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https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-More-Food | How to Eat More Food | To eat more food to bulk up, drink protein shakes between meals to get extra calories. During mealtimes, make sure to eat plenty of protein so you're building muscle, and then supplement your meals with whole grains, fresh fruits, and healthy fats, such as peanut butter, nuts, and seeds. You can also drink 3 glasses of milk a day, either with or between meals, to add more muscle building fats to your diet. | Always eat breakfast. It's a common misconception that you need to keep your stomach empty if you want to eat more, and in fact this can't be further from the truth. Starting your day with fruits, whole grains, or lean protein is an excellent way to kick your metabolism into gear, meaning you'll be hungrier later in the day, meaning you'll be ready to eat more later in the day. A recent study found that the morbidly obese are more likely to skip meals earlier in the day. Don't ever starve yourself. Eat standing up. Competitive eaters eat standing up for a reason. When you eat sitting down, pressure is put on your stomach by your other organs, and it won't expand as much as when you're standing. It's also uncomfortable. The stomach can hold quite a bit of food when you stretch your torso out to it's longest, which happens in the standing position. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Those sweatpants you get out on holidays? Smart move. Wearing comfortable clothes is an essential part of eating more and remaining comfortable while you do it. Your stomach does, in fact, expand as you eat, and tight shirts and slacks restrict its ability to do some comfortably. If you want to eat more, wear the clothes that will allow it. Eat foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG). Monosodium glutamate is a naturally-occurring compound that's artificially added to many foods to give it flavor. One side effect of MSG is that it stimulates insulin response, effectively lowering your blood-sugar levels and making your body think that it needs to eat more to bring those levels back up. MSG is found in lots of packaged and prepared foods, like ramen noodles, potato and tortilla chips, canned vegetables and soups, and processed meats. MSG is a controversial ingredient, often derided for its connection to obesity and linked by some people to health effects as diverse as chest pains and facial numbness. While studies report that there's no actual connection between the additive and these symptoms, it's still a controversial substance. Drink a moderate amount of alcohol or soda with meals. Aside from the fact that sugary sodas and alcoholic beverages complement meals quite well, the sugars in sodas and boozes of all sorts cause insulin spikes that trick your body into thinking that you want to eat more food. Commercial sodas contain lots of refined sugar, and the body needs to produce more insulin to process refined white sugars, resulting in a similar insulin response to that of MSG. Your body will think you need to eat more food. Diet soda, which contains aspartame, likewise results in a similar effect. Aside from the inhibition-lowering effects of alcohol, which can cause you to eat calorie-rich foods you may normally avoid, the sugars in alcohol can have a similar effect, lowering serotonin levels and increasing your insulin response, causing hunger. Carbonated beverages are filling, which means that if you drink a lot of beer or soda with a meal, you'll get more full faster, leaving less room for food. Aim for about half a soda, to get the same insulin spike, without the filling effect. Avoid mustard. If you're trying to eat a lot of food, it's important to avoid consuming certain condiments, the contents of which can irritate your stomach and esophagus, making it more difficult to eat a larger quantity of food. Mustard is made of ground mustard seed, a potent member of the brassica family, and vinegar, both of which will slow your hunger and metabolism. It's also good to avoid any other vinegar-based, spicy condiments, like bbq sauce, hot sauce, Sriracha, and other peppery dips or toppings. Calculate your body-mass index (BMI) first. If you're trying to bulk up because you're too lean, or you're trying to gain muscle, it's important to make sure your body is ready for gaining weight in the healthiest possible way. Just because you "look skinny" doesn't mean you have a BMI that's optimal for weight gain, and you might be doing yourself an unhealthy disservice by trying to gain before you get into shape. While it's best to visit a nutritionist first, you can measure your BMI yourself with the following calculation:: Your weight in kg (or weight in pounds divided by about 2.2), divided by Your height in meters squared If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you're at a low-normal body weight, which means you can safely gain weight, with the proper nutrition and guidance. Calculate the necessary caloric intake for building muscle. Muscle can only be built when you create a calorie surplus, then work out in targeted ways to promote muscle growth in your body. The difference between gaining muscle and gaining fat requires that you calculate how many calories you'll need to eat to gain muscle effectively, and making sure you eat the right kinds of foods. To calculate the amount of calories you'll need: Multiply your bodyweight in pounds by 20. This is the amount of calories you'll need to eat on days that you work out, to gain muscle. Calculate your protein needs. If you want to build muscle and gain weight, it's absolutely essential that you take in enough protein to promote muscle growth. Without the proper amount of protein, you can do damage to your muscles by over-exerting them. To find out how much lean protein you'll need, multiply your bodyweight in pounds by about 1.5 to find out the number of grams of protein you'll need to consume in a day. Make friends with chicken and peanut butter. Lean in fat, but high in protein, these are easy-to-eat and widely available ways of making sure that you get enough protein in your diet. Drink whey protein shakes between meals. An extremely common way of bulking up and gaining muscle mass after workouts is to use a protein supplement to stimulate muscle growth. Protein whey powders are widely available, which allow you to mix up smoothies to get added nutrients, vitamins, and added protein into one easy-to-drink concoction. Protein shakes are notoriously not very tasty, so it's helpful to incorporate whey powder into smoothies including yoghurt, bananas, strawberries, and other tasty fruits, so you're not just slugging down what amounts to protein wallpaper paste. If it tastes better, you'll be much more likely to use it. Eat low-glycemic slow-digesting carbohydrates. You should be eating about twice your weight (lbs.) in carbohydrates (grams) on days that you work out, and those carbs should consist primarily of low-glycemic carbohydrates. That means whole grains, like rolled oats, and fresh fruits, and sweet potatoes. Avoid refined wheat flour. Stimulate testosterone production by eating fat. Athletes who build muscle typically eat more monosaturated and saturated fats, which increase testosterone levels, in turn helping muscle growth. You should typically be eating about half your body weight (pounds) in good fats during your work out days. One of the best ways to do this is drinking milk. It's easy to take down, even if you're not feeling hungry, and an excellent way to get more fat into your diet. Drink a glass of milk three times a day when you work out. Develop your lifting or training regimen. All this calorie intake will just translate into fat unless you're lifting and workout out vigorously along with your calorie surplus. Make sure you develop a healthy work-out routine tailored to your interests and goals for muscle gain. Typically, on days that you'll work out, you'll add a hefty pre- and post-workout meal to your regular three-meal-a-day regimen. To eat the proper number of calories on your off-days, simply skip these meals. Take a fiber supplement. If you're going to be increasing the amount of lean protein and carbs that you eat in a day, it's also very important that you take a fiber supplement to keep your gastro-intestinal tract functioning regularly. Gaining weight effectively can be somewhat uncomfortable without one. Build up your stomach capacity slowly. Anyone who's ever been inspired to down as many franks as possible by the Nathan's Hot Dog competition has come up against a quick and harsh reality: you can't eat that many hot dogs without preparation. The stomach is a muscle like any other. It needs training and recovery, otherwise you risk injury. If you want to increase your stomach's capacity, take it slow. According to some studies, the average human stomach holds about 1.5 liters before becoming nauseated, but can hold between 3-5 liters if trained properly. It is possible to rupture your stomach if you eat too much too quickly, but it's extremely uncommon and rare. You'll usually vomit before you risk a stomach tear or other physical problems. Train with water. The healthiest way of training and expanding your stomach capacity is not with food, but with water. Competitive eaters are able to drink as much as a gallon of water at a time, in less than 20 minutes. This increases the stomach's capacity and carries relatively little health impact, compared with eating lots of food at once. Start slow, increasing the number of glasses of water you drink in a day incrementally, then increasing the speed at which you consume the water you drink. It's usually recommended to drink as many as eight glasses of water in a day to begin with, so start there and gradually build up your capacity. Wet your food. Water serves a purpose during eating competitions, as well as during your training. While dunking a hot dog bun in water might not seem that appetizing, it helps to break down the food before you put it into your mouth, making it much easier to swallow and start digesting. The faster you get it down, the more you'll be able to eat, and water helps this process. Don't drink too much of the water while you're eating. While it's ok to use some water to help lubricate the food, don't gulp it to quench your thirst, or you'll be taking up valuable real estate in your stomach. Train with cruciferous vegetables. Two or three times a week, competitive eater Yasir Salem steams as many as eight pounds of broccoli and cauliflower for a training meal. These vegetables are bland, high in vitamins, and will move through your digestive tract quickly, making them ideal for stretching your stomach easily, combined with a large amount of water. For an added bonus, add a large amount of sauerkraut. Fermented cabbage has probiotic properties that will help keep your intestinal flora in balance, making it an ideal food for competitive eaters. Chew gum to strengthen your jaw muscles. Competitive eaters will regularly chew up to six pieces of gum at once, to strengthen jaw muscles and make sure their eating instrument is in good working order. As important as your stomach is to your ability to eat more food, it won't do any good if you can't chew that food quickly and efficiently. Check out this wikiHow article for neck and jaw strengthening exercises you can incorporate into your routine. Do lots of cardiovascular exercise. Ever notice how competitive eaters are generally lean and mean? That's because they're in shape. Contrary to what you might expect, the ability to eat a lot comes from a lot more than a big appetite. Hard training and good cardio are an essential part of being able to eat food quickly and competitively. Read this wikiHow article for good tips about cardiovascular health. Good breathing is necessary for competitive eaters, as well. Do breathing exercises to make sure you can breathe effectively while you're cramming that food in. Specialize. Not all competitive eaters are alike. Hot dog champions need to train in completely different ways, for completely different amounts, than does a bacon-eating champion, a chili eating champion, or an oyster eating champion. Knowing the specifics of your food of choice will allow you to prepare more specifically. Major League Eating is the US national organization that governs competitive eating. Check out their website to learn more about joining up and competing. It's very important to meet with a health professional, dietician, or biofeedback specialist to come up with a health and training regimen for the food you hope to consume to keep your body working for you, instead of against you. | Always eat breakfast. Eat standing up. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Eat foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG). Drink a moderate amount of alcohol or soda with meals. Avoid mustard. Calculate your body-mass index (BMI) first. Calculate the necessary caloric intake for building muscle. Calculate your protein needs. Drink whey protein shakes between meals. Eat low-glycemic slow-digesting carbohydrates. Stimulate testosterone production by eating fat. Develop your lifting or training regimen. Take a fiber supplement. Build up your stomach capacity slowly. Train with water. Wet your food. Train with cruciferous vegetables. Chew gum to strengthen your jaw muscles. Do lots of cardiovascular exercise. Specialize. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Wallpaper-That-Has-Been-Painted-Over | How to Remove Wallpaper That Has Been Painted Over | To remove wallpaper that's been painted over, start by scoring the walls with a scoring tool or a brillo pad so that there are several punctures in the wallpaper. Then, use a sponge or spray bottle to soak the walls with equal parts white vinegar and water. If you're covering a large area, you can also use a steamer to soak the walls. Once the wallpaper is wet, grab a corner of the wallpaper and peel it off in strips. If any of the wallpaper won't peel off, use a scraping tool to remove it. | Assemble the equipment you need. Removing wallpaper that has been painted over can be an arduous task, but you can make it easier on yourself by having all your supplies ready before you get started. You will need: Wallpaper scoring tool. This is a small hand tool which has several small rotating wheels with small teeth to score the paper without damaging the surface underneath. Wallpaper stripper spray or a solution of half vinegar, half water Sponge Spray bottle Scraping tool Tarp Consider renting a steamer. If the room you're going to be working on is quite large, or if you're removing several layers of paint and wallpaper, it might be prudent to rent a steamer instead of trying to strip everything off by hand. Steamers can be rented by the hour from home and garden centers. They come with a steam canister and a nozzle that you run over the walls to help loosen the wallpaper with steam. Steaming typically makes the job easier and faster. However, if you're working with wallpaper that has been painted over by more than one layer of paint, steaming might not work, since it's difficult for the steam to penetrate all the layers. In this case you'll need to strip everything off by hand. Steaming is a greener alternative to using a chemical wallpaper stripper. A steamer operates using plain water, no chemicals required. Lay out the tarp and cover the furniture. Taking paint and wallpaper off of the walls can get messy. Paint chips, strips of wallpaper and dust will pile up quickly and get into the cracks and crevices in your floor and furniture. Cover the area where you're working with a tarp and put a dropcloth or sheet over the nearby furniture. Move smaller items like lamps and pictures out of the room or toward the center. You might want to wear a mask to protect yourself from dust, too. Remove switch plate and electrical outlet covers. This will make it easier to strip off the wallpaper from underneath them. If there are outlets or switches in the area where you are working, be sure to turn off the power. Determine the type of paint that has been used. Dab a small amount of nail polish remover onto a paper towel, and rub onto the paint in question. If the paint comes off on the towel with remover, you have latex paint, if not, it is alkyd (oil) paint. Latex is water soluble and will be easier to work with; alkyd will be "stickier" and may require several attempts to get the paper to release. Score the walls with the scoring tool. Run the tool over the area several times to create many punctures in the paper. Push only as hard as required to pierce the paper; try not to damage the surface underneath. Use a Brillo pad if you don't have a tool. Start with a five by five foot area, rather than scoring all of the walls at once. This could save you some work in the long run, since if the wallpaper won't come off with solution or steam, you'll have to pull it off in strips. Steam or soak the walls. Either down the wallpapered area with the removal solution or start using the steamer over the area you scored. Make sure the area is thoroughly soaked through with moisture. To steam, move the steamer's hot plate slowly over the scored areas, checking to make sure the steam is soaking through the wallpaper. To soak, use the sponge and spray bottle to completely soak through the wallpaper, then let it sit for a few minutes. Grab a corner of the paper and pull. The wet paper should release from the backing and come off in strips. If it doesn't, soak or steam the area again and try pulling it off once more. You may need to do this a few times if the paper and paint have been there for some time. When the paper starts to release, use a plastic putty knife (or a nylon spatula) to pull all the paper off the surface. Continue scoring the wallpaper and reapplying the wallpaper remover solution to the other areas until you've peeled off as much wallpaper as possible. Scrape off what you can’t remove with steam or wallpaper remover. Sometimes the wallpaper won't absorb the steam or wallpaper remover, and you have to scrape most of it off by hand. Scoring it and soaking it can still help, but there's no way around pulling it off in tiny strips. Use the scraping tool to pull up edges of wallpaper, then pull it off in strips. The process can take several days unless you have help. Wash the walls. When the area is free from wallpaper and backing paper, wash it down with detergent to remove any glue and softener. Give it a final rinse with clean water. This helps prepare the surface for a new coat of paint or wallpaper. Be sure the walls are completely dry before continuing. Assess the damage. If there are gouges and places where parts of the wall came off, you might need to repair the walls. Sand the area and patch any damaged areas with spackle or wood filler. You may need to hang new drywall if there's serious damage. Put up new paint or wallpaper. Cover the surface with a coat of primer if you intend to paint, or wall size if you are papering. Be sure to prime the walls with wall size first, since this will help you remove the wallpaper if you choose to do so later. Don't be tempted to paint over wallpaper again. | Assemble the equipment you need. Consider renting a steamer. Lay out the tarp and cover the furniture. Remove switch plate and electrical outlet covers. Determine the type of paint that has been used. Score the walls with the scoring tool. Steam or soak the walls. Grab a corner of the paper and pull. Scrape off what you can’t remove with steam or wallpaper remover. Wash the walls. Assess the damage. Put up new paint or wallpaper. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Banana-Chips | How to Make Banana Chips | To easily make baked banana chips, arrange a single layer of banana slices on a baking sheet and squeeze lemon juice over them. Bake your banana slices at 175 °F for one hour, or cook thicker banana slices for up to 3 hours. Let your banana chips cool before eating. | Preheat the oven to 175-200ºF/80-95ºC. The low temperature allows a dehydrating effect as opposed to a real baking effect. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper or a silicone sheet. Remove the banana peel. Slice the bananas into thin slices. Make sure they're all fairly much the same slice width, to ensure even cooking. Arrange the slices across the baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer and do not allow the slices to touch. Drizzle the freshly squeezed lemon juice over the top of all the banana slices. This helps to hold back natural blackening and adds a slight tang. Place the sheet in the oven. Bake for an hour to an hour and three quarters. Test after an hour to see if you like the consistency; if not, continue baking. Baking times may vary depending on the thickness of the slices. Remove from the oven. Set aside to cool. Most likely the banana chips will be soft and oozing but in cooling, they'll dry and harden up. Peel the bananas. Place them into iced water. Slice the bananas into even slices. Place back in the water as you slice them. Add the turmeric powder. Leave in the water for 10 minutes. Then drain and place on a clean tea towel to retain the moisture. Heat the oil. Drop in a few slices at a time to deep fry (don't overcrowd the oil). Use a slotted spoon to add and retrieve the slices. Repeat until all slices have been fried. Drain by placing the slices on kitchen paper towel. Let cool. Once cooled, they can be served or stored. To store, place in an airtight container, such as a glass container or resealable bags. Peel the bananas. Place in slightly salted iced water for 10 minutes (note that salt will melt the cubes faster but it'll stay cold). Slice the bananas thinly. Keep them as evenly sized as possible. Arrange the banana slices on a wire rack. Leave to dry slightly, to remove moisture. Heat the oil. Add the banana slices in small batches and fry for about 2 minutes or until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to add and retrieve the slices. Remove from the oil and drain on kitchen paper towels. Make the sugar syrup. Add the two sugars, water and cinnamon to a heavy based saucepan. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves and thickens into a syrup. Turn off the heat source. Dip the fried bananas into the sugar syrup. Toss well to coat. Arrange on a wire rack covered in parchment paper. Let cool and set. Serve or store. Place in an airtight container for storage. Place the bananas, whole and in their skin, in the saucepan. Pour in water to cover, then bring to the boil for 10 minutes. Remove from the water. Let cool. Remove the skin. Slice thinly. Make sure that the slices are even, to avoid uneven microwaving. Coat in the olive oil and turmeric. Season to taste with salt. Lay across a microwave-proof flat dish or pan. Keep in a single layer and don't allow the slices to touch. Place in the microwave. Microwave on high for 8 minutes. Every two minutes, stop the cooking, remove the plate and flip the slices over. This ensures even cooking on both sides. Be extra vigilant in the final two minutes, to avoid burning the banana chips. Remove from the microwave. Let cool and the banana chips will crisp up. Serve. Arrange in a small bowl. To keep, place in an airtight container. Peel the bananas. Slice into even thin slices. Be aware that the thinness determines the final crispiness, so keep them as thin as possible. Arrange the slices in the dehydrator. Only add them single layer and avoid touching. Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top of the slices. Then sprinkle over the top with your favorite spice. If possible, use fresh, such as grated nutmeg or buy as fresh a spice as possible. Dehydrate at 135ºF/57ºC for 24 hours. They're ready to remove when they look a caramel color and have dried totally. Place on a wire cooling rack and let cool. Store or serve. To store, place in an airtight jar or resealable bags. They can be stored for up to a year. | Preheat the oven to 175-200ºF/80-95ºC. Remove the banana peel. Arrange the slices across the baking sheet. Drizzle the freshly squeezed lemon juice over the top of all the banana slices. Place the sheet in the oven. Remove from the oven. Peel the bananas. Slice the bananas into even slices. Leave in the water for 10 minutes. Heat the oil. Repeat until all slices have been fried. Drain by placing the slices on kitchen paper towel. Let cool. Peel the bananas. Slice the bananas thinly. Arrange the banana slices on a wire rack. Heat the oil. Remove from the oil and drain on kitchen paper towels. Make the sugar syrup. Dip the fried bananas into the sugar syrup. Arrange on a wire rack covered in parchment paper. Serve or store. Place the bananas, whole and in their skin, in the saucepan. Remove from the water. Remove the skin. Coat in the olive oil and turmeric. Lay across a microwave-proof flat dish or pan. Place in the microwave. Remove from the microwave. Serve. Peel the bananas. Arrange the slices in the dehydrator. Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top of the slices. Dehydrate at 135ºF/57ºC for 24 hours. Place on a wire cooling rack and let cool. Store or serve. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Breed-Koi-Fish | How to Breed Koi Fish | To breed koi, wait for late spring or early summer when the water and weather are warm enough. Make sure there are at least 1 male and 1 female in the mating pond you're using. You can spot the male koi during the breeding season, as they have white growths on their pectoral fins and heads. Feed the koi 4 times per day during the breeding season to increase the chances of offspring. Protein supplements, wholemeal bread, oranges, and lettuce are all ideal options. It can also help to place a fry mat at the bottom of the pond. This gives the koi a spot to lay their eggs. Once the conditions are right, wait for 2 - 3 weeks for the koi to mate. Begin feeding the baby koi powdered koi pellets once they are 10 days old and move onto larger pellets as they get bigger. | Choose koi that are at least 3 years old. Koi don't sexually mature until they are about 3 years old. Wait until they are 3 years old to increase their likelihood of breeding and producing quality offspring. Koi are about 10 inches (25 cm) long when they are 3 years old. Identify at least 1 male and 1 female to stay in the mating pond. Male and female koi generally look quite similar. However, during mating season, the males have small white growths on their pectoral fins and heads. Remove any koi from the pond that you don't want to breed; otherwise you will end up with unwanted baby koi. It is easy to spot males once they start breeding as they will chase the females around the pond. It is safe to have multiple male koi in the same pond. Select koi that have attributes you want to replicate. Consider the attributes that you want for your koi offspring. If you want a certain fin shape, choose koi that demonstrate that characteristic. Regardless of what physical characteristics you want, try to choose koi that have healthy looking scales and are at least 10 inches (25 cm) long. If you are looking for a certain color, choose koi parents that demonstrate that coloring. Avoid using a child's pet koi for breeding as the koi can suffer torn fins, bruises, cuts and occasionally death, during the breeding process. Take your koi to a vet if you are worried about their injuries. Breed koi in late-spring or early-summer. Koi tend to breed when the weather is warm and the water temperature has risen. It is important to be prepared as koi can produce up to 1 million eggs. If you don't have the right conditions or enough capacity for baby koi, consider removing the males from the pond during this season. You will need a pond that is 3 feet (0.91 m) deep and 6 feet (1.8 m) by 8 feet (2.4 m) foot wide to house 5 koi. For more koi, you will need a larger pond. Use a filtration system to keep the water clean. A clean pond is important for the health of the koi and their spawn. Use a specialized koi pond filtration system to keep the water clean during the breeding season. These can be expensive but are necessary for breeding. Pond filtration systems can be purchased from pet stores or specialty fish shops for between US$200-US$2000. If your pond is particularly dirty or filled with algae, you may need to completely clean it out. Use a skimmer net to remove any debris or predators from the water. Predators (such as other fish) and debris should be removed from the pond to protect the spawn. Use a skimmer net, or a similar scoop tool, to remove anything that might harm the koi. Skimmer nets can be purchased from DIY stores. If cats or birds are approaching your pond, cover the pond with netting to protect the koi. Use a piece of netting that is large enough to cover the pond and secure it down with heavy rocks. Feed your koi 4 times per day while you are trying to breed them. Increase your chances of the koi breeding by keeping them well fed for the month before you breed them. Feed the koi as much as they can finish in 5 minutes. Wholemeal bread, oranges and whole lettuces are nutritional food options. Increase the amount of protein you feed your koi, as this helps support their bodies for breeding. Protein supplements can be purchased from a pet store. Follow the feeding instructions on the back of the packet. Place a fry mat in the pond. This is a flat and sticky mat that gives the koi a place to lay their eggs. If koi can't find a place to lay their eggs, they won't always mate. Place the mat in an obvious place at the bottom of the pond. Purchase a fry mat from a pet store or a specialty fish shop. Prepare a separate tank for the adult koi. If you want to breed a large number of koi it is important to remove the adult koi as they will eat many of the eggs. Make sure that the koi tank is clean and has a filter system. If you are wanting to breed a small number of koi, leave the adults in the pond. Purchase a koi tank from a pet shop. For 2 koi, you will need an aquarium that is at least 100 gallons (380 L). Leave the koi to mate. This process can happen immediately or can take a few weeks. Don't worry if the koi don't look interested in each other initially. A storm, full moon or change in air temperature can help encourage the koi to mate, so be patient and let nature take its course. Once the koi have mated, you will see a froth appear on the top of the water and their eggs will be visible on the fry mat. Look for froth or scum appearing on the top of the water. This indicates that the spawn has been released. The spawn is immediately fertilized by the male koi and eggs are formed. The eggs will hatch after about 4 days. If you are breeding the koi for profit, remove the parents out of the pond as soon as you notice the eggs or the presence of froth on the water. Feed the baby koi powdered koi pellets after 10 days. Crush up koi pellets using a blender or mortar and pestle until they are in a fine powder. Sprinkle the powder over the pond. Pour in enough powder to last the fish about 5 minutes. Feed the koi 4 times per day. Continue to feed the baby koi powdered food until they are 4 weeks. Over time, you will learn how much food the baby koi will eat during each 5-minute feeding session. It can take a few days for the koi to get used to eating the powdered food. Feed the fish 10 days after you notice the eggs. Increase the size of the food once the koi are 1 month old. Start to introduce crumb size pellet pieces once the koi are 4 weeks old. You will still need to crush the pellets but they no longer need to be in a fine powder. Cull any weak fish if you are breeding for profit. If you have a small pond and want to breed the koi for profit, you will need to cull some of the fish. Identify the koi that are very small, have physical disabilities or aren't the color patterns you are looking for. Make sure that the koi are culled humanely. You don't necessarily need to dispose of the koi. Consider giving them away to friends or family members if they are healthy. Koi can be culled at any age, although, it is best to wait until their patterns emerge so that you can choose to keep the koi with your favorite colorings. Reintroduce parent koi once the baby koi are 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. Once the baby koi start to get bigger, the parent koi become friendly with their offspring. If you have removed the parents from the pond, this is a safe time to reintroduce them. Baby koi take approximately 3 months to reach 3 inches (7.6 cm). | Choose koi that are at least 3 years old. Identify at least 1 male and 1 female to stay in the mating pond. Select koi that have attributes you want to replicate. Breed koi in late-spring or early-summer. Use a filtration system to keep the water clean. Use a skimmer net to remove any debris or predators from the water. Feed your koi 4 times per day while you are trying to breed them. Place a fry mat in the pond. Prepare a separate tank for the adult koi. Leave the koi to mate. Look for froth or scum appearing on the top of the water. Feed the baby koi powdered koi pellets after 10 days. Increase the size of the food once the koi are 1 month old. Cull any weak fish if you are breeding for profit. Reintroduce parent koi once the baby koi are 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Erase-a-Pimple-Scar | How to Erase a Pimple Scar | If your acne scars are recent, you can use special creams like cortisone or Vitamin C serum to help reduce redness and speed healing. For scars that have been present longer, ask your doctor about procedures such as chemical peels or laser resurfacing. These procedures help to remove scars by gently exfoliating the outermost layer of skin. | Reduce redness. Fight the redness of a blemish by applying cortisone cream. Cortisone will help to fight inflammation and will reduce the surrounding redness of the scar, making it appear less noticeable. You will be able to buy cortisone cream without a prescription, at most pharmacies. It should cost about $10. Look for creams that are labelled as “non-comedogenic,” which means that they avoid ingredients that can clog pores, like cocoa butter, coal tar, isopropyl myristate, and pigments and dyes. Treating your scars while at the same time causing more acne is like fighting a losing battle. Try fade creams. Another tool in your arsenal is fade creams. Fade creams that contain kojic acid or arbutin will help to lighten the pigment of the blemished skin, and therefore reduce its visibility. Such creams, again, should be available at your local pharmacy for a fairly low cost. Be careful of hydroquinone. Hydroquinone skin fading topicals are fade creams that lighten pigments in the skin; however, they have recently fallen out of favor due to concerns about possible cancer-causing properties. Use retinoids. Retinoids are topical or oral products that normalize “hyperkeratinisation,” meaning they help your skin cells slough off at a normal rate, which prevents them from clogging pores and causing acne. They also have anti-inflammatory qualities and can improve the look of the skin by promoting healing. Topical retinoids like Retin-A or Tazorac are used in the treatment of acne as well as scarring. Alpha-hydroxy acids and Beta-hydroxy acids, on the other hand, are chemical peels that remove the top layer of dead skin, revealing the newer, less blemished skin underneath. You can usually buy retinoids in a cream or serum without a prescription. Pregnant women should avoid them retinoids, as they are not safe for the fetus. Use vitamin C. Ascorbic acid, or simply vitamin C, may be an effective way to fade or even remove acne scars and can be found in something as simply as lemon juice. Vitamin C not only contains antioxidants and reduces inflammation but it is essential in the production of collagen, which the body uses to heal connective tissue. You can buy specially formulated vitamin C skin creams or serums at drugstores and pharmacies. An even simpler method is to apply lemon juice to your face with a cotton swab, after a thorough cleansing, leaving it for no longer than a half hour. You may feel some stinging or discomfort. Your skin may also dry out, so you should apply moisturizer afterward. Another variation of this home remedy is to mix lemon juice with honey and milk in a proportion of 1:2:3 and to apply it as a mask after cleansing. Remove after no more than one half hour. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun while using lemon juice to lighten your skin. Prolonged sunlight is bad for your acne scars as it is, but with lemon juice on your skin, it's particularly bad. Like many topical treatments, results are not immediate but regular safe use can help prevent and treat acne. Avoid creams with vitamin E. Creams with vitamin E may actually do more harm than good. Because it's a vitamin, we're tempted to think that it will be either beneficial or harmless. In fact, one University of Miami study reported that vitamin E treatment had no effect or worsened the appearance of scars in 90% of subjects, with improvement in only 10% of cases. Consult your doctor. Many recommended treatments for pronounced acne scars must be administered by a doctor. This may seem like a hassle — why can't you do it at home? —however, the risk and potency of these methods mean that they should always be done with proper medical supervision. Make an appointment with a dermatologist. A specialist in skin problems, called a dermatologist, can give you informed advice on how to treat your acne scars. If you don't already have a dermatologist, you might make an appointment with your general practitioner and ask for a referral. Consider a chemical peel. Talk to your doctor about administering a stronger chemical peel. Using potent acid formulas, these procedures lift off the top layer or layers of skin, thereby minimizing the appearance of scars. Stronger chemical peels always need to be done under a doctor's supervision. Depending on acne severity, skin type, and other factors, your doctor will advise a specific kind of peel, as well as give you instructions for after-care. Undergo dermabrasion or microdermabrasion. “Dermabrasion” is the process of sloughing off top layers of skin with a rapidly rotating wire brush. Usually, this procedure removes blemishes on the skin surface and reduces the appearance of deeper scars. Dermabrasion is not without risks. The procedure may can temporary redness or swelling, enlarged pores, infection, and, rarely, scarring. It can also cause changes in skin pigment for patients with darker skin. Microdermabrasion is a lighter procedure that applies small crystals onto the top layer of skin, which are then vacuumed up, along with dead skin cells. Because the procedure only removes the top layer of skin, results are generally far less pronounced than dermabrasion. Talk to your doctor about laser resurfacing. In laser resurfacing, the doctor uses a laser to remove the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis) and tightens the middle layer. The skin normally grows back looking smoother, usually in three to 10 days. Sometimes, multiple treatments are needed to reduce the acne scars. Laser treatments do not work for everyone, and can have unpredictable results. Doctors do not yet know why laser treatments are effective for some but ineffective for others. Many people are satisfied with the procedure, but few patients will see a 100% elimination of scars. Although it helps reduce the visibility of scars, it is almost never completely effective and it needs to be used along with other treatments. Consider cosmetic surgery. As a last resort, consult with a medical professional about surgery for large, deep lesions or scars. In this procedure, a doctor will use a punch excision to cut out the scar and replace it with stitching or a skin graft. Smaller lesions require only stitching, while large lesions may require a skin graft from another part of your body. Consider this option carefully and consult with your doctor before proceeding. Remember, this is a minor surgery and carries risk. It may require anaesthesia and a surgical facility and could prove quite expensive. You will also require time to heal. Avoid exposure to sunlight. Exposure to excessive amounts of sunlight will cause acne scars to darken (hyper-pigmentation) while hindering the healing process — this includes tanning and sunbathing. Be careful to avoid direct sunlight, especially during peak hours in the afternoon. Apply sunscreen (broad-spectrum SPF 30) liberally before you go out, and reapply two hours later. Try to find brands that will not clog skin pores. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for extra protection. If your scars are on your arms, neck, or back, cover those with clothing as well. Don't pick or squeeze pimples. Largely made from collagen, scars are the body's natural way of healing itself. Picking and squeezing your acne or acne scars will further irritate the skin tissue and keep it from properly healing. Instead, wash with a gentle cleanser to get rid of the oils and dirt that cause acne. You might also try over-the-counter acne products. Look for products that have benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. Watch what touches your skin. Keep your hair clean and swept away from your face, and avoid resting hands or objects like phones on your face. Have good hygiene. There is a balance between under-washing and over-washing skin. Under-washing leaves excess skin cells, oil, bacteria, and other debris on the skin, potentially clogging pores and creating blemishes. Over-washing irritates and dries the skin, contributing to excess oil production and more breakouts. Refrain from washing problem areas more than twice a day. When washing, use gentle cleansers with smooth grains and light scrubbing to exfoliate. Avoid products containing large grains, such as almond or apricot shell fragments, that will potentially damage or irritate the skin. Showering is especially important following exercise and/or heavy perspiration to prevent bacterial growth on the skin. Wash your hands when soiled and avoid touching your face or other problem areas. Touch can drive bacteria and debris into hair follicles, causing acne. Avoid makeup products with alcohol. Products containing isopropyl alcohol will strip the top layer of skin and dry it out. As a result, sebaceous glands in the skin will produce more oil, possibly worsening or causing more breakouts. Pursue a focused treatment plan. It is tempting to just throw anything and everything at your acne and acne scars. This, however, is usually not effective. Talk with your dermatologist and devise a targeted plan for attacking your scars. Your plan might involve an oral antibiotic, a topical retinoid, and a fade cream. Your doctor might also prescribe something to bring your acne under long-term control. Treat your scars with your doctor's guidance. Most of all, be patient as your skin gets clearer. | Reduce redness. Try fade creams. Use retinoids. Use vitamin C. Avoid creams with vitamin E. Consult your doctor. Consider a chemical peel. Undergo dermabrasion or microdermabrasion. Talk to your doctor about laser resurfacing. Consider cosmetic surgery. Avoid exposure to sunlight. Don't pick or squeeze pimples. Have good hygiene. Avoid makeup products with alcohol. Pursue a focused treatment plan. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Yogurt-Doughnuts | How to Make Yogurt Doughnuts | To make yogurt doughnuts, start by mixing eggs, sugar, yogurt, vanilla, salt, melted butter, flour, baking powder, and baking soda to make the dough. Then, roll the dough out so it's about 1/4-inch thick, and cut circles out of it using a large pastry cutter. Next, use a smaller pastry cutter to cut the doughnut holes out of the circles. Finally, deep fry the doughnuts in vegetable oil for 1 minute on each side or until they're golden brown. | Add eggssugar and to a mixing bowl. Whisk well until light and fluffy. Add yogurt the and whisk into the sugar mixture. Add the vanilla, salt and melted butter. Briefly whisk into the mixture. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate mixing bowl. Add to liquid ingredients in mixing bowl. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Prevent over mixing the dough. Lightlyflour dust the board with. Roll dough out .5 centimeters (0.2 in) or .2-inches thick. Cut doughnuts out with the large pastry cutter. Cut the centers out with the small pastry cutter. Save the dough scraps and combine with the uncut pastry dough. Continue to cut the doughnuts out until all the dough has been cut out. Place the saucepan, filled with the vegetable oil, and heat over medium heat. The temperature should be 365 °F (185 °C) or 185 C. Line the tray with paper towels while the oil is heating. Add doughnuts to hot oil and fry 1 minute or until golden brown. Turn the doughnuts over and continue frying until golden. Repeat until all the doughnuts are cooked. Fry the doughnut holes. Drain the cooked doughnuts on paper towels. Dustpowdered sugar doughnuts with. You can add candy sprinkles, chocolate fudge or nuts if you wish. Now serve on a plate and enjoy your donuts! Add water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add powdered sugar to a small mixing bowl. Add boiling water to powdered sugar. Add dash vanilla if using. Mix until smooth. Drizzle or spoon over doughnuts. | Add eggssugar Add yogurt Add the vanilla, salt and melted butter. Combine Add Mix Prevent Lightlyflour Roll dough out .5 centimeters (0.2 in) or .2-inches thick. Cut doughnuts out with the large pastry cutter. Cut the centers out with the small pastry cutter. Save the dough scraps and combine with the uncut pastry dough. Continue to cut the doughnuts out until all the dough has been cut out. Place the saucepan, filled with the vegetable oil, and heat over medium heat. Line the tray with paper towels while the oil is heating. Add Turn the doughnuts over and continue frying until golden. Fry the doughnut holes. Drain Dustpowdered sugar You Add Add Add Add Mix Drizzle or spoon |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-If-Yeezys-are-Fake | How to Tell If Yeezys are Fake | To tell if a pair of Yeezys are fake, look for an oversized Adidas or YZY logo on the shoe, which is a common giveaway for fake Yeezys. Check the inside label for “Made in China,” the bar code, shoe size, gender specifications, and serial code. If it has any other information, the Yeezys are probably fake. You can also count the red dots on the heel tab, which there are 9 of on real Yeezys. Another easy way to check is to look for the serial number on your box and check it matches the number on your shores. In general, if you paid less than 200 dollars for a pair of Yeezys and they weren't from a reputable store, they're likely to be fake. | Check for a supersized Adidas logo. Fake Yeezys have something in common: they don't use the correct sizes on their designs. If you're an Adidas or Kanye aficionado, you'll notice the logo takes up more space on a pair of counterfeit Yeezys. The same goes for the “YZY” logo printed on the shoe. Check the side of the shoe for Adidas' famous trefoil design! Look for the phrase "Sample Made in China" on the size tag. If the label includes this, along with some extra information, including the shoe name, it's not a real pair of Yeezys. If the shoe is real, it will simply have "Made in China," along with a bar code and the usual size and gender specifications and serial code. Check for white text on the insoles. If a pair is fake, the text on both insoles will be white, and the words won't be mirror images of each other. The text should read “adidas YEEZY” with the Adidas trefoil in between. The insoles' text should not be pure white but a dark gray that almost blends in with the background color. Insoles should be mirrored images of each other. See if the lettering says "SPLV-350" and doesn't line up correctly. This text is incorrect and a sign of a fake pair of Yeezys. On counterfeit pairs, they use the letter "V" instead of the correct "W." The letters on the fakes curve up while the real Yeezys go straight across. Look for messy stitching. On a fake pair of Yeezys, the stitching is a messy criss-cross. The real ones have neat stitching that creates an “X” on both sides with a square separating them. Count the red dots on the heel tab. Fake Yeezys could have any number of dots, but real Yeezys have exactly 9 in the center box. The dots outside the rectangle don't count. See how the stripes on the inside of the heel tab blend in. On fake Yeezys, the stripes look like they've been printed on. Check the material’s quality. A quick way to verify the shoe's authenticity is by judging the material. A fake pair of Yeezys has a softer fabric, making it easy to identify as a counterfeit. The shoe's tongue is another dead giveaway regarding its realness. A fake pair of Yeezy's soft material makes the tongue slouchier, while a real pair stands straight up. Ignore new Yeezys that cost less than $200. Yeezys are certainly a luxury item, and their price reflects that. If the cost seems too good to be true, be wary: they're likely counterfeit. Yeezy 500s will be released on July 7, 2018 and are listed for $200. Authentic, two-year old Yeezys are being resold for $1,500. If you find a pair going for $100 and it's not on sale or clearance, don't buy! Buy from reputable places. Yeezys are made in collaboration with Adidas, so to ensure you're getting the real thing, shop from places you know carry Adidas and follow the company for updates. Adidas offers visitors to its site the option to sign up for updates regarding Yeezys. Check the details of the box. Don't assume you have the real thing when you get your order - its packaging says a lot! Fake Yeezys come in a rougher looking box, while real Yeezys come in smooth packaging with no visible edges. A fake pair of Yeezys won't have the correct serial number on the box. Verify the shoes' number with what is on the box to make sure you have the real deal. | Check for a supersized Adidas logo. Look for the phrase "Sample Made in China" on the size tag. Check for white text on the insoles. See if the lettering says "SPLV-350" and doesn't line up correctly. Look for messy stitching. Count the red dots on the heel tab. See how the stripes on the inside of the heel tab blend in. Check the material’s quality. Ignore new Yeezys that cost less than $200. Buy from reputable places. Check the details of the box. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Luggage-Strap | How to Use a Luggage Strap | If you're a frequent traveler, you'll want to make sure that your luggage stays closed by using a luggage strap. If you have hard-sided luggage, wrap the strap around it at a right angle to the opening of the bag to keep it from popping open. For soft-sided luggage, place the strap across the zipper to help keep it closed if the zipper comes open or if you burst a seam. You can also use a luggage strap to buckle multiple pieces of luggage together. Stand your largest piece of luggage upright with the handle extended. Set the next largest piece on top leaning against the handle. Then, wrap the strap under the bottom and around both pieces, going through the middle of the handle. Buckle the strap on the front middle of the lower piece and cinch it tight enough so that the top piece doesn't move around. | Wrap the strap around a hard-sided piece of luggage. One use for luggage straps is to keep luggage from accidentally popping open at some point during transit. Hard-sided luggage usually has locks or clasps that can occasionally be damaged if they are thrown around. For hard sided luggage that has some sort of clasp on the top, wrap the strap around the luggage so that it keeps the luggage closed. Place the buckle in the middle of the front or back side. Cinch the strap tight against the luggage, but not so much that it bends the luggage. The strap should be at a right angle to the opening of the bag. Make sure the strap crosses the zipper of a soft-sided piece of luggage. Soft-sided luggage that is packed tightly can occasionally burst at the seams. A strap will help keep the luggage closed if it bursts its seams. Pull it tight enough that if the zipper comes open, the strap will keep the bag closed tightly. Strap multiple pieces of luggage together. Stand your largest piece of luggage upright with handle extended. Set the next largest piece on top leaning against the handle. Wrap the strap under the bottom and around both pieces, going through the middle of a handle with two posts, or just to the edge of a handle with one post. Buckle the strap on the front middle of the lower piece of luggage. Cinch it tightly enough that the top piece does not move around, but not so tight that either piece of luggage bends under the pressure. You'll want to try your best to make it so that the handle will still shut, as it will not be able to stay extended during transit. Secure any remaining length of strap. Once the strap is secured around the luggage, there may be some of the strap that is loose. To avoid this loose cloth getting caught on something in transit, wrap it around the portion that's flat against the luggage and tie it in place. Most luggage straps are adjustable to different lengths, so when you have it set for a smaller piece of luggage than the maximum, you're likely to have some extra. Select an eye-catching color. It can be fairly easy to get your luggage mixed up with someone else's, so a luggage strap is a great way to differentiate your luggage from all of the others. If you can choose a strap of bright pink or green, or with a multicolored pattern, it will give your luggage the pop it needs to be more recognizable. If you are traveling as a family and you have similar luggage, it can also be an easy way to identify whose is whose. Pay attention to the type of buckle. Most luggage straps have the type of buckle on which you pinch the sides to release it. This is probably the easiest type of release to choose. It's good to test the buckle out to make sure it is easy to open, but not so easy that it will open if it is jostled. Some straps may come with a buckle that is similar to a belt, which would require you to weave the strap itself through a metal or plastic clasp. This type is not recommended as it will take you longer to secure around your luggage. Choose a locking strap for added security. Luggage straps help hold your luggage closed, but they can also provide protection against theft. Some straps come with a 3-digit combination that must be selected before the clasp opens. This can be a deterrent for potential thieves who would consider getting into your bag. While the security aspect is great, some people do advise against locking straps because they say it can pose a hold up with TSA who may wish to check your luggage and would be unable to. It's possible to purchase TSA approved luggage locks. These locks are made so that a master key, which TSA agents have, can unlock the lock. You can purchase these locks at most airports and travel accessory stores. To make things easier, it is probably best to write down the combination and keep it somewhere you can get to it easily. You don't want to be stuck somewhere without the ability to get into your luggage. | Wrap the strap around a hard-sided piece of luggage. Make sure the strap crosses the zipper of a soft-sided piece of luggage. Strap multiple pieces of luggage together. Secure any remaining length of strap. Select an eye-catching color. Pay attention to the type of buckle. Choose a locking strap for added security. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Dislocated-Finger | How to Fix a Dislocated Finger | A dislocated finger can be difficult to put back into place, so see a doctor as soon as possible. You'll know it's dislocated if your finger is bent in an awkward way, is painful and swollen, or you aren't able to move it. The doctor will likely take an X-ray to determine if any of your fingers are broken. Then, they'll either gently pop your finger back into place, or suggest surgery if the dislocation is more serious. While you're waiting to see the doctor, there are a few things you can do to relieve your pain. Apply an ice pack against your fingers to reduce swelling. You can also raise your injured arm above the level of your heart, which will reduce pressure on your hand. | Notice if your injured finger is abnormally bent, painful, and won't move. A dislocated finger won't move because it's out of its joint. Similarly, the finger will likely be bent or pointed in an awkward way. You'll likely experience pain and swelling, and your finger may look pale. If the injury is severe, you may feel tingling and numbness around the area. It's best to see a doctor if you think your finger is dislocated, especially if you experience a lot of pain and swelling. It's possible to experience both a dislocation and a broken bone at the same time, so getting a proper diagnosis is important. Remove any jewelry from your dislocated finger. As soon as your finger has popped out of joint, it may begin to swell. To prevent rings (or other jewelry) from being stuck on your finger and potentially cutting off blood flow, remove them as soon as possible. Use a little lotion, dishwashing detergent, or spit to lubricate your finger if the rings are stuck. If you can't remove rings or other jewelry from your dislocated finger, a doctor may need to cut the jewelry off. Apply ice to your dislocated finger to reduce swelling. Hold an ice pack or a frozen gel pack against your finger as soon as possible after the injury occurs. Situate the ice in such a way that it doesn't put any further pressure on your dislocated finger, to avoid worsening the dislocation. Applying ice to your finger will prevent excessive swelling and should also help reduce the pain. If you don't have an ice pack or frozen gel pack, put 5–6 ice cubes in a damp washcloth and hold it against your injured finger. Elevate your injured hand above the level of your heart. Be sure to keep the ice on your dislocated finger, and raise it to at least shoulder height. Keep your hand at this level until you can see a doctor. If possible, find something to prop your hand on so you don't exhaust your muscles. For example, in the car on the way to the doctor's office, prop your injured hand up on the back of a seat. If you don't elevate your hand, blood may pool in your dislocated finger. This could cause blood vessels to tear or external bleeding to worsen. Visit your doctor immediately after you dislocate your finger. Unlike when dealing with sprains (which require relatively little treatment), dislocations can be difficult to put back into place. Never try to force the joint back together, or you'll risk causing further damage to the finger. Instead, see your doctor as soon as you can. If the dislocation isn't too bad, they may manipulate the joint back into place then and there. If it's nighttime or a weekend, go to an Urgent Care facility. You shouldn't need to visit an Emergency Room for a dislocated finger unless it's the only available option. Receive an X-ray to determine the extent of your dislocation. If the doctor agrees that your finger is dislocated, they may recommend an X-ray so they can assess the extent of the damage. In most cases, they'll provide the X-ray in the office and you won't need to visit a specialist. Without an X-ray, the doctor won't know if the bones in your finger have been broken or if there are bone fragments in the joint. Don't worry—if your doctor suggests an X-ray, it doesn't mean that your dislocation is particularly bad. Most likely, the doctor wants to see the position of the dislocation before they attempt to fix it. Request a surgery if other methods won't relocate the joint. If your finger has been severely dislocated, it may need to be surgically repaired. Your doctor may also perform a surgery if the bone and cartilage surrounding the dislocated joint have been damaged. The surgery is usually minimally invasive and you may be able to return home shortly after it's finished. Since both the surgery and putting the joint back into place can be painful, the doctor may give you a local anesthetic to numb the sensation in your finger. Wear a padded finger splint for 3–6 weeks until the bone has healed. Once the doctor has relocated your finger (with or without surgery), they'll provide you with a padded finger splint to wear. The splint will wrap around your injured finger and hold it stiff, preventing further injury. Keep the splint on for as long as the doctor directs to allow the finger to heal fully. Your doctor may give you “buddy tape” instead of a splint. Buddy tape wraps around your injured finger and 1 adjacent finger, and keeps your finger nearly as stable as a splint would. Ice your injured finger for 30 minutes every 3-4 hours. Remove the splint from your relocated finger and hold an ice pack or frozen gel pack against it for at least 20 minutes. Do this every 3-4 hours, or at least 3 times every day. Continue to ice your finger for 2–3 days to allow the damaged finger to heal itself and to prevent complications caused by swelling. Purchase an ice pack or gel pack at a local pharmacy or drug store. Elevate your hand as often as possible for the first 2-3 weeks. Elevating your injured hand will decrease inflammation and allow the damaged finger to heal quickly. So, as you go about your daily life, try to keep your hand elevated (chest height or above) as often as is realistically possible. For example, prop your hand up on a few cushions when you're sitting on the couch, and rest it on several pillows as you lie in bed. Also try propping your hand up on a few books as you sit at a desk at your school or work. Perform any physical therapy exercises as your doctor directs. Your doctor may suggest, once your finger has healed for 3–4 weeks, that you try basic physical therapy to rebuild the muscles and ligaments in your finger. Basic moves will likely include stretches and repetitive finger curls. In cases of a severe dislocation, your doctor may refer you to work with a licensed physical therapist. Following doctor's orders and doing the therapy as directed will help your finger heal quickly and with minimal lasting pain or damage. Talk to your doctor if the finger continues to hurt once the splint is off. It takes time for bones and ligaments to heal, and you can expect your finger to hurt for roughly 4–6 weeks. However, if it's still painful after this time has passed, talk to your doctor. Ask them what they'd recommend for the pain. Your doctor may recommend NSAIDs or other drugs to combat pain and swelling. Before taking any medication, be sure to read the packaging and always follow the printed dosage instructions. | Notice if your injured finger is abnormally bent, painful, and won't move. Remove any jewelry from your dislocated finger. Apply ice to your dislocated finger to reduce swelling. Elevate your injured hand above the level of your heart. Visit your doctor immediately after you dislocate your finger. Receive an X-ray to determine the extent of your dislocation. Request a surgery if other methods won't relocate the joint. Wear a padded finger splint for 3–6 weeks until the bone has healed. Ice your injured finger for 30 minutes every 3-4 hours. Elevate your hand as often as possible for the first 2-3 weeks. Perform any physical therapy exercises as your doctor directs. Talk to your doctor if the finger continues to hurt once the splint is off. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-a-Garden-Spider | How to Identify a Garden Spider | To identify a common garden spider, look for a slightly shiny, egg-shaped black abdomen with yellow patches and short, silvery hairs on the front section of its body. You can also examine the spider's legs, which should be red or yellow close to the body and turn black at the ends. Most spiders have two claws at the end of each leg, but you'll know you're looking at a garden spider if it has three claws instead of two. | Look for an egg-shaped black abdomen with yellow patches. The abdomen of a garden spider is egg-shaped and slightly shiny, which helps when trying to find them in direct sunlight. A female abdomen will be black with patches of bright yellow, whereas males have patches of pale yellow coloration. Note if the front body section of the spider has short, silvery hairs. Most spiders have short hairs on their legs, but the garden spider has silvery-grey hairs on both its cephalothorax (the front section of its body) and its legs. Check for these with a magnifying glass (or camera with a zoom function), but be careful not to concentrate the sun's rays on the spider and burn it. Check the legs for yellow or red coloring that turns black at the end. Garden spiders have legs that are distinctly separated into 2 colors — the part closest to the body is yellow or reddish-orange while the tip of the leg becomes black. The colors do not blend and change abruptly near the first bend in its leg. In some spiders, the colors band around each leg rather than separate into 2 distinct colors. This is relatively uncommon but is something that should be taken into account when you look at its leg coloration. Notice if it has 3 claws at the end of each leg. Most spiders have 2 claws at the end of each leg, but because the garden spider is an orb-weaver, it needs an extra claw to handle its silk while making its web. Figure out whether it is a female or male spider by its size. Unlike humans, the female garden spider is much larger than the male garden spider, sometimes up to 4 times its size. Female garden spiders are anywhere from ⁄ 4 inch (1.9 cm) to 1.125 inches (2.86 cm) long, while males can be anywhere from ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm) to ⁄ 8 inch (0.95 cm) long. Another way to determine the spider's sex is to observe it on the web. Females will hang head-down from the center of the web with their legs kept together, so they appear to have 4 legs rather than 8. The male garden spider may not display its colors as much as the female spider, which makes its colors appear much more muted and pale. Search for spiders in the warmer parts of the year, from spring to fall. The garden spider is most active from June to November, after which it goes dormant until the spring. In places with a particularly cold winter, the spider may go dormant earlier. The garden spider loves the sun and warmth, which is why it is much easier to find in warm months than in winter and the beginning of spring. You can certainly still find them at other times of the year, but they will be harder to spot and may be hidden from sight entirely. Look for webs about knee-high off the ground in sunny but hidden areas. Garden spiders like to build their webs a little bit off of the ground in an area without wind or other factors that could destroy their web. Don't limit your search to just your garden. You can often find their webs built on trellises and on fences around the house, and they are abundant in natural areas too. Garden spiders often like to build their webs in areas of tall grass and foliage, as the grass provides a natural buffer and hiding spot. Identify its circular, orb-like web with a zig-zag pattern. Garden spiders spin their webs in large, circular spirals often with a thick strand of silk that resembles a zig-zag going directly through the middle. This is an indication that you have a garden spider in your yard, but there are other types of spiders that make their webs in a similar fashion. If you have webs that look very different from this in your garden, it is unlikely they were made by the common garden spider. The zig-zag strand of silk may not always be present. The spiral pattern will indicate that the web belongs to a garden spider, whereas the strand of silk will confirm this, if it is there. Notice their brown, thin egg sacs attached to one side of the web. The female will lay eggs on the web and keep them close to her, to prevent ants from getting to her spawn. These round egg sacs can be up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and contain many hundreds of smaller spider eggs. Rarely, if ever, will you find these eggs unattached to a web. Recognize a cross orb-weaver by its pyramid-shaped abdomen with a white cross. The cross orb-weaver is sometimes mistaken for a garden spider as it has a similar coloring, but the shape of the cross orb-weaver's abdomen, as well as the white stripe coloration on its body, differentiates it. Its web is circular and spiraling, much like the garden spider's web. Identify a grass spider by its funnel-like web and brown striped legs. A grass spider is a common spider that makes its web in a funnel shape. Their webs are typically low to the ground, which can indicate that it belongs to a grass spider and not a garden spider. The grass spider has black and white spots on its abdomen and brown-striped legs. Their bites are slightly venomous but do not cause any damage to people. Look for a long, narrow brown body and pale long legs in the dome spider. The dome spider's legs are noticeably longer than its body. Their body is a deep dark brown, whereas their legs are a pale tan color. Its web is shaped like a dome, and the dome spider's body has no bright coloring, unlike the garden spider. Identify a cobweb spider by its white body and legs and its large abdomen. The cobweb spider can typically be found climbing on flowers and bushes and in tangled messes of cobweb. Sometimes, they will have red or black markings on their body, but this is uncommon. The cobweb spider's web is erratic and patternless and is easily destroyed by the wind, which is why they are usually found in corners and out of the elements. Black widow spiders are one notable example of a venomous cobweb spider, but most are not venomous. Note the camouflage coloration and reflective eyes of the wolf spider. The wolf spider is a master of disguise and can be hard to spot without a flashlight as they blend into their surroundings extremely well. You can typically find them in open areas, and using a flashlight at night can help to find their reflective eyes looking back at you — spooky! Its web is small and funnel-shaped, and is usually hidden away rather than out in the open. Its bite is mildly venomous, but is not lethal. | Look for an egg-shaped black abdomen with yellow patches. Note if the front body section of the spider has short, silvery hairs. Check the legs for yellow or red coloring that turns black at the end. Notice if it has 3 claws at the end of each leg. Figure out whether it is a female or male spider by its size. Search for spiders in the warmer parts of the year, from spring to fall. Look for webs about knee-high off the ground in sunny but hidden areas. Identify its circular, orb-like web with a zig-zag pattern. Notice their brown, thin egg sacs attached to one side of the web. Recognize a cross orb-weaver by its pyramid-shaped abdomen with a white cross. Identify a grass spider by its funnel-like web and brown striped legs. Look for a long, narrow brown body and pale long legs in the dome spider. Identify a cobweb spider by its white body and legs and its large abdomen. Note the camouflage coloration and reflective eyes of the wolf spider. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Sugar-Snap-Peas | How to Eat Sugar Snap Peas | To eat sugar snap peas raw, rinse them well with clean water and use a knife to cut off the tough stems at the end of the pea pods. You can then pop the whole pea in your mouth, pod and all! Try sprinkling sugar snap peas in salads or munch on them as healthy alternatives to chips by dunking them in your favorite dipping sauces. They taste delicious with hummus, guacamole, and a wide variety of salad dressings! If you prefer your peas cooked, try adding them to stir fries or roasting them in your oven. | Use a knife to cut off the tough stem at the end of the pea pod. Not all sugar snap peas have stems at the end, but if yours do, make sure you cut the stem off before eating them. Place the sugar snap peas on a cutting board and use a knife to carefully cut off the tip of the pea pod that the stem is attached to. Eat the whole pod. Unlike with garden peas, the pods on sugar snap peas can be eaten. Don't worry about removing the round peas inside. The pods on sugar snap peas are crunchy and sweet. Add raw sugar snap peas to salads. Raw sugar snap peas can add crunch to your salads and make them more nutritious. Cut the pods into smaller segments with a knife so they're easier to mix in with your salad, or you can leave them whole. Pair raw sugar snap peas with dips. Dip them into hummus, guacamole, and other kinds of dip. Sugar snap peas are a healthier alternative to foods like chips and bread that are usually paired with dips. Heat 1 tablespoon (14.8 mL) of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Any kind of olive oil will work. Make sure you use a pan that's large enough to hold all the sugar snap peas you'll be sautéing. Add the sugar snap peas to the pan. Use a large spoon to carefully scoop the sugar snap peas into the pan so hot oil doesn't splash up on you. Stir the sugar snap peas with the spoon to coat them in olive oil. Sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons (7.4 mL) of salt and ¾ teaspoon of pepper (3.7 mL) over the peas. Use the spoon to stir in the salt and pepper so the sugar snap peas are evenly coated. Toss the sugar snap peas in the pan for 3-5 minutes. Use the spoon to turn them over in the pan and stir them so they're evenly cooked. You'll know the sugar snap peas are finished sautéing when they're tender and crispy. Turn off the stove top and serve the sugar snap peas. Pour them from the pan into a large bowl and sprinkle sea salt over them for some extra flavor. Put a serving spoon in the bowl and you're finished! Fill a pot with 6 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Place the pot of water on a burner and turn the burner to the highest setting. Use a pot that's large enough to hold all the sugar snap peas you want to blanch. Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Use about 1-2 ice cube trays worth of ice. After you put the ice in the bowl, fill it up almost to the brim with water. Set the bowl of ice water aside. Do this step while you're waiting for the pot of water to boil to save yourself time. Add the snap peas and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of salt to the boiling water. Boiling the sugar snap peas will make them less tough, and it will help preserve their color and flavor. Leave the pot uncovered as you boil the sugar snap peas. Let the sugar snap peas boil for 5 minutes. Don't remove them from the boiling water early or they won't blanch properly. After 5 minutes, the sugar snap peas should be crisp and tender. Scoop the peas out of the boiling water and put them in the bowl of ice water. Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the sugar snap peas so the boiling water drains out of it. Once all the sugar snap peas are in the bowl of ice water, turn off the stove top. Drain the bowl of ice water immediately. Take the sugar snap peas out of the bowl and place them on a dry paper towel. Grab a second paper towel and pat the sugar snap peas until they're dry. Use the blanched sugar snap peas in a recipe or store them for later. Add the sugar snap peas to a salad or stir-fry. They'll be more tender now that they're blanched. If you don't want to use them now, put them in a sealed plastic bag and place them in the refrigerator or freezer. Store the sugar snap peas in the fridge for up to 5 days. Blanched sugar snap peas can stay good in the freezer for up to a year. Turn on the oven and prepare a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). While the oven's preheating, spread out the sugar snap peas in an even layer on a baking sheet. Make sure none of the sugar snap peas are overlapping or on top of each other. If you can't fit all the sugar snap peas on one baking sheet, use a second baking sheet. Brush olive oil over the sugar snap peas with a basting brush. Dip the basting brush in a bowl of olive oil so it's fully saturated. Brush over the surface of the sugar snap peas until they're all coated with oil. Season the sugar snap peas to add extra flavor. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the sugar snap peas. You can also add other seasonings like thyme and garlic powder. Try to evenly coat the sugar snap peas with the seasonings as you're sprinkling them on. Put the sugar snap peas in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, open the oven door and look at the sugar snap peas. If they're slightly brown on the edges, they're finished. If not, leave them in for a few more minutes. Take the sugar snap peas out of the oven and serve. Use a spatula to remove the sugar snap peas from the baking sheet and transfer them to a plate. Serve the roasted sugar snap peas as a side or add them to a roasted vegetable medley. | Use a knife to cut off the tough stem at the end of the pea pod. Eat the whole pod. Add raw sugar snap peas to salads. Pair raw sugar snap peas with dips. Heat 1 tablespoon (14.8 mL) of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the sugar snap peas to the pan. Sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons (7.4 mL) of salt and ¾ teaspoon of pepper (3.7 mL) over the peas. Toss the sugar snap peas in the pan for 3-5 minutes. Turn off the stove top and serve the sugar snap peas. Fill a pot with 6 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Add the snap peas and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of salt to the boiling water. Let the sugar snap peas boil for 5 minutes. Scoop the peas out of the boiling water and put them in the bowl of ice water. Drain the bowl of ice water immediately. Use the blanched sugar snap peas in a recipe or store them for later. Turn on the oven and prepare a baking sheet. Brush olive oil over the sugar snap peas with a basting brush. Season the sugar snap peas to add extra flavor. Put the sugar snap peas in the oven for 10 minutes. Take the sugar snap peas out of the oven and serve. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Apologize-for-Being-Late-to-Work | How to Apologize for Being Late to Work | To apologize for being late to work, give an apology in person to your boss when you arrive, even if you called them to say you'd be late. When you speak to your boss, offer a straightforward explanation for your tardiness, like saying your child got sick. Additionally, make your apology sound sincere, and avoid joking about or brushing off your lateness so that you're boss is more likely to accept your apology. At the end of your conversation, thank your boss sincerely for their understanding and commit to being on time in the future. | Gauge how late you're going to be. Take stock of the conditions holding you up and estimate how much longer it will be until you can make it in. Depending on what you do, a few minutes may not be the end of the world. If you think you'll be delayed for a while, however, you should always make it a point to let someone know. Consider how long it will take you to resolve your current situation in order to give a more accurate estimate. If you're stuck in traffic, for example, use a navigation app that provides live traffic updates to find out how fast things are moving up ahead. Giving your employer an idea of when they can expect you to arrive will put them at ease and allow them to make any necessary adjustments to the schedule. Call your workplace when you're going to be more than 5 minutes late. Unless you're confident you can make it in on time despite the setback, it's usually best to pick up the phone and let someone know you're running behind. Inform them of what's going on and how much longer it will be before you can get there. If you have no way of knowing how late you'll ultimately be, err on the side of caution and call anyway. Take the day’s events into consideration and call sooner if necessary. Your tardiness may cause more of an issue depending on what you've got going that day. If your store is running a big sale or you've got an important meeting on the books, for instance, you'll definitely want to alert your employer or client right away. If you phone right away, someone else may be able to cover for you until you arrive. Ask to speak directly to your boss. Once you've got someone on the phone, request to be put on the line with your manager, shift leader, or one of your boss's direct subordinates. This will help ensure that the message gets relayed to the right person. If you have important information to share, leave it with your boss's receptionist or administrative assistant. These people usually take notes, so there will be a record of your call. Avoid sharing your status with a coworker. If they get busy or distracted, they may forget to pass the word along. Address the matter with your boss as soon as you show up. Make issuing your apologizing priority #1 after you walk in the door. Chances are, your boss will wave it off and you can get to work. Otherwise, they'll have a chance to talk to you about it before you punch in. You should give an apology in person even if you called in beforehand to tell your employer that you were going to be late. If you put off apologizing because you're busy or dread facing your boss, you may end up looking indifferent or irresponsible, which can reflect poorly on you as an employee. Offer a brief explanation for why you’re late. Once you've got your boss's ear, give them an account of the circumstances that caused your tardiness. Your apology should be explicit, truthful, and to-the-point. The more elaborate a tale you tell, the more it will sound like you're just trying to cover for yourself. There's no need to dress up your story with unnecessary details. Just say something like, "I'm sorry I was a few minutes late today. My youngest child got sick right when I was about to head out the door.” Avoid sharing the day's events if they're not work-appropriate. If you were late because you got distracted by a personal phone call or spent an hour on the toilet with tummy trouble, it may be better to not give a reason at all. Be sincere. As you issue your apology, make an effort to sound properly remorseful. Your boss will be able to tell if you don't really mean what you're saying. Your best bet is to simply be honest and accept responsibility for your mistake. Don't laugh, joke, or try to brush off your tardiness as insignificant. Making light of the situation could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. End the conversation with a "thank you. " Regardless of whether your boss chews you out or lets you off the hook, take a moment to express your gratitude. After all, they're the reason you still have a job. Ingratiating yourself to them might might also help soften them up a little if they're on the warpath over your late arrival. As a way of showing your appreciation for leniency, you might say something like, “Thank you for being so understanding. I promise it won't happen again.” It can be tough to swallow your pride in front of your supervisor, but it's the most diplomatic course of action, especially when you're late as a result of your own actions. Send an apology letter if you happen to be exceptionally late. In the event that you're a no-show for more than an hour, it may be a good idea to follow up your face-to-face apology with a written one. Taking the time to compose a formal letter will show that you're genuinely remorseful and help you get back into your employer's good graces. You should also think about writing an apology letter if you've already had one or more violations in the past, or if your tardiness caused a major problem for your company, such as a lost client or safety violation. Use a formal structure for your letter. Place your full name, address, and email address at the top of the letter. On the following line, note the date that you're writing. Beneath that, display your boss's name and email address and the physical address of the company. If you work for a large company, put down the local address of your workplace rather than the business's headquarters. Open your letter with a traditional greeting. Start with the word “Dear,” followed by your boss's appropriate title. It's customary to use a given title like "Mr.", “Mrs.", or “Miss,” even if you're ordinarily on casual terms. Never refer to your employer by their first name. Most apology letters will open with a line like, “Dear Miss Morgan” or “Dear Mr. Singh.” If you don't feel comfortable using the word “Dear,” it's alright to drop it and just say “Miss Morgan,” followed by a comma. Be careful not to sound too familiar with your employer. Doing so could come across as disrespectful. Present your apology in the body of the letter. Explain that the purpose of your letter is to go above and beyond a simple verbal apology. Then, summarize your reason for being late, even if you've already talked it out with your boss in person. Don't forget to note the date and time to provide context for the situation. Your explanation might read, "I want to offer my sincerest apologies for being two hours late to work this past Friday, August 10th, 2018. I had an unexpected crisis at home that demanded my attention. I understand that my absence came at an inopportune moment for the company, and I would like to say once again how sorry I am." Keep the body of your letter short and sweet. Ideally, it should consist of only a few lines—your opening, a brief explanation, and a final acknowledgement of wrongdoing. Show that you understand the consequences of your tardiness. Since it's hard to take away a sense of tone from a written apology, you'll want to include a line that conveys that you regret being late. Acknowledge how your mistake impacted your employer and coworkers, or what it cost the company if there were financial consequences. As an example, you might write, "I realize that by missing my 10 am appointment I not only lost a potential client but also damaged our company's credibility as a dependable consultant with an emphasis on customer satisfaction.” End your letter by stating how you plan to make up for your mistake. Explain how you plan to avoid being late in future. Describe the exact steps you'll take to follow through on your pledge, such as leaving earlier or scheduling your appointments more prudently. This will show that you're focused on actionable solutions, not just empty excuses. A closing line like, "I've asked a trusted neighbor to be available to help with the dogs so that a situation like this morning's doesn't happen again” will be taken as a sign of good faith. Express your gratitude before signing off. Thank your boss for their patience and understanding, and for taking the time to read your letter. Ending things on a gracious note will help soothe any lingering feelings of resentment and set a positive tone for future interactions. Your final line doesn't have to be anything too extravagant: "I appreciate how gracious you've been throughout this whole ordeal, and I'm eager for another chance to prove my loyalty to the company." If nothing else, include a short gesture of thanks like, “Thank you for being understanding of these difficulties and my plans to correct them.” Sign your name at the bottom of the letter by hand. Leave a little space beneath your closing where you can put your signature once you've printed your letter. If you decide to send it as an email instead, it's okay to simply type out your first and last name. Be sure to use the name you go by most often at the workplace. If you wish, you can include a complimentary closing line like “Sincerely” or “With respect” before your signature. Listing your job title below your name may help your recipient identify you more easily if you work in a large company with multiple departments. Avoid lying or making excuses. It can be tempting to make up a story to explain your tardiness, but resist the urge. The reason why you're late ultimately matters less than making it clear that you intend to do everything in your power to keep it from happening again. Besides, if your cover story is discovered to be false, it will only make you look worse. Even small embellishments could land you in hot water. All it would take is a radio traffic report to disprove your claim that you were late due to a pileup on the interstate. Focusing on how your actions have affected others tends to make a better impression than trying to downplay the mistake. "Thank you for adjusting your schedule on such short notice," for instance, sounds better than, "There was a big wreck on the interstate." Wait until after meetings to apologize, if applicable. The only time you shouldn't say sorry right off the bat is when there's an important meeting going on. In that case, it's best to just walk in and join the meeting in progress. Your apology can wait until afterwards. Make as little noise as possible as you slip in to avoid drawing any more unnecessary attention to yourself. Not only would apologizing during a meeting disrupt the proceedings, it would also add to your embarrassment by having to admit it in front of your higher-ups and coworkers. Do your best to avoid being late in the future. Of course, everyone is late from time to time. If you start to develop a habit, however, you'll inevitably come to be viewed as an unreliable employee. No matter how often or how sincerely you explain yourself, repeating your mistake suggests you're not actually sorry for what you've done. If necessary, start waking up half an hour earlier to give yourself a little cushion for your morning routine or commute. It's possible that you could be reprimanded, penalized, or even fired for being chronically late. | Gauge how late you're going to be. Call your workplace when you're going to be more than 5 minutes late. Take the day’s events into consideration and call sooner if necessary. Ask to speak directly to your boss. Address the matter with your boss as soon as you show up. Offer a brief explanation for why you’re late. Be sincere. End the conversation with a "thank you. Send an apology letter if you happen to be exceptionally late. Use a formal structure for your letter. Open your letter with a traditional greeting. Present your apology in the body of the letter. Show that you understand the consequences of your tardiness. End your letter by stating how you plan to make up for your mistake. Express your gratitude before signing off. Sign your name at the bottom of the letter by hand. Avoid lying or making excuses. Wait until after meetings to apologize, if applicable. Do your best to avoid being late in the future. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Acne-Scars-with-Home-Remedies | How to Reduce Acne Scars with Home Remedies | If you already have scars from acne, try gently exfoliating your skin with a commercial exfoliant anywhere from once a week to once a day, depending on how oily your skin is. Alternatively, you can make your own exfoliant with baking soda, sugar, or oatmeal. You can also reduce the appearance of scars by keeping your skin moist, so apply a gentle moisturizer any time you wash your face. Look for moisturizers with healing ingredients, such as vitamin E or calendula. Another option is to try a salicylic acid peel or alpha hydroxy acid treatment to gently remove scarred and discolored skin. | Familiarize yourself with the causes and risk factors of acne scarring. Picking, popping or squeezing a pimple can cause further breakouts and permanent acne scars. The fewer breakouts you have, the less likely you are to develop acne scars. Treating acne is important to prevent scarring, especially with any of the following: Severe, painful cysts and nodules. Nodules are hard, large, and inflamed pimples. Cysts are pus-filled, painful pimples, both of which occur deep in the skin and can often cause scarring. This is called "cystic acne." Acne that began at a young age. This often develops into severe acne within a few years. Dermatologists recommend that a preteen who has acne receive a dermatologic exam. Treating the acne before it becomes severe reduces the risk of developing acne scars. Blood relatives who have acne scars. The tendency to develop acne scars often runs in the family. Avoid touching your face. Dirt and bacteria on your hands can clog your pores and cause acne if you touch your face too much. If you feel irritation due to acne, use a gentle, oil-free daily facial wipe to remove excess dirt and reduce irritation. Resist the temptation to touch or pick at your face. Keep your hands clean by frequently washing them or using a hand sanitizer on the go. Do not squeeze or pop your blemishes. This increases the risk of developing scars. In some cases, squeezing a pimple may spread the bacteria even further. Do not cover blemishes with your hair. Keep your hair away from your face with ponytails, headbands or hair clips. Dermatologists also recommend that you wash your hair regularly if it is oily. The oil can transfer to your forehead and face and lead to breakouts. Avoid too much sun exposure. Moderate sun exposure is beneficial to your immune system. It helps your body produce vitamin D. But, acne scars that are exposed to excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun often become permanent. Excess exposure to sunlight may also cause sunspots, known as solar lentigines. Sunspots begin forming beneath the layers of the skin and cause small dark spots on the surface of your skin as you age. To protect your skin from sun damage, use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 30. Some chemicals in sunscreens may cause allergies. You may want to consult with a dermatologist to find the sunscreen that's right for you. Choose cosmetics with care. Some cosmetic products can worsen acne and increase the risk of scarring. Choose non-toxic cosmetics and apply them sparingly. Use paraben-free skincare. Parabens are preservatives used in many cosmetic products. They can cause skin irritation and inflammation for people who suffer from acne, and may be a potential allergen. Butyl and propyl paraben are more toxic than methylparaben and ethylparaben. But, the latter is more easily absorbed by the human body. Do not use cosmetic products with synthetic dyes. Your skin absorbs almost 60% of all substances applied to its surface. Avoid cosmetics with synthetic colorings. Specifically, avoid E102, E129, E132, E133, and E143. Besides being bad for your skin, they are neurotoxins and may also promote cancer. Use oil-free cosmetics for your skin and hair. Do not apply makeup immediately after washing your skin as it can also clog your pores, leading to more acne breakouts. After wearing makeup, always wash your face with a gentle cleanser to prevent your pores from becoming clogged. Don't smoke. Smoking can cause smoker's acne. This is a condition in which the body does not produce an inflammatory response to heal the skin as quickly as it would with normal acne. Smokers are also 4 times more susceptible to moderate post-adolescent acne. This is particularly true for women between the ages of 25-50. Cigarette smoke may cause skin irritation for people with sensitive skin. Smoking can also cause other skin conditions, such as wrinkles and premature skin aging, by creating free radicals. Free radicals are chemically reactive molecules that can damage cells. Smoking also impairs collagen production and degrades skin proteins. Collagen is a structural protein with anti-aging properties. It promotes cell growth and repair, improving the durability and appearance of your skin. Not having enough collagen can greatly reduce the effectiveness of acne treatments. Reduced collagen production can also slow down the rate of healing for scars. Avoid stress. Studies show that emotional stress can worsen acne, especially in females. Some ways to manage stress are: Listening to music. Listening to soothing music can decrease blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. Making time for recreation. Replace unnecessary, time-consuming chores with pleasurable or interesting activities. If the source of stress is in the home, plan some time away, even if only for an hour or 2 per week. Meditation. This can help reduce blood pressure, chronic pain, and anxiety, and it can lower cholesterol levels. It helps promote physical and emotional well-being. For a simple meditation exercise, sit with your legs crossed in a quiet environment and take slow, deep breaths for at least 5–10 minutes. Try to get at least 5 minutes of meditation time every day to help keep your stress in check. Other meditation techniques include exercises such as tai chi or yoga, biofeedback, and massage therapy. Get enough sleep. Collagen production and cell repair is faster and more effective when you're sleeping. You must give your body enough time to heal itself to get rid of scars. Having a regular sleep schedule helps to ensure better quality and consistent sleep. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and sugary drinks 4 to 6 hours before sleeping. These can act as stimulants to keep you awake. A quiet, dark, and cool environment can help promote sleep. Use heavy curtains or an eye mask to block light. Keep the temperature comfortably cool—between 65 and 75 °F (18 and 24 °C)—and the room well ventilated. Exercise regularly. Exercise helps reduce stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also helps strengthen the immune system to fight off bacteria, viruses, and harmful free radicals. This plays an important role in reducing acne. You should get at least 30–40 minutes of moderate exercise or 10-15 minutes of intensive exercise each day. Moderate exercise includes walking or recreational swimming. Intensive exercise includes activities such as such as basketball, soccer, and hiking. Keep your clothes and bedding clean. Do not wear tight-fitting, synthetic clothes that rub against your skin. Keep your pillowcases clean. Helmets, masks, headbands, and other tight-fitting sports equipment can rub against your skin and make acne flare up. Be sure to keep sports equipment clean and shower after exercise. Pillowcases and sheets can trap bacteria, dirt, and dead skin cells. These can get into your pores when you sleep, causing more acne breakouts that can lead to further scarring. Change your pillowcases often. Consider putting a fresh towel on your pillow every night if you apply an overnight acne treatment. Use a mild, non-soap cleanser. Keeping your skin clean is important for preventing breakouts, but some commercial cleansers can do more harm than good. Non-soap cleansers are free from chemicals that can cause irritation and scarring in acne-prone skin. Aim for an organic, chemical-free cleanser to avoid further irritation and scarring. Many natural cleansers are easily available at most pharmacies. People with sensitive skin should avoid astringent cleansers. They can cause dryness and irritation. Use oil-free, non-abrasive facial wipes for when you don't have time to rinse your face with a cleanser. To make a natural cleanser and toner, infuse 1 teaspoon (about 2/3 g) of green tea in a cup of warm water for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, strain the tea into a clean bowl and let it cool for 15–20 minutes. Apply the tea to the affected area with a cotton ball, facial wipe, or microdermabrasion cloth. Wash your face correctly. Cleansing your face is not only a matter of what product you use. It also matters how you wash. Follow these instructions: Wash your hands before applying the cleanser, so that dirt and bacteria from your hands don't clog your pores. Gently rinse your face using lukewarm or cold water before applying the cleanser. Using your fingertips, gently massage the cleanser into your skin for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, rinse using cold water and pat your face dry with a soft towel or washcloth. Dermatologists recommend that you limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. Wash your face once in the morning and once at night, as well as after sweating heavily. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, irritates the skin. Wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating. Try washing your face with milk. In addition to natural cleansing products, you can wash your face with plain, full-fat milk. The lactic acid in milk works as a mild, natural exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and even out the tone of your skin. It also reduces scars and blemishes. Simply take 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of milk and apply it to your face with a cotton ball. Massage your face in a circular motion for at least 3 to 5 minutes to effectively remove dirt from your pores. Coconut milk has medium chain fatty acids, which kill bacteria and viruses and help to reduce the number of pustules and cysts. So you may want to replace cow's milk with coconut milk that is readily available in the East Asian section of your supermarket. If you have inflamed pimples or oily skin, mix a teaspoon (about 3 g) of rice or gram flour into 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of milk to make a mixture. Using your fingers, gently massage it into your skin. Rinse using cold water, then pat dry with a soft washcloth. Use dried orange peel. Dried orange peel also makes a good natural cleanser. Orange peel contains vitamin C, which helps boost collagen production and repairs skin cells. This reduces the appearance of acne scars and blemishes. Orange peel is especially good for people with oily skin, as it washes away sebum (skin oil). The essential oils of the peel also naturally moisturize the skin. Dry out an orange peel, then grind it into a fine powder using a coffee grinder or food processor. Mix half a teaspoon (about 1 g) of the powder with 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of milk, coconut milk, or yogurt, then gently rub the mixture into your skin. Leave it on for 10–15 minutes, then rinse with cold water. The cooling effect of the milk or yogurt also helps reduce inflammation and removes dead skin cells. Use jojoba oil. Jojoba oil comes from seed of the jojoba tree. It is the closest compound to the natural oil our skin produces, also known as sebum. However, it is non-comedogenic, which means it does not clog up pores like sebum. This reduces the occurrence of acne. Applying jojoba oil to the skin can trick the skin into thinking it is producing enough oil, thus balancing oil production. Put 1 to 3 drops of jojoba oil on a cotton ball to cleanse your skin. People with dry skin can use 5 to 6 drops, as it is also a natural moisturizer. Do this 2-3 times a week for the best results. Since jojoba oil is not an irritant or allergenic, you can use it to remove makeup, including eye-makeup. You can find jojoba oil at most health food stores. Be sure to store the oil in a cool, dry place. Use a gentle exfoliant product. Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin. It can help minimize the appearance of acne scars and hyperpigmentation (red spots). It is also important to remove dead skin that can potentially clog the pores, causing acne to return. There are many products available for exfoliation. Before using any exfoliating products, speak with a dermatologist to determine what treatment is right for your skin type. People with dry, sensitive skin should limit exfoliating to once or twice per week. People with oily, thicker skin can exfoliate once every day. A soft microdermabrasion cloth is a great tool for exfoliation. These are made of microfibers that suck the dirt and oil from pores without any pressure or rubbing. After rinsing with a cleanser, dry your face with a soft washcloth or towel. Then, gently massage your face with the cloth for 3 to 5 minutes. After each use, make sure to wash it with soap and let it dry. Use a sugar scrub. You can make your own exfoliant from sugar. Sugar is one of the best natural beauty ingredients to exfoliate your skin. Sugar scrubs help remove dead skin and rejuvenate the inner layers of skin by cleaning all the dirt from the pores. Sugar also has a natural anti-aging effect on the skin. It helps remove harmful free radicals to slow down the aging process. Regular granulated sugar, brown sugar, or organic sugar all work well for sugar scrubs. Brown sugar is the finest and least abrasive. Regular granulated is only slightly coarser and works fine. Organic sugar is the coarsest. To make your own scrub, combine ½ a cup (100 g) of brown sugar with 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of glycerin, ⁄ 3 cup (79 mL) of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of sweet almond oil. You can also add a few drops of lemon or lavender essential oils for fragrance. Mix these ingredients in a small bowl, then transfer the mixture to a jar. To use a sugar scrub, massage a small amount onto the affected area for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Store the scrub in a cool, dry place for no longer than 2 to 3 weeks. Try an oatmeal scrub. For a natural exfoliant, boil 1 tablespoon (5.6 g) of organic oatmeal in ⁄ 4 cup (59 mL) water. Once it cools, massage the mixture gently onto your face and leave it on for 10–15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Oatmeal contains saponins, a natural plant-based cleanser. It also contains phenols with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective properties. Its high concentration of starches helps the skin stay moisturized too, so it is safe to use for people with sensitive skin. Use baking soda. The fine particles in baking soda gently remove dead and damaged skin cells as well as washing away excess sebum. It is especially useful for people with sensitive skin, as it gradually dissolves into the skin. For a simple scrub, simply mix a teaspoon (4 g) of baking soda with a little water and massage it onto your skin for 5 minutes. If you have thick, oily skin, add a few drops of lemon juice to act as an astringent to prevent future acne breakouts. Do not use baking soda if you have inflamed or cystic acne. Try a turmeric, neem, and honey mask. Some studies show that the natural oils of the neem plant may be useful for treating acne. It may be especially effective when mixed with turmeric and honey, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Make a paste out of turmeric powder, neem leaves and honey. Apply it to your face, and wash it off after 15-20 mins. Neem oil is generally safe, but some people may experience allergic reactions. If you develop skin irritation or a rash, wash your face immediately and stop using this mask. Use a natural moisturizing product. Dry skin can cause irritation and worsen the appearance of scars and blemishes. A non-comedogenic moisturizer can help prevent dryness while keeping your skin fresh. Aim for a natural, organic cream or lotion with anti-inflammatory plant extracts. Look for ingredients like chamomile, green tea, aloe, calendula, or oats. Moisturizers should be applied regularly after cleansing or exfoliating. A moisturizer with alpha-hydroxy acids can help reduce the appearance of scars, blemishes, and wrinkles. Alpha-hydroxy acids include glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural humectant, a compound that helps skin retain its moisture. It is available in many products at pharmacies and cosmetic stores as a lotion, toner or facial mist. Hyaluronic acid plays a key role in preventing aging by repairing and maintaining the inner layers of the skin. Apply aloe vera gel. Aloe vera contains active compounds that reduce inflammation while stimulating cell growth and repair. It is found as an extract in many commercial moisturizers and as a topical gel. It is available from pharmacies and drug stores. You can apply it regularly to reduce the appearance of scars. Apply calendula ointment. Calendula, also known as marigold, is another natural substance that is in commercial moisturizers. It is also available as an extract. It is often used to treat scars because it stimulates cell growth and repair. Calendula is also used to improve skin hydration and firmness. Apply it to the skin using a 2 to 5% ointment. Apply the ointment 3 to 4 times per day as needed to reduce the appearance of post-acne scars and blemishes. You can make calendula tea by infusing 2 to 3 grams of florets in 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water. You can use it as a daily facial rinse. People who are allergic to plants in the daisy or aster family, including chrysanthemums and ragweed, may have an allergic reaction to calendula. Try coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil contains a blend of vitamin E and fatty acids. These produce anti-inflammatory effects and fight bacteria that can cause other skin infections. Applying 1 to 2 drops of coconut oil on the skin twice daily can significantly reduce dryness. Coconut oil has regenerative properties that may help repair cells and reduce the occurrence of scars. People with oily skin should use coconut oil moderately, about twice a week. Too much oil can clog up pores and cause more acne breakouts. Coconut oil is available at most variety food stores. Make sure the coconut oil is virgin, cold pressed, and organic. Do not use it if you have nut allergies. Use avocado. Avocado is a fruit rich in many vitamins, nutrients, and fatty acids that stimulate collagen production and tissue repair. You can make an avocado mask that can help heal your scars. Vitamins A and C have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from harmful free radicals. Vitamin E helps moisturize the skin and reduce the appearance of scars. To make a natural avocado mask, remove the pulp from 1 avocado. Apply it to the affected area for 10–15 minutes. Then, rinse with cool water. Pat your skin dry with a soft washcloth. If you have sensitive, dry skin, you can apply this remedy daily. People with oily skin should limit this to twice a week. Apply honey. Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help improve the appearance of scars and reduce inflammation. To use honey as a topical treatment, simply spread a thin layer onto the affected area and cover it up with a bandage. Manuka honey has the highest concentration of beneficial compounds to reduce scars. Honey may help reduce or prevent infections caused by bacteria. Seek advice from your medical doctor before using it for this purpose. Use a salicylic acid peel. There are many natural remedies you can use as treatment for acne scars. Salicylic acid is naturally occurring plant-based acid. It is an effective treatment for both acne and hyperpigmentation in people with darker skin tones. A dermatologist can administer a salicylic acid peel at their office or recommend a commercial peel kit to use at home. Salicylic acid has minimal side effects and is not recommended for people allergic to aspirin. Use alpha and beta hydroxy acid gel. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are natural acids in the body that reduce the appearance of scars, blemishes, and wrinkles. They gently exfoliate the top layer of skin. AHAs include lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, and beta-hydroxy glycolic acids. Many pharmacies and cosmetic stores sell scar gels containing alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Apply the gel to the affected area up to twice daily. Do not use any product with more than a 20% concentration of AHA or glycolic acid. Too much of these acids can strip the skin of oils and moisture. Your dermatologist can also administer glycolic acid peels at their office. Use an apple cider vinegar peel. Apple cider vinegar is an antiseptic that kills harmful bacteria that can cause acne. It also contains malic, lactic, and acetic acid. These help tone and purify the skin's surface by stimulating collagen production. This repairs cells and removes dead skin cells. When choosing apple cider vinegar, look for the muddiest, darkest vinegar. The more residue it has, the more beneficial ingredients it will deliver to your skin. Mix ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of organic apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup (60 g) of baking soda, 1/4 cup (72 g) sea salt, ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of honey, and 5–10 drops of either tea tree or calendula essential oil. Combine all the ingredients in a jar and stir them well. If the paste is too runny, add more soda or salt as needed. The peel shouldn't run off your face. Apply daily for 1 week with your fingertips. Use gentle circular motions all over the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing with cold water. Apply onion extract gel. Many studies support the effectiveness of onion extract to help heal scars and burns. Onions contain quercetin, a natural antioxidant compound, that helps fight harmful free radicals. It also reduces inflammation, stimulates cell growth, and repairs damaged tissue. Onions are rich in antibacterial sulfur that can help reduce acne breakouts. Onion extract also has skin-whitening properties and can reduce blemishes and hyperpigmentation. You can buy onion extract gel from most pharmacies, or you can make it yourself. To make a natural onion paste, use mechanical grater to puree a small onion. Leave the puree to cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. This helps reduce the pungent smell that can cause irritation. Remove the puree from the fridge, then apply it to the affected areas. Leave the mixture on for 10–15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. You can use this method once daily until the scars heal. Expect improvements in 4–10 weeks. If you experience severe irritation, stop using the onion gel. Apply a sea silt mask. Sea silt is a type of mud containing sea salt that washes out of the ocean as sediments in coastal regions. It contains many beneficial substances. These include unsaturated fatty acids, sulfur, and algae with anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. Sea silt can also help smooth the texture of the skin by washing away dead skin cells and bacteria. This improves the overall appearance of scars. Sea silt is available in many commercial face masks that you can buy from a pharmacy or cosmetic store. You can apply sea silt masks twice a week or as recommended by a dermatologist for your skin type. Sulfur and sea salt may cause irritation for people with dry, sensitive skin or inflamed scars. Drink lots of water. Dehydration can cause dry skin. it can also weaken your immune system by not flushing out toxins through sweat and excretion. This makes it harder for your body to heal surface wounds such as acne scars. Staying hydrated can also improve the skin's elasticity. This can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and depressed acne scars. Drink at least 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water every 2 hours to keep your body hydrated. You should aim to drink at least.5 to 1 gallon (1.9 to 3.8 L) of water per day. If you drink caffeinated beverages, drink at least 1 US quart (0.95 L) of water for every 1 cup (240 mL) of caffeine. Cut out sugar and milk products. The combination of sugar and dairy products is particularly detrimental to the sebaceous glands, which can cause acne. Studies in various parts of the world among indigenous people showed that their teenagers were free of acne when they did not eat dairy products and sugar, but ate what indigenous people consumed. But when they adopted a Western style diet, they developed acne like teenagers in the rest of the world. It's still unclear whether chocolate can make acne worse, but some studies suggest that it can. Try cutting back on chocolate and see if it improves your acne. Drink green tea. Green tea is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols that stimulate collagen production and repair skin cells, thus reducing the appearance of scars. The antioxidants also help fight harmful free radicals. They protect against ultraviolet radiation and reduce wrinkles. Green tea can also reduce stress. You can brew green tea by steeping 1 tablespoon (or 2 to 3 grams) of green tea leaves in 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water for 3 to 5 minutes. Green tea can be taken 2 to 3 times daily. Topical treatments that contain green tea may also reduce the appearance of scars. Get plenty of vitamin A. Research shows that vitamin A, also known as retinol, helps boost collagen production. Vitamin A also helps protect the skin from harmful free radicals and ultraviolet radiation. Good sources of Vitamin A include salmon, tuna, egg yolks, carrots, green leafy vegetables, and yellow or orange fruits. Natural sources of vitamin A have no side effects. It is also available as a supplement at most drug stores. You can increase absorption of vitamin A by eating a diet free of unhealthy fats. Avoid margarine, hydrogenated oils, and processed food. The recommended daily dose for vitamin A is 700–900 micrograms. High doses of vitamin A (higher than 3,000 micrograms) can have toxic side-effects, including birth defects and depression. Intake should be carefully monitored. Consume more vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important immunity booster that helps the body produce collagen. Vitamin C is also important antioxidant and immune system booster. You can take vitamin C as a dietary supplement with a recommended dose of 500 mg, split into 2 or 3 times daily. You can also add vitamin C-rich foods to your daily diet. Good natural sources of vitamin C are sweet red or green peppers, citrus fruit and non-concentrated citrus juices, spinach, broccoli and brussels sprouts, strawberries and raspberries, avocados, and tomatoes. Eat foods with Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that wards off acne breakouts caused by bacteria, viruses, and harmful free radicals. It also helps protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation. It can promote cell renewal and keep the skin moisturized. Vitamin E is in foods such as vegetable oils, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, spinach, and broccoli. The recommended dosage for adults is 15 mg (22.35 IU) per day. However, newer studies have shown that this valuable antioxidant is safe at 268 mg (400 IU) per day. Ask your doctor about the amount best for you. Eating vitamin E in foods is not risky or harmful. As a supplement, high doses of vitamin E can have serious health consequences. Take zinc. Some studies show that zinc can help in the reduction of scars. You can also apply zinc to the skin as a cream to speed wound healing. Zinc is an essential trace mineral found in many foods you eat on a regular basis. It has antioxidant properties that help protect cells in the body from damage caused by bacteria and viruses. The best dietary sources of zinc are oysters, shellfish, red meats, poultry, cheese, shrimp, crab, beans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin, tofu, miso, mushrooms, and cooked greens. Zinc is available as supplement and in many multivitamin capsules. Easily absorbed forms of zinc are zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc glycerate, and zinc monomethionine. A daily dose of 10-15 milligrams is recommended. This can be easily attained through a healthy diet. Taking too much zinc can decrease your levels of copper and weaken your immune system. Use zinc creams only with a prescription from your doctor. | Familiarize yourself with the causes and risk factors of acne scarring. Avoid touching your face. Avoid too much sun exposure. Choose cosmetics with care. Don't smoke. Avoid stress. Get enough sleep. Exercise regularly. Keep your clothes and bedding clean. Use a mild, non-soap cleanser. Wash your face correctly. Try washing your face with milk. Use dried orange peel. Use jojoba oil. Use a gentle exfoliant product. Use a sugar scrub. Try an oatmeal scrub. Use baking soda. Try a turmeric, neem, and honey mask. Use a natural moisturizing product. Apply aloe vera gel. Apply calendula ointment. Try coconut oil. Use avocado. Apply honey. Use a salicylic acid peel. Use alpha and beta hydroxy acid gel. Use an apple cider vinegar peel. Apply onion extract gel. Apply a sea silt mask. Drink lots of water. Cut out sugar and milk products. Drink green tea. Get plenty of vitamin A. Consume more vitamin C. Eat foods with Vitamin E. Take zinc. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Meet-Donald-Trump | How to Meet Donald Trump | For a chance at meeting Donald Trump, become a part of his campaign by joining the 2020 reelection committee. For a less involved approach, try attending an official campaign rally or fundraiser instead. Occasionally, you can meet the President during a White House tour or event, such as the annual Easter Egg Roll. If you don't live near Washington, D.C., see if the President plans on attending any local, state, or private events in your area. | Join Donald Trump’s reelection committee for a shot at meeting him. Often, the best chance normal citizens have of meeting a high-profile politician is by working as a staff member on their campaign. As the 2020 election draws closer, keep an eye on Donald Trump's official website for volunteer request forms and job openings. Attend a Trump rally to see the President in person. These events are open to the public and give citizens the opportunity to see the President speak live. Though slim, there is a chance that the President will greet a few people before or after the event. For information on upcoming rallies, visit Donald Trump's official website or Facebook page. Go to a campaign fundraiser for a chance to talk with the President. To raise money for the upcoming election, Donald Trump has already started hosting fundraising events around the country. Though typically reserved for extremely wealthy and powerful citizens, you may be able to get in if you know a donor or represent a local Republican organization. Because campaign fundraisers are typically private events, they are often your best chance at not only meeting Donald Trump, but having a brief conversation with him. Work at an establishment owned by Donald Trump in case he comes to visit. When traveling, Donald Trump prefers to stay at hotels, resorts, and other buildings he already owns. During this time, he occasionally meets with the staff. Though these trips are sporadic, they become far more frequent during campaign season, boosting your chances of meeting the President. Take a tour of the White House for a chance to see President Trump. The White House may be the President's primary office, but it is also the people's house, meaning citizens can come and tour portions of the facility. To take a tour of the White House, submit an official request to your member of congress up to 3 months in advance. Anyone with a valid government ID can make a visitation request. As long as tour slots are available during the requested time, you should have no problem getting approved. White House tours run between 7:30 am and 11:30 am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and 7:30 am and 1:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. In your initial request, list which dates you have available for the tour. The more dates you list, the greater your chance of landing a tour spot. Be aware that the White House can cancel tours at any time or deny admission for any reason. Attend White House events where Donald Trump will be present. Throughout the year, the White House hosts a variety of events that are open to the public. These are typically held on government holidays and feature an appearance by the President. Some popular, annual events include the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the White House Easter Egg Roll. For a full list of events, visit the President's Park section of the National Park Service's official website. For most events, you'll need to apply for a free ticket through Recreation.gov. Tickets are given out randomly through a lottery system. Go to local, state, or private events the President plans on attending. In addition to special occasions at the White House, Donald Trump occasionally appears at events hosted by local governments, state governments, and private organizations. These are not always announced in advance, so keep an eye on your local news sources for information on where the President may head to next. Some events Donald Trump attended in the past include: The launch of a new Boeing airliner in North Carolina. The American Legion's 99th Annual Convention in Nevada. The opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Enter a contest to meet Donald Trump. Occasionally, either the government or Donald Trump's fundraising committee may offer a meeting with the President as a contest reward. These happen sporadically and are not regular occurrences, so follow Donald Trump's social media accounts or subscribe to his official newsletter for information on any future contests. Receive a Purple Heart for a chance to meet Donald Trump. Created in 1932, the Purple Heart Medal is an award given to military personnel who are injured or killed during active combat. Though these medals are typically awarded in the President's name only, Donald Trump has given a number of them out in person, typically while visiting military bases or memorial sites. Get the Medal of Honor for exemplary military service. The Medal of Honor is the highest award you can earn in the United States military and is given to soldiers who go well beyond the call of duty. So far, the President has always given the award in person. Some previous recipients earned the medal by: Rescuing civilian hostages. Serving as a human shield. Risking life and limb to save fellow soldiers. Providing medical aid while under enemy fire. Earn the Freedom or Citizens Medal for exemplary non-military work. The Presidential Citizens Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest awards attainable by United States citizens not serving in the military. The President gives these awards out personally and, though Donald Trump has not yet awarded any, past Presidents acknowledged citizens for excellence in fields like: The arts, including architecture, dance, film, theater, literature, music, photography, and painting. Business leadership, management, and communication. Legal work, including service as an attorney or judge. Research related to science, education, medicine, history, and philosophy. Political activism, diplomacy, environmentalism, and humanitarianism. | Join Donald Trump’s reelection committee for a shot at meeting him. Attend a Trump rally to see the President in person. Go to a campaign fundraiser for a chance to talk with the President. Work at an establishment owned by Donald Trump in case he comes to visit. Take a tour of the White House for a chance to see President Trump. Attend White House events where Donald Trump will be present. Go to local, state, or private events the President plans on attending. Enter a contest to meet Donald Trump. Receive a Purple Heart for a chance to meet Donald Trump. Get the Medal of Honor for exemplary military service. Earn the Freedom or Citizens Medal for exemplary non-military work. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dry-Dill | How to Dry Dill | To dry dill, start by cutting some fresh dill ferns in the morning. If you cut them later, the sun will dehydrate the leaves. Then, rinse and spin the dill in a salad spinner. If you want to air-dry the dill, tie 5 to 10 clean dill fronds at the base with a rubber band. Hang each bundle upside-down in a dry place with good air circulation. After about 2 weeks, harvest the dried dill when it crumbles easily. To dry the dill with an oven, place the rinsed and dried dill on a baking sheet. Then, bake the dill at 110 degrees Fahrenheit (or 43 degrees Celsius) for 2 to 4 hours. When the dill crumbles easily, pull it out and let it cool. Loosen the seeds from the flowers and store in an airtight tin. | Water the dill plant a day before you plan to harvest it. Make sure you sprinkle the plant itself to remove dirt and bugs from the plant. Cut dill ferns in the morning, before the sun has dehydrated the leaves. If you want to dry the seeds, you will want to cut all of the flower buds in addition to the ferns. Cut the dill ferns next to the step. Use sharp kitchen shears. Rinse them thoroughly. Spin them in a salad spinner, and then pat them dry with paper towels. Give them 3 minutes to air dry while spread out on a kitchen towel. Gather small bunches of 5 to 10 dill fronds. Tie them together at the base using a rubber band. Make sure you have rid the plants of excess water, or they can mold instead of drying. Buy small brown paper bags. Cut several large slits in the bottom sides of the bags so air can flow through. If you plan to hang the dill inside, you can avoid using paper bags. If it is outside, it is a good way to shelter it from the elements and avoid losing dill that dries and falls. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Dry-Dill-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Dry-Dill-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Dry-Dill-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/aid3853852-v4-728px-Dry-Dill-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Wrap the paper bag over the dill plant and gather it by the rubber band. Ensure each dill plant is upside down. The gathered dill should be away from the side of the bag to encourage airflow. Hang the bundles in a dry, well-circulated place on your porch or in your cellar. Leave them to dry for 2 weeks. Harvest your dried dill weed when it crumbles easily. Separate the dried flowers and dried ferns by hand. Loosen the seeds from the flower buds and store them in an airtight tin. Crumble the ferns into another tin. Keep them in a dark, dry place. Pick the fresh dill as you did in the first method. Rinse it with fresh water and dry it in a salad spinner. Preheat your oven to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) or less. If you own a dehydrator, you can use it in place of the oven. Read the manual to determine what temperature setting should be used. Cover a baking sheet with wax paper. Spread the dill ferns in a single layer across the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven. If your oven runs hot, keep the oven door ajar. Allow the dill to dry for 2 to 4 hours. Check your drying dill regularly. When it crumbles easily, it is done. Remove the dill from the oven and allow it to cool. Crumble it into a small tin to use as dill weed. Separate seeds inside the flowers to use in making dill essential oil. Rinse the dill weed ferns in running water. Spin them in a salad spinner and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. Find a large plate that will fit in your microwave. Place two layers of paper towels on the plate. Spread the dill ferns across the plate. Place a layer of paper towel on top of the ferns. Set the plate in the microwave. Set for 4 minutes on high heat. Remove it from the microwave to check if it’s dry. If it's not, return it to the microwave for 2 minutes. It is done once it crumbles to the touch. Let it cool, crumble it and store it in an airtight container. Microwave-dried dill will last 2 to 4 weeks. Oven and air-dried dill weed will last longer. | Water the dill plant a day before you plan to harvest it. Cut dill ferns in the morning, before the sun has dehydrated the leaves. Cut the dill ferns next to the step. Rinse them thoroughly. Gather small bunches of 5 to 10 dill fronds. Buy small brown paper bags. Wrap the paper bag over the dill plant and gather it by the rubber band. Hang the bundles in a dry, well-circulated place on your porch or in your cellar. Harvest your dried dill weed when it crumbles easily. Loosen the seeds from the flower buds and store them in an airtight tin. Pick the fresh dill as you did in the first method. Rinse it with fresh water and dry it in a salad spinner. Preheat your oven to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) or less. Cover a baking sheet with wax paper. Place the baking sheet in the oven. Check your drying dill regularly. Remove the dill from the oven and allow it to cool. Rinse the dill weed ferns in running water. Find a large plate that will fit in your microwave. Spread the dill ferns across the plate. Set the plate in the microwave. Remove it from the microwave to check if it’s dry. Let it cool, crumble it and store it in an airtight container. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tag-Cattle | How to Tag Cattle | To tag a cow, first make sure the cow is secured in a chute with a head gate. Then, clean both the cow's ear and your applicator using rubbing alcohol to reduce the risk of infection. Once it's clean, insert the two halves of the tag into the applicator and make sure that they line up with one another. Finally, position the applicator over the ear and clamp down quickly and firmly to minimize pain for the cow. From there, keep checking the tag for 5 to 7 days for any signs of redness or infection. | Determine the best time to tag your cattle. You can apply tags shortly after birth, during the calf's weaning period, or around the time that you begin branding young or fully-grown cows. The time that you choose will depend mostly on how operations are carried out on your farm or ranch. For some, tagging calves at birth may make it easier to keep up with them as they grow. Others may prefer not to bother with it until a cow is headed for auction. If you'd rather not take on the task of tagging yourself, the officials at the feedlot or auction will usually be more than happy to do it for you. Some experienced ranchers recommend holding off on tagging until the calf no longer needs its mother's milk. Attempting to tag a newborn calf could disrupt its bond with its mother. Use a chute with a head gate to secure the cow. In order to tag a fully grown steer or heifer, it will first be necessary to safely restrict its movement. Attach a halter or nose ring to the cow and guide it into the chute. Once it's inside, tie the lead rope to 1 side of the gate tight enough to keep the cow from moving its head more than a couple inches (about 2.5-5 cm). A head gate typically isn't necessary for securing young calves. Simply lay the calf down on its side and hold it firmly yet gently. It may help to have an assistant on hand to help hold the calf still. Erratic movement could increase the risk of injury to either you or the cow, or result in a botched tagging that must be repeated. Make sure the cow is relaxed. The tagging process will go much smoother for both of you if your subject is calm. Ease the cow's nerves by petting it and speaking to it in a soothing voice. Stroking its ears will also help it get used to having them handled. The cow will be less likely to struggle if it doesn't feel afraid. Locate a suitable tagging site on the cow’s ear. Find a soft spot somewhere in the middle portion of the ear between the upper and lower cartilage. The fleshy part of the ear will provide optimum visibility, offer the least resistance, and result in the least amount of discomfort to the cow. Always keep your tagging equipment a safe distance away from the ear canal or surrounding cartilage. Select the best type of tag for your cattle. Basic plastic tags are the most common and least expensive means of identification used by small-lot farmers. These feature a broad, flat display panel bearing an easy-to-read ID number. There are also more sophisticated electronic identification systems (EIDs), which make it possible for ranchers to track their livestock remotely via special radio frequencies. The decision of which type of tag to use may come down to the size of your herd, the acreage you've allotted for grazing, or the amount of money you're willing to spend on simplifying the identification process. If you're tagging an animal for the first time, don't forget to note its age or purchase date on paper in case something happens to the tag. Clean the applicator to decrease the risk of infection. For the wellbeing of your livestock, it's important that all materials that come into contact with the cow's ear be properly sterilized beforehand. Wipe down the pin (male) and clip (female) components with rubbing alcohol or a disinfecting solution like chlorhexidine or betadine. This will help eliminate any bacteria present. You can also swab the inner and outer surfaces of the cow's ear using a cloth or cotton ball soaked in alcohol for added protection. Take care not to let any of the solution drip into the ear canal itself. Be sure to clean the applicator thoroughly before and after use. In addition to protecting your cows from infection, cleaning and disinfecting the applicator after each tagging session will keep it working longer. Load the two halves of the tag into the applicator. Insert the pointed stud on the backside of the visual panel onto the long, slender pin. Then, fit the button or backing into the clip on the opposite arm of the applicator. Double-check that both pieces are fully inserted and attached securely before moving on. New applicator tools are often labelled with diagram stickers indicating where each piece goes and how to load it correctly. Make sure that the panel of the tag is facing away from the male stud piece so that it will be visible from the outside of the cow's ear. Check the alignment of the applicator jaw. Before you get to tagging, give your applicator a practice run. Squeeze the handles of the device together slowly so that the jaw closes to the point just before the two tag pieces meet. The stud should be perfectly centered with the hole in the backing piece. If the hole and stud are out of alignment, it may be necessary to remove and reload them. Be careful not to close the jaw completely, or you'll have wasted a tag. Position the applicator over the tagging site. Hold the applicator in your dominant hand and use the other to gently stretch and flatten the cow's ear. The jaws of the device should be hovering above the soft central part of the ear you pinpointed earlier. Remember to keep to the fleshy tissue, and avoid cartilage, visible blood vessels, or other easily-damaged structures. Clamp the applicator shut firmly and quickly. Squeeze the handles together in 1 smooth motion. You'll hear a loud click as the 2 halves of the tag come together. Once the tag is in place, release the handles and pull the applicator away. Speak to the cow in a soft voice and stroke its head and neck to keep it calm as its momentary discomfort passes, but avoid touching its ears. You'll need to be quick to get the tag in before the cow moves its head. Don't put any pressure on the applicator handles until you're ready to insert the tag. Failing to successfully apply the tag on the first attempt will only cause unnecessary pain. Inspect the finished tag. Check to make sure the tag is correctly positioned, is secure, and doesn't appear to be causing the cow any discomfort. It may be a good idea to jot down the animal's unique identifying code or number in case you need to adjust the tag later on. When using an electronic identification device (EID), it's important that the visual panel (the face of the male piece) be situated on the outer part of the ear where it can be seen clearly and easily. Tag the other ear if desired. Many ranchers tag both ears of their cattle to make them easier to read from either side. Some even insert an additional EID or RFID device along with traditional panel tags. If you decide that it's necessary to apply a second tag, repeat the process the same way you did the first. Let the cow go. Once the tag is in position, release the animal from the chute and free it from its lead rope. The newly-attached tag should remain in place for several years, allow you to track, identify, and account for the cow among the rest of your livestock more easily. Sturdy metal identifying buttons tend to stay put longer than flimsy plastic tags. Check the tagging site for signs of infection for the next 5-7 days. Keep a close eye on the area around the tag. Any excessive redness, swelling, or discharge you observe should be treated as a serious concern. Applying a topical disinfectant like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide can go a long way in preventing infection, especially if your cattle spend a lot of time grazing in wet conditions. Continue treating the tagging site with disinfectant for at least 3-5 days after the puncture has healed. If infection symptoms don't begin to clear up within about a week, contact a large animal veterinarian for a more advanced course of treatment. | Determine the best time to tag your cattle. Use a chute with a head gate to secure the cow. Make sure the cow is relaxed. Locate a suitable tagging site on the cow’s ear. Select the best type of tag for your cattle. Clean the applicator to decrease the risk of infection. Load the two halves of the tag into the applicator. Check the alignment of the applicator jaw. Position the applicator over the tagging site. Clamp the applicator shut firmly and quickly. Inspect the finished tag. Tag the other ear if desired. Let the cow go. Check the tagging site for signs of infection for the next 5-7 days. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Oily-Skin-Fast | How to Get Rid of Oily Skin Fast | To get rid of oily skin fast, properly clean and moisturize your skin to get it looking great again. First, soak a clean towel in hot water and wring it out. Then, wipe the towel over your skin. The heat from the towel will open up your pores so your cleanser is more effective. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, then rinse it off with lukewarm water. When you're done, fill a small spray bottle with water and add 4 drops of tea tree oil to it. Shake the bottle, then spray it on your face. The tea tree oil will make your face less oily. Finally, apply a water-based moisturizer to hydrate your skin. It might seem counterintuitive, but it's important to moisturize since dry skin actually overproduces oil. | Prepare your skin. Soak a clean cotton towel in hot water. Wring it out to remove the water and wipe the moistened towel over your skin. Then, splash your face with lukewarm water to help rinse off any dirt. The heat from the towel can help loosen any dirt that's in your pores, making it easier to rinse out. Wash your skin with a cleanser. While your skin is still wet, rub a dime-sized amount of cleanser into your skin. Gently massage the cleanser into your skin until it foams up. This helps to immediately remove the dirt and oil from your skin. Choose a cleanser that's specifically formulated for oily skin types. Remove the cleanser. Take a fresh cotton towel and wipe off the cleanser. This quickly removes the foam. You should then rinse your skin off using lukewarm water. Make sure to completely remove all of the cleanser along with the dirt and oil from your skin. Gently pat your skin dry once your skin is clean. Be gentle when using the towel to remove the cleanser. Pulling or rubbing on your skin can actually cause inflammation and damage. Exfoliate your skin. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of face polish onto your fingers and rub them together. Place your fingers on your skin and gently rub the polish into your skin using a circular motion. If you're exfoliating your face, the process should take a minute or two. Use another clean hot towel to carefully wipe away the face polish. Exfoliating can help to remove the oil that's deep in your pores. Take care not to exfoliate your skin too often or it can become red and tender. You should probably exfoliate about once or twice a week. Use a tea tree oil spray. Take a small spray bottle (around 4 to 6 ounces) and fill it with filtered water. Add four drops of tea tree essential oil and screw on the spray nozzle. Shake the bottle till the oil is mixed in. Spray the diluted essential oil all over your skin. Tea tree can make your skin appear less shiny or oily. Let your skin air dry or gently pat the diluted oil spray into your skin. Moisturize your skin. Squeeze a small amount of moisturizer onto your fingertips. Dab the moisturizer all over your skin and then rub it in using your fingertips. Avoid pulling down on your skin when you spread the moisturizer. Instead, use your fingertips to swipe up. Many dermatologists recommend choosing a water-based moisturizer if you have oily skin. You should also find one that's non-comedogenic so it won't clog your skin's pores. Use lemon. For a really fast solution to oily skin, rub a lemon rind all over your cleaned skin to remove the excess oil. Or, you could make a lemon toner to remove the oil. Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of water, 1 tablespoon of witch hazel, and 2 tablespoons of vodka or rubbing alcohol. Dip a cotton swab into the lemon toner and rub it over your skin. Rinse the toner off with cool water. You can use lemon 3 or 4 times a week, but avoid rubbing just the juice directly onto your skin since it could dry it out. Try using egg whites. Although research is needed to determine their effectiveness, egg whites are often used for drying out your skin. Simply separate the yolks and whites from a few eggs. Beat the egg whites until they're slightly frothy and rub them over your oily skin. Let the egg whites dry out before rinsing off and patting your skin dry. You can discard the egg yolks or save them in the refrigerator for another use. Consider using toothpaste. Squeeze a little bit of fluoride toothpaste onto your fingertips. Dab the toothpaste on any irritated parts of your face, especially any oily pimples or breakouts. Leave the toothpaste on for 5 to 7 minutes before wiping it off with a clean hot towel. Some people may find that toothpaste actually irritates their skin or causes redness so you may not want to try this if you have sensitive skin. Do a facial steam. Bring a pot of water to boil. Taking care not to burn yourself, pour the boiling water into a large shallow basin. Add 3 drops of tea tree essential oil and a few fresh basil leaves. Drape a large towel over the back of your head and lean over the steaming basin. Breathe in the steam for about 10 minutes. Rinse your skin when you're done with the facial. Tea tree has antimicrobial properties that can kill bacteria. This can prevent your oily skin from breaking out. Tea tree oil also tones your skin and removes excess oil. Keep your head about 12 inches away from the steaming water so you don't burn yourself. Use an astringent. Make an astringent toner that removes oil and tightens your pores. Place one tablespoon of dried peppermint, yarrow, or sage into a heat-proof cup and carefully it with boiling water. Let the toner steep for 30 minutes and strain out the herbs. Let the toner cool and dip a cotton ball into it. Dab the moistened cotton ball all over your oily skin. Peppermint, yarrow, and sage are often used to improve the appearance of skin and remove scars. Massage your skin. Take 2 teaspoons of fine-grained powder like baking powder or rice powder and add enough witch hazel to mix the powder into a paste. Spread this paste over your oily skin. Use your fingertips to massage your skin in a circular motion. Rinse away the paste using warm water. Massaging the powder into your skin can help the mixture penetrate deep into your skin where the oil is being produced. This can help remove the extra oil. Dab peppermint tea on your skin. Steep 1 cup of fresh mint leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the peppermint leaves and let the tea cool. Dip a cotton ball in the tea and dab it over your oily skin. Peppermint contains menthol which can balance the pH of your skin and slow down your skin's oil production. It's also an astringent which can help dry your skin out a little. Use blotting papers. You can purchase blotting or astringent pads to keep with you during the day. If you notice your skin starting to become shiny or oily, swipe a pad over your skin or blot it gently to absorb the oil. These are usually made with an absorbent material like rice bran. While you could blot your oily skin with tissues in a pinch, they'll smudge any makeup you're wearing. Blotting papers are designed to keep your makeup intact. Simplify your makeup routine. Wearing a lot of cosmetic products can add oil to your skin and block your pores. Consider how many products you use and try to cut back on them. If you don't use many to begin with, try reducing the amount of each product you do use. You may want to use cosmetics that are created for people with oily skin, especially if your makeup doesn't last all day. Always wash your makeup off every night before going to bed. Leaving makeup on can block your pores. Tie your hair back. If your face, neck, or upper back is oily and your hair is long, you should tie it back. Grease in your hair is produced by your scalp just like your skin produces oil. Keep greasy hair from rubbing against your skin and transferring oil. Your skin may also be sensitive to the shampoo you're using. You might want to switch shampoos for a while to see if your skin clears up. Wash your pillowcases. Remember to toss your pillowcases in the wash at least once a week. Your skin produces oil while you sleep which lingers on your pillowcase. This can buildup throughout the week and cause your skin to become oily, even if you went to bed with a completely clean face. You should also wash your bed sheets once a week, especially if the skin on your back is oily. | Prepare your skin. Wash your skin with a cleanser. Remove the cleanser. Exfoliate your skin. Use a tea tree oil spray. Moisturize your skin. Use lemon. Try using egg whites. Consider using toothpaste. Do a facial steam. Use an astringent. Massage your skin. Dab peppermint tea on your skin. Use blotting papers. Simplify your makeup routine. Tie your hair back. Wash your pillowcases. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Change-from-a-Tomboy-to-a-Girly-Girl | How to Change from a Tomboy to a Girly Girl | To change from a tomboy to a girly girl, try paying more attention to your appearance, manners, and hygiene to look and act more feminine. Try updating your look by swapping out pants for dresses and skirts. Wear lighter colors with pastel or vibrant hues such as pink and yellow to change up your wardrobe's color scheme. Avoid sweatpants when you don't feel like wearing a dress or skirt. Instead, wear fitted pants, jeans, or leggings to accentuate your feminine figure. Additionally, try out different girly shoe types such as sandals, boots, or footwear that has a stacked heel like wedges. You can also add more jewelry to your everyday look and start wearing makeup more often. For example, a simple gold necklace and eyeliner can make you look much girlier. | Trade t-shirts for dresses and skirts. The easiest way to start looking more girly is to wear a dress or skirt. The loose, flowing silhouette will give you an instantly fresh look and you'll be comfortable as well as stylish. There are many different cuts and shapes so you can find a style that fits you best. You don't need to wear a dress or skirt every single day, but at least once or twice a week will help you look and feel more feminine. Wear leggings or short spandex shorts under a dress or skirt if you're worried about flashing anyone. Cover up with a cardigan or light sweater if the weather is chilly. Sit with your knees together, whether you cross your legs or keep them side by side. This is ladylike as well as modest. Update your wardrobe’s color scheme. Wear lighter colors with pastel or vibrant hues such as yellow, pink, blue, red, or purple. Navy, brown, and gray are all good neutrals for one article of clothing in an outfit, but using these as an overall outfit color is more manly than feminine. Black is a good accent color, but it's best to pair it with a hot pink or another bright color. Don't break the bank by getting rid of everything you own and buying a whole new wardrobe. Go through your closet and look for tops and bottoms you already have that can be paired together for girly outfits. Wear darker materials and colors for the fall and winter and bright linens and cotton for spring and summer. Incorporate pink into your daily style. It is a color that is traditionally girly and adds some feminine flair. Pick out a new pink top or a pair of heels to give any outfit a pop of color. You don't need to redo your whole closet and room with pink. Just add little hints of color with lipgloss or a belt to start. There are more shades than just hot pink. Ease yourself into the color with raspberry-colored accessories or a purple phone case. Begin wearing makeup. Start with a simple makeup routine: foundation, a little blush, mascara, and lipstick or gloss. These all frame your face and give you an instant feminine flair. Eyeliner and lipstick require a little more finesse with the application but can have a more grown-up effect. Start small if you're worried about all of a sudden showing up places with makeup. Don't cake on any products. Smearing too much eyeshadow and lipgloss on will make you look like a clown, unfortunately. Waterproof mascara and eyeliner are great options if you're juggling sports with a social life. Match your foundation to your skin color. Test out colors in the store by dabbing some on your neck to check the color. Do not test on your hand because hands are often a different shade from your neck, resulting in you buying the wrong color. Play around with different colors for your lips and eyes. Some days you might want an understated color that matches your features or you could go with bright, daring colors for a night out or special event. Wear fitted pants or leggings. Stay away from sweatpants and gym clothes when you decide against a dress or skirt. Skinny or flared jeans look great with most shoes and can be flattering to most body shapes. Leggings are a modest solution to short skirts and dresses as well. Or, you can wear leggings on their own if you want a more fitted pants option. Ditch the sneakers. Sneakers should be reserved for working out and sports only. Wearing shoes that have a slight heel to them will elevate your legs and rear and give your calves a workout. You'll also look taller and improve your posture. Be creative while trying out different shoe types such as sandals, boots, and other kinds of footwear that have a stacked heel or supportive sole. Start with a low, one-inch heel or wedge to get used to a more feminine shoe style. High heels and stilettos take time getting used to. Practice wearing them at home if you're uncomfortable wearing them all day. If you prefer a shoe without extra height, a fashionable flat is great for every-day wear. Wear more jewelry with your everyday outfits. Diamonds are a girls' best friend, but so are silver, gold, and anything with sparkle. Start picking out a pair of earrings to go with your outfit of the day, match your layered bracelets to the accents on your purse, or even change out your watch band to sleek white leather or metallic finish to add some bling to your day. You don't have to go overboard with jewelry to look girly, sometimes simple is best. If you don't have pierced ears, you can still accessorize with necklaces and bracelets. Experiment with different hairstyles every day. Ponytails can be functional but limiting. Try different hairstyles like braids, buns, and curls. Take the time to brush out your hair and maybe even curl it before heading out the door. Short hair can be accented with a cute headband or bow. Work with a stylist to find out what hair cut works best for your face if you're ready for a whole new and updated look. Allow yourself to be emotional. Girly girls are open with their emotions. Be honest when you're happy, mad, or any emotion in between. Don't be afraid to tear up in front of others and have to dab your face to keep your makeup from running. It may take some time to become comfortable with letting other people see your emotions, but just take it one day at a time. Never let your emotions get the best of you. You still want to be in control so that you don't offend anyone in your anger or cause people to think that you're overdramatic about the smallest inconvenience. Carry a purse or clutch with all of your daily essentials. Not only is a purse a cute accessory for your outfits, but it's also functional as well. You should always carry some backup makeup, deodorant, a little perfume, a notebook or scheduler and pen, a hair accessory, your wallet, and any keys you need. Extra purse essentials can include a portable sewing kit and safety pins for fashion emergencies, sunglasses, school books, or any other items for your day to day routine. If you still need to use a backpack or tote around heavy items, you can find bags in fun floral prints or colored leathers to upgrade your look. Start with one bag that matches most of your outfits and then start collecting others for other special occasions, school, and overnight trips. Keep from burping, passing gas, or grooming yourself in public. A lady needs to refrain from displaying any rude bodily functions of other people. Try and keep your gassier moments to yourself and preferably in the bathroom. Always cover your mouth with a tissue or handkerchief when you need to blow your nose, clear your throat, sneeze, or cough. Stay neat and organized in every area of life. Even if an organization is not your strong suit, keep your desk and purse or backpack tidy so that you don't lose track of important things or forget appointments. Being punctual is time-management etiquette that is helpful to practice. Use a label maker or buy cute stationary to help keep your assignments and schedule organized and attractive. Your handwriting should be neat and legible so that both yourself and others can read it. You don't have to dot your 'i's with little hearts, but it certainly makes your writing look more fun and girly. Avoid dirt and aggressive hobbies. Rough-housing and getting dirty are not appropriate activities for a lady. You don't want to ruin your nice clothes and it won't help your image of being a girly girl. For example, things like wrestling, tackling, or using power tools are not traditionally girly. You can be sporty as well as girly. Going to the gym to work-out is important and so are sports to stay healthy and social. Just know that there is a time and place for dirt and sweat. After a workout or sporting event, clean yourself up again to out into public. Steer away from coarse language and swearing. Being polite with your speech is incredibly important. Don't pepper all of your sentences with curse words because it makes you look and sound abrasive. Don't get caught up in gossiping either. It can be difficult but refrain from talking badly about others, especially behind their back. Gossiping says more about you and your bad attitude than it does about the people you're talking about. Hang out with girls more than guys. Start spending more time with girls so that you can watch them and learn how to be more girly. Go to the mall to shop, get manicures together, and simply spend time flipping through magazines together and talk about life with other girls. Being around girls more often will help distinguish you as a lady rather than looking like “one of the guys.” Be calm around boys. As you start to see boys as more than friends and possible boyfriend material, don't let that psych you out. They're still people too, so don't get flustered and nervous just because you start to see them differently. Avoid picking up bad habits from guy friends. You can do this by hanging around girls more often, but be careful that you don't slip into any old tomboy ways. Allow yourself to explore being a girly girl. Changing how you act and look is a big change and is part of your identity. Being a girly girl might not be for everyone and that is perfectly ok. Have fun experimenting but don't get discouraged if you don't naturally feel girly just because you make some changes. Set aside time to primp every morning. You need plenty of time to prep your hair, makeup, and accessories before leaving the house. Determine how much time you need from start to finish to get ready and presentable for the day. You may need to start waking up a little earlier to get ready on time. Schedule time during your week for extra time to shave, care for your nails or do other hygienic upkeep that requires more time than your daily routine allows. Check the mirror before leaving the house. Never leave the house unprepared or half-dressed. You will get faster with your morning routine as you get used to it, so don't worry if it seems like a lot of work at first. Balance your beauty sleep and primping time. Make sure you get enough rest so that you don't have to try and cover dark circles or bags under your eyes with makeup. This may mean you need to go to bed earlier or consolidate your primping time. Eliminate any extra body hair. As you begin to wear more revealing or feminine clothing like skirts or fashion tank-tops, start shaving or waxing regularly. Body hair is not an accessory that you need as a girly girl. Shave every day during your shower routine or every few days depending on how fast your hair grows out. Invest in a good razor or simply stock up on disposable ones and buy a shaving cream to protect your skin. Make sure to shave any parts of your legs that show and your armpits year-round. Include your bikini area during the summer when you'll be wearing a swimsuit. Facial hair should also be taken care of. Tweeze or pluck your eyebrows to shape them and do the same for any upper lip hair. If you can't stand plucking hairs yourself, have a professional do it for you or invest in waxing services. Waxing results will last longer but can be more expensive. Choose a feminine scent as your signature smell. First, you always want to be wearing deodorant so you don't offend anyone with surprise body odor. Then, shop around for a perfume or body lotion that gives you a soft, girly scent. Vanilla, fruity mixtures, and lavender are all subtle yet distinct options. You can find fun-smelling antiperspirant deodorants to help control any excessive sweating you might have. Don't go overboard on spraying too much perfume. One way to apply perfume is to dab a little on your wrists and under your neck. Or instead, spray a cloud of perfume in the air in front of you and walk through it for a light misting. Clean your nails and keep them immaculate. It may seem like a small detail, but paying attention to details is important for maintaining the image of being a girly girl. Check under your fingernails for dirt and grime and wash under them with soap and water. Use a nail file every few days to keep your fingernails shaped and smooth. Pushing back your cuticles will make your nails look longer. Even if you don't like colored nail polish, a clear coat or nude color can clean up your hands. Every once in a while it's fun to get a professional manicure and pedicure. Don't forget your toes! When you wear sandals or open-toed shoes you want to be able to show off your pedicure. | Trade t-shirts for dresses and skirts. Update your wardrobe’s color scheme. Begin wearing makeup. Wear fitted pants or leggings. Ditch the sneakers. Wear more jewelry with your everyday outfits. Experiment with different hairstyles every day. Allow yourself to be emotional. Carry a purse or clutch with all of your daily essentials. Keep from burping, passing gas, or grooming yourself in public. Stay neat and organized in every area of life. Avoid dirt and aggressive hobbies. Steer away from coarse language and swearing. Hang out with girls more than guys. Allow yourself to explore being a girly girl. Set aside time to primp every morning. Eliminate any extra body hair. Choose a feminine scent as your signature smell. Clean your nails and keep them immaculate. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Ease-Muscle-Pain-from-Chikungunya | How to Ease Muscle Pain from Chikungunya | To ease muscle pain from Chikungunya, try sipping water or gatorade, which will help your muscles stay hydrated and prevent cramping. You can also take a pain reliever, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to reduce your pain. If you have especially painful areas on your body, try holding a heating pad on the skin for 20 minutes at a time to give yourself some relief. Just make sure to take a break for at least an hour to prevent overheating or burning your skin. Besides treating your muscle pain, you can also take a vitamin C supplement to boost your immune system and reduce the length of your illness. If you don't have vitamins, try eating foods high in vitamin C like oranges, chili peppers, and bell peppers. | Determine if you have muscle pain. The chikungunya virus is transmitted through the bite of Aedes mosquitoes. As the virus enters the body, it runs through the blood vessels. The virus mainly affects the human endothelial and epithelial cells known as fibroblasts. These fibroblasts usually make up the muscle tissue. As the infection progresses, these fibroblasts are damaged and epithelial and endothelial cells die. The injury to the muscle's fibroblasts result in muscle pain. Recognize other symptoms of chikungunya. A person may suffer multiple symptoms in addition to muscle and joint pain. These might include: High fever of 102 degrees F or more. Severe lethargy. Inability to get up and walk around, or a stiff gait and halted with broad stance, owing to severe painful swollen joints. A red and slightly raised rash that does not itch. The rash will appear on the trunk and extremities. Blistering on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, causing peeling of the skin. Other symptoms, which are usually less prominent, include: headache, vomiting, sore throat, and nausea. Know the differences between chikungunya and dengue fever. The symptoms of chikungunya have a great deal of overlap with dengue fever. The geographic locations where people are infected are similar. Sometimes a diagnostic dilemma is created and providers face a clinical challenge in making the diagnosis. However, the joint pain is so marked with chikungunya that this generally makes the diagnosis clear. Dengue has more prominent muscle pains or “myalgias,” but the joints are typically spared. Visit your doctor. Diagnosis is based on the signs and symptoms. Usually, to confirm a diagnosis of chikungunya, the doctor will order a blood test. The test will detect the presence of Chikungunya antibodies in the blood that will indicate exposure of the patient to the virus. Blood will be drawn out of the patient's vein and will be put in a sterile container for examination in the laboratory. There are ample laboratory tests to confirm that you have chikungunya. The most widely used is the RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), which checks for the virus. The disease leaves a huge viral load, so it is readily detected. This massive viral load is likely responsible for the patients feeling so terrible. Know how long the infection might last. The acute infection lasts from days to two weeks. During this time, you will likely be extremely fatigued with high fever and the extremely painful joints and muscles, almost incapable of walking. Then you will enter a subacute phase, which can continue for months to years. Sixty-three percent of patients still experience joint pain and swelling a year after the initial infection. In the long term, you may experience a form of seropositive arthritis or rheumatism that has the HLA B27 antibody. This is similar to a more common post-infectious arthritis, known as Reiter's syndrome. , Know that the illness is not fatal, but there is no treatment. Despite the terrible symptoms, the disease is not typically deadly. However, there is no treatment other than supportive care, similar to other viral illnesses. There have been trials with certain drugs to try treating the illness, but these drugs have not been shown to be efficacious. Get as much rest as possible. There is no cure for chikungunya, so you will have to do what you can to support your body's natural healing abilities. One way to support your body's natural healing abilities is to get as much rest as possible. Sleep as much as you can and take it easy during the day. Make yourself as comfortable as possible with pillows and blankets. Plan to rest for about two weeks, if not longer. Stay hydrated. Muscle tissue is composed of 75% water. When you have low hydration levels in your body, your muscles can be more susceptible to seizing up, cramping and other discomfort. Chikungunya brings a high fever, which contributes significantly to dehydration, putting your muscles at further risk for cramping. Drink plenty of water and other fluids to ensure you stay hydrated. If nausea is present, take small sips at frequent intervals, drinking water, Gatorade or electrolyte mixtures. Make your own electrolyte mixture with six cups of water, one cup of sugar and two teaspoons of salt. Be sure to monitor for dehydration. Patients with this illness are at risk of becoming dehydrated. It's likely that the patient needs to be prompted to eat and drink due to lethargy and weakness as well as inability to care for oneself. Diarrhea and vomiting do not predominate in this illness, so these are not likely to be the main causes of dehydration. If you are dehydrated, you may need intravenous fluids to rehydrate. Take a fever reducer. Antipyretics, also known as fever reducers, may help you manage your fever. They can also be used to manage joint pain. Try taking some acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or paracetamol to help reduce your fever and joint pain. Make sure that you read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. Do not exceed the recommended dosage of any over the counter medicine. Try a heating pad. Holding a heating pad on your joints and other painful areas may bring some temporary relief for your joint pain. Try holding an electric heating pad on your joints for up to 20 minutes at a time. Make sure that you remove the heating pad after 20 minutes and give your skin a break for about an hour to avoid overheating or burning your skin. You can also use a hot water bottle if you do not have a heating pad. You can fill a plastic water bottle with hot water and wrap a paper towel or cloth around it. You may even want to try alternating an ice pack with a heating pad. Ice can help to numb pain in your joints while heat tends to increase blood flow and soothe muscles. Make sure that you wrap the ice pack with a paper towel and do not keep an ice pack on for more than 20 minutes at a time either. Taking a hot shower may also help with muscle pain. Ask your doctor about narcotic pain medication. Discuss narcotic pain medication such as Norco for severe muscle pain. Norco combines hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Many cases of chikungunya are debilitating enough to warrant this type of medication. The recommended dosage of Norco is 325 milligrams orally every four hours. Don't take this medication with Tylenol or any other acetaminophen. Increase your intake of vitamin C. Enhance your body's ability to fend off muscle pain by taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C twice daily. This will also help boost your immune system. It may be tough to get this much from food alone but fresh fruits and vegetables are always the best source if possible. You can also take supplements. Some of the most nutrient rich sources of vitamin C include: Oranges: 69mg of vitamin C per serving. Chili peppers: 107 mg of vitamin C per serving. Red Bell Peppers: 190 mg of Vitamin C per serving. Take vitamin D to help with chronic pain. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to chronic pain. In addition, vitamin D may help improve muscle fatigue and recovery time. Take 200 iu (two capsules) of vitamin D3 daily. Although you can get vitamin D from sunshine, you'll be resting inside, so you'll likely need to take supplements. Drink green tea. Muscle pain can be in part caused by inflammation. Green tea is known to be an anti-inflammatory treatment that can help with muscle pain. Green tea also causes upregulation of the body's natural killer cells that are responsible for targeting infectious agents. Therefore, green tea can help fight illness and enhance immunity. Drink at least one cup daily. Take ginseng extract. According to experts, ginseng extract can facilitate the body's immune response. It can also relieve exhaustion and muscle pain that you may experience with an illness that consumes a lot of your energy, such as chikungunya. There is no medical consensus on dosing. Follow the product's label for dosing instructions. Try aged garlic. Aged garlic supplements can help reduce muscle soreness and pain. The chemical allicin, which is contained in garlic, may contribute to this reduction. Aged garlic can also help the body's natural killer cells to activate immunity. Try taking aged garlic supplements to help fight the infection. Use mosquito nets. If you are traveling or living in an area that has outbreaks of chikungunya, take precautions so that you minimize your risk of infection. Protect your sleeping area with a mosquito net treated with insecticide. If you sleep with any part of your body pressed against the net, you may still be at risk of being bitten through the net. Use bug repellent spray. Use a product that contains DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to protect yourself against bug bites. You might also try products that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol. Reapply the spray according to the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure your bug repellent contains sufficient insecticide to kill mosquitos. If you're using sunscreen and bug repellent, apply the sunscreen first and then the bug repellent over it. Wear long sleeves and pants. Cover up your body to prevent mosquitos from having access to your skin. Wear long pants and shirts with long sleeves. Don't leave out open containers of water. Uncovered water catchments, cisterns and buckets are breeding grounds for mosquito larvae. Cover these up, especially if you have four or more catchments in a 10-meter radius of your dwelling. Be cautious around areas where there are outbreaks. Chikungunya is spread by getting bitten by an infected mosquito, “the vector” of the species Aedes, which has caused clustered outbreaks in areas surrounding the Indian Ocean. Outbreaks continue to be a risk until the public health issue of the mosquito problem is better controlled. | Determine if you have muscle pain. Recognize other symptoms of chikungunya. Know the differences between chikungunya and dengue fever. Visit your doctor. Know how long the infection might last. Know that the illness is not fatal, but there is no treatment. Get as much rest as possible. Stay hydrated. Take a fever reducer. Try a heating pad. Ask your doctor about narcotic pain medication. Increase your intake of vitamin C. Take vitamin D to help with chronic pain. Drink green tea. Take ginseng extract. Try aged garlic. Use mosquito nets. Use bug repellent spray. Wear long sleeves and pants. Don't leave out open containers of water. Be cautious around areas where there are outbreaks. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Taxis | How to Use Taxis | Using a taxi can seem confusing, but with a little preparation, you'll know just what to say and do in the moment. When you're ready to hail a taxi, stand at the edge of the sidewalk on the side of traffic moving in the direction you want to go. Look for unoccupied taxis, which usually have a light on the top to indicate whether or not they're available. As the taxi approaches, raise your hand in the air firmly and confidently so they know you want to be picked up. Wait for them to park, then make eye contact as you approach the car and get into the back seat. Tell them the address of the place you'd like to go. At the end of the ride, you'll need to pay your fare, which can usually be tracked on a meter in the backseat as you ride. It's polite to tip 15 to 20 percent on your fare. | Stand to the edge of the street, and look for an unoccupied cab. When you're ready to hail a taxi, stand at the edge of the sidewalk away from oncoming cars. Make sure you're at a spot where cabbies can see you, like at a street corner with great visibility. If you make it easy for drivers to see you, you will hail a taxi faster. Stand on the side of traffic moving in the direction you want to go. Keep an eye out for the taxi's vacancy sign. Cabs usually have a light or sign on the roof to indicate whether they are occupied. Unoccupied taxi signs will light up or otherwise indicate that they're ready for service. Signs vary based on the area. If you're not sure what the cab signs mean, ask a local for help. Raise your hand in the air as the cab approaches. Do not wave your hand frantically. Raise your hand firmly and confidently so cabbies know you want to be picked up. Keep your hand raised until a taxi driver spots you and pull over. Step back onto the curb once you have caught a driver's attention, and wait for them to park before approaching. Make eye contact with the driver when your taxi pulls over. Once your driver has stopped, approach the taxi and make direct eye contact as you do so. Open the backseat door and enter the taxi, where you can tell the driver your destination. Have your address ready (either memorized or on a piece of paper) so you can communicate with them clearly. If you're traveling, you and your taxi driver might not speak the same language. Writing down your address is important so they know where to take you. Find a taxi stand, if you cannot find an unoccupied taxi. Taxi stands are spots where cab drivers wait for passengers in an orderly line. Stand in line with other customers to wait for an oncoming taxi. When your turn arrives, approach the taxi and let the driver know where you want to go. Usually, taxi stands are located in places with lots of traffic, like airports, hotels, or popular tourist attractions. Cabs working with taxi stands are a safe option because they have to be authorized by the stand company. Call for a taxi instead of hailing one. If you cannot find any taxis in your area, search online for a local cab company. When you've found their number, call the taxi company and give them your current address. Wait outside until your cab arrives, and let the cabbie know where you want to go as you enter the backseat. Call the taxi company 15-20 minutes before you plan to leave, especially during times of high traffic. Although most cab companies are available 24/7, some are not. Always check their company policies before you call. Download a cab-hailing app for quicker service. Most cities have cab-hailing apps available in your area. Download one for your city and order a cab. Make sure your phone's location-sharing services are on so your cabbie knows where to pick you up. Stay where you are until your taxi driver arrives. Most cab-hailing apps allow you to pay via the app using your credit card. Keep food and drinks to a minimum. Ask your driver about what their food and drink policies are. If they have a no eating or drinking policy, adhere to their rules. Some taxi drivers prefer to have a strict policy to prevent spills. Alcohol is a big "no-no," as passengers drinking from open alcohol containers is illegal in many areas. Do not bring and pungent foods with you into the taxi, as smells tend to linger in cars. Clean up after yourself before you exit the cab, and take any wrappers or trash with you. Don't ask drivers to take on more passengers than they have room for. When traveling in a group, don't ask the cabbie to accommodate more than three people. Every passenger must have a seat belt. Cramming more people than the taxi has room for can get your driver in trouble. Split into several groups if you have four or more people. Be polite when talking to your driver. If your driver tries to make conversation, be kind and agreeable. Let them know if you're tired or don't feel like talking. In most cases, your driver will accommodate and give you space. Do not insult the taxi driver if traffic puts you behind schedule, and avoid disruptive behavior like yelling, insensitive comments, or vulgar jokes. Never ask your taxi driver to speed or break the law in any way. Driving safely is an important component of their job, and driving recklessly puts their employment status at-risk. Leave a tip. Beyond the overall fare, tipping a cabbie is polite. 20 percent is standard in most areas, but feel free to give more if your driver was especially helpful. Late at night is a common time for passengers to forget, so pay extra attention to tipping if you hailed a taxi at night. Ask a local what taxis look like in the area. Taxis within a certain city often have similar makes/colors. Taxis in New York City, for example, are often yellow so city-goers can see them from a distance. But taxis in Munich are sleek and cream-colored. Generally taxis in London are black, as are taxis in Japan. A unique-looking taxi isn't necessarily cause for alarm, but you may want to check other indicators of authenticity, like a meter or your driver's ID badge. Look for a radio or meter. Authorized taxis will usually have a meter for determining the charge. Usually, the meter is located on the cab's hood or in the car, near the driver's seat. Taxis are also often equipped with radios to take calls from dispatchers. If you can't see a meter or a radio, do not get in the car. Sometimes, especially in new car models, taximeters can be hard to spot. If you're not sure, ask your cabbie to point it out. Check for your driver's ID badge. Taxi drivers are required to carry and display their ID badge in most countries. Their badge should have their name, a recent photo, and the company they work for. In most cases, the ID badge will be visibly hanging inside the video. If this is not the case, ask your driver to see their ID. Do not enter the car under any circumstances if they refuse. Keep your bags close. Illegitimate taxi drivers may try to steal from their passengers. Do not put your bags or luggage in the trunk. Instead, ask to keep them on the floor by your feet if there's room. If you're carrying expensive items, make sure you know where they are at all times. | Stand to the edge of the street, and look for an unoccupied cab. Keep an eye out for the taxi's vacancy sign. Raise your hand in the air as the cab approaches. Make eye contact with the driver when your taxi pulls over. Find a taxi stand, if you cannot find an unoccupied taxi. Call for a taxi instead of hailing one. Download a cab-hailing app for quicker service. Keep food and drinks to a minimum. Don't ask drivers to take on more passengers than they have room for. Be polite when talking to your driver. Leave a tip. Ask a local what taxis look like in the area. Look for a radio or meter. Check for your driver's ID badge. Keep your bags close. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Burrs-Out-of-Dog-Hair | How to Get Burrs Out of Dog Hair | To get burrs out of dog hair, use your fingers to gently loosen any burrs that are on the surface. You may need to wear gloves while you're doing this. If a burr is tangled into the dog's fur, try using a wide-toothed comb to loosen it, starting at the edge of the tangle and working your way in. For really stubborn burrs, crush them into pieces with a pair of pliers, but be careful not to pinch the dog. If that doesn't work, you'll probably need to carefully cut out the burr with clippers or scissors. | Identify what a burr looks like. A bur is a seed that has a hook or teeth on it. These teeth or hooks are designed to latch onto a passing animal's fur, as a means of dispersing the seeds elsewhere. Burrs come in all shapes and sizes but they all are seeds that attach themselves to animals. Plant awns are similar to burrs except they are bristle-shaped seeds that are shaped like a fish hook. Both awns and burrs attach to animals and their removal is the same process. In the case of awns, however, the seeds can physically work their way into a dog's skin, causing pain, infection, and, in extreme cases, death. Look for burrs on your dog's body. Both burrs and awns can latch on anywhere in your dog's body. If your dog runs into a weedy, grassy, or wooded area carefully check the following spots: Ear flaps Nose Eyes Armpits Under the tail Between each toe and the toe pads Be particularly vigilant about looking for burrs during the end of the growing season. This is most dangerous time for burrs and awns, as this is when plants dry out and are ready to shed their seed packets. During this time of year it is best to comb your dog out daily to eliminate any burrs. Remove visible burrs. Use your fingers to remove any loose burrs or awns from the surface of your dog's coat. Be very gentle, remembering that the dog may not like you pulling at its fur. Try to remove the burrs by detangling the fur around it with your fingers. You may need to wear gloves to avoid getting pricked, particularly with the harder, spike-like burrs. Comb the dog. Use a wide-toothed metal dog comb or hair pick. Work the comb under any visible burrs and gently pull them out. This works best on loosely adhering or single burrs or awns. If the burr or awn in severely tangled, you can start at the edge of the tangle and work your way in. Break tough burs into pieces. You can use a pliers to crush the burr head, to break it up into smaller pieces. This should make it easier to remove. Be careful with your fingers and your dog's skin when attempting this. You don't want to pinch either. Cut out stubborn burrs. Sometimes, especially in long-haired dogs with undercoats that are deeply tangled, the burrs will need to be shaved or cut off. This should be done very carefully, as the skin can be burned by hot clipper heads or cut by sharp scissors. A good way of doing this is to work a comb under the tangle and then clip or cut above the comb. This can help protect the skin from injury. If you are hesitant to cut the burrs out of your dog's coat, take it to get done by a groomer. They should be skilled at this safely cutting your dog's fur. Keep your dog out of weedy or high grass areas. Keep your dog on a leash when going for walks, so it cannot run into burr or weed patches. This is particularly important after the end of the growing season, when seeds are ready to fall off the plant. Be particularly vigilant about not letting your dog inhale burrs or awns. Of particular danger are awns that enter the dog's nose or mouth while it's running through plants with awns. During the breathing process these can be inhaled or swallowed. The awns will latch onto respiratory or gastrointestinal tissue, just like the hair, causing serious injury or even death. There are mesh hoods that attach to collars to keep the awns and burrs away from the entire face. If you suspect an internal awn contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. You will want to have your dog examined by a professional. It's almost impossible to find these using any regular tools (ultrasound or X-rays) so it's hard to diagnose and treat. The only symptoms are lathery and general poor health. Protect your pet. Pet stores and hunting stores also carry protective vests for dogs that will prevent burrs and awns from reaching the protected area. If you are not able to keep your dog out of areas with weeds and high grasses, such as if your dog is a hunting dog, you should invest in some protective gear for your dog. Boots are also available, but many dogs object to these, especially if they are trying to run. | Identify what a burr looks like. Look for burrs on your dog's body. Be particularly vigilant about looking for burrs during the end of the growing season. Remove visible burrs. Comb the dog. Break tough burs into pieces. Cut out stubborn burrs. Keep your dog out of weedy or high grass areas. Be particularly vigilant about not letting your dog inhale burrs or awns. Protect your pet. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Ninja-Sword | How to Make a Ninja Sword | To make a ninja sword, get a thick, straight stick that's 1-2 feet long. Next, use a knife to remove any bark from the stick and carve a handle and a pointed tip into the wood. Once you have a rough shape, use sandpaper to make small adjustments. After you wrap the handle with electrical tape, create a hand guard out of cardboard. Slide the hand guard over the blade and tape it into place. | Get a thick, straight stick. You can find one in the woods or you can buy something which is similar, like a 2" diameter dowel rod. You can buy dowel rods at your local hardware store for just a few dollars. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d8\/Make-a-Ninja-Sword-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Ninja-Sword-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d8\/Make-a-Ninja-Sword-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2.jpg\/aid461482-v4-728px-Make-a-Ninja-Sword-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":334,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"529","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>"} Cut the sword to length. Real ninja swords were short, allowing them to fight it close combat and move more easily. A good rule of thumb is for the blade to be the same length as the distance from your elbow to the tips of your fingers. Just be sure to leave an extra 4-8" for the handle on the end. Clean up the wood. Shave off the bark using a knife or whittling tools. If you are using a dowel rod, this will not be needed. Carve the sword into the desired shape. Using a knife or whittling tools, carve the sword blade into the shape you want. Point the tip and add some curve if you want to, but real ninja swords probably had little curve and an angled point. Sand the blade smooth. Once you've got the rough shape that you want, use sandpaper to get the final look right. Sandpaper will make it easier to get the shape just perfect, since it only removes a little at a time. Wrap the handle. Using some electrical tape, wrap the handle of your sword. Create the hand guard. Cut a piece of cardboard so that it will fit down over the blade. Paint it black and slip it on to create the hand guard. Slide the hard guard onto the sword. Do this from the blade side, not the handle. Tape the hand guard in place. Use some extra tape to really seal the hand guard to the main part of the sword. Add finishing touches. You can make your sword look even cooler if you want to, by painting the blade silver. Use tape and newspaper to protect your handle and then use silver metallic spray paint to paint the blade. Do this outside. When it's done drying, enjoy your new sword! Get your materials. You'll need a sheet of 1/4" flat stock aluminum, a band saw or jigsaw, a metal file, a piece of plywood, a 1-1.5" diameter dowel rod, electrical tape or ribbon, and metal glue or epoxy. Make your template. Draw a template onto paper or cardstock to get the outline of the sword blade you want. Leave a straight portion at the bottom for the handle, about 1-1.5" wide. Roughly cut out your sword. Trace your template onto the sheet of aluminum using a Sharpie or other marker. Then, cut it out using a band or jigsaw. Be careful: you want to cut the metal, not your fingers. When making this cut, you want to get as close to your outline as possible without actually cutting along the line. File it into shape. Clamp your sword in place and then use a file to get the edge of the metal down to your outline. A metal grinder will make this job faster. Bevel the edge. Using the file, bevel the edge of the blade to get that "cutting" edge. You don't want it to be too sharp though: then you can't play with it. Create the handle. Cut a square, oval, or circular hand guard from the plywood, cutting an extra gap at the center that you can fit your blade through. Paint the guard black. Next, using the saw, cut the dowel rod in half so that you get to half circles. You want to use a dowel rod that is the same size as the handle you cut out. One half will go on each side of the handle, creating a round surface for you to hold. You can use the metal glue or epoxy to secure the pieces in place. Use a little clear caulk to secure the blade side of the handle guard once the dowels are in place. Wrap the handle. Using the electrical tape or wide ribbon, wrap the handle until the whole thing is covered. You can wrap it in a basic spiral, or you can try to do the decorative wrapping of real Japanese swords. Enjoy your new sword! | Get a thick, straight stick. Cut the sword to length. Clean up the wood. Carve the sword into the desired shape. Sand the blade smooth. Wrap the handle. Create the hand guard. Slide the hard guard onto the sword. Tape the hand guard in place. Add finishing touches. Get your materials. Make your template. Roughly cut out your sword. File it into shape. Bevel the edge. Create the handle. Wrap the handle. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Winterize-Your-Car | How to Winterize Your Car | To winterize your car, replace your windshield wipers and fluid and check the pressure on all your tires to make sure none of them are deflated. You should also change your engine oil and replace old coolant with antifreeze. If you live somewhere with a lot of snow and ice, consider replacing your tires with snow tires for the winter, which will have better traction. Also, make sure you have a spare tire in your car at all times, and try to keep your gas tank at least half full so your fuel lines don't freeze. | Replace your windshield wipers and wiper fluid. Poor visibility is extremely dangerous while driving, especially in winter, so it's important to ensure that your windshield wipers are in good working condition. Old blades are prone to cracking, tearing or simply not working when faced with the icy precipitation that's beating against your windshield. Examine yours to see whether the rubber is cracked or frayed, and keep in mind that wiper blades are supposed to be replaced every 6 to 12 months. You could also consider buying wiper blades specifically designed for winter weather. Fill the windshield washer reservoir with fresh washer fluid. Some washer fluids have a defroster additive and a lower freezing temperature, making them a good choice for the cold winter months. Check the tire pressure on all of your tires. Maintaining the correct tire pressure for your vehicle is very important during the winter months. Deflated tires have decreased traction, making them more prone to slipping on icy surfaces. Keep in mind that your tire pressure will be affected by the decrease in temperature — in fact, for every 10 degree F drop in temperature, the air pressure in your tires will be reduced by about 1 PSI. Therefore, it's important to keep an eye on your tires throughout the winter months. Use a tire gauge to see if your tires meet the standards set for your vehicle. If you're not familiar with the proper level for your vehicle, check the inside edge of your driver's side door frame. There should be a sticker there that indicates several things, including suggested tire pressure. If you do not have a tire gauge, you can usually find one at your local gas station, where you can also fill your tires with air. This is usually free or costs very little. While checking the air pressure, it's also important to check how your tires are wearing. If they need replacing or rotating, do this before winter weather hits. Give your car a good coat of wax before winter weather arrives. A waxed surface repels snow, dirt and salt better than a non-waxed one. It will help your car look better and protect the paint. Before you apply the wax, make sure to give the car a thorough wash. Don't forget to rinse the underside of the car to remove any sand or salt residue. Try to wax the car before the first snowfall hits, or before the temperature drops below 55 °F (13 °C). This will protect the paint, while also making any snow or ice easier to brush off. While you're at it, now is a good time to clean the inside of your car. Remove any clutter, vacuum the floor and seats and use an upholstery cleaner if necessary. You may also want to replace the carpeted floor mats with some water-resistant ones, to protect your floors from melted ice and snow. Make sure your lights are working. As mentioned above, having good visibility is very important, especially on the dark winter evening. However, it's not only important that you can see, it's also imperative that you can be seen. This is why ensuring that your lights are in proper working order is essential. Get somebody to help you do a visual check on all of the exterior lights on your car — including your headlights, taillights, backup lights and signal lights (including hazards and brake lights). You should also be aware that the lights will be greater burden on your vehicle's electrical system in the winter, due to shorter and darker days. You'll need to take this into consideration when testing your battery. Change your engine oil. As the cold winter months approach, it's a good idea to check your engine oil and decide whether it needs to be changed. Dropping temperatures cause the oil in your engine to become more viscous (thicker). When this happens, the oil flows too slowly from one part of the engine to another — this prevents the engine from being properly lubricated, leading to overheating and an engine that won't start. Therefore, it is often advisable to switch to a thinner oil during the cold winter months, in order to keep your engine sufficiently lubricated. If you're unsure about what type of oil to use, check the owner's manual for more specific instructions on what type of oil is best for your specific car, under certain temperatures and weather conditions. It's also important to remember that, as a general rule, the oil in your car should be changed every 3,000 miles (4,800 km), or once every three months. Check your belts and hoses. Your car's belts and hoses are susceptible to general wear and tear and are particularly affected by the cold weather. If your car isn't due for its 30,000-mile full-service tune-up this winter (where the belts and hoses are often replaced) then it's a good idea to check them yourself for any signs of damage and get them replaced if necessary. This step should not be neglected, because if something snaps while driving, you'll have no choice but to call a tow truck — which is far from ideal in the middle of winter. Replace old coolant with antifreeze. It's highly important that your engine contains the correct ratio of anti-freeze to water before the cold winter months set in, otherwise the coolant could freeze, causing the engine to overheat and potentially blow a gasket. A ratio of 50% anti-freeze to 50% water is recommended for most cars, though in some circumstances this is increased to 60% anti-freeze, 40% water. Luckily, you can buy pre-mixed bottles of anti-freeze and water at the gas station. If you're not sure about the current ratio of antifreeze to water in your car's radiator fluid, you can pick up an anti-freeze tester at your local auto parts store for relatively cheap. If the ratio is incorrect, you will need to flush your coolant system before you can refill it with the correct ratio. If this is not something you know how to do, take your car to a mechanic or oil change location. There is, however, no need to flush your system if you drain and refill on scheduled maintenance. Make sure your 4-wheel drive is working. If your car has a 4-wheel drive function, it's important to get it checked out to ensure that it's working properly, especially if you haven't used it since the previous winter. Have a mechanic check the 4-wheel drive to ensure that the system engages and disengages smoothly, and that the transmission and gear fluids are at the correct level. At this time, you (and any members of your household) should also review how the system works and understand the conditions under which it should be used. 4-wheel drive can improve your tires' traction on snowy or icy roads, thus decreasing your chances of getting stuck. However, this doesn't mean that you should drive any faster or less safely than you normally would in unfavorable conditions. Check your battery. It's essential that your battery is in good working condition before the winter months — in cold weather, your battery takes more time to generate power, while the engine requires more current from the battery in order to start. If your battery is in poor condition, it won't be able to handle these requirements and your car will fail to start. Keep track of how old your car battery is — they usually last between 3 to 5 years, so if yours is somewhere in that range it may be time to get a new one. You can also ask your mechanic to perform a battery load test to determine whether your battery needs to be placed. Even if it doesn't need to be replaced, you should give your car battery a once over to check for any corrosion on the battery's posts and connections and for any fraying on the cables. You also need to check the fluid level if your car is relatively old — you can do this by unscrewing the caps on top of the battery. If the fluid level is low, you can fill it with distilled water. Just be careful not to overfill it. However, most (if not all) new batteries are maintenance-free and do not require distilled water to be added. In fact, there are no caps to take off. Check your defrosting and heating units. The defrosting and heating units on your car are essential for your visibility and comfort while driving, so it's important to ensure that they are functioning normally. The defroster helps to clear condensation from the inside of the windshield by blowing warm, dry air onto the glass. If it's not working properly, the windows can fog up and obstruct your view of the road. Have a mechanic check the defroster to ensure that it's working properly. If you find the window is still fogging up, you'll need to check your doors and windows for air leaks that could be letting in moisture. It will become pretty obvious if your heater isn't working once the cold winter weather hits, but it's important to get this fixed as soon as possible. It may be necessary to replace the heater coil — this can be expensive, but it will be worth every cent on those cold winter mornings. It's not just your comfort that's at stake, it's also your safety. If you're too cold while driving, this may affect your steering ability and attention to the road. Having a functional heating system could also save your life if you get stranded somewhere in your car. Make sure your spare tire is ready to use. During adverse weather conditions, it's essential to have a spare tire in the car at all times. You should inspect your spare tire periodically to ensure that it's in good working condition — you don't want to blow a tire only to find that the spare isn't working! You should also ensure that your jack, wrench and wheel lock tool are all in a safe, secure position inside the car and that everyone in your household knows where this is. Keep your tank at least half-full at all times. When your gas tank is at least half full, there is less of a chance that your fuel lines will freeze up in cold weather. This happens when condensation forms on the sides of a near-empty fuel tank, drips down into the water, sinks to the bottom and freezes due to icy conditions. Keeping your gas tank at least half full at all times reduces the chances of this happening and also limits the possibility of getting stranded somewhere when you run out of fuel. Put together an emergency kit and keep it in your trunk. It's a very good idea to keep an emergency kit in your car in case it breaks down and you get stranded in bad weather conditions. The kit should include: boots, gloves, hats, some wool blankets, ice scrapers, defroster, a flashlight, salt or cat litter, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, some flares, bottles of coolant and washer fluid, and a radio. You should also include some non-perishable snacks (like unsalted canned nuts and dried fruit) and a bottle of water. Even if the water freezes, you can thaw it out or eat the ice in order to stay hydrated. You should also keep a phone charger in the car for your cell phone. Consider getting snow tires. If you live in an area that's covered in snow and ice all winter long, you should consider replacing your regular tires with snow tires during the colder months. Snow tires are softer and more flexible that regular tires and also have a different tread shape, which gives them greater traction on snowy and icy surfaces. Alternatively, you could keep a set of tire chains in your trunk for driving in snowy, icy conditions. These are particularly necessary in mountainous regions. You could also consider carrying a traction pad or scrap piece of carpet with you — this can help you to free your wheels if your car gets stuck in deep snow. Know what to do if you get stranded. Despite your best efforts to winterize your car, sometimes things will still go wrong and you may end up stranded. It's important that you know exactly what to do in order to stay safe and warm if this situation should ever arise. Firstly, you should never leave your car unless you know exactly where you are and how far you will need to walk in order to find help. If you don't know where you are, light a flare on either side of your car to draw attention to your location. Try to keep yourself as warm as possible by putting on any extra clothes and using any available blankets (wool is best for heat). If you still have gas, run the heater for ten minutes every hour to raise the temperature in the car (as long as you are certain that the gas pipe is not blocked). Despite the cold, you should keep one window at least partly open at all times to prevent heavy snow or ice from sealing the car shut. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water or eating ice, and suck on a hard candy to prevent your mouth drying out. | Replace your windshield wipers and wiper fluid. Check the tire pressure on all of your tires. Give your car a good coat of wax before winter weather arrives. Make sure your lights are working. Change your engine oil. Check your belts and hoses. Replace old coolant with antifreeze. Make sure your 4-wheel drive is working. Check your battery. Check your defrosting and heating units. Make sure your spare tire is ready to use. Keep your tank at least half-full at all times. Put together an emergency kit and keep it in your trunk. Consider getting snow tires. Know what to do if you get stranded. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-a-Star-Fruit | How to Eat a Star Fruit | To eat a star fruit, start by rinsing the fruit under water to remove any dirt or debris from the surface. Then, you can cut the fruit across the broad side into slices and eat them plain. For a star fruit salad, cut the fruit into slices and add them to a bowl with other tropical fruits, like banana or mango. To incorporate star fruit into a salad, add slices to a bed of simple greens like romaine lettuce, and toss everything together with a light vinaigrette dressing, like balsamic vinaigrette. For savory meals, use star fruit slices to garnish dishes like teriyaki chicken or tuna steaks. | Eat star fruit with yellow skin. Ripe star fruit is firm and has vibrant yellow skin. The more yellow the skin is, the sweeter the fruit will be. A yellow star fruit with a bit of brown along the edges is ideal. A star fruit has approximately 28 calories. It is also a worthwhile source of fiber, vitamin C, carbohydrates, and water. Cut the star fruit in slices and eat plain. Use a sharp knife to cut the fruit across the broad side, dividing it into star-shaped slices that are roughly 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch (6.35-mm to 1.27-cm) wide. Wash the fruit well before slicing it. Rinse it under running water, scrubbing it with your fingers until any loose dirt hiding in the crevices comes free. The entire star fruit is edible, so you do not need to peel it or seed it before eating it. Star fruit can be enjoyed plain and on its own without adding it to anything else. Alternatively, remove the edges and seeds before eating. Even though every part of the star fruit is edible, for presentation purposes, you may want to remove any brown edges or seeds. Wash the fruit, using your fingers to scrub away any dirt while rinsing it under cool, running water. Hold the star fruit steady with one hand. You can either hold it in your hand or brace the bottom against a cutting board or counter. Glide a sharp, smooth kitchen knife along the edge of the star fruit. Make the cut where the green or brown part of the edge begins and slice thinly to only remove the discolored portion of the edge. Slice off the ends. Cut 1/2-inch (1.27-cm) off both ends of the star fruit, removing any green or brown pointed tips. Use a sharp knife to cut the star fruit into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch (6.35-mm to 1.27-cm) slices. Cut across the broad side of the fruit to form star shapes. Poke through the center of the star fruit with the tip of your knife to remove any visible seeds. Avoid star fruit if you have kidney problems. The fruit contains a neurotoxin that healthy kidneys can filter out, but damaged kidneys are unable to do so. Go to a hospital if you experience symptoms of "star fruit intoxication" after consuming the fruit. Symptoms include insomnia, hiccups, vomiting, numbness, muscle convulsions or decreased strength, and confusion. These symptoms usually manifest themselves 30 minutes to 14 hours after an individual consumes the fruit. Rarely, star fruit intoxication can even cause death. Include star fruit in a fruit salad. Toss slices of star fruit with other tropical fruits to create a colorful blend of sweet-and-sour flavors. Fruits that pair well with star fruit include banana, strawberry, kiwi, mango, pineapple, papaya, grapes, and citrus fruits. You can toss the fruit salad gently with a lemon vinaigrette, orange glaze, honey, or fruit cocktail syrup to add another dimension of flavor. For an even more tropical twist, garnish the fruit salad with a sprinkling of shredded coconut. Mix star fruit into leafy green salads. Star fruit makes an appealing addition to simple green salads. Make the salad simple, using ingredients like romaine lettuce, chives, sweet bell pepper, and avocado. Stay away from traditional garden salad ingredients like carrots, cucumbers, and shredded cheddar cheese. Opt for light vinaigrette dressings, like lemon vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, or Italian vinaigrette. Tangy French dressings can also complement the flavor of star fruit well. Use star fruit as an exotic garnish. Decorate dishes and platters with sliced star fruit for an edible garnish. Add sliced star fruit to the tops of tropical-flavor cakes or ice cream. Decorate plates of tropical entrees, like teriyaki-marinated chicken, with artistically placed slices of star fruit. Cut a small slice into a piece of star fruit and hang it off the side of a cocktail glass. Add star fruit to cake or bread. Use mashed star fruit in fruit bread or sliced star fruit in upside-down cake. Combine 2 cups (500 ml) flour, 1 1/2 tsp (7.5 ml) baking powder, and 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt. Add this to a creamed mixture made from 1/2 cup (125 ml) butter, 1 cup (250 ml) sugar, 3 eggs, 1 tsp (5 ml) white wine, and 2 cups (500 ml) mashed star fruit. Stir in 1 cup (250 ml) chopped coconut and cook in a standard loaf pan for 50 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). Arrange 3 to 4 sliced star fruit on the bottom of a greased 9-inch (23-cm) cake pan. Pour a standard yellow cake batter or spice cake batter over the star sliced star fruit and bake according to the recipe's instructions. Invert the cake onto a serving plate before serving. Use star fruit as an accompaniment to poultry or seafood dishes. The flavor of star fruit pairs well with chicken, duck, and many types of fish and seafood. After preparing chicken fried rice, tropical chicken stir-fry, or Asian-inspired chicken stir-fry, add fresh slices of star fruit to the dish. Cut the star fruit into small pieces and add it to chicken salad, tuna salad, or lobster salad. Grill chicken, tuna steaks, prawns, or duck and serve the star fruit alongside it, grilled or fresh. Create star fruit preserves. Cook chopped star fruit on the stovetop with sugar and tropical fruit juice. Use finer pieces of star fruit and more liquid to create a jam or larger pieces and less juice for chutney. Make a tropical smoothie. Blend star fruit with other tropical fruits and juice to create a thick, fruity drink. Blend 3 seeded star fruit, 1 diced mango, 3 cups (750 ml) orange juice, 2 cups (500 ml) ice cubes, 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) ground cinnamon, and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) honey until smooth. If desired, add chunks of pineapple, strawberry, or banana to the smoothie, as well. Create a star fruit cocktail. Mix pureed star fruit with fruit liqueur and rum for a refreshing alcoholic beverage. Blend 1 star fruit with 1/4 cup (60 ml) orange liqueur, 1/2 cup (125 ml) rum, 1 cup (250 ml) orange juice, and several ice cubes. Garnish with slices of star fruit. Prepare a star fruit juice drink. For a non-alcoholic beverage, mix pureed star fruit with simple fruit juices or water. Mix 1 lb (450 g) star fruit with 1 thumb of ginger, 1 tsp (5 ml) lime juice, 4 cups (1000 ml) of water, and sugar or honey to taste. Strain the juice and serve. Add carbonated water to this mixture for a non-alcoholic star fruit spritzer. Finished. | Eat star fruit with yellow skin. Cut the star fruit in slices and eat plain. Alternatively, remove the edges and seeds before eating. Avoid star fruit if you have kidney problems. Include star fruit in a fruit salad. Mix star fruit into leafy green salads. Use star fruit as an exotic garnish. Add star fruit to cake or bread. Use star fruit as an accompaniment to poultry or seafood dishes. Create star fruit preserves. Make a tropical smoothie. Create a star fruit cocktail. Prepare a star fruit juice drink. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Pick-Up-a-Girl | How to Pick Up a Girl | To pick up a girl, start by knowing the first thing you're going to say to her, which can be simple small talk about the weather or decor. For example, if you're at a party, you might say "How do you know the host?" If she receives your opening line warmly, try giving an honest opinion about something unimportant, like the music playing in the background, to make it safe for her to agree or disagree with you. As the conversation wraps up, tell her that you're having a great time and ask for her phone number. If she doesn't want to give you her number, accept her decision gracefully. However, if she gives you her number, call in the next day or two to schedule a date. | Broaden your horizons. Don't get sucked in to thinking that you can find girls only to date when you're out at a party or at the bar or pub. You never know where or when you might meet a girl who would be open to a night out with you if you play your cards right. The saying “there are plenty of fish in the sea” reflects this fact. If you want to find a girl to pick up, keep your eyes open everywhere you go: at work, in cafes, on the street, pretty much anywhere public. That being said, there are a couple of important things to keep in mind: A supermarket pickup is a hard sell. Most people don't go to the grocery store or the bank because they are hoping to find romance, which is why the conventional wisdom rightly suggests that bars, clubs, and parties are the best places to meet potential dates. Do not expect a good response if you try picking up girls in places they have to go because life demands it. Instead, consider open-air markets, cafes, and other places people go because they want to be out. It is likely that girls in such places will be at least somewhat more receptive to meeting new people, since they are not on important business. Unless you are hoping to become some sort of Don Juan (note: you will not succeed if this is your plan), perform a “ring test” before hitting on anyone. Is the girl wearing a band or diamond-set ring on either ring finger (or both)? If so, she is likely married (left hand) or engaged to be married (right hand). Respect that and leave her alone. Understand the (straight) male-female dynamic. This varies widely from country to country, but generally speaking, there is a clear paradigm in the Western world (that is, Europe, Australia, and North America) that defines what men and women find attractive in the opposite sex. It's actually very complicated, but at the most basic level, it works like this: Women are primarily attracted to social power and influence; men are primarily attracted to fertility and health (which is why Western culture is obsessed with making women look youthful). There is a whole universe of things that men can do to suggest social power and thus become more attractive. Consider developing a strong sense of style or a clever sense of humor. Physical wealth is a strong display of social power, which is why some guys maintain beautiful cars even though they're otherwise living in poverty. Think about how you can accentuate your life to emphasize your own strengths. The most basic and perhaps most useful way to show that you have social power is to be confident. By demonstrating an ability to speak and act in a self-assured manner, you can show that you have nothing to fear from other men, which makes you seem relatively powerful. This is why it is often said that confidence is everything in the dating world. Become confident , and the rest of the pickup game boils down to details; fail to exhibit confidence, and you will always struggle to get dates. Be yourself, but be your best self. It's important that you avoid being fake. Women are very perceptive and will not take you seriously if you're disrespecting them by pretending to be someone or something you're not. On the other hand, women aren't looking for a mess to clean up, either. One of the greatest benefits of a long-term relationship is having the freedom to share your worries and fears with someone who loves you, but right now, you aren't in a long-term relationship - you're washing laundry next to someone with a cute smile and a funny T-shirt. Don't lose perspective. The pickup is your chance to show off all there is to like about you, not an excuse to start unloading on a girl who was nice enough to listen. Perfect your body language. Body language is more than just standing with a straight back and making eye contact: it's the whole package, everything you do to communicate that isn't the words coming out of your mouth. Body language is the primary way that human beings communicate emotional states to each other, making it an all-important “language” to learn if you want to be at the top of your dating game. The rules of thumb are as follows: More eye contact is better than less eye contact. Smile whenever you make eye contact. Don't look away until you've smiled. Don't stare. Try to keep your eyes from glancing at a woman's body if you're talking to her. Adopt an open stance: legs and arms uncrossed, shoulders back, head level. This makes you appear confident, relaxed, and receptive. Don't mumble. Speak clearly and without hesitation. Lean in slightly to the person you're interested in when you speak to her. Bringing your head slightly forward is fine if you're seated. Never forget: body language is powerful, but it's not always clear. For example, people tend to touch the parts of themselves they think are attractive when they are attracted to someone. A girl who keeps touching her lips or chest with one hand as she talks to you might be interested; then again, she could just be itchy. Take any cues you think you see with a grain of salt. Learn this mantra: do or die. If a girl was attracted to you, wouldn't you want her to let you know now instead of three years from now? Girls feel the same way. This is why slowly trying to win over a woman's heart by ingratiating yourself to her never seems to work: women want a man who will come right out and say how he feels. If he really is interested enough to want a date, he should be willing to risk rejection for the sake of the chance. Even women who are very attracted to you won't wait around for you to ask them out forever. They'll either decide that you aren't attracted to them and give up, or that you aren't attractive because you were never brave enough to ask for a date. When you feel attracted to a girl, if you don't ask her out the same day you realize you want to date her, assume you have around a month at most to make your intentions known. Don't wait for a perfect moment. Have a line ready. Start by knowing the first thing you're going to say to the girl you have your eye on before you say it. It doesn't have to be anything especially exciting – just an invitation to talk. Try bringing up the weather if you're outside, or the decor if you're somewhere indoors. At a party, bring up something about the party or ask how she met the host or hostess. Just have a starting line picked out before you begin. Build the conversation. If your prompt elicited a cold response, you have two options: give up or go straight to a flirt and hope for the best. If, on the other hand, the girl responded warmly to you, it's time to let your conversational skills shine. Talking to someone you've only just met is challenging for both of you. If you make it easier for her she'll appreciate it. Try offering a few opinions on something inconsequential, such as the music in the background. Keep it honest, and see how she responds. Listen to what she says and ask her for more details about her opinion. By putting yourself out there first, you are making it safe for her to follow suit and agree or disagree with your opinion. Try not to turn the conversation into an interview, asking things like: “What do you do?” “Where do you live?” “Where did you go to school?” in rapid succession. Instead, turn such questions into statements (like "You look like you're from Rome" or "I bet you're an event planner"). You'll seem bolder and give her room to respond more naturally, which will help her relax and enjoy the talk. Use humor. Humor is universal, and finding someone who appreciates your personal sense of humor is a great feeling. On the other hand, someone who lets your jokes fall flat is probably neither interested in you nor worth pursuing, which makes humor a great way to test the waters without being awkwardly upfront about it. Even if you think your sense of humor is too quick, subtle, or strange for most people to appreciate or understand, unleash it during your conversation. If the girl you're talking to is interested, she'll hang on your jokes and laugh at them even when other people don't. Keep compliments subtle. Whatever compliments you make should come up naturally. The key to a good conversation is to talk about things you both feel comfortable discussing. When you find a way to give her a compliment or a flirt that doesn't break the flow of the conversation, go for it; otherwise, keep your pickup lines to yourself. The only possible responses a woman can give to a blatant compliment are to agree with it (in which case she seems full of herself), disagree (in which case she seems embarrassed), or throw the compliment back at you, which is generally unlikely, especially early on in the conversation. It's more important to show that you're fun company than it is to explicitly state that you find her attractive, which should already have been obvious from the fact that you came over and started running your game on her. Show your spine. Girls like a guy who is secure and comfortable in his own skin. Never shy away from answering questions about yourself honestly. Most girls prefer the guy who builds robots in his basement and has the moxie to say so with a smile over the guy who acts ashamed or embarrassed about it. Don't be afraid to make gentle criticisms (making them in the form of questions, as in “but isn't that kind of silly?” is a good way to do this) or gentle jokes at her expense, as long as you don't make very many. Girls appreciate it when a guy seems interested but not dazzled, because it means he's less likely to become too attached too quickly and make things uncomfortable for them. On the other hand, someone who's constantly making mean jokes at her expense is just going to seem rude and childish. Ask for her number. When it's time to wrap up the conversation, cut things off on a high note and ask for her number. Say that you're having a great time, but it's time for you to head back home/off to work/whatever you were planning to do next. If she says she doesn't want to give you her number, be gracious and wish her a good rest of the day. If you do get her number, call within a day or two and see about scheduling a date for the weekend. Prepare for a first date. The best first dates are those that do not require a lot of silent time together. Avoid concerts and movies. Instead, suggest something that will give you both room to talk, and which does not cost a lot of money. Have an idea and a couple of alternates ready ahead of time; most women prefer it when the man decides on the date. If you have a guess about something out of the ordinary that you think she'll appreciate, such as renting a paddle boat, suggest that; otherwise, stick to lunch, coffee, or drinks somewhere. All of these options provide plenty of opportunities for uninterrupted conversation and (if you're lucky) a first kiss. Offer to pay for the first date, but don't insist on it. Some women find the notion that a man should pay for every date insulting, and will prefer to split costs with you or pay their own way. Whatever your date prefers, go along with it. Give her some space. This is a first date, not a marriage contract. Once you've settled on a time and place, don't call her again until it's time to meet. You'll have plenty of time to talk then. If she calls and asks to reschedule, give her the benefit of the doubt – after all, if she wanted to reject you, she could already have done so before now. Be patient and flexible. Understand the risks. This is a delicate situation at best, but remember that your friend is unlikely to stop wanting to be your friend just because you asked her out, even if she doesn't want to go on a date. The bigger problem is likely to come from you, as you try to move on from asking her. If all your hopes and dreams are hinging on getting a date with your friend, you are probably in for a lot of disappointment. Wait until you have some time alone. This can potentially save you a lot of embarrassment in front of mutual friends. If your friend has half as much respect for you as you have for her, she won't embarrass you about it after the fact. If she does cause a scene, she wasn't worth it anyway. Ask her out simply. Don't declare your love – just ask her to come on a date with you. It may very well be that you do love your friend, but saying it won't change anything because it doesn't give her any concrete reason to consider dating you. It's better to keep your feelings on the down low and treat your offer like any other. Make sure you're very clear that you're asking for a romantic date, and not just a time to hang out. Hiding or muddling your intentions won't help anything. Exercise restraint. No matter what the result of your offer to take your friend on a date, the onus of responsibility is on you to be mature and graceful. If she says yes, that's great – but it's still no time to unload anything on her. After all, you haven't even gone on a first date yet. If she says no, don't take out your disappointment on her, either. Instead, excuse yourself (she'll understand) and go home to mourn in private. Understand the risks. Unlike a classroom setting, the chances that you will have to work closely with a girl you ask out, regardless of whether or not she agrees to date you, is much higher in the workplace. You can't just request another partner or wait for the semester to end, and neither can she. As long as you understand the risks to your comfort level (and hers) if things don't go as planned, you can take steps to minimize those risks and ensure that your work life will continue to be bearable no matter what happens. Don't poop where you eat. This old adage (in any of its many colorful variations) is considered timeless for a good reason. The closer you are to someone outside of your dating life, the more likely it is that dating or otherwise pursuing that person will eventually lead to drama and misery. At work, this means you're better off trying to pick up a girl you don't work with very closely or very often, if you can help it at all. If you work at a large business like a department store or a major business office, try to focus on picking up girls who work in other departments than your own. That way, no matter how things pan out, both of you will be able to come to work with minimal awkwardness afterward. Be respectful. Obviously, respect is an important component of any (realistic) dating strategy, but in the workplace, you must be especially conscious of it. Think about it from the girl's perspective: She's there because she needs a job, not because she thought there were a lot of cute boys behind the counter when she was job hunting. Anything that makes her job more stressful is going to ripple throughout her life, because she can't afford to just stop showing up on account of one uncomfortable exchange with a coworker. Never put a girl in the position of dreading work more than she already would have before you asked her out. Be brief, be polite, and if you are rejected, don't press the issue or otherwise bother her afterward. Even if you think you're being friendly, chances are she's not going to appreciate you continuing to step into her sphere after she already said no. Give her plenty of space. Be discreet. A lot of employers frown on workplace romance, because it is often accompanied by lost productivity and conduct violations (ranging from overlong cigarette breaks to inappropriate breakup arguments and more). If you're going to pursue a woman at work, don't spread your intentions around. As long as work continues more or less the same as it did yesterday, your bosses won't personally mind one bit if you try to pick up a girl on the job, or even end up regularly dating her. Just remember: the workplace is for work first; everything else is a secondary concern, no matter how interesting or important it might seem to you. Understand the travel romance dynamic. Maybe you're in town for a family reunion and you just aren't feeling it, so you've found yourself at a diner drinking coffee next to a cute girl. Maybe you're on a trip across the country by bus before you settle down, just to see what's out there. Picking up a girl while you're traveling is fine, as long as you remember to keep it light, be straightforward, and live in the moment. Approaching it like a normal pick up will only frustrate both of you. Be upfront. If you feel as though you have to lie or omit information to pick up a girl, you're wrong. It won't do either of you any good to pretend. Besides, some women find the idea of a date with someone who's “just passing through” intriguing or exciting, because there are likely to be no strings attached. You won't know until you make it clear that you're in that situation. Traveling also makes for an interesting topic of conversation, so you probably won't have to try very hard to find things to talk about. Just mention that you're just visiting for a few days, and ask a question about the local area. Most girls will be happy to answer with their opinion on it, and just like that the conversation will be rolling along. Be quick. You don't have time to be shy or demure. You want a date, a night out with someone you've just met and are unlikely to see again. The girl won't know you feel that way if you just try to “warm up” to her all night. Instead of getting her number, suggest that she come on a date with you now , before you're gone. Ask her for ideas on where to go, and offer to pay the tab (as usual). The key to picking up a girl for a short-term fling is to show her what you want (a fun night out together) and go for it right away. Be faithful. If you have someone waiting for you at home, don't pursue anyone else while you're away. It's cowardly and unfair, and it will weigh heavily on your conscience long after the fact. Imagine how you would feel if you knew that your girlfriend had a hot weekend with some random townie from five states away at her last family reunion, while you were sitting alone and missing her company the whole time. No momentary impulse or minor crush is worth jeopardizing the relationship you already have. If you believe you're ready to end that relationship, do the right thing and end it first. Don't sneak around behind your girlfriend's back like some kind of spineless weasel. Once you're officially single, you'll have plenty of chances to fool around with other girls. | Broaden your horizons. Understand the (straight) male-female dynamic. Be yourself, but be your best self. Perfect your body language. Never forget: Learn this mantra: Have a line ready. Build the conversation. Use humor. Keep compliments subtle. Show your spine. Ask for her number. Prepare for a first date. Understand the risks. Wait until you have some time alone. Ask her out simply. Exercise restraint. Understand the risks. Don't poop where you eat. Be respectful. Be discreet. Understand the travel romance dynamic. Be upfront. Be quick. Be faithful. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cake-Without-an-Oven | How to Make Cake Without an Oven | To make cake without an oven, first all-purpose mix baking mix, sugar, and milk in a microwave-safe mug. Then, fold chocolate chips, nuts, or any other toppings you want into the batter. Cover the mug with plastic wrap and microwave it on high power for at least 1 minute, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. To finish off your instant cake-in-a-mug, top your cake with whipped cream or chocolate syrup. | Set up the steamer. Fill a large stockpot with 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) of water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, then sit the steamer basket inside. The steamer basket should not touch the boiling water directly. After reducing the heat, the water should remain at a simmer. Cover the pot with its lid to prevent the water from evaporating as you prepare the cake batter. Grease the baking pan. Coat an 8-inch (20-cm) round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray or shortening. Lightly flour the bottom and sides of the pan, as well. Alternatively, you can coat the sides of the pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. Cream together the butter and sugar. Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium to high speed for several minutes, or until the mixture is light and creamy. Add the eggs. Add the eggs to the butter mixture one at a time, beating after each addition. Make sure that each egg is thoroughly beaten into the mixture after each addition. If you're using small eggs instead of large eggs, you'll need to use three instead of two. Rotate the flour and milk. Add one-third of the flour to the batter and beat until combined. Add half of the milk afterward, beating again until evenly combined. Repeat this procedure with the remaining flour and milk. Add one-third of the flour and mix it in, followed by the remaining milk. Finish by mixing in the last third of the flour. Mix in the vanilla. Drizzle the vanilla extract over the batter. Beat on medium to high speed until incorporated. Separate the batter. Pour one-fourth of the batter into a separate small bowl. Set aside the remaining three-fourths for now. The smaller portion of batter will be flavored with cocoa powder and the larger portion will remain vanilla flavored. Add the cocoa powder to the small batch. Sprinkle the cocoa powder into the smaller batch of batter. Mix well by hand or with an electric mixer set to low speed. Combine the batters in the prepared pan. Pour the vanilla batter into the greased pan, then drizzle the chocolate batter on top. Use a knife to carefully swirl the two batters together without mixing them. This act will create the marbled effect. Cover the pan. Tightly cover the top of the cake pan with aluminum foil. Fold the foil under the bottom of the pan to hold it down. The top of the pan must be covered tightly. Otherwise, excess moisture from inside the steamer can get into the batter and ruin the results. Steam for 30 to 45 minutes. Place the cake pan in the center of the preheated steam rack. Cover the steamer and cook the cake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Keep the steamer over medium heat and avoid lifting the lid as the cake cooks. Each time you lift the lid, some of the heat escapes, which may cause an increase in the overall cooking time. Cool before serving. Remove the finished cake from the steamer and let it cool in its pan before turning it out onto a serving platter. Decorate as desired and enjoy. Coat the slow cooker. Coat the inside bottom and sides of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. You could also use specially designed slow cooker liners for an even easier clean-up. Note that this recipe requires the use of a 2-qt to 4-qt (2-L to 4-L) slow cooker. If you use a smaller or larger slow cooker, adjust the recipe by proportion accordingly. Combine the dry ingredients. Mix the flour, granulated sugar, 2 Tbsp (30 ml) cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir until evenly combined. These ingredients form the base of the actual cake batter. Add the wet ingredients. Pour the milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla into the wet ingredients. Stir them into the dry ingredients until evenly combined. The resulting batter may have a few small lumps, but use the mixing spoon to break apart any notably large lumps. Keep stirring until you can no longer see any of the dry ingredient mix. Make the lava. In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and 1/4 cup (60 ml) cocoa powder. Stir the hot water into the mixture, as well. Combine the two dry ingredients first, followed by the hot water. Continue stirring the mixture until it appears evenly combined and very smooth. Do not leave any lumps. Pour the batters into the slow cooker. Pour the cake batter into the slow cooker, then pour the pudding mix on top. Do not stir the two together. Since the cake batter will be thick, you'll need to spread it over the bottom of the slow cooker with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Do so before topping it with the pudding. Try to pour the pudding over the cake batter layer as evenly as possible. Cook on high heat. Cover the slow cooker and switch it onto its high heat setting. Cook the cake for 2 to 2-1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not remove the lid while the cake is cooking. Doing so will release too much heat and may increase the final cooking time. Cool slightly before serving. Turn off the slow cooker once the cake is done. Remove the lid and allow the cake to stand for 30 to 40 minutes before serving it. Instead of serving this cake in slices, you'll need to spoon it out into serving dishes. You can enjoy this cake by itself or serve it with ice cream and dessert sauce. Combine the baking mix, sugar, and milk. Place the baking mix, sugar, and milk directly into a standard microwave-safe mug. Mix the ingredients with a fork until combined. Not every mug is microwave-safe, so you should check yours before using it. An 8-oz (250-ml) microwave-safe ramekin would also work well for this recipe. Try to break apart as many lumps as possible while stirring the ingredients together. A few small ones may remain, but most should be broken apart and mixed into the batter. Ideally, there should be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space in between the top of the batter and the top of the mug. If there's too much batter, consider pouring half of it into a separate mug. Add the chocolate chips. Sprinkle the chocolate chips into the batter. Stir and fold them into the batter until evenly distributed You can omit the chocolate chips if you would prefer a plain yellow cake. Other additions, like small nuts or sprinkles, could also be used in similar proportions. Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Cover the mug with plastic wrap and microwave the cake on full power for at least 60 seconds, or until the center is set. Microwaves that run on a lower power may need up to an additional 40 seconds of cooking time. If the center isn't set after the initial 60 seconds, continue to microwave the cake in 10-second intervals until done. Note that a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean if the center has set. Enjoy immediately. Remove the plastic wrap and decorate the cake with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or powdered sugar, as desired. Eat the cake directly out of the mug. | Set up the steamer. Grease the baking pan. Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs. Rotate the flour and milk. Mix in the vanilla. Separate the batter. Add the cocoa powder to the small batch. Combine the batters in the prepared pan. Cover the pan. Steam for 30 to 45 minutes. Cool before serving. Coat the slow cooker. Combine the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients. Make the lava. Pour the batters into the slow cooker. Cook on high heat. Cool slightly before serving. Combine the baking mix, sugar, and milk. Add the chocolate chips. Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Enjoy immediately. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Display-the-Secret-Menu-in-LG-TVs | How to Display the Secret Menu in LG TVs | To access your LG TV's secret menu, try to use the original remote for the best results. Then, hold down both your remote's menu button and the TV's menu button. Once you see a password request appear, let go of both buttons and enter your TV's password, which could be 0000, 0413, or 7777. Next, press the enter button in the middle of your remote, and browse the service menu when it appears. | Make sure you have the TV's original remote. While some non-LG, third-party or universal remotes can be used to access your LG TV's service menu, you'll have the greatest chance of success if you use the remote that came with your TV. Select a TV channel. Using the INPUT button on your remote to select the TV as the input source, then select any TV channel. You may not be able to access the service menu if you don't do this. Hold both your remote's MENU button and the TV's MENU button. You'll do this at the same time. On some models of remote and/or TV, the MENU button will be replaced by a SETTINGS button or a HOME button. Some models of remote will require you to press and hold the OK button here. Release both buttons when asked for a password. Once you see the password entry field appear on your TV's screen, you can let go of the MENU buttons on the remote and the TV. Type in your TV's password. Try using 0000 here to start. Press the ENTER button. It's in the middle of the remote. Doing so enters your password. You may need to press OK instead. Try a different password if necessary. If typing in "0000" doesn't work, try one of the following codes: 0413 7777 8741 8743 8878 Review the service menu. Once you access the service menu, you're free to browse it as you please. You can typically use the service menu to change settings such as your TV's USB options, the system volume levels, and the firmware version. Consider taking a picture of the screen or writing down the current settings so that you can reset your TV to its defaults if you accidentally change an important setting. Make sure you have the TV's original remote. While some non-LG, third-party or universal remotes can be used to access your LG TV's installation menu, you'll have the greatest chance of success if you use the remote that came with your TV. Select a TV channel. Using the INPUT button on your remote to select the TV as the input source, then select any TV channel. You may not be able to access the installation menu if you don't do this. Hold down the MENU button. Do this on your remote. You'll usually need to hold down the MENU button for between 5 and 7 seconds. On some remotes, you'll hold down a SETTINGS or a HOME button instead. Release the button when password menu appears. Do so quickly as continuing to hold down the MENU button may cause your TV to try to open a different menu. Type in 1105. This is the code that all LG TVs use to access the installation menu. Press the ENTER button. It's in the middle of the remote. Doing so enters your password. You may need to press OK instead. Review the installation menu. In the installation menu, you may find the option to enable USB mode for your TV. You might also find other options, such as a "Hotel Mode", that affect the way your TV works. Consider taking a picture of the screen or writing down the current settings so that you can reset your TV to its defaults if you accidentally change an important setting. | Make sure you have the TV's original remote. Select a TV channel. Hold both your remote's MENU button and the TV's MENU button. Release both buttons when asked for a password. Type in your TV's password. Press the ENTER button. Try a different password if necessary. Review the service menu. Make sure you have the TV's original remote. Select a TV channel. Hold down the MENU button. Release the button when password menu appears. Type in 1105. Press the ENTER button. Review the installation menu. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hang-a-Wreath-on-a-Door | How to Hang a Wreath on a Door | If you want to hang a wreath on a door, arrange the wreath so the center is at eye level. Typically, eye level is about 57 inches above the ground. Then, hammer a nail into the door where the top of the wreath will fall, and hang the wreath from the hook. If you don't want to use a nail, use a heavy-duty adhesive hook or a wreath hanger instead, as these won't damage your door. Just follow the instructions for how to install them, then remove them when you take down the wreath. | Mark the spot where you plan to put the nail. For traditional wreath placement, you will want to place the center of the wreath at eye level, and at the center of the door. Eye level is typically regarded as 57 inches (140 cm). Add the radius of your wreath to the 57 inches (140 cm) height so that the center of your wreath falls at 57 inches (140 cm). Measure the nail. Before hammering the nail into your door, make sure that the nail will be an appropriate size to hold up the wreath. The nail should be long enough to project at least ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) past the portion of the wreath that it will be supporting, after being hammered into the door. Hammer the nail into the door. Once you have checked the placement, hammer the nail into the door. Hold the nail at a sight angle, so that you are hammering the nail down into the door. Strike the end of the nail with the hammer until the nail is able to stand itself, and continue striking until the nail is firmly in the door, then hang the wreath. Repair your door. After taking the wreath down and removing the nail, repair the nail-hole left in the door using wood putty. Work the wood putty into the the hole and allow it to dry. Sand the wood putty down until it is flush with the door, and paint or re-finish as necessary to match the original appearance of the door. Choose a command hook. Different command hooks can support different amounts of weight. Consequently, it is important to know both the weight of your wreath and the maximum capacity of your command hook. Clean the door with rubbing alcohol. Wiping the door with rubbing alcohol and allowing it to evaporate will prepare the surface. Command hooks will allow you to hang a wreath without damaging your door, but need a clean surface in order to adhere properly. Close the door. You'll need to be able to apply pressure to the door, which will be difficult if the door is free to swing. Mark the place where the command hook will go. Using a pencil, Remember that the hook on the command strip will be lower than the center of the strip, so measure this in advance. The center of your wreath should be at eye level, or 57 inches (140 cm). Attach the command hook to the door. Peel the non-adhesive backing off the command strip, and press the adhesive side of the command strip against the spot that you marked on the door. Pay attention to the directions that came with the command hook-- they will tell you how many seconds you need to press the adhesive to the door in order to ensure a good fit. If the command hook that you purchased has the hook built in, you are finished and can hang up your wreath, but if not, attach the hook and then hang the wreath. Open your door. You will need to slide the wreath hanger over your door, something you cannot do if your door is closed. Over the door hangers rest on the top of the door and support the wreath with a hook. Look at your wreath hanger. Determine the end of your wreath hanger that is intended to go over the door. The more square end should fit snugly against the door frame, while the rounder side (if your over the door wreath hanger has one) will hold the wreath. Slide the wreath hanger over the door. Open your door and slide the top half of the wreath hanger over it. Over the door wreath hangers are an "S" shape, where the upper half of the "S" fits over the top of your door, and the bottom half will supports the wreath. Close your door. Closing your door will allow you to ensure that your over the door wreath hanger is in a good place and fits well against your door. After you've closed the door and are satisfied with the placement of your hanger, hang your wreath! If the wreath hanger you have will not fit between the door and the frame, it could be because your door is slightly out of alignment, or because the wreath hanger you have is too thick for your door. Open the door. Leaving the door ajar will allow you to stand so that one arm is on either side of the door. You will need to hold two magnets on either side of your door. If for some reason you cannot do this, find a friend to stand on the other side of the door and hold one magnet while you place another. Add a protective pad to the magnet. If the magnetic wreath hanger you have purchased doesn't come with protective pads, you should add some kind of protection to keep them from scratching or scuffing the door. Do this by cutting some cloth to size, or purchasing some floor scuff pads and attaching them to the magnets-- without this addition, the metal magnets could very easily scratch your door, especially if it is glass. Place the magnets on the door. Begin by holding the magnets in the same place on either side of the door. You should feel the magnets be attracted to one another. The magnets should stay where they are, and can be used to hang your wreath. If you have a metal door, it isn't necessary that you use two magnets. The fact that the door is metal should allow one wreath hanger to become attracted to it and support one magnet. Hang your wreath. Test the capacity of the magnets by gently placing the wreath on the hook. If the magnets begin sliding down, your wreath is probably too heavy for the magnetic wreath hanger. You may want to get a smaller wreath, stronger magnets, or use a different method to hang your wreath. | Mark the spot where you plan to put the nail. Measure the nail. Hammer the nail into the door. Repair your door. Choose a command hook. Clean the door with rubbing alcohol. Mark the place where the command hook will go. Attach the command hook to the door. Open your door. Look at your wreath hanger. Slide the wreath hanger over the door. Close your door. Open the door. Add a protective pad to the magnet. Place the magnets on the door. Hang your wreath. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-News-Report | How to Write a News Report | To write a news report, first use key words about your story to write a clear, accurate headline that's easy to understand. Then, write your byline, which includes your name and title and the date of your report. Put the location of your story on the following line, written all in caps. Next, summarize the who, what, where, when, and why of your report in a couple of sentences. Finally, provide more detailed information from the scene and your interviews with witnesses and key players. Be sure to include quotes and attributions in your report. | Figure out what to write about. News reports are about something that is happening now or that just recently happened. Current issues, events, crimes, and investigations are good subjects for news reports. Other styles of journalism are better for things like profiles, advice articles, and opinion pieces. Ask around for story ideas, especially government officials and public relations representatives. Scan the news to see what is already happening. This could lead to you finding other story ideas that are related. Search your city or county's website or directory for local events that are coming up. Attend city council meetings to find out if there are any local issues happening in your area. Sit in on trials at the courthouse and see if anything interesting happens that you could report on. Go to the scene. Once you find out what you want to write about, go there. You might need to go to the scene of a crime, a business, the courthouse, or an event. It will be difficult to write about something that you are not present at. Write down everything you see and everything that takes place. Record and take notes of any speeches that occur at events. Make sure to get the names of the speakers. Conduct interviews. Who you interview will depend on what you are reporting on. You will want to get a broad range of quotes for your report, so try to interview an array of people. Good people to interview are event coordinators, lawyers, police, business owners, volunteers, participants, and witnesses. If you need to find people to schedule interviews with them, use the internet to find contact information. You can also interview people directly at the scene, depending on your news report topic. If the story is controversial or political, make sure to get both sides of the issue. Prepare sample questions, but don't necessarily stick to them. Think of an interview as a conversation. Record the interview. Make sure to get the full names (spelled correctly) of anyone you interviewed. Transcribe the interviews and speeches. When you are back at your home or your office, transcribe the interviews and any speeches. Listen to your recordings and type out everything (or at least the most important parts) of the interviews and speeches. This will make finding information for the report and any quotes easier. Make sure you review your transcriptions to make sure they're accurate. You don't want to misquote someone. Do research on the subject. News reports are about what happened in the moment, but it is good to do basic research on the subject. Research any companies, people, or programs that you are reporting on to make sure you have your facts straight. Double check spelling of names, dates, and any information you have gathered to make sure it is correct. Write a headline. Your headline should be accurate, clear, and easy to understand. Use key words from the story and keep it straight and plain. Use active and short action verbs in your headline. The headline should accurately lead readers to what the report is about. The headline should be attention grabbing, but not exaggerate or mislead. Capitalize the first word of the headline and any proper nouns after that. If you're having trouble coming up with a headline, you might try writing it last instead. It may be easier to think of a headline after you've finished your article. For example, your headline might read: "Armed robbery at Portland farmer's market" Write a byline and place line. The byline goes directly underneath the headline. This is where you put your name and clarify who you are. The placeline is where the article takes place and is written in all caps. Use AP Style state abbreviations. An example of a byline: Sue Smith, Staff Reporter An example of a placeline: EUGENE, ORE. Use a hard news lead. A news lead (or lede) is the opening paragraph of a report or article and is often considered the most important part. A news report is not the time for a verbose and artful lead. Keep your lead to the point, fitting as much of the basic information as you can into your lead. A lead is only one or maybe two sentences and summarizes the news story; the who, what, when, where, why, and how of you story should be emphasized in the lead. Don't include people's names in the lead (save that information for later), unless everyone knows who they are (i.e. President Obama). For example: A Seattle man was caught selling stolen cars at his auto shop on Tuesday when a police officer posed as a customer. Write the body of your report. This is going to consist of the facts, but more detailed and specific than in your lead. Use the information you collected and gathered at the scene and in interviews. Write your report in third person and from a neutral perspective. Make sure your story conveys information and not an opinion. Include quotes in the news report. Quotes can be included in your news report to convey information. Always introduce who you are quoting followed by the exact words that they said. Use their full name the first time you mention them then only use their last name. For example: Mary Quibble has been the director of the children's theater for six years. “I love the children and how much they care about these performances,” Quibble said. “There are 76 kids in the programs. They range in age from 7 to 16 years old.” Always include attributions. Unless the information is common knowledge, always attribute where you got it. You can get in trouble for not giving credit to someone. This is also important in case a fact is wrong, then it will be known who got the fact wrong and that it was not you. For example: The woman ran out of the house at 11 p.m. when she heard the burglar enter, police said. Write in hard news style. You don't want to use overly descriptive language when writing a news report. Just stick to the facts and keep the sentences short and concise. Use active language and strong verbs. Speak in past tense when writing a news report. Start a new paragraph whenever there is a new thought (this might mean you have paragraphs that are as short as a sentence or two) Write your news report in AP Style. | Figure out what to write about. Go to the scene. Conduct interviews. Transcribe the interviews and speeches. Do research on the subject. Write a headline. Write a byline and place line. Use a hard news lead. Write the body of your report. Include quotes in the news report. Always include attributions. Write in hard news style. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-High-Waisted-Shorts | How to Make High Waisted Shorts | To make your own pair of high-waisted shorts, put on a pair of high-waisted jeans, then use chalk to make a mark a little lower than the length you want your shorts to be. Take off the jeans and lay them on a flat surface. Using a sharp pair of scissors, make a series of slow, short cuts along the line you drew. You can then add your own touch to the shorts by distressing them, sewing a hem, or dyeing them a fun color! | Find a cute pair of high waisted jeans. If you want to make high waisted shorts, then you have to find a pair of jeans with the right waist height.This could be an old pair of jeans in the back of your closet, a pair of jeans given to you by a friend, or one that you snagged at Goodwill. It doesn't matter where the jeans came from as long as you don't mind cutting them up. Make sure you like the way the jeans fit. Don't just start cutting up your old pants -- try them on to make sure you like their high waisted look. They should feel comfortable and the waist should be the right height. If the pants are too baggy, they'll fall down below your waist and you won't be able to make high waisted shorts from them. Mark the desired length of your shorts while you're wearing the pants. You have to keep the pants on when you mark the shorts in the front so you have a more accurate sense of how long the shorts should be. You can use a black felt tip pen, tailor's chalk, or even a piece of chalkboard chalk. Simply make a mark each leg of the pants so you can use it as a guideline when you're ready to cut. If you want to hem the shorts, be sure to allow enough material for hemming; otherwise, your new shorts might be too short for your liking. Mark the shorts a bit longer than you want them to be, to leave some room for error. You should try to mark the back of the pants as you're wearing them, but you can mark the back more accurately after you take them off. You can also lay a pair of your favorite shorts on top of the slacks and mark your cutting line that way—you'll know you're getting just the length you want. Lay the marked pants on a flat surface. Fold them together and draw your cutting line mark all the way around both legs of the slacks. If you want an even cut, you can pin the two halves together so that they don't slip and slide while you are marking them. Cut the shorts with a pair of sewing scissors. Make sure the scissors are sharp, especially if you are cutting through denim. Make slow short cuts to make sure that you're cutting along the line you marked evenly. If you make a drastic cut that makes the shorts too short, you won't be able to undo the damage. Cut the pants for a distressed look. High waisted shorts look cute if they're distressed, so you can use pinking shears, a box cutter, or an Exacto knife horizontally across the place where you want the rips to be. You should try to create at least one distressed part on each pant leg, and try not to line them up too evenly. Don't worry if it doesn't look natural -- once you wash your shorts, they will naturally fray and they will look like they've been distressed for years. Hem the shorts. If you want your shorts to be hemmed instead of looking frayed or cut-off at the end, then you can hem them. This will also help them look more even if you didn't cut them perfectly. Here's how you can easily hem your shorts: Turn the shorts inside out. Fold the edges up to your desired length. Stitch the hem with a needle and thread or on a sewing machine. Dye the shorts. Buy some clothing dye and follow the directions on the package. Pick a fun and funky color like hot pink or lime green. Dyeing works best on lighter-colored shorts. | Find a cute pair of high waisted jeans. Make sure you like the way the jeans fit. Mark the desired length of your shorts while you're wearing the pants. Lay the marked pants on a flat surface. Cut the shorts with a pair of sewing scissors. Cut the pants for a distressed look. Hem the shorts. Dye the shorts. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Phone-Conversation | How to Start a Phone Conversation | The best way to start a phone conversation is to greet the other person politely and introduce yourself if you think the person doesn't know who's calling. You could say, for instance, “Good morning. This is Chad from Liberty Bank.” Break the ice with small talk, such as commenting on the weather or a recent sports game. | Know what you want out of the call. Before you even pick up the phone, it's important to identify what you want your phone call to accomplish. For example, if you're calling up someone who you're interested in romantically, the goal may be to ask them to go out on a date. During a business call, the point may be to sell your merchandise or services. Ask yourself what you hope will come out of the conversation. When possible, it's good to be as specific as possible when identifying your goal. That can help you better prepare for the conversation. In some cases, your goal for the call may be more general. For example, you might call a business to ask about the services they offer without knowing exactly what you're interested in. The information that you get may help you clarify exactly what it is that you need or want. Research who you will be speaking to. When you're calling to speak to someone specific who you don't know well, you may want to get some background info on them. That can help you get a better idea of what to expect out of the conversation. For example, if you're talking to the CEO of a business, they're probably very busy and won't have much time to talk to you. If you're calling someone who's shy, you may need to do most of the talking. If you're making a business call, visit the website of the company that the person you're calling works for. You should be able to find their title and possibly a biography that can help you get an idea for who they are. If you're making a personal call, ask a friend who knows the person you're calling what they're like before the conversation. Jot down a few talking points. Once you know what you want and who you're going to be speaking with, you may feel better if you jot down some notes for the phone call. They can be points that you want to make sure to bring up or questions that you want to ask. Having a list can keep you from forgetting something important when you actually make the call. It may help to create an outline in order of what you plan to say on the call. You'll obviously have to adapt based on your partner's responses, but that may help keep you on track if you're nervous about talking on the phone. Think about how much time you'll probably have on the call. It's best to assume that you won't have a long time, so you should focus on the most important topics that you want to discuss. Offer a greeting and introduce yourself. You should first offer a greeting to the person who answers, such as hello or hi. These days, most people have Caller ID, but you should still introduce yourself unless the person on the end of the line greets you by name. If you're calling someone who you know fairly well, your name may be enough. In other situations, though, you may need to provide more information so the person can identify you. When it comes to greetings, you can also use one that's specific to the time of day, such as "Good morning, "Good afternoon, or "Good evening." If you're making a business call, you should also offer the name of the company that you work for. For example, you might say, “Good morning, this is Jessica Bryant from Grace Advertising.” If you're calling up someone that you're romantically interested in, you might mention where you met. For example, you might say, “Hi, this is Mike Daniels. We met at the gym last week.” If you're calling someone who you share a mutual friend with, you should provide the name of your friend. For example, you might say, “Hello, this is Alice. I'm Eric's friend… I think he told you I'd be calling.” If you're calling about a job opening, you should mention where you found out about the position. For example, you might say, “Hello, my name is Noah Reynolds. I'm calling about the job you advertised in the newspaper yesterday.” If you're calling a business to ask for generic information, you don't necessarily have to offer your name. You might just say, “Hi, I'm interested in your self-storage services.” Ask if it’s a good time to talk. If you want to have a successful phone conversation, it's important to make sure that the person who you're calling is just as focused on it as you are. That's why it's a good idea to ask if they have time to talk before you try to start the conversation. If they say that they have time to speak, you can begin your chat. If they say that they're busy or about to head out, you should find another time to talk. If the person you're calling isn't ready to talk when you call, set up another time before you hang up. You might say, “Would it be alright if I called back this afternoon? At 3 maybe?” If the other person wants to call you back, offer up a day and time when you'll be available. You might say, “I'll be available tomorrow morning. Maybe around 10?” Break the ice with small talk. If you're calling to ask or sell something, you don't necessarily want to go straight to what you want. That can be off-putting to the person who you're calling. Instead, try to establish a rapport by making some brief small talk about light-hearted topics, such as the weather. Don't go on too long with small talk, though. The other person may start to get impatient. If you know the person who're calling, personalize the banter with interests that you know they have. For example, if you're calling someone who you know is a sports fan, you might say, “That was some Cardinals' game last night, wasn't it?” If you don't know the person who you're calling, keep the banter more generic. For example, you might say, “It's been really hot lately, hasn't it? I don't remember it being this bad last summer.” Get to the point of the call. Once you feel like you and the other person are feeling more comfortable and relaxed, it's time to get to the heart of the matter. Tell the person why you're calling. Be as clear and concise as possible because you'll sound more confident than if you're rambling. While you want to project confidence, make sure that you're polite if you're asking for something from the person you're calling. If you talk too long without stopping, the other person may start to tune you out. It's a good idea to stop and get feedback if you have quite a bit that you want to say. Don't eat food or chew gum while you're talking on the phone. The noises can give the impression that you're not really invested in the conversation. Find a quiet spot. When it's time to make the call, you want to be sure that it will be as successful as possible. That means you want to create an environment that's conducive to conversation, so locate a quiet spot to use the phone. You want to keep background noise to a minimum to avoid having to ask the other person to repeat themselves or shout to have them hear you. The best place to make your call is an empty room with the door closed. That way, you're guaranteed a quiet space. If you have to make your call in an office with open cubicles where you can hear your co-workers, you may want to time your call so the office isn't as full. For example, you might place your call during lunch time or at the end of the day when people are heading home. When possible, avoid making important phones calls in public places, such as a restaurant or store. They're usually full of distractions and too loud for a successful conversation. If you have to call someone when you're out, try to find a quiet spot, such as the hallway outside the bathrooms at a restaurant or an empty aisle at the store. Check for a good signal. These days, many people use cell phones as their main phone. If that's the case for you, make sure that you have a strong signal on your phone before you make your call so you know the quality will be good. Walk around until you have a signal that you're comfortable with. If you can't get one with your cell phone, you may want to use a landline. The sound quality of a call on a landline is usually going to be better than on a cell phone, so if your call is very important, you may want to use a landline if possible. That's especially true if you're calling someone who's older and whose hearing may not be as good. When you're using a cell phone, make sure to hold it so the internal microphone will pick up your voice without any trouble. It's best not to make important calls on speaker phone. Make sure you’re comfortable. Before you start dialing, you want to ensure that you're ready to concentrate fully on your conversation. For example, you should check that you don't have to go to the bathroom and that you have a beverage nearby in case you get thirsty. It's also a good idea to have tissues on hand in case you have to sneeze during the call. Decide if you'll be more comfortable sitting or standing for the call. If you're nervous, you may find that pacing slightly while you talk can help calm you down. | Know what you want out of the call. Research who you will be speaking to. Jot down a few talking points. Offer a greeting and introduce yourself. Ask if it’s a good time to talk. Break the ice with small talk. Get to the point of the call. Find a quiet spot. Check for a good signal. Make sure you’re comfortable. |
https://www.wikihow.health/Prevent-Hepatitis-C | How to Prevent Hepatitis C | To prevent Hepatitis C, avoid sharing personal hygiene items, like toothbrushes, nail clippers, or razors, with anyone who you know has the disease, since blood can be transmitted by these items. You should also always wear gloves and protective clothing if you're working in a medical field so you don't come into contact with contaminated blood or fluids. If you use elicit drugs, never share needles or snorting straws, since this may transfer the disease. In order to prevent Hepatitis from spreading, cover any cuts or blisters with bandages if you've been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Additionally, clean up any spilled blood with bleach, which will stop the disease from being transferred to others. | Avoid direct contact with blood or fluids if you work in a medical field. Always wear protective clothing, including gloves, and dispose of sharp objects or contaminated objects properly. If you work in another field using dangerous equipment, be sure to follow all safety precautions designated by your employer and OSHA. Never share illicit drug paraphernalia such as needles, snorting straws, etc. Anything that comes into contact with your body should be kept personal, especially injecting needles. Straws and other items used to take cocaine or crushed prescription medicine can also transmit HCV since snorting often causes bleeding in the nose. If you do drugs, it's best to stop immediately and get into a treatment program. If you can't stop, make your priority using only your own personal equipment as a first step in putting your health first. Don't share items used for personal hygiene. Blood can be transmitted through razors, scissors, nail clippers, and even toothbrushes (from bleeding gums). Avoid sharing any personal care items with anyone you know has HCV, and be sure to clean scissors and clippers with soap and water if used by others. Get tattoos and piercings only from licensed practitioners. Keep in mind that a reputable artist will open their instruments in front of you. The instruments should be sealed in plastic and the artist should open them in your presence to show that they are new and have not been used on someone else. Make sure they sterilize all equipment used between customers with an autoclave. Also ask if they use new needles and ink wells for each customer. There are chemicals that can be used to clean tattooing and piercing equipment, but an autoclave is the safest and best method of doing so. Practice safe sex. Although not often transmitted through sexual activity, hepatitis C may be spread this way in special cases. Risk factors include having an STD, HIV, multiple partners, or engaging in rough sex practices. Men having sex with other men should always use condoms for intercourse. Always use condoms if having sex during your or your partner's menstrual period or if one of you has an open sore on the genitals. Get tested if you have risk factors. You can carry and transmit the virus even if you have no symptoms. Get tested for Hepatitis C if any of the following apply to you: You had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. You used blood products to treat hemophilia before 1987. You have had long-term dialysis. You've had many sexual partners. You have ever used intravenous drugs or shared other drug equipment. You have evidence of liver disease, like an abnormal liver test. You were born between 1945 and 1965. Even if you have no known risk factors, baby boomers should be tested at least once. You were born to a mother with HCV. You work in the health care profession and have had contact with contaminated equipment through a needle stick. You have HIV. . See a doctor for treatment There are two types of Hepatitis C—short-term, or acute, and long-term, or chronic. For acute infections, doctors often recommend bed rest, increasing fluid intake, maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol. Chronic infections typically need antivirals and/or other medications. Chronic infections are defined as lasting 6 months or longer. About 70%-85% of people with HCV develop long-term infections that can lead to serious health problems, including death. Treatment depends on the extent of any damage caused by the virus, other health conditions, and the strain of Hepatitis C you have. Avoid letting others come into contact with your blood. Cover any cuts or blisters with bandages and dispose of them carefully. Wash your hands and any objects that come into contact with your blood with soap and water. Use bleach to clean up any spilled blood, including dried blood. Mix one part bleach with 10 parts water to make a cleaning solution. Wear gloves to prevent direct contact and absorb any liquid with paper towels. Apply bleach solution to object or area and let stand or soak for 20 minutes. Wipe with paper towels and let dry. Dispose of paper towels and anything else used to sop up contaminated materials in a sealed container. Avoid sharing personal items. Don't share hygiene equipment with family or roommates. Tell those you live with about your infection to avoid accidental contact. If you get services using this type of equipment, like manicures, pedicures, haircuts, make sure the salon or business follows appropriate sterilization techniques. Practice safe sex. If you have hepatitis C, always use a condom when engaging in intercourse. If you have HIV, the chances of getting hepatitis C are higher, so make sure you get tested and tell all partners about both infections before engaging in intercourse. Stop breastfeeding if your nipples are cracked and bleeding. You can resume breastfeeding when they have healed. A baby can contract hepatitis C from their mother. Talk to your doctor if you have hepatitis C and are pregnant. | Avoid direct contact with blood or fluids if you work in a medical field. Never share illicit drug paraphernalia such as needles, snorting straws, etc. Don't share items used for personal hygiene. Get tattoos and piercings only from licensed practitioners. Practice safe sex. Get tested if you have risk factors. . Avoid letting others come into contact with your blood. Use bleach to clean up any spilled blood, including dried blood. Avoid sharing personal items. Practice safe sex. Stop breastfeeding if your nipples are cracked and bleeding. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Brooms | How to Clean Brooms | To clean a broom, start by unscrewing the head from the stick so it's easier to work with. Then, vacuum the broom to remove debris and give it a bang against a hard surface. Once you've got rid of as much debris as possible, soak the broom in a bucket of soapy water for an hour to disinfect it. While you're waiting, wipe down the broom handle with a disinfectant cleaner. Once an hour has passed, rinse the broom head under a running faucet and leave it outside to dry. | Remove the broom head. Many broom sticks are threaded, which allows you to unscrew the broom head from the broom stick. Having the broom head separated from the stick can make it easier to clean your broom. Vacuum the broom bristles. Before you get the bristles wet, it's important to remove as much debris as possible. Use the upholstery attachment to remove any debris from your broom. If you don't have an upholstery attachment, you can just use your hands to pull debris off. Bang your broom on a hard surface. You can only get so much dirt off the bristles with your hands or vacuum. Bang the broom against the ground to loosen up and shake off any dirt that might be clinging to the bristles. Mix dish soap with warm water. Because brooms are large, you'll need to mix the soap and water in a bucket to ensure the broom head can fully soak. Fill a small bucket with warm water and add a few squirts of liquid dish soap. Mix the soap and water together until it's sudsy. Soak the broom for an hour. This gives the soap a chance to work into the broom bristles. It also allows the soap to disinfect your broom. If the broom is used somewhere where germs are more likely to accumulate, like a bathroom, add a drop of two of bleach to the bucket. Rinse the broom. Holding the broom head under a running faucet, rub the bristles between your fingers. Do this until all the detergent has run off the bristles and the water runs clear. Disinfect the broom handle. While the broom head is soaking, wipe down the broom handle. You can use any type of disinfecting cleaning wipe to wipe down the handle. You can also dip a cloth in the bucket the broom head is soaking in and use that to wipe down the handle. Hang the broom up to dry. You can also lean the broom-head up against an outdoor wall, since drying in the sunlight can help kill off any bacteria. Make sure the broom is completely dry before you use it again – you don't want to drag wet dirt across your floor. Clean your brooms every three months. If you use your broom to sweep up something particularly dirty or gross, clean it right away. Otherwise you should clean your broom heads about four times a year. Store your brooms in a well-ventilated place. This is especially important if you often use your brooms to clean up wet messes. It's okay to store your brooms in a closet, as long as it's one that's used often. Opening and closing the door will allow air in. Hang up your brooms. You should store your brooms by hanging them. Many home improvement stores carry easy-to-install broom racks that attach to walls or the inside of doors. Storing your brooms by hanging them prevents dirt or water from getting on the broom head while it's not in use. | Remove the broom head. Vacuum the broom bristles. Bang your broom on a hard surface. Mix dish soap with warm water. Soak the broom for an hour. Rinse the broom. Disinfect the broom handle. Hang the broom up to dry. Clean your brooms every three months. Store your brooms in a well-ventilated place. Hang up your brooms. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Soft-Bread | How to Make Soft Bread | To make bread that's soft and light, start by mixing your yeast mixture for 2 to 3 minutes. Then, add the other ingredients and mix until the dough forms into a puffy ball. Next, place your dough on a counter that's been lightly sprinkled with flour, and knead the dough until it has a smooth, glutinous consistency. Finally, spray the inside of a bowl with cooking spray, then cover the bowl after placing your dough inside. Let the dough rise for 35 minutes, until it's roughly doubled in size. | Warm up milk in your microwave. Pour ½ cup (118 ml) milk into a microwave safe mixing bowl. Heat it a minute at a time until it is warm to the touch. Once warmed, remove the milk from the microwave. Combine the sugar, salt, and butter with warmed milk. Mix in 3 tbsp (44.4 ml) sugar, 2 tsp (9.9 ml) salt, 3 tbsp (44.4 ml) butter. If the milk isn't warm enough to melt the butter, heat the mixture in the microwave again at minute intervals until it melts. The warm milk should absorb ingredients easily. If you notice undissolved ingredients, whisk the mixture until it is consistent throughout. You can also heat milk in a sauce pan on your stovetop. However, the milk should never be hotter than warm to the touch. Heat up 1½ cups (355 ml) of water and add it to the mixer’s bowl. Set the milk mixture off to the side to cool. Microwave the water until it is about 110 °F (43 °C). The warmed water can be poured into the bowl of your mixer. The ideal water temperature range for activating yeast is between 105 and 110 °F (41 and 43 °C). Use a thermometer to ensure your water's the right temperature. If your tap water is hot enough, feel free to use it straight from the faucet. When the water is so hot it stings, it's generally hot enough to activate yeast. Add the yeast and 1 cup (236.6 ml) of flour and mix for 2 - 3 minutes. After you add the yeast and flour, turn on your mixer. Allow the mixer to work the water, yeast, and flour for 2 or 3 minutes. Stop the mixer and add in flour and the milk mixture. When the mixer is stopped, pour in 1 cup (236.6 ml) of flour and the cooled milk mixture. Turn on your mixer for another 2 minutes, then get ready to add some more flour. The milk mixture should be cool to the touch and its ingredients should be fully dissolved before it is added to the mixing bowl. Run the mixer at intervals as you add flour 1 cup (236.6 ml) at a time. Stop the mixer after 2 minutes and pour a cup of flour into the mixing bowl. Resume mixing until the mixture is smooth, then add another cup of flour. Continue mixing in the flour until 5 cups (1.2 L) have been added. Add a little extra flour as necessary. Depending on your yeast, you may only need to add a very little bit of flour, though you may need as much as a full cup. Mix for about 6 minutes after adding the fifth cup of flour. Mix flour into the dough until it forms a puffy ball around the hook. Sprinkle your countertop or a cutting board with flour. This will prevent your dough from sticking to your counters or cutting board as you knead it. A thin dusting should be enough. If the dough begins sticking while kneading, lightly sprinkle more flour. Knead the dough. The dough ball should come off the dough hook and out of the mixing bowl easily. Roll the doughball onto the flour. To knead the dough with your clean hands: Flatten the dough by pushing into its middle with the heel of your hand. Fold the flattened dough over on itself. Gather the dough back together into a ball. Repeat this process until the dough is a smooth, glutinous consistency. Spray the mixer’s bowl and doughball with cooking spray. Hold the mixer's bowl over your sink and coat its inside completely with cooking spray. Transfer the kneaded dough into the mixing bowl, then spray the doughball until it is also coated in cooking spray. Place a dish towel over the bowl and allow it to rise for 35 minutes. Drape a clean dish towel over the mouth of the mixer's bowl to cover the dough. When the dough has roughly doubled in size, it's to be kneaded again. Dough that is warm generally rises faster than dough that is cold or cool. Slightly warmer than room temperature is ideal. Rising dough in a location that is too hot could rush the fermentation process of the yeast, negatively impacting the quality of the bread when finished. Punch down the dough. The dough should be poofy and of smooth consistency. Punch directly into the middle of the doughball from above with your fist until you reach the bottom of the mixing bowl. Working outward from the center, punch down the dough until you reach the edge of the bowl. Cut the dough ball in half and knead it again. Knead the dough in the same fashion you did earlier until it is malleable and smooth. Use a piece of wire or knife to cut the dough in half. Shape each half to roughly the size of a single loaf bread pan. A single loaf bread pan is usually 8.5 by 4.5 by 2.75 inches (21.6 by 11.4 by 7.0 cm). When the dough is ready, it should look like a miniature loaf or a doughy football. Grease your bread pans with cooking spray. Take your bread pans over to the sink and coat their insides completely in cooking spray. Make sure the insides of each pan are completely coated in a thin layer of spray. Insert each half into a greased bread pans. Insert each half of the dough into its own bread pan, then spray the dough with cooking spray. The dough will need about 55 minutes to rise again. Moisten the dough as it rises in the bread pans. If it looks dry, give it a spritz of cooking spray or a fine misting of water. Cover the dough with a towel as it rises. However, the dough will eventually expand farther than the top of the pan. When this happens, remove the towel. Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Most ovens take about 15 minutes to preheat. If your oven does not have a preheat feature, set your oven to 400 °F (204 °C) and check it with an oven thermometer. Adjust the temperature until the thermometer reads a steady 400 °F (204 °C). Insert the bread into the oven and lower the heat after 15 minutes. Allow the bread to bake for 15 minutes at 400 °F (204 °C). After that, drop the oven temperature to 350 °F (177 °C). Continue baking at 350 °F (177 °C) for about 35 minutes. Keep an eye on your bread as it bakes. Depending on your oven, your dough might bake in more or less time. After 35 minutes, or when it's golden brown, it can be removed. Remove the bread, allow it to cool, and it’s ready to eat. The bread and pans will be hot, so use an oven mitt or potholder to remove them from the oven. Tilt the bread pans on an angle to remove the baked loaves. Cut the bread into slices when cooled and enjoy. Finished. | Warm up milk in your microwave. Combine the sugar, salt, and butter with warmed milk. Heat up 1½ cups (355 ml) of water and add it to the mixer’s bowl. Add the yeast and 1 cup (236.6 ml) of flour and mix for 2 - 3 minutes. Stop the mixer and add in flour and the milk mixture. Run the mixer at intervals as you add flour 1 cup (236.6 ml) at a time. Add a little extra flour as necessary. Sprinkle your countertop or a cutting board with flour. Knead the dough. Spray the mixer’s bowl and doughball with cooking spray. Place a dish towel over the bowl and allow it to rise for 35 minutes. Punch down the dough. Cut the dough ball in half and knead it again. Grease your bread pans with cooking spray. Insert each half into a greased bread pans. Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Insert the bread into the oven and lower the heat after 15 minutes. Continue baking at 350 °F (177 °C) for about 35 minutes. Remove the bread, allow it to cool, and it’s ready to eat. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-the-Enthalpy-of-a-Chemical-Reaction | How to Calculate the Enthalpy of a Chemical Reaction | To calculate the enthalpy of a chemical reaction, start by determining what the products and reactants of the reaction are. Then, find the total mass of the reactants by adding all of their individual masses together. Next, look up the specific heat value of the product. Once you've found that, calculate the difference in temperature by subtracting the initial temperature from the final temperature after the reaction occurred. Finally, multiply the mass of the reactants by the heat value and then that number by the difference in temperature to find the enthalpy. | Determine your reaction’s products and reactants. Any chemical reaction involves two categories of chemicals — products and reactants. Products are the chemicals created by the reaction, while reactants are the chemicals that interact, combine, or break down to make the product. In other words, the reactants of a reaction are like the ingredients in a recipe, while the products are like the finished dish. To find ∆H for a reaction, first identify its products and reactants. As an example, let's say we want to find the enthalpy of reaction for the formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen: 2H 2 (Hydrogen) + O 2 (Oxygen) → 2H 2 O (Water). In this equation, H 2 and O 2 are the reactants and H 2 O is the product. Determine the total mass of the reactants. Next, find the masses of your reactants. If you don't know their masses and aren't able to weigh the reactants in a scientific balance, you can use their molar masses to find their actual masses. Molar masses are constants that can be found on standard periodic tables (for individual elements) and in other chemistry resources (for molecules and compounds). Simply multiply the molar mass of each reactant by the number of moles used to find the reactants' masses. In our water example, our reactants are hydrogen and oxygen gases, which have molar masses of 2g and 32 g, respectively. Since we used 2 moles of hydrogen (signified by the "2" coefficient in the equation next to H 2 ) and 1 mole of oxygen (signified by no coefficient next to O 2 ), we can calculate the total mass of the reactants as follows: 2 × (2g) + 1 × (32g) = 4g + 32g = 36g Find the specific heat of your product. Next, find the specific heat of the product you're analyzing. Every element or molecule has a specific heat value associated with it: these values are constants and are usually located in chemistry resources (like, for instance, in tables at the back of a chemistry textbook). There are several different ways to measure specific heat, but for our formula, we'll use value measured in the units joule/gram °C. Note that if your equation has multiple products, you'll need to perform the enthalpy calculation for the component reaction used to produce each product, then add them together to find the enthalpy for the entire reaction. In our example, the final product is water, which has a specific heat of about 4.2 joule/gram °C. Find the difference in temperature after the reaction. Next, we'll find ∆T, the change in temperature from before the reaction to after the reaction. Subtract the initial temperature (or T1) of the reaction from the final temperature (or T2) to calculate this value. As in most chemistry work, Kelvin (K) temperatures should be used here (though Celsius (C) will give the same results). For our example, let's say that our reaction was 185K at its very start but had cooled to 95K by the time it finished. In this case, ∆T would be calculated as follows: ∆T = T2 – T1 = 95K – 185K = -90K Use the formula ∆H = m x s x ∆T to solve. Once you have m, the mass of your reactants, s, the specific heat of your product, and ∆T, the temperature change from your reaction, you are prepared to find the enthalpy of reaction. Simply plug your values into the formula ∆H = m x s x ∆T and multiply to solve. Your answer will be in the unit of energy Joules (J). For our example problem, we would find the enthalpy of reaction as follows: ∆H = (36g) × (4.2 JK-1 g-1) × (-90K ) = -13,608 J Determine whether your reaction gains or loses energy. One of the most common reasons that ∆H is calculated for various reactions is to determine whether the reaction is exothermic (loses energy and gives off heat) or endothermic (gains energy and absorbs heat). If the sign of your final answer for ∆H is positive, the reaction is endothermic. On the other hand, if the sign is negative, the reaction is exothermic. The larger the number itself is, the more exo- or endo- thermic the reaction is. Beware strongly exothermic reactions — these can sometimes signify a large release of energy, which, if rapid enough, can cause an explosion. In our example, our final answer is -13608 J. Since the sign is negative, we know that our reaction is exothermic. This makes sense — H 2 and O 2 are gasses, while H 2 O, the product, is a liquid. The hot gasses (in the form of steam) have to release energy into the environment in the form of heat to cool to the point that they can form liquid water, meaning that the formation of H 2 O is exothermic. Use bond energies to estimate enthalpy. Nearly all chemical reactions involve forming or breaking bonds between atoms. Since, in a chemical reaction, energy can be neither destroyed nor created, if we know the energy required to form or break the bonds being made (or broken) in the reaction, we can estimate the enthalpy change for the entire reaction with high accuracy by adding up these bond energies. For example, let's consider the reaction H 2 + F 2 → 2HF. In this case, the energy required to break the H atoms in the H 2 molecule apart is 436 kJ/mol, while the energy required for F 2 is 158 kJ/mol. Finally, the energy needed to form HF from H and F is = -568 kJ/mol. We multiply this by 2 because the product in the equation is 2 HF, giving us 2 × -568 = -1136 kJ/mol. Adding these all up, we get: 436 + 158 + -1136 = -542 kJ/mol. Use enthalpies of formation to estimate enthalpy. Enthalpies of formation are set ∆H values that represent the enthalpy changes from reactions used to create given chemicals. If you know the enthalpies of formation required to create products and reactants in an equation, you can add them up to estimate the enthalpy much as you would with bond energies as described above. For example, let's consider the reaction C 2 H 5 OH + 3O 2 → 2CO 2 + 3H 2 O. In this case, we know the enthalpies of formation for the following reactions: C 2 H 5 OH → 2C + 3H 2 + 0.5O 2 = 228 kJ/mol 2C + 2O 2 → 2CO 2 = -394 × 2 = -788 kJ/mol 3H 2 + 1.5 O 2 → 3H 2 O = -286 × 3 = -858 kJ/mol Since we can add these equations up to get C 2 H 5 OH + 3O 2 → 2CO 2 + 3H 2 O, the reaction we're trying to find the enthalpy for, we can simply add up the enthalpies of the formation reactions above to find the enthalpy of this reaction as follows: 228 + -788 + -858 = -1418 kJ/mol. Don’t forget to switch signs when reversing equations. It's important to note that when you use enthalpies of formation to calculate the enthalpy of a reaction, you need to reverse the sign of the enthalpy of formation whenever you reverse the equation of the component reaction. In other words, if you have to turn one or more of your formation reaction equations backwards in order to get all of your products and reactants to cancel properly, reverse the sign on the enthalpies of the formation reactions you had to flip. In the example above, notice that the formation reaction we use for C 2 H 5 OH is backwards. C 2 H 5 OH → 2C + 3H 2 + 0.5O 2 shows C 2 H 5 OH breaking down, not being formed. Because we turned the equation around in order to get all of the products and reactants to cancel properly, we reversed the sign on the enthalpy of formation to give us 228 kJ/mol. In reality, the enthalpy of formation for C 2 H 5 OH is -228 kJ/mol. Grab a clean container and fill it with water. It's easy to see the principles of enthalpy in action with a simple experiment. To make sure that the reaction in your experiment will take place without any foreign contamination, clean and sterilize the container that you plan to use. Scientists use special closed containers called calorimeters to measure enthalpy, but you can achieve reasonable results with any small glass jar or flask. Regardless of the container you use, fill it with clean, room-temperature tap water. You'll also want to conduct the reaction somewhere indoors with a cool temperature. For this experiment, you'll want a fairly small container. We'll be testing the enthalpy-altering effects of Alka-Seltzer on water, so the less water used, the more obvious the temperature change will be. Insert a thermometer into the container. Grab a thermometer and set it in the container so that the temperature-reading end sits below the water level. Take a temperature reading of the water — for our purposes, the temperature of the water will represent T1, the initial temperature of the reaction. Let's say that we measure the temperature of the water and find that it's exactly 10 degrees C. In a few steps, we'll use this sample temperature reading to demonstrate the principals of enthalpy. Add one Alka-Seltzer tablet to the container. When you're ready to start the experiment, drop a single Alka-Seltzer tablet into the water. You should notice it immediately start to bubble and fizz. As the tablet dissolves in the water, it breaks down into the chemicals bicarbonate (HCO 3 ) and citric acid (which reacts in the form of hydrogen ions, H ). These chemicals react to form water and carbon dioxide gas in the reaction 3HCO 3 + 3H → 3H 2 O + 3CO 2. Measure the temperature when the reaction finishes. Monitor the reaction as it proceeds — the Alka-Seltzer tablet should gradually dissolve. As soon as the tablet finishes its reaction (or seems to have slowed to a crawl), measure the temperature again. The water should be slightly colder than before. If it's warmer, the experiment may have been affected by an outside force (like, for instance, if the room you're in is especially warm). For our example experiment, let's say that the temperature of the water is 8 degrees C after the tablet has finished fizzing. Estimate the enthalpy of the reaction. In an ideal experiment, when you add the Alka-Seltzer tablet to the water, it forms water and carbon dioxide gas (the latter of which can be observed as fizzing bubbles) and causes the temperature of the water to drop. From this information, we would expect the reaction to be endothermic — that is, one that absorbs energy from the surrounding environment. The dissolved liquid reactants need extra energy to make the jump to the gaseous product, so it takes energy in the form of heat from its surroundings (in this case, water). This makes the water's temperature fall. In our example experiment, the temperature of the water fell two degrees after adding the Alka-Seltzer. This is consistent with the sort of mildly endothermic reaction we'd expect. | Determine your reaction’s products and reactants. Determine the total mass of the reactants. Find the specific heat of your product. Find the difference in temperature after the reaction. Use the formula ∆H = m x s x ∆T to solve. Determine whether your reaction gains or loses energy. Use bond energies to estimate enthalpy. Use enthalpies of formation to estimate enthalpy. Don’t forget to switch signs when reversing equations. Grab a clean container and fill it with water. Insert a thermometer into the container. Add one Alka-Seltzer tablet to the container. Measure the temperature when the reaction finishes. Estimate the enthalpy of the reaction. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Roleplay-Online | How to Roleplay Online | Roleplaying online is a fun way to create a story with other people and use acting skills to make your characters come to life. Some popular roleplaying sites include roleplay.me and rpnation.com, but you can find even more by searching for roleplaying sites online. Once you make an account, browse through the forums to find other people you'd like to roleplay with. You can also join an existing roleplay session if you don't want to start your own. Make sure to read over the forum so you know its roleplaying etiquette. For instance, most forums request that you only talk in 3rd person. Once you get going, take turns typing out an action and try to play off of each other, which makes roleplaying more fun. | Search online to find a roleplaying game in your preferred genre. Search for something like “Harry Potter roleplaying sites” or "adventure roleplaying sites" to get started. Make your selection based on personal preference of the website and discussion format. Search for genres such as action, mystery, crime, drama, and romance. Popular roleplaying sites include https://www.roleplay.me , https://www.rpnation.com , and https://www.role-player.net. There are many roleplaying sites catered to specific interests, such as Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, and other movies, video games, TV shows, and animes. Pick a topic you genuinely love so you can easily get into character. If you aren't very passionate about the topic, it will show in your dialogue. Decide on your preferred roleplaying medium. Most roleplaying sites offer either instant messenger, chat room, or forum threads to communicate with. As you browse roleplaying websites, make your decision based on what kind of formatting you like best. For example, you can use a forum set up on www.roleplay.me to act out Harry Potter characters. Instant messaging roleplay sessions are more private than public forum sites. Make an account for the platform you want to roleplay with. When you make your decision, look for a “sign up” link on the website you choose. Type in your name, username, email, password, gender, birthday, state, and country. Then, click on “sign up” when you complete all required fields. In most cases, it is free to sign up for a roleplaying site. Find a partner through the roleplaying platform. After you've created an account, browse through the people, forums, and blogs to find a partner looking to roleplay. Read over other users' accounts to get a sense of what they like to roleplay, and make your decision based on personal preference and experience level. Then, message the user or reply with a comment to see if they want to roleplay with you! If you are just starting out, it is helpful to pick an experienced and patient partner. You can play with 1 or more partners, and you can join an existing roleplay session if you'd like. Simply message the users to see if you can join! Create your own character if you are able to. This will depend on the particular roleplay session you want to start. You can come up with your own persona based on your selected universe. Come up with a name, age and gender, backstory, physical attributes, and personality traits, and skills and weaknesses to bring your player to life. Keep in mind that you want your character to be original, detailed, and realistic. Many sites offer a template to help you get started. For example, if you selected an action roleplaying genre, you can create a wizard character name Robbin who is great at getting the hero out of tricky situations with his magic. Choose your favorite character if roleplaying from a certain topic. If you want to roleplay as a character from a book, movie, TV show, or video game, select one that is already established. For example, choose Luke if you are roleplaying in the Star Wars universe. You can pick your favorite character or an unassuming character that doesn't get much attention. As you discuss roleplaying options with your partner, mention the character you select so you can effectively roleplay together. If you are a beginner, this can be easier than creating a new character since there is already source material to go off of. You can choose to be Frodo if you want to do a Lord of the Rings roleplay. Research the character in advance to get to know your persona. To roleplay successfully, you want to embody your character as much as possible, and researching prior to the session can help you get more confident. You can read a book based off the character or watch an episode of an anime for other ideas. For instance, if you want to roleplay as Harley-Quinn from DC Comics, learn that her real name is Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, and she was a psychiatrist at Gotham City's Arkham Asylum. Joker was a patient there before they fell in love. She often teams up with Catwoman and Poison Ivy. These details can be useful when roleplaying with a partner. Write a backstory to help you identify with your character. While this isn't required, drafting a description of your character on paper is very helpful when getting a sense of who they are. You can do this for an original character or an existing character you want to embody. Write a few paragraphs or pages describing your character in rich detail. For example, if you created Robbin the wizard, mention where he is from, how he got his magic powers, and if he comes from a family of magic. Include any family members or magic pets. Does Robbin have any mortal enemies or lovers? Provide as much information as you can to bring your character to life. Read over the forums to learn relevant terminology and etiquette. To get an idea of how people talk during the roleplaying session, read some other roleplays on the forums or discussion boards. Here you'll find any particular lingo or shortcuts used for the particular platform you are using. Some forums prefer you talk in the third person, for instance. This way, you'll be prepared to deliver a great roleplaying performance. For instance, RP is usually short for “roleplaying,” and “OC” often refers to an original character. Type back and forth with 1 or more people to roleplay. 1 user starts off the chat with a single action, and the other users often respond with another single action. Since there is no script to follow, you should come up with the story from your own imagination. Use your partner's responses for inspiration, and see what you can come up with. The dialogue creates the story as the session continues. The exact format and dialogue depend on your particular roleplaying medium, partner, and universe. For example, you can find 1 character to be Princess Leia and 1 character to be Yoda if you are roleplaying as Luke from Star Wars. Then, discuss how to utilize the Force to save the universe. Familiarizing with your character in advance is helpful when creating authentic, creative actions for your roleplay. Embody your character in your writing as best as you can. To deliver creative, awesome replies, disregard what you would usually say in the circumstances, and write from the perspective of your character. Think about how they may feel or what is happening behind-the-scenes that contributes to the situation. Use some creativity to craft awesome, detailed responses. For example, if you are roleplaying as Harley-Quinn, her background in mental health may come into play when bringing her character to life. She often acts bold, wild, and frantic. Continue the roleplay as long as you’d like. The roleplay can continue for hours, weeks, months, or even years in some cases. Continue responding to the other player(s) to write your personalized roleplaying account about whatever you'd like. The story does not have to reflect the actual plot if basing off of real characters. Steer the story to a stopping point when you want to end the session. Or, message the player separately to say when you have to leave for the time being. Some users complete the roleplay in 1 single session, while others continue the story over time for several weeks. This is based on personal preference and your particular story. For example, maybe Robbin the wizard helps Tina the dragon escape from robbers, and then they go on a mystical quest to save Tina's daughter from marrying the wrong prince. The possibilities are endless! | Search online to find a roleplaying game in your preferred genre. Decide on your preferred roleplaying medium. Make an account for the platform you want to roleplay with. Find a partner through the roleplaying platform. Create your own character if you are able to. Choose your favorite character if roleplaying from a certain topic. Research the character in advance to get to know your persona. Write a backstory to help you identify with your character. Read over the forums to learn relevant terminology and etiquette. Type back and forth with 1 or more people to roleplay. Embody your character in your writing as best as you can. Continue the roleplay as long as you’d like. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Sandals-Comfortable | How to Make Sandals Comfortable | To make your sandals more comfortable, try rubbing some soap on them if they're leather to help slightly stretch the material. This will also soften the friction between your feet and the shoes. Another way to make your sandals more comfortable is to wear band-aids or moleskins in places that you think will rub. If the discomfort is due to a lack of cushioning or support, add an arch insert to your sandals. If your sandals are new, make sure to break them in by wearing them for short spans of time at first to avoid getting blisters or cuts. | Avoid wearing a brand new pair of sandals for a long walk. Wear your sandals for short intervals of time at first until they're broken in. Otherwise, you risk blisters , cuts, and feeling uncomfortable. You may also experience leg and foot muscle pain if you're not used to the sandals yet. Try to take it easy for the first few wears. The lack of arch support and often the lack of cushioned support in sandals means that sandals are unsuitable to wear for long periods of time. The only exceptions are those built for hiking, but they are made for walking first. Take short walks in the sandals. Walk around your house and garden to help break them in. Visit the beach and walk on the sand. Then, remove them and go barefoot to give your feet a break. Don't wear the sandals longer than is comfortable for you. Wear thick socks with your sandals. If your sandals are a bit tight, wear thick socks with them to stretch them out. The look may not be ideal, so you can choose to only wear the sandals with socks around your house. To speed up the process, you can take a blow dryer to the sandals while you are wearing them with thick socks. Wool socks are ideal to wear. Step into a bucket of water. This method only works for leather sandals, but do not do this if your sandals have a cork sole such as Birkenstocks. Step into a bucket of water for a for a few seconds while wearing they sandals until they are wet. Once they are wet, pat the excess water off with a towel to avoid discoloration. Then, wear them while they are still damp. The dampness will allow the shoes to soften and conform to your feet as you wear them. If you don't want to step into a bucket of water, you can use a spray bottle to spritz water onto them. Try out exercises to prevent foot pain. Sandals that lack support can damage your feet over time. They don't connect to your foot properly, which causes tension and pressure on your feet and legs. You can prevent this by exercising and strengthening your arch and toes. To strengthen your arch, put your foot flat on the floor. Place a penny under the ball of your foot and a pen under your arch. Flex your arch muscle. You should be pushing down on the penny, but not the pen. Keep your toes relaxed. Repeat five times. Limber up and strengthen your feet with toe curls. Stand on a towel. Lift your toes and flex your foot. Then, put your foot back on the towel. Curl your toes inwards and try to create space under your arch. Repeat five times on each foot. Use soap on your sandals. This method will only work for leather sandals. Rub soap around the areas the sandals are likely to rub against your toes, feet, ankles, and heels. This will help to slightly stretch the leather. The soap will also soften the friction between it and your sandals. The best type of soap to use is saddle soap. Apply it with a damp cloth and wipe it off until the shoe is dry. Wear Band-Aids or moleskins. Put a Band-Aid inside of the sandal in places you think it might rub. Use thick Band-Aids or moleskins. Flimsy Band-Aids will probably peel off throughout the course of the day. Moleskins are usually pretty thick, but be sure to purchase a moleskin with an adhesive. You can buy the Band-Aid Friction Block Stick. It is $8 and looks similar to a small stick of deodorant. Buy arch support. If you feel the lack of arch support, or lack of cushioning is spoiling your experience of walking, add an inner step to the sandal to provide cushioning and support. Special insoles can be purchased that add softness to the insole zone of a sandal. Look for insoles that are cushioned for hard, flat sandals, and shoes. It's ideal if they absorb moisture as well. Dr.Scholl's has a variety of arch supports. Use heel grips. If your find that your sandals are slightly too big, you can insert a heel grip into the back. The heel grip will prevent slipping and make up for the extra space. Heel grips come in several different materials, including sponge, suede, and rubber. Pedag and Dr.Scholl's make heel grips. Waterproof your sandals. You should only waterproof your sandals if they are made of fabric. Waterproofing your shoes can prevent water from seeping inside of them, which can cause rubbing and blistering. To waterproof your shoes, buy some bees wax and rub them on the entire outside fabric portion of your sandals. Depending on the type of sandal, it may already be made of a waterproof material. Choose a type of sandal. Think about what activity you need the sandals for. The activity you need the sandals for determines what type of sandals you need to buy. Choosing the wrong sandal for your activity can make the wearing experience very uncomfortable, even if it is typically a comfortable sandal. Along with type of sandal, you should consider if you would like an open or closed toe design. Some types of sandals are: A hiking sandal is meant to have rugged outsoles, stiff midsoles, and tough toe boxes. The straps of a hiking sandal should tightly cover the foot. A water sandal should be lighter than a hiking sandal. It should also be water resistant. This type of sandal would come in handy for walking on the beach, rafting, and walking around the pool. A fashion sandal is meant to be worn mostly for looks. You should not use this type of sandal to take part in physical activity. It is meant to be worn to occasions, such as weddings and parties. Huaraches are ideal for walking. They are more lightweight than a hiking sandal. Huaraches usually have a rubber sole and webbing splits around the big toe. Pick a sturdy material. It is better to invest in a higher quality material that will support your feet better and last longer. The type of material you choose depends on the type of sandal you need. Some high quality materials are leather, suede, and fabric straps. These kinds of materials prevent blisters and allow your feet to breathe. Nylon webbing and polyurethane are ideal materials for water activities. For the soles, look for memory foam, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and durable rubbers that will last long and provide support. Choose a good brand. Look for brands that are well-made, quality, and specialize in sandals regularly. Some sandals are built better than others and will feel more comfortable than lower quality brands. For example, Birkenstocks and Tevas are known for their support and comfort (but not necessarily their fashionista mark of approval). Havaianas flip-flops are comfortable and stylish. Ask for the advice of the salesperson when shopping, or look online for recommendations. Try shoes on towards the end of the day. Your feet are the smallest when you wake up in the morning. As the days goes on, your feet swell. It is best to try on sandals during the late afternoon or evening to avoid buying sandals that will be too small. Consider how much your feet will swell after physical activities like hiking. Make sure they fit correctly. Even if you have the best quality sandal made for the activity you need it for, it will not be comfortable if it doesn't fit correctly. No part of your foot should hang over the sandal—neither your toes nor heels. Your foot shouldn't be the exact size of the sole. The sandals shouldn't be too large, or sliding and rubbing will occur, which causes blisters. Make sure the toe box is wide enough to accommodate the widest part of your foot. Check the straps to make sure that they fits tightly, but do not suffocate your feet. | Avoid wearing a brand new pair of sandals for a long walk. Take short walks in the sandals. Wear thick socks with your sandals. Step into a bucket of water. Try out exercises to prevent foot pain. Use soap on your sandals. Wear Band-Aids or moleskins. Buy arch support. Use heel grips. Waterproof your sandals. Choose a type of sandal. Pick a sturdy material. Choose a good brand. Try shoes on towards the end of the day. Make sure they fit correctly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Comic-Character | How to Create a Comic Character | Before you start writing fun adventures, you'll need to create your own comic character to star in them. Think about what kind of personality traits you want your character to have so you can build them into their design. For example, you might want your character to be strong and brave or you might want a lazy, funny character. If you're unsure what kind of character you want, look at your favorite comics for inspiration. Start by lightly sketching your character and trying out different versions until you find one you're happy with. Try to keep the design relatively simple, since you'll have to be drawing it again and again in your comic. Draw a rough outline first, then fill it in with details like scars and muscles. Don't worry if your character isn't perfect on your first attempt, since you'll improve the design as you draw them in comics. | Get some inspiration from your favorite comics. Don't just limit yourself to superhero comic books. Look at newspaper comics, web comics, or even manga. Pay attention to the characters and how they're developed. Ask yourself what makes the characters compelling and interesting. Ask yourself: How does the writer create a unique personality and voice for each character? Why are they interesting? How is their storyline developed over the course of the comic? Pay attention to the art style. In serious comics, the art may be detailed and realistic, but in lighthearted comics, it may be cartoonish and unrealistic. Consider the type of comic you're creating. Comics are a diverse field. There are some gag-a-day comics, such as comics published in local newspapers, but there are also comics that tend to be more serious. Many web comics have complicated and long running story lines with somewhat more complex characters. If you're looking for a simple format, consider the talking animal route and emulate comics like Garfield. Usually, these comics only have a few panels and end with a joke. If you want to do something more serious, a web comic, like Questionable Content, may better serve you inspiration-wise. Consider looking graphic novels. While different than comics, there is some overlap. Do some light sketches of what your character may resemble. Once you have a general idea of the type of comic you want to create, do some light sketching. Don't worry about creating the perfect design yet; you're just in the preliminary planning stages. Just grab a pencil and paper and begin drawing a few versions of the character. Light sketching can help you figure out your drawing style and get a sense of how your character may appear. Make the main character visually interesting and appealing, but keep in mind that you'll be drawing them a lot. If you are new to drawing, choose a design that's simple. Strive to Drawing can help you get a sense of a character's personality as well. What kind clothes your character wears, for example, can reflect personality. Jot down a list of loose personality traits. From here, start brainstorming about your character's personality. Who is this character? What is he or she like? Spend some time brainstorming before you move on to drawing a more final version of your character. Think about your genre. If you're doing a gag-a-day comic, your character can be simple, like Garfield. He's lazy and sarcastic and does not have too many traits beyond this. If you're working with a more complex genre, you'll need a deeper character. Consider their positive and negative traits, as well as their hopes and dreams. If you're writing a genre-based comic, like fantasy, consider archetypes, which are stock characters that tend appear repeatedly in fiction. For example, an archetypal mentor would be wise, patient, and calm. Decide on the tools you'll be using to draw. Every artist uses different tools. Before you begin to draw your comic, make sure you know how you'll be drawing it. You should pick tools you can work with efficiently. Tools that are unfamiliar to you may be tedious, making it harder for you to commit to your character. If you're tech-savvy, consider using electronic tools. Tools like adobe photoshop, for example, can really help streamline the process if you're comfortable drawing on a screen. If you'd prefer to do it the old fashion way, think about the type of paper you'll use, as well as the type of pen and pencil. Draw a basic body and face. Once you've discovered your tools, start with the basics. Draw a basic outline of your character's body. You want to get a sense of his or her basic proportions before fleshing out the character. You should also draw a somewhat closer up picture of just your character's face. As the face is where your character will portray emotion, you want to make sure you've got the character's facial structure locked down. Start out with some basic shapes, then fill it in with muscle and details, like scars. Don't worry too much about shading just yet. Focus on the character's face. Is it heart-shaped, oval-shaped, rounder? Does it have any distinguishing physical characteristics, like big eyes or a cleft chin? Play around with physical traits as you do several drawings. Redraw the character's face and body again and again. Most cartoonists draw many, many versions of their character before settling on a final design. Reshape and redesign the character several times until you get a version you like. Use your eraser here. If you dislike how the character's legs look, erase and redraw them. You can add or subtract elements of your character as well. For example, you may have originally intended your character to be bald, but that doesn't feel right. Try adding some hair. Draw as many versions as you need until you find something you like. This can take awhile, so have patience. Don't settle on a design that you dislike. Keep ease of drawing in mind as you go. Even if you really like a particular element of your character, don't keep anything that would be difficult to draw repeatedly. Practice drawing your character with several expressions. Your character will have to make a lot of expressions throughout your comic. You should practice drawing just your character's face expressing a wide variety of emotions. Figure out how many expressions you want to create. A simple comic may only need basic expressions, like happy, sad, and mad. A more complex comic should have more complicated expressions, like irritated, hollow, and confused. Draw your character expressing each of your chosen emotions. Adjust each drawing as you go. Settle on a final design. After a lot of experimentation, try to draw one solid design of your character. You can use this design later on when you begin actually writing your comic. Mixing and matching all the elements you liked from the preliminary drawing phases, draw a final version of your character. Draw slowly here and provide slightly more detail than you did in earlier steps. You want this drawing to be something you come back to as you draw your comic. Remember to keep ease of drawing in mind. If you find some element of your character is difficult to draw, you may want to cut this element out in your final draft. Have a friend look at the final drawing and give you honest feedback. If they give any constructive feedback, you can retool your character accordingly. Name your character. To start, you want to give your character a name. This should be something that appeals to readers. You may also want to consider a name that speaks to your character's personality. Names are easier for animal characters because you can use a silly pet name. For a serious comic with realistic characters, however, you'll need to choose more carefully. Keep the implication of names in mind. For example, the name "Christian" carries religious context, so avoid using it unless you want that in your comic. There are no hard or fast rules for names, but it can help to know the time period your comic takes place in. For example, if your comic takes place in the 1800's, modern names like Harper and Jayden may seem out of place. Make a list of your character's most notable qualities. Write down basic personality traits, focusing on the most notable ones first. From there, get more specific. How do they react to others? Are they kind and generous, or do they withhold their emotions. How do they respond to conflict? For a simpler comic, your character may not need a complex personality. They could just have a few quirks and traits. For a more complicated comic, however, you'll have to get more in-depth. For example, they may react differently to different types of people. Decide on your character's past. Your character should have a backstory, especially if you're doing a more complex comic. Spend some time fleshing out where your character was before the events of the story began. A character in a complex story does not need to have a complex backstory. You can simply lay out the basics, like their birthplace, childhood, and major events. Focus on how the character's past affects his current personality and choices. As you write backstory, try to consider how your character's unique experiences will affect his life. Think about your character's wants and needs. Interesting characters have a set of wants and needs that drive most of their actions. Spend some time consider what your character wants. In a simple comic, your character may want simple things. Garfield, for example, wants to sleep and eat. In a more complex comic, your character may want to find a sense of purpose. Focus on needs as well. There are many universal needs, like food, shelter, love, and compassion. Your character may have unique needs as well, A character that was abandoned in childhood may have a heightened need for security as an adult. | Get some inspiration from your favorite comics. Consider the type of comic you're creating. Do some light sketches of what your character may resemble. Jot down a list of loose personality traits. Decide on the tools you'll be using to draw. Draw a basic body and face. Play around with physical traits as you do several drawings. Practice drawing your character with several expressions. Settle on a final design. Name your character. Make a list of your character's most notable qualities. Decide on your character's past. Think about your character's wants and needs. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Couch-Cushions | How to Clean Couch Cushions | The best way to clean your couch cushions will depend on what they're made out of. Check the label to see what cleaners you can use on them and if they can go in the washing machine. Generally, you'll want to use a commercial leather cleaner for leather, a suede rubbing cloth or nap brush for suede, and a damp rag for vinyl. If your cushion covers can be removed and are washing machine-friendly, like many fabric cushions, just machine wash them. If in doubt, wash your cushions with warm soapy water and a sponge or rag. | Identify your cushion fabric. Different fabrics and materials require different cleaning agents. Additionally, some fabrics should be handled or cleaned in a particular way for best results, and some might even need to be dried a particular way. Some common fabrics used in couches include: Cotton blend Leather Linen Vinyl Check all tags for cleaning instructions. The tags on your couch or couch cushions will usually provide you with advice as to what kind of fabric you are dealing with and how that fabric can be best cleaned. Some common abbreviations you might see on your tags include: W: Use water-based detergent. S: Clean with water-free products, for example, dry cleaning solvent. WS: Either water-based cleaner or water-free cleaner is OK. X: Professional cleaning only, though vacuuming is acceptable. Pre-clean your cushions with a vacuum cleaner. You'll want to remove all loose dust, hair, and any other crud that may have accumulated in the nooks and crannies of your couch cushions before using any kind of liquid cleaner. For most fabric types, a vacuum cleaner can be used to remove dirt and hair. Most vacuum cleaners have one or more upholstery attachments with a soft brush attachment. Make use of these for best results. If you lack a vacuum cleaner, unzip the cushion cover, take it outside, and shake it thoroughly. Make sure to vacuum under and around the cushions, as well. Keeping your entire couch clean and free of crumbs and dust will help protect your cushions. Test your cleaner before applying it. Whenever you use a new cleaner or even a cleaning agent you are familiar with on a new piece of furniture, you should test it first. Choose a small spot that is out of sight and use a small amount of cleaner to see if it will damage the fabric. Pre-treat heavily stained or soiled areas. In most home supply or cleaning sections of stores you can find pre-wash cleaning sprays for furniture. Use these on your cushion and allow the spray to sit for as long as the label directs, or gently dab the stain with a damp sponge and mild detergent, allowing the solution to set for several minutes before moving on to the next phase in your cleaning efforts. Check the cushions for color fastness. You can apply a wet paste of water and detergent to the inside of the cushion and allow it to stand for a few minutes before you rinse it off. If there is discoloration after rinsing, do not hand or machine wash the cushion. Take the cover to the dry cleaner instead. Use professional services for leather. The best and safest way to clean leather cushion covers is to make use of a professional service, like a dry cleaner. Remove the cushion cover from the cushion and take it to a cleaner of your preference. For general cleaning , you can use a commercial leather cleaner in water or equal parts white vinegar and water. Dampen a soft cloth in your solution and wipe the cushions clean. Avoid using any harsh cleaners, including bleach and ammonia-based cleaners. These can easily damage your cushion beyond repair. Sustain your leather with a linseed solution. You should mix 1 part vinegar per 2 parts linseed oil and put this solution in a bottle. Shake it well, then rub it into your leather with a dry cloth. After 10 minutes, take a dry cloth and buff out any residual solution. Vacuum your suede cushion covers. Suede is a material that requires attention and care to maintain. Remove your cushions from the couch to a clean area of the floor, and in a criss-cross pattern, vacuum all dust, dirt, and hair from the fabric, preferably with the upholstery attachment of your vacuum. Give your suede a rub-down. There are suede rubbing cloths and suede nap brushes that you can use to polish and restore the luster of your cushion. Thoroughly and completely rub down your cushion on all sides to remove debris with your brush or cloth. Treat suede stains with a water and alcohol solution. Create a solution with equal parts warm water and rubbing alcohol in a bottle to treat your stain. Shake the bottle vigorously to mix the solution well, and then moisten a terry cloth rag with your solution. Taking care not to apply too much solution to the fabric, lightly dab the cushion cover. Rub the stain gently in an X-shaped pattern for best results. In addition to warm water and rubbing alcohol, you can use a suede eraser or a regular pencil eraser to help rub out stains. Always rub the area down with a suede brush after using an eraser or a stain cleaning solution. Clean vinyl covers while they’re still on your cushion. Vinyl cushion covers usually don't have to be removed. You can wet a cleaning rag with warm water and add a cap of dish detergent to it, then wipe your cushion clean. Rinse the soap from the rag thoroughly, wring out the rag until it is only damp, and then you should wipe any remaining detergent residue from the cushion. Allow the cushion to air dry, or wipe it down with a clean towel. Use a washing machine when applicable. Some fabric cushion covers are machine wash friendly, though to be certain you should check cushion tags for cleaning instructions. Turn the cover inside out before placing it in the washing machine. To protect colors and the fabric, you should wash your covers on a gentle cycle in cool water unless otherwise directed by the tag or manufacturer's instructions. Allow the cushions to air dry. Using forced hot air to dry your cushion in a dryer may cause the cover to shrink, rendering it useless. Drape your cover somewhere warm and dry and wait until it is dry to the touch. Check the tags and owner's guides. Tags are a great place to find direction for how to clean and maintain your furniture, but if these don't provide you with what you're looking for, your owner's guide might have the information you seek. Take note of solutions you can use and recommended cleaning techniques. Some common abbreviations for upholstery are: W: Use water-based detergent. S: Clean with water-free products, for example, dry cleaning solvent. WS: Either water-based cleaner or water-free cleaner is OK. X: Professional cleaning only, though vacuuming is acceptable. Get the right equipment for steam cleaning. A steam upholstery cleaner is specifically intended to deep-clean the fabric of your furniture and is available to rent at most local hardware stores. If you use a steam cleaner, allow your furniture extra time to dry, as the cushions take on a considerable amount of moisture through this process. Always vacuum your couch to remove loose dirt and debris before using a steam cleaner. Vacuum the couch again after the cushions and upholstery have completely dried. Try the old-fashioned approach with a carpet beater. Using your carpet beater, firmly whack all your cushions on both the front and back. If you lack this tool, you can also use a clean broom, but you'll first need to take your couch cushions outside and place them on a clean surface. To prevent stains from grass or outside dirt, you may want to lay down a towel or drop cloth before setting your cushions outside. This process can sometimes kick up considerable dust, so you may want to consider wearing a dust mask while doing this. Check your cushions for color fastness. Apply a wet paste of water and detergent to the cushion and allow it to stand for a few minutes and then rinse it clean. If you notice discoloration after rinsing, you should not hand or machine wash. Take the cover to the dry cleaner instead. Create a dish detergent solution for cloth covers. Add equal parts mild dish detergent to cool water and agitate the solution until the soap and water mix completely to a whipped consistency. Now you can dip your sponge into the solution, wring out the excess moisture, and begin sponge-cleaning the cushion. Use proper sponging technique. For most fabrics, long strokes will serve you best. Sponge the cushion from one end to the other, working against the nap to bring up stains and remove any deeply buried dirt. After your first round of sponging, you should repeat the process, only this time applying your sponge with the nap. Cleanse the cushion of all remaining cleaner. Clean your sponge of any detergent it may have and moisten it with clean water. Repeat the sponging process, cleaning once with and once against the nap to remove all detergent and optimally clean the fabric of your cushion. Speed the drying process with a fan. Though shock-heating treatment can cause your fabric to shrink, using a normal fan to blow dry air over your cushion will help speed the drying process. Sponge cleaning can leave your fabric considerably wet; you should allow the cushion plenty of time to dry all the way through. You can also speed up the drying process by blotting the cushions with a dry towel after you remove any remaining detergent. Purchase your dry cleaning solvent. This can be a little confusing, as "dry" cleaning solvent is generally sold in liquid state. The reason these solutions are so called is because these solvents are made without water. You can find these products in the home supply or cleaning section of most stores. If you cannot find something suitable in your area, an online retailer might be the way to go. Open windows and doors. Dry cleaning solutions can have a very strong odor and can be harmful to your health if breathed in for extended periods. A ceiling or box fan blowing fumes out an open window can help dissipate this smell. Prepare your cleaning rag. Putting your cleaner directly onto your cushion cover can do damage to the fabric, as these solutions are typically highly concentrated. To prevent this from happening, apply a small amount of cleaner to a clean rag, and follow any other instructions as directed. Spot-test to prevent unsightly damage. With your cleaner already applied to your rag, rub the rag on a part of the couch that is out of sight. Allow the spot to dry for about 10 minutes. After that, take a clean piece of paper towel and press it into the fabric where you applied the cleaning solution. If the paper towel picks up dye or the fabric becomes discolored, the solution you bought may be too strong. Press clean your cushion. Rubbing your rag with the solution on it against the fabric of your cushion can be too abrasive in combination with a harsh cleaning agent. Although this may take a considerable amount of time, you should press the rag and solution into the dirty/stained portions of your cushion to clean it. Do not apply too much solution to your fabric or you may cause discoloration or harm. Taking frequent breaks and allowing the cushion time to dry between applications can help prevent over-saturation. Remove the residual dry cleaner solution. Even trace amounts of dry cleaner solutions can have a negative effect if allowed to remain in the fabric of your cushions. After you have finished applying the solvent and allowed the cleaner to set for the amount of time indicated in the instructions, moisten a clean cloth and blot the areas you have cleaned. Be sure the cloth you use for blotting is only lightly damp, and rinse and wring it out regularly. | Identify your cushion fabric. Check all tags for cleaning instructions. Pre-clean your cushions with a vacuum cleaner. Test your cleaner before applying it. Pre-treat heavily stained or soiled areas. Check the cushions for color fastness. Use professional services for leather. Sustain your leather with a linseed solution. Vacuum your suede cushion covers. Give your suede a rub-down. Treat suede stains with a water and alcohol solution. Clean vinyl covers while they’re still on your cushion. Use a washing machine when applicable. Allow the cushions to air dry. Check the tags and owner's guides. Get the right equipment for steam cleaning. Try the old-fashioned approach with a carpet beater. Check your cushions for color fastness. Create a dish detergent solution for cloth covers. Use proper sponging technique. Cleanse the cushion of all remaining cleaner. Speed the drying process with a fan. Purchase your dry cleaning solvent. Open windows and doors. Prepare your cleaning rag. Spot-test to prevent unsightly damage. Press clean your cushion. Remove the residual dry cleaner solution. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Origami-Dog | How to Make an Origami Dog | To make an origami dog, fold a square piece of paper in half twice, from corner to corner each time. Unfold the paper and turn it so it's in a diamond shape, then bring the bottom point and the 2 side points into the middle. Flip the paper over and fold the sides of the shape inwards, then flip the shape again and make creases in each of the small triangles on the top, before repeating on the opposite side. Open up the largest diamond and make creases in those triangles as well, then repeat on the opposite side. Fold the top triangle up and fold the wings in to create a rectangle to finish the base of the dog's body. | Use origami paper or make a square. Origami paper already comes in the shape of a square, but you can make your own square with regular paper. To create a square, take a piece of paper and fold the top corner over to the opposite side of the paper, until the top edge of the paper is in line with the side of the paper. This will create a triangle. Then, cut around the triangle shape and open it up. You should have a square. make a square from normal letter-sized paper It's easiest if you start by taking the shortest side of the paper, then fold it down so it lines up along the longest edge. Then, cut off the excess paper to make a perfect square. You can use any color for this project—choose a color that you want for your dog. Fold your paper to create a triangle. If your paper doesn't already have a crease down the diagonal, you'll need to create one. Take the top, left corner and meet it with the bottom, right corner, lining up both sides of the triangle. Then, create a crease along the diagonal of the triangle. Unfold your paper back into the square and repeat on the opposite side. Once you unfold your paper back into the square you should have 2 diagonals across your square, intersecting in the middle. To get nice, sharp creases, run the back of a kitchen spoon across each fold as you make it. Fold the bottom point to the middle crease. Flip your square around until it is in a diamond shape, with a top and bottom point and 2 side points. Then, fold the bottom point upwards, until it reaches the middle crease in your diamond. Turn your diamond and repeat on 2 points. After you have created the first fold, turn your diamond to the left, so that you have another bottom point, and fold that point into the middle crease. Then, turn it to the left again and fold that point inwards. Once you get to the last point, don't fold it. Flip your shape over. Fold the sides of your shape inwards. Once you have flipped your shape over, position it so that the square of the shape is on the left and the triangle with the highest point is pointing towards the right. Then, fold the bottom half of your square over until it reaches the middle crease in your shape. Repeat on the other side, making sure you don't fold the flaps that pop up. Basically, once you are done folding, your shape should be very long horizontally, and you should have a diamond shape at the left side of your shape, with a much smaller diamond shape at the right side. If you folded your flaps on this fold, your diamond shape would not be complete. As you fold the sides of your square over, they should each have a triangle attached to them (on the top fold the triangle points upwards and on the bottom fold the triangle points downwards). Allow these triangles to flap up with the fold. Don't crease them into the fold. Flip your shape and make creases in the little triangles. Turn your shape to the left, so that the largest diamond is on top and the smallest diamond is pointing towards you. Now, above your largest diamond, you should see 2 little triangles, 1 on the right and 1 on the left. These triangles are right triangles, with their 90° angle as the top corners of the shape. Open up the top right triangle until its top left point meets the edge of your shape. Fold along the crease once you have opened up your triangle. Essentially, as you fold your triangle over to create a new shape, the top side of your triangle that was in line with the top edge of your bigger shape, will line up with the left and right side of your shape. Once it has lined up, you can create a crease. Remember to press your creases down well. A clean, sharp crease will give your folds more strength. Repeat on the opposite side. Take your top left triangle and open it up. Move the top right point of the triangle towards the edge of your shape and fold along the crease. The top right side of your triangle should line up with the left side of your shape. Create the crease in your folds once everything is lined up. When you look at your shape once you have made your folds, you should see a straight top edge, with 2 small points sticking out of the sides. Then, underneath those 2 points you should see your larger diamond with 2 larger points sticking out to the sides. Then, underneath that you should see 2 triangles, with their bases along the sides of your shape. Finally, underneath those you should see a smaller diamond. If you don't have this shape quite right, you might consider going back a few steps and redoing your folds. Open up your largest diamond and create folds. Take the right side of your large diamond and begin to pull it upwards by the outer point. The diamond creates a triangle, and on that triangle you should see 1 crease down the middle and 1 on the left side. Pull your triangle up so that the crease on the left side folds on top of your diamond instead of underneath it. Line up that crease exactly where it was before, except now it will be on top of your shape instead of underneath the fold. Repeat on the opposite side. Take the left side of your diamond and pull it upwards. You should see the same creases, 1 down the middle of the triangle and 1 on the right side. Fold your triangle in the same way, so that the crease on the right side is now on top of your diamond instead of underneath it. Once you have done this step, you'll still have somewhat of a large diamond shape, but the top point is inverted into a V instead of a point. Then, above the diamond shape, you should see 2 small squares, 1 on the right and 1 on the left. Fold the top side of your shape over. The 2 squares that were mentioned in the previous step will now be folded over into triangles, or a long trapezoid. Take the top edge of your shape and fold it over until the outer sides of the squares meet to create 1 long, upside-down trapezoid. Flip over your shape and flip the top flap up. Turn your shape over so that you see a long rectangle with a triangle pointing downwards at the bottom. At the top of your shape you should see a triangle pointing downwards. Flip that triangle upwards so that the top point is pointing up instead of down. After you have done this, you should still have your long rectangle with the bottom triangle pointing downwards (almost like a pencil). You should also see 2 triangles coming out of the sides of the rectangle, creating a wing look. Then, you'll see the top triangle you just created. Fold over the wings to create a rectangle. Take the outer point of your right wing and fold it over so that it meets the left point of your triangle wing. As you fold it over, allow the rest of the shape to follow with it, and create a crease along that long fold. Then, unfold that fold. As you fold it over, you want the 2 sides of your wing, or your triangle to line up. If you looked at just that part of your shape it would create a rectangle. Repeat on the other side. Take the outer point of your left wing and fold it over to the top right point of your wing. Line the sides up and create a crease along the fold. Then, unfold it. Fold the wings back over at the same time. This time, you're going to fold the wings back over, but you'll need to do it at the same time. This will cause your pencil to come together, creating the shape of the front of an airplane. Then, fold your airplane over to the right side so that the bottom of it is parallel to a flat surface. Fold your airplane underneath your shape. After you have folded it to the side, fold your airplane under, at the top part of the airplane. After you have folded it under, it should be upside down, behind your shape. Then, fold your front shape over so that the right point of the triangle at the top of your shape meets the left point. Create a crease at the fold. Open up your airplane. Looking at your airplane as it is upside down. Ignoring the rest of your shape, you should see 3 triangles in it. Take the middle triangle (it should be pointing upwards while the others are pointing down) and fold it so that the base of the triangle meets the rest of your shape. Flip your shape over and repeat on the opposite side. Essentially, take the bottom right corner of your triangle and bring it towards the top point of your shape. You won't be able to reach the top point, but you should be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) off, depending on the size of square you began with. Create your dog's head. Flip your shape back over so that your airplane is on the right side of your shape and is pointing upwards. Then, take the middle triangle on your airplane and fold it so that the middle (height) of the triangle comes in line with the top of your airplane. Flip your shape over and do the same thing on the other side -- have the middle of the middle triangle line up with the top of your airplane. Admire your hard work! After you have made all of your folds, turn your shape so that it looks like a dog. The folds you just created made the dog's head, with the very front of your airplane creating the dog's snout. Then, the rest of your shape should form the dog's legs. You should have 1 shape directly underneath your dog's head that forms its front legs, and then the second shape forms its back legs and tail. | Use origami paper or make a square. Fold your paper to create a triangle. Fold the bottom point to the middle crease. Turn your diamond and repeat on 2 points. Fold the sides of your shape inwards. Flip your shape and make creases in the little triangles. Repeat on the opposite side. Open up your largest diamond and create folds. Repeat on the opposite side. Fold the top side of your shape over. Flip over your shape and flip the top flap up. Fold over the wings to create a rectangle. Repeat on the other side. Fold the wings back over at the same time. Fold your airplane underneath your shape. Open up your airplane. Create your dog's head. Admire your hard work! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Train-a-Dog-to-Protect-Chickens | How to Train a Dog to Protect Chickens | To train a dog to protect chickens, get the dog fixed to prevent aggression and distracted behavior. Next, teach the dog basic commands like sit, down, come, and stay. Whenever your dog responds correctly to a command, reward it with a treat. Then, gradually introduce the dog to your chickens so it can get used to their presence and scent. Finally, show your dog what predators to protect the chickens from and how to break up a rooster fight. | Research dog breeds. This is important even if you already have a dog. Certain breeds of dog are trained to be more prey driven than others, which makes these dogs less trustworthy around your flock. Knowing if your dog is prey driven will prepare you for the careful and consistent training dogs of that temperament require. Some of the best dogs for guarding chickens are: Great Pyrenees Maremma Sheepdog Akbash Kuvasz Komondor Polish Tatra Sheepdog Anatolian Shepherd Kangal Get a dog to train, or train your current one. It is easiest to train a dog from puppy to adult, but if you think your dog has what it takes, consistent and clear training might be all your dog needs. When training your dog, remember to: Use succinct commands - repeating a command over and over can teach your dog to ignore you. Reward generously - positive reinforcement, like a treat or verbal praise, can curb aggressive tendencies and instill obedient response. Train cheerfully - dogs are sensitive to human tone of voice and body language. Your dog is your comrade and a partner with you in the training experience; kind treatment will go a long way toward obedient response. Gather the right tools for the job. There are many different opinions on the best training method for any dog, but when it comes down to it, every dog is going to be different. Trust your instincts and your knowledge of your animal, but consider using the following tools to assist in training: Collar Leash Muzzle (optional) Shock collar (optional) Treats (for reward) Be mindful of puppy psychology. It can be effective to plan your training to occur prior to meals. This way, your dog will be a little hungrier than normal, which will make him more attentive to the treats you are using as a reward. If your dog ever seems as though he's overheated, tired, or too rambunctious, it's best not to force your training. If you become frustrated during the course of your training session with your dog, don't get angry with or yell at him unnecessarily. Dogs with soft temperaments might become anxious or stop paying attention to trainers who yell without reason. If you are frustrated, simply end your session early and try again later. Know the benefits of positive reinforcement training. This kind of training relies on treats to encourage your dog to perform training exercises and respond to cues, like a spoken command, sound, or gesture. The more irresistible a treat is, the more motivated your dog will be to earn it, so you should experiment to find the treat your dog will work hardest for. Once you have a suitable treat, like small pieces of cut up hot dog or dog biscuits, To train using positive reinforcement you should: Illustrate the training goal to your dog. You may have to raise a paw to show it how to "shake hands," or you may raise a treat above your dog's head, causing its rump to lower to the ground while issuing the command: "Sit." Reward immediately for responding to a cue/command. Use the same set of cues/commands between all family members. Be prepared to reinforce chicken related good behavior. Whenever your dog responds to one of your cues/commands, especially those related to your chickens, have a treat ready to reward it. Only reward specific good behavior; you don't want your dog to associate a negative action, like barking or chasing your chickens, with receiving a treat. Desensitize your dog in a controlled environment. The more distractions there are, the more difficult it will be for you to hold your dog's attention while training. At the age of 9 weeks, most expert trainers begin exposing to livestock in a safe, fenced in area. This way your puppy can become more comfortable with your chickens. Fix your dog when age appropriate. This is especially important for male dogs. Without neutering, male dogs can suffer from aggression and distracted behavior. By limiting the aggressive hormones of your dog by getting it fixed, your pup's chicken guard training will go much more smoothly. Train with as few distractions as possible. If you are rushed, you may get more easily irritated than normal with your puppy's progress, which can have a negative impact on training. Interruptions, too, like your cell phone, can lead to confusion during a training session. Teach basic commands. Your dogs should know all basic commands, like sit , down , come , and stay before you allow your grown (or growing) dog to go toe-to-talon with your chickens. These can most effectively be trained through short training sessions that use positive rewards paired with clear, succinct commands. The most important command, however, in the vocabulary of a poultry protector is probably: leave it. The leave it command can be trained with meat, cheese, or some other kind of treat. Collect a goodly amount of treats, and then place your dog into position. Place a treat in front of your dog and command him to leave it. When the dog makes his move for the meat, block it with your hand and give a firm, negative response, like "Ah" or "No." When your dog appears to have lost interest in the temptation, reward your him with a different piece of meat from your other hand. Move the temptation closer and repeat this process. Ingrain basic commands in your dog. It might take a while before your dog learns anything more than sit , but alternating between commands quickly can be fun for your dog while further entrenching the command. Alternate between sit and down or sit and come to train your puppy as you play. Consider a muzzle. Though some believe a muzzle to be inhumane, many trainers regard it as a suitable tool for a suitable purpose, just like a dog collar or a leash. If you have trouble with your dog pursuing chickens with the intent to kill or eat them, a muzzle will make training safest for all of your animals. Introduce your dog to chickens in the coop, gradually. If your dog is especially excitable, you may want to keep him on a leash until he becomes calmer around your birds. Take him with you on your feeding chores to help him become even more accustomed to the chickens and the chickens more accustomed to him. Exercise simple commands like the compound sit-stay. You may want to practice this while entering the chicken coop to fetch your eggs, which has the added benefit of teaching your dog not to invade the boundary of the chicken coop. Familiarize your dog with chicken scent. You can do this by rubbing down your chickens with damp cloth and putting that cloth in your dog's bed or pen. Dogs have a powerful sense of smell, so the scent of the chickens, when unfamiliar, can cause a strong reaction. Teach your dog to break up rooster fights. While outside with your dog, you may see your chickens and/or roosters fighting. This is not especially uncommon, but can leave a valuable member of your egg laying team out of commission. With your dog on its lead, run towards the fighting animals and break up the scuffle. Once you have pulled the birds apart, practice one of your basic commands, or, if you've trained your dog in it, use the safe command. By showing your dog what to do in the event of a chicken fight, and rewarding him for helping you break it up, you will begin to teach him to run to help whenever he hears a chicken in distress. Raise awareness in your dog of chicken predators. Your dog already has a keen sense of some wildlife predators, but crows and chicken hawks can be just as dangerous to younger birds and chicks as a fox. Together with your dog on his lead, shoo away crows or any other birds of prey. After you have successfully chased away the birds, praise your dog and feed him a treat. This will positively reinforce the behavior to protect chickens from birds of prey. Allow your dog to patrol for raccoons. As your dog becomes more trustworthy and proves he understands your commands and also your expectations of how he should act around your birds, you should allow him to patrol for critters. Thanks to your training in how to break up a chicken fight, he will race to the sound of a chicken in distress and help. Exercise your dog. You can't expect your canine companion to keep the chickens in line if he's out of shape. Go for regular walks, continue short, rapid fire training sessions, and show your dog he's a beloved part of your pack. | Research dog breeds. Get a dog to train, or train your current one. Gather the right tools for the job. Be mindful of puppy psychology. Know the benefits of positive reinforcement training. Be prepared to reinforce chicken related good behavior. Desensitize your dog in a controlled environment. Fix your dog when age appropriate. Train with as few distractions as possible. Teach basic commands. Ingrain basic commands in your dog. Consider a muzzle. Introduce your dog to chickens in the coop, gradually. Familiarize your dog with chicken scent. Teach your dog to break up rooster fights. Raise awareness in your dog of chicken predators. Allow your dog to patrol for raccoons. Exercise your dog. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Plastic-Water-Tank | How to Clean a Plastic Water Tank | To clean a plastic water tank, open the outlet valve or tap and let the water flow out. Next, mix hot water with laundry detergent and use a bristle brush to scrub the inside of the tank with the cleaning solution to remove slime and sludge. Then, rinse out the tank thoroughly and flush the hoses and pipes. Finally, fill your tank with a mixture of clean water and bleach and let it sit for 24 hours to disinfect it. | Open the outlet valve or tap. The first step to cleaning your tank is to empty all of the water from it. To do so, open the outlet valve or tap at the bottom of your tank and let all of the water flow out. Connect a hose to the open valve in order to direct the water to a location where it will not cause any localized flooding or erosion. Permanent water tanks have a washout valve that is located at the base of the tank. If your water tank is permanent and contains a washout valve, use this to drain the tank instead of the regular outlet valve or tap. Scoop water in the bottom of the tank out with a bucket. Since the outlet valve or tap is usually located above the bottom of the tank, you may need to remove some remaining water from the tank after draining it. To do so, use a bucket to scoop as much water out as possible. Once the water in the bottom is too shallow to scoop with a bucket, use a plastic cup or coffee mug to continue scooping it out. Remove any remaining water. You probably won't be able to get all of the water out by scooping it up with a bucket or cup. Remove the remaining water using one of the following methods: Use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up any water that remains. If you have a small tank and can safely tip it up, you can do this to drain any remaining water from the tank. Once you've got all but a very small amount of water out of the tank, you can use towels to soak up any water that remains. Make a cleaning mixture. While you may be able to remove a lot of the sediment and residue from your tank without using a cleaning mixture, using one can help make this job easier. Simply mix hot water with laundry detergent powder or liquid to make a cleaning solution. Scrub the inside of the tank. Use a bristle brush or abrasive sponge to scrub the inside of the tank, with or without your cleaning solution. Move your arm horizontally from side to side while applying a good amount of pressure on the brush or sponge. Continue doing this around the entire inside of the tank, until you remove as much slime and sludge as possible. You may need to use a brush with a long handle, depending on the size of your tank. This type of brush may be more difficult to maneuver, but will allow you to reach the bottom of the tank safely. If you're using a long-handled brush, you'll probably need to move the brush up and down vertically instead of horizontally. Avoid brushes with steel bristles or sponges made of steel. Plastic can scratch easily and these materials will probably be too harsh for a plastic tank. Use a power washer. You can also use a power washer to clean the inside of your water tank. You can use the power washer by itself or in conjunction with scrubbing the inside of the tank, depending how tough the sediment and residue is to remove. Pressure washers come in a variety of sizes and strengths, but one with a pressure range between 1,300 and 2,400 psi works best for most household tasks. Follow these steps to clean the inside of your tank with a power washer: Fill your power washer with water or cleaning solution. Start by holding it about four feet away from the surface you're cleaning. Move closer until you find the distance that works best for removing dirt, sediment, and debris. Hold the pressure washer so the water hits the interior wall of the tank at a 45 degree angle. Continue this until you are satisfied that you've removed all the dirt and sludge from the walls of your tank. Pressure washers are very powerful, so always wear safety goggles when you're using them, never point them at another person or animal, and follow all other safety regulations. It is also a good idea to have someone with knowledge of power washers give you a lesson on starting and using them before using yours. Use baking soda on particularly dirty walls. If you're having trouble getting all of the sediment and dirt off the interior walls of your tank, try sprinkling the walls with baking soda and scrubbing them with your brush or sponge. Scrub corners and joints. While you are scrubbing, pay special attention to corners and joints in your tank. Residue stuck in these areas can be difficult to clean, so you may need to spend a little extra time getting into these areas. Try using a small toothbrush to help you reach and scrub these difficult places. Rinse thoroughly. Once you're satisfied that you've scrubbed most or all of the residue from the inside of your tank, you need to rinse it very thoroughly. This is best done by using a hose to spray down the interior walls, making sure to get into all the nooks and corners. You can also use a pressure washer filled with clean water to do this. Alternatively, you can rinse the tank by filling it with hot water and letting it stand for several hours. Drain the tank, making sure you collect and safely dispose of the drained water. Repeat this process until the water is completely free of detergent and sediment. Remove remaining liquid and residue with a vacuum. Some water tanks may not allow you to drain all of the liquid from them. For example, if your tank is too large to tip on its side and spray out, you probably won't be able to spray all of the detergent and residue out of the tank. In order to remove this residue, you can vacuum it out with the hose attachment of a wet/dry vacuum. Make sure you get the hose into the cracks, crevices, and corners of your tank in order to remove all of the residue. After vacuuming, you may need to take a clean rag or mop head and run it along the bottom of your tank to clean any areas that still have sediment on them. Flush your tank's hoses and pipes. Pour some of your cleaning solution into these pipes and hoses. Then, use your water pump to pump the solution through the pipes, removing any sediment and dirt inside them. Complete the same process with hot water until the pipes and hoses are free of detergent. Fill your tank three quarters full with clean water. Once you've scrubbed out the inside of your tank, you can then perform the process of disinfecting it. To start, use a hose to fill your tank three quarters of the way full with clean water. Add chlorine bleach to the tank. Next, add chlorine bleach to the tank in the ratio of 50 ppm (parts per million) to the amount of water. Follow these guidelines to determine how much household chlorine bleach (5% bleach) to use in your tank: For a 250 gallon tank, use 4 cups of bleach. For a 500 gallon tank, use ½ gallon of bleach. For a 750 gallon tank, use ¾ gallon of bleach. For a 1,000 gallon tank, use 1 gallon of bleach. Fill the rest of the tank with water. After adding the appropriate amount of bleach, fill the tank to volume with clean water. This will allow the bleach to mix with the rest of the water in the tank. Leave the mixture in the tank for 24 hours. Once you have the tank filled with chlorine and water, leave this solution sit inside the tank for 24 hours. Be sure no one comes in contact with the solution during this time because it can be harmful to people and animals. Check the amount of chlorine in your solution periodically. During the 24 hour period that you are letting the solution sit inside your tank, use chlorine strips to periodically check the solution to see the amount of chlorine. You want to maintain a measurable chlorine reading throughout the entire 24 hour process. To check this, dip one end of the chlorine strip in the solution and follow the instructions on the packaging to determine how much chlorine is present. If there is no detectable amount of chlorine, repeat steps two through four. Drain the tank completely. Using a hose, drain all of the solution out of your water tank. Hook the hose up to the valve on the bottom of your tank and allow all of the solution to flow out toward your sewage system. Make sure you point the hose away from any vegetation, lakes, and any other areas that may be damaged by the chlorine bleach in the mixture. Do not drain the tank directly into your water distribution system either. Remove any remaining liquid by scooping it out with a bucket and then using towels, a clean mop head, or a wet/dry vacuum to pick up the rest. | Open the outlet valve or tap. Scoop water in the bottom of the tank out with a bucket. Remove any remaining water. Make a cleaning mixture. Scrub the inside of the tank. Use a power washer. Use baking soda on particularly dirty walls. Scrub corners and joints. Rinse thoroughly. Remove remaining liquid and residue with a vacuum. Flush your tank's hoses and pipes. Fill your tank three quarters full with clean water. Add chlorine bleach to the tank. Fill the rest of the tank with water. Leave the mixture in the tank for 24 hours. Check the amount of chlorine in your solution periodically. Drain the tank completely. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lip-Gloss | How to Make Lip Gloss | You can easily make your own lip gloss with a few household ingredients, such as Vaseline and a little lipstick or blush. Simply mix 2 tablespoons of Vaseline with a teaspoon of lipstick, a bit of blush, or even some beet root powder for color. If you like, you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to add a hint of scent. Microwave the mixture for 10-30 seconds to melt it and then stir it well. Transfer the mixture into the lipgloss container of your choice, such as a pot or tube, then let it cool for 20 minutes before smoothing it on your lips. | Spoon 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of vaseline into a microwave-safe bowl. If you want, use 2 bowls to make 2 different shades of gloss, or use 1 bowl to make multiple tubes of the same shade. Because the bowl doesn't need to hold much, you can use a really small one instead of dirtying a larger one. If you don't have vaseline, just use some other type of petroleum jelly. Add 1 tsp of lipstick to the bowl with the vaseline. Use less lipstick to give your gloss just a tint of color, or use more lipstick to create a deeper shade of gloss. Simply cut away a small piece from a tube of lipstick and add it to the mixing bowl. If you don't have lipstick, you could also use eyeshadow or blush to add color to your lip gloss. You could also add 1 to 2 drops of your favorite essential oil or a small pinch of glitter to the mix at this time, too. Microwave the mixture for 10 to 30 seconds. Put the bowl into the microwave and set the timer for 10 seconds to start. Check it after that time to see if the ingredients have begun to melt. If not, put it back for an additional 10 to 20 seconds. Be careful when using the microwave. The bowl may be hot to the touch once it's done. Use a disposable spoon to stir the vaseline and lipstick together. Simply stir the ingredients for 10 seconds or so to make sure they are thoroughly mixed together. You don't want gloss that has blotchy sections! If you don't have disposable spoons, that is okay. They just make the cleanup a little easier, but you can use a regular spoon and wash it off later. Transfer the gloss into clean lip gloss containers. You can use squeezable lip gloss tubes, tubes with wands, chapstick tubes, tins, or any other container you'd like. Just make sure that whatever container you use has a lid. Move the gloss into the containers soon after it has been melted and mixed. The warmer it is, the easier it'll be to work with. Let the lip gloss cool for about 20 minutes before you use it. Leave the lip gloss on the counter, or put it into the fridge so it cools a little faster. Once it is cool, it won't be runny and will be the perfect consistency to wear! These glosses are great to keep in a purse or desk, and they make great gifts, too. Melt the coconut oil and cocoa butter together in the microwave. Measure out 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of cocoa butter into a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the ingredients in 10-second increments until they are a near-liquid consistency. It shouldn't take more than 30 to 40 seconds for the ingredients to melt. Squeeze the vitamin E capsules into the mixing bowl. Cut off the tips from 3 vitamin E capsules and extract the liquid from them. Dispose of the actual capsules rather than adding them into the bowl. Add lipstick or essential oils if you want a colored or scented lip gloss. 1 to 2 drops of your favorite essential oil will turn your lip gloss into a mini-form of aromatherapy. A teaspoon or so of lipstick will tint your gloss and add some color to your daily routine. You could also use small amounts of eyeshadow, blush, or beetroot powder to add color to your gloss. Stir the ingredients together until everything has combined. Use a disposable spoon for easy cleanup. Stir everything for about 10 seconds, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl so that it all gets mixed together. It's easiest to do this while the mixture is still warm, so do it right after you've melted the coconut oil and cocoa butter and added in whatever other ingredients you want to use. Transfer the lip gloss into tins and let it cool for 20 minutes. Coconut oil has a really low melting point, so don't put this kind of gloss into an actual lip balm tube, as it is more likely to melt out of that kind of container. You can buy small, lidded tins online for less than a dollar a piece, or you may even be able to find them at your local dollar store or beauty store. Try hosting a lip gloss making party! Everyone can bring their favorite shades of lip gloss and you can all swap shades so you have a plethora of options to choose from. Prepare the beeswax by grating it so it will melt faster. You can buy small squares of beeswax or beeswax pastilles online. If you buy pastilles, you won't need to grate them. If you buy the squares, grate them over a small bowl so that they'll combine more easily with the rest of the ingredients. Grate enough for 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of cosmetic-grade beeswax. The more beeswax you use, the firmer your lip gloss will be. Beeswax helps hydrate your lips and softens fine lines. Measure your ingredients into a glass measuring cup with a spout. Measure out 4 tablespoons (59 mL) of grape-seed oil or olive oil, 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of cocoa butter or shea butter, and the grated beeswax. Cut open 3 vitamin E capsules and squeeze the oil from the capsules into the cup. A glass measuring cup with a spout will make it easier to pour the gloss later on, but if you don't have one, a plain glass bowl will work perfectly fine. Don't include the actual capsules from the vitamin E in the cup. Make a double boiler on the stove. Use a pot that is large enough to hold the glass measuring cup, and fill the pot with 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of water. Put it on the stove and turn the burner on to medium heat, and then set the measuring cup with all your ingredients inside of the pot. Be careful to not get any water inside of the measuring cup, as it won't mix in with the ingredients and could ruin your lip gloss. If you don't have access to a stove, you can also melt the ingredients in the microwave. Just be careful to not burn the ingredients and microwave it in 10- to 15-second increments, stirring it every time you take it out to check it. Stir the mixture periodically until everything has melted together. Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides of the measuring cup so that all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Once the mixture is completely smooth and there are no more lumps, it is done! If you don't want to mess with having to clean the silicone spatula afterward, you could also use disposable plastic spoons. Pour the mixture into lip gloss containers while it’s still warm. The gloss will be much easier to pour while it's still hot or warm. Once it has cooled down, it won't flow as easily. Use actual lip gloss containers rather than tins or chapstick tubes. This recipe makes gloss rather than balm, and its consistency will naturally be a bit runnier than balm would be. If you're having trouble getting the gloss into the tubes, use a funnel. Let the lip gloss cool in its container for 20 minutes before you use it. This cooling time will simply allow the gloss to firm up a little bit so it isn't quite as runny. Once it's done cooling, you can go ahead and use it! If you want it to cool even faster, you could put it in the fridge. Make your lipgloss scented by adding in 3 to 4 drops of essential oils. After the mixture has melted together but before you put it into its containers, stir in several drops of your favorite essential oil. Try out these scents: Peppermint for a fresh, vibrant scent. Orange or lime for a burst of citrus. Lavender for a calming, soothing scent. Use blush or beetroot powder to give your gloss a shade of color. Simply scrape about ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of the powder of your choice into the melted gloss. Stir it together until it is completely mixed in, and then divvy up the gloss into containers. The more powder you add, the deeper shade of color the gloss will be. Experiment with amounts to find your favorite color. Add a teaspoon of lipstick to the gloss to create a unique shade. Add a little extra lipstick for an even deeper shade. Put it into the measuring cup along with all your ingredients before you put it into the double boiler. Reds, pinks, purples, and even more adventurous colors are all perfectly fine to add to your gloss to give it some color. Create a sparkly gloss by adding glitter into the mixture. Start by adding 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) of glitter to the melted gloss before it has been put into containers. If you want more, add an additional 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams). Mix it in thoroughly, and then pour the gloss into the containers. To be safe, avoid using craft glitter. Cosmetic-grade glitter is made to come into contact with your skin, and it isn't harmful if it gets accidentally ingested. | Spoon 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of vaseline into a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 tsp of lipstick to the bowl with the vaseline. Microwave the mixture for 10 to 30 seconds. Use a disposable spoon to stir the vaseline and lipstick together. Transfer the gloss into clean lip gloss containers. Let the lip gloss cool for about 20 minutes before you use it. Melt the coconut oil and cocoa butter together in the microwave. Squeeze the vitamin E capsules into the mixing bowl. Add lipstick or essential oils if you want a colored or scented lip gloss. Stir the ingredients together until everything has combined. Transfer the lip gloss into tins and let it cool for 20 minutes. Prepare the beeswax by grating it so it will melt faster. Measure your ingredients into a glass measuring cup with a spout. Make a double boiler on the stove. Stir the mixture periodically until everything has melted together. Pour the mixture into lip gloss containers while it’s still warm. Let the lip gloss cool in its container for 20 minutes before you use it. Make your lipgloss scented by adding in 3 to 4 drops of essential oils. Use blush or beetroot powder to give your gloss a shade of color. Add a teaspoon of lipstick to the gloss to create a unique shade. Create a sparkly gloss by adding glitter into the mixture. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Melt-Silver | How to Melt Silver | If you want to melt silver, put on goggles, a face shield, and a fire-resistant apron and gloves. If you're melting a large amount of silver, place your foundry crucible on or near your furnace and place the silver inside. Heat the furnace so it's above the melting point of silver, which is 1763°F or 961.8°C. If you're only melting a small amount of silver, place the silver in the foundry and use a blowtorch to melt it. Once the silver is melted, use tongs to pour it out of the crucible and into a mold. | Secure items to melt. You need to find some items to melt down. Luckily, although silver is considered a rare metal, it is fairly common in our day-to-day activities. Some of the most common uses for silver are jewelry, although we can still find a substantial amount of silver coins, as well as silver in industrial applications. Traditional uses for silver include creating coins, jewelry, decorative items and cutlery. These items are most commonly used when melting silver. Industrial uses of silver include batteries, ball bearings, soldering or brazing other metal items, as an industrial catalyst to create chemicals, and in electronics such as circuit boards, membrane switches, and television screens. Be careful when melting anything that might contain hazardous materials. Emerging technologies which utilize silver include medical, solar energy, and water purification. Silver minimizes bacterial growth by interrupting the ability of the bacteria to form chemical bonds and is used to prevent the spread of bacteria and to promote healing. Get a foundry crucible. A foundry crucible is a container that is used for metal production. Crucibles are made of clay, aluminum, graphite, and silicon carbide. They are extremely heat resistant and will not melt under the same circumstances as the metal you are trying to melt down. Make sure you get a crucible that is an appropriate size for your project and is in good shape. Avoid old crucibles with cracks or excessive wear. You will use your crucible to store your silver as it melts and turns into its molten form. You will then poor the molten silver out of the crucible into a cast or mold. You can purchase a foundry crucible at a local casting supply store or at many online retailers. Find some good heavy-duty crucible tongs. Crucible tongs will be used to move your crucible if you need to. These are an important element, because your crucible will be way too hot for you to touch it with your hands or even with gloves. Make sure: Your tongs are rated to be used with a crucible. Your tongs are in good working order. Your tongs are large enough to move your crucible. Purchase your crucible tongs at local hardware or metal casting stores or online. Buy a graphite stir rod. You should get yourself a good graphite stir rod. You'll use the stir rod to stir your molten silver and to make sure that it is completely melted before you cast it in a mold. Make sure you get one that is rated properly. Make sure you buy one that is long enough for whatever level of melting you'll be doing. Purchase your graphite stir rod at a local casting supply shop or online. Secure a furnace or a blow torch. The furnace or torch is what you'll be using to heat your silver to its melting point. As such, the furnace or blow torch are critical items in melting silver. Depending on the amount of melting you'll be doing, you can choose between a furnace or torch. Consider: A furnace might be prohibitively expensive if you are only doing small-scale melting like several ounces every couple of weeks. However, if you're doing projects every weekend or more often, you should consider a furnace. A blow torch might be inefficient if you are melting substantial amounts of silver. If you are starting out, you might want to start with a blow torch and then move up to a furnace once you are committed to melting silver. These items may be purchased from a metal casting supplier, specialty hardware stores, or online. Make or create a mold or cast. Molds and casts will be the way you shape your molten silver to create a final product. As a result, they are critical for your silver melting operation. Consider: Molds and casts can be made from wood, certain alloys, ceramic, or clay. Molds and casts may be one of the most inexpensive of your supplies. You can make your own molds or casts or buy them from specialty casting stores in your community or from online retailers. To make your mold: pick a material and like wood or clay. Carve or shape your material to the size and using the detail desire. If you're using ceramic or clay, you'll need to fire them at temps over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit or 537 degrees Celsius. Purchase safety equipment to protect yourself. Melting silver, or any other metal for that fact, is potentially very dangerous. You need to get yourself some good safety equipment to protect yourself. Remember to take lots of care when you melt silver, and do not do so unless you are properly protected. Make sure to get: Industrial-grade goggles that are rated to protect against molten metal. Industrial-grade gloves rated to protect against molten metal. Industrial-grade apron rated to protect against molten metal. Industrial-grade face shield rated to protect against molten metal. You can purchase safety equipment from metal casting supply shops or from online retailers. Put on your safety gear and secure the area. Before you even start the process of melting and molding your silver, you need to take out and put on all of your safety gear. Melting any type of metal is a very dangerous activity, so there is no reason to take any chances. Put on your goggles, your gloves, your apron, and your face shield. Take out your skimming rod and any other materials you'll need during the process. Inform family or roommates about what you're doing and lock up any dogs or other pets in an area far from your smelting workshop. Place the crucible with the silver object on or in your furnace. The first thing you need to do is to put your silver in the crucible and place it on or in your furnace. This will vary depending on the type of furnace you have. You don't want to heat up your furnace and then place your crucible inside, as this will increase the chance of you hurting yourself. Heat the furnace to a temperature which exceeds the melting point of silver. The first thing you need to do is heat your furnace to the appropriate temperature. Depending on what type of furnace you have, this might take a little or a lot of time. Consider: The melting point of silver is 1763 degrees Fahrenheit or 961.8 degrees Celsius. Monitor the temperature inside your furnace as it heats. Most furnaces include a temperature gauge to help you monitor it. If not, have one installed. Don't remove the silver until it is completely melted. Only use your furnace outside or in an extremely well-ventilated area designed for foundry work. Apply your blow torch to the silver, if you’ve chosen to use a blow torch. If you're using a smaller crucible and are melting on a smaller scale, you might have chosen to use a blow torch to melt your silver. If this is the case, take your blow torch and apply it to the silver. Keep your torch on the silver and it will slowly heat the silver up. Make sure you know how to use your blow torch before you start to melt your silver. Direct the flame directly at the silver item. Temperature will be difficult to monitor with a blow torch. However, many blow torches come with a temp. gauge attached. If you don't have one, just wait for the silver to melt completely. The amount of time it takes to melt the silver will depend, based on the alloy composition, as well as the size of the object. Break large silver objects into smaller pieces and melt them in small batches to allow a more even distribution of heat which results in a quicker melting process. For more on melting silver with a blow torch, see: http://www.danielicaza.com/2011/03/first-entry-how-to-cast-ingot-fine.html Remove the crucible once the silver has melted. Once your silver is melted, you're going to need to remove your crucible from the furnace (if that's what you've used), and get ready to cast your molten silver. Be careful doing this, as it is potentially dangerous. Make sure to: Put on your gloves. Take your heat resistant tongs and grip the crucible. Place the crucible next to your cast or mold. Make sure you wear shoes and your other safety equipment. If you're using a blow torch, take your tongs and move the crucible next to the mold you'll be using. Skim the slag off of your sliver. Using your graphite stir rod or another tool, skim the slag off the top of your molten silver. Slag is impurities and other materials that have separated from the silver during the melting process. Slag might be a result of non-silver items being melted with silver, or it may be the result of the silver having impurities in it. Regardless of the reason, always skim and remove your slag before you pour and cast your silver. Take your rod and gently and evening slide it over the top of the molten silver. Then slide the flat side of your rod underneath the slag and lift it out of the silver. Place your slag someone safe, as you might want to melt it again to remove excess silver. Pour the silver into the mold, quickly. Once you've removed the crucible from the furnace, and sat it next to your mold, you should quickly pour the molten silver into the mold. You need to do this quickly while the silver is still liquid. Don't move too quickly, as you don't want to spill the silver or hurt yourself. If the silver does begin to firm up into solid state, just put it back into the furnace to heat it back up. Melted silver can be poured directly into molds, or casts, to create a number of items including jewelry, decorative items, cutlery, tableware, and containers. Pour very carefully and slowly so that you get all of the silver into the cast or mold and that you get the proper shape and angles that you want. Depending on the size of your silver casting project, you may need to utilize centrifugal force to allow the silver to reach all areas of the cast. Wait for your silver to cool and harden. Dump your silver out of the mold. Wait a few minutes for your silver to cool. This could take from 2 minutes to 20 minutes depending on the size and depth of your silver. Ultimately, judging when to dump your silver is an art and depends on a number of factors including the type of mold. In the end, you'll learn by trial and error, but consider: Depending on your mold, it might be better to wait longer and having to break your mold instead of recasting the silver. Once the silver appears dry, give it another minute for the interior to cool off a little more. When dumping your silver, make sure you are wearing hand safety mitts, your apron, and even head gear. This will protect you from splash back if you do empty the mold too early. Pick up your mold and bang it on a hard surface. It should come right out. Quench your silver. After you've dumped your silver out of the mold, you'll need to quench your silver. Quenching is the process in which silver is cooled and hardened by being submerged in water. This is the final stage of smelting silver. Take your tongs and pick up the silver bar or item. Slowly submerge the silver in clean/distilled water. As you submerge it, the water around the silver will boil and will produce steam. Leave the silver submerged for several moments -- until the boiling and steam have subsided. Remove your silver from the water and enjoy! | Secure items to melt. Get a foundry crucible. Find some good heavy-duty crucible tongs. Buy a graphite stir rod. Secure a furnace or a blow torch. Make or create a mold or cast. Purchase safety equipment to protect yourself. Put on your safety gear and secure the area. Place the crucible with the silver object on or in your furnace. Heat the furnace to a temperature which exceeds the melting point of silver. Apply your blow torch to the silver, if you’ve chosen to use a blow torch. Remove the crucible once the silver has melted. Skim the slag off of your sliver. Pour the silver into the mold, quickly. Dump your silver out of the mold. Quench your silver. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Into-Berghain | How to Get Into Berghain | To get into Berghain, an exclusive nightclub in Berlin, dress stylishly in dark colors unless you have a unique sense of fashion that you think may impress the bouncer. Additionally, wait in line several hours before the nightclub opens at midnight to beat the crowds and increase your chances of getting in. You can also increase your chances of getting in by visiting the nightclub during its off hours, which are typically very late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. | Study popular Berghain music before you go. The bouncer may quiz you on which artist is playing in the club and, if you answer correctly, let you inside. Because Berghain is a techno nightclub, researching electronic or dance music from around the world (particularly Germany) could improve your chances of getting in. Popular German techno artists that you may hear include Chris Liebling, Monika Kruse, Paul Van Dyk, Ricardo Villalobos, and Ellen Allien. Dress stylishly in dark colors. Dark clothing is the traditional style for Berghain club-goers, especially black. Wear an outfit that is comfortable to wear in these colors that exemplifies your own personal style. If you love denim jackets, for example, you could pair a denim jacket with a black t-shirt and your favorite dark-colored shirt or pants. Don't be afraid to stand out! If you have a unique style, the bouncer may be impressed by your look and let you in. Do not dress outside of your comfort zone. Although many people believe that getting into Berghain requires outlandish clothes, the most important factor is reflecting your personal flair. Avoid styles that make you feel uncomfortable and instead, dress in the outfit that makes you feel most confident and happy. Getting into Berghain is not just about being attractive. Berghain bouncers let a variety of people in based on their personal style and whether they'll bring a unique, diverse atmosphere to the nightclub. Drink alcohol sparingly before going to Berghain. Although alcohol is allowed inside Berghain, the bouncers tend to bar noticeably drunk people from entering. Don't drink excessively in the hours leading up to waiting in line and, if possible, avoid alcohol entirely. Visit Berghain on a late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Berghain is a busy nightclub, and going during its least crowded times will improve your odds of getting in. The least busy times for the Berghain are late Saturday night (at least 3 or 4 hours past midnight) or early Sunday morning. Berghain is open Thursdays (10 p.m.-5 a.m.) and Fridays (12-9 a.m.) as well as Saturdays at midnight through Sundays at 11:59 p.m. The busiest time to visit Berghain is 1 a.m. on Saturday nights. Attend Berghain with older people, preferably around mid-thirties. Unlike most nightclubs, the average age of admitted club-goers is a little older at 35. If you're younger than 30, go to Berghain with people in their late twenties or early thirties to improve your chance of admission. If you don't have many older friends, go with friends who you know won't act immaturely or draw attention to themselves while in line. Wait in line before Berghain opens to improve your chances of getting in. Berghain's peak attendance is usually around 1 a.m., and it often stays crowded until the morning. Wait in line several hours before the nightclub opens at midnight to beat the crowd and longer lines. If you wait in line before the night club gets crowded, the bouncers may judge you less harshly in comparison to later at night. Do not take selfies while waiting in line at Berghain. Berghain has a strict no photography or recordings policy. Keep your cell phone in your pocket and leave any cameras at home to avoid any issues with bouncers or other patrons while in line. If the bouncers notice you taking selfies while in line, you may be asked to leave and forfeit your spot. Although photography is banned, you can bring your cell phone with you to Berghain. Speak German with the bouncer, if possible. Because Berghain is popular with tourists, some of whom act disrespectfully, people in line are more likely to get in if they can communicate in German. If you know German, talk to the bouncer as clearly as you can—or, if you don't, learn basic German phrases before you go to make a good impression. If you can't speak German, you can also show the bouncer respect by saying, "Es tut mir leid, ich spreche kein Deutsch." (I am sorry, I do not speak German.) You could also memorize other common phrases like: "Ich heisse ___." (My name is ___.) "Vielen dank!" (Thank you very much!) Basic German numbers, in case the bouncer asks how many are in your party. If you have 3 in your party, for example, you would memorize "drei." Stay calm while speaking with the bouncer. One of the most common reasons tourists get rejected from the line is because they seem uncomfortable or out-of-place. If you feel nervous, take a deep breath and try to maintain a calm expression and tone of voice. If you still feel nervous, try a quick breathing exercise or focusing on the music to calm yourself. Remember: the bouncer may seem intimidating, but they are just doing their job. As long as you treat them with respect, they'll likely do the same for you. Be polite to the bouncer. Because some people in line may be drunk or impolite, the bouncers look for patrons who are respectful. No matter what the bouncer decides, thank them for their help and avoid arguing or insulting them. If you run into any rude or out-of-line patrons while in line, avoid arguing or associating with them. The bouncers may think that you're attending with them and remove you from the line. Come back later if you don't come in the first time. If you don't get in the first time, try again. You may be able to get in after more people leave the club later in the night. You might, for example, come back in the morning after most of the crowd has died down or early the next night. | Study popular Berghain music before you go. Dress stylishly in dark colors. Do not dress outside of your comfort zone. Drink alcohol sparingly before going to Berghain. Visit Berghain on a late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Attend Berghain with older people, preferably around mid-thirties. Wait in line before Berghain opens to improve your chances of getting in. Do not take selfies while waiting in line at Berghain. Speak German with the bouncer, if possible. Stay calm while speaking with the bouncer. Be polite to the bouncer. Come back later if you don't come in the first time. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Plasti-Dip | How to Clean Plasti Dip | Plasti Dip is a popular spray-on coating for automobiles. If your car has been coated in Plasti Dip, you can clean it by hand washing it with soap and water. You can also use a pressure sprayer up to 1800 psi or even take your vehicle through the car wash. For dipped wheels, use soap and water or some of the newer spray-on, no-scrub, rinse-off cleaners made specifically for wheels. Because of Plasti Dip's makeup, you'll want to avoid thinners, solvents, and gasoline, which could cause bubbling, peeling, and other damage to the dipped areas. | Hand wash your car normally. For all intents and purposes, a “dipped” car (that is, a car coated in Plasti Dip) can be washed in exactly the same way as a traditionally painted vehicle. For the most thorough cleaning, hand washing the car with automotive soap (or even dish soap), clean water, a hose, and lint-free cloths for washing and drying is probably your best bet. Should you so choose, you can purchase soaps and cloths marketed specifically for dipped cars. Since Plasti Dip provides a protective coating against UV rays, salt, etc., applying waxes or similar finishes/protectants after washing is unnecessary. Avoid thinners, solvents, and gasoline. Because of Plasti Dip's composition, solvent-based cleaners could cause bubbling, peeling, or other damage to the applied product. Basically, just stick to common soap-based cleaners. Exercise caution when adding fuel to your car, as spilled or dripped gasoline could harm your Plasti Dip finish. You can order special drip guards if desired. Use a pressure sprayer up to 1800 psi. Because Plasti Dip can be peeled off by hand with relative ease, some people are hesitant to use pressure sprayers to wash their dipped cars. However, if the Plasti Dip has been properly applied, allowed to cure for a few weeks, and is not peeling along edges or other spots, a common water sprayer of up to 1800 psi can be used. This means you can use one of the self-wash bays at your local car wash without incident. If you want to exercise added caution, use only the level of water pressure needed to get the job done. Go through an automatic car wash. Once again, if the Plasti Dip has been properly applied, has had time to cure, and isn't peeling, a trip through the average automatic car wash will have no negative impact on it. The various scrubbers, sprays, buffers, and so on should not pose a problem. Wash brake dust and grime off your wheels. While some enthusiasts dip their entire cars, others stick to applying Plasti Dip to their hubcaps and wheels. Typical soap-based cleaning methods will work fine in keeping dipped wheels clean. However, newer spray-on, no-scrub, rinse-off cleaners developed for wheels (whether dipped or not) have come on the market as well. Make sure the surface is completely clean and dry. If you want your applied Plasti Dip to go on evenly, last longer, and peel away more easily when it's time to remove it, you must make sure the surface is properly prepared. Taking your time now will provide immediate and lasting benefits. Wash and rinse the surface thoroughly; make sure any soap residue is gone. Use microfiber cloths to prevent lint accumulation on the surface. Dry the surface, and also allow it to air dry. Make sure it is absolutely, completely dry before applying Plasti Dip. Apply the Plasti Dip according to the package instructions. You can dip, brush, or spray on Plasti Dip, although spraying is utilized for most automotive applications. Follow the provided instructions for spray coverage, distance, technique, and safety. Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area, and wear protective eyewear and breathing protection. You may also want to wear gloves and cover exposed skin. Especially if your car is brand new or has had after-market painting or repairs done to it, you may want to test a small area first. Plasti Dip adheres to (and peels away from) most automotive surfaces with ease, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Add more coats for better protection and easier removal. When it comes to applying Plasti Dip coats, the more the better. Four to five thin, even coats should be considered your minimum for the best appearance and protection. However, adding six or more coats will enhance these qualities and make it even easier to remove the product later on. Let the surface dry and cure properly. Plasti Dip dries to the touch fairly quickly, and a basic cure will usually occur within four to eight hours. After this point, it is safe to touch the surface and use the vehicle. However, the full curing process will take a few weeks, so it is best to wait perhaps a month before using aggressive cleaning methods. Peel the Plasti Dip off to remove it. Properly applied Plasti Dip will often last for at least three years. When it does wear out or you simply are ready for a change, just peel it off of the surface with your hands. If you applied enough layers of Plasti Dip earlier, it should peel off in large pieces. If, however, not enough layers were applied, meaning the Plasti Dip is peeling off in tiny pieces, try the following: Add additional coats of Plasti Dip, let it cure, then peel the thicker coating away with greater ease. Use a branded Dip Dissolver to re-liquify the Plasti Dip, then rinse and wipe it away. Try various automotive and other cleaning products (Goo Gone, WD-40, etc.), as recommended by various sources. This is a bit of a trial-and-error process in regards to effectiveness. Your best bet is to apply the Plasti Dip properly so that it peels away easily. | Hand wash your car normally. Avoid thinners, solvents, and gasoline. Use a pressure sprayer up to 1800 psi. Go through an automatic car wash. Wash brake dust and grime off your wheels. Make sure the surface is completely clean and dry. Apply the Plasti Dip according to the package instructions. Add more coats for better protection and easier removal. Let the surface dry and cure properly. Peel the Plasti Dip off to remove it. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Accept-That-You%27re-Getting-Older | How to Accept That You're Getting Older | Getting older can be stressful, but with the right perspective, you can find peace with it and accept the natural process. Focus on living in the moment, instead of longing for the past or worrying about the future. Try new hobbies, learn new skills, and meet new people. It's never too late to follow your dreams. You should also stay connected with your friends, family, and community, which will remind you of your value and the things that are important in your life. Don't be afraid to ask older people about how they deal with getting older, since they might have some experience that will refresh your perspective. | Have realistic expectations. Our culture encourages people to think they can be young forever if they just use the right creams and take the right supplements. The fact is, this just isn't true. As you enter your later years, try to develop realistic (not pessimistic) expectations of what getting older will actually be like. Don't expect the worst--having a negative view of the future can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Likewise though, don't expect to be able to do everything you did in your 20s. If you have realistic expectations about what you will and will not be able to do, the transition to this period of life will be easier. Even the most youthful 90 year old, for example, usually won't be found skateboarding or deep sea diving. In fact, most people who live to this age will need help with tasks like getting groceries from the store. This doesn't mean, however, that you won't be able to take a stroll in the park with friends or play your favorite instrument. Try to relax. Many people panic when they realize they are getting older. The result is a "fight or flight" response that causes people to frantically look for a solution, rushing out to buy the latest miracle cure. Try to stay calm and take things in stride. Being calm allows for more sober reflection on the situation. Thinking clearly allows us to come to terms with reality sooner. This, in turn, makes it possible to start accepting the changes that aging brings and finding happiness in this new stage of life. Avoid denial. There's nothing wrong with doing what you can to look and feel your best in later years. However, accepting you are getting older means you shouldn't try to mask or hide your age from others (or yourself). If putting on a mask of honey and yogurt makes your skin feel better or smoother or slows wrinkling, great. Healthy activities that help you look your best are fine. Don't try to do things to "cover up" your age though. It might be time, for example, to ditch the super-tight cut offs or toupee. Clinging to illusions of physical youth keeps us dependent on the validation of others, rather than helping us accept ourselves for who we now are. Think carefully before getting plastic surgery. The jury is out on the extent to which it actually makes people feel more attractive. What is clear is that sometimes when you get work done in one area, it only serves highlight wrinkles in another. This can start you down a path of one procedure after another, after another. Before you get one of these procedures, think about whether this might be the start of a road you don't really want to go down. It is often better to accept yourself for who you are. Redefine attractiveness. To extent you are able, try to rethink what attractiveness means, focusing on the whole person rather than a youthful physique. You are never going to look like a 20 year old again, but being attractive in your 40s, 50s, and 60s means something different than it did when you were in your 20s. Being self-assured and healthy is a different, more mature kind of beauty that you can aspire to. It will give you a sense of self-worth and attractiveness that trying (unsuccessfully) to look like your former self will not achieve. This may mean you have to argue with your inner voice. Because of the culture we live in, there's probably going to be a voice in your head saying "I look so old" or "I'm getting fat." Speak up against that inner voice, and counter it with positive statements like "I am healthy and loved." Embrace your past, but don't try to relive it. Your past is a huge part of who you are. Reflecting on where you've been can help you become a more mature person, and reflecting on the changes you've gone through before can help you accept the changes you are experiencing now. Trying to relive the past as a way to cling to your youth, however, only delays acceptance of who you are now. A certain amount of nostalgia is inevitable and normal, but resist the temptation to try to recreate the past. For example, if you want to play football again to recapture some of the joy you experienced when you were younger, then keep in mind that you may not be able to play as hard or as long as you used to. You will probably need to start slow and build up your strength and endurance. You may also want to check with your doctor first to ensure that you are healthy enough to play. Be proud and grateful. The fact that you are getting older means you survived. Not everyone does. Further, the life experiences you have had have taught you lessons and, hopefully, granted you a wisdom younger people don't have. Be proud of what you have achieved and grateful for your life experience. Your perspective can be an advantage. You may know things about life that many people do not. Reflect on your life and see what lessons you can find there. Think about how you can make this wisdom valuable to others. Try keeping a gratitude journal to help you keep track of all of the things you feel grateful for. Keeping a gratitude journal or even just telling a loved one about a few things you feel grateful for each day can increase your happiness and well-being. For example, you might note that you feel grateful for your friends, a beautiful sunset, or even just a good cup of coffee. Keep adding items to your list every day and check it from time to time to remind yourself about what makes you feel grateful. Keep learning. Continuing to have an active, fulfilling life will make acceptance of your aging easier. Even if you've reached a point where you are physically unable to do a lot of things you might like to do, you can keep learning new things. Read books and watch documentaries. Keep learning things and explore multiple perspectives on the world you live in. Seeing and finding out about new things will keep life interesting and help give you a sense that you haven't seen it all yet. Research has shown that people who keep learning throughout life are happier and retain their mental capacities better than those who do not. Keep your mind sharp and stay curious. Life will be better, and you'll keep feeling a sense of potential as you age. Try new things. Similarly, keep developing new skills. Take up a new hobby. Learn to play an instrument or take a music class. Take up chess. Learn to cook. Doing new things makes life feel more promising and keeps your mind sharp. Challenge yourself mentally. Even doing crosswords or other brain-teaser puzzles can help you maintain your mental facilities and stave off dementia. Knowing that your mind is still sharp and that you can still do new things in life will help you accept the fact that you are aging. Keep doing what you're good at. Aging isn't all about decline. Experience can mean you've honed certain skills to a level that younger people have not. In addition to trying new things, keep doing things you excel at. You may be an expert in a certain field of knowledge, or maybe you've developed an artistic talent or technical skill over many years of practice. Such expertise is valuable to others, so keep using it! You might consider delaying retirement, if your job gives you satisfaction. If you want to retire or already have, you might looking for a way to use your expertise in retired life. Maybe you could teach a class at a local community center, or use your skills in a volunteer capacity. Explore your options. Stay social. Many older people allow themselves to become isolated and solitary. This doesn't make for a fulfilling life and also can hasten mental decline. Talk often with friends and family. Stay in touch with old friends, and look for opportunities to make new ones. Community engagement is a great way to stay social and give your life a sense of value. Consider volunteering at a soup kitchen or some other organization doing community service. This will give you a network of people socialize with and a task that feels worth doing. Find a purpose. However you decide to occupy your time, make sure it feels purposeful. Many people, post retirement, find that they feel cast adrift and don't have anything to live for. Find something that gives your life a sense of meaning or value. This could be volunteering, an artistic pursuit, or finding some way to share your knowledge and perspective with others. Whatever you opt to pursue, having a sense that your life has meaning will make it easier to accept aging. Research shows that people with a sense of purpose often live longer! Not only will it make it easier for you to accept the stage of life you are in, it may give you some extra years to enjoy, too. Talk to people who are older than you. Fear can have a negative impact on your overall well-being. Familiarizing yourself with aging may help to dispel some of your fears about aging, and talking to people who are older than you is a good way to do this. Spend some time talking with an elderly relative or friend once per week. Ask about their experiences and listen to what they have to share. By spending time with someone who is older than you, you may start to find it easier to imagine an older version of yourself. Spending time with someone who is older than you may also start to demystify the aging process a bit and make it easier to accept. Exercise regularly. Staying physically active can make your body and mind feel better and can help promote a longer, healthier life. Staying active means you will be more able to keep doing things that make you happy. If you aren't physically active now, start small and work your way up. Start with easily achievable goals. Park farther away from the store and walk a little. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if you're only going up a couple of floors. Then, slowly start building more exercise into your routine. Stretching and yoga can help you stay flexible and maintain range of motion. This can help you maintain your ability to do other things you enjoy. Eat a healthy diet. As you get older, eating the right foods becomes increasingly important in ensuring the good health you need to retain a satisfying quality of life. Pay close attention to what you eat. Specifically: Make sure you get enough protein to help keep your muscles strong. Limit fat intake, and eat healthy fats like those found in fish and avocado. Drink plenty of water. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Consider dietary supplements. Talk to your doctor or a dietician about which one(s) might be most beneficial for you. Don't smoke. Everyone knows cigarettes are bad for your health. They are bad for your skin and lungs and can cause cancer. Cigarettes have also been linked to faster mental decline in elderly people. If you already smoke, try to quit. Even if you have smoked for years, quitting may have a positive effect. If you don't smoke, don't start. Try meditation. Daily meditation can help you deal with physical discomfort that might come with aging, and can also help with the anxiety and depression you might experience if you are struggling to accept aging. Try to clear your mind of all thoughts and focus on your breathing for several minutes. If thoughts begin to creep in, let them pass through your mind and return your focus to your breathing. See a doctor regularly. To make sure your health stays good, see your doctor regularly. Catching problems early can help you deal with them before they become serious. Be your own advocate and ask good questions when you go see the doctor. Bring your health history, and be assertive about asking questions about any concerns you may have. If this stressful for you, remember that it's okay to bring a friend of loved one with you. | Have realistic expectations. Try to relax. Avoid denial. Redefine attractiveness. Embrace your past, but don't try to relive it. Be proud and grateful. Keep learning. Try new things. Keep doing what you're good at. Stay social. Find a purpose. Talk to people who are older than you. Exercise regularly. Eat a healthy diet. Don't smoke. Try meditation. See a doctor regularly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Ice-Cream-from-Melting-in-a-Cooler | How to Keep Ice Cream from Melting in a Cooler | The best way to keep ice cream from melting in a cooler is to use dry ice, which you should purchase as close to the time you'll need it as you can. When you're ready to pack the cooler, place your ice cream on the bottom, then fill in any extra spaces in the cooler with towels or crumpled newspaper. Use gloves to place the dry ice carefully on top of the ice cream. After you've eaten the ice cream, leave the cooler open in a ventilated place to let the dry ice evaporate. | Buy about 10–20 pounds (4.5–9.1 kg) for a 40 quarts (38 L) ice chest. You can buy dry ice at most grocery stores for about $1.00-$3.00 USD per pound (0.45kg). Dry ice evaporates at a rate of about 5–10 pounds (2.3–4.5 kg) a day, so if you get it too far in advance, there won't be any left. Dry ice usually comes in 10 by 2 inches (25.4 cm × 5.1 cm) squares weighing about 10 pounds (4.5 kg). You'll need one square for every 15 inches (38 cm) of cooler length. You can make your own dry ice by spraying a CO2 fire extinguisher into a pillowcase for 2-3 seconds. Wear gloves, closed-toe shoes, and other protective gear if you try this yourself. Choose an insulated cooler with an air vent. Since dry ice creates vapor, make sure your cooler has an air vent or a valve that allows the gas to escape. If your cooler is completely airtight, the vapor will cause pressure to build up, which can lead to an explosion. If your cooler doesn't have a valve, leave the top open slightly. Plastic and styrofoam coolers are common options for storing dry ice. Use thick gloves to handle dry ice. Dry ice can “burn” your hands — although at temperatures of −109 °F (−78 °C), the burns are actually severe frostbite. Either way, don't let your bare skin come into contact with the block of dry ice when you're getting your ice cream out of the cooler! Place your ice cream on the bottom of the cooler. Since cold air sinks, dry ice works best when it's placed on top of the items that it needs to keep cool. If it's possible, you should put your dry ice on the top of the other items in the cooler. Wrap your dry ice in a towel and place it in the cooler. This will insulate the dry ice and keep it cooler longer. It will also help protect anything in the cooler from being damaged by the dry ice. Keep drinks and other snacks in a separate cooler so they don’t freeze. Dry ice is powerful enough to freeze anything beneath it. Keeping drinks and snacks in a separate cooler from your ice cream will help ensure they don't freeze, and it will also help prolong the life of your dry ice. Fill up all of the extra space in the cooler. Empty space in the cooler will cause the dry ice to evaporate more quickly. If you don't have enough food to place into the cooler, you can fill the cooler with regular ice or you can use fillers like towels or crumpled-up newspaper. Or just buy more ice cream! Close the lid securely after filling the cooler. Store your cooler in the trunk if you’ll be taking your ice cream on the road. As dry ice evaporates, it turns into carbon dioxide. In a small, closed-in space like a vehicle, the carbon dioxide buildup can cause you to become light-headed and even pass out. If you don't have room in your trunk, make sure you roll down your windows or set your air conditioner to circulate fresh air from outside. Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight. Your dry ice will stay cold longer if you keep it in the shade. Leave the dry ice at room temperature when you’re finished with it. Cleaning up dry ice is a breeze! Once you've finished your ice cream, just open your cooler and leave it in a well-ventilated place. The dry ice will convert to carbon dioxide and will simply dissipate into the air. Never dispose of dry ice in a sewer, sink, toilet, or garbage disposal. It can freeze and rupture the pipes, and may even lead to an explosion if the dry ice expands too quickly. Choose a high-quality insulated cooler. Not all coolers are created equal! Different brands use their own methods of insulation. A quality cooler from a brand like Yeti or Coleman is going to keep your ice cream from melting much more efficiently than a disposable styrofoam cooler. Chill the cooler before you fill it up. You definitely don't want to add your ice cream to a warm cooler. Bring your cooler inside to let it cool down. If you need to, pour a bucket of ice into the cooler to chill it. When you're ready to pack your ice cream, pour the ice out and refill the cooler with fresh ice. Put the ice cream on the bottom of your cooler. The items on the bottom of the cooler will stay the coldest. Items which don't need to stay frozen can go on the top of the cooler. Don't put anything that's warm into the cooler with your ice cream, since you need it to stay as cold as possible! Freeze a large block of ice to slow the melting process. Use a large pan or a casserole dish to create a bigger block of ice. The bigger the piece of ice, the longer it will stay frozen — and the longer your ice cream will take to melt! Add a layer of rock salt to your ice to slow down the melting process. Rock salt helps slow the melting rate of ice. In fact, rock salt was used for making old-fashioned ice cream! Scatter a handful or two of rock salt directly on top of the ice. Put the ice cream in freezer bags inside the cooler for added insulation. Reusable thermal freezer bags are often used at grocery stores to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Try placing your ice cream container into one of these bags, then place the bag into your cooler and surround it with ice. Fill any empty space in your cooler. Empty space will cause the ice in your cooler to melt more quickly. If you need to, pack the cooler with towels to fill it up completely. Keep your cooler shut as much as possible. The more you open your cooler, the faster the ice inside will melt. You may want to keep your drinks in a separate cooler, since people usually need to grab these more often. Try to keep your cooler out of direct sunlight. This might be hard if you're in a place without any shade, but try to put the cooler behind a chair or under an umbrella to keep it cool. | Buy about 10–20 pounds (4.5–9.1 kg) for a 40 quarts (38 L) ice chest. Choose an insulated cooler with an air vent. Use thick gloves to handle dry ice. Place your ice cream on the bottom of the cooler. Wrap your dry ice in a towel and place it in the cooler. Keep drinks and other snacks in a separate cooler so they don’t freeze. Fill up all of the extra space in the cooler. Store your cooler in the trunk if you’ll be taking your ice cream on the road. Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight. Leave the dry ice at room temperature when you’re finished with it. Choose a high-quality insulated cooler. Chill the cooler before you fill it up. Put the ice cream on the bottom of your cooler. Freeze a large block of ice to slow the melting process. Add a layer of rock salt to your ice to slow down the melting process. Put the ice cream in freezer bags inside the cooler for added insulation. Fill any empty space in your cooler. Keep your cooler shut as much as possible. Try to keep your cooler out of direct sunlight. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-SEO | How to Do SEO | To use Search Engine Optimization to attract more people to your website, first make sure you write unique, clear titles on each page of your site, since these titles are often what appear in search engines. It's helpful to choose concise, accurate titles and headers for the best results. You should also brainstorm the most relevant keywords and phrases to use on your website. You can find good keywords that will increase your website traffic by comparing words in Google Adwords, which allows you to see how often people search certain things. However, remember that your content is not just for SEO bots, but for people too, so make sure you're putting high-quality writing on your website that your audience will enjoy! | Brainstorm key words and phrases. Keywords are the words on your website that people are most likely to search for. Brainstorm several options related to the theme of your website. Businesses may want to conduct market research or run a focus group to help this process along. If you're starting a website on a small budget, just have a brainstorm session by yourself or with a few friends. If you'll be writing about products, search for similar products on online marketplaces. Look for common phrases in the product names and descriptions. Search for online forums related to your website topic. Read through some of the post titles and popular discussions to find topics of interest. Stick to keywords that accurately describe your website. If you only sell chairs, "furniture" is too broad and "bar stools" is irrelevant. There's no point attracting people who aren't interested in your website. Compare keywords with Google AdWords. This tool is aimed at advertisers, but website creators frequently use it to find out how often people search for their keywords. Sign up for a Google AdWords account , then visit the Keyword Planner Tool. Use the tools provided to narrow down your search: First, fill out the Search for new keyword... form with a few generic descriptions of your website. From the results, add popular keywords that describe your website to your brainstorm list. Next, enter all the keywords from your brainstorm list into the Get search volume... form. Optionally, select a location for your target audience, but only if you're focusing on local content. Ignore the Negative Keywords option, which is only relevant for advertisers. Use the results to narrow down your option. In the Keyword Planner results, look at the "Average Monthly Volume" column (ignoring the other, advertiser-focused columns). Cross any phrases off your list that don't reach your target search volume. What this search volume is depends on how you're using the keyword: Keywords for your home page or overarching website theme should have thousands of searches each month. A keyword for a single product page or blog post should have hundreds of searches. A search volume under 100 means that your website can probably get into the top results for that term. Since very few people will see those results, this is only useful if building a niche community or running a business with a small number of high-profit transactions. Check your competition. You've narrowed your options down to the most popular searches, but you're not done yet. If large companies and well-established websites are targeting the same term, your website might be pushed out of the results. First, sign out of your Google account to make sure the results aren't tailored to you. Search for each phrase separately in a search engine, to get an idea of the current competition. These are all signs that the keyword will face heavy competition, and should probably not be your main focus: More than 10 million results. The maximum number of ads (on Google, that's 3 on the top and 7 on the right) Famous websites at the top of the results The exact keyword phrase appears in the title of several top results. Learn how to use keywords. Stuffing as many keywords as possible into your site is no longer a good way to climb the rankings. Use the keywords a couple times near the start of the page, and wherever it seems relevant. Keywords are mostly useful for titles, headers, and URLS, as described in the next section. You won't be penalized for using keywords so common that they're ordinary phrases, such as "San Francisco" or "macaroni and cheese." Penalties show up much faster as you repeat hyper-specific keywords, such as "fast easy macaroni and cheese at home." Choose clear, unique titles. Every page on your website should have a unique title. Each search engine displays the title of the page when it displays results, and may use the title to figure out what the page is about. This is an excellent place to use keywords, but only if they accurately describe the content on the page. Keep the title short, since search engines will cut off the title after a certain length. If you're writing the HTML yourself, type in <title>Your Title Here</title> inside the <header> section. If you are using website creation tools, the title is usually generated from the name of your blog post. You may be able to change it in the settings or the "header" document. Write accurate descriptions and headers. These should be helpful and easy for real people to read. They don't have a major effect on ranking by themselves, but they're still one of your best tools for bringing the right people to your site. Use keywords if they accurately describe the page, but focus on the reader, not the bots. To add a description in HTML, type <meta name="description" content="Write two to five sentences here describing what this page is about.">. This will not show up on the page, but some of it may show up in search engine results. Think of headers as smaller titles for each section of a long page. These do show up on the page, so choose short headers that people can use to quickly find content. These come in several sizes, from <h1>The Most Important</h1> to <h6>the least important</h6>. If you are using website or blog software instead of HTML, you may need to read the FAQ to find out how to add descriptions and headers. Structure your website for ease of use. Your website probably has many pages. Both search engine bots and actual visitors should be able to easily find every page, figure out what each is for, and navigate between them. Here are some tips to accomplish this: Organize your site directory. Each folder in your site directory should have a clear purpose and name. You want a URL like wikihow.com/making-websites/seo, not vague or unclear URLs like wikihow.com/directory7/hi-guys. Make sure you can reach any page by starting at the home page and clicking links. A page that can only be reached from another site or by manually typing the URL will not show up at all on search engine results. Add "breadcrumb navigation" at the top or bottom of each page, so visitors can easily return to more general pages. For instance, a chocolate cupcake recipe might have breadcrumb links "Home → Baking → Cupcakes" Submit a sitemap to search engines. There are many free sitemap generating websites that will create an organized list of pages on your website. Submit this XML Sitemap using Google WebMaster tools , and preferably to other search engines such as Yahoo and Bing as well. If you are using blogging software, you may be able to download a plugin that does this for you. Be skeptical about SEO tricks. The steps above allow search engines to find each page on your site, and identify what it's about. Many site owners want to learn further "tricks" to get their page higher up the ranking. These appealing shortcuts have little to no effect. Search engines frequently update their algorithms to close these loopholes, often turning what was once a mild boost into a severe ranking penalty. Here are a few examples of SEO practices that will only harm your website: Don't use keywords in anchors (text displayed as links), although brand names are fine. Don't add keywords as text invisible to the user. Search engine bots don't care what color your text is, they can still see it and penalize you for keyword stuffing. Don't use keywords unrelated to your topic. This may initially attract more visitors, but your rankings will soon plummet when search engines notice that all of them leave right away. Write content for people, not search engines. Many people make the mistake of thinking that only search engine bots matter for SEO. Actually, you should think of the work you do for bots as basic preparation. You've invited people to your party, sent out invitations, and made sure everyone knows the place and time. If you want people to actually show up and enjoy themselves — and get your site higher in the rankings — you need to make content that real visitors enjoy. If you ever write a paragraph that doesn't help the user, delete it. Check all content for grammar, spelling, and readability. Try not to wander off topic or pad the article with unnecessary content. Be objective and honest. Customers can tell when a business gets "pushy," and they don't like it. Many more people will return to your site and recommend it to friends if the content seems balanced and objective. It's all right to advertise a product, but don't go over the top with your claims. Use hard facts to sell your product. Explain how your product is different from your competitors', and why that makes it better. If possible, include data from unbiased sources, not just your own research. If you're running a personal website, be honest about the products you endorse. Endorse products you actually use and enjoy, and be honest about their flaws. User content is inherently more trustworthy. A basic comment system is a good start, but consider including forums for user discussion, or featuring especially good comments as their own blog post. Appeal to mobile users and casual browsers. Phones and tablets make up more of the internet browsing audience every year. Try viewing your website on a small screen and think about how you could improve the experience. Images and video content attract much more attention than a wall of text. Keep the in-depth content, but don't use it as your top-of-the-page hook. Attract links. If you make contacts within your field, especially within a blogging community, you may be able to ask for links directly. More commonly, you'll need to build content that news organizations and respected blogs find worthwhile, and build enough presence that they discover the content and link to it. Try to think of content that no one else has, whether that's useful advice or an appealing personal story. More direct opportunities are harder to come by, but keep an eye out for the following: Look at news sites or blogs that frequently link out to your type of content. If you discover a dead link, contact the author of the page and suggest that they replace the article with something focused on your content instead. Educational or government sources tend to have higher authority. If you can write a review of their programs or volunteer your services, you may earn a valuable backlink. Never purchase backlinks. Once search engines detect this, you will receive a severe penalty to your rankings. Earn authority. Easier said than done, becoming an authority in your field will earn you a respected spot in the rankings. All of the steps above will help achieve this in the long term, but consider the following as well: Use content creators with name recognition or professional qualifications, even if it's just for a guest post. Share your content on social media. | Brainstorm key words and phrases. Compare keywords with Google AdWords. Use the results to narrow down your option. Check your competition. Learn how to use keywords. Choose clear, unique titles. Write accurate descriptions and headers. Structure your website for ease of use. Submit a sitemap to search engines. Be skeptical about SEO tricks. Write content for people, not search engines. Be objective and honest. Appeal to mobile users and casual browsers. Attract links. Earn authority. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Guy-Want-to-Kiss-You | How to Make a Guy Want to Kiss You | While you can't make a guy kiss you, catching his attention and getting him alone in the right setting will increase your chances. Smile at him or say you're enjoying spending time with him, which will let him know you're interested in him. Act confident by making eye contact and chatting to people around you, since confidence is attractive to guys. If you're hanging out, flirt with him by laughing at his jokes or making light physical contact. Find a reason to get alone with him. For example, you could ask him to come outside with you or say you have something to show him in your room. | Make him work for it. You've met an incredibly gorgeous guy; the last thing you want to do is over-inflate his ego right away. Don't shower him with attention. Instead, show him that you refuse to be wowed easily. He's probably used to the attention, so he'll like that you seem slightly out of reach for him. Give him space so that he thinks it was him that made the choice to see you again. Don't gush over him. If he mentions doing something that sounds amazing, you can comment on it but don't talk about how amazing it must've been for hours. Let him know you’re happy that you know him. Leave it at that. While you guys are talking, just mention that you think he's a cool guy and you're happy that he's in your life. Once again, don't gush. All you're doing is securing your spot in his mind. If you aren't going to run into him, you can mention it during a texting conversation. Set a casual time to hang out. Make sure he's going to a party, or see if he wants to meet up after the home game. You don't need to specify a time and place that it will be only you and him. You can meet him in a group setting and pull him aside during it. Keep lip gloss on. When you do run into him, you want your lips to be something that he notices. This is easily done by wearing lip gloss and occasionally licking your lips. Put yourself out there. It doesn't matter how sexy your outfit is, or how good your makeup looks, you need to make sure you don't second guess yourself. Guys like it when you're comfortable in your own skin. If you're not confident about it, a guy can tell in a matter of minutes and be turned off. Make him focus on you. A great way to get noticed is by suggesting the two of you get away. Tell him you want to take him outside to show him something, or that you have pictures in you room for him to see. This will create time alone where he focuses on only you. Have your lip gloss on for this time alone. Be playful. Guys steer clear of girls who seem uptight. A playful attitude will show him that you have a sense of humor, and a guy is more likely to kiss a girl with a sense of humor. Laugh at him and lean in to touch his shoulder as you do. This will show him that you're both playful and interested in him. Lean into him while he's talking. Simply sit next to him and lean your shoulders toward him to show him that you're drawn to him. Compliment him. Use body and appearance-specific compliments to show him that you're interested and that you notice him. ”You look so handsome.” ”You weren't kidding when you said you were working out. Look at you!” Pull him into the right setting. When you take him away from the crowds and take him to a private place to talk, it should set the mood. Not only does this keep his attention on you, but it makes him consider kissing you. It doesn't have to be overly romantic—just somewhere that the two of you will be comfortable. | Make him work for it. Let him know you’re happy that you know him. Set a casual time to hang out. Keep lip gloss on. Put yourself out there. Make him focus on you. Be playful. Compliment him. Pull him into the right setting. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Reheat-Chinese-Food | How to Reheat Chinese Food | To reheat Chinese food, heat it in a pan over the stove with some oil and water. If you're trying to reheat rice or noodles, put them in a microwave-safe dish and add a splash of water. Then, cover the dish with a wet paper towel and microwave the food at 30-second intervals until it's hot. You can also reheat soup by pouring it into a pot over medium-high heat and waiting until it starts to steam. | Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large pan or wok. Make sure that the pan/wok is big enough to fit all of your stir-fry. If it is too small, the food won't reheat properly and turn out soggy. For best results, use a flavorless cooking oil, such as vegetable or canola. Avoid coconut or olive oil, as they may affect the final flavor too much. Add the stir-fry into the pan or wok. If you have different types of stir-fry to reheat, stick with just one type for now. You don't want to mix the different flavors. Spread the food as evenly as you can across the bottom of the pan. Watch for oil splatters. The pan may sizzle when you add the stir-fry to it. Add about 1 to 3 tablespoons (15 to 45 mL) of water into the pan. This might seem a little unusual, but it's the key to reviving the flavors in your meal. It will also help rehydrate the sauces that may have dried out during storage. Without the water, the stir-fry will turn out too dry. The larger your portion is, the more water you will need to use. Have a measuring cup filled with water nearby. You will be adding water gradually to the stir-fry as it cooks to keep it moist. Cook and stir the food, adding water as needed, until it is hot. As the food cooks, the water will begin to evaporate. If the food is not cooked through, then you will need to add another 1 to 3 tablespoons (15 to 45 mL) of water to rehydrate it, and cook it longer. Just keep cooking, stirring, and adding water until the food is hot. This should only take a few minutes. Stir the food often with a wooden spatula. If you don't have one, use a large, wooden spoon instead. How often you add the water depends on how dry the food looks. If the food starts to look dry and stick to the pan, it's time for more water. How long this takes will depend on how cold and dry the food was to begin with. The colder and drier the stir-fry was, the longer this process will take. Place the rice or noodles into a microwave-safe dish. This method works for white rice, fried rice, and lo mein. You can use it for other types of Chinese noodles too, as well as stir-fry. Add a splash of water to white rice, then cover it with a wet paper towel. This is only necessary for white rice and stir-fry; you do not need to do this for fried rice or noodles. The reason for this is because white rice is steamed, and steamed foods lose moisture in the microwave. Make sure that the wet paper towel is actually touching the rice. If there are any clumps in the white rice, break them up with a fork first. Heat the food at 20 to 30-second intervals until it is cooked through. Between each interval, give the food a brief stir. How many intervals you end up doing depends on how cold the food was when you put it into the microwave as well as the size of the portion. Cook white rice and stir-fry on high. Cook noodles and fried rice on medium-power. Reheat soup in a pot on the stove for larger portions. Pour the soup into a pot, then set the pot on the stove. Turn the heat up to medium or medium-high, and wait for the soup to start to steam. Continue the soup to cook until it reaches your desired temperature. How long you cook the soup for really depends on how hot you want it to be. It will typically take a few minutes for soup to get warm, however. Stir the soup often as it cooks, and don't let it come to a boil. Reheat smaller portions of soup in the microwave at 30-second intervals until it reaches your desired temperature. Stir the soup well between each interval. Reheat steamed bao or stuffed buns in a steamer. Fill the pot with 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of water, then insert a steamer basket. Bring the water to a boil, then add the buns. Place a tight-fitting lid over the pot, then steam the buns for a few minutes until they are hot. If you are in a hurry, wrap the buns in a damp paper towel, then cook them in the microwave until they are hot. This will take about 30 to 60 seconds. Reheat fried dumplings in a pan. Place about 1 teaspoon of oil and water in a pan, then add the fried dumplings. Fry the dumplings over medium-high heat until they are crisp, turning them often. The dumplings are ready when they are hot and crispy. This will typically take about 2 to 3 minutes. Fried dumplings include pot stickers and Shanghai bao. Cook steamed dumplings in a covered pan with some water. Place 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of water into a small skillet. Add your steamed dumplings , then cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Cook the dumplings over medium-low heat until they are heated through. This should only take about 2 to 3 minutes. Alternatively, place the dumplings into a dish with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water. Cover them loosely with a lid, then cook them at 30-second intervals until they're hot. Bake dim sum pastries at 350 °F (177 °C) for up to 15 minutes. Because of their crispy texture, you don't want to put these into the microwave, or they will release too much moisture and turn soggy. Instead, eat dim sum leftovers by putting them into a preheated oven, and baking them until they are hot and sizzling. This will typically take about 10 to 15 minutes. It's best to reheat these on a rack, but you can use a foil-lined baking sheet too. | Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large pan or wok. Add the stir-fry into the pan or wok. Add about 1 to 3 tablespoons (15 to 45 mL) of water into the pan. Cook and stir the food, adding water as needed, until it is hot. Place the rice or noodles into a microwave-safe dish. Add a splash of water to white rice, then cover it with a wet paper towel. Heat the food at 20 to 30-second intervals until it is cooked through. Reheat soup in a pot on the stove for larger portions. Reheat steamed bao or stuffed buns in a steamer. Reheat fried dumplings in a pan. Cook steamed dumplings in a covered pan with some water. Bake dim sum pastries at 350 °F (177 °C) for up to 15 minutes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Great-Host-or-Hostess-in-a-Restaurant | How to Be a Great Host or Hostess in a Restaurant | To be a great host or hostess in a restaurant, start your shift by making sure you have everything you need in the host stand, like pens, highlighters, paper, and the seating chart. When guests start to arrive, greet them with a smile, welcome them to the restaurant, and ask how many people they have in their party. On busy nights, help to clear and set the tables so you can get waiting guests seated as promptly as possible. Then, show your guests to their table and make sure they're seated comfortably before you return to the host stand. Guests will also appreciate being acknowledged on their way out, so thank them or wish them a good night as they walk past your station. | Make sure you have all of the supplies you need before your shift starts. You should have plenty of pens and highlighters, a seating chart, and paper for making notes at your host stand. If there's anything you need, ask your manager to bring it to you. You should also check to make sure there is plenty of clean silverware available. Keep track of each section. Make a chart of the table layout and each server's station. Keep track of how many tables are seated in each section, how many people are in each party, and what time each party arrived. This will help you assign new tables to the servers who have the most open tables. If your restaurant takes reservations, be sure to factor them in when you're planning your seating chart! Communicate with your servers. You need to know if a server is overwhelmed with just 2 tables or if they can handle another one even if they already have a 6-top. The best way to know what your servers can handle is to talk to them. Remember that you're all working on the same team! If possible, ask busy servers if they're ready for another table before you seat them. You can also ask servers if they're comfortable handling big groups if you have a large party come in. Walk the floor to keep track of the tables. Sometimes during a hectic dinner shift, you might lose track of who's already left. If that's the case, ask someone to watch your host stand and walk the floor with your seating chart. Look for any tables that are marked as seated but which are actually free. You can also check to see which customers have moved on to dessert, as the server in that section will probably be ready for a new table soon. Help to clear and set tables when necessary. You probably won't be expected to bus and set tables as part of your job description, but you should be willing to lend a helping hand when you're needed. Wipe down tables, put down silverware, and straighten chairs when you're not busy doing anything else. Greet guests with a smile and welcome them to the restaurant. You're the first chance the restaurant has to make an impression, so make sure you're aware whenever new guests arrive. Greet guests warmly, addressing them by name if they are repeat customers. Let guests know right away if there will be a wait so they can decide whether they want to make other dinner plans. If you're busy with another guest when someone arrives, acknowledge the new arrival with a smile or by saying something like “I'll be right with you!” Ask how many people are in the party. Don't assume that just because 2 people walk in that they will be the only ones in their party. The rest of their group might not have joined them yet. Always ask so you'll know what size table your guests need. Ask customers if they have a seating preference. Guests with a larger frame might not be comfortable squeezed into a small booth, and customers who have trouble walking might prefer a seat close to the door so they don't have to walk as far. Make your best judgement call, but don't be afraid to ask your customers what type of seating they'd prefer. Answer the phone promptly. The host of a restaurant is usually the one responsible for answering the phone. Make sure you answer the phone promptly and professionally. State the name of the restaurant, your name, and ask the caller how you can help them. Politely ask if you can put them on hold if you're busy. Maintain your composure even if the restaurant gets hectic. When the dinner rush hits, it can be hard to stay calm and composed, but if you get frazzled, the whole restaurant could become disorganized. If you feel stressed, take deep breaths and remember that even the busiest dinner service will be over in a couple of hours. Show your guests to their table. Make sure you do not walk faster than your customers. Walk slightly ahead of them, carrying menus and silverware to the table where you want them to sit. Ask if the table is okay before the customers sit down. Apologize to your customers if they have had to wait long. Most customers expect to wait at least 10 minutes to be seated at a restaurant, especially if they didn't have a reservation. If your guests have waited much longer than that, offer a sincere apology as you show them to their table. Ask management if it's okay to comp them a free drink or appetizer (but don't offer it to the guests until you get permission). Make sure your guests are seated comfortably. If the restaurant is slow, try to seat guests at a table that's not directly next to another full table. Of course, if the restaurant is very busy, guests will have to sit near other diners, but try to make sure all of your guests have enough space to be comfortable. Rotate stations. By seating guests in rotating sections, you'll help ensure that all of your servers are able to make money for the night. Rotating stations will also help keep servers from becoming overwhelmed by getting several tables at the same time. Place a menu and silverware for each guest at their place setting. You never want to throw all of the menus down on a table, as this seems rude and dismissive. Instead, carefully lay a menu and silverware at each place setting, and make sure your guests are seated before you leave the table. Be prepared to get water or other small items for guests. If they request more than that, politely let them know that their server will be right with them. Speak to guests as they leave. You're the last person guests will have contact with, so offer a friendly farewell to guests as they walk out the door. This will help them leave feeling like they had a pleasant dining experience. | Make sure you have all of the supplies you need before your shift starts. Keep track of each section. Communicate with your servers. Walk the floor to keep track of the tables. Help to clear and set tables when necessary. Greet guests with a smile and welcome them to the restaurant. Ask how many people are in the party. Ask customers if they have a seating preference. Answer the phone promptly. Maintain your composure even if the restaurant gets hectic. Show your guests to their table. Apologize to your customers if they have had to wait long. Make sure your guests are seated comfortably. Rotate stations. Place a menu and silverware for each guest at their place setting. Speak to guests as they leave. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Acidic-Foods | How to Avoid Acidic Foods | If you want to avoid acidic foods, watch out for fruits and vegetables that taste sour or tangy, including tomatoes, oranges, grapes, and pickled vegetables. However, it is safe to eat most green vegetables and legumes, like peas and beans, as well as mild, sweet fruits like bananas, melons, or papayas. You should also be cautious of spices and condiments, which can sometimes stimulate the production of excess stomach acid. For example, stay away from vinegar and vinegar-based salad dressings, as well as ketchup, mustard, and spices like black pepper or chili powder. When you're choosing a beverage, avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeinated teas, and coffee. Instead, opt for herbal tea or low-fat milk, which will be gentler on your teeth and stomach. | Watch out for acidic fruits and vegetables. Many types of fruit are naturally acidic, especially those that taste sour or tangy. While most vegetables are not particularly acidic, canned or pickled veggies are often acidified as part of the preservation process. If you're trying to cut back on acidic foods, a few fruits and vegetables to watch out for include: Citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, lemons, and limes. Apples, especially tart varieties like Granny Smith. Cherries and berries. Grapes, particularly tangy varieties such as Concords and the Niagara. Rhubarb. Tomatoes. Many varieties of pickled vegetables, such as cucumbers, peppers, and onions. Limit your juice intake. Just like the fruits they come from, many juices have a high acid content. Juices such as apple, grapefruit, cranberry, pineapple, orange, or lemon are particularly acidic. Vegetable juice blends may not taste as tangy as their fruity counterparts, but they can be high in acids, too. Use caution when selecting spices and condiments. A variety of spices and condiments are naturally acidic, while others may stimulate the production of excess acid in your stomach. If you are acid-sensitive, you may need to avoid: Vinegar and vinegar-based salad dressings. Catsup and other tomato-based sauces, such as cocktail sauce. Mustard. Chili sauce. Spices that stimulate the production of stomach acid, such as black pepper, red pepper, and chili powder. Cut back on carbonated beverages. Carbonated drinks are a major culprit in tooth decay, and not just because many of them are high in sugar. Most of them also contain phosphoric and citric acids. Soft drinks that contain caffeine can also stimulate excessive stomach acid production. Minimize your alcohol intake. Many types of alcoholic drinks, such as beer and wine, are fairly acidic. Additionally, beverages with a low ethanol content are major stimulants of stomach acid production, with beer being the worst offender. If you have trouble managing your alcohol use and are concerned about the possible health risks, talk to your doctor about the safest way to cut back or quit. Alcoholic beverages can also stimulate the accumulation of uric acid around the joints, contributing to painful conditions such as gout. Avoid acidic desserts. In addition to being packed with refined sugars, candies and desserts often contain citric acid or acidic fruit juices. Watch out for sour candies, tart pies, and fruit-flavored gelatin desserts. Honey is also surprisingly acidic, with a pH ranging from 3.70-4.20. Cut out coffee to reduce stomach acid secretion. Coffee, even when it is decaffeinated, can cause your stomach to produce excessive amounts of acid. Drinking coffee may aggravate symptoms of indigestion and ulcers. It also causes acid reflux and heartburn in many people. Although switching to tea may seem like a good bet if you're trying to kick the coffee habit, teas containing caffeine (such as black, green, and white tea) also stimulate the production of stomach acid. Select low-acid fruits and vegetables. If you're craving fruit, choose sweet, mild-tasting options like banana, melon, or papaya. Most green vegetables and legumes (such as peas and beans) are also safe options, especially if they are fresh or frozen rather than pickled or canned. Switch to low-acid juices. Avoiding acidic foods doesn't have to mean giving up juices altogether. Choose gentle juices like aloe juice, papaya juice, or coconut water. Go with herbal teas for hot beverage options. Coffee and tea, especially when caffeinated, are powerful stimulants of stomach acid secretion. However, some herbal brews, such as chamomile tea, can actually reduce your stomach's acid production. Ginger tea can also help relieve symptoms of acid reflux. If you don't want to give up black or green tea, switching to decaf versions can alleviate a lot of their acid-stimulating properties. Black and green tea are also great at combatting the bacteria that create acidic plaque on your teeth. Indulge in low-fat dairy. Dairy products are generally low in acid and gentle on the teeth and stomach. However, high-fat dairy can aggravate gastric symptoms like acid reflux. Stick to fat-free or low-fat milk, plain low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheeses. Try low-acid, low-fat condiments and seasonings. Instead of tart, spicy, or tomato-based condiments, try the reduced-fat or fat-free versions of creamy condiments, such as mayo, sour cream, cream cheese, or ranch or blue cheese dressing. Some oils, such as sesame oil, can enhance the flavor of your food while also soothing an upset stomach. Replace spicy and acid-stimulating spices (like black and red pepper) with gentler alternatives, such as: Basil Cilantro Oregano Rosemary Ginger Pick mild desserts. If you have a sweet tooth, satisfy it with treats that are sweet instead of tart. Light angel-food cake, sponge cake, or low-fat cookies are fairly safe bets. Low-fat ice cream or custard are also good choices. However, skip the chocolate—the caffeine that it contains can stimulate stomach acid production. Eat a well-balanced diet. Even when you're trying to minimize acid, it's still important to get a full range of nutrients in your diet. Look for low-acid foods that meet all your nutritional needs, such as: Sweet fruits (like bananas or melons) and leafy, green vegetables. Sources of lean, healthy protein such as fresh fish and shellfish, poultry breast, and legumes (peas and beans). Whole grains, such as oats, wheat, and rice. Healthy fats, such as those found in olive oil, fish, and nuts. Low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk and reduced-fat cheese. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider. If you're wondering how acidic foods might be affecting your health, talk to your general healthcare provider (HCP). Your HCP will probably ask you questions about your eating habits and health history, and they may perform a physical to check your overall health. Tell them about any symptoms or conditions you have that might be affected by acid in your diet, such as: Heartburn or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), also known as acid reflux. Dyspepsia (indigestion) or ulcers. Gout. Urinary tract symptoms, such as an overactive bladder. See a registered dietitian, if your healthcare provider recommends it. If your healthcare provider thinks that excessive acid in your diet may be affecting your health, they may recommend dietary changes. A registered dietitian can help you choose the foods that are healthiest for you while also maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet. Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian if you need to make major changes to your eating habits. Talk to your dentist about how acids may be affecting your teeth. If you have dental problems, such as enamel erosion or tooth decay , acid in your diet may be a contributing factor. Tell your dentist about your dietary habits, and ask them to recommend foods that are healthier for your teeth. Pay attention to how different foods affect you. While certain health conditions, such indigestion or acid reflux, may be aggravated by acidic foods, different people are affected in different ways. Make note of which foods seem to trigger your symptoms or make them worse. If you notice a connection between your symptoms and particular foods, talk to your healthcare provider or dietitian about reducing your intake or eliminating those foods from your diet. For example, people with nonulcer dyspepsia (indigestion) may find that their symptoms are triggered by citrus fruits or other acidic fruits and vegetables. | Watch out for acidic fruits and vegetables. Limit your juice intake. Use caution when selecting spices and condiments. Cut back on carbonated beverages. Minimize your alcohol intake. Avoid acidic desserts. Cut out coffee to reduce stomach acid secretion. Select low-acid fruits and vegetables. Switch to low-acid juices. Go with herbal teas for hot beverage options. Indulge in low-fat dairy. Try low-acid, low-fat condiments and seasonings. Pick mild desserts. Eat a well-balanced diet. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider. See a registered dietitian, if your healthcare provider recommends it. Talk to your dentist about how acids may be affecting your teeth. Pay attention to how different foods affect you. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Growth-Plan | How to Write a Growth Plan | A well-drafted growth plan will help you identify growth opportunities and budget for the expansion. To write your growth plan, start by identifying areas of potential growth, such as adding new products or services, expanding into new territories or markets, and increasing your marketing to sell more existing products. Once you've decided on a direction for your growth, take a look at your goal and figure out what your business is already doing well and where it needs to improve. Use this to write a 5-year growth plan, detailing the steps you'll take to put the plan in motion. Then, write a financial plan, including your current financial situation, the amount of capital you need to raise, and how you'll secure it. If you need to hire extra staff for your expansion, include this in the plan and how much it'll cost. | Identify growth opportunities. Unlike a regular business plan, a growth plan focuses specifically on growth opportunities. There are many ways to grow your business, including the following: Add new products or services. For example, you might run a nail salon. You could expand your offerings by turning the business into a day spa, complete with massage. Sell more products. You might have a boutique that sells vintage clothing. You can try to increase new sales by changing your marketing. Open in a new location. If you have a brick-and-mortar business, you can expand by opening another store in a new area. Target a different or additional market. There might be a larger market that remains untapped. For example, if you offer massage services to women, you might want to add men as a target market. Alternately, you might be targeting middle-class consumers. Instead, you could gear your business toward high-income people. Go global. Get a website so that you can sell to many different countries. Plan on creating a website and selling into markets you'll never visit in person. Review your staffing needs. When a business grows, it often needs additional staff. You should review your staffing needs before you start to write the plan. Assess your current employees and their skills. You need to understand whether your current staff can help you achieve your growth plans or whether you need to hire other staff. Ask your current staff for help analyzing staffing needs. Ask them what other skills they have. Someone might be able to fill a new position created when you expand. If you need to hire staff, visit websites like PayScale or Glassdoor and check how much those employees normally make. Confirm whether you can afford to expand. Unfortunately, it takes money to make more money. For example, if you want to open a new location, you'll need to rent retail space (or buy it). Even if you want to expand using a website, you'll need to hire someone to create the site and possibly maintain it. Also, your shipping costs will increase. Go through your budget and check what you can afford. Check how much excess cash your business has, if any, and whether you have a line of credit or business credit card you can use. Find sample growth plans. Look online or ask other businesses. If you approach a current business owner, it's probably best to contact someone in a different industry. A competitor probably doesn't want to share the secrets of their success. Study the layout and overall design of the plan. You want a growth plan that looks professional. Copy what impresses you. Get help from a business counselor. In the U.S., each state has a Small Business Development Center that can help you write your growth plan. You can find your nearest SBDC at this website: https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/sbdc. Search by state. Write your executive summary. In the first section, you should summarize your growth plan. This summary shouldn't be too long: one to three pages is sufficient. You may want to write it last, though it will go first. Describe the current business. In the second section, describe your current business. Remember to include the following as part of your description: Description of your business. For example, “Jackson Data Processing is a two-person partnership that provides data entry and coding to medical offices.” Products or Services you offer. For example, “We collate, enter, and analyze client data before submitting it to appropriate government agencies and private insurers. We provide a one-time service, as well as regular billing and coding.” Unique characteristics of the business, if any. Provide a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Your third section should be your SWOT analysis. The purpose of this analysis is to address how you can take advantage of opportunities using your strengths, and how you can protect against threats by improving on weaknesses or further developing your strengths. Provide information about the following: Strengths. Identify what your business does well. Think broadly and include tangible as well as intangible strengths. You should identify strengths in all areas of the business, such as marketing, finance, service, etc. For example, tangible strengths might include a great location or established customer base. Weaknesses. Identify what your business doesn't do well. These should be things within your control. For example, a bad economy is not a business weakness since you don't control it. Think of weaknesses such as limited resources, inferior technology, inexperienced staff, and poor location. Opportunities. These are external to your business. Generally, opportunities are situations you can exploit to your own advantage. For example, your industry may be booming. In that case, you may try to sell more units or sell additional products in order to grow your business. Alternately, an aging population might present an opportunity for you to target this market. Opportunities can be long-term or short-term. Threats. A threat is something beyond your control that could undermine your business. For example, competition is always a threat. However, other threats include increasing government regulations, technological innovations, or negative press attention. A declining customer base could also be a threat. If so, you might pursue growth opportunities by moving to a new location or targeting different consumer markets. Outline your five-year growth plan. Based on your SWOT analysis, you will devise a growth plan. Ideally, you should leverage existing strengths while pursuing growth opportunities. If you might be impeded by a weakness, then your five-year plan should explain how you will address that weakness. A growth plan should contain the following information: Expansion opportunities. Identify the growth opportunities you intend to pursue and why they are the right choices based on your SWOT analysis. For example, interest rates may be low, and you intend to borrow to open a new store in a growing area. Marketing plan. You should identify your target market and your means of reaching them, by way of paid advertising or other methods. Discuss the costs of your marketing plan, and what kinds of free marketing you can use, such as using social media or increasing word-of-mouth by encouraging customers to leave a review online. Demographics of the market area. For example, what is the typical age, gender, education, and income of your targeted market and what are the demographics of the area where you will be expanding. Include information on your team. Based on your analysis, you should list the employees you will need when you expand your business. Also identify the team members you will have to hire in the coming year to successfully expand. Write your financial plan. Your financial plan will take stock of your current business and identify the money you will need to fund your growth plan. Include the following information: Your current financial situation. Include profit and loss statements , cash flow analysis , etc. The amount of capital you will need. Your costs of operations. Explain your fixed costs, such as employee salaries, rent, and insurance. A “break even” analysis. This is the point when you start making a profit. You will need to calculate this point using your fixed and variable costs. Create an appendix. You can create an appendix for documents you want the reader to see. Some documents, like profit and loss statements, need to go in the body of the plan because they are so important. However, other helpful information can go in the appendix. For example, you might include background data for your company or a copy of a market survey used to develop your growth plan. You can also include copies of legal documents, such as your Articles of Incorporation. Pull your credit report. If you need a loan to finance your expansion, you'll have to go to a bank, which will get a copy of your credit report. Accordingly, you should check your report for errors. You are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Get your copy in one of the following way: Call 1-877-322-8228. You can request reports from all three agencies at once. Your copy should be mailed to you. Visit annualcreditreport.com. You will need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number for identity verification. Complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form, available here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0093-annual-report-request-form.pdf. Mail it to the address on the form. Dispute errors in your credit report. There are many common errors that can lower your overall credit score. It is important to correct them right away. Common errors in reports include the following: Someone else's account being listed on your report. You might have a similar name or Social Security Number. Accounts opened as a result of identity theft. Accounts reported inaccurately. For example, an account might be reported as late or delinquent when you haven't missed a payment. An account that appears more than once. Information that should have fallen off the report but which still appears. For example, unpaid debts should fall off after seven years. A mistake made in the balance owed or in your credit limit. Identify the types of loans available. A small business has many different options for getting a loan. You should understand all of them before you go ahead and apply. Consider the following types of small business loans: SBA loans. The Small Business Administration guarantees loans for some small businesses. You get the loan from a regular bank, but the SBA will pay the bank if you default. SBA loans have favorable terms, though they require a lot of paperwork. SBA offers many types of loans, depending on your needs. You can get a loan to purchase equipment or buildings, expand your business, or to provide for working capital. Conventional bank loans. These may be easier to get than SBA loans and generally have low interest rates. However, the repayment period is typically shorter than with an SBA loan. Alternative lenders. If you don't have great credit, you might seek out online lenders, such as Fundation and Kabbage. You will probably have to pay much higher interest rates. Gather required financial documents. To apply for an SBA loan, you will need to submit a considerable number of supporting documents. You should gather them ahead of time. For example, you will need to submit the following: Business plan or growth plan Personal credit report Resumes for all members of management Personal and business income tax returns Personal financial statements Personal and business bank statements Legal documents, such as copies of your contracts, business licenses, leases, and articles of incorporation | Identify growth opportunities. Review your staffing needs. Confirm whether you can afford to expand. Find sample growth plans. Get help from a business counselor. Write your executive summary. Describe the current business. Provide a SWOT analysis. Outline your five-year growth plan. Include information on your team. Write your financial plan. Create an appendix. Pull your credit report. Dispute errors in your credit report. Identify the types of loans available. Gather required financial documents. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hint-for-a-Kiss-from-a-Guy | How to Hint for a Kiss from a Guy | To subtly hint for a kiss from a guy, make eye contact and break the touch barrier by touching him on the shoulder or arm. If he still isn't getting the hint, try looking at his lips once or twice during the conversation - but be careful to not overdo it! At the end of a date, invite a kiss by lingering as you say goodbye. If all else fails, go for it yourself! | Move in closer. You have to be close to each other to kiss , and the less distance a guy has to travel to kiss you, the easier it is for him to give it a try. So get close. When the moment seems right, put your face close to his and look at him expectantly. You could also try moving in as though you're going to kiss him. For example, you could try giving him a long, intimate hug, and before you unwrap your arms or pull your body away, lean your head back. This will give him a chance to move in for the kiss. Talk about kissing. If the guy isn't taking your subtle hints, bring up kissing in conversation. If you're watching a movie together and see an on-screen kiss, mention that it's "so romantic" or something to that effect. Alternatively, bring up your first kiss or a silly story about a bad kiss you've had. Then, bring up how much better you've gotten since then. It might be the feeder line he needs to lean in and see for himself. Ask him to kiss you. Guys like when their partner is confident and know what they want. If you're too afraid to move in for the kiss, ask him to do it. Say something like, “Will you kiss me?” You can also ask him if he'd like a kiss, by saying something like, “Can I kiss you?” or “I'd love to kiss you right now. Are you into it?” If he says no, don't freak out. Stay calm, say, “Okay, no worries,” and change the subject. Rejection happens to everyone at some point, so try not to take it personally! Kiss him. If you really want to kiss the guy, and you know he's into you, go ahead and do it! Each person in the equation has the same right to make the first move. Don't be self-conscious or stress over the situation too much. Just lean in, kiss him, and enjoy it. If you're not sure if the guy is interested or ready to kiss, you should probably wait until you know for sure. Make eye contact. If you're always looking down or away, the guy might think you're not interested. Look him in the eye, especially when you're carrying on a conversation. Smile a lot and laugh at his jokes to let him know you're enjoying his company. Be inviting. Guys are often afraid of rejection or unsure if you would appreciate a kiss. Try to make him feel comfortable and confident. Flirt with him and compliment him. If you put him at ease and let him know you are interested, he'll usually find the courage to try to kiss you. For example, you could say, “I was at the last gig your band played. You are an amazing drummer! When did you start playing?” Alternatively, say something like, “Wanna watch the new Stephen King film? I heard it's terrifying. Will you hold my hand during the scary parts?” Break the touch barrier. If he hasn't broken the touch barrier yet, you don't need to wait -- do it yourself! Touch him lightly on the arm or shoulder when you're talking. Just make it a quick, innocent touch and don't make a big deal out of it. Holding hands is also a good way to break the touch barrier. The simple act of touching can strengthen the intimacy between you two. Look at his lips. When you're alone with a guy and want to be kissed, make eye contact and then move your gaze briefly down to his lips. Then move your eyes back up to meet his and smile demurely. You don't have to be really obvious about it—just a quick glance down at his lips is better than staring at them for more than a few seconds. Try doing this maybe once or twice in a conversation. Keep it subtle, not creepy! Linger when saying goodbye. If he's dropping you off after a date, linger for a moment. If you're in the car, don't get out right away. Instead, sit next to him and wait for a few seconds. Unbuckle your seatbelt and look at him expectantly. If he walks you to your door, fiddle with your keys for a couple of seconds. This is a universal sign that you're asking for an after-date kiss. Look up once or twice to give him a chance to lean in. Pretend you're cold. Shiver and rub your hands over your arms, or comment on the freezing temperatures. Your guy will likely jump at the chance to get closer to you. If he puts his arms around you or helps you into his jacket, stay close. Make eye contact and say, “Thanks.” Smile at him, and he may just move in for a kiss. Draw attention to your own lips. Gently run your fingers across your lips periodically to draw his attention in. You can also playfully bite your bottom lip or gently wet your lips with your tongue. In moderation, these are good ways to signal to your partner that you'd like a kiss. However, overdoing it will make it look unnatural and can be a huge turn off. Focus on using physical draws to bring attention to your lips rather than piling on layers of lipgloss or lipstick. Freshen your breath. Brush your teeth or use mouthwash to freshen your breath. If you're away from home, chew minty gum or use a breath spray. The last thing you want to worry about is bad breath! Make sure your lips are soft. Apply a lip balm before meeting up with the guy. Avoid using brightly-colored lipstick or lip gloss that is sticky or sparkly. Chances are, he won't want to get it on his own lips, so it could be a turnoff. Wait until you have some privacy. Though you may be dying for him to kiss you in the middle of third period, it's probably not the most appropriate time or setting. Ask him to hang out privately, and go for a walk or watch a movie together. When you're alone, he's more likely to move in for that kiss. | Move in closer. Talk about kissing. Ask him to kiss you. Kiss him. Make eye contact. Be inviting. Break the touch barrier. Look at his lips. Linger when saying goodbye. Pretend you're cold. Draw attention to your own lips. Freshen your breath. Make sure your lips are soft. Wait until you have some privacy. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Kidney-Failure | How to Prevent Kidney Failure | To prevent kidney failure, limit the amount of processed foods you eat, since they contain high levels of sodium that can increase your blood pressure. Alternatively, eat lots of foods that are high in fiber, like oranges, legumes, and broccoli, which helps to remove bad toxins from your body. Additionally, drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to help your kidneys function. You should also aim to exercise for 30 minutes 5 times each week, since maintaining a healthy weight puts less strain on your kidneys. | Exercise regularly. Obesity has been linked to kidney damage. If you are overweight, or are afraid you are going to become overweight, exercise daily. When you are overweight, your kidneys have to work overtime to keep you healthy. You should try to exercise for 30 to 45 minutes, four or five days a week. Some exercises you can incorporate into your work week include running, cycling, swimming, and walking. Try to pick one (or a couple) that you enjoy so that you are more motivated to work out each day. If you are elderly, the recommended exercise each week is 15 minutes for three days a week. Avoid smoking. Tobacco smoke does serious damage to your kidneys. There are more than 4000 particles and gases found in cigarette smoke, many of which can damage your kidney. Cigarettes are also linked to kidney fibrosis, which is when your kidney tissue turns hard, causing kidney failure. Cigarette smoke can also cause hypertension, which is elevated blood pressure. Stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol can also cause kidney damage. When metabolized, alcohol becomes aldehyde, a harmful chemical that can hurt your kidneys and liver. Alcohol also increases your chances of heart disease and diabetes. Avoid drug abuse. Any drug that you put in your body gets absorbed by the blood and then filtered by the kidneys. These drugs can have a harmful effect on your kidney and could lead to kidney failure if your kidneys have to process too many harmful toxins. For example, cocaine may cause myolysis. Myolysis is the breakdown of muscle mass, which can result in kidney failure. Treat any bacterial infections you have. This is particularly important to do if your bacterial infection is in your kidney or urinary tract. You will have to take antibacterial medication to treat these conditions, but it will be well worth it, as a kidney dealing with a bacterial infection can be a major health risk. Limit the amount of processed food you eat. Processed foods generally contain a large amount of sodium and phosphorous. Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure, which can harm your kidneys. Too much phosphate can cause kidney stones which, as the name suggests, can hurt your kidneys. Processed foods include : Potato chips, cheese spreads, processed meats like hot dogs, chicken nuggets and fish sticks, store bought cookies, cakes, muffins, and crackers, pre-made condiments and salad dressings. Eat a lot of fiber. Fiber helps the body to get rid of toxins and other bad chemicals that can be found in the colon. When bad substances are eliminated in the colon, the kidney doesn't have to deal with processing toxins, because the fiber in the colon has already done that. High fiber foods include : Fruits like raspberries, pears, bananas, oranges, strawberries, and figs. Grain products like whole wheat spaghetti, bran cereal, barley pearls, popcorn, brown rice, and rye bread. Legumes, nuts and seeds like lentils, black beans, lima beans, sunflower seeds, almonds, pistachios, and pecans. Vegetables like artichokes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet corn, baked potatoes, and carrots. Decrease the amount of sodium you consume. Sodium refers to common table salt. High amounts of salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure (which is explained more in Method Three). High blood pressure can harm your kidneys, so it is best to decrease the amount of salt you eat to avoid developing high blood pressure. High salt foods include: Cheese and cheese spreads. Pretzels, chips, and other snack foods. Pickled foods. Soups and gravies. Cured meats like bacon, salami and prosciutto. Stay hydrated. You should drink at least 8 to 10 glasses (or 2 to 2.5 liters) of water every day. When you stay hydrated, your kidney is able to process the things that you put in your body (including toxins) more efficiently. When you are not hydrated enough, the toxins will linger in your body fluids, making them harder for your kidneys to process. If you get bored with water, you can also drink the following to stay hydrated: Fruit juices diluted with water, coconut water, smoothies, fresh squeezed juice, and herbal teas. Stay away from soda. Soda is one of the worst things (besides toxins like alcohol and tobacco) that you can put in your body. This is because most sodas contain no nutritional value, which means that they are empty calories that you will have to work off. If you do not work these empty calories off, you may become overweight, which will put a lot more pressure on your kidneys. Consider taking fat-reducing drugs. If you have a very high amount of lipids (fat cells) like cholesterol or triglycerides in your blood vessel walls, you might want to consider taking medication that can help you to reduce the number of these fat cells. Such drugs include statins or fenofibrates. Statins are drugs that lower your cholesterol. The most common types of this drug include Lipitor, Zocor, and Mevacor. Fenofibrates should be used in combination with a low-fat diet and exercise. It is used to reduce the amount of fatty substances (like cholesterol) in your bloodstream. Understand how diabetes affects kidney function. Having diabetes can do a lot of damage to your kidneys; high levels of blood sugar can make the kidneys overwork and filter too much blood. Overtime, overworked kidneys can lose their ability to function properly, resulting in kidney failure. Measure your blood glucose daily. To check your daily blood glucose, you can use a glucose monitor that you can purchase at your local pharmacy. Record each day's reading. A normal fasting glucose level is generally less than 110 mg/dl. 'Fasting glucose' means that the recording is taken before you eat breakfast so your stomach is empty. Take the medicine your doctor has prescribed. If you have diabetes, your doctor will have prescribed you with a medication that you can take daily. The medication will either be taken orally or is a shot of insulin. Regardless of the type of medication, make sure that you follow your doctor's prescription. Avoid foods that are rich in sugar. When you have diabetes, you should try to control any spurts of blood sugar levels. This is because these spurts can damage your kidneys, since your body's insulin is not able to control sudden spurts of blood sugar level. This means trying to avoid very sugary foods as much as possible. You should avoid : Granulated sugars and other sweeteners. Soft drinks (sodas) and candy. Dried fruits. Cookies, cakes, and other baked goods. Understand how high blood pressure can affect your kidneys. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels leading into and out of your kidneys. This causes your kidneys to become unable to filter the waste that they receive, causing dangerous levels of fluid and waste to accumulate in the kidneys. Take an anti-hypertensive medicine. If you have high blood pressure and are worried about your kidneys, talk to your doctor. Chances are, your doctor probably has already prescribed anti-hypertensive (anti-high blood pressure) medicine that you should take daily. Some of the most common medications for this condition include : atenolol, amlodipine, ramipril and enalapril. Get exercise each morning. Walking for 30 to 40 minutes each morning can help you to relax and keep you healthy. When you relax through exercise, you are actively keeping your blood pressure under control. If you don't like walking alone, join a walking group or walk with a friend each morning. Try other ways to reduce stress. Stress plays a big part when it comes to your blood pressure. Exercising can be a great way to reduce stress, but you can also try other methods. Try meditating every day for 30 minutes or take yoga classes that will teach you how to relax by controlling your breath and focusing on the movement of your body. Reduce the amount of salt you have in your diet. As mentioned in Method 2, eating too much salt can really elevate your blood pressure. Try to eat less salt each day; aim for about 6 gm of salt daily. Avoid high salt foods like : Soups, gravies, and broths. Soy sauce and salad dressings. Salami, bacon, and cured meats. Cheese. Snack foods (like pretzels and chips). Pickled foods. | Exercise regularly. Avoid smoking. Stop drinking alcohol. Avoid drug abuse. Treat any bacterial infections you have. Limit the amount of processed food you eat. Eat a lot of fiber. Decrease the amount of sodium you consume. Stay hydrated. Stay away from soda. Consider taking fat-reducing drugs. Understand how diabetes affects kidney function. Measure your blood glucose daily. Take the medicine your doctor has prescribed. Avoid foods that are rich in sugar. Understand how high blood pressure can affect your kidneys. Take an anti-hypertensive medicine. Get exercise each morning. Try other ways to reduce stress. Reduce the amount of salt you have in your diet. |
https://www.wikihow.health/Cure-Muscle-Aches | How to Cure Muscle Aches | To cure muscle aches, try adding ice to the area for 10-20 minutes several times a day, which helps with pain and swelling. You can also compress the area with an elastic bandage to alleviate pain, but make sure you wrap it tightly enough that the bandage supports the area but not so tight that it restricts blood flow. Additionally, you should elevate the area above chest-height at least several times a day to help blood flow. If the pain is sharp, intense, or does not improve, then you should call your doctor right away. | Understand localized muscle aches and pains. Localized muscle aches and pains can be the result of overuse injuries, overexertion during exercise or sports, poor posture or muscle use, stress or tension or from minor injuries. For the most part, localized muscle aches and pains can be treated using home care strategies to reduce the inflammation and promote healing. In the early stages of muscle aches caused by injury remember to use PRICE: Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate. Protect the area. It is important to protect the affected area from further injury or damage until you can be evaluated by a physician if necessary. This can include not using the affected muscles, using crutches to stay off an injured leg, or bracing or splinting the affected limb if you believe that you may have broken a bone. Rest the muscles and do not engage in any activity that causes pain. This may include changing your movements at work or taking a break from your usual recreational activities. If you feel any pain when you try to move the affected muscle, stop moving it and keep resting. If the pain is sharp, intense, or does not improve, then call your doctor right away. Ice the area to help reduce swelling and pain. Immediately after an injury, applying ice will help the blood vessels to narrow and restrict bleeding. Icing the area will also reduce the amount of black and blue bruising that you will experience. Ice the area for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day. Allow at least 60 minutes between icing to allow the skin and underlying tissues to return to a normal temperature. Use a pack that conforms to your body, such as a chemical ice pack, bag of frozen peas or reusable ice pack from the pharmacy. Wrap the ice pack in a towel before using it. Don't apply the ice pack directly to your skin. Compress the area using an elastic bandage. It also helps to prevent excess accumulation of inflammatory fluid in the tissue, which results in painful swelling. Elastic bandages help to protect the affected muscle from further damage while also providing support to the area. Use an ACE wrap elastic bandage from the pharmacy. Do not wrap the affected area too tightly because it can restrict blood flow to the area, increase pain or discomfort, and increase healing time. Wrap the painful area tightly enough so that the bandage supports the area while still allowing for movement. Start by wrapping the area of the body that is furthest from the heart and wrapping in toward the body. For example, if you injured your forearm, then you would want to start wrapping near the wrist and then wrap towards your elbow. Each time you wrap the bandage around, make sure that you overlap the ACE wrap by ½ of the previous layer. Don't leave any gaps in the wrapping. Elevate the area. It is also important to elevate your injured area to help the body reduce the swelling from the injury. Place the leg or arm that is injured on a pillow or other supported area that is above the level of your heart. Do this several times per day. If possible, elevate the area while you sleep as well by using pillows placed above the level of the heart. Stretch before your workout. Stretching before, during or after exercise does not appear to reduce overall muscle soreness or aches following exercise. However, stretching and improved flexibility does reduce the potential for injury which causes aches. Stretch large muscle groups prior to any sporting event or recreational activity as a part of your warmup routine. Stretching can also be done during your cool down period. Although there is some controversy about how long stretches should be held, 20 to 30 seconds is adequate to stretch the muscle group and improve flexibility. Gently stretch before each workout and during your cool down period. Warm up before you start working out. Warm up before exercises to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness in the following day or two. This is especially important before engaging in any new exercises. Warm up using the same muscle groups you'll be using in your workout. For instance, if you are biking you can bike more slowly for 10 minutes. If you are running you may walk briskly for 5 to 10 minutes prior to your workout. In other words, your warm up can use the same exercise but at a slower pace. Warming up increases your core body temperature, increases the blood supply to the muscles you'll be using, and increases the flexibility in your muscles. Cool down after your workout. Cooling down incorporates the same concepts. Use the same muscles you were just working hard, but at a slower pace until your heart slows. However, you can also use walking to cool down from almost any other activity you were doing as well. Use a slower pace to cool down for 3 - 10 minutes, depending upon how quickly your heart rate slows. Research does not support the idea that cooling down after a hard workout will reduce soreness or muscle aches. But cooling down does have other benefits, such as providing time for your heart rate to go down to a normal level, allowing time for the adrenalin in your blood to reduce to a normal level. Consider taking taurine. Take up to 3,000 mg of Taurine a day after a strenuous workout to help alleviate the soreness and aches associated with exercise. Taurine is found in abundance in the human body but can be depleted during exercise. Taking it post-workout can help improve muscle regeneration and healing,thus also reducing delayed onset muscle soreness. Check with your doctor before incorporating taurine into your supplement regimen, especially if you are taking any prescription medications. Follow your workout with a whey protein shake. What you eat after a workout can affect your level of muscle soreness in the following days. Whey protein has been found to decrease muscle soreness when taken within 30 minutes after a workout. A whey protein shake may also help when taken the next day as well. Eat a bowl of cherries. Including tart cherries or cherry extract in your daily diet may help to reduce inflammation, muscle aches, and soreness. Tart cherries have the highest amount of anthocyanins, making them the best food choice for relieving muscle aches and pains. Try eating a bowl of tart cherries after a workout to help decrease delayed onset muscle soreness. Take omega-3 supplements or eat omega-3 rich foods. Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory in nature and therefore are great additions to any diet, but they can be especially beneficial after a strenuous workout. You can use Omega-3 supplements or increase the foods you eat which are high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Some of these foods are salmon, trout, herring, sardines, flaxseed and walnuts. Reduce a fever. When you get a fever, it is often accompanied by generalized muscle aches and pains. To cure these muscle aches, you must also get rid of the fever. It is also important to note that a fever is your body's response to infection and other systematic disorders such as autoimmune diseases, cancers, etc. To fight an infection, your immune system goes into high gear to fight off bacteria, viruses, or other invaders. To reduce a fever, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen, based on your age and body weight. However, to cure the muscle aches you must address the source of the infection and therefore the reason for the fever. This may require a visit to your doctor. Consider your medications. Some medications can cause generalized feelings of achiness over the body as part of the medication's side effects. These are usually very severe whole-body aches, and can be accompanied by other serious problems, such as liver failure. These medications include ACE inhibitors used to reduce blood pressure and statin drugs used to reduce cholesterol levels. To cure muscle aches caused by a medication, you should speak with your doctor about switching to a different medication. Check for underlying conditions. Some underlying medical conditions will cause muscle aches, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and lyme disease. See your doctor to determine if an underlying condition may be causing your muscle aches. To cure the muscle aches from these conditions you must first treat the underlying medical condition. Without specifically addressing the treatment for the medical condition you cannot effect a change in the muscle pain. Address electrolyte imbalances. Electrolyte imbalances can trigger muscle cramps and twitching, which can lead to micro-tears in the muscle, the resulting symptoms include muscle aches and pains. Electrolyte imbalances can result from dehydration and may also be the result of taking electrolyte supplements. Drink when you are thirsty, and if you are doing strenuous activity causing you to sweat, you need to stop at least once every 45 min to get water. Pay attention to the color of your urine. Your urine should be light yellow in color. If it is darker than this, then that is a sign that you are becoming dehydrated. If your urine is clear, then you are over hydrated. Electrolyte-rich sports drinks can be good after profuse amounts of sweating or other fluid loss such as diarrhea or vomiting, but they do contain a lot of sugar and therefore their consumption should be moderated in everyday situations. Recognize when you should see a physician for muscle aches. Although muscle aches are normally something you can deal with at home, sometimes muscle aches require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if: Your pain lasts more than 3 months without any apparent cause. You were injured and have recovered but the muscle aches and pains remain. You are feeling down and blue, sad or depressed, because of the chronic aches and pains you are experiencing, as this may be a sign of depression. You can't sleep because of the pain. If you have pain in your legs that resolves when you stop exercising. If you have muscle aches and pains after starting a new medication, especially statins, you must call your physician. | Understand localized muscle aches and pains. Protect the area. Rest the muscles and do not engage in any activity that causes pain. Ice the area to help reduce swelling and pain. Compress the area using an elastic bandage. Elevate the area. Stretch before your workout. Warm up before you start working out. Cool down after your workout. Consider taking taurine. Follow your workout with a whey protein shake. Eat a bowl of cherries. Take omega-3 supplements or eat omega-3 rich foods. Reduce a fever. Consider your medications. Check for underlying conditions. Address electrolyte imbalances. Recognize when you should see a physician for muscle aches. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Install-an-Aftermarket-Air-Intake | How to Install an Aftermarket Air Intake | An aftermarket air intake can improve your car's performance and make it sound better. Replacing your air intake is relatively easy if you have a screwdriver and wrench or socket set. Make sure your engine's cool and your battery is unplugged before you remove your old air intake. You'll need to remove the air filter, the filter box, and tube running to the engine bay. Once you've removed the old air intake, slot your aftermarket one in its place and secure it with a wrench. | Determine the exact specifications of your car. If you own a commonly customized car, such as a Honda Civic or a Volkswagen Jetta, you will likely need only your model, year, and engine type. If your car is less commonly modified, it may be harder to find aftermarket parts. Research the types of intakes available and choose the one that fits your needs best. Short-pipe intakes are the simplest design to install, but offer the least benefits in terms of horsepower, torque, and gas mileage. They pull hot air directly from within the engine compartment into the engine. Cold air intakes pull cool air from places outside the engine compartment such as around the wheel well or bumper. These are a bit more complicated to install since you may have to install part of the intake from underneath the car. The cooler air is denser than the air inside the engine compartment so it gives a better boost to performance and gas mileage than short-pipe designs. Ram-air intakes usually pull cool air from the bumper area. Because they are designed to be at the front of the car, they actually pressurize the cool air coming into the engine as the car moves faster. This provides maximum airflow and maximum benefits. It is also the most complicated to install since you will likely have to install part of the system from underneath the car. You may even have to remove your bumper. Park your car. You should choose an area that has plenty of space for you to move around the front and sides of your vehicle. You also want a well-lit area so that you can see what you are doing. Be sure to turn your vehicle off before proceeding. Wait until your engine has cooled completely before doing anything. Parts in the engine compartment can get very hot when the car is running. You do not want to get burned. Unplug the car battery. Start by removing the negative terminal (black or unmarked) and then remove the positive terminal (red). Locate the air intake. This should be easy to identify. It will look like a large plastic tube running from the engine to a large plastic filter box. Remove the air intake system. This consists of removing the air filter, the filter box, and the tube running from the filter box to the opening in the engine bay. Some of these parts will be attached to the engine bay by small plastic mounts. You will need a wrench or socket set to remove the small bolt holding the mounts in place. Some pieces of the intake system are fastened to each other with hose clamps, which can be loosened by turning the small bolt on the end with a screwdriver or socket. You may need to remove one or more air sensors which feed information to the car's computer. These should be handled very delicately. Keep your original air intake. If the new intake you purchased is damaged or doesn't fit, you will have to re-install the original intake system before driving your car. Set the intake aside until you know the new one works properly. Install the new intake. You should follow the specific manufacturer's instructions as to which piece to install first. Be sure to secure the intake with hose clamps where appropriate. Carefully re-install any sensors removed with the old intake. Once the new intake is installed, install a new air filter. Remember that if you purchased a cold air or ram air intake, you will likely need to climb under the car to complete the installation as these systems pull cool air from outside the engine compartment. Check to make sure the intake system is secured properly. If the intake easily strikes other objects in the engine bay, tighten the mountings until it is secure. Re-attach your battery terminals. You should attach the red (positive) terminal first. Next, attach the black (negative/ground) terminal. Test drive your new intake! You want to make sure that the intake is functioning properly before you hit the open road. | Determine the exact specifications of your car. Research the types of intakes available and choose the one that fits your needs best. Park your car. Wait until your engine has cooled completely before doing anything. Unplug the car battery. Locate the air intake. Remove the air intake system. Keep your original air intake. Install the new intake. Check to make sure the intake system is secured properly. Re-attach your battery terminals. Test drive your new intake! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hang-Christmas-Lights-Outside-Without-Nails | How to Hang Christmas Lights Outside Without Nails | To hang your Christmas lights outside without nails, try using plastic hooks and clips for a simple way to make your home look festive. If you decide to use hooks, purchase S-shaped gutter hooks and hang them by pressing the top part of the S into the gutter. Use the bottom part of the S as a hook to string the wire of lights on. In order to position lights on top of your roof, use shingle tabs, which are L-shaped with 2 prongs on 1 side and a small hole on the top. Slide the prongs under a shingle and leave the side with the hole sticking up into the air. Then, slide a bulb into the hole to hold it in place. If your house has siding or other smooth surfaces, use adhesive clips or hooks, which can stick to the house. | Choose gutter hooks to quickly hang lights along your gutters. Purchase S-shaped gutter hooks at the home improvement store, and hang them up by pressing the top part of the S into the gutter, with the rest of the hook resting on the front. When you're ready to hang the lights, simply use the bottom part of the S as a hook and string the wire of the lights into each hook. Gutter hooks are inexpensive and easy to put up because they're made of a bendable plastic. However, they can sometimes slide along the gutter since they aren't fastened in one place. Opt for shingle tabs to position the lights on top of your roof. Shingle tabs are L-shaped with 2 prongs on one side and a small hole on the top. Slide the prongs under a shingle, and leave the side with the whole sticking up into the air. To position the lights, slide a bulb into the hole to hold it in place. The size of the hole on the tab will normally be large enough to accommodate either C7 or C9 bulbs, which are the 2 most common types of Christmas lights. Use adhesive clips or hooks if you have siding or other smooth surfaces. To position these plastic clips, peel the protective paper off of the back and hold the sticky side onto the surface. Then, snap the base of one of the bulbs into the clip to hold it into place. Adhesive clips won't work on textured surfaces like concrete, brick, or stucco. The weight of the lights may cause them to fall off. Leave 6–8 in (15–20 cm) of space between each hook or clip. Most bulbs are spaced a few inches apart, and you should have 1 hook or clip for every 1-2 bulbs. This will prevent you from using more clips than necessary and make your light display look cleaner. Spacing your bulbs farther apart allows the light from the bulbs to spread, creating a more inviting display. Place the male end of the strand near the power outlet. Start stringing the lights working from the outlet, wherever that might be on the outside of your house. If you don't want to plug the lights directly into the outlet, use an outdoor extension cord to make your light strands longer. Remember to plug the strand of lights into the extension cord before you begin to string them along the roof. Then, when you're finished hanging the lights, you can simply plug in the extension cord and admire your work. Plug in a hot glue gun and let it heat up. Select a large glue gun for hanging the lights, and pick glue that's safe for outdoor use. Load the glue gun and plug it in with an extension cord so you can walk around with the glue. Wait 5-10 minutes for the glue to heat up in the gun. Be careful while the glue gun is heating up. Sometimes, glue can leak out of the front of the gun, and if it gets on your skin, it can cause burns. Hot glue isn't safe for stucco applied over styrofoam. If you're not sure, tap lightly on the stucco surface to see if there's a hollow sound, which means that you have styrofoam under your stucco. Use a strand with the bulbs unscrewed from the sockets. It's easier to use the glue gun to hang the wiring when there are no bulbs in the strand. Find a spool of bulbless lights at the home improvement store, and then purchase bulbs in whatever color and shape you prefer. If you leave the bulbs in, you might get glue on the bulbs while you're hanging them, which can cause the lights to look dim. Apply a pea-sized bead of glue to the side of the socket opposite the clip. Take one of the empty sockets in your hand, and find the clip on the side of the socket for releasing the bulb. Twist the socket to the opposite side, and put the glue directly on the side of the socket so you can attack it to brick , concrete, or stucco walls. For every socket, you'll apply the glue and put it on the wall before moving onto the next socket. Don't wait for the glue to dry before you attach it to the wall. Press the light socket onto the surface and hold it for 10 seconds. As soon as you apply the glue, press that side of the socket onto the wall where you want the light to be. Make sure the socket is facing up or down, or tilted to either side to ensure that the bulb will be in the right position for your display. The orientation of the socket will depend on your personal preference. Some people prefer to have all of the bulbs facing one direction, while others light to position them randomly. If you begin to let go of the socket and it starts to slide down the wall, the glue isn't dry. Hold it in place until the glue is firm. Screw in the bulbs once you have all of the sockets glued in place. Once you have all of the sockets positioned, carefully add the bulbs. Be sure not to scratch them against the wall as you put them into the sockets. Some bulbs will screw in like a regular light bulb, while other mini-lights might will snap into place in the socket. If you're using multi-colored bulbs, you may want to organize them in a color pattern to avoid having too many bulbs of the same color next to each other. Opt for net lights to easily cover smaller bushes. Net lights are convenient for quick decorations. Plug the lights into the outlet or extension cord, and then position the square over the top of the shrub. Pull the corners of the netting down to the bottom of the shrub, and tuck some of the lights into the foliage for a more natural look. While net lights are simple to put up, it's also easy to tell that someone used net lights for their bushes. If you want a more natural or random design, net lighting might not be the best option. Wrap lights around the trunk of a tall tree to light it without a ladder. Use an extension cord to run the lights to the tree, and then wrap the lights around the tree trunk up until you reach the first branch, leaving 6 inches (15 cm) of space in between the strands of lights. Then, wrap the lights back down to the bottom of the trunk, passing through the middle of the space between the strands. Be sure to wrap the lights tightly to hold them in place. If you're worried about the lights slipping down, use hot glue on the trunk of the tree to hold up some of the lights. Create an “S” design over the front of the shrubs to make a random pattern. Plug in a strand of mini-lights and start on the closest side of one bush. Snake the lights through the foliage in a winding shape from the bottom of the shrub to the top, only covering the front and some of the top of the shrub. This lighting technique gives the effect of randomly dispersed lights throughout the shrubs. Be sure to work with the strands plugged in, since the lights can short circuit if they're older. If the bulbs go dark as you're hanging the lights, discard the strand and purchase a replacement strand. Arrange lights in strips along the side of your driveway and walkways. Try lining your driveway or walkway with small LED lights by laying them along the ground. If you're worried about them moving, use hot glue to hold them in place, and utilize extension cords to make sure you don't run out of lights. Be careful as you're walking along these walkways during the holidays. If you step on one of the bulbs, or drive over a bulb, this can cause the entire strand to go dark! | Choose gutter hooks to quickly hang lights along your gutters. Opt for shingle tabs to position the lights on top of your roof. Use adhesive clips or hooks if you have siding or other smooth surfaces. Leave 6–8 in (15–20 cm) of space between each hook or clip. Place the male end of the strand near the power outlet. Plug in a hot glue gun and let it heat up. Use a strand with the bulbs unscrewed from the sockets. Apply a pea-sized bead of glue to the side of the socket opposite the clip. Press the light socket onto the surface and hold it for 10 seconds. Screw in the bulbs once you have all of the sockets glued in place. Opt for net lights to easily cover smaller bushes. Wrap lights around the trunk of a tall tree to light it without a ladder. Create an “S” design over the front of the shrubs to make a random pattern. Arrange lights in strips along the side of your driveway and walkways. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Meet-a-Girl | How to Meet a Girl | To meet a girl, try making an account on an online dating website or app and talk to girls who interest you. Alternatively, you can meet girls through social gatherings, like parties or barbecues. You can also go to a bar or nightclub and look for girls who seem open to conversation. Wherever you meet a girl, make good eye contact and smile a lot so you appear friendly and approachable. When you've made eye contact with a girl, don't be afraid to introduce yourself and ask her a casual question to start a conversation. If it goes well, ask for her number so you can keep talking later. | Create an account on an online dating website. Dating websites online often have millions of female users that are single and looking to meet people. Some websites are free while others require you to pay a monthly fee. Determine which platform you want to use and visit the dating website so that you can create an account. Popular dating apps include Match, Zoosk, eHarmony, and OKCupid. If you're just looking for friends, you can make an account on Meetup.com. Download dating apps. Dating apps like Tinder, Coffee Meets Bagel, and Hinge are integrated with Facebook and transfers the information from your social media profile to help build your dating profile. You can download these apps to your phone and use them to browse girls in your area that are also looking to meet someone. Create a compelling profile. Once you create your online profile, you can fill it out to meet your needs. Include a recent photo of yourself and add details in your profile of what you're looking for in a girl. Specify if you're looking for friendship, casual dating, or a serious relationship. Make your profile humorous so that it's memorable and keep the profile as genuine as possible. Having a good profile will entice girls to message you. Message girls that you find interesting. Search for girls that live around you and click on profiles that you find interesting. Keep your opening line simple and straightforward and avoid using pick-up lines or one-liners. Instead, you can start talking to them by finding something you both share in common. Find common interests by looking at their photos and reading their profile. If they have a photo from the Natural History Museum, you could say something like, "Hey, I'm Joe. I love the Natural History Museum too. When did you go there?" You can also say something as simple as "Hey I'm Erin, what's up?" Chat with the girls who respond to you. After you send your initial message, you'll want to keep the conversation going. Ask the girl questions, try to build a relationship with her. Message her online until she feels comfortable, then ask for her phone number. Avoid saying overtly sexual things or digging too deeply into their life. Keep it informal and fun. Good conversation topics include music, movies, celebrity gossip, a book you've recently read, or other things that you have in common. If you feel like the text conversation is stalling, ask a question like, "So I just saw the movie Tusk, and it blew my mind. Not in a good way. You into horror movies?" Meet up with the girl in person. Once you build a good rapport with the girl, it's time to ask if she wants to meet up in person. Meet her in a low-stress public setting like a coffee shop, brunch, or a walk in the park. Call the girl on the phone and try to schedule a time to meet in person. You can say something like, "Hey, I think you're really chill. Do you want to meet up in person?" Meet girls by hanging out with your friends. One of the easiest ways to meet new girls is by hanging out with your existing friends and building relationships with their friends. When you get together for social situations, encourage your friends to bring their female friends along. You can ask your friends to introduce you to their friends before the social gathering if you're nervous. Introduce yourself to girls in your classes. Talk to girls in your classes and make it a point to try to group up with them for class assignments. If you are out of school or don't go to school, sign up for a class at a local community center in a subject that interests you. Start by talking about class oriented things before moving onto more personal conversation. Say something like, "Jeez, this homework is the most intense stuff ever. Are you getting it?" Meet new girls at work. Meeting girls at work will give you something common to talk about and will be less stressful than introducing yourself to a stranger. Go out of your way to talk to the girls at work that you like. Once you build up a friendship, ask them if they would want to chill outside of work. Talk about work by saying something like, "Seriously? Three double shifts this week! Don't you wish that the scheduling was a little more organized?" Ask her to hang out by saying something like, "Yo, I think you're really chill. Would you want to hang outside of work sometime?" Or you could get more specific and say something like, "What are you doing this Friday? Want to go to happy hour with me?" Go to a bookstore to meet girls. A bookstore is a great place to meet new girls and gives you a good topic to strike up an initial conversation. If you see a girl checking out a book you enjoyed, introduce yourself and strike up a conversation about the book. You can say something like, "The second book in that series is one of my favorites. Are you a fan of Bukowski?" Meet new girls at the bar or club. If you feel intimidated by the bar or club, bring along a couple of your friends. Try to make eye contact with girls that you see at the bar and walk up and introduce yourself to them. If you want to talk to the girl, make sure you go to a bar or club that isn't too loud. You can say something like, "Hey I saw you on the other side of the bar. My name's Gerald, what's your name?" Or you could say "Your sneakers are really cool, are they the new Air Max Goraths? I was thinking about getting a pair of them myself." Make eye contact with her. If you are trying to introduce yourself to a girl that you don't know, you'll have to make eye contact with her first. Look at her direction and see if she reciprocates the eye contact. If she looks you in the eyes and smiles, it's usually a physical sign that she wants to talk to you. Girls who aren't with anyone or look bored may be more willing to talk to you. Say "Hi" and tell her your name. An introduction doesn't have to be elaborate, it just has to get a response. Simply say "Hi" and tell her your name. Then, you can ask her what her name is and ask her how her day is going. If she turns towards you, smiles, and talks, you'll know that the introduction is welcome. Go up to her and give her a hug if you've been chatting online. If you already have a relationship that you've built through chatting, you can go in for a hug when you first meet them. Make sure to read their body language. If they pull back or look uncomfortable, change the hug into a handshake. Continue the conversation and ask for her contact information. Continue to make conversation with the girl and ask her questions about herself. Be open, responsive, and truthful when talking about yourself. If the conversation flows well and feels natural, ask her for her contact information so you can talk to her later. You can say something like, "Hey, so I'm about to get out of here but I really liked talking to you. Think I could get your number so we could chill in the future?" Or you can say something like, "It was really good meeting you tonight. Let's exchange numbers so that we can hang out soon." Don't build the moment up in your head. If you've been watching a girl that you like from afar but haven't had the guts to go up to them and introduce yourself, you're only working against yourself. The longer you wait, the more likely the situation will be awkward. Instead of fearing all the potential outcomes, just go up to the girl and introduce yourself. | Create an account on an online dating website. Download dating apps. Create a compelling profile. Message girls that you find interesting. Chat with the girls who respond to you. Meet up with the girl in person. Meet girls by hanging out with your friends. Introduce yourself to girls in your classes. Meet new girls at work. Go to a bookstore to meet girls. Meet new girls at the bar or club. Make eye contact with her. Say "Hi" and tell her your name. Go up to her and give her a hug if you've been chatting online. Continue the conversation and ask for her contact information. Don't build the moment up in your head. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fake-Nails-Out-of-Tape | How to Make Fake Nails Out of Tape | Making fake nails out of tape can be a fun art project or a way to test how nail polish will look on your nails. You'll need to use a clear, shiny tape like Scotch or Sellotape. Cut a strip of tape about twice as long as your fingernail. Then, stick the tape onto your nail so it extends above it and press the sides so they curl like your nail. Paint the underside of the extended portion with nail polish so it won't stick to anything. Repeat this for as many nails as you want. Now you're free to decorate your nails however you like. You can use nail polish, stickers, or permanent markers to make them colorful and exciting. | Pick a clear, shiny tape. Ordinary, single-sided Scotch tape is the easiest to use on nails. It can be completely clear or a little clouded, depending on what you like. Scotch tape is a transparent tape, called Sellotape or sticky tape in some areas. Put a piece of tape over your nail. Tear off a strip of tape about two times longer than your whole fingernail. Put the tape on your finger so it covers the entire nail and extends past it, so the whole nail looks glossy. Press the sides of the tape down firmly, so the tape bends like a regular long nail would. If the tape is too wide, have an adult trim the tape with a pair of scissors. Cover the underside of the tape in nail polish. Brush the sticky underside of the tape with nail polish. This will make the nails last longer and stop them sticking to things – but make sure not to touch anything while you wait for the polish to dry. Buff the nail at the tape end (optional). If you have a nail buffer, use sides 3 or 4 to rub the bottom of the nail gently. Do this over the lower edge of the tape, and it will wear the tape down, making the line less visible. Use nail polish if you have it. You can use nail polish just like you would for a normal nail. There are countless designs you can create, and you don't need to bother with a base coat when you're using tape. Pick your favorite colors and start decorating. Always wait for one color to dry before you add another color on top of it. A clear polish after everything is dry will make it look glossy. Try the splatter nail polish method. Since you already have tape, why not try a decoration method that uses it? You'll also need a small, plastic straw and a layer of newspaper to work over, since this method is messy. This works best with several colors of nail polish. Surround the fingers around your nail with more tape to protect them from the polish. Be careful not to overlap the tape with your fake nail, or you could tear it off. Dip a thin straw in nail polish and blow through it while it's just above the nail. This will splatter the polish over the fake nail. Repeat with other colors. Since the tip of the straw has polish on it, you'll want to put the next color on a plastic plate or bit of newspaper, then dip the straw in that instead of directly in the nail polish bottle. When you're done, let it dry, then remove the tape protecting your fingers. Decorate with other methods. If you don't have nail polish, you can decorate the tape with small stickers. You can try writing on it with a permanent marker, but it will most likely smudge unless you very carefully put a second layer of tape over the drawing. | Pick a clear, shiny tape. Put a piece of tape over your nail. Cover the underside of the tape in nail polish. Buff the nail at the tape end (optional). Use nail polish if you have it. Try the splatter nail polish method. Decorate with other methods. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Walk-with-Confidence | How to Walk with Confidence | To walk with confidence, stand up straight and keep your shoulders back to maintain good posture. You should also keep a smile on your face to project confidence and make yourself seem more approachable. Additionally, remember to keep your arms loose at your sides and swing them slightly while you walk. Then, move briskly from one place to the next so that you don't seem lazy or preoccupied. If you can help it, avoid walking closely behind someone, which sends the message that you're weaker than the person in front of you. | Develop a dressing ritual. Laying out your clothes the night before a big event can help you during the event. By laying out your clothes, you can identify any issues with what you plan to wear (lint, loose threads, etc.). This ritual can also help increase your confidence by giving you a chance to visualize how you will look at the event. Practice walking. Aim to walk for 30 minutes per day at least three times per week to improve your stride. As you practice walking, remember to stand tall, keep your arms at your sides, and take long brisk steps. The exercise will do you good and your walk will also improve as a result. Practice power posing. Standing tall with your arms and legs spread out wide will help you to feel more confident. This type of dominant pose also reduces cortisol and increases testosterone, which will add to your confidence. Take a moment to duck into bathroom stall or empty room and power pose for a minute before you need to walk confidently. Distract yourself from negative emotions. If you are nervous, don't focus on how nervous you are because that will only make you more nervous. Instead, distract yourself by looking at humorous images on the internet or talking to a friend who is good at making you laugh. You can also try a distraction technique like trying to count down from 100 by 7. You can also pick a color, and look around the room to find all the objects that you can that contain that color. To help yourself feel more confident and positive, try incorporating a practice like meditation, breathing exercises, or gratitude journaling into your daily life. For instance, each night before you go to bed, reflect on what your day was like. Then, identify the best part of your day, the worst part of your day, and one thing you're proud of yourself for. Keep mouthwash on hand to quickly freshen your breath. Always keep a small bottle of mouthwash on hand to quickly swish away bad breath and brighten your smile. This small ritual will eliminate any fears you may have had about bad breath or food stuck in your teeth and allow you to walk more confidently. Some people recommend chewing a piece of ginger. This both helps keep your breath fresh, and may help you relax. Check the news for ice breakers. Being in the know can also boost your confidence by giving you some interesting topics to bring up in conversations with strangers. Just steer clear of bringing up anything too depressing or politically divisive. Stick to lighter topics that you think others might find interesting. Smile as you walk and keep smiling. Smiling projects your confidence and makes you seem approachable as well. You don't need to sport a huge grin, just a subtle smile will do. Try not to force your smile. Instead, showcase your natural smile as you walk. Stand up straight. A hunched appearance projects a lack of confidence. Instead, walk straight and tall to seem confident. As you walk, keep your shoulders back and lift up your chin slightly. You can test your posture by holding a pencil in each hand and making a fist. Let your arms fall loosely at your sides. If the pencils face inward (towards you), then you are hunching your shoulders. Shift your shoulders back until the pencils face forward to see how your ideal posture should be while you walk. Walk briskly. A brisk walk projects confidence, while walking slowly makes you seem preoccupied with your own thoughts. To seem more confident when you walk, adopt a brisk pace. Try practicing walking to the beat of a favorite quick paced song to help you develop your brisk walk. Lengthen your stride. Walking silently makes you seem meek or afraid, so don't tiptoe or walk silently. A bit of noise is good when you want to walk confidently. It demonstrates that you want to be seen because you are confident in your appearance. Keep your arms at your sides. Crossing your arms while you walk makes you seem vulnerable, so don't cross your arms. Allow your arms to fall loosely at your sides and move them back and forth slightly as you walk. Keep your posture open, as this helps others see you and friendly and approachable. Don't walk closely behind someone. Walking right behind someone that you came with can send the message that you are weaker than that person and that you require protection. If you will be walking with someone, make sure that you are in front of the person or at least side-by side. Greet people as you walk into a room or down a hallway. Make eye contact with people you know as well as strangers. Introduce yourself if you haven't met before, but only offer your first and last name at first. Simply say, “Hi, I'm ___ ____.” Then wait for the other person to speak. Stopping at your name will make you seem more confident and intriguing. Use your hands when you talk. Gesticulating will keep you from doing things like putting your hands into your pockets or fidgeting. These gestures demonstrate nervousness and gesticulating while you talk will have the opposite effect. You will seem more confident and powerful by using your hands while you talk. Choose an interesting object or painting to focus on. Pick something that is at eye level. If you begin to feel nervous, look at this spot to keep yourself from looking down at the floor. Breathe deeply. If you begin to feel overwhelmed or anxious, force yourself to take five deep breaths. Breathing deeply will not only calm you down, it will also increase your alertness so that you can continue to be at your best. If you are giving a presentation, take five deep breaths right before you begin to speak. Try slowing down your speech by about half a second. This will help you breathe deeper and sound more calm as you speak. Practice by reading a book out loud and going just a little slower than you normally would. Ask questions. When you are meeting new people, the best way to keep the conversation going is to ask questions and listen intently. Ask things like, “What do you do?” “What do you think of the party?” “What are you working on currently?” “Where are you from?” | Develop a dressing ritual. Practice walking. Practice power posing. Distract yourself from negative emotions. Keep mouthwash on hand to quickly freshen your breath. Check the news for ice breakers. Smile as you walk and keep smiling. Stand up straight. Walk briskly. Lengthen your stride. Keep your arms at your sides. Don't walk closely behind someone. Greet people as you walk into a room or down a hallway. Use your hands when you talk. Choose an interesting object or painting to focus on. Breathe deeply. Ask questions. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Work-Out-at-Home | How to Work Out at Home | To work out at home, start with a cardio activity that doesn't require any equipment, like jumping jacks, running in place, or dancing to some great music! After cardio, use the floor for strength training exercises such as push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and planks. If it's difficult for you to find time to exercise, try doing an activity while you watch tv or make dinner. For example, you might challenge yourself to do 5 push-ups and 25 sit-ups during every episode. Alternatively, if you want to work out while cooking, challenge yourself to hold a wall squat while you wait for the water to boil, or do a lunge in between stirring your dinner. No matter what type of workout you do at home, stay consistent! Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes three days a week for best results. | Warm up for 5-6 minutes with some light movement. Before you start your home cardio routine, get your blood pumping for a few minutes and warm up your muscles. For example, you might try the following warmup routine: March in place for 3 minutes. Lift your legs high and pump your arms while you march. First go forwards, then switch up and go backwards. Stand with your fists out in front of you. Alternate placing each of your heels on the floor in front of you for 60 seconds. Aim for 60 heel digs in 60 seconds. Stand up straight and alternate bringing up each knee to touch the opposite hand. Keep doing this for 30 seconds, and try to do 30 knee lifts total. Do 2 sets of 10 repetitions of shoulder rolls. With your arms hanging loose at your sides, roll your shoulders forward 5 times and backward 5 times, then repeat the process. You can also do this while marching in place! Stand with your knees shoulder-width apart and your arms stretched straight out in front of you. Keep your back straight and bend your knees gradually to lower yourself by about 4 inches (10 cm), then gradually come back up again. Repeat this 10 times. Do 2 sets of 15-24 rocket jumps. Rocket jumps are a fun and exhilarating way to start your workout! Put your feet hip-width apart and bend your knees slightly. Bend down and put your hands on your thighs. Then, jump up and stretch out your whole body, reaching straight toward the sky with both hands. Try to land gently, then get your feet and knees back into the starting position before jumping up again. Repeat this 15-24 times. Rest for a minute or 2, then do another set. As you get used to this exercise, you can make it more challenging by starting in a deeper squat. You can also try holding a light weight or water bottle in your hands at the center of your chest and raising it above your head as you jump. When you're done, do 15-45 seconds of walking or jogging in place. Get your whole body moving with 2 sets of star jumps. Star jumps are similar to jumping jacks, but with the twist that you do them while airborne. Start with your feet hip-width apart and your knees slightly bent, and let your arms hang by your sides. Jump up and extend your arms and legs so that your body makes a star shape, with your feet apart and your arms slightly raised at your sides. When you land, bring your knees together and let your hands fall at your sides. Repeat this exercise 15-24 times, rest briefly, and then do another set of 15-24 jumps. To work out your core, keep your abs tight and your back straight. Exercise your lower body with some squats. Squats are a good cardio workout, and they're also great for toning your back, legs, and rear. To do squats, start with your feet shoulder width apart. Stretch your arms straight out in front of you and bend your knees, keeping your back straight. Slowly lower yourself down until your knees are at close to a right angle and your thighs are parallel with the floor. Then, slowly return to your starting position. Don't let your knees extend past your toes. When you're done, limber up your legs by walking or jogging in place for 15-45 seconds. Work out your arms and legs with 2 sets of tap backs. This is a fun workout that feels a bit like a dance move. Stand up straight and step back with your right foot while swinging your arms straight out in front of you at the same time. Then, repeat the same movement with your opposite leg. Continue switching fluidly between legs for 15-24 reps, then rest for a moment and repeat for another set. Keep your hips and shoulders square and look straight ahead. Don't let your front knee extend beyond your toes as you're bringing your leg back. When you're done, walk or jog in place for 15-45 seconds. You can make this exercise a little more challenging by jumping when you switch legs. Just make sure to keep your knees unlocked so you don't hurt them when you land! Wrap it up with some burpees. Start out in a standing position, then drop down into a squat and put your hands on the ground in front of you. Put your feet back behind you so you're in a pushup position, then jump forward so you're in a squat again. From there, jump straight up and reach for the sky with both hands. Do 2 sets of 15-24 reps. If a full burpee is really difficult for you, skip entering the push-up position and just jump up straight from the squat. You can also try standing up slowly instead of jumping into the final position. Cool down with some gentle stretches. When you're done, cool down for at least 5 minutes to help your heart return to a resting rate gradually. Try walking or jogging lightly in place for a few minutes, then limber up your muscles with some light stretches or yoga. For example, you might: Do a buttock stretch. Lie on your back and bring both knees up to your chest, then cross your right leg over your left. Grab your left thigh with both hands and pull your knee closer to your chest. Hold this position for 10-15 seconds before switching. Stretch your hamstrings. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent. Grab one leg below your knee with both hands and pull your leg toward you while keeping it straight. Hold it for 10-15 seconds, then switch to the other leg. Sit down with your back straight and your feet together in the “butterfly” position, then slowly slower your thighs toward the floor. Hold for 10-15 seconds, then release. Stretch your calves by alternating stepping forward with 1 foot while you keep your other leg stretched out behind you. Hold on each side for 10-15 seconds. Lie down on one side with your knees together. Grab the top of whichever foot is on top and pull it toward your buttocks. Try to touch your buttocks with your heel. Hold your position for 10-15 seconds, then turn over and repeat on the opposite side. Mix up your routine by getting outside if you can. Getting out of the house can boost your mood and make exercising more fun. If you're able to leave your home and go outside, try incorporating walks, jogs, or other outdoor activities into your cardio routine. For example, you could: Take a brisk walk or jog around your yard or neighborhood Go biking Jump rope or bounce on a trampoline in your yard Do some yard work, like gardening, raking leaves, or mowing the lawn Watch a cardio warmup video if it helps you to follow along. Watching a coach or instructor go through a workout routine can make it easier to set a good pace and get the workout you need. Find some videos you like on YouTube, or use some of these great home workout videos from the U.K. National Health Service: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/move-more/home-workout-videos/. Some apps also offer timed cardio workouts that you can follow along with. Try an app like HIIT & Cardio Workout by Fitify, Daily Cardio Workout, or Cardio Workout: Home Cardio Trainer. Build your arm and shoulder strength with pushups. Pushups are a classic upper-body strengthening exercise that you can do anywhere. To begin, kneel down on a mat or the floor and bring your knees and feet together. Stretch out on your belly and rest on your palms, with your hands shoulder-width apart and lined up with your shoulders. Rest your toes on the floor and keep your legs together. Tighten your core and keep your back straight as you push up from the floor with your arms until your elbows are straight, then slowly lower yourself back to the floor. Ideally, you should not let your belly touch the floor before pushing back up again. Try doing 3 sets of 10 reps to start. As you get more comfortable with pushups, you'll be able to do more in a set. If you're not comfortable with a full pushup yet, allow your knees and shins to rest on the floor and just push up your upper body. This is a great way to build the upper body strength you need to eventually pull off a full pushup! Strengthen your shoulders and back with contralateral limb raises. This fancy-sounding exercise is actually a simple way to work out your upper body, back, and hips. Lie flat on the floor or a mat and stretch your legs out behind you with your toes pointing backwards. Stretch your arms out straight in front of you with your palms facing each other. Exhale and tighten your core, then slowly raise your arm a few inches off the floor while inhaling. Exhale as you slowly lower it down again. Alternate doing this with each of your limbs in succession. Try to keep your back, hips, and head as still as possible while you do this exercise. Do some planks to build strength in your core. Planks are a great core-building exercise that work more effectively than push-ups and are easier to do! To execute a basic plank correctly, lie down on the floor or on a mat and place your palms on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Broaden your shoulders as much as possible to engage your back and core. Push straight up through your arms and put your toes under you so that your entire torso and legs are off the floor, keeping your legs and back as straight as possible. Try to hold this position for 20-60 seconds. Don't forget to breathe! Inhale steadily in through your nose and out through your mouth while you hold the plank. Lower yourself slowly and gently back to your starting position when you're done. Engage your glutes and core with frog bridges. Frog bridges are a great way to build your butt and strengthen your abs and lower back. Lie down on your back and put the soles of your feet together, letting your knees fall open into a “frog leg” position. Tighten your glutes and abs and slowly raise your hips off the floor until your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Then, hold your position for a couple seconds and tighten your glutes before slowly lowering yourself back down to the floor. Keep doing this exercise as a series of smooth, flowing movements for 30 seconds. Breathe steadily in and out as you go through the whole exercise. Work your legs and butt with lunges. Lunges are a good dynamic stretch, but they also help build strength in your lower body and legs. Start by standing with your feet together, then pull your shoulders down and back. Tighten your core and keep your back straight. Slowly lift one foot and then step forward into a deep lunge with your other leg out behind you and both knees bent. Hit the floor with your heel first when you step forward. Push off with your front leg to return to the starting position. When you enter the lunge, lower your hips straight down instead of pushing them forward. Try not to sway or lean from one side to the other. Tighten your thighs and butt as you return to the starting position. Tone your calves with heel raises. Heel raises can help strengthen and tone your lower legs. To do a simple standing heel raise, stand in front of a chair or counter. Grab the back of the chair or rest your hands on the counter, then slowly raise onto your toes, keeping your knees and back straight. Then, gently lower yourself back down onto your heels. Do 2 sets of 10-15 reps. You can also incorporate heel raises into your squats to work out your calves as well as your upper legs! Use water bottles or milk jugs to add weight to your workout. If you want an extra challenge, grab a couple of water bottles or 1 gallon (3.8 L) milk jugs before you start your routine. You can always adjust the amount of liquid in the jug according to your fitness and comfort level. Try exercises such as: Milk jug lunges. Hold 1 or 2 jugs in your hands and let them hang at your sides while you perform lunges as you normally would. Calf raises with milk jugs. Stand holding a jug in each hand and slowly raise yourself up on your toes. Hold the position for 2 seconds, then lower yourself down again. Milk jug squats. Sit on a chair and hold a milk jug between your thighs with both hands with your feet flat on the ground. Slowly stand up while pushing up from your heels while tensing your glutes, then slowly return to a sitting position. Push up again as soon as your buttocks touch the chair. Follow along with strength training videos for extra motivation. If you feel lost without a coach or personal trainer by your side, workout videos can be a good substitute. Search YouTube for videos that focus on working out out the different muscle groups, or try a strength and flexibility training routine like this one: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-and-flex-exercise-plan-how-videos/. You can also use apps with guided strength training routines, such as JEFIT, StrongLifts 5X5, and GAIN Fitness Cross Trainer. Establish a regular workout schedule. It's easier to stick to the workout process if you establish a consistent routine. Aim to do regular workouts at the same times each day throughout the week. That way, it will eventually become a habit for you! Select certain days and times for your workout session. For example, you might do strength training every Monday and Friday at 7:00 am. If you fall behind for a day or two, don't get mad at yourself. It takes time to establish a new routine, and setbacks are part of the journey. Just make sure to get yourself back on track right away! Aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate cardio activity per week. While your exercise needs may vary depending on factors like your fitness goals, age, and overall health, doctors recommend that most adults get about 30 minutes of moderate cardio 5 days out of the week. Alternatively, do more intense cardio for 75 minutes per week (or 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week). “Moderate” cardio exercises include things like taking a brisk walk or light jog, biking at a speed lower than 10 miles (16 km) per hour, or doing house or yard chores that include a lot of moving around, like raking your lawn or vacuuming. “High intensity” cardio might include things like running, hiking uphill, biking faster than 10 miles (16 km) per hour, or jumping rope. Don't worry if you can't hit these goals right away. If you're not used to doing cardio, gradually increase the time and intensity of your exercise. For example, you might start with a 10-minute walk around your yard or neighborhood 3 times a week, but eventually work up to a daily 30-minute jog. Do a strength training workout at least twice a week. Strength training is any exercise that uses resistance (such as weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight) to build your muscles. Incorporate a strengthening workout into your routine at least 2 days out of the week, and make sure to focus on all your major muscle groups. Aim for a single set of 12-15 reps of each exercise during a workout. You may need to gradually work up to more reps or stronger levels of resistance (e.g., heavier weights) as you build strength. Strength training exercises include things like doing planks and pushups, lifting weights, or doing exercises with resistance bands. Give yourself at least 2 days to rest and recover between each strength training workout. Otherwise, you might injure yourself. Incorporate stretches to help build flexibility. Stretching is a great way to limber up your muscles and joints and prevent stiffness and pain. Try to do stretches when your muscles are already warmed up (e.g., after a cardio workout or strength training routine) for the best results. Aim to perform each stretch 3-5 times per workout. Dynamic stretches are fluid movements that you don't hold for more than a few seconds. These include things like lunges and kicks. Unlike more traditional static stretches, you can do these kinds of stretches to help you warm up before other types of exercise. Static stretches involve holding a stretch for around 10-30 seconds. These are good for lengthening your muscles and improving your range of motion. Some examples include toe touches, wall pushes, and hamstring stretches with your foot propped on a chair or step. Warm up and cool down at the beginning and end of each workout. Warming up and cooling down are important for preventing injuries and reducing strain on your heart. Before you exercise, get your blood pumping with a light, 5 to 10-minute warmup, such as a walk, slow jog, or some pushups. When you're done exercising, cool down again with a relaxed 5-minute walk and some light stretches. If you're planning to do more intense activity, warm up a little longer. For instance, you might warm up for 10-20 minutes instead of 5 if you're planning to do a brisk run. When you're cooling down after a workout, try to get your heart rate down below 120 beats per minute. If you don't have a heart rate monitor, you can measure it by taking your pulse and using a watch or timer. Drink water to stay hydrated. It's easy to become dehydrated when you exercise. Keep your energy levels up and replace moisture that you lose through sweating by drinking about 16–32 fluid ounces (470–950 mL) of water for every 60 minutes of exercise. You may need to drink more if it's hot or you're sweating heavily. A great time to drink some water is during a break in between exercise sets. For example, if you do 2 sets of 20 squats, take a drink of water after the first 20 and after the last 20. If it's really hot, humid, or you're doing intense or long-lasting exercise (e.g., more than an hour), drink a sports drink to help replace lost electrolytes. Make sure to rehydrate by drinking some water after you exercise, too! You can also get fluids by drinking a nutritious shake or smoothie, eating some juicy fruits or vegetables, or having a bowl of soup. Choose a safe and comfortable space in your home for exercise. You don't need a ton of space for a home workout, but you need enough room to move around without bumping into things and hurting yourself. Clear away any furniture that might get in the way, like chairs or coffee tables. Consider putting down a mat to protect yourself (and your floor) while you exercise. It's also important to use a space that's cool and well-ventilated, since you'll be breathing hard and working up a sweat! If you can't open the windows, turn on a fan to help keep the air circulating. Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in easily. What you wear can make a big difference in your comfort level while you exercise. Choose clothes that are breathable and loose or flexible enough that they don't restrict your movement. If you're going to be sweating a lot, choose a moisture-wicking synthetic fabric, like polyester or polypropylene. If any part of your workout is going to take place outside, dress appropriately for the weather. Wear light-colored clothes and thin fabrics if it's hot out. If it's chilly, wear darker colors and add more layers. If you have large breasts, a comfortable, snug-fitting sports bra can provide extra comfort and support. Participate in workout challenges to make it more fun. Doing a fitness challenge can help give you defined goals and make your workouts more exciting. Make a pledge with some friends to do a 30-day plank challenge or a Couch to 5K. Once you've spent a few weeks at it, you may find that the routines you established during the challenge have become new habits! Keep in mind that many of these fitness challenges don't work out every part of your body, so it's still best to combine them with other types of exercise. For instance, a squat challenge is great for working your legs and butt, but it won't help you build strength in your upper body. | Warm up for 5-6 minutes with some light movement. Do 2 sets of 15-24 rocket jumps. Get your whole body moving with 2 sets of star jumps. Exercise your lower body with some squats. Work out your arms and legs with 2 sets of tap backs. Wrap it up with some burpees. Cool down with some gentle stretches. Mix up your routine by getting outside if you can. Watch a cardio warmup video if it helps you to follow along. Build your arm and shoulder strength with pushups. Strengthen your shoulders and back with contralateral limb raises. Do some planks to build strength in your core. Engage your glutes and core with frog bridges. Work your legs and butt with lunges. Tone your calves with heel raises. Use water bottles or milk jugs to add weight to your workout. Follow along with strength training videos for extra motivation. Establish a regular workout schedule. Aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate cardio activity per week. Do a strength training workout at least twice a week. Incorporate stretches to help build flexibility. Warm up and cool down at the beginning and end of each workout. Drink water to stay hydrated. Choose a safe and comfortable space in your home for exercise. Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in easily. Participate in workout challenges to make it more fun. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-Your-Household-for-a-New-Dog | How to Prepare Your Household for a New Dog | To prepare your household for a new dog, start by getting some necessary supplies, like plastic baggies designed for dog waste, a dog bed, and food and water bowls. Additionally, get a crate for when you're not home or for bedtime so the dog feels secure and doesn't cause any trouble around the house. You'll also want to buy some baby gates if there are rooms you want to keep your new dog out of. Also, tuck electrical cords out of sight to avoid chewing accidents, and place cleaning and fragile objects out of the dog's reach. | Purchase waste cleaning tools to use during your dog’s bathroom breaks. Proper waste cleaning tools for dogs include a pooper scooper or plastic baggies specially designed for picking up your dog's waste and throwing it away. Invest in potty pads or extra newspapers as well. Even if your dog is fully housebroken, they may be prone to accidents at first as they adjust to living with you. Even with a well-trained dog, accidents are inevitable. You should make sure that you have a stain remover and paper towels to deal with those occasions. Buy a bed for your dog to sleep in. Pick a bed according to your dog's size. Try to select a plush-looking bed for your dog's comfort, and maybe purchase a few pillows and a blanket for additional comfort. You can keep your dog's bed in one of the family's bedrooms, or set up an area in your den or family room. Try to pick a spot that looks cozy! The bed should be large enough for your dog to lie down completely and stretch out without falling over the edges. Pick out your dog’s food and water bowls. Metal bowls are ideal, since they are sturdy and easy to clean. Be sure to keep your dog's size in mind as you select their food and water bowls. A bowl that is too small and low to the ground will force a large dog to stoop down to use it, which can cause joint problems down the road. If you can't find a bowl with its own stand, you can purchase a small stand to place your dog's bowls onto. Avoid keeping your dog's water and food bowls in the kitchen. This area is one of the most high-traffic spots in most homes. All the hustle and bustle in and out of the kitchen could stress out your dog while it eats and cause issues with their digestion. You may want to place their bowls in the dining room or in a special little nook in the living or family room. Most dogs make a mess when they eat. Make sure wherever you place their food bowls isn't too hard for you to clean up, and place a mat or towel under the dishes to help keep spills manageable. Get a bag of dog food. Research your dog's nutritional needs before you purchase their food. Dogs of different sizes and ages have varying dietary requirements. Talk to a vet to see what brands they recommend for your dog. Ask about foods that are research-backed and that have no additives, as these tend to be healthier. Try to buy your dog food in bulk; this will save money and take care of all of your dog's meals for the month. You can keep the bag of dog food in your pantry for easy access at mealtimes. If your dog is elderly or special needs, ask if they require a specific food to eat. Purchase a leash for your dog. Both basic leashes and retractable leashes are perfectly capable of fulfilling your dog's walking needs. Check the tag to see how much weight the leash can bear. This will allow you to choose the best leash for your dog's size. If you have a key rack, you can keep the leash there so you can just grab it and go when it's time to go for walks. Obtain grooming supplies (brushes and dog shampoos). Even if your dog isn't longhaired or prone to shedding, they will still need to be bathed on a regular basis. Check the labels to make sure the type of shampoo you're picking is ideal for your dog's fur and health requirements. Grooming tools can be kept in bathroom cupboards or on shelves. Buy a few toys for your dog. A few toys will come in handy in terms of keeping your dog from getting bored during the quiet parts of your day. A tennis ball or rubber bouncing ball, squeaky toy, and stuffed animal are great toys to start off your dog's collection with. You can keep them near your dog's bed until they arrive. Start with a few different kinds of toys. These will help you get an idea of what your dog likes so that you can buy more in the future. Get a box of treats. Dog treats are good tools to use for training and maintaining your dog's oral health. Try to pick an appealing flavor, such as peanut butter, cheese, or bacon. Be sure to check the box for ingredients, so you know the treats are healthy as well as enjoyable. You can keep your dog's treats in one of your kitchen cupboards. Purchase a dog crate for crate training. A crate will come in handy for bringing your new dog home. Make sure you have a general idea of the size of the dog you're planning to adopt. This will help you to get a crate that's big enough for your dog to stand in comfortably, and turn around without being cramped. Make sure you buy a bed or pad for the bottom of the crate. This will help keep your dog comfortable and prevent them from getting sores. Place the dog's crate in your (or another family member's) bedroom. Dogs can get anxious when inside their crate. Knowing you're nearby will make it easier for them to be in their crate. You can gradually move it elsewhere after the first two weeks, once your dog is more used to you. Choose a special, cleanable area in your home for your new dog to stay. The first few weeks of your dog's life in your home will be stressful, which may lead to a few potty accidents. Mark an area in your home for your dog to rest and hang out until they adjust to living with you. An area with hardwood or tiled flooring is the best choice. If you don't have or want to use any areas in your home with hard flooring, lay down newspaper or potty pads on your carpeting to contain any messes. Perform a sweep of each room in your home. Walk through your house and try viewing them through your dog's perspective. Think about areas a dog could get into and which parts of a room could cause a dog harm. Now is the time to plan out how to take care of any unsafe areas of your home that you find. Look over your bedroom to check where you keep your shoes, dirty laundry, and hair care accessories, such as combs and bands. Your dog may be tempted to chew on these, so they will need to be placed out of sight and reach. Your shoes and laundry can be tucked into your closets. Hair care tools are best placed on your dresser, if your dog cannot reach the top, or on a high shelf. If your living or family rooms have fireplaces installed, make sure access to the fireplace is blocked off by a grate or screen. Look out for small objects your dogs could be tempted to chew, such as toys, and put them away. Check your kitchen inventory for foods that are poisonous to dogs. This includes coffee, chocolate, garlic, and avocados, to name a few. Place these items far out of your dog's reach, like on a high shelf or in your pantry. Set up baby gates to keep your dog out of certain bedrooms, bathrooms, or your office. Anywhere you don't want your dog to be can be blocked off with a gate. Make sure the gates are too tall for your dog to jump over. 26 inches (66 cm) should be tall enough for a small dog, whereas 50 inches (130 cm) may be preferable for a large dog. Bundle up any and all groups of electrical wires and tuck them out of sight. Puppies (and some older dogs) may get the urge to chew on exposed wires. Look around for any freely hanging wires and, if you can, bundle them together with a band. You can then tuck them behind a shelf and/or bind them against the wall with tape. If you can't hide certain wires, use cord covers and protectors. These will keep your dog from chewing on cords that you just can't hide. Place any fragile objects and plants out of your dog’s reach. Shelves, cupboards, and some high tables and windowsills should be effective places to keep these objects away from your dog. Keep your dog's size in mind as you decide where to put things. You may also want to place some of these items in a room your dog cannot access. Stow your cleaning products and other chemicals where your dog can’t reach. High cupboards and shelves are suitable places to keep these supplies. Your garage shelves are another good place to use for cleaning tools you don't need as often. Work out a dog care schedule with your family. Talk with your family to determine who will housebreak the dog, who will take the dog for walks, who will feed the dog, and who will play with it. Discuss what time these responsibilities will take place each day. You may want to walk the dog and let it use the bathroom first thing in the morning. Feed it immediately after you return home. Take the dog back out to use the bathroom after it finishes eating. Whoever wakes up earliest in the morning can take care of these responsibilities, if they are old enough. The rest of the afternoon can be filled with your other daily responsibilities. Give your dog breaks every few hours to go for walks and use the bathroom. The evening is a great time to play with the dog and feed it supper. Offer these tasks to your kids. They'll likely be at school during the day, so evening responsibilities can help them bond with the dog. Take the dog out for one last bathroom break just before the house settles down for bed. Decide which areas you may want to keep the dog out of and how you’ll keep them out. Some areas you may want to keep the dog out of could be a guest bedroom or the bathrooms. You could settle on using a baby gate or just keeping the door closed to keep the dog out. Discuss whether the dog be living inside or kept outdoors. Some people do not like the idea of a dog living inside the house. If you want to keep your dog outside, make sure you have a fenced yard that's large enough for your dog to roam and play in. Alternatively, you may agree to keep the dog outside during the day and let it inside at night. If you choose to keep your dog outside for any extended period, make sure it has access to food and fresh water, along with a shelter to protect them from the elements. Talk about whether the dog can sleep in family beds or get up on the couch. Talk about how you'll keep the dog from getting up on the furniture if you don't want them on it. You may buy the dog its own furniture to use (like blankets and chairs) and hash out training methods to teach it that your furniture is off-limits. You could also agree to let it on some furniture (like specific chairs or one family member's bed) but not others. Decide who will stay home the first week to care for the dog. If possible, you or one of your family members should stay home to care for the dog the first week it comes home. This is about the usual amount of time it will take the dog to get used to living with you and fall into your routine. If no one in your household can stay home with the dog, look around for pet care services, like daycares and walking services. Look for obedience classes. Obedience classes are a great option if you're a new dog owner. They can help you learn the best ways to socialize and train your dog so your relationship can develop smoothly. Be sure to research different obedience classes in your area. Check Google and Yelp ratings for a class's quality. On top of being a good way to teach your dog proper behaviors, obedience classes help you build a relationship with your dog. This is why they are recommended any time you bring a new dog into your house. Make sure everyone in your home spends time at obedience training with your dog. This way your dog learns to listen to and bond with everyone in your house. Go vet shopping. Whether you're adopting an adult dog or a puppy, it's important to find a clinic to handle their basic care. You should set up an initial check-up soon after adopting your new dog. Look around at different vets in your area and compare prices and personalities. The best vet is one that is able to handle animals responsibly and compassionately, but also fits into your budget. If you know anyone else with a dog, ask them for vet recommendations. Word of mouth is a great way to find new, highly-recommended pet health professionals. Prepare a set of tags with your information to bring on adoption day. Getting your dog's tags ready in advance is a good safety measure. If your dog gets lost, anyone who finds it can get in touch with you by reading the tags attached to your dog's collar. If your dog has already been chipped by the adoption center, be sure to request that they modify the chip to feature your information. Ask the shelter about your dog’s food and meal schedule. Suddenly switching your dog over to a new brand of food can upset their stomach. It's better for your dog's health to feed them the same way they were fed at the shelter. Wait at least one week before gradually introducing new food. If you need to switch your dog to a new food, do so gradually. Start by adding 1/4 cup of their new food to a bowl of their old food. Increase the amount of the new food and decrease the amount of the old food a little every day until your dog has fully transitioned. Implement your dog care routine. It's best to introduce your dog to its new daily routine from day one. The sooner they learn how living with you works, the easier it will be for them to adjust to life with your family. Start housebreaking and walking your dog according to the schedule you and your family discussed earlier. | Purchase waste cleaning tools to use during your dog’s bathroom breaks. Buy a bed for your dog to sleep in. The bed should be large enough for your dog to lie down completely and stretch out without falling over the edges. Pick out your dog’s food and water bowls. Get a bag of dog food. Purchase a leash for your dog. Obtain grooming supplies (brushes and dog shampoos). Buy a few toys for your dog. Get a box of treats. Purchase a dog crate for crate training. Choose a special, cleanable area in your home for your new dog to stay. Perform a sweep of each room in your home. Set up baby gates to keep your dog out of certain bedrooms, bathrooms, or your office. Bundle up any and all groups of electrical wires and tuck them out of sight. Place any fragile objects and plants out of your dog’s reach. Stow your cleaning products and other chemicals where your dog can’t reach. Work out a dog care schedule with your family. Decide which areas you may want to keep the dog out of and how you’ll keep them out. Discuss whether the dog be living inside or kept outdoors. Talk about whether the dog can sleep in family beds or get up on the couch. Decide who will stay home the first week to care for the dog. Look for obedience classes. Go vet shopping. Prepare a set of tags with your information to bring on adoption day. Ask the shelter about your dog’s food and meal schedule. Implement your dog care routine. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Body-Acne | How to Prevent Body Acne | The best way to prevent body acne is to wash your skin with a gentle cleanser when you shower, especially after you work out or get sweaty, to prevent your pores from getting clogged. If you have oily hair, wash it every day to prevent acne on your scalp. You should moisturize daily, but make sure you use moisturizers labeled as oil-free and nonacnegenic, as these are less likely to irritate your skin or make your acne worse. For a natural acne remedy, apply tea tree oil to your skin for its antibacterial properties. To prevent body acne breakouts, wear loose clothing to allow your skin to breathe, and remove sweaty clothes right after exercising. | Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser when you bathe or take a shower. Choose a cleanser that is meant for sensitive skin. Harsh cleansers may irritate your skin and cause or intensify your existing acne. Avoid scrubbing or using exfoliating products or toners on the areas where you get body acne most often. Take a shower after you get sweaty to prevent your pores from getting clogged. Acne is more likely to develop if you have too much excess oil on your skin for a long period of time. Make sure that you take a shower after your workout or whenever you get too sweaty. Use your hands to wash your body. It may seem like a good idea to scrub your body if you have body acne, but it can make your acne worse. Using a sponge or a washcloth can also irritate your acne, so it is best to wash your body using your hands if you are prone to body acne. Try using an over-the-counter body wash specifically formulated for acne. Some examples include Neutrogena, Oxy, or Clean and Clear. Most products of this nature have a main ingredient such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Wash your hair every day. If you have oily hair, it is possible to develop pimples on your scalp if enough oil is allowed to collect there. Wash your hair every day if you have oily hair. Use a gentle shampoo so that your scalp does not become irritated from daily washing. Steer clear of hair styling products that contain oil. Products like pomades, gels, and mousses may also cause acne to develop on your scalp. Choose noncomedogenic products for your body. Moisturizing your skin is important, but some moisturizers can intensify your acne. Look for moisturizers and other body products that are labeled noncomedogenic. Also look for oil-free and nonacnegenic treatments. These types of products are less likely to irritate your skin or make your acne worse. Apply oil-free sunscreen before sun exposure. It is important to protect your skin when you spend time in the sun, but some oil-based sunscreens may clog your pores. Choose a sunscreen that is labeled “oil-free” to help prevent acne breakouts and protect your skin from the sun. Make sure to apply 1-2 ounces of sunscreen at least 30 minutes before exposure to the sun and reapply every two hours. Try tea tree oil. Some natural remedies may be effective in reducing body acne. The most effective natural treatment is tea tree oil, which has antibacterial properties. Products containing tea tree oil can be applied to the skin directly, as a topical treatment. Wear loose-fitting clothes. Tight clothing and hats can increase your chances of developing body acne, especially when you have been sweating. Make sure that you wear clothes that allow your skin to breathe and remove sweaty clothes soon after exercising to help prevent body acne breakouts. Wear cotton clothing as much as possible. Cotton seems to be the least irritating fabric for people who suffer from frequent body acne. Leave existing zits alone. While it may be tempting to pick at zits or try to squeeze them out, you are better off leaving them alone. Popping a zit can cause it to become inflamed. Squeezing a zit can also lead to infections or even scars. If you get a zit, continue to care for your skin as usual, but do not pick at the zit or attempt to pop it. If you want to try to treat a blemish actively, instead of popping it, apply a 1% over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Eat healthily. Some studies have shown that certain foods may increase acne breakouts. Sugar and simple carbohydrates seem to make people more susceptible to acne breakouts. Steer clear of sugary sodas, potato chips, candy and other junk foods that may be contributing to your breakouts. Instead eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to help reduce your chances of an acne breakout. Try avoiding dairy products. Some people develop acne in conjunction with consuming dairy. Going dairy-free (including dairy proteins) may be a way to reduce your acne from the inside. Get plenty of sleep. Not sleeping enough can make your acne worse, so it is crucial to get the recommended amount of sleep every night. Adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep per night, but teenagers need between 8.5-9.5 hours of sleep every night to feel their best. Keep in mind that everyone is different and you may need more or less sleep than the recommendations for your age. Relax every day. Stress has not been found to cause acne, but some studies have shown that stress can make existing acne worse. To help prevent your stress levels from intensifying your acne, take time every day to relax. Some possible stress-reducing activities you might try include deep breathing, yoga, and meditation. Talk to your doctor. If your body acne gets worse, does not improve over time, or if it is interfering with your happiness, talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor may be able to find out what is causing your acne and help you to make a plan to fix it. If your acne is severe, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist to help treat your existing acne and prevent further breakouts. Consider the side effects of medications you are taking. Some prescription medications can cause acne, so you may want to discuss your prescriptions with your doctor. If the medication you are taking is contributing to your body acne, ask your doctor what alternative medications are available. If your doctor does not think that a good alternative exists, ask about complementary medications that might help prevent body acne breakouts. Do not stop taking any of your prescription medications without talking to your doctor first. Ask about medications that may help prevent body acne. There are several types of medications that can help to treat and prevent acne. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of using one of these medications to help prevent further acne breakouts. Recommended acne medications, which may be in the form of body washes, creams, or oral medications, might include: benzoyl peroxide salicylic acid antibiotics (topical or oral) retinoid creams azelaic acid isotretinoin oral contraceptives (for women) androgen blockers Discuss other possible causes of your acne. Some medical conditions may make you more likely to have frequent body acne breakouts. If you have other symptoms of illness, talk to your doctor about these symptoms to determine if an underlying condition might be the cause of your acne. Some common conditions that also cause acne include: Cushing's syndrome polycystic ovary syndrome endocrine (hormonal) disorders | Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser when you bathe or take a shower. Wash your hair every day. Choose noncomedogenic products for your body. Apply oil-free sunscreen before sun exposure. Try tea tree oil. Wear loose-fitting clothes. Leave existing zits alone. Eat healthily. Get plenty of sleep. Relax every day. Talk to your doctor. Consider the side effects of medications you are taking. Ask about medications that may help prevent body acne. Discuss other possible causes of your acne. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Your-Dad%27s-Girlfriend | How to Deal With Your Dad's Girlfriend | Dealing with your dad's girlfriend can be hard, but good communication will make it easier. Talk to your dad honestly about your difficulties with his girlfriend, since you may be able to work out a solution. If you're living with your dad, make clear your own needs, such as having your own private space, so that his girlfriend doesn't disrupt your routine too much. If you'd like to bond more, suggest that you spend time doing activities together, like cooking dinner or going to see a movie.Try to focus on other things in your life too, like your schoolwork, friends, or hobbies so that your dad's dating lifestyle doesn't dominate your day-to-day life. | Adjust your routine. If you live with your dad, his dating life can really impact your everyday life. Even if you only live with him part time, a new person in your environment takes some getting used to. If it seems like your dad's girlfriend is always around, you might want to alter your routine. Maybe it seems like she is always watching tv when your favorite shows are on. Ask her politely if she would mind hanging out in another room while you relax with your show. Or watch it later on DVR. You could also change your routine. For example, if you feel like she is always in the kitchen whenever you are trying to make a snack, start changing your habits. Grab something on your way out the door instead of sitting down to eat. Changing your routine is probably not the best long term solution. But in the early days of getting to know someone, it can be helpful. When you are getting used to your dad's girlfriend being around, feel free to take a time out if necessary. Go to your room or for a walk if you find yourself needing some room to breathe. Protect your space. When someone new enters your household, it is sometimes necessary to identify boundaries. One way that you can do this is to define what counts as your space. You can have physical space (such as your room) and also emotional space. If you have your own room at your dad's house, ask that his girlfriend respect your privacy. Tell her if your door is closed, that means you are having alone time. Your emotional space is also important. If she is trying to discipline you, speak up for yourself. For example, if your curfew is 11 p.m., but she tells you to be home by 10, address the situation calmly. Try saying, "Actually, my dad requires me to be home by 11. I'll stick to his rules, thanks." Assert your needs. It can be confusing when your dad starts dating. Don't be afraid to let him know how his romantic life impacts you. Ask that he please not introduce you to every new woman that he dates. If your dad is in a serious relationship, it makes sense that you will be around his girlfriend. But you don't need to meet everyone he takes to dinner. Try saying, "Dad, I understand you need to socialize. But it makes me uncomfortable to make small talk with women I don't know. Please only introduce me to a serious girlfriend." Choose your words carefully. Think about what you want to say ahead of time. This will help ensure that your message is clear. Voice your concerns. There are many different ways that your dad's girlfriend can interfere with your life. Maybe she is teasing you, or offering you unwanted advice. She could also be trying to discipline you in ways that don't work for your family. Whatever the problem is, you should clearly articulate your concerns. Talk to your dad about the problem. Be clear and specific. Try saying, "Dad, Mary has been teasing me about liking boys. This is not a topic I want to discuss with her. Please ask her to stop." When you are voicing your concerns, explain your feelings. Say, "It makes me angry when Mary interrupts me while I'm talking." Follow that by offering an idea for a solution. Try, "Dad, it would be great if you could explain to her that we don't talk to each other like that in our house." Make yourself heard. Sometimes simply voicing your concerns is not enough. As a young person, it can be difficult to get adults, even your parents, to take you seriously. Make it clear that this situation in a big problem for you and you will not continue to be ignored. Schedule a time to talk. You want to have your dad's full attention. Say, "Dad, I need to talk to you about my conflicts with Tina. When is a good time for you?" Give him a chance to think. Don't demand a solution immediately. Say, "Dad, I know you're in a difficult spot. But I really need your help, so please get back to me with a plan within a couple of days." If your dad refuses to speak with you, talk to another adult. Ask your mom or another family member to be with you while you talk to your dad. Be realistic. Whether you're almost ready for college or a pre-teen, dealing with your parents' divorce can be difficult. It will likely cause a lot of changes in your life, and maybe even your living situation. As much as you might want your parents to get back together, the first step in coping with divorce is to face the reality of the situation. Face the realities of your dad having a girlfriend. Whether this is a new relationship or one that has been going on for a while, it is important to accept that she is now in your life. Accepting reality doesn't mean you can't improve the situation. It simply means that you are acknowledging that things have changed. Once you have accepted the fact that your dad is dating, you can begin to take steps to handle the situation in a positive way. Keep living your life. It can take some time to sort through your feelings. That is normal. But in the meantime, don't let your dad's dating life consume you. Remember that you have other things in your life to focus on. Spend time with your friends. Dealing with your dad's girlfriend can be stressful. Having fun with your friends can help relieve the pressure. Find a new hobby. Having a new focus in your life can help take your mind off of your worries. Try out for a sports team or join a club at school. Being around other people can also be a great stress relief. Make a list of the good things in your life. When you feel upset about your dad's girlfriend, look at the list and choose an item to focus on. Find a support system. It can be challenging to deal with your dad's girlfriend. Maybe she chats nervously and doesn't let you get a word in edgewise. Or maybe she has no interest in you at all. Whatever your situation is, it's important that you have other people to rely on. Remember that your individual situation is different from other people's experience. But that doesn't mean that they can't support you. Turn to a trusted family member for support. Maybe you have a favorite aunt that you are close to. Tell her you're having a tough time and could use someone to talk to. Rely on your friends. Having divorced parents is very common. It's also common that they will date other people. Ask a friend to tell you about her experience. Knowing that someone else has experienced this transition can be very helpful. Set boundaries. Your dad's girlfriend may be an important part of his life. But if she is a new addition to your family unit, it may be necessary to set boundaries. Family holidays, vacations, and events such as weddings are particularly important to manage. Remember that everyone's situation is different. Maybe you don't mind if your dad's long time girlfriend comes along on the family vacation. But if you do, speak up. Make your feelings clear. Be firm but kind. Try saying something like, "Dad, our time at the cabin is really special to me. If you want to bring Susan for the last two days, that's fine. But I'd appreciate it if you devote most of the week to just spending time with our family." Holidays can be especially emotional. If your dad has a new girlfriend, don't feel like you have to include her in every event. If you have an annual cocktail party that includes friends and extended family, by all means, she should be invited. But that doesn't mean she has to attend gift opening with your kids on Christmas morning. Be flexible. Being an adult doesn't always mean that you will feel comfortable dealing with your dad's girlfriend. However, it does mean that you are probably emotionally mature enough to find ways to compromise. Talk to your dad about the situation and try to find solutions that work for everyone. Weddings can be a difficult social occasion to navigate, even under the best of circumstances. If there is a family wedding coming up, talk to your dad about the proper role for his girlfriend. If it is your wedding, you should be able to decide who you want there. However, unless you have a good reason, it's probably not fair to completely exclude the girlfriend. Be flexible by inviting her to the wedding. But you don't have to include her in the intimate details of the day, such as helping you get ready. Family pictures can also be tricky. Try to pick a standard to stick to. For example, someone who hasn't been part of the family dynamic for at least several months might not need to be in the picture. Talk to your dad about what feels right for everyone. Consider the duration of the relationship. It's understandable if you don't feel comfortable having your dad's new girlfriend involved in intimate family events. The longer the relationship lasts, the more flexible you should be. If the couple has been together for a year or more, it's probably time to start allowing her to be more active in the family. Have an open conversation. Once you have figured out your emotions, you can move forward on trying to build a relationship. Hopefully, you have had some time to consider what you want that relationship to be. Are you looking for her to be your friend? Or to take on more of a friendly aunt role? Start spending time together. It is perfectly appropriate for you to initiate a conversation about what role you will play in each others lives. Schedule a time to talk. Try saying, "Hey, Tracy, I was wondering if you have some time to sit down and have a conversation with me this week." Let her know what you need from her. It's ok to say, "I already have a mother. But I am open to having a different kind of relationship with you." Be open and honest. Remember to also be respectful. Plan fun activities. Having a good time can be a great way to bond. Ask your dad's girlfriend to join you in an activity that you enjoy. You can either plan something in advance or offer a spontaneous invitation. Next time you are heading to the gym, ask her to come along. You can say, "Hey, Tracy, I love my kickboxing class. Do you want to come?" If you need to take things slow, go see a movie together. You'll be hanging out together, but you won't feel pressure to make conversation the entire time. Do some everyday activities together. It can be fun to have someone to make dinner with or to watch your favorite tv shows with. Get to know her better. In order to build a relationship with someone, it is important that you get to know them. Try thinking of her as an individual, rather than just your dad's girlfriend. Start by learning more about her. Getting to know someone can be as simple as learning her likes and dislikes. It might turn out that you have something in common. For example, you could ask her to go out for ice cream. If it turns out you both have the same favorite flavor, that's a really simple thing to bond over. After you feel a little more certain of your new relationship, you can delve a little deeper. Try asking her about her job or her family. Maybe your dad has been dating this woman for a long time and you think you already know her. Spend time with her anyway. It's always possible to learn something new about a person. Be prepared to compromise. Compromise is important in any relationship. Maybe you are upset because when your dad spends time with her, it takes away from time he could spend with you. Propose a compromise by asking if he can take a day off of work to spend with you. If you find yourself arguing with your dad's girlfriend, take a step back and consider the situation. There is likely a situation that could be workable for both of you. For example, maybe you disagree on where to go for dinner. Try coming up with an alternative restaurant that sounds good to everyone. If the conflict is more serious, take a time out. Once you have calmed down, ask if you can talk about a way to compromise. Reflect on your emotional needs. Dealing with your dad's girlfriend can feel confusing and even awkward. It's important to understand that feeling a wide range of emotions is completely normal. Spend some time thinking about how you are feeling and how it is affecting your life. This will help you figure out how to communicate your feelings. Examining your feelings can help you figure out what you need. For example, are you feeling jealous? Maybe spending more time with your dad would help. Perhaps you are feeling confused. Sometimes you might actually enjoy being around your dad's girlfriend, but that makes you feel like you are betraying your mom. Try keeping a journal. Each day, write down the events of the day and how they made you feel. Take some time each week to flip through your journal and review your thoughts. This can help you figure out what your major concerns are. Consider the other point of view. Your feelings about dealing with your dad's girlfriend are very important. Your emotions are valid, whatever they are. But remember that the other people involved have feelings, too. When you are figuring out how to handle this situation, it's a good idea to consider other viewpoints. For example, how does your dad feel? Maybe your dad has explained to you that is girlfriend is an important part of his life. If that's the case, you might want to spend some time thinking about how he feels. Your dad probably has some good reasons for liking this woman. Try to look at her from a new point of view. You could also take the girlfriend's feelings into account. It's possible that she is nervous around you. Try to imagine how she feels. It could be difficult for her to try to fit in with you and your dad. Talk to your dad. One of the keys to dealing with this complex situation is to have an open line of communication. It's important to let your dad know how you are feeling about his girlfriend. Take some time to talk to him about your emotions. Make your feelings clear. Use statements such as, "Dad, it makes me feel left out when you spend so much time with Tracy." Try writing down what you want to say ahead of time. It can be difficult to have an open conversation. It can relieve your stress if you plan ahead. Remember that your emotions are valid. Just try to explain them in a constructive way. Instead of saying, "I hate her!", be more specific. Say, "It makes me sad when she ignores me or talks down to me. Be a good listener. Give your dad a chance to respond. Chances are, this is a difficult situation for him, too. Let him know that you respect his feelings. If you don't understand his point of view, ask questions. You have a right to understand the situation. For example, try saying, "Dad, I don't understand why you go on vacations with just your girlfriend. Would it be possible to include me and my sister some time?" Demonstrate that you are listening by using positive body language. Nod your head and maintain eye contact. Maintain a relationship with your dad. Remember that having a relationship with your father is a priority. If it wasn't, it wouldn't matter that he has a girlfriend. Make a point to keep your bond strong. Schedule time to hang out with just your dad. Ask him if the two of you can go on a hike or go to a ball game together. If you don't get to see your dad very often, find other ways to communicate. Keep in touch via text, e-mail, or video chat. | Adjust your routine. Protect your space. Assert your needs. Voice your concerns. Make yourself heard. Be realistic. Keep living your life. Find a support system. Set boundaries. Be flexible. Have an open conversation. Plan fun activities. Get to know her better. Be prepared to compromise. Reflect on your emotional needs. Consider the other point of view. Talk to your dad. Be a good listener. Maintain a relationship with your dad. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Rumors | How to Deal With Rumors | Although it may be hard, you can deal with rumors by not taking them personally, as many people spread rumors just to see someone get upset. If you can't ignore the rumor, you may try setting the record straight by explaining to people that the information is false. Another way to end a rumor is to find the person who started it and ask them directly why they're spreading lies. Once you address the rumor, remember to be patient and hold your head high, as most rumors will fade with time. | Communicate about what is going on. Rumors can spread if someone is very secretive about their life or isn't in constant communication with others. You don't have to tell everyone you meet what is going on in your life, but to prevent rumors it can be helpful to tell some people how you are doing and what is happening. Then, when a rumor gets spread it may be harder to believe because people know what is truly happening in your life. Stay in touch with your close friends, coworkers, and family. Keep them up to date on your life and ask them about theirs. When someone begins to pull away from people and becomes distant, rumors can be spread more easily. People can get upset if they feel like someone isn't putting in the effort to spend time with them and they can create rumors just from that. Or, if you look distant, people can start to create ideas that you are forlorn, depressed, or unsociable and can spread rumors about your emotional state. Be open and honest with people. This goes hand in hand with communication, but it involves really being honest and open with people, even when things are hard. Many people, when struggling with difficult things either at home, at school, or at work, can begin to pull away from people and become stressed and distrusting. The best way to avoid rumors when you are experiencing these things is to be vulnerable with a few people around you. Explain that things are hard or you are unsure about some things, and those around you will hopefully be understanding and sympathetic. Another reason to be open and honest with people is it helps create a space where they feel it's safe to be open and honest with you. If you share information with people they are more likely to share information back. Then, they are less likely to spread rumors about you because they know you have information on them. At the same time, you want to be careful about who you share intimidate details of your life with. If you know it is someone you can trust, then be open and honest with them so that they know what is truly going on in your life. If it is someone you are not sure about, still try to be honest with them, but don't reveal secrets that they may twist into something that isn't true. Some people will take honesty and vulnerability and use it for harm, as awful as that is. Treat people kindly. Not all rumors start from your close friends or family. Many start from people that don't know you well and so it's easy for them to make up lies about you. This is why it's important to treat all people kindly. The kinder you are to people, the less likely they will be to react out of malice and try to harm your reputation. Even people that are difficult to treat well, you should strive to at least be kind to them. Some people spread rumors about people they don't know well because they feel those people have treated them poorly, even if that person didn't intend to. You can't always prevent this, but being kind to someone decreases your chance that they are going to target you as their source for a rumor. If you are experiencing rumors in a workplace, encourage cooperation over competition. Building an environment where you treat your coworkers as a team and a family is going to make people feel more comfortable and welcomed, and hopefully they won't feel a need to spread unnecessary rumors about others. Avoid spreading rumors yourself. Don't spread rumors. It's just that simple. If you spread rumors yourself and contribute to hurting other people and harming their reputation you are more likely to have a rumor spread about you. You also have placed yourself in a position where you can't exactly find fault with others if they spread a rumor about you. If you do the same thing with others, then you are no better than someone who has spread a rumor about you. If information is told to you and it seems harmful or like it could hurt someone's reputation, keep it to yourself. Even if you don't think it is harmful, but you aren't sure of its accuracy, don't spread the information. Unless you are confident that the information is true and the person it is about won't experience harm from it, then don't tell others about it. Be clear about what you are sharing. If you are sharing something in confidence with someone and don't want others to know, make sure that person understands. Some people will share what other people have told them, not out of malice, but because they saw no harm in it. If you want to keep something private, communicate that to the person you are talking with. Doing this will keep your friend from sharing your private information with someone else who may share it with someone else incorrectly. It is like the game of telephone -- you start off with a sentence and after it has been passed between several people the meaning changes. To prevent this from happening, be clear with your friend that you want this information to stay between the two of you. Don't take it personally. Some people live life in bitterness or malice, and will spread rumors because they think it will make them feel better about themselves. Others hear information incorrectly and without meaning to harm someone, will spread that information. Either way, rumors aren't usually a sign that you have done something wrong. They usually communicate that the people spreading them are struggling with insecurities or boredom, so don't take it personally. While this can be difficult to do because some rumors can be very hurtful, just remember that people spread rumors for a reason. Most people who are kind and care about others won't spread malicious rumors to harm someone. Those who spread rumors usually do so because they feel jealousy or envy towards you, or they are upset with their current state in life and want to add some drama to it to make it more interesting. Stay above these rumors and don't encourage them by taking them personally and getting really upset. Some people spread rumors just to get a rise out of someone else. When rumors start to spread about you, act like nothing has happened and that you aren't affected by these lies. This can also help show people that the rumor isn't true, because you think it's so ridiculous that you don't even see a need to be upset about it. Respond to the rumor quickly. When a rumor is told about you, the best thing to do is respond to the rumor quickly. If you allow the rumor to fester and continue to be spread it may become worse or more exaggerated. Talk to the people who you have heard spread the rumor and explain to them that it is false, or go to an authority and let them know that the rumor isn't true. Some people choose to ignore rumors instead of responding to them. This can be a good option, depending on the extent of the rumor. If the rumor is something so outlandish that very few people actually believe it, it could be good to just ignore it and over time people will stop talking. However, if the rumor is believable or is something that could get you into trouble, you need to address it quickly. You don't want to end up in a position where you are at fault because others have spread lies about you. For example, if there is a rumor going around your workplace that you haven't been working efficiently or are doing something against company policy, you should address that rumor quickly. If not, you may be in great trouble with your boss. You want to denounce a rumor by addressing it before you are confronted and asked if it is true. It's easier for someone to believe you when you come to them first. Find the source of the rumor. When you hear about a rumor, sometimes it's best to go to the source of the rumor to understand why it was spread. This can help you from being hurt and can also prevent you from judging someone incorrectly. As people are spreading the rumor ask them who they heard it from, and hopefully you will be able to find the source of the rumor. Once you have found the source or creator of the rumor, ask them why they spread it and where they got their information. If it was a friend, you might ask them if you did something that upset them that caused them to spread the rumor. You should also figure out if the rumor was spread in malice or because information was communicated incorrectly. Although neither are good things, someone may have spread a rumor, not knowing it was a rumor. In this case, the person wasn't doing it out of malice, so you don't want to create unnecessary drama. If you find out someone did do the rumor out of malice, ask them why they started it. As stated earlier, people often start rumors because they are insecure about themselves. In this situation try to understand the person and practice giving them grace and forgiving them. Although this can be hard, the best way to love someone and help change them is by showing them grace when they don't deserve it. If you react kindly to this person, they may feel guilt or shame for spreading the rumor and then it may be easier to convince them to tell people the real truth. Make it known the rumor was false. The best way to denounce a rumor is by proving to people that it can't possibly be true. You can do this by explaining to people what is actually true, or you can show it to them by your actions. If the rumor involves you and someone else, ask that other person to help you prove that the rumor is false. Sometimes it can be helpful to have a third party refute the rumor. If someone spread a rumor that you were cheating on your significant other, then be more faithful to them. Don't flirt with other people and spend more time with your significant other so that people begin to question the truth of the rumor. If someone spread a rumor at your work about your laziness or that you were going against company policy, then try your best to show people you are a hard worker and that you are totally in line with company policy. Make it so hard for people to believe that the rumor is true. While this step isn't always fun or enjoyable, because you may feel like you are having to prove yourself when you shouldn't be, it can be effective. Telling people a rumor isn't true may work, but when you show it to them, they have undeniable evidence and proof. Understand that it may take time for the rumor to fade. Unfortunately, even if you have addressed the rumor, not all rumors fade quickly or immediately. Some people will believe you or will become uninterested while others may take some sort of twisted joy in hurting your reputation and will continue to discuss the rumor or the events surrounding it. Don't let these things bother you, but keep your head held high. Once you have addressed the rumor, there is not much you can do except to continue living life as you were. It may take time and patience, but eventually people will have moved onto another source of gossip.ignore the person who started it. | Communicate about what is going on. Be open and honest with people. Treat people kindly. Avoid spreading rumors yourself. Be clear about what you are sharing. Don't take it personally. Respond to the rumor quickly. Find the source of the rumor. Make it known the rumor was false. Understand that it may take time for the rumor to fade. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-For-a-Dog-with-Bad-Joints | How to Care For a Dog with Bad Joints | If you notice your dog trembling excessively or struggling to walk, take it to the vet to see if it has arthritis. Your vet may prescribe medication, but you can also try home remedies by buying over-the-counter natural supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin, which can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with joint problems. In addition to medicine, make sure your dog is as comfortable as possible by opting to keep its food, water, and bed in an easily accessible area. You can also massage your dog's joints gently for 10 minutes every day by using your fingers to make small circular motions in areas where they experience regular pain. | Make a vet appointment. Different types of arthritis are the most common cause of joint pain in dogs, but there are a number of conditions aside from arthritis that may also cause joint pain. Your vet can best diagnose and recommend treatment for the specific problems troubling your dog. Prior to your vet appointment, make note of the types of symptoms associated with your dog's joint. Take note of things like your dog struggling to walk or walking slower, the inability to get up and down off of the sofa, excessive trembling, falling, or tipping over. Also note where your dog seems to experience problems, such as around the hips or along the legs. Also make note of any other irregular symptoms that may be accompanying your dog's joint problems. Are they experiencing disorientation, loss of appetite, or anything else outside of their typical behavior? When you meet with your vet, inform them of the symptoms you have observed, and ask them what types of treatments they recommend. Schedule follow-up visits. If your dog's joint pain is the result of a chronic condition such as arthritis, ask your vet about scheduling follow up visits to monitor your dog's condition and adjust treatment as necessary. Your vet will be able to recommend a proper check-up schedule. Many vets will want to see a pet every three to six months for minor to moderate conditions, and may recommend more often for dogs suffering from severe or debilitating joint problems. Ask about medication. Your vet may be able to prescribe medication to help alleviate your dog's joint pain. The type of medication needed will depend on the cause of your dog's joint pain, so medication should only be administered after receiving a vet's prescription. Natural supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin may help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with joint problems and help prevent further deterioration. You do not need a prescription for these supplements, but you should still ask your vet about proper doses for your dog's size. See a chiropractor. A veterinary chiropractor may be able to relieve some of the pain your dog experiences. Ask your vet for a referral or recommendation, and schedule a preliminary appointment with a chiropractor to see if they can help your pet. When you visit the chiropractor, let them know about the symptoms your dog has been experiencing. Provide them with the same list of observations you gave to your vet, and also let them know about any medication or supplements your dog is currently taking. Create a space for your dog. Set up a space for your dog that they can easily navigate without too much trouble. This should include at minimum a dog bed selected for your dog's comfort, nearby food and water, and a pet training pad for potty emergencies and accidents. Your dog's bed should be soft and comfortable but not so padded that your dog struggles to get out of it. Many pet owners find that a heated bed helps greatly for dogs with joint pain. If you have a large dog, you may want to consider a raised bed that enables them to get in and out without having bend as much. Raised food and water dishes, such as those that fit into a bench, are also recommended. Choose the right food. Joint pain can be exacerbated by excess weight. Choose a dog food that will help keep your dog at a healthy weight. If you have a senior dog, opt for a senior dog food, which also often contains ingredients to help joints. If your dog is not elderly, make sure you are using a size-appropriate dog food. Larger dogs have different nutritional needs than smaller dogs. Many pet food companies also offer healthy weight formulas, purpose-made to help nourish dogs struggling with their weight. Keep your dog warm and dry. Cool, damp conditions may make joint pain more pronounced for your dog. Keep your dog in warm, dry, indoor areas whenever possible. If you live in a cold climate, keep the temperature inside your house warm enough for your dog's comfort. Equip your dog with a jacket and shoes if you need to take it out in snowy or cold conditions. If you take your dog out in the rain or snow, towel your dog dry once you are back inside and make sure the room is warm enough to keep your dog comfortable. Make yourself accessible. You are a major source of comfort for your dog, so it is important to make sure you are as physically accessible to your dog as you were before they began experiencing joint problems. Ensure your dog has ways to access you in the areas you permit. If you typically allow your dog on the furniture or in your bed but they can no longer get up and down from these areas, consider investing in a furniture staircase for dogs, or help your dog up and down as necessary. If you typically do not let your dog on the furniture, take time every day to be down on the floor playing with or petting them. Your attention helps keep your dog relaxed as they transition to their new care routine. Get some daily exercise. Joint pain may prevent a dog from going on long walks or playing for an extended period of time, but it is important to ensure that they get some exercise every day. Take your dog on short walks in nearby areas, and end the walk when you notice your dog slowing or struggling. Depending upon your dog's overall mobility, it may be advisable to avoid areas like dog parks and dog beaches, as other well-meaning dogs may be too quick or rough for your dog to handle. Play games such as fetch and tug-of-war in the home, too, to help keep your dog from getting stiff throughout the day. Gently massage your dog’s joints. Giving your dog a gentle joint massage for five to ten minutes every day can help relieve some of their pain and keep them from getting too stiff. Give your dog short messages in the areas that bother them most. Gently massage your dog's muscles in small, circular motions along the areas where they experience regular pain. Firmness should be only slightly greater than what you use to pet or scratch your dog. Support your dog during the massage by wrapping your arm under their stomach and helping them stand, if necessary. Try not to rub areas that currently aggravated. If you notice your dog wince or express pain, stop massaging that area immediately. Avoid physical punishment. If you are a dog owner who swats their dog for an accident or rubs their nose in the mess, adopt a non-physical form of punishment. Acting physically against your dog may rapidly increase joint pain and could cause greater damage. Eliminate physical punishment and instead opt for speaking in firm and severe tones to communicate your discontent. You may consider not giving the dog a regular treat as a part of punishment, but never deprive them of food, water, or other basic necessities such as shelter. If your dog has regular accidents, consider getting indoor training pad meant specifically to be thrown away after your dog to does their business. Pay attention to your dog daily. As your dog experiences new joint problems, the way in which you play and interact with them may change. You may have to spend less time playing rough and more time simply petting or showing affection to your dog. Regardless, you should show your dog support by ensuring they get attention every day. Spend the same amount of time you would have typically spent with you dog before they began having joint problems. You may be doing different activities, but you don't need to cut back on time with your dog because of their joints. If your dog is no longer able to run and play, try lower impact activities such as slow-paced games of fetch in the house, or even taking your dog for a swim. | Make a vet appointment. Schedule follow-up visits. Ask about medication. See a chiropractor. Create a space for your dog. Choose the right food. Keep your dog warm and dry. Make yourself accessible. Get some daily exercise. Gently massage your dog’s joints. Avoid physical punishment. Pay attention to your dog daily. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Egg-Float | How to Make an Egg Float | To make an egg float, start by filling a tall glass with water, leaving some space at the top. Then, stir 6 tablespoons of salt into the water until it's almost completely dissolved, which will make the water denser. Finally, carefully drop an egg into the glass and watch it float, which happens because the water is now denser than the egg itself. | Fill a tall glass with water. Leave some space at the top, but don't drop the egg in yet. Since an egg is denser than plain water, it would just sink. Density describes how much "stuff" (mass) is pressed into a space (volume). If you pick up two objects the same size, the one that feels heavier is denser. Stir in plenty of salt. Stir about 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) of salt into the glass of water. Keep stirring until almost all the salt dissolves. (You should see almost no salt crystals at the bottom of the glass.) When salt dissolves in water, it "sticks" to the water molecules, fitting between them and even pulling them closer together. This means the mass increases, but the volume stays about the same. Drop in an egg. The saltwater you made is denser than the glass of plain water was. If you added enough salt, the water is now denser than the egg. Test this by gently dropping the egg into the glass of water. If the water is denser, the egg will float. If the egg doesn't float, add more salt. Make sure to stir until the salt is dissolved. Slowly pour tap water on top. If you pour the tap water in gently, it will sit on top of the saltwater without mixing together. The egg is lighter than the saltwater but denser than the tap water, so it will float in the middle of the glass! Learn about the chemistry. Here's a more complete explanation: when table salt (chemical formula NaCl) dissolves in water, it breaks apart into two atoms: sodium (Na ) and chlorine (Cl ). The + and - symbols tell you that these atoms are "ions," meaning they have an electric charge. Since the opposite ends of a water molecule also have electric charges, the ions attract the water molecules closer and form a tight connection. Try adding more salt. If adding more salt makes the mixture denser, can you keep going? Could you add so much salt that a hammer could float on the water? Think about it (or test it), then click here to see the answer. Test eggs as they age. Is a fresh egg denser than an old egg, or is it the other way around? Line up several glasses of water with different amounts of salt stirred in, from plain water to heavy salt water. Drop a fresh, raw egg into a glass, then move it left or right until you find the least salty water the egg can float in. Repeat this each day, using a new egg from the same carton. As the eggs get older, do they float in more glasses, or sink? Read about what happened once you've tested it. If you can, get your eggs directly from a farmer. Supermarket eggs are often a couple weeks old when you buy them, so it will be harder to notice the difference. Float boiled eggs. Do you think boiling an egg would change its density? Set up the same experiment – a row of water with different amounts of salt – but this time, compare fresh eggs with boiled eggs. Is there a difference? Read about the results. Find the minimum amount of salt to float an egg. Can you think of a way to make a glass of salt water with the same density as the egg? Here's one approach: Stir ⅓ cup (80 mL) salt into 1⅔ cups (400 mL) water until it all dissolves. This is a "stock solution" you will use to make other salt water mixes. Fill glass number 1 with ¾ cup (180 mL) of the stock solution. Fill glasses 2 through 5 with ¾ cup plain water each. Mix ¾ cup stock solution into glass number 2. This is now half as salty as glass 1. Take ¾ cup from glass 2 and mix it into glass 3. Glass 3 is now half as salty as glass 2. Mix in ¾ cup from glass 3 into glass 4. Leave glass 5 as plain water. Try to float an egg in each glass. If you got close to the density of the egg, it will float in the middle of the glass, stand on the base, or bob just below the surface. | Fill a tall glass with water. Stir in plenty of salt. Drop in an egg. Slowly pour tap water on top. Learn about the chemistry. Try adding more salt. Test eggs as they age. Float boiled eggs. Find the minimum amount of salt to float an egg. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Air-Plants | How to Care for Air Plants | To care for air plants, spray them with a fine mist of room-temperature water every 2-3 days during the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, when the plants are dormant, mist them about once a week. If the leaves on your plant start to curl or roll up, it's too dry, which you can fix by soaking the air plant in a bowl of room-temperature water overnight. If it's possible, keep your plant near an east-, west-, or south-facing window, but out of direct sunlight. If you don't have a sunny window, set up a fluorescent lamp above the air plant. | Find your plant’s discs. Air plants have tiny silver discs or scales all over their leaves. If you look closely at an air plant in bright light, you will see the discs shimmering. These discs absorb moisture and nutrients for the plant. Water air plants every two to three days during spring, summer and fall. Spray a fine mist until the water drips from the leaves. Use room-temperature water to avoid stress that would be caused by cold tap water. Cold stress could cause the leaves to turn brown and brittle. Mist them in the morning so they will be dry or nearly dry by the end of the day. Water them less often in the winter during their dormant season. Give your plant a heavy soak once a week, instead of watering it lightly every 2 to 3 days. They can also be watered by soaking the entire air plant in a sink or bowl of water for 30 minutes once a week. With this method, the air plants should be shaken gently after soaking to remove excess water. Help your plant out if it is not getting enough water. If the air plant's leaves curl or roll up, it is not being watered often enough and has become too dry. Soak it in a bowl of room-temperature water overnight. Take it out of the water the next morning, shake it off and put it back in its place. Mist it or soak it more often to prevent it from drying out again. Set the air plant near an east-, west- or south-facing window if possible but not in direct sunlight. You can care for an air plant indoors by setting it directly in front of the window if a sheer curtain is hung between the plant and window. The optimum amount of light will result in a vigorous air plant with healthy green or gray-green leaves. Inadequate light will cause slow growth and pale leaves. Excessive light will turn the leaves tan, dry and brittle. Use a fluorescent lamp to provide additional light. This is particularly helpful if there isn't a bright, sunny window in the house. Use a special fluorescent bulb designed for plants that provides full spectrum light. Set the light up so that the bulb is 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3 cm) above the air plant and leave it on for 12 to 18 hours each day, depending on how much natural light it receives. The light should be turned on in the morning around sunrise and turned off 12 to 18 hours later. Feed air plants a dose of fertilizer every four weeks. Liquid, water-soluble fertilizer with a 10-5-5 ratio is fine. Dilute the fertilizer to one-fourth the recommended strength and mist the air plant with the solution in the morning. Know when your plant needs more fertilizer. An air plant that is receiving adequate fertilizer will grow vigorously and have a healthy color, usually bright gray-green but this varies. Inadequate fertilizer will result in slow growth, but excessive fertilizer will turn the leaves brown and brittle. Make sure your plant gets plenty of air. Air plants require healthy air circulation. Although they need to get their leaves wet, if they do not dry quickly the air plant could develop crown rot. Do not place them too close to other plants, walls or furniture. If air circulation is a problem in the house, set up a fan so that it blows away from the plant and turn it on for an hour or so once or twice a day. Make sure the fan doesn't blow directly on the plant. That would cause it to dry quickly before it has a chance to absorb any moisture. Recognize rot. If the crown or roots develop rot, they will turn brown or gray and slimy. If the rot is only on the roots, trim off the rotten roots. Crown rot is usually fatal. The plant should be thrown away and replaced with a new air plant. Tie the air plant to another object. Air plants can be displayed by tying them to a piece of driftwood, cork or rock with nylon fishing line. They can also be glued to the wood or rock with hot glue or construction glue. Consider placing your air plant in a bowl. A decorative bowl filled with interesting rocks can be a fitting home for an air plant. Simply nestle the air plant on the rocks or glue it to a rock and set it in the center. They can be nestled in a decorative seashell for an interesting display. Do not cover the base of the plant with soil or moss, regardless of how you decide to display your air plant. Covering the base of the plant will keep it too wet and can make it rot. | Find your plant’s discs. Water air plants every two to three days during spring, summer and fall. Give your plant a heavy soak once a week, instead of watering it lightly every 2 to 3 days. Help your plant out if it is not getting enough water. Set the air plant near an east-, west- or south-facing window if possible but not in direct sunlight. Use a fluorescent lamp to provide additional light. Feed air plants a dose of fertilizer every four weeks. Know when your plant needs more fertilizer. Make sure your plant gets plenty of air. Recognize rot. Tie the air plant to another object. Consider placing your air plant in a bowl. Do not cover the base of the plant with soil or moss, regardless of how you decide to display your air plant. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Sore-Breasts-(for-Teenagers) | How to Get Rid of Sore Breasts (for Teenagers) | If you're a teenage girl, you may be dealing with sore breasts as your body changes and your hormones begin releasing. While this can lead to some discomfort, there are ways you can reduce the amount of soreness you feel. When you hit puberty, your breasts will likely get heavier, so wearing a supportive bra can help take a load off your body and keep your pain under control. Eating citrus fruits and veggies are another way to reduce pain since they have properties that reduce the free radicals in your body that trigger pain. You'll also want to reduce your salt intake since salt can cause water retention and bloating, which can cause your breasts to swell. | Wear a supportive bra. When you hit puberty, your breasts tend to get heavier. Not wearing a bra can cause pain because your body isn't used to carrying this weight around. Wearing a supportive bra can take a load off your body and help keep the pain under control. Consider going to a store where they sell bras and have yourself sized so that you get a comfortable, properly fitting one. Do exercises to relieve soreness. Developing your inner chest muscles, which are called your pectoral muscles, can help you to handle the weight of your growing breasts. To do a pectoral exercise : Bend your elbows at right angles and bring them up to your chest level. Lower them to your sides and then bring them again to your chest. Do this 20 times in the morning, and 20 times at night. Eat fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits and veggies contain lycopene and antioxidants. These can help in reducing the free radicals that are produced in your body and which trigger pain. Citrus produce helps to boost your immune system and strengthen your overall health. Good choices of fruits and vegetables include oranges, melons, tomatoes, spinach and papayas. Reduce the amount of caffeine that you consume. Caffeine contains methylxanthines which are known to cause pain. They stimulate the enzymes of the COX cycle, a mechanism in your body that stimulates pain awareness, thereby increasing the pain you feel. Too much caffeine can also disrupt your sleep cycle, which can worsen pain. Caffeinated products include: Coffee and black tea Many sodas Energy drinks Chocolate Reduce your salt intake. Salt can cause you to retain water, and that bloating can cause your breasts to swell. This can increase your soreness. Cut back on your salt intake and make sure you stay hydrated. Use oils containing vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that serves as an antioxidant. Antioxidants can help protect your body's tissues, including breast tissues, from damage that occurs as the results of free radicals. Vitamin E can also help reduce inflammation that causes pain and tenderness in your breasts. Rub an oil containing vitamin E on your sore breasts. Oils high in vitamin E include olive oil, sunflower seed oil, argan oil, and wheat germ oil. The long-term use of vitamin E supplements to treat breast pain is not recommended, as some research shows this may be unsafe. Evening primrose oil (available over the counter) can be used in the same way as vitamin E oils to reduce breast soreness. Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs work to reduce pain and inflammation. Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen. Follow the dosing instructions provided on the NSAID package, or by your doctor. Although aspirin is also an NSAID, teenagers should not take aspirin unless a doctor says otherwise, because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. Try acetaminophen. Acetaminophen fights pain but does not work against inflammation. Still, it can provide relief from sore breasts. The amount of acetaminophen you take will depend on your age, so follow all dosing instructions carefully. Recognize the symptoms of regular sore breasts caused by puberty and your menstrual cycle. If you are a teenager who has sore breasts, you are more than likely going through puberty. This means that your breasts are growing and your menstrual cycle is getting under way. It is normal to experience sore breasts at this time. Common symptoms include: Tenderness in your breast, especially in the nipple area. This can be caused by hormonal changes and by wearing a bra that is too tight, or sleeping with a bra on. Feeling like you have heavy breasts. As fat and duct cells increase in your breasts, their tissue content also increases. Experiencing a warm feeling in your breasts. This occurs because multiple reactions are occurring at the cellular level, when hormones act on the glands and cells. See your doctor if the pain is very sharp or constant, is getting worse, or interferes with your daily activities. Perform regular breast self-examinations. Doctors do not normally require full breast examinations until after the teenage years. However, it is a good idea to get in the habit of performing self-examinations of your breasts, especially if you experience soreness in the area. An exam will help you discover the issue in the rare event that you have a major problem. Get checked out by a doctor if you notice a lump in your breast. Sometimes you might feel a lot of lumps in your breast; this is caused by estrogen during your period. During puberty, you may also notice harmless lumps (such as breast buds) that are a normal part of your breast development. If you find a hard, unmoving lump, however, or if you are concerned, see your doctor for an examination. Talk to your doctor if you notice any blood or pus. If you notice any pus or blood coming from your nipple while you are also experiencing sore breasts, you should go to a doctor. Pus or blood suggests an underlying infection, usually treatable with antibiotics. Monitor other signs of infection. If there is localized (meaning in just one spot) tenderness and warmth in any part of your breast, it could mean you have an infection. This localized tenderness does not necessarily need to be accompanied by pus or blood. Instead, you may notice a part of your breast that is red, painful, or swollen. Take antibiotics if your breasts are sore because of an infection. Antibiotics are prescribed to combat infections, including those in your breast tissues. Various antibiotics might be prescribed if you have a breast infection; talk to your doctor about which one is right for you. Talk to a doctor or parent if you may be pregnant. Swollen and tender breasts are an early sign of pregnancy. If you think you might be pregnant, check with your doctor right away. | Wear a supportive bra. Do exercises to relieve soreness. Eat fruits and vegetables. Reduce the amount of caffeine that you consume. Reduce your salt intake. Use oils containing vitamin E. Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Try acetaminophen. Recognize the symptoms of regular sore breasts caused by puberty and your menstrual cycle. Perform regular breast self-examinations. Get checked out by a doctor if you notice a lump in your breast. Talk to your doctor if you notice any blood or pus. Monitor other signs of infection. Take antibiotics if your breasts are sore because of an infection. Talk to a doctor or parent if you may be pregnant. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paper-Chain | How to Make a Paper Chain | To make a paper chain, start by cutting rectangular strips from a piece of paper that are roughly 1 inch wide by 8 inches long. Then, make your first link by attaching the ends of a strip together with glue or staples. Once you've made the first loop, thread a second strip through the link and attach the ends. Continue adding links in this way until you have the length of chain you want, then hang it from the wall or ceiling. Alternatively, loop your chain by threading a strip of paper through the links on each end before attaching both ends of the strip. | Choose your paper. The color and thickness will depend on why you're making the paper chain. Consider picking colored paper that matches the theme of an upcoming holiday: red and green for Christmas; white and blue for winter; orange, black, and purple for Halloween; pinks, blues, yellows, and other pastels for Easter. You can buy colored construction paper, or you can color the paper yourself. If there is no holiday coming up, feel free to make your paper chain plain white – or to use a wild mix of colors. Work out a pattern of alternating colors in complement or contrast. Avoid using thick paper that will not bend easily. Most construction paper should be okay, but you don't want to get much thicker. Remember: you want your paper not only to bend, but to stay bent! Try using special seasonal paper. For Christmas, for instance, use wrapping paper. Cut strips from the paper. Use a ruler and a pair of scissors to cut out a series of long, rectangular strips. Each strip of paper makes one "link" in the chain, so plan accordingly. Each new strip should be equal in dimensions to each of the other strips. If you're cutting from a sheet of standard printer paper, try strips that are 1" wide by 8.5" long. This way, one piece of paper will make 11 even strips. Try using a rotary cutter for large volumes of paper. This tool may be quicker than scissors. The thicker and shorter your strips are, the less margin for error you'll have. When in doubt, make your strips thinner rather than wider. Consider making a "paper doll chain. " This project is similar in scope and style to the standard paper chain. However, the doll chain involves cutting out a series of paper "people," each connected by the hands. You will need all of the same materials, and it shouldn't take much longer – so research your options and decide what you're looking for. Make the first "link. " All you need to do is tape, glue, or staple the far ends of one paper strip together into a ring. Try to match up the sides evenly. Tape and staples will make for a quick process, but glue will take much longer because it needs to dry. If you are using glue, hold the two ends of paper together until the glue dries. Make sure that the edges of the paper do not slip askew. You should not need more than one staple or one small square of tape to seal each loop. Make sure that the link is sturdy and will not fall apart. Add a second link. Once you have one sturdy ring, thread another strip of paper through the center of the loop. Now, join the ends of this second strip together with tape, staples, etc. The wide, flat edges of the two links should line up, but the loops themselves should sit at a rough 90 degree angle – like a chain! Keep adding links. Continue in the same pattern until your chain is as long as you want it. In theory, there is no limit to the length of paper chain that you can build, as long as you have enough paper, tape, and time. If you want to hang the chain somewhere, measure the length against the space periodically to check if it's long enough yet. Loop the chain (Optional). You can choose to leave the chain long and straight, with a loop at each end, or you can link the ends together with a single strip of paper. To do this: wait until you have an odd number of links in the chain, then loop and seal one final strip of paper through both of the end-links at once. Now, you should have a large ring of paper loops. If you try to seal a chain that already has an even number of links, the orientation of the loops won't match up. Hang your paper chain from the walls or ceiling. If you leave the chain long, you can string it through a space to add a festive flair. Hang the chain a little bit loose, so that it dips low in the center. Try crossing chains over one another, alternating colors, or even linking long chains together to make a super-chain. If you're having a party, use a waist- or chest-level paper chain to block off a "private area" like a staircase, a hallway, or a section of backyard. The paper may not hold up to force, but it will serve as a gentle deterrent to wayward guests. Decorate for a holiday. You can string up paper chains for a birthday, a party, or a major holiday. Match the colors of the chains to the theme of the party, or to the colors usually associated with that holiday. Get creative! Make a "wreath. " If winter or Christmas is coming up, try making a faux-wreath using one or more paper chains. For the basic design: use green construction paper, then loop the finished chain into one large circle. You can add concentric small green circles to fill out the "wreath." For added effect, make a "bow" from red paper or string, and tie it to the front of the wreath. Hang the wreath on your door, your wall, your fence, your tree. The paper wreath should be light, and easy to attach with tape or a hook. Use the chain as a paper necklace. Tie a series of (preferably small) loops together into a large loop that fits around your neck. For best effect, make the individual links rather small: not much more than half an inch wide and two inches long. One idea: string an array of bright, colorful loops together into a paper "lei" – a traditional Hawaiian flower necklace. Try looping a long chain of tight golden links into a "gold chain" – perhaps even two chains! | Choose your paper. Cut strips from the paper. Consider making a "paper doll chain. Make the first "link. Add a second link. Keep adding links. Loop the chain (Optional). Hang your paper chain from the walls or ceiling. Decorate for a holiday. Make a "wreath. Use the chain as a paper necklace. |
https://www.wikihow.mom/Satisfy-Hunger-During-Pregnancy | How to Satisfy Hunger During Pregnancy | To satisfy your hunger while you're pregnant, focus on eating healthy meals and snacks rather than junk food, since it's better for your baby. You can definitely indulge in something sugary or salty every once in a while, but try to limit yourself. If you're having cravings, try making a fruit smoothie or having some healthy trail mix. You could also make your self some whole grain toast with peanut butter or a cheesy omelet with veggies, which are both great sources of protein. If you're worried that your hunger is causing you to put on too much weight while you're pregnant, talk to your doctor so they can help you figure out how much weight you should be gaining. | Speak with your physician about healthy weight gain. Underweight women will need to gain more pounds during pregnancy. Women with higher body mass indexes (BMI), will need to add fewer pounds. General guidelines suggest: If you possessed a BMI of less than 18.5 before becoming pregnant, you should gain 13 to 18 kilograms (28 to 40 pounds). If you had a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 pre-pregnancy, aim to add 11 to 16 kilograms (25 to 35 pounds). If you had a BMI between 25 and 29.9, you should gain 7 to 11 kilograms (about 15 to 25 pounds). If you had a BMI of more than 30, you should add 5 to 9 kilograms (about 11 to 20 pounds). If you are carrying twins, the general recommendation is 16 to 20 kilograms (35 to 45 pounds). If you are carrying triplets, you may need to gain between 23 and 27 kilograms (50 and 60 pounds). Speak with your doctor about healthy weight gain if you are having a multiple pregnancy. Plan your calorie intake. You do not need to “eat for two.” Rather, if your pre-pregnancy BMI was in the normal range, you should eat 300 extra calories daily during your second trimester. In your third trimester, up this amount to 452 extra calories per day. In general: Always eat breakfast. Eat small healthy snacks (yogurt, trail mix, fruit) between larger meals to ward off binge eating. Keep snacks handy at home, at work, and in your purse or car. Limit access to junk food. While there might be days when you are craving dill pickles covered in dark chocolate, generally speaking, you should avoid binging on junk food. The extra calories should not come from junk food, but from nutrient-dense foods. Try to limit the amount of potato chips, sugary cookies, and sodas in your house. Everything you eat goes to your baby so keep that in mind. Avoid emotional eating. Although your hormones can cause mood swings, try to avoid using food as a comfort device. Rather if you are feeling blue, try taking a walk or hanging out with a good friend. Alternatively, reach for "happy" snacks like bananas, which contain amino acids that lead to the production of the mood-enhancing neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Other foods that may improve your mood include walnuts, dark chocolate, mushrooms, and green tea. Eat slowly. If you eat too quickly, your body doesn't realize you are full. If you eat more slowly and pause between each bite, digestive hormones have time to tell your brain that you are full. Enjoy your food and avoid eating while watching TV and not registering your food intake. Cut or break your food into smaller pieces so that you have more pieces to eat. Eating from a smaller plate can make you feel like you are eating more food. Eating slowly also helps prevent heartburn. Manage cravings. Listen to your body's cues. If you are craving something sweet, you might be lacking certain vitamins found in fruit, for instance. Similarly, if you are craving something salty, perhaps your sodium levels are off balance. While you should not follow every craving, be sensitive to what your body is saying. Incorporate grains into your diet. You need carbohydrates to keep your energy levels up. Whole grain foods are healthy choices and approximately 50% of your grain intake should be from whole grains, whether pasta, rice, or breads. Consider purchasing breads and cereals with added vitamins, iron, fiber, minerals, and folic acid. An example of a day's worth of grains could be breakfast cereal, a sandwich for lunch, and whole grain pasta for dinner. Eat fruits and vegetables. You need to eat sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables so that you are well-nourished with plentiful vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Seek dark green vegetables like spinach as a source of fiber, folate, and Vitamin A. Citrus fruits provide you with Vitamin C. Aim for five portions of fruits and vegetables daily. Salads allow you to combine many food groups. Starting with leafy greens (romaine, spinach, kale, arugula, Swiss Chard), add accompanying vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, cabbage, mushrooms, celery). Top off your salad with mandarins and some sliced chicken breast, chickpeas, or salmon for protein. Healthy options include a fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt and fresh fruits. Vegetable pizzas or submarine sandwiches also are great choices. Avocado is a great choice because it has needed healthy fats. You can create a trail mix filled with nuts, banana chips, raisins, or dates. Watch the amount of fruit juice you drink. Because of its high sugar content, it can lead to added pounds. Get sufficient protein. For your baby's development, make sure to include plenty of protein in your diet. Meat, fish, beans, eggs, and poultry are key sources of protein. Fish particularly boast fatty omega-3 acids — key to helping your baby's brain grow. Aim for 5.5 – 7 oz. of protein per day. Start your day with protein and fiber. Scrambled eggs with vegetables or whole grain toast with peanut butter set the right tone for the day and help you feel full and satisfied. Try omelets with fresh vegetables, salmon fillets, rice and black beans, or edamame. Avoid eating liver. Fish with high mercury levels can be dangerous. Avoid swordfish, tilefish, shark, and king mackerel. Incorporate dairy products into your diet. Calcium is a key mineral found in milk and is essential for bone and teeth development. Consider adding Greek yogurt to your daily diet which is a nutrient-dense food and great source of protein and calcium. Milk with cereal is also a great combination. 3 cups of dairy products (e.g. 1 cup milk, 1 cup yogurt, 1 cup shredded cheese) are recommended per day. Goat milk products are a fantastic lactose-free alternative. You also can purchase juices with extra calcium if you have trouble with lactose. Incorporate good fats into your diet. You do need to have fat as part of your prenatal diet. Try to stick to healthy fats and reduce your intake of saturated fat and hydrogenated fats. These fats are found in non-lean meat, butter, and processed foods like crackers or chips. Instead, focus on: Monounsaturated fats found in nuts, olives, avocados, almond or peanut butter. Polyunsaturated fats contained in sunflower, flaxseed, and soybean oils. Stay hydrated. Aim for 10 cups of liquids daily while you are pregnant. Although all fluids count towards this total, you should avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Try to keep your caffeine levels limited to one cup of coffee per day or two cups of tea. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times. If you're not a huge water fan, consider infusing your water with cucumber, lemon, or lime for added, nutritious flavor. Water helps your digestive system to work well. | Speak with your physician about healthy weight gain. Plan your calorie intake. Limit access to junk food. Avoid emotional eating. Eat slowly. Manage cravings. Incorporate grains into your diet. Eat fruits and vegetables. Get sufficient protein. Incorporate dairy products into your diet. Incorporate good fats into your diet. Stay hydrated. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-Your-Guy-Friend-You%27re-in-Love-with-Him | How to Tell Your Guy Friend You're in Love with Him | It can be scary to tell your guy friend you're in love with him, but communicating your feelings calmly and openly is the best way to let him know how you really feel. Choose a private time to talk to him about your feelings. Be direct and honest as you calmly tell him how you feel. For example, you could say, "I've had strong feelings for you for a long time. It feels good to get this off my chest." After telling him how you feel, express that you value him as a friend and you don't want to lose that. It's important that he knows that you're still interested in being friends even if he doesn't want a relationship. For example, you could say, “Take some time to think about it. We've already been friends for a long time, so there's no rush!” | Make sure that he is single before you go for it. If he's in a relationship, avoid professing your love to him. You don't want to put your friend in the uncomfortable position of choosing between you and their current partner. Wait a while to see if their relationship ends before telling him how you feel. If his current relationship does end, offer friendly support during the breakup if he asks for it. Only tell him how you feel after some time has passed and he's feeling like his normal self again. Plan out what you’re going to say. It's better to go in prepared with what you want to tell him than to try to improvise on the spot, since you might say something that you don't mean. It can also help to practice what you're going to say in front of a mirror a couple times. Some options for phrasing include: “I want to be more than friends. How would you feel about giving it a shot?” “I've had strong feelings for you for a long time. It feels good to get that off my chest.” Try not to be too nervous. It is possible that he'll say no, but don't think about that right now. Breathe deeply and do a calming activity before you go over to him. Ask to speak with him in private. Go to a place where you won't be overheard or interrupted. Having other people around can sometimes make people feel pressured into giving a response they don't want to give, so respect him and your friendship by making it a private conversation. Don't make a big, dramatic spectacle of it by offering lavish gifts, yelling it out in public, or making a big sign with “I love you” written on it. Simplicity is best, so just tell him as calmly and directly as possible. Make light-hearted conversation. Ask him about his day or briefly tell him about yours to lighten the mood. It will also help you gauge what mood he's in. If he's had a bad day, it might be best to wait to have the conversation about changing your friendship. Test the waters by flirting a little first. Compliment him on his hair or clothes, tell him you think he's cute, or make eye contact and smile. If he responds with “Thanks!” or “Hey, you too,” that's a good sign that it's okay to talk about your feelings. If he responds with “Okay, weirdo” or “Thanks?” in a skeptical tone, it's best to back off. Avoid saying the word “love” until you’ve been dating for a while. It can push the relationship forward too fast, which might freak him out. The right time to say it is different for every couple, but try to wait until at least a month or two after you start dating. Look him in the eyes, and calmly tell him how you feel. Take a couple deep breaths. Remember what you planned to say, and try not to improvise since it can make you feel more nervous. Take your time with getting the words out; you don't have to rush it. Tell him that you value him as a friend and don’t want to lose that. It can sometimes be a shock to someone if their friend tells them they have feelings for them. It's important that he knows that you're not only interested in being around him if he's your boyfriend. If he seems confused or surprised, you can say: “Take some time to think about it. We've already been friends for a long time, so there's no rush!” “I will understand if you don't want to be in a relationship right now. I want you to do what's best for you, and if that means staying your friend, then I'm fine with that.” “I won't be angry at you if you don't feel the same way. I value your friendship, and that is more important to me than being your romantic partner.” Move forward slowly if he feels the same way. Taking it to the next level too quickly can cause stress for both of you. Ease into calling each other cute nicknames or saying “I love you,” increasing the amount that you talk during the day, and adding romantic touching like holding hands and kissing. Have fun on your first date! It might be uncomfortable talking about difficult topics with your new partner if you haven't talked about that stuff before. For example, you might not want to tell him that he hurt your feelings with something he said. However, successful relationships rely on good communication. Be open and honest about your wants, needs, and problems, and ask that he does the same. Try not to take it personally if he doesn’t want to date you. It doesn't mean that you're worthless, unlovable, or not good enough for him. A person can have a lot of reasons for not wanting to date their friend, including not wanting to change their friendship. You can ask him for a reason why, but remember that “I just don't want to” is a good enough reason for a person to choose not to do something. Even if you are hurt that he said “no,” try not to blow up at him and tell him what he's missing. Don't try to change his mind by attempting to persuade him to feel differently. This will make it harder to get back to your normal friendship, since he might feel like you don't respect his feelings. Give him a little space. Back off for at least a couple weeks to give him some time to process how he feels about your friendship now. If he doesn't think you can be friends anymore because it'll be too weird, don't fight with him. Accept that he has the right to make that decision. Take some time for yourself. This is important whether or not you start to date your friend. It's okay to take a break from your busy life to grieve if he turns you down, but try to keep yourself busy in other ways. Go hang out with your friends, take a nice bath or a long walk, and indulge in your favorite dessert. Stay true to yourself no matter the outcome, and don't allow your other relationships and schoolwork to slip. If you're really having a hard time, talk to someone. Your parents, friends, teachers, and school counselors can all help you through this hard time. Do the same things you used to do together to get your friendship back on track. If he turns you down but wants to remain friends, give him some space for a week or two. Then, invite him to do something that you used to do together. Try to make your interactions as normal as possible by staying calm and being yourself. This will look different for every friendship, so only you know what activities you like to do together. Some options include playing video games at your house, walking around the mall, or grabbing lunch or dessert. Remember that you don't have to stay friends with him if it's too painful for you. Focus on your other friends, family, goals, and interests while you distance yourself from him. | Make sure that he is single before you go for it. Plan out what you’re going to say. Try not to be too nervous. Ask to speak with him in private. Make light-hearted conversation. Test the waters by flirting a little first. Avoid saying the word “love” until you’ve been dating for a while. Look him in the eyes, and calmly tell him how you feel. Tell him that you value him as a friend and don’t want to lose that. Move forward slowly if he feels the same way. Try not to take it personally if he doesn’t want to date you. Give him a little space. Take some time for yourself. Do the same things you used to do together to get your friendship back on track. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Mites-on-Snakes | How to Get Rid of Mites on Snakes | If you need to get rid of mites on a snake, place the snake into a shallow plastic container and fill the container with a solution of warm water and providone iodine. Use enough water so the snake can bathe, but not so much that it could drown. Leave the snake to soak for 30 minutes to an hour, but stay nearby so you can watch the snake while it's in the bath. Afterward, wipe away any remaining mites with a cotton swab dipped in mineral oil. Repeat the soaking process every day for up to a week. | Get a shallow plastic container that has a lid with holes. Find a plastic container that is large enough for your snake to fit comfortably into. Make sure that the lid has holes so that the snake can breathe while its soaking. If you cannot find a lid that already has holes in it, use an electric drill to punch holes through the plastic. The lid prevents the snake from climbing out of the container. Place the snake into the plastic container. Remove the snake from its enclosure. Transfer it into the plastic container and keep the lid off for the time being. Fill the container with a solution of warm water and povidone iodine. Combine 1 part povidone iodine and 10 parts warm water. Use water that is 75–85 °F (24–29 °C) so that it is a comfortable temperature for the snake. The amount of water that you use depends on both the size of the snake and the container. Use enough water so that the snake can bathe, but not too much that the snake could drown. Povidone iodine is commonly sold under the name of Betadine. Keep the snake soaking in the solution for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Place the lid on the container. Make sure that the container is close by so that you can keep an eye on the snake while its soaking. Take the snake out and wipe away remaining mites with mineral oil. Check the chin, vent fold, and belly scutes for any dead or alive mites. Dip a cotton-tipped swab in mineral oil and use it to gently rub between the folds and scales to remove the mites. You can also dab the heat pits and eyes with mineral oil. The vent fold is located on the underside of the tail, the belly scutes are the wide scales on the belly, and the heat pits are the small holes located between the eyes and nostrils. Repeat the soaking process daily for up to 1 week. Check the snake and the enclosure for mites daily. Soak the snake in the povidone-iodine solution every day until the mites are gone. If the mites persist or if the snake's condition deteriorates, take the snake for specialist treatment with a veterinarian. You will be able to tell if the snake's condition deteriorates if it has a loss of appetite, vomiting, starts breathing with an open mouth, or if it experiences changes in shedding. Get rid of all food and water within the enclosure. While the snake is soaking, begin cleaning the enclosure. Pour the water out and discard any uneaten or leftover food. Clean out the food and water containers thoroughly. Food and water must be disposed of to prevent it from being contaminated with cleaning chemicals. You only need to clean the enclosure once to remove the mites, not every day. Dispose of all of the substrate and porous items in the enclosure. Take all of the substrate and porous items out of the enclosure. Place these into a plastic garbage bag and keep it outside until it can be discarded. Make sure it is out of reach from pets. Wood is a porous item that cannot be cleaned adequately and must be removed. Vacuum the inside of the enclosure thoroughly. Vacuum the floors and wall of the enclosure. Use the corner attachment to vacuum out the corners. This will help to remove mites, mite eggs, and mite feces. Mix together a bleach and water solution. Use 1 part bleach to every 30 parts water and combine these in a clean bucket. Stir it to combine the water and the bleach. If you use 1 US gal (3.8 L) of water, you will need to use ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) of bleach. Make sure that you wear gloves when working with bleach. Wash the enclosure with the bleach and water solution. Use clean rags to wipe down all areas of the enclosure with the bleach solution. Make sure that the area you are working in is well-ventilated. Disinfecting the enclosure doesn't kill the mites themselves, but it does kill the harmful organisms that are associated with the mites. The bleach solution may also drown some remaining mites. Rinse the enclosure out with clean water after 10 minutes. Let the bleach solution sit in the enclosure for 10 minutes. Then use fresh water and a new clean rag to remove all of the bleach residue. Boil any rocks in the enclosure for 20-30 minutes. Place any rocks from the snake enclosure into a large pot. Fill the pot with water so that the rocks are completely submerged. Boil the rocks to kill any mites that may be on or inside them. Use a no pest strip inside the enclosure. Purchase a no pest strip online or from your local pet store or veterinarian. Follow all of the directions on the label thoroughly by sealing the enclosure and then ventilating it correctly once the no pest strip has been removed. Keep the no pest strip in the enclosure for approximately 3 hours. Never use a no pest strip while your snake is in the enclosure as it can be dangerous for the animal. No pest strips release an insecticide vapor into the enclosure which will kill any remaining mites. Set up the enclosure and return the snake. When both the enclosure and the snake have been cleaned, set up the enclosure again with a brand new substrate. Transfer the snake back into the enclosure and check it for mites daily. Paper towels are often a good substrate to use when you are trying to get rid of snake mites. This is because you will be able to easily spot any additional mites. | Get a shallow plastic container that has a lid with holes. Place the snake into the plastic container. Fill the container with a solution of warm water and povidone iodine. Keep the snake soaking in the solution for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Take the snake out and wipe away remaining mites with mineral oil. Repeat the soaking process daily for up to 1 week. Get rid of all food and water within the enclosure. Dispose of all of the substrate and porous items in the enclosure. Vacuum the inside of the enclosure thoroughly. Mix together a bleach and water solution. Wash the enclosure with the bleach and water solution. Rinse the enclosure out with clean water after 10 minutes. Boil any rocks in the enclosure for 20-30 minutes. Use a no pest strip inside the enclosure. Set up the enclosure and return the snake. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Nails | How to Do Nails | To do nails, start by removing any old polish with a cotton ball dampened with non-acetone nail polish remover. Next, trim your nails to the desired length and file them into the shape you prefer. Then, paint your nails with a clear base coat and let it dry completely. Finally, add 2 coats of your favorite nail polish, let it dry, and apply a clear top coat to lock in the color and prevent chipping. | Remove old nail polish before applying new paint or nails. Dip a Q-tip or cotton ball in non-acetone nail polish remover so that it's damp but not dripping. Wipe the old nail polish off using the Q-tip or cotton ball, rubbing the nail until all of the polish is gone. Wash your hands and nails. Use some mild soap and warm water to wash your hands. Then, use a nail brush to scrub your nails around the edges and tips. Rinse the soap away and pat your hands and nails dry with a clean towel. You can purchase a nail brush in the beauty supply section of a drug store or grocery store. Apply hand cream to keep your hands and nails hydrated. Squeeze out a penny-sized dab of hand cream, spreading it onto each of your fingers so that your hands and nails are thoroughly covered. Rub it into your skin so there isn't any residue left to keep your hands from drying out. Purchase a hand cream from a drugstore, big box store, or beauty store. Apply moisturizer before you work on your nails and then spray them with a dehydrator before you paint them. File any rough edges on your nails using a nail file. Rub the nail file along the edge of your nails going in one direction. Round each nail out so that the shape mirrors the shape of your cuticles. Opt for a file with a grit of about 180 to ensure it's soft enough to give your nails a neat, smooth edge. Make sure your nails are completely dry before filing them. Use cuticle oil on your cuticles to prevent them from drying out. Apply the cuticle oil along each cuticle, making sure not to use too much. Rub the oil into your cuticles gently using your fingers so that it's evenly spread out. Find cuticle oil at a big box store, beauty store, or online. Apply the cuticle oil every day to keep the skin around your nails soft and supple. This can also help prevent hangnails. Place your hands on a flat, protected surface. Stretch out a paper towel or regular towel to protect the surface you're working on, such as a table, desk, or vanity. Make sure your hand is able to lay flat with your fingers spread out, and find a spot with good lighting to make painting your nails easier. File and trim your nails so they're ready to be painted. Use a pair of nail clippers to give your nails a trim if desired. Once your nails are the right length, use a nail file to file down any sharp edges left from the nail clippers. File the nail into a shape that works for you. Some options include: Round Square Rounded square (Square shaped with slightly rounded corners) Oval Squoval (halfway between square and oval) Ballerina (shaped like a ballet slipper) Almond Stiletto (pointed at the end) Lipstick (flat, slanted tips that resemble the end of lipstick) Paint your dominant hand first to make the process easier. This helps prevent smudging and errors, as it'll be easier to paint your non-dominant hand rather than your dominant hand. Stretch your fingers out wide to prepare you for painting, and pay extra attention to your dominant hand when painting it using your non-dominant hand. Painting your pinkie first and then moving around your fingers to your thumb will help prevent smudging. Apply a base coat to protect your nails. Spread the base coat over each nail in an even layer—since it's clear and won't be seen, it's okay if this coat isn't perfect. The base coat protects your nails from any damage the nail polish could cause while also helping the polish stick to your nails more easily. Invest in a good base and top coat. This will help your manicure last longer. In addition, having a base coat will keep your polish from staining your nails. Let the base coat dry before applying polish. Brush the nail polish onto each nail using three strokes. Dip the nail polish brush into the polish, wiping off any excess on the edge of the bottle. Start applying the nail polish right below your cuticle, swiping down the left, right, and middle of the nail. Apply the nail polish so it covers your entire nail, being careful not to get it on your skin or covering your cuticles. Spread the nail polish in thin, even coats. Aim for thin layers as opposed to super thick ones, as thick ones will take much longer to dry. To ensure your coats are thin, wipe off the excess nail polish on the edge of the bottle each time you dip the brush into the nail polish. Apply a second layer of polish after letting the first coat dry. Wait a few minutes for the first layer to dry completely. Apply the second coat just as you did the first, spreading the nail polish on in a thin, even layer. Do a quick touch test to see if the first layer of nail polish is dry or not. If you can still see your nail color through the first layer or the nail polish coat isn't all the same shade, apply a second (and third, if necessary) coat. Clean up any smudges using a Q-tip dipped in acetone. Dip the Q-tip in the nail polish remover so that it's damp but not dripping. Use the Q-tip to go along the edge of your fingernail, gently removing any smudges or mistakes so that the nail polish is only on your nails. Acetone and nail polish remover are the same thing. You can also dip a fine-tipped, flat-headed brush in nail polish remover, then use that to wipe away any polish from around the edges of your nails. Use a top coat to seal the polish and keep it from chipping. Apply the clear top coat in a thin, even layer to each nail once they're completely finished and dry. It's a good idea to brush the top coat onto the tip of your nail, which will prevent chipping even more. Note that if you apply the top coat to the nails before the layer of color beneath it finishes drying, it could create bubbles or ripples in the color. Push back the cuticle on each fingernail. Do this with a damp cloth, your own fingers, or a cuticle pusher made of wood. Gently push back the skin around each nail so that your cuticles are no longer covering up the top of your nails. Wash your hands to make sure your nails are clean. Never cut or remove your cuticles, as this can lead to infection. Sand the top of each nail to remove the shine. Use a nail buffer to gently buff the top of your nail, creating a rough surface so the acrylic nails can attach more easily. Repeat this process on each nail until each nail no longer has a shine. Be careful not to file the surface too deeply, or you could damage your nails. Use a soft brush to remove the dust. Spritz some dehydrator spray onto your nails after you remove the dust. Match a nail tip to each of your nails so that the sides align well. Look through a package of acrylic nail sizes and start deciding which size will go on which nail. When choosing the right size, place the nail tip along the white part of your nail. Choose a nail tip that doesn't go over the side edges of your own nail and isn't too small. An ideal nail tip will line up perfectly with the edges of your nail. Use an acrylic nail cutter to shorten the nail, if desired. Purchase acrylic nails from a beauty supply store or online, buying a nail kit that comes with all the materials you'll need, or choosing to just purchase the fake nail tips that come in different sizes. While this method uses fake nail tips, you can opt for whole fake nails that cover your entire nail and are often clear or white. Use nail glue to attach each tip to your nails. Squeeze out the nail glue right along the edge of your nail in an even line. Place the nail tip on the glue, positioning it low on your nail but also high enough so that it's secure and won't break off. Hold the nail tip in place for at least 10 seconds, making sure it's laying flat on your nail and not angled downwards due to any pressure from your fingers. Find nail glue at a drugstore, big box store, beauty store, or online. Sand the nail tip to create a smooth surface. Once the acrylic nail tip is securely attached, use a nail filer to sand the glued-on edge. This will make it level with your real nail, creating a flat surface for the acrylic to adhere to. File the surface of the entire acrylic nail as well so that it's rough and shine-free like your real nail. Use the nail file to shape the edge of your acrylic nail, if desired. Brush away any dust left from filing before applying the primer and acrylic. Apply primer to your nails to get rid of any oils. Find a nail primer from a big box store, beauty store, or online that prepares your nails by cleaning them and helping the acrylic powder stick evenly. Apply the primer just as you would normal nail polish, covering each nail in a thin, even coat. Avoid skipping this step, as the acrylic powder won't adhere well to your nails without the primer. Dip a brush in monomer and scoop up a bead of acrylic powder. Use a small makeup brush, dipping it into the monomer and wiping off any excess monomer on the side of the bottle. Dip the brush into the powder, creating a dime-sized bead of acrylic on the tip. The monomer is a chemical that reacts with the powder to form the acrylic bead of paint. Get rid of any bubbles in the monomer on your brush to avoid having bubbles on your nails as well. Place the powder bead towards the top of your nail, brushing it downwards. Once the bead has turned glossy, start spreading it on the top of your nail. Gently dab it into place right beneath your cuticle, using the brush to drag the bead of powder down along your nail. As you drag and dab the bead, it will flatten out. Use the brush to manipulate the bead of powder until your entire nail is covered in an even layer. Avoid getting the bead of powder on your skin or cuticles. Let your nails dry completely before doing any extra filing or shaping. Let your nails dry for 15-30 minutes. Check to see if they're completely dry by tapping them—if you hear a clicking sound, they're dry! Use a nail file to shape the nail exactly how you like it. Apply a top coat to protect your acrylic nails. Once you're satisfied with how your nails look, brush on a protective clear coat in an even, thin layer. Cover the entire nail and brush the clear coat along the tip of your nail to help prevent chipping. | Remove old nail polish before applying new paint or nails. Wash your hands and nails. Apply hand cream to keep your hands and nails hydrated. File any rough edges on your nails using a nail file. Use cuticle oil on your cuticles to prevent them from drying out. Place your hands on a flat, protected surface. File and trim your nails so they're ready to be painted. Paint your dominant hand first to make the process easier. Apply a base coat to protect your nails. Brush the nail polish onto each nail using three strokes. Spread the nail polish in thin, even coats. Apply a second layer of polish after letting the first coat dry. Clean up any smudges using a Q-tip dipped in acetone. Use a top coat to seal the polish and keep it from chipping. Push back the cuticle on each fingernail. Sand the top of each nail to remove the shine. Match a nail tip to each of your nails so that the sides align well. Use nail glue to attach each tip to your nails. Sand the nail tip to create a smooth surface. Apply primer to your nails to get rid of any oils. Dip a brush in monomer and scoop up a bead of acrylic powder. Place the powder bead towards the top of your nail, brushing it downwards. Let your nails dry completely before doing any extra filing or shaping. Apply a top coat to protect your acrylic nails. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Business | How to Buy a Business | To buy a business, start by sending the owner a letter informing them that you're interested in making an offer. Then, if the owner seems willing to negotiate the sale, hire an appraiser to provide an estimate of what the business is worth so you know how much to offer. You should also consider consulting with a business attorney, who can help make sure you're getting a good deal. Additionally, before you close the deal, you'll want to thoroughly research the business so you know exactly what you're getting into. | Find a business for sale. If you're thinking about buying an existing business, you must first locate one the owner is looking to give up. To find a business, you can talk to people you know in the industry or use a business broker. The broker can help you find a business for sale and will make a commission once the sale is completed. Keep in mind that brokers almost always represent and will be paid a commission by the seller. Make sure you double-check any information the broker provides you about businesses, and don't agree to buy a business if you have concerns about your ability to operate it profitably. Consider the location of the prospects you find. You want to look at how convenient each would be for you and how they could fit within your daily routine. Choose the right business. Before you decide to buy a business, you should make sure it matches your interests, skills, and experience. You won't be able to reap many of the benefits of buying an existing business if you're in over your head or don't understand the market in which the business operates. In most cases, you want to avoid getting into a business sector in which you have no knowledge or experience. Keep in mind that each niche has its own demands. For example, just because you have experience running seafood restaurants doesn't necessarily mean you are ready to operate a bakery. Check market projections and profitability in that particular business sector, if you aren't already familiar with them. Check with trade organizations or the local Chamber of Commerce to find relevant information about how businesses are performing in your area. You want to focus on the region where the business is located, and look at similar businesses in the area who offer the same products or services. Consider talking to local business owners who run similar operations, both in terms of the products or services provided and the size and scope of the operation itself. For example, if you want to buy an independent coffee shop, owners of franchises or managers of national chain stores may not have useful information, but owners of other independent or family-owned stores in the area would. Contact the business owner. Once you've decided which business you want to buy, you should send the owner a written letter of intent with a general offer along with your terms and conditions. This is the first formal communication you will have with the current business owner regarding your desire to purchase the business. You can check the website of your state's secretary of state to find the legal owner of the business you want to buy, as well as contact information. Secretary of State databases typically include information for corporations or LLCs registered to do business in the state. In some states you also can search d/b/a registries or listings, which are listings of the business names of sole proprietorships registered for use in that state. In other states, you may have to contact the county clerk in the county where the business is located. Begin your letter by stating who you are, that you intend to purchase the business, and how you intend to go about purchasing the business. Lay out your terms clearly. If there is any aspect that you consider non-negotiable – for example, you aren't interested in buying the business unless the company's client lists are included – state this in your letter. You also should include the basics of the deal, including how you plan to fund the purchase and a general schedule of payments you will make. Indicate whether you intend to purchase stock in the business, to purchase the business assets, or some combination thereof. Let the owner know that you are open to negotiations and would like to hire an appraiser to determine the actual value of the business. If the owner seems eager to sell, you should ask yourself why. Successful business owners seldom want to get rid of a profitable business unless there is a significant downside that could effect the potential value of the business to you. Keep in mind that your offer may change after you complete your research of the company, so the offer in your letter of intent should be at best a ballpark estimate. Emphasize that there's nothing binding about the offer and that it's subject to change. Hire an experienced appraiser. An appraiser can analyze the business's records and provide a neutral estimate of what the business is actually worth. Since you want to pay as little as possible, and the current business owner may be inclined to overvalue the business to account for his or her time and investment as well as sentimental value, a third party expert is best positioned to objectively valuate the business. There are a number of different methods that can be used to value a business. For this reason, unless you're an expert in business valuation, hiring a professional will save you significant time and money as well as lessen your risk. You can expect an appraisal from a qualified professional to cost between $2,500 and $5,000. Look for an appraiser who has professional certification such as a CBA (Certified Business Appraiser), which indicates the appraiser has completed significant educational requirements and has experience in the field. To get a fair appraisal, insist on a professional appraiser who is completely independent from either you or the original business owner. Narrow down what will be included in the sale. Before you start discussing a price, you need to determine which of the business's assets will be included in the sale and which you will be responsible for buying on your own. Keep in mind that buying an existing inventory can drastically decrease your startup costs, but only if the existing inventory or service contracts are included in the sale. While purchasing all of the business's assets may smooth the transition, avoid buying anything you don't need or that could become a liability. For example, the business may have unsold inventory that has been on the shelves for months and probably should be liquidated rather than transferred to you. Consider consulting an attorney. Particularly if there are large sums of money involved, an experienced business attorney may be the best way to make sure you're getting a good deal and your interests are protected. An attorney should be included as part of a team of professionals who will assist you in buying the business. In addition to your attorney, your team may include your banker and an accountant. Look for a business attorney who has experience specifically in the buying and selling of existing businesses. You typically can find some candidates by checking with your local bar association or chamber of commerce. Your attorney also can determine what legal and organizational documents you will need to file and get them in order for you. Keep in mind that depending on the type of business you're purchasing, filing requirements from multiple state and federal agencies may be required. An experienced attorney can make sure you comply with these requirements. Request certified copies of the business's financial records. You should analyze the business's finances carefully before you make the final decision to purchase. You want to look at the business's actual financial statements for the past three to five years, not just a summary provided to you by the business. The statements should be accompanied by a certification statement from a CPA. Pay close attention to outstanding debts the business owes as well as any amounts owed to the business that you may have difficulty collecting. This also can affect your ultimate purchase price. You also want to review the business's tax returns for the past three to five years. Look at deductions and profitability, especially whether taxable income has increased or decreased in that time period. Hire a CPA to help you review and analyze the business's records. The CPA will verify the records rather than you having to take the company's statements at face value. Look at the company's advertising costs and compare the prices the business charges for its products or services with industry standards. You'll also want to find out how prices in the industry fluctuate and whether they are projected to increase or decrease in the future. Analyze employee contracts and files. You want to make sure the company's personnel and payroll records are accurate and comply with the law. You also want to know who's getting paid what, and what skills they bring to the company. Reviewing personnel files and contracts can help you understand how the company works on a day-to-day basis, as well as where there are possibilities for you to reorganize staff for optimal efficiency. In addition to the files and contracts themselves, you may want to talk to employees directly to get their sense of the company's reputation and the strength of their dedication to and relationship with the company. Evaluate trade secrets and intellectual property. The value of the business could be affected by the intellectual property included in the deal and the terms for its use. The business owner may want you to sign a confidentiality agreement. Under this agreement, you promise that any information you obtain will only be used for making your decision on whether to buy the business. Keep in mind that some intellectual property, such as patents, may have a value independent of the business itself. If you want ownership of that intellectual property as well, you may have to work out a separate deal. Talk to the original owner about whether complete ownership of the intellectual property will be included in the sale, or whether you simply will have a license to use that intellectual property in connection with this business for a specific period of time. Patents and trademarks also typically require the creation of additional documents that must be filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office before the transfer of ownership is legally enforceable. If the business has considerable intellectual property, you might want to have it evaluated by an experienced intellectual property attorney. Check for any past or pending litigation. If the company is embroiled in a lawsuit, you may be stepping into that legal trouble when you buy the business. In addition to records provided by the original seller, check court records to determine if any lawsuits have been filed against the company. Many courts have a searchable database of court docket information available online for free or for a nominal fee. Even if the company has no lawsuits against it, you also should check online customer reviews, industry associations, and organizations such as the Better Business Bureau to find out if the company has had any complaints – and if so, how those complaints were handled. Pull any corporate documents or other registrations. Make sure the business currently has all required licenses and registrations and is in good standing with regulatory agencies. If your purchase of the business includes the purchase of any real property, make sure you check zoning restrictions and environmental regulations for the land and buildings. You want to make sure the property is in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. On the other hand, if the business is currently leasing the building in which it operates, you need to review copies of the lease and find out what you must do to transfer that lease into your name if you buy the business. If the lease doesn't permit transfer without permission of the landlord, you need to secure that permission before you agree to purchase the business. Make sure the business complies with federal and state safety regulations and that all applicable permits are up-to-date and in good standing. Examine inventory and assets. Any existing products or materials that will be included in the sale should be assessed and valued. Keep in mind that you don't just have to take the original business owner's word for it. If the business has inventory that's been collecting dust for years, or if it isn't in line with your plans for the business, you may price it lower than the original business owner would. Get a list from the original owner of all the assets of the business, such as fixtures, office supplies, and electronics, along with names and model numbers of equipment. To value these assets, you must find out the original purchase price and how long ago each item was put in service. Agree on a fair purchase price. Once your due diligence is complete you have a good idea of what you're willing to pay for the business. Negotiate with the original owner what assets will be included in the total purchase price for the business. You may choose to purchase some assets separately. Typically, businesses are purchased using installment agreements with a significant amount paid up front as a down payment. When negotiating a purchase price, keep your return on investment (ROI) in mind. If you're buying a small business, you typically want to ensure you'll achieve an ROI of between 15 and 30 percent. If you get much below that point, you'd do better from an investment standpoint to buy stocks or commodities than to buy a business. For example, if you're planning on buying a business for $500,000, you want to be able to realize a profit of at least $75,000. If you're buying a business that has never realized an annual profit of more than $50,000 in its 10 years of operation, you should attempt to negotiate a lower purchase price. The original owner may attempt to inflate intangible assets such as goodwill during price negotiations. However, keep in mind that goodwill and business reputation don't have any true monetary value as such. You shouldn't pay significantly more for a business with a good reputation than you would for one with a neutral reputation. Determine a closing date. You should set your closing date far enough into the future that you both have time to complete whatever licenses and documents are necessary to fully transfer ownership of the business. For example, if your purchase includes company vehicles, you may have to transfer title and registration of those vehicles into your name or get new insurance policies. It can take time to get these types of things done. Put your agreement in writing. You can find a template online or have an attorney draw up the agreement for you, but having a written contract for the purchase of the business is essential. If you don't have an attorney draw up the agreement for you, at least have one look over it before you sign it to make sure you've covered everything that's legally necessary and the agreement doesn't include any clauses that a court would refuse to enforce. In addition to the sales agreement itself, you probably will have other documents that must be prepared and filed, such as financing agreements, promissory notes, leases, and tax documents. If the transfer of any intellectual property including patents, trademarks, or copyrights is involved, you may have additional licenses or assignments that must be in writing to be valid under federal law. Meet to go over the terms of the agreement. You and the owner of the business should go through your written agreement together and make sure it accurately represents your deal and that both of you accept those terms. The basic sales agreement covers the sale of the business and transfers any business assets that aren't specifically covered by another agreement. If you have multiple agreements, such as property leases or intellectual property licenses, these should be referenced in the sales agreement. Sign the agreement. The agreement must be signed by you and the original owner before it will have any legal effect. You also should have the original business owner sign a covenant not to compete. This is essentially the flip side of the confidentiality agreement you signed earlier on in the process. Now that you're buying the business, this document requires a promise from the seller that he or she won't compete against the business for a specified period of time. Include an employment agreement if the original owner has agreed to stay with the business as a manager or consultant. For example, the original owner may agree to work with you over the first few weeks or months you own the business to train you on the business's operations. Transfer ownership of the business. Once you've signed your agreement and made whatever upfront payment is required, begin transferring names and registrations with an eye toward your closing date. During the transition period, you'll be familiarizing yourself with the business as well as filing any documents required by state and federal agencies. Financing agreements governed by the Universal Commercial Code should be filed with your state's Secretary of State. Real property transfers typically must be recorded with the county recorder or county clerk, while vehicle ownership transfers must follow the requirements of your state's department of motor vehicles. You also must complete IRS Form 8594, which describes the assets you've acquired through the purchase of the business. There also may be an equivalent form for your state's tax department. | Find a business for sale. Choose the right business. Contact the business owner. Hire an experienced appraiser. Narrow down what will be included in the sale. Consider consulting an attorney. Request certified copies of the business's financial records. Analyze employee contracts and files. Evaluate trade secrets and intellectual property. Check for any past or pending litigation. Pull any corporate documents or other registrations. Examine inventory and assets. Agree on a fair purchase price. Determine a closing date. Put your agreement in writing. Meet to go over the terms of the agreement. Sign the agreement. Transfer ownership of the business. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Change-Spark-Plugs | How to Change Spark Plugs | To change spark plugs, start by carefully pulling out the first spark plug by the boot, which is the connector that connects the spark plug wire to the engine. Then, use a socket wrench to loosen the spark plug so you can remove it. Next, screw a new spark plug that's the same size as the old one into the hole you removed the old one from. Finally, replace the plug wire, and repeat with the rest of the spark plugs. | Figure out your spark plugs' location and size. Almost all cars have spark plugs located in a row at the front of the engine (or possibly on the top depending on configuration). Some older V engines have spark plugs located to the sides of the engines. With a few exceptions, cars have one spark plug for each cylinder. Make sure the engine is cool before you get started. If you're having trouble locating the spark plugs, look for the black rubbery wires running around the engine. Follow them to the end and you'll find the spark plugs. Otherwise, some modern engines have a cover over the coils and plugs. The cover must be removed for access. This set up typically has the plugs going right down the center of the valve cover. Check your car's owner manual for the exact location of the spark plugs and the spark plug size you need. Get your tools and supplies ready. Once you've determine the size of your plugs, gather the tools and supplies you need. You just need a few things to change your spark plugs. Get a socket wrench with a spark plug socket extension that's the right size for your plugs, as well as a new set of spark plugs. In the past, a gapping tool was always required to fit the plugs properly, but modern spark plugs now come pre-gapped. However, spark plug gaps may still be set incorrectly (even if preset). You should always check and set the gaps to be sure. Having compressed air, a rag, and rubbing alcohol on hand can help the job go more smoothly. If you want to make sure the plugs unscrew easily next time you need to replace them have a bottle of anti-seize on hand to apply a light coat over the threads of the plug before screwing it on. Clean the area around the spark plugs. Any dirt that has built up around the plug will fall into your cylinder when you pull out the plug. Nothing should go into that hole while the plug is out, so make sure the area is clean. Use compressed air to blow away dirt and debris around the spark plugs, to make it easier to see what you're doing. If there's a lot of buildup, clean it off with a rag and some rubbing alcohol. Pull out the first spark plug by the boot. The boot is the connector that connects the spark plug wire to the engine. Grasp it and carefully pull it out to detach the spark plug. Do not pull out more than one spark plug at once. Each spark plug must be connected in a specific place. If you pull them all out at once, you might have trouble figuring out where to reattach them, and that could lead to big trouble for your car. If you want to pull out more than one at once, write down or label each spark plug wire before you take it off. This is important, as on an 8 cylinder engine, you can easily forget which wire goes where. Do not pull the spark plug out by the wire. Make sure you grasp and the boot. If you pull on the wire you could damage it, and new wires cost a few hundred bucks to replace. Twist the boot to aid in removing the spark plug boot from the plug. If the boot is hard to pull out, you may need to use a pair of boot pliers to nudge it out. Inspect the well in the valve cover. Spark plugs that are installed in center of the head, often through a well in the valve cover, need an extra step for inspection. When removing the plug boot, inspect the end to see if it is covered in oil. If not, look down the well with a flashlight and check for oil as well. If oil is found on the spark plug or valve cover, a valve cover reseal might be in order. You don't want oil to get in the cylinder, for damage may occur. Unscrew the old spark plug. Fit the socket wrench with the spark plug socket, and place the socket around the old spark plug. Turn it counterclockwise to unscrew the socket. It should come off easily. If you feel resistance, stop, move the wrench backward, and start over; forcing the plug to unscrew could cause damage to the setting. When initially trying to loosen a plug, it could take some force to break it loose. If the vehicle is equipped with iron heads, and the plugs have been installed for a while, there could be some resistance along with some noise while removing the plug. If the engine is equipped with aluminum heads, the plug should break lose and then come out easily. If the engine has aluminum heads and you are using a lot of force to remove the plug, stop and screw it back in, as it means the threads are damaged already. There is a good chance that the head might have to be removed to be repaired. Clean the threads. The area where the spark plug screws into the wires should be free of dirt and debris before you install the new plug. Use rubbing alcohol and a rag to wipe away any grime before you continue. Take a look at the electrode end of the old plug. Check to see if there is a carbon buildup on the electrode, or if the gap is filled with dirt. If it is oily, you may have worn rings, and you probably need to take your car to a mechanic to get them replaced. If the plug is tan, the engine is working properly. Take a look at the porcelain in the center of the plug and look at the color. On most modern cars the color should be tan or an off white. Double check that your replacement plug is the same size as the old plug. The threaded part should be the same length, and the threads should match. If you're unsure what plug to buy, take an old one with you to the store and have the counter person match it for you. Also, they may be able to tell you the correct plug gap for your application. Even though new plugs come pre-gapped, you might want to double check the gap of the new plug. It should be within the engine manufacturer's specifications. Plug gages are available at your local parts counter, usually for a dollar. Seat the new plug. Apply a little anti-seize on the threads so that the plug will unscrew easily next time you want to change it. Don't get any on the electrode, since that may cause it to fail. Screw the plug on by hand, twisting it clockwise, until it stays in place. Use a torque wrench fitted over the spark plug socket to finish screwing it on until it's fairly tight. Do not over screw the plug; if you tighten it too much, you could cause damage to the part or the head. There are some engines for which a torque wrench is absolutely necessary, because the spark plugs are indexed. Not getting the electrode into the proper position can cause damage. These engines often require plugs be purchased from the dealer so proper spark plug indexing is achieved. The plug's washer should be compressed against the mounting surface. For spark plugs in hard to reach areas, a piece of vacuum hose attached to the top of the plug will help align the plug and avoid cross threading as the plug is screwed in. Replace the plug wire. Add a small amount of dielectric grease to the inside of the boot. Pick it up by the boot and place it back where it came from. The boot should snap in snugly. Give it a tug to make sure it stays in place. Change the remaining plugs. Working one plug at a time, use the same method to finish replacing all of the plugs. Consider replacing your spark plug wires. Inspect the wires for gouges or rips. If they look like they're in bad shape, look into changing them, too. | Figure out your spark plugs' location and size. Get your tools and supplies ready. Clean the area around the spark plugs. Pull out the first spark plug by the boot. Inspect the well in the valve cover. Unscrew the old spark plug. Clean the threads. Double check that your replacement plug is the same size as the old plug. Seat the new plug. Replace the plug wire. Change the remaining plugs. Consider replacing your spark plug wires. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Shoe-a-Horse | How to Shoe a Horse | If you've never shoed a horse before, it's a good idea to hire a professional farrier. If you decide to do it yourself, clean the horse's feet well, and make sure you have shoes that fit the horse's front and back feet. Align the first shoe so that it sits perfectly against the edge of the hoof, then drive nails through the holes in the shoe at an outward angle. Never drive nails into the sensitive inner portion of the hoof. Bend and remove the nail tips that extend through the top of the hoof wall, then strike the head of the nail securely to clinch it into place. File away any rough spots on the hoof wall and repeat for the other 3 feet. | Lift the horse's foot. When working with a horse's hooves it's important to move the horse's foot into position in a way that doesn't surprise the horse or irritate it. Make sure the horse is aware of your presence by gently patting it on the rump. To get your horse to lift her foot, run your hand down her leg. Then, squeeze the tendon above the ankle and lift the hoof. The horse should shift its weight to its other three feet. While you work, hold the foot in place by tucking your hip against the horse's hock (the large joint on the hind leg) and gaskin (the muscle above the hock). Use the inside of your knee to pull the foot out slightly and up between your legs so that the sole of the hoof faces up towards you. Support the horse's toe with one hand. This position locks the horse's foot in place, making it difficult for the horse to kick or put its foot on the ground before you're done working. Make sure that you reward your horse with praise for cooperating and waiting while you clean her hooves. Saying, “good girl” or “yes” after she lifts each hoof for you will help to reinforce your horse's good behavior. Remove any shoes that are already on the horse's feet. To remove a horseshoe, first, "break" (straighten) the nail clinches (the bent tips of each nail that holds the shoe on) with a clinch cutter and a hammer. Work the blade of the clinch cutter under the clinch, then hit it with a hammer to straighten the nail. Then, use a pair of metal pull-offs to loosen and remove the shoe. Close the jaws of the pull-offs around the outside heel of the shoe and use an outside to center rocking motion, working towards the toe to loosen the shoe. Repeat for the inside heel and proceed in this fashion until the shoe can be pulled off. Several alternatives exist for breaking the nail clinches. In a pinch, you can use a rock and a flat head screwdriver to bend the nail tips upwards, or, if you're careful not to wear a hole in the hoof wall, you can even use a rasp to file the nail clinches away. Clean the bottom of the hoof. For your horse's health and safety, you don't want dirt or debris trapped between its new shoe and its foot. Before shoeing your horse, use a hoof pick to remove any compacted dirt, mud, rocks, manure, etc. from your horse's foot. Use downward strokes from heel to toe. Follow the hoof pick with a wire brush for added cleanliness. Take care around the frog - the triangular portion in the middle of the hoof. This part of the hoof is extra-sensitive. Use a hoof knife to remove excess, flaky sole from the bottom of the hoof. Typically, before a horse is shod, the dark, hard, outer layer of each hoof's sole is removed to reveal the softer, whiter material underneath in a process roughly equivalent to trimming a human's toenails. Take care not to cut too deep, or you risk hurting the horse or even rendering it temporarily lame - the same as if you'd cut a person's nails too short. This process is easiest if you keep your hoof knife razor sharp. But use caution. It's easy to accidentally slip and cut yourself while working. Trim excess hoof wall with hoof nippers. The hoof wall - the edge of the hoof - should extend about 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 3 & 3/4 inches from the hairline above the hoof itself. If it's any longer, use a set of nippers (essentially giant nail clippers) to trim the edge of the hoof to a suitable length.You should see a ridge where the hoof wall extends beyond the sole. Do not cut into the sole with the nippers, or you may injure the horse. When you trim the hoof with nippers, be sure to keep the trimmed edges of the hoof uniformly straight and level so that they'll sit flush with the ground. Trim from each side of the heel to the toe. The exception to this is in cases where a horse's gait wears its hoof unevenly - in this case, you'll want to take slightly less hoof material off of the side that the horse favors. Use caution when making this distinction and, if unsure, consult an experienced farrier. Use a rasp to flatten and level the the sole. The very last thing that must be done to prepare the hoof for its shoe is to ensure the bottom of the hoof is smooth, flat and level. Use a rasp to gently file any uneven spots on the bottom of the hoof, taking care, as always, not to wear the hoof too short or irritate the frog. Then using your knife, pare away slightly to bevel the sole away from the hoof wall. Contact of the sole on the shoe can cause the horse discomfort. Size the shoe to its hoof. As with human feet, horse feet come in many different sizes and, thus, different horses will require different-sized shoes. Before proceeding, ensure that the shoes you have available are the correct size for your horse's feet. Note that a horse's front and hind feet are differently-shaped, so you will need different shoes for each.most horses have a size smaller in the back then the front, but not always. If you have to choose between shoes that are slightly too big and shoes that are slightly too small, choose the bigger shoes. These can be bent, shaped, and ground down to a smaller size, while too-small shoes can't be made bigger. Too long a shoe in front will cause the horse to step on the exposed heel of the shoe and pull it off. Make minor adjustments to the shape of the shoe, if needed. Often, even if horse shoes are the correct size, they will not fit a horse's foot without adjustments. Like human feet, horse feet can be asymmetrical or uneven. There are several ways to custom-shape horseshoes. If you're a knowledgeable metalworker, you can heat the shoe until the steel can be bent to the size of the hoof. Or, you can cold shape the shoe on an anvil using a hammer and tongs. Some farriers do neither, opting instead to grind their shoes down until they fit with a rasp or grinding machine. Well-fitting horse shoes should align well with the edge of the hoof. Keep in mind that it may take some time to get a shoe to the perfect size for your horse. Secure the shoe in its place with nails. Align the shoe so that it sits perfectly against the edge of the hoof, then drive nails through the holes in the shoe to fix it to the horse's foot. When doing this, care must be taken so as not to hurt or hobble the horse. Drive the nail through the hoof at an outward angle so that the nail tips go through the top of the hoof wall. Never drive nails into the sensitive inner portion of the hoof. To make this easier, use hoof nails that have a bevel on one side to guide the tip through the hoof wall. With these special nails, the manufacturer's stamp on the side of the nail head should face the center of the foot (towards the frog) - this ensures that the bevel is facing the right direction. Some modern horseshoes use glue, rather than nails, to hold the shoe in place. If you're worried about hurting your horse, you may want to try this alternative. Note that application methods for glue-on shoes can vary - consult the manufacturer or an experienced farrier for more information. Bend and remove the nail tips. Once each nail has been driven, use the claw end of your hammer to bend the tip of the nail over against the hoof wall. Then, twist off the tip or use a pair of nippers to bend and clip the tips off. Try leave about 1/8" of the tip bent over the edge of the hole formed by the nail pointing towards the toe. This ensures that the nail will hold the shoe in place without the sharp tip hurting you or the horse. Clinch the nail. Set a clinch block under the nail on the outer hoof wall, then set the nail in the hoof (or "clinch" it) by hitting the nail head once again with the driving hammer. This gives the nail a firm grip in the horse's hoof, ensuring the shoe stays in place. You may use a sturdy metal tool, like your nippers, in place of the clinch block in a pinch. Another option is to use a special tool called a clincher. With this tool, all you need to do is align the jaws of the clincher over the nail tip and squeeze the handles. File any rough spots on the hoof wall. Finally, give the outside of the hoof a once-over with a rasp, smoothing out any uneven spots and giving the hoof a nice clean finish. Pay special attention to the clinched nail tips, which can also be filed smooth. When finished, you should be able to draw a cloth over the hoof wall without it catching. You may also notice that excess hoof material protrudes over the edge of the shoe. If this is the case, use a pair of nippers or pull-offs to remove it. Repeat process three more times until all four hooves have been shod. Remember that the front and back hooves will require differently-shaped shoes and that even the two front and back feet may not be perfectly symmetrical with each other. | Lift the horse's foot. Remove any shoes that are already on the horse's feet. Clean the bottom of the hoof. Use a hoof knife to remove excess, flaky sole from the bottom of the hoof. Trim excess hoof wall with hoof nippers. Use a rasp to flatten and level the the sole. Size the shoe to its hoof. Make minor adjustments to the shape of the shoe, if needed. Secure the shoe in its place with nails. Bend and remove the nail tips. Clinch the nail. File any rough spots on the hoof wall. Repeat process three more times until all four hooves have been shod. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sing-Vibrato | How to Sing Vibrato | To sing vibrato, stand up straight, relax all of the muscles in your body, and widen the back of your throat as far as it can go as you sing. One trick to widen your throat is to act like you're yawning and expand the back of your mouth without tensing or straining your throat muscles. To get a strong, natural vibrato, remember to take deep breaths and sing from your diaphragm as you breathe out. As you sing, keep your shoulders level and try to focus the sound in the center of your stomach rather than your chest. If it feels like you're forcing the sound or your throat hurts, you aren't singing from your diaphragm. | Widen the back of your throat. Open your mouth and stretch out the back of your throat as far as you can go. Start by mimicking a yawn, widening the back of your mouth without tensing or straining your throat muscles. If your throat is closed, your voice won't flow and your tone won't be warm and rich. Relax all of the muscles in your body. If you are not relaxed, you will not be able to sing with vibrato. Release all of the tension in your body through relaxation exercises before you start singing to strengthen your natural vibrato. Vibrato should come naturally if you relax. Avoid straining the muscles in your mouth or the rest of your body for a clear sound. If your larynx is tense, it won't be able to waver back and forth as you sing, which is what produces vibrato. Sit or stand up straight. Good posture is essential for maintaining a strong, clear vibrato. Sit or stand with one foot slightly in front of the other, and your neck, head, and back all in a straight line. If you're sitting, sit on the edge of your chair with your back straight and your head facing directly forward. Do not look down, even to read your music sheet. To practice keeping your body relaxed and spine straight while engaging your breath support muscles, lay flat on the floor on your back while singing. Breathe steadily and evenly. Shallow breaths can ruin your natural vibrato's strength. When you need to breathe, take steady and even breaths while filling your lungs as much as possible. Engage your abdominal muscles to support your diaphragm. Achieving vibrato requires plenty of consistent breath. Sing from your diaphragm. Take a deep breath in from your lungs and, opening your mouth, sing while breathing out. Keep your shoulders level and while you sing, try to focus the sound in the center of your stomach rather than your chest. If you feel like you're forcing the sound or your throat hurts, you may not be singing from your diaphragm. Try to sing not from your chest but downward, towards your stomach. Listen for a fast pitch oscillation when you sing. Vibrato is a quick variation in pitch that develops naturally as your voice matures. While following the proper singing technique, listen for this variation in your voice—the more you practice, the more likely your vibrato will develop. Not every person's voice has a pronounced vibrato, even among professional singers. If your vibrato is softer or less pronounced than others you know, you may just have a subtle vibrato. Unlike some singing techniques, vibrato is more developed than taught. Practicing proper singing, breathing, and posture techniques can help you develop a vibrato over time. You may find it helpful to use an app like Spectrogram or Singscope while practicing vibrato. These tools can show if the variations of your pitch occur evenly, which indicates you're singing with a natural vibrato. Troubleshoot for any issues if you don't hear a vibrato. If you still don't notice a vibrato sound while you sing, check your posture, muscle tension, and breathing. Adjust for any errors that you notice and try singing again. You may not notice vibrato right away, as it takes time to develop. By practicing the right posture and singing technique, however, you can develop and strengthen your vibrato over time. If you're putting too much tension in your jaw, for example, that can inhibit your vibrato. Let your jaw relax and try to sing with vibrato again. Do warm up exercises before you sing. Warming up your voice can help avoid vocal strain and naturally bring out your vibrato. Before you practice a song, try any of these singing exercises for at least 5-10 minutes: Hum at a pitch in your lower range, then slowly open your mouth and transition from humming to singing. Put your lips together and exhale while vibrating your lips, then vocalize up and down while still exhaling. Try different tongue twisters like, "She sells sea shells by the sea shore" or "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." Practice abdominal breathing. Abdominal breathing can help even out your breaths and sing from your diaphragm. Place a hand between your chest and lower stomach and breathe out. You should feel the center of tension in the middle of your stomach. Practice abdominal breathing at least 5-10 minutes a day to help you sing from your diaphragm. Try voice exercises designed to improve your vibrato. Voice exercises can strengthen your vibrato's tone and versatility. Do any of these exercises or others made to improve your vibrato at least 10-20 minutes per day: Place your hands at the bottom of your chest, just above your belly button, and sing a note of your choice. As you're singing this note, push on your stomach with your fingers repeatedly at a rate of around 3 to 4 cycles a second. Hold a finger on your larynx (around the center of your throat) and wiggle it up and down while singing on a sustained pitch. This will result in a wobbling sound similar to a vibrato that can help train your muscles to develop a true one. Switch between two notes, one note and another a semitone away, at about 6-8 cycles per second. If you can't quite sing that quickly, keep practicing and switching between tones as fast as you can. Maintain your vibrato at different volumes. Try singing with vibrato loudly, then quietly, and continue switching back and forth. If you find yourself struggling, practice controlling your air flow with lip trill exercises--close your mouth and let air escape in quick bursts as if you were blowing bubbles or raspberries. Look for lip trill exercises online if needed. Take singing lessons to improve your overall voice. Strengthening your singing voice will help you naturally develop vibrato. Sign up for singing lessons by an instructor who understands vibrato and can work with you to make your weaknesses strengths. Most recreation centers and community colleges offer singing classes from professional instructors. Meet with at least 3 different voice teachers before choosing the one that's right for you. Keep your vibrato subtle. Singing a song entirely in vibrato can become overpowering. Try to use vibrato as a way to emphasize certain lines rather than the way you sing the entire song to help your singing voice sound more versatile. A music instructor can help coach you to figure out which lines would or wouldn't sound good with vibrato. Use vibrato selectively. Although many pop, musical theater, and classical songs benefit from vibrato, some songs sound better without it. If you're not sure whether a song sounds good with vibrato, look up live recordings and see which lines professional singers emphasize with vibrato. Relax your jaw while singing vibrato. One common mistake people make while using vibrato is tensing their jaw, which can cause your jaw to wobble. If you feel your jaw tensing up, relax the muscles as much as possible and avoid moving them up and down with your voice. This mistake is called "jaw vibrato" or "Gospel Jaw" because it's more common among Gospel singers. | Widen the back of your throat. Relax all of the muscles in your body. Sit or stand up straight. Breathe steadily and evenly. Sing from your diaphragm. Listen for a fast pitch oscillation when you sing. Troubleshoot for any issues if you don't hear a vibrato. Do warm up exercises before you sing. Practice abdominal breathing. Try voice exercises designed to improve your vibrato. Maintain your vibrato at different volumes. Take singing lessons to improve your overall voice. Keep your vibrato subtle. Use vibrato selectively. Relax your jaw while singing vibrato. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sleep-in-a-Bathtub | How to Sleep in a Bathtub | Before sleeping in a bathtub, first make sure it's both long and wide enough for you to stretch out in, or opt for on the floor instead to avoid back pain. If your tub is big enough, proceed by cleaning and drying the tub before bedtime, then layering in blankets to create mattress-like padding. Finally, top it with a sleeping bag, if you have one available. Before you settle down, make sure you let your roommates know you'll be in the bathroom, so they can use it before you go to bed. | Measure the tub. You won't be comfortable if you have to sleep with your body contorted into a pretzel, so lay down in the bathtub and see how well you fit. In order to be comfortable for an entire night of sleep, the bathtub must be long enough for you to stretch out in and wide enough that your shoulders won't be cramped and you can keep your spine in alignment so your back won't hurt in the morning. If the tub isn't big enough, the floor may be a better option after all. Sleeping on the floor actually has some health benefits and can be good for an achy back! Make sure you have room to sleep on your back but can also roll over onto your side so you won't be uncomfortable staying in one position all night. Make it dry and clean. Since people will also be using the bathtub for showers, you will need to make sure it is thoroughly dry before making your bed inside it. Avoid using the bathtub for several hours before bedtime if possible. If the tub is still wet from someone's shower, dry it with a towel. You can also use a hairdryer to completely dry the tub. Clean the tub so you won't get any soap residue or hair on your blankets and pillows. Clear away clutter. You don't want to knock a bottle of shampoo onto the floor or have a bar of soap fall on your face during the night. Remove toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, lotion, etc.) that are in the way or that you might accidentally knock onto the floor while you sleep. Be courteous with other people's belongings and make sure you replace everything in the morning. Gather sleeping supplies. You will need to lay down several layers of padding in order to be comfortable enough to sleep on the tub's hard surface. Find as many comforters, blankets and pillows as you can. A sleeping bag as the top layer is also a great option. Build a nest-like bed inside the tub. With a little effort you can make yourself cozy. Fold several blankets or comforters and place them along the bottom of the bathtub. This will create a mattress for you to sleep on. Make sure your padding reaches up the sides of the tub as well if possible to cushion all parts of your body that will be in contact with the tub's surface. Place a pillow at the end of the tub where you will have your head. You may want to use one pillow under your head for proper support and spine alignment and place one standing up between the top of your head and the end of the tub so you don't bump your head in your sleep. Cover yourself. Save a blanket or two for putting over the top of you. Since you don't know whether the bathroom will be warmer or colder than you are accustomed to during the night, have several layers handy just in case. A sleeping bag can do double duty as a pad underneath you and a cover on top of you. Bring your personal items into the bathroom. You will want to make sure you have what you need for the night and morning close at hand. Gather your clothes and toiletries for the next day and place them on a shelf or somewhere where they will stay dry. Find an outlet for your phone. Make sure you will be able to reach your phone from the tub so you can see what time it is and use it as an alarm in the morning. Bring in anything you will use to entertain yourself, like a tablet, laptop, or a book to read. Touch base with your guests or roommates. If there is only one bathroom available, it's best to be on the same page so everyone can agree on how to deal with the situation. You don't want someone turning on the shower on you in the morning! Decide what you will do if someone else needs to use the bathroom during the night. Agree on what time will be reasonable for you to wake up and get out of the bathtub so others can use it for showers in the morning. Go to sleep! It's time to get in the tub and start snoozing, so get comfy. Position yourself with your head on the opposite side of the tub from the tap. That way if you forget where you are and sit up you won't bump your head or face on the faucet. Use the fan for white noise if you need to block out background noise to sleep better. Turn out the lights. If you think you might wake up and be disoriented, use a nightlight. That will also help your roommates in case they forget you're in there and you startle them. | Measure the tub. Make it dry and clean. Clear away clutter. Gather sleeping supplies. Build a nest-like bed inside the tub. Cover yourself. Bring your personal items into the bathroom. Touch base with your guests or roommates. Go to sleep! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Obituary | How to Write an Obituary | If you would like to write an obituary to honor someone's life, start with a sentence that includes the person's full name, age, where they lived, and when they passed away. Next, provide some biographical information, including where they were born, their educational background, and a few words about their family life. Then, offer details about the person's hobbies, personality, and profession to let the reader know what the person was like. Finally, close with 1- 2 sentences about their remaining family and funeral arrangements. | Announce the name and time of death in the first sentence. In your opening sentence, start with their name, where they lived, and when they passed away. You don't need to provide the cause of death if you don't want to. Keep the sentence brief and to the point so you can expand the obituary in other places. For example, you may write, “On the morning of June 10, 2019, John Smith of Atlanta died at the age of 80.” Include a short summary of their life as the next paragraph. List the city where they were born, their parents, and important events that happened in your loved one's life. You can either list events chronologically or you can put them in order of what you feel is the most important. Try to use as few words as possible so the obituary is concise. For example, you may write, “John was born to Tom and Jill Smith in 1950. He received his bachelor's degree in 1976 and managed John's Restaurant in Atlanta for 22 years. In July 1980, he married Jane Doe, and together raised two children, Anna and Benjamin.” Create a list of major points in your loved one's life on a separate sheet of paper so you have options to choose from. Avoid listing their mother's maiden name or your loved one's birthdate in the biography since identity thieves could steal the information and commit fraud. Add a short paragraph about hobbies, passions, or personal characteristics. Including personal details will capture the spirit of your loved one so others understand what their life was like. Create a list of hobbies or activities they actively participated in and how it affected other people. For example, you may say, “John was an avid car collector in spare time. When he wasn't working at his restaurant, he would restore classic cars and show them at car shows. He was known for his good sense of humor and his contagious laughter among his friends.” You don't need to include this section if you don't have the space for it in your obituary. List close family members in the third paragraph. Mention close family members, such as immediate family and parents, by name. When you want to list extended family, use a collective phrase or list the specific number. For others that have passed away before your loved one, use the phrase “preceded in death by,” and use “survived by” before listing any relatives still living. For example, you may write, “John is preceded in death by his father, Tom, and his mother, Jill. He is survived by his wife, Jane, his 2 children, Anna and Benjamin, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.” Provide details about the funeral service if it’s public. If you're holding a public service, list the time and date along with the name of the funeral home. Make sure to list the specific details so others who were close to your loved one know where to go. For example, you could write, “A public memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM on June 13th, 2019 at the Church of Christ.” You do not have to provide any information if there is not a public service. Read the obituary out loud to catch any errors. Carefully read the obituary after you've written it to see if there are any sentence or spelling errors. Talk through the entire obituary slowly to catch any phrases that are worded incorrectly or read awkwardly. Note your changes with a pen or pencil so you know to go back and change them. If you wrote your paper on a computer, print it out so you can easily mark up the page with what you need to change. Have a friend or family member read it to check for missed information. Give the obituary you've written to a close relative so they can see if they have anything to add or would like to remove. Write down any suggestions they have and try to work them into a new copy of the obituary. Talk to multiple people that were close to your loved one to see if they have any stories or details they think should be included. Compare your obituary to other obituaries in the paper. Read through the current obituaries for the paper you're planning on submitting to. Look at their structure to see if you need to change anything about the obituary you've written. Obituaries don't need to look exactly the same, but they should contain all the important information necessary. Look on your local paper’s website to see how to submit an obituary. Many papers accept obituaries through a web portal or by email. Look up the website for your local paper to see how they accept their submissions and what files you need to include. Plan on submitting the obituary 2-3 days before the service is held so others can make travel arrangements to get there. Provide a photo of the deceased if you want. Choose a happy photo of your loved one so other people recognize that they lived a good life. Check with the newspaper where you plan on submitting to see if they have any size requirements for the photo you plan on submitting. Some newspapers charge an additional fee to publish pictures. Check with the paper's obituary requirements to see. Submit your obituary before the print deadline if you want it in the paper. Many newspapers have a print deadline of about 5:30 PM. Check with the paper you're submitting to so you know the exact deadline for when you need the obituary finished. Even if you don't make the print deadline, the obituary will still be published on the newspaper's website. | Announce the name and time of death in the first sentence. Include a short summary of their life as the next paragraph. Add a short paragraph about hobbies, passions, or personal characteristics. List close family members in the third paragraph. Provide details about the funeral service if it’s public. Read the obituary out loud to catch any errors. Have a friend or family member read it to check for missed information. Compare your obituary to other obituaries in the paper. Look on your local paper’s website to see how to submit an obituary. Provide a photo of the deceased if you want. Submit your obituary before the print deadline if you want it in the paper. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-the-Crow-Pose-(Yoga) | How to Do the Crow Pose (Yoga) | To do the crow pose, first start in malasana, or garland pose, with your head up and elbows and knees pressed against one another. From malasana, place your palms flat on the floor shoulder width apart and with your fingers spread wide for stability. Next, shift your weight forward and pull up your sitting bones. This can be tricky, but bending your elbows and moving your chest forward will help the shift. Once you're up, place your knees on your triceps and snuggle your inner things against the sides of your torso. To finish the pose, slowly lift your feet off the ground one at a time. | Start in garland pose. Garland pose, or malasana in Sanskrit, is a hip-opening pose that resembles bakasana but in an upright position. This asana may make it easier for you to enter crow pose if you are new to yoga or don't have a lot of arm or wrist strength. Keep your head up and press your elbows and knees against one another. It's important to not press your elbows against your inner thighs so that you can keep your chest area as open as possible. Don't collapse your shoulders. Pull your shoulder blades down your back to lift your chest. Keep your gaze straight ahead. Place your hands on the floor. From either malasana or uttanasana, place your palms flat on the floor. They should be about a shoulder-width apart, or slightly wider. This will help you support your weight while performing bakasana. Spread your fingers wide. This will provide you with more stability once you are in the pose. If it feels more comfortable, turn your fingertips slightly towards each other. Use a strap to keep your arms in line, if necessary. To use a strap properly for bakasana, make a loop and measure it so that it is approximately the width of your shoulders when flattened. Shift your weight forward and pull up your sitting bones. The transition from uttasana or malasana can be tricky. Slowly begin shifting your weight on to your hand and lifting your sitting bones toward the sky to help you enter full bakasana more easily. If you are in malasana, you'll want to bend your elbows and move your chest forward while you shift your weight forward. Place your knees on your triceps. To move into bakasana, bend your elbows slightly, lift up onto your toes and try to position your knees onto your triceps, as high above the elbows as possible. Imagine you are trying to get your knees into your armpits! Squeeze or snuggle your inner thighs against the sides of your torso, burrow your shins into your upper arms. Use your mula bandha, or root lock, to suck your abdominal muscles inwards and keep you sitting bones lifting towards the sky. To make the transition into crow pose easier, you can try standing on a block. This will give you extra height and make it easier to get your knees into position against your upper arms. Gaze forward. One of the most important aspects of mastering bakasana is keeping your gaze forward. If you try to look down at your hands or back at your feet, you may lose your balance. Try to focus your concentration, or drishti, in front of your hands. </ref> If your fear of falling is holding you back, try placing a pillow or blanket on the ground in front of you to soften a fall. Lift one foot off the ground, then the other. Shift your weight onto your hands by leaning your knees into your triceps and lifting your feet up off the floor. Never hop into crow pose (or any yoga pose)! Gently and gradually shift your weight forward until your feet come off the ground. If you are nervous, begin by slowly lifting one foot off the ground, then replace it and lift the other. When you feel strong and balanced, try lifting both feet at the same time. Once both feet are off the floor, try touching your big toes together and tuck your heels as close to your buttocks as you can manage. Straighten your arms and lift your sitting bones. Once you have achieved crow and can hold it for more than a few seconds, straighten your arms and lift your sitting bones. This will help you master the pose and cycle through a vinyasa if you choose. you can make a few adjustments in order to master the pose. Straighten your arms as much as possible. They should not be splayed out to the sides. Round out your spine and draw your abdominal muscles inwards and upwards using mula bandha. Gradually work towards holding this pose for up to a minute. If your wrists start to hurt, make sure that your palms are fully flat to the floor. Finish the asana or cycle through a vinyasa. Once you've finished practicing bakasana, you can either lower back to malasana or cycle through a vinyasa if you are more experienced. Remember to only do what asanas you can without losing proper form. Attempt bakasana from tripod headstand, or Sirsasana II. Once you've mastered bakasana and are practicing yoga regularly, you can attempt to move from tripod headstand, which is called Sirsasana II into bakasana. Sirsasana II requires good balance and a strong and engaged core. Only try this transition if you have mastered bakasana and feel comfortable in tripod headstand. Remember that you should never jump into any yoga asana. Raise up into sirsasana II. From prasarita padottanasana, begin to lift your toes up off the floor. You can either bring your knees to your chest and then raise your legs up into tripod headstand, or, if you're a stronger yogi, can lift your legs directly into sirsasana II. If you choose to lift directly into tripod headstand from wide-legged forward bend, be aware that this requires a great deal of balance and abdominal strength. Engaging your mula bandha can significantly help you master this variation. Transition from sirsasana II to bakasana. Although this is a much more difficult variation than simple crow pose, it's much more fun to practice and flows elegantly when done properly. From sirsasana II, bring your knees to your triceps and gently push back into bakasana. Just as in crow pose, make sure your knees are high up on your arms. They should be close to your armpits. Once your knees are in place, push up on your arms and shift your weight slightly back. This should put you in an optimal crow pose. It may take some practice to make the transition from tripod headstand to crow pose. Playing with it and practicing regularly will help you master this series of asanas. Complete the asana or a vinyasa. Once you've finished practicing sirsasana II to bakasana, you can either lower back to malasana, or garland pose, or cycle through a vinyasa. Only perform what asanas you can without losing proper form. | Start in garland pose. Place your hands on the floor. Shift your weight forward and pull up your sitting bones. Place your knees on your triceps. Squeeze or snuggle your inner thighs against the sides of your torso, burrow your shins into your upper arms. Gaze forward. Lift one foot off the ground, then the other. Straighten your arms and lift your sitting bones. Finish the asana or cycle through a vinyasa. Attempt bakasana from tripod headstand, or Sirsasana II. Raise up into sirsasana II. Transition from sirsasana II to bakasana. Complete the asana or a vinyasa. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Epsom-Salt-as-a-Laxative | How to Use Epsom Salt as a Laxative | If you want to use Epsom salt as a laxative, make sure you choose a salt that has magnesium sulfate as its main ingredient. Heat 8 ounces of water in a pot until it is warmer than room temperature, then add 2-4 level teaspoons of Epsom salt. Stir well until all of the salt has been dissolved, then drink the mixture. If the taste bothers you, add a little lemon juice to the water. Repeat twice a day for up to 4 days as needed. | Buy the right Epsom salt. There are numerous types of Epsom salt that you can buy. Make sure the type of Epsom salt you buy has magnesium sulfate as its main ingredient. If it has any other type of ingredient as the main ingredient, do not buy it. You could poison yourself if you buy the wrong kind. Try brands such as Epsoak Epsom Salt. Warm some water. To begin an Epsom salt mixture for a laxative, warm eight ounces of water in a pot on the stove over medium heat. Don't let the water boil, but make sure it is warmer than room temperature. This can take a few minutes. Add the salt. Add two to four level teaspoons of Epsom salt to the warm water mixture if the mixture is for an adult. Stir well under low heat until all the salt has dissolved. If the salty taste bothers you, add a small amount of lemon juice to help with the taste. You can use the microwave to heat the water first, then add the salt. Drink the mixture. Once you take it off the stove, set it aside in a mug or cup to cool. Allow the mixture to cool down to a comfortable and drinkable temperature. When it is cool enough for you to drink but still warm, drink the whole cup at once. Drink only twice a day. This mixture is safe to use twice a day. Drink the doses at least 4 hours apart each day. You can continue drinking this mixture for up to 4 days. If after 4 days you haven't had any bowel movement or if you still feel constipated, call your doctor for advice. Epsom salts taken as a laxative generally work within 30 minutes to six hours. Make sure you take it during a time where you have easy access to a bathroom to avoid accidents or discomfort. If you are giving the laxative to a child under the age of 12, you may use one to two level teaspoons. Do not give this mixture to children under 6 years old. The safety of Epsom salt as a laxative on this age group has not been tested. Drink more water. While you are taking Epsom salt as a laxative, increase your water intake. The mixture can cause dehydration and you need to keep your water levels up in order to stay hydrated and healthy. Increased water intake can also help with your bowel movements, so it is helpful in multiple ways. Avoid Epsom salt if you have certain symptoms. Constipation can come along with other symptoms. If you are experiencing any symptoms other than constipation, avoid taking Epsom salt or any other laxative until you call you doctor. Never take Epsom salt as a laxative if you are experiencing severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, have had a sudden change in bowel habits that has lasted two weeks or longer, are suffering from rectal bleeding, or have dark, tarry stools. Do not take Epsom salts while on certain medications. There are certain medications that cannot be taken with Epsom salts. Do not use Epsom salt as a laxative if you are taking antibiotics such as Tobramycin, Gentamicin, Kanamycin, Neomycin, and Amikacin. If you are currently taking other medications such as corticosteroids, blood pressure medications, diuretics, pain relievers, antacids, or antidepressants, consult your physician before using Epsom salts as a laxative. Consult a doctor if you have certain conditions. There are some conditions that might be complicated if you take Epsom salt. Make sure you check in with your physician before using Epsom salt as a laxative if you have kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, any known heart arrhythmia, or if you have an eating disorder. Also ask your doctor if it is safe for you to use if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Also contact your doctor before using it if you have used another laxative in the last two weeks that has not worked for you. Recognize constipation. Constipation is the difficult or uncomfortable passage of stools. The most common symptoms of constipation are a decreased number of bowel movements, smaller than normal stools, stool that is difficult to pass and pain or bloating in your abdomen. If constipation becomes chronic or long-term, it can be serious and you should consult a physician. Discover the causes of constipation. Constipation commonly occurs because people don't include enough fiber or water in their diet. Constipation can also be due to too little exercise or as a side effect of a number of different drugs. These include antacids, diuretics, narcotic pain relievers, antidepressants, and muscle relaxants. Constipation can also be caused by pelvic disorders or it can be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a form of which has both diarrhea and constipation. It is important to remember and realize that constipation can be a symptom of a number of more serious medical disorders including diabetes, an underactive thyroid, inflammatory bowel disease, and some neurological disorders. Other causes of constipation are changes in your daily routine such as travel and not enough time to have bowel movements. This can happen if you have a particularly busy lifestyle or are busy helping spouses, partners, or children or are a caregiver to an elderly relative. Monitor your bowel movements. There is not really a set rule to how frequently you should have a bowel movement. Most people feel most comfortable when they have at least one bowel movement every day, but there is a wide variation for normal bowel movements. Some people have two to three bowel movements a day and this is perfectly normal. Other people have a bowel movement every other day, and this is normal for them. In general, at least four to eight times a week seems to be most common. The key is your diet and comfort level. People with more frequent bowel movements tend to have high fiber diets and are often vegetarians or vegans. Those with fewer bowel movements tend to have a higher meat content in their diet. | Buy the right Epsom salt. Warm some water. Add the salt. Drink the mixture. Drink only twice a day. Drink more water. Avoid Epsom salt if you have certain symptoms. Do not take Epsom salts while on certain medications. Consult a doctor if you have certain conditions. Recognize constipation. Discover the causes of constipation. Monitor your bowel movements. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Moths | How to Get Rid of Moths | To get rid of moths in your closet, remove the clothes from the closet and place sticky moth traps by hanging them on clip hangers. Once the traps are set, wash every item of clothing that was in the closet according to the care instructions, and, if possible, dry on the highest heat setting to kill any eggs the moths may have laid. While your clothes are being cleaned, use soapy water to clean the floors, walls, shelves, and any other surfaces in the closet. Complete your cleaning by vacuuming the entire closet before re-hanging your clean clothes. | Know the signs. If you've seen a moth or two fluttering around but aren't sure if you have an all-out infestation, look for these signs: Tiny holes in your sweaters or other items of clothing. If you see holes in one sweater, you'll probably find more. Check all of your clothes made with wool, feathers, fur, and silk. Clothing that looks dusty or discolored, or has a musty smell. Webbing in corners of the closet or on clothing. Set out moth traps. To take care of the immediate problem of moths in your closet, trap them with pheromone moth traps, which attract and kill them with a sticky substance that they can't escape once they touch. You can make your own moth traps with flypaper and fish oil, which attracts moths. Dab a bit on some flypaper and hang it in your closet. Traps designed to catch mice are also effective for catching moths. In particular, look for zapper style traps with infrared sensors, as these will sense the moth approaching and zap it when it nears the bait. Wash your clothes. It's important to wash every item of clothing to get rid of eggs the moths may have laid. Wash the items according to their care instructions. If possible, put them through a hot dryer. Items that cannot be dried on high heat can be placed in the freezer for a few days to kill any eggs. Wash linens, towels, and any other cloth items stored in your closet. Remove suitcases, bags and other containers, and wash these as well. Clean the closet. Now that everything has been removed from your closet, it's time to scour it from top to bottom to get rid of moth eggs that might still be lurking there. Use soapy water or a vinegar and water solution to clean the closet floor and walls. Dip a sponge scrubber into the solution and scrub the walls to scratch off all the eggs. Clean especially well in cracks and crevices. Vacuum well. Use a high-powered vacuum to clean the carpet in your closet. While you're at it, vacuum the bedroom area, too, since moths may have laid eggs there. Brush clothing made from wool, fur or feathers after you wear it. Moth eggs usually enter closest by way of clothing that has been worn outside. Keep your clothing clean. Moths are attracted to wool, but they're especially apt to enter your closet if your clothing has stains from food and other items that they like to eat. Make sure you wash your clothes before hanging them up. Dry clean wool items before storing them. Store clothing properly. Clothes you don't wear often, especially wool winter clothing, should be stored in an airtight place. Protect wool coats and sweaters with plastic bags. Store winter clothing in plastic storage bags, plastic bins, or airtight metal containers. Keep your closet cool and well-ventilated. Moths are attracted to humid spaces, so it's important to keep the air circulating and on the cool side so they don't decide to nest there. Air out your clothing often. Let your wool items get some sun, especially if you're taking them out at the beginning of fall or winter after they've been in storage. Use cedar in your closet. Moths are repelled by cedar, so it's a good idea to hang wool items on cedar hangers. You can also purchase ball-shaped pieces of cedar to hang in your closet, or fill a sachet bag with cedar chips and hang it up. Try placing cedar-scented items in the pockets of your wool items for extra protection. Try mothballs or a natural alternative. Placing mothballs in your closet is an effective way to kill moths, but the chemicals mothballs are made with are toxic to humans, and they leave a strong scent in your closet and on your clothes. Try these alternatives: Sachets made with dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender, or bay leaves. Simply fill a small cloth bag with these ingredients, tie it with a string, and hang it up. Essential oils made from these herbs can be sprinkled in your closet or on your clothing as an effective moth deterrent. For extreme cases, call an exterminator. Moth problems can usually be solved with these simple solutions, but if you find that moths keep returning, they may be laying eggs in a place you can't reach with a vacuum or sponge. Call a pest control professional to fumigate the area and kill the moth eggs. Know the signs. Moths leave behind secretions, webbing and other signs of their presence. You probably have an infestation if you notice these signs: Food items that are stuck together or seem slightly sticky. This could be caused by moth secretions. Food items that smell musty or "off," even if they haven't reached their expiration date or been exposed to conditions that would make them stale. Light webbing around boxes or bags in your pantry. The presence of caterpillars or full-grown moths in your pantry is a sure sign that it's time to take action. Throw away the infested food. Don't try to save it; it's not healthy to eat food infested by moths. Toss out the following items: Bulk food items, such as grains, nuts, and rice, should be thrown away since moths eat and lay their eggs in these foods. Moths can eat through cardboard boxes. If you see tiny holes in your pantry items, throw them out. Moths can also get into tiny spaces. Anything that has been opened before, even a plastic bag of chocolate chips or nuts, should probably be tossed. Dispose of food in a sealed garbage bag and remove it from your house immediately. Trap the moths. If there are still moths left in your kitchen after you've thrown away their food sources, set out pheromone moth traps to attract and kill them with a sticky substance that they can't escape once they touch. Throw away the traps in a sealed container once you've caught all the moths in your kitchen. Scour the kitchen. Now that you've addressed the immediate problem, it's time to clean the kitchen from top to bottom, focusing on the pantry, to get rid of any eggs the moths may have left behind. Use soapy water or a vinegar and water solution as your detergent. You can also use a stronger chemical cleaner. Dip a sponge scrubber or steel wool into the solution and scour the cabinets, pantry, and other corners and cracks in your kitchen. Make sure you really scrub the surfaces to make sure the moth eggs are removed. Consider calling a pest control professional. If moths reappear after you've taken these measures, they may be laying eggs in the walls or another place you can't get to with a sponge. Make an appointment with an exterminator, who will use heavy-duty products to get rid of the problem. Examine your food sources. Moths usually enter kitchens by way of food that is already infested. Bulk items like oatmeal, dried grains or nuts may have eggs on them when you bring them home. However, even food that has been packaged and sealed can bring in moth eggs. Place items in the freezer when you bring them home. You don't have to stop buying bulk food items; try putting them in the freezer to kill any eggs they might contain before placing them in your pantry. Simply clear a place in the freezer and store the food there for 3-4 days before using it as usual. Store food in air-tight containers. Proper food storage is probably the best preventative measure you can take. Choose glass or plastic containers for bulk food items. Make sure they have tight-fitting lids. Instead of putting half-used boxes and bags of non-perishable items back into the pantry, pour the remaining food into sealable containers. Moths can eat right through cardboard and light plastic. Control temperature and humidity in the kitchen. Moths thrive in warm, humid temperatures, so if your kitchen is often on the muggy side, you may be creating an inviting home for moths. Keep windows and doors closed when your air conditioner is running. Make sure the pantry and food storage areas are well ventilated. Seal cracks and crevices. There are a lot of great hiding places for moths in a kitchen. Do your best to seal off the places you aren't able to regularly clean, like cracks in the back of the pantry, spaces between shelving and the wall, and cracks where cabinets attach to the wall. | Know the signs. Set out moth traps. Wash your clothes. Clean the closet. Brush clothing made from wool, fur or feathers after you wear it. Keep your clothing clean. Store clothing properly. Keep your closet cool and well-ventilated. Air out your clothing often. Use cedar in your closet. Try mothballs or a natural alternative. For extreme cases, call an exterminator. Know the signs. Throw away the infested food. Trap the moths. Scour the kitchen. Consider calling a pest control professional. Examine your food sources. Place items in the freezer when you bring them home. Store food in air-tight containers. Control temperature and humidity in the kitchen. Seal cracks and crevices. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Balance-Redox-Reactions | How to Balance Redox Reactions | A redox reaction is when one of the reactants in the chemical reaction is reduced while the other is oxidized. If you have a neutral or acidic solution, you can balance a redox reaction by first splitting the equation into two half-reactions. Once it's split, balance all the elements in the equation except for hydrogen and oxygen. After you've done so, balance the oxygen atoms by adding H2O to the opposite side of the reaction. You can then balance the hydrogen atoms by adding H+ to the opposite of the equation. When you've balanced both, equalize the charges by adding electrons to the side of each equation that's more positive so the charge equals zero. You then need to multiply each half-reaction by a scaling factor so the electrons are equal. To finish balancing, combine the two half-reactions and check that each side has the same charge. | Learn the rules for assigning oxidation state. The oxidation state of a species (each element in the equation) is a number equal to the number of electrons that can be gained, lost, or shared with another element during the chemical bonding process. There are seven rules that allow you to determine the oxidation state of an element. They must be followed in the order given below. If two rules conflict, use the first rule to assign oxidation state (OS). Rule #1: An individual atom, by itself, has an OS of 0. For example: Au, OS = 0. Cl 2 also has an OS of 0 as long as it is not combined with any other element. Rule #2: The total OS of all atoms in a neutral species is 0, but in an ion is equal to the ion charge. The molecule's OS must equal 0, but the OS for each element in that molecule may not be zero. For example, H 2 O has an OS of 0, but each hydrogen atom has an OS of +1, while the oxygen atom has an OS of -2. The ion Ca has an oxidation state of +2. Rule #3: For compounds, Group 1 metals have an OS of +1 and Group 2 metals have an OS +2. Rule #4: The oxidation state of fluorine in a compound is -1. Rule #5: The oxidation state of hydrogen in a compound is +1. Rule #6: The oxidation state of oxygen in a compound is -2. Rule #7: In compounds with two-elements where at least one is a metal, elements in Group 15 have an OS of -3, Group 16 have an OS of -2, and Group 17 have an OS of -1. Split the reaction into two half-reactions. Although half-reactions are hypothetical reactions, splitting the equation allows you to easily determine whether a redox reaction is occurring. To do this, take the first reactant and write it as a half-reaction with the product that includes the element in the reactant. Then take the second reactant and write it as half-reaction with the product that includes that element. For example: Fe + V 2 O 3 ---> Fe 2 O 3 + VO breaks down into the following two half-reactions: Fe ---> Fe 2 O 3 V 2 O 3 ---> VO If there is only one reactant and two products, make one half-reaction with the reactant and the first product, and one half-reaction with the reactant and the second product. When combining the half-reactions at the end, don't forget to recombine the reactants. You can do the same if there are two reactants and only one product: use each reactant with the same product for the half-reactions. ClO ---> Cl + ClO 3 Half-reaction 1: ClO ---> Cl Half-reaction 2: ClO ---> ClO 3 Assign oxidation states to each element in the equation. Using the seven rules for assigning oxidation states, determine the oxidation state for each species in the given chemical equation. Although a compound may be neutral, the elements that make up that compound will have a charged oxidation state. Remember to follow the rules in order. For the first half-reaction in our above example: OS for the Fe atom alone is 0 (rule #1), OS for the Fe in Fe 2 is +3 (rule #2 and #6), and the OS for the O in O 3 is -2 (rule #6). For the second half-reaction: OS for the V in V 2 is +3 (rule #2 and #6) while OS for the O in O 3 is -2 (rule #6). OS for V is +2 (rule #2), while O is -2 (rule #6). Determine if one species is oxidized and one is reduced. Looking at the oxidation states of each species in your half reaction, determine if one species is being oxidized (oxidation state increases), while the other species is reduced (oxidation state decreases). In our example, the first half-reaction is oxidized because Fe starts with an OS of 0 and goes up to 3. The second half-reaction is being reduced because V starts with an OS of +6 and goes down to +2. Because one species is oxidized and the other reduced, this equation is a redox reaction. Split reaction into two half-reactions. Your equation should already be split into two half-reactions from the earlier step of determining whether or not a redox reaction was occurring. If you were already told it was a redox reaction, then your first step is to split it into two half-reactions. To do this, take the first reactant and write it as a half-reaction with the product that includes the element in the reactant. Then take the second reactant and write it as a half-reaction with the product that includes that element. For example: Fe + V 2 O 3 ---> Fe 2 O 3 + VO breaks down into the following two half-reactions: Fe ---> Fe 2 O 3 V 2 O 3 ---> VO If there is only one reactant and two products, make one half-reaction with the reactant and the first product, and one half-reaction with the reactant and the second product. When combining the half-reactions at the end, don't forget to recombine the reactants. You can do the same if there are two reactants and only one product: use each reactant with the same product for the half-reactions. ClO ---> Cl + ClO 3 Half-reaction 1: ClO ---> Cl Half-reaction 2: ClO ---> ClO 3 Balance all elements in the equation except hydrogen and oxygen. After you have determined that a redox reaction is occurring, it is time to balance it. Start by balancing all the elements in the each half-reaction that aren't hydrogen (H) or oxygen (O). These will be balanced in the following steps. Half-reaction 1: Fe ---> Fe 2 O 3 There is 1 Fe atom on the left side and 2 on the right, multiply the left by 2 to balance. 2Fe ---> Fe 2 O 3 Half-reaction 2: V 2 O 3 ---> VO There are 2 V atoms on the left side and one on the right, multiply the right by 2 to balance. V 2 O 3 ---> 2VO Balance the oxygen atoms by adding H2O to the opposite side of the reaction. Determine the number of oxygen atoms on each side of the equation. Balance the equation by adding water molecules to the side that has fewer oxygen atoms until both sides are equal. Half-reaction 1: 2Fe ---> Fe 2 O 3 There are 3 O atoms on the right side and none on the left. Add 3 H 2 O molecules to the left side to balance. 2Fe + 3H 2 O ---> Fe 2 O 3 Half-reaction 2: V 2 O 3 ---> 2VO There are 3 O atoms on the left side and two on the right. Add 1 H 2 O molecule to the right side to balance. V 2 O 3 ---> 2VO + H 2 O Balance hydrogen atoms by adding H+ to the opposite of the equation. Like you did with the oxygen atoms, determine the number of hydrogen atoms on each side of the equation. Then balance by adding H atoms to the side that has fewer atoms until both sides are equal. Half-reaction 1: 2Fe + 3H 2 O ---> Fe 2 O 3 There are 6 H atoms on the left side and none on the right side. Add 6 H to the right side to balance. 2Fe + 3H 2 O ---> Fe 2 O 3 + 6H Half-reaction 2: V 2 O 3 ---> 2VO + H 2 O There are 2 H atoms on the right side and none on the left. Add 2 H to the left side to balance. V 2 O 3 + 2H ---> 2VO + H 2 O Equalize the charges by adding electrons to the proper side of the equation. After you have balanced the hydrogens and oxygens, one side of your equation will be more positive than the other. Add enough electrons to the side of each equation that is more positive to make the charge equal zero. Electrons will almost always be added to the side with the H atoms. Half-reaction 1: 2Fe + 3H 2 O ---> Fe 2 O 3 + 6H The charge on the left side of the equation is 0 while the right side has a 6+ charge due to the hydrogen ions. Add 6 electrons to the right side to balance. 2Fe + 3H 2 O ---> Fe 2 O 3 + 6H + 6e Half-reaction 2: V 2 O 3 + 2H ---> 2VO + H 2 O The charge on the left side of the equation is 2+ while the right side is 0. Add 2 electrons to the left side to bring the charge to zero. V 2 O 3 + 2H + 2e ---> 2VO + H 2 O Multiply each half-reaction by a scaling factor so that the electrons are equal in both half-reactions. The electrons on either side of the equation must be made equal so when the half-reactions are added together, the electrons will cancel out. Multiply the reaction by the lowest common factor of the electrons to make them the same. Half-reaction 1 has 6 electrons while half-reaction 2 has 2 electrons. By multiplying half-reaction 2 by 3, it will have 6 electrons and be equal to the first half-reaction. Half-reaction 1: 2Fe + 3H 2 O ---> Fe 2 O 3 + 6H + 6e Half-reaction 2: V 2 O 3 + 2H + 2e ---> 2VO + H 2 O Multiply by 3: 3V 2 O 3 + 6H + 6e ---> 6VO + 3H 2 O Combine the two half-reactions. Write all of the reactants on the left side of the equation and all of the products on the right side of the equation. You'll notice that there are like terms on each side including H 2 O, H and e. You can cancel out like terms, with the remaining terms leaving a balanced equation. 2Fe + 3H 2 O + 3V 2 O 3 + 6H + 6e ---> Fe 2 O 3 + 6H + 6e + 6VO + 3H 2 O The electrons on either side of the equation cancel out yielding: 2Fe + 3H 2 O + 3V 2 O 3 + 6H ---> Fe 2 O 3 + 6H + 6VO + 3H 2 O There are 3 H 2 O and 6 H ions on either side of the equation that also cancel yielding a final balanced equation: 2Fe + 3V 2 O 3 ---> Fe 2 O 3 + 6VO Double-check that each side of your equation has the same charge. When you're done balancing, check to make sure that the charges are balanced on each side of the equation. The charges on each side of the equation should be the same. For the right side of our equation: OS for Fe is 0. In V 2 O 3 the OS for V is +3 and for O is -2. Multiplying by the number of atoms of each element, V = +3 x 2 =6, O = -2 x 3 = -6. The charges cancel out. For the left side of our equation: In Fe 2 O 3 the OS for Fe is +3 and for O is -2. Multiplying by the number of atoms of each element, Fe = +3 x 2 = +6, O = -2 x 3 = -6. The charges cancel out. In VO the OS for V is +2, while for O it's -2. The charges also cancel out on this side. Because all the charges equal zero, our equation has been correctly balanced. Split reaction into two half-reactions. Balancing in a basic solution follows the same steps as above, with one extra step at the end. Again, your equation should already be split into two half-reactions from the earlier step of determining whether or not a redox reaction was occurring. If you were already told it was a redox reaction, then your first step is to split it into two half-reactions. To do this, take the first reactant and write it as a half-reaction with the product that includes the element in the reactant. Then take the second reactant and write it as a half-reaction with the product that includes that element. For example, balance the following reaction in a basic solution: Ag + Zn ---> Ag 2 O + Zn breaks down into the following two half-reactions: Ag ---> Ag 2 O Zn ---> Zn Balance all elements in the equation except hydrogen and oxygen. After you have determined that a redox reaction is occurring, it is time to balance it. Start by balancing all the elements in the each half-reaction that aren't hydrogen (H) or oxygen (O). These will be balanced in the following steps. Half-reaction 1: Ag ---> Ag 2 O There is 1 Ag atom on the left side and 2 on the right, multiply the left by 2 to balance. 2Ag ---> Ag 2 O Half-reaction 2: Zn ---> Zn There is 1 Zn atom on the left and 1 on the right, therefore it is already balanced. Balance the oxygen atoms by adding H2O to the opposite side of the reaction. Determine the number of oxygen atoms on each side of the equation. Balance the equation by adding water molecules to the side that has fewer oxygen atoms until both sides are equal. Half-reaction 1: 2Ag ---> Ag 2 O There are no O atoms on the left side and one on the right. Add 1 H 2 O molecule to the left side to balance. H 2 O + 2Ag ---> Ag 2 O Half-reaction 2: Zn ---> Zn There are no O atoms on either side, therefore it is balanced. Balance hydrogen atoms by adding H+ to the opposite of the equation. Like you did with the oxygen atoms, determine the number of hydrogen atoms on each side of the equation. Then balance by adding H atoms to the side that has fewer atoms until both sides are equal. Half-reaction 1: H 2 O + 2Ag ---> Ag 2 O There are 2 H atoms on the left side and none on the right side. Add 2 H to the right side to balance. H 2 O + 2Ag ---> Ag 2 O + 2H Half-reaction 2: Zn ---> Zn There are no H atoms on either side, therefore it is balanced. Equalize the charges by adding electrons to the proper side of the equation. After you have balanced the hydrogens and oxygens, one side of your equation will be more positive than the other. Add enough electrons to the side of each equation that is more positive to make the charge equal zero. Electrons will almost always be added to the side with the H atoms. Half-reaction 1: H 2 O + 2Ag ---> Ag 2 O + 2H The charge on the left side of the equation is 0 while the right side has a 2+ charge due to the hydrogen ions. Add 2 electrons to the right side to balance. H 2 O + 2Ag ---> Ag 2 O + 2H + 2e Half-reaction 2: Zn ---> Zn The charge on the left side of the equation is 2+ while the right side is 0. Add 2 electrons to the left side to bring the charge to zero. Zn + 2e ---> Zn Multiply each half-reaction by a scaling factor so that the electrons are equal in both half-reactions. The electrons on either side of the equation must be made equal so when the half-reactions are added together, the electrons will cancel out. Multiply the reaction by the lowest common factor of the electrons to make them the same. For our example, both sides are already balanced with 2 electrons on each side. Combine the two half-reactions. Write all of the reactants on the left side of the equation and all of the products on the right side of the equation. You'll notice that there are like terms on each side including H 2 O, H and e. You can cancel out like terms, with the remaining terms leaving a balanced equation. H 2 O + 2Ag + Zn + 2e ---> Ag 2 O + Zn + 2H + 2e The electrons on either side of the equation cancel out yielding: H 2 O + 2Ag + Zn ---> Ag 2 O + Zn + 2H Balance the positive hydrogen ions with negative hydroxyl ions. Because you want to balance in a basic solution, you want to cancel out the hydrogen ions. Add an equal number OH ions to balance out the H ions. When adding OH ions, you must add the same number to both sides of the equation. H 2 O + 2Ag + Zn ---> Ag 2 O + Zn + 2H There are 2 H ions on the right side of the equation. Add 2 OH ions to both sides of the equation. H 2 O + 2Ag + Zn + 2OH ---> Ag 2 O + Zn + 2H + 2OH H and OH combine to form one water molecule (H 2 O), yielding H 2 O + 2Ag + Zn + 2OH ---> Ag 2 O + Zn + 2H 2 O You can cancel one water molecule on the right side, yielding a final balanced equation of: 2Ag + Zn + 2OH ---> Ag 2 O + Zn + H 2 O Double-check that each side of your equation has zero charge. When you're done balancing, check to make sure that the charges are balanced on each side of the equation. The charges (oxidation state of all the elements) on each side of the equation should equal zero. For the left side of our equation: Ag has an OS of 0. The Zn For the right side: In Ag 2 O, the Ag has an OS of +1, while O is -2. Multiplying by the number of atoms Ag = +1 x 2 = +2, the -2 of O cancels out. The Zn has an OS of 0. The water molecule also has an OS of 0. Because all the charges equal zero, our equation has been correctly balanced. | Learn the rules for assigning oxidation state. Split the reaction into two half-reactions. Assign oxidation states to each element in the equation. Determine if one species is oxidized and one is reduced. Split reaction into two half-reactions. Balance all elements in the equation except hydrogen and oxygen. Balance the oxygen atoms by adding H2O to the opposite side of the reaction. Balance hydrogen atoms by adding H+ to the opposite of the equation. Equalize the charges by adding electrons to the proper side of the equation. Multiply each half-reaction by a scaling factor so that the electrons are equal in both half-reactions. Combine the two half-reactions. Double-check that each side of your equation has the same charge. Split reaction into two half-reactions. Balance all elements in the equation except hydrogen and oxygen. Balance the oxygen atoms by adding H2O to the opposite side of the reaction. Balance hydrogen atoms by adding H+ to the opposite of the equation. Equalize the charges by adding electrons to the proper side of the equation. Multiply each half-reaction by a scaling factor so that the electrons are equal in both half-reactions. Combine the two half-reactions. Balance the positive hydrogen ions with negative hydroxyl ions. Double-check that each side of your equation has zero charge. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Move-a-Grand-Piano | How to Move a Grand Piano | If you need to move a grand piano, make sure you carve out a few hours and find a few friends to help. The first thing you'll need to do is remove your piano's lid and lyre and wrap them up in moving pads or blankets. Then, set your piano on its side on a piano board and wrap up the body. Strap the piano to the piano board with buckle straps, then remove all of the legs and wrap them up. Wrap each pedal individually with bubble wrap. Once your piano is wrapped up and secure, you can put the piano board on a dolly and transport it to a moving truck. | Remove the piano lid. The large lid of the grand piano will be attached by small screws and hinges on its longest side. Remove the screws and the hinges using the type and size of screwdriver that matches the screw heads. Lift the lid off of the piano, and set it aside. You may need to hold the points of 3 or 4 different sizes of screwdriver against the screw to see which size fits properly. Save these screws—and all others that you remove while disassembling the piano—in a plastic bag for safekeeping. Place the lid hinges in the plastic bag, too. Label the bag “lid screws” so you can correctly re-assemble the piano lid. Wrap the lid in 2 or 3 moving pads. These pads will prevent the lid from being scratched or damaged during the move, so make sure the wood is fully covered by the pads. Then, use either packing tape or 2 buckle straps to hold the moving pads firmly in place. You can buy thick moving pads at any moving-supply store, and at many hardware stores. If you don't have the budget or inclination to use moving pads, you can also use spare blankets from around your house. Remove the piano’s lyre. The lyre on a grand piano comprises the pieces of wood in the front of the piano (right beneath the keyboard) to which the pedals are attached. Kneel down and unscrew the lyre from the underside of the body of the piano. Set the lyre aside for now. Keep all screws and any accompanying metal plates in a plastic bag. Label the bag “lyre screws” to prevent confusion between these and the screws for the lid hinges. Set the piano onto its side on a piano board. Place a piano board about 3 feet (0.91 m) to the left (when facing the keyboard) of the piano. Have another person (or 2) help you pick up the grand piano and tilt it towards its long, flat side. Set this side gently on top of the piano board. Never let the weight of the piano rest on the legs, as they can easily snap off. Do this very carefully, so as not to drop or damage any part of the piano. The movement should be controlled and guided at all times. A piano board is a large, flat wooden surface build to hold the side of a piano. Piano boards typically have handles to which you can strap the body of the piano. You can purchase a piano board at a local moving-supply store. They may also be available to purchase at larger music stores. Wrap the body of the piano with moving pads or blankets. Set 3 or 4 moving pads over and around the body of the grand piano. At this point, you don't need to secure the moving pads directly to the piano, since the buckle straps you'll use to hold the piano to the piano board will hold the moving pads in place, too. It's better to use too many pads than too few, to make sure the piano isn't damaged during the move. Strap the piano to the piano board. Wrap at least 2 or 3 heavy-duty buckle straps around the body of the piano. Secure the straps to the handles or indentations of the piano board. The secured straps will keep the straps from shifting during the move and consequently keep the piano steady. You can purchase buckle straps at any hardware or home-supply store. Remove all of the piano legs. Most grand pianos have 4 legs, although some baby grands will only have 3. The legs will be attached to the bottom of the piano with screws or small bolts. Use either a screwdriver or an Allen wrench to remove the legs. Set them aside. Only remove the legs once the piano is firmly strapped onto the piano board. Wrap each pedal separately with plastic or bubble wrap. Once the lyre is off of the piano, you need to take precautions to keep the pedals from being damaged in the move. Wrap each with a section of protective plastic or, for added safety, a sheet of bubble wrap. Secure the wrap in place with packaging tape. Wrap the piano legs and lyre in blankets. Wrap each leg individually in its own blanket or moving pad, and wrap the lyre individual as well. Make sure that the wood of each is entirely covered up, and then secure the blanket in place using a generous amount of packing tape. As with the piano lid, you want to keep the legs and lyre as safe as possible during the moving process. Set the wrapped body of the piano on a sturdy dolly. Have 2 or 3 people help you lift the wrapped piano on the piano board onto the dolly. The flat shelf of the dolly will be about 3 inches (7.6 cm) high, so you'll need to lift the body of the piano at least that high. Make sure to center the piano on the dolly so that it won't tilt off on one side or the other. A sturdy 4-wheeled dolly will be able to hold the weight of a large, heavy piano as it's wheeled from stage to moving truck. Do not attempt to move a grand piano with a 2-wheeled dolly. You could offer your friends pizza and beer after the move is completed to entice them to help you. Roll the piano to a moving truck. Move slowly, and have 2 or 3 people help you roll the piano on the dolly. Keep the piano balanced and upright as you wheel it across sidewalks and the asphalt surface of the parking lot to the waiting moving truck. If you need to move the piano down stairs, you could lay a piece of plywood on the stairs for the dolly to roll down. Remember to put safety first, and keep the piano from tipping over or rolling on someone's foot. Strap the piano firmly in place. Wheel the piano and dolly up the loading ramp into the moving truck, and then lift the piano off of the dolly. (Or, if the dolly has wheel locks, keep the piano on the dolly and lock the wheels) Keep the piano in its vertical position. Then, use 3 or 4 buckle straps to secure the piano firmly to the wall of the moving truck. You'll need to set the wrapped legs and lyre in the moving truck too, but these can be placed just about anywhere. You could even set them on the passenger seat in the cab with you. It's best to rent a moving truck when moving a piano. Even if the piano would fit in a large pickup truck bed, you won't be able to strap the piano vertically to the side of the truck. Hire a piano moving company. If you don't have time to properly disassemble, pack, and move the piano, you can contact a piano-moving company and have them do it for you. These companies are highly specialized and move only pianos, so they're skilled at what they do. Look for a piano-moving company on the Piano Movers Network directory: https://www.pianomoversnetwork.com. Piano moving companies will also have insurance in case they damage your piano. This means that, should the piano accidentally be dropped, the company will pay for the damage. It won't come out of your pocket. A local move will likely cost between $150 and $600 USD, depending on the size of the piano and the complexity of the move. A long-distance move will average between $700 and $2,000 USD, depending on the distance moved. | Remove the piano lid. Wrap the lid in 2 or 3 moving pads. Remove the piano’s lyre. Set the piano onto its side on a piano board. Wrap the body of the piano with moving pads or blankets. Strap the piano to the piano board. Remove all of the piano legs. Wrap each pedal separately with plastic or bubble wrap. Wrap the piano legs and lyre in blankets. Set the wrapped body of the piano on a sturdy dolly. Roll the piano to a moving truck. Strap the piano firmly in place. Hire a piano moving company. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-with-the-Pain-from-a-Scratched-Cornea | How to Deal with the Pain from a Scratched Cornea | To deal with the pain from a scratched cornea, make an appointment with your doctor right away, since you may need prescription eye drops to treat the condition safely. Make sure to avoid over-the-counter eye drops, which can make the injury worse. Additionally, use ice compressors to reduce any swelling during the first 48 hours. You should also wear glasses instead of contact lenses, which can irritate the injury. While you may be tempted to rub your eye, avoid doing so since it can cause further damage. | Seek medical help. A scratched cornea can be caused by some things you might not expect, like improperly fitted or maintained contact lenses, rubbing your eyes vigorously, a bacterial infection, or when undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, in addition to the more obvious causes such having your eye poked or some foreign object or matter getting stuck in your eye. As other conditions can cause symptoms similar to an abrasion, but would be treated differently, go to an opthalmologist or to the emergency room right away. You want confirmation you are dealing with a scratched cornea. Your doctor can also give you guidance on how to treat your condition safely. If you notice any of the following symptoms, see a doctor: Pain A feeling of grittiness in the eye Headaches Dizziness or lightheadedness Blurry vision, especially after an injury to the eye Sensitivity to light Try an eye drop recommended by your doctor. Not all commercial eye drops are safe for treating a scratched cornea. In fact, using over the counter eyedrops may make the condition worse. Eyedrops recommended by your doctor may contain antibiotics or steroids which can help prevent infection, alleviate the pain, and reduce inflammation or potential scarring. If you're in a lot of pain, talk to your doctor about eyedrops during the appointment instead of attempting to select eyedrops on your own. Eyedrops help with pain by keeping the eye lubricated. They can also prevent an infection, which can be a complication of a scratched cornea. Use only eyedrops your doctor recommends and closely follow the doctor's instructions when using them. Eyedrops may not require a prescription even if they're recommended by your doctor. However, never use over-the-counter eyedrops unless your doctor advised you to do so when you have a scratched cornea. Get a prescription for antibiotics to fight infection. Oral antibiotics are not commonly prescribed for a scratched cornea, but if your doctor does prescribe one, take it exactly as directed. Take all your antibiotics, even after your cornea feels better. Talk to your doctor about any existing medications before taking antibiotics. You want to make sure antibiotics do not interfere with any existing medications you are taking. While your doctor may use topical painkillers in the exam room, these should never be used at home. They can be very dangerous when not applied by a medical doctor. Oral pain medication may be prescribed if pain or light sensitivity is severe. Get surgery for severe damage. People who continuously have pain after a corneal abrasion or have permanent and major damage may need surgery. If you need surgery, the doctor will go over the procedure and recovery with you. Small corneal abrasions typically heal in 1-3 days. Larger or more severe abrasions will take longer. Deep scratches can cause infections, scars, and other complications. Call your doctor with any unusual symptoms or if you have any concerns. Don’t wear contact lenses following the injury. If you are a contact lens wearer, switch to wearing your glasses until it is healed. Contact lenses can stress the damaged cornea and also cause infection. This can make the pain of a scratched cornea much worse. Talk to your doctor about when it is safe to put your contacts back in. Healing times will vary and only your doctor can give you a safe recommendation as to when you can use your contacts again. Wear sunglasses to help with light sensitivity. Do not wear an eye patch unless instructed by your doctor. Eye patches likely do not help heal minor scratches and may slow down healing. In some cases an eye patch may be recommended to aid in comfort during the healing process. An eye patch may be necessary for light sensitivity following an abrasion. Don’t rub your eyes. When you injure your cornea, it can create an itchy sensation that you may feel tempted to scratch. Try to avoid rubbing your eyes, as doing so can increase the damage done to your cornea and infect the eye. If you're struggling with the temptation to scratch your eyes, try doing something that occupies your hands. You could, for example, take up knitting while the cornea heals. You can also do something like wear mittens as this can make rubbing your eyes difficult. Use an ice compress if recommended by your doctor. For small abrasions, your doctor may prescribe ice compresses for 24-48 hours to reduce swelling. After this, warm compresses should be used. Eat a healthy diet. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables while your eye heals to get all the nutrients you need to help speed up the healing process. You need to eat foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins. This will help your body heal faster and fight off any potential infections. Vitamin C can help with eye health. The recommended daily amount is at least 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women. Extra health benefits occur above 250 mg. Good sources of vitamin C are broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, guava, bell peppers, grapes, oranges, berries, lychees, and squash. Vitamin E can also help your cornea. The recommended daily amount is at least 22 IU for men and 33 IU for women, but more benefits occur at levels above 250 mg. Good sources of vitamin E include almonds, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, spinach, peanut butter, collard greens, avocados, mango, hazelnuts, and Swiss chard. Vitamin B can also help your eye heal. Sources of vitamin B include wild salmon, skinless turkey, bananas, potatoes, lentils, halibut, tuna, cod, soy milk, and cheese. Lutein and Zeaxanthin can help if you consume more than 6mg a day. Both lutein and zeaxanthin are naturally found in the retina and lens. They work as natural antioxidants, aiding in absorption of harsh light and UV rays. Both are plentiful in leafy green vegetables. Discuss any dietary changes with your doctor before adding supplements. Always follows your doctor's advice before changing diet. Get lots of rest. When you allow your body to rest, it can put its efforts towards healing your injured eye. Try to take it easy for the days following the injury. If possible, take time off from work and school. Do not take topical medications at home. When you're in the emergency room or doctor's office, topical medications may be applied to your eye or the area around the eye. Such medications are only safe when applied by a medical doctor. You should not attempt to treat a scratched cornea with topical medications on your own, especially not an over the counter topical medication. The only medications you should take are those prescribed or recommended by your doctor. Usually, your doctor will recommend oral painkillers for a scratched cornea. Do not remove objects from your eye without medical help. A scratched cornea can be caused by a foreign object in the eye. It can be tempting to try to remove this object on your own, especially if it's causing your pain or irritation. However, it can be dangerous to remove anything from your eye on your own if you have a scratched cornea. A doctor can remove the object for you. Take steps to avoid a reoccurrence. Scratching your cornea repeatedly is not good for your eye health. It can increase the chance you will need surgery. Work on taking steps to prevent a scratched cornea from reoccurring the future. Wear protective glasses, such as sunglasses and goggles, to keep objects out of your eye. This is important when you're doing things like hiking or walking, or if you work in an environment where your eyes are at risk. Make sure to clean your contact lenses thoroughly before putting them into your eyes. Never wear contact lenses longer than recommended. If you get dirt or dust in your eyes, do not rub them. Try to rinse out your eyes with eyedrops. If you cannot get a foreign object out of your eye, seek medical help instead of attempting to treat it on your own. | Seek medical help. Try an eye drop recommended by your doctor. Get a prescription for antibiotics to fight infection. Get surgery for severe damage. Small corneal abrasions typically heal in 1-3 days. Don’t wear contact lenses following the injury. Do not wear an eye patch unless instructed by your doctor. Don’t rub your eyes. Use an ice compress if recommended by your doctor. Eat a healthy diet. Get lots of rest. Do not take topical medications at home. Do not remove objects from your eye without medical help. Take steps to avoid a reoccurrence. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Catfish | How to Cook Catfish | To cook catfish, start by dipping the fillets in milk and coating them in a cornmeal batter. Then, heat some butter in a skillet over high heat and put the fillets in the pan. Fry the catfish for 3 minutes on each side and then serve. If you want to cook catfish in the oven, season the fillets and bake them for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. | Prepare the catfish. To get the catfish ready to frying, you should first rinse 4 (8-oz.) catfish fillets under cool water and then pat them dry with paper towels until the extra moisture is absorbed. Make the cornmeal mixture. To do this, mix the cornmeal, salt, flour, salt, creole seasoning, paprika, and pepper together in a shallow dish until the ingredients are completely combined.. Mix together 1/2 cup of yellow cornmeal, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. of salt, 1 tsp. of creole seasoning, 1/2 tsp. of paprika, and 1/4 tsp. of ground black pepper together in a shallow dish. Pour 3/4 cup of milk into another shallow dish. Place the catfish fillets into the milk and then coat them in the cornmeal mixture. The milk will help them absorb the cornmeal mixture. When you're done coating them, shake them to remove any excess mixture. Heat 3 tbsp. of butter in a large skillet. Place the skillet over high heat. Fry both sides of two fillets for 3 minutes each. Fry each side for 3 minutes or until the fish flakes when you test it with a fork. Then, flip over the fish and do the same to the other side. It may take slightly less time to fry the second side. Move the fillets to a serving platter. Repeat the frying process with the other two fillets. Serve. Garnish the catfish fillets with lemon wedges and serve them immediately. Preheat your deep-fryer to 350ºF (176ºC). Whisk the flour, baking powder, cornmeal, salt, and cayenne together until the ingredients are combined. Place these ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 of cup cornmeal, 1 tbsp. of baking powder, 1 tbsp. of kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp. of cayenne pepper. Whisk 1 (12-oz. ) bottle of amber beer into the ingredients. Continue whisking the ingredients to remove any lumps until the beer has been fully incorporated into the rest of the ingredients. Cut 4 (6-oz. ) catfish fillets in half lengthwise. Make two strips from each fish. Make the salt mixture. To make this mixture, combine the salt, pepper, and granulated garlic together in a small bowl. Combine 1 tbsp. of salt, 1 tbsp. of black pepper, and 2 tbsp. of granulated garlic together in a small bowl using a spoon to stir the ingredients together. Sprinkle the salt mixture over the fillets. Sprinkle the salt mixture over both sides of the fillets until you've evenly seasoned them. Soak each of the fish strips in the beer batter. Leave them in the batter for 10-15 seconds until they've absorbed it. Place the fish in the deep-fryer. Once the fryer has heated, you can add the fish to the fryer a few at a time and move them around so that they don't stick. Fry the fish for 3-4 minutes. Continue to fry them until they're brown and crispy. Serve. Take the fish out of the fryer and place them in a serving platter. Season the fish with the juice of one lemon and enjoy it while it's hot. Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste. Place the fish in an oval casserole dish. Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Place 4 oz. of butter in a small saucepan and heat it until the butter is completely melted. Combine the wine, lemon juice, garlic, and cilantro to the saucepan. Combine 4 oz. of dry white wine, 1 tbsp. of lemon juice, 1 tsp. of chopped garlic, and 1 tsp. of chopped cilantro together in a small bowl. Pour the wine mixture into the saucepan and simmer it for 2 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and spoon it over the fish. Then, sprinkle 1 tbsp. of paprika over the fish. Bake the fish for 10-12 minutes. Place the fish in the oven and bake it until it's fully cooked. Serve. Enjoy this tasty baked catfish while it's nice and hot. Coat a basket with cooking spray. Place the fish in the coated grilling basket. Place 6 catfish filets (6-8 oz.) of fish in the basket. Combine the lemon juice, butter, and lemon pepper seasoning together. Combine 1/3 cup of lemon juice, 3 tbsp. of melted butter, and 1 tbsp. of lemon pepper seasoning together in a small bowl. Brush the fillets with the butter mixture. Use a brush to cover the fillets with the mixture. Place the basket on your grill. Close the cover. Grill the fish over medium coals over 300-400ºF (148-204ºC) heat for about 6-8 minutes on each side. The fish should flake on each side if you touch it with a fork. Continue to baste the fish while it's cooking. Serve. Serve this grilled catfish with mashed potatoes or grilled vegetables. | Prepare the catfish. Make the cornmeal mixture. Pour 3/4 cup of milk into another shallow dish. Place the catfish fillets into the milk and then coat them in the cornmeal mixture. Heat 3 tbsp. Fry both sides of two fillets for 3 minutes each. Move the fillets to a serving platter. Serve. Preheat your deep-fryer to 350ºF (176ºC). Whisk the flour, baking powder, cornmeal, salt, and cayenne together until the ingredients are combined. Whisk 1 (12-oz. Cut 4 (6-oz. Make the salt mixture. Sprinkle the salt mixture over the fillets. Soak each of the fish strips in the beer batter. Place the fish in the deep-fryer. Fry the fish for 3-4 minutes. Serve. Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste. Place the fish in an oval casserole dish. Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Combine the wine, lemon juice, garlic, and cilantro to the saucepan. Pour the wine mixture into the saucepan and simmer it for 2 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and spoon it over the fish. Bake the fish for 10-12 minutes. Serve. Coat a basket with cooking spray. Place the fish in the coated grilling basket. Combine the lemon juice, butter, and lemon pepper seasoning together. Brush the fillets with the butter mixture. Place the basket on your grill. Grill the fish over medium coals over 300-400ºF (148-204ºC) heat for about 6-8 minutes on each side. Serve. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Jungle-Juice | How to Make Jungle Juice | To make inexpensive jungle juice, chill your juices and blends before mixing the drink so you don't have to use as much ice. You can also chill your vodka by putting it in the freezer overnight—don't worry, it won't freeze! Next, clean out some large bowls or pitchers to hold and serve your jungle juice. Right before the party, pour all the ingredients into a serving bowl or divide them between several containers if necessary. Finally, mix all the juices and alcohols together with a wooden spoon until they're well-blended, and serve your jungle juice up in cups with a little ice. | Refrigerate as many of the juices and other blends as you can. Depending on how long you have before your party, try to refrigerate the juices, fruit punch, pink lemonade, and rum for as long as you can before mixing everything together. If your fridge won't fit everything, just get as much in there as you can. Chilling the ingredients beforehand is really helpful so that you won't have to use as much ice. Ice would dilute your drink and take up more room in the punch bowl. Put the vodka in the freezer to chill it before the party. Vodka won't freeze solid no matter how long it's in the freezer for, so it's a great way to get it really cold before you have to add it to the punch. Even if you won't be making the punch for a few days, it's okay to leave it in there. Don't put the rum or the other liquids into the freezer, though. They might freeze solid or break open, which could make things really difficult when it comes time to mix the punch. Clean out containers that will be large enough to hold all the liquid. Punch bowls are great, as are those large drink dispensers that let people pour their own drinks. If you don't have any of these available, find the largest glass or plastic bowls that you can, or grab a few pitchers and make do with what you have. Rinse them out or wipe them down ahead of time to clear away any dust that may have accumulated since the last time you used them. If you're concerned about the drink being cool enough, you could always place the punch bowls on top of ice to help keep things chilled. That way the drink itself won't get diluted. Pour all of the liquids into the serving bowl, dividing equally if needed. This recipe makes about 2.5 gallons (9,500 mL) of jungle juice. If your punch bowl isn't large enough for that entire amount, split the liquids out evenly between however many containers you'll need to use. Measure out 1 gallon (3,800 mL) of orange-flavored drink, 46 fluid ounces (1,400 mL) of fruit punch, 2 US quarts (1,900 mL) of pink lemonade , 2 US quarts (1,900 mL) of a pineapple and orange juice blend, 2 750 mL (25 fl oz) bottles of vodka, and 1 750 mL (25 fl oz) bottle of white rum. A great thing about jungle juice is that you can swap out ingredients for whatever you like the best. If you prefer cranberry juice or mango juice, use that instead! If you want lime-lemonade, switch it out. Whatever you do, the drink will be fruity and boozy. Stir all the ingredients together until they are fully combined. Use a long wooden spoon to gently stir everything together. It shouldn't take long, which makes this a nice, easy recipe to pull together quickly before a party starts. If you want, you could even add in some fresh fruit to the serving bowls. Sliced strawberries , diced apples, and fresh citrus are great options that complement the fruity vibe of the drink. Enjoy the jungle juice and drink responsibly! Ladle the juice into cups for your friends to enjoy (or just let them serve themselves). Add ice to individual cups when needed, and have a good time celebrating. Make sure to drink safely, stay hydrated, and stay off the road if you've over-imbibed. There probably won't be any jungle juice leftover, but if there is, put it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Give the mixture a quick stir before you drink it again, just in case any of the juices have settled to the bottom. Prepare a punch bowl or a drink dispenser for the jungle juice. This recipe makes 2 gallons (7,600 mL), so plan accordingly for how many containers you'll need for all of the liquid. If you don't have punch bowls or a drink dispenser, you could use juice pitchers or even just large glass or plastic mixing bowls. Rinse out the containers and wipe them down to rid them of any dust that may have accumulated. Slice the lemon and orange into thin 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) slices. Use a clean cutting board and knife to slice up the lemon and orange. The slices will go into the punch bowl later to marinate with the liquids, plus they make a really pretty presentation. Feel free to add more citrus if you feel like it! There is no right or wrong amount for jungle juice. You could also use grapefruit , blood oranges, or limes , just depending on what you have available. Open the can of pineapple rings and set the excess juice off to the side. Use a can opener and carefully drain the pineapple juice into a small bowl. Set the pineapple rings to the side, along with the sliced lemon and orange. If you have fresh pineapple , you could definitely use that, too. Measure out all the liquids into the punch bowl. Use 1 750 mL (25 fl oz) bottle of vodka, 1 750 mL (25 fl oz) bottle of white rum, 1 US quart (950 mL) of cranberry juice, ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of lime juice, 1 cup (240 mL) of triple sec, and 1 750 mL (25 fl oz) of sparkling wine. Pour things carefully so that they don't splash and stain your clothes. If you are making this punch ahead of time, don't add the sparkling wine just yet. You want to add it right before the party so that the bubbles are still popping. You can use either fresh or bottled lime juice , just depending on what you prefer and have available. Add 1/2 cup (115 grams) of packed light brown sugar to the punch bowl. Measure out the brown sugar and carefully add it to the liquids. If you don't think the drink needs any extra sugar, you can omit this part of the recipe. The brown sugar just helps to make the drink a little sweeter and mask the flavor of the alcohol a little more. The juice and fruit have sugar in them already, so use your own discretion. Stir the liquids and the sugar together until the sugar has dissolved. Use a long wooden spoon to gently combine the ingredients. Check the bottom of the bowl to make sure all the brown sugar has dissolved. If the liquid is reaching the top of the container at this point, you may want to divide it between two (or more) containers. You still need to add the sliced fruit, which will add a lot more volume to the jungle juice. Put the slices of orange, lemon, and pineapple into the punch. Take those slices of fruit and carefully submerge them into the jungle juice. Give the juice a quick stir to disperse the fruit so it's not sticking together. If you want, let the punch sit in the fridge for a few hours so that the fruit has time to soak up the juice. Remember, if you want to do this, wait to add the sparkling wine until just before it's ready to serve. Serve the punch over ice or chill it in the fridge before serving. Ladle the juice into cups over ice if it's desired. If you're using pitchers or a drink dispenser, your guests can just help themselves and add ice if they want it. Enjoy your time celebrating with friends, and remember to drink responsibly! Avoid adding ice directly to the punch. It's better to serve it over top of ice when you pour it into glasses, otherwise, the ice might dilute the drink. | Refrigerate as many of the juices and other blends as you can. Put the vodka in the freezer to chill it before the party. Clean out containers that will be large enough to hold all the liquid. Pour all of the liquids into the serving bowl, dividing equally if needed. Stir all the ingredients together until they are fully combined. Enjoy the jungle juice and drink responsibly! Prepare a punch bowl or a drink dispenser for the jungle juice. Slice the lemon and orange into thin 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) slices. Open the can of pineapple rings and set the excess juice off to the side. Measure out all the liquids into the punch bowl. Add 1/2 cup (115 grams) of packed light brown sugar to the punch bowl. Stir the liquids and the sugar together until the sugar has dissolved. Put the slices of orange, lemon, and pineapple into the punch. Serve the punch over ice or chill it in the fridge before serving. |
https://www.wikihow-fun.com/Act-Like-a-Wolf | How to Act Like a Wolf | The first step to being like a wolf is looking the part. You can use eyeliner to create a dog-like appearance and add volume to your hair by using gel to spike it up or using hairspray to fluff it out. To get a feel for how wolves act, try watching some wolf videos on YouTube. You might run on all fours or practice pouncing on a stuffed animal. Finally, don't forget to howl when you have the urge! | Use makeup to get a wolf-like appearance. You can use eyeliner if you want as it creates a dog-like appearance. You can also try defining your eyebrows for the wolfish gaze. Making a small pointed wing off of the corner of your eye with a fine tipped black liner is the best way to achieve this look. Subtle mascara and/or slight blush works well too. Another way to achieve the look through makeup is with eye shadow. When applying eye shadow, be sure not to apply much. Only use a light amount normally in earthy shades or even shades that may match a wolf's fur. These include blue, white, black, or brown. Fix your hair. If you want to, you can style it like your favorite werewolf character, but you can also make it your own unique style. For girls, a loose and slightly messy wavy style cam fit well as it makes you look as if you've been wandering the wilderness. For guys, a fluffy yet slightly spiky look may work better. Wear wolf's clothing. Clothing is the smallest detail in looking like a wolf. However, if you would like to add this aspect as well, you can dress like your favorite wolf character or wear things in plain earthy shades or things with nature patterns on them. Wear a suitable costume. It will help the effect if you dress as a wolf; less guesswork from your fellow humans will be involved. Add the teeth. If you need inspiration, look at pictures from the story of Little Red Riding Hood; the wolf depictions are quite vivid. Make your own wolf's ears as part of the wolf costume. Be loyal. One of a wolf's most pronounced traits is the loyalty it possesses. By being loyal to your friends and family, you'll demonstrate a wolfish personality and strengthen your relationships. If you're in a romantic relationship, don't cheat on your lover. Stand up for your friends, don't talk about people behind their back, etc. Be respectful. Wolves earn respect as they age. That doesn't mean they traumatize the younger pups, though! Even as a baby, a wolf gets respect. However, the younger you are, the kind of respect you receive may be the type in which people do not believe you could do anything wrong since you are young. To demonstrate this quality, show respect to everybody around you, especially your elders. Here are some examples of things to try when putting those older than you first: Let them in front of you in line Give them the bigger slice (pie, cake, etc.) Pay attention when they are speaking or listen to their stories willingly Be bold. Respectful as wolves undoubtedly are, this doesn't stop them from being bold. Boldness is courage, confidence, and a bit of sass rolled into one. Try building this skill by standing up for yourself and others, and taking a risk (as long as the outcome isn't severe). Wolves don't hold their boldness back either. Once you've got the touch, use it! Be stubborn. Wolves aren't easy to give up, even when it's for the best. You'll often find them repeatedly trying to do something that isn't in their capacity to do. To strengthen this trait, keep working at that goal you've almost achieved, your artwork that must be just right, or that one math problem you can't seem to solve. Another good way to practice this trait is SuDoku. This Japanese number puzzle is a good way to learn both patience and determination while having fun. Be agile. If you've ever seen a wolf hunt in the wild, you've seen how a wolf is nimble it is on its paws, how fast it is, how swiftly it finishes off its prey. Being nimble, fast, and swift is agility. To be agile, try obstacle courses, track and field, sports - whatever you can to improve your physique and agility. Trust your instincts. Wolves are one with themselves and nature, so you should be, too. Trust yourself if you feel something's not right. Your senses are incredibly strong, but in order to use them in all their glory, you have to awaken them first. Humanity is incredibly good at dulling your instincts and senses, so you have to work to reopen them. Once you have, things should get easier. Protect the things that matter. This ties in with loyalty, but protecting your loved ones is important. Out in the wild, death is more common, so protection is a way wolves show loyalty and love for one another. When they care, they prepare to die for them or at least with them. While you don't have to take it this extreme, you should still look out for your loved ones, and make sure you have their back. Prepare yourself to go down for them or with them or do what you can to protect them. Be blunt. Don't sugarcoat what you have to say. This doesn't mean you should tell your friend that their dress sucks, but you don't have to tell them it looks great on them if you don't mean it. You could say 'I think the outfit you wore the other day suited you better, but wear what you'd like!'. Remember, be blunt but respectful and avoid saying something that could hurt another person. Be cautious. Where wolves live, danger also exists. So being cautious is very crucial part of acting like a wolf. Peril could occur any moment. This doesn't mean to always be looking at what could happen - that would cancel out the risk and courage from being bold - but make sure you really want to go through with your decisions before acting. Do not show too much sympathy. Sympathy is nice, but used in abundant amounts isn't very wolfish. If someone's loved one just died, sympathy is a nice thing to give, but you can give better things than pity, like a shoulder to cry on and a listening heart. Don't be harsh by saying something like 'sucks to be you', but let them know you're there. It's not sympathy, it's staying strong for another. If they're having a bad day, make it better in other ways instead. Practice seeing in the dark. This is a must have trait for any wolf. Wolves are predators and they are always stalking through the woods at night. They can be nocturnal, and it is also pretty stereotypical to see a wolf in the night. Start off by turning off lights when you want to practice. Open your eyes and look at something for a while until your eyes adjust. Do this every night in your bedroom to help your eyes get used to being in the dark. Try out basic wolf positions. This includes standing, sitting, laying down, and curling up. When you're on all fours to try these out, try to imagine that anything past your knee doesn't exist. This will help you when you try out the poses, especially curling up in particular. Here are ways you can perform some common wolf stances and positions: Go onto your hands and knees; standing position. Lower yourself onto your haunches, sitting position. Slide your 'paws' away from you and sink down to the ground; another form of the sitting position. When in sitting position, bring your knees to your chest and tuck in your chin to curl up. Try out some basic physical movements. Try walking on your hands and knees. Running and jumping are all on hands and feet instead of knees. Run on your hands and feet to run, and use your feet to spring up onto something. When you want to get down, try jumping lightly onto your hands and feet. Try doing this in varying orders, such as jumping off of something and then walking for a bit. Practice groveling. Groveling is a form of respect shown to the alpha wolf of packs. It's a simple movement, simply rolling onto your stomach. Practice groveling and ask yourself these questions. Am I comfortable doing this now? Can I do it flawlessly? Would I be confident in groveling in front of my alpha? (If you don't have an alpha, imagine you are doing this for this question) Develop a wolf's eating habits. Wolves eat lots of meat. But that doesn't mean you have to change your entire diet! If you're vegetarian or vegan, you can skip this part. Try to eat in groups, and let your elders go first. When you're hungry, eat at normal pace, but with enthusiasm. When you don't want to eat, eat a bit and excuse yourself. Wolves don't chew their food, but we don't have the same anatomy as them, so instead chew just enough to digest it without problems, and swallow. When you chew, do it with your premolars and molars. Practice howling. Howling is one of the ways wolves communicate with each other, and defend their territory. Listen to recordings of wolves howling. Then try to imitate that sound. There is no exact way to describe how to howl, but if it sounds right, keep practicing! If not, try again with a different approach. If you can't get it, try doing the classic 'a-woooooo' sound. Walk like a wolf. You could try: Changing down to walk on all fours. Walk on your hands and feet, all fours, as a wolf would do. If this proves too difficult, then improvise with knees but it may feel less realistic. Adopting a "loping" walking style. Wolves run gracefully, which may be very difficult for you as a human on all fours, but you can aim to give the effect of a wolf loping or stalking slowly, like when they are hunting. Learn to run like the wolves. Wolves are always running through the woods to stalk prey or simply for sport. Wolves and werewolves are also fast and efficient runners. Try running at least once a day for 20 minutes if you don't run already. Slowly increase this rate to help your skill level rise. After a while, you will run quickly and easily like a wolf! Jump like a wolf. This is important to acquiring your hunting skills. Wolves jump high and can also cover long distances with a simple spring off the ground. It may be difficult at first, but practicing jumping over small objects such as logs and chairs can help you increase your height with every jump. Over time you will increase your distance and height and jump over things without even thinking. | Use makeup to get a wolf-like appearance. Fix your hair. Wear wolf's clothing. Be loyal. Be respectful. Be bold. Be stubborn. Be agile. Trust your instincts. Protect the things that matter. Be blunt. Be cautious. Do not show too much sympathy. Practice seeing in the dark. Try out basic wolf positions. Try out some basic physical movements. Practice groveling. Develop a wolf's eating habits. Practice howling. Walk like a wolf. Learn to run like the wolves. Jump like a wolf. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Your-Vocal-Range | How to Find Your Vocal Range | To find your vocal range, start by singing a note on a consistent vowel sound, like "ah," "ee," or "oo," and working your way down the scale so you're singing lower and lower notes. Then, write down the lowest note you can sing without your voice cracking or croaking. Next, repeat the same process, but this time sing as high as you can, including the highest note you can sing in falsetto. Finally, use the lowest and highest notes you can sing to determine your vocal range. | Locate a piano or keyboard if possible. The easiest way to identify your range is with the assistance of a tuned instrument that you can play while you sing, like a piano or keyboard. If you do not have access to the physical instrument, download a piano app, such as Virtual Piano, on your smartphone, tablet, or other device as a substitute. Using an online piano on your laptop or device will give you access to a full simulated keyboard. It will also make it much easier to figure out which notes are your highest and lowest because the app will actually indicate the correct scientific pitch notation for a key as you play it. Find the lowest note you can sing in your normal (modal) voice for 3 seconds. Start by figuring out what the bottom end of your natural range is by locating the lowest note that you can sing comfortably without your voice croaking or cracking. You should also not have to “breathe” the note; that is, its tone quality should match that of the rest of your chest voice and not have a breathy or scratchy sound. Instead of trying to pull your lowest note out of thin air, start by singing a higher note on a consistent vowel sound (like “ah” or “ee” or “oo”) and work your way down the scale into your lowest registers. If you're a woman, start with an easy C4 (middle C on the piano), and work your way down the keys, matching each note until you hit your lowest. If you're a man, play a C3 on the piano, and go down one key at a time from there. The goal is to find the lowest note you can still sing comfortably, so do not count notes that you cannot sustain. Sing the lowest note you can, including breathing. Once you know how far down your voice can reach comfortably, try to go a bit lower, key by key and note by note. Breathy notes that you can sustain for 3 seconds count here, but croaky notes that you cannot hold do not. For some singers their normal and breathy lowest notes may coincide. For others, they might not. Record your lowest notes. Once you have found your lowest normal-voiced note and the lowest one you can reach, write them down. Do so by identifying the piano key that corresponds to the note and then figuring out its correct scientific pitch notation. For example, if the lowest note you can hit as you descend the scale is the second-to-last E on the keyboard, then you'd write down E 2. Find the highest note you can sing in your normal (modal) voice for 3 seconds. You want to do the same thing you did for low notes but for the high end of the scale. Start with a higher note that you have no problem reaching, and ascend the scale key by key, but do not let yourself go into falsetto for this exercise. If you're a woman, start by playing a C5 and work your way up from there, key by key. If you're a man, start by playing and matching a G3. You want to find the highest note you can hit without significantly changing your tone quality or the natural action of your vocal cords. If you hear a break or new breathiness in your voice or feel a difference in how your vocal cords are working to produce a note, then you've passed your modal register. Sing the highest note you can in falsetto. Most people can use falsetto, a mode in which your vocal cords remain open and relaxed and vibrate much less, to go lighter and higher than they can in their modal register. Now that you've found the highest note you can sing comfortably, relax your vocal cords, and see if you can push yourself a bit higher beyond your normal voice. Use your breathier, flute-like falsetto voice to find the highest notes you can reach without straining or cracking. If you find that you can go further still beyond your falsetto to high notes that sound like whistles or squeals, you may well have a whistle voice, too. Your highest note will fall in that register. Record your highest notes. Now that you've located your highest notes, write them down in scientific pitch notation. Again, you want to track the highest notes you can reach without straining. Some of these notes may not sound wonderful before you've given them more practice, but include them as long as you can reach them comfortably. For example, if your highest note in your normal voice is the fourth ascending F on the keyboard, then you would write down F 4 and so on. Identify your range and tessitura. You should now have four notes, two low and two high, written down in scientific pitch notation. Arrange them from lowest to highest. Put parentheses around the lowest and highest pitches and a dash in between the middle two. This notation expresses your full vocal range. For instance, if your collection of numbers reads D 2 , G 2 , F 4 , and B 4 , the correct notation for your range would read: (D 2 )G 2 -F 4 (B 4 ). The outer two notes in parentheses represent your full range, that is, all the notes that your body is capable of producing. The two middle pitches (such as, “G 2 -F 4 ” in the above example) represent your “tessitura,” that is, the range in which you can most comfortably sing using your normal voice. This is helpful to know when you are selecting the appropriate voice type for singing music. Count the notes between your lowest and highest notes. Using a keyboard, count the notes between the lowest note you could sing and the highest. Do not include include the sharps and flats (black keys) in your count. Calculate the octaves in your range. Every eight notes is one octave. A to A, for instance, is an octave. However, the last A will also count as the start of the next octave. You can, therefore, determine the number of octaves in your vocal range by counting the total number of notes between your highest and lowest pitches as sets of seven. For example, if your lowest note was E 2 and your highest note was E 4 , then you have a range of two octaves. Include the partial octaves as well. It's normal, for example, for someone to have a range of 1.5 octaves in full voice. The reason for the half is because the person could only comfortably sing three or four notes in the next octave. Translate your vocal range into a voice type. Now that you have your vocal range written down using scientific pitch notation, you can use it to determine your vocal classification. Each voice type has an associated range; find which type aligns your full range. The typical ranges for each voice type are as follows: soprano B3-G6, mezzo-soprano G3-A5, alto E3-F5, countertenor G3-C6, tenor C3-B4, baritone G2-G4, bass D2-E4. Your range may not fit perfectly into these standard ranges. Choose the one that fits closest. If your full range does not seem to fit obviously into a single voice type, use your tessitura instead to see which type it most closely aligns with. You want to pick the voice type in which you will be most comfortable singing. So, if you, for instance, have a range of (D 2 )G 2 -F 4 (A 4 ), you would most likely be a baritone, the most common voice type for men. Learn about voice-type classifications. Many people have heard the terms soprano, tenor, or bass, but may not know exactly what they mean. In opera, voices are another instrument that must reach particular notes on demand, just like a violin or flute. Consequently, range classifications were developed to help identify voice types, which made it easier to cast opera singers for specific parts. While most people aren't trying out for opera these days, being aware of your voice type helps you be more aware of the notes you can reach when performing other types of music, either solo or in choirs. Informally, it can even help you figure out which songs you can effectively cover when singing karaoke. The different voice types descending from highest to lowest are: soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass. Each type has a typical associated vocal range. Figure out how to distinguish between vocal registers. You can divide range classifications into categories based on their respective vocal registers. Each register has a distinct timbre and is produced by a different action of your vocal cords. Accurately assessing your vocal range requires investigating the breadth of more than one type of vocal register, primarily those of your “modal” and “head” voices, and, in special cases, those of your “fry” and “whistle” voices. Your modal (or chest) voice is essentially your comfortable singing range when the vocal folds are in their natural manner of action. These are the notes you can reach without adding a low, breathy or high, falsetto quality to your voice. The range of notes that you can hit comfortably in your modal voice comprise your “tessitura.” Your head voice includes the high end of your range, produced with elongated vocal folds. It's called “head voice” because it refers to those notes that feel the most resonant in one's head and have a distinct ringing quality. Falsetto--the voice most people use when impersonating female opera singers--is included in the head-voice register. For some very low-voiced males, the lowest vocal register, called “vocal fry” is also added, but many people cannot even reach this low end. These notes are produced by floppy, vibrating vocal folds that create low, creaking or croaking notes. Just as the “vocal fry” register extends to super-low notes for some men, the “whistle register” extends to super-high notes for some women. The whistle register is an extension of the head voice, but its timbre is distinctly different, sounding not unlike, well, a whistle. Think: the infamous highest notes in a song like “Lovin' You” by Minnie Riperton or “Emotions” by Mariah Carey. Make sense of octaves. An octave is the interval between two like notes (for instance B to B), the higher of which has twice the sound frequency of the lower. On a piano, octaves will span eight keys (excluding the black ones). One way to characterize your vocal range is by expressing the number of octaves that range spans. The octave also corresponds with standard musical scales, which are typically comprised of eight ordered notes in ascending or descending order (for instance, C D E F G A B C). The interval between the first and last note of a scale is an octave. Recognize scientific pitch notation. Scientific pitch notation is a standardized way of writing and understanding musical notes using letters (that identify the notes, A through G) and ordinal numbers (that identify the correct octave, from low to high, starting with zero on up). For instance, the lowest pitch on most pianos is A 0 , making the next octave above it A 1 and so on. What we deem “Middle C” on a piano is actually C 4 in scientific pitch notation. Since the Key of C is the only major key with no sharps or flats (and, thus, uses only the white keys on a piano), scientific pitch notation counts octaves starting with “C” notes rather than “A” notes. This means that though the lowest pitch on the far left-hand side of a keyboard is A 0 , the first “C” that occurs two white keys to the right is C 1 and so on. Hence, the first A note that appears higher than Middle C (C 4 ) will be A 4 , not A 5. The full expression of your vocal range will include three of four different scientific pitch notation numbers, including your lowest note, highest note in modal voice, and highest note in head voice. Those who can reach the vocal fry and whistle registers may have pitch notation numbers for those as well, always ranging from the lowest notation note to the highest. | Locate a piano or keyboard if possible. Find the lowest note you can sing in your normal (modal) voice for 3 seconds. Sing the lowest note you can, including breathing. Record your lowest notes. Find the highest note you can sing in your normal (modal) voice for 3 seconds. Sing the highest note you can in falsetto. Record your highest notes. Identify your range and tessitura. Count the notes between your lowest and highest notes. Calculate the octaves in your range. Include the partial octaves as well. Translate your vocal range into a voice type. Learn about voice-type classifications. Figure out how to distinguish between vocal registers. Make sense of octaves. Recognize scientific pitch notation. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Between-a-Pet-Protection-Agreement-and-a-Pet-Trust | How to Choose Between a Pet Protection Agreement and a Pet Trust | To choose between a pet protection agreement and a pet trust, go with a pet protection agreement if you can't afford an attorney, since you'll need an attorney to draft a pet trust. However, if you can afford an attorney, you might want to go with a pet trust since it will offer more protection for your pet. For example, with a pet trust, you'll probably be able to bring your pet with you if you end up in a long-term care facility. Additionally, if your heirs try to challenge your decision, you'll have more protection with a pet trust than with a pet protection agreement. Don't worry if you can't afford an attorney though. A pet protection agreement will still provide for your pet's care, but it just might not be as powerful as a pet trust. | Understand the purposes of these documents. Both a pet trust and a pet protection agreement are legally-enforceable instruments that provide for your pets in case you die or become disabled. In these documents, you name one or more people to take care of your pets and provide detailed instructions for their care. Check if you can afford an attorney. You will need a lawyer's assistance to draft a pet trust. It could cost you $1,000 or more to have a lawyer draft the trust for you. You can create a pet protection agreement without a lawyer's assistance. Although you may see sample trust documents floating around the Internet, you really need a lawyer to draft a trust that will be valid in your state. Consider if you want the pet with you in a nursing home. Another key difference is that a pet protection agreement cannot guarantee that a pet will be able to live with you in a long-term care facility. By contrast, you can draft a pet trust so that any nursing home that takes your pet along with you will receive a portion of the trust funds. This can provide a powerful incentive to a nursing home to take your pet. Figure out how much money you intend to leave. If you are leaving a substantial sum of money for your pet's care, then you should probably use a pet trust instead of a pet protection agreement. With a trust, the trustee will be able to manage the assets so that they last as long as possible. If you have the money, then a trust makes sense if your pet is very young. A pet that you expect to live for a decade or more could cost a substantial sum of money. Find out if your heirs will challenge your decision. A pet trust is also ideal if you expect your heirs (for example, your children) to challenge your decision to leave money to your pet. If so, a pet trust is preferable to a pet protection agreement. Think about your relationship with your heirs. Are you on good terms? Do they understand how much you love your pets? If not, then your heirs might challenge your attempt to leave money for the care of your pets. Choose between the two documents. It is ultimately your decision whether to choose a pet protection agreement or a pet trust. They are very similar. Both will provide for your pets' care after you die or if you become disabled. To make a decision, you need to weigh the following: Whether you can afford an attorney. If you can't, then you should pick a pet protection agreement. How badly you want your pets with you in a long-term care facility, should you have to live in one. Using a pet trust over a pet protection agreement increases the likelihood that you can live with your pets. The amount of money you will leave. A large sum of money could induce a legal challenge from your heirs. A pet trust provides added protection that your wishes will be recognized. How likely your heirs are to challenge your wishes. If you think they might challenge your pet agreement, then you should probably choose a pet trust. Find a lawyer. If you decide that you want to create a pet trust, then you should find an experienced trust and estates lawyer. You should ask friends or colleagues for a recommendation. You can also visit your state's bar association, which should run a referral program. You can also get attorney recommendations from your local animal welfare organization. Always be sure that the trust attorney has actually created a pet trust before. A pet trust has different wrinkles than a regular trust, and you want an attorney who has experience creating pet trusts. Choose a trustee. In order to create the trust, you will need to name a trustee. The trustee is the person who is legally obligated to carry out the trust. He or she will manage the funds in the trust. You should pick someone who you are confident can handle money prudently. This person may or may not also be the caregiver. You should also pick a successor trustee in case your original trustee declines to serve or dies. Pick a caregiver for each pet. In the trust, you will also name a caregiver. This person will actually care for your pet. Advisors recommend that the trustee and the caregiver not be the same person. This way, the caregiver and the trustee can act as “checks” on each other. If you do not want the trustee and caregiver to be the same person, then you should make sure that these two people work well together. If they don't, then it could be difficult for the caregiver to get necessary funds out of the trustee. Remember to select a successor caregiver as well. If you have more than one pet, you will need to decide whether or not they should go to the same home. Pets who have bonded should probably be kept together. Draft detailed instructions for your pet's care. When you meet with your attorney to discuss creating the trust, you should provide detailed instructions. Do not assume that the caregiver knows what you want. You should give some thought to the following: Whether you want the caregiver to take your pet to a particular vet. You can also designate the number of times the pet must visit the vet in a year. What kind of food the pet likes. The pet's routine: does it like a daily walk in the park, afternoon naps, etc. What kind of medical care you want provided to your pet. For example, you might request that “reasonable medical care” be provided in order to restore your pets to good health. Whether you want the trustee to inspect your pets annually to make sure they are being taken care of. Whether you want any of your pets euthanized if they are not in generally good health. Also, you should state what you want done with the remains. Set aside money. You will fund the trust with assets. These assets will then be used to care for your animal. You should talk to your lawyer about how much money you should put into the trust. If you put in too much, then your surviving relatives might challenge the trust as excessive. Leave a portion of funds to your nursing home facility. To encourage a nursing home to let the pet move with you to a facility, you can include in your trust directions that a portion of the trust property will be given to any facility that allows you and your pets to stay together. You should also think about who to leave the assets to when the beneficiary (your pet) dies. Many people choose to leave money to an animal shelter or welfare organization. Sign in front of your lawyer. Your lawyer will arrange the execution of the trust so that it complies with all of your state's legal formalities. He or she should arrange for any witnesses and notary publics to attend the signing. Be sure to get a copy of your trust agreement from your lawyer. You should give copies to your vet, trustee, and caregiver. Choose a guardian. The guardian will be the person who takes care of your animals in the event of your death or incapacity. You should speak to any potential guardians and ask them if they are willing to serve. You shouldn't name anyone until you are confident that they will be able to take care of your pets. Ideally, the guardian should have already met your pets. Some people might agree to serve as a guardian without ever having met your pet. After spending some time together, they might change their mind. You can also name a successor guardian. For example, you might name your sister as your primary guardian but then name your niece as the successor. In the event that your sister dies or otherwise can't serve, your niece can take over as the guardian to your pets. You should also name a shelter or sanctuary as a retirement home in case your guardian and successor guardians die while your pets are still living. Pick successor beneficiaries. Your pets will not live forever, and if any money remains after they die, then that money must be distributed. You should think about who you want to receive these assets, should any remain. Complete the pet protection form. A sample/fillable pet protection form is available for $39 from legalzoom at http://www.legalzoom.com/personal/estate-planning/pet-protection-agreement-overview.html. Write your own agreement. You can also create your own pet protection agreement by typing up a letter and signing it in front of a notary and two witnesses. The guardian must also sign before the notary and witnesses. Be sure that the letter includes the following: Your name and address. The name of the guardian (caregiver) and successor guardians. An organization of last resort to take your pet if none of your designated guardians can serve in the role. A description of your pets: name, type of animal, gender, and physical description (such as age, coat and eye color, and size). Detailed instructions for the pet's care. Any funds you have left for the pet's care. Name the source, such as a bank name and account number or life insurance company and policy number. The name of a distribution representative. This person will be in charge of holding the funds and distributing them to the guardian. Include the representative's name and contact information. Also name a successor distribution representative. The name of any successor beneficiaries. Include their names, addresses, and what percent of the money they will get after your pets die. The amount of compensation for the guardian and the distribution representative. You should discuss compensation with your guardian and distribution representative before drafting your pet protection agreement. Distribute copies. Once you have completed your pet protection agreement, you should give copies of the agreement to the following people: The caregiver Your veterinarian A close family friend (other than the caregiver) Set aside funds. Although funds are not required, you are advised to make a one-time payment when the agreement is signed. Make the payment to the caregiver. By making payment, you create a legal contract. | Understand the purposes of these documents. Check if you can afford an attorney. Consider if you want the pet with you in a nursing home. Figure out how much money you intend to leave. Find out if your heirs will challenge your decision. Choose between the two documents. Find a lawyer. Choose a trustee. Pick a caregiver for each pet. Draft detailed instructions for your pet's care. Set aside money. Leave a portion of funds to your nursing home facility. Sign in front of your lawyer. Choose a guardian. Pick successor beneficiaries. Complete the pet protection form. Write your own agreement. Distribute copies. Set aside funds. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Honest-Without-Hurting-People%27s-Feelings | How to Be Honest Without Hurting People's Feelings | If you want to be honest with someone without hurting their feelings, it's important to express your perspective as opinion instead of a fact. The best way to do this is by framing your opinion as an “I” statement rather than a “you” statement. Even if the facts back you up, remember that the other person has the right to be wrong, and if they don't have an open mind, facts will feel like a personal attack. Avoid criticizing them, and instead agree with their perspective by saying “I can understand your thought process”. This is important because it will let you speak your truth while not putting them down. When you hear their thoughts on something, follow up with your perspective by starting with “I read that…” or “I think…” so you don't seem antagonistic. | Ask people about their perspective. Before being honest about how you feel its important to know their perspective. This gives you a chance to show genuine interest and have a conversation. This may also give you opportunities to speak up and be honest. They may even end their explanation with a request to hear your perspective. Put yourself in their shoes. One of the simplest ways to avoid hurting feelings is to imagine how they will respond to your statements. If they said that to you, would you be upset? Practice imagining how they view their own opinion and yours. Just because their perspective is different doesn't mean its wrong. Control your words and body language. Be careful with your honesty. You want to speak the truth in kindness. That means avoiding overtly disapproving behaviors such as grimacing or making fun of their ideas. Sometimes you may not know your tone of voice is broadcasting disapproval. This can be difficult to change. Your vocal tone is often subconsciously created. Try to speak in a neutral tone resisting the urge to let your feelings and emotions show true in your voice. You may think this disingenuous but once you speak your opinion, its not necessary to convey disapproval non-verbally too. Be polite in your responses. Whenever you try to avoid hurting others it is best to speak with kindness. Common gestures of kindness (i.e., politeness) go a long way. They convey respect and show you value the other person. This situation isn't all about you speaking your mind. Its about them feeling valued. Express your perspective as opinion, not fact. Even if you know the facts back you up, this shows you value their perspective. If they have an open mind, facts will change their perspective. If they do not have an open mind, facts will feel like personal attacks. They have a right to be incorrect. Let them come to the truth on their own terms, not yours. Forcing your perspective is an easy way to hurt feelings. Don't criticize or condemn. This may seem difficult but is important. Speak your truth in a way that doesn't put their perspective down. Statements like "You're wrong there" and "I can't believe you think that" are to be avoided. Instead, agree with them when their perspective is consistent with their justifications (e.g., "I can see how that follows"). Follow with your perspective (e.g., "I read that..." or "I think...") such that your statement is not directly antagonistic towards theirs. Avoid hyperbole. Very, very rarely are things "always" and "never." Avoid words and idioms that exaggerate the truth. Your goal is to be honest and hyperbole rarely is honest. Instead, use facts and try to avoid letting your emotions run high. Don't take the disagreement personally. Keep in mind being honest is not the same as being right. You can be honest and factually wrong at the same time. You can also be honest, factually right, and still hurt feelings. Be humble with your perspective. Listen to others' justifications for their perspectives and resist the urge to convert them to your perspective. Place value in your own perspective. You are entitled to your perspective and opinion. Even if you chose to be quiet, remember your perspective is just as valid as theirs. Just as they have a right to be honest, so do you. Just as you have a right to your opinion, they have a right to theirs. Even if their opinion is factually wrong or inconsistent with their own beliefs. If you speak your honest perspective and they do not hear you, forcing the issue will lead to hurt feelings. They aren't ready for it. If they disagree with you, that's ok. Resist the temptation to get them to agree with you. If it is important, you may have to let them make their own mistakes. But that doesn't mean you are wrong either when they vehemently disagree with you. This also doesn't mean they don't care about you. It just means they have a different perspective. Decide if you need to say anything at all. Sometimes being honest means being silent. You may find an honest expression of your desire for peace (i.e., remaining silent) outweighs the desire to speak your mind. People feel compelled to express their strong opinions. Sometimes people do so to provoke a debate or change someone else's mind. This usually leads to a confrontation and unavoidable hurt feelings. Begin a discussion with an sincere invitation to listen to their opinion. They may give you the whole story or they may express they do not want to discuss it. Pay attention to their reaction and what they say. This will help you gauge how they will receive even your honest opinion. If they decide not to discuss the issue, honor their wish. Perhaps it is the wrong time or place. Try asking again later. If they repeatedly rebuff you, you may need to express your opinion unsolicited or avoid it altogether. Identify the source of the difference of opinion. Try to understand what your opinion is based on. Then try to understand what their opinion is based on. Some disagreements are based on fundamental political, religious, and moral beliefs. Knowing those bases you can be respectful of the opinion and avoid hurt feelings. Wait for them to either ask your opinion or finish giving theirs. Be patient, kind, and attentive throughout their story. This shows you respect them and are genuinely interested in them. Discuss your perspective as a matter of opinion. If you want to avoid hurting feelings, you must allow for the possibility that they are right and you are wrong. You can say "I've thought that..." instead of "You are wrong." Pay attention to verbal and bodily cues. If the discussion is turning heated, stop. Chances are that you are about to hurt their feelings if you haven't already. Let them know you respect and value them. Apologize if you accidentally said something that hurt their feelings. Apologies are a signal that your respect the other person.Doing this early you can move on easily. Wait too late and the hurt may take much longer to repair. Do not overuse apologies. Saying "I'm sorry" too much--especially when you did nothing wrong--can lower the value of an apology. The goal is to identify when you've done something wrong and be sincere about your apology. Thank them for sharing and listening. This gives you an opportunity to end the difference of opinion on a positive note. Be sure to comment that you understand where they are coming from and hope they understand your perspective too. Delay your response. Avoid responding immediately to a request you believe you will turn down. A quick "No" will rob you of time to formulate a kind decline. A simple "Let me check my calendar and get back to you" will often work. This gives you time to create a response in your head. Check your calendar for conflicts. If you are lucky you will have a scheduling conflict. You can honestly decline due to the conflict. If the conflict is the only reason for declining, let them know so that they will know to include you later. If the person is persistent, they may ask you for a better time. Be prepared to respond with a more direct decline. When you see your calendar is busy, take a little extra time in advance to think about a kind decline if they ask for a better time. Avoid admitting your schedule is open. This is like saying you are free for anything a manipulative person is waiting to ask of you. Some people will ask about your schedule before making an offer or request. This way you have little excuse to turn them down without being mean. More importantly, you sacrifice the "Let me check my calendar" time to formulate a polite decline. If someone starts asking about your schedule, you can simply reply, "I don't know, why do you ask?" and remain polite. This is a good practice even if you intend to accept. Identify exactly why you want to decline. If you know you want to decline before checking your calendar you have a reason in mind. Do you dislike the task? Were you planning to go to that event with someone else? Think about reasons you can decline that focus on aspects of the offer or request and not aspects of the person offering or requesting. Decide if you would accept under different circumstances. Once you know exactly why you are declining you'll be able to imagine how circumstances might be different. Maybe if they asked you to do something different or offered more money. Keep these in mind if the other party asks why you are declining. Be cautious about reasons for declining a request. If it is obvious that the exhaustive answer would hurt their feelings consider a vague response. If necessary, you may be able to get by with "I'd rather not say." Remember to respond. You may have made up your mind already but you must turn down a request to be polite. Ignoring the request may hurt their feelings or put you on a list of "have not replied." If you do not respond, they may assume you feel they are not important. Reply to requests promptly. Emphasize non-personal reasons for declining. Avoid disparaging the offer or person making the request or offer. Thank them for including you. Consider how fortunate you are that the other person values you. They may be disappointed but not hurt. Be polite and you can decline their offer or request without long-term hurt feelings. Smile genuinely to show appreciation. If someone is asking for your opinion it means they value you. Use that knowledge to produce a genuine smile. This will make the sting of disapproval seem less personal. Ask them what they like about the outfit or style. This gives you an opportunity to hear their point of view. It also gives you time to carefully word your comments. This will also give you a measurement of how much they like, or dislike the outfit or style. They may even discuss their own reservations. Focus on the outfit or style rather than the person. Assume that the person under the outfit is beautiful. The outfit or style is just hiding that fact. Try to critique the outfit or style apart from any negative characteristics of the person. Appeal to any mutually-agreed-upon standard of dress to back up your opinion if you can. For example, use business dress standards if a new haircut, tattoo, or nail polish could cause them trouble at work. Use goodness of fit to highlight how the outfit would look better if it were better tailored. Avoid agreeing with a negative self-image. Expressing any disagreement may prompt self-deprecating statements (e.g., "I'm just too fat for this outfit..."). Do not agree with them. Even if you believe they are correct, some things do not need to be said. Be honest with yourself--you aren't trying to hurt their feelings, right? In situations like this, you might want to disagree outright with the negative statement. "You aren't fat, this dress just fails to highlight how beautiful you are." Unfortunately, if you fail to disagree with a negative statement the speaker may take that as an admission of your agreement. Be quick to disagree when you know this to be true. Discuss how other styles or outfits work better as alternatives. This allows you to be productive in two ways. First you offer alternatives for them to try. Second it provides avenues for you to shower them with complements. This shows them you value them in spite of the negative feedback you just offered. At this stage, always be sure to include references to their positive characteristics. Although you avoided referencing personal characteristics before, highlight positive aspects now. | Ask people about their perspective. Put yourself in their shoes. Control your words and body language. Be polite in your responses. Express your perspective as opinion, not fact. Don't take the disagreement personally. Decide if you need to say anything at all. Begin a discussion with an sincere invitation to listen to their opinion. Identify the source of the difference of opinion. Wait for them to either ask your opinion or finish giving theirs. Discuss your perspective as a matter of opinion. Pay attention to verbal and bodily cues. Thank them for sharing and listening. Delay your response. Check your calendar for conflicts. Avoid admitting your schedule is open. Identify exactly why you want to decline. Decide if you would accept under different circumstances. Remember to respond. Thank them for including you. Smile genuinely to show appreciation. Ask them what they like about the outfit or style. Focus on the outfit or style rather than the person. Avoid agreeing with a negative self-image. Discuss how other styles or outfits work better as alternatives. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Follow-a-Clear-Liquid-Diet | How to Follow a Clear Liquid Diet | If you've been instructed by your doctor to follow a clear liquid diet, drink a variety of clear, pulp-free juices, sports drinks, sodas, broth, and coffee, in addition to water. You can also have gelatin, hard candies, and popsicles without dairy, fruit, chocolate, or nuts to feel satisfied. If your doctor says you can have calorie-containing foods and drinks, just be sure to evenly spread them out during the day to avoid lightheadedness or dizziness. | Talk to your doctor. Most likely, a doctor or surgeon is requiring you to follow a clear liquid diet. However if you are doing this for yourself for other reasons, it's important to talk to your doctor about whether or not a clear liquid diet is safe for you. Ask your doctor the purpose of the clear liquid diet, how long it needs to last and what exactly you're allowed to consume during that time. Also ask if you should limit physical activity, discontinue supplements or discontinue or change any medications you're currently taking. Ask your doctor to review any potential side effects your doctor may expect you will experience during your clear liquid diet. Go grocery shopping. Once you're clear with what you can and cannot have during your liquid diet, take a trip to the grocery store. They key to success is being prepared; have the right clear liquid foods on hand. Stock up on the items you're allowed to have so you have all the necessary items at home ready-to-go. It's helpful to have everything you need at home. It may be hard to follow the prescribed diet if you don't have adequate supplies at home or at work. Stock up on items like: broth, popsicles, jello, flavored waters, tea, coffee, and clear juices (like apple juice or white grape juice). Plan for side effects. Clear liquid diets may be associated with some side effects. It'll depend on what you can have on your clear liquid diet and how long you're supposed to follow it. Side effects are usually mild and may include: hunger, headache, nausea, fatigue and diarrhea. Call your doctor if symptoms worsen or if you're feeling sick. Tell them when the symptoms started and how they're affecting you. Drink a variety of fluids. When you're on a clear fluid diet, you can have other fluids outside of water. It'll be easier to follow if you include some variety. Having a variety of fluids throughout the day can help you manage hunger and any other side effects. Beverages can include: water (plain, carbonated, or flavored); clear, pulp-free juice (like apple juice); fruit flavored juices; sports drinks; sodas, broth; coffee and tea (without added dairy products). Consume appropriate foods. Even when you're on a clear liquid diet, there are a few foods that you can eat. Eating some of these foods may help you feel a little more satisfied while drinking mostly fluids throughout the day. Foods you can have include: gelatin, popsicles (without dairy, fruit pieces, chocolate or nuts) and hard candies. Make sure to include some savory liquids like chicken or beef broth. Spread calorie-containing liquids throughout the day. If you're able to have calorie-containing foods and beverages in your diet, it's important to spread them out throughout the day. When you're on a clear liquid diet, your overall calories will be low. This can lead to low blood sugar which may make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous. A sample menu of how to lay out your day can be: Breakfast: one glass of clear, pulp-free juice (such as apple juice), one cup of coffee or tea without dairy products (sweetener optional), Morning Snack: one cup of gelatin, Lunch: one cup of broth, one cup of clear, pulp-free juice, Afternoon Snack: one cup of broth, Dinner: one cup gelatin and one cup of broth, Evening Snack: one cup of clear, pulp-free juice. If you have diabetes, you'll need to communicate frequently with your physician. In addition, you should drink enough sweetened beverages throughout the day to get around 135 g of carbohydrate total. Restrict physical activity. When you're following a clear liquid diet you're not able to consume many calories and other nutrients that support physical activity. If you're normally a very active person, you may need to reduce or restrict the amount of physical activity you typically do. For example, if you normally run for 45 minutes, you may need to go for a 30 minute walk instead. Light activities like walking and your daily lifestyle activities should still be OK to continue even on a clear liquid diet. If you are feeling overly tired, nauseous or lightheaded during or after physical activity, stop immediately and discontinue exercise while on your clear liquid diet. | Talk to your doctor. Go grocery shopping. Plan for side effects. Drink a variety of fluids. Consume appropriate foods. Spread calorie-containing liquids throughout the day. Restrict physical activity. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Handle-an-Aggressive-Hawk-Headed-Parrot | How to Handle an Aggressive Hawk Headed Parrot | To handle an aggressive hawk-headed parrot, take a step back and give it a few seconds to calm down. By walking away and giving your parrot some space, you'll be teaching it that you're not a threat, which will help reduce its aggression. Never hit, flick, or spray your parrot when it's being aggressive since it will make its aggression worse. However, if your parrot continues to bite or act aggressive, you can try isolating it in a dark space for no more than 3 minutes to discourage the behavior. Alternatively, you can try distracting it with a toy so it stops being aggressive. | Listen for loud shrieks or hissing. Hawk-headed parrots are fairly vocal birds. When hawk-headed parrots get annoyed or excited, they make a loud, high-pitched call. An angry or frightened parrot may hiss. These sounds are warning signs that your parrot is upset or overstimulated, and may signal aggressive behavior. Don't try to handle your hawk-headed parrot if it is making these kinds of sounds. Look for an extended neck fan. One of the unique features of the hawk-headed parrot is the fan of blue and red feathers behind the head. Hawk-headed parrots will often display this fan in order to establish dominance and make themselves appear larger when they are feeling threatened. A raised feather fan is a sign that your hawk-headed parrot is feeling angry or defensive, and should not be handled. Take note of aggressive posturing. In addition to vocalizing and showing off their feather fans, hawk-headed parrots may display a variety of other warning behaviors. If you see your hawk-headed parrot doing any combination of the following, use caution: Low, crouching body posture, with the head down. “Pinned” eyes (with tightly contracted pin-point pupils). Puffed up feathers. Wings held away from the body. Feet in a wide stance. Snapping or clicking of the beak. Watch out for hormonal behaviors. During the breeding season, or any time when your parrot might be extra hormonal, it is more likely to get aggressive. Use caution if your parrot is showing hormonal or sexual behaviors, such as: Feather plucking or over-preening. Frequent regurgitation of food. Crouching, panting, and tail-fanning. Territorial behavior. Hiding and nesting behaviors. Excessive noise or shrieking. Unusual biting. Sexual behavior in response to petting (lifting of the tail and wings). Give your parrot a few seconds to calm down. If your hawk-headed parrot gets over-excited or tries to nip at you during play, step away and let it calm down for a few seconds. Hawk-headed parrots become overstimulated easily, and an aggressive parrot may simply need a moment to rest. Move your hand away if your parrot tries to bite. If you calmly take your hand away every time your parrot tries to bite you, it will eventually learn that biting is not an effective way to communicate. Consistently backing off when your parrot is upset will also help establish trust, so that your parrot will no longer feel the need to bite you. Never swat or shake your parrot, flick its beak, or spray it with water in response to biting or aggressive behavior. This type of reaction will make your parrot feel fearful and mistrustful, and more inclined to bite. Talk to your parrot in a gentle voice. If your hawk-headed parrot is biting or acting aggressive, gently say “no,” or “don't,” and speak to it in a soothing and reassuring voice. If you stay calm, your parrot will feel more secure and at-ease. Yelling or raising your voice will only upset your parrot, and is likely to make the behavior worse. Put your parrot in “time-out. ” If your parrot won't stop biting, lunging, or engaging in other aggressive behaviors, try isolating it in a dark space for no longer than three minutes. For example, you might calmly set your parrot down in an empty bathtub, turn off the light, and leave the bathroom for three minutes. After you do this two or three times, your parrot will learn that unwanted behaviors result in being separated from you. Try getting your parrot to associate this type of isolation with a word or phrase, like “jail” or “time-out.” Your parrot may eventually stop doing the unwanted behavior as soon as you say the word. Distract your parrot. If your hawk-headed parrot is acting aggressive, sometimes a distraction will take its mind off of whatever is upsetting it. For example, if your hawk-headed parrot is putting on a threat display or trying to bite you when you hold or pet it, put it down on its play gym or offer a toy instead. Reward good behaviors. One good way to reduce aggression and other bad behaviors is to encourage behaviors that you want (and ignore behaviors that you don't want). If your hawk-headed parrot acts calm and friendly, or listens to your commands, reward it with praise, treats, gentle play, and petting around the head and neck. Consider clicker training your parrot by giving it a command, and then clicking the clicker and immediately giving your parrot a treat when it responds correctly. This is a great way to reward good behavior in order to retrain the bird to be calm and gentle. Socialize with your parrot every day. Hawk-headed parrots are extremely social birds, and they need to interact with humans regularly in order to stay happy and well-adjusted. If you play and socialize with your parrot for a few hours every day, it will feel more trusting and relaxed around you, and aggressive behaviors will be less likely. Cut down on UV light exposure. If your parrot is displaying hormonal aggression, it's possible that it is getting too much light during the day. Excessive sunlight can stimulate hormone production and mating behaviors. Ensure that your hawk-headed parrot gets no more than 12 hours of sunlight every day. Keep stressors to a minimum. Many types of parrots act aggressive because they are under stress. If your hawk-headed parrot has suddenly started showing new or unusual aggressive behaviors, think about what might be stressing it out. Common sources of stress for parrots include: Too little socialization. Loud noises. Changes in your parrot's routine or environment (e.g. a new pet or human in the home, abrupt changes in the dark-light cycle, or even a new picture or piece of furniture in your parrot's room). Other pets or children frightening or harassing your parrot. Poor diet or inadequate space. Lack of exercise or stimulation. | Listen for loud shrieks or hissing. Look for an extended neck fan. Take note of aggressive posturing. Watch out for hormonal behaviors. Give your parrot a few seconds to calm down. Move your hand away if your parrot tries to bite. Talk to your parrot in a gentle voice. Put your parrot in “time-out. Distract your parrot. Reward good behaviors. Socialize with your parrot every day. Cut down on UV light exposure. Keep stressors to a minimum. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Ideas-for-a-Short-Film | How to Get Ideas for a Short Film | To come up with ideas for a short film, try some free-writing exercises, like making a list of the first 20 words to pop into your head, then making connections between them. You can also try adapting short stories into films, or making a documentary about an interesting friend or family member. Another good place to start is with a list of actors you know and nearby locations you could film at. Your sci-fi idea could be great, but it might be hard to pull off. | Start with a word, image, or object. All a story needs is a seed that you can follow through until it grows. Will it turn into a great short film? Maybe, maybe not. In the beginning, all you need to focus on in the beginning is getting an idea started and seeing where it goes. Here are some effective ways of brainstorming to get a story started: Good way to get a story started? Just start writing. Get out paper and pencil, or sit down in front of the computer, and make yourself keep writing for a given period of time. Say 10 or 15 minutes. Don't worry about whether or not what you're writing is a "story" or will make for a good movie. You're just looking for an idea. You might write 99% junk, but there might be one little fragment that could generate into a story. Give yourself an idea. Try a word exercise. All you need to get a story idea is one little spark. Generate a list of more or less random images, the first words that pop into your head: Kindergarten, Oakland, ashtray, oil paint. Great list. Come up with at least 20 words, then start trying to connect them. What does the list make you think of? An after-school painting class full of kindergartners in the East Bay? A cigarette burning in a painter's studio? Start with an image and let it roll. Find the story around the images. Start speculating for some good ideas. One good way to get going on a story idea is to start speculating strange, surprising, or absurd scenarios that might make for a good story. What if all food was in pill form? What if you found out your father was a spy? What if your dog could suddenly talk? Good plots and characters can come out of speculation. Look for short stories to adapt. One great way to come up with an idea for a short film is to adapt a story that's already been written by someone else. Check out recently published short story collections made up of stories with compelling plots, and find one that might be fun to film. In general, it would be hard to adapt a novel into a short film. Try to stay focused on short stories. Check out Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" for a great example of a minimal story with a compelling and exciting plot. Try filming real life. Who says a short film has to be fiction? If you want to make a short film, consider filming the world around you and making a documentary. Find a local music festival in your area and ask if you can film interviews with the bands, or try filming your friend undertake his training regimen for sports. Find a good story that's happening around you and get permission to record it. Even if you don't want to make a documentary, you can still get inspiration from real people and stories all around you. Keep a dream journal. Dreams can provide good inspiration for a short film, especially if you like weirdness. If you want to come up with an idea for a dream, set an alarm in the middle of the night to wake yourself up in the middle of one, then scribble the plot down quickly. Dreams can be a great place to supply images, strange occurrences, and dialog for short films. What scares you? A good creepy dream can be a great way to start a horror short. When you write your script and film your short film, try to capture the same vibe of your creepy dreams. Check out David Lynch's short series Rabbits for inspiration. Look to History. History is full of fascinating and often fantastical stories. Other areas of study can also be just as rewarding: Psychology (for character development), Geography etc Adapt a feature length film idea. There is no reason why you couldn't adapt a feature length film idea to a short film. You could adapt the idea by taking a scene, a them or a character from the feature length film. Boil down the story. Can you write a short sentence of 15 words or less that outlines the fundamental concept and the plot of your idea? Then you're on the right track. Once you've got your initial idea, try getting your "elevator pitch" down. Describe your movie as briefly and quickly as possible to give yourself the chance to write the best possible script, and to describe the story to others so you'll be able to enlist actors and other supporters. Avoid vagueness or abstraction and focus on the scenario and the plot. Good examples of a story synopsis might look like: A boy finds a small alien in a field and brings it home. The kindergarteners start painting strange images after school. Bad examples of a story synopsis might look like: A man struggles with depression. A series of mysterious events befall the residents of Pittsburgh. Think practically. Consider what's available to you and how you can use what you've got. Make a list of every prop, location, and actor available locally, and consider how they might generate a good story as you're getting started. Maybe your friend who boxes three times a week might inspire a great boxing story. Make sure your story is filmable. Equipment and sets are at a premium when you're making a movie on your own and working without studio support and a bunch of money. Again, it's going to be hard to film a sci-fi opera in your mom's basement. Try to make sure you'll be able to get the shots you need to make the movie you want to make. Will you be able to do a swooping crane shot over New York City if you live in Scranton and don't have any money or a camera? Probably not. Work around it. Find a protagonist and the antagonist. Every story has a protagonist and an antagonist to supply conflict and provide tension. If you're unsure of which is which, it's important to give some thought into developing your story so there's a clear sense of who we should care about and why. A protagonist is the character that we're rooting for, the one that we empathize with and feel some kind of emotional connection to. The antagonist is the character, situation, or setting that works against the protagonist, creating drama. An antagonist isn't necessarily a mustache-twirling villain, but can be a tough situation or some other abstraction. Find a great setting. In a short film, this will partially be a practical concern and a story concern. Good settings provide tension and drama of their own, but you may not be able to fly to Bermuda to film a beach scene. Find a place to set your story that will complement the story you want to tell, but is also available. Try to work with what you have. If you know you're going to have to film at your parents house, it'd be hard to film a sci-fi epic in the backyard and in the basement. Instead, Try to think of a good domestic story that would work well locally. Think of stories that happen in houses, in the town you might live in. Stories that work with their setting work much better. Find a conflict. Stories need conflict to get us to care. What will hook the viewer into becoming invested in your story and in your short film? What does your protagonist want? What's keeping the protagonist from getting it? The answers to those questions supply your source of conflict. Once you've got your original idea in place, start focusing on what it is that creates the conflict in the story and teasing it out as much as possible. Conflict doesn't have to involve a fist fight or a shootout to count as high drama. It needs to involve real conflict between characters and emotional heft. If a boy brings home an alien, what trouble is he likely to encounter? What's the risk in it for him? What hooks us about watching kindergarteners paint? Find the inner story and the outer story. What we watch is the outer story: a character moves around the world and things happen. What makes it compelling is the inner story. How does this change the character? What does it mean for the character? A good short film, or any kind of story, will have both of these elements happening simultaneously. Keep it simple. Limit the scope of the story as much as possible. A short film is barebones story telling, a short story, not a novel. That doesn't mean it can't be ambitious and unconventional, but short films need to work with a limited number of elements, characters, and scenes to work properly. Alternatively, it might be fun to force yourself to film a super-long or complicated story as briefly as possible. What would War and Peace look like as a ten minute short? What if all six Star Wars movies happened in 10 minutes with the equipment you've got handy? How would you pull it off? Be aware of common short film clichés. Like any art form, short film is not without its tired ideas and clichéd stories. If you've never made one before, you'll be one step ahead of the game if you skip these clunkers. Avoid the following short film cliches: A character is alone, staring into a mirror talking, then commits suicide. Avoid genres which have been overused in short films, such as film noir and the gangster film. Anything involving a hitman. Two characters argue about something, until we discover that it's really one character with multiple personality disorder The movie starts with an alarm buzzing and the protagonist gets out of bed. Aim to keep your film under 10 minutes of running time. Making a film of any length is extremely difficult. Try to keep your movie as short as possible, especially when you're first getting started. Filming a really great, tight, dramatic, exciting three minute movie is a serious accomplishment. Try doing that successfully before you tackle a 45 minute gangster masterpiece with a slow-mo shootout. Watch some short films. If you're going to make a film, watch some films. Just as you shouldn't Try to write a novel without having studied the form of the novel, it's important to get a sense of how short films work and what it takes to make a good short film before you Try to make one yourself. It's not just a shorter version of a full-length movie: a short film is it's own unique medium with different tricks and techniques. Watch some before you set out to make your own. YouTube and Vimeo are great resources for short films, both bad and good. Check out and see whether or not your town has a short film festival–common in some metro areas–to see some submissions in person. Music videos are also a great style of short film that you're probably already familiar with. Watch closely the way your favorite music videos are put together and study them closely. Check out Spike Jonze, Hype Williams, and Michel Gondry for modern masters of the form. Outline your story. Story outlines don't have to be formal or involve any Roman numerals (although they can if you want). Storyboards are typically used to help you get a sense of what shots you'll need to film later in the process, and to get a comic book-style visual theme for the film down as you're writing. Briefly sketch out what will happen physically in the story and the basic dialog. Film is a visual medium of telling stories so don't rely purely on dialogue to tell the story. In good stories, the outline should be explicit about the outer story, though the inner story should be implied. Write a script. When you've got the basic elements of the story down like you want it, then you can fill in the rest with a more closely scripted treatment, with all the dialog and the stage directions you want to include in your film. Try to make it as specific as possible, so someone else would be able to film it and see it as you see it. Let yourself be surprised. You probably have some idea of where you want your story to go, but Try to save room for surprising yourself as you actually do the writing. If you're locked into a particular direction for your short film, it may come off as unsurprising and expected to the audience, as well. As you're writing, try to take it in a direction that you're not sure of. Let happy accidents happen and follow them to other, more interesting conclusions. That's how good stories get written. Francis Ford Coppola filmed the sequel to The Outsiders , called Rumble Fish , without having written a script until the day the scene was to be shot. None of the actors had any clue what was going to happen next, giving the film a spontaneous and experimental feel. Seek constructive criticism. Once you've put a script together, show it to some friends, or to some people who share your love of film and who'll be able to offer constructive criticism. Hear them out and try to revise your script as much as possible. Some filmmakers work on scripts for years, which are then in production for years after that. Making a film is a long process for a reason. Try to show your script to potential collaborators, as well. Actors, producers, potential directors. Show your script to people who can help. Start an ideas folder. Not every idea will work right now. Keep a folder where you keep your ideas and let them generate into future scripts. Some filmmakers have an idea and don't get a movie made for decades. Scorsese's Gangs of New York had been discussed as a possibility for over 30. Keep your ideas around for times that they might be more workable. Keep your little sketches organized according to the following elements: Characters Locations Plots Structure | Start with a word, image, or object. Try a word exercise. Start speculating for some good ideas. Look for short stories to adapt. Try filming real life. Keep a dream journal. Look to History. Adapt a feature length film idea. Boil down the story. Think practically. Find a protagonist and the antagonist. Find a great setting. Find a conflict. Keep it simple. Be aware of common short film clichés. Aim to keep your film under 10 minutes of running time. Watch some short films. Outline your story. Write a script. Let yourself be surprised. Seek constructive criticism. Start an ideas folder. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Crochet-Zig-Zag | How to Crochet Zig Zag | To make a double crochet ripple stitch, start by making a foundation chain that's a multiple of 17. For a swatch, you can just do 17, or for a larger blanket, go with 34 or 51. Insert your hook into the 4th chain and continue the yarn over and through the loops on your hook to make a double crochet stitch. Then, make another double crochet stitch in each of the 5 chain stitches across the foundation row. After that, make 1 double crochet stitch, chain 2 stitches, then make 1 more double crochet stitch into the next stitch. Keep repeating this pattern until you reach the end of the row. Then, turn the work, chain 2, and skip the first stitch. Double crochet the next 2 stitches together, and double crochet 1 into the next 5 stitches. To form the point of the zig-zag, insert your hook into the next 2 chain space, make 1 double crochet stitch, then repeat this step once more. Double crochet into 7 stitches, skip double crochet, then double crochet in the next 7 stitches. After this, double crochet 1, chain 2, and double crochet 1 to make another zig-zag point. Continue to crochet in this zig-zag pattern until you reach the last 8 stitches. To finish the row, make 1 double crochet stitch into each of the next 5 double crochet stitches and join together the next 2 stitches and double crochet 1. | Make a foundation chain that's a multiple of 17. If you're just making a sample swatch, chain (ch) up 17 stitches. For a larger swatch or blanket, chain 34 or 51 stitches which are multiples of 17. Insert your hook into the fourth chain and make 1 double crochet stitch (dc). Wrap the yarn around your hook and insert it into the fourth chain from your hook. Continue to yarn over and pull through the loops on your hook to make a double crochet stitch. Dc the next 5 ch stitches and dc 1, ch 2, and dc 1 into the next stitch. Make 1 double crochet stitch in each of the 5 chain stitches across the foundation row. Then make 1 dc stitch, chain 2 stitches, and make 1 more dc into the next stitch. Dc into each of the next 7 chain stitches. Keep working across the row by making 1 double crochet stitch into the chain stitches. Finish the foundation row by double crocheting and skipping stitches. Skip the next 2 chain stitches and double crochet 1 into each of the next 7 chain stitches. Then dc 1, chain 2, and dc 1 into the next chain stitch. Dc 1 into each of the next 7 chain stitches. Keep repeating this pattern until you reach the end of the row. Turn the work, chain 3, and skip the first stitch. Flip the work over so you can begin crocheting your first real row in the zig zag pattern. Make 3 chain stitches and skip the stitch closest to your hook. Dc the next 2 stitches together (dc2tog) and dc 1 into the next 5 stitches. Decrease the number of stitches in this row by double crocheting 2 of them together. Then you'll need to double crochet 1 stitch into each of the following 5 stitches. Insert your hook and dc 1, chain 2, and dc1. Insert your hook into the next 2 chain space and make 1 double crochet stitch. Chain 2 into the same stitch and double crochet another 1 stitch into the same stitch. This will form the point of the zig zag. Dc into 7 stitches, skip 2 dc, and dc in the next 7 stitches. Make 1 dc stitch into each of the next 7 dc stitches. This will bring you across the other diagonal side of the zig zag. Then skip 2 double crochet stitches and dc 1 into the next 7 dc. Remember to double crochet into each of the 7 stitches across the row. Dc 1, chain 2, and dc 1 to make another zig zag point. Insert your hook into the next dc stitch and make 1 double crochet stitch. Chain 2 into the same stitch and double crochet 1 more stitch into the same stitch. Continue to crochet in zig zag pattern until you reach the last 8 stitches. To work the zig zag pattern, keep repeating: Dc 1 into each of the next 7 dc stitches, skip the next 2 dc stitches, dc 1 into each of the next 7 dc stitches, and then dc 1, chain 2, and dc 1 into the next stitch. Dc 1 into the next 5 dc stitches and dc2tog the next 2 stitches. To finish the row, make 1 double crochet stitch into each of the next 5 dc stitches. Join together the next 2 stitches and dc 1. Turn the work to make another row, if desired. Make a foundation chain that's a multiple of 3 and add 3. Because the zig zag puff stitches are stretchy, make the foundation chain a little looser than normal. To make a sample swatch, try chaining up 15 stitches. For the sample, 12 is a multiple of 3. Add 3 to 12 to get 15. Dc into the fourth chain, skip 1 and dc 7 to 9 times into the stitch. Insert your hook into the fourth chain from your hook, skip 1 chain stitch and double crochet (dc) in the next stitch. Yarn over and insert the hook into the same stitch. Do this 7 to 9 more times and chain 1 to secure the puff. Make 7 loops if the yarn you're working with is bulky. If you're crocheting with a lighter yarn, make 8 or 9 loops. Make zig zag puffs across the first row and half-double crochet (hdc) 1. Once you've completed 1 zig zag puff, skip 1 chain stitch and double crochet again. Make another zig zag puff stitch and secure it by chaining 1. Keep doing this until you reach the end of the row and then make a half-double crochet stitch in the last chain. If you started with 15 chain stitches, you should have 6 zig zag puffs for your first row. Chain 2 stitches and turn the work. Make 2 chain stitches once you've finished the first row. Flip the work over so you can begin crocheting from right to left again. Skip 1 stitch and double crochet (dc) into the first puff stitch. Skip the first stitch on the second row and insert your crochet hook into the next stitch. Make 1 double crochet stitch and then make a zig zag puff stitch in the gap between the puff stitches. Remember to keep wrapping the yarn over and pulling up to make 7 to 9 loops on your hook. Make the same number of loops for the puff stitches as you did for the first row. Make zig zag puff stitches to the end of the row and hdc the last stitch. To work across the row, skip 1 double crochet stitch and double crochet in the next puff stitch. Make another puff stitch in the gap. When you get to the end of the row, remember to half-double-crochet and turn the work. Work the zig zag puff stitches across as many rows as you like. | Make a foundation chain that's a multiple of 17. Insert your hook into the fourth chain and make 1 double crochet stitch (dc). Dc the next 5 ch stitches and dc 1, ch 2, and dc 1 into the next stitch. Dc into each of the next 7 chain stitches. Finish the foundation row by double crocheting and skipping stitches. Turn the work, chain 3, and skip the first stitch. Dc the next 2 stitches together (dc2tog) and dc 1 into the next 5 stitches. Insert your hook and dc 1, chain 2, and dc1. Dc into 7 stitches, skip 2 dc, and dc in the next 7 stitches. Dc 1, chain 2, and dc 1 to make another zig zag point. Continue to crochet in zig zag pattern until you reach the last 8 stitches. Dc 1 into the next 5 dc stitches and dc2tog the next 2 stitches. Make a foundation chain that's a multiple of 3 and add 3. Dc into the fourth chain, skip 1 and dc 7 to 9 times into the stitch. Make zig zag puffs across the first row and half-double crochet (hdc) 1. Chain 2 stitches and turn the work. Skip 1 stitch and double crochet (dc) into the first puff stitch. Make zig zag puff stitches to the end of the row and hdc the last stitch. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Painted-Walls | How to Clean Painted Walls | To clean walls that are painted with flat paint, mix a few drops of dish detergent with a half-gallon of water. Dip a sponge in the water and wring it out completely to avoid leaving streaks. Rub that sponge vertically down the wall, working one section at a time. If you wall was really dirty to begin with, you may need to do a second pass using circular motions to take up the rest of the dirt. Finish by letting your wall air-dry by opening as many doors and windows as possible or by turning on a fan. | Avoid harsh chemicals on flat and eggshell finishes. Both flat and eggshell (also called satin) latex paints look nice on interior walls because they don't bounce a lot of light. Unfortunately, these popular paint finishes can be finicky to clean. These finishes can be damaged easily, so do not use chemicals or degreasers on this kind of paint. Mix a few drops of dish detergent in a 0.5 gallons (1,900 ml) of water. Choose a gentle dish detergent that is free from dyes. After mixing a few drops with about 0.5 gallons (1,900 ml) of warm water, soak a sponge in the solution. Another option is to mix 2–3 tablespoons (30–44 ml) of white vinegar with 1 gallon (3,800 ml) of warm water. Wring the sponge out completely. It is very easy to leave streaks on flat and eggshell/satin walls. This means you want to use as little cleansing solution as possible. After soaking the sponge in the solution of your choice, wring it out until it's just about dry. Never use scrubby sponges or rough materials. A soft cellulose sponge will work best. Start at the top, left-hand side of your wall. Rub your soft, barely-wet sponge over the wall. Work from top to bottom. Move to the right and do another vertical area. Make your way across the wall in this pattern. Remoisten and wring out your sponge as needed. You may need a chair or step-stool to reach the top of your wall. Make a second pass. Since you are using a very gentle solution, one pass may not get your wall completely clean. If your wall was pretty dirty to begin with, it is a good idea to do a second pass. Pause and make some fresh solution. Begin again at the top left corner of your wall. Your solution is diluted enough that you shouldn't need to rinse it off. Let your wall air-dry. Open some windows and/or doors. Turn on a fan. Give your wall plenty of time to air dry. Avoid drying your wall with towels, as this is more likely to leave streaks. If possible, wash your walls when it is warm outside. Use a mild degreaser in your kitchen. Gloss and semigloss paints can stand up a bit better to cleaning, which is why these paints are more popular for kitchens. If your kitchen--especially the area around your stove--has gotten covered in food splatter, a mild degreaser is a great option. Gently spray the area with the degreaser product, then wipe it down with a slightly damp sponge. For best results, follow this with a dish detergent and vinegar solution, or simply a clean water rinse. Mix dish detergent, vinegar, and water. Combine 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of dish detergent, 0.25 teaspoons (1.2 ml) of white vinegar, and 1 quart (950 ml) of warm water. Let the solution sit for about 10 minutes before you start cleaning. Soak a sponge in the cleanser and wring it out. Place a soft sponge into your solution and leave it to soak for a few minutes. Wring it out until it is nearly dry. Even gloss/semigloss paint can be easy to streak, so use minimal liquid. Avoid use scrubby sponges or rough materials, even on oil paint. Opt for a soft cellulose sponge to avoid scratching your walls. Start in the top-left corner of the room. Using your soft, slightly moist sponge, work your way from the top of your wall to the bottom. Move right, and work your way from top-to-bottom again. Remoisten and wring out your sponge, as needed. Move all the way across your wall. Do a second pass. Particularly in kitchens and bathroom, you may want to perform a second pass with your cleansing solution. Make up a fresh batch of solution and wipe your wall down a second time. Since you are using a very diluted solution, you shouldn't need to rinse it off. Leave your walls to air dry. Turn on a fan, open a window or two, and leave your wall alone for a while. Allowing your walls to air dry is the best way to prevent streaks. If possible, do your wall-washing when it is nice outside. Begin with the most gentle cleanser possible. Wall paint is easy to damage and even easier to streak. Always start with your mildest cleansing option, and only move on to something stronger is you really need to. This is especially true for flat and eggshell/satin walls. Do a spot test. To prevent damage to your walls, it is a really good idea to do a spot test in a not-so-visible location, such as inside a cabinet. Try a few different cleansers. Simply apply the cleanser to wall, scrub, and wait to see if it has caused discoloration, streaking, or other damage. Start with water on a soft sponge. To remove a stain from your walls, try just warm water first. Dampen a soft sponge, wring it out very well, and wipe down your wall. Sometimes a bit of water and elbow grease are all you need. Use water and mild detergent. Combine 1-2 drops of dish detergent in about 1 quart (950 ml) of warm water. Soak and wring out a soft sponge. Use the sponge to remove the stain. Repeat this method until your wall is clean. The detergent is so diluted that it shouldn't need to be rinsed off. If your spot test left a residue, try rinsing with clean water to see if this takes care of it. Mix ammonia, vinegar, baking soda, and water. Add 1 cup (240 ml) of ammonia, 0.5 cups (120 ml) of vinegar, and 0.25 cups (59 ml) of baking soda to 1 gallon (3,800 ml) of warm water. For tough stains, soak a soft sponge in this solution, and wring it dry. Use this sponge to remove any stains from your wall. Repeat this method until the stain is gone. Always perform a spot test before using this cleanser. This cleanser will work best on gloss/semigloss walls. | Avoid harsh chemicals on flat and eggshell finishes. Mix a few drops of dish detergent in a 0.5 gallons (1,900 ml) of water. Wring the sponge out completely. Start at the top, left-hand side of your wall. Make a second pass. Let your wall air-dry. Use a mild degreaser in your kitchen. Mix dish detergent, vinegar, and water. Soak a sponge in the cleanser and wring it out. Start in the top-left corner of the room. Do a second pass. Leave your walls to air dry. Begin with the most gentle cleanser possible. Do a spot test. Start with water on a soft sponge. Use water and mild detergent. Mix ammonia, vinegar, baking soda, and water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-when-Your-Hermit-Crab-Is-Dead | How to Know when Your Hermit Crab Is Dead | If you need to know if your hermit crab is dead, remember to take into account that the crab may actually be molting. During the molting process, hermit crabs shed their exoskeleton, lose body parts, and become temporarily immobile, causing them to appear dead. You can move the crab to a new location and see if it changes position after a few hours to test for signs of life. If your crab still isn't moving, check for a fishy, rotten smell around it, which can indicate death. | Sniff around for a fishy, rotten smell. This is the surest way to identify a dead hermit crab. If your hermit crab dies, it will begin to decompose – and its carcass will begin to smell putrid. If you can't smell anything, pick the crab out of the tank to get a closer whiff. If you smell a salty, rotten scent, there's a good chance that your crab has passed away. Assume that your crab is molting. Hermit crabs periodically shed their exoskeleton, and this process often involves losing body parts. The crabs are immobile for a short time while it regains muscle control and its new exoskeleton hardens up. If you disturb your crab while it is molting, you may seriously endanger it – so be patient. Assume molting before death. Notice when a crab is laying outside its shell without any signs of transitioning. This can be a sign that the crab is dead, or it can just be a by-product of the molting process. If you find what appear to be a dead crab next to a shell, have a closer look to see if it is just an exoskeleton. If is it hollow and crumbles easily, it is an old exoskeleton. Look inside the nearby shell, and you might find a freshly-molted crab hiding out. If the immobile crab is obviously not an exoskeleton, try picking it up to see if it moves. If it does not react, it's probably dead. Move the crab and observe the results. If you can't figure out whether your crab is dead, move it to a new location and note exactly how it is positioned. Try placing food on the other side of the tank to give the crab a motivation to move. Leave the tank, then come back to check within the next few hours. If the crab moved while you were gone, then you know it's alive. If not, it may be sleeping or molting. Keep an eye on a buried crab. It is perfectly natural for hermit crabs to bury themselves; this can indicate that the crab is molting, or just that it feels threatened. Smooth the sand around his hiding spot, then look for tracks to get an idea if he is coming up at night for food. If it has been weeks since your crab buried itself, you can carefully sweep off a bit of sand from around his hiding spot to check for a rotting smell. Determine whether your crab is molting. Your crab may be molting if it is out of its shell and not moving. Signs of molting include general lethargy, less antennae activity, tangled and confused-looking antennae, an ashy exoskeleton, and dull eyes (like human cataracts). Your crab may remain still for long periods of time, and it may even bury itself in the sand as a safety tactic. Smaller, quickly-growing crabs can molt every few months, while larger crabs tend to molt about once a year. Note the dates and duration every time that your crab molts; this way, you'll know what to expect. If your crab is new, or if you haven't seen it molt before, you'll need to wait it out until you're certain. Wait several days. If there is no fishy smell, there's a good chance that your crab is molting. Molting usually lasts about two weeks, so you may need to wait some time before you are absolutely sure. Look for a "fat bubble". Consider whether your crab has been eating a lot over the past few days. Before a molt, a crab will store extra fat and water in a small blackish "bubble" – usually on the left-hand side of the abdomen, just under the fifth pair of legs. However, do not assume that a crab is molting just because he has made a bubble. Isolate a molting crab from other crabs. Molting crabs are vulnerable to stress and injury from other hermit crabs due to their inactivity and their soft new exoskeleton. If one of your crabs is molting, and you have other crabs in the same tank, put the molter into a temporary "isolation tank" so that it can shed in safety and privacy. It is very important that hermit crabs are not disturbed during the molting process. If you only have one tank, improvise an "isolation cell" within that tank. Cut off the ends of a 2-liter soda bottle, then sink the edges into the sand to protect the molting crab. Be sure that the top of the "isolation cell" is open so that oxygen from the surface can replenish the space. Dig up a buried crab and dispose of it if you smell a rotting-fish odor. To be sanitary, scoop the dead crab up along with the sand it was buried in. Dispose of the crab and the sand in one swoop. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap after handling a dead crab. Throw your dead crab out with the garbage. If you have no qualms about trashing your deceased crustacean, you can simply place the carcass into a standard waste bin and put it out for garbage collection. Put the body into a Ziploc bag, lay it carefully into the trash, and let it be. Bury your dead crab. If you can't bear the thought of throwing out your crustacean friend, consider burying him beneath a foot of soil. This is a very personal decision, and you need to do what you must to feel okay about the situation. Make sure that you bury him deep enough that other animals—dogs, cats, raccoons, etc.—cannot dig up the body. Feel free to bury the dead crab along with the sand from his cage or tank. The sand may be contaminated, and burying is a great way to safely dispose of it. Do not flush your dead crab down the toilet. The flush may seem like a quick and easy solution, but it is not a sanitary choice. There's a chance that a rotting carcass will contaminate the water supply. Bury or trash your dead hermit crab instead. Prepare the tank for a new crab. If you want to replace your departed hermit crab, clean the tank before you introduce your new pet. Clear away any sand that may have been contaminated by a rotting dead crab; clean the sides of the tank; replace any water. | Sniff around for a fishy, rotten smell. Assume that your crab is molting. Notice when a crab is laying outside its shell without any signs of transitioning. Move the crab and observe the results. Keep an eye on a buried crab. Determine whether your crab is molting. Look for a "fat bubble". Isolate a molting crab from other crabs. Dig up a buried crab and dispose of it if you smell a rotting-fish odor. Throw your dead crab out with the garbage. Bury your dead crab. Do not flush your dead crab down the toilet. Prepare the tank for a new crab. |
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