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https://www.wikihow.com/Train-Pugs | How to Train Pugs | To house train a pug, establish a bathroom routine by taking it outside first thing in the morning, after eating, and before bedtime. Once you're outside, let it pick a specific spot to pee in that it can return to each time. Wait until your pug goes to the bathroom, then reward it with a treat or praise. If your pug has an accident in the house, clean it with an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of the smell, but avoid punishing your dog, since yelling will only teach it to fear you. | Select a crate for your pug. Crate training will keep your pug protected from household hazards, help with house training, and give him a place to retreat when he's overly excited. Picking the right crate size is important. If it's too big, your pug will create a space to urinate and defecate; if it's too small, he won't be able to get comfortable in it. Your pug is little, so he won't need a huge crate. An ideal crate size is 24 inches long x 18 inches wide x 21 inches high (61 cm x 46 cm x 53cm). Encourage your pug to spend time in the crate. Your pug's crate should be a place of safety and comfort for him. Add some 'creature comforts' to the crate, including favorite toys and a comfortable blanket. Place a blanket on top of the crate so it feels like a cozy den to your pug. Put a spill-proof water bowl in the crate to keep him from making a watery mess. Food is a great way to lure your pug into the crate. If he's hesitant to enter the crate, place some bits of food near the crate initially, then gradually put the food further inside the crate. Do the same with his food bowl when he's ready for eating meals in the crate. Leave the crate door open at all times during this part of crate training. This will allow your pug to explore the crate at his leisure, without fear of you closing the door behind him. Close the crate door at meal time. For crate training to be effective, your pug must learn to be comfortable in the crate when its door is closed. When your pug is eating a meal in the crate, close the door and open it as soon as he's finished. Gradually, have your pug wait up to 10 minutes after a meal before you open the door. If he whines, wait until he quiets down before opening the door. Close the door for longer periods of time. You may need to leave your pug crated for hours at a time during the day, and maybe overnight. To get him used to this stretch of time, give your pug a verbal command ('kennel up' or 'crate') to enter the crate ( not at meal time). Sit with him briefly, leave the room for few minutes, then return to the crate. Work up to leaving the room for 30 minutes. It may take several repetitions before your pug learns the verbal command to enter the crate. Reward him with a treat each time he responds to it correctly. Practice leaving the house when you crate him. Do not get your pug worked up when you leave home or return; this could build up a lot of anxiety and anticipation in your pug. Don't forget to take your pug outside to potty during crate training. This is especially important for puppies, since they can't hold their bladders for very long (month of age + 1 hour). Decide whether to respond to your pug’s whining. A common concern with crate training is whether to respond to whining, especially with overnight crating. You don't want to ignore your pug's whining if he really needs to potty, but you also don't want to teach him that whining gets positive attention from you. If he doesn't stop whining after a few minutes, let him outside, but do not play or talk with him—let him eliminate and that's it. If your pug is whining just to get attention, he'll stop whining after he realizes it's not working. Just be prepared for the whining to get worse before it gets better. Create a small gated area in your home. If you cannot stay with your pug all day and take him outside frequently, gate off an area in your home for him to stay during the day. Place some pee pads in the corner of this space where he can eliminate. In addition to the pee pads, put some puzzle toys and other toys in the area to keep him busy. An alternative to a pee pad is a doggie litter box, which has artificial grass. When your pug urinates, the urine would go through the grass into the underlying tray. These are available at your local pet store. Place his water bowl and bed in the gated area. Establish a bathroom routine. Without knowing when he should eliminate, your pug may have accidents in your home more often. A consistent bathroom routine is very important for puppies, since they cannot hold their bladders for very long. If you have a pug puppy, take him out first thing in the morning, 15 to 20 minutes after eating, after naps, and before bedtime. Give your pug puppy his final meal around 7pm and take his water away by 10 or 11pm if he's a young puppy. As he gets a little older and has better bladder control, you can start leaving his water in the crate overnight. If you have an adult pug, he won't need to go out as frequently as a puppy, but should still go out about 3 times a day. The indoor gated area lessens the need for frequent outings during the day. However, it may take longer to house train your pug if he gets used to eliminating on pee pads or in the litter box. Allow your pug to pick an outdoor elimination spot. Your pug should learn to eliminate in the same area each time you take him outside. If you have a backyard, take him out on a 6-foot (2-meter) leash, stand in one area of your yard, and let him pick a specific spot within a 6-foot radius of the leash. He will leave his scent in that spot and go back there each time. Monitor your pug’s ‘bathroom’ behavior. Your pug's body language will let you know when he needs to eliminate, allowing you to get him outside before he has an accident in the house. Examples of this body language are sniffing around, looking for a private place, going to the door, and whining. When you see this body language, immediately put your pug's leash on him and take him outside. Give him a treat and verbal praise when he eliminates so he makes a positive association with eliminating outside. Consider giving your pug a command, such as 'go potty,' when you take him out. When you reward him for eliminating, he will also be learning how to respond to your command. Be patient when you take your pug outside. It can take time—up to 20 minutes—for your pug to relax enough to eliminate outside. If you become impatient, you may experience what many other dog owners have experienced: elimination as soon as the dog gets back inside. Twenty minutes can feel like an eternity, so bring something with you (e.g., book, magazine, phone) to keep you busy as your wait for your pug to eliminate. Don't forget to reward him as soon as he eliminates. Clean up accidents without punishing your pug. If you pug has an accident (and he probably will) clean it up promptly with an enzymatic cleaner that will erase the urine smell. If your pug smells the urine, he will likely go back to that spot to eliminate. Do not punish your pug, whether you catch him in the act or not. Doing so will make him fear you, rather than teach him not to have another accident. Keep your pug focused. Pugs aim to please, but can get sidetracked by a short attention span. To keep your own pug focused, teach him the 'focus' command. Put your finger on his nose, say 'focus,' then place this finger on your own nose. When your pug stays focused on your finger on your nose, immediately give him a treat. Lengthen the time he watches your finger before you reward him. When he's mastered it, use it each time he gets distracted during training sessions. Because of the short attention span, keep your training sessions short (about 15 minutes or less) and repeat the lessons frequently. Train your pug to follow basic commands. When your pug learns the basic commands, he will have the proper foundation to behave well and learn even more commands. Basic commands include sit, stay, come , and heel. If his short attention span is making training difficult, consider enrolling him in a local dog obedience class. Use plenty of positive reinforcement (verbal praise, treats, extra petting) each time your pug correctly follows a command. The more excited and positive you are, the more your pug will try to please you and behave properly. Discourage bad chewing behavior. Pugs love to chew. Teaching your pug to 'leave it' will help keep him from chewing something inappropriate (e.g., furniture, shoes). The 'drop it' command will teach him to drop whatever is in mouth, particularly if it's something he's not supposed to chew on. Identify his training needs. Training an adult pug requires a different approach than what you'd use with a puppy. Your adult pug may have had some previous training, but it may not have been completed or consistently reinforced. Ask the rescue group or animal shelter from where you adopted your pug about what types of additional training he will need. Older dogs are calmer and tend to have longer attention spans than puppies. Adult dogs are more set in their ways (including bad habits) and may take longer to train. Be patient with your adult pug during the training process. Be gentle with your adult pug. If your adult pug was mistreated by his previous owner, he may be extra sensitive to yelling or harsh punishment. As you train your adult pug, always keep a calm temper, including when he has an accident or doesn't follow a command. Involve your whole family in the training process. If you have other household members, have them all train your adult pug. By involving everyone, your pug will feel like he's part of your pack, which will help him feel safe and loved. To prevent him from getting confused from working with different people, make sure everyone uses the same commands, says the commands in the same tone of voice, and does not deviate from the training process (e.g., letting him get away with bad behavior). | Select a crate for your pug. Encourage your pug to spend time in the crate. Close the crate door at meal time. Close the door for longer periods of time. Decide whether to respond to your pug’s whining. Create a small gated area in your home. Establish a bathroom routine. Allow your pug to pick an outdoor elimination spot. Monitor your pug’s ‘bathroom’ behavior. Be patient when you take your pug outside. Clean up accidents without punishing your pug. Keep your pug focused. Train your pug to follow basic commands. Discourage bad chewing behavior. Identify his training needs. Be gentle with your adult pug. Involve your whole family in the training process. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Kill-Spiders | How to Kill Spiders | If you need to kill a spider in your home but you don't like squashing them, try sucking them up with your vacuum. You can also apply powder or liquid insecticides to the areas where you see spider webs accumulating. When you can, carefully migrate harmless spiders to a safe place outdoors where they can kill insects for you. | Learn the common types of dangerous spiders. In North America, the most common types of dangerous house spiders are the black widow and the brown recluse, but learn the types of venomous spiders in your area and how to distinguish them from harmless house spiders. Female black widows have shiny black coloring, with a distinctive red hourglass-shaped pattern on their underside. Males have a mixture of whitish dots on the upper abdomen, are typically about half the size of female spiders, and are not as dangerous as the female. The brown recluse is a small sandy-brown spider with a violin-shaped body found primarily in the Midwest and South. They typically reside in tight, out-of-the-way spaces. In Australia, the redback spider is a common and dangerous spider that ends up in people's houses. Other spiders to watch out for might include the hobo spider and the wolf spider. Study the webs. Fresh webs, as opposed to old dust-covered cobwebs, are signs of current spider activity. By learning a bit about the webs of the particular kinds of spiders you're looking out for (or the lack thereof) you can prepare your plan of attack for undesirable spiders. Black widow webs are usually irregularly shaped and somewhat thicker than other spider's webs, and usually located within one foot of the ground. The webs of black widows are typically in dry corners and other safe areas, not out in the open and easy to find, and usually look somewhat erratic, with a tunneling feature where the spider hides during the day. Brown recluse webs are loose and sticky, with an off-white color. You won't see them strung between tree branches or in the corner of the house, but in "reclusive" spots like under boxes, in woodpiles, or other unused out of the way areas. Large and intricate webs are the hallmark of the harmless orb-weaver spider, a helpful bug-catcher. Leave these spiders alone, or gently migrate them elsewhere. Learn the spider's behavior. Black widows are typically nocturnal spiders and the brown recluse rarely comes out of hiding. If you've got a large brownish hairy spider building a conspicuous web in the middle of the day, you probably don't need to worry. If you're worried you've got a dangerous spider, check the webs in the middle of the day when the spider will be dormant. At this point, you can either lay out liquid or powder insecticide, or you can come back at night to kill them directly if you want to be sure. Migrate harmless spiders and kill dangerous ones. Most spiders you encounter on a daily basis will be harmless. Move them outdoors where they can do more insect-catching good by trapping them in a jar or sweeping them onto a piece of paper and dumping them outside. Get a large bowl or pan and sweep the spider into it with a broom. Use a magazine or newspaper large enough to cover the bowl to keep the spider from escaping prematurely, and then release it outside, far from your house if you wish. If you want to kill the spider without smashing it, you can fill your bowl or pan with insecticide, killing the spider as you capture it. You could also spray the spider at this point with insecticide or hairspray. Only do this if the spider is harmful. Lay out insecticide. Available in dry dusting and liquid spot varieties, you can lay this out when you find the webs during the day. This is an effective method that doesn't require you to actively run around squashing spiders with a flashlight. Dust applications like Drione Dust and Delta Dust are best for out of the way areas where only spiders will go, like under staircases or in attic spaces. Apply these insecticides with hand brushes in wall voids near the webs to make the locations uninhabitable for the spiders. Liquid spot treatments like Demon WP and Cynoff EC can be used to spray under beds and in dark corners. These are usually sold in powder form, with specific instructions to mix with water and form the spray. For a natural alternative, try diatomaceous earth, which consists of the powdered fossilized remains of diatoms. It is harmless to people and other pets, and is even used in some foods and cat litters, but dehydrates the exoskeletons of insects and arachnids. After you've eradicated your spiders, it's not a bad idea to treat the areas with insecticide as a preventative measure. Spiders tend to pick the same areas to colonize, so you might cut them off at the pass by spraying or laying some insecticide down. Vacuum the spiders up. A good vacuum with a hose attachment means you can get rid of your spiders without ever having to get too close to them. Even if the spider is hiding in its tunnel, you can use the vacuum to suck out all the webbing and the spiders within it. This is also an effective method for vacuuming up lots of house spider hatchlings that would be difficult to kill or migrate otherwise. Once you've vacuumed spiders, remove the vacuum bag and seal it in a plastic garbage bag, and put it outside in the garbage. Squash it. Sometimes you've just got to go old-school and use your shoe. If the spider is in its web, use a broom or stick to sweep the spider out into the open and use a shoe, rolled up newspaper, or book to smash the spider. It may be inelegant, but at least you'll be sure you've got it. Black widows might have a tendency to head toward you if you miss, so be quick and keep your distance from dangerous spiders. Be careful to inspect the spider before squashing it, as a pregnant one may release its hatch-lings upon being smashed Clean frequently. Since spiders like dark and undisturbed areas to build their webs, keeping a clean house is the best way to avoid infestation. Regularly sweep and mop your home, as well as vacuuming out small cracks and wall gaps. From the outside, power wash your windows to keep critters from congregating. In the attic, basement, or anywhere you have lots of stuff and boxes stored, regularly move things around and vacuum to avoid creating spider habitats. Remove unnecessary clutter and stay tidy to eliminate the kinds of habitats spiders love. Consider spreading insecticide in those areas if you're worried about cultivating habitats. Outside, trim back shrubs and other foliage around your house, especially that nearest entrances. If you have firewood stacked anywhere near the house, consider moving it elsewhere. These are places spiders tend to congregate, and if they have easy access to the house, they'll be able to make the jump quickly. Check your doors and windows for cracks. Plug any gaps with weather stripping to make sure you've got a secure home and aren't letting unwanted pests easy access to your house. Consider spreading some insecticide into any cracks before you seal them. Use stick-on weather stripping or caulk to create the seal. Use natural deterrents in your home and yard. Natural spider repellants are easy to make, use, and will ensure that your home stays spider free, so you won't have to worry about killing them or moving them elsewhere. Add 3-5 drops of an essential oil like tea tree, peppermint, or lemon to a quart of water to clean your house with. These are harmless to people and pets, but create an undesirable scent for insects and spiders. Plant eucalyptus and spread horse chestnuts. Many people believe that eucalyptus is a natural spider replant, and some studies have shown that saponin--a naturally-occurring chemical found in horse chestnuts--repels spiders. Make a spider spray. Make a spider spray for spraying on the outside of windows and doors, and along fences and mailboxes. Mix and pour the following in a spray bottle: 1 cup vinegar 1 cup pepper 1 teaspoon oil 1 teaspoon liquid soap. | Learn the common types of dangerous spiders. Study the webs. Learn the spider's behavior. Migrate harmless spiders and kill dangerous ones. Lay out insecticide. Vacuum the spiders up. Squash it. Clean frequently. Check your doors and windows for cracks. Use natural deterrents in your home and yard. Make a spider spray. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Normal-Force | How to Find Normal Force | To find normal force on an incline, use the equation N = mg cos(x), “m” being the object's mass, “g” being the acceleration of gravity, and “x” being the angle of incline. Then, use a calculator to find the cosine of the angle, and write down that value. Next, determine the weight by multiplying the mass of the object by the acceleration of gravity, and write it down. Finally, multiply the value of the weight by the value of the cosine to determine the normal force. | Understand what normal force refers to. Normal force refers to the amount of force use to counteract the force of gravity. Imagine a block sitting on a table. The force of gravity pulls the block toward the Earth, but clearly, there is some force at work preventing the block from crashing through the table and finishing its descent toward the ground. The force responsible for stopping the block in spite of gravitational force is the normal force. Know the equation for normal force of an object at rest. When calculating an object's normal force when that object is at rest on a flat surface, use the formula: N = m * g In this equation, N refers to the normal force, m refers to the object's mass, and g refers to the acceleration of gravity. For an object sitting on a flat surface, with no outside forces at work, the normal force is equal to the object's weight. In order to keep the object still, the normal force must be equal to the force of gravity at work on the object. The force of gravity at work on the object is that object's weight, or its mass multiplied by the acceleration of gravity. Example : Find the normal force of a block with a mass of 4.2 kg. Multiply the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity. Doing so will give you the weight of the object, which ultimately equals the normal force of the object as it sits at rest. Note that the gravitational acceleration at the Earth's surface is a constant: g = 9.8 m/s2 Example : weight = m * g = 4.2 * 9.8 = 41.16 Write down your answer. The previous step should complete the problem, giving you your answer. Example : The normal force is 41.16 N. Use the right equation. To calculate the normal force of an object at an angle, you need to use the formula: N = m * g * cos(x) For this equation, N refers to the normal force, m refers to the object's mass, g refers to the acceleration of gravity, and x refers to the angle of incline. Example : Find the normal force of a block with a mass of 4.2 kg, sitting on a ramp with an incline of 45 degrees. Find the cosine of the angle. The cosign of an angle equals the sine of the complementary angle, or the adjacent side divided by the hypotenuse of the triangle formed by the incline. This value is often determined by a calculator, since the cosine of any angle is constant to that angle, but you can compute it manually, as well. Example : cos (45) = 0.71 Find the object's weight. The weight of an object equals the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration of gravity. Note that the gravitational acceleration at the Earth's surface is a constant: g = 9.8 m/s2 Example : weight = m * g = 4.2 * 9.8 = 41.16 Multiply the two values together. In order to find the normal force, you need to multiply the weight of the object by the cosine of the angle of incline. Example : N = m * g * cos(x) = 41.16 * 0.71 = 29.1 Write your answer. The previous step should complete the problem and give you your answer. Note that for an object sitting on an incline, the normal force should be less than the weight of the object. Example : The normal force is 29.1 N. Use the right equation. To calculate the normal force of an object at rest when an outside force acts downward on that object, use the equation: N = m * g + F * sin(x)' N refers to the normal force, m refers to the object's mass, g refers to the acceleration of gravity, F refers to the outside force, and x refers to the angle between the object and the direction of the outside force. Example : Find the normal force of a block with a mass of 4.2 kg, when a person is pressing down on the block at a 30 degree angle with a force of 20.9 N. Find the object's weight. The weight of an object equals the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration of gravity. Note that the gravitational acceleration at the Earth's surface is a constant: g = 9.8 m/s2 Example : weight = m * g = 4.2 * 9.8 = 41.16 Find the sine of the angle. The sine of an angle is calculated by dividing the side of the triangle opposite the angle by the hypotenuse of the angle. Example : sin(30) = 0.5 Multiply the sine by the outside force. The outside force, in this instance, refers to the force acting downward on the object. Example : 0.5 * 20.9 = 10.45 Add this value to the weight. Doing so will give you the normal force at work. Example : 10.45 + 41.16 = 51.61 Write your answer. Note that for an object at rest being influenced by an external, downward force, the normal force will be greater than the weight of the object. Example : The normal force is 51.61 N. Use the right equation. To calculate the normal force of an object at rest when an outside force acts upward on that object, use the equation: N = m * g - F * sin(x)' N refers to the normal force, m refers to the object's mass, g refers to the acceleration of gravity, F refers to the outside force, and x refers to the angle between the object and the direction of the outside force. Example : Find the normal force of a block with a mass of 4.2 kg, when a person is pulling up at the block at a 50 degree angle with a force of 20.9 N. Find the object's weight. The weight of an object equals the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration of gravity. Note that the gravitational acceleration at the Earth's surface is a constant: g = 9.8 m/s2 Example : weight = m * g = 4.2 * 9.8 = 41.16 Find the sine of the angle. The sine of an angle is calculated by dividing the side of the triangle opposite the angle by the hypotenuse of the angle. Example : sin(50) = 0.77 Multiply the sine by the outside force. The outside force refers to the force acting upward on the object, in this instance. Example : 0.77 * 20.9 = 16.01 Subtract this value from the weight. Doing so will give you the normal force at work. Example : 41.16 – 16.01 = 25.15 Write your answer. Note that for an object at rest being influenced by an external, upward force, the normal force will be less then the weight of the object. Example : The normal force is 25.15 N. Know the basic equation for kinetic friction. Kinetic friction, or the friction of an object in motion, is equal to the coefficient of friction multiplied by the normal force of an object. In equation format, that looks like: f = μ * N In this equation, f stands for friction, μ refers to the coefficient of friction, and N refers to the normal force of the object. A "coefficient of friction" is the ratio between frictional resistance to normal force, which is responsible for pressing the two opposing surfaces together. Rearrange the equation to isolate the normal force. If you have a value for the kinetic friction of an object, as well as that object's coefficient of friction, you can calculate the normal force by using the formula: N = f / μ Both sides of the original equation were divided by μ , thereby isolating normal force on one side while accounting for the coefficient of friction and kinetic friction on the opposite side. Example : Find the normal force of a block when the coefficient of friction is 0.4 and the amount of kinetic friction itself is 40 N. Divide the kinetic friction by the coefficient of friction. This is essentially all you need to do to find the value of the normal force. Example : N = f / μ = 40 / 0.4 = 100 Record your answer. If desired, you can check your answer by plugging it back into the original equation for kinetic friction. Otherwise, you have completed the problem. Example : The normal force is 100.0 N. | Understand what normal force refers to. Know the equation for normal force of an object at rest. Multiply the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity. Write down your answer. Use the right equation. Find the cosine of the angle. Find the object's weight. Multiply the two values together. Write your answer. Use the right equation. Find the object's weight. Find the sine of the angle. Multiply the sine by the outside force. Add this value to the weight. Write your answer. Use the right equation. Find the object's weight. Find the sine of the angle. Multiply the sine by the outside force. Subtract this value from the weight. Write your answer. Know the basic equation for kinetic friction. Rearrange the equation to isolate the normal force. Divide the kinetic friction by the coefficient of friction. Record your answer. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Good-Confession-in-the-Catholic-Church | How to Make a Good Confession in the Catholic Church | Before making a confession, examine your conscience for sins you have committed and look through important passages in the scriptures, like the Ten Commandments. When you arrive at your church and it's your turn, kneel down in front of the curtain if you'd like an anonymous confession or sit in the chair opposite the priest if you want it to be face-to-face. To begin your confession, make a sign of the cross, say, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," and state in order of importance what your sins were since your last confession. | Find out when confession is held. Most parishes offer reconciliation services by the week, but some churches may have them daily. If your parish does not offer a service that fits your schedule, call your priest and you can make a private appointment. You can schedule a private session with the priest if you think your confession may last a bit longer (over 15 minutes). This is a good idea if you have left the Church, committed a grave sin, or have not confessed in a long time. Be truly sorry for your sins. The idea of penance and confession is to feel truly remorseful -- the act of contrition. You must clearly reject the sin you have committed and resolve not to commit it again. To show God that your sorrow is genuine and authentic is to be truly sorry and profess a refusal to commit the behaviors again. This does not mean that you can never sin again; we humans do it every day. You are simply resolving to try to avoid the near occasions that lead you to sin -- this still counts as repentance. If you want it, God will help you resist temptation, as long as you have the intention to improve yourself as well. Make an examination of conscience. Think about what you have done wrong, and why it is wrong. Consider the pain you put God through in committing that sin, and that because of that sin Jesus suffered all the more on the cross. For this you should express sorrow, and being truly sorry is a necessary component of a good Confession. Consider asking yourself these questions when making your examination of conscience: When did I last go to confession? Was it an honest and thorough confession? Did I make any special promise to God last time? Did I keep my promise? Have I committed any grave or mortal sin since my last confession? Have I followed the Ten Commandments? Have I ever doubted my faith? Search the Holy Scriptures. A good place to start is the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 or Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Here are a few reminders of how God reaches out to us in loving forgiveness: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. How has it been made possible for sins to be forgiven? "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 2:1,2. To whom should sins be confessed, and why? "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight." Ps. 51:4. See Genesis 39:9. Pray often before a Confession. You want to be honest and repentant. Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you remember and feel true contrition for your sins. Perhaps something like: "Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may clearly know my sins, touch my heart that I may be sorry for them, and better my life. Amen." Try to identify the causes of your sins: Do you have questionable inclinations? Is it a matter of personal weakness? Or just bad habits? Try to eliminate at least one of these causes. This'll be easiest to do by either getting rid of one negative thing in your life or honing in on the most positive. Wait your turn until you can enter the confessional. When it's time, choose either a face-to-face confession or an anonymous confession. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, simply kneel down in front of the curtain separating you from the priest and the priest will begin the confession. If you'd like a face-to-face confession, you need only to walk around the curtain and sit in the chair opposite the priest. He'll be expecting you. Remember that confessions are absolutely confidential -- the priest will never (and can never) share your sins with anyone else. He is instructed to keep the seal of the confessional regardless of circumstance -- even under pain of death. Do not let your worries affect your confession. Begin your confession. The priest will begin the Confession with the prayer of the Sign of the Cross. Follow his lead. There are a few variants, but the Latin Rite is the most common. In the Latin Rite : Make the sign of the cross, saying, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned" and tell him how long it has been since your last confession.(It is not necessary to remember how many times, only the frequency of important sins.) In the Byzantine Rite : Kneel facing the Icon of Christ, the priest will be seated at your side and may place his epitrachelion on your head. He may also wait to do this until the Prayer of Absolution. Do not be concerned either way. In other Eastern Churches : Forms may vary. Regardless of the variant, tell him your sins (including how many times you committed them). Go in order from the most serious to the least. Do not leave out any mortal sins that you can remember. You don't have to go into explicit detail of your sins unless the priest feels it is necessary -- and in that situation, he'll ask. Listen to the priest. He will often offer you counsel on how you can avoid sin in the future. Afterward, he will ask you to make an Act of Contrition. This must be performed sincerely, truly meaning what you say. If you don't know the words, write them down or ask the priest to help you. At the end of your session, he will probably recommend penance (to be performed as soon as possible). At the end of the absolution he will say, “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” If he makes the Sign of the Cross, follow suit. He will then dismiss you, saying something to the effect of “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Reply, “Thanks be to God,” give the priest a smile, and exit the confessional. Complete your penance. Return to the church and assume your prior seat. When you begin your penance, give thanks to God for forgiving you. If you recall some serious sin you forgot to tell, know that it has been forgiven with the others, but be sure to confess it in your next confession. If the priest gave you penance that consists of some prayers to be recited, say them quietly and devoutly. Kneel in the pew, hands clasped and head down, until you have completed your penance and have adequately reflected on your experience. Resolve to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation often. Leave feeling better and living in the light of God's forgiveness. Rise joyful and confident for the Lord loves you and has been merciful. Live for Him every minute of your life, and let everybody see how wonderful it is serving the Lord. Stay mindful. Don't use confession as a reason to excuse sins. Rejoice that you are forgiven and live as God intended you to to minimize the need for confession. | Find out when confession is held. Be truly sorry for your sins. Make an examination of conscience. Search the Holy Scriptures. Pray often before a Confession. Wait your turn until you can enter the confessional. Begin your confession. Listen to the priest. Complete your penance. Leave feeling better and living in the light of God's forgiveness. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-an-Asthma-Attack-Without-an-Inhaler | How to Stop an Asthma Attack Without an Inhaler | Having an asthma attack without an inhaler can be scary, but fortunately, there are a few ways you can help stop the attack. Sit in a chair with your back straight and loosen any tight clothing to help yourself breathe. If something stressful triggered your asthma, leave the situation if you can. Take deep, slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. If you have access to coffee or black tea, drink a cup of it to help you breathe a bit better. Try to stay calm and wait for 15 minutes. If your breathing still hasn't improved then, call an ambulance. | Note the time. Asthma attacks last for about five to 10 minutes, so take a second to look at a clock and note the time. If you have not gotten your breathing back into a normal pattern within 15 minutes, then seek medical attention. Stay seated or sit down if you are standing. Sitting upright in a chair is the best position to be in as you try to get your breathing back under control. Do not recline or lie down because this may make it harder for you to breathe. Loosen up any tight clothing. Tight fitting pants or a tight collar may restrict your breathing. Take a moment to loosen up your clothing if you feel like it is interfering with your ability to breathe. Take deep, slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try to relax your body and focus only on your breathing. You may find it helpful to count to five slowly as you inhale and then count back down from five as you exhale. Closing your eyes or focusing on an image or object may also help to keep you calm as you work to get your breathing back under control. As you breathe in focus on pulling air down into your stomach, then use your stomach muscles to help you push the air out. This is called diaphragmatic breathing and it will help you to take in deeper breaths. To make sure that you are taking in full deep breaths, try placing one hand on your stomach (just below your ribcage) and the other on your chest. As you breathe, you should notice that the hand on your chest is staying still while the hand below your ribcage is rising and falling. Call 911 if the attack does not improve. If after 15 minutes you are still struggling to breathe, then seek immediate medical attention. You should seek medical attention sooner if the attack is severe or if you are very uncomfortable. Some signs that you should seek emergency medical help include: Being unable to speak in full sentences Sweating because of difficulty breathing Breathing that is rapid Noticing pale or blue color nail beds or skin Ask someone to sit with you. Telling someone that you are having an asthma attack is a good idea, just in case you need to go to the hospital. You may also feel less anxious if you know that that person is going to be by your side until the attack is over. If you are out in public by yourself, then you will need to ask a stranger. Try saying something like, “I am having an asthma attack, but I don't have my inhaler. Would you mind sitting with me until my breathing goes back to normal?” Drink a cup of coffee or strong black tea. Drinking one to two cups of caffeinated coffee or tea may help your body fight off an asthma attack as well. Your body will turn the caffeine into theophylline, which is an active ingredient in some asthma medicines. The warmth of the liquid will also help to break up phlegm and mucus, which may make breathing easier. Do not drink more than two cups of coffee or your heartbeat may become rapid. Try acupressure. Pressing on lung acupressure points may help to relax your muscles and get your breathing back under control. Apply gentle pressure to the area in the front of your shoulders, just above your armpits. Press on one shoulder at a time for the same amount of time on each side. If you have someone nearby who can help you, there is also a pressure point on the inner part of your shoulder blade, just about an inch below the upper tip. Ask a friend to press on these pressure points for a few minutes to help relieve your asthma attack. Use steam to open of breathing passages. Steam can open up your breathing passages and make breathing easier. If you are at home, then turn the shower on hot and sit in the bathroom with the door closed for about 10-15 minutes. Breathing in the steam may help ease your breathing. You can also turn on a humidifier if you have one, or fill your bathroom sink with hot water and lean over it with a towel over your head to capture the steam. Go somewhere else. Sometimes a change of location may be what you need to reduce stress and help you get your breathing under control. The change of scenery might help you to relax and get your breathing back under control. For example, if you are at home, try moving from the kitchen to the living room. If you are out in public, try going into the restroom for a few minutes or go outside. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. Many inhalers have antihistamines that go directly to your lungs, but you may also try an oral pill. Check the dosage instructions on the antihistamine and swallow the pill with a glass of water. The medication will absorb into your bloodstream and help relieve the effects of your asthma. You may experience side effects such as drowsiness or dry mouth. Learn about common triggers. An asthma attack may be triggered by many different substances or events. That is why identifying triggers and avoiding known triggers is always a part of the treatment of asthma. Common triggers include: Allergens including dust, animal fur, cockroaches, mold, and pollen Irritants including chemicals, cigarette smoke, air pollution, and dust Some medications including aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and non-selective beta-blockers Chemicals used to preserve foods, such as sulfites Upper respiratory infections, such as colds and other viral infections of the lungs Exercise and other physical activities Cold or dry air Health conditions such as heartburn, stress, and sleep apnea Keep a diary to identify your triggers. One way that you can begin to identify your triggers is to keep a diary of the foods you eat as well as any other common triggers that you encounter. If you have an asthma attack, look at your diary to see what you ate or encountered that may have triggered the attack. In the future, avoid that food or trigger to reduce your chances of having another attack. If you have known asthma triggers, then do everything that you can to avoid coming into contact with them. Get tested for food allergies. Food allergies involve a specific type of immune molecule, an IgE molecule that triggers the release of histamine and other allergic mediators. If you have noticed that your asthma attacks seem to come after eating sometime, then a food allergy may be to blame. See an allergist and ask to be tested for food allergies. Determine if you have any food sensitivities. Food sensitivities are not the same as food allergies, but they can also cause asthma attacks. Food sensitivities are quite common. One study indicated that 75% of children with asthma also have food sensitivities. To determine if you have any food sensitivities, pay attention to foods that seem to cause asthma attacks and tell your allergist about these reactions. Common food sensitivities include: Gluten (a protein found in any wheat product) Casein (a protein found in dairy products) Eggs Citrus Peanuts Chocolate Get more vitamin C. Supplementing with vitamin C has been shown to reduce the severity of asthma attacks. You can take 500 mg of Vitamin C every day as long as you do not have kidney disease. You may also want to consider including vitamin C rich foods such as: Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit Berries Cantaloupe Kiwis Broccoli Sweet potatoes Tomatoes Eat foods that contain molybdenum. Molybdenum is a trace mineral. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of molybdenum for children up to 13 years is 22–43 mcg/day. The recommended amount for people over 14 years is 45 mcg. Pregnant and nursing women need 50 mcg/day. Most multivitamins will include molybdenum, but it can also be purchased on its own. You can also get molybdenum by eating certain foods, such as: Beans Lentils Peas Leafy vegetables Milk Cheese Nuts Organ meats Choose good sources of selenium. Selenium is necessary for the biochemical reactions involved in controlling inflammation. If you use a supplement, get a supplement that uses selenomethionine because this form is easier for your body to absorb. Don't take more than 200 mcg of selenium a day because it can be toxic in higher doses. Food sources include: Wheat Crab Liver Poultry Take a vitamin B6 supplement. Vitamin B6 is involved with over 100 different reactions in the body. Vitamin B6 can help reduce inflammation as well as support the immune system. As a supplement, children between the ages of one to eight years should take 0.8 mg/day. Children between the ages of nine to 13 should take 1.0 mg/day. Adolescents and adults should take 1.3–1.7 mg/day and women who are pregnant or nursing should take 1.9–2.0 mg/day. Foods highest in the most absorbable form of Vitamin B6 include: Salmon Potatoes Turkey Chicken Avocados Spinach Bananas Add a vitamin B12 supplement. When vitamin B12 levels are low, supplementing with vitamin B12 may improve symptoms of asthma. As a supplement, children between the ages of 1-8 years should take 0.9-1.2 mg/day. Children between the ages of 9-13 should take 1.8 mg/day. Adolescents and adults should take 2.4 mg/day and women who are pregnant or nursing should take 2.6-2.8 mg/day. Food sources of vitamin B12 include: Meats Seafood Fish Cheese Eggs Include good sources of Omega-3s. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory. Aim for a total of 2000 mg every day of both EPA and DHA per day. You can get omega-3s from a variety of food sources including: Salmon Anchovies Mackerel Herring Sardines Tuna Walnuts Flaxseeds Canola oil Try an herbal supplement. There are some herbs that may be used to help treat asthma. Make sure that you talk to your physician before using these herbs because they may interfere with medications. If you take these as supplements, follow the manufacturer's directions. To use herbs in a tea, steep one teaspoon of dried herb or three teaspoons of fresh herbs in one cup of boiled water for 10 minutes. Drink three to four cups per day. licorice root lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) | Note the time. Stay seated or sit down if you are standing. Loosen up any tight clothing. Take deep, slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Call 911 if the attack does not improve. Ask someone to sit with you. Drink a cup of coffee or strong black tea. Try acupressure. Use steam to open of breathing passages. Go somewhere else. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. Learn about common triggers. Keep a diary to identify your triggers. Get tested for food allergies. Determine if you have any food sensitivities. Get more vitamin C. Eat foods that contain molybdenum. Choose good sources of selenium. Take a vitamin B6 supplement. Add a vitamin B12 supplement. Include good sources of Omega-3s. Try an herbal supplement. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sleep-with-Scoliosis | How to Sleep with Scoliosis | Sleeping with scoliosis can be hard, but there are things you can do to make yourself more comfortable and prevent your scoliosis from getting worse. Try to sleep on your back instead of your stomach or side since it won't put as much strain on your back. If you're not used to sleeping on your back, try making a barricade of pillows around you while you sleep so you don't roll over. You can also get a cervical pillow, which will help keep your spine curved in a natural position. If you have a soft mattress, consider investing in a medium to firm mattress to help support your back and make you more comfortable at night. | Sleep on your back. The best sleeping position for people with scoliosis is flat on the back. This is a neutral position that does not cause any unnecessary strain or create any unnatural curves in the spine. This position is especially preferred for people who have a lateral spinal curvature. Avoid sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping on your stomach is very bad for your back if you have scoliosis. This is because the position forces the middle and lower sections of your spine to be straight, and your neck to twist. Try not to sleep on your side. While not as bad as sleeping on your stomach, sleeping on your side is also not ideal for scoliosis patients. This position may cause unnecessary pressure on your pelvis, neck and shoulders. Train yourself to sleep in a new position. If you're not used to sleeping on your back, it may feel unnatural. If you find yourself instinctively changing to a different sleeping position during the night, you may need to use some tricks to break that habit. One option is to create a barricade around yourself with extra pillows so that you can't roll over. Another option is to tape uncooked peas (or any similar item) to your sides. This will make it uncomfortable to sleep on your side, so you will roll back onto your back. Invest in a good mattress. It's extra important to have a comfortable, supportive mattress if you have scoliosis. For most individuals, a medium to firm mattress is the best choice, although it's most important that you are comfortable. Memory foam may not be the right choice for people with scoliosis, as it does not always provide as much support as a traditional mattress. Use supportive pillows. Many people who have scoliosis do not have the proper amount of curvature in their necks and low backs. Try sleeping on a cervical pillow and a lumbar roll to help encourage your spine to curve in a healthy way. A single pillow or roll is preferable to multiple pillows. Sleeping on a stack of pillows can be harmful. Follow your doctor's instructions about wearing your brace. If you have a brace to correct the curvature in your spine, it's important that you wear it as much as your doctor tells you to. Most patients are supposed to wear their braces 21 hours or more each day, which means they must keep them on at night. Stay active. Staying active during the day may help alleviate any back pain you have. It will also help you burn energy, which will make it easier to fall asleep at night. Aerobic exercise, stretching, and core-strengthening exercises are all great for people with scoliosis. Avoid contact sports, as well as competitive swimming, which can strain your back. Keep it dark. People with scoliosis may produce lower levels of the hormone melatonin, which helps us sleep. Nighttime light, whether it's from a lamp, the television, or any other source, disrupts melatonin production for everyone, and this is especially bad for individuals who produce less of it to start with. Keep your room nice and dark to avoid disrupting your body's melatonin production. Children with scoliosis tend to have higher levels of growth hormone. When there are high levels of growth hormone in the body, melatonin levels will usually be low. Be patient while adjusting to your brace. If you have just been given a brace to wear for your scoliosis, you may feel like sleeping comfortably in it will be impossible. Luckily, most people get used to their braces quickly, so it probably won't bother you at all after a week or two. If you continue to have discomfort while sleeping after the first few weeks, talk to your doctor and see if any adjustments can be made to the brace. Manage your pain. While some people do not experience any pain from scoliosis, others suffer from severe pain. If pain is keeping you awake at night, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you. There are a variety of ways to treat scoliosis pain, depending on the severity of your condition. For mild pain, you can take over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen. If your pain is more severe, your doctor may suggest that you take prescription pain medication. Your doctor may also recommend spinal injections to help relieve pain, although these will only provide you with temporary relief. Physical therapy or chiropractic treatment may help you achieve long-term pain relief. If nothing else works to control your pain, your doctor may recommend surgery. The most common types of surgery performed for scoliosis are decompression surgery, which is done to remove a disc or bone that is compressing a nerve, and spinal fusion surgery, which is done to fuse two or more of the vertebrae together, thus improving the shape of the spine. | Sleep on your back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach. Try not to sleep on your side. Train yourself to sleep in a new position. Invest in a good mattress. Use supportive pillows. Follow your doctor's instructions about wearing your brace. Stay active. Keep it dark. Be patient while adjusting to your brace. Manage your pain. |
https://www.wikihow-fun.com/Be-Cute | How to Be Cute | If you want to be cute, start by cultivating a warm, positive attitude so that people enjoy being around you. When you're chatting with others, try to keep the conversation lighthearted and fun by smiling, telling silly jokes, and staying away from gloomy topics. There are also things you can do to your appearance to be cute, like grooming yourself neatly, wearing pastel colors, and staying away from provocative clothing. Opt for more conservative clothing, like colorful cardigans and trendy flats, and avoid revealing pieces, like miniskirts, low necklines, high heels, to create a cute look. | . Be positive Cute people are always fun to be around, and spread their joy for life to others. A cute person's warmth should be able to fill a room and should be felt from a mile away. If you want to improve your positive nature, there are a few things you can do: Smile. Do not look like a goof when you smile; just smile like you always do. Be cute and happy, but not over the top! Laugh heartily. Laugh to feel good, laugh to cheer up others and laugh with others. Make sure not to overdo it. Most people find excessive laughter annoying, not cute. Have fun. Everyone likes a person who is fun, social, and outgoing! If you're hanging out with people, tell silly jokes, or play fun games. . Be demure Shyness isn't a bad thing. It gives you a mysterious edge. If you're shy but approachable, people will keep asking you questions and will want to get to know you more. Shy, but sweet and bubbly people are absolutely adorable. Remember that you can maintain a positive vibe and be friendly while being demure at the same time. Here's how to do it: Talk softly. You should still be able to firmly state your thoughts, but your voice shouldn't be heard from two rooms away. If you talk softly, people will lean in to hear what you have to say, and that will make you even cuter. Act very innocent. Don't be overly vulgar or engage in conversation about inappropriate topics. Cute people are shocked by some of the unseemlier aspects of life. Don't dominate a conversation. You can still be smart and state your opinion, but cute people let other people talk too. Learn to blush. If you blush because you're a bit embarrassed or shocked by a particular topic, you will look very cute. . Be friendly Cute people may be a little bit shy, but they are always friendly to the people they know and the new people they meet. Cute people are approachable, and people always want to get to know them. Here's how to be friendly while being cute: Be interested in others. Attractiveness comes from being happy, vivacious and bubbly. This translates to being a person who engages others in conversation, takes an interest in what others say, and shows a genuine concern for the other person's interests. Take the time to really listen to people. Active listening is a very important part of appearing attractive to others. Give compliments. Everybody loves someone who sees good in others and makes them feel good. It can be a great conversation starter sometime too. ("Where'd you get your shoes? They're so cute!") Just make sure you mean it; say it in your normal tone of voice, not a squeaky, overenthusiastic one. Have a cute face and cute hair. Your face will be the first thing people see and it can go a long way in showing people just how cute you really are. If you want to be cute, you should make sure to wash your face and hair as often as you need to, and to always look clean and have a healthy glow. Here are some other things you can do: Wear minimal makeup. While a little bit of eyeshadow or pink lipstick can help you look cute, you should focus on having a natural appearance. Decide carefully how much or how little makeup you think is appropriate. Have soft, natural-looking hair. Your hair will look cute if you don't straighten it too much or douse it in oily products. Let your hair dry naturally and fall at your shoulders, or wear it in two loose ponytails. Wear just a tiny bit of blush. This will make you look even cuter when you blush for real. Have cute clothes. You don't need an entire wardrobe makeover to look cute. Having just a few key cute items and wearing them the right way can help you put together your cute appearance. Here are some tips for wearing cute clothes: Wear a lot of pastel colors. A light purple, pink, or shade of blue can give you a softer and cuter look. Wear cute skirts instead of pants - you'll look and feel much nicer and more feminine. Don't wear high heels. Instead, wear cute clogs or sandals. Paint your toes a cute color. Have a cute cardigan to wear over a white tank top. Dress comfortably. Cute people should never look uncomfortable in their clothes. Wear comfortable clothes that fit your style. Don't dress provocatively. Showing your shoulders or calves off is one thing, but wearing clothes that are too tight and showcase too much of your body will give people the wrong impression. Exposing your bra straps, showing too much cleavage, or wearing skirts that are too short or tight is not cute. Dressing inappropriately can seem like you have low self-esteem, or are looking for the wrong kind of attention. Have cute body language. Cute body language can help you project your cute look. The trick is to not be too forward, but to move in ways that are just plain adorable. Here's how you can have cute body language: If you're standing, shift your weight from one foot to the other. If you're sitting, keep your feet together and keep your hands in your lap. Play with your hair. Use eye contact. Eye contact is a way of engaging others directly. It shows interest, it shows that you are attempting to bring this person into your sphere and keep him there. But don't forget to look down at the floor or at your feet once in a while to show that you're a little bit shy. Don't touch the person you're talking to too aggressively, but remember that giving the occasional light touch on the shoulder or knee will be just plain cute. Cover your mouth when you laugh. When you cover your mouth with your hand as you laugh, it shows a sweet, cute, and slightly timid side of you. | . . . Have a cute face and cute hair. Have cute clothes. Have cute body language. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Give-Emotional-Support | How to Give Emotional Support | If you're worried about saying the wrong thing to someone who needs emotional support, remember that you can help them through a tough time by actively listening and validating their emotions. As the person is speaking to you, give them your undivided attention and make eye contact so they know you're listening. You can also ask them questions, like "How did that make you feel?" to reassure them you're listening while keeping the conversation going. No matter what the person's going through, let them know that their feelings are normal. Instead of being critical, say something like “That's a lot to deal with” or “That would make me angry too.” | Walk to a private area. It is important to make sure that the person who needs your support feels a sense of confidentiality. An empty room is the best option if it is available. However, an unoccupied corner is sufficient if no rooms are open. Be sure to talk in a low voice, especially if you are in an area where others can potentially walk by and hear. Reduce distractions as much as possible. Try to select an area that is quiet where you won't be distracted by the television, radio or other electronic devices. Also, be sure to avoid doing other things like texting or looking through your wallet while the person is talking. An alternative to sitting in a private area would be a “walk and talk.” Instead of sitting in one place, you and the other person could go for a leisurely stroll as you talk. This often allows the person to feel more comfortable discussing their problems. Active listening can also be accomplished over the telephone. However, it is important that you have the conversation when there aren't a lot of distractions. Ask questions. You can ask the person about what happened or how they're feeling. The key here is to assure them that you're there to listen. It's important that the person feels like you are truly interested in hearing what they have to say and that you really want to support them. Use open-ended questions to help guide the conversation and stir discussion. Good open ended questions will give you a glimpse into what the person is thinking Your questions should start with words like “How” and “Why” and should evoke discussion rather than one word responses. Some examples of open-ended questions are: “What happened?” “What will you do next?” “How did that make you feel?” Listen to the person’s response. Look at the person as they speak to you and give them your undivided attention. Having your undivided attention will help them feel more valued. Making eye contact is important so that the person knows that you are listening to them. However, make sure the eye contact isn't excessive. Be careful that you don't end up staring. Use open body language and other nonverbal cues to show them that you're listening. Try nodding occasionally and smiling when appropriate. Also, be sure that you do not cross your arms because this reflects defensiveness and the person may not respond well to that posture. Restate what the person is saying. Demonstrating empathy is a key component to helping someone feel supported. To reflect more empathy, it is important that you clearly understand what the person is trying to communicate. Acknowledging and reflecting back to them what they are saying is a great way to make sure that you understand. They'll also feel more supported and better understood. Don't just repeat back to them the exact same sentence that they state in a robotic fashion. Use paraphrasing to be more conversational in your approach. Just be sure that as you restate what the person is saying, you are using their words. You could say things like “It sounds like you are saying…” or “What I'm hearing is…” or other similar statements. This helps the person to know that you really are listening. Don't interrupt the person when they are talking. Instead, show support by allowing them the opportunity to express what they are thinking and feeling without interruption. Only reflect back what they are saying when there is a natural silence in the conversation or when it's clear that they are waiting for feedback. This is not the time to pass judgment or be critical. Listening and showing empathy does not mean that you necessarily agree with what the person is saying; rather it is reflecting that you care about them and what they are experiencing. Avoid saying “I told you so,” “It's really not that big of a deal,” “It can't be that bad,” “You're blowing it out of proportion” or other critical or minimizing comments. Your job during this time is simply to show support and empathy. Guess what the person is feeling. Try to figure out how the person is feeling as you're talking. Some people struggle to put a label on their emotions or may even try to mask their feelings. This happens often when other people have criticized their emotional sensitivity in the past. Others may be confused about what they're feeling. For example, someone may confuse frustration with anger or happiness with excitement. Helping the person identify what they are actually feeling is the first step to validation. Don't tell the person how they are feeling. Instead, provide suggestions. You could say “It sounds like you're feeling pretty disappointed” or “You seem pretty upset” Observe the person's body language and facial expressions as they speak. Also, their tone may give you an idea of how they are feeling. Remember, if you guess wrong, they will correct you. Do not dismiss their correction. Accept that they are the only person who truly knows how they are feeling. Accepting their correction is also validation of their emotions. Focus on understanding the person. This means putting aside your own thoughts or preconceived notions about the situation. Really be present and pay attention to what they are saying. Your agenda should not be to fix the problem or find the solutions. Instead, focus on providing a safe space where the person will feel heard. Avoid trying to offer advice unless you are asked. Trying to give advice may make the person feel like you're being critical and invalidating. Do not try to talk the person out of feeling a certain way. Remember, they have a right to feel how they are feeling. Demonstrating emotional support means acceptance of their right to experience her emotions, whatever they are. Reassure the person that their feelings are normal. It's important that the person feels safe expressing their feelings. This is not the time to be critical of the person or the situation. Your goal is to make them feel supported and understood. Simple brief statements are best. Here are some examples