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https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Sour-Candy
How to Make Sour Candy
Making sour candy at home is a fun and rewarding way to spend an afternoon, and you only need a few simple ingredients. To make sour gummy candy, first, puree frozen fruit, like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, in a food processor or blender. Once it's smooth, simmer the fruit on the stove with water, lemon juice, and honey. After 2-3 minutes, whisk some gelatin in, which will eventually give it a gummy texture. Let it simmer for a few more minutes, then remove the mixture from the heat and strain it through a sieve to remove any hard bits. Pour the remaining liquid into silicone candy molds and chill them in your refrigerator for at least 6 hours so they can fully set. If you don't have molds, line a baking sheet with plastic wrap and pour the mixture on top. Once the candies are set, toss them in a mixture of sugar and citric acid to give them a sour kick.
Puree the fruit. Add 1 cup (200 g) of frozen fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, that has been defrosted to a food processor. Process the fruit until it is pureed smooth. If you don't have a food processor, you can puree the fruit in a blender. Heat the fruit, water, lemon juice, and honey to a simmer. Add the pureed fruit, 1 cup (79 ml) of water, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of fresh lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons (43 g) of honey to a small saucepan. Place it on the stove over medium-low heat, and heat it until it reaches a simmer, which should take 2 to 3 minutes. Stir the mixture with a whisk periodically to ensure that the ingredients are well blended. Whisk the gelatin into the mixture. Once the mixture reaches a simmer, sprinkle 4 teaspoons (12 g) of unflavored gelatin over it. Use a whisk to mix it in, stirring constantly. Add the gelatin to the mixture slowly. If you dump it in all at once, it can form a glob that you won't be able to get rid of. Return the mixture to a simmer. After the gelatin is incorporated, continue heating the mixture on medium-low. Allow it to come back to a simmer, stirring often to ensure that the ingredients are combined. The mixture's texture will change as the gelatin melts in. Instead of have a grainy, jelly-like consistency, it will become smooth and glassy. Remove the mixture from the heat and strain it to remove hard bits. When the gelatin is fully melted in, take the pan off the stove. Pour into a heatproof measuring cup through a sieve to remove any hard bits of fruit or gelatin and discard the solids. If there are any bubbles on the top of the mixture after you've strained it, remove them with a spoon. Pour the mixture into molds and chill them for several hours. Once the mixture is strained, add it to silicone candy molds. Place the molds in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours to fully set up. Because the candy has the texture of gummy bears, you may want to use bear-shaped molds. If you don't have candy molds, you can pour the mixture into a baking sheet that's lined with plastic wrap and cut it with a knife or cookie cutters after it's set. When using molds, it helps to place them on baking sheets before filling them. That makes it easier to carry the candy to the fridge without spilling the mixture. If you notice any bubbles in the mixture after you've poured it into the mold, pop them with a toothpick. Mix the sugar and citric acid. For the coating, add ½ cup (100 g) of sugar and 1 to 3 teaspoons (6 ¼ to 18 ¾ g) citric acid to a small bowl. Whisk them together well to ensure that they're fully blended. Choose the amount of citric acid based on how sour you want the candies to be. A single teaspoon (6 ¼ g) will be fairly sour, but adding more makes the candy's flavor more intense. Unmold the candy and toss it in the sugar mixture. When the candy has chilled for several hours, remove it from the fridge. Carefully pop the candies out of the molds, and drop them in the bowl with the sugar coating. Toss well to ensure that they're coated on all sides. Store the candy in an airtight container. The candy is ready to eat right away, but if you have any leftovers, place them in an airtight container. They'll stay fresh for about a week. Grease a baking sheet and cover it lightly with powdered sugar. Use some softened butter to lightly coat the pan, and sprinkle a few pinches of powdered sugar over it. Tilt the sheet in all directions to ensure that the sugar evenly coats its surface. Set the sheet aside for the moment. You can substitute non-stick cooking spray for the butter if you prefer. Mix the citric acid and extract. Add 1 tablespoon (18 ¾ g) of citric acid and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of raspberry extract to a small bowl. Whisk them together well until they're fully blended, and set the bowl aside for the moment. You can use any type of flavor extract that you think would work well with a sour flavor in place of the raspberry. Lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry are other tasty options. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Clip a candy thermometer onto the side of a small saucepan. Add 10 tablespoons (125 g) of sugar, 3 tablespoons (56 ¼ g) of corn syrup, and 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of water to the pan, and whisk well to ensure that they're fully combined. When you clip the thermometer in place, make sure that it's not touching the bottom of the pan. Heat the mixture until it reaches 305 to 310°F (151 to 154°C). Place the sugar mixture on the stove, and turn the heat up to high. Allow the mixture to cook until it reaches the right temperature. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the flavoring mixture. Once the mixture has reached the right temperature, remove it from the stove. Whisk the mixture and slowly pour the citric acid and flavoring mixture in, blending until it's fully incorporated. Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet. The mixture will still be hot, so add it to the prepared baking sheet slowly. Make sure that it's spread in as even a layer as possible. If you'd like, you can sprinkle a little more powdered sugar over the top once it's on the sheet. Allow the candy to cool to room temperature. It needs to cool down in order to set up and harden. Leave it out on the counter or table until it cools completely, which should take about 15 to 30 minutes. Break the cooled candy into bite size pieces. When the candy has hardened, use the handle of a kitchen spoon or other utensil to hit it. When it's broken into small pieces, store them in an airtight container and enjoy. Combine the fruit juice, citric acid, and some water in a saucepan. Add ⅓ cup (79 ml) of freshly squeezed lime, lemon, or orange juice, ½ teaspoon (3 g) of citric acid, and ¼ cup (59 ml) of water to a small, straight-sided saucepan. Whisk the ingredients together and heat them on low until the granules dissolve completely, which should take 3 to 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat. Sprinkle the gelatin over the mixture and let it sit for a few minutes. Use four envelopes of unflavored gelatin and spread them as evenly as possible over the fruit juice mixture. Don't stir the mixture -- allow the gelatin to sit until it absorbs the liquid on its own. Mix the water with the sugar. Add ½ cup (100 g) of granulated sugar and the remaining ¼ cup (59 ml) of water to another small, straight-sided pan. Whisk the two together until they're fully combined. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Place the pan on the stove, and heat it over medium heat. Allow the mixture to cook until it reaches a boil and the sugar dissolves completely. Stir the mixture with a whisk constantly until the sugar dissolves. Heat the mixture until it reaches 300°F (148°C). When the mixture comes to a boil, place a candy thermometer in the pan. Allow the mixture to cook until it reaches the right temperature without stirring it at all. Pour the hot sugar mixture into the gelatin mixture. After the sugar mixture reaches the right temperature, carefully add it to the gelatin mixture. The sugar will form a big clump when it hits the gelatin, which is normal. Stir the mixture over the heat until it softens. Place the pan with the candy mixture on the stove, and heat it on medium-low. Use a whisk to stir it continuously until the mixture softens and dissolves, leaving no hard bits behind. Transfer the mixture to a glass dish and let it cool for a couple of hours. Take the pan off the heat, and carefully pour the candy mixture into an 8-inch (20-cm) glass baking dish. Allow it to sit on the countertop for 2 hours to set up. Whisk the powdered sugar and cornstarch together. Add 1 tablespoon (8 g) of powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon (8 g) of cornstarch to a small bowl. Use a whisk to blend them together well. Mix the granulated sugar into citric acid. To make the coating, add 1 tablespoon (12 ½ g) of granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon (3 g) of citric acid to a separate small bowl. Stir the two together well, and set aside. Unmold the candy and cut it into strips. Lightly dust a cutting board or countertop with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Peel up a corner of the candy block to pull it out of the dish and onto your work surface, and turn the block over so both sides are coated with the powdered sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut the candy into a dozen ½-inch (13-mm) strips and then cut each strip into 5 pieces that are approximately 1 ¼- inch (3-cm) long. Toss the candy in the citric acid mixture. Drop the candy into the bowl with the citric acid and sugar mixture, and use a fork to stir them around until they're well coated. If the candy begins to get sticky, toss it in the cornstarch mixture first and then into the citric acid mixture. Let the candy dry until the coating hardens. Place the coated candy pieces on a wire cooling rack, and allow them to dry until the coating is crunchy and hard. It should take approximately 8 hours. Store the candy in an airtight container. Once the candy is dry, you can eat it right away. If there are leftovers, place them in a jar or bag and store at room temperature. They should stay fresh for about a week.
Puree the fruit. Heat the fruit, water, lemon juice, and honey to a simmer. Whisk the gelatin into the mixture. Return the mixture to a simmer. Remove the mixture from the heat and strain it to remove hard bits. Pour the mixture into molds and chill them for several hours. Mix the sugar and citric acid. Unmold the candy and toss it in the sugar mixture. Store the candy in an airtight container. Grease a baking sheet and cover it lightly with powdered sugar. Mix the citric acid and extract. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Heat the mixture until it reaches 305 to 310°F (151 to 154°C). Take the pan off the heat and stir in the flavoring mixture. Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet. Allow the candy to cool to room temperature. Break the cooled candy into bite size pieces. Combine the fruit juice, citric acid, and some water in a saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the mixture and let it sit for a few minutes. Mix the water with the sugar. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Heat the mixture until it reaches 300°F (148°C). Pour the hot sugar mixture into the gelatin mixture. Stir the mixture over the heat until it softens. Transfer the mixture to a glass dish and let it cool for a couple of hours. Whisk the powdered sugar and cornstarch together. Mix the granulated sugar into citric acid. Unmold the candy and cut it into strips. Toss the candy in the citric acid mixture. Let the candy dry until the coating hardens. Store the candy in an airtight container.
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Four-Corners
How to Play Four Corners
To play four corners, start by assigning each corner in the room a different number from 1-4. Then, have 1 player stand in the middle of the room with their eyes closed and count to 10. While they're counting, have all the other players pick corners to stand in. When the player in the middle is done counting to 10, have them choose a number between 1 and 4 without opening their eyes — whichever players are in that corner lose! Continue playing until there's only 1 player left.
Number the four corners of the room. Put up a sign at each corner, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. You can label the corners with colors or words instead. If you're a teacher, try using something related to today's lesson. Make space at the sides of the room. Clear the area near all four walls, so children can easily move between corners. Ask for a volunteer to be "It". The volunteer gets to stand in the middle and count down. Explain the rules. Tell the players the rules of the game: The person in the middle will cover her eyes and count down from 10 to 0, loudly and slowly. Everyone else moves to one of the four corners, very quietly. When the person in the middle finishes counting, she chooses a number from 1 to 4 (with her eyes still closed). Anyone standing in the corner she chose has to sit down. Anyone who isn't in a corner when the counting is done has to sit down. Keep playing with the remaining students. After each round, the person in the middle can open her eyes and see who she knocked out. Then she closes her eyes again and counts from 10 to 0. Each round works the same way. Whoever is in the corner she chooses each round has to sit out for the rest of the game. Adjust the rules once most people are out. Once there are only a few people left, the game can take a long time to finish. Add extra rules to speed it up: Once there are eight people or fewer, each corner can only hold 2 people maximum. Once there are four people or fewer, each corner can only hold 1 person maximum. Play until there's one winner. Once one person is left, that person gets to move to the center and count. Everyone else can stand up again and play for another round. Point to the loudest corner. Instead of choosing any number, the person in the middle can try to name the loudest corner. This makes sneaking around extra important, and might be a good way to prevent roughhousing. Point instead of naming numbers. If the person in the middle has trouble remembering which corner is which, he can point instead. This variation is good for young children. Switch the person in the middle every few rounds. If no one want to be in the middle, have each person take a turn counting for five rounds each. After the first round, you can ask someone who's out of the game to count instead.
Number the four corners of the room. Make space at the sides of the room. Ask for a volunteer to be "It". Explain the rules. Keep playing with the remaining students. Adjust the rules once most people are out. Play until there's one winner. Point to the loudest corner. Point instead of naming numbers. Switch the person in the middle every few rounds.
https://www.wikihow.com/Learn-to-Read-Japanese
How to Learn to Read Japanese
To learn to read Japanese, make a note of unfamiliar words as you read and look them up in a dictionary later. You can also try an online search for Japanese romaji reading resources if you're short of material. Next, practice pronouncing words containing difficult sounds, like Kayaku meaning "guest" and Pan'ya meaning "bakery," to improve your reading flow. Additionally, learn basic romaji rules, including pausing when you read a double consonant.
Familiarize yourself with Japanese vowels. There are five vowels in Japanese, and these are generally consistent in pronunciation. Unlike English, where vowels can be read many different ways depending on context, in Romaji you can most always expect: The "a" to sound like the "a" in "father." The "i" to sound like the "ee" in "feet." The "u" to sound like the "oo" in "fool." The "e" to sound like the "a" in "tape." The "o" to sound like the "oa" in "boat." Learn the basics of Romaji. Aside from vowels, Romaji mostly follows the rules of English pronunciation, but there are a few special characteristics you'll want to keep in mind. For example, long vowels in Romaji are often marked by a long bar above the vowel (as in ā, ī, ū, ē, and ō), but in some cases may be represented by a double vowel (as in aa, ii, uu, ei, and ou). Furthermore: Some Romaji systems use an apostrophe to indicate syllable boundaries, especially before the sound "n" (ん). For example, the word shin'ya (しんや) is three syllables「shi (し) • n (ん) • ya (や)」whereas shinya (しにゃ) is only two「shi (し) • nya (にゃ)」. Doubled consonants represent a short, abrupt pause when reading aloud. This pause is important and can completely change the meaning of a word, like in sakki (just now) and saki (previous, prior). Break Romaji into syllables. Japanese is a metrical language. Each syllable is approximately the same length, excluding long vowels, which are held for two syllables. Breaking Romaji into syllables will help you figure out common word endings and boundaries, will improve the flow of your reading, and will help prepare you to learn hiragana and katakana. Generally, you can expect an alternating consonant (C) vowel (V) structure in Japanese, as in CVCVCV or kodomo (children), where each CV alternation forms a syllable. Some Japanese sounds have clusters of consonants followed by a vowel. Some common examples are tsu (つ), kya (きゃ), sho (しょ), and cha (ちゃ). These form a single syllable, each. Practice difficult combinations. Speaking in a different language frequently involves using muscles in and around your mouth differently than you do in your native tongue. Practicing difficult or uncommon sounds in Japanese will help them become more natural in both your reading and speaking. Some words you might use for practice include: Kyaku (きゃく ; guest), with the syllable breaks: kya • ku Kaisha (かいしゃ ; company), with the syllable breaks: ka • i • sha Pan'ya (ぱんや ; bakery), with the syllable breaks: pa • n • ya Tsukue (つくえ ; desk), with the syllable breaks: tsu • ku • e Learn new words while practicing reading Romaji. When you read Romaji regularly, the flow of Japanese will become more familiar to you and the sound patterns easier to grasp. As you read, keep a notebook handy and write down words you don't know to look up in a dictionary later. Review your new word notebook often so the words become ingrained in your mind. For example, you may want to glance over new words every morning and evening. If you don't have a textbook to practice reading Romaji, there are plenty of resources available online. Try a general online keyword search for "Japanese romaji reading resources." Learn the vowels. Five vowels form the basis of hiragana. These are: あ, い, う, え, and お (a, i, u, e, o). Almost all consonants in Japanese pair with these five vowels to make up consonant groups of five symbols. These groups often have voiced and unvoiced members, which will be further explained later. An example of a consonant group is the "K" group. The consonant sound of this group combines with each vowel to make the five symbols: か (ka), き (ki), く (ku), け (ke), and こ (ko). Identify consonant groups. Groups are easier to remember because they're unvoiced (V-) symbols are only differentiated from voiced (V+) symbols by a quote-like mark (〃) or a small circle (゜). Voiced consonants in a group will make your throat vibrate, and unvoiced consonants will not. V-: か, き, く, け, こ (ka, ki, ku, ke, ko) V+: が, ぎ, ぐ, げ, ご (ga, gi, gu, ge, go) V-: さ, し, す, せ, そ (sa, shi, su, se, so) V+: ざ, じ, ず, ぜ, ぞ (za, ji, zu, ze, zo) V-: た, ち, つ, て, と (ta, chi, tsu, te, to) V+: だ, ぢ, づ, で, ど (da, ji, zu, de, do) V-: は, ひ, ふ, へ, ほ (ha, hi, fu, he, ho) V+: ば, び, ぶ, べ, ぼ (ba, bi, bu, be, bo) V+: ぱ, ぴ, ぷ, ぷ, ぽ (pa, pi, pu, pe, po) Acquaint yourself with the nasal groups. A nasal is a sound like an "m" or an "n." These sounds vibrate in the top-back of your throat and into your nasal cavity. Japanese has two nasal groups in hiragana: な, に, ぬ, ね, の (na, ni, nu, ne, no) ま, み, む, め, も (ma, mi, mu, me, mo) Make sense of the Japanese "Y" group. The "Y" group in Japanese can blend with consonant symbols that end in an い (i) sound (like き, じ, ひ / ki, ji, hi). This is represented by the consonant symbol followed by a small "Y" group symbol. The "Y" group has no unvoiced members. The "Y" group: や, ゆ, よ (ya, yu, yo) Some common "Y" group blends: しゃ (sha), じゃ (ja), にゃ (nya), きゅ (kyu), ぎゅ (gyu), しゅ (shu), ひょ (hyo), びょ(byo), and しょ (sho). Study the tail end groups of hiragana. Traditionally, the "R" group is taught last along with three unique symbols. Neither of these two end groups have unvoiced members. All "r" sounds should be pronounced similar to the "t" sound in "water." The "R" group: ら, り, る, れ,ろ (ra, ri, ru, re, ro) The unique three: わ, を, ん (wa, wo, n) Avoid particle confusion. Particles are a special part of Japanese grammar. There is no English equivalent, though it can help to think of particles like prepositions. Particles indicate the grammatical role words play in a sentence, and sometimes have a different pronunciation than you'd expect. For instance, in the sentence, "I go to school," the word "I" is the topic and "school" a destination, so it is written,「わたしはがっこにいきます」(watashi wa (I + topic particle) gakko ni (school + direction particle) ikimasu (go)). There are many particles in Japanese, but the most common include: は (pronounced wa): topic marker. か (ka): indicates a question at the end of a sentence. が (ga): subject marker. に (ni): indicates location, movement, marks time and the indirect object. の (no): indicates the word before の is possessive of the word following it. へ (e): indicates direction (of movement). を (o): marks the direct object. Memorize hiragana symbols. The shape of hiragana symbols can be very foreign if you don't have experience writing in a similar Asian script. Practice regularly to improve your recall so that you can read these symbols quickly, fluently, and correctly. You may want to make flash cards to help study. Write each symbol on one side of an index card and the pronunciation of the symbol on the opposite side. Build your vocabulary through reading. Many children's books and beginning learner Japanese materials are written solely in hiragana. By reading materials like these, you'll be sure to pick up some new vocab terms as you practice. You may want to make flash cards for new words, too. You can mix these in with your hiragana flash cards to add variety to your study. Some websites publish articles or simple stories in hiragana for beginning learners. An online keyword search for, "hiragana reading practice" should help you find something suitable. Conquer katakana vowels. Exactly like hiragana, katakana is made up of five vowels which combine with consonant groups to create groups of five symbols. The five katakana vowel symbols are: ア, イ, ウ, エ, オ (a, i, u, e, o). An example of a consonant group combining with vowels to make its five symbols for the "S" group would look like: サ, シ, ス, セ, ソ (sa, shi, su, se, so). Study similar groups for easier learning. Same as hiragana, katakana generally separates similar consonant groups into unvoiced (V-) and voiced (V+) members. To change a symbol from unvoiced to voiced, you only need to add a quote mark (〃) or small circle (゜). This makes learning the symbols easier. Voiced consonants will make your throat vibrate, unvoiced ones will not. V-: カ, キ, ク, ケ, コ (ka, ki, ku, ke, ko) V+: ガ, ギ, グ, ゲ, ゴ (ga, gi, gu, ge, go) V-: サ, シ, ス, セ, ソ (sa, shi, su, se, so) V+: ザ, ジ, ズ, ゼ, ゾ (za, ji, zu, ze, zo) V-: タ, チ, ツ, テ, ト (ta, chi, tsu, te, to) V+: ダ, ヂ, ヅ, デ, ド (da, ji, zu, de, do) V-: ハ, ヒ, フ, ヘ, ホ (ha, hi, fu, he, ho) V+: バ, ビ, ブ, ベ, ボ (ba, bi, bu, be, bo) V+: パ, ピ, プ, ペ, ポ (pa, pi, pu, pe, po) Learn the nasal groups. There are only two nasal groups in Japanese. Nasal sounds are those vibrate up into the top-back of your throat and into your nasal cavity. These sounds are generally represented by "n" or "m." The nasal groups in katakana are: ナ, ニ, ヌ, ネ, ノ (na, ni, nu, ne, no) マ, ミ, ム, メ, モ (ma, mi, mu, me, mo) Master the "Y" group and its combinations. The "Y" group in katakana operates the same way it does in hiragana. "Y" group symbols can blend with symbols that end in an イ (i) sound (like キ, ヒ, ジ / ki, hi, ji). This is represented by the symbol ending in an イ sound followed by a small "Y" group symbol. The "Y" group: ヤ, ユ, ヨ (ya, yu, yo) Common "Y" group blends: シャ (sha), ジャ (ja), ニャ (nya), キュ (kyu), ギュ (gyu), シュ (shu), ヒョ (hyo), ビョ(byo), and ショ (sho). Close out katakana with the final groups. Katakana mirrors hiragana in that its final groups contain the "R" consonant group plus three unique symbols. The "R" group has no unvoiced members, and the "r" sound should be similar to the "t" in "water." The "R" group: ラ, リ, ル, レ, ロ (ra, ri, ru, re, ro) The unique three: ワ, ヲ, ン (wa, wo, n) Commit the symbols to memory. Katakana has a few symbols that are similar to hiragana. Making these connections (as in き and キ) will help you to learn katakana more quickly. You may want to isolate and practice easily confused katakana symbols, as a few look very similar to the untrained eye. Some katakana symbols you may want to practice include: シ (shi) and ツ (tsu) ソ (so) and ン (n) フ (fu), ワ (wa), and ヲ (wo) Practice reading regularly. Since katakana occurs less frequently than hiragana, some students give it less priority or learn it incompletely. This, however, will only hurt your ability to read in the long run. The more you read katakana, the easier it will become. Since many students struggle with katakana, there are plenty of reading resources online. A general online keyword search for "katakana reading practice" should help you find suitable practice reading material. Select high frequency kanji. Many kanji books teach the most frequently occurring kanji first. You're more likely to see common kanji, so it's not only more useful to study these first, but it will also help you to remember them better, as you'll see them more often when reading. If you don't have or can't afford such a book, in that case: Search for a kanji frequency list online with the general keyword search, "list of most frequent kanji" or "list of most common kanji." Break your list into groups. Trying to learn the 100 most common kanji all at once will make learning more difficult. Breaking that number down into smaller, more manageable chunks will help you to learn kanji more completely and quickly. You'll have to experiment to find what works best for you, but you might start by learning 5 to 10 kanji at a time. You might also break up your list according to word type. For example, you might group all kanji that are used in verbs together, group food related kanji together, and so on. Look up kanji details. Look up each of the kanji you are studying in an online Japanese dictionary. You can do this by copying the symbol from your list and pasting it into the word input box on the dictionary home page. You may have to select a "kanji" option for the text input box, first. This will bring up the dictionary page for the kanji, which should include: Stroke order. The order in which you draw kanji can influence its appearance. To prevent confusion, stroke order is always consistent. On-yomi. Is the reading of a kanji used when there is no hiragana added to it. On-yomi reading kanji are often made up of several kanji working together, which are called kanji compound words (as in 地下鉄 / chikatetsu / subway). Kun-yomi. This reading is used when hiragana has been added to kanji (as in 食べます / tabemasu / to eat) and is also used for words of Japanese origin. Memorize the readings of kanji and common compounds. Along with the stroke order, On-yomi, and Kun-yomi, there should also be a list of common compounds on the dictionary page for your kanji. These will not only help build your vocabulary, but will also help you learn the kanji itself. You may want to write out useful compounds in a notebook and review these regularly, like every morning and evening. Kanji carries a lot of information. For this reason, you may want to make and use flash cards to help learn the kanji shape, On-yomi, Kun-yomi, and compounds. There are free-to-use kanji learning programs available for your computer or phone. These operate like flashcards, but many track your progress so you can isolate troublesome kanji. Make use of radicals. Radicals are commonly occurring symbols contained in a kanji, and these can often help you understand words you don't understand. For example, in the word 詩 ( shi / poetry, poem) you have the main radical 言, which means "speech." Even if you didn't know the symbol 詩, by seeing the radical for "speech," you could guess that the word is language related and may even be able to figure it out with context. Some common radicals include: ⼈ / ⺅: person, people ⼊: to enter ⼑ / ⺉: knife, sword ⼖: to hide or conceal ⼝ : mouth, aperture, entrance, exit ⼟: earth 日: sun 月: moon ⼠: man, scholar, samurai ⼤: large or big ⼥: woman ⼦: child, son Make connections to interpret meaning. Even if you don't know how to read a kanji or kanji compound, you can still understand it. For example, if you know the kanji for sugar (糖), urine (尿), and sickness (病), although you might not know how to pronounce the word, you could deduce that 糖尿病 means "diabetes." Diabetes is a disease where the body can't process sugar, which makes people sick and causes the sugar to pass out their body in urine. Some other examples of useful connections: 地下鉄 • chikatetsu • kanji meaning: earth + below + iron • English: subway 水球 • suikyuu • kanji meaning: water + ball • English: water polo 地理 • chiri • kanji meaning: earth + logic/arrangement • English: geography 数学 • suugaku • kanji meaning: number/law/figure + study • English: mathematics Read and practice kanji frequently. Even some native Japanese struggle sometimes with uncommon kanji. Give yourself plenty of time to learn these symbols, and add new ones to you list as you master them. In the nine years of education required for children by the Japanese government, approximately 2,000 kanji are taught. You can practice reading with Japanese newspapers and online publications that use kanji. For beginning kanji learners, you may want to read text that includes furigana , which are small hiragana letters over the kanji that assist with reading. Although most native Japanese learn 2,000 kanji during primary and secondary school, general literacy for Japanese of often set at about 1,000 to 1,200 kanji. This may seem like a big number, but many kanji and radicals repeat or combine to create new words. This means that after the first 500, you'll start to see patterns and similarities that make reading these symbols easier.
Familiarize yourself with Japanese vowels. Learn the basics of Romaji. Break Romaji into syllables. Practice difficult combinations. Learn new words while practicing reading Romaji. Learn the vowels. Identify consonant groups. Acquaint yourself with the nasal groups. Make sense of the Japanese "Y" group. Study the tail end groups of hiragana. Avoid particle confusion. Memorize hiragana symbols. Build your vocabulary through reading. Conquer katakana vowels. Study similar groups for easier learning. Learn the nasal groups. Master the "Y" group and its combinations. Close out katakana with the final groups. Commit the symbols to memory. Practice reading regularly. Select high frequency kanji. Break your list into groups. Look up kanji details. Memorize the readings of kanji and common compounds. Make use of radicals. Make connections to interpret meaning. Read and practice kanji frequently.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paper-at-Home
How to Make Paper at Home
To make paper, you'll need to make a paper pulp then lay it flat to dry. Start by tearing up some newspaper or notebook paper then soaking the pieces in water for 30 minutes. Put the soaked paper in a blender with some warm water and blend it for 30 seconds. Then, you'll need to spread the paste out on a framed mesh screen to dry. If there's any excess water, soak it up with a towel. Make sure it's completely dry before peeling it off the screen and let it lay flat overnight.
Attach a sheet of window screen across a wooden frame. Purchase window screen at a hobby shop, and use a pair of sharp shears to cut the screen into a 12 in × 8 in (30 cm × 20 cm) rectangle. Then, place the cut section of screen over a wooden frame. Staple or nail the screen to the outer edges of the frame. Find recyclable paper from around your home or workplace. Newspaper may be the easiest source to start with, but you can also use old print-outs, notes, or phone books. Just about any un-waxed paper product will do. Keep in mind that the color of the papers you use and the amount of dark ink on the paper will affect the color of the paper you create. Dark and inky materials will produce dark gray paper. If you'd like to make white paper, only collect white sheets of paper with as little ink and print on them as possible. Even a small amount of ink on the recyclable paper can turn your sheets of paper gray. Avoid using any glossy or shiny paper, as it doesn't work well for papermaking. Commonly found glossy items include high-gloss magazine pages, printed photographs, and wrapping paper. Remove any plastic and staples from the paper. Especially if you're using junk mail, your paper scraps are likely to contain plastic from envelope windows. If left in the paper, staples and other contaminants may damage your blender. Tear the paper into 2 in (5.1 cm) wide strips. The pieces don't have to be perfectly uniform, but they should all be between 1.5–2.5 in (3.8–6.4 cm). If you're making a large amount of paper and don't want to spend hours ripping up individual sheets, you could also run all of the paper through a shredder. If you're doing this project with kids, they'll love tearing the paper apart. Let them be in charge of this step! Soak the paper in warm water for 4–6 hours. Put the shredded pieces of paper in a kitchen pitcher or a large plastic bowl until the container is roughly half full. Fill the pitcher (or plastic bowl) to the brim with warm tap water to ensure that all of the paper scraps are completely submerged. Let the scraps soak for 4–6 hours. Depending on the amount of paper you're planning to make, you may need 2–3 pitchers or large bowls for this step. If you want to end up with whiter paper, add ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of white vinegar to the pulp mixture. Blend the paper for at least 30 seconds to turn it into pulp. Pour the soaked paper scraps into a blender until it's about two-thirds full. Run the blender on “slow” and blend for approximately 30 to 40 seconds. You want the slurry to be smooth and well blended, and there should be no flakes of paper remaining. If you run the blender on a high speed or over-blend the paper, you'll be left with a thin, soupy slurry mixture that won't make very good paper. If you have several pitchers full of soaking paper, you won't be able to blend them all at once. You'll need to run several batches through the blender. Slurry is a thick, gooey, slightly watery substance that will eventually become your new pieces of paper. Once the slurry condensed on the screen and begins to dry, it's referred to as pulp. As a general rule of thumb, slurry is more watery and loose than pulp. Change the hue of your paper with food coloring. Drip 5–6 drops of food coloring to 1 blender's worth of slurry. After you add the food coloring, stir the slurry with a spoon until the color is evenly spread throughout the mix. If you'd like to make 2 different colors of paper, add drops of different colors of food coloring to separate batches of blended slurry. If you mix more than 2 colors in a single pitcher, you'll end up with an ugly brown. Adding materials and color dye to the slurry is a great way to give your paper an artistic flair! Create seed paper by adding a handful of seeds to your slurry. Purchase a package of wildflower or herb seeds and pour half of the packet into your slurry after you've blended it. Or, if you'd rather not use seeds, drop 1 small handful of shredded flower petals, leaves, or green grass into a pitcher of slurry for a decorative effect. Seed paper makes great gifts and is a fun party favor! Do not blend or crush the seeds before adding them. This will destroy the seeds and they'll never grow. If you're adding large flowers or pieces of grass to the slurry, you break them into ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm) bits before dropping them in. You can also create seed paper by pressing the small seeds into a finished sheet of paper just before it dries. Add a pinch of glitter to the slurry to make your paper sparkle. If you'd like to end up with sheets of bright, sparkling paper, drop 1 tsp (4 g) of glitter into the slurry after you've blended it. Choose whatever colors you think will look best together and will complement the color of the paper. Avoid adding too much glitter, or it could give you a dry slurry that won't make cohesive paper. Fill a large pan at least one-third of the way full with warm tap water. Using a pan that's at least 18 by 24 inches (46 cm × 61 cm) will allow you to make a large batch of paper all at once. The amount of water you add at this point is up to you. Filling the pan over halfway full will result in a thin pulp and delicate paper. Filling it less than a third full will give you very thick pulp and tough, fibrous paper. A large casserole pan works great for this step. You could also use a large, rectangular plastic bin. The basin should be a little wider and longer than your frame and approximately the same shape. Pour the blended slurry into the pan. Start by adding at least 5–6 cups (1,200–1,400 mL) of slurry. The amount of slurry you add to the water will determine the thickness of the paper. If you're new to making paper, experiment a bit with the amount of slurry you use. You can change the thickness of the final product from delicate stationery to cardboard by adding more or less slurry to the pan at this stage. While you want a dense suspension of slurry to fully cover your screen in the next steps, you don't need to make the whole tub into a thick sludge. Stir the slurry into the water until it’s an even consistency. Once the slurry is in the pan, stir it with a wooden spoon for 10–20 seconds, until all of the saturated slurry is evenly distributed throughout the pan. If you don't have a wooden spoon on hand, you can stir the mixture using your hands. Roll up your sleeves so they don't get soaked, and work your fingers through the pulpy mixture. Immerse the screened frame in the pulp mixture. Hold your frame at a 45-degree angle and submerge it into the basin with the screen side facing downward. Once the frame is fully submerged, tilt it back so it's level under the slurry. Lightly shake the frame from side to side until the pulp on top of the screen lies uniformly flat. If you don't even out the pulp on top of the screen, you'll end up with sheets of paper that have thin patches and thick spots. Lift up the screen until it is above the water. Be careful not to tilt the frame as you lift it. Hold the frame over the basin for 4-5 minutes so that the excess water can drip out of the pulp. Wait until most of the water has drained from the pulp, and you'll see the beginnings of a new piece of paper. If you don't want to tire out your arms, just rest the frame on 1 corner of the basin. If the paper is thicker than you'd like it to be at this point, remove some of the pulp from the top. If it is too thin, dip it into the slurry mixture again and pile more slurry on top of the screen. Transfer the wet sheet of paper to a soft, absorptive surface. Flip the frame upside down and place it on top of 2-3 towels. The side of the frame that you nailed or stapled the screen onto should be facing upward so the paper is pressed against the towels. Very gently press down on the back of the screen to transfer the sheet of paper from the screen to the drying material. Then, use a sponge to press out as much water as possible from the other side of the screen, and periodically wring out the sponge. Instead of towels, you could also use a large sheet of felt. In fact, felt is the traditional material to use when making paper. Lift the screen up and away from the transferred paper. Gently lift the fabric out of the frame. The wet sheet of paper should remain on the fabric. Lift slowly and gently to make sure that the paper doesn't come back up off of the towels or felt when you lift up the frame. If it sticks to the screen, you may have pulled too fast or not pressed out enough water. You can flatten a drying sheet of paper by placing another piece of fabric on top of it and gently pressing. This will make the resulting paper smoother and thinner. Leave the second piece there as it dries. Peel the paper off the screen if it hasn’t transferred to the towels. If you're making thick paper, it may fail to transfer to the towel and remain stuck to the screen. If this happens, grasp 1 corner of the paper sheet between your thumb and index finger. Gently peel it back off of the screen. The paper should come off of the screen easily, as long as you don't try to tear it all off in a sharp, jerking motion. If you find that it's not coming off easily, use a hair dryer to blow hot air on the underside of the paper for 10-15 seconds. Also peel the paper off of the fabric if it's stuck to this material. Set the paper out to dry overnight. Take the piece of paper and lay it out to dry on a flat surface. Depending on the thickness of your paper, it can take anywhere from 6–8 hours for the paper to fully dry. You're now ready to use the sheet of home-made paper! Alternatively, you can speed up the drying process by blowing hot air from a hair dryer on the paper. Use the lowest setting, and keep the hot air on the paper for 10 minutes. Repeat the entire process to create additional sheets of paper. Once you've finished making 1 sheet of paper, you're ready to make more. Return to the frame and basin of slurry, and dip again to make as many sheets as you like! Keep working until you've made paper from all of the slurry in the bin. Continue adding pulp and water to the basin as needed to ensure that the slurry stays wet and that there's enough shredded paper to form sturdy new paper sheets.
Attach a sheet of window screen across a wooden frame. Find recyclable paper from around your home or workplace. Remove any plastic and staples from the paper. Tear the paper into 2 in (5.1 cm) wide strips. Soak the paper in warm water for 4–6 hours. Blend the paper for at least 30 seconds to turn it into pulp. Change the hue of your paper with food coloring. Create seed paper by adding a handful of seeds to your slurry. Add a pinch of glitter to the slurry to make your paper sparkle. Fill a large pan at least one-third of the way full with warm tap water. Pour the blended slurry into the pan. Stir the slurry into the water until it’s an even consistency. Immerse the screened frame in the pulp mixture. Lift up the screen until it is above the water. Transfer the wet sheet of paper to a soft, absorptive surface. Lift the screen up and away from the transferred paper. Peel the paper off the screen if it hasn’t transferred to the towels. Set the paper out to dry overnight. Repeat the entire process to create additional sheets of paper.
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Built%E2%80%90Up-Frost-from-Your-Freezer
How to Remove Built‐Up Frost from Your Freezer
If you've got built-up frost in your freezer, you'll want to remove it to improve your freezer's efficiency. Try scraping off the frost with a plastic spatula or wooden spoon. Hold a bucket or trash can underneath the freezer door to collect the scrapings. You can also dip a rag in boiling water, then pour rubbing alcohol onto the cloth and use tongs to place it on top of the frost. The heat and alcohol will melt the frost quickly. If you have a lot of frost build-up, it'll probably be easier to defrost your freezer. To do this, turn it off, remove the shelves, and lay towels underneath it. Leave the freezer for 2 to 4 hours, then mop up the water and clean it with warm, soapy water.
Scrape the ice with a plastic spatula or wooden spoon. This is one of the quickest ways to remove frost build-up. A plastic spatula or wooden spoon is safest to use because it is less likely you will hurt yourself while scraping or puncture the gas line. Gently dig underneath the ice to begin removing it. Hold a bucket or trash can underneath the freezer door to collect the scrapings. Continue until most or all of the build-up has been removed. This method works best when combined with another method, like defrosting by unplugging the freezer. Remove frost with rubbing alcohol and a heated cloth. Hold a clean rag with tongs and dip it into boiling water. Then, pour rubbing alcohol onto the cloth over the sink. Use the tongs to place the rag on top of the frost. It will quickly begin to melt. Use a dry cloth to soak up the melted ice. This method typically works better when thin layers of ice need to be removed rather than large chunks. Use a heated metal spatula with caution. This is one of the fastest ways to remove ice, but it is the method that requires the most caution. Begin by putting on an oven mitt and holding a metal spatula over a flame or other heat source. Then, place the heated spatula on the ice until it begins to melt. Wipe up the water with a dry cloth. Remove everything from your freezer and store it in the fridge. Begin the defrosting process by removing every item from your freezer. Put the items in another freezer, the fridge, or a cooler. Unplug the freezer. In order for the frost build-up to defrost, you will need to unplug the freezer unit. If it is necessary to shut off the power to the refrigerator as well, you can leave the items inside it. Even with the fridge unplugged, it should stay cold for a few hours. Remove any shelves and put towels at the bottom of the freezer. After unplugging the freezer, remove all of the trays or shelves from the freezer. Then, place towels in the bottom of the freezer to catch the melted ice. Let the freezer stand open for 2-4 hours. Keep the door propped open so the warm air in your home will melt the ice more quickly. You can place something, like a wedge, in the door to keep it open, if necessary. To speed up the process, you can put hot water in a spray bottle and spray it onto the ice. Then, mop it up with a towel. Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer to blow hot air into the freezer to melt the ice. Clean the freezer with warm water and dish soap. Once all of the ice has melted, clean out the freezer. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dish soap with 4 cups (0.95 l) of water. Dip a clean rag into the solution and use it wipe out the freezer. Then, use a rag to dry up any remaining water. As an alternative to soap and water, you can use a baking soda and water solution or an equal parts vinegar and water solution to clean your freezer. In addition to getting your freezer clean, both baking soda and vinegar help remove odors. Plug in the freezer, then restock it once it gets cold. Plug in the freezer after wiping it down. Let it cool back down to 0 °F (−18 °C), which may take between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Then, restock the refrigerator with your food and other items. Check the temperature on the thermostat, or put a thermometer in the freezer for 3 minutes before reading it. Keep the thermostat just below 0 °F (−18 °C). If the thermostat isn't at the correct temperature, unwanted frost will build up. Check the thermostat once a week to make sure it is at the right temperature. If your freezer doesn't have a thermometer, put a thermometer inside of it. Avoid blocking the freezer’s airflow. Don't put your freezer directly up against the wall. Leave about 1 foot (30 cm) of space so that the coils have room to cool your freezer well. Close the freezer door when it’s not in use. Avoid leaving the freezer door open when you're cooking or moving around in the kitchen. This will allow excess heat into the freezer. Also, make sure the freezer door seals tightly. Don’t put hot items in the freezer. Wait until the hot item has cooled to room temperature before putting it into the freezer. The excess moisture from the heat will create frost and frost-bitten foods. Keep the freezer away from a heat source. Don't place the freezer near a heat source such as the oven, water heater, or furnace. This will cause the freezer to overwork itself, which can create frost.
Scrape the ice with a plastic spatula or wooden spoon. Remove frost with rubbing alcohol and a heated cloth. Use a heated metal spatula with caution. Remove everything from your freezer and store it in the fridge. Unplug the freezer. Remove any shelves and put towels at the bottom of the freezer. Let the freezer stand open for 2-4 hours. Clean the freezer with warm water and dish soap. Plug in the freezer, then restock it once it gets cold. Keep the thermostat just below 0 °F (−18 °C). Avoid blocking the freezer’s airflow. Close the freezer door when it’s not in use. Don’t put hot items in the freezer. Keep the freezer away from a heat source.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Job-in-Japan
How to Get a Job in Japan
To get a full-time job in Japan, try searching Japanese job sites, like GaijinPot, Jobs in Japan, and Daijob. Unless the job is in an English-speaking company, you'll need to speak Japanese. However, if you can't speak Japanese, you can still get a job teaching English as a foreign language. You'll usually need any undergraduate degree and a teaching qualification to do this, although there are programs for people without teaching experience. You'll also need a work visa for Japan, which you can apply for at your local embassy. Alternatively, you can study there on a student visa and get a part time job in the country.
Determine whether you meet the requirements. If you don't speak Japanese, which is a requirement for most jobs in Japan, then a great way to work in the country is to teach English. Even if you do speak Japanese, you may want the rewarding experience of teaching overseas. You will need a bachelor's degree (not an associate's degree) in any subject and possibly a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification. You can get certified as an English language teacher in about three months. Get certified via online or in-person courses. Visit the TESOL or TEFL websites to find accredited classrooms near you. You will need to pass a criminal background check and possibly a drug test. Get a teaching placement in a public school. One way of finding a teaching job in Japan is through a program such as the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). This is run through the Japanese government and places qualified candidates as Assistant Language Teachers in public schools across the country. Participants sign a 1-year contract and can spend a maximum of 5 consecutive years in the program. You can apply for the program through an online portal during the fall. Your application will need to include the application form, a medical form indicating that you're in good health, your university transcripts, proof of degree, a 2-page essay explaining why you want to participate in the program, two letters of reference, and proof of American citizenship. It is a very competitive program so not all applicants will be accepted. Apply to teach in a private language school. There are hundreds of private schools offering English classes throughout the country. Typically, you will apply for a teaching position online through the school's website and be interviewed via Skype if you're a promising candidate. Search online for private schools and visit their websites to see if they're hiring. You can also check for job advertisements on Japanese job sites like Gaijinpot. Make sure the school is legitimate by doing online searches to turn up any negative stories about it. Watch out for red flags. For example, if the school asks you to come over on a tourist visa, promising proper credentials later, do not accept the position. Don't agree to do any 'volunteering' work before your visa is approved either. Apply for your work visa at your local embassy. Once you've been offered a teaching job, you need to apply for a work visa in order to enter Japan. The work visa is specific to the job you've been hired for and is not a blanket permission to work anywhere in Japan. You can find the nearest Japanese embassy by searching online or consulting this guide to Japanese consular office locations if you live in the United States: https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/consulate-guide.html. Once you've been hired, your employer will apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for you and mail it to you. Take the COE, your passport, a visa application form, and a photograph of yourself to your local Japanese embassy to submit your application. When your visa is ready, which could take about 5 days, you can pick it up at the embassy. Register at your local government office. Once you arrive in Japan, you'll need to register as a resident within 14 days. You'll need your passport, your residence card, and a form. If you arrive at one of the major airports, you'll receive your residence card there when you land. If you arrive at a smaller airport, you'll have to go to the local city hall to get it there. You'll be fingerprinted and have your photo taken, and receive a laminated card. Take your residence card and passport to your nearest government office, which you can find by searching online. You'll receive a form there on which you'll fill out your personal details and your new address. You'll turn over your passport, residence card, and the form, and in about 30 or 40 minutes, your residence card will be returned to you with your address on the back. Later, you'll receive a social security and tax number by mail. Some government offices have interpreters but it's a good idea to bring somebody who speaks Japanese with you if you don't know the language, since you'll be asked some questions. Go to school in Japan. Foreigners in Japan on student visas can obtain part-time employment in the country. You cannot automatically work as a student, however, so you'll need to apply for a work permit once you arrive in Japan. Once you've been accepted to a school, they'll send you a COE, student visa application form, 2 passport-sized photographs, and your valid passport to your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. You'll receive your passport, stamped with your student visa, in about 3 to 7 days. Submit your application for a work permit at your local application bureau. The application will take about 3 weeks to process. Your work permit expires at the same time as your student visa. Students are not allowed to work more than 28 hours per week or more than 8 hours on holidays. Foreign students are not allowed to work in places that “affect public morals,” such as bars, nightclubs, or establishments that allow gambling. Find out if you're eligible for a working holiday visa. As of September 1, 2018, Japan has bilateral arrangements with 21 countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom (but not the United States) allowing young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from these countries to work part-time while they are spending holidays in Japan for up to 12 months. In order to qualify for this visa, you must demonstrate that you have reasonable funds for the duration of your travel and enough money to purchase a return ticket home. You cannot bring any dependents with you. You also have to prove that you're in good health with medical certificates. As with a student visa, a working holiday visa does not permit you to work at establishments “affecting public morals” such as bars, cabarets, and casinos. Apply for this visa the way you would apply for a work visa, by submitting an application form and the necessary accompanying documents (passport, proof of funds, medical certificate, resume, written statement on the reasons you want the visa, and an outline of your planned activities in Japan) at the nearest Japanese embassy. There is no limit to the number of hours you can work on a working holiday visa. Search for part-time jobs on websites and in magazines. A lot of part-time jobs will be advertised on job search websites and in free magazines distributed at convenience stores and train stations. Townwork is a popular resource that is published as a magazine and has a website you can visit. Restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores are all examples of places that offer baito (part-time jobs) to both Japanese citizens and foreigners. Remember that many of these jobs involve customer service, so you'll need some proficiency in Japanese in order to get hired. If you don't speak Japanese, you can also look for work in customer service at tourism bureaus and department stores providing language support in languages other than Japanese. You could also search for a job in the popular new Eikaiwa Cafes (English Conversation Cafes), where you serve drinks and food and chat with the customers in English to help them improve their proficiency in that language. Apply in person. Once you've found a business that is hiring in a part-time capacity, especially a restaurant or convenience store, your best bet is to simply walk into the establishment, ask if they are accepting applications, request an interview, and hope that you receive one. It's a good idea to bring your passport with your visa stamped in it or your work permit to prove that you're eligible to work. Start learning Japanese, if you don’t speak it already. Proficiency in the language will be key to getting full-time employment. Almost all professional jobs in Japan other than teaching English and some IT work require a Level 2 JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). The JLPT is a standardized test that all companies use to gauge the abilities of potential employees. The test has five levels, with Level 1 being the highest, so the minimum acceptable level of 2 indicates that you will need to be very proficient in Japanese to get hired at most jobs. You can take Japanese classes at schools in your home country or in Japan if you're already there on a student or working holiday visa, or as an English teacher. Being immersed in the culture and language will also help you pick it up faster. Search Japanese job sites. A good place to start looking for jobs available to foreigners in various industries in Japan is on one of a few major websites: GaijinPot, Jobs in Japan, and Daijob are three of the largest and most helpful. These websites provide listings of available jobs, and some let you upload your resume and set job search alerts. Make your resume stand out with a detailed file name. When you're applying for a job, or uploading your resume to a job search site such as Jobs in Japan, you should bear in mind that potential employers are seeing thousands of uploaded resumes with standard file names like [Last Name] Resume. Try to make yours more eye-catching by adding in descriptors of your special skills. If you're applying for a sales position, for instance, you could title your resume something like “Experienced_Bilingual_Sales_Resume” and your name. This gives you a leg up on your competition before the potential employer even opens your file. Include a photograph of yourself on your resume. Although this may seem unusual to Western job applicants, in Japan it's expected that you'll include a picture of yourself with your resume or cover letter. This helps the employer put a face to a candidate and assess your professionalism. Make sure your photograph looks professional. You could try getting a professional headshot taken. Don't use a selfie or a cell phone picture, or any picture in which you're wearing casual clothing, flashing a peace sign, or looking unkempt. Start networking. If you're already in Japan, it's important that you start cultivating contacts with people who can help you find a career. More people find jobs in Japan through networking than through job boards. Join a professional association in the industry you are interested in, for example, the Japan Auto Manufacturers' Association (JAPA) or the Japan Electronics and Information Technologies Industries Association (JEITA). These associations offer industry news and publications that often include job listings. They are also a great way to network with people in your field. The after-work drinking culture is very important in Japan, so go out to bars with professionals and industry groups in your field of interest in order to get valuable face-to-face time with people who can help you find employment in your field. Get an internship. Japanese internships are more like mentorships. Often the intern is not just unpaid, but actually pays to work in a Japanese company and receive coaching, advice, and encouragement. This is a great way to gain Japanese work experience and make valuable networking contacts. You can search for internships online. The website Kopra specializes in East Asian companies offering internships. You can also draw on your university or professional association connections to help you find an internship. Some Japanese companies advertise for foreign interns on platforms such as Craigslist. To apply for an internship, you'll need a resume and, in some cases, a cover letter. You can do a non-paid internship under 90 days on a tourist visa, or a longer internship on a student or working holiday visa. Prepare for an interview. Whether you receive a job interview via Skype or in person, it's important to make a good first impression. You should dress appropriately in business attire to make yourself seem professional and prepared. Be aware of differences between Western and Japanese cultural norms so that you don't accidentally offend the interviewer or seem rude. Be extremely polite. Use correct Japanese body language – bow, rather than shaking hands, if the interview is in person. Avoid smiling too much, especially a broad, toothy smile, which seems fake or like a mask for embarrassment or anger to the Japanese. Keep your hands out of your pockets, since this pose signals insubordination and arrogance in Japan. Don't slouch, guzzle a drink, arrive late or too early, complain, or ask the interviewer any personal questions. Apply for a work visa once you've been offered a job. After hiring you, your company will send you a COE. Take this, your visa application, your valid passport, and a passport-sized photograph of yourself to your local Japanese embassy or consulate. If your application is approved, your passport will be returned to you with your visa in it. You have 3 months to enter Japan after your work visa is issued. If all your documents are in order, average processing times are fewer than 5 days. There are several types of work visa divided by profession. Apply for the one that fits the job you've been hired for.
Determine whether you meet the requirements. Get a teaching placement in a public school. Apply to teach in a private language school. Apply for your work visa at your local embassy. Register at your local government office. Go to school in Japan. Find out if you're eligible for a working holiday visa. Search for part-time jobs on websites and in magazines. Apply in person. Start learning Japanese, if you don’t speak it already. Search Japanese job sites. Make your resume stand out with a detailed file name. Include a photograph of yourself on your resume. Start networking. Get an internship. Prepare for an interview. Apply for a work visa once you've been offered a job.
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Cats-from-Getting-Birds
How to Stop Cats from Getting Birds
One of the easiest ways to stop your cat from getting birds is to keep it indoors. Make sure your indoor cat has plenty of toys to keep it occupied and give it an outlet for its hunting instincts. If you do let your cat out, keep it in during the main bird-hunting times, such as sunrise, sunset, and during bad weather. In case your cat does catch a bird, ignore it and don't make a fuss, or you may encourage the behavior. You can also make your cat more obvious to birds by giving it a brightly colored collar or a bell. To allow your cat to enjoy the outdoors in a bird-safe way, consider building an enclosed “catio” area.
Keep the cat inside. Keeping your cat inside permanently is the easiest solution to this problem. However, cats like to roam and may start focusing on other items like your shoes. Your cat must be trained to enjoy the indoors exclusively. Buy your cat some new toys and play with your cat to keep it entertained. Eventually, your cat will be content with staying inside all of the time. If you can't keep your cat inside all day, have a curfew. Sunset, sunrise, and around bad weather are prime time for bird hunting. Keep your cat inside at these times. Ignore your cat if it does catch a bird. Cats often hunt and bring home their prey. When your cat brings home a bird, just ignore the cat. Do not yell at or chastise your cat. If your cat hunts other prey and you do not mind, praise your cat if it brings something else home. Otherwise, just act indifferent to your cat. Get rid of the prey when your cat is not looking. Get a brightly colored collar. Have your cat wear a big, rainbow-colored collar around its neck. It is important that the color is brightly colored because birds have great color vision and do not rely on their sense of smell like other animals do. Go to the pet store and look for the Birdsbesafe collars. These have actually been tested in scientific studies and were shown to be effective. If your cat is not used to wearing a collar, it may initially resist. Put the collar on right before mealtime or before you play a game to distract the cat. If your cat is still growing, check in to make sure that the collar is still fitting properly. Place a bell around the neck. If your cat has a bell around its neck, birds will be alerted that your cat is coming. The bell should be placed on a fitted collar. Make sure the collar is not too tight. You should be able to stick two fingers between your cat's collar and the neck. To keep your cat safe, use a quick-release collar that will snap open if it gets caught on something (e.g. fence, tree branch, etc.). See a veterinarian if you have questions about the fit of the collar. Create an outdoor patio. All cats will not want to stay inside all day but may get into trouble if allowed to roam freely. Creating an outdoor playground for your cat is a nice compromise. This outdoor space can be simple or elaborate and fully or partially enclosed. They are also easy to build. It's recommended that this space have 3-4 walls and a roof. Use 2x4s or 2x2s to build a frame. 1x2" galvanized or chicken wire can be used for the walls. A screened patio also works well for cats. Fill the space with things that cats like (e.g. scratching posts, things to climb, toys, tree limbs, ramps, wood). Cats are climbers so make sure there is a roof. Not only will this space keep your cat from hunting birds, it will also protect your cat from other animals. If you do not want to build your own, you can purchase a catio kit. Put a roof on the nest box. Cats are nocturnal animals and realize that a nest box is an easy way to get food. They usually sit on the top of the box and put their paws in the entrance of the box to grab their prey. A roof that extends five inches beyond the front of the box will prevent the cat from reaching into the hole. You can also put a guard on the pole of the box that will prevent cats from climbing up the pole. Do not feed birds at ground level. Place your bird feeder high off the ground where the birds will be safer from cats. Place trays under the feeders to keep food from falling to the ground. If food falls on the ground, birds are more likely to go to the ground to eat and be vulnerable to cats. The food on the ground will also attract cats. Consider using no-mess blends of bird feed as well. No mess blends of bird feeds contain seeds and nuts without shells. The birds can eat all of the food without dropping shells on the ground and attracting cats. Protect the bird feeding area. Your bird feeding area should be in an open area and at least 10 feet away from any shrubs or hiding places. This extra space will allow birds to spot the cats and more time to get away. You can also place a fence around the feeding. Although the cats, will climb the fence, the fence will slow the cats down and give the birds time to get away. Place prickly plants around the base of the feeder to keep cats from sitting under the feeder. Use a cat deterrent. Using a cat deterrent is another option to keep birds safe. There are many different options. You may already have some of these. Coffee grounds, vinegar, fresh orange and lemon peels, citrus-scented sprays, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemongrass, citronella, and eucalyptus deter cats. Apply these fragrances around the area the bird feeder is in, on the tops of fences, and around the edges of the yard. Train your cat to be around your bird. Your cat will naturally be curious about the bird. You want to get to the point where your cat does not really pay attention to your bird if they are in the same room. At the initial meeting, both your bird and cat should be in their separate cages. If your cat is not in a cage, you can just hold your cat Pay attention to how your bird and cat respond to each other. Does your bird appear stressed or scared? Does your cat reach for the bird? Tell your cat "NO!" when it tries to reach for the bird. You must establish boundaries. Give your cat toys, including play mice and feathers, to distract your cat when the bird is in the room. If you are comfortable having your bird out of your cage when the cat is around, do not let your cat lick your bird. This may lead to an infection. Choose a safe birdcage. Your birdcage should be secure (e.g. with a lock) and high enough that your cat is unable to reach or jump on your bird. A locked cage will also keep your bird safe in the event the cage is knocked over. The cage should be large enough to allow your bird to move away if the cat's paws get through the bars. Stainless steel and powder coated, wrought iron cages are best. Cage bars should be no more than 1/2 inch apart to prevent cat paws from being able to get through. Using citrus oil, tin foil, or an overturned doormat with spiky traction around the birdcage will deter your cat from hanging out in that area. Separate them when you are not around. Don't leave your cat alone with the bird when no one is around. If you leave them home alone, close the door to the room the bird is in. If you are not comfortable with training your cat, you can keep your pets apart all of the time. Just make sure that both of them spend enough time with people as they are social animals.
Keep the cat inside. Ignore your cat if it does catch a bird. Get a brightly colored collar. Place a bell around the neck. Create an outdoor patio. Put a roof on the nest box. Do not feed birds at ground level. Protect the bird feeding area. Use a cat deterrent. Train your cat to be around your bird. Choose a safe birdcage. Separate them when you are not around.
https://www.wikihow.com/Toast-Bread-Without-a-Toaster
How to Toast Bread Without a Toaster
To toast bread without a toaster, place a non-stick skillet over medium heat for 60 seconds. Next, spread butter on one side of the bread and place the bread in the hot skillet, butter side-down. Then, cover the skillet with a heavy lid and let the bread toast for 2 minutes. Finally, add butter to the other side of the bread, cover the pan again, and let that side toast for 2 minutes.
Put a medium-sized pan on medium heat. Get a non-stick medium-sized skillet or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Place the pan on a burner and turn it on medium heat. Give it a minute or so to heat up. Spread butter on one side of the bread. While your skillet is heating up on the burner, use a butter knife to spread some butter on one side of your slice of bread. Store your butter in a butter dish and keep it on the kitchen counter so that it's soft and spreadable. If the knife is sticking to the bread too much, hold down a corner of the slice of bread with one of your fingers to keep it in place. Place the bread in the pan butter side-down. Once buttered, place your slice of bread in the skillet. The buttered side should be the side that's in contact with the skillet. Cover the bread for 2 minutes. Get a heavy pot lid and place it over the skillet for 2 minutes. This will trap the heat in and make the bread toast faster. If your stovetop runs hot or you don't want your toast to be crispy, put the heat on low. Butter the other side and flip the bread. Once the 2 minutes is up, take the lid off. Spread some butter on the side that's still facing up while keeping it in the skillet. Then use a spatula to flip the slice of bread over. Cover the bread and remove it from the heat after another 2 minutes. Put the lid back on the skillet and wait another 2 minutes. Then, use a spatula to move the toast from the skillet to a plate. Put whatever toppings or spreads you want on your toast and enjoy! Move your oven rack to the topmost rung. The broiler is located near the top of the oven. Move the rack in order to make sure the bread is kept as close to the broiler as possible while in the oven. Set the oven to broil and let it preheat. There's likely an “on” or “off” button for your broiler, but there may also be a “high” or “low” option. Press “on” and/or “high” and give the broiler about 5 minutes to warm up. Put the bread on a baking sheet and slide it onto the top rack. Put your slice of bread on an ungreased baking sheet. Place the baking sheet on the top rack so that it's nearest to the heat. If you don't have a baking sheet, you can also carefully place the bread directly onto the oven grates. Baking sheets are typically big, so this is a good option if you're making several pieces of toast at once. Flip the bread after 1-2 minutes have gone by. Keep a close eye on the bread. The broiler's high heat will make the toast desirably crispy, but may also burn the toast if left unattended. Use some oven-safe tongs to flip your slice of bread after one or two minutes have passed. Take the bread out of the oven after another 1-2 minutes. Once another one or two minutes have gone by, put on some oven mitts and take the baking sheet out of the oven. Use tongs to move the toast from the sheet to a plate and put on any spreads or toppings that you want. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set your oven to a lower temperature setting, ideally 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176.7 degrees Celsius). Wait until you hear the oven beep to put in your bread. Put the bread on a baking sheet and slide it onto the middle rack. Put the baking sheet on the oven rack that's most centrally located in order to toast the bread evenly. Flip the bread after about 5 minutes. After five minutes have passed, open the oven door and use tongs to flip your slice of bread onto its other side. Take the bread out of the oven after another 5 minutes. Make sure to wear oven mitts when you take the baking sheet out. Use the tongs to bring the toast from the baking sheet to your plate. After putting whatever spreads or toppings you want on your toast, it'll be ready to eat. Try a classic spread or topping, such as peanut butter, nutella, or cinnamon and sugar. If you want to get a little more creative, top your toast with fig jam, goat cheese, and walnuts or hummus and olive tapenade. Find a safe place to start your fire. If you don't have a fire pit available to you, pick a spot to build your fire that doesn't have loose dirt, grass, or debris. Also make sure not to pick a spot that is near any low-hanging branches. Start a fire. Place some big rocks in a circle immediately around where your fire will be. Lay tinder, such as paper strips, and kindling, such as twigs or cardboard, inside the circle. Light the fire with a lighter and blow on it softly until it catches and spreads. As the fire grows, add more kindling, followed by small logs, and eventually larger logs. If you struggle to keep the fire going and growing, try lighting several different pieces of kindling and tinder at the same time. Put a grill rack and a cast iron skillet on the fire. Once the campfire is established, add some charcoal to the fire and then carefully place a grill rack in a stable position over the fire. Then place a medium or large cast iron skillet on top of the grill rack. If you wish to add some flavor to your toast, put some butter in the skillet and let it melt. You can also use leftover bacon grease if you're making bacon as well. Place the bread in the skillet. Place your slices of bread flat in the skillet. You can put as many slices as will fit in the skillet without any overlapping. Flip the bread a few times until each side is browned. Campfires can be a little less predictable than toasters, stoves, or ovens, so flip the bread with tongs after 20 or 30 seconds to see how quickly the bread is toasting. Flip the bread again after another 30 seconds or so and flip it a few more times if necessary. Use the tongs to remove the toast from the skillet once both sides appear to be equally browned. Put out your campfire. Once you're done enjoying your campfire, fill a big bucket with water and dump it onto the fire to put the fire out. Stir the embers with a stick while you do this to ensure that all of the coals get wet. It's safe to leave the area once you no longer hear a “hissing” sound coming from the embers and ash.
Put a medium-sized pan on medium heat. Spread butter on one side of the bread. Place the bread in the pan butter side-down. Cover the bread for 2 minutes. Butter the other side and flip the bread. Cover the bread and remove it from the heat after another 2 minutes. Move your oven rack to the topmost rung. Set the oven to broil and let it preheat. Put the bread on a baking sheet and slide it onto the top rack. Flip the bread after 1-2 minutes have gone by. Take the bread out of the oven after another 1-2 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the bread on a baking sheet and slide it onto the middle rack. Flip the bread after about 5 minutes. Take the bread out of the oven after another 5 minutes. Find a safe place to start your fire. Start a fire. Put a grill rack and a cast iron skillet on the fire. Place the bread in the skillet. Flip the bread a few times until each side is browned. Put out your campfire.
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Bleeding-Ulcer
How to Treat a Bleeding Ulcer
If you notice symptoms of a bleeding ulcer, such as moderate burning in your upper abdomen, recurring feelings of nausea, or blood in your vomit or stool, visit an Urgent Care center or emergency room immediately, since a hemorrhaging ulcer can be life-threatening. Also be sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor, who will most likely review a sample of your stool or perform an endoscopy to determine how to proceed. From here, they will most likely prescribe you medicine that blocks acid production or protects the lining of your stomach. However, in more extreme cases, you may need to undergo surgery.
Pay attention to upper abdominal pain. If you have a peptic or bleeding ulcer, you may notice moderate burning pain in your middle upper abdomen, which is between your belly button and breast bone. The pain may come and go throughout the day, but will typically be worst immediately after you've eaten. The ulcer may also be painful when you haven't eaten for a few hours and your stomach is empty. Essentially, pain from your ulcer is likely to be at its worst when the stomach is either very empty or very full. Note recurring feelings of nausea. Feeling nauseous a single time is not a conclusive symptom, but if you find yourself feeling nauseous multiple times in a week, or even more than once a day, you may have a bleeding ulcer. Your stomach may also feel bloated, with or without the accompanying symptom of nausea. The amount of blood coming from the ulcer will influence the mildness or severity of the nausea or bloating. Along with the nausea, you may experience notable changes in your appetite and unexpected weight loss. Look for blood in your vomit. A bleeding ulcer irritates the stomach and fills it with blood, which often results in nausea and vomiting. In most cases, blood will have approximately the consistency and texture of coffee grounds. Even if you do not see blood in your vomit, frequent vomiting itself can be a sign of a peptic ulcer. Seek immediate medical attention if you see blood or a coffee-like substance in your vomit, as this is a medical emergency. In addition to nausea and vomiting, individuals with ulcers also often experience heartburn and an intolerance to fatty foods. Pay attention to symptoms of anemia. If your ulcer is not producing much blood, the previously mentioned symptoms may not affect you. In these cases, the first sign of a bleeding ulcer can be anemia. Symptoms of anemia include lightheadedness and continual fatigue. You may also feel a shortness of breath, or notice that your skin is pale in color. Anemia results from an insufficient amount of blood circulating in your body. Notice any blood in your stool. If you have a bleeding ulcer, you can usually tell by looking at your stool. Bloody stool is dark in color (nearly black), and looks thick and sticky. It's called tarry stool. The visual texture of bloody stool is compared to that of roofing tar. Visit an emergency room if you have a hemorrhaging ulcer. A severely bleeding ulcer can produce internal hemorrhaging, which is a medical emergency. This results in the loss of a dangerous amount of blood. A hemorrhaging ulcer can be life threatening. If you have think you may have a hemorrhaging ulcer, visit an Urgent Care center or an emergency room immediately. Signs of a hemorrhaging ulcer include: severe upper abdominal pain, extreme weakness or fatigue, and large amounts of blood in your stool and vomit. Blood in your stool usually will not look red. Instead, blood causes black, tar-like stools. Bring your doctor a stool sample. To take the stool sample, defecate, and then use a clean spoon or other utensil to deposit the stool in a sealable plastic bag or container provided by a doctor. The stool sample should be about the size of a walnut. If you can't take the stool sample to the doctor immediately after producing it, store the sample in your refrigerator. The doctor will test your stool for blood, which can indicate the presence of a bleeding ulcer in your stomach or small intestine. Consent to receiving an endoscopy from your doctor. An endoscopy is the primary medical procedure used to examine a bleeding ulcer. During an endoscopy, a small tube with a camera attached is inserted down your esophagus and into your stomach. This allows doctors to look inside your stomach and inspect the lining for a bleeding ulcer. An endoscopy may produce some discomfort while the tube is passed down your throat and into your stomach. The procedure is not painful, though, and you may not be given an anesthetic. However, your doctor may give you a medication to relax you. Talk to your doctor before the procedure to discuss any premedication that you will be given. While the doctor is doing your endoscopy, they may also take a biopsy. In place of an endoscopy, your doctor may perform an upper gastrointestinal series. This procedure involves taking a series of X-rays of your stomach and small intestine. Ask your doctor about medical tests for H. pylori bacteria. To test for H. pylori, doctors will administer a stool, breath, or blood test. If they are administering the breath test, your doctor will ask you to inhale a gas that breaks down H. pylori bacteria in your stomach, and then to exhale into a sealed bag. Your breath in the bag will be analyzed for the bacteria. H. pylori is an abrasive bacteria that can harm the lining of your stomach. Its presence in your stomach is a good indication that you have a peptic or bleeding ulcer. Your doctor can treat H. pylori bacteria with an antibiotic. Ask about a prescription for medications that block acid production. If your doctor determines that you do have a bleeding ulcer, they will prescribe you 1 or more medications to help the ulcer heal. The most often prescribed medications are those that block the production of stomach acid. A less acidic environment will allow the ulcer to heal on its own. Commonly prescribed medications include: Omeprazole (Prilosec). Lansoprazole (Prevacid). Pantoprazole (Protonix). Esomeprazole (Nexium). Take medications to kill H. pylori bacteria. If your breath, blood, or stool test for H. pylori came back positive, your doctor can prescribe you an antibiotic medication to remove the bacteria from your system. This will remove the primary irritant within your stomach, and allow the lining of your stomach wall to begin healing itself. Medications commonly prescribed to kill H. pylori include: Amoxicillin (Amoxil). Metronidazole (Flagyl). Tinidazole (Tindamax). If the doctor doesn't mention the test results to you, make a point to ask them. The test results should be available within a few hours of when you took the test, or 24 hours at the longest. Ask about medications to protect the lining of your stomach or small intestine. If you have a bleeding ulcer, your doctor will prescribe medicine to coat and protect the lining of your stomach or intestine. This will prevent the ulcer from being agitated further, and give the ulcer time to stop bleeding and heal itself. Common prescriptions include: Sucralfate (Carafate). Misoprostol (Cytotec). Your doctor may suggest a different medication based on whether your bleeding ulcer is located in your stomach or your small intestine. Undergo surgery to close the ulcer. For serious bleeding ulcers, you may need to have a surgical procedure done to close the ulcer and stop the bleeding. Although it's uncommon, ulcers are occasionally unable to heal themselves. In these cases, a surgeon will need to perform one or more operations to ensure that the ulcer stops bleeding and properly heals. There are three primary surgical procedures performed on individuals with a severely bleeding ulcer. In a vagotomy, the vagus nerve (the nerve that connects the stomach to the brain) is severed. This interrupts the messages the brain sends to the stomach to produce stomach acid. An antrectomy procedure removes the lower portion of the stomach to inhibit the production of stomach acid. In a pyloroplasty, the lower stomach is widened to allow food to process more easily into the small intestine. Deal with ulcer-related pain while your body heals. After you begin taking medication, you may still experience discomfort or pain from the ulcer. You can combat this pain in various ways. Your doctor may recommend that you regularly take an antacid for the pain, or that you stop smoking. Your diet can also have an effect on ulcer pain, so if you notice that certain foods irritate the ulcer, stop eating them. Also, try eating 5 to 6 small meals during the day, so that you avoid stuffing your stomach or letting it get completely empty. Talk to your doctor if pain persists for more than 3 or 4 weeks after you began taking medication for your ulcer. The doctor may recommend that you stop taking certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can irritate the ulcer.
Pay attention to upper abdominal pain. Note recurring feelings of nausea. Look for blood in your vomit. Pay attention to symptoms of anemia. Notice any blood in your stool. Visit an emergency room if you have a hemorrhaging ulcer. Bring your doctor a stool sample. Consent to receiving an endoscopy from your doctor. Ask your doctor about medical tests for H. Ask about a prescription for medications that block acid production. Take medications to kill H. Ask about medications to protect the lining of your stomach or small intestine. Undergo surgery to close the ulcer. Deal with ulcer-related pain while your body heals.
https://www.wikihow.com/Decoupage-on-Glass
How to Decoupage on Glass
To decoupage on glass, start by cleaning the glass thoroughly and cutting out the images you want to use. Next, dip a craft brush in the glue and brush a thin layer onto your images. Then, press the artwork against the glass and use your fingers or the edge of a flat object to remove any air bubbles. Finally, let the glue dry for several hours or overnight. To create a smooth surface and seal your design, brush additional coats of glue on top until you're happy with the way your project looks.
Lay a craft mat or newspapers on your work surface to protect it. If you want to protect your table, desk, or countertop from getting covered with glue, it's a good idea to put down a protective layer before you get started with your project. A craft mat is a great way to protect any work surface, but layers of newspaper will work if you don't have a mat. You could also tear a trash bag along 2 of the seams and lay it down if you don't have any newspaper or a craft mat. Clean the glass item with soap and water, then alcohol. Dust, debris, and oils from your skin can all interfere with how well the glue will stick to your item. To avoid this, wash the piece you want to decorate with soap and water, then dry it with a lint-free cloth. Wipe the surface of the glass with an alcohol pad and let it dry again. If you don't have any alcohol pads, apply a little rubbing alcohol onto a lint-free cloth and wipe down the glass. Don't use a cotton ball, which could leave fibers on the surface on the glass. Make sure to remove any stickers or labels from the glass before you clean it, and make sure no residue is left behind. Choose and cut out your images. When it comes to decoupage, there's no right or wrong. If you like a design, you can use it! You can choose several smaller pieces to put together, you can opt to lay down one larger sheet, or you can layer multiple pieces with a background—whatever works for you. Once you decide what you want to use, cut out the image to fit the glass. If you're decoupaging a curved piece of glass, remember to account for the curve when you're deciding what size to cut your paper. Avoid using glossy images, like magazine pages. The coating on the paper can cause the image to bleed when you apply the glue. Make laser printer copies if you only have 1 copy of your artwork. When you apply the wet decoupage glue to your paper, it will become fragile, and it may tear. If you only have 1 copy of your paper, a small tear could ruin your whole project. If you make a copy of the image, you can just start over if you make a mistake. An image from a laser printer is less likely to bleed than one from an inkjet printer. Also, if you're using vintage images, they may not accept glue well, so a laser copy will actually adhere to the glass better. If your only option is to use an inkjet printer, use low-moisture content glue. Dip a 3⁄4 in (1.9 cm) craft brush in water, then the glue. Decoupage glue can sometimes be difficult to spread over a non-porous surface like glass. To thin it out a little, dip your craft brush into a bowl of water, then dip it into the glue. If you're using decoupage glue specifically for a non-porous surface, you may not need to thin it out. Try a little on the glass. If it goes on smoothly, you can apply it as-is. You can either dip the brush directly into the glue container, or you can pour a small amount of the glue onto a shallow plate or bowl if you prefer. You can find decoupage glue anywhere that craft supplies are sold. Mod Podge is the most popular glue used for decoupage, but other brands will work as well. Brush a thin layer of the glue onto the artwork. Make sure to spread the decoupage glue all the way to the edges. If you need to, dip the brush into the glue again to make sure you get even, complete coverage. For larger pieces, brush the glue onto the glass first, then the artwork. If you're using more than one piece of paper, put them on one at a time. Allow each one to dry to avoid tearing them while you're handling the glass. Press the artwork against the glass. Begin at one edge, and gently lay your paper or fabric onto the surface of the glass a little at a time. Don't worry about air bubbles yet, just try to get the paper spread out without any creases, folds, or tears. If you're putting the image on the outside of the glass, like around the bottom of a jar, place it face-up. If you want to see the object through the glass, like looking down onto it from the top of a plate, place it face-down. Add a little extra glue if the paper overlaps anywhere. If your image has wrapped all the way around the outside of the glass, or if you're overlaying one piece on top of another, use your brush to apply a little extra decoupage glue along the seam. That way, the paper won't lift up as it's drying. Use your fingers or the edge of a flat object to remove any air bubbles. After you have the artwork in place, carefully smooth out any visible air bubbles. For best results, start at the center and work your way out to the edges. You can do this with your fingers, or you can carefully glide a flat object like a credit card or rubber brayer along the back of the artwork. Let it dry for several hours or overnight. Once you've applied all of the paper, set it aside to let the glue dry. This is when the paper will be the most fragile, so allow several hours for the glue to set. Read the label on your container of decoupage glue for an exact drying time. Apply another coat of glue or top coat on top of the image. Once the original coat of glue has dried, use your brush to lightly smooth another coat over the entire piece of artwork and the glass around it. Be sure the glue overlaps the edges of the paper all the way around the image you're using, as this is what will seal it permanently into place. Some decoupage glue works as both a glue and top coat, in which case you don't need a separate product. However, other glues require you to use a separate top coat, so read the instructions carefully. Allow the top coat to dry for at least 1-2 hours between coats. While it doesn't have to completely finish curing, you do want to give the top coat adequate time to dry. After a few hours, touch the glue in an inconspicuous spot. If it feels tacky to the touch or your finger leaves a print, wait longer before you apply the next coat. Read the instructions on the container to determine the exact drying time for your product. Repeat until you’ve created a smooth surface. The number of coats you'll need for your project depends on the thickness of the paper or fabric you used. Keep covering the glass in decoupage top coat until the artwork feels like it is flush with the glass. Let the project dry again overnight once you've added your final coat. Depending on the glue and top coat you used, you may need to let the glass cure for several days. Unless you used a water-proof glue, do not submerge the finished item in water. Instead, use a damp cloth to clean only the glass surface.
Lay a craft mat or newspapers on your work surface to protect it. Clean the glass item with soap and water, then alcohol. Choose and cut out your images. Make laser printer copies if you only have 1 copy of your artwork. Dip a 3⁄4 in (1.9 cm) craft brush in water, then the glue. Brush a thin layer of the glue onto the artwork. Press the artwork against the glass. Add a little extra glue if the paper overlaps anywhere. Use your fingers or the edge of a flat object to remove any air bubbles. Let it dry for several hours or overnight. Apply another coat of glue or top coat on top of the image. Allow the top coat to dry for at least 1-2 hours between coats. Repeat until you’ve created a smooth surface.
https://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-Your-Nintendo-Wii
How to Set Up Your Nintendo Wii
To set up your Nintendo Wii hardware, plug in your Wii and then connect the sensor bars to your TV. To do this, plug the thin, black-and-grey sensor bar's cable into the red port that's on the back of the Wii console. Then, place 1 sensor bar above or on your TV and the other below your TV. After your sensors are connected, attach the red, white, and yellow A/V cables to the colored ports behind or on the side of your TV. Then, turn on your TV, find the input channel and follow the directions on the set up menu.
Place the Wii near your TV. Make sure that the Wii is placed close enough for the cables to reach the TV and the power outlet. If you are using the vertical stand, first make sure that the stand is assembled by taking the vertical stand and the round piece of plastic and sliding them together until they click. Connect your Wii to a power source. Plug the power cable that came with your Wii into an electrical outlet, then plug the other end into the port on the far-left side of the back of the Wii. Attach the sensor bar to the Wii. Plug the thin, black-and-grey sensor bar's cable into the red port that's on the back of the Wii console, then place the sensor bar below and in front of your TV. Remove the covers over the sticky pads on the sensor's bottom to secure it in place. You can also place the sensor bar on top of your TV. Connect the Wii to the TV. Most Wii units come with red, white, and yellow A/V cables; plug the non-colored end of the cable into the flat, wide port on the back of the Wii unit, then attach the red, white, and yellow cables to the red, white, and yellow ports in the "Video In" section that's behind or on the side of your TV. The Wii requires Wii-specific cables in order to connect to your TV; standard A/V cables will not work. If you're trying to connect your Wii's A/V cables to a computer monitor, you'll have to buy an adapter for your monitor. Insert batteries into the Wii remote. Remove the back panel from the Wiimote and put two AA batteries in. These are included with the console if you bought it new. Use the printed + and - guides to ensure that the batteries are inserted correctly. If your Wii remote has a rubber jacket, you will need to remove it before you can access the battery cover. Test the Wii remote. Press A on the Wii remote to verify that the batteries are working. If you see the lights at the bottom of the remote briefly turn on or flash and then stay on, your remote is working. If the lights don't come on at all, try inserting new batteries. Secure the wriststraps to the Wiimotes. Wriststraps are very important when using the Wii, especially when playing games with lots of movement. The Wii remote is secured at the bottom of the Wiimote by looping the wriststrap through the hook. You can cinch the wriststrap around your wrist while you play. Turn on your TV. Press your TV's power button to turn on the set. Switch to your Wii's input. Press your TV's (or TV remote's) Input or Video button until you see the right number appear. Your Wii will be plugged into the A/V input, which is usually input number 1, 2, or 3. You can double-check your Wii's input number on your TV by looking for a number near the yellow, white, and red plugs on the back or side of your TV. Turn on the Wii. Press the Power button on the front of the Wii. After a few seconds, you should see the Wii setup screen appear on your TV. If you don't see or hear anything, ensure that your TV is set to the correct input, and that your A/V cable is connected correctly. Cycling through the available inputs will eventually cause the Wii's setup screen to display. Synchronize your Wii remote with your console. Once your remote is synchronized, you'll see one constant red light at the bottom of the remote, meaning that you can continue with setting up your Wii. To sync your remote: Open the SD card slot on the front of your Wii console. Remove the battery cover on the Wii remote. Press the Sync button below the battery compartment. Wait for the lights at the bottom of the remote to start blinking. Press the red Sync button in the Wii's SD card slot. Press the A button. It's at the top of the remote. If your Wii has been set up before, your Wii may open to the home screen. If so, skip to the next part. Select a language and press A. This will select the language for your Wii's menus. Select Continue and press A. It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Select a sensor bar position. Select either Above TV or Below TV and press A , then select Continue. Select a date. Select the up or down arrows above or below the month, day, and year values, then press A to change them. Select Continue when you're done. Select a time. You'll do this the same way that you changed the date. Select Continue when you're done. Keep in mind that the clock here is in military time, meaning that you add 12 to the time in PM from noon through midnight (e.g., 12:00 PM would be "1200", but 3:00 PM would be "1500"). Select a widescreen setting. Select 4:3 for a normal TV or 16:9 for a widescreen TV, then select Continue. Enter a nickname for your console. Type in a name using the on-screen keyboard, then select Continue. Select a country. Select the country you're currently in and press A , then select Continue. Select No and press A. This will take you past the parental controls warning. Press A. This will acknowledge that you have read the Wii's burn-in reduction filter policy. Doing so will take you to the Wii home screen, signifying that your setup is complete. Depending on your Wii, a video displaying how to use your Wii may begin playing. Select Wii and press A. This option is in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Doing so prompts a pop-up menu. Select Wii Options and press A. It's an option in the pop-up menu. This will open the Wii Options page. Scroll right, then select Sensor Bar and press A. Scrolling right takes you to the second page of the Wii Options screen, and the Sensor Bar option opens your Wii's sensor bar settings. Select Position and press A. Doing so opens the Position menu. Skip this step if you don't want to reset the position you set during the Wii setup. Select a position. Select either Above TV or Below TV and press A. Select Confirm and press A. It's at the bottom of the screen. This will fine-tune your sensor based on its position. Adjust your sensor bar's sensitivity. Select Sensitivity and press A , then press + or - on your remote to increase or decrease your remote's sensitivity on-screen. Press A. This will confirm your decision and return you to the Sensor Bar page. Exit the Sensor Bar page. Select Back and press A to return to page two of the Options page. If you have an Ethernet USB adapter that you bought from Nintendo, you can plug it into the back of your console and then plug an Ethernet cable from your router into the adapter. Select Internet and press A. This will open the Internet settings. Select Connection Settings and press A. This will display a list of three connections. If the Wii has never been connected to the internet, all of the settings will say "None" next to the Connection number. Select an unused connection and press A. Select Wireless and press A. Doing so will take you to the wireless network page. If you're using Ethernet, select Wired and then select OK to connect to the Internet. Select Search for an Access Point and press A. This will bring up a list of the current available networks. Select a network and press A. This will bring up the connection's page. If the connection is public, selecting the network will prompt your Wii to connect to it automatically. Enter your network's password. If your network is password-protected, enter the password and press A. Update your Wii. Once you connect to either your wired or wireless network, you will be prompted to update your system. These updates can improve system functionality, and are required if you are playing online. Do not update your system if it is modded , or you will lose access to your Homebrew channel. Add games and channels. After updating your system, you will be connected to the internet every time the Wii is turned on. You can then add games and channels from the Wii store. Games will cost money to purchase, but most channels can be downloaded for free (some require a separate subscription to use). You can access the shop from the Wii Channels screen. Insert the game you want to play. If there's nothing in your disc tray, you can insert the game into the disc drive to load it. Inserting the disc will open the game's channel, allowing you to start it by pressing the button on your screen. Make sure that you insert the disc the correct direction, with the label facing up. You can also download games from the Wii store and they will show up as channels in your Channel menu. Use the Wiimote to play. Depending on the game, you may be asked to swing your controller around to play the game. Make sure you have plenty of room to move, and that you won't bump into anyone or anything. Play a GameCube game. If you want to play a GameCube game in an RVL-001 Wii, you will need to use a GameCube controller, and plug it into one of the ports on the top (vertical) or left side (horizontal) of the Wii. You will need to open a flap to access the ports. You'll insert the GameCube game like you would a regular Wii game. Although the discs are smaller, they can be inserted into any part of the disc loader.
Place the Wii near your TV. Connect your Wii to a power source. Attach the sensor bar to the Wii. Connect the Wii to the TV. Insert batteries into the Wii remote. Test the Wii remote. Secure the wriststraps to the Wiimotes. Turn on your TV. Switch to your Wii's input. Turn on the Wii. Synchronize your Wii remote with your console. Press the A button. Select a language and press A. Select Continue and press A. Select a sensor bar position. Select a date. Select a time. Select a widescreen setting. Enter a nickname for your console. Select a country. Select No and press A. Press A. Select Wii and press A. Select Wii Options and press A. Scroll right, then select Sensor Bar and press A. Select Position and press A. Select a position. Select Confirm and press A. Adjust your sensor bar's sensitivity. Press A. Exit the Sensor Bar page. Select Internet and press A. Select Connection Settings and press A. Select an unused connection and press A. Select Wireless and press A. Select Search for an Access Point and press A. Select a network and press A. Enter your network's password. Update your Wii. Add games and channels. Insert the game you want to play. Use the Wiimote to play. Play a GameCube game.
https://www.wikihow.com/Design-a-Kitchen
How to Design a Kitchen
To design a kitchen, start by determining the overall style you're going for, whether its craftsman, modern, French country, or something else. Then, choose a color scheme so you know what color cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes you'll need. Next, decide on a material, color, and finish for your appliances. Finally, choose the flooring, like hardwood or tile, and make sure it goes with the color scheme you've chosen.
Pick a U-shape kitchen for more storage and work space. U-shape kitchens are kitchen layouts that feature cabinets and fixtures on 3 walls with walking space between, forming a “U” shape. The 3 walls allow you to have more cabinets space for storage, more placement options for appliances like ovens and dishwashers, and more counter space for you to work with. If you have enough space, you could also install an island in the center of the “U” for even more storage space and working surface area. Select an L-shape kitchen for an open design with lots of working space. Kitchens with an L-shaped layout are built at a corner where 2 walls form an “L” angle, with an open floor behind it. The “L” shape allows for lots of counter space and cabinet storage area, as well as making the kitchen feel more open. L-shaped kitchens are a pretty common design that allows for multiple appliances such as a stove and dishwasher, as well as fixtures such as a sink, without sacrificing too much counter space. You could also install an island in an L-shaped kitchen to add more counter space. You could even install your dishwasher or stove in an island. Go with a galley layout to maximize efficiency in a small space. A galley layout has 2 parallel rows of cabinets and countertop space and will give you more storage room and working area in a small amount of space. You'll also have easy access to all of your appliances in a galley layout. Galley layouts are popular in apartments or small homes because of their efficient use of space. Make a single wall kitchen if you have limited space. A single wall layout means all of the cabinets and appliances are on 1 wall, rather than 2 or 3 like a U or L-shaped design. If you don't have any additional space, a single wall layout will allow you to have storage space, counter space, fixtures, and appliances so you'll have everything you need for a fully functioning kitchen. If you have enough room, installing an island in the space behind the single wall can give you more room for storage and counter space. Select linoleum for a variety of colors and patterns to choose from. Linoleum flooring is durable and the surface is easy to clean. It's also inexpensive and easy to install compared to other flooring options. Because they're made entirely from synthetic material, there are countless colors, styles, and patterns to choose from. Vinyl flooring is often confused with linoleum, but they're very different materials. While vinyl flooring is cheaper, it's much less durable, making it a poor choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens. Linoleum can also be easily cut and trimmed to fit. Lay tile for your flooring for a durable and easy-to-clean option. Ceramic or stone tile floors require more work to be installed correctly, but they're easier to maintain and they come in a variety of colors and patterns. Tile flooring is durable, and better able to resist dents, dings, and scratches. Natural stone tile flooring may be porous, depending on the stone, and may need to be sealed to be protected. Ceramic tiles are a relatively cheap option compared to hardwood and natural stone. Choose hardwood flooring for a more natural aesthetic. Hardwood floors are a classic style, adding a warm and inviting feeling to your kitchen. They're durable and able to withstand the high-traffic of a busy kitchen, and they clean up easily with a good mopping. If you're going for a natural feel, hardwood is the way to go. Hardwood floors can also be refinished every few years to restore their natural shine. Darker wood are better at hiding stains than lighter colors. You could also go with bamboo flooring, which is more durable than hardwood but is more expensive. Install cork flooring for the softest flooring option. Cork is a soft and spongy material that will make your kitchen floor more comfortable, which you may want if you're standing for long periods of time while you cook. Cork also absorbs noise, which is great if you have an open space, and it's resistant to mold and mildew growth. However, cork is less durable than other flooring options and can be damaged by lots of foot traffic. Cork can be stained different colors as well. You'll need to seal and reseal cork flooring to keep it from being damaged. Pour concrete for the most durable option. Concrete is tough, easy to clean, and you can stain or polish it in different colors. However, it's also a hard surface and can get really cold, which may be uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time. You could also install an underfloor heater to keep the concrete from feeling cold. Concrete flooring is basically impervious to water damage as well. Select a solid surface countertop for the most stain-resistant option. Solid surface countertops are made of crushed minerals, filler, pigments, acrylic chips, and resin and can be made to look like natural stone or a wide variety of colors and patterns. They're stain-resistant, smooth, and tough, but they can be damaged by hot cookware. Solid surface countertops are also known as Corian countertops. You can also choose a solid surface countertop that has a sink already installed in it made out of the same material. Choose natural stone for a luxurious and impressive appearance. Natural stone such as granite or marble have striking colors, grains, and veins that provide a dramatic appearance and style to your kitchen. Once they're installed, polished, and sealed, natural stone countertops are heat, stain, and bacteria-resistant as well as chip, scratch, and crack resistant. Because of its weight, natural stone should be installed by a professional. Some more porous natural stone, such as marble, are more susceptible to chips, scratches, and stains, and may need to be resealed once a year. Go with quartz composite for a stone look with less maintenance. Quartz composite is a synthetic stone that has the look and feel of real stone, but is super durable, hard, and is more stain-resistant than natural stone. If you want the appearance of natural stone in your kitchen, but you don't want to have to reseal or maintain it, quartz is a great option. Quartz composite slabs are also super heavy, so you'll need a professional to install it. While there are quartz countertops that are designed to mimic real stone, you could also choose from a variety of bold or wild patterns and colors. Consider ceramic tile countertops for more style options. There are basically endless colors, patterns, and shape options for ceramic tiles, so you can come up with any combination that you want for your countertop. Ceramic tile is also heat-resistant and easy to clean, making it a good working surface for kitchens. Ceramic tile is also much more affordable than quartz or stone countertops, and you can install it yourself with the right tools. Pick a wooden countertop for the natural beauty. Wood countertops are made by gluing thin strips of wood together and have the appearance of a classic butcher or chopping block. They're hard and durable, and add an organic, natural beauty and warmth to your kitchen. Wood countertops can be damaged if they're regularly exposed to water, so avoid installing them around a sink. You'll need to refinish wood countertops every year or so. Install a concrete countertop for the most scratch-resistant option. Concrete countertops are rugged and resistant to scratches. With a variety of staining, pigmenting, and polishing options, you can customize concrete countertops to a variety of colors, patterns, and designs. They're vulnerable to cracking and need to be resealed every 1-3 years so they're resistant to stains. You can also design concrete countertops to look like natural stone countertops. Measure your kitchen to see how many cabinets you can fit. Knowing how and where you can fit cabinets in your kitchen will help you choose them. Measure the length and height of your walls. Make a rough sketch of your kitchen that includes your measurements. Find the distance between the walls and obstructions such as windows and doorways, and make note of outlets, jacks, and light fixtures. You can compare your measurements to the measurements of cabinets you plan to purchase. Leave room for appliances and fixtures you plan to install. In your measurements, account for appliances and fixtures such as a stove, sink, and dishwasher. When you're choosing your appliances, use your measurements to help determine how many cabinets you can fit around them. Add the appliances and fixtures to your rough sketch for reference. Choose framed cabinets for a more sturdy, durable option. Framed cabinets consist of a full frame that includes a box and a face. The cabinet doors and drawers are attached to the frame, making the cabinet more durable, but a little less easy to access. Framed cabinets are also cheaper and can be installed on uneven walls. They're also more difficult to install. Go with frameless cabinets for better accessibility and a modern design. Frameless cabinets, also known as European-style cabinets, don't have a face frame. Instead, the doors and drawers are attached directly to the cabinet box, which makes the cabinet really easy to access and look more sleek and modern. However, because they don't have a face frame, they can be less durable. Frameless cabinets are quicker and easier to install as well. Because they're a set design, you'll have fewer style options to choose from for frameless cabinets. Buy stock cabinets for an affordable, easy-to-install option. Stock cabinets are pre-designed cabinets that you assemble and install in your kitchen. You'll have fewer style, configuration, and finish options, but they're cheaper and easier to put in place. Use your measurements to determine which cabinets and how many you can fit into your kitchen. You can find stock cabinets at your local hardware store, home improvement store, or by ordering them online. Purchase custom cabinets for fine detailing. Custom cabinets are designed and fabricated according to your specifications, making them more expensive, but allowing you to design them exactly how you want them. They can be built to any width or height you want so use your measurements to fill your kitchen with custom-made cabinets. Visit your local cabinetmaker, hardware store, or order custom cabinets online from a manufacturer using your measurements. You could also use semi-custom cabinets, which you can put together by choosing styles, configurations, and finishes from a manufacturer's catalog and having them sent to you. Match your cabinet color to the rest of your kitchen. Choose a cabinet style, color, and design that complements and suits the rest of your kitchen including your flooring, countertops, and appliances. You could also choose plain cabinets and paint them in a color that suits your kitchen. You could make a uniform look by painting all of the cabinets and trim the same color, or you could add a dramatic impact by painting a few doors and drawer fronts a different color. For instance, you could have teal cabinets with white doors or drawer fronts. Avoid color clashes or your kitchen may not feel inviting. For instance, you may not want to paint your cabinets bright purple Choose appliance colors that complement your kitchen. Appliances such as stoves, dishwashers, and refrigerators come in different colors and styles. Choose appliances that match the overall aesthetic of your kitchen so they fit in and don't seem awkward or out of place. For example, don't choose a yellow refrigerator if you don't have any yellow anywhere else in your kitchen White is always a safe color for your kitchen appliances. Go with stainless steel appliances for a universal option. Stainless steel is durable and easy to clean. It also goes well with almost any color and design style. Use stainless steel appliances to add an industrial, modern look, or just to avoid color clashes in your kitchen. A stainless steel stove or refrigerator looks great in any kitchen design. Cover your dishwasher with a concealed panel if you want to hide it. If you don't want the front of your dishwasher to stand out in your kitchen, use a custom-made concealed panel that matches the surrounding cabinets. Install the panel over your dishwasher to make it blend in with your kitchen. Look for dishwasher concealing panels at your local home improvement store or by ordering them online. Check with your cabinet manufacturer to see if they also make dishwasher concealing panels so it'll match your cabinets exactly. Select a single bowl sink for more space to work. A single bowl sink, or a single basin sink, is a sink with 1 large basin that gives you more room to wash food and dishes. They can handle large items like pots and they're actually easier to install because there's only 1 drain and faucet. Single bowl sinks can take up more counter space and you may only be able to do 1 thing at a time in them. For instance, you can't wash dishes and rinse off vegetables at the same time. Install a multi-bowl sink to have multiple sections to work in. A double or triple bowl sink allows you to have multiple sections that you can use for different tasks. They may use less water because the sections are smaller and easier to fill, but it may be more difficult for you to wash large items. Because there are multiple drains, and sometimes faucets, multi-bowl sinks are often more expensive and difficult to install. For instance, you can use multiple bowls to rinse and prep ingredients while you're cooking, while also having a space to wash off pots, pans, or dishes. Put in light fixtures that fit the overall design of your kitchen. If you've got a kitchen design that's more modern and minimalistic, bold or geometric lighting fixtures can make an interesting stylistic statement. If your kitchen has lots of color and patterns, more subtle, less noticeable light fixtures won't overwhelm or distract from other design features. Choose lighting fixtures that suit your kitchen's design and enhance it. There's also the type of bulb to consider as well. Incandescent, fluorescent, LED, mercury vapor, and halogen are some of the most common choices, and each has its own unique color tone or range of color tones. Have a licensed electrician install lighting fixtures to make sure the job is done properly and safely.
Pick a U-shape kitchen for more storage and work space. Select an L-shape kitchen for an open design with lots of working space. Go with a galley layout to maximize efficiency in a small space. Make a single wall kitchen if you have limited space. Select linoleum for a variety of colors and patterns to choose from. Lay tile for your flooring for a durable and easy-to-clean option. Choose hardwood flooring for a more natural aesthetic. Install cork flooring for the softest flooring option. Pour concrete for the most durable option. Select a solid surface countertop for the most stain-resistant option. Choose natural stone for a luxurious and impressive appearance. Go with quartz composite for a stone look with less maintenance. Consider ceramic tile countertops for more style options. Pick a wooden countertop for the natural beauty. Install a concrete countertop for the most scratch-resistant option. Measure your kitchen to see how many cabinets you can fit. Leave room for appliances and fixtures you plan to install. Choose framed cabinets for a more sturdy, durable option. Go with frameless cabinets for better accessibility and a modern design. Buy stock cabinets for an affordable, easy-to-install option. Purchase custom cabinets for fine detailing. Match your cabinet color to the rest of your kitchen. Choose appliance colors that complement your kitchen. Go with stainless steel appliances for a universal option. Cover your dishwasher with a concealed panel if you want to hide it. Select a single bowl sink for more space to work. Install a multi-bowl sink to have multiple sections to work in. Put in light fixtures that fit the overall design of your kitchen.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Homemade-Nutella
How to Make Homemade Nutella
When making homemade Nutella, the type of chocolate you use can make a big difference in flavor. Milk chocolate will add a sweet but not too chocolatey taste to your spread. Semi-sweet chocolate will provide a rich chocolate flavor, but the higher percentage of cocoa solids can add a slight bitterness. Bittersweet chocolate is a good pick if you want a less sweet but very chocolatey taste.
Choose the type of chocolate you want to use in your spread. Look for a high-quality chocolate bar or discs (chips have less cocoa butter and are harder to melt). Different types of chocolate will have different percentages of milk and cacao, which will affect the taste and appearance of your hazelnut spread. Milk chocolate has a low percentage of cocoa solids and has a very sweet flavor. It is used in many popular candy bars. This is a good choice if you want your chocolate spread to be sweet, mellow, and not too chocolatey. Semi-sweet chocolate is most often used in chocolate chip cookies. It has less sugar and higher percentage of cocoa solids (40%-60%) than milk chocolate and will give you a rich chocolate flavor. Higher percentages can have a slightly bitter taste. Bittersweet chocolate can have a similar flavor to semi-sweet. It contains little sugar but more chocolate liquor. It usually contains between 60%-85% cocoa solids. This is a good choice if you want a spread that is less sweet, slightly bitter, and very chocolatey. Avoid unsweetened chocolate, which should only be used for baking. Break the chocolate into pieces and rough chop it. This makes it easier to melt the chocolate later. Always use a sharp knife (more accidents occur with dull knives). Collect the chopped chocolate into a small bowl. If you plan to melt the chocolate in the microwave, make sure it is a microwave-safe bowl. Set the bowl aside to melt when after the hazelnuts are toasted--this will take some time and your chocolate will probably harden again if you melt it now. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (176ºC). If you don't have an oven, it is possible to toast the hazelnuts on a stovetop. Heat a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the nuts (don't use any oil or spray, as the nuts are naturally oily) and stir constantly with a spatula until golden brown. Spread 1 cup hazelnuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The hazelnuts should fit on the sheet in a single layer--they should not overlap or sit on top of each other or they may bake unevenly or steam instead of toast. You can also line the baking pan with a silicone sheet, which is reusable and easy to clean. Use a rimmed baking sheet so the hazelnuts don't roll off as you put them in the oven. Toast the hazelnuts in the oven for 10-12 minutes.The skins should be browned and slightly blistered when done. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly. If you don't have the time or means to toast the hazelnuts, you can purchase dry roasted, unsalted hazelnuts at some grocery stores and use them instead. Remove the skins from the toasted hazelnuts. One way to do this is by wrapping the nuts into a kitchen towel or tea towel (make sure it's one you don't mind possibly staining). Rub the wrapped nuts vigorously. This should remove most of the skins (it's okay if some skin remains). Remove the hazelnuts from the towel, leaving the skins behind, and allow them to cool. You can also put the hazelnuts in a mesh bag (the kind in which bulk citrus is sold) and use your hands to rub them together over a sink. The hazelnuts will stay in the bag while most of the skins will fall through the mesh and into the sink. A more time-consuming method is to peel off the skins by hand. Again, don't worry if you don't get every single scrap of skin. Prepare a bain marie (double boiler). This is when you have one pot of boiling water and fit another pot on top. The top pot is where you will put your chocolate. This method heats the chocolate gradually and keeps it from burning. You can also heat the chocolate in a microwave. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate in 15-second intervals, stirring in between. Heat and stir until the chocolate completely smooth. Pour the chopped chocolate into the top part of the bain marie. Though the bain marie should keep the chocolate from burning, chocolate can overheat and burn very easily. Keep an eye on the chocolate, stirring until it is smooth and melted, with no little lumps. Remove the bowl of chocolate from the heat once melted. Set it aside and allow it to cool. Use a food processor to grind the hazelnuts into a paste. Grind the nuts in 1-minute increments to prevent your machine from overheating. The hazelnuts will first become a powder and then, as the natural oils are released, it will form into a paste. Make sure you stop to constantly scrape the sides of the bowl. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a high-powered blender. Add 2 tbsp oil, 3 tablespoon (44.4 ml) sugar, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Continue processing in 1-minute increments until the mixture is completely smooth. Some people like a little texture in their hazelnut spread, so if you like it crunchy make sure you don't blend out all of the chunks of hazelnut. Make sure your vegetable oil is relatively flavorless--like canola or grapeseed oil. Or, if you want to add some complexity to the taste, you can use coconut or peanut oil. If you like your spread a little on the salty side, add another pinch of salt to the mix. Pour the melted chocolate into the nut butter. Process until well combined, pausing to scrape the sides to make sure the chocolate is completely incorporated.You may want to taste it at this point to decide if you want to add more salt or sugar. The mixture may be quite thing and runny at this point, but don't worry--it will thicken up as it cools. Strain the mixture if you want your chocolate hazelnut spread to be super smooth. If you prefer your spread to be chunky or don't mind a little grittiness, then you can skip this step. Otherwise, hold a fine sieve over a bowl and carefully pour the mixture through (you might want to get someone to hold the sieve so you don't spill any of the delicious spread). If your spread seems to thick, you can add a little extra oil to make it more spreadable. Pour the still-warm chocolate hazelnut spread into your storage jar. Allow the spread to completely cool to room temperature before covering. Store in the refrigerator or on the counter at room-temperature. It may last longer in the refrigerator, but may need to be warmed before use to get the right consistency. If you live in a warmer climate, store it in the refrigerator. Consider pouring the spread into several small jars and giving them as gifts to your friends.
Choose the type of chocolate you want to use in your spread. Break the chocolate into pieces and rough chop it. Collect the chopped chocolate into a small bowl. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (176ºC). Spread 1 cup hazelnuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Toast the hazelnuts in the oven for 10-12 minutes.The skins should be browned and slightly blistered when done. Remove the skins from the toasted hazelnuts. Prepare a bain marie (double boiler). Pour the chopped chocolate into the top part of the bain marie. Use a food processor to grind the hazelnuts into a paste. Add 2 tbsp oil, 3 tablespoon (44.4 ml) sugar, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Pour the melted chocolate into the nut butter. Strain the mixture if you want your chocolate hazelnut spread to be super smooth. Pour the still-warm chocolate hazelnut spread into your storage jar.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Room-Look-Nice
How to Make Your Room Look Nice
To make your room look nice, start by cleaning up the area, making your bed, and putting away your clothing. If you have clothes that no longer fit, set those aside and drop them off at a donation center later on. Next, use storage solutions like baskets, plastic boxes, and shelving to organize your space and eliminate clutter. Then, consider hanging framed pictures, posters, or art on your walls to add some color and style. You can also place houseplants in your room to brighten up the space!
Set aside a day to perform one large, thorough, top-to-bottom cleaning. This is your chance to start over and address any mess or clutter that you don't even normally notice when you attempt to clean your room. Let no corner, nook, or cranny go untouched. Don't be discouraged if this is overwhelming at first; after it's completely clean it will take much less work to maintain it. Put away clothing. Clothing can make up a significant portion of the mess in any room. Once this is out of the way, it will be easier to focus on other areas that need to be cleaned. Be sure to check under your bed for any clothing that might have gotten kicked under; similarly, look in the corners of your closet and behind furniture to be sure you haven't missed any. Even a few socks can create clutter. Donate clothing you no longer need. Sort through all of your clothing to identify items you no longer wear or that no longer fit. You can use large trash bags to store these items so that you can easily take them to your nearest thrift shop, such as Goodwill. Wash dirty clothing. Gather all dirty laundry and sort into piles; one for colors, and one for whites. You may need to divide these piles into smaller piles, if there is too much to fit into the washing machine at once. Hang any clean clothes that belong in your closet; fold and put away any items that belong in drawers or other storage containers. Eliminate unnecessary clutter or garbage. Having too much stuff can quickly create a problem that only grows larger as you accumulate more things. Once you follow these steps, prevent your room from becoming cluttered again by simply throwing away or getting rid of items as you no longer need them. Donate unneeded or unnecessary items. Like with donating clothing, use garbage bags to contain any donated items. Be honest with yourself and keep an open mind about what things you can part with; do you really need that unfinished puzzle you haven't touched for two years? Throw away any paper trash that might be cluttering your desk, dresser, or storage shelves. Common culprits include old bills and junk mail, receipts, school work from past semesters, take-out menus, and event flyers that are no longer relevant. Get rid of dishes and food-related garbage. Nothing makes a room smell and look worse than dirty dishes and half-eaten snacks! Plus, food can attract bugs, which will only make things worse. Don't keep dishes in your room, and be sure to throw away all food and food wrappers immediately after you are done with them. To be safe, consider making it a policy to avoid eating in your room altogether, if possible. Make your bed. Your bed is often the biggest item in your room. No matter how clean your room is, if the bed is a mess, your room will look messy. Get into the habit of making your bed every morning when you wake up. First, remove the pillows, and put them aside. Pull the sheets tight and tuck them under the mattress, taking care to smooth any wrinkles. Pull the comforter to the top of the bed, making sure an even amount hangs down on both sides, and smooth out any wrinkles. Fluff the pillows and place them neatly at the head of the bed. Clean the floor. First, pick up any items that don't belong on the floor, including large trash. Vacuum the entire surface of your floor, paying close attention to corners, as well as under your bed and any other furniture. If you have wood floors, a swiffer can also be effective. Use a mop or sponge to wash any hard surface areas that have mud, dirt, or food stuck to it. Store all of your items neatly. If there is no way to organize your things, you'll have no choice but to stuff them into piles. This is not only messy, but it will prevent you from being able to easily find things. Identify a place for all of your things, and make sure to put all of your things into their places. Focus on clothing and shoe storage. Again, clothing that is left out or not stored properly can make a significant impact on a space, making it look dirty and cluttered, even if the clothes are clean and draped over the back of a chair. Use a hamper or basket for dirty laundry. Store in a dresser any clothing items that can't be hung up in a closet. If you don't have a dresser or don't have room for one, you can find inexpensive plastic drawers, plastic containers that fit under the bed, baskets, or even shelves to hold folded items. Contain shoes in an over-the-door shoe rack. You can put this inside your closet door to get it out of the way, free up space, and minimize clutter. Get creative for storage in small space. Unless you have a large room, you are likely familiar with the struggle of limited storage space. Don't be discouraged if your closet and dresser are full to capacity and you're running out of places to put things. With a few creative adjustments, you might be surprised to find that you have more storage space than you thought. Use stackable baskets, containers, or even old suitcases to hold things.You can tuck a stack of boxes into a corner to create functional, stylish storage. Optimize the space under your bed. If your bed is low to the ground, use cinder blocks from a local hardware store or plastic bed lifts to elevate it and give you more storage space. You can store things in boxes, baskets, or plastic containers that will fit neatly under your bed and out of the way. Take advantage of wall and overhead space. Floor space is often limited in small rooms because furniture takes up a lot of it. Opt for shelves hung higher on your walls. Organize school or office supplies. It is important to know where items such as books, pens, envelopes, and paper clips are, but you don't necessarily need them cluttering up your work space. Store them neatly so that you can find them easily when you need them. Contain and organize your books on shelves. Line books neatly on shelves, with the spines facing out and in the same direction so that you can easily search and find titles as needed. Use plastic ziplock baggies to contain small items such as paper clips, thumb tacks, file tabs, sticky-note pads, and rubber bands. Invest in a small filing box to store important papers and documents. Use file folders to store like items, and be sure to label the folders so you can find these items quickly when you need them. You can use folders to sort tax documents by year, papers associated with your classes, and a “important records” file for items such as your birth certificate and social security card. Paint your room. Give careful consideration to the colors you pick. Colors can create and reinforce the mood of a room. Decide what kind of mood or energy you want your room to have. If you have any doubts, a paint store associate can help you decide on a color that's best for you. Choose a light, neutral color, such as taupe, gray, or an off-white, if you want to achieve a calming effect. Paint your room a vibrant color such as red, purple, or yellow, if you want to energize your room. Keep in mind that lighter colors welcome natural light, while darker shades can make a room feel darker. Choose linens that complement the color of your walls. It is best not to choose an exact match. Instead, look for linens with an accent color that matches your wall, or colors that go well with your wall color, such as a pastel pink to complement a pastel blue wall. Avoid using too many patterns. If your walls are patterned, choose a solid-colored bed spread or quilt. If your walls are simple and you prefer to not hang photos or art, consider a patterned bed spread or quilt. Opt for no curtains to let in plenty of natural sunlight, or choose a pattern that matches your bed spread. Consider sheer curtains if you want to let in plenty of light while still maintaining a little bit of privacy. Add framed pictures, posters, or art to add color and style. This is where you can best express yourself and your personality. Whether you have a special love for music, or a certain sports team, or a particular aspect of art or culture, this is where you can really let your interests shine. To avoid turning decor into clutter, have a plan for where you will put each item before you start hanging them, taking care not to hang items too close or too far away from one another. Center a large painting above a headboard or on a wall. Cluster smaller items together, such as small framed pictures, to create the effect of a larger piece. Use plants to add color and brightness to your room. As an added bonus, house plants can freshen the air in your room. You can find these at grocery stores, hardware stores, or nurseries. Be sure to pay close attention to the amount of light and water needed; you can find this information on the plant's tag, or ask a store associate. If you have a busy schedule or don't prefer to maintain a strict routine, consider plants that don't need to be watered regularly. Use your phone calendar app to set a reminder to water plants that only require occasional watering such as weekly or once a month. If your room receives little or no sunlight, search for plants that don't require much sun, such as the mother-in-law tongue. If you have a bright, sunny room that gets a lot of sunlight, look for plants that require bright light, such as the dragon tree.
Set aside a day to perform one large, thorough, top-to-bottom cleaning. Put away clothing. Eliminate unnecessary clutter or garbage. Make your bed. Clean the floor. Store all of your items neatly. Focus on clothing and shoe storage. Get creative for storage in small space. Organize school or office supplies. Paint your room. Choose linens that complement the color of your walls. Add framed pictures, posters, or art to add color and style. Use plants to add color and brightness to your room.
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Glaucoma
How to Treat Glaucoma
To treat glaucoma, see a doctor right away if you have symptoms, like increased eye pressure, blurred eye sight, or loss of peripheral vision, to prevent long-term damage to your eye. If you're diagnosed with glaucoma, your doctor will prescribe medicated eye drops to reduce the fluid and lessen the pressure in your eye. Along with medication, try using over-the-counter eye drops to help alleviate dryness. Additionally, eat plenty of foods that are good for the eyes, like carrots, citrus fruits, and fatty fish. You should also cut back on coffee and other caffeinated drinks, which can increase pressure in the eyes.
Learn about what glaucoma is and how it's treated. Understanding glaucoma in detail can help patients adhere to a treatment plan. Glaucoma is a group of diseases which damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma can be caused by an increase in eye pressure, but it can also occur without an increase in eye pressure (known as low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma). The treatment of glaucoma is focused on reducing the pressure in the eyeball, called the intraocular pressure (IOP) or eye blood pressure. This should be done with medical supervision. In a normally functioning eye, a fluid called aqueous humor is produced in the posterior (rear) chamber of eye. It then travels to the anterior (front) chamber of eye by passing the pupil where it exchanges contents with the cornea and lens. It exits to the system where the recirculation will cycle through the eye again. Learn about the different types of glaucoma. There are two main types of glaucoma: open angle and closed angle. Both types of the disease are characterized by progressive optic nerve damage that is sometimes related to an increase in eye pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure. Learn the symptoms of glaucoma. The two main types of glaucoma have completely different symptoms. The symptoms of open-angle glaucoma include tunnel vision, or the gradual loss of peripheral vision. The symptoms of acute closed-angle glaucoma include eye pain, nausea and vomiting, sudden loss of sight, blurred vision, light halos, and red eyes. Understand open-angle glaucoma. Open-angle is the most common type of glaucoma, responsible for 90% of cases of glaucoma. In open-angle glaucoma, there is either a lack of cells in the trabecular network, the cells that are available are not functioning correctly, or the trabecular meshwork may be partially clogged, causing slower than normal drainage of aqueous humour. Without an exit for the fluid, the result is an accumulation of aqueous humour in eye, thus increasing the intraocular pressure. This results in a suffocating optic nerve. The complication of this is diminished vision ultimately leading to blindness if left untreated. Some symptoms of open-angle glaucoma are slow or gradual vision loss and painless change of vision. Many people do not have any other symptoms; therefore, it is important to maintain eye doctor appointments to regularly test the pressure inside your eye. Diagnosis cannot be made without testing IOP. Understand closed-angle glaucoma. Closed-angle glaucoma is caused by aqueous humour accumulation causing a bulging iris, thus physically obstructing aqueous humour drainage. Unlike open-angle glaucoma, it is a painful situation. Generally, it is acute in nature; however, chronic cases are also possible. This is a medical emergency and you should be immediately taken to the nearest medical facility. Patients with open-angle glaucoma should be cautious when administering eye drops, because any drops that dilate pupils can result in closed-angle glaucoma. Before administering drops ask an eye care professional if it is advisable. If you do experience pain with drops and vision changes, go to the nearest medical facility and inform your doctor. Understand the risk factors for glaucoma. Understanding risk factors for glaucoma can help patients keep an eye on warning signs and symptoms if they are at higher risk. Those who are older than 40 are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma. This is due to the natural aging of cells in the trabecular meshwork, making them more prone to accumulation of aqueous humour. Diabetics are twice as likely to develop glaucoma than non-diabetics. Environmental stress can also become a factor. Exposure to pollutants, such as smoke or UV light, without proper protection can cause an increased amount of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that have unstable electrons — they have an odd, unpaired electron. This unstable molecule attempts to stabilize by attacking a healthy molecule, trying to steal an electron. This turns the attacked molecule into a free radical, an so on. Eventually, this reaction can damage the cell. Learn some relaxation techniques and exercises. Some eye exercises can relieve stress and can help relax and strengthen your eyes. Although eyestrain doesn't cause glaucoma, people who suffer from glaucoma should reduce strain on their eyes in order to accommodate the low amount of aqueous humour exiting in relation to its production. The great part is these are things you can do at home or anywhere you are as long as you are comfortable. Here are some examples: Blinking provides a break for our eyes, but is often disregarded due to our heavy and long workloads. This may seem unnecessary to think about, but eyestrain makes this a concern. Blinking helps lubricate your eyes by spreading tear film evenly and can help eyestrain due to eye dryness. Blinking cleanses eyes by mechanically pushing toxins out with tears. You should blink once every four seconds to spread tear film and prevent tired eyes due to dryness. Palming can be done by simply taking your palms and using them to cover your closed eyes for a few minutes. Sit comfortably in a chair with your back straight. Put your elbows on a table — on top of pillow for added comfort. Cup each hand and close eyes. Place the right cupped hand over the right closed eye, and the left cupped hand over the left closed eye. Breathe normally and relax with your palms on your eyes for five to 10 minutes. Practice tracing figure eights with your eyes. This exercise helps your eye muscles and increases their flexibility. Imagine a horizontal figure eight or infinity sign in front of you. Trace the eight with only your eyes slowly, about ten times, without moving your head. These methods should be done together. As a result of patient's commitment to these exercises, patients can experience less eyestrain. Do these exercises for about 20 minutes a day, four to five times a week, or at the advice of orthoptic specialist. Try focusing or zooming your eyes. By focusing on objects at different distances, you can provide some relief to eyestrain. For example, eyestrain can occur when focusing on monitors or screens for long periods of time. A simple break to perform this technique can also remind you to blink, thus hydrating eyes. Focusing. Simply find a relaxing place to sit. Put your thumb in front of you, around 10 inches (25.4 cm) away and try to focus your eyes on it. After a few seconds try to focus on something else again, around 10 to 20 feet (3.0 to 6.1 m) away from you. Don't forget a deep breath before you switch focus in your eyes! Zooming. This improves your focusing skills and also strengthens your eye muscles. Try to work again with your thumb. Put your thumb in front of you with your arms outstretched and after a few seconds try to bring it near, around 3 inches (7.6 cm) away from your eye. Do this for a few minutes. Eat the right diet. Eating healthy cannot cure glaucoma but some nutrients and vitamins from healthy foods can help you improve your eyesight. Here are some foods that are good for the eyes: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is good for smooth eye function. Green, leafy vegetables and egg yolks are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, both powerful antioxidants. Citrus fruits and berries are rich in Vitamin C. Almonds are high in vitamin E which are antioxidants. Fatty fish is rich in DHA and omega-3s and great for overall eye health. Limit your fluid intake, especially of caffeine. Since you are experiencing eye pressure, drinking several fluids at a given time can temporarily increase eye fluid buildup, leading to pressure. Instead, stick to a steady stream of water to keep hydrated. Limit drinking caffeine as it can contribute in increasing eye pressure, too. That means decaffeinated sodas and only decaffeinated coffees and teas. Read the label first to be sure! One cup of coffee a day is thought to be a safe amount. It is not clear how much or why coffee may increase intraocular pressure; however, coffee does have an effect on blood flow and the vessels that feed the eyeball. Many health professionals recommend limiting coffee to a cup a day even though the exact mechanism is not well understood. Some evidence suggests that aerobic exercise can also help to reduce IOP. Exercise can reduce systemic high blood pressure and is overall helpful to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Use over-the-counter eye drops. Lubricating eye drops are only for relief of eyestrain and not to treat glaucoma. They simply treat related dry eye. See your eye doctor for more information on relieving eyestrain with a preexisting condition. Artificial tears can only provide supplemental care and not a substitute for natural tears. Artificial tears can help alleviate dryness by replacing the layer of tear film that helps keep eyes moist and tears spread evenly throughout surface of eye. Eye ointments can comfort due to their lubricating effect and are particularly useful during extended periods when artificial tears cannot be applied. Over-the-counter eye drops (such as Systane) are administered about four to six times daily or as needed. Use prescribed medicated eye drops. Medicated eye drops are the most common way of treating glaucoma. These require a prescription so the eye doctor can regularly check eye pressure as well as any complications that may occur. Over-the-counter eye drops are not recommended in combination with prescription eye drops. Prescription eye drops can lower eye pressure by slowly improving fluid drainage in your eyes. These are usually taken every day, of course with the guidance of an ophthalmologist. If this sounds like a convenient solution for you, talk to your doctor. She will be able to set you up with the kind that is right for you. Look into using beta-blockers. This type of eye drop is used to reduce the fluid in the eyes. Examples of this drug include timolol (Betimol) betaxolol (Betoptic), and metipranolol (OptiPranolol). These are usually given one drop, once or twice daily. The side effects of this eye drop may include breathing problems, hair loss, fatigue, depression, memory loss, a drop in blood pressure, and impotence. Talk to your doctor about prostaglandin analogs. This eye drop has replaced beta-blockers as the most common eye drop used because it does have fewer side effects. This drop, usually given one per day, increases fluid flow in the eye and reduces eye pressure. Its possible side effects include a reddening and stinging feeling in the eyes, a little swell in the outer part of the eye and the iris of the eye becoming dark. The color of the eyelids may also change. Know that cholinergic agents are an option, too. These are also called miotics because they narrow the size of the pupils. On the other hand, they help with glaucoma by increasing fluid flow in the eye. Common examples are pilocarpine and carbachol. Possible side effects are having smaller pupils (less intake of light), blurred vision, an aching brow, and an increased risk of retinal detachment. These eye drops are infrequently used anymore as a treatment for glaucoma because it usually requires one drop, three to four times a day. Rather it is now commonly used to keep pupils smaller prior to laser iridotomy — in other words, conditions unrelated to glaucoma. Alternatively, look into carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. These eye drops reduce fluid production in the eyes. Drug examples are Trusopt and Azopt, with one drop taken two to three times a day. These drugs can also be use as pills in eliminating body fluid, including in the eyes. Possible side effects may include nausea, eye irritation, dry mouth, frequent urination, tingling in the fingers/toes, and a strange taste in the mouth. Consider using an adrenergic agonist. These eye drops both reduce fluid flow in the eye and at the same time increase the fluid drainage in the eye. Usually one drop is needed per day. Drug examples are Alphagan, Propine and Iopidine. These are not commonly used, as 12% of users may have an allergic reaction. Possible side effects may include irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, fatigue, red, itchy or swollen eyes, and dry mouth. Consider surgery if all else fails. Surgical intervention for glaucoma is done if eye drops or drugs don't work, or if the person cannot tolerate the drugs' side effects. The main reason for surgery is to improve the fluid flow in the eye to lower eye pressure. Sometimes, your initial surgery does not lower eye pressure enough, requiring you to have a second surgery or to still continue using eye drops. The different kinds of eye surgery are as follows: Drainage implants. Implants are usually done for children and for those suffering from advanced glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. Laser surgery. Trabeculoplasty is a laser surgery that uses a high-energy laser beam to open blocked drainage canals and let the fluid run easily in the eyes. Laser iridotomy. These are for people with very narrow drainage angles. A small hole is created on the top part or side of the iris for improved fluid flow. Filtering Surgery. In this procedure, a surgeon creates an opening in the sclera (the white part of the eye) and removes a small piece of tissue in the base of the cornea where fluid goes out, allowing the fluid to flow freely out of the eye.
Learn about what glaucoma is and how it's treated. Learn about the different types of glaucoma. Learn the symptoms of glaucoma. Understand open-angle glaucoma. Understand closed-angle glaucoma. Understand the risk factors for glaucoma. Learn some relaxation techniques and exercises. Try focusing or zooming your eyes. Eat the right diet. Limit your fluid intake, especially of caffeine. Use over-the-counter eye drops. Use prescribed medicated eye drops. Look into using beta-blockers. Talk to your doctor about prostaglandin analogs. Know that cholinergic agents are an option, too. Alternatively, look into carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Consider using an adrenergic agonist. Consider surgery if all else fails.
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Respectful
How to Be Respectful
To be respectful, start by showing kindness and courtesy to others. This includes saying “please” and “thank you,” and helping people who seem to be in need. Make sure you're being respectful of everyone you meet, regardless of who they are or what they look like. Acknowledge and work to understand differences between yourself and others, whether they are culturally, religious, or political. Do your part to respect the Earth by recycling and being environmentally conscious.
Show kindness and courtesy. Being respectful starts with a basic consideration of other people's feelings. Ask yourself how you'd want to be treated in a given situation, and make an effort to treat other people that way. Treat everyone you encounter—strangers on the street, coworkers, classmates and family members—with respect and courtesy. Offer people food, water, or something else when you see a need that could be met. Be polite. The concept of etiquette and good manners seems pointless when you're a kid, but when you grow up you realize that these customs function as a way to keep society running smoothly. Practicing good manners is a way to be respectful of other people's space and time. If no one bothered being polite, everyday situations like eating in a restaurant, waiting in line at the post office or dealing with bad traffic would be completely intolerable. Here are a few ways to be polite: Wait your turn. Don't cut in line, or cut people off in traffic, unless it's an emergency (e.g. rushing to the hospital). Avoid disruptive talking in public. Be quiet once the lights go down in a movie theater. Don't talk on your cell phone in indoor places like a coffee shop, store, or restaurant. (Take the call outside instead.) Clean up after yourself. If you make a mess, clean it. Throw away or recycle your trash, including small things like cigarette butts or food wrappers. Speak politely. Say please and thank you. Avoid name-calling or aggressive speech. Don't swear in polite company. Follow rules that keep things safe and pleasant. Don't eat or drink if it's not allowed somewhere. Obey signs like "don't feed the birds" or "only use a public computer for half an hour" so that the environment is pleasant for everyone. Refuse to discriminate. Be respectful to everyone—not just people you know or those you perceive as having a higher status than you. Some people save their respect for people upon whom they want to make a good impression, and they're rude to everyone else. But there is truth in the saying, "You can judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them." Be kind to everyone, regardless of who they are, what they look like, or what their relationship is to you. Be kind to people regardless of their social status. Examine and let go of any negative attitudes you have towards women, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, people of different religions, poor people, overweight people, and other who might be viewed negatively by society. Being different does not make someone inferior. Take a "live and let live" approach. Be kind to people you encounter throughout the day who aren't always treated with respect. For example, homeless people are often overlooked or treated rudely, but they deserve the same respect and courtesy as anyone else. Respect differences in belief and opinion. Be respectful to people who are different from you, even if you don't understand them very well. The differences among us are what make life interesting, and besides, you probably have more in common with people than you know. Even when you really don't see where someone else is coming from, be courteous and civil. You don't have to love everyone you meet, and you certainly don't have to agree with them, but you can still show them respect. Be respectful of others, no matter their... Cultural differences Different religious beliefs Different political beliefs (aside from violent extremism) Sports team preferences Respect spaces. Any space that you share with other people should be treated with respect. Your home (if you live with other people), your school, your street, your bus line - these familiar spaces are familiar to other people, too. You wouldn't appreciate it if other people trashed the places where you spend time every day, so be sure to clean up after yourself and do your part to keep them nice for others. Clean your own messes. Pick up your trash and throw it away. Don't leave wrappers or cigarette butts for other people to clean. Don't graffiti public spaces (unless you're an artist, and you have permission). Respect the earth and all who live here. Being respectful extends beyond just being nice to other people. Remember to show respect to animals, plants and the earth itself. We're all living here together, and each one of us is deserving of respect. Treat every living creature as an individual worthy of courtesy. Do your part to avoid polluting the environment. Understand how your actions affect the rest of the world. For example, using pesticides on your lawn could contaminate the groundwater and have a negative impact on your environment. Try to make conscientious lifestyle choices. Respect other people's possessions. It is considered rude and inconsiderate to help yourself freely to anything that does not belong to you. Ask permission before using someone's property. If you don't, you might be accused of stealing. Respect personal space. Personal space varies in different situations. Strangers (e.g. people on the subway) should be given a space bubble, and it's best not to strike up conversations unless they're showing signs that they're open to talking. Friends and family members usually are more open to touching, but it's still important to make sure they're okay with it. When offering hugs and kisses, let the person see it coming so they can decline it if they don't want it for any reason. Ask before prolonged contact, such as playing with someone's hair or rubbing their back. Treat disability equipment (canes, wheelchairs) and service animals like extensions of a person's body. Don't touch without permission. Listen when someone is talking. When you're having a conversation, being a good listener is a basic sign of respect. If you look bored or interrupt the person, you're showing that you don't really care what he or she has to say. Practice listening more intently and waiting until the person is finished talking before you respond. Making eye contact is a good way to show that you respect what someone is saying. Other body language cues can help as well. Face the person to whom you're talking and try not to fidget while they speak. Process what the person is saying instead of just absently nodding your head. Think before you speak. When it's your turn to talk, try to formulate a respectful response. Take into account what the person was saying and voice your opinion without undermining theirs. Avoid insulting the other person by saying something rude or callous. Try not to be condescending. Don't over explain a concept the other person clearly already understands. For example, don't tell a varsity athlete how to hit a baseball. Don't be patronizing. Along similar lines, talking down to someone can make them feel disrespected. Avoid phrases like "Don't worry your little head about it," or "It's a guy thing, you wouldn't understand." Be mindful of circumstances you should avoid talking about. If you don't know someone very well, there are certain questions you probably shouldn't ask. For example, if you just met someone, don't ask how he got the 3-inch scar on his forehead. Be clear when you want something. People are often happy to help you, but they can't help you if they aren't sure what you need. Talk about your needs (physical or emotional) so that people aren't left wondering what is going on with you. Respectfully disagree. You can respect someone's view even if you wholeheartedly disagree. The key is to disagree with what the person is saying without undermining the actual person's worthiness. For example, you might strongly disagree with someone's political beliefs, but you can still value the person as a human being, and that should come through in the way you argue. Never resort to insulting someone during an argument. Don't let "I don't agree with your view on that" escalate to "You're an idiot." If necessary, halt the conversation before things get too out of control and you say something you'll regret. You're not going to get anywhere by disrespecting the other person; you'll just make a new enemy. Practice patience and assume good faith. Communication can be difficult sometimes, and people may misspeak or struggle to find words that fit. Give them time, and when you aren't quite sure what they mean, assume that they are doing their best to be kind and understanding. Don't stereotype other people. Don't come to a conversation with assumptions about someone else's opinions or background based on their race, gender, religion, nationality, or any other factor. Everyone is an individual with special life experiences and wisdom. Don't make the disrespectful mistake of thinking you know someone before you've taken the time to learn about him or her as a unique person. Skip the gossip. It's a common form of disrespect that people usually get away with, but gossiping is a bad habit. It puts you in the practice of seeing people as characters who are up for discussion instead of individuals with feelings that can be deeply hurt. Even the strangest, most annoying or obnoxious people should not be regularly discussed as though they exist to provide entertainment for others. If you have nothing good to say, it's better not to say it at all. Politely object to gossiping if someone else starts it. Try saying something like "I'm not interested in gossip" or "I don't want to say anything about him that I wouldn't be willing to say to his face." Apologize if you hurt someone. No matter how hard you may try, you'll probably tread on someone's toes at some time or another. Your hurtful mistake is less important than how you react to it. If you realize you did something unkind or upsetting, talk to the person about it to apologize. Avoid saying "but" to justify your actions. If you wish to explain why you behaved the way you did, try "and" instead. For example, "I'm sorry I winced when you said you were autistic, and I was acting on a misconception of what autism is. I'm sorry I upset you, and I accept you for who you are." This explains the action without excusing it. Be respectful to others even if they're not respectful to you. As difficult as it might be, try to show patience and humility. The other person may learn something from you. If the person is downright rude or mean, try to defend yourself without sinking to his or her level. Show deference to those with rightful authority. Some people deserve extra signs of respect because of the position they hold. The school principal, the boss, the church leader, the mayor, the queen of England—these are people who have risen to leadership positions because they have exhibited qualities society deems worthy of respect. Show authority figures respect according to the proper custom, whether it means calling the principal "Sir" or bowing to the queen. Elders are also deserving of extra respect. Respect your parents, grandparents, and other elders in the community for the valuable wisdom they have to share. In some cases it is important to recognize when an authority figure is not deserving of extra respect and deference. If someone has broken your trust and you feel you can no longer respect them, that's a personal choice you have the right to make. In some cases, by standing up to authority you are respecting yourself and other people affected by the authority figure's power. Don't abuse your own power. If you are in a position of power, respect those who trust you by being courteous and kind to them. Never expect them to defer to you "just because." Be the kind of leader who people want to follow instead of the kind they're afraid not to follow. Respect yourself. You are an important person, and you deserve to be treated well. Work on treating yourself the way you'd treat a friend. Every time you think a negative thought about yourself or do something self-destructive, ask if you'd talk to a friend that way. You are your own best friend. An "others first" approach is kind, but is only realistic to a certain extent. Put your basic needs (food, sleep, mental health) first. Once your needs are met, you will then be able to help other people effectively. Practice empathy and compassion. To really understand how to respect other people, put yourself in their shoes and attempt to truly understand where they're coming from. You can be courteous to people without really caring much about them, but true respect stems from a sense of empathy, a deep sense of shared understanding. Try to recognize the bonds that tie us all together and the fact that we're all sharing the same earth. Respecting each other is a way of getting along and making the world livable and more delightful for everyone.
Show kindness and courtesy. Be polite. Refuse to discriminate. Respect differences in belief and opinion. Respect spaces. Respect the earth and all who live here. Respect other people's possessions. Respect personal space. Listen when someone is talking. Think before you speak. Be clear when you want something. Respectfully disagree. Practice patience and assume good faith. Don't stereotype other people. Skip the gossip. Apologize if you hurt someone. Be respectful to others even if they're not respectful to you. Show deference to those with rightful authority. Don't abuse your own power. Respect yourself. Practice empathy and compassion.
https://www.wikihow.com/Act-Cool
How to Act Cool
To act cool, practice vague responses to specific questions that will make you appear more experienced, mature, or knowledgable. For example, if someone asks you if you've ever smoked a cigarette, simply respond “That's a boring question,” and move on. Additionally, slow down and relax more by letting others talk first, walking more slowly, and taking your time when you talk so you don't appear too eager to chat. You should also find a cool icon to model your look on, and throw yourself into your new style fully.
Figure out who's "in" and who's "out. " Before you can position yourself as a super-cool person worthy of envy, you've got to figure out what cool means. Is this the right place for putting on shades and slouching? Is it the right time to talk about the Chocolate Vomits show at which you stage dived last night? Acting cool at work may be a lot different than acting cool in middle school, but you can learn to identify the different cool and uncool crowds, and tailor your coolness accordingly. In a very large group, like a whole middle school or a whole company, try to find a smaller group of people to befriend and be cool with. Situate yourselves as the "in" group in opposition to the lamestream, er, the mainstream. In a smaller group, it might be more appropriate to remain aloof to play it cool. If you come out too strong, you'll likely just make everyone think you're a weirdo, not cool. Find another cool buddy to be cool with and position your small clique as the in group. Act like you've been there already. According to an analysis of "cool kids" one of the traditional markers of coolness is that other people perceive that cool people are more experienced, mature, and knowledgeable than they are. That doesn't mean you need to have spent time under the bleachers, at underground rock clubs, or in foreign countries to give off a cool vibe, nor does it mean you need to start bragging about things you've never done. You can learn to put on a mysterious and experienced act that people will believe. Practice vague responses to specific questions about your experiences that will seem cool. If someone asks if you're a virgin, or have ever smoked a cigarette, say, "What is this, a sewing circle?" or "That's a boring question" and change the subject. Throw it back in their face. Never make stuff up. It won't make you seem cool to lie and say you've been to Europe, or that you've done illicit things in the back of a car when you haven't. The truth will come out eventually and you'll be exposed and embarrassed. Dissent from the popular opinion of the day. Acting cool means being different, doing things that make you stand out from the crowd. You're floating above the lame drudgery of the world in your super-cool cloud. You can't be a follower and act cool. Other people should want to be like you, because you're setting trends, surprising people with your fresh outlook and opinions, and bucking the common wisdom. Play devil's advocate in group discussions and casual conversations. Don't get attached to being right or wrong, just poke at people's expectations and dissent every now and then for the sake of coolness. All your friends ragging on a teacher? Stick up for her. Being different is cool. Alternatively, it may be "cooler" to join up with the crowd in some cases. In middle school, acting cool might mean embracing the newest Justin Bieber song, even if you're not crazy about Biebs. You can still listen to the good stuff when you're alone. But try to be true to yourself. Slow down. Let the world come to you. Acting cools means relaxing, not rushing into anything due to uncool excitement. Instead, just chill, kick back, and wait. Let other people talk first. Practice good listening skills, staying quiet until someone else wants to start the conversation. Acting cool means you're not desperate for chat. Just take 'er easy. Whatevs. Take long pauses before you speak, even if you're fairly sure of what you're going to say. Dramatic pause will give people the chance to contemplate your smarts and your seriousness. Be stoic, like Kathryn Hepburn, Clint Eastwood, and the titans of cool. Don't forget to slow your roll, too. Walk more slowly. Look around, scoping the sites. Smell the flowers. Walk with a cool lope, rather than an efficient bustle. Ignore the haters. Uncool people have a tendency to make it their mission to tear down cool people. Cool people from Kanye to Picasso to Yoko all have their haters, and it's lame. If you're going to join the ranks of the super-cool, and start acting like the cool, enviable person with the awesome life that you have, it's a given that you'll attract some haters. Learn to deal with them. Keep a close watch on your social networking, unfriending or ignoring anyone who hates on your awesomeness. You don't need to listen to it. Instead, surround yourself with people who'll lift you up and support you in your coolness. Prepare cool responses to haters. If someone tries to make fun of the super-hip style you're trying out at school, saying, "What are you wearing?!" have a cool response prepared just in case: "Maybe I should let my mom dress me, like you do." Spread the coolness around and bestow it on others. The bigger your cool clique, the less chance haters will have of effecting you. Build a strong group of cool friends with similar interests so you won't have to be a lone wolf. Make lots of friends and keep them. One common misconception is that "cool" kids are an exclusive group, like the Navy SEALs, and if one of your friends can't pass the cool test, they'll get cut. A cool person treats everyone with respect and kindness, regardless of whether or not they're really "cool." Seek out a diverse group of friends. Befriend other kids at your school that aren't necessarily considered "cool" and speak up for them to your friends. Build good will rather than sewing resentment. Some recent studies show that kids considered "cool" in middle and high school end up experiencing functional difficulties in their early adult years, as a result of pretending to have more mature experienced early in life, alienating friends and close ones. Don't make the same mistake as the ruthlessly cool. Keep your real friends around. Find a cool icon. Truly "new" looks don't really happen. Unless you want to wrap yourself in space blankets and wear undertaker make-up, it'll be hard to break new ground in the fashion department. The better and quicker way to spice up your cool style is to pick a cool muse, icon, or idol to borrow tips from. Actors, musicians, and even older siblings or locals can all make great style icons. Some classics might include: Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. Sometimes nothing is a real cool hand. Work shirts and banjos never looked cooler than on Newman in this classic flick. Study his icy gaze and his witty come-backs as you cultivate your style. Bonus: being familiar with this oldie flick will make you stand out among the Transformers-obsessed. See also: Steve McQueen in Bullitt , Peter Fonda in Easy Rider , and live clips of Johnny Cash. Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Hepburn's bootleg brand of glamor made her a style icon in the 60s. Striking sophistication and manic weirdness can go hand-in-hand, she taught us. Also check out Brigitte Bardot in any film, Anna Karina in Band of Outsiders (obscure French film bonus points!), and Nancy Sinatra clips on YouTube. Vintage Fashion photography. Check out Mae West, Betty Page, and issues of Vogue from the mid-50s to the 70s. There's a whole wealth of cool going unnoticed at the local library. Need a fresh breath of style in your life? Go back to the source. Build up a cool and flattering wardrobe. Buy clothes that make you look good and make you feel cool. Cool clothes are less about a particular style and more about giving you the confidence and the verve to put out the cool vibes. You want to make sure the clothes fit you and flatter your body shape, so you feel hip and confident. Some trends like skinny jeans and high-waisted pants may not look great on everyone. It's not cool if it doesn't look good. Find something that you like to wear. Wear sunglasses for classic cool. There's one constant in the cool-fashion universe: sunglasses look awesome on everyone. Get some cool shades, prescription if you wear glasses, and rock them when you're outside. Keeping them on indoors is lame. Relax and be comfortable in your own skin. Look at old videos of Johnny Cash being interviewed, or Meryl Streep. They give off the impression that they know something you don't, that they're relaxed in their experience of the world. That's cool. Above all, the most important part of acting cool? Being relaxed. You want to give off the impression of feeling comfortable as you, as if you're at ease in the world you inhabit. Try not to tap your feet anxiously, or chew your fingernails, even when you're just sitting. Sit quietly and contemplatively. Anxiety makes everyone anxious. Quiet dignity? That's cool. Pick your "thing. " It's hard to be more than one kind of cool when it comes to style. You know yourself the best and you know what you think is cool, so if you want to commit to a cool style that'll have others awed by your awesomeness, it's important to pick a thing and stick to it. Are you a rocker? A jock? A nerd? Every subculture comes with its own lexicon of cool. When you decide what kind of cool you want to pursue, throw yourself into it. Get in shape. From Michael Jordan to Mia Hamm, athletes and athletic-types are cool. We regular types are in awe of the athlete's natural ability and cut-throat drive to win at all costs, making them super-cool in the eyes of many. If you want to be athletic-cool, the first step is to get in shape and start putting your body to good use in sports, exercise, and other physical activities. You don't have to be a pro athlete to be athletic-cool, but you do have to be in shape. If you like sports, pick one and commit to a team or building a particular skill. Play soccer, football, basketball, golf, tennis, or whatever sport drives you wild with competitive energy. Get as good as you possibly can and get into shape by playing often and working out. If you don't like traditional ball-and-net sports, many people still cultivate an athletic-coolness by getting into yoga, long-distance running, weightlifting, cycling, or hiking. These are excellent ways to get fit without having to join a team. Prove that you're cool in competition. Cool athletes are often driven by a desire to win, so it's a good idea to get on the field and see what you're made of when you're going for the gold. Whether you're on a team or by yourself, do everything you can to win, whether you're playing a board game or starting in the Super Bowl, win at all costs. Take every opportunity for competition seriously. When Rafael Nadal was injured and recuperating, the loss of tennis competition drove him nuts, so he threw himself completely into competitive high-stakes poker to keep his competitive edge razor-sharp. That's cool. try to be a good winner and a good loser. Cool means you drive others and yourself to succeed at the highest level, but also realize that you're ultimately playing a game. If you lose, congratulate your opponent and have the dignity to appreciate their achievement. There's nothing cool about whining like a sore loser. Show off your skills regularly. A cool athlete is always down to get physical, get competitive, and get moving. A quiet day indoors spend crafting and catching up on Battlestar Galactica ? Forget about it. The cool athlete wants to start the day with a 5-mile bike ride, fuel up with fruit and oatmeal, then shoot hoops until the last possible minute before leaving for work or school. Cool athletes take every opportunity to push their body to the limit. Go to public parks and gyms to meet other like-minded cool athletes. Play pick-up games in your area to make sporting friends and feed your competition monster. Be a beast on the field. Get the right gear. Athletic gear and apparel is big business. Within any hobby, from b-ball to biking, there's a huge range of expensive gear and "stuff" that you can get to keep up your cool image. Outlets like Dick's, Cabela's, Outdoor World, and REI all specialize in gear for the cool athlete. It can be easy to spend a lot of sports gear, but try to spend appropriately in your price range. Some hot brands for the cool athlete include North Face, Patagonia, Under Armour, Nike, and Adidas. These companies make regular clothes as well as extreme-use gear for a variety of purposes. Pick gear appropriate for your interests. Every sport likewise has a specific range of task-specific stuff you can check out when you learn more about your sport. Team memorabilia and jerseys are also super-common among cool athletes. If you love basketball, get an old Sixers throwback jersey and a ball-cap. Rep your favorite teams. Watch sports and pick your athlete icons. Cool athletes usually look to other cool athletes for inspiration and guidance. If you fancy yourself an athlete, it's important to follow your sport of choice. Keep up with the team, even in the off-season. The cool athlete is always checking into the Bleacher Report to see if Kobe's really going to retire, if Cristiano Ronaldo's knee has healed up properly, if RGIII can live up to the hype. Pick your favorite teams and rivalries, with extra bonus points for local and regional teams. It doesn't make any sense to rep the Yankees if you live in Atlanta, unless you can claim some connection to the source. Be authentic to be cool. Read cool books and magazines. One of the best ways to keep as up to date in the cool world as possible is to keep current with the hippest books, magazines, and online reading. If you expect to act cool, keep tapped into the intellectual hubs of coolness. Find stuff that you like, that will also give you cool cache. Check out cool books , classics like Kerouac's On the Road , Plath's "The Bell Jar," Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude , and more contemporary hip-lit: anything by Tao Lin, Karen Russell, Roberto Bolano, or Haruki Murakami. Check out cool culture magazines like Vice , Bomb," The Believer , Aesthetica , Oxford American , The Brooklyn Rail , and Interview. Check out cool culture sites , like The Onion, Aquarium Drunkard, Slate, Narrative, and Brooklyn Vegan. Listen to cool music. Music is the lifeblood of the cool kids. Maybe nothing can more instantly inject you with cool juice than a taste in hip music and a contemporary knowledge of what's cool. You don't want to be the guy at the party with outdated taste, asking everyone if they've ever heard of Radiohead. Check out cool archival record labels like Numero Group, Tompkins Square, and Light in the Attic, to learn about old obscurities. While the lame kids go gaga over Mumford and Sons, go deep into Laurel Canyon desert folk, Minneapolis soul comps, and weird ambient music from the 80s. Good and obscure equals cool. Go to local shows and learn about the local scene in your area. If you can get in on the ground level with the next hip band before they get big, you can tell all your friends you knew them back when they were playing in your basement. Cool points +1000. Collect vinyl records, both old and new. CDs are dead, and MP3s lack the cache of a sweet stack of vinyl. Most new records come with download codes anyway, meaning you can still check out the same record on your iPod. Bonus! Stay aloof. Don't get too excited about anything, or anybody. Stay cool and aloof, as if you've always got something totally rad happening every night after school, or on the weekends. Just found out you won an all-expenses paid trip to Mexico? Shrug your shoulders: "Sounds cool, I guess." Your boyfriend just broke it off with you in front of all your friends? Laugh it off. He was a loser anyway. Alternatively, if you're at a party full of "too cool for school" types, who sneer and can't even be bothered to take off their leather jackets, it might be cooler to speak out. Be the one cracking jokes, cutting up, and being loud. Find the mainstream and act in opposition to it, if you want to act cool. Commit to nothing and feel free to change your mind regularly. Some cool things are timeless. Plain white tees, Levis, and Chuck Taylors? Always cool. Motorcycles? Always cool. Bass guitar? Always cool. But you've also got to stay ahead of trends by keeping your ear to the underground and finding the "next big thing," which might mean getting off the "Harlem Shake" train before it gets lame. It's cutthroat, the cool game. When you see Ninja Turtles novelty tees at K-Mart, the trend has probably crossed over into lame. When you hear a band in a diamond commercial, they're probably not super-hip anymore. Move onto the next thing when it's reached it's pop culture apex. No shame. Hang out with musicians, artists, and creative types. There's nothing more cool than being in a rock band, doing weird performance art, or being an all-around eccentric person. Hang out with such people and the coolness will rub off on you. Frequent trendy coffee shops to meet bohemian sorts in your area. Carry a hip book with you and dress in your coolest clothes. Hit up art openings, concerts, and poetry readings. You'll attract the other cool sorts. At your school, see if there's an art, guitar, or foreign language club you could join to hang out with other cool and worldly people. It's a good way to make cool friends. If your school doesn't have a music appreciation society, start one. Develop quirky or "weird" habits. Acting cool means having compelling interests in unexpected fields, topics, and issues. Cool people shake up the norm and do surprising things that make other people want to learn from you and sap off your cool vibes. You can cultivate some quirks that'll make you stand out and get noticed. Maybe you could carry a cane with a rattlesnake on the handle for no reason. Maybe you develop a love of exotic butterflies, and decorate your room with your collection of specimens. The line between weirdo eccentricities and "cool" is sometimes blurry. Have fun with it and do something you really enjoy that's odd, unique, and cool. Try thinking of calling cards, cool quirks that'll make you different and cool. Even things as simple as ordering bloody mary at night, or deciding to never see Forrest Gump might qualify as "cool." Be the never-seen-a-single-episode-of-Seinfeld guy? Why not? Go for controlled chaos in your grooming. Acting cool means you want to look cool while also looking as if you put no thought whatsoever into your look. Look cool by controlling the chaos of your hair, your clothes, and your make-up. Jeans and shirts should not be ironed, but not super-wrinkly or dirty. Holes in your jeans are cool, and so are paint-splattered boots and sneakers, as if you just came straight form the studio. Necklaces, bracelets, and piercings are usually cool, if they make you feel good. Use your judgment. Shark teeth necklaces look cool on Johnny Depp, but might make you look like a dork. Combined with other cool stylings, you can start to build a look for yourself. Wash your hair the night before school, rather than right before school. Going to bed with slightly-damp hair can give you rockstar body and frizz, giving it a controlled kind of wildness. You can always comb it out if it looks too crazy. Cool make-up is usually minimalist. Go for a light natural look, highlighting your features and your own natural coloring. Go vintage with clothes and entertainment. Classic tends to trump cutting edge when it comes to cool clothes, movies, and music. Classic Ray-Bans are cooler than Oakleys. Old-school Italian art house films from the 70s are cool, while Michael Bay movies are less so. Old-school synthesizers and analog guitar effects might be cooler than digital counterparts. Tape machines cooler than Ableton Live. Find the cutting edge, and be on the right side of it. Technology, clothes, culture, many different kinds of things can change in an instant. Coolness is a moving target. try to stay as up-to-date as you can on the newest, the freshest, and the coolest stuff available. Smart-cool people are always plugged in, have always seen that meme three days before it showed up on your newsfeed, and always have opinions about the newer, the more efficient, and the most innovative dispatches from the tech world. The newest Facebook privacy updates? Smart-cool people read about that three days ago, thank you very much. Always try to update your hardware as soon as possible. The newest start-up apps, devices, games, and trends are usually cooler than slightly dated varieties. The new iPhone is cooler than the old iPhone. Why are you reading a paperback? Get an e-reader, already. You want to be the guy with the newest roll-out, drawing envious stares on the train during your commute. Find new ways of doing necessary things. Shopping, eating, and traveling in the old ways? Boring. A smart-cool person doesn't waste time going to mall, instead opting to shop online at retailers like Frank & Oak or Warby Parker. A smart-cool person doesn't go to hotels, but researches cheap options on AirBnB, and gets there by hitching an Uber ride. Stay abreast of the coolest new start-ups and innovations in the consumer culture. You don't necessarily have to be super-plugged-in to stay on top of innovative consumer trends. Even within your own neighborhood, you can seek out new restaurants, always going somewhere else, finding the next best thing. Be restless and keep moving. Develop your online presence. Smart-cool people pride themselves on their Twitter followers and take their online presence seriously. From your social networking to your personal websites to your World of Warcraft account, your online presence should be tricked out and fully developed. Have a blank avatar on your wikiHow account? Get serious. Online friends are real friends. Forge relationships and friendships with people online, who'll get your particular brand of humor, your interests, and your personality. If you spend a considerable amount of time in your own head, online communities can be very welcoming. It might feel like home. Take school seriously and get a well-rounded education. Being smart-cool means you've got to be, well, smart. Get excited about how you can translate your smarts into a career by learning about innovative fields and developments in culture. See school as a means to an end, and keep moving forward into your bright future. Develop a thirst for knowledge of all sorts, not just what you're interested in or consider your speciality. If you want to be a hacker, be the hacker who can quote Macbeth at length. If you want to be a novelist, learn how to do things with your hands, in addition to all that brain-work. You know there's nothing cool about blowing off your homework, even when the supposedly "cool" kids at your school seem to blow it off all the time. Find confidence in the knowledge that you'll be in college, surrounded by awesome, intelligent, and beautiful people, while these fake cool kids go nowhere. Dress how you want. In the world of smart-cool, looking as if you pay excessive attention to brands, styles, or other trends would be conspicuously uncool. A smart person wants to look as if dressing is the last possible item on a long list of items. Dress for utility and comfort, not for "coolness." Walking around with a corporate logo emblazoned on your chest, like a billboard? Please. Novelty t-shirts are the calling card of the smart-cool. Shop online for funny shirts with inside jokes you and your friends will get, that will leave the lame jocks scratching their heads. Found a Monty Python tee you dig? Cool.
Figure out who's "in" and who's "out. Act like you've been there already. Dissent from the popular opinion of the day. Slow down. Ignore the haters. Make lots of friends and keep them. Find a cool icon. Build up a cool and flattering wardrobe. Relax and be comfortable in your own skin. Pick your "thing. Get in shape. Prove that you're cool in competition. Show off your skills regularly. Get the right gear. Watch sports and pick your athlete icons. Read cool books and magazines. Listen to cool music. Stay aloof. Commit to nothing and feel free to change your mind regularly. Hang out with musicians, artists, and creative types. Develop quirky or "weird" habits. Go for controlled chaos in your grooming. Go vintage with clothes and entertainment. Find the cutting edge, and be on the right side of it. Find new ways of doing necessary things. Develop your online presence. Take school seriously and get a well-rounded education. Dress how you want.
https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Fabric-Black
How to Dye Fabric Black
The best way to dye fabric black is to fill a large container with hot water and add black fabric dye. Use more dye for a darker black, or add a 1/4 cup of salt per 1/2 pound of fabric you're dyeing to make the final color more vibrant. Submerge the fabric in the dye bath for 30-60 minutes and stir the bath periodically. Then, remove the fabric from the dye bath and rinse it until the water runs clear.
Use a black fabric dye designed for your kind of fabric. If your fabric is made out of natural fibers like cotton, linen, silk, and wool, most fabric dyes will work. If your fabric is made out of synthetic materials like polyester, spandex, and acrylic, look for a black fabric dye that says “synthetic fibers” on the label. Non-synthetic fabric dyes may not dye fabrics made with synthetic materials. Fill a large container with boiling hot water. A large bowl or bucket will work. Make sure the container is large enough to hold the piece of fabric you're dyeing. Fill the container with enough water that you'll be able to completely submerge your piece of fabric. Using boiling water will give you the best results, but your fabric will still dye if you just use hot water from a tap. If you have access to a stovetop and large pot, you can make your dye bath on the stovetop and turn the burner to low. Keeping the water hot throughout the dye process will make the final color darker. Pour black fabric dye into the container of water. Read the label on the back of the fabric dye to see how much you should use. Keep in mind that the more fabric dye you use, the darker the final color will be. If you want your fabric to be a dark, solid black, you may want to use an entire container of fabric dye. Stir the dye thoroughly with a spoon. You can find a black fabric dye online or at your local fabric store. Add table salt to the dye bath if you want a more vibrant color. Use.25 cups (59 mL) of salt per.5 pounds (0.23 kg) of fabric you're dyeing. Thoroughly stir the salt into the dye bath with a spoon. For example, if you're dyeing 3 pounds (1.4 kg) of fabric, you would use 1.5 cups (350 mL) of salt. Put the fabric in the dye bath. Make sure the fabric is completely submerged in the bath. Press down on the fabric using a long metal utensil, like a spatula or spoon, to get out any air bubbles that are trapped in the fabric. Stir the fabric in the dye bath periodically with a metal utensil. As you're stirring it, turn the fabric over in the container and unfold it with the utensil. That way all of the fabric will be exposed to the dye. Let the fabric soak in the dye bath for 30-60 minutes. The longer you let the fabric soak in the dye bath, the darker the final color will be. Make sure you let the fabric soak for at least 30 minutes or the dye may not stick to the fabric. Dump the dye bath out in a sink or bathtub. Once all the dye is down the drain, leave the piece of fabric in the sink or tub. Avoid dumping the dye bath out outside. Apply a dye fixative before you rinse the fabric for an enhanced color. Dye fixative will help the dye cling to the fibers in your fabric so the final color looks more vibrant. If you decide to use a dye fixative, spray it over the entire surface of the fabric so the fabric is heavily coated. Let the dye fixative soak into the fabric for 20 minutes. You can find dye fixative online or at your local fabric store. Rinse the excess dye off of the fabric with hot water at first. Rinse the fabric in the sink or tub you dumped the dye bath out in. Unfold the fabric so that it's all exposed to the running water. Rinse the fabric under cold water until the water runs clear. Make sure you wait until the water runs clear or there could still be leftover dye in the fabric. Once the water runs clear, stop rinsing the fabric and ring out any excess water. Machine wash and dry the fabric by itself on a normal setting. Washing the fabric by itself will prevent any leftover dye from transferring to your other laundry. After its first wash, your fabric should be OK to wash with your other laundry. If you're worried about your fabric shrinking in the dryer, hang dry it instead.
Use a black fabric dye designed for your kind of fabric. Fill a large container with boiling hot water. Pour black fabric dye into the container of water. Add table salt to the dye bath if you want a more vibrant color. Put the fabric in the dye bath. Stir the fabric in the dye bath periodically with a metal utensil. Let the fabric soak in the dye bath for 30-60 minutes. Dump the dye bath out in a sink or bathtub. Apply a dye fixative before you rinse the fabric for an enhanced color. Rinse the excess dye off of the fabric with hot water at first. Rinse the fabric under cold water until the water runs clear. Machine wash and dry the fabric by itself on a normal setting.
https://www.wikihow.com/Spot-Fake-Gold
How to Spot Fake Gold
If you're not sure how to spot fake gold, check the piece for a stamp, which will typically be on the clasp, or inside the band if it's a ring. If the piece is real gold, the stamp should bear a manufacturer's mark and a karat marking, such as 14K or 24K. Fake gold may bear a karat mark, but will not have a manufacturer's mark. Also, if the piece is discolored, or if your skin turns green when you're wearing the jewelry, it is not real gold.
Weigh the gold. Gold is a very dense metal, so it will be heavier than it looks. Use a jeweler's scale to determine the exact weight of the gold. Gold bars typically have their weight inscribed on them. Make sure the actual weight matches this inscription. Many gold coins and pieces will also have their weight stamped on them. Check that the weight is accurate. Measure the size. Gold should be small compared to its weight. Fake gold pieces may have a heavier weight but also be too large for the weight to match the weight of real gold. Check the diameter and thickness of any gold coins you're considering buying. The specifications for collectible coins can be found in numismatic guides or online. Gold bars are sold in many different sizes, but the size of a standard gold bar is 7”x 3 ⅝” x 1 ¾” and weighs 400 ounces or 27.5 pounds. Determine the actual volume of irregular objects, such as rings, by placing them in a graduated cylinder accurate to.1 milliliters(mLs). Place 20mLs of water in the cylinder and add the object you wish to test. Record the difference in water level. 1 cubic centimeter is equal to 1 mL. Calculate the density of your gold. Density is a measurement of mass per volume. Once you know the weight of the gold and its volume, you can easily calculate density by dividing the mass by the volume. 24 karat gold has a density of 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter. 18 karat gold has a density of 15.6 grams per cubic centimeter. 14 karat gold has a density of 13.1 grams per cubic centimeter. Check for a stamp. Gold will be stamped with the karat weight or purity of the gold as well as the manufacturer's name. The stamp will typically be on the clasps of jewelry. Typical karat markings are 10K, 14K, and 24K Some counterfeit gold will have a karat stamp on it, but rarely have a manufacturer's name. Look for discoloration on the metal. As a precious metal, gold does not tarnish or rust. If you see any discoloration on the metal, it is a sure sign that it is not pure gold. > If your skin becomes discolored or greenish when wearing golden jewelry it is likely a bronze mixed with copper. Pure gold does not cause a reaction when worn against the skin for extended times. Test the magnetism. Gold is not magnetic, however, many metals used to make fake gold are. Get a magnet that is stronger than a typical refrigerator magnet to perform this test. Hold the magnet slightly above the gold piece. Observe if the gold is attracted to the magnet and if the magnet can pick up the piece of gold. Perform the float test. You can test whether or not the piece of gold floats to determine if its real. Real gold is dense and will sink, but many pieces of fake gold will float. Get a glass large enough to fit the piece of gold, and fill it with water. Drop the gold piece into the water, and observe it. Complete the nitric acid test. This is a good test to use on scrap gold, but not recommended for jewelry you plan to wear or resell. This test uses nitric acid to see if the gold has a chemical reaction with it. One hundred percent gold will have no reaction to the nitric acid. Put on safety goggles and gloves before working the the nitric acid. Make a light, small scratch on the gold using a nail file. Use an eyedropper to apply one drop of nitric acid to the scratch on the gold. If the liquid turns greenish, the item is probably mostly another metal like zinc and plated with gold. If the liquid turns a milky color, the item most likely is mostly sterling silver and plated with gold. If you're nervous about using nitric acid, you could try a vinegar test instead. While slightly less accurate than nitric acid, vinegar is a milder acid that will produce similar results. Perform a streak test. Rub a sample of the suspected gold or pyrite on an unglazed ceramic tile. A colored streak will be left behind similar to a pencil mark. Fool's gold or pyrite will leave behind a greyish streak. Real gold will leave a shiny golden streak. Test the density of the sample. Determine the weight and volume of your sample. Use a digital scale to weigh the sample and record the mass in grams. Place the sample in a graduated container filled with water to determine the volume of displaced water. The volume the water level rises will indicate the volume of your sample (1 milliliter is equal to 1 cubic centimeter). Divide the mass by the volume. Pyrite has a density of 4.8-5 grams per cubic centimeter Pure gold has a density of 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter. Do a scratch test. The hardness of a mineral can be determined by its ability to scratch or be scratched by an object. Try to scratch a copper penny with your suspected gold. Real gold will not scratch a penny and can be scratched by the penny. Fool's gold or pyrite will scratch a penny and cannot be scratched by the penny. Ask for the item’s melt value. Gold jewelry and coins can be melted down to extract the metal from the piece. If you are told that the melt value exceeds the weight of the item, you should be wary of the purchase because it may be a gold plated or counterfeit piece. Avoid purchases delivered to a “secured location”. Some business trick consumers into buying gold by saying that the purchase will be stored in a high security location for safety. In many instances the gold product does not actually exist or is of an inferior quality. Always inspect your gold before making a purchase. Rent or invest in a safety deposit box or safe to protect your gold. Know the current market value for gold. Gold price is based on its weight. The price of an ounce of gold fluctuates regularly. Reputable dealers will provide you with the current market value of an ounce of gold when making a purchase. Expect mark-ups when purchasing coins or jewelry to cover the artistic or collectible value of the item. If the price of an item is below the market price for its weight you should avoid the purchase. Purchase certified gold coins. American Numismatic Association (ANA) provides grading and certification of collectible gold coins. Make sure that any gold coins you purchase have been assessed for grading by the ANA.
Weigh the gold. Measure the size. Calculate the density of your gold. Check for a stamp. Look for discoloration on the metal. Test the magnetism. Perform the float test. Complete the nitric acid test. Perform a streak test. Test the density of the sample. Do a scratch test. Ask for the item’s melt value. Avoid purchases delivered to a “secured location”. Know the current market value for gold. Purchase certified gold coins.
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Nits-from-Hair
How to Remove Nits from Hair
To remove nits from your hair, start by using an over-the-counter lice shampoo to kill the adult lice. Alternatively, cover your hair in oil or petroleum jelly for several hours to smother the bugs. After washing your hair, pour a large amount of vinegar on your head until all the strands are coated before rinsing your hair with warm water. Then, use a metal nit comb to comb through small sections of hair, rinsing and drying the comb after each section to get rid of the eggs. Finally, wash your hair one more time to make sure you get rid of all the bugs.
Exterminate all adult lice. Removing the nits from the hair of the person affected won't make a difference if adult lice are still able to breed. As long as there are adult lice, new batches of eggs will continue to appear on the hair. These additional eggs will then hatch into more lice, which in turn will lay more eggs. This unending cycle is not broken until all adult lice have been killed. Submerging your hair underwater for an extended period of time will not kill or drown lice. Studies show that the lice simply cling to the hair or scalp while underwater and can survive underwater for several hours. The chlorine in pool water, unfortunately, is also not strong enough to kill lice. To kill adult lice, wash your hair, or that of the person affected, with over-the-counter lice shampoo. In extreme cases of head lice, prescription-strength head lice shampoo is also available. Try a prescription shampoo. One option is Pyrethrum, which comes from chrysanthemum flowers that harbor natural insecticides called pyrethrins. Pyrethrins attack lice's nervous systems, though some lice are now resistant to the toxin. Apply the shampoo to dry hair. Then, wait ten minutes, add water, work into a lather, and rinse. You should then try to remove nits and repeat the process seven to 10 days later, to kill any remaining bugs. Suffocate the live lice as an alternative. Although there are few clinical studies on its effectiveness, some people believe that you can kill lice by suffocation. The way this works is that certain products, they argue, clog the bugs' breathing holes. Lice can survive for hours without breathing, but eventually they will die. Try a petroleum jelly like Vaseline. Apply the jelly to your hair and scalp thickly. The jelly must remain for up to eight hours to kill, and you should wear a shower cap to restrict air flow. Keep in mind that Vaseline will be very hard to remove and will not kill the nits. Some people also advocate the use of common olive oil. Again, some claim that the oil plugs the insects' breathing holes and suffocates them. Like Vaseline, you should apply the oil to your hair and scalp, don a shower cap, and wait about eight hours before cleaning the oil. As a bonus, the oil should loosen the nits from your hair and make it easier to remove them. Mayonnaise may work as well. Mayo contains a large amount of oil, which seems to be the suffocating ingredient. Apply to your hair and scalp like Vaseline and olive oil. Anecdotal evidence suggests that regular, high fat mayonnaise works best. Prepare your nit-removal area. Sit down in an area with plenty of natural or artificial light. This will make it easier the person removing the nits to actually see them, as they are small and are glued to the hair near the scalp. Additionally, drape a towel over your shoulders to catch any hair or nits that fall off. Rinse your hair with water and vinegar. Nit eggs are covered in a sticky substance which binds them to human hair follicles. Vinegar has been found to contain chemicals that dissolve this substance, preventing nits from maintaining their grip on human hair. While kneeling in front of a bathtub, place your head under the faucet. Turn on the warm water and thoroughly dampen your hair. Then, turn off the water and, while still kneeling, pour a large amount of vinegar over your head. Make sure that all strands are coated with the liquid. Then use warm water to rinse your hair. Alternatively, fill a sink with 1:1 parts of water and vinegar. Submerge your hair in the sink entirely, either by dipping your head forward or dipping it backward into the solution. Detangle with a leave-in conditioner and normal brush. Try to get your hair entirely detangled, so that combing with a nit brush is easy and painless. Begin to comb out the nits. If you are the one affected by lice, then you will need the help of another person. They'll need a metal nit comb — a fine-toothed and rigid comb that is better at removing nits than a plastic comb. You should be able to buy a nit comb at most pharmacies for under $10. They can use a magnifying lens if possible to search for hard-to-see nits. A large number of nits could have been rinsed out of your hair during the vinegar application. However, there will likely still be eggs clinging to the dampened strands. Working with one small section of hair at a time — about the width of the nit comb — your helper should carefully comb through your entire head. Rinse the nit comb after each section. Once the comb has run-through a section of hair, the comb should be cleaned off in a shallow bowl filled with water and dish soap. Then, wipe it dry using facial tissue or paper towel, being sure to remove any lice or nits that have clung to the comb. Repeat this process until you have combed through all of your hair. Once your helper has finished with a particular portion of hair, he should pin it flat to the side of your head to minimize the chance of re-infestation. Wash your hair. You may want to wash your hair one more time after a complete comb-through. Even if all the nits and live lice have been removed by this point, a final wash may help you to feel cleaner. Consider using the head lice shampoo again to ensure complete removal of all living nits and their eggs. Once your hair is dry, examine it carefully for signs of lice or nits. If you can see any of these creatures, start the removal process over from the beginning. Clean your materials. Put the soapy nit bowl in the dishwasher or leave it full of just-boiled water for 10 minutes with a lid on it. You can also stand hairbrushes, hairclips, etc., in a container with just-boiled water, along with the louse comb but try to remove all hair and eggs from them first. Heat over 129°F (54 °C) will kill lice and nits after five to 10 minutes. Alternatively, combine two cups of just-boiled water with one cup of ammonia. Soak the nit comb in the ammonia water for 15 minutes, and then clean the comb with an old toothbrush. Each family member should have his own comb. Saturate the hair with Listerine. Listerine or a similar mouthwash contains a high percentage of alcohol that will kill live lice and dissolve the nits' binding to the hair follicle. While some “natural remedy” websites suggest it, be warned that other medical websites do not recommend its use. For one thing, Listerine's alcohol content can burn the eyes and sting if it comes into contact with open wounds. It could also be accidentally consumed by a child. If you decide to use Listerine, use it to wet the hair completely and cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes or longer. This will kill the adult lice. Repeat if needed. You can also put the Listerine on your hair and put a towel on your pillow, to keep it from getting wet, and go to sleep and do the remaining steps in the morning. Rinse with warm water and vinegar. After soaking your hair, flush the Listerine out thoroughly with warm water and apply a generous amount of vinegar to further loosen the nits. Following the above steps, apply a leave-in conditioner or de-tangler, brush the hair, and then use a nit comb to slowly remove the eggs section by section. Clean up your worksite and materials. Clean the nit comb in a dish of soapy water or in the heat of a dishwasher. Also put the Listerine into a spray bottle and spray your nearby furniture. This will kill the adults and help to prevent re-infestation. You can wash any linens, towels, or bedding in hot water. Remember that sustained heat will kill lice and nits. Avoid head-to-head contact with others. Thankfully, head lice are not very mobile. They cannot jump and cannot survive for long off of a human head. The most common way that they spread is through direct head-to-head contact. This might take place at school, while playing sports, or during sleepovers for children. For adults, it might be through contact with an infested loved one. Avoid contact with infested clothing accessories, personal cleaning products, and bedding. Lice cannot feed if they are not on a human head and will starve to death in one to two days. But it still helps to be cautious. Avoid objects that could harbor live lice or their eggs. This includes hats, hair ties, barrettes, scarves, coats, and uniforms. Do not share these objects, either, or combs, brushes, and towels. Soak all combs, brushes, and towels in water hotter than 130°F (54°C) for 10 minutes in order to disinfect. Wash all clothes, towels, and linens in high heat. Used bedding, pillows, stuffed animals, or towels can be laundered in hot water and dried on high heat to effectively kill the insects. Again, make sure that the water is hotter than 130°F (54°C). If clothes cannot be washed or dried using high heat, take them to the dry cleaner or seal them in a plastic bag for two weeks. Vacuum the floor and other surfaces. You or another infested person may have dropped live lice or eggs on surfaces in your home, like the couches or carpets. If possible, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to ensure that any nits are absorbed during the vacuum process. Lice or nits on such surfaces will not be viable for long and probably won't spread. Still, it is a good precaution to clean them up as soon as possible. Be wary of harsh chemicals. Fumigants and other harsh chemicals are not necessary to eradicate fleas and nits. The potential danger of inhaling or coming into contact with a strong chemical may be worse than the upside. Even if chemical remedies are available, be aware that overuse in the past few decades has caused their effectiveness to decline. The insects have in many cases built up an immunity to them.
Exterminate all adult lice. Try a prescription shampoo. Suffocate the live lice as an alternative. Prepare your nit-removal area. Rinse your hair with water and vinegar. Begin to comb out the nits. Rinse the nit comb after each section. Repeat this process until you have combed through all of your hair. Wash your hair. Clean your materials. Saturate the hair with Listerine. Rinse with warm water and vinegar. Clean up your worksite and materials. Avoid head-to-head contact with others. Avoid contact with infested clothing accessories, personal cleaning products, and bedding. Wash all clothes, towels, and linens in high heat. Vacuum the floor and other surfaces. Be wary of harsh chemicals.
https://www.wikihow.life/Patch-a-Leather-Couch
How to Patch a Leather Couch
To patch a leather couch, begin by cutting out a piece of sub patch or mending fabric and inserting it into the hole in the couch. Then use a toothpick to apply glue to the underside of the leather and press it onto the patch. As the glue dries, place something heavy on it to weigh it down. Next, clean the area and trim any loose thread from around the tear. Apply a leather filler and let it dry. If the area is a different color after the repair, dye the section with leather dye. Finally, apply a leather finish to match the sheen on the rest of the couch.
Clean the area with rubbing alcohol and a soft rag. Gently rub 70% isopropyl alcohol over any small flaps or gouges in the surface. This clears away any grease or dirt to prepare the surface for leather glue. Do not let excess alcohol sit on the surface, as it can damage glossy, fully-finished surface coats. Use white vinegar instead on suede and nubuck. You can use leather cleaner instead, but many of these products condition the leather (leaving a residue), or fail to remove greasy stains. Apply glue to the underside of the flap. Nubuck, suede, and synthetics such as vinyl and bonded leather require a leather glue labeled for use on your material. On other types of genuine leather, you may get better results with super glue. Apply a small amount of glue to the underside of the flap using a large needle or toothpick, scraping it into a thin layer. Reattach the flap. While the glue is still wet, gently press the flap back into place on the leather surface. Align the flap so that none of the material beneath the flap is visible. Quickly wipe away excess glue with a paper towel before it dries. Sand super glued areas gently. If you are using super glue on genuine leather, sand it by hand with 320 grit, wet-or-dry sandpaper before it dries. This makes a fine dust that combines with the wet super glue to create a filler. Sand in the direction of the crack until the surface feels smooth. Use 500 grit sandpaper instead on aniline or other thin, delicate leathers. Skip this step if you used leather glue. Dye the leather. If the repaired area is a different color than the rest of the couch, apply leather dye with a damp sponge. Wait for it to dry. Check the dye label to confirm it is suitable for your type of leather. Test on an inconspicuous area first if you are not sure. If you feel your repairs need more work, gently sand the surface and repeat the process, starting with a new dab of glue. 
Apply leather finish. If the dye appears too dull or matte, dab some clear finish over the top, and wait for it to dry. The clear finish will add luster and protect the dye. Allow the glue to set. Wait at least one hour before causing any flex in the surface of the material. This will give the leather glue the proper amount of time to set and bond to the material. For best results, let the glue set on its own. Heat can damage leather, so using a hairdryer to speed up the drying is risky. Cut out a piece of sub patch. Deep tears that expose the substrate under the leather require a "sub patch" to form a strong backing for your repair. A leather repair kit is a convenient way to purchase sub patch material, since it will also include the other tools needed for this repair. If you don't have a repair kit, you can use any strong, flexible mending fabric, or another piece of leather or vinyl. Cut the sub patch so it is slightly larger than the hole or tear. Round the corners for easy insertion. Insert the sub patch beneath the hole. Use a pair of tweezers to insert the sub patch into the hole, then to flatten out any wrinkles or folds. Make sure that the sub patch completely covers the hole and sits smoothly between the substrate and the leather. Glue the sub patch to the leather. Using a large needle or toothpick, apply a flexible fabric or leather glue to the underside of the leather. Spread the glue in a thin layer wherever the leather will contact the sub patch. Press the leather onto the sub patch, gently pulling the tear back to its original shape. Wipe away excess glue with a paper towel. 
Weigh down the tear while it dries. Place a block of wood or heavy book over the entire area to apply even, firm pressure. Wait for the glue to dry for at least twenty minutes, or according to label instructions. Check your glue label to see if it suggests using a hairdryer to speed up drying. Even if it does, keep the heat low and avoid holding the blow dryer directly against the leather. Excess heat can dry out or damage leather. Clean the area. Before you apply leather filler to repair the hole, you'll need a clean surface for it to bond with. Lightly dampen a clean rag with leather cleaner or 70% isopropyl alcohol, then gently clean the damaged area. Alcohol is usually more effective than leather cleaner at removing excess glue or grease-based stains. Trim away any loose fibers around the edge of the tear. This helps the leather filler create a flush surface with the edges of the tear. Carefully trim away any loose or stringy fibers around the edge of the hole. Apply leather filler. If there is still a small gap between the two edges, use a palette knife to spread a small amount of leather filler into the gap. Use the flat side of the palette knife to smooth out the filler and to scrape away any excess. You want to leave the filled area flat and flush with the rest of the leather surface. Use a paper towel to remove any excess filler and feather the edges where it touches the undamaged surface of the leather. Leather filler is included in leather repair kits. Wait for the filler to dry. Refer to your product instructions for an estimate of drying time. Once dried, you should be able to press the repaired area gently without it shifting or feeling squishy. You may have to apply a second coat of filler if the surface still feels uneven after drying. Dye the repaired area. You can mix your own color by hand following the instructions in your repair kit, or send a sample of the leather to a custom leather dye company to make an exact match. Once you have the right color, dab a small amount of dye over the repair with a damp sponge. Once the area is mostly concealed, wait for it to dry. Repeat as necessary, gradually blending outward for a natural appearance. Test the mix on an inconspicuous corner of the leather first if you're not confident it's the right shade. If the color seems wrong, wipe it away quickly. Apply leather finish. Some leathers have a more lustrous finish than others. If the dye looks too flat and dull, dab a coat of clear finish over the top, and wait until it dries. The clear finish will help protect the color and match the luster.
Clean the area with rubbing alcohol and a soft rag. Apply glue to the underside of the flap. Reattach the flap. Sand super glued areas gently. Dye the leather. 
Apply leather finish. Allow the glue to set. Cut out a piece of sub patch. Insert the sub patch beneath the hole. Glue the sub patch to the leather. 
Weigh down the tear while it dries. Clean the area. Trim away any loose fibers around the edge of the tear. Apply leather filler. Wait for the filler to dry. Dye the repaired area. Apply leather finish.
https://www.wikihow.com/Transfer-Contacts-from-iPhone-to-iPhone
How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone
If you want to transfer your contacts from one iPhone to another, start by opening the old iPhone's settings and tapping on your Apple ID. In the second section of the menu, click "iCloud," then slide the "Contacts" slider to the "On" position. Next, scroll down to "iCloud Backup" to make sure it's on, and click "Back Up Now." From here, open the settings on your new iPhone, tap your Apple ID to go to iCloud, then make sure the "Contacts" slider is in the "On" position. After you open the contacts app on your new phone, swipe down and hold, so the old iPhone's contacts transfer over to your new iPhone.
Open the old iPhone's Settings. It's a gray app that contains gears (⚙️) and is typically located on the home screen. Both iPhones must be connected to a Wi-Fi network. To connect, tap Wi-Fi near the top of the Settings menu, slide Wi-Fi to the "On" (green) position, and tap a network from the list under "Choose a network..." Enter a password if prompted to do so. Tap your Apple ID. It's the section at the top of the menu that contains your name and image if you've added one. If you are not signed in, tap Sign in to (Your Device) , enter your Apple ID and password, then tap Sign In. If you are running an older version of iOS, you may not need to do this step. Tap iCloud. It's in the second section of the menu. Slide "Contacts" to the "On" position. It's near the top of the "APPS USING ICLOUD" section and will turn green. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. It's near the bottom of the "APPS USING ICLOUD" section. If it's not already green, slide "iCloud Backup" to the "On" position. Tap Back Up Now. Doing so backs up your old iPhone's contacts to iCloud. Open the new iPhone's Settings. It's a gray app that contains gears (⚙️) and is typically located on your home screen. Tap your Apple ID. It's the section at the top of the menu that contains your name and image if you've added one. If you are not signed in, tap Sign in to (Your Device) , enter your Apple ID and password, then tap Sign In. If you are running an older version of iOS, you may not need to do this step. Tap iCloud. It's in the second section of the menu. Slide "Contacts" to the "On" position. It's near the top of the "APPS USING ICLOUD" section. Press the Home button. It's the round button on the face of your iPhone, below the screen. Open Contacts. It's a gray app that contains a darker gray silhouette and has letter tabs along the right side. Swipe down and hold. From the middle of the screen, swipe down slowly and hold until you see a spinning "refresh" icon above the contacts list, then lift your finger. The contacts from your old iPhone should now be available on your new iPhone. Open iTunes on your computer. You can transfer your contacts to your new iPhone from your old one using iTunes or iCloud. iTunes is the recommended route, as it is a much faster process than transferring using an iCloud backup. Connect your old iPhone to your computer via USB. It should appear in the top row of buttons in the iTunes window. Select your iPhone in iTunes. This will open the Summary page. Select "This computer" and then click "Back Up Now." This will create a backup of your old iPhone that will be saved to your computer. Creating the backup may take a few minutes to complete. Start the setup process on your new iPhone. After the backup has been created, you can start setting up your new iPhone. Turn it on and follow the Setup Assistant prompts to setup your new device. Make sure to log in with the same Apple ID that you used on your old iPhone. Select "Backup from iTunes" when asked if you want to restore a backup. You'll be prompted to connect your new iPhone to your computer so that it can load the backup file from iTunes. Wait for the backup to load. This may take several minutes as the data is copied from your computer to your new iPhone. Once the backup restore is complete, your new iPhone will have all of the contacts from your old one. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. You can also open the Phone app and select the "Contacts" tab. Tap the contact that you want to send to someone. You can send the contact details for any contact on your list. Tap Share Contact. This opens the "Share" menu. Select the app you want to use to share. This will open the app with your contact file attached. You can send the contact using Messages, Mail, or other messaging apps. Enter the name of the person you wish to share the contact with. Your contact will be sent to the recipient in VCF format. If the recipient opens the message on their iPhone, tapping the VCF file will load the contact as a new entry in their Contacts app.
Open the old iPhone's Settings. Tap your Apple ID. Tap iCloud. Slide "Contacts" to the "On" position. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. Tap Back Up Now. Open the new iPhone's Settings. Tap your Apple ID. Tap iCloud. Slide "Contacts" to the "On" position. Press the Home button. Open Contacts. Swipe down and hold. Open iTunes on your computer. Connect your old iPhone to your computer via USB. Select your iPhone in iTunes. Select "This computer" and then click "Back Up Now." Start the setup process on your new iPhone. Select "Backup from iTunes" when asked if you want to restore a backup. Wait for the backup to load. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. Tap the contact that you want to send to someone. Tap Share Contact. Select the app you want to use to share. Enter the name of the person you wish to share the contact with.
https://www.wikihow.com/Brown-Butter
How to Brown Butter
To brown butter, start by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking it constantly. Once the butter is melted, stir it continuously until it turns a light brown color. Then, turn off the heat and pour the butter into a dish so it stops cooking.
Cut your butter into 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) slices. Use the measurements indicated on the unsalted butter packaging or just eyeball the width of the cut. The most important thing is that the unsalted butter slices are all approximately the same size, so they will melt evenly. Don't worry about the temperature of the butter when you're cutting it. It can be mushy at room temperature or hard from the fridge. You're going to be melting the butter, so its temperature doesn't make a difference. Add the butter to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Dump your butter slices into a high-quality or heavy-bottomed saucepan. The weight of the pan is important, because light saucepans may heat unevenly and create hot spots, which will cause your butter to melt and cook unevenly. Heavy non-stick saucepans are fine. It's also better to use a light-colored saucepan, such as stainless steel. This will allow you to see the color of its contents more accurately, which is essential when making brown butter. Avoid using cast iron saucepans for this reason. Place the saucepan on a burner turned to medium heat. Set the saucepan over a burner and set the burner to medium heat. Let the butter melt, until there's a small puddle in the saucepan. Then begin stirring with a wire whisk. It is possible to make brown butter more quickly on a high heat, but this greatly increases the chances of it burning. Play it safe with a medium (or medium-low) heat. Whisk the butter constantly as it melts. Once you start whisking, don't stop! If you stop, the butter will burn on the bottom of the pan. Keep the butter moving to prevent this. Don't whisk too vigorously. If you do, the hot butter could splash out of the pan and burn you. Watch the color of the butter and foam for brown flecks. Once the butter has completely melted, it will begin to bubble and foam. This is when the water evaporates and the milk solids separate from the butterfat. Then, the foaming will subside and little brown specks will begin to appear. These specks are the milk solids starting to brown. If at any point the browning butter starts to have black flecks in it, turn down the heat. Continue stirring the butter non-stop as it browns. As the butter cooks, it will start to turn a light-brown color. While keeping an eye on the butter's color, don't forget to keep the liquid butter moving in the saucepan. This will help the milk solids to brown evenly and prevent burning. Smell the cooking butter for a nutty aroma to get a sense of its progress. Once the milk solids start to brown, you will begin to notice a wonderful hazelnut-scented aroma filling your kitchen. This is a good sign! It means that the butter is browning correctly, and hasn't begun to burn. In fact, the French term for brown butter is “beurre noisette,” which translates as “hazelnut butter.” Take the pan off the heat once the butter has browned. Once the brown specks begin to form and the butter turns an amber-brown color, turn off the heat and take the saucepan off the stove. Keep stirring the butter though, as the residual heat from the saucepan will continue to brown the butter. Transfer the butter to a heat-proof dish to stop the cooking. Let the butter cool down in the pan for about 30 seconds. Then, pour it into a ceramic or metal serving bowl. Avoid pouring it into a soft plastic bowl, as the plastic may melt. If you wait too long, or leave the butter sitting in the saucepan, the milk solids will start to blacken and burn within a matter of seconds. In that case, you will need to start all over again. Serve the butter in a variety of recipes. Brown butter can be used to add a toasty, buttery, nutty goodness to a whole range of foods. For a savory side dish, try pouring the butter over roasted winter vegetables such as butternut squash or potatoes. Or try: Swapping it with normal butter in any butter-based sauces. Using it to make brown butter ice cream or brown butter cake frosting. Using it in any cookie recipes that call for melted butter. Store the brown butter in your refrigerator for 4–5 days. To save brown butter for later, pour it into an airtight plastic container. It will keep in your refrigerator for a few days. For longer-term storage, try freezing the butter. Try pouring the butter into an ice-cube tray to freeze it. Then, instead of having to thaw a large chunk of butter, you can thaw 1 or 2 ice-cube sized servings.
Cut your butter into 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) slices. Add the butter to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place the saucepan on a burner turned to medium heat. Whisk the butter constantly as it melts. Watch the color of the butter and foam for brown flecks. Continue stirring the butter non-stop as it browns. Smell the cooking butter for a nutty aroma to get a sense of its progress. Take the pan off the heat once the butter has browned. Transfer the butter to a heat-proof dish to stop the cooking. Serve the butter in a variety of recipes. Store the brown butter in your refrigerator for 4–5 days.
https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-the-Concentration-of-a-Solution
How to Calculate the Concentration of a Solution
To calculate the concentration of a solution, start by converting the solute, or the substance being dissolved, into grams. If you're converting from milliliters, you may need to look up the solute's density and then multiply that by the volume to convert to grams. Next, convert the solvent to liters. Finally, divide the solvent by the solute to find the concentration of the solution.
Find the mass of the solute mixed in with the solvent. The solute is the substance that you're mixing in to form your solution. If you're given the mass of the solute in your problem, write it down and be sure to label it with the correct units. If you need to find the mass of the solute, then weigh it on a lab scale and record the measurement. If the solute you're using is a liquid, then you can also calculate the mass using the density formula, where density D = m/V, where m is the mass of the liquid and V is the volume. To find the mass, multiply the density of the liquid by the volume. Record the total volume of the solution. The total volume of the solution is the amount of solvent plus the amount of solute added to it. If you're finding the volume in a lab, mix the solution in a graduated cylinder or beaker and look at the measurement. Measure the volume from the curve at the top of the solution, or the meniscus, to get the most accurate reading. Record the volume of the solution. If you aren't measuring the volume yourself, you may need to convert the mass of the solute into volume using the density formula. For example, if you're finding the concentration of 3.45 grams of salt in 2 liters of water, you would find the volume of salt using the density formula. Look up the density of salt either in a textbook or online and solve the formula for m. In this case, the density of salt is 2.16 g/mL. The formula would read 2.16 g/mL = (3.45 g)/V. Multiply each side by V to get V(2.16 g/mL) = 3.45 g. Then divide the each side by 2.16 to find the volume, or V = (3.45 g)/(2.16 g/mL) = 1.60 mL. Add the volume of the solute to the volume of your solvent, ma. So in this example, 2 L + 1.6 mL = 2,000 mL + 1.6 mL = 2,001.6 mL. You can either leave the measurement in milliliters or convert it back to liters to get 2.002 L. Divide the mass of the solute by the total volume of the solution. Write out the equation C = m/V, where m is the mass of the solute and V is the total volume of the solution. Plug in the values you found for the mass and volume, and divide them to find the concentration of your solution. Don't forget to label to label your answer with the correct units. In our example for the concentration of 3.45 grams of salt in 2 liters of water, your equation would be C = (3.45 g)/(2.002 L) = 1.723 g/L. Certain problems may ask for your concentration in specific units. Be sure to convert the units before putting them in your final formula. Find the mass of the solute in grams. Measure out the mass of the solute that you plan on mixing with your solution. Be sure to subtract the weight of the container you're using to measure the solute or else your concentration will be inaccurate. If your solute is a liquid, you may need to calculate the mass using the formula D = m/V, where D is the liquid's density, m is the mass, and V is the volume. Look up the density of the liquid in a textbook or online and then solve the equation for the mass. Determine the total mass of the solution in grams. The total mass of the solution is the mass of the solvent plus the mass of the solute. Weight the masses using a lab scale or convert the volume of the solvent to mass by using the density formula D = m/V. Add the mass of the solute to the mass of the solvent to find your final volume. For example, if you want to find the concentration of 10 g of cocoa powder mixed with 1.2 L of water, you would find the mass of the water using the density formula. The density of water is 1,000 g/L, so your equation would read 1,000 g/L = m/(1.2 L). Multiply each side by 1.2 L to solve the mass in grams, so m = (1.2 L)(1,000 g/L) = 1,200 g. Add the mass of the cocoa powder to get 1,210 g. Divide the mass of the solute by the total mass of the solution. Set up your equation so the concentration C = mass of the solute/total mass of the solution. Plug in your values and solve the equation to find the concentration of your solution. In our example, C = (10 g)/(1,210 g) = 0.00826. Multiply your answer by 100 if you want to find the percent concentration. If you're asked to list the concentration in a percentage, take the answer you just found and multiply it by 100. Label your final answer with a percentage sign. In this example, the percent concentration is (0.00826)(100) = 0.826%. Multiply the concentration by 1,000,000 to find the parts per million. Use the number you found for your concentration and multiply it by 1,000,000 or 10. The number will be how many parts per million the solute is. Label your final answer in ppm. In our example, the ppm = (0.00826)(1,000,000) = 8,260 ppm. Add the atomic masses of the solute together to find the molar mass. Look at the elements in the chemical formula for the solute you're using. List the atomic mass for each element in the solute since atomic and molar mass are the same. Add together the atomic masses from your solute to find the total molar mass. Label the final measurement in g/mol. For example, if your solute is potassium hydroxide (KOH), find the atomic masses for potassium, oxygen, and hydrogen and add them together. In this case molar mass = 39 +16 + 1 = 56 g/mol. Molarity is used mainly in chemistry when you know the chemical makeup of the solute you're using. Divide the mass of the solute by the molar mass to find the number of moles. Find the mass of the solute you're adding into your solution using a lab scale if you need to. Be sure to subtract the mass of the container so you have an accurate reading. Divide the mass you found by the molar mass so you can find how many moles of the solute you're using. Label your answer with “mol.” For example, if you want to find the number of moles in 25 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH), then the equation is mol = (25 g)/(56 g/mol) = 0.45 mol Convert the mass of your solute to grams if it isn't already listed in grams. Moles are used to represent the number of atoms in the solution. Convert the volume of the solution to liters. Find the volume of the solvent before you mix in the solute. Use a flask or a graduated cylinder to find the measurement if you aren't given it. If your measurement is in milliliters, then divide it by 1,000 to convert it to liters. In this example, if you're using 400 mL of water, then divide it by 1,000 to convert it to liters, which is 0.4 L. If your solvent is already listed in liters, then you can skip this step. Divide the moles of solute by the volume of the solution in liters. Set up your equation so the molarity M = mol/V, where mol is the number of moles of the solute and V is the volume of the solvent. Solve the equation and label the answer M. In this example, M = (0.45 mol)/(0.4 L) = 1.125 M.
Find the mass of the solute mixed in with the solvent. Record the total volume of the solution. Divide the mass of the solute by the total volume of the solution. Find the mass of the solute in grams. Determine the total mass of the solution in grams. Divide the mass of the solute by the total mass of the solution. Multiply your answer by 100 if you want to find the percent concentration. Multiply the concentration by 1,000,000 to find the parts per million. Add the atomic masses of the solute together to find the molar mass. Divide the mass of the solute by the molar mass to find the number of moles. Convert the volume of the solution to liters. Divide the moles of solute by the volume of the solution in liters.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Guinea-Pig-to-Stop-Biting-You
How to Get Your Guinea Pig to Stop Biting You
If your guinea pig is biting you, try to stop this behavior by washing your hands before handling it in case your pet is picking up scents it associates with fear. In addition, keep your guinea pig's cage in a quiet area to reduce stress. If you've just bought your guinea pig, allow it to acclimatize to its cage before playing with it as this will reduce anxiety. Then, slowly introduce yourself to its environment by sitting close to the cage and watching TV or reading. After a while, try petting the guinea pig briefly.
Keep yourself safe. Avoid sticking your fingers through the bars of the cage. If your guinea pig feels threatened, it will lash out and your fingers will be the perfect target. Don't give it the chance to do any damage. Wash your hands. You will inevitably come into contact with your guinea pig. Wash your hands to get rid of any odors that the guinea pig may not like such as, dog and cat scents. Guinea pigs have a keen sense of smell and an instinctual fear of scents they associate with danger. Since cats and dogs can pose a threat, they might react negatively to those smells. On the off chance that your guinea pig has an insatiable appetite, make sure that you wash your hands to remove any food odors. You don't want your guinea pig to confuse your fingers for their meal. You might consider wearing gloves until you are confident that your guinea pig won't bite you. Understand a guinea pig’s reasons for biting. Biting results primarily from fear, but there are several other biological and environmental reasons for such behavior. Pain can cause biting. You might be hurting the guinea pig or there might be a deeper physiological issue. Sometimes, guinea pigs will bite you when they mean to nibble on themselves. This can be an indicator of mites or fleas. If discomfort or pain is a concern, contact your veterinarian for an exam right away. If your pig is nibbling/biting while you are holding it, it may need to get down to urinate. So, if that is the case, put it back in the cage and watch what it does next. If the pig urinates, you have your answer. Non-neutered male guinea pigs may show dominance by biting more than females or neutered male guinea pigs. Consider neutering your guinea pig. However there is no guarantee that neutering will stop the biting completely. Dominance is not solely based on testosterone levels. If your guinea pig is biting the bars of its cage, it could mean that the animal is lonely and wants attention. It might not be exhibiting menacing behavior, but calling out for attention. Approach carefully. Reduce other factors that cause anxiety. The guinea pig's cage should be kept in a quiet area of the house to minimize stress. If your guinea pig bites, it is most likely that it feels threatened. Turn the TV down or off. Put other pets, if you have any, in another room. You want the guinea pig to only focus on you. Then when you act nicely, your guinea pig will associate you with a pleasant experience, not stress. Let your guinea pig explore its space. If you've just brought home your guinea pig, it will take a while for it to get used to its new home, its cage, and the room the cage is in. Let the guinea pig acclimate. Don't immediately start playing with the guinea pig. Open the cage and let it investigate the opening. It is important to let your guinea pig explore. Once it knows its space and where the good hiding places are, it will feel more comfortable. As the pig gets more relaxed, place an exercise pen around the cage on the floor, and give the guinea pig time to explore. Do this when it is quiet — make sure there are no loud noises and no other pets around. Place fresh greens at the edge of the cage door and outside the cage to encourage exploration. Don't push. Every guinea pig is different and this will take time. Slowly introduce yourself into its environment. Hang out without trying to engage your pig at first. Sit next to the cage. Talk quietly to the pig. Place tasty greens like parsley or dandelion greens in its space. Wait for the pig to get more comfortable before reaching out to pet it. Eventually, you can stick out a finger and let it explore your scent. Do not make contact until the guinea pig feels comfortable. Just sit and read or watch TV (quietly) next to the cage, while the pig gets used to your presence. Loud noises will frighten the guinea pig, so hang out together when the house is quiet and no dogs or cats are around. Gradually work towards holding your guinea pig. Make physical contact for short periods. Do not grab and hold your guinea pig against its will. Once the pig accepts your hand in the cage, gradually and gently pet the guinea pig for a few seconds at a time. Try petting it behind the ears and on the top of the head at first. Only after it is comfortable in its setting and with you petting it, should you pick it up. Lift it up from under the chest just off the ground and then place it back down immediately. Work on this to get it used to being picked up. When you pick up a pig, use one hand to pick it up around the chest and the other to support the hindquarters. The guinea pig needs to feel completely supported so it doesn't worry about being dropped. Start by sitting on the floor. Pick it up and pet the it. Keep calm. If the pig gets agitated, put the pig back down before it feels the need to defend itself with their teeth. Teach children how to hold guinea pigs properly. Remember that nibbling/biting is the guinea pig's way of expressing itself. If the guinea pig feels uncomfortable being held by a child and resorts to biting, tell the child to put the pig down immediately. Under your supervision, have children sit down on the floor with a towel, a “Critter Cuddler Blanket”, or “Cuddle Cup” to hold the guinea pig. This way, there is a barrier between the child and the guinea pig to protect them both. Have the child pet the guinea pig gently and allow the guinea pig to wander away, so it does not feel trapped. Give treats to reinforce good behavior. Don't reward bad behavior. If it seems that the guinea pig is biting to get your attention, do not reward the behavior by giving attention. Come back later and pet the pig when it is calm. You will have to read the pig's body language and if it seems calm and accepting, pet it and reward that behavior. If you attempt to abate its biting with treats, it will associate biting and bad behavior with tasty treats. Learn your guinea pig's personality. After a few months of living together, you will start to notice the guinea pig's patterns. Avoid bothering the pig when it is napping, for instance, to decrease the chance of an adverse reaction to your attention. Do not hit your guinea pig! This can injure the pig, but it will also teach the pig that it needs to defend itself against you - leading to more biting. It might be your gut reaction to lash out at a guinea pig after it bites you. Don't give in to this instinct. Think about why the guinea pig resorted to biting and change your behavior. If someone held you against your will and you were afraid, had to urinate, or were hungry, would you consider biting? You don't have another way of communicating, so you probably would sink your teeth into their hand too.
Keep yourself safe. Wash your hands. Understand a guinea pig’s reasons for biting. Reduce other factors that cause anxiety. Let your guinea pig explore its space. Slowly introduce yourself into its environment. Gradually work towards holding your guinea pig. Teach children how to hold guinea pigs properly. Give treats to reinforce good behavior. Learn your guinea pig's personality. Do not hit your guinea pig!
https://www.wikihow.com/Open-Your-Heart
How to Open Your Heart
When you open your heart, it means that you're willing to be vulnerable with that person, and that you're willing to become attached to them. If you really start to miss the person when they're gone, that's one way you know your heart is open. Another clue is that you keep loving, understanding, and appreciating them more even as their flaws become clearer. People often struggle with their heart being a binary switch. It's either closed, or it's not. Opening your heart should be slow and nuanced. That way, you can start seeing each other's flaws but also keep a piece of yourselves. That's healthy! If the issues start to become bigger, more persistent or more harmful than you initially realized, you hold enough of yourself to walk away. Once your partner has a proven track record of trust, respect, and wanting the same things from the relationship you do, that's a sign they are the right kind of person to open your heart completely to.
Acknowledge your open wounds. It's nearly impossible to open your heart when you are still nursing old wounds. Healing requires acknowledging what hurts. Simply speaking your hurts aloud can impact the way you view them. Often, when things hurt, you may try to ignore them. The only way to move on is by acknowledging what happened. It's time to admit that you were hurt and truly feel these painful emotions you have been suppressing. If your ex broke your heart by cheating, admit to it. You might say, “I was heartbroken when Sasha cheated. It really made it hard for me to trust again.” Challenge negative beliefs. Experiencing emotional pain can cause you to develop negative beliefs about all people. These beliefs become ingrained and, over time, close your heart to love. To heal, you must identify the thought patterns that cause you to shut others out. For example, you think “Because my best friend neglected me when I most needed him, it's best not to count on others.” As a result, you never let anyone in or ask for help when you need it. Challenge this belief by asking yourself some questions: What evidence is there that makes this true? Is this belief always true? Am I considering the full picture about what happened? Does this belief promote happiness and well-being? Use these questions to attack the negative beliefs or assumptions you have built about others. Let go of the pain with a release ritual. In order to open your heart, you must risk letting go of the past. Holding on to all that's happened before only weighs you down, making it harder for you to embrace new relationships and opportunities. Perform a ritual to release old hurts and invite in a fresh perspective. Write down in detail what happened to you and your reaction to the hurt. Then, write down the incident from the perspective of the other person who hurt you. Remember how they reacted and imagine how they must have felt. This helps you see the situation from a different perspective. Once you have fully released the event by writing it down on paper, destroy the paper. Toss it into a fire, tear it into tiny pieces, or bury it in the woods. This symbolizes an emotional release. What happened in the past no longer has a hold on you. Seek professional help. Doing the work of healing past hurts is upsetting and draining. If you find yourself stuck and unable to move forward, it may help to see a mental health therapist. This person can help you identify the traumas that are closing your heart and offer effective strategies for truly letting go. Show compassion for yourself and others. If your heart is closed, odds are you have a tendency to harshly judge and criticize yourself and other people. Learning to practice compassion can help you enhance your vulnerability and open your heart. Be compassionate with yourself by extending forgiveness for your flaws and faults. Take ownership for your mistakes and refuse to hide them. Be gentle with yourself. Stop holding yourself to impossible standards. Be compassionate with others by remembering that they are flawed and human, too. Accept and forgive freely—don't hold grudges. Aim to see the best in people rather than dwelling on their faults. Reconnect with your inner child. A closed heart often translates to taking things very seriously. Lighten up a bit. Remember how you used to be before the world hardened your heart. Laugh. Dance in the rain. Tell silly jokes. Run through the meadows with bare feet. If you have trouble reconnecting with your inner child, spend some time hanging out with a small child. They will help you remember. Be a giver, but be okay with receiving, too. Often when we close off our hearts, we also become selfish. You may have adopted a “me vs. them” perception of life and stopped willingly lending a hand to others. Vulnerable people have an attitude of giving. Not for credit, just because. However, you must also be willing to let your loved ones give to you, too. Ask a friend or family member what you can do for them. Say, “Is there anything I can do to make your day easier or better?” Similarly, if you are in need, have the courage to ask for help. Say, “I could really use another eye on this history paper. Do you mind looking at it once I'm done?” You might also give of your time or money to charities or local volunteer organizations. Try new things. Having a closed heart often means you have closed yourself off to challenges and new opportunities. When you are learning to be vulnerable, you can relax the reigns and not worry about doing everything so perfectly. Take on new challenges for the sheer enjoyment of learning something new. Learn a new language. Sign up for a class as a total novice. Think of something you haven't a clue of how to do and start reading on the subject. Put yourself out there and risk making a mistake. Start a meditation practice. Meditation helps you learn to be mindful and aware of the moment as you're in it. Beginning a regular meditation practice can help you tune in to your heart and help you open up to the world around you. Try this 5-minute meditation: Sit comfortably in a place with no distractions. Take deep, cleansing breaths, in and out. Place a hand on your heart and the other on your belly. As you breathe in, imagine that you are pulling in all the good that the universe has to offer. As you breathe out, release any pain or worries you have been holding on to. Let yourself cry. A common mark of a closed-hearted person is their tendency to push away painful emotions. Practice open-heartedness by giving yourself permission to cry. Crying is cathartic and can actually be good for you. If you don't have anything immediate to cry about, purposely watch a movie or read an emotional story. As you cry, don't judge or criticize yourself. Simply be present in the moment as the tears fall. Then, offer yourself comfort with something like “I'm with you” and gently caress your back and shoulders. Deepen your connections with disclosure. If your heart has been closed for a while, your relationships may be primarily surface-level. Practice letting others in by disclosing intimate details about yourself. Start light before revealing your deeper secrets to allow both you and the other person to acclimate to your newfound openness. For instance, you might choose to tell a friend “It really hurt my feelings when you canceled our plans at the last minute. I was really looking forward to hanging out.” If this mini-disclosure is met with acceptance and empathy, later, you might choose to share something more emotional like how you felt after a major loss in your life. Show affection. As you get accustomed to opening up to others, you should challenge yourself to exchange physical touch. Hugs, caresses, and kisses are all ways humans show their love and affection. However, if you have previously closed your heart, these gestures may be foreign to you. When you and a friend are laughing, lightly touch their arm. If a coworker is crying, rub their upper back to offer comfort. Greet a relative with a hug instead of a handshake (if you've never done this, it may be appropriate to ask first). Touch is a major form of communication; start using it in your relationships.
Acknowledge your open wounds. Challenge negative beliefs. Let go of the pain with a release ritual. Seek professional help. Show compassion for yourself and others. Reconnect with your inner child. Be a giver, but be okay with receiving, too. Try new things. Start a meditation practice. Let yourself cry. Deepen your connections with disclosure. Show affection.
https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Kielbasa
How to Cook Kielbasa
If you want to cook biala kielbasa, or white kielbasa, place the kielbasa in a large pot and cover it with water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let the water simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the kielbasa reads 168°-174°F on a meat thermometer. Once it's cooked, you can serve the kielbasa right away or, for additional color and flavor, you can brown the kielbasa on the grill or in a skillet on medium-high heat.
Buy some "biała" or white kiełbasa. Biała kiełbasa (BEEYAH-wah keeyehw-BAH-sah) is usually white in color. Because it is raw, it needs to be cooked first. After it is cooked, you can serve it as is, or you can bake, grill, or fry it to further improve its flavor. If you have dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos, you do not need to cook it. Simply slice it up, and eat it on its own, or add it to a sandwich. If you have kiełbasa zwyczajna (keeyehw-BAH-sah zvih-CHAI-nah), or "regular" kiełbasa, you do not need to cook it, although it is highly recommended that you do to kill off any potential bacteria. You can bake it, fry it, or grill it. Place the kiełbasa in a large pot. The pot needs to be wide enough to comfortably fit the kiełbasa without cramming it in. If you are cooking a lot of kiełbasa, it might be a good idea to cook it in several batches. Store your extra kiełbasa in the fridge while you cook it. Pour enough water into the pot to cover the kiełbasa. How much water you use depends on the size of your saucepan and the thickness of the kiełbasa. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce it to a simmer. Let the water simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the kiełbasa's temperature reaches between 168 and 174°F (76 and 79°C). You can test the temperature with a meat thermometer Consider browning or grilling your cooked biała kiełbasa. Once your kiełbasa is cooked, you can toss it into żurek (a popular soup served during Easter in Poland), or you can heat it up by baking, frying, or grilling. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Make sure that the rack is positioned in the center of the oven. Place the kiełbasa into a baking dish. The kiełbasa should fit comfortably in the dish. If it is too big and presses up against the sides, cut it in half or into thirds. Do not slice the kiełbasa; if your recipe calls for sliced kiełbasa, wait until it is done cooking before slicing it. The types of kiełbasa that work best for baking are cooked biała (white) kiełbasa and zwyczajna (regular) kiełbasa. You do not need to bake dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos. If you wish to bake biała (white) kiełbasa, you should cook it first. Bake the kiełbasa, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to test the temperature; it needs to read at least 160°F (72°C). To help the kiełbasa cook more evenly, use a pair of tongs to turn it every 5 minutes or so. Consider adding other tasty extras, such as sliced onions, potatoes, carrots, or other vegetables. Let the kiełbasa rest for 3 minutes before serving it or using it in your recipe. You can serve the kiełbasa as is, or use it in other traditional Polish dishes, such as bigos or żurek. You can also serve it alongside some "kapusta" or sauerkraut. Cut the kiełbasa into 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) thick slices and place it into a skillet. The types of kiełbasa that work best for this method are cooked biała (white) kiełbasa and zwyczajna (regular) kiełbasa. You do not need to fry dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos. If you wish to fry biała (white) kiełbasa, you should cook it first. Add some oil, then turn the heat up to medium. The oil will help the kiełbasa brown nicely, and prevent it from sticking to the pan. You do not need to add a lot of oil, however, as the kiełbasa will release its own oils as it heats. Fry the kiełbasa for 6 to 9 minutes. Use a spatula to turn the pieces often so that they don't burn. If you have any onions or cooked potatoes, consider slicing them up and adding them to the pan as well for a delicious meal. Serve the kiełbasa. You can serve the fried pieces straight from the pan. If they are too oily for you, you can let them sit on some folded paper towels for a few minutes to drain. Light and preheat your grill to medium-low heat. The types of kiełbasa that work best for this grilling are cooked biała (white) kiełbasa and zwyczajna (regular) kiełbasa. You do not need to grill dried kiełbasa, such as kabanos. If you wish to grill biała (white) kiełbasa, you should cook it first. Place the kiełbasa on the grill. Do not cut slits into it, as this may cause the juices to leak out and result in overly-dry meat. Cook the kiełbasa for 8 to 12 minutes, turning once. Grill the kiełbasa for 4 to 6 minutes, turn it using a pair of tongs, and cook it for 4 to 6 minutes more. Serve the kiełbasa. If you'd like, you can cut it into ½ to 1-inch (1.27 to 2.54-centimeter) thick slices. For a real treat, serve it alongside some "kapusta" or sauerkraut.
Buy some "biała" or white kiełbasa. Place the kiełbasa in a large pot. Pour enough water into the pot to cover the kiełbasa. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce it to a simmer. Consider browning or grilling your cooked biała kiełbasa. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Place the kiełbasa into a baking dish. Bake the kiełbasa, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Let the kiełbasa rest for 3 minutes before serving it or using it in your recipe. Cut the kiełbasa into 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) thick slices and place it into a skillet. Add some oil, then turn the heat up to medium. Fry the kiełbasa for 6 to 9 minutes. Serve the kiełbasa. Light and preheat your grill to medium-low heat. Place the kiełbasa on the grill. Cook the kiełbasa for 8 to 12 minutes, turning once. Serve the kiełbasa.
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Unnecessary-Audio-with-Audacity
How to Remove Unnecessary Audio with Audacity
To trim away part of a track, highlight the part you don't want, then press the Delete key. To remove background noise, use the Noise Reduction tool in the Effect menu. To remove vocals, use the Vocal Remover tool in the Effect menu.
Open Audacity. It's an image of an orange sound wave in the middle of a blue set of headphones. Click File. You'll find it in either the top-left side of the Audacity window (Windows) or the top-left side of the screen (Mac). Click Open…. This is in the File drop-down menu. A new window will open. Select an audio track. Click on a track that you want to edit. Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. The track will open in Audacity. Select a section. Find a section that you want to remove, then click and drag your mouse across it to highlight it. Press Delete. This will immediately remove the section from Audacity. You can also click Edit and then click Delete in the drop-down menu. Select a background noise section of the track. Click and drag your mouse across a section of the track that contains only background noise if possible. If there isn't enough free track to do this, just select the section where the background noise is the most noticeable. Click Effect. This tab is at the top of the Audacity window (Windows) or at the top of the screen (Mac). Doing so prompts a drop-down menu. Click Noise Reduction…. It's near the middle of the Effect drop-down menu. Click Get Noise Profile. This button is at the top of the window. This will help Audacity determine what is background noise and what isn't. Select the section of track that you want to clean up. You can also click the track and then press either Ctrl + A (Windows) or ⌘ Command + A (Mac) to select the whole track, which is ideal if you're working with a song. Click Effect, then click Repeat Noise Reduction. It's at the top of the drop-down menu. This will apply the suggested noise reduction to the track. Reduce the noise again if necessary. If there's still a noticeable amount of background noise, repeat the noise removal process. You may have to do this several times. You can raise the amount of background noise removed by clicking Noise Reduction... in the drop-down menu and then sliding the "Noise reduction" slider to the right. Select the whole track. Click the audio track, then press either Ctrl + A (Windows) or ⌘ Command + A (Mac). Click Effect. It's a tab at the top of the window (Windows) or screen (Mac). Scroll all the way down and select Vocal Remover…. You may have to click a downward-facing arrow at the bottom of the drop-down menu to find this option. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu. Click a vocal remover plugin. In the pop-out menu to the right of the drop-down menu, click a link. This will open the vocal remover window. Click OK. Doing so will remove some of the vocals from the track. While this isn't 100 percent reliable, you'll notice a significant difference in the result. You can perform this step multiple times to increase the percentage of vocals removed, though doing so may harm the recording's fidelity.
Open Audacity. Click File. Click Open…. Select an audio track. Click Open. Select a section. Press Delete. Select a background noise section of the track. Click Effect. Click Noise Reduction…. Click Get Noise Profile. Select the section of track that you want to clean up. Click Effect, then click Repeat Noise Reduction. Reduce the noise again if necessary. Select the whole track. Click Effect. Scroll all the way down and select Vocal Remover…. Click a vocal remover plugin. Click OK.
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Electrons
How to Find Electrons
To find the number of electrons an atom has, start by looking up the element you're working with on the periodic table and locating its atomic number, which will be in the upper left-hand corner of the square. Then, identify the charge of the ion, which will be written as a superscript to the right of the element. Finally, subtract the charge from the atomic number if the ion is positive or add the charge to the atomic number if the ion is negative.
Obtain a periodic table of elements. This is a color-coded table that organizes all the known elements by atomic structure. Each element has a 1, 2, or 3-letter abbreviation and is listed along with its atomic weight and atomic number. Periodic tables can easily be found in chemistry books as well as online. Find the element in question on the periodic table. The elements are ordered by atomic number and separated into three main groups: metals, non-metals, and metalloids (semi-metals). They are further grouped into families including alkali metals, halogens, and noble gases. Every column of the table is called a group and every row is called a period. If you know the details of your element, such as what group or period it is in, it will be easier to locate. If you don't know anything about the element in question, just search the table for its symbol until you find it. Find the atomic number of an element. The atomic number appears in the upper left-hand corner or centrally above the element symbol in the square. The atomic number defines the number of protons present in that particular element. Protons are the particles in an element that provide a positive charge. Because electrons are negatively charged, when an element is in its neutral state, it will have the same number of protons as electrons. For instance, boron (B) has an atomic number of 5, meaning that it has 5 protons and 5 electrons. Identify the charge of the ion. Adding and removing electrons from an atom does not change its identity, but it changes its charge. In these cases, you now have an ion, such as K , Ca , or N. Usually, the charge is expressed in a superscript to the right of the atom abbreviation. Because an electron has a negative charge, when you add extra electrons, the ion becomes more negative. When you remove electrons, the ion becomes more positive. For example, N has a -3 charge while Ca has a +2 charge. Subtract the charge from the atomic number if the ion is positive. If the charge is positive, the ion has lost electrons. To determine how many electrons are left, subtract the amount of charge from the atomic number. In this case, there are more protons than electrons. For example, Ca has a +2 charge, therefore, it has 2 fewer electrons than a neutral calcium atom. Calcium's atomic number is 20, therefore this ion has 18 electrons. Add the charge to the atomic number if the charge is negative. If the charge is negative, the ion has gained electrons. To determine how many total electrons there are, add the amount of charge to the atomic number. In this case, there are fewer protons than electrons. For example, N has a -3 charge which means it has 3 more electrons than a neutral nitrogen atom. Nitrogen's atomic number is 7, therefore this ion has 10 electrons.
Obtain a periodic table of elements. Find the element in question on the periodic table. Find the atomic number of an element. Identify the charge of the ion. Subtract the charge from the atomic number if the ion is positive. Add the charge to the atomic number if the charge is negative.
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Musty-Odors
How to Remove Musty Odors
To remove musty odors, start by following the bad smell to find the source. If it's coming from fabric, like clothing, bedding, or towels, machine wash the fabric with a cup of white vinegar or baking soda and then hang it outside to air dry. If it's coming from your carpets or furniture, coat them with baking soda and vacuum over them, or try spot-cleaning them with diluted hydrogen peroxide. Regardless of the source, open any nearby windows and set up a fan to help air out the musty odors.
Wash cloth items with white vinegar in a washing machine. Cloth items such as clothing, drapery, and linens can go in the washing machine. Add 1 cup (8 oz.) of white vinegar to a normal load and let it soak for 30 minutes. Start a regular wash cycle and add a liquid, scented fabric softener during the rinse. Put a scented fabric softener sheet in the dryer as well. If needed, repeat this step. The vinegar smell should dissipate after drying. You may be using too much laundry detergent or fabric softener. This can cause soap to accumulate on clothing, making them less absorbent and causing musty odors. Wash cloth items with baking soda in a washing machine. Cloth items such as clothing, drapery, and linens can be washed with baking soda to remove musty odors. Add 1 cup (8 oz.) of baking soda to a normal load and let it soak for 30 minutes. Then, complete a normal wash cycle. Wash or soak solid white cloth items in bleach. Place cloth items in the washing machine, making sure not to overload the machine. Add liquid detergent and set your washer for "warm" water. Once the machine has filled with water, add 1 cup (8 oz.) of bleach (reduce this for smaller loads). Complete a normal wash cycle. Bleach can remove both stains and odors caused by mold. However, check any garment label to determine if the item can be bleached, as chlorine bleach discolors items that are not white. Bleach can permanently discolor or damage clothing or fabrics. Natural fabrics such as silk, wool, or animal fibers are very likely to suffer bleaching effects. Check clothing tags for any "do not use chlorine bleach" warnings. Do not over wash clothes with chlorine bleach, as it can weaken fabrics such as linen, cotton, and rayon over time. The occasional bleaching will not do a lot of harm. Hang clothes outside after washing. Exposing your fabrics to light and fresh air can remove odors naturally. Make sure fabrics are completely dry before bringing them inside and storing them. Trapped moisture is a major cause of mildew. Keep an eye on the weather and bring all fabrics inside if it gets damp or rainy. Do not leave out overnight if possible. Prolonged exposure outside in damp weather can cause mold and must in clothing. Clean appliances with a white vinegar solution. Dilute a quart of warm water with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) baking soda. Wipe all appliances with the baking soda and water mix. Spread this mixture on the interior surfaces. Fill the space with crumpled newspaper and let sit for 24 hours or until dry. Remove the newspaper and rinse the appliance with water, then dry it completely. Remove all food from refrigerators and defrost freezers before cleaning. Place an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator. If the refrigerator is in use, the odor will be absorbed in a few days. Replace the baking soda regularly, according to the instructions on the box. Place a small dish or saucer of vanilla extract in your refrigerator. Put several teaspoons of vanilla in a dish or saucer and place it in your refrigerator in a spot where it won't get spilled. Let it sit for 3 weeks to remove bad or musty odors. Freezer temperatures will cause vanilla extract to freeze, making it ineffective as a deodorizer. Remove odors from the oven with dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, and vanilla. Commercial oven cleaners can be toxic and leave an unappealing smell. You can remove smoky or unappetizing odors from your oven simply using things found in your kitchen. To make oven cleaner: Mix together 1/2 cup (4 oz.) dish soap, 1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) baking soda, 1/4 cup (2 oz.) white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon (0.166 oz.) vanilla extract in a glass bowl. Add enough water so your mixture forms a thick paste, but is not watery. Coat or paint the interior surfaces of your oven and leave overnight (6 to 8 hours). You want the mixture to "foam-up" so it can lift grime from the surface. Use a scrubber and water to wipe down the oven. Repeat if needed. Alternatively, fill a spray bottle 1/2 full of white vinegar and fill the rest with water. Spritz the inside of your oven and wipe with a moist sponge. This will help remove odors, but not baked-on food or grease. Sprinkle salt on burned-on food in the oven. Wait until the oven cools and wipe with a damp cloth. Clean musty odors from a washing machine with bleach or vinegar. Mildew can form in washing machines (especially front-loaders) causing musty odors even in freshly washed clothes. Empty any clothes from the washer and add 1 cup (8 oz.) of bleach or vinegar. Set the temperature to "hot" and run the machine on a short, normal cycle. Let the machine drain. Periodically leave the lid or door to your washer open when not in use to prevent mold and mildew formation. Clean the interior and exterior surfaces of your washing machine with a diluted bleach (2 teaspoons per 1 gallon cool water) or vinegar solution (2 tablespoons white vinegar per 1 gallon cool water). Wipe all surfaces with a paper towel moistened with water. Let sit for 12 hours or until completely dry before using. Air out closets, closed rooms, and cabins. Mold and mildew love cool, damp, and dark areas. Reduce moisture in the air by setting-up a fan, dehumidifier, or opening a window. Ideally, humidity should be kept below 40% in your house. Hire professionals to remove moldy ceiling tiles, carpet, linoleum, or drywall. These cannot be cleaned and are potentially hazardous to your health. Scrub hard surfaces with detergent. Scrub non-porous hard surfaces, including walls, the insides of drawers, and laminate, concrete, or tile flooring with detergent and warm water. Cover-up room odors with homemade potpourri. Simmer a stick cinnamon, orange peels, and whole cloves in water on the stove. Remove when the water begins to boil and set on a pot holder in the musty room to cool. You can also tie blends of spices or potpourri in pantyhose and place them next to a heating vent when the furnace is running. Use cat litter to absorb moisture. Fill a tray or box with cat litter and leave it in places where you store unused clothing, such as closets or an attic, to reduce moisture and remove odors. Sprays such as "Oust" also help temporarily eliminate musty smells. Hang mesh bags of crushed volcanic rocks in damp places. These are available at most hardware and do-it-yourself stores and can be used to naturally deodorize basements , closets, sheds, and even shoes. Read the instructions provided on the bag. This will tell you the size and number of bags needed per square foot area. Wipe windows and doors with a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. Afterward, spread a thin film of coconut oil on window sills or around the edges of windows and doors. This will prevent mold and mustiness returning for several months. To disinfect surfaces and kill mold, mix 3/4 cup (6 oz.) of bleach with warm water. Wear rubber gloves and use a sponge to wipe-down surfaces. Let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing with water. Air dry. Regularly check windows, doors, and walls for mold or mildew spots or if the musty smell returns. Disinfect as needed. Kill mold spores using chlorine dioxide. This is used on boats to control musty odors, and in libraries to control outbreaks of mildew. There are several convenient sources of small amounts of chlorine dioxide that are sold for use in boats and closets. Apply the liquid to the moldy area and allow it to air-dry. If you can't find chlorine dioxide in your local hardware store, order it online. Spot-clean mold or mildew stains on carpets with hydrogen peroxide. Mix the solution by adding 3 teaspoons (0.5 oz.) hydrogen peroxide to 5 teaspoons (0.83 oz.) of water. Use a thick paintbrush to brush onto the affected area. Test the solution first in a non-visible part of carpet as hydrogen peroxide can bleach or fade colors. Clean carpets with baking soda. Coat the surface of a dry carpet with baking soda, then work into the carpet fibers with a damp sponge mop. Let it sit until it's completely dry and then vacuum it up. You may have to vacuum the carpet twice, and move the vacuum in opposite directions. You can also have your carpets professionally shampooed, or rent a do-it-yourself shampooer from a grocery or hardware store. Clean small throw rugs or doormats in a washing machine. Check the manufacturer's label for cleaning instructions first. Clean out cupboards and trunks with baking soda. Leave an open box of baking soda in your cupboard or trunk to remove odor and absorb moisture. Let it stand for at least 2-3 days before removing. You can also wipe cupboard, trunk, or drawer surfaces with a 50-50 solution of baking soda and water, then add a liner to keep the area clean. A small opened can or container of fresh coffee grounds can also be effective in small spaces. Leave it for 2-3 days before removing or replacing. Alternatively, remove all items from the storage space and sprinkle a thin layer of coffee grounds or baking soda on the floor of the surface. Let sit for 2-3 days and then vacuum it up or wipe it with a damp cloth. Leave it open and let it air dry. Deodorize shoes with baking soda. Spoon several teaspoons of baking soda into the sole and seal shoes in a plastic Ziplock bag. Place the bag in the freezer overnight. Remove it the next morning and dump the baking soda into the garbage. You can also sprinkle Odor Eaters powder in your shoes. Pack wet shoes (especially sneakers or cleats) with crumpled newspaper. Replace newspaper when it becomes soaked through. This will help the shoe dry faster and prevent wet shoes from developing musty or bad odors. Air out your suitcase or backpack. Leave the item outside in the sunshine for a few days. Heat and light help kill mildew and bacteria. You can also wipe down the items with disinfectant wipes, especially if the item is made from plastic or another hard material. Place several dryer sheets in your suitcase or backpack or fill fabric packets with cat litter that contains baking soda. Keep suitcases and backpacks fresh when not in use by placing wrapped bars of soap. Place throughout the main compartment as well as in any large pockets. Air out tents. Set up the tent in your backyard on a sunny day. You may never get rid of the mold stains but you should be able to get rid of the odor with a good scrub (read the tent manufacturer's instructions for appropriate products) and some sunny days. After camping, make sure the tent is completely dry before rolling-up and storing. Freshen car interiors with baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda or carpet cleaner on upholstery and floors and then vacuum it up. You can also place a hanging air freshener from your rear-view mirror. Leave an open container of coffee grounds or a pan of cat litter in your trunk overnight to absorb odors. Spray rubber mats with a diluted bleach solution (1/2 cup bleach to 1 gallon hot water) and then hose them down with water. Do this on a warm, sunny day so you can leave the mats outside to air dry. Deodorize smelly books with crushed volcanic rock. Neutralize unpleasant or musty odors in books with crushed volcanic rock (purchased in mesh bags from a hardware store). Lay a mesh bag with crushed volcanic rock on the floor of a clean plastic bin with a lid. Set a clean milk crate directly on top of the volcanic rock, and lay books vertically in the crate. Cover the bin and leave it sealed for several days before removing your books.
Wash cloth items with white vinegar in a washing machine. Wash cloth items with baking soda in a washing machine. Wash or soak solid white cloth items in bleach. Hang clothes outside after washing. Clean appliances with a white vinegar solution. Place an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator. Place a small dish or saucer of vanilla extract in your refrigerator. Remove odors from the oven with dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, and vanilla. Clean musty odors from a washing machine with bleach or vinegar. Air out closets, closed rooms, and cabins. Scrub hard surfaces with detergent. Cover-up room odors with homemade potpourri. Use cat litter to absorb moisture. Hang mesh bags of crushed volcanic rocks in damp places. Wipe windows and doors with a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. Kill mold spores using chlorine dioxide. Spot-clean mold or mildew stains on carpets with hydrogen peroxide. Clean carpets with baking soda. Clean out cupboards and trunks with baking soda. Deodorize shoes with baking soda. Air out your suitcase or backpack. Air out tents. Freshen car interiors with baking soda. Deodorize smelly books with crushed volcanic rock.
https://www.wikihow.com/Understand-Basic-Karate
How to Understand Basic Karate
To understand basic karate, start by learning the different styles, including American Freestyle, Shotokan, Sport, and Goju-Ryu. Then, learn the basic movements, also called “kihon,” which include punching, blocking, kicking, and movement. Once you've mastered kihon, you can move on to other basics, like form, also called “kata,” sparring, called “kumite,” and real-world applications of karate, called “bunkai.”
Know the styles of Karate. This martial art has its roots in China, but was largely developed in Okinawa, Japan in the 1600's as a method for self-defence due to weapons being outlawed. Karate can be translated to “empty hand.” There are many styles of Karate from traditional, to modern, western styles known usually as American Freestyle Karate, and Full-Contact Karate (Sport Karate), but many of the basic techniques are the same. Some of the more popular styles are: ”Shotokan” is considered the first style of modern Karate (created by Gichin Funakoshi. Practitioners use steady, powerful movements and center themselves in all stances. ”Goju-Ryu” is a style that incorporates Chinese Kempo techniques and incorporates hard linear moves and soft circular moves that combine like yin yang. Movements are generally slower with a focus on breath. Understand the elements of Karate. Training in Karate generally involves four aspects, or fundamentals. These fundamentals are the different forms of movements that make up combinations and techniques practiced in Karate. Kihon (Basic techniques) Kata (Form or pattern) Bunkai (Study of techniques encoded in kata or "kata application") Kumite (Free Sparring). Understand how Karate differs from other martial arts. People often confuse different styles of martial arts, and interchange the names of these martial arts. It can be easy to confuse Karate with other martial arts, especially because so many arts employ similar techniques. Karate focuses on striking moves with and on open-handed techniques. Karate combinations involve the use of punches, kicking, knee, and elbow strikes. Other martial arts involve different fighting techniques and the use of weapons. Aikido focuses on evasion, joint locks, joint breaks, throws and controls. Judo focuses  on throws and some grappling while taking your opponent to the ground. Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art which has various styles that are inspired by animal movements, or by Chinese philosophies, and work to improve muscle and cardiovascular fitness. While several martial arts use a ranking system depicted by a belt or sash, Karate has a specific system of colored belts. White represents the beginner with black representing an advanced level. Understand kihon. Kihon translates to “basic techniques”, and is the foundation on which Karate is built. In kihon , you learn the Karate way of punching, blocking, kicking and movement. Often you will do drills for your Sensei that may seem dull and boring, however, these blocks, punches, and kicks are vital to being able to perform Karate proficiently. The basics include blocks, strikes, kicks, and different stances. Students will practice these basic techniques repeatedly so they become ingrained in the body and mind. Develop kata. Kata translates to “forms” and builds upon the basic techniques you have learned. With kata, you learn to combine the basic techniques in a flowing movement. Each kata is built around a specific fighting strategy for you to understand and practice against imaginary opponents. Kata is a way for teachers to pass along knowledge of techniques used in Karate. As a student, you will learn to perform a series of blocks, strikes, throws, movements, and kicks together with kata. Practice bunkai. Bunkai translates to “analysis” or “disassembly”, and involves working with others to understand the real world application of a kata. In bunkai, you analyze every movement in a given kata and develop possible applications in real combat situations. Bunkai is a transition step to kumite. The concept of bunkai can be a little hard to understand because it involves you using kata to “fight” and “defend” yourself against an opponent that isn't there. Think of it like using ballet steps being combined into a single choreographed dance which tells a story. Learn kumite. Kumite means sparring, and allows students to practice the techniques learned in Karate against one another, and oftentimes in tournaments. In kumite, you learn to apply kihon and bunkai in a controlled environment. Kumite is one step closer to real combat, in that two practitioners will attempt to perform moves on each other. Kumite is sometimes performed in turns, or in Du Kumite which is another step towards free fighting with a points system sometimes applied to certain attacks. Know how to perform basic punches. Karate punches use a straight punch technique with a twist of the wrist near the point of impact. Always hit with your first two knuckles, and make sure that your elbow is not locked, because you may overextend it and get hurt. Pull the fist that isn't punching back to your waist as you punch. This is called Hikite and if timed correctly, your punch will be stronger and sharper (push, pull effect). Incorporate kiai. Kiai is broken down into Ki, meaning energy, and Ai, meaning join. It is the sound you often hear when someone makes an attacking movement such as a punch. The purpose of kiai to release your stored energy, creating a greater impact on you attack. Understand the basic blocks. Because Karate is used primarily as self-defence and not offence, there are a number of basic blocking techniques that you will learn in order to defend yourself in any situation. Upper rising block ( Jodan Age Uke ) Middle block ("Chudan Age Uke) Downward block ( Gedan Age Uke ) Perform basic kicks. Though Karate means “open hand” and is primarily used as self-defense, kicks are used to for a number of reasons like keeping distance between you and your attacker, or as alternative option when your upper body may be unable to perform a move due to having to block or deflect an attack. Front kick ( Mae Geri ), hit with the ball of the foot Side kick ( Yoko Geri ), hit with the blade of your foot, toes pointing down Roundhouse kick ( Mawashi Geri ), hit with the ball of the foot, curl your toes up and try to turn your foot sideways Hook kick ( Ura Mawashi Geri ), reverse roundhouse kick. Back kick ( Ushiro Geri ) this is a kick behind you, make sure you look where you're kicking and hit with the heel
Know the styles of Karate. Understand the elements of Karate. Understand how Karate differs from other martial arts. Understand kihon. Develop kata. Practice bunkai. Learn kumite. Know how to perform basic punches. Understand the basic blocks. Perform basic kicks.
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Paint-from-Walls
How to Remove Paint from Walls
To remove paint from drywalls, start by cleaning the wall with soap and hot water to remove any dirt or markings from the paint. Then, use a sanding block or sander to rub away the unwanted pain. If you want to strip the paint off completely, as opposed to painting over it, you can use a paint scraper to peel off any remaining paint. Alternatively, if you want to remove paint from plaster walls, layer the paint with a thorough coating of chemical paint stripper. Make sure you open the windows and and use chemically-resistant gloves to protect yourself. Once the paint has started to bubble, take a paint scraper and scrape off the paint. If you want to repaint the wall, follow the paint stripper's instructions for neutralizing the wall so it doesn't ruin your new paint.
Clean the wall with soap and hot water. To prepare the wall for sanding, first fill a bucket with hot water and soap. Then, soak a cloth in the water and wash off the wall. This will remove any dirt or markings that the paint has accumulated, simplifying the rest of the job. Purchase a sanding block or sander to use. Unfortunately rubbing sandpaper against the wall won't work very well. Instead you will need to invest in a sanding block or a sander. A sanding block is a small block of material that you can wrap sandpaper around, making it easier to sand flat surfaces. A sander is a automated tool like a drill that you load sandpaper into and it sands the surface for you. To use a sanding block, wrap the sandpaper around one side of the block and grip it with your hand from the other side. Sanders can differ in how you load them with the sandpaper, but generally they have a slot that you can load the sandpaper into before turning it on. If you haven't used a sander before, a sanding block is a safer option. A coarser grit on the sandpaper is acceptable because you're aiming to strip the unwanted paint. Use 80-grit sandpaper if you're looking to remove globs of paint. Sanding a wall will cause a risk of inhaling toxic dust, so wear a mask before beginning. Sand away the unwanted paint. Rub the coarse side of the sandpaper against the paint. Move the sanding block or sander back and forth in 1 square foot (0.09 square meter) sections. Apply lots of pressure to the wall if you are using a sanding block. Sand the unwanted paint until the entirety of the paint becomes dull. Then, wipe away the dust. Strip the paint if you want to remove it entirely. If you prefer to remove the paint entirely as opposed to painting over it, use a paint scraper to peel off the remaining unwanted paint. Place the paint scraper's blade at the bottom of the unwanted paint, apply pressure to the blade, and slide it under the unwanted paint, peeling the paint off. The sanding process will have weakened the paint, making it easier to strip. Buy chemically-resistant gloves and ventilate the room. Chemical paint strippers eat away at the chemical structure of paint, so they are naturally caustic. Before beginning this process, make sure you've purchased chemically-resistant gloves to use. Additionally, wear old clothing that you don't mind getting damaged. Open several windows. Keeping the room you're in well ventilated is key as paint strippers can build up toxic fumes if there's a lack of fresh air. Remove all furniture and cover the floor. Chemical paint strippers won't discriminate what they eat through, so make sure the room is clear of all precious items. Move all furniture to a different room while you're removing the paint. To keep your floor safe you'll need to buy several materials from your nearest DIY store. You will need one large sheet of plastic and another large sheet of either kraft or rosin paper. Lay a sheet of plastic from the base of the wall across the floor. Then, layer a sheet of kraft or rosin paper on top of it. If any of the paint stripper lands on the floor, this layer will protect your floor from damage. Layer the wall with a thorough coating of the paint stripper. Paint stripper is best applied with a wide paintbrush. If you don't have one, make sure you buy one before beginning. Dip the paintbrush into the paint stripper, then layer it over the entirety of the wall. Put on a coating roughly ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) thick so that it won't dry too quickly. The coating thickness doesn't need to be too precise, you can mostly gauge the thickness by eye. If you're working on a vertical surface, use a paint stripper that is closer to a paste in texture so that it won't drip onto you. Wait for the stripper to take effect. The chemical process may take minutes or hours depending on the stripper you're using. Read the product's instructions and wait as directed for the most efficient use of your time. Scrape the paint off once you see bubbles. The paint on the wall should have started to bubble once you've waited for the directed amount of time. Once bubbling, take a paint scraper (if you don't have one, a putty knife or a spatula would work as well) and scrape off all the paint. It should come off in long peels. Try to get as much paint off the wall as possible. To use a paint scraper, place the blade at the bottom of the paint you wish to remove, apply pressure so the blade slides under the paint, then peel the paint off as you slide the paint scraper upwards. If there are any awkward spots, try using toothpicks or toothbrushes you don't plan on using again to scrape off the paint. If there is an underlying layer of paint that is still solid, you will need to apply another layer of chemical paint stripper to remove that layer separately. Follow the paint stripper instructions to neutralize the wall once you're finished. If you plan to repaint the walls, the paint stripper you've just used will cause your new layer of paint to fail. The method used to neutralize a paint stripper is different for each product, but usually, it's either a water wash, a mineral spirit, or a specialized product. For example, a neutralizer may ask you to mix 1 gallon (3.8 L) with 4 fluid ounces (120 mL) of neutralizer. Then, use this mixture with a cloth to wash the wall. Check your stripper instructions and apply however directed. Purchase protective eyeglasses, a long-sleeved shirt and thick gloves. You will be dealing with a high heat appliance, so make sure to use protective eyeglasses and use a thick long-sleeved shirt if you have one, as well as a thick pair of gloves to avoid burns. You will also need a paint scraper for this method. Craft a heat shield if you only want to strip a specific spot. A heat gun is best suited for stripping full walls, but if there is a specific spot you wish to strip you'll need to use a heat shield. With a pair of scissors, cut out a cardboard ring slightly larger than your target area. Then, wrap the cardboard ring in aluminum foil. Place the shield over the spot and continue the process. Use heat on the unwanted paint. In a wide sweeping motion, keeping the nozzle of the heat gun approximately 2 inches (5.1 cm) away from the surface, steadily apply heat to square sections of the wall. You can measure these sections using a tape measure. To start with, heat a 3 feet (0.91 m) section on the wall. You'll know you're ready for the next step when the paint visibly begins to loosen its hold on the surface beneath it. If you are using a heat shield, focus the nozzle on the single area for a shorter amount of time until you visibly see the paint begin to loosen. Scrape away all unwanted paint at the pre-heated section. With a paint scraper, scrape away all the loosened paint away from the section you heated earlier. Pierce the loose paint with the blade of the paint scraper, then scrape upwards as if you were shovelling snow to remove the paint. Repeat the process over the entire wall. Choose a new 3 feet (0.91 m) section on the wall, heat it up, then scrape the paint off. Keep repeating until you've removed the paint off the entire wall section by section.
Clean the wall with soap and hot water. Purchase a sanding block or sander to use. Sand away the unwanted paint. Strip the paint if you want to remove it entirely. Buy chemically-resistant gloves and ventilate the room. Remove all furniture and cover the floor. Layer the wall with a thorough coating of the paint stripper. Wait for the stripper to take effect. Scrape the paint off once you see bubbles. Follow the paint stripper instructions to neutralize the wall once you're finished. Purchase protective eyeglasses, a long-sleeved shirt and thick gloves. Craft a heat shield if you only want to strip a specific spot. Use heat on the unwanted paint. Scrape away all unwanted paint at the pre-heated section. Repeat the process over the entire wall.
https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-Tri-Tip
How to Cut Tri Tip
Before cooking and cutting tri-tip, look for the grain pattern while the steak is still raw. To find the grain, look for the fat and muscle fibers that run through the meat, which will run vertically and diagonally. Then, cook the steak and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the juices to absorb into the meat. Once it's ready, use a sharp knife to cut the steak into 2 portions. Finally, use a bias cut to cut the steak into 1/2 inch slices, cutting against the grain so that it's easier to chew.
Find the grain before you season and cook the steak. It's easier to determine the grain pattern when the steak is raw and unseasoned. Inspect the meat before you cook it to easily find the grain, which is the direction the fat and muscle fibers run through the meat. For a tri tip, there will be 2 different grain patterns due to the shape of the steak. The grain pattern on the smaller side of the steak will run vertically, while the grain pattern on the larger side of the steak will run diagonally. Let the steak rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking. It's important that you don't skip this step! Allowing the meat to rest ensures that the juices will be absorbed back into the steak, rather than spilling out over your cutting board. Cut the meat into 2 pieces along the seam or curved portion. Use a sharp knife and a sturdy cutting board. Your 2 pieces will be different sizes, but it's important to make the cut at the seam or curved portion so that you can carve each of the 2 pieces against the grain. Slice the meat against the grain into 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) pieces. Angle your knife slightly to cut the meat on the bias. Make sure you are cutting against the grain, which means you'll be cutting each of the 2 pieces differently due to the orientation of the grain. Cutting the meat against the grain makes it easier to chew. Season the steak then let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Mix 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) (28.6 g) of granulated garlic, 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (14.3 g) of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon (4.7 g) of freshly ground black pepper together in a small bowl. Rub the seasoning blend all over and into the steak, then let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Don't forget to determine the grain of the meat before seasoning and cooking it! Sear each side of the steak for 10 minutes at medium-high heat. Place the tri tip on the grill over direct heat and sear it until it's nicely browned. Then, flip the steak over and sear the other side for another 10 minutes or so. Allow the steak to cook over indirect heat until it reaches 130 °F (54 °C). Transfer the steak to a part of the grill that provides indirect heat. Close the lid on the grill and allow it to cook for about 20 to 30 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to take the temperature of the fattest part of the steak. It's ready when the temperature reads 130 °F (54 °C). Marinate the steak for 6 to 12 hours in the fridge prior to cooking. Combine ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) of lemon juice, ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) of soybean oil, ⁄ 4 cup (59 ml) of soy sauce, ¼ cup (32 g) of white sugar, ¼ cup (32 g) of black pepper, ¼ cup (32 g) of garlic salt, ¼ cup (32 g) of chopped garlic, and ¼ cup (32 g) of chopped dried onions in large mixing bowl. Place the tri tip in a plastic container or baking dish and pour the marinade over it. Let it soak in the fridge for 6 to 12 hours. Place the steak on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. First, insert an oven-safe thermometer into the fattest part of the tri tip so you can monitor the temperature. Roast uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes in a 425 °F (218 °C) oven. Cook until the temperature of the meat reaches 135 °F (57 °C), based on the thermometer reading. Remove the roast from the oven, cover it with foil, and let it rest. To allow the temperature of the meat to rise to 145 °F (63 °C), you'll need to cover the roasting pan with foil. Let it rest for 15 minutes, then you are ready to carve it. Finished.
Find the grain before you season and cook the steak. Let the steak rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking. Cut the meat into 2 pieces along the seam or curved portion. Slice the meat against the grain into 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) pieces. Season the steak then let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Sear each side of the steak for 10 minutes at medium-high heat. Allow the steak to cook over indirect heat until it reaches 130 °F (54 °C). Marinate the steak for 6 to 12 hours in the fridge prior to cooking. Place the steak on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Roast uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes in a 425 °F (218 °C) oven. Remove the roast from the oven, cover it with foil, and let it rest. Finished.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Vegan-Scones
How to Make Vegan Scones
You can make delicious vegan scones by using vegan butter or coconut oil instead of real butter and using dairy-free milk in place of heavy cream. First you'll whisk flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Then mix in vegan butter until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in dairy-free milk and vinegar to form a sticky dough, then knead and roll out the dough so it's 1/2-inch thick. Cut the dough into circles and place them on a baking sheet. Finally, bake your vegan scones for 10 minutes at 390°F.
Preheat the oven to 390 °F (199 °C) and prepare a baking sheet. Get out a rimmed baking sheet and line it with a piece of parchment paper or a reusable silicone baking mat. Set the sheet aside while you make the scone dough. Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Put 3 3/4 cups (475 g) of self-raising flour into the mixing bowl along with 1/4 cup (50 g) of granulated or caster sugar and 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) of salt. Whisk for about 30 seconds so the dry ingredients are combined. Check the expiration date on your package of self-raising flour. If the flour has expired, the leaveners won't work and your scones won't rise. Mix the vegan butter into the dry ingredients until it's crumbly. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to mix 6 tablespoons (84 g) of vegan butter or scoopable coconut oil into the dry ingredients. Keep rubbing the vegan butter in until the mixture becomes sandy and there are no large clumps. If your coconut oil is liquid, stick the container in the freezer for 10 to 20 minutes so it firms up enough to scoop. If you prefer, you can use a food processor to combine the vegan butter with the dry ingredients. Stir in dairy-free milk and vinegar to make a sticky dough. Slowly pour ⁄ 4 cup (180 ml) of plain dairy-free milk and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar into the mixing bowl. Stir the mixture until the dry ingredients are moistened and form a shaggy dough. If the dough looks too dry, slowly mix in some of the remaining ⁄ 4 cup (59 ml) of dairy-free milk. You can use white or apple cider vinegar. Try making the scones with almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or your favorite dairy-free milk. Knead the scone dough and roll it 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) thick. Sprinkle a little flour onto your work surface and turn the dough onto it. Use your hands to knead the dough just enough to bring it together. Then, use a rolling pin to roll it until it's ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) thick. If doesn't matter what shape you roll the dough into unless you'd like to cut triangular scones. To make triangular scones, roll the dough into a circle that's ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) thick. Cut the dough into 2 1⁄2 to 3 in (6.4 to 7.6 cm) circles. Use a smooth-edged circular cutter to cut the dough out. You can use a drinking glass if you don't have a smooth circular cutter. You should be able to get around 15 scones if you re-roll the dough. If you prefer triangular scones, use a sharp knife to cut the circle of dough in half. Then, cut it in half in the opposite direction to form 4 quarters. Cut each quarter into 3 triangles so you get 12 scones. Place the scones on the sheet and brush them with dairy-free milk. Put the scones on the lined baking sheet so they're at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Then, pour a little dairy-free milk into a small dish. Dip a pastry brush in the dairy-free milk and brush the tops of the scones with it. Brushing the scones with dairy-free milk will help them turn brown a little as they bake. Bake the scones for 10 to 12 minutes. Put the baking sheet into the preheated oven and cook the scones until they turn a light golden color. Keep in mind that if you used a dairy-free milk wash, they will be a richer color. Remove the scones and serve them with your favorite jam and vegan clotted cream. Although scones have the best texture the day they're baked, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 to 2 days. Add your favorite spices to the dry ingredients. For fragrantly spiced vegan scones, add about 4 teaspoons (8 g) of spices. You can use 1 type of spice, such as cinnamon, or combine different flavors for mixed spice scones. Try this combination to get started: 2 teaspoons (4 g) of cinnamon 1 teaspoon (2 g) of ginger 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of cloves or allspice Mix vegan chocolate chips into the dough for decadent scones. If you'd like to make an extra-special treat, mix 3/4 cup (130 g) of vegan mini-chocolate chips into the dough along with the dairy-free milk. You can also use any of these vegan baking chips: Butterscotch Cinnamon White chocolate Peanut butter Include lemon zest or vanilla extract to add subtle flavor. If you don't want to add chunks of fruit or baking chips when you flavor the scones, use a flavor extract. Stir in the zest of 1 lemon or 2 teaspoons (9.9 ml) of pure vanilla extract when you add the dairy-free milk. You can try other flavor extracts, such as almond or lemon extract. For a slight crunch, mix in 1 tablespoon (9 g) of poppy seeds to create vegan lemon poppy seed scones. Toss in a handful of fruit to make the vegan scones naturally sweet. It's easy to customize your scones by gently folding in around 1 cup (175 g) of your favorite fruit. Try using blueberries, chopped peaches, fresh cherries, or strawberries. If you prefer, use dried fruit, such as cranberries, raisins, currants, or sultanas. Add 2 tablespoons (7 g) of chopped fresh herbs for a savory flavor. If you're tired of sweet scones or would like savory scones to serve with a meal, add 1 or 2 types of fresh herbs. For example, mix 2 tablespoons of chopped rosemary, thyme, dill, chives, or parsley to the dry scone ingredients. If you like, top these scones with shredded vegan cheese before baking them.
Preheat the oven to 390 °F (199 °C) and prepare a baking sheet. Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Mix the vegan butter into the dry ingredients until it's crumbly. Stir in dairy-free milk and vinegar to make a sticky dough. Knead the scone dough and roll it 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) thick. Cut the dough into 2 1⁄2 to 3 in (6.4 to 7.6 cm) circles. Place the scones on the sheet and brush them with dairy-free milk. Bake the scones for 10 to 12 minutes. Add your favorite spices to the dry ingredients. Mix vegan chocolate chips into the dough for decadent scones. Include lemon zest or vanilla extract to add subtle flavor. Toss in a handful of fruit to make the vegan scones naturally sweet. Add 2 tablespoons (7 g) of chopped fresh herbs for a savory flavor.
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How to Try CBD Oil for the First Time
Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is a compound found in cannabis. Unlike THC, the compound in cannabis that makes you feel high, CBD doesn't cause a high feeling. Some research suggests that CBD oil can help treat conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and mild pain. If you're interested in trying CBD oil for the first time, start with a low dose, like 10 milligrams per day, and gradually increase your dose until you feel the effects. You can eat CBD edibles, use a CBD oil tincture, or take CBD capsules. The effects from CBD edibles and capsules can take around 2 to 4 hours to kick in. A CBD oil tincture can provide quick relief in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. Our expert recommends starting with liquid CBD oil. Take CBD oil at home the first time you try it in case it makes you feel drowsy. Always buy your CBD products from a reputable seller since CBD oil isn't regulated. You should also talk to your doctor before trying CBD oil to make sure it won't interfere with any medications you're taking.
Use a topical CBD oil if you want to treat pain at the site. Massage the CBD oil into your skin if you're treating aches and pains. Apply a few drops of the oil to the palm of your hand, then rub it into the spot you're treating. Add more oil as needed to treat the entire area. You may notice pain relief instantly, but it might take 30 minutes for the CBD oil to start working. However, keep in mind that CBD oil may not work for you. It's safe to use as much topical oil as you need to get relief. Topical CBD oil may work for up to 5 hours. Use a tincture for quick relief of anxiety, insomnia, or widespread pain. A tincture may start working in as little as 15-30 minutes. Measure out 1 dose of tincture using the eyedropper that came with your product and squeeze the drops under your tongue. Hold the tincture under your tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing it. Your tincture may come in a spray bottle. If this is the case, apply 1 spritz to the inside of each cheek. Tinctures often come in flavors, so look for 1 that appeals to you. If CBD oil works for you, the benefits of the tincture should last for up to 2-4 hours. Take CBD oil capsules for an easy, convenient option. CBD oil capsules ensure you get the same dosage each time, but they may take longer to work since they have to go through your digestive system. Read the label on your CBD capsules to find the right dose. Then, take your CBD capsules as directed. If CBD oil works for you, the capsules may start working in 30 minutes. However, it could take as long as 2-4 hours to feel the results. Typically, the benefits of CBD oil capsules last for 4-6 hours. Experiment with edibles if you can wait 2-4 hours to feel the effects. CBD edibles are a fun, easy option for trying CBD oil. While they take longer to work than other delivery methods, they also provide longer-lasting effects. Choose CBD edibles that are tasty to you. Check the label on the product to ensure you consume the right serving size. Serving sizes may be small for some edibles. For instance, 1-2 gummies or candies is a normal serving size for CBD treats. If CBD oil works for you, edibles may provide benefits for up to 4-6 hours. Check the dosage instructions if you’re using a commercial product. Read the label on your CBD product to get the dosage recommendation for the product you're using. Then, follow the manufacturer's dosage recommendations to use the product safely. If there's a dosage range, start with the lowest recommended dose and slowly increase your dose until you find one that works for you. If your product container doesn't have a dosage recommendation, visit the company's website or check with a local dispensary. Experiment to find the best dose for your needs. There's no standard dose for CBD oil, and everyone's body is different. You may need to try different dosage amounts to find what works for you. Start with the lowest recommended dose for the product you're using to see how it affects you. Then, slowly increase your dose until you find what works for you. Since the bioavailability of CBD oil can vary, it's likely that you'll absorb some products better than others. You may need to adjust your dosage depending on the product you're using. Use the smallest dosage that provides the benefits you want. Fortunately, you won't overdose on CBD oil, so you don't need to worry about taking too much. However, there are side effects that can occur with high dosages, such as stomach aches, irritability, and extreme fatigue. To help you get the benefits you want with minimal risk of side effects, stick to the lowest dose that works for you. It's unlikely that you'll develop a tolerance to CBD oil. However, it's okay to increase your dose if you feel like you're no longer noticing the benefits of the CBD. Ask your doctor for the best dose to treat a medical condition. Your doctor may be your best resource for helping your find the right CBD oil dose for you. Talk to your doctor about what you want to use CBD oil to treat. Then, ask them for their dosage recommendation for your unique needs. Your doctor may recommend a brand or delivery method that's best for your needs. Talk to your doctor before using CBD oil. While CBD oil is generally safe, it's not right for everyone. It can interact with some medications and might worsen certain conditions. Check with your doctor before using any CBD products to make sure they're safe for you. Explain what you're using the CBD oil to treat so your doctor can give you their best advice. Tell your doctor about any medications you're already taking and if you're pregnant or nursing. Call your doctor if you experience side effects. Although it's rare, you might experience side effects while using CBD oil, especially when taking a high dose. These side effects usually go away quickly, so you don't need to worry. However, it's best to check with your doctor if you notice the following side effects: Drowsiness Fatigue Dry mouth Diarrhea Reduced Appetite Buy products from a reputable supplier. Before you purchase a CBD product, research the supplier to make sure they have good reviews and a professional website. In addition, review any third-party lab reports to ensure you know exactly what's in the product you're using. Because CBD is not FDA-regulated, it's important to use your best judgement when selecting the product you want to try. If you have friends who use CBD oil, ask them which products they recommend. Your doctor or pharmacist may also be able to recommend a product for you. Use CBD oil at home until you know how it affects you. CBD will not get you high, but it could make you feel very tired. You may even fall asleep easily. When you first start using CBD oil, choose a time when you know you'll be safe at home and don't have any pressing responsibilities. For instance, you don't want to try it at work and end up asleep at your desk.
Use a topical CBD oil if you want to treat pain at the site. Use a tincture for quick relief of anxiety, insomnia, or widespread pain. Take CBD oil capsules for an easy, convenient option. Experiment with edibles if you can wait 2-4 hours to feel the effects. Check the dosage instructions if you’re using a commercial product. Experiment to find the best dose for your needs. Use the smallest dosage that provides the benefits you want. Ask your doctor for the best dose to treat a medical condition. Talk to your doctor before using CBD oil. Call your doctor if you experience side effects. Buy products from a reputable supplier. Use CBD oil at home until you know how it affects you.
https://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Arabic
How to Learn Arabic
To learn Arabic, work on your pronunciation and vocabulary by watching Arabic news or listening to Arabic music. You can also join a pen-pal website and correspond with an Arabic-speaker to practice writing Arabic characters. If you can, connect with someone who speaks Arabic online, then spend an hour each week practicing vocabulary and basic phrases on a video call with them.
Download an alphabet chart to practice Arabic letters. You can download a basic printable chart at https://omniglot.com/charts/print/arabic.pdf and use it to study the Arabic alphabet. Spend about 20 minutes a day on a letter or two and you'll have the alphabet mastered in less than a month. Stanford University has an interactive chart available at https://web.stanford.edu/dept/lc/arabic/alphabet/index.html that will help you learn how to write the letters properly. Visit http://www.arabic-studio.com/arabic-alphabet-course/ for a free online video course on the Arabic alphabet. Study how letters change form. Most letters of the Arabic alphabet change form depending on where they appear in a word. They may have a different form if they come at the beginning, middle, or end of a word. Many also have a different form if they appear on their own. Arabic Reading Course, available at http://arabicreadingcourse.com/index.html , is designed to help you recognize individual letters in words. The basic version is free and can also be used on mobile devices. If you pay for the premium version, you get additional flashcards and quizzes. Listen to the alphabet spoken by native speakers. To get the sounds of the letters right, try to mimic the sounds as pronounced by a native speaker. Since the sound may differ depending on the dialect of Arabic the person speaks, make sure you stay consistent with the dialect you plan to learn. You can watch and listen to a basic video introducing the Arabic alphabet and the sound each letter makes at https://youtu.be/53Nf8xVrN24. There are plenty of similar videos on YouTube that can also help you. Familiarize yourself with vowel diacritics and other symbols. Diacritics are used to mark short vowels. Although you'll commonly only see them in the Qu'ran, you may see them in children's books or language-learning books designed either for adults or children. Diacritics and other marks are designed to help you understand how to pronounce words in written Arabic or to distinguish similarly spelled words so you can tell them apart when you're just learning the language and may not completely understand the context. Download Arabic language resources for free. There are many online language courses and materials available for purchase, but you can also access language learning resources for free. While the free courses may not bring you to fluency, they will help you get a jumpstart on learning Arabic in a structured way. Download Arabic language courses from the US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) at https://www.livelingua.com/arabic/courses/fsi/. The FSI courses include the Levantine (Jordan, Lebanon) and Hijazi (Saudi Arabia) Arabic dialects, as well as written Arabic. Get learning apps for your mobile devices. Many of the mobile learning apps use gamification, turning your learning into a game to win awards and earn badges and other in-game prizes and bonuses as you unlock each new section. While you likely won't achieve fluency through these apps, they can help you expand and reinforce your vocabulary and teach you basic grammar. Some popular apps include Tinycards, Duolingo, Memrise, and Clozemaster. You can use these apps for free. However, there are also premium features in each app that you'll have to pay to access. Watch TED talks with Arabic subtitles and transcripts. While the talks themselves are in English, you can read the transcripts in Arabic and then check the video for comprehension. Try writing an English translation of the Arabic then compare that to the actual talk. Look for TED talks by Arabic activists and natives. They will give you a glimpse into the culture and issues facing Arab nationals. Speak Arabic online with native speakers. On websites such as Lang-8, MyLanguageExchange.com, and Italki, you can connect with native speakers to practice your Arabic skills. Typically, the exchange involves you helping them with a language they are trying to learn. In exchange, they help you with your Arabic. Some of these exchanges also have mobile apps so you can chat with your language partner on your smartphone or other mobile device. Basic access to these sites is typically free, although you may have to pay a monthly subscription fee to unlock premium features. Take language level testing online for free. Many language learning software companies and language schools offer language level testing for free. Once you get further involved in your Arabic study, level testing can be a good way to assess your progress. Testing at a particular level also allows you to put your relative proficiency in Arabic on your résumé and work or school applications. Sprachcaffe, a leading language school in Europe, offers free Arabic level testing at https://www.sprachcaffe.com/us/english/language-test.htm. Simply scroll down and click on the link for the "Online Arabic Proficiency Test." Cactus Language offers free Arabic language testing at https://www.cactuslanguage.com/language-level-tests/. The course uses transliterated Arabic. Listen to Arabic music. Listening to Arabic music is a great way to immerse yourself in the language as well as become more familiar with common words and phrases. The typically repetitive nature of song lyrics reinforces the words and phrases in your mind. Major music streaming services typically have an Arabic channel or Arabic playlists. Check with your favorite streaming service to find out what's available. If you happen upon an artist that you like, search them online. You may be able to download their albums or watch music videos for some of the songs you like. Watch movies and television in Arabic. Movies and television allow you to listen to more natural Arabic conversations. Many popular movies have also been dubbed into Arabic, so if you find a movie you're already familiar with, you'll find you start to comprehend a lot more of what's going on and what the characters are saying. Fantasy and historical drama tend to be dubbed in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), while contemporary comedies and dramas are usually dubbed in either Egyptian Arabic or Levantine Arabic. Reality television tends to use a limited vocabulary and exposes you to more realistic unscripted conversations. Read children's books in Arabic. You likely learned how to read in your native language with simple children's books. This is also an effective way to start reading Arabic. Copying the sentences from the stories can help you practice your writing as well. For free children's ebooks, visit http://www.childrenslibrary.org/icdl/SimpleSearchCategory?langid=309. Visit the Arabic Collections Online at http://dlib.nyu.edu/aco/ to access more than 10,000 free digitized books in Arabic. Label items around your house with their Arabic names. Use sticky notes to write the Arabic word for objects in your home and label them. Every time you see the object, repeat the Arabic word for that object aloud. Over time, you'll come to think of that object by its Arabic name first. This can be a great way to expand your vocabulary as well as get your brain used to thinking in Arabic. Extensive Arabic vocabulary lists are available at http://arabic.desert-sky.net/vocab.html to help you create your labels. Once you've committed your first set of labels to memory, take them off and use different labels. Generally, it's a good idea to go from large to small so you don't get confused about what the label applies to. For example, you might first label your sofa as a whole, then add labels for "arm" or "cushion." Practice reading and listening comprehension with Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera has a website available at https://learning.aljazeera.net/en that offers news as well as basic learning stories and videos in basic Arabic to help you learn the language. From the website, you can also take language level tests or chat with an Arabic teacher. Even if you don't use the video resources, you can take advantage of the online dictionary available on the site to look up words you don't know. Al Jazeera broadcasts and language lessons primarily focus on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). However, you'll also find lessons on Mediterranean Arabic. Travel to an Arabic country. The ultimate test of immersion is spending time in a country where the majority of the people speak Arabic. Simply sitting at a café and listening to the conversation around you can help improve your comprehension. Try to go to a country that speaks the form of Arabic you've been studying, or you may find you have a difficult time understanding people despite your study. For example, if you've been studying Levantine Arabic, you would want to travel to Lebanon or Jordan rather than to Egypt.
Download an alphabet chart to practice Arabic letters. Study how letters change form. Listen to the alphabet spoken by native speakers. Familiarize yourself with vowel diacritics and other symbols. Download Arabic language resources for free. Get learning apps for your mobile devices. Watch TED talks with Arabic subtitles and transcripts. Speak Arabic online with native speakers. Take language level testing online for free. Listen to Arabic music. Watch movies and television in Arabic. Read children's books in Arabic. Label items around your house with their Arabic names. Practice reading and listening comprehension with Al Jazeera. Travel to an Arabic country.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Scratches-out-of-a-Stainless-Steel-Sink
How to Get Scratches out of a Stainless Steel Sink
To get fine scratches out of a stainless steel sink, use a cloth or sponge to work some dish soap, Ajax, or Comet into the scratch, making sure to work in the same direction as the grain of the sink. Next, let the product dry on until it has a hazy texture. Then, wipe the product off with a rag or paper towel. For deep scratches, rub either a low grit sandpaper or Scotch Bright Pads against the scratch, going in the direction of the sink's grain. Use even, long strokes as you buff out the scratch.
Use a scratch remover for deeper scratches. Fine scratches can usually be rubbed out with a cleaning product or an abrasive pad. However, very deep scratches that are obvious to see require scratch removes. You can find scratch removers for stainless steel sinks online or at local hardware stores. Check your sink's manufacturer's instructions if you still have them. This may suggest a scratch remover that works for your sink. Identify the direction of your sink's grain. If you have the manufacturer's instructions, these should tell you the direction of your stainless steel sink's grain. You can also look at the sink closely to see which direction the lines of the sink run. Apply the remover to the scratch. Stain removers should come with grit pads. Refer to the product's instructions and spray on the appropriate amount of scratch remover to the pad. Apply the remover to the scratch, moving in the direction of your sink's grain. Apply a light amount of pressure. Apply enough pressure that the scratch comes off the sink, but not so much that you end up damaging the sink by rubbing the grit in too deep. Buff out the remainder of the scratch with a softer cloth. The scratch remover kit should contain a second, lighter pad. After most of the scratch is out, switch to the lighter pad. Use this to buff out the remainder of the scratch. If the kit calls for water, add water as you buff out the remaining scratch. Your kit should provide more specific instructions on how to buff out the scratch and when to switch the pads you're using. Rinse out the remover. After you've buffed out the scratch, use a microfiber cloth to buff out the remainder of the remover. Wipe down the surface to rinse out the remainder of the scratch remover. Use water as necessary to completely remove the scratch remover. Use a cleaning product for very fine scratches. Fine scratches that are not very noticeable can be removed using a cleaning product. Dish soaps, such as Ajax and comet, can be used to buff out fine scratches. You can also use powder stainless steel sink cleaner. Apply the cleaner to your sink with a cloth or sponge. Use either a cloth or a sponge to work the soap or powder-based cleaning solution into the scratch in your sink. Move in the direction of the grain as you apply the cleaner. Apply enough cleaner to completely cover the scratch. Let the product dry on. The amount of time this takes varies on the type of cleaner. The product should dry on until it has a hazy texture. Rinse off the product. Use a rag or paper towel to wipe off the product. If you were successful, the product have lifted the scratch from the stainless steel. If the scratch was not removed, try a stronger product like a scratch remover. Use Scotch bright pads or sandpaper. Either low grit sandpaper or scotch bright pads are abrasive enough to remove a scratch from a stainless steel sink. Pick up sandpaper or pads at a department or hardware store if you want to use this method to remove a scratch. Sandpaper is usually the best option for very deep, noticeable scratches while bright pads work better for light scratches. Buff out the scratch. Rub the pad or sandpaper against the scratch, going in the direction of the sink's grain. Use even, long streaks as you buff out the stain. Keep going until the scratch fades away. Make sure to apply even pressure. You need to be applying pressure evenly across your sandpaper or pad for this method to work. When using sandpaper, it can help to wrap your sandpaper around a wood block to help distribute the pressure evenly.
Use a scratch remover for deeper scratches. Identify the direction of your sink's grain. Apply the remover to the scratch. Buff out the remainder of the scratch with a softer cloth. Rinse out the remover. Use a cleaning product for very fine scratches. Apply the cleaner to your sink with a cloth or sponge. Let the product dry on. Rinse off the product. Use Scotch bright pads or sandpaper. Buff out the scratch. Make sure to apply even pressure.
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How to Wash an Infant Car Seat
To wash an infant car seat, you'll need to disassemble the parts and wash each individual piece. Start by vacuuming the car seat and wiping away any major messes with a damp rag so it's easier to clean. Then, remove the fabric covers and straps and hand wash these. Once you've washed the cover, you can use a damp cloth with a mild detergent to wipe down the plastic base. Use a wet rag to wipe down the straps and buckles or soak them in a bucket of warm water. Just don't put these in a washing machine since they can be easily damaged. Finally, make sure to let everything dry completely before putting the seat back together.
Choose a good time to wash the seat. Unless you happen to have a backup car seat, it is important to start the cleaning process when you are sure you will not need it for awhile. Assuming the seat isn't so dirty as to need immediate attention, wait until you feel comfortable doing without the seat for at least several hours. An ideal time might be after your infant has been put to bed for the night. If, however, you're dealing with vomit, a blown-out diaper, or some other big mess, immediate "triage" cleaning is the best way to salvage the seat. Wipe away any major messes. Using baby wipes or damp rags or paper towels, wipe and scoop away any loose, sloppy, sticky, chunky, etc. debris. (We'll leave the details of the types of messes you can face to the imagination.) Clearing away this gunk will make the remaining cleaning portion easier to manage. Remove the infant seat. Untie all the straps, and uninstall the seat. Doing so will allow you to wash the seat thoroughly without climbing into the car and getting everything wet. You'll also be able to easily reach all the parts of the infant seat. Take note of the de-installation to help you with the re-installation. Take pictures if necessary. Shake, brush, or vacuum the surface. Brush crumbs and debris off the car seat. Give the seat a shake to remove any hidden crumbs or other debris that has accumulated. If you have a vacuum cleaner with a small attachment, use it to remove any additional debris that may be stuck in partition walls and corners. Remove the cover and straps. Most infant car seats have removable fabric covers. If you have your manual handy, consult it. If not, you can generally start from the top, unfastening clips, snaps, and buttons until you reach the bottom of the seat. Once you have taken the cover off, you should also take off the straps. Try to memorize their location (or take a picture) so that you know how to put them back into place (this is especially important if you do not have your manual). For safety reasons, harness straps (and buckles, to a lesser extent) require special and gentle cleaning. See the relevant section of this article for more information, and always consult your owner's manual. Spot-clean obvious stains on the fabric cover. Once the cloth cover is removed, you can easily rub a mild detergent into any visible spots or stains. Rub in a circular motion to get these places as clean as possible. If your car seat does not have a removable cover, do your best to deal with spots using a sponge and some soap. Scrub until the spots fade. Launder the fabric cover. Check your manual or the cover label for specific instructions, but in general, it's best to wash on the gentle cycle. Use a mild detergent; remember that your child's skin will be in contact with it. Make sure the cover gets completely rinsed. Generally speaking, cotton covers can be washed at up to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). If your cover is made of synthetic fibers or dark colors, though, stick to washing at up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). If you cannot remove the cover to run it through the washing machine, you'll have to wash the whole thing by hand. Use a sponge and a mild detergent to clean the entire cover. Clean the plastic base. Once you've washed the cover, continue to wash the plastic and metal parts of the seat. Use a damp cloth or sponge along with a mild detergent and water. Rub away all the dirt and grime, then rinse well under running water. Spray with disinfectant if desired. This is the part of the cleaning when you can vent some of your frustrations. As long as you're not using an abrasive cleaner or scrubber (like steel wool), feel free to really get in there and scrub away. Use a garden hose to spray everything down if desired. As a general rule, it's best to tilt the seat in various directions after rinsing. This prevents water from accumulating in any of the parts. Clean straps and buckles as per manufacturer's instructions. Machine laundering or harsh cleaners or scrubbing can degrade the strength of the straps, causing a safety hazard. Follow the manual's instructions carefully, and see the relevant section of this article for tips on cleaning straps and buckles. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Most if not all car seat manufacturers recommend that harness straps not be placed in a washing machine or hand cleaned with harsh detergents. Surface cleaning with a soft cloth, lukewarm water, and a gentle soap if necessary are the typical recommendations. While such delicate care may seem odd for these strong, protective straps that are meant to stand up to car accidents, the concern lies in the fact that vigorous washing and/or harsh chemicals can weaken the tensile strength of the strap material. This can occur even when the strap still looks strong. But such weakening would make a failure much more possible in an accident. Wipe down harness straps gently with water. Focus on wiping away surface stains, and forget about attempting deep cleaning. Use only a mild soap, like hand soap, if necessary. If the straps are so disgustingly soiled that you can't stand to keep using them, or look worn or damaged in any way, immediately replace them. Contact the seat manufacturer to see if replacement straps are available. This should be able to save you from having to buy a whole new seat. Dunk the buckle in warm water. Whether plastic or metal, the buckles should be able to hold up to more vigorous cleaning than the straps. However, they are still essential components that should face minimal wear and tear to ensure they work when it really counts. Simply dangle the buckle on the strap and dip it into a bucket of lukewarm water, then slosh it around a bit to loosen any gunk inside the mechanism. Clean the surface with a soft cloth and water (and mild soap if needed). Let straps and buckles air dry. Fresh air, sunshine, and time are the best ways to remove odors from harness straps. If that's not possible, at least let them air dry thoroughly before re-installation. Never place harness straps in the dryer, or use a hot blow dryer on them. Extreme heat could also possibly damage the tensile strength. Make sure the inside of the buckle is thoroughly dry as well, to prevent any rusting or corrosion. Dry the parts thoroughly. If your cover is removable, either run it through the dryer, if the label permits it, or hang it to air dry. Lay the plastic surface out to air dry. Once you have rinsed the plastic and metal parts of the seat, you can simply leave it sitting someplace to air dry. Wiping it with a dry cloth will expedite the process, but in general, it's best to allow several hours or a day for it to dry completely. As noted, always only air dry harness straps and buckles. Combat odors with time and sunshine. If you cannot remove the cover, you can leave the entire seat, cover and all, in a sunny place to dry. If you don't have sunshine, it will just take more time. You can use odor-eliminating sprays on the base and fabric cover if desired. Remember, however, that your child's skin will be in close contact with the cover, so be mindful of the materials in your chosen spray. Don't spray down the harness straps. Just rely on air as the odor eliminator. Replace the cover. Once it has dried completely, reattach the fabric cover to the seat base. Refer to the instruction manual if necessary. You basically need to reverse the process you used to remove the cover, so if you took mental or physical notes, or a picture, video, or sketch, you should be in good shape. Reattach the straps. Pull the strap back through the holes correctly, in the right order, to properly install the seat and make sure that it is safe for your child. Again, refer to the instruction manual if necessary. Make sure that the straps do not twist when you thread them through the seat. Twists in the straps can cause them to wear out faster, and they may rub uncomfortably against your baby's skin. Even worse, if the straps are severely twisted, they may not hold your infant securely in a collision. If you have any concern about your re-installation, take your seat to a fire department or other site where free car seat safety checks are done. Someone there will be happy to ensure a safe installation. Likewise, if you have any concerns about the integrity of any components, especially straps and buckles, replace them or the entire seat. Your child's safety is always a worthwhile investment.
Choose a good time to wash the seat. Wipe away any major messes. Remove the infant seat. Shake, brush, or vacuum the surface. Remove the cover and straps. Spot-clean obvious stains on the fabric cover. Launder the fabric cover. Clean the plastic base. Clean straps and buckles as per manufacturer's instructions. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Wipe down harness straps gently with water. Dunk the buckle in warm water. Let straps and buckles air dry. Dry the parts thoroughly. Combat odors with time and sunshine. Replace the cover. Reattach the straps.
https://www.wikihow.com/Close-a-Sale
How to Close a Sale
To make a sale, ask your customer questions about their needs like "How will you use this?" Use this information to help you recommend the perfect product. Provide customers with clear information about their options and reassure them with an authentic smile that shows you are happy to help.
Greet and engage your customer. Even though you are participating in a business transaction, there's nothing wrong with befriending the person you will be selling to. Making a customer welcome will give them comfort in purchasing what you have to offer to them. Smile with your eyes. The human subconscious can easily detect a fake smile from a real one. How? Real smiles activate the eyes, whereas fake smiles don't. Be careful about maintaining too much eye contact. Researchers at Harvard University have found that salespeople who maintain eye gazes actually may discourage would-be buyers. The theory here is that eye-contact signifies dominance — not something that makes you want to buy. Qualify their needs. Spend as long as necessary qualifying a customer so that you sell them what they need. There's nothing worse than selling a product or service that the customer is later dissatisfied with. The best and most commonly used question in qualifying is, "What will you be using this for?" Continue to ask questions to narrow down the search for what the customer really wants. This shows a willingness to learn and a legitimate interest in the needs of the customer. Recommend the right product or service. It is important to understand how all of the products and services you have to offer work. By understanding this, you'll be able to offer the one that best fits your customer's needs. Be sure to offer as many relevant products or services that you have to enhance customer satisfaction. Many successful restaurants allow servers to sample each item in the menu — free of charge — in order to develop a feel for what they are selling. That way, they can combine expertise and experience in their sales pitch when a diner asks "What do you recommend?" Make it your job to test many, if not all, of the items you are selling. Customers can smell amateurism and disinterest from a mile away. Even if the item(s) you're offering don't come discounted or free of charge, make it part of your job to test them out. Listen and watch for buying signals from your customer. Buying signals can be both verbal and non-verbal. Questions like, "How may this benefit me?" or "What product most suits my needs?" are classic examples of verbal buying signals. Non-verbal buying signals (if you are dealing with a customer in person) might include the customer holding or using a product as if they already owned it. Close the sale. Once you observe buying signals, stop selling and close the sale. A common mistake that can lose a sale is to continue to sell and offer products/services after the customer has already indicated that they are willing to make the purchase. Think about opening with a direct or indirect close. These are two of the most basic closes. You may want to learn toward the indirect close at first. Unless you are pretty sure that the customer is chomping at the bit and is ready to make the deal, the direct close is somewhat discouraged among sales circles. Direct Close : "May I write this up for you?" or "Should I forward a contract so you can get started?" Indirect Close : "How do these terms look to you?" "Is this agreeable to you?" Try the balance sheet close if you want to appeal to the customer's rational side. A lot of sales situations are really emotional decisions in which the buyer has convinced him- or herself they're making a rational decision. (Buying a car, for example.) Still, some sales situations are really all about rational pros and cons. Use the balance sheet close, also known as the Ben Franklin close, to appeal to the rational customer: In the balance sheet close, the salesperson will make a list of the pros and cons with the customer. The good salesperson will make sure that the pros outnumber and outweigh the cons. Try the puppy dog close if you're confident in your product. The puppydog close is often employed by — you guessed it — pet store owners by letting doubtful customers take home a puppy with the option of returning it if the customer is unhappy. The customer takes the puppy home, plays with them, and the sale is effectively cinched, not by the salesperson, but by the puppy. If you're confident that what you're selling has lots of appeal and will be hard to give up once it's been used and enjoyed, this is a great closing technique to use. Try the assumptive close only with considerable skill. The assumptive close is where the salesperson knowingly assumes that the customer has already agreed to purchase the item and begins to wrap up the sale: "The sound system is just killer. And I promise you that you'll fall in love with the V8 — she really purrs. Now, did you want it in black or red?" Notice how the salesperson assumes that the sale is closed; she doesn't give the customer a chance to object. The pitfalls of this approach are pretty obvious; use with caution! Learn to appeal to emotions. Emotions are an extremely powerful thing, especially when coupled with money. If you learn to massage the emotions of your potential customers without making them feel manipulated, you're in for a payday: Try the possibility of loss close: This is where the salesperson tries to close a sale by noting that the product is going to run out or that it won't be available at its rock-bottom price for much longer. This appeals to customer's sense of regret. Try the cradle to grave close: This close also appeals to a customer's sense of regret. In it, the salesperson rebuts a potential customer's objection that it's too soon to buy by saying that it's never too soon to make a major life purchase. Try the sales contest close : This is where the salesperson offers a small incentive to the customer, such as a modest rebate, justifying it by mentioning that you stand to gain if you close. "If I make this sale, my wife and I get to go on a cruise." This appeals to the customer's sense of guilt; their fate is interlocked in yours. Try to angle your way in with the minor point close. The minor close assumes that agreement about a minor issue means agreement about the sale. "Would you prefer our wireless service with your current package? No? Alright, we'll leave it minus the wireless." Close with one or two negative assumptions. Repeating questions like "Is there anything about the product you're still unsure of?" or "Is there any reason you wouldn't want to pull the trigger?" puts the customer in a situation where they are not given the option to refuse the sale. Continue asking them negative assumption questions until they agree to the sale. Stay with the buyer as much as possible without pestering them. If you're constantly shuttling back and forth between your manager's office, you begin to sow doubt in the potential customer's mind. Try to stay with your customer as much as possible after you sniff out the initial interest. Use your precious minutes to continue the sales process and convince the customer that their choice is really the one they want to make. Don't upsell unless it's what the customer wants. Upselling is the art of selling the customer additional items or pricier items than what they originally intended. ("Would you like to supersize your order?") Upselling can work in some cases where the customer doesn't truly know what they want, but too many salespeople use the trick with abandon. There are two very good reasons to mistrust the upsell in most sales situations: It can make the customer feel bad/unsure about their original purchase. If the customer is unsure about their purchase in the first place, the best the salesperson can do is close the sale as quickly as possibly. Upselling often forces us to question what we wouldn't have otherwise. It can discourage repeat business. A lot of really great salespeople survive from repeat offend...er, business. If you upsell someone something they really don't want, they won't go to you for business a second or third time. Stay confident, no matter how daunting the close becomes. Being a salesperson is all about staying confident. Each failed close makes a case for inadequacy and sows doubt, but not for you: You remain confident even in the face of peril. You believe in yourself. Because each time a customer buys something from you, they hope to buy a little bit of your confidence along with the car, the mortgage, the vacuum. Remember that. Plan for a close on each call or customer you take. Follow-up. Good follow-up is essential to getting repeat customers. Offer to help the customer with any questions or concerns they have about the product or service you are selling after you've made the sale. Verify that all products were received to their satisfaction and to let you know if they have any questions whatsoever.
Greet and engage your customer. Qualify their needs. Recommend the right product or service. Listen and watch for buying signals from your customer. Close the sale. Think about opening with a direct or indirect close. Try the balance sheet close if you want to appeal to the customer's rational side. Try the puppy dog close if you're confident in your product. Try the assumptive close only with considerable skill. Learn to appeal to emotions. Try to angle your way in with the minor point close. Close with one or two negative assumptions. Stay with the buyer as much as possible without pestering them. Don't upsell unless it's what the customer wants. Stay confident, no matter how daunting the close becomes. Follow-up.
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Creatively
How to Write Creatively
If you want to write creatively but you aren't sure how to start, try “free writing” anything that comes to mind for 5 minutes to get your creative juices flowing. Also, since inspiration comes in many places, keep a small notebook with you to record ideas and lines you overhear that make you laugh. To generate unique ideas, try mixing and matching two unrelated concepts to come up with something new. For example, George Lucas took the typical hero's quest but set it in space to create Star Wars.
Keep a small notebook to constantly record ideas, lines, and characters. Inspiration comes in many places, but one of the places it never seems to come is when you sit down and tell yourself to "come up with an idea." Take the pressure off of your writing days by recording ideas all day, every day. From lines you overhear that make you laugh to sudden stories that burst into your mind, keep track of ideas throughout the day, not just when you sit at the computer. You can also use your phone to keep track of your ideas! You could type them in your notes, email them to yourself, or use an app, such as Google Docs. Try mixing and matching two ideas you've never seen before. There are no completely original ideas in writing -- everything builds off of other work, real life events, and new combinations of other art forms to form something "new" from the old. But this is incredibly freeing, allowing you to experiment and play with crazy new ideas and combinations to make something no one has quite seen before. House was a brilliant, but simple combination of medical dramas with one-off "murder mystery" type shows, swapping medical diagnosis for detective work. Star Wars is a typical hero's quest, with the plot ripped straight from the oldest known Greek stories. George Lucas's genius? Simply setting it in space. The collected works of William Shakespeare are full of "artistic theft," as almost every one of his plays was a brilliant amalgamation of other plays, books, and historical records. Make reading fiction a regular habit. Reading often can help you better understand how established writers structure their work, write good sentences, and plot out a story. You can also recognize how they use literary devices to enhance their work. This helps you become a better writer. Try to read every day, even if it's just a few pages. Reading books in the genre you write is an excellent idea, but it's also helpful to read books in other genres. This can help you broaden your understanding of the writing craft and gain new ideas for your own work. Get inspiration from non-fiction sources. Read and watch non-fiction books and documentaries to gain real-world inspiration. Pay attention to the news, read a biography that catches your eye, and watch documentaries and series. What sorts of issues, stories, and ideas grab you? Are there perspectives that would be fun to write from, or that you've never heard from creatively? The world around you is filled with inspiration, so use it. Try writing from the perspective of the people you see on the news. You understand the facts of a war or struggle, but try to actually imagine living it. Creative writing doesn't have to be fiction. Use stories from your life that speak out to you as potentially exciting or compelling stories. Consider brainstorming with a close friend or group. You can toss around ideas and build on them. This isn't for every writer, but everyone should at least try group writing or brainstorming. It usually works best when someone brings an initial idea in: "what if the Terracotta warriors were really alive," allowing everyone to pitch in ideas and build on the initial idea until it's built into a story worth telling. Almost all writers enjoy having at least one person to bounce ideas off. Frequently, just vocalizing your plots or ideas can make them much clearer and easier to write. Sit down at the computer and type something, anything, to get started. Just start typing, and don't let yourself stop for at least five minutes. Write everything that comes to mind, following ideas and threads until you get distracted or bored, then write about something else. This doesn't have to turn into anything -- rather, free writing is the equivalent of stretching for athletes. You get out of your head and onto the page-- the first step towards getting your writing groove going. Look online at collections of "free writing prompts." There are thousands of ideas out there to spark your creative juices and get the writing flowing, even if only for a few minutes. Rewrite passages from your favorite books -- many famous authors, from Billy Collins to Cormac McCarthy, literally re-wrote favorite chapters to learn from the best. Write the story out linearly to give yourself a template. You can write out a concise summary or a detailed explanation, depending on your preference. If you're writing poetry, you might start simply sketching ideas, images, and lines that pop in your head, worrying about organization later. If you're writing a novel, you could write a 1-2 page super summary, working through the cause-and-effect now so that you can write in the details later. There is no "right" way to start writing. Some people plan, storyboard, and plot, and others plow right into it and deal with the rest in revision. Experiment for what works for you. Know that great characters drive great stories, not the other way around. The most common moment that people tune out of a story is when the character starts doing things that no rational person would do. This is usually because the writer is trying to force the characters to hit a plot point, instead of letting the character's decisions drive the next plot point. The best characters are: Well-rounded. Good characters are multi-dimensional, with both strengths and weaknesses. They are not just the "strong hero," "damsel in distress," or a million other simplified character types. They are people and have nuance and complexity Desiring something, and fearing something else: Plots are driven by character's wants -- what do they need or desire to be happy or safe? Some characters are driven by fear, or the desire not to be something. But all characters are pushed by some desire, a desire that drives their plot. This is your character's motivation. Aware self-agents Good characters make decisions, for better or for worse, that they think will help them. Always ask yourself -- if I were in the same situation as the character, would I see that as a good decision? Sometimes, only one decision catapults the whole story, as the character deals with the fallout. Other times characters make decisions every minute. Just make sure they fit the character. Set goals and timers to keep yourself writing. Despite the free-flowing, creative aspects of writing, all the best authors and poets know that discipline is required to truly get your vision out. You'll never finish your story or idea if you're constantly turning to Facebook, or researching an obscure point or allusion, or quitting at the first scent of writer's block. The best way to become a creative writer is to be disciplined, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways: Setting writing timers -- 1 hour of straight writing, 10-15 minutes of relaxing, then repeat. Deciding on a daily writing time and place, building the habit. Getting a writing buddy -- someone you trade 10 pages with each week at the same time. Think in terms of "scene" when writing, not the entire project. This is a great way to make your writing more tight, concise, and manageable, especially for big projects. No matter what you're working on, from poetry to epic novels, limit your attention while writing to the current scene you're in. How can you make this moment powerful on its own? If each chapter or stanza is compelling, they will start to flow together when placed side-by-side. Consider each scene, chapter, or segment a short story. How can you make it compelling if it was published all on its own? Make sure you establish the setting, appealing to the reader's 5 senses. Additionally, set the mood of your scene. The reader should be able to clearly visualize your setting when they read your writing. Scenes should have tension and rising action -- starting with a problem, making things more difficult or introducing new challenges, and resolving everything in some way at the end. It seems overly simplistic, but these three stages are the basis of 95% of all good plots. Fight writer's block by just continuing to write. It is that easy, and if you don't know what to write about, write anyway. It can help to ditch the computer and grab a pencil. Take the pressure off yourself to write something amazing and just write. Remember, even the very best writers always revise , and what you write down while "blocked" will get better over time. But if you sit there silently, or go do other things when you should be writing, you'll never get over your block. This isn't to say some relaxing time isn't worth it when you're stuck, just get back to writing after you're done walking, reading, meditating, or enjoying a cup of writer's block coffee. Never tell yourself that, "I can't write right now." All you have to do is sit down -- the words will flow if you give them the time and energy to do so. Understand that your first draft is just that -- a draft. Many young writers completely freeze up when they start writing because they immediately realize that it isn't as good on the page as it is in their head. But every writer in the world, from Margaret Atwood to Aristotle, knows that they need to put something on the page, anything, in order to polish it up and make it better. So take a deep breath and remind yourself that this is nothing new, and your "terrible" first draft won't be terrible for long. Looking for inspiration that you're not alone? Check out Raymond Chandler's writing process: “Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every noon.” Read your entire work and ask what the most important threads are. As you re-read, highlight the passages that stand out to you. What characters can you not get enough of, or want to keep writing about? What plot continually crops up in your head with new ideas or twists? What locations feel the most lived in. Go into the first revision for an eye for what works, not for what you don't like, and you'll get a blueprint for further revision. Know that you'll likely need to keep writing, filling in holes you didn't notice on your first draft. Prioritize those areas that grip you the most already, or the characters that seem the most alluring to write. It is not uncommon for the tone or main idea of a story to pivot at this point -- don't be afraid to forge a bold new direction if it is clearly more enjoyable than the original plot or perspective. Cut as much away from the first draft as you can, ruthlessly erasing. It hurts to cut, but this is the only way to make your story tight, coherent, and powerful. Everything that isn't essential to your story or idea needs to go, mercilessly hacking and slashing until you're left only with the absolute best. If it isn't necessary to the story, it has to go. The most powerful stories, poems, and works make every single word count, gaining power by cutting straight to the point and avoiding filler. Make sure your dialogue actually adds something and doesn't simply regurgitate information for the audience. Reading dialogue out loud, with a friend, is the best way to make sure it is natural sounding and worth keeping. Save new copies of your work every day you open it up, allowing you to still keep copies of everything you erase in case you later change your mind. Hemingway said it best in a letter to his friend F. Scott Fitzgerald: “I write one page of masterpiece to ninety-one pages of s--t. I try to put the s--t in the wastebasket.” Show your work to others and ask for feedback. Writing is a form of communication, and what is communication if it is only with yourself?! Sharing your story is intimidating, but it is the only way to become a better creative writing. Other people haven't lived in your story for as long as you have, and that's a good thing -- they'll have a fresh set of eyes to see holes, issues, and the hidden gems you might not have noticed. Pick your people wisely-- friends who love to read, and you know will be honest with you, are often the best picks. Let your friends know that you're looking for constructive criticism. While being nice is great, it won't help you write any better. Edit thoroughly multiple times checking that grammar and spelling are perfect. Don't give a potential editor or publisher an excuse to throw your work in the trash after the first typo (which, with standards and competition as high as they are today, they will). Run through the whole thing 2-3 times to fix the little things like word choice and spelling, and consider using a program like Grammarly or hiring a freelance copy-editor for bigger projects.
Keep a small notebook to constantly record ideas, lines, and characters. Try mixing and matching two ideas you've never seen before. Make reading fiction a regular habit. Get inspiration from non-fiction sources. Consider brainstorming with a close friend or group. Sit down at the computer and type something, anything, to get started. Write the story out linearly to give yourself a template. Know that great characters drive great stories, not the other way around. Set goals and timers to keep yourself writing. Think in terms of "scene" when writing, not the entire project. Fight writer's block by just continuing to write. Understand that your first draft is just that -- a draft. Read your entire work and ask what the most important threads are. Cut as much away from the first draft as you can, ruthlessly erasing. Show your work to others and ask for feedback. Edit thoroughly multiple times checking that grammar and spelling are perfect.
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Miswak
How to Use Miswak
A miswak is a tooth-cleaning twig traditionally used in Middle Eastern and African countries. To use a miswak to clean your teeth, you need to form the bristles, soak them in water, and brush your teeth with them. Start by chewing the bark off of 1 end of the twig so about an inch or so of the wood underneath is exposed. Then, chew the exposed wood until it becomes soft and forms bristles. Dip the bristles in water and hold the miswak twig with 1 thumb underneath so you can scrub your teeth with the tip. Press the bristly tip into your teeth and move it gently up and down to scrub the front of them. Move slowly around your mouth and scrub the backs of your teeth as well.
Chew the bark off of one end of the twig. Using a miswak twig to brush your teeth is easy and fun! If you have a "fresh" twig — one that hasn't been used yet — start by chewing off of the bark at either end of the twig. Stop when you've exposed an inch or so of the wood underneath. Spit out and discard the bark. A slight "spicy" or "burning" taste can result from chewing on a miswak twig. Though some find this slightly unpleasant, it's not harmful. Chew the center until it becomes soft and forms bristles. When you've exposed the wood underneath the bark at the tip of your twig, start chewing on it. You're aiming to soften this wood so that it breaks up into thin, fibrous bristles. This should only take a minute or two — you'll know you're ready when the tip of the wood is soft enough that it can be fanned out slightly like a small brush. Ideally, you want a very slight resistance to the bristles (similar to what you'd get from a soft-bristled toothbrush). Soak the tip in water. Traditionally, miswak is performed without toothpaste or other oral health products, though you may use these if you wish. To perform miswak in the traditional style, simply dip the bristly end of the twig in water (like you would before adding toothpaste to a toothbrush). Alternatively, many traditional miswak practitioners use rosewater in place of ordinary water for its pleasant scent. Hold the miswak twig with one thumb underneath. You're now ready to brush. You can grip the stick however feels comfortable to you — keep in mind that you'll be brushing with the tip of the stick, rather than the side, as with a toothbrush. Traditionally, miswak sticks are held by putting the thumb of the right hand just below and behind the bristly tip, putting the little finger under the back of the stick, and wrapping the remaining three fingers over the top. Brush your teeth with the bristled end. Now, start brushing! Press the bristly tip of the stick into your teeth and move it gently up and down to scrub their front surfaces. Move slowly around your mouth, taking your time and hitting every surface of your teeth with the bristles. Don't press extra-hard — your goal is to gently scrub the teeth, not scrape or gouge them. To someone who's used to using a toothbrush, miswak may feel somewhat awkward at first, but after a few attempts it quickly becomes intuitive. Don't forget to clean the backs of your teeth just as you would with a toothbrush! Cut off old bristles every few days. Keep your miswak stick fresh by using a knife (or your bare hands) to cut or break off the old bristles when they become worn. Depending on how often you clean your teeth and the type of stick you're using, your bristles' average lifespan will vary. In general, you'll want to cut your stick's bristles away every time they get the appearance of an old, ratty broom. Usually, this will mean cutting them every few days. There are some notable exceptions to this rule. Some types of processed, commercially-sold miswak sticks have lifespans of over six months due to the preservatives added to them. Store the twig in a dry place. When you're done cleaning your teeth, quickly clean your miswak of any debris and give it a brief rinse. Keep the miswak in a clean but open space, not in a bag or container, which can encourage mold growth by trapping moisture next to the stick. Keep miswak sticks away from any sinks or toilets to avoid the accidental transfer of bacteria due to splashes. Use miswak as part of wudu. For some, miswak is just a way to keep the teeth clean. However, for observant Muslims, miswak often plays a more serious role in religious worship. Muslims are required to wash themselves in a ritual form of purification (wudu) before certain acts of worship (most commonly, the daily prayers known as salat). Though cleaning the teeth isn't explicitly required as part of a Muslim's wudu ritual, it is considered optional and is often strongly encouraged. Thus, for serious Muslims, the use of a stick for performing miswak prior to prayer is something that can occur multiple times per day. Understand the importance of oral purification. Achieving a state of purity before prayer is very important for Muslims. The Quran explicitly states that "[God] loves those who purify themselves." Cleaning oneself shows devotion to God, observance of Islamic scriptures, and emulation of Muhammad the prophet, who himself practiced miswak and recommended that others do so. In addition, Miswak usage before prayer is often seen to make the prayer more worthy or desirable in God's eyes. According to one Hadith, "The preference for prayer in which a 'siwak' (miswak) is used to prayer in which it is not used is seventy times." Study miswak usage in the Hadiths. Though use of miswak for oral purity is not discussed at great length in the Quran, it is referenced many times in the Hadiths (the scriptural accounts of the practices and sayings of the prophet Muhammad). Below are just a few quotes from the Hadiths where miswak usage is mentioned as being especially desirable or praiseworthy in the eyes of Muhammad: "The Messenger of Allah said, 'Had I not thought it difficult for my nation, I would have commanded them to use the miswak before every Salat.'" "The first thing that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) did on entering the house, was Miswak.” “Ablution is part of faith and using a Miswak is part of ablution.” “There is a cure for every illness in Miswak besides death.” Alternatively, use an ordinary toothbrush for wudu. If you are an observant Muslim but you live somewhere it is difficult to get a genuine miswak stick or you have misgivings about using a twig to clean your teeth, don't worry! Many Muslims achieve the same level of oral purity by using an ordinary toothbrush (with or without toothpaste) as they would with traditional miswak practices. The most important aspect of wudu is to sincerely intend to purify yourself in the eyes of God and to make the best possible effort to do so. The precise tool you use to clean your teeth isn't nearly as important as the simple fact that you're cleaning your teeth as a sign of devotion to God. Islamic practices even make special allowances for people who don't have any oral cleaning tools available to them before they pray. In this case, it's generally recommended to do the best job you can with your index finger. Find a tree from which miswak twigs are traditionally taken. One of the great things about using miswak to clean your teeth is that the stick you use can potentially be free! Though most majority-Muslim countries will have cheap, easily-available miswak sticks for sale, it's also possible to make your own miswak stick just as traditional practitioners would have. To start, find a suitable tree. Traditionally, miswak sticks are taken from Salvadora Persica trees (also called "toothbrush" or "arak" trees). Below are just a few suitable alternatives that are native to the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Levant where miswak is most frequently practiced: Olive trees Palm trees Walnut trees Cut a small, sturdy twig from the tree. Next, simply take a small twig or stick from the tree's branches or any exposed roots using a knife or your bare hands. Your stick doesn't need to be especially big — traditionally, miswak sticks are about as long as your hand is wide. Be careful not to take more than you need or to hurt the tree more than necessary — this is wasteful and disrespectful. Wash thoroughly before using. When you take any sort of plant product out of the wild, you run the risk of exposing yourself to harmful chemicals or germs, no matter how clean the plant looks. To reduce the chance of this risk happening to you, be sure to thoroughly wash any miswak sticks you cut directly from the tree before using them. Use disinfectant soap or an equivalent antibacterial substance to clean the stick and rinse with water to remove the soap. Repeat several times for cleanliness. Be sure to store your miswak sticks in a clean, dry place before using them. Since you've just washed them, they will be wet and can potentially pick up dirt or dust if you're not careful. Avoid poisonous or harmful trees. Never take your miswak stick from a tree you know to be poisonous or otherwise harmful. No matter how much you clean a miswak stick from a poisonous tree, using the stick will expose you to chemicals that can make you sick. You will also want to avoid any trees that you know to have been treated with a pesticide or any other potentially harmful chemicals. Below are just a few types of trees from which you should not take miswak sticks (this list is incomplete, so consult a botanical resource if you're ever unsure whether a certain tree is unsafe). Pomegranate trees Bamboo trees Chambelle trees Raihaan trees Myrtle trees When in doubt, buy or order a miswak twig. Though people in certain parts of the world have been taking their own miswak sticks from nature for thousands of years, for the inexperienced, this can be an intimidating task. If you're ever worried about whether or not a certain miswak stick is safe to use, consider buying yours from a reputable vendor. Miswak sticks are available both online and from specialty brick-and-mortar stores (most commonly in Muslim countries and communities) — in developed countries with modern health regulations, these commercially-sold sticks will be sanitary and reliably safe to use.
Chew the bark off of one end of the twig. Chew the center until it becomes soft and forms bristles. Soak the tip in water. Hold the miswak twig with one thumb underneath. Brush your teeth with the bristled end. Cut off old bristles every few days. Store the twig in a dry place. Use miswak as part of wudu. Understand the importance of oral purification. Study miswak usage in the Hadiths. Alternatively, use an ordinary toothbrush for wudu. Find a tree from which miswak twigs are traditionally taken. Cut a small, sturdy twig from the tree. Wash thoroughly before using. Avoid poisonous or harmful trees. When in doubt, buy or order a miswak twig.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Great-Cleavage
How to Get Great Cleavage
With a few simple products, you can make your cleavage look great in any outfit. Wear a push-up bra or padded bra to give your breasts more volume and emphasize your cleavage. Or, get some silicone bra inserts, which you place in your bra to lift your breasts. If you don't want to wear a bra with a particular outfit, try taping your breasts to your sides near your underarms to lift them a little. The best tops to emphasize your cleavage are those with a v-neck, plunging neck, or bandeau cuts. You can also wear a corset or a bodysuit with built-in foam cups to raise your breasts.
Invest in a push-up bra. Push-up bras are an easy and affordable way to instantly gain a cup size or two. Push up bras make cleavage appear younger, firmer and larger and can be purchased at any specialty bra store or most stores where bras are sold. Look for a push-up bra that pushes breasts up and together. Opt for a bra with a wide backband – this will also help to support your breasts. Try a padded bra. Padded bras work to boost your breasts at the bottom, lifting the breast upwards to sit on top of the padding. Look for a bra that sits snugly around your body and doesn't cause your breasts to spill out of the cups. If you're wearing a deep cut top, look for a padded plunge bra. These bras position the padding on the sides to centralize your cleavage. Padded bras fit tighter than regular bras, so try a size larger than you might normally wear. Get sized for a bra every year. If you have a favorite bra, you probably wear it regularly and that will cause it to stretch out. Additionally, your breast size may fluctuate due to weight loss or gain. Visit a department store once a year for a fitting and to replace any old bras that may not be working anymore. Continuing to wear old bras may cause your breasts to sag. If your breasts are on the larger side, always wear a bra with underwire for maximum support. Utilize silicone chicken cutlets. If your want full, gravity-defying cleavage like Kim Kardashian, wear a push-up bra and insert a silicone chicken cutlet into the bottom of each bra cup. The cutlets will help boost your bust and make your breasts look fuller. For deeper cleavage, apply the cutlet to the outside of each breast. Place the cutlet high on the nipple, instead of centered on top of it, for a perkier breast. Buy your pushup bra in your correct size, but look for one with a tight band. Cutlets can be purchased online, or in many stores that sell clothing and lingerie. Tape your breasts. While nothing can support your breasts like a bra, tape is ideal for instances where you can't wear one (for example, if you're wearing a dress with a plunging neckline or an open back). Make sure your skin is free from lotions and oils before applying. To apply, start with a piece of tape between 12 – 16” long. Place the tape over your nipple, then pull it up to attach it to your side, near your underarm. Trim any excess tape and smooth the tape flat against your chest. Duct tape and gaffer's tape yield the best results. Avoid using this trick if you have sensitive skin. Apply breast lift tape. Breast lift tape works similarly to using duct tape, but is only applied to the portion of the breast, just above the nipples. To apply breast lift tape, place the adhesive directly over the nipple. Remove the paper from the upper half of the adhesive and attach the sticky upper portion to the upper portion of your chest. Smooth the tape gently to remove any air-pockets. Breast lift tape does not provide a great deal of support and tends to work better for women with smaller cup sizes. Breast lift tape can be purchased online or in stores like Target. Choose clothing that enhances your cleavage. There are certain styles and cuts of clothing that are designed to make a woman's chest appear larger. Try wearing a dress or top in a bandeau cut - this will offer support and also push your breasts up so they look bigger and perkier. Try wearing a bodysuit. Look for one with built-in foam cups to provide the support you would normally get from your bra. If you can't find a bodysuit with cups, buy cups at a fabric store and take them to a seamstress to have them sewn in. Try engineered shapewear for results that are designed to mimic the effects of plastic surgery. Try a corset. Corsets aren't just for period pieces anymore – modern women use corsets to narrow the middle portion of their bodies and make their breasts appear larger and more pronounced. Look for a corset that has boning; this will serve as a makeshift bra. Do not immediately tighten your corset after putting it on. Give your body a few minutes to adjust before lacing yourself in. Wear the right top. If you were blessed with full breasts, make your cleavage pop even further by wearing a t-shirt in a v-neck, plunging or sweetheart cut. Make sure you're wearing a well-fitting bra underneath your shirt to prevent spillage. If your breasts spill over the tops and sides of your bra, it's time to get remeasured. Breasts should be lifted and separated when wearing a V-neck top. If they are too squished together, opt for a different bra. Use bronzer to grow your décolletage. To makeup your breasts, you'll need a soft powder brush, a bronzer that is darker than your skin and a bronzer that is light and luminescent. Sweep dark bronzer from where your bra strap meets your cup down to the inner edge of your cleavage. Repeat on the other side of your chest. Brush the light bronzer in a straight line down the middle of your cleavage and across your collarbone. For best results, wear a push up bra when making up your chest. Lift your breasts through exercise. Working out your pectoral muscles as you're getting ready can actually make your breasts look larger. To work out your pecs, grab two 20 oz water bottles and lie down on your back. Extend your arms to the sides to make a T shape, then lift your arms to meet over your chest. Keep your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Do 25 reps a day for a noticeable lift. Sleep on your back. Sleeping on your stomach may cause wrinkles on your chest. Try to sleep on your back or side whenever possible and apply sunscreen and moisturizer to your chest if you're planning to be in the sun. To further improve your breasts as you sleep, wear a sleep bra to bed. The sleep bra will help prevent your breasts from sagging long-term.
Invest in a push-up bra. Try a padded bra. Get sized for a bra every year. Utilize silicone chicken cutlets. Tape your breasts. Apply breast lift tape. Choose clothing that enhances your cleavage. Try a corset. Wear the right top. Use bronzer to grow your décolletage. Lift your breasts through exercise. Sleep on your back.
https://www.wikihow.com/Freeze-Parsley
How to Freeze Parsley
Before you freeze parsley, rinse it in cold water, pat it dry with a paper towel, and take the leaves off the stems. Then, roll the leaves into a ball in your hand and pack them tightly in a plastic freezer bag before you throw the bag in the freezer. When you need some parsley, just scrape the side of your frozen parsley ball with a knife! Alternatively, stack the leaves in the cubes of an ice cube tray, put enough water in the tray to cover the leaves, and freeze the tray. You can then pop out a cube when you want some parsley!
Wash the parsley. Rinse it in cold water and leave it to air dry. You can help it along by patting it dry with a paper towel. Be gentle, so the leaves don't break or bruise. Remove the stems. Wait until the parsley is fully dry to remove the leaves from the stems. Keep going until you have a big pile of parsley leaves. If you'd rather keep the stems, skip this step and keep the parsley intact. Roll the parsley into a ball. The key is to get it packed nice and tight, which will help to preserve it. Pack it inside a freezer bag. Stuff the bag entirely full. Use a bag small enough that you can fill it up completely. Pop into the freezer. Use the parsley as needed. When you need parsley for a recipe, all you have to do is scrape the side of the ball using a knife. Pieces will come off ready for use and you don't even have to chop it. Wash and air dry the parsley. You can use a salad spinner or a paper towel to dry it faster. Remove the parsley leaves from the stems. Separating the leaves from the stems will make the parsley easier to make into ice cubes. Portion the parsley into separate ice cube containers. Fill each segment of an ice cube tray with parsley. Top off the containers with water. Use as little water as possible - just enough to cover the parsley so you can make ice cubes. If you would prefer frozen parsley that has a stronger flavor when thawed, opt for olive oil (or another neutral flavor cooking oil) instead of water. While this means you'll add both oil and parsley to whatever dish you end up using it for, the parsley cube will melt into your dish faster when added directly, thereby reducing the risk that some parsley leaves will overcook while others are still frozen. Place the trays in the freezer. Leave them there until the cubes are frozen. You can either leave the cubes in the trays until you're ready to use them or pop them out and put them in freezer bags. Stored in this way, you should be able to keep the parsley for around 2 weeks without significant flavor loss. Thaw a cube whenever you need parsley. You can add the entire cube to a dish or let it thaw in a bowl and drain the water before using. Make pesto using your favorite recipe. Parsley freezes beautifully in the form of pesto, a blend of herbs, oil and nuts. Making pesto is a great way to preserve the bright flavor of parsley in the form of a convenient sauce that can be used to top pasta, salad, meat, or fish. To make pesto, do the following: Wash and chop 2 cups of parsley. Blend 1 cup walnuts or cashews, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 3 cloves garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor. Add 1/2 cup olive oil while the processor is running. Add the parsley and blend until smooth. Scoop the pesto into individual freezer bags. Put the amount you'll use per meal in individual bags, so it will be easy to grab one and thaw it out when you need one. Freeze the bags flat. Stack them flat until they are frozen solid. Once they are frozen, you can store them upright to create more room in the freezer.
Wash the parsley. Remove the stems. Roll the parsley into a ball. Pack it inside a freezer bag. Use the parsley as needed. Wash and air dry the parsley. Remove the parsley leaves from the stems. Portion the parsley into separate ice cube containers. Top off the containers with water. Place the trays in the freezer. Thaw a cube whenever you need parsley. Make pesto using your favorite recipe. Scoop the pesto into individual freezer bags. Freeze the bags flat.
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Being-Afraid-of-Romantic-Relationships
How to Stop Being Afraid of Romantic Relationships
It's understandable to be afraid of romantic relationships, but you can overcome this fear and enjoy the positive side of romance by challenging your fears and opening up to the possibility of love. Question the reason for the fear you feel about a relationship, since fears are often the result of focusing only on negative experiences. For example, if you were cheated on in the past, tell yourself that this doesn't mean every relationship will end in the same way. If you feel that you cannot love, remember that there are many different people out there and you may just have not met the right person yet. Take chances to be friendly with people you meet, like by smiling at them and engaging in conversation, since getting to know a potential match is the first step to making romance work. If you feel you love someone, recognize this as a perfectly normal emotion and embrace it. Over time, your feelings may change but this is part of the process of developing a longer-lasting relationship.
Embrace the feelings love brings. Even if the emotions you experience seem scary or odd, go where they lead you. We grow from taking chances. Yes, sometimes, the chances we take do not always work out. But, remember that you are braver for having taken the chance. Don't push away the good feelings you get because of fear. Invite them in. Tons of poems and songs have been written about this beautiful feeling. You may find yourself consumed by new love and this is natural. Have fun with that new “crush” and enjoy the natural high. Do not dismiss the fun part of falling in love, but also be aware that these feelings usually die down a bit. Recognize that feelings do change over time. Also, know that that's not always a bad thing. Love tends to start out all sunshine and unicorns but at some point in order for it to last it needs to change. Long-lasting and abiding love means getting to know another person, flaws and all. It's completely normal for a relationship to be in the honeymoon phase for many months or even years before you two experience any difficulties. Getting to know another person and accepting them 100% are two very different things. The initial attraction may fizzle as you figure out your partner does that one thing you can't stand. It's OK to know your deal breakers, but it's also OK to watch a new relationship grow stronger as you find yourself more attracted to the person you are getting to know. Practice being vulnerable. At first it may be scary so take it at face value. Give yourself time apart to not be vulnerable if you need to. Not every minute together has to be some deep exercise in being vulnerable. You can just enjoy each other but make special efforts to give a potential partner access to parts of your life and past you don't normally share. Use your judgment for how much is appropriate to share depending on how long or how deep your connection is. It can be fun to ask a potential spouse to try a new hobby or attend an event that is special to you so he or she can see a different side of you. Dare to be yourself with a potential suitor. At some point it's time to stop trying to impress your partner and just be loved for who you are deep down. Part of being afraid of love is not feeling like you are worthy of love unless you are an ideal version of yourself. If the relationship is going to last, your mate has to see the real you. When you're true to yourself, it's much easier for you to behave in ways that allow you to build intimacy with your partner, research shows. Hiding behind a mask makes it harder to forge a deeper connection. While you should always stay open to change and growth, this means embracing your natural quirks and flaws. Show your partner that side of you that you think is hideous or weird. If he or she is a good match, you will likely be loved all the more for being your true self. Identify the characteristics that you want in a relationship. Then, take a look at all the things you are doing that prevent you from having the relationship you desire. In order to overcome your fear of romantic relationships, you must recognize and stop your self-sabotaging behaviors. One big mistake many people make is looking for love in the wrong places. You may want to date someone who is hard working and stable in their career but you find yourself meeting potential mates at the club on a Thursday night. You are using old habits to get different results, and this just doesn't work. Another mistake often made is settling for less than you desire because you feel any partner is better than nothing. Staying in an unhappy situation may actually keep you away from finding one that makes you happy. Understanding the difference between being alone and lonely is huge. Don’t believe everything you think about yourself. You may have been hurt in the past or maybe you think you are too old, overweight, or other negative characteristic to find love. Part of finding love is being ready for it and believing you deserve to be loved. Sometimes, the easiest time to find love is when you are happy without it because you are happy with you. If you want to attract a happy relationship focus on making yourself happy first, you would be surprised how attractive a real smile is. Look around you and recognize the small chances you have each day to flirt and be flirted with. That's not saying every time someone smiles at you it is love, but practicing accepting a flirt not only builds your confidence but it trains you to look past your own self-doubt to realize you are attracting attention. Know that running from pain also prevents you from feeling joy. Both positive and negative emotions are essential to personal growth and development. If you work hard to protect yourself from getting hurt, you also run the risk of never feeling happiness. It may seem safer to not even bother taking a chance on love so you never get hurt, but this also closes you off from finding a positive relationship. Yes, it will feel vulnerable to be open to love, but that's part of the game. Giving your heart to someone means risking hurt feelings for the chance of a lifetime of happiness. Take a look at recurring patterns in your past relationships. What happened in those partnerships that may have made you uneasy about getting involved again? Looking at your past does not mean you assume all relationships are the same. They are not. But the one common denominator is you. You need to take a look at the behaviors that are not serving you or your personal growth. Try to uncover what your fears are. Fears can be tied to just about anything, and figuring out where yours lie will help to tell you what work needs to be done. If you have been cheated on in the past, you may be fearful of never being enough to keep a lover to yourself. Understanding this fear will help you see that you are enough and you do not deserve that level of disrespect. Abuse, either physical or emotional, may have been a part of your past relationships. This can be very scary and make the relationship not based on love but danger and fear for one's safety. Get professional help. You may even be fearful things are going to go too well and you will have to answer tough questions about things like having a family and a future that is not all about you. This can be very scary if you have settled into your single life. Don't worry about a straining your existing relationships. Some young people worry about getting involved in a committed relationship because it can be the ultimate sign of growing up. You want things to stay the same, not to change. You think avoiding a relationship allows you to maintain the innocence and carefree attitude of youth. This is a common and warranted fear, but you must aim to move past it. Yes, your relationships with friends and family members may change. This can happen whether you are in a romantic relationship or not. However, try not to see romantic relationships as automatically the most important. Relationships with family and friends can be very important too and sometimes deserve more priority than they are often given. Defeat the idea that you cannot love. Some people think they are incapable of loving others, so they refrain from entering one-sided relationships. For the most part, love is frequently unequal. Love also changes and evolves. You may see times where you feel like you love your partner way more than he or she does you, but then suddenly the situation flips as you question things. It is natural for relationships to change and grow. If you actually aren't able to feel anything romantic for anyone, that doesn't mean something is wrong with you, but you may be aromantic. This is different from being afraid of romantic relationships and it's a better idea to try to accept it than to try to fix it. See a counselor to help you overcome trust or commitment issues. A counselor may be able to help you in ways you cannot help yourself. He or she will also be experienced in helping to find old habits that need to be broken in order to improve your romantic relationships.
Embrace the feelings love brings. Recognize that feelings do change over time. Practice being vulnerable. Dare to be yourself with a potential suitor. Identify the characteristics that you want in a relationship. Don’t believe everything you think about yourself. Know that running from pain also prevents you from feeling joy. Take a look at recurring patterns in your past relationships. Try to uncover what your fears are. Don't worry about a straining your existing relationships. Defeat the idea that you cannot love. See a counselor to help you overcome trust or commitment issues.
https://www.wikihow.com/Accentuate-Wavy-Hair
How to Accentuate Wavy Hair
To accentuate your wavy hair, be gentle while washing it and try a hair product or 2. After you wash your hair, soak up excess water by patting and scrunching it with a towel, instead of rubbing it, since this can make your hair frizzy. Consider only brushing your hair before washing it, since brushing can pull waves out of your hair. While it's drying, wrap strands around your fingers and twist them, which will help your hair stay wavy. Try adding a small amount of mousse or a hair serum, like argan oil, to help maintain your waves. Dry shampoo also helps to hold the shape and volume of your hair.
Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo. Wavy hair tends to get frizzy and dry. Using a harsh shampoo can make these problems worse. Stick with a sulfate free shampoo or one with moisturizers. Sulfates are detergents that can strip natural oils from hair and cause frizz. Condition your hair. Keep in mind that conditioner should not be overly heavy, because too much oil can weigh wavy hair down. Look for a conditioner that is a medium consistency, not too thin or thick. Some conditioners are designed for wavy hair and will have ingredients that fight frizz and help waves curl up. Towel dry by patting your hair. When towel drying hair, soak up excess water by patting and scrunching your hair. Don't be tempted to rub hair with the towel, because this will make your hair frizzy. You can also wrap your hair on top of your head with a dry towel for a few minutes to remove excess water. Hair should still be damp, but not soaking wet, after towel drying. Using a soft T-shirt or microfiber towel to dry your hair is a gentler way to remove excess moisture. Do not brush your hair. If you need to get rid of knots, brush your hair thoroughly before you wash it. Do not brush hair after you shampoo and condition, if you want to wear it wavy, because it will pull waves out you're trying to enhance. If you absolutely need to detangle, after you towel dry and apply product, use a wide tooth comb to lightly remove tangles. Spray damp hair with a leave-in conditioner. Depending on the condition of your hair, you may want to use a leave-in conditioner. This is a good option, if your hair is dry and needs more hydration than what your rinse-out conditioner can give. It's also good to use in place of rinse-out conditioner, if you have fine hair, because they're generally lighter. The best leave-in conditioner for wavy hair should be a lightweight formula that creates shine, detangles and smooths cuticles. Leave-in conditioners normally protect hair from heat, as well. Use one to two pumps of hair serum. Rub your hands together to evenly distribute through your hands. Apply to ends first and work the product throughout the rest of your hair shaft. Use a hair serum that is designed to stop frizz and provide hair with extra moisture. Argan oil works great as a hair serum, because it smooths fly-aways, but isn't too heavy. Do not overuse hair serum. A pea-sized amount is suitable for most hair. Scrunch your hair with mousse. Mousse has come a long way, since the 1980's. Instead of creating stiff, crunchy hold, they now give soft, touchable control to hair. Look for a mousse that contains flexible polymers to give curl memory and definition to your wavy look. Use dry shampoo. Dry shampoo is not just for days you don't wash your hair. It will give you long lasting volume, whenever you use it. This is great, since one of the biggest problems of wavy hair is its tendency to fall flat. Spray or sprinkle dry shampoo on your roots to fluff up hair. It will also absorb any excess oil off your scalp from hair serums or conditioning products. Spritz your strands with salt spray. Salt spray will enhance your natural texture and create amazing volume. It will give you effortless looking beach waves, especially if you air-dried your hair in braids. Use salt spray on slightly damp or dry hair. Scrunch away for a look fresh from the ocean. Use a styling paste or pomade after waves dry. If you have coarser textured hair, you will need a stronger product to contain frizz and moisturize locks. You can find your solution in a styling paste or pomade designed for curly or wavy hair. These products typically come in a jar, and they are concentrated. Use no more than a dime-sized amount and warm the product up in your hands before using in your hair. Another great way to measure is by looking at the size of a finger nail bed for reference. Apply this concentrated product on your ends and to frizzy areas around the face. Use a diffuser attachment. Some dryers come with two different types of attachments. One is a nozzle concentrator that is good for straight looks; another is the diffuser attachment, which will be your go to for accentuating waves. A good diffuser will gently dry your hair without blowing out the cuticle. This attachment is bell-shaped with many holes that spread and soften the air from your dryer. Purchase a universal diffuser, if your dryer doesn't come with a diffuser attachment. These have springs around the part that attaches to the nozzle of a blow dryer; so that it adjusts to many sizes. Measure the diameter of your dryer nozzle to make sure the diffuser you buy fits properly. Look for a diffuser that has many finger-like plastic pieces around the holes. These help scrunch hair. Check how softly the diffuser blows air. All diffusers are not created equal, and this is important to keep in mind, if your blow dryer came with a diffuser already. If you attach your diffuser and air still blows as strongly, or almost as strongly, as if you didn't attach it; this is not a good diffuser. The point is that air blows softer to contain your hair cuticle and prevent frizz. Diffuse hair from ends and work upwards. Drying your waves from the ends up will help cut down on any weight that could pull your hair straight. Tilt your head to the side or upside down and scrunch hair with the diffuser. Hold the nozzle horizontal to your locks or at a 45 degree angle. Do not point the nozzle directly up the hair shaft, because this will open your cuticle and cause frizz. Massage hair close to the scalp. As you work towards the end of your blow dry, you will want to maximize volume. To keep hair lifted off the scalp and as wavy as possible, place the plastic finger-like pieces attached to your diffuser on your scalp and massage with small circles. If your diffuser doesn't have these plastic pieces, you can claw your hand and use your fingertips to massage in a circle. Finish your blow dry with a blast of cool air. Most blow dryers come with a cool setting on the temperature controls. The cool air will lay your cuticle down, if the hot air opened it, and smooth frizziness. It will also help lock in curl, giving you longer lasting waves. Touch up unruly waves with a curl rod. Sometimes your waves may not cooperate, even after properly diffusing them or scrunching them. In this case, take a curling wand or an iron about an inch wide, and wrap unruly pieces around it. Wrapping pieces around a curl rod, instead of clamping and rolling curls in, will mimic your natural, loose wavy texture. Wrap and twist hair around fingers. A great way to set and enhance waves or curls is by gently making twists all over the head about an inch thick. Remember not to pull the hair too tight as you twist. The twists will naturally spring up, but you can scrunch afterwards too. As your hair dries, the twists will loosen, but not all the way. Use a wide tooth comb to tousle them, after they completely dry. Braid your hair. Braids work great to accentuate wavy hair. Before you go to bed, braid your hair in one or more braids and take them down in the morning. If you get frizzy hair from sleeping on it, you can run a little bit of conditioning styling cream through the ends or anywhere else you have flyaways. Braid wet hair in one big, loose braid. Twist the braid into a bun, and clip your hair a few inches below the crown for some lift. Create four braids around your head for tighter texture and extra volume. Don't remove your braids until your hair is completely dry. Twist your hair into buns. While your hair is wet, place your part where you want it in your final look. After this, divide your hair into four sections and twist each section into a bun. Secure each bun with a large u-shaped pin, so you don't create an elastic mark from hair ties. Take your buns down in the morning for beautiful, loose waves. If your buns still feel damp in the morning, let them dry fully. Tuck hair behind your ears and secure with clips. This is an easy way to enhance waves around the face and eyes. While your hair is damp, tuck the hair behind your ears and use flat metal clips right above your ears to set the wave. After the hair dries, un-clip and un-tuck for perfect movement around your face. Separate waves with a wide tooth comb. Waves should be tousled and loose. After you've completely dried your hair, pick areas out with a wide-tooth comb to break up any waves that may be too defined. You can use your fingers to tousle waves as long as you use a light touch.
Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo. Condition your hair. Towel dry by patting your hair. Do not brush your hair. Spray damp hair with a leave-in conditioner. Use one to two pumps of hair serum. Scrunch your hair with mousse. Use dry shampoo. Spritz your strands with salt spray. Use a styling paste or pomade after waves dry. Use a diffuser attachment. Check how softly the diffuser blows air. Diffuse hair from ends and work upwards. Massage hair close to the scalp. Finish your blow dry with a blast of cool air. Touch up unruly waves with a curl rod. Wrap and twist hair around fingers. Braid your hair. Twist your hair into buns. Tuck hair behind your ears and secure with clips. Separate waves with a wide tooth comb.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Murukku
How to Make Murukku
To make murukku, start by mixing together regular flour and rice flour, then add butter, cumin seeds, salt, and coconut. Next, add a few drops of water at a time, and mix until you get a soft, pliable dough. Then, place the dough in a murukku mold or a pastry bag with a star attachment, and squeeze it out into spirals on a sheet of wax paper. Fry the murukku in coconut oil, peanut oil, or ghee until it's light golden brown on both sides. Finally, drain the murukku on a plate lined with paper towels, and let them come to room temperature before serving.
Mix the flours together. Place the sifter over the large mixing bowl. Next, pour in the rice flour and shake the sifter gently. Once all of the flour has fallen into the mixing bowl, add the urad dal flour to the sifter. Gently shake the sifter and allow the urad dal flour to fall into the mixing bowl. Use a whisk to mix the two flours together. Discard any lumps left in sifter. Add the butter, cumin seeds, and salt and coconut. First, add the cumin seeds and salt and shredded coconut to the mixing bowl. Whisk the mixture until it's combined. Next, add the room temperature butter. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to press the butter into the flour. This will absorb the butter into the flour and create small pearls of dough. Add a few drops of water. Slowly add a few drops of water into the mixture. Use your hands or a spoon to mix everything together. Continue adding water and mixing until a soft, pliable dough is formed. You will be done mixing when the dough comes together and no flour is left in the bowl. Roll the dough into a ball. The surface of the dough ball should be free of cracks, but not sticky. Cover the dough with a damp towel until you're ready to form the murukku. If the dough seems dry and crumbly, add a few more drops of water. If the dough becomes sticky, knead in a sprinkle of rice flour. Lay out a sheet of wax paper. Either place a large piece of wax paper on a baking sheet or lay it out directly on your counter. You will form the murukku on this wax paper. Screw the star attachment on the murukku mold. A murukku mold is a small metal cylinder with a variety of disk attachments and a metal tamper. Find the disk attachment with a small star shape in the center. Next, place the star attachment disk over the opening of the mold and screw it into place. If you don't have a mold, you can also use a pastry bag with a small star attachment on the end. You can buy murukku molds online or at your local Indian grocery store. Grease the murukku mold. Use your finger and a small amount of butter to grease the inside of the murukku mold and the end of the tamper. If you use a pastry bag instead, you can skip this step. If you don't grease the murukku mold, the mold is much harder to clean. Fill the mold with dough. Pinch off a walnut-sized ball of dough and press it into the opening of the murukku mold. If you have a larger mold, you may need a larger piece of dough. Fill the murukku mold with dough, leaving a few centimeters of space at the top for the tamper. If you're using a pastry bag, fill the bag about halfway full. Press the dough gently towards the star attachment to remove any air bubbles. Press the dough onto the wax paper. Hold the mold or pastry bag just above the wax paper. Next, gently squeeze the dough out by pressing the tamper or squeezing the pasty bag. Move the mold or pastry bag in a circular motion to create small spirals of dough. Once the spiral is as big as you'd like, use your finger to break the dough away from the mold or pastry bag. Press the tail end against the spiral to secure it. If the dough breaks while forming the spirals, remove the dough from the pastry bag or mold and knead in a few drops of water. Cover the murukku. Dampen a clean dish cloth and squeeze out as much water as you can. Next, gently drape the dish cloth over the murukku spirals. This will prevent drying. Place a pan of frying oil over medium heat. Use a deep stainless steel pan or stock pot. Fill the pot with your frying oil of choice and place it over medium heat. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan with three inches (7.5 centimeters) of oil. Avoid using burn-prone oils such as olive oil and butter. Some examples of suitable frying oils include: Coconut oil Avocado oil Ghee Peanut oil (Avoid this if you have nut allergies) Test the temperature of the oil. To deep fry food, the oil needs to be 350-375°Fahrenheit (176-190°Celsius.) However, if you don't have a cooking thermometer, you can still check the temperature of the oil. To do so, drop a small amount of batter into the hot oil. If the oil bubbles vigorously around the batter, the oil is hot enough. If the oil barely bubbles around the batter, continue to heat the oil before adding your murukku. Wait until the oil is hot enough before cooking the murukku. Otherwise, they will soak up the oil and won't cook. Place the murukku in the oil. Use a metal slotted spoon to transfer the murukku from the wax paper to the hot oil. Depending on the size of your murukku, you may be able to add three or four at once. However, don't overcrowd the pan. If you do, the murukku will stick together and cook too slowly. The murukku should lift away from the wax paper easily. If not, let them dry out on the counter without the damp towel for a few minutes. Check for doneness. The murukku will only take a few minutes to cook in the oil. Use the metal slotted spoon to turn the murukku in the oil and examine both sides. Look for a light golden brown color and a crispy texture. You don't need to flip the murukku while frying them. The oil will cook both sides at once. Serve the murukku. Once the murukku are a light golden brown, use a metal slotted spoon to remove the murukku from the oil. Place the hot murukku on a plate lined with a clean paper towel. Serve them as soon as they've cooled to room temperature. Leftover murukku can be placed in an airtight container and stored on your counter or in the pantry. Eat the murukku within one week of cooking them. Otherwise, they will become stale and chewy.
Mix the flours together. Add the butter, cumin seeds, and salt and coconut. Add a few drops of water. Roll the dough into a ball. Lay out a sheet of wax paper. Screw the star attachment on the murukku mold. Grease the murukku mold. Fill the mold with dough. Press the dough onto the wax paper. Cover the murukku. Place a pan of frying oil over medium heat. Test the temperature of the oil. Place the murukku in the oil. Check for doneness. Serve the murukku.
https://www.wikihow.com/Bustle-a-Gown
How to Bustle a Gown
Bustling your own gown can be an easy way to cut the cost of your wedding. To add a 1-point overbustle to your wedding gown, sew a loop to the back of the dress and a button above it. Sew the loop halfway up the length of the dress using a secure knot. Then, sew the button 1 foot above the bride's knees. Stitch it 4 times and make 2 knots to make sure it's secure. Now you'll be able to hook the loop over the button to lift the dress's train off of the floor. This is the simplest and cheapest way to bustle your dress, but it isn't recommended for heavier dresses.
Sew a loop. Place a safety pin on the back of the dress, halfway up the length of the bride's train. This is where the loop will go. Thread the needle by doubling up the thread and inserting it into the needle. Tie the end of the thread with a knot to secure it. Insert the needle into the underside of the dress. Pull the thread all the way through. Make a small stitch and pull the thread most the way through to create a loop. Grab the loop with your fingers and pull the remaining thread through the loop to create a knot. Repeat this process until you have a loop big enough to fit your button. Secure the loop by running the needle and thread through the loop to tie it off. Insert the needle through the fabric to the other side and make two knots. Cut off any excess thread. Attach the button. Place a safety pin on the back of the dress, a foot above the bride's knees. This is where the button will go. Thread the needle and make a knot at the end of the thread. Thread the needle through the underside of the dress. Attach the button to the dress using the needle and thread. Stitch the button four times to make sure it is secure. Secure the button by running the needle and thread through the fabric to the other side. Make two knots and cut off any excess thread. Bustle the dress. Hook the loop over the button to lift the dress's train off of the floor. Rearrange the folds of fabric around the bustle to make the bustle appear bigger and to give it more volume. The one-point overbustle is the least expensive way to bustle a dress, but it's also the least secure. The one point overbustle is only recommended for dresses with lighter fabric. Do not try the over bustle if your dress is heavy or has a particularly long train. Measure the seam. To add a French bustle, start by measuring the center back seam of the gown's train from the waist to the floor. Then measure the distance from the edge of the train to the base of the dress. Mark the place between these two distances with a pin. Pin the waistline seam and train. Lift the center back seam where you made the pin mark and position it against the center of the waistline, at the base of the bodice. Adjust the fold so the train is between ½” to ¾” (1.3 – 2 cm) off the floor. Pin the train to the waistline seam. Lift the sides of the train off the floor ½” to ¾” (1.3 – 2 cm) and fold and pin the train along each side of the back seam. To lift the remaining train off the floor, continue to fold and pin the train as necessary between the seams. Make the ties. Undo all the pin-marking points you have made on the train and waistline of the dress. Sew a length of narrow grosgrain ribbon measuring 15” (38 cm) to the waistline of the dress, using the pin marks as a guide. The ribbon should fall between the lining of the skirt and the dress's train. Make sure to sew the ribbon securely into the waistline seam. Make the loops. Cut 2 1/2“ (6.5 cm) of the ribbon before folding it in half and stitching the ribbon loop to the underside of the dress's train. Make the loop stronger by reinforcing it with a small piece of interfacing, or by attaching the loop to the seam allowances of the dress. Loops should be attached ½” (1.3 cm) below each pin mark. Repeat the same process for all other loops. Bustle the dress. Attach each ribbon to the corresponding loop by inserting the ribbon into the loop and tying a double bow. Plump up the fabric to make the bustle look bigger and to provide more volume. The French bustle is great for dresses with lots of train decoration centered below the waist because the bustle won't hide the designs. The French bustle is also ideal for dresses with long trains or that are made of heavier fabrics. Measure the train. To add an overbustle, start by measuring the back seam of the dress's train from the waistline seam to the floor and again from the edge of the train to the base of the dress. Mark the place between these two distances with a pin. Pin the waistline seam. Lift the center back seam where you made the pin mark and position it so it is flush against the center of the waistline, at the base of the bodice. Adjust the positioning so the train is ½” – ¾” (1.3 – 2 cm) off the floor. Attach the train to the seam using a pin. Fold and pin the train. Lift the dress's train off the floor, and pin it so the sides of the train are positioned ½” to ¾” (1.3 – 2 cm) off the floor and secured to the sides of the dress's back seam. Fold and pin the train to lift any remaining train off the floor. If the train is too long or heavy, redistribute the already existing folds into two smaller folds. When the folds are securely pinned, release the bustle and remove the pins. Attach the buttons or hooks. In order to secure the dress on the day of the wedding, the bustle will need to be connected to the dress using either buttons or hooks. Sew these on wherever you made pin marks along the waistline. Make sure to stitch securely – you don't want the bustle coming undone. If the buttons or hooks need additional reinforcement, attach a small piece of interfacing under each one. Make the button loops. Use strong thread to thread the needle, then knot the ends of the thread together. Place a small piece of interfacing on the topside of the dress's train, wherever you made a pin marking denoting a button loop. Insert the needle at the pin, next to the seam-line, then pull it through the interfacing and train. Make a small backstitch from the right side of the train. Pull the thread to make a loop reaching 1” – 2” (2.5 – 5 cm). Place your fingers inside the loop and grasp the loop. Pull the thread to tighten the first loop and create a second loop. Repeat this until you have a thread loop that's big enough to fit the button or hook. Use several back stitches to secure the thread to the underside of the dress. Bustle the dress. Once the loops have been added to the dress, bustle the train by fastening the loops to the buttons or hooks. Adjust the folds of fabric on the train to create a fuller and more voluminous bustle. If you don't like the look of the exposed buttons or hooks, you can hand-sew lace appliqués on top of the buttons or hooks to conceal them. Be sure to stock up on safety pins. American bustles are not as strong as French bustles and there's a chance that the bustle may break over the course of the evening.
Sew a loop. Attach the button. Bustle the dress. Measure the seam. Pin the waistline seam and train. Make the ties. Make the loops. Bustle the dress. Measure the train. Pin the waistline seam. Fold and pin the train. Attach the buttons or hooks. Make the button loops. Bustle the dress.
https://www.wikihow.com/Decide-Whether-to-Get-a-German-Shepherd
How to Decide Whether to Get a German Shepherd
If you're not sure whether or not to get a German Shepherd, consider how much space you have at home, since ideally they should have a large fenced-in backyard to roam around. German Shepherds are also very energetic and sociable dogs, requiring at least 30 minutes of rigorous exercise a day, so if you have busy evenings and weekends, you might want to consider a less demanding dog. Training is very important for German Shepherds, since they are pack dogs by nature, so consider if you can afford the cost of obedience training.
Reflect on your experience with dogs. Think twice before you get a German shepherd as your first dog. While they can be great pets, they have a strong guarding instinct and some are prone to anxiety and fear. This anxiety and fear can sometimes cause German shepherds to act aggressively. It's better to own and train other breeds first so that you're confident in your ability to use reward-based training methods. This will help you to ensure that the dog is safely under control. Determine your activity level. German shepherds are athletic dogs with high levels of energy. They enjoy running around, and they need exercise in order to stay healthy. Without exercise, German shepherds can become frustrated and potentially destructive. German shepherds need at least 30 minutes of rigorous exercise daily. Rigorous exercise includes running, jumping hurdles, chasing balls, and playing fetch. If you cannot provide the adequate amount of exercise, reconsider getting a German shepherd. Make sure you have enough living space. German shepherds require a living space that is stable, as well as large. Therefore, if you live in an apartment, particularly a small apartment, your living quarters might be too small to host a German shepherd. Ideally, a German shepherd needs a home setting with a large, fenced-in backyard. If you live in an apartment, you will also need to consider if your neighbors will tolerate a loud, barking dog since German shepherds tend to bark a lot. Assess your work and social life. If your work and/or social life prevent you from being home most of the time, this will be problematic. German shepherds need constant companionship and care. Therefore, being ok with sacrificing weekends to stay home with your German shepherd is a necessity. If your work requires that you travel a lot, reconsider getting a German shepherd. You cannot and should not leave these dogs at home for extended periods. See if you can afford training. Training will be one of the most important responsibilities you will have as an owner of a German shepherd. You will need to begin obedience training as soon as your German shepherd can train, i.e., around eight weeks, and continue this training throughout its adult life. Training, along with proper socialization, is essential to ensure that your German shepherd is well behaved. Obedience training classes range from $50 to $125 dollars for a four to eight week class. Take your dog to the dog park weekly to ensure proper socialization. Take health issues into consideration. German shepherds have a large number of health issues ranging from allergies to more life-threatening diseases, such as degenerative myelopathy. This means that you will need to take your dog to the vet regularly, i.e. at least once a year. You will also need to bring your dog to the vet if and when any of these health issues arises. Think about the size of the dog. Adult female dogs will reach a weight of 60 to 80 pounds, and adult male dogs will reach a weight of 70 to 90 pounds. Also, because they grow relatively quickly, a German shepherd puppy's diet needs to be closely regulated in order to avoid potential health problems. And, because they have two coats, German shepherds shed a lot and require constant grooming, such as brushing. Also consider the cost of preventative healthcare for large dogs. German shepherds are considered large dogs, and so the cost of essential heartworm preventatives, deworming, and flea control are proportionately larger. On average, a German shepherd will cost $3,000 per year in food, grooming, and vet care. Ask your family members how they feel about German shepherds. If you have a family, partner, or people living with you, you must consider their opinions about owning a German shepherd before purchasing one. If other family members rather have another breed of dog, then reconsider getting a German shepherd. You also need to be sure that your partner or family members are comfortable with handling a German shepherd on their own when you are away. Decide where the dog will live. If you plan to keep the dog outside in the backyard most of the time, then reconsider your decision to get a German shepherd. German shepherds need constant companionship, not only for socialization purposes, but also because companionship is a natural part of their personality. If you are bothered by a dog that will follow you everywhere, then perhaps a German shepherd is not for you. Determine if you can be a leader. German shepherds, like most dogs, are pack dogs. Therefore, early on, you need to establish your leadership. If you cannot provide calm, confident, and strong leadership for your dog, then they will take things on for themselves. This will make them very hard to control. A confident leader is not someone who is loud, harsh, or demanding, but is someone who is mature, firm, and fair in all areas of treatment of the dog.
Reflect on your experience with dogs. Determine your activity level. Make sure you have enough living space. Assess your work and social life. See if you can afford training. Take health issues into consideration. Think about the size of the dog. Ask your family members how they feel about German shepherds. Decide where the dog will live. Determine if you can be a leader.
https://www.wikihow.com/Title-Your-Work-of-Art
How to Title Your Work of Art
Titling your artwork can feel nearly as hard as producing the work itself, but there are ways to brainstorm ideas and find inspiration. Think of all of the themes that are central to the artwork, like “friendship” or “childhood.” Then, incorporate these keywords or their synonyms into your title. You can also consider your motivation for making the piece or how it makes you feel and use that to inspire your title. Since a title can help viewers understand what they're looking at or what's important, you can also use your title to help give meaning to your work. If your art is inspired by another artist, poem, or book, consider paying homage to that.
Make a list of themes central to the artwork. Brainstorm a list of ideas that reflect what your artwork is about. It can be simple, such as “trees” or “girl,” but it can also be thematic or subconscious, such as “friendship” or “childhood.” Think about what the meaning of the artwork is, and how the title can convey that meaning. Identify your motivation behind the artwork. What drove you to create this piece of art? Reflect on your feelings about this artwork and what you'd like to share with your audience. How does the artwork make you feel? Identify the story you want to tell. Pinpoint the artwork’s focal point. With artwork, there are certain areas of the piece that the artist wants the audience to see first or to pay the most attention to. Think about the focal point of your artwork. What do you want people to focus on when they observe your artwork? Naming your artwork after the focal point can help people understand your artwork better. Johannes Vermeer's “Girl with a Pearl Earring” draws attention to the small jewel in the ear of the subject. Consider what audiences need to know. Oftentimes, titles help audiences understand what they're looking at. Titles can give tools to the audience to know how to interpret the piece. What do you want audiences to know about your artwork? Do you want your title to direct the viewer towards a particular interpretation? For example, a work of art of a dog sitting on a beach can be interpreted in a number of ways. But if you title the picture, “Abandoned,” the viewer will assume that the dog has been abandoned on the beach. If you title the picture, “Best Friend,” people will react differently to the dog's presence. Some artists prefer not to tell the meaning of their artwork, deliberately leaving the title ambiguous. Make the title meaningful for yourself. No matter your reasoning for choosing a particular title, make it meaningful for you. You are, after all, the artist, and the artwork is made primarily for yourself. Some artists like to have titles that convey certain meanings so that they remember certain details about the process of making the artwork, what inspired the artwork, and so on. Frida Kahlo titled one painting, “I Belong to My Owner,” during a tumultuous affair with exiled communist Leo Trotsky. The painting of wild flowers in a vase symbolizes her overwhelming love for Trotsky coupled with her need to remove herself from this affair. Look for inspiration in poems or quotes. Using parts of your favorite poem or quote can be an interesting and suitable title for your artwork. Similarly, you could choose a passage from a book. These should not, however, be too lengthy. Choose something that is a short phrase. Also, choose something that adds to the artwork's meaning, not something completely random that doesn't mean anything. There shouldn't be copyright issues with this approach unless you are using a lengthy quote. If you have just a few words from a poem or book and you are appropriating it in a new way, this would likely be protected by fair use guidelines. Pam Farrell titled her painting, “Seasick Sailor,” which were words that she heard in song by both Beck and Bob Dylan. David White used titles of books and movies such as “The Man Who Knew Too Much” and “The Man Who Would Be King” and repurposed them into titles for a series of paintings. One of his paintings is, “The Man Who Was Tired of Perpetual War,” naming the action after the character in his painting. Ask for suggestions. Talk with family, friends, or other artists to get suggestions on a good title. They may have some interesting or inspirational ideas that you hadn't thought of. Alternately, throw a “titling party” with other artists or friends. Throw a party and display the artwork. Ask everyone to give suggestions for a title. Some titling parties demand that all guests stay until suggestions are made and a title is chosen. Painter Jackson Pollock would often only number his paintings, such as “Number 27, 1950,” but the art critic Clement Greenberg would give the paintings poetic names, such as “Lavender Mist” or “Alchemy,” in order to differentiate among them. Pay homage to an artistic influence. If your artwork or artistic style is particularly influenced by a certain piece of art or artist, you could consider naming your work after that. Paying homage to your influences can be a good source for artwork titles. Andy Warhol created a series of pop culture-infused paintings called, “The Last Supper,” as reinterpretations of Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper.” Look at titles of other works of art. Observe how other artists name their works of art. Read the story behind why a particular artwork was given its name. Read titles for different types of artwork, from classical paintings and modern drawings to sculptures and video art. Look for synonyms of words. Your title might revolve around a particular theme or topic, but you might not like the word choices. Look up key words in a thesaurus to come up with alternate words that mean the same thing. Add descriptive words. You might have a few key words that describe the theme you want to convey. Adding descriptive words can give more dimension to your title. Think of adjectives or adverbs that might work to enhance your title. Georgia O'Keeffe titled one painting, "Calla Lily Turned Away," giving more description to the floral subject of her work. Mary Cassatt named one painting, "Mrs. Duffee Seated on a Striped Sofa, Reading," expanding on the most obvious subject to include more details of the painting. Try different combinations. Switch around the words that you've chosen to see how they flow together. Putting the words in a different order can shift the meaning slightly, or it can make it easier to say. Say the words out loud to hear how they sound together. Choose a purely descriptive title. Instead of delving into a complex naming process, consider giving your artwork a very simple title that describes exactly what is in the artwork. This could be something like “Wooden Table with Fruit Bowl,” “Red Ball,” or “Girl Swinging.” Emily Carr titled many of her paintings simply, such as “Breton Church” and “Big Raven.” Claude Monet's "Still Life: Apples and Grapes” is a still life painting of a table with fruit. Translate a title into another language. Key words that reflect the topic or theme of your artwork might resonate better in another language. Choose a few words and try them in another language. Make sure you spell the words right in the other language. Double check any accents or other required markings for your words. Missing these markings can potentially mean altering the entire meaning of a given word. Try to find someone who speaks that language. Run your title by them to make sure it doesn't carry unwanted connotations. See if there are other works of art with the same name. The goal with titling your artwork is to make sure it stands apart from other works of art. If it has the same name as another piece of artwork – especially something well-known – that can unintentionally link your art to someone else's, risking confusion, misinterpretation or just basic lack of originality. Search online for your title and see what you find. Ask others for their impression of your title. Your title might mean one thing to you but something entirely different to another person. Getting first reactions and feedback on your title can be a good way to understand how it will be received. Consider if your title is ambiguous or if it can be interpreted in different ways. Check your spelling. Unless it's deliberate, don't send your artwork out into the world with any misspelled word in the title. Your error can make you look less professional or serious as an artist. Similarly, double check grammar, especially if your title is longer than a phrase. Make the title work for you. While you might title a piece of art to give it additional meaning, you may also title a piece of art so that you can promote yourself as an artist. Forgo the “Untitled” title, and instead strive to have a distinguishable work of art. This can potentially even add value to your artwork. For paintings in a series, you might name them sequentially (such as “Blue Fence #1,” “Blue Fence #2,” and so on). They may be hard to keep track of, however. Go for different titles and help yourself keep track of individual works. Reviewers, critics and collectors can reference your work more accurately with a specific title. If you call all your pieces “Untitled,” it will quickly get confusing as to which piece is being referred to. Having a unique title will make it easier for people searching online for your work to find you. Make sure the title accompanies your artwork. If you plan to circulate your artwork at all, make sure the title of the piece goes with the artwork. Write it on the back of the actual piece of art. If you post your artwork online, make sure your title appears with the artwork. This can improve your online profile by making your artwork easier to find.
Make a list of themes central to the artwork. Identify your motivation behind the artwork. Pinpoint the artwork’s focal point. Consider what audiences need to know. Make the title meaningful for yourself. Look for inspiration in poems or quotes. Ask for suggestions. Pay homage to an artistic influence. Look at titles of other works of art. Look for synonyms of words. Add descriptive words. Try different combinations. Choose a purely descriptive title. Translate a title into another language. See if there are other works of art with the same name. Ask others for their impression of your title. Check your spelling. Make the title work for you. Make sure the title accompanies your artwork.
https://www.wikihow.com/Speak-American-English
How to Speak American English
To speak American English, learn some common American phrases and slang that you can use in conversation. For example, you can ask "What's up?" the next time you see someone and want to know what they're up to. If someone asks what you're doing, you can reply "Just hanging out," which means you're not doing much. Whenever someone tells you something that you enjoy or think is nice, say "That's awesome" or "That's cool."
Adopt the way that Americans use articles in everyday speech. In English, the articles are “the,” “a,” and “an.” The way that Americans use these articles is unique when compared to other forms of English, but there are no strict rules for how to use them. In general, the article is only dropped for “church,” “college,” “class,” and a few other nouns. Try to repeat back a phrase that sounds odd to you by using the new article to get used to it. An American would say they “go to college,” but they'd also say “go to the university.” A British or Irish speaker would say they “went to hospital,” but an American speaker always goes to “the hospital.” The difference between using “a” and “an” isn't the first letter that follows the article. It's actually whether the sound of the first syllable is a vowel or consonant. You always use “an” with vowel sounds, and “a” consonants. Since Americans pronounce “honor” like “on-er,” it's “an honor” to meet someone if you're speaking American English. Article usage is one of the things that can make learning English so difficult. Stick with it and you'll get used to using the proper articles over time. Use American terms for everyday items to blend in. Like Australian, British, and Irish English, there are a plethora of words that are unique to American English. Using a term like “motorway” or “ice lolly” is a dead giveaway that you aren't an American English speaker. If you want to blend in, get used to using American terms and work on committing them to memory by using them every day. It can be tough to get used to using American terminology if you aren't familiar with it. Give it time. You'll get used to it the more you talk and listen to Americans. Watching a lot of American movies and shows can give you a good sense of the everyday phrases that Americans use. If you can't figure a word out based on context alone, write it down to look it up later. Get used to American idioms by incorporating them in your speech. Americans have a lot of idioms, which are culturally-recognized phrases that differ from a phrase's literal meaning. For example, when an American says that it is “raining cats and dogs,” they mean that it's raining hard, not that animals are falling out of the sky. When you hear an idiom, ask what it means and then try using it in your everyday conversation to get used to it. You'll learn lots of idioms over time simply by trying them out. “I could care less” actually means “I couldn't care less” in American English. While this isn't technically an idiom, it is an odd phrase that means something different than what it literally communicates. Hold your vowels and Rs to replicate General American English. While every region of the United States speaks differently, there is a stereotypical form of American English that serves as a solid baseline for American dialects. Generally speaking, use hard vowels and R-sounds by sounding them out more thoroughly. Other forms of English (like British, Irish, and Australian English) tend to blend vowels and R-sounds, while General American English tends to over-enunciate them. Including a harder R-sound makes words like “card” sound like “kaard” instead “cawd.” Another example would be “other,” which might sound like “oth-a” in British English, but sounds like “uh-ther” in American English. Opting for hard vowels instead of soft vowels makes words like “cut” sound like “khut” in American English, while it might sound like “khat” in British English. Swap O-, I-, and E- sounds for a Southern accent. While there are several versions of a Southern accent, you can create a general Southern accent by swapping vowel sounds. Turn O-sounds into I-sounds and I-sounds into O-sounds. I-sounds are often drawn out to sound like two E's in words like “bill,” which makes it sound like “bee-hill.” The reverse is also true: words like “pen” sound like “pin.” Other examples include “feel” sounding like “fill,” and “think” sounding like “thenk.” Note that, in each example, the E, and the I-sounds are swapped. Swapping the O and I makes words like “hot” sound like “hight,” and words like “like” sound like “lok.” Use “aw” instead of “al” or “o” for a Northeastern accent. While New York , Boston , and Philadelphia all have unique accents, they all tend to replace A-sounds and O-sounds with “aw” or “uh.” Use the roof of your mouth more than you usually do and use “aw” to replace soft-A sounds and O-sounds for a Northeastern accent. This makes words like “call” and “talk” sound like “kawl” and “tawk,” and words like “off” and “love” sound like “awf” and “lawve.” Speak like you’re from the Midwest by manipulating O-sounds. While the Midwest has a variety of accents, most of them replace short O-sounds with short A-sounds. Play with O-sounds to make them shorter or longer to sound like you're from the Midwest. The manipulation of O-sounds makes words like “hot” sound like “hat.” However, long O-sounds tend to be extended, so words like “whose” sound more like “hooz” instead of “whues.” Over-pronounce K-sounds and drop T-sounds to sound Californian. While there's a bit of variety on the West Coast, Californian speakers tend to expand their mouths to accent K-sounds while dropping T-sounds. In addition, use a hard-R whenever a word ends with R. The Californian accent makes a phrase like “I like that here” sound like “I lyke tha hear.” Use “y'all” and other Southern slang to seem Southern. The easiest Southern slang to incorporate is to use “y'all” instead of “you all” or “everyone.” Southerners often say “git” instead of “get.” Other common slang terms include “yonder,” which means “over there,” and “fixin',” which means “about to do.” The South has a lot of idioms and phrases, like “bless your heart,” which means “you are sweet,” and “pretty as a peach,” which means that something is pleasant, or cute. The South is a very religious region of the United States. To speak like a Southerner, use the word “bless” often. Phrases like “bless your heart” and “God bless you” are common in the South. Adopt Northeastern slang to sound like an East Coast native. Speakers on the East Coast tend to say “ey” or “ah” during breaks in speech. Bostonians will use “wicked” instead of “awesome” or “really.” They also tend to use “hella” instead of “very.” A “hella wicked smaht” person is someone that is “really very smart,” for example. New Yorkers are notorious for saying “fuggetaboutit,” a truncated version of “forget about it.” It means that everything is fine. Raising your voice a little isn't necessarily considered rude on the East Coast. In Philadelphia, the word “jawn” can replace any noun and you'll have to use context clues to determine what it means. For example, “that jawn” could mean “that girl,” “that food,” or “that politician” depending on the subject of discussion. Philadelphians also call submarine sandwiches “hoagies.” If someone in the Northeast refers to “the City,” they're talking about New York City. The state of New York (outside of New York City) is almost always called “New York State.” Utilize “you guys” and drink “pop” to sound like a Midwesterner. Always say “you guys” instead of “ya'll,” “you all,” or “everyone” to sound like an authentic resident of the Midwest. In addition, Midwesterners typically refer to carbonated beverages as “pop” instead of “soda.” Midwesterners tend to over-use niceties like “thanks” and “sorry” in everyday speech. These are often replaced with “ope.” It's a sort of combination of “oh” and “whoops,” and is used to express regret that you made a minor mistake. Chicagoans tend to say “goes” instead of “went” or “go.” They also use the word “dip” to mean “leave” or “vacate.” Speak like you’re from California by acting excited and using “dude. ” Many Californians use an upward inflection while you're speaking. Even a slight upward-inflection creates the impression that they're excited or in a really good mood. A key component of sounding Californian is to use the word “dude” as well. “Dude” is a regional-specific term for a person you're familiar with (usually male). “Radical” and “sick” are common terms for “awesome.” If someone from California says that you're a “sick dude,” they're paying you a compliment. Like Bostonians, Californians use “hella.” However, they often pronounce it “helluva” and use it like a superlative to describe an event or person. For example, if a party was “a helluva good time,” then it was a really good party.
Adopt the way that Americans use articles in everyday speech. Use American terms for everyday items to blend in. Get used to American idioms by incorporating them in your speech. Hold your vowels and Rs to replicate General American English. Swap O-, I-, and E- sounds for a Southern accent. Use “aw” instead of “al” or “o” for a Northeastern accent. Speak like you’re from the Midwest by manipulating O-sounds. Over-pronounce K-sounds and drop T-sounds to sound Californian. Use “y'all” and other Southern slang to seem Southern. Adopt Northeastern slang to sound like an East Coast native. Utilize “you guys” and drink “pop” to sound like a Midwesterner. Speak like you’re from California by acting excited and using “dude.
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Natural-Hair
How to Grow Natural Hair
To grow natural hair, co-wash with conditioner and cut your shampoo use down to once per week. It's also important to use a deep conditioner once a week for an extra dose of hydration. While your hair is growing out, keep it in a low-manipulation style like braids or twists to prevent breakage. For the fastest growth, take other steps to prevent damage, like sleeping on a silk pillowcase and minimizing your use of heat styling tools.
Try an egg yolk mask. An egg yolk mask is great for people who experience a lot of hair breakage. The lecithin and protein in eggs will help strengthen, nourish, and heal damaged hair. To make an egg yolk mask, combine 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil. You can add 0.5 cups (120 mL) of water if the combination is too sticky for your taste. Apply the mask to dry hair, and leave it on for 30 minutes. Shampoo and condition your hair in cool water to fully remove the mask. Repeat this mask once a week. If your hair is chin length or shorter, you can cut the ingredients in half to reduce wasted product. Make sure you rinse with cool water. Warm or hot water can cause the egg to start cooking, making it harder to remove. Use a hot castor oil treatment. Castor oil is surprisingly great for hair growth. It contains fatty acids and proteins that can seal hair so that it maintains moisture better. Plus, it has antifungal and antibacterial properties to stop scalp infections that prevent growth. To give yourself a treatment, massage a few drops of castor oil into your scalp. Cover your hair with a shower cap and blow dry it on high for 15 minutes. Then, rinse the castor oil out, and use your regular shampoo and conditioner to finish the treatment. Repeat this treatment up to twice a week. If you can, sit under a hooded dryer, which will evenly distribute the heat. You can find castor oil on Amazon, at most grocery stores, and at some beauty supply stores—like Sally's Beauty Supply. For best results, purchase an oil that is organic. Give yourself a scalp massage with rosemary oil. Combine a few drops of rosemary oil with a few drops of another oil—like olive or coconut oil. Then, massage the oil into your scalp for 2 to 5 minutes. The massage will increase blood flow to the scalp, strengthen your roots, and get nutrients to your follicles faster. The rosemary oil will dilate the blood vessels to help the follicles stimulate growth. You can massage your scalp every evening. If you want to give yourself a scalp massage in the shower, it's also an option to combine a few drops of rosemary oil with your regular shampoo. You should only give yourself a scalp massage with rosemary oil once a week if you have oily hair. Try co-washing with conditioner. Shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils, so if you have dry hair, skip the shampoo. Simply condition your hair in the bath or shower, instead of using shampoo on your hair. If you need to shampoo your hair, try to cut down the use of it to once a week. Co-washing may not be the best option for people with naturally oily hair. This method of washing is ideal for curly hair. Use a deep conditioner at least once a week. Conditioning daily or every few days is great, but deep conditioning is helpful for adding even more moisture to your hair. A deep conditioner can be bought at any beauty supply store and at some supermarkets with a beauty section. Leave the deep conditioner on for anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes. Then, rinse it out with water. Rinse the conditioner out with cool water to lock in the moisture and seal the hair's cuticle. If possible, sit under a hooded dryer while you deep condition for 30 to 45 minutes. The dryer will help condition your hair even more. Apply conditioner to small sections of hair. This is especially important if your hair is very thick. When applying conditioner, deep conditioner, or even shampoo, apply it to small sections of hair. Dividing your hair into at least 6 sections is recommended. This will ensure that every hair gets covered and moisturized. Ask a stylist to recommend a product for your hair type. If your hair is thin and straight, a conditioner meant for thick, curly hair would not be ideal for you. It is best to consult a stylist or employee at a beauty supply store if you aren't sure what conditioner or other moisturizing product would be best for your hair type. Choose a low-manipulation style. A complicated hairstyle that requires a lot of pulling, combing, or the use of heat styling tools on your hair can cause damage. Instead, choose a style that doesn't involve a lot of manipulation. Braids , and 2-strand twists are protective styles that keep allow your hair to breathe and don't require combing or running your hands through your hair. Use a silk pillowcase. A cotton pillowcase can lead to hair breakage, especially if you toss and turn a lot at night. To prevent breakage, use a silk or satin pillowcase. It's also an option to use a silk hair covering at night. Avoid brushing wet hair. Brushing and combing your hair too much can lead to breakage. This breakage can increase even more when your hair is wet. Wait until your hair is completely dry to brush or comb it. If you can't wait for your hair to dry, apply a detangling product and run a wide-tooth comb through small sections, starting at the ends of the hair and working toward the scalp. Minimize the use of heat-styling products. Even if you're not trying to grow your hair out, the use of heat-styling can be very damaging to hair. Limit or completely avoid the use of heat-styling products. If you need to use them, apply a heat-protectant product to your hair beforehand. Eat a well-balanced diet. Your hair will look as healthy as your body is, so it is important to maintain a balanced diet. Proteins such as steak, fish, tofu, and beans are good to eat, along with fruits and vegetables. Calcium, found in products like yogurt and milk, is important to eat as well. Consult a nutritionist if you would like help planning a balanced diet that is right for you. Drink more water to hydrate your hair. Drinking water is not only important for your internal health. Consuming at least 8 glasses of water per day will give both your hair and skin a healthier appearance. Carry a water bottle with you throughout your day to make it easier to remember to drink water. You can add a few drops of lemon juice, strawberry juice, or any other fruit to add flavor to your water. Take a multivitamin. A well-balanced meal is necessary, but taking a multivitamin can also promote hair growth. Speak to your doctor to find the right multivitamin for you. Combining a basic multivitamin with a well-balanced diet can help you get long, beautiful hair. Many people take Biotin for hair growth. You can easily take it in pill form. Levels of effectiveness, however, vary from person to person.
Try an egg yolk mask. Use a hot castor oil treatment. Give yourself a scalp massage with rosemary oil. Try co-washing with conditioner. Use a deep conditioner at least once a week. Apply conditioner to small sections of hair. Ask a stylist to recommend a product for your hair type. Choose a low-manipulation style. Use a silk pillowcase. Avoid brushing wet hair. Minimize the use of heat-styling products. Eat a well-balanced diet. Drink more water to hydrate your hair. Take a multivitamin.
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Trout
How to Clean a Trout
To clean a trout, start by slitting it from the anus to the throat with a knife. Then, use the knife to separate the gills from the head, and open up the body. Next, pull out all of the trout's guts, and scrape the kidney away from the backbone. Once you've done that, cut off the trout's head and fins and discard them. Finally, rinse the trout thoroughly before storing it on ice or in the freezer.
Rinse the fish and position it on its side. Hold your fish under cold running water to remove slime from it. Lay out a cutting board on a flat surface, like a counter or table. Position the fish flat on its side, with the bottom of the fish facing towards you. Cleaning a fish is messy work. Lay down a plastic table cover or butcher paper on your work surface for easy cleanup. Slit the fish from anus to throat. The anus of the trout will appear like a small round hole on the bottom of the fish, a little over halfway from the head to the tail. Insert the tip of the knife into the anus and cut shallowly along the belly towards the head. When your knife is about even with the gills, remove it from the fish. Cutting too deeply could cause the knife to penetrate the intestines. Puncturing the intestines will release whatever was digesting in the fish and is often accompanied by an unpleasant odor. Accidentally cutting into the intestines will expose the meat to enzymes and bacteria. This may cause the fish to spoil faster. Rinse digested matter thoroughly from the fish if this happens. Separate the gills from the head with your knife. Cut through the skin connecting the mouthward curving base of the gills and the head of the fish. The knife should sever the skin a short distance before the bottom of the mouth, on what might be considered the “chin” of the fish. Open the body and remove entrails from the fish. Pry open the body with your hands. Hold the fish by its jaw with one hand and grasp the gills with the other. Pull firmly on the gills to remove them along with accompanying guts. Loose entrails should be put into a separate plastic bag before being thrown away. This will cut down on flies and the appearance of other pests. Scrape out the kidney of the fish. Look along the length of the bottom of the backbone to find the kidney. It should be dark colored and span much of the backbone. Cut along the length of the kidney with your knife and then scrape it away with your finger or a tool, like a spoon. When the kidney is cut, it'll release a dark red colored fluid. This should be rinsed away after the kidney is removed. Remove the head and fins. Fish can be stored with the head still attached, but it may be most space efficient for you to cut it off. Insert your knife into the initial cut made for the gills and firmly press down on it until the head is removed. Similarly, the dorsal fin can be left on the fish, but to remove it, grip the fin firmly and cut shallowly along the top of the fish to remove it. After removing the head and fins, only the spine, meat, and skin should remain. Your fish is ready to be filleted and skinned or stored for later. Although removing the head of the fish can make it easier to store, which can be especially useful when freezing a big catch, leaving the head of the fish attached will help prevent it from spoiling. Store your cleaned trout in your refrigerator. Now that the cutting and gutting is done, rinse your fish thoroughly in cold water. Packed in ice, your trout should stay good up to two weeks. If kept frozen below freezing, your trout can last for roughly two months. If you plan on freezing fish, consider vacuum sealing it first. This will protect the fish from freezer burn and can increase its shelf life up to three or four months. Double wrap fish stored in the refrigerator with plastic bags. Squeeze excess air from the bags before refrigerating. This can prevent a fishy odor from developing in your refrigerator. Cut the fish at the gill line. Insert your knife into the gap directly behind the gills (or where the gills were). Cut toward the backbone of the fish until you reach it. Use moderate force when cutting to prevent cutting through the backbone, which will serve as a guide for your knife. Once you have reached the backbone, keep your knife inserted in the fish in preparation for the following cut. Fish can be filleted and skinned without being cleaned first. However, to prevent accidentally piercing the entrails, clean the fish first. If you decide to clean your fish before filleting and skinning it, leave the head on the fish so you have somewhere to hold onto later. Follow the backbone with your knife while cutting toward the tail. Turn the blade of your knife toward the tail of the fish. Run the knife along the backbone and through the ribs until you reach the tail. Stop your cut at the tail, which you should leave on to make skinning the fish later easier. This same cut, into the gills, along the backbone, and down to the tail should be repeated on the opposite side of the fish. Hold the fish by the head while doing this. In some cases, you may be able to hook a finger around the jaw of the fish for a superior grip. Remove the rib cage from the meat. Open the gutted fish so the meat is accessible. The meat will still have bones from the rib cage in it. Use your knife to cut out large masses of bones and your fingers to pick out what remains. Use gentle, firm movements when removing the rib cage. You may be able to pull most of the bones out as part of a single connected piece. Skin the trout. Lay your fillets on a flat surface with the skin facing downward. Insert your knife into the meat about a half inch (1.27 cm) away from the tail. Hold the knife at an angle to the skin while gripping the tail firmly, then cut the meat free of the skin. The knife should run along the skin but not cut through it. In some regions or when crossing state/country lines, you may be required to leave a patch of skin on the fish so it can be identified and checked against your fishing permit.
Rinse the fish and position it on its side. Slit the fish from anus to throat. Separate the gills from the head with your knife. Open the body and remove entrails from the fish. Scrape out the kidney of the fish. Remove the head and fins. Store your cleaned trout in your refrigerator. Cut the fish at the gill line. Follow the backbone with your knife while cutting toward the tail. Remove the rib cage from the meat. Skin the trout.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Poha-(Indian-Snack)
How to Make Poha (Indian Snack)
To make poha, soak 2-3 cups of poha for 3-4 minutes, then drain it through a fine mesh colander. Next, dice the potatoes and microwave them for 2 minutes. Then, heat the oil in a large wok or saucepan, add the diced onions, green chilies, and potatoes, and saute them for 1-2 minutes. Add the poha, mix the ingredients thoroughly, and cook the dish over low heat until the poha is heated through. Garnish the poha with cilantro and lemon juice and enjoy!
Rinse 2-3 cups of poha in water and let it soak for 3-4 minutes. When the poha can be lightly mashed between your fingers, it is ready. There is no need to soak it for a long time. Soaking the rice now makes it tender when you cook it later. Cook one cup of diced potatoes for two minutes in the microwave. This will partially cook the inside of the potatoes, as they take a long time to cook in the oil by themselves. Your potatoes should be roughly 1/2-inch cubes. Drain the water from the rice. In a fine mesh colander, drain the water and press the poha lightly with your fingers to get out any excess water. Transfer it to a bowl when you are done and set it aside to use later. Heat 1 tsp of oil on medium in a large wok or saucepan. If you have a wok, use that. However, a normal saucepan will work fine as a substitute. The pan will be lightly smoking when it is hot enough, as if small bits of steam were coming off the surface. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds to the oil until the crackle. The seeds will start to dance and hiss, usually after 25-30 seconds. Once they've started to crackle a bit you can move on to other ingredients. If you do not have a microwave, add the potatoes now. If you are adding a pinch of asafoetida to the recipe, add it now. Add the diced onions, green chilies, and partially cooked potato. Chop up a small onion and 1-2 green chilies and throw them in the pan, along with the potatoes from the microwave. Stir well and let them cook for two or three minutes. The onions should be translucent (mostly clear) when you are done. Add the four curry leaves, spices, 1/2 cup peanuts, and 1/2 tsp sugar. Add everything except the cilantro and lemon to the wok and stir together. Let them cook, well mixed, for a minute or two. Make sure the potatoes are completely cooked before moving on -- you should be able to easily pierce an entire potato chunk with a fork or toothpick. For spices, start with a pinch of salt, 3/4 tsp turmeric, and curry powder, garam masala, chile powder, and/or garlic powder to taste. Add the rice and stir well. Mix everything into the poha and lower the heat to medium-low. Keep cooking everything together until the poha is hot and ready to serve. Garnish with cilantro and lemon juice and serve hot. While optional, lemon and cilantro will give a nice fresh burst of flavor at the end of the dish. Know that poha is a very customizable, versatile recipe. Because of its relative simplicity, there is a lot you can add to poha to suit your tastes. Some additional spices to consider alongside the onions include: 3 pods green cardamom 1 tsp ground or freshly cut ginger 1/2 tsp chili powder A pinch asafoetida (found at Indian grocer) 1/2 tsp garam masala Fry the potatoes ahead of time to make "batata poha. " This recipe gets a light, crispy texture to the potatoes that matches well with the peanuts. Use an extra 1/2 tb of oil and fry the potatoes in the oil before they are a light golden color on the outside, then add the mustard seed and continue with the recipe. Do not fully cook the potatoes before continuing -- they will continue to cook with the onions and spices. Add 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas, or chana for a heartier poha. Chickpeas, known as "chana" in Indian cuisine, can go in right before the onions, getting a nice golden brown outside in the final dish. For some people, chana is essential to a good poha recipe. Try adding 1 cup of green peas for a more vegetable-based Poha. Though not in many traditional poha recipes, modern chefs have begun to incorporate a variety of vegetables from around the world into poha with wonderful results. The light sweetness and quick cooking time of green peas make them perfect for poha. Try adding 1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes right before serving as well. Serve with a little bit of yogurt to counteract the spicy kick of hot poha. This little breakfast tip is a perfect pairing of savory and spicy. Add a scoop of plain yogurt your bowl right before serving if you think it is too hot, or if you want a little tangy flavor in the poha.
Rinse 2-3 cups of poha in water and let it soak for 3-4 minutes. Cook one cup of diced potatoes for two minutes in the microwave. Drain the water from the rice. Heat 1 tsp of oil on medium in a large wok or saucepan. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds to the oil until the crackle. Add the diced onions, green chilies, and partially cooked potato. Add the four curry leaves, spices, 1/2 cup peanuts, and 1/2 tsp sugar. Add the rice and stir well. Garnish with cilantro and lemon juice and serve hot. Know that poha is a very customizable, versatile recipe. Fry the potatoes ahead of time to make "batata poha. Add 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas, or chana for a heartier poha. Try adding 1 cup of green peas for a more vegetable-based Poha. Serve with a little bit of yogurt to counteract the spicy kick of hot poha.
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Letter-to-Santa-Claus
How to Write a Letter to Santa Claus
If you want to write a letter to Santa Claus, start by writing your address in the top right-hand corner of the page. Write clearly so Santa will know where to find you. On the next line, on the left-hand side of the page, write “Dear Santa,” followed by a comma. Drop down another line to write the body of your letter, starting with your name and age. Ask Santa how he is, so he'll know you have nice manners, then tell him what you want for Christmas. Be sure to ask him nicely! Finish the letter by signing your name.
Make a list of the things you want a few days before. Start out by writing down everything you think you might want a couple days before you write your letter to Santa. Come back to your list every so often and reconsider what you wrote. Cross off items that you aren't crazy about, keeping only the ones you really love. Santa gets tons of letters from kids around the globe, so sometimes he isn't able to get a kid everything on their list. That's why it's important that you only include your top items. Put on some Christmas tunes. You should be full to the brim with Christmas spirit when you write your letter to Santa, and there's nothing like a little Christmas music to get the job done! You can play Christmas music on the radio, your phone, or even on a computer. Ask your parents if you need help. Pick your paper. You can keep it simple with a plain white piece of paper, or you can go for something a little bolder! Colorful construction paper works well. Whatever paper you pick, make sure to grab a couple pieces in case of mess-ups. Ask your parents if they have any fun paper you can use. You can also use a premade card, if you want. Talk to your parents to see what they have. Choose something to write with. You can use a pen or a pencil, but feel free to use crayons, colored pencils, and markers, too. You can even combine different writing tools, like markers and colored pencils, to make a super colorful letter. Make sure that you can write clearly and neatly with whatever writing utensil you pick. Santa needs to be able to read your letter so he can bring you want you want! Write your address. Start by writing your full address in the top right-hand corner of the page. Do this carefully so Santa will know where to find you and so he can write a letter back. On the second line, write the date. Ask your parents for help if you're not sure how to write your address. Begin your letter with “Dear Santa”. This type of greeting is called a salutation. You should always start your letters with a salutation, so writing to Santa is really good practice. Tell Santa who you are. Santa knows you of course--he's been watching you all year! However, he gets lots and lots of letters, so he needs to know which one is yours. Include your name and add your age if you want. Write, “My name is _____. I'm __ years old.” Ask Santa how he's doing. It's always polite to ask the person you're writing to how they are, and Santa is no exception. You could ask him how the weather's been up in the North Pole, how Mrs. Claus is doing, or if the reindeer enjoyed the food you left out for them last year. Showing your manners will boost your chances of being on the Nice List! Tell Santa the good things you've done this year. Santa is a busy guy, so he may need a little reminder about how good you've been. Tell him about your accomplishments at school, the nice things you've done for your family and friends, and how well you've listened to your parents. Remember to be honest! Santa's had his eye on you, so he'll know if you're not being truthful. You might write, “I helped my little sister tie her shoes last week” or “I cleaned my room right away when my parents asked.” Ask Santa nicely for the things on your list. Take a look at the list you wrote a few days ago, which should have a few presents that you really, really love. Then, politely ask Santa for these goodies in your letter. Remember to say please! Write something like, “I would please like a new soccer ball, a scooter, and a cool pair of sneakers.” Include a request for someone else, if you want. Yes, it's a lot of fun to get presents from Santa on Christmas, but don't forget that Christmas is all about love and compassion. Think about the people in your life. Is there any kind wish or present that you want to include for them? Maybe your mom is crazy about chocolate bars. You could ask Santa for a few chocolate bars for her. Say something like, “I would also like two chocolate bars for Mommy, because they're her favorite!” Your request doesn't have to be a present--it can also just be a nice wish for a person you love. You could wish for a happy Christmas for everyone in your family, or that your brother's broken arm heals up soon. Finish up by thanking Santa. It's a lot of work delivering millions of presents to kids all over the world in a single night, so thank Santa for his kindness. You could say, “Thank you for being so kind and generous. I appreciate it!” You could also write something like, “It's amazing how you deliver presents every year to kids like me all over the world. Thank you so much.” Sign your letter. Use a closing statement like “sincerely,” “love” or “best wishes.” Then, sign your name underneath. For example, you might sign your letter, “Love, Abby.” Draw pictures on your letter. Now that you've finished writing your letter, you can decorate it however you'd like! You might want to draw some Christmas trees, a reindeer, or a snowman. You can even draw a portrait of Santa himself! Santa is sure to get a kick out of that. Use crayons, markers, colored pencils, and pens to draw all sorts of Christmas pictures. If you make a few mistakes, don't worry. Santa loves little imperfections. However, if you really want to start over, you can. Add a border. If you want, you can draw a border around the edges of your letter. Your border can be anything you want! You can do simple line border or draw a patterned border made of stars or Christmas trees. Address the envelope. Ask your parents for an envelope, and slide your letter inside. On the front of the envelope, write “Santa Claus, North Pole” in big, clear letters. That way, the postman will know where to send the letter. Seal the envelope when you're done. Feel free to decorate the envelope, too! Give the letter to your parents to send. They'll know how to get it to Santa. Soon, your letter will be on its way to the North Pole! Santa will be impressed by all the work you put into writing it. It might be cool to ask your parents to show you the North Pole on a map so you can see where your letter is going. It looks cold there, doesn't it?
Make a list of the things you want a few days before. Put on some Christmas tunes. Pick your paper. Choose something to write with. Write your address. Begin your letter with “Dear Santa”. Tell Santa who you are. Ask Santa how he's doing. Tell Santa the good things you've done this year. Ask Santa nicely for the things on your list. Include a request for someone else, if you want. Finish up by thanking Santa. Sign your letter. Draw pictures on your letter. Add a border. Address the envelope. Give the letter to your parents to send.
https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Squeaky-Floor
How to Fix a Squeaky Floor
To fix a squeaky floor, start by having someone walk around on the floor while you listen from below to identify where the squeak is. Once you find it, weigh down the floor from above with heavy furniture or books to keep it compressed. Then, screw a mounting plate into the underside of the subfloor and attach it to the joist with a rod. Next, tighten the mechanism on the rod until the subfloor is pulled down and flush with the joist. Alternatively, if you can see there's only a small gap between the floor and joist, try inserting a shim coated in carpenter's glue into the gap to stop the squeaking.
Identify the source of the squeak. The best way to identify squeaks is to stand in your basement, looking up at the subfloor while someone else walks around looking for the squeak. Listen and watch for the squeaky area, so you can identify the problem area and the best way of remedying it. Most squeaks are the result of the plywood subfloor rubbing against the floor joists. The subfloor, the structural support below the top floor that you walk on, will sometimes shrink over time as the wood dries out, changing the shape slightly and resulting in high-pitched, irritating squeaks. It's also common on hardwood floors that the top floor itself will squeak. To address squeaks in the top floorboards, skip to the next method. All squeaky boards under tile, linoleum, and other flooring surfaces will need to be fixed from under, either in the crawl space or the basement. Weight the squeak from above. It's good to weight down the floor from above to compress the boards and make your repair more effective. Using some furniture, barbell weights, bags of salt, heavy books, or other hefty objects would be perfectly fine. In a pinch, you could also have a helper stand on the spot to keep it compressed for you to work. Attach a brace between the joist and the subfloor. If the floor seems to be squeaking because the subfloor and the joists are loose, the best way to remedy the issue is to install a brace to secure things and eliminate the irritating sound. The Squeak-Ender is a brand of joist-support available at most home repair stores for a couple of bucks, a metal brace that connects between the joist and the squeaky subfloor. To install one of these joist-subfloor braces, screw the mounting plate to the underside of the subfloor, directly under the squeaking spot. Use the provided screws, or use wood screws small enough to fit in the bracket holes. Hook the bracket onto the rod provided and attach it to the joist, tightening the mechanism with a wrench until the subfloor is pulled down flush. Install wood shims in between the subfloor and the joist. Shims are small, thin pieces of wood used for filling gaps, squaring up carpentry projects and keeping things from swelling and squeaking. For squeaks that are the result of small gaps that might be more easily and cheaply fixed than by installing a brace, use wooden shims to fill the space of the gap. If you've found the source of the squeak, but don't see the considerable play between the subfloor boards and the joists, buy a package of small shims and insert them into the gaps that create the sound. Coat shims in carpentry glue, then slide them directly into the gap. Be careful to avoid forcing shims into small spaces and forcing the board back up, making the squeak worse, or translating the squeak to another area. It's important to always weight the floor from above if you try to do this. Screw the subfloor into the floor. In a pinch, you can also use wood screws to tighten things up yourself. It's a more primitive way of solving the issue, but it can work in a pinch to connect the floor and the subfloor more securely with wood screws. Drill a pilot hole with your power drill roughly the length of the screw that you've selected (any carpentry screw will do) to make sure you don't go too far and come up the other side. It's hard to know how thick the individual layers of the floor are, but you want to be very careful not to drill too far and have a sharp edge sticking out the side of the floor you walk on. To make sure you don't do this, drill a pilot hole the length of the screws you've purchased and make sure you're safe. Then install the screws normally. Remove the carpet over the squeaky area, if necessary. If you've got a hardwood floor, you can obviously skip this step and go straight to finding the joists. If you've got a squeaky and carpeted floor, however, you've got to make the decision to either cut a small strip of it up to install under or use screws that can be used through carpeting. Some kits (Squeak-No-More) are available to use over and through carpeting, without having to remove it and risk damage. The process will be essentially the same, whether you pull up the carpet or not. If you must remove carpeting, pull it up near the squeak and keep it as clean and secure as possible so you can reattach it later with carpet adhesive. If you can pull up a particular segment of carpet along a seam, keeping it secure, that would be the best way of pulling it up, rather than just cutting a segment out from the middle. There's no easy way to cover up your work, and it might always show, unless you work along a natural seam. Locate the joist nearest the squeak. Walk in the squeaky area until you can find your squeaky spot for certain. Then, try to find the closest joist to the squeak using a stud-finder. If you don't have a stud finder, you can use a hammer or another heavy object to tap on the floor and listen. The joists will sound flatter and thinner when you tap on it, while the other side will sound deeper. To be extra-sure, you can drill a pilot hole using a depth-control bit in your variable speed drill to make sure that you're hitting the joist before you use a screw and come up short. Fix the loose board to the joist. Drill through the squeaky boards, the subfloor, and attach both to the joist to securely fix the squeaky board. To do this, you'll need heavy-duty wood screws of the appropriate length. You can get some sense of that length when you drill your pilot hole. Some kits will come with break-away screws that you can use to make the repair almost undetectable, especially through carpet. This is a very effective way of securing your boards cleanly and efficiently. Fill the hole with wood putty. If you're working on a hardwood floor, it's important to keep the spot looking as clean and smooth as possible. Wood putty, also known as plastic wood in some places, is a type of putty made of sawdust and some type of binder, and is very effective at filling the holes left around the nails. It's available at most home repair stores for a few dollars. Apply a small amount and sand the area smooth. You can match the tone of most wood putty to the wood tone of the floor. try to get it as close as possible. If you're carpeting back over it, don't worry about using wood putty. Sand the spot. In some cases, it might be a good idea to smooth back over the top of the screw that you installed to smooth things out. If your floor is carefully stained, this would be a bad idea, but you might need to smooth out the wood shards from the screwing job or smooth out the rough edges of the wood putty you installed. Use extremely fine grain sandpaper, and don't overdo it.
Identify the source of the squeak. Weight the squeak from above. Attach a brace between the joist and the subfloor. Install wood shims in between the subfloor and the joist. Screw the subfloor into the floor. Remove the carpet over the squeaky area, if necessary. Locate the joist nearest the squeak. Fix the loose board to the joist. Fill the hole with wood putty. Sand the spot.
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Heart-Disease
How to Prevent Heart Disease
To reduce your risk of heart disease, eat more foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, flaxseed, and walnuts, and avoid foods that contain trans fats, like fried foods, margarine, and processed baked goods. In addition to changing your diet, incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine, even if it's as simple as taking the stairs or walking a bit farther than usual. Finally, cut down on unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Boost your intake of foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are a healthy type of polyunsaturated fat. Omega-3 fatty acids offer protection from heart disease and can be found in foods such as salmon, mackerel, flaxseed, and walnuts and certain vitamin and mineral supplements. Try to incorporate wild-caught fish into your diet twice per week (farmed fish are often not as high in Omega 3's). The only studies about using omega-3s to prevent heart disease have been done in small, select groups so more research needs to be done. Increase the number of fruits and vegetables you consume each day. Set a goal of 10 servings of fresh or frozen produce per day. The healthy plant substances found in fruits and vegetables can help prevent heart disease. Opt for whole grains and cut back on carbs. They are an excellent source of fiber and contain several healthy nutrients that can help regulate blood pressure and improve overall heart health. Though whole grains are much better than refined grains, a diet that is low in carbohydrates been shown to improve cardiovascular health. Replace refined grain products with whole-grain products. Choose whole-wheat flours, 100% whole grain bread, high-fiber cereal, whole grain pasta, steel-cut oats, brown rice, and barley. Stay away from white or refined flours, white bread, frozen waffles, biscuits, cornbread, egg noodles, granola bars, high-fat snacks, quick breads, cakes, pies, donuts, and buttered popcorn. Choose complex carbs that have greater than 5 g of fiber to stay healthy. Keep your portion sizes under control. Although what you eat is important for heart health, how much you eat is also a factor in improving overall heart health. Refrain from overeating, which can lead to excess fat, cholesterol, and calorie intake. Keeping portion sizes under control is essential to healthy eating. Use measuring cups and spoons and weight scales to measure your portion sizes until you become familiar enough to recognize them by sight only. Some ways to remember appropriate portion sizes include: 3 oz. of lean meat is about the size of a smart phone. ¼ cup of nuts is about the size of a golf ball. 1 cup of vegetables is about the size of a baseball. Lose weight if you are overweight. Carrying extra weight puts a strain on your heart which can cause heart disease later in life. You are at an even higher risk if you carry excess weight around your waist. Strive to maintain a healthy weight to avoid complications of being overweight now or later in life. Losing 5–7% of your body weight can help improve elevated blood sugar as well as prevent diabetes, metabolic disease, and heart attacks. Check your BMI using the American Heart Association's BMI calculator: here Exercise for at least 30 minutes five days per week. Getting 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days per week will help you to protect yourself from heart disease. Developing good exercise habits from a young age and maintaining those habits for your life will improve your chances of staying in shape and reaping the benefits of exercise for your heart. Aim for over 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercises throughout the week. As an alternative, you can do 25 minutes of vigorous activity three days per week and some kind of moderate to high-intensity muscle training twice per week. Try to stand up and walk around at least once an hour so you don't stay sedentary for extended periods of time. Manage stress. Stress causes damage to your arteries which may lead to heart disease, so it is important to develop techniques for managing stress. Try yoga, deep breathing exercises, meditation, or another relaxation technique to help control your stress levels. One study showed that meditation effectively lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 4.7 and 3.2 mm Hg. Get plenty of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can lead to all kinds of health problems including obesity, high blood pressure, and even heart attack. Take measures to improve your sleep quality and ensure that you get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Limit caffeine consumption and cut out all caffeine after 2 PM. Try to go to sleep at the same time every night to regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Exercise regularly to boost serotonin levels. Refrain from watching television or using a laptop while in bed. Request regular health screening tests from your doctor. Keeping tabs on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar can help to keep you in good health. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are major factors in the development of heart disease, but you can keep them under control by having them checked often. Blood Pressure. Have your blood pressure checked every two years. You may need to get checked more often if your numbers are high or if you are at risk of high blood pressure. Your blood pressure should stay below 130/80. Cholesterol. The information about cholesterol has become more detailed and is based more on smaller lipoproteins than on overall cholesterol. Therefore, ask your doctor to run a cholesterol panel to check your CRP, or C-reactive protein, levels. Elevated CRP levels are linked to inflammation of the arteries, which can be linked to heart disease. A simple blood test can check your CRP levels. You may need cholesterol medication if you have LDL above 189 if you don't have diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease. Diabetes. The recommended age to begin screening for diabetes is 45, but you should ask your doctor when you should start having screenings based on your medical history and risk factors. Even prediabetes is now being treated by doctors as a risk factor for the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well. Get screened for abnormal blood sugar levels especially if you're between 40–70 and overweight or obese. Ask about metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome — which refers to a cluster of risk factors that increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes — is becoming more common as more people live a sedentary lifestyle. Risk factors include excess fat around the waistline, a high triglyceride level, high blood sugar, or high blood pressure. Combat metabolic syndrome by tackling any risk factors you may have. Exercise and change your diet to lose weight if you have abdominal obesity. Limit alcohol, manage stress, and follow other guidelines for a heart-healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about the role of inflammation. Recent studies are showing that inflammation is a hugely overlooked risk factor for atherosclerosis. The best way to currently test for inflammation is to have your doctor check your CRP levels. Inflammation may be caused by loss of muscle mass, cancer, inflammatory diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus), metabolic syndrome, and injuries to the artery wall, often caused by oxidized LDL cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Make sure you have any conditions checked by your doctor before assuming your CRP levels are from heart disease. Get help to quit smoking. Smoking is a major contributor to the development of heart disease and it is the leading cause of preventable deaths. If you smoke, do everything that you can to quit. Ask your doctor about smoking cessation programs and medications that may help make quitting easier. One study showed that smoking for two years increases one's risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 36%. Talk to your doctor for advice about moderating alcohol use. Drinking alcohol in moderation may offer some benefits to your heart, but drinking too much can harm your heart health. You should have no more than one drink a day if you are a woman and no more than two drinks if you are a man. (Men over the age of 65 should only have one drink per day as well.) Any more alcohol than this can increase your risk of developing heart disease. If you often struggle to stop at just one drink, discuss your options with your doctor. Make your doctor aware of your other concerns. If you have a history of heart disease in your family, then you should make sure that your doctor knows about it. Your doctor may recommend extra precautions to help prevent you from developing heart disease and to help you maintain good cardiovascular health.
Boost your intake of foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Increase the number of fruits and vegetables you consume each day. Opt for whole grains and cut back on carbs. Keep your portion sizes under control. Lose weight if you are overweight. Exercise for at least 30 minutes five days per week. Manage stress. Get plenty of sleep. Request regular health screening tests from your doctor. Ask about metabolic syndrome. Talk to your doctor about the role of inflammation. Get help to quit smoking. Talk to your doctor for advice about moderating alcohol use. Make your doctor aware of your other concerns.
https://www.wikihow.com/Pass-Time-in-Class
How to Pass Time in Class
To pass time in class, look out of the window to see what's going on outside when your teacher's back is turned. You can also pass funny notes with a friend sitting nearby. For example, send them a "Would you rather" between 2 silly situations. Or, play a game of hangman or tic tac toe with them. When you're bored in class, it can be tempting to calculate how long you have left, but try not to look at the clock, since this will actually make time feel slower. If your class is still dragging by, listen for words that your teacher says a lot and tally every time they say them. You never know what funny words will keep coming up!
Class will be over in the blink of an eye if you throw yourself into the material. Take extensive, thorough notes, even if you don't love what you're studying. Focus on every word coming out of your teacher's mouth and really try to comprehend what they're getting at. If you listen and focus in class, you'll get caught up in what you're doing and forget you were ever bored in the first place! You are more likely to be bored if you're just passively waiting for class to be over than if you're actively doing something. Sitting there and watching the clock is only going to make time move slower, so you might as well be something productive if you're going to do something to pass the time. While the research is mixed, there's some evidence that the act of writing can cure boredom—even when you're just writing random nonsense over and over. If any kind of writing will help you pass time, you might as well spend your time writing notes. Raise your hand when you have a question and engage in class discussions. Class may feel like it's taking forever if you just sit there twiddling your thumbs, but it'll be over before you know it if you find ways to participate. By asking questions or engaging in educational conversations, you're giving yourself something to actively do which will make time fly. Asking and answering questions will also help you retain the information you're learning. If your goal is to do well in school, asking questions is a good place to start. Nobody said your questions have to be good. You can always ask, “When was this book written?” or, “How many cells are in the human body?” So long as your questions are related to the materials in class, your teacher won't have a problem answering them. Drawing gives you something to focus on, which will help time pass. If class is moving at a snail's pace or you aren't in the mood to write your notes out, try drawing them. Craft a portrait of the president you're learning about, or make a diagram of that chemical compound. Drawing your notes out still technically counts as note-taking, so your teacher won't be too angry about it if they catch you sketching something educational. There's evidence that drawing will actually help you process what you're learning about, so this isn't a particularly bad way to focus in class. Some people have an easier time comprehending information visually, so you may want to continue doing this when you aren't bored if you find it easier to learn this way. If there’s no way you can focus in math, at least you can get that English assignment done. It's never the best idea to stop paying attention in class, but if you really can't handle it, maybe you can still do something productive. Your homework will need to get done at some point, so you might as well do it now while you're waiting for class to end. Keep your notes for the current class out and try to split your time between focusing on what you're learning in class and what your homework is about. Try to only do this if you have some downtime during a group activity or if you already have a strong understanding of the topic you're currently covering in class. If you're really struggling in history, the first lesson on a new unit about World War 1 is not the best time to break out that Spanish homework. Clean your folders out, update your planner, and make a list of upcoming assignments. Toss out any graded assignments that you no longer need and highlight any important dates and assignments in your calendar. Create a new to-do list based on everything you need to accomplish in the next few weeks to keep everything fresh in your mind. There is plenty of evidence that creating a to-do list will help you achieve your goals. It's not as productive as paying attention in class, but at least you're doing something worth your time! While it isn’t as productive as taking notes, doodling will at least help you pass the time. There's also some evidence that doodling will help you retain the information you're listening to, so it's not like you're completely wasting the time. Draw a few abstract shapes, create a cartoon, or sketch out different ways of writing your name. Try to look up and make eye contact with the teacher every minute or so. This way, it'll just look like you're taking notes instead of making some art. Flip to an interesting chapter in your textbook or slide a novel out under your desk. Getting lost in a good book is one of the best ways to productively spend your time if you've totally opted out of the lesson. Even if it isn't related to what you're learning in class, reading is a great way to learn something new and engage your mind while you're waiting for class to end. If you can, read something substantial. Opt for a good novel, memoir, or piece of nonfiction instead of reading a beauty magazine or comic book. Start writing a short story, compose a short screenplay, or get to work on a poem. Writing is a fun way to get caught up in something, which will distract you while you wait for class to end. This isn't the world's most productive way to pass your time at school, but at least it involves thinking about something! The other upside here is that it will look like you're just taking notes. You could also make a list of every word you know in a foreign language, every country you can think of on a continent, or good names for a pet dog. Let your mind wander and come up with a story in your head to pass the time. You could picture yourself as a superhero with magical powers, or think about where you would move if you could move out of the country. Daydreaming isn't going to help you do well in school, but at least it will pass the time without getting you in trouble. It's okay to daydream every now and then, but try to make an effort to tune back in whenever something really important is happening in class. This isn't a particularly useful way to spend your time, but there's some evidence that daydreaming can stimulate your creativity, so at least you have that going for you! Raise your hand and ask for a hall pass if you need a quick break. Everyone needs a brain break every once in a while, and a quick walk to the restroom is a great way to take a 5-minute trip outside of the class. Getting up and walking around will also help your brain refocus when you return to class, so this is a great option if you find your mind wandering and you'd like to stay focused on the lesson. Just try to avoid relying on this option too often. Your teacher may get annoyed if you ask to use the bathroom every day in their class, and they may even revoke your hallway privileges if you go overboard. Ignore that clock on the wall if you want class to end faster. When you pay attention to the passage of time, it makes you hyperaware of how slowly time is moving. You're more likely to feel like things are moving along if you ignore the clock entirely. There's an old adage that a watched pot never boils, so keep your eyes elsewhere if you want to pass the time. If you get to choose your seat, sit in a part of the room where the clock is behind you. This way you won't accidentally look at the clock if your eyes start to wander.
Class will be over in the blink of an eye if you throw yourself into the material. Raise your hand when you have a question and engage in class discussions. Drawing gives you something to focus on, which will help time pass. If there’s no way you can focus in math, at least you can get that English assignment done. Clean your folders out, update your planner, and make a list of upcoming assignments. While it isn’t as productive as taking notes, doodling will at least help you pass the time. Flip to an interesting chapter in your textbook or slide a novel out under your desk. Start writing a short story, compose a short screenplay, or get to work on a poem. Let your mind wander and come up with a story in your head to pass the time. Raise your hand and ask for a hall pass if you need a quick break. Ignore that clock on the wall if you want class to end faster.
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Salutatorian-Speech
How to Write a Salutatorian Speech
To write a salutatorian speech, choose 1 topic to form the backbone of your speech. For example, you could talk about why graduation is special or why you're proud of your class. Or, talk about the history of your school and its values. Try reading and watching other salutatorian speeches for inspiration. You should always thank the previous speaker for introducing you. Then, start with a brief introduction to tell people what you'll be talking about. Consider adding an anecdote or a quote to emphasize your point. To close your speech, you can thank your teachers, parents, and friends who've helped you along your journey. You can also wish your fellow graduates luck and encourage them to use their talents to make the world a better place.
Find out what your limits are. Ask the person in charge of the graduation ceremony to tell you about how much time you have. Additionally, inquire about limitations on topics. For instance, you might be discouraged from giving a speech that has the same theme or content as that of the valedictorian's speech. Finding out what your limits are ahead of time will prevent you from extensively rewriting your speech later after you've discovered your speech is too long or does not address the right topic. It usually takes about two minutes to read a double-spaced page. Keep your audience in mind when brainstorming topics. You'll be speaking to graduates and their families. Therefore, your speech should be relatable and comprehensible across generations. Avoid inappropriate jokes and language, and keep cultural references that only someone of your generation is likely to understand to a minimum. Choose your topic. Write about a topic that you can courteously and truthfully speak about. The topic should also allow you to explore themes or issues that everyone in your graduating class can relate to. Common topics include why graduation is special or why you're proud of your graduating class. Choose a topic you have a genuine interest in, not one that you feel you are supposed to show interest in. To help you brainstorm, talk to your friends, parents, and/or classmates about what they'd most like to hear in a speech. Read other great speeches. Reading famous speeches can often inspire you to find the language or focus that your speech needs for success. Reading other salutatorian speeches is the best option, but reading any great speech will help. Thank the previous speaker for introducing you. Write, for instance, “Thank you, Chancellor Ramirez, for your kind introduction.” Find out who will be introducing you in advance so you can incorporate their name into your speech. Introduce yourself. After writing a brief passage thanking the person who introduced you, introduce yourself simply by name. Include your personal feelings about being selected to deliver the salutatorian speech. You might write, for instance, “As the Chancellor said, I am Noah Wimbly, and I am so honored to stand here before you today.” Tell the audience what you’ll be speaking about. The audience will be more engaged and get more from the speech if you tell them explicitly what your speech is about. Pointing out the main idea(s) of the speech in this way will also help you stay on topic as you write. For instance, you might write, “I want to speak to you about three things: justice, knowledge, and peace.” If you cannot boil the subject and major points of your speech down into a sentence or two, you should rethink your structure. Tell a story. A good story or anecdote can provide the framework for a captivating and memorable salutatorian speech. You could write a story about yourself and your experience, or about a classmate or teacher. Reflect on the past. Talk about why your academic career and those of the other graduates has prepared you for a bright future. You might also talk about the proud and storied history of your school and how the values of the school have translated down to you and your graduating class. Use verbal cues to make a bridge from one topic to the next. Structure your speech so that each section flows logically into the next. For instance, if you're transitioning between a section on justice and into a section on knowledge you might say, “And without justice, there can be no knowledge.” Writing in this way will give the speech clear turning points and help the audience better understand your message. Urge your fellow graduates to take action. Ending with a call to action is a rousing and inspiring way to end your salutatorian speech. For instance, you might write, “Let's use our gifts and our time to make this world a better place.” Give thanks. Thank your teachers, parents, friends, and family. Explain why you're thankful for each, in turn. For instance, you might write: “I want to thank Mr. Ivanov for always challenging me to improve my reading and writing abilities.” Additionally, thank the audience for their time and for attending. Don’t feel obligated to use all the time. If you can craft a punchy speech that only takes 10 minutes to read but you've been allotted 15 minutes, don't develop a bunch of filler material just to use up all the time. Doing so will only hurt the final speech and bore your audience. It's also a good idea to keep your speech short because the schedules of large events like graduations often fall apart. A shorter speech could prove helpful toward getting the schedule back on track, if necessary. Read your speech aloud before delivering it. Part of the editing process requires reading your speech aloud. This will help you practice your rhythm, timing, and intonation. Use the time you spend reading aloud to identify passages that might look good when written down, but fall flat when delivered orally. Revise passages that sound clunky or awkward when read aloud. Read your speech out loud both to yourself and to a small audience of friends or family. Incorporate your test audience's feedback into the speech. Add and cut parts of the speech where necessary. If your speech is too long, find less important material that you can remove. If your speech feels thin in some places, add more material to make your story or points more robust. Time your speech using your smartphone to check on the flow and length of the speech. Have an editor look over the speech. Get a parent, teacher, or other trusted writer to review your speech for tone, content, and word choice. Use their feedback to refine your speech and make it even better. Practice the speech for several weeks before graduation. Practicing the speech repeatedly will help you become comfortable giving the speech in front of a large audience. By the time of the graduation ceremony, you might even have it mostly memorized. It's a good idea to practice in front of audiences. Ask your family and friends if they'd be willing to listen to you practice the speech a few times before graduation.
Find out what your limits are. Keep your audience in mind when brainstorming topics. Choose your topic. Read other great speeches. Thank the previous speaker for introducing you. Introduce yourself. Tell the audience what you’ll be speaking about. Tell a story. Reflect on the past. Use verbal cues to make a bridge from one topic to the next. Urge your fellow graduates to take action. Give thanks. Don’t feel obligated to use all the time. Read your speech aloud before delivering it. Add and cut parts of the speech where necessary. Have an editor look over the speech. Practice the speech for several weeks before graduation.
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Call-Center-Agent
How to Be a Call Center Agent
To be a good call center agent, practice your typing skills, especially talking while you type. Once you're hired somewhere, learn as much as you can about the company and their products and services, which will make it easier for you to answer customers' questions. When you're talking to customers, speak slowly and clearly so they can understand you. Be polite by saying things like, “Please,” “Thank you,” and “I'm sorry to hear that,” and keep your tone upbeat, no matter what the customer says.
Prepare a resume. Emphasize your written and verbal communication skills. Convey that you're professional and work well on a team. Relay your other strengths which would be beneficial in a call center. Call centers look for employees who are good at multi-tasking, working in a fast-paced environment, learning quickly, and meeting goals. For example, you can explain how you met a measurable goal through a previous job, volunteer work, or a challenge at school. The typical education requirement for an entry-level call center agent is a high school diploma (or equivalent). Give an impressive interview. Show up early and dress appropriately. Show a willingness to be flexible with your role and schedule. Be enthusiastic to learn about the company and its policies/procedures. For example, your potential employer may ask if you're willing to take on different roles, such as inbound sales, outbound sales, or customer service. Explain how your specific experience has prepared you for meeting various responsibilities. Try asking a question about something you found on the company's website or social media page(s). This will show that you've done your research and are interested in the potential employer. Be willing to go through a training process. Expect that your new position will require a period of training. You may be trained in language, products and services, and software. Make sure that you attend all of your training without missing a day. Training typically lasts between one and four weeks. After training, a supervisor will likely be assigned to a group of employees including you. Improve your computer skills. Take a class, if needed. Look for online or in-person classes. Practice your typing and computer navigation skills. Also practice talking while you type. Call center agents need to be able to react and locate information quickly. Familiarizing yourself with computer navigation can help you learn new software as needed. Free online programs and video tutorials are available to help you improve your computer skills. Be punctual. Plan to arrive to work early every day. Give yourself to time to commute and get settled in. Take breaks when your schedule allows you to. Most call centers will require you to log in to your system before you can take calls. It's a good idea to check the traffic report in the morning significantly ahead of leaving for work. That way if there's a traffic problem, you can leave even earlier. Learn from your supervisors. Ask for advice on specific situations or how to improve at your job in general. Try to talk to them during breaks if they are very busy with multiple agents while on the job. Alternately, you may be able to speak to them before or after work. Supervisors usually started out with your same job. They'll know the in's and out's of the position, and appreciate how hard it can get. Stay up to date with your company's activities. Memorize as much information about your employer as you can. Check your company's internet and intranet frequently. Don't neglect your email, as important internal memos may await you. You should know the details of the products and services your company offers. Call center agents who are confident in their abilities are more effective at their jobs. Keep a positive outlook. Approach the job with enthusiasm. Arrive every day with a sense of optimism, and remind yourself to maintain it. Keep at least one yellow-colored item on your desk, if you're allowed to. Keep positive affirmations with you – either memorize some or keep them in your purse, pocket, or cubicle. The color yellow has an optimistic psychological effect. For example, use yellow sticky notes, pens, or paper clips. An example of a positive affirmation is, “I am in charge of how I feel and I choose to remain positive.” Develop your communication skills. Speak slowly and clearly. Don't mumble. Think (quickly) about what you're going to say before you say it. Remember that calls may be monitored and recorded. If English is your second language and you find customers have difficulty understanding you, consider taking English as a Second Language classes. You can find in-person and online classes. Some online resources are free to use. Be polite. Stay friendly at all times. Don't be negative, condescending or confrontational, regardless of what the customer says. Use formalities and an upbeat tone of voice. Try saying, “Please,” “Thank you,” “You're welcome,” and “I'm sorry to hear that.” Handle upset customers. Don't take anything customers tell you personally, and don't tell customers to “calm down.” Provide such customers with empathy and a solution. After the call, take a few seconds to breathe if you can, smile and move on to the next call. One of the most important traits of a good call center agent is the ability to stay calm under pressure, especially while handling irate customers. Try saying, “We truly appreciate your feedback,” “I'll do my best to assist you,” and other pleasantries, using the customer's name often. To the customer, you are a representative of the company who's speaking on the phone. They won't always be respectful and may even seem to blame you for their issue with the company. Shorten excessive conversation. Ask questions that have “yes” or “no” answers. Steer the conversation back to its focus as needed. Avoid personal topics or comments about the weather unless you need to kill time while something loads on your end. If you need to leave work and the call isn't resolved, try saying, “This sounds like this is something my colleague can help you with.” Make a good impression. Pay attention to detail. Don't assume you know what customers need before they finish explaining the issue. Make sure that customers are satisfied as best you can before you terminate the call. Customers report that only half of call center agents address their concerns with an appropriate answer. Repeating the customer's problem back to them can help convey to them that you understand their concerns. Transfer the call if necessary. Find out when a call should be transferred, for instance, to a supervisor or manager. Ask your supervisor under what circumstances should you transfer a call elsewhere. Recognize if the caller has an issue you are unable to resolve yourself. Then advise the customer in a positive way that you're going to transfer the call. For example, if the customer is specifically requesting a rebate, and you are unable to issue one, you may need to transfer the call. Instead of saying “I don't handle that,” try saying, “[Person or department] can help you with that.”
Prepare a resume. Give an impressive interview. Be willing to go through a training process. Improve your computer skills. Be punctual. Learn from your supervisors. Stay up to date with your company's activities. Keep a positive outlook. Develop your communication skills. Be polite. Handle upset customers. Shorten excessive conversation. Make a good impression. Transfer the call if necessary.
https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Spinach
How to Cook Spinach
To boil spinach, start by placing the greens in a medium stockpot. Only fill the pot about halfway with spinach, then cover the leaves with water and add a dash of salt. Boil the spinach and water on the stove for 3-5 minutes, then drain the spinach in a colander. After draining out the hot water, immediately put the spinach in a separate stockpot filled with ice water to keep the vegetable's bright color. After 1 minute, drain the spinach again and enjoy!
Cut out the thick stems. Use a sharp knife to cut the stems off at the base of each leaf or snap the stems off by hand. You do not need to cut the stem out of the leaf since the part of the stem that extends into the leaf is thin and easy enough to eat. Fill a clean sink with cool to lukewarm water. Soak the spinach inside the water for several minutes to loosen any specks of dirt or sand. Drain the water, rinse the leaves, and then repeat the soaking and draining process once more. Place the spinach inside a salad spinner. Turn the spinner, shaking the water from the spinach leaves. Alternatively, you may allow the leaves to drain by letting them sit out in a mesh or plastic strainer for 30 minutes or by patting them dry with clean paper towels. Tear the leaves into pieces. The pieces should only be 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) tall. Place the spinach in a medium stockpot. Select a stockpot with a 6-quart (6-liter) capacity or more. The leaves should only reach the mid-point of the pot and should not rise much higher. Cover the leaves with water. Fill the stockpot with enough water to just cover the leaves. Make sure that there is at least 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) of empty space in between the top of the water and the top rim of the pot to prevent the water from boiling over. Salt the water to taste. Use around 1 to 2 teaspoons (4.8 to 9.5 grams) of salt. You want just enough salt to draw out the flavor of the spinach, but not so much salt that it dominates over the taste of the spinach. Boil the spinach in the water on the stove over high heat. Once it begins to steam, start timing it. Boil the spinach for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain the spinach by pouring the contents of the pot into a large pasta drainer. Shake the drainer to remove any excess water. Immediately transfer the spinach over to a separate stockpot filled with ice water. Allow it to sit in the ice water for 30 seconds to 1 minute. The ice water "shocks" the spinach, preventing it from losing its bright green color. Drain the spinach once more. Pour the contents of the second pot into a large pasta drainer and shake out excess water. Heat 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of olive oil in a large skillet. The skillet should be about 12 inches (30 1/2 centimeters) in diameter. Select a skillet with deep sides and heat the oil over medium-high heat. Turn the skillet to coat the entire bottom with the oil. Add 3 cloves of sliced garlic to the pan. Sauté  the garlic until it begins to brown. This should only take a minute or less. Do not allow the garlic to cook much longer, since it will burn if allowed to cook alone for too long. Place the spinach in the skillet. If necessary, pat it down into the pan using your hands or a spatula, but be careful to avoid burning yourself on the hot oil. Coat the spinach in the garlic oil. Use tongs or two spatulas to lift and flip the spinach. Turn the spinach several times until you are certain that all the leaves are coated. Cover the pan. Leave it covered and cook the spinach, without turning, for a full minute. Remove the lid. Turn the spinach again with your tongs or spatulas to re-coat the leaves with oil. Cover the skillet once more. Cook it for 1 more minute. Once the spinach appears wilted, uncover it and remove the skillet from the heat. Drain the pan of any moisture. Add extra olive oil and salt to the spinach, if desired. Turn the spinach with tongs or spatulas to coat it before serving. Cook the spinach by boiling it for 1 minute. Follow the above instructions about boiling spinach. Drain the boiled spinach using a large pasta drainer. Place the leaves on top of clean paper towels and place a separate layer of paper towels over the spinach. Pat the leaves dry until they no longer appear damp. Set the leaves out onto a cutting board. Coarsely chop the spinach using a sharp, smooth-bladed knife. Alternatively, you may also use kitchen shears to cut the leaves into coarsely shredded pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon (14 1/3 grams) of butter in a 12-inch (30 1/2-centimeter) skillet. Heat the butter over medium to medium-high heat until it melts and coats the bottom of the skillet. Add 1/4 cup (57 grams) chopped onion and 1 clove of minced garlic to the pan. Cook the onion and the garlic, in butter, for about 5 minutes, allowing the ingredients to release a strong aroma and to caramelize. Pour 1/2 cup (125 milliliters) heavy whipping cream into the pan. Stir the whipping cream into the onions and garlic. Add 1/8 teaspoon (1/2 gram) of nutmeg and a dash of salt and pepper to the whipping cream. Stir and cook, uncovered, until the mixture begins to boil and thicken. Throw the drained, chopped spinach into the boiling cream mixture. Mix it into the cream, allowing the cream mixture to thoroughly coat the leaves. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the contents of the skillet to simmer, still uncovered, for an additional 2 minutes. The contents should appear even thicker. Serve immediately, seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Cut out the thick stems. Fill a clean sink with cool to lukewarm water. Place the spinach inside a salad spinner. Tear the leaves into pieces. Place the spinach in a medium stockpot. Cover the leaves with water. Salt the water to taste. Boil the spinach in the water on the stove over high heat. Drain the spinach by pouring the contents of the pot into a large pasta drainer. Immediately transfer the spinach over to a separate stockpot filled with ice water. Drain the spinach once more. Heat 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of olive oil in a large skillet. Add 3 cloves of sliced garlic to the pan. Place the spinach in the skillet. Coat the spinach in the garlic oil. Cover the pan. Remove the lid. Cover the skillet once more. Once the spinach appears wilted, uncover it and remove the skillet from the heat. Add extra olive oil and salt to the spinach, if desired. Cook the spinach by boiling it for 1 minute. Drain the boiled spinach using a large pasta drainer. Set the leaves out onto a cutting board. Heat 1 tablespoon (14 1/3 grams) of butter in a 12-inch (30 1/2-centimeter) skillet. Add 1/4 cup (57 grams) chopped onion and 1 clove of minced garlic to the pan. Pour 1/2 cup (125 milliliters) heavy whipping cream into the pan. Add 1/8 teaspoon (1/2 gram) of nutmeg and a dash of salt and pepper to the whipping cream. Throw the drained, chopped spinach into the boiling cream mixture. Serve immediately, seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chocolate-Syrup
How to Make Chocolate Syrup
To make chocolate syrup, start by whisking together unsweetened cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Then, whisk in cold water until there aren't any lumps, and bring the mixture to a light boil over medium heat. After 3 minutes, take it off the heat, and add some vanilla extract. Finally, pour the syrup into a sealable container, and store it in the fridge for up to a month.
Whisktogether cocoa, sugar and salt in a 2 or 3-quart saucepan . It may seem like you don't need that much space, but the liquid will seem to increase in volume -- and it prevents splashing! To reduce the caloric content of the syrup you can use Splenda instead of sugar. But take note: if you're doing this, do not bake with it -- just use it as a drink mix or topping. Also, you'll have to use it within a couple days of making as it does not store well (when made with Splenda, that is). Whisk in the cold water. Continue whisking until it's smooth and the lumps are gone. Cook over medium heat, bringing it to a light boil for 3 minutes. Keep whisking it occasionally, but take it off the heat once the 3 minutes are up. It won't thicken just yet, so don't worry if it's still too thin. Add in the vanilla as it's cooling. You can also give 'er a quick taste test and see if you'd like to add in a pinch more salt or a bit extra vanilla. Just don't burn your tongue! Pour into a resealable container and store in the refrigerator. If you made it with regular sugar, it should keep for around a month. All the more reason to bake tons of chocolate-y recipes! Use on the treat of your choice and enjoy! Because how could you not?! And if you're feeling sneaky, put your homemade syrup into a chocolate syrup bottle and see if anyone notices!
Whisktogether cocoa, sugar and salt in a 2 or 3-quart saucepan Whisk in the cold water. Cook over medium heat, bringing it to a light boil for 3 minutes. Add in the vanilla as it's cooling. Pour into a resealable container and store in the refrigerator. Use on the treat of your choice and enjoy!
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Navy-SEAL
How to Become a Navy SEAL
To become a Navy SEAL, you must be at least 17 years old, physically and psychologically fit, and a native-born or naturalized U.S. citizen. Prepare to enlist by swimming, running, and doing strength training to build your endurance. In addition, spend time studying for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or ASVAB. To become a SEAL, you'll probably need a score of 78 or higher. When you're ready to enlist, visit your local Navy recruiter and ask for the SEAL challenge contract.
Make sure you meet the requirements. Applications are accepted from men who are 28 years old or less. You may request an age waiver (for those 29 to 30). Age waivers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you are 17, you may enlist with a signature from a parent. If you have previous Navy SEAL experience and would like to become an officer, you are eligible up to age 33. SEALS must have under 20/70 vision, and it must be correctable to 20-25 vision. The worst eye can be 20/70, while the best eye 20/40 {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet3.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} All types of color blindness are disqualifying. In order to be a U.S. Navy SEAL, one must be a native-born or naturalized United States citizen, and must speak, read and write English fluently. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet4.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet4.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Upon enlisting in either the Navy or to be a SEAL, you'll need to pass a secret security clearance. In order to do so, it's important to have a blemish-free record. If you were planning on a committing a felony any time soon, change your plans. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet5.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet5.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-1Bullet5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} It's important that you are not only physically sound, but mentally and psychologically sound as well. These traits will be assessed during your training. Get physically fit. There is not an adjective in the English language that can adequately describe the training you'll be going through. Horrendous, immensely draining, designed to push you to your limits, and at times torturous only begin to describe it. Start well before you begin training. The SEAL website has a training guide that you should get started on pronto that's available here. Though it's not necessary, it's a good idea to hone your swimming and SCUBA skills sooner rather than later. Though they will take the time to teach you, it'll be that much easier if you already know how to do it. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-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:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Visit your local Navy recruiter. In order to become a Navy Seal, you must enlist in the military. Visit your recruiter and tell them of your intentions. They will ask you about all the above requirements and administer a practice ASVAB (the test you'll be taking to determine your mental aptitude). It's important to tell them that you want a SEAL Challenge Contract. If you enlist in the Navy and then decide to become a SEAL, you do not get a $12,000 SEAL sign-on bonus. You'll get a bonus, it just won't be as steep. When visiting the recruiter, take with you your birth certificate, Social Security card, a 10-year history of where you lived and worked, three references with name, phone number, and address, and the names and addresses of people who can verify this information. If all goes well, the Navy recruiter will put you in touch with the regional Naval Special Warfare/Special Operations Mentor or coordinator. They will help you train for your PST (Physical Screening Test). They will also give you your Delayed Entry Program qualifying PST. Specific locations and information are given out on a need-to-know basis, but more information can be found on the SEAL/SWCC website. Rock the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or ASVAB. You will be required to take the ASVAB to join the military. Your scores on these tests determine the Navy jobs or "Rates" for which you are eligible. You must score well enough to qualify for the SEAL program. The ASVAB test is made up of tests in the following subject areas: Word Knowledge Paragraph Comprehension Mathematics Knowledge Arithmetic Reasoning General Science Auto and Shop Information Mechanical Comprehension Electronics Information Numerical Operations Coding Speed (this is optional and should be requested at your Military Entrance Processing Station. If it's not requested, there is only one way to calculate your score; requesting this gives you more flexibility). You'll want an Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score (another qualifying test) of 78 or better. Men with this score and higher typically succeed at BUD/S. Get your Navy contract. Because of the elite-ness of the SEAL qualification, you cannot jump right in and get a SEAL contract. You must first start out with your Navy contract that will be superseded by your SEAL contract in time. On this day, you will take your ASVAB, get a physical (vision, hearing, range of motion, drug testing, medical history), and get a background screening. You will be told whether or not you qualify to become a SEAL. You will then need to sign the contract, taking any other job classification. This contract will have a boot camp date on it. This is for the Navy. Disregard this. After you take your PST (you're "Delayed Entry," remember?) and pass, you'll start your SEAL training instead. Pass the SEAL Physical Screening Test. To say this test is strict is an understatement. SEAL training is very difficult and there is a high drop out rate during training. Below is the list of physical screening tests. All times are approximate. Event: 500-yard swim using breast and/or sidestroke {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet1.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>"} Allowable Time: 12:30 Minutes Competitive Time: 9:30 Minutes Rest Period: 10 Minutes Event: Push-ups {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet2.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet2.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>"} Allowable Time: 2:00 Minutes Minimum Repetition: 50 Competitive Repetition: 100 Rest Period: 2 Minutes Event: Sit-ups {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet3.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet3.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>"} Allowable Time: 2:00 Minutes Minimum Repetition: 50 Competitive Repetition: 100 Rest Period: 2 Minutes Event: Pull-ups {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet4.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet4.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet4.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>"} Allowable Time: No time limit Minimum Repetition: 10 (dead hang) Competitive Repetition: 19 (dead hang) Rest Period: 10 Minutes Event: 1 ⁄ 2 mile (2.4 km) Run wearing boots and pants (has been changed to sneakers and shorts) {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet5.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet5.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-6Bullet5.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>"} Allowable Time: 10:30 Minutes/Seconds Minimum Repetition: N/A Competitive Repetition: 10:20 Minutes/Seconds Rest Period: N/A Get your Navy SEAL contract. Now that you've signed your Navy contract and taken the PST, you are now allowed to receive a SEAL contract. Your Special Warfare/Special Operations mentor will help you along this process. If all is fine, you will be reclassified into the SEAL program and a new contract (replacing the old one) must be signed. There is another PST you must take two weeks prior to SEAL boot camp in order to keep your contract. Do not let up on your training. If you do not pass PST 1 or 2 (or any other future PST), you will be taken off the SEAL pipeline and put in another area of the Navy. Go to SEAL Prep School in Great Lakes, IL. Here you'll have another initial PST and a closing PST (that's harder than the first one -- a timed four-mile run and a timed 1000-meter swim). It's basically boot camp. Intense boot camp. This lasts for 8 weeks. If you make it through, you'll be shipped off to BUD/S in Coronado, CA. If you don't, you'll be placed in another division of the Navy. Begin BUD/S. That stands for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. It is a 24-week challenge that will develop you into a mental and physical machine. Each week you will be required to show sufficient improvement. Because of its nature, only 25% make it to the end. BUD/S includes three phases: Phase I is "basic conditioning," focused on mental and physical ability. Phase II covers underwater skills such as combat swimming and SCUBA diving. Phase III, on San Clemente Island, will teach weapons, demolitions and navigation skills and basic, small-unit tactics. Start orientation. This is the first 3 weeks of BUD/S. It will introduce you to the instructors and the lifestyle to be expected. You will get a sense of the training and be prepared to begin the first real phase. Get ready to hear some not so pretty things. You'll be doing things like drown-proofing -- where you have to swim with either your legs or hands bound -- and surf torture -- where you're exposed to cold water for minutes on end, ordered to do calisthenics, and possibly even run miles in your cold, wet clothes. Then, you'll just be ordered back into the water. Start the physical conditioning phase. This lasts 7 weeks and is gruesome. It's where the most Drops on Request (DOR) get filed. Those activities mentioned above happen during this stage, along with running 4 miles (6.4 km) in boots, 2 mile (3.2 km) swims in the ocean, participating in timed obstacle courses, and learning small boat seamanship. Fourth week of this Basic Conditioning is affectionately known as "Hell Week." You will be training for 5 1/2 days continuously with 4 hours of sleep total. This is the ultimate test of your physical and mental motivation. You will learn that you can do a hundred times more than what you thought you could ever do and learn how to depend on your team. If you make it through this torturous week, you'll spend three weeks gladly making surveys, charts, and being more academic. Start the Combat Diving portion of BUD/S. During this time, you will be trained as a combat swimmer. The second phase of this portion concentrates on SCUBA skills -- both open and closed circuits (compressed air and 100% oxygen). You'll also learn some medical skills as well. You'll be doing long-distance underwater dives. Actually, you'll learn how swimming is a mode of transportation. This is unique to SEALs and sets you apart from other Special Operations forces. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-12Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-12Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-12Bullet1.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-12Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Move onto the Land Warfare phase. For these next 7 weeks, you'll be trained in basic weapons, demolition and small-unit tactics, with the last half on San Clemente Island. But your initial skills aren't forgotten -- in fact, the ante is upped yet again. You'll need to run, swim, and negotiate the obstacle course even faster than before. You'll also be doing some sophisticated land navigation, patrolling techniques, rappelling, marksmanship and military explosives. Thankfully it's not all surf torture and drown-proofing! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-13Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-13Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-13Bullet1.jpg\/aid512320-v4-728px-Become-a-Navy-SEAL-Step-13Bullet1.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>"} Begin Parachute Jump School. Having made it through BUD/S (hats off to you!), you'll be taken to do static line and free-fall training at Tactical Air Operations in sunny San Diego, CA. The emphasis here is to everything as safely as possible. If you had vertigo or acrophobia up until this point, you might want to consider getting over it. You'll be starting off simple, with basic static line jumps to free falls to accelerated free falls to accelerated free falls with combat equipment to accelerated free falls with combat equipment from 9,500 feet (minimum). Move on to SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). SQT includes Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) School and Tactical Air Operations. It's another 26 weeks honing your mental and physical prowess. You'll be taking this time learning TTPs; that's Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures. You'll be put through cold-weather survival, marine operations, advanced combat swimming, close-quarter combat and land-warfare training, rendering you virtually immortal. Perhaps more importantly, you'll be working as part of a platoon and as a valuable member of a team. Be awarded the prestigious Navy SEAL Trident. After graduating from SQT, you're a Navy SEAL, worthy of your crown. Congratulations and take a nap. However, the training isn't over. You'll get advanced training and eventually get assigned to a SEAL team. Choose your rating. Navy SEALs get specialized -- advanced training could be in foreign language study, SEAL tactical communications training, Sniper, Military Free-Fall Parachuting, Jump Master (Static line and Military Free Fall) and use of Explosive Breachers, to name just a handful. Then there are those that go the medical or officer route. Which speaks to you? A Navy SEAL is a Navy SEAL. Once you have this designation, you've already risen to the top. Now it's time to just home in on what you're naturally good at and thrive on it. Depending on the route you take, you will either go to Virginia Beach, VA, Pearl Harbor, HI, or Coronado, CA. Report to your first SEAL Team or Special Delivery Vehicle (SDV). Once you do this, you'll begin advanced training that lasts around 18 months. You'll be going through Individual Specialty Training, Unit Level Training and Task Group Level Training. Whatever rating you chose will determine how you progress from here. If you have a medical rating, you will attend the Advanced Medical Training Course 18D first for 6 months to become a SEAL medic. This is in Fort Bragg, NC. If you are choosing to go the Officer route, you will attend the Junior Officer Training Course to learn about operations planning and how to brief and manage teams. Get deployed. Now that you have skills that could rival any superhero, it's time to put them into action. Most deployments last around 6 to 8 months and could really include anything. You could be traveling by parachute, submarine, helicopter, on foot, or combat swimming. Either way, you'll be maneuvering highly specialized, ridiculously challenging warfare missions that are beyond the scope of standard military forces. Do Navy SEALS have to kill people? The SEAL/SWCC website says quite carefully, "The Navy SEALs train for war and fight to win. The execution of a SEAL's duties is swift and violent when required yet guided by the principles that he serves to defend." Go even further. Being a Navy SEAL will present you with a number of opportunities, from educational to professional. The Navy offers schooling to make you an expert in virtually anything -- from chemical and biological warfare to military tactics to deep-sea diving. You can even get college credit! After the Navy, you will always be a Navy SEAL. Having that title shows the world that you successfully completed some of the most rigorous training America has to offer. Your future will be full of opportunities.
Make sure you meet the requirements. Get physically fit. Visit your local Navy recruiter. Rock the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or ASVAB. Get your Navy contract. Pass the SEAL Physical Screening Test. Get your Navy SEAL contract. Go to SEAL Prep School in Great Lakes, IL. Begin BUD/S. Start orientation. Start the physical conditioning phase. Start the Combat Diving portion of BUD/S. Move onto the Land Warfare phase. Begin Parachute Jump School. Move on to SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). Be awarded the prestigious Navy SEAL Trident. Choose your rating. Report to your first SEAL Team or Special Delivery Vehicle (SDV). Get deployed. Go even further.
https://www.wikihow.com/Drive-a-Car-in-Reverse-Gear
How to Drive a Car in Reverse Gear
To drive a car in reverse gear, start by doing a “360 degree check” where you turn your head and shoulders to look around your vehicle, making sure nothing is in your way or moving toward you. Next, place your right foot on the brake and put your left hand on the top middle of the steering wheel. Then, put the vehicle in reverse, look out the back window over your right or passenger side shoulder, and slowly ease your foot off of the brake to move backwards.
Conduct a “360 degree check. ” A “360 degree check” is when you actively turn your head and shoulders to look all around your vehicle in a complete circle. Make sure there is nothing in your way or moving toward you that you may need to take into account before backing up. It's okay to use your mirrors to aid in your check, but it's important that you actively look around to ensure you don't miss anything. Make sure to look toward the ground on either side of your vehicle using your head and mirrors to ensure there are no people or animals laying in your path. Place your right foot on the brake. When driving forward or in reverse, your right foot should be the only one on the gas or brake pedal. If your car is equipped with a standard transmission, your left foot manages the clutch, but in vehicle's with automatic transmissions, the left foot simply goes unused. Press your right foot on the brake pedal firmly, so that the vehicle won't move once it is in reverse. The brake pedal is in the middle on vehicle's equipped with a standard transmission and is the furthest to the left in automatic vehicles. The brake pedal is the widest pedal. Put your left hand on the top middle of the steering wheel. While it may be customary to drive with your hands at ten and two o'clock on the steering wheel, backing up will require that you turn your body to the right. Place your left hand at the top of the wheel so you can easily make small adjustments to keep the vehicle moving straight as you back up. It may be difficult to reach the steering wheel with your right hand while backing up, so steering with one hand is optimal. Put the vehicle in reverse. Depending on the transmission your vehicle came equipped with, there are a few ways you may need to shift into reverse. On automatic vehicles, it usually requires pressing a button on the shift lever and pulling it backward until it is aligned with the letter “R.” In standard vehicles equipped with a five speed transmission, you can usually shift into reverse by pressing the shift lever all the way to the left and pulling it backward. In vehicles equipped with six speed standard transmissions, reverse is usually all the way to the left and up, next to first gear. Some cars require that you press down on the shift lever or press a release to access the reverse gear. If you are unsure of how to shift into reverse, refer to your vehicle's owner's manual. Look out the back of the car over your passenger side shoulder. Provided your view is not obstructed, twist your body to the passenger side so you can look out the back window of your vehicle over your right or passenger side shoulder. Make sure you do not remove your foot from the brake pedal. If you are driving a box truck or other vehicle that blocks your view out the back window, you will have to rely on your side mirrors to guide you. You may choose to place your right hand on the top of the passenger seat to help you comfortably look out the back. If you are relying on your mirrors, make sure to check each of them frequently. Ease your right foot off the brake slowly. As you take the pressure off of the brake pedal with your right foot, the vehicle will begin to move backward. Most vehicle's engines idle at a high enough RPM (revolutions per minute) to propel the vehicle without any need to apply the gas. Keep your foot hovering over the brake pedal as you back up just in case you need to stop or slow down. Ease off the brake slowly to ensure you do not accelerate too quickly to easily manage.. If your vehicle is equipped with a standard transmission, you will need to use the gas as you ease off the clutch, but can then allow the vehicle to idle. Turn the wheel in the direction you want the back of the car to turn. The dynamic of driving in reverse is quite different than that of normal driving because the wheels you turn to steer are at the front of the car. As you back up, make small adjustments by turning the wheel in the direction you want the back of the car to turn toward. Turning the wheel to the left as you back up will cause the back of the car to go left and vice versa. Stop the car if you feel uneasy about the direction it is heading, then set off again once you've gained control. Check the clearance of the front end. As you turn the vehicle, the front end of the car will swing in the opposite direction the back end is turning. Check the area around the front of the car frequently as you back up slowly to ensure you don't hit or run over anything with the front wheels. If you are turning left as you back up, the front of the car will swing to the right, and vice versa. Make sure you are going slowly enough that you can check the front of the car for clearance without hitting anything. Transition your right foot to the gas pedal if needed. If you are backing up a hill or need to turn, you may need to utilize the gas pedal occasionally while backing up. Once your right foot is completely off of the brake, move it over the gas pedal to the right of the brake. Press down on the pedal slowly to control the amount of speed you pick up as you back up. Make subtle adjustments to your speed by applying pressure to the gas pedal. Bring your foot back to the brake once you have gained sufficient speed or if you need to slow back down. Use two hands to steer when turning. If you need to turn around an obstacle while backing up, you may want to use both hands to manipulate the steering wheel. Using one hand, you can usually only turn the wheel up to ninety degrees in each direction, so if you need to take a steeper turn, using both hands may help. Make sure that you can still see behind you as you place your right hand back on the wheel if you need to. Never cross your hands over one another while turning the wheel. Instead push the wheel with one hand and pull it with the other. Never go faster than you feel comfortable controlling. Backing up can feel quite different than driving forward, and your view is often compromised by the back of the car and a limited view out of your window. Do not hurry yourself while backing up and instead take your time to prevent accidents. Never drive your vehicle in a manner that feels unsafe. Feel free to stop the vehicle and take a minute if you feel uncertain about what you're doing. Press the brake with your right foot firmly to stop. When you've backed up far enough, press your foot back down on the brake pedal gradually to come to a smooth stop. Be careful not to apply too much pressure too quickly, or you will stop the vehicle abruptly. Use only your right foot to apply the brakes in your vehicle. Keep your foot pressed on the brake once the vehicle has stopped. Put the vehicle in park or set the parking brake when you’re done. With your foot firmly on the brake pedal, press the button the shift lever in automatic vehicles and press it forward until it is aligned with the “P” that indicates that it is in park. In standard transmission equipped vehicles, simply take the shift lever out of gear (in neutral) and apply the parking brake by pulling up on the handle or pressing down on the pedal. If you are unsure where to locate your parking brake or how to engage it, refer to the vehicle's owner's manual for guidance. Check your mirrors before you begin. If you cannot see out the back of the vehicle, you will need to use your side mirrors to see as you back up. Before you begin, adjust your side mirrors to ensure you can see the side of the vehicle, the ground, and anything coming up from behind you. In many cars you can adjust both mirrors from the driver's seat, but in some you may need to adjust them manually by hand on each side. Check each mirror frequently. Using mirrors will only show you what is behind your vehicle on either side, so it's important to check both sides often. This will prevent you from accidentally hitting something, or from not noticing as someone approaches from one side or the other. You likely will need to drive even slower in reverse when using mirrors to be sure you don't miss anything. It may help to pay closer attention to the mirror on a side with an obstacle, so you can keep your eyes on it. Enlist the help of a friend. If you are backing up using only your mirrors in a difficult area, you may choose to ask a friend to guide you. Using your mirrors to keep an eye on a friend that is checking your clearances from the back may be your best option when driving a box truck or something else with severely limited visibility. Have your friend stand behind the vehicle on one side to ensure you can see them as they guide you. Make sure to open your windows and turn off the radio to hear your friend's instructions as you back up.
Conduct a “360 degree check. Place your right foot on the brake. Put your left hand on the top middle of the steering wheel. Put the vehicle in reverse. Look out the back of the car over your passenger side shoulder. Ease your right foot off the brake slowly. Turn the wheel in the direction you want the back of the car to turn. Check the clearance of the front end. Transition your right foot to the gas pedal if needed. Use two hands to steer when turning. Never go faster than you feel comfortable controlling. Press the brake with your right foot firmly to stop. Put the vehicle in park or set the parking brake when you’re done. Check your mirrors before you begin. Check each mirror frequently. Enlist the help of a friend.
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Work-Report
How to Write a Work Report
To write a work report, use a cover or title page to provide the name of your report, the date, and the names of the authors. Next, provide a brief executive summary detailing the key information, such as the mission statement, objective, company information, and growth highlights. After your summary, include a table of contents listing what's in your report. Then, at the beginning of your actual report, include an introduction that gives an overview of the report. After your introduction, give an overview of your research or evaluations and how your findings relate back to the topic of your report. Following the overview, give your recommendations for moving forward and conclude your report.
Identify the purpose and topic of your report. In some cases, you may have been asked for a report. Your purpose or topic will likely be included in the request. If you're not sure about your purpose or topic, consider what message you're sending to your audience. You can also talk to your boss or supervisor for clarification. For example, your purpose may be to analyze a business issue, explain the results of a project you worked on, or provide your supervisor with an overview of your work progress. Choose a tone and language that fits your audience. Consider what your audience will already know, as well as the level of jargon they will understand. When writing a work report, you can often use more professional language and jargon than when writing for the general public. Who all will read your report? Include anyone who might reasonably use the report in your audience. If you're writing for different types of readers, include all necessary information for your least informed reader to understand. However, use headings for each section so that informed readers can skip information that is redundant for them. You might also include sections for each audience to address their concerns. Gather your research and supporting materials, if applicable. Include the materials you've used to reach your conclusions or develop your recommendations. You'll refer to these materials as you prepare your report, plus you may need to include them in the appendices of your report. Here are the types of materials you might include when preparing your report: Financial information Charts Graphs Statistical information Surveys Questionnaires Interviews with experts, coworkers, clients, etc. Review your progress if you’re writing a progress report. A good progress report will provide a quick overview of the work you've done, what you're about to do next, and whether or not the project is on track. It's best to think of it as an answer to questions people might have about your project. Here are the things to include in your report: Has the project scope changed? What tasks have you done since the last progress report? What tasks are you going to do next? Are you on track to complete the project on time? If not, why? What obstacles have you encountered, and how will you overcome them? Did you learn any lessons this month? Outline the information you need to include in your report. Jot down your ideas in a loose outline to help guide your writing. As you outline, develop headings for your report to help you organize what you need to say. Your outline doesn't need to be neat or well-developed, as it's only for your use. In most cases, you'll start your report by explaining your results, conclusions, or recommendations. Then, explain how you got to this point and your reasoning, if applicable. If you are about to make a controversial conclusion or recommendation, explain your process and reasoning first so your audience will be able to understand why you arrived at this idea. Use a cover or title page. Your title page should provide the name of your report, followed by the date you submitted it on a separate line. On a third line, list the names of all authors. Then, write the name of your organization on a fourth line. In some cases, you might also include a cover letter to explain why you wrote the report, what it includes, and what you think needs to be done next. This is more common for reports that have taken a long time to prepare or require an additional explanation before the reader looks at the report itself. For a progress report, list your name, project name, date, and reporting period on a title page. Put each item on a separate line. You can label each line with “name,” “project name,” “date,” and “reporting period,” or you can just list the information. Ask your boss if there are specific recommendations for formatting your work report. They're your best resource for preparing your report. Provide an executive summary detailing the key information. Include your conclusions, justifications, and recommendations. This allows someone to understand the main points of your report without reading the entire paper. You don't need to write a detailed explanation, but the reader should understand what the report is about. Your executive summary should be.5 to 1 page long. You don't need to summarize the entire report. Just focus on the most important ideas in the report, such as the key recommendations or conclusions you're presenting. If you're writing a progress report, you can skip this section. Include a table of contents listing what’s in your report. List the section headings in the table of contents, as well as the page numbers where that section starts. This allows your readers to easily navigate your report and find the information they need. Use titles and headers for each section so your report is easy to read. If you're writing a progress report, you usually don't need to include a table of contents, unless your boss prefers that you do. However, include titles and headers for each section to make it easier to navigate your report. Write an introduction to provide an overview of the report. Tell the reader what prompted you to write this work report. Summarize the context surrounding the report, and explain your purpose. Preview the questions you'll answer or the issue you'll solve. Give the scope of your report, as well as a road map of its contents. Your introduction doesn't need to be long. Be direct and specific so that your reader will understand the context and purpose without a lengthy explanation. Write 2-4 paragraphs for your introduction. For a progress report, your introduction should only be 1-2 paragraphs long. It should summarize your project and what you hope to accomplish. You might also preview the work you've completed and what you plan to do next. Explain the results or conclusions you’re presenting. Give a basic overview of the research or evaluations you've completed related to this project. Then, discuss and interpret your findings and how they relate back to the topic of your report. In most cases, this section will include an introductory paragraph and a list of the conclusions you reached. Here's what a conclusion might look like: “1. Our population is aging, leading to more health risks among our clientele.” If you're writing a progress report, you won't have any results or conclusions to present. Instead, list your accomplishments or completed tasks in the section after your introduction. You might also provide a short 2-4 sentence paragraph in this section. However, a list is usually sufficient. You might list “Raised $200 to pay for festival tent,” “Contracted with Your Party Plan to manage festival planning,” and “Surveyed 1500 residents to gather public input.” Give your recommendations for moving forward. Your recommendations should explain what will happen in the future. Explain what your solutions will solve, and how they relate back to your conclusions. After writing your explanation, provide your recommendations in a numbered list, starting each one with a verb. List your recommendations from most important to least important. For example, you might write, “1. Train all employees to perform CPR.” If you're writing a progress report, you'll instead list the next tasks or goals that you plan to accomplish in your upcoming work period. For example, you might list “Find vendors for the festival,” “Approve festival designs,” and “Order promotional posters.” Discuss your process and reasoning for reaching your conclusions. Explain how you approached the topic, issue, or problem. Review your findings, then explain how they lead to your recommendations. Separate your discussion into different sections with headings that tell your reader what's included in that section. This includes a lengthier discussion of your research and evaluations. This section should be the longest in your report. If you're writing a progress report, you can skip this section. In its place, include a section on the obstacles you faced while working on the project, as well as how you overcame them. You might write, “Many residents didn't return the survey because it didn't include prepaid postage. Moving forward, we'll include postage on our surveys or give residents the option of doing their survey digitally.” List any references you used in preparing your report. References might include journal articles, news articles, interviews, surveys, questionnaires, statistical findings, and other related information. Cite these references at the end of your report, labeling the page “References.” Unless otherwise instructed, use APA formatting for business reports. You can skip this section if you're preparing a progress report. Provide appendices for materials like surveys, questionnaires, or emails. Not every work report needs appendices. However, you might include them if you want to provide your reader with materials you've referenced or additional information that might help them better understand the topic or your findings. Label each appendix with a separate letter. For example, you might have “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” and “Appendix C.” If you're writing a progress report, you don't need to include this section. Include a short conclusion summarizing your findings or progress. You may not need to include a conclusion, but writing one can provide a nice recap of your efforts. Keep your conclusion to 3-4 sentences summarizing the information you've presented in your report. You might write, “The arts festival planning project is on track for completion on schedule. We've completed 90% of our pre-planning activities and are now shifting attention to purchasing materials. The project has no outstanding obstacles, but we will address any that arise in the future.” Use clear headings to help your audience navigate the report. Create headings that are direct and straight to the point. The reader should know exactly what your report includes. Your headings might include: Introduction, Completed Tasks, Goals for Next Quarter, Obstacles and Solutions, and Conclusion. Tailor your headings to fit the information in your report. For a progress report, your audience will likely be your supervisor, team, or clients. Use simple, direct language to convey your ideas. A work report doesn't need to include big words and creative sentences. You just need to get your point across to the reader. Express your ideas in the simplest words possible, getting right to the point. You would write, "Revenues are up 50% for the fourth quarter," rather than, "Revenues sky-rocketed by 50% to generate stellar fourth quarter earnings." Use concise writing to keep your report as brief as possible. Writing more than necessary wastes both your time and the time of your readers. Cut the fluff and get straight to your point. Keep in mind that some work reports may be long, as they may cover a lot of information. However, your writing should still be concise. It's okay to write, "Sales increased over the last quarter after the sales staff implemented cold calling," rather than, "We saw an exponential increase in revenues over the past selling quarter as our talented, dedicated sales people began cold calling potential clients to ask them to purchase more products." Express your ideas using objective and non-emotional language. Stick to the facts and let the reader draw conclusions based on an objective view of the subject. While you may be making recommendations for how to proceed on an issue, don't try to evoke the reader's emotions to persuade them. Allow the reader to form their own ideas and judgement based on an objective view of the facts. Rather than writing, "Disengaged staff members are low in morale, making the office feel like a soulless machine," you could write, "Staff members whose productivity numbers rated lower than others reported feeling disengaged." Avoid using slang, as well as the word "I" in most reports. It may be appropriate to use "I" in a progress report, if you're writing about a project that you are working on alone. Otherwise, don't use the word "I" or any slang words in your work report. However, it's okay to use "you" when you're directing a sentence toward your intended reader. Keep your language professional throughout your report. Proofread your report to ensure it doesn't contain errors. Grammar and spelling errors will undermine the professionalism of your work report. It's essential that you read over the report to make sure you don't have typos, poor phrasing, or incorrectly used words. It's best to proofread your report at least twice. If you can, have someone else proofread your report for you, as it's difficult to spot all of your own mistakes. If time allows, set aside your report for at least 24 hours before you proofread it.
Identify the purpose and topic of your report. Choose a tone and language that fits your audience. Gather your research and supporting materials, if applicable. Review your progress if you’re writing a progress report. Outline the information you need to include in your report. Use a cover or title page. Provide an executive summary detailing the key information. Include a table of contents listing what’s in your report. Write an introduction to provide an overview of the report. Explain the results or conclusions you’re presenting. Give your recommendations for moving forward. Discuss your process and reasoning for reaching your conclusions. List any references you used in preparing your report. Provide appendices for materials like surveys, questionnaires, or emails. Include a short conclusion summarizing your findings or progress. Use clear headings to help your audience navigate the report. Use simple, direct language to convey your ideas. Use concise writing to keep your report as brief as possible. Express your ideas using objective and non-emotional language. Avoid using slang, as well as the word "I" in most reports. Proofread your report to ensure it doesn't contain errors.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Confetti
How to Make Confetti
To make rustic-looking confetti, gather some paper or cardstock in a variety of colors and rip it apart with your hands. If you want a finer confetti, fold the papers several times and cut them into ½ inch strips. Then, turn the strips 90-degrees and cut them into ½ inch squares. Alternatively, use a hole punch to make round pieces of confetti, or use a specialized punch to create fun shapes, like hearts, flowers, and stars.
Choose paper or cardstock for the most color variety. Purchase paper in any weight or color you like. For simple confetti, use white printer paper or use multicolored paper if you'd like a burst of color. For a simple way to make unique confetti, purchase origami paper that has designs or patterns printed on them. Consider the event where the confetti will be used to determine what color confetti to make. For example, if you're making confetti for a winter party, choose paper that's pale blue, white, or silver. Reuse scrap or wrapping paper. You don't need to buy new or expensive paper to make confetti. Look around your home for newspapers, envelopes, flyers, or wrapping paper that you can repurpose into confetti. You can also choose thin metallic materials or cellophane to turn into confetti. Select tissue paper for the lightest confetti. If you'd like confetti that floats in the air for a while before it lands, use tissue paper. It's also easy to punch out lots of tissue paper confetti since you can layer it before punching the pieces out. You can often purchase tissue paper that contains an assortment of complementary colors. Use ribbon or garland for confetti with texture. To add interest to plain confetti, cut bright ribbon or garland made of fringe or tinsel. Since these are often sparkly and vary in size, you'll get truly unique confetti when you cut them. Consider buying ribbons or garlands that vary in thickness. This will give you different sizes of confetti. Mix a variety of materials to create different textures or effects. If you'd like to make your confetti more interesting, use a combination of materials. For example, use a few pages of newspaper, thick ribbons, thin garland, and bright tissue paper. Remember that you can also control how you shape these different materials. You can cut the different materials into uniform pieces or into unique shapes. Use scissors to cut the material into 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) wide strips. Fold the material several times in order to make layers every time you cut. You can use thin material, such as tissue paper, thicker material, such as construction paper, or scraps, such as ribbon. Once you've folded the material at least 3 times, use scissors to cut the material into ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) wide strips. To make diced confetti, turn the strips 90-degrees and cut them again. You can make these diced cuts ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) in size. Create confetti shapes with specialized punches. Purchase paper punches from a local craft shop or online. While it will be easy to find classic hole punches, you'll also be able to choose from a variety of special shapes. For the best result, use sturdy paper, such as cardstock or construction paper, to punch the shapes or holes. After punching out the shapes, you can cut the leftover material to create more confetti and reduce waste. Look for specialized punches, such as hearts, flowers, birds, stars, baby rattles, and holiday shapes. Put the material through a shredder to make finely shredded confetti. Feed regular-weight paper, such as printer paper, into a shredder until you've made as much confetti as you need. For the tiniest confetti, use a micro-cut shredder instead of a cross-cut shredder. Avoid running materials, such as ribbons or garland, through the shredder since these may snag. If you use heavier cardstock paper, the edges of the paper may tear or look ragged. Trim garland to make very fine confetti. Hold strands of tinsel garland or fuzzy garland over a container. Then cut across the material so bits of it fall into the bowl. For larger pieces of confetti, cut closer to the center of the garland. To make tiny pieces of confetti, make lots of very small cuts. Rip the material to make coarse confetti. If you'd like rustic or uneven-looking confetti, tear the material into individual pieces. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to tear thin material like tissue paper into very small pieces. Instead, rip regular-weight paper or cardstock until it's the size you want. To rip a bunch of confetti at once, stack 2 to 3 pieces of paper before you begin to rip them. Fill a balloon with your homemade confetti. Choose clear balloons so the confetti will be visible and measure 1/2 cup (170 g) of confetti. Open the balloon and use a funnel to pour the confetti into the balloon. Then blow up the balloon and tie the end closed. Make a confetti popper. Get out a balloon and tie the end off without blowing it up. Then cut off ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) from the other end. Pull the cut end of the balloon onto a toilet paper tube and tape it in place. Fill the tube with about 1/2 cup (170 g) of your homemade confetti. To make the confetti pop, pull down on the knotted end of the balloon and let go. You can also use push-pop containers or paper cups instead of toilet paper tubes. Create slender confetti sticks. If you're looking for a fun party favor, fill straws halfway with confetti that your guests can open and throw. You'll need about 1 tablespoon (22 g) of confetti. Staple the end of a clear straw so it's shut and fill the straw with your confetti. Then staple the other end so the confetti stick is completely sealed. If you like, you can cover the ends with glitter or decorative paper. To use the confetti stick, cut open one end and shake out the confetti. You can let your guests take these home to use them or set out a pair of scissors for them to use at the party. To display your confetti sticks, set a handful of them in a decorative bucket, basket, or vase. Put homemade confetti into cards or invitations. If you made small confetti, put 2 tablespoons (42 g) into the middle of a card before you stuff it into the envelope. If you'd like to include a lot of confetti or your confetti is too large to fit into a card or invitation, print the card or invite on a waxed bag. Then fill the bag with the confetti and seal it shut using tape, glue, or a stapler. Scatter the confetti for an easy tabletop decoration. To make a fun, simple tabletop decoration, sprinkle about 1 cup (240 g) of your homemade confetti around place settings. You can also put confetti on tables that will hold gifts or guest registries. Scatter confetti instead of flower petals for a simple wedding aisle decoration.
Choose paper or cardstock for the most color variety. Reuse scrap or wrapping paper. Select tissue paper for the lightest confetti. Use ribbon or garland for confetti with texture. Mix a variety of materials to create different textures or effects. Use scissors to cut the material into 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) wide strips. Create confetti shapes with specialized punches. Put the material through a shredder to make finely shredded confetti. Trim garland to make very fine confetti. Rip the material to make coarse confetti. Fill a balloon with your homemade confetti. Make a confetti popper. Create slender confetti sticks. Put homemade confetti into cards or invitations. Scatter the confetti for an easy tabletop decoration.
https://www.wikihow.com/Wash-Your-Face
How to Wash Your Face
To properly wash your face, pull your hair back and wet your face with warm water, then squeeze a dime-sized amount of cleanser into your hands. Rub your hands together to distribute the soap evenly, then massage the cleanser into your face in a circular motion for about 30 seconds. If you're wearing eye makeup, you may also want to use a makeup remover. Rinse your face with warm water, then pat it dry with a soft towel. Finish by applying a gentle moisturizer to your skin.
Wet your face with warm water. Pull your hair back and wet your skin with plenty of warm water. Using hot or cold water can be abrasive to your skin, while warm water is gentle and won't cause irritation. You can splash water on your face using your hands, or moisten a towel and use that to wet your skin. Wetting your skin before applying cleanser will help the soap slide more easily across your skin, preventing you from having to use too much. Apply your cleanser of choice. Use a dime-sized amount of cleanser that works with your skin type. Apply it to your face in a circular motion, making sure each spot gets covered with a tiny amount of cleanser. Keep massaging in a circular motion for thirty seconds to a minute. Avoid using hand or body soap as your facial cleanser. Facial skin is more sensitive than the skin elsewhere on the body, and harsher soaps can cause it to get dry and irritated. If you're wearing makeup, you may also want to use a special makeup remover, especially around your eyes. Plain coconut oil is a great natural makeup remover. Gently exfoliate your skin. Exfoliating is the process of gently scrubbing your skin to remove dirt and dead skin cells. Exfoliating every few days will keep your pores from getting clogged and help your facial skin look fresh and bright. Use a facial scrub or a washcloth to rub your skin in a circular motion, focusing on areas that tend to be dry or oily. Exfoliating too often or too vigorously can irritate your skin. Do it just a few times a week, and make sure you don't scrub too hard. On the days when you don't need to exfoliate, just skip this step when you wash your face. You can make your own facial scrub using a few household ingredients. Try mixing 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon water or milk. Rinse and pat it dry. Use warm water to rinse your face, making sure to wash away all traces of your cleanser and scrub. Use a towel to pat your face dry. Try not to rub your face when you dry it, since this can encourage wrinkles and irritate the skin. Apply toner for a smooth appearance. Using toner is an optional step that's nice to try if you want your skin to look smooth and reduce the appearance of pores. Apply toner using a cotton ball, focusing on areas where your pores appear large. Many store-bought toners contain alcohol, but this can dry out your skin. Look for an alcohol-free toner, especially if your skin tends to flake. Natural toners tend to work just as well as store-bought toners. Try a mixture of half lemon juice, half water for a great homemade option. Aloe, witch hazel and rose water also work well. Finish with moisturizer. Choose a moisturizer formulated for facial skin and smooth a dime-sized amount over your face. Moisturizer helps to protect your skin from the elements, keeping it youthful and bright. If you wash your face just before bed, try a heavier moisturizer meant to help your skin renew overnight. If you're heading outside, use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher to protect your face from the sun's rays. Wash your skin twice a day. Washing once in the morning and once at night is a good routine for those with acne-prone skin. Washing in the morning refreshes your face and cleanses away bacteria that may have grown in the night, while washing at night is important for removing sweat, dirt and makeup from your skin. Washing your face more than twice a day could dry out and irritate your skin. Many people with acne think that washing more often will result in better skin, but that's not the case. Facial skin is fragile, and washing too much can cause it to tear and weaken. If you feel your skin needs to be refreshed between washes, it's better to splash it with plain lukewarm water instead of using soap or chemicals. Use a cleanser formulated for acne-prone skin. Regular commercial facial cleansers often contain ingredients that make acne worse. Chemicals, alcohols, and oils can irritate your skin or cause your pores to get clogged, which is the opposite of what you want if you're dealing with acne. Choose a cleanser that is specifically designed to be used on acne-prone skin. Not all acne-prone skin is oily; many people with dry skin have acne. Make sure you choose a facial cleanser that works with your skin type and won't dry it out too much. If your acne is severe, you may want to use a medicated cleanser with ingredients that will kill the bacteria that can clog pores and cause acne. Talk with your doctor about getting a prescription, or look for an over-the-counter cleanser with salicylic acid, sodium sulfacetamide, or benzoyl peroxide. Do not scrub your face. Many people with acne make the mistake of scrubbing hard in an effort to unclog pores. This method creates tiny tears in the skin that can become inflamed and create worse acne problems. When you have acne, it's important to handle your skin gently. Exfoliate very lightly, and never roughly scrub your skin. Instead of using a facial scrub, try using a soft washcloth to rub your skin in a circular motion. Never use a scrub brush on your acne-prone skin. Avoid using hot water. Hot water can cause facial skin to become red and inflamed, so err on the side of using cooler water when you're washing your face. You may also want to avoid facial steams during acne flare-ups, since the heat can make the problem worse. Pat your face dry gently. With acne, it's important not to abrade your skin by using a rough towel to dry it off. Purchase a soft facial towel and use it to pat your skin dry after washing. Be sure to wash your towels frequently so you aren't applying bacteria to your face when you dry it off. Finish with oil-free moisturizer. If you tend to have acne, your pores probably clog easily. Many have found it helpful to use an oil-free moisturizer to protect acne-prone skin. If you do choose to use a moisturizer with oil, you may want to test it on a small patch of skin and wait a few days to see what happens before applying it to you entire face. Aloe is soothing to irritated skin and makes a great light, oil-free moisturizer. If your skin is particularly oily, feel free to forego moisturizer completely, or just apply it to the spots where your skin gets dry. Wash once a day. If your skin is quite dry, washing your face more than once a day will just dry it out even more. It's important to wash your skin at night to remove makeup, dirt, and sweat from your skin before you go to bed. In the morning, just refresh your face with a splash of lukewarm water or a damp washcloth instead of going through your full cleansing routine. Always finish with moisturizer to keep your skin from flaking. Use light soap or oil as your cleanser. Dry skin just gets drier when you wash it, so it's important to choose your cleanser carefully. Look for a very light cleanser formulated for dry skin, or try using oil as your cleanser. To use oil, simply wet your face and apply your oil of choice (almond, olive, jojoba, coconut, etc.). Use a washcloth to rub your face in a circular motion, then rinse away the oil with warm water. If you want to use a store-bought cleanser, look for one that does not contain sodium laureth sulfate. Sulfates are harsh cleaning agents that will dry out your skin even more. Exfoliate often to get rid of dead skin. If your skin is dry to the point of flaking, you might need to exfoliate more than once or twice a week. Try exfoliating every other day by rubbing a soft washcloth over the dry spots using a circular motion. The key is to exfoliate without drying out your skin further or causing it to get irritated. If your skin is extremely dry, you can exfoliate using oil. Dip a corner of a soft towel or cotton pad into coconut oil (or another rich oil of your choice). Rub the oil into your face using a circular motion. This will exfoliate your skin while nourishing it at the same time. Don't use a loofah, a scrub brush or any other abrasive material on your skin. Dry skin is more prone to tearing and wrinkling than normal or oily skin, so it's important to handle it gently. Rinse with cool or warm water. Hot water will cause dry skin to get even drier, so use cool or lukewarm water for rinsing. Using too much water is another way to dry out your skin, so just use a splash or two. You can also control the amount of water you use by wiping your face with a moist towel instead of splashing it with water. Pat your face dry with a soft towel. Use a soft, fluffy towel to wick the moisture from your skin without pulling it back and forth. Patting it dry will keep your skin from getting inflamed or flaking. Finish with a rich moisturizer. Choose a moisturizer intended for dry facial skin to keep your skin looking fresh and hydrated. Natural or handmade moisturizers are often best for dry skin, since they don't contain chemicals that can cause irritation and dryness. Look for a moisturizer that contains shea butter, coco butter, or another rich, emollient ingredient that will protect your skin from drying out. If your skin tends to flake a few hours after washing it, try applying a dab of coconut oil or aloe to refresh your skin.
Wet your face with warm water. Apply your cleanser of choice. Gently exfoliate your skin. Rinse and pat it dry. Apply toner for a smooth appearance. Finish with moisturizer. Wash your skin twice a day. Use a cleanser formulated for acne-prone skin. Do not scrub your face. Avoid using hot water. Pat your face dry gently. Finish with oil-free moisturizer. Wash once a day. Use light soap or oil as your cleanser. Exfoliate often to get rid of dead skin. Rinse with cool or warm water. Pat your face dry with a soft towel. Finish with a rich moisturizer.
https://www.wikihow.health/Get-Calcium-Without-Milk
How to Get Calcium Without Milk
If you want to get calcium in your diet without drinking milk, try to eat lots of dark, leafy greens like collards, kale, and spinach as these are rich in calcium. Since chia seeds are another great source of calcium, incorporate them into your diet by adding a tablespoon or two to a smoothie in the morning or sprinkling them on your vegetables. You can also eat more canned fish and white beans, which are both high in calcium. Along with adding calcium-rich foods to your diet, try to limit your salt consumption to under 2 grams a day since sodium intake can lead to calcium loss.
Eat your greens. Dark, leafy greens such as collards, turnip greens, spinach and kale are rich in calcium. In fact, collards are one of the best sources of calcium in all foods, with a whopping 268 milligrams (27% of your daily needs) of calcium in one cup of cooked greens. Collards are also low in oxalates, which can interfere with the body's ability to absorb calcium. Leafy greens are also rich in other nutrients, including vitamin A, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. Include plenty of seeds in your diet. Chia seeds are a powerful source of calcium, packing 177 milligrams (18% of your daily needs) of calcium into two tablespoons of seeds. Simply adding a tablespoon or two of chia seeds into your morning smoothie will ensure that you're receiving your daily intake of calcium. Sesame seeds are also full of calcium, which contain 88 milligrams (9 percent of your daily needs) per tablespoon. If you're not used to including seeds in your diet, start by sprinkling them on vegetables, or adding them to smoothies. Tahini, or sesame seed paste, is another terrific source of calcium. Add seaweed to your diet. Seaweed is a good source of calcium, fiber and iodine. The most calcium-dense variety of seaweed is hijiki, which contains nearly one and a half times the recommended daily allowance of calcium in a ¼ cup serving. In general, dried seaweed contains 4-7% calcium by weight, so in order to get the US Recommended Daily Allowance of approximately 1,000mg, you would require only about a tablespoon or two. Fresh seaweed contains more water, and consequently less calcium by weight, but can still be a good source of your daily calcium. Eat more canned fish. Canned fish is precooked, so requires little preparation. Canned fish is an excellent source of calcium in your diet because of the soft fish bones that are found in canned fish. For example, pink salmon and sardines are rich in calcium, Omega 3s, and vitamin D. Canned mackerel is another fish that's less familiar to most people, but contains just as much calcium as canned salmon. You can include canned fish in tasty casseroles, sandwich fillings, soups and salads. Sweeten with blackstrap molasses. Two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses contain 400 milligrams of calcium. It's also rich in other minerals, such as iron, magnesium, manganese and potassium. You should be aware that regular molasses, including sorghum molasses, doesn't contain calcium. Replace sugar with 1-2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses to increase your calcium intake. For example, try using molasses in your coffee or baked goods. Snack on dried figs. Figs are an excellent source of calcium, and dried figs are available year-round. Eight to 10 dried figs contain as much calcium as one glass of milk. They're also an excellent source of iron, fiber and potassium. You can enjoy dried figs on salads, in smoothies, or softened in your morning bowl of oatmeal. Figs are also a good source of antioxidants. Eat more white beans. White beans, such as navy beans, chickpeas, or other white legumes, contain a healthy supply of calcium. A one-cup serving of baked beans, for example, contains 102 milligrams of calcium. These foods also contain magnesium, which works together with calcium to build bone in your body. Because it's made from soy beans, white tofu is another good source of calcium. Avoid excess salt. The calcium in bones will slowly dissolve into the bloodstream, before passing through the kidneys into the urine. Sodium (or salt) in the foods you eat will increase calcium loss. By reducing your sodium intake to under two grams per day, you'll retain your intake of calcium better. Avoid salty snack foods and canned goods with added sodium. Rinse your canned vegetables well, as they're stored in a salty brine. Do not use salt before, during, or after cooking. Use non-dairy milk alternatives. Soy milk, rice milk, hemp seed and almond milk all have a high level of calcium. Check their labels to compare the calcium levels in each. Make sure you shake the carton well, as the calcium tends to settle at the bottom. Many juices contain added calcium. Look for the labels that advertise calcium. Don’t smoke. Along with many other health risks, smoking is associated with osteoporosis caused in part by the body's inefficient processing of calcium. Smoking prevents your bones from absorbing calcium. Vitamin D helps your body process calcium, but smoking interferes with this process of absorption. Less calcium is then available to help build bones, and your bones will start to become brittle. Smoking after the age of 30 will speed up your naturally-occurring loss of bone mass. People who are exposed to secondhand smoke in childhood are at an increased risk of developing low bone mass. Get enough vitamin D. Vitamin D supports your body's efficient use of calcium. Current recommendations include receiving 15 minutes per day of direct sunlight without sunscreen to naturally produce enough vitamin D. If you get little sun exposure or are at high risk for skin cancers, you can get vitamin D from most multivitamins and fortified foods. While doctors aren't yet sure of the optimal dose of vitamin D, teens and adults may safely take up to 4,000 IU per day. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. Many people are deficient in vitamin D without knowing it. Consider getting your vitamin D levels checked at your next doctor's appointment. Maintain a regular exercise routine. Active people tend to keep calcium in their bones, while sedentary people lose calcium as they age. Combine strength training with weight-bearing exercises, such as walking or jogging, for maximum benefits to your bones. Weight-bearing exercises strengthen your lower body - your legs, hips, and lower spine - while strength training helps build the bones in your arms and upper spine. By keeping your bones healthy, you'll be increasing your body's ability to process the calcium it takes in. Swimming, cycling, and exercising on machines provide great aerobic workouts, but are less effective for strengthening bones. Don't drink too much. Research suggests that excessive drinking of alcohol can interfere with the body's use of calcium, particularly in adults younger than age 35. Moderate drinking (one drink per day) doesn't appear to have any negative consequences. Chronic alcoholism weakens the body's bones, preventing them from proper absorption of calcium. People who drink alcohol are more than 75% more likely to smoke than nondrinkers. However, research is still inconclusive on whether or not the combination of lifestyle factors is more detrimental than just one or the other.
Eat your greens. Include plenty of seeds in your diet. Add seaweed to your diet. Eat more canned fish. Sweeten with blackstrap molasses. Snack on dried figs. Eat more white beans. Avoid excess salt. Use non-dairy milk alternatives. Don’t smoke. Get enough vitamin D. Maintain a regular exercise routine. Don't drink too much.
https://www.wikihow.com/Hold-in-Your-Poop-in-Embarrassing-Situations
How to Hold in Your Poop in Embarrassing Situations
While holding your poop in embarrassing situations can lead to physical problems if done repeatedly, there are a few tricks you can use for rare occasions. For example, try standing up or lying down to relieve some of the pressure from the abdomen. In addition to finding a comfortable position, tense your butt cheeks as much as possible to apply pressure to your rectum, which will keep the poop inside. While physical tricks can be effective, so can mental tricks, like distracting yourself with a book or music or simply thinking about something other than your bowels.
Try standing up to keep in your poop (or, alternatively, lying down). The worst possible position to be in if you are trying to hold your poop is to squat. Sitting isn't as good for holding your poop in as standing or lying down is, either. The reason for this is because squatting has long been defined by researchers as the ideal position for defecation. That's because it applies pressure on the abdomen, encouraging release of the stool. Standing will remove some of the pressure from the abdomen. So will lying down. Even just shifting your position a bit can also help you keep the poop where you want it to stay inside your body until you have a chance to get to a toilet. If you must sit, shift your position in the chair. Pressing your buttocks against a hard area - like a metal chair bottom - might help. Tense your butt cheeks as much as you can. Basically, what you are accomplishing here is to apply pressure on the upcoming poop to keep it inside the body. Yes, it's really the best way to do it! Clenching your butt cheeks will tense your rectum, and, thus, it helps to keep the poop inside. It's harder to hold in poop if your muscles around your rectum are weak. If your nerves are damaged in that area, you might not even know a stool has come out. See a doctor in such cases. Try to encourage a bowel movement several hours before your event, and then stop eating. Basically you want to poop before you end up at the place where it will be hard to poop. It's a good idea to do this to activate the bowels so you empty them. Think ahead! For example, many long-distance runners face this issue. They feel like they have to poop during the race. Another way to avoid this embarrassing problem is to simply avoid foods high in fiber before the race or event because that causes the need to poop. Gas-producing foods like beans, bran, fruit and salad could also cause the need to have a bowel movement. Try to avoid eating any food within two hours of the event, though, or you will have another bowel movement. Try not to drink coffee. There are some studies that have linked coffee drinking to having to poop. Although this is by no means definitively proven, if you drink coffee while trying to hold in poop you will probably have to pee too. It will be harder to hold in poop if you've had no previous defecation that day. One study found that coffee provoked pooping more so in people who hadn't already pooped. The study also found that the effect was more pronounced in the morning. Don't overthink it. You have to be cool. If you're thinking about your bowel movements all the time, then it's just going to make it harder. Relax, and try to think about something else. Stay still! Although standing up will help, if you start making abrupt movements or doing something that requires exertion (such as running), it's going to be a lot tougher. Above all, keep your dignity and stay calm. Make sure not to panic or hold your hand against your behind. It's all about applying mental will to the situation. Distract yourself mentally so you’re not focusing on the poop so much. Come up with distracting thoughts like a kitten loving and cuddling you. Nothing funny or you may have a real accident in your pants. Find a phrase, and repeat it over and over again in your mind to focus your mind on something else. Another way to distract yourself is by striking up a conversation with someone. Watch TV, read a book, or listen to music. Do anything to move your mind on to other thoughts for the time being. A mental task that requires concentration is best, such as playing a word game or writing down a to-do list. Get over the embarrassment, and just do it. If there's a bathroom nearby, and you're just too embarrassed to use it at that moment (say, if you're on a date), shake it off! Pooping is a natural part of life, and everyone does it. You might feel better about it if you camouflage the smell. Spray a little perfume in the air of the bathroom after pooping, for example. Be prepared. Carry a mini air freshener with you. Recognize the dangers of holding in your poop. There's a lot of research on this. It's really not a good idea to hold in your poop, especially repeatedly and for a very long time. There was a case of a teenager from England who died after not pooping for eight weeks. Pooping is really just the practice of emptying your bowels. It's essential for good health! If you don't poop, your body will recirculate fecal water throughout the body. That's pretty gross when you think about it. If you want to poop but can't, you should see a doctor. You could also try a stool softener or fiber pills. Then, again, that's different from wanting to temporarily hold in your poop to avoid simple momentary embarrassment. Although experts say holding your poop briefly until you can find a socially acceptable time to do it is unlikely to cause you serious problems, they have found that people who do so regularly because of their profession might end up with issues like constipation (say teachers or truck drivers). See a doctor if you have a bowel control problem. This is defined as you accidentally passing a stool from your rectum. If you can't make it to the bathroom on time repeatedly, see a doctor. Stool is the term used for solid waste that is passed as a bowel movement, more commonly called poop. Bowel control problems are fairly common, affecting about 18 million adults in the United States. They are more common in older people, but anyone can get them. Difficult childbirth, poor overall health, and disease or injury can be causes. Understand how people poop. People use a muscle called the puborectalis muscle to poop. This muscle is basically a sling for your rectum. When you sit down on a toilet, the hold on your rectum is partially loosened. If you were to squat, the hold would be completely relaxed, making it easier to poop. Poop is a combination of fiber, bacteria, other cells, and mucus. Soluble fibers like beans and nuts become part of your poop. Some foods are harder to digest, like corn or oat bran.
Try standing up to keep in your poop (or, alternatively, lying down). Tense your butt cheeks as much as you can. Try to encourage a bowel movement several hours before your event, and then stop eating. Try not to drink coffee. Don't overthink it. Distract yourself mentally so you’re not focusing on the poop so much. Get over the embarrassment, and just do it. Recognize the dangers of holding in your poop. See a doctor if you have a bowel control problem. Understand how people poop.
https://www.wikihow.com/Win-Government-Contracts
How to Win Government Contracts
To win a government contract, carefully answer all of the questions asked in the solicitation in the order they appear since failure to do so can result in your proposal being dismissed. Also, make sure your proposal clearly and convincingly explains how your business can meet the government's needs, using concrete examples to help your case. If this is your first time pursuing a government contract, consider submitting bids to be a subcontractor, which are generally easier to win, to help you gain experience.
Evaluate your products and services. When deciding to compete for government contracts, you must first evaluate all of your products and services and decide what you want to sell to the government. To be successful in winning a contract, your product must satisfy a government agency's need. Companies that have secured significant government contracts provide the following goods and/or services: Pharmaceuticals and healthcare information technology. Defense vehicle design and manufacture. Combat assault and tactical vehicles. Maintenance, repair and accessories for aircrafts. Communication and technology. Gas turbines and jet engines. Guided missiles, bombs and ammunition. Manufacture of naval vessels. Manufacture of aircrafts. Register yourself on the System for Award Management (SAM). Previously known as the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database, SAM not only registers you to do work for government agencies, but it also allows you to create a business profile so that government procurement officers can locate your services and products. You can register for SAM here: https://www.sam.gov/. Register with the Dynamic Small Business Search. When you are completing your SAM registration, you will have the opportunity to create a small business profile that becomes part of the Dynamic Small Business Search maintained by the Small Business Administration. This provides another way for procurement agents to locate your goods and services needed for a government contract. Become an approved vendor for the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule. The government's purchasing agent is the GSA and becoming an approved vendor on the GSA schedule may improve your credibility and visibility. Determine whether your business would benefit from being on a GSA schedule by using the GSA's “Vendor Toolbox” located here: https://vsc.gsa.gov/RA/toolBox.cfm. Apply for a D-U-N-S Number. Before you can bid on any government proposal, you must acquire a D-U-N-S Number. The number is a 9-digit identification number for the location of your business. You can register for a free D-U-N-S Number here: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp. In order to register for a D-U-N-S Number, you need the following information: Your legal name. Your business headquarters name and address. Any other business names that your company uses. Physical address, city, state and ZIP Code. Business mailing address if different from your headquarters' office. Business telephone number. Business contact name and title. Number of employees at your company's physical location. Research government agencies and contract opportunities. When researching government agencies, it is important to think about how your unique services can benefit them. Once you are registered with SAM, the next step is to locate potential government contract opportunities in line with your products and services. You can search through all of the Federal Business Opportunities on the fbo.gov website. Attend small business training workshops. Many government agencies provide free or low cost workshops for small business. These workshops can better prepare you for understanding the government procurement process and provide an opportunity to network with specific government agencies with whom you are interested in working. Locate these workshops by calling agencies you are interested in or by visiting the Small Business Development Office's website located at https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/sbdc. Find a mentor. One reason to attending training programs and information sessions held for contractors by government agencies is to locate a mentor. A mentor can help you more easily navigate the government procurement process and offer guidance on how best to construct your bid. Contact the government for information on their current needs. Each federal agency has a small business specialist that can work to assist you. Also make sure to visit the Small Business Administration (SBA) website to find out which agencies are purchasing and how they are procuring those goods and services. The SBA has Procurement Center Representatives (PCR) to assist small businesspersons in pursuing federal contracts. You can locate procurement centers here: https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/ptac. Pursue business relationships. Once you have established a relationship with a procurement officer, you should continue and expand that relationship. These individuals may be able to introduce you to other government officers or connect you with other government organizations, such as the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), that can help you in the contract bidding process. Prepare a capability statement. This one-page statement should outline your businesses' skills and capabilities, detail past performance, and provide short background information on key employees. You should upload this document to your SAM profile so that procurement officers can get a sense of what your business offers. You can view a sample capability statement here: http://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/get-ready-to-do-business/sample-capability-statement/index.html. A capability statement should specifically include the following items: Company name, contact information, website and logo, if applicable. Brief narrative of you and your company that describes the business' history and the products or services that you company can provide. This is referred to as a “core capabilities” section. Key personnel section that gives names and a short biography of the company's key employees. Section that includes any government identification numbers such as your D-U-N-S Number, awards and industry recognition, and information that sets forth whether your business is a small business owned by a veteran, disabled service veteran, women, or a minority-owned small business. List of your business distributors, dealers and suppliers. List of up to three years of past performance. If a you are a new company, set forth any certifications that are relevant to your company's products or services. List of clients. Pursue only relevant contract opportunities. Your best chance to win a government contract is by targeting contracts that suit your business capabilities. You can search for contract opportunities on the Federal Business Opportunities website located at www.fbo.gov. This website also allows you to view who won past contracts, which may help you in preparing your own bid. Consider subcontracting opportunities. If you are pursuing a government contract for the first time, you may have a better chance of winning a contract as a subcontractor. Contract winners often subcontract for certain parts of their bid. By becoming a subcontractor, you gain experience working within the realm of government contracts and this may help you get your own contract in the future. You can search for small business government subcontractor opportunities at http://web.sba.gov/subnet/search/dsp_search_option.cfm. Understand the government’s bid request process. When seeking services, the government puts together a bid package to which bidders respond through a proposal. It is important that you understand the types of government solicitations so that you can best prepare your responsive bid. The four types are: Request for Quote (RFQ). A RFQ requests information and quotes, and responses are not considered actual offers. RFQs are used when the value of the contract is less than $150,000. Request for Proposal (RFP). A RFP outlines the specific needs of a government contract and specifies the information that prospective contractors should include in their proposal response. RFPs ultimately end in a contract for goods or services. Invitation for Bid (IFB). An IFB, sometimes known as a sealed bid solicitation, means that there is no negotiation as to price or the bid package. You must specifically respond to all of the terms in the solicitation and the cost of the proposed services weighs heavily in the decision about who will be awarded the contract. Request for Information (RFI). A RFI is when the government reaches out directly to potential bidders because the government is interested in the work being done by the bidder. A RFI may be used to determine whether a bidder is interested in a particular contract. Carefully read and research the solicitation. Once you have identified a solicitation (government contract opportunity), you should carefully read the solicitation and think about the best way to demonstrate how your business meets the government's needs. You should also create a checklist of all of the forms, schedules and elements that the solicitation requires that you include in your proposal. Answer all questions. When responding to a solicitation you must clearly answer all of the questions posed in the solicitation. Your proposal should respond to each question in the order specified in the solicitation. If you fail to respond to all of the questions in the correct order, your proposal may be dismissed as non-responsive. Explain how your proposal meets the needs of the government. It is very important that you clearly and convincingly set forth in your proposal the ways that your business meets the government's needs. Your proposal should offer concrete ways that your business will proceed under a government contract. Include reasonable and well-researched pricing estimates. Solicitations may require that you outline the pricing and costs associated with your bid. You will need to identify the cost of labor, goods, and services and put forth a bid that is competitive but also leaves you room to make a profit. Submit your bid. Once you have completed your proposal, you must submit your bid before the solicitation period ends and in the manner indicated in the bid package. If you fail to secure your first contact, continue to seek government contracts and refine your bid proposals.
Evaluate your products and services. Register yourself on the System for Award Management (SAM). Register with the Dynamic Small Business Search. Become an approved vendor for the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule. Apply for a D-U-N-S Number. Research government agencies and contract opportunities. Attend small business training workshops. Find a mentor. Contact the government for information on their current needs. Pursue business relationships. Prepare a capability statement. Pursue only relevant contract opportunities. Consider subcontracting opportunities. Understand the government’s bid request process. Carefully read and research the solicitation. Answer all questions. Explain how your proposal meets the needs of the government. Include reasonable and well-researched pricing estimates. Submit your bid.
https://www.wikihow.com/Seal-a-Plastic-Gas-Tank
How to Seal a Plastic Gas Tank
To seal a plastic gas tank with epoxy glue, start by draining the tank and letting it dry. Then, sand the area around the hole or crack with coarse grit sandpaper, and clean it with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. Next, mix the epoxy glue, apply it over the opening, and press a fiberglass patch over the epoxy. Let the epoxy dry, then smooth out any bumps or unevenness with sandpaper, and spray paint with plastic paint if desired.
Drain the gasoline from the tank and allow it to dry. Sand the area around the hole or crack, and clean the area with a shop cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol. Mix the 2 part epoxy together and apply all around the perimeter of the opening. Cut a fiberglass patch large enough to cover the opening and overlap it. Place the fiberglass patch over the hole and press into the epoxy. Apply more epoxy to the patch and surrounding area, pressing firmly to saturate the patch. Allow to dry, sand the patched area smooth and spray paint with a plastic paint if desired. Buy or rent a plastic welder. Tell the salesperson what you are doing with it to ensure that you get the correct rods. Remove the plastic gas tank from the vehicle, and set it up in a secure welding area. Drain the gasoline from the tank, and allow it to dry both inside and outside. Don protective eye gear, a welding helmet and welding gloves. Use a plastic welding rod made specially for this purpose, and fill in the crack or hole. Start at an edge and run the bead completely around the opening. Then begin crossing over the hole, allowing the rod to fill in the hole completely. Allow the weld to set up, sand it smooth and, if desired, paint it with plastic spray paint. Replace the repaired plastic fuel tank on the vehicle. Drain the gas tank, and clean it inside and out with soapy water. Lightly sand the perimeter of the area to be repaired. Cut a plastic patch, made of a similar material to the gas tank, slightly larger than the hole to be repaired. Heat up an electric soldering gun, and drag it around the edge of the crack to create a trench. Move the gun from side to side to push the plastic back into the trench. While the plastic is still soft from the soldering, lay the plastic patch over the area. Continue moving the soldering gun over the area to smooth the plastic, and fuse them together. Allow to cool and dry completely. Mix a 2 part epoxy glue, and cover the entire area of the patch. Allow to set up, sand and spray on a coat of plastic paint if desired.
Drain the gasoline from the tank and allow it to dry. Mix the 2 part epoxy together and apply all around the perimeter of the opening. Place the fiberglass patch over the hole and press into the epoxy. Allow to dry, sand the patched area smooth and spray paint with a plastic paint if desired. Buy or rent a plastic welder. Remove the plastic gas tank from the vehicle, and set it up in a secure welding area. Use a plastic welding rod made specially for this purpose, and fill in the crack or hole. Allow the weld to set up, sand it smooth and, if desired, paint it with plastic spray paint. Replace the repaired plastic fuel tank on the vehicle. Drain the gas tank, and clean it inside and out with soapy water. Cut a plastic patch, made of a similar material to the gas tank, slightly larger than the hole to be repaired. Heat up an electric soldering gun, and drag it around the edge of the crack to create a trench. Allow to cool and dry completely.
https://www.wikihow.com/Gain-Muscles-with-a-High-Metabolism
How to Gain Muscles with a High Metabolism
If you have a high metabolism, you can still gain muscle with the right diet and exercise routine. Since you have a high metabolism, you'll need to eat more every day so you have a calorie surplus. This will help you gain weight, and then you can convert that weight into muscle. To get those extra calories, eat extra snacks or meals every day. Make sure you eat a balanced diet, full of healthy proteins and carbs, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. To convert calories to muscle mass, you should weight train 3 times a week. Start off with weights you're comfortable with and gradually increase them. Limit cardio exercises, like running, or skip them altogether since they'll make you burn calories and lose weight, which isn't your goal. Building muscle takes time, even without a high metabolism, but if you're patient, you'll see your hard work start to pay off.
Eat more than you think you need to. Weight gain or loss is a numbers game – to put on weight, you need to consume more calories than you burn on a daily basis. This doesn't mean go crazy with sugars and bad fats – your diet should be balanced and healthy. The best way to keep track of your calories is by recording what you eat and how much you burn. To gain weight, increase your calorie intake gradually, starting with 200-300 more calories per day. Over the course of a few weeks or a month, try to work up to 500 more calories every day. Use a notebook, app or website like MyFitnessPal to total up your day's calories. This requires reading food labels, being meticulous about recording ingredients, and being aware of portion size. Also record what exercise you did that day and how many calories you burned (as close as possible). A surplus of 500 calories per day will help you gain 1 pound per week. A great way to add calories is by eating “good fats,” like olive oil, nuts, and flaxseed. Try to eat five meals per day. The best way to time your eating is to eat consistently throughout the day. Of course if you work or go to school, you may not find time for full sit-down meals. Keep protein-rich snacks with you between meals like almonds, raw sunflower seeds, and peanuts. You can also try to sub in a protein shake during the day between whole meals. You'll do better spacing meals out multiple times throughout the day than trying to eat 1-2 extremely calorie-heavy meals in a sitting. Definitely do not skip breakfast. Try to include fresh fruits or vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins in your breakfast. Keep track of your protein intake. To put on muscle mass, try to eat at least 1.44 calories of protein per pound of your body weight. Also remember to shoot for 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily (about 0.36 grams per pound). For example, if you weigh 180 pounds (81.6 kg), you want to get 259 calories from protein every day. At this weight you should try to have about 64.8 grams (2.3 oz) of protein that day. Eat high-protein foods like lean meats (beef, chicken, turkey), beans, peas, lentils, hemp seeds, chia, eggs, oats, cottage cheese, milk, quinoa, tuna, and peanut butter. Your best choices for high-quality protein are beef, yogurt, milk, eggs, cheese, poultry, and fish. Try protein shakes with whey powder base. Whey is a commonly used protein supplement. Include carbohydrates in your diet. Carbs are your body's main source of energy, and eating them with protein can help your body turn the protein into muscle. Try to have a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of carbs to proteins in your meals. Plan meals in advance by reading labels and using your notebook or app to track protein and carbs, as well as calories. Have fruit and veggies at every meal with a 3:1 ratio with carbs. Add carbs to your protein shake to get a great boost of both. This is great for after a workout. Train with weights three times per week. Getting the carbs and protein your body needs sets you up to build muscle, but in order to put those building blocks to work you have to train. There are generally two kinds of exercise: aerobic exercise like running and swimming, which gets your heart rate up, and anaerobic exercise like weight lifting – the second is what builds muscle. Aim for 3 weekly sessions of weight training; there's no need to hit the gym every day. Start slowly so you don't strain your muscles. Talk to your doctor before starting a new workout regimen, especially if you have any medical issues or are over 40 years old. Consider hiring a personal trainer to help you stay safe and motivated! If you go at it alone, always be safe with workout equipment. Know how any equipment works before you use it, don't use it under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Only use as much weight as is safe for you. When pushing your limits of weight-lifting, always have a spotter. Limit your cardio. Aerobic exercise like running, biking, and swimming is great for losing weight and burning calories, which is not your goal. You don't have to completely avoid cardio exercise, but keep it to a minimum. If you do go for a run, for instance, use a website or app to estimate how many calories you burned and try to make up for it. 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous cardio per week is a good limit. If you are already active in your daily life, count that towards these values. Start with a brief warm-up. Take 5-10 minutes to do a short aerobic warm-up, like fast walking or a mild jog. Warm muscles are less likely to get injured than cold muscles. This small amount of aerobic work won't burn enough calories to be a problem. At the very least, start your anaerobic workouts with light weights to warm your muscles. Do full-body workouts with increasingly heavy weights over time. Aim for 45-60 minute workouts, and try to target all your muscle groups. Do sets of exercises with the heaviest weight you can use safely. Try to increase your weights weekly, if you can. Focus on exercises like these (have a professional show you proper form to avoid injury): Military press Squats Deadlifts Bench press Barbell rows (while bent over) Pull-ups Chin Ups Dips Calf raises Lunges Planks Do 6-12 reps for your workout with short rests in between sets. Ideally, try to rest for less than a minute in between your sets of reps. Don't rest between the reps themselves. For instance, do a set of 12 reps of squats with moderately heavy weights, wait a minute, then do a set of 10 reps with slightly heavier weights, wait a minute, then do 8 reps with even slightly heavier weights. Remember not to overdo it – aim to have your last set of reps use your maximum amount of safe weights. Give your muscles rest. Don't work out every day – your muscles need rest to heal and build. The healing is actually what causes muscle growth. Working out 3 days a week with days off in between is the right amount to increase muscle mass. More isn't always better – take your rest days! Get 8 hours of sleep or more every night. When you don't get enough sleep, your body releases hormones that affect you in many negative ways – including building muscle. Prioritize sleep and try to get as close to 8 hours nightly as possible. While you're sleeping is when your body gets the rest it needs to build muscle. Make exercise part of your routine. Putting on mass requires dedication. A great way to dedicate yourself to your workouts is to set a schedule and stick to it. Get a calendar and mark which 3 days of the week you're going to go to the gym or workout at home. Remember to reward yourself sometimes! Go to a movie or buy a new top. Minimize your NEAT score, if necessary. NEAT, non-exercise activity thermogenesis , is the term for all of those small daily movements and activities that may just add up as calorie-burners. Fidgeting, walking, pacing, climbing stairs – most people don't burn many extra calories at all, but if you do these things often throughout the day, you could possibly be burning up to 2,000 extra calories daily. If you truly struggle to gain weight, pay attention to your NEAT activities – you may be able to save yourself some calories. If you pace or fidget because you're nervous, try relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises , or a few minutes of meditation. If your extra movements are just a habit, pay closer attention and be mindful. Sit with your feet planted firmly on the ground so you don't tap your foot or shake your leg, and otherwise focus on keeping your body still and calm. Be patient with yourself. Accept your body, especially if you are a teenager and are still growing. When you reach adulthood your metabolism and body shape may change. Remember that muscle gain is a slow process and takes dedication and time – keep at it, and you'll get there!
Eat more than you think you need to. Try to eat five meals per day. Keep track of your protein intake. Include carbohydrates in your diet. Train with weights three times per week. Limit your cardio. Start with a brief warm-up. Do full-body workouts with increasingly heavy weights over time. Do 6-12 reps for your workout with short rests in between sets. Give your muscles rest. Get 8 hours of sleep or more every night. Make exercise part of your routine. Minimize your NEAT score, if necessary. Be patient with yourself.
https://www.wikihow.com/Board-a-Plane
How to Board a Plane
To board a plane, start by going to your airline's check-in counter, getting your boarding pass, and checking in your luggage. Next, find the gate information on your boarding pass, go through security, and follow the signs to the right gate. At the gate, wait for your row or group to be called, then line up to get your boarding pass scanned by the gate attendant. Finally, walk down the hallway leading to the plane, find your seat, and place your belongings in an overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
Print your boarding pass and check your luggage. Although many airlines allow you to check in and print your boarding pass online (if you're not checking luggage), you can also choose to do so in person at the airport. Enter the airport in the section of your airline carrier, and locate their counter. When you get to the front desk, simply tell them your name and give them ID, and they should automatically print your boarding pass and ask about checked luggage. If you have multiple flights due to layovers, ask the attendant to print your boarding passes for all flights. Some do this automatically, but it is good to ask if they don't. Checked luggage must typically weigh less than 50lbs and costs about $25 to start. This varies from airline to airline though, so check your specific airline's requirements online. If you don't want to worry about checking bags, you are allowed one carry on item and one personal item - one that goes under the seat in front of you, and one stored in the overhead bins above your seat. Ask the gate attendant if your bags are small enough to bring with you as carry-ons. If you print your boarding pass online and are not checking luggage, you can bypass stopping by the airlines counter. Head to security. If you have your boarding pass in hand and your carry-on luggage prepared, you can head to security. Have both your boarding pass out and a form of ID - either your driver's license or your passport (it must be your passport if you're heading out of the country) - readily available. A TSA agent will check your boarding pass to your ID, and then you must successfully pass through the security check. All of your belongings will need to be placed in bins and sent through an x-ray machine while you are being checked over in a separate machine that is able to scan the body or being examined by a wand scanner (for those with known medical devices). Airports are very picky about security, but they will also be very vocal about it. Check for signs about what to do in order to successfully pass through security, and if you're still not sure ask someone for help. Liquids and laptops must be in their own bins separate from other items. Any items (including gum and unused gum) that are found in your pockets must be placed in the bins to be scanned by the x-ray. Also, all airports will want you to place any metal objects in the bins as well (and that includes metal earrings and jewelry). Some security checkpoints require you to remove your belt, shoes and jackets; look for signs to see if your airport does as well. Some airports may ask you to remove your socks as well, but this varies. A TSA agent will guide you through the process if there happens to be an issue with something in your luggage or on yourself. Find your gate/terminal. Get your bags re-packed and put your shoes back on so that you can go wait for your plane in the correct terminal! Check your boarding pass for your terminal (typically a letter) and your gate (a number). There should be plenty of signs directing you to this area, but if you can't seem to locate your gate and terminal, simply ask an airport or airline employee for help. If your boarding pass does not have the terminal number (and very few don't these days), find a monitor with the flight schedules and check that instead. Hang out and wait for your plane. It's always good to arrive at the airport early so that you have time before boarding the plane, just in case you need it. Run to the bathroom, grab something to eat, or use your last few minutes of freedom to connect to the airport Wi-Fi. Boarding the plane typically begins half an hour before takeoff, so you may have plenty of time to kill. Be careful not to stray too far from your gate so that you don't miss an important announcement about your flight or early boarding opportunities. If you want, you can speak to a flight attendant at the counter of your gate about changing your seats. This is the only opportunity you have to grab a different seat or to upgrade to business or first class. Wait for the announcement to board. About half an hour prior to takeoff, the gate attendant will announce the boarding time. Boarding is done in sections, either by group/sections (designated with a letter) or by rows/seats. Check your boarding pass to see if you belong to a group, and if not, wait for your row or a section of rows to be called. First class always boards the plane first, followed by business class and people with disabilities or infants. Although it is not always the case, it may be beneficial to try to snag a place in line early on so that there is still room in the overhead bins for your luggage. Otherwise, if storage space runs out your bags will have to be checked. Get your boarding pass checked. After waiting in line for boarding, there will be a gate attendant next to the entrance waiting to check your boarding pass. If you are flying nationally, hand your boarding pass to the gate attendant who will scan your boarding pass in (by placing it down on the terminal), but you will not need your ID out at this point. If you are flying internationally, you will need to show your passport again at this point. Keep your boarding pass out after having it checked, as you may need to show it to an additional flight attendant on the plane. Walk down the hallway that leads up to your plane. While most hallways are short, there are some gates who may have line hallways much longer and curvier than others. Enter the aircraft. There is typically a buildup of passengers after the boarding pass check, so you may have to wait in line again before boarding the plane. Check your seat to make sure you are headed in the right direction, and keep a lookout for your row number. If you need help finding your seat, ask others around which seats are for which row and later which seat letter is for which seat (there is no "one size fits all" for explanations here). Most flight attendants are busy getting their supplies ready for your flight. If you still require more help finding your seat, step into an open seat near the row and once the flight attendant comes around to check on your seat belt, you can ask them then.) Stow your carry-on items. When you have located your seat, place your smaller bag under your chair, and look for available space in the overhead bins for your larger carry-on. This isn't always the easiest task, so turn to a flight attendant for assistance in searching or placing your bag if necessary. When you're finally able to get in your seat, place your smaller carry-on under the seat in front of you. Get settled in. You're all done! Now it's time for you to sit back and relax while you are carried away to your destination in luxury. During the flight, you will sometimes be offered a free drink and food (depending on the carrier and length of the flight). If needed, there are restrooms in the front and back of the plane. Any other questions can be directed towards flight attendants.
Print your boarding pass and check your luggage. Head to security. Find your gate/terminal. Hang out and wait for your plane. Wait for the announcement to board. Get your boarding pass checked. Walk down the hallway that leads up to your plane. Enter the aircraft. Stow your carry-on items. Get settled in.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Curly-Hair-(Men)
How to Get Curly Hair (Men)
To get curly hair, rub a pea-sized amount of gel into your hair, and run your hands through it to create a messy look. For a more natural approach, rinse your hair regularly with water but only use shampoo once a week, since this will help your hair retain natural oils that make it curl more. After you take a shower, let your hair dry on its own, because towel drying will flatten it out. You could also try combing a pea-sized amount of hair oil into your hair twice a week, which will make your hair stronger and more likely to curl naturally. If you have medium-length or long hair, try using heat curlers, which you can put in your hair while it dries after a shower.
Use hair gels. If you want to use hair products to get your hair curly, the best way to do it is with hair gel. Regardless of how your hair is styled , using a pea-sized amount of gel and running it through clean hair can help you curl it up however you want. Take the time to make individual curls, or run your hands through it quickly for a messy look. Treat your hair with argan oil. One common way of training your hair naturally is by using a natural hair oil that will help to moisturize and keep your hair strong, making it more likely to take on natural curl and body. Once or twice a week, use a pea-sized amount of hair oil on a plastic comb and comb through your hair after rinsing to treat your hair and keep it strong. It's also common to combine this treatment and cover your hair with a tight-fitting bald-cap or do-rag, to keep your hair kinked up and keep the oil close to the scalp overnight. When you remove the cap, your hair should be able to take on curl more easily. Olive oil and coconut oil are also versatile food-based products that are commonly used in the hair to help keep moisturized and curly. Treating your hair with these products can help to keep them light and silky, making them more amenable to taking on curl. Try to use a natural texturizer. Texturizing spray is typically marketed to women, but it's perfectly fine to use for men to use in their hair to increase the natural curl. If your hair has curl in it, you'll be able to emphasize it with texturizer, and if your hair isn't, it can help to create it. These products are sprayed directly onto the hair and can be used to loosen the follicles and increase the natural curl. Try out curl-enhancing shampoo. While the claims of many curl-enhancers are somewhat dubious, there are a number of products on the market that claim to curl up naturally straight hair with washing. These shampoos should be used in conjunction with other methods of curling, but it's worth trying out. Brush your hair out before showering. It's possible to give your hair body and lightness by brushing it out before you wet it for the shower. Whether you're going to shampoo or not, running a brush through your hair will keep your hair from matting and clumping, giving it body and lightness for afterward. Brushing alone can't give you curls, but it's a helpful first step in the process. Rinse your hair regularly. If you want naturally curly hair, rinse your hair regularly to keep it clean and fresh, but don't use shampoo more than once or twice a week if you have naturally straight hair. This is because shampoo will dry out your hair and strip it of its natural oils, which help to give hair body, bounce, and curl. If you want curlier hair, rinse it, don't wash it. Wash your hair less. If you want to help train your hair to curl naturally, stop washing it so much. Regular rinsing helps to keep your hair lighter, keeping the dirt and build-up out of your hair, but it also allows the natural oils in your hair to keep your hair silky and light, giving it body and curl in the right conditions. Shampoo dries your hair out and weighs it down over time, making it less likely that it'll be able to curl. Washing your hair will straighten, rinsing your hair will curl. Different people will need to wash their hair more or less, accordingly. If you have particularly greasy hair, you might need to wash it every other day at least. If you have dry hair, try washing it only once a week or less and rinse every day. Let your hair air dry. If you want curly hair, you can't use a blow dryer or towel-dry your hair to death. The best way to get hair to curl naturally is to let it dry on its own, preferably overnight. Sleeping on your hair might make it look kinked up and messy, but it may also help to give it the kind of curl you're looking for, depending on your type of hair. In general, if you want curlier hair, it's better to bathe at night, as opposed to in the morning. If you're in the habit of showering every morning before school or work, switch up your routine to rinse your hair at night instead. Try a heat curler or roller curlers. Again, commonly marketed for women, but if you have medium or long hair, using a curler is another easy and quick way to get your hair curled up. Use small-gauge curlers in your hair overnight to get tight ringlets, or try drying your hair with a hair curler after you bathe for the best effects. Get the right hair cut. If you want curly hair, it's a good idea to get a haircut that emphasizes the kind of curl you want. For guys, that can be tricky, but you want to start out with short-medium hair to get the most bounce out of the curls you have. Talk to your stylist about appropriate haircuts if you want to make your hair look more curly than it is. Try out a pompadour style cut do for something that'll help to give your hair a bit of body. Keep the sides short and let it grow out on top, giving yourself a mop that you can train up and out into a pompadour. Train your hair into 360 waves. Training your hair into "waves" can help give you the appearance of curly hair, even if it's not strictly-speaking curly. While this practice takes time and some dedication, with daily combing sessions and a bit of pomade, you can get your hair to grow in rounded waves that extend all the way around your head. It's a cool look. Consider getting a perm. Getting a permanent or a "perm" from a hair stylist is the easiest way to get your hair curled up. While some people don't like to pay for perms and treat their hair with "frying" chemicals, permanents are the surest and easiest way to instantly curl up your hair. While they're more common and popular with women, perms are commonly given to men. Don't be embarrassed to ask for a perm.
Use hair gels. Treat your hair with argan oil. Try to use a natural texturizer. Try out curl-enhancing shampoo. Brush your hair out before showering. Rinse your hair regularly. Wash your hair less. Let your hair air dry. Try a heat curler or roller curlers. Get the right hair cut. Train your hair into 360 waves. Consider getting a perm.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Mask-out-of-Tin-Foil-and-Tape
How to Make a Mask out of Tin Foil and Tape
To make a mask out of tin foil and tape, start by stacking 3 sheets of foil on top of each other. Then, press the sheets of foil onto your face to create a mold of your face shape. Next, carefully remove the foil and cut around the edges of the mold with scissors so you're left with an oval-shaped mask. Once you've done that, puncture the eye holes with a toothpick or pencil and use the scissors to cut them out. Finally, cover the entire surface of your mask with tape so the foil stays in place.
Overlap three sheets of aluminum foil in a stack. Push the stack of sheets onto your face. Push down as hard as you are comfortable pushing. Do it carefully, so the foil does not become punctured. (It might be useful to have a helper do this part.) Check you have the general outline of your face imprinted: nose, lips, corners of your eyes and cheekbones. Use a marker and trace around your eyes (it might be good to follow the bones around your eye socket) for where you want to place the eye holes in your mask. Also, trace around anything else you want cut out. (Breathing holes are useful for breathing!)you might also want to cut a hole for talking too. yeet a pencil out the window!!! Carefully remove the foil from your face. Cut with sharp scissors around the edges of the mask. And note––once you cut it, you can't really go back easily, so leave extra holes for slender to see. Carefully cut out the eyes. Do this either by puncturing the foil with a toothpick and tearing the foil out, or snipping in the center of the area with the tip of scissors and folding the foil back. Cut holes or slots in the side of your mask. These are for the ribbons/cord/shoelaces to attach the mask to your face. Cut small sections of tape. While pressing the mask to your face to keep the features strong, gently place the tape onto your mask. When you feel the mask's features are firm enough, place all the sections of tape, overlapping, across all visible places of foil, including the back (foil is itchy next to the skin). Tie the cord to the holes in the side of your mask. Leave enough length to both wrap around your head, and to tie in a nice knot or bow. Optional: Use plaster or papier mache to smooth the surface of the mask. Decorate using acrylic paints. Paint whatever you want, making sure to leave it to dry out of the way of children or pets. You can even sprinkle glitter on the paint while it's wet if you like. Adding sequins, feathers, beads, etc. can enhance the mask.
Overlap three sheets of aluminum foil in a stack. Push the stack of sheets onto your face. Check you have the general outline of your face imprinted: Carefully remove the foil from your face. Carefully cut out the eyes. Cut holes or slots in the side of your mask. Cut small sections of tape. Tie the cord to the holes in the side of your mask. Optional: Decorate using acrylic paints.
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Auto-Tune
How to Use Auto Tune
To use autotune, open the plug-in in your software so it pops up in a separate screen and click on the track you want to autotune. Then, click “Input type” to select the voice effect, which will raise the pitch to soprano, or lower the pitch to low male. Next, click on the top of the plug-in to select the key and scale you want the vocals to be in when you adjust the pitch. For a more natural sound, click the “Formant” button in the center of the plug-in; for a high-pitched robotic sound, turn the retune dial at the bottom all the way to the right.
Set the key of the track. The autotune built into GarageBand will adjust the pitch of the track to whatever key you select. Click the key button on the top of the screen and then click the key that you want the track to be in on the drop-down menu. If you are applying a subtle autotune to a track, make sure that the key of the track matches the setting on the drop-down menu that you select. Click on the track you want to autotune, then click the scissor icon. The scissor icon in the top left of the screen brings up the editing window on the vocal track. This will let you manipulate the track and change the way that the track sounds. Click on the “Limit to Key” box in the editing window. Make sure that you are in the "Track" tab once the editing window is open to see the options for adjusting the track pitch. Hit the “Limit to Key” box to set the autotune to limit the pitch adjustment to the key that you selected previously. Limiting the vocal track to a specific key will keep the track on key even if the original recording wasn't. Slide the pitch slider to 60-80 for a gentle and natural correction. Slide the pitch correction slider to 60-80 and then play the track to see how it sounds. Play around with the slider tool and try different levels until the track sounds the way you want. The pitch correction will raise low-pitched portions of the track while maintaining a realistic and natural sounding voice for higher-pitched sections. A strong original recording will make autotuning the track easier. Slide the pitch correction slider to 100 for a high-pitched effect. Adjusting the pitch slider to 100 will make the voice on the track sound robotic and unnatural. This sound is popular in hip-hop and can be used to completely transform a vocal track. Hit the play button to listen to the track with the pitch correction turned all the way up. You can adjust the pitch correction slider as high or low as you want. Visit the Antares website at https://www.antarestech.com/. Antares is the company that created the official autotune plugin that's widely used in popular songs. Take a look at their website and make sure that the autotune software is something that you want to invest in. Avoid downloading “cracked” versions of the autotune plugin because it's illegal and the files could contain malware. Autotune from Antares can cost anywhere from $130 to $400. Find a plugin that is compatible with your music editing software. Before you decide which plugin you want, make sure that it will work with your music editing software. Visit https://www.antarestech.com/host-daw-compatibility/ to see which versions of the plugins work with the software you are using. For instance, Auto-Tune Pro is not compatible with Audacity. Auto-Tune 7 TDM/RTAS only works with Pro Tools version 10 or earlier. Compare the different plugins. Click “Products” and then “Autotune” on the navigation bar at the top of the site to see all the different autotune plugins available. More expensive plugins, like Autotune Pro, have additional options and settings that you can use if you are a professional recording artist. You can use the trial versions on some tracks before you purchase the software. If you are trying to edit music as a hobby, Autotune EFX is their easiest-to-use and most affordable option. Purchase the autotune that you want. Click on the plugin that you want to buy and then register an account on the Antares website. Follow the installation instructions that came with your autotune plugin to download the autotune installer onto your computer. Install autotune onto your computer. Unzip the files that came with the download and open the folder on your computer. Double click on Install.exe in the Antares Autotune folder and follow the prompts to install the software on your computer. Now, when you open up your music editing software, autotune should be selectable as a plugin. Open the Autotune plugin in your sound editing software. Select the track that you want to autotune by clicking on it. Then, navigate to your autotune plugin. This should bring up a separate autotune popup that gives you access to the autotune effects. If you are using Audacity, click “Effects” and select the autotune plugin that you downloaded. If you are using Pro Tools, click on one of the insert buttons to the left of the track and click on the autotune plugin in the drop-down menu. Click the “Input Type” button to select the voice effect for the track. The voice effect setting will change how high or low the pitch of the song is. If you are using Autotune EFX, the setting will be labeled “Voice Type.” The 3 vocal settings are soprano, alto/tenor, and low male. Try matching the setting with the recording of the song. Sopranos sing in the highest pitched ranges. Altos/tenors sing in the medium range. The low male setting is the lowest range that you can use with autotune. Set the key and scale of the song. Click on the top of the autotune plugin and select the key and scale that you want the vocals to be in. If you know the key and scale that the song was sung in, select the proper key. This will keep the vocals on key as you adjust the pitch. Reading the song's sheet music is the easiest way to find the key of a song but you can also determine the key by ear. Click on "Formant" if you are trying to achieve a natural sound. If you aren't going for the high-pitched robotic autotune, then click on "Formant" on the top center of the plugin. This will adjust and fix the pitch of the vocal track without giving it an artificial sound. Select “Pitch Correct” instead of “Formant” if you are using Autotune EFX. Adjust the retune speed to change the pitch of the track. Click on the retune dial at the bottom of the plugin and move it to the left to set it to a higher setting for a more natural pitch correction. If you are going for a higher pitched autotune, move the dial to the right. Typically, a retune speed of 15-25 is a good setting if you're going for a natural sound. A retune speed of 0-10 is good if you are trying to achieve the high-pitched robotic sound. Use “Effect Type” to adjust retune speed if you’re using Autotune EFX. Instead of having a retune dial, Autotune EFX uses preset options at the bottom of the plugin. The high EFX setting will create the high-pitched robotic sound. The soft EFX will adjust the song to a slightly lower pitch than the high setting. If you are going for a natural sound, adjust the setting to “Pitch Correct.”
Set the key of the track. Click on the track you want to autotune, then click the scissor icon. Click on the “Limit to Key” box in the editing window. Slide the pitch slider to 60-80 for a gentle and natural correction. Slide the pitch correction slider to 100 for a high-pitched effect. Visit the Antares website at https://www.antarestech.com/. Find a plugin that is compatible with your music editing software. Compare the different plugins. Purchase the autotune that you want. Install autotune onto your computer. Open the Autotune plugin in your sound editing software. Click the “Input Type” button to select the voice effect for the track. Set the key and scale of the song. Click on "Formant" if you are trying to achieve a natural sound. Adjust the retune speed to change the pitch of the track. Use “Effect Type” to adjust retune speed if you’re using Autotune EFX.
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Emotionally-Detached
How to Be Emotionally Detached
To be emotionally detached, try to think more rationally about the situation. For example, ask yourself if it's going to matter in 5 years from now, or remind yourself that emotions are natural and that even strong emotions will pass. You can also try to be more emotionally distant by focusing on the present moment rather than getting caught up in your thoughts and feelings about the other person. If the person you need to detach from is a part of your daily life, like a coworker or sibling, then set some boundaries by clearly telling them what you need and the consequences of not getting it. For instance, if your brother won't stop teasing you, tell him “I feel angry when you tease me. I'd appreciate it if you stop. If you don't, I might not want to be around you.”
Explore the reasons for your strong emotional reactions. In order to better detach yourself, you should be aware of the reason for your strong reaction. Three reasons why you may be feeling emotional are: you are being highly sensitive the situation is triggering a painful past event you are feeling a loss of control over the situation, which can provoke a lot of anger and frustration. Know the difference between healthy and unhealthy detachment. It is natural and normal to want to emotionally detach sometimes, especially if the emotion is too painful or overwhelming to fully deal with at the current time. However, extreme emotional detachment from others is associated with psychopathy, where individuals commit crimes against others without remorse. Extreme emotional disassociation can also be the result of experiencing trauma. If you want to detach sometimes due to intense emotions, that is perfectly healthy. We may not always be in the place to cope with strong emotions. However, if you find yourself isolating from others constantly or being emotionally numb (not feeling emotions), you could suffer from a larger psychological concern. Some signs you may need therapy or treatment include: social isolation, avoidance of social activities, intense fear of rejection, recurrent depressed or anxious mood, difficulty completing work (school or occupational duties), and frequent social conflict or physical fights with others. Accept your emotional state. Paradoxically, if we accept our emotions as valid and normal, we can be better at detaching from them when we need a break. Oftentimes, we may want to push our emotions away because they do not feel good. However, these emotions give us valuable information about our situation and our perceptions. Similar to physical pain, negative feelings (fear, anger, sadness, anxiety, stress) are like your brains way of alerting you that there is a problem. The next time you have a painful emotion such as anger, think to yourself, “I am angry because _____. This anger gives me good information about how I am reacting to this situation and will help me decide how I should deal with it. It is okay to feel angry.” The anger itself is not the issue, it is what you do with the anger you feel. You can choose to ignore it and stuff it down, but this could end up making it come back even more powerful the next time. If you accept your emotion, and find a healthy way of coping with it, then it loses its power over you and you can healthily detach from it when you need to. In the moment, try shifting focus , as well as deep breathing to activate the body's calming response. The first is a cognitive process associated with decreased anxiety, and the second is a physical action one can take to initiate the body's calming response. You can also cope by taking a nap, doing an art project, taking a walk, getting a massage, hanging out with a pet, drinking tea, listening to music, and even kissing your significant other. Express your feelings in a safe place. Giving yourself the space to feel your emotions in a safe way is integral to being able to detach when you need to. Set a time each day to feel your feelings. Practice crying alone. Crying in front of the one who is harassing you will only provoke them to taunt you more or continue with their harassment. Breathing deeply and thinking of something other than the situation may prevent you from fully processing the situation and ultimately prevent you from crying. However, it is not healthy to keep that sadness in. Try your best to wait until the situation has ended and for the antagonist to leave the room before you begin to cry. Write down your feelings and thoughts[6] X Research source . Just as it is unhealthy to keep from crying, it is also unhealthy to keep anger, confusion, and other negative emotions inside. Putting those feelings and thoughts on paper or on the computer can help you process and deal with difficult emotions so that you can detach when you feel the need. Write down how you feel in a secret journal or diary. To avoid ruminating on your negative thoughts, try identifying alternative ways of thinking about or looking at the situation. For example, if your negative thought is, "This person is such a jerk!" Perhaps you can also write down, "However, this individual may have had a difficult life and is being this way to cope with anger or sadness." A little empathy can go a long way in helping you cope with difficult people and situations. Distract yourself. Think about or do something else. Do not simply ignore the feeling or situation. If you try to stop thinking about something, you may just end up thinking about it more. This is called the white-bear phenomenon, where subjects in a research study were told not to think about a white bear; and of course that is all they could think about. Instead of focusing on avoiding thinking about what is making you upset, try to think about something else instead. Try distraction activities like: gardening, playing a game, watching a movie, reading a magazine, playing an instrument, painting, drawing, cooking, or talking to a friend. Take action physically. Go for a walk, a bike ride or any other cardiovascular activity. Aerobic activity is proven to boost endorphins and will help you be in a better position to monitor and change your reactions to emotional predators. Exercise can also be a great distracting or grounding technique. Consider the following physical activities: hiking, rowing, kayaking, gardening, cleaning, jumping rope, dancing, kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, push-ups, sit-ups, sports, running, and walking. Self-reflect. One way to healthfully detach is to focus on observing yourself like an outsider, from an objective stance. This is sometimes called the “third eye,” where you have an additional vision of yourself from the outside. When you are alone, simply observe how you are feeling and thinking. Ask yourself, “How am I doing today? What am I thinking about?” You can also work on observing yourself in social situations. Pay attention to what you say, do, how you act, and what emotions you express. Validate yourself. Self-validation is an important component of learning how to distance yourself emotionally. Validation means confirming that how you are thinking or feeling is reasonable. You can use positive self-talk. Say to yourself, “It is okay and natural to feel how I am feeling. Even if I don't want to show it, I am allowed to feel this way.” Set emotional boundaries. Setting emotional boundaries is about putting your needs first by setting limits on what you will tolerate from others. If you can, disengage from individuals who irritate or upset you, such as particular coworkers or neighbors. Try setting boundaries by telling individuals directly how you feel, and what you would like them to do. For example, if your brother teases you, you could say, “I feel angry when you tease me like that. I would appreciate it if you stop.” It may also be helpful to identify the consequences of breaking this boundary such as, “If you don't stop, I might not want to continue to be around you.” Here, you calmly discuss your anger without blowing up. Use your wise mind. According to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a prominent therapy modality that helps teach individuals distress tolerance, we have an emotional mind and a rational mind. Our wise mind is a mix of both emotions and rational thought. The key to detaching or distancing yourself from emotional pain for a period of time is to use your wise mind – the perfect balance between the logical part and emotional part of your brain. Instead of only reacting emotionally, attempt to think rationally about the situation. Acknowledge your feelings by saying, "Emotions are natural. Even strong emotions pass. I can work out why I had such a strong reaction after I get myself calm." Ask yourself, "Is this going to matter in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years? How much does this actually affect my life?" Ask yourself if your thought is fact or fiction. What is the bigger picture? Maintain emotional distance through mindfulness. Creating emotional distance is useful if you need to be empathic toward someone, but do not want to be overwhelmed or overly affected by the person's emotions. Mindfulness can be a useful technique in achieving a level of empathy that includes a level of distance that reduces the possibility of being flooded by the other person's emotions. Try eating a piece of food mindfully (raisin, candy, apple, etc). First focus on what it looks like, its color and shape. Then notice how it feels in your hands, its texture and temperature. Finally, eat a small piece of the food slowly and notice how it tastes, and feels when you are eating it. Pay close attention to this experience. Go on a mindfulness walk. Try walking for 20 minutes or so. Simply focus on your walking, and what is going on around you. How does the air feel? Is it hot, cold, windy, calm? What sounds do you hear? Are there birds chirping, people talking, or car alarms going off? How does it feel to move your body? What do you see? Are there trees swaying in the wind, or animals moving about? Bring your focus back to the present moment instead of being caught up in your thoughts and feelings or other personal reactions. Mindfulness requires concentration on the present moment, awareness of your own reactions, acceptance and letting go of painful thoughts and emotions, and thinking of thoughts as ideas instead of truths. Take deep breaths[14] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source . If you are stressed out, your body naturally tenses and sends your thoughts racing. Breathe deep and slow to avoid a lack of oxygen that can add to the problem. Place yourself in a comfortable position and practice breathing deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus deeply on your breathing and how it feels throughout your body to inhale and exhale. Make sure you are breathing from your diaphragm; this means that you should feel your stomach move fully in and out as you breathe. It should feel like you are filling up a balloon and releasing it every time you breathe. Do this for at least 5 minutes. Use grounding exercises. Grounding is perfect for emotional detachment because it involves techniques specifically for distancing yourself from emotional pain. Try the following grounding techniques: count to 100 in your head, count imaginary sheep, count the number of things in the room, think of the names of all the United States, or name all of the colors you can think of. Try anything logical and unemotional that will take your mind off the situation. Keep up the habit. Eventually, your mind will learn to store things away and you'll go into thinking of logical and unemotional things naturally. The more you practice, the better you will be at detaching from painful emotions.
Explore the reasons for your strong emotional reactions. Know the difference between healthy and unhealthy detachment. Accept your emotional state. Express your feelings in a safe place. Write down your feelings and thoughts[6] X Research source . Distract yourself. Take action physically. Self-reflect. Validate yourself. Set emotional boundaries. Use your wise mind. Maintain emotional distance through mindfulness. Take deep breaths[14] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source . Use grounding exercises. Keep up the habit.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Kitten-Food
How to Make Kitten Food
To make your own kitten food, purchase several pounds of chicken, turkey, or rabbit, including the bones and skin. Remove half of the skin from the meat and cut it into chunks, then combine with pieces with raw chopped heart and liver. Grind the mixture and place it in the refrigerator, then mix together vitamin E, bone meal, raw glandular supplement, salmon oil, vitamin-B complex, and salt with iodine. raw egg yolks, and unflavored gelatin, and water. Mix this with the ground meat and portion it out into small containers, freezing anything you don't plan to use right away.
Purchase the main protein product. You'll need either chicken, turkey, or rabbit. Commercially available products should be relatively safe for food preparation and the kitten's consumption. One option is to use three pounds of poultry (chicken or turkey) thigh meat including the bones and skin. Another option is to purchase a mix of 2.25 lbs of a whole carcass ground rabbit plus 0.75 lbs of boneless chicken or turkey meat including the skin and fat. This recipe will last 10-14 days for a cat eating 4-6 ounces per day. Prepare one cup of water. You may need to prepare more water if you cat needs more to drink. Have water set aside in separate cups for mixing and drinking. Collect two eggs. You will use the yolk raw, but lightly cook the egg white. Soft boiling the eggs is a good solution. Buy 5,000 - 10,000 mg fish oil. Fish oil can come in five to 10 capsules averaging 1,000 mg per capsule, and are a good source of fatty acids. Poke holes or cut off the tips of the capsules to pour out their contents into the water. Avoid using cod liver oil as this will be included in other ingredients. Get vitamin additives. You will need vitamins E, B-complex, and taurine (an amino acid) to further augment the food you are making. You'll need to get 400 IU (268 mg) of vitamin E. Also have on hand 50 mg of vitamin B-complex. Have 2,000 mg of taurine ready. Vitamin E should be prepared preferably in powdered capsule form. Vitamin B-complex is best used in capsule or tablet form. Taurine should be added in loose powdered or capsule form. Get some simple table salt. You'll eventually use 1 teaspoon of table salt with some iodine for potassium and sodium boosts. Add salt only if you are using poultry protein product and no rabbit. Add a portion of chicken liver. You'll need to add four ounces of chicken liver for every three pounds of poultry. This is only to be done if you are not using rabbit protein which contains liver already. Add a source of fiber. Try guar gum at 1/16 teaspoon twice daily mixed into the food. You can fill 1/8 of a teaspoon halfway each time. This will help prevent constipation in the kitten. Thaw the rabbit meat and mix in the ground and chunked poultry meat. First, use a meat grinder or food processor to grind the poultry meat and skin. Next, combine the meat into a mixing bowl. Combine by hand and knead the meats together for a few minutes to make sure everything is thoroughly mixed. Add the supplemental ingredients to the water. Once they are all dissolved, add the vitamin mixture to the meat mixture. Continue mixing the meat and supplements and then use knives to portion it off into other containers you can store in freezers. Bake the poultry. If you're using poultry only then putting your chicken or turkey product in the oven and cooking the liver will be necessary. Bake the poultry and liver at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes (time will vary). Remove the meat from the oven and pour on cold water to halt the cooking process. You want the meats only half raw, though the liver will end up slightly more cooked than the poultry. Save the fat drippings as additives to the ground meat. Cut the poultry and liver into chunks about the size of a die (half-inch cubes or larger). You can use knives or scissors. Put the ground meats and fat into the refrigerator temporarily. This step is optional. Use a meat grinder for the more meaty bones and any meat not chunked. Include the liver and eggs. Mix up the supplemental ingredients including vitamins into the water. Pour the supplement mix into the meat mixture. Make sure the meat and supplements are mixed well then portion them out into containers and put them into the freezer. Leave 3/4" of space for the food to expand. Use the refrigerator for defrosting. You'll need to move the frozen portions to the refrigerator a couple of days ahead of use. The new kitten food you made should be in the refrigerator for approximately 48 to 72 hours in a defrosted state. Consider using large plastic containers on the order of 1 - 1.5 pounds in capacity. Adjust for the number of kittens and other cats you have. If you want to warm up the food then apply some hot tap water or heating in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Purchase 3 pounds of raw muscle meat. This should ideally be some kind of poultry or rabbit. Get chicken thighs and/or drumstick meat. Rabbit also can work. Leave approximately half the skin. Get 14 ounces of raw heart. If you cannot get heart then you can use a supplement of 4,000 mg of taurine powder or capsules. You will also need to substitute the amount of meat to the total of raw muscle meat. In other words add 14 ounces of raw meat. The heart can be chicken heart Acquire 7 ounces of raw liver. The best kind of liver in this case would be chicken liver. Alternatives to chicken liver would be vitamin A and D supplements. You need to add 40,000 IU of vitamin A and 1600 IU of vitamin D. You will also need to add 7 ounces to the raw muscle meat total. Prepare 16 ounces (2 cups) of water. You will need this for mixing. Have additional water prepared for drinking in separate containers if your kitten needs more water with the meal. Prepare 3.08 tablespoons (9.25 teaspoons) of bone meal. Make sure this is the variety meant for human consumption. This is an important calcium source in cat food and essential for your kitten's growth. Ready 2 tablespoons of unflavored gelatin and 4 raw egg yolks. This will be part of the supplement slurry later. Select eggs that are from free-range, antibiotic-free chickens preferably. Buy supplements. You will need several other vitamin and nutritional supplements to add to the food mix. You need to get 4 capsules of raw glandular supplement such as the multi-gland supplement by Immoplex. Get 4,000 mg of salmon. Buy 800 IU vitamin E. Have 200 mg of vitamin B-50 complex. Have 1.5 teaspoon of Morton Lite salt (with iodine). The salmon oil, B-50, and vitamin E should be in capsule form. You don't need the Morton Lite salt with iodine if you are using rabbit meat. Remove half of the skin from the meat. Do this for all the poultry but not the rabbit. Use a peeler or your hands to remove the skin. Cut the raw muscle meat into chunks. Have several knives or scissors ready to go. Cut the poultry or rabbit into chunks the size of dice or slightly larger than half-inch cubes. Save the chunked pieces. Do not grind them. You can cut off the skin if its poultry, but leave on the skin if you are cutting up rabbit. Grind the liver, non-chunked meat, and heart. You'll need this for mixing later. Combine these meats thoroughly and store them temporarily in a refrigerator. Use a meat grinder or processor to grind and combine the meats. Prepare the supplement solution. Fill a bowl with 2 cups of water. Mix in all of the supplements except the gelatin. If you had extra vitamins to replace the heart and/or liver put them into the water at this time. Whisk the mixture briefly and add the gelatin at the end. Stir well. Mix all three batches. Retrieve the refrigerated meat mixture for this step. Combine the supplement mix into the recently refrigerated meat combination, and then add in the chunked meat cut earlier. Mix these thoroughly. Portion out the final mixture into containers and put them in the freezer. Set up your freezer containers correctly. Leave enough space for the food to expand. Use the refrigerator for defrosting for a couple of days before use. This recipe makes 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of food which can last 12-14 days for the average cat.
Purchase the main protein product. Prepare one cup of water. Collect two eggs. Buy 5,000 - 10,000 mg fish oil. Get vitamin additives. Get some simple table salt. Add a portion of chicken liver. Add a source of fiber. Thaw the rabbit meat and mix in the ground and chunked poultry meat. Add the supplemental ingredients to the water. Bake the poultry. Cut the poultry and liver into chunks about the size of a die (half-inch cubes or larger). Mix up the supplemental ingredients including vitamins into the water. Use the refrigerator for defrosting. Purchase 3 pounds of raw muscle meat. Get 14 ounces of raw heart. Acquire 7 ounces of raw liver. Prepare 16 ounces (2 cups) of water. Prepare 3.08 tablespoons (9.25 teaspoons) of bone meal. Ready 2 tablespoons of unflavored gelatin and 4 raw egg yolks. Buy supplements. Remove half of the skin from the meat. Cut the raw muscle meat into chunks. Grind the liver, non-chunked meat, and heart. Prepare the supplement solution. Mix all three batches. Set up your freezer containers correctly.
https://www.wikihow.com/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager
How to Dress Like a '90s Teenager
To dress like a '90s teenager, wear loose-fitting acid wash jeans, an oversized band T-shirt, and a long-sleeve flannel button-up to create a low key grunge style. Overalls and vests were also popular, or you could try wearing a baby doll dress for a more polished look. Black combat boots were commonly worn with both grunge outfits and baby doll dresses, or you can go casual with a pair of multicolored high-top sneakers!
Go grunge. Grungy style is an overall "sloppy" look that suggests you didn't spend very much time putting together your outfit, and yet managed to look awesome anyway. To achieve the grungy look, opt for the triple threat: denim, band tees, and leather jackets. Wear loose-fitting clothes. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Find cutoff, acid-washed, or otherwise destroyed jeans. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9c\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9c\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} When possible, have holes or rips in your clothing. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet3.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Consider going faux rather than wearing genuine leather. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet4.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet4.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Keep your hair messy. Ideally, avoid washing it for a few days to achieve a greasy look. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet5.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet5.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Try to find t-shirts of bands that were popular before and during the '90s like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and The Doors. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet6.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet6.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-1Bullet6.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>"} Get dolled up. Babydoll dresses were very popular in the '90s, and were usually short-sleeved and floral-print. These babydoll dresses were variations of the flowered dresses that were popular in the 1930s. They were often "dressed down" for the daytime with a pair of combat boots, sneakers, and/or a jean jacket. Body-conscious velvet dresses (try maroon or black) were also in style at the time. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-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:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Wear crop tops. Try pairing high-waisted jeans with a cropped t-shirt, tank-top, cardigan. Tight-fitting tees (opt for a size or two smaller than what you would normally wear) were also trendy for women. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet2.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>"} Wear butterfly clips in your hair. These tiny, plastic, multicolored hair clips were popular among girls of all ages. One trendy look was to pull back the front of your hair in one inch segments and pin each one with a butterfly clip. The end result should look as though you're wearing a "headband" of butterflies. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet3.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-2Bullet3.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>"} Wear plaid, and lots of it. Plaid button-up shirts, plaid skirts, and plaid dresses were '90s staples. Try layering a plaid button-up over the rest of your outfit (leaving it unbuttoned), or wrap a plaid shirt around your waist. Try finding plaid as worn out as possible, giving it the grungy look. Rock a pair of overalls. Long overalls, overall shorts, and overall dresses were all the rage in the '90s! This was a common fashion for teenage women during the 1930s as well, especially for ones living in rural areas. For extra authenticity, leave one of the clasps undone. Layer a vest over a t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, or dress. '90s vests came in every color and print imaginable; try a denim, crochet, or floral-print vest. Revisit the '70s and the Great Depression. Remember that during the '90s, there was a revival of '70s fashion, which included many hippie and disco-inspired trends. With the booming economy of the 90s, many teens and young adults had glamorized the "poor life" of the 1930s which includes the grunge fashion. Wear anything with tie-dye, peace signs, or flowers on it. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet1.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>"} Find a pair of bell-bottoms. Bell-bottoms are pants that are fitted at the top and flare out dramatically at the bottom. Try them in jean or corduroy. Add a peace sign or flower patch to the pants for an extra flare! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet2.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet2.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>"} Wear platform shoes. These disco-inspired shoes were full-throttle in the '90s. Platform shoes are available in sandals, heels, wedges, and even sneakers, and come in a variety of colors. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet3.jpg\/aid1031733-v4-728px-Dress-Like-a-%2790s-Teenager-Step-6Bullet3.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>"} Wear high-top, multicolored sneakers. Try Converse, Nike, Reebok, and Vans. If you're going for a grunge look, then wear sneakers that have been worn down excessively, and that have mud stains and/or holes. Invest in black combat boots. Doc martens, among others, were all the rage in the '90s for men and women like. Find a pair of jellies. These shoes were available in every color imaginable: purple, pink, green, gray, blue, and even clear! Wear headbands. Find thick (about the width of two fingers), bright-colored headbands that match your top or dress, if possible. Wear hats. Black fedoras and backward baseball caps were '90s essentials when it came to hats. Women oftentimes wore hats with oversized flowers or bows attached to them. Shop the brands. The following were popular clothing and shoe brands in the '90s: JNCO, Tommy Hilfiger, Hypercolor, Umbros, Calvin Klein, Roxy, Keds, Reebok, Guess, and Nike. Scour your local thrift stores. It can be hard to find authentic '90s clothes in modern-day clothing stores, so thrift shops are a good option. Plus, you'll be saving loads of money by shopping second-hand. Shop on eBay, Etsy or other sites that carry vintage items. These sites and others like them carry items that are vintage or vintage-inspired that may not be available in stores anymore. Raid a closet. Check out your parents' or older siblings' closets, or ask a friend if they have any '90s clothes that they no longer want. Dig into the depths of your own closet (if you were around in the '90s) to see what clothes you have held on to!
Go grunge. Get dolled up. Wear plaid, and lots of it. Rock a pair of overalls. Layer a vest over a t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, or dress. Revisit the '70s and the Great Depression. Wear high-top, multicolored sneakers. Invest in black combat boots. Find a pair of jellies. Wear headbands. Wear hats. Shop the brands. Scour your local thrift stores. Shop on eBay, Etsy or other sites that carry vintage items. Raid a closet.
https://www.wikihow.life/Be-Friendly
How to Be Friendly
To be friendly, smile more often and use open body language, such as standing up straight and not crossing your arms, to cultivate an approachable vibe. When chatting with people, address them by their name, ask them questions about themselves, and give them sincere compliments to show genuine interest. Try to focus on positive conversation topics to keep things light and friendly!
Smile more. You don't have to give every person you see a huge grin to be friendlier. However, making a goal to smile at least 30% more on a daily basis, whether you're smiling at people you know, complete strangers, or acquaintances who cross your path, smiling will make you look like a much more approachable, friendly person. Remember when you passed that guy you met that one time and he looked in the other direction and pretended you didn't exist? How did that make you feel? If you want people to feel good about talking to you, then you should smile more at them. You can also make a goal of smiling more during the course of a conversation. Practice smiling every day, even when you're by yourself. The act of smiling—even when you're making yourself smile instead of doing it naturally—causes your brain to release feel-good chemicals and lifts your mood. Have open body language. If you want people to feel like you're approachable and open to talking to them, then you have to master open body language. Here are the things that you can do to make people want to talk to you more: Keep your legs together instead of crossed Have good posture instead of slouching Keep your arms at your sides instead of crossing them Lean forward toward other people Rid yourself of distractions. Another way to be friendlier is to notice everything that's going on around you instead of trying to beat the new level of Candy Crush on your iPhone. If you're tapping away at your phone, burying your nose in a book, staring at your computer, or even just picking at the paint on your fingernails, then people will think you have better things to do than to talk to them. Instead, look ahead, smile, and be ready for what the world has to offer you. You'll be surprised by how many more people think you're friendly and how quickly they come your way. Tapping away at your cell phone is rude, especially when you're actively engaging in conversation with people. Make eye contact. This is something you should work on whether you're just saying hi to a person who is walking by or talking to someone face-to-face. You don't have to stare into a person's eyes 100% of the time to be friendly, but you should work on making as much eye contact as possible when you're listening to people, so that they feel like you care about them and that they're actually worth your time. When it's your turn to talk, you can look around a bit more. If you're walking down a hallway and it's just you and another person, why not look that person in the eyes and say hello instead of staring at the floor or pretending to be fascinated by your own fingernails? Laugh easily. The ability to laugh easily is another trait of the friendly person. You don't have to laugh at everything a person says, or you may sound fake, but you should make an effort to laugh about 20% more, especially when people are trying to be funny, say something kind of funny, or just when you feel people need a boost of support and confidence. Laughing more will not only give your conversations more of a positive vibe, but the people around you -- even the people who are just walking by -- will see you as a friendlier person. Laughing and smiling more? Now that's a potent combo. Master small talk. Knowing how to make small talk will go a long way in making you friendlier. Maybe you have a hard time making small talk because you're too busy, distracted, or just shy. But it's not as hard as it sounds. All you have to do is make the person feel comfortable, find some common ground, and reveal a little bit about yourself. If you get more comfortable, then you can start digging deeper and discuss more personal issues. Some people think that small talk is completely superficial, but it's not. All good friendships and relationships start out with a bit of small talk. You can't just jump in and talk to a new person about the meaning of life, can you? You can even make small talk with the checkout person just to be nice. Make a comment about the weather, say something about the addicting tasty guacamole you're buying, or compliment that person's jewelry. It'll make you feel more positive and it'll make your day go by faster. Just like any skill, it takes practice to get good at small talk. Make an effort to practice small talk as often as possible throughout your day. You might start by asking a question (“Have you read this book? Is it any good?”) or commenting on something in your environment (“Wow, the flowers are really blooming! I'm so glad it's finally spring.”). Ask people questions about themselves. If you want to be friendly, then you have to show a real interest in people. They have to see that you really care about who they are, what they think, and what they do. If you want to be friendly, then you have to ask people a variety of simple questions that show them you care. You shouldn't ask anything too personal or they might get offended, though; stick to some of the same topics first and move on from there once you know them better. Here are some great topics to try: Pets Favorite sports teams Favorite hobbies Favorite bands, books, or movies Favorite food, drink Siblings Weekend trips School or work What they're trying to achieve in life Favorite vacations or where they would like to travel to Compliment others. Complimenting people -- when you mean it -- will make you seem and feel like a much friendlier person. Just a small compliment given at the right time will make people think, "They're really nice!" and will make them feel more comfortable and happy to be in your presence. You don't have to compliment anything too serious, especially at first, and you can just say something nice about the person's jewelry, outfit, haircut, or even say that the person has a great sense of humor. When you're talking to someone, ask yourself, what's one awesome quality this person has that I would like to compliment? You should come up with one pretty quickly. Use people's names when you talk to them. This is a simple yet effective trick to making people like you more and to seem friendlier. If you use people's names, you show them that you care about them and that you can really distinguish them as individuals. You don't have to overdo it to get the point across. Just saying, "Hi, Ellen!" when you greet the person, or saying, "You're completely right about that, Ashley," in the course of a conversation will make you seem like a friendlier person. If a person you've just met tells you their name, using it once or twice throughout your conversation will make you remember it for next time. Know when you're giving people the cold shoulder. Some people are unfriendly without even realizing it. If someone has given you a big "Hi!" and is approaching you while slowing down, this is because that person wants to talk to you; if you just say "hey," and keep walking, then you'll look rude. You may think that you're just giving off a neutral or a busy vibe, but that may often come off as unfriendly. If you don't hold doors for people or smile at them when they smile at you, and avoid looking in the direction of people you don't know even if they're standing right next to you, then you'll look rude without even knowing it. A little common courtesy and good manners can go a long way toward helping you connect with others. Just saying “thank you” or opening a door for someone can brighten their day or even lead to a friendly conversation. Focus on the positive topics. When you are talking to people, try to stick to the uplifting stuff. Instead of complaining about work or school, talking about something bad that happened to you, or just generally being negative, mention something awesome that happened to you that week, something you're looking forward to, or even something funny you saw on TV. Talking about more positive topics will make you seem friendlier in everyday conversation because you'll seem like a fun, upbeat person that other people want to talk to. You don't have to pretend to be someone else to avoid discussing unpleasant topics throughout the course of a conversation. Try to avoid controversial topics, like religion or politics. Sure, if something terrible happened to you or if you really feel like griping, go for it. But try to say at least 3 positive things for every 1 negative thing so you still seem like a positive person. Open up. Part of being friendly is making yourself a little bit vulnerable and sharing something about yourself with others. You don't have to reveal your deepest, darkest secrets. Mentioning something slightly embarrassing, goofy, or just offbeat will have a winning effect on people and will make them think that you don't take yourself too seriously and that you're comfortable talking to other people. Here are some things you can open up about: Childhood pets Wacky vacations A prank you played on your sibling A funny mistake you made Something you've always wanted to do Your experience doing something offbeat for the first time A story about your family Make an effort to talk to new people. This is another cornerstone of being friendlier. You may be really shy, or you might just think that new people aren't worth your time. Well, that changes today! Start making conversation with strangers sitting next to you on the plane, people at parties, or friends of friends that you run into. Make sure you read the situation and that the person actually wants to talk to someone new, and then proceed with a big smile on your face. You don't have to talk to every new person who comes your way, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you'll feel. Introduce yourself to people you don't know. If you're in a group of friends and a new person who other people know comes on the scene, take the initiative. Give more invitations. Part of being friendlier is showing that you want to spend more time with other people. How do you do that? You invite them to do stuff. Start small by inviting a group of people to a movie, a free concert, or to grab coffee or ice cream some time, and see how much friendlier you feel after they eagerly accept your invitation. Make a goal of inviting people to do more things with you at least once a week and you'll be living a friendlier life. Get brave. Invite acquaintances to hang out one on one and turn your acquaintance into a real friendship. Throw a party. Invite an eclectic crowd of people and have fun introducing them to each other. Accept more invitations. Another way to be friendlier is to say yes when people ask you to do stuff. You may be afraid of hanging out with people you don't know that well, or you may be too busy. Maybe you just prefer to hang out with yourself, a bowl of Cherry Garcia ice cream, and Snookums, your pet ferret. But you have to get over all that if you want to be friendly. Start accepting people's invitations to go to the movies, dinner, or to a party. You don't have to say yes to something that sounds completely horrible. But the next time you really want to say no, ask yourself what is behind your impulse. Are you afraid of something new? Socially anxious? Or just feeling lazy? These aren't the greatest reasons to miss out on a good time. Have a bustling social life. If you want to be friendlier, then you have to spend more time with your friends. Spending more time around other people will make you be a more socially aware and sensitive person who is used to talking to other people. Try to fill your calendar with parties, social engagements, group hiking, biking, swimming trips, and other fun friend-filled outings if you want to be friendly more regularly. To have a bustling social life, you have to make your social life a priority. Don't let work, school, or other commitments get in your way -- not too much, at least. It's important to have a busy social life, but you should also save some time for yourself. You'll need to decompress, especially if you're not used to spending so much time around other people. Practice being friendlier to people you don't like. This may be a tough pill to swallow. You don't have to become BFFs with your greatest enemy to work on being friendlier to people in your orbit -- whether it's your uptight math teacher, your crotchety uncle, or that kind-of quiet girl who is on the fringes of your social circle. You'll be surprised by how good you'll feel about being nicer to someone instead of giving them the cold shoulder, and that person may surprise with friendliness in return. Make a list of 5 people that you have always treated sort of coldly. Find ways to be nice to each of these people -- even if you feel they don't deserve it. Forgiveness is a key quality to being friendlier. Holding grudges can make you angry on the inside, and that may affect your attitude on the outside. Overcome your insecurities. Part of the reason that you may not be the friendliest person in the world might be that you're lacking confidence and think that people will judge you any time you open your mouth. Ask yourself what lies behind your distrust or coldness to other people and see if it has to do more with what you think of yourself. If that's the case, then work on loving the person you are, loving what you do, and addressing the flaws that need some work. Of course, overcoming your insecurities can take years of hard work, but recognizing this as one of the sources of your problem with being friendly can make you be more willing to be nice to others. Remember that they may be just as insecure as you are, maybe more. If your anxiety about social situations is so severe that it's interfering with your daily life, you might benefit from talking to a counselor or other mental health professional. Befriend people of your age and stage. "Age and stage" refers not only to the age of a person, but to the stage of life that person is in. A stage of life could be being a college student, being a young professional, being a middle-aged mother, or being an older person who spends more time alone. Finding people who are around your age and your stage will make you more likely to find time to hang out and will give you more things to talk about. For example, if you're a young mother, join a young mothers group and you'll be on the way to making some amazing new friends. Show a genuine interest in people. This is the key to not just looking friendly, but actually being a friendly person. A real friendly person actually cares about others and wants to make them feel comfortable. A real friendly person is concerned when others are upset and uplifted when others are happy; a real friendly person doesn't talk to people just to look cooler or to have more Facebook friends. If you really want to be friendly, then you have to remember this whenever you talk to people. If you actually care about them -- they will be able to tell. Of course, you can't possibly take an interest in everyone in your orbit. But the more you try to be nice to people, the more natural it will feel. Remember that being friendly has nothing to do with being fake. And that it has everything to do with being more approachable, treating people with respect, and giving off a positive energy. Surround yourself with friendly people. It's easier to be friendly when you spend time with friendly people. Not only will they model the kinds of behaviors that you want to emulate, but you may find that their positive energy and friendly attitudes are contagious! When you are around friendly people, others will feel better about approaching you. Being involved with unfriendly, intimidating or rude people makes others wary about approaching or talking to you. They may fear being confronted by those people, or they may simply assume that you are the same as them because you just hang out with them.
Smile more. Have open body language. Rid yourself of distractions. Make eye contact. Laugh easily. Ask people questions about themselves. Compliment others. Use people's names when you talk to them. Know when you're giving people the cold shoulder. Focus on the positive topics. Open up. Make an effort to talk to new people. Give more invitations. Accept more invitations. Practice being friendlier to people you don't like. Overcome your insecurities. Befriend people of your age and stage. Show a genuine interest in people. Surround yourself with friendly people.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Ears-Pierced
How to Get Your Ears Pierced
If you want to get your ears pierced, decide what part of your ear you'd like to get pierced.and look online for a reputable piercing shop. While stores like Claire's or Icings are common, they use piercing guns, which can increase your risk of infection. Once you've chosen a place, eat a snack before you go for your appointment. When you get there, you'll need to pick out your earrings. Choose ones that are hypoallergenic, like 14K white gold or stainless steel, and prepare to pay about $30 to $50.
Decide where you want the piercing. Although the lobe and cartilage are the most popular choices, there are many piercing options around the ear. Some of the more uncommon placements include tragus, helix, orbital, daith, and conch. The placement you choose will also affect the price of the piercing. Look into pricing. Some places like Claire's will pierce your ears for free, provided you purchase the earrings from them. Piercing studios will often charge for the piercing and the earrings. Placement also affects price. Lobes are usually cheapest at around $20, while a helix orbital piercing can cost up to $80. Generally, prices range between $30 to $50. Eat or drink something before you go. Make sure your blood sugar is at a healthy level, especially if you're feeling nervous. Having a snack will help keep you from feeling faint or even fainting outright. Some snacks that will help keep your blood sugar up include cookies, crackers, and juice. Ask a friend to come with you. If this is your first piercing experience, having a friend come along can help ease any anxiety and make it a fun experience, rather than a scary one. Decide whether or not you want to use the piercing gun method. It's important to consider which piercing technique you're most comfortable with. Piercing guns, like the ones used at Claire's and Icing, push the earring straight through the skin. Piercing guns, while quick and inexpensive, often cause more infections. The guns can be disinfected but not completely sterilized because they are made of plastic and do not hold up under sterilization techniques used for needles and other professional tools. Although this method is not widely recommended, as it does cause some blunt-force trauma to the ear, it is still common and many people choose it out of convenience. Consider the benefits of the hollow needle method. Tattoo shops and professional piercing studios use the hollow needle method, which creates a clean hole instead of forcing the earring through the skin. This method sounds more painful, but many report that it's actually less painful. The hollow needle method is preferable because it won't infect as easily or heal over as quickly if you go without earrings for a long period of time. Make sure that the piercer is experienced. A good piercer will have ample experience. If you're not confident that they are prepared and experienced enough, it may be worth finding a different piercer or location. It's okay to ask the piercer how much experience they've had. At locations like Walmart, the piercer receives very little training and may not have any experience, so it's better to ask than have something go wrong. Generally, professional piercers should have at least a year of experience before they start working alone. Checking reviews online is a great way to get a feel for the piercer's experience and the quality of service. Check for cleanliness. A dirty studio is a red flag, so look around for general cleanliness. Make sure the piercer uses disposable gloves and sterile packets for each new needle. This is a crucial safety measure. If they don't use proper sterilization techniques, you should probably find a different studio. Pick the earrings you want to have your ears pierced with. When you get your ears pierced professionally, you will likely have to choose from the in-store selection. It's important to know how to choose the best and safest earrings, since these will stay in your ears for the next six weeks. Be careful about choosing a hyper-allergenic material, particularly if you have any metal allergies. Look for earrings free of nickel and cobalt, as these materials commonly cause allergic reactions. The safest earring materials are surgical stainless steel, platinum, titanium, and 14K gold. If these are over your price point, gold and silver are generally safe options as well. Fine-tune the placement of the piercing. The piercer will use a surgical marking pen to place dots where the earrings will go. Examine the dots in the mirror and make sure they're placed where you want them. The piercer can always wipe off and re-draw the dots if needed. Take a deep breath. Prepare yourself by taking a deep breath and the piercer will guide you through the process, which, for lobe piercings, is usually painless and takes less than a minute. You'll feel a slight pinch on your earlobe, and then you're done. For less common piercings, the pain may be higher and the piercing may take a bit longer. Cartilage is harder to push the needle through, so it may take a few moments to complete the piercing. Leave your earrings in for the recommended length of time. Keep the earrings you had your ears pierced with in for as long as possible to prevent infection and keep them from closing up. For lobe piercings, leave your earrings in for at least six weeks. Eight to ten weeks is even better, as the extra time allows your lobes to fully heal. If you pierce any other part of your ear besides the lobe, leave the earrings in for three to five months to ensure they heal safely. Avoid wearing long, dangly earrings for approximately six months after the piercing. Wearing this style of earring too soon can actually stretch the piercing, if worn for a long time. Continue to wear post-style earrings after the six months and only wear French-style earrings for short periods of time until you feel confident that the piercing has healed. Clean your piercings daily. Use the solution that came with your piercing or recommended to you by the piercing professional. Use a cotton ball or swab to coat the earring with solution, then twist the earring in both directions and move it back and forth for a minute to make sure the solution coats the piercing. This action also keeps your earring from attaching to the piercing as it heals. Make sure the backs of the earrings are not too tight, pressing on the ear, or embedded in the ear. Always clean your piercings after activities that cause you to sweat, such as working out, or after swimming in a pool. Sweat and chlorine can cause infections so it's important to clean your earrings as soon as possible. Avoid touching your piercings. The more you touch them, the more germs you transfer and the more you'll irritate them. This makes you more likely to get an infection. If you do need to touch your earrings, make sure to disinfect them afterward. If you find it hard not to touch the earrings, you can place a small band-aid over the piercings. Treat any infections immediately with a saltwater solution. If you notice any pain, swelling, or redness, soak your piercings in a warm saltwater solution for a few minutes. The saline will disinfect your piercing and soothe the discomfort. If the infection progresses and does not improve after three days, see your doctor or a dermatologist. Infections can become extremely serious, so make sure to take care of them as soon as possible.
Decide where you want the piercing. Eat or drink something before you go. Ask a friend to come with you. Decide whether or not you want to use the piercing gun method. Consider the benefits of the hollow needle method. Make sure that the piercer is experienced. Check for cleanliness. Pick the earrings you want to have your ears pierced with. Be careful about choosing a hyper-allergenic material, particularly if you have any metal allergies. Fine-tune the placement of the piercing. Take a deep breath. Leave your earrings in for the recommended length of time. Avoid wearing long, dangly earrings for approximately six months after the piercing. Clean your piercings daily. Always clean your piercings after activities that cause you to sweat, such as working out, or after swimming in a pool. Avoid touching your piercings. Treat any infections immediately with a saltwater solution.
https://www.wikihow.com/Dress-Like-a-Hipster
How to Dress Like a Hipster
To be a hipster, avoid all things mainstream, including big-name clothing brands, to show your individuality and your anti-big business mentality. Instead, shop at second-hand stores or buy new clothes with a worn or vintage look. You'll also want to invest in some denim, including tight-fit jeans, vests, and jackets. If you live in an area that gets cold in the winter, get some large, button up flannel shirts, cardigans, hoodies, or a grungy grey beanie. Additionally, add some bold accessories, like black-framed glasses, head scarves, and messenger bags.
Raid mom's closet for vintage tees. Ha, that's a funny way of saying "Go to any store that sells clothes for young adults." Never shop at "mainstream" stores (like Hollister, American Eagle, Aeropostale...) Have you not noticed the prevalence of pseudo-vintage tees everywhere ? To be more, what's the word, authentic, shop at vintage stores, second-hand shops, or go around begging relatives. (Goodwill, Urban Outfitters, Miracle Hill) Surely one of them has an old Reading Rainbow tee in a box somewhere from when they were 12. You want your tee to be either too small- chop off the bottom and make it a crop top, then throw it over that tank top/cami you hate- or too large,- tuck it into those high waisted pants you found at a garage sale- if at all possible. But if you found a gem of a Davy Jones tee from your favorite aunt that fits you just right, by all means. Davy's worth it. Keep your neck warm and your hip-stardom intact with a scarf. The great news here is that scarves go with everything. EVERYTHING. Wearing a tank top? Scarf. Wearing a wedding dress? Scarf. Is it 95º out? Scarf. Familiarize yourself with at least a dozen ways to tie your scarf. If in doubt, just drape it nonchalantly around your neck, wrapped around once. You don't care what it looks like. You just love the comfy neck feeling, right? (Hipsters don't give a flip about anyone or anythings' opinion.) Get flowery with dresses. Sometimes you like a healthy breeze down there, don't you? Dresses can be straight up more comfortable. But just like a good tee, your dresses should evoke a feeling from a different era. Flowery, vintage, and old-school is a safe bet. The flowery, the better. Did you find the perfect dress somewhere that's just a bit too big to be legal? Or maybe you found a dress that's too conservative and the sleeves need to be chopped off. This is the exact purpose neon bras and bandeaus were invented. Not kidding. Look it up. Too cold for a dress? Ha, good one! Have you not heard of wool tights? Wool, patterned, neon tights? If that doesn't solve all your problems, nothing will. Plain black tights under thick hiking socks is another great look, too. Throw out all your boot cut or flared jeans. We know you have several pairs. You've been buying them since you were 10, apart from that one time around 2006 when skinnies made a brief appearance on the scene, only to slingshot to the other side of the spectrum with disco-esque flares. After that really confusing year, you just gravitated back to the safe boot cut. We all did. It's fine. But now you've gotta throw those out. It's skinnies all the way. Nothing else. Your ankles don't need to breathe! Have some jeans you like that don't make the cut (haha, puns)? Turn 'em into shorts. The higher-waisted and more mom-ish, the better. And when we say short, we mean short. Show off those gams of yours. Cuffs? Great. White wash? Great. Holes? Great. As long as it's denim, you're in the clear. Pile on the accessories. Literally. Grab a pile and put them on. Play it like the claw game at the arcade (only you'll win every time). Did you end up with a wooden tribal bracelet, your grandma's ruby necklace, and a lace choker? Great. That works. It's all about haphazard combos. What may be outrageous to others is probably standard to you. A giant flower chilling on top of your head? Sure. A totally distracting enormous neon yellow hair clip?...Why not? Mix up your past looks. Since you were twelve, you've gone through (in order) a Hello Kitty phase, an N*SYNC phase, an emo phase, a prep phase, a flannel phase, a grunge phase, and now you're here. Wonderful -- now grab a piece from each look and combine them. Tada! Instant hipster. As easy as cheese in a can. Seriously. Hipster fashion is about a mismatch and clash of cultures all rendered meaningless if you really want to put a label on it. The main way hipster goes wrong is when people put thought into it -- so if you haphazardly go about your closet, bullet dodged. Stick to anything but flip flops and heels. That's about the only rule for footwear. If it's not a flip flop and not a heel, you're golden. Loafers, cowboy boots, sneakers, it's all good. Flats are adequately hipster, too! Who knew something so harmless could be hipster-y? Make sure it doesn't look super new, too. If you just went out and bought a brand new pair of Chuck Taylors (you unique little snowflake, you), scuff 'em up. Those babies gotta be loved before they can set foot into Cafe Foucault. Wear your sister's jeans. But no, seriously. If you can, do it. The skinnier the better. You want grip from groin to toe. And don't worry about "not pulling it off." That's part of the idea. In not pulling it off, you will be pulling it off. It's like opposite day back in sixth grade. You want them to fit snug on your waist all the way down. In other words, tighty whities it is! Get nostalgic. Anything that reminds you of when you were 5 should be part of your closet. Or anything that reminds your dad of when he was 5, too. If it's vintage, it meets the cut. The only, only logos in your closet should be ones of brands or industries that no longer exist. Excluding American Apparel, of course. It doesn't have to fit well. More on this later, but if it's too tight or too loose, cool. Size should be just about the last thing on your mind. Fake bad vision. If you want everyone's hipster-dar (hipsdar?) to go off, wear thick, black-rimmed glasses. If you want everyone's hipsdar to reach decibels only dogs can hear, wear thick, black-rimmed glasses with the lenses popped out. Hey, you just like the added comfort of knowing your ears are still there. Nothing wrong with that. This style of glasses is reaching levels of overkill, so to be a bit more unique, opt for a different vintage-y style or a pair of outrageously colored Ray Bans. You can hardly go wrong with Ray Bans. Be half business, half party. If you read the girl section above, you'll know that mismatching trends is part of the hipster look. In the same manner that you would mix up decades and styles, mix up levels of, for lack of a better word, swag. Under that Armani blazer of yours, throw on a TMNT tee (that makes the Armani okay somehow) with a knitted, plaid scarf, skinny jeans, and a pair of old, worn out penny loafers. Is he going to an interview? Is he going on a Pabst beer run on his bicycle right now? No one will know. Don't shy away from outrageously loud prints. Plaids, gingham, checkered, paisley -- anything that would make a girl reading Cosmo scream is a solid decision. You have a plaid tweed jacket and a striped cowboy shirt? Obviously those two go together. Go for layers. If the weather allows it, layers are a good way to work in combinations, as discussed above. Cardigans can go on top of anything, for the record. Sweaters, long sleeves, it all gives more options to be ironic. A scarf on top of a tee under a trench coat? Sure, why not? Think about your converse. Alright, folks, let's get real here: Everyone and their brother wears converse. It's not ironic, hipster, or making any statement anymore. All it says is, "Hey, I went to the Converse store and spent $40 on my shoes all while not caring about my image." So unless they're 15 years old and have molded to the shape of your foot, consider branching out into different realms of footwear. Doc Martens are a good place to start. Cowboy boots, old school Reeboks, Keds, and vintage-y loafers are decent, too. Just say no to flip flops. Grab a messenger bag. Do a quick Google search for "Hipster messenger bags" and you'll be amazed. The freakin' things are CALLED hipster bags. That's just society not being creative (as usual), but take it for what it's worth: To carry around your gear, you need a messenger bag. You might run into a few people that ask you about your "murse." That's a man-purse, by the way. That's fine. Let them. Your hands are free thanks to your bag to poke them in the eye. They deserve it for being so close-minded and ignorant. Avoid all things "mainstream. " This means that big-name clothing brands like Hollister, Abercrombie, Aeropostale, etc. are off limits. This is important for two reasons: it emphasizes your individuality and shows that you are "anti big-business". To buy clothes, check out stores like Buffalo Exchange. If you don't want to buy second-hand items, look for a store that sells new clothes with a worn or vintage look. American Apparel, however, is acceptable due to the fact that it is sweatshop-free. Alright, so you live in a small-ish town where the only second-hand shop is Good Will? If you're caught in Urban Outfitters or H&M, you may not be proud, but you certainly won't be the only hipster in there. Get a T-shirt that fits well. Note that "fits well" for hipsters is not the same as it is for non-hipsters. Mens' shirts should be somewhat tight-fitting with sleeves a hair shorter than a regular mens' shirt. Women's shirts, on the other hand, often mimic the "boyfriend" look. While women don't have to buy their clothes from the mens' section, consider investing in some shirts that are one or two sizes bigger than you'd normally wear. Sexy here is in not being sexy. Especially for women, conforming to the is-it-so-tight-I-can't-breathe look is not in the hipster repertoire (men's skinnies notwithstanding). Baggy and loose is just fine, if not preferred. It's about irony, not silhouette. Leave no denim behind. Except for denim skirts, that is. Tight-fit jeans are a must for both boys and girls. Pants can be any color or pattern, including floral print or neon green. If pants aren't really your thing, consider some denim cutoffs. These can be any length for women, but all mens' shorts should hit just above the knee. Girls can also get away with the boyfriend look for jeans. If they're too long, cuff the hems once or twice. Denim jackets and shirts are also great additions to your hipster wardrobe. Don't be afraid to take a pair of scissors to them, either. Denim vests are just as cool as denim jackets (if not more so)! Zip it up. It zips, right? It probably does. If you're hipster chic, you probably have a few hoodies hanging up in your closet right now. These go with everything. Literally, everything. The hoodie should be one of your best friends. Bonus points if you can pair it with a Fedora or a blazer or a printed, feminine dress. Reuse old clothes. There's no point in going green for the environment and being vegetarian if you can't follow suit with your wardrobe. When in doubt, before you throw it out, see if you can "recycle" it. How could you turn it into something totally wearable? You don't have to keep them as is! A sweater could be turned into a pair of gloves (or a lampshade, book cover, pillowcase) for Pete's sake! You want original? Making it yourself is a pretty good way to start. Prepare for the winter. While the intensity of your outerwear will depend on the season and where you live, it's important to be able to bundle up without losing your hipster look. Here are a few ideas: Pick up some flannel. Large, button up flannel shirts are a perfect addition to any hipster outfit, regardless of the color. Ideally, these should not be matched with the rest of your outfit. Invest in a cardigan or two. These can be found anywhere, even the more mainstream stores such as Gap. Choose a button-up cardigan with a deep V and large buttons. If possible, buy it one or two sizes too big. Get an ironic crew neck sweatshirt or pullover sweater. Look for "grandma patterns" such as old flowers, kittens, or Christmas trees. Alternatively, look for a particularly "hideous" (read: awesome) pattern. Keep your head warm with a grungy grey beanie. This can also be swapped out for a neon orange color. Utilize color. Because you're free to mismatch as much as you damn well please, you could be a veritable human Skittle if you liked. The more colors of the rainbow, the better. And if they're vivid or patterned, all the more reason to don them while taking photos with your analog camera at Brooklyn's Union Hall. Neon, neon, neon. Neon pants, neon shoes, neon accessories, neon Ray Bans -- just because you're not "in style" doesn't mean you won't be eye-catching! Normal colors go too well together (damn color wheel), so spruce up your closet with neons, patterns, and anything else that clashes. Accessorize. Do not worry about matching here. Throw on anything you have; pair chunky and plastic with dainty and metal. Pendants of unexpected objects (such as owls or octopi), headbands with big bows on them, huge flower clips, chunky earrings, or anything that will draw attention. Anything with feathers is also a safe bet. Leather accessories are also big. Try leather satchels or backpacks, leather vests, and leather belts. Invest in some cotton/linen scarves to throw over any outfit. Patterned is best. Keffiyeh scarves are definitely popular, although they are also somewhat controversial due to their religious implications. For something a little safer, try a small checkered pattern. Decorate your head. If it's too hot for a beanie, straw fedoras or fedoras with feathers are great hat options. Hats always put the icing on the hipster cake. Get inspired by how other hipsters dress. Now that you know what makes a hipster on the outside, you'll be able to spot one from a mile away. In case you haven't noticed, they're everywhere (and some of them don't even know they're hipsters). If your local town doesn't have enough clues, here are some veritable cultural icons to turn to: thesatorialist.com, stockholmstreetstyle.feber.se, lookbook.nu, and cobrasnake.com are all good places to scout out your look. Hopefully you'll be first in line! Check out TV shows like "Girls," "Bored to Death," or "Portlandia" for inspiration. The fashion of your favorite musician works, too! Try to search Google images for "hipster clothes". This may give you good ideas of outfits to try.
Raid mom's closet for vintage tees. Keep your neck warm and your hip-stardom intact with a scarf. Get flowery with dresses. Throw out all your boot cut or flared jeans. Pile on the accessories. Mix up your past looks. Stick to anything but flip flops and heels. Wear your sister's jeans. You want them to fit snug on your waist all the way down. Get nostalgic. Fake bad vision. Be half business, half party. Go for layers. Think about your converse. Grab a messenger bag. Avoid all things "mainstream. Get a T-shirt that fits well. Leave no denim behind. Zip it up. Reuse old clothes. Prepare for the winter. Utilize color. Accessorize. Get inspired by how other hipsters dress.
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Quick-and-Easy-Hair-Bun
How to Do a Quick and Easy Hair Bun
To do a quick and easy hair bun, start by by hanging your head forward and then flipping it back quickly so you can make a ponytail with lots of volume. Then, grab your hair and begin twisting it clockwise until all of your hair is twisted. Hold the twist and then begin wrapping it in circular motions at the back of your head. Once all of your hair is in a bun, hold the bun with 1 hand while you secure put on a hairband or pins with your other hand.
Gather your hair into a ponytail. Fling your hair over your head, and then rapidly fling it back again. This creates volume for your bun , making the bun less severe and tight. Then, grasp the hair with your hands and hold it in a ponytail. You can brush your hair before this step. Since you are putting your hair up into a bun, you can skip this step. This style can work anywhere on your head. For a high, messy bun, use your fingers to brush your hair into a high ponytail on the top of your head. For a low bun, gather your hair at the base of your neck. If you need some texture in your hair, add some sea salt spray or dry shampoo. Twist the hair. After you have pulled your hair into a ponytail, twist the hair clockwise. As the hair is twisted, it will wrap around itself until you have one long twisted strand. You can also twist the hair counter-clockwise. The direction does not matter to the overall look of the bun; it is purely up to your preference. If you have unruly or thick hair, putting your hair in a ponytail before making a bun may help keep hair secure and in place. For an extra bit of style, leave one thick strand loose. After securing the hair into a bun, braid this strand of hair and wrap around the base of the bun for added flare and sophistication. Secure the braid by tucking the end under the bun and using a bobby pin to keep in place. Wrap the hair into a bun. Once the hair is fully twisted, bring the strand towards your head. Wrap it in a circular motion around the head the same direction in which you twisted it. The hair will begin to coil into a bun. An alternative is to twist the hair halfway, then circle into a bun, leaving some of the end strands loose. Take the loose strands and spread it over the bun. Hold it in place with your palm. Secure the bun. Holding the bun with one hand, use the other hand to get the hair band from your wrist or from a nearby counter. Wrap the hair band around the bun until tight. Don't worry about not getting the hair secured perfectly. A quick, easy bun has the ends of the hair sticking out. You can tuck the ends under the hair band if you don't want them sticking out. An alternative is to use bobby pins to secure the bun instead of a hair tie. You will probably need between 4-8 pins. You can also add ribbons, barrettes, or clips for decoration. Pull down a few strands for a flyaway, bohemian look. You may also use a foam bun tool for an easy alternative. Put shoulder-length or longer hair into a ponytail. Then, twist your ponytail around the foam piece and close the metal clasp to get the perfect bun! Pull your hair into a ponytail. Brush your hair to rid it of any tangles. Then, pull it into a loose ponytail anywhere on your head. Secure this with a hair tie. Braid your hair. Braid the ponytail down to the end of your hair. Secure the braid with another hair tie. A simple braid works best on this, but a fishtail braid can work, too. To braid your hair, start by separating the hair into three strands. Cross the right strand over the middle strand. Pull the middle strand to the right so that it is now the right strand. Cross the left strand over the middle strand, then pull the middle strand to the left so it is now the left strand. Continue repeating this until you have braided all the way to the end. An alternative braided bun style is to gather your hair at your neck and start a loose braid with no hair tie. When you get to the ends, secure only two of the three strands, leaving one strand free. Wrap the hair into a bun. Take the braid and circle around the hair tie, making the bun. Tuck the loose ends of your hair and the hair tie underneath your bun. For the alternative style, hold the loose strand and push up the rest of the braid until it creates a messy bun. Secure the bun. Use 4-8 bobby pins to secure the bun. You can also use another hair tie to achieve this. Wrap the hair tie around the bun until tight. For the loose braided bun, tuck the loose strand under the bun and secure the bun with bobby pins. Divide your hair into three sections. At the base of your neck, use your fingers to separate your hair into three equal sections. If you prefer to brush your hair before separating, you can. Or you can comb through it with your fingers for a messier look. This style works well with hair that is not freshly shampooed. If you need some texture, try sea salt spray or dry shampoo. Twist the right section. Start with the right side and twist the strand clockwise to the end. After you have twisted the strand, wrap it close to your head, producing a tiny bun. Secure this strand with bobby pins. For a messy, chic look, let some strands fall out so it doesn't look like a severe, tight bun. Twist the other two sections. Take the middle strand and twist it counterclockwise all the way to the end of your hair. Wrap this strand close to your head to make a mini-bun. Do the same thing with the left strand, twisting it counterclockwise. Secure them with bobby pins. Tug some hair from the sides of your hair to give yourself a messy, slept in look. Finished.
Gather your hair into a ponytail. Twist the hair. Wrap the hair into a bun. Secure the bun. Pull your hair into a ponytail. Braid your hair. Wrap the hair into a bun. Secure the bun. Divide your hair into three sections. Twist the right section. Twist the other two sections. Finished.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Fit-As-a-Teenager
How to Get Fit As a Teenager
To get fit as a teenager, strive to be active for at least one hour every day. You can try walking or riding your bike to a friend's house instead of driving, visiting a local pool and swimming after school, getting involved in a sport or after-school activity, starting an at-home exercise routine, or joining a local gym. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits and veggies and try to consume foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber to stay energized!
Stick with foods that give you a healthy, balanced diet. The first—and most important—part of staying fit as a teen is a proper diet. Avoid unhealthy meals, including most processed foods and fast food. Instead, focus on eating plenty of dairy and proteins to help you grow. These can include milk, yogurt, chicken, beef, fish, and beans or tofu. If you (like most teens) still live at your parents' house, ask them to help with your diet. Ask them to buy healthy snacks and to serve non-processed, whole foods for meals. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. Veggies and fruits should form a significant part of your daily diet. Aim to eat four servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables each day. For example, have a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a handful of berries with breakfast, a side salad and an apple with lunch, and a serving of cooked vegetables with dinner. Fruits and vegetables provide healthy sugars (much better than the sugars added to many processed foods) and fiber that your body needs. Eat foods that give you calcium and iron. These two minerals are crucial for teens' growing bodies. Plan to consume at least 1300 milligrams of calcium a day, which means drinking plenty of milk and eating dairy products, including hard cheeses and yogurt. Iron is especially important for young women. Iron is found in many foods, including beans, nuts, beef, pork, poultry, and eggs. If you are trying to cut back on sugar, then you might consider including whole milk rather than skim or 1% milk because whole milk has less sugar than lighter versions. Consume foods with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It's important for teens to get vitamins through their diet. Vitamins encourage healthy growth and are valuable parts of overall fitness. Fiber will keep your digestive tract healthy and will also help you feel full, since fibrous food takes up room in your stomach and breaks down slowly. Find fiber in foods like celery and beans. Find vitamin A in eggs, dairy products, and dark-colored leafy greens. B vitamins are commonly found in meats and fish, and vitamin C can be consumed in citrus fruits, berries, and tomatoes. Healthy minerals can be found in foods like broccoli, potatoes, and citrus fruits (potassium); red meat, chicken, and seafood (zinc and phosphorous); and whole grains and nuts (magnesium). In addition to finding important vitamins in the foods you eat, you can take a daily multivitamin pill. This will supplement your diet and help you get the nutrients you need. Hydrate by drinking six to eight glasses of fluids each day. Your body needs plenty of water and other fluids to function well. This is especially true if you're increasing your daily activity levels or if you're starting an exercise regimen. Keep hydrated with water, fruit juices, tea, and other healthy options. Avoid soft drinks and energy drinks. Eat healthy snacks in between meals. Your teen years are the time in your life when you will grow the most, so when your stomach does grumble, don't reach for a slice of cake or a packet of chips. Try healthy snacks like yogurt, fruit, or smoothies instead. Don't worry if you're often hungry; increasing exercise and activity will increase your appetite. Be active for at least one hour every day. An hour of daily activity will help you become more fit, and cut back on negative effects from a slow-paced lifestyle. You don't have to visit a gym or take up a sport to be active. Try walking or riding your bike to a friend's house instead of driving, or visiting a local pool and swimming after school. Increasing your daily activity has various health benefits. One hour of daily activity on most days of the week will reduce stress, gain energy, and reduce risk for certain diseases. Get involved in a sport or active after-school activity. Sports and athletic group activities are great ways to increase your daily activity level and boost fitness as a teen. If you enjoy athletic participation, try out for your middle or high school's intramural teams. Or, find an active after-school club you could join, like a swim team. The activity you choose doesn't have to be a conventional team sport like football or basketball. If you have an interest, you could try other activities like gymnastics, horseback riding, skateboarding, or karate. Join a gym or sign up for an exercise class. These options will help keep you active and can even help you transform your body by providing regular exercise and periods of activity in a fun, social setting. Look into nearby gyms that hold popular types of exercise classes in the afternoon or evening, so you could attend after school. If you're not interested in more traditional gym or exercise classes, check out other types of physical group activity, including Zumba or Pilates and martial arts. Walk or bike to school. If you live close enough to your school that you can safely walk or bike there in a reasonable about of time (say, under 30 minutes), try to build this into your weekly plans. A 30-minute walk to school will take care of half of your daily activity time, and will help your health by raising your heart rate and working out leg muscles. If you have a part-time job after school or on the weekends, walk or bike to this too. Take a short walk during school breaks. If you have a 15-minute passing period or 45-minute lunch break during your school day, take a quick walk during this time. This will help boost your fitness and activity levels. Or, if your school has stairs, then go up and down the stairs a few times. In the evenings, do the same thing during your time devoted to homework. Take one or two 15-minute breaks and spend this time walking or jump roping or go for a quick jog. Don't feel like you need to wait until you have hours of free time to start being active. Limit screen time to two hours a day. Many teens spend hours a day watching TV or movies and playing video games. These activities will harm your fitness level and can lead to weight gain. Limit your screen time to two hours (or fewer) every day. This will give you more time for physical activities. You can even build activities into your screen time. If your parents have an elliptical machine, walk on that while watching a movie. Or, try doing lunges during every commercial break of your favorite show. Start an at-home exercise routine. Consider putting together a basic routine to boost your fitness level. Whether or not you have access to a gym, start with the basics at home: push-ups , pull-ups , sit-ups and, if you have access to weights, basic squats, curls , and bench presses. If you're not sure of where to begin—what exercises to include in your routine, what weights to lift, etc.—talk to your gym coach or check online for teen weight-training recommendations. Warm up and cool down before and after your workout. Before each workout, start with about 10 minutes of mild stretches. Warming up helps prevent injury and can help to maximize the calories burnt during your entire workout. Similarly, if you take the time to taper off your workout with cooling-down stretches you will feel less taxed when you are done. Over time, if you find that you enjoy running, think about joining a cross country team. Exercise with a friend. Find a friend who also wants to be active during the week and exercise with them. You can also ask members of your family (siblings, cousins, even parents) if they'd like to exercise with you. It'll be easier to stay motivated to be fit if you have a friend or family member to exercise with and who can provide moral support. Having a friend to support you will make you more likely to stick with your exercise regime.
Stick with foods that give you a healthy, balanced diet. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. Eat foods that give you calcium and iron. Consume foods with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Hydrate by drinking six to eight glasses of fluids each day. Eat healthy snacks in between meals. Be active for at least one hour every day. Get involved in a sport or active after-school activity. Join a gym or sign up for an exercise class. Walk or bike to school. Take a short walk during school breaks. Limit screen time to two hours a day. Start an at-home exercise routine. Warm up and cool down before and after your workout. Exercise with a friend.
https://www.wikihow.com/Win-at-Battleship
How to Win at Battleship
To win at Battleship, try maximizing your hits by firing at the center of the board, since the four by four squares in the middle of the board are likely to contain a carrier ship or battleship! If you strike out twice when firing, move away from that area and try firing into a different segment of the board. Once you make a hit, reduce your target area and fire at the spaces surrounding the hit to sink your opponent's battleship!
Fire at the center of the board. Statistically, you are more likely to hit a ship if you aim for the center of the board, so start there. The four by four squares in the middle of the board are likely to contain a carrier ship or battleship. Use parity to up your chances. Imagine the board as a checkerboard, where half the squares are dark and half are light. Each ship covers at least two squares, meaning every ship must touch a dark square. Therefore, if you fire randomly at only even squares or only odd squares, you will minimize the number of turns you need to hit every ship. Once you have a hit, you will cease firing randomly and commence targeting the ship in question. To keep track of the light and dark squares, look at your own board and imagine that the diagonal line of squares from the top left corner to the bottom right corner is dark. Imagine the squares from the to right corner to the bottom left corner are light. You can count out from there to ensure each square you're targeting is the right color. Move away when you have two misses in the same segment. If you strike out twice when firing, try firing into a different segment of the board. The chances that you just missed a ship are lower than the chances that you missed by a wide margin. Reduce target area after you make a hit. After you make your first hit, you will need to reduce your target area to the spaces surrounding the space that was a hit. Since ships in Battleship range from 2-5 spaces long, it may take you several turns to sink the ship you have hit. Fire around the area of your hit. Begin by striking above, below, or to one side of the space you have hit to discover and hit more of the ship. If one of your strikes is a miss, try the area on the opposite side of the space that was a hit. Keep striking until you have taken your opponent's battleship. You will know when you have taken your opponent's ship because players are required to announce when a ship has been sunk. Repeat method to hit more of your opponent's ships. After you have sunk the first of your opponent's ships, you will need to resume firing randomly (or in the center of the board) to find another ship. Then repeat the process of firing around the hit space until you have sunk another ship. Playing the game this way will reduce the amount of turns that it takes to sink all of your opponent's battleships and it will also increase your chances of winning the game. Space ships out so that they do not touch. If your battleships are touching, there is a chance that your opponent may sink two ships back to back. To reduce your opponent's chances of finding a second battleship after hitting one, some players suggest spacing your battleships out so that they do not touch. Try to keep one or two spaces between each of your battleships to reduce the chances of your opponent finding one of your battleships. Try placing ships so that they touch, but do not overlap. Even though having your battleships right next to each other is seen as a weakness by some players, other players see this as a potential strategy. By placing two ships so that they are touching, but not overlapping, you may be able to confuse your opponent about the type of ship they have just sunk. Keep in mind that placing ships close together can work in your favor, but it can also be a risky strategy since it may lead to your opponent discovering one or more of your other ships. Pay attention to your opponent's moves. If you play with the same opponent often, another way that you can improve your chances of winning is to place ships where your opponent seldom strikes. Keep a mental record of the spaces your opponent strikes most often and avoid these zones. For example, does your opponent tend to start their strikes on the right side of the board, to the center or in the lower left corner? Identify your opponent's most common strike areas and avoid placing your ships in these zones.
Fire at the center of the board. Use parity to up your chances. Move away when you have two misses in the same segment. Reduce target area after you make a hit. Fire around the area of your hit. Repeat method to hit more of your opponent's ships. Space ships out so that they do not touch. Try placing ships so that they touch, but do not overlap. Pay attention to your opponent's moves.
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Quiff
How to Do a Quiff
A quiff is a popular and fashionable hairstyle where the front of your hair is held up so that it curves back slightly. To do a quiff for short hair, first use your fingers to work a quarter-sized dollop of hair wax or gel through your hair by combing your hair towards the front of your head. Then, use a hairdryer on the highest setting and a vented brush to sweep the hair on the top of your head slightly over to one side. To do a quiff for long hair, first section off the hair on the front part of your head using a comb. Then, place the rest of your hair into a low ponytail. Backcomb the loose hair on the front part of your head and then use a bobby pin and some hairspray to keep the quiff secure.
Know what a quiff is. A quiff is when the front of your hair is held up so that it curves back towards your head. There is a "wall" of hair above your forehead, and none of your hair reaches down past your scalp. The size and style of your quiff can make it unique. Bring a photograph or two of the look you want to your hairdresser. Go online and search for the kind of quiff you want, then show the person who cuts your hair so that they have a good idea of what you want. There are a lot of different quiffs out there, so it helps to know what you want ahead of time: Classic Quiff: Short on the sides and back, high in the front, this classic hairstyle has been famous since Elvis. Short Quiff: This short, clean cut has become popular with businessmen and executive types. It is short on the sides and tops with 1-2 inches of coiffed hair at most. The Pompadour: This is a big, wavy quiff, similar to James Dean or Johnny Cash's haircuts. Undercut: This modern cut is when you buzz the sides of your head almost completely, fading into light hair on top and a small, short quiff, like Adam Levine. Keep the sides and back of your hair shorter than the top. The one thing all quiffs have in common is that the sides are kept short. This allows you to create the dramatic quiff in the middle of your head without hair from the sides getting in the way. Know that it is hard to get a quiff with very curly or frizzy hair. Pretty much anyone can carry off a quiff with the right products and tools, though it's probably best to avoid this style if you have thin, very curly, or ferociously frizzy hair. Straighter hair is easier to manipulate into the quiff and requires less product to style. Note how the barber styles your hair. If you've never had a quiff before, watch the barber or hairdresser as they style your hair after the cut. More likely than not, they will: Get your hair damp. Comb your hair to the side. Apply a small amount of gel/wax with their fingertips. Gently sculpt the quiff with their fingers. Use a blow dryer to blow the quiff up and over, into shape. Finish your style with hairspray, pomade, or additional wax. Wash, shampoo, and condition your hair. Before you attempt to do a quiff hairstyle, it's important to wash your hair to remove any oils and add some volume. Dry your hair with a towel gently. Your hair should still be a little damp to the touch, but it should not still be dripping any water. Apply a small bit of gel or wax to your fingertips. You want roughly a quarter-sized dollop of gel or wax in your fingers. Many people use too much, which weighs down your hair and makes it difficult to style. The best product for you will depend on your hair type: Sea salt spray gives a dry, matte hold which is good for soft, thick hair types. Wax gives a very firm, strong hold for difficult, unruly hair. Gel gives a lightweight yet firm hold which is good for fine hair. Use your fingers to distribute the gel or wax throughout the tips of your hair. Start applying your product root to tip so that the lower parts of your locks can support some volume. As you work, use your fingers to comb your hair to the front of your head. Use a hair dryer and a brush to style your hair. Set your dryer to the highest temperature setting and the lowest speed – you can always increase the speed when you feel more confident. Using a vented brush, sweep the hair on the top part of your head (roughly 2cm above your temples) across to one side. At the same time follow the brush with your dryer. Direct the airflow through the vents in the brush and onto the hair, keeping the dryer approximately 3cm from the brush to avoid over-baking your hair. When your hair is 50% dry repeat the method on the other side, working in the opposite direction. As you dry, use your fingers to work the hair upwards and backwards, from the roots to the tips, in the direction you want the quiff to go (right or left). You can also use a denman or vent brush. Keep working the quiff into your desired shape until the hair feels completely dry. Lower the heat and use your brush to perfect your look to your liking. Don't continue using the hairdryer once your hair is dry, as your hair will become crisp and dried out. Smooth out any imperfections with some hair wax. Run your hands over the outside of the quiff (not through the hair) to give it some structure and smooth any flyaway hairs. If you have wax, you can use it to give you quiff a classic shine reminiscent of the movie O Brother, Where art Thou? Take some strong-hold hairspray and give the quiff a good spritz all over — this will help to maintain the volume and structure. For a more tousled, contemporary look, use wax to gently break up the ends of your hair. Twist each section just a little to add some definition. Depending on the look you're going for, you can take a small amount of gel or wax and use it to either pull out or slick back the shorter hair at the sides of your head. Wash your hair with volumizing shampoo. It's a good idea to wash your hair before attempting a quiff hairstyle. This gets rid of any oiliness and makes your hair easier to backcomb. Use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner in the shower — this will help to give your hair more texture and volume once dry. Blot your hair dry with a towel. Work a little volumizing mousse through the lengths, and blow dry your hair as straight as possible. Section off the front part of your hair. Use a comb or your fingers to section off the front part of your hair for the quiff. Think of this section of hair like an upside-down triangle, with the two bottom points at your forehead and the top point at the top of your head. If you plan on leaving the rest of your hair down, slick back the sides with gel or pin them back with bobby pins. If you plan on putting the rest of your hair in a ponytail, twist the front section of hair around itself and temporarily secure with a bobby pin. Make your ponytail. Once the front section of your hair is separated and secured, use a soft brush to smooth the rest of your hair back into a low ponytail (around the occipital bone) and tie tightly with an elastic. At this point you can decide whether you want the ponytail to look sleek or wispy. If you want the wispy look, pull out some feathery pieces of hair from around your ears and temples. If you want a sleeker effect, use some firm-hold hairspray to slick back the hair at the sides of your head and beneath the ponytail. Don't spray the top of your head just yet. Backcomb the hair for the quiff. Unpin the front section of hair and comb it out to remove any tangles. Spritz the entire section of hair with a light layer of firm-hold hairspray. Working from the back to the front, take small sections of hair and start backcombing , using a fine-toothed comb. This is the most important step in achieving a perfect quiff. To backcomb the hair, hold a section of hair at the ends and lift it straight into the air, above your head. Place the comb at the halfway point between your head and your hand and tease the hair downwards, towards the scalp. Once you have finished with one section of hair, move onto the next and repeat the backcombing process. Keep going until you reach the hair at your forehead. Smooth and secure the quiff. Once you have backcombed the entire front section of hair, you are ready to form your quiff. Don't worry if your hair looks like a bird's nest at this point — this is how it's supposed to look! Take a soft-bristled brush and lightly brush the surface of the hair back towards the ponytail. Try to get the hair on the outside of the quiff nice and smooth, but leave the backcombed hair underneath as undisturbed as possible — you don't want to undo all of your hard work! Gather the ends of the backcombed hair at the crown of your head and twist them once. To get more height in your quiff, push this twisted piece of hair forwards. Use your hands to ensure that the quiff looks even at the front. If you left the rest of your hair down, secure the twisted end of the quiff with a couple of bobby pins. If you put your hair in a ponytail, secure the twisted end to the existing ponytail using a second hair tie. Hide the bobby pins or hair ties and finish with hairspray. Exposed bobby pins or hair ties can look untidy, so finish the look by hiding them beneath your hair. If your hair is down, take a small section of hair from the right of the bobby pins and cross it over the pins towards the left. Secure this section of hair with a small pin on the underside of the hair. Now take another section of hair from the left of the bobby pins and cross it over to the right. If your hair is in a ponytail, take a small section of hair from the underside of the ponytail and wrap it around the hair ties until they are no longer visible. Secure the end of the hair with a bobby pin, underneath the ponytail. Take your strong-hold hairspray and give the quiff a good spritz. Use your hand to smooth back any flyaway hairs from around the hairline. Finish with a little shine spray, and your quiff is good to go!
Know what a quiff is. Bring a photograph or two of the look you want to your hairdresser. Keep the sides and back of your hair shorter than the top. Know that it is hard to get a quiff with very curly or frizzy hair. Note how the barber styles your hair. Wash, shampoo, and condition your hair. Dry your hair with a towel gently. Apply a small bit of gel or wax to your fingertips. Use your fingers to distribute the gel or wax throughout the tips of your hair. Use a hair dryer and a brush to style your hair. Keep working the quiff into your desired shape until the hair feels completely dry. Smooth out any imperfections with some hair wax. Wash your hair with volumizing shampoo. Section off the front part of your hair. Make your ponytail. Backcomb the hair for the quiff. Smooth and secure the quiff. Hide the bobby pins or hair ties and finish with hairspray.
https://www.wikihow.com/Call-Costa-Rica
How to Call Costa Rica
To call Costa Rica, start by dialing the exit code of the country you're calling from. For example, dial 011 if you're calling from the United States. Next, enter 506, which is the country code for Costa Rica, followed by the 7 digit phone number. If your call doesn't go through, try substituting the plus sign for your country's exit code. Additionally, check to make sure that you entered the 7 digit phone number without the area code.
Decide what method you'll use to call. To call Costa Rica, you can use a landline, cellular phone, or an internet service like Skype. All of these methods cost money. If you are using a landline or cell phone, you can purchase an international calling card or specialty international service plan through your phone provider. Otherwise, a call from the US to Costa Rica will generally cost: By cellphone - $0.20 per minute By landline - $0.27 per minute By Skype - $0.095 per minute Determine your country’s exit code. To begin, you must know the exit code from the country you wish to place the call. You can visit http://www.howtocallabroad.com/ to figure out the exit code for your specific country. For the USA, the exit code is 011 For the UK, the exit code is 00 For Australia, the exit code is 0011 Find out the local time. Before you place a call to Costa Rica, you should determine the local time. You don't want to phone your friends or relatives during the middle of the night! Visit http://www.howtocallabroad.com/ to check the local time. Make sure you have the local phone number. Naturally, before you can place a call to Costa Rica, you must have local phone number. This number should be 7 digits long. Dial the “exit code. ” To begin, you will dial the exit code of the country where you are calling. The number of digits in this exit code varies from country to country. Dial the “country code” for Costa Rica. Next you will dial the three-digit country code for Costa Rica. Regardless of where you are dialing from, this country code is 506. Include the 7-digit telephone number. Finally, you will dial the seven digits of the local Costa Rican individual (or business) you are trying to reach. Double check that you have the correct number before you waste money on a call. Skip the “area code. ” To make a call to Costa Rica, there is no area code required! Once you enter the country code (506), you only need the 7-digit telephone number. Try using a “plus sign. ” In some cases, you can substitute a plus sign or “+” for your country's exit code. If you are having trouble connecting, try skipping the exit code and entering a plus sign instead. In this case, you would enter: +506-xxx-xxxx Contact the operator. If you are still having trouble connecting, dial 00 to reach an international operator. The operator can try to verify your number and/or dialing pattern, and help you to connect effectively.
Decide what method you'll use to call. Determine your country’s exit code. Find out the local time. Make sure you have the local phone number. Dial the “exit code. Dial the “country code” for Costa Rica. Include the 7-digit telephone number. Skip the “area code. Try using a “plus sign. Contact the operator.
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Jasmine
How to Grow Jasmine
To grow jasmine, plant in rich, well-draining soil in a location that gets partial to full sun. Keep the soil around the jasmine moist during the growing season and fertilize your plants once per month to encourage more blooms. Remove dead leaves and pinch off spent flowers to keep your jasmine in good shape, and don't forget to add a few inches of mulch around the plants each fall to protect them upcoming winter temperatures!
Choose a cultivar to grow. There are over 200 species of jasmine, each with different characteristics. Some are evergreen, while some are deciduous. Some take the form of vines, while others are shrubs. Some are so tender that they must be grown indoors, while others are frost hardy. Buy the jasmine cultivar that's right for your needs. You'll find jasmine plants available in pots at the nursery, or you can order seeds online. These jasmines are the most commonly available in nurseries: Jasmine Cultivars Variety Growing Requirements Characteristics Jasminum officinale (summer jasmine) Full sun to partial shade; grows outdoors in mild climates; otherwise indoor White, starry flowers; frost hardy vine popular in many regions. Jasminum nudiflorum (winter jasmine) Full sun to partial shade; grows outdoors in most regions Yellow flowers; low maintenance; makes good groundcover Jasminum parkeri Full sun to partial shade; grows outdoors in mild climates; otherwise indoor Yellow flowers; grows as a shrub. Jasminum fruticans Full sun to partial shade; grows outdoors in mild climates; otherwise indoor Yellow, tubular flowers; evergreen shrub. Jasminum sambac Full sun to partial shade; grow indoors unless in tropical climate Fragrant flowers make delicious tea; requires controlled indoor environment in most regions. Find a suitable spot for your jasmine plant. Each jasmine cultivar has specific environmental needs, so do a little research to find out what conditions you need to provide for your plant. In order for your jasmine to thrive, it's necessary to provide the right level of sun and the proper temperature. When you're deciding where to plant your jasmine, take the following variables into account: What level of sun does it need? Most jasmine plants require partial to full sun, although a few cultivars accept full shade. Is it hardy in your climate? Determine whether the jasmine you have chosen will thrive outdoors or if it would be better off in a pot inside, where you can control the temperature and humidity. If you're planting outside, you'll want to choose the warmest spot you can find. How much space does your jasmine plant need? Some cultivars are vines that grow up walls and fences, others grow along the ground and provide good ground cover, and still others grow as contained shrubs. Pick a planting spot that suits the type you have. Prepare the soil for planting. Most jasmine cultivars do best in rich, well-draining soil. Whether you're planting your jasmine in the ground or in a pot, prepare the soil by working in in 2-inch layer of compost. This will ensure that the jasmine produces healthy flowers throughout the growing season. If you're planting outside, check the spot you've chosen to make sure it drains well. Dig a hole and fill it with water. If the water quickly soaks into the hole and leaves it empty, the soil there drains well. If the water sits and drains slowly, choose a different planting spot. Plant the jasmine. Slide the jasmine plant gently from its container and water the root ball. Tickle the roots by gently scratching them all over. Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball and set the jasmine plant inside. Leave the soil around the hole a little taller than the soil level of your plant, creating a reservoir for water. Lightly pat soil around the base of the jasmine plant to hold it in place. Water the soil around the base well to help the plant settle. Add more soil if necessary to keep the jasmine erect. While the most common way to plant jasmine is to buy a young jasmine plant, it is also possible to start jasmine from seed. Jasmine seeds have a low germination rate and require special care according to the cultivar. In most cases, you can start the seeds indoors in seed pots filled with seed starter mix, then harden off the seedlings and plant them outside once the last frost has passed. Another way to plant jasmine is to use semi-ripe cuttings taken from a mature jasmine plant. In mid-summer or fall, cut healthy 6-inch stems from a jasmine plant. Prepare a pot with a soil and compost mixture and push the stems into a pot. Overwinter the pot in a sunny window, keeping it well watered, and transplant it in the spring. Provide stakes for climbing jasmine. Many varieties of jasmine require stakes to climb in order to grow strong and healthy. Place a tall stake or a trellis a few inches from the base of the jasmine, and gently wrap it around the stake as it grows. Eventually, it will begin growing up the stake on its own. If you planted the jasmine next to a wall or fence, train it to grow upward until it begins growing on its own. To ensure that the jasmine establishes itself on the trellis or stake, you can use string or twine to loosely tie the talks to the support. Remove the ties when the vine is established. Keep the environment moist. Water the soil around the jasmine throughout the growing season to keep it moist, but not soggy. A good rule of thumb for determining when the water jasmine is to water when the soil begins to look and feel a little dry. Use the finger test - stick your index finger 2 inches (5.1 cm) into the soil; if it's dry, water the soil. If your jasmine is in a pot, be sure it's draining adequately and water once a day. Water jasmine from the bottom to keep from getting the leaves wet. The sun will burn the leaves if water droplets remain on them during the sunniest hours. For jasmine you're growing indoors, be mindful of the humidity level of the air as well as the moisture of the soil. Tender varieties of jasmine need a humidity level of between 30 and 45. Use a humidifier or spray the plant with mist frequently. Fertilize the jasmine once a month. During the growing season, fertilizing the jasmine once a month will keep it blooming. Sprinkle a balanced fertilizer that is water soluble around the base of the jasmine, or use a diluted liquid fertilizer. Alternatively, you can side-dress the jasmine with compost by working an inch of compost into the soil around the base of the jasmine plant. Be careful not to disturb the roots. Top-dressing works also; when you water, it takes the nutrients from the compost down into the soil. Prune the jasmine. Throughout the growing season, remove dead leaves, flowers and stems by pinching them off or using hand pruners to make a cut flush with the main stem of the plant. Tidy the plants by pruning stray stems. By strategically removing stems here and here, you can control the shape of the vine. Shrub jasmine and varieties grown indoors will need less pruning to maintain their shape. Don't prune before or during the blooming period, as this can inhibit blooming. Wait until the plant has finished blooming for the season. To improve the shape of shrub-like jasmine, you can cut the stems back by a third after blooming. The shrub will come back next season with a fuller shape. Mulch the jasmine in the fall and summer. In order to protect the jasmine plants over the winter, add a few inches of pine straw, manure or garden compost around their bases. This will ensure that the root systems don't freeze completely, and your jasmine should begin growing again when the weather warms. In the summer, do the same to help conserve water and manage soil temperature. If you have been growing your jasmine in a pot outside, you can bring it indoors for the winter rather than adding mulch. Jasmine grown indoors year-round does not require mulching. However, it's important to keep them in a sunny room with a constant temperature of between 60 and 75 degrees. Watch for pests. While jasmine generally isn't bothered by pests, it's still a good idea to watch out for certain insects that might affect its growth. If you see the following insects on your jasmine, pick them off by hand and place them in a jar of soapy water, or wash the leaves of the jasmine with a soapy water solution or a solution of water and neem oil: Aphids Mealybugs Red spider mite Soft scales Bring back blooms. If your jasmine plant has bushy green growth but no blossoms, you may have too much nitrogen in your soil, which often happens due to over-fertilizing. Alternatively, your plant may be stressed due to issues like over- or under-watering, extreme temperatures, insufficient light, or stagnant air. Indoor jasmine also needs to rest each fall. Cut jasmine to put on display. A jasmine vine or shrub will produce many flowers throughout the season, and you may want to bring some indoors to display as part of an arrangement. Use a sharp pair of pruners to cut branches loaded with flowers and leaves. Place the stems in water right away to preserve their freshness. Harvest jasmine buds to make tea. When your jasmine produces flowers in the spring and summer, you can make your very own jasmine tea from the flower buds. Jasmine tea is said to have restorative properties, especially when mixed with green tea leaves. To make your own, follow these steps: In the early morning, gently pick flower buds from the plant. Their essence is strongest at this time of day. Place them in a single layer on a baking tray. Bake the buds using your oven's lowest setting - 200 °F (93 °C) or lower. You may also dry the buds by placing them in a sunny window in a dry room. Let the buds completely dry. In the oven, it will take about 3 hours. Be sure not to overcook them. Let the buds sit overnight on the tray before storing them. Store the buds in an airtight jar. When you want to make tea, add a tablespoonful to boiling water. Let it the tea steep for 4 minutes, then strain out the buds and enjoy. Use jasmine buds to make infused oil. If you want to harness the strong, sweet fragrance of jasmine to use as perfume, you can make your own infused oil with fresh buds. You'll need a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and a base oil of your choice. Almond, jojoba, olive, or castor oil are all good options. Follow this process to make the infusion: Harvest 1/4 cup of fresh buds in the morning. Put the buds in a plastic bag and tap them gently with a hammer to release their oils. Place the buds in the jar and pour 1/2 cup of base oil over them. Seal the jar and leave it in a cool, dark place for 24 hours. Strain the buds and smell the oil. If you want a stronger oil, repeat the process with fresh buds. Continue steeping fresh buds in oil until the scent is as strong as you want it to be. Transfer the oil to an amber or blue glass bottle for long-term storage. You can dab on the oil and use it as perfume, or use the fragrant oil as an ingredient in lotion , lip balm and other concoctions.
Choose a cultivar to grow. Find a suitable spot for your jasmine plant. Prepare the soil for planting. Plant the jasmine. Provide stakes for climbing jasmine. Keep the environment moist. Fertilize the jasmine once a month. Prune the jasmine. Mulch the jasmine in the fall and summer. Watch for pests. Bring back blooms. Cut jasmine to put on display. Harvest jasmine buds to make tea. Use jasmine buds to make infused oil.
https://www.wikihow.com/Touch-Up-Car-Paint
How to Touch Up Car Paint
To touch up car paint, start by washing the spot on your car that you need to touch up, using a wax and grease remover to remove any residue, and sanding the area with 220-grit sandpaper. Once you've prepped the surface, apply a rust arrestor to the chipped area so rust doesn't spread under your touch-up job. If the chip in the paint reaches the metal underneath, apply a coat of primer as well. Next, paint 2-3 layers over the area, letting the paint dry for 1 hour between each layer. Finally, sand the area and apply a top coat to finish the surface.
Wash the car. Focus on deep cleaning the area where the paint is chipped. Making sure the area is clean will help you identify all the spots that need to be touched up and will reduce the risk of getting dirt and grime in the new paint. Use car washing soap, water, and a clean, soft cloth to clean the scratched area. Be sure to thoroughly dry the area that is scratched after you wash it. Check for rust and remove any you find. Look at the scratched area for discoloration on the metal. If you find an area that is dark red or brown, it is likely rust. Use sand paper to remove all areas of discoloration and then wipe down the area with a dry cloth to remove any dust. Apply a wax and grease remover to the area being fixed. It's important to remove any wax on areas that need to have paint adhere to them. Wax isn't typically removed by soap and water, so a specific remover is needed. Wax removers are available at most auto parts stores. These rust removal products are made specifically for removing rust on the bodies of cars. Sand the area to prep the surface. Use a small piece of sandpaper to sand all around the scratch. Try to remove all loose paint from the area while you sand. This process will also give the touch-up paint a clean surface to stick to. Wipe down the area once more. Wash the area with water to remove any leftover debris from the pre-treating process. Allow the area to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step. Figure out the exact paint color on your car. If your car has its original paint job, you can do an online search for your car's make, model, color, and the words "paint code." You can also look on the car for the code if you can't find it online. Check the door jam, near the VIN number, and on firewall (bulkhead) to find the paint code number. Buy a matching touch-up paint color. Go to your local auto parts store or contact your car dealership with your paint color in hand. If you have a common car, they will likely have touch up paint for your paint job in stock. If you have an unusual or rare car, they may have to order your touch up paint. Touch up paint comes in several types of containers. It often comes in small jars of the paint or in paint pens. It's important to get an exact match to your car's color, so don't settle on a color that is just close to your car's. Light-colored cars can be difficult to find a perfect color match. Consult an auto paint specialist if you are having difficulty finding the right color. Apply rust arrestor on the chipped area. Before touching the chipped area up, it's important to prevent rust from spreading underneath your touch-up job in the future. Paint on a small amount of rust inhibitor over the chipped area before the primer. Apply primer, if necessary. Squeeze a dab of primer onto the area if the chip reaches metal. If the chip is surface-level, you can skip this step. Primer is needed for deep chips because regular paint will not adhere to bare metal. Spread the primer around the small chip with a tiny brush. Only use enough primer for one thin coat. Allow the primer to dry completely. Avoid getting primer on the car paint outside of the chipped area. It will ruin the finish. Test the paint. Apply some of the paint to an area on the car that isn't visible, such as the lip under a door. It is important to make sure the paint you've purchased will not react poorly to your existing paint and also that it matches well. Apply the touch-up paint to the primed area. Spread 2 to 3 layers of touch-up paint on the area. The touched-up spot will look elevated above the rest of the paint, which is how it should look. If the paint chip is on a vertical surface on your car, it's especially important to wait until the touch-up paint dries between layers so it doesn't run. The painted area should be raised so that it can be sanded down smooth with the rest of the paint job once it is dry. Allow drying time between coats and after the layers are applied. Between each layer let the paint dry for an hour. This will ensure that each layer is set and doesn't get smeared by the next. Also, wait at least 24 hours before continuing the process after you have applied all your layers. Sand the touched-up area until it is smooth. Start by sanding the area with 1000-grit sandpaper, making sure to move very slowly and gently. Once the touched-up area appears close to level with the rest of the pain, continue to sand gently with 2000-grit sandpaper. After that, rub the area with 3000-grit sandpaper until the touch-up paint is even with the rest of the vehicle. As your sandpaper gets finer, it will remove less and less of the paint. Don't be tempted to push really hard with the sandpaper because of this. It is ok if you sand a small amount of the surrounding painted area. This will be fixed by the top coat you will apply over the whole area. Apply the top coat. Paint the top coat over the entire area that is discolored. Typically this includes the chipped area and the existing paint surrounding it that has been lightly sanded. Try to get the top coat as smooth and even as possible, using a clean brush, even strokes, as several thin layers. Allow your top coat to dry for 10 to 20 minutes between coats. It's best to apply several thin coats instead of one thick coat. Follow the directions that came on your top-coat container. In some cases they will tell you to apply several coats and in others the directions will state that one coat is enough. Sand the area once more with 3000-grit sandpaper. Giving the surface one last sanding will ensure that the clear coat you applied is smooth and blended with the existing top coat. Sand it until the repaired area is flush with the rest of the paint surface on the car. Polish and wax the entire car. Once you have repaired your paint chips it's nice to give your whole car a bit of care. Polishing and waxing the car will help the repaired area blend in with the rest of the paint job and it will protect the fixed area from more damage.
Wash the car. Check for rust and remove any you find. Apply a wax and grease remover to the area being fixed. Sand the area to prep the surface. Wipe down the area once more. Figure out the exact paint color on your car. Buy a matching touch-up paint color. Apply rust arrestor on the chipped area. Apply primer, if necessary. Test the paint. Apply the touch-up paint to the primed area. Allow drying time between coats and after the layers are applied. Sand the touched-up area until it is smooth. Apply the top coat. Sand the area once more with 3000-grit sandpaper. Polish and wax the entire car.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Into-Harvard-University
How to Get Into Harvard University
To get into Harvard University, get good grades in high school so you're within the top 10-15 percent of your class. You'll also want to have high SAT or ACT scores to submit with your application. In addition to good grades and high test scores, you'll need to have impressive extra-curricular activities to be noticed by admissions officers, so start participating in clubs or sports early on in your high school career. You can also stand out by volunteering in your community and spending your summers working, traveling, or taking classes.
Maintain a high GPA. Though admissions officers won't be breaking down your door just because you have a near-perfect GPA, having excellent grades will keep you in the running for admissions to the college. Most Harvard applicants fall within the top 10-15% of their class, so you should aim to be within this range to be seriously considered. If your GPA is well below this range, the other parts of your application will have to be incredibly impressive to make up for it. If they are offered at your school, take honors/AP courses. In other words, take the most challenging course load you can handle, since if you ace AP classes (and to some extent honors courses), it will show you are up for the rigor of courses at Harvard. However, if you are getting bad grades (C's or under) in honors/AP classes, it is probably better to take a regular class and score better, such as an A/B. Maintaining excellent grades in high school (especially in honors/AP courses) tells admissions officers that you are a hard worker and that you will be able to keep up with the rigor of the courses at Harvard. You can show that you can stand out in other parts of the application. You should demonstrate excellence in all of your academic subjects. Though you can be stronger in some subjects and weaker than others, you should be an exceptional student in almost every class. Don't be discouraged if your GPA isn't quite as high as you wanted it to be. If your grades have improved from your freshman year until the time you apply, officers will be impressed, and if there was a dip in your grades because of a personal situation, you can explain it in your essay. Get high scores on the SAT or ACT and AP tests. Doing extremely well on your SAT or ACT and AP tests will show admissions officers that you are a hard worker with stellar academic achievements. Just like having a perfect GPA won't make you a shoo-in, a high SAT score and strong AP test results won't guarantee you a spot in Harvard, but it will keep admissions officers interested in your application. Don't be worried if your school doesn't offer a ton of AP tests. Not every school offers 20 different AP tests, and the admissions officers will know if your high school does not. Just try to do well on the tests that your school does offer. Another option could be to take AP courses online. Make sure to take your tests at the right time. If you want to impress Harvard with your SAT score, you'll have to take it well before the application is due. Take the test during your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it if it's necessary. Check Harvard's requirements for the last possible test date for the ACT or SAT. It's always just a week or a few weeks after the application due date, but you should already have an excellent score when you apply. Harvard also requires you to take two SAT II tests. Don't forget to have your score reports sent directly to the Harvard admissions office. Demonstrate excellence through your participation in a club or activity that you are interested in. Though your grades and scores will prove that you are capable of academic excellence, your extra curricular activities will make you stand out as a unique individual who is invested in pursuing his interests. Finding two or three clubs you're interested in and making an effort to excel in those areas and even reaching a leadership role will show that you are a dedicated, well-rounded individual. Remember to have quality over quantity.Harvard and other Ivy League Colleges will not care how many things you participate in. Rather they want to see excellence and deep dedication in one or two fields you are passionate about. Some people who excel at a certain subject, also compete in various competitions. Interested in science? Try out for competitions like Science Olympiad, Quiz Bowl, or others available in your school. How about math? Think about the AMC-8, a math competition where kids must solve problems in a limited amount of time. Harvard wants students that stand out, so having a few competitions under your belt, even with participation, is a good boost for anyone. Become a leader. Don't just join a club, but run for secretary, or even president. In most clubs, you'll have to work your way up from a smaller leadership role to the head role. Start your commitment during your freshman year. You should join clubs and other activities early on so you can show a record of dedication and commitment. Show your leadership skills by joining the Student Council and working your way up to be the president of your class. If you like writing or using technology, join the school paper or yearbook. If you like politics or debating, join the Model United Nations team or debate team. If you love languages, join the French or Spanish club. If you love to act, be a part of the school's theatre troupe (theater). You can also join a club or organization outside of your school that has to do with a religious institution or your local community. Don't be discouraged if you don't have a lot of time to pursue interests outside of school because you have to work after school. Though you should still do the best you can, you will be able to put your work experience on your application as well. Stand out by joining a sport or the school band. Though you don't have to be an Olympic athlete or a world-class musician to get into Harvard, participating in a sport or joining the school band will make you stand out. Though clubs can be time consuming, taking a sport or playing an instrument requires for you to practice or compete almost every day after school so it shows a deep level of dedication. If you join a sport, try to work up to a leadership position. Remember that you don't often have to be the best athlete to be the team captain. You have to be the most dedicated or most well-liked. Remember that while many sports require ten or more hours of commitment a week, you can also do a sport for just one or two of the three sports seasons. For example, you can run cross country in the fall, but take the winter off to focus on your studies and clubs, and then run spring track the next season. If you play an instrument, you should also strive to gain a leadership position in your team's band. Quite a few colleges look at musical excellence. Volunteer in your community. Volunteering in your community is a great way to show your generosity and your big heart. It is also a great way to impress admissions officers. There are countless ways to volunteer in your community, whether you're doing it through your school's Key Club, or finding opportunities through your local youth center or nearby charities. Here are some great things to do: Volunteer to help children learn to read in your local library. Volunteer in an old age or veteran's home in your area. Volunteer in a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Volunteer to clean up your community at a local park clean-up event. Help build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Spend your summer volunteering or building homes in a foreign country. Pursue your interests over the summer. Though your summer is supposed to be a vacation, if you really want to impress Harvard, you can't just spend the summer lounging around in your bathing suit and watching reality TV. Though you should take some time to decompress from all the hard work you've done, you should also find a way to continue following your dreams and pursuing your interests. If you do nothing over the summer, admissions officers may think that you don't take initiative unless you're actually in school. Here are some things that you can do: Travel to a foreign country or a language camp to pursue your interest in a foreign language. Take a summer class in something you like at a local college. Spend more time developing your talents. Go to band camp or boot camp for soccer players. Get an internship at a place that relates to your interests. If you like science, try to get work in a lab. Get a job and work hard. Admissions are often impressed at students who take the initiative to pay their own way into college rather than relying on their parents to cover the exorbitant costs. Write an essay on a topic important to you. Your essay should do two main things: it should show the admissions officers what an original, interesting, and driven person you are, and that you have top-notch writing skills. You should take the time to write an essay that is meaningful to you and leave enough time for yourself to proofread it when you're finished. You can find the guidelines for the essay on the last page of the application. It should be 250-500 words long. Here are some tips. Be original. Write something that only you could write. Show what makes you special. Show your strong character. Tell a story that demonstrates your persistence, work ethic, creativity, or even your ability to learn from your mistakes. Be compelling. Hook the admissions officers from your opening line, and keep their interests with your lively language, varied sentences, and engaging topic. Be concise. Don't go over the word limit. Admissions officers will be reading thousands of essays, and they won't appreciate it if you can't follow directions. Some popular admissions essay topics include writing about your achievements in a club or a sport, describing your family and background, or writing about a life-changing experience. Get feedback. Run your essay by a trusted friend or family member and your English teacher, if you can. They can help you catch grammar mistakes, and they can also tell whether your essay had its intended effect. Always proofread your work. When you're done, check your essay for grammar and punctuation mistakes. Remember that admissions officers aren't just interested in the content of your essay, but also by how well you can write. Have the best teacher evaluations. Harvard requires you to submit two teacher evaluations to give more insight into your performance in the classroom. Pick two teachers who know you well and have a unique perspective on your strengths in your classroom and your character. A teacher can describe your excellence in his or her classroom, as well as your contributions to the class discussion. Pick a teacher who has really seen you at your academic best. If your teacher is also your athletic coach or club leader, he can add even more dimension to the recommendation. Pick two teachers from two different subjects. Don't ask your sophomore and junior year English teachers to write recommendations, or it may look like you only excel in one subject. Pick someone who you know will write a knockout recommendation. Ask older students if they recommend a certain teacher, or if there's a teacher who has a reputation of being late with the recommendations or not writing anything too specific. You should not only pick a teacher or person who has a close connection to you, but someone who you know will write something detailed and positive. Add supplementary materials if they are necessary. Though you should generally avoid making your application bulkier than it needs to be, if you really feel that you have an exceptional talent to show Harvard that does not fall into the traditional application, send it along. Remember to show discretion. Only share these materials if you feel that you are truly exceptional in some way. Add in why you are a good candidate for the school. Explain how you want to help improve the world and how going to Harvard would help you achieve it. But try to keep the explanation brief. If you are an exceptional musician, you can send a tape of yourself playing music. If you're an amazing actress, send along a tape of yourself in your latest school play. If you're an award-winning creative writer, send along a short story. Fill out the actual application in a thoughtful manner. You will have to fill out either the Common Application or the Universal College Application for Harvard. This is the place where you will provide information about your biography, your family, your extra-curricular activities and work experience, and your honors, activities, and work experience. Do this thoughtfully and in a way that shows you know how to follow directions. Be thorough. Fill out all of the space you are given without going over the limit. Write neatly. If you're filling out your application by hand, demonstrate your diligence through good handwriting. Be impressive. Describe your activities and honors in the most impressive way possible. You don't have to lie to make the most of your accomplishments. Make sure that all aspects of your application are completed before you put it in the mail. If you forget at item of the application, you will not be considered for candidacy. Keep a checklist of all the items you need before you mail your application in or submit it online. Here's what you need: The application. Your essay. Your SAT or ACT score report. You should arrange to have the testing company send the scores directly to Harvard's admissions office. Your two SAT II score reports. Again, these should be sent to the admissions office by the testing company. Two teacher reports (recommendations). The Harvard supplement. This is a short application that will provide more information about your academic and extra-curricular interests. Your financial aid application (if you qualify). The school report and mid-year school report. Fill out the information on the top of these and hand them to your school guidance counselor. The school report should be turned in by your counselor before your application is due, and your mid-year report should be turned in in early February. Remember that if you are accepted to Harvard, your final school report will also be turned in, so you should maintain a record of excellence. Your application fee or application fee waver. The application fee is $75. Turn your application in on time (or early). The Harvard application process involves a series of steps accomplished over a period of several months. If you're applying for admission for a fall term early or for the regular admissions deadline, you need to turn in your application on time. The application will be available by mid-August, and you should get a head start on it. Here are some important dates to remember: Early Action candidates should apply by November 1 and will receive notice by December 13th. Harvard recommends that these candidates turn in their application by October 15th. Regular Decision candidates should apply by January 1st and will receive notice by March 28th. Harvard recommends that these candidates turn in their application by December 15th. If you really want to go to Harvard, apply early. The decision is non-binding, so you'll have until May 1st to make your decision and to compare financial aid packages from colleges if they are necessary. Though Harvard states that you will not get an advantage for applying early, you should do so to show your commitment to Harvard. You'll also feel more at ease if you know you've been accepted to Harvard early! If you apply Early Action, you won't be able to apply to any other colleges early. The only exception is if you also apply to your local public institution. Meet for an interview if you are selected to do so. Once you apply to Harvard, you may be asked to meet an alum for an interview in your local area. You should go to this meeting to show that you are truly interested. It won't make or break your chances of getting in, but if you really want to go to Harvard, then you should do everything you possibly can to make your Harvard dream a reality. Be prompt, polite, courteous, and engaging if you do meet. Prepare a few questions to ask about the Harvard experience. Don't worry if you're not asked to have an interview. This could just be because it was difficult to arrange a meeting between you and someone in your area. Wait for a decision. Once you've turned in your application, there's not much that you can do but wait for the decision. You can state whether you'd like your decision via email or an official letter on your application. In the meantime, here's what you can do: Maintain a record of excellence. Though you can relax a little bit , this is not the time to slack off, cut class, or stop being a stellar student. Harvard will take your mid-year and (if you're accepted) final reports seriously. Plan a campus visit. If you haven't already visited the campus, check it out to see if it feels like a good fit for you. Apply to other colleges. Harvard is a dream school for even the most amazing student, so make sure you're applying to some safety schools as well as other ivy league and prestigious colleges. Don't obsess. There's nothing you can do to change the decision once your application is in the mail, so enjoy your senior year and do what you normally do. React appropriately. If you get in, throw yourself a big party! And if not, don't sweat it. It may feel like your dream school, but you'll be having the time of your life at another amazing institution before you know it. Of the 34,303 students who applied for Harvard's class of 2016, just 2,706 were admitted (A 7 % acceptance rate). Don't be discouraged if you feel like you've met every requirement and still didn't make the cut.
Maintain a high GPA. Get high scores on the SAT or ACT and AP tests. Demonstrate excellence through your participation in a club or activity that you are interested in. Stand out by joining a sport or the school band. Volunteer in your community. Pursue your interests over the summer. Write an essay on a topic important to you. Have the best teacher evaluations. Add supplementary materials if they are necessary. Fill out the actual application in a thoughtful manner. Make sure that all aspects of your application are completed before you put it in the mail. Turn your application in on time (or early). Meet for an interview if you are selected to do so. Wait for a decision.
https://www.wikihow.com/Fold-a-Dress
How to Fold a Dress
Folding your dress the right way will prevent it from getting wrinkled and help save space in your closet. Start by laying your dress out on a flat, clean surface. Then, fold the sleeves inward if your dress has any. Next, fold your dress in half lengthways. Fold over any excess skirt material to make a neat rectangle. Finally, fold your dress in half or thirds. Now you can tuck your neatly folded dress away in your closet until you're ready to wear it.
Fold the sleeves inward first if the dress has any. You want the sleeves to cross the chest and lay flat against the body of the dress. Start with the right sleeve and fold it inward keeping the fold even with the arm seam. Do the same with the left sleeve. If the sleeves go past the waistline of the dress, fold the crossed sleeves upward so they fit in the top half section. Fold the dress in half lengthwise. Align the skirt's side seams so they are even. Give the dress a quick shake to smooth out any ruffles and use your hands to smooth out the fabric of the skirt. Try folding the dress on a flat, hard surface, like a table. This will help you fold more neatly. It is okay if the skirt of the dress is taking up a lot of space even after being folded in half. The important part is getting the seams lined up evenly so you have a side of the dress that is straight. Fold the excess skirt material toward the straight line of fabric. The goal is to make the shape of your dress a neat rectangle. If there is too much material (i.e. the skirt fabric now extends past the straight fold you made lengthwise) you'll fold the excess material again, in the opposite direction. Fold the dress in half or thirds. Start by folding the bottom of the dress toward the top of the dress. This will give you a good idea of how many times you will need to fold the dress to make it the right size. When the dress is completely folded, it should be a neat square or rectangle. For a short dress, one fold in half will work, but for a knee-length or calf-length dress, you may need to fold the dress in thirds to make it the right size for storage. If the dress is exceptionally long, like a floor-length sundress, you may want to fold the dress into even smaller sections. Fold dresses in a dry-cleaning bag or unscented grocery bag for travel. This trick works really well to protect the dress from getting ruffled by other clothes in your suitcase. You will put the dress into the bag before starting any of the folding steps. Align the top of the dress with the top of the bag and fold as instructed above. If the dress is longer than the bag, fold the excess skirt material up into the bag and proceed to fold as normal. Don't flatten out the bag and push out all the excess air. A little air buffer can help protect the dress and keep it fresh when you travel. Fold in the arms of your dress, if there are any. You want the sleeves to cross the chest and lay flat against the body. Start with the right sleeve and fold it inward keeping the fold even with the arm seam. Do the same with the left sleeve. If the sleeves go past the waistline of the dress, fold the crossed sleeves upward so they fit in the top half section. Fold the dress in half lengthwise. Align the skirt's side seams so they are even. Give the dress a quick shake to smooth out any ruffles and use your hands to smooth out the fabric of the skirt. Try putting the dress on a table. The hard surface will make folding and rolling easier! It is okay if the skirt of the dress is taking up a lot of space even after being folded in half. The important part is getting the seams lined up evenly so you have a side of the dress that is straight. Fold the excess skirt material toward the straight line of fabric. The goal is to make the shape of your dress a neat rectangle. If there is too much material (i.e. the skirt fabric now extends past the straight fold you made lengthwise) you'll fold the excess material again, up in the opposite direction. Roll from the bottom of the dress up toward the top. This is a great way to pack a dress in a suitcase. It saves space and should keep your dress from getting wrinkly. This option should be used mainly for cotton dresses. Dresses made of other materials like silk, satin, or certain blends should be folded rather than rolled. Pack or store the dress with the seam of the roll face down. This will prevent it from coming unrolled or loose while it is in storage or in your suitcase. Avoid cramming too many dresses into one storage space. This will help keep the material from getting wrinkled, which will make the dress easier to wear as soon as you unroll it! Use drawers or shelves to hold dresses you plan to wear soon. Don't stack dresses more than 3 thick. The weight from too many garments will cause wrinkles. Letting them have room rather than packing them tight will keep them wrinkle-free! Pack your dress in a suitcase if you are packing for a trip. Remember to pack the dress last, so it is on top of the other items in your bag. This will help keep it from getting smashed and wrinkled. Put the dress in storage if you don’t plan on wearing it for a while. If you are trying to save space, moving those summer dresses into storage when winter comes around is a great way to free up some room! Invest in a storage tote and pack dresses (either folded or rolled), keeping in mind to not overstuff the tote. Put a sachet of potpourri in with your clothes. This will help keep them smelling fresh until you take them back out of storage.
Fold the sleeves inward first if the dress has any. Fold the dress in half lengthwise. Fold the excess skirt material toward the straight line of fabric. Fold the dress in half or thirds. Fold dresses in a dry-cleaning bag or unscented grocery bag for travel. Fold in the arms of your dress, if there are any. Fold the dress in half lengthwise. Fold the excess skirt material toward the straight line of fabric. Roll from the bottom of the dress up toward the top. Pack or store the dress with the seam of the roll face down. Avoid cramming too many dresses into one storage space. Use drawers or shelves to hold dresses you plan to wear soon. Pack your dress in a suitcase if you are packing for a trip. Put the dress in storage if you don’t plan on wearing it for a while.
https://www.wikihow.com/Install-Cydia
How to Install Cydia
Jailbreak your iOS device to install automatically Cydia on the Home Screen.
Make sure your device is compatible. Currently (April 2017), jailbreaks are possible on the following iOS devices: iPhone - 5S, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, and SE iPad - Mini 2/3/4, Air 2, Pro iPod - 6th generation Make sure your iOS device is running iOS 10.2.1 or lower. As of April 2017, there is no iOS 10.3 jailbreak. To check your iOS' operating system, open Settings, tap General , tap About , and find the number next to the "Version" entry. If the number here is between 10.0 and 10.2.1, proceed. While the process here details jailbreaking for iOS 10 through 10.2.1, you can jailbreak your iOS device all the way back to iOS 7 if necessary. Disable your iOS device's passcode. You can turn it back on after the jailbreak is complete. To disable the passcode: Open Settings. Scroll down and tap Touch ID & Passcode (or simply Passcode ). Enter your passcode. Scroll down and tap Turn Passcode Off. Enter your passcode again. Disable Find My iPhone. As with your iOS device's passcode, you'll be able to turn it back on once the jailbreak finishes. To do this: Tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner to return to the "Settings" page. Scroll down and tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap Find My iPhone. Slide Find My iPhone left to the "Off" position. You may need to enter your Apple ID password or use your Touch ID to do so. Update iTunes to the latest version. You can do this by opening iTunes, clicking the Help tab in the upper-left corner, clicking Check for Updates , and clicking Download iTunes if this option is available. You will need to restart your computer after updating iTunes. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your computer. You'll connect it with your iOS device's USB charger cable. . Back up your device's data While not necessary, backing up your iOS device to iTunes will ensure that you can restore it should the jailbreak go wrong. The process for backing up an iPhone will work for backing up an iPad or iPod as well. Jailbreaking in and of itself won't typically harm your device, so this is just a precautionary measure. Activate your device's Airplane Mode. This will prevent Apple over-the-air updates or restrictions from affecting the jailbreak. To do so: Open Settings. Slide Airplane Mode at the top of the "Settings" page right to the "On" position. Proceed with jailbreaking your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Now that you've taken the necessary steps to ensure that the jailbreak will work, you may begin actually jailbreaking your device. Click the "Download Yalu jailbreak IPA -10.2" link. It's the first link beneath the "Yalu10.2 Beta 7" heading on this webpage. Click the "Download Cydia Impactor" link. It's directly below the first link. Doing so will take you to a page with links at the top of the page for different operating systems: Mac OS X Windows Linux (32 bit) Linux (64 bit) Click the link for your operating system. A ZIP file with the jailbreak installer in it will begin downloading to your computer. Depending on the browser you're using, you may need to select a save location (e.g., your desktop) before the file will download. Double-click the ZIP folder. Doing so will open the ZIP folder on most computers. On old computers, you may need to install an unzipping program in order to open this folder. Double-click the "Impactor" application. It will begin installing files on your computer. This process will likely take a few minutes. Click and drag "Yalu" onto the installer window. This file has an iTunes logo on it, and will likely be on the desktop. Enter your Apple ID email address. Do so in the pop-up window when prompted. Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. Enter your Apple ID password. Do so in the same window as above. Click OK. As long as your Apple ID credentials are correct, Yalu will begin installing onto your iOS device. Again, this process will take a few minutes. Open Yalu on your iOS device. It's a black and grey app with a human face on it. Tap go. This is a link in the middle of the screen. After tapping it, your iOS device will restart. Wait for your device to finish restarting. Once it does, you'll see a brown app with a box icon called "Cydia" on the Home Screen; this is the jailbreak App Store. You have successfully installed Cydia on your iOS device. Open Cydia. It's a brown app with a box icon on it. You will find it on the Home Screen after the jailbreak completes, though you will have to scroll to a Home Screen page to view it if your primary Home Screen is full. Review the tabs at the bottom of Cydia. These tabs include the following: Cydia - Bottom-left corner of the screen. This is the Cydia Home page. Sources - Right of Cydia. Any repositories, which are places from which you can download tweaks, will appear here. You can add repositories by tapping Edit in the top-right corner of the screen, tapping Add in the top-left corner, typing in a repository's URL, and tapping Add Source. Changes - Right of Sources. This page is analogous to the Updates tab in the iOS App Store. To update your iOS device's tweaks and apps, tap Upgrade in the top-right corner of the screen. Installed - Right of Changes. You can view a comprehensive list of all apps, tweaks, and other changes. To remove a change, tap it, tap Modify in the top-right corner, and tap Remove. Search - Bottom-right corner of the screen. Allows you to search for Cydia apps, tweaks, etc. Tap Cydia. You'll be taken back to the Home page. Tap Themes. It's on the top-right side of the screen. You can browse Cydia themes, which fundamentally change the way your iOS device's display appears and reacts, in this section. The majority of the tweaks here are paid. Continue browsing Cydia. As you navigate Cydia, you will get a feel for the kinds of themes or tweaks you prefer, and you'll be able to download them as you go.
Make sure your device is compatible. Make sure your iOS device is running iOS 10.2.1 or lower. Disable your iOS device's passcode. Disable Find My iPhone. Update iTunes to the latest version. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your computer. . Activate your device's Airplane Mode. Proceed with jailbreaking your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Click the "Download Yalu jailbreak IPA -10.2" link. Click the "Download Cydia Impactor" link. Click the link for your operating system. Double-click the ZIP folder. Double-click the "Impactor" application. Click and drag "Yalu" onto the installer window. Enter your Apple ID email address. Click OK. Enter your Apple ID password. Click OK. Open Yalu on your iOS device. Tap go. Wait for your device to finish restarting. Open Cydia. Review the tabs at the bottom of Cydia. Tap Cydia. Tap Themes. Continue browsing Cydia.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Water-Drop-Sound-With-Your-Mouth
How to Make a Water Drop Sound With Your Mouth
To make a water drop sound with your mouth, start by drinking water or licking your lips to wet them. Then, whistle to get the right mouth shape. If you can't whistle, purse your lips together while leaving a slight gap for air to pass through. Once you've made the right shape with your lips, mouth the word “Hoink.” While you mouth the word, tap or flick your cheek to make the sound louder. You should also hold your breath or breathe through your nose, since you won't be able to make the sound while breathing through your mouth. If you don't get it at first, keep practicing, since it can take some people a while to get the trick down.
Wet your lips. Drink a glass or two of water if your lips are dry, and whenever you need to while practicing. Apply lip balm and try again later if they're severely chapped. Whistle. Whistling involves the same mouth shape, and may be easier to learn. If you can't whistle, pucker your lips slightly with a gap between them for air to pass through. Pull your tongue back. Pull your lower jaw downward to stretch out your cheeks and give yourself more air to work with. Hold your breath. You can't make the water drop sound while blowing or breathing through your nose. Get in the habit of breathing through your nose while practicing. Practice mouthing the word "hoink. " Practice this for at least five or ten minutes. Say the word "hoink" repeatedly, then repeat that same mouth motion without vocalizing or grunting. Move your jaw and Adam's apple quickly upward as you do this, and move your tongue up and forward. You should feel a short flow of air leave your mouth while you say this, even though you aren't exhaling. If you know Russian, a certain vulgar three-letter word beginning with Х works even better. Tap or flick your cheek during the mouth movement. Repeat the "hoink" mouth movement. Right before you finish the tongue movement, tap the outside of your cheek with your finger. Flicking your cheek will work instead, and may help get a louder sound when you're first practicing, but you're striking too hard if you give yourself a red, stinging cheek. Some people find it easier to tap with the eraser end of a pencil, instead of a finger. This step often takes 45 minutes of dedicated practice, and can take days if you practice only occasionally. You can also try tapping the hollow between your teeth, the back of your lower jaw, the side of your front eyetooth, and anywhere in between. Learn the mouth shape even if you can't whistle. This trick is much easier to learn if you can whistle, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. To make the right mouth shape, purse your lips together by drawing in the corners of your mouth slightly. Don't overdo it and make a "duck face." Your lips should only stick out slightly, with a gap in between them for air to pass through. Relax if your muscles are sore. If your jaw or cheeks are getting tense, you've lowered your jaw too far. If your cheek is red and stinging, you're flicking it too hard. No part of this process should feel painful or uncomfortable. If you're sore simply from practicing for a long stretch of time, take a ten minute break. Prevent yourself from exhaling. If you keep forgetting not to blow during your practice, inhale through your nose, and the passageway at the back of your mouth should automatically close shut. Wait for the flow of air during the hoink motion. If you can't get the sound within five minutes of flicking, stop and focus just on the hoink motion. Pay attention to the air flowing past your lips. If you don't feel it, try moving your tongue or jaw and trying again. Once you notice a brief flow of air, as though you were blowing gently, start flicking again and try to flick at the same time as that flow. If you're lucky, you might even here a hollow whistling sound or even a faint water drop noise without the flick – then you're definitely on the right track.
Wet your lips. Whistle. Hold your breath. Practice mouthing the word "hoink. Tap or flick your cheek during the mouth movement. Learn the mouth shape even if you can't whistle. Relax if your muscles are sore. Prevent yourself from exhaling. Wait for the flow of air during the hoink motion.
https://www.wikihow.com/Turn-Down-a-Drink
How to Turn Down a Drink
To turn down a drink, be direct by saying something like "No, thanks. I'm good right now," or "Thanks, but I'm driving tonight." You can also make a joke to lighten the mood, like "No amount of alcohol could solve my problems right now, but thanks." If someone is pressuring you to drink, try changing the subject or complimenting them on something to distract them. Or, if you need to, separate yourself from that person or leave the event so you're less likely to give in.
Say no directly. If someone offers you alcohol, the best and easiest response is a simple, "No, thanks." Oftentimes people will not push you for a reason and respect your choices. Should the person offering question you, you can try more detailed responses. For example, you could say, "Thanks, but I'm the designated driver." Be polite, but firm. Have confidence in your reasons not to drink. Sometimes saying no can make you feel boring. But understanding your reasons for sobriety and standing by them will help others know that you're serious. Complimenting the person can help them respect your decision. You could say, "It means so much that you'd think of me, but I'm not drinking tonight." If someone challenges your refusal, you could tell them that you feel uncomfortable when they disrespect your choices. Turn down a drink with humor. Humor can lighten up a situation. You can use jokes to distract your friends from the situation, especially if they don't drop the conversation. Try saying something like, "Nah, man, I've already had my share. And probably yours, too!" Or, "Haha, no thanks. No drink in the world could have enough alcohol to solve my problems." Keep your jokes polite and tasteful. Others might feel attacked if you insult them for drinking. Ask for a non-alcoholic drink as an alternative. Having a non-alcoholic drink in hand will make others less likely to offer you a drink. Ask the bartender for your favorite soda, or go for a water if you're cutting back sugary drinks in general. If you opt for a virgin drink (like an Arnold Palmer or Shirley Temple), others will probably not even notice. Many cocktails can be ordered "virgin," or without alcohol. Try a virgin piña colada or daiquiri. Most bars are beginning to stock non-alcoholic beers as well, so you could give one of these a try. Repeat yourself. If someone continually offers you a drink, don't be afraid to sound like a broken record. Restate yourself and firmly tell them you won't be drinking tonight. You don't owe anyone an explanation you don't want to give. Explain your reasons for staying sober, if you want to. Maybe your doctor advised you to give up drinking or you're training for an athletic competition. Maybe you're pregnant and don't want to harm the baby. Whatever your reason, state it calmly and answer any questions you feel comfortable with. For example, you could say, "Hey, I appreciate the offer, but I don't drink for religious reasons." Or you could say, "You know, I'm a recovering alcoholic and am 2 years sober. It'd be a shame to break the streak now." Change the subject. Turn their attention elsewhere, if someone persistently offers you a drink. Maybe you could ask if anyone else wants the drink, or you could use the subject of drinks to bring up a new juice cleanse you want to try. Complimenting is a great means of distraction, as the attention shifts from you to the other person. You could say, for example, "Wow, you're always looking out for me. You are such a good friend! How are you holding up lately? Did you finish that presentation you were stressing over?" Have an escape plan, if you feel cornered. Prepare a backup plan with your friends beforehand, and involve others in it. Tell a trusted friend or family member about this special event, and ask them if you can call them if you feel pressured. If you're underage, have a code word with your parents. That way, they can pick you up if uncomfortable situations arise. If your code word is "third period Biology" for example, you could call them and say, "I just met a guy from my third period Biology class here, small world!" Avoid giving in. It can be hard to keep refusing a drink when people are pressuring you, but you can resist them! You likely have a good reason for not drinking, so keep that in mind. Don't let others sway your decision. Stand firm and tell them you do not want a drink. Don't spend time with people who disrespect you. Friends who don't respect your choices do not have your best interests in mind. Walk away from people who pressure you into drinking, and avoid situations around them that involve alcohol. Make friends with people who accept your decisions, even if they don't understand them. Become the designated driver. If you're driving to this event in a group, offer to be the designated driver. Having a reason to stay sober will help others respect your decision. Very few people will offer a drink to someone who's driving people home afterward. If they do, you'll have an understandable excuse. Spend time with other designated drivers when at the party or special event. There is often strength in numbers when it comes to peer pressure. Let your friends know so you have allies. Go with a group to this special event, and let them know beforehand you don't plan to drink. You can tell them why if you feel comfortable, or you can just tell them you're cutting back on alcohol. Your friends can offer their support if others start pressuring you. Choose friends you trust and know will respect your decision. If you have a friend who also doesn't drink, ask them to come. Don't rely too heavily on your friends' support. You may spend time without them at this event and will need your own motivation. Give the host an advance notice, if applicable. Tell the host you do not drink to avoid awkward situations. Your host will them know not to offer you a drink or toast with you. You can avoid hurting their feelings, and they can avoid putting you in an uncomfortable situation. Prepare a few stock phrases in advance. Decide on a few phrases you will say beforehand if someone offers you a drink. If you don't plan a response or two, you might feel tongue-tied when the moment comes. Your response doesn't have to be vulnerable or complicated: even a simple, "I appreciate it, but no thanks!" will do. Avoid situations where you know you'll be triggered. If you think you might be tempted, stay away from people or places you might give into pressure. Drinking when you've decided not to will only hurt your self-respect in the long run. Prevent putting yourself in a compromising situation by avoiding it entirely. Ask yourself personal questions if you feel pressured: why do I want to give in? What will I lose if I have a drink? What's more important: long-term satisfaction or short-term comfort? Don't let anyone or anything compromise your personal convictions.
Say no directly. Be polite, but firm. Turn down a drink with humor. Ask for a non-alcoholic drink as an alternative. Repeat yourself. Explain your reasons for staying sober, if you want to. Change the subject. Have an escape plan, if you feel cornered. Avoid giving in. Don't spend time with people who disrespect you. Become the designated driver. Let your friends know so you have allies. Give the host an advance notice, if applicable. Prepare a few stock phrases in advance. Avoid situations where you know you'll be triggered.
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Dry-Curly-Hair
How to Care for Dry Curly Hair
Dry curly hair can be a bit of a headache to care for, but fortunately you can reduce frizz and tangles with some simple changes to your shower routine. Deep condition your hair about 10 minutes before you shower. You can also deep condition your hair again after you've washed it with shampoo. If you sometimes struggle to comb your hair after showering, try combing it in the shower while it's still wet. When you get out of the shower, blot your hair dry with a microfiber towel instead of rubbing it, which will help to reduce frizz. If you blow dry your hair, spray on some heat protectant and use a diffuser attachment to minimize frizz.
Apply a deep conditioner just before you get in the shower. Work a liberal amount of deep conditioner into your hair section by section, pulling apart your curls and coating each strand. The longer and thicker your hair and the tighter your curls, the more conditioner you will need. Tuck it up under a shower cap and hop in the shower, washing your body first. Once you've kept the cap on for about 10 minutes, remove it and wash your hair as usual. Applying conditioner before showering and covering it under a shower cap will give your hair an extra boost of hydration as the steam from the shower locks in the moisture from the conditioner. You can also substitute deep conditioner for coconut oil, which is an effective moisturizer for curly strands. Use a sulfate-free shampoo or a cleansing conditioner for extra moisture. Take off the shower cap and apply either a sulfate-free shampoo or, if your hair needs extra moisture, a cleansing conditioner. Massage it into your scalp and the crown of your head, then rinse. If you're using a cleansing conditioner, let it soak in for a couple of minutes before rinsing. Then, rinse it out with cold water to seal your hair's cuticle and add shine. Sulfates are cleaning agents found in most traditional shampoos, but they can cause curls to go frizzy and dry. Using a sulfate-free shampoo will keep your curls bouncy and smooth. You can make your own cleansing conditioner by mixing a small amount of shampoo with a lot of conditioner. Use this mixture instead of shampoo for extra frizz-banishing strength. Shampoo is meant to remove oil from hair, but if your hair is already very dry, you might not need to use any. Using a homemade cleansing conditioner instead will clean your hair without stripping its natural oils. Apply a deep conditioner to your hair from mid-length to tip. After washing your hair with shampoo or cleansing conditioner, pour a coin-sized amount of deep conditioner into your palm and scrunch it thoroughly through your hair, working from about halfway down to the tips. Leave it in for a couple of minutes, then rinse lightly. Try to leave some residual conditioner in your hair to give your strands an extra boost. Choose a deep conditioner that's formulated for curly hair. If your hair is feeling really dry, soak it with moisture by “co-washing,” or washing with just conditioner and no shampoo or cleansing conditioner. Simply get your hair wet and apply conditioner as usual. Comb your hair in the shower before drying. Grab a wide-toothed comb and work through knots while you still have conditioner in your hair. The conditioner will help the comb slip through your strands without snagging or causing breakage. This makes the process easier, and won't cause frizz like combing after the shower will. Start detangling at the tips of your hair and work up to the roots. Use a styling product on damp hair to keep frizz at bay. For the least frizz, apply your styling products before you fully dry your hair. Wring out excess water, then run the product through your hair with your fingers from roots to ends. Scrunch up towards your scalp to encourage your curls. If you have soft, loose curls, use a curl-defining spray. For medium to big curls, use a thick, defining gel. If you have tight curls, go for a more dense cream. Wring out your hair with a towel to dry it. When you're done conditioning, rinse your hair with cool water and blot it dry with a microfiber towel or an old T-shirt. The smoother material will help settle your curls more than a regular towel and leave just enough moisture behind to prevent frizz. If your hair is still dripping wet, tip your head upside down, place the towel or T-shirt over it, and twist gently. Place the hair bundle on top of your head to dry. Wash your hair every 2-3 days. Curly hair typically doesn't need to be washed everyday, especially since frequent shampooing can dry it and stretch out the natural bounciness. If you have thicker hair, aim to wash every 3 days; for thinner curls, try every other day. Everyone's hair is different, so pay attention to how yours responds when you don't wash it. Notice how long it takes to get oily and plan to wash it around that time. You can still give your hair a rinse on an off day if it's feeling dirty. Simply wet it in the shower and apply conditioner, let it soak for a few minutes, then rinse with cool water. You can also try a dry shampoo that's formulated for curly hair to keep your strands smooth and frizz-free without getting them wet. Pile your hair in a bun to define your curls and discourage frizz. After your hair has dried a bit, pile it loosely on top of your head. Wind a hair tie around it to create a loose bun or ponytail. When left hanging, gravity can pull your curls out and create frizz. Gently pulling your hair to the top of your head can help you avoid this, creating soft, bouncy curls. Rub coconut oil on the tips of your hair for extra shine. Coconut oil can help moisturize the dry tips of your hair and make them gleam. Use your fingers to gently rub a small amount on the ends of your curls. Dry and define your curls with a diffuser. To dry your hair quickly without creating frizz, use the diffuser attachment on your hair dryer. Apply a heat protectant spray or mousse to your wet hair, then use your fingers to twirl each curl into the shape you want. Cup each section of hair in your diffuser to dry and define your curls without frizz. Use the diffuser to encourage the curl by scrunching your hair up slightly. The diffuser will dry your curls evenly, unlike the regular nozzle, and won't cause frizz. The diffuser nozzle should look round, with a few spikes sticking out. Try not to use your blow dryer and diffuser more than twice a week to keep your hair healthy. Scrunch your curls with your hands to make them bouncy and light. If you don't have time for any other styling, scrunching is your friend! Grab a section of hair in your palm and squeeze it gently while pushing it upwards. Some simple scrunching can help cut down on frizz and give your curls some energy. Avoid heat products as much as you can. Using lots of heat products can make your curls more limp and more likely to frizz over time. To avoid this, only blow-dry twice a week and never use a flat-iron that's over 400 °F (204 °C). If you notice that your curls are going limp, avoid all heat styling and use a conditioning mask in the shower to restore bounce and shine. Avoid styling products with alcohol, which can dry out your hair. Lots of styling products, especially sprays, contain alcohol that can dry out your hair and make your curls hard and crunchy. Instead, choose water-soluble gels and mousses. Check the ingredients on your products to make sure they don't include any alcohol. Get your hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks. Split ends can make curly hair look drier and frizzier than it actually is. To avoid this, get your hair trimmed regularly, about ever 6-8 weeks. Ask your stylist if you can get a dry cut. Your curls look much different wet than they do dry, and a dry cut will ensure that every strand falls just where you want it to. Rub in a deep conditioner before working out. Run a coin-sized amount of deep conditioner from your roots to your tips, then throw your hair up into a ponytail or bun. While you work up a sweat, the heat you generate will lock in the moisture from the conditioner, creating super-soft curls. When you're done working out, simply rinse out the conditioner in the shower and wash as usual. Use a wide-tooth comb to untangle knots. Bristled brushes create lots of frizz, and can wear on your hair, sapping it of moisture and causing split ends. Instead, use a wide-toothed pick or comb to gently work through tangles, starting at the tips of your hair and working up to your roots. You can also use your fingers to comb through your hair and gently pick out tangles. Use a silk pillowcase to prevent frizz while you sleep. Cotton pillowcases can actually soak up moisture from your hair, leaving it dry and frizzy when you wake up. Buy a silk pillowcase instead, which won't create as much friction or strain on your hair. You can also wrap your hair in a silk head wrap before going to bed to get the same frizz-fighting effect. Avoid contact with coarse materials on your head. If you can, try not to use scarves, sweaters, hats, and hoods made of rough materials, which can create friction with your curls and cause frizz. Look for satin-lined hats and hoods, and other clothes made of soft, smooth material. If you can't avoid a coarser hat or coat, bring along a bit of frizz-fighting mousse or gel to apply once you take it off.
Apply a deep conditioner just before you get in the shower. Use a sulfate-free shampoo or a cleansing conditioner for extra moisture. Apply a deep conditioner to your hair from mid-length to tip. Comb your hair in the shower before drying. Use a styling product on damp hair to keep frizz at bay. Wring out your hair with a towel to dry it. Wash your hair every 2-3 days. Pile your hair in a bun to define your curls and discourage frizz. Rub coconut oil on the tips of your hair for extra shine. Dry and define your curls with a diffuser. Scrunch your curls with your hands to make them bouncy and light. Avoid heat products as much as you can. Avoid styling products with alcohol, which can dry out your hair. Get your hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks. Rub in a deep conditioner before working out. Use a wide-tooth comb to untangle knots. Use a silk pillowcase to prevent frizz while you sleep. Avoid contact with coarse materials on your head.
https://www.wikihow.com/Register-for-Selective-Service
How to Register for Selective Service
The easiest way to register for selective service is online using the Selective Service Registration website. Navigate to the website, enter your social security number, and follow any additional directions provided to complete your registration. You can also register when you're filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) by checking "Yes" in Box 29. Be sure to register within 30 days of your 18th birthday!
Go to the Selective Service website up to 30 days after you turn 18. To get to the form, visit https://www.sss.gov/Registration/Register-Now/Registration-Form. You have until your 25th birthday to register, but you should do this right after you turn 18, as it is the law. Complete the online form in its entirety. All you need to complete is your sex, full name, suffix, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. In addition, select an option from the drop-down list regarding the question “How did you first learn about registration?” Options from the drop-down include parent/relative, friend, classroom, guidance counselor, financial aid office, TV/radio, posters, news, direct mail, post office, internet, selective service rep, high school registrar, workforce invest act, farmers opportunity program, other, military rep, USCIS, drivers licensing, etc. You can register early if you are 17 years and 3 months old. Do this if you have a Social Security number and you are a male aged 18-25. Press “Submit Registration” when you are finished. Once you have completed all of the required information, you're finished! This process should take you no more than 5 minutes. If you click on the “Reset Form” button instead of “Submit Registration,” your responses will be deleted. After you submit your form, it should take only a few minutes for your information to enter the system. You can verify your registration by visiting https://www.sss.gov/Home/Verification. Click on “Verify Now,” and type in your last name, Social Security number, and date of birth. Visit the Selective Service website to download and print the form. To get the form, go to https://www.sss.gov/Portals/0/PDFs/regform_copyINT_1.pdf. Do this if you prefer to send a hard copy or if you do not have a Social Security number yet. Alternatively, if you don't have access to the internet, visit your local post office and ask for a mail-back registration form. Post Offices always have these forms available. Fill out the form with all required information. The form comes with instructions regarding how to complete the form, and it also includes information on privacy. Fill in your date of birth, sex, Social Security number (if you have one), name, mailing address, email address, and date. Don't forget to sign the form! Use a pen when completing the form to clearly write your responses. Mail the form to the Selective Services. When you complete your form, place it into an envelope addressed to Selective Service System Registration Information Office, P.O. Box 94739, Palatine, IL 60094-4739. Include correct postage on your envelope, and write your return address in the top left corner. Then, drop your letter off at your local Post Office. Call 847-688-6888 if you do not get your confirmation within 90 days. If you do not receive a registration acknowledgment via mail within 1-3 months, call the Selective Service number to request your documentation. This is sent to you in the mail after you sign up online or with a hard copy. You can also check your registration verification online by visiting https://www.sss.gov/Home/Verification. Do this 2-5 weeks after you mail in your card, as it may take time to process your information. Complete and return the mail-back card if you get one in the mail. Around the time of your 18th birthday, you may receive a mail-back form in the mail from the Selective Service. You can fill this out at home and mail it back to the Selective Service with proper postage. The card asks for your name, birthday, address, email, sex, and Social Security number. Check the registration box if you are completing a FAFSA form. If you are getting ready to go to college and completing a federal student financial aid form, you can simply check the box on the application form designating your registration for the Selective Service. Make a checkmark next to “Register Me” on Box 22. The Department of Education then provides the Selective Service with your information to register you. Ask your school’s Selective Service Registrar if you are in High School. A Selective Service Registrar is a teacher or guidance counselor of a high school who helps register male students for the Selective Service. Ask you principal or guidance counselor who the Registrar is at your school, then ask them for assistance in signing up. The Registrar can help you complete the form, mail it away, and answer any questions. Most high schools across the U.S. offer this service. Inform the Selective Service within 10 days of any changes. Until your 26th birthday, you must update your information with the Selective Service, including changing your address, changing your name, getting a new SSN, or changing military status. Change your address online for an effortless option. To do this, visit https://www.sss.gov/Home/Address-Change. Then, choose "Submit Address Change" if you currently live inside the United States, or "Submit Foreign Address Change" if you are living abroad. Type in your Selective Service number, Social Security number, name, date of birth, and address. When you are finished, click on "Submit Address Change." Call 847-688-6888 to change your information over the phone. If it is easier for you to update your information over the phone, use a nice and polite tone when chatting with an associate. Explain the reason for your call, and provide your change of address, name, or SSN, for instance. For example, you can say something like, "Hello there, I recently moved and need to update my address. Can you help, please?" Complete and mail back a form if you prefer a hard copy. Ask for either a Selective Service address change form from your Post Office if you recently moved. If you need to update your name or SSN, use the tear-off "Change of Information" form you received with your registration card. Complete the form, and mail it back to the Selective Service System, P.O. Box 94638, Palatine, IL 60094-4638. The form is very simple to complete, and it asks you for your old and updated information.
Go to the Selective Service website up to 30 days after you turn 18. Complete the online form in its entirety. Press “Submit Registration” when you are finished. Visit the Selective Service website to download and print the form. Fill out the form with all required information. Mail the form to the Selective Services. Call 847-688-6888 if you do not get your confirmation within 90 days. Complete and return the mail-back card if you get one in the mail. Check the registration box if you are completing a FAFSA form. Ask your school’s Selective Service Registrar if you are in High School. Inform the Selective Service within 10 days of any changes. Change your address online for an effortless option. Call 847-688-6888 to change your information over the phone. Complete and mail back a form if you prefer a hard copy.
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-Your-Eggs-Are-Fresh
How to Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh
If you're not sure how to tell if your eggs are fresh, fill a large glass or bowl with enough water to completely submerge an egg. Carefully lower the egg into the water and watch to see whether it sinks or floats. If the egg sinks to the bottom of the bowl, it's still fresh and you can use it for whatever you like. If the egg floats, however, it is no good and you should throw it out. Never eat spoiled eggs, as you can get seriously ill.
Fill up a large glass or bowl with room temperature water. The bowl or glass should be large enough so that it can hold the entire egg. Fill the container up 3/4 of the way, or enough so that the entire egg will be submerged once you put it in the container. If you don't have a bowl or glass big enough, you can use a bucket or any container that's large enough to hold the egg. Place the egg in the water. Carefully lower the egg in the water so that it doesn't crack if it hits the bottom of the container. If you're testing more than one egg, test each egg individually so that you can determine which ones are good and which ones are rotten. Eat the egg if it sinks to the bottom of the bowl. If the egg sinks to the bottom, then it's still fresh and can be used for whatever cooking purposes that you had in mind. If the egg sinks but stands upright on the bottom of the container, the egg is still fresh but should be eaten or hard-boiled as soon as possible because it is near its expiration. Throw the egg away if it floats. If the egg floats, it means that air is trapped inside of the egg and it is rotten. Eating rotten eggs can lead to food poisoning and should be avoided. You can compost the egg or dump the inside of the egg in the garbage disposal. Do not put egg shells down the garbage disposal. Read the sell-by date on the carton. Eggs can usually last up to 3 weeks if stored in the refrigerator. The sell by date on the carton is usually a good indication of whether the eggs are still fresh. All raw eggs should be maintained in a temperature of 40 °F (4 °C) or less. The sell-by date won't tell you whether your eggs are rotten, but will give you an idea of how old your eggs are. Crack the egg open and examine it. If you crack the egg open and a white ooze comes out, there's a good chance that it is rotten. Fresh eggs will have milky or clear whites and a perky bright yellow or orange yolk. If the egg is rotten, the whites will be thin and watery or may look pink and the yolk will flatten out. The appearance of small red or brown spots, known as blood spots, does not mean the egg is rotten. This is normal and actually means that the egg is most likely very fresh. Smell the egg for a neutral scent. Uncooked fresh eggs should have a neutral scent and should not smell sulfuric or sour. If the egg smells bad before or after you crack it, there's a very high likelihood that it is rotten. Typically rotten eggs will smell bad even before you crack them. Hold the egg next to your ear and shake it. If you hear the inside of the egg sloshing around, it means the egg is rotten. If you can't hear or feel the contents of the egg move, it means it's fresh and you can eat it. This is a less accurate method than examining or smelling the egg. If you're unsure, try the other methods as well.
Fill up a large glass or bowl with room temperature water. Place the egg in the water. Eat the egg if it sinks to the bottom of the bowl. Throw the egg away if it floats. Read the sell-by date on the carton. Crack the egg open and examine it. Smell the egg for a neutral scent. Hold the egg next to your ear and shake it.
https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-the-Horsepower-of-Your-4-Cylinder-Car
How to Increase the Horsepower of Your 4 Cylinder Car
To increase the horsepower of your 4 cylinder car, replace the stock intake tube with a cold air intake to increase the air flow into your engine. Additionally, you could replace parts of your exhaust with wider piping so that the back flow from your engine speeds up, which will allow fuel and air to enter the engine more quickly. Alternatively, find a company online that can reprogram your car's computer to focus more on power. You may also be able to buy a programmer to plug into your OBDII port to reprogram your computer yourself.
Properly maintain your vehicle. Although it's often overlooked as a way to pull additional horsepower from your motor, properly maintaining your vehicle is essential to producing as much power as possible. Refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for recommended service intervals and ensure your adhere to them. Make sure to change your oil every 3,000 miles or at your vehicle's recommend intervals. Replace your air and fuel filters periodically to ensure the unimpeded flow of air and fuel into the engine. Install a cold air intake. The four-cylinder engine in your vehicle is powered by compressing a mixture of air and fuel and igniting it. Because the level of compression your engine will produce is a constant (determined by the piston throw) you can produce more power by allowing for the flow of more air and fuel into the engine itself. To install a new intake , remove the stock intake tube and air box surrounding the air filter and replace it with an aftermarket one designed to increase the amount of air that passes into the engine. Most aftermarket cold air intakes come with a cone shaped filter that more efficiently pulls air from the atmosphere. Increasing the amount of air flow into your engine can also improve gas mileage. Many aftermarket intakes produce more noise than their stock counterparts. Improve your vehicle’s exhaust flow. As your engine ignites the mixture of air and fuel, it pushes the piston downward. The exhaust produced from this explosion must be evacuated from the cylinder chamber before more air and fuel can be injected. Replacing portions of your exhaust with larger diameter pipes will reduce the backpressure limiting the speed the exhaust may exit the engine. You may choose to replace the piping from the catalytic converter back (referred to as a “cat-back” exhaust) or all of the piping leading to the exhaust manifold. Kits can be purchased to replace however much of your vehicle's exhaust system you may choose. Forced induction applications like turbocharged vehicles will gain even more power from installing a higher flowing exhaust than a normally aspirated engine will. Have your vehicle’s computer reprogrammed. In most modern vehicles, a computer controls a number of variables that affect how the engine runs. These computers are programmed from the factory to balance efficiency, emissions, reliability, power output and gas mileage. Reprogramming the computer to prioritize power can often free up horsepower without installing any new components. Search for companies that offer replacement computers for your specific vehicle online. You can either purchase a replacement or send yours out to be reprogrammed. Many companies sell programmers you can plug into the OBDII port of your vehicle to change the code in the computer you have. Swap out ignition components. For an engine to function properly, it needs air, fuel and a spark to ignite the mix. Old spark plugs and worn out spark plug wires can prevent your ignition system from adequately detonating the air/fuel mixture. Your ignition components are often rated to be good for up to 100,000 miles, but replacing them with specialized aftermarket components can result in a more complete burn of air and fuel. The more air and fuel your engine burns, the more power it produces. Worn out spark plugs can even fail to ignite at all, resulting in a misfire. Larger diameter or more conductive ignition wires can reduce the time it takes for the spark to reach the mixture. Install a new throttle body. The throttle body is the point that your intake meets the engine and the air is funneled into the intake manifold. In many applications, installing a throttle body with a larger diameter will allow even more air to flow into the engine, resulting in an increase of power. Throttle bodies are often held in place with four bolts and will require a new gasket to be placed between the throttle body and intake manifold when installed. Throttle body diameter is usually measured in millimeters. Swapping a 65 millimeter throttle body for a 75 millimeter one can dramatically increase the air that flows into the engine. You can purchase throttle bodies with larger diameters at many auto parts stores or online performance marketplaces. Make sure to purchase a throttle body designed for your specific year, make and model of vehicle. Swap out your pistons for a higher compression ratio. Replacing the pistons in your engine is a significant project, but the resulting horsepower increase can be equally as significant. In many vehicles, you will need to remove the entire engine to replace the pistons, but in some you can actually remove the oil pan and crank shaft, followed by the piston rods and pistons. If installing forced induction like a turbocharger or supercharger, you should choose pistons made of forged steel as opposed to the more common cast steel. Forged steel can withstand higher pressures and temperatures. There are a number of steps involved in replacing pistons, many of which are best left to professionals. Install more aggressive camshafts. The camshaft or shafts in your engine have the important task of opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves that allow the air and fuel to enter the engine and the exhaust to exit it at just the right time. Stock camshafts are designed with a combination of efficiency, power, fuel economy and emissions in mind, but replacing them with more specialized ones can dramatically increase the power output of the engine. Many modern vehicles come equipped with variable cam timing (such as Honda's V-Tech), but even these cam shafts can be replaced for more specialized applications. Pushrod motors have a camshaft located in the engine block, whereas modular motors will have them in the cylinder heads. Use headers to improve exhaust flow. Just as replacing components of the exhaust system will increase the efficiency of the exhaust exiting the engine, aftermarket exhaust manifolds designed with larger diameter pipes and equal length piping will improve the balance and efficiency of the way exhaust exits your engine. Aftermarket exhaust manifolds are commonly referred to as headers, and can add significant power to your vehicle. In many four-cylinder vehicles, the exhaust manifold is bolted to the cylinder head at the front of the car. Turbochargers are mounted to the exhaust manifold of turbocharged vehicles, and the increased efficiency of headers will have an even more dramatic effect on the power output of such vehicles. Use a boost controller in turbocharged vehicles. Many four cylinder sports cars now come equipped with turbochargers. These turbochargers produce more pressure than regular atmospheric air can, forcing more air into the engine than would otherwise be possible. Installing an aftermarket boost controller on the vacuum line between the turbocharger and waste gate can allow you to increase the amount of boost the turbocharger produces. Remember that your engine needs to maintain an appropriate air/fuel ratio, so never increase the boost more than your specific vehicle's fuel system can support. An aftermarket boost gauge can be considered mandatory for this modification to ensure you know exactly how many PSI of boost your vehicle is producing. An air/fuel or exhaust gas temperature gauge can help you ensure you are supporting the increased air flow with enough fuel. Turbocharge your vehicle. If your vehicle did not come equipped with a turbocharger from the factory, you can install one on a normally aspirated motor to significantly increase power output. A turbocharger uses the exhaust flowing out of the motor to power a turbine fan that forces compressed air into the engine. Turbocharging a vehicle requires a number of supporting modifications to the vehicle's fuel system. The internal components of your engine, such as pistons and rods, may also need to be replaced to withstand the added stress. Remember that adding forced induction like a turbocharger requires an increase in fuel to support the added air. Kits for your specific vehicle may be available that include all of the components required to turbocharge it. Supercharge your vehicle. A supercharger works by forcing compressed air into the engine just like a turbocharger does, but it is powered by the serpentine or an accessory belt instead of by the exhaust. Because superchargers are belt driven, they are not as efficient as turbochargers but are favored by those who value power at lower RPMs. Superchargers require supporting fuel modifications just like turbochargers. Supercharger kits often come with a bracket and larger serpentine belt to support the addition of the supercharger pulley. Unlike turbochargers, there is no need to wait for the turbo to spool. Superchargers produce power at all RPMs. Use a wet or dry nitrous oxide kit. Nitrous oxide contains more oxygen than atmospheric air, so injecting nitrous into your vehicle's engine works in much the same was as a turbocharger or supercharger. “Wet” nitrous kits inject a combination of nitrous and fuel into the cylinders and can produce more power safely than “dry” kits which inject only nitrous. Most four cylinder motors can withstand up to eighty horsepower worth of nitrous oxide being injected without suffering any adverse effects. Make sure to order a nitrous kit designed for your vehicle if you don't have the tools or skill set to fabricate the components you need to install the kit. Unlike other forms of forced induction, nitrous oxide only increases wear on the engine while armed. Have your vehicle professionally tuned. After installing a form of nitrous or forced induction, it's important to have your vehicle tuned to support the increase in power. Taking your vehicle to a professional tuning shop will allow them to use a dynamometer to test various air/fuel ratios at different RPMs, ensuring the maximum power output at each point in the vehicle's power band. The price to have your vehicle “dyno-tuned” varies from location to location. Dyno-tuning can free up significant amounts of power from the modifications you've already installed.
Properly maintain your vehicle. Install a cold air intake. Improve your vehicle’s exhaust flow. Have your vehicle’s computer reprogrammed. Swap out ignition components. Install a new throttle body. Swap out your pistons for a higher compression ratio. Install more aggressive camshafts. Use headers to improve exhaust flow. Use a boost controller in turbocharged vehicles. Turbocharge your vehicle. Supercharge your vehicle. Use a wet or dry nitrous oxide kit. Have your vehicle professionally tuned.
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Cats-from-Jumping-on-Counters
How to Prevent Cats from Jumping on Counters
To prevent your cats from jumping on countertops, fill a light baking sheet with water and place it on the counter so that the cat will get startled by the sound and movement of the tray if it jumps up. Alternatively, string some twine between 2 empty cans at the point where your cat jumps up to create a noise when the cat touches the twine that will scare it. To keep your cats away from counters, place a cat tree or climbing post near to a window so they can look at natural pray.
Create your own environmental punishers. Environmental punishers —also called "remote correction" —involve disciplining the cats without being present yourself, so the cats don't link the punishment to you. If you punish your cats for jumping on off-limits surfaces yourself, they will learn to keep off counters only when you're at home. You can create some devices for remote correction yourself, but never create a deterrent that might hurt your cat(s). Place light baking sheets at the counter's edge. This simple means of discouraging your cats from jumping on the countertop works because the cats will land on the sheets when they jump onto the counter. The noise and unexpected movement will frighten them, but not physically hurt the cats. Over time, they will associate the countertops with this sound and the stress it creates and avoid jumping up there. You can also fill baking the trays with water and set them on the counter. Cats will be startled not only by the noise, but by the water as well. The drawback here is that cats can slip in the water, so if your cat is old or not especially spry, it would probably be better to avoid this method, as they might slip and hurt themselves. Create a noise trap. String a line of twine across the access point where your cats usually jump onto the counter. Attach one end of the string to empty cans that can be easily knocked over. If you position it just right, a cat jumping onto the counter will move the string enough to knock over the cans, creating a startling noise that will deter him or her from jumping up there again. For an even more startling noise, add coins or other small objects to the cans. Place double-stick tape on the surface where the cat is not allowed to go. The tape can be lightly applied in just a couple of spots to hold it on, then, when the cat jumps upon it, it will stick to his or her paws, deterring them from going there again. Cats are easily distracted and annoyed by objects that stick to them, so the double-stick tape should be effective. You can also try putting aluminum foil on surfaces. The noise will deter cats should they land on it. Buy devices designed for startling cats and put them on the counter. These devices startle cats with loud noises, unexpected movement, or double-sided tape. There is quite a market for these types of deterrents, so do some research to see what works. Motion-activated air blasters are one example of electronic devices meant to deter cats from countertops or other unwanted surfaces or areas. A motion sensor detects the cat in the off-limits area and immediately sprays the animal with a strong gust of air, startling them. Motion-activated alarms are another device that can help deter cats from countertops. A motion sensor activates a loud alarm that startles the cat and alerts the owner. Some motion-activated alarms are pressure sensitive, so they are activated when the cat touches them or what they are positioned under. There are even mats that are pressure sensitive that you can roll out on the countertop so they will be triggered when the cat lands on them. Silent motion-activated alarms provide a less bothersome alternative to other motion-activated alarms. These alarms emit a tone of such a high pitch that they are inaudible to humans and even dogs, but they will deter cats. Textured mats are a harmless deterrent that require no electricity, batteries, or compressed air. These mats are simply-textured with a minimally-pointed nub that is uncomfortable for the cat to tread upon. Encountering them, the cats will generally jump off. Activate noisemakers yourself. Conceal yourself from the cat's view and use a noisemaker of some kind as soon as you see the cat jump on the counter. There are many noisemakers from which to choose, and there are even some that are manufactured for this specific purpose. An air horn can be an effective way of startling the cat enough to get them off the surface from which they are banned if you can catch them in the act and remain concealed. Just be sure the air horn you choose is not so loud the you damage the cat's or you own hearing. Some manufacturers have created air horns that are loud when activated, but that also spray a pheromone which further deters the cat from unwanted behavior. Give cats acceptable alternatives to satisfy their natural instincts to climb and jump. For instance, cats crave what veterinarians call "vertical challenges"; they will find counters less appealing if they have other objects to jump onto or climb. Place vertical cat furniture near windows. Cat trees, cat condos, or climbing posts give cats a place to climb, perch, and survey their surroundings. Being near the windows allows them to look at natural prey, which satisfies their curiosity and stimulates them to the point that they will be less likely to jump onto countertops and other surfaces. Install a cat shelf. Cat shelves are padded surfaces attached to the insides of window sills. Like cat trees and other cat furniture, cat shelves satisfy curiosity while stimulating your pet at the same time. Choose windows with good sun exposure, as cats do like to lay in the sun, and the cat shelf is a great place to do so in a window that gets a lot of sunlight. The cat shelf gives your cat(s) an alternative place to sleep and/or watch what's happening outside, which can help keep them distracted from countertops. Give cats an assortment of toys to play with on the floor. These toys may help use up their energy so they will be less inclined to jump on counters. If you can keep your cat interested enough in toys that stay on the floor in particular, you may also be able to keep them from becoming interested in jumping onto countertops. Change the available toys occasionally so they don't get bored and start jumping on counters for new stimulation. Many cats like simple toys, like small, fake mice that you can throw across the room for them to chase—they may even bring them back to you! Some cats will inevitably avoid expensive toys and play instead with empty plastic bags, boxes, laundry baskets, etc. Experiment with different types of toys to see what you cat likes before you buy an expensive toy. Many cat toys are now electronic, with toy mice that run around a track or even ones with wheels so they can roll across carpeting or other floors on their own. Still other toys incorporate LED lights and other technology. These toys can be very stimulating for cats, thereby keeping them off off-limits surfaces like countertops. Provide a variety of cat beds in warm, sunny sites inside your home. Cats particularly enjoy beds in which they can "nest" or burrow. Cats sleep 16-20 hours per day, which is a lot of time they won't be interested in jumping on countertops. If you give them especially inviting spaces in which to sleep, you'll be encouraging them to sleep in these spaces and not on countertops. You'll also be helping to ensure they are taking full advantage of sleeping time and not seeking out new stimulation around the house—such as on the countertops. Put your cats in another room while you're cooking. This is so they don't become curious about what is on the counter from the smell of food coming from there. Cats' sense of smell is forty times stronger than that of humans. They will smell whatever you are cooking, and this can excite their sense of curiosity when you're not around, so they may jump onto the surface these smells emanate from. Cats might even have trouble controlling their curiosity and jump on the counter even while you are actively cooking. Putting cats in another room while you cook can minimize their curiosity about countertops and help keep them from jumping there. Be sure to provide a toy and comfortable place to sleep in whatever space you leave them while using the kitchen to cook or prepare meals so they are stimulated and comfortable. Confining cats to another room while you're cooking doesn't work with all cats, so don't be surprised if your cat whines from inside the room. If this happens, try not to leave them in there too long or you may cause them stress. Keep counters clear of human food which may tempt your cats. Again, cats have a very powerful sense of smell, so food particles left on countertops can lure them into trying to find and eat any scraps, crumbs, or spills you may have missed, in addition to clawing or biting their way into food you have stored on countertops. If you must store food on counters, place it in containers which cats can't tear or chew open. Wipe off counters frequently. This eliminates the odor of food on the surfaces. It might be especially effective to wipe off counters with a disinfecting wipe, which will eliminate odors that may attract your cat while keeping your countertops clean and sanitary. Choose cleaners or disinfectants that smell like citrus, aloe, eucalyptus, or wintergreen in particular. These scents will deter cats from unwanted surfaces. In fact, many perfumes will have the same effect. Consider giving more food to your cats. It is possible your cat is jumping on your countertops to scavenge for food because he or she is hungry. You might be able to determine if this is the case simply by offering your cat more food than usual. If the cat doesn't seem to jump on the counter after you start offering more food than before, then you might have solved the problem. However, some cats do overeat, and even if you do offer more food, they may still jump onto counters. Be prepared for this possibility as you try offering more food to combat countertop incursions. If you aren't already, keep a bowl of dry cat food out for the cats to eat as they please. Many cats are "grazers" meaning they like to eat small amounts of food throughout the day instead of having specific mealtimes where they eat a lot of food at once. If your cats are grazers, be sure to keep a bowl of dry cat food always available, provided you do not exceed the daily serving amount on the package (unless your veterinarian instructs you to do otherwise). You can also offer them smaller portions throughout the day if that is convenient for you, but the point is to offer them enough food to try to keep them from scavenging for food on your countertops. Watch your cat's eating habits and weight to prevent obesity if you alter their regular feeding routine. Keep counters free of objects cats like to play with. If you have cats toys or other objects cats like to play with on the countertop, then the cat will be tempted to jump up there and get them. Keep in mind that cats toys are not the only things cats like to play with. Your cat may be tempted to get on countertops to play with objects like keys, pens, lip balm tubes, and paper. Keep in mind also that you should not store cat toys in a location near the countertop, such as a cabinet. If the cat sees you put a toy there, he or she may be more likely to get on countertops to try to get the toy. Keep windows near countertops covered. Be sure you close the curtains or shades on windows that your cat can access via the countertop. Cats like to look out windows to see birds, chipmunks, and other wildlife outside, so they may jump on countertops to get to those windows. This is why it is a good idea to have cat trees or cat shelves set up for cats to be able to look out windows (see Method 2). Clean your counters with lemon pledge or lemon oil. Cats don't like lemon, so this might work on your cat(s).
Create your own environmental punishers. Place light baking sheets at the counter's edge. Create a noise trap. Place double-stick tape on the surface where the cat is not allowed to go. Buy devices designed for startling cats and put them on the counter. Activate noisemakers yourself. Give cats acceptable alternatives to satisfy their natural instincts to climb and jump. Place vertical cat furniture near windows. Install a cat shelf. Give cats an assortment of toys to play with on the floor. Provide a variety of cat beds in warm, sunny sites inside your home. Put your cats in another room while you're cooking. Keep counters clear of human food which may tempt your cats. Wipe off counters frequently. Consider giving more food to your cats. Keep counters free of objects cats like to play with. Keep windows near countertops covered. Clean your counters with lemon pledge or lemon oil.
https://www.wikihow.com/Cancel-DIRECTV
How to Cancel DIRECTV
To cancel your DirecTV subscription, call DirecTV customer support at 1-800-531-5000. Then, follow any spoken prompts and press the numbers on your keypad to navigate to “Other” or “All other enquiries.” When you're asked why you're calling, say “Cancel service.” Once you've gotten through to a person, ask to speak to the retention department, if you're not already. After that, explain that you want to cancel your service. If the customer service representative offers you any discounts or services, refuse them. When you've finished the call, you'll receive a box in the post, which you should pack with your DirecTV equipment and post back to DirecTV. You'll also need to pay a cancellation fee and any outstanding balance on your contract.
Call DirecTV customer support. The DirecTV line is 1 (800) 531-5000. By calling, you'll be able speak to a representative about canceling your subscription. Calling is the only way to cancel traditional service. In addition, when calling you may be able to get information about your account that is not available on the internet. Navigate through the spoken prompts. When prompted, you'll have to press a number on your phone's dial pad that corresponds with an option (e.g., "For all other inquiries, press [number]"). If possible, choose the "Other" option when available. This is the fastest way to reach a human customer support spokesperson. Indicate that you want to cancel your service. Say "Cancel service" when asked what you want to do or why you're calling. Keep in mind that DirecTV phone options change often, so you may have a different experience up to the point of contact. Ask to speak to the retention department. When you reach a person, immediately ask if you're speaking to the retention department; if they say no, ask to be transferred to retention. You'll most likely be encouraged to explain the nature of your call before proceeding. You may have to hold 5 to 10 minutes, depending on when you call. Consider calling during low call volume time, such as between 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on week days, to reduce the hold time. Explain to the representative that you want to cancel your service, as well as why. Simply saying something like "I want to cancel my DirecTV subscription because I'm cutting all ties with technology" is a decent start. Unfortunately, honesty is rarely your best approach when attempting to get customer service to allow you to cancel. Saying that you're moving to a different country will generally warrant mixed results, as your chosen country may have DirecTV coverage. Implying that you're leaving to serve in the Peace Corps (or similar), however, is usually enough to render the customer representative's arguments invalid. Firmly refuse any offers or questions. As is custom, your representative will offer discounts, free services, and even extra time on your free trial if applicable. Firmly (but politely) decline these offers by repeating "Thanks, but I want to cancel my service." Never be rude to your customer service representative. Wait for the equipment box to arrive at your house. Once the representative accepts that you want to cancel your service, they will send a pre-paid delivery box to your house. You'll need to send back most of the DirecTV equipment that they sent to you via this box. You usually have 21 days to return DirecTV's property. Send back the DirecTV equipment. Place all of the DirecTV equipment, such as the receivers and remotes, in the box and send it back using the provided label. The one exception is your satellite dish—you don't need to send that back to DirecTV. Make sure to disconnect all receivers and remotes and collect them together. If you rented any other equipment, like a video recording device or an internet router, you'll have to disconnect that as well. Pay the cancellation fee. At minimum, you'll need to pay a $15 cancellation fee. However, most DirecTV subscriptions are contractual in nature, meaning that you'll need to pay a fee for each remaining month of your contract. This fee is usually $20 per month. You can get this fee waived if you're cancelling DirecTV for a family member who passed away. Call back DirecTV support to confirm that your contract is up. Once you've sent away the DirecTV equipment and paid your termination fee(s), call back DirecTV support and ask them if they received the equipment and payment. You may have to do this a few times if they reject your initial payment or send back the equipment. If your DirecTV shipping box doesn't arrive within five business days, call them back and request another one, making sure to tell them to reset the 21-day clock for your equipment. Otherwise, you may be charged a fee for the equipment. Open the DirecTV Now page. Go to https://www.directvnow.com/accounts/sign-in/ in a computer browser (e.g., Google Chrome). This will redirect you to your account page if you're logged in. If you aren't logged in, enter your email address and password, then click Sign In near the middle of the page. You cannot cancel DirecTV Now from within the DirecTV Now mobile app. Select the profile icon. Hover your mouse over the person-shaped icon in the upper-right corner of the page. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu to appear. If the drop-down menu doesn't appear, click the profile icon. Click User Account. It's in the drop-down menu. This will open your user account page. Click Manage My Plan. You'll find this option on the user account page. Doing so brings up a list of account-related links. Click the Cancel Plan link. This will open a reasons page. Select a reason for cancelling. Depending on the reason that you select, you may have to select an additional option or enter an explanation before proceeding. Click Cancel Now. It's at the bottom of the page. This will cancel your DirecTV Now subscription within 24 hours. If you enter your request later than 7:00 PM EST, your request will be processed on the next business day. This means that you'll be billed for another month of service if you cancel after 7:00 PM EST the day before your subscription is set to renew. Time your cancellation. If you cancel at the right time, you may be able to avoid a cancellation fee. This will ultimately depend on your billing cycle, how long you've had your service, and when you're slated to renew your contract. If DirecTV informs you of a rate hike, they may also allow you to cancel your service without a fee. This often occurs in December. Cancel at the end of your contract. If you cancel right before your contract is up, there either won't be a fee or it will be really small. Most contracts are one or two years long, so pay attention when renewal time comes around. Be polite. When calling to cancel, you should always be extremely polite to the customer service representative. This is important, as representatives (and their supervisors) may have discretion when it comes to waiving your cancellation fee. Ask them how they are doing when they inquire the same of you. Tell them "thank you" when appropriate. Don't groan, complain, use profanity, or insult the representative. Inform the representative of the contract's language. If the representative denies your initial request to waive the fee, read them the contract. There is specific language in the contract which indicates that the company has discretion over whether it will assess a fee. Read the most important clause to the representative. It reads: "you may be subject to an early cancellation fee if you agreed to a programming agreement with DirecTV." This clause suggests that they do not have to charge you. Escalate the call. If the representative says they're not allowed to waive the fee, escalate the call by asking to speak to their supervisor. The supervisor might have abilities that the initial representative did not. Inform the supervisor that you enjoy DirecTV's service and may sign up with them again in the future. If they tell you they can't waive the fee, ask them to reduce it. Inform the supervisor that the contract was confusingly worded. You can also threaten to contact the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Communications Commission about DIRECTV's misrepresentation of its service contract, though this should be your last move since it negates any courtesy up to this point.
Call DirecTV customer support. Navigate through the spoken prompts. Indicate that you want to cancel your service. Ask to speak to the retention department. Explain to the representative that you want to cancel your service, as well as why. Firmly refuse any offers or questions. Wait for the equipment box to arrive at your house. Send back the DirecTV equipment. Pay the cancellation fee. Call back DirecTV support to confirm that your contract is up. Open the DirecTV Now page. Select the profile icon. Click User Account. Click Manage My Plan. Click the Cancel Plan link. Select a reason for cancelling. Click Cancel Now. Time your cancellation. Be polite. Inform the representative of the contract's language. Escalate the call.
https://www.wikihow.com/Figure-Out-if-Someone-Likes-You
How to Figure Out if Someone Likes You
To figure out if someone likes you, watch to see if they look at you and smile a lot, since this is generally a good indication they're into you. Try making a few jokes, since someone who likes you will laugh at most of your jokes, even if they're not very funny. You can also flirt with them by complimenting them, teasing them, or lightly touching their arm or shoulder when you talk. If they flirt back with you, they probably like you. On the other hand, if they seem awkward or uncomfortable, they probably don't. One of the best ways to know for sure is to ask them to go on a date, since someone who doesn't like you will say no.
Know the signs that they are interested. If a person likes you, you may notice them staring at you, smiling at you, or trying to make contact with you. If someone has a crush on you, he/she will probably find excuses to touch you more than usual. If the person is shy, he/she might show attraction by avoiding you. If the person is more confident and forward, he/she might show attraction by giving you a lot of noticeable attention. Glance at him/her frequently during class. If you often catch the person gazing back at you, this is a sign that they like you. Do they hold the stare intensely for several seconds? Do they shyly look away? Do they smile at you? All of these are signs that they like you. Read their eyes for interest. If they like you and they're staring at you in class, they probably won't be doing so with a blank expression. See if you can tell whether the person is legitimately checking you out, or simply staring off into space. Watch to see if they laugh a lot. If someone laughs at your jokes, even when they aren't funny, it may indicate that he/she likes you. It doesn't necessarily mean that the person has a full-fledged crush on you, but it often signals that there is some level of attraction. Notice the way they act around you. If someone likes you, you might notice their demeanor change. They will notice when you walk into the room, and they might make an effort to make a good impression on you. He/She might run his hand through his hair, or stutter a bit, or try extra hard to be funny. He/she might laugh a lot, or make an effort to be especially nice to you. When they're with their friends, do they shrug you off, or do they invite you to hang out with the group? If they shrug you off, they probably don't like you. However, if they invite you to hang out, they probably at least find you an interesting person – and they may even have a "crush" on you. If you notice her friends giggling and whispering as you walk by, there's a decent chance that she likes you. If you notice him and his group of friends go quiet as you pass, it might be because they're talking about you! Be careful with your assumptions. If you've seen this person staring at you once or twice, don't automatically assume that they "like" you. When you are quick to assume, you open yourself up to disappointment. The only way to know for sure is to hear it straight from the source: when a person tells you that they like you. You can use your observations as predictive tools, but you can only figure out so much from clues. Flirt with them and see how they respond. If the person flirts back, there's a good chance that they're interested in you. If they just nod, but don't engage, they might not be paying attention – or they might be scared they'll say the wrong thing. If they start acting nervous and fidgety, they could really like you and feel anxious that you'll reject them, but they could also be figuring out how to let you down easy. Trust your gut! It can be hard to tell, but your intuition can lead you in the right direction. Bear in mind that some people are naturally flirty. Flirting back does not necessarily mean that the person likes you – it might just indicate attraction, or that he/she is especially outgoing. Try casually touching the person to see how they respond. Put your hand on his/her arm or shoulder when you're speaking, and sit with your thighs and shoulders touching. If the person seems to respond well to your touch, it might be a good sign. Befriend them. Many strong relationships have begun as simple friendships. If you become this person's friend, you'll learn more about them and they'll learn more about you. If the two of you are compatible, you might start to like each other. This can also help the person feel more comfortable around you. Try going out with a group of your friends and inviting the "Someone." This can make it much more comfortable to be around someone that you like. Make an inside joke with them. You can't necessarily force this, but you can ride the momentum if it happens. Bring up the inside joke again a day or two later, and see if the person remembers it. This can be a good way to gauge whether the person places significance upon your interactions. Notice when he/she listens. It may indicate attraction if the person pays rapt attention when you talk about yourself. He/she might ask you questions about your life. As you get to know each other more deeply, you might find yourselves talking about personal preferences and experiences that don't normally come up in conversation. If he/she listens and remembers the details hours or days later, then there's a good chance that he/she likes you. Again, this is not a certain method of telling that someone likes you. However, it can be a pretty good indication. Try telling a long story to see if the person listens – but don't make it a boring tale. If he/she is hanging off of your every word, he/she probably finds you interesting. Ask for their number. Be casual about it. If you feel comfortable being low-key about it, just take out your phone and start texting, then casually ask, "Hey, [their name], what's your number?" It helps to have a specific reason for asking: arranging a study group, for instance, or to coordinate for a party. If the person happily gives you their number, it doesn't necessarily mean that he/she likes you in a more-than-platonic way – but it does indicate that he/she is comfortable enough with you to open up a new means of communication. Do not ask someone else for your crush's phone number. If you're going to do this, be straightforward and ask in person. Take notice when this person asks for your number, or gives you his/her number without you having to ask. These forward moves might mean that he/she likes you. Take this as an invitation to text the person. Talk to them outside of school. Add this person as a friend on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, or another social network. Message them over text, if you have their number. Start with something simple: ask about the homework, if you need a non-forward opener, or just say, "Hey! How are you doing?" Bear in mind that this will feel much more natural for both of you if you already talk to this person a lot in person. Ask them out. If you are reasonably sure that this person likes you, ask him/her out on a one-on-one date. Invite the person to a movie, to a concert, or just for a walk to the park. Be calm and confident, and try to act natural. Make sure that you have a specific day, event, or plan in mind when you ask. Avoid vaguely asking someone "out." All "going out" really means is that you and another person are going a lot of places together, and making a bunch of specific plans. If the person turns you down, try to keep it in perspective. There are many fish in the sea, as the saying goes, and it is not always worth your time to persistently woo someone who simply doesn't like you. Consider whether the person might have declined your invitation for some other reason: perhaps he/she is not allowed to date, or didn't believe that you were being genuine.
Know the signs that they are interested. Glance at him/her frequently during class. Watch to see if they laugh a lot. Notice the way they act around you. Be careful with your assumptions. Flirt with them and see how they respond. Befriend them. Make an inside joke with them. Notice when he/she listens. Ask for their number. Talk to them outside of school. Ask them out.