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https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Clear-Instructions | How to Write Clear Instructions | To write clear instructions, break up the task you're trying to describe into multiple steps that each contain just one action, which will make your instructions easier to follow. Also, start each step with an action word, like in "Cut the apple" or "Drain the pasta," so it's clear what action readers need to take. You should also make sure you're using simple language and avoiding jargon or technical terms whenever possible. If you do need to use a technical term, give a short definition for readers who may not be familiar with it. | Gather the materials needed. When you're writing instructions, you must first be familiar with the task personally. Get all the tools and supplies you'll need and lay them out in roughly the order you'll need them. Write down everything needed. When you write your instructions, you may want to include a list of tools or materials that are necessary to complete the task. Perform the task yourself. Even if you've successfully completed the task several times, it's still a good idea to walk yourself through it before you write your instructions, so you don't forget anything. If you're familiar with the task, you may be prone to taking short cuts, so make sure you don't skip any steps or omit any information your reader may not have. Make a detailed outline. As you perform the task, take a moment to write down what you've done. This helps you keep the instructions in logical order. If you're doing the task as you write down the steps, you know exactly what needs to be done and when. Define your audience. Instructions for the same task may be written in different ways depending on who will be reading and attempting to follow your instructions. You'll write differently for teenagers than you will for adults. Consider the reason as well. The instructions for kids working on a project will be different from the instructions for parents helping their kids with a project. Draft a short introduction. The introduction tells your readers what your instructions will enable them to do and what the final outcome will be if they complete all instructions. Keep in mind that most people will skip the introduction, or at most skim it, so don't include vital information or key warnings in the introduction. If you included an important warning in the introduction, be sure to include it in your steps as well, in case someone skipped the introduction. For example, if you're explaining how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you could mention that peanut butter and jelly is a wholesome, simple option that kids love for lunch or an afternoon snack. Divide the task into baby steps. Each step should have a single action, not several. If you have more than one or two sentences per step, it probably can be broken up into smaller, less complex steps. For example, instead of writing "Put the dog's collar around its neck and attach the leash," break it up into: "Fasten the dog's collar around its neck" and "Attach the leash to the collar." "Fasten the dog's collar around its neck" becomes the first step, and "Attach the leash to the collar" becomes the second. Start each step with an action word. Every step you write should be actionable. Use verbs that show your readers exactly the action they must take to complete that step of the task. Word your instructions in terms of what someone must do, not what someone must think or know. For example, if you're writing dog-walking instructions, "Check the collar's fit" is more actionable than "Know the dog's collar size." Follow a logical progression. Assume that your reader is going to jump right in and start working on the task as soon as they read the first step. Typically they aren't going to read your instructions through all the way to the end. If there's something your readers need to know to complete a step, include that information with the step itself. If there is any inherent danger in a particular step, include this warning with the step itself, not in your introduction or at the end of your instructions when it's too late. Include guides to let your reader know when they've performed the step correctly. For example, you say: "Your dog's collar fits properly if you can place two fingers between the back of the collar and your dog's neck." Choose your words carefully. Use simple language that anyone can understand. In most cases you want to avoid any jargon or technical terms. If you must use a technical word, provide a short and simple definition. For example, if you're explaining how to file a legal brief, you may need to use technical legal terms. Place the plain-language definition first, then give the term used in the courts. Use positive actions. Generally, it's better to tell your readers what they should do to complete the task, rather than what they shouldn't do. As someone reads instructions, they're in the mindset to complete the task. If you start telling them what not to do, they might get confused and do that thing anyway. For example, for dog-walking instructions, it's better to say "check the collar's fit" than "avoid using a collar that's too small." Write in second person. The pronoun "you" allows you to address your reader directly and can avoid confusion. When you use the pronoun "you," the reader knows exactly what they must do to complete the task, and doesn't have to guess. For example, if you wrote "the lever should be pushed," you leave your reader wondering who should push the lever. "You must push the lever" or even "push the lever" leaves no doubt that this is something your reader must do. Include alternatives. For some tasks, there will be more than one way to accomplish a step or group of steps. Provide the alternative along with the step so that the reader can choose how they want to complete the task. For example, if you're explaining how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you can add: "Substitute almond butter in case of peanut allergies." Use graphics where helpful. You may have heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words." When it comes to writing clear instructions, sometimes a picture or diagram will make a particular action more understandable for your reader. For more technical instructions, make sure the reader can clearly see what's going on in the picture, and the action isn't obscured by tools or hands. Organize your instructions into parts. Some complicated tasks have more than one part. If you're writing instructions for a larger task that includes several smaller parts, separate them into separate sections. If you're numbering your instructions, restart the numbering with each section. The reader will feel a sense of accomplishment after finishing each part. You should still break your task into parts, even if it doesn't have any semi-independent parts. Too many steps can overwhelm your readers. Try your instructions as written. If you can't follow your instructions as written, nobody else will be able to follow them either. Enlist friends to complete your instructions as well and let you know if they found anything confusing. You may have to test your instructions several times, particularly if they are lengthy or complex. Edit your instructions carefully. Typos and grammatical errors can ruin otherwise clear writing, making your instructions hard to follow. Read through them backwards and forwards to make sure they're error-free. If you're not confident in your editing skills, get a friend to look over your instructions for you. Include a list of tools or supplies needed. Particularly if a task requires specific tools or materials, a list can be helpful for your readers. Put the list towards the beginning of your instructions so your reader can gather materials before they begin the task. Think of this like a recipe in a cookbook. Recipes always provide a list of ingredients and cookware at the beginning, so you can gather all these things before you start making the dish. Provide warnings where appropriate. After testing your instructions, you may realize that there are hidden dangers you didn't address when you first wrote your instructions. Alert your readers to these dangers so they can take precautions. For example, if you're writing instructions on how to boil water, you may want to include a warning that the pot will be too hot to touch even before the water starts boiling. | Gather the materials needed. Perform the task yourself. Make a detailed outline. Define your audience. Draft a short introduction. Divide the task into baby steps. Start each step with an action word. Follow a logical progression. Choose your words carefully. Use positive actions. Write in second person. Include alternatives. Use graphics where helpful. Organize your instructions into parts. Try your instructions as written. Edit your instructions carefully. Include a list of tools or supplies needed. Provide warnings where appropriate. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Veterinarian | How to Become a Veterinarian | If you're thinking about becoming a veterinarian, try volunteering at an animal shelter or shadowing your local vet to see if you like it. You should also focus on taking science and math classes if you're still in school since they'll help prepare you for veterinary school. Additionally, think about whether you want to be a standard veterinarian or specialize in large or exotic animals. Once you know what kind of vet you want to be, look into getting your bachelor's degree so you can eventually go to veterinary school. | Gain experience in the veterinary field. Preparing for a career as a veterinarian begins long before even graduating from high school. You will want to gain as much experience with animals and in the veterinary field as possible during high school and your undergraduate career. This experience will expose you to what veterinarians actually do, and will give you veterinary experience to put on your resume for veterinary school. In the United States there are 30 colleges of veterinary medicine which graduate about 3,000 veterinarians a year. You could volunteer at your local animal shelter, or you could shadow your pet's veterinarian. Working at a livestock farm can also help you gain valuable animal experience. Most colleges of veterinary medicine require a minimum of 400 hours of animal related experience Graduate from high school. While in high school, you should pay attention to your performance in science courses, such as Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Also pay attention to math courses, such as Trigonometry, Geometry, and Algebra. If you can excel in these areas, it may be a good indicator that medicine is the right field for you. If possible, take AP classes. Also, excelling in English class will help, as veterinarians need to be good at communicating to other people. Alternatively, you can pass the GED exam. Passing the GED exam might seem like a good idea, but many veterinary colleges would like to see that you have completed high school instead. Get a bachelors degree. You will need to attend a college which offers the pre-requisite courses for admittance into veterinary college. Make sure to complete all prerequisite courses for veterinary school. If one school's prerequisites vary from some of the others, make sure to take the prerequisite courses for all of these schools. These courses consist of many advanced science courses, such as biochemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, and physics. They are necessary to prepare the student for the vigorous coursework in veterinary college. Consider an accelerated path to veterinary school. This may save considerable time and money. According to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), more than 10% of recent incoming vet school students did not earn a bachelor's degree. These students may have earned an associate's degree in a field like animal science, or earned no degree in college while completing the prerequisite courses for veterinary school. Take the GRE (graduate record examination). You will most likely need to take the GRE towards the end of your college studies. These tests are standardized tests which graduate and professional schools use in deciding admission to their colleges. Odds are that the veterinary school of your choice wants your GRE scores. However, some schools accept the MCAT as well. The GRE is mainly a test to see if you're ready to study at a higher level (and to weed out those that aren't serious). The scores you need will vary by school. Work hard on your application to veterinary school. Getting into veterinary school is very hard. There are far fewer veterinary schools than medical schools. So, you need to make your application stand out! Making your application stand out is not hard! First, you will need to get lots of veterinary experience and animal experience. Veterinary experience only qualifies as work done under a veterinarian. As for recommendation letters, you'll probably need three: one from your academic adviser, one from a veterinarian, and one from an individual choice. If you can choose to waive the right to see your letters before they are submitted, do so. It shows that you trust your superiors' opinions of you, and the admissions panel will know that the person writing about you was honest. Prepare for the financial strain of veterinary school. Just like with most colleges, veterinary college is expensive. In the US the average tuition each year for in-state students is $22,500. For out of state students it is $46,000. The average veterinary student graduates with $135,000 of debt. Salaries starting out in the veterinary field are much lower than those of other equivalent professions, such as dentists or physicians. In the US the average starting salary is around $67,000 a year but this varies widely. There are only a few options to help with loan repayment. These include two government sponsored loan forgiveness programs. These programs are competitive and mainly for people serving as veterinarians in the livestock or food and public health fields. States without veterinary colleges often have agreements with a neighboring state to have their residents be granted in-state tuition. Complete veterinary school. The professional veterinary college program typically lasts for four years before the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is earned. Two accredited schools in the US, Ross University and St. Matthew's University, have a trimester schedule, which allows students to graduate in just over three years. The coursework involved in veterinary school includes anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, along with specific veterinary courses in surgery and medicine. During the first two years, you will focus on a breadth of subjects in science in order to build the basic framework for your education. During your third and fourth years, you will focus on clinical studies, working directly with animals, and participating in externships and/or research projects. You may also consider doing an internship or residency program while working toward your degree. This will teach you practical skills from professionals in the field, and improve your employment prospects in the future. There are only 30 accredited veterinary schools in the US, making the program quite competitive. Tuition will vary dramatically depending on the institution you choose. Consider doing an internship or residency program while working toward your degree. This will teach you practical skills from professionals in the field, and improve your employment prospects in the future. Pass your licensing exam. At the end of the fourth year of study veterinary students in North America will take the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. This test is required in order for you to obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine. In addition, each state board of veterinary medicine may impose additional testing requirements to obtaining a license to practice in the state. You will need to pass these examination with a minimum score in order to be licensed to practice. In order to be eligible for enrollment, you must have completed a four year veterinary program that is accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Consider interning for one year prior to finding a permanent position. This will offer you the chance to have a specialization, like internal medicine or surgery. That way you'll really be a pro in your chosen area of expertise. Your vet school should be able to point you in the right direction. This one-year period could be just a temporary gig or it could turn into something more substantial. Whatever it is, find someone who can serve as your mentor that's doing what you want to do in the future. Start your job search. Most veterinary students begin their job search during their final half of the fourth year of college. Most veterinarians work in private veterinary clinics that provide medical care for small, companion pets. Other veterinarians specialize in working with large animals, like horses, cows, and sheep, traveling to ranches and farms to provide care. Still other veterinarians specialize in treating exotic animals in zoos or aquariums. Veterinarians can also find employment in the military (a good option to pay for college expenses), the government, or in research. Take the veterinarian's oath. Before you start working and caring for animals, you need to take the veterinarian's oath. You're basically promising that you'll use your powers for good and not evil. Be able to communicate with both animals and people. In order to succeed in this job, you must be compassionate, confident, and able to communicate and make decisions. Despite the opportunity to work with kittens and puppies (along with all other animals) there will always be a person attached to that animal that you will need to communicate with to give the pets and animals the best care possible. Consider getting further education. Some vets even go so far as to get their PhDs. If you'd like to lead the field in research, this is a great idea. Having a PhD will have the added benefit of potentially giving you a massive bump in your salary! The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the need for vets is going to increase in the near future. Since there are so few schools, the output to trained veterinarians generated isn't much, which means you stand a good chance of steady employment once you finish school. | Gain experience in the veterinary field. Graduate from high school. Get a bachelors degree. Consider an accelerated path to veterinary school. Take the GRE (graduate record examination). Work hard on your application to veterinary school. Prepare for the financial strain of veterinary school. Complete veterinary school. Pass your licensing exam. Consider interning for one year prior to finding a permanent position. Start your job search. Take the veterinarian's oath. Be able to communicate with both animals and people. Consider getting further education. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-ID-Cards-Online | How to Make ID Cards Online | To make ID cards online, pick a service that either comes recommended or that you find in a simple web search. Once you choose a sight, look at their templates and decide if they'll suit your needs or if you want to design your own card. You can also contact the ID printing service about creating a custom design for you, though this will likely entail a higher fee. If you need a photo, store the file on your computer or make it accessible online so you can add it to your card. After you decide on all of your card's features, decide how many copies you'll need, choose your shipping options, and pay for your cards. | Plan your card. Think about the purpose of the card, how many cards you will need, and what kind of design you want to use. Planning before you begin creating and ordering your ID card(s) will make the process easier and ensure that you get exactly the kind of card you need. Consider, for instance: How will the card(s) be used? For instance, to permit access to a building or site? To differentiate an employee or group member from non-employees/group members? To prove someone's identity? If the card(s) will be used to prove identity, what security features will be used? A photograph? Bar code? Magnetic stripe? The right feature depends upon the capabilities you or your company/organization has. How many cards do you need? Just one for yourself? One for each member of a group, organization, or company? Does each person need an individualized card, or is a standardized card for each group member sufficient? Visit an ID creator website. There are numerous online ID creation services to choose from. If you are not already familiar with one or more, a quick online search should produce several. You can also ask for a colleague to recommend a service to you. In any case, choose a service that is reliable, cost-efficient, and that can deliver the options you need. Decide if you want to use a template. Typically, online ID manufacturers will offer you the option of using a template for your card. Templates can save you time and effort by pre-selecting the design for you. Usually, if you use a template you will just need to click on the areas you want to adjust (such as text or a picture). If you design an ID card from scratch, you will have to decide where to position all of the information. Contact the ID printing service about creating a custom design. If you don't see a template that looks right for your needs, and you don't want to or don't have time to design one yourself, you can ask the ID printing service to create a custom design for you. Some services will announce this as an option when you begin the card design process. Custom design services will probably entail a higher fee. Choose options. Options may be available for both the front and back of the ID card. There may be an additional fee for options. Examples of options you may choose include: Orientation (portrait / vertical or landscape / horizontal) Text font Text to appear on the card (name, organization, etc.) Background color or image Lamination Holograph Material to print the card on (paper, plastic, etc.) Punching a hole in the card Including a bar code Decide what picture you want to include on the ID card, if any. Usually, you can include a picture on your card. You will need to have a photo file stored on your computer or accessible to you online. In most cases, online ID creators allow you to simply click on an area of the card you are designing and insert the photo file you want to use. Most services also give you the option of editing the image (for instance, resizing or cropping it). Determine if you want to use a magnetic stripe or bar code. Including a magnetic stripe or bar code on the front or back of an ID card is a great way to store information such as a personal identification number or door access code. You can enter in the appropriate information for this use, and the ID creator will encode it in the magnetic stripe. Choose any accessories. Along with your ID card, you may want to order a lanyard, clip, or badge holder to protect and carry the card. You will be given the option to choose these accessories; usually, there is an additional fee for them. Decide how many copies you want. If you are printing an ID just for yourself, you may only want one copy (or you may want to order a backup). If you are ordering IDs for others, such as key cards for your employees, you will want to order enough copies for all of them. If you are ordering cards for multiple people, decide if you want to use a standard group card, or if you want to include personal details on each person's card (such as the person's name, picture, or employee number). Many online ID manufacturers will offer discounts for ordering multiple cards. Select shipping options. You may be able to choose between standard or expedited shipping, as well as add-ons like tracking. Typically, there is a fee for choosing such shipping options. Some ID manufacturers may provide incentives, such as free shipping for orders over a certain amount. Make sure to enter the correct address that you want the ID card(s) shipped to. Take note of the estimated shipping date or tracking number so that you will know when to expect your ID card(s) to arrive. Enter your payment information. Once you have completed the ID card design process, chosen any accessories you want, and entered your shipping information, you are ready to pay for the card order. The online service will prompt you to enter information such as a credit card or bank account number to charge for the cost of the order. Review your card and order. Before completing your order, you should be able to review your order and make sure everything looks good. Make sure that your card looks the way you want it to, and that you have ordered enough copies. | Plan your card. Visit an ID creator website. Decide if you want to use a template. Contact the ID printing service about creating a custom design. Choose options. Decide what picture you want to include on the ID card, if any. Determine if you want to use a magnetic stripe or bar code. Choose any accessories. Decide how many copies you want. Select shipping options. Enter your payment information. Review your card and order. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Berm | How to Build a Berm | To build a berm for biking, start by removing all topsoil from the area, since topsoil will crumble and make the turn unstable. Then, cover the area with a 2 to 4 inch layer of dirt, and use a rake to compact it. You'll also need to incorporate a drain at the downhill end of the turn to allow water to run off. Next, build the berm up in 2 to 4 inch layers until the slope reaches your desired height. If the dirt doesn't stick together, rough up the surface to help the new layer of dirt stay in place. Finish by making the surface as smooth as possible, including by removing any stones or rocks. | Plan the shape of your berm. A berm looks most natural when it follows a curve or sinuous shape, blending into other curves in the landscape. As a guideline, keep the berm about 4 to 6 times as long as it is wide. Determine the slope and height. To minimize problems with erosion, water runoff, and mowing difficulty, keep the maximum gradient below 5:1 (five times as wide as it is tall). 4:1 is possible but risky, and anything steeper requires specialized plants and erosion control. Most berms in home gardens are no taller than 24 inches (61 cm). An asymmetric appearance improves the aesthetics, with an off-center peak and a variety of slopes along the berm's length. Consider the drainage. Berms can act as miniature dams, altering the water flow in your garden. You may need to dig swales between the berms, build a culvert running through the berm, or regrade your garden. You may want to discuss this with a professional landscaper if you are building a tall berm (especially above 24 inches / 61 cm), or if you live in a rainy climate. A flat top reduces runoff and provides more water to plants growing on the side of the berm. While building your berm, do your best to avoid compacting the soil at the base with heavy equipment. If it's already compacted, loosen the soil by digging 8 inches (20 cm) deep to improve drainage. Break up the soil lightly. Dig into the surface of the area along the path of your berm. This creates a stronger bond with the next layer of soil. Build the base from affordable materials . With a shovel or bobcat, pile on fill dirt, compacting it periodically. Shape it according to the layout you decided on, except 1 ft (30 cm) smaller on all sides. Rake it smooth and get all proportions as exact as possible. Well-compacted clay soil is recommended for steep or tall berms. Loam will typically collapse at slopes steeper than 35%. Gravel is cheaper, but the soil tends to wash through it — and it is not compliant with some local codes. If you use it, cover it with at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of compacted clay. Add the topsoil layer. Spread out a layer of topsoil over the entire berm, mixing it with the top 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) of clay. Pile on more topsoil to form a layer 1 ft (30 cm) thick. Compact the soil lightly. Roll an empty lawn roller over the top layer of soil, or tamp it down with your feet or a board. The berm will settle over time as water seeps through it, but a light compaction should be enough to minimize erosion. Plant on the surface. Establish a lawn over the berm, along with shrubs and trees in a pattern that doesn't interfere with mowing or walking. Add mulch while the plants are establishing roots to prevent erosion. Plan the shape and location of the berm. Also called an inslope turn, a berm is a turn with a surface tilted toward the inside of the curve, helping bikers navigate it smoothly without losing speed. Whether your berm is a slight curve or a full semicircle, keep the radius between 10 and 15 feet (3–45.m). The slope of the berm can be as gentle as a 7% slope, but steep downhill turns require a steeper angle. Building the turn around a tree, large rock, or other obstacle discourages bikers from short-cutting the turn. Make sure the obstacle doesn't block line of sight, and that it's not close enough to hit someone's head when they lean into the turn. For your first berm, avoid a sideslope (slope between the two sides of the turn) steeper than a 4:1 gradient (25%). Steeper slopes require a turning platform, which takes a lot more work. Clear all organic material from the area. This includes topsoil, which will decompose and crumble if used on your trail. Build your berm with bare, mineral soil only. Build a retaining wall if necessary. Steep berms and berms built onto steep slopes require a retaining wall to prevent collapse. This is a big job, so consider working with experienced builders, or building a berm with a gentle slope instead (10 degrees, for instance). There are two approaches if you decide to go this route: Flat, square stones weighing at least 50 lbs (23 kg) make the best retaining walls. Lock the stones together with smaller rocks and "deadmen" logs extending into the bank to prevent wobbling, then backfill each layer with small rocks and mineral soil. Wooden retaining walls take less labor, but rot over time. Use pressure treated wood rated for ground contact ("heavy duty" or "extreme" ground contact in wet climates). Lay deadmen logs into the bank, attached to the wall with notched log cabin construction. Tamp down a thin layer of dirt. To support mountain biking without eroding, the berm must be extra sturdy. Lay down 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) along the turn in the trail, and compact it as hard as you can using a McLeod rake or hoe. Trying to compact the whole pile of dirt at once will create a weak berm that won't hold together for long. The soil must compact and cohere well. If it is too loose and sandy, mix in clay fill. Powered compaction tools are difficult to use for this project, since they flatten the curve of the riding surface. Direct water off the trail. As you build, incorporate a wide drain at the downhill edge of the turn to direct water off the trail surface. Add a slight grade in the opposite direction before and after your turn for the same reason. Build the berm up in layers. Rough up the surface of the berm a little, add another 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) of soil, and compact again. Repeat this to build the berm to the desired shape and height. The rough surface helps the layers attach to each other, improving strength. A light sprinkle of water also helps. You can incorporate small rocks in the lower layers, but the top surface should be pure mineral soil only. Perfect the surface. Once your berm has reached the desired height and shape, make the surface as smooth as possible, with a constant slope. Give the berm a test ride and make adjustments until the turn feels smooth. For instance, if the turn feels too abrupt, you may need a wider radius, or a longer lead up into the berm. | Plan the shape of your berm. Determine the slope and height. Consider the drainage. Break up the soil lightly. Build the base from affordable materials . Add the topsoil layer. Compact the soil lightly. Plant on the surface. Plan the shape and location of the berm. Clear all organic material from the area. Build a retaining wall if necessary. Tamp down a thin layer of dirt. Direct water off the trail. Build the berm up in layers. Perfect the surface. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Lice | How to Get Rid of Lice | To get rid of lice fast, divide your hair into sections and pull a nit comb from the roots to the end. Swish the comb in a bowl of warm, soapy water to kill the lice after every brush. To loosen lice even more, mix white or apple cider vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio and pour it over the person's head before combing. For an even faster method, buy an over-the-counter pediculicide product and apply according to the package instructions. To get rid of body lice, throw out infested clothing and bathe regularly. | Choose a pediculicide (head lice treatment). Using a pediculicide is the quickest way to combat a case of head lice. Some pediculicides are formulated to kill both lice and their eggs, while others only kill crawling lice. To use a pediculicide, read the instructions on the bottle carefully. You can get a permethrin 1% creme rinse (such as Nix) or a Pyrethrins 0.33% shampoo or mousse (such as Rid or Pronto) over-the-counter at a pharmacy. You can also get a prescription pediculicide, such as Malathion 0.5% lotion (Ovide), benzyl alcohol 5% lotion (known as Ulesfia), spinosad 0.9%, or Ivermectin 0.5% topical lotion (such as Sklice) Have the person being treated put on old clothes and sit in the bathroom. This makes cleanup easier. Apply the treatment to the hair and scalp according to the instructions on the bottle. Allow the treatment to sit for the recommended amount of time. It's usually an hour or less. Don't leave the treatment on for longer than recommended. Wash out the treatment using water, not shampoo. No shampoo should be used for 2 days. Comb out the lice with a nit comb. This step helps to hasten the treatment process if you're using a pediculicide, but you can also get rid of lice using a nit comb alone. Nit combs are handy tools that are specially designed to pull out nits (eggs) and dead lice as they are combed through the hair. Divide the hair into sections. Starting at the scalp, pull the comb from the roots to the end of a section of hair. Swish the comb around in a bowl of warm, soap water. This will kill the lice and their eggs; they die quickly without a source of food. Continue combing each section of hair until all the hair has been combed. Sanitize the comb by putting it in a dish of very hot water after every use. Lice and their eggs die when exposed to temperatures of 128 °F (53 °C) for 5 minutes or longer. Wash the person's clothes and bedding. After this initial treatment, wash all clothes, sheets, pillowcases, stuffed animals, and any other fabrics the person has come into contact with in very hot water, then run them through a hot dryer. While lice don't live very long once they jump off a person's head, it's still important to wash everything so you can be extra sure someone else in the family won't get lice. For items that can't be soaked in hot water, like hairbrushes and hair accessories, place them in plastic bags for at least two weeks. The lice will die without air and food. Monitor the hair for signs of life. After the initial treatment or combing, you'll need to diligently monitor the hair every 8 hours for signs of new life. Lice hatch in cycles, and it's almost impossible to get rid of all of them in one go. Do a thorough combing every 8 hours for the first 3 days. After that, continue checking the scalp every 16 hours and combing when necessary for the next 2 weeks. Most lice treatments require a second application after about 10 days to kill any lice that may have hatched since the initial treatment. Use an oil treatment to help the process move more quickly. Whether you used a pediculicide or not, there are natural substances that repel and kill lice. If you're sensitive to chemicals, it's definitely worth trying this oil treatment to help naturally combat the lice. Melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil or warm 1/2 cup of neem oil and massage it into the hair and scalp. Both oils have antibiotic properties. Use the nit comb to work through the oil-treated hair. The nits should come out much more easily. Use an essential oil spray. Certain essential oils repel lice and cause the nits to loosen more easily. Fill a spray bottle with 5 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of water. Try one or more of the following: Tea tree oil Lavender Oregano Peppermint Thyme Eucalyptus Be prepared to fight a long battle. Adult lice and immature lice are pretty easy to get rid of, but their eggs (called nits) are much harder to get rid of, and it is with these that the most problems crop up. People can think that they are rid of lice, but then get another case of lice from just a couple of eggs. Constant vigilance will be necessary to win this battle. Avoid spreading the lice to other people. Lice can spread quickly in a household. When treating someone for lice, wash all bedding, scarves, and hats with hot water, and dry clean what cannot be washed. Disinfect combs and brushes in hot, soapy water. Keep carpets and upholstery clean by regularly vacuuming them. Do not treat pets with lice treatments, as it could possibly harm or kill them. Treat body lice. Body lice live in the seams of clothing and feed on human blood. They are larger than head lice and easy to spot on the body. They are commonly found in areas where people live in very close quarters or don't have access to bathing and washing facilities. Body lice are easy to get rid of once access to these facilities is gained. To treat body lice, do the following: Throw out the infested clothing. Lice can live up to a month in clothes. Instead of trying to save them, throw them out. Wash new clothing with hot water, and dry at a high temperature. Take regular showers or baths and use soap. Regularly wash clothing, bedding, and other linens. Pediculicides are usually not necessary to get rid of body lice. Treat pubic lice. Pubic lice, also known as crabs, is most commonly spread through sexual contact. They spread very easily from person to person. Pubic lice can also live in areas of the body with coarse hair, like the eyebrows, ears, and armpits. The lice and their nits are easily visible. There are a few ways you can get rid of public lice: Get an over-the-counter lotion containing 1% permethrin (such as Nix) or a mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (such as Rid or Pronto). These chemicals effectively kill the lice. Use according to the instructions on the package. Do not use them around your eyes, brows, or eyelashes. Remove the lice with a nit comb. Wash your clothes and underwear in very hot water. Soak combs and other items in hot water for 5 minutes. Shave the pubic region. Getting rid of the hair the lice cling to is effective, especially in combination with the chemical treatment. Monitor the area for signs of new lice. It may be necessary to undergo a second treatment. Inform any sexual partners from the previous month that they will need to be checked and treated. Only use lindane shampoo as a last resort. It's effective but studies have shown it has a negative effect on the brain. Treat canine lice. Canine lice cannot be transmitted to humans (nor human lice to canines), but they can make your dog very uncomfortable. There are two types of canine lice: trichodectes canis, known as a chewing louse, and linognathus setosus, known as a sucking louse. Take your dog to the veterinarian. It's important to make sure that what your dog has is actually lice. Use a powder, spray, or other treatment at the advice of your veterinarian. Wash the dog's bedding and everything he has touched in very hot water. Soak grooming tools in very hot water for 5 minutes. | Choose a pediculicide (head lice treatment). Comb out the lice with a nit comb. Wash the person's clothes and bedding. Monitor the hair for signs of life. Use an oil treatment to help the process move more quickly. Use an essential oil spray. Be prepared to fight a long battle. Avoid spreading the lice to other people. Treat body lice. Treat pubic lice. Treat canine lice. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Move-on-in-Life | How to Move on in Life | To move on in life, the first step is to acknowledge your feelings since trying to ignore them won't make them go away. Then, once you've acknowledged how you feel and given yourself time to heal, turn your attention to the present moment so you're not dwelling on the past. To stay present, set some goals for yourself and try new things. For example, you could pick up a new hobby, like meditating or painting. | Acknowledge your feelings without judging them. If you're feeling bad about something, trying to ignore your emotions won't make them go away. Instead, take time to recognize what you're feeling and acknowledge it without judging, analyzing, or trying to change it. If you find yourself feeling anxious or sad about something that happened, take a few moments to mindfully reflect on what you are thinking and feeling. For example, “I'm really angry about the way my ex broke up with me. When I think about her, I feel tense and frustrated.” You might find it helpful to write down your feelings. Putting your feelings and thoughts into words can make them feel more manageable and help you pinpoint exactly what's bothering you. Give yourself time to heal. It takes time to move on from a difficult or traumatic event, such as a breakup or the death of a loved one. Don't put pressure on yourself to let it go or get over it before you're ready. Allow yourself to feel your grief, anger, or anxiety as it comes, and remind yourself that you will not always feel the way you are feeling right now. After a loss or any other difficult experience, you will probably have ups and downs. Don't be discouraged if you start to feel better one day, only to find yourself struggling again the next. This is a normal part of the healing process. Focus on the moment. While you may not be able to change your feelings, you can make the decision to live with them and work through them. When you're lingering on the past and feeling terrible about it, make a conscious effort focus on the present and take life one moment at a time. Concentrate on whatever specific thing you need to be doing in the moment. For example, if you're having trouble getting your day started, say to yourself, “Okay, time to eat some breakfast.” Don't worry about what comes next until you have gotten breakfast out of the way. Take responsibility for your own feelings. If someone has mistreated you, it's normal and understandable to feel hurt by their actions. However, blaming another person for your emotions can leave you feeling powerless. You may have good reasons for feeling hurt, but remind yourself that the feelings themselves come from inside of you—not from anyone else. Owning your own feelings isn't the same as excusing someone else's actions. You can recognize that someone else acted in a hurtful or inappropriate way towards you while also acknowledging that your feelings and reactions are your own. If you find yourself thinking, “What John did made me so sad,” try rewording it as, “I felt so sad when John treated me that way.” Find ways to learn and grow from your experiences. When you're reflecting on the past, look for positive things that you can take away from what happened. Try to find ways that you can use the lessons you've learned moving forward. You might ask yourself, “What could I have done differently in that situation, knowing what I know now? What would I do if I found myself in a similar situation again?” For example, if your last relationship ended because you and your partner didn't have enough in common, you might focus on looking for more compatible people in your future relationships. Look at painful memories as though you were a neutral observer. Putting psychological distance between yourself and your memories can help them feel less stressful and overwhelming. When you think back on something bad that happened, try to picture yourself as a “fly on the wall” watching the events instead of as a participant in the scene. Looking at your memories from an “observer” perspective helps give you space from your feelings about what happened. You can also try thinking of yourself as “he/she/they” or “you” instead of “I” when reflecting on a past hurt. For example, instead of “My boss yelled at me in front of everyone,” try “Melanie's boss yelled at her in front of everyone.” Try to put negative events in perspective. If something that happened recently is troubling you, imagine yourself as a time traveler visiting your own future. How do you think you'll feel about this event in a week? What about 10 years from now? Researchers have found that even the most devastating of events—such as the death of a loved one—can feel less distressing if you imagine how you will feel from a far-future perspective. See a counselor if you need help moving on. Dealing with grief or past hurts can be extremely difficult. If your feelings about a past event don't start to get better over time, or if you feel like they are seriously disrupting your ability to function in your relationships and day-to-day life, it may be time to seek help from a professional. Ask your doctor to recommend a therapist. If you're a minor, talk to your parents or another trusted adult about what you are going through, and ask if they can help you find a counselor. Examine the reasons that you feel stuck. There are lots of reasons why you might end up feeling stuck or unable to move forward in life. Maybe you feel overwhelmed by too many responsibilities, or perhaps you simply don't know what you want to do with your life. Take some time to try to pinpoint why you feel the way you do. From there, you can work on finding solutions and taking steps to move yourself ahead. Start by pinpointing the areas where you feel stuck, then try to identify the reasons for that feeling. For example, “I'm lonely, but I'm hesitant to try dating again. Maybe it's because my last breakup was so difficult, and I'm worried about getting hurt again.” Look for solutions to problems you can solve. Once you've pinpointed what's holding you back, try to identify which areas you have control over and which ones you don't. That way, you can focus on fixing the things you have control over. Identify the problem you'd like to focus on and brainstorm a few possible solutions. For example, maybe you'd like to apply for a grant-writing job, but you're afraid you won't get it because you lack experience. Possible solutions might include taking grant-writing courses or applying for an internship. Challenge negative thoughts that might be holding you back. Fear of what might go wrong can really hold you back. If you realize that you're in a rut because you lack confidence in yourself or you're convinced that you'll fail if you try something new, stop and think about whether your thoughts are realistic. Look for evidence to counter your negative thoughts. For example, maybe you'd like to try acting, but you're afraid to take a class because you think you'll look foolish in front of your classmates. Try telling yourself, “Probably everyone in the class will be a beginner, like me. Everyone has to start somewhere, and we'll all be making ourselves vulnerable together.” Set some SMART goals for yourself. In order to move forward in life, it's a good idea to get a sense of where you want to go. Look at the areas in your life where you'd like to make changes, then set some goals for yourself in those areas. Your goals should be SMART—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Once you've set some goals, think about concrete steps you can make in order to start achieving them. Instead of setting a big, vague goal like “Get a job as an artist,” try breaking that goal up into manageable mini-goals. For example, you might start by signing up for an oil-painting class at your local art studio. Try something new and challenging. Learning new skills and exploring new experiences are great ways to help yourself break out of a rut. It can also help you build confidence and recognize strengths you didn't know you had. Try taking a class, picking up a new hobby or sport, or getting out and meeting some new people. When you're trying something new, don't give up right away if it doesn't seem like it's for you. Try committing to your new project for at least a month so that you have a chance to get comfortable and really get a sense of what it's all about. Ask friends and family to help you meet your goals. Your social support network can be really helpful when you're stuck and not sure how to move on. Brainstorm with your family, friends, and colleagues about how to move forward and meet your goals, or just vent to them if you feel like you're struggling. If you and someone you know are both working toward the same or similar goals, consider working together. You can hold each other accountable and cheer each other on. Work on creating healthier habits. It's natural to form habits or routines, but some of these habits can prevent you from moving forward and accomplishing your goals. If you recognize any habits that may be holding you back, make a conscious decision to replace those unhealthy habits with healthier ones. Choose a specific new habit to take the place of the one you're trying to change, and remove any triggers that might cause you to fall back on the old habit. For example, if you have a habit of staying up too late playing games on your phone, you might start by removing the games from your phone or using an app to block them at night. Replace the habit with a healthier bedtime routine, such as doing half an hour of meditation before bed. Change your environment to shake up your routine. Being stuck with the same scenery all the time can make it hard to change your habits and break out of a rut. If you find yourself falling into the same routines day after day, try changing things up a little—for example, if you're a student, you might try studying in a café or at the library instead of at the desk in your dorm room. If you can't actually relocate to a new environment, try making changes in the environments where you live or work. For example, you might reorganize your desk or switch out the decorations in your bedroom. If your work or living areas are cluttered, take some time to tidy them up. Having a clean and well-organized environment can help clear your head and make you more productive. | Acknowledge your feelings without judging them. Give yourself time to heal. Focus on the moment. Take responsibility for your own feelings. Find ways to learn and grow from your experiences. Look at painful memories as though you were a neutral observer. Try to put negative events in perspective. See a counselor if you need help moving on. Examine the reasons that you feel stuck. Look for solutions to problems you can solve. Challenge negative thoughts that might be holding you back. Set some SMART goals for yourself. Try something new and challenging. Ask friends and family to help you meet your goals. Work on creating healthier habits. Change your environment to shake up your routine. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Mean-Friends | How to Avoid Mean Friends | If you want to avoid mean friends, first learn how to recognize if a friend is mean by asking yourself if they make you feel self-conscious. Also think about whether they talk about you behind your back or constantly argue with you. Once you've identified a hurtful friend, the best thing to do is put some distance between you and them. It may seem hard, especially if you spend a lot of time together, but it'll help you grow and find healthier relationships. For example, you can avoid places they normally hang out or change your routine when you leave school. You should also consider deleting them from your social media or limit what they can see in order to minimize your interaction. When avoiding a mean friend, prepare to respond maturely if they confront you about what you're doing. | Consider how your friend makes you feel. A good friend shouldn't make you feel bad about yourself. They should be respectful and support you no matter what your situation. If you feel self-conscious around a certain person, it's a warning sign that you might have a mean friend. Take some time to reflect on how your friend treats you. Do they make jokes about you that make you feel bad? Do they listen to you when you are telling them about a problem you're having? Ask yourself some questions about their behavior towards you and see what you come up with. You shouldn't feel self-conscious around a good friend. You should feel like you can be yourself without putting yourself at risk of being made fun of or teased. A good friend should encourage and support you, no matter what. Determine if the friend is a bad influence. Do you find that being around your friend makes you do things you later regret? Some friends allow bad sides of your personality to come out. Your friends help shape your attitude, so if you're around negative people who do bad things, you're likely to do so, too. Consider whether you feel energized after seeing your friend or whether you feel a little down in the dumps. This may be hard to determine, since other factors may also influence your mood. Still, try to notice a pattern and see how your friend affects your mood. Think about recent decisions you've made in the company of your friend. Ask yourself what kinds of decisions these were and whether you felt good or bad about them afterwards. Consider whether your friend pushed you into these decisions. Consider whether you argue too much with your friend. It's OK to argue occasionally with a friend. This happens to every relationship. It's not a good sign if you're constantly arguing with a friend, however. This will really bring down your mood and make you feel bad. Pay attention to the time you spend with your friend. See if you notice a pattern of arguing or bickering. Count up your recent arguments and determine the substance of these arguments. Some arguments may be small and not worth remembering. Others may be a sign that you have a mean friend. Consider whether your friend was mean or spiteful during the argument. All friends will argue every once in a while. What's important is how both parties handle the argument. It's not a good sign if a person is always saying mean and hurtful things during an argument. Look to see if the friend always flakes out on you. It's not nice when a friend is constantly flaking out on you and canceling plans at the last minute. This is especially hurtful if you're the one who's always re-scheduling your plans. Pay attention to the number of times your friend cancels plans with you. Ask yourself whether you had to reschedule the plan or whether your friend asked you to reschedule. Also, pay attention to whether the friend had a legitimate excuse or not. Count the number of times your friend has cancelled plans on you and see if you notice a pattern. Determine if the friend is self-absorbed. A self-absorbed friend is not much of a friend. Every time you have a problem, they're constantly making things about themselves. We need friends who can help us through our difficulties and who don't use pain as an opportunity to talk about their own problems. Ask yourself some questions to determine if a friend is self-absorbed. Does the person make you feel invisible or worthless? Do they quickly lose interest in what you're saying, even if you're talking about a serious problem? Do they always turn conversations back to themselves? Confirm whether the friend talks behind your back. It's a terrible feeling to discover that a friend has been talking about you behind your back. This is a major violation of your trust. Still, it's important you don't jump to conclusions until you know for sure that a friend is talking about you in a negative way. Watch your friend's behavior when you see this person around other people. This can really help you determine whether you have a good friend or a mean friend. Watch to see if your friend changes around other people. Maybe they act embarrassed or don't want to talk to you or maybe they make fun of you when they're around other people. These are all signs of a mean friend. Ask someone you trust if they've heard your friend saying mean things about you. Only take this step if you can really trust the person. Otherwise, you might be playing into the mean friend's hands. Confront them, if you feel comfortable doing so. Be prepared for an argument because some people might not want to admit that they're being mean. Write a list of thing you can talk to them about. For example, you can give specific examples of when they were mean to you and what you would like them to do and how you would like them to treat you. Avoid talking behind your friend's back, too. Don't be a mean friend yourself and talk behind your friend's back. This will only worsen a situation and won't make you feel good about yourself, especially if you're trying to avoid mean friends to begin with. Place distance between yourself and the friend. It may be difficult to distance yourself from a person you normally spend a lot of time with, but it's important you take steps to reduce the amount of interaction you have with the mean friend. This is the only way you'll be able to grow and find healthier friends to be around. Don't broadcast your plans to create distance. Your friend is likely to confront you if you tell your friend that you are planning to create distance. Instead, simply start making decisions on your own and keeping them to yourself. Reduce possibilities for interaction. This can be as simple as changing your routine. For example, change the time you leave work or school and take a different route home. It's also a good idea to avoid places where the mean friend hangs out. Go there at different times or avoid the place altogether. Find new interests. This may be difficult since it's possible you are friends with the mean person because you share similar interests. Still, you should ask yourself whether there aren't other things you could do with yourself and maybe some interests that you haven't yet explored. Prepare for a possible confrontation. Your friend might confront you even if you aren't obvious about your decision to create distance from the mean friend. They may notice that you are doing different things and want to know why. You don't have to tell them the real reason if you feel you want to avoid a fight. Establish boundaries. An important part of your well-being depends on having emotional and physical boundaries for yourself. This will help prevent you from getting hurt. Know what kinds of behavior you will and won't accept from others. A good friend will respect your boundaries and not make you feel bad about them. Decide what boundaries are important for you. This can be physical and emotional. Sometimes a person will intrude on your space or ask you questions that make you uncomfortable. Decide what boundaries you need in these areas. Pay attention to any sense of discomfort. You will know when a person is overstepping your boundaries. Listen to your inner sense of self, which knows what is right and wrong for you. Speak up immediately when you feel a boundary has been crossed. Don't be afraid to tell someone when they have crossed an emotional or physical boundary of yours. It is important that a person knows this so they can change and possibly apologize. Even good friends will sometimes overstep their boundaries but they will always respect your needs. Be polite but firm. You don't need to apologize for your boundaries. Simply tell a person how you're feeling and what you would like them to do or stop doing. They will listen if they are a good friend. Get rid of the friend from your social media accounts. A good but difficult step for avoiding a mean friend is by deleting your friend from your social media accounts. This limits your interactions with them and prevents them from seeing things about you that they might simply use against you. Log onto your social media accounts and either limit the mean friend's access or delete the friend from your accounts completely. Be prepared for a confrontation since this tends to upset a lot of people. Be mature if you choose to respond to the person. You don't want to get into an argument where you're just as mean as the person you're trying to avoid. Put yourself in new situations. The only way you're going to avoid mean friends and find good friends is to put yourself in new situations. People tend to develop relationships based on proximity. This means that the more often you see a person, the more likely you are to develop a friendship. Join a club, group, or sport. A good way to meet new people is to get involved in a new activity. Join a sports club or organization but make sure that the mean friend is not already involved with it. Begin to interact with the people in the organization and try to make new friends. Volunteer. This is an especially good way to meet new friends since most people who volunteer will likely be at least somewhat caring. Make an effort to talk to people involved in all aspects of volunteering, since you never know where a new friend will come from. Invite someone new to do something with you. You likely know more people than you realize. Consider the possibility of developing friendships with people who you might not know very well. You might be surprised at what you find by simply talking to new people. Be proactive. It takes a bit of effort to find new friends. Get out of the house and simply take a walk or go the mall. Go places where you might encounter new people and take the steps of striking up a conversation with them. This might sound difficult, especially for shy people, but remember that you don't have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Only go places you want to go and talk to people you want to talk to. Look for positive traits in people. You may have thought you had a good friend who turned out to be a mean friend. Don't worry. This happens to many people. A good friend listens, won't judge you negatively, and is someone who you feel comfortable around without changing who you are. Ask yourself the following questions when searching for a good friend: How do I feel after spending time together? Am I comfortable being myself around the person? Does the person make me feel safe? Is the person supportive? Does the person treat me with respect? Does the person listen to me? | Consider how your friend makes you feel. Determine if the friend is a bad influence. Consider whether you argue too much with your friend. Look to see if the friend always flakes out on you. Determine if the friend is self-absorbed. Confirm whether the friend talks behind your back. Place distance between yourself and the friend. Establish boundaries. Get rid of the friend from your social media accounts. Put yourself in new situations. Invite someone new to do something with you. Look for positive traits in people. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Paint-from-an-Acrylic-Tub-or-Bath | How to Remove Paint from an Acrylic Tub or Bath | Don't worry if you've gotten paint on your acrylic tub or bath, since you should be able to get it off with some household cleaners. If the paint is still wet, wipe as much off as you can with paper towels and rinse the tub with hot water. If the stain's on the inside of the tub, fill it with hot water and laundry detergent until you submerge the stain. Leave it to soak for a few hours, then, scrub the stain gently with a sponge or rag. Another method you can try is using baking soda and vinegar. Mix a paste from baking soda and water, apply it to your stain, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the baking soda with it. Leave it to sit for another 10 minutes, then wipe your stain with a rag or sponge. | Run some hot water over the paint spot. If the paint spill is relatively fresh, you might be able to get rid of a good amount of it by flushing the spill with hot water. Use a detachable shower head (if you have one) or a separate container to pour the hot water over the spill so that the runoff flows in the direction of the drain. If you simply turn on the tub's faucet and let it fill, the paint may mix with the water and stain other areas of the tub. If a lot of paint has been spilled, it might be safest to first wipe up as much as you can using paper towels, rinsing immediately afterward. This way, there will be less chance for the paint to mix with the water. Never use cold water when cleaning, soaking or rinsing your tub. This can actually cause grime and stains to set in faster, whereas warm or hot water will keep messes from taking hold on the tub's surface. Soak the spot in laundry detergent. Fill the tub a few inches deep with hot water and pour in a liberal amount of liquid laundry detergent. Unlike most powdered laundry soaps, liquid detergent does not contain abrasives that might take the finish off your tub. The detergent will spread evenly throughout the water and create a concentrated sudsy solution. Let the spot soak in the solution for a few hours, or overnight, if the stain has dried and set in. Laundry detergent is designed to cut through stubborn dirt and stains while acting gently on clothing fibers, making it ideal to treat an easily-damaged material like acrylic. 2-3 ounces of detergent per inch of water in the tub should result in a solution of sufficient cleaning strength. Scrub the stain gently by hand. Using a washcloth or soft sponge, go over the stain vigorously. Drain the tub first, or leave the detergent solution in it to act on the stain as you scrub. Softer scrubbers are preferable for use on acrylic because scouring with abrasive items like steel wool or stiff-bristled brushes might permanently scratch the tub. Since a washcloth won't have the scouring efficiency of an abrasive scrubber, you might have to scrub the area long and hard. The detergent should have dissolved enough of the stain to allow you get the worst of it out by hand. Wet the stain with warm water. Once you've given the stain an initial work-over, wet the area again with warm or hot water. The point is to keep the area moist to ensure that the paint isn't allowed to dry on the surface of the tub. Run the water over the entire floor of the tub and give it time to warm the acrylic. Sprinkle baking soda over the area. Dust the floor of the tub with a coating of baking soda. Use an especially heavy hand in the area around the stain. Wetting the tub beforehand will allow the baking soda to stick. The baking soda will act as a mild abrasive which will help remove set-in stains without damaging the surface of the tub. A natural chemical compound like powdered Borax will also work in the place of regular baking soda. The wet baking soda will form a paste and will start to loosen the stain on its own. Leave this paste to sit on the stain for 5-10 minutes before adding the vinegar. Spray the stain with vinegar and allow it to sit. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and apply it to the baking soda paste. The vinegar will activate the baking soda (think of the volcanoes you made as a kid) and form a frothy layer on the tub. Allow the mixture to sit and bubble for a 5-10 more minutes. Together, the two will eat away at any accumulated grime or discoloration. If you prefer, you can soak a sponge in vinegar and use it to treat the area directly. The vinegar and baking soda will begin to react as you scrub, enhancing the effectiveness of manual cleaning. Wipe away the solution. Again, use a washcloth or sponge to scrub the area. Make sure the vinegar and baking soda mixture has had ample time to work on the stain. If need be, repeat this process once more to make sure that no traces of the paint stain remains. Use non-abrasive cleaners only. Because acrylic is highly susceptible to scratching and may react negatively when exposed to certain types of chemicals, you should be selecting non-abrasive cleaning products to treat your bathtub. Ordinary cleaning products like Comet and Ajax that are recommended for bathtubs made of ceramic and other materials will likely be too harsh for use on your acrylic tub. Look for cleaners that are non-acetate, as well, as these chemicals can eat away at an acrylic surface. Mild all-purpose cleaners like OxyClean, Scrubbing Bubbles Bathtub & Shower Cleaner, Fantastik and Kaboom have been shown to produce good results cleaning acrylic bathtubs. Perform a test on your tub first. Spray or dab a small amount of a chosen cleaning product onto a corner of the bathtub and make sure that it wipes away clean before using it on the rest of the tub. Remember to use non-abrasive cloths as well as cleansers. If you have any doubts, do a little research on gentle cleaning products that are suitable for use on acrylic. If the cleaner you're testing has no effect on the tub's surface, or if it causes small cracks or discoloration, discontinue use immediately and flush the spot with warm water. Apply the cleaner to the stained area. Hit the stain with the cleaner and allow to sit for a few moments. By now, little of the original stain should remain. The acrylic-safe cleaner will work on what's left. While you don't want the stain to dry, give it a quick wipe with a towel before using the cleaner so that any standing water left in the tub doesn't dilute the chemicals. You can and should reapply cleaner to the stained area frequently. Acrylic tubs need regular cleaning, and even if the stain doesn't come out with the first few attempts, it will continue to fade with future cleanings. Scrub and rinse the tub. Go over the area once more with your sponge or washcloth. Really dig in: be forceful and use small swirling motions with the cloth to coax out lingering stains. After you've done all you can, rinse the entire tub with hot water. With any luck, you'll never be able to tell the spill happened. | Run some hot water over the paint spot. Soak the spot in laundry detergent. Scrub the stain gently by hand. Wet the stain with warm water. Sprinkle baking soda over the area. Spray the stain with vinegar and allow it to sit. Wipe away the solution. Use non-abrasive cleaners only. Perform a test on your tub first. Apply the cleaner to the stained area. Scrub and rinse the tub. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Critique | How to Write a Critique | To write a critique of a fictional work, start by briefly describing the author and the text you're critiquing. Then, open with some positive critiques of the work, which could include praise of the imagery, the characters, the setting, or anything else you thought was effective. Next, include a brief summary of the text, followed by a more in-depth analysis of what worked and didn't work. Finally, end your critique on a positive note in the conclusion. | Obtain a clean copy of the work from a bookstore or the writer. Make sure there are no other annotations. For best results, buy or ask for a copy of the work that you can mark on directly. Develop a system of annotation. For example, decide to underline the thesis statement, circle imagery and make notes on characters and plot in the margins. If it is helpful to you, a professor or writer, create a legend of your annotations on the first page of the work. Read through the prose an initial time as you annotate. An initial reading is essential to mark down first impressions and plot developments. Annotation helps you to refer to this initial reading after you begin to write your critique. Divide a book into smaller sections. Reading for critiques should be focused reading, so don't do too much at once. Ask questions in the margins. In addition to annotation, if you are critiquing a draft of a story or essay, questions can help elucidate if the author has additional plot work or if they are simply creating tension. Reread the work again. During the second reading, expand your annotation for grammar, spelling and character or plot development errors. Include positive comments. If imagery, character or an argument is well made, highlight it or note it in the columns. Begin writing your critique on a word processor. If you are being asked to do a critique of non-fiction work, it is usually with an attention to scholarship and detail. Make your first paragraph the summary. Detail the work, author and subject area. You may want to include initial dates of publication and any changes that were later made to the work that should be taken into account. Summarize the work next. Suggest what you think the thesis statement the author conveys. Add what evidence is used and what the purpose of the article is. Review the body of the work. In 3 or more body paragraphs you should refer to the following subjects: Explain what the author's credentials are. Establish whether you think the author is reliable in the treatment of the evidence. For example, perhaps the author makes a leap that is outside of his expertise or establishes himself as a foremost expert with this work. Evaluate the evidence given. Do not be afraid to do this over several paragraphs, if the author uses different types of evidence or studies. Write about the author's argument. Answer whether it follows a logical path. Decide whether the author was successful. Outline any counter arguments that the article or book inspired. Detail any possible newer research, changes or holes in the evidence. Conclude with a general opinion of the work. The critique should be based on research and reading; however, it should ultimately say whether you agreed with the author and why. Try to avoid overly-emotional reasoning and stick to facts about the writing and argument. Clarify with the author or professor what you are being asked to critique. If you are asked to do a general analysis, you can include what you think are the most important problems and assets of the text. Introduce the critique with a short description of the author and text. For academic critiques, the introduction should outline what you are being asked to critique. Explain the significance of the work. This can be done in the introduction or near the end, if you desire. Begin with positive critiques, if you are writing the critique based on a draft. Critiques based on works in progress should begin and end with positive assessments. The positive assessments should begin with a general description of what is positive in the text. Then, you can include praise of imagery, characters and other details. Include a short summary of the work next. For a published work, this will give your basis for review. For a non-published work, this will tell the author how you interpreted the work. Do an analysis of the larger elements of fiction, such as plot, setting, protagonist, antagonist and point of view. You do not need to do an analysis of all of these elements, unless you are asked to by the author or assignment. Focus on things that stuck out as you read and reread the work. Add both positive and negative points under each section. Try not to refer to things that need work as weaknesses. Suggest possible changes to drafts; however, do not write them out in detail. It is up to the author to revise. Explain the overall success of the work in the conclusion. If you are doing an academic critique, add how you interpreted the work and found it convincing and complete. If you are doing a draft writing critique, feel free to leave a few opinions or topics for thought and discussion. Consider presenting your critique to the author in person. Written critiques do not have the nuance of verbal critiques. | Obtain a clean copy of the work from a bookstore or the writer. Develop a system of annotation. Read through the prose an initial time as you annotate. Divide a book into smaller sections. Ask questions in the margins. Reread the work again. Include positive comments. Begin writing your critique on a word processor. Make your first paragraph the summary. Summarize the work next. Review the body of the work. Conclude with a general opinion of the work. Clarify with the author or professor what you are being asked to critique. Introduce the critique with a short description of the author and text. Explain the significance of the work. Begin with positive critiques, if you are writing the critique based on a draft. Include a short summary of the work next. Do an analysis of the larger elements of fiction, such as plot, setting, protagonist, antagonist and point of view. Add both positive and negative points under each section. Suggest possible changes to drafts; however, do not write them out in detail. Explain the overall success of the work in the conclusion. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-School-Club | How to Start a School Club | In order to start a school club, you'll need to come up with a plan and decide on important details like what the club is about and where it will meet. Then, type up your plan and run it by school staff members, like the principal, to find out if there are any rules for new clubs. Once your club is approved, fill it with responsible friends who are interested in your club's mission, and assign roles to specific members, like officers. Finally, persuade others to join by putting up a sign-up sheet for new members. | Work out the plan. If you go all willy-nilly like for an example "Okay, so we're just gonna call this club Club of Awesomeness, have it in the morning, and move on", that's showing people that you don't care about the club. It tells them, "This is a club that randomly popped out with no given thought whatsoever. Please risk everything and join." What specific time? Place? What's it about? For the time and place, decide on a room to hold the club in with your friend, and speak with the person in charge of the room. Agree with them on a time, but make it during school hours-and not during lessons or work times. Plan out how the club will run. At many schools, students start planning the club before the summer vacation. This will give time to plan the club events, fundraisers, and other necessary things to make the club flow steadily upon return to school. Choose the club's title. For example, if the club is about your school, i.e. what you can do to improve it, what isn't going well, etc., for example, Cayuga Elementary School, you could call it "Cayuga Elementary Club". Think about what it will look like presented to other people, and how it relates to the topic. Type up your final plan or required form for the school. Choose a person (either you or your friend) to type it on a computer, print it out, and then discuss it together. Don't forget to check it for errors. Find responsible friends. You can't start a club with only one member. Every club has certain positions that need to be filled by responsible people, defined as loyal, intelligent, and hardworking. A club containing people like this will definitely succeed. Also starting to talk with the responsible friends will help in the planning of the club so that one will not have to do it by oneself beforehand. Talk to the staff. Speak to the teachers of both your classes, your friend's class (if he/she is in a different class), and your members' class/classes. If all of them agree on your plan, you may speak to the principal. If the principal agrees, move on to the next step. Find a club adviser. A club adviser is not an adult/teacher that is supposed to babysit a club; they are a trusted mentor. They also need to possess an interest in the club's activity or goal. So find the perfect one that would take an interest in the club. So that they would love to be involved making the club more active and prosperous. Spread the word to the club commissioner, if relevant for your school. Even with the best team, you still need approval. If the club commissioner which approves clubs gets the wrong idea about your club on the form,and they did not interpret the information on the form correctly, the club will unfortunately be rejected. Check to make sure everyone knows what to do before summer. Once summer vacation starts, communication may cut off. If it does happen it is best to give officers some work to do during the summer. Like planning for fundraisers. This will help if the club officers did not know what to do and goof off during the summer. Talk with the other club officers. Make sure there is a high level of communication between the club officers. Without good communication, there will be infinitely many problems occurring. For example: deliveries of fundraiser items are late. Associating with others beforehand makes it easy for an alternative or a solution. Persuade others to join. Once the club is approved, all of the work rests in the hands of the club's officers. The first thing is to get people to join. Create a flyer/sign-up sheet. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Create-a-Club-at-School-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Create-a-Club-at-School-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Create-a-Club-at-School-Step-8.jpg\/aid617573-v4-728px-Create-a-Club-at-School-Step-8.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>"} Prepare a speech. On the first day of your club's start, make sure that the people in your club acknowledge the motive of your club and different requirements needed in the club. This will provide a clear view for the club members. Stay organized. Now that a club has started, it is not over yet. All of the hard parts may have passed, but there is still the maintenance of the club, without which the club won't stay viable. Enjoy running the club. | Work out the plan. Choose the club's title. Type up your final plan or required form for the school. Find responsible friends. Talk to the staff. Find a club adviser. Spread the word to the club commissioner, if relevant for your school. Check to make sure everyone knows what to do before summer. Talk with the other club officers. Persuade others to join. Prepare a speech. Stay organized. Enjoy running the club. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fold-Ties | How to Fold Ties | To fold ties, start by folding it in half so the front of the tie is facing inward and the ends line up. Next, fold the tie in half 2 or 3 more times, doubling it over on itself. Alternatively, pinch the slender end of the tie between your thumb and forefinger and let the rest hang down vertically. Then, loosely wrap the tie around your fingers with your other hand until it's completely rolled up. | Start with a clean necktie. Before you put away a tie, you'll want to make sure that it's free of dirt, stains, smudges, and other blemishes that might undercut the look of your formal attire. Ties are often made from delicate materials that can have unpredictable results when run through the washing machine, so have your accessories dry cleaned if they're in need of serious treatment. To remove small stains at home, dab them with a clean, non-shedding cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Hold the tie so that it's facing you. Take the tie in one hand by the slender end, letting the other fall straight down toward the floor. You should be staring at the outer face of the tie—the one that people will see when they look at you. Inspect the tie for dust, lint, and loose threads before you begin folding. That way, it will be pristine and presentable whenever you're ready to wear it. Double the tie over on itself once. Using your other hand or a flat surface like a table or your bed for stability, bring the ends of the tie toward one another so that the outer face is folded inward. Adjust the ends until they overlap and the rest of the material is perfectly aligned. Run your hand down the length of the folded tie lightly to work out any inconsistencies in the fabric. It may seem counterintuitive to fold the outer face of the tie inward, but this will protect the visible side from dirt and prevent it from getting snagged on other items in your suitcase or accessory drawer. Make sure there are no twists, wrinkles, or smaller folds in the tie. When left to sit for long periods of time, imperfections in the material may cause creasing that can be difficult to remove. Fold the tie 2-3 more times. Holding the ends together, place one hand in the center of the folded tie and double it over again. Continue doing this until the tie is as small as you want it. Remember to smooth out the fabric after each subsequent fold. The weight of the tie will keep it folded once you lay it down, so there's no need to use a separate band or clip. Avoid folding the tie so tightly that the pressure of the bundle inadvertently causes wrinkles. Pinch the slender end of the tie between your thumb and forefinger. Grip the tie by the very tip so that there's no excess fabric sticking out from between your fingers. The end you're holding will be the one that ends up on the inside of the roll. Alternatively, you can fold the tie in half once and grip both ends before rolling so that not as much wrapping is required. Hold the tie up vertically. Let the broad end extend toward the ground so that the tie is completely straight. Keeping it pointed up and down will make rolling quicker, easier, and more precise. This means that your gripping hand should be held flat with your two fingers pointed out to the side. Try not to let the tie touch the ground or any other objects in the immediate vicinity, especially if there's water, ink, or food or drink nearby. Wrap the tie loosely around your fingers. Reach down with your other hand and gather up the broad end. Then, bring it up and around the hand you're holding the tie with. Make sure you're rolling the tie with the outer face (the one that will be visible while you're wearing it) pointed inward to keep it tucked away and protected. Continue rolling the tie until it forms a neat little cylinder shape. You can wind the tie either in front of or behind your second hand. Whichever method you prefer will work—just double check that the outer face of the tie is on the inside. Be careful not to roll the tie too tight. Doing so could create wrinkles or cause you to trap you own fingers (oops!). Set the tie on one end or lay it out on its side. Now that the tie is in a nice compact bundle, the best way to store it is to stand it upright on one end so that it resembles a cinnamon roll. If you'd prefer, you can also place it down lengthwise, with the broad tip tucked underneath to keep it from coming unraveled. Your ties will take up the least amount of space when stored in an upright position. In fact, you could fit as many as 2-3 dozen in an average-sized sock drawer! Consider using a compartmentalized drawer organizer to keep your rolled ties separated and neatly organized. Layer folded ties between your other clothing. The next time you're packing your suitcase for a business trip, start by putting down a base layer of heavier garments like slacks. Arrange your folded ties in a row on top, then cover them with your dress shirts and other items. The added weight will keep them nice and flat and prevent them from being jostled around. You can also pack ties with a coat or pair of pants by tucking them into the pockets to ensure that they don't go anywhere. Keep your ties separated from garments that could bleed or snag. Stick rolled ties inside your shoes. Insert the bundle into the opening of the shoes so that they're standing upright on the insole, just like they would be in your dresser back home. The sidewalls should be supportive enough to hold their shape, which means your delicate ties won't get crushed under the rest of the clothing you've packed. Be careful not to push the ties too deep into the shoes, or they could end up getting squashed. This trick will produce the best results with sturdier types of footwear like dress shoes and boots. You likely won't get the same level of protection from low-cut loafers or flimsy flats. Place the ties in individual boxes. If you're looking for a little extra protection, try stashing your rolled ties inside a separate container, such as a durable jewelry box, before throwing them in your luggage. They won't take up much more room, and they'll be able to withstand more manhandling without coming out a mangled mess. You may be able to find special storage boxes designed specifically for organizing and transporting ties. Ask around at stores in your area that sell formal clothing and menswear accessories. If you're unable to find a suitable container, a (clean) piece of Tupperware, pencil box, or similar portable storage device can make an acceptable substitute. | Start with a clean necktie. Hold the tie so that it's facing you. Double the tie over on itself once. Fold the tie 2-3 more times. Pinch the slender end of the tie between your thumb and forefinger. Hold the tie up vertically. Wrap the tie loosely around your fingers. Set the tie on one end or lay it out on its side. Layer folded ties between your other clothing. Stick rolled ties inside your shoes. Place the ties in individual boxes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fold-a-Shirt-with-the-Department-Store-Method | How to Fold a Shirt with the Department Store Method | If you want to fold a shirt using the department store method, button up and zip your shirt then lay it flat with the back facing up. Next, grasp the collar and fold one sleeve to the middle then repeat for the opposite sleeve. After folding the sleeves, fold each side of the shirt toward the center so that the two edges meet in back. To finish, simply fold the bottom up to the shoulders and flip your shirt over. | Lay out the shirt. Spread the shirt face-down on a flat, clean surface. Smooth out any wrinkles. Let the arms of the shirt lay naturally extended. If the shirt features buttons or a zipper: button all buttons, and zip the zipper shut completely before you begin folding. If the shirt has a hood: fold this bit down first. Lay the hood down flat against the back of the shirt before folding the sleeves inward. Try placing a clean, crisp magazine on the back of the shirt as a guide for a neater fold. Squarely center the magazine right below the collar. Then, make your folds in line with the edges of the magazine. Fold one sleeve of the shirt. First, pinch the top of the shirt on either side of the collar. Hold the fabric tight so that you don't create any unwanted creases. Then, take the sleeve on the same side that you're holding the collar. Fold the sleeve and any extra fabric across the center crease of the shirt. Make a straight line from top to bottom on the folded side. Fold the other sleeve. Repeat the fold for the sleeve that you haven't creased yet. For the sake of presentation, try to make the second fold symmetrical with the first. Don't be afraid to adjust the sleeves a bit so that they match one another. Fold one side of the shirt to the center. The edge of the shirt should extend almost exactly halfway across the back of the shirt. Firmly crease the edge so that it forms a perfect vertical line down the back of the garment. If the shirt has long sleeves: fold them back in on themselves so that they run lengthwise down the back of the shirt. If the shirt has short sleeves: fold them so that they fit neatly and symmetrically into the back of the shirt. Bring the other side to the center. Fold the other edge of the shirt over to meet the first edge in the middle of the back. Make sure that the two edges run parallel, and that they do not overlap. If you are using a magazine to make the fold more precise: fold each side of the shirt until it hits the magazine. Simply fold the shirt to the width of a magazine. Crease the shirt in half. Fold up the bottom edge of the shirt so that it meets the top of the shoulders. Let the edge rest just below the collar. Smooth out any creases, and make sure that the fold is symmetrically all the way across the width of the shirt. Flip the shirt over to finish. Make sure that all the edges are straight and crisp. Smooth out any creases or wrinkles in the fabric, and check that the shirt is ready for sale. In department stores, the shirt is always displayed with the front facing up. If you are folding your shirt for convenient home storage, then it is doesn't matter so much which way you display the garment. It may still be convenient to keep your shirts front-side up so that you can easily tell which is which. | Lay out the shirt. Fold one sleeve of the shirt. Fold the other sleeve. Fold one side of the shirt to the center. Bring the other side to the center. Crease the shirt in half. Flip the shirt over to finish. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Serious-Regrets | How to Overcome Serious Regrets | To overcome serious regrets, write down why you think you acted a certain way, and how you can do things differently next time. For example, you might ask yourself “Why did I snap at my child so much last week?” After writing about it, you might realize that you have very little patience after work and decide to give yourself 5 minutes after your workday to relax before engaging with your child. Another way to overcome regret and think about the past differently is to change your regretful thoughts into thoughts of gratitude. For example, change “I should have gone to college” to “I am grateful it's not too late to go to college.” Or change “I should have tried harder to stop drinking” to “I am grateful that I can try to do better now. | Learn what regret is. Regret is a critical way of thinking or feeling in which you blame yourself for things that happened. Productive regret can help you learn to change your behavior for the future. Unproductive regret, where you completely blame yourself, can create chronic stress which leads to health problems. Regret can be over things you have done or not done. For example, you could regret acting a certain way during an argument, or you may regret not taking a job offer. Identify your feelings of regret. These may be different from person to person, but feelings of regret include: sadness, loss, remorse, anger, shame, and anxiety. Identify these feelings related to regret. For example, you may have the thought of a past deed and then you think about this event for the majority of the day. This can leave you feeling defeated and hopeless. You may think about what you did or said, or you may think about what you wished you had done differently to change your current situation. Constant rethinking and regretting can cause anxiety. This may lead to worrying about future decisions that you might regret later. Consider where your regret comes from. Think about what's causing your regret. People can feel regretful for a number of reasons. Typical regretful experiences include: Lifestyle: Many people regret moving to a different country or may wish they hadn't turned off a house offer. For example, you moved from Canada to Australia because you wanted a warmer life. But just months later, you have found it impossible to find work, have experienced life on the streets and feel homesick every single day. You wish you hadn't made the move down under. Work: People may regret not following a different career path and pursuing their dream jobs. Or they may regret turning down job offers or promotions. For example, you dread going into your office job everyday and frequently wish you had not turned down the opportunity to be a co-owner in your own business. Family: People may regret not settling disputes with a family member or friend, especially if the other person passed. Or they may regret not spending more time with older family members. For example, you moved across the country for your spouse's job. You never made enough effort to stay connected to your grandmother through calls or visits. Now that your grandmother has passed, you regret not putting more effort into staying connected. Children: People may regret starting a family. For example, you started a family because you wanted to make your spouse's dream come true. 1 year later, you are getting no enjoyment from parenthood and your relationship with your partner has suffered for it, you wish daily you had become a dog foster like you wanted to. Keep in mind however that many Mom and Dads experience postpartum depression following the birth of a baby, get professional help if you think you might have this. Marriage: People may regret the timing of their marriage or their choice of partner. Some may even regret getting married at all. For example, you married your husband/wife because your family liked and approved of them. After 5 years of marriage, you have found that you share no interests. You often think about what your life would have been like if you had married your long-time girl/boyfriend who your parents did not like. Use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT exercises teach you to change your habits and patterns of thinking. You can soon start changing your feelings of regret, shame, and anger. Instead, you'll focus on emotionally healing any harmful, unproductive thoughts you have. CBT works to reduce and replace your feelings of regret and anxiety, instead of simply telling yourself to stop thinking about the past. This helps you to deal with the regret in a better way. Write down your regrets. With regret, people often wonder “why” they acted or didn't act, and this is often where people become stuck. List your regrets and any questions you keep asking yourself. For example, you might wonder why you acted the way you did. Go through your list and change the "why" questions into "what's next?" This will help you overcome the feeling of being stuck. For example: You might ask yourself, "Why did I snap at my child so much last week?" For "What's next?" you could say that you know you have very little patience left after work. In the future you could take a 5 minute break before engaging the children. Learn your lesson. Regrets can be important learning tools for the future. Try to look for the lessons learned and recognize that life lessons make you wiser. For example, if you regret not treating your spouse with respect, you may have learned that disrespecting your spouse makes you feel terrible. Having this knowledge makes you a wiser spouse and person. Apply what you've learned. What you regret may also be things you have learned about yourself and others. Having this knowledge decreases the chances of making a similar choice in the future. Make sure to apply the wisdom you've gained. For example, if you've learned that disrespecting your spouse makes your spouse feel distrustful, don't do it again in the future. Control how regrets influence your future. While you can not change what happened in the past, you can choose how your past affects your present and future. For example, you can't change how much or how often you drank in college, but you can make the choice not to let the regret make you feel guilty now or let it affect your future choices. Recognize productive regret. Beating yourself up over things beyond your control would be considered unproductive regret. But, productive regret can be positive if you are moved to improve yourself or act on opportunities. Once you're aware of a missed opportunity, be it educational, financial, or emotional, you're more likely to correct the mistake in the future. If you find yourself ambivalent about taking a new opportunity, ask yourself if you'd rather worry about a wasted opportunity or take a chance. By trying something new, you're minimizing future regrets. Build empathy for others. You're not the only one feeling regretful about something. Consider what others may be going through. Remember that empathy helps you to better understand the feelings of others. This may require you to challenge your own prejudices and truly listen to others. For example, if you regret heavy drinking during your years in college, you may have a deep understanding of how you son feels after a night he's not proud of. Turn regret into gratitude. You may think about regret in terms of the following statements : "I should have...." "I could have...." "I can't believe I...." "Why didn't I....." Change these statements into statements of gratitude. You'll think about the past differently and start to lose the regret. When you catch yourself thinking a regretful statement, change it to a statement of gratitude. This can help you start thinking about the past in a positive light. For example, change "I should have gone to college," to "I am grateful it's not too late to go to college." Or change "I could have tried harder to stop drinking," to "I am grateful that I can try to do better now." Practice self-forgiveness. Regret can cause resentment towards yourself and others. Instead, learn to forgive yourself. Not only will this reduce your feelings of regret, but it can improve your self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem is critical to many areas of your life, including relationships. Don't simply try to remove the regret. Instead, own up to your mistakes and feelings, but allow yourself to move on. Write yourself a letter. The exercise of writing a letter will help you practice forgiving yourself. This emotional and cognitive tool will start to healing your feelings of regret. Write a letter addressed to your younger or past-self and in the letter talk to your younger-self like you might talk to your child or close friend. This will make sure that you are compassionate towards yourself. Remind your younger-self that you deserve the best in life even if you made mistakes, because you are human and it is ok to make mistakes. Practice daily affirmations. An affirmation is a positive statement to encourage, uplift you, and make you more compassionate towards yourself. Having compassion for yourself makes it easier to empathize and forgive your past-self, which can reduce feelings of regret. Tell yourself, write, or think the affirmations. Some examples of affirmations include: I am a good person and deserve the best despite my past. I am human and make mistakes, and that is ok. I have learned a lot from my past, and I am worthy of a bright future. | Learn what regret is. Identify your feelings of regret. Consider where your regret comes from. Use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Write down your regrets. Learn your lesson. Apply what you've learned. Control how regrets influence your future. Recognize productive regret. Build empathy for others. Turn regret into gratitude. Practice self-forgiveness. Write yourself a letter. Practice daily affirmations. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Wire-a-Light | How to Wire a Light | To wire a light in your home, start by switching the appropriate circuit in your fuse box to “off” so you can work safely with the wires. Next, twist together like-colored wires coming from the fixture and the wall or ceiling, such as black with black and red with red, then screw a wiring cap over the exposed ends. After that, if you see a wire that's green, green and yellow, or bare copper, wrap it around the small screw on the fixture. Then, tighten the screw, fasten the fixture to the mounting hardware, and test your new light. | Cut power to your circuit. The best way to do this is by turning off the electricity supplied to the circuit on which you will be working at the junction box (also called a fuse box) for your home. Switch the breaker of your fuse-box so the fuse for the circuit supplying electricity to your fixture reads "Off." It's always a good idea to double-check the flow of electricity by checking the light itself before moving forward with this project. Flick the light on, and if the circuit has been disabled, the light should stay off. Clean the old fixture and installation area. If the light you are wiring is in the ceiling, you should clean any cobwebs and dust before attempting to install your new fixture. The same is true for lights or switches in walls; a clean work area will improve your ease of installation. If you are using a ladder to reach your light fixture, or are in a less than ideal position, be sure the ground is also clear of debris or anything else that might affect your balance or safety. Remove the old fixture covering. There is usually, but not always, a decorative globe, shield, or some kind of external feature covering your existing light fixture. This could also be something more involved, like ceiling fan blades. Unmount the fixture. There will be a mounting bracket holding your old fixture in place. You will need to unscrew this from mounting bracket, usually with Phillips-head screwdriver, and then pull it from the bracket. Be sure you support the old fixture with your hand as you unscrew it from the mount. If you do not support the fixture, it could fall to the floor once you loosen the screws holding it in. Lower the fixture. Allow the unscrewed fixture you are supporting with your hand to descend a few inches below its mount. You will likely see three wires attached to your fixture: a hot wire, grounding wire, and neutral wire. You will need to use your free hand to uncouple these wires, twisting the wiring cap to free the wires from each other. Hot wires are those that run electricity to your fixtures and grounding wires are intended to offer surge electricity a neutral point, like the earth, into which it can dissipate. In some cases, a grounding wire might be attached to the mounting bracket itself, rather than a house wire. This is fairly common in new light fixtures. Disengage your light from its wires. You should see plastic caps, called wiring caps (also called a wire nut), with two wires running into each cap. One wire will come from the light, the other from the main electrical circuit of your house. Disengage the wires by twisting the wiring cap until it comes free. Once you have released the light from its wiring, you can set the existing light fixture aside. Check for compatibility. In most cases, the mounting hardware for your new fixture will fit the bracket that's already installed.You'll need to hold the new light fixture up to the existing mounting bracket and compare fasteners and size to make sure you don't need to install a new mounting bracket. Swap in a new bracket, if necessary. Oftentimes, if a light requires a special bracket, this will be included with the light you have bought. If not, you can look up the light information online by doing a general search of the name of the light fixture, which you can find on the box. Listed with its information should be mounting information as well. Once you know the kind of bracket you need, you can find and purchase it at your local hardware store. Replacing the old bracket is just a matter of unscrewing it and screwing the new one into place. Investigate the age of your wiring. This is especially important if you have an older home, in particular, any home built before 1985. Wiring installed prior to 1985 has weaker insulation than contemporary circuits, meaning the heat generated by your fixture could cause a short, fire, or worse. Fixtures unsafe to use for older wiring will have a warning label that says, “Use wire rated for at least 90 degrees C.” Fixtures without this warning will still be suitable for your pre-1985 wiring. Join like colored wires. Depending on your country, the colors that code which wires are live, ground, and neutral may differ. In any case, you should support your new light with one hand and take each like colored wire coming from your wall or ceiling and combine it with its mate coming from the light fixture. Twist the exposed ends of the wire together, and seal it by screwing on a wiring cap. A general guide to electrical wiring color code is as follows: CA : Live - black (single phase), red (with a second hot wire) Neutral - white Earth/ground - green, green and yellow, or bare copper UK : Live - brown, black, or red Neutral - blue Earth/ground - green and yellow USA : Live - black (single phase), red (with second hot wire) Neutral - white Earth/ground - green, green and yellow, or bare copper Ground your fixture. If there is a remaining wire that is green, green and yellow, or bare copper, you should screw it into place on the mounting hardware for your light fixture. There will likely be a small screw for this purpose on the fixture, which you can unscrew slightly, slot the wire into the gap between screw and fixture, and then tighten to fasten your ground. Be sure your ground wire feeds to a place it can safely disperse an electrical current. Many metal surfaces can be suitable for this purpose. Fasten your fixture in the mounting bracket. Continuing to support your fixture with your hand, hold it in place so as to line up the screw holes with those of the bracket and screw it into the mount using the hardware that came with the fixture. Finish any supplemental installation. There may be external features or parts, like a light cover or ceiling fan blades, to add to your new light fixture. Take a moment to step back and inspect your fixture for levelness, orientation, and flushness with the surface on which you've installed it. Some light fixtures are permanently angled a certain way, and improper installation can lead to your light shining where it does little good. Test your new light. Return to your fuse-box and reset the fuse for the room in which you've been wiring to restore the flow of electricity to the room. Now you can install a light bulb and turn on the new light fixture you have installed to test it out. Test for electrical current. Sometimes, over the course of installation, a wire might be jostled or damaged in such a way as to compromise its ability to transmit electricity to your new light. Additionally, in some cases, contractors may have used different colored wires for your electrical setup. In both of these cases you should use a circuit tester to ensure you don't make a dangerous mistake with your wiring. A circuit tester can be purchased at most hardware stores. Turn off the electricity, free the wire you are uncertain about from the old fixture, and then turn the electricity back on, being sure that your free wire is not touching anything dangerous. Your circuit tester will have two nodes; connect one to the questionable wire and the other to a grounded, metal surface or your ground wire. If the light on your tester turns on, the wire is hot and is supplied with electricity. Create space to work. Some wiring jobs are done haphazardly, with poorly managed wire in the fixture box or wall or ceiling where you are working. After turning off the circuit, hold up your fixture to your mount to approximate how much wire you will need. Be sure to leave some excess. Wire can become damaged or get brittle over time, in which case, you might want to strip some insulation off the wire to tie a new fixture in to your circuit. Give yourself more wire. If you are working with older wire, or if the stripped part of the wire is difficult to work with, after you have cut power to the circuit you are working on, you can strip more wire for greater ease of handling. It is recommended that you remove about ½" of wire insulation with a wire stripper or a utility knife. Be sure you exercise care when using a utility knife; you don't want to nick or damage the metal part of your wire. Give yourself another hand while wiring. If you have a friend of family member available to assist, it can help a great deal to have this person hold the fixture while you're wiring. If you do not have help available, you can bend a piece of unused scrap wire to hang the light securely from the mount. With the fixture secured, you should be able to use both hands, making the wiring portion a cinch. An assistant is especially helpful when you are wiring a ceiling light. While you are on a ladder or chair, your helper can hold you steady, hand you tools and parts, and take unneeded parts from you as you finish. | Cut power to your circuit. Clean the old fixture and installation area. Remove the old fixture covering. Unmount the fixture. Lower the fixture. Disengage your light from its wires. Check for compatibility. Swap in a new bracket, if necessary. Investigate the age of your wiring. Join like colored wires. Ground your fixture. Fasten your fixture in the mounting bracket. Finish any supplemental installation. Test your new light. Test for electrical current. Create space to work. Give yourself more wire. Give yourself another hand while wiring. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-High-School-President-Speech | How to Write a High School President Speech | To write a high school president speech, choose a few important, clear points to emphasize. Avoid long, wordy sentences and a complicated outline. Instead, keep the structure and content of your speech simple so your audience can easily follow along with what you're saying. As you write, read your speech out loud to ensure that it sounds natural and conversational. Also, use words like “we” and “us” and reference shared experiences to build rapport with your audience. | Decide on 2 or 3 issues you want to address as president. Choose issues that are important with the student body at your school so that your classmates will be excited about them. Even if you plan to do more than just 2 or 3 things, you don't want your speech to be too long or to have too much information. Just talk about the most important issues you plan to address as president. For example, let's say your school has rules in place that require students to get approval before they can hang posters on the school walls, even if the posters are related to school activities. If you know other students are constantly complaining about this rule, you might campaign on changing it. As another example, your school may have an ineffective process for lining up at lunchtime, which causes students to spend most of their lunch period purchasing food. To address this issue, you might suggest a new way of lining up or an alternative process for handing out food. For another option, let's say your school has tried to do programs to help students, such as anti-bullying programs or extended library hours, but limited funding made the programs ineffective. You might run on a platform of doing fundraising activities and promoting volunteerism to help support these valuable programs. List all of the ways you’re involved in your school. You want to show your classmates that you're active in your school's culture. This shows them that you're passionate about your school and enjoy spending time with your fellow classmates. Write down the following: Student government positions you've held Clubs or teams you've participated in School events you've attended School events you've helped plan Volunteer positions you've taken Think of ways you’ve proven your leadership or decision making abilities. Include things you've done for your school and how you've participated in your community. You can use this experience to convince your classmates that you have the skills and abilities necessary to be student body president. For example, you might include prior work with your school's student government or a leadership role you held in a club. Similarly, you could include the time you planned set designs for a community theater production or your stint as a summer camp counselor. Choose clear transitions to guide the audience through your speech. The audience isn't going to be taking notes during your speech, so you want to make sure it's easy for them to identify the overall structure and current focus throughout. Simple identifiers--what you might call "verbal signposts"--like “First,” “Then,” and “After that” can do quite a bit to help listeners follow along. For example, you might use words like "first," "second," "next," "then," "additionally," "similarly," "alternatively," and "furthermore." Repetitive phrasing can serve as a useful signpost during the speech. You might, for instance, say “The first time we came together to change things for the better” before describing an accomplishment, then introduce the second with “The second time we came together….” Remember to KISS—Keep It Short and Simple. People frequently complain about speeches being too long or too confusing, and hardly ever that they are too short or too easy to follow. When you can make a point with one sentence instead of two, or even one word instead of two, do it. The first draft of a speech is about adding material; after that, it's mostly about removing material to hone your message. For example, make sure your speech doesn't go over the time limit. Time your speech to make sure it's about 3-7 minutes long, depending on what your school allows. Whenever possible, give yourself enough time to write several drafts of a speech. Each time you revise a draft, look for ways to trim the language, phrasing, and focus down to the essentials. Introduce yourself simply and quickly. Tell your audience who you are, what class you are in, and why you are running for high school president. Use your “why” to set a theme for your speech. Keep your introduction simple and direct. Say, “Hello, everyone. My name is Jacob Easton. I'm a junior, and I want to be class president because we need a fresh vision for making Acme High a more welcoming and inclusive school.” In this example, your “why” statement starts a theme of inclusivity. Explain the 2-3 major issues you’ll address as class president. Describe what you plan to do and how it will help everyone in your school. Focus on ways you and your classmates can work together to achieve these goals. Additionally, link the issues to the overall theme of your speech (and your campaign). For instance, if you're using the “inclusivity” theme, you might pledge to start an anti-bullying program and a peer mentoring club. You might say, "Together, we can make our school a better place for all students. If elected, I will work with all of you to create an anti-bullying club so that no student is afraid to come to school. Additionally, we will form a peer mentoring club to encourage students to guide others and act as a support system." Tell your classmates why you believe you’re qualified to be president. Briefly discuss your past leadership positions, as well as ways you've shown you can be decisive. Incorporate things you've done for your school and community to support your argument. Similarly, explain ways you've shown you can be open to input. If you've held other leadership positions, identify them and mention for each how you achieved something related to your overarching theme. If you haven't held official leadership positions, identify life experiences in which you had to be both decisive and collaborative. You might say, “As president of the debate club, I've expanded club membership, worked with local lawyers to build a mentorship program, and acquired donations from local office supply stores so students have the materials they need for tournaments. If you elect me to be your president, I'll bring the same type of leadership to the student government.” Explain how you're different from your opponents without attacking them. “Going negative” is rarely a winning strategy, especially in school elections. You don't want to alienate the friends of your opponents or to seem mean. Explain your differences from your opponents by highlighting what you will do, not what they have done or not done. Use facts and avoid distorting the truth with negative speech. For instance: “While our current class leadership has done good work in reviving school spirit, I will dedicate myself to making sure all students feel the embrace of that spirit and have opportunities to shape it.” Close by asking your classmates to vote for you. Summarize what you will do for your classmates, then thank them for their time. Finally, remind them of your name and ask for their vote. Say, “Together, we can make our school inclusive for all. Thank you for your time this afternoon. I'm Jacob Easton, and I want your vote.” You might also decide to go with a catchy slogan, like, “Next Tuesday, 'Get Awake and Vote for Jake!'” Show confidence through assertive body language. Stand up straight, with your shoulders rolled back. However, lean forward slightly while you're talking to show you're engaged with your audience. Additionally, keep your chin tilted up and make eye contact with members of your audience. As you speak, use hand gestures or keep your arms at your sides, being careful not to cross them, which would make you seem closed off. You can smile or keep your facial expression neutral. Practice your body language in front of a mirror before you give your speech. Use a conversational tone to seem relatable to your peers. Keeping your speech conversational will make your peers feel like you're speaking directly to them. You can do this by altering your sentence structure to make your speech sound more casual. Don't worry as much about grammar. Instead, focus on how you'd speak if you were just talking to your friends. For instance, you might say, “We all want to support our classmates with motivational posters. However, current rules make it hard to have school spirit. Let's change that." Read the speech out loud as your write it. This will help ensure that each sentence fits the way you speak. If the sentence doesn't sound right or feel natural coming from your mouth, revise it. Because you're focused on clarity and brevity, you might use sentence fragments or repeat words or phrases in ways you wouldn't normally if you were writing an essay. Opt for a formal or serious tone if your school is very traditional. If your school encourages serious speeches during school elections, it might be best to stick to tradition. Otherwise, your classmates might not view you as a good candidate for leadership. Not only that, but you might also struggle to work with other student government officials and your school's administration if you're not perceived as taking things seriously. To make your speech more formal, use grammatically correct sentences and stronger words, while avoiding casual phrasing. For example, don't use contractions or sentence fragments, which create a more conversational tone. Instead, speak in full sentences. To help you find a more serious tone, imagine that you're giving your speech to your teachers rather than your classmates. If you plan to give a formal speech, you might watch videos of famous speeches on YouTube to get an idea of what people expect. Add humor to make your speech more engaging. Jokes and funny stories will make people want to listen to you. Plus, using humor shows that you don't take yourself too seriously, which can make other students relate to you better. To make your speech more humorous, open your speech with a joke. Then, sprinkle funny anecdotes or musings throughout your speech. When choosing the right jokes and stories for your speech, steer clear of anything that might be perceived as offensive. Always keep your audience in mind. An "inside joke" that your friends understand might not be funny to the student body as a whole. If possible, connect the humor to the overall theme of your speech. For instance, let's say your speech is about changing the rules for hanging posters on school walls. You might tell a humorous story about the time your school hung up “Go team” posters for a football game that had already happened two weeks prior because it took so long for the posters to get approved. Create a tone of cooperation by using words like “we” instead of “I. ” This will make your audience feel like they have a stake in your campaign. Furthermore, it shows them that you don't see yourself as the one with all of the answers but as one of the group as a whole, so your successes belong to everyone. Having this attitude can get more people on your side. For example, you'd say, “If we work together, we make it easier to get through the lunch line so we all have more time to eat,” rather than, “If I'm elected, I'll do everything in my power to fix the lunch lines so students have more time to eat.” | Decide on 2 or 3 issues you want to address as president. List all of the ways you’re involved in your school. Think of ways you’ve proven your leadership or decision making abilities. Choose clear transitions to guide the audience through your speech. Remember to KISS—Keep It Short and Simple. Introduce yourself simply and quickly. Explain the 2-3 major issues you’ll address as class president. Tell your classmates why you believe you’re qualified to be president. Explain how you're different from your opponents without attacking them. Close by asking your classmates to vote for you. Show confidence through assertive body language. Use a conversational tone to seem relatable to your peers. Opt for a formal or serious tone if your school is very traditional. Add humor to make your speech more engaging. Create a tone of cooperation by using words like “we” instead of “I. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dispose-of-Styrofoam | How to Dispose of Styrofoam | Since most local agencies don't recycle Styrofoam, dispose of it in the regular trash. Remove any paper or card from the Styrofoam and recycle those. If you have large blocks of Styrofoam, break them down into smaller pieces before you put them in the trash. However, if your Styrofoam hasn't been used for food or medical purposes and it has a recycling logo on it, you can take it to a local recycling program. Search online for a Styrofoam drop-off location in your area. | Remove any recyclable parts attached to the Styrofoam. Carefully look over your foam pieces for paper, cardboard, or glass. Set those pieces aside to recycle later. You can place them in your own recycling bin or take them to your local recycling center. Only items uncontaminated by food or medical use are recyclable. Contact your local agency if you're unsure what they can process. Break the Styrofoam into smaller pieces for ease. If you have large foam blocks or sheets, cut them into smaller cubes. They'll fit easily into a trash bag, and you might be able to fit more in a single bag. Throw the Styrofoam into your garbage bin or dumpster. This is what most local agencies not only suggest, but require. Since recycling Styrofoam can be costly, for most, it's not worthwhile to put resources into processing it. Follow guidelines and toss your foam with your everyday trash. Confirm you have plain white Styrofoam. In general, the only Styrofoam with a high chance of being recycled is clean, white packaging foam. If your foam is dyed, it probably won't be accepted. You'll also have better luck with foam blocks than packing peanuts. Look for the triangular recycling symbol on your Styrofoam. Typically, recyclable plain white Styrofoam is marked with a triangle, and the number 6 is stamped inside. This foam can be turned into plastic, sent overseas to make another item like a picture frame, then shipped back for sale in the U.S. Remember that almost all Styrofoam food containers, cups, and plates are considered trash due to food contamination. Foam used for medical purposes is also unusable. This is true even if they have a recycling triangle. Contact your local recycling program for information on Styrofoam drop-offs. Some waste authorities will accept clean foam food trays and/or foam egg cartons. Refer to your local agency's website for details on what they can recycle. Google your city name and add “Styrofoam” to find your agency's website. Reach out to disposal drop-off sites near you. There might be drop-off areas in your area who are willing to take your unwanted Styrofoam. Use the EPS-IA's online directory to find sites near you. Call locations beforehand to learn what Styrofoam they'll take. All containers should be clean and empty. Remove any tape, labels, or plastic film. If you have a truck's worth of recyclable Styrofoam, there might be a fee due to the amount. Mail in Styrofoam if there are no local options available. You can look for a mail-in location on EPS-IA's website. You'll have to cover the shipping, but it should be low-cost. Remove any debris, then break the Styrofoam into small pieces. Place the foam in a shipping box. Reuse packing peanuts for future shipments. Shippers use packing peanuts because they're good at what they do: protecting items during transit. If you plan to mail packages, try using the peanuts you have. If you don't need them, donate to a local shipping store. Use foam to create sets, props, or crafts. Styrofoam makes a great material for costumes or decorations because it's lightweight. Create templates on the Styrofoam for desired shapes, then cut them out. Use paint or markers to decorate low-cost but sturdy-looking props and stage backgrounds. Make a magic wand by cutting out a star shape. Poke a hole in the bottom with a pencil. Insert craft glue into the hole, then slide in a wooden dowel for the handle. Use markers or paint to turn a Styrofoam plate into a shining sun. Glue white packing peanuts into the shape of a little igloo. Use Styrofoam peanuts or pieces as planter filler. Using Styrofoam in the base of your planter means you'll use and waste less soil. It also makes for a lighter planter and aids water drainage. Use Styrofoam to decorate your home. With some effort, you can repurpose Styrofoam into something new to furnish your space. For example, you could build a beautiful garden statue , or cut up pieces to make your own beanbag chair filling. | Remove any recyclable parts attached to the Styrofoam. Break the Styrofoam into smaller pieces for ease. Throw the Styrofoam into your garbage bin or dumpster. Confirm you have plain white Styrofoam. Look for the triangular recycling symbol on your Styrofoam. Contact your local recycling program for information on Styrofoam drop-offs. Reach out to disposal drop-off sites near you. Mail in Styrofoam if there are no local options available. Reuse packing peanuts for future shipments. Use foam to create sets, props, or crafts. Use Styrofoam peanuts or pieces as planter filler. Use Styrofoam to decorate your home. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Coordinate-Colors | How to Coordinate Colors | To coordinate your clothing colors, try to mix colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, like bright yellow and pale orange, since wearing multiple complimentary colors can come off too strong. You can also use red, yellow, and blue to compliment single-color outfits, like wearing a blue scarf with an all-black outfit. In general, though, try to pair 1 colored item with 1 neutral one so the colors don't seem overwhelming. Don't be afraid to experiment with different color combinations to see what goes well together. You may discover colors that look awesome together that you never would have worn before! | Figure out the basics of the color wheel. The color wheel is made up of primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and secondary colors (purple, green, orange) in the shape of a wheel. Primary colors can't be formed by mixing other colors whereas secondary colors are created by mixing primary colors. In turn, primary and secondary colors mix together to form tertiary colors. Some color wheels depict 3 primary colors, 3 secondary colors, and 6 tertiary colors in separate spokes while other color wheels blend colors one into another as a continuum. It's important to understand the color wheel because it guides how you choose coordinating colors. Look across the wheel to find complementary colors. Complementary colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. For instance, yellow is directly across from the secondary color purple, red is across from green, and blue is across the wheel from orange. Complementary colors typically go well together, brightening the other one just by being nearby. Complementary colors can also include tertiary colors. Check for analogous colors right next to each other. Analogous colors are often paired together because they fade into each other on the color wheel. For instance, yellow fades into orange, making a yellow-orange tertiary color in the middle. Because they are near each other, they blend well when trying to coordinate colors. As another example, blue blends into purple, making blue-purple in the middle. Use shading and tinting to make monochromatic matches. "Shade" just means you add black to a color to make it darker. "Tint" means adding white to a color to make it lighter. If you choose a single color, then you can pick lighter or darker variations of that color to create a monochromatic look. For instance, monochromatic colors in purple could include lavender, plum, and grape. Avoid mixing warm and cool colors for the most part. Warm colors include orange, red, and yellow, while cool colors include greens, blues, and purple. When you understand this division, it can make it easier to coordinate colors, as you can match cool colors with cool colors and warm colors with warm ones. While this is a good general guideline, there are times when a warm color looks nice paired with a cool color, like a rich, warm gold accented with cool purple tones. Build an outfit out of a neutral color and a bright color for simple coordination. Neutral colors include black, white, brown, gray, and even olive and navy at times, but they can also include metallics like silver, bronze, and gold. Pick a neutral for the main part of your outfit, then add 1-2 other colors around it. For instance, try a black suit with a pale pink shirt or a silver dress with a bright blue jacket thrown over it. When pairing neutrals like navy and olive with other colors, think about their hues. For instance, olive complements maroons and oranges, but it also does well with blues and golds because they're nearby on the color wheel. Try an outfit made of complementary colors for something bright and fun. Pick out 2 complementary colors on the color wheel, and use that to build your outfit. If you choose orange and blue, for instance, you might pair a bright orange shirt with a dark pair of blue jeans. Another good way to use complementary colors to good effect is to pair 1 complementary color with a paler tint of its opposite color. For example, mix a purple dress with a pale yellow shawl. Use analogous colors for a pulled-together look. Try picking 2-3 colors that are right next to each other on the wheel and guide your outfit with those. These similar hues will make your outfit seem cohesive. For example, you might pair a bright yellow sundress with a pale orange scarf. Another example of using analogous colors to good effect might be a scarlet red dress with gold jewelry and pink shoes. While you usually should avoid mixing warm and cool colors, you can occasionally break that rule if you find something that looks good together. For instance, with your bright yellow dress, you might find a pale green cardigan that looks smashing with it. Choose monochromatic colors for an easy coordinated look. A good place to start with a monochrome look is with the primary colors. Pick a single color to start your look, then choose shades and tints of that color to put together your outfit. For instance, try a navy pantsuit with a pale blue shirt and bright blue pumps. When you're creating a monochrome look, try to stay in the same spoke on the color wheel. That is, if you choose blue, make sure you're picking true blues, not purple-y blues. Color block primary colors with neutrals. The primary colors red, yellow and, blue often look great with a solid block of color, such as black pants with a yellow top. Try wearing a bright red shirt with grey leggings or royal blue skirt with a flowing white top, for instance. If you want to go bolder, try pairing more than 1 primary color in an outfit, such as blue jeans, a bright red top, and a yellow purse. Mix and match to see what goes well together. Usually, you can tell when 2 colors don't look quite right together by holding them up next to one another. However, you may not be able to guess before you see them together. Pull all the items out of your closet and try mixing and matching different pieces you don't normally put together. You may come up with something that looks awesome together that you never would have worn before. Try starting out with a neutral in your central room. If you begin with a subtle color in the central room, then you can paint bold colors in the nearby rooms without them clashing. Otherwise, you might find your rooms seem to be working against each other rather than creating a cohesive look. Try a soft grey, a cream, or pale tan, for instance. An alternative option is to pick a bold color you like, and put that in the room you want it in. Then move out from there, picking colors that coordinate throughout your house. Opt for bold colors off of your main room. Since you went with a neutral color in your main room, you can get a bit crazier as you move outward. However, keep the line of sight in mind. For instance, if you can see from your dining room into your living room (the neutral room) and then into the hallway, you should probably pick coordinating colors for the dining room and hallway. For example, if you choose a periwinkle for your dining room, you might pick a light peach for the hallway, since those are complementary colors. Follow the rules of using analogous, complementary, or monochromatic colors. Pick the type of coordination that you like the best and apply it to your color scheme. For instance, if you love blues, then you might try a monochromatic scheme featuring different hues of blue. If you like bright, bold colors, try using complementary colors. For a rainbow effect, opt for analogous colors through your house. For instance, for an analogous scheme, you might paint one room pale yellow, the next one pale peach, and the next one pale pink. Pay attention to the line of sight and to rooms next to each other. When picking colors, make sure that you apply these schemes in rooms that you can see through to the next one. Similarly, even if you can't see much of 1 bedroom from the one next to it, you still want to apply a color wheel scheme to help the house feel more cohesive. This is especially true if you have an open concept house. With separate floors, you can use different schemes if you'd like, as the stairway creates a separation. | Figure out the basics of the color wheel. Look across the wheel to find complementary colors. Check for analogous colors right next to each other. Use shading and tinting to make monochromatic matches. Avoid mixing warm and cool colors for the most part. Build an outfit out of a neutral color and a bright color for simple coordination. Try an outfit made of complementary colors for something bright and fun. Use analogous colors for a pulled-together look. Choose monochromatic colors for an easy coordinated look. Color block primary colors with neutrals. Mix and match to see what goes well together. Try starting out with a neutral in your central room. Opt for bold colors off of your main room. Follow the rules of using analogous, complementary, or monochromatic colors. Pay attention to the line of sight and to rooms next to each other. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stargaze-Comfortably | How to Stargaze Comfortably | To stargaze comfortably, layer up with thermal underwear, a sweater, hat, and gloves to stay warm. Additionally, make sure to bring a mat or chair, as you may be sitting for a long time. For extra warmth and comfort, try bringing a blanket to lay on top of your seat. Finally, don't forget to bring a snack and something to sip on while you stargaze. | Layer your clothing. Depending on the time of year, you'll need to bring a variety of clothing with you, as your body temperature will drop the longer you sit still. Likewise, you might get warm and want to shed a few layers. If you stargaze in the fall or winter, try thermal underwear, sweaters, hats, gloves or mittens, and scarves. If you stargaze in the spring or summer, wear multiple, light layers. Try a zip-up hoodie, light jacket, hat, and jeans. Bring one warm coat in case the temperature drops dramatically during the night. Bring a mat, chair, and pillow. You will want to keep your eyes trained on the sky for an extended period of time, so comfort is a must. Your neck will become tired and sore very quickly unless you lay flat on your back or recline in a chair. Good options for comfort and warmth are: a yoga mat, pillows, tarp (in case of dew or damp grass), camping pad, camping chair, or reclining deck chair. If prefer to sit up, remember to put something between yourself and the ground so that you don't catch a chill. Use a blanket for comfort and warmth. Bringing a blanket or two will both keep you warm and add a layer of cushioning to your chair, mat, or tarp. Sit under or on top of a blanket, or bundle it under your head for extra support. Don't bring blankets that are not washable. Anything you bring with you while stargazing may get dirty or wet, since you will be outdoors. Pack food and drinks. You may be out for a while, so it's important to supply yourself with snacks and beverages. Sustenance can be both fun and practical, so remember to pack things that you like! Popular beverage options are: hot chocolate, coffee, tea (especially during the colder months), water, soda, and beer or wine (if you are over 21 and have a designated driver). Portable, energy-filled foods you might want to bring are: trail mix, granola bars, chocolate, beef jerky, soup in a thermos, or pre-made sandwiches. Relax your eyes by bringing binoculars. Binoculars will help you see more stars, planets, and constellations than you would with your naked eye. This way, you won't strain your eyes trying to see everything that's up there. Try a tent or canopy for longer stargazing trips. If you think you'll be out stargazing for a while, or are worried about the weather, bring a tent, canopy, or tarp that you can set up. This way, you'll have shelter from the elements and can take a rest if you're feeling tired or worn out. You can also store your extra snacks, drinks, chairs, and blankets underneath the covering. Stargaze on a dry, clear night. This way, you'll see more stars, and you won't get wet from rain, or overly-hot due to humidity. A breeze can mean less pollution near a city, but strong wind can be chilly, so bring extra blankets and sweaters if it seems windy. Stargaze in the summertime. Summer nights (during June, July, and August) can offer great stargazing conditions. You'll also be more comfortable than you would be in the winter, and can pack a bit lighter. You are most likely to see meteor showers in the summertime. The “Perseids” meteor shower is awe-inspiring, and visible from nearly everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs every August. Some constellations that can be seen year-round (meaning they are “circumpolar”) are: Cassiopeia, Ursa Major, and Cepheus. Get out of the city for the most relaxation. Try to avoid major cities and densely populated areas. Stargazing will be difficult in these areas because of the light pollution and noise they produce. For a relaxed stargazing experience, you'll want to find some peace and quiet, likely in a more rural area. Watch out for wildlife. If you are able to find a sparsely populated, rural area to stargaze in, chances are good that some wildlife will be around. Deer, bears, coyotes, raccoons, and possums are common camp-crashers. Research what animals are found in your area, and keep a sharp eye out while you are outside at night. Wherever you decide to stargaze, always bring bug spray. You certainly won't be comfortable if you're swatting at mosquitos all night! You can bring a bright floodlight or something to make loud noises with, to deter animals that may come near while you are stargazing. Bring a friend or family member along. This is a good safety precaution, in case you lose your way in the dark or are nervous about being alone at night. You are also likely to spot more stars with two sets of eyes. Set up on level ground. Arrange your tent, chairs, blankets, snacks, and drinks on an even surface and make sure that everything is within arm's reach of you. This way, you won't have to fumble around too much, and you won't risk losing anything in the dark. Remember to clean up after yourself, both to avoid animal encounters and to protect the environment. Position your head at a 30 degree angle to the ground. This way you won't strain your neck as you look up at the stars, and you will mimic the comfort of lying in bed. Do this by using a pillow, re-positioning your reclining chair, or bundling a blanket beneath your head. You can also try lying completely flat on the ground, for a fuller view of the sky. Some people find this posture slightly harder to get up from, however. Use an infra-red flashlight to relax your eyes. You will need to turn off your regular light once you have set up your area, in order to stargaze. But, if you need to look around after doing so, you should use an infra-red light to avoid having to re-adjust your eyes to the darkness. A red light is easier on the eyes, and will not disturb your stargazing environment. Your eyes will need anywhere from five to thirty minutes to adjust to the darkness, and turning a bright, white light off and on will deter this adjustment process. You can cover your regular flashlight with red cellophane, rather than buying an infra-red light. Put less strain on your eyes. Try using the "averted vision” method of seeing stars and constellations, which may be useful if you find it hard to spot faint stars. Rather than straining your eyes, look just to the side of what you're trying to see. Your peripheral vision is more sensitive to light and dark, making it easier to see faint objects when the rest of the sky appears gray. Enjoy yourself! Stargazing can be a fun, rewarding experience whether you are an amateur or expert stargazer. Lay back, have a snack, talk to a friend, and observe the night sky as you wouldn't normally be able to. | Layer your clothing. Bring a mat, chair, and pillow. Use a blanket for comfort and warmth. Pack food and drinks. Relax your eyes by bringing binoculars. Try a tent or canopy for longer stargazing trips. Stargaze on a dry, clear night. Stargaze in the summertime. Get out of the city for the most relaxation. Watch out for wildlife. Bring a friend or family member along. Set up on level ground. Position your head at a 30 degree angle to the ground. Use an infra-red flashlight to relax your eyes. Put less strain on your eyes. Enjoy yourself! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Inflate-a-Soccer-Ball | How to Inflate a Soccer Ball | To inflate a soccer ball, all you need is an air pump and ball pump needle, which you can find at any sporting goods store. Before you inflate the ball, check the recommended air pressure, which is usually printed on the bottom of the ball. Most soccer balls need between 6 and 8 pounds of air pressure. To inflate the ball, first, slide the needle into the end of the air pump and lock it in place with the locking mechanism on the pump. Then, put the needle tip into the opening of the soccer ball valve. Take the handle on the pump and start pumping. Make sure to go slowly so you don't over-inflate the ball. If your pump has a PSI measure, you'll want to stop somewhere between 87 and 100 to get the right amount of air pressure. | Get a air pump and a ball pump needle. They are easy to find and you can buy one at any sporting goods store. Invest in a good quality pump, air gauge, and keep a supply of pump needles on hand. Some pumps have an air gauge built in. If yours doesn't, make sure you get a low pressure gauge. You'll also need some silicone or glycerin oil for lubrication. Determine the ideal air pressure for your soccer ball. Check the manufacturer's manual to find the recommended air pressure level for your soccer ball. The recommended air pressure will be expressed either in lbs, psi, or bar, and typically will be between 6 lbs and 8 lbs. If the recommended pressure of your soccer ball is expressed in a different unit than what your air gauge reads, you'll need to convert. To convert bar to psi, multiple by 14.5037, or divide by the same amount to convert the other way. To convert bar to lbs, multiply by 10, or divide by the same amount to convert the other way. Lubricate the needle and valve. Use either silicone or glycerin oil, and place a few drops in and around the valve in the soccer ball. This helps maintain the valve, and helps with the needle insertion. Lubricate the needle with the same oil. Attach the ball pump needle into the air pump. It should slide right into the end of the air pump. Lock the needle in with the locking mechanism of the pump. Put the needle tip into the opening of the soccer ball valve. Take the handle on the pump and start pumping. The ball will start to inflate. Go slowly so you don't over-inflate the ball and put unnecessary pressure on the seams. Stop pumping once the gauge reaches the proper air pressure level. If your air pump has a built in gauge, just stop once the level on the gauge reaches the recommended air pressure. If your pump doesn't have a gauge, you'll have to pull out the needle and check the pressure with the gauge regularly once it starts to feel firm. Don't abuse your soccer ball. Avoid kicking it hard against walls. Never sit or stand on your soccer ball. This puts too much pressure on the stitching of the ball and can cause it to become warped or eventually burst. Check the pressure often. Ideally, you'll want to check the air pressure of your soccer ball with a gauge every couple of days. The more often it's used, the more often the pressure should be checked. Balls with butyl bladders will retain air much longer than balls with latex bladders. Deflate your ball slightly after a game. Although not necessary, manufacturers recommend that after a match, you should let a little air out of the your soccer ball. This reduces the stress on the ball when it's not in use. Just don't forget to re-inflate it before using it again. Play on smooth or soft surfaces. Although quite sturdy, soccer balls are vulnerable to exposure to sharp and abrasive surfaces. Stick to playing either on smooth wooden floors, grass, or turf. Surfaces like gravel and asphalt can damage the ball. | Get a air pump and a ball pump needle. Determine the ideal air pressure for your soccer ball. Lubricate the needle and valve. Attach the ball pump needle into the air pump. Take the handle on the pump and start pumping. Stop pumping once the gauge reaches the proper air pressure level. Don't abuse your soccer ball. Check the pressure often. Deflate your ball slightly after a game. Play on smooth or soft surfaces. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Install-Grand-Theft-Auto:-San-Andreas | How to Install Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | To install Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on a desktop computer, start by clicking on the Steam app, which you can download if you don't already have it. Next, click the store tab in the top left-hand corner, open the search box, and search for Grand Theft Auto. Then, select Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from the list. When you're prompted to do so, enter your date of birth and click "View page." You'll then need to enter your payment details to buy the game. Once it's downloaded, double click the app to start playing. | Open Steam. Click or double-click the Steam app icon, which resembles the Steam logo. Doing so will open your Steam home page if you're logged into your Steam account. If you aren't signed into Steam, enter your email address (or username) and password before proceeding. Click the STORE tab. It's in the upper-left side of the Steam window. This will bring up the in-Steam web browser. Click the search box. This option is in the upper-right side of the window. Search for Grand Theft Auto. Type in grand theft auto to prompt a list of matching games to appear. Click Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. It's in the drop-down list of matching games. Enter your date of birth. Click the "Day" text field and select a day, then repeat for the "Month" and "Year" text fields. If the Grand Theft Auto page opens automatically, skip this step and the next one. Click View Page. This is below the date of birth section. Doing so will open the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas page. Scroll down and click Add to Cart. It's to the right of the "Buy Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" heading. Click Purchase for myself. This green button is in the middle of the page. Enter your payment information if necessary. If asked to enter your card's number, name, and other information, do so before proceeding. If Steam remembers your payment information, skip this step. Click Continue. It's at the bottom of the page. You may have to scroll down to see this option. Check the "I agree" box. You'll find it near the bottom of the page. Click Purchase. It's at the bottom of the page. Doing so will buy Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and proceed to download it. The amount of time GTA: SA takes to download will vary depending on your Internet speed. Play GTA San Andreas. Once GTA: San Andreas finishes downloading onto your Windows or Mac computer, you can play it by double-clicking its app icon, or via Steam by doing the following: Select the LIBRARY tab. Click Games in the drop-down menu. Click Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in the left-hand column. Click PLAY in the main Library window. Make sure you're on a Windows computer. While the remastered version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is available for both Windows and Mac computers, you cannot play the original version of GTA: San Andreas on a Mac. Your computer must also have a CD drive. Insert the San Andreas CD into your computer. The CD should go label side up in your computer's CD tray. Open This PC. Click Start {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/0\/07\/Windowsstart.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/07\/Windowsstart.png\/30px-Windowsstart.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":"30","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of a Windows icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Public_domain\">Public Domain<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} in the bottom-left corner of the screen, type in this pc , and click This PC to do so. If you're not using Windows 10, This PC will be entitled My Computer. As such, you'll type my computer into Start. Right-click the GTA CD's name. It's in the "Devices and drives" section of the This PC window. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu Click Open. This is in the drop-down menu. The CD's folder will open. Click once the setup file. The setup file has an ".exe" (EXE) extension on it, and will likely be named something like "setup". Clicking it once selects it. Right-click the setup file. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu for the file. Doing this without first clicking once the file will result in a different drop-down menu. Click Properties. It's in the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Properties window. Click the Compatibility tab. This is at the top of the Properties window. Check the "Run this program in compatibility mode for" box. It's in the middle of the window. Click the drop-down box. This is below the box you just checked. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. Click Windows XP (Service Pack 3). It's in the drop-down menu. Enabling this option will ensure that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas installs using settings for Windows XP (the original operating system on which GTA: SA was installed) rather than attempting to use your Windows 7, 8, or 10 settings. Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. This will save your settings and close the Properties window. Double-click the setup file. Doing so launches the setup window. Follow the on-screen installation prompts. These prompts may differ or appear in a different order, but in most cases you'll do the following: Agree to the terms of installation. Click Next. Enter the activation code found on the CD case. Click Next. Check the "Complete" box. Click Next. Click Install. Play GTA San Andreas. Once GTA: San Andreas finishes installing, you'll eject the current disc and insert the disc labeled "Play" into your computer. GTA: San Andreas should then begin running. You may have to run the "Play" disc's EXE file in compatibility mode for this to work. You can do so by editing the Compatibility tab the same way you did for the first disc. Whenever the San Andreas "Play" disc is in your computer, double-clicking the GTA: San Andreas desktop shortcut will prompt it to begin running. Open the Xbox One Store tab. On the Xbox One's home screen, press the RB button four times to select the Store tab. Select Search. Scroll down to highlight this option, then press A. Doing so opens the Store's search bar. Search for Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Type in grand theft auto san andreas. This should cause only the San Andreas game to display. Select GTA San Andreas. It's the Xbox 360-styled game icon at the top of the screen. Selecting it causes its page to open. Select See Price. This option is on the far-right side of the screen. Select Continue. It's at the bottom of the price window. Under normal circumstances, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas goes for $14.99. This price may differ depending on your location and any ongoing promotions. Select Confirm when prompted. Doing so will purchase GTA: San Andreas using your Xbox One's primary payment method and cause the game to begin downloading. If asked, enter your payment details before this step. Play GTA San Andreas. Once San Andreas finishes downloading onto your Xbox One, you can play it by doing the following: Select My games & apps. Select the Games tab. Select Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Open the PlayStation Store. On the PlayStation 4 home screen, scroll left to select the PlayStation Store tile and press X. If prompted to update, select Update Now , select Next , select Update , and wait for the system update to finish installing. Select Search. It's at the top of the screen. Search for Grand Theft Auto. Type in grand theft auto and wait for related games to appear on the right side of the screen. Select Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. It's on the right side of the screen. This will open the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas page. Select Add to Cart. This option is in the upper-left side of the screen. Select Proceed to Checkout. It's below the "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" heading. Select Proceed to Checkout. This is at the bottom of the screen. Select a payment method. In the list of payment methods at the top of the screen, highlight the one you want to use and press X. If you don't have a payment method set up, you'll need to add one before proceeding. Select Confirm Purchase. It's on the right side of the screen. This will confirm your purchase and begin downloading Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Once GTA: SA finishes downloading, you can select it from your PlayStation 4's home page to play it. | Open Steam. Click the STORE tab. Click the search box. Search for Grand Theft Auto. Click Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Enter your date of birth. Click View Page. Scroll down and click Add to Cart. Click Purchase for myself. Enter your payment information if necessary. Click Continue. Check the "I agree" box. Click Purchase. Play GTA San Andreas. Make sure you're on a Windows computer. Insert the San Andreas CD into your computer. Open This PC. Right-click the GTA CD's name. Click Open. Click once the setup file. Right-click the setup file. Click Properties. Click the Compatibility tab. Check the "Run this program in compatibility mode for" box. Click the drop-down box. Click Windows XP (Service Pack 3). Click OK. Double-click the setup file. Follow the on-screen installation prompts. Play GTA San Andreas. Open the Xbox One Store tab. Select Search. Search for Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Select GTA San Andreas. Select See Price. Select Continue. Select Confirm when prompted. Play GTA San Andreas. Open the PlayStation Store. Select Search. Search for Grand Theft Auto. Select Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Select Add to Cart. Select Proceed to Checkout. Select Proceed to Checkout. Select a payment method. Select Confirm Purchase. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Marinate-Ribs | How to Marinate Ribs | To make steakhouse rib marinade, first thaw your ribs. Then, make your marinade a day before you want to cook your ribs by whisking together vegetable oil, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion, and salt. Next, slice off the membrane on the back of your ribs so they'll better absorb the marinade. You can then put your ribs and marinade in a large container. Let your ribs marinate in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours, and baste them periodically. Finally, take your ribs out of the refrigerator 1 hour before you cook them for the best flavor. | Defrost the ribs completely in the fridge for 2-4 days. Before marinating or cooking ribs, make sure they are completely defrosted. The safest and easiest way to defrost ribs is to put them in the refrigerator 2-4 days before you want to cook them. Defrost ribs in a few hours using a cold water bath. Fill a bowl or the sink with cold water. Submerge the ribs completely in the water in their original packaging or an airtight plastic bag. Add cold water as needed to keep the temperature around 40 °F (4 °C). Using this method, the ribs will take 30 minutes per 1 pound (0.45 kg) to defrost. Rinse the defrosted ribs in cool water. Unwrap the ribs and run them under cool water. This will get rid of any bone bits or debris left over from butchering. Trim the membrane from the underside of the ribs. The membrane is a paper-thin layer on the bone side of the ribs. Many times, your ribs will already be skinned of their membrane. If not, insert a butter knife between the bone and the membrane to create separation. It should come away easily, but use a sharper knife if it doesn't. Then, use your hands to pull the membrane off of the bones. Leaving membrane on the ribs will result in a tough, rubbery texture. Rub the marinade into the ribs. Rub the marinade into the meat using a basting brush, spatula, or your hands. Cover all of the meat on both sides with a thick layer. Put the ribs in a covered container and refrigerate them for 2-24 hours. Allow at least 2 hours for the marinade to absorb into the meat, or up to 24 hours for the most flavor. Keep the ribs moist by adding more marinade about every 3 hours. Always marinate meat in the fridge and do not reuse leftover marinade. Grill ribs for a smoky flavor or cook ribs in the oven for a tender texture. Grill ribs over indirect heat for about an hour and finish over direct heat for 20 minutes until they are done. Or cook ribs at 275 °F (135 °C) for 2-2 ½ hours in the oven. When the meat starts to pull away from the ends of the bones, you can start testing to see if the ribs are done. Use store-bought barbecue sauce for an easy, flavorful marinade. To make an easy marinade, simply spread your favorite barbecue sauce over the ribs and marinate for at least an hour. You can also add more flavor to a store-bought sauce by adding honey, hot sauce, lime juice, or garlic to taste. Or make drunken barbecue ribs by adding a bottle of beer to the barbecue sauce. To make this even easier, try cooking the ribs in a slow cooker. Make a steakhouse rib marinade for a classic flavor. Whisk together 1 cup (200ml) of vegetable oil, 1/2 cup (100ml) of apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp. (35g) of brown sugar, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of soy sauce, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp. (10g) garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. (1g) of onion powder and salt to taste in a large container. Marinate the ribs at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight. If you don't have a container that is big enough to fit the rack, put it into a very large plastic bag or cut the ribs in half and place them in two different containers. Reserve some of the marinade before putting it on the meat to have extra sauce for the cooked ribs. Bring out sweet and spicy flavors with an Asian-inspired marinade. Mix together 1 cup (200mL) of honey, 1/3 cup (80ml) of soy sauce, 3 tbsp. (45ml) of sherry, 2 tsp. (6g) of garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp. (1g) of crushed red pepper. Heat the mixture on the stove over medium heat and stir the ingredients until they are combined. Allow the mixture to cool completely before pouring it over the meat. Marinate the meat for 12 hours for ideal flavor. If you want a spicier marinade, add more crushed red pepper. Create a unique flavor with a coffee-molasses marinade. Chop 1 onion and 2 tbsp. (30g) of shallot and cook them over medium heat in 1 cup (200mL) of strong brewed coffee with 1/2 cup (100ml) of molasses, 1/2 cup (100ml) of red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup (60ml) of Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup (60ml) of soy sauce, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of hot sauce. Once all the ingredients are combined, take them off of the heat and reserve 1 cup (200mL) for dipping sauce. Let the rest cool, then marinate the meat for at least 2 hours. You can also baste the meat with extra marinade while it is cooking. Use classic American flavors to make cola-marinated ribs. Use 2 litres (8.5 c) of your favorite cola mixed with 2 tbsp. (30g) of chili powder, 1 cup (200 ml) of water, 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 c (100ml) of ketchup, and 2 tbsp (30g) each of brown sugar, Worcester sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Add salt and cayenne pepper to your taste. Heat the mixture on the stove over a medium flame until it thickens. Cool the thickened sauce and blend it in a blender for 1 minute or until it is smooth. | Defrost the ribs completely in the fridge for 2-4 days. Defrost ribs in a few hours using a cold water bath. Rinse the defrosted ribs in cool water. Trim the membrane from the underside of the ribs. Rub the marinade into the ribs. Put the ribs in a covered container and refrigerate them for 2-24 hours. Grill ribs for a smoky flavor or cook ribs in the oven for a tender texture. Use store-bought barbecue sauce for an easy, flavorful marinade. Make a steakhouse rib marinade for a classic flavor. Bring out sweet and spicy flavors with an Asian-inspired marinade. Create a unique flavor with a coffee-molasses marinade. Use classic American flavors to make cola-marinated ribs. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-Cartoon-Characters | How to Draw Cartoon Characters | To draw cartoon characters, draw an oval to represent each character's head, a small cylinder for its neck, and an oval or rectangle beneath it to form its body. Next, add a rectangle beneath that to symbolize the character's pants. Then, use cylinders to represent the character's limbs, and start filling in the face with oval eyes, a mouth, and hair. Finally, erase any lines that don't fit your character and color everything in. | Start by creating a head for the cartoon. The person's head can be a circle, a flat top with a curve underneath, pear-shaped, oblong-shaped, or any number of other shapes. For a simple shape, start with a rounded square that you adapt as you add details to your drawing. To make a rounded square, create something between a circle and a square. It should have noticeable sides, but the corners should be rounded. Create an outline for the rest of your person. Use ovals, circles, and lines to create a rough sketch of the person. For instance, you might use 2 overlapping circles or ovals to create the chest and stomach area. You might exaggerate the belly on a heavyset person or the chest on someone with large muscles. Add lines for limbs, placing ovals where the elbows and hands should be. This is similar to what you'd do if you were drawing a realistic human figure so keep basic proportions in mind. If you're having trouble, look at a photograph of a person standing in a similar position. However, keep in mind that in cartoons, some areas may be exaggerated while others are underplayed. Incorporate a line of action along at least one side of the body. A line of action doesn't necessarily refer to movement. Rather, it's a curvy line you incorporate into the figure to give it a sense of dimension. Typically, the line curves in starting at the top of the head, then out around the body, then in again at the bottom. Draw this line on at least one side of your person, using it to guide the details you add in. Add in guidelines for different parts of the body. Guidelines help you decide how to cover the body and fill in details. Add vertical center lines to the face shape and torso shapes. However, depending on how the person is standing, the center line may be a curved arc pushing out slightly to the left or right. The curve helps you add dimension to the drawing, as people aren't flat figures but 3D. Horizontal guidelines may curve upward or downward, depending on where the person is looking and the shape of their face. For instance, you may draw a horizontal guideline across their face to determine the eye and nose placement. Fill in details for the head, starting with the eyes. Consider what you want your character to express and use their face to create that emotion. Set the eyes on the horizontal guideline and the nose close to the crossing point between the horizontal and vertical lines. The mouth should be below the main horizontal guideline. Use circles or ovals for the eyes, a small hook or curve for the nose, and a curve up or down for the mouth. Add hair with straight or curvy lines, bringing it in around the head. Close-set eyes that are tilted down toward the center with eyebrows that match can indicate anger. Big eyes that are ever-so-slightly cross-eyed can make a character seem cute and innocent. If you want a character to look surprised, try lifting the eyebrows a little higher in an arc and use wide-open eyes. Sketch in the torso and the limbs. Round out the limbs using straight lines for the upper arms and round lines for the lower arms. Try straight lines for the thighs, and if the calves are exposed, round lines for the calves. Add in basic details for the hands, like a closed fist: a rectangle with 3 lines in it to create the fingers, along with a thumb out to the side. A pear shape often works well for the torso and stomach. If you want a character with lots of muscles, try an inverted pear shape. Add the finishing touches like clothes and shoes. These don't have to be elaborate. You can just add a line halfway down the arm to create a sleeve, then make the fabric come out a little bit around the arm at the top. Use a curved line for a basic collar. Then, draw a line curving down around the waist for where the shirt ends and the pants or skirt begins. Make a basic shape for the pants, skirt, or shorts by adding horizontal lines on the legs then making the shape expand slightly outside the leg line. Add in basic rounded shapes for shoes. Fill in the sketch with a pen or marker. Once you're happy with what you have, color the lines with a dark pen. Be careful, as these lines will be permanent. Once you've added them and the marker is completely dry, erase your guidelines and other pencil marks. Finished. Find a picture of the character online. It's easiest to copy a cartoon character if you have something to work with! Look up a detailed picture of your favorite character, and use that to guide your drawing. You can even look up tutorials on how to draw specific characters to make life easier. Start with the basic shape in pencil. Sketch in circles, ovals, and rectangles to help get the figure in the correct perspective. Look closely at the face, for instance, to see if it's more of a circle or oval, then sketch that into place. Maybe the torso is more of an oval shape, so make a light sketch for that. Add rectangles for the limbs, including ovals or circles for the arms. Add in the hands, ears, and feet. If your character has unusual ears, such as Mickey Mouse's round ears, sketch those in. Similarly, add in ovals or circles for the hands, depending on what the character's hands look like. Don't forget to add shoes or feet! Put in guidelines for the face and torso. Add a curving center line for the face, going vertically. The line should curve in the direction the character is facing. If the character is looking straight ahead, it can go straight down the face. Similarly, add a vertical line along the character's torso, curving the direction the character is turning. Add in horizontal guidelines for the face and body. The face guidelines should curve upward or downward depending on whether the character is looking up or down. The torso and stomach guidelines should show how the area rounds itself out in 3D. Fill in the basic details of the body. Connect up the lines along the limbs and joints, and fill in any lines along the torso and body that aren't in place yet. Use the curves on the picture to guide how you add them to your character. For example, some characters will have very skinny arms and legs, while others will have more defined curves. Add in the clothes and facial details. Incorporate the eyes, nose, and mouth, using both the guidelines and the original character as a guide. Pay close attention to the proportions, meaning how big or small things are in connection to one another, including how far apart things are. Then, add in lines along the limbs to create sleeves and pants or skirts as needed. For hair, create a flattened v-shape to indicate a part in the hair. Add curving or straight lines to make the hair, depending on the character. Finish the character with a pen. Draw the character in with a dark pen or marker, making sure you follow the final lines. Let the pen dry, then erase any guidelines or other pencil marks left on the character. Finished. Draw in light pencil strokes. If you try to draw in pen from the beginning, you won't be able to correct mistakes as you go. Plus, when you start out, you want to create guides for your drawing. At the end, you erase those guides, so they need to be in pencil. Light pencil marks are important because if you draw too heavily, you'll leave indentations in the paper. Look at the skeletal and muscle structure if you have trouble with proportions. Most art students have trouble with proportions at some point! A way to help with that is to study how an animal or human is built based on their basic anatomy. Try looking up anatomical drawings online for what you're drawing and sketching those as practice. A figure drawing class would also be helpful in learning how to draw cartoons. Exaggerate the parts you want to stand out. Cartoons are meant to be exaggerated because they tell a story just by the way they're drawn. If your character is angry, you may want to exaggerate their head with an angry expression. If your character is fierce, you may want to exaggerate their muscles or armor. To achieve this, make these portions slightly bigger or overdone in comparison with the rest of the body. Adjust the drawing as needed. As you draw, don't be afraid to make changes to the shape of the character. Erase the outer lines and draw in new ones if they don't look right or continue to adjust the shape of the face to make it look sharper or cuter. You're drawing in pencil so you can make changes throughout the picture. Plus, as you draw, you'll be able to see the shape you want your cartoon character to take. Finished. | Start by creating a head for the cartoon. Create an outline for the rest of your person. Incorporate a line of action along at least one side of the body. Add in guidelines for different parts of the body. Fill in details for the head, starting with the eyes. Sketch in the torso and the limbs. Add the finishing touches like clothes and shoes. Fill in the sketch with a pen or marker. Finished. Find a picture of the character online. Start with the basic shape in pencil. Add in the hands, ears, and feet. Put in guidelines for the face and torso. Fill in the basic details of the body. Add in the clothes and facial details. Finish the character with a pen. Finished. Draw in light pencil strokes. Look at the skeletal and muscle structure if you have trouble with proportions. Exaggerate the parts you want to stand out. Adjust the drawing as needed. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Chickpeas | How to Grow Chickpeas | To grow chickpeas, start by sowing your seeds indoors 4 weeks before your last expected frost. Plant 2 seeds in each pot and water them 1-2 times a day. After your last frost, transplant the seeds, which will now be seedlings, to an outdoor location that gets 6 hours of sunlight per day. If the weather is dry, water the seedlings twice a week as they grow and apply a coating of mulch to retain soil moisture. To get rid of aphids or mites, which often attack chickpeas, spray them with a blast of water from the hose. | Sow the seeds indoors, putting them a quarter of an inch into the soil. Start the seeds roughly four weeks before the date of your last expected frost. Since chickpea seeds are somewhat fragile, you should sow them indoors instead of planting them in the cold ground. If you do intend to plant chickpea seeds outdoors, wait one to two weeks before your last expected frost and cover the area at night with a light mulch or old sheets to help insulate the seeds. Chickpeas have a long growing season and may take 90 to 100 days until they are ready to harvest. Because of this, you will need to plant them as early as possible. Use biodegradable pots. Chickpea seedlings do not transplant well, so you should use paper or peat seedling pots that can be planted directly into the ground instead of using plastic or ceramic containers. Seedling pots can be purchased online and at most gardening centers. Plant one to two seeds per pot. Fill the seedling pots with a little potting soil, then plant one seed in each pot, positioning it 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) deep. Planting one seed per pot is recommended, but you can plant up to two. When the seedlings sprout, though, you will need to thin them down to one per pot. If you do need to thin out the seedlings, cut the weaker seedling away at soil level using sharp scissors. Do not dig it out since doing so could disturb the roots. Sprouting usually takes about two weeks. Provide the seeds with sun and water. Water the soil gently every day. If it gets hot, water them twice a day. Place the seedling pots near a window that receives plenty of direct sunlight and keep the surface of the soil evenly moist until the seedlings sprout. Do not soak the seed before sowing it. You should also avoid heavy waterings after sowing the seeds since they can cause the seeds to crack. The surface of the soil should be slightly moist, but do not drench the soil beyond that. Choose the right location. Chickpeas thrive in "full sun" conditions, so you should choose an area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight. Ideally, the soil bed should also have loose, well-drained soil already packed with organic material. You can grow chickpeas in partial shade, but doing so will dramatically decrease the eventual yield. Do not plant chickpeas in areas where green manures have grown or in soils that have a high nitrogen content. Nitrogen will cause the leaves to get large and bushy, but the overall yield of the plant will end up decreasing if nitrogen levels are too high. Avoid heavy clay soils or areas that are especially shady. Prepare the soil. To improve the condition of the soil and ready it for your plants, chop in a few handfuls of aged compost a day to a week before transplanting. Also consider mixing in a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus to encourage a higher yield. If the soil is too heavy, mix in agricultural sand, fine gravel, or a soil perfecter to make it less dense and to improve drainage. Avoid mixing in mosses, since these tend to trap too much water. Transplant after the frost passes. Chickpea seedlings are considered “frost tolerant,” but they still thrive best when transplanted outdoors after the threat of frost passes. The seedlings should also be about 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12.7 cm) tall at the time of transplant. The plants will grow best when daytime temperatures range between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 and 27 degrees Celsius) and when night temperature stay above 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). Keep the seedlings close. Space the seedlings 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to 15.25 cm) apart. The holes you dig should be as deep as the seedling pots. As they grow, the plants will start crowding into each other. A little crowding can actually be a good thing, though, since the plants help support each other as they cross into each other. If planting the chickpeas in rows, space the rows 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) apart. Bury the entire seedling pot. As noted, each hole you dig should be big enough to fit the entire seedling pot. Place the seedling pot in the hole and lightly cover the edges with additional soil. Do not attempt to remove the seedlings from their pots. Doing so can shock the delicate root system and cause the plants to die. Water regularly. Regular rainfall is usually sufficient, but if the season is a dry one, water the chickpeas twice a week during the flowering and pod formation stages. Avoid "overhead" watering. Water can get on the flowers and pods, causing them to break off prematurely. Pouring water over the plant can also invite mildew to develop. When you water the chickpeas, water them directly at the soil level. Once the pods mature and the plant begins to die back on its own, cut back on watering the plant. Once every one to two weeks should suffice. Doing so encourages the drying process, which you'll want to the plant to go through before the harvest. Mulch as needed. Once the weather warms up, you should add a light coat of mulch around the stems. Doing so can retain an adequate amount of soil moisture, which is especially important if your plants are receiving full sun. Mulch can also help prevent weeds from invading the plant bed. Fertilize with caution. You can add a little aged compost or similar organic material to the soil around the chickpeas mid-season. As before, though, you should avoid adding nitrogen-rich fertilizers. Chickpeas work with microorganisms in the soil to produce their own nitrogen, so they receive all the nitrogen they really need. Any excess nitrogen will cause the leaves to grow bushier and may dampen the eventual yield. Handle the chickpeas carefully. When removing weeds or adding anything to the soil, you need to work carefully to avoid disturbing the plant's root system. The root system of a chickpea plant is quite shallow, so working too close to the base of the plant can cause damage to its roots. You should also avoid handling the plants when they are wet since doing so can cause fungus spores to spread quickly. Manage pests as you see them. Chickpeas are vulnerable to attacks by a range of different pests. You should avoid pre-treating the plant for pests, though, and instead wait until you spot pests before taking action against them. Adult aphids, leafhoppers, and mites can be controlled with a blast of water from the hose or insecticidal soap. After noticing adult pests, look for eggs and crush them between your fingers. Alternatively, simply cut away any leaves with egg cases on them. For notably bad infestations, try a natural and food-safe pesticide containing pyrethrins. You should also keep the garden free of debris to reduce the number of pests. Keep an eye out for signs of disease. These plants are also vulnerable to a few different diseases, including blight, mosaic, and anthracnose. Plant disease-resistant varieties when possible. To avoid the spread of disease, keep the planting bed free of debris and avoid handling the plants when they are wet. Remove diseased plants and discard them to prevent the disease from spreading. Burn them or put them in the trash, but do not use them for compost. Harvest fresh. If you want to eat the chickpeas fresh, you can pluck off the pods while they are still green and immature. Eat fresh chickpeas like snap beans. The pods only reach a length between 1 and 2 inches (2.5 and 5 cm), and each pod only contains one or three beans. Harvest dried. The more popular way to harvest chickpeas is to harvest them once they've matured, as dried chickpeas. To do so, you will need to harvest the entire plant once the leaves wither and turn brown. Place the plant on a flat, warm surface and let the pods air dry naturally in a warm, well-ventilated location. Collect the seeds as the pods split open. Mature seeds will be very hard. When bitten into, they should barely dent. If the weather is getting damp, bring the harvested plant or pods indoors to finish drying them. Otherwise, mold could develop on the pods and ruin the chickpeas inside. Also note that mice and other rodents may threaten your yield if you allow the plants to dry outdoors. Store the chickpeas properly. Fresh, unshelled chickpeas can be kept in the refrigerator for one week. Dried, shelled chickpeas should be kept in a cool, dry location and can remain there for up to one year. Keep dried chickpeas in an airtight container if you intend to store them for more than a few days. Chickpeas can also be frozen, canned, or sprouted. | Sow the seeds indoors, putting them a quarter of an inch into the soil. Use biodegradable pots. Plant one to two seeds per pot. Provide the seeds with sun and water. Choose the right location. Prepare the soil. Transplant after the frost passes. Keep the seedlings close. Bury the entire seedling pot. Water regularly. Mulch as needed. Fertilize with caution. Handle the chickpeas carefully. Manage pests as you see them. Keep an eye out for signs of disease. Harvest fresh. Harvest dried. Store the chickpeas properly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar | How to Deal With a Compulsive Liar | While dealing with a compulsive liar can be frustrating, being prepared can help you stay calm. When the person is standing in front of you telling lies, try to ignore them or give them a simple “Oh." This will send the message that lying will not get your attention. Mentally prepare yourself for the fact that you can't trust this person and that they're not a reliable presence in your life. While you may be tempted to call out of the lies that you hear, it's best to pick your battles. Let the smaller lies slide but ask questions about the bigger ones or those that simply don't make sense. You can also try disrupting their lying habit by simply saying "That's not accurate" every time they tell a lie. | Be on guard and prepare. Give yourself enough mental preparation to accept that you cannot trust this person and take what is said as not reliable. Expect a potentially different outcome than would otherwise be anticipated or promised. In other words? Remember who you're dealing with. When we love someone, it's easy to forget reality. It's easy to get our hopes up and to give the person the benefit of the doubt. It's easy to think that this person is good. Unfortunately, in this situation, you can't really do that. You'll need to be on the lookout. Keep records. Not exactly the funnest thing to do in a relationship, but it can prove really handy. If you need to make sure you're not the crazy one or you're not the one blowing things out of proportion, it's wise to keep a notebook of the incidents. Or if you're in a situation where you start couples therapy, you can offer it up as documentation of the problem. It'll also help fuel your memory. There may come a time when you go, "You know, that one time where I got angry at you because you lied about the thing at the place with the statue...you know, the THING." Instead, you whip out your handy dandy notebook and relive the glory of the one time they lied about picking up ketchup at the store. Why did they lie about that anyway? Keep the focus on the relationship. Instead of constantly being on their rear about being a raging liar, keep the attention on the quality of your relationship. Their lies are deteriorating the trust between you two. You still care for them, but their behavior is making it hard to be happy with them. It's not about the liar, it's about the lies and about the two of you. Know not to trust behavior in the heat of the moment. If a big lie presents itself, you may see the liar telling the truth. Huzzah, right?! Not so fast. They may see this as a one-time thing that got you off their back. They threw you off their scent. So instead of celebrating, wait till you're sure it's not a fluke. Some pathological liars, however, won't do this. They'll sit and stare at you and that's the only admission of guilt you're going to get. You may have to be appeased with just that. Know that they know you know. That's worth something. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/66\/Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-04Bullet01.jpg\/v4-460px-Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-04Bullet01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/66\/Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-04Bullet01.jpg\/aid647440-v4-728px-Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-04Bullet01.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>"} Ignore them. When the compulsive liar in your life starts on a real-life version of two truths and a lie, ignore it. If you know it's cockamamie, don't pay it any attention. When your response to, " I once bred ferrets for the Queen of England," is "Oh," not only will they probably get the hint, but you might be able to have some fun with it, too. It is possible to gloss over their lies. Society tells us to be nice and to pay attention to what people to say and to care about their words -- but they're breaking all the rules, so you can too. If they ask why you're giving them the cold shoulder, be honest. You don't want to give their lies any more attention than they deserve. Be patient. If you choose to stay friends/partners/workplace acquaintances, there needs to be a little wiggle room on your part. This person has a problem that is not easy to be helped. Try your best to be patient with them. We all are fighting battles -- theirs just happens to be quite irritating to everyone else. Talk to someone else that's in the same circle as both of you. You'll feel a lot better having someone else on your side that you know is also going through something similar. You can combine forces and figure out how to confront the problem in a constructive way. Don't feel the need to call them out on everything. When the lies range from, "I refilled the toilet paper, yes," to "I once shaved Britney Spears' head for her," it's clear that you're going to have to pick your battles. Let the small ones go (maybe you can ignore those) and confront the big ones -- if you're not too exhausted! If you do choose to call them out on some, choose the ones you don't understand. It makes sense to make yourself look good, to make others envy you, but why lie about the amount of mayo left in the fridge? Start a discussion, if you're feeling up to it. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2e\/Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-07Bullet01.jpg\/v4-460px-Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-07Bullet01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2e\/Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-07Bullet01.jpg\/aid647440-v4-728px-Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-07Bullet01.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>"} Offer a way out before you address the lie. When you've spotted a lie the size of an elephant, it's not wise to be all, "You lying waste of space! That's obviously not true." The conversation will then take a turn you're not looking to take. Instead, form the first stage of your "accusation" more nicely, where the accused has a chance to right their wrong. Let's say you find out that your boyfriend didn't go over to his mom's this afternoon to help her around the house. Instead of saying, "Hey. I talked to your mom," start off with, "Hon, did you go to your mom's today?" And then you can launch into the, "She called. Why did you lie?" part of the conversation. Disrupt the habit over and over. It's the first time that's going to be the most awkward. After that, it's all downhill. When you catch them lying, let them know that what was said is "not accurate" or "not valid" -- but don't act as if you are the judge and jury. Just being direct while remaining calm, cool and clear is enough. It's going to take you calling them out time and time again for them to get the picture. But soon enough, like when a bell rings and food is presented, they'll know that when they lie, the habit will get disrupted. The main obstacle? Patience on your part. Allude to their lying patterns. This one is messy territory. You need to let them know you're onto their act without saying, "I'm onto your act." You're a tactful social jiujitsu master, right? So next time your friend says, "Yeah, I disarmed bombs for the CIA back in '09," you can say, "Is that just about as true as the story you told about caging ferrets for a living?" And as they assure you that it's way more true than that ferret story, stay calm, smile, and tell them their history of untruths speaks for itself. You're not holding grudges; there's a difference. You're simply letting them know that their history of lying is now taking its toll on whether or not you believe a dang word that comes out of their mouth. That's rational, logical, and hard to refute -- they know it's true. Suggest therapy. Another kicker that's touchy. If your relationship is close enough and you're comfortable getting real with your friend/family member/significant other, suggest therapy. Shrinks are for anyone who wants to better themselves. If you've been to therapy or are close to someone who has, use it as an example. Many people view going to therapy as a weakness when really it is a positive, life-affirming thing. Know the difference between a pathological liar and a scumbag. If you're dating someone and you found out they don't make six figures and they've been cheating on you and no, they don't speak French fluently, odds are your ex is just a sad excuse for a human being. People who lie to make themselves sound good or to get away with certain behavior are just small-minded, inconsiderate, not-worth-your-time morons. They're not pathological liars. People deserving of this title lie about everything. They lie about things that don't impress people, that don't make them feel good about themselves or others feel good about themselves or really that serve any purpose at all. They'll tell you they saw a duck on the lake yesterday and there's no lake. It's just like breathing. They do it naturally. Understand why they lie. For most, lying is comfortable. It's the truth that's scary. If they actually are a pathological liar, it's just the symptom of a bigger problem. Possible reasons for their behavior are: A dysfunctional family (usually not enough attention received) Sexual or physical abuse in childhood, or ongoing abuse Impulse control disorders (kleptomania, pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, etc.) Personality disorders (Cluster B personalities -- sociopathic, narcissistic, borderline, histrionic, etc.) Substance abuse or substance abuse in family Know they may hate who they actually are. Many pathological liars have a serious lack of self-esteem and that's why they started lying in the first place. They got to present an image to the world that they were actually proud of, instead of the one they go home to at night and secretly disdain. While the liar doesn't deserve your pity, it's useful to understand the root of the problem. When you're dealing with yours, keep this in mind. It will help you stay more logical, rational, and calm. Instead of dealing with a careless jerk, you're dealing with a careless jerk who hates himself. Knocks him down a peg. Take care of yourself. Above all, take care of yourself first. You may be in a very serious relationship with this person, but that does not give them free reign over your emotions and your happiness. If you need to leave, get out. They don't deserve you. They can't make you happy. That's just how it is. You're not abandoning them; you're protecting you. If you do choose to stay, stay strong. You cannot help them if you cannot help yourself. Make sure your happiness is getting the spotlight. It's not your job to fix them or to change them. If you do want to stay, take it a day at a time. But always keep you in mind! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/38\/Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-15Bullet01.jpg\/v4-460px-Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-15Bullet01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/38\/Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-15Bullet01.jpg\/aid647440-v4-728px-Deal-With-a-Compulsive-Liar-Step-15Bullet01.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>"} | Be on guard and prepare. Keep records. Keep the focus on the relationship. Know not to trust behavior in the heat of the moment. Ignore them. Be patient. Don't feel the need to call them out on everything. Offer a way out before you address the lie. Disrupt the habit over and over. Allude to their lying patterns. Suggest therapy. Know the difference between a pathological liar and a scumbag. Understand why they lie. Know they may hate who they actually are. Take care of yourself. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Heads-Up-7-Up | How to Play Heads Up 7 Up | To play "Heads Up 7 Up," select 7 students or children to be the pickers for the first round. Everyone else should lay their head down on their desks and hold 1 of their thumbs up. While the room is silent, the pickers should go around the class and each pick 1 student by touching their thumb. If a student's thumb is touched, they should put it down so they are not picked again. After all 7 pickers have selected someone, each student will guess who picked them. If they guess correctly, they get to be a picker in the next round. | Choose seven students. Have the students stand in the front of the class. These students will be the pickers. Have the rest of the students put their heads down with their hands outstretched on their desks and their thumbs up. Have the students at their desks close their eyes and tell them that there is no peeking allowed. If you have students who tend to disrupt class or have trouble focusing, you may want to choose them to pick first. They're more likely to get involved in the game if they feel like they're your “helpers”. You can also have the students at the desk put their outstretched closed fist on the table without their thumb up. The important thing is that their hands are easily accessible to the pickers. Have the pickers choose one student each. The pickers should walk around the classroom and each tap the thumb of a student with his or her head down. When a student's thumb is tapped, that student puts their thumb down signaling to the rest of the pickers that he has already been picked. Children can only be picked once in a round. If the students have their thumbs down to begin with, they will put their thumb up when they are picked. Make sure the pickers are silent as they move around the room. They don't want the student that they pick to recognize their voice. Have your pickers say, “Heads up, seven up! ” When the pickers say the name of the game in unison, the other students will open their eyes and lift their heads. Let the students who were picked take turns guessing who picked them. Trying to decide who picked them is good for a student's reasoning skills. They can analyze all the pickers to see which one looks “guilty.” Students may at first think they were picked by their friends but be surprised that someone else has picked them. Switch your pickers. If a student guesses who picked them correctly, that student will be a picker in the next round. If the student guesses incorrectly, then the child who picked them will remain a picker in the next round. Make sure the pickers don't give away who they have chosen until all the students have made their guesses. Instruct all the children to put their heads down and close their eyes. Make sure the children have their fists outstretched on their tables where they can be easily reached. As the teacher, walk around the classroom and tap one child on the hand. That child will be “it.” Make sure the child who is “it” does not talk after you have chosen them. You don't want them to give away their identity to the rest of the class. You can encourage the kids to behave by saying things like, “I'm only going to choose a student who is being quiet and following all the rules.” Select six more students. The student who is “it” will walk around the room and tap six other students on the hand. When a student is picked, that student will get up from their seat and walk to the front of the class. After everyone has chosen, the students in the front of the class will say, “Heads up, seven up!” and all the students at their desks will lift their heads up and open their eyes. Let the children guess who is “it” Give the students at their desks a chance to examine the seven students in the front of the class. Tell them to raise their hands if they think they know which student is “it.” Select one student at a time, and let them tell you their guess. Keep selecting students until someone gets the answer right. Suspense will build as students are ruled out from being "it" by process of elimination. Be ready to calm your students down if they get overexcited. You can make the game more fun for the kids by giving a prize to the child that guesses correctly. Let the winner choose one item from a bag filled with assorted candy or small items like pencils and erasers. Start the next round. Heads up, seven up is a very popular game and your students will likely want to play it several time. Try to play quite a few rounds so that everyone has chance to participate. Keep track of the children you have already chosen to be “it.” Try to give as many kids a chance to be “it” as you possibly can. You can also use the game as a reward for good behavior. Say things like, “If everyone is good today, we'll play heads up, seven up for the last thirty minutes of class.” Spell a word. Play a normal game of heads up, seven up. However, instead of having the children identify who picked them, have the children spell a word. If the child spells the word correctly, then they get to be a picker for the next round. If they spell the word incorrectly, the picker remains the same. Be sure to use words that are appropriate for your students level of education. Make sure to use the same word until one of the students gets it right so all the other students can hear it spelled correctly. You can write the word on the board or projector after the students have spelled it to give your students a chance to review. You can also have all the students spell the word in unison after it is used. Work on grammar. If you're an English teacher, you can make the game more relevant to your class by having the children use proper grammar. For example: Instead of just blurting out a name, have children ask, “Was it Anne?” Then Anne can reply, “Yes, it was me.” You can even have your students write their guesses on the board to work on their written grammar. Writing down their guesses can help your students learn how to write in complete sentences, when to use a question mark, and how to capitalize words. Solve a math problem. Have students who are picked answer a question about the math lesson that they're currently learning. If your students are learning their multiplication tables, you might ask a question like “What is five times nine?” If the student gets the answer wrong, ask the next student the same question. If the student gets the answer right, they will be a picker for the next round. Either way, make sure to review the answer clearly to everyone in the class. Use questions with the appropriate difficulty level. You don't want your kids to be bored with a bunch of easy questions, but you also don't want them to be discouraged by questions that are too difficult. Repeat the rule that corresponds to each question after it is used. For example: For the question, “What is nine times five?” the answer would be forty-five. Say, “Remember that whenever a number is multiplied by five, the answer ends in five or zero.” Ask a science question. Test your kid's knowledge of science. For example, If your students are learning about the periodic table of elements ask something like, “What do the letters 'Fe' stand for on the periodic table?” If the student answers “Iron,” allow them to be a picker for the next round. The game might run smoother if you write your questions on pieces of paper and place them in a hat. Let your students choose a question from the hat to answer when they are picked. | Choose seven students. Have the pickers choose one student each. Have your pickers say, “Heads up, seven up! Switch your pickers. Instruct all the children to put their heads down and close their eyes. Select six more students. Let the children guess who is “it” Give the students at their desks a chance to examine the seven students in the front of the class. Start the next round. Spell a word. Work on grammar. Solve a math problem. Ask a science question. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Child-Support | How to Calculate Child Support | To calculate child support, first gather your financial data, such as the gross income of both parents, living expenses, and your child's health-related costs. Next, go to AllLaw.com or do a search online for “child support calculator” and your state to find an online calculator. Then, plug in your financial information into the calculator to get an estimate. You can also meet with a family law attorney to more accurately estimate payments and to see if it's worth trying to negotiate support payments in court. | Understand the purpose of child support. Child support is designed to allow a child to enjoy a standard of living that is approximate to what he or she would have enjoyed had the parents lived together. Child support may be ordered when the parents are separated, have never lived together, or are in divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or in the midst of paternity and legal separation cases. Typically, it is paid to the parent with whom the children spend the majority of their time. Child support is not alimony. The purpose of alimony is to rehabilitate or support a former spouse. Though the other parent may financially benefit from child support payments, the purpose of the payments is to benefit the children who no longer live with you. Child support payments are set by a court or are agreed to by the parents themselves, who then have their agreement approved by a court. Once set, child support payments can only be amended by court order. Read your state laws on child support. Each state has formulas for determining child support payments, typically found in statutes. You may find your statute by typing “child support” and your state into a web browser. These formulas consider the child's needs and the parents' ability to pay. These formulas, however, are often only “guidelines,” which a judge can depart from. Typically, courts can consider a variety of factors when setting child support payments: The parents' income. Some states consider only the non-custodial parent's income, while other courts consider both. Also, some states use “gross” income while others consider only “net” income (income after taxes and allowable deductions, such as taxes and/or union dues). Child support or alimony that either parent receives or is paying from a previous marriage. Which parent is paying for childcare and health care. Whether either parent is responsible for children other than the children from the current marriage. The number of children each parent is supporting and their age. This factor is important because the expenses of raising children do not double for each child you add. Whether either parent lives with a new partner or spouse who contributes to household expenses. If the child is disabled. If your child is disabled, support payments could continue indefinitely if the child is not capable of self-care. Meet with an attorney. An experienced attorney will be able to more accurately estimate child support payments. Attorneys also have experience with particular judges and will know a judge's likeliness to differ from a state's formula. To find an experienced family law attorney, you can visit your state's bar association website. States often run referral services, which you can call or email. Calculate the gross income of the non-custodial parent. Most formulas require that the non-custodial parent pay a percentage of his or her gross income. Typically, the higher the parent's gross income, the higher the child support payments will be. The following counts for purposes of income: wages and tips, as well as self-employed income bonuses and incentive pay from work income from a trust fund or an estate government benefits, such as Social Security benefits pension income veterans' benefits and military personnel fringe benefits Document household and living expenses. Monthly household and living expenses, such as mortgage or rent, clothing, food, health insurance, electric and other utilities may be taken into account when determining the non-custodial parent's child support obligations. Discretionary expenses you may have, such as dining out and club memberships, may not be included in your household and living expense calculations. If you have personal loans, contact your divorce attorney to see if the loans should be included in your monthly expense calculations. States differ as to whether or not they consider this information. Increasingly, states are only interested in living expenses if they are related to taking care of the child. In other words, the state may not care how much it costs the non-custodial parent to live when calculating his or her child support payments. List expenses related to your children’s health and welfare. Expenses such as the costs of health care insurance, daycare, and education are also factors that influence the amount of child support to be paid. A goal of the courts is to ensure children of divorce maintain the same quality and level of health care, educational resources, and daycare after divorce proceedings as they had before the family household broke up. These expenses are especially important for children who may have special medical or educational needs. Courts do not want services that benefit these children to diminish, which would in turn have a negative effect on their health or educational development. Calculate the custodial parent's income. The custodial parent's income will also have to be calculated, in the same manner as the non-custodial parent's income. To get a better estimate of child support payments, you should get as much financial information as possible from the other parent. In the absence of specific information, you could roughly estimate his or her income. To estimate, visit an online salary wizard. Once there, you can enter the job title and location in order to find a rough estimate of what a job pays. If you are going through a non-contested divorce, then you both may wish to sit down with your respective attorneys and try to calculate child support payments. In this type of setting, the other parent may be more willing to share personal financial information. Find your state’s online calculator. AllLaw.com provides online child support calculators that you may use to estimate child support payments. These online calculators are user-friendly and make organizing financial information a breeze. Understand that these calculators provide only estimates. Your ultimate amount of child support could vary from this amount. States may also have separate calculators not affiliated with AllLaw. You can find them by searching “child support calculator” and your state. These calculators sometimes come with user guides, which explain in more depth the factors a court takes into consideration. California's user guide, for example, may be found here. Negotiate support payments. You have the option of coming to an agreement with the other parent on child support payments. Any agreement must still be approved by a court, so you will have to agree to a reasonable amount—something similar to what your state's formula would award. Judges retain the ability to reject an agreement. Nevertheless, coming to an agreement does provide some flexibility. If your state's guidelines seem too low, you may want to try to negotiate a higher amount. You can also negotiate to make some child support terms “non-modifiable.” The law of non-modifiability is rather complex. The court always retains the power to modify even “non-modifiable” support provisions if doing so is in the best interest of the child. However, some states will allow you to set a non-modifiable minimum payment, so long as this minimum meets the minimum set by the state formula. Whatever you agree to, you will need to explain to the court how the agreement serves the child's best interest. Understand the tax implications of child support. Child support is tax-free at the federal level for recipients. However, child support payments are not tax-deductible for the parent making the payments. If you are negotiating child support as part of a marital settlement agreement, you need to make sure that child support is designated as such and not lumped in with alimony. Lumping it together with alimony will cause it to lose its tax-exempt status. You should contact a tax attorney with questions if you are worried about the tax consequences of child support. | Understand the purpose of child support. Read your state laws on child support. Meet with an attorney. Calculate the gross income of the non-custodial parent. Document household and living expenses. List expenses related to your children’s health and welfare. Calculate the custodial parent's income. Find your state’s online calculator. Negotiate support payments. Understand the tax implications of child support. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Vegetables-in-Small-Gardens | How to Grow Vegetables in Small Gardens | Before planting, create a plan for your garden on paper so you can see the space you have for different vegetables. To maximize space, select vegetables that come in dwarf sizes like tomatoes or eggplants, or vegetables that can be grown vertically like beans and squashes. Avoid choosing vegetables that take a lot of space to grow, such as celery or potatoes, or crops that take a long time to harvest, like pumpkins or parsnips. | Pick vegetables that you like. To get the most pleasure out of your small garden, plant your favorite vegetables. Many vegetables come in dwarf sizes such as tomatoes and eggplants. Some can also be grown vertically such as beans and squashes. Some examples are: Cucumbers Beans Tomatoes Peppers Beets Radishes Lettuce Don't plant crops that take a long time to grow. You want to get the maximum amount of harvest from your small garden. You don't want to plant crops that take months to grow. You want early harvesting vegetables followed by mid and later season crops. Avoid vegetables such as: Pumpkins Squashes Parsnips Leeks Potatoes Avoid crops that take up a lot of space. You won't have the space to grow vegetables that spread or need a lot of space to thrive. Avoid planting: Brussel sprouts Celery Squashes Potatoes Asparagus Select an area with access to water. You will want to choose a location that has water easily accessible to it. It will be quite burdensome to haul water a long distance to your garden. Make sure you have a spigot and hose that reaches the garden area. Choose a spot with plenty of sun. Vegetables need sun, and you want your garden to get lots of it. Ideally, your vegetable plants should get approximately six to eight hours of sun a day. Choose square foot garden. A square foot garden uses blocked off sections to separate vegetable plantings. These types of gardens typically measure 4x4 ft (1.2x1.2 m). Build a square foot garden by using untreated lumber. Cut four boards into 4.25 ft (130 cm) lengths. Nail or stake all four ends together to create a square. This will be the outline of your garden. Use strips of wood or string to divide your square foot garden into 16 equal sections. Each section will serve as a separate planting area. To use string, just drive small nails into the rim of the bed at one foot intervals. Then, tie string on each nail so that it runs across the bed. This will make a grid you can use for square foot gardening. Group the same type plant seedlings into one square foot block. For square foot gardening, it's OK to plant more densely than normally. You could grow one tomato or eggplant per square foot, or 3 to 4 leafy plants per square. Each square within your square foot garden will yield its own vegetable planting. Try succession planting. As soon as one crop is harvested, plant a new one. For example, group quick growing crops like radishes or black seeded Simpson lettuce together. Then, harvest these vegetables. You can then use the space for later plantings like beans or turnips. Break your planting bed into sections. Plan to grow one crop for one or two months at a time. Stagger your plantings. This will allow one crop to grow fully and make room for another crop upon its harvest. Select interplanting. Alternate rows of late-maturing vegetables like peppers and cabbage with early season growers like spinach and lettuce. Plant each crop according to size and spread. Group smaller crops in between larger crops to save on space. Keep each row of planting within reach for harvest. You want to make sure you can pick your vegetables without stepping on or damaging other plants. You will have to weed by hand because the crops will be placed close together. Try container planting. You can use any type of container to plant your vegetables in. Look for long troughs, wooden planter boxes, pots or other types of containers. They should be at least 5 gal (19 l) and at least 10 in (25 cm) wide by 12 in (30 cm) deep. You can create drainage in your containers by drilling a series of holes in the bottom of each pot. Drill four to five, ¼ in (1/2 cm) holes in the bottom of each container. This will allow water to flow through. Create a plan for your garden space. Sketch out a plan for planting your garden on paper. Keep in mind the space you need for each vegetable plant. This will provide a good diagram of the different vegetables you have room for in your garden. Prep the soil properly. Break up the soil with a shovel. Remove any grass or weeds that may be present. Dig down at least one spade length (6 in) (15 cm) to ensure there is plenty of space for your vegetables to take root. Remove any rocks or stones. Add additional soil. Use bagged soil or compost. Manure is also a good soil amendment – in other words, it will improve your soil's quality. If you have clay soil, you can add compost to improve the tilth. Raised beds and containers should be filled with soil as well. Use a mixture of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. Rake the soil to even it out. This will help smooth the soil and allow your vegetables to take root easier. Break up any clumps of dirt that could impede plant growth. Plant your vegetables. Begin planting your vegetables based on the plan you have created for your garden. Keep plants that harvest often to the outside of the bed. Allow plenty of space to harvest vegetables in the interior of your garden bed. Spread seeds according to the instructions on the seed packet. Space plants accordingly to their maximum size. Water the soil thoroughly. After you have filled your garden with soil and plant your veggies, you need to water it thoroughly. You might moisten the soil some before you plant, too. Use mulch to reduce weeds. Adding a layer of mulch to your garden will prevent weeds from growing around your vegetable plants. Spread it evenly and approximately 2 in (5 cm) thick. This will save you time on pulling weeds to maintain your garden. Mulch will also keep in moisture. Natural mulch options include; grass clippings, peat moss, straw, and leaves. Prevent soil diseases by rotating your crops. Never grow the same vegetable in the same area for two seasons in a row. Water your garden regularly. Your garden will need regular watering to ensure proper growth. Provide 1 in (2.5 cm) of water a week to your vegetable crops. When the weather is hot and dry, monitor the plants and water as needed. Harvest your vegetables. As your vegetables begin to ripen, you should pick them quickly. Be sure to harvest your vegetables often to make room for new growth in your garden. | Pick vegetables that you like. Don't plant crops that take a long time to grow. Avoid crops that take up a lot of space. Select an area with access to water. Choose a spot with plenty of sun. Choose square foot garden. Try succession planting. Select interplanting. Try container planting. Create a plan for your garden space. Prep the soil properly. Rake the soil to even it out. Plant your vegetables. Water the soil thoroughly. Use mulch to reduce weeds. Water your garden regularly. Harvest your vegetables. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Happy-Single-Woman | How to Be a Happy Single Woman | You can be a happy single woman by pursuing your passions in life and spending time with people who care about you, like friends and family. If you have a hobby you've always wanted to try, like bike riding, yoga, or sewing, try it out! Investing in a hobby or volunteer work will help you stay connected and build your self-esteem. Besides hobbies, as a single woman, you may have more time to advance your career. For example, if a relationship prevented you from traveling for work or working extra hours, now might be a good time to invest in those opportunities. Don't forget, platonic relationships can be just as rewarding as romantic ones, so try to meet up reguarly with friends and family. For instance, you could set a weekly dinner date with your parents or organize a monthly book club with your friends. | Learn to be alone with yourself. You spend more time with yourself than anyone else, and you should learn to enjoy your own company. One key to being a happy single woman is to be comfortable spending time alone with yourself, understanding that you don't always need to be around others. You will ultimately discover qualities about yourself that you love, and some that you'd like to change. This process of self-discovery is invaluable to truly being a happy, single woman. Pursue a new interest or hobby. Being single means that you have more time for yourself. Now is the time to develop your own interests outside of work and other relationships. Pursue what makes you happy, what fulfills you, or what piques your curiosity. Don't let your work or other people influence which interest you pursue. Choose something that will bring you joy or fulfillment. You might take up bike riding, or yoga, or a book club, or even sign up for sewing lessons at a local shop. Appreciate what you have. Negativity breeds more negativity, and that can stifle your happiness. Instead, look around you, really think about your life, and take stock. Think about your friends, your family, your job, your house, your collection, your hobbies, your health, and your wit, and appreciate what you have. Focusing on the positive will shift your perspective to one of gratitude and happiness. Define your relationship standards. You might choose to be in a relationship in the future, and there's no better time than when you're happy and single to figure out what you want and need in a partner. Consider why you're happy right now and what traits in a future partner could enhance that happiness. This is the best time to define what you want, expect, and need in a future relationship. It's also a great time to concretely lay out your dealbreakers. Perhaps you want your future partner to have a certain level of education or affiliate with a particular political party. On the other hand, you might decide that a partner who is disrespectful to servers and strangers is a dealbreaker for you. Take some time to clarify for yourself what features of a relationship are most important to you and what ones you are willing to be flexible on. Treat yourself. You're a happy, single woman and you deserve to treat yourself. In fact, you should treat yourself. Splurge now and then, and if your budget allows, incorporate little treats as part of your monthly expenses. Make yourself a priority and reward yourself for being fabulous now and then. Schedule a spa day. Get your eyebrows waxed every month. Take yourself to the movies. Go get that bag that you've been eyeing for some time. Book yourself a room at the nicest hotel in town for a night. Advance your career. You don't have to choose between being in a relationship and having a career, an outdated idea that doesn't accurately represent opportunities for modern women. As a single woman, though, you undeniably have more opportunity to focus on advancing your career, as your time and flexibility is entirely yours. Seize professional opportunities for growth and training, taking advantage of your flexibility. Opportunities may include: You might be asked to travel regularly or even relocate for a better position. You might be asked to work unplanned overtime. You may have several after-work networking functions to attend. Rethink your relationships. Humans are social creatures, and research shows that people are happier when they have an emotional connection with someone. This doesn't mean that you have to be in a relationship to be happy, though. Your platonic relationships can be just as rewarding as a romantic connection, and should not be overlooked as a source of happiness. Form a support network. Having a circle of friends and a support network is a must for a single, happy woman. Women tend to form friendships easier than men, as women are usually more social. And everyone needs confidantes, those people with whom you can share your highs, lows, and true self. Some women aren't as comfortable meeting people or being social. If you are somewhat uncomfortable meeting people, consider joining a variety of meetup groups or getting involved in a variety of your interests, which will naturally lead you to people who share at least one interest of yours. Make friends and family a priority. Your time, money, and energy is yours and yours alone. You get to spend each as you see fit without consulting with anyone else, which makes scheduling time with your friends and family all the easier. And just as you need a good support network, it's important that you be a strong member of other support networks. Ask your parents if they'd like to have weekly dinners. Invite your friends over for a wine tasting. Suggest that your friends or family take a short road trip with you to a popular tourist attraction. Organize a camping adventure with a group of friends or your siblings. Plan for sickness and aging. Some women fear being single because they are scared of being alone when they're older or ill. Because more and more people are choosing to be single, new communities are forming for older, single people. These intentional communities offer comradery, support, and socialization. Having a plan for how you'll approach aging and illness as a single woman will alleviate your worries and uncertainty, allowing you to be happier. These intentional communities are not retirement communities, although there are retirement communities for single people. Intentional communities are typically housing cooperatives, or land trusts, or even communes. Challenge social expectations. Many societies prioritize and even celebrate marriage as the ultimate achievement for women. From a young age, society tells women that they should grow up, find a partner, get married and then they'll be happy. This might not be the right path for you, though, and that's perfectly alright. You can find examples of social expectations everywhere, from commercials for cleaning products to reality television shows to print magazine ads for wedding dresses and engagement rings. Nowadays, marriage is usually seen as a union founded on love and mutual affection, versus a financial or security arrangement between two families. Remind critics that a woman doesn't need to be married to be secure or successful anymore. If being a single woman is frowned upon in your culture, ask your family to explain their concerns, and be prepared that you may ultimately disagree on what is right for you – and that's okay. Defy cultural expectations. Your family's cultural background might place an extraordinary emphasis on you getting married. If your family routinely asks you when you're going to settle down, or offers to set you up with someone, remember these cultural motivations before you get too upset with their persistence. Bearing these expectations in mind will help you best determine how to respond to your family. Remember, too, that you might be the first woman in your family to voluntarily remain single and succeed at being independent and happy, which is a foreign idea to some. Familiarize yourself with the typical conversation. Understand that there will always be neigh-sayers who cannot accept that you're not actively working on finding a future spouse. They will typically ask questions like, “did you give up on love?” or “don't you want to be happy?” or even, “what's so wrong about wanting to be close to someone?” These questions usually come from a good place, with the questioner just not understanding how you could be happy without a partner. Preparing stock answers to this line of questioning will alleviate stress for you, and ensure that you respond with a concise, direct answer that ends the line of questioning. For example, if someone asks, “don't you want to be happy?” you could respond with, “I certainly do, which is why I'm focusing on myself and my happiness. I am happily, voluntarily, single, am quite fulfilled, and am not looking for a relationship. I really appreciate you thinking of my happiness.” Another option is to say, “I am no more unhappy with being single than you are with being married.” Reconcile your desire to have children. You're a strong, single woman and perhaps you've always wanted children, or have just recently realized that you do, in fact, want to have a child. You might feel disappointed that you're not in a relationship and think that limits your options. Fortunately, you can freely have a child as a single woman, if you choose to do so. You have a variety of options that weren't available to single women even 15 years ago. If you do want to have a child, look into sperm donation, adoption, and even fostering children for the state in which you live. On the other hand, you might feel discomfort with the idea of raising a child as a single woman. You're not alone. Almost 20% of women are child free and the number grows annually. Acknowledge your desire for a relationship. Not all single people are lonely, and not all lonely people are lonely all the time. You're a single woman, and you might be disappointed that you're not in a relationship. You're bombarded daily with images and cultural reinforcements that tell you that you should be in a relationship, making you even more aware that you aren't. Whether it's by choice or not, you're single, and acknowledging that you do want a relationship can be difficult because it makes you vulnerable. If you're single by choice, you may occasionally consider that you'd like a relationship. That's entirely normal. Remember, you're not committed to being single and can change your mind at any point, but you don't have to do so. If you're disappointed that you're not in a relationship, consider getting into the dating scene. Join a dating website, join a singles club, or even a hobby club, where you might meet like-minded single people. Choose your family. You're single but that doesn't mean you're alone. You are in an extraordinary position to choose your family – the group of friends that you hold most dear. You will support one another, laugh with one another, celebrate with one another, and cry together. This is a family of your creation, and while you might not be in a traditional relationship, you are certainly not alone. Acknowledge your accomplishments if you’re a single mom. You may not have imagined raising a child or children by yourself, but here you are. You worry, cry, celebrate, and discipline by yourself, and you don't have a partner to rely on, which can be challenging. This may not be how you imagined raising your family, and you might be a bit disappointed. Acknowledge your strength, appreciate your power and fortitude, and importantly, know when to reach out to friends and family to ask for help. | Learn to be alone with yourself. Pursue a new interest or hobby. Appreciate what you have. Define your relationship standards. Treat yourself. Advance your career. Rethink your relationships. Form a support network. Make friends and family a priority. Plan for sickness and aging. Challenge social expectations. Defy cultural expectations. Familiarize yourself with the typical conversation. Reconcile your desire to have children. Acknowledge your desire for a relationship. Choose your family. Acknowledge your accomplishments if you’re a single mom. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-for-Firmer-Boobs-and-Butts | How to Exercise for Firmer Boobs and Butts | To exercise for firmer boobs, do exercises that target your chest muscles, like push-ups, t-planks, chest presses, and elbow squeezes. You can also try pilates and yoga, which will improve your posture, making your breasts appear bigger. To exercise for a firmer butt, focus on exercises that will build your butt muscles, like squats, lunges, leg raises, kickbacks, and bridges. Also, try doing butt-toning aerobic exercises, like running, biking, and exercising on an elliptical. | . Do squats Squats are your number one go-to exercise if you're looking for a firmer butt and thighs. To perform a squat correctly: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Either stretch out your arms straight in front of you or maintain them in a controlled position near your chest. Lower your butt towards the floor, as if you were about to sit down on a chair. Aim to get your thighs parallel with the floor, but don't allow your knees to extend over your toes. Keep your back straight and your head up as you perform this exercise, and try to distribute your weight equally between your two feet. Slowly return back to the starting position, then continue for eight to 10 repetitions. Do lunges. Lunges are another great exercise for getting your gluteus maximus in shape. To perform them correctly: Stand up straight, then take a large step forward with your right leg. Bend both of your knees until they form right angles. Don't allow your right knee to extend over your toes, or allow your left knee to touch the floor. As you lunge, keep your back straight and your head up. Also try to keep your stomach muscles contracted as you lunge to work your abs. Slowly step back to a standing position, then repeat — this time stepping forward with the left leg. Keep going until you have completed 10 repetitions with each leg. Do leg raises. Leg raises are performed while lying on your side. They are an effective exercise as they allow you to work your butt and lower back simultaneously. To perform leg raises correctly: Lie on your right side, propping your head up with your right elbow. If desired, bend your right knee but keep your left leg straight and in line with your back. Keeping your foot parallel with the ground, raise your left leg as high as you can, without moving your hips. You can use your left hand to support your hips and prevent them from tilting backwards. Squeeze your butt muscles as you lift your leg and try to keep your abdominals firm. Slowly lower your leg back to the starting position, then repeat eight to 10 more times before switching to the other leg. You can wear ankle weights around your knees to increase the resistance and make this exercise more challenging. Do kickbacks. One-leg kickbacks allow you to work your butt, while also helping you to strengthen your lower back. To perform correctly: Get down on all fours, with your hands aligned beneath your shoulder and your knees aligned beneath your hips. Keeping your knee at a 90 degree angle, lift your right leg as high as possible behind you. Contract the muscles in your butt as you lift. Keep your neck in line with your spine as you perform the exercise — don't try to raise your head. Also try to avoid arching your spine as you lift your leg. Lower your leg back to the starting position and continue for eight to 10 repetitions. Then repeat with your left leg. If you want a more intense exercise, try to keep your leg straight as you lift instead of bending the knee or add ankle weights to increase the resistance. . Do bridges Bridges are very easy exercises to do, but produce great results! No butt-toning routine would be complete without them! To perform: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet approximately shoulder-width apart. Your heels should practically be touching your butt and your palms should be pressed down to the floor. Lift your hips off the ground while tightly squeezing your butt muscles and sucking in your tummy. Lift until your body forms a straight, diagonal line from your knees to your shoulders. Tuck your chin slightly as you lift and remember that the lift should come from your butt muscles, not your hamstrings. Slowly lower your butt back to the ground, then continue for eight to 10 repetitions. Do lateral step-ups. Lateral step-ups are another easy, yet effective exercise for toning your butt. To perform them, you will need a step bench and a set of 5 pound dumbbells (though these are optional). Stand to the right of the step bench and hold a dumbbell in each hand (if using), in front of your thighs. With your right foot, take a sideways step onto the step bench and hold your left leg straight in mid-air. Hold this position for a count of three, squeezing in your butt muscles the entire time. Step back to the starting position and repeat the exercise 10 to 15 more times, before switching to the other leg. Do deadlifts. Deadlifts are a great total-body exercise, but they are particularly good for toning the glutes and hamstrings. You will need a set of dumbbells for this exercise — 5 pound ones will do, but 10 to 15 pounds will provide a more intense workout. To perform dumbbell deadlifts: Place the dumbbells on the floor in front of you and stand up straight with your feet hip-width apart. Now, squat down towards the floor (as described above), keeping your head and chest up. Grab the two dumbbells simultaneously, using an overhand grip. Make sure your arms are completely straight and that your back is not rounded. Slowly raise yourself back to a standing position by straightening your legs and contracting your butt muscles. Thrust your shoulders back and your hips forward. Hinge forward at the hips, bending your knees very slightly, and bring the dumbbells as close to the floor as you can without any pain or discomfort in your back. Still holding the dumbbells, hinge back up to an upright position. Contract your abdominal muscles and buttocks. Repeat the exercise 10 to 15 more times. Do some butt-toning aerobic exercise. Getting a firm, toned butt is not all about stretching and weight exercises — you can can incorporate some glute work into your regular cardio workout too! Step aerobics will improve the shape of your booty. Look for a class at your gym or get your own step and watch a video at home. Uphill walking/jogging/running will provide the best workout for your butt and thighs, so hit the great outdoors and do some hiking. If you're not the outdoorsy-type, switch to using the trainer at the gym, or set the treadmill to a steeper incline than normal. Other machines you can use are the elliptical and the exercise bike, as these provide great cardio workouts while also helping to firm and tone your butt and legs. Just remember — working out for short periods of time on high resistance builds muscle, while working out for longer periods of time on lower resistance tones. Do push-ups. Push-ups are a great chest exercise which will help to produce firmer pectoral, arm and shoulder muscles. To perform correctly: Get into a plank position, with your hands slightly more than shoulder-width apart and your legs resting on the balls of your feet. Slowly lower yourself down to the ground by bending your elbows. Remember to keep your back straight and your stomach muscles sucked in. Raise yourself back up to the plank position, then continue for 15 to 20 more repetitions. If this exercise is too challenging, you can modify it by balancing on your knees instead of the balls of your feet. Do t-planks. This exercise will help to stretch out your chest and build muscle, while also toning your arms. You will need a set of 5 to 10 pound dumbbells. To perform this exercise correctly: Take a dumbbell in each hand and get your body into a push-up position (you will be resting on the dumbbells). Place your feet just over a hip-width apart, as this will provide more stability. Lift your right hand straight up into the air, twisting your torso and turning your chest and upper body to one side. Stack your arm above your shoulder and keep your hips in place — the movement should be in your torso and upper body only. Your body should be forming a "T" shape. Return to the starting position, then repeat with the left arm. Continue until you have completed 10 repetitions with each arm. Do chest presses. Chest presses will firm and tone the pectorals, while also working the arms. You will need a set of 5 to 10 pound dumbbells for this exercise. Lie on your back on the ground or on an exercise bench, holding a dumbbell in each hand, with your palms facing away from you. Bend your elbows so your arms form a 90 degree angle, keeping your upper arms parallel with your shoulders. Slowly extend your arms, stretching them towards the ceiling, directly above your chest. Slowly bring your arms back to the starting position, then continue for 15 to 20 repetitions. Do chest flys. The chest fly exercise builds muscle in the chest. You will need a set of 5 to 10 pound dumbbells for this exercise. Lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and open your arms wide, almost parallel with your shoulders. Raise your arms, palms facing towards each other, until your hands almost meet above your chest. Imagine you are giving someone a bear hug! Slowly lower your arms back to the starting position, then repeat 15 to 20 more times. Do elbow squeezes. This is a simple exercise that works out the chest muscles. You will need dumbbells again for this exercise. Stand up straight and hold a dumbbell in each hand. Raise the weight up to eye level and bend your elbows so they form 90 degree angles. Imagine your arms as football goalposts. Draw your elbows towards each other, keeping your arms parallel. Don't allow the weight to drop past eye level. Open your elbows wide again, returning to starting position. Continue for 15 to 20 more repetitions. Do pilates or yoga. These exercises won't do much to physically change your shape, but they can help improve your posture, which can improve your overall appearance. If you have large breasts your posture can really suffer, leading to hunched shoulders and major neck pain. Find out if there's a yoga or pilates school in your local area, or look into what classes your gym offers — they often offer stretching classes which incorporate aspects of yoga and pilates. | . Do lunges. Do leg raises. Do kickbacks. . Do lateral step-ups. Do deadlifts. Do some butt-toning aerobic exercise. Do push-ups. Do t-planks. Do chest presses. Do chest flys. Do elbow squeezes. Do pilates or yoga. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Muscle-Cramps | How to Prevent Muscle Cramps | To prevent muscle cramps, try drinking plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Calcium is also important for preventing muscle cramps, so try consuming more low-fat dairy, such as yogurt and skim milk. If you get muscle cramps after exercising, make sure to warm up for five to ten minutes before working out to ease your muscles into the exercise. Similarly, you should stretch your calves before any aerobic exercise to reduce the risk of cramping. You can do this by leaning against a wall and bending each leg in turn for at least 20 seconds to stretch the opposite leg. | Drink more water. Proper hydration is key to preventing muscle cramps. If you're prone to muscle cramps, you may not be getting enough water. Work on upping your water intake throughout the day. Start off your day with a glass of cold water. Carry a water bottle with you to work or school. Sip it throughout the day. Take advantage of water fountains. Each time you see a water fountain, stop and take a sip. If you dislike the taste of plain water, try flavoring water naturally with fruit and vegetables. Stretch or exercise your muscles before bed. Many people experience cramps in bed. If you're prone to leg cramps during the night, make sure to give your legs a good stretch before getting into bed. Some light exercise before bed can also help stretch muscles and prevent cramps. Go for a light jog or walk before bed or ride a stationary bike for a few minutes. Consume more calcium and potassium. A lack of calcium or potassium in the diet can potentially cause muscle cramps. Upping your intake of both may help prevent cramps. Go for low-fat dairy to increase your calcium intake. Opt for things like yogurt and skim milk. To get more potassium, get foods like turkey, bananas, potatoes, and orange juice. Drink pickle juice. While further studies are needed to confirm this, some evidence indicates drinking pickle juice can help with muscle cramps. It's possible that pickle juice affects nerves in the stomach and throat, which can send out signals that disrupt muscles and cause cramps. If you don't mind the taste of pickle juice, you could try drinking it to see if it lessens cramping. Warm up before a workout. You should never jump into a strenuous workout without a warm up. This will greatly increase your risk of a muscle cramp. To prevent cramps, do a light warm up before engaging in a full workout. Warming up means engaging in light physical activity for five to 10 minutes before you begin a vigorous workout. Warm up activities are usually slower versions of your main form of exercise. To warm up for a run, for example, walk briskly for five minutes. Stretch your calves. Before aerobic activities, such as running, make sure to give your calves a good stretch. This can reduce the risk of cramping in this area. Place one leg in front of another and then lean against a wall. Bend the knee of your leg closer to the wall. While you do this, stretch your back leg behind you and point the heel towards the floor. Hold this stretch for at least 20 seconds. Any less than 20 seconds will not be enough time for your calf muscles to stretch out. Repeat with the other leg. Target your hamstrings with stretches. You should also stretch your hamstrings if you do any exercises that use those muscles. To start, sit on the ground with your back straight and stretch both legs out in front of you. Place your hands on the floor with the palms facing downward. Slide your hands forward until you feel a stretch. Then, hold this for 30 seconds. Stretch your quads. Your quads should be stretched before any workout that uses them. To start, stand next to a wall or chair and hold onto it for balance. Lift up one foot, moving your heel towards your buttocks, and then grab your heel with your hand. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Then, repeat with the other leg. Cool down after a workout. After a workout, you should have a period where you cool down before stopping. A cool down involves engaging in slightly less strenuous exercise for five to 10 minutes. It's essentially the same as warming up, but you do it after finishing a workout. For example, you can walk for 10 minutes after a run or do some slow swimming for five minutes after an intense swim. Avoid swimming until you've resolved issues with cramps. It can be very dangerous to swim if you're at risk for a muscle cramp. Therefore, you should avoid swimming, especially in large bodies of water like the ocean, until your muscle cramps are infrequent. If you're having severe cramps with no apparent cause, talk to your doctor before you attempt swimming. See a doctor under certain conditions. Muscle spasms are usually not a sign of a serious medical issue. However, under some conditions, medical intervention is necessary. See a doctor if your muscle cramps: do not have an obvious cause, like strenuous exercise; are severe; last for a long time; or happen frequently. Your doctor will ask for your medical history and a detailed account of your symptoms. Your doctor may want to run some tests, such as blood work, if they suspect an underlying cause like circulation issues. Try anti-inflammatory medications. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can be used to treat muscle cramps if you experience them. In rare cases, however, a healthcare provider may prescribe medication for severe cramps. If you are currently on medication, always check with a doctor or pharmacist to make sure your current meds will not interact poorly with over-the-counter medications. Apply heat or cold. Heat and cold can be used to soothe pain caused by muscle cramps. Press a warm or hot towel over the area that's cramping as symptoms persist. You can also massage the muscle with ice if necessary. | Drink more water. Stretch or exercise your muscles before bed. Consume more calcium and potassium. Drink pickle juice. Warm up before a workout. Stretch your calves. Target your hamstrings with stretches. Stretch your quads. Cool down after a workout. Avoid swimming until you've resolved issues with cramps. See a doctor under certain conditions. Try anti-inflammatory medications. Apply heat or cold. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Someone%27s-Phone-Number | How to Get Someone's Phone Number | To get someone's phone number without asking them for it, try asking someone else to give you the person's number, like a mutual friend. If possible, you could also look up the person's number in a school directory or on a list of co-worker's contact information. To ask someone for their number, be confident, relaxed, and just ask them directly with a statement like “I enjoy talking to you, do you think I could get your number and we could do it again sometime?” | Build up your confidence. A person with confidence is very attractive to the opposite gender. Feel your best by putting on your favorite outfit, styling your hair, and listening to your favorite music. Of course, you can only do this if you know in advance that you plan on asking someone for their number. Even if you don't feel that confident, act with confidence. It will appear the same to onlookers, and eventually the act will transition to the real deal. Don’t rehearse too much. If you practice a scene over and over in your head about asking for someone's number, it will either 1) look equally rehearsed in person, or 2) work out differently in real life, making the practice unnecessary. Know your intentions. Are you asking this persons number to call them up for fun? To meet them the next day? For a date in a week? Have an idea of what you plan on doing with their number before you ask. Be prepared for conversation. Although nerves can get in the way and make real talking seem like the most frightening thing in the world, it is unfortunately necessary for you to sell your charming self in exchange for a number. Don't expect to just walk up, ask for a number, and leave. You will have to do a little talking before and after the number-taking goes down. Be open and honest. They may ask you questions, in which case your best solution is to be brief and truthful. Don't monopolize the conversation. Although it is easy to talk about ourselves, ask your potential partner questions and give them time to respond. Be a good listener, it is very attractive. Know when to end the conversation. Although a little discussion is good, drawing it out for too long becomes boring. Make sure that you aren't being too time-consuming in your conversations. Don’t stalk them. Although you may know in advance that you want a person's phone number, never stalk them to get it. Being caught in the act of creeping on them will definitely not put you on their good side. Try being direct. The most simple option is being very direct. Approach the person, start a conversation, and make a comment along the lines of “you know, I've really enjoyed talking to you. Do you think I could have your phone number and we could do it again sometime?” If you are asking a stranger, don't worry about having a lengthy conversation. The person likely knows that you are approaching them out of romantic interest. If you know this person before asking for their number, make sure your intentions are clear. You don't want to come across as a platonic friend looking for support when you are really romantically interested in them. Ask to borrow something. Say that you need to borrow something, for example a pen, and then ask if you can have their phone number so you can call them to meet and give whatever the item was back to them. This is simultaneously flirty and straightforward, a perfect combination. Ask with a choice. Instead of asking a yes-or-no “can I have your number?” question, offer two choices. “Could I have your phone number or email?” This way, they are more likely to give you a definite means of contacting them. Swap business cards. Although business cards are less commonly held by today's youth, swapping business cards is a great way to get someone's contact. It also verifies that their number is real, not a fake one given because they aren't interested. Walk away smoothly. Once you've gotten their phone number, don't linger. Instead, walk away calmly and either leave the scene or hang out in a different area. Wait patiently. Although you have their number now, don't take that as a sign to call them immediately. Wait at least 24 hours before making a move and giving them a call. Call, don’t text. Although texting offers an emotional shield, it is distancing and impersonal. For a much more personal conversation, call them. This goes for the first or the fortieth time you get a hold of them; calling is almost always preferable to texting. Don’t panic. This is just another person, right? So don't become anxious and worried the first time you actually use their number. Keep calm and collected and it will show, making you even that much more attractive to them. Take their phone. If you are with the person, try taking their phone. Note that it's best to be open and flirty about it since you could get into trouble if you take their phone secretly or against their wishes. Send yourself a text message from their phone, and add your contact to their list. Look up their number in their phone settings. Ask someone else for their number. If you have a mutual friend, simply ask them for the person's number instead. This way, you get the number without having to be so up-front about it. Look it up in a directory. If you have a phone book, school directory, or archive of coworker phone numbers, look up their number. Use whatever method you have available to find their number. | Build up your confidence. Don’t rehearse too much. Know your intentions. Be prepared for conversation. Don’t stalk them. Try being direct. Ask to borrow something. Ask with a choice. Swap business cards. Walk away smoothly. Wait patiently. Call, don’t text. Don’t panic. Take their phone. Ask someone else for their number. Look it up in a directory. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Lose-Your-Voice-Fast | How to Lose Your Voice Fast | To lose your voice quickly, first try whispering as much as possible, since it has a drying effect that strains your vocal chords. You can also try singing really loudly, which will wear out your voice. If those things don't work, try gargling a mixture of equal parts vinegar and lemon juice, which will irritate your throat and make you raspy. | Whisper as much as possible. While whispering might seem like a method of preserving one's voice, it actually puts much more strain on your vocal chords than speaking normally does. Whispering also has a drying effect that can cause voice loss. Take every opportunity to whisper instead of talking at a regular volume by pretending that you need to be discreet during conversations, or by starting discussions in quiet places (e.g. a library). Scream into a pillow. Screaming at the top of your lungs is the most effective way to lose your voice. Find a thick pillow to scream into to muffle the bulk of the noise, preferably when no one else is close enough to hear it and be concerned. Continue until your voice feels raspy, and stop if you experience pain. Growl often. This will make your throat sore and your voice raspy. Sing karaoke. While professional singers generally warm up their voices before performing, amateur singers have a tendency to wear out their voices by singing too loudly and out of pitch. Spend an evening doing karaoke with friends to enjoy yourself while trying to lose your voice. The act of projecting your voice to fill a room or hall is very likely to cause bruising or swelling of your vocal cords, resulting in temporary laryngitis. Clear your throat or cough. Coughing or clearing your throat can put a strain on your larynx, diminishing your voice. Excessive coughing commonly causes laryngitis, either in the short term or long-term. To lose your voice fast, prompt yourself to cough, or clear your voice repetitively until it becomes hoarse and raspy. Attend a concert or sports event. Lose your voice in a fun way by attending a loud concert or sporting event. Get into the action and cheer, sing along, or scream as much as possible. While losing one's voice is often considered a downside of these fun experiences, it can be seen as a success when that is your ultimate goal. Visiting a dance club, attending a demonstration, or going go karting are also options for loud activities that encourage voice exertion. Gargle vinegar and lemon juice. To cause irritation to the vocal cords and promote voice loss, make a mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice. Add 1/4 cup vinegar (2 oz.) and 1/4 cup lemon juice (2 oz.) to a glass, then stir. Gargle with the mixture for about 30 seconds, then spit it out and repeat if desired. If the mixture is too potent for you, add 1/4 cup water (2 oz.) to dilute it. Drink caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol can have a dehydrating effect on the body, leaving your throat dry and raspy. Healthy vocal folds need moisture to vibrate and close properly, otherwise your voice will get breathy and hoarse. Spend a fun night out with friends at a cafe or bar and consume plenty of caffeinated or alcoholic drinks to lose your voice fast. Consume fatty, spicy, or acidic food. Consuming food or drink that has a high acidic content can cause acid reflux, which in turn can irritate the vocal chords and trigger laryngitis. Fatty or spicy foods can have the same effect. To lose your voice fast, try consuming: Citrus fruits Tomatoes Fried foods Red meat Cheese Enjoy high-sodium foods. Eating food with high sodium content is bad for your voice because of the drying effect of the salt. To dry out your vocal cords enough to promote voice loss, go for bacon as an ultimate high-salt indulgence (which is also high in fat, another voice-diminishing element). Some other sodium-rich foods to eat include: Pretzels Salted nuts Soya sauce Instant soups Pickles Don't drink much water. Keep your throat dry and breathe through your mouth often. Turn up the heat. Heating systems absorb moisture from the air, leaving rooms dry. This dryness can dehydrate your body, including your throat and vocal cords. To lose your voice fast, turn up the heat in your room or home as much as possible and leave it at that temperature overnight. Expose yourself to cold, dry air. Cold, dry air can irritate the larynx and hinder the vocal cords, diminishing your voice. If you are living in a cold climate, get outside for prolonged winter activities (e.g. cross-country skiing) or go for a long walk outdoors. If you are living in a warm climate, crank up the air-conditioning as much as possible. Increase ambient noise. To help lose your voice fast, increase the ambient noise level in your home or work space so that you automatically have to speak louder or yell to communicate. People tend to naturally increase their voices by 3 decibels for every 10 decibel increase in ambient noise around them. Play loud music or movies in the background, or opt for instrumental scores if you need to concentrate without distractions. | Whisper as much as possible. Scream into a pillow. Growl often. Sing karaoke. Clear your throat or cough. Attend a concert or sports event. Gargle vinegar and lemon juice. Drink caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Consume fatty, spicy, or acidic food. Enjoy high-sodium foods. Don't drink much water. Turn up the heat. Expose yourself to cold, dry air. Increase ambient noise. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Open-Your-Third-Eye | How to Open Your Third Eye | To open your third eye, spend a few minutes meditating every day to increase your awareness and mental clarity and better connect with your third eye. You should also practice being more mindful, which you can do by focusing on your present emotions and physical sensations. Remember: can't open your third eye if you're always distracted and lost in thought! Additionally, make an effort to spend more time in nature and do creative things, which will help you be more mindful and in touch with your third eye. | Locate your third eye chakra. Chakras are the energy centers in your body. Essentially, that are wheels of energy that align along your spine. There are seven chakras, and each corresponds to a different part of your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Your third eye chakra is the sixth chakra. The third eye chakra is located at the forefront of your brain, between your two eyes. It is right above the bridge of your nose. When you meditate, try to focus your mind on this chakra. It is responsible for helping you to see the world more clearly. Choose the right surroundings. Meditation is one of the most effective tools for helping you to open your third eye. By bringing more awareness to your thoughts, you will be able to better access the mental clarity that is associated with the third eye. The core goal of meditation is to bring the mind to rest on one thought or object. It is important to choose surroundings where you feel comfortable when you are beginning to meditate. Some people feel more peaceful and open-minded when they are out in nature. If this sounds like you, you might consider meditating outdoors. Find a space that is the right temperature and where you can sit without being disturbed by others. Indoor meditation is also perfectly fine. Many people have a designated meditation space in their home. This generally includes a cushion that makes it more comfortable to sit on the floor, and perhaps some candles and soothing music. Remember that meditation is a very personal process. You should choose the surroundings that are right for you. Prepare your posture. The mind-body connection is very important in meditation. The more comfortable you are physically, the easier it will be to focus on you meditation object or thought. The most effective meditation posture is generally thought to be some variation of sitting cross-legged on the ground. If you are used to sitting in a chair, take some time each day to get used to sitting on the floor. In time, it will feel more natural it will be easier to focus on your meditation. Most people choose to use at least one cushion to make sitting on the ground more comfortable. Feel free to use two or three sturdy cushions if you find this works better for you. If you simply cannot be comfortable sitting, don't worry. You can try what is known as walking meditation. For some people, the rhythmic sounds of their footfalls can be very soothing. Walk slowly, and have a clear path so that you don't have to think too much about where you are going. Choose a meditation object. A meditation object can be a thought or a physical object. The point of choosing one is to make it easier for your brain to focus. This will keep your thoughts from wandering and will make your meditation more effective. Candles are a popular meditation object. The flickering flame is easy to look at and are comforting to many people. Your meditation object does not have to be nearby physically. Feel free to picture the ocean or a beautiful tree that you once saw. Just make sure you can clearly see the object in your mind's eye. Pick a mantra. A mantra is a word or phrase that you will repeat during your meditation practice. You might say the mantra internally or out loud--that is a personal preference. Your mantra should be something that is personal and meaningful to you. Your mantra should be something that you want to integrate into your mind, or your awareness. For example, you might choose to repeat, "I choose happiness". This will help reinforce the idea that you are going to focus on feeling joy throughout the day. Another mantra idea is to choose just one word. For example, you could repeat the word "peace". Make it a routine. Meditation is a practice. That means that the first time to sit down to meditate, it might not be a big success. Your mind might wander, or you might even fall asleep. Learning to successfully meditate is a process and it takes time. Make meditation a part of your every day life. Begin with very small increments, maybe five minutes or even just two. Soon you will feel more comfortable with the process and be able to devote more time to meditation each day. Learn what it means to be mindful. Being mindful means that you are more actively aware of what is going on around you. You are consciously paying attention to your emotions and physical sensations. Being more mindful will help you to get in tune with yourself and the world around you. As you are becoming more observant, avoid being judgemental. Just observe and acknowledge without forming an opinion about whether something is "right" or "wrong". For example, if you are feeling stressed out, do not judge yourself for feeling that way. Simply observe and acknowledge your emotions. Go outside. Spending some time outside can be very helpful in becoming more mindful. Being more mindful can help you to open your third eye because you will be more aware of it. Therefore, it's a good idea to try to take a short walk each day, in an effort to spend more time in nature. In today's culture, we are "plugged in" for much of our day. This means that we are almost always looking at some sort of electronic or communication device. Going outside reminds us to actively take a break from all of the stimuli. Be creative. Being mindful can allow you to get more in touch with your creative side. Research suggests that mindful meditation is a great cure for writer's blocks and for blocks that artists and other creative types experience. Being more mindful can allow you to open up your creative pathways. Try experimenting with your creative side. Take up painting, sketching, or learning a new musical instrument. Letting your creativity flow will help you to feel more in-tune with yourself, and help you to open your third eye. Focus on the small things. Day to day life can feel very hectic and overwhelming. Being more mindful can help you to feel calmer and better able to utilize your third eye. Pay attention to each aspect of your surroundings and your routine. For example, when you are taking a shower, consciously observe the physical sensations. Take note of how the warm water feels on your shoulders. Appreciate the refreshing scent of your shampoo. Feel more peaceful. Once you learn to open your third eye, you will be able to experience the benefits that go along with it. Many people report feeling more at peace after opening their third eye. Part of this is due to achieving a greater sense of self-compassion. Being more aware of yourself generally causes you to practice more self-kindness. Being kinder to yourself offers many benefits. You will feel more self-confident and less anxious. Be more knowledgeable. One of the reasons many people want to open their third eye is because it is thought to make you more knowledgeable. Since it increases your perception of the world around you, it makes sense that you will be able to learn more about the world around you. People who have opened their third eye report that they feel like they have more wisdom. You will also become more knowledgeable about yourself. Meditation and mindfulness are great ways to get in touch with yourself. When you better understand your emotions, you will feel more capable of dealing with them. Improve your physical health. Opening your third eye is very likely to reduce your stress levels. You will feel more peaceful and self-aware. There are many physical benefits from reduced levels of stress. People with less stress are less likely to have high blood pressure and symptoms of depression. Experiencing less stress can also mean a reduction in things such as headaches and upset stomachs. It can even help you have younger looking skin. | Locate your third eye chakra. Choose the right surroundings. Prepare your posture. Choose a meditation object. Pick a mantra. Make it a routine. Learn what it means to be mindful. Go outside. Be creative. Focus on the small things. Feel more peaceful. Be more knowledgeable. Improve your physical health. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Kwek-Kwek | How to Make Kwek Kwek | If you want to make kwek kwek, boil a dozen quail eggs, then remove the eggs from the pan. Rinse or soak the eggs in cold water until they are cool to the touch, then peel off the shells using your fingers. Dredge the eggs in flour, then dip them in a batter made of flour, baking powder, and diluted annatto powder. Fry 4-6 of the eggs in vegetable oil over high heat until the batter turns golden-brown and crisp, then transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels until they're cool enough to eat. | Boil the eggs. Place the eggs in a medium saucepan. Add water until the surface of the water is 1 inch (2.5 cm) higher than the tops of the eggs. Heat the saucepan over high heat until the water starts to boil. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let the eggs cook in the hot water for an additional 5 minutes. It is generally recommended to bring the water and eggs up to temperature at the same time. If you drop cold eggs into boiling water, you may end up cracking some of the shells. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid4118141-v4-728px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} To make the eggs easier to peel and to prevent the yolks from taking on an unappealing green tint, rinse the eggs in cold water as soon as you remove them from the hot water. This stops the cooking process and creates a barrier of steam between the egg white and the shell, which is why the shell is easier to remove as a result. You can rinse the eggs in cold, running water, or you could dunk them into a bowl of ice water. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/aid4118141-v4-728px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Cool and peel off the shells. Let the eggs sit at room temperature or in cold water until they are cool to the touch. Once they are sufficiently cool, peel off the shells using your fingers. When done, you should be left with a dozen hard-boiled quail eggs. To peel the shell, tap it on a hard surface, using just enough force to form a crack. Peel the shell off in pieces from this crack. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/aid4118141-v4-728px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-2Bullet1.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:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Note that you can do this step up to two days in advance. If you do not plan on using the boiled quail eggs immediately, you should refrigerate them in a covered container until you are ready. They should not be kept for more than two days, however. Dredge the eggs in flour. Sprinkle 1 cup (250 ml) flour into a small dish with shallow sides. Roll the freshly peeled quail eggs in the flour until each one is well-coated all the way around. Note that you could also use corn flour when dredging the eggs instead of wheat flour. Corn flour has a lower gluten content, but otherwise, it will act the same way as the wheat flour acts and will adhere just as effectively. Mix the annatto powder and warm water. Dilute the annatto powder by mixing it into 3/4 cup (185 ml) warm water. Stir with a whisk until dissolved. Annatto powder is mostly used as a coloring agent, and when combined correctly, it should produce a deep orange color. It does give the batter a hint of flavor, though. If you do not have annatto powder, you can use orange food color instead. Place a few drops of orange food coloring, or a few drops of red and yellow food colorings, into the warm water and mix until you get a deep orange color. The food coloring will not give the batter the same exact taste as the annatto powder gives it, but the color should be about the same. Combine the batter ingredients. Mix another 1 cup (250 ml) flour, baking powder, and diluted annatto together in a large bowl, using a whisk. Combine thoroughly until there are no lumps. To improve the quality of the batter, set it off to the side for about 30 minutes before coating the eggs. Letting the batter sit allows the flour to become more thoroughly hydrated, creating a thicker, richer batter as a result. The resting time also gives the baking powder more time to activate. Be careful, though, since allowing the batter to rest for more than 30 minutes can cause some of the bubbles produced by the baking powder to escape, creating a denser, less airy batter as a result. Also note that the baking soda is not an absolutely essential ingredient. Some recipes leave it out completely. You could leave it out, as well, and the result will simply be a slightly denser batter. Coat the eggs with batter. Toss the eggs into the batter mixture. Roll them around gently until all sides are covered in batter. If you do not want to get your fingers sticky, use a metal skewer or a fork to move the eggs around as you coat them. It is crucial that all sides of each egg get coated. Heat oil in a deep pan. Pour 1 inch (2.5 cm) of vegetable oil into a wide pan with tall sides and a heavy bottom. Heat the oil on high over the stove until it reaches a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Check the temperature of the oil using an oil or candy thermometer. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet1.jpg\/aid4118141-v4-728px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet1.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:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} If you do not have a thermometer, check the temperature of the oil by dropping a small dollop of batter into it. The batter should immediately begin to sizzle and fry when the oil is ready. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet2.jpg\/aid4118141-v4-728px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-7Bullet2.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:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Fry the eggs. Transfer the coated eggs into the oil, four to six at a time. Cook, stirring gently with a slotted spoon, until the batter turns golden-brown and crisp. This should only take a few minutes. To avoid getting batter on your fingers, you might want to use a skewer to pierce the coated eggs when transferring them to the hot oil. Use a second skewer or fork to scrape the egg off the skewer and into the hot oil. Work carefully to avoid splashing hot oil when you drop the eggs in. Understand that the temperature of the oil will fluctuate once you drop the eggs in and once you remove them. Continue watching your oil thermometer as you fry the eggs. Readjust the heat controls on your stove as necessary to maintain a temperature of about 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Drain and cool slightly. Line a plate with several layers of clean paper towel. Remove the kwek kwek from the hot oil and place the eggs on the paper towels. Let the excess oil soak into the paper towels. A plate lined with clean paper bags will work instead of the paper towels, if desired. Alternatively, you could place the fried eggs in a metal strainer and drain the excess oil that way instead of using paper towels. It is best to enjoy the kwek kwek while it is still somewhat hot. The batter will be crispier when eaten fresh, but it can start to become soggy once it cools. Kwek kwek does not reheat well since the batter tends to get soggy during the refrigeration and reheating process. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan. In a small saucepan, mix together the rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and black pepper. Stir until evenly combined. If you want a spicier sauce, chop up one hot chili and mix it into the other ingredients. If you still prefer a smoother sauce, though, you could accomplish the same level of heat by adding 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp (5 to 15 ml) chili sauce. Make this sauce as the eggs drain and cool. By the time the sauce is done, enough of the oil should have been drained and the eggs should be cool enough to bite into. You do not want to let the eggs cool down completely, though, since the batter will get soggy once that happens. Note that you could even make the sauce in advance. Store it in an airtight container and refrigerated it until ready to use. Microwave it for 30 to 60 seconds or heat it gently on the stove to warm it up slightly. Heat through. Simmer the mixture at medium heat on the stove until the sugar completely dissolves. Stir frequently as the sauce cooks. When done, immediately remove the dipping sauce from the heat source. Allow it to cool down until it is cool enough to touch without getting burned. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/67\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-11Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-11Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/67\/Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-11Bullet1.jpg\/aid4118141-v4-728px-Make-Kwek-Kwek-Step-11Bullet1.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:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Serve with the eggs. Transfer the dipping sauce into a small bowl. Serve it alongside the freshly fried quail eggs, or kwek kwek. | Boil the eggs. Cool and peel off the shells. Dredge the eggs in flour. Mix the annatto powder and warm water. Combine the batter ingredients. Coat the eggs with batter. Heat oil in a deep pan. Fry the eggs. Drain and cool slightly. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan. Heat through. Serve with the eggs. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dispose-of-Hazardous-Waste | How to Dispose of Hazardous Waste | To dispose of hazardous waste, start by keeping the waste separate from your regular trash. Then, check online to see if there is a community hazardous-waste pickup system you can use to have the waste picked up from your home. If there's not, look up a local drop-off facility and bring your hazardous waste there. You may even be able to find a local program that will recycle some of your hazardous waste. | Understand hazardous waste. Hazardous waste cannot be disposed like normal trash in landfills. Instead it must be disposed through the proper networks to prevent human and environmental harm. Look at the four characteristics of hazardous waste: Ignitability means that the waste can easily catch on fire. It is considered flammable if the flash point is less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Corrosive wastes are acids/bases that are capable of corroding metal containers. Reactive wastes are unstable under normal conditions. They can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gases or vapors when heated. Toxic types of wastes are potentially fatal or harmful when absorbed or ingested. They can pollute groundwater if not disposed of properly. Be responsible with your waste. Responsibility in disposing these types of wastes isn't just for your carbon footprint. Many counties and states attach legal responsibility towards disposing hazardous waste. Companies who don't adhere to the laws are subject to fines and other legal action. Research your local laws. Many counties across the U.S. have specific protocol for disposing hazardous waste. Each county can have different steps and regulations for disposing hazardous waste. The actual disposal of hazardous waste on the local level is enacted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Recognize everyday hazardous products. It is common to come into contact with hazardous waste without ever knowing it. Take a look at the following list of common products that shouldn't be thrown away normally: Automotive products. This includes antifreeze, fluids, motor oils , and gasoline. Batteries Fluorescent light bulbs. Many of the older models contain mercury. Household cleaners. This includes ammonia , drain cleaner, deicer (e.g., calcium chloride ), and rust remover. Paint products. Garden chemicals. Swimming pool chemicals. Recognize common household hazardous wastes. Hazardous waste can find its way into most household. The most common hazardous wastes you'll come into contact with at home are: Harsh chemical cleaners Paints/thinners Antifreeze Weed killers Insecticide/pesticide Use a home pickup service. Many communities have set up an easy to follow home pickup system. Never mix hazardous waste with normal trash. Your community will benefit from separating the two. Unfortunately pickup systems aren't mandated on the federal level, so there is a chance you won't have access to these services. Many times this service will charge a fee. Check the waste management's location tracker to see if your address is eligible. There are various different types of receptacles that can be used for different wastes. For instance you can request special containers for used batteries, syringes, and extra durable bags for heavier waste. Locate a drop-off facility. For those unable to use a pick up service, dropping off your waste to a facility is another option. Most local government websites can direct you to the appropriate contacts to help dispose of hazardous waste. There is usually a day of the week where facilities accept waste like: paint products, motor oil, and other common household wastes. Recycle hazardous waste. You might be able to recycle some of your hazardous waste. Many sites will accept materials like batteries and used cellphones to be recycled on a daily basis. Be on the lookout for other recycling opportunities. Many schools and community groups will accept leftover paint supplies, and give them to the people who can still use them. Check with your auto garage if they'd accept used or spare fluids from your car. Some will even accept antifreeze and recycle it. Request by-mail-kits. Some organizations, like waste management, will send you a mail-in kit for your waste. After you confirm your location, you'll fill out a form online. In this form you'll indicate certain information about the waste and your address. You'll receive a recycling kit that is postage paid. The kits will vary depending on what information about the waste you included on your form. Organize a community drop-off. Depending on how established waste management is in your community, they will come out and work with you. You can organize a regular hazardous waste drop-off if there isn't already one in your community. Contact waste management for information about setting up or attending a hazardous waste drop-off. These can be a recurring event or a one time drop-off. You should always consult with waste management about a potential hazardous waste. It is not recommended to dispose hazardous waste manually. Use non-hazardous products. As a general rule, only buy what you need and consider alternatives when available. Instead of using a chemical drain cleaner, use strainers to catch the debris that may clog your pipes. Flush your drains weekly with hot water or warm vinegar. Use baking soda and a steel wool pad instead of using intense counter top cleaners. Consider using non-aerosol products like those with pump sprays. Instead of using an aerosol air-cleaner, keep an open box of baking soda in a room or create potpourri out of scrap orange peels. Hire an expert consultant. Companies can reap the benefits from groups like waste management. Experts from waste management can be scheduled to appear at your business to review your hazardous waste and give you their opinion. They can show where you fall on the EPA's category assessment of how much waste small businesses generate: Conditionally exempt small quantity generator (CESQG). This means that you are exempt from hazardous waste management regulations. You must generate less than 220 pounds a month to fit this category. Small quantity generators (SQG). Your business is deemed SQG if your establishment generates between 220 and 2,200 pounds a month. This classification must comply with EPA requirements for managing hazardous waste. Large quantity generators (LQG). The EPA considers any business that generates 2,200 pounds or more of hazardous waste a month to be LQG. This classification must adhere to the strictest rules deemed by the EPA. Join WasteWise. Any type of business, non-profit organization, or government office is eligible to join the EPA's WasteWise program. Participants can utilize the free technical assistance in disposing and consultation about hazardous waste. There are even opportunities for WasteWise to assist with your business' sustainability and environmental impact. There are opportunities in networking and public recognition for your companies environmental efforts. Consider reduction as a disposal tactic. Many industries are looking for ways to reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals they use, which in turn reduces the amount of hazardous waste they generate. The Environmental Protection Agency lists various approaches to do this for businesses: Lean manufacturing is a reduction tactic that emphasizes eliminating wastes that don't add value. Energy recovery is enacted through gasification. Gasification converts materials containing carbon into synthetic gas. This type of gas can be used as fuel to generate electricity and other features. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) is a system for assessing a company's environmental footprint. Green chemistry is a designing outlook that strives to create products and chemicals that reduce or remove hazardous substances. Reduce and recycle hazardous materials. Many items that can become a hazardous waste problem can be recycled, or in some cases, reclaimed. This is a process that recovers what is left of an usable product. Some reclamation processes recover acetone from spent solvents and lead from metals. Zinc can be gathered from smelting furnaces. Used oil, hydraulic fluids, refrigerator compressors and more can be recovered from cars and fridges. Batteries can also be recycled. Look into land disposal. Land disposal of hazardous waste contains the waste in a landfill, waste pile, injection well or other land based disposal area. These areas fall under regulation to help protect the families around them as well as reduce environmental impact. Keep up to date with your permits. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is a permitting program in place to ensure that specific requirements are followed in safe treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. Permits are issued by authorized states or by EPA regional offices. Electronic permits are also available. | Understand hazardous waste. Be responsible with your waste. Research your local laws. Recognize everyday hazardous products. Recognize common household hazardous wastes. Use a home pickup service. Locate a drop-off facility. Recycle hazardous waste. Request by-mail-kits. Organize a community drop-off. Use non-hazardous products. Hire an expert consultant. Join WasteWise. Consider reduction as a disposal tactic. Reduce and recycle hazardous materials. Look into land disposal. Keep up to date with your permits. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Ricotta-Cheese | How to Make Ricotta Cheese | To make ricotta cheese, start by heating milk, cream, and salt in a saucepan. Then, slowly stir in some vinegar so the mixture starts to curdle. After you add the vinegar, let the mixture thicken for 10-20 minutes or until all of the curds have floated to the top. Next, strain the curds through a cheesecloth over a bowl for 1 hour. After an hour, scoop the leftover ricotta out of the cheesecloth and serve. | Prepare the strainer. Line the fine-mesh strainer with a large piece of cheesecloth, and set it over the nonreactive bowl. Set this contraption on your work surface so to have it ready for the cheese mixture. If you don't use cheesecloth, it will be difficult to separate the cheese curds from the whey. You can substitute a double layer of paper towels or a thin cotton dishcloth in a pinch. Heat the milk, cream and salt. Place the milk, cream and salt in the saucepan and heat the mixture over medium-high heat. Allow it to heat until it reaches 200 degrees F. When the mixture is hot enough, turn off the heat and move the saucepan so the milk can begin to cool. It should take about 5 minutes to reach the correct temperature. Stir the mixture as it's heating to prevent it from scorching on the bottom. Use your candy thermometer or an instant-read thermometer to determine whether the mixture has reached the right temperature. If you don't let it cook long enough, the curds won't separate from the whey. If you overcook it, the texture will be ruined. Slowly add the vinegar. Use one hand to stir constantly while the other hand slowly pours the vinegar into the heated milk and cream mixture. The vinegar will cause the curds to coagulate and separate from the whey. You'll see solid bits forming and floating to the top of the liquid. Keep stirring until all of the vinegar has been added. The curdling agent in this case is vinegar, but some people prefer to use other substances. Try substituting 3 tablespoons (44.4 ml) of lemon juice for a different flavor. For a more traditional touch, try using animal rennet as your coagulant. Mix 1 teaspoon of rennet with 1/4 cup of cold water, then stir it into the milk mixture. Let the mixture sit until it's thick. Wait about 10 - 20 minutes for the coagulant to go to work and cause the curds to separate from the whey. It's ready when the curds have floated to the top to form a thick layer, leaving the liquid whey underneath. Ladle the curds into the strainer. Scoop out the thick top layer of curds and ladle them over the cheesecloth-covered strainer. Keep ladling out the curds until all that's left in the saucepan is the whey. You can discard the whey at this point. Let the ricotta drain. Wait at least an hour for the last of the whey to drain from the ricotta through the cheesecloth into the bowl. It will take about half an hour for the ricotta to fully drain. Don't attempt to stir it or push it through the cheesecloth, as this will just push the curds into the cloth. If you'd like a creamier final product, stop draining the ricotta after 5 - 10 minutes. For a drier final product, wait an hour for it to drain. Spoon the ricotta into a bowl. The finished ricotta is now ready to use in your favorite recipe. It's delicious as part of a savory dish or a dessert. Ricotta will keep in the refrigerator for about a week. Save the whey from making cheese in a non-reactive pot. When you make homemade cheese, you'll have curds at the bottom of the pot, and you'll pour off the whey. Filter as many of the curd particles out as you can since they would otherwise form tough "beads" in the final ricotta. Cover the whey and let it sit for at least 12 hours at room temperature to develop sufficient acidity. Acidified whey acts as its own coagulant, making it unnecessary to add vinegar or lemon juice to separate the curds. Heat the acidified whey. Pour it into a saucepan and heat it while stirring, taking care to avoid sticking or burning. Heat until the temperature has risen to about 175 degrees Fahrenheit and a white appears on the surface. Continue heating and stirring until the temperature reaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Note that the foam will build up somewhat. Be careful. If it boils, it can boil over. Remove the whey from heat and wait for it to curdle. Cover it and allow it to cool undisturbed until comfortable to the touch. The curds will soon appear like clouds suspended in the whey, while the whey will be clear and yellowish green. Strain the ricotta. Do not stir up the curd. Instead, set up a receiving pot with a large strainer and a fine clean cloth on top. Ladle the curds into the cloth, leaving the whey in the saucepan. Discard the whey. Be sure to scoop out the curds gently. Because the curds are very fine and delicate, they can stop up the cloth easily. This will cause very slow draining if they are broken up. Drain the whey through the cloth. It can take 2-3 hours for the whey to completely drain. If you prefer, you can set the strainer in the refrigerator and let it drain overnight. Remove the ricotta from the cloth. Pack it into a container, cover it and store in the refrigerator. Use it soon after making. Ricotta will keep up to a week in the refrigerator. Alternatively, ricotta freezes very well. | Prepare the strainer. Heat the milk, cream and salt. Slowly add the vinegar. Let the mixture sit until it's thick. Ladle the curds into the strainer. Let the ricotta drain. Spoon the ricotta into a bowl. Save the whey from making cheese in a non-reactive pot. Heat the acidified whey. Remove the whey from heat and wait for it to curdle. Strain the ricotta. Drain the whey through the cloth. Remove the ricotta from the cloth. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hide-That-You%27re-in-Love-With-a-Coworker | How to Hide That You're in Love With a Coworker | To hide that you're in love with a co-worker, treat them as you would any other colleague. For example, only go out for lunch with them if you're in a larger group. Additionally, avoid all physical contact, such as putting your hand on their arm, and restrict yourself to a professional handshake. When you're talking to your co-worker, focus on topics that are work-related to make it clear your relationship is purely professional. If you feel you're struggling to control your feelings, take a day or 2 off work by calling in sick or taking vacation days, since having a bit of space can help you get your feelings in order. Alternatively, take up a new hobby so you're not tempted to hang out with your colleague after work, which has the added benefit of distracting you from your thoughts. | Treat the coworker as you would any other coworker. The easiest way to hide your feelings is to simply treat them normally. In theory this is simple, but in practice it can be challenging. If it is difficult for you to keep things “as usual,” then limit your contact with that coworker as much as reasonably possible. For example, avoid going out for lunch with them unless a large group also goes. If you do go with a group, do your best to socialize with the other people in the group besides the one you're interested in. Think about how you would act around any one of your coworkers, and mimic that behavior with your crush. Don’t flirt with them. This can be difficult, especially if they tend to initiate the flirting. However, reciprocating this behavior (or initiating) it will be one of the most obvious signals that you are interested in them. If you do flirt, you won't be able to hide your love for them for long. Would you flirt with a coworker you're not interested in? Probably not. For example, don't laugh at every funny comment they say. You don't have to be rude, but a small smile at a joke, and a change of subject will show them you're not interested. Avoid touching them. Obviously, you should avoid touching your coworker in an inappropriate way, but you should also avoid all physical contact (with the exception of a professional handshake, when necessary). Don't put your hand on their arm if they say something teasing, don't come up behind them and put your hands on their shoulders, and don't hug them. Besides being obvious signals of your interest, it is also considered unprofessional in many working environments. Don’t show favoritism. If you, your love interest, and other colleagues are debating an issue, don't side with your love interest all the time. If it is an important business decision, and the coworker you're in love with truly does have the best idea, then by all means point out why their point of view makes the most sense. However, with smaller, more mundane decisions, try to avoid siding with them if you can. When considering different perspectives, try to separate the idea from the person offering the idea. This will help you treat everyone fairly and normally. If you are in a position of power, don't give all the best tasks to your love interest. Other subordinates will quickly pick up on this, and your secret won't be safe. Try to continue to be as fair as possible. Take a day or two off from work. If you feel that you are having trouble keeping it professional, consider taking one or two days off work (either by calling in sick or using vacation days). Sometimes, a little space can really help clear the air and help you refocus on what's important. During this time away from work, try to remind yourself why you want to keep your love to yourself. Maybe it is your dream job, and you don't want to jeopardize it, or maybe you're already in a committed relationship. Whatever the reason, try to convince yourself that this is not a person worth complicating your life for. Ideally, when you return to work, you will feel refocused on the job and not the coworker. Consider asking to work on something different. In some cases, you may work very directly with the person you are in love with. Hopefully, taking steps to act professionally will help you hide your feelings, but if you feel that you cannot comfortably continue to work with this person, think about asking your boss to work on something different. For example, maybe you can work on a different project, or in another area of the office. Don't tell your boss the real reason you want to move. Instead, give them a plausible excuse. For example, you could say that while you enjoy the work you're doing, you're hoping for a big challenge, so you wanted to ask if you could work on an idea you have to improve business strategy. Avoid chatting about things that are non-work related. If you aren't able to distance yourself from the coworker (e.g. if it's your boss or if you have daily meetings with them, or work very closely together) do your best to keep chatting related to work things, or at least keep it as superficial as possible. The more you chat about personal things, the more you will feel connected to them. If they ask you what you did over the weekend, you can respond with something like, “Oh, nothing special. Just took care of a few things.” Don't then respond by asking them what they did. Keeping your answer short and not reciprocating will discourage further personal chatting. If you need to chat in order to avoid an awkward silence, bring up generic things like the weather, or a big work deadline that is coming up. Disregard any innuendos from your coworker. Of course, awkwardness will ensue if the coworker with whom you're in love with starts making advances. If you notice that the other person is flirting with you, disengage from the relationship or try to cut or reduce contact. In today's technologically driven corporate workplace, you can conduct a good amount of business via email or the company's intranet if possible. Don’t go out after work with your coworkers. In some companies, it's quite common to go out after work for a beer or for dinner. If the coworker you are interested is going, don't go. Make up an excuse about how you're having dinner with a friend or that you have to run some errands before heading home. Staying away from non-work related events where they will be present will help you avoid fantasizing about what your relationship would be like outside the office. If you must attend some event where your coworker will be present, distance yourself from them as much as possible without drawing attention. If there is alcohol present, do not drink any! If you drink alcohol, you will feel less inhibited, which may result in letting your thoughts slip. Try to avoid face-to-face communication. This may not be possible in every type of job, but if you are able to do so without being suspicious, choose email or other methods of communicating that your company might offer. This will give you time to process your feelings until you can behave normally around your coworker. If he or she works in another department, minimize your contact. If you're lucky enough to love from afar, it shouldn't interfere directly with your job. Minimize contact when in the break room or after work. Don't go out of your way to avoid your coworker, but graciously maintain a safe distance. If you're obviously trying to avoid this coworker, you could end up calling more attention to yourself, and people may wonder why you're going out of your way to avoid the person. Give yourself a zero tolerance policy. Even if your company doesn't have a policy against office dating, if you have decided not to pursue your feelings for your coworker, it can be helpful to make it a rule for yourself. Not only will this help you stay true to your desire to keep your feelings to yourself, it will also help you in the future, should you experience romantic feelings for a different coworker. If a coworker approaches you to let you know they have feelings for you, you can easily and gently let them down by simply explaining that you don't date coworkers because it is a rule you have set for yourself. Consider your coworker to be completely off limits. Resign yourself to the fact that this relationship simply isn't going to happen. The sooner you believe it, the easier it will be to cloak how you really feel. Consider whether you're really in love or just infatuated. Try to figure out if it's true love you're feeling or if you're simply infatuated. While both instances produce strong feelings, you may be able to “get over” infatuation a little quicker than true love. Intense feelings of attraction can often be brought on by the pressures or excitement of the workplace and seeing your coworker perform well in these situations. If you transfer being impressed into more intimate feelings, you'll need to sort out whether this is something more enduring or just fleeting but continued feelings of awe. How well do you know this person? In some cases you may be loving another from afar, whereas in other instances your love might have grown steadily over time, because you work closely together and have had the opportunity to discuss personal values and shared interests. Do you really know this person? Have you fallen in love with his or her true inner qualities or are you infatuated with their work persona? Are you captivated by their seeming allure in the workplace? Power or leadership are alluring in a workplace context and can lead to infatuation. Consider the implications of an office romance. Dating a coworker can be very messy. Unless one of you leaves the company, there are many risks involved. Other coworkers might think that you are abusing power (if you date a subordinate) or seeking favoritism (if you date the boss). Furthermore, coworkers might view you as untrustworthy if you are dating the boss because they worry that you might report everything they do and say. In many companies, office romances are strictly forbidden. Breaking this rule could be grounds for termination. Remember that romantic feelings in the workplace are not unusual. The nature of a working together commonly inspires romantic feelings. You spend most of the day with your coworkers, you solve problems and face challenges together. It's no surprise that you might find yourself experiencing romantic feelings at work. It is important to remember this because when you have feelings for someone, especially at first, those feelings can be very intense. At times, you may find it hard to stick to hiding your feelings, but remembering that many people experience feelings for their coworker at one point or another can help you realize that it is a consequence of the conditions, not true love. List all the reasons to avoid an office romance. Perhaps seeing the reasons on paper or thinking it through carefully will help to quell your love or affection for your coworker, and help you work toward getting that person out of your head. There are many reasons for not getting involved with someone at work. If an office romance is forbidden, think about all the time and energy it would take to hide your relationship from others. If you go out to places with workplace friends or invite them over, you'll have to juggle a very complicated schedule of keeping them separate. While it is possible, it's tiring and eventually the amusement and excitement will wear thin until you're just bursting to tell. Ponder your co-worker's negative qualities. So they are highly attractive, but this person most likely has some negative qualities too. If you focus on something negative, it might lessen your attraction or interest. Perhaps it's his or her annoying laugh, insistence on always being right or workaholic tendencies. Whatever it is, let it loom large in your thoughts as a reason for not getting intimately involved. Could you get all your work done or stay focused on projects if you're pining away for another who works down the hall from you? For some people, it can be difficult to hide romance. Think about the fact that having an in-office lover could derail your career. Since you work together, and spend all day together, you won't have much else to talk about. All there is to talk about is the same work you do together all day long and if you have similar annoyances, you risk darkening each other's opinions about others in the workplace in unhelpful ways. Think about what would happen if you were to break up. For most, working with an ex makes work life more challenging, and there is a risk of wanting to sabotage one another's efforts. If you can keep it professional despite a breakup, then it is manageable but can you be sure of your ability to keep all emotions out of it post intimate relationship? Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms. Sometimes, when we are experiencing feelings that we don't know how to cope with, it can be tempting to give into a habit that we find comforting. For some people, this is binging on unhealthy foods such as chips or ice cream. For others, drinking alcohol, smoking, or doing drugs are ways to avoid dealing with these feelings. Whatever your unhealthy coping mechanism, try to identify it, and when you feel the urge to engage in that activity, turn to a different, more healthy way of dealing with your emotions. If you are experiencing strong emotions related to hiding your feelings, try talking to a trusted friend (preferably one who isn't also a coworker) or family member about what you are feeling. If you'd prefer not to, you can also write what you are feeling in a journal. Either way, it's important that those feelings have an outlet. Take up a hobby. Maybe you already have a hobby you enjoy. If so, renew your interest in said hobby. If you don't have a hobby that you enjoy, think about something you've always wanted to try, and go try it. Not only will this distract you from your romantic feelings, it will also make you feel empowered, helping you to deal with the situation. For example, if you've always been interested in rock climbing, but never actually tried, then look for a climbing gym in your area. Sign up for a beginner's course. Not only will you get fit and find a new hobby, you will also meet new people. Stay socially active. For many of us, most of our day is spent working. Depending on your organizational culture, many of your friends might also be your coworkers. While this is fine if you're not struggling to hide romantic feelings for your coworker, having friends that are not coworkers will give you a safe place to go when you're not at work. Non-work friends will give you a place to vent about your feelings (if you want to), and will also broaden your perspective. You will realize that there is life and other people outside of work, helping you get over unwanted romantic feelings. Nurture your relationships. It's not impossible that you are already in a committed relationship. If so, take time to reflect on this relationship, and the reasons that you're in it. If you're not in a romantic relationship, focus on improving other relationships you have (e.g. with friends or with family). When we feel attracted to someone, it's not uncommon to neglect relationships we already have, so try to refocus your energy on the people you care about, and that care about you. If you want to date someone, then consider people outside the workplace that you are interested in. If there isn't anyone, then consider online dating. If that's not your thing, try attending social events. You can also meet new people through hobbies, sports, churches, and volunteer activities. | Treat the coworker as you would any other coworker. Don’t flirt with them. Avoid touching them. Don’t show favoritism. Take a day or two off from work. Consider asking to work on something different. Avoid chatting about things that are non-work related. Don’t go out after work with your coworkers. Try to avoid face-to-face communication. Give yourself a zero tolerance policy. Consider whether you're really in love or just infatuated. Consider the implications of an office romance. Remember that romantic feelings in the workplace are not unusual. List all the reasons to avoid an office romance. Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms. Take up a hobby. Stay socially active. Nurture your relationships. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Homemade-Shampoo | How to Make Homemade Shampoo | If you want to make homemade shampoo, mix castile soap, oil, glycerine, and essential oils like cedarwood oil, lavender, or rosemary. If you want your hair to have more body and shine, reduce 1 cup of beer down to 1/4 cup on the stove and add it to your shampoo as well. Pour all of the ingredients into a bottle and shake it well before each use. | Understand your scalp’s pH balance. Your skin and scalp have a natural pH level between 4.5 and 5.5, and your shampoo and conditioner should have a pH level that matches your body. Many homemade shampoo recipes call for products that are too alkaline (like baking soda) or too acidic (like vinegar) without balancing them out, meaning they won't have the right pH level for your scalp. Signs that your hair care products don't have the right pH level include: Eczema and psoriasis on the scalp Mold or fungal infections Dry or itchy scalp Dandruff or flaking Hair loss or breakage Use moisturizing oils and ingredients. Along with traditional moisturizers like aloe, coconut oil, and olive oil, there are also many essential oils you can add to your shampoo to make it more moisturizing and nourishing. Especially if you have dry hair, try oils such as: Cedar wood and clary sage, which are also good for thin hair Chamomile Lavender and ylang-ylang Rosemary and thyme Find ingredients to treat other scalp issues. There are many hair-related problems that people suffer from, including brittle or dull hair, oily hair, hair loss, dry scalp, and dandruff. Luckily, there are also many essential oils available that are great for healthy hair, treating problems, and improving the look and feel of your hair. To treat a dry scalp or dandruff, use lemon, lavender, tea tree, and rosemary in your shampoo. To strengthen your hair or help reduce hair loss, try clary sage, lavender, wild orange, rosemary, and peppermint. For added luster and shine, try sweet basil, chamomile, and lavender. To treat oily hair, add some bergamot, cedar wood, lemon, pine, or ylang-ylang to your shampoo. Learn proper hair care techniques. While personal hygiene routines are quite personal, there are definitely some right and wrong ways of washing, drying, combing, and styling your hair that can lead to damaged and unhealthy hair. Always work shampoo into a lather in your hands before applying it to your scalp. Massage your scalp with the shampoo to ensure you clean it properly and remove dirt and debris. Always use a wide-toothed comb to brush your hair, or if you want to use a brush, make sure it has plastic bristles that are tipped with protective balls. Gather your ingredients and container. Old shampoo bottles or mason jars are great for homemade soaps, but be sure to rinse them out first. Grab your castile soap, oil, glycerine, and essential oils. The glycerine will help give the shampoo a little more body and make it less runny. Add beer for more body and shine. Beer can actually help give your hair more bounce and luster, and you can still find this as an ingredient in many artisan shampoos today. Take one cup (237 ml) of beer and heat it in a pot on the stove. Reduce it to one-quarter cup (59 ml) and allow to cool. Mix your ingredients. Pour all the ingredients into your bottle. Shake well and it's ready to use! Always shake your shampoo before use. Determine if you need soap-free shampoo. Some medical conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, are exacerbated by soaps and shampoos. In such cases, soap-free shampoo, which is also called no-poo, can act as a suitable alternative for washing hair. Many people believe that shampoo causes our scalps to produce more oil, and that no-poo will reverse this process. However, the amount of oil your scalp produces is genetic, and has nothing to do with your shampoo. Gather your ingredients and bottle. Aloe is important in this recipe as a moisturizer, but it also has a pH between 4.5 and 5.5, making it perfectly matched to your skin and scalp. The essential oils in this recipe can be substituted for others, depending on your needs or personal preferences. Mix the ingredients. Pour all the ingredients into an old shampoo bottle or mason jar and mix well. Always shake before using. Grab your tools. Along with your shampoo ingredients and bottle, you will also need a medium bowl and a whisk. Mix your ingredients. Pour all the ingredients, including any essential oils you're using, into your bowl. Whisk them together until the mixture is smooth. Transfer to your bottle or mason jar. Massage into hair. Shake your shampoo before each use. Massage a small amount into your scalp and let rest for two to three minutes. Rinse with clean water. | Understand your scalp’s pH balance. Use moisturizing oils and ingredients. Find ingredients to treat other scalp issues. Learn proper hair care techniques. Gather your ingredients and container. Add beer for more body and shine. Mix your ingredients. Determine if you need soap-free shampoo. Gather your ingredients and bottle. Mix the ingredients. Grab your tools. Mix your ingredients. Massage into hair. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Work-With-a-Team | How to Work With a Team | To work well with a team, you should follow through on your commitments, do your share of the work, and communicate clearly with your team members. Since your actions reflect on everyone else, make sure to keep up with deadlines and let your team know if you're not able to finish something. You should also take on the same amount of work as everyone else to show that you want to be an equal contributor. Along with sharing the work, don't forget to share the credit so you don't come off as a credit hog. While you should take credit for something you did, try to acknowledge your teammates if they helped you in any way. Most importantly, have a positive outlook when you're around your team members, since no one enjoys working with a negative person. | Show you’re reliable by doing everything you say you will. Your actions will reflect on everyone in your group, so do your best to always follow through. Complete your portion of the workload, and speak up as soon as you notice any issues that may arise. Always keep your promises to the group. If you do need to back out of a promise, take responsibility for it by telling your supervisor, client, or teacher that you had to withdraw from the project. After you notify your supervisor, client, or teacher, tell your team that you've had to back out. Don't put your group in an awkward situation. Make sure you do an equal share of the work. No one likes a teammate who barely contributes to the project. Take on an equal part of the work, and speak up if you realize you aren't doing your fair share. Not only will your group mates appreciate your work ethic, it will show your supervisor or instructor that you're a good team player. Keep in mind that some tasks may be harder than others. Make sure you and your teammates create a balanced workload that's fair to everyone. If you feel like you are doing too much work, tell your team. You might say, “I noticed that our team assignments are a little bit imbalanced. I have extra work assigned to me that I'm hoping we can spread around.” If they still don't take on their fair share, talk to them one-on-one about their perspective on the project. Try to address their reasons for holding back. Then, compare your current roles and invite them to take a more active role in the project. If nothing helps, you may be able to talk to your supervisor or instructor, but doing so can be risky. Make sure you've tried to solve the issue as a team first. Be direct and honest when you communicate with others. Always say what you mean, but use a professional tone. Similarly, don't waste people's time by padding the truth or being indirect about how you really feel. This includes what you say and what you write in reports, memos, emails, or text messages. On a similar note, don't gossip about or to your teammates. Share credit with your teammates. No one likes a credit hog, so don't steal the spotlight. Treat the team's accomplishments as a group success. Additionally, acknowledge the individual contributions made by your teammates. For instance, you might give your teammate credit for having a great idea that helped your team finish your project in half the time. Even if you're the team leader, it's important that you not hog the credit. A team success belongs to everyone. If someone really didn't help the team, talk to them about team expectations and how they can contribute moving forward. You or your teammates may need to help manage their workload. If someone else tries to hog the credit, you have a few choices on how to handle the situation. In the moment, you could say, "Thanks for bringing that up, Sharon. We all worked hard these past few weeks to create this plan." If you can't speak up in the moment, confront your colleague calmly to discuss what happened. Ask them to explain why they indicated that they deserved all the credit. If this doesn't help, you may need to involve your supervisor, so make sure you keep records that show who did what as part of the team. Adopt a positive attitude when it comes to your work. People are more likely to enjoy working with you if you have a good attitude. You can improve your attitude by approaching problems as an opportunity, expecting a positive outcome, and adopting habits that improve your workday. One way to always find the positive outcome is to consider your work never complete until something good comes out of it. Good habits to help your workday go more smoothly might include enjoying a mug of your favorite tea every afternoon, organizing your desk to reduce your stress levels, and enjoying a brief, energizing walk at lunch time. Take initiative when working on your collaborations to the team. Although you're working on a team, you'll likely complete some of the work alone. Don't expect your teammates to take responsibility for keeping you on track. Be a self-starter by staying on top of your assignments, creating deadlines for yourself, and meeting project expectations. This also shows your supervisor and teammates that you're able to work independently of the team. Speak up when you have ideas or expertise about a topic. This shows leadership skills, while also making you a valuable part of the team. Sharing your thoughts shows that you have more to offer and are thinking outside the box. Even if your ideas aren't right for the project, they might lead to future innovations on a different project. When you have team meetings, always contribute something to the discussion. If you have trouble thinking on the spot, brainstorm before the meeting so you have some ideas about what you have to say. Volunteer to take on extra work, when necessary. This is another way to show that you're not only a good team member but also an independent worker. Step up to lead a project, knock out a backlog of unfinished tasks, or complete a side project for your supervisor. Then, complete the extra work as quickly as possible. You'll show your independence by setting priorities between each of your work tasks, creating new deadlines for yourself, and following through on your promises. When you take on these extra projects, you'll quickly gain a reputation for being a self-starter and an asset to the organization. Make sure that you don't take on too much work. You'll need to balance your new projects with your current work assignments. Know your schedule so you don't accidentally put too much on your plate. Pick team members who have skills that complement yours, if you can. If you have a choice on who you'll work with, look for people who are different from you. Although it's tempting to pick similar people so your work will go smoothly, it's better to have diverse ideas and skill sets on your team, as you'll be able to be more creative. If everyone has the exact same perspective and skill set, it will be harder to divide the work because everyone will want to do the same things. For instance, let's say you're working on a project to design a brochure. If everyone on your team enjoys graphic design, you'll all want to create the brochure, instead of tasks like conducting research on your topic. Additionally, your group won't be as innovative in your ideas because you won't be coming at the topic from different perspectives. For example, team members from different socioeconomic backgrounds might have experienced a community issue in a different way, giving them a different perspective on it. Compare skills sets with your teammates if your team is already chosen. Talk to your teammates to find out their background, strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Determine what you each bring to the table. Try to find ways you can complement each other's skills so your team can work well together. If you're the team leader, you might host a planning meeting and invite everyone to share their skills. If you're not in a leadership position, talk to people one-on-one. Look for ways that you can bring something new to the team. For example, let's say you find out your teammates are strong in skills like networking with clients, statistics, and design. Although you might also be strong in networking and design, you could offer to use your writing skills to complement the skills of your teammates. Include input from all team members so everyone is heard. A team can only thrive if everyone feels valued and heard. Not all ideas are winners, but the group must still listen to them and consider if they're a good idea for this project. Make it a priority to collaborate as much as possible. If team members start to feel as though their ideas don't matter, they'll stop being an active part of the team. This will hurt your overall output as you're losing valuable ideas and expertise. For example, you might host round table meetings to encourage participation. If you feel like people on your team aren't listening to you, talk to your team lead about it. Say, "At the past three meetings, I've tried to offer input on the project, but I keep getting interrupted. Do you think we can try a round table approach so we can also share our ideas?" Participate in goal setting as a team so you have a plan. It's important that all team members are working on the same goals, rather than each person pursuing personal aspirations. Discuss your goals as a team and adopt the goals that everyone agrees on. Moving forward, you can change or adapt your goals as needed, as long as everyone provides input. Be as active in the goal setting process as possible. If your team leadership already set goals for your group, you might not get a voice in the process. For example, your team might start out with 3 goals: “1) Design a survey to gather public input about our park project; 2) Distribute the survey to residents; and 3) Evaluate the survey results to determine how to proceed with phase 2 of our planning project.” Clarify the team expectations so everyone is on the same page. This can include explaining the expectations or asking questions if you find them unclear. It's likely that each teammate has a different idea about what's expected of them, as well as what everyone else needs to be doing. It's essential that the team discuss these expectations and agree on one universal list of expectations that everyone will follow. If you're not a leader on your team, you may not be setting expectations. However, it is important that you understand them, so ask questions if you're confused. Write down the expectations and make sure everyone on the team has a copy. For example, you might email the copy to everyone or post it in a communal Google Drive folder. Examples of expectations might be “everyone completes their work on time,” “check team communications daily,” “upload all work to the communal folder,” etc. Participate in brainstorming sessions to encourage collaboration. When you can, meet in person so you can have a free exchange of ideas. If this isn't possible, schedule a group phone call or digital conference through service providers like Google or Skype. Teams are most effective when they collaborate, so brainstorming sessions are a great tool for good teamwork. Make sure each teammate is taking notes during the meeting so that you can all recall your ideas later. Establish a universal means of communicating with the team. Choose one method of communication. Make sure all team members have access to the means of communication so everyone is on the same page. Otherwise, your group may not work effectively, as some group members may be unaware of what's happening. For example, all group members might participate on a group text message or email. If you have no control over how communication is handled, that's okay! Follow along with the guidelines set up by your group leader. Focus on the success of the group, not your personal success. When you're on a team, everyone's success depends on each member working toward a common goal. If you're thinking about your own glory, you'll be undermining the team. Keep your focus on your team's success, and your own success will follow. It's helpful to remember that a team failure will reflect badly on you. Don't let your personal aspirations get in the way of your team's success. Let's say your personal goal is to make it onto the management team. Rather than trying to impress your supervisor with your managerial skills, work with your teammates to accomplish your shared goals. Do your best to support the team, which shows you're an asset to the company. Then, you can volunteer for side projects that will help show your full range of skills. Discuss the issue in person with your teammates. Talking things out in person will allow a free-flow of information and prevent misunderstandings, which might occur if you bring up the issue in an email. State the issue you're having, then listen to what everyone has to say. If you're concerned about having a record of the conversation, you can record it using your phone or a voice recorder. If you aren't the group leader, you may prefer to talk to your group leader before talking to the group as a whole. This may be helpful if you'd rather the leader bring up the issue. Direct your concern toward the problem, not your teammates. Don't accuse or blame anyone on your team for causing the conflict, even if you believe they did. Instead, keep all of your comments and arguments focused on the issue and how your team can solve it. If you feel attacked by the other person, don't respond with your own attack. Say something like, “I'm sorry you feel that way, but blaming each other won't help us solve the conflict. I'd like to stay focused on solutions.” This way, you show that you're a professional and care more about the project than your ego. You may not have much control about how the conflict is handled. However, you can control what you say and how you react. Keep your words and actions professional. Give everyone a chance to share their opinion if you're a leader. Even if you think you're right, it's still important to hear everyone out. Otherwise, your conflict will continue even after you've solved this issue, as you'll create resentments on the team. For instance, you might host a round-table to allow everyone a chance to speak. Don't respond to each other until everyone has shared their opinion. Listen to each side of the conflict. Focus on what the other person is saying, not what you will say in response. You may even take notes about what they say. Once they're finished speaking, repeat what they said back to them to make sure you really understand what they're saying. In most cases, conflict on a team happens because people have different perspectives and backgrounds. This is actually a good thing! Understanding everyone's opinion and why they feel that way will help you create a better solution to the problem, which eventually helps your team produce better work. You might paraphrase their words by saying, “It sounds like you think your part of the workload is too heavy and that the rest of us need to do more.” Use conflict to generate new ideas whenever possible. When group members start to disagree, look for opportunities to get creative or go in a different direction. Let conflict be a trigger for brainstorming sessions, with the goal of choosing the best ideas. Make a habit of saving unused ideas or information for use in the future. Assume that there's no one way to do something, even if you feel like your ideas are the best. Keep notes about what comes out during your brainstorming sessions so you can refer back to those ideas later. This will help your team resolve conflicts more easily because people know that their ideas are being valued and may be used in the future. Create a compromise so that everyone feels included. You likely won't win when there's a conflict in your group, and that's okay. Whenever possible, teammates should give and take so that everyone gets to direct the group's efforts. Be open to a compromise that works best for everyone. If you can't compromise due to constraints, offer the team members who aren't getting what they want something else they want. This way they'll still feel included on the decision. For instance, let's say 2 team members aren't happy with their job assignments, but it's too close to the deadline to switch roles. Your compromise might be phrased like this, "Although we can't change the roles for this project, Maria and James are going to take the design lead on the upcoming project." | Show you’re reliable by doing everything you say you will. Make sure you do an equal share of the work. Be direct and honest when you communicate with others. Share credit with your teammates. Adopt a positive attitude when it comes to your work. Take initiative when working on your collaborations to the team. Speak up when you have ideas or expertise about a topic. Volunteer to take on extra work, when necessary. Pick team members who have skills that complement yours, if you can. Compare skills sets with your teammates if your team is already chosen. Include input from all team members so everyone is heard. Participate in goal setting as a team so you have a plan. Clarify the team expectations so everyone is on the same page. Participate in brainstorming sessions to encourage collaboration. Establish a universal means of communicating with the team. Focus on the success of the group, not your personal success. Discuss the issue in person with your teammates. Direct your concern toward the problem, not your teammates. Give everyone a chance to share their opinion if you're a leader. Listen to each side of the conflict. Use conflict to generate new ideas whenever possible. Create a compromise so that everyone feels included. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Less-Emotional-in-a-Relationship | How to Be Less Emotional in a Relationship | To work on being less emotional in a relationship, try to have productive communication with your partner. One way you can do this is to discuss your emotions with your partner using “I” statements. For example, instead of telling them, “You make me so angry when you ignore me,” try saying, “I feel upset and hurt when I feel like you aren't listening to me.” This can help you control your emotions while also shifting the blame away from your partner. When you're talking with them, listen to what they have to say without getting defensive or angry. Focus on what they're actually trying to tell you and try to see the situation from their point of view so you can discuss the problem calmly. | Identify your emotions carefully and specifically. Before you can work through negative emotions, you need to identify them. Imagine you're writing a report on your emotions and you need to be as detailed as possible. You shouldn't only think about type of emotion, but the intensity of that emotion, too. “Upset” is a pretty vague way to describe your emotional state. Dig deeper to find a more specific identifier, like “deeply disappointed.” Rather than saying you feel “good,” you could describe yourself as feeling “ecstatic” or “relaxed.” Remember that you are not your emotions. An emotion is a temporary condition, much like a weather system passing through. Instead of saying “I am angry,” say “I feel angry right now.” Observe your emotions without judging yourself. If you're feeling angry at your partner, let yourself feel angry. Don't try to suppress your emotions, or beat yourself up for feeling a certain way. You're only human! Instead, let yourself sit with the thoughts and sensations that come with the emotion. Allow yourself to explore the emotions and experience them fully, rather than trying to suppress them. Notice the strange physical sensations that accompany the emotion, like the tightening of your chest or the rapid beating of your heart. You might think, “Ok, I'm feeling angry at John because he forgot to call when he arrived at the hotel. It's ok to feel angry--it doesn't mean I'm being a crazy girlfriend.” Figure out why you’re feeling upset. Once you've identified and observed your emotions, it's time for a little detective work. Take care not to project feelings arising from your own issues onto your partner. Ask yourself a few questions to determine where the feelings are coming from. For example, what exactly triggered your reaction? Are you mad because you feel disrespected by your partner, or does your anger have more to do with a rough day at work? If you're feeling jealous, ask yourself if your jealousy is the result of past hurts. Think about your relationships with family, friends, and exes. Do any wounds from these relationships explain your current feelings of jealousy? Avoid dwelling on your negative emotions. Worrying about the details of past fights or “what ifs” can drive you a little crazy. Instead, put past conflicts behind you and focus on the present. Say to yourself, “Ok, that conversation didn't go as well as I planned, and I'm feeling anxious about it. However, there's nothing I can do now to change what happened. I'll try to manage arguments better in the future.” See a doctor if you have a hard time regulating your emotions. If you struggle with your mood or experience extreme emotional lows or highs, there may be an underlying physical reason. For example, thyroid disorders can cause mood disturbances such as anxiety, depression, or mood swings. Talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing, and work together to come up with a solution that works for you. Discuss your emotions with your partner using “I” statements. Communicate your emotions to your partner in a calm, non-accusatory way using “I” statements. These handy statements help you take ownership of your emotions while shifting the blame away from your partner. Instead of saying, “You're driving me crazy with your yelling,” you should say, “I feel upset when you raise your voice at me.” Instead of, “You're wrong!” try, “I don't agree with you.” Focus on your own feelings and perspective on the situation, rather than attacking or blaming your partner. Listen to your partner without getting defensive. Getting angry and defensive is a natural reaction, but try to listen to what your partner is actually trying to tell you. Do your best to see the situation from your partner's perspective. If your partner accuses you of not caring about them, don't yell back that they're being irrational. Hear them out. Maybe you haven't been the best partner lately because you've been so busy with school. That doesn't mean you're a bad person, but it might be time to make some changes. If you realize that you are in the wrong, take responsibility and admit it. Try to learn from the experience going forward. Keep your voice down. Raising your voice can cause an argument to spin out of control. Keep your voice steady and calm. Chances are, you'll have a more successful conversation. Avoid aggressive body language. If you're wondering why your partner seems so reactive, take a look at your body language. Are you crossing your arms, tapping your feet, or clenching your fists? These actions can make you look hostile, which can cause your partner to react in a hostile way in turn. Instead, keep your arms and shoulders relaxed, hold your head up, and make eye contact. You may feel more relaxed already! Practice speaking slowly. If you find yourself getting wound up and agitated, try slowing down your speech. Speaking more slowly will help you feel less anxious, give you time to think about what you are saying, and help your partner understand you better. If you have trouble slowing down, practice by writing down what you want to say and reading it out loud. Break up your speech into short phrases, and pause to take a deep breath after each phrase. Take deep breaths when you feel yourself getting worked up. This is one of the easiest ways to get your emotions in check. Deep breathing reduces stress-inducing hormones, making you feel more relaxed during a tense argument. Leave an argument before you lose your cool. You know the feeling: your face gets hot, your stomach tightens, your hands start to prickle. Before you have an emotional blow up, leave the conversation and come back when you're calmer. Here's a good rule of thumb: try to leave before your anger level gets past a four on a scale from one to ten. Say something like, “I'm sorry, but I think I need to calm down before we can finish this discussion.” Focus on the issue at hand. If you're arguing about keeping the house clean, don't bring up the fact that your partner bailed on your date the other night, however tempting it may be. You and your partner will only get more worked up, and then neither issue will get solved. Think of something funny or relaxing after the argument to calm yourself. Imagine yourself lounging in your favorite park with a tasty picnic, or recall a hilarious night with your besties. It'll make it easier to let go of leftover anger. Stay away from situations or behaviors that trigger destructive emotions. If stalking your partner's ex on Instagram always sends you into a jealous fit, stop doing it. Maybe you've taken on too many responsibilities, and it has put you in an irritable mood. Try to delegate some of these responsibilities so that you're not so short-tempered with your partner. Of course, you won't be able to avoid every triggering situation, but steer clear of the ones you can. Focus on the good, not the bad. When you feel negative emotions creeping in, try to look at the situation from a new perspective. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your relationship, focus on the positive ones. Rather than zooming in on the person's negative qualities, pay attention to their strengths. Imagine your partner is late coming home from work again. Instead of accusing them of being a workaholic, try to appreciate how hardworking they are. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Negative thought cycles can take on a life of their own. One negative thought creates another negative thought, and before you know it, you can't think straight! Combat negative thoughts with more realistic, neutral ones. Once you've gotten the hang of thinking more neutrally and objectively about yourself, you will find it easier to focus on the positive. If you find yourself thinking, “My partner doesn't care about me,” remind yourself of all the kind things they've done for you. Remember the time they dropped everything to comfort you when you were sick, or surprised you with a lavish feast on your birthday? Address a negative thought like, “I'm not good enough for my partner” by remembering all the people in your life who think you're fantastic. Don’t jump to conclusions. It's easy for the mind to go to worst-case scenarios, but most of the time, these are pretty far fetched. Identify catastrophic thoughts and use your logic to nip them in the bud. If your partner isn't answering their phone, don't automatically assume they're having an affair. Instead, think, “Janet always forgets her phone charger. Her phone probably died, and that's why she isn't answering.” Watch out for faulty thinking. It's easy to fall into patterns of unrealistic, counterproductive thinking. Look for these patterns in your own thinking, and try to catch them when they happen. Common thinking errors include: All-or-nothing thinking, or the tendency to see situations in black and white without noticing shades of grey (e.g., “I am a failure,” or “My partner is a bad person.”). Overgeneralizing, in which you generalize one specific event to all aspects of your life. For example, if one relationship fell apart, you might find yourself thinking, “I am not able to have healthy relationships.” Filtering out the positive aspects of a situation and focusing only on the negative ones. Assuming that you know what is going on in someone else's mind. For example, “Bernadette finished grad school, but I didn't. She must think I'm an idiot.” Catastrophizing, or thinking that a situation is far worse than it actually is. E.g., if you break up with somebody, you might find yourself thinking, “I will never find love again.” Reasoning based on emotions rather than objective facts. For example, you might tell yourself, “I feel like I can't do anything right, so I guess that must be true.” Labeling yourself and others, rather than focusing on actions and intentions. E.g., thinking, “She's a jerk!” instead of, “She wasn't very considerate of my feelings just then.” Fortune-telling, or predicting the outcome of a situation based on feelings rather than rational thought. E.g., “Why should we even try to work through this? We're just going to break up anyway.” Write down your strengths. Jealousy and other negative emotions can take over when you're feeling bad about yourself. Make a list of all your positive qualities and strengths, and review it regularly to give yourself a boost. You may be surprised by how many awesome qualities you have! Everyone has strengths. Ask a good friend or family member to help you if you feel stuck. Assess if your relationship is healthy. You may be feeling emotional because your partner is dishonest, manipulative, or abusive. Is your relationship is built on respect and trust? If not, you may need to seek therapy or find a way out of the relationship. | Identify your emotions carefully and specifically. Observe your emotions without judging yourself. Figure out why you’re feeling upset. Avoid dwelling on your negative emotions. See a doctor if you have a hard time regulating your emotions. Discuss your emotions with your partner using “I” statements. Listen to your partner without getting defensive. Keep your voice down. Avoid aggressive body language. Practice speaking slowly. Take deep breaths when you feel yourself getting worked up. Leave an argument before you lose your cool. Focus on the issue at hand. Think of something funny or relaxing after the argument to calm yourself. Stay away from situations or behaviors that trigger destructive emotions. Focus on the good, not the bad. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Don’t jump to conclusions. Watch out for faulty thinking. Write down your strengths. Assess if your relationship is healthy. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Clinical-Depression | How to Deal With Clinical Depression | If you're struggling with clinical depression, use coping strategies such as meditation and exercise to elevate your mood. Additionally, try grounding exercises, like naming all the states or running cold water over your hands, to break your focus from depressive thoughts. If you have severe depression, speak to a psychiatrist about whether antidepressants can help. | Keep yourself safe if you have thoughts of harming yourself. If you are currently having thoughts of harming yourself in some way or of killing yourself, you need to get support immediately. If you ever feel suicidal or have an intent to harm yourself and don't trust your impulse control, get outside support right now. Call your local emergency number, such as 911. Call a suicide hotline such as The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (U.S.A) at 1-800-273-TALK(8255), or use an online chat help line. Go to the nearest emergency room with an explanation of how you feel. Tell them that you are feeling suicidal. Talk to a therapist. If you choose to enlist the help of a therapist, be sure to select one that is qualified to work with depressed people, and with whom you feel compatible. The right therapist can't solve all your problems instantly, but she can help you learn to help yourself, refer you to a psychiatrist if needed (for medication), and provide support through tough times. Contact your medical insurance company for a list of approved clinicians in your area. Make sure to inquire about what types of services your plan covers. If you do not have medical insurance, conduct an online search for sliding scale, low-cost, or free mental health clinics in your area. Or contact your local social services or government organization to inquire about financial assistance or programs that help low-income families. If you find a therapist that suits you, keep going as long as it works for you. Find out if you can call between visits if something unexpected happens. Find or ask for referrals to therapy groups. For example, Coping with Depression (CWD) therapy is an effective treatment for reducing existing depression. Consider getting medication. Medications such as antidepressant SSRIs can be helpful in treating severe depression. Find out if your therapist thinks medication would help you. Ask for the names of psychiatrists that the therapist knows have been helpful to people with a similar history. Even if you are taking prescription drugs already, do not think that pills will be an easy fix. There are many other methods to fight depression that are worth trying. Accept that all psychiatrists are not created equal. Ask your psychiatrist about what sort of treatments he often suggests to people in your situation. Be inquisitive about which medications he uses, whether he will prescribe more than one medication, and how he decides on dosage adjustments. If he doesn't seem like a good fit, it's okay to find someone else. If you decide to use medication as a way to help your depression, different medicines will affect you differently. Some may worsen depression for a period or of time or increase suicidal thoughts before they start helping. If this happens, contact your doctor or therapist. Never stop a medication cold turkey. This may produce negative reactions (shaking, hot and cold flashes, etc.) and can worsen depression. Only modify your prescription or taper off of a medicine under the care of a psychiatrist. Seek support from family. Social support is one of the most helpful resources when dealing with depression. Support can assist you in feeling that you are valued, loved, and that there are individuals who are willing to help and care for you. Depression is a hereditary mental health issue. Look around your biological family. Are there other depressed people? Watch them and see what they do that seems to work. If some individuals in your family are more supportive than others, seek help from those individuals first. If you don't feel comfortable seeking support from any close family member (parent, sibling), look outside your nuclear family for support from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. If you still find a lack of support, venture outside of your family to close friends. If your therapist is the only person you can currently count on for support, that's okay. Your therapist may be able to connect you with group therapy, which can provide social support if you don't have friends or family you can count on. Share your feelings with others. Emotional support is a common coping resource for dealing with depression. This is because it helps to release your emotions in the company of others instead of bottling them up, which can lead to an outburst or a breakdown. Talk to your friends. If you feel even worse than usual, having a friend to listen and support you, even by just being there, can save your life. Sometimes it is hard to get started when you are depressed and there is no shame in having a friend get the ball rolling. Crying with a friend or family member can be emotionally cathartic. If you are ready to be cheered up, ask your friends to do something fun with you. Cultivate healthy relationships. Studies have found that the quality of your relationships with partners, families, and friends is a significant risk factor in major depression. People in unhealthy relationships or lacking support have more than double the risk of depression than those with healthy relationships. Identifying and eliminating unhealthy relationships may help with your depression. Healthy relationships are respectful, trusting, collaborative, and accepting. They involve physical affection, open communication and fairness. Unhealthy relationships are typically intimidating, humiliating, threatening, dominating, judging, and blaming. They are also associated with abuse (verbal, physical, sexual) and possessiveness. Take an inventory of your current friendships and relationships. Are there individuals who bring you down or criticize you? Perhaps these individuals do more harm than good. Consider if you need to create distance in unhealthy relationships, or build new ones. Educate yourself. A good place to start in any quest to fix a problem is through research and education. Knowledge is power, and knowing what is affecting your depression is half the battle. Informational support can help depressed individuals cope with difficult situations. Psychoeducation is the specific term for becoming educated about your particular disorder. You can ask your therapist for psychoeducation about your disorder and work it into your treatment plan. Get books, research articles , watch documentaries, and conduct internet searches to learn more about your specific condition. Set goals. Goal-setting is an integral component of any therapy to reduce symptoms of depression. In order to achieve a reduction in depression, you must have a plan. Ask yourself what you want to achieve in terms of dealing with your clinical depression. How do you want to deal your depression? Do you want it to be less severe? Do you want to learn new coping strategies? Be specific and set time-limited (one week, one month, six months) and attainable goals. For example, completely eradicating your depression in one month may be an unrealistic goal. However, reducing your depression on a scale of one to ten (ten being most depressed, and one not at all depressed) from nine to seven may be more attainable. Make a plan to reduce your depression. Use the coping strategies listed here as guidelines for creating specific goals. For example, one goal could be to conduct research about your mood disorder at least once per week. Evaluate whether your plan is working. Change the plan if you need to in order to include new strategies that you haven't yet tried. Increase pleasurable activities that work for you. How one chooses to cope with depression will rely on specific stressors, culture, personal resources, and unique social situation. Some examples of good activities are: reading, watching movies, writing (in a journal or writing short stories), painting, sculpting, playing with an animal, cooking, playing music, sewing, and knitting. Schedule these pleasurable activities into your daily routine. Spiritual and religious practices, if you are so inclined, have been shown to reduce depression, especially in the elderly. Work to solve the problem. Sometimes there are specific life events and stressful situations that contribute or increase depression. Using problem-solving as a coping resource during these times can help reduce depression. Focus on what you can control about the situation (your own reactions or thoughts about it) rather than worrying about things you can't control (such as what other people do). Sometimes interpersonal conflict can increase depression. Use conflict resolution if you have issues with other people. For example, discuss your feelings in an open but non-aggressive way. Use assertiveness by using “I statements,” such as, “I feel sad when you forget to call me back.” Avoid constantly seeking new information in order to put off action; this can be common in individuals who suffer from depression. Work on accepting that, for things to change, you must eventually take action. Informing yourself about all your options is helpful when making a decision, but at a certain point you must move forward and make that decision, whether it's about ending a destructive friendship or trying a new form of therapy. Focus only on what you can control. Re-focus on planning and problem solving things that are changeable, instead of thinking too much about what others are doing wrong or what is happening in your environment (traffic, loud neighbors, etc.). Exercise. More physical activity is strongly associated with reduced levels of depression. Exercise can even help depression in spite of medical problems and negative life events. Do any exercise you can, including: walking, running, biking, using an elliptical, hiking, or weight-lifting. Try fun exercises you may not have tried yet, such as: Zumba, dance aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and kayaking. Use mindfulness or meditation. Mindfulness-based meditation may help increase well-being and reduce depression. Mindfulness is all about being in the current moment, the here and now. It is focusing on what you are currently engaged in instead of ruminating over the past or worrying about what might happen tomorrow. Mindfulness exercises are great ways for beginners to practice being mindful. Try a mindfulness exercise such as eating a piece of fruit (apple, banana, strawberry, anything you like) mindfully. First, look at the fruit. What colors and shapes do you notice? Then, touch the fruit. What does it feel like? It is soft, smooth, or bumpy? Appreciate how it feels and notice everything you can about the texture. Then smell the fruit and enjoy its aroma. Next, take a small bite of the fruit. What does it taste like? Is it tart or sweet? What is the texture like in your mouth? Eat it slowly while thinking and focusing on the experience of eating the fruit. Notice any other thoughts you might have that try to distract you, and without judging the thoughts, let them go. Another example of a mindfulness exercise is going on a mindfulness walk. Simply take a walk in your neighborhood (as long as it's safe) or a local park. Just like the fruit exercise, notice what you see, smell, hear, taste, and feel on your skin and body. Ground yourself. Grounding exercises, or distraction techniques, are useful if you need to temporarily distract yourself from emotional pain. Grounding enables you to take a break from feeling depressed and ruminating and focus on something else. Try a mental grounding technique of naming all of the states, colors, or animals you can think of (from A to Z). Engage in a physical grounding exercise such as running cold water over your hands, taking a bubble bath, or petting an animal. There are many other grounding exercises you can research online. Avoid negative ways of coping. Negative ways of coping are linked to increases in depression. Coping negatively can include isolating yourself socially (avoiding social contact), using aggression (such as yelling, violence, or harming others), or consuming alcohol or other substances to excess. Avoid drugs and alcohol as means to cope with depressed mood or other depressive symptoms. Substance use problems are common in people who suffer from depression. Restructure automatic thoughts. The way we perceive or think about ourselves, others, and the world creates our unique reality. The thoughts we have are directly linked to our feelings. If we think negatively we become more likely to be depressed. Cognitive restructuring is about changing these negative and unconstructive thoughts that increase depression and replacing them with more realistic ideas. If you change these thoughts consciously you may be able to reduce your overall depression. Combat black-and-white thinking. This means you either think something is all bad or all good. Try to make room for the middle ground. If you think something or someone is all bad, name at least a few things that are positive and focus on these aspects. Reduce self-blame. Blaming the self may look like thoughts such as, “It's all my fault. Nobody loves me because I am a terrible person.” These thoughts are incorrect because nothing can be all your fault, there are always other factors in any given situation. At the same time, do not place all of the blame on others. Accept the responsibility you have and try to realistically appraise the situation. Avoid catastrophizing. This means thinking that the worst thing will happen and trying to predict the future. Work toward thinking of alternative ways that the situation might turn out. For example, if you are sure you will not get the job you interviewed for, consider that the interviewers liked you and you still have a chance. Try to guess how likely it is that the worst possible thing will happen. if you think logically about it, there is probably a low percentage chance that the world will end. Another option is to think about the worst possible scenario and decide that you will still be okay in the midst of such and occurrence. Thus, if the worst thing is that you won't pass that big test, the reality is, you will most likely survive it and persevere. You will not die from not passing the test. You will move on and learn how to do better the next time. Then perhaps the situation won't seem so bad after all. Reduce perfectionistic thinking. Perfectionism, or thinking that everything needs to be just the way you want it, can lead to depression. This is because if you have unrealistically high expectations of yourself, others, or your environment, you set yourself up to be disappointed. Chronic disappointment can most definitely lead to depressed mood and other depressive symptoms (difficulty sleeping, weight loss or gain, etc.). Set realistic goals and expectations of yourself. If you expect to lose ten lbs. in three days, you are setting yourself up for failure. This would be very difficult and not healthy for your body. However, if you set a more reasonable goal of losing eight lbs. in a month, this is a more achievable option and can reduce your perfectionist thinking. Try to expand your viewpoint to include your positive accomplishments, and not just what you didn't do or think you could have done better. Instead of looking for flaws in your actions, include all the things you did right or did well. Give yourself a break. Think, "I don't always have to do my very best at every moment. Sometimes I will be sick or tired. It's okay to take some time off for myself to recuperate." Set time limits for working on particular projects and stick to them. If you plan on spending one to two hours completing a small school assignment, then give yourself that amount of time and then stop. This way, you can't continually analyze and re-read your work over and over again, as many perfectionists do. Just make sure you give yourself an adequate amount of time for your limit (not only one hour for an entire essay, for example). Believe in yourself. Be confident in your ability to cope with negative situations and feelings. Your positive thoughts about your ability to cope with depression can actually decrease your depression overall. If you have negative thoughts such as, “I can't handle this. It's too much. I can't cope,” consciously change your thoughts to something more positive and realistic such as, “This is tough and I am depressed, but I have gotten through it before and I can do it again. I know that I will survive this feeling.” Accept sadness and depressed moods. Depressed individuals may be less likely to think that situations require their acceptance. However, many situations can be dealt with more easily by simply accepting them. For example, when you feel a negative emotion (such as depressed mood or sadness), accepting this emotion as normal and okay can help you cope with it healthfully. Sometimes not accepting negative emotions creates a block in your ability to process the emotion so that it naturally subsides. By not allowing yourself to process the emotion, you may experience longer periods of sadness or a depressed mood. Try working on acceptance by saying or thinking to yourself, “I accept that I am depressed. It hurts, but my feeling is giving me valuable information that something needs to change. I'm going to find out what needs to happen for me to feel better.” | Keep yourself safe if you have thoughts of harming yourself. Talk to a therapist. Consider getting medication. Seek support from family. Share your feelings with others. Cultivate healthy relationships. Educate yourself. Set goals. Increase pleasurable activities that work for you. Work to solve the problem. Exercise. Use mindfulness or meditation. Ground yourself. Avoid negative ways of coping. Restructure automatic thoughts. Combat black-and-white thinking. Reduce self-blame. Avoid catastrophizing. Reduce perfectionistic thinking. Believe in yourself. Accept sadness and depressed moods. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Quiet-a-Cough-Naturally | How to Quiet a Cough Naturally | If you're struggling to shake off a nasty cough, make sure you drink water regularly throughout the day as this will help soothe your throat and thin mucus. Before you go to bed, try taking a hot shower since that will help open your airways. In bed, put an extra pillow under your head so you're raised up slightly. You could also take a natural remedy like a spoonful of honey or a cup of peppermint tea before going to sleep. | Suck on ice chips, hard candy, or lozenges to comfort an irritated throat. Keep a glass of ice chips by your side and suck on a few whenever you need some relief. Popping a lozenge, hard candy, or cough drop can also soothe your throat and quiet a persistent cough when you're out and about. Lozenges made with real honey may provide additional soothing properties, but most expensive medicine-flavored cough drops aren't any better at providing relief than inexpensive lozenges or hard candies. You can buy lozenges and cough drops at grocery stores and pharmacies. Never give lozenges to children under the age of 4 to prevent choking. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and reduce irritation. Simply drinking some water can help reduce a nagging cough, especially in dry surroundings, because it is soothing as it travels down your throat. Liquids also prevent the lining of your nostrils and throat from drying out and keeps mucus moist so that it's easier for you to get rid of. Water is the best choice, but unsweetened fruit juices, decaffeinated herbal teas, and sports drinks are fine in moderation. Avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee, black tea, and soft drinks, as well as alcoholic beverages. Drink soothing warm beverages like hot tea to quiet a cough. Stick with decaffeinated teas and caffeine-free herbal teas. Simply brew up your favorite kind and enjoy a mug of it as often as you'd like throughout the day. If you aren't usually a tea drinker, you might try out herbal varieties like peppermint, ginger, or chamomile. Drinking warm soup broths can also provide comfort. Caffeine is dehydrating and may ultimately worsen your cough. Stirring in a small amount of honey or fresh lemon juice may provide additional soothing properties. They also taste delicious in a warm mug of tea! Avoid cigarettes and other throat irritants to reduce coughing. Exposure to smoke, dust, fumes, and other pollutants can irritate your throat and lungs. Avoid smoking cigarettes, second-hand smoke, and spending time in areas where you're likely to breathe pollutants. Chemical cleaning products can irritate your throat and worsen a cough. Elevate your head while you sleep to prevent postnasal drip. Place 1-2 extra pillows under your head so it stays propped up during the night. This upright position prevents mucus from trickling down your throat, which is often the culprit if coughing tends to wake you up during the night. Take a hot shower to moisten your airways. The steam from a hot shower can lubricate your throat and reduce a cough. Jump into a hot shower and breathe in the steam for about 20 minutes. Be sure to take slow, deep breaths. If you don't want to get in the water, just close the bathroom door and breathe in the steam that fills the room. Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air. Fill your machine with distilled water and position it at least 3–4 ft (0.91–1.22 m) from your bed. You can run the machine several times per day or during the night while you're sleeping, but avoid constant use. Don't forget to drain and clean your humidifier or vaporizer every day so bacteria doesn't grow inside of it. Running a humidifier or vaporizer 24/7 encourages mold and mildew growth. Avoid using tap water in your humidifier. The machine will turn minerals in tap water into a white dust and release into the air. Breathing in this dust can cause coughing and breathing problems. Gargle with warm salt water to relieve a sore throat. Stir 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (1 to 2 grams) of table salt into 4 to 8 ounces (118 to 236 ml) of warm water. Tilt your head back and gargle with the solution for about 1 minute. Then, spit the salt water out into your sink. Avoid swallowing salt water. It can make you sick to your stomach. Salt water gargles are safe for anyone over the age of 6. Flush your sinuses and reduce mucus with saline nasal drops. Stand over a sink and angle your head downward. Place the tip of the bottle in 1 nostril and spray. Rotate your head back and allow the solution to drip back out of your nose naturally. Repeat the process for your other nostril. Getting rid of mucus prevents it from going down your throat, which will force you to cough it up. Blow your nose gently to remove any leftover saline solution when you're done. You can buy saline nasal drops over-the-counter at most pharmacies and grocery stores. Irrigate your sinuses with a Neti pot to prevent postnasal drip. Fill a Neti pot with distilled water and stir saline powder into it until it dissolves. Tilt your head to the side and put the spout of the Neti pot in your upper nostril. Breathe through your mouth and slowly pour the solution into the nostril. The liquid should come out of your lower nostril in 3-4 seconds. Repeat the process in your other nostril. Blow your nose gently when you're done to clear any leftover solution. Clean your Neti pot thoroughly between uses to prevent germs and bacteria from entering your nasal passages the next time you use it. If you must use tap water, be sure to boil it first to kill bacteria and organisms. Let the water cool before using it. See your doctor if your cough doesn’t go away in 3 to 4 weeks. A chronic cough can be caused by many common issues, like allergies, asthma, GERD, or some other underlying illness, so it's best to have your doctor evaluate you and formally diagnose the problem. A chest X-ray or lung function test may be recommended. You may have a bacterial infection, which can be treated with prescription antibiotics. Visit your doctor immediately if you develop more severe symptoms. Wheezing, fever, and coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm usually indicate an infection in the chest or lungs. It's best to see your doctor as soon as possible so you won't prolong your recovery. Antibiotics or some other treatment may be prescribed. Call your doctor if you have the following severe symptoms: Fever higher than 100 °F (38 °C) Coughing up green or yellow phlegm Wheezing Shortness of breath Get emergency care if you’re having trouble breathing or swallowing. If you're struggling to breathe, it's time to go to the ER. Let the ER doctor know how long you've had the cough, as well as any other symptoms you're experiencing. You should seek emergency medical care for the following symptoms: Choking or vomiting Difficulty breathing or swallowing Bloody or pink-tinged phlegm Chest pain See your doctor immediately if you’re having coughing fits or gasping. These symptoms may mean you have a more serious condition, like whooping cough. Ask your doctor for a same-day appointment or go to an urgent care center to make sure you're okay. They can find out what's causing your cough and offer you the right treatment. Whooping cough is highly contagious and requires medical treatment, so don't hesitate to see your doctor if you experience these symptoms. | Suck on ice chips, hard candy, or lozenges to comfort an irritated throat. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and reduce irritation. Drink soothing warm beverages like hot tea to quiet a cough. Avoid cigarettes and other throat irritants to reduce coughing. Elevate your head while you sleep to prevent postnasal drip. Take a hot shower to moisten your airways. Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air. Gargle with warm salt water to relieve a sore throat. Flush your sinuses and reduce mucus with saline nasal drops. Irrigate your sinuses with a Neti pot to prevent postnasal drip. See your doctor if your cough doesn’t go away in 3 to 4 weeks. Visit your doctor immediately if you develop more severe symptoms. Get emergency care if you’re having trouble breathing or swallowing. See your doctor immediately if you’re having coughing fits or gasping. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-Liver-Disease-in-Older-Dogs | How to Diagnose Liver Disease in Older Dogs | To recognize liver disease in an older dog, start by looking for changes in your dog's appearance. For example, you might notice yellowing of the gums and eyes, weight loss, and bloating of the belly. Additionally, watch for behavioral symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, or confusion. Your dog's appetite and eating habits may change as well. For instance, keep an eye out for a decrease in appetite or an increase of thirst. You should also note differences in bathroom habits, like increased urination, diarrhea, or blood in your dog's urine or feces. | Look for changes to the dog’s physical appearance. Changes in your dog's physical appearance can give you a lot of information about chronic conditions like liver disease. However, identifying changes in an older dog's physical appearance is challenging as you may confuse them with natural changes due to old age. Look for decreased weight. See if the dog has yellowing of gums, tongue, and eyes. Observe to see if the dog has a bloated belly. Any noticeable change in your dog's appearance over the course of several months could be indicative of liver disease or another serious illness. Evidence of changes in a dog's physical appearance should be assessed with other symptoms to help come to a proper diagnosis. If you suspect your dog may be ill, keep a daily journal in which you record observations of the dog's appearance and behavior. Identify symptoms that impact the dog’s behavior. Identifying behavior changes is problematic, as changes in a dog's behavior can also be dismissed as the natural outcome of old age. As a result, you should focus on several symptoms that, when combined with other signs, may indicate liver disease in older dogs. Weakness is a common symptom of liver disease in old dogs. This symptom is complicated as older dogs also lose strength and have less energy than they once did. Lethargy may be an indication of liver disease. Confusion, while possibly indicating other problems, is a relatively common symptom of liver disease. Observe changes in the dog’s eating or bathroom habits. Changes in the way your dog eats or goes to the bathroom may be signs of liver disease. But like other symptoms, these signs are often dismissed as signs of old age. Look for: Loss of appetite. Increased thirst. Frequent urination. Blood in urine or fecal matter. Diarrhea. Meet with your vet. The first thing you need to do after observing symptoms that could indicate liver disease in older dogs is to make an appointment with your vet. Your vet will take into account the symptoms you observed, examine your dog, and run basic diagnostic tests. The doctor will conduct a thorough examination of the dog, looking at their coat, abdomen, gums, and more. The vet will run basic blood work. They may also conduct a urinalysis and run a fecal test. Talk to a specialist. After talking with your vet, they may refer you to a specialist. Veterinary specialists often have more education and experience with uncommon conditions like liver disease. Thus, they may be your best bet if you are concerned about your dog's health. Some vets may have substantial experience treating certain liver conditions and may not refer you to a specialist. Most metropolitan areas have veterinary specialists that are trained and experienced with treating liver disease in older dogs. Your vet might also refer you to the veterinary school of a local college or university. Very often, these institutions will have specialists who are active in the field any may be participating in studies focused on liver disease or on issues associated with older dogs. Have advanced tests run. After seeing your vet or specialist, they may recommend running advanced diagnostic tests. These tests will focus on gathering more information about your pet's condition and will ultimately help the vet or specialist arrive at a diagnosis for your dog. Some tests they may recommend include: X-rays, ultrasounds, or an MRI. Advanced blood tests that measure liver enzyme levels, blood proteins, or ammonia levels. Biopsy of the liver. Inform yourself about conditions that impact older dogs. Central in diagnosing liver disease is being able to differentiate its symptoms from common symptoms and conditions that impact older dogs. By learning about the canine aging process, you'll be better prepared to understand and deal with liver disease. Older dogs lose energy and are less vibrant than they once were. Many older dogs will become frail and lose muscle mass. Some older dogs may become incontinent and/or lose appetite. These changes usually occur in aging dogs over many years, not over a period of months. Take your dog to the vet twice a year. Regular visits are important as they establish benchmarks for your pet's health. As a result, any changes in your dog's appearance or behavior will be much more evident than if they do not have regular checkups. Your vet will run a special blood panel for older dogs. Bloodwork may be able to catch liver disease in its early stages. Older dogs should visit the vet at least twice a year. By visiting the vet twice a year, you may be able to catch liver disease in its early stages, potentially increasing the life of your dog. Know about different types of liver disease. There are an array of liver diseases that can impact older dogs. Common types of liver disease include: Liver cancer or tumorous growths on the liver. Cirrhosis. Canine Hepatitis. Chronic liver disease caused by the consumption of toxic food or plants. | Look for changes to the dog’s physical appearance. Identify symptoms that impact the dog’s behavior. Observe changes in the dog’s eating or bathroom habits. Meet with your vet. Talk to a specialist. Have advanced tests run. Inform yourself about conditions that impact older dogs. Take your dog to the vet twice a year. Know about different types of liver disease. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Deep-Fryer | How to Clean a Deep Fryer | To clean a deep fryer, start by unplugging it and letting it cool. Then, drain the oil into a sealable container and dispose of it or save it for later. Once you've drained the oil, wash the frying basket in a sink with warm, soapy water. You should also fill up the fryer with hot water, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then scrub it with a sponge. If there's any caked-on oil or residue, scrub it off with baking soda and water. When you're finished, let the fryer dry completely. | Clean your deep fryer as needed. If you use your deep fryer frequently, changing the oil and cleaning it every few days will help prevent a buildup of grime that can be much harder to remove. If you only use your deep fryer every couple weeks or less frequently, clean it after each use. Do not put your fryer in the sink or dishwasher. Immersion in water may cause an electrical short and damage the fryer. Unplug the deep fryer and let cool completely. Never clean your deep fryer while it is still plugged in. Let the oil cool completely to avoid burns. Never add water to a container of hot oil, or the mixture could explode. Drain the oil. If you plan to use the oil again, drain it into a food safe container with a sealed lid and store it in a cool place. Otherwise, find out how you can use cooking oil for other purposes or simply throw it away in a sealed container. Do not pour oil down your sink. It can clog your drain. Take the frying basket out and put it in the sink. Put two or three drops of dish washing detergent on the basket for later cleaning. Wipe off remaining oil from the pot and lid. Use damp, but not dripping, paper towels or a sponge to wipe away oil residue and bits of food from inside the deep fryer pot.If the oil has caked on, scrape it off with a pan scraper or spatula, taking care not to damage the finish. Some lids are removable for easy cleaning. Dispose of the oil as before. Stiff plastic utensils will scrape off the oil without scratching your fryer. Wipe the deep fryer's heating element clean if necessary. Most deep fryers have a heating element composed of a pair metal rods. If these are covered in oily residue, wipe them down with paper towels. Be careful not to bend or damage any parts while wiping, especially if there are thin wires. Some models have removable heating elements for easy cleaning, or elements that are attached to a hinge that can be pulled up nearer the fryer's surface. Check your model's manual to see if yours has this feature. Use a soft sponge to scrub with dish soap. Use about four drops on the base of the fryer and four drops spread evenly around the sides. Start at the bottom and scrub in circles to create a lather. Continue to scrub with a circular motion up the sides. Fill the fryer with hot water. Transfer it from your faucet/tap with a pitcher/jug/kettle or other container, rather than exposing your fryer's electrical components to a wet sink. Use as much water as you normally would oil and no more. Let the hot water sit for 30 minutes. Whilst you wait you can move on to the next step and clean the other pieces. If your tap water isn't that hot, you may heat some in a kettle or bring the water to a boil in the fryer by plugging it back in - be sure not to leave it unattended and do not allow it to boil dry. Unplug your fryer and wait 30 minutes for the water to cool. Boil for several minutes if there is a large amount of caked on residue. Run warm water over the frying basket and clean it by wiping back and forth. Use a scrubbing-brush (a tooth-brush works well) to remove food particles. Once clean, rinse the basket to remove the remaining soap, blot off remaining water with a paper towel and leave it to dry on a dish rack or towel. Clean or replace dirty filters on the fryer lid. Check your manufacturer's instructions to see if your filters are removable, and whether you can clean them. Foam grease-filters can be washed in hot soapy water and left to dry. Charcoal odor-filters are not washable and need to be replaced once they become grimy and clogged. If any filters are not removable, you cannot immerse the lid in water. Instead, wipe with a damp cloth with a little detergent, then a plain damp cloth to remove the detergent and oil. Return to the cooking pot and give it a final wash. Once the water has been sitting in the fryer pot for 30 minutes, pour half of it into the sink. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe the sides and bottom with the remaining water, then pour that down the sink as well. If the water contains a large amount of oil, you may need to put it in a container and throw it in the trash instead of pouring it down the sink. Use baking soda if caked-on oil remains. If some caked on residue or sticky layer of oil still hasn't been removed, try mixing a little bit of baking soda with warm water to create a thick paste. Put on to a sponge and use this to scrub off stubborn area with a circular motion until it is removed. Only use other abrasive or chemical substances to clean your fryer as an absolute last resort. If you do need to use an oven cleaner or other cleaning product, scrub with soapy water afterward and rinse several times to remove all traces of the chemical before using it to cook. Rinse the cooking pot. Add clean water without soap and swirl with your hand to pick up all soap particles from the sides and base. Pour out the water and repeat the process until the fryer is free of soap. If there is a stubborn grease film (run your bare hand over the surfaces to feel for any remaining greasy/sticky patches) rinse again with diluted vinegar. Add 1 part vinegar for every 10 parts water, or 1/2 cup for every quart of water (110 mL vinegar for each liter of water). Let dry completely (blotting with paper towel will speed up drying) before using again. Use a towel to dry the outside of the deep fryer, but let the inside air dry. Wait long enough for the fryer to dry completely. This gives any water that accidentally entered the electrical system a chance to drain before you plug the fryer back in. Clean regularly. Follow the instructions for Cleaning a Deep Fryer to give your commercial fryer a basic cleaning. The frequency of this cleaning will depending on how frequently the fryer is used, and for what purpose, but the more often you do it, the easier it will be to remove the grease residue and caked on food. Since commercial fryers tend to be large and deep, you should use a long-handled brush with soft bristles to scrub the pot, instead of a sponge. Filter and replace the oil frequently, especially if used to fry foods like fish and meat (sausages etc). For heavy restaurant use, oil often needs to be filtered once or twice a day. While you can filter the oil for reuse by putting it through a coffee filter or cheesecloth, a restaurant operation would probably benefit from a specialized machine that filters quickly at higher temperatures. Whenever the oil grows darker in color, smokes at lower temperatures, or gives off a strong smell, it needs to be replaced completely. Your oil will last longer at temperatures of 375ºF (191ºC) or below, and if you do not add salt directly to the oil. Brush the heating coils clean whenever the oil is drained. Before the new or filtered oil is added back to the fryer, use a long-handled fryer scrubbing brush to remove bits of food from the coils. This keeps the heating element effective and limits burned food particles in your oil. Keep the exterior clean. While cleaning the rim and outside surface of your fryer will not help the fryer function longer, it will stop it collecting grime and limit spillovers that make floors and work surfaces slippery. Try to wipe it clean at the end of each day, and apply a degreasing product to the exterior whenever a grease film has built up. Let the degreasing product sit for ten minutes, then rinse off with a damp cloth. Dry with a different, clean cloth. Perform a thorough "boil out" clean every 3–6 months. To thoroughly clean your commercial fryer, you should fill it with warm water and heat to a simmer or slow boil. Add a specialized "boil out" product according to manufacturer's instructions and maintain the simmer for 20 minutes. Wearing rubber gloves and taking care to avoid burns from splashes, use a long-handled soft-bristled brush to dislodge stuck food. Drain the fryer, then scrub and rinse as you would after a normal clean. During the followup rinse, add 1 part vinegar for every 10 parts water to neutralize and remove the cleaning product. Follow the owner's manual to conduct an annual inspection. The manufacturer of your fryer model should provide instructions for performing an annual inspection to make sure all the parts are fitted together tightly and functioning properly. If problems arise and the manual does not provide instructions for a solution, you may need to call an electrician or repairman. | Clean your deep fryer as needed. Unplug the deep fryer and let cool completely. Drain the oil. Take the frying basket out and put it in the sink. Wipe off remaining oil from the pot and lid. Wipe the deep fryer's heating element clean if necessary. Use a soft sponge to scrub with dish soap. Fill the fryer with hot water. Run warm water over the frying basket and clean it by wiping back and forth. Clean or replace dirty filters on the fryer lid. Return to the cooking pot and give it a final wash. Use baking soda if caked-on oil remains. Rinse the cooking pot. Let dry completely (blotting with paper towel will speed up drying) before using again. Clean regularly. Filter and replace the oil frequently, especially if used to fry foods like fish and meat (sausages etc). Brush the heating coils clean whenever the oil is drained. Keep the exterior clean. Perform a thorough "boil out" clean every 3–6 months. Follow the owner's manual to conduct an annual inspection. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hang-a-Bike-on-the-Wall | How to Hang a Bike on the Wall | To hang a bike on the wall, start by buying a wall-mount bike rack either online or at a hardware store. Next, hold the bike rack flat against the wall where you'd like it to hang and mark the location of the screw holes with a pencil. Then, use a drill to make holes into the pencil marks and insert wall plugs or anchors into the holes. Once you've inserted the anchors, line the rack up over the holes and screw it into places with a screw driver. | Get a wall-mount bike rack online or at your local hardware store. Choose a vertical or horizontal wall mount depending on how you want your bike to be stored. A vertical bike rack is a good option if you're trying to conserve wall space. Choose a horizontal bike rack if you want your bike to hang flat against the wall. You can even build one if you want. Measure the bike with a tape measurer. Measure the length of the bike if you're using a vertical bike rack, or the height of the bike if you're using a horizontal bike rack. Hold the bike rack on the wall where you want the bike to hang. Don't put the rack up too high or the bike might touch the ceiling when it's hung up. Once you have the rack in position, mark where all of the screw holes on the rack line up with the wall. Most bike racks have two screw holes. If you're using a horizontal rack, make sure the distance between the floor and the bike rack is greater than the height of the bike. If you're using a vertical rack, make sure the distance between the floor and the bike rack is greater than the length of the bike. Use a drill to drill into the wall at the points you marked. Make sure the holes you drill are deep enough that the whole length of the screws will fit in them. Use a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the screws that came with the bike rack. For example, if the bike rack came with 6mm screws, use a 5mm drill bit. Push a wall plug into each hole you drilled. The wall plugs will give the screws you're going to use to mount the bike rack something to grip onto. Use wall plugs that are the same size as the screws that came with the bike rack. You can find wall plugs at your local hardware store. Line the rack up over the holes and screw it into place. Use a screwdriver to screw the screws that came with the bike rack into the wall plugs. Continue turning the screwdriver until the screws won't turn anymore. Hang the bike on the bike rack. If you're using a vertical bike rack, hang the bike by the front tire. If you're using a horizontal bike rack, place the top tube of your bike frame on the rack. Get a bike hook that can hold the weight of the bike. The packaging on the hook should say the maximum load capacity. Don't use a hook that's not meant to hold the weight of the bike or it could pull out of the wall. You can find bike hooks at your local hardware store. Use a bathroom scale to figure out the weight of the bike if you're unsure. Weigh just yourself on the scale, and then weigh yourself on the scale while holding the bike. Subtract your weight from the weight of you plus the bike - the number you're left with is how much your bike weighs. Use a stud finder to locate a stud in the wall. You can get a stud finder at your local hardware store. Place the stud finder on the wall and slowly move it across the wall until it indicates that a stud has been found. Usually stud finders light up or make a beeping sound when they're over a stud. Read the instructions that came with your stud finder for specific directions on using it. Use a tape measure to measure the length of the bike. Measure from the furthest tip of the front tire to the furthest tip of the back tire. Mark with a pencil where you want the bike hook to screw into the wall. Make sure it's somewhere along the stud you found. Because the bike will be hung vertically, make sure the distance between the floor and the bike hook is greater than the length of the bike. Use a ⅜ inch (.95 cm) drill bit to drill a hole where you made the mark. Make sure the hole is deep enough that the entire screw end of the bike hook can fit into it. Screw the bike hook into the hole you drilled until it’s secure. Insert the screw end of the bike hook into the hole and continue turning the hook clockwise until it won't turn anymore. You want the hook itself to be parallel with the floor. Hang the bike on the bike hook. Place the front tire of the bike on the hook so that the tires are touching the wall and the seat of the bike is facing outward, away from the wall. | Get a wall-mount bike rack online or at your local hardware store. Measure the bike with a tape measurer. Hold the bike rack on the wall where you want the bike to hang. Use a drill to drill into the wall at the points you marked. Push a wall plug into each hole you drilled. Line the rack up over the holes and screw it into place. Hang the bike on the bike rack. Get a bike hook that can hold the weight of the bike. Use a stud finder to locate a stud in the wall. Use a tape measure to measure the length of the bike. Mark with a pencil where you want the bike hook to screw into the wall. Use a ⅜ inch (.95 cm) drill bit to drill a hole where you made the mark. Screw the bike hook into the hole you drilled until it’s secure. Hang the bike on the bike hook. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cancel-a-Money-Order | How to Cancel a Money Order | If your money order hasn't been cashed by the recipient yet, you should be able to easily cancel it. Try checking its status by calling customer service or visiting the website of the company who issued your money order and using the tracking number on your receipt. If your money order hasn't yet been cashed, you can cancel it in person, at a branch, or over the phone. The process will be easier if you have your receipt, but don't worry if you don't. You can still cancel your money order without it. Keep in mind that you will have to pay a small fee before your money order is cancelled. | Call customer service to see if your money order has been cashed. Most money orders come with a tracking number that allows you to check when it gets cashed. Call the customer service number for the company that issued the money order to find out its location and status. You will be asked to provide the tracking number, either directly to a customer service agent or through an automated system. If your money order has already been cashed, you will not be able to cancel it or get a refund. If there is no tracking number provided, the serial number from the money order is another way to trace it. Track the money order online. Depending on the issuer of the money order, you may also be able to track the money order on the company's website by entering the tracking number. The website should indicate if or when the money order was signed for. For security reasons, not all money order providers offer this option. Contact the payee for an update. If possible, go the direct route and contact the person you sent the money order to for an update on its status. If the money order has not been marked as received or cashed, there may be a simple explanation for the delay. If the payee has misplaced or damaged the money order and can't cash it, let them know that you will cancel it and have a new one sent. Contacting the payee directly is the best way to find out if they might be out of town or otherwise unable to cash in the money order. Find your receipt. Track down the original receipt from your purchase of the money order to present to the issuer when you cancel it. This receipt is your most reliable proof of payment and contains important information about your money order, including the tracking number and the date that you bought it. While rules vary between the different institutions that issue money orders, some will refuse to provide a refund if you can't produce the receipt. The cancellation process if often faster if you provide a receipt than if you don't. Visit the institution that sold you the money order. To cancel a money order, it is best to show up in person to the institution where you purchased it. Bring the original receipt and at least one valid form of identification, such as your driver's licence. If you can't go to the same location where you bought the money order, visit another branch of the same institution. If for some reason you can't present yourself in person to the institution, contact them by phone or email and ask for directions about how to proceed. Complete a request form. To start the cancellation process, you will have to fill out a request form provided by the issuer of the money order. You will be asked to give information such as the amount of the money order, the date it was purchased, the person it was made out to, and the tracking number assigned to it. All of this information should be located on the original receipt. You will likely be asked to submit a copy of the receipt along with the request form. Depending on the issuer, request forms may be available online. You may also be able to submit you claim via fax, mail, or email. Choose whether you want a refund or a new money order. While filling out your cancellation request form, you will usually have the option of getting a refund or a new money order. If you no longer wish to send the money order, select the refund option to get your funds back. If you still want to send your payee a money order after cancelling the current one, choose the other option. It is best to get a new money order if you are correcting a mistake on the original money order or if the original was lost or stolen. Pay a cancellation fee. You will be asked to pay a cancellation fee to the institution that issued the money order. Pay the fee as soon as possible, as most institutions require payment before they will review your request. The amount charged differs between institutions. For instance, the U.S. postal service will charge $5.95 to cancel a money order while Western Union will charge $15.00 (with a receipt) or $30.00 (without a receipt). Expect to wait up to eight weeks for a refund or new money order. Once you submit your cancellation request, prepare to wait for several weeks before receiving a refund or having a new money order issued. If you provided your receipt with the request, the whole process may take up to 30 days. If you were allowed to complete a cancellation request without your original receipt, it may take up to eight weeks in total. Contact the issuer of the money order if you suspect that it was stolen or altered. Get in touch with the institution you purchased your money order from as soon as possible to confirm whether or not it was cashed in. The issuer can provide details about when and where that happened. Note that once somebody cashes your money order, the odds of getting your money back from the issuer are slim to none. Request a copy of the signed money order. If your money order was altered and cashed by someone other than its intended payee, ask for a copy of the signed document. Any person who receives a money order must show identification and sign something (e.g. the back of the money order or a receipt for the transaction) in order to receive the payment. This evidence may prove useful in locating the person who intercepted your money order. Contact your local police department to look into the fraud. Your best chance of getting your money back after theft and fraud is to work with law enforcement. Contact your local police department and provide all the information you have about how and where the money order was cashed. The police may be able to use their resources to isolate the perpetrator, especially if this theft fits into a larger string of crimes. | Call customer service to see if your money order has been cashed. Track the money order online. Contact the payee for an update. Find your receipt. Visit the institution that sold you the money order. Complete a request form. Choose whether you want a refund or a new money order. Pay a cancellation fee. Expect to wait up to eight weeks for a refund or new money order. Contact the issuer of the money order if you suspect that it was stolen or altered. Request a copy of the signed money order. Contact your local police department to look into the fraud. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Curd-on-Hair | How to Apply Curd on Hair | Curd is great to use in your hair, as it can reduce dandruff, improve growth, and tame frizz. To create a mask that promotes growth and strengthens your hair, mix together 1 egg, 1 cup of curd and 1 cup of mayonnaise. For a hair mask that makes your hair shiny and smooth, try a honey and curd mixture. Mix together 1 cup of curd and 2 teaspoons of honey. To apply a curd hair mask, work it through your hair starting at the roots and moving towards the tips. After you've applied the mask, wear a shower cap to help retain the moisture in the mask. Leave the hair mask for 30 minutes to 1 hour to let it absorb. Then, rinse the hair mask out using cold water. | Apply curd by itself for a dose of hydration. Use 1 cup (240 mL) of curd on your hair whenever you want to deeply nourish the follicles. Be sure to stir up the curb before you put it on to avoid clumps. Curd packs your hair full of vitamins, making it soft, shiny, and hydrated. While you can technically use curd by itself, mixing it with other ingredients helps nourish your hair. Although you can use your hands to apply the curd, it's better to comb it through your hair. This will help you evenly distribute the curd, and it makes less of a mess. Be sure to wash the comb afterwards. Mix curd with egg and mayonnaise to promote hair growth. Grab a medium-sized bowl, and add 1 egg, 1 cup (240 mL) of plain curd, and 1 cup (240 mL) of mayonnaise. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon until it is a smooth paste. This combination works great to strengthen your hair, and it may make your hair grow faster. Use honey with your curd to make your hair soft and shiny. Scoop 1 cup (240 mL) of curd and pour 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of honey into a small bowl. Use a metal or wooden spoon to mix up the ingredients to create your hair mask. This is a great idea if your hair is dry and damaged and you want to revitalize the follicles. Honey is a great natural moisturizer that helps reduce dryness. However, keep in mind that honey can lighten or fade your hair color, especially if you use if frequently. Add banana to your curd to deeply condition your hair and reduce frizz. Chop up 1 ripe banana into small chunks. Then, place the chunks in your blender. Add 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of curd and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of honey into the blender, and use a medium speed setting to mix up your ingredients. Blend until this becomes a smooth paste. Then, use a mesh strainer to get rid of any large chunks. For best results, you want a completely smooth paste. Banana and honey are both great moisturizing agents, and they also eliminate frizz and dullness. Remember, honey can lighten your hair color, so use it with caution. If you have extremely dry hair, add 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of coconut oil for a deeply moisturizing option. Use black pepper, vinegar, lemon, egg, fenugreek, or Besan for dandruff. Curd in general works great as a dandruff treatment because of the vitamin B5 and proteins. However, you can mix other ingredients into your mask for a more effective anti-dandruff treatment. Use 1 added ingredient for mild dandruff, or try 2 for severe dandruff. To use black pepper, mix 1 to 2 teaspoons (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of black pepper to 1 cup (240 mL) of curd, then apply it as a hair mask. If you want to use vinegar, stir 1 to 2 teaspoons (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of vinegar into 1 cup (240 mL) of curd to create a hair mask that will leave your hair shiny. Keep in mind that the mask may have a strong smell, but you can wash away the scent with shampoo once the treatment is over. When using lemon, add 1 to 2 teaspoons (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of lemon to 1 cup (240 mL) of curd. Use caution with lemon, however, as it can lighten your hair color, especially if you use it frequently. To use egg, simply mix 1 egg into 1 cup (240 mL) of curd to create a moisturizing mask. If you want to use fenugreek seeds, soak 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) overnight, then grind them up. Mix them into 1 cup (240 mL) of curd to form a paste, which you can use as a mask. When using Besan flour, mix 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) into 1 cup (240 mL) of curd to make a paste, then smooth it onto your hair. Store your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. After you make your mask, you can use it right away. If you don't want to use it right then, scoop the mask into an airtight container, such as a glass jar or Tupperware. Then, place the mask in the fridge so the curd does not go bad. Use your hair mask within 2 days. You can do this for any of the masks above. However, blend the banana before you use it for optimum freshness. Apply your hair mask from your roots to the ends of your hair. To use curd on your hair, scoop up the mask with a spoon or your fingers, and rub it over your hair starting at the roots and working toward the ends. Cover the front, back, and sides with your mask so all of your hair is thoroughly saturated. Be careful not to oversaturate your hair. While you want all of the follicles coated in the mask, using too much can make your hair greasy. Although you can use your hands to apply the mask, it's best to use a color brush, which allows you to evenly apply it. Cover your head with a shower cap. Stretch the edge of the shower cap around your head so all of the hair is inside. This way, your hair is covered as it processes. The extra heat generated from inside the plastic shower cap also helps your hair absorb the curd. Additionally, the shower cap will prevent your mask from drying out. If it dries, it won't provide as many benefits. Let your mask sit for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. After about 30 minutes, the curd and added ingredients should deeply penetrate your hair. For maximum absorption, let your hair process for about 1 hour. As you wait, you can read a book, flip through a magazine, or watch TV, for example. If you'd like, set a timer on your phone or kitchen clock to easily keep track of how long the mask is on your hair. Rinse out the mask thoroughly in cool water. When you are ready to wash out the mask, take off your shower cap, and rinse your hair thoroughly in cool water. Use cool water for best results. Cool water works best to keep the hair follicle closed, which is helpful after you nourish your hair. You can use warm water if you prefer. Cleanse your hair with shampoo. Once the majority of the mask is out of your hair, use a dime-size or quarter-size amount of shampoo to cleanse your hair. Massage your scalp, and work the shampoo from the roots to the end of your hair. Then, rinse out the shampoo thoroughly. If you have dry hair, you can apply conditioner and rinse it out afterwards, though this is not required. Apply your curd hair mask once every 1-2 weeks for healthy, shiny hair. Use your curd hair mask at least once every 15 days. For best results, you can use the mask once or twice a week. Regularly using a curd hair mask may promote hair growth, increase hair thickness, and improve overall hair health. | Apply curd by itself for a dose of hydration. Mix curd with egg and mayonnaise to promote hair growth. Use honey with your curd to make your hair soft and shiny. Add banana to your curd to deeply condition your hair and reduce frizz. Use black pepper, vinegar, lemon, egg, fenugreek, or Besan for dandruff. Store your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Apply your hair mask from your roots to the ends of your hair. Cover your head with a shower cap. Let your mask sit for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse out the mask thoroughly in cool water. Cleanse your hair with shampoo. Apply your curd hair mask once every 1-2 weeks for healthy, shiny hair. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Ask-for-a-Reference-from-an-Employer | How to Ask for a Reference from an Employer | To ask for a reference from an employer, send them a polite email well in advance so they have time to craft the perfect letter. You can even include bulleted examples to guide your employer into writing a letter that is perfect for the job you're applying to. But be sure to state in the email that it is okay if they can't write the letter. After all, you want the letter to be written by someone who means it. | Ask someone who will sing your praises. Letters of reference should be glowing, Lukewarm references are not helpful. Think of an employer you've worked closely with who knows your style, skills and strengths. The most important thing is to ask people who will have good things to say about you. Reflect on what a potential reference would say about your background and performance before you ask. Choose an employer who knows you well. Theoretically, a letter of reference can come from any employer, past or current. However, it's often best to ask one who has known you for a long time. They'll be more likely to have specific compliments to make about your performance. Showing that you develop long-term relationships with your employers can also be a plus. Don’t limit yourself to just one reference. Prospective employers often ask for multiple references so it's a good idea to have several people in mind who can write letters for you. Three is a typical number but you may be asked for more. If you only have a few employers, then look for other people who might be able to write a letter of support, such as former teachers or community leaders who know you well. If you have several letters you can also tailor the ones you send to each job, picking and choosing the ones that are most relevant. Give your employers a heads-up. You should always ask before you put an employer's name down as a reference. If they are contacted without knowing that you are applying for a job, they might be caught off guard and give a less than great reference. This will not make a good impression. It's courteous and smart to ask ahead of time. If at all possible, let your employer(s) know when you start looking for jobs that you may ask for a letter soon. Don’t wait until the last minute to ask. Your employer will appreciate having plenty of time to write the letter. Giving them plenty of notice also means that they will have more time to polish the letter and make it very strong. This will improve your prospects! For instance, if it's Monday and you are asked to submit letters by the end of the week, don't procrastinate and ask only on Wednesday. Ask your employer right away on Monday. Make your request by an indirect method. Asking someone for a letter of reference in-person can make them feel pressured. They might find it harder to say no if they have to. Instead, write an email that asks for a letter of reference or use some other indirect method. This avoids putting your potential referee on the spot and allows them the opportunity to politely decline. Butter them up. Even if you know the employer well they'll appreciate some comments on why you are asking them for a letter. Tell them how much you value their opinion on your job performance. You could also say that no one else is as qualified to comment specifically on your skills and qualities. Try writing something like: “John, in our two years working together, you've had the chance to see the successes I've had on several marketing projects. Your years of experience and mentorship along the way have been invaluable. I think you are uniquely qualified to discuss my performance, and I'd deeply appreciate your comments.” Give them an out. Make sure to tell you prospective letter writer that it's ok if they are unable to write the letter for you. This makes it easier for them to say no if they don't have time or don't feel like they are the best person for the task. For instance, instead of asking “John, will you write me a letter of reference?” try something like “John, I would really appreciate you writing a letter of reference on my behalf if you are willing and able to.” Make sure to also include something like “I completely understand if you are unable to write a letter for me at this time.” Respond appropriately if they decline. Keep in mind that a letter of reference is a favor to you, and that employers aren't usually required to write them. If your employer responds to your request by saying they are unable to write a letter for you, thank them for their time and consideration anyway. You can also think of it this way: if someone is rushed, or not enthusiastic about you, then they won't write a good letter for you. If they say no, they're actually doing you a favor by giving you the opportunity to ask someone else who will be more supportive. Fill your employer in on the basics of the job you’re applying for. It's often helpful for letter writers to see a copy of the job posting as well as your cover letter if you have one. This helps them tailor the letter to the specific job and application. They'll probably also appreciate seeing a copy of your resume, CV, portfolio, or other evidence of your work history as a refresher. Give them tips on what to say. You can actually guide your letter writer. Provide them with bullet points, or even sentences that can give them highlights to include in the letter. This helps them to write a strong one. For instance, if you had a job interview that kept mentioning how fast-paced the job is, give your employer a bulleted list of evidence showing your productivity, like “Completed 19 sales in two weeks. Consistently submitted reports ahead of schedule.” Go over an outline of the letter. Most letters of reference have a fairly standard structure but going over this can be helpful for both you and your employer. Supply your letter writer with a rough outline or meet with them to come up with one together. The first paragraph should introduce your employer, and explain how they know you. It should also describe how long they worked with you, and verify your job title. The second paragraph can discuss your skills and qualifications that are relevant to the specific job. If your employer has lots to say, they can include several paragraphs. The closing paragraph of the letters should enthusiastically summarize their support of you, and indicate whether they're willing to follow up if the company you're applying to has further questions. Double check that your employer knows how to submit the letter. Sometimes letters are emailed, sometimes they're sent via a web form, and sometimes they're mailed. Make sure your employer knows the correct method, and has the proper address, as well as the deadline for submitting. Thank them extensively. After your letter writer is finished, it's courteous to send a thank-you email or card, or to thank them in person. Tell them how much you appreciate their taking the time to write a letter on your behalf. You can also tell them that you value their support of your career. Keep them posted on how your job search goes as well. | Ask someone who will sing your praises. Choose an employer who knows you well. Don’t limit yourself to just one reference. Give your employers a heads-up. Don’t wait until the last minute to ask. Make your request by an indirect method. Butter them up. Give them an out. Respond appropriately if they decline. Fill your employer in on the basics of the job you’re applying for. Give them tips on what to say. Go over an outline of the letter. Double check that your employer knows how to submit the letter. Thank them extensively. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Burners-on-a-Stove | How to Clean Burners on a Stove | To clean burners on a stove, start by removing them from the stove so they're easier to clean. Then, wipe them down with warm, soapy water using a rag. Next, clean them again with plain water to remove any leftover soapy residue. If there are stubborn stains on the burners, make a paste with baking soda and water and apply it to the burners with a sponge. Leave the paste on for 20 minutes before wiping it off with a damp rag. | Remove the burners. Before cleaning, remove the burners from your gas or electric stove top. Be sure that the stove is off and that the elements are completely cooled down before taking off the burner grates or coils. Place them aside on a counter top to be cleaned. Most burners come off easily, but others may require a gentle twist or squeeze to be removed. If you encounter difficulty, refer to your appliance manual for detailed instructions. Wipe down the burner coils or grates. Add a few drops of dish washing liquid to a small bowl of warm water and agitate the mixture to produce soap suds. Dip a clean cloth or rag into the liquid, wring it out, and wipe down each coil to remove stains or debris. Re-wet and wring out the cloth for each burner. With electric burner coils, avoid getting the electrical connection wet and do not submerge them in water. Rinse and dry the burners. Wet a clean cloth with plain water and wipe down the burner coils or grates once again. Be sure to remove any soapy residue that may be left behind. Lay the burners on a clean dish towel to dry. For best results, let the burners dry for several hours before putting them back on the stove. Make a baking soda paste. If any stubborn stains remain after wiping down the burner coils or grates, use a baking soda scrub to gently remove them. In a small bowl, add 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda. Slowly add drops of water and stir until the mixture reaches a thick paste consistency. Apply the paste. Using a soft cloth, sponge, or old, soft-bristled toothbrush, gently apply the baking soda paste to the stains on your burners. For best results, only apply the baking soda paste to burner coils or grates when they are removed from the stove top. Let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off and dry the burners. Using a clean, wet cloth, wipe the baking soda paste off of the burners. Wipe as thoroughly as possible to make sure that none of the mixture is left behind on the burners. Let the coils or grates dry completely before reattaching them to the stove. Bag the burners and add ammonia. Remove the burner coils or grates from your stove top and place them in separate, gallon-size Ziploc bags. Add ¼ cup (2 oz.) of plain ammonia to each Ziploc bag. Be sure to keep the ammonia away from anything containing bleach, as the combination of the two chemicals can cause toxic fumes. The ammonia does not have to cover or coat the burners. The fumes from the ammonia within the bags will slowly dissolve build up and grime on your burners. Seal and store the bags. Seal each Ziploc bag tightly. Move the bags outdoors, or to a room where the ammonia smell will not affect you, and place them on a surface that will not be damaged if the ammonia leaks (e.g. a concrete floor). Let the bags sit overnight, or for approximately 12 hours. Wipe the burners clean. Put on protective rubber gloves before touching the ammonia-soaked burners. Remove the coils or grates from the Ziploc bags. Wipe down thoroughly with a clean, wet cloth or sponge and allow them to air dry. Sprinkle baking soda over the surface. Wait until the surface of your glass stove top is entirely cool before cleaning. Sprinkle baking soda over each burner circle (or the entire surface of the stove top, if desired). Be sure to add a thick layer of baking soda to cover all of the area you wish to clean. Spray the surface with vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. Spray the surface of the stove with the vinegar. Make sure that all of the baking soda is covered with vinegar and let the ingredients sit for 15 minutes. Wipe down the surface. Using a clean, wet cloth, wipe down the entire surface of the stove. Re-wet and wring out the cloth as needed to fully remove the baking soda and vinegar. Let the surface air dry before using the stove. Remove stubborn stains. For stubborn food stains or scorch marks, use a magic eraser pad for cleaning. Wet the pad and gently wipe stains. To make cleaning easy, remove stains as soon as they occur to prevent them from caking onto the surface of the stove. | Remove the burners. Wipe down the burner coils or grates. Rinse and dry the burners. Make a baking soda paste. Apply the paste. Wipe off and dry the burners. Bag the burners and add ammonia. Seal and store the bags. Wipe the burners clean. Sprinkle baking soda over the surface. Spray the surface with vinegar. Wipe down the surface. Remove stubborn stains. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Girlfriend | How to Be a Good Girlfriend | To be a good girlfriend, be honest with your partner about your desires, needs, and opinions, so they can understand what you think and feel. If you make a mistake, apologize right away to show you care about them and want to be the best girlfriend you can be. You should also be affectionate, by giving them hugs, kisses, and complimenting them to remind them that you care. While spending quality time together is a must, it's equally important to have time apart from each other so you can maintain healthy friendships and pursue your personal hobbies and interests. | Don't be too open in the very early days. Easing into a relationship is about ensuring that there is plenty of space for the two of you to get to know one another and trust that you're right for one another. If you try too soon to "make" something more out of your relationship than it already is, premature pushiness can scare them away and spoil what is 'there' to be a good thing. Instead, be patient and realize that it takes time to nurture a solid and enduring relationship. If you want to be a good girlfriend, avoid the following things: Don't push them to classify your relationship too soon. You don't have to have the label girlfriend or boyfriend after a couple of dates; this risks causing them to feel that the decision wasn't their own. Be patient and let them make up their own mind as to when the definitions, like going steady, exclusive relationship, serious dating etc start being bandied about. If the two of you are compatible, your relationship will develop soon enough. Don't start talking about marriage or starting a family before you've even met their close friends and parents. Raising such issues prematurely can create tension from the outset and may stall or even bring to an end an otherwise productive and caring relationship. Don't feel the need to show off or impress them. You don't need to prove anything to them; you simply need to be present and engaged in listening, being attentive and sharing your interests. Be honest. While being honest to your partner is very important, to the point of being paramount, it is equally important that you are honest with yourself. If you overreact or make a mistake, you can acknowledge your error and apologize. If you're feeling vulnerable or upset, you can sort through your feelings and verbalize them to them in a non-accusing way. And the most important thing here is that you will be open about your feelings as much as possible. For example, if they do or say something that bothers you, be open about how it impacts you, without being accusing or asking them to change. If you establish solid lines of communication from the outset, you'll know sooner rather than later whether this relationship will endure or fizzle out. Speak your mind. Don't be afraid to make your desires, needs, and opinions known, even when they may conflict with your partners'. You don't and shouldn't exist solely to please them. Besides, showing that you are your own person with your own needs, desires, and approach to life will keep them interested in getting to know and understand you as a person. If you're comfortable with speaking your mind, then they'll be comfortable with speaking their mind, too. Just remember to express yourself in way that doesn't attack anyone else's opinion or lifestyle in any way––you can be humble and outspoken at the same time by using assertiveness strategies and remaining considerate of their feelings too. Be yourself. Don't create a fake you just to impress them. It might be tempting if you think they'd prefer a different type of girl but usually this is just cobbling together snippets of things said or suggested and you're likely to be wrong. After all, they want to date you , not some imagined form of perfection. And if you really feel tempted to change things about yourself because they insist that you'd be better thinner, taller, prettier, quieter, whatever, then it's a good indication that you're not compatible. If they actually say such things to you in a badgering, persistent manner, then it is not love, but an attempt to control you. Don't pretend that you share their interests if you don't. It might be amusing or "safe" to do so initially but it's extremely hurtful when they learn that you don't really love what they love; they could be basing their thoughts about your role in their future on something that isn't real and it'll end up hurting both of you. Take an interest in their interests. Remember what they like to do and what they like to talk about. You don't have to act like you love their hobbies, but at least try to understand why they're such a fan. If they love a band, try to understand why. If they just love to be playful and immature, remember that it might just be their way of releasing stress. In learning to accept their unique way of being, you'll also be learning more about yourself and ultimately whether you could see yourself spending the rest of your life with this person. You don't have to take an interest in all of their interests. If they enjoy watching baseball but you just can't get into it, that's fine, too. Just asking about their interests and talking about the things that matter to them can be enough. Learn to work as a team. As in any healthy relationship, you'll experience your share of conflicts, some tiny, some big. Remember to be true to yourself and try to abandon any significant selfishness. A relationship is a matter of teamwork and a symbiotic relationship, not a parasitic one, where a party gives and the other one just takes without giving enough back. In a team, you have each other's back, you don't undermine one another and you openly cherish each other in front of others. In times of hardship, a team approach can help you to work through problems in a less emotionally attached way, in that both of you assume responsibilities for fixing things rather than expecting one or the other to fix things. Avoid having a "one track" relationship in which the bond revolves around one thing. Keep your relationship strong by bringing variety and diversity into the relationship. Try different and new things together. Relationships are about having fun together, learning together and growing together. Compliment them more than you criticize them. If everything you say around them is a criticism or an attack, they won't look forward to seeing you and they'll start reconsidering being with you. All the same, you don't always have to agree with them just because they are your partner. Tactfulness is a better strategy in mature relationships and establishing boundaries and making compromises are important relationship strategies to learn and adopt. Though you can bring up a valid criticism when it feels right, you should say at least four positive things about them for every negative thing you say. Don't nag them just because you're in a bad mood or things aren't going perfectly. Learn to compromise. If you want to be a good girlfriend, then you have to learn to compromise instead of fighting or being angry the second you don't get your way. To compromise well, you both have to be able to calmly and rationally discuss a situation while understanding the other person's perspective. Try to understand where your significant other is coming from instead of blindly focusing on what you think you need. You don't want to be that girl who always gets her way just because your partner would rather give in than stand their ground because you get so angry and upset whenever things don't go your way. Give each other space. You should support your partner, but you should also be able to "be there" for them in spirit when you're not actually around. If you want to be a good girlfriend, then you have to make time to do your own thing, to hang out with your girlfriends, and to see your partner. They should know that you're thinking of them and rooting for them even if you're not around. If you feel insecure and doubt the strength of your relationship the second you're apart, then you have a problem. You should support your partner if they just want to have a night out with their friends instead of trying to intrude. It's important to allow your significant other to have time to spend with their friends and hang out without you. If you feel entitled to all of their time and attention, learn how to not be an obsessive girlfriend. Don't be an overly protective girlfriend; let them go out without them feeling watched. Remember that they don't need you for everything and that you are separate people as well as a couple. When they need some space, don't take it personally–recognize it for what it is–their time to rejuvenate and to share different interests with others. But do make sure they know that you're always there for them. Be affectionate. There are various ways to show your affection; some are more obvious than others and the way you approach this will depend on how openly affectionate you like to be personally. Affection is close to but not the same as intimacy––affection is about openly displaying that you care about this person and can be shown any time of day or night, publicly or privately. Think about how you like to show affection to people you care about, such as holding hands, touching an arm, quick kisses on the cheek, a hug, stroking hair, supportive words, mentioning how great someone is in front of other people, etc. Pet names like "Baby" or "Sweetheart" are a cute way to show your affection for your partner. Try not to overdo this, however. It can be a major turn-off if you call them "Mr. Cuddle-Bear", especially in public. Of all things, good communication is the vital part of any relationship, so make sure that they know how much you like them. Regular lovey-dovey texts and emails can be a plus, but too many will become overwhelming and you may seem clingy. These types of things do show you're into them, and you want it to last forever, but don't come on so much that you scare them! Be seductive. Don't be afraid to be seductive. Most people find it irresistible when a girl is sexy, classy and confident. Confidence means being happy within your own skin; you will exude this without trying if you are accepting of yourself and feel secure about your own worth. You don't have to force yourself to be the most popular, bubbly personality if that isn't your style; rather, be the best you on show by taking good care of yourself and trusting that you're worth their attention. Give them gifts. When you're in a relationship, it's fun to give each other small gifts. Everyone loves to get presents and giving them one shows that they mean a lot to you. Don't overdo it -- just give them a gift when you're feeling loving and want to let them know how much they mean to you. You don't want them to think you're trying to buy their affection. Make them something by hand. A paper flower, an artsy heart, something creative that reflects your personality, so that whenever they look at it, they'll think of you and smile. If you're the musical type, or play an instrument, feel free to play them a song or two (bonus points if you play a song you wrote yourself). Add a private video of your song to YouTube. Don't get jealous. You should be loving, but not to the point where you start seeing red the second your partner talks to, or even just mentions, another girl. Nothing will turn your significant other off faster than a girlfriend who is so insecure that she can't stand the thought of other women existing in the universe. Your partner will appreciate you even more if you're nice to their female friends instead of talking about how ugly or annoying any girl you see is. If they're out with their friends, don't text them every two seconds to make sure they're not talking to other girls. This will only make your partner see how little you trust them. | Don't be too open in the very early days. Be honest. Speak your mind. Be yourself. Take an interest in their interests. Learn to work as a team. Compliment them more than you criticize them. Learn to compromise. Give each other space. Be affectionate. Be seductive. Give them gifts. Don't get jealous. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fleece-Tie-Blanket | How to Make a Fleece Tie Blanket | To make a fleece tie blanket, stack two pieces of different-colored fleece. Cut a rectangle out of each corner, then cut 1-inch (2.54 cm) wide slits along each edge. Tie the top strips to the matching bottom strips. | Select your fleece. Use two different fleece patterns or two solid fleece blankets that complement each other. Alternately, use a pattern on one side and a solid color on the other. Try different combinations. Some patterns that don't seem they would go together actually complement each other quite well. You never know what will look good until you try it out in person. Purchase anywhere from 1. 5 to 3 yards (1.3-2.7 meters) of each fleece. 1.5 yards makes a decent size throw, 2.5-3 yards (2.3-2.7 meters) makes a nice twin size blanket. Spread out the material. Spread it out so that the softer or more brightly colored sides face out, matching both up at one end and the sides as far as they lay flat. Trim if needed. Consider the area you have available to spread out your material. If you don't have room to spread out the whole material or you can't physically crawl around on the floor, you can adapt by using a kitchen table or available floor room to cut and tie your fleece. Consider how you will measure the cuts to make the ties. They don't have to be exact. When cutting against the nap (usually the narrower end) the strips need to be a little longer (about 4-5 inches/11-14 cm) than along the long sides, (about 2.5-3 inches/7-9 cm) because they don't stretch as much while tying. Cut out a rectangle from both corners with a pair of scissors (see tips). Make sure you are cutting through both pieces of fleece. Use something rectangular in shape to measure. If you have trouble seeing the graduations on a ruler, a card cut to the right measurements (for instance 3"x5"/9x14 cm) is easier to use to make corner cuts even and strips uniform in length. Use the long edge of the card for the longer strips and the short edge for the shorter ones. Start cutting strips. Cut strips of approximately 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) from each corner down the end and the sides for as long as the material lies flat. These strips don't have to be exactly uniform, but they should be approximately the same size. Small irregularities will not be noticeable in the finished product. An easy way to measure is by using your thumb. If your fingers are larger, use the width of your thumb, if your fingers are smaller, use from tip to first knuckle. Tie the corner strips together. Using a simple knot, attach the bottom layer to the top layer. Tighten the knot. If you have trouble getting the knot tight due to arthritic or weak fingers, hold the end of one tail of the knotted pair with one hand and slide the fingers of the other hand up to push the knot tighter. Tie the strips at the end between the two corners next in the same way. Don't worry if the fleece puckers. Flatten the fleece out. Use flat hands to stretch and smooth the material so it lies flat again. Tie the strips down each side for the length of the blanket. Flatten as needed. Fold the tied portion up. Move the fleece down so that more of the material lies flat (trimming if needed) and repeat steps #6 through #8 until about 2/3 of the blanket is tied. Turn the blanket around. Spread the blanket out so that the remaining end is flat. Trim end and sides as needed. Repeat from step #5 until blanket is finished. Notice how all those little imperfections seem to magically blend into the pattern. Fold blanket, place into gift bag(see tips), and tie handles together with ribbon. Give it someone who will appreciate it, or give it to yourself and make good use of it. Finished. | Select your fleece. Purchase anywhere from 1. Spread out the material. Consider how you will measure the cuts to make the ties. Cut out a rectangle from both corners with a pair of scissors (see tips). Start cutting strips. Tie the corner strips together. Tighten the knot. Tie the strips at the end between the two corners next in the same way. Flatten the fleece out. Tie the strips down each side for the length of the blanket. Fold the tied portion up. Turn the blanket around. Trim end and sides as needed. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-an-Idea-for-a-Book-(For-Young-Writers) | How to Get an Idea for a Book (For Young Writers) | If you want to get an idea for a book, try brainstorming by writing down whatever comes to mind, such as what types of characters you'd like to create. Alternatively, if you can't think of anything, you can also try writing about something that you love. For example, if you love to swim, go for a swim and think about how to incorporate your love of swimming into a story. You could have your main character love to swim or the story could take place at a swimming pool. | Write a book with just about anything. You can observe while swimming in a river or pool, at a friend's house, or when something really fishy is going on - just don't get into anyone's personal business. For example, you can write about your Aunt Edna: Aunt Edna was always acting private. She wouldn't let her daughter into her workroom, her dog in the house- she won't even let her own husband in her room! That's when Harry McCoy found out: his sweet, mysterious, secretive Aunt Edna was a CIA agent. Maybe you don’t want to investigate. You could maybe just relax , do everyday stuff, and just let the idea pop up in your mind one day. Do the first step if you need to write right away. Brainstorm. How do you think your favorite author gets her/his ideas? Become a detective looking for clues, a shopper searching for ham, or an old lady trying to find her glasses. Use your imagination and let your creativity flow. If you are writing a fantasy book, you can think of a character like a dragon named Mongo, or a creature's species is a Grumaton- a creature with five tails, six fangs, eleven arms, and twenty-one legs! Be creative, that's the whole point! Write about something that you love. If you love to swim, you could go for a swim, and while you are swimming, you could think about how to incorporate your love of swimming into a story. Maybe the main character of the book loves to swim, or the story could take place at a swimming pool... Try it out, and be creative! You never know what you can come up with! If you start to have an idea of what you would like to write, ask yourself questions! What if...? How would this happen? Does that make sense? Where would that happen? Write down lots of answers and choose your favorite! Gather your ideas together in your head. Write them down on paper in dot point form if that helps you to visualize them and play around with them. Start writing without having a plan. Simply write whatever comes to your mind, being inspired by the ideas. Keep writing until you don't feel much like it. Then stop. Take a break from the work. Come back later. Read through the work. Now get to editing it and shaping it into a real piece of writing. From the first tidy-up, things should start getting a lot easier and you'll soon be in the flow. | Write a book with just about anything. Maybe you don’t want to investigate. Brainstorm. Write about something that you love. If you start to have an idea of what you would like to write, ask yourself questions! Gather your ideas together in your head. Start writing without having a plan. Keep writing until you don't feel much like it. Come back later. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grate-Cheese | How to Grate Cheese | To grate cheese with a box grater, start by picking what size holes you want to use, and then lightly coating the outside of that grater plate with cooking spray so the cheese won't stick. Rub the cheese against the grater in an up-and-down motion until you have the desired amount. If you don't have a grater, you can use a sharp kitchen knife to thinly slice off strips of cheese. Alternatively, refrigerate your cheese until it's firm, chop it into smaller blocks, and place it in a food processor until it's shredded. | Grate cheese using a microplane cheese grater. A microplane cheese grater consists of a handle attached to a long, flat grate with small, sharp teeth. Although they are usually used for zesting lemons or grating garlic, they are perfectly serviceable when it comes to grating cheese. Because microplanes tend to produce smaller pieces of grated cheese, they are best used with hard cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino. Grating a soft cheese like mozzarella with a microplane would only give you a mushy mass instead of cleanly grated cheese. Unwrap your block of cheese. If it is too large to hold comfortably with one hand, slice it into manageable pieces with a knife. Err on the side of larger rather than smaller — there's less of a chance you'll hurt yourself with a big piece of cheese. Holding the microplane over a plate or board, gently swipe the cheese against the grate using an up-and-down motion. Continue until you have the desired amount. Tap the metal end of the grater lightly against the edge of the plate to release excess trimmings. Use a pastry brush, if necessary, to remove all the cheese trimmings from the microplane. Switch out your microplane size depending on what you're using cheese for. Microplane graters come in a variety of sizes ranging from fine to coarse. Finely shredded cheese can be used as the top layer of a freshly made pizza. Medium shredded cheese is thicker and a nice topping for baked potatoes or salads. Coarsely grated cheese is the thickest and can be used to garnish pasta. Use a box grater to shred your cheese. A box grater is four sided, with each side having differently sized teeth. Because box grates tend to have larger teeth, they work well with softer cheeses such as mozzarella or havarti. Choose whichever grater plate suits the dish. The medium sized holes are great for garnishing tacos, but not so much for making crumb-like Parmesan to go on Spaghetti. Keep your cheese medium to large sized. This will prevent you from scraping your fingers before you have the desired amount of shredded cheese. Lightly coat the outside of the grater plate you will be using with cooking spray. This will make the cheese glide easier. Let your box grate decide how you'll use it. For box graters without a handle, hold the cheese and grater over a large bowl. For graters with a handle, place the end of the grater on a cutting board. Rub the cheese against the grater in an up-and-down motion. Once you reach the end of the cheese, rub it with your palm to avoid scraping your knuckles. Slice your cheese using a rotary grater. A rotary grater consists of a handle connected to a circular grating compartment. A side crank is then rotated to grate the cheese. Raise the top handle of the grater, place a small block of cheese into the compartment, and lower the handle. Apply some pressure to the top of the handle with your thumb. Grip the handle normally with your other fingers. Turn the handle with your other hand while aiming the grating compartment at a nearby plate or bowl. Stop whenever you feel like you have enough shredded cheese. Rotary graters are safer as your hands are not required to press against the plates.They are also very efficient[5]
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and are best reserved for making large quantities of shredded cheese. For example, if you need to make nacho dips or breakfast casseroles, use a rotary grater. Shred cheese with a vegetable peeler. Though not as efficient or glamorous as using a cheese grater, a vegetable peeler will still get the job done. Hold a medium sized block of cheese over a regular sized plate. Rub the peeler against the cheese in a continuous forward motion. For higher quality slices, refrigerate the cheese first or opt for a hard type of cheese (such as Parmesan). Use a sharp kitchen knife to thinly slice cheese. Though this is more time consuming, a knife is a nice substitute for a vegetable peeler. Hold a small chunk of cheese against the surface of a plate. Gently slice off thin shreds onto the plate. Opt for a plain edge rather than a serrated edge. Plain edge knives are better at shaving and skinning. Avoid holding large blocks of cheese. Since knife work is more dangerous than other grating options, you want to have a steady and firm grip on the cheese. Mince cheese with a food processor. For quick and easy shredded cheese, a food processor is the optimal choice. Refrigerate your cheese until it is firm but not too hard. Chop it into smaller blocks and place it in your food processor. Be cautious about overloading your processor. Some food processor blades have seized up or become unbalanced when grating cheese. Turn the food processor on and monitor the shape of the cheese shreds. Once you have shredded the cheese to your liking, turn off the processor and empty it onto a plate. If your processor has a shredding disk, select this blade as it will provide better quality slices. Avoid processing softer cheeses such as Mozzarella. This will result in smeared, not shredded, cheese. Finished. | Grate cheese using a microplane cheese grater. Unwrap your block of cheese. Holding the microplane over a plate or board, gently swipe the cheese against the grate using an up-and-down motion. Tap the metal end of the grater lightly against the edge of the plate to release excess trimmings. Switch out your microplane size depending on what you're using cheese for. Use a box grater to shred your cheese. Keep your cheese medium to large sized. Lightly coat the outside of the grater plate you will be using with cooking spray. Let your box grate decide how you'll use it. Rub the cheese against the grater in an up-and-down motion. Slice your cheese using a rotary grater. Apply some pressure to the top of the handle with your thumb. Turn the handle with your other hand while aiming the grating compartment at a nearby plate or bowl. Rotary graters are safer as your hands are not required to press against the plates.They are also very efficient[5]
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and are best reserved for making large quantities of shredded cheese. Shred cheese with a vegetable peeler. Use a sharp kitchen knife to thinly slice cheese. Mince cheese with a food processor. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Persuade-People-to-Vote-for-You | How to Persuade People to Vote for You | There's an art to persuading people to vote for you when you're running for a big position. You'll need to talk to lots of people and find out what their main concerns are in your school, business, town, or city. Then, you can tailor your publicity campaign around those concerns. For example, if students are concerned about funding extracurricular activities, write a slogan about saving them and include images of sports and clubs on your posters. To improve your reach, talk to influential people, like politicians, business owners, or your school faculty, about your message and ask them to back you. If you get the chance to give speeches, make sure they echo your main message and convey your passion about the issues. Talk about your own experiences of the main issues and how you'll improve things in the future. This will show your audience that you're the right person for the job. | Identify things you can improve. People are looking to vote for a leader who will improve their lives in some way or manage things effectively. Identify problems in people's lives and think of ways to solve them. This will give voters a reason to vote for you, especially if you have a plan that resonates with them. For instance, if you're trying to be student body president, you can think of ways to improve the cafeteria food and provide free supplies and materials for students. If you're running for city council, potential problems could involve things like trash collection or graffiti in the park. Build a campaign message that provides solutions. Identify two or three big issues that you'd like to change and flesh out a plan on how to accomplish your goals. Choose issues that are important to your voters. A clear campaign message will help people understand what you're all about. Concentrate on talking about your message when speaking to potential voters or making speeches. A campaign message shouldn't be overly long, complex, or confusing. It can be a couple of sentences that hit on the core ideas of your campaign. For instance, if you were running for chair-person of the health department, your campaign message could include lowering the costs of healthcare, improving patient satisfaction, and providing free ongoing education for doctors. For instance, for the 2016 presidential primaries, Bernie Sanders ran on a platform to reduce income inequality, making college tuition free, and getting big money out of politics. Build a diverse and talented team. The more diversity on your team, the more opinions and views you can get from people who are similar to your voters. Make sure that each team member is up for the task and that they understand their role in the campaign. Encourage input and try to get as many perspectives as you can. Roles could include campaign manager, treasurer, fundraiser, and communications director. If you're trying to get elected to a smaller role, you could assign roles to create posters or talk to people about your platform. Identify your base of voters. If you consider your ideas progressive, target voters who think progressively. If you have a more conservative or moderate viewpoint, target moderates and conservatives. Concentrating on getting your message out to people who already agree with your platform will get you more votes. If you are running a professional political campaign, you can canvass or survey potential voters in the area to get a list of people who share your concerns or support your platform. If you're running for something in school, you should target students who are active in school activities, as they will be the ones that are most affected by student government. Network with voters. Talk to as many people as you can from all different walks of life. Let them know that you're running for the position. The more people that you connect with on a personal level, the more votes you'll get. Some voters may even tell family and friends about your campaign. Never act snobby and always be willing to speak to an eligible voter about their opinions or the problems that they are having. You can say things like, "So, why did you come out today?" or "What concerns you about our community?" You can go to events, festivals, parks, and other areas where people meet up socially. If you are running for student government position, you can attend sports events, art shows, concerts, and talk to people during lunch and recess. Talk with influential people who can promote you. Identify people who others look up to for advice or guidance and convince them of the benefits of voting for you. Be polite and positive and relate to them on a personal level. If you can convince them that you're smart, capable, and have good ideas, they will be more likely to encourage others to vote for you. When speaking with an influential person you can say something like, “I agree that it's frustrating that the vending machines are always out of corn chips. If I get elected, I'll make sure that they are stocked all the time.” If you are running for a political office, you should speak to business owners and community leaders. Send your team out to promote you. Leading up to the election day, have your team go out and talk to the voters on your behalf. Make sure that they understand your message and can answer questions that voters might have. You could even consider creating a script that they can memorize so that they can stay on message. For instance, you could tell your team to say something like, "Vote for Garrett for student body president! He's going to try to get the school to renovate the gym and start a poetry club!" If you're running for political office you could say something like, "Vote for Joe Smoe--a progressive family man who plans to close the income gap and raise the minimum wage!" Take opportunities to speak publicly. The more visible and recognizable your name is, the more likely people will be to vote for you. Contact event coordinators and see if you can speak before an event. If you're running for student government, talk to school administrators to see if you can make a speech in front of the school. If people have to choose between someone they know and an unknown candidate, they will usually vote for the person that they know. Write powerful campaign speeches. Talk about your passion for the voters and issues and explain how your election can improve people's lives. Always start the speech by thanking the audience for being there. Rehearse the speech in front of a mirror and make it as moving as you can. Practice the speech in front of your team, friends, or family and ask them how it sounds. Take advice from other people and refine your campaign speeches until they are perfect. Your speech could start like, "Hello students of Ridgemont Highschool, thank you for having me. For too long has the pizza been totally inadequate in our cafeteria. For too long have the locker rooms gone dirty. It's now time to stand up for--not only what we want--but for what is truly just! The decision is simple, vote for me to become class president." When President Barack Obama's announced that he planned on running for president he said, "We all made this journey for a reason. It's humbling, but in my heart I know you didn't come here just for me, you came here because you believe in what this country can be. In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of despair, you believe there can be hope. In the face of a politics that's shut you out, that's told you to settle, that's divided us for too long, you believe we can be one people, reaching for what's possible, building that more perfect union." Be authentic. While you want to appeal to voters, you don't want to go overboard and come off as fake or contrived. Make sure to always be yourself and don't campaign for things that you oppose. Be as honest and understanding as you can. Look clean and organized. If you look disheveled or unorganized, it will make people less confident in your leadership abilities. Shower regularly and wear clean and pressed clothes. Always try to look your best, especially when you're in front of potential voters. Voters must believe that you're able to manage your own life in order for you to be a good leader. Show your passion for the issues. Voters want a candidate that cares about them and what they are going through. If you don't have a passion for the issues you're talking about, it will seem like you don't care about the voters. Talk about personal triumphs or experiences that help shape your point of view. Show voters that you're serious about making improvements and implementing your ideas. You can say something like, "I grew up in a five child home with a single mother. I care deeply about social service programs and providing opportunities for low-income households." Be confident about your ideas. If you are going for a leadership position, people want to know that you're confident enough to lead. However, you don't want to go overboard and come off as arrogant or pompous. When you speak about issues or ideas, be yourself. Have confidence that your stance is the best stance and that it will help the people who need it. Be enthusiastic when solving problems. If you're always low energy, you can come off as boring or apathetic. Try to approach problems and situations with a high energy level but don't overdo it. If you act overly enthusiastic or energetic it could come off as immature, overly-ambitious, or contrived. Instead, always stay realistic but show that you have the energy to solve problems. You can say something like, "This problem is a huge obstacle, but it's one that we can overcome. This student body has so much energy and intelligence that once we put our mind to something, we are unstoppable." Be charismatic and personable. You should try to be generally liked among your voters. You can do this by smiling and making the occasional tasteful joke. Rather than concentrating on being perfect, try to be relatable. You can say something like, "I worked in a fast-food restaurant as a teen, so I understand what it's like to work hard. And while flipping burgers may not seem like much, I appreciate everyone who wakes up every day and works hard for their community." | Identify things you can improve. Build a campaign message that provides solutions. Build a diverse and talented team. Identify your base of voters. Network with voters. Talk with influential people who can promote you. Send your team out to promote you. Take opportunities to speak publicly. Write powerful campaign speeches. Be authentic. Look clean and organized. Show your passion for the issues. Be confident about your ideas. Be enthusiastic when solving problems. Be charismatic and personable. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Free-Cash-Flow-to-Equity | How to Calculate Free Cash Flow to Equity | To calculate a company's free cash flow equity, start by finding the company's net income for the most recent year, which is most likely listed on the bottom of its income statement. Then, add non-cash charges, such as depreciating assets, and subtract fixed capital expenditures like new equipment, for example. Next, subtract working capital investments, which can be calculated by subtracting the company's current assets from its liabilities. Finally, add the company's net borrowing, which is the difference between the debt at the end of a period and the beginning. | Learn the basics of FCFE calculation inputs. There is a general formula used to determine FCFE, but within that formula, analysts have a lot of discretion in choosing the inputs as they interpret the data depending on the objective (to determine if the company is healthy, or to check how much cash can be paid to the shareholders). Because FCFE represents the available cash after expenses, payments, and “expenditures needed to sustain production” have been accounted for, you need to decide what you will count as these “expenses.” Consider your own life as an example to help you understand. For example, if you were to tabulate your personal income over the course of three months, you'd have your quarterly earnings. Now, if we wanted to know your FCFE available at the end of this period, we would begin deducting your expenses from your income. Rent and mortgage payments, debt payments, taxes, and the like are expenses that are certain. If you are to continue operating, you will have to continue paying these, so they need to be accounted for. These items definitely need to be deducted. Sometimes, however, other items that might seem discretionary are as much a part of your earning capabilities as the others. The tricky part begins when we focus on those “expenditures to sustain production”. For example, consider your gym membership. If you're a dentist, going to the gym is a healthy choice, but it's probably not vital to your earning potential. However, if you're a professional bodybuilder, your gym membership is directly tied to your ability to earn money. Failure to maintain this membership would cause you to earn less money. If this is the case, you should account for this expense by deducting it from your salary, leaving less FCFE. Understand the role of the analyst. It is up to the analyst to determine what expenses and re-investments of capital are needed for a company to maintain and/or drive growth in earnings. Valuing assets is not always entirely straightforward, and the details of how it is calculated may in fact change from asset to asset. Valuation is part data analysis, part creative thinking. For example, if a company reduces its purchases of equipment, expenses may decrease in the near-term and boost FCFE but cause growth to erode or disappear over the long run. A good analyst would immediately notice this and be able to act accordingly, probably by selling off their stock in that company. Learn the formula for FCFE. There are a number of different paths you can use to directly or indirectly calculate FCFE, but the most straightforward formula is as follows: FCFE = NI + NCC + Int x (1 - Tax Rate) – FCInv – WCInv + Net Borrowing. The individual terms are defined below. NI: Net income. This is the company's total profit after subtracting from its revenue all of its expenses and taxes for the specified accounting period. NCC: Non-cash charges. These are expenses deducted from a company's revenue that did not require an actual payment of cash in the period. For example, the depreciation expense taken in the current period for the previous cost to build a factory. Int: Interest income. ' This is income received by suppliers of debt capital. This would include interest received from money loaned out to others. This item mostly applies to financial firms. FCInv: Fixed Capital Expenditures. These are purchases made by a company that are necessary to maintain or increase their operations and productivity, such as the purchase of new ships for a transportation company. WCInv: Working Capital Investment. This is found by subtracting a company's current assets (cash, inventory, and accounts receivable) from its current liabilities (short term debt and accounts payable). This measures a company's ability to meet its near-term expenses and includes the amount of cash and equivalents available to reinvest and grow its business. Net Borrowing. This is calculated by subtracting the amount of principal that a company repays on the debt it currently owes during the period measured from the amount it borrowed during the same period. In other words, Net Borrowing = Amount Borrowed - Amount of Principal Repaid. If a company borrows more cash than it repays, it has more cash to share with the owners of equity. Understand when it’s appropriate to use FCFE. The FCFE isn't appropriate in every situation; however, it can give you insight into the availability and use of cash if the following apply to the company you're examining: The company is profitable The company's borrowing is stable You are focused on valuing the company's equity Obtain the company's information. The income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets of any publicly traded company should be available from the company itself or from an organization like NASDAQ. These documents will provide the most vital information you need for calculating FCFE. Any other information you can gather that provides a more detailed look at how the company is spending its money may also be useful in making your analysis. Find the company's net income for the most recent year. This is typically located on the bottom line of the income statement. In our example, we'll keep it simple: $2,000,000 (2 million) is Company ABC's net income. Add non-cash charges. This includes things like depreciation and amortization. These are usually listed on the income statement, but may also be found on the cash flow statement. These are accounting expenses that reduce earnings but are not cash expenses. These expenses should be added because they don't represent actual money spent, and therefore these funds are theoretically available as equity for stockholders. In our example, we'll say that Company ABC had $200,000 in non-cash charges for this year. $2,000,000 + $200,000 = $2,200,000 Subtract fixed capital expenditures. You must subtract expenditures that are necessary for the company to continue or increase its productivity, such as new equipment. You can estimate this by using the "capital expenditures" figure on the company's cash flow statement. Let's say for our example that Company ABC had $400,000 in fixed capital expenditures. $2,200,000 - $400,000 = $1,800,000. Subtract working capital investments. Every company must expend some of its funds on day-to-day operations. These are its working capital investments. You can estimate this using a company's current assets and current liabilities, obtained from a recent balance sheet. Subtract a company's current assets from its current liabilities. This tells you how much money a company has for day-to-day business expenses, planned or unplanned. This figure can be a measure of a company's short-term financial health. A company with no positive working capital is unlikely to stay afloat for long. By contrast, too much working capital can be seen as a sign of inefficiency, as it can indicate the company is not investing its excess assets in a way that could result in greater profit. In our example, let's say Company ABC had $200,000 in working capital investments. $1,800,000 - $200,000 = $1,600,000. Add net borrowing. Add additional funds the company may have on hand as result of borrowing. This is determined by subtracting the amount paid on debts from the amount borrowed over the period you are considering. To make this calculation, compare debt figures on a company's balance sheet. Subtract the amount of debt at the beginning of the period from the amount at the end. A positive number means net borrowing has increased, while a negative figure means a decrease in net borrowing. Let's say Company ABC borrowed $500,000 this year. $1,600,000 + $500,000 = $2,100,000 Therefore, the company's FCFE is $2.1 million. Consider your results. The purpose of these calculations are to remove items that do not reflect reality.The outcome will allow you to determine how much cash is actually coming in and how much is going out. This in turn tells you how much could potentially be paid out to the company's investors. A skilled analyst can use this information to discover mispricing (i.e., to determine whether a company is being over- or under-valued by others) and adjust their valuation accordingly. Look for sustained discrepancies between FCFE and the rate of dividends being paid. This suggests the presence of additional cash in the hands of the company that the analyst should take note of, and can be a positive sign, as it means the business has cash available for investment, share repurchases, a dividend increase, or perhaps to protect against a potential downturn. On the other hand, if the dividend exceeds FCFE, there could be an issue with the dividend being sustainable. | Learn the basics of FCFE calculation inputs. Understand the role of the analyst. Learn the formula for FCFE. Understand when it’s appropriate to use FCFE. Obtain the company's information. Find the company's net income for the most recent year. Add non-cash charges. Subtract fixed capital expenditures. Subtract working capital investments. Add net borrowing. Consider your results. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Calm-Down-an-Autistic-Person | How to Calm Down an Autistic Person | Autistic people can become overwhelmed by sensory input or strong emotions, but you can help calm them down with a few simple techniques. Start by taking a moment to calm yourself so you can be patient and kind during the interaction. Try taking the person to a quiet spot or ask those around you to be quiet to help create a less stimulating atmosphere. When possible, turn off distractions like TVs or radios and try dimming the lights. If the person is able to speak, ask them what's wrong. You can also use yes or no questions that they can respond to with a thumbs up or down. A key question you'll want to ask is if they want you there to help or if they'd rather be left alone for a while. If they want you to stay with them, offer to lead them through a relaxation exercise, like having them name 5 things they can see right now, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they think is good. | Take a moment to calm yourself. If you can keep a calm demeanor, you'll help the autistic person feel calmer too. Keep a patient and understanding attitude. Show them the same kindness that you'd want other people to show you if you were at your wits' end. Never shout at, scold, or punish an autistic person for being upset. They aren't doing this on purpose, and being unkind will only make it worse. If you can't control yourself, it's better to leave than to make the situation worse. Ask what's wrong, if the person is able to speak. Sometimes, they may be overwhelmed, and need quiet time. Other times, they might be experiencing difficult emotions related to something in their life (like a bad grade at school or an argument with a friend). During severe sensory overload, people who are ordinarily verbal may suddenly lose the ability to speak. This is due to severe overstimulation and will pass with relaxation time. If someone has lost the ability to speak, ask only yes/no questions that they can answer with thumbs up/thumbs down. Take them to a quiet place. If you cannot, encourage any people in the room to leave. Explain that unexpected noise and movement are hard for the autistic person right now, and she would be happy to hang out again sometime later. Ask if they want you to stay with them. Sometimes, the person might want you there to keep them company and help them calm down. Other times, they might want to be alone for a while. Either way, don't take it personally. If they can't speak right now, let them answer with a thumbs up/thumbs down. Or you can say "Do you want me to stay or leave?" and point at the ground and at the door, and then let them point to where they want you to be. If a small child wants to be left alone, you can sit across the room and do something quiet (like playing on your phone or reading a book) so there is still an adult present. Help them with any difficult tasks. When they're distressed, they may be unable to think clearly, and they may have trouble doing simple tasks like taking off an uncomfortable sweater or getting a drink of water. Help them out, without infringing on their personal space. If they're tugging at uncomfortable clothing, offer to help them remove it. (Don't try to remove clothes without permission, as this can be startling and upsetting.) If they're trying to drink from the sink, get a cup for them. Keep them safe if they are thrashing, flailing, or throwing things. Move dangerous or breakable objects out of their way. Put a pillow or folded-up jacket under their head to protect it, or put their head on your lap if it's safe. If they are throwing things, it might be that the throwing motion calms them down. Try giving them something that can be thrown safely (like a throw pillow). Let them throw it, and then retrieve it so they can throw it again. This can calm them. If you don't feel safe getting close to them, then don't. Let them continue until they calm down and wear themselves out. Get help if you don't know what to do. Parents, teachers, and caregivers may know how to help. They may be able to offer specific insight about the autistic person's particular needs. Police are not usually trained to help with autistic meltdowns, and they may worsen the situation or hurt your autistic loved one. Instead, get someone who the autistic person knows and trusts. Reduce sensory input to help an overwhelmed autistic person. Often, autistic people have problems with sensory input; they hear, feel, and see things much more intensely than others do. It is as if the volume for everything has been turned up. Turn off distracting devices like TVs or radios (unless the autistic person tells you that they want it on). Try dimming the lights. Let them hide in small places if they want. For example, if they want to hide in a closet or shut themselves into a cupboard with their phone, let them. (Just make sure that they can get out on their own.) Touch them only if they are okay with it. Hold them, rub their shoulders, and show affection. Use firm touch, instead of light touch, because this is more reassuring. It could help them calm down. If they say or show they don't want to be touched, don't take it personally; they simply can't handle touch at the moment. You can offer a hug by spreading your arms and seeing if they come to you. If you hug them, and they stiffen or push away, let them go. Maybe they aren't able to handle the sensory input of hugging right now, or maybe your clothes have a texture that's uncomfortable to them. Try massaging an autistic person who wants to be touched. Many autistic people have benefited from massage therapy. Help them into a comfortable position, gently squeeze their temples, massage their shoulders, rub their backs, or their feet. Keep your movements gentle, soothing, and careful. They may direct you to areas that they want you to touch, such as by pointing at their shoulders or squeezing their face. Let them stim safely as much as they need to. Stimming is a series of repetitive movements that are calming mechanisms for autistic people. Examples of stimming include hand flapping, finger flicking, and rocking. Stimming is a crucial self-calming mechanism during emotional distress. If they are hurting themselves, see if you can redirect them to doing something safer (like hitting couch cushions instead of their head). Don't restrain them, no matter what they are doing. Grabbing and holding an autistic person against their will is dangerous, especially when the person is in fight-or-flight mode. Both of you could get seriously hurt during the autistic person's attempts to break free. Offer to apply gentle pressure to their body. If the person is sitting up, stand behind them and cross your arms over their chest. Face your head sideways and rest your cheek on them head. Squeeze them tightly, asking them if they want you to squeeze less or more tightly. This is called deep pressure, and it should help them relax and feel better. Ask if they'd like you to lead them in a relaxation exercise. If the cause of distress seems to be emotional (not sensory), then a relaxation exercise may help them calm down enough to talk about it. If they say yes to a relaxation exercise, try helping them through one of these: Sensory grounding: Have them name 5 things they can see right now, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell (or that they like to smell in general), and 1 good thing about themselves. Count off on your fingers. Box breathing: Have them breathe in for a count of 4, hold it for a count of 4, breathe out for a count of 4, rest for a count of 4, and repeat. Listen and validate their feelings if they want to talk about what's bothering them. Sometimes, people just need to vent and be listened to. Let them talk it out if they want to discuss what's bothering them. Here are some helpful examples of things you could say: "I'm here to listen if you'd like to talk about it." "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." "I'm sorry to hear that that happened to you." "That sounds difficult." "Of course you're upset. You're in a really tough situation. It's natural to be stressed about that." Let them cry it out. Sometimes, people just need to "have a good cry" and let out their emotions. Try saying "It's okay to cry" or "Cry all you need to. I'm here." Offer comfort as needed. You can bring a comfort item, offer to play their favorite music, offer affection, or do whatever you know helps the autistic person feel calmer. What's most calming can be different depending on the situation. So if they decline a hug in favor of listening to their favorite music and rocking back and forth, don't take it personally. They know what they need right now. | Take a moment to calm yourself. Ask what's wrong, if the person is able to speak. Take them to a quiet place. Ask if they want you to stay with them. Help them with any difficult tasks. Keep them safe if they are thrashing, flailing, or throwing things. Get help if you don't know what to do. Reduce sensory input to help an overwhelmed autistic person. Touch them only if they are okay with it. Try massaging an autistic person who wants to be touched. Let them stim safely as much as they need to. Offer to apply gentle pressure to their body. Ask if they'd like you to lead them in a relaxation exercise. Listen and validate their feelings if they want to talk about what's bothering them. Let them cry it out. Offer comfort as needed. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Customize-Tumblers | How to Customize Tumblers | If you want to customize a stainless steel or acrylic tumbler, trace a design onto a sheet of outdoor vinyl. Cut out the design with scissors, a craft knife, or a die-cutting machine. Carefully lay out your vinyl decal, then cover the whole thing with a piece of transfer tape. Peel the backing off of the vinyl, then carefully apply the transfer tape and vinyl decal onto your tumbler, pressing down all across the decal to ensure it's properly adhered. Peel off the transfer tape and enjoy your new tumbler! | Trace your design on a sheet of outdoor vinyl. You can create your design by drawing it freehand, using a stencil, or even using a die-cutting machine if you have one. Outdoor vinyl is waterproof, making it the best choice for use on drinkware. You can purchase outdoor vinyl at a craft or home supply store. Die-cutting machines often have pre-programmed designs for you to choose from, but you may be able to create an original design by experimenting with the software. Try tracing out letters to create a monogram, or use different colors of vinyl to create colorful hearts or polka dots. Cut out your applique using sharp scissors or a craft knife. Once you have the design how you want it, carefully cut along the edges. Use caution when cutting with scissors or a craft knife, and never allow small children to handle sharp objects. Lay transfer tape over the top of your graphic. Transfer tape is made to help you apply decals evenly. Lay your vinyl decal so that it's facing up, then carefully apply a strip of transfer tape over the top of the entire decal. If your decal has more than one piece, arrange the pieces exactly how you want them, then apply the transfer tape. This will help ensure they are spaced properly when you apply the decal to the tumbler. You can purchase transfer tape at almost any craft store. Peel the backing off of the vinyl and press it onto the tumbler. Once you've removed the backing, pick up the piece of transfer tape and lay it on the tumbler with the sticky side of the vinyl facing down. It may help to have the tumbler laying on its side so you can see exactly where you're applying the decal. Press firmly on the vinyl to ensure it's fully adhered to the tumbler. Smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles in the vinyl. If the vinyl decal doesn't lay flat, it won't stick properly to the tumbler. If you notice any bubbles or wrinkles, you can smooth them out with your fingers or with the end of a credit card. Remove the transfer tape and enjoy your new tumbler! Once you remove the transfer tape, your design is finished! The outdoor vinyl should be long-lasting, although you may want to wash your tumbler by hand to help preserve your decal. Purchase a clear acrylic tumbler to show off your favorite pictures. Acrylic photo tumblers are popular, inexpensive, and easy to customize. Make sure you choose a tumbler which unscrews to give you access to the photo compartment. You can purchase these tumblers at craft stores and big box stores. Print your design onto photo paper or cardstock. Since these tumblers are slightly tapered at the bottom, you will need to cut the paper so it can be rolled into a cone shape. You can find templates for these inserts online, or you can just wrap the paper around the cup and cut off the excess. If you're working with stripes or another pattern which needs to line up perfectly, it's best to use a pre-made template. For a thoughtful gift idea, use a photo of yourself and someone special to you, then give the tumbler to them. The dimensions of the insert will vary depending on the style and size of the cup you chose. Unscrew the bottom of the tumbler, insert the design, and reattach the bottom. Roll your paper into a cone, then slide the cone into the space between the inner layer and outer layer of your tumbler. Be careful not to wrinkle the paper as you put it into the cup, as any creases will show in the finished product. Reattach the bottom of the tumbler once you have inserted your design. Fill the photo compartment with water and glitter for a sparkly tumbler. If you don't want to put an image in the photo compartment, you can still customize it. Remove the bottom of the tumbler and turn the cup upside down, then carefully pour 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 mL) of glitter into the photo compartment of the cup. Then, fill the compartment the rest of the way up with water and screw on the bottom. Super fine glitter will float slowly, but big chunky glitter will have more sparkle. You could also try mixing the 2 types of glitter for a unique effect! Floating glitter makes a good backdrop if you want to use a vinyl decal on your photo tumbler. Use spray paint if you want to paint a stainless steel tumbler. Regular spray paint will adhere best to the smooth surface of a steel tumbler, but you'll need to scuff the surface slightly for the best results. Apply chalk paint to your steel tumbler using a foam brush if you don't want to use spray paint. You can use acrylic paint or markers to paint an acrylic tumbler, but even with sealant, the paint will have a tendency to flake off over time. Scuff the surface of the tumbler with 140-180 grit sandpaper. Roughing up the surface a little will help the paint stick to it better, so your design will last longer. Depending on the grit of the sandpaper you use, you should only need about 5-10 passes with the sandpaper to get the texture you need. Try to only sand the area you're planning on painting, otherwise it will be visible after your project is completed. Wipe down the tumbler with alcohol to remove dirt and oils. Even if it's not visible, dirt and oils may be present on your tumbler from where you or other people have handled it. Use an alcohol pad or a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to wipe down your tumbler, then let it dry completely. Apply the stencil to the tumbler if you’re using one. If you're trying to create a design, you can cut a stencil out from a sheet of vinyl, or you can purchase an adhesive stencil from a craft store. Peel the backing off the the stencil and attach it to the tumbler, smoothing out any bumps or winkles. If there are any gaps or wrinkles in the stencil, paint can seep underneath it and mess up your design. Spray light coats of paint, letting each coat dry before applying the next. If you apply too much paint at once, it could start to bubble and drip. To avoid this, hold the spray paint can at least 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) away from the tumbler, and only spray in short, quick bursts. Move the can side to side as you spray to keep the paint from pooling in one area. Allow the paint to dry for at least 10 minutes between coats. After the final coat, let the tumbler dry for 2-3 hours. If you used a stencil, remove it before the tumbler has fully dried so the paint doesn't peel off. Layer colors if you want to create an ombre effect. Hold the spray paint about 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) from the tumbler. Use a darker color to spray the bottom and a lighter color on the top, and let the 2 colors overlap slightly. Try pairing 2 shades of the same color, like turquoise and sea green. You could also contrast 2 different colors for a more striking effect, like red on the bottom and yellow on the top. Spray the tumbler with a paint sealer to lock in the paint. A paint sealer is a clear coat that will help create a barrier that will prevent the paint from flaking off. You can purchase this wherever you bought your painting supplies. Spray the sealer evenly over the tumbler, using the same side-to-side motion you used while painting. Let the sealer dry for an additional 2-3 hours. Choose a custom graphics company to order your tumbler from. Research several different companies before you decide on one. Read online customer reviews, and ask your friends, family, and social media contacts if they have any recommendations to be sure you find a reputable company. Compare online quality reviews of different companies, and choose one that has mostly favorable feedback. Compare prices of several companies to be sure you get best deal. Popular websites for ordering custom tumblers include Etsy, Custom Ink, Tervis, and Yeti. Select the tumbler style you want. When you start your order, you will be given options for the type of tumbler you want. Most companies will offer a variety of colors, sizes, and styles for you to choose from, including stainless or acrylic, with or without straws, with or without lids, and insulated or non-insulated. Popular tumbler sizes range from 16–30 fluid ounces (470–890 mL), although you may find smaller or larger options if you prefer. Stainless steel tumblers are great if you want to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, while acrylic photo tumblers are lightweight and easy to carry. A cup with a straw is convenient for using at home or the office, but you might prefer a cup with a solid lid to help prevent spills if you'll be travelling a lot. Select your logo design and text. Your design is only limited by your imagination. Upload an image or a logo, search through existing templates, or add stamps for graphic designs, or play with different fonts and spacing if you want a text-only design. Script your initials in a font with dramatic flourishes and to create a classic monogram. Don't upload trademarked logo, including sports team or brand logo. However, if the company offers a trademarked logo as a template, it's okay to use. If you're ordering from a shop on a site like Etsy, choose a design you like, then include your custom text in the "Notes to Seller" field or contact form. Save your design and order your tumblers. Choose the quantity of tumblers you want and enter your credit card information to order. Some companies specialize in bulk orders and may require minimum purchase. If you're ordering a large quantity and you want each tumbler customized, check with the seller to make sure that option is available before you order. | Trace your design on a sheet of outdoor vinyl. Cut out your applique using sharp scissors or a craft knife. Lay transfer tape over the top of your graphic. Peel the backing off of the vinyl and press it onto the tumbler. Smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles in the vinyl. Remove the transfer tape and enjoy your new tumbler! Purchase a clear acrylic tumbler to show off your favorite pictures. Print your design onto photo paper or cardstock. Unscrew the bottom of the tumbler, insert the design, and reattach the bottom. Fill the photo compartment with water and glitter for a sparkly tumbler. Use spray paint if you want to paint a stainless steel tumbler. Scuff the surface of the tumbler with 140-180 grit sandpaper. Wipe down the tumbler with alcohol to remove dirt and oils. Apply the stencil to the tumbler if you’re using one. Spray light coats of paint, letting each coat dry before applying the next. Layer colors if you want to create an ombre effect. Spray the tumbler with a paint sealer to lock in the paint. Choose a custom graphics company to order your tumbler from. Select the tumbler style you want. Select your logo design and text. Save your design and order your tumblers. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Leg-Lifts | How to Do Leg Lifts | To do leg lifts, start by lying flat on the floor with your legs stretched in front of you and your arms at your sides. Then, bend your knees and raise your legs so that your calves are parallel to the ground. Next, keep your abs contracted as you straighten your legs toward the ceiling. Slowly bring your legs back down without actually letting them touch the ground. Keep breathing steadily and repeat this exercise up to 20 times. Then, take a short break and do two more sets. | Lie flat on your back with your legs stretched out in front of you. Your legs should just be a toe's width apart. Make sure to keep your hands down flat on the ground near your sides, with your palms down. You can use a yoga or exercise mat for extra support and comfort. If you experience occasional back pain, you can roll a towel and place it under the arch of your back, just above your hips. Additionally, if you lay on a workout bench instead of on the floor, it will improve your range of motion and allow you to lift/lower your legs farther. Bend your knees and raise your legs. Your calves should be parallel to the ground, while your thighs are perpendicular. You should keep your toes pointed while you do this, drawing your abdominal muscles toward your spine. Your thighs should be perpendicular to your body, while your shins should be parallel. Be sure to contract your abdominals to push your lower back into the floor; there should not be any gap between them. This helps you target the abdominal muscles while protecting your spine. Keep your eyes and face directed at the ceiling and avoid the temptation to strain your neck to look at your legs. This will help you avoid pain in your neck. If you feel that your head and neck are moving forward too much, lift your chin up a bit more. Straighten your legs until your feet are pointed at the ceiling. Keep your toes pointed and raise your legs as slowly as possible. Remember not to let your lower back arch off the ground, or you may injure yourself and you won't be getting as good of a workout. If you can do Step 2 easily while keeping your back flat on the floor, give yourself a harder workout by skipping Step 2 and raising your legs to the ceiling without bending them. Slowly lower your legs. Bring them down as far as you can while keeping your back flat against the floor. Your eventual goal is to reach about an inch off the floor. Don't just let gravity work for you -- make sure you're in control. Hold your arms in the same place, but use them for strength and support as you lower your legs. Resist the temptation to let your feet touch the floor if you want the best workout you can get. Keep your lower back pressed into the floor to engage your abdominals and protect your spine. This will get harder the closer your feet get to the floor, so only lower as far as you can while not arching your back. If you feel your lower back arching up off the floor, don't lower your legs down as far. As your abdominals get stronger, you will be able to lower your feet closer to the floor using proper form. Most importantly, don't forget to breathe! A lot of people freeze up when they do this exercise. Slow it down if this exercise is too easy. For even more of a workout, you can lift your straightened legs all the up on a count of ten, and then lower them down while counting to ten again. This will definitely give your abs a great workout, but it is a bit more of a challenge. For yet another challenge, you can also practice raising your feet about 20%, holding for one second, raising them 20% more, holding for one second, and continuing this until you get them as high as they need to be. You can lower them in increments in the same way. Repeat 3 sets of 10-20 leg lifts. Start with 3 sets of 10 and build your way up to 3 sets of 20. Lie on your side with your head resting on your hand above your elbow. Lie down on one side and prop your head and neck up with your elbow. Look straight ahead of you. Using your elbow to prop up your head will keep you from straining your neck. Keep your other arm in front of you with your palm facing down. Slowly lift your top leg as high as it will go. The leg should go up at least one or two feet. You can keep your free hand either on your hip or on the floor in front of you for some additional support. Keep looking straight in front of you instead of looking up at the leg. Make sure you keep your hips stacked and your torso still. Gently lower your leg. Keep your body in the same position except for the leg, and slowly lower it until it meets the other leg. Remember to keep your spine straight and to avoid caving forward as you lift your leg. For more of a challenge, lower it, but keep it about an inch away from the bottom leg to feel an extra burn in your side. Do 15 reps on this side and repeat on the other side. Once you've finished with one leg, just move over onto your other side and elbow and repeat what you did with the other side. This is a great leg exercise for your side body. It is also a great workout for improving the appearance of your butt! Most leg lifts are focused on working out your front body, so this is a great way to get that full-body workout! Hang from a bar with your arms. Keep your hands/arms a bit more than shoulder width apart. Get a firm grip on the bar and look straight ahead of you to avoid straining your neck. Keep your body still and even, with your feet together. Your fingertips should be facing away from you. If you're at a gym, the bar may have extra handles to support your hands. Raise your legs until they are perpendicular to your body. Keep your toes pointed as you do this. You may not be able to get them as high as you want them to be at first. Keep your back straight and avoid the temptation to hunch over or to curl in toward your legs. Slowly lower your legs. Once your legs have reached their maximum height and you feel that slow burn in your core, gently lower them down. Try going as slowly as you can to work your muscles even harder. Make sure you lower your legs slowly so that you are doing the work instead of relying on the momentum of your legs dropping. Repeat 3 sets of 10 hanging leg lifts. As you get more comfortable, you can increase to 3 sets of 20 hanging leg lifts. The hanging variation of the leg lift exercise is better for people with back problems because it does not put the same amount of pressure on your back as it does when you do them lying down. Make it easier if you need to. If these legs lifts are too challenging, you can raise your legs with bent knees instead. For this variation of the exercise, bend your knees and keep your legs together while raising your knees as high as they can go, nearly up to your chest. Then, lower your legs and start again. This exercise is a bit less strenuous for the abdominal muscles. Lie flat on the ground. Lie down with your arms at your sides with your legs out in front of you. Use a yoga or exercise mat for your comfort. Place a ball between your feet and lift your legs up. Using an exercise or medicine ball can add some extra resistance to your workout and will make it even more challenging. Just place the weight in between your feet, get a firm grip on it, and then begin to lift your legs up until they are perpendicular to the rest of your body. This is the vertical leg lift with an added weight. Lower your legs as slowly as possible. The slower you go, the more you resist gravity and force your muscles to maintain control. This is a great workout for your abdominal muscles, though it can take a bit more effort than regular leg lifts. Do 3 sets of 5-10 leg lifts with a ball. Since these exercises are a bit harder, you should start off by doing fewer of them until you feel ready for more. Then, you can move to doing 3 sets of 10-20 leg lifts with the added weight. Add an extra challenge. If you like lifting the ball with your feet, then you can lift up your legs with the ball in them while reaching toward the ball with your arms. Raise your arms and legs up at the same time, so you can grab the ball in your hands and then move it all the way up behind your head. Then, lift your arms and legs up in the same way again, and shift the weight between your arms and your legs. Move the weight down to the floor with your feet and raise them up again to transfer the weight to your arms once more. This advanced leg lift is certain to get your abs -- and your arms -- burning. | Lie flat on your back with your legs stretched out in front of you. Bend your knees and raise your legs. Straighten your legs until your feet are pointed at the ceiling. Slowly lower your legs. Slow it down if this exercise is too easy. Repeat 3 sets of 10-20 leg lifts. Lie on your side with your head resting on your hand above your elbow. Slowly lift your top leg as high as it will go. Gently lower your leg. Do 15 reps on this side and repeat on the other side. Hang from a bar with your arms. Raise your legs until they are perpendicular to your body. Slowly lower your legs. Repeat 3 sets of 10 hanging leg lifts. Make it easier if you need to. Lie flat on the ground. Place a ball between your feet and lift your legs up. Lower your legs as slowly as possible. Do 3 sets of 5-10 leg lifts with a ball. Add an extra challenge. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Communicate-With-an-Angry-Person | How to Communicate With an Angry Person | The best way to communicate with an angry person is to stay calm and keep your own emotions neutral. Take a few deep breaths and speak with a relaxed, level voice. When you feel calm, help diffuse the person's anger by asking the person to count to ten slowly, and then suggest going for a walk to clear their head. Then, when the person has calmed down a bit, let them explain their feelings. Be sure to listen closely and ask them questions, like "What do you mean by that?" to show that their feelings are important to you. | Don’t respond with anger. When someone else is angry, especially at you, it can be easy to get angry as well. But when you are trying to communicate with an angry person, it's better for you to keep your own anger out of it. Calm yourself down before you respond. Force yourself to stop and take a few deep breaths. Maybe even count to five (or 10 if you need more time). Remember that the other person's anger likely has nothing to do with you. Maintain emotional distance. Don't take this person's anger personally. Instead, step outside of the direct line by transforming your feelings into curiosity about the person's anger. Ask yourself questions like: “This person is really angry. I wonder what got them so upset?” Speak calmly and slowly. Don't raise your voice or speak in a tone that conveys anger. Take a couple of deep breaths if you need to, and speak with a level, calm voice with a normal volume. Use non-threatening body language. Having open, welcoming body language can help diffuse another person's anger. They will see that you are not being antagonistic. Some positive body language includes: Maintaining eye contact (but not staring the person down) Standing or sit with your arms at your sides, not crossed in front of you Standing at a slight angle, instead of facing the other person straight on Becoming aware of the distance between yourself and the angry person. Avoid encroaching on the other person's personal space as a way to avoid making them uncomfortable or angrier. Giving them space also means that, should they try to strike you, you will be able to move out of the way. Gently touching the other person's shoulder, if they will allow it. Keep in mind that touch isn't always appropriate. If the angry person is a spouse or close friend, then a touch may be appropriate. If the angry person is a customer or client, it would not be appropriate. Don’t provoke the angry person. When you know a person's anger triggers, you might push their buttons to provoke them to anger. This may or may not be deliberate. But when someone is angry, try not to do things that you know will make them angrier or feel less respected. Assess the situation before making suggestions. Making suggestions to calm someone down may not be appropriate for someone who clearly doesn't want help; however, it can be appropriate if the angry person is seeking help in calming down. It can also help when conversation is not productive or is escalating and a break is warranted. Tell the person to take deep breaths. Breathing deeply can be effective in regulating emotions. Give the person these instructions: Breathe in for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and exhale for a count of four. Make sure they are breathing with their diaphragm rather than with their chest. When the person breathes with their diaphragm, their belly extends out (they should be able to feel it with their hand). Do this as many times as necessary until the person starts feeling calmer. Ask the person to count to 10. Tell the other person that they don't need to react right away. Counting can help put off angry feelings for the moment. Suggest that the other person gives themselves time to sort out feelings by counting to 10. Distract the person. Help the person take their mind off the anger by distracting them. You can tell a joke or watch a video. You can reassure the person that you care about their anger, but you can also say that it may be a good idea to change their focus for a few minutes to help them cool off. Suggest taking a walk. Removing the person from a situation will help them calm down. Suggest going for a walk, getting outdoors, or otherwise removing themselves from the situation. Let the other person speak. It's important to make sure that the other person feels like you're taking them seriously. Let the person speak and listen to what they are saying. Don't interrupt or correct the other person while they are speaking. Show empathy. You don't necessarily have to agree with the other person, but you can show that you understand why they might feel the way they do. For example, you might say, “If I felt like I wasn't getting equal treatment, I'd probably feel upset too.” Agreeing with the angry person might help diffuse the angry feelings. It helps the angry person feel like they are right in some manner. Keep asking questions. Use “open-ended” questions to probe for more information. Open-ended questions ask for more than a simple answer like yes or no. These types of questions require more information. Then you can get to the root of the problem. For example, you might say, “What happened at the meeting this morning?” Use the word “exactly” to get more information. For example, “What exactly do you mean when you say nobody listened to you?” Paraphrase the other person for clarification. Show that you want to understand what the other person is talking about. Paraphrase what they say so that you are sure you understand correctly. For example, you can say, “Let me see if I have this right. You went to the meeting and were asked to give a last-minute presentation, which made you feel stressed. Then, your boss checked his phone the whole time, which made you feel ignored. Do I have that right?” Find a good time to work on problem-solving. A person's emotional defenses can be down if they are feeling tired or hungry. Find a good time when the person is rested and can approach a problem without getting mired in negative emotion. Apologize if needed. If you did something wrong or if you unintentionally hurt another person, apologizing is not a sign of weakness. It shows that you care that you hurt another person, no matter if it was intended or not. Help the person find a solution to the problem. Work towards problem solving. Ask what the person would like to see happen as a resolution. If you can't meet the person's expectations or if the person is being unreasonable, see what you can negotiate. Use “We. ” Using this language will help show that you are cooperating with the person to resolve the issue in partnership. For example, you can say, “How can I help you to the point where we can resolve this issue?” Stick to the issue at hand. If you are trying to come to a compromise, stick with the issue that is immediately happening. Don't bring up past fights or problems. Don't use old grudges to get what you want out of a situation. Be prepared for no resolution yet. It may be that you can't arrive at a solution until the person has calmed down. This may take a while, and solving the problem will be delayed until the other person can respond without being too angry. Teach kids mutual respect. Kids need some direction in terms of how to deal with their own anger. Not many people know how to instruct their kids on how to deal with anger, so many are left to themselves to deal with it on their own. This can lead to poor impulse control, a history of violent behaviors, and fighting in relationships in school and at home. Children learn their behavioral patterns from their parents and other adults with whom they spend a lot of time. In order to teach your child mutual respect, you must try your best to communicate respectfully with your child. Instruct your kids to treat others with kindness. They shouldn't be sarcastic toward other people. Model this for your child by doing the same — if you don't treat others with kindness and respect, don't expect your child to do so. Don't yell or shake your finger at them. Don't shame your kids, call them nasty names, or put down their actions even if they didn't exhibit the best of judgment. Do not use guilt trips on your kids. If your kids stray from communicating respectfully, don't accuse them of disrespecting you. It will hurt their feelings. If your kids are young, they probably don't even realize they are acting in a disrespectful manner. If it's your teen, let them know in an assertive way that their tone sounds angry and ask them what is going on. In other words, just make the observation without getting upset. Use a non-accusatory tone. Give them a chance to explain. Stay calm and relaxed. Make sure your face is relaxed. Use a tone of voice that does not sound angry or tense. Do not tolerate violent behavior. Behavior such as throwing things or hitting should not be allowed. If it's a one-time occurrence, talk with your child after the incident to let them know that hitting is not allowed. Tell your child that this action was a mistake. Tell them that you forgive them, but that they will lose a privilege the next time this happens. Acknowledge kids’ right to be angry. Just like adults, kids have the right to feel angry. An older child or teenager may respond well to a statement like this: “I notice you seem angry. It's okay, you're allowed to be angry, and people do get angry sometimes. You might be feeling other feelings along with anger too, and that's okay also.” For younger kids, a shorter, more direct reflection statement is more helpful. Reflection can help children learn to name the emotion and learn how to deal with feelings appropriately. Try saying, "You are angry that you did not get to eat the cookie before dinner." Don't worry that it might not be the right emotion — they will correct you. The key is just getting them to refocus on how they are feeling. Help your kid identify more feelings if it's possible, since anger almost always occurs with other feelings specific to the situation. For example, your kid could be angry that their little brother entered their room without permission. Your kid can also feel a little violated. Help your child calm down. What works for adults works for kids too. If you notice your teen or kid stewing for a while, sit down with them. Count out loud for them, taking a few deep breaths with them. Breathe in for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and exhale for a count of four. Be willing to allow your child to blow off some steam for a little while and calm themselves down. They will need this skill throughout their life. In addition, some kids really prefer to calm themselves down. Use distraction. With some kids, it's possible to distract them long enough to get them to move on from something they are focused on. This is easy for young kids. Distraction is a way to deal with emotions to calm them down. Change the scenery and bring your kid out to the garage to help you with something small. A small task like this can help take the focus away from what's upsetting them. Then you can discuss the issue later with them. Listen really well and provide acknowledgment. As your kid discusses their issue and what caused them to be angry, listen to them carefully. Paraphrase and summarize what you think they have said. This will show that you are following their story. For children, it is key to teach them the difference between feelings and behaviors. It is perfectly fine to be angry or upset, but we have to show that in the right way. This is especially true for children who externalize their anger and hit, kick, or destroy things. Ask questions. Your child still might be upset and jump around in their story. By asking questions, you can help your child organize their thoughts too. For instance, if something at school upset your child, try to sum up what they are saying: “Let me see if I'm following your story. Billy pushed you during lunch time. You told the teacher, but the teacher just told him to stop, but you felt that the teacher should have punished him. Did I get this right?” For instance, if your kid has a falling out with friends, acknowledge that your kid has a right to be angry and upset. Your child might be feeling hurt. It might take a while for these feelings to resolve, but assure your child that the feelings eventually will fade away. Brainstorm how to solve the problem. This will shift the focus away from the anger and focus on problem-solving. Encourage your kid to think of solutions where everyone wins, which will ensure cooperation in the house. You can offer some suggestions too, but it is also effective to let your child come up with solutions. Your child may feel more in control when he gets to determine how to solve the problem. He is also learning how to resolve his own problems, which is a skill he will need throughout life. Be consistent and patient. You are teaching your kids major life skills, so following these steps each and every time will help this lesson sink in. Help your child handle difficult situations. In some cases, your child might be angry because they have been wronged. Whether it's bullying or because of unkind treatment from peers, your kid might have a really good reason to be angry. If there are situations where your child needs protection, like a bullying situation, demonstrate how this situation should be handled assertively. Go to your school's principal for help and alert your child's teachers. Keep going up the chain of command until you reach a positive solution. Being patient in tough situations will help show your child what it's like to work out problems. Keep yourself and children safe. Your personal physical safety should be your number one concern when you are with someone who is angry most or all the time. If you have children in the house and they experience harm to their physical, emotional, and mental safety, or they witness violence in the household, you need to ensure your own safety and the safety of your children. Have a plan so you know what to do if your safety is at risk. If it's possible, obtain an alternate place to stay or stay in a safehouse to ensure your safety. Use a code word with your children that can be used if anyone is in danger. Teach them what to do in case you use the code word (for example, they should leave the house and run to a specific friend's house). Let a trusted friend or family member know your situation. If you are able, talk with your friend, neighbor or family member about your safety plan. Talk over visual cues that you might use if you are in danger. Know where your escape route is. Identify the nearest exits. If you can't get out of your house, identify safe areas of the house where there are no weapons or other instruments that can be used to hurt you. Always park your car face out in your driveway and keep the gas tank full. Have a phone with you at all times. Carry your phone with you and program in important phone numbers. Call a domestic violence hotline. If you are having trouble getting away from your situation, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline. This hotline is staffed with people who can help you come up with a plan. They can also provide you with a shelter to go to. The National Domestic Violence Hotline's number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). The website is http://www.thehotline.org. | Don’t respond with anger. Maintain emotional distance. Speak calmly and slowly. Use non-threatening body language. Don’t provoke the angry person. Assess the situation before making suggestions. Tell the person to take deep breaths. Ask the person to count to 10. Distract the person. Suggest taking a walk. Let the other person speak. Show empathy. Keep asking questions. Paraphrase the other person for clarification. Find a good time to work on problem-solving. Apologize if needed. Help the person find a solution to the problem. Use “We. Stick to the issue at hand. Be prepared for no resolution yet. Teach kids mutual respect. Stay calm and relaxed. Do not tolerate violent behavior. Acknowledge kids’ right to be angry. Help your child calm down. Use distraction. Listen really well and provide acknowledgment. Brainstorm how to solve the problem. Be consistent and patient. Help your child handle difficult situations. Keep yourself and children safe. Let a trusted friend or family member know your situation. Know where your escape route is. Have a phone with you at all times. Call a domestic violence hotline. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Underwater-in-a-Swimming-Pool | How to Stay Underwater in a Swimming Pool | To stay underwater in a swimming pool, start by wrapping your arms around your legs so your knees are against your chest, which will help you sink. Then, slowly release air bubbles through your nose so you sink deeper into the pool. Keep doing this until you reach the bottom of the pool. Once you reach the bottom, sit cross-legged or hold onto your knees in front of you. When you're ready to come up, stretch out your arms and legs and swim toward the surface. | Determine how long you can hold your breath out of water. Stand or sit still. Breathing slowly and deeply, take several full breaths. At the top of an inhale, hold your breath by closing the back of your throat. Use a stopwatch to time how long you can hold your breath. If you're happy with the time, you may feel ready to hit the pool. If not, you can increase your lung strength and capacity through breathing exercises and regular physical activity. You may have heard that people can hold their breath underwater for several minutes. This is thanks to the mammalian diving reflex, which makes it possible for mammals to hold their breath longer underwater than on land. This is a survival instinct and is not to be relied upon. Further, people who set records for holding their breath regularly practice their endurance and do so under particular conditions. Practice diaphragmatic breathing. Just because you are constantly breathing doesn't mean you are getting the most out of your breath. Abdominal breathing exercises that strengthen your lungs and diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, can help you to breathe more consciously and efficiently. Lie down on a flat surface. Use a pillow under your head if desired, and/or under your knees, if you have pain in your low back. Place one hand on your chest, in the area of your heart, and the other just below your rib cage. Breathe in slowly through your nose. The hand on your belly should rise, but the hand on your chest should remain still. Contract your stomach muscles and exhale slowly for six seconds through puckered lips. Again, the hand on your chest should remain still throughout the exhale. Practice this sequence 5-10 minutes a few times a day. As the exercise becomes more habitual and easy, you may place a book, bag of rice, or sandbag (available at yoga supply stores) on your abdomen to increase the strength of your diaphragm. Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise. This is exercise that increases your heart rate. Improved cardio-respiratory function and more efficient use of oxygen are some of the benefits of a regular fitness routine. For general health, adults are advised to get 30 minutes or more of moderate physical exercise most days of the week. Running, biking, swimming, aerobics classes, and even dancing are all aerobic activities. Try multiple activities to identify an exercise that is enjoyable to you. If you enjoy an exercise activity, you will more likely stick to it. Establish an exercise routine. Routines help make exercise into a regular habit. Try working out at various times in the day and evening to determine when it is most convenient for you to exercise. Even small amounts of physical activity, e.g., five to ten minutes of walking, can improve your physical health. Aim to accumulate a total of 30 minutes of exercise a day. Find out if holding your breath for a long period is allowed at the pool you will be using. Many public pools in the United States have banned long breath-holding because of the risk of hypoxia (low oxygen), which can impair brain function, cause unconsciousness, and death. Choose a spot in the water to sink. You can completely submerge yourself in any body of water that is higher than you are tall, or that will cover your head when sitting (or even lying down, such as in a wading pool). The most important factor to consider for picking a spot is to observe your surroundings. Always approach holding your breath underwater with caution, especially in a crowded public pool where people are engaged in many different activities and not paying attention to others. If you want to sink to the bottom of a pool, you may think choosing a spot near the wall is safest. But, remember that people will be entering the water around all edges of a pool. It may be better to find a relatively isolated place, away from where people may be entering the water and away from large groups. Also, keep your distance from the pool drain, which can exert hundreds of pounds of suction and can cause injury and death. Have a friend keep an eye out for you while you're below the surface. If you're swimming underwater, keep an eye out for traffic and remember that other swimmers will not necessarily be looking out for you. Ideally you can chart a clear path ahead of you to the other side, one that will stay clear until you get there. Take a vertical position in the water with your feet pointing down. If you're in the shallow side of the pool, you will likely be standing. If you're in a part of the pool where the water is higher than you are tall, your body will assume a vertical position with ease as, generally, your lower body will be heavier than your upper body. Take some slow, deep breaths to fill your lungs with oxygen. Do not hyperventilate. Taking several fast breaths in a row before submerging yourself is known as DUBB, "dangerous underwater breath-holding behaviors" and can cause hypoxic blackout, which can lead to brain damage, fainting, and death. Get into a tucked position. Pull your knees in and hold them close to your chest by wrapping your arms around them. This tucked position changes the amount of space you're taking up in the water and will allow you to fall deeper into the water and to more easily remain underwater. Objects, and bodies, sink in water if they have a higher density than the body of water. An object's density depends on its mass and volume--the amount of space it takes up. As such, taking up less space in the water will help you sink. Sink. Release air bubbles slowly through your nose. You can let them out of your mouth as well and they can be bigger, but you'll sink faster. You may also do both and let out small bits of air, puffing your cheeks between blowing air out. Let your head and body sink into the water. When your feet hit the bottom of the pool, sit in a comfortable position, such as cross-legged or holding on to your knees in front of you. Return to the surface. When you're ready or running out of breath, look up to make sure nothing and no one is in your way to the pool's surface. Whether seated or standing, press firmly into your feet and stretch your arms skyward to shoot or swim upwards. Take several, slow deep breaths to fill your lungs with oxygen. Remember to avoid hyperventilating--taking quick or shallow breaths. This behavior is dangerous because your body will lose oxygen more quickly and you may suffer hypoxic blackout and even death. Submerge your head and body in a streamlined position. As you fall below the surface of the water, assume a horizontal position parallel to the pool floor. Keep your head and eyes in a neutral position facing the bottom of the pool and bring your arms up over your head, squeezing them alongside your ears. Use your feet to push strongly off the wall. Keep your torso and arms in a streamlined position, bend your knees, and plant both of your feet on the wall. Press firmly into both of your feet to push you forward and give your body momentum. Use dolphin kick to propel you across the water. This kick is considered the most powerful for swimming underwater. Keep your legs and feet together and bend your knees slightly. Kick both legs forward simultaneously, finishing with them slightly in front of the body. Repeat until you reach the other side of the pool, coming up for air if necessary. The power of dolphin kick comes from moving your legs like a whip. Focus on fully extending your legs to get the most power from the kick. Keep your hands and arms in front of you as you swim. This streamlined position is the most efficient for cutting through the water as quickly as possible and will alert you to obstacles ahead of you. Emerge from the water. When your hands meet the pool wall, use them to push against the wall to bring you to the surface. | Determine how long you can hold your breath out of water. Practice diaphragmatic breathing. Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise. Find out if holding your breath for a long period is allowed at the pool you will be using. Choose a spot in the water to sink. Take a vertical position in the water with your feet pointing down. Take some slow, deep breaths to fill your lungs with oxygen. Get into a tucked position. Sink. Return to the surface. Take several, slow deep breaths to fill your lungs with oxygen. Submerge your head and body in a streamlined position. Use your feet to push strongly off the wall. Use dolphin kick to propel you across the water. Keep your hands and arms in front of you as you swim. Emerge from the water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Marinara-Sauce | How to Make Marinara Sauce | To make your own marinara sauce, heat a little olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Saute diced onions until they're tender and translucent, then add garlic and continue cooking for about another minute. Add your tomatoes and seasonings like basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 30 minutes, then remove the sauce from the heat and serve it right away. | Pour 3 US tbsp (44 mL) of oil in a pan and place it over medium heat. For best results, use extra-virgin olive oil and pour it into the center of the saucepan. Allow the oil to heat up for about 2-3 minutes before moving on to the next step. Extra-virgin olive oil will give your marinara sauce a much richer flavor than ordinary olive oil will. Medium heat is the middle number on your stovetop dial. For example, if your dial runs from 1 to 10, turn it to 5 to set it to medium heat. Saute the onions and garlic in the pan for about 8 minutes. Add the diced onions first and cook them until they're soft and translucent, which should take 5-7 minutes. Then, stir in the minced garlic and continue cooking until it becomes fragrant, which should take 30 seconds to 1 minute. If you want to add a bit of a savory flavor to your sauce, you can also add about 1 cup (75 grams) of chopped mushrooms to the pan and saute them along with the diced onions. Add 1⁄2 pound (230 g) of ground beef if you want to make a meat sauce. Simply stir the beef into the onions and garlic and cook it until it browns , which should take around 5 minutes. You can also use ground Italian sausage to give your sauce a spicier flavor. If you choose to add meat to your sauce, continuous stir the meat as you cook it to keep from burning it in the pan. Pour the tomatoes into the mix. For best results, use 4 cups (28 ounces) of whole peeled tomatoes, although canned crushed tomatoes may also be used if that's all you have. Break the whole tomatoes apart with your spatula when you add them to the pan. Be sure to stir the tomatoes after you add them so that they mix with the onions and garlic. Throw in any seasonings you want to add to the mix. With the onions, garlic, and olive oil, your sauce will already taste pretty good, but there's no harm in adding some seasoning to it. If you want to season your sauce, try adding ¼ cup (5 grams) of fresh basil , ¼ teaspoon (1.25 grams) of salt, ¼ teaspoon (1.25 grams) of pepper, ½ teaspoon (1 gram) of dried oregano, and 1 bay leaf. Thoroughly stir the seasonings into the mix to make sure they're fully incorporated after you add them. You can also add ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of white wine to give your sauce a sharper flavor. Allow the sauce to simmer for 30 minutes. Leave the saucepan uncovered as the sauce simmers and stir the ingredients every 5 minutes or so. Simmering the sauce will allow it to reduce and thicken to the normal consistency of pasta sauce. If the sauce is too watery for your taste after 30 minutes, let it simmer a bit longer until it reaches your desired consistency. If you're using your sauce on spaghetti or some other pasta, now is a great time to go ahead and boil your pasta and get ready to eat. Remove your sauce from heat and serve it right away. You can sprinkle a pinch of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese over your sauce for flavoring if desired, although this is optional. Use a ladle to serve the sauce over pasta or enjoy it in a separate recipe. If you added a bay leaf during the cooking process, remove it from the sauce before serving. Store any leftover marinara sauce in a sealed container. Place the container in the refrigerator if you plan to use the sauce relatively soon. Alternatively, store the container in the freezer, where the sauce can be kept for up to 6 months. Marinara sauce stored in the refrigerator will remain fresh for 4-5 days. | Pour 3 US tbsp (44 mL) of oil in a pan and place it over medium heat. Saute the onions and garlic in the pan for about 8 minutes. Add 1⁄2 pound (230 g) of ground beef if you want to make a meat sauce. Pour the tomatoes into the mix. Throw in any seasonings you want to add to the mix. Allow the sauce to simmer for 30 minutes. Remove your sauce from heat and serve it right away. Store any leftover marinara sauce in a sealed container. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Chibi-Eye | How to Draw a Chibi Eye | To draw a chibi eye, start by drawing a large, round iris with a small black pupil in the center. Next, draw the eyelids by adding a thick line on top of the eye that curves outward and a thin curved line on the bottom. Finally, add white highlights over the iris and pupil so it looks like light is reflecting off of the eye. | Draw an oval. Usually, this oval is a bit taller than it is wide. You can change this; just remember that a chibi eye is large and round! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/c\/cf\/Simplechibieye5.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Simplechibieye5.png\/400px-Simplechibieye5.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":370,"bigWidth":"400","bigHeight":"322","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Draw the eyelids. Draw a thick curve on top of the oval that curves outwards to one side. The outside edge should hang out from the oval; this leaves room for the sclera. For the bottom eyelid, just add a thin curved line on the bottom of the oval. Chibi eyes are exaggerated, so make the top eyelid curve outwards significantly. Fill the oval with black. Colour and highlights will be added later; it's easier to do the black now than try to colour in crevices later. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/c\/c1\/Simplechibieye3.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Simplechibieye3.png\/397px-Simplechibieye3.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":371,"bigWidth":"397","bigHeight":"320","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Add a colourful "C". Look at the photo; a thick coloured "C" seems to be on its side. This should be at the bottom of your oval and surrounded with black. A bright colour is best. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/5\/54\/Simplechibieye4.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Simplechibieye4.png\/383px-Simplechibieye4.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":417,"bigWidth":"383","bigHeight":"347","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Shade the C. Pick a slightly darker shade, and colour the bottom of the C with this. This is an easy way to add depth and light perception. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/c\/cf\/Simplechibieye5.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Simplechibieye5.png\/400px-Simplechibieye5.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":370,"bigWidth":"400","bigHeight":"322","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Add small line details in the C. Use black or a different, darker colour, add small lines inside the coloured C. Although this step is optional, it will add the pupil to the eyes which will make it look more human. Add white highlights. Depending on where your light source is, use white to add lines and little specks of light to the whole eye. For added authenticity, the highlights should be in both the black and the coloured area. Add eyebrows and small details. Usually, chibi eyebrows are just thin curved lines. Small curved spikes on the upper eyelid can be eyelashes. Draw two lines that looks like a cross on the face of the chibi. The cross will not only help you place the eyes, but it will also help you place other facial features in the correct spot as well. Place the eyes on the horizontal line on the spots that the circles were placed. Even though there are two lines below the cross in the image, you don't need to draw them. To place the eyes, all you need to do is to draw your eyes above the horizontal line. Enjoy drawing your chibis! | Draw an oval. Draw the eyelids. Fill the oval with black. Add a colourful "C". Shade the C. Add small line details in the C. Add white highlights. Add eyebrows and small details. Draw two lines that looks like a cross on the face of the chibi. Place the eyes on the horizontal line on the spots that the circles were placed. Enjoy drawing your chibis! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Optimistic | How to Be Optimistic | To be optimistic, focus on the positive things in your life and avoid dwelling on the negative aspects. When you're faced with a negative situation, try to look for a silver lining! You can also write yourself daily affirmations and place them somewhere visible, like in your locker or taped on your computer. Spend time doing activities that make you smile or laugh and try to surround yourself with friends and family who lighten your mood! | Recognize the good and bad in your life and examine how you’ve been affected by each. Optimism doesn't mean you have to feel “happy” all the time. In fact, trying to force feelings of happiness during potentially traumatic experiences can be unhealthy. Instead, attune yourself to the full range of emotions in your life, accepting that the negative as well as positive feelings are a natural part of human experience. Trying to repress a certain type of emotion can cause severe emotional distress. Not focusing more on one type of emotion than the other can actually help you become more adaptive and proactive in future unexpected situations. This will increase your ability to be optimistic and resilient in the face of uncertainty. Negative feelings can become a conditioned habit over time. Avoid blaming yourself for negative emotions and associations. Blame is unhelpful because it doesn't look forward to how you can grow; it looks backward at what has already happened. Instead, focus on being mindful of when these negative emotions occur. A journal could help you do this. Write down when you experience negative feelings or thoughts, then examine their contexts and explore alternative ways of responding to them. For example, imagine that someone cuts you off in traffic. You respond by feeling angry, honking your horn, and perhaps yelling at the driver even though s/he can't hear you. You could write in your journal what happened, how it made you feel, and what your immediate response was. Don't judge yourself as “right” or “wrong,” just write down what happened. Next, take a step back and think about what you've written. Was your response in accordance with your values and the type of person you want to be? If not, what could you have done differently? What do you think you were really responding to? For example, perhaps you weren't really angry at the driver; maybe you had a stressful day and allowed your stress to explode on that one person. Look forward when you write these entries. Don't use them just as a place to wallow in negative feelings. Think about what you can learn from the experience. What can you use to grow as a person? Can you use this experience to inform other experiences? If you encounter a similar situation next time, how might you respond in a way that is in line with your values? For example, perhaps realizing that you responded with anger because of your stressful day could help you realize that everyone makes mistakes and encourage you to feel more empathetic with other people the next time someone shows anger toward you. Having a pre-existing idea of how you want to respond to negative situations can also help you in the tough moments. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a key component of optimism because it encourages you to focus on acknowledging your emotions in the moment without judging them. Often, negative reactions arise when we try to struggle against our feelings, or when we allow ourselves to become so blinded by our emotions that we forget that we can control how we respond to them. Focusing on your breathing, accepting your body and your feelings, and learning from your emotions rather than denying them can help you become comfortable with yourself, which is important when those negative emotions arise. Mindfulness meditation has been shown by many studies to help with feelings of anxiety and depression. It can actually reprogram the way your body responds to stress. Look for mindfulness meditation classes in your community. You can also find guided meditations online, such as at the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center or BuddhaNet. (And of course, there are several great tutorials on Wikihow.) You don't have to commit a huge amount of time to meditation to see its effects. Just a few minutes a day can help you become more aware and accepting of your emotions. Identify whether your inner monologue is an optimist or a pessimist. Our inner monologue is a great indicator of whether we naturally take a positive or negative outlook on life. Pay attention to your inner monologue over the course of a day and see if any of the following forms of negative self-talk (that is, your inner monologue) are appearing regularly: It can help to keep a "thought log" throughout the day. Write down any negative thoughts you have, then come up with something more positive you can focus on instead. Magnifying the negative aspects of a situation and filtering out all of the positive ones. Automatically blaming yourself for any negative situation or event. Anticipating the worst in any given situation. The drive-through coffee shop gets your order wrong and you automatically think that the rest of your day will be a disaster. You see things only as good or bad (also known as polarization). In your eyes, there is no middle ground. Look for the positives in your life. It's important to re-orient your inner monologue to focus on the positive aspects of both you as an individual and the world around you. Although positive thinking is only one of the steps towards becoming a true optimist, the effects of positive thinking for both your body and mind can be significant, such as: Increased life span Lower rates of depression Lower levels of distress Improved immune system Better psychological and physical well-being Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress Remember that true optimism is different from blind optimism. Blind optimism occurs when an individual believes that nothing bad can happen. This can lead overconfidence and naivety, and it can lead to disappointment or even danger. True optimism doesn't just ignore challenges or pretend that negative feelings and experiences don't exist. It acknowledges those challenges and then says, “I can work through those!” For example, deciding to go skydiving without ever taking a lesson or reading up on the subject because “it'll all work out” is an example of blind (and dangerous!) optimism. It isn't realistic, and it doesn't acknowledge that you have to work to overcome obstacles. A decision like this could put you in real danger. A true optimist would look at skydiving and recognize that it's a complex sport that requires a lot of training and safety precautions. Rather than getting discouraged by the amount of work required, an optimist would set a goal (“learn to skydive”) and then begin working toward it, confident that s/he can achieve it. Write yourself daily positive affirmations. Writing down short statements can help us believe in the potential of an action we want to accomplish. Jot down a few affirmations that remind you of what you're trying to change about the way you see the world. Put them in places where you'll see them every day, such as on your bathroom mirror, the inside of your locker, on your computer, and even taped to your shower wall. Examples of positive affirmations can be: "Anything is possible." "My circumstances do not create me, I create my circumstances." "The only thing I can control is my attitude towards life." "I always have a choice." Avoid comparing yourself to others. It's easy to be envious, but this can often lead to purely negative thinking ("They have more money than I do.", "She runs faster than I do."). Remember, there's always someone who has it worse. Avoid negative comparisons with others, focusing instead on the positive. Studies suggest that complaining about one's problems may be linked to depression and anxiety. Practicing gratitude in your daily life can be a great way to get out of the cycle of negative comparisons. Write letters thanking the people in your life or tell them in person. A focus on these positive elements in your life can dramatically increase your mood and feelings of well-being. Say "thank you" silently to yourself as soon as you wake up in the morning. While you don't have to have anything to be grateful for, repeating this mantra will put you in a positive mindset. Consider keeping a gratitude journal. Research has found that men and women who wrote a few lines each week about things that had occurred recently that made them feel grateful tended to feel more optimistic and better about their lives overall. Work on improving your perspective in 1 or 2 areas of your life. Pessimism often stems from feelings of helplessness or lack of control. Identify one or two key aspects that you'd like to change in your life and work on improving them. This will help restore your faith in your own power and ability to effect change in your daily life. See yourself as a cause, not an effect. Optimists are known for their tendency to believe that negative events or experiences can be overcome by their own effort and abilities. Start small. Don't feel you have to take on everything at once. Positive thinking can lead to positive results. In one study, training male basketball players to attribute positive results—for example, making a free throw—to their ability and negative results to their lack of effort was found to significantly improve their subsequent performance. Smile as often as you can. Studies have shown that putting a cheerful smile on your face can actually make you feel happier and more optimistic about the present and future. In one study, subjects who were asked to hold a pen in their mouth (causing them to make the facial muscle movements characteristic of a smile) rated cartoons to be funnier than other subjects did, even though they were unaware that it was only the smile that was boosting their reaction. Consciously changing the facial muscles to reflect a positive emotion sends a similar message to your brain, elevating your mood. Realize how you are connected with the world around you. Optimism isn't something that simply originates inside your own brain and emanates outward; it grows between you and the world in which you live. Learn to recognize those aspects of your environment that you aren't happy with and invest your time and energy into changing them. Work toward changing the world for the better in concrete ways, one interaction at a time. This could take the form of joining a social justice movement or political cause that is important to you. Remember, however, that there is a wealth of diverse cultures in the world, of which yours is only one. Don't get caught up in the idea that your culture or way of doing things is superior or the only way. Embracing the diversity in the world and working to help others on their own terms can teach you to see beauty and positivity in many things. On a micro scale, even rearranging concrete things like your furniture can help break up old, unhelpful patterns of behavior and allow you to form new ones. Studies have shown that breaking a habit is easier if you change up your routines, because this activates new areas of your brain. This goes hand in hand with learning to accept and work with a broad range of emotions, as it's impossible to experiment with what you never have to encounter. Instead of trying to micro-manage your emotions by living out the same habits every day, experiment with each interaction and try to find ways to improve things about the environment you share with others. Build goals and expectations for the future from your concrete interactions with other people and the environment. In doing so, you can avoid creating unrealistic expectations for yourselves and others. Try thinking about what your life would be like without the positives. This exercise comes from researchers at Berkeley, who recommend that you take 15 minutes once every week to practice. Thinking about how your life would be different without something you love or are grateful for can help you cultivate optimism by countering the natural tendency to assume the good things in life are “givens.” Remembering that we are lucky for every positive thing that has occurred, and that those things were not inevitable, can foster an attitude of grateful positivity. Start by focusing on a single positive event in your life, such as an achievement, a trip, or anything that's meaningful to you. Remember the event, and think about the circumstances that allowed it to happen. Consider the ways in which those circumstances might have been different. For example, you might not have learned the language that led you to take that trip, or you might not have read the paper the day you found the announcement of the job you now love. Write down all of the possible events and decisions that might have gone differently and kept this positive event from occurring. Imagine what your life would be like if this event had not happened. Imagine what you would be missing if you did not have all the other positive things that have been created by that event. Come back to remembering that the event did happen. Reflect on the positives it's brought to your life. Voice gratitude that these things, that did not have to happen, worked out to bring you this joyful experience. Find the silver linings. It's the natural human tendency to focus on what goes wrong in our lives rather than what has gone right. Counter this tendency by examining a negative event and finding the “bright side.” Research has shown this ability to be a key component of optimism, and it also helps with stress, depression, and your relationships with others. Try it for ten minutes a day for three weeks, and you'll be surprised how much more optimistic you've become. Start by listing 5 things that make you feel like your life is good in some way today. Then, think about a time when something did not go as expected, or caused you pain or frustration. Briefly write down what that situation was. Look for 3 things about that situation that may help you see the “silver lining.” For example, you might have had car trouble that made you late for work because you had to catch the bus. That isn't a pleasant situation, but you might consider the following as potential bright sides: You met new people on the bus that you don't normally interact with You were able to catch the bus, which is much cheaper than having to take a taxi to work Your car is fixable Even if they're small things, make sure to find at least 3. This will help you become practiced in changing your interpretation and response to events. Spend time on activities that make you smile or laugh. Give yourself permission to laugh. The world is full of humor: immerse yourself in it! Watch TV comedies, attend a stand-up comedy routine, buy a joke book. Everyone has a different sense of humor, but focus on finding things that make you laugh. Go out of your way to make yourself smile at least once a day. Remember, laughter is a natural stress reliever. Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Optimism and positive thinking have been closely connected to exercise and physical well-being. In fact, exercise has been shown to be a natural mood enhancer, helped by the endorphins produced when you engage in physical activity. Engage in some kind of physical activity at least three times a week. Physical activity doesn't have to be a workout at the gym. Go for a walk with your dog. Use the stairs at work instead of the elevator. Any amount of physical movement can help to improve your mood. Limit mood-altering substances, such as drugs or alcohol. Studies have found significant links between pessimism and the abuse of drugs and/or alcohol. Surround yourself with friends and family who lighten your mood. For example, play dress up with your kids or go to a concert with your sister. Spending time with other people can often be a great way of lessening isolation and loneliness, which can produce feelings of pessimism or skepticism. Make sure those in your life are positive and supportive people. Not everyone you encounter in life will have the same orientation and expectations for life as you, and that's entirely okay. However, if you find that another person's attitudes and behaviors negatively affect your own, consider detaching yourself from that person. Humans are extremely susceptible to “emotional contagion,” in which the feelings and attitudes of those around us affect how we feel ourselves. Negative people may increase your stress level and make you doubt your ability to manage stress in healthy ways. Don't be afraid to experiment with your relationships. You never know whether someone, even if s/he is very different from you, may bring something valuable to your life. Consider the process a kind of chemistry. It's important to find the right combination of people in order to cultivate an optimistic outlook towards the future. A change of mood doesn't mean a change of personality. Being an optimist is not the same as being an extrovert. You don't have to be an extrovert to be an optimist. In fact, trying to be someone you're not could leave you feeling depleted and sad, not optimistic. Be positive in your actions toward others. Optimism is infectious. Showing positivity and compassion in your interaction with others not only benefits you, it can create a “ripple effect” where others are encouraged to be positive towards even more people. This is why charity work or volunteer activities have long been associated as a significant factor in mood improvement. Whether it's buying a stranger a cup of coffee or serving earthquake victims in another country, positivity in your actions toward others pays off in increased optimism. Charity work has been cited as a natural boost for self-confidence and self-esteem, which may help battle feelings of pessimism or helplessness. Serving or giving to others can also make you feel good about your contribution to the world. This is especially true if you can make your contributions in person, rather than anonymously or online. Volunteering can help you make new friends and contacts, surrounding you with a positive community that can boost optimism. Smiling at strangers is a cultural behavior. For example, American culture generally considers it as friendly, but Russian culture views it with suspicion. Feel free to smile at others in public, but be aware that they may have different traditions than you do, and don't get offended if they don't return the gesture (or even seem disturbed by it). Realize that optimism is a cycle. The more you engage in positive thinking and action, the easier it will be to maintain the trend of optimism in your daily life. | Recognize the good and bad in your life and examine how you’ve been affected by each. Practice mindfulness. Identify whether your inner monologue is an optimist or a pessimist. Look for the positives in your life. Remember that true optimism is different from blind optimism. Write yourself daily positive affirmations. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Work on improving your perspective in 1 or 2 areas of your life. Smile as often as you can. Realize how you are connected with the world around you. Try thinking about what your life would be like without the positives. Find the silver linings. Spend time on activities that make you smile or laugh. Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Surround yourself with friends and family who lighten your mood. Be positive in your actions toward others. Realize that optimism is a cycle. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool | How to Find a Leak in Your Swimming Pool | If you think you have a leak in your swimming pool, check the ground around the pool for any moisture or sunken areas to help you narrow down where the leak might be. Look closely at the filter, pump, heater, and pipe valves, which is where leaks often tend to occur. If you have a vinyl pool liner, look for tears or separations around the fittings, lights, steps, and corners. If you still can't find the leak, turn off the filtration system and notice where the water stops dropping, or put 1-2 drops of test dye solution into the water near a suspected leak point to see if the die is sucked into a crack or gap. | Check the obvious first. Here's a list of common problems that could indicate a leak, in no particular order: Are there any leaks at the equipment pad? Look closely at the filter, pump, heater and the pipe valves. Are there any wet areas around the pool? Check the ground for moisture. Walk around the pool, and by the pool and the equipment. Check for wet soil and sunken or eroding areas. Do you have a vinyl liner pool? Look for tears or separations around all the fittings, skimmers, returns, cleaner line, lights, steps and the corners. If you want to confirm a leak, try one of these techniques to double-check. If you suspect your pool is leaking, there are several ways to check. Mark the water level of the pool at the skimmer. Use a piece of tape or grease pencil to mark the water level. Check the mark 24 hours later. Your pool should lose no more than ⁄ 4 inch (0.6 cm) per day. Otherwise, a leak is indicated. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-2.jpg\/aid121484-v4-728px-Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":284,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"449","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\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Place a bucket filled with pool water on a pool step (weight it with a rock or brick). Mark the water level on both the inside and the outside of the bucket. Make sure the water levels are the same inside the bucket as the pool water level outside the bucket. Check the mark 24 hours later. If there's a greater drop in the line on the outside of the bucket, a leak in the pool is indicated. This test needs to be conducted with the pump on, then again with the pump off. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-3.jpg\/aid121484-v4-728px-Find-a-Leak-in-Your-Swimming-Pool-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":321,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"508","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\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Determine the location of the leak. If you determine that your pool is losing water, turn off the filtration system and note where the water stops dropping. Vinyl Liner pools need to have water in them at all times! Stop this test if you have a liner pool and the water level is dropping rapidly. Start adding water and call a pool professional. If the water stops at the bottom of skimmer opening, the leak is probably in the skimmer or filtration system (including the pipes). If you suspect you have a leak in the filtration system: Check, first, to see if you see air bubbles in the water in the return line when the pool's pump is running. If so, there is a leak in the suction side of the filtration system. Ensure the pump basket lid is on tight and that the lid o-ring is lubed and in good condition. If the water stops at the light, the leak is probably at the light housing. If the water drops below the light, then there may be a leak in the drain at the bottom the pool. If the pool is losing more water while the pump is running, the leak is on the return line side of the system. In this case, check the waste or backwash line for running water, If you suspect you have a leak in the skimmer, light, liner, look closely for something that looks like a crack, gap or tear. Put a drop or two of dye test solution or some of your pH indicator test reagent near a suspected leak point. Do this with the pump shut off and the water still. See if the dye is sucked into the crack, gap or tear. Fix leaks you've identified. Your treatment of the leak will depend on its location and nature: Skimmer leaks: The most common leak is a separation between the plastic skimmer and the concrete pool. This is easily fixed with pool putty. Light leaks: Often the conduit pipe will come apart, break or separate from the niche. This is difficult to patch. There are various methods to patch a bad conduit connection. A two part epoxy that dries hard, with putty, silicone or caulk are ways to fix this problem. Liner leaks: Simply patch it with a vinyl liner patch kit. If underwater, use a wet patch kit. Note that many leaks are not detectable using the suggestions above. Now it's time to call a professional! Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, most pool or spa leaks can be found and repaired without major disruption. Compressed air is often used to pressurize a pipe. The air displaces the water in the pipe until it reaches the leak, at which point bubbles escape from the hole to reveal the problem area. Or, where a pipe fails to maintain a constant air pressure, a leak exists. Other times, a special television camera is snaked through plumbing pipes to spot leaks. Pool techs inject air into a pipe, then listen electronically for sounds of air escaping with a super-sensitive microphone. You should expect to pay about $150 to $1,250 for high-tech leak detection, depending upon the location and complexity of the problem. Repairs are extra. Understand pool plumbing basics to visualize what a pool tech might do to fix the leak. The basic configuration of a swimming pool plumbing and filtration system is simple. Water is pulled through the skimmer and main drains in the swimming pool by the pool pump. The water travels underground to the mechanical room where it passes through the pump strainer basket and is then pushed through the filter and heater as well as any other peripherals such as chlorinators. It is eventually piped back to the pool through the return lines. In addition to these closed system lines, there are also a few additional aspects to the swimming pool plumbing system which do not operate in a closed (pressurized) system. Most swimming pools employ an open system (gravity fed, not pressurized) equalizer line that helps the pool pump to retain its prime during periods of low water level. This equalizer line is often forgotten about or ignored during renovations as replacing the line is a costly and time consuming enterprise. The equalizer line will connect to the bottom of the skimmer and the other end to either the main drains, or a side port in the wall of the pool near to the location of the skimmer. It is the pipe that leads from the bottom of the skimmer down to the main drains that is often overlooked. Since this is a non pressure line it would tend to leak less than a pressurized line, but on average this pipe can also be older than the rest of your pool plumbing system increasing it as a candidate for unexplained water loss. Plumbing systems are a constant source for water loss for a host of different reasons ranging from pipe material, installation quality, age, configuration and soil conditions. Before you begin to tear apart your plumbing system you need to first isolate the leak to determine if it is located in the plumbing system, or in the structure of the pool itself. Check to make sure the contractor has a business license. You can check with your local town or city building department. Some city and town require a trades license. Make sure you're calling a local contractor or company and not a internet marketing company. These companies sell your lead to a local contractor and increase your total cost. | Check the obvious first. If you want to confirm a leak, try one of these techniques to double-check. Determine the location of the leak. Put a drop or two of dye test solution or some of your pH indicator test reagent near a suspected leak point. Fix leaks you've identified. Note that many leaks are not detectable using the suggestions above. Understand pool plumbing basics to visualize what a pool tech might do to fix the leak. Check to make sure the contractor has a business license. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Drysol | How to Use Drysol | If you've been prescribed Drysol, wash and dry your skin, then apply the medication to the prescribed areas right before bed. Cover the area so the Drysol can't transfer to your sheets or other parts of your skin. This will allow the medication to work for 6-8 hours without you sweating. When you wake up, wash the Drysol off with soap and water. Do not apply Drysol to broken or irritated skin, and don't apply it right after shaving. Of course, if your doctor gives you specific instructions, follow those first. | Visit your doctor. Explain to your doctor that you suffer from excessive sweating and that you have tried a number of different deodorants and antiperspirants, but none of them have helped to control the amount you sweat. Ask your doctor or dermatologist if Drysol is right for you. Inform your doctor of any medical conditions you have. Some medical conditions may interact with Drysol. As a result, you should tell your doctor about any pre-existing medical conditions. Your doctor will be able to determine from this information if Drysol is a good fit for you. You should also inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is also a good idea to tell your doctor about any allergies that you have. Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. Certain medications and supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of Drysol. Tell your doctor about all medications and supplements that you are currently taking. This includes prescription and nonprescription medications, supplements, and herbal remedies. There are currently no specific interactions with Drysol, but you should still disclose this information to your doctor incase you experience some form of reaction. Use drysol as directed by your doctor. Always follow your doctor's directions when using Drysol. As a general rule, you should apply Drysol immediately before bed. This way the medication can work for six to eight hours when sweating does not occur. Do not apply to broken or irritated skin. Don't apply Drysol after shaving, this will increase the likelihood of skin irritation. Wash and dry the area before application. Prior to applying Drysol to the desired area, you should wash your skin. Use soap and warm water to thoroughly clean your skin. Then, dry the area using a towel. You can speed up the drying process, by using a blow dryer on a cool setting. Apply Drysol to the desired area. Put a small amount of Drysol onto the desired area. Typically, Drysol comes with a roller application, similar to deodorant. Drysol can be applied to any part of your body, but is most commonly used on underarms, palms, foreheads, and the soles of feet. Cover the area. Once you have applied Drysol to your skin, let the Drysol dry. It should leave a light film on your skin. Then, cover the area so that the medication does not get on your sheets or touch other parts of your skin while you are sleeping. If you applied Drysol to your underarms, then you can wear a t-shirt to bed. If you applied Drysol to your hands or feet, cover them with plastic wrap and secure it in place using a mitten or sock. If you applied Drysol to your scalp or forehead, cover your head with a plastic bathing cap to prevent the medication from rubbing off. Wash the area in the morning. In the morning you can wash the Drysol off using soap and water. This can be done while you are taking a shower. Check for negative side-effects. Drysol may itch the first couple of times that you put it on. This is normal and should only last for a few minutes. If you experience more severe side-effects, such as a rash, hives, severe itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, or swelling of the lips, face or tongue, you might be experiencing an allergic reaction. If this happens you should seek medical attention immediately. Continue the dosage. In most cases Drysol will begin working immediately, and you will notice changes within the first few days. You should continue to take the medication each night as directed by your doctor. Once the medication is working, you could start taking it once or twice a week. Talk with your doctor before adjusting your dosage. Store at room temperature. Drysol should be kept at room temperature, somewhere between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (15-30 degrees Celsius). Do not use near a known heat source and keep away from open flames. Keep the cap sealed. When you store Drysol, make sure that the cap is completely sealed. You do not want the medication to leak out and stain any clothing or fabric. Keep out of reach of children. Prescription medications should only be used by the person for whom they were prescribed. Keep this medication out of the reach of young children and pets. | Visit your doctor. Inform your doctor of any medical conditions you have. Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. Use drysol as directed by your doctor. Wash and dry the area before application. Apply Drysol to the desired area. Cover the area. Wash the area in the morning. Check for negative side-effects. Continue the dosage. Store at room temperature. Keep the cap sealed. Keep out of reach of children. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Oatmeal | How to Make Oatmeal | The easiest way to make oatmeal is to boil ½ a cup of oatmeal in 1 cup of water and stir it as it simmers. Once the oatmeal has thickened to your liking, remove it from heat and add in any flavorings and toppings that you want, like brown sugar, cream, or nuts. | Pour the oatmeal into a microwave safe bowl. For most types of oats, like quick-cooking or rolled oats, an average serving size is about ½ cup (45 g). If you're preparing instant oatmeal, simply open the package and dump the contents into the bowl—they're pre-portioned, so there's no need to do a lot of measuring. Use level scoops with a dry measuring cup to portion out loose oats. Add 1 cup (240 ml) of water and stir. Fill a liquid measuring cup to the 1 cup (240 ml) mark with cold water, then pour it on top of the dry oats. Give the oats a stir until the water is evenly distributed throughout. There should be no clumps or dry spots in the bowl. 1 cup (240 ml) of water may look like a lot in ½ cup (45 gm) of oats, but keep in mind that the oats will absorb moisture quickly when cooked. For thicker, creamier oatmeal, you can also use milk in place of water. Microwave the oatmeal for 1½-2 minutes. Stick the oats in the microwave and heat them on high power. For softer, creamier oatmeal, set the cook time to 1½ minutes. If you'd prefer a thicker bowl, up the time to 2 minutes, or even slightly longer. If you're making a heartier kind of oatmeal, like traditional rolled or steel-cut oats, you may need to increase the cook time to 2½-3 minutes to make sure they're tender. Stir the oatmeal thoroughly. Remove the bowl from the microwave carefully—it will be hot! After another quick stir, your oatmeal will be ready to eat. Allow the oatmeal to cool for a minute or two before you take your first spoonful. Mix in your favorite flavors. At this point, you can add a few healthy and delicious toppings, such as butter, honey, cream, fresh berries, dried fruit, or toasted nuts. Just stir in as much or as little as of each ingredient as you'd like and enjoy! Give packaged instant oatmeal a taste before adding anything else. These tend to be flavored with additives like brown sugar, cinnamon, and apples, so they might not need much. Fill a shallow pot with 1 cup (240 ml) of water or milk. Use a standardized measuring cup to make sure you have just the right amount of liquid. Oats simmered in water will cook faster and retain more of their original firmness. Preparing your oatmeal with milk will lend it more of a soft, smooth texture. A smaller pot, like a saucepan, will provide the best results, since the oats need to be partially submerged in order to cook. Only steel-cut or rolled oats should be prepared on the stovetop. Other varieties, like packaged instant oatmeal and quick-cooking oats, are designed to be cooked in the microwave. Bring the water or milk to a low boil. Heat the pot over medium-high heat until it just begin to bubble. This is the optimal temperature for simmering oats. It's important to boil the water or milk before you add the oats so that they don't absorb too much moisture and become soggy. You can also use a combination of milk and water for creamier oatmeal without an excessive amount of calories. Be careful not to let the water or milk get too hot, or it will evaporate quickly and cause the oatmeal to scorch. Add ½ cup (45 gm) of oats and stir. Portion out your oats using level scoops with a dry measuring cup. ½ cup (45 g) of oats is considered a standard serving for one person. If you want to make more, simply make room for an extra ½ cup (45 g) of oats and ¾-1 cup (180-240 ml) of water or milk. Throw in a pinch of salt to give the oats more flavor. Simmer the oatmeal until it reaches the desired consistency. Stir the oatmeal periodically while it's cooking, but avoid giving it too much attention. Exact cook times will vary depending on the amount and type of oats you're preparing. Rather than watching the clock, keep a close eye on the oatmeal as it thickens. It may take anywhere from 8-10 minutes to simmer a pot of old fashioned rolled oats. Because of their tougher texture, steel-cut oats may require as long as 20 minutes to soften up. Over stirring oats breaks down their starches, causing them to turn gluey and neutralizing much of their natural flavor. Remove the oatmeal from the heat. Once the oatmeal has taken on your preferred texture, transfer it to a deep serving bowl. Using a spoon or spatula to scrape the sides of the pot will spare you some added cleanup later on. And, of course, make sure the bowl you're using is large enough to hold whatever other toppings you plan on incorporating. Keep in mind that the oatmeal will continue to thicken a little as it cools, so it may be a good idea to take it off the stovetop a tad before it looks just right. Mix in other flavorful additives. While the oatmeal is piping hot, add a pat of butter, a spoonful of natural peanut butter, or a handful of raisins. If you like it sweet, try sprinkling on a little brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or fruit preserves. It's hard to go wrong! Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice can offer a good counterbalance to sweeter ingredients. Allow the oatmeal to cool to a safe temperature before digging in. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Fill a tea kettle with fresh water and place it on the stovetop over high heat. An electric tea kettle will also work just fine. While the water is warming up, you can go ahead and get the other components of your breakfast ready. This method can be used to prepare packaged instant oatmeal as well as the slower-cooking steel-cut and rolled varieties. Pour ½ cup (45 g) of oats into a bowl. This will make enough oatmeal for a single person. For larger servings, portion out another ½ cup (45 g) of oats at a time. You'll need to add ½-1 cup (120-240 ml) of boiling water for every ½ cup (45 g) of oats you're preparing. Using a dry measuring cup will help you get a more precise oat-to-water ratio. Add a pinch of salt to the dry oats to bring out more of their flavor. Pour the boiling water over the oats. Once the water reaches a boil, turn off the heat and open the spout to allow some of the steam to escape. Stir the oats continuously as you drizzle in the water. For softer oats, use about 1¼ cups (300 ml) of water. If you prefer your oatmeal nice and thick, stop at ¾-1 cup (180-240 ml). The oats will puff up and thicken as they cook, which means it's usually better to use a little more water than you think you need. Let the oatmeal cool prior to eating. After pouring in the boiling water, the oatmeal will be scalding hot for several minutes. To avoid burning your mouth, hold off on taking a bite until most of the steam has dissipated. You'll be glad you did once you get that first taste! A splash of cream or a dollop of Greek yogurt will help fresh-cooked oats cool off quicker. Add your toppings of choice. Sweeten up a bowl of plain oats with honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup. Then, heap on banana slices, granola clusters, or semisweet chocolate morsels. Finish with a dash of cinnamon sugar or apple pie seasoning. Don't be afraid to play around with unusual flavors like dried cherries, pistachios, or shaved coconut when you feel like something a little different. Try serving your oatmeal like an acai bowl—stir in blended acai berry smoothie and other wholesome ingredients like chia seeds, nut butters, and fresh fruit. Scoop ½ cup (45 g) of rolled oats into a small container. Mason jars are ideal for this purpose, since they'll offer you the ability to control your portion size. However, any deep, open container will work. Once the oats are inside, give them a shake to level them. Rolled oats work best for making overnight oatmeal—instant oats will quickly become mushy once liquid is added, while steel-cut oats won't soften enough, and will remain dry and tough. If your mornings tend to be pretty frenzied, mix up your overnight oatmeal in a plastic storage container so you can savor it on the go. Add an equal portion of milk or non-dairy milk substitute. Pour in about ½ cup (120 ml) of cold milk, or use almond, coconut, or soy milk instead. This will provide the moisture for the oatmeal. You're aiming for approximately a 1:1 ratio of oats to milk. It may take a couple trial runs before you get the proportions exactly right. If your overnight oatmeal turns out a little soggy the first time, cut back on the amount of milk you use on your next attempt. If they're overly dry, add an extra splash just before serving. Stir the contents of the container thoroughly. Keep stirring until the texture of the oats is consistent from top to bottom. Otherwise, you'll end up with unappetizing dry patches. You can also add other dry ingredients at this stage, such as chia seeds, flax, and ground spices. Refrigerate the oats overnight. Cover the container and place it on the center shelf of your refrigerator. As the oatmeal sits, it will slowly absorb the milk and become plump and tender. It will need 3-5 hours before it's ready to eat. For the smoothest possible texture, leave it for 7-8 hours. If the container you've selected doesn't come with a built-in lid, secure a piece of plastic wrap or aluminum foil around the opening. Refrigerating overnight oats for longer than abut 10 hours may result in a soggy, inedible mess. Top with your favorite flavors and enjoy cold. After the oatmeal comes out of the fridge, fill the container the rest of the way with tasty toppings like honey, Greek yogurt, or chocolate-hazelnut spread. Health-conscious eaters can turn to more nourishing offerings like fresh fruit and unsweetened nut butters instead. Try using mashed bananas to supply sweetness rather than traditional sweeteners. Get creative! There's virtually no limit to the number of unique flavor combinations you can come up with. If the idea of chowing down on cold oatmeal doesn't appeal to you, you can also pop an individual serving in the microwave for a minute or two. | Pour the oatmeal into a microwave safe bowl. Add 1 cup (240 ml) of water and stir. Microwave the oatmeal for 1½-2 minutes. Stir the oatmeal thoroughly. Mix in your favorite flavors. Fill a shallow pot with 1 cup (240 ml) of water or milk. Bring the water or milk to a low boil. Add ½ cup (45 gm) of oats and stir. Simmer the oatmeal until it reaches the desired consistency. Remove the oatmeal from the heat. Mix in other flavorful additives. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Pour ½ cup (45 g) of oats into a bowl. Pour the boiling water over the oats. Let the oatmeal cool prior to eating. Add your toppings of choice. Scoop ½ cup (45 g) of rolled oats into a small container. Add an equal portion of milk or non-dairy milk substitute. Stir the contents of the container thoroughly. Refrigerate the oats overnight. Top with your favorite flavors and enjoy cold. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Lighten-Naturally-Black-Coloured-Hair-at-Home | How to Lighten Naturally Black Coloured Hair at Home | You can lighten your naturally black hair at home using some ingredients you probably already have. For an easy lightening paste, mix together raw honey, vinegar, olive oil, and a little cardamon. Work the paste evenly into your hair and put a shower cap on your head overnight. Then, rinse it out in the morning. Another easy option is to apply a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part lemon juice to your hair. Let it sit until it dries, then rinse it out. If you want a more dramatic change, you can bleach your hair to lighten it. You'll need to buy a hair bleaching kit, apply the bleach in sections, then let it sit for the recommended amount of time before rinsing it out. | Choose a warmer color for a reddish tone. With black hair, choose a dye that's only slightly lighter than your natural hair color unless you want to lift your hair via bleaching first. Select a dye that's a lighter shade than your natural color without being radically different, such as a dark brunette shade. Black hair has a lot of red and copper undertones. If you want an auburn hair color, select a reddish brown. This will bring out your natural coppery undertones to create your desired look. Pick a cooler color to avoid red undertones. If you do not want an auburn shade, pick a color cooler than your natural hair tone. This will lighten your hair without giving it a coppery look. Protect yourself from the dye. Before you begin the dyeing process, it's important to make sure you're safe. Dye can sting skin and stain clothing. Put on a pair of gloves and cover your shoulders with a towel to prevent stains. Mix your dye and developer. Use your tinting bowl and brush, which should have come in your hair dye kit, to mix your dye and developer into a smooth, even mixture. In most cases, dye is mixed with developer in a one to one ratio, but read your instructions first. The precise ratio varies by the manufacturer. Section your hair into four sections. Part your hair down the middle of your head, making a part running from your forehead to the nape of your neck. The second parting should go across your head from ear to ear. Use hair ties or hair clips to keep your hair in four even sections. Apply your dye one section at a time. Apply dye starting with a section at the back of your head and then move forward. Working from the top of the section, use the brush that came with your kit to brush dye onto your hair in quarter- to half-inch (0.64- to 1.2-cm) sections. Keep adding dye to sections until the section is completely covered in dye. Then, move on to the next section. Let the dye sit on for the required amount of time. Usually, your dye should sit on for 45 minutes. However, this depends on the brand of dye, so refer to your package instructions. Let your dye sit in your hair for the required amount of time. Rinse out the dye. Use your fingers to gently work the dye out of your hair while in the shower using lukewarm water. Make sure you get all the dye out. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. Shampoo and condition your hair. After rinsing as much dye out as possible, shampoo and condition your hair as you usually do. Use the products that came with the kit, if applicable. When you're done, you'll be left with a stunning dye job to enjoy. Use honey, vinegar, olive oil, and spices. Mix a cup (240 mL) of raw honey with two cups (475 mL) of distilled vinegar, a tablespoon (15 mL) of olive oil, and a tablespoon (15 mL) of cardamon. Mix the ingredients until you have an even consistency throughout. Then, work the mixture evenly into your hair and put on a shower cap. Leave the mixture on and wash it out in the morning. For best results, make sure you're using raw, uncooked honey. You may have to find this at a health store. Rinse your hair with chamomile tea. Brew a strong cup of chamomile tea using a tea bag or tea leaves. Let it cool until it's lukewarm and pour it over your hair. Let your hair dry for about half an hour. Then, shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would. You may notice some lightening. This is a good method to try in the morning. You can make a cup of tea, apply it to your hair, and then wash it out during your normal shower routine. Apply baking soda to your hair. Mix warm water and baking soda together until you have a thick paste. Amounts will vary depending on the length of your hair. Work the paste into your hair. Let it sit on for 15 minutes before rinsing and shampooing your hair. Add cinnamon to your conditioner. Sprinkle some cinnamon onto a handful of conditioner and then work the mixture into your hair using your fingers or a comb. Pull up your hair and secure it with a towel or a shower cap. Keep the mixture in overnight and rinse it out in the morning. You may notice your hair has lightened. Use rhubarb. During the summer, when rhubarb is in season, you can use it to lighten your hair. Mix about a quarter cup (60 mL) of chopped rhubarb in with two cups (475 mL) of water. Bring the water to a boil and then strain the liquid. Work the liquid into your hair and let it sit on for 10 minutes before rinsing it out. Lighten your hair with water and lemon. Mix a cup of lemon juice with two cups of water. Work the mixture into your hair. Let it sit on until it dries. Your hair may lighten in response to lemon juice. Divide your hair into four sections. The sections should be roughly the same size. There should be two sections in the front and two in back. Use hair ties or plastic clips to keep them in place. Mix the bleach according to your package's directions. Bleach kits come with bleaching powder and a cream developer. These need to be mixed together in a specific ratio before you apply the bleach to your hair. Your package's instructions should inform you of the precise ratio your kit uses. Usually, the ratio is one to three of powder to developer. Wear gloves when handling bleach. Apply bleach everywhere but your roots. Working through one section at a time, brush on the bleach strand by strand. Start at the ends of these strands and work your way upward, but stop about 1 inch (2.54 cm) from the roots. Your roots will be bleached last as the heat from your head causes them to bleach more quickly. You have to work very quickly to ensure your hair bleaches evenly. Therefore, get someone to help you during this part of the process. Apply bleach to your roots. After you've applied bleach to all your sections, use the brush that came with your kit to dab bleach on your roots. Flip your hair using a rat comb to get both the front and back of the roots. Start at the back of your head and work your way forward. Be very careful not to get any product on your scalp. Get as close to your scalp as possible, but do not touch the scalp itself. Let the bleach sit for the recommended amount of time. Read the instructions thoroughly to determine how long you should leave the bleach on. Place a plastic bag over your head while you wait. This protects your home from bleach and helps the bleach develop faster. Check your hair every few minutes to see how the color is progressing. Bleach stops working after about an hour, so leaving your bleach in longer than this will only damage your hair, rather than lighten it further. Rinse off the bleach with lukewarm water. Make sure rinse all the bleach out of your hair. In the shower, keep rinsing your hair, using your fingers to work out the bleach, until the water runs clean. Shampoo and condition your hair. After rinsing out the bleach, shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would. If your bleach kit came with shampoo or conditioner, use these products rather than what's in your shower. | Choose a warmer color for a reddish tone. Pick a cooler color to avoid red undertones. Protect yourself from the dye. Mix your dye and developer. Section your hair into four sections. Apply your dye one section at a time. Let the dye sit on for the required amount of time. Rinse out the dye. Shampoo and condition your hair. Use honey, vinegar, olive oil, and spices. Rinse your hair with chamomile tea. Apply baking soda to your hair. Add cinnamon to your conditioner. Use rhubarb. Lighten your hair with water and lemon. Divide your hair into four sections. Mix the bleach according to your package's directions. Apply bleach everywhere but your roots. Apply bleach to your roots. Let the bleach sit for the recommended amount of time. Rinse off the bleach with lukewarm water. Shampoo and condition your hair. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Acquire-New-Skills | How to Acquire New Skills | The fastest way to acquire new skills is to break them up into smaller segments that you learn one at a time. For example, if you're trying to learn car repair, you can start by learning to change the oil, and move on to fixing brakes later. This step-by-step process is more manageable, and will help you retain the information once you've learned it. To make learning faster and easier, try to find an expert, like a mechanic, who will teach you the skill. | Think about skills that would benefit you. You may feel more motivated to learn a new skill if you pick something you think will benefit you in your work or daily life. Ask yourself if there are any skills that would help you get ahead at work, help you at school, or give you an advantage in your everyday life. Skills that many people find useful for their education and career include learning a new language, programming, photography, writing, public speaking, data analysis, and cooking. List skills you would enjoy learning. Make a list of 5-10 skills that you think you'd enjoy learning. These don't have to benefit your job or schoolwork directly, although they can. Just think about things you've found interesting or that you've always wanted to learn how to do. For example, have you always wanted to make your own scarf? If you have, then knitting or crocheting may be an enjoyable activity. Or, perhaps you want to learn how to play a new sport or take up a hobby like doing card tricks. Calculate how much time you can devote to learning. Think about how much time you can devote on a daily or weekly basis to learning your new skill. If you don't have a lot of extra time, a lower-commitment skill like learning to drive a manual car might be a good skill. If you have more time, a skill that takes a lot of practice, such as learning how to play an instrument, might be right for you. Pick a skill that you actually have time for right now. Picking a difficult skill and hoping you can learn it when you don't have much time to practice is more likely to lead to you abandoning the skill. Focus on a single skill at a time. Pay attention to learning one skill at a time rather than trying to master multiple skills at once. If you divide your attention, it will take longer for you to master your desired skill. This doesn't mean you can't learn lots of new skills. Just take the time to thoroughly learn the basics of one new skill before you move onto the next one. Set a realistic goal. Your goal doesn't need to represent your endpoint with the skill. It should, however, encourage you to grow and push yourself as you learn your new skill. If, for example, you want to learn web design, your goal may be to build yourself an online portfolio that you design from scratch. Don't make your goal too lofty to start. If you want to learn to cook, don't start with the initial goal of a 3-course meal. Instead, focus on learning how to make 1 dish really well. After you learn basic skills, you can learn more recipes and build up toward that meal. Break your goal down into steps. Even reasonable goals can feel overwhelming if you don't know where to start. Start by breaking your goal down into small steps. The exact number of steps you'll need will depend on your goal. Think about your steps like lessons. Each step should be small enough that you can achieve it in 1-2 lessons, but not so small that it's not enough for a lesson unto itself. Remember, each step builds toward your goal. They may feel small now, but they'll accumulate. For example, if you're learning photography, a good step would be learning how to adjust the settings on your camera. This can usually be learned easily, but it's a bigger task than just learning to turn the flash on and off, which can usually be done in just a few seconds. Then, you can learn how to use light in photography, take still photos, take action photos, and edit photographs, for instance. Choose a platform that fits your learning style. There are online tutorials, in-person classes, books, articles, and videos that can teach you all kinds of skills. Think about what learning platforms best enable you to absorb and apply new information. If you're a visual learner, for example, try video tutorials instead of reading a text-only book or listening to a podcast on the subject. Think about what is most conducive to your new skill, too. Learning a new language using only books, for example, may not be the best choice because the text alone doesn't give you a good idea of word pronunciation and accents in everyday speech. Find a mentor who is an expert in your skill to guide you through the process. The best tool in your journey to build a new skill is to find an expert to tutor you and help guide your progress. Reach out to an expert in your skill and set up a face-to-face meeting to talk to them about possible mentor opportunities. In some fields, mentoring is a formal process, while in other fields, it's more organic. Do some research online to see how others learning your desired skill found a mentor. For example, if you want to learn to use Microsoft Excel, ask a friend or family member who is familiar with the program to help you learn how to use it. If you want to learn to windsurf, you can hire an instructor with a lot of experience to teach you how to do it. Set deadlines for yourself. Deadlines will help keep you accountable and help you stay on track. If you set a deadline without an external commitment, make sure you invest something in your deadline to keep you moving forward. If, for example, you say you're going to be able to conjugate 10 verbs in Spanish by next week, reward yourself when you accomplish your goal. For instance, treat yourself to lunch or spend 1 hour doing something you love without feeling guilty. If you want to make an external commitment for your deadline, you could try something like signing up for an open mic night to hold you to your goal of learning to play a song on the guitar. Learn about the fundamentals of your skill. The first thing to do is understand the basics of the skill you want to learn. For instance, if you want to master tai chi, read about the history and development of this martial art. If you want to learn to change your own oil, spend some time learning about the function of oil in an engine and check out a diagram of your specific vehicle's engine bay. Take courses and tutorials in your skill. Classes, workshops, and tutorials are great ways to help you build your skill and network with others learning the same skill. If you want consistent formal instruction, look for classes at your local community college, community center, or professional organization. You can also check with professional organizations, hobby groups, local businesses, and other organizations to see if they offer workshops or tutorials in your skill. These are usually 1-2 day events that help you focus on building a single aspect of your skill. For example, if you are learning to cook, a local specialty food store may have a workshop on learning to cook make-ahead meals or cooking for college freshmen. Start with the first step and move on as you master each portion. The only way to learn is by doing, so start trying out your new skill. Use the resources available to you, whether that may be reading a tutorial or having an expert walk you through the steps. Complete each step and ensure you understand it fully before moving on. For instance, if your goal is to learn to type, begin by learning the home keys. Once you've mastered those, move on to the keys you type with your right hand, then the keys you type with your left hand. Ask your mentor for help if you get stuck. Learning a new skill can be frustrating, but don't give up when you hit a roadblock. Instead, seek help from an expert. Your mentor can explain what's going wrong and help you correct the process so that you continue to make progress. Practice a little every day. Building any new skill takes time, so you must dedicate yourself to this endeavor. After you've learned a portion of your new skill, take time every day to practice what you've learned. This should be separate from the time you take to learn a new portion of your skill. For example, if you're learning to play the piano, set aside an hour a day to practice: 30 minutes to review chords you've already learned and an additional 30 minutes to learn new chords. The exact amount of time you'll need to practice each day will depend on the skill your learning, as well as your personal learning style. | Think about skills that would benefit you. List skills you would enjoy learning. Calculate how much time you can devote to learning. Focus on a single skill at a time. Set a realistic goal. Break your goal down into steps. Choose a platform that fits your learning style. Find a mentor who is an expert in your skill to guide you through the process. Set deadlines for yourself. Learn about the fundamentals of your skill. Take courses and tutorials in your skill. Start with the first step and move on as you master each portion. Ask your mentor for help if you get stuck. Practice a little every day. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Ceramics | How to Make Ceramics | If you want to make ceramics by hand, choose a clay that you can bake in the oven or air-dry, unless you have access to a kiln. Pull off a small piece of clay to work with and roll it into a ball, then pinch, pull, and roll the clay to warm it up in your hands. Once it's soft, roll the dough out so it's about 1/4 inch thick, then use your hands to shape the clay. When you're finished, run your fingers over the clay and use a needle to poke a hole in any air pockets, then dip your fingers in a little water and smooth out the area. | Choose a type of clay for your project. For a handbuilt project, it's best to use standard clay that must be fired in a kiln to set the material. Select a natural color, such as gray or brown, and purchase a small amount at first to ensure that it suits your needs. This is ideal for small projects, since your leftover clay will be less likely to dry out. If it's your first time using clay or if you don't have access to a kiln, opt for air-dry, oven-baked, or polymer clay. These will allow you to finish your project at home. Pull off a small piece of clay to work with. For a small dish, such as a ring dish or a small plate, roll the clay into a walnut-sized ball. For larger items, like a dinner plate or salad dish, start with a baseball-sized ball. Remember, you can always remove excess clay, but it's difficult to add more once you've shaped your piece. If you're pulling a piece from a big block of clay, it may be helpful to use a strand of wire to cut off a piece of clay to work with. Knead the clay until it’s soft and roll it out to 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) thick. Press your thumbs into the clay to warm it up, and pinch and pull on the material to soften it. It's better to have the clay as soft and pliable as possible. Then, shape the soft clay back into a ball, and use a rolling pin to flatten it out into a sheet. You can make the clay as thin as ⁄ 8 in (0.32 cm) thick, but if the clay is too thin, it will become hard to work with. Pinch and shape the clay with your hands to achieve the look you want. Cut the sheet of clay into your desired shape using a pointed knife or specialized clay cutting tool. Some ideas include a circular, square, or abstract shape. Then, use your hands to smooth the corners and edges. If you want to make a standard-sized dinner plate, use a plate that you already own as a guide for the shape and size. Remove air bubbles to prevent cracking if you’re going to use a kiln. As you're working with the clay, feel for areas where there may be air trapped inside of the clay, and poke the spot gently with a needle to release the air. Then, smooth the area with your fingers and a bit of water before allowing the clay to dry. Air bubbles can easily cause the pottery to crack or even explode in the kiln, so it's important to remove them before firing and glazing! Select a pottery wheel and 2 lbs (907 g) of clay for your project. Choose a standard wet clay in a natural color, and opt for an electric pottery wheel for your first projects, since they tend to be easier to control and use. If you're starting with a large block of clay, break off and weigh your clay before starting your piece. This is the standard amount to begin with, since working with too much clay can be very difficult for a beginner. Be sure to read the package instructions before working with the clay, since specific brands normally have different requirements for drying and firing clay. Once you get more experience with using the pottery wheel, you can use more clay to build larger projects. Knead and roll the clay into a large cone shape with a rounded point. Pinch, pull, and roll the clay to remove air bubbles that can cause the clay to crack in the kiln. Then, use your hands to form a smooth cone shape, and press down on the point of the cone to make it more rounded. This will provide a firm, thick base for your item on the pottery wheel. Place the clay firmly on the wheel with the tip facing down. Make sure the wheel is off and completely dry. Position the clay cone so the rounded point is directly over the center of the wheel, and press down firmly to hold it in place. The clay should easily yield under the pressure if it is soft enough to work with. If the clay isn't firmly planted on the wheel, it may slip and slide around as you're trying to shape it. If your clay seems hard, continue kneading it until it is soft and pliable. Turn the wheel on slowly and tap the clay with dry hands. Set the wheel to a low setting and use your hands to gently smooth and center the clay over the middle of the wheel. This will ensure that the piece is symmetrical over the base. Pay attention to how the clay moves when you reposition your hands, and make sure there are no bumps in the clay. Avoid turning the wheel up to a higher setting before wetting the clay. This can cause rough dents in the clay that are hard to work out. Wet your hands and place them on the clay as it turns. Dip your hands into room-temperature water, and place them on the clay. Smooth around the outside of the clay and get a feel for the shape and weight of the clay. When you're ready to begin the piece, push the clay forward with the palms of your hands, which is called a plow forward. Always keep a bowl or bucket of water close by when you're working with clay on the wheel. If the clay dries out, it can become dented or rough, making it difficult to shape. Increase the speed and use your hands to shape the clay into the item you want. After plowing forward, increase the speed to a high setting. Pull the clay upward to make a vase or bowl, or press outward to create plates. As you're working, keep your elbows tucked in near your body, and use your hands to steady the clay. Remember, each piece of pottery is unique, so there's no one “right” way to make an item! Common techniques for shaping the clay include “coning,” which means pulling the clay upward and using your hands to smooth the sides of the clay into a cone before flattening it. If you want to make a bowl, cone the clay upward, and then press the clay downward until it's a disc-like shape. Then, use your thumbs to press a hole into the center of the bowl, and pull the hole outward with your fingers and thumbs as the wheel spins. This will create an opening in the center of the clay along with thick, sturdy walls. Cut the clay away from the wheel when you’re ready to complete the project. Scrape away as much clay as possible from around the bottom of the piece. Then, turn the wheel off and wait until it stops turning. Once the piece is stationary, drag a strand of thin wire under the base and lift the piece off of the wheel. It may be helpful to have someone else cut the piece away from the wheel as you lift it up to prevent the piece from becoming stuck. Make sure the wire is as close as possible to the wheel to avoid cutting a slanted base! Create texture with imprints, stamps, and other tools. If you want your piece to have additional texture, add it while the clay is still soft for the best effect. Use items like leaves, needles, or rubber stamps for a variety of different textures. Always be gentle when using tools and stamps, as it can be easy to puncture or dent the clay. If you happen to make a stamp or mark you don't like, simply dip your fingers in water and gently rub them over the area until the mark is smooth. Let the clay dry overnight until it becomes lighter in color. If your piece is made of air-dry clay, be sure to check the directions to find out how long you should let the piece dry before handling it. For clay that needs to be fired in a kiln, make sure the clay is dry to the touch, which can take 12-24 hours, depending on the clay that you used and the size of the project. Then, carefully transport the piece to the kiln. For air-dry clay, you can use a fine grain sandpaper, such as an 80- or 120-grit, to remove small imperfections and smooth the surface before adding paint. Paint air-dry clay with an acrylic or latex paint if you want to add color. Select a paint that is safe for use on clay and that doesn't require firing in a kiln, since air-dry clay can't withstand high temperatures. Apply the paint using brushes, sponges, or other techniques, and then let it air dry according to the directions on the paint. If you plan to use the pottery for eating or drinking, opt for a food-safe paint and apply a food-grade sealant all over the piece after the paint is completely dry. Fire the clay in a kiln if you aren’t using an air-dry clay. Locate a kiln at a local community center, art space, or library, and schedule a time to fire your piece. Carefully lower the item into the kiln, and close the lid. Make sure the kiln is set to the correct temperature for “bisque” firing, which is the first stage of firing the pottery. When it's finished, carefully remove the item from the kiln to add a glaze. If you're not sure what that temperature should be, check the directions on the clay packaging. If you don't have the packaging, research the type of clay you're using to find the ideal firing temperature. Apply a glaze according to the instructions on the packaging. Dip the item into the glaze, or paint the glaze onto the newly-fired piece. If you want to add multicolor designs, use brushes or sponges to apply the glazes in an abstract design, since they will sometimes blend and run together in the kiln. If you prefer the natural color of the clay, apply a clear glaze for extra protection. Keep in mind that the color of the glaze when it is applied can look different than when it is fired. Be sure to choose the glaze based on the fired color! Avoid putting glaze on the bottom of the piece, since this can make it stick to the kiln. Place the piece in the kiln for a second time to seal the glaze. Transfer the item to the kiln by holding the base to avoid smudging the glaze. Check the glaze packaging and set the kiln to the correct temperature, which is normally lower than the bisque firing temperature. Make sure the item isn't touching any other pottery in the kiln, and close the lid to start firing. Once it is finished, carefully remove the item from the kiln! After it's fired, you can safely touch and handle the kiln without affecting the glaze, since it should be completely cured and hardened. If you're not sure of the appropriate temperature, check online for temperature charts that list a variety of glazes. | Choose a type of clay for your project. Pull off a small piece of clay to work with. Knead the clay until it’s soft and roll it out to 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) thick. Pinch and shape the clay with your hands to achieve the look you want. Remove air bubbles to prevent cracking if you’re going to use a kiln. Select a pottery wheel and 2 lbs (907 g) of clay for your project. Knead and roll the clay into a large cone shape with a rounded point. Place the clay firmly on the wheel with the tip facing down. Turn the wheel on slowly and tap the clay with dry hands. Wet your hands and place them on the clay as it turns. Increase the speed and use your hands to shape the clay into the item you want. Cut the clay away from the wheel when you’re ready to complete the project. Create texture with imprints, stamps, and other tools. Let the clay dry overnight until it becomes lighter in color. Paint air-dry clay with an acrylic or latex paint if you want to add color. Fire the clay in a kiln if you aren’t using an air-dry clay. Apply a glaze according to the instructions on the packaging. Place the piece in the kiln for a second time to seal the glaze. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Washing-Machine-with-Vinegar | How to Clean a Washing Machine with Vinegar | To clean a top-loading washing machine with vinegar, start by running it on the hottest and longest setting. As it's filling up with water, pour 4 cups of white vinegar into the washer. For an even deeper cleaning, add 1 cup of baking soda to the washer as well. Then, close the lid and let the machine run for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, stop the machine and let everything sit for an hour. Finally, turn the machine back on and let it finish its cycle. | Set your washing machine to the hottest temperature and longest cycle. Run your washing machine and allow it to fill with hot water. Use the highest load size when doing this as well. Add four cups (946.35 ml) of white vinegar to the washer. Open the lid while the washer is running. Use a measuring cup to measure and pour four cups (946.35 ml) of white vinegar into the washer as it fills. Pour a cup (236.58 ml) of baking soda to the water. For an even deeper cleaning, you can add baking soda to the water. Measure out a cup (236.58 ml) of baking soda and carefully pour it into the water in your machine. Close the lid and let the washing machine run for 5 minutes. Allowing your machine to run will let the vinegar and baking soda wash away a lot of the dirt and grime on the inside of your washing machine. Open the lid and pause the machine for an hour. Letting the hot water and vinegar sit in your washing machine for an hour will help pull away leftover grime and dirt from within the machine. Wipe the outside of your machine while your machine is paused. Use a clean cloth and citrus cleaner to wash down the rest of your washing machine. Citrus cleaners are great at removing limescale, soap scum and buildup. You can purchase citrus cleaners at the store or you can make them at home. Spray the cleaner in dirty areas and use the cloth to wipe up the grime and dirt. Citrus cleaners use the natural properties found in fruits like lemons, oranges, and limes to remove dirt. When cleaning, make sure to wipe off the fabric softener and bleach reservoirs that are on your washer. You can also use a toothbrush to get to hard to reach places. Finish the washing machine's cycle. Close the lid and finish the cycle in your washing machine. Wait until the cycle completes and all the water has drained from the machine. Wipe down the interior of the machine and repeat. Finish cleaning out the interior of the washing machine with a dry rag. Once it's dry, you can repeat the steps to finish cleaning the remaining dirt or gunk that's built up inside of your machine. Fill the detergent dispenser with white vinegar. Fill the detergent dispenser with 3/4 cup (177.44 ml) of vinegar or until the detergent dispenser is filled. The detergent dispenser is usually labeled and can be found on the top of your front load washing machine. Once it's filled, close the lid. Start a normal wash cycle on the hot water setting. If your front load washing machine doesn't have a hot water setting, select the "whites" setting or "stain" setting. Allow the cycle to run through completely. Wipe down the exterior of your washer. As the normal cycle runs, mix ½ cup (90 g) of baking soda and 1 quart (1 liter) of white vinegar in a bucket. Once the ingredients are incorporated, use the solution to dampen a rag and use the rag to wipe down the exterior of the washer. Run an additional rinse cycle. Run a rinse cycle with no added vinegar or detergent. This should remove the smell of vinegar and help remove any remaining dirt. Once you're done, the washer should be good to use. | Set your washing machine to the hottest temperature and longest cycle. Add four cups (946.35 ml) of white vinegar to the washer. Pour a cup (236.58 ml) of baking soda to the water. Close the lid and let the washing machine run for 5 minutes. Open the lid and pause the machine for an hour. Wipe the outside of your machine while your machine is paused. Finish the washing machine's cycle. Wipe down the interior of the machine and repeat. Fill the detergent dispenser with white vinegar. Start a normal wash cycle on the hot water setting. Wipe down the exterior of your washer. Run an additional rinse cycle. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-the-Volume-of-a-Sphere | How to Calculate the Volume of a Sphere | To calculate the volume of a sphere, use the formula v = ⁴⁄₃πr³, where r is the radius of the sphere. If you don't have the radius, you can find it by dividing the diameter by 2. Once you have the radius, plug it into the formula and solve to find the volume. | Write down the equation for calculating the volume of a sphere. This is the equation: V = ⁴⁄₃πr³. In this equation, "V" represents volume and "r" represents the radius of the sphere. Find the radius. If you're given the radius, then you can move on to the next step. If you're given the diameter, then you can just divide it by two to get the radius. Once you know what it is, write it down. Let's say the radius we're working with is 1 inch (2.5 cm). If you're only given the surface area of the sphere, then you can find the radius by finding the square root of the surface area divided by 4π. In that case, r = root (surface area/4π) Cube the radius. To cube the radius, simply multiply it by itself thrice, or raise it to the third power. For example, 1 inch is really just 1 inch (2.5 cm) x 1 inch (2.5 cm) x 1 inch (2.5 cm). The result of 1 inch is really just 1, since 1 multiplied by itself any number of times will be 1. You'll reintroduce the unit of measurement, inches, when you state your final answer. After you've done this, you can plug the cubed radius into the original equation for calculating the volume of a sphere, V = ⁴⁄₃πr³. Therefore, V = ⁴⁄₃π x 1 If the radius was 2 inches (5.1 cm), for example, then to cube it, you would find 2 , which is 2 x 2 x 2, or 8. Multiply the cubed radius by 4/3. Now that you've plugged r , or 1, into the equation, you can multiply this result by 4/3 to continue plugging in to the equation, V = ⁴⁄₃πr³. 4/3 x 1 = 4/3. Now, the equation will read V = ⁴⁄₃ x π x 1, or V = ⁴⁄₃π. Multiply the equation by π. This is the last step to finding the volume of a sphere. You can leave π as it is, stating the final answer as V = ⁴⁄₃π. Or, you can plug π into your calculator and multiply its value by 4/3. The value of π (approximately 3.14159) x 4/3 = 4.1887, which can be rounded to 4.19. Don't forget to state your units of measurement and to state the result in cubic units. The volume of a sphere with the radius of 1 is 4.19 in. | Write down the equation for calculating the volume of a sphere. Find the radius. Cube the radius. Multiply the cubed radius by 4/3. Multiply the equation by π. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Bypass-Age-Restrictions-on-YouTube-Videos | How to Bypass Age Restrictions on YouTube Videos | To bypass age restrictions on YouTube videos, open the video you want to play as normal. When the age restriction warning appears, click on the video's URL to select it. Then, place your cursor directly after www. and enter “NSFW.” For example, the beginning of the address should read “ http://www. nsfw youtube.” Press Enter to play the video. Alternatively, you can type “repeat” directly after YouTube in the address bar and follow the steps mentioned above. | Type in the name of the video. Use the search bar at the top of the YouTube site. Hit ↵ Enter. Click on the video's link. Your video will load, and you will see the "Content Warning" screen asking you to log in. Click on the video's URL. Clicking on the URL in the address bar will highlight it. Click right after . www. This will place your cursor at the beginning of the URL. Type in nsfw. For example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLUvOtqTmYM would become http://www. nsfw youtube.com/watch?v=MLUvOtqTmYM Press ↵ Enter. Your video will now open on the redirect site. You will be able to watch the video without having to be logged in. Type in the name of the video. Use the search bar at the top of the YouTube site. Hit ↵ Enter, or click on the magnifying glass to search. Click on the video's link. Your video will load, and you will see the "Content Warning" screen asking you to log in. Click on the video's URL. Clicking on the URL in the address bar will highlight it. Type . repeat after YouTube in the address bar. For example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLUvOtqTmYM would become http://www.youtube repeat.com/watch?v=MLUvOtqTmYM Load the video. Press ↵ Enter to open the video on the redirect site. You will be able to watch the video without having to be logged in. Go to www.hidden.in. A proxy site is helpful if you are trying to access YouTube when it is blocked. Type www.hidden.in into your browser's URL bar, and hit ↵ Enter. Proxy sites may be blocked by some organizations. Type in tubeunblock.org into the search bar. The search bar is located in the center of the screen. De-select "Remove Client-Side Scripts. " De-select the check box next to "Remove Client-Side Scripts (Javascript, VBScript, etc)" by clicking on the check box. Click on "Surf. " You will be brought to tubeunblock.org. Search for your video. Type the name of the video you want to watch in the search bar at the top of the screen, and hit ↵ Enter. Alternatively, you can click the magnifying glass icon to the right of the search bar to perform your search. Click on the video. Once you click on it, your video will begin to play. Type in the name of the video. Use the search bar at the top of the YouTube site. Hit ↵ Enter. Click on the video's link. Your video will load, and you will see the "Content Warning" screen asking you to log in. Click on the video's URL. Clicking on the URL in the address bar will highlight it. Highlight the watch?v= part of the URL. Click ← Backspace to remove it. Replace it with /embed/. This will turn the URL into the embeddable link. The embeddable page does not have age restrictions. Hit ↵ Enter. This should bring you to the video embeddable page without having to be logged in. | Type in the name of the video. Hit ↵ Enter. Click on the video's link. Click on the video's URL. Click right after . Type in nsfw. Press ↵ Enter. Type in the name of the video. Hit ↵ Enter, or click on the magnifying glass to search. Click on the video's link. Click on the video's URL. Type . Load the video. Go to www.hidden.in. Type in tubeunblock.org into the search bar. De-select "Remove Client-Side Scripts. Click on "Surf. Search for your video. Click on the video. Type in the name of the video. Hit ↵ Enter. Click on the video's link. Click on the video's URL. Highlight the watch?v= part of the URL. Replace it with /embed/. Hit ↵ Enter. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Dry-Damaged-Hair | How to Fix Dry Damaged Hair | If your hair is dry and damaged, cut back shampooing to only about twice a week. However, use a conditioner on your hair every day, even if you don't shampoo. Detangle your hair with a wide-toothed brush, as this is less damaging, and avoid hair elastics, since these can lead to breakage. In addition, avoid heat-styling your hair too often, as this can make the damage worse, and use a heat-protectant spray if you do use heated tools, like a blow-dryer or straightener. | Don't shampoo as much. For many people, shampooing in the shower is such a part of their daily ritual that it may seem unthinkable not to do it. However, if you're suffering from dry hair, frequent shampooing is actually one of the worst things you can do. Shampoo strips essential oils from the hair along with dirt and grime, leaving it dry and vulnerable to damage. These oils will eventually return to the hair, but if you shampoo every day, they may not get a chance to. Shampoo is good for cleaning your hair and scalp, so a good compromise is to shampoo every third day. You can shower as often as you normally do to clean your skin and even use conditioner, but limit shampooing to about twice per week unless your hair gets especially dirty. Use blow dryers cautiously. Using a blow dryer after bathing can dry your hair out, but the effects can be minimized with a few easy changes to your drying habits. Try the following: Don't blow dry right after you get out of the shower. Let your hair air dry or blot it dry with a towel to soak up excess moisture. Set your dryer to a low setting and dry your hair gradually over a longer period of time. Use a thermal-protective hairspray or product to protect your hair. Change to a more delicate brush. The stiff, sharp bristles of most hair brushes can tear and fray delicate hair. Instead of using a harsh brush, switch to a brush with wide-spaced, round-tipped bristles. Better yet, skip the brush entirely and use a wide toothed comb. Any of these alternatives should be available at a local department store or pharmacy for cheap. This advice is especially important if you normally brush your hair in the shower. When your hair is wet, it is weaker. If you regularly pull on it with a brush, you can stretch and damage your hair. Limit the use of hair elastics. Rubber bands and tight hair ties can fray, and damage your hair. The tighter and more constrictive the material, the worse the effect. Try switching to free-flowing hairstyles or use braids or buns if you need to wear your hair up. If you have to use a hair tie, get the big poofy ones that have soft fabric over them. Don't use straightening treatments. If you normally straighten your hair every day, this can gradually damage the outer layer of your hair. Over time, this causes your hair to become weaker and dryer. Eventually, it will become so dry and brittle that you can be left with split or broken-off ends. Embrace your non-straight hair and it will naturally become less dry. This is especially true if you get your naturally kinky hair straightened at a specialist's. The chemicals used in the straightening process are quite caustic and can cause severe damage to your hair (or, if you leave them in too long, your scalp). Luckily, this goes away once the treatments stop. Try new repairing products. A wide variety of products designed to repair dry, damaged hair are available at supermarkets and beauty stores. Try switching to a product labeled "moisturizing," "repairing," "restorative," "strengthening," or "fortifying." These sorts of products are available as shampoos, conditioners, hairsprays, hair oils, and more. Regardless of the specific product you choose, use a light application on your hair every day and it should get stronger, shinier, and easier to brush and manage. If your hair is really damaged, try deep conditioning 3 times over the course of 1 week. Then you can see what hair is fixable and what hair is beyond repair. Have a hairdresser cut off the unfixable hair so the damage doesn't get worse. Try an aloe vera rub. Aloe vera is well-known for soothing and moisturizing damaged skin, but it can provide the same benefits to your hair as well. You will need: Plain, full-fat yogurt (Greek or standard) – 3 tbsp Aloe vera – 4 tbsp Olive oil – 2 tbsp Mix these ingredients together, then rub them into your hair just like you would with conditioner. Let them sit in your hair for half an hour. Rinse without shampooing for glossy, shiny hair. Try an egg white treatment. Egg whites are another wonderful remedy for dry hair. They are cheap and can add enough moisture to damaged hair to make it much easier to style and manage. You will need: One egg Water – 3 tbsp Separate the white of the egg from its yolk. Place it in a small mixing bowl. Add the water and blend well. Apply all over your hair. Wait for 30 minutes before washing. You'll be surprised by your hair's new shine. Try an egg and yogurt hair mask. Egg mixed with full-fat yogurt can be used to make a great protective "mask" that will add moisture back to dry hair. For this recipe, you'll use whole eggs, rather than whites. You will need: Two eggs Plain, full-fat yogurt (Greek or standard) – 2 tbsp Beat the eggs in a medium-sized bowl. Add the yogurt and mix. You'll end up with a creamy, smooth paste. Rub this throughout your hair. Leave on for at least 20 minutes before washing with cold water. Try a rice milk and honey hair wash. This is an excellent way to get lustrous hair in minutes. You will also love the smell of your hair once it's dry. You will need: Honey – 2 tbsp Rice milk – 1 cup Blend the ingredients together with the help of a spoon. Spread the mixture over your hair and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off. Try working hair magic with vinegar. Though it may not seem like it, vinegar can be a sure-fire ticket for super-soft and shiny hair. You will need: Vinegar – 1 tbsp Pour the vinegar in your hair as you wash it the next time you're in the shower. Rinse well and shampoo as normal. This will help get the smell out. | Don't shampoo as much. Use blow dryers cautiously. Change to a more delicate brush. Limit the use of hair elastics. Don't use straightening treatments. Try new repairing products. Try an aloe vera rub. Try an egg white treatment. Try an egg and yogurt hair mask. Try a rice milk and honey hair wash. Try working hair magic with vinegar. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-a-Lazy-Susan | How to Adjust a Lazy Susan | If you're having issues with your Lazy Susan, you should be able to adjust it using standard tools. Before you make any adjustments, empty the cupboard so you have space to work. If the shelves are stiff when you turn them, loosen the locking bolt at the top of the center shaft with a wrench or ratchet, then move the adjusting rod an inch, and tighten the bolt. To fix the shelf height, unscrew the locking screws on the central shaft that hold each shelf, adjust the height, then tighten the screws again. If the doors are misaligned, use a Philips-head screwdriver to loosen the screw at the top of the doors, rotate the shelf unit and door counterclockwise until the top hits the latch, then rotate the door clockwise until it reaches the center. | Pinpoint where rotation problems are occurring. When a Lazy Susan becomes stiff and difficult to rotate, the problem is usually caused by either the center shaft or the position of its bottom shelf. Lightly spin the Susan and note where it locks up, has difficulty turning, or has poor clearance. If the center movable shelf begins to bind, it will prevent free rotation. In this situation, you'll need to loosen this shelf. If the circular shelves slip down the center shaft, the bottom shelf can begin to drag, making it difficult to turn. You will need to adjust the height of this shelf to fix the problem. Locate the locking bolt to adjust the center shaft. Look at the top of the center shaft. There should be one large bolt locking the exterior shaft to a metal sleeve positioned inside the shaft. This is the locking bolt for the shaft. This bolt holds the center shaft in place and maintains the length of the shaft. Sometimes excess pressure from this bolt can cause the shaft to bind. On some models, the locking bolt might be located at the bottom of the Susan, however, in most cases, it will found near the top. Loosen the bolt. If anything is inside your Lazy Susan, empty it so you have more space to work. Using a wrench or ratchet, loosen the bolt by turning it one-quarter of a full rotation counterclockwise. At first, the bolt may require some elbow grease to break loose. Only loosen the bolt enough to manipulate the hardware inside the center shaft. On some models, this might require more or less than one-quarter rotation. Generally, it's better to loosen the bolt in small increments. This will prevent you from loosening it too much, which could result in the alignment of the Susan being thrown off. Move the adjusting rod. Now that the bolt is loose, you'll be able to adjust the center shaft. Slide the metal adjusting sleeve the bolt was holding in place no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) to provide better clearance between the center shaft and top of the cabinet. Work in small increments when adjusting the center shaft. Large adjustments could cause the Lazy Susan to topple over. Tighten the bolt to finish adjusting the center shaft. Use your wrench or ratchet to carefully refasten the locking bolt in place. Do not over-tighten the bolt. It should be looser than it was initially, but still tight enough to hold the adjusting rod in place. Locate the locking screws to adjust the shelf position. Most Lazy Susans should have two or more locking screws located at the center of each shelf. These screws hold the shelves to the center shaft. When all of the shelves are held together by the front decorative panel, you will need to adjust the entire shelf system. In this case, there may not be screws located at the height of each shelf. If the shelves must be adjusted separately, you'll only need to work with the bottom shelf. Locate the locking screws in the bottom shelf only. Loosen the screws. Loosen the locking screws using a Phillips-head screwdriver or similar tool. Hold the screwdriver so its head meets the fastener straight on. Apply firm pressure down on the screw while turning counterclockwise to prevent stripping fastener hardware. Screws can be left in their holes once they have been unattached from the center shaft. However, you may want to set loosened screws off to the side to prevent any from getting lost. Raise the shelves to finish adjusting shelf position. Carefully lift the bottom shelf or entire shelf system until there is roughly half an inch (1.25 cm) of space between the bottom shelf and the bottom of the cabinet. The shelves may resist this adjustment and begin binding on the center shaft. Maneuver shelves until they are level and at a suitable height. Under no circumstances should you lubricate the center shaft. Doing so could prevent the screws from holding their position. Tighten the screws. Hold the shelf in place with one hand and use your free hand to tighten the locking screws back in place with a screwdriver. Take care not to let the shelf slip as you reattach fasteners, as this could cause it to become uneven or binding. Make the screws as tight as possible without stripping any of the hardware. The shelves must be stationary and secure to prevent this kind of misalignment. Locate where there are door problems. Door problems are usually easier to identify than rotation problems. The door of the unit may close unevenly or it may not have sufficient clearance at the top, bottom, or sides of the cabinet. If the door does not close completely, or if it closes unevenly, you'll need to adjust the doors until they are centered correctly within the frame. When the top or bottom clearance is insufficient, you'll notice the gaps at both sides of the door will be unequal. When the side clearance is insufficient, the door will appear crooked. Additionally, the gaps around it will but unequal. Loosen the collar screw when doors close unevenly. Open the door and locate the collar at the top of the unit. For many models, this part will be made of white plastic. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the screw on this collar. Loosen the screw by one full counterclockwise rotation. Even loosened, the screw should remain in its position in the collar. Rotate the shelf unit and door counterclockwise. Using both hands, carefully rotate the entire shelf unit and door in a counterclockwise direction. Continue until the collar hits the catch latch located at the back of the ceiling bracket. Turn the Lazy Susan slowly. Listen for a slight click. This is a signal that you've reached the catch latch. Once you hit the catch latch, the collar should be properly aligned with the spring. You should feel a slight resistance to additional counterclockwise turning. Rotate the door. Gradually rotate the door in a clockwise direction until it reaches the exact center-front. If possible, take a step back and check the alignment from a distance. Make sure the door is precisely in place before moving on. The plastic collar should remain fixed in place as you rotate the door, so it may be difficult to step away. Have a friend or family member help you evaluate the door position, in these cases. If you accidentally rotate past the center-front position, continue rotating the door in a clockwise direction. Do not rotate it counterclockwise until after you finish setting it. Turn the entire assembly. Carefully and slowly rotate the entire assembly in a counterclockwise direction. Continue turning the assembly until the collar screw faces you. The door and collar should maintain their alignment as you turn the assembly. It may help you to maintain the position of the collar and door by marking their correct positions with a piece of painter's tape, masking tape, or something similar. Tighten the screw to finish adjusting uneven doors. Tighten the collar screw back into its original position. The door should now be properly aligned and fixed into place. Give the Lazy Susan a few spins to check that everything works correctly, and your door adjustment is finished. To prevent the collar from twisting out of place while it's fastened, you may need to hold it in place as the screw is tightened. Remove the retainer clip to improve top and bottom clearance. Locate the plastic retainer clip at the bottom of the center shaft. Firmly grasp the clip between your fingers, open it, and pull it out. Under the clip should be a cut-out portion of the shaft with a thumbscrew adjustment wheel. The cabinet will need to be completely empty when you make this adjustment. Do not attempt to complete the process when the shelves are loaded, especially if they are heavily loaded. Turn the adjustment wheel. Use your fingers to turn the thumbscrew adjustment wheel in the cut-out portion of the center shaft. Rotate the wheel clockwise to raise the door and counterclockwise to lower the door. Generally you can expect that for each full rotation of the screw the height will be adjusted by about 1/32 in (0.8 mm). You may need to apply gentle pressure to the underside of the bottom shelf to aid the adjustment if you are attempting to raise the door. Replace the retainer clip to complete the top and bottom adjustment. After adjusting the door to the proper height, return the retainer clip to its original position at the bottom of the pole. The clip should fasten back into place firmly. It's a good idea to tighten all of the adjustment screws attached to the center shaft, shelves, and door after setting the height. Doing this could prevent the door from falling out of alignment again. Outline the top and bottom brackets when side clearance is insufficient. Using an erasable pencil, lightly outline the current position of the top and bottom brackets. If lighting is too poor inside the cabinet to make these marks easily, use a flashlight or electric lantern. Doing this will give you a reference point to work from as you make the adjustment. Pencil marks can be erased once you complete the process. Realign the pivot pole from the top. Use a screwdriver to remove the setscrews and loosen the star washers holding the pivot housing in place on both sides of the pivot pole. Adjust the pivot housing and pivot pole until both are centered and aligned. When the star washers are in place but before fastening the setscrews, take a step back and look over your Lazy Susan. If the side clearance is still uneven, remove the washers and readjust the pivot. Use your outline to guide your adjustments. For example, if the left side is low, you'll likely need to move the pivot pole and housing to the right. Refasten the pivot housing. Once you tighten the star washers, you'll be ready to return the setscrews to their original position. When the screws are in place, check the side clearance of the Lazy Susan again to make sure that it wasn't altered as you refastened its hardware. This adjustment may take care of your side clearance problem. If the lower half of your Susan appears to be misaligned, you'll have to adjust the pivot base in addition to its top. Realign the pivot base when necessary. Open the door wide enough to expose the bottom bracket on either side of the Susan. Loosen this bracket by removing the fastening setscrew and star washer with a screwdriver. Now you can realign the pivot cam (metal arm) base so that it's centered. You'll have to repeat this process on the opposite side of the Lazy Susan where you'll find an identical bracket/pivot cam base. Work on brackets one at a time. After you've taken apart, realigned, and refastened the first bracket, move on to the next one. When properly centered, the pivot cam bases of both sides should be aligned with regard to the center pole. Refasten the bracket. Be careful when refastening; if you jostle the pivot cam, it could be knocked out of alignment. Replace the star washers and reattach the setscrews for the bracket. When fastened, similarly adjust the opposite side bottom bracket/pivot cam base. Verify that the position did not become altered while you were returning these pieces to their original positions by stepping back and evaluating the evenness of the side clearance. Check the door to complete your side clearance adjustment. Sometimes these alignments (especially those made to pivots) can require several attempts before they are resolved. Double check door alignment after completing the top and bottom adjustments, especially. If the side clearance is still unequal, you will need to readjust the top pivot pole and/or bottom pivot cams. | Pinpoint where rotation problems are occurring. Locate the locking bolt to adjust the center shaft. Loosen the bolt. Move the adjusting rod. Tighten the bolt to finish adjusting the center shaft. Locate the locking screws to adjust the shelf position. Loosen the screws. Raise the shelves to finish adjusting shelf position. Tighten the screws. Locate where there are door problems. Loosen the collar screw when doors close unevenly. Rotate the shelf unit and door counterclockwise. Rotate the door. Turn the entire assembly. Tighten the screw to finish adjusting uneven doors. Remove the retainer clip to improve top and bottom clearance. Turn the adjustment wheel. Replace the retainer clip to complete the top and bottom adjustment. Outline the top and bottom brackets when side clearance is insufficient. Realign the pivot pole from the top. Refasten the pivot housing. Realign the pivot base when necessary. Refasten the bracket. Check the door to complete your side clearance adjustment. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Score-for-a-Softball-Game | How to Keep Score for a Softball Game | To keep score in a softball game, first print off a scorecard online for each team. Add the team names and date of the game to the card, then write out the batters in the order they'll bat. Beside each player, write down their jersey number and the numbers corresponding to their position. For example, pitcher is 1, catcher 2, and first base 3. When someone comes up to bat, mark the appropriate balls and strikes in the spaces provided. After a player makes a run, draw a line to the correct base and write the appropriate number, like 1 for a single or 2 for a double. If a player strikes out, write “K” in the batter's box. For all outs, record all of the players involved by using their position numbers. | Use pre-printed softball scoring cards to score your game. You can either purchase a notebook with scorecards from sports stores, or you can print off scoring sheets from the internet at home. Assign 1 scorecard per team, one for the home team and another for the visiting team. You can find scoring cards online by searching "printable scoring cards" on Google. Write out the players' names in batting order. You can write one name per row, starting with the 1st batter. Fill this out for the "Batter" and "Pitcher" columns. Include other relevant information on your scorecard, like team, umpire, and the date. You can make a separate section at the bottom for bench players, if you'd like. Write down each players' jersey number and abbreviated position. Typically the jersey number is listed first, followed by the players' name, and then the players' position number. In softball, each position is assigned a number in order to keep track with your scorecard. There are other positions that receive alphabetical abbreviations, as well. 1 = Pitcher, 2 = Catcher, 3 = 1st base, 4 = 2nd base, 5 = 3rd base, 6 = Shortstop, 7 = Left field, 8 = Center field, and 9 = Right field. There are also 2 other player positions to abbreviate. Designated Hitter (DH) is the player who only hits for someone who only plays on the field. Pinch hitter (PR) is a player who is substituted to bat for a player in the starting lineup. If the pitcher is hitting, you can include them in your lineup. If not, DH will take your pitcher's spot. Mark the balls and strikes for each batter in the designated grids. When someone is up to bat, take note of what they hit for each pitch on your scorecard. Record the number of balls hit in the row with 3 squares and the number of strikes in the row with 2 squares. Make your marks with Xs, checks, or slashes--whatever feels right to you. After each pitch, the umpire will shout out the call and hold up his hands to indicate the count so far, such as 2 balls and 2 strikes. When giving the count, balls will always come before strikes. Draw a line to the correct base after a player makes a run. You will see a small diamond shape to the right of your players' names. When a player reaches a base, draw a line connecting to that base. You will go around the diamond just like the players are doing. You may be completing this for multiple players at the same time, depending on whose on what base. For example, if someone makes it to 1st base, draw a line connecting the home position to the 1st base position. If someone gets a home run, then fill in the entire diamond. Include abbreviations to give more details for each play. In addition to drawing the lines around the bases, add abbreviations to give details about the player's turn. A player can hit a single, double, triple, or home run. They can also earn a walk if the pitcher throws poorly. Write “1B” if a batter gets a single. A single is the most basic hit, where the batter runs to 1st base safely. Draw a line from the home to 1st base on your diamond, and write “1B” next to it. Record “2B” if a batter gets a double. A double is when a batter makes it to 2 bases in one turn without any errors. Draw a line from home, to 1st, and to 2nd. Write “2B” next to the line. Jot down “3B” if a batter gets a triple. A triple is when a player makes it from home to 3rd base successfully. Draw a line from home base to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Then, write “3B” for 3rd base. Write “HR” and shade the entire diamond if a batter scores a home run. A home run is when a player successfully hits the ball far enough to run from home base to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and back to home plate. Outline the entire diamond, shade it in, and write “HR” to indicate a home run. Record “BB” for “Base on Balls” if a batter gets a walk. A walk occurs if the pitcher throws 4 balls and the batter cannot hit any of them. The batter can “walk” to 1st base since they were not pitched a decent throw. Make a line from home to 1st base, and write “BB” for “Base on Balls.” Record which players got out by the other players’ position numbers. Write down the position number for everyone who touched the ball whenever an out is made, using the 1-9 positions abbreviations. 1 = Pitcher, 2 = Catcher, 3 = 1st base, 4 = 2nd base, 5 = 3rd base, 6 = Shortstop, 7 = Left field, 8 = Center field, and 9 = Right field. If a pitch is hit to left field and then a player throws the ball to 2nd base to force the player out, it would read “7-4,” for 7 represents left field, and 4 represents 2nd base. Write “K” in the batter’s box if a player strikes out. A batter strikes out by swinging the bat 3 times without getting a hit. Their turn is now over, and they do not get a position on base. Mark if a player "Grounds Out" by writing the player's position numbers. A “Ground Out” is when the ball is hit to the ground, and a player on the opposing team throws the ball to get a player out. Abbreviate this by listing the position numbers of the opposing players. Write the total number of outs in the inning in the lower left corner, and circle this number. For example, if a ball is hit to shortstop and they throw the ball to the player on 1st base to get the batter out, write “6-3” for the position numbers. Also write “2” in the lower left corner, since this is the 2nd out of the inning. Write a letter “F” and other players' position number to mark a “Fly Out. ” A “Fly Out” refers to a ball caught in the air before it hits the ground. In this case, the batter is automatically out. Record this by writing the position number of player who caught the ball. You can still circle the number of players out in the lower left corner. If the player in the right field position caught the ball, write “F10” and then “2” in the bottom. Indicate a “Sacrifice Fly” by writing “SF” and players' position number. A “Sacrifice Fly” occurs when a fly ball is caught and the players already on base run to another base. If a runner makes a score after the fly ball is caught, write down “SF” next to the batter's name. Include the position number of the person who caught the ball. For example, if the batter hit a ball caught by the left fielder, and afterwards another runner scored, you would mark this batter as “SF7.” You can still circle the number of players out in the lower left corner. Record "Unassisted Outs" by writing “U” and players' position number. “Unassisted Outs” are when the batter hits the ball to someone on the ground, and the batter gets out without other players throwing the ball. You can score this by writing the position number of the opposing player and then “U.” Let's say the batter hit the ball to the 2nd baseman, and the 2nd baseman tagged the batter. You can mark this as “4U.” Mark "Double Plays" by recording “DP” and players' position numbers. “Double Plays” occur if 2 players get out in the same play. This can only happen if there are 0 or 1 outs total in the inning. The inning will end when the 3rd out is made. Write “DP” and the position of everyone involved in the play. For example, the batter hits the ball to shortstop. The player on shortstop then throws the ball to 2nd base to get a runner out, as they run from 1st to 2nd base. Then, the 2nd baseman throws the ball to 1st base, to get the batter out. This would be record as “DP 6-4-2.” Score a "Triple Play" by writing “TP” and the players’ position numbers. A “Triple Play” is essentially the same as a "Double Play", but with 3 outs instead of 2. If 3 people get out in 1 play, write “TP” and then the position numbers of each player involved. For example, the 1st out could happen if the batter hits the ball to the 2nd baseman, and the 2nd baseman catches the ball in the air. The runners on 1st and 2nd base started running after the batter hit the ball into the air. To get the runner on 2nd base out, the shortstop catches the ball from the 2nd baseman--making the 2nd out. Then, the shortstop throws the ball to the 1st baseman to get out the runner who should've remained on 1st base. You would write this as “TP F4-6-3.” Write a 3 in the lower left corner and circle it, since this was the 3rd out. | Use pre-printed softball scoring cards to score your game. Write out the players' names in batting order. Write down each players' jersey number and abbreviated position. Mark the balls and strikes for each batter in the designated grids. Draw a line to the correct base after a player makes a run. Include abbreviations to give more details for each play. Write “1B” if a batter gets a single. Record “2B” if a batter gets a double. Jot down “3B” if a batter gets a triple. Write “HR” and shade the entire diamond if a batter scores a home run. Record “BB” for “Base on Balls” if a batter gets a walk. Record which players got out by the other players’ position numbers. Write “K” in the batter’s box if a player strikes out. Mark if a player "Grounds Out" by writing the player's position numbers. Write a letter “F” and other players' position number to mark a “Fly Out. Indicate a “Sacrifice Fly” by writing “SF” and players' position number. Record "Unassisted Outs" by writing “U” and players' position number. Mark "Double Plays" by recording “DP” and players' position numbers. Score a "Triple Play" by writing “TP” and the players’ position numbers. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Backstitch | How to Backstitch | To backstitch by hand, start by threading a needle and tying a knot at the other end. Then, draw a line on your fabric where you want to backstitch. Next, poke the needle up through the fabric at one end of the line you drew and push it back down through the fabric about 1/4 inch down the line. Repeat this stitch 2 more times so you end with the needle coming up through the fabric at the third insertion point. Then, bring the needle down through insertion point 2 and up again at insertion point 4, repeating the process until you reach the end of the line. | Thread a needle and tie a knot in the end of the thread. For easier backstitching, use a shorter needle (about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long) with a shorter (not elongated) eye. Once you get the thread through the eye, tie a knot at the end of the longer side of the thread by doing the following: Wrap the end of the long side of the thread loosely around your index finger 1-3 times. Use your thumb on the same hand to roll the loop off of your index finger. Grasp the loop with your thumb and forefinger and work it toward the end of the thread. It will tighten into a knot in the process. Draw a pencil line on your fabric to mark your backstitch line. Backstitching is great for turning corners and making curved lines , but start with a straight line if you're a beginner. Use a ruler and a pencil to draw the line you want your sewing line to follow. You can also use chalk with a pointed tip. The pencil/chalk line will be covered up by the sewing line. If you can still see it after sewing, you can wipe it away with a damp cloth. Poke the needle up from beneath the fabric at one end of the line. Then, push the needle back down through the fabric about 0.25 in (6.4 mm) further along the line. Pull the thread until the knot catches against the underside of the fabric at the first insertion point. While 0.25 in (6.4 mm) is a common length for a single stitch, you can make yours wider or shorter as desired. Try to remain consistent in your chosen length, though, to keep your stitch line looking neat. Repeat this first stitch twice more. Feed the needle back up through the first hole you made, and down through the second hole. Pull the thread snug when you're finished. Then, do the same process once more. Combined with the knot, this starting triple stitch will hold your stitch line securely in place. Triple stitching will make your stitch line a little thicker in this section, so consider double stitching or taking your chances with just a single stitch if you really want consistent thickness in your stitch line. Poke the needle up through the fabric a stitch-width down the line. If you're stitching from left to right, for instance, insert the needle 0.25 in (6.4 mm) to the right of the second insertion point. At this juncture, then, you'll have a triple stitch connecting insertion points 1 and 2, the needle poking up through insertion point 3, and a stitch-width gap between points 2 and 3. Remember that you can make your stitch widths shorter or longer than 0.25 in (0.64 cm), but try to be as consistent as possible. Feed the needle and thread down and through insertion point 2. This is where the “back” in backstitching happens. You stitch opposite the direction of your overall stitch line, going back to insertion point 2 with your needle and thread. Poke the needle down into the fabric at point 2, and pull the thread tight. You'll now have an unbroken thread line running from point 1 to point 3. This is why the backstitch is great for making outlines. Poke up through the fabric at insertion point 4 and keep repeating the process. Insertion point 4 should be a stitch-width away from point 3. Once you poke up through there, feed the needle back through point 3 and pull the thread tight. Then, poke up through point 5, back down through point 4, pull tight, and keep going until you reach the end of your pencil line. Your pencil line should now be covered by an unbroken thread line. Weave through the last 3 or 4 stitches to secure the end of the line. If, for instance, insertion point 8 is the end of your stitch line, come back up through point 8 after going down through point 7. Then, feed the needle under the thread (but over the fabric) from left to right between points 8 and 7. After that, do the same between points 7 and 6, but feed the needle from right to left. Keep alternating your weave 1-2 more times. After you've made your last weave, go back under that stitch line with your needle once more and create a loop in your thread. Feed the needle through the loop and pull the thread tight to create a knot. Finally, snip off the excess thread (and the needle) with sharp scissors. Instead of weaving, you can instead create another triple stitch, then knot and trim the end of the thread. Either method will secure the end of the stitch line. Create a guideline on your fabric with a pencil or chalk. Use a ruler to keep the guideline straight. As with sewing by hand, you can backstitch corners and curves with a sewing machine, but it's easier to do straight lines if you're a novice. Sewing machines can create straight, practically continuous stitch lines without using a backstitch. Instead, backstitching with a sewing machine is usually used to secure the beginning and end of a stitch line. Position your needle at one end of the guideline. Often, there is a wheel knob on the machine near the base of the needle that lets you raise and lower the needle. Once you have the needle right above the starting point of the guideline, press down the foot that surrounds the needle—this is the flat metal piece that holds the fabric in place. Consult your model's product manual for specific instructions on positioning the needle and foot. Use the machine to stitch along the line about 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm). Press the button or foot pedal that activates your sewing machine, and use your hand to help steady and guide the piece of fabric. Keep the machine at a slow speed and work on creating as straight of a line as you can. With practice, you'll be able to stitch straight lines at a faster speed. Once again, consult your product manual for specific operation instructions. Switch the machine to backstitch mode and go back over the stitch line. Many machines have a button—often labeled with a U-turn shaped arrow—that switches them from forward stitch to backstitch mode. Once you switch the machine to backstitch, run it slowly and go right back over the stitch line you just made. Stop when you get back to your original starting point. Your model may have a lever or knob instead of a button. Read your product manual! Return to forward stitching and complete your stitch line. Adjust the appropriate button/lever/switch on your machine and stitch forward from your starting point all the way to the endpoint of your guideline. Run the machine at low speed and work carefully until you master keeping your stitch line straight. After that, you can try going faster and creating curves or corners. Don't worry if your line isn't perfectly straight the first time—it takes a bit of practice, but you'll get the hang of it! Backstitch from the endpoint about 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm). Switch the machine to backstitch mode again and go back over the last section of your stitch line. Once you finish, follow your machine's instructions for disengaging the needle and foot and snipping the line. With a backstitch at each end, you stitch line should hold securely without having to make any knots in the thread. Layer 2 knit pieces on top of each other. The backstitch is used in knitting to connect 2 pieces of knit material to each other at the seams. Put the pieces of knit material on top of each other with the right sides facing each other. Make sure the seams line up so you can work in a straight line. Backstitching is a great stitch to use when making clothes, since you might need to connect 2 large pieces together. Thread a darning needle with the same yarn. Grab a large darning needle and thread it with a single layer of the same yarn you used in your knit pieces. This will ensure that your backstitch is mostly hidden, so it'll be easier to hide it in the finished piece. If you want your backstitch to stand out, pick a contrasting color instead of a matching one. Bring the needle up and down through both layers to secure it. Start at one end of the seam and poke your needle up through the back of the knit layers up to the front. Bring it back down right next to the hole you just made, then do that again to secure your stitching. Since you can't tie a secure knot in yarn, it's important to secure it by stitching on both sides of your backstitch line. Poke your needle up through both pieces, then back down at your first stitch. Bring your needle up through the back of your knit layers about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) away from your initial stitch. Then, bring the needle back down through the layers at your initial stitch, moving “backwards” (hence the name). The length of your stitches is up to you, but doing them about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) apart will be the easiest and most secure. Continue in a straight line until you reach the end. Keep bringing your needle up through both layers about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) away from your last stitch, then put it back down through the last stitch you made. You're constantly going back and forth, which is what makes this stitch so secure. If your stitches space out a little bit, that's okay. Try to make sure they're all relatively the same length, but don't stress too much if they're uneven. Loop the yarn around the edge to secure it. When you reach the end of your seam, bring the needle up through both layers, then loop it around the edge of the knit pieces. Bring the needle back up again through the knit pieces, then loop it around once more to really secure your seam. Now, you can take your darning needle off the yarn and cut off the excess. This stitch is pretty hard to unpick, so make sure you really want these 2 pieces conjoined! | Thread a needle and tie a knot in the end of the thread. Draw a pencil line on your fabric to mark your backstitch line. Poke the needle up from beneath the fabric at one end of the line. Repeat this first stitch twice more. Poke the needle up through the fabric a stitch-width down the line. Feed the needle and thread down and through insertion point 2. Poke up through the fabric at insertion point 4 and keep repeating the process. Weave through the last 3 or 4 stitches to secure the end of the line. Create a guideline on your fabric with a pencil or chalk. Position your needle at one end of the guideline. Use the machine to stitch along the line about 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm). Switch the machine to backstitch mode and go back over the stitch line. Return to forward stitching and complete your stitch line. Backstitch from the endpoint about 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm). Layer 2 knit pieces on top of each other. Thread a darning needle with the same yarn. Bring the needle up and down through both layers to secure it. Poke your needle up through both pieces, then back down at your first stitch. Continue in a straight line until you reach the end. Loop the yarn around the edge to secure it. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Children-Chess | How to Teach Children Chess | To teach children how to play chess, start by introducing them to the board and telling them what each piece is called and how it moves. Take your time and make sure they understand how to move each piece before moving on to the next one. Once they understand the basics, try playing a pawns-only game of chess. Then, for each subsequent game, add in one new piece until they're comfortable playing with all of the pieces. | Explain the chess board. A chess board has 8 rows and 8 columns. There are 64 squares total. Half of the squares are a light color and half of the squares are a dark color. If you do not have a chess board, you can draw one on a dry erase board or chalk board. If you are teaching in a classroom, it may help to number the horizontal squares from 1 to 8, and letter the vertical squares from “a” to “h.” You can then use a coordinate system while you are teaching. Begin teaching the pieces. Explain the pawns, knights, rooks, bishops, king, and queen. Note the differences in how each piece looks. Place the pieces on the board so the child can see the proper position. The knight usually looks like a horse. The bishop looks like a hat. The king is the most important piece because the object of the game is to capture the opponent's king. Point out the difference in the shape of the queen and king pieces Rooks are also called castles. Continue explaining the pieces. Go through each piece and explain how each piece moves on the board. Make sure the child understands a piece before you move on to the next. A pawn can move two spaces from its starting position, but only one space after that. A pawn can only capture a piece when it moves diagonally and can never move backwards. A knight is the only piece that can jump over another piece. It moves in an “L” shape. It can move 2 spaces horizontally and then one space vertically, or it can move 2 spaces vertically and then one space horizontally. The bishop can move diagonally and any number of squares. Rooks can move any number of squares forwards, backwards, or horizontally. The rook cannot move diagonally. The queen can move in any direction and any number of squares. It is one of the most powerful pieces. The king can move one space in any direction, but two kings can never be side by side. Place all the pieces on the board. Set up a chess board with all of the pieces. Your child should be able to identify each piece by name. Once they have the names down, begin to focus on the movement each piece makes. If you are using the coordinates method, this is how the chess board should be set up: Each player gets 8 pawns that lie on the 2nd and 7th rows Rooks/castles are in column A and H of rows 1 and 8. The queen is on column D of rows 8 and 1. The bishop is on column C and F of rows 8 and 1. The knights are on column B and G of rows 8 and 1. The king is in column E of rows 8 and 1. Play a pawns only game. Set up the chess board with only pawns. The goal of the game is to move as many of your pawns to the other side of the board. If two pawns meet and cannot move, they are stuck. Remind the child that the pawn can only move one space forward unless it is capturing the opponent's pawn. If it is capturing, it can move one space diagonally. An alternate goal of the game can be to see who can move a single pawn to the other side first. Remind the child that the white pawn moves first and that pawns can take two spaces on a first move. This helps the child get used to playing the pawns. Add the bishops. Once the child has a good grasp of pawn movement, add the bishops to the game. The goal of the game remains the same. Remind the child that the bishops can only move diagonally. This game teaches the child to: Use their pawns to protect their bishop. Decide the best time to let their bishop out in front of their pawns. Get their bishop behind their opponent's pawns. Understand the limitations that come with only being allowed to move the bishop diagonally. Introduce the rooks. Place the rooks, bishops, and pawns on the board. The objective is still to get a pawn all the way to the other side of the board. Remind the child that the rook can move any number of squares vertically or horizontally, but it cannot jump another piece. The child should learn the importance of keeping the rook until the end of the game. At this stage, the child should also begin to see the difference between taking their opponent's piece and winning the actual game. Place the knights on the board. Allow the child to move the knights on an empty board. The “L” movement is very unique and may take a little time. Pick a spot on the board that the child needs to get the knight to. Have them think through the number of moves it may take to get there. Once the child is comfortable with the knights, add the pawns and play a game as you have done with the other pieces. Play with knights, rooks, bishops, and pawns. Set up the board with all of these pieces. The goal is still to get a pawn to the other side first. This is a complex game, but your child should be ready for it because of the gradual buildup. The child should begin to learn different patterns and how the pieces work together. If your child is having difficulty, go back to some of the more simple games. Your child should progress through each stage at their own pace. Play with the queen, king, pawn, and rook. This game allows you to introduce the concept of check and checkmate. Check means the king is in danger. Checkmate means the king can no longer move anywhere. Only add 4 pawns for each player to the game. Remind your child that the white piece always move first and once they take their hand off a piece, their move is over. Focus on the movements that the king and queen pieces can make. Play a full game of chess. If your child is comfortable with the movements of each piece, have them play a full game of chess. The goal of this game is to capture the opponent's king. Remind your child that getting a pawn to the other side will only earn them a queen now. Again, if your child want to go back to simpler games, allow them to do so. Explain pawn promotion. A pawn is promoted when it reaches the other side of the board. It will become a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Once the pawn reaches the other side, you can replace it with the piece of your choosing. Pawns are most commonly promoted to queens. You can have more than one queen on the board. You may say, "If your pawn makes it to the other side of the board, it can become a different piece. You can choose the piece that you turn it into. The queen is usually best." Explain en passant. En passant happens when a player moves the pawn two spaces on the first movement and the pawn is next to the opponent's pawn. If this happens, the opponent can use their pawn to capture your pawn. Your opponent must capture your pawn during the next move. If the pawn is not captured during the next move, your pawn can remain.. This move may never happen naturally. Set up the board to demonstrate how this happens. A pawn can never be promoted to a king. Explain what the term "castling" means. Castling involves moving the king and the rook at the same time. If there is nothing between the king and the rook/castle and neither of the pieces have been moved yet, this move can happen. The king moves two spaces towards the castle and then the castle jumps to the other side of the king. The king and the rook must be in their original positions to castle. You cannot castle if the king is in check. Make learning fun. Talk about the pieces like they are soldiers in a war and describe the game as a battle. You can also create an entire storyline around the battle to increase excitement. If your child is into technology, there are computer games, video games, and apps that can be used to supplement their learning. These games are also helpful for teaching strategy and can present different scenarios. Be encouraging. Give your child praise when they accomplish something. It does not matter if it is big or small. Checking a king and setting up the board correctly are both accomplishments. Also, encourage your child if they are not doing well. You may say, “It's ok that you did not win. You still made some really nice moves with your knights during the game.” Allow them to make mistakes. Play and teach them the rules while playing. Correct them if they make illegal moves. Let them make a few moves to encourage them. Make deliberate blunders and give them an opportunity to win a few games. Once your child has the basic moves down, learning comes from playing and experiencing different scenarios. Emphasize that learning is a lifelong process and they can always improve their game. | Explain the chess board. Begin teaching the pieces. Continue explaining the pieces. Place all the pieces on the board. Play a pawns only game. Add the bishops. Introduce the rooks. Place the knights on the board. Play with knights, rooks, bishops, and pawns. Play with the queen, king, pawn, and rook. Play a full game of chess. Explain pawn promotion. Explain en passant. Explain what the term "castling" means. Make learning fun. Be encouraging. Allow them to make mistakes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Track-the-Development-of-New-Puppies | How to Track the Development of New Puppies | To track the development of new puppies from birth to 2 weeks, make sure they're eating a lot and keeping close to their mother, which are good developmental signs. About 5 to 7 days after birth, you should notice the puppies starting to crawl, and after the first week you'll see them trying to stand. By the time they're 2 weeks old, make sure the puppies are starting to walk and playing with their litter mates. After 4 weeks, check if the puppies have their baby teeth, which means they can slowly start a diet of puppy food. | Make sure that a newborn is functioning properly. When a puppy is born you should assess its physical and behavioral status. This will allow you to know if it is on the right developmental track. Look over the puppies to make sure they do not have any obvious birth defects. Check the mouth, anus and skull for abnormalities. Cleft palates, which are deformities of the upper lip shelf, and “swimmer” bodies, characterized by flattened and widened chests, are common. Make sure the puppies are breathing on their own. Check that the puppies are staying close to the mother for warmth and that they are feeding. If they don't automatically suckle, encourage them to do so by placing them on the hind teats. If they are still having issues suckling, consult a vet--you may have to bottle feed them. Assess the puppy's physical development during the neonatal stage. The neonatal stage is the first week after birth. A newborn puppy is both blind and deaf during the neonatal phase. It is normal for a puppy to have closed eyes and move around very little. In fact, it is a puppy's sense of smell that allows it to find the mother in order to stay warm and feed. In addition, the puppy will not be able to go to the bathroom on its own. The mother dog needs to promote urine and feces elimination during this phase. This is done by the mother dog licking the genitals of the puppy. Track the puppy's behavior during its first week. From birth to two weeks old the dog only responds to warmth, touch, and smell. The puppy can't regulate its own body temperature, so it relies on its mother to keep it warm. If the puppy is eating a lot and keeping close to its mother, then this is a good developmental sign. You should not have to handle the puppy very much in the first couple weeks of life. It's behavior should consist of eating and sleeping mostly. Contact your veterinarian if you have questions or concerns. If you do not think that your puppy is developing properly, then you should talk to your vet about it. For example, if you don't think that your puppy is suckling enough or you find that it is not staying close to the mother, and thus not staying warm, then you may need to supplement its food or warmth. Look for physical development after the first week. About five to seven days after birth, the puppy should begin to crawl around. Its eyes should open between five and 14 days after birth, and its ears should open between six and 14 days after birth. During this period, the puppy will spend less time cuddled up with its mother and more time exploring its surroundings. Pay attention to signs that your puppy is trying to stand after the first week. After about a week, your puppy should try to stand up. It will usually take the puppy another week or so to begin walking, which will be wobbly and uncoordinated at first. Once the puppy begins walking, it will explore its surroundings even more. If your puppy is not standing at all after a week, then you should have it looked at by a veterinarian. This could be a sign that its development is delayed and you should try to find out why. Inspect the puppy for further physical development after two weeks. Baby teeth, also known as milk teeth, should begin to show up in your puppy's mouth at 14 to 21 days old. Additionally, after two weeks the puppy should be able to eliminate its waste on its own. Also, your puppy should begin wagging its tail and playing with its litter mates when it is over two weeks old. These are good signs that show it is on a good developmental path. Make sure the puppy is getting socialization at three weeks old. During the socialization period, which occurs between seven weeks and four months, it is critical for the puppy to be exposed to a variety of people, animals, and environments. Successfully socializing the puppy requires effort on your part, but will impact the dog's personality and comfort in new situations for the rest of its life. During this socialization phase, the puppy should be walking easily and playing with its littermates, in addition to interacting with others. Introduce your puppy to new people, sights, sounds, smells, and textures. Have your puppy meet people of different ages and people wearing different types of clothing, like sunglasses or baseball caps. Allow your puppy to walk on different types of floors, like carpet and tile. Gradually introduce new stimuli so your puppy does not become overwhelmed. Puppy classes, dog parks, and friend's houses are great opportunities for socialization, but avoid taking your puppy to public places like these until after it has completed its vaccination series. Start weaning the puppy by four weeks old. At four weeks old, the puppy should have all of its baby teeth, which can irritate the mother. You should gradually switch the puppy to a diet of puppy food. A slow transition is key because it allows the puppy's digestive system to adjust to digesting the puppy food instead of its mother's milk. Begin house training at four to five weeks old. Once the dog is about a month old, you can begin house training. This usually takes four to six months, but may take up to a year for some puppies. At this point the puppy should still be around its mother. Taking the puppy out when the mother goes outside to go to the bathroom can be good modeling for the puppy. Note that smaller breeds have smaller bladders and faster metabolisms, and therefore will need to go outside more frequently. As a result, smaller breeds often take longer to house train. Be patient, and don't expect too much too soon. Assess whether the puppy is ready to go to a new home at seven to eight weeks old. Many puppies go to their permanent homes when they are about eight weeks old. If your puppy is fully weaned, playing and active with its littermates, and has a clean bill of health, then it is probably ready to go to its forever home. This is a point in the puppy's development that it can adjust to changes and bond with new humans. There are some breeders that wait until about twelve weeks to send their dogs to their new homes. Sometimes, this is merely a matter of choice. Other times, puppies may need a little longer than 8 weeks to mature, especially small breed puppies. | Make sure that a newborn is functioning properly. Assess the puppy's physical development during the neonatal stage. Track the puppy's behavior during its first week. Contact your veterinarian if you have questions or concerns. Look for physical development after the first week. Pay attention to signs that your puppy is trying to stand after the first week. Inspect the puppy for further physical development after two weeks. Make sure the puppy is getting socialization at three weeks old. Start weaning the puppy by four weeks old. Begin house training at four to five weeks old. Assess whether the puppy is ready to go to a new home at seven to eight weeks old. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Tree-Out-of-Paper | How to Make a Tree Out of Paper | To make a tree out of paper, start by folding a sheet of brown cardstock in half lengthwise and drawing half a tree along the folded edge. Next, cut the tree out of the cardstock while it is still folded. Then, trace your tree shape onto 3 additional sheets of cardstock and cut them out to create 4 identical trees. Once you have your 4 cutouts, fold the trunks in half and glue 2 halves of the folded trunks together. Repeat this step with the other 2 trunks, then glue the sets together. Finally, cut leaves out of lightweight paper and glue them onto the branches. | Fold a sheet of brown cardstock in half lengthwise and draw a tree. Along the folded edge, draw the trunk and branches of half of a tree on the cardstock. You will need to create four cutouts of the same tree. You can make the trunk any size you would like. Be creative to create your tree's shape with branches in different directions. Cut out the tree. Cut the cardstock while it is folded to end up with a tree that is a mirror image of itself along the folded edge. Trace your tree carefully three times. Copy the tree shape onto three additional sheets of cardstock to create four identical trees. Use scissors to cut out all four tree trunks and branches. Make sure you cut exactly on the lines to end up with identical tree trunks. Fold the trunks in half. Use a ruler to draw a straight line up the middle of each tree trunk. Then, fold the trunks on the line to fold them in half. Fold all four trees in the same spot using the original tree that was folded as a guide. Glue the trunks together. Use a hot glue gun to glue two halves of the folded trunks together. Repeat this with the other two trunks. Then, glue the two sets together. Do not glue the branches, only the trunks, to allow the branches to look more natural in different directions. The trees will form a "+" shape with the folded edges coming together in the middle. The shape should provide stability to allow the tree to stand. Cut leaves out. Use lightweight paper to cut small leaves for the tree. Using multiple different shades of greens, reds, or yellows will give the tree depth. Fold a piece of paper into a small square. Draw a leaf shape onto the square. Use sharp scissors to cut out the leaf shape from all layers of the folded square to cut multiple leaves at one time. Make enough leaves to cover your tree. You can also use a leaf template to print pages of multiple leaves, and then cut them out individually. Glue the leaves on the tree. Use craft glue or a hot glue gun to attach the leaves onto the branches of your tree. Continue covering the tree with leaves until you reach your desired look. Tape together newspaper pages. Unfold six sheets of newspaper. Tape them together lengthwise to create one long sheet of newspaper. Roll the newspaper into a tube. Use a cardboard tube roll as a guide to roll the newspaper into a tube.. Remove the cardboard tube. Carefully pull the cardboard tube out of the middle of the newspaper roll. Don't let the newspaper roll come undone while you do this. Cut the top of the newspaper. Hold the bottom of the newspaper tube in one hand, and use the other hand to cut the top of the newspaper. Use scissors to make a cut from the top of the newspaper tube down to around the middle of the roll. Turn the roll a quarter turn and make another identical cut. Repeat this two more times until you have 4 equal strips. Bend the strips back. Gently bend each of the strips away from the center so you can see the inside of the roll. Don't make a folded crease, just bend them a little. Make the tree grow. Now it's time to play with your tree and make it grow! Hold onto the base of the tube with one hand. Pinch the innermost layer of newspaper with your fingers and gently pull upwards on the newspaper inside the roll. The newspaper tree will start to grow taller as you pull the newspaper up. The cut strips will spread out like branches creating the look of a growing tree. Make a horizontal line around the bag. Lay the bag flat on a table. Use a ruler to make a mark on the brown bag four inches up from the bottom of the bag. Cut down to the mark. Use scissors to cut the top of the bag down to the mark you made on each of the four sides of the bag. Open the bag up to cut each of the four sides. You should end up with the top of the bag cut into four sections. Twist the bag. Twist the entire bag into one big twist. This will give the tree an aged look. Untwist the bag, and open the bag up again. Make the trunk of the tree. Twist the bottom of the bag at the mark you previously made. This should make the bag have the bottom open a bit, and be twisted tight at the mark you made. Make the branches. The four sections at the top of the bag will be the major branches of the tree. To create the branches, cut each of the four sections into thinner strips and twist each strip into a branch. Take the first section and twist it halfway up starting at the base of the section. Cut the end of the first section down to the twisted section. You can make one, two, or three cuts. Twist each new section. You can twist it all the way to the end, or stop halfway and make more cuts to twist. Continue until everything is twisted into a branch. Repeat this with all four main sections. Try to make each one slightly different. Create the roots. Use scissors to make four small snips around the base of the tree. Then, gently twist each section into four roots. Add finished touches. Stand your tree up to observe it. Make any needed tweaks to the branches to get the tree how you want it. You can cut leaves out and glue them on your tree if you'd like, but the brown bag tree looks great as is too. | Fold a sheet of brown cardstock in half lengthwise and draw a tree. Cut out the tree. Trace your tree carefully three times. Use scissors to cut out all four tree trunks and branches. Fold the trunks in half. Glue the trunks together. Cut leaves out. Glue the leaves on the tree. Tape together newspaper pages. Roll the newspaper into a tube. Remove the cardboard tube. Cut the top of the newspaper. Bend the strips back. Make the tree grow. Make a horizontal line around the bag. Cut down to the mark. Twist the bag. Make the trunk of the tree. Make the branches. Create the roots. Add finished touches. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Serve-Gnocchi | How to Serve Gnocchi | If you want to serve gnocchi the classic way, serve it with a garlic and butter sauce. To make the sauce, first melt butter in a skillet with minced garlic. Once the garlic softens, add a teaspoon of dried ground sage and ¼ teaspoon of salt. When the sauce is a light golden color, add your gnocchi to the pan and mix it together. Transfer the gnocchi to plates and top it with parmesan cheese and pepper. Alternatively, mix your gnocchi with tomato sauce. Then, place it in an oven-proof dish and top it with mozzarella cheese. Cook it for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit to melt the cheese. If you want to make crispy gnocchi, fry it for 3-4 minutes after it's cooked. Once it's crispy, top it with your favorite sauce and cheese. | Bring 4 US quarts (3.8 l) of salted water to a boil. You cook gnocchi much the same you cook pasta –by dropping it into a pot of boiling water. The gnocchi will have a better flavor if the water is lightly salted. Typically, for 1 pound (0.45 kg) of pasta, you would use 4 US quarts (3.8 L) of water and 1 tbsp (about 21 g) of salt. Cook 1 lb (450 g) of gnocchi in the boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Gnocchi doesn't take very long to cook, making it perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal! Whether you're using pre-made gnocchi or you started from scratch , it should only take a few minutes before the gnocchi is ready. You'll know the gnocchi is fully cooked when it floats to the surface. Don't overcrowd the water! There should be only enough gnocchi in the water to cover the bottom of the pot. If you're using a smaller pot or if you double the recipe, cook the gnocchi in batches rather than dumping them all in at once. Remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon and set it aside. When the gnocchi start to float, carefully remove it from the boiling water and transfer it to a plate. If you're cooking batches of the gnocchi, add the next batch to the water and continue until it's all cooked. Melt 1/4 cup (57 g) of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the butter, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until it starts to develop a light golden color. You should also start to smell a slightly nutty flavor as the butter browns. This will be about half a stick of butter. Watch the butter carefully to ensure it doesn't scorch. Add 1 clove of minced garlic into the butter and cook for 4 minutes. As it cooks, stir the garlic frequently with your wooden spoon to keep it from burning. If your butter starts to get too dark, turn the heat down to about medium. After the 4 minutes, the garlic should be soft and should be a slightly darker color. If you're using garlic that's already minced, use about 1 tsp (4.6 g). Add 1 tsp (1 g) of dried ground sage and 1/4 tsp (1.4 g) of salt into the butter. Stir the sage and salt into the butter and let the sage cook for about 1 minute. Once you can smell the sage, your sauce is ready! If you like a little spice in your pasta, add a pinch of dried red pepper flakes at the same time that you add your sage. Remove the sauce from the heat and toss in the cooked gnocchi. Gently transfer the gnocchi into your pan, then toss or swirl the pan so the gnocchi gets completely covered with your butter and sage sauce. Top with 1/4 cup (25 g) of Parmesan cheese and 1/4 tsp (0.5 g) of pepper. There's nothing better than pasta with Parmesan, and gnocchi is no exception! Top off your dish with Parmesan and plenty of black pepper, then serve while it's still warm! Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Since your gnocchi will already be cooked when you bake it, you can turn your oven to a higher temperature so the dish will get done faster. This will prevent the gnocchi from becoming dense due to sitting in the sauce for too long. Spray an 8 in (20 cm) oven-safe dish with cooking spray. Choose a dish with high sides so the sauce and cheese won't spill in your oven while you're cooking. Make sure to coat the dish thoroughly with the spray so the gnocchi doesn't stick. If you prefer, you can use smaller individual-sized ramekins instead of one large baking dish. Boil 1 lb (450 g) gnocchi for 2 minutes. You can make this dish using frozen pre-made gnocchi or fresh gnocchi from scratch. Either way, cook the gnocchi the same way you would make it for a classical preparation–by boiling it in hot water until it floats. If you're using pre-made gnocchi, follow the package instructions. Mix the cooked gnocchi and 24 fl oz (710 mL) tomato sauce. Pour the tomato sauce into a bowl, then gently add the cooked gnocchi and toss them all together. The gnocchi should be completely coated with the tomato sauce. If you're looking for a way to make this dish even easier, you can use a jar of your favorite store-bought tomato sauce. However, you can also make a tomato sauce from scratch in just a few minutes if you want to add your own homemade touch. Layer the gnocchi with 1 cup (113.4 g) of mozzarella cheese. Spoon about half of the gnocchi mixture into the bottom of your greased baking dish, then top with half of the cheese. Repeat with the remaining gnocchi and cheese. Layering the cheese will give your baked gnocchi a comforting, melty quality that really takes it to the next level. Place the dish in the oven for about 10 minutes. Since you preheated the oven to 400 °F (204 °C), it won't take long to heat the dish all the way through. You don't want to overcook the gnocchi, otherwise, it won't have that soft, pillowy texture it's known for. If you want the cheese to brown on top of the dish, turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes after the dish is cooked. Remove the baked gnocchi from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Use pot holders and be careful, since the dish will be very hot. Give the gnocchi a little time to cool before you serve it. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. This delicious dish usually goes fast, but if you do have any leftovers, transfer them to a container with a tight-fitting lid and place the gnocchi in the refrigerator. Eat it within a few days. Heat 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In order to get beautiful, crispy gnocchi, you'll need to quickly pan-fry it. Heat your oil until it's shimmering, but don't let it get so hot that it starts smoking. This works best with a heavy-bottomed skillet like an iron skillet or a Dutch oven. Add cooked gnocchi in a single layer and fry it for 3-4 minutes. Don't stir the gnocchi as it's cooking. You can fry as much or as little gnocchi as you want, but you don't want to overcrowd the pan. If you have too much gnocchi to cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer, fry it in separate batches. If it's not already cooked, you can cook your gnocchi by placing it in boiling water for 2-3 minutes or until it floats. Try this the next time you have leftover gnocchi that you want to reheat! Turn the gnocchi and cook it for about 3 more minutes. As the gnocchi finishes frying, you can turn it occasionally so it doesn't stick. After about 3 minutes, the gnocchi should be browned and crispy. Remove the gnocchi from the pan and toss it with your favorite sauce. Use a slotted spoon to carefully remove the gnocchi from the hot oil, then transfer it to your serving dish. Add your favorite pasta sauce to the bowl and toss it until the gnocchi is fully coated with the sauce. Feel free to get creative with the sauce. Try tomato sauce, roasted red pepper sauce, Alfredo, pesto, or anything else you can imagine! Try tossing in add-ons like spinach, bacon, or pine nuts! Serve the gnocchi while it’s warm! This dish is a crowd-pleaser. It's quick and easy and it's sure to be a favorite for years to come! | Bring 4 US quarts (3.8 l) of salted water to a boil. Cook 1 lb (450 g) of gnocchi in the boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon and set it aside. Melt 1/4 cup (57 g) of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 clove of minced garlic into the butter and cook for 4 minutes. Add 1 tsp (1 g) of dried ground sage and 1/4 tsp (1.4 g) of salt into the butter. Remove the sauce from the heat and toss in the cooked gnocchi. Top with 1/4 cup (25 g) of Parmesan cheese and 1/4 tsp (0.5 g) of pepper. Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Spray an 8 in (20 cm) oven-safe dish with cooking spray. Boil 1 lb (450 g) gnocchi for 2 minutes. Mix the cooked gnocchi and 24 fl oz (710 mL) tomato sauce. Layer the gnocchi with 1 cup (113.4 g) of mozzarella cheese. Place the dish in the oven for about 10 minutes. Remove the baked gnocchi from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Heat 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cooked gnocchi in a single layer and fry it for 3-4 minutes. Turn the gnocchi and cook it for about 3 more minutes. Remove the gnocchi from the pan and toss it with your favorite sauce. Serve the gnocchi while it’s warm! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Vote-Early | How to Vote Early | To vote early in the United States, first make sure you're registered. You can register in person at your local or state election office, by mail, or online if your state allows. You may also be able to register and vote on the same day during early voting if you live in a state that offers same-day registration.There are two ways you can cast your ballot before election day: in-person or by mail. You may be able to fill out a ballot in-person by visiting an early voting location in your area on the dates designated by your state. Many states, including California, Iowa, New York, and Texas, offer the opportunity to vote in-person before Election Day. You can find out if your state offers early in-person voting -- and where and when you can do it -- by calling your local election office or checking your State Election Office website.If your state doesn't offer early in-person voting, you may still be able to vote early by requesting an absentee ballot. An absentee ballot is a ballot you receive by mail and send in on or before Election Day. In some states, anyone can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. However, other states require a valid excuse for not voting in person. Absentee deadlines, as well as rules on whether residents may vote by absentee ballot, vary by state. You can find state-specific information about early voting by visiting your State Election Office website or a nonprofit, nonpartisan website like Vote.org. Early voting is a great way to avoid long election-day lines and cast your vote when it's convenient for you. | Check that you live in a state that allows early voting. Early voting is a process that allows a voter to cast their ballot in a given election before Election Day. Some states actually call the process “early voting,” while others use “in-person absentee voting,” meaning that you cast an absentee ballot by physically showing up at a designated location. Most states allow some form of early voting. Find out your state's early voting rules and dates at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/. Note that while some states don't technically have early voting, they may allow certain people to vote absentee in-person before the election. In Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and Hawaii, all elections are conducted by mail. The state mails all registered voters a ballot for each election, rendering early voting and absentee voting procedures less relevant. Voters in these states who need to vote in-person in advance of election day may still be able to do so and should contact their local election office for more information. Determine your state’s rules and eligibility for absentee voting. Absentee voting also allows voters to cast a ballot before Election Day, but involves mailing a ballot instead of voting in person. Absentee voting was originally designed only to serve voters who would actually be absent from their precincts on Election Day, but has gradually expanded in many states to cover a variety of circumstances. If your state does not allow early voting, it may allow absentee voting with or without an excuse. Because this method of voting allows the voter to cast a ballot before election day, it can be considered a type of early voting, but they are typically distinguished from one another. Additionally, a few states technically don't offer early voting but allow for in-person absentee voting if you meet certain criteria. You can see what your state's rules are by going to https://www.vote.org/absentee-voting-rules/. Contact your local election office to learn more about early voting in your area. Even if your state allows early voting, some decisions about early voting may be made at the county level. It's best to confirm the details about when and where you can vote early with your local election office. You can find the contact information for your local election office at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/. Delays in implementing early voting, unreasonably short hours for early voting, and very few locations for early voting have all been used in the past as tactics to suppress the vote. If you suspect this is happening in your area, you should contact your state attorney general's office or the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division's Voting Section. You can file a complaint with the Department of Justice at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php. A directory of state attorneys general is located at http://www.naag.org/naag/attorneys-general/whos-my-ag.php. Register to vote. If you aren't already registered to vote, you're going to need to register in order to vote early. You can register online , in person, or by mail. In most states, you're going to need to register at least 15-30 days before the election in which you intend to cast a ballot, although some states allow you to register through Election Day. You can see a list of deadlines at https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/. To be eligible to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18-years-old by Election Day, and meet your state's residency requirements. Find specific information for your state at https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-rules/. Luckily, registering to vote is easier than ever. If you would like to register, simply go to https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/. Even if ID is required to vote, it is typically not required to register. Obtain proof of your identity and residence. As of 2020, at least 36 states have some type of Voter ID law in effect. That means that you may be required or requested to show ID at the polls in order to cast your ballot. In addition, you may need to have an ID showing that you reside at the same address that is on your voter registration form. Check your state's rules at https://www.vote.org/voter-id-laws/. Your state may have different ID requirements if you are voting in person, voting absentee, or voting for the first time. Ironically, although a voter registration card provides a record of your registration, voter registration cards are usually insufficient for the purposes of ID. In a few states, it may be accepted as a form of identification or proof of residence, but in general, it is not necessary to bring it with you to cast a ballot. Make sure that you are within the early voting period. Most states require voters to register at least 15-30 days before the election, and in addition to voter registration deadlines, many states that allow early voting only allow early voting on certain days or during a certain window leading up to the election. Check your state's early voting dates at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/. Keep in mind that your county may offer additional early voting options like Saturday or Sunday voting, so be sure to check with your local election office for details. Determine where your early voting location is. Your early voting location may not be the same as where you would vote on election day. Early voting may be offered at one location or multiple locations, and it may be available at different locations on different days. Find the contact information for your local election office at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/ to learn about early voting locations in your area. In some states, your early voting location will be on your voter registration card. Go to your early voting location within the listed times on the listed days. Many states will have statewide rules for the times of day early voting can take place. Other states will allow the county boards of elections to determine what times of day to hold early voting. You can find out what your state does at http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/early-voting-in-state-elections.aspx. If you live in a state that requires voters to show ID to cast a ballot, remember to bring identification with you. Check your state's rules at https://www.vote.org/voter-id-laws/. Cast your ballot. Your state may offer early voting using paper ballots or electronic voting machines. Either way, the poll workers can give you assistance should you need any. Fill out the ballot and follow the instructions from poll workers or the prompts on the electronic voting machine to submit your ballot. | Check that you live in a state that allows early voting. Determine your state’s rules and eligibility for absentee voting. Contact your local election office to learn more about early voting in your area. Register to vote. Obtain proof of your identity and residence. Make sure that you are within the early voting period. Determine where your early voting location is. Go to your early voting location within the listed times on the listed days. Cast your ballot. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-a-Mental-Breakdown | How to Prevent a Mental Breakdown | If you think you are about to have a mental breakdown, take a deep, slow breath. Fill your lungs completely, allowing your belly to expand, then exhale slowly. After your deep breath, try to think of some things you are grateful for, like the sun on your skin or a soft bed. Next, if you can, go for a walk or get some other form of exercise to give yourself a mental happiness boost. If you need more help, you can also schedule some time each week to meditate or practice yoga and get in touch with your emotions. | Recognize things in your life that are out of your control. Try to differentiate between controllable and uncontrollable things. Feeling as though you have no control over your life is stressful, so try to acknowledge what you cannot change and focus on what you can change instead. Doing so should help you feel more in control and make it easier to cope with your stress. Try asking yourself a few of these questions: Is this situation avoidable? Which parts of this situation can I control? Is there a part of the situation that I need to accept for now because I cannot control it? What is my plan for controlling the aspects of the situation that I can control? Try to look at the big picture and ask yourself if this situation will matter in a year or five years? Will this one situation determine other things in your life? How important is controlling this one situation? Pay attention to your emotions, worries, and reactions and share them with others. Keep your eyes open to how you react and to how you express your feelings and emotions. Your feelings and emotions need a safe passage. We all have emotional moments, especially when we encounter stressful events, but it is important to realize that not dealing with these emotions add more stress. Try journaling about how stress is affecting your emotions. Journaling has many health benefits including promoting mental well-being, improving self-esteem, and decreasing stress. Write about what you have been bottling up throughout the day and use your journal as a way to release that emotional tension. Talk to someone you trust who will listen to you and be supportive. Social support is important because it can help you feel loved and cared for, which helps relieve stress. Be more flexible with your expectations. Being obsessed with perfection may lead to a mental breakdown. Are you being too tough on yourself or pushing yourself harder than you can manage? Some people are too hard on themselves because they feel like they need to be perfect. Try to practice self-compassion and allow yourself to be enough and to have done enough in one day, even if you don't accomplish everything on your to-do list. Keep in mind that no matter what you do or how you do it, there is always room for improvement. Learn how to say ‘no’. Our over-commitments, our tendency to avoid offending others by never saying "no" can push us towards a mental breakdown. Saying 'yes' without realizing our limits or without setting boundaries can wreak havoc in our lives. It can also ruin our productivity by making it harder to focus on our primary tasks, activities, and responsibilities. Learning how to say "no" is the first step towards saving yourself, your productivity and your sanity. Remember, saying no is not selfish. It just means that you care enough about your well-being to maintain a healthy boundary for yourself. Saying no also means that you care about others and want to ensure that you will have the energy and mental capacity for your other obligations. Keep your answers direct and simple. You do not have to offer excuses, but a simple, “No – I'm sorry, I have too many commitments this week. I'll have to take a rain check,” will do. Do things that you enjoy. Pursue an old hobby or find a new one. Hobbies can be anything like painting, gardening, volunteering, music, dancing. Hobbies take your mind off the stress of everyday life and focus your attention away from stress-causing activities, tasks, events, even if only for a brief period. These brief periods sustain you and bolster your spirits. Participation in hobbies and leisure activates reduces stress by giving you a break from everyday stress, by offering a means of relaxation, and by acting as a buffer or a protection against the effects of stress. Laugh as often as possible. Watch your favorite comedy shows and movies. Attend concerts. Laughing is even better if you are in the company of your loved ones. Laughing has huge stress relieving properties because it releases endorphins into the brain. These endorphins relax the body and these effects can last for up to 45 minutes after one laugh! Laughter strengthens your immune system and can also reduce pain, both of which are very important to relieve stress. Laughing has also been shown to boost mood and reduce anxiety. Think about the things you are grateful for. Make sure you count your blessings, be it your wonderful family, supportive friends, the job you love, the difference you make to others lives etc. Research has shown that gratitude increases self-esteem, reduces stress by increasing mental resilience, and promotes feelings of happiness. Reminding yourself from time to time what you are thankful for can reduce stress and prevent further stress buildup. Try keeping a gratitude journal to remind yourself of the things you are grateful for every day. Practice meditation. Mental exercises such as meditation help you release the stress in your body. They also improve self-confidence and feelings of self-worth. Meditation allows your brain to take a breaks from the mental processes of the day, which decreases stress, improves creativity, and can help you regain your focus. Try taking a group class that teaches the basics of meditation or find free resources online such as guided meditation recordings. There are also some meditation apps that offer guided meditations with specific topics and lengths of time. Seek help from a mental health professional. Make an appointment to see a psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist. These professionals are trained to help people who feel they are headed for a mental breakdown. They can give you the tools to feel better before you get too overwhelmed. A type of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to help stop negative thought patterns and help you feel more in control. In certain cases, medication may help. Talk to a psychiatrist about whether taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication could be called for in your situation. Exercise to help your body create stress-reducing endorphins. When a person is on the verge of a mental breakdown the number of cells in the region of the brain called hippocampus get fewer and fewer. But when a body is exposed to physical exercise the number of cells in the hippocampus goes up. What's more, the levels of endorphins (feel good hormones) increases, too. Exercise produces endorphins and restricts the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline which are often responsible for a mental breakdown. When you are involved in physical activity your focus tends to shift away from tasks, events, and situations that are creating stress in you, which provides time for your mind to recover from stress. Get plenty of sleep each night. When you are in a high state of stress, you may experience sleep-related problems, including insomnia. A lack of sleep will make stress even worse and could lead to a mental breakdown. Try to get at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night. Sleep needs vary from person to person, so you may need more or less sleep depending on your activity level, age, and other factors. Schedule regular check-ups to make sure that you are not deficient in any nutrients. Sometimes stress may be aggravated by medical conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies. Common vitamin deficiencies include vitamin D, B6, and B12. Being deficient in these nutrients could add to your stress and lead to a mental breakdown. If you have not had an appointment with your doctor in a while, schedule a routine check-up to make sure that you are healthy and that you are getting all of the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Eat amino acids to keep your mental health strong. Amino acids play a crucial role in controlling the symptoms caused by stress and depression thus preventing the progress towards mental breakdown Amino acids make up most of the neurotransmitters in the brain, so they are essential for mental health. The basic structure of proteins is composed of amino acids. To enjoy the benefits of amino acids, follow a diet rich in proteins such as milk, dairy products, eggs, poultry, meat, peas, beans, legumes, and grains. Dopamine is a product of an amino acid called tyrosine while serotonin a product of tryptophan. Insufficient synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain is associated with bad mood and mood swings. This holds greater significance if the transmitters are dopamine and serotonin. Keep tabs on your sugar and processed food intake. A high intake of sugar can promote inflammation in the body that in turn disturbs the normal functioning of the brain. Processed foods like candy, cookies, sodas, and others tend to have the most sugar. Steer clear of these types of foods as much as you can to reduce inflammation. High intake of sugar and carbohydrates leads to excessive release of insulin that can also trigger hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia in turn causes the brain to release glutamate in the brain in levels that are both alarming and that can cause symptoms that are indicative of mental breakdown such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks Choose complex carbs over simple carbs. Both forms of carbohydrates boost the levels of serotonin (a brain calming and mood enhancing hormone) but with complex carbs (whole grain bread, cereals) the process is gradual and consistent because they are digested slowly. Simple carbs (sweets, candy, soda) are rich in sugars are digested easily, which results in a spike followed by a crash in serotonin. Avoid or limit foods such as processed foods and foods rich in sugars and gluten. They can be dangerous to an already stressed body and may speed up the process of mental breakdown Up your intake of folic acid. A deficiency in folic acid may also contribute to a stress response. Please be aware that a folic acid deficiency can only be diagnosed by a physician, and any supplements taken should be under a physician's direction and supervision. A folic acid deficiency may lead to neurological problems such as depression. Having an adequate amount of folic acid in the body also improves the effectiveness of antidepressants. To get more folic acid from food, include spinach and citrus fruits, like oranges, in your diet. Try eating more B-vitamin foods. Foods with B-vitamins help to shield you against depression and mental breakdowns. B complex vitamins and especially B1, B2, and B6 vitamins show promising results when it comes to improving mood. Foods rich in B-vitamins include: Dark leafy green vegetables Red meat Whole grains Wheat germ Green peas Lentils, nuts such as pecans and almonds Milk, yogurt, cheese Poultry and eggs Legumes and peanuts Seafood Bananas Potatoes Get more zinc to stay stress-free. There is ample research to show that zinc levels are often quite low in people who show symptoms of stress, depression, or who are on the verge of a mental breakdown. Also having an adequate amount of zinc in your body either through diet or oral supplements can improve the effectiveness of any medications that you take for depression and other mental related problems. Foods rich in zinc include: Seafood Nuts Wheat germ Pumpkin seeds Spinach Mushrooms Beans Meat Eat foods rich in iron, iodine, and chromium. Iodine, Iron and chromium play a very important role in preventing mental breakdown. Deficiency in these vital minerals may lead to fatigue, depression, and mood swings. Foods rich in Iron: red meat, dark leafy green vegetables, egg yolks, dried fruits (raisins, prunes), poultry, beans, lentils, artichokes. Foods rich in iodine: cow's milk, yogurt, strawberry, sea vegetables, eggs, soy milk, saltwater fish and cheese. Foods rich in chromium: whole grains, meat, brown rice, seafood, broccoli, mushrooms, beans, dairy products, eggs, cheese, milk, poultry, corn, potatoes, fish, tomatoes, barley, oats, herbs. Practice deep breathing exercises. Practice deep breathing relaxation exercises. Deep breathing expands your diaphragm and triggers a calming response in your body. As part of this response, your blood pressure and cortisol levels will drop. Practice deep breathing by taking in a slow, deep breath so that you fill up your entire lung. As you do so, allow your belly to expand, and then slowly exhale. You can also practice deep breathing while you meditate or practice yoga. Try to live in the present moment by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the technique of living in the present moment and taking your focus away from regrets about the past and fears about the future. Mindfulness can be incorporated into every aspect of your daily life. You can practice mindfulness when you are exercising, eating, working, talking, or reading. Mindfulness research has shown that this practice reduces stress by decreasing rumination. Mindfulness also improves memory, focus, and satisfaction in relationships. To practice mindfulness, focus on your senses and let worries or thoughts about obligations float in and then out of your awareness. Do not linger on any one thought. Instead, try to observe them and then let them pass. Give yoga a try. Practicing yoga religiously changes the chemical patterns in the body and triggers natural relaxation responses by the body. Yoga promotes a state of biochemical relaxation in the body meaning there is ample oxygen available in the body and heart rate and blood pressure are normal. Apart from physical benefits, yoga also helps in the elimination of toxins from the body. Yoga breathing techniques also have a profound impact on both physical and mental well-being. They help clean up our system to restore balance in our thoughts and emotions. Try taking a beginner yoga class at a local yoga studio or buy a DVD to practice yoga in the comfort of your home. Use aromatherapy techniques to help you de-stress. Essential oils can have mood enhancing benefits which aid in stress reduction. For relaxation, it helps to inhale scents of lavender, valerian, citrus, geranium, cloves, camphor and poplar for relief from insomnia associated with symptoms of mental breakdown. Peppermint essential oil can provide relief from headaches caused by stress and it can even help with nausea and stomach upset, which is also associated with stress. Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with a carrier oil such as almond oil and rub a small amount onto your temples and forehead. Breathe deeply as your rub in the oil to help you relax. In recent studies, essential oils such as lavender oil and lemon oil have been shown to improve mood. | Recognize things in your life that are out of your control. Pay attention to your emotions, worries, and reactions and share them with others. Be more flexible with your expectations. Learn how to say ‘no’. Do things that you enjoy. Laugh as often as possible. Think about the things you are grateful for. Practice meditation. Seek help from a mental health professional. Exercise to help your body create stress-reducing endorphins. Get plenty of sleep each night. Schedule regular check-ups to make sure that you are not deficient in any nutrients. Eat amino acids to keep your mental health strong. Keep tabs on your sugar and processed food intake. Choose complex carbs over simple carbs. Up your intake of folic acid. Try eating more B-vitamin foods. Get more zinc to stay stress-free. Eat foods rich in iron, iodine, and chromium. Practice deep breathing exercises. Try to live in the present moment by practicing mindfulness. Give yoga a try. Use aromatherapy techniques to help you de-stress. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-a-Swimsuit | How to Dye a Swimsuit | Dyeing your swimsuit is a cheap and easy way to give you a new beach look. If your swimsuit is nylon or a nylon and spandex mix, use acid dye. Just mix the dye with warm water in a large pot, bring it to a boil, then mix in vinegar and citric acid and soak your swimsuit for 30 to 60 minutes. You'll need to use a dye that's much darker than your swimsuit, otherwise the color won't show properly. If you have a polyester swimsuit, the process will be a bit more complex and you'll need to use a disperse dye. First, soak your swimsuit in warm water and soda ash. Then, mix your dye with a dispersing agent and warm water in a pot, bring it to a boil, and soak your swimsuit for 30 to 45 minutes. | Choose an acid dye to dye your nylon suit. Acid dyes offer the brightest and longest lasting color for your suit with no bleeding. The most common brand name of acid dye is Jacquard. Check the label in your suit to make sure it is nylon or a nylon/spandex blend. If you are dyeing over another color, make sure to choose a dye that is much darker than the original. For example, if your suit is yellow, choose black or dark blue dye for the best results. The dye will not work on a dark colored suit. Wash your suit before dyeing. Soak the clean suit in warm water for an hour ahead of time. This loosens the fibers and allows the dye to be more effective. Prepare your work space so it is easy to clean up any spills. Have rags and paper towels on hand and consider covering the table or counters with a plastic tablecloth or old towels. Use rubber gloves and tongs to protect your hands. Fill a large pot with enough warm water to cover the suit. Make sure the suit can float free from the bottom of the pot, so all of the fabric is reached by the dye bath. Place the pot on the stovetop. It is important to use an oversized pot to avoid hot water and dye bubbling over. Remove your suit from the pot once you've decided on the amount of water. You will want to add the dye into the pot and stir it in thoroughly before putting your swimsuit back in. Dissolve the powdered dye in the pot and then add your suit. Turn the stovetop on a medium heat as you stir the mixture. Allow 3 to 5 minutes for the powder to fully dissolve. Add your suit and stir it gently so all the fabric gets exposed to the dye. Spread the suit out as much as possible within the bath. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine how much dye to use for your swimsuit. Typically, you will use one package of powder dye for every 1 pound (450 g) of fabric or less. Bring the dye bath to 200 °F (93 °C). Increase the heat and watch until the mixture begins to boil gently. Stir frequently. Add 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of vinegar or 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of citric acid. After the first five minutes of the boil, stir the vinegar or citric acid into the mixture. Avoid pouring the acid directly onto your suit. Vinegar and citric acid are equally effective as fixatives. Citric acid is cheaper and doesn't smell, but most people already have vinegar on hand. Remove your swimsuit after 30-60 minutes. The longer you keep your suit in the dye bath, the darker the color will be. It is important that you stir the mixture occasionally. As you do, notice the color as it deepens. Remove the suit when it reaches the color you want. Once you've removed your suit, rinse it in very hot water until the water runs clear. When you hang your suit to dry, make sure you place an old towel underneath to prevent staining your floor. Hand wash your suit alone for the first few washings. Choose a disperse dye for polyester suits. Disperse dyes are made specifically for synthetic fibers and the results are worth the extra few steps that it requires. The most common brand name maker of disperse dye is PRO Chemical and Dye. Check the label in your suit to make sure you have a polyester or poly blend suit. Take important safety precautions when using disperse dye. Wear a face mask, rubber gloves, and an apron. Make sure the space you are using to do the dyeing is well ventilated. Only attempt to dye a suit that is light to medium in color and always choose a dye that is darker than the color you are dyeing over. Prepare your swimsuit by soaking it in 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) soda ash and 1 gallon (3.8 L) warm water. Place soda ash into the water and stir while it dissolves. Put your suit in the mixture and stir with your gloved hands or with a metal spoon. Let the suit soak for 10 minutes and then hang it to dry without rinsing it. An alternative to soda ash is Synthrapol, another agent that helps dyes set into synthetic fibers. Use ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) for 1 pound (450 g) of fabric. Combine the Synthrapol with warm water and wash your suit in the mixture. Dissolve the disperse dye in 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water. Stir the dye powder into the boiling water. Allow the mixture to cool and then use old stockings or a coffee filter to strain. The amount of dye you use will vary according to the depth of color you are trying to achieve. For a pale shade, you can use as little as ⁄ 4 teaspoon (1.2 ml). For medium shades, use ⁄ 4 teaspoon (3.7 ml) and for dark shades, up the dye amount to 3 teaspoons (15 ml). Fill a large pot with enough water to fully submerge your suit. Place it on the stovetop and turn the stove to medium heat. You will want to bring the water to approximately 100 °F (38 °C). Remove your suit from the pot once you've decided on the amount of water. You will want to add the dye and dispersing agent into the pot before putting your swimsuit back in. Add the dye, dispersing agent, and your suit to the pot. While the water heats up, stir the pot and add each ingredient in the order listed: Dissolved disperse dye ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of dispersing agent Your suit Bring the dye bath to a gentle boil. After 2 minutes, lower the heat on the stove to simmer. Stir occasionally and remember that the longer you leave your suit in the bath, the darker it will become. Keep an eye on the color and remove when you reach your desired color. This should take 30-45 minutes. If it becomes clear that the color is not dark enough, you can add more dissolved dye to the bath at any time. Combine 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) Synthrapol and hot water in the sink or another large pot. Transfer your suit from the dye bath to this mixture when it is finished being dyed. Stir gently and let soak for 10 minutes. Rinse your suit in warm running water. Rinse until the water runs clear. Smell your suit after it's been rinsed. If it smells like the dispersing agent, repeat the previous step. If it doesn't smell, wrap your suit in an old towel to remove any extra water and hang to dry. Place an old towel underneath your suit as it dries to protect the floor from any excess dye. The dye might bleed when you wash your suit for the first few times. To prevent damage to your clothing, wash the suit on its own. Soak your pre-cleaned swimsuit in warm water. This will loosen the fibers of your suit and allow the dye to be more effective. For the best results, choose a white or light colored nylon suit. Cover your work area so the dye doesn't stain it. Use garbage bags, old towels, or an old tablecloth to protect surfaces. Work outside if possible. Prepare your dye as directed by the manufacturer. Acid dye will give you the best results. Choose one color for a monochrome design, or multiple colors for a more traditional tie dye look. Use rubber gloves to protect your skin while preparing the dye and while dyeing your swimsuit. Create your tie dye pattern by gathering and twisting sections of your suit. Pull up small pieces of the fabric about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) apart and tie the material off with your rubber bands. Create interesting patterns by varying the amount of fabric you tie off and/or the spacing between each section. Dip sections of the suit into the assorted colors you've selected. The longer you leave the suit in place, the darker the color will be. Rotate to a new section and a new color until the whole suit is covered with dye. Dyeing time can be anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes depending on the base color of the suit and how dark of a shade you want. When using multiple colors, expect some of the colors to run together at the edges and create a new color. This will add more interest and color to your suit and is preferable to leaving areas without dye coverage. If you are using only one color, you can use a large dye bath and fully submerge the suit once you've tied it off with rubber bands. Take the rubber bands off and rinse the suit in hot water. When the water runs clear, wrap the suit in an old towel to remove any excess water and dye. Hang to dry. Place an old towel underneath the suit as it drys to catch any excess dye. The first few times the suit is washed, wash it alone in case it bleeds. | Choose an acid dye to dye your nylon suit. Wash your suit before dyeing. Prepare your work space so it is easy to clean up any spills. Fill a large pot with enough warm water to cover the suit. Dissolve the powdered dye in the pot and then add your suit. Bring the dye bath to 200 °F (93 °C). Add 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of vinegar or 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of citric acid. Remove your swimsuit after 30-60 minutes. Choose a disperse dye for polyester suits. Prepare your swimsuit by soaking it in 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) soda ash and 1 gallon (3.8 L) warm water. Dissolve the disperse dye in 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water. Fill a large pot with enough water to fully submerge your suit. Add the dye, dispersing agent, and your suit to the pot. Bring the dye bath to a gentle boil. Combine 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) Synthrapol and hot water in the sink or another large pot. Rinse your suit in warm running water. Soak your pre-cleaned swimsuit in warm water. Cover your work area so the dye doesn't stain it. Prepare your dye as directed by the manufacturer. Create your tie dye pattern by gathering and twisting sections of your suit. Dip sections of the suit into the assorted colors you've selected. Take the rubber bands off and rinse the suit in hot water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Fraternity | How to Start a Fraternity | To start a fraternity, first decide if you want to start a chapter of an existing national fraternity or create an independent fraternity. If you're starting a chapter, you can follow the processes on the national fraternity's website. If you're staying independent, start by choosing a name for your fraternity, checking with an internet search that it isn't already taken. Next, write a constitution for your fraternity that outlines its policies on academic performance and personal conduct. When you've nailed down the basics, you can start spreading the word about your fraternity by posting on social media and putting up flyers across campus. | Determine what kind of purpose your fraternity should stand for. Most fraternities have a code of conduct or beliefs that informs their existence. What do you believe in? Why are you creating this organization? What are your core beliefs? These are important questions to answer if you want to be able to you're your fraternity to fellow students and the administration. Loyalty, leadership, service, and rigorous academic standards are all ways to appeal to your school's administration. Sports often work as a big draw too. Decide if you want to start your own fraternity or just a chapter. There are many national fraternities that may not already exist at your school. If you want to start a chapter for a certain fraternity you can visit the national fraternity's website and follow the process that they list there. There are many different fraternities but the processes are relatively similar. They will help you raise funds and find appropriate members for the fraternity. You can also stay independent. There are not many independent fraternities because they lack funding that national fraternities have. Alumni networks are key to maintaining a fraternity. However, there are benefits to staying independent. First, you get to decide all your rules, symbols, rituals, etc for yourself. Second, you don't have to deal with all the paperwork of filing for colonization with the national organization. If you just want to have a group of close friends who do things together while you are in college, and are not so worried about "building" something that you will graduate before you can enjoy it, this is the better option. Figure out what kind of people might be interested in your fraternity. If you are starting an entirely new fraternity you'll have to figure out what exactly is appealing about your fraternity. An independent fraternity might make its mark by being more spontaneous and avoiding many of the tropes that national fraternities fall into. Try to add your own flair to your fraternity. You might want a fraternity that is associated with athletics, or theater, or a different activity. Try to pick something that you are interested in and will also interest a lot of other people. For example, you could try to start a fraternity that is very interested in community service or one that wants to be known for holding a lot of fun social events. For example, many fraternities have their own songs. However, one popular fraternity in Nevada called Omega Xi made a name for itself by choosing 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' as their song. Start generating interest. Spread interest through word of mouth and by posting on social media. Put flyers up all over campus and advertise relentlessly. When you go to the administration asking for them to recognize your fraternity you'll need a large number of people who are already interested in joining the fraternity. Your administration will probably try to dissuade you from starting a fraternity because it doesn't look good for them to support failed projects. This may be a reason to remain "unofficial" or "underground." Commit to being hazing-free. Hazing only leads to resentment between younger and older members of the fraternity, and civil and criminal liability. Hazing activities include but are not limited to: sleep deprivation, corporal punishment or assault, physical bondage or confinement, demeaning language or forcing someone to engage in demeaning behavior, forcing someone to wear humiliating clothing or clothing inappropriate to weather conditions, forced exercise, forcing someone to eat or drink anything, and requiring a person to perform acts of personal service. One way to avoid hazing is to avoid the idea of a "pledgeship" altogether. Screen potential members carefully before offering membership, and make them full-fledged members immediately. At maximum, have a “new member training period.” If you want to have new member training events every day, make the period no longer than two weeks. If you expect new members to meet weekly for training, no more than two months. Membership training should be only about teaching them the history, rituals, and ideals of your organization. Decide on a name for your fraternity. Because fraternities are a part of the Greek system you should pick between two or three letters of the Greek Alphabet. These letters should represent the Greek words for values you want your fraternity to embody. Make sure you choose a name that isn't already taken. A quick internet search should let you know if the name is taken or not. Also consider avoiding choosing a Greek-letter name altogether. Consider the Harvard clubs like Fly and Porcellian, Yale organizations like Skull and Bones, Princeton eating clubs like The Ivy Club, that all function as traditional fraternities, without being Greek-letter organizations. Avoiding choosing a Greek-letter name may also help you avoid the stigma of Greek-letter fraternities that now exists with many college administrations. Not being Greek-letter may also allow you to avoid being regulated by the specific rules established by colleges' Offices of Greek Life. You also could design and select your regalia, symbols, and mascots. Pick a mantra. Most fraternities have a good Latin phrase that fits their belief system. Your slogan doesn't need to be in Latin, but that is the standard. Determine your organizational structure. All fraternities have a hierarchy. For example there will be a President, a Vice President, a treasurer, and so on. Decide on how you would like for the fraternity to be organized. Some schools may have specific requirements for student organizations, so it would be a good idea to check with your Greek life coordinator or the director of Student Life. Create your Constitution and write your fraternity's policies. These should cover topics like academic performance, personal conduct, and public relations. Make sure you make a section that allows your brothers to sign the document. This way people are bound by the policies and you can remove someone from the fraternity if they are causing issues. Make sure that you include all of your members on the editing and fine-tuning of your Constitution. This is vital to creating a good organization. Consider if you want a central location. Many fraternities are known for their houses. These houses act as gathering places for the fraternity brothers as well as a great location for parties and other social events. A house or other central location is vital to the long-term well being of a fraternity. Without a fraternity house it is hard to tell the difference between your fraternity and a club. Understand the requirements. Get in touch with your campus Greek Life office. Once you have an idea for a fraternity and a decent pitch, you should go to the Greek Life office at your school and tell them your plans for starting a fraternity. Ask what they would like you to accomplish before they would be willing to recognize your fraternity. They might be resistant at first, so you'll have to come in with a very concrete pitch and plan. Don't wing it. Be very prepared. Come with details about name, values, and organization as well as a list of all the people you have gathered who are interested in it. The administration will be much more open to your idea if it is clear that you are on top of it. Of course, if you avoid branding yourself as a Greek-letter fraternity by adopting a non-Greek-letter name, you may be able to avoid these requirements entirely. Develop a strong pitch. Present your fraternity with confidence. Show everyone what hole in the campus culture you fill. Prove to them that you will be a positive influence. Don't try to develop a fraternity that is just like every other fraternity - that will make you redundant. However, you also shouldn't be so far out in left field that no one would want to join your group. Your pitch should include all the aspects that you have organized so far including structure, constitution, name, mantra, regalia, and location. However, you also need to explain to them how your fraternity will survive moving forward and how they will fit into the daily life of the campus. What do you bring that no one else brings? Why will you succeed? Draft a plan that starts by addressing the basics and then moves on to the details. For example, maybe you are selling a fraternity that is based on political activism. You need to explain not only the idea behind your fraternity but also how you will organize events centered on political activism and how this fits into the college's mission. Affiliate with a national fraternity. If you want to affiliate with a national university you'll have to get in touch with that fraternity and tell them you are interested in opening a chapter at your school. Let them know that you have established an interest group and ask them what the next steps will be. They can help guide you through the process. This is not necessary if you want to start a brand new independent fraternity. Convince your university to recognize your fraternity. Once you have taken the steps that your Greek Life office has asked you to take, you can ask for recognition. This will allow you to throw campus events, advertise on campus, and be involved in school-sponsored events. Being recognized by the university is necessary if you want to add legitimacy to your fraternity. Remember, the better prepared you are and the more details you can show your administration the more likely they are to approve your fraternity. Develop a program to RUSH prospective new members. You shouldn't admit just anyone to your fraternity going forward. It's important to have criteria that is written and defined. Don't just pick people because they seem cool. Have a defined set of criteria like GPA, community service, and any other qualities you want in your members. You should never discriminate based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or anything else. Create a pledge process. Pledge processes often have a bad reputation for hazing. That's not necessary. A good pledge process should be one that determines whether or not the prospective new members are a good fit for your Fraternity. Use this process to educate them about your group's values. A good pledge process should allow the members of your fraternity to get to know your pledges and vice versa. This way both of you will be able to judge if the pairing is a good fit. You should hold a lot of events with pledges that fit the values of your fraternity so that the pledges can see what life would be like inside the fraternity. For example, if your fraternity is based on political activism, maybe you could ask your pledges to organize and execute a protest or event bringing awareness to a certain issue your fraternity finds important. Allow your pledges to join the fraternity. Initiate those pledges with customized rituals that embody your Fraternity's values. Initiation rituals are great ways to build friendship and add legitimacy to your fraternity. Set up an alumni event. If you are starting a new fraternity you will probably be struggling for money, especially since you will only have young alumni for a long period of time. Developing an annual alumni event is a great way to keep in touch with your alumni. Hopefully you can convince them to make some donations! Events like pig roasts or sports games are great examples of alumni events. | Determine what kind of purpose your fraternity should stand for. Decide if you want to start your own fraternity or just a chapter. Figure out what kind of people might be interested in your fraternity. Start generating interest. Commit to being hazing-free. Decide on a name for your fraternity. Pick a mantra. Determine your organizational structure. Create your Constitution and write your fraternity's policies. Consider if you want a central location. Understand the requirements. Develop a strong pitch. Affiliate with a national fraternity. Convince your university to recognize your fraternity. Develop a program to RUSH prospective new members. Create a pledge process. Allow your pledges to join the fraternity. Set up an alumni event. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Jeera-Rice | How to Make Jeera Rice | To make jeera rice on your stove top, start by washing and soaking the basmati rice under cool water. Next, add the bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom to a large pot and saute the ingredients in hot ghee. Then, add the cumin, chili, onions, and rice and saute everything for 2 minutes. Finally, add water to the pot, bring it to a boil, and simmer the rice over medium heat for 10 minutes until the water is absorbed. Let the rice sit for 5-10 minutes and fluff it with a fork before serving it. | Wash and soak 2 cups (400 g) of basmati rice and set it aside. Pour the rice into a colander or sieve and rinse under cool water until the water runs clear. Put the rice in a bowl and cover it completely with warm water. Let the rice soak for 20-30 minutes. Drain it completely in a colander, return it to the bowl, and set it aside. You can use any type of rice for jeera rice, but it tastes best with good quality basmati rice. Use long-grain, aged basmati rice for the best flavor and texture. Heat 2 tbsp (30 g) of ghee in a pot over medium-high heat. Place a pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the ghee to the pot and cook it for about 1 minute until the ghee melts. You can also use butter or vegetable oil instead of ghee. Saute bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom in the hot ghee. Once the ghee has melted, add 1 bay leaf, 4 green cardamoms, 4 cloves, and a 2-inch (5-cm) cinnamon stick to the pot. Saute for 1-2 minutes. Use a spatula or a wooden spoon to spread the spices around the pan or shake the pan gently to cook them evenly in the ghee. Slightly crush the spices before adding them to the pot to bring out their flavors more. You can also use a stovetop pressure cooker to saute all the spices in the same way. Pour the cumin over the ghee mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. It's best to add the 3 tsp (6.3 g) of cumin seeds when the ghee is very hot because they will crackle immediately and release their flavor. Wait a few seconds after you've added the cumin, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the chili, onions, and rice to the pot and turn the heat up to medium. Slice and deseed the green chilis and cut the onion into small slices. Add them both to the pot. Turn the heat up to medium. Add the drained rice. Saute the rice for 2 minutes until the onions turn golden brown. This will add more flavor to the rice. Use red chili for more of a spicy kick. You can also leave out the chili and onion if you don't want it too spicy or you don't like the flavor of onion. If you are using a stovetop pressure cooker, roast the rice in the same way. Stir 3 1⁄2 cups (830 ml) of water and a pinch of salt into the rice mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon to fold the spice mixture evenly into the rice. Taste the water. It should be slightly salty. Add another pinch of salt if necessary. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot. Turn the heat to high to bring the water to boil. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat again to medium. Cover the pot with the lid. If you are making the rice in a stovetop pressure cooker, simply put the lid on the cooker and cook on high heat for 1 whistle. Don't stir the rice while it's cooking as this will break the grains. Cook the rice on medium heat until the water is absorbed. Let the rice cook for about 10 minutes. All the water should be absorbed, but the rice should still be a little damp. Remove the lid and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. Then, turn off the heat. Let the rice sit for 5-10 minutes, then fluff it and add the chopped coriander. Cover the jeera rice and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Then, stir it gently with a fork and sprinkle 2 tablespoons (5 g) of chopped coriander on top. Serve the rice as a side dish with an Indian curry or enjoy it on its own. Wash and soak 2 cups (400 g) of basmati rice. Rinse the rice under cool water in a sieve or colander. Put the rice in a bowl and pour warm water over it until all the rice is fully submerged. Drain the rice and add it to the rice cooker with 3 1⁄2 c (830 ml) of fresh water. Drain the rice over the sink with a colander. Discard the soak water. Add the drained rice to the rice cooker and pour 3 ⁄ 2 cups (830 ml) of cold water on top. Remember that the rice will expand when it's cooked. 2 cups (400 g) of jasmine rice can expand to up to 6 cups (1200 g) of cooked rice, so be sure there is enough room in your rice cooker for this expansion. If your rice cooker is too small, adjust the recipe accordingly. You can also make the jeera rice in several batches if needed. Melt 2 tbsp (30 g) of ghee in a pot over medium-high heat. Set your rice cooker aside and cook the ghee in a pot over medium-high heat. Allow it to cook for about 1 minute until it melts. You can also substitute butter or vegetable oil for the ghee. Saute cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, and cardamom in the ghee. Add 1 bay leaf, 4 green cardamoms, 4 cloves, and a 2-inch (5-cm) cinnamon stick to the pot. Use a spatula or a wooden spoon to spread the spices around the pan. You can also shake the pan gently to coat the spices evenly in the ghee so they don't burn. Let them cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour 3 tsp (6.3 g) of cumin seeds into the pot and reduce the heat. Add the cumin seeds when the ghee is very hot so they will crackle and release their flavor. A few seconds after you've added the cumin, reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the cumin seeds in the mixture for about 1 minute. Add the ghee mixture to the rice cooker and cook the rice. Close the lid of the rice cooker, plug it in, and press the switch to turn it on. Let the rice cook. You will hear a click when the rice is done cooking and it will turn off automatically. Some rice cookers keep the rice warm until you unplug it. Let the rice sit for 10-15 minutes, then open the rice cooker. Unplug the rice cooker. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes with the lid still on. Then, open the lid. Letting the rice rest before you open the lid will make it fluffier and less sticky. Add coriander to the rice, fluff it, and serve. After you've opened the lid of the rice cooker, use a fork to stir the rice. Breaking up the rice pieces will prevent clumps from forming and release trapped steam so the rice won't overcook. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons (5 g) of chopped coriander on top. Serve the rice as a side with an Indian curry or enjoy it on its own. Cook the rice and set it aside. To make the basmati rice , bring 3 ⁄ 2 cups (830 ml) water to boil in a pot with a pinch of salt. Add 2 cups (400 g) basmati rice. Gently stir the rice and then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 10 minutes until all the water has absorbed into the rice. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then gently fluff the rice by mixing it with a fork. Set the rice aside while you work on the sauce. You can also prepare the rice in a pressure cooker or rice cooker. Heat 1 tbsp (15 g) of ghee in a pot over medium-high heat. Turn your stove to medium-high. Put a pot on the stove and add the ghee. Cook for about 1-2 minutes to let the ghee melt. If you don't have ghee, use vegetable oil or butter. Saute the cumin and spices in the ghee for 1-2 minutes over low heat. Pour 3 tsp (6.3 g) of cumin seeds over the hot ghee. After a few seconds, turn the heat down to low. Then, add the 1 bay leaf, 4 green cardamoms, 4 cloves, and a 2-inch (5-cm) cinnamon stick. Saute the mixture for about 1-2 minutes. Add 1 tbsp (15 g) ghee and 2 tbsp (5 g) chopped coriander. Turn off the stove and remove the pot from the heat. Add the ghee to the mixture. Finely mince the coriander and sprinkle it on top. Mix the ingredients together with a wooden spoon. Add the rice to the pot and mix gently. Make sure your rice has cooled completely before you mix it with the cumin sauce. Stir the rice gently in the pot with a wooden spoon so that it is evenly coated. Serve the rice as a side dish with an Indian curry. | Wash and soak 2 cups (400 g) of basmati rice and set it aside. Heat 2 tbsp (30 g) of ghee in a pot over medium-high heat. Saute bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom in the hot ghee. Pour the cumin over the ghee mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the chili, onions, and rice to the pot and turn the heat up to medium. Stir 3 1⁄2 cups (830 ml) of water and a pinch of salt into the rice mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot. Cook the rice on medium heat until the water is absorbed. Let the rice sit for 5-10 minutes, then fluff it and add the chopped coriander. Wash and soak 2 cups (400 g) of basmati rice. Drain the rice and add it to the rice cooker with 3 1⁄2 c (830 ml) of fresh water. Melt 2 tbsp (30 g) of ghee in a pot over medium-high heat. Saute cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, and cardamom in the ghee. Pour 3 tsp (6.3 g) of cumin seeds into the pot and reduce the heat. Add the ghee mixture to the rice cooker and cook the rice. Let the rice sit for 10-15 minutes, then open the rice cooker. Add coriander to the rice, fluff it, and serve. Cook the rice and set it aside. Heat 1 tbsp (15 g) of ghee in a pot over medium-high heat. Saute the cumin and spices in the ghee for 1-2 minutes over low heat. Add 1 tbsp (15 g) ghee and 2 tbsp (5 g) chopped coriander. Add the rice to the pot and mix gently. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Sauerbraten | How to Make Sauerbraten | To make sauerbraten, start by searing a roast for 2-3 minutes on each side. Then, cover the roast with a vinegar and vegetable marinade and let it marinate in the fridge for 3 days. After the roast is done marinating, transfer it to an oven-safe pot and cook it in the oven for 4 hours at 325 °F. Then, take the roast out of the oven, strain the marinade liquid, and heat the liquid over medium-high heat. Finally, stir some crushed gingersnaps into the liquid to thicken it before serving it with the roast. | Combine the marinade in a large saucepan. Pour in 2 cups (470 ml) of water, 1 cup (240 ml) of cider vinegar, and 1 cup (240 ml) of red wine vinegar. Stir in 1 medium chopped onion , 1 chopped carrot, 1 tablespoon (18 g) plus 1 teaspoon (6 g) of kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of pepper. You'll also need to stir in: 2 bay leaves 6 whole cloves 12 juniper berries 1 teaspoon (2 g) of mustard seeds Bring the marinade to a boil and simmer it for 10 minutes. Turn the burner to high and put the lid on the pot. Once the marinade starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium or medium-low. Let the marinade bubble gently for 10 minutes. Turn off the burner and let the marinade cool. Season the roast with vegetable oil and salt. Put a 3 1/2 to 4 pound (1.6 to 1.8 kg) bottom round roast on your work surface and pat it dry with paper towels. Then rub 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vegetable oil over the entire roast and sprinkle it with salt to taste. If you're unsure how much salt to add, start with 1 teaspoon (5.5 g). Sear the roast for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Put a large skillet or saucepan on the stove and turn the burner to high. Put the roast in the pan and cook it for 2 to 3 minutes without moving it since moving it will prevent it from forming a crust. Then use tongs to turn the meat and sear it on another side. Continue to turn and sear each side of the roast until it's browned all over. Pour the marinade over the meat and refrigerate it for 3 days. Put the seared roast into a large pot or storage container. Pour the cooled marinade over the meat and cover the pot or container. Refrigerate the roast for 3 days so the meat becomes flavorful. If the meat isn't completely covered by the marinade, you'll need to turn the roast 1 time every day so it marinates evenly. Preheat the oven to 325 °F (163 °C) and remove the roast from the fridge. Once you've marinated the roast for 3 days, turn on the oven and take the roast out of the refrigerator. There's no need to bring the roast to room temperature before you begin roasting it. Stir sugar into the marinade and put the meat into an oven-safe pot. Pour 1/3 cup (67 g) of sugar into the marinade and transfer the meat along with the marinade into an oven-safe pot. If you marinated the roast in an oven-safe dish, you don't need to put it into a different pot. Cover and roast the sauerbraten for 4 hours. Put the lid on the pot and put it into the center of the preheated oven. Cook the sauerbraten until the meat is completely tender. To test how tender the meat is, insert a knife or metal skewer into the middle of the roast. If it's tender, you should be able to insert and remove it easily. You can also insert a thermometer to see if it's reached 160 °F (71 °C). If the pot doesn't have a lid, cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Consider using a slow cooker to roast the sauerbraten. For a hands-off cooking method, you can put the roast with the sugared marinade into a slow cooker instead of the oven. Put the lid on the slow cooker and turn it to LOW for 8 to 9 hours or to HIGH for 5 to 6 hours. Slow cook the roast until the meat is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 160 °F (71 °C) with a meat thermometer. Rest the sauerbraten for5 minutes and strain the marinade liquid. Turn off the oven and remove the sauerbraten. Transfer the roast to a cutting board and tent it with foil. Let it rest while you prepare the sauce. Set a mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the marinade juices in the pan through it. Pour the marinade liquid back into the pot. Discard the carrot and onion solids. Heat the liquid and whisk in crushed gingersnaps. Turn the burner to medium-high and crush 18 dark old-fashioned gingersnaps into a fine powder. Whisk them into the liquid so they're absorbed. Whisk and cook the sauce for a few minutes so it thickens a little. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve and stir in raisins, if desired. Set a fine mesh strainer over a gravy boat or bowl and slowly pour the sauce through the strainer. Discard any lumps. If you want to add raisins, stir in 1/2 cup (75 g) of seedless raisins. Serve the sauerbraten. Slice the sauerbraten into 1/2 in (1.3 cm) thick slices and place them on a serving platter. Serve the hot sauerbraten with the sauce on the side. Consider serving it with roasted carrots , spätzle, braised red cabbage , or boiled potatoes. Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days. | Combine the marinade in a large saucepan. Bring the marinade to a boil and simmer it for 10 minutes. Season the roast with vegetable oil and salt. Sear the roast for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Pour the marinade over the meat and refrigerate it for 3 days. Preheat the oven to 325 °F (163 °C) and remove the roast from the fridge. Stir sugar into the marinade and put the meat into an oven-safe pot. Cover and roast the sauerbraten for 4 hours. Consider using a slow cooker to roast the sauerbraten. Rest the sauerbraten for5 minutes and strain the marinade liquid. Heat the liquid and whisk in crushed gingersnaps. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve and stir in raisins, if desired. Serve the sauerbraten. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Out-Who-Has-Blocked-You-on-Facebook | How to Find Out Who Has Blocked You on Facebook | To find out if someone has blocked you on Facebook, start by logging into your account and entering the person's name in the search bar. If you're able to see their profile, that means they've unfriended you, although you haven't been blocked. On the other hand, if you can't find their profile, they may have deleted their account or blocked you from being able to see it. You can also try going to a mutual friend's page and clicking the “Friends” tab near their profile photo. Then, click on the search bar and type in the name of the person who you think may have blocked you. After giving the friends list a moment to refresh, check if you can see the person's name and profile pic. If you can't, that means the person has blocked you or deleted their account. | Open Facebook. Either tap the Facebook app icon that resembles a white "f" on a blue background (mobile), or go to https://www.facebook.com/ (desktop). This will open your News Feed if you're already logged into Facebook. If you aren't logged in, enter your email address and password before continuing. Select the search bar. Tap or click the white box that says "Search" at the top of the page. Enter the person's name. Type in the name of the person whom you suspect blocked you, then tap See results for [name] (mobile) or press ↵ Enter (desktop). Select the People tab. It's at the top of the page. Sometimes people who have blocked you or deleted their accounts will appear in the All tab of the search results, but these people will not show up in the People tab. Look for the person's profile. If you can see the profile while on the People tab of the search results, the person's profile is still active, meaning that they just unfriended you. If you can't find the profile, they may have deleted their account or blocked you from seeing it; however, they may also have set their privacy settings high enough that you can't search for them on Facebook. If you do see the account, try tapping or clicking it. You'll be able to see a limited view of the profile if you aren't blocked. Open Facebook. Either tap the Facebook app icon that resembles a white "f" on a blue background (mobile), or go to https://www.facebook.com/ (desktop). This will open your News Feed if you're already logged into Facebook. If you aren't logged in, enter your email address and password before continuing. Go to a friend's profile page. This must be a friend who is currently also friends with the person whom you think blocked you. To go to a friend's page: Select the Search bar. Enter your friend's name. Select their name in the drop-down box. Select their profile image. Select the Friends tab. It's below the grid of photos near the top of their profile (mobile) or directly below their cover photo (desktop). Select the search bar. Tap or click the "Search Friends" bar at the top of the screen (mobile) or in the upper-right side of the Friends page (desktop). Enter the person's name. Type in the name of the person whom you think blocked you. After a moment, the friends list should refresh with results. Look for the person's name. If you see the person's name and profile picture in the results, they haven't blocked you. If you don't see the name and picture here, the person has either blocked you or deleted their account. One way to find out is by asking the friend whose page you're on to verify the account's existence. Open Facebook's website. Go to https://www.facebook.com/. This will open your News Feed if you're already logged into Facebook. If you aren't logged in, enter your email address and password in the top-right side of the page before continuing. This method only works if you or the person whom you suspect blocked you had at least a one-message conversation with each other. You'll need to use the Facebook website version of Messenger, since the mobile app occasionally still shows blocked accounts. Click the Messages icon. It's a speech bubble-shaped icon with a lightning bolt in it. You'll find this in the top-right side of the page. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. Click See All in Messenger. This link is at the very bottom of the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Messenger page. Select the conversation. Click the conversation with the person whom you think blocked you. You'll find it in the left-hand column of conversations. You may have to scroll down through this column to find the conversation. Click ⓘ. It's in the upper-right side of the conversation window. Clicking it prompts a pop-out window to appear on the right side of the conversation. Look for a link to their profile. If you can't find a link in the sidebar below the "Facebook Profile" heading, you know that they did one of the following: They blocked you. When someone blocks you, you can't reply to their messages or visit their profile. They deleted their account. Unfortunately, the exact same thing happens when someone deletes their account. Ask a mutual friend. Once you've determined that you can't access the account of the person whom you suspect blocked you, contact a friend of yours who was also a friend of the other person and ask them if the person's account is still live. If they confirm that the account is still active, you know you've been blocked. This is the only way to ensure that you've been blocked (or haven't been blocked) without contacting the person directly, but some will consider it to be an invasion of privacy. Check other social media. If you follow the person on Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or some other social media site, check to see if you suddenly can't find their account. This might indicate that they've blocked you here as well. Alternatively, look for an indication that they deleted their Facebook page. Many people will announce that they have closed their Facebook account on alternate social media. Contact the person directly. Ultimately, the only way to be sure that someone has blocked you is by asking them directly. If you choose to do this, make sure it isn't in a threatening or abrasive manner. You must also be prepared to hear that they have indeed blocked you, however hard that may be to hear. Only do this as a last resort—if a long-term friend has blocked you, for example, it might be worth talking to them to try to salvage the relationship. Otherwise, it might be best to take the hit and move on. | Open Facebook. Select the search bar. Enter the person's name. Select the People tab. Look for the person's profile. Open Facebook. Go to a friend's profile page. Select the Friends tab. Select the search bar. Enter the person's name. Look for the person's name. Open Facebook's website. Click the Messages icon. Click See All in Messenger. Select the conversation. Click ⓘ. Look for a link to their profile. Ask a mutual friend. Check other social media. Contact the person directly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-the-Pain-of-Osgood-Schlatters-Disease | How to Reduce the Pain of Osgood Schlatters Disease | To reduce the pain of Osgood Schattlers disease, take time to rest and let your knee have time to recover. While you rest, apply an icepack or a frozen bag of peas to the affected knee for 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for a couple of days. You can also use a special knee brace or kneecap immobilizer when you walk in order to take the stress off your patellar tendon. For short-term relief, take some anti-inflammatories or painkillers, like ibuprofen or aspirin. Once your pain has settled down a bit, start doing some quadricep stretches to reduce the tension and inflammation that is causing the pain. | Rest and avoid pain-inducing activities. Probably the most important action you can take to help alleviate the pain from OSD is to stop playing the sport or doing the activity that is contributing most to the problem. Sports that involve a lot of jumping, such as basketball and volleyball, are particularly bad for OSD. The amount of rest needed varies widely and depends on the person, but expect anywhere from a few weeks to a few months before a significant reduction in pain and swelling is noticed. Pain with OSD can be sporadic or nearly constant; it usually occurs in just one knee, but sometimes develops in both. Apply ice to your knee. The application of ice is an effective treatment for essentially all acute musculoskeletal injuries, including OSD. Cold therapy should be applied to the inflamed bump (tibial tuberosity) just below your kneecap for 20 minutes every two to three hours for a couple of days, then reduce the frequency as the pain and swelling subside. Always wrap ice or frozen gel packs in a thin towel in order to prevent frostbite on your skin. If you don't have any ice or gel packs, then use a frozen bag of peas from your freezer. Use a knee brace or patellar immobilizer. While resting and applying ice to your knee, consider also using a special knee brace or kneecap immobilizer while having to walk in order to take the stress off your patellar tendon. Knee braces can be found at stores that sell rehabilitation and medical supplies — ask a physical therapist, physician, or chiropractor for more info. Alternatively, you can try a patellar tendon strap, which fits around your leg just below your kneecap. It can support your kneecap's tendon during physical activity and distribute some of the force away from the tibial tuberosity. Complete inactivity is not necessary with OSD, but consider switching to other fun activities that don't involve jumping or running, such as swimming, rowing or golf. Take anti-inflammatories or painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin can be short-term solutions to help you deal with the pain and inflammation of OSD. Alternatively, you can try over-the-counter analgesics (painkillers) such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). These medications can be hard on your stomach, kidneys and liver, so it's best not to use them for more than 2 weeks at a stretch. Check with your doctor before taking any medications. Keep in mind that NSAIDs do not shorten the course of OSD. Steroids such as cortisone have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, but injections should not be given to adolescents with OSD due to the risk factors — mainly, potential tendon weakening, local muscle atrophy and reduced immune system function. Stretch your quadriceps. Once the acute knee pain has settled down, start doing some quadriceps stretching. One of the causes of OSD is repetitive quadriceps contractions (from too much jumping, for example) and also overly tight quadricep tendons. As such, learning how to stretch this muscle group may help reduce the tension and inflammation in the area where the kneecap's tendon attaches to the upper shinbone (tibia). To stretch your quadriceps while standing, bend your leg behind you so your knee is bent, your heel about at the level of your butt. Grab your ankle and pull your foot toward your body until you feel a nice stretch in your lower thigh and knee. Hold for about 30 seconds and repeat three to five times daily until you notice reduced symptoms. Stretches for the hamstrings, which are also commonly tight, may also be performed. Bending over at the waist and trying to touch your toes is a good basic hamstring stretch. Get a leg massage. A deep tissue massage is helpful for mild-to-moderate strains because it reduces muscle tension, combats inflammation and promotes relaxation. Start with a 30 minute massage, focusing on your thigh muscles and kneecap area. Allow the therapist to go as deep as you can tolerate without wincing. The therapist may use a focal cross-friction technique on your kneecap area if they think there's a build-up of scar tissue. Always drink lots of water immediately following a massage in order to flush out inflammatory by-products and lactic acid from your body. Failure to do so might cause a headache or mild nausea. Try acupuncture. Acupuncture involves sticking thin needles into specific points on the body to reduce pain and inflammation. Acupuncture is not commonly recommended for OSD, but it's virtually risk-free and certainly worth a try, especially if it's done when the symptoms first occur. Based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture works by releasing a variety of substances including endorphins and serotonin, which act to reduce pain. Acupuncture points that may provide relief to your knee pain are not all located near where the pain is — some can be in distant areas of your body. Acupuncture is practiced by a variety of health professionals including some physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, physical therapists and massage therapists — whoever you choose should be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Consider shoe orthotics. A risk factor for OSD is poor biomechanics while running and jumping, and sometimes that's caused by flat feet and knock-kneed posture. Orthotics are customized shoe inserts that support the arch of your foot, align your legs and promote better biomechanics while standing, walking, running and jumping. Health professionals who make custom orthotics include podiatrists and some osteopaths and chiropractors. Some health insurance plans cover the cost of customized orthotics, but if yours doesn't, then consider a pair of off-the-shelf insoles — they're considerably less expensive and may provide quick relief. Try therapeutic ultrasound treatments. Therapeutic ultrasound is a treatment used by some physicians, chiropractors and physical therapists in order to reduce inflammation and stimulate healing for a variety of injuries, including OSD. Like its name infers, it emits sound frequencies through crystals (you can't hear it) that positively impact cells and tissues of the body. Although a single ultrasound treatment can sometimes completely relieve your pain and inflammation, more than likely it will take three to five treatments to notice significant results. Therapeutic ultrasound treatments are painless and usually last 10 – 20 minutes. Seek out some physiotherapy. If your OSD is not responding to home care or alternative therapies, then consider getting some physiotherapy for your knee. A physical therapist can show you specific and tailored stretches and strengthening exercises for your quadriceps and knee. Physiotherapy is usually required two to three times per week for four to eight weeks to positively impact chronic musculoskeletal problems. A physical therapist can also treat your knee with therapeutic ultrasound, maybe even tape your patella and possibly also make you a pair of custom orthotics. See a medical specialist. You may need to see a medical specialist such as an orthopedist or rheumatologist in order to rule out more serious causes of knee pain that can mimic OSD — conditions like a patellar or tibial stress fracture, bone infection, inflammatory arthritis, bone tumor, osteochondritis dissecans or Perthes disease. X-rays, bone scans, diagnostic ultrasound, MRI and CT scans are tools that specialists may use to help diagnose your knee pain. Your doctor may also send you for a blood test to rule out rheumatoid arthritis or a bone infection. | Rest and avoid pain-inducing activities. Apply ice to your knee. Use a knee brace or patellar immobilizer. Take anti-inflammatories or painkillers. Stretch your quadriceps. Get a leg massage. Try acupuncture. Consider shoe orthotics. Try therapeutic ultrasound treatments. Seek out some physiotherapy. See a medical specialist. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Lemon-and-Honey-Mask | How to Make a Lemon and Honey Mask | To make a lemon and honey mask, you'll need 1 tablespoon of raw honey and the juice of half a lemon. If you're using bottled lemon juice, use 1 tablespoon instead. You can also add ½ teaspoon of baking soda, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Mix the ingredients together into a thick paste, then apply the mask to clean, dry skin. Let it sit for 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Finally, rinse your face with cool water to help close your pores. Use your face mask once a week, or twice if you have oily or acne-prone skin. | Juice one lemon half. Rinse one ripe lemon under cool water; pat dry with clean paper towels. Slice the lemon in half with a sharp kitchen knife and squeeze the juice from one half, collecting it in a small glass bowl. In a pinch, you could technically use 1 to 2 Tbsp (15 to 30 ml) of bottled lemon juice for this mask, but freshly squeezed juice will retain more nutrients and is the ideal option. Similarly, you could select any ripe lemon for this mask, but using the juice of an organic lemon will be the most beneficial. Lemons have antibacterial properties, so lemon juice can help treat blackheads and other forms of acne. The acidic element acts as an exfoliator, too. Additionally, lemon juice can lighten and brighten age spots, dark spots, fake tans, and other uneven patches of skin, while reducing excess oil on your face. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp (15 to 30 ml) of raw honey. Squeeze the raw honey directly into the dish of lemon juice. You should use approximately equal portions of honey and lemon juice. Like lemon juice, try to find organic, raw honey for this mask. Store-bought honey may work but will not be quite as good for your skin. Honey has antiseptic properties and may be able to help heal scars and inflammation. It can also help reduce and relief sunburn. Additionally, honey attracts water, making it a natural skin moisturizer. Mix until well combined. Thoroughly mix the honey and lemon juice by hand using a spoon. Continue mixing until evenly combined into a thick liquid. Note that you'll need to use this mask as quickly as possible--preferably all at once and within a few hours. Mold will grow if attempt to store it for prolonged periods. Wash your face. Wash and dry your face as usual, either over a sink or in the shower, and use warm to hot water to open your pores. It might be a good idea to use a gentle facial cleanser before applying this mask, especially if you have sensitive skin. Lemon juice can be harsh, and stressing your skin with too much abrasive material can do more harm than good. Apply the mask over your face. When your face is clean and dry, use your fingers to apply the lemon-honey mask all over the skin. Work carefully to avoid the eye area. This mask can cause stinging and irritation to the eyes. If you accidentally get it into your eyes, flush it out immediately with cool to lukewarm water for a full minute, or until the stinging stops. The mask can also be quite sticky, so it's a good idea to make sure hair is pulled back and out of the way before application. Allow the mask to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. The wait time is important; if you rinse the mask off too quickly, the honey and lemon won't have enough time to do their work. Of course, if your skin starts to burn, itch, or otherwise feel uncomfortable, you should rinse the mask off immediately. It's possible that your skin is having a negative reaction to the mask if you experience these symptoms. Rinse with warm water. When the waiting period ends, rinse the mask off your face using warm water. After finishing the warm water rinse, do a second rinse with cool water to close your pores. You can also wipe away the mask with a warm, slightly damp wash cloth. The wash cloth acts as a physical exfoliator. Use gentle patting motions when using this trick, however, to avoid irritating your skin. Repeat weekly, if desired. The exact frequency with which you apply the mask may vary depending on how sensitive or oily your skin is, but a good average is about once a week, either in the morning or evening. You can try applying the mask two to three times a week if you have notably oily or acne-prone skin, but cut back if you notice any redness, irritation, or increased amounts of acne. Add baking soda. After mixing together the usual amounts of lemon juice and honey, add about 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) of baking soda, stirring well to combine evenly. Gently spread the mask over your skin and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing as usual. Baking soda is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, so it will give the acne-fighting properties of the mask another boost. Make sure that you apply this mask gently since the baking soda can be too abrasive if you scrub it into your skin. Use an egg white. Use 1/2 Tbsp (7.5 ml) of both lemon juice and honey, and mix in 1 egg white until smooth. Apply the mask to your face, let it sit for 15 minutes, and rinse with warm water. The egg white has a mild drying effect, so it can help tighten your pores and tone your skin. Note that the effect is temporary, though, and will only work in the short term. Mix in milk and yogurt. Combine 2 Tbsp (30 ml) of honey and the juice of a whole lemon. Add 2 Tbsp (30 ml) of fresh milk and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) of plain yogurt (regular or Greek). Combine the mixture until it has the consistency of lotion, then apply the mask to your face. Apply the mask in layers for best results. Wait for the first layer to dry--it should only take a few minutes--before applying the second. Continue until you've used the entire mask. Once the mask is completely on your face, wait for 10 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. Both milk and yogurt can help cleanse, moisturize, and soften skin. | Juice one lemon half. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp (15 to 30 ml) of raw honey. Mix until well combined. Wash your face. Apply the mask over your face. Allow the mask to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Repeat weekly, if desired. Add baking soda. Use an egg white. Mix in milk and yogurt. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-and-Treat-Blepharitis-in-Cats | How to Diagnose and Treat Blepharitis in Cats | If you notice your cat's eyelids are swelling, crusty, or full of discharge, it may have Blepharitis and need to be taken to the vet for an official diagnosis and treatment. Your vet will most likely perform a biopsy or take some skin scrapings, so they can determine the underlying cause for your cat's condition. To treat your cat's blepharitis, your vet will probably prescribe antibiotic ointment to apply to the surface of your cat's eyelid. You can also apply a warm compress to your cat's eyes to minimize swelling and discomfort, if your cat is willing to cooperate. In some cases, you may want to consult with a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist for a second opinion, especially if your cat's condition has not improved with initial treatment. | Look for swelling of the eyelids. When a cat has blepharitis its eyelids will likely swell due to the infection. Look for red and puffy eyelids in one or both of your cat's eyelids. Because this infection is bacterial, it can move from one eye to both eyes. However, it may just stay in one. Spot signs that your cat is in pain. If your cat has blepharitis, it is likely that it is in some discomfort. The cat may scratch or rub its eyes repeatedly. It may also keep the affected eye or eyes closed for long periods of time. If your cat rubs its eyes too much, this can cause additional trauma to the eye area. This can make identifying the source of the infection difficult and increase the seriousness of the infection. Look for discharge and crusty eyes. If your cat's eyelids are infected, there may be clear or yellow discharge around them. In addition, the eyes may be covered in crust or flakes may develop. Discharge and crusty eyes can be associated with a variety of eye conditions. If your cat has these symptoms, it needs to be looked at by a veterinarian to identify the specific cause. Consider conditions that could predispose your cat to blepharitis. There are some things that can predispose a cat to getting blepharitis. The most common congenital cause of the infection is entropion, which is a condition that causes the edges of the eyelids to rub on the cornea. Additionally, cats with feline herpes virus-1 and cats with food or environmental allergies are more likely to get this infection. Cats that have flat faces, deep facial folds, or bulging eyes are most likely to have entropion. If your cat has any conditions that could predispose it to blepharitis then you should be vigilant in looking for the symptoms on a regular basis. Make a veterinary appointment. If your cat is having problems with its eyes, it's important to have them looked at by a veterinarian. Call your veterinary office and make an appointment for your cat to be seen. Tell the receptionist what is going on with your cat and ask for an appointment that will get your cat seen sooner rather than later. Eye infections should not be ignored, as severe infections can lead to reduced vision or permanent blindness. Discuss the cat's symptoms with the veterinarian. When taking your cat in to get assessed, you should be ready to tell the veterinarian all about your cat's condition. Tell them when the symptoms started and if they have changed over time, in addition to answering any additional questions the veterinarian may have. Agree to a variety of tests. Your veterinarian may want to run some tests on your cat to assess the underlying cause of the condition. Some of the tests can be completed in the veterinary office and some may need to be sent to a laboratory for analysis, such as the tests for feline herpes virus. These tests can be particularly important to figure out whether the infection requires an antibiotic for treatment. Your vet may perform a biopsy or take skin scrapings to help diagnose the cause of the blepharitis. These will be sent to a lab for evaluation. Consider consulting with a veterinary ophthalmologist. If your veterinarian does not know how to treat your cat's condition satisfactorily, they may suggest having the cat seen by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist. This is an eye doctor for animals. They should be able to work in collaboration with your usual veterinarian to figure out the best course of treatment. It may be necessary to seek out a veterinary ophthalmologist yourself for a second opinion. If your cat's condition has not improved with initial treatment, you should ask your veterinarian for a referral or find an accredited specialist on your own. Give your cat medication. Give your cat the medication that your veterinarian prescribed. In most cases, this will be a topical antibiotic that will be applied to the eyelid. This will eliminate bacteria on the surface of the eyelid and it will keep the healing area moisturized. In some cases, your veterinarian will prescribe an oral antibiotic that is taken in pill form. Place a warm compress on the affected area. Your veterinarian may also suggest that you apply warm compresses to the area to minimize swelling and discomfort. Simply wet a clean cloth with warm water, wring it out, and then hold it on your cat's eye for several minutes, or as long as it will let you. Warm compresses that are done regularly with clean cloths can help to clear out any clogged glands. They will also help to keep the infected area clean. Not all cats will cooperate enough to have this done. Keep an eye on the condition. It is important to make sure that your cat's condition is getting better during treatment. If it is not getting better, and in fact getting worse, you should call your veterinarian and have your cat seen again. An eye infection that is not treated effectively can become very serious and threaten your cat's sight. Treating blepharitis can take awhile. As long as the condition is not getting worse, keep doing the treatments as prescribed until your cat gets better. | Look for swelling of the eyelids. Spot signs that your cat is in pain. Look for discharge and crusty eyes. Consider conditions that could predispose your cat to blepharitis. Make a veterinary appointment. Discuss the cat's symptoms with the veterinarian. Agree to a variety of tests. Consider consulting with a veterinary ophthalmologist. Give your cat medication. Place a warm compress on the affected area. Keep an eye on the condition. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Learn | How to Learn | To learn something, try to break down what you're studying into smaller, more-manageable chunks so it's not as overwhelming. For example, if you're reading a chapter of a textbook, you could focus on 1 key concept at a time before moving on instead of reading through the whole chapter all at once. You should also try taking notes when you learn and writing out summaries when you're finished learning a new concept since writing things down can help you remember them better. | Break down what you’re learning into manageable chunks. If you try to absorb everything there is to know about a topic all at once, you'll soon find yourself overwhelmed. Whether you're reading a chapter in a history textbook or trying to learn how to play the piano, focus on one piece of information at a time before moving on to the next. Once you've mastered each piece, you can work on putting them together into a coherent whole. For example, if you're reading a chapter in a textbook, you might start by doing a quick skim of the whole chapter or even just scanning the chapter headings to get a sense of the content. Then, do a close reading of each paragraph and try to identify the key concepts. Take notes while you learn. Taking notes can help you engage more fully with the material you are learning, making it easier for your brain to understand and absorb it. If you are listening to a lecture or an explanation of a topic, jot down the key points as you listen. If you're reading, write down key words, summarize important concepts, and make note of any questions you have about the material. Studies show that taking handwritten notes is more effective for most people than typing your notes on a computer. When you write your notes by hand, you're more likely to focus on the important points rather than trying to write down everything you hear or see. If you like to doodle when you take notes, go for it! It may actually help you focus on what you're hearing. Summarize information you have just learned. Summarizing is a good way to test your knowledge and help clarify your understanding of a subject. After learning something new, whether you heard it in a lecture or read about it in a book, take a moment to write a brief paragraph or a few bullet points summing up the key points. You can also try summarizing the information verbally. If you're working with a teacher, they can give you direct feedback based on your summary to help you determine whether you understand the concept correctly. For example, you could say, “So, to find the area of a rectangle, I multiply the length by the width. Is that correct?” Keep your learning sessions brief and frequent. Instead of spending hours of your time studying a single subject each day, spread it out into multiple sessions of 30-60 minutes each day over the course of a few days or weeks. This can help prevent you from getting burnt out, and will also ultimately help you retain the information better. Spacing out your study sessions can also help you overcome procrastination. If you devote a little time to a particular task or subject each day, it will feel less overwhelming in the long run, so you'll be less tempted to put it off. Use multiple learning modes. Most people learn best if they combine different techniques, or modes of learning. If you can, combine different learning approaches that tap into all your senses. For example: If you're taking a lecture course, try taking notes by hand and also recording the lecture so you can play it back while you study. Reinforce your knowledge by doing the appropriate readings and using any available visual aids (such as graphs or illustrations). If possible, try to actively apply the knowledge you've learned, as well. For example, if you're learning to read ancient Greek, try translating a short passage on your own. Discuss what you are learning with other people. Talking about what you're learning can help you gain new perspectives or make connections that might not be obvious just from reading or studying on your own. In addition to asking your teacher or fellow students questions, share your own perspective and understanding of what you've learned. Teaching other people is a great way to solidify your understanding of a subject. It can also help you identify areas where you can improve your knowledge. Try explaining something you've learned to a friend, relative, or classmate. Take frequent breaks while you study. If you find your focus wandering, try breaking your study time up into 25-minute sessions with 5-minute breaks in between. This is called the Pomodoro Technique. Using the Pomodoro method will keep your brain sharp and help you focus more deeply. During your breaks, don't focus on what you're studying. Try meditating or visualizing a relaxing scene instead. Try using an app like Pomodoro Time to help you time your breaks and focus periods. Get 7-9 hours of high-quality sleep each night. Being well-rested can help you stay focused and energized while you study. However, sleep also plays a key role in learning and remembering information. Go to bed early enough that you can sleep for 7-9 hours (or 8-10 if you're a teen). You can also get better sleep by: Turning off bright screens at least half an hour before bed. Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine. For example, you might read a chapter of a book, listen to some peaceful music, or take a warm shower. Making sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and comfortable at night. Avoiding caffeine and other stimulants up to 6 hours before bedtime. Eat brain-boosting foods. Eating nutritious, energizing foods can help you stay alert and absorb information more effectively. Start the day with a nutritious breakfast, like a boiled egg, a bowl of oatmeal, and some fresh fruit. While you're studying, snack on brain-friendly foods like blueberries, bananas, or a little omega-3 rich salmon. Make sure to stay hydrated , too—getting enough water can help you fight fatigue and stay focused. Find a quiet and comfortable study environment. Studying in a noisy, uncomfortable, or poorly lit area can make it harder to concentrate and absorb what you're learning. Different people learn best in different environments, so experiment with studying in a variety of places and see what works for you. For example, if noise tends to distract you, try working in a quiet study room at the library instead of at a table in a crowded coffee shop. Look for a study area where you can sit and spread out comfortably, but don't get so comfortable that you fall asleep. You may want to avoid studying on a couch or in bed, for example. Put away your phone and other distractions. It's easy to get sucked into social media apps and games or to keep checking your email when you should be studying. If your phone or another device is distracting you, try switching it off or putting it somewhere out of reach (like inside your bag or a desk drawer). You can also use productivity apps, like BreakFree or Flipd, that limit your ability to use your device during work or study hours. Avoid studying where there's a TV that might distract you. If you find yourself tempted by time-wasting websites on your computer, try installing a browser extension like StayFocusd to help keep you on task. Evaluate what you do and do not know. Metacognition, or the ability to recognize what you do and do not know, is an important part of learning. Reflect on the subject or skill you are trying to learn about and ask yourself, “What do I know about this topic? What do I not know or fully understand yet?” Once you've identified areas where you still need to improve your knowledge or understanding, you can focus your attention on those areas. One good way to evaluate your knowledge is to quiz yourself on the material. If you are using a textbook or taking a course that includes self-administered quizzes or knowledge checks, take advantage of them. You could also try writing a brief explanation of the subject. This exercise will highlight the knowledge you already have, but may also help you identify weak areas in your knowledge. Take the VARK inventory to understand your learning style. While most people use a combination of approaches when learning, you may find that you work best as a Visual, Auditory, Reading and writing, or Kinetic learner. Once you understand the learning modes that work best for you, you can adjust your study style accordingly. To identify your primary learning style, try taking the VARK questionnaire, here: http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/?p=questionnaire. Visual learners absorb information best from visual sources, such as maps, graphs, diagrams, and images. If you're an auditory learner, you may benefit the most from listening to lectures or verbal explanations. Talking out loud about what you're learning can also be helpful. Reading and writing learners do best when they read information and write about what they are learning. Focus on taking notes and reading about the topic you're interested in. Kinesthetic learners absorb knowledge most effectively when they actively put what they're learning into practice. For example, you may learn a language better by speaking it than by reading about it. Identify your learning strengths. Learning strengths are similar to learning styles, but they focus more on your specific skills and areas of intelligence. Try taking a test like this Strength Assessment to figure out what your key intelligence strengths are: http://www.literacynet.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html. You can then adapt your learning methods to your areas of strength. For example, if you score high in body movement intelligence, you may find that you retain and understand information better if you take a walk with a friend and talk to them about what you're studying. According to the theory of multiple intelligences, the 8 key areas of intelligence are Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist. Ask questions about what you are learning. To really engage with what you're learning, it's important to do more than just absorb and remember information. As you're learning, stop and ask yourself questions. Exploring these questions and looking for answers will help you gain a deeper understanding of the material. For example, if you're reading about a historical event, you might ask questions like “Why did this happen? How do we know what happened—what kinds of sources do we have? How might things be different today if this event hadn't taken place?” If you're studying a discipline that is new to you (such as biology or law), try writing a list of 25 key questions that your discipline seeks to answer. This can serve as a good foundation for your exploration of the topic. Look for connections between concepts. When you're learning about a topic, try not to view it as a series of unconnected pieces of information. Instead, look for ways that ideas and information relate to each other and to your own knowledge and experiences. This will help you put the things you learn in context. For example, maybe you're studying how physical anthropologists use skeletal material to understand how people lived in an ancient society. Think about how your own activities might affect what a future anthropologist or archaeologist would see if they discovered you—e.g., would they notice wear and tear on your elbow joints because of your tennis hobby? Examine sources of information critically. Don't accept everything you hear, see, or read at face value. When you're learning, consider where the information comes from, how reliable it is, and whether it is current or outdated. For example, you might ask yourself: “What evidence does this author provide to back up their major arguments?” “Is this information up-to-date?” “What are the sources for this information?” “What are the qualifications of the person presenting this information? Do they have any agendas or biases?” “Are there alternative interpretations of this issue that might also be valid?” Try to identify key concepts in the material you are studying. Whether you're looking at a full course in a particular topic or just focusing on an individual lesson, try to pull out a few key themes and concepts. Doing this can help you organize your thoughts and define your focus as you learn and study. For example, if you're taking a class on American history, you might find that themes of American identity and diversity come up again and again. Consider how the information you are learning in the class relates to these themes. | Break down what you’re learning into manageable chunks. Take notes while you learn. Summarize information you have just learned. Keep your learning sessions brief and frequent. Use multiple learning modes. Discuss what you are learning with other people. Take frequent breaks while you study. Get 7-9 hours of high-quality sleep each night. Eat brain-boosting foods. Find a quiet and comfortable study environment. Put away your phone and other distractions. Evaluate what you do and do not know. Take the VARK inventory to understand your learning style. Identify your learning strengths. Ask questions about what you are learning. Look for connections between concepts. Examine sources of information critically. Try to identify key concepts in the material you are studying. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Jambalaya | How to Make Jambalaya | To make jambalaya, start by sauteeing chopped onion, celery, and green pepper until the onion is translucent. Then, stir in bite-sized pieces of chicken, sausage, and smoked ham, and continue to cook everything until the meat is cooked all the way through. Next, add stock and crushed tomatoes, and lower the heat to medium-low. Once you've done that, season the dish, add rice, and simmer everything for 30 minutes. Finally, add some shrimp, and cook the jambalaya until the shrimp is pink. | Pre-cut the meat into bite-sized chunks and peel and devein any shrimp. Jambalaya takes a ton of ingredients, puts them in the same big pot, and lets the flavors meld and blend into something amazing. To pull it off, however, takes good kitchen timing and pre-planning. Instead of rushing to chop things and add them as they cook, get in the habit of preparing the big things ahead of time. Jambalaya can use any combination of meats you like, as long as they are pre-cut: Chicken should be cut in slightly large than bite-size pieces Sausage should be cut into round discs, roughly 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Smoked ham should be cut into bite-sized cubes. Shrimp should be thawed, peeled, and deveined. Chop the yellow onion, 2-3 stalks of celery, and green pepper into small cubes. Onions, celery, and green pepper form the "Holy Trinity" of Cajun food, and these three aromatic ingredients are at the base of almost every Cajun dish. While you can adjust the ratios however you see fit, most Cajun cooks end up with roughly two parts onion and one part celery and bell pepper. Chop them into pieces no bigger than a half inch. The Holy Trinity can be adjusted to taste, usually adding more onion instead of celery or pepper. More onions usually lead to a richer dish. In a pinch, shallots can be substituted for onions and red and yellow peppers for green. This usually leads to a slightly sweeter Jambalaya. Heat up 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Make sure you have a nice large sauce pot, preferably with a thick-bottom.You don't want the oil to start smoking, just shimmering lightly, as if a quiet lake is being disturbed by a light breeze. Add the chopped vegetables, a quick pinch (1/2 teaspoon) of salt, and stir well. Salt should be added in small doses while you cook, as it helps unlock the natural flavors of your ingredients as you're cooking. You want these vegetables to cook until the onions are slightly see through, or "translucent." That said, you should move to the next step while they heat up to stay on time. Mince any desired jalapenos and garlic and add to your Holy Trinity. Now that your base is completed, you can start making it your own. Chop up 1-2 jalapeno peppers and 3-5 cloves of garlic, depending on taste. Cut them up about half as large as the vegetables above, and toss them into the hot oil to cook for 1-2 minutes. Try to time your additions so that the onions, peppers, and celery finish cooking (remember -- translucent) at the same time as the finely chopped garlic and peppers. The seeds of jalapenos are the hottest part, so you can scrape a few of them out if you're worried about it being too hot. Toss the meat in (EXCEPT the shrimp), add a pinch of salt, and stir. Toss in everything but the prawns and let them cook until they are almost finished. Use the chicken as your marker, as it takes longer than the rest and it is easiest to see when it is finished cooking (no more pink flesh). This should take roughly 5-7 minutes, depending on how small you cut the meat. If you have raw, unsmoked sausage, you might consider partially cooking it first. When it is still a little pink, remove it and cook the Holy Trinity in the remaining sausage fat, then add the meat back in with the chicken. If things are sticking, add an extra 1/2 tablespoon of oil, let it heat for 10 seconds or so, then add in the meat. Heat up your 3-4 cups of broth or stock while the meats finish cooking. You can add it cold, but this literally halts the cooking process until the pot can get back up to heat. It is best to preheat your broth first. Add the stock, can of crushed tomatoes, and stir until the liquid is simmering. A simmer is when the bubbles are constantly breaking the surface of the liquid. If you preheated the stock, this should happen quickly. Use your wooden spoon to scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom when the liquid hits -- these give the jambalaya it's appealingly dark, rich color. Lower the heat to medium-low and add your spices, stirring well. This is where you really can make the jambalaya your own, customizing it to your taste buds and preferences. The following spices can all be mixed and matched in any quantities you want, but the basics illustrated here are a good place to start. If you're really lost, try purchasing a Cajun or Creole spice blend from your local supermarket instead: 1/2 teaspoon black, white, red, and/or cayenne pepper (heavier on the cayenne) 1 bay leaf 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon thyme and/or Oregano 1/2 teaspoon cracked red pepper flakes A pinch more salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic and/or onion powder Add the rice, cover the pot, and simmer for a half hour, stirring occasionally. Check the rice starting at 20-25 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent the rice on the bottom from burning. As it cooks, the rice should absorb all of the liquid, leaving you with a big, creamy, and flavorful rice dish. If the rice isn't cooked completely and the water is all gone, add another 1/2 cup or so to finish cooking. Try not to remove the lid for long, as this releases the steam needed to cook the rice. Give it a quick stir every 3-4 minutes and then get the lid right back on. Add the shrimp once the rice is almost done, covering the pot again to cook the prawns. As the rice is getting done, stir in the shrimp and let them cook until they are pink throughout and completely cooked. Use this time to test the spices as well, adding a dash of salt and some seasoning if you desire it. Garnish with hot sauce, green onions, and/or parsley and serve hot. Most Cajun dishes will come with all three options on the table. Some people even love a bright, acidic punch of a lemon slice. Of course, this is all up to your personal preference, but know that these ingredients will certainly up the "authentic" factor of your dish. | Pre-cut the meat into bite-sized chunks and peel and devein any shrimp. Chop the yellow onion, 2-3 stalks of celery, and green pepper into small cubes. Heat up 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chopped vegetables, a quick pinch (1/2 teaspoon) of salt, and stir well. Mince any desired jalapenos and garlic and add to your Holy Trinity. Toss the meat in (EXCEPT the shrimp), add a pinch of salt, and stir. Heat up your 3-4 cups of broth or stock while the meats finish cooking. Add the stock, can of crushed tomatoes, and stir until the liquid is simmering. Lower the heat to medium-low and add your spices, stirring well. Add the rice, cover the pot, and simmer for a half hour, stirring occasionally. Add the shrimp once the rice is almost done, covering the pot again to cook the prawns. Garnish with hot sauce, green onions, and/or parsley and serve hot. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Tea-Tree-Oil-for-Warts | How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Warts | Warts can be unpleasant to deal with, but fortunately, you can use tea tree oil to treat them naturally. First, wash your wart with soap and warm water. Then, apply a drop of oil to your wart with a cotton pad. Cover it with a bandage to prevent the tea tree oil from rubbing off as you go about your day. Apply tea tree oil twice a day to treat your wart. It could take up to 2 weeks for your wart to disappear. If it's still there by then, see a doctor about getting it removed medically. | Wash the wart and the surrounding skin using soap and warm water. Pat the area dry with a towel. Use a clean cotton swab to apply a drop of tea tree oil to the wart. Use pure, undiluted tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has been known to cause contact dermatitis and skin irritation for some people. If you have sensitive skin, buy diluted tea tree oil or dilute it yourself using aloe vera gel, jojoba oil, or honey. Put a bandage over the wart. A bandage will help keep the tea tree oil from rubbing off while you're sleeping or going about your day. Repeat the process twice daily. Apply the tea tree oil once before bed and once in the morning for convenience. You may begin to see a reduction in the size of the wart after three days, or it could take almost two weeks to see any difference. Mix together equal parts tea tree oil and aloe vera gel. You can find bottled aloe vera gel at your local drug store. Any kind of aloe vera gel will work. Stir the mixture thoroughly. Although aloe vera gel is not scientifically proven to eliminate warts, some people find that its thicker consistency helps keep the tea tree oil from running off the face. Apply the oil/aloe mixture to the wart using a clean cotton swab. Use enough of the mixture that the entire wart is coated with the oil and aloe. Apply the mixture at night if you're worried about going out in public with oil on your face. Never apply tea tree oil around your mouth. Tea tree oil is poisonous if ingested and can cause serious side effects like dizziness, confusion, and vomiting. Put a bandage over the wart to keep the tea tree oil in place. Remove the bandage when you wake up in the morning and rinse off any leftover oil mixture on your face. Repeat the process once a day. It could take 12 days or more for the wart to disappear. If you don't see results after 12 days, you may need to try a wart removal product from your local drug store or visit a doctor to have the wart professionally removed. Mix 5 drops of tea tree oil with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of a carrier oil. Common carrier oils you can use are almond oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. Mix the two oils together thoroughly. There's no evidence that carrier oils help treat warts, but some people find they make applying tea tree oil to the scalp easier and less harsh. Apply the oil mixture to the wart on your scalp before bed. Use your fingers or a cotton swab to get the oil mixture onto the wart. Massage the oil mixture into the wart for several minutes. Make sure the whole wart is covered with the mixture. Leave the oil mixture on your scalp overnight. Wear a sleeping cap so the oils don't rub off on your pillow while you sleep. Rinse off any leftover oil in the shower when you wake up. Repeat the process daily until the wart is gone. This could take 12 days or longer. If after 12 days the wart hasn't decreased in size, look for a wart removal product at your local drug store or visit a doctor to have the wart removed. | Wash the wart and the surrounding skin using soap and warm water. Use a clean cotton swab to apply a drop of tea tree oil to the wart. Put a bandage over the wart. Repeat the process twice daily. Mix together equal parts tea tree oil and aloe vera gel. Apply the oil/aloe mixture to the wart using a clean cotton swab. Put a bandage over the wart to keep the tea tree oil in place. Repeat the process once a day. Mix 5 drops of tea tree oil with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of a carrier oil. Apply the oil mixture to the wart on your scalp before bed. Massage the oil mixture into the wart for several minutes. Leave the oil mixture on your scalp overnight. Repeat the process daily until the wart is gone. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Simple-Tree | How to Draw a Simple Tree | To draw a simple tree, start with 2 vertical lines that curve inward a little to form the tree trunk. Then, draw a few short branches at the top of the trunk, and surround them with a cloud-shaped mass of green to represent the leaves. Finally, add lines and swirls to the trunk to make it look more realistic, and color it in with brown. | Draw a basic tree base. straight lines with a wider point at the top and bottom. Draw the branches at the top, connected to the wider points at the top of the tree. Now get your green pen out and start coloring the branches! ! Add swirls to make the tree look wooden and made out of natural bark. Color the base in brown. Draw two vertical lines parallel to one another, and curved at the base. This will be the trunk of the tree. Draw figures that resembles branches growing from the sides of the trunk. The branches need to be thinner than the trunk. Draw the leaves collectively which grow from the branches. Add details like the cuts and curves of the leaves. Draw rings and curves to the trunk to resemble woody texture to the trunk. Trace with a pen and erase unnecessary sketches. Color to your liking! | Draw a basic tree base. Draw the branches at the top, connected to the wider points at the top of the tree. Now get your green pen out and start coloring the branches! Add swirls to make the tree look wooden and made out of natural bark. Color the base in brown. Draw two vertical lines parallel to one another, and curved at the base. Draw figures that resembles branches growing from the sides of the trunk. Draw the leaves collectively which grow from the branches. Draw rings and curves to the trunk to resemble woody texture to the trunk. Trace with a pen and erase unnecessary sketches. Color to your liking! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Coconut-Yogurt | How to Make Coconut Yogurt | To make a shortcut coconut yogurt, start by chilling 2 tins of coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight. Then, scoop out the cream on top and discard the water underneath. Next, blend the cream, lemon juice, probiotic, and salt until the mixture is smooth. At this point, taste the yogurt and add 1 teaspoon of liquid sweetener, like maple syrup or agave, if desired. Finally, chill the yogurt in an airtight container for 3 to 4 hours. | Refrigerate the coconut milk. Place the cans of coconut milk in your refrigerator and let them chill overnight, or for a minimum of 8 hours. Refrigeration helps separate the thick cream from the coconut water. Do not shake the cans of coconut milk at any time since doing so could combine these two components again. Combine the cream and other ingredients. Scoop out the cool, thick coconut cream and place it in a large bowl. Add the probiotics and sweetener, then whisk until well-combined and smooth. Do not use the watery portion of the coconut milk sitting at the bottom of the can. Using it would result in very thin yogurt. If using probiotic capsules, open the capsules and use the powder inside. You could also use 2 tsp (10 ml) probiotic powder, 2 Tbsp (30 ml) store-bought coconut yogurt, or 2 Tbsp (30 ml) fermented coconut water probiotic kefir. Raw sugar works well as a sweetener, but you could easily use the same amount of maple sugar, raw honey, or agave. If you prefer less-sweet yogurt, you can omit the sweetener altogether. Transfer the mixture to sterilized jars. Pour the coconut mixture into a clean, sterilized glass jar. Tightly seal the jar with a lid. It's important to use sterilized jars since bad bacteria will ruin the yogurt if it creeps inside. You can sterilize the jars using a dishwasher or boiling water. Ferment the yogurt for 24 hours. Place the sealed jars of yogurt into your oven. Leave the oven off, but turn the oven light on. Allow the yogurt to sit in the oven for 12 to 24 hours. A closed oven with the light on will maintain a stable temperature between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit (40 to 43 degrees Celsius), which is ideal for the fermentation process. Do not turn the oven on since doing so will make the interior too hot, which will likely kill the probiotics. The yogurt will become thicker with a longer incubation period. You should give it a minimum of 12 hours, but 24 hours would be ideal. Refrigerate until cool. Remove the thick, fermented yogurt from the oven and transfer it to your refrigerator. Chill the yogurt for approximately 6 hours, or until it becomes thoroughly cool. If the yogurt separates during this period, you can recombine the layers by stirring them together. You can also make the yogurt thicker by pouring off the liquid layer and using only the thickened layer beneath it. Enjoy. The coconut yogurt is now finished and ready to serve. Refrigerate any leftover yogurt in an airtight container. Use it within two weeks. Combine the coconut milk and thickener. Shake the coconut milk, then open the cans and pour them into a medium saucepan. Add your thickener of choice to the coconut milk. Unlike coconut yogurt prepared without a thickener, you'll need to use the full can of coconut milk. Thoroughly shaking the cans before opening them should help combine any separated cream and water. If you use agar agar, sprinkle the flakes over the coconut milk without stirring them. If you use tapioca starch, whisk 1/3 cup (80 ml) of coconut milk with the tapioca until the starch dissolves. Pour this mixture back into the rest of the coconut milk and stir to combine. Heat the coconut mixture. Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Allow the coconut milk to reach a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. After the coconut milk begins simmering, you should periodically whisk the mixture to incorporate the thickener into the milk. Continue heating the coconut milk until the agar agar fully dissolves or the tapioca fully thickens the milk. Let the mixture cool. Remove the coconut mixture from the heat and allow it to cool to a temperature between 100 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit (38 and 46 degrees Celsius). Use a food thermometer to test the temperature of the mixture. It's crucial to let it drop adequately low. If you add the probiotics while the temperature remains too hot, the beneficial bacteria will die and the yogurt won't ferment properly. Add the probiotics and sweetener. Sprinkle the probiotics and sweetener over the surface of the milk, then whisk well to combine. If you use probiotic capsules, you should open the capsules and only use the powder inside. Alternatively, you could use 4 tsp (20 ml) of probiotic powder, 4 Tbsp (60 ml) store-bought coconut yogurt, or 4 Tbsp (60 ml) fermented coconut water probiotic kefir. You can swap out the raw sugar for another sweetener, like maple syrup or agave, or omit it altogether if desired. Pour the yogurt into sterilized jars. Pour the coconut mixture into sterilized glass jars. Seal the jars with tight lids. The jars must be sterilized before use; otherwise, bad bacteria could get into the mixture and spoil your yogurt. Sterilize the jars by running them through the hottest cycle of your dishwasher or by soaking them in boiling water for several minutes. Ferment the yogurt for 12 to 24 hours. Place the yogurt in an empty oven. Turn the oven light on, but leave the oven itself off. Allow the yogurt to ferment in this warm environment for 12 to 24 hours. Do not turn the oven on since extremely hot temperatures can kill the probiotics. A closed oven with the light on should maintain temperatures between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit (40 and 43 degrees Celsius), which is ideal for the culturing period. Allowing the coconut yogurt to sit for 24 hours will produce thicker yogurt, but most should be ready after 8 to 12 hours. Refrigerate the yogurt. Transfer the jars of yogurt to the refrigerator and let them chill for approximately 6 hours. During this time, the yogurt should continue thickening and the fermentation process should cease. If the yogurt separates, you can stir it to combine the layers. For thicker yogurt, however, strain the liquid and use only the thickened bottom layer. Enjoy. The coconut yogurt should be done and ready to eat at this time. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight jar or container and kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Chill the coconut milk. Place the cans of coconut milk in your refrigerator and allow them to sit overnight, or for at least 8 hours. Refrigeration will help separate the coconut cream from the water. If you prefer working with fresher ingredients, you can use fresh coconut meat instead of canned coconut milk. Combine 2 cups (500 ml) fresh coconut meat with 1/2 cup (125 ml) coconut water or filtered water, blending until smooth. You can use this blend immediately; no refrigeration is required. Scoop out the solidified cream. Open the cans of coconut milk and scoop out the solidified cream sitting on top. Discard the watery portion sitting in the bottom of the can. Do not shake the cans before opening them since doing so will combine the cream and water, resulting in watery yogurt. Blend the ingredients together. Place the solidified coconut milk in your blender or food processor. Add the lemon juice, probiotic, and salt. Blend the ingredients together until well-combined and very smooth. Open and empty the probiotic capsules; do not add whole capsules to the blender. If you don't have probiotic capsules, you could use 1 tsp (5 ml) probiotic powder or 1/4 cup (60 ml) coconut water probiotic kefir. Adjust as desired. Taste the yogurt. Add 1 Tbsp (15 ml) of liquid sweetener, if desired, and blend the yogurt again until the sweetener is evenly distributed. Maple syrup, agave, coconut nectar, and natural liquid cane sugar are all good choices. If the yogurt is too thick for your preferences, you could also add 1 to 2 Tbsp (15 to 30 ml) of coconut water or purified water to thin it out. Chill until cool. Transfer the yogurt to an airtight plastic container and place it in your refrigerator. Allow the yogurt to chill for approximately 2 or 3 hours. This step isn't strictly necessary, but if you eat the yogurt immediately, it will be lukewarm and may seem less palatable. Enjoy. Remove the yogurt from the refrigerator and serve it while it's still cool. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container and use them within two weeks. | Refrigerate the coconut milk. Combine the cream and other ingredients. Transfer the mixture to sterilized jars. Ferment the yogurt for 24 hours. Refrigerate until cool. Enjoy. Combine the coconut milk and thickener. Heat the coconut mixture. Let the mixture cool. Add the probiotics and sweetener. Pour the yogurt into sterilized jars. Ferment the yogurt for 12 to 24 hours. Refrigerate the yogurt. Enjoy. Chill the coconut milk. Scoop out the solidified cream. Blend the ingredients together. Adjust as desired. Chill until cool. Enjoy. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Carve-Stone | How to Carve Stone | To carve stone if you're a beginner, choose a piece of soapstone to work with since they are extremely malleable and easy to carve. Then, purchase a soft hammer, some chisels, and files to carve your stone with, which are sold as kits at many online retailers. Once you have your kit, draw your design onto the stone with crayon to reduce the chances of making a mistake when carving. Finally, use your hammer and chisel to chip away at the stone, and smooth out any rough marks or add detail with a file. | Choose soapstone if you are a beginner and have few tools for carving. Soapstone's texture resembles a dry bar of soap and is extremely malleable. It will easily form a shape with little force. Soapstone is so soft that you can carve it with harder rocks you find in your backyard; you can even use your fingernail to carve it. It also comes in many colors like grey, green, and black. Use soapstone if you are making a small sculpture that won't be easily damaged if you accidentally scratch or nudge it. You can find soapstone and other soft rocks at a local stone carving supplies stores. For example, in California there is a store called "Stone Sculptors Supplies" that sells soft stones for carving. Alternately, you can acquire your stones from a stone yard. Know, however, that these stones are typically used for construction purposes (building counter tops, for example) and may be harder than artistically provided stones. Know that some soapstone contains asbestos, which can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma if inhaled. Buy alabaster for the best combination of durability and malleability. Alabaster comes in a wide range of colors and is available from many suppliers. Alabaster is best if you want a colorful, sturdy sculpture. It can come in variety of colors like white, grey, beige, orange, yellows, reds, and translucent. Although alabaster is generally harder than soapstone, it still carves easily. It is the ideal choice for new sculptors since it will still retain its shape without requiring specialized tools or strenuous effort. An alternative to alabaster is limestone, which carves easily and regularly but is not available in a wide range of colors (typical limestone comes in different shades of grey). Also, limestone can be difficult to sculpt if you get the wrong piece. Limestone is slightly harder and doesn't polish as well as alabaster. Avoid very hard stones like granite and marble. Carving these stones requires specialized tools like electric grinders and hammers. Granite and marble are usually sculpted in large quantities since they are most optimal for statues and other large items that require durability. Working with large slabs of hard stones requires very strenuous effort. Even experienced carvers can spend up to 80 hours working on a relatively simple piece. Pick a slab of stone that is much larger than your intended sculpture. Carving is a subtractive process, not an additive one. Unlike adding more paint to a portrait, carving involves taking away stone to create the piece's shape. Limit your stone size to something you will finish in a relatively short time. This is especially important if you are trying your hand at sculpting for the first time and are unsure of whether you will enjoy the process. The suggested size of stone blocks for sculpting is 15-25 lbs. Blocks that are smaller than 15 lbs will break if carved with a hammer and chisel. Any larger, and completing your sculpture will take much longer than you desire. If you intend on using soapstone to sculpt a heart-shaped pendant, then you can most likely work with a block well under 15 lbs. Just remember that you will most likely have to use other, less accurate tools like harder rocks or a file to shape it. You will also have fewer chances to correct any mistakes you accidentally make during the carving process. Inspect your stone for cracks and fissures. Since you're working with natural materials, it won't be unusual to experience structural flaws. Finding a stone with few flaws will reduce the likelihood that your stone will break when carving. Cracks and fissures are sometimes easiest to see when the stone is wet. Use a spray bottle or sprinkle water over your stone. If you find any cracks, try to follow it to see where it ends. A crack that goes all the way around a stone is in danger of breaking during the carving process. Tap larger stone blocks with a hammer or the back of a chisel. If the block makes a "ringing" sound, there is a higher chance that your stone is solid in the area you are hitting it. If it gives off a dead "thud" and no ring, chances are there is a crack that is absorbing the energy of the tap. Ask an experienced carver or a store employee to help you find a sturdy stone to work with. If you are a beginner and do not have experience judging the integrity of a stone, acquire your stone from a stone carving supplier instead of a stone yard. Wear respiratory protection while carving. Even if you are carving small quantities of stone, the stone itself may contain asbestos or silica. These are both harmful if inhaled. To help reduce the amount of dust, wet the rock first before carving. Also, work in an outdoor environment (in the yard or on a porch is optimal. If working with a larger block (25 lbs for instance), set up a fan to blow away the dust as you work. Wear protective goggles over your eyes. If you wear a prescription pair of glasses, cover those with the goggles as well. Small stone chips can easily enter your eye when using a hammer and chisel. Though this isn't a potentially lethal risk like inhalation of stone dust, it can still be quite painful. It will also impair your vision, making sculpting very difficult to do accurately. If you're working with a small stone, you can wear protective glasses instead of goggles. Though you won't be able to wear these easily over a pair of prescription glasses, they won't fog up as much as goggles. Over time, safety goggles become scratched and can obscure your vision. Be prepared with spares to replace them in case significant scratches occur. You can purchase protective eyewear from most hardware stores. Consider wearing gloves if you are carving a large piece. Stone can be abrasive and carving it can cause blisters, scrapes, or cuts. The more experienced you get and the more callouses you develop, the less likely you'll need gloves. Still, it is better to be more protected than less. A good pair of gloves may even prevent accidental cuts from tool usage. You don't need a fancy pair of gloves for smaller or medium-sized stones. Since you won't be working for long periods or with power tools, an everyday pair of gardening gloves may be sufficient. Invest in a hammer, chisels, and files. Online retailers like Amazon sell starter carving kits for $30.00. Alternately, local art stores and home gardening companies offer multiple types of carving kits. Although you may not need all these tools for soapstone and other softer stones, they will make your carving quicker and more precise. Here's a quick guide to the tools you may need: Purchase a sandbag from your local hardware store if you are sculpting a big stone. You will need to rest your sculpted piece on this sandbag as you work on it. Fill the sandbag with the large, inexpensive cat litter instead of sand. Sand is too heavy and settles too well to provide the necessary support for your stone. Be sure you purchase the larger, cheaper kitty litter. The more expensive kind tends to clump together like sand. The cheaper kitty litter is more lightweight and will allow you to support your stone in many positions. Tie the sandbags closed with twine, leaving plenty of empty space in the bag. You need that space for resting your stone comfortably. Draw your design on a piece of paper. It is best to visualize your piece beforehand because sculpting requires abstract and spatial thinking. Although your drawing will be 2D, it will help you better visualize how your 3D item will need to be sculpted. Alternately, you can work with clay to create a "rough draft" of your sculpted piece. This way, you can add and remove clay until your desired shape is achieved. This will not only help better develop your idea, it will prevent you from removing stone that you wish you had kept. For beginning sculptors, it is recommended that you begin with an abstract shape. Avoid making detailed pieces like human statues. Learning how to use various tools while also trying to make things symmetrical and precise can be frustrating and overwhelming Look at the stone to determine the direction of the bed or grain. Similar to wood, the grain or bed is the direction in which the rock was formed. Wet the stone to better see the bed lines, which often appear as distinctive color patterns. Carving along these lines will ensure better structural integrity. Try to keep the grain running with the length of the design. Try to avoid breaking the stone perpendicularly to the bed line, as it will most likely be more difficult to break and will break unpredictably. Use a crayon to draw your design on the actual rock. This will be the blueprint for carving your stone. Though you can also use a pencil or marker, chances are the graphite from the pencil will vanish almost instantly. The ink from the pen or marker can sink into the stone and stain it permanently. Using crayons allows you to wash off the drawing as necessary and also provides a wide variety of colors to use as alternative shapes your sculpture might take. Be sure you mark your design on all sides of the stone. Maintain the height and width of the form on each side. Remember, your piece will be 3-dimensional and will need to be evenly carved. Hold the hammer in your dominant hand and the chisel in the other. For example, if you are right handed, you will hold the hammer in your right hand. Grasp the chisel at its midpoint, similar to how you would hold a microphone. Move your thumb to the side of the chisel where your other fingers are situated. This grip will feel weird at first, but it will keep you from striking your thumb with the hammer by accident. Hold your chisel firmly and keep it touching the stone at all times. Allowing your chisel to bounce and jiggle in your hands while you strike it will result in inaccurate, unpredictable breaks in the stone. If carving along an edge, use a flat chisel instead of a toothed one. Having only some of your teeth on the rock while striking it can cause the teeth to break off, making your chisel useless and creating a potential hazard. Angle your chisel at about 45 degrees or lower. Striking the stone head-on will create what is called a "stone bruise." This causes the stone to turn white and reflect more light, creating a blemish in your final piece. Strike the end of your chisel with the hammer. If your angle is right, chips of stone will come off. If your chisel simply becomes embedded into the stone and does not produce stone chips, your angle is most likely too steep. Change your position to a shallower angle and consider carving from a different direction. Striking at steep angles can cause a stone bruise. Carving at too shallow an angle will cause your chisel to skip off the stone, removing nothing. This is more common on harder and smoother stones. To fix this, strike at a deeper angle or use the toothed chisel. Place your stone on the sandbag if it is unsteady. For smaller stones, keeping the stone in a secure location while carving can be very difficult and will make you more exhausted trying to keep it steady manually. If the stone is moving - even if it is rocking just a bit - you're still losing energy from your movements, which could be removing more stone. Fix this by placing the stone directly on top of the sandbag. Carve standing up rather than sitting down. This will help you angle your chisel down towards the floor, which will maximize each hammer blow and reduce stone movement. It is common to have to readjust the stone's position on the sandbag every few minutes. If you still find your stone moving, lean against it with your body while pushing it against you. Be sure the part you are carving is facing away from you. If carving on a folding table, place your sandbag and stone over the legs at one end. The table is strongest there, and more of your energy will go into removing the stone instead of making the table flex. Carve towards the center of the stone, not towards the edges. Since the stone becomes less thick and less supported towards the edges, it can break in uncontrolled ways. Carving towards the edges can cause you to lose stone that you want to keep. To avoid this, carve with your chisel facing toward the center. Or, you could work along the corner/edge rather than across it. If there is absolutely no way to avoid carving over an edge, use slow, gentle hammer blows. Although you can use special glue to repair lost stone, the glue lines themselves will be evident in your final product. Chisel along cracks, not across them. Remember that even the most optimal stone slab may still have minor cracks along the surface. Reduce the amount of lost stone by working with the cracks, not against them. Use chisels along the direction of the cracks instead of at a right angle. Any crack, regardless of size, is a place where one side of the stone is not strongly bonded to the other. Carving near it will chip off tiny flakes on either side, making it more difficult to file. This is a significant concern when working with softer stones. To avoid flaking, use files when your stone is approaching its final form. Chisel use puts more stress on the stone than files do and will make the crack more visible. Filing along the crack will help smooth it out and disguise it better. File your stone moving away from you only. Filing is best for creating fine detail, smoothing out chisel marks, and refining the final shape of your piece. Most stone carving files have uni-directional teeth, meaning that they only cut in one direction. The proper way to use this file is to push it away from you rather than grinding it back and forth via the traditional method. Grinding the file back and forth may be effective, but it will also wear down your files quickly. Instead, push the file away from you and then lift it up. Return the file to its original position and push again. An added benefit of filing this way is that it gets the file out of view after each stroke, letting you see the surface more as you work. Glue large pieces of lost stone back to the sculpture with epoxy. Epoxy is a special glue that typically comes in two components that you have to mix before applying. Gluing stones back together is typically reserved for when you are working with larger stone slabs and losing a significant piece means compromising your entire design (for example, if you lost the "arm" portion of your statue sculpture). For smaller sculptures and carvings, you simply need to rethink your sculpture. Instead of carving a heart, maybe now you will decide to carve an arrow. Sand your final product with 220 grit paper. Removing chisel marks and scratches will make your stone look more refined and professional. The amount of grit refers to how many grains of grit there are per square inch. The higher the grit, the finer the sanded product will be. For sanding the softer stones suggested above, avoid sandpaper with grit 80 and below. These are coarser grits and may damage your final product. It is recommended that you sand the stone while it is wet. Use the wet/dry brand of sandpaper, since standard sandpaper will fall apart when it gets wet. Sanding dry is helpful because it allows you to see cracks and marks as you work, but it will definitely require the use of a respirator. To avoid spending more as well as creating harmful dust, wait for your stone to dry after each sanding session. Remember the areas where you spot any blemishes, and then re-wet the stone and continue sanding. This technique will require patience but will save you money and ensure your safety. | Choose soapstone if you are a beginner and have few tools for carving. Buy alabaster for the best combination of durability and malleability. Avoid very hard stones like granite and marble. Pick a slab of stone that is much larger than your intended sculpture. Inspect your stone for cracks and fissures. Wear respiratory protection while carving. Wear protective goggles over your eyes. Consider wearing gloves if you are carving a large piece. Invest in a hammer, chisels, and files. Purchase a sandbag from your local hardware store if you are sculpting a big stone. Draw your design on a piece of paper. Look at the stone to determine the direction of the bed or grain. Use a crayon to draw your design on the actual rock. Hold the hammer in your dominant hand and the chisel in the other. Strike the end of your chisel with the hammer. Place your stone on the sandbag if it is unsteady. Carve towards the center of the stone, not towards the edges. Chisel along cracks, not across them. File your stone moving away from you only. Glue large pieces of lost stone back to the sculpture with epoxy. Sand your final product with 220 grit paper. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Better-Husband | How to Be a Better Husband | To be a better husband, talk about issues openly when they come up, since good communication keeps your relationship healthy. You should also help out with common chores around the house, like washing up and cooking, which will help reduce stress for your partner. On a daily basis, aim to have physical contact with your partner, whether its kissing her when she leaves or hugging when you meet up, since skin-on-skin contact increases intimacy. If you feel your relationship has lost its spark, try introducing some laughter into your day-to-day activities, like buying tickets to see a comedian or organizing a game night with friends. Additionally, don't be afraid to take some time to be alone and let your wife do the same, which is a sign that you're comfortable in your relationship. | Learn how to communicate. Open and honest communication is the most important aspect of a healthy relationship, and is the key to building trust. Without proper communication, simple misunderstandings can turn into full-fledged fights. Keep your relationship strong and avoid excessive arguing by simply expressing yourself on a regular basis. Discuss issues as they come up rather than bottling them up and growing resentful over time. Learn how to be diplomatic during arguments. Try not to get overly defensive if your wife is being critical of you. Similarly, try not to sound accusatory or angry when bringing up issues with them. Listen to them. Being a good communicator isn't just about knowing how to talk. It's important to give your spouse your undivided attention when they are speaking. Look them in the eyes, ask them questions, and don't look at your telephone or computer screen if they're speaking about something important. If you are in a bad mood for any reason, then tell them explicitly rather than ignoring them or being short with them. This way, they can give you the space you need without taking your attitude personally. Be willing to compromise. A healthy relationship is a two-way street. Over the course of your marriage, you will inevitably have to give up certain things to make them happy, and vice versa. If one of you is constantly giving in to the other's demands without any reciprocation, there will likely be some resentment down the road. Take time apart when necessary. In any long-term relationship, it's natural for one or both parties to need some alone time to unwind and focus on themselves. There's nothing wrong with needing time away, but it's important to be vocal about it and assure them that they shouldn't take it personally. Designate one "free" day out of the week or month during which you can do your own thing, and let them do the same. If you have children, take turns watching them while the other one is out. Never lie to your spouse to avoid having to spend time with them. If they really love you, they will understand if you need to be alone or spend a night out with the guys. Help out around the house. Studies have shown that the average woman spends 10 more hours each week doing housework than her husband does! Excessive housework and other stress-inducing activities can attribute to decreased sexual desire in both men and women. Help balance out the workload by doing dishes, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, doing yard work, handling repairs, and so on. The key is to help out around the house even when you have not explicitly been asked to do so. Remember that it is as much your obligation as it is your spouse's to keep the house clean and in shape. If you have children, help your spouse by offering to pick the kids up from school, watch them when they are busy, etc. Respect their standards for cleanliness. Some people are more comfortable living in a messy environment than others. To ensure that you both feel comfortable in your own home, make sure that your house meets the standards of whoever is most nit-picky about cleanliness. Just because you're okay with extra dishes sitting in the sink overnight, your spouse may not be, and you should respect that. If your spouse is the messy one, then gently remind them every once in a while to clean up their surroundings. Pick up after yourself. Even your schedule doesn't leave extra time to do chores around the house, there's no excuse to not clean up your own messes. The least you can do is wash your own dishes, put your clothes away, and take care of your own laundry. If you are too busy during the week, then devote an hour or two each weekend to cooking, cleaning, and/or doing yard work. Keep some mystery intact. Living with another person means letting down your guard and seeing each other's less attractive sides. While this level of comfort is a true sign of intimacy, it can also damage the level of sexual attraction you feel for each other in the long run. Maintain your personal hygiene, be respectful when it comes to bathroom etiquette, and make an effort to stay in shape. Get daily physical contact. Getting regular skin-on-skin contact releases a chemical called oxytocin, which reduces stress and increases feelings of intimacy in the long-run. Physical contact doesn't necessarily mean sex. Kiss them goodbye every time you part ways, hug them when you see each other again, and cozy up in front of a good movie. Laugh together. Every marriage has its ups and downs, and the only way to make it through difficult times is to maintain a sense of humor and be silly every once in a while. You don't have to be a stand-up comedian, but you should make an effort to put a smile on their (and your) face every day. Get tickets to a live comedy show, host game nights with friends, or play sports together; anything to get the laughter going! Getting regular laughter will not only improve your marriage, it can actually improve your health by lowering your blood pressure, increasing oxygen flow to the brain, and reducing stress levels. Surprise them. Just because you've put a ring on their finger, doesn't mean you should stop trying to win their affection. Every once in a while, make the same sweet romantic gestures that you did in the beginning of the relationship. Bring them flowers, get tickets to their favorite show, or plan a surprise romantic evening. | Learn how to communicate. Be willing to compromise. Take time apart when necessary. Help out around the house. Respect their standards for cleanliness. Pick up after yourself. Keep some mystery intact. Get daily physical contact. Laugh together. Surprise them. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Feline-Panleukopenia-(Distemper) | How to Prevent Feline Panleukopenia (Distemper) | The best way to prevent feline panleukopenia, also known as distemper, is to get your cat vaccinated immediately. After that, you can reduce your cat's risk further by fencing in your yard, which will deter close visits from animals that can carry the virus, such as raccoons, foxes, minks, and feral cats. However, because distemper can travel inside very easily, you should still check your cat for symptoms like high fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Since distemper has such a high mortality rate, contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat starts showing symptoms. | Get your cat vaccinated. If you have a kitten, start the vaccination series between 6 and 9 weeks of age. Your kitten will need injections every 3 or 4 weeks until she's 16 weeks old. Your kitten will need a booster injection one year after the last kitten vaccine and then every 3 years thereafter. If you have an adult cat, she'll need just 2 initial injections (3 to 4 weeks apart), followed by a booster one year later and then a booster every three years. Kittens need more early injections to prevent maternal antibodies from disabling the vaccine. This vaccine is considered to be a core or essential vaccine even for indoor cats. This is because the virus can be brought inside your home. Deter animals from visiting your yard. Raccoons, foxes, and minks can carry the virus, so it's important to discourage them from spending time in your yard. Keep your yard fenced to prevent them from wandering in. You should also keep your garbage cans securely closed, put away any pet food that you keep outside, and consider sprinkling a repellent. You should also try to keep feral or neighborhood cats out of your yard since there's no way of knowing if they carry the virus. Remove any food, cover sandboxes, and make your yard less appealing to other cats. Practice good hygiene. Since the virus can be easily brought into your house from outside, change your shoes, put on a new outfit, and wash your hands if you've been outside. This is mainly important if you'll be handling kittens that are nursing. You should always change into new shoes when coming inside if you have an inside cat that's not been vaccinated. Be especially cautious if you have a pregnant unvaccinated cat in your house. She can easily pass the virus on to the unborn kittens. Keep your cat's food and water bowls clean. Wash your cat's food and water dishes every day using diluted bleach. If your cat is sick, you'll need to talk to the vet about using an effective disinfectant since the panleukopenia virus can survive many common household cleaners and steam cleaning. Your vet may recommend cleaning with a product that contains glutaraldehyde, formalin, or 1/32 solution of sodium hypochlorite (bleach). Always use separate utensils for pets and for humans. Stop the virus from spreading. If one of your cats has the virus, prevent other cats in your house from getting the disease. Even once the cat has been treated for the virus, she'll continue to excrete the virus through her feces for up to 6 weeks. Vaccinate any other cats in your house and keep them away from the infected cat for at least a week after the final vaccine. Cats can be infected indirectly (without having direct contact with a sick cat). For example, a cat might become infected by coming into contact with a contaminated water bowl. Feel your cat for fever. If your cat gets the panleukopenia virus, it will incubate for 5 to 9 days before she starts showing symptoms. You might notice your cat develops a high fever. The fever may fluctuate and may be one of the earliest signs of the virus. Pay attention to your cat's behavior. You may notice other signs that your cat has contracted the virus. Her appetite may drastically change and she may not want to eat. Your cat might seem tired, lethargic, and fatigued. This is especially noticeable in kittens or if your cat is usually playful and energetic. Your cat's lack of appetite can also lead to dehydration. Monitor how much water your cat drinks throughout the day. Watch for vomiting and diarrhea. Once the virus progresses (usually one or two days after the fever), your cat may suddenly develop bloody diarrhea and vomiting. If the virus has severely developed, your cat can hemorrhage. Some cats die quickly because their bodies can't keep up with the virus. The virus rapidly divides cells in your cat's gut and keeps white blood cells from fighting infection, causing these serious symptoms. Get a medical diagnosis. The vet will take your cat's medical history, look for signs of the virus, and do a physical exam. Specifically, the vet will look for fever, dehydration, depression, thickened intestines, and enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen. The vet will also order lab tests (like blood tests) in order to confirm a diagnosis. If your cat has the virus, she'll have a low white blood count and possibly a low platelet count. A fecal or urine test is more expensive and takes more time, so the vet may only order these if trying to research whether or not your cat has the virus. Treat your cat. If you notice any signs of the panleukopenia virus, get your cat veterinary attention immediately. While mortality rates are high, your cat may recover with intensive nursing, intravenous fluids, drugs to relieve nausea, antibiotics for secondary infections, and in some cases a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, there's no cure for the virus and the majority of infected cats die, with some passing away before the gastrointestinal (vomiting and diarrhea) signs start. | Get your cat vaccinated. Deter animals from visiting your yard. Practice good hygiene. Keep your cat's food and water bowls clean. Stop the virus from spreading. Feel your cat for fever. Pay attention to your cat's behavior. Watch for vomiting and diarrhea. Get a medical diagnosis. Treat your cat. |
https://www.wikihow.life/Clean-Fireplace-Bricks | How to Clean Fireplace Bricks | To clean fireplace bricks, start by mixing baking soda and dish soap and rubbing the paste into the bricks with a scrub brush. Then, let the paste sit for 5 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. You can also clean fireplace bricks by spraying them with equal parts water and white vinegar. After you spray the bricks, scrub them with a scrub brush and rinse them off with warm water. | Vacuum the bricks with a soft brush attachment. Use the brush attachment on your vacuum and go over all of your bricks. Vacuum as much loose dust, debris, and soot as you can so the bricks are easier to clean later. Scrub your fireplace with dishwashing detergent to remove light stains. Combine ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of dish detergent with 4 cups (950 mL) of water in a spray bottle and shake. Then, spray this solution onto your bricks and scrub them with your differently-sized scrub brushes. Rinse the bricks with warm water after they're clean and dry them with a clean, dry cloth. Dish detergent is the easiest and quickest cleaning method for fireplace bricks, so it should be the first method you should try if the bricks don't look too bad. Dishwashing detergent is relatively harmless, so this is also the best method to use on older bricks. Go with borax to both clean and disinfect fireplace bricks. Mix 2 tablespoons (34 grams) of borax with 4 cups (950 mL) of hot water and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake the mixture together, then spray it onto the bricks. Scrub the sprayed bricks with your brush in a circular motion, then use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the grime after they're clean. You can also make this cleaning solution in a bucket and apply it to the bricks with a paintbrush or sponge if you don't have a spray bottle. Clean newer, sturdier bricks with ammonia and detergent. Combine ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of ammonia, ⁄ 4 cup (59 mL) of dishwashing detergent, and 4 cups (950 mL) of hot water in a spray bottle, swirling the bottle to mix the ingredients together. Spray this solution onto your bricks and scrub them with your scrub brush to clean them. Once they're clean, wipe them off with a damp cloth to remove the cleaning solution. Ammonia can be harmful on brickwork, so don't use this method on especially old or fragile bricks. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and safety goggles when working with ammonia. Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) on the toughest stains and grease. Swirl together ⁄ 8 cup (30 mL) of TSP with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of hot water in a tall bucket. Then, dip your brush into the cleaning solution and use it to scrub your bricks clean. Finally, rinse off the bricks with warm water. Only try using TSP if dish soap and water doesn't work. TSP is a very strong cleaning solution, so make sure you don't handle it without wearing rubber gloves and safety goggles. Avoid getting the solution on your skin, your clothes, or the carpet. TSP can be purchased at most home improvement stores and some grocery stores. Use baking soda and soap for a convenient cleaning method. Combine about 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 44 mL) of dish soap with ½ cup (5 ounces) of baking soda to make a cleaning paste. Then, dip your scrub brush into the paste and use it to scrub the bricks using small, circular motions. Let the paste sit on the bricks for about 5 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water. Work from the bottom up when scrubbing the bricks, to avoid leaving streaks. Spray your bricks with vinegar and water if they aren’t too old. Mix equal parts of vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and spray the bricks with this solution. Spray the bricks again after a few minutes, then scrub them in a circular motion with a scrub brush. Rinse the bricks with warm water once you're done. Because the acidity of vinegar makes it a tad abrasive, you may not want to use this method on bricks that are more than 20 years old. To avoid streaking, work from the bottom of the fireplace up when scrubbing the bricks. You may want to apply a mixture of baking soda and water to the bricks after you're done, to cancel out the acidity of the vinegar you just sprayed on them. However, this isn't strictly necessary. Make a paste out of cream of tartar and use that to clean your bricks. To make your paste, combine 2 tablespoons (20 grams) of cream of tartar with a small amount of water. Then, use an old toothbrush to apply a layer of the thin paste to a sooty area of brick and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Finally, rinse the paste off with warm water. Unless you have a lot of cream of tartar on hand, this method is best used for spot cleaning relatively small areas of soot. Try bathroom cleaner or oven cleaner if that’s all you have. People have sometimes had success cleaning fireplace bricks with bathroom cleaning spray or oven cleaner. Spray the cleaner onto your bricks and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Then, scrub the bricks with your brush and use a sponge dipped in water to wipe off any residue left over. Using bathroom cleaner or oven cleaner isn't an effective method for cleaning bricks 100% of the time, so you should only consider using them if you have no other way to clean your fireplace bricks. You can acquire bathroom cleaning spray and oven cleaner at any grocery store that sells home cleaning supplies. | Vacuum the bricks with a soft brush attachment. Scrub your fireplace with dishwashing detergent to remove light stains. Go with borax to both clean and disinfect fireplace bricks. Clean newer, sturdier bricks with ammonia and detergent. Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) on the toughest stains and grease. Use baking soda and soap for a convenient cleaning method. Spray your bricks with vinegar and water if they aren’t too old. Make a paste out of cream of tartar and use that to clean your bricks. Try bathroom cleaner or oven cleaner if that’s all you have. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Trap-a-Rabbit | How to Trap a Rabbit | To trap a rabbit using a pit trap, start by digging a deep, narrow hole that's just deep enough for a rabbit to not be able to jump out of. Then, cover the hole with twigs and leaves so it blends in with the ground, and carefully rest some bait on top of it, like fruits or vegetables. Finally, check on the trap daily to see if a rabbit wandered over it and fell into the pit. | Choose a rabbit trap. These live rabbit traps consist of a cage with a trigger plate forces the door of the trap closed once the rabbit triggers the plate by entering into the cage. You can choose between one door or two door traps, but you'll want a trap that is 22 to 30 inches in length. You can often purchase these online or at an animal feed or hardware store or make your own rabbit trap. Havahart is a popular brand for rabbit traps. The one and two door traps are both effective traps, but have different benefits. The one door trap is favored by professional trappers and it allows you to place the rabbit bait behind the trigger plate, which lures the rabbit further into the cage. The two door trap allows the rabbit to enter the cage from both directions, thus providing a higher catch rate for rabbits. Rabbits will also become nervous or fearful once in the trap, but having a two door trap allows the rabbit to see through the trap, which can be comforting for the rabbit. The two door trap can also be set as a one door trap if desired. Pick a location for your trap. Determine where you have the most rabbit activity and place a trap along that area. Rabbits don't often cross stretches of land, so avoid placing a trap in an area that would require the rabbit to be vulnerable. You'll want to place your trap on a flat surface, placing a small weight on top of the trap so that other animals cannot tip it over to reach the bait. Rabbits are often in areas where they have cover and open land. Common areas rabbits are located are hedges, shrubs, trees, fence lines, tall grass, wood and brush piles, bushes, and tree lines. These are the locations you'll likely have the most success in catching a rabbit. If you are able to locate a rabbit's den or warren (rabbit hole), then place the trap a few feet from the entrance. You can often locate areas where rabbits have been by their droppings, which are dry, round pellets. Place bait in trap. Choose a bait that is likely to attract rabbits and place bait behind trigger plate. In the winter, dried foods are better because they are less likely to freeze and in the summer, when food is abundant for rabbits, choosing richer fruits or vegetables, like apples and carrots, will be more effective in trapping a rabbit. If you are using a one door trap, place bait at the end of the cage, behind the trap opening. If you are using a two door trap, place bait between the two doors, in the center of the trap. Some baits to use for rabbits are fruits and vegetables like apple cores, bananas, potato peelings, lettuce leafs, raw cabbage, carrots, dandelions, and leafy weeds. If you find traditional baits aren't producing success, you can try using baits that are more unusual. Some ideas for these types of baits are cheesy biscuits crumbled up and peanut butter. Rabbits may be able to smell your scent on the trap and will avoid the trap because they feel that something is wrong. To cover up your scent, drip or spray apple cider onto the trap. Set your trap. Now that you have placed your bait, it's time to set your trap. Follow the trap's instructions explaining how to set your trap. After you have set your trap, you'll want to check the trigger to make sure it is working properly. Gently press down on the trip plate, and the doors should immediately snap closed. If the rabbit you are trying to trap is on the smaller side, they may not be able to trip the trigger, so place a small weight on the trigger plate so that the combined weight of the two will be enough to make the trap effective. It could also be good to camouflage your trap with twigs and leaves, because a metal trap can produce a glare in the sun, causing the rabbit to avoid it. Check your trap often. After you have set your trap, you'll want to check it often to see if you have caught a rabbit. If a rabbit is caught and you neglect your trap, the rabbit can quickly become malnourished, so you want to check the trap daily to prevent harming the rabbit. Keep in mind you may accidentally trap other animals in your trap. Raccoons are often lured into rabbit traps as well as other animals, so if you catch another animal release it immediately. You may find that you are not having much success with your trap if you are trying to catch a rabbit in the summer. That's because during the summer, rabbits often have a much higher supply of food and nutrients available to them. The best time to trap a rabbit is in the winter, when food is more scarce and the rabbit will be in search of food. Be careful in handling the rabbit. If you have checked your trap and found a rabbit in it, be careful when removing the rabbit as it is probably scared and may bite you. Consider wearing gloves when removing the rabbit to prevent disease from spreading if it bites you, and approach it cautiously to prevent from frightening it even further. If you have caught a rabbit in hopes to keep it from destroying your garden or flowerbeds, then relocate the rabbit at least five miles away, if local law permits. Try placing the rabbit in a covered area, for extra protection. Find a location. A pit trap is probably one of the simplest forms of trapping a rabbit, as it just requires using the natural habitat of a rabbit, but it is probably one of the least successful. To begin this process, you'll want to find a good location to dig your pit. Look for signs of a rabbit, like a rabbit den or warren, rabbit droppings, or rabbit tracks. Dig a hole. After you've found a good location for your pit, dig a hole that is deep enough that the rabbit won't be able to escape once it gets caught. A rabbit can jump approximately one meter high, or three feet, and three meters long, so it's best to build a hole that is very deep and narrow, making it difficult for the rabbit to jump out. Cover the hole with twigs and leaves. In order to camouflage the hole, you'll need to place some twigs and leaves on top of it that blend in with the rest of the environment. Be careful not to put too much foliage on top of the hole that it's sturdy enough for a rabbit to sit on. Use just the right amount of foliage that the rabbit believes it to be normal ground, but will fall through it if it sits on it. If you are unsure about the amount of foliage you have used, you can test out the trap by placing a five pound weight on top of it and see if the weight falls through. If it doesn't, then you have too much covering the hole and will need to remove some. Place bait. After you have covered the hole adequately, you'll want to place bait on top of the hole to lure the rabbit in. You can use the same bait mentioned in the previous section -- foods like vegetables and fruits. Check the trap regularly. Now that you've set the pit trap the only thing left is to check it daily, and once you've caught a rabbit, you can relocate it or kill it for food. The downside of this trap is it's easy to catch other animals in it, so when checking the trap, just be careful. You'll likely have some frightened animals inside of it that won't be afraid to bite you. As with the cage trap, use gloves and caution when handling wild animals. It's likely they'll try to bite you and they may carry diseases or have rabies. Fill the hole back in. Once you have caught the rabbit, fill the pit you created back in with dirt or foliage. You don't want another animal falling in it and injuring themselves or becoming malnourished, so always cover up and remove any traps you have set once you are finished using them. Understand a snare. Before you compose a snare, it's important to know that this mechanism does more than just trap a rabbit. If you are trying to trap a rabbit to relocate it, do not use a snare. A snare is essentially a noose mechanism that will kill a rabbit if it gets trapped and should only be used for hunting. Different states also have different laws about snares, so make sure you check your state's guidelines on hunting with snares. Look for signs of rabbits. Before you set a snare, you'll want to find a location that will give you the most success. A snare is best used in a more wilderness setting, like a forest where rabbits are frequent and the signs are easily identified. You can identify rabbits by their droppings (small, round, dry pellets), burrows, or tracks. Gather your materials. To make a rabbit snare you will need wire (copper strands, picture hanging wire, or craft wire), wood or two sticks, and a tree that is bent. These materials will be used to create the noose, two part trigger, leader line, and engine, all of which are part of a Trigger Spring Snare. This specific type of snare is more advanced, so you may want to try a simple snare first. The noose is the part of the snare that will actually trap the animal. The two part trigger consists of a hook and a base. The base is a piece of wood, stuck in the ground that connects to the hook, which is what the noose is tied to. The leader line is a cord that is connected to the engine and the hook. The engine is usually a tree, like a bent over sapling or an extended branch, that provides tension to the hook and holds the snared animal. Essentially, the snare starts from the tree, which is bent over, and at the bent over part of the tree the leader line is connected, hanging down until it connects to the hook, which is a piece of wood that stands straight up and connects to the base, which is also straight up, but stuck in the ground. The noose then connects to the end of the hook. Create the noose. The length of the cord to create your noose needs to be about 18-24 inches long. First, begin by taking the end of your wire and create a loop, about the diameter of a pencil. You can take a pencil and wrap the wire around it, and then twist it together at the end to create your loop. Then, with the remaining wire, run a few inches of it through the loop, creating a noose. You'll connect the remaining end of the wire to the trigger. Create your base trigger. Your trigger is composed of two sticks or pieces of wood that are carved out to fit together. Taking a sturdy stick, make a straight carve, halfway into the stick, about an inch from the top of the stick. Then, carve down, parallel to the stick about an inch, and make another straight carve, from the middle of the stick to the outside of the stick. Carve out that piece of wood until you have a cavern in the wood that resembles a mouth. Create your hook trigger. The hook trigger will be turned upside down, and slid into the base trigger. Taking your other piece of wood or stick, place it up to the mouth of the base stick, with the top of the hook stick at the bottom of the mouth. Then, mark a line where the top of the mouth of the base stick hits the hook stick. Carve a straight line about halfway into the stick, creating a pipe shape. Your hook should then fit into your base. Connect the noose. Once you have created your trigger, stick the base into the ground until it feels sturdy, and then tie the loose end of your noose around the hook part of the trigger, right above where the hook fits into the base. Connect the leader line. This line will be suspended from the "engine" connecting to the hook of the trigger. Tie the copper wire around the end of the hook, above where the noose is tied. Then, pull the line upwards to the end of your engine and connect it securely. When a rabbit enters the snare, the leader line and hook should pull away from the base, and the rabbit will be suspended from the tree. If you can't find a bent over tree, then you can connect your snare to a branch that is weighted down. The engine just needs to have some tension, so that it can withstand the initial spring jerk and it needs to be strong enough to suspend the animal in the air. Having a sturdy engine also leads to a more humane death, as the animal will die quickly, and it also prevents other predators from eating the rabbit. Test out the snare. Before you set up the snare and wait to catch a rabbit, you'll want to test the snare by using a log (about five to eight pounds). Slide the log through the noose, making sure the hook and engine are working together to spring the noose into the air. If it seems to be working you're good to go! Check your snare frequently. Your snare needs to be checked several times a day if possible, so that you can collect your game before it starts to spoil and to prevent it from suffering longer. Once you have caught a rabbit, remove it and use as much of it as possible. The rabbit gave its life for you, so you don't want to waste it! | Choose a rabbit trap. Pick a location for your trap. Place bait in trap. Set your trap. Check your trap often. Be careful in handling the rabbit. Find a location. Dig a hole. Cover the hole with twigs and leaves. Place bait. Check the trap regularly. Fill the hole back in. Understand a snare. Look for signs of rabbits. Gather your materials. Create the noose. Create your base trigger. Create your hook trigger. Connect the noose. Connect the leader line. Test out the snare. Check your snare frequently. |
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