orange lines Use the bathroom at the visitor’s center before you go inside. Public restrooms aren't available once you're inside the White House. You can stop by the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, located in the park area south of the White House, for the nearest bathrooms, or go in a nearby museum. Bring government-issued ID or passport. All guests who are 18 or older are required to show an up-to-date, government-issued ID card. If you're not a U.S. citizen, you'll need to bring your passport. U.S. citizens have the option of bringing either a valid ID like a driver's license or military ID card, or a U.S. passport. The information on your ID must exactly match the name, date of birth, and address you gave the White House when booking the tour. Photocopies and expired IDs won't be accepted. Avoid bringing prohibited items, like cameras, bags, and food. For security reasons, the White House has a strict list of items that won't be allowed inside the building. There are no storage options at the White House, so you won't be allowed to enter if you bring a prohibited item. If you can't leave the item at home, you can rent a locker at a nearby museum or ask if you can store it with your congressmember's office. Follow all rules and instructions when you’re inside the White House. The White House will contact you with other rules and instructions, and give further guidance once you arrive for your tour. Make sure to follow all instructions carefully. Security is extremely tight in the White House, and you may face consequences or be asked to leave if you break the rules. | Request a public tour through your House representative. Fill out the online request form on your congressmember’s website. Choose a non-holiday date, on Tuesday through Saturday. Submit your request up to 3 months ahead of time. Look for a confirmation email from the White House 2 weeks before your requested date. Contact your embassy to schedule a tour if you’re not a US citizen. Call the Visitors Office information line if you have any questions. Take the Garden Tour for a free stroll of the White House grounds in spring or fall. Check the White House website in spring for the public tour dates. Pick up free tickets at the National Park Service tent near the White House. Avoid bringing prohibited items like backpacks, food, and tablets. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes. Use public transportation to get to the White House. Use the bathroom at the visitor’s center before you go inside. Bring government-issued ID or passport. Avoid bringing prohibited items, like cameras, bags, and food. Follow all rules and instructions when you’re inside the White House. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Rust-from-a-Bike | How to Remove Rust from a Bike | To remove some superficial rust from a bike, start by mixing equal parts baking soda and water until it becomes a thick paste. Dab the paste on a brush or sponge and apply it directly to the rust. After 15 minutes, use a scrub pad to break down the rust. Then, allow the baking soda to sit for another 10-15 minutes before wiping it off with a dry microfiber cloth. For stubborn rust, pour white vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz the rust on your bike. After 10-15 minutes, rinse the vinegar off your bike with water and dry. | Mix baking soda and water in a bowl. Combine a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and water in a bowl and mix until it becomes a thick paste. You will need enough of the paste to completely cover the rust, so keep the bowl, baking soda, and water nearby in case you need to make more. Baking soda is generally best at minor rust removal. Severe rusting may respond better to other methods. Add a squirt of lemon juice to the paste for strengthened removal properties. Put the paste directly on the rust for about 15 minutes. Dab the paste on a brush or sponge and apply it to the rusty bike. Do not scrub or remove the paste immediately: it will need time to set and break down the rust. Let the paste sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. The baking soda paste should be thick enough to evenly coat the rust patch without dripping off of the bike. Scrub the baking soda with a scrub pad. Using a plastic scrubber or steel wool, scrub the baking soda solution. As you scrub, you should notice the rust breaking down and detaching from the bike. If you do not notice this, add more of the baking soda paste to the bike and scrub with more force. Use a toothbrush as an alternative if no scrub pads are available. Wait about 10 minutes before wiping off the baking soda. After you are finished scrubbing, leave the baking soda on for about 10-15 minutes to reach stubborn rust. Then, wipe off the paste with a dry microfiber cloth. Make sure the bicycle is completely dry to prevent further rusting. Store the bike in a cool, dry place to keep the rust from returning. If there is still some rust left over, repeat the same process again or try another method. Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle. White vinegar is best at rust removal because it is more acidic than other varieties. Although you can dab the vinegar onto the bike rust directly, spray bottles are ideal to ensure an even coating of the liquid. Add a small spoonful of baking soda to the mixture for a more corrosive solution. Spritz or coat the rust on your bike in vinegar. If you put the vinegar in a spray bottle, spray it evenly around the entire rust patch. Apply the vinegar with a sponge or ball of tinfoil if you decide to directly coat it. Tinfoil is especially effective because it can also function as a scrub brush while you apply the vinegar. If desired, you may soak removable bike parts in a vinegar solution as an alternative. Rinse the vinegar off of your bike after 10-15 minutes. Vinegar can continue corroding your bike metal after removing the rust. To prevent this from happening, use a hose to wash the bike down after the rust has dissolved. If vinegar does not remove the rust, you may need to use a chemical cleaner. Dry the bike off before storing it again. Leaving moisture on the bike can cause rust to return. Rub your bike down with a cloth soaked in denatured alcohol to remove excess moisture. Store your bike in a cool, dry place to prevent future rusting. Use chemical rust remover if no other method works. In some cases, household items might not be strong enough to remove rust. Try baking soda and vinegar first, but if neither work, purchase a rust remover from your local hardware store or bike shop. Do not mix chemical removers with baking soda, vinegar, citric acid, or other cleaners. Some mixtures can be deadly. Put on protective gloves and glasses before handling rust remover. Chemical removers are more potent to use than other methods and can harm your eyes or skin. Read the instruction label carefully before using to make sure you're using it safely. If the cleaner touches your eyes or skin, rinse it off thoroughly and contact poison control for further instructions. Avoid using chemical cleaners in confined spaces. Open a window or door for ventilation, and exit the room immediately if you feel dizzy and/or lightheaded. Brush the chemical cleaner on as directed. How long you leave the cleaner on will depend on the chemical. Suggested times can range from 30 minutes to overnight. Read the directions for specific instructions and follow them carefully for the best results. If you need a cleaner that will remove rust quickly, read the label instructions while you're at the store and choose one with a quick setting time. Remove the cleaner after the suggested time has passed. Because chemical cleaners are corrosive, wipe it away completely with a cheap cloth after it has finished removing the rust. Store remaining cleaners wherever you keep other chemicals in case you need to remove more rust later on. Throw the cloth away after use to prevent contaminating other fabrics. | Mix baking soda and water in a bowl. Put the paste directly on the rust for about 15 minutes. Scrub the baking soda with a scrub pad. Wait about 10 minutes before wiping off the baking soda. Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle. Spritz or coat the rust on your bike in vinegar. Rinse the vinegar off of your bike after 10-15 minutes. Dry the bike off before storing it again. Use chemical rust remover if no other method works. Put on protective gloves and glasses before handling rust remover. Brush the chemical cleaner on as directed. Remove the cleaner after the suggested time has passed. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-American-Football | How to Play American Football | To play American football, divide players into 2 teams of 11 people each, with a quarterback for each team who will pass the ball to the other players at the start of each play. Each team gets 4 tries to move the ball at least 10 yards, otherwise the opposite team gets the ball back. The team scores 6 points if a player crosses into the end zone with the ball, with an opportunity for an extra point by kicking the ball through the uprights at the end of the field. A team can score 3 points for kicking the ball through the uprights any other time. | Know the main point of the game. The goal of American football is to score points by carrying the ball from a starting point on a 120-yard long and 53.3-yard wide field into a specially marked 10-yard-deep area at either end of the field called an end zone. Each team uses the end zone in front of them to score while trying to prevent the opposing team from reaching the end zone behind them. Each end zone has a Y-shaped structure called the field goal which is positioned on the end line. The field goals are used to score points with special kicks. The end zone that a team is defending is usually referred to as “their” end zone. Thus, a team with 70 yards (64.0 m) to go before it can score a touchdown is 30 yards (27.4 m) from its end zone. Teams trade possession of the ball according to strict rules. Whichever team is in possession of the ball is known as the “offense;” the other team is called the “defense.” Learn the time divisions. Football is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each, with a break between the second and third periods called “halftime” that is normally 12 minutes long. While the clock is active, the game is divided into even shorter segments called “plays" or "downs." A play begins when the ball is moved from the ground into the hands of the players, and ends when either the ball hits the ground, or the person holding the ball is tackled and his knee or elbow touches the ground. When a play is over, an official called a referee, places the ball on the yard marker which corresponds to his or her judgment of the place where the forward progress of the player with the ball was stopped. Each team has 4 downs and within those downs, they have to make ten yards from the line of scrimmage (the starting point). If the team fails to do so within the 4 downs, the offensive team has to hand over the ball to the opposing team. If the offense succeeds in taking the ball 10 yards in the 4 downs they get another 4 downs to move the ball 10 yards. The teams have 30 seconds to get into formation and begin the next play. Play time can stop for a few different reasons: If a player runs out of bounds, a penalty is called, a flag is thrown, or a pass is thrown but not caught by anybody (an incomplete pass), the clock will stop while referees sort everything out. Penalties are indicated by referees, who throw yellow flags onto the field when they see a violation. This lets everyone on the field know that a penalty has been called. Penalties normally result in the offending team losing between 5 - 15 yards of field position. There are many penalties, but some of the most common are “offside” (someone was on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped), “holding” (a player grabbed another player with his hands, and either player doesn't have the ball, instead of blocking him properly), "false start" (When a player moves before the ball is snapped), "Unsportsmanlike conduct" (When a player does something that doesn't show good sportsmanship, and “clipping” (someone contacted an opposing player other than the ball carrier from behind and below the waist). Learn the flow of the game. American football is made up of two basic structural elements that guide play. These are the kickoff and the downs system. The opening kickoff - At the very beginning of the game, the head referee flips a coin and the home team captain calls out which side of the coin will be face up. If correct, that captain may choose to kick off or to receive the opening kickoff or allow the visiting team captain to make that choice. Once the kicking and receiving teams are decided, the team captain who lost the coin toss gets to decide which goal his or her team will defend during the first half. This initial play is called the kickoff, and typically involves a long kick down field from one team to the other, with the team that kicked the ball rushing towards the team receiving the ball in order to prevent them from running the ball a long ways back towards the kicking team's end zone. After halftime, there is a second kickoff by whichever team did not perform the opening kickoff. Throughout the second half, the end zones each team defends is the one opposite the end zone that team defended in the first half. Downs - The word “down” is synonymous with the word “chance” or "plays" in American football. The offense is allowed four downs to move the ball at least 10 yards (9.1 m) towards the end zone. Each play ends in a new down. If the goal of 10 yards (9.1 m) from the first down is achieved before the fourth down is over, the count resets to the first down, commonly noted as “1st and 10” to indicate that the standard 10 yards (9.1 m) are once again required to reset to the first down. Otherwise, the downs count from one to four. If four downs pass without resetting to the first down, control of the ball passes to the other team. This means that a team that moves the ball 10 or more yards on each play will never be on the second down. Every time the ball is moved 10 yards (9.1 m) or more in the proper direction, the next play is a first down with 10 yards (9.1 m) to go. The distance required to reset to the first down is cumulative, so running 4 yards (3.7 m) on the first down, 3 yards (2.7 m) on the second, and 3 yards (2.7 m) on the third is enough for the next play to be a first down again. If a play ends with the ball behind the line of scrimmage, the difference in yards is added to the total number of yards required for a first down. For example, if the quarterback is tackled 7 yards (6.4 m) behind the line with the ball in his hands, the next play will be noted as “2nd and 17,” meaning that 17 yards (15.5 m) must be covered in the next three plays to reset to a first down. Instead of playing the fourth down, the offense can choose to punt the ball, which is a long kick that transfers control of the ball to the other team, but is likely to force them to start farther up the field than they would otherwise have been. Learn about the composition of a team. Each team is allowed to have eleven players on the field at once. Different team members hold different positions and have different duties on the field. Most competitive teams are actually composed of three separate teams of players, each of which is rotated onto the field to perform one type of task. The offensive team includes the following players: The quarterback, who throws a pass to a running back, fullback, wide receiver, or tight end, or hands the ball to a runner. The offensive line, composed of the center, two guards, and two tackles, who collectively defend the other players from the defense while the ball is being handed off or passed. The center is directly in front of the quarterback and "snaps" (tosses the ball backwards) the ball to him. The guards are on either of the center's shoulders, and the tackles line up on the guard's shoulders Wide receivers, who run over the line of scrimmage and catch the ball if a pass is being thrown. The running back, who takes the ball from the quarterback and runs it towards the end zone. Tight ends, who help defend the outside edges of the line and can also catch the ball in case of a pass. The defensive team comprises the following players: Linebackers, who defend against passing plays and also rush through the line and blitz the quarterback. The defensive line, who keep the pressure on the offensive line. They can also blitz the quarterback. Cornerbacks and safeties, who defend players trying to receive a pass or trying to run the ball down the field past the defensive line. They can also blitz the quarterback. The third team is the special team used any time the ball will be kicked. Their job is to allow the person kicking the ball to make a clean kick without being harassed by the other team. Keep track of your score. The goal of the game is to score more points than the opposing team. In the case of a tie, an additional 15 minute overtime period is usually played. Scoring is as follows: A touchdown is when the football is successfully carried into the proper end zone by a player (or caught by a player standing in the proper end zone), is worth 6 points. An extra point , wherein a player kicks the football between the goal posts after his team has scored a touchdown, is worth 1 point. When the touchdown play is followed by a passing or running play into the end zone instead of a kick, the play is called a two point conversion , and is worth 2 points. A field goal , is when or where a player kicks the football between the goal posts without having scored a touchdown on the previous play, is worth 3 points. Field goals are commonly seen as last-ditch tactics at the end of close games. A safety , wherein a player is so far down the field that he is in his own end zone and is subsequently tackled while holding the ball, is worth 2 points. Fight your way forward with running plays. Generally the most common type of play seen in football is the running play. Running plays tend to yield less yardage per play than passing plays but are much less likely to accidentally transfer control of the ball to the other team. They have the added advantage of getting the football out of the quarterback's hands quickly before an aggressive defense can reach his position and cost the team extra yards. If the ball is dropped during a running play, it is called a fumble. A fumbled ball can be picked up by either the other team, or the team that fumbled it to gain or regain control of it. The quarterback normally hands the ball off to a teammate (typically a running back) to execute a running play, but he can also choose to run the ball himself. Being able to think quickly and assess the situation as it changes is a vital skill for a quarterback to help him decide when to run the ball on his own. Running plays have the benefit of being difficult to see in detail from behind the defensive line. Very often, the offense will try to trick the defense by seeming to hand the ball off to two or even three different runners. When the ruse works, the one runner who actually has the ball can sometimes break past the defense before they know what has happened and run all the way down the field for an easy touchdown. Pierce the defense with passing plays. Slightly less common than the running play, the passing play is a great way to make up lost yards quickly... if the pass is completed. Short passing plays are often used in combination with running plays as well, to keep the defense on its toes. The great advantage of a passing play is its ability to completely circumvent a tough ground defense. Incomplete passes (wherein nobody catches the ball after it is thrown) stop the clock and end the play. The quarterback usually needs more time to throw a pass than is required for a running play, so the offensive line must be exceptionally unyielding while the quarterback scans the field for an open receiver in order to prevent him from being sacked (tackled behind the line of scrimmage while still holding the ball). Once an opening is spotted, the quarterback has to estimate how far to throw the ball so that the receiver will be able to catch it while in motion. If a pass is caught by the defense, it is called an interception. A fumble is when the ball comes loose from the offenses hands and the defense gains control of the ball (and becomes the offense). Just as importantly, the play is not over once the ball has been intercepted. The defending player who made the interception can (and often does) turn right around and run the ball back down the field for an exciting touchdown. Combine passing and running plays. Your offensive team should plan to use a mixture of both running and passing plays in order to keep the defense guessing. Practice a few different formations with your team and get good at running them. The quarterback especially should practice throwing the ball accurately, as well as learning to make convincing fake handoffs to the running backs. As a rule of thumb, it's safer to start out with a couple of running plays until your team gets a feel for how the defense responds. A defensive team that's great at intercepting the ball might not have much going for it on the ground, or vice versa. Adjust your mix accordingly. If you're playing defense, watch player positions carefully and try to anticipate whether the play will be a running play, a short pass, or a long pass so that you can defend against it as effectively as possible. And remember, nothing stops a play of any kind as quickly as sacking the quarterback, so if you see an opening, go for it. Practice a lot. By far the best way to get better at playing football is to practice regularly. The game uses a special skill set that is not seen very many other places in life, so consistent work is required to improve the way you play. Practice with your team if at all possible. Practice holding the ball, catching the ball, and running with it; practice watching the other players so that you can change what you are doing based on what is happening elsewhere on the field. Strength and endurance training is very important, too. Don't forget to practice strategy and special plays, like field goals, together so that you can go out onto the field and work as an intelligent whole when game day arrives. Study strategy. This guide only lists the most basic elements of play. Team formations and strategies go far beyond the information presented here. Read up on some of them and think about how your team can use them to gain an advantage on the field. Quarterback. The offense's backbone. The quarterback is the player that receives the start of play snap. The player often gets to chose whether he should hand it off to one of the running backs, run the play himself, or pass it to one of his teammates. Running backs. The running back is in charge of running the football or helping to block for the quarterback during a pass play. A running back must have quick feet and fast legs to be able to dodge any defenders. Wide receivers. A player who uses his speed and quickness to elude defenders and catch the football. Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on every play. | Know the main point of the game. Learn the time divisions. Learn the flow of the game. Learn about the composition of a team. Keep track of your score. Fight your way forward with running plays. Pierce the defense with passing plays. Combine passing and running plays. Practice a lot. Study strategy. Quarterback. Running backs. Wide receivers. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-the-Volume-of-a-Triangular-Prism | How to Calculate the Volume of a Triangular Prism | To calculate the volume of a triangular prism, first you need to find the area of one of the triangular bases by multiplying ½ by the base of the triangle and by the height of the triangle. For example, if the base is 8 and the height is 9, you would get ½ x 8 x 9 = 36. Therefore, the area is 36. Next, plug the area into the formula for finding the volume of a triangular prism, which is V = b x h, or volume equals the area of the base multiplied by the height of the prism. Now, plug the height of the prism into the formula and solve. As an example, if the area of the triangular base is 36 and the height of the prism is 16, you would get 36 x 16 = 576. Therefore, the volume of the triangular prism is 576. Write your answer in cubic units. | Find the height and width of a triangle base. Look at the triangle and write down the base width and height. For example, your triangle might have a base of 8 cm and a height of 9 cm. Keep in mind that you're identifying the height of the triangle , not the entire prism. You can use either of the triangular bases, since they should have the same dimensions. Plug the numbers into the formula to find the triangular area. Once you know the width and height of the triangle, put the numbers into the formula for calculating triangular area: Area = 1/2 x width x height. You might also see it written as V = 1 2 b h {\displaystyle V={\frac {1}{2}}bh} Multiply 1/2 by width by height to get the area of the triangle. In order to find the area of the triangular base for the prism, multiply the width by the height by 1/2. Remember to put the answer in square units because you're calculating area. For example, if the base is 8 and the height is 9, your formula will look like V = 1 2 ∗ 8 ∗ 9 {\displaystyle V={\frac {1}{2}}*8*9}. The area of the triangle is 36 cm. Plug the triangular area into the formula to find the volume of the prism. The area of the triangle is 1 of the 2 numbers you need in order to find the prism's volume. In the formula V = b h {\displaystyle V=bh} , the triangular area is V = b {\displaystyle V=b}. To use the earlier example, the formula would be V = 36 ∗ h {\displaystyle V=36*h}. Identify the height of the prism and put it in the formula. Now you need to find the height of the triangular prism, which is the length of 1 of its sides. For example, the prism may be 16 cm long. Place this number in the V = h {\displaystyle V=h} place of the formula. For example, your formula should now look like V = 36 ∗ 16 {\displaystyle V=36*16}. Multiply the triangular area by the height of the prism to find the volume. Since you now have all the parts of the equation, multiply the area by the height. The result will be the volume of the triangular prism. So, if V = 36 ∗ 16 {\displaystyle V=36*16} , the answer is 576 cm. | Find the height and width of a triangle base. Plug the numbers into the formula to find the triangular area. Multiply 1/2 by width by height to get the area of the triangle. Plug the triangular area into the formula to find the volume of the prism. Identify the height of the prism and put it in the formula. Multiply the triangular area by the height of the prism to find the volume. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Fishing-Rod | How to Choose a Fishing Rod | When you're choosing a fishing rod, consider the type of fish you'll be trying to catch, along with the environment where you'll be fishing. For instance, a shorter rod is usually used for lightweight lures, but it also allows you better movement, making it good for big game fish. Longer rods cast further distances and are ideal for fishing from a shoreline or for fly fishing. Choose a rod with a lighter action, meaning it bends closer to the butt of the rod, for smaller fish, or a heavier action, bending near the tip of the rod, for bass and other large fish. | Choose a length. The length of a rod is measured from the tip all the way to the end of the butt. Fishing rods range in length from about four feet all the way up to fourteen feet. Larger rods often dissemble into several pieces for easier transportation. Depending on where you will be fishing and what you will be fishing for, you will need to choose a rod length. Shorter rods cast shorter distances and are usually used for lightweight lures. They also allow you better manipulation when you are fighting with a fish, so may be appropriate for big game fishing. They are also useful when trolling, a type of fishing where the line is attached to a moving boat and drawn across the water. Longer rods cast further distances and, therefore, are useful for surfcasting, which is when you are fishing directly from the shoreline rather than a boat or pier. Longer rods are also used in fly fishing and for heavier lures. Decide on a weight. The weight of a rod tells you how much weight it can carry, and therefore how strong it is. Depending on what lures or bait you will be using, you will need a specific strength rod. The weight is measured either by the weight of the lure it is designed to cast, or the "pound test". The pound test is the fishing line weight it is designed to handle. Understand the action. The action of a rod is the point on the rod where it bends. This measurement can range from "ultra light" to "heavy". A heavy action means it bends closer to the tip while a lighter action bends closer to the butt of the rod. A heavier action means a stiffer backbone on the rod.This means it is recommended for use with bass or other large species of fish. A lighter action rod is usually used with smaller species of fish. Decide on a material. Fishing rods are made of graphite, fiberglass, or a combination of both materials. The material that your rod is made of is related to its functionality and the kind of fishing that you will be doing. Graphite rods are lighter and stiffer, but much more brittle than fiberglass rods. They are much more sensitive, as well, because of this. Graphite rods are usually more expensive than fiberglass rods. Fiberglass rods are heavier, but much more flexible than graphite rods. They are very difficult to break. They are also usually the less expensive option when choosing a rod material. A combination of both materials is ideal for a fisherman who fishes in a variety of locations, for multiple types of fish. Choose a reel. Rods are also determined by what kind of reel you will be using. Reels are either spinning or casting. The different kinds of reels correspond to a fisherman's different needs. A spinning reel is like automatic transmission on a car. It allows less control but is ideal for beginners because it allows for a greater rate of success. Spinning reels are less likely to get tangled. They work well with lighter lures and baits and are good all-purpose rods. A casting reel is similar to a manual transmission on a car. It allows more control as you use your thumbs to control the accuracy of the cast. This, however, makes it more difficult to use. They are also used more often with heavier artificial lures. Choose where to buy your rod. Where you buy your rod will greatly determine the quality and value you get for your rod. While it is tempting to shop for the best deal, make sure you are visiting a specialty sporting goods store where they will have a wide selection of fishing rods. A smaller store will allow you to have a greater rapport with a salesperson or specialist if you have questions. Be careful of buying your rod online. Unless you have tried it out in the store first, it will be difficult to find the best fishing rod for you by shopping online. You will be unable to feel the rod in your hand or examine the quality if you have only viewed it online. Don't be afraid of asking for help. If you visit a quality sporting goods store, the salespeople will likely have experience with the products. They can help you find the perfect fit if you explain your needs and desired specifications. Determine what level fisherman you are. If you are a beginner and planning of fishing less frequently, consider buying a less expensive rod. If you are more seasoned, consider investing in something that will last longer. Spinning rods are also ideal for beginners, as they are easier to use than casting rods. Determine where you will be fishing. If you are traveling to fish, it may be wise to buy a fishing rod that breaks down into several pieces. If you have a boat or will be fishing nearby, you may only need to purchase a rod that remains in one piece. Decide what kind of bait you will be using. In fishing, you are either using live bait, referred to as casting, or lures. A casting fisherman may want a more sensitive rod in order to be able to feel each small movement in the water. A lure fisherman may prefer a stiffer rod to be able to manipulate the rod and imitate the movement of the prey. Decide which technique you would like to use when choosing a rod. Hold the rod in your hand. Comfort is an important factor when choosing a fishing rod and a rod may feel different in different people's hands. Check for defects. Look for any cracks or poor workmanship in the rod. Defects may make it more likely for the rod to break in the future. If the rod breaks down into more than one piece, attach the pieces in the store and make sure they attach securely with no wiggle room. Check the guides. The guides are the loops that attach the line to the rod. They may be made of any kind of metal or ceramic. The more guides there are the better quality the rod, as the line is more controlled by the rod. Hold the rod at eye level and look down the length of the rod from the tip to the butt to make sure the guides line up properly. | Choose a length. Decide on a weight. Understand the action. Decide on a material. Choose a reel. Choose where to buy your rod. Determine what level fisherman you are. Determine where you will be fishing. Decide what kind of bait you will be using. Hold the rod in your hand. Check for defects. Check the guides. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Front-Handspring | How to Do a Front Handspring | Before doing a front handspring, you should first stretch your wrists, shoulders, head, and neck to avoid injury. Then, stand with your arms raised straight up. Take a few running steps before making a big leap forward, lunging with your dominant leg. Keep your arms straight and your elbows locked, and place your hands on the ground in front of your head before kicking off your back leg into a handstand. To complete the front handspring, use your arms to push yourself back into a standing position! Want to perfect your landing? | Run and hop. In order to gain momentum, start by running a few steps and then doing a hurdle. A hurdle is a quick hop or skip that allows you to start the handspring. Hop from your dominant foot, land on your dominant foot, and then quickly step with your non-dominant foot. Raise your arms straight up in the air when you hurdle. Plant your hands on the ground and kick your legs up. Use the momentum from your hurdle to propel yourself forward and direct your arms and upper body towards the ground. Plant your hands on the ground and then kick your legs up to get your body vertical. The distance from where you last stepped to where you plant your hands should be about one body length. Close your legs and keep your body straight. Just before your body becomes completely vertical, focus on keeping your legs together and not bending at any joints. This will help you straighten out your body. Push yourself forward and land on your feet. While keeping your arms next to your ears, continue to propel yourself forward with your hands and land on the balls of your feet. Focus on keeping your legs as straight as possible while finishing the handspring. Run towards the vault. Build up some momentum by running towards the vault. It's necessary to run fast so that you have a powerful handspring. Hurdle onto the springboard. When you've reached the springboard, do a hurdle onto it in order to move horizontally through the air towards the vault table. Make sure to keep your legs slightly bent, your backside tucked under, and your core squeezed. Go into a handstand on top of the vault table. Plant your hands onto the vault table at about a 20 or 30 degree angle and use your momentum to bring your legs up into a handstand. Block off of the vault table. Once you've reached a vertical position, quickly turn your vertical momentum into horizontal momentum by shrugging your shoulders and pushing off the vault table. This pushing motion is called blocking. Land with your feet in front of you. As your legs are coming down, focus on making sure your feet contact the mat slightly in front of where the rest of your body is. This will allow you to rebound upwards instead of shooting forward or falling back. Practice doing hurdles. Hurdles are very similar to skipping. Push off from your dominant foot, land on your dominant foot, and then leap onto your non-dominant foot. Start off by skipping like you normally would around the room if you're having a hard time understanding the rhythm of the hurdle. Once you have the motion down, try using it to go into a simpler gymnastics move, such as a cartwheel or a roundoff. Work on your handstands. Once you've got hurdles down, it's time to master the handstand. Practice your handstands in whatever way you're most comfortable with. This could mean doing a handstand against a wall or doing a handstand into a high bridge position on top of a gymnastics block. Do front handsprings over a barrel. While being spotted, try doing front handsprings over a gymnastics barrel. Doing a handspring this way feels a little more secure and supportive if you're just starting to get use to the motion. Use bands to ensure good form. If you have access to a tumble track, which is basically a long, narrow trampoline, force your forearms and ankles together with two bands, and practice your front handsprings this way. This will help you to learn and maintain good form in your front handspring. Do lunges to strengthen your legs. Lunges can help you to develop a strong hurdle. Stand with your legs together and place your hands on your hips. Step forward with one foot and bend both of your legs until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Then, stand back up and repeat with the other leg. If you're using weights, keep your arms by your sides. Keep your upper body straight and look forward as you do the exercise. Keep your front knee above your ankle and your back knee off of the ground. Build your glute muscles with hips lifts. Start by laying on your back with your arms flat on the ground and your knees bent. Squeeze your backside and lift your hips to the ceiling. Hold for a couple of seconds and then lower your hips back down. Keep your back straight while doing this exercise. By doing hip lifts, you can gain the strength needed in your backside and the back of your thighs to push off the ground and also control your landing. Strengthen your core with planks. Start in a pushup position and either hold yourself off of the ground with your palms or your forearms/elbows. Squeeze your legs, backside, and core while you hold the plank position. Keep your shoulders over your elbows. Focus on keeping your body in a straight line all the way from your head to your feet. Having strong stomach muscles will allow you to hold your body tight while you complete front handsprings. | Run and hop. Plant your hands on the ground and kick your legs up. Close your legs and keep your body straight. Push yourself forward and land on your feet. Run towards the vault. Hurdle onto the springboard. Go into a handstand on top of the vault table. Block off of the vault table. Land with your feet in front of you. Practice doing hurdles. Work on your handstands. Do front handsprings over a barrel. Use bands to ensure good form. Do lunges to strengthen your legs. Build your glute muscles with hips lifts. Strengthen your core with planks. |
https://www.wikihow.health/Resist-Hunger | How to Resist Hunger | If you start to get hungry, drink some water or herbal tea to satiate your stomach until it's time to eat. Along with drinking something, try doing a short, high-intensity workout, such as a 25-minute run or bike ride, when you feel hunger pangs since exercise is an appetite suppressant. To help resist feeling hungry, you can also change your eating schedule by keeping set meal times so you slowly train yourself to only become hungry when it's time for your next meal. | Seek help if you have an eating disorder. There are a variety of eating disorders, but all are characterized by an unhealthy relationship to food. Excessive attention to what you're eating, calorie counting, excessive exercise, and binging and/or purging are the hallmarks of eating disorders. If you obsess about your body weight or worry that you're too fat or too thin, you probably have an eating disorder. Since eating disorders can be difficult to solve alone, consult a trained therapist if you struggle with body-image issues or have an eating disorder. Seek help from a support group related to your specific eating disorder or to eating disorders generally. Find a meeting near you through organizations like Eating Disorders Anonymous or the National Eating Disorders Association. Identify real hunger. Resisting hunger is not the same as resisting starvation. Neither is it the same as resisting the urge to eat even when you're full. In order to resist hunger, you must first understand its defining features. These include: Thinking about food A growling stomach Mental plans to eat soon Starvation, by contrast, is characterized by low blood sugar levels, jitteriness, and/or a sense of lightheadedness. Starving feels uncomfortable. Be aware of your own body and its food-related feedback. If you are satisfied or full, put down the fork and do not continue eating. If you are hungry, it is important to eat a healthy meal. Develop an intuitive and friendly relationship with your appetite by knowing the difference between real hunger and simple food cravings. Distract yourself. If you really don't want to eat right now, do something fun to take your mind off of your hunger. Ride your bike, read a book, or have an interesting conversation with a friend. Instead of focusing over your hunger, redirect your attention elsewhere. Don't do anything you find boring, or you will have a hard time not focusing on your hunger. Studying tedious subjects or doing difficult work are not good activities when trying to distract yourself from hunger. Try to engage senses unrelated to food. Hunger is often inspired by the sight, smell, or taste of food. Redirect your senses by, for instance, putting some music on. Sing along and get into the groove. Learn the lyrics if you don't know them yet. Visual distractions are also useful. For instance, playing a video game might help reduce intrusive thoughts of food. Change your attitude toward hunger. Instead of thinking of hunger as a problem to be solved by eating or engaging in some other behavior, look at it as an opportunity. If you're trying to lose weight, for instance, think about how your unsatisfied hunger indicates that you're losing weight. If you're fasting, think about how staying true to the fast will grant you spiritual strength and improve your willpower. You could also feel thankful about how much time you're saving by not eating and spending time in the hot kitchen. Think about a time you ate too much and had a stomachache. Recalling this experience might help you resist hunger. Stick to a routine. Continue your daily routine uninterrupted, as if you aren't hungry at all. Using this method, there's no need to take extra steps to distract yourself from your hunger. Instead, just live your life until the hunger has subsided. Remember, hunger doesn't last forever. Once you learn to let your feelings of hunger pass, you'll enter a state where (at least temporarily) you are not hungry. Get plenty of sleep. If you do not get at least eight hours of sleep each night, your likelihood of feeling hungry increases. Not only that, but you might eat more than you really need. Turn the lights out when going to sleep. Avoid eating, drinking, and looking at bright TV or computer screens within three hours of your bedtime. Set an alarm clock so you know when to wake up and when to go to sleep. Ensure your bedroom is quiet and at a comfortable temperature. Take an appetite suppressant. An appetite suppressant, as its name suggests, is a pill or supplement that helps you avoid feeling hungry. There are many commercially available appetite suppressants. Try several and see which works for you. You could also try a natural supplement like St. John's Wort, which is readily available at most health food stores in capsule form. Don't confuse appetite suppressants with weight-loss pills. The latter are designed to speed up your metabolism, making you lose weight, while the former are intended to keep you from feeling hungry in the first place. The US FDA does not regulate dietary supplements before they hit the shelf, although they can later take action if the supplement causes harm or makes false claims. Take them at your own risk and consider consulting a medical professional. Exercise regularly. Not only does exercise burn calories, it also functions as a powerful appetite suppressant. Short, intense workouts are especially effective at helping you resist feelings of hunger. If you want to resist hunger, go for a run, ride your bike, or go swimming for approximately 25 minutes. Try to really push yourself to the limit. Low and moderate-intensity exercise, can actually increase feelings of hunger. Try a food picture overload. As you might expect, viewing images of food can make you hungrier, which is no help at all. There is some evidence, though, that viewing several hundred images of food can eventually reduce your appetite. Consider this as a last-resort strategy, or if you're curious whether this paradoxical result works for you. Keep a regular eating schedule. When you know when your next meal will be, it is easier to resist hunger. Set a regular and realistic time for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Set an alarm on your phone or watch to indicate when it is time for your next meal. That way, you will be able to stay on track with your scheduled meal times. A regular eating schedule will condition you to resist hunger only until your scheduled meal time. When your designated meal time arrives, you will become hungry in expectation of the coming meal. If you work a hectic schedule and cannot set regular meal times for yourself, try to think ahead to the next time you're going to eat. Eat breakfast. Studies show that people feel fuller throughout the day if they eat breakfast. Eat a hearty breakfast first thing in the morning in order to resist feeling hungry later in the day. A good breakfast should avoid added sugar. Incorporate fresh fruits like apples, berries, and melon into your breakfast. Choose cereal, pancakes, bagels, or toast of whole grains. These have more fiber than other types of grains, and will help you resist hunger. Plan ahead. Decide what you'll have for breakfast the night before you eat it. Set bowls, utensils, and ingredients out the night before so everything is ready to go in the morning. Drink water. If you drink enough water, it will your stomach. It won't abolish hunger, but it will help. Besides, water is good for you, and thirst can easily be mistaken for hunger if you don't drink enough. Aim to drink at least 20 ounces of water per day. Instead of water, you could also try herbal tea. Don’t let yourself get hungry. The best way to resist hunger is to not let yourself get hungry. Eat several small (200-400 calorie), frequent meals and snacks throughout the day. Eat filling, fibrous foods that release energy slowly throughout the day like fruit with granola, a small sandwich on whole wheat, and some fresh vegetables and hummus as a snack. Fiber will keep you feeling full. Keep a healthy, low-calorie snack on hand. A granola bar, apple slices, or a banana are good options. Break your snack of choice out when you feel hungry and need a little pick-me-up. This way, you won't let your hunger lead you to fill up on a whole meal. Hunger usually strikes about four to five hours after a healthy meal. Set your watch to indicate when four hours has elapsed after your last meal, and help yourself to a snack then (if necessary). Avoid high-calorie beverages. Juice and soda can add up to quite a few calories, but will not make you feel as full as solid food. Stick to water instead, and fill up on whole fruit and other filling snacks. Eat blue foods. Blue foods are rare in nature, and blue has the power to suppress the appetite. If possible, dye your food blue. Eggs, rice, and beverages readily absorb blue food dye. Use natural food dye from a grocery store to dye your food. You could also sit in a room with blue walls, or put your food on a blue plate. Increase your protein intake. Low protein intake produces hunger. To resist feelings of hunger, eat plenty of lean protein like nuts, beans, and soy. Avoid eating red meat, however, as it can increase your risk for cancer and heart disease. Most people need about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. If you are very active, you'll need slightly more per day. Use the USDA fitness calculator to figure out how much protein you need each day. Use protein powders to make shakes and smoothies for yourself. These can function as meal replacements if you're interested in losing weight as well as resisting hunger. Change your snacking habits. If you typically snack at a certain time -- for instance, when you're watching TV -- you might have become used to eating when engaged in that activity. Replace the act of eating with another activity. Instead of eating in front of the TV, for instance, you could do curls with dumbbells, or sip a cup of herbal tea. Avoid crash diets. Crash diets or “cleanse” diets are those in which you dramatically reduce the amount of food you're eating to 800 calories per day or less. Not only are these diets ineffective, as you're likely to regain any lost weight within six months following the end of the diet, but you also risk compromising your immune system, dehydration, and heart palpitations. If your goal is to lose weight, the only tried-and-true way to do so is to get regular exercise and eat a healthy diet. | Seek help if you have an eating disorder. Identify real hunger. Distract yourself. Change your attitude toward hunger. Stick to a routine. Get plenty of sleep. Take an appetite suppressant. Exercise regularly. Try a food picture overload. Keep a regular eating schedule. Eat breakfast. Drink water. Don’t let yourself get hungry. Avoid high-calorie beverages. Eat blue foods. Increase your protein intake. Change your snacking habits. Avoid crash diets. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Ripen-Lemons | How to Ripen Lemons | To ripen lemons on your counter top, it's first important to note that lemons will never truly continue to ripen once they are off the tree. Placing them in a bright location away from direct sunlight will turn the skin yellow and may make the lemon softer, which will be good for a garnish, but it will not ripen the inside, which may remain bitter and dry. Lemons ripen from the inside out, so color is not a good indicator of ripeness. A greenish lemon may be perfectly ripe on the inside. | Know that lemons will never truly ripen once you take them off the tree. They may turn more yellow and grow softer, but they will not necessarily become sweeter or juicier. If you get an under-ripe lemon and leave it on your counter, it may turn more yellow but it will still taste bitter. Try placing an under-ripe lemon in a bright location in your kitchen. The ideal place would be on your kitchen counter, away from direct sunlight. After a few days, the lemon will turn more yellow. Keep in mind, however, that this will not actually ripen the lemon on the inside; the lemon may still taste bitter and under-ripe even though it is yellow. It will, however, still work well as a garnish if you want to add some color to a dish or drink. Understand that color is not a good indicator of ripeness. A greenish lemon does not necessarily mean that it is not yet ripe. You can still have a ripe lemon, even if it looks a little green. This is because lemons ripen from the inside out. The flesh ripens first, then the skin. If you find yourself with an under-ripe lemon, try cutting it open anyway and tasting it. You could also follow the steps listed in this method for determining whether or not a lemon is ripe. Don't let an under-ripe lemon go to waste. Instead, consider using it to clean, or as an air fresher. You can make an effective rust and tarnish busting scrub by mixing salt and lemon juice into a paste. Add a few slices of lemon into a pot of simmering water. You can also add a few other fragrant herbs to compliment the lemon, such as rosemary. Know what your tree requires to be healthy and bear healthy fruit. Is your tree bearing fruit, but they are not ripening? Lemon trees need plenty of sunlight and lots of water. They also need to be pruned to allow for better air circulation. Without these, the fruit won't ripen. This section will give you some tips on how to get your tree's fruit to ripen. It will also tell you when you can expect the lemons to ripen. Be aware that lemons may take a while to ripen. Plan to pick lemons at least four months after the flowers bloom. Some lemons may take up to nine months to ripen. Once a lemon is ripe, however, it can stay on the tree for several weeks. Lemon trees need to mature before they can bear ripe fruit. Some lemon trees may bear fruit sooner, but the fruit won't be ripe. In general, lemon trees produce ripe fruit after they are three years old. If your tree is bearing fruit, but they never ripen, check the tree's age. Expect lemons to be ripe between late November and mid-January. Try to harvest your crop before mid-January, or you will risk hampering the following year's harvest. Make sure that the tree is planted in a warm, sunny location. Not only does the tree need sunlight to grow, but the fruit need sunlight to turn yellow. If you are growing your tree indoors, consider keeping next to a window, ideally a south-facing one. Lemon trees need six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Lemon trees also need warmth, and grow best when temperatures average at 70°F (21°C) during the day and 55°F (13°C) at night. Keep in mind that they will usually go into dormancy when temperatures fall below 55 F. (13 C.) Make sure that the soil is well-drained. Lemon trees love water, but they do not like to stand in it. Make sure that the soil is well-drained. You can also plant the tree on a slight mount. This will prevent water logging. Check the pH of the soil. If the lemons have been green for a long time, it could be a sign that the tree is not healthy. Check the pH using a pH testing kit, which you can purchase from your local nursery or gardening shop. Lemon trees need a soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Water the tree well, but allow the soil to dry before you water it again. Plan on letting the first 4 to 6 inches (10.16 to 15.24 centimeters) of soil dry out first before you water the tree again. Avoid over-watering the tree, and do not let it sit in water. This could encourage rot, mold, and disease. For the same reasons, do not mulch lemon (or any citrus) trees. Mulch will only hold moisture against the roots, increasing the probability of root rot. Most home citrus gardeners also keep the area under the drip line of the tree free of weeds and grass to promote better evaporation of any standing water. Feed the tree regularly with plant food. Choose a plant food made specifically for citrus trees, as it will have all the necessary nutrients. Lemon trees use up a lot of energy to grow and to produce leaves, flowers, and fruit. An under-nourished lemon tree won't have the energy to produce healthy fruit, which could prevent the tree from ripening. Lemon trees need a lot of nitrogen to grow. The fertilizer should contain more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium. Know that indoor trees also need to be pollinated. Lemon trees growing outside get pollinated by birds and insects. A tree growing in your home won't have that opportunity, and it may not produce ripe fruit, if any at all. To pollinate your indoor lemon tree , use a Q-tip to move pollen from one flower to the next one. Check for disease. If your tree's lemons just aren't ripening, you might want to check your tree for other signs of stress or disease. Check the tree for any signs of dead leaves or branches. Also, check the leaves for any signs of fungus or mold; they usually appear as black or white blotches. Another sign of disease is yellow blotches on the leaves. Try to pick a ripe lemon the first time around. Because lemons don't really ripen once they are picked, it's best to pick the right lemon from the start. This section will give you a few tips on what to look for when selecting lemons. Once you know what to look for, you will be less-likely to choose and be stuck with an under-ripe lemon. Look for a lemon that has a bright, yellow color. Keep in mind, however, that lemons ripen from the inside. This means that the lemon's skin will be the last part to ripen. You can still have a lemon that is ripe and juicy on the inside, and greenish on the outside. Myer lemons will have a deeper yellow color; some might be more orange. Choose a lemon that is heavy for its size. This means that the lemon is filled with a lot of juice. Most lemons will be between 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) long. Check the firmness. The ideal lemon should be firm, yet somewhat tender. A lemon that is too hard will be either under-ripe or shriveled inside. Myer lemons have a thinner skin than regular lemons. They are ripe when they are soft. If you can push the skin of the lemon in more than ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) it may be over-ripe. Look for lemons that have a smooth or glossy texture. Lemons that have too much of a bumpy texture will be under-ripe or not juicy enough. Another thing to look for is a waxy shine on the surface of the lemon. Watch out for wrinkling. This is a sign your lemon is overripe. Know how to pick lemons off of trees. If you are harvesting lemons from a tree, you might want to put on a pair of gardening gloves; lemon trees often have thorns that can scratch you if you are not careful. Find a ripe fruit and grasp it in your hand. Gently twist it. The lemon should come off easily If it doesn't come off easily, then it probably is not ripe yet. Taste the lemon to test whether or not it is truly ripe. If you are looking to harvest a bunch of lemons, but aren't sure whether or not they are ripe, you can always cut one in half and taste it. Most lemons will have a sour, but not bitter, taste to them. Meyer lemons, however, will be a little more sweet and less sour. Use a refractometer if you don't want to test by taste, sight, or touch. Squeeze a drop of juice from the lemon onto the refractometer and look at the Brix scale. Pick lemons that have a sucrose level between 6 and 12, with 8 to 12 percent being the best. | Know that lemons will never truly ripen once you take them off the tree. Try placing an under-ripe lemon in a bright location in your kitchen. Understand that color is not a good indicator of ripeness. Don't let an under-ripe lemon go to waste. Know what your tree requires to be healthy and bear healthy fruit. Be aware that lemons may take a while to ripen. Make sure that the tree is planted in a warm, sunny location. Make sure that the soil is well-drained. Check the pH of the soil. Water the tree well, but allow the soil to dry before you water it again. Feed the tree regularly with plant food. Know that indoor trees also need to be pollinated. Check for disease. Try to pick a ripe lemon the first time around. Look for a lemon that has a bright, yellow color. Choose a lemon that is heavy for its size. Check the firmness. Look for lemons that have a smooth or glossy texture. Know how to pick lemons off of trees. Taste the lemon to test whether or not it is truly ripe. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Paintbrush | How to Clean a Paintbrush | To clean a paintbrush that's already dry, soak the bristles in white vinegar for 1 hour. If there's still paint on the brush after an hour, put it in a pot filled with white vinegar and bring the vinegar to a boil over a stovetop. After a few minutes, turn off the heat, remove the paintbrush, and use your fingers to pull off any remaining paint. To clean a paintbrush with oil paint on it, wipe off as much paint as possible with a paper towel. Then, scrub the bristles with liquid dish soap until all the paint is off. | Wipe the brush on a rag or paper towel. Try to remove as much paint as possible. Getting rid of the excess paint makes the job of cleaning your brush a lot easier! You can do this by wiping your brush on the edge of the paint can as you are finishing up, and then wipe the brush on a rag or paper towel to remove even more paint. Rinse the brush in the appropriate solvent. It's okay to use the dirty solvent from your painting session. Pour it into a bowl or bucket and gently run your brush back and forth through it. Wipe the brush along the sides and bottom of the container. If you have a paint comb, then you can also use this while the brush is in the solvent. Here are your solvent choices: Use mineral spirits for most oil-based paints. Use water for water-based paints like acrylic, watercolor, latex, and also most white glues and wood glues. If the paint is caked on, it may help to break it up with a wire brush, but keep in mind that this can damage your brush. Use denatured alcohol for shellac. Check the product's label if you're not sure what kind of paint you have. It will contain instructions for what solvent to use. Use multiple cans of solvent to clean stubborn oil paint. First, dip the brush into a can of paint thinner or the solvent of your choice. Swirl the brush around and try to get as much of the paint off the brush as possible. Then, repeat this in a second can of solvent, then a third. By the time you're finished swirling the brush in the third can of paint thinner, most of the paint should be gone. Try spinning the brush if there's any paint remaining. Wash the brush’s bristle in dish soap and water to get the solvent out. After you finish cleaning the brush in the solvent, remove the brush, rinse it under running water, and then add some dish soap to the bristles. Work the soap into the bristles and then rinse the brush until you have removed all of the soap. After you finish, wipe the brush with a clean rag or paper towel again. Rinse the brush under warm running water. Rinse the bristles one more time. You may want to rub the bristles of the brush between your fingers as you rinse, but be very gentle with sable brushes. You can use a paint comb to do this. Shake or blot out the extra water. When the brush is clean, get rid of excess water. Reshape the bristles to the correct form, then store the brush upright in a container so that the bristles are not deformed when dry. Store the brush in its original container. Once you've gotten as much water out of the brush as possible, place the brush back in its case. This will help preserve the shape of your brush, since the bristles will be neat and contained. Be sure to dry the brush as much as possible before you store it, since storing a wet brush could lead to mold and mildew growth. Wipe the excess paint from the brush. Run the brush over a paper towel or a cloth to get rid of as much paint as possible. Mix a gallon (3.8 L) of water with 1/2 cup (120 mL) fabric softener. Use warm (but not hot) water. This solution will help loosen the paint from the brush, making it slip right off. Swish your brush through the solution. Swish it around for several seconds, until you see the paint coming off. Swish for a few more seconds. Shake off the excess fabric softener solution. Squeeze excess water from the bristles using a paper towel or rag. You can also twist the brush back and forth in your hands or tap it against your shoe. Reshape the bristles and stand the brush up to dry. Let the bristles dry completely before storing your brush. Soak the brush in white vinegar for an hour. After an hour, check to see if you can bend the bristles back. If you can't, put it back in and keep soaking it for another hour. Place the brush in an old pot and cover it with vinegar. If there's still hardened paint in your bristles after 2 hours of soaking, try boiling. You want the vinegar to completely cover the brush's bristles. Bring the vinegar to a boil on the stove. Let it simmer for a few minutes with the paintbrush in it. Remove the brush and let it cool. It will be very hot to the touch at first, so be careful. You may want to use a pot holder or tongs to remove it. Comb the brush bristles. You can use your finger or an old comb. Place it at the base of the bristles and pull through to comb out the loosened paint. Keep doing this until the hard globs of paint have all come loose. Rinse the brush. When the paint is loose, rinse the brush in running water to wash it all away. Repeat as necessary. You may need to do another vinegar boiling session and comb the brush again to get it back into shape. Let the brush air dry. Place it upright in a jar and reshape the bristles. After it's completely dry, store it away. Squeeze as much paint as you can out of the brush. Do this into a paper towel or rag. Squeeze liquid dish soap into the palm of your hand. About a quarter-sized amount of dish soap will work. Turn on your faucet and wait for the water to warm up. Swoosh the brush in a circular motion in your palm. While warm water is running, into your palm, swoosh the brush into the soap. Rinse and repeat until the soap no longer shows any signs of paint. This will require about three goes at least. Reshape your brush. Let it dry thoroughly before using again with oil paint. Lay it down so no water is trapped in the brush head causing loosening of bristles and/or chipped, warped handles. This is optional, but you can also clean with mineral spirits every few months, for a deeper clean. | Wipe the brush on a rag or paper towel. Rinse the brush in the appropriate solvent. Use multiple cans of solvent to clean stubborn oil paint. Wash the brush’s bristle in dish soap and water to get the solvent out. Rinse the brush under warm running water. Shake or blot out the extra water. Store the brush in its original container. Wipe the excess paint from the brush. Mix a gallon (3.8 L) of water with 1/2 cup (120 mL) fabric softener. Swish your brush through the solution. Shake off the excess fabric softener solution. Reshape the bristles and stand the brush up to dry. Soak the brush in white vinegar for an hour. Place the brush in an old pot and cover it with vinegar. Bring the vinegar to a boil on the stove. Remove the brush and let it cool. Comb the brush bristles. Rinse the brush. Repeat as necessary. Let the brush air dry. Squeeze as much paint as you can out of the brush. Squeeze liquid dish soap into the palm of your hand. Swoosh the brush in a circular motion in your palm. Reshape your brush. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Add-a-Puppy-to-the-Family-Whilst-Your-Dog-Is-Pregnant | How to Add a Puppy to the Family Whilst Your Dog Is Pregnant | To add a puppy to the family whilst your dog is pregnant, you should try to get the puppy as early as possible into the mother's pregnancy to make the process easier. You should also make sure the puppy is healthy to reduce the risk of it exposing the mother to any germs. When you bring your puppy home, introduce it to the mother dog during a short walk, which will allow them to get to know each other in a neutral space. Try to set up different areas for the dogs in your home to give them space from each other. It's also important to isolate the mother 3 weeks before her due date to avoid any risk of illness. | Consider the care required for a new puppy. Before you dive into getting a new puppy, you should consider the care required for a new puppy. You should also consider if you will have enough time and energy to take care of a new puppy and take care of your pregnant dog. You must be responsible enough to take care of the puppy and also still fulfill the demands of caring for your pregnant dog. A new puppy will require a visit to the vet as well as feedings two to four times a day, depending on how young the puppy is. You will also need to commit to taking your puppy out to go to the bathroom and work on potty training your puppy. You will need to do obedience training with your new puppy to ensure it is well trained and spend lots of time playing with the puppy so it learns how to be social. You should also observe the puppy for any signs of illness or injury, as puppies can be fragile and susceptible to falling ill. Decide how you will care for the puppy and your pregnant dog. Once you have thought more about the care required for the new puppy, you should decide how you will be able to cover the responsibility of caring for the puppy and caring for your pregnant dog. You should also consider how you will have enough time to care for the puppy, the pregnant dog, and the litter of puppies, once they are born. You may enlist the help of family members in your home or roommates who can assist you in the care of the puppy and the pregnant dog. You should make sure you have individuals who are willing to commit to helping you take care of the puppy while you focus on the pregnant dog. You should make sure you have enough time in your day to fulfill the duties of caring for a new puppy and for the pregnant dog. You may look at your current schedule and list of responsibilities to make sure you will have enough time to take care of both animals. Think about if your dog will get along with a new puppy. You should also consider your pregnant dog's temperament and whether she will respond well to a new puppy in her home. Pregnant dogs can get overly tired and are not as active as other dogs. Having a new puppy could be overstimulating for your pregnant dog, especially if she was pretty docile to begin with. You may want to consider fostering a puppy, rather than getting one out right, to see if your pregnant dog can handle a new puppy in her space. Fostering a puppy will allow you to try out having a puppy around your pregnant dog and gives you the flexibility of not keeping the puppy if your pregnant dog does not react well to it. Look for a puppy that is compatible with your dog. You should consider how your puppy will fit in with your pregnant dog, as this will make the addition much easier. Think about the temperament of your pregnant dog. Is your pregnant dog high energy or pretty docile? Does your pregnant dog often nap and rest? If your pregnant dog is pretty docile and relaxed, you may not want to bring in a puppy who is a high-energy breed. Instead, you may opt for a puppy who comes from a more docile breed. You should think about whether your pregnant dog is dominant or assertive. Your dog may appear more dominant due to her pregnancy, so you may want to consider a puppy who is more submissive. Getting a dominant puppy could lead to tension and issues between your two pets. You may also consider if your pregnant dog prefers playing with male or female dogs. If she seems to prefer playing with male dogs, you may opt for a male puppy. However, with the right training, your pregnant dog may be fine with co-existing with either a male or female puppy. Size should also be a consideration, especially because your pregnant dog may be extra sensitive to being around other dogs. If your pregnant dog is a smaller breed, you may opt for a puppy that is also a smaller breed, rather than a breed that will grow to be much bigger than your pregnant dog. You may also get a puppy that is a bit older in age so it is not as small and fragile. Try to get the puppy early into your dog’s pregnancy. You should consider getting the new puppy early in your dog's pregnancy to give both animals time to get used to each other. The more time the two pets have to get to know each other, the better. Having more time upfront will also ensure both animals can co-exist before your pregnant dog has her litter. This will make caring for the puppy, the dog, and the litter much easier. Avoid getting a puppy within the last three weeks of your dog's pregnancy. Your pregnant dog will need to be isolated from all other dogs during the last three weeks, and introducing a new puppy into the household may make it difficult for both dogs to bond and socialize. Make sure the puppy has a clean bill of health. Once you get the puppy, you should make sure the puppy has a full check up at the vet before you introduce it to your dog. Take your puppy to the vet as soon as you get it so you can be sure the puppy is healthy and able to be around your pregnant dog. Your vet should be able to answer any questions you may have about food for your puppy, feeding times, and portion sizes for your puppy's meals. You may also ask the vet about introducing your puppy to your pregnant dog and how to do this well. Your vet should also set up a vaccination plan for your puppy and discuss any illnesses or injuries you should watch out for. You should also talk to your vet about spaying or neutering your new pup. Introduce the dogs with a walk. Taking both dogs on a short walk will allow them to be active and get to know each other in a neutral space. You should make sure both dogs are on a leash and that there is one person per dog so you are not trying to walk both dogs at once. You can keep the leashes loose and let both dogs start to get to know each other. They may smell each other briefly before or during the walk. You should try to keep both dogs moving and praise both dogs in a lighthearted tone. You should also bring treats and reward both dogs if they remain calm and engaged in each other. If the walk goes well, you can take the dogs to a fenced in area, such as your backyard, and allow them to interact further. Always supervise the two dogs when they are together for the first few weeks. Do not leave the dogs alone in the house, the car, or the yard, as you will need to be there to intervene if either dog gets stressed or aggressive. Set up separate areas for the dogs. You can prevent conflicts between your puppy and your pregnant dog by setting up separate feeding and playing areas for each animal. Doing this will ensure there are no turf wars between your puppy and your adult dog. It will also make it easier for both dogs to get along. You should give each dog its own food bowl and water bowl. You may feed each dog in a separate dog crate to avoid conflicts at feeding time. Make sure you give each dog their own treats and separate bones. You should also set up a separate sleeping area for each dog, with their own bed. Watch for signs of stress in either dog. Most puppies will be curious of adult dogs. Your puppy may end up bothering your adult dog and your adult dog may react with some playful growling or snarling at first. This is to be expected and over time both dogs should start to bond and get along. However, you should watch both dogs for signs of stress, such as staring, growling, tails lifted, forward ears, and body stiffness. If you notice your puppy or your pregnant dog acting stressed, you should call them apart and tell them to sit and stay in separate areas of the space. You may also need to put them back on separate leashes. Socialize the dogs together. Though the dogs should have separate feeding and sleeping areas, they should be socialized together. You should take them on walks together and try to get them to play together on a daily basis. Doing fun things with both dogs together will help them grow to like each other and view each other's company in a positive way. You should also be sure to give both dogs individual attention so they feel acknowledged and loved separate of each other. You may alternate doing training with your puppy and then having a grooming session with your pregnant dog, for example, or reward each dog separately during a walk. Try to strike a balance between individual attention and activities as a threesome. Isolate your puppy from your dog. In the last three weeks of your dog's pregnancy, you should isolate her from other dogs, including your new puppy. This will ensure she is not at risk of illness or viruses that could trigger a miscarriage. Prepare for the delivery of the litter and keep your new puppy in a blocked off area so it does not get too close during the birth. Most female dogs give birth 64 days after conception and often the mother dog knows what to do by instinct. Still, you should be aware of the signs of labor in your adult dog so you are prepared. Your pregnant dog may stop eating 24 hours before labor and she may become restless leading up to the birth. She may also paw at her bedding and begin to lick her vulva. She may discharge mucus or vomit leading up to labor. Keep the puppy away from the litter. Once your pregnant dog has her litter, you should clean her up and place the litter in a whelping box. You should also keep the puppy away from the litter until you take the litter to the vet. You should have a vet examine the litter at least 48 hours after the birth. Once the vet gives the puppies a clean bill of health, you may allow the puppy near the litter. However, you should never leave the puppy alone with the mother and the litter. | Consider the care required for a new puppy. Decide how you will care for the puppy and your pregnant dog. Think about if your dog will get along with a new puppy. Look for a puppy that is compatible with your dog. Try to get the puppy early into your dog’s pregnancy. Make sure the puppy has a clean bill of health. Introduce the dogs with a walk. Set up separate areas for the dogs. Watch for signs of stress in either dog. Socialize the dogs together. Isolate your puppy from your dog. Keep the puppy away from the litter. |
https://www.wikihow.life/Clean-the-Showerhead-with-Vinegar | How to Clean the Showerhead with Vinegar | If you want to clean a traditional showerhead with vinegar, pour the vinegar into a plastic bag, then slip the bag over the showerhead and secure it with a piece of string or a twist tie. Let the showerhead soak for at least 30 minutes, then remove the bag. Scrub the showerhead with an old toothbrush, then turn the water on to flush out any mineral deposits that might be stuck in the holes. Polish the showerhead with a soft cloth after you're finished. | Gather your supplies. One way to clean your showerhead is by taking it off the pipe and soaking it in vinegar. If you are unable to remove your showerhead, or if you simply do not want to, then click here. Here is what you will need for this method: Pot, bucket, or other container large enough to fit the showerhead Distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar Wrench and old rag (optional) An old toothbrush Soft cloth, such as microfiber or flannel Remove the showerhead by twisting it counterclockwise. If you are having difficulties twisting it, try wrapping an old rag around the connecting nut, and then twisting it with a wrench. The rag will help protect the surface of your showerhead. Put the showerhead into a pot. Consider using a smaller container that just about fits the showerhead; this way, you will use less vinegar. You can also use a small bucket or plastic bin. Fill the pot with enough white vinegar to cover the showerhead. The acids in the vinegar will help dissolve the white mineral deposits on the showerhead. Try adding 1/2 cup (115 g) of baking soda to the apple cider vinegar for additional cleaning power. Let the showerhead soak in the vinegar for 1 hour or overnight. The more soiled the showerhead is, the longer you will have to leave it in the vinegar. If you are in a hurry, and if the showerhead is made from metal, you can place the pot on the stove and simmer the vinegar for 15 minutes. If the showerhead is made from brass, or has a gold or nickel finish, take it out after 30 minutes. You can always give it another vinegar bath once you have rinsed it off. Take the showerhead out of the pot and rinse it. You should see the mineral deposits flaking off. Scrub away any residue using an old toothbrush. Focus on the base where the holes are; this is where the most mineral buildup will be. Gently scrub the brush over any residue and rinse with cool water. Keep doing this until all of the residue is gone. Use a soft cloth to polish the showerhead. You can use a microfiber cloth or even a piece of flannel. Gently wipe the showerhead with the cloth until it is completely dry and there are no water spots. Put the showerhead back onto the wall pipe. Wrap some plumbing tape counterclockwise around the threaded part of the wall pipe, then screw the showerhead back on. Turn the water on in your shower for a few moments. This will flush out any residue that the toothbrush did not get. Gather your supplies. If you cannot remove your showerhead, you can still soak it using vinegar and a plastic bag. Here is what you will need: A plastic bag large enough to fit over your showerhead A piece of string or a twist tie Distilled white vinegar An old toothbrush Soft cloth, such as microfiber or flannel Fill the bag partway with vinegar. Do not fill it all the way, or the vinegar will pour out when you try to put the showerhead into it. Place the bag over the showerhead. Hold the bag under the showerhead and pull it open. Slowly bring it upwards until it is covering the showerhead and the showerhead is in the vinegar. Secure the bag to the showerhead with a piece of string or twist tie. You can do this by holding the top of the bag tightly around the neck of the showerhead, and then tying a piece of string or a twist tie tightly around it. Carefully let go of the bag and make sure that it won't fall off before stepping away. Let the showerhead soak for 30 minutes to overnight. The dirtier your showerhead is, the longer it will have to soak. If the showerhead is made from brass, or has a gold or nickel coating, then take the bag off after 30 minutes. You can always repeat the process after you have rinsed the showerhead. Remove the bag. Hold the bag with one hand and carefully untie it with the other. Tip the bag over and empty out the vinegar. Be careful not to let the vinegar splash into your eyes. Turn on the water for a few moments, then turn it off. This will flush out any mineral deposits that might be stuck inside the showerhead. Scrub the showerhead using an old toothbrush, then turn the water back on. Focus on the base of the showerhead, where the water comes out, as this is the area that will get the most buildup. Turn the water back on again to flush more residue out. Keep scrubbing the showerhead and turning the water on until you cannot see anymore mineral residue. Turn the water off and polish the showerhead with a soft cloth. You can use a microfiber cloth or a piece of flannel. Gently buff the surface of the showerhead with the cloth until it is dry and you can no longer see any water spots. | Gather your supplies. Remove the showerhead by twisting it counterclockwise. Put the showerhead into a pot. Fill the pot with enough white vinegar to cover the showerhead. Let the showerhead soak in the vinegar for 1 hour or overnight. Take the showerhead out of the pot and rinse it. Scrub away any residue using an old toothbrush. Use a soft cloth to polish the showerhead. Put the showerhead back onto the wall pipe. Turn the water on in your shower for a few moments. Gather your supplies. Fill the bag partway with vinegar. Place the bag over the showerhead. Secure the bag to the showerhead with a piece of string or twist tie. Let the showerhead soak for 30 minutes to overnight. Remove the bag. Turn on the water for a few moments, then turn it off. Scrub the showerhead using an old toothbrush, then turn the water back on. Turn the water off and polish the showerhead with a soft cloth. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stretch-Natural-Hair | How to Stretch Natural Hair | To stretch natural hair, start by washing your hair and applying a leave-in conditioner while it's still damp. Then, divide your hair into 4 sections, and clip back 3 of them. Next, apply a moisturizer and oil to the section of hair you left down, and tie the section into a tight ponytail. Once you've done that, wrap hair ties down the length of the ponytail until you reach the end, repeating the process on your other sections of hair. Finally, leave the bands in overnight before taking them out. | Apply a moisturizing leave-in conditioner to your hair. Make sure that your hair is clean and freshly-washed first. Detangle it with a wide-toothed comb first, then apply a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to it. Run the comb through your hair again to help evenly distribute the leave-in conditioner. This method works best on damp hair, but you can work with dry hair as well. It is very similar to the LOC (leave-in conditioner, oil, and cream) method used before styling hair. This method is safe for your hair, but be aware that it can weaken and break your hair over time. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Part your hair down the center, from your forehead down to your nape. Part it again, this time going horizontally across the back of your head from ear-to-ear. Twist and clip 3 of those sections out of the way. Apply moisturizer and oil to the remaining hair section. Go to the remaining section of hair that you left loose. Apply some shea butter to it first, then follow up with olive oil. Run a wide-toothed comb through your hair to help make it smooth and to distribute the products. You can use other moisturizing products and oils instead, if you prefer. Tie the section into a tight ponytail. Use a smaller hair tie for this rather than the standard sized one. It will help reduce bulk and make the style more comfortable for you. When tying the ponytail, make sure that the hair along your scalp is pulled taut. Use tangle-free hair ties to prevent snagging. Pull the ponytail taut and wrap a hair tie down its length. Don't wrap the hair tie repeatedly around the same spot as you would when tying off a ponytail or braid. Instead, wrap and twist the hair tie down the length of the ponytail in a crisscross fashion. You should be able to cover 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of hair this way. Pull your hair taut while doing this. Continue wrapping hair ties around your ponytail until you get to the end. Start wrapping the next hair tie where you finished wrapping the last one. Remember to pull your hair taut as you go. Depending on the length of your hair, plan on using 6 to 7 hair ties for the entire section. When you have one last wrap left on your hair tie, fold the ends of your hair down, and wrap the hair tie one last time. This will make it more secure. Repeat the process on the remaining sections. When you are done, you'll have a bunch of Medusa-like tentacles all over your head. Don't worry, however, they won't be left in your hair for very long. Cover your hair with a scarf. If you need to, wrap the banded hair around your head first, then secure them with bobby pins. Wrap a satin scarf around your head to hide the banded hair and secure it. Remove the bands the following day. Take the scarf off first, then remove any bobby pins. Make sure that your hair is completely dry, then carefully pull the hair ties off one by one. Do not tug or yank on the hair ties, or you will risk damaging your hair. If your hair isn't dry, re-pin the banded hair, cover it with the scarf, and wait until it is dry. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Part your hair down the middle from forehead to nape. Next, create a horizontal part going along the back of your head from ear-to-ear. Twist and clip 3 of the sections out of the way, and leave 1 of them loose. Make sure that your hair is dry and freshly-washed. Be aware that this method can cause matts, especially if your natural hair texture is coarse or prone to matting in the first place. If you have very thick hair, you may want to divide your hair into 8 sections instead. Gather the remaining section into a tight ponytail. Have a long piece of your cotton yarn ready. It should be at least 2 to 3 times the length of your hair when pulled taut. Do not secure the hair with an elastic, just hold it in your hand. Wrap 100% cotton yarn around your ponytail to secure it. Cut a piece of yarn that's 2 to 3 times longer than your hair when its stretched out. Place the end of the yarn alongside your ponytail, facing away from your scalp. Wrap the yarn tightly around your hair 2 to 3 times to secure the ponytail. Do not use wool, acrylic, or wool-blend yarn. You need to use cotton yarn. You can find it in fabric stores and crafting stores. You will be wearing your threaded hair under wigs and scarves, but it would still be a good idea to match the yarn as closely as possible to your own hair. Continue wrapping the yarn around your ponytail in a spiral. Pull your hair taut and continue wrapping the yarn around it tightly in a spiral (like in a candy cane). When you have about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of hair left, wrap the yarn around your hair a few more times. Do not cut the yarn yet. You will still need it to finish wrapping your hair. Apply a moisturizing product to the ends of your hair. Start with some olive oil, then follow up with shea butter. You can also use other moisturizing products as well. Be sure to saturate the ends of your hair. Fold the ends down and wrap them with yarn. Fold the moisturized ends of your hair down over the wrapped yarn. Wrap the yarn tightly around the ends from bottom-up until they are completely covered. You will need to extend your wrapping just past the folded-over ends. Tie the yarn off, then trim off the excess. Wrap the yarn one more time around your hair, leaving a finger-thick loop. Thread the tail end of the yarn through that loop, then pull on it to tighten the knot. Use a pair of scissors to trim off any excess yarn. Repeat the process for the remaining sections. When you are done, you'll have 4 or more rope-like strands of hair sticking out of your head. You may feel a little like Medusa now, but don't worry, your hair will look fantastic at the end. Remember to reapply the moisturizing products to each section. Wear the threaded hair under wigs or scarves. Wrap the threaded hair around your head. Secure them with bobby pins, then slip a wig cap over your head to hold them in place. Put on your favorite wig, or tie a chic scarf around your head instead. Maintain the style for at least 6 months. Take the threads out and redo them every 3 or 4 weeks. If you need to wash or condition your hair at any point during that 3 to 4-week period, you should take the threads out. After 6 months or so, your hair will be stretched out, and you can stop wearing the threads. Your hair may become longer after just a few weeks, and the hair growth may continue up to 6 months. Divide your hair into 6 sections. Begin by parting your hair down the middle. Next, create 3 sections on each side of your head. You'll want to have a section in front, above, and behind each ear. Twist and clip 5 of the sections out of the way. Your hair should be dry at this point. Apply moisturizing products to the remaining section. Detangle the remaining section with a wide-toothed comb, then apply shea butter or a leave-in cream. Follow up with a nourishing hair oil or olive oil. Comb your hair once more to distribute the products evenly. Tie the section off into a ponytail. Make sure that you make the ponytail nice and tight so that the hair is pulled taut against your scalp. Use a mini hair tie to reduce bulk and discomfort. Twist the ponytail into a rope braid. Split the ponytail into 2 sections. Twist each section clockwise into a thin rope. Next, twist the ropes together counterclockwise. Your hair should hold the rope naturally on its own; if it doesn't, secure it with a mini hair elastic. Repeat the process on the remaining sections. Moisturize and detangle each section before tying it into a tight ponytail. Twist each ponytail into a rope braid, then secure it with a mini hair elastic, if needed. Work one section at a time. Pull the rope braids across your head and secure them with bobby pins. Pull the first rope braid on the left side of your head over to the right. Secure it with a bobby pin. Next, pull the first rope braid on the right side over to the left side of your head, and secure it with a bobby pin as well. Work your way back and forth across your head, from forehead to nape. Pull the rope braids tightly across your head to help further stretch out the hair. If you didn't secure the rope braids with mini hair elastics, they may have come untwisted. If that happened, simply re-twist them before pinning them. Tie a satin scarf around your head and leave it on for 2 days. During this time, your hair will dry and begin to stretch. Feel free to switch out the scarf to match your outfit or wear a cute hat over it. Remove the twists. Take the scarf off first, then pull out the bobby pins. Carefully undo the twists and pull out the hair ties. If you want to, you can fluff up your hair. Be very gentle; do not tug, pull, or yank on the hair ties. Your hair may be wavy or curly when you undo the twists. If you like, you can wear this as a style. Redo the process with more twists, if desired. If your hair looks very poufy and frizzy, you'll need to redo the whole procedure. Dampen your hair and reapply the shea butter or cream. Skip the ponytails, and simply twist each mini section into a rope braid, then stretch and pin them across your head. Cover them with a scarf and leave it on for 1 day. Instead of doing 6 sections, try 8 or 10 this time. If you want your curls to have more definition, don't fluff them out this round. | Apply a moisturizing leave-in conditioner to your hair. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Apply moisturizer and oil to the remaining hair section. Tie the section into a tight ponytail. Pull the ponytail taut and wrap a hair tie down its length. Continue wrapping hair ties around your ponytail until you get to the end. Repeat the process on the remaining sections. Cover your hair with a scarf. Remove the bands the following day. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Gather the remaining section into a tight ponytail. Wrap 100% cotton yarn around your ponytail to secure it. Continue wrapping the yarn around your ponytail in a spiral. Apply a moisturizing product to the ends of your hair. Fold the ends down and wrap them with yarn. Tie the yarn off, then trim off the excess. Repeat the process for the remaining sections. Wear the threaded hair under wigs or scarves. Maintain the style for at least 6 months. Divide your hair into 6 sections. Apply moisturizing products to the remaining section. Tie the section off into a ponytail. Twist the ponytail into a rope braid. Repeat the process on the remaining sections. Pull the rope braids across your head and secure them with bobby pins. Tie a satin scarf around your head and leave it on for 2 days. Remove the twists. Redo the process with more twists, if desired. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Why-Your-Cat-Does-Not-Groom-Itself | How to Determine Why Your Cat Does Not Groom Itself | To determine why your cat isn't grooming itself, start by considering your kitty's age. Reduced grooming is common in senior cats, especially if the kitty has arthritis or other joint issues. Next, take your cat's weight into account, since overweight kitties often have trouble reaching all of their body parts. If age and weight aren't factors, or if you're just worried about your cat in general, it's best to take it to a veterinarian for an evaluation. Pain and illness are often behind reduced grooming, and a vet can help you identify and treat the underlying issue. | Recognize signs of reduced grooming. Signs that your cat isn't grooming itself properly include an unkempt or messy appearance, matting, and lots of loose, dead hair in the coat. In addition, instead of looking smooth and shiny, the coat might appear harsh and greasy. Its feet might be stained from the litter box, and it might consistently have food in its muzzle. Bring your cat to the vet. Scheduling a vet visit should be one of the first steps you take when determining why your cat has stopped grooming. Pain and illness are the most common reasons a cat stops grooming itself. Common pain-related conditions associated with reduced grooming include dental disease and bone or joint disorders. Look for related symptoms of pain or illness. A range of symptoms or behavioral changes might accompany reduced grooming. Report any related symptoms you observe to your cat's vet. Examples include: Increased sleeping or sleeping in just one position Decreased appetite Increased aggression, especially when touched or moved Change in litter box habits Abnormal body positions that seem to favor a painful area Tooth decay or foul breath Take your cat’s weight into account. An overweight cat can have trouble reaching all of its body parts. Weight could be the issue if your cat grooms some places normally but ignores hard to reach spots. If you're not sure if your cat is overweight, ask its vet if its weight might be restricting its mobility. If your cat is thin but ignores hard to reach spots, it might have another mobility issue, like a bone or joint disorder. Consider your cat’s age. Sudden unwillingness or inability to groom is especially concerning in younger adult cats, as it's more often associated with a serious health problem. Reduced grooming is more common in senior cats. They often develop arthritis or other degenerative joint issues that make self-grooming difficult. Kittens can also have grooming issues if they were separated from their mother before learning to self-groom. You'll have to groom it yourself, but in time it will likely begin cleaning itself. Start grooming it as soon as possible to teach it to enjoy the grooming process. Look for signs of chronic stress. Stress in cats is more often associated with over-grooming. However, chronic stress, or stress that develops over a long period of time, can lead to reduced grooming in some cats. Look for other signs of chronic stress, including: Hiding, withdrawal, or lack of interest in play Defensive aggression Heightened startle response Urinating or defecating outside of the litter box Help your overweight cat lose weight. If your cat is overweight, help it slim down by changing its diet and giving it more exercise. Change its diet gradually, such as by reducing its daily calories by no more than 20 per day. Play with it more often, and incorporate chase games using toys such as feather wands and laser pointers. Consult the vet about any dietary changes and additional exercise. Losing too much weight too quickly can be harmful, and you should make sure your cat is healthy enough for more activity. If you free feed your cat, switch to scheduled feeding times to prevent overeating. Treat any underlying conditions. Reduced grooming could be associated with any number of illnesses, from dental disease to cancer. Ask the vet about treatment options for any diagnosed medical issues. Depending on the issue's severity, you'll most likely need to take over grooming responsibilities during treatment or for the duration of your cat's life. Ask the vet about pain medication. If your cat suffers from a painful condition such as arthritis, ask the vet about pain relieving or anti-inflammatory medications. Medications are available in pill, liquid, or injectable forms, so consult the vet about the best option for you and your cat. While medication can alleviate pain on a temporary basis, it might not restore your cat's mobility. You'll most likely have to take over grooming responsibilities. Reduce your cat’s stress. If you and the vet believe your cat's reduced self-grooming is due to stress, take steps to enrich its environment. Ensure it has time to itself, especially if you have more than one cat. Consider keeping your outdoor cat inside, especially if there are a lot of cats in your neighborhood. Try to give your cat a consistent schedule. If possible, feed and play with it at the same times each day, and go to work and come home at the same times. If you don't already, clean the litter box daily. Heights can help reduce stress in cats, so consider getting a cat tree. Wipe away discharges daily. Moisten cotton balls with warm water. Use them to gently remove discharges from locations such as your cat's eyes, ears, and anus. Be sure to use a new cotton ball for each body part. Wipe down your cat’s coat daily. Gently wipe your cat's coat daily with a washcloth dampened in warm water to remove dead hair and skin cells. As you do so, examine its skin for parasites, skin irritation, lumps, and bumps. Report any of these issues to your cat's vet. Brush your cat’s coat gently and as needed. Use a soft bristled brush and be gentle, especially if your cat is older. You should have a comb and deshedding tool for your cat, no matter if they're longhaired or shorthaired. Use the comb to separate the hair and get down to the skin, which teases apart knots. Use the deshedding tool to get rid of shed hair, which can be a problem for both longhaired and shorthaired cats. Groom a shorthaired cat at least twice a week. Longhaired cats require daily grooming. Try trimming the fur around the legs and rear of your longhaired cat to prevent matting and soiling. If your older cat has sore joints, it may find a rubber-deshedding tool such as the ZoomGroom to be more gentle on sore hips, shoulders, and elbows. Bathe your cat occasionally. Even cats that don't groom themselves properly only need occasional baths, such as when you notice a bad odor. Brush your cat's fur out before bathing it, wet it (using a hand sprayer is the easiest way), rub shampoo in the direction of its fur, then rinse thoroughly. Towel dry and, if your cat tolerates it, use a blow dryer on a low or cool setting. Only use shampoo marked for cats. | Recognize signs of reduced grooming. Bring your cat to the vet. Look for related symptoms of pain or illness. Take your cat’s weight into account. Consider your cat’s age. Look for signs of chronic stress. Help your overweight cat lose weight. Treat any underlying conditions. Ask the vet about pain medication. Reduce your cat’s stress. Wipe away discharges daily. Wipe down your cat’s coat daily. Brush your cat’s coat gently and as needed. Bathe your cat occasionally. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Knock-Someone-Out | How to Knock Someone Out | To knock someone out quickly, grab them by the shirt just below the collar with both hands, push them away and pull them back again quickly to get them off balance. Then, use either side of the top of your head to hit them near their nose. By using the hardest part of your head against the most sensitive part of theirs, you can knock them out if you use enough force. If the person you are trying to knock out is behind you, then bend and lift your arm so your elbow points toward their face. You can then rotate your upper body enough to throw your elbow into the side of their nose, which can break their nose or cause them to fall unconscious. | Grab the attacker by the shirt. Use both hands to grab the attacker by the shirt, at the center of the chest just below the collar or neckline. The most effective way to headbutt someone is to draw them into a whiplash motion. In order to accomplish this, you need to push and pull the attacker away by the shirt. Avoid grabbing the attacker behind the neck. Natural instinct is to grab the attacker behind the neck and draw the head down for a headbutt, but the problem with this is that the neck and shoulder muscles naturally tense when grabbed behind the neck, making it much more difficult to pull the person forward. Push the attacker away. Use your full body weight to push forward into the attacker until their upper body leans back. This movement causes the attacker to lose balance and causing their shoulders to disengage. Since this movement is also likely to be unexpected, you will also have the element of surprise on your side. Quickly pull the attacker toward you. As soon as the attacker's shoulders disengage, use your arms to pull the attacker back toward your head. With the shoulders disengaged in this manner, the attacker's arms will naturally swing open, preventing them from using the arms to block the headbutt. Swiftly strike with right or left of the crown of your head, if you use the middle chances are you might crack your head. As you draw the attacker toward you, bring your head down so that the top of your head meets with the attacker's nose as their nose drops down. Strike with the top of your head. Do not use your forehead. The nose is a sensitive pressure point, and striking it with enough force will allow you to knock the other person out. Position yourself along the center line of your attacker. Stand directly in front of the attacker so that the vertical center of your body lines up with the vertical center of your attacker's body. When performing an upper-cut, you will need to bring your arm up along this center line until you reach the attacker's chin. As such, you will need to be in a position where you have access to the center line of your attacker's body. Draw the eye with your non-dominant hand. Use your non-dominant hand to block and swipe at your attacker's block. Keep the hand near eye level so that it draws attention. Keeping this hand free allows you to defend yourself against your attacker's strikes and also causes your attacker to shift their attention away from your dominant hand. Swiftly bring an open hand up to the attacker's chin. Swing your dominant arm up along your attacker's center line with your fingers slightly bent, exposing the heel of your palm. The palm should face your attacker's face. Do not make a fist. The heel of your hand is located just above the wrist and should be aimed at your attacker's chin. Strike with the palm heel of your hand. Strike just below the chin of your attacker, snapping their head back and knocking them out. Striking the attacker here throws the head back and pinches the nerves at the top of the spinal column, causing the attacker to black out. Using the palm of your hand gives you a greater surface area to work with in bare-handed fighting. It also protects your fingers, thereby saving your hand and preventing damage to the one "weapon" you have access to in the fight. Assess the best way to strike depending on your position. You can strike the nose of your attacker if they are in front of you or behind you, but the movement you use will vary depending on your starting position. If your attacker is in front of you, you will need to move in a forward direction. If your attacker is behind you, you will need to attack as you turn to face them. Strike with the heel of your palm from the front. When standing face-to-face with your attacker, open your hand and strike straight forward, hitting the base of the nose and shoving it back. Throw your weight into the attack in order to apply the most force. This move causes your attacker's head to snap back, pinching the nerves of the upper spinal column and, if done with enough force, causing the opponent to black out. Strike with your elbow if the attacker is behind you. If the attacker is behind you, bend and lift your arm so that your elbow points toward the attacker's face. Rotate your upper body enough to throw your elbow into the side of the attacker's nose. The center side of the nose, on either side, is another pressure point of the body. If you strike hard enough, you can cause the nose to break and the attacker to fall unconscious. Align your side with your attacker's center line. This technique works especially well when your attacker comes from the side, but if your attacker is coming from a different angle, you will need to rotate your stance until your shoulder roughly lines up with the vertical center of your attacker's body. Note that you can use either side of your body for this attack, but you may be able to apply more force if you turn your body so that your dominant side faces your attacker. Step forward and shift your weight as your attacker approaches. Once your attacker comes toward you, take a step forward with the foot nearest them, causing your full body weight to shift forward onto that foot. You need to step into your assailant's attack, not draw back from it. This move only works if your attacker is on the offensive and actively coming toward you. It uses to force of the attacker's forward motion to inflict damage. Aim your elbow toward the Adam's apple. Lift your elbow up as you step into your opponent's attack, causing the elbow to meet the inside of the Adam's apple on either side. If you strike the inside of the Adam's apple from a 45 degree angle, you should be able to cause your attacker to to collapse. Even if you do not successfully strike the pressure point, the force from the impact of your elbow should be enough to throw your attacker off. Begin in a protective stance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Your non-dominant foot should be slightly in front of your dominant foot, and your hands should be up and ready to move. Standing in this manner keeps your center of gravity at the center of your stance, thereby allowing you to maintain perfect balance. Note that this move can still be performed even if you are not in a protective, balanced stance, but you will have greater odds of succeeding in a knockout if you start from this stance. Analyze your position in relation to the attacker. The attacker should be crouched down and no greater than half a leg's length away. You can bring your attacker down by delivering a knee to the groin or a sharp kick to the shin. This move generally works best of your attacker is already doubled-over and off-guard. It works less well if they are already facing you and attempting to rise. Force your attacker's shoulders down. Press down on both of your attacker's shoulders with the heel of your palms. Throw your entire upper body weight into the gesture so that you can apply maximum force. Keep your legs in the same stance to maintain your balance as you prepare to deliver the knockout blow. Swiftly bring your knee up as you draw your attacker down. While holding your attacker's shoulders down, bring your dominant knee forward so that it strikes your attacker in the nose or chin. Work quickly. The force of being pushed down will automatically cause the attacker to tighten his or her shoulder muscles, making it harder to keep the attacker down. Aim for either the nose or the chin to inflict the most damage and cause a black out. | Grab the attacker by the shirt. Push the attacker away. Quickly pull the attacker toward you. Swiftly strike with right or left of the crown of your head, if you use the middle chances are you might crack your head. Position yourself along the center line of your attacker. Draw the eye with your non-dominant hand. Swiftly bring an open hand up to the attacker's chin. Strike with the palm heel of your hand. Assess the best way to strike depending on your position. Strike with the heel of your palm from the front. Strike with your elbow if the attacker is behind you. Align your side with your attacker's center line. Step forward and shift your weight as your attacker approaches. Aim your elbow toward the Adam's apple. Begin in a protective stance. Analyze your position in relation to the attacker. Force your attacker's shoulders down. Swiftly bring your knee up as you draw your attacker down. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Enable-Do-Not-Disturb-Mode-on-Alexa | How to Enable Do Not Disturb Mode on Alexa | * "Alexa, don't disturb me." Activates Do Not Disturb mode. Alerts are disabled. | Say, "Alexa". Say the wake command to wake Alexa and she will begin listening for your next command. The default wake command is "Alexa," but if you've changed it to "Echo," "Amazon," or some other command, then use the wake command you previously set. Ask Alexa not to disturb you. You can simply say, "Alexa, don't disturb me," or "Alexa, turn on Do Not Disturb." Alexa will respond, "I won't disturb you," and you will hear a brief chime. You will not receive calls, messages, notifications or Drop-Ins while Do Not Disturb mode is active. If you never wish to receive Alexa alerts, you can simply leave Do Not Disturb Mode active for as long as you want. Ask Alexa to turn off DND mode. You can say, "Alexa, turn off Do Not Disturb." You will start receiving calls, messages, notifications, and Drop-Ins again. Open the Alexa app. It's the light-blue app that has a speech bubble with a white outline. If you haven't done so already, you can download the Alexa app on your Android phone from the Google Play Store or on your iPhone from the App Store and log in with the email address and password for your Amazon account. Tap ☰. It's the three-lined icon in the top-left corner. This opens a menu of options of the left-side of the screen. Tap Settings. It's near the bottom of the menu. Select your device. If you haven't changed the name yourself it should be named something like, "Echo" or "Echo Dot." Scroll down to the Do Not Disturb heading and tap "Scheduled. " Under this heading, you can also toggle Do Not Disturb on or off. Tap the switch for "Scheduled" to the 'ON' position. This will toggle the schedule and ask you to create a daily schedule. Tap Edit. It's a large, blue button. Select the time period to keep Do Not Disturb on. Use the drop-down menus to select the time period during which you do not want to be disturbed. Make sure you select AM or PM. Tap Save Changes. Your Do Not Disturb schedule is now active. | Say, "Alexa". Ask Alexa not to disturb you. Ask Alexa to turn off DND mode. Open the Alexa app. Tap ☰. Tap Settings. Select your device. Scroll down to the Do Not Disturb heading and tap "Scheduled. Tap the switch for "Scheduled" to the 'ON' position. Tap Edit. Select the time period to keep Do Not Disturb on. Tap Save Changes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Peter-Pan-Costume | How to Make a Peter Pan Costume | To make a Peter Pan costume, start by buying a pair of green tights and a plain green T-shirt, then cut a zigzag pattern along the hems of the shirt with regular scissors. Next, find a brown belt that you can cinch over the green top, carry a toy dagger in a holster on the belt, and wear a pair of brown moccasins or boots with the outfit. To complete your look, sew a simple cap made out of green felt and hot glue a long, red feather in the brim! | Buy a pair of green tights or leggings. The tights are the easiest part of the costume to plan. If you don't already own a pair, go to a store like Walmart and H&M and buy a pair of dark green or greenish-brown leggings or tights. If you are buying nylon tights, try to purchase ones that are opaque instead of see-through. If you feel uncomfortable wearing leggings or tights, buy a pair of sweatpants or linen pants with a skinny fit. You can also wear green cut-off shorts if you don't want to wear long pants. Buy a green shirt. If you don't already own one, buy a large shirt in a yellow-green color. Make sure that the shirt is a little large and fits like a tunic, ending midway down the thigh. Make sure that you or whoever the costume is for tries on the shirt before you purchase it. The tunic is an iconic part of the Peter Pan costume, so a short or tight shirt won't look as good. You can buy a regular T-shirt or polo shirt, or a shirt made from linen or another similar material for a more earthy feel. Use a pencil to mark the shirt. Peter Pan's tunic is known for having a zig-zag cut along the bottom and the sleeves, giving it a playful look. Try on the shirt and use a pen to draw a large zig-zag pattern near the hem of the shirt and around the sleeves. If you are happy with the size of the shirt, make the zig-zag pattern close to the edge of the fabric. If you feel the shirt is too big, draw the zig-zag higher up, so that you will be able to cut the shirt to the length that you want. Also draw a V along the neck of the shirt if it's not already a V-neck. Cut along the lines. Lay the shirt down flat on a table and use a sharp pair of scissors to cut along the lines you drew on the shirt. Try to cut crisply and cleanly so that the shirt doesn't look frayed or ragged. Try the shirt on again and look in a mirror. If you notice that the zig zag looks uneven, take the shirt off again and refine the cut. Assemble your supplies. The cap is the most work intensive aspect of the costume since you will have to construct it yourself. You will need a yard of green felt, a pair of scissors, a needle or a sewing machine, green thread, a hot glue gun and a red feather. You can buy all these supplies at Hobby Lobby, Michaels or another art supply store. If you don't want to sew, you can do a no-sew version of the cap by simply taking a green beanie and flipping up the edges. Glue a red feather to one side of the beanie to create a perfectly good Peter Pan cap! Cut out a rounded triangle. Draw a triangle with a pen onto the felt. The shape should be roughly the size of the cap as seen from the side, so make sure to make it large enough for your head or the head of the person the costume is for. Don't draw a perfect triangle, instead make the top tip of the triangle curved as opposed to straight and off-center as opposed to directly centered. To estimate what size the triangle should be, hold the cloth up to your head to get a good idea. Since the hat isn't going to be fitted snugly to your head, you just need to get an approximate estimate. Cut a long slanted triangle. Draw another shape that is roughly the shape of a knife blade, starting out as rectangular and ending in a pointed tip. This will be the brim of the hat. Make sure that the length of this section is about a ½ inch longer than the length of the rounded triangle you just made. Cut it out with a pair of scissors. Make copies of the shapes. Take the rounded triangle and the slanted piece of felt and lay them down on the remaining felt. Use a pen to trace around these shapes. Cut out the shapes with scissors to create identical copies of the shapes you already made. Sew the large triangles together. Line up the larger triangles by putting one triangle over the other. Use a needle and thread to sew using straight stitches.Sew the two pieces of fabric together along the sides of the triangle about 1 centimeter (0.4 in) from the edge, leaving the bottom open. You can also Use a Sewing Machine to sew the two pieces together. You are sewing along what will be the inside of the hat, so don't worry if your stitches aren't perfect. Line up the brim pieces. After you finish sewing the body of the cap, flip the cap right-side in to hide your stitches. Then one of the long slanted pieces of felt and place it so that it's just overlapping the bottom edge of the cap on the inside. Pin the strip where it overlaps around the bottom of the cap. Do the same on the other side for the other piece of fabric, making sure that the thick ends are next to each other and the thin ends are touching. Sew the brim pieces to the cap. Using a needle and thread or a sewing machine, sew the brim piece along the bottom edge of the cap where you pinned it. Also sew lengthwise along the overlap where the two thick sides of each long triangle meet. After you are done sewing, remove the pins. Then flip up the pieces to make the brim! Glue in the feather. Take a red long feather and stick it into one side of the hat in the brim. Make sure that the feather is pointed at a jaunty, 45 degree angle. When you are satisfied with the way it looks, glue it in place using the hot glue gun. Make or buy a belt. Though your costume is almost finished, you will need a few more accessories to pull of the classic Peter Pan look. If you have a brown belt, cinch it across your waist over the green tunic. You can also tie a length of brown fabric or a rope at your waist if you don't want to buy a belt. Buy a small toy dagger. Peter Pan carries a small dagger at his side in a holster attached to his belt. Buy a small toy dagger at a Halloween store or a costume shop. If it doesn't come with a holster simply keep it at your side tucked into your belt. Since it's a toy, there's no chance of it hurting you! Don't use a real knife. Even if you want to pull of a great costume, it's not worth the risk of accidentally poking yourself! You can also make a dagger out of cardboard and paint it to look like a knife. Wear brown shoes. Wear a pair of brown or tan shoes with your costume, preferably moccasins or short boots. If you don't have the perfect pair of shoes, don't worry too much: people will be so impressed with your costume that they probably won't be looking at your feet. | Buy a pair of green tights or leggings. Buy a green shirt. Use a pencil to mark the shirt. Cut along the lines. Assemble your supplies. Cut out a rounded triangle. Cut a long slanted triangle. Make copies of the shapes. Sew the large triangles together. Line up the brim pieces. Sew the brim pieces to the cap. Glue in the feather. Make or buy a belt. Buy a small toy dagger. Wear brown shoes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Abandoned-Houses | How to Find Abandoned Houses | To find abandoned houses, search real estate sites for houses that say something like “Immediate possession,” “Must sell,” or “Under appraisal.” If you're driving or walking around a neighborhood, look for houses with overgrown yards, boarded-up windows, and mailboxes stuffed full of letters, which indicate they've been vacant for a while. If you're considering buying an abandoned property, ask the neighbors for information about the house. Even if you're sure a house is abandoned, you should avoid trespassing, since you could face legal repercussions. | Search for abandoned houses online. You may be able to find abandoned houses near you by searching online real estate websites and property databases. If you have a specific property in mind, you can search its address to learn more about it. Look for listings on real estate sites with keywords such as "immediate possession," "must sell," "below market value," or "under appraisal." These properties are likely recently abandoned, or may have been subject to foreclosure. If you're looking for abandoned houses to photograph or explore, you may be able to find an online forum or website that covers abandoned houses and other properties in your area. Drive through neighborhoods. If you know of areas near you where there might be abandoned houses, you can go out and explore. If the area seems like a safety risk, have a friend or loved one come with you. Look for signs of abandonment, such as an overgrown yard or boarded-up windows. Multiple for-sale signs in the yard also may be a sign that the place has been abandoned – especially a sign that says "For Sale by Owner." If you see a house that looks abandoned from the road, find a public place nearby where you can park and get a closer look from the sidewalk. You need to be cautious about trespassing on private property, so it's probably best if you don't pull straight into the driveway. Talk to neighbors about the house. If the houses next to the abandoned house you've found seem occupied, knock on the door and ask them about the property. They can probably tell you if it's actually abandoned, and how long it's been empty. If you're interested in purchasing the house, the neighbors may be able to give you some information about the people who previously lived there. Neighbors may be able to fill you in further on the extent of the house, or how long it's been since someone lived there. If the place is truly an eyesore, they may be aggravated enough about the situation to talk about it at length. You may want to consider taking notes if they have any concrete information you can use to get information about the house. Ask them for contact information in case you want to get in touch with them later on. Inspect the property. Take care not to go onto the property or attempt to enter the house – that could be considered trespassing. But you can find out a lot of information about the state of the house without ever stepping foot on the property. If the mailbox is stuffed full of letters, check the date on the outside of the envelope at the bottom. That will give you an idea of the last time the mail was checked. Overgrown grass and untended gardens can provide signs as to how long the house has been abandoned, especially during warmer months. If there are weeds growing through cracks in the driveway, that indicates no one's used the driveway in awhile. If you can locate the power meter box, check to see if the power is running or if the master switch is off. If the power's off, the house typically is unoccupied and may have been for awhile. Check with the city or county records office. As long as you have a street address, there should be city and county records, including property tax records, that will lead you to the name of the last record owner. Even if the person's name is not on a deed or any other ownership document, the last person to pay the property taxes is the last person who had responsibility for the property. It may not be an individual, but rather a bank or mortgage company. Gather information about the property. Information about the property can lead you to the name and location of the owner, or at least someone who once lived there. You can ask them for permission to explore or photograph. You can do online search for public records about the last known owners to try to locate who currently controls the property. One of the easiest ways to find a property owner's name is to go to the county tax assessor's office and find out who last paid property taxes for the property. Get permission. All abandoned houses technically are owned by somebody. If you go into the house without that person's permission, you are trespassing. If caught, you could end up paying a fine or even spending some time in jail. If you have a name on a deed, that person may be fairly easy to locate. However, if the last owner on record has died, or if the property has changed hands several times, it may be difficult to figure out on your own who owns the property or how to get in touch with them. Send a postcard or letter to the last known owner and explain your intentions. If you plan to take photos let them know, and offer to send them digital copies. Stress that you do not intend to disturb anything or cause a nuisance. Notify local police. Often you won't be able to find the owner of an abandoned house, or they won't respond to your cards. If you still want to explore the property, contact the local police department so you can stay on the right side of the law. Sometimes police are willing to escort urban explorers visiting abandoned property, especially if the property has been abandoned for a long time and is well known in the community. Go to the police station in person and explain your intentions. If you've previously explored and photographed other abandoned places, you might bring along some examples of your work. Take necessary safety precautions. Exploring an abandoned house is dangerous, even under the best of circumstances. Always do your exploring during the day and take a friend or two with you so you're not alone. Make sure your mobile phone is charged and check its signal regularly while you're exploring. Wear hiking boots or steel-toed boots to protect your feet, along with jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. You may want to bring a mask to cover your face in case you run into dust, mold, asbestos, or other material you shouldn't be breathing. Be respectful of the property. Urban explorers have a mantra to "take nothing but photographs" and "leave nothing but footprints." While some decay or destruction may be unavoidable as you move through an abandoned home, don't intentionally disturb the surroundings. If you got permission from the owner to explore the property, follow up with them after your exploration by sending them a thank you card or email with digital copies of any photos you took. Attempt to contact the most recent owner on record. The person's name who appears on the most recent deed for the property is considered the "owner of record" or "record owner" of the property. If you have a mailing address for them (that isn't the abandoned house), send them a postcard. If you're looking at contacting a bank or mortgage company, a phone call typically will do. Explain who you are and your interest in the property. Someone should be able to find information for you. If you don't get a response after a month or so, assume that the person either no longer has an interest in the property or that the address you have for them is no good. Talk to a real estate agent to learn more about the property. If you're interested in purchasing the property and can't find the owner, a real estate agent may be able to help. They typically have access to more information about the property than is available to the general public. They also may be able to contact attorneys or other professionals who have information about the property or its owners. Ask a title company to run a title search on the property. Most title companies will conduct the search for a fee of $50, but they may not charge you if you purchase title insurance through them. In addition to revealing the owner, the title search will detail any liens or outstanding property taxes against the property. If you just want to know who the owner of the property is, you can check with the county for free. Although your real estate agent can't do a title search, they may request one from a title company on your behalf. Talk to an attorney if you want to purchase an abandoned house. Some cities, including Atlanta, Detroit, and Cleveland, have passed laws that make it easier for you to purchase an abandoned home, particularly one next door to your own house. An attorney can help you navigate these laws. If you live in an area where abandoned houses are common, it's likely there is such a law in place. An attorney also can help you if you want to purchase an abandoned house but are having trouble locating the owner of the property. Make an offer to purchase the house. If you managed to locate the owner of the property and they are receptive to you, it's possible that you could purchase the property – probably for far less than the market value of the home when it was in good repair. Because of the work involved to rehabilitate a house that's been sitting empty for awhile, abandoned properties typically can be purchased for very low rates. If you're going to buy the house, get estimates on the work to be done on it, so you can quote these figures back to the owner. The owner may be behind on property taxes. When you purchase the house, part of your offer amount should go to pay those back taxes, as your taxes should be prorated to begin after you purchase the home. Before you sign your contract, make sure that it addresses the back property taxes. | Search for abandoned houses online. Drive through neighborhoods. Talk to neighbors about the house. Inspect the property. Check with the city or county records office. Gather information about the property. Get permission. Notify local police. Take necessary safety precautions. Be respectful of the property. Attempt to contact the most recent owner on record. Talk to a real estate agent to learn more about the property. Ask a title company to run a title search on the property. Talk to an attorney if you want to purchase an abandoned house. Make an offer to purchase the house. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Salmon-Patty | How to Make a Salmon Patty | To make a salmon patty, start by mixing all of the ingredients together in a large bowl until they're fully incorporated. Next, divide the mixture into 4 equally sized portions and shape each portion into an oval that's about ¾ inch thick. Be careful not to handle the meat too much, since this can make it dense and tough! Then, chill the patties for 30 minutes, dredge them in flour, and fry them for 4-5 minutes on each side until the edges are browned and crisp! | Prepare the salmon. If you are making the patties from canned salmon, drain the liquid out of the can and set aside the salmon. If you are using fresh salmon, remove any bones or blood lines from the fish and chop the fillet into ¼ inch pieces. Grate the onion. Take the onion and grate it against a grater until it yields ¼ cup (59.15 ml) of onion. Then place the grated onion into a medium bowl. Chop the parsley. Wash the parsley, then remove the leaves from the stems. Take a sharp knife and chop the parsley into small pieces. Sprinkle the parsley into the bowl with the grated onion. You can also add any other herbs you like paired with salmon. Add the salmon, mayonnaise and lemon juice to the bowl and stir. Mix in the salmon, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Stir until all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Add the egg. Crack the egg into a small bowl and use a fork to whip and blend the yolk with the rest of the egg. Then pour the egg into the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Stir the egg into the mixture until just incorporated. Stir the mixture with a large spoon until the egg is mixed with the other ingredients. Be careful not to overstir, as this can change the texture of the patties. Divide the mixture into four parts. Scoop the patty mixture out of the bowl and divide it into four parts. Make sure that all the parts are equally sized. Form four patties. Take a portion of the patty mixture and gently shape it into an ovular patty shape that is about ¾ inch (19.05 mm) thick. Don't squeeze the mixture or over handle it, as this can make the patty denser. Repeat with the other three portions of mixture. Chill the patties for a half hour. Place the patties on a plate or baking sheet, cover them in plastic wrap, and put them into the refrigerator. Let them chill for 30 minutes. Doing this solidifies the patties and makes them easier to handle. Dredge the patties in flour. Pour the flour onto a wide baking sheet or a large chopping board. Use your hands to spread the flour until it covers the entire surface in a thin layer. Then take a salmon patty and place it on top of the flour. Since the patty is moist, the flour will stick. Flip the patty over to coat the other side. Then repeat with the other patties. Toss the excess flour. Dredging the patties in the flour will help them to preserve moisture when they are being fried. Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Place a skillet over medium heat and heat the olive oil. Tilt the skillet so that the olive oil coats the bottom. Fry the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side. Once the oil has heated, place the patties into the skillet and fry them for 4-5 minutes. Then flip the patties and fry them for 4-5 minutes on the other side, or until the edges are browned and crisp. Make salmon burgers. Once the patties are done, serve them while they are still warm! The most popular way to eat salmon patties is inside salmon burgers. To make a salmon burger, place the patties in the middle of two buns along with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, tartar sauce, or whichever toppings you please! Serve the salmon patties on top of a salad. Another great way to enjoy salmon burgers is on top of a bed of greens. Make a salad of spinach, arugula, or your favorite type of greens mixed with olive oil and balsamic. Then place the salmon patty on top of the greens and drizzle the patty with tartar sauce. Serve with a lemon wedge. You can chill the patty before putting it on the salad or serve it while it is still warm. Serve the salmon patty as a side. If you enjoy the taste of the patty by itself, serve in as a side in the context of a larger meal. Pair it with rice, cooked vegetables, or whatever other foods you have prepared. | Prepare the salmon. Grate the onion. Chop the parsley. Add the salmon, mayonnaise and lemon juice to the bowl and stir. Add the egg. Stir the egg into the mixture until just incorporated. Divide the mixture into four parts. Form four patties. Chill the patties for a half hour. Dredge the patties in flour. Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Fry the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side. Make salmon burgers. Serve the salmon patties on top of a salad. Serve the salmon patty as a side. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Not-Fall-in-Love-With-Someone | How to Not Fall in Love With Someone | While you can't control if you fall in love with someone, you can make things easier for yourself by avoiding the person you're attracted to as much as possible. If you have to spend time around them, stand or sit across the room, face away from them, and avoid eye contact when you speak to them to keep your relationship platonic. You can also keep a private list of the things you don't like about the person, which will help remind you that they're not a good fit for you. While you're waiting for your feelings to fade, spend time doing a hobby or activity you enjoy to distract yourself from thinking about the person. | Keep your distance from the person. One way to avoid letting your feelings get the best of you is to maintain a safe distance from the person as much as possible. This may mean staying away from the person in social situations, such as gatherings with friends or coworkers. Or you may avoid the person when you are sharing the same space, such as at school or at work. Keep your distance from the person so you are not tempted to interact with them, as this can lead to a deepen of your feelings for them. For example, you may try to avoid going to the same meetings or gatherings as the person, especially if you know they are going to be there. You may plan to just miss seeing the person so you do not have to be in close proximity to them. You may also avoid adding the person on social media so you are not tempted to look at their profile or their activity. This way, you cannot get sucked into looking at the person's activity on sites like Facebook, Instagram, or Tumblr. Establish clear boundaries for yourself when you are around the person. If you do end up having to be around the person, you should set up clear boundaries so you do not let your emotions take over. Perhaps you avoid touching, hugging, or sitting close to the person when they are near you. You may stand at a fair distance from them with closed body language so you do not appear friendly or welcoming to the person. This can signal to them that you are not interested in them romantically. For example, you may maintain closed body language around the person by keeping your arms crossed over your chest and by avoiding eye contact with the person when you speak to them. Do not accept romantic gestures or gifts from the person. The person may end up giving you gifts to show their affection for you or they may make kind gestures towards you. Avoid accepting or encouraging this behavior. Accepting gifts or kind gestures from the person can encourage them to pursue you, which you may not want if you are trying to avoid them. For example, you may politely say, “No thank you” and decline a gift they try to give you. Or you may say, “No, I can do it myself” or “No, I'll take care of it” if they try to do something nice for you. List the person’s negative qualities. Closing yourself off emotionally from the person may be another way you can avoid falling for them. Try to control your emotions so you do not feel overwhelmed or out of control around the person. Make a list of the person's negative qualities. Read them over and let yourself feel discouraged or disengaged from the person because of these negative qualities. This may help you avoid falling in love with the person. Be honest and think about qualities of the person that may be bothersome or an issue if you were in a relationship with them. For example, you may write down about the person: “too career-focused, quiet and introverted, hard to talk to in a big group.” Determine why you and the person are incompatible. You should also think about why you and the person are not suitable mates. You may make a list of their negative qualities and then write down why these negative qualities mean you and the person are not meant to be together. You may also write down specific instances where you and the person did not seem to mesh or jive well together. Focusing on your incompatibility could help you close yourself off emotionally from the person and see them as nothing more than a friend. For example, you may write down: “we are incompatible because they are career focused and I would prefer to travel” or “we would not work out because they are intent on settling in one place and I plan to move around often.” Focus on the friendly aspects of your relationship. If you are already on friendly terms with the person, you can try focusing on your friendship with them over any romantic relationship. Perhaps you and the person get along well as friends. Remind yourself that pursuing the person romantically could lead to hurt feelings and ruin your friendship. You may then reason that you are better off maintaining a friendship with the person rather than a romance. For example, you may sit down and write out all the fun times you have had with the person as friends. Then, you may consider if it is worth risking your meaningful, fulfilling relationship with the person to pursue a romance. Distract yourself with a hobby or activity. You can avoid falling for someone by devoting your time to your own needs and interests rather than to them, or thoughts of them. Distract yourself from your romantic yearnings by pouring your energy into a hobby you love. Or take up an activity that will be all-consuming and leave you little time to focus on your romantic feelings for someone. For example, perhaps you pour your energy into a hobby like painting, writing, playing music, or singing. You could also take up an activity like sports or join a team at school to fill your time. Confide in friends and loved ones. Though you may be tempted to keep your romantic feelings to yourself, you may try talking to those closest to you about your emotions. Tell close friends about how you are trying to avoid falling in love with someone. Speak to a close family member about your conflicted feelings. Often, talking to someone who will listen to you about how you are feeling can make you feel less alone and confused. You may also be able to get some perspective on your situation from a friend or family member. They may also offer advice or suggestions on how you can avoid falling in love with the person. For example, you may say to a friend, “I have feelings for someone but I do not want to fall for them. What do I do?” Or you may say to a family member, “I think I'm falling in love with someone but I don't think it's a good idea. Do you have any advice on what I should do?” Consider talking to the person about your feelings. If your romantic feelings for the person are overwhelming and undeniably, you may want to consider telling them how you feel. Though the conversation may be awkward, being honest about your emotions and telling the person can make you feel better. It can also open the door to the possibility that the person may feel the same way about you. If you do decide to talk to the person about your feelings, you should ask them if you talk just the two of you in person and in private. You may then tell them, “I think I am developing romantic feelings for you. I've tried to deny these feelings but I think it may be better to be honest with you about how I am feeling.” | Keep your distance from the person. Establish clear boundaries for yourself when you are around the person. Do not accept romantic gestures or gifts from the person. List the person’s negative qualities. Determine why you and the person are incompatible. Focus on the friendly aspects of your relationship. Distract yourself with a hobby or activity. Confide in friends and loved ones. Consider talking to the person about your feelings. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Gaps-in-Teeth | How to Get Rid of Gaps in Teeth | To get rid of a single small gap between your teeth, get dental bonding for a quick and affordable solution. However, if you have discoloration or chips in your teeth in addition to gaps, then plan to discuss veneers with your dentist since they're custom-made to cover your teeth. For multiple gaps, wider gaps, or crooked, but otherwise nice, teeth, look into getting braces. Alternatively, for multiple small gaps, opt for Invisalign, which is the least obvious and most effective choice. Once you research your options, schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss your thoughts. | Gather materials. You will need a mirror, a tape measure or ruler with metric markings, a pen, and some paper. This process will be easier with a fixed mirror rather than a handheld one. You can also ask a friend to help if you are comfortable doing so. Inspect your teeth. Look into the mirror and identify the teeth that have gaps in between them. Make notes about the appearance of your gaps and why you would like to fix them. Also make notes on any other imperfections that you would like to fix along with your gaps (tooth size, color, straightness, chips, etc.). Measure your gaps. Using the tape measure or ruler, measure the space in between your teeth that have gaps. Write down the measurements in millimeters. Save your notes. These measurements and appearance notes will help you to determine what dental treatment will benefit you the most. The imperfections that you have identified will also help you dentist when deciding on your best treatment option. Learn about your options. There are a few different ways that your dentist can close a gap or gaps in between your teeth. Before you schedule an appointment with your dentist, think about which option best suits your situation. If you have a single small gap (less than 5 millimeters), dental bonding might be your best option. Dental bonding is not permanent and the composite material may stain over time (if you smoke or eat or drink colored foods and liquids), but it is the quickest and cheapest method of correcting gaps in between teeth. If you have discoloration and/or chips in your teeth in addition to gaps, then veneers might be your best option. Veneers are custom-made covers for your teeth so they are similar to dental bonding, but they can provide more dramatic, attractive results. In addition, veneers can't stain as they are made of ceramic and a cosmetic dentist can give you a perfectly adapted smile according to your eyes and facial anatomy. If you have multiple gaps, gaps wider than 5 millimeters, crooked teeth, and you do not want to cover up your existing teeth, then braces might be your best option. Braces straighten your teeth using wires that are attached to your teeth with composite material, much like the material used in dental bonding. If you have multiple gaps that do not exceed 5 millimeters, then Invisalign might be your best option. Invisalign closes gaps and straightens teeth using a series of ultra-thin, clear aligners that you switch out every two weeks. Keep your priorities in mind as you review each option. Refer frequently to the notes that you made when you evaluated your teeth and make sure that the option you choose is compatible with your situation. Make a list of questions and concerns about your preferred treatment. This list will come in handy when you go for your consultation with your dentist. You may be able to find the answers to some of your questions by searching the internet, but your dentist will most likely have the best answers. Schedule an appointment with your dentist. When you make the appointment, explain that you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss options for closing a gap or gaps between your teeth. Bring your notes with you to the appointment. These notes will help you to remember specifically what you want to change about your smile and they may help your dentist make the best recommendation for you. You may also want to write down some questions about your preferred treatment options so that you can remember to ask you dentist during your consultation. Try to be concise and precise about your wishes so your dentist can provide you the exact treatment plans for your needs. Be assertive. If your dentist suggests a treatment plan that does not meet your needs or expectations, speak up! Ask why your dentist has suggested this treatment option over something else. It is possible that your dentist may have a very good reason for suggesting a particular treatment, but you'll never know unless you ask. If you don't agree with your dentist's reasons for recommending a specific plan of treatment, don't feel obligated to accept this option. You can always have a consultation with a different dentist to see if the recommendations are the same. Ask about the procedure and aftercare. If you agree with your dentist's recommendation, now is you time to find out all of the particulars of the procedure and what you will need to do in order to ensure the best outcome. Go to your first treatment appointment. Depending on the treatment option that you and your dentist have decided on, this appointment may be the first of many. Prepare for this appointment as instructed by your dentist and don't forget to ask any questions that you have about your treatment before the procedure begins. Follow your dentist's aftercare instructions to the letter. You may be instructed to avoid or abstain from eating certain foods until your treatment is complete or maybe just for a short period of time. Take this advice seriously because failure to follow these instructions may negatively affect your results and your dentist can easily tell if you didn't do as requested. Enjoy your new smile! After you have completed your treatment, you will have even more to smile about. You may even consider celebrating your new look by having some professional photographs taken. | Gather materials. Inspect your teeth. Measure your gaps. Save your notes. Learn about your options. Keep your priorities in mind as you review each option. Make a list of questions and concerns about your preferred treatment. Schedule an appointment with your dentist. Bring your notes with you to the appointment. Be assertive. Ask about the procedure and aftercare. Go to your first treatment appointment. Follow your dentist's aftercare instructions to the letter. Enjoy your new smile! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Register-a-Vehicle-After-Moving | How to Register a Vehicle After Moving | To register a vehicle after moving, start by visiting the website for your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Then, locate the list of requirements for registering a new vehicle on their website, which may include things like personal identification, proof of ownership, a bill of sale, and an emissions disclosure statement. Then, gather everything you need and fill out a registration application, which you should be able to access and print online. When you're finished with your application, you'll need to visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles and register in person, unless your state allows you to register online. | Contact your new state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Some states may call the regulating agency the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Motor Vehicle Bureau, or some other similar name. Do a quick Internet search for the name of your state and “car registration,” and you should find the information you need to get to their website. For example, if you live in California, you will find the website for the California Department of Motor Vehicles at www.dmv.ca.gov. If you have just moved to New Hampshire, the agency is the Division of Motor Vehicles. In Massachusetts, for example, the office is the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Find out about your deadline. When you move into a new state, you generally must register your car in the new state within a certain time frame. This may be as short as 30 days or less. For example, the website for the Washington State Department of Licensing says that you must register your car in the state within 30 days of moving. In many states, you must get a new driver's license within your new home state either as part of registering the car or before you can register the car. Gather the information and documents you will need to register your vehicle. Each state will have different requirements for registering your vehicle. When you find the website for your new DMV, you should be able to find a list of requirements for registration. Some of the most common requirements include the following: Your identification. You will need to demonstrate some government-issued identification that shows that you match the owner of the vehicle. This may be your driver's license, passport, or some other state-issued identification card. Proof of ownership. You will most definitely need to provide some proof that you are the owner of the vehicle. This is most likely going to be the Title Certificate, although you may be able to present your registration from your previous state. If you still owe money on a loan, the lender probably is holding the certificate of title. You will at least want to check with the DMV on how to proceed in this case. You can probably get a certificate or statement from the lien holder to verify title ownership. Odometer disclosure statement. In some states, you merely need to provide the odometer reading on your own. In other states, you may need to take your vehicle to a state-approved location and have an odometer reading certified. Emissions disclosure statement. Several states, most notably California, require that your car must pass an emissions test before you can register it. Even if you passed such a test in your prior state, you must get a new certification if you move into California. Bill of sale. Particularly if you have purchased your car recently, you may need to show some extra proof of purchase. Get proof that your vehicle is insured. Contact either the DMV or your own insurance company to find out what form of proof is required for a vehicle registration. Your insurance company may have a simple form or certificate that they can send you. You may need to have a particular DMV form stamped by your insurance company. Plan ahead, because getting this paperwork may take a few days. Get your vehicle inspected as required. In some states, you may need a cursory safety inspection, while other states will require a multi-stage inspection that includes both vehicle operation and emissions or smog certification. Find out your state's requirements and leave yourself enough time to get it done. When your car passes each stage of the inspection, you should get a certificate of some sort. Make sure that you have this available for the registration. Print the form or get a copy. If you can access the form online, download and print it at home. If this is not a possibility, you would then need to visit the DMV office to get a registration application form. In either case, make sure that you get the correct form. The form that you need to register a vehicle that is coming in from another state might be different than the form for registering a newly purchased vehicle. If you have questions, call the DMV to ask. For example, if you are registering a vehicle in California, you will need their Form REG 343, which is titled, “Application for Title or Registration.” Fill out the form completely. Read over the form carefully before you begin, to make sure that you complete the portions that apply to you. In some states, a single form will be used for multiple purposes. For example, if you are moving into New York and wish to register your vehicle, the form you use is titled, “Vehicle Registration/Title Application.” The same form is used to register your vehicle, renew or change a registration, replace a lost or damaged registration, title certificate or license plates, get a title, or transfer your license plates. Be sure that you mark the correct boxes. Complete the portions of the form that apply to your registration. If you are completing the form online, you may be able to type your information directly onto the form and then print the completed, typed form. Otherwise, you should print the form and complete it neatly in ink. If you leave out any information, or if your writing is illegible, your application may be denied, delayed, or incorrect. Provide the identifying information about the vehicle. You will need to provide the year, make and model of the car. You will also need to provide the vehicle's complete Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Be careful to provide this accurately. If you make mistakes on the application form, your final registration may include errors. These can be difficult to correct later. You can usually find the VIN on a small plate just under the windshield on the driver's side of the dashboard. Be sure to copy all numbers and letters of the VIN carefully. See if you can register online. In many states, you may be able to apply for registration through the DMV website. This can save you a lengthy visit to the DMV office. In other states, you may be able to begin the process online, but then take care of the rest with a briefer DMV visit. For example, in New York you can use the “E-Z Visit” service. This service will let you begin your application online. As a result, this will reduce the time you need to spend at the registry office. As another example, Pennsylvania will let you renew your registration online, as long as you meet certain qualifications. You will want to check your own state's site to learn your options. Register in person. Find out where the nearest DMV office to your home is located. Most states' websites provide a list of locations. You will want to find the one that is closest or most convenient to you. Some states also allow you to make appointments online. This would reduce your waiting time when you go to register your vehicle. For example, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has an interactive map of the state that illustrates the DMV office locations. When you select the one nearest you, a pop-up box provides you with the address, telephone number and hours of operation for that office. You can also click on a link for directions. Take your completed forms and payment for all required fees to the office. Doublecheck the fee payment. In most states, the registration fee is based on the value of the vehicle that you are registering. You may not be able to plan for the exact amount of the registration fee. Call the office to find out what options you may have for payment. Most DMV offices will accept cash, checks, money orders or credit cards. You should find out which forms are accepted in your new state and try to estimate the amount you will need to pay. For example, the Nevada DMV provides a link on its website for a fee estimate. If you provide your vehicle's VIN, make, model and year, the link can give you an estimate of the registration fee. Be aware that even this link is only an estimate, and the final fee will not be set until you visit the DMV office. Ask how long your registration lasts. Each state sets its own limits for vehicle registration. After a few years, you will need to reapply or at least renew your registration. The renewal process is usually easier and quicker than the initial registration. Many states will allow you to renew your registration on line every year or every 2 years. In Nevada, for example, you can renew your registration online from any computer. You can also quickly renew your registration online in Massachusetts. Receive your new license plates. Some states will give you a temporary registration and mail your plates in 2 to 4 weeks. Other states will have them ready for you immediately. Be sure that you do not leave the DMV office without understanding their process for this. Return your old plates back to the state you moved from. Some states will charge you a fee if you do not return your license plates. New York, for example, requires that you return your old plates when you register the vehicle in a new state. You would need to print and complete the Plate Surrender Application, and then return that completed form with your old plates. Call the DMV or MVA in your old state and find out where to send them. Your old state's agency might also have this information on their website. | Contact your new state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Find out about your deadline. Gather the information and documents you will need to register your vehicle. Get proof that your vehicle is insured. Get your vehicle inspected as required. Print the form or get a copy. Fill out the form completely. Complete the portions of the form that apply to your registration. Provide the identifying information about the vehicle. See if you can register online. Register in person. Doublecheck the fee payment. Ask how long your registration lasts. Receive your new license plates. Return your old plates back to the state you moved from. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Friends-With-a-Stray-Cat | How to Make Friends With a Stray Cat | To make friends with a stray cat, leave strong smelling food, like tuna or canned cat food, in the area where you've seen the cat to encourage it to return. After you've done this for a few days, wait beside the food and see if the cat still comes to eat it. If it does, try sitting down on the ground and moving slightly closer to the food each day so the cat gets accustomed to your presence. Additionally, try engaging in a non-threatening activity, like reading or gardening. Once the cat appears comfortable being near you, hold a treat, like a cube of chicken, in your hand to see if it will eat it. When the cat eats from your hand, try reaching out with the other hand and petting it. | Know what kind of cat you are dealing with. Before you begin to try making friends with a stray cat, make sure you can identify what kind of cat it is. A free-roaming cat has an owner that takes care of it, but allows it to wander around on its own. You should probably not try and befriend a free-roaming cat; if you begin to feed it or let it in your home, it might abandon its owner. Other cats are strays. A stray cat is one that formerly had an owner, but the owner no longer takes care of it, or abandoned the cat. Stray cats may roam widely, taking food and shelter where it can find it. Some stray cats may be willing to make friends with you, or let you pick them up and take them to an animal shelter. Some cats are feral, meaning that they have spent all or nearly all of their lives outdoors and without any human care. Many feral cats were born and raised this way, returning to a nearly-wild state, preferring to stay away from people. Some feral cats are willing to make friends with you, but generally it is difficult to domesticate them. Try to note the cat's condition. Because it has spent time outdoors and without regular care, your stray cat might be hungry, sick, scared, or injured. Some stray cats may be friendly, walk right up to you, and allow you to pick them up and inspect them. If the cat runs away or acts scared, however, you will have to entice it to stay around. Offer food. Letting a stray cat know that food is available is one of the most effective ways to start making friends with it. Pay attention to where you've seen the stray cat, and leave some food in the area. Strong-smelling foods like tuna or canned cat food make good choices. Leave food in the same spot everyday; this will make the cat come back and expect to treat. Observe when the cat comes and eats the food you have left outside for it. After a few days, wait near the food, and see if the cat will come and eat while you are within sight. Don't try to pet or pick up the cat at first. Approach the cat. Try waiting near the cat as it eats over the course of a few days. Once it seems very familiar with your presence, you can try to approach it. Move slowly, and sit on the ground. This will make you look less intimidating. Try this again and again for several days, moving a little closer to the food each time. Avoid confrontational behavior. Avoid staring the cat in the eye or trying to reach for it when you first see it. These gestures can be perceived as threatening, especially for cats that are not used to being around people. Act calmly and quietly, and focus on getting the cat to trust you. Play hard to get. If your stray cat is comfortable enough to let you be near it, pretend like you are ignoring it. Let it see you engaged in a non-threatening activity, such as reading or gardening. If you are lucky, the stray cat will observe you and learn that you are also not threatening. Leave treats on the ground. Once the stray cat is used to you leaving food for it to eat, you can also try scattering treats (such as tuna flakes or cubes of chicken) on the ground between you and the cat. Entice the cat to eat from your hand. If the cat comes near you, try holding a treat in your hand. The stray may feel comfortable to eat out of your hand, or it may not. In either case, do not attempt to pet or pick up the cat at first. Be patient; it takes time, sometimes weeks or more, for a stray or feral cat to begin to trust you. You can also try letting the cat lick a small amount of soft or wet food from your finger. Try to pet the cat. Once the stray cat becomes used to eating out of your hand, you can begin to try touching it. While feeding it a treat with one hand, calmly try to gently touch the cat with your other hand. If the cat acts startled and moves away, do not try to grab it. Wait a little while and try and try again. If the cat will not let you touch it at first, just try to bring your hand close to it. Repeat this technique over and over again, bringing your hand a little closer to the cat each time, until it lets you touch it. Offer the cat toys if it will not let you touch it. Some stray cats will respond more quickly to play that to being touched or held. If your stray cat does not seem to want to be touched, try playing with it using toy such as a laser pointer, wind-up mouse, or wand toy with feathers, ribbons, or other objects attached to it. If your cat plays with the toy, even if it won't let you touch it or pick it up, it is a sign that it is growing accustomed to you. Don’t touch an animal that seems fearful or upset. Stray and feral cats might be very conditioned to defend themselves. If yours reacts negatively when you try to touch or approach it, leave it alone and try later. A scared cat can become violent, and trying to handle it will only make it distrust you. Signs that a cat is scared or upset include: Tail held straight up and stiff Ears folded back Paw raised, with or without exposed claws ”Striking” with its paw Low meowing or growling Hissing or spitting Hair raised on end Arched back Determine if the cat has an owner. If you think that the cat is a stray, you might try to reconnect it with its owner. If the cat has a collar or tag, check and see if it has a name, address, or phone number on it. A vet can check to see if there is a microchip implanted in the cat that stores information about the owner. If you can't find any information about the owner, you can also try posting an advertisement with the cat's picture at various places in your neighborhood, local animal shelters, online classifieds, etc. in hopes that the owner will track down the cat. Take the cat with you. If you are trying to take the cat home with you, to a vet, or to an animal shelter, you will need to entice it into a cat carrier. After the cat has become used to you leaving food out for it, try the following technique: Set the carrier near the food with the door open. Place food near the carrier to draw the cat near it. Place food nearer and nearer the carrier, if the cat will move closer to it. Place food inside the carrier and wait for the cat to step in and begin eating it. Once the cat is fully inside, close the door quickly but gently. Carefully carry the cat to its destination. Take the cat to the vet. If you decide to “adopt” a stray cat, take it to a vet as soon as possible so that it can be checked for fleas, ticks, worms, and other parasites, have its general health assessed, and receive any vaccines that it needs. Consider practicing trap and release. Most animal advocacy groups recommend the policy of TNR (trap, neuter, and release) for feral and stray cats. This is considered a humane way of controlling stray cat populations. You can ask your vet or an animal shelter to spay or neuter your cat, and then release it back outdoors once it has recovered. You can even continue to feed the stray. Help your cat adjust to life in a new home. If you decide to permanently adopt the stray and invite it into you home, you will need to be patient and understanding; returning to indoor life can be difficult for many former strays. Keep the cat in a quiet room at first, where it won't be disturbed. Make sure that the cat has food, water, a place to bed, and a litter box. You might need to use garden soil in the litter box at first, then a mix of soil and litter, before using just litter. This will help the stray adjust to the texture. Visit the cat regularly. Offer it treats, talk to it soothingly, and try playing with some toys. Pet the cat if it will let you, but leave it alone and come back later if it acts scared or aloof. There is a good chance that the cat will feel comfortable soon, and be ready to leave its room and explore your home. Be patient, however, as the cat might get startled and hide in various places, scratch furniture, or knock things over as it gets used to its new surroundings. | Know what kind of cat you are dealing with. Try to note the cat's condition. Offer food. Approach the cat. Avoid confrontational behavior. Play hard to get. Leave treats on the ground. Entice the cat to eat from your hand. Try to pet the cat. Offer the cat toys if it will not let you touch it. Don’t touch an animal that seems fearful or upset. Determine if the cat has an owner. Take the cat with you. Take the cat to the vet. Consider practicing trap and release. Help your cat adjust to life in a new home. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Yourself-to-Read | How to Teach Yourself to Read | To teach yourself to read, start by using a phonics program online or from your local library to help you learn the letter sounds on their own and in combination. Then, practice reading with materials that interest you, such as newspapers or magazine articles. Additionally, try reading out loud to help you sound out words and get you familiar with the words more quickly than reading silently. If you can, set aside time to read every day, which will help build your vocabulary and improve your reading skills. | Begin with the alphabet. The alphabet is where reading begins. The 26 letters that make up the English alphabet are used to form all of the words in the English language, so this is the place to start. There are several ways to get familiar with the alphabet; pick the one that suits you and your learning style. Sing it. It may seem silly, but there's a reason so many people have learned the alphabet by singing the “alphabet song”--it works. The melody aids in memorization and the song as a whole gives learners a picture of the entire alphabet and the relationship between letters. You can listen to the alphabet song online or get someone you know to sing and record it for you so that you can listen to it over and over again as you learn it. Feel it. If you're a hands-on learner, consider buying sandpaper letters. Look at a letter and then close your eyes, trace your fingers over the letter and repeat the name of the letter and its sound. When you're ready, pick your finger up off the sandpaper and write the letter in the air. Move it around. Pick up a set of alphabet magnets as a way of learning the individual letters as well as the way they're sequenced in the alphabet. Later, you can reuse these letters to practice forming words. Walk it out. If you have the room, try using an alphabet mat as a learning tool. Say each letter and its sound as you step on that letter on your mat. Have someone call out letters or sounds at random and step on the correct corresponding letter. Get your whole body (voice included) involved by singing the alphabet song and making up a dance as you step your way through the alphabet. Distinguish vowels from consonants. There are five vowels in the alphabet: a, e, i, o, u; the rest of the letters are called consonants. You make vowel sounds in your throat with the help of your tongue and mouth while you form consonants by using your tongue and mouth to control the flow of your breath. Vowels can be spoken alone, but consonants can't. For example, the letter A is simply "a" but B is actually "bee," C is "see," D is "dee" and so on. Use phonics. Phonics is all about relationships, specifically the relationships between letters and sounds in a language. For example, when you learn that the letter C sounds like "sa" or "ka" or that “tion” sounds like "shun", you're learning phonics. Find an approach that makes sense to you. Phonics is typically taught in one of two ways: by what's called a see-and-say approach in which you learn to read whole words or a syllable approach in which you learn how to sound out different letter combinations and put them together to form words. To learn phonics, you must hear the sounds of the syllables and/or words. To do that, you need to find an online program, purchase or borrow a DVD from your local library or work with a family member, friend, tutor or instructor who can help you learn the sounds created by various letter combinations and what those look like written out. Recognize punctuation marks. It's important to know what common punctuation marks indicate when you're reading because they can offer information about sentence meanings. Comma (,). When you see a comma, you're meant to pause or slightly hesitate when you're reading. Period (.). A period indicates the end of a sentence. When you reach a period, come to a complete stop and take a deep breath before continuing to read. Question mark (?). When you ask a question, your voice goes up. When you see ? at the end of sentence, a question is being asked, so make sure your voice rises when you're reading. Exclamation point (!). This mark is used to emphasize an important point or to grab attention. When you read a sentence that ends with !, be sure to sound excited or to strongly emphasize the words. Choose meaningful reading material. Since the best readers read with a purpose, it makes sense for you to begin with materials you want to or need to read in your everyday life. These can include things such as short and simple newspapers and magazine articles, work memos, schedules and medical instructions. Read aloud. The best way to get familiar with the words on the page is to say them out loud. Working with a teaching partner, "sound out" unfamiliar words and use the pictures, verbal explanations and context to figure our the meaning of the new words. Make time to read. Reading often and for sustained, uninterrupted periods of time will help you develop vocabulary and become a more proficient reader. Set aside specific amounts of time each day to devote to reading. Keep track of what you read and for how long by creating a reading log. "Attack" the words. Word-attack strategies can help you figure out the meaning and pronunciation of unfamiliar words by taking on those words piece by piece and coming at them from different angles. Look for picture clues. Check out the photos, illustrations or other visuals on the page. Explore what's in them (people, places, objects, actions) that might make sense in the sentence. Sound out the word. Starting with the first letter, say each letter-sound out loud slowly. Then repeat the sounds, blending them together to form the word and considering if the word makes sense in the sentence. Chunk it up. Look at the word and see if you can pick out any sound/symbols, prefixes, suffixes, endings or base words that you already know. Read each "chunk" by itself and then try blending the chunks together and sound out the word. For example, if you know that "pre" means "before" and "view" means "to look at," you could figure out that "preview" means "to look at ahead of time" if you approached the word by breaking it up into those two chunks. Look for connections. Consider whether the unfamiliar word bears any resemblance to a word you might already know. Ask yourself if it's a chunk or a form of the unfamiliar word. You could also try using the known word in the sentence to see if it makes sense; it could be that the meanings of the two words are close enough for understanding. Reread. Go back over the sentence again. Try substituting different words for the word you don't know and see if any of your ideas make sense. Keep reading. Rather than getting stuck on a word you don't know, read past it and look for more clues. If the word is used again in the text, compare that sentence to the first and brainstorm as to what word might make sense in both. Rely on prior knowledge. Take into account what you know about the topic of the book, paragraph or sentence. Based on your knowledge of the subject matter, is there a word that might make sense in the sentence? Make predictions. Look at the pictures, table of contents, chapter headings, maps, diagrams and other features of your book. Then, based on what you saw, write down what you think the book will be about, what kinds of information might be included. As you read, keep updating your predictions based on what comes up in the text. Ask questions. After reviewing the title, chapter headings, images and other information in the book, write down some questions you might have or things you're now curious about. Try to answer these questions as you read and write down the answers you find. If you're left with questions, think about whether you could find those answers from some other source. Visualize. Think of the story you're reading as though it were a movie. Get a good mental image of the characters and the setting and try to see the story unfolding in time and space. Identify and describe what's happening by making sketches, diagrams or cartoon-style grids. Make connections. Ask yourself if there's anything about the story you can relate to. Do any of the characters remind you of someone you know? Have you had similar experiences? Have you learned some of the concepts discussed in the book at school, home or through your own life experiences? Does the style of the story resemble a style you've read before or a movie or television show you've seen? Write down any similarities you come up with and use them to help with your understanding of the text. Retell the story. One helpful way to ensure that something you've read makes sense to you is to talk through it with someone else. Once you've finished a paragraph, article, short story or chapter, sum up in your own words what it was about. Hearing yourself say it out loud and discovering if the person on the receiving end has questions you can or can't answer can point out any gaps in your understanding and what you might need to reread for greater clarity. Access LINCS. The Literacy Information and Communication Service is an online resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. By accessing their website, you can see a list of literacy programs in your specific geographic area. Many of the programs listed are free, but you need to read the details of each listing to be sure. Contact your local library. Many libraries offer free literacy programs that pair learners or small groups of learners with a trained literacy tutor. These programs are free of charge and are typically offered on an ongoing basis so you don't have to wait for a certain start date to begin instruction. Explore community-based services. Check with your local YMCA, church, public school or other community group to see if they sponsor a literacy program or if they can pair you with someone who'd be willing to help you improve your reading skills. Get tested for learning disabilities. It could be that you've had difficulties learning to read because you suffer from a learning disability. For example, dyslexia, a learning disability characterized by difficulty in interpreting spatial relationships or integrating auditory and visual information, is the most common learning disability and affects about 10 percent of the population. Having a learning disability does not mean you won't be able to learn how to read, it just means you may have to use special tools or customize the process by which you learn. | Begin with the alphabet. Distinguish vowels from consonants. Use phonics. Recognize punctuation marks. Choose meaningful reading material. Read aloud. Make time to read. "Attack" the words. Reread. Keep reading. Rely on prior knowledge. Make predictions. Ask questions. Visualize. Make connections. Retell the story. Access LINCS. Contact your local library. Explore community-based services. Get tested for learning disabilities. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-a-Collie | How to Identify a Collie | To identify a collie, check for a medium-sized build. For example, adult male collies tend to be about 24-26 inches tall and weigh 55 to 90 pounds. Additionally, look for the collie's long, distinctive head shape, which appears wedge-shaped or triangular when viewed from the front. You should also watch for a long body with a broad chest and muscular legs. To spot a rough collie, look for a long coat except on the head and legs. Smooth collies have short fur all over. Check the dog's coat for common collie colors, such as a combination of tan, white, and black. | Check if the dog is medium-sized. Collies are considered medium-sized dogs, with forelegs and hind legs that are shorter than larger dogs. Female Collies can range from 22 to 24 inches (56 to 61 cm) and male Collies can range to 24 to 26 inches (61 to 66 cm) when they are full grown. Female Collies are often smaller than males and tend to weigh 50–70 pounds (23–32 kg). Male Collies can weigh 55–90 pounds (25–41 kg). Look at the shape of the dog’s head. Collies have a distinct head shape. Their heads will appear in the shape of a wedge or a triangle when you face them straight on. Their heads may appear a little smaller than their bodies, and will be covered in a thick coat of fur. Collies are known for their intelligent, piercing eyes and refined-looking head, known as the “Collie expression.” Notice their well-proportioned body. Collies will have a body that is long and well-proportioned. They will have a deep, wide chest and sloping shoulders. Their hocks, or legs, will be muscular to indicate speed and grace. As herding dogs, Collies are built to be strong and firm. They are known for their ability to run and move with dexterity. Look at the texture and length of the dog’s coat. Collies come in two different varieties, the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie. The coat of the Smooth Collie is short, dense, and flat. The Rough Collie has a long, well-fitted coat that feels a bit more harsh. The Rough Collie has a thick long coat all over it body, save its head and legs. Both varieties have a soft, profuse undercoat. Keep in mind in the United States, many breeders will cross the two varieties together. But in England, the two varieties are considered separate breeds and cannot be interbred. Note the coloring of the dog’s coat. Collies are known for the distinct coloring on their coats. There are four different colorings, with the most common being the sable color. The sable coloring can range from light golden tan to dark mahogany. The second most common coloring is the tricolor, which is a mix of black, white, and tan. The third most common coloring is Blue Merle, which can range from a pale, silvery blue to a darker gray, with or without black body spots. The fourth most common coloring is white. A white Collie may have a body that is mostly white, with tricolor or blue markings, usually on their head. Check for other breed markings on the dog. Nearly all Collies, no matter the variety of coloring, will have certain breed markings on their coat. They will have a white collar, chest, legs, feet, and tail tip. They may also have facial markings that are white, called a blaze. Notice if the dog is energetic and active. Collies are known for their intelligence and their energetic nature. They are an active breed and enjoy running in the woods, going for walks, or playing outside. In general, Smooth Collies can be more energetic, athletic, and agile than Rough Collies, who are often calmer and more reserved. Collies bond quickly with their owners and will be very protective of them. They may be dignified and reserved around strangers, but will soon warm up to them. Collies often form a strong connection with their owners and are highly trainable, making them ideal family dogs. Listen for any barking or “singing. ” Because Collies were originally herding dogs, they can be quite vocal and communicative. They may make a range of sounds, from barking to grunts to “singing,” where the Collie makes noises that sound like someone singing. Collies also have noticeable facial expressions, from cocking their head to one side and puffing their cheeks. They are often expressive around their owner, with a tendency to nod, smile, and nudge people or objects with their nose. Check if the dog gets along with other dogs. Due to their shepherding heritage, Collies are known to get along with other dogs and animals in the same space or household. Collies are used to shepherding multiple dogs together and communicating with other animals. This breed tends to function well with a household of animals and is often tolerant of other pets. Ask your vet if your dog is a Collie. If you can't tell what breed of collie your dog is, ask your vet if they can tell. They may be able to pick up on behaviors and details of your dog's appearance that have escaped your notice. They may even run a blood test for even more accurate results. Ask for pedigree papers from the breeder. If you purchased your dog from a breeder, they should provide you with a registration certificate that tells you who your dog's dam (mother) and sire (father) are. The breeder may also give you pedigree papers, which will show your dog's family tree for the last few generations. These papers should tell you what breed your dog is. Do an at-home DNA test. You can buy dog DNA test kits online or at a pet supply store. You'll take a cheek swab sample from your dog and send it away to a lab. There, your dog's DNA will be compared against a database of dog breeds; the larger the database, the more accurate the results. The company will send you a breakdown of your dog's pedigree so you can figure out what kind of Collie your dog is. | Check if the dog is medium-sized. Look at the shape of the dog’s head. Notice their well-proportioned body. Look at the texture and length of the dog’s coat. Note the coloring of the dog’s coat. Check for other breed markings on the dog. Notice if the dog is energetic and active. Listen for any barking or “singing. Check if the dog gets along with other dogs. Ask your vet if your dog is a Collie. Ask for pedigree papers from the breeder. Do an at-home DNA test. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Grout-Off-Tile | How to Clean Grout Off Tile | To clean grout haze off your tiles, dip a large tile sponge in a bucket of water, wring it out, and use it to scrub your tiles in a single direction. For stubborn grout haze, mop the floor with a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 quart of warm water. Then, let the tiles dry completely before sealing the floor. If the grout is already dry, apply vinegar and water to it and let it sit for 1 hour. Then, scrape the grout off your tiles and rinse the area with water to remove the vinegar. | Clean the haze with a damp tile sponge. Dip a large yellow tile sponge in a bucket of water and wring it out. Scrub the tile in a single direction, rather than moving back and forth or cleaning in a circular motion. Rinse and wring the sponge frequently, and change out the water in the bucket when it gets dirty. Use grout haze remover if water doesn't work. Pick up grout haze remover from your local hardware store or tile supply store. Put the remover on a clean cloth or rag, and wipe the tiles with it. Mop the floor with vinegar and water as an alternative to haze remover. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of distilled vinegar with 1 quart (0.946 L) of warm water. Mop the floor with this solution. Use a scrub brush on stubborn areas. Don't rinse the vinegar solution off the floor. Allow it to dry completely before sealing. Don't use vinegar on marble, travertine, or granite. Remove hardened grout from your tile with sugar. Stir white sugar in warm water in a ratio of 1 part sugar to 10 parts warm water. Sponge this mixture into the hardened grout. Leave it alone for an hour, then scrape the grout off your tile. Keep applying sugar water as needed while you scrape to keep the tile moist. Adjust the ratio of sugar to warm water until you have an effective mixture. Alternatively, you can apply undiluted vinegar to hardened grout to make it easier to scrape the grout off of your tile. Once the grout is removed, rinse the entire area thoroughly with plain water to remove all of the vinegar. Sand it lightly if all else fails. Use a dry scrubbing sponge or cheesecloth to rub down the tile. Rub the tile until the haze is removed. After you lightly sand the grout off of the tile with the cheesecloth or sponge, vacuum up all of the dust before sealing. Try this method on grout that has not set for long. Don't wet the sponge or cheesecloth or the dust from the grout will stick to the floor again. Avoid using commercial detergents. Though you may be tempted to spray a commercial cleaning product on the tile to remove grout haze, this could actually make the problem worse. Not only can it create additional haze, it may discolor the grout between the tiles. Use a paste of baking soda and bleach. Make a thick paste from ¾ cup (180 mL) of baking soda with ¼ cup (60 mL) of bleach. Use an old toothbrush or nylon scrubbing brush to work the paste into the grout. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub it. Allow it to sit another 15 minutes, then wipe it off with a damp rag. Frequently rinse out the rag with water as you're wiping off the paste. Wear gloves when cleaning with bleach. Open a window or wear a respirator to protect your nose, throat, and lungs. Protect your eyes with safety glasses. Wear old clothes that can get bleached. Try baking soda and vinegar. Rub baking soda into the grout with your finger. Make it stickier by combining water with the baking soda until you have a thick paste. Next, fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray vinegar all over the baking soda. Let the mixture bubble for a few minutes, then scrub it with an old toothbrush or nylon scrubbing brush. Wipe up the solution with a damp rag that you rinse frequently. Scrub it with coarse salt. Wet the grout and surrounding tiles with a damp sponge. Sprinkle it with a coarse salt, then scrub the salt into the grout with a toothbrush or nylon scrubbing brush. Allow the salt to dry overnight, then rinse it off in the morning. Scrub with any coarse salt, even Epsom salts. You can use the same method to clean your grout with Borax. Put a damp scrub brush in a bowl of the Borax and use that to scrub the grout. Clean and lighten the grout with cream of tartar. Combine two teaspoons (9.85 mL) of cream of tartar with enough lemon juice to create a liquidy paste. Rub the paste into the grout, then scrub it with a toothbrush or nylon scrubbing brush. Rinse the paste off with plenty of water. Use water if you don't have lemon juice. Steam clean your grout. Rent a steam cleaner if you don't own one. Use the steam cleaner to remove mold and mildew from your grout. The combination of high heat and pressure are very effective. Don't use a steam cleaner on enamel or anodized surfaces. Use oxygen bleach. Mix 2 cups (480 mL) of powdered oxygen bleach with 1 gallon (7.57 L) of hot water. Scrub the water and bleach into the grout for 5 minutes. Next, leave the bleach on the grout for an hour. Finally, scrub for another 5 minutes and rinse clean. Try muriatic acid. Slowly pour 1 cup (240 mL) muriatic acid into 1 gallon (7.57 L) of water in a bucket. Next, apply the water and acid to the grout with a paint brush and wait a few minutes. Rinse the acid completely off the grout and then neutralize any remaining acid by applying a solution of 1 cup (240 mL) ammonia and 1 gallon (7.57 L) of water. Rinse off the ammonia solution thoroughly. Look for hydrochloric acid if you can't find muriatic acid. They are the same thing. Don't add water to the acid or you might cause a dangerous reaction. Clean it with hydrogen peroxide. Combine equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle. Spray this on the grout and let it stand for 15 minutes. Finally, wipe it off. For stubborn stains, keep the solution on overnight. Don't mix hydrogen peroxide with bleach. Try bleach cleaner. Pick up a household cleaner that contains bleach. Spray it directly on the grout and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, use warm water to mop the entire floor. Be sure to wet and wring out your mop as many times as is necessary. Remove all cleaners from your floor. Prevent any cleaning solutions from settling in grout on your floor by vacuuming and mopping to thoroughly remove cleaners. Try using a shop vacuum instead of mopping. To do this, put water on your floor and vacuum it up with the shop vac. Seal it. Every couple of years, maintain your bathroom and kitchen grout and tiles with a sealant. Clean the grout first, make sure it is completely dry, then apply a sealant. Consult with your local hardware store about the right kind of sealant for the tiles you own. Prevent mold and mildew. Wipe down and dry the tiles in your bathroom and kitchen whenever they are damp, steamy, or wet. This will slow the growth of mold. Also keep your kitchen and bathroom doors and windows open, or use a humidifier or exhaust fan to reduce damp and steam in rooms with tiles. | Clean the haze with a damp tile sponge. Use grout haze remover if water doesn't work. Mop the floor with vinegar and water as an alternative to haze remover. Remove hardened grout from your tile with sugar. Sand it lightly if all else fails. Avoid using commercial detergents. Use a paste of baking soda and bleach. Try baking soda and vinegar. Scrub it with coarse salt. Clean and lighten the grout with cream of tartar. Steam clean your grout. Use oxygen bleach. Try muriatic acid. Clean it with hydrogen peroxide. Try bleach cleaner. Remove all cleaners from your floor. Seal it. Prevent mold and mildew. |