of validating statements: “That's a lot to deal with.” “I'm sorry that this is happening.” “It sounds like that really hurt you.” “I understand.” “That would make me angry too.” Observe your own body language. Most communication is done in a nonverbal manner. This means that your body language is just as important as your verbal language. Make sure your body language reflects that you are paying attention and are demonstrating empathy and not criticism or rejection. Try to nod, smile, and make eye contact as you're listening. Research has shown that people who demonstrate these nonverbal behaviors are often rated as more empathetic by observers. Smiling is especially helpful because the human brain is prewired to recognize smiles. This means that not only will she feel more supported but both the giver and receiver of a smile often feel better quicker. Ask the person what they want to do. If the person feels that they need more emotional support, it's likely that something is imbalanced in their life. This is a great opportunity to help them explore what actions they can take to become emotionally centered again. The person may not have the answer immediately and that's okay. Don't push for a decision right away. They may just need to be heard and feel validated first. Ask “what-if” questions. “What-if” questions will help the person brainstorm possible action steps that they may not have considered before. Presenting options in a question format is less threatening and the person probably won't feel like they are being told what to do. This approach allows you to give suggestions in a supportive manner without stripping away their power. Remember, you are not fixing the problem for the person. You are simply providing them support in finding the solution to the problem herself. For example, if your friend is struggling financially, you could ask, “What if you and your supervisor had a discussion about a pay raise?” Maybe your niece is feeling overwhelmed with work and home responsibilities. You could ask, “What if you planned a stress-free vacation for your family?” Any appropriate “what-if” question could be helpful. Identify an action step. The person may not have all of the answers immediately, but it's important to support them in taking small steps to resolve the problem. Identifying the next step is important, even if it's something small like the person agreeing to have another conversation with you the next day. People tend to feel more supported when they know that they have dependable people in their corner who will help them see the bigger picture. Continue to support the person in taking action steps until the problem is resolved. It may be a slow process but they'll appreciate your support. When a person is grieving, there may not be any specific action steps. People grieve differently and grief can last up to a year or longer. When you are supporting someone through grief, listening to the stories they wants to share and accepting their feelings without minimizing her loss is very important. Sometimes an action step may mean getting help from a mental health professional. Show your support in tangible ways. Sometimes it can be convenient to say things like “I'm here for you if you need me” or “Don't worry. It's all going to work out” instead of actually doing something to help. However, it's really important to actually show your support instead of just giving lip service. After spending time actively listening to the person, you'll probably have some idea about specific things that you could do to help them feel more supported. If you're stuck, here are some guidelines to get your thoughts rolling: Rather than saying “Everything will be fine” you could do everything in your power to help make things better for the person. For example, you could help a sick friend find a good medical specialist or help them research treatment options. In addition to saying “I love you” you could do something for the person that you know they'll appreciate. This could include buying them a gift, spending more time with them, or taking them somewhere special to help them de-stress. Instead of just saying “I'm here for you” you could bring the person dinner or help with tasks that they need to do in order to accomplish the action steps. Follow up with the person. Everyone has a schedule and things get hectic sometimes, but it's important to make time to help the person. They have probably received a lot of verbal support, but this deeper level of support would be appreciated much more. Remember, small acts of kindness really do go a long way. | Walk to a private area. Ask questions. Listen to the person’s response. Restate what the person is saying. Guess what the person is feeling. Focus on understanding the person. Reassure the person that their feelings are normal. Observe your own body language. Ask the person what they want to do. Identify an action step. Show your support in tangible ways. Follow up with the person. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-You%27re-Ready-to-Care-for-a-Bunny | How to Know if You're Ready to Care for a Bunny | To know if you're ready to care for a bunny, decide if you have enough space for a hutch that's at least 12 square feet in size. Additionally, think about the financial costs, which include food, hay, bedding, and vet bills throughout its life. Then, determine whether you'll have time to feed and spot clean its cage every day, which will help keep it healthy and prevent infection. You'll also need to supervise your bunny for an hour or two each day while it's playing outside of the hutch. | . Ensure you have enough space for the cage Before you start thinking about whether or not you can commit the time and effort to look after a rabbit, you need to determine if you can meet the material and practical requirements. The first of these is enough space for your rabbit to live happily and healthily. The hutch or cage should give the rabbit a minimum of 12 square feet of living space. On top of this you should be able to provide a run or alternative exercise space that is at least 32 square feet. Ideally, the living and exercise areas should be one large space, so the rabbit can move freely between the two. You should free roam your rabbit, if you can. It is the best choice, as it provides the rabbit with everything it needs. Rabbits don't belong in cages or hutches, so don't put them in one unless you can't free roam them. Consider the financial costs. There are significant ongoing financial costs in addition to the time you need to spend looking after a rabbit. You will have to commit a significant amount of money at the start to get you set-up and prepared for a rabbit, and then you will have to continue spending on food, hay, bedding and vets bills. Your initial costs to get everything you need to house a rabbit are likely to be between $330 and $390. This includes the adoption fee, cable protectors, hay and other essentials. You will then have to spend perhaps around $85 a month or food, hay, bedding and other ongoing essentials. Vets bills are unpredictable, and can be very expensive, so you may have to factor in pet insurance too. Provide for all a rabbit's nutritional needs. You should be sure that you have a good understanding of the particular nutritional needs of a rabbit, and be completely sure that you will be able to meet them. Rabbits don't just need pellets, they need fresh vegetables, greens and a constant supply of fresh hay to chew on. Rabbits also need constant access to clean fresh water. You can give a rabbit occasional treats, such as fruits like apple and banana. Ensure you can commit enough time. Rabbits generally live for 10-12 years, and they will need a lot of care and affection throughout their lives. Make sure you are prepared to look after him for this long before going any further. As well as the long term commitment, think about the amount of time you will have to spend caring for your rabbit every day and every week. Rabbits need to be fed and watered every day, as well as being given a constant supply of fresh hay. You will need to regularly clean out their houses thoroughly, and spot clean them daily. You will also need to spend time with your rabbits and provide time and space to play and exercise. Be able to bunny proof your house. If your rabbit is going to be living in your house or spending any time in there, you need to be sure that you can completely bunny proof any areas he will be in. Rabbits are very curious creatures who like to chew and gnaw on anything they come across. This includes cables, wires, furniture, carpets and anything else they can find. You will have to get hard plastic covers for any cables within reach to keep your rabbit safe. You should also keep house plants out of reach of your rabbits, as some are poisonous and could make a rabbit ill. Have a rabbit friendly household. You need to think of the environment you are considering bringing a rabbit into broadly. Ask yourself if you have a rabbit friendly family who will be enthusiastic and friendly. If you get a rabbit you might need help looking after him, so talk to your family about whether they would be able to help you out occasionally. Try to agree on who is responsible for what. Perhaps you will take turns cleaning out the hutch, or feeding the bunny. Consider drawing up a rota. You should also consider any pets you already have, and how these might get along with a new rabbit arrival. It is perfectly possible for cats and dogs to get along with and become friends with a rabbit. If you do already have a cat or a dog, think about how you will introduce them to a rabbit, and be prepared to help them get accustomed to each other. Dogs in particular can attack rabbits, so you should get some advice from your vet before bringing a dog and a rabbit together. Recognise that rabbits need company. Rabbits are very sociable creatures and are generally much happier with another rabbit as a companion. If you do decide to get a rabbit, there's a fair chance you will feel the need to get a second rabbit too. You need to be prepared for this from the start and think about the extra costs. Usually a neutered male and a spayed female of a similar size and breed are the best matches. If you do get a second rabbit you will have to spend time helping them to socialise, and be attentive to their relationship. Be ready to feed and clean every day. Taking care of a rabbit isn't just about providing a safe and engaging environment for him. It is also about ensuring you can commit enough time to looking after him. You will have to feed him every day, and refresh his supply of fresh hay and water whenever necessary. You will also have to spot clean his enclosure every day, and give it a more thorough clean once a week. If you are unable to keep his environment clean, he may become ill. It might be smelly work, but it's an essential part of taking care of a bunny. Play and interact with your rabbit. You will also have to commit enough time to play and interact with your rabbit every day. Rabbits need to be let out of their cage or hutch for at least a few hours each day. You will have to be there to supervise to make sure they stay safe. The best time to do is this is generally around dusk when rabbits start to become active. Think about whether or not you are normally home around that time and will be able to sit out with a rabbit while he explores and exercises. In this time you will be able to interact with him and bond. Rabbits tend to be shy, but can become very friendly once they get to know someone. Understand that it's a long-term commitment. Finally, you should remember that looking after a rabbit is a serious long-term commitment. Rabbits can live for more than ten years, and they need a secure, safe and loving home all their lives. They are not low maintenance pets, they require a lot of care and decision to get a rabbit should be taken by the whole family. Rabbits are great fun and make excellent pets, but you need to be certain that you can provide the level of care they require. Every rabbit is different, but a pet rabbit's biology and behaviour is very similar to a wild rabbit. As such, pet rabbits have complicated needs and you need to be sensitive to that. | . Consider the financial costs. Provide for all a rabbit's nutritional needs. Ensure you can commit enough time. Be able to bunny proof your house. Have a rabbit friendly household. Recognise that rabbits need company. Be ready to feed and clean every day. Play and interact with your rabbit. Understand that it's a long-term commitment. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Slow-Computers | How to Fix Slow Computers | If your computer isn't quite as fast as it used to be, try running virus and malware scans to get rid of any unwanted software that might be bogging down your CPU and hard disc. You should always have a lightweight antivirus program installed, like BitDefender or Avast, to catch these issues as they pop up. While you're cleaning out unwanted programs, you should also clean up your hard drive and remove any old programs and files you don't use any more. Always make sure you have at least 25% of your hard drive free to allow programs to read and write quickly. If nothing's working, consider doing a “factory reset” to wipe your computer completely clean. Before you do this, just make sure you have any important files backed up on an external hard drive. | Run virus and malware scans. Viruses and other malware are one of the primary causes of slow performance. Adware can bog down your computer and tie up your network connection, and viruses can make your CPU and hard disk use skyrocket. Removing any malicious programs should be your top priority, and you should always have a lightweight antivirus program installed, such as BitDefender or Avast. Removing viruses can be a difficult process, and oftentimes it may be easier to simply backup and reinstall your operating system instead of trying to track it down and eliminate it. Check your hard drive's health. A failing hard drive can significantly slow down your day-to-day computer speed, and can eventually lead to file corruption and computer failure. All hard drives fail eventually, so it's a good idea to stay on top of your hard drive's health. You can run error-checking tools using the built-in Disk Management utility, or you can download more extensive programs that can perform a variety of tests on your hard drive. Defragment. A fragmented hard drive will slow down your computer and affect the speed at which programs load and write to the hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive on a regular basis will ensure that your programs are loading as fast as possible. Defragmentation happens automatically on most newer versions of Windows, but it important to check in on regularly. Clean up your startup sequence. As you add more and more programs to your computer, you'll find that many of them add themselves to your computer's startup sequence. While this can be useful if you use the programs often, too many programs can have a negative effect on your computer's speed, especially the time it takes to boot up. Removing these unused programs for your computer's startup sequence. Even if you use a program often, it doesn't necessarily need to start up with the computer. Most programs will work fine if you start them up later, so you don't need to clog up your startup sequence with a bunch of programs. Clean up hard drive. If you have less than 15% free space on your hard drive, it could be impacting your system performance. For optimal performance, you should try to keep at least 25% of your hard drive free. This will allow programs to read and write much more quickly. Uninstall old programs you don't use any more, and clean out your old files and documents on a regular basis. CCleaner is a very powerful hard drive cleaning program. The basic version is free and can quickly analyze your computer and clean out unused files and registry entries. Uninstalling old programs is a great way to keep your computer performing well. Many programs run in the background and start up with your computer. If you're not using these programs, they're taking up resources that could be better used elsewhere. Check for misbehaving programs. Some programs, for whatever reason, just don't work very well. When this happens, they may eat up all of your processing power or monopolize your hard drive read and write speed, slowing down everything else on the computer. Identifying and removing these programs will help make sure that everything is running as smoothly as possible. You can see what programs are hogging all of your resources by using the Task Manager. Look for programs that are taking 90% or more of your CPU or are taking the majority of your available memory. You can end these programs from the Task Manager if they're not critical. Install more memory. If you've exhausted all of your free options for speeding up your computer but still aren't getting the performance you want, it may be time for a hardware upgrade. The first place to start looking is your computer's RAM. This is the memory that programs use to temporarily store data while they are running. Generally, installing more RAM will allow you to run more programs at once, though there will be diminishing returns. The general baseline amount of RAM for modern desktop computers is 4 GB. 8 GB is recommended for most gaming computers. RAM is one of the cheaper upgrade options available, and you can have it installed in just a few minutes. When installing desktop memory, you almost always will be installing in pairs. Both sticks will need to be the same manufacturer, model, size, and speed. If they do not match, your RAM will be clocked down to the lowest speed and your computer might not start. Most RAM is sold in pairs. Laptops generally have much less breathing room when it comes to upgrading RAM. Install a faster hard drive. Most standard desktop hard drives run at 7200 RPM, while most standard laptop drives run at 5400 RPM. Upgrading your hard drive to a faster speed, such as a Solid State Drive (SSD), can dramatically improve loading times on your computer. This will be especially notable during the startup phase. If you are upgrading the hard drive that your operating system is installed on, you will need to reinstall your operating system. SSDs are typically much more expensive per GB than a standard hard drive, and as such they are generally smaller. A popular setup is to install your operating system and essential programs on the SSD, and then use a larger standard hard drive for media and document storage. This will give you very fast operating system speeds, and you won't have to worry about the smaller size. Reinstall or upgrade your operating system. Sometimes, the best way to improve performance is to simply wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. Reinstalling Windows will clear your hard drive and improve performance. Upgrading to a newer version of Windows will often increase performance as well, though obtaining a newer version will set you back about $100. If you can, try to format and reinstall your operating system at least once per year. This will ensure that your computer is always running at optimal speed. Many people are put off by the thought of the time investment needed for reinstalling their operating system. If you have a good backup system already in place, you can have your computer formatted and your operating system reinstalled in about an hour. When it comes to reinstalling your old programs, you'll probably find that you actually used less than you thought. Review your startup items. As you install more and more programs on your Mac, you'll find that some of them make their way into your startup process, whether or not you use them regularly. Cleaning out your startup queue can drastically reduce the time it takes OS X to startup. Many programs attach themselves to your startup process but don't actually need to start with your computer. Most programs will run fine if you open them later, speeding up the time it takes your computer to start up. . Clean up the hard drive Having free space on your Mac will help other programs run, and will reduce loading and saving times dramatically. Always try to have at least 15% of your hard disk space free and available. There are several programs available for Mac that can make cleaning up and maintaining your hard drive much easier, such as OnyX, CleanMyMac, and MacKeeper. These allow you to see exactly what types of files are taking up the most space, allowing you to quickly remove files you no longer need. Check for misbehaving programs. Programs will occasionally stop functioning correctly, and when they do they may eat up all of the resources on your computer. Identifying and removing these bad programs will go a long way towards improving your computer's health and performance. The Activity Monitor allows you to check what programs are causing your system the most stress. You can open the Activity Monitor from the Utilities subfolder in the Applications folder. Processes that are taking the majority of your CPU or memory will have a big impact on your computer's performance. Use the columns in Activity Monitor to determine the offending programs. Reinstall OS X. Sometimes simply wiping everything and starting over can give you some of the best performance increases. Reinstalling your operating system will delete everything on your hard drive, so be sure to back everything up first. Once your files are backed up, reinstalling the operating system should only take about an hour. Take stock of the programs you actually use. You may find after reinstalling that you use less programs than you thought you did, meaning more free space and less time spent reinstalling programs. Upgrade your hardware. If you have tried everything but still can't increase your speed, you may want to consider upgrading your Mac's memory. RAM is not incredibly expensive, and it can help improve performance quite a bit. It is not guaranteed to fix everything however, so don't spend too much money for gains you might not even achieve. RAM can be installed in just a few minutes, on both desktops and MacBooks. Different systems require different types of RAM, so be sure to check the documentation for your Mac to see what kind you should get and how much the computer supports. | Run virus and malware scans. Check your hard drive's health. Clean up your startup sequence. Clean up hard drive. Check for misbehaving programs. Install more memory. Install a faster hard drive. Reinstall or upgrade your operating system. Review your startup items. . Check for misbehaving programs. Reinstall OS X. Upgrade your hardware. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Meet-and-Greet-Royalty | How to Meet and Greet Royalty | It can be exciting meeting royalty for the first time, and you'll want to make sure you follow the proper customs for greeting them! To show respect, stand when they enter the room and only sit back down when they do. If you're being introduced, bow or curtsy and address them by their proper title. For instance, you would address the queen as “Your Majesty” and male royalty as “Your Royal Highness.” Unless the royal person initiates contact, you should not shake their hand or touch them in any way, since this is considered rude. | Stand when they enter the room. This is one of the most important things you should do when in the presence of royalty. If you are waiting in a room for the Queen or other royalty to arrive, you want to be sure to rise as soon as you see them enter the room. This is a show of respect for their position. If you happen to be somewhere in public, perhaps sitting in a park, when royalty walks by, be sure to stand up in that situation as well. You should stay standing as long as all royalty is standing, unless you are directed to sit down. For example, if you are going to be having dinner, you would wait until all the royalty is seated. If someone is going to give a speech and you have stood for them, you will most likely sit down when the speech begins. Bow or curtsy if you are a subject of the royalty. Anyone for whom the royal is the head of state should bow or curtsy. This includes you if you are a citizen of the country where the person is royalty. Men should give a slight bow of their head, but not bow with their whole body. Women should give a brief curtsy. If you are not a citizen of the royalty's country, you don't need to bow or curtsy because they are not your head of state. Non-citizens can still bow or curtsy, if they wish to, as a show of respect, but citizens must do this or it will be seen as a sign of disrespect. Address the royalty properly. Part of being royalty means being addressed with terms of honor, so make sure you address royalty respectfully. When greeting the Queen, address her as “Your Majesty” the first time. If you address her after the first time, call her “Ma'am,” pronounced like “jam.” Address male royalty as "Your Royal Highness” the first time, regardless of their rank or title. Use "Sir" at all times after the first time. For female royalty who are not the Queen, you should address them as "Your Royal Highness,” and then "Ma'am" after the first address. Don’t say “pleased to meet you. ” This is a very specific point, but an important one. If you are meeting royalty, it is given that you are pleased to meet them, as it is an honor. Therefore, saying “pleased to meet you” is unnecessary. Royalty may not necessarily be offended by you saying this, but you will definitely look foolish. The best alternative is to simply say “Hello,” or you can use the widely accepted “How do you do?” You must be courteous and give a greeting, but you don't want to come off as foolish by saying the wrong thing. Refrain from physical contact. The general rule is that you do not touch royalty, except in some circumstances when they initiate it. If the Queen or other royalty reaches a hand out for a handshake, grip it briefly and gently. Never give a tight squeeze or a hard shake. Further, never go in for a hug or kiss on the cheek or hand. This type of physical affection with royalty is bad form. There have been one or two instances where the Queen of England put her arm around someone and the person reciprocated the action. It is wise to follow the lead of royalty, but never do something like this unless they do it first. Eat only when the royalty is eating. Tea and light snacks are often part of a meeting with royalty, but you should never eat if they are not eating. Likewise, if you happen to be eating at a dinner with the Queen, once she has stopped, it is customary that everyone stops. If you do have tea and snacks with the Queen, never slurp your tea loudly and take small bites of the food. Slurping and crunching loudly are sure ways to look foolish in front of royalty. Never chew gum when you are meeting royalty as this is disrespectful. Avoid personal information. A sure way to offend royalty is to refer to something in their personal lives that you may have heard about or read in a magazine or tabloid. It is acceptable to engage royalty in small talk if you are in their presence for an extended time, but try to keep the conversation away from personal information. Don't ask about some scandal you heard reported in the news. Don't ask about other members of the royal family. Dress appropriately. It is best form when meeting royalty to dress as you might for a professional interview. In general, royalty would not expect you to be put out by purchasing something expensive specifically for the meeting, but it is courteous to be dressed nicely. A suit for men, or at least dress pants, and a button up shirt and tie is the best option. Women should dress conservatively in either a pantsuit, slacks with a blouse that covers well, or a long dress paired with a sweater or cardigan. | Stand when they enter the room. Bow or curtsy if you are a subject of the royalty. Address the royalty properly. Don’t say “pleased to meet you. Refrain from physical contact. Eat only when the royalty is eating. Avoid personal information. Dress appropriately. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-an-Outdoor-Rabbit | How to Care for an Outdoor Rabbit | To care for an outdoor rabbit, make sure it is in a hutch that is protected from the rain and other elements. Your rabbit should be in a shady area, especially if you live somewhere that gets hot during the summer. To keep your rabbit happy and healthy, 75% of its diet should come from hay and you should supplement that with leafy greens and carrots. Make sure your rabbit gets adequate exercise and consider getting it a friend because rabbits are social creatures. | Decide if your rabbit should stay outdoors at all. Traditionally, pet rabbits have often been kept outside in a pen or “hutch.” And, since you see wild bunnies hopping around all the time, you may assume that your pet will do fine outside as well. But there are many factors to consider. Some organizations now strongly urge that you keep house rabbits indoors at all times. Domesticated rabbits have lost the instincts and skills that keep their wild companions alive, and are not creatures that are suited to isolation, extreme conditions, or surprises (from predators or otherwise). Others contend that it is acceptable to keep rabbits outside during the daytime, when the risk of predators is lower. Domesticated rabbits can die of shock from the mere sight of a predator, so even a secure enclosure may not keep your bunny safe from a raccoon, fox, or neighborhood cat. Still others still say that, with proper preparation and care, full-time outdoor living is fine. As your rabbit's caretaker, the decision is yours. Feed your rabbit more than carrots. Bugs Bunny may have done fine with a single-veggie diet, but real rabbits require lots of hay and diet diversity. The staple of your rabbit's diet should be hay, which should be available at your pet supply store. This should make up about 75% of its diet. Pelleted food should also be a part of your rabbit's diet. Your rabbit should get 1 ounce of hay-based feed per 1 pound of their body weight once a day. Each day, add in some leafy greens and a handful of rabbit pellets, which offer important nutrients. Add various vegetables (yes, including carrots) and some fruits to the mix. Keep its home clean. A rabbit will typically establish 1 or 2 litter areas in its enclosure (let the rabbit decide where, and then place a bunny litter box there), but keeping the area clean in general is important for health and happiness. Do some general clean-up daily, removing soiled straw, etc. Perform a more thorough cleaning at least every 1 to 2 months, removing and replacing bedding materials and the like. Soiled and/or damp bedding will encourage flies, which can bring on maggots that can infest your rabbit and cause “fly strike,” a potentially fatal illness. Don’t leave your rabbit lonely. Wild rabbits are sociable creatures, and that quality has not been bred out of their domesticated cousins. So, if you're going to have a pet rabbit, spend time with it, and consider giving it a friend or two. Check on your rabbit at least once or twice a day, and spend some time with it. Hold it, or let it roam free a bit (in your bathroom, for instance, or an outdoor “rabbit run” enclosure). Many rabbits prefer a companion, so think about adding another compatible bunny — ideally of similar size and age. Make sure they are spayed or neutered, especially if you have boy and girl bunnies together — you know what they say about rabbits! Give your rabbit daily exercise and play time. Rabbits are meant to be active creatures, running and hopping about, and need at least 3 hours of "free range" time per day for exercise. "Free range," however, does not mean loose and unsupervised in the yard, unless you want your bunny pal to become lunch for your neighbor's cat. Your rabbit must either be supervised or placed in a secure "bunny run" that allows plenty of room for horizontal and vertical movement. Rabbits are also curious, sociable, and intelligent, and thus benefit from play time (and so will you!). Games like "bunny bowling" (the rabbit knocking over plastic pins), "fetch" (with you doing the fetching!), and "cardboard castle" (which is inevitably destroyed) are among the many play options. Rabbits enjoy playing with paper, cardboard, hard plastic, or untreated wood toys as well. Avoid treated wood and some varieties such as cherry, redwood, and peach, as these may be toxic. Prepare a proper home. The days of thinking it acceptable to keep a pet rabbit in a small, isolated “hutch” are in the past. Rabbits need a dry, clean, ventilated, safe, well-placed, and relatively roomy home to thrive. Modern outdoor “hutches,” with multiple levels and/or rooms, are suitable for pet rabbits. You can also construct your own bunny home. Look for plans online, but make sure the home will be secure and relatively weather-tight. As 1 example, you can create an exercise pen (or “rabbit run”) for your bunny to use daily out of wooden framing, rabbit fencing, and a plywood top and bottom. It should be at least 8 by 2.75 by 2.75 feet (2.44 by 0.84 by 0.84 m) to give your rabbit enough room to run and hop about. Protect your rabbit from predators and itself. As noted, domesticated rabbits can die simply from the shock of seeing a predator, so making sure other animals can't get in and your bunny can't get out are essential. If you've ever had wild rabbits invade your flower bed or garden patch, you know they'll eat just about anything. So, especially if your rabbit ever runs free in your enclosed yard, avoid having poisonous plants around. Also, anywhere your rabbit will be, take care to secure electrical wiring and keep it out of tooth-range. There are many plants that can be toxic for rabbits, including aloe, begonia, daffodil bulb, Easter lily, and geranium. Check before you give anything new to your rabbit. Keep things dry. When it comes to an outdoor rabbit home, dampness leads to dirtiness leads to sickness, such as the “fly strike” as previously mentioned. Give your rabbit home a roof that resists rain — it can be plywood, corrugated panels, or even plastic sheeting or a tarpaulin. Repair and replace the roof as necessary to keep the rain out. During heavy rain or snow, consider moving your rabbit (by having a mobile home or second home) to a drier location such as a porch, garage, basement, or just in the main house. A bad thunderstorm can frighten a pet rabbit to death, so bring it in if possible. Beat the summer heat. If you've spotted wild rabbits near your home in the summertime, they've probably been lounging in the shade or in a hole they've dug in your yard. Rabbits like to stay comfortably cool year-round. Place your rabbit's home in a shady area, and/or provide shade with a roof or screening material. Make sure the enclosure is well-ventilated to prevent overheating, however. You can also try freezing plastic water bottles and putting them in the enclosure. This will provide your rabbit with some cool spots to lounge. Make sure your rabbit always has a fresh water supply in warm weather. Make winter warmer. With a properly insulated and protected home, rabbits can withstand the winter cold, although you may consider just keeping them inside — at least at night — during the coldest time of year. Before winter arrives, repair the rabbit's home, taking special care to fix any leaks or damp spots. Damp is bad, and damp and cold is especially bad for rabbit health. Add additional bedding as insulation. You can also line walls and floors with layers of newspaper. Consider covering areas of fencing with plastic sheeting, and covering the home with a tarp or blanket at night. You want to reduce drafts and hold in warmth, but make sure you allow some ventilation. You can purchase special heaters for a rabbit home, but make sure any electrical wiring is out of reach. There are also special bunny heating pads, or you can just nestle (securely closed) plastic bottles full of warm (not hot) water in the bedding several times per day. Check on your rabbit friend more often than usual in cold weather. Make sure its water supply is not frozen, and provide extra food to give it the energy it needs to fend off cold weather. | Decide if your rabbit should stay outdoors at all. Feed your rabbit more than carrots. Keep its home clean. Don’t leave your rabbit lonely. Give your rabbit daily exercise and play time. Prepare a proper home. Protect your rabbit from predators and itself. Keep things dry. Beat the summer heat. Make winter warmer. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Cialis | How to Use Cialis | Before you can use Cialis, you'll need to visit your doctor for a prescription, as well as instructions on how to use it. In most cases, you'll be advised to take one entire pill with water, before or after food. If you're taking Cialis daily, try to take it at the same time every day. While you're on Cialis, avoid drinking more than 1-2 alcoholic drinks, which can cause side effects and affect the potency of the drug. If you feel light-headed, nauseous, have chest pain during sex, ringing ears, or an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, speak to your doctor so they can help you adjust your dosage. | Get a prescription for Cialis Daily for regular use. You can use Cialis on a daily basis at a lower dosage. Cialis Daily helps to prevent erectile dysfunction 24 hours a day. This may be a good option if you plan to have sex at least 2-3 times a week. Cialis Daily will come in doses of 2.5 to 5 mg. Obtain a prescription for Cialis As Needed for occasional use. This type is best if you do not plan to have sex regularly, but want to have the medication on hand. Cialis Regular will have a higher dosage and is not designed for daily or regular use. Cialis As Needed will be prescribed in doses of 5 to 20 mg. Take no more than 1 dose of Cialis a day. Consume Cialis orally with water. Swallow the pill whole. Do not chew on it or break it apart. If you are using Cialis Daily, you will need to take 1 dose at the same time every day. Taking more than 1 dose every 24 hours can cause heart issues and other problems. Eat a small amount of food with Cialis. To prevent stomach problems, have a small meal before or after you take Cialis. Avoid eating a large meal or a lot of food, as this can slow down the effects of the drug. Have Cialis As Needed 30 minutes before you plan to have sex. The medication will be effective for up to 36 hours. If you are taking Cialis Daily, you do not need to take it before you plan to have sex. Just make sure you take it at the same time every day. Use sexual stimulation to help the medication kick in. Taking Cialis does not mean you are guaranteed to get an erection. You will still need to be sexually stimulated to be able to get an erection and maintain it. Communicate with your partner and interact with them after you take Cialis to help the medication work. Try being romantic in bed and being intimate with your partner to help the medication kick in. Avoid taking Cialis if you are on heart medication. Nitrate medications used to treat chest pain or heart problems can interact negatively with Cialis. Do not take Cialis if you are taking medication for hypertension (high blood pressure). You should also avoid taking Cialis if you are taking medication for liver or kidney issues. Your doctor should discuss the medications you are taking and confirm Cialis is safe for you before prescribing it to you. Do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Having a lot of alcohol while on Cialis can cause side effects and affect the potency of the drug. Limit yourself to 1-2 alcoholic drinks when you take Cialis. Avoid having grapefruit while on this medication. Grapefruit juice and products containing grapefruit can interact negatively with Cialis, causing side effects. Watch for the side effects of Cialis. You may experience headaches, nausea, upset stomach, or become flushed when you take Cialis. You may also develop muscle pain, especially in your back, arms, or legs. This side effects should fade away as your body get used to the medication. If your side effects do not go away or they become worse, stop taking Cialis and see your doctor right away. Speak to your doctor if you feel light-headed or have chest pain during sex. You should also see your doctor if you feel nauseous, dizzy, or like you are going to pass out. These are all possible symptoms of a heart problem caused by Cialis. You may also experience ringing in your ears, temporary hearing loss, and vision issues. See your doctor if your erection lasts longer than 4 hours. An erection that lasts longer than 4 hours can cause damage to your penis. Head to your doctor's office or the nearest medical center right away so the issue can be addressed. Discuss lowering your dosage with your doctor. Your doctor may suggest you try taking less Cialis on a regular basis or spreading out your dosage so you only take it occasionally. They may also ask you about how you are taking Cialis to ensure you are using it correctly so you are not at risk of any issues. Switch to another medication if you are at risk of heart issues. If Cialis is putting you at risk of developing heart problems or a heart attack, your doctor may suggest that you try another medication. They may recommend another erectile dysfunction medication you can try to address this issue. | Get a prescription for Cialis Daily for regular use. Obtain a prescription for Cialis As Needed for occasional use. Take no more than 1 dose of Cialis a day. Eat a small amount of food with Cialis. Have Cialis As Needed 30 minutes before you plan to have sex. Use sexual stimulation to help the medication kick in. Avoid taking Cialis if you are on heart medication. Do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Avoid having grapefruit while on this medication. Watch for the side effects of Cialis. Speak to your doctor if you feel light-headed or have chest pain during sex. See your doctor if your erection lasts longer than 4 hours. Discuss lowering your dosage with your doctor. Switch to another medication if you are at risk of heart issues. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Determine-the-Fair-Market-Value-of-a-Vehicle | How to Determine the Fair Market Value of a Vehicle | To determine the fair market value of a vehicle, use a website like Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book. Navigate to the main page, then click the tab or icon that says "Price My Car" or something similar. Next, enter the year and model of your vehicle, the car's mileage, and your zip code or city name. Then, list your car's amenities, such as power windows and locks, sunroof, or leather interior. Lastly, input your car's overall condition, then print out a copy of your final report. | Go to Edmunds (www.edmunds.com) or Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com). On the main page of each site, look for a tab or icon that states “Price My Car” or something similar. After you click on this tab it will take you to a brief form to fill out. The website will then use the information that you supply to come up with a market value estimate for your car. These sites will give you an estimate free of charge in most cases. If you choose to list your vehicle for sale on their site, there may be additional fees. Enter in the exact year and model for your vehicle. After you leave the main website and head into the used car category, one of the first pieces of information that you'll need to supply will be the date of creation for the vehicle and the model (or type of body) for the vehicle. This information should be listed on your owner's manual or may even appear on the inside of your driver's door. If you are uncertain of the year, enter in a date range. If you are uncertain about the model, look up similar vehicles online until you find one that looks that same as yours. Provide your car’s mileage. Look at the odometer on your car and you'll see a series of numbers that shows the car's mileage. You may need to turn on your car to see this display on newer vehicles. Then, enter in this number where prompted on the FMV website. Put simply, cars with fewer miles are almost always worth more than those with many miles. Plug in your zipcode or city name. This information allows the website to tailor your car's FMV to your particular area. This is important because the FMV of a vehicle can shift according to supply and demand. If the demand for your type of car is high in your area, then your FMV will reflect this. For example, if you live in a city area, then smaller vehicles may be in demand and could end up with high FMVs. List out all of your car’s options and amenities. Walk around your car from bumper to bumper and write down everything that makes it unique compared to other vehicles. Many of these options will be for a driver's convenience or comfort, such as power windows and locks. You might also list chrome bumpers/mirrors, AC, window tinting, sunroof, leather interior, sound system extras, and any guidance systems. Be honest about your car’s condition. It sometimes helps to assess your car in terms of exterior, interior, and mechanical condition. Note any flaws in these separate areas. Then, read over the levels provided by the website and chose the one that most closely fits your vehicle. For example, a car that no longer runs might be assessed as “Poor” or “Not Running” in the mechanical category. Save or print out copies of your final report. After you've entered in all of the requested information, click the tab on the bottom to get your pricing report. When the report pulls up, read over it. Then, save a PDF to your computer and print out a few copies for your reference. Potential buyers might also want a copy of the FMV estimate. This lets them know that your asking price is fair and reasonable. Recognize that FMV is different than trade-in value. According to the Internal Revenue Service, a FMV is an estimate of the sales amount that a private seller and buyer would agree to for a vehicle. In contrast, a trade-in value is what a dealership would offer. It's also important to note that the FMV is calculated based on the actions of willing buyers/sellers, not ones under duress. Trade-in values for used cars are also often altered by dealers to boost vehicle sales. An FMV estimate is more consistent. Enter in reasonable comparison details if you don’t know the exact information. If you are looking up an estimate for someone else or if you are researching an older vehicle, you may not know every detail requested by the website. That's okay. Enter in a number of years or a series of options to create a workable value range. For example, if you know that the car was made in the late 1990s, enter in 1996, 1997, 1998, and, 1999. Note how the values differ with each year. Compare your car to others currently for sale. Look at the automobile listings in your local newspaper. Or, go to a used auto sales website such as www.autotrader.com, enter in your zipcode, and search for similar cars in your area. Make note of the asking prices for cars that are similar to your own. For example, if you are selling a 1999 Mustang and see a 2000 model in your local paper, note the price. It's probably a bit higher than your car's FMV, but may be pretty close to it. Adjust your FMV if you take a while to sell your car. Your car's FMV is time-specific, meaning that it can change if you take months or even years to donate or sell your vehicle. Every month or so re-visit the estimate websites and enter in your car's information to get an up-to-date FMV. You may also want to change your car's asking price based on this new estimate. For example, you may find that the FMV for a convertible might actually go up during the warmer months, as they are more in demand. Clean your car on the inside and out. You can do this yourself or you can take it to a detailing place. If you can remove any imperfections, such as stains on the upholstery, then this will increase your car's value. If you have a few dings on the exterior, buy touch-up paint and make these corrections, too. Professional detailing can be costly. Weigh the benefits of a boosted FMV versus the out-of-pocket cost for cleaning. Pay a mechanic to assess and fix any mechanical problems. If your car is newer or collectible, take it a local, trusted mechanic and ask them to evaluate it for any issues. Then, decide if the cost of fixing these problems will boost your FMV up enough to warrant the expense. Even making minor repairs, such as replacing the window wipers, might pay off if you can report a higher condition rating for your vehicle. | Go to Edmunds (www.edmunds.com) or Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com). Enter in the exact year and model for your vehicle. Provide your car’s mileage. Plug in your zipcode or city name. List out all of your car’s options and amenities. Be honest about your car’s condition. Save or print out copies of your final report. Recognize that FMV is different than trade-in value. Enter in reasonable comparison details if you don’t know the exact information. Compare your car to others currently for sale. Adjust your FMV if you take a while to sell your car. Clean your car on the inside and out. Pay a mechanic to assess and fix any mechanical problems. |
https://www.wikihow.health/Alleviate-Indigestion | How to Alleviate Indigestion | To alleviate uncomfortable indigestion, take an over-the-counter antacid right after you finish eating and before you go to bed. The antacid neutralizes the acid in your stomach so it causes less irritation to the tissues of your digestive tract. For a home remedy, try drinking milk to protect your stomach and esophagus from stomach acid, or eat a bowl of oatmeal to absorb the acid. Peppermint tea and ginger are also great for settling indigestion and calming nausea. To prevent indigestion, try eating smaller meals more often throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, and chew your food slowly. This will keep your stomach from being overburdened or stretched. | Recognize indigestion. Most indigestion is mild and can be dealt with at home. However, if you have severe indigestion or extreme discomfort, then you should see a doctor to make sure there is nothing more serious occurring. The symptoms include: Nausea. In some cases, people may even vomit. Feeling bloated or uncomfortably full. Pain or burning in the stomach, intestines, or esophagus. Take an antacid. These medications are available over-the-counter. They neutralize the acid in your stomach so it is not as acidic. This means it causes less irritation to the tissues of your digestive tract. Take one immediately when your feel the symptoms start. If you frequently get indigestion after dinner, take one right after eating, and if necessary, then again before you go to bed. They are generally effective for anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. You can purchase them at your local pharmacy. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. and do not take more than recommended. Consult a doctor before taking them if you are pregnant, nursing, or treating a child. Add an alginate. These substances create a foam that floats in your stomach and prevents stomach acid from entering your esophagus. Alginates are more effective if you take them after eating. This means they stay in your stomach longer and work at the times when you have the most acid. Some antacids also have an alginate in them. Read the information on the packaging to determine if yours does. If you are pregnant, nursing, or treating a child, talk to a doctor to make sure they are ok for your situation. Use a home remedy. There are several common foods and household items that can help relieve indigestion. These methods haven't been scientifically tested, but some people find them to be effective. Contact your doctor before adding any herbal remedies or supplements to make sure it won't interact with any other medications you may be on. Some remedies to try include: Milk — Milk will help coat the lining of your esophagus and stomach, protecting it from your stomach acids. Oatmeal — Eating a bowl of oatmeal will help absorb some of the excess stomach acid. Peppermint tea — This can help soothe your intestines and reduce nausea. STW5 — This is a supplement which has bitter candytuft, peppermint, caraway, and licorice. It is thought to reduce the production of stomach acid. Artichoke leaf extract — This may help digestion by increasing bile. Ginger — Ginger can help settle your stomach and combat nausea. You can take ginger by brewing a tea, eating candied ginger, or drinking ginger ale. If you chose to drink ginger ale, try allowing it to go flat first so the carbonated gas doesn't make your indigestion worse. Consult your doctor about stronger medications. Some of these medications may be available over-the-counter, and others may require a prescription. However, you should discuss them with your doctor before trying them. This is very important if you are pregnant, nursing, or treating a child. There are several possible medications to try: Proton pump inhibitors — These medications reduce the amount of acid your body produces. However, they may interact with other medications used to treat epilepsy or prevent blood clots. They may also cause side effect which include headaches, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, gas, discomfort in the stomach, dizziness, and rashes, and may decrease the absorption of iron and B12 vitamins. H2-receptor antagonists — These medications make your stomach acid less acidic. These are usually used after antacids, alginates, and proton pump inhibitors have not been successful. They are considered very safe, with few side effects. Antibiotics — These are prescribed if your indigestion stems from an infection of H. pylori bacteria. Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications —These medications may reduce the pain caused by your indigestion. Reduce your intake of foods that often cause indigestion. Foods that may set off indigestion include: Fatty, heavy foods, such as fast food. Spicy foods. This is particularly true if you usually eat bland foods. Chocolate. Carbonated drinks like sodas. Caffeine. This includes drinking too much coffee or tea. Reduce your alcohol consumption. Alcohol causes your body to increase the amount of stomach acid it produces. This increases the likelihood of the acid irritating your digestive tract. Mixing alcohol with painkillers, like aspirin, can increase the damage to your stomach. Eat small meals more often. This will prevent you from overburdening your stomach with more food than it can handle. It will also avoid stretching your stomach, which can also be uncomfortable. Try eating five or six meals instead of three. You can do this by adding small meals between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner. Eat slowly and chew your food well. This will make your food easier to digest. Don’t eat right before bed. Eat your last meal at least three hours before you lie down. This will reduce the likelihood that excess stomach acid will go up into your esophagus. When you do sleep, put extra pillows under your head and shoulders. This will make it harder for acid to flow up into your esophagus. . Quit Smoking Smoking can damage the muscle that prevents acid from flowing up from your stomach into your esophagus. The muscle may become looser making your more susceptible to acid reflux. The chemicals in cigarette smoke may also cause indigestion. Reduce stress. Stress can make you more prone to indigestion. Try using common relaxation techniques to control your stress. Many people use some or all of the following techniques: Meditation Deep breathing Yoga Visualize calming images Progressively tensing and then relaxing the different muscle groups in your body Control your weight. Being overweight increases the pressure on your stomach. You can maintain a healthy weight by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. Try to do 75 to 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. This could include running, walking, biking, swimming, or playing sports. The exercise will also help you mange stress. Eat a healthy diet that includes lean meats, low fat dairy products, whole grain breads, and several servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Women will usually be able to lose weight safely on a diet which gives them 1,200–1,500 calories per day. Men will generally lose weight with 1,500–1,800 calories per day. This should enable you to lose approximately one pound per week. Do not try more extreme dieting unless you are under a doctor's supervision. Evaluate your medications. Don't stop or change your medications without consulting your doctor first. Your doctor may be able to recommend an alternative that won't aggravate your indigestion. Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen may exacerbate indigestion. Nitrates, which are given to widen blood vessels, may make you more prone to having acid reflux. This happens because they can weaken the muscle that keeps the opening between your esophagus and stomach. If changing to other medications is not possible, your doctor may suggest taking them with food. Recognize a heart attack. Heart attacks require immediate attention from emergency responders. The following symptoms are indicative of cardiac distress and not indigestion: Shortness of breath. Sweating. Chest pain going to the jaw, neck or arm. Pain in your left arm. Chest pain when you are physically active or stressed. Call your doctor immediately if you have severe symptoms. Severe symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying problem. Look out for: Vomiting blood. Bloody, black, or tarry stool. Difficulty swallowing. Exhaustion or anemia. Loss of appetite. Weight loss. A lump in your stomach. Get an exam. Your doctor will check you for other digestive disorders such as: Gastritis. Ulcers. Celiac disease. Gallstones. Constipation. Pancreatitis. Cancers of the digestive system. Intestinal problems such as blockages or reduced blood flow. | Recognize indigestion. Take an antacid. Add an alginate. Use a home remedy. Consult your doctor about stronger medications. Reduce your intake of foods that often cause indigestion. Reduce your alcohol consumption. Eat small meals more often. Don’t eat right before bed. . Reduce stress. Control your weight. Evaluate your medications. Recognize a heart attack. Call your doctor immediately if you have severe symptoms. Get an exam. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Decorate-a-Girl%27s-Room | How to Decorate a Girl's Room | If you want to decorate a girl's room, start by asking her what she wants the room to look like. Use her favorite colors and her personal interests as inspiration as you pick items for the room, but keep in mind that her tastes may change in a few years. Opt for a light, neutral color on the walls, then pick 2-3 accent colors for the decorations in the room, including framed art, bedding, and decorative items. Use bookshelves and storage bins to organize the girl's toys, games, and books to keep her newly-decorated room neat and organized! | Ask her what she wants her room to look like. Since she's going to be spending a lot of time in the room, get the girl's input before you start decorating. Remind her that you want to respect what she wants, but you also want the room to still look appealing in a few years. Be sure to make note of her interests, favorite colors, and anything else she wants. You don't have to include all of her interests, but you can try to base the room off of her general likes and dislikes. For instance, if she likes animals, instead of painting a jungle mural on the wall, you can look for bedding and photos that have pictures of wildlife and animals on them. If she enjoys cartoons, you can hang up framed pictures of her favorite characters on the wall. Then, use the color of her favorite character for the accent colors in the room. For a princess-themed bedroom, incorporate “royal” elements, like crowns, floral prints, and a few sparkly and shiny fixtures to make the room seem more magical. Select a light, neutral color for the walls to brighten up the space. Choose a color that will coordinate with a variety of different shades and themes to avoid having to repaint again as she gets older. Opt for a color like white, pastel pink, light blue, or light yellow for the walls to make the space look larger and more open. Try to stay away from dark, vibrant colors that she might not like in a few years, like pink, purple, navy blue, red, or even black. It's difficult to coordinate other colors with these shades. Opt for a dynamic wallpaper for a bolder, more permanent look. Pick a wallpaper with a large, eye-catching print, and hang it on an accent wall to draw the eye to the focal point of the room. Try to pick a timeless design or pattern, like stripes, florals, or even a solid color with a shiny, foiled print. Keep in mind that it's a lot more difficult to remove wallpaper than it is to simply repaint a wall. Make sure you pick a design that can grow with her interests and taste. Pick 2-3 accent colors to use for decorations throughout the room. Choose from her favorite colors to make the color scheme. You can even use a piece of art, a wallpaper pattern, or a fabric design as your inspiration. This will keep the room looking colorful without appearing over-decorated or uncoordinated. For instance, if she likes pink, you can make your color scheme white, pink, and gold for a classic girly look. If she enjoys nature and animals, go for a tan, green, and yellow color scheme to incorporate outdoor scenes. Pick a stylish bed frame in a twin, double, or queen size. Measure the perimeter of the room to see how much space you have to place the furniture. If you have limited space, opt for a twin bed. If you have more space, choose a double or queen bed. Select a frame made from durable materials, like metal or wood. Then, you can add fun, removable decorations to the bed to fit the room's theme. For instance, if you want to buy a princess bed, consider getting a classic four-post bed and hanging a removable canopy on top of it. Then, if she loses interest in princesses, she can take the canopy off of the bed for a more mature look. In a jungle-themed room, you might opt for a simple iron bed frame, and then wrap fake vines and plants around the bed posts and headboard. It's easy to remove the vines and re-purpose them for another project if she wants to change the style of the room in the future. Wooden and iron frames are always popular choices for children's beds because they're sturdy and stylish. Coordinate the size of the furniture you choose with the size of the room. You don't want large furniture in a small room since it will make the room feel cramped. Similarly, small furniture in a large room can feel off. Select a coordinating dresser and nightstand to store clothes and other items. Choose a dresser and nightstand that might be larger than necessary to fit her changing wardrobe. As a general rule, pick a dresser and nightstand that have the same style as the bed frame, whether it's rustic, modern, or classic. In some cases, you may be able to get a deal on matching sets from a furniture store to make coordinating easier. For example, if the room has a rustic theme with floral accents, it might be better to choose a vintage-looking dresser and nightstand, rather than modern variations. If you're going for a simple, modern look, you might opt for white modular furniture that's easy to mix and match. Be sure to anchor any tall or heavy pieces of furniture to the wall to keep them from falling over. Use bookshelves and storage bins to hold toys, games, and books. Storage is extremely important for a child's room. Purchase colorful plastic bins and a sturdy wooden bookshelf to hold all of her items when she isn't using them. Store the bins under the bed or on a low shelf for easy access and to keep them out of the way. It may be helpful to label the bins to make sure she knows what goes where. Once the room is finished, show her where everything goes in its new spot. Place the bed against a wall to maximize space in the room. When you get a bed, position it with one side along a wall, and make sure it's not blocking any vents or outlets. If the bed is too long to sit horizontally against the wall, you can place the bed with the head against a wall and the end facing into the center of the room. Placing the bed in a corner is a popular option because it takes up a small amount of space and leaves plenty of room in the middle of the floor. Arrange the dresser and other furniture around the perimeter of the room. Most people choose to place the furniture along the walls of the room to leave an open space in the middle for playing. Make sure larger items, like dressers and bookshelves, aren't blocking the windows and doors. Position a nightstand next to the bed to hold items she might need in bed, like a TV remote or a glass of water. For large, heavy furniture, like bookshelves and dressers, anchor the pieces to the wall using a furniture anchoring kit to prevent them from tipping over. Make a reading or homework area with a table and chair. If the room is large enough, get a comfortable chair and an appropriate-height table to make a work or craft area. Make sure there's enough light for reading, and position arts supplies, paper, pencils, and books on a nearby shelf or in a bin for easy access. This will help to make the room multipurpose. You can even refinish an older desk for an easy and inexpensive study or craft table for her room. Choose a duvet and throw pillows in a fun print or color. Since these can easily be switched out as she gets older, let her pick the bedding and throw pillows that she likes. Give her a few options for colors or let her pick the colors and designs that she likes. This is an easy way to add a pop of color, especially if the walls are a lighter, neutral shade. For example, if the room is princess themed, you can choose a duvet that has a castle on it with ruffle pillows. For a dinosaur theme, you might choose a duvet that has a cartoon dinosaur print on it and solid-colored pillows in green, yellow, and light blue to match the room's color scheme. Pick a patterned rug to lay under or next to the bed. Choose a rug in a fun, themed design for the room. Position it alongside one side of the bed, or place it under the foot of the bed with a bit peeking out from the end and sides. This will help to cushion her feet as she gets out of bed and can act as a play space. It's easy to replace rugs as they get worn. Don't worry about the design being too bold or colorful since it's on the floor and can provide contrast for the room. For instance, if you're decorating a princess-themed room, you might look for a rug that has Cinderella's castle on it. Put a lamp on the nightstand or near the bed for softer lighting. Some younger kids are afraid of the dark and might need a night light or lamp to be able to sleep. Choose one with a dimmable light that's safe to leave on for longer periods of time, and choose a lamp shade in one of your accent colors. Make sure you have a nearby outlet before you decide where to place the lamp. If the lamp ends up being far away from the bed, consider getting a remote-control switch so she can turn off the lamp from bed without having to get up. For example, in a carnival-themed room, you might add a lampshade that has vertical red and white stripes to mimic a circus tent. In a cartoon-themed room, you might choose a simple, modern base for the lamp and add a lampshade in a solid, bright accent color, like pink, purple, green, blue, or red. Hang up simple curtains or blinds for added privacy. Choose a set of curtains or blinds that fit the size and shape of the window. If you're using curtains, secure a curtain rod to the top of the window using a drill and brackets, and put the curtains on the rod before you rest the rod in the brackets. Make sure they close all the way and don't pool on the floor. If you're installing blinds , follow the directions on the package to make sure they're secure, as the hanging procedure will vary greatly depending on the brand and type of blind.. For blinds, make sure the cords are tucked out of reach, especially if the girl is younger. They can be a choking hazard if left dangling. When it comes to picking curtains, opt for 1-2 of your accent colors in a solid color or simple print, like stripes or small polka dots. Put up photos and art that fit the theme of the room. Pick 2-3 pieces of art or framed pictures, and place them throughout the room. Choose open spaces, like above the bed or resting on top of a dresser. This will help make the theme more pronounced and obvious to anyone who sees the room. For instance, if you're doing a faerie theme, you can hang up a print of Tinkerbell above the bed. Then, position other faerie-themed pictures throughout the room. For a jungle theme, try framing animal pictures from National Geographic and hanging 4-6 of them in a grid on the wall for a fun art installation. Place mementos and awards throughout the room where she can see them. Most girls have pictures, certificates, and items that are really important to them, and you can easily use these to decorate her room. Position them on a special shelf to reduce clutter, and frame important awards and pictures from big moments to put them on the wall. For smaller mementos, like pins, medals, notes, or tickets, organize a shadow box and place it on a shelf or hang it on the wall where she can see it. If she has a favorite item, like a stuffed animal or a figurine given to her by a loved one, put it somewhere easily accessible but safe, like on the top of the dresser, nightstand, or bookshelf. String twinkle lights along the ceiling for a fun lighting and art fixture. Overhead lights might be too bright for a child who's trying to get to sleep. Put adjustable hooks on the wall near the ceiling every 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) to hang string lights around the perimeter of the room. For easier maintenance, use a timer switch to have them automatically turn on before bed time. String lights are also popular in rooms for teens, too, so you may be able to keep them hung up as she grows. | Ask her what she wants her room to look like. Select a light, neutral color for the walls to brighten up the space. Opt for a dynamic wallpaper for a bolder, more permanent look. Pick 2-3 accent colors to use for decorations throughout the room. Pick a stylish bed frame in a twin, double, or queen size. Select a coordinating dresser and nightstand to store clothes and other items. Use bookshelves and storage bins to hold toys, games, and books. Place the bed against a wall to maximize space in the room. Arrange the dresser and other furniture around the perimeter of the room. Make a reading or homework area with a table and chair. Choose a duvet and throw pillows in a fun print or color. Pick a patterned rug to lay under or next to the bed. Put a lamp on the nightstand or near the bed for softer lighting. Hang up simple curtains or blinds for added privacy. Put up photos and art that fit the theme of the room. Place mementos and awards throughout the room where she can see them. String twinkle lights along the ceiling for a fun lighting and art fixture. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Brush-Teeth-Without-Toothpaste | How to Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste | If you need to brush your teeth but you don't have any toothpaste, try brushing with items you find around the house instead. For instance, if you have sea salt, you could dip your wet toothbrush into 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt, then gently brush your teeth. Sea salt has antibacterial properties and can neutralize acids that cause tooth decay, but it can also be very abrasive, so don't use it on your teeth regularly. Other household ingredients you could use include baking soda, natural soap, and coconut oil. | Understand the components of homemade toothpaste. Homemade toothpaste can be adapted to your specific needs and tastes, but ensure you are including the following types of ingredients: A cleaning substance. An abrasive to loosen plaque. An emulsifier to help the various ingredients mix well. A sweetening agent to make the toothpaste palatable. A flavoring agent (optional, but helpful both for taste and freshening your breath). Try a basic recipe. Start with a proven method and experiment from there to determine your tastes and preferences. One common recipe includes the following ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon glycerin (a sweetener) 1/8 teaspoon mild neutral soap powder (a cleanser) 1 tablespoon calcium carbonate, which is often sold as chalk of Paris White (an abrasive) 1/2 teaspoon gum arabic, commonly sold at health food stores (an emulsifier) A couple drops of peppermint oil (a flavoring agent) 1/8 cup water Cook your ingredients to form a paste. Combine all ingredients, then heat and stir for five minutes over medium heat, or until your mixture has achieved a paste-like appearance. You can make a year's supply of homemade toothpaste for one-tenth the price of purchasing a market brand. Experiment with different flavorings. Making your own toothpaste can be an especially useful solution if you harbor a strong dislike of the mint flavoring used in most commercial toothpastes. As your homemade toothpaste doesn't have all the ingredients found in commercial toothpaste (for better and for worse) consider alternating between your homemade toothpaste and a commercial toothpaste every two weeks. When using a homemade toothpaste, consider following with a mouthwash. Recognize the benefits of tooth powder ingredients. As with homemade toothpaste, tooth powder can be made using a variety of recipes. Often these natural products may sound a bit baffling — clay on your teeth? — so understanding the reasoning behind the ingredients in a sample tooth powder recipe is important: Bentonite clay: this natural clay can bind to toxins in your body — including the mercury that may be found in dental fillings. It is also rich in materials that can nourish teeth and gums. Baking soda: baking soda is a wonderful natural abrasive, and its alkaline qualities neutralize damaging acid. Sage: sage is a natural tooth-whitener and astringent. Xylitol: this natural sweetener is an important pH neutralizer and will help make homemade tooth powder more palatable. Be aware that xylitol is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of your pet's reach. Sea salt: sea salt contains tooth-strengthening minerals and can alleviate gum inflammation. Don't use too much salt as large amounts may lead to swollen gums. Peppermint: peppermint has antibacterial, antiseptic, and pain-relieving properties in addition to its breath-freshening qualities. Combine ingredients and mix thoroughly. Use a non-metal spoon as some metals may react with your ingredients. Mix 2 tablespoons bentonite clay, 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon dried, finely ground sage leaf, 1 tablespoon xylitol, and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Drip 15 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil into the mixture and stir thoroughly to combine. Place in a container or jar with a tight-fitting lid, or consider placing in a squirt-top container (the grain of your mixture will be fine enough to "squirt"). Avoid metal containers. Store in a dry location. Apply the dry mixture to your toothbrush. Dip your toothbrush in the powder, or squirt from your squirt-top bottle onto your damp toothbrush. Use just as you would commercial toothpaste. Scrub with sea salt. Sea salt contains trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, sodium, nickel, and iron that can strengthen your gums, fight tartar build-up, freshen your breath, and possibly even whiten your teeth over time. The iodine in sea salt has antibacterial properties and can neutralize acids that cause tooth decay. Keep in mind, though, that salt can retain water, which can make cause pain in your gums. It's also abrasive and could wear down the enamel if used regularly. Dip a wet toothbrush into 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt and brush very gently. Try to avoid your gums, as sea salt may cause your gums to become inflamed and painful — especially if you are not used to this method. Use extra caution the first time you try this method. Alternatively, try rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in 4 ounces of warm water, then swish for 30 seconds. Spit out the solution when you're done. This saltwater rinse can help heal swollen or inflamed gums and rinse away bacteria. Brush with baking soda. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has long been recognized as a natural way to clean and whiten your teeth. Because baking soda is highly alkaline, it works to neutralize acids that can cause tooth decay. It also kills bacteria and freshens your breath. Mix baking soda with water until it reaches a paste-like consistency, then use it to brush as you normally would. You may also consider combining baking soda with sea salt to make a variation on homemade toothpaste. Use a natural soap. While we aren't usually accustomed to the taste of soap in our mouths, natural soaps are an effective tooth cleanser. Try a mild product such as unscented olive oil soap. Try coconut oil. Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties — and it tastes, of course, like coconut. You may also consider combining it with ingredients such as baking soda. Use a miswak stick. Humans have used the sticks of the Salvadora persica tree to clean their teeth for over 4,000 years. The fibers of this tree contain sodium bicarbonate and silica — both abrasive enough to remove stains. These twigs also contain natural antiseptics, resin that may form a protective barrier over your teeth, and essential oils to freshen your breath. To use a miswak stick, use your back molars to chew the bark off the end of one of the sticks and separate the fibrous "bristles" by chewing on the pulp. Use the resulting bristles to clean your teeth. Never bite hard things with your front teeth, as they are not able to support high-pressure forces and can easily chip or break. Irrigate your mouth with a water pick. A water pick is a kind of a pressure washer for your teeth, commonly recommended by orthodontists to supplement brushing for patients with braces. Anyone, however, can benefit from using a water pick. Oral irrigation cleanses below the surface of your gums to reduce harmful bacteria and eliminate loose plaque. A water pick massages your gums, which increases blood flow. This can help protect your gums from bacteria — follow up with mouthwash. Try oil pulling. Oil pulling is an old wellness technique for detoxifying and cleaning your teeth and gums. Vegetable oils such as olive or coconut oil can whiten your teeth, reduce sensitivity and alleviate bad breath. They also bear some antibacterial properties. Swish with a teaspoonful of oil for approximately 20 minutes, then spit into a trash can to avoid clogging your drains with oil. Purchase a Misoka toothbrush. The Misoka toothbrush uses nanotechnology to clean your teeth. These brushes are made with extremely fine bristles coated in mineral ions. When you dampen the brush and pass it over your teeth, the ions remove stains and form a protective coating over your tooth enamel. | Understand the components of homemade toothpaste. Try a basic recipe. Cook your ingredients to form a paste. Recognize the benefits of tooth powder ingredients. Combine ingredients and mix thoroughly. Apply the dry mixture to your toothbrush. Scrub with sea salt. Brush with baking soda. Use a natural soap. Try coconut oil. Use a miswak stick. Irrigate your mouth with a water pick. Try oil pulling. Purchase a Misoka toothbrush. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Appeal-a-License-Suspension | How to Appeal a License Suspension | Appealing the suspension of your driver's license is only possible in some cases, so it's important to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles' website in your state to confirm the local regulations. For example, many states don't allow an appeal if your license was suspended for DUI. You also usually need to file an appeal within 10 days of the suspension, so you'll need to act quickly after receiving the letter. Depending on your state's regulations, you'll either fill out a form or write a letter to request an appeal. If you want an administrative hearing, which is where a judge hears evidence about your case, request it from the department where you filed your appeal. | Determine why your license are suspended. The Department of Motor Vehicles (the “DMV," also known as the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or Department of Transportation in some states) should have mailed you a suspension letter stating the reason for the suspension. If you never received such a letter or have misplaced it, call the DMV in your state or check the DMV's website for a database that you can search to find your license information and reason for suspension. You can find links to each state's DMV website here. Common reasons for suspension include: Accumulating too many points on your driving record Getting multiple traffic violations or speeding tickets Getting a DUI/DWI Failing to appear in court or pay fees Failing to pay child support Determine whether an appeal is available to you. In some cases, such as automatic pretrial suspensions for driving under the influence (“DUI”), you may not have the right to appeal. In any case, you need to request an appeal within the statutorily-prescribed deadline. For example, appeals in Georgia must be submitted within 10 days of the effective date of suspension. If you are not eligible for an appeal or have missed the deadline, you may need to temporarily live with the suspension. To determine if an appeal is available to you: Check your DMV's website for information about appealing a suspension. Look for information about appeals in the letter you received informing you of the suspension. Call your local DMV and ask about the appeals process. Contact an attorney. Many attorneys provide free consultations. Consider alternatives to an appeal. If your license has been suspended, the court will specify how you can get your license back. You may simply be required to refrain from driving for a period of time, or you may be able to get your license back more quickly by taking a driving course or traffic school, paying a reinstatement fee, or asking your insurance company to file an SR-22 or FR-44 form (which proves that you carry insurance ). For certain suspensions and revocations, you may be able to request a "hardship" or "probationary" license that allows you to drive in limited situations, such as driving for work, attending drug and alcohol programs, or for medical treatment. Contact your local DMV office to find out whether your state offers hardship licenses. Determine where to file your appeal. Usually, you must file an appeal with the appropriate "administrative agency" instead of a court. For example, in Arizona, appeals are heard by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Administration. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your administrative hearing, you can appeal in court. However, because appeals require an argument that administrative decision misinterpreted the law, you should consider hiring an attorney to handle a complicated case. Request a hearing. All states have a specific procedure for requesting an administrative hearing. Once you submit your request, the agency will contact you and give you a hearing date. Some states use specific forms for requesting a hearing, while others accept more informal emailed or written requests. For example, in Alabama, there is no form for requesting a hearing. You must make your request by mail or email and include your name, date of birth, and driver's license number. For comparison, Arizona requires that you request a hearing by filling out this Hearing Request form and mail it to the included address. Prepare for your hearing. An administrative hearing is an informal trial. You will have the opportunity to present evidence, including documents and sworn testimony. At the beginning, you can make an opening statement explaining to the administrative law judge what you believe the evidence will show. At the end, you can make a closing argument explaining why you think the judge should rule in your favor. To prepare for your hearing, gather any documents that support your claim that your license should not be suspended. Also contact any witnesses who can testify on your behalf and arrange for them to attend the hearing with you. Be prepared to clearly argue why your license should not have been suspended. Did the DMV or court misunderstand the facts of your situation? Did they misinterpret the law? Make sure you understand what facts and law they relied upon before you address why those facts or law were inaccurately applied. Observe another hearing first. You may be able to attend another person's public hearing as an observer. Upon entering the hearing room, inform the administrative law judge that you are there to observe the proceedings. Watch quietly and take note of what the participants did well and what could have been done better. | Determine why your license are suspended. Determine whether an appeal is available to you. Consider alternatives to an appeal. Determine where to file your appeal. Request a hearing. Prepare for your hearing. Observe another hearing first. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Wear-Ankle-Boots | How to Wear Ankle Boots | For a great everyday outfit, pair ankle boots with a pair of skinny jeans cuffed just above the top of the boot. If you're wearing boot cut jeans, be sure to keep the jeans on the outside instead of tucking them in. In cold weather, you can wear ankle boots with a pair of leggings and a cute tunic on top. For a more dressed up look, try finding an ankle boot with a higher heel to go with a short skirt or fitted dress. | For casual, everyday use, choose flat ankle boots or with a small heel. These tend to be more comfortable for work, study, or play, and project a daytime look. Since this may well be your "go to" shoe, you may want to consider a neutral colored shoe, such as brown or black so it will match nearly everything. Lace-up ankle boots often have an edgier look that makes your outfit even more casual and is perfect for the classroom. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Choose a small heel if you head to an office everyday for a more professional feel. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Skinny jeans are barely cuffed (not enough to change the length) and then worn with the ankle boots. Boot cut and flared jeans go outside of the ankle boots. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} You can also pair your ankle boots with short jeans that end just above the top of the boot as long as they are tight. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Generally, do not pair ankle boots with capri pants, The distance between the top of the boots and the bottom of the pants tends to look awkward. Full-length skinny pants make your legs look longer, while capris can shorten you. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-2Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Pair with a tee of your choice. T-shirts are an easy way to create a casual outfit: a plain or patterned T-shirt, long or short sleeved, the choices are endless. Accessorize with fun jewelry of your choice. You can also add a saggy beanie or a scarf if it is cold outside. Be adventurous in your accessory choices for an everyday look. These are the pieces that will set you apart! Pick out a pair of sexy, stiletto ankle boots. Black suede tends to be a good material to choose when picking out a boot with a high-heel but not a good choice in wet weather. Stilettos elongate your legs and make you look taller. They also very sexy. However, they are more difficult to dance or walk in without practice. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet1.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} If you're uncomfortable wearing stilettos or you're going on a date with a shorter person, consider boots with a smaller heel or wear flat boots. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet2.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} For a formal "date night" look, go with a glossy, polished-looking boot. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ad\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ad\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet3.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-5Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Show off some leg with a short, fitted dress. For a wintertime date, you can go all black or choose bold colors like red and royal blue for your dress. If the weather is warmer, choose lighter pastel colors and opt for a patterned dress that matches the climate you're in. You can also opt to wear jeans or leggings, just make sure that the wash is dark and the pants fit tightly. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Choose a silky blouse if you opt for pants. You can tuck in a pretty blouse to your fitted jeans and add a skinny belt or simply leave your blouse untucked. Choose a style that is flattering to your body type. Long-sleeved blouses with a front bow create a very sophisticated look. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet1.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Tank top V-neck blouses can be very sexy and look fabulous under a casual blazer for a fancy date. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/35\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/35\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet2.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-7Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Finish off your look with sparkly jewelry. Make sure you shine on your date by adding some sparkle to your wardrobe. Incorporate dangly earrings and jewel-encrusted bangles to catch your date's eye. Choose casual flat ankle boots. Worn leather ankle boots with a cute embellishment such as a buckle or front laces work especially well for summertime. Avoid suede, as this material tends to be reserved for the colder months. Wear a summer dress that rests above your calves. Make sure that some of your legs are exposed as ankle boots look odd if they are poking out beneath a long skirt or dress. Paisley or flower-patterned dresses with lace embellishments pair beautifully with a pair of casual ankle booties. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet1.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Skirts or jean shorts can also be paired with ankle boots. Pair with a colorful and/or lace blouse. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet2.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-10Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Wear a pair of tights or leggings. These can create a nighttime look, allow you to wear skirts more comfortably in colder weather, or perhaps create a cute and modest appearance, depending on the overall appearance. You can add tights to your outfit whether you choose to wear a skirt, a dress, or a pair of jean shorts. Add fun accessories. A leather belt that matches your boots can be a cute way to accent your footwear. You can also add simple embellishments like pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, or a lace headband to personalize your look. Find a pair of suede or leather ankle boots with tassels. Often ankle boots have zippers on the sides that can have tassels attached to them. You can also choose ankle boots with a fringe that runs along the top opening of the boot. Sport a high-waisted bottom of some sort. This can either be shorts, a skirt, or pants, as long as your bottom piece is high-waisted and fastens above your navel. If you choose pants, make sure that they fit tightly. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet1.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Choose a paisley patterned bottom for an extra vintage feel. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet2.jpg\/aid1078349-v4-728px-Wear-Ankle-Boots-Step-14Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Pair with a tank top or any style blouse and tuck it in. If you choose a pattern for your bottom piece, choose a solid for your top piece. If it is cold outside, put a jean jacket over your shirt, as long as you are not wearing denim pants. Add a belt around your waist where your shirt and bottom piece meet. Doing so will cause your waist to appear smaller. Finish off with a pair of wayfarer sunglasses. You may also want to add a headband or ribbon of some sort. Finished. | For casual, everyday use, choose flat ankle boots or with a small heel. Skinny jeans are barely cuffed (not enough to change the length) and then worn with the ankle boots. Pair with a tee of your choice. Accessorize with fun jewelry of your choice. Pick out a pair of sexy, stiletto ankle boots. Show off some leg with a short, fitted dress. Choose a silky blouse if you opt for pants. Finish off your look with sparkly jewelry. Choose casual flat ankle boots. Wear a summer dress that rests above your calves. Wear a pair of tights or leggings. Add fun accessories. Find a pair of suede or leather ankle boots with tassels. Sport a high-waisted bottom of some sort. Pair with a tank top or any style blouse and tuck it in. Add a belt around your waist where your shirt and bottom piece meet. Finish off with a pair of wayfarer sunglasses. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow-fun.com/Play-a-Sleepover-Prank | How to Play a Sleepover Prank | Sleepovers are a great time to play a prank on your friends. If you can find some shaving foam, wait until your friend falls asleep, then give them a spray-on beard. Alternatively, spray some shaving foam into their hand, then tickle their nose so they wipe foam on their own face. You can also try this with peanut butter. Another funny prank you can do is write a funny note on their forehead with lipstick or a non-permanent marker. Just make sure they're fully asleep so they don't wake up while you're writing it. If they fall asleep early, you can also use a voice-changing app to say something creepy in their ear and wake them up. | Warn them. Everyone should agree that it will be prank night before the sleepover begins. Try and set some ground rules. For example, the first one to fall asleep gets pranked. Or maybe it's fair game and anyone can be pranked at any time. Consider setting rules for situations where the person being pranked wakes up or catches the prankster. For example, if a prankster is caught then they have to do their victim's bidding for the entire night. Try getting creative by limiting the items that can be used for pranking. One night only allow shaving cream, Jell-O, and a whoopee cushion for pranking. Change it up for every night prank-themed sleepover. Establish a prize for the person who successfully pranks the most people. For example, the person with the least amount of pranks or the one who was pranked the most has to buy lunch for the top prankster. Establish what is off-limits. Some people may have a particular aversion to certain pranks. Some people might not want their belongings frozen while others might not want any pranks to happen in the bathroom. It's vitally important to make sure what everyone is comfortable with so none of the pranks potentially offend anyone. Never allow revenge pranks. Some people make mean-spirited pranks with the intention of hurting someone or getting revenge. If you see anyone prank a friend in a physically or emotionally damaging way, call them out and let them know that it's not acceptable. Pranks should occur in an inclusive atmosphere, not a hostile one. Play the classic refrigerator prank call. This one is great if everyone wants to have fun without pranking anyone at the party. Consider picking up a phone book to find an unsuspecting victim if a friend isn't answering. When they pick up the phone, pose as a refrigerator repairman. Ask if their refrigerator is running. When they say 'yes,' respond with, 'well you better go catch it!' Make sure to hit *67 before calling so the number can't be traced. Create a sleepy environment. For example, watch a couple of movies or listen to relaxing music. If it's near 11:30 P.M. and there still aren't sleepers, find a friend who doesn't fall asleep easily and tell them to help you plan something boring and relaxing. Have everyone lie down on the floor or on the bed. Then start going around the circle telling secrets. If you reach someone who doesn't respond lean over carefully to check if they nodded off. If they have, it's go time. Otherwise, rinse and repeat until you have a sleeper. Spray shaving cream on unsuspecting sleepers. This prank is easy to pull and is perfect for some harmless fun. The best part is that you get to be a little creative with it. Just be sure not to get the shaving cream near the eyes as it can cause irritation. Take someone's shaving foam from the bathroom. It will likely be near the razors and other shaving supplies. Squirt some on their hair and give them a mustache, goatee, or whatever crazy hairstyle you can think of. In the morning, they'll wake up and will be completely surprised. Write something on their forehead. Get some washable markers or red lipstick. Make sure the markers and lipstick are both non-toxic and easy to clean off. Be especially careful with the lipstick as its owner may get upset when they realize it has been used for a prank. When your friend is fast asleep, write 'Gotcha' or some other phrase across their forehead. Try the classic peanut butter on the hand prank. When your friend is sleeping, carefully spread some peanut butter on both of their hands. Next, tickle their nose with a feather or other small object until they wake. Typically they will be startled and their reaction will be to immediately swat at their face, covering it with peanut butter. Freeze your friend's bra. This prank is perfect for those who love pranking with a little preparation. Make sure your friend is asleep or away from their bag so they won't notice their missing bra. Take your friend's bra out of their bag. Soak it in warm water. Put it in the freezer. Once it's frozen, break it in half by breaking the ice in between the cups of the bra. Then put in their bag so when they put it on in the morning they're going to get a chill! Encase an object in Jell-O. This prank was famously seen on the television show The Office when a character suspended a stapler in a bowl of jello. Be sure to allow a couple hours for this prank as the Jell-O requires some time to make. Find the object you want to suspend in the jello. Try a small piece of clothing, a wallet, or someone's student ID card. Make the Jell-O according to the package instructions, but fill the container to the halfway point. Put the Jell-O in the refrigerator and let it sit for two hours. Take the Jell-O out and put the desired object on top of the first layer. Prepare another packet of Jell-O and pour it on top of the first object. Put the bowl back into the refrigerator and let it set for another two hours. Finally, you will have your friend's precious object firmly cased in Jell-O. Bring a fake scary object. For example, sneak in a fake rat, snake, or bat into the sleepover. Think of strategic places to hide your fake animals. A fake rat would be perfect to hide in someone's bag or under a pillow. Snakes are great for hiding in the toilet or peeking from beneath a shower. Bats should be hung strategically above sleeping friends or in spooky closets. Use a menacing voice changer. Many phones have apps that allow you to change your voice, which can come in handy for spooking someone. Wait until your friend is asleep or preoccupied and position yourself behind them at an angle where they can't see you. Load up the scariest sound on your voice-changer app, something like a Darth Vader tone usually works, and say menacing things into their ear when they least expect it. Pull the classic jump-out scare. Anyone can pull off this scare but it takes skill to perfect the timing. Find a strategic location to hide behind such as a door or a wall where you can't be seen. Wait until your target walks by. Consider recruiting a friend to lead the target near your hiding place. Jump out and make a loud yelling noise right when they're close to you and watch as they yelp from the surprise. Take your shoes off. Loud shoes and heavy footsteps can easily wake up your unsuspecting victims. When sneaking up on friends or navigating around sleepers, be sure to take your shoes off and tip-toe carefully around the victims. Socks or bare feet are preferred. Make sure you maintain your balance while tip-toeing to avoid falling over and making commotion. Move quickly. Don't take more time than absolutely necessary as it will prolong your chances of getting caught. Plan out your prank beforehand and time out the steps necessary to get a feel on how long it should take. Set a silent timer and stick to that time as much as possible so you don't risk ruining the prank. Act innocent in the morning. Everyone will be trying to figure out who the prankster is so feign disbelief when you are accused. Keep a calm, cool face even when you want to burst out laughing or proudly proclaim your victory. | Warn them. Establish what is off-limits. Never allow revenge pranks. Create a sleepy environment. Spray shaving cream on unsuspecting sleepers. Write something on their forehead. Try the classic peanut butter on the hand prank. Freeze your friend's bra. Bring a fake scary object. Use a menacing voice changer. Pull the classic jump-out scare. Move quickly. Act innocent in the morning. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Put-Strings-on-a-Violin | How to Put Strings on a Violin | To put strings on a violin, make sure to replace only one string at a time so the tension doesn't slacken and damage the bridge. When you want to replace a string, twist the tuning peg at the top of the violin to loosen the string, then pull it toward you until it releases. Next, orient a new string so that the colored end is at the top, and hold the violin with the chin-rest facing you. Then, insert the top of the string into the tuning peg and put the bottom into the corresponding slot at the base. Finally, tighten the string by turning the tuner away from you. | Remove each string and replace it individually. To keep the violin's bridge adjusted properly and to keep the tension from slackening too much, it's important to change each string individually, rather than taking all the strings off at once and replacing them, as is common on guitars and some other stringed instruments. If you've broken a string, put a new one on before removing the others. To remove old strings: Twist the large tuning pegs toward you, so the string becomes loose. If you have fine tuners, remove the small metal ball attached to the strings from the tuners. If not, pull the string in the tailpiece toward you and pull up to release the string. Continue twisting the large tuners until the string is completely loose, and remove it from the tuning peg. Orient the new string properly. Remove the appropriate string from the package and find the tip of the string, which should be inserted into the tuning peg, and the bottom of the string, which should anchor the string in the fine tuner. The top will typically be colored on the end to distinguish it from the other strings, and the bottom should have a small metal ball on the end to seat it in the fine tuner. The color depends upon the particular brand of strings you purchase. Insert the string through the tuning peg. Holding the violin with the chin-rest facing you, find the correct tuning peg to orient yourself and locate the tiny hole in it. This should be inside the scroll. Insert the top of the string through the hole, far enough that about half an inch hangs out on the other side. On almost every violin, the tuning pegs should be oriented in the same way. Make sure you insert the string into the correct peg: G string on the bottom left D string on the top left A string on the top right E string on the bottom right Seat the string at the base. If you have fine tuners, place the small metal ball in the appropriate slot. It sometimes has a tendency to pop out while you're tuning, so check with your thumb regularly while you're tightening the string to make sure the base is still seated in the fine-tuner snugly. Start tightening the string by turning the peg. Turn the large tuner away from you, so the string wraps itself around the peg, tightening and taking up some of the slack. It can be kind of a balancing act, because you want to make sure the base of the string stays seated (pop it back in if it pops out) and make sure that the string wraps around the top peg as straight as possible, which will make it easier to tune. To keep the string wrapping straight, use one hand to turn the peg and the other hand to pull the string back away from the violin, so it stays tight against the peg. Make sure it wraps around the half-inch sticking through the other side, to hold it in place as you turn. Straighten the string and let it rest. Make sure the string is in the appropriate notch in the bridge and continue tightening the string until all the slack is run out. It takes a while for a new string to settle in, so don't waste time fine-tuning until you've let the violin sit, sometimes for as much as several hours, before tuning it closely. Get it in the neighborhood and let the violin adjust to the new string. Put on all the new strings and leave them slack. If you're putting strings on a new violin for the first time, you'll have to seat the bridge, which takes some care and measurement. The first step, though, is to put all the new strings on and leave them slack enough to slide the bridge under them and stand upright. Following the basic method for changing a string, letting them stay somewhat looser than you normally might. Place the bridge. Hold the bridge facing down, and place it under the strings. After that, line the strings in the appropriate crevices are push the bridge up, into standing position, securing the strings into the notches before adjusting the bridge. The back of the bridge, facing the tailpiece, should be perfectly perpendicular to the violin. Lots of bridges will be stamped with manufacturing information, which indicates the flat side that should face the tail. The other side should have a slight but noticeable slope. The D string (second to the left, second thickest string) should be on the taller side of the bridge; the A (third to the left, second thinnest string) should rest on the slightly lower. Use the f-holes to align the bridge. The bridge should be horizontally centered on the instrument so that there is an equal amount of space between each string and the edge of the fingerboard. Use the small nicks on the insides of the f-holes to square the bridge to the center-line of the strings. To center the bridge, use the curve of the "f" on the interior side as a guide. It should align equidistant between them. Let the violin rest. You can tighten the strings somewhat to reduce the rest of the slack when you've positioned the bridge, but let it rest for at least 24 hours before attempting to fine-tune the instrument. It's possible to snap the bridge and ruin all your hard work, and also to pop it out and flatten it against the violin. Let it rest and settle. After a rest period, pull on the strings to stretch them. When you've first strung any stringed instrument, it's common for the strings to periodically slacken and go quickly flat. A common exercise to get the tension correct and let the strings settle is to firmly but gently pull the strings away from the neck of the violin, pulling out that slack to flatten the strings, and then tuning them again. It'll likely take several tunings before you can get the violin into a reliable tune. Stick with it and give the violin the appropriate amount of time to relax. Experiment with different gauges. You can buy strings in a variety of thicknesses, tensions, and styles. Experiment some with different sizes to get a sense of what sounds best with your particular style of playing and your wishes for your sound. Thicker strings put out more volume, resonating with