https://www.wikihow.health/Prevent-Tinnitus | How to Prevent Tinnitus | You can prevent tinnitus by moving away from sources of loud, blaring noise that cause the condition, such as speakers at a concert or jackhammers on a construction site. If you're not able to move away from the noise, try wearing earplugs or ear muffs to dampen the sound and protect your ears. You should also remember to turn down the sound on your music device, since listening to excessively loud music through ear buds can damage your hearing. Besides loud noises, earwax buildup can cause tinnitus, so talk to your doctor to see if you need your ears cleaned. | Move away from blaring sounds. The most common cause of tinnitus is damage to the sensory hair cells in the inner ear from exposure to loud noises. Moving yourself away from the center of blaring sounds such as at concerts or sporting events can help prevent damage to your ears that causes tinnitus. Avoid placing yourself close to any device that is blaring noise. Sounds higher 85 decibels can harm your hearing. For example, if you at a concert, don't stand right next to speakers. If you are in the street with a lot of construction, stand as far away from jackhammers or other loud equipment as you can. Likewise, if your partner is mowing the lawn, stay indoors. Let your ears rest occasionally. Do something that doesn't involve loud noises such as hiking or biking in a park. Use hearing protection. In some cases, you may not be able to move away from loud noises such as a shotgun firing or a concert. Wearing protective hearing devices to dampen sound can protect your hearing and prevent tinnitus. Buy earplugs or earmuffs to for any occasion in which you'll be exposed to loud noises. Be aware that if you use chain saws, are a musician, use loud machinery in industry, or shoot firearms, you should always wear hearing protection that covers your entire ear. Protect children's ears in the same way as you would your own. Earmuffs are often an easier option for children than earplugs. Turn down the volume. Any device that emits sound can harm your hearing. Keeping sound at a reasonable level can minimize your risk for tinnitus. Select a volume on electronics such as TVs, video games, laptops, and tablets at the lowest sound possible. Set the volume of personal listening devices, such as a cell phone, MP3 player, or anything that requires headphones, at a conservative level. No one else should hear what you're listening to. Be aware that ear-buds are more likely to contribute to tinnitus and hearing loss than other headphone models. Consider getting a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, which can help you listen at a low volume. Look into quieter electronics. If you're on the market for new electronics and personal devices, see if you can find out decibel levels as you consider your options. In fact, many new models have a label with decibel ratings. Buy the lowest rating you can find to prevent tinnitus. Ask personnel at stores if they know about the lowest decibel ratings available for the product you want. Many companies also include this information on their websites. Get regular checkups. Seeing your doctor at least once a year protects your overall health. Keeping yourself healthy will promote good ear health, but if you are concerned about hearing loss or tinnitus, tell your doctor to pay special attention to your ears. This may identify conditions that cause tinnitus. Schedule an appointment with your regular doctor or see an otolaryngologist, which is also called an ENT — ear, nose, and throat doctor. Tinnitus can be caused by the following: depression, insomnia, vascular abnormalities, conductive hearing loss due to outer ear or middle ear disease, and drug toxicity. It is important to address any underlying problems that may be lead to tinnitus. Ask your doctor to check your cardiovascular health. Blood vessel disorders such as high blood pressure can lead to tinnitus. Vascular tinnitus can be caused by an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), which is a tangle of blood vessels that are poorly formed and poorly functioning. Be aware that getting early and proper diagnosis and treatment for the following conditions can also help prevent tinnitus: ear and sinus infections, brain tumors, positional vertigo, thyroid abnormalities, Ménière's disease. Take supplements. Just as certain nutrients help protect your eyes and heart, there are some vitamins and antioxidants that may protect hair cells and your cochlea. Taking supplements such as magnesium and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) may minimize your risk of hearing loss and prevent tinnitus. Get the antioxidants N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) and Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) at your local pharmacy or health food store. They can protect your cochlea from loud noise and may even reduce damage after you hearing a loud noise. Make sure to follow dosing directions to avoid toxicity. Take a daily multivitamin with magnesium and vitamins A, E, and C. These vitamins can protect the hair cells of your inner ear from damage, which contributes to tinnitus. Avoid taking megadoses of these vitamins, which can harm your health. You can also consider getting these vitamins from foods in your diet. Decrease fatigue and stress. Although noise is the primary cause of tinnitus, fatigue and stress can also contribute to tinnitus. Making sure that you get enough rest and managing the stress in your life may prevent you from getting tinnitus. Try to keep a flexible schedule that gives you time to relax or get away from stress. Stay away or remove yourself from stressful situations. If you can't, relax yourself by taking deep breaths. Get seven to nine hours of sleep every night to reduce fatigue and allow your body to heal from the day. Take a 30 minute break during the day, during which you can reduce fatigue and stress. . Remove earwax Too much earwax can block your ear canal and cause tinnitus. Keeping your ears free of wax buildup can not only prevent tinnitus but also hearing loss. Don't clean your ears too often, however, because some wax helps keep your ears healthy. Wipe the outside of your ear and outer ear canal with a soft, moist cloth or paper tissue. You can also use an over-the-counter earwax removal drops to remove wax. Never put anything in your ear! Stay away from cotton swabs (Q-tips) or other tools to remove wax. These can cause serious harm to your ears and hearing. Have your doctor remove excessive wax buildup. Find alternative medications. Over 200 drugs are considered ototoxic, which means they can damage your hearing and cause tinnitus. Avoiding these medications for prolonged periods or finding alternatives may minimize your risk for developing tinnitus. Talk to your doctor about substituting the following drugs to prevent to minimize tinnitus: Antibiotics such as polymyxin, erythromycin, vancomycin, neomycin Cancer medications such as mechlorethamine and vincristine Diuretics or water pills such as bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, or furosemide Antidepressants such as paroxetine, sertraline, amitriptyline Quinine for malaria Aspirin | Move away from blaring sounds. Use hearing protection. Turn down the volume. Look into quieter electronics. Get regular checkups. Take supplements. Decrease fatigue and stress. . Find alternative medications. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Tuberculosis-Skin-Test | How to Read a Tuberculosis Skin Test | To read a tuberculosis skin test, start by going to the doctor for a test, which involves an injection that will cause a welt on your arm. If the welt is a soft bump, the results are likely negative. However, if it's a hard, dense, raised formation, the results may be positive. Regardless of your results, make sure to return to your doctor within 48 to 72 hours after the initial injection to have your results interpreted. | Go to your doctor for the tuberculosis skin test. You will be given an injection of a purified protein derivative into the inner forearm that will result in a 6-10 mm welt that will disappear within a few hours. Leave your arm uncovered. Do not place a bandage over the site of the test for the required 48 to 72 hours. You can wash and dry your arm carefully. You also should not scratch or rub the test area on your arm. This can cause redness or swelling that may cause the results to be misread. You can apply a cold washcloth on your arm if it is itchy. Return to your doctor. The test must be read within 48-72 hours. If you do not come back within 72 hours, the test is considered invalid and will have to be repeated. Find and mark the induration. Use your fingertips to find the induration. This is a hard, dense, raised formation with definite borders. If there is a firm bump, use a pen to mark the widest edges of the induration on the forearm. The only part that is important for your test results is the hard bump. The reddened area or any slight swelling does not count towards the size of the induration. You cannot always see the induration. You must find the induration with your fingertips. Measure the induration. The test site may be red, but that does not mean you have TB. You have to measure the induration. This induration is measured across your forearm in millimeters. Use a ruler with millimeter measurements. Place the edge of the ruler with "0" on the left edge of the raised bump where you marked it with a pen. Look where the mark made on the right side of the bump falls on the ruler. If the mark is between two different lines, use the lower measurement. Determine if the individual is in the high-risk group. An induration of 5mm or more is categorized as positive in individuals in the high-risk group. This group includes people who have: HIV received organ transplants been immunosuppressed for various reasons recent contact with a TB positive person chest x-ray consistent with old healed TB end stages of renal (kidney) disease Determine if the individual is in the moderate-risk group. An induration of 10mm or more is categorized as positive in people in the moderate-risk group. This includes people who: immigrated recently from a country with widespread TB use injection drugs work in healthcare settings, prisons, nursing homes, or other similar areas have clinical conditions that put them at risk, like diabetes, leukemia, low body weight are children under age 4 are children and adolescents exposed to high-risk adults Look for a large induration for everyone else. For those not in the high or moderate-risk group, an induration of 15mm or more is considered positive. This includes all individuals, regardless of any risk factors they might have. The test is also considered positive if there are blisters present, even if there is little swelling. Look for a negative result. If there is no firm bump, the result is negative. If there is soft swelling or redness, but no noticeable hardened bump that can be felt at the site, it is a negative. Even if you believe your skin test is negative, you must return to the doctor to have it professionally read. | Go to your doctor for the tuberculosis skin test. Leave your arm uncovered. Return to your doctor. Find and mark the induration. Measure the induration. Determine if the individual is in the high-risk group. Determine if the individual is in the moderate-risk group. Look for a large induration for everyone else. Look for a negative result. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Fingerprints | How to Take Fingerprints | To take someone's fingerprints, start by having them wash and dry their hands to get rid of any dirt or grease on the fingers. Once their hands are dry, hold the base of their thumb and roll it over an ink pad to cover their whole fingertip. Then, roll their thumb onto a fingerprint card in the space for their thumb. If you don't have a fingerprint card, download one from the internet and print it out. After you've done their thumb, repeat the process with each of their fingers. Finally, press all 4 of their fingers into the ink and press their fingers onto the card at the same time. | Set up the fingerprint card. You can print fingerprint cards from free online images. Try this one used by the FBI and other US agencies. Position the card on a special stand, or just weigh it down with a heavy object to stop it sliding. If you are taking fingerprints for an official purpose, you may need to find a fingerprint card you are authorized to use. Even if your agency is authorized to use the card linked above, it should order it using these instructions on the FBI website. Decide on a fingerprint method. There are several different methods used to take fingerprints. Here are a few of the most common: Ink pad: Find a special "porelon pad" for fingerprinting. Use as a normal ink pad, no preparation needed. Glass plate: Dab printer's ink or fingerprint ink onto a glass or metal plate, fixed in place. Roll ink out with a rubber ink roller until thin and even. Inkless pad: Special pads are available that will not stain fingers. Check the instructions in case special preparation is needed. Fingerprint scanner: An electronic device. The process is not covered here; check product instructions, and confirm that the device is approved by your agency. Clean hands. Have the subject wash and dry his hands to remove dirt that may obscure the fingerprints. Check the hands for lint from the towel, and ask him to brush it off if present. If soap and water are not available, rubbing alcohol is the second best option. Have the subject sign the card before washing his hands. Use blue or black ink. Grasp the subject's hand. The subject does not fill out his own fingerprint card. You, the person tasked with taking the fingerprint, will do it for him. Hold the base of the subjects thumb, tucking unused fingers under your hand. With your other hand, hold the subject's finger just below the nail tip, and at the third joint. Keep the wrist level with the hand. If possible, move the fingerprint station to a height level with the subject's arm. Ask the subject to look away if they seem to be "helping;" the fingerprint will be more clear if only you are controlling the hand. Roll the right thumb over the ink. Your goal is to ink the thumb from the top of the pad to ¼ inch (6mm) below the first joint. Place the side of the thumb nearest the forefinger onto the ink, right against the nail. Roll the thumb past the thumbprint, and continue until it touches the opposite nail. You can remember the direction as "awkward to comfortable" — try it out and you'll see what this means. Roll the thumb over the fingerprint card. Find the area of the card labeled for the right thumb. Roll the inked thumb over the card, in the same direction as you did before. Roll at a steady pace, and with light pressure only. Changing speed or pressure can cause smudges. Roll one time only, not back and forth. Lift the thumb up directly when finished, to avoid smudging. Repeat with remaining fingers. Put your hands together with the backs facing you, then turn them palm up. This is the direction your fingers should rotate — which still follows the "awkward to comfortable" rule. Apart from this change, the process is the same as the thumb. Record the fingerprints of the right hand, then the left thumb, then the fingers on the left hand. If using an inking plate, you need to roll out the ink again before each finger. Otherwise, you may end up with an image of two overlapping prints. Make sure you have each fingerprint in the correct box of the card, that the impression goes from nail edge to nail edge, and down to ¼ inch (6mm) below the first joint. Let the subject wipe off ink from the right hand before moving on to the left. Take the plain impressions. Your fingerprint card should have two additional spaces for thumbs, and two large spaces marked "four fingers simultaneously." In the same order as above (right thumb, right hand, left thumb, left hand), ink the fingerprint and press it flat against the paper, without rolling. For the fingers, you'll do all four fingers at once. You'll often need to rotate the fingers slightly to fit them all in the available space. These are also called "flat" or "slap" impressions. These are used to verify that the fingerprints are in the correct boxes. Some features are also more visible on the plain impression. Retab over mistakes. Retabs are small squares of adhesive paper you can press over the paper to cover smudges, partial fingerprints, and other mistakes. Retake the fingerprint onto the retab. More than two retabs on one card makes it likely that your card will be rejected. US law enforcement agencies can order these from the FBI. Alter the amount of ink. If the ridges of the fingerprint are obscured by solid black areas, you have too much ink. If areas of the fingerprint are white, you have too little. If using a fingerprinting plate, try again with more or less ink rolled onto it. If using an ink pad, the ink pad probably needs to be replaced. Many general purpose ink pads are not suitable for fingerprinting. Look for a Porelon pad instead. Reduce sweat with cloth or alcohol. Blurry fingerprints are usually caused by sweat (or an unsuitable type of ink). Wipe the finger with a cloth and take the fingerprint immediately. Rubbing alcohol will also help dry the hand. Note missing fingerprint areas. If there is a reason you can't show the whole fingerprint, write this down or your card will be rejected. Typically, the reason is "fully amputated," "tip amputated," or "missing from birth." Extra fingers are not recorded by the FBI. Other agencies may request that you record the extra fingers on the back of the card. Try to find specific guidelines for your purposes. Deal with difficult fingerprints. People in many professions or hobbies wear down their fingerprints over the years. If the fingerprints won't come out clearly, try one or more of these techniques: "Milk the fingerprint" by pressing it or rubbing it in a downward motion from palm to fingertip, before taking the print. Rub worn prints with hand lotion or creams. Hold ice against the fingerprint, then dry and print. This works best on naturally small ridges and soft hands, not worn prints. Use very little ink and very light pressure. Note the condition of the prints, especially if worn smooth. Note the occupation that led to this problem. Fill out the entire card. Your card will likely be rejected if there is any missing information. Use blue or black ink to fill out every box. If you are not sure what to put in a box, ask someone with more experience, or look online for your agency's guidelines. Even a "Weight" or "Date of Birth" box needs to follow an exact format to keep the database consistent. Analyze the fingerprints. Familiarize yourself with the basics, and you'll do a better job noticing problems with fingerprint impressions. Here's the first lesson: 95% of people have fingerprints with loops (ridges forming a curved U shape) and/or whorls (circles). The rest are arches, with ridges that rise to a bend or peak, then continue onward instead of curving back. Make sure you get enough of the print to tell which type it is. "Deltas" are any point on the fingerprint where ridges meet from three directions. If you don't see at least one on a loop or whorl print, make sure you have covered the entire fingerprint. Rarely, a delta is not visible, in which case you should note on your card "no delta, inked nail to nail." | Set up the fingerprint card. Decide on a fingerprint method. Clean hands. Grasp the subject's hand. Roll the right thumb over the ink. Roll the thumb over the fingerprint card. Repeat with remaining fingers. Take the plain impressions. Retab over mistakes. Alter the amount of ink. Reduce sweat with cloth or alcohol. Note missing fingerprint areas. Deal with difficult fingerprints. Fill out the entire card. Analyze the fingerprints. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Lawn-Business | How to Start a Lawn Business | To start a lawn business, begin by getting the appropriate equipment, like mower, leaf blowers, edgers, and shovels. You'll also want to name your business something catchy as well as professional, and create a logo too. Next, work on figuring out who your main customers will be and how to attract them, whether it's through social media, flyers, or going door to door. Additionally, create a website that provides potential customers with all of the information they'll need, including pricing, contact information, and available services. | Learn the skills. Even if you just want to mow and trim lawns, taking some horticulture classes in cutting, pruning, and trimming can help you stand out from the competition. If you actually want to get into landscaping, a degree is even more helpful, specifically one in landscape architecture. Business classes are also helpful because they can teach you how to deal with the business side of things. Prepare for the physical rigors. Lawn care is not easy work, and you'll need to be prepared for the job ahead of time. At a minimum, you should be doing 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week, such as running, cycling, or swimming, and strength training twice a week. However, to truly be prepared, you should be going beyond the basics of physical fitness. Write a business plan. A business plan is a detailed outline of how your company will be structured and run. It should include things such as an executive summary of your business, a company description, and a market analysis. You'll also include the organization and management, a description of your services, and a plan for marketing. Set up your home space. You'll need an office area for doing business. You'll also need a place to keep your tools and equipment. If you don't have the storage space at home, you may need to rent a storage unit to hold your equipment. Buy the appropriate equipment. Once you figure out just what your business is going to be, you can figure out what equipment you'll need. If you can't finance it yourself, you can get a small business loan, available through local banks. If that isn't an option for you, consider a business credit card to fund what you need. Name your business. You can pick something catchy, but make sure it's also professional. You don't want to turn customers away with something that's too cutesy or even borderline offensive. Bounce ideas off your friends and family to help you decide. If you're having trouble deciding, you can go ahead and fill out the legal paperwork with a holding place name. You can change the name later or fill out a "doing business under" form to designate a different name for your business. Find your target audience. Your main customers are going to be those who don't have the time to do their lawn or physically can't do it. You may also be able to do landscaping for businesses, if your work is professional enough. You may also find some customers who want to use your skills temporarily before they sell their house. Hire a lawyer. Though you can do all the legal work yourself, hiring a lawyer makes sure you are compliant with the law in every aspect. Ask around for a competent business lawyer to help with your business. Pick a business structure. Your business structure is how you legally file your business. You have several options, including a sole proprietorship, partnership, and a LLC. You file these documents with your state, generally accompanied by a filing fee. A sole proprietorship means you own the company by yourself, and you are held responsible for any debts the company incurs from your personal property. The benefit is it can be less paperwork. Partnerships generally work the same way but with more people, though sometimes they work more like a limited liability company. A limited liability company (LLC) means that you are separated from your company and its debts. In other words, the assets that you own personally cannot be seized to pay the company's debts, usually, as long as you are abiding by the law. Get your employer identification number (EIN). You need this number for tax purposes with the federal government, though it's not an absolute necessity with a sole proprietorship. Nonetheless, it's good to have because it gives you a number besides your Social Security Number to use for tax purposes. To apply for this number, visit the IRS website. The application is fairly simple, and you'll receive a number fast. Get the proper licenses or permits. Your city or state may require certain licenses or permits for you to run your business. Check state and local laws to figure out what you need to do. You can also go to the city clerk office to find out more. Make sure you can run your business out of your home. Most of the time, you will be able to run a lawn business out of your home, since you will not have customers visiting there. Nonetheless, check with your city to see if it has any special ordinances. You'll also need to decide where to target your business. If you're staying mostly in your neighborhood, you won't have as much of a commute. However, you may consider neighborhoods that have a high number of retirees, since they will be more likely to want your services. Put together your finances. First, you need to create a bank account solely for your business. That way, you can separate out expenditures and profits. In addition, you need to set up a document where you can track your expenses and your profits. You can do it simply in a spreadsheet to get started. Pay into your federal taxes. If you expect to be paying in more than $1,000 in taxes (including both sides of Social Security and Medicare), you are required to pay your taxes quarterly throughout the year. Just like an employer withholds taxes, you now must do so for yourself. Use the government's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to make payments. If taxes make your head hurt, don't be afraid to hire an accountant to help you out. Don't forget state taxes. In some cases, you'll need to register with your state, as well. You'll need to pay company income tax and sales tax. Depending on your state, you may need to pay more than once a year, and you may also need a state identification number. Brand your business. You need a logo to help your company stand out. It should be simple, but also interesting enough to catch a customer's eye. You can hire someone to do this work so that it is more professional. Use your logo on your business cards. You can also use it on any vehicles for your company by purchasing magnetized signs. Market your product. You have several options for putting your name out there. You can use social media. You can also use more traditional media through newspaper, radio, and local television ads. Whichever way you choose, your message needs to be clear and direct. The bonus of using social media is that it doesn't cost you anything to use. The downside is you need to be very present to your customers, meaning you need to make yourself as available as possible and post consistently. Social media is about building relationships and engaging with other people in your circle. One way to use social media is to post related content to your business. That is, maybe you could post tips about keeping your lawn green, which benefits your customers without putting you out of business. Don't forget to pay attention to keywords and hashtags. These words help drive people to your posts and sites. Think about what people would be searching for to find your business. Consider flyers. For a lawn business, flyers make sense. Consider putting flyers in people's doors in the neighborhoods you want to work in. However, be sure to check your local laws to make sure that's allowed. You can also go door to door to drum up business, focusing on houses with unmowed lawns. Create a website. A website represents you to the customers. Plus, it provides information they need, such as pricing, contact information, and availability of your service. Many websites offer ways to make sites fairly easily, or you can hire a professional to do it. Just be sure to keep your content up-to-date. Consider off season work. In most places, the lawn business is seasonal work. In the winter, you still need to make ends meet. Some people in this business pick up other work during the winter, such as putting up holiday decorations or shoveling snow and salting walkways. | Learn the skills. Prepare for the physical rigors. Write a business plan. Set up your home space. Buy the appropriate equipment. Name your business. Find your target audience. Hire a lawyer. Pick a business structure. Get your employer identification number (EIN). Get the proper licenses or permits. Make sure you can run your business out of your home. Put together your finances. Pay into your federal taxes. Don't forget state taxes. Brand your business. Market your product. Consider flyers. Create a website. Consider off season work. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Feed-a-Cockatoo | How to Feed a Cockatoo | To feed a cockatoo, make sure that pellets made specially for cockatoos are the main part of its diet. You should also feed your bird portions of chopped fruits and vegetables every day, such as carrots, corn, and mango. Once a week, provide it with nuts or seeds to boost its protein intake. Make sure to replace any food that your cockatoo hasn't eaten after its been in the cage for a day to prevent bacteria from gathering. | Purchase pellets formulated for cockatoos. Pellets are made from ground nuts and seeds and are formulated to meet your cockatoo's dietary needs. While your bird will not want to eat only pellets, it's important that most of its diet be made up of pellets. Birds can easily suffer from malnutrition if they don't eat a balanced diet. Pellets should make up about 60% of the bird's diet. Avoid feeding your bird seed mixes. They are likely to pick out their favorite ones and end up eating a high-fat, low-calcium diet as a result. Include nuts and seeds. Pellets are better than seed mixes. However, if your bird adores seed mixes, then only give your bird a limited amount per day. Also, keep in mind that nuts are high in fat, so limit the amount of nuts you give your bird each day. For example, you could give your bird a nut or two as a treat. Your bird may prefer certain nuts, so watch for selective eating if you use a mix. The following seeds and nuts are great for cockatoos: Sunflower seeds Pumpkin seeds Safflower seeds Fennel Seeds Macadamia nuts Pine nuts Walnuts Pistachios Cashews Brazil nuts Pecans Almonds Add dried fruits and vegetables. While fresh fruits and vegetables will be a big part of your bird's diet, dried fruits and vegetables can be great treats. They are also easier to feed your bird and create less of a mess. Dried fruits are best used as a treat. Provide just a few pieces per day. Cut up fresh vegetables. Fresh vegetables help keep your bird happy and healthy. Vegetables need to be fresh because canned foods can harm your bird. Try giving your bird the following vegetables: Fresh corn Carrots Green beans Zucchini Spinach Broccoli Sweet potatoes Bell pepper Legumes Cut up fresh fruit. Your bird will enjoy the taste of fresh fruits and should even choose favorites. You don't have to peel the fruits, but it's best to cut them up. Expect your bird to make a mess with its fruit. Your bird should enjoy the following fruits: Papaya Mango Apricots Pineapple Apple Banana Peach Pear Provide occasional proteins. Your bird will benefit from occasional proteins, such as cheese, cottage cheese, a bit of hard-boiled egg, legumes, small pieces of meat, or dog food. Limit these to once or twice a week. You can also feed your bird meal worms or insects. If you use dog food, you can use any dog food that your bird finds appetizing. Provide two food bowls and a water dish. One food dish will be for dry food, while the other will be for fresh foods. Don't worry about placing the food near a perch or somewhere easy for the bird to reach. In the wild, the birds work for their food, so making your pet bird work a bit to eat is good for them. Change the water daily. Change out pellets once a day. Provide your bird with fresh pellets daily. If any old food remains, empty it out and replace it with new food. If your bird has a lot of pellets left over, consider trying a new brand or reducing the amount of fresh food that you offer. Selective eating can cause your bird to miss out on needed nutrients, which could lead to malnutrition. Feed your bird a fruit medley every day. Your bird will love eating fresh fruit every day. You don't have to peel the fruit, but it helps to cut it up. Provide a fruit medley, but make sure that you provide just one serving. Feed your bird fresh vegetables daily. Fill your bird's fresh foods bowl with fresh vegetables every day. Fruits and vegetables should make up about 25% of your bird's daily diet. You can provide a single vegetable or a medley. Depending on your bird's preferences, the vegetable medley can include legumes. Learn your bird’s favorite foods. Your bird will likely have favorite fruits and vegetables, so notice which foods the bird prefers. You can give your bird more of its favorites to keep it happy. Alternatively, you can prevent selective feeding by leaving out its favorite snack when you want it to eat something else. Knowing which fruits and veggies your bird prefers can help you decide which foods might work as a treat during training. Use puzzle boxes so that your bird works for food. In the wild, birds work for their food. Birds kept in captivity can benefit from toys that make them work for food, such as puzzle boxes. Not only do these toys make feeding more interesting, they can also keep your bird entertained, which is important for intelligent cockatoos. Look for puzzle boxes at your local pet store or online retailer. Train your bird using treats. If you want to teach your bird a trick, using a treat such as a piece of fruit, a bit of vegetable, or a favorite nut can be a great incentive. As the bird makes progress toward the trick, offer it a treat. | Purchase pellets formulated for cockatoos. Include nuts and seeds. Add dried fruits and vegetables. Cut up fresh vegetables. Cut up fresh fruit. Provide occasional proteins. Provide two food bowls and a water dish. Change out pellets once a day. Feed your bird a fruit medley every day. Feed your bird fresh vegetables daily. Learn your bird’s favorite foods. Use puzzle boxes so that your bird works for food. Train your bird using treats. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Tomatoes-Indoors | How to Grow Tomatoes Indoors | To grow tomatoes indoors, first fill seedling starter trays or other small containers with potting soil and plant tomato seeds in them. Put your containers someplace warm and sunny, and water them every day while they go from seed to seedling. When your seedlings have grown 1-2 sets of leaves, transplant them into larger containers. Then, water your plants regularly, and expose them to light for 12-16 hours a day but keep them in the dark the rest of the day. Finally, fertilize your plants every few weeks until they're mature. | Choose a suitable variety. You have some choice when it comes to tomatoes, especially between determinate (bush) and indeterminate (vining) varieties. Both will have advantages for indoor gardens, so think about which kind is best for your purposes. Indeterminate tomatoes can be ideal for indoor gardens. Unlike determinate varieties, they will naturally climb and need a cage, trellis, or stake. But they'll continue to grow and produce fruit all season long. If you are looking for a variety of tomato that will bear a lot of fruit and ripen quickly, choose a plum or cherry indeterminate. Indeterminate tomatoes aren't compact and need more space than determinates, though. If your space is limited, try smaller, dwarf determinate varieties. These should fruit over a 4-6 week period. Heirloom indeterminates include Pink Ping Pong, Siberia, Silvery Fir Tree, Tommy Toe, and Yellow Pear. Hybrid indeterminates include Micro Tom, Orange Pixie Tomato, Patio, Red Robin, Small Fry, Tiny Tim, and Totem. Determinate cherry tomatoes include Washington Cherry and Gold Nugget. Hybrid determinates include Cherries Jubilee and Terenzo Hybrid. Plant your tomato seeds in a starting mix. Wet your seed starter mix or potting soil with fresh water until it is moist. Fill a seedling starter tray with a moist mix or soil. Poke one hole in the soil of each cell—the hole should be ¼ inch deep. Insert up to 3 seeds into each hole with a tweezers or your fingers. Cover the holes with moist soil or mix. Sow the seeds 60-80 days before you intend to harvest your tomatoes. If you don't have seed trays, you can use plastic yogurt containers or cans. If you are planting the seeds in a used container, clean the container with a 1:10 bleach:water solution. Promote germination with consistent heat and water. Germination is the process of transformation from a seed to a seedling. Tomato seeds will germinate within five to ten days. There are several actions you can take to speed up this process and to ensure its success. Immediately after planting the seeds, cover your seedlings with a lid or a sheet of plastic wrap—this will prevent the soil from drying out. Move the cells to a warm location. Throughout the germination, maintain a daytime soil temperature between 70 to 80℉. If you can not heat the space to at least 70℉, consider purchasing a heat mat or placing the plant cells in a sunny location. Everyday, lift up the lid and water the seeds as needed. Move your sprouted seedlings to a sunny or artificially lit location. Tomato seedlings and plants require at least 8 hours of light each day. Without adequate light, tomato plants will become weak. As soon as the seeds have sprouted, discard of the cover and provide your seedlings with ample light. If you have a south-facing window, place the cells directly in front of the window. If you do not have a south-facing window, shine a grow-light or a fluorescent light on the seedlings. Artificial light sources should be placed a few inches from the tops of the seedlings. As the plants grow, you will need to adjust the height of the lamps. If you are keeping your plants on a windowsill or in front of a window, rotate them frequently to ensure that every side is exposed to light. Transplant your seedlings into large pots. As soon as your seedlings grow one to two sets of leaves, they are on the verge of outgrowing their cells. At this time, transplant the seedlings into a pot that is large enough to hold a mature plant—a five to ten gallon container is ideal. Remove the seedlings from their cells without breaking the roots. Hold the seedling between two fingers and place your palm over the soil. Flip the cell upside down and gently tap the bottom of the cell until the seedling emerges. Loosen up the roots by “tickling” the outer roots. Bury the seedling up to the little fuzzy hairs at the base of the plant. These fuzzy hairs will become roots. Water the seedling generously after transplant. Water your plants when dry. After you transplant your seedlings, it is imperative that you continue to water the plants regularly. Assess the soil everyday for dryness by sticking your finger into the soil. If the soil is dry, water the the plant. If the topsoil is dry but the rest is moist, water at a later time. Allowing the soil to dry out completely will yield rough-bottom tomatoes. Create day and night time light conditions. While tomato plants require plenty of light, they also need a period of darkness. If you are using artificial lights, you need to mimic the natural rising and setting of the sun. Turn on your lights in the morning. After twelve to sixteen hours, turn off the lights and allow the plants to rest in the dark. You can set your lights on a timer. Fertilize the seedlings. Indeterminate tomato varieties continue to grow and produce all season. To sustain this intense cycle, you must provide your tomato plants with adequate nutrients. Within two weeks of transplanting, apply your first fertilizer treatment. Following the initial application, continue to fertilize your plants every few weeks until it is mature. Use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorous. Follow the instructions on the product. Train your plant to grow up. Indeterminate tomato plants require support from a stake or trellis for their vines. It is possible to “train” your tomatoes to grow up a trellis, stake, or cage. You can begin to train your tomato plants approximately one month after transplanting. If you are using a single stake or a single-string trellis, you will train the main stem. Attach the stem to the support device with twine every six to eight inches. Tie the twine in a loose knot to avoid damaging the plant. As suckers grow (vines that appear between the main stem and branches) prune them by snapping them off with your fingers at the joint. If you are using a cage or multi-string trellis, you will begin by training the main stem. Place a cage over the plant while it is small – it is harder to get cages over mature plants. Tie the main stem to the support device with twine every six to eight inches. Allow the first three or four suckers that appear to remain on the plant. Train these suckers in the same manner—tie the suckers to the trellis or cage every six to eight inches as they grow. As new suckers appear, prune them. Assist in the pollination process. When tomatoes are grown outdoors, bees, birds, and the wind distribute their pollen and develop fruit. When you grow tomatoes indoors, you must simulate this process. You may achieve this by: Directing a fan towards your plants to mimic the wind. Tapping or shake the main stem of each plant gently with your finger. Pollinating the plants by hand with a paintbrush or cotton swab. You can gently rub these on the flowers, distributing pollen to each. Gather your harvest. Indeterminate tomatoes produce fruit within sixty to eighty days after planting. They will continue to produce fruit all season long. You will know that your tomatoes are ripe when they have turned a vibrant and even red, yellow, or pink. The tomatoes should be slightly soft when squeezed. To pick the tomato, grasp it near its stem and twist it until it snaps off. | Choose a suitable variety. Plant your tomato seeds in a starting mix. Promote germination with consistent heat and water. Move your sprouted seedlings to a sunny or artificially lit location. Transplant your seedlings into large pots. Water your plants when dry. Create day and night time light conditions. Fertilize the seedlings. Train your plant to grow up. Assist in the pollination process. Gather your harvest. |
https://www.wikihow.com/File-a-Complaint-Against-a-Real-Estate-Agent | How to File a Complaint Against a Real Estate Agent | To file a complaint against a real estate agent, start by writing down details of the agent's incompetence to help you make your argument. You should also gather any evidence, such as emails, contracts, and sales receipts, that might support your claim. Once you're ready to present your case, contact your real estate agent's broker and ask to meet them. When you sit down with them, present your complaint and any supporting evidence. You can also offer a resolution to your complaint. For example, if your agent failed to disclose a defect in your house, ask for an offsetting reduction in agency fees. If you're unhappy with the broker's outcome, ask to speak to their superior. | Decide whether misconduct has really occurred. Difficulties in the relationship with a real estate agent often stem from a simple breakdown in communication. Re-establishing communication may clear up any misunderstandings. However, if you feel that your agent has deliberately lied or misled you about anything you consider material (e.g., the condition of a piece of property, the willingness of a seller or buyer, or the costs of services), you should pursue a complaint. Sometimes what strikes a seller as unprofessional conduct may seem minor to real estate professionals. Discuss your issue with an unbiased third party to gain another perspective. Schedule a meeting with the agent’s managing broker. The broker is the party who owes you a fiduciary duty; the agent is merely the broker's employee. You should therefore set up a meeting and make your complaints known. The agent may or may not be invited to attend. Write out your complaints and all of the details that you remember. Take down the name of any witnesses as well as their telephone numbers. Practice explaining your complaint. You want to be precise and clear. Be firm but not angry. Gather supporting documents. If you believe the broker violated the contract, take out your copy of the contract and highlight the section you believe has been violated. Although the agent's manager has access to the contract, the meeting will go more smoothly if you bring as much supporting documentation as possible. Other important documents include lease contracts, sales receipts, and communications between you and the agent. Meet with the broker. If you do not want the agent to attend, ask for him or her not to be present. If possible, you should willingly agree to have the agent at the meeting. Problems can be resolved more quickly if the supervisor or manager has both sides of the story. You can also gently correct any errors the agent makes in describing his side of the story. Request resolution. Apart from merely lodging a complaint against an agent, you can ask the managing broker to resolve your problem. For example, if the agent did not disclose a defect in the house, you could ask for an offsetting reduction in agent fees. Be open to settlement. Accepting less than you want does not mean that you cannot still file a complaint with your state's licensing board. Ask to see a supervisor. If you feel the meeting did not go well, ask if there is anyone else you can meet with. In large real estate offices you probably will not meet with the president initially, so there should be someone else to talk to. Ask to move up the chain of command. Visit the Better Business Bureau. The BBB is the most famous consumer protection bureau in the U.S. You can report online at their website. Click on the name of your county and enter your zip code. Click on "Get Consumer Help" at the top of the website, then select "File a Complaint" from the drop-down menu. If you do not have access to the Internet, call the BBB headquarters at 1-703-276-0100 to file a complaint over the telephone. Fill out the online complaint form. The complaint will ask for basic information including contact information (for you and the business) as well as details about your complaint. You will answer preliminary questions such as the category of complaint (vehicle, cell phone, or business product or service) and then whether you are a retired or active service member or a civilian employee of the Department of Defense. You can search for the business by name and zip code. Then select the business from the list. You will likely be redirected to a city or state BBB to actually file your complaint. At the website you will be asked to state your problem as well as your desired outcome and settlement. Do not include personal information such as your Social Security number. Let the broker know. Even if you choose not to meet with the agent's managing supervisor or broker, you can still inform him of the complaint. The BBB will send the complaint to them within two weeks. If you have met with the broker and did not receive the relief you wanted, complaining to the BBB is the next logical step. Ask if the agent is a member of a Realtors association. Some agents are members of the National Association of Realtors. These Realtors voluntarily agree to adhere to the organization's Code of Ethics. Those agents who do not join that organization do not call themselves Realtors. If you are unsure whether your agent belongs to a particular association, review paperwork or business cards from your agent to locate a seal or logo that represents any state or national association they may belong to. You may also want to call the broker, office manager, or firm to determine if the agent belongs to an association with which you can file a complaint. Read the Code of Ethics. To file a complaint with the National Association of Realtors, you are required to pinpoint an ethics violation in your complaint. Familiarize yourself with their ethics rules so that you can point to something specific. Specific violations include a duty not to deliberately mislead you about market value, as well as a duty to submit offers and counteroffers as quickly as possible. File soon. There may be time limits. For example, the National Association of Realtors requires that you file a complaint within 180 days of knowing that a Realtor has committed an unethical act. Secure a copy of the complaint form. You can download the complaint form in PDF or in Microsoft Word. Attach supporting documentation as well as a signed and dated statement in which you explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged ethics violation. Consider mediation. Some associations offer alternative dispute resolution such as mediation. In mediation the parties work under the guidance of a mediator toward a solution acceptable to both parties. Prepare for a hearing. Once the local grievance committee receives your complaint, they will determine whether you have alleged an actual violation of the ethics rules. If so, a hearing will be scheduled. Gather your documentation and think about any witnesses you can call. You must present evidence that supports your contention. Mere accusation is insufficient. If your complaint is rejected, you may appeal to the Board of Directors within 20 days by filling out the appropriate form. Attend the hearing. The hearing will proceed like a trial. Parties may be represented by counsel and present evidence supporting their contentions. The agent is presumed innocent. You have the burden of showing by “clear, strong, and convincing evidence” that the agent violated the Code of Ethics. Present your evidence in a crisp, clear, and coherent manner. Visit the website for your state’s governing board. Real estate agents are licensed by the state. Most states maintain a website and include forms on the web to lodge a complaint. Perform an Internet search to locate your area's real estate licensing board. For example, if you live in California, use keywords such as "California real estate licensing" to locate the website for the Department of Real Estate in California. Download a form. Most states require that you download a PDF and fill it out before mailing it back. Fill out the form carefully. Provide all information requested. Incomplete forms may not be processed or could detract from your credibility. For increased legibility type the form or print with black ink. Forms vary by state, but they typically require filling out your personal information (name and address) as well as the name, address, and business name of the agent. Forms also may ask whether a legal action has been started. If so, they will ask for the name of your attorney as well as the attorney's contact information (address and phone number). You must sign the form under penalty of perjury. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, you may want to schedule a meeting with the agent's supervisor instead of lodging a formal complaint. Explain your complaint. After selecting the category of complaint, you must inform the state agency of the factual grounds for the dispute. Some forms will provide a space for this information, but feel free to type this out on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your complaint. Answer the questions “who, what, where, when, and how.” That is, describe who did what, where it happened, when it happened, and how it happened. Note any promises that were made and the actual language used. Include the names of witnesses as well as their contact information. Describe events in chronological order for increased clarity. You don't want to confuse the state board. Attach any documents in support. Provide a complete copy of receipts, cancelled checks, contracts, closing documents, title documents, and correspondence. Send only copies of supporting documentation, never the originals, and make sure that they are legible. Mail the complaint. The address should be on the form. Be sure to keep a copy of the entire complaint, including any attachments. You can refer to this copy to refresh your memory should someone contact you later about your dispute. Assist the investigator. After a complaint is filed, the state board considers whether or not to open an investigation. If one is opened, the case is then handed to an investigator, who may want to interview you. Though procedure may vary by state, in the typical hearing the only two parties are the state and the agent. You are not a party to the proceedings, though you may be called as a witness. If no action is taken, the state board will likely send you a letter to that effect. | Decide whether misconduct has really occurred. Schedule a meeting with the agent’s managing broker. Gather supporting documents. Meet with the broker. Request resolution. Ask to see a supervisor. Visit the Better Business Bureau. Fill out the online complaint form. Let the broker know. Ask if the agent is a member of a Realtors association. Read the Code of Ethics. File soon. Secure a copy of the complaint form. Consider mediation. Prepare for a hearing. Attend the hearing. Visit the website for your state’s governing board. Download a form. Fill out the form carefully. Explain your complaint. Attach any documents in support. Mail the complaint. Assist the investigator. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Bruising | How to Prevent Bruising | To prevent bruising, try taking a daily supplement like bromelain or arnica, which can help reduce the swelling and inflammation that causes bruising. You can also reduce bruising with daily supplements that help with circulatory health, like vitamin C, hesperidon, or rutin. If you bruise easily, avoid supplements that thin your blood, like vitamin E, gingko biloba, ginger, and garlic. Additionally, when you play sports, wear helmets, sports padding, and shin guards to protect your skin from impacts that cause bruising. | Try a bromelain supplement. Bromelain, a supplement derived from pineapple stems, may help reduce bruising and swelling by breaking down blood proteins. You can also take it after bruising to try to speed up the healing process. Try one 500-mg pill or two 250-mg pill supplements each day. Talk to your doctor before trying this supplement. Take arnica. Arnica montana is a natural remedy for bruising that is used to reduce swelling and inflammation. You can take supplements to minimize bruising. Talk to your doctor before taking arnica. If you have a bruise, you can apply arnica ointment or gel to it, which has been proven effective to treat bruising. You can purchase it at the drugstore. Apply it to the bruise daily to reduce the bruise and inflammation of the skin. You may also try applying aloe, witch hazel, calendula, or turmeric root to treat your bruises. Take supplements to help with circulatory health. Adding certain supplements to your diet may help reduce your risk of bruising. Taking vitamin C, hesperidin, or rutin may help. Try 400 mg of each supplement. Make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any supplements. You can also eat more foods containing vitamin C and flavonoids. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, greens like spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli. You can get flavonoids from carrots and apricots. Avoid blood thinning supplements. If you are bruising easily, you may want to limit some of your supplements. Vitamin E, ginseng, gingko biloba, ginger, and garlic are all blood thinners and can increase your chance of bruising. Limit how much you take these supplements. If you are going to have surgery, stop these supplements a few weeks before the procedure. Reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol can thin the blood and cause you to bruise more easily. To help prevent bruises, limit how much alcohol you drink. If you are going to have a procedure that may cause bruising, don't drink for a few days before it. Incorporate foods containing bioflavonoids into your diet. Bioflavonoids help strengthen your blood vessels and connective tissue. Strong capillaries help reduce the risk of bruises. Eat more foods like dark leafy greens, grapes, dark berries, onions, and garlic. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to help prevent bruising, such as vitamin C and vitamin K. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruit, greens like spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli. Vitamin K can be found in green leafy vegetables, brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, and cucumbers. Wear protective gear when doing physical activities. Wearing protection can help lower your risk of bruising. You can get bruised from impacts, falls, or other obstacles when playing sports, being outdoors, or even working out. Wear helmets, sports padding, or shin guards. You can also try wearing long pants and sleeves to help. You should also wear protective clothing and sunscreen if you are going to be out in the sun for extended periods. sun damaged skin is more likely to bruise. Talk to your doctor. If you are worried that you have an underlying disorder that causes you to bruise easily, talk to your doctor. They can run tests to see if there is any condition that may cause you to bruise due to slight bumps or very minor injuries. Let your doctor know of any other symptoms that you may be symptoms of larger disorders. Ask your doctor if you have a platelet disorder. Platelet disorders, such as those that underlie diseases like leukemia or AIDS, can cause increased bruising. If you have too few platelets, you may suffer from increased bleeding or dark red or purple bruises in addition to more frequent bruises. See your doctor if you are concerned about increased bruising. Stop taking blood thinners if possible. Blood thinners can cause increased bruising. If you are taking blood thinners, such as warfarin or heparin, ask your doctor to do a PT test to see if you can reduce the dose or eliminate taking blood thinners. If you cannot be taken off blood thinners, be more cautious in situations that may cause you to bruise - the medicine will make you more prone to bruising. If you have recently taken blood thinners but no longer are, you may still be at risk of increased bruising. The effects will wear off after a short time. Check for signs of a blood clotting disorder. Blood clotting disorders, such as vitamin K deficiency or hemophilia, can cause an increased rate of bruising when the blood takes longer to clot under your skin. You may have a clotting disorder if minor injuries cause large, deep bruises. You will also have other symptoms, such as nosebleeds, painful or tight joints, blood in your urine or feces, or excessive bleeding. Hemophilia is an inherited disorder, so have yourself checked if anyone in your family has it. See your doctor if you think you may have a clotting disorder. You may be able to rectify the disorder through diet changes, exercise, and prescription blood thinners. Elevate and rest the injured area. Keep the area that was injured elevated. Rest it on a stool or armrest, or remain sitting up. This will help control the blood flow to the area and may prevent bruising. If you can, rest whatever part of your body you hurt. Apply ice. Ice can help slow the blood flow to the injured area, helping a bruise to develop slower or prevent one from forming. You can use an ice pack, wrap ice in a towel, or use a frozen bag of vegetables wrapped in cloth. Leave the ice pack on the area for 10 minutes. Then, wait at least 20 minutes before applying more ice. Never place ice directly onto the skin because it could damage the skin. Take over-the-counter pain relievers. If an injured area is extremely painful, mild pain relievers can help. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) can help. Ibuprofen also helps reduce swelling. Avoid taking NSAIDs (Aleve) and aspirin for pain relief since they cause blood thinning and can cause bruising. See your doctor if you bruise easily. In addition, if the bruise is extremely painful and/or doesn't begin to heal after a few days, seek medical attention. You should also see a doctor if bruises appear and you're not sure where they're coming from. | Try a bromelain supplement. Take arnica. Take supplements to help with circulatory health. Avoid blood thinning supplements. Reduce your alcohol intake. Incorporate foods containing bioflavonoids into your diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Wear protective gear when doing physical activities. Talk to your doctor. Ask your doctor if you have a platelet disorder. Stop taking blood thinners if possible. Check for signs of a blood clotting disorder. Elevate and rest the injured area. Apply ice. Take over-the-counter pain relievers. See your doctor if you bruise easily. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Scrambled-Eggs-in-a-Microwave | How to Make Scrambled Eggs in a Microwave | To make scrambled eggs in a microwave, start by coating a microwave-safe bowl with cooking spray or butter. Once the bowl is coated, crack 2 eggs into it and whisk in 1 tablespoon of milk. Add any salt and pepper you'd like, then beat the egg mixture for 10-20 seconds until the yolks and whites are combined. Put the uncovered bowl in the microwave and heat the eggs for 1-2 minutes on full power, stopping every 30 seconds to stir them so they scramble as they cook. Once they're done, stir the eggs a final time to loosen them, and enjoy! | Grease a microwave-safe dish or mug. Rub a little butter or oil in the bottom of a dish or mug. You can also spray the inside of the dish with cooking spray. Greasing the dish will make it easier to remove the scrambled eggs. If you're planning on making a breakfast sandwich, consider using a mug since this will form the scrambled eggs into a small, circular shape. Crack 2 eggs into the dish or mug and add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of milk. Feel free to use half-and-half for creamier scrambled eggs or use water if you don't want to include dairy. Try making scrambled eggs with an alternative milk, such as soy, hemp, or almond milk. Beat the eggs with salt and pepper until they're combined. Use a fork or a whisk to beat the eggs for about 10 to 20 seconds and mix in a little salt and pepper according to your taste. Mix the eggs just until the yolks and whites are combined. There's no need to beat a lot of air into the eggs since doing so could cause them to puff up too much in the microwave. Microwave the eggs for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes and stir them frequently. Put the uncovered dish into the microwave and heat the eggs on full power. Stop and stir them every 30 seconds so they scramble as they cook. The eggs should look firm and no longer liquidy once they've finished cooking. Remove the dish from the microwave and eat the hot scrambled eggs. Open the microwave and use oven mitts to carefully remove the hot dish. Stir the eggs a final time to loosen them and then eat them right out of the dish or transfer them to a serving plate. If you have leftover scrambled eggs, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 to 4 days. Stir cheese into the eggs for a creamy texture. Stop the microwave about 1 minute before the eggs are finished cooking. Then, stir in a handful of shredded or crumbled cheese. You can use your favorite cheese or try cheddar, parmesan, feta, or goat cheese. If you forget to add cheese to the eggs, you can always scatter shredded cheese over the cooked eggs before you eat them. To melt the cheese, microwave the eggs for an extra 5 to 10 seconds. For an extra-creamy texture, stir a few spoonfuls of cream cheese or cottage cheese into the eggs before you microwave them. Add cooked meat if you'd like an extra savory flavor. Since the eggs cook so quickly in the microwave, you'll need to stir in meat that's already fully cooked. For example, stir a small handful of chopped bacon, ham, sausage, or chorizo into the eggs about 30 seconds before they're finished microwaving. To add a slightly smoky flavor, mix in flaked smoked salmon or trout. Create a quick egg sandwich to make a complete meal. Spoon the scrambled eggs onto toast and top them with sliced bacon, tomato, or avocado. Then, spread a little mayonnaise on the toast before assembling the sandwich. You can also use toasted English muffins or bagels. If you made the scrambled eggs in a mug, just turn the mug upside down to turn the scrambled eggs directly onto the bread. Make a quick breakfast hash in the microwave. Put about 1 cup (210 g) of frozen hash browns into your dish and microwave them for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Then, crack in 2 eggs and beat them with a fork before you microwave the hash. Heat the mixture for 1 1/2 to 2 more minutes or until the eggs are cooked. Remember to stop and stir the hash every 30 seconds so the eggs scramble. You can add any chopped vegetables you like instead of hash browns. For example, add diced red pepper or onion. Top the eggs with fresh herbs to brighten their flavor. Mince your favorite fresh herbs and sprinkle them over the cooked scrambled eggs just before you eat them. Try using minced dill, basil, parsley, or chives to give the eggs a bold flavor. If you don't have access to fresh herbs, sprinkle dried herbs into the eggs before you microwave them. You could also stir a little pesto into the cooked eggs but it can turn them slightly green. Serve the scrambled eggs with salsa or your favorite sauce. If you don't have time to add things to the eggs before you cook them, you can still season them before eating. Try squirting a little hot sauce, ketchup, or soy sauce over the eggs, for instance. You could also spoon fresh salsa or pico de gallo onto them. For a quick seasoning, sprinkle a little spice blend, such as za'atar or garam masala, over the eggs. | Grease a microwave-safe dish or mug. Crack 2 eggs into the dish or mug and add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of milk. Beat the eggs with salt and pepper until they're combined. Microwave the eggs for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes and stir them frequently. Remove the dish from the microwave and eat the hot scrambled eggs. Stir cheese into the eggs for a creamy texture. Add cooked meat if you'd like an extra savory flavor. Create a quick egg sandwich to make a complete meal. Make a quick breakfast hash in the microwave. Top the eggs with fresh herbs to brighten their flavor. Serve the scrambled eggs with salsa or your favorite sauce. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Spanish-Fast | How to Learn Spanish Fast | To learn Spanish fast, watch Spanish movies and TV shows and listen to Spanish music, which will help you quickly pick up on different words and phrases. Also, try changing the language settings on your phone and computer to Spanish so you're exposed to the language every day. You can even use sticky notes to label all of the items in your house with Spanish words to help you memorize them. | Learn a few basic Spanish phrases. If you know how to say hello and goodbye , as well as ask some basic questions, you'll be able to have a brief conversation with anyone in Spanish. For example, start by learning "¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?" (OH-lah COH-moh ess-TAHS), which means "Hi! How are you?" Practice your pronunciation and use Spanish greetings instead of English when you greet friends and neighbors. If you have any friends or acquaintances who speak Spanish, ask them to only speak to you in Spanish. Try to respond to them in Spanish as well, and get their help with appropriate responses. Listen to music in Spanish. Listening to music with Spanish lyrics is a good way to get used to the way Spanish sounds, and the repetitive nature of songs will help you learn words more quickly. Choose slower music so you can more easily understand the words. Don't worry if you don't know all the words in the lyrics right away – just listen and immerse yourself in the sounds of the Spanish language. As you expand your vocabulary, you'll understand more and more. Watch Spanish movies and television. Spanish television and movies can be a good way to learn the language relatively quickly. You can find Spanish programs online for free, as well as on cable or movie providers such as Netflix. Look for shows from places where spoken Spanish tends to be slower, such as Colombia. While watching, turn on subtitles in Spanish, not English. You don't want to learn how to translate Spanish into English, you want to learn how to communicate in Spanish. Spanish subtitles on Spanish programs will help you associate the written word with the sound. Change your applications and devices to Spanish-language settings. To learn Spanish fast, you need to make it as much a part of your life as possible. Switching the language on your devices will help the language become more natural for you. Changing your device settings won't necessarily expose you to a significant number of new words and phrases, but it will help you start thinking more in Spanish instead of in English. You can expand this basic principle to other areas of your life as well. For example, if you go to yoga class every week, you could switch to a class that's taught in Spanish rather than in English. Read Spanish books. Start with children's books, which are written using simpler language and are designed to help children learn the language. If you read books you already know pretty well, it will help you get used to the language faster. Most classics and bestsellers have been translated into Spanish. Many of these books are available for free online in eBook format. You also may be able to find cheap copies at your local used bookstore. Try reading out loud rather than silently. It will help you develop an ear for the language, and you'll associate the written words with the sound of the words. You also might try audiobooks in Spanish. With digital recordings, you can slow down the speed so that you can understand the speaker better. Make your own signs and flashcards. Especially if you're a visual learner, flashcards and signs can help you start to associate things around you with Spanish words. Going through flashcards every day can help reinforce vocabulary words and concepts you've already learned. Through an online search, you may be able to find free flashcard templates that you can download and print. Label objects in your home with the Spanish word for that object. Every time you look at the object, you'll be reinforcing your Spanish-language skills. Over time, you'll come to associate the object with the Spanish word rather than the English word. Travel to a Spanish-speaking country. If you have the means to do so, traveling to a Spanish-speaking country can be the ultimate immersive experience. When everyone around you is speaking Spanish, you find it easier to start thinking in Spanish instead of in English. If you're a student, visit your school's study abroad office to find out about opportunities to spend a semester in a Spanish-speaking country. Not only will you get course credit, but you'll also have opportunities to learn the Spanish language and culture. While in the country, try to speak only in Spanish. You'll learn more quickly when you force yourself to speak the language. Search for online courses. There are a number of online courses available that can help you learn Spanish as well as other languages. Many of them are free, while others charge a small monthly subscription fee. Many websites, such as Memrise and Duolingo, have mobile apps that allow you to take your learning with you wherever you go. This can make it easier to get in some practice with Spanish every day. Software programs, such as Rosetta Stone, can teach you Spanish relatively quickly. Rosetta Stone has been used by the U.S. State Department to enable new diplomats to learn a language quickly. Sign up with free programs to learn vocabulary. If you want to learn Spanish fast, vocabulary words can help you get there faster than trying to memorize abstract grammar rules or spending time conjugating verbs. For example, Memrise has a specific course called "First 5,000 words in Spanish." Taking this course can greatly expand your vocabulary and give you more words to use if you practice diligently. These programs are only as good as the effort you put into them. While you can learn a lot of words using online programs or mobile apps, you still need to supplement them with conversation and other immersion techniques. Otherwise, you just know a bunch of Spanish words but don't have the ability to put them together. Do a Spanish lesson every day. If you're trying to learn a new language through self-study, you must be diligent. Practicing every day will keep the Spanish words and phrases you learn fresh in your mind. All you need is a few minutes a day. Typically you'll learn fastest if you have 20 or 30 minutes each day that you can dedicate to language learning. Spend half your time reviewing and reinforcing what you've already learned, and then try to pick up something new. Contribute to Spanish blogs and forums. If the website you use has forums for members, these can be a good way to practice your Spanish as well as ask questions and get tips from other users who are also trying to learn Spanish. Practice speaking. Some online programs and mobile apps have ways to connect you with other users so you can practice your conversation skills. Otherwise, talk to friends and neighbors to find someone willing to help you practice. Some apps may have voice recognition software that enables you to get some practice speaking, but it's still no match for actual conversation. If you don't know anybody you can talk to in Spanish, talk to yourself, or sing in the shower. These will help you get better with pronunciation and word recall. Search for local classes. If you learn best through interaction, a class may be your best option to learn Spanish as quickly as possible. Classes can be an expensive way to learn a language, so evaluate your budget carefully. Community colleges often have relatively inexpensive language classes that are open to the public. In addition to taking group classes, you also have the option of hiring a private tutor. However, private tutors can be expensive. Buy a Spanish language dictionary and phrasebook. A basic dictionary will likely be required if you're taking a local class. While this book can help you quickly find the word or phrase you need for a particular situation, try not to become to dependent on it if you want to become conversational in Spanish. If you're taking a local class, there also typically will be a textbook you'll be expected to buy. You can find these textbooks at used bookstores and buy them even if you're not enrolled in a class. An elementary textbook can help you learn the basic grammar rules you'll need to know when you're just starting out. But if you want to learn Spanish fast, you need to focus more on speaking the language. Don't get bogged down in memorizing grammar rules and doing written exercises. Join a local Spanish conversation group. Most cities and towns have a number of Spanish-language groups and societies that meet on a regular basis. Joining one of these groups gives you the opportunity to practice your language skills and get live feedback. Try to find a group that has a mix of native speakers and people like you who are trying to learn. If the group is made up entirely of learners, you may accidentally pick up some bad habits. Find a language partner. Use social media or a personal ad to find a Spanish speaker who lives near you who would like to work on their English. You can trade lessons so they help you with Spanish while you help them with English. If you can't afford formal classes, this can be a more accessible way to learn Spanish. However, just because someone knows how to speak Spanish doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the best teacher. If you can't find someone near you, search online to find a language partner who is willing to communicate with you using a video chat service. | Learn a few basic Spanish phrases. Listen to music in Spanish. Watch Spanish movies and television. Change your applications and devices to Spanish-language settings. Read Spanish books. Make your own signs and flashcards. Travel to a Spanish-speaking country. Search for online courses. Sign up with free programs to learn vocabulary. Do a Spanish lesson every day. Contribute to Spanish blogs and forums. Practice speaking. Search for local classes. Buy a Spanish language dictionary and phrasebook. Join a local Spanish conversation group. Find a language partner. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Sensitive-Plant-(Mimosa-pudica) | How to Grow a Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) | Mimosa pudica, commonly known as a sensitive plant, is a beautiful plant that folds its leaves in when you touch it. To grow a sensitive plant, first you'll need plant some sensitive plant seeds in a small flower pot. Keep the pot in an indoor room that gets plenty of sunlight, and water the soil whenever it starts to dry out so it's always damp. As your plants grow, transplant it to a new pot when the roots push against the side of the pot or start coming out through the drainage holes. Since sensitive plants are native to a tropical climate, keep your plant in a room that's never colder than 65 degrees Fahrenheit. | Choose a planting time. Plant Mimosa pudica seeds indoors in spring, at any time before the last frost. If you have growing lights and good temperature control, you may plant them indoors at any time of year. Purchase some seeds from a reputable grower. Take off the brown outer covering. Then you will have a greenish seed. Scratch the surface of the seed to scarify it. Tweezers have worked well for this part, though it may be hard. Prepare your potting mix. Mimosa pudica can grow in most well-drained soil. For best results, however, try a mix of loam and dry, aerating materials, such as two parts loam, two parts peat moss, and one part sand or perlite. If you don't want to make your own mix, most all-purpose commercial potting mixes have similar ratios, and should work well enough. Soak the seeds (optional). The seeds are more likely to germinate if you weaken the tough outer seed coat first. Soak the seeds in bowl of water for up to 24 hours if you want to play it safe. (You may let the water cool as the seeds soak.) Plant two or three seeds in each small flower pot. Place each seed just barely below the surface of the soil, about 3mm (⅛ in.) down. It's likely that most of your seeds won't germinate, so these extra seeds will minimize wasted effort. You can start the seeds in a seed tray or in 7 centimeter (2.8 in) (3 in.) pots. Water the soil. Water until the soil is slightly moist, but not soggy. Water again whenever the soil is about to dry out. If you're worried about getting the right amount of water, place the flowerpot in a shallow dish of water. Let sit ten minutes or until the top of the soil feels damp, then discard the excess water. Provide plenty of sunlight. If sensitive plants do not get enough sun, they may close their leaves. Put them in a location where they receive full sun for most of the day, or partial shade if you live in a very hot region. In ideal conditions with temperatures around 70ºF (21ºC), the seeds may germinate in under a week. In less ideal conditions, or if you didn't soak the seeds, this may take two to four weeks. Some of your seeds may survive colder nighttime temperatures, but they may end up slow-growing or fragile. Never expose the seeds to frost. If the room is too cool or too dry, cover the pot with plastic wrap to trap heat and moisture. Remove this as soon as the first seedling appears. Cut a 4 inch (10 cm) shoot from a mature sensitive plant. You can plant the shoot and grow a new sensitive plant from it. Make sure the shoot you cut has at least one leaf node on it. Plant the shoot in a pot using a peat moss and perlite potting mixture. To plant the shoot, dig a small hole in the potting mixture and place the root-end of the shoot in it. Then, fill in the hole. If you want the shoot to grow roots before you pot it, put it in a glass of water after you cut it and set it in a sunny location. Once the roots start to form, transfer the shoot to a pot. Cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap. The plastic wrap will create a humid environment for the shoot to get established in. Keep the soil moist until the shoot gets established. Check on the soil daily to make sure it isn't dry. If Transplant to other pots when necessary. If more than one seedling sprouts in the same pot, then snip the weakest seedlings with scissors. This will make room for the healthiest seedling. You can also transplant all of the seedlings into separate containers, but keep in mind that this is riskier. Once your plant reaches maturity, transplant it to a larger pot whenever the roots come out the drainage hole or press against the sides of the container. Keep the soil moist. The soil should remain moist at all times, but never soggy. If the sensitive plant is in a dry room, mist it with water occasionally, or place it on a humidity tray. Keep the plant indoors (recommended). Sensitive plants are an invasive weed in many areas. Unless you are in one of their native habitats in tropical America, you may want to grow sensitive plants indoors. Gardeners worldwide report the plant taking over their lawns. In Australia, you are legally required to minimize the spread of mimosa pudica seeds off your property. Fertilize regularly. Dilute a balanced fertilizer to half the strength recommended on the label. Apply to the soil once a week during the growing season, and once a month during winter. Protect against cold. Since it is a tropical plant, Mimosa pudica will grow best if nighttime temperatures are 70ºF (21ºC) or higher. If temperatures fall below 65ºF (18ºC), move the plant to a warmer room or keep the plant warm in other ways. Adult plants can survive temperatures as low as 40ºF (4.5 °C), but are at risk of damage or death. Keep an eye out for yellow leaves and stems, which are signs of possible cold damage. Provide space for the plant to grow. It's normal for the stem to fall over and creep along the ground once the plant matures. Provide a trellis or sturdy plant to support it, or allow enough horizontal space for it to grow. Some sensitive plants grow more than 1 meter (3 ft) high or 2 meters (6.6 ft) horizontally, but in temperate zones they will more likely reach half this size. Watch its lifespan. Mimosa pudica can survive for at least two years in tropical climates, but are usually annual plants in temperate zones. Even if your plant survives after its first bloom (usually in summer), you may have better results letting it die and collecting its seeds for next spring. To collect seeds, let the pods dry on the plant, then break them open and collect the seeds. Prevent disease. The sensitive plant is not particularly prone to disease, but it may become infested with some common pests, such as red spider mites, mealy bugs, and thrips. These can be removed by spraying the plant with a direct stream of water or neem oil every few days. Avoid using insecticidal soaps, as these can turn the leaves of the plant black. | Choose a planting time. Purchase some seeds from a reputable grower. Prepare your potting mix. Soak the seeds (optional). Plant two or three seeds in each small flower pot. Water the soil. Provide plenty of sunlight. Cut a 4 inch (10 cm) shoot from a mature sensitive plant. Plant the shoot in a pot using a peat moss and perlite potting mixture. Cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap. Keep the soil moist until the shoot gets established. Transplant to other pots when necessary. Keep the soil moist. Keep the plant indoors (recommended). Fertilize regularly. Protect against cold. Provide space for the plant to grow. Watch its lifespan. Prevent disease. |
https://www.wikihow.mom/Grow-Out-Baby-Hairs | How to Grow Out Baby Hairs | If you're tired of dealing with the wispy baby hairs that appear at your hairline, give yourself regular scalp massages to help grow them out. Prior to showering, massage your scalp for 30 seconds. This improves the blood flow to the area, which can stimulate hair growth. Another way to encourage hair growth is to take a daily supplement that contains proteins and amino acids, which are essential for healthy hair. However, if you think your baby hairs are actually a result of breakage and damage, then use a moisturizing and sulfate-free shampoo daily. This will not only encourage hair growth but also help your baby hairs lie down and not frizz out. | Take a daily supplement containing proteins or amino acids. These are some of the building blocks of healthy hair and can stimulate hair growth. Many supplements that use marine products, such as fish oil, as their primary ingredients are good for your hair, too. However, talk with your doctor before starting any supplementation. Read the directions on the supplement carefully and follow them closely. For example, some protein supplements actually require that you take them once in the morning and once at night. Massage your scalp for 30 seconds prior to showering. Place your fingers on your head and rotate them around while applying gentle pressure. Massage the front parts of your scalp where the baby hairs are growing. Continue massaging for at least 30 seconds each time and repeat as often as you like. Massaging your scalp boosts blood flow to the area, which can stimulate follicle health and hair growth. You can also pay for a professional scalp massage at a salon. If desired, add a few drops of an essential oil, such as rosemary, peppermint, or lavender to your scalp before massing it. This may help to promote hair growth. Talk with your dermatologist. If you are noticing increased hair loss or even an uptick in hair growth, then it's possible that your hormones or a medication is to blame. Make an appointment with your dermatologist or primary care physician to discuss how to manage your hair growth in a healthy way. They might suggest medications or even laser therapy. Use a moisturizing and sulfate-free shampoo on a daily basis. Look for a shampoo that contains quality ingredients, such as vitamins A, green tea, shea butter, and sunflower oil. Choosing a sulfate-free shampoo means that it has fewer harsh chemicals and detergents. If you have color treated hair, check that your shampoo states that it is “color-safe.” Read over and follow the usage instructions on the back of the shampoo bottle. You probably won't need to change your shower routine other than switching products. A moisturizing shampoo can encourage hair growth, while also helping your baby hairs to lie down and avoid frizzing out. Do a deep conditioning hair treatment once a week. Unlike daily conditioners, a deep treatment penetrates directly into your hair shafts to provide nutrients. Apply the product from the root to the tip of your hair. Then, put on a shower cap or other cover to help heat-up the conditioner. You can even sit under a hooded hair dryer for an even deeper treatment. Rinse out the product using water. Read the product's instructions fully before beginning. Each conditioner has its own requirements in terms of how long the conditioner needs to stay on the hair and when/how to rinse it out. Deep conditioning hair treatments are also sometimes called “conditioning hair masks.” Look for a treatment that contains quality ingredients, such as macadamia oil, amino acids, proteins, and honey. Brush your hair gently with a wide-tooth comb. Pulling at your hair with a round brush, especially while blow drying, can create breakage and even more baby hairs. Instead, use a wide-tooth plastic or wooden comb to gently detangle your hair from tip to root. It's even better if you can go a day or 2 without brushing it at all, and just use your fingers to detangle it. If you run into a snag while brushing your hair, gently work some detangling serum into the area before attempting to comb it. Wear your hair down every other day. If you frequently pull your hair back from your face and secure it with an elastic band, then you might be causing breakage, especially if the ponytail is too tight. Those fine, baby hairs might actually be new growth or broken off pieces. Giving your hair a break by wearing it down minimizes some of the strain on the hair fibers and makes them less likely to split. Check the length of your baby hairs. If they are all different lengths with frayed ends, then breakage may be the culprit. Minimize your use of heat-based styling tools. If you are noticing more and more baby hairs at the front edges of your scalp, then your styling methods might be to blame. Reduce how frequently you blow dry your hair and put your dryer on a low heat setting. Don't use a curling iron toward the front of your face where the hairs are the most fragile. Examine the texture of your baby hairs. Hair traumatized by heat can appear kinked with frayed ends. Showcase your baby hairs with a messy hairstyle. Pull your hair up into a loose bun or ponytail, leaving your baby hairs on display. Braid your hair tightly and then run your fingers through it to loosen the strands. This will make your baby hairs look like part of the intended style. The key is to go with loose, natural styles where a number of your hairs are uncontrolled. In contrast, with a tighter, regimented style, any single hair can look out of place. Calm your baby hairs with a spritz of hairspray. Get a new toothbrush and spray the bristles lightly with your usual hairspray. Then, touch the bristles to your baby hairs and apply gentle pressure to lay them down into place. Keep going until all of your baby hairs are where you want them. You can also replace the toothbrush in this method with a piece of folded tissue. The effect is similar and you can toss the tissue when finished. Keep in mind that hairspray may also be damaging and dry out your baby hairs, since hairspray contains alcohol. Dab a dime-sized amount of anti-frizz cream on to your baby hairs. This should be a final step after you've styled the rest of your hair. Add a bit of an anti-frizz product, such as a pomade or serum, to your fingertips and lightly brush them over your baby hairs. Spread the product out, so that your hairs are secure but not wet looking. You can also use a toothbrush as an applicator for anti-frizz product. The bristles help to create an even application. | Take a daily supplement containing proteins or amino acids. Massage your scalp for 30 seconds prior to showering. Talk with your dermatologist. Use a moisturizing and sulfate-free shampoo on a daily basis. Do a deep conditioning hair treatment once a week. Brush your hair gently with a wide-tooth comb. Wear your hair down every other day. Minimize your use of heat-based styling tools. Showcase your baby hairs with a messy hairstyle. Calm your baby hairs with a spritz of hairspray. Dab a dime-sized amount of anti-frizz cream on to your baby hairs. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Dog-Crate | How to Buy a Dog Crate | If you need to buy a dog crate, get one that will let your dog stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Just don't buy one that is too large or else you run the risk of your dog using it as a bathroom. You can find the right size crate by measuring your dog's height, width, and length then adding 3 inches to those dimensions. Once you know the size you need, consider buying a wire crate to give your dog proper ventilation if you live in a hot climate or it has a heavy coat. If your dog likes cozier places, like corners or underneath tables, it might enjoy a plastic crate, which is required while flying with your dog. | Look for a cage based on safety and sufficient size. The dog crate you choose should allow your dog to lie down and turn around comfortably in the cage. When they sit or stand in the crate, they should have about three to four inches of extra head room. Since different breeds of dogs have different proportions, weight alone cannot allow you to determine an appropriately-sized cage. Measure your dog at its widest, tallest, and longest points, then add three inches to each of these dimensions to find the rough dimensions of the crate you'll need. Don’t use a crate that’s too big. If your dog can comfortably stand, turn around, and lie down, the crate is large enough. In fact, you don't want it to be much larger than is necessary to allow these movements. Especially if you intend to use the crate for house training, a properly-sized crate is extremely important. If the crate is too large, your dog may go to the bathroom at one end and hang out at the other. Use a crate divider to adjust a crate’s size. If you have a puppy, you can intentionally buy a crate that you think will be large enough to hold your dog when they're fully grown. Until then, you'll need to accommodate the crate to the puppy's size. Do so by using a crate divider to block off the excess crate space. Recall that they only need space that is sufficient to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around in. Depending on the type of crate you buy, you can purchase pre-made dividers that will come will easily attach. You can also make your own divider by cutting a board to the appropriate size, sanding the edges, drilling holes near the edges, and attaching it in the appropriate location using zip ties or another material that cannot injure or snag your dog. This will be easiest with a wire cage, though you can drill small holes to help attach a custom divider to a plastic crate as well. You can also potentially rent puppy-sized crates from your local animal shelter, and wait to buy a cage for your dog once it is fully grown. Get a wire crate in hot climates. Crates made of metal wires have several benefits. If your dog has a heavy coat or you live in a hot climate, wire crates offer the best heat ventilation. Wire crates also make it especially easy to attach and adjust dividers, so the crate can grow as your dog's size increases. Most wire crates are foldable, allowing for easier storage when not in use. Use a removable floor tray with a wire crate to keep your dog's paws from getting caught or pinched, and to allow for easier cleaning. Place a thick piece of cardboard between the floor tray and the wire bottom of the cage to reduce noises when your dog moves in its crate. Weigh the benefits of a plastic crate. If your dog likes cozier places, such as corners or the areas underneath tables, they may prefer a plastic crate. Plastic crates are often required while flying with your dog. Further, plastic crates are also the hardest to break out of. If you do use a plastic crate, make sure that your dog gets plenty of air circulation. Make sure that spending time in a plastic crate does not agitate your dog. Some dogs prefer to be able to see more clearly than plastic crates allow. Consider a soft-sided crate for small dogs. Soft-sided crates are the lightest, most portable, and easiest to store. However, they are only usable with small dogs that won't attempt to escape. If you have a small, well-trained dog, use a soft-sided crate to easily take them with you on short trips. Make sure that your dog doesn't wise up and learn how to unzip a zippered soft-sided crate by positioning the zippers pulls where they cannot be reached. Shop for used crates online. Look at craiglist.org, another local classifieds website, or eBay.com for a used crates. Since many dog-owners only use crates for training, you can likely find a crate in great shape for less than it costs to buy it new. Of course, if you do buy a used crate, make sure you clean and disinfect it before providing it to your dog. Be patient and positive during crate training. The most important point to remember is that you must make sure your dog associates your crate with positive sentiments. Start slow when introducing your dog to a crate. It may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get your dog used to spending time in a crate. At first, leave the door to the crate open, so they can explore it whenever they feel comfortable doing so. Place the crate somewhere you spend a lot of time. The best place for your dog's crate is somewhere they enjoy being, and somewhere they'll be near you. Put something comforting in the crate, like a blanket. Your dog may simply start sleeping in the crate on its own. Encourage your dog to go into the crate. Bring your dog over to the crate and speak to them in a calm, happy voice. If they don't want to go into it, drop some treats just inside the entrance to the crate. If they reach in and eat these, toss some further into the crate. It's totally okay if they are hesitant to go in all the way. Don't force them to do so. Try tossing its favorite toys into the crate as well. It may take up to a few days to convince them to go into the crate all the way. Feed your dog in its crate. Once they're willing to go into the crate to retrieve treats or toys, start feeding them its meals in the crate as well. This will cause your dog to feel positively about the crate. Once your dog is comfortable standing and eating in its crate, close the door while they're eating. The first time you do this, open the door when they're done eating. Next time you feed them and close the door while they're eating, leave it closed for a few minutes after its meal. Increase the amount of time you leave them in the crate until they're spending 10 minutes in the crate after meals. If they begin to whine, do not let them out until they stop whining. Otherwise, this will teach them that whining gets them out of the crate. Start leaving your dog in the crate while you’re at home. At first, do so only while you're home. Choose a word to indicate that you want your dog to go in its crate, such as “crate.” Go to the crate, say the word, and offer your dog a treat. Praise them if they enter the crate, give them the treat, and close the door. Sit near them for a few minutes, then go elsewhere for a few minutes. Return and spend a few more minutes near them before letting them out. Gradually increase the period of time you're out of your dog's sight. Leave your dog in the crate for short times when you go out. Once you can leave your dog in its crate for 30 minutes without issues, you can crate them when you leave for short periods. Vary the length of time between putting them in the crate and actually leaving, between 5 and 20 minutes. Be relaxed when you put them in the crate before leaving. Avoid drawn-out “good-byes.” Simply praise the dog for obeying, give them a treat, and depart. Don't act excited when you return home. This may increase the dog's anxiety about when you'll return when you leave the house. Continue crating the dog for brief periods when you're at home, or they'll begin to associate the crate with you leaving. Only crate the dog until they can be trusted not to destroy the house. After that, keep the crate as a place where the dog can go voluntarily. Do not use the crate as punishment. Crating them after they've misbehaved will confuse them about the crate. This will likely make the dog feel trapped and frustrated. They will likely come to fear the crate and begin to refuse to enter it, even if they once loved it. Don’t leave your dog in the crate for extended periods. The more time they spend locked in a crate, the less exercise and human interaction your dog will get. This may result in your dog not getting enough exercise and becoming depressed or anxious. Adjust your schedule, hire someone to care for your dog, or bring them to doggie daycare if you have been keeping them in the crate for more than a few hours per day. Never keep puppies in a crate too long. Aside from the other issues associated with long periods in a crate, puppies cannot control their bladders and bowels for more than a few hours. The same applies to older dogs that are being house-trained. Dogs need to learn to “hold it” – prior to training they simply don't know they are supposed to! Do not crate your dog when they’re stressed. If your dog is anxious, even if it's about being crated, you should not force them to go into a crate. Further, do not crate them when they become upset about someone leaving, or because there is a storm outside. They should only ever enter the crate voluntarily once there are trained to do so. | Look for a cage based on safety and sufficient size. Don’t use a crate that’s too big. Use a crate divider to adjust a crate’s size. Get a wire crate in hot climates. Weigh the benefits of a plastic crate. Consider a soft-sided crate for small dogs. Shop for used crates online. Be patient and positive during crate training. Place the crate somewhere you spend a lot of time. Encourage your dog to go into the crate. Feed your dog in its crate. Start leaving your dog in the crate while you’re at home. Leave your dog in the crate for short times when you go out. Do not use the crate as punishment. Don’t leave your dog in the crate for extended periods. Never keep puppies in a crate too long. Do not crate your dog when they’re stressed. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Really-Cool-Guy | How to Be a Really Cool Guy | The best way to be a really cool guy is to be willing to laugh at yourself to demonstrate your confidence. Pursue your interests or pick up a new skill with certainty. Even if the skill isn't traditionally "cool," your fearlessness will make it cool. Make eye contact and speak slowly to show people that what you're saying is important. | Be yourself. Looks are important, but not nearly as important as being who you are. Learn to be less concerned with how you come off to other people and more concerned with having fun, joking around, talking about your interests, and doing what you want to do. If you can make anybody laugh, that's a great start. Don't be ashamed to let people see what makes you unique. If you're into birdwatching, cool. But if you want to hide that you're into birdwatching, then you're not being cool at all. Don't hide where you came from. If you're from the South and have a Southern drawl, don't try to hide it because you live up North. People will appreciate that you're different. Don't act too cool to care. If you really care who wins the baseball game that night, show it. Don't act like nothing matters to you just to be cool. Always be yourself. You can try to improve parts of your personality, but being authentic means not being afraid to be who you are. Be charming. If you want to be a really cool guy, then you have to know how to charm everyone in your presence. A charming person walks confidently into a room and can talk to anyone he passes with ease, humor, and a smile on his face. You should be able to flatter an eighty-year-old woman or crack up an eight-year-old boy; to be truly charming, you need the magic touch that lets you make everyone feel at ease in your presence. To charm a person, show more of an interest in him than in talking about yourself. Ask about a person's interests or feelings and nod intently and make eye contact to show that you actually care. To be charming, remember a person's name when you meet him, and always use it the next time you see him. Laugh easily. Charming people are always laughing or making other people laugh. Don't be afraid to gently tease a person who is receptive to it. Be witty. Being witty is a part of being cool. If you want to be a really cool guy, then you have to be able to make people laugh, to speak on your toes, and to maintain a light and winning banter with almost anyone who calms your way. To be witty, you also have to be sharp, and to offer incisive and clever comments at the right moment. If someone says something funny, don't just laugh -- answer back with a funny comment of your own. Watch other witty people you admire, from comedians to your funny uncle, to see if you can pick up on their tricks. You'll need perfect timing to be witty. Deliver your jokes when everyone is listening and loudly enough for everyone to hear. If you make a joke too quietly or when someone else is talking, it won't be cool if you try it again. Be social. Don't be fooled by the movies. Cool guys don't pose in the parking lot on their motorcycle until they're surrounded by women. Call up people, make plans, take risks, and make friends that you can trust and respect. If you're social and hang out with a lot of people, then you'll look cool because you have a variety of friends. Accept invitations. Don't turn people down just because you don't think it will be "cool" to show up somewhere. Don't always be social. Though it's great to hang out with others, give yourself some time to do your own thing and develop your personality. Be friendly -- to everyone. Don't only be social and nice to the cool kids -- truly cool people are cool with everyone. Be confident. You could be amazingly good looking, but people won't notice you if you speak timidly or have slouched posture. Hold your head up and your chest out, and look everyone in the eye. Work on your self esteem to get rid of any problems you may have with insecurity. This is not an overnight process, but you won't gain respect from others until you respect yourself. Walk tall with your head high, showing that you're proud of who you are. Speak clearly and slowly enough so that everyone hears what you have to say. Make eye contact when you talk to people. This shows that you're comfortable with yourself. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself. This shows that you're even more confident. You don't have to be self-deprecating to be able to laugh at yourself sometime. Show an interest in others. Who wants to hear someone talk about himself all the time? Find out what your friends are interested in or working on and ask them about it. This will earn you a reputation as someone who is caring and considerate. When you talk to someone, ask, "How are you?" This shows that you actually care about the person. Ask a person about his interests. People love talking about their interests, and will think you're cool for caring enough to ask. Be positive. You don't have to give everyone a thumbs up or grin like a fool to be positive. Being positive just means being upbeat, looking for the good in things, and talking about the things that make you happy instead of bringing people down. Nobody likes a person who is negative and constantly complaining, so you should avoid doing so when you can. Instead, focus on the positive things, and you'll see how quickly people think you're cool. Every time you hear yourself saying something negative, say three positive things to counter what you've just said. It's okay to complain or be negative once in a while if you're really feeling upset or annoyed. Just don't make it a habit. If someone else is being negative, you can also make that person feel better by making him see the good side of things and by making him laugh. People will appreciate your ability to make them feel better. That's very cool. Don't put people down. You may think it's cool to make fun of people who are less cool than you, or calling people "losers" because they don't meet your standards of coolness. However, putting people down doesn't make you look better -- instead, it makes you look insecure and desperate to make other people look bad so people see you in a more favorable light. Instead of putting people down, you can tease or playfully poke fun at your friends. They'll tease you back and you'll both have fun, instead of entering a storm cloud of negativity. Read a book. Read several books. Always have a good book at home that you are reading. Books can be a great icebreaker and can stimulate conversation at parties. Plus, someone who is well-read is always attractive. The more you read, the more you know, and the more you'll develop a unique perspective on the world. If people call you a nerd, just laugh it off. Anything is cool if you make it cool. Reading will also make it easier for you to talk to a variety of people, not just one narrow social circle. Truly cool people can talk to almost anyone. Keep up on current events. You don't need to tear through several newspapers per day, but having a basic understanding of what's going on in the world will give you a reputation of being smart and knowledgeable, both of which are attractive qualities. This process can be as simple as going on Google News and reading two or three of the biggest stories each day. You don't have to sound like a know-it-all to bring up something interesting and relevant. People will think it's cool that you have time to think about the world -- not just yourself. If you have no idea what's going on in the world, you'll look clueless -- and that's just not cool. Get physically active. Being physically fit and active is already cool. Even if you're not a big athlete, going to the gym or running can get your blood flowing and can improve your physique. Being physically active will also develop your confidence, which is very cool. Sports are also a great way to make new friends and bond with other people. Join a sports team or two in your school, and see how many new friends you make. Physical activity also releases endorphins which make you feel better, improving your overall mood and making you more appealing to hang out with. Pursue your interests. Whether you join a club at school or take a screenwriting class in your community, doing something that you love will not only make you more interesting, but it can help you make new friends. Don't be shy about pursuing your interests, even if some of the things you love may not be traditionally considered to be "cool." If you join a club, you can eventually have a leadership position in the organization, which is very cool. Pick up a skill. The more you can do, the cooler you'll be. Learn how to fix a car, build a table, finish a deck, or even to cook the perfect steak. If you have a skill, you'll not only be useful to others, but people will think it's cool that you took the initiative to do something. Once you've mastered a skill, you can even teach it to someone else. Now that's cool. Develop your interests by yourself. Though certain interests, like team sports, can be developed better in groups, part of being cool is being able to spend time learning things on your own. Anyone who is comfortable spending time by himself and who even likes spending time by himself is much cooler than a person who is so socially eager that he's desperate to always be hanging out with people. Spend time learning to play the guitar, picking up a new language, or just writing down your thoughts in a journal. This will help you figure out who you are and you'll become cooler in the process. If you're always around, people will take you for granted. But if you're sometimes busy because you're catching up on some alone time, then people will appreciate you more when you're around. Have the right body language. Though being cool should come from within, people can make assumptions about you if your body language indicates that you're insecure and unsure of yourself. To have cool body language, just stand tall, keep your head high and your shoulders open, showing that you're proud to be taking up space. Don't hunch over, or you'll look like you're cowering. Don't cross your arms over your chest, or you'll look uncomfortable and insecure. Instead, keep your arms at your sides or use them to gesture as you speak. Don't fidget with your hands or your clothes, or you'll look insecure. Maintain good hygiene. Have you ever met a cool guy who reeks of sweat and never brushes his teeth? Didn't think so. Shower everyday, use deodorant to cover up body odor, brush and floss your teeth twice a day and wash your hair regularly. Carry some mints or gum around with you to get rid of bad breath. Be sure to also wash your clothes regularly. Look after your skin. Wash your face with warm water and rub on some moisturizer afterwards. If you have dry skin, moisturize with a product meant for dry skin. Avoid products with fragrances if your skin is sensitive. For oily and combination skin, use a moisturizer without alcohol and that is meant for oily/combination skin. For acne problems, Clearasil offers a number of products ranging from face washes to pimple creams. Watch what you eat and drink. A healthy diet and drinking lots of water is also great for your complexion. Oily and greasy foods will make your complexion more oily and greasy, too. Be assertive. Don't be afraid to take up space when you sit or when you move around. Don't be afraid to be louder, even though it will create some social pressure. When you speak, slow down your words to show that you value what you're saying and you're not worried that you'll get cut off. Make good and fearless eye contact. At the same time, know when to let other people take center stage. You can't assert yourself 100% of the time. Have cool style. Make sure your clothes fit properly and actually look good on you. Try to find colors or patterns that especially look good with your skin tone, and wear them most. Even a simple wardrobe like a t-shirt and jeans is fine as long as it fits and suits you. If you need to go shopping for clothes, invest in only a few items of clothing of more expensive, higher quality clothing instead of buying lots of mediocre and cheap clothes. An example is Hollister. Experiment with different styles, and try to find the one that plays off of your strengths and identity, whether you're preppy or going for more of a rocker or hipster look. Having cool style means wearing what you love no matter how ridiculous you may look. If people make fun of your clothes and you stop wearing them just to please people, then you're not being cool. Style your hair. Just because you have nice clothes doesn't mean you can forget about your hair. Make sure it's in a style that suits you and that is comfortable and easy to maintain. Wash your hair regularly, and if it's short, try different hairstyles. If you need to get a haircut or want a new style, the best method is to splurge on an expert hair stylist once, take a picture of that haircut, and get it done at cheaper places later on. If they style your hair in a certain way that you like, have them show you how to recreate that look on your own. Don't forget to smile. You may think that it's not cool to smile, or that only dorks grin from ear to ear for no reason, but quite the opposite is true. If you're nice and smile at people, they'll feel welcomed and will want to get to know you. If you're too cool to say hi, then you'll just be hanging out by yourself in the corner while everyone else has a good time. A smile makes a lasting impression. Even if people don't know you well, they'll like you if you smile at them. And if you don't smile at them, they'll think you're a jerk or a grouch before they even get to know you. | Be yourself. Be charming. Be witty. Be social. Be confident. Show an interest in others. Be positive. Don't put people down. Keep up on current events. Pursue your interests. Pick up a skill. Develop your interests by yourself. Have the right body language. Maintain good hygiene. Look after your skin. Be assertive. Style your hair. Don't forget to smile. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dress-for-a-Ballet-Class | How to Dress for a Ballet Class | Wearing the right clothes for ballet will keep you comfortable and cool while you dance. You'll usually need to wear a leotard and tights. Black is usually a safe color for your leotard, and your tights will usually need to be pink, but some schools require black or tan. If in doubt, call your dance school or another dancer and ask what colors you need. Leotards usually have built-in chest support so you shouldn't have to wear a bra unless you need extra support. But if yours doesn't have any support, wear a comfortable sports bra underneath. Males should usually wear a plain white t-shirt with tights or leggings and socks. Don't forget the most important part, which is your ballet shoes. These should usually be soft pink for girls or black for guys. If your hair's long, tie it back in a bun. | Buy at least one pair of tights. Pink tights are most commonly required, but sometimes studios will want black or tan tights.They come in footed, footless, and convertible styles, and run about $8 to $20 a pair. Footless tights are not usually the best for ballet since ballet shoes can get sweaty and uncomfortable if you're wearing them over bare feet, so go for footed or convertible styles first. If you are doing pointe work, you will want convertible tights. This will make it easier to put on toe pads if you put them inside your tights. Buy a comfortable, solid-color leotard. Black is always a safe bet, but studios sometimes allow colored leotards for advanced classes. Leotards come in camisole, tank, halter, short-sleeve, ¾-sleeve, or full-sleeve styles, so choose the style that is acceptable at your studio and the most comfortable for you. Only wear a full bra under your leotard if you need a high level of support. Leotards will usually come with a shelf-style bra built in. If your leotard doesn't have a shelf bra, wear a discreet sports bra. If you're thinking about wearing a leotard with flashy decorations like sequins, rhinestones, or large bows, it might not be appropriate for the atmosphere of a ballet class. Wear a sheer wrap skirt or booty shorts. While these items are not usually required, you may feel more comfortable with more coverage around your midsection. Only use sheer black ballet skirts for ballet; do not use skater, pleated, or other styles of skirts. Tie a wrap skirt by first holding it behind your back outstretched at waist-level. Fold the left hand over your stomach, and pinch the left ribbon against the skirt with your right hand as you transfer your left hand to the other ribbon. Use your left hand to bring the second ribbon around to the back, and tie the two ribbons in the back with a tight bow. Tie your hair into a bun. Pull your hair back into a neat high ponytail, then twist the hair and coil it around the elastic. Add bobby pins until the bun is secure. Use hairspray or small clips if you have any flyaway hairs. If your hair is too short for a bun, clip back any hair that may fall in your face. If you have questions about hair, you can ask your studio's instructor. Bun helpers can help if your hair is layered or difficult to pin. It is a doughnut-shaped piece of mesh that you put your ponytail through and then use pins to secure the hair around the bun helper. Leave the heavy accessories like barrettes, alligator clips, and headbands at home. You need to move quickly when you dance, and metal or plastic can slow you down or go flying across the room, possibly damaging the floor. Purchase soft pink ballet shoes. Ballet shoes come in leather or canvas styles. While leather is more durable and has more traction on the floor, canvas shoes are less hot and more flexible. Shoes may also have a whole sole with one solid piece of suede on the bottom or split soles with two smaller pieces of suede, one on the toe and one on the heel. Soft shoes will usually cost around $20-30, and popular brands include Sansha, Bloch, American Ballet Theatre, Grishko, and Capezio. Choose the style of shoe that is the most comfortable for you. Don't buy ballet shoes online before trying them on first. It might be tempting to do this if they have a size conversion chart and you like their appearance, but you can only know if the shoe fits and is comfy by wearing it. Ask about additional uniform pieces. Some studios have students wear socks instead of tights or a colored hip-alignment belt to differentiate between levels. If your studio requires special pieces that cannot be purchased at a regular dance store, they will supply those for you to purchase. Schedule a pointe shoe fitting if your instructor has approved it. Ask your teacher to come with you to the fitting of your pointe shoes. They will tell you what they want in a shoe, and can help you choose which brand and style is best for your feet. Do not, under any circumstances, buy or wear pointe shoes before your director says it's okay. These are quite dangerous if used improperly, and you could badly injure yourself if you don't have the strength to dance in the shoe safely. Wear black footed or footless tights. Women and men have different dress codes for ballet class, but everyone needs to wear form-fitting clothing so that the instructor can properly teach posture and alignment. While women usually wear pink tights, men wear black (or sometimes white for advanced classes). Wear supportive underwear or a dance belt (a kind of smooth jock-strap) under your tights. Some studios might allow you to wear black fitted shorts instead of full-length tights. Check your studio's dress code before wearing shorts to class. Put on a plain white t-shirt. Make sure that it is form-fitting, in good condition (no holes or stains), and long enough to cover the stomach but short enough to leave your bottom visible. Wear white crew or ankle socks. While they may clash with your black tights and shoes, tight white socks are the best for dance class as your ankle positioning will be more visible to your teacher. Use black ballet shoes. Ballet shoes come in leather or canvas, and run about $20-35. Leather lasts longer and can grip the floor better, but canvas is less hot and easier to move in. Shoes also have a whole sole with one solid piece of suede on the bottom, or split soles with two smaller pieces of suede, one on the toe and one on the heel. Try on shoes before buying them, since a shoe might feel different from how it looks. | Buy at least one pair of tights. Buy a comfortable, solid-color leotard. Wear a sheer wrap skirt or booty shorts. Tie your hair into a bun. Purchase soft pink ballet shoes. Ask about additional uniform pieces. Schedule a pointe shoe fitting if your instructor has approved it. Wear black footed or footless tights. Put on a plain white t-shirt. Wear white crew or ankle socks. Use black ballet shoes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Dishwasher-Salt | How to Use Dishwasher Salt | To use dishwasher salt, first remove the bottom rack in your dishwasher to expose the salt reservoir. Then, unscrew the water softener cap to make sure there's enough water inside, and top it up if necessary. Pour your salt into the unit until it's full and wipe up any spillages with a damp cloth so the salt doesn't contaminate your dishes. Once the unit is full, screw the cap on tightly and replace the bottom rack. Afterwards, load your dishwasher and run it like you always do! | Remove the bottom rack to expose the salt reservoir. Pull the bottom rack out completely and set it on your kitchen counter. You may need to lift it up slightly to unclip it from its rollers. Your reservoir will be on the bottom of the dishwasher, probably off to one side. If you don't see a reservoir, your dishwasher may not have a built-in water softener. Unscrew the cap and check for water. Water softener units have caps that need to be tightly secured after each use. Unscrew this cap and set it to the side. If this is the first time you're using your unit, it needs to be filled with water. Pour enough in to fill it to the top of the opening. After the first time you use it, your softener unit should always have a bit of water in it. You won't need to refill it. Use only dishwasher salt in your softener unit. You can find specially made dishwasher salt at grocery stores, hardware stores, or online. It doesn't matter which brand of you choose, but you cannot use table salt, sea salt, or kosher salt as a replacement for dishwasher salt. These cooking salts contain additives that might actually increase the hardness of your water. They may also be too fine, which could clog the unit. Pour salt into the funnel until the reservoir is full. Different dishwashers will have differently sized units that take various amounts of salt, so there's no precise measurement for this process. Pour salt into the unit until it's completely filled up. Since you also have water in the unit, you're creating a saltwater brine that will refresh the chemical processes that occur in the built-in softener. Using a funnel to pour your salt will help you avoid spills. Hold the funnel above the reservoir instead of plunging it into the unit. If the funnel gets wet, the salt won't pour through it properly. Clean excess salt with a wet cloth. If you've spilled any salt in the dishwasher around the unit, wipe it up with a wet cloth. The salt you pour in the softener unit never actually touches your dishes, as it just stays in the unit itself. If you leave loose salt in the dishwasher, however, it will get mixed in with the water that cleans your dishes. This won't hurt them, but it may give you slightly dirty (or salty) dishes for one cycle. You can also run a rinse cycle without dishes to clean any spilled salt out of the dishwasher. Screw the cap on tightly. Replace the cap securely and check to make sure it's tight. If the cap gets loose during a cycle and detergent gets into the unit, it could break. You certainly don't want to pay for a new dishwasher just because your cap wasn't tight enough! Replace the bottom rack and run the dishwasher normally. Once you've checked your cap, you can put the bottom rack back into the dishwasher. Fill your dishwasher with dishes and run it like you always do. There's no need for an empty rinse or clean cycle after you refill the salt. Use salt only in dishwashers that have built-in softener units. If you are unsure whether your dishwasher has a built-in unit, contact your manufacturer. If you can't find it on the bottom of the dishwasher, you probably don't have one. Don't put dishwasher salt into other spots marked for normal detergent or dishwasher cleaner. This could easily break your appliance. Most dishwashers in the United States do not have built-in softener units that need to be filled with salt. Only select models come with this feature. Check your dishwasher’s salt indicator. The easiest way to know if your dishwasher needs more salt is for it to tell you that it's ready for a refill! Many dishwashers have an indicator light either on the top panel of the dishwasher and/or on the unit itself. If your lights are green, they're good to go. If your indicator lights are red (or, on the unit itself, clear), then you're ready to pour in more salt. Top off the reservoir at least once per month. If your dishwasher doesn't have indicator lights, it's up you to make your own schedule. It's a good idea to refill the salt about once per month in dishwashers that contain built-in units. Even if you have indicator lights, you may want to do a refill if it's been over a month. If you notice that your indicator lights are taking more than a month to tell you to refill the unit, they may be broken. Check your unit levels, and call your manufacturer if you're concerned. Top off the reservoir if your dishes appear overly streaky. Monitor your dishes to keep an eye on the water softness. If your water is getting too hard, you'll start getting streaky dishes that look like they have a white film on them. This will be especially obvious on clear glasses. Top off the reservoir with salt to restore that pretty sparkle to your wine glasses! | Remove the bottom rack to expose the salt reservoir. Unscrew the cap and check for water. Use only dishwasher salt in your softener unit. Pour salt into the funnel until the reservoir is full. Clean excess salt with a wet cloth. Screw the cap on tightly. Replace the bottom rack and run the dishwasher normally. Use salt only in dishwashers that have built-in softener units. Check your dishwasher’s salt indicator. Top off the reservoir at least once per month. Top off the reservoir if your dishes appear overly streaky. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Bridge | How to Do a Bridge | To do a bridge pose, lie flat on your back and bend your knees up. Push your hips off the ground and lift your chest, keeping your head relaxed on the ground and arms at your sides. Slowly lower your hips down to release. To do a gymnastics bridge, lie on your back with your knees bent and your hands by your ears, with your palms flat on the ground. Lift your whole body by pushing with your legs and arms. Shift your feet farther apart and closer to your body if you're having trouble. To lower down, tuck your chin into your chest and bend your elbows. | Lie on your back. Bridge pose, or short bridge, is a beginner backbend exercise that's common in yoga and Pilates. It's not nearly as strenuous as the full gymnastics bridge. It is performed on the ground, and the shoulders never leave the floor, so it's a good move for beginners. Bridge pose is good for stretching the spine, neck, thighs, and hip flexors. This exercise will work best if you're on a cushioned but firm surface, such as a carpeted area or an exercise mat on the floor. Bend your knees. While on your back, bend your knees to bring your feet in toward your bum. Make sure you keep the soles of your feet flat on the ground and your knees shoulder-width apart. Extend your arms out beside your body. Keep your palms flat on the ground. If your fingers can't touch your heels, bring your feet in closer. Lift off the ground. In bridge pose, your feet, shoulders, arms, and hands stay on the ground. Push into the ground equally with these parts to lift the rest of your body off the ground. You want your legs, hips, buttocks, and back to come off the ground and raise toward the ceiling. Lift your chest. This will help stretch out your back fully. At this point, your knees should be bent and your weight evenly distributed between your feet, shoulders, and upper arm area. Your neck should be able to move freely, but do not turn your head in bridge pose). Keep your feet parallel and flat on the ground, and keep your thighs aligned and slightly apart. Hold bridge pose in this way for at least one minute, or go on to one of the variations. Bring your hands together under your body. This is one minor variation of bridge pose. Because your weight is on your shoulders and upper arms, you should be able to bring your palms together under your body and clasp your hands together. Keep your arms extended and pressed into the mat as you do this. Make sure your palms are touching. Try the single-leg variation. Another version of bridge pose involves lifting one knee at a time while maintaining the pose. With your arms flat on the ground or together under your body, lift one foot off the ground and bring your knee in toward your chest. Hold this for 30 seconds before putting your foot back on the ground and repeating with the other leg. Don't let your hips or buttocks drop toward the ground when you're on one foot. Release from bridge pose. Unclasp your hands and place your arms beside your body again, palms flat on the ground. Slowly, and with control, lower your chest and back, starting at the neck and working your way down your spine until your bottom is on the ground again. Lie on your back. A more advanced version of the bridge, which is common in gymnastics, is to push your body up into a full bridge, which is sometimes called the full wheel. Bend your knees. Bring your feet in so they're touching your bum. Keep your feet flat on the ground. Position your hands. Bend your elbows and bring your hands up beside your ears. Place your palms flat on the ground with your fingers facing your toes. Push yourself up into the bridge. To achieve this, you need to push with your legs to get your legs, hips, back, and chest off the ground. At the same time, use your arms to push your head, neck, and shoulders off the ground as well. If you have trouble pushing into bridge, try tucking your feet in closer to your body and placing your feet farther apart. Position your body. As your body comes off the ground, round your back so that your body forms a semi-circle. Straighten your elbows without locking them, and keep your knees slightly bent. When in bridge, your head should be tucked in between your upper arms. Try to focus your gaze on a spot on the ground in between your hands. Come out of bridge. Before you let your body relax, tuck your chin into your chest to protect your spine and neck as you come down. Then, bend your elbows and slowly lower your body to the ground, keeping the weight evenly distributed between your feet and hands. As you lower yourself down, place your bottom on the ground first before letting everything else come down. Stand up straight. The backbend into bridge is the most advanced version of the bridge. To execute this move, you start in a standing position and slowly bend backward until your hands come to the ground and you're in bridge position. To begin, stand up with your feet planted firmly on the ground, shoulder-width apart. As you become better at backbends, you can bring your feet in closer together when you perform this exercise. Reach your arms to the ceiling. As you lean backward, you will rely on your arms to eventually catch the ground and support your bridge, so you need your arms fully extended as you lean back. Round your back and bend backward. Slowly, and with control, round your back as you lean backward, moving your arms and head at the same pace. As you lean, make sure your gaze follows where you're going, so that you can see better and don't get dizzy. If you have trouble executing this or are nervous, practice in front of a wall, so that when you start leaning back, you can catch the wall with your hands and slowly walk your way down to the ground. Place your hands on the ground. Whether you walked down a wall or executed a full backbend, place your hands on the ground as soon as you can reach. Don't let your chest or back collapse: stay in the rounded back position to hold bridge pose. Come out of bridge pose. You can come down from bridge pose as usual by lowering yourself down slowly. Or, for people with more flexibility, you can also exit bridge pose by walking back up the wall with your hands or pulling yourself out of the pose the same way you got into it. Exit bridge pose with a backbend kickover as an alternative. The other way to exit bridge is by kicking your body back into a forward facing position. To do this: Bend your knees more and bring your feet in closer to your body. Push your head farther through your arms so that you're looking at your feet. Stand on your toes and transfer your weigh to your non-dominant foot. Raise your dominant foot off the ground to about knee-height. With your non-dominant foot, push off the ground as you kick your dominant foot up and over your head, followed by your other foot. Place your dominant foot on the ground when it reaches and then your other foot as it comes around, and from there you can stand up. | Lie on your back. Bend your knees. Extend your arms out beside your body. Lift off the ground. Lift your chest. Bring your hands together under your body. Try the single-leg variation. Release from bridge pose. Lie on your back. Bend your knees. Position your hands. Push yourself up into the bridge. Position your body. Come out of bridge. Stand up straight. Reach your arms to the ceiling. Round your back and bend backward. Place your hands on the ground. Come out of bridge pose. Exit bridge pose with a backbend kickover as an alternative. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Test-Dog-DNA-and-Analyze-Parentage | How to Test Dog DNA and Analyze Parentage | To get your dog's DNA tested, start by asking your vet to recommend a reputable lab. Some popular options include Wisdom Panel and DNA My Dog. Once you have a few options to look at, compare each lab's costs for the kinds of tests that you are interested in getting. For example, you might want to get a parentage test for just one dog or an entire litter, or you may want to test for other factors, such as whether your dog as wolf or coyote ancestry. You can also talk to your vet about getting a full DNA profile for your dog, which can help you track your dog if it gets lost and is also helpful for finding out if your dog is at risk for certain health problems. | Look for a reputable laboratory. Start by asking your veterinarian about the most appropriate laboratory to obtain the test you want. Two of the bigger companies that offer DNA testing are Wisdom Panel and DNA My Dog. Consider asking your veterinarian which laboratories are the most reputable and whether there are significant differences in price. Ask them: “What is the best laboratory to test my dog's DNA?” “How many laboratories offer these tests in our region?” “What are the cost differences between the competing laboratories?” “Are there any major differences in customer service between the laboratories?” Weigh the cost. DNA tests can vary in cost depending on what you're testing for and where you're having the test done. If you are shopping around, consider both the price of the actual DNA test and any additional costs involved in transporting the DNA sample and following up with a veterinarian at the lab. If the price difference between laboratories is small, you should also consider whether or not it is worth spending a little more and whether there are any associated differences in expertise or service. Select a type of test. If you are a dog owner or a breeder, you may want to determine the parentage of your dog, and you may also want to figure out the ancestry of your dog. Ask your veterinarian to order the particular type of test that you'd like. Alternately, visit a laboratory in person or online to order the test directly from a laboratory that specializes in dog DNA. For a DNA parentage test, a lab will charge a fee per sample so you will be paying more or less depending on how many samples you need tested. You will need to have access to your dog, as well as the mother and father dogs that you want tested for parentage. The test will tell you whether there is a match between your dog and the possible mother and father dogs. You can also order a DNA parentage test for an entire litter of dogs. If you are managing a lot of dogs, this will give you confidence that all of the puppies belong to the same parents. Laboratories sometimes offer a DNA test to determine if there is any wolf or coyote DNA in your dog. This is often a separate test. Order a dog DNA profile. Ask your veterinarian to help you order a DNA profile for your dog. Getting a DNA profile of your dog is a highly secure way of identifying your dog in the event of loss or illness. If your dog is ever lost, the profile will be invaluable as a way of ensuring any dog you find is actually your dog. In the event of illness, your dog's DNA profile will also be crucial for determining that the correct sample is being used to test your dog for particular diseases. You can order DNA profiles from a variety of laboratories, which your veterinarian will know. In addition to the DNA profile, it is worthwhile microchipping your dog. Although your dog's DNA profile is the most fool proof way of identifying your dog in the event of loss, the microchip will be the faster method. Ask your veterinarian to insert a microchip between your dog's collarbones. Once you have figured out your dog's DNA profile, you should get it stored at the laboratory and at your veterinary office. If your dog gets sick or lost, the DNA profile will be very useful. Collect a sample of your dog’s DNA for the ancestry test. You can collect the sample yourself using the DNA test kit. The swab will come in a collection tube. Using the swab included in your DNA test, take a swab from inside your dog's cheek. Rub it on the inside of your dog's cheek and underneath their tongue for sixty seconds. Take it out and put it in the collection tube. Collect the DNA samples for the parentage test. You can collect the sample yourself but it will help to have your veterinarian direct the process. You will need to use a swab to collect DNA samples from the puppy, mother and father. If the puppy has been feeding from the mother, you will need to separate them for a few minutes before taking the swab to avoid sending milk to the lab. You should collect one sample at a time and write the names of the dogs on the sample tubes. Ask your veterinarian to collect a sample of your dog’s DNA. If you feel unsure about how to collect a sample of your dog's DNA, you could ask your veterinarian. Tell them you want to collect your dog's DNA for a laboratory test to determine parentage, ancestry or DNA profile. If you ordered a test, you should bring the entire test kit to the veterinarian so they will have all of the details. Send the sample of your dog’s DNA to the laboratory. Using the address given to you by the company, mail your DNA sample back to the laboratory. Once the company receives your dog's DNA sample, it will probably take them a few weeks to analyze it. Phone them to find out the processing time for your sample. You can also get your veterinarian to send the sample to the laboratory. Review the results of the parentage analysis. Review the details of the parentage profile summary including with relation to DNA markers, matches, and inclusion or exclusion of possible parents. Figure out whether the test has positively identified specific parents as a DNA match and whether any dogs have been excluded as possible parents. If you are testing for multiple fathers, you will probably find a complete DNA match for only one father. This will ensure you know the correct father or sire of the dog. If neither parent is a match, you will have to do another DNA test. Review your results of the ancestry analysis. Look at the results of your dog's DNA test analysis. Depending on the DNA test you ordered, these results may include information on the specific breeds in your dog's ancestry, as well as information on types of breeds and fitness levels. Reflect on the relationship between the laboratory analysis and what you thought your dog's ancestry might be. Consider whether you are surprised or whether the results confirmed your suspicions with regards to the specific breeds in your dog's ancestry. Talk to the laboratory about the results. To further understand your dog's DNA test results, it can help to phone the laboratory and talk to one of the veterinarians. They may be able to give you some further insight into the results of your dog's DNA test, especially if there is anything surprising about the results. You can also bring the results to your vet to see if they can clarify any questions or provide further explanation. | Look for a reputable laboratory. Weigh the cost. Select a type of test. Order a dog DNA profile. Collect a sample of your dog’s DNA for the ancestry test. Collect the DNA samples for the parentage test. Ask your veterinarian to collect a sample of your dog’s DNA. Send the sample of your dog’s DNA to the laboratory. Review the results of the parentage analysis. Review your results of the ancestry analysis. Talk to the laboratory about the results. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-Ben-10-Aliens | How to Draw Ben 10 Aliens | To draw a Ben 10 XLR8 alien, start by drawing a circle in the top-right corner of your page. Then, draw a triangle below and to the left of the circle, followed by a medium quadrilateral polygon extending off of it. Next, draw slim polygons extending off of the quadrilateral for the legs, and then draw thin triangles for the arms and a curvy line for the tail. After that, draw XLR8's face and pointy helmet, as well as 3 claws at the end of each arm. Finally, fill in the legs and add a ball at the end of each one, and draw XLR8s tail and armor. | Draw a circle near the right topmost area of the paper. Draw a triangle near and below this circle, with one of the triangle's corner pointing downward. Attach a medium quadrilateral polygon on the left side of this triangle. Add a smaller quadrilateral polygon on the left side of the first quadrilateral polygon. By the time you are done, you would have something that will resemble a fish with a large bubble near the top of its nose. From the "tail" part of this "fish," draw slim polygons beneath it that will serve as guide shapes for XLR8's legs. Draw slim triangles for XLR8's arms. Attach a curvy line behind as a guide for his tail. Draw facial guide lines (a vertical line with horizontal lines across it, forming a kind of cross). Using these line guides, start drawing XLR8's face and bottom part of his helmet. His eyes are shaped like almonds. Complete XLR8's pointy helmet. Trace XLR8's torso and arms. XLR8's elbows have a single sharp point and his arms have three claw-fingers. Continue tracing XLR8's dog-like legs. At the bottom of each foot is a small round ball. Draw XLR8's tail (resembling that of a lizard). Place the Omnitrix symbol on his chest. Add XLR8's details on his body, tail, and armor. Remove unnecessary lines. Color the drawing as desired. Near the topmost and center of the paper, draw a small circle for his head. Add a spade-shape under the circle to serve as his chin and jaw. Trace a vertical line to the very center of both these shapes, then add three parallel horizontal lines that will intersect this vertical line (forming some sort of a cross). These lines will serve as a guide where the facial features will be placed. Draw a large diagonal oval, tilted northwest going down southeast. Make its center outline intersect with the center of the face's "cross." Draw a medium-sized circle on each of the far corners of the large oval. This will serve as Four Arms' shoulders. Directly below the large oval and aligned with the head, draw a vertical oval of about the similar volume of the first oval. Make this second oval a little bit thicker on the sides and intersecting the first oval. From each of the shoulder circle, draw an angled line that will represent this character's first pair of arms. Let them angle upwards. Draw a circle at the end of each of these lines, to represent his knuckles. Add another pair of arms following the above principle, this time angled downward. Attach these arms just right below the first diagonal oval, but on the side of the second vertical oval. Trace a line in the vertical oval that will identify Four Arms' torso center. Using this as a reference, draw a pair of lines (angled) below the vertical oval as a guide in drawing his legs. Start drawing Four Arms' face: four eyes and open-mouthed (with upper and lower fangs). He also has a running tape in between his eyes, starting from the back of his head and stopping where his nose should be. Start tracing his muscular arms. His arms are furry and his knuckles only have four fingers. Continue tracing the rest of Four Arms' body. Again he is furry, and each of his foot have two fingers. Add clothing and accessory details. Erase unnecessary lines. Color the drawing as desired. | Draw a circle near the right topmost area of the paper. Draw a triangle near and below this circle, with one of the triangle's corner pointing downward. Attach a medium quadrilateral polygon on the left side of this triangle. From the "tail" part of this "fish," draw slim polygons beneath it that will serve as guide shapes for XLR8's legs. Draw slim triangles for XLR8's arms. Draw facial guide lines (a vertical line with horizontal lines across it, forming a kind of cross). Using these line guides, start drawing XLR8's face and bottom part of his helmet. Complete XLR8's pointy helmet. Trace XLR8's torso and arms. Continue tracing XLR8's dog-like legs. Draw XLR8's tail (resembling that of a lizard). Add XLR8's details on his body, tail, and armor. Remove unnecessary lines. Color the drawing as desired. Near the topmost and center of the paper, draw a small circle for his head. Add a spade-shape under the circle to serve as his chin and jaw. Draw a large diagonal oval, tilted northwest going down southeast. Draw a medium-sized circle on each of the far corners of the large oval. Directly below the large oval and aligned with the head, draw a vertical oval of about the similar volume of the first oval. From each of the shoulder circle, draw an angled line that will represent this character's first pair of arms. Add another pair of arms following the above principle, this time angled downward. Trace a line in the vertical oval that will identify Four Arms' torso center. Start drawing Four Arms' face: Start tracing his muscular arms. Continue tracing the rest of Four Arms' body. Add clothing and accessory details. Erase unnecessary lines. Color the drawing as desired. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cite-an-Interview-in-MLA-Format | How to Cite an Interview in MLA Format | To cite an interview in MLA format, include the interviewee's last name in parentheses after quoting it, making sure to put any punctuation outside of the parentheses. However, if you state the person's last name in the sentence, you don't need to include a citation in parentheses. If you're citing a printed interview, add the page number after the name in the citation. Finally, include the citation on your “Works Cited” page by listing the interviewee's last name, the type of interview, and the date of the interview, each separated by a period. | Use only the interviewee's last name when citing personal interviews. Personal interviews are interviews that you have conducted yourself. They have no page number because they have not been published in a book. When you cite a personal interview in the body of your paper, place only the author's last name in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Periods go after the parentheses. Think about the parenthetical citation as being part of the sentence. The period goes at the end of the whole sentence, so it goes after the parentheses. The superintendent stated that there would be money in the budget for new computers (Jones). Emily said, "Training for the Olympics was the most challenging thing I have ever done" (Walker). Eliminate the parenthetical citation if you use the last name in the sentence. MLA guidelines state that if you state the last name in the sentence, you do not need that same information in the parentheses. The parenthetical information complements, not repeats, the information provided in the sentence. Jones stated that there would be money in the budget for new computers. Walker said, "Training for the Olympics was the most challenging thing I have ever done." The difference between the examples in step 1 and step 2 is the way the last name is presented. In step 1, the last name is in the parenthetical citation because it does not appear in the sentence. In step 2, the last name appears in the sentence, so it does not need to be repeated in a parenthetical citation. The reason why the last name must appear in either the sentence or the parenthetical citation is because the last name corresponds to the entry on the works cited page. Every citation must link directly to the works cited page. Give the last name and page number for a print interview. If your interview is printed in a book or other print source, provide the author's last name and the page number. You cite this just like you would any book or journal. Emily trained so hard that she bruised her foot and had to take a break (Walker 45). Walker explained that she had to take a break from training after bruising her foot (45). Remember, MLA does not put a comma between the last name and the page number in a parenthetical citation. Place short quotations from interviews in quotation marks. Short quotations are no longer than four typed lines. When you cite short quotations from an interview, enclose the directly quoted words in quotation marks. Place the parentheses after the closing quotation mark but before the period. If a quotation ends with an exclamation point or a question mark, place it inside the quotation marks. Dr. James Hill said, "The virus starts by affecting the brain" (56). Dr. James Hill asked, "If we can't find a cure, how will we save the human race?" (57). Format long quotations with a block quote. Long quotations are longer than four typed lines. When you cite a direct quote from an interview this long, you must place it into a block quote. Do not put quotation marks around the quoted words. Instead, the words will be freestanding from the rest of the paragraph. Start the quotation on a new line after placing a colon after the lead-in text, instead of the comma like for short quotations. The entire quote will be indented one inch from the margin. The parentheses come after the punctuation, unlike in short quotations. Start your block quote like this: In an interview from 2002, Peter Jackson stated: Punctuate the end of your block quote like this: Jackson said he will always keep making movies. (34-35) Start a personal interview citation with the interviewee's last name. On the works cited page, start the citation entry with the last name of the interviewee. After the last name, add a comma and then the interviewee's first name. Directly after the first name, insert a period. Then, include the type of interview followed by a period. Add the date of the interview followed by a period. Dates should be formatted with the numerical value for the day, followed by the three letter abbreviation for the date followed by a period, and then the numerical value for the year. Most months just use the first three letters of their name. May has no period after the three letters. June and July both stay the same with no period afterwards. September is abbreviated using 4 letters: Sept. For type of interview, state if it is a personal, telephone, or e-mail interview. Example: Gambill, Mike. Telephone interview. 1 Apr. 2003. Include title of the collection for published interviews. Published interviews include both print and broadcast outlets. If the interview is part of a larger work like a book or TV program, the title of the interview should be included in the citation, along with the medium of the interview (print, web, DVD). The title of the interview goes in quotation marks and the title of the book/TV show should go in italics. For an interview published in a print source, start with the interviewee's last name, followed by a comma and then the first name. Add a period. Place the name of the interview in quotation marks, with a period inside the quotation marks. Next, list the name of the larger book or journal where the interview was published in italics. Add a period. Next, give the author or editor of the book by stating "By First Name Last Name" or "Ed. First Name Last Name." Add a period. Then finish the citation with information required by the medium. Amis, Kingsley. “Mimic and Moralist.” Interviews with Britain's Angry Young Men. By Dale Salwak. San Bernardino: Borgo, 1984. 34-47. Print. Blanchett, Cate. "In Character with Cate Blanchett." Notes on a Scandal. Dir. Richard Eyre. Fox Searchlight, 2006. DVD. If the interview has no name, just type the word "Interview" without any quotation marks or italics. Jolie, Angelina. Interview. 60 Minutes. CBS. WCBS, New York: 3 Feb. 2009. Television. Cite online-only published interviews like a standard web entry. Online-only interviews are cited just like standard web entries. In place of the author, list the interviewee, starting with the last name. If the interview has a title, put it in quotation marks. Place the name of the website in italics, give the publisher name, publication date, the medium of the publication (web), and the date you accessed it. If no publisher is given, insert the abbreviation n.p. If there is no publication date, use n.d. If the interview does not feature a title, add the descriptor "Interview" after the interviewee's name with no italics or quotation marks. Obama, Michelle. Interview by Caren Zucker. ABC News. ABC, 2009. Web. 19 Apr. 2009. Antin, David. "The Way I See It." Dalkey Archive Press. Dalkey Archive P, n.d. Web. 21 Aug 2007. | Use only the interviewee's last name when citing personal interviews. Eliminate the parenthetical citation if you use the last name in the sentence. Give the last name and page number for a print interview. Place short quotations from interviews in quotation marks. Format long quotations with a block quote. Start a personal interview citation with the interviewee's last name. Include title of the collection for published interviews. Cite online-only published interviews like a standard web entry. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Spouse-Happy | How to Make Your Spouse Happy | To make your spouse happy, make an effort to spend time with them and do things that you both enjoy. For example, you could schedule a weekly date night or a few short getaways throughout the year. You should also try to be affectionate to your spouse by hugging them every day, holding hands when you're out, and regularly telling them the things you appreciate about them. Additionally, do things to make yourself a happier person, like picking up new hobbies or meditating every day, which will make you a better spouse. | Work on making yourself happy. If you are unhappy, you will be in no place to make your spouse happy, so take some time to work on you. You may need to find an enjoyable hobby or a more gratifying line of work, make some more friends, or seek therapy to deal with past traumas. Do whatever you need to do to be the happiest you can be so that you can be the best possible spouse. No one can rely entirely on another person to make them happy. If you feel your spouse is unhappy for reasons that are not directly related to your marriage, encourage him or her to work on personal happiness as well. Maintain a positive attitude. Your attitude can have a huge effect on the health of your marriage. If you tend to be negative, make a conscious effort to be more positive, and your spouse will be much happier. Negative people tend to criticize and make lots of demands, both of which can lead to marital conflict. If you're not sure where to start in changing your attitude, make a conscious effort to avoid these two behaviors. Tackle your stress. Stress from a busy life can often cause people to lash out at their loved ones, even when they don't mean to. In order to avoid this unnecessary conflict, work on getting your own stress under control. You may want to try relaxation techniques such visualization, meditation, or yoga. If you have a lot of stress, you may also benefit from counseling. Have reasonable expectations. It's important not to come to a marriage with unrealistic expectations of the relationship, as this will cause both partners to be unhappy. Take a moment to assess what you expect of your relationship and determine whether you are being overly idealistic. Watch for mind reading. Mind reading is a common unrealistic expectation in relationships. You may expect your partner to know what you want without having to say what you want. For example, you would be engaging in mind reading if you expect your partner to come and sit next to you on the sofa without asking him or her to do so. Consider the importance you place on your feelings. Expecting your partner to change his or her behaviour for your benefit is also unrealistic. For example, if you get upset because your partner plays soccer with his friends on Saturday mornings, then you would be engaging in an unrealistic expectation if you think your partner should give up this hobby for your benefit and disregard his own feelings. Keep track of your expectations. To become more aware of any unrealistic expectations that you might be imposing on your partner, start writing them down. Then, take time to reflect on whether or not an expectation is reasonable and worthwhile. For example, you might ask yourself, does this expectation help or hurt my relationship? If the expectation is hurting your relationship, then you might simply say to yourself, “Having this expectation is not in my best interest.” Respond to your spouse's needs. While you should not have to change who you are in order to make your spouse happy, you may want to consider making small changes or compromises to accommodate your partner. Pay attention to things that your spouse asks you to do (or not do), and try to make them more habitual. For example, if it drives your spouse crazy that you leave your dirty clothes on the floor, try to become a little neater and make a habit out of putting your clothes in the hamper every day. Do things together. Happy couples make a habit of spending quality time together regularly. It will be much more enjoyable for you and your spouse to spend time together if you can find something to do that is interesting to both of you, so try to cultivate some common interests. It's a good idea to go out on dates together once a week. Try to plan a few short getaways throughout the year as well. Spend some time apart too. While time together is healthy, most couples also need their space. Work with your partner to figure out how much time together and apart works for both of you. Try to have at least one hobby that you pursue without your spouse, and encourage your spouse to do the same. It's also healthy for you both to spend some time socializing with your own friends. Embrace physical contact. Physical contact is a simple way to show affection to your spouse. Make this a priority, whether you're at home watching television together or out and about. Even the smallest touch of the hand can let your spouse know how much you care. Cuddle often. Try to get in the habit of going to bed at the same time to encourage intimacy. Hold hands while walking. Hug each other every day. Accept your differences. You and your spouse are bound to have some differences, and you will both be happier if you learn to accept, and even appreciate, those differences. Try to focus on how you and your spouse complement each other, instead of wishing that your spouse was exactly like you. Don't try to change your spouse. This will lead to resentment and conflict. Say kind words every day. No matter how long you and your spouse have been together, it's important to stay in the habit of using words to show your love. Never assume that you don't have to say something because your partner already knows that you care. Say "good morning" and "good night" every day. Always tell your spouse to have a good day. Say "I love you" frequently. Commit yourself to improving your relationship. Happy marriages do not happen by accident. If you want to improve the health of your relationship and make your spouse really happy, you will need to consciously work on the relationship. Always look for areas of conflict and find ways to resolve those conflicts. Resolving conflicts as soon as possible will keep them from growing into bigger issues that could threaten the happiness of your marriage. Keep in mind that no relationship is happy 100% of the time. You will face conflicts, and this is perfectly normal. Come to an agreement about money. Finances cause many disagreements and arguments in relationships, but they don't have to. Avoid this source of tension by having an open discussion about how you will manage your money as a couple. If money is tight, come up with a budget together that you can both agree upon. Be sure that both you and your spouse are comfortable with how money is managed. If your spouse wants more control over the finances, find a way to make this work. Communicate. Good communication is essential to any happy relationship, so never underestimate its importance. Be sure to share your feelings with your spouse, whether they are positive or negative. If you think there is a problem in the relationship, talk to your spouse about it right away. Encourage your spouse to bring problems up swiftly as well. Check in with your spouse every day to find out how things are going. Try to always be calm and respectful when talking to your spouse. Even if you do not agree, do your best to see things from your spouse's perspective. Focus on trust and forgiveness. In order to build a strong relationship, you and your spouse must both work on forgiving each other for past offences and trusting each other to respect your marriage. This will help you deal with conflicts in your relationship in a much healthier way. Never hold a grudge, as this will only keep your relationship stuck in the past. Instead, focus on the future. If necessary, go to couples counselling to work on these areas. Put your spouse first. If you really want your spouse to be happy in the marriage, you need to express your love and appreciation. This will let your spouse know that your marriage is a priority to you and that you do not take it for granted, no matter how many other things you have going on it life. Do little things to let your spouse know you care, like sending an "I love you" text in the middle of the day or surprising your spouse with breakfast in bed. If you have children, make sure to spend some time alone. While your children are important, they should not be prioritized at the expense of your marriage. | Work on making yourself happy. Maintain a positive attitude. Tackle your stress. Have reasonable expectations. Respond to your spouse's needs. Do things together. Spend some time apart too. Embrace physical contact. Accept your differences. Say kind words every day. Commit yourself to improving your relationship. Come to an agreement about money. Communicate. Focus on trust and forgiveness. Put your spouse first. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Barriers-to-Communication | How to Overcome Barriers to Communication | To overcome barriers to communication, give the person you're speaking to your full attention by turning off any distractions, like a TV, computer, radio, or phone. When the person makes an important point, re-state and summarize it to show you're listening and working to understand their point of view. For example, you might say “So, if I'm hearing you right, you're saying you're feeling overworked and stressed out by your boss.” If you feel lost or confused during the conversation, don't be afraid to ask for clarification, which shows you care. For instance, you might say “Would you mind going back to that other part of the story? I think I missed something.” When the person is done speaking, don't feel pressured to respond immediately, especially if the topic is more serious. Instead, you can say “That's very interesting. Give me a few minutes to think about that.” | Speak slowly and clearly without jargon and idioms. It's easy to get caught up in technical language and jargon when you're used to talking that way around your team. However, not everyone will be able to follow that language, so it's important to state things as simply as you can. That way, you include everyone when you're speaking. Whenever possible, use the present tense and active verbs. This rule doesn't just apply to technical jargon. You should also avoid big words that aren't common and idioms, particularly when you're talking with non-native speakers. Idioms, in particular, can be difficult to cut out of your language, but they are equally difficult for non-native speakers to understand. For instance, saying, "It's raining cats and dogs" isn't going to make a lot of sense to a non-native speaker, as it uses an English idiom. Instead, you might say, "The rain is coming down really hard outside." Provide pictures to make communicating concepts easier. Whether you're having trouble explaining a difficult concept or you're speaking to a group of people with different native languages, pictures can be the solution. Pictures and diagrams make it easier to get your point across, ensuring everyone is on the same page. For instance, if you're trying to explain a new product, showing pictures or videos of how it works can be more effective than just talking about it. Hire translators when speaking different languages is causing miscommunication. When you speak another language from people you're working with, translators are often a necessity. Even if you speak a common language, nuances can be lost when you or the other people you're working with don't speak the common language very well. A translator or translation service can make your life easier and help avoid misunderstandings. Offer classes to non-native speakers in your workplace. If you have people who don't speak the local language very well, that can create communication barriers at work. On-site classes during the work week make it easier for people to work on their new language, and in turn, that will make workplace communication easier. Even an informal class taught by someone in the workplace can help if you don't want to hire someone from the outside. This concept also works well the other way. If you have a sister office in India, for instance, offer classes in your office to learn Hindi to make it easier to communicate with your sister team members. Say things more than once for emphasis to introduce a complicated concept. When you're trying to get a concept across, repeating it more than once will help it stick in the listeners' minds. Even if you have no language barriers, many people need to hear a difficult concept several times for it to make sense. Try not to repeat the same thing word-for-word. Rather, re-state it in a different way, just in case someone didn't understand the way you explained it the first time. For instance, you might say, "Our new model shows social media is the best way to reach customers. On social media, you can engage people effectively, or so our research says." Be honest with the person you're talking to. Of course, the relationship with the person will determine how much you share with them. You'll tell much more to a partner than you would somewhat at work. However, the principle remains the same. You need to be willing to be truthful with them and be vulnerable and open about your mistakes. For instance, with your partner, you need to be honest about what you're feeling and how certain situations affect you. For instance, if you snap at your partner, you might say, "I apologize for snapping at you. I'm feeling upset about work, and I took it out on you." At work, you need to be open about mistakes you've made or problems you're facing. For instance, you might say, "You know what, that was my mistake. I'll get it fixed right away." Don't filter the message. This is similar to being open and honest about yourself, but with a key difference. When you filter a message, you withhold key information because you don't want to be blamed for it, whether it was your fault or not. You need to be able to deliver messages without removing information so that the other person can trust you. For instance, at work, you might not tell your boss about the bad sales report because you don't want to get blamed for it. However, holding back the whole picture stifles communication and keeps you from working together effectively. React positively when someone is honest with you. If you're honest with others, they're more likely to be honest with you. However, if you've exploded at someone in the past or blamed them for something that wasn't their fault when they shared bad news, they're less likely to talk to you about important issues. Also, they're more likely to filter the message for you, and you won't get a clear picture of what's going on. For instance, maybe your partner has told you in the past when your kid gets in trouble at school, but you tended to explode about it. In turn, your partner may start filtering the information they give you because they don't want you to get angry. Instead, try to react calmly to the situation and thank them for sharing the information with you. Calm down before having a discussion. If you're upset and your emotions are running wild, you're going to have a hard time listening and communicating with the other person. It's important that you both take time to cool off before you have a discussion. That way, you can have an honest, calm discussion. Just let the other person you need a little while. For instance, you could say, "I do want to discuss this with you, but I need a little while to cool down. Can we come back to this in an hour?" Use "I" statements when discussing your feelings. "I" statements help take the blame off the other person. They allow you to express what you're thinking and feeling without putting the other person on guard. For instance, instead of saying, "You always come home late," which is a blaming statement, say, "I feel anxious when you arrive late." Follow up agreements with actions. Once you compromise or come to an agreement, stick to it. Show that you're true to your word by following through with what you've said. Otherwise, in your next discussion, the other person will have a hard time believing you. In other words, be honest in your actions as well as your words. If you say you'll be home at 6 each night, be home at 6 or call to let the person know you'll be late. Avoid continuing an argument just so you can win. Discussions shouldn't be about winning. They should be about coming to a compromise or agreement you can both live with. If you keep holding on to the need to win, you're just going to make both of you upset as you try to dominate every discussion. This process requires you to regulate your emotions and your competitive drive. If you feel yourself wanting to keep arguing, step back for a second and ask yourself if it's worth it. What compromise can you live with? Forgive faults in other people. No one is perfect, including you! If you are constantly criticizing other people for their faults, you'll break down the roads of communication. No one wants to be around someone who's negative all the time! The next time you catch yourself continually criticizing someone, try to stop yourself or rethink what you wanted to say. For example, if you're always telling your partner how bad they are at cleaning up, you're going to make them upset and frustrated. Instead, praise them when you see them doing something good! Then they'll want to do more things like that to please you. Give the other person your full attention. Turn off distractions, such as the television or the radio. Set your notifications to "off" on your phone and put the phone down. Don't try to listen with half your focus. Consciously turn all of your thoughts to the person you're listening to. Sometimes, you can't turn off distractions. For instance, if you're in a cafe with the person, you can't turn off the music or the television in the background. In that case, do your best to block them out. In addition, make sure you're not just focusing on your side of the argument and what you want to say next. Try to focus on what they have to say and actually hear their point-of-view. Re-state and summarize what the person said. Don't repeat everything you hear. However, do take time to check in with the person as they're speaking. Give a brief statement or summary of what you've heard and ask the person if that's right. For instance, you might say, "So, if I'm hearing you right, you're saying you're feeling overworked and stressed out by your boss." This shows you're listening and helps you to make sure you're getting the story right. Try not to interrupt the person. Rather, wait for them to take a break before making a statement. Ask for clarification when you miss things. Most people don't talk linearly. They may go back and forth in time or not tell a story logically. If you feel like you've missed something, don't be afraid to ask a question. That shows them that you care enough to make sure you understand exactly what they're saying. For example, you might say, "Would you mind going back to that other part of the story? I think I missed something." Offer emotional labels for what the person is saying. Often, when you're wanting to listen well, the other person is trying to communicate how they're feeling emotionally. However, they won't always do that in a straightforward way, so offering emotional labels back to them can be helpful in the communication process. For instance, you might say, "If I'm hearing you right, this situation is making you anxious and frustrated." Ask for time to think when you need it. Sometimes, when a person finishes, you may need a few minutes to analyze what they said. It's fine to take a moment. You don't have to respond instantly, but you should let them know. You might say, "That's interesting. Give me a few minutes to think about that." Learn to express empathy. Empathy is when you feel for the other person for what they're going through. However, you can't connect with them unless you are able to express that empathy. Expressing empathy encourages connection, as you're telling them you understand their emotion and you wish you could help. You can say things like, "I'm sorry you're going through that," or "I know that must be hard for you." If you need to, work on saying them in front of a mirror and try to pick a tone of voice that seems the most empathetic. Think about your nonverbal communication, too. You don't want to be grinning broadly when you tell the other person you're sad they're divorcing their spouse, for instance. You don't necessarily have to feel empathy to communicate empathy. In other words, it's fine to fake it, as long as you can do it well. You may not feel depressed by what they're saying. However, it's still important to them, and you should acknowledge that. | Speak slowly and clearly without jargon and idioms. Provide pictures to make communicating concepts easier. Hire translators when speaking different languages is causing miscommunication. Offer classes to non-native speakers in your workplace. Say things more than once for emphasis to introduce a complicated concept. Be honest with the person you're talking to. Don't filter the message. React positively when someone is honest with you. Calm down before having a discussion. Use "I" statements when discussing your feelings. Follow up agreements with actions. Avoid continuing an argument just so you can win. Forgive faults in other people. Give the other person your full attention. Re-state and summarize what the person said. Ask for clarification when you miss things. Offer emotional labels for what the person is saying. Ask for time to think when you need it. Learn to express empathy. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Check-Your-Sperm-Count | How to Check Your Sperm Count | To check your sperm count, you can use an at-home testing kit, which are available at most drugstores and pharmacies. However, know that at-home tests don't measure all fertility factors like the percent of your sperm that are alive and how well they move. For more thorough results, you can get medically tested to check your sperm count. Just visit a doctor and explain you're worried about your fertility and you would like to have your sperm tested. Your doctor will provide you with specific details on how to collect an accurate sample, like avoiding smoking, drinking, and drugs for 10 days prior to the test. | Complete the test at home. At-home sperm tests have been found to be accurate around 95% of the time. Masturbate into the cup the kit provides for you and complete the test exactly as indicated in the instructions. Read the instructions carefully beforehand so you know what to do and what not to do. Generally, you will collect your sample in a cup, transfer the sample to the testing kit after a specific amount of time, and read the results.You may also have to add another solution to the sample, but this depends on the test. Tests like these are available at many drug stores and pharmacies. Evaluate the results. Results should be available in about 10 minutes, though this varies by test. A normal sperm concentration is considered to be above 20 million per milliliter. If your results are lower than that, consult your doctor for a complete infertility workup. Some tests simply tell you whether your count is normal or low. Others may be more exact. This varies by test, so read the instructions carefully. Consult a specialist to check your sperm. At-home tests do not measure other factors that affect fertility. If you are having trouble conceiving, consider seeing a fertility specialist even if your at-home test shows normal results. At-home tests do not check: How much semen you ejaculate at one time (semen volume) The percent of your sperm that are alive (vitality) How well your sperm move (motility) The shape of your sperm ( morphology ) Visit your doctor for a history and physical exam. Tell your doctor you are worried about your fertility, and get an examination. They will ask you about your medical and family history, and perform a physical exam. They will examine your genitals, and may ask you about your sexual history and sexual development. Schedule a semen analysis test. Semen analysis looks at a sample of your semen under a microscope. A lab technician, doctor, or computer count how many sperm appear in the squares of a grid pattern. This is the most common sperm count test, so ask your doctor to schedule you an appointment with a fertility specialist. Repeat the test. Semen analysis tests are usually repeated at least twice over a period of time. This is because sperm count varies somewhat, and your doctor will need an accurate representation of your sperm count over time. A second sample is usually collected one to two weeks after the first. Masturbate into a container your doctor gives you. When it comes time to do your sperm test, your doctor will give you a special cup or container. Masturbate and catch your ejaculate in the container. Make sure to put the lid on to avoid spills. If possible, do this in the clinic. If you need to, you may be able to take the container home with you. Ask your doctor to give you specific instructions about storing the container, and when to bring it back to the office. Use a special condom made to catch semen for testing. Some clinics may be able to provide you a special condom to wear during intercourse. This condom collects your semen for examination. Some men find it easier to ejaculate this way, and it may help you if you feel nervous at the doctor's office. These may not always be available, however – ask your doctor about your options. Avoid common pitfalls. Collecting a sperm sample can go wrong in a number of ways. Ask your doctor for specific details about how to collect an accurate sample. Follow these guidelines to the best of your ability: Shower and wash your hands before taking your sample. Do not use lubricant, which can interfere with how your sperm move. Additionally, some lubricants contain spermicide that can ruin your sample. Do not ejaculate for at least two days before you collect your sample; on the other hand, abstain no more than 10 days before you collect your sample. Avoid smoking, drinking, and drugs for 10 days prior to taking your sample. Make sure all of your ejaculate goes into the container. If you miss, wait a day and try again. | Complete the test at home. Evaluate the results. Consult a specialist to check your sperm. Visit your doctor for a history and physical exam. Schedule a semen analysis test. Repeat the test. Masturbate into a container your doctor gives you. Use a special condom made to catch semen for testing. Avoid common pitfalls. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Out-of-Your-Apartment-Lease | How to Get Out of Your Apartment Lease | If you need to leave your apartment early, there are ways you can get out of your lease. Check your lease to see if it includes an opt-out clause. In many states, you and your landlord are required to find a replacement renter if you leave your lease early. Talk to your landlord as soon as possible and explain your situation so you have more time to come to a resolution. You may be able to find a replacement by advertising on social media. If your landlord has not been fulfilling their contractual obligations, like if they've neglected to make repairs, you may also have grounds to break your lease and move out. | Look for an opt-out clause. Find your lease agreement and review it for an opt-out clause that specifies your rights and responsibilities in the event that you decide to break the lease. This agreement may specify a timeline for giving notice of your intent to leave the lease early and may also specify penalties in the form of fines and lost security deposits. Look for the words "early release," "sub-let," or "re-let" when examining your lease. The exact language may vary between lease agreements. Find a replacement renter, if necessary. Some rental agreements require that you find a replacement renter if you break your lease. Others require that your landlord find a replacement renter after you give them notice of leaving the lease. In this case, you would have to pay for the intermediate months before they find a replacement for you, so plan ahead financially if this is the case. This information can be found in your lease agreement. Check to see that your landlord is meeting his or her obligations. In most cases, your lease will also specify the required duties of the landlord, including things like responding to complaints and repair requests. If your landlord is not fulfilling their end of the bargain, you may have grounds to break your lease and move out. However, this generally requires taking your landlord to court, which may be more trouble than it's worth. There may be additional landlord obligations not listed in your lease that can be found in your municipal regulations and state laws. Check these sources for more information. Talk to your landlord as soon as possible. Because many lease agreements require advance notice when you leave your lease, it's best to communicate your intentions to your landlord as early as possible. In other words, let your landlord know as soon as you decide to go through with breaking your lease. This can give the landlord more time to prepare for your departure and may make them more likely to work with you towards an amenable resolution. Explain your situation. Before you do anything else, simply try to explain to your landlord what your situation is. It's likely that they've had other tenants get out of leases before and are likely able to offer a few possible solutions. Hopefully, your landlord will be understanding, although there is no guarantee that they will be. This conversation is always easier if you've been a good tenant, doing things like paying your rent on time and not causing disturbances in the building. Be as open as possible. The more your landlord knows, the more they will be able to help you. For example, be sure to tell them if you are unable to give the required amount of notice. Work with your landlord to find a replacement renter. In many states, both you and your landlord are required to work towards finding a replacement renter in the event that you leave your lease early. This replacement can be either a new renter or a sub-letter on your lease. In either case, be prepared to pay your rent for the months until you can find a replacement renter. Finding a sub-letter means finding someone willing to take over payments on your current lease and live in your apartment. The lease, however, will still be in your name, so you are liable for payments being made and any damage done to the apartment by the sub-letter. Check with your Facebook friends to see if they know anyone looking for an apartment. This is the easiest way to get a sub-letter that you trust. Consider a termination agreement. If you are unable or unwilling to find a replacement renter, your lease or landlord may offer you the chance to simply pay your way out of the lease with a termination agreement. In many cases, this will involve paying several months rent after you move out and giving up your security deposit. However, you benefit from being immediately and completely out of your lease obligations. Check your area's laws. Every city, state, or region has its own laws. In order to know how you can legally break your lease, take a look at yours. Once you're familiar with the laws, you can then read deeper into your lease and possibly find a legal reason in your living situation to vacate. #*The remainder of these steps will only work under laws which vary from place to place, and you may end up needing to hire a lawyer. Even then, sometimes the law will not be on your side. Always proceed with caution. Check to see if your lease agreement is legally valid. Many landlords use standard-form lease agreements. This can potentially lead to errors that will make the lease agreement legally invalid in your city or state. While this will require hiring a lawyer, the overall costs will likely be cheaper than paying the remainder of your rent. Find something in your apartment that is dangerous. Your landlord is required to repair conditions that materially affect the physical health and safety of an ordinary tenant. You have to specify this condition in a notice certified return receipt to the place of which rent is normally paid, and you can't owe any rent at the time. In most cases, you must give the landlord time to make the repair, and send another written notice before you can take legal action. Examples of these conditions might be: Mold Termites or other bug infestations Broken smoke detectors Severely loose railing on your balcony Holes in carpeting that could trip someone Security issues (e.g. broken lock, doorknob, or gate) You as the tenant (or any of your friends) can't cause this condition – so don't take a sledgehammer to your smoke detector. Take action if the landlord has violated your right to privacy . If your landlord is violating your privacy rights, that is also grounds for legally breaking a lease. He or she is only allowed on the premises with your knowledge. Negotiate a lease-break agreement. If your lease doesn't already have a lease-break clause which specifies what you must do in order to break the lease, then you'll have to work this out with the landlord. This is the best way to get out of a lease because you won't burn bridges and taint your rental history. Consider some negotiation points: Offer up part or all of your security deposit. Offer to continue paying rent for 1-2 months after you vacate. Volunteer to find the next tenant to sign a new lease (you shoulder the costs of placing ads, costs of any screening, and showing the unit to prospective tenants). Finding a replacement renter can also help you avoid paying extra costs or settlement fees. Check your landlord's "duty to rent. " This may be found in your lease as “the landlord's duty to mitigate damages.” That means that in the situation where you don't pay your rent, your landlord can't just sit back and wait to sue you. They have to make strides to filling your space – and then that money gets taken off your debt. If this is applicable in your area, it may mean you're only required to pay a month or so's rent. Give adequate and polite notice. If you don't have a legal reason for leaving (and even if you do), give notice that you will be vacating the premises. And be polite about it – the more mature and respectful you are, the less likely your landlord will decide to be a pain in your side. Written notice 30 days prior to leaving is best. Even if your landlord is being difficult, always stay polite. Make sure to communicate via email or in print and keep copies should you need them later. Be honest and thorough, doing everything you can. Threats of a lawsuit can constitute retaliation and bad faith in some jurisdictions. If your landlord does this, get it in writing. It's another point in your favor. Know that when you break a lease, the law is generally on the landlord's side. Unless you have adequate reason to leave, the law will likely not be on your side. Don't think you can take this to court – it'll likely just add to your debt. After all, you signed a contract. Even if you're not there, you made the promise that you would pay that money. If you've tried to be nice about it and negotiate, consider contacting a mediator. Often these are publicly-funded. | Look for an opt-out clause. Find a replacement renter, if necessary. Check to see that your landlord is meeting his or her obligations. Talk to your landlord as soon as possible. Explain your situation. Work with your landlord to find a replacement renter. Consider a termination agreement. Check your area's laws. Check to see if your lease agreement is legally valid. Find something in your apartment that is dangerous. Take action if the landlord has violated your right to privacy . Negotiate a lease-break agreement. Check your landlord's "duty to rent. Give adequate and polite notice. Know that when you break a lease, the law is generally on the landlord's side. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Scientific-Abstract | How to Write a Scientific Abstract | When you write an academic abstract, start with 1 to 3 introductory sentences that explain the study's topic, purpose, and research questions. Then, follow up with 2 to 3 sentences on how you conducted your study, including its duration and sample size. Next, write 1 to 2 sentences on the results of the study. Finally, conclude with 1 to 2 sentences on the main point and impact of the research. | Complete your research paper. Authors usually write their abstracts after they have finished their research papers so that the abstract contains the major points of the article. If you need an abstract for a conference paper proposal before your paper is completely finished, be sure to have a draft or outline form of the paper from which you can create your abstract. Read your research paper completely. Highlight or underline the important points and copy and paste them into a separate document. After you finish reading your paper, review your underlined material and select sentences that help explain the research topic, research question, methods, results, and conclusion. Retain this material for your abstract. Identify keywords. Remember that online databases have keyword search engines for finding abstracts. Note relevant keywords that will help researchers find your paper. Set these aside for use in your abstract. Explain the background of your study. Using the material and keywords set aside from your paper as the basis, write 1-3 introduction sentences that explain the research topic, purpose of the study, and research question(s). The first sentence should be interesting, eye-catching, and draw the reader into your piece. As the shortest part of the abstract, your background should convey what already is known about the subject and how it relates to your paper. The background also explains what we do not know yet about the subject and thus what the study examined and/or what your paper presents. Think of the research paper as having investigated a particular scientific question. Other researchers will value knowing your research question. Your background section should answer questions like: What did I study? Why is my research question important? What did my field of study know about my research question before I did this study? How will this study advance knowledge in our field? Try to use an active voice and reduce passive language throughout your abstract. For example, write: "I interviewed Cassandra" instead of "Cassandra was interviewed by me." Minimize use of pronouns like "I" or "we." Write about "the study," "this paper examines," or "this research" instead of "my study" or "I write about..." Keep your abstract in the past or present tense but not in the future. For instance, do not write: "this paper will examine" but "this paper examines" or "the results showed." Share your research methods. The second-longest section of the abstract, your methods section should explain in 2-3 sentences how you conducted your study and what exactly you did. Did you use qualitative and/or quantitative methods? Methods can include lab experiments, ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, surveys, and/or data analysis. Your methods section should answer the following questions: What was the research design? How long did the study last? What was the sample size? How did you recruit participants? What was the research setting? Demonstrate your results. Write 1-2 sentences describing the results/findings of your study. Major findings include key quantitative or qualitative results or identified trends. Your results section is the most important part of your abstract because it explains what you discovered and the relevance of your work to other people's research. This is the time to elaborate and give details. Conclude with the main point and impact of your research. In 1-2 sentences, iterate your overall summary of the project and its theoretical and/or practical impact on the pertinent field(s) of study. State whether your research has filled a knowledge gap. The conclusion should be data-based and very factual. Do not present unsubstantiated personal opinions. End your conclusion with a strong final sentence. Choose a title for your abstract. Your title should summarize the abstract and convince reviewers or potential readers that the topic is important, relevant, and innovative. The abstract title can be the title of your paper. Be sure to include your name, institutional affiliation (if applicable), and contact information under the title. Some organizations, journals, or conferences require a special format for the title, which could be all uppercase letters, bolded, or italics. Read your abstract aloud and check content accuracy and flow. Your abstract should be short and concise but also flow smoothly. Make sure you have adequate transitions from sentence to sentence and consider adding transition words like "additionally" or "furthermore." Fix any problem sentences that represent your findings inaccurately or are unclear in their meaning. Read the abstract as if you were another researcher deciding whether to read your paper. Do you find the abstract has the right information to help you decide whether to read it? If not, ask yourself what is missing. Proofread for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Consider printing out your abstract and editing it with a pencil or pen. Having your work in print versus on your computer screen can help you catch additional mistakes and envision how your abstract will appear in printed mediums. Because your writing style impacts readers' perception of your work, effective style and accurate grammar and mechanics are important elements of a successful abstract. Be sure to place commas and periods within quotation marks, e.g. "Milton said." instead of "Milton said". Do not end sentences with prepositions (of, for, about). Vary your verbs and nouns from sentence to sentence and use a print or online thesaurus for synonyms in order to not sound repetitive. Avoid vague adjectives like "very" and "many." Try to quantify your findings with specific numbers or conditions that offer comparisons. For example, "135 interlocutors participated" or "Subject A's performance was thirty percent better than Subject B's performance." Written years should not have apostrophes. Thus, write "1990s" rather than "1990's." Eliminate unnecessary content and add any missing important pieces of information. Complete a word count. Make sure that your abstract is not too long or excessively short. Aim to have as close to the word count limit as possible, whether for example, 200 or 250 words. Some journals or conferences will reject abstracts that are too long so be sure to be accurate. Share your abstract with a friend or colleague. Having another person review your abstract will ensure that your abstract makes sense to potential readers. If they have suggestions for changes, re-read your abstract and revise your work. | Complete your research paper. Read your research paper completely. Identify keywords. Explain the background of your study. Share your research methods. Demonstrate your results. Conclude with the main point and impact of your research. Choose a title for your abstract. Read your abstract aloud and check content accuracy and flow. Proofread for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Complete a word count. Share your abstract with a friend or colleague. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Flip-200-Dollars | How to Flip 200 Dollars | With enough effort and careful planning, you can flip 200 dollars into a decent profit. If you have creative talents, use the money to make artwork, jewelry, or baked goods that you can then sell on for a profit. Or, if you're able to fix computers, walk dogs, or perform other services, you might be able to make a quick profit by advertising those skills to people in your neighborhood. Even if you don't have any skills, you can still buy used items for under their market value at markets, secondhand stores, and yard sales. Then, sell them on websites, like Craigslist and eBay, for a profit. Remember to leave some of your money to help advertise your products or services. | Know your goal. The goal of "earning money" is too vague. You'll need to decide on a set amount of money you'll want to make before attempting to flip your initial $200 investment. Vague goals are difficult to plan around. By setting a definite goal, you can work the numbers and plan accordingly. You may or may not reach your final goal, but your odds are probably better than if you go about it haphazardly. Make sure your goal is realistic. For instance, it wouldn't be very realistic to say that you want to flip $200 into $20,000. Depending on the amount of time you want to spend, though, it might be feasible to make as much as $2,000 from an initial investment of $200. If you only have a short period of time, a smaller goal, like $400, would be even more appropriate. Give yourself a time limit. Time limits are another key element of successful plans. Setting a time limit will keep you more focused, allowing you to create a more structured plan. The time frame you set should be influenced by the amount of money you want to earn, and vice versa. It will be easier to earn more money over a longer period of time. You should probably give yourself at least one month if you want to flip $200 into $2,000. On the other hand, if you only need to make $400, you might be able to manage that within one or two weeks. If your time frame is already set by some external deadline, you may need to adjust your funding goal to match it. When neither option can be adjusted, you may need to consider investing more than $200 toward your project. Consider your options. While there are limits on what you flip with $200, you do have a few different options to consider. Research each option and determine which ones you think you'll have the most success with. If you have the abilities for it, you can spend money making artwork, jewelry, food, or other small goods. Those goods can also be sold online or in person. Certain skills are also marketable. For instance, if you are able to fix computers, walk dogs, or perform other services that are in demand, you might be able to make a quick profit by advertising those skills to people in your neighborhood. Use the $200 (or less) for advertising. Split your funds. If you decide to embark on more than one venture, you'll need to decide how much money you can afford to spend on each part of the process before you actually begin. If you start spending without a plan, you'll probably realize that $200 can be depleted very quickly, and you may not have enough money to actually complete later parts of your project. As a general rule, you will need to set a budget that includes three different elements: the amount of money you spend on goods, the amount of money you spend on advertising, and the amount of money you spend on related fees. Fees are usually fixed amounts, so you should figure those out first. For instance, some online market websites may charge fees for every item you list. Visit each website you plan to sell through and find out if there are any fees associated with the service. Once you determine what fees you can expect to pay, you can figure out how to use the rest of your $200 investment. Advertising at this level will usually cost very little. If you plan to sell at garage sales and similar events, though, you should set aside a small amount of money to print fliers and similar promotional materials. For example, you might realize that you'll be spending $10 for listing fees on various websites, leaving you with another $190. Of that remaining amount, you may choose to spend another $10 printing and distributing fliers. That leaves you with $180 to spend on your investments. Shop around for good junk. Try to find cheap, unwanted items that other people no longer want. You may need to make a few repairs before you can sell the items to others, but the costs could still be worth it. Try going to estate sales, flea markets, and secondhand stores. If you think you won't be able to sell an item for more than you'll need to pay for it, pass it up. Any item you think you can sell for a higher price might be worth picking up, though. Ask people you know if they have any junk they're willing to part with. They may give it to you for free or for a low price. Look on the curb during garbage day, too. Most of the stuff being thrown out will need some repairs, but if you feel confident in your ability to adequately repair it, become a fix-it person and earn some money off of your trade. Sort through your own junk. Sort through those old boxes stored in your closets, attic, and basement for goods you no longer want or need. Items that are in good shape might be worth selling. In most cases, you'll likely find small items like books, CDs, and DVDs. Most of these items won't bring much profit, but as long as you can sell them for a few dollars, they're still worth spending time on. Collectibles and large items can be sold for greater amounts of money, of course. This may include old electronics, like DVD players and televisions, or other costly non-electronic goods, like baby strollers or furniture. Make minor repairs to potential sale items. Don't discard a potential sale item if you have the ability to repair it, but conversely, don't spend an excessive amount of money getting something repaired, either. Minor repairs include any repair you can make by yourself with the use of only a few cheap supplies. For instance, adding a new coat of paint or wood stain might be considered a minor repair. Major repairs include any repair you'll have to pay to complete or any repair that involves the use of expensive replacement parts. Such repairs might be worth the effort if you plan to flip a larger amount of money, but when you only have $200 to work with, it's best to avoid them. Create your own products. If you possess some level of skill as an artisan, consider making your own small wares by hand. Include the cost of materials as part of your $200 investment. Your skills should be at a semi-professional level. You don't need to be an expert, but you need to be better than a beginner. As a general rule of thumb, ask yourself if you would purchase something made by someone of your skill level. If the answer is “yes,” then this option might be worth pursuing. When designing products and purchasing materials, keep the price of those materials in mind. You may have more success purchasing cost-effective materials in bulk and producing small pieces than you will if you invest all of your money in expensive materials needed to create one work of art. Advertise your skills. You might be able to make money by offering to perform some small, marketable skill for a certain price. You will need to advertise your services, however, which will cost some of your initial $200 investment. Get creative, but choose a practical skill. For instance, offer your skills as a tutor in subjects that you excel in, or offer music lessons for an instrument you play well. If you feel most comfortable doing physical labor, you could offer to paint homes, mow lawns, or shovel snow. Be up front about the amount of money you plan to charge for your labor. Do a little research beforehand to determine how much money other people make doing the same service, then set a comparable wage for your own efforts. Build an online business. If you have the proper knowledge, you can start making money online quickly and easily. For example, if you can build websites, offer search engine optimization (SEO) services, or invest in domain names, you can make much more than your initial $200 investment. New websites are popping up every day and the owners of those websites are looking for SEO services. Familiarize yourself with SEO tactics and offer your services at a competitive price. One of the best ways to advertise your business is to prove your SEO capabilities by starting your own website and producing content that ranks for specific keywords. That will cost you well under $200, give you exposure, and prove that you know what you're doing. You can also profit if you buy a domain name that isn't in high demand, but might be one day. Once somebody with deep pockets is interested in that domain name, you could stand to make a tidy profit by selling it. Imagine if you had bought the domain name "cheap-laptops.com" a long time ago for just a few dollars. How much do you think it would be worth today? Keep in mind that you can't purchase a domain name based on a registered trademark and hope to profit from it by selling it to the trademark owner. That's a violation of federal law. Pick a generic, non-trademarked name. Sell something that is in high demand at a specific time. If it's hot outside, why not pick up some bottled water on the cheap at your local grocery store and sell it at a nearby park for a significant markup? You might need a permit and/or some permission to do so, but take care of that ahead of time. You'll also need a cooler to keep the water cold, but those usually cost much less than $200. Price to make a profit. No matter what you sell and where you sell it, you need to make sure that the price you sell it for will make the endeavor worthwhile. This is when you'll really need to get serious about doing the math. You'll need to take into consideration the market value of what you're trying to sell, the amount of money you spent on each item, and the total amount of money you want to earn. The first thing you'll need to do is analysis of the competition. How much are other vendors asking for similar items? Your price will need to be comparable to the standard price, or market value, of that item. You'll also need to figure out how much money you need to charge in order to make the type of profit you want. For flipping something as small as $200, you could probably get away with simply pricing each item at a cost that's equivalent in value to the profit rate you want to see. For instance, if you want to earn a total of $400 (which would mean a $200 profit), the average price you sell your items for should be double the price you paid for them. When considering the price you paid, you should factor in the cost of the item, the cost of repairs, the cost of listing fees, and the cost of advertisements. Sell goods online. Nowadays, there are many different websites you can sell products through. The right website will depend on the type of items you wish to sell. If you have more than one type of item, don't be afraid to sell through different websites, too. Just make sure that you don't accidentally list one specific item on multiple websites. Craigslist is one good option, especially for big items that would otherwise cost a lot to ship. Used books, CDs, and movies can be sold on Amazon or eBay's Half.com. Crafting supplies and handmade goods can be sold on Etsy , and just about anything else can be sold on eBay. eBay and Etsy are relatively safe platforms. However, others, like Craigslist, don't have an organized method of getting you out of fraudulent sales. Never send your items to buyers without receiving payment first. If you have to meet the buyer in person, do so in a public place within sight of security cameras or large groups of people. Hold a garage sale or yard sale. If the weather is nice and you've collected a large number of potential sale items, consider setting up shop in your driveway or front yard. Run your sale for at least three to four days, making sure that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are included in your dates. These are the days when most people will be out and about, so they're typically the days when most people will stop by to see what you have for sale. If you choose to run a garage sale and sell online, do not list any garage sale items online until after your garage sale is finished. Selling one item through multiple venues is generally a bad idea. Make sure that you advertise your garage sale adequately well. You'll need to post fliers that direct people to your home. These fliers should extend from your home to the nearest main street or highly populated road. Consider posting additional fliers on community bulletin boards, too. Garage sales are regulated in some municipalities. Make sure you have all of the proper permits before holding one. Attend larger market events. Check around for large-scale market events in your area that you can join. There will likely be some fee you'll need to pay to set up a table there, but you won't need to worry about advertising fees. Consider setting up a table at a large community flea market or swap meet. If you have handmade goods, you might want to set up a table at a craft show, as well. All of these options draw in large crowds of people interested in purchasing inexpensive goods. Other options include pawn shops and consignment shops. You can sell nearly anything to these shops, but items that can be sold for a higher profit, like jewelry, furniture, and clothing, will typically work better than small knickknacks, crafts, books, or electronics. Follow through on freelance jobs. If you decided to sell some skill, service, or form of labor, you need to follow through on any leads you get and take the offers that seem reasonable. Make sure that an agreement regarding payment is reached and decided upon in writing before you actually start working. Also, look for freelance “Help Wanted” ads posted online or in print. Check local newspapers, community bulletin boards, Craigslist, and other similar resources. | Know your goal. Give yourself a time limit. Consider your options. Split your funds. Shop around for good junk. Sort through your own junk. Make minor repairs to potential sale items. Create your own products. Advertise your skills. Build an online business. Sell something that is in high demand at a specific time. Price to make a profit. Sell goods online. Hold a garage sale or yard sale. Attend larger market events. Follow through on freelance jobs. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Pubic-Hair | How to Deal With Pubic Hair | To deal with pubic hair, you can use a small pair of scissors with a blunt end to trim the hair short and neat. Cut the hair as close to the skin as you're comfortable with. If you want to remove the hair entirely, shave with a razor using new blades while in the shower, going with the grain of your hair to avoid irritation. Alternatively, you can use hot wax to remove the hair, though it may cause irritation. | Wash hair with a gentle soap. It's not just the hair on your head that needs washing -- your pubic hair needs a little love and attention too. Every time you take a shower or bath, use a gentle, fragrance-free soap to wash the pubic hair. Be gentle -- pulling the hair down there can hurt! Your regular shampoo or body wash is too harsh to use on the sensitive skin down south, so don't put it anywhere near your pubic region. Use an uncolored, non-fragrant bar of soap reserved specifically for that area. Don't rub it directly on the pubic hair - lather it up on your hands first. Also be very careful to avoid getting soap on or inside genitals, as it can cause irritation and itchiness. This is especially important for women, as even the gentlest soap can upset the PH balance of the vagina, leading to inflammation or infection. Keep hair trimmed short. Even if hair removal isn't your style, you'll probably want to keep your pubic hair looking neat. The best way to do this is to give yourself a haircut! The best instrument to use is a small nail scissors, preferably one with blunted ends. This will allow you the greatest maneuverability and least chance of cutting yourself. Just be sure to set it aside, somewhere private, for pubic hair use only. Don't use large scissors, as these can be awkward (and therefore more dangerous) to use. You can use an ear or nose hair trimmers in a pinch, but make sure it has a guard you can place over the blades to protect yourself. Never use an electric razor with rotating heads, as these are painful to use in the pubic region. To trim the pubic hair, pull the hair away from the body and slowly and carefully snip it away, as close to the skin as you feel comfortable with. If you prefer, run a comb through the hair first, then snip the hair protruding through the fingers of the comb. You will have to rely on feel for most of the trimming process, though you should visually check your progress with a hand-held mirror at regular intervals. Make sure that you clean up any fallen hair after you're done trimming, as leaving pubic hairs lying around the bathroom (especially a shared one) is a major faux pas. If possible, do your trimming over the toilet bowl, that way you can easily flush away any fallen hairs when you're done. Many think trimming is the best way to do it. Shave the hair. Shaving is probably the most common option when it comes to pubic hair removal, as it is cheap, easy, relatively painless, and embarrassment free. You will need some gentle, unfragranced shaving cream or gel (both men and women should use a women's shaving cream, as it is the gentlest), preferably one designed specifically for removing pubic hair, and a new razor (dull blades will be less effective and can cause irritation). First, trim the hair from the areas you intend to shave -- you can choose to just remove the hair around the bikini or brief line, or you can go the whole hog and remove it all. Razors work best and cause the least pulling and irritation on short hair, so aim to trim the hair to about ⁄ 4 inch (0.6 cm) in length. Soften the hair using hot water in the bath or shower for 3 to 5 minutes before you shave. Alternatively, you can apply a warm compress to the area to achieve the same effect. Apply your chosen shaving cream to the area, taking care to avoid the genitals. It may be wise to test the shaving cream on a small patch of skin 24 hours before shaving, as some creams may cause an allergic reaction. Pull the skin around your pubic area taut using your free hand -- shaving works best on flat surfaces. Begin shaving, without applying any pressure to the razor (if you need to apply pressure, your razor is too dull). Shaving upwards (against the direction of hair growth) will give you the closest, smoothest shave, while shaving downwards (with the hair growth) will minimize irritation for people with sensitive skin and reduce the risk of developing ingrown hairs. Once you've removed the desired amount of hair, wash the area thoroughly with warm water to remove any cream, pat the area dry with a clean towel, then apply a soothing lotion to reduce irritation. Try a depilatory cream. Depilatory creams are a good option for people who just want to tidy up their bikini or brief line, with as little pain as possible. These hair removal creams work by using strong chemicals which actually dissolve the hair so it can easily be wiped away. As these chemicals are very harsh (as evidenced by their strong smell) it is not recommended that you use depilatory creams to remove all of your pubic hair, as they can be very irritating on the skin and have even been reported to cause chemical burns. They should only be used to remove excess hair outside the bikini or brief line. Before using a depilatory cream, you should trim the hair you wish to remove. This will cut down on the amount of product put on an old pair of underwear which you don't mind getting cream on. Use the underwear as a guideline for where to spread the cream -- this will ensure that none of the cream gets on any delicate areas. Leave the cream on the bikini or brief line for the amount of time indicated on the label. Never leave the cream on for longer than stated on the product instructions, as this can be very harmful to the skin. Once the time is up, wipe off or wash away the cream, as directed. Any unwanted hair will come away with the cream. Get a wax. Waxing is a very effective form of hair removal, with results lasting between 2 to 4 weeks. There are many styles of waxing available: you can just have unwanted hair around the bikini line removed, go for an extended bikini wax or landing strip, or get everything removed with a Brazilian wax. The same applies for men as women, though using wax to removing hair from the sensitive skin on the testicles is not recommended. Waxing is performed by applying a hot, stick wax onto the areas of hair your wish to remove. A strip of cloth is placed over the wax and then pulled away, taking both the wax and the hair with it. As the hair is pulled from the root, it takes much longer to grow back than with other forms of hair removal, such as shaving, which only remove the hair above the skin. However, waxing can be pricey, so despite the longer time between hair removal, it can be an expensive option to maintain. Although home waxing kits are available, if you have never used wax before it is recommended that you go to a professional salon to have pubic hair removed. Be aware that waxing can be painful, especially in such a sensitive area, though over time hair growth between waxes will diminish and pain should lessen slightly. Think about electrolysis or laser hair removal. Electrolysis and laser hair removal are two treatments available which can permanently remove or reduce pubic hair. Electrolysis is the only method which will completely remove pubic hair for good. It works by passing an electric current through the hair follicle, which fries the root of the hair and prevents it from growing back. You will only need one treatment (though it may last anywhere from 2 to 12 hours, depending on the amount of hair) and you will never need to worry about the hair down there again! However, it is important to know that electrolysis can be quite painful (though not as painful as waxing) and is expensive. Laser hair removal is a newer form of hair removal, which guarantees permanent hair reduction. It works by targeting the pigmented hair follicles with a pulsing light, thereby stunting hair growth. It is relatively painless, and the treatment only takes a couple of minutes, though several treatments will be required. Although laser hair removal is an effective hair reduction treatment, it is not guaranteed to remove all hair and other hair removal methods will still need to be employed. As it works by targeting dark pigments in the hair, it is not effective for treating light-colored hair. Laser hair removal treatments are also expensive. Consider going au naturel. It is important to understand that the decision to remove pubic hair is a personal one. So although it is becoming increasingly popular nowadays to go bare "down there", you should not feel pressured into waxing it all off if that is not something you feel comfortable with. As long as that area is kept clean and neat, there are no major hygienic reasons to remove pubic hair. Most people just choose to remove it for aesthetic reasons. It is important to be aware that there are many men and women who still choose to go the natural route, and let their pubic hair grow freely. So whatever option you choose, understand that it's perfectly normal! Soothe irritation. Irritation is just part and parcel of the hair removal process, and no matter what method you choose, you're bound to end up with some irritation, as least at first. To minimize those annoying red bumps as much as possible, you can: Exfoliate the area with a gentle sugar scrub. This gets rid of dead skin cells and allows the skin to breathe. If you don't have any sugar scrub handy, make a simple paste from baking soda and water, which will also do the trick. Moisturize the area with a gentle, non-fragranced lotion. Baby lotions and oils, along with any moisturizers containing aloe vera, are popular options which will soothe and calm the skin. Wear loose, breathable clothing. Skin needs air in order to heal, so wearing tight leather pants directly after a bikini wax or shave job is not such a good idea. Try wearing cotton underwear and skirts or loose trousers for the day or two following hair removal. Deal with ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs can be painful and can even lead to infection if left to their own devices. They commonly appear during the regrowth phase after shaving or waxing, If you have developed an ingrown hair in your pubic region, your can remove it as follows: Take a hot shower or bath to soften the skin around the hair and open the pores. Pat the area dry with a clean towel, then take a sterilized tweezers and, applying pressure on either side of the hair, pull out the hair. Dab a little topical astringent on the area, allow it to dry, then put on a breathable pair of cotton underwear. Continue applying the astringent over the next couple of days, until the area heals. Dye pubic hair. If you've prematurely developed grey hairs in the pubic region, don't fret. Although not medically recommended, it is possible to dye your pubic hair at home using a store bought hair color. However, it is very important that you follow the proper safety precautions to ensure that you don't get any color in any sensitive genital regions. Go for a color that's as close to your natural pubic hair color as possible. Pubic hair is usually a shade darker than head hair, so if you use hair color regularly, you may need to go a color darker than usual. Root touch up kits are ideal for dyeing pubic hair, as they provide just enough color and include a small brush for careful application. Before dyeing, do a patch test to ensure that you won't develop an allergic reaction to the color. Then apply petroleum jelly to all of the sensitive parts of the genitals where you don't want the color to go. Carefully apply the hair color, as directed on the packaging, and leave the color to develop for the minimum amount of time necessary. Wash the color away gently but thoroughly using warm water, then use a sponge or washcloth to remove the petroleum jelly. | Wash hair with a gentle soap. Keep hair trimmed short. Shave the hair. Try a depilatory cream. Get a wax. Think about electrolysis or laser hair removal. Consider going au naturel. Soothe irritation. Deal with ingrown hairs. Dye pubic hair. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Stripped-Screw | How to Remove a Stripped Screw | To remove a stripped screw, first check to see if there is any space between the head of the screw and the surface it's screwed into. If there is, grip the top of the screw with a pair of pliers and turn it manually until it's loose enough to remove. If there isn't any room, place a rubber band over the top of the screw. Then, insert a screwdriver into the threading of the screw through the rubber band. The rubber band should provide enough grip for the screw to catch the screwdriver. Press down while turning the screw counterclockwise to loosen it. If that doesn't work, try lightly hammering the handle of the screwdriver to drive the end into the threading of the screw. After striking it a few times, try turning it to loosen the screw. Keep doing this until you've raised the screw enough to grip it with pliers. | Maximize the grip strength. If you can still grip the screw head with a screwdriver, try one last time to remove it by hand. Follow these instructions first to maximize your chances: If the screw is fastened to metal, spray on penetrating oil, such as WD40, and let sit at least fifteen minutes. Use the largest manual screwdriver that fits your screw. If possible, grip the screwdriver handle with a wrench to get more leverage. Add material for extra grip. If the screwdriver keeps slipping out of the stripped hole, cover it with a small piece of material that gives extra grip. Press this into the hold with the screwdriver and try again. Here are some options: Wide rubber band , cut to form one band A piece of steel wool A piece of green abrasive from a kitchen sponge Duct tape, with the adhesive side against the screw head Tap the screwdriver into place with a hammer. Tap the screwdriver in gently to avoid breaking the screw head. Skip this step if you are working with a fragile object. This is a good option when a Philips head screw is stripped. You can also take a square #1 drill bit and hammer it into the screw head. Do this until it penetrates into the stripped Philips head screw. Push down hard as you rotate. Place your palm against the end of the screwdriver, with your arm directly behind it. Press directly down into the screw with your full forearm as you rotate the screwdriver. If the tool you are using is slipping, stop using it immediately. Further slippage will only continue to wear down the screw head and make it harder to remove. Definitely be sure you are going in the correct direction for removal, which is usually--but not always--counterclockwise ("lefty loosey, righty tighty"). Pressing down hard as you are unscrewing will help prevent slippage. Heat the area. If you can heat the screw without damaging the object the screw is attached to, this will often loosen the threads. Apply a heat gun or propane torch to the screw, moving it constantly to avoid overheating. Once it is hot enough to sizzle a drop of water, let the screw cool, then try again. This works especially well if the screw has been set in place with a bonding agent. Cut a flat-head notch with a dremel or hacksaw. If your screwdriver still can't get a good grip, cut a notch into the screw head. Insert a flat-head screwdriver and attempt to turn the screw. You can combine this with any of the approaches above. Get an impact driver. An impact driver is a manual tool that drives a screwdriver bit further into the screw using a weight and spring. This works well on sturdy construction, but may damage electronics or other sensitive equipment. If you're concerned about damage, avoid cheap models with a stiff spring, since these require forceful hammer blows to work. A powered impact wrench is not recommended, since the excessive force could damage the surrounding material. Set the impact driver to loosen screws. Some models have a switch. On others, you set the direction of the turn by twisting the handle. Hold the driver in place. Fit a drill bit of the correct size to the end of your driver. Place it in the screw and hold the driver in place at a 90º angle. Grip the driver at its midpoint, keeping your hand clear of the end. The bits that came with your impact driver are often extra-hard, which makes the process easier. Strike the end with a mallet. Tap the end of the driver sharply with a heavy mallet. A rubber mallet helps you avoid scratching the driver. Check the driver direction. Some impact drivers jar out of position after each strike. Set it back to "loosen" if you need to. Repeat until the screw is loose. Once the screw comes loose, use a regular screwdriver to remove it from the hole. Get a screw extractor. If the screw head is worn but intact, purchase a screw extractor. A typical extractor is essentially a screwdriver bit made of extra-hard metal, reverse threaded right at the tip. This is one of the most consistent ways to remove a stripped screw, but it does require caution. If the extractor breaks off in the screw, it may require a professional to finish the job. To reduce the chance of this happening, choose an extractor no more than 75% of the diameter of the screw shank (not the head). For Torx or socket cap screws with an exposed cylindrical body, use a multi-spline extractor. This fits over the head of the screw, and engages it with splines (teeth) on the inner surface. Instead of following the instructions below, tap this type of extractor gently into place, then turn with a socket wrench. Punch a hole in the center of the screw head. Place a center punch on the exact center of the screw head. Strike the end with a hammer to create a dent for your drill. Wear eye protection to protect yourself from flying shards of metal. Keep them on throughout this process. Drill a hole into the screw head. Use a drill bit designed for hard metal. The screw extractor should have the drill bit size stamped somewhere on the tool. Drill slowly and stabilize it with a drill press if possible. Start with a hole ⅛ to ¼ inch (3–6 mm) deep; going too far may break the screw. It helps to start the hole with a small drill bit to give the larger one a place to grip. Tap in the extractor with a brass hammer. The extra-hard metal of the extractor is brittle, so an iron or steel hammer could break it. Tap it in until the extractor has a firm grip on the walls of the hole you drilled. Turn the extractor carefully. If the torque is too forceful or uneven, the extractor may break, leaving you worse off than before. A tap handle that fits snugly over the head of your extractor is by far the safest way to remove the extractor and attached screw. The drilling should have loosened the screw, so you can often remove it without much force. Some extractor kits come with a nut that fits over the extractor head. Grip the nut with two wrenches about 180º from each other, for a more equal torque. Heat the screw if it won't come out. If the screw doesn't budge or you're concerned the extractor might break, remove the extractor. Heat the screw with a torch, then drip paraffin wax or water on it to lubricate the threads. Try the extractor again once the screw has cooled. Take care not to damage the surrounding material. Even when working with metal, it's best to stick to heat guns or propane torches. Move the torch around the screw constantly to avoid heating any one spot for more than a second at a time. Attach a nut to the screw with epoxy. Find a nut that fits snugly around the screw head. Bond them together using a two-part metal-to-metal epoxy, often sold as "weld bond." Wait for the epoxy to cure as directed on the label, then grip the nut with a socket wrench and rotate. If you don't have a nut the right size, you can adhere a smaller nut to the top of the screw head. This will not provide as much leverage. Drill out the screw head. Breaking the screw usually relieves pressure on the screw shaft, making it easier to pull out — but if it doesn't work, you've eliminated most other options. Choose a drill bit slightly larger than the shaft of the screw, so the head detaches completely when you drill through. Start with a center punch to make a hole in the exact center of the screw, and take care to drill directly through the center. Once the screw head breaks off, grip the screw shaft with locking pliers and rotate counter-clockwise to remove. If the screw head isn't flat, file it down or grind it with a dremel and a pointed grinding stone attachment. Center punch and drill once you have a flat surface to work with. Hire a professional. If all else fails, hire a machine shop to remove the screw using electrical discharge machining (EDM). This may be your best option if you used a screw extractor that broke off inside the screw. | Maximize the grip strength. Add material for extra grip. Tap the screwdriver into place with a hammer. Push down hard as you rotate. Heat the area. Cut a flat-head notch with a dremel or hacksaw. Get an impact driver. Set the impact driver to loosen screws. Hold the driver in place. Strike the end with a mallet. Check the driver direction. Repeat until the screw is loose. Get a screw extractor. Punch a hole in the center of the screw head. Drill a hole into the screw head. Tap in the extractor with a brass hammer. Turn the extractor carefully. Heat the screw if it won't come out. Attach a nut to the screw with epoxy. Drill out the screw head. Hire a professional. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Yourself-if-Someone%27s-Following-You-Home | How to Protect Yourself if Someone's Following You Home | If you think someone's following you home, call the police immediately. If you don't have a phone with you, go to the nearest shop or business, tell them you're being followed, and ask to use their phone. Avoid going back home until you're sure the person has stopped following you, since this will show them where you live. Avoid any alleyways or quiet streets. Instead, stay in public places with lots of people until the police arrive. This will make it harder for the person to see you and less likely to attack you. | Call the police immediately. Use your cell phone to call emergency services. If you don't have a cell phone, walk into an establishment, tell them you're being followed, and ask if you can use their phone to call the police. If they won't let you use the phone, ask them to call for you. Tell the police someone is following you and you are scared for your life. Give them as much information as you can about the person following you. Let them know exactly where you are. Follow their directions. Contact friends. Call or text friends who may be nearby. Plan to meet with a group of them as soon as you can. By being in a group, you may deter the person that is following you from continuing to do so. In addition, your friends will make you feel safe and could help defend you. Ask your friends to meet you in a public area, like on the street, in a bar, or in a restaurant. Request that a friend picks you up in a public location as soon as possible. Yell or honk your horn. If you feel immediately threatened, yell or honk your horn. This will draw attention to you. By honking or simply yelling “help me,” you could both scare off the offender and get someone to come to your assistance. If you're in a car, consider honking and turning on your emergency lights. This will alert passersby and emergency service personnel that you need assistance. Remember that while making noise could alert others to the fact that you are in danger, it could also anger the person following you and cause them to hurt you. Stay calm. Breathe deeply and avoid panicking. Tell yourself that you need to think rationally to safely get out of your situation. If you must, count slowly to 10 in your head. Panicking may result in you making rash decisions that could get you hurt. Don’t go home. Whatever you do, don't go home if you suspect someone is following you. The person could use that opportunity to corner you while you're trying to get into your home. In addition, they might come back later and try to break in. Ultimately, don't go home until you're completely sure that they're no longer following you. Go to a public place instead of going home. Cross the street or turn. Use the first safe opportunity to cross the street or turn. Doing this will make it harder for the person to follow you. Ultimately, you might get lucky and lose them around a building, in a crowd, or behind other cars. If you don't get away, take another turn. Do this until you think you've lost them. Stop frequently at unexpected places. If crossing streets and turning doesn't lose the person, you might be able to lose the person by stopping several times at places the person wouldn't expect you to stop. Avoid the route you'd normally take home and make your trip home as complicated as possible. Stop to get a cup of coffee or a soft drink somewhere. Visit a friend who is working. Run an errand at a major retail store. Go to an area with a lot of people. By driving or walking in an area with a lot of people, you may be able to lose the person. In addition, the person may be less likely to hurt or rob you in front of other people. Focus on streets with lots of pedestrian or car traffic. Consider walking into a food court, major retail store, or some sort of entertainment event. Run or drive away quickly. As a last resort, you may want to run or drive away quickly. By moving fast, you might succeed in losing them and getting away where you've previously failed. When planning your getaway: Don't box yourself in traffic. For example, at a stop light don't pull all the way up so your bumper is close to the car in front of you. Leave yourself room to drive around the car in front of you. Avoid walking down any corridors, alleyways, or streets where there are only one or two ways in or out. The more open the street, the easier it will be for you to get to safety. Give them your money and/or valuables. If your efforts to avoid them fail and they physically get ahold of you, you should seriously consider giving them your money or valuables so they don't hurt you. The best-case scenario is that they just wanted to rob you and not hurt you. There is no good reason to put yourself in danger for some money or a piece of jewelry. Learn self-defense. Sign up with for a self-defense class. In these classes, instructors will teach you ways to defend yourself against attackers. Then, after learning self-defense, you'll be able to make a choice as to whether you want to defend yourself or relinquish your valuables to an attacker. Some common moves include kicking the assailant in the groin, striking them in the face with your open hand, or block their attack with your arm and then hit them back. Remember, physically defending yourself could increase the chance that you are injured during a robbery or another type of assault. Cooperate with them. Listen to what they say instead of talking. Do what the person instructs you to do. This is especially true if the person is threatening you with a weapon like a knife or a gun. In many cases, cooperating will reduce the chances that the person hurts you. Don't grab for the person's weapon if they have one. Try to be deferential and don't give them attitude. | Call the police immediately. Contact friends. Yell or honk your horn. Stay calm. Don’t go home. Cross the street or turn. Stop frequently at unexpected places. Go to an area with a lot of people. Run or drive away quickly. Give them your money and/or valuables. Learn self-defense. Cooperate with them. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Rationalize-the-Denominator | How to Rationalize the Denominator | To rationalize a denominator, start by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the radical in the denominator. Then, simplify the fraction if necessary. If you're working with a fraction that has a binomial denominator, or two terms in the denominator, multiply the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator. To get the conjugate, just reverse the sign in the expression. Then, simplify your answer as needed. | Examine the fraction. A fraction is written correctly when there is no radical in the denominator. If the denominator contains a square root or other radical, you must multiply both the top and bottom by a number that can get rid of that radical. Note that the numerator can contain a radical, but don't worry about the numerator. 7 3 2 7 {\displaystyle {\frac {7{\sqrt {3}}}{2{\sqrt {7}}}}} We can see that there is a 7 {\displaystyle {\sqrt {7}}} in the denominator. Multiply the numerator and denominator by the radical in the denominator. A fraction with a monomial term in the denominator is the easiest to rationalize. Both the top and bottom of the fraction must be multiplied by the same term, because what you are really doing is multiplying by 1. 7 3 2 7 ⋅ 7 7 {\displaystyle {\frac {7{\sqrt {3}}}{2{\sqrt {7}}}}\cdot {\frac {\sqrt {7}}{\sqrt {7}}}} If you're entering your problem into a calculator, remember to put parentheses around each equation to keep them separate. Simplify as needed. Complete the equation that you just got to get it down to its smallest form. In this case, you'll cancel the common factor in both the numerator and denominator (7). 7 3 2 7 ⋅ 7 7 = 7 21 14 = 21 2 {\displaystyle {\frac {7{\sqrt {3}}}{2{\sqrt {7}}}}\cdot {\frac {\sqrt {7}}{\sqrt {7}}}={\frac {7{\sqrt {21}}}{14}}={\frac {\sqrt {21}}{2}}} Examine the fraction. If your fraction contains a sum of two terms in the denominator, at least one of which is irrational, then you cannot multiply the fraction by it in the numerator and denominator. 4 2 + 2 {\displaystyle {\frac {4}{2+{\sqrt {2}}}}} To see why this is the case, write an arbitrary fraction 1 a + b , {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{a+b}},} where a {\displaystyle a} and b {\displaystyle b} are irrational. Then the expression ( a + b ) ( a + b ) = a 2 + 2 a b + b 2 {\displaystyle (a+b)(a+b)=a^{2}+2ab+b^{2}} contains a cross-term 2 a b. {\displaystyle 2ab.} If at least one of a {\displaystyle a} and b {\displaystyle b} is irrational, then the cross-term will contain a radical. Let's see how this works with our example. 4 2 + 2 ⋅ 2 + 2 2 + 2 = 4 ( 2 + 2 ) 4 + 4 2 + 2 {\displaystyle {\frac {4}{2+{\sqrt {2}}}}\cdot {\frac {2+{\sqrt {2}}}{2+{\sqrt {2}}}}={\frac {4(2+{\sqrt {2}})}{4+4{\sqrt {2}}+2}}} As you can see, there's no way we can get rid of the 4 2 {\displaystyle 4{\sqrt {2}}} in the denominator after doing this. Multiply the fraction by the conjugate of the denominator. The conjugate of an expression is the same expression with the sign reversed. For example, the conjugate of 2 + 2 {\displaystyle 2+{\sqrt {2}}} is 2 − 2. {\displaystyle 2-{\sqrt {2}}.} 4 2 + 2 ⋅ 2 − 2 2 − 2 {\displaystyle {\frac {4}{2+{\sqrt {2}}}}\cdot {\frac {2-{\sqrt {2}}}{2-{\sqrt {2}}}}} Why does the conjugate work? Going back to our arbitrary fraction 1 a + b , {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{a+b}},} multiplying by the conjugate in the numerator and denominator results in the denominator being ( a + b ) ( a − b ) = a 2 − b 2. {\displaystyle (a+b)(a-b)=a^{2}-b^{2}.} The key here is that there are no cross-terms. Since both of these terms are being squared, any square roots will be eliminated. Simplify as needed. Take the fraction down to its simplest form by finding the common factor in the numerator and denominator. In this case, 4 - 2 = 2, which you can use to cancel out the bottom number. 4 2 + 2 ⋅ 2 − 2 2 − 2 = 4 ( 2 − 2 ) 4 − 2 = 4 − 2 2 {\displaystyle {\frac {4}{2+{\sqrt {2}}}}\cdot {\frac {2-{\sqrt {2}}}{2-{\sqrt {2}}}}={\frac {4(2-{\sqrt {2}})}{4-2}}=4-2{\sqrt {2}}} Examine the problem. If you are asked to write the reciprocal of a set of terms containing a radical, you will need to rationalize before simplifying. Use the method for monomial or binomial denominators, depending on whichever applies to the problem. 2 − 3 {\displaystyle 2-{\sqrt {3}}} Write the reciprocal as it would usually appear. A reciprocal is created when you invert the fraction. Our expression 2 − 3 {\displaystyle 2-{\sqrt {3}}} is actually a fraction. It's just being divided by 1. 1 2 − 3 {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{2-{\sqrt {3}}}}} Multiply by something that can get rid of the radical on the bottom. Remember, you're actually multiplying by 1, so you have to multiply both the numerator and denominator. Our example is a binomial, so multiply the top and bottom by the conjugate. 1 2 − 3 ⋅ 2 + 3 2 + 3 {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{2-{\sqrt {3}}}}\cdot {\frac {2+{\sqrt {3}}}{2+{\sqrt {3}}}}} Simplify as needed. Get the fraction down to the smallest and least amount of numbers possible by completing the equation. In this example, 4 - 3 = 1, so you can remove the bottom part of the fraction all together. 1 2 − 3 ⋅ 2 + 3 2 + 3 = 2 + 3 4 − 3 = 2 + 3 {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{2-{\sqrt {3}}}}\cdot {\frac {2+{\sqrt {3}}}{2+{\sqrt {3}}}}={\frac {2+{\sqrt {3}}}{4-3}}=2+{\sqrt {3}}} Do not be thrown off by the fact that the reciprocal is the conjugate. This is just a coincidence. Examine the fraction. You can also expect to face cube roots in the denominator at some point, though they are rarer. This method also generalizes to roots of any index. 3 3 3 {\displaystyle {\frac {3}{\sqrt[{3}]{3}}}} Rewrite the denominator in terms of exponents. Finding an expression that will rationalize the denominator here will be a bit different because we cannot simply multiply by the radical. 3 3 1 / 3 {\displaystyle {\frac {3}{3^{1/3}}}} Multiply the top and bottom by something that makes the exponent in the denominator 1. In our case, we are dealing with a cube root, so multiply by 3 2 / 3 3 2 / 3. {\displaystyle {\frac {3^{2/3}}{3^{2/3}}}.} Remember that exponents turn a multiplication problem into an addition problem by the property a b a c = a b + c. {\displaystyle a^{b}a^{c}=a^{b+c}.} 3 3 1 / 3 ⋅ 3 2 / 3 3 2 / 3 {\displaystyle {\frac {3}{3^{1/3}}}\cdot {\frac {3^{2/3}}{3^{2/3}}}} This can generalize to nth roots in the denominator. If we have 1 a 1 / n , {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{a^{1/n}}},} we multiply the top and bottom by a 1 − 1 n. {\displaystyle a^{1-{\frac {1}{n}}}.} This will make the exponent in the denominator 1. Simplify as needed. 3 3 1 / 3 ⋅ 3 2 / 3 3 2 / 3 = 3 2 / 3 {\displaystyle {\frac {3}{3^{1/3}}}\cdot {\frac {3^{2/3}}{3^{2/3}}}=3^{2/3}} If you need to write it in radical form, factor out the 1 / 3. {\displaystyle 1/3.} 3 2 / 3 = ( 3 2 ) 1 / 3 = 9 3 {\displaystyle 3^{2/3}=(3^{2})^{1/3}={\sqrt[{3}]{9}}} | Examine the fraction. Multiply the numerator and denominator by the radical in the denominator. Simplify as needed. Examine the fraction. Multiply the fraction by the conjugate of the denominator. Simplify as needed. Examine the problem. Write the reciprocal as it would usually appear. Multiply by something that can get rid of the radical on the bottom. Simplify as needed. Examine the fraction. Rewrite the denominator in terms of exponents. Multiply the top and bottom by something that makes the exponent in the denominator 1. Simplify as needed. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Bisquick-Mix-Pancakes | How to Make Bisquick Mix Pancakes | To make Bisquick mix pancakes, start by preheating a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat and greasing it with cooking spray or shortening. While that's heating up, whisk together 2 cups of Bisquick, 1 cup of milk, and 2 eggs in a large bowl, leaving some lumps in the mixture so the pancakes are fluffier. Next, pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the heated griddle or skillet. Once bubbles start to form at the top, flip the pancake over and cook it until it's golden on both sides. Finally, repeat with the rest of the batter. | Heat griddle or skillet over a medium-high heat. If you are using an electric griddle, heat to 375°F (190°C). You know it's hot enough when a few drops of water sprinkled on it sizzle and disappear. Grease with cooking spray or shortening. Whisk the ingredients together. Be careful not to over mix -- you still want lumps. They leaven the batter as it cooks resulting in fluffier pancakes. Over-mixing the batter will produce thin pancakes. Pour just under 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot griddle. Cook until edges are dry and bubbles start to form on top. Flip them over and cook until golden. Finished. Serve with butter and syrup or whipped cream and fresh berries. | Heat griddle or skillet over a medium-high heat. Grease with cooking spray or shortening. Whisk the ingredients together. Pour just under 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot griddle. Flip them over and cook until golden. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Dry-Rot-on-Tires | How to Prevent Dry Rot on Tires | Dry rot can ruin your tires in severe cases, but fortunately there are a few things you can do to prevent it. Clean your tires once a month with warm soapy water and a washcloth to get rid of any fungus that may be growing on them. After cleaning your tires, apply a few drops of tire dressing to protect them from ultraviolet rays, which are a common cause of dry rot. You should also make sure your tires are properly inflated, which will prevent them from blowing out if there is any dry rot on them. If your car is parked permanently, drive it once a month for at least a few miles to flex the rubber of the tires and activate the protective antioxidants. Keep the car under shelter or use tire covers to protect them from the sun. | Clean your tires with water and mild soap once a month. Use a washcloth with some mild soap (dish soap is fine) and wash the surface of the tire, then spray it off with a garden hose. Soap and water will clean your tires without stripping away valuable antioxidants that protect your tires. Keeping your tires clean will help the fungus responsible for dry rot from spreading. Apply a tire dressing once a month. After cleaning your tires, apply a few drops of water-based tire dressing to a cloth or sponge, then cover the surface of the tires with the dressing. Wait 5-10 minutes before driving, since the dressing needs time to stick to your wheels. You can get tire dressing for $5-25 (£3.57-17.86) from most auto stores. It's sometimes labeled as "tire shine" or "tire care." Tire dressing shields your tires from UV rays, one of the main causes of dry rot. . Make sure your tires are fully inflated Check the air pressure in your tires every time you gas up. If your tires don't have enough pressure, dry rot will be all the more dangerous, and could lead to a blowout. Replace your tires when they're too bare to grip the road. Replace old tires when the tread is wearing thin. Not only are older tires dangerous (because their tread is bare), but they're also at a higher risk of dry rot. If you drive a car, truck, or SUV, you can gauge this by sticking a quarter into one of the grooves of the tire. If the top of George Washington's head is flush with the top of the tire, it's time to start shopping for tires. For a larger vehicle like a semi-truck, use a penny. If Abraham Lincoln's face is completely visible, it's time to replace your tires. Move your vehicle at least once a month. Make sure that you're not letting your vehicle sit for months at a time; keep your vehicle moving to decrease the risk of dry rot. Tires need to flex their rubber in order to let the protective antioxidants make their way to the surface of your tires. Even if you have a vintage car that you never drive, try to get it out of the garage and drive it for a few miles once a month. This will help the antioxidants work most effectively and keep your tires safe. Keep your car out of direct sunlight. Since UV rays are a main cause of dry rot, you can protect your vehicle by storing it in a garage or under a car port when you're not using it. If you don't have a garage or car port, most automotive stores sell inexpensive tire covers, which protect your tires from UV rays. Also consider parking your vehicle inside a parking garage, instead of parking it on a curb. Not only will you keep your vehicle out of the sun, but you'll be doing your tires a favor by keeping them away from the curb. Avoid parking your vehicle near petroleum spills. Petrochemicals can dissolve the the antioxidants on your tires, putting you more at risk for dry rot. Keep your vehicle stored in a clean, dry area. | Clean your tires with water and mild soap once a month. Apply a tire dressing once a month. . Replace your tires when they're too bare to grip the road. Move your vehicle at least once a month. Keep your car out of direct sunlight. Avoid parking your vehicle near petroleum spills. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Chemistry-Teacher | How to Become a Chemistry Teacher | To become a chemistry teacher, focus on taking math and science classes in high school since they'll teach you the skills you need to know. In addition to learned skills, you'll also need to be a great communicator and problem solver, be able to manage time well, get excited about your topic, and think in creative ways to help students understand difficult ideas. If this seems like the right career path for you, then consider getting your Bachelor's degree in chemistry or education to pursue your goals. | Decide that teaching chemistry is right for you. Being a teacher isn't about learning a subject. It's about being able to pass along that knowledge to others, many of whom won't be as interested as you. You need to be able to get excited when explaining chemistry to others. You will need to be a strong communicator to help students understand concepts, and watch them carefully to notice when they may be struggling. Other soft skills that will assist you as a chemistry teacher include creative thinking, problem-solving, time management skills, the ability to manage multiple projects at once, and the ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, fellow faculty members, and members of the community. Study as much math and science as you can in high school. While chemistry is your passion, there is a limit to what you can study in high school. Beef up your background by taking advanced courses in other sciences like physics and biology, as well as advanced math courses like geometry and calculus. Get a bachelor's degree. Since you want to teach chemistry, that subject should probably be your major. Alternatively, you can major in education, but then be sure to minor in chemistry. Depending on the school, you may be able to double major. Some schools even offer a specific subfield within the chemistry major for potential educators. These programs will acquaint you with the field's principles, as well as good ways to relate them to students. If you enter college knowing you want to teach, this may be your best option. Not having a chemistry degree is not necessarily a reason you can't teach the subject. Only about half of the chemistry teachers in the United States majored or minored in the subject. Some states may offer alternative methods to licensing prospective chemistry teachers who have bachelor's degrees in other fields. Check the requirements on the Board of Education website in the state in which you plan to teach for specifics. Get a master's degree. Most states require an advanced degree to become a public school teacher, so be sure to check the requirements in your state. Even if the state you want to teach in doesn't require one, this can give you a wider variety of places to potentially work. This degree can be in chemistry or education. In either case, you are demonstrating a greater depth of knowledge, which even schools that do not require will find attractive when hiring. There is the additional option of continuing on with your education to receive a doctorate. This is necessary if you want to teach at the college level. In addition, some private schools will like the ability to hire a PhD. If you want to teach at a public school there is no reason to go for the doctorate. Get some experience in the profession of chemistry. Through high school and college, you should be willing to find ways to get practical chemistry experience. This doesn't need to be a full-time job, or even paid employment. Experience like this will help keep you connected to the subject when you aren't in class or lab, and can give you practical exposure to the field. This can be especially useful when explaining the wonders of chemistry to uninterested middle or high school students. If you are interested in chemistry while in high school, talk to your chemistry teacher, or other people you know who are chemists or work with chemists. Look for jobs in places that employ chemists, like pharmacies, where you can at least watch chemists work, even if you can't do much with them directly. If you are majoring in chemistry in college, join chemistry clubs and honor societies (like Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Iota Sigma Pi, and Phi Lambda Upsilon), and look for internships during your summers. Practical work experience gained when you are studying the subject will look good when applying for a teaching job. Get your teaching certification. To teach chemistry in a public middle or high school, you will need a valid teaching certificate for the state in which you plan to teach, and many private schools may require you to have a teacher's license as well. The exact requirements vary from state to state. Generally, the license requires a single-subject certification and classroom experience. Many programs allow you to do these two things simultaneously. Some schools will allow you to work towards getting your certification while you start teaching, so long as you do it as soon as you can. This is especially helpful for people who already have a background in practical chemical work, but want to change careers and go into teaching. Some states offer reciprocity arrangements with other states where a valid teaching license in one state is automatically honored in other states, while other states require licensed teachers from other states to obtain a new license to teach in their state if they take a teaching position in the new state. Check with the Board of Education of the state in which you plan to obtain your license and any state in which you plan to move to for specifics. Decide what kind of college you want to work for. There are different kinds of colleges and universities out there, and each will involve you working with different student populations who have specific needs and requirements. In addition, certain schools also have research requirements for you, to make sure you and the institution remain on the cutting edge of chemical work. Community College. These are two-year public schools that provide the basis for students to transfer to four-year institutions. You will mostly be teaching introductory level courses, with limited lab work. The school will likely require only a master's degree to teach there, and you will spend most of your time preparing classes and working with students both in and out of class. Most schools will not expect you to do your own research, though the resources may be available if you have the time and desire. Predominantly Undergraduate Institution (PUI). These are four-year schools that keep their faculty focused on teaching classes for undergraduates. You will teach both survey-level classes to the general student population and more specific upper-level classes for chemistry majors. If your school has a graduate program, you may teach those classes as well. Schools will expect you to maintain an active research agenda, keeping up with the field and producing new research. Research Institution (R1). These are four-year schools that are focused on producing new and cutting edge research. Your primary responsibility will be to work in the lab and publish articles in academic journals that advance the field. You will have teaching responsibilities as well, ranging from introductory surveys to graduate seminars. For teaching, especially surveys, you will likely have teaching assistants, graduate students who can help with grading and other classroom responsibilities. Get an advanced degree in chemistry. Colleges want to see proof that you have a mastery of the subject material, which means your masters or doctorate needs to be specifically in chemistry, not education. You will need at least a master's degree to teach chemistry to college students, while most four-year institutions require a doctorate. Build a good relationship with your advisor. Your advisor is not just your instructor, but also a mentor for your career. In addition, he probably has many connections in the field, which you will need for recommendations and getting your foot into the door of many job openings. Find teaching experience. Most of the work you do in graduate school will be about learning chemistry principles and performing your own research. If you want to be a teacher, though, you need to get classroom experience. This will make you more attractive to a variety of schools, as the most likely jobs you will get will focus on your teaching ability. When you are in graduate school, make sure you get experience as a teaching assistant. Your duties will involve grading, leading labs and discussion sections, and holding office hours, all important jobs of an instructor. There are many possible tasks for a graduate assistant, so you may want to make sure you ask your advisor or department to make sure you get in the classroom. You can also cover classes as an adjunct. Many schools use temporary faculty to cover classes, especially at an introductory level. Many of these positions don't require a doctorate, so you can even do those before finishing your doctorate. Call or email schools in your area to see if they have openings, and send out your cv to look for interest. Create a teaching philosophy. In fields like the hard sciences, college professors tend to be more interested in their research instead of teaching. You will want to be able to explain to a job search committee what draws you to teaching. When you prepare your teaching philosophy, make sure it explains both how you approach teaching, but also what draws you to doing it. This teaching philosophy is also a great way to highlight the practical experiences you've gained from being a teaching assistant and course instructor. Talk about projects, labs, and assignments that kept students' attention, and things you learned about students from interacting with them. Find a job. College-level teaching jobs are difficult to come by, and you will be facing stiff competition. As you search through job advertisements, prepare your application, and face the interview, there are small steps you can take to help increase your chances of success. Read the job advertisement carefully to make sure you have all of the proper materials for your application. Each school asks for something different, and will ask for it by a certain date as well. Make sure each application has all of the documentation you need, or else the search committee probably won't read your materials. Tailor your application materials to the school you are applying to. Every school is a little bit different, and will look for different things in their students and faculty. Make sure your materials discuss how you will be a good fit for the school and department. If your advisor knows someone in the department, he will probably have some good advice for things you can say to ingratiate yourself quickly. If you get an interview, make sure you are prepared for the big moments, which include explaining your research and interacting with future colleagues. You will be expected to discuss your research, both formally in a job talk, and informally in conversation with other faculty. Make sure you can discuss your work in a compact and coherent way, and that you keep to the time allotted. A job talk should not run over, and informal conversation should be kept to within 5 minutes (the “elevator pitch” ). The interview is also a way for the other faculty to see what kind of colleague you will be, so make sure to study their research interests, and ask them about the projects they are working on. Earn tenure. The ultimate goal for a college professor is to earn tenure, effectively a lifetime appointment to your position. After you spend about six to seven years as an Associate Professor, the school will review your work to see that you are a valued member of the faculty and someone they want to keep around. If you do not earn tenure, your contract will most likely end and you will have to find a new job. Every school's requirements for tenure are slightly different, but they all involve a combination of productive research, teaching quality, and service to the school and department. The importance of each part of the tenure process depends on the school you work for. Community colleges and PUIs put greater emphasis on teaching than R1s, where research is most important. Make sure you know what your school and department wants to emphasize when you start to make sure you spend your time appropriately. Because tenure review is done by your peers, it can be helpful to be a good colleague. Remain friendly, help with requests and concerns, and do your best to be someone other faculty will want to work with. Having a good relationship with your co-workers can help you in the process, and bad colleagues may not receive tenure even if they are otherwise productive. Decide what kind of school you want to work for. There are a number of different schools in the country, and each type will have certain kinds of students and resources for you to work with. While you can be willing to work in more than one type of school, it can be good to know the differences. Public Schools. These are the most common type of school, and will have the largest number of job openings. They are open to all students in a locally governed school district, and subject to regulation by state and federal law. You will have larger classes with a variety of learning types and ability levels. The type of students you get will vary based on a variety of factors such as the school district's location. Depending on the school, your resources for labs and classroom work may be limited, which can affect the types of labs you have students do. Some public school systems operate charter or magnet schools, which draw students from across the district and have higher standards for work. Private Schools. These schools operate separately from the public school system, and generally have their own standards. Many have admissions requirements, so you will probably have smaller classes with better students. These can be governed by private groups, including churches, so you may be subjected to additional rules regarding standards and behavior. Many private schools will want you to have a master's degree, and will like it if you have a doctorate. Join a professional organization. There are several major professional organizations out there for teachers, such as the Association of American Educators. These groups are great for networking, finding opportunities for continuing education, and learning about new job openings. There are also professional unions such as the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, which can be helpful understanding your job rights and responsibilities. Search for openings. Once you have a sense of the kind of schools you are looking for and where you want to work, start searching for open teaching positions in those areas. Many professional organizations have job boards or other ways of advertising open positions. Find schools that are looking for chemistry teachers and submit your application. If you are more restricted geographically in your searching, perhaps for family or personal reasons, you may have be proactive in hunting. Instead of hoping for an open position nearby, contact local school districts and principals to ask what might be available. Be prepared to show your cv and discuss your experiences. Even if they aren't willing or able to hire you right away, they may be willing to keep your cv on file in case an opening does appear. Plan out your lessons. Look for the requirements or exams given by your state or school that the students should be prepared for. Otherwise, list out the main concepts you will want your students to understand, and prepare labs to demonstrate those ideas. Take into account the resources your school has available. Do not plan labs that involve equipment or chemicals that the school doesn't have, or at the very least be prepared to acquire them yourself. Keep up with standards. State standards for student learning are always changing, so you will need to keep a lookout. You not only want your students to understand the basics behind chemistry, but gain the specific knowledge required of them for advancement and graduation.#*This is also important if you teach Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate level classes to high school students. Those standards should be readily available, and the testing companies are willing to provide additional materials and courses to help teachers prepare their students for the exams. Continue your education. Just because you have the degree and the job doesn't mean you can stop learning. You know that chemistry is an ever-changing field, and new tools for student comprehension are being developed all the time. Search for courses in both chemistry and education that will help you keep up with new developments in the field, hone your skills, and network with other teachers to find new and interesting ways to help your students learn. Professional organizations like the American Association of Chemistry Teachers can offer in person and online courses for teachers looking to broaden their knowledge. There are a variety of state and federal requirements involving continuing education and professional development in order to maintain your certification. Keep an eye on what you need to do, and make sure you keep up with the standards. | Decide that teaching chemistry is right for you. Study as much math and science as you can in high school. Get a bachelor's degree. Get a master's degree. Get some experience in the profession of chemistry. Get your teaching certification. Decide what kind of college you want to work for. Get an advanced degree in chemistry. Build a good relationship with your advisor. Find teaching experience. Create a teaching philosophy. Find a job. Earn tenure. Decide what kind of school you want to work for. Join a professional organization. Search for openings. Plan out your lessons. Keep up with standards. Continue your education. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Stone-Fireplace | How to Clean a Stone Fireplace | To clean a stone fireplace, start by using a broom and dustpan to sweep up any ash and dust. Next, spray the fireplace with water and wash it with an all purpose cleaner and sponge. After an initial cleaning, mix mild soap and water, dip a sponge into the solution, and continue cleaning the stone. For a deeper clean, mix trisodium phosphate with water, dip a scrub brush into the mixture, and work at removing built-up grime. You can also make a paste by mixing a small amount of water with your trisodium phosphate, applying it directly to the stubborn spots, and scrubbing the area. | Clean the fireplace regularly. The outside of the fireplace should be cleaned at least once a month. The inside of the fireplace should be cleaned anytime ¼ or more of soot buildup occurs. For some, this could mean cleaning once a year. The fireplace may need to be cleaned a few times a year if it is used often. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Clean-a-Stone-Fireplace-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-a-Stone-Fireplace-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Clean-a-Stone-Fireplace-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8663279-v4-728px-Clean-a-Stone-Fireplace-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Cover the hearth in a tarp. Make sure to surround the area around the fireplace with a tarp. You should do this to protect the hearth and floor from the chemicals used in cleaning. You can buy a tarp, or use cheap shower curtains from the dollar store. Seal the tarp down with duct tape. Lay towels around the area. Lay towels or blankets in the area around the tarp. This will catch any dripping or running from the cleaning solution. Only use only towels or blankets that you wouldn't mind getting stained. Do an initial cleaning. Use a broom and dustpan to sweep up what ash and dust you can. Sweep around the hearth and use a smaller brush to dust the fireplace. Then, spray the fireplace with water. This makes it more susceptible to cleaning solutions. Put on protection. Always wear eye protection and rubber gloves when using chemicals. You can choose not to if using a milder solution, but you definitely should when using bleach, strong cleaners, or trisodium phosphate. You should also open a window to bring fresh air in while you're cleaning. Use an all purpose cleaner. Wash the fireplace down with an all purpose cleaner. Some all purpose cleaners are Mr. Clean Multi-Surface Cleaner and Goo Gone All Purpose Cleaner. Spray on the cleaner and use a sponge to scrub off the buildup. Switch to mild soap. After doing an initial scrubbing, switch to a mild soap. Mix the mild soap with water. Continue to scrub at the stone. Use more all purpose cleaner. Switch back to the all purpose cleaner after you've scrubbed for with the mild soap. Scrub for a while and then switch back to the mild soap if necessary. Continue switching back and forth until you are satisfied with the outcome. Allow a few minutes for the stone to dry. Mix the trisodium phosphate with water. Use ½ or 1 cup of the trisodium phosphate (TSP). Put the TSP into a gallon of warm water. This is a very strong chemical so be sure that you have all of your protection on when handing the TSP. Use a scrub brush. Dip a scrub brush into the mixture. Begin to scrub the fireplace. You may have to do some tough scrubbing to remove all the buildup. Make sure to get into the hard-to-reach places and nooks and crannies. Make a paste for tough areas. If the tough spots aren't coming off, then you can make a paste out of a small amount of water and TSP. Apply the paste directly to the spot. Scrub until the spot begins to lift. Rinse with water. Dip a clean sponge into water. Rinse every part of the fireplace that you used the TSP on. Allow time to dry. | Clean the fireplace regularly. Cover the hearth in a tarp. Lay towels around the area. Do an initial cleaning. Put on protection. Use an all purpose cleaner. Switch to mild soap. Use more all purpose cleaner. Mix the trisodium phosphate with water. Use a scrub brush. Make a paste for tough areas. Rinse with water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Gout-Relief-at-Home | How to Get Gout Relief at Home | To get gout relief at home, elevate the swollen joint to increase circulation and drainage. You can also soothe the joint by applying ice for 20 minutes at a time. During an attack, try taking an over the counter medication, such as Advil or Motrin IB, to reduce the inflammation and pain. In order to reduce gout attacks, lower your intake of purines, which can be found in red meat, seafood, and alcohol. Additionally, avoid sugary drinks, like juices sweetened with fructose. | Elevate the swollen joint. This will help increase circulation and drainage. If your foot is affected, lie in bed and prop it up above your body on a pile of pillows. If it is very sore, it may be too painful to even have a sheet over it. Soothe the joint by applying ice. This will help reduce inflammation and take the edge off the pain. Apply ice for 20 minutes and then give your skin time to warm up. This will prevent the cold from damaging your skin. If you do not have ice available, you can use a package of frozen peas or corn. Always wrap the ice or frozen vegetables in a thin towel so the ice isn't applied directly onto your skin. Try over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs may help reduce the inflammation and pain. Take them immediately during the attack and for two days afterwards. Possible medications include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). These medications are not recommended for people with stomach ulcers or bleeding, kidney problems, or blood pressure conditions. Don't take aspirin. It can increase your uric acid levels. If you are currently on other medications, consult your doctor to avoid any possible interaction effects. Make dietary changes to lower your intake of purines. When you digest purines, your body produces uric acid which can build up into urate crystals in your joints. By reducing the amount of purines in your diet you lower the amount of purines your body must process. Eat less red meat like steaks. Don't eat gamey meats like rabbit, pheasant, and venison. Avoid organ meats like liver, kidneys, heart, and sweetbreads. Reduce your seafood intake, especially caviar and shellfish like mussels, crab and shrimp. You should also steer clear of oily fish like sardines, anchovies, mackerel, sprats, whitebait, herring, and trout. Yeast and meat extracts are also high in purines. This includes marmite, bovril, and many commercially manufactured gravies. Low-fat dairy products may decrease your risk of gout attacks. Drink less alcohol. Alcohol, especially beer and spirits, is high in purines. An occasional glass of wine is ok and may even be beneficial. Binge drinking can provoke a gout attack. Avoid sugary drinks that have been sweetened with fructose. These drinks can aggravate gout. Drinks flavored with cherry extract are an exception, as long as they aren't artificially flavored and packed with other sugars. Cherries and cherry extract may help lower your levels of uric acid. Drink lots of water to promote healthy kidney function. Your kidneys are crucial for producing urine and getting rid of uric acid through your urine. The amount of water you need will vary depending on your body size, activity levels, and the climate you live in. But you should drink at least eight glasses per day. Once you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated and should drink quickly. If you urine infrequently and pass dark or cloudy urine, those are signs that you may be dehydrated. Exercise regularly. This will improve your health overall and make you feel good. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate exercise, like walking, or 15 minutes of more strenuous exercise, like running, five days a week. Swimming is a great way to get exercise without putting stress on joints that might be hurting. Lose weight if you are overweight. However, it is important to follow a healthy, sustainable dieting plan. Using crash diets that aim to make people lose lots of weight quickly are often high in protein and low in carbohydrates. These diets are likely to be high in purines and may aggravate your gout. Try vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C helps uric acid be excreted through your kidneys into your urine, and may be protective against gout. Talk to your doctor before adding supplements to make sure it is right for you. Vitamin C only reduces uric acid a little bit, so while it may help prevent new attacks, it is unlikely to be a cure. Drink coffee. Both caffeinated and decaf coffee may help reduce uric acid levels. However, this evidence is tenuous because studies have not been able to identify how this might be occurring. Go to a doctor if this is your first attack. Gout can damage joints and it is best to begin treatment as soon as possible. This will also help reduce your pain as quickly as possible. Symptoms may include severe pain, inflammation, and redness in the affected joint for several hours and less severe pain lasting for days or weeks afterwards. The hand and foot joints are affected most often. While gout can be managed with lifestyle changes, treatment usually requires medications. See a doctor immediately if your gout attack is associated with a fever or if the joint is hot. These symptoms may indicate that you have an infection that needs quick attention. Discuss the different medications available to treat gout. Your doctor will help you come up with a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs and your medical history. Your doctor may prescribe: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If over-the-counter drugs were ineffective and managing your pain, the doctor can describe something stronger. Colchicine. This drug decreases the inflammatory reaction of the joint lining in response to the crystals. Corticosteroids. These medications may be given as an injection directly into the joint for fast relief and may be especially helpful for those who cannot tolerate NSAIDs. However, these corticosteroids can't be taken long-term. If you have a history of gout, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce your uric levels by either reducing the amount of uric acid your body produces or by increasing the amount that your body excretes. Factor in your risk for future attacks when deciding a course of action. Some people are more prone to gout than others. Factors that raise someone's risk include: A diet with lots of meat, seafood, sweet drinks, and beer. Being overweight. High blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic conditions, heart or kidney disease. Taking certain medications against hypertension, anti-rejection drugs after a transplant, or aspirin. A family history of gout. Having undergone surgery or sustaining an injury. Men are more likely than women to have gout, though women's risks increase after menopause. | Elevate the swollen joint. Soothe the joint by applying ice. Try over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Make dietary changes to lower your intake of purines. Drink less alcohol. Avoid sugary drinks that have been sweetened with fructose. Drink lots of water to promote healthy kidney function. Exercise regularly. Lose weight if you are overweight. Try vitamin C supplements. Drink coffee. Go to a doctor if this is your first attack. Discuss the different medications available to treat gout. Factor in your risk for future attacks when deciding a course of action. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Defrost-Ground-Beef | How to Defrost Ground Beef | To defrost ground beef, start by taking it out of the packaging and placing it on a microwave-safe dish. Then, microwave the beef at 50-percent power for 3 minutes per 1 pound of beef. Rotate and the beef every 45 seconds so it defrosts evenly. If it's taking a long time to defrost, try splitting it in half so it thaws faster. | Plan ahead 1-24 hours to thaw your meat completely. If you freeze your ground beef yourself in thin packages (under 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick), you can thaw ground beef in the refrigerator in under an hour. Otherwise, plan for 24 hours for every 1 pound (450 g) of ground beef in the package. Keep in mind that the colder you keep your refrigerator, the longer the defrost time will be. Ground beef will thaw quicker in a refrigerator kept at 40 °F (4 °C) than it will in one kept at 35 °F (2 °C). Place the ground beef in a plastic bag or dish. The beef may leak through its packaging as it starts to defrost, leaving behind blood and bacteria. Leave the ground beef in its packaging, and set it on a tray or in a plastic bag to catch anything that may drip as it defrosts. The beef doesn't need to be covered, other than by its own packaging. Refrigerate the beef on a lower shelf. Find a place toward the back of your refrigerator to place the package of ground beef. A lower shelf is a good idea, because there's less of a chance of the beef dripping on something below it. Placing the beef near the back of the fridge ensures it stays at a steady temperature. Check the ground beef before you use it. With clean hands, gently press down on the ground beef through its package. If you are able to leave an indentation in the center of the beef, most of it will be defrosted enough to use. To check further, break the bulk of ground beef in half and press into the middle. If the meat is soft enough to press, it is thawed all the way through. If parts of the beef still seem solid, it is not completely defrosted. If necessary, you can finish up the defrosting process in the microwave. Use the beef within 1 or 2 days. Defrosting ground beef in the refrigerator is the slowest method, but it's also the safest, as the beef is kept at a steady, cold temperature. When defrosted this way, you can keep the ground beef in the refrigerator for an additional 24 to 48 hours after thawing. You can also refreeze the ground beef if you thaw it this way. If you decide not to use the ground beef after all, stick it back in the freezer within 24 to 48 hours of defrosting it. Plan on 60 minutes per 1 pound (450 g) of ground beef for thawing. Start at least an hour ahead of when you need your ground beef. That way, you'll be sure you have enough time to thaw your meat. Keep in mind that a larger package will take longer. A package that is 3 to 4 pounds (1,400 to 1,800 g) can take 2-3 hours. Very thin packages (0.5 inches (1.3 cm) or less) may thaw in as little as 10-20 minutes. Secure the ground beef inside a resealable plastic bag. Place the package of ground beef inside a leak-proof plastic bag. Seal it up as securely as possible by zipping the bag shut. If the bag leaks, bacteria can get to your food. Plus, you may end up with watery ground beef if it absorbs too much water. Submerge the beef in cold tap water. Place the wrapped package of ground beef in a large bowl or dish and cover it with cold tap water. Make sure that the beef is completely underwater. Leave the dish of water and the beef out on the counter as it defrosts. Only use cold water. Hot, warm, or even room temperature water can create a breeding ground for bacteria. If your tap water is too warm, add an ice cube or 2 to cool it down a little. You could also fill a clean sink with cold water and submerge your beef in that. Just make sure that the plug has a tight seal and that the sink is clean before you start. Change the water every 30 minutes. Drain the old water and refill the bowl with clean, cold water. This process allows the meat to continue defrosting while preventing the water from gathering too much bacteria. Plus, you ensure the water stays cool. Keep adding 1-2 ice cubes if your water is too warm. Check to see if the beef is thawed after an hour. Press on the ground beef package with clean fingers. Once it is soft enough to press, the majority of the ground beef is thawed. Break the block of ground beef open and press the middle of the inside. If it is still hard, the center of the beef is still frozen. Use the ground beef immediately. In order to prevent bacteria from growing, you need to use ground beef thawed in this manner within 2 hours. If you are going to wait 2 hours, stick it in the refrigerator for that period after it's thawed. Do not refreeze ground beef that you thawed in cold water, as it is more likely to grow bacteria. If you cannot use it within 2 hours of defrosting it, your best option is to cook it before refreezing it. Take the beef out of its packaging. It's not a good idea to thaw ground beef in its packaging, as you don't know if it's microwave safe. Some tubes even have metal ties on the ends which can spark in your microwave. Since this is a quick method, you can do it right before starting dinner. You do not need to worry as much about starting the defrosting process in advance. Prying the ground beef out of the package can be difficult if it is fully frozen and sitting on a styrofoam tray. If you have difficulty removing the beef from its backing, place the beef inside a resealable plastic bag, and zip it closed. Rinse the tray side of the beef under cold running tap water until it loosens enough to remove. Place the beef in a microwave-safe glass dish. Set the raw beef into the dish. Make sure the dish has sides high enough to prevent any spills from defrosted juice. Cover the dish with a lid or another dish. Microwave the beef at 50 percent power. Aim for 3 minutes per 1 pound (450 g) of ground beef. Use 50 percent power instead of 100 percent to help prevent the meat from beginning to cook. Some microwaves have specific defrost settings. These settings automatically calculate how long to microwave the meat and at which power percentage. Select the defrost setting on your microwave, if you have one, and punch in the number of pounds being thawed. Check your meat every 45 seconds, especially after the first minute. Even with defrost settings, meat tends to defrost unevenly. It can help to turn it over every 45 seconds, as well as check on how well it's defrosted. Most microwaves have rotating turntables that continuously turn the contents of the microwave. If yours doesn't, however, turn the plate every time you check on the beef. Determine whether or not the beef has defrosted enough by pressing on it. Start with clean hands. Press into the center of the mass to feel for spots that are still frozen solid. Remember to wash your hands again after touching raw meat. If necessary, split the block in half and feel the inside of the meat for frozen spots, which will still be solid chunks. Use your ground beef immediately. When thawing ground beef in the microwave, you should use it within 2 hours to be safe, as it has warm spots that can grow bacteria. Put in the fridge if you plan to wait that long. Do not attempt to refreeze raw ground beef that has been defrosted in the microwave. You can, however, cook the beef and refreeze it afterward. | Plan ahead 1-24 hours to thaw your meat completely. Place the ground beef in a plastic bag or dish. Refrigerate the beef on a lower shelf. Check the ground beef before you use it. Use the beef within 1 or 2 days. Plan on 60 minutes per 1 pound (450 g) of ground beef for thawing. Secure the ground beef inside a resealable plastic bag. Submerge the beef in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Check to see if the beef is thawed after an hour. Use the ground beef immediately. Take the beef out of its packaging. Place the beef in a microwave-safe glass dish. Microwave the beef at 50 percent power. Check your meat every 45 seconds, especially after the first minute. Determine whether or not the beef has defrosted enough by pressing on it. Use your ground beef immediately. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Long-Distance-Boyfriend-Feel-Special | How to Make Your Long Distance Boyfriend Feel Special | Long-distance relationships require a little creativity, but there are plenty of cute ways to make your boyfriend feel special. Hand-write him a letter, telling him how much you love him and how you can't wait to see him. Then, mail it to him so he can keep it and re-read it when he misses you. You can also make a slideshow of your favorite pictures of you together and add a song you both love to it. Or, send him a care package with little gifts, such as his favorite snacks, a framed photo of you, or merchandise of his favorite band. Another way to make your boyfriend feel special is to watch a movie together or play an online game together while video chatting. | Write an old-fashioned love letter to send by regular post. While you can send an email instantly, getting a package, or letter in the post is a much more intimate and a heartfelt effort. Letters also create a keepsake that just can't happen via email. Don't worry about writing the perfect poem or something profound, the fact that you made the effort to write is enough. You can draw a picture, find a heartfelt pre-made card or even send a postcard from a special place. If you want to try to write something special, try telling the story of how the two of you met. Give him special details that create a bond that only you two share. Send an email out of the blue. Keeping a long distance relationship special means making an extra effort, including sending an email just because instead of always replying to their emails. This can be as simple as a quick message to say they are on your mind or sending something funny. Keep in mind you may not always get a reply right back, we can't expect the other person to always be available but you can make an effort to send them an email they can read when they are. Make him the last person you talk to each night. No matter how busy you each get, taking the time to set aside routines like ending every night with each other on the phone or video chat makes the other person know they are important. Make plans to make time every day for each other. Send a funny e-card. You can find a silly GIF to send via chat or post a cute meme on their social media. Humor is a fun way to share an inside joke or a smile even when you aren't together. You don't always have to try to be “romantic” to stay connected. Sharing laughter is a good way to avoid becoming depressed due to being apart. Send a silly picture of yourself. Pictures are a fun way to include each other in daily life and can be sent instantly. They can also help to keep the other person from getting jealous as they are regularly included in daily life. Make a slideshow that features photos of you two. Celebrate the times you are together and countdown to the next time you will visit each other. A slideshow with a special song can be a fun way to save memories. Mail him a care package of his favorite things. This doesn't need to be something “romantic”, instead a sign that you are paying attention and know him better than anyone else. As a special way to count down to an upcoming visit, you can also send special gifts he can use while traveling or for the visit. If he is flying send him a survival kit for the flight or a new scarf in his favorite color for a winter visit. Schedule regular video calls. Being able to see the other person instead of merely talking to them or emailing them lets you share a better connection. You can even share video visits in different places like a favorite spot you enjoy together to bridge the gap. Plan to meet in person every once in a while. Visits include plenty of quality time whether or not you choose to do a lot of activities or just spend time together relaxing. Quality time and creating memories is what is important, not what you actually end up doing. You do not want to put too much pressure on each other to do things that are grand or big events, it's the quality of the time you have that is most important. Too much pressure to make everything perfect can ruin a visit. Engage in activities together. Play online games. Watch a TV show at the same time. Use technology like Skype to be able to share a meal or attend an event while apart. Doing things together doesn't always have to be in person. If you are not sure about what type of activities you can do together miles apart, look into things like a new video game or hobby on the next visit that can carry over to when you are apart. It can be fun to learn something new or meet on line to play a new virtual reality game you both like. Don’t forget to on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. Making an effort to remember special days whether or not you spend them together in person can go a long way in making the effort to keep relationship special and active. You may not always be able to spend special days together, but taking the time to celebrate in your own way can make them still very special. This can include sending a gift, or a video chat to include your partner in the holiday. Keeping a calendar can help to remind you of special days and focus on future visits. If you want to help him remember those dates as well, make him a cute calendar with pictures of the two of you with the dates already filled in. | Write an old-fashioned love letter to send by regular post. Send an email out of the blue. Make him the last person you talk to each night. Send a funny e-card. Send a silly picture of yourself. Make a slideshow that features photos of you two. Mail him a care package of his favorite things. Schedule regular video calls. Plan to meet in person every once in a while. Engage in activities together. Don’t forget to on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Season-Crab-Legs | How to Season Crab Legs | To season crab legs by steaming them, start by boiling salted water. Then, place a steamer basket in the pot and add the crab legs. If you're baking crab legs, first sprinkle them with salt and pepper and cover them in melted butter or olive oil. Then, put them in the oven on a baking sheet. However, if you want to boil your crab legs, begin by boiling salt and peppered water. Once boiling, add the crab legs to the water. Serve with lemon wedges and melted butter. | Bring the water to a boil in a large pot and add the salt to the water. Arrange your crab legs in the steamer basket. Place the steamer basket over the boiling water. Steam for 5 to 7 minutes or until you smell the aroma of the cooked crab legs. Remove the crab legs from the steamer basket and serve them with melted butter and lemon wedges. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C). Spray a flat-bottomed metal baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the crab legs on the baking sheet. Melt the butter in a small bowl in your microwave. For a healthier alternative, use olive oil and don't microwave it. Brush the butter or olive oil over the crab legs using a basting brush. Sprinkle the crab legs with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake the crab legs in the oven for 8 to 9 minutes or until you smell their aroma. Remove the crab legs from the oven and set the baking pan on your range top. Allow the crab legs to cool for 5 minutes. Serve the crab legs, providing lemon wedges and melted butter for dipping. Fill a large saucepan 2/3 full of water and bring the water to a boil. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to your boiling water. Add the crab legs. Make sure that the crab legs are completely covered by the boiling water. Lower the heat to medium and cook the crab legs for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the crab legs from the boiling water using tongs. Place the crab legs onto serving plates with lemon wedges and a dish of melted butter. | Bring the water to a boil in a large pot and add the salt to the water. Arrange your crab legs in the steamer basket. Steam for 5 to 7 minutes or until you smell the aroma of the cooked crab legs. Remove the crab legs from the steamer basket and serve them with melted butter and lemon wedges. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C). Arrange the crab legs on the baking sheet. Melt the butter in a small bowl in your microwave. Brush the butter or olive oil over the crab legs using a basting brush. Sprinkle the crab legs with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake the crab legs in the oven for 8 to 9 minutes or until you smell their aroma. Remove the crab legs from the oven and set the baking pan on your range top. Serve the crab legs, providing lemon wedges and melted butter for dipping. Fill a large saucepan 2/3 full of water and bring the water to a boil. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to your boiling water. Add the crab legs. Lower the heat to medium and cook the crab legs for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the crab legs from the boiling water using tongs. |
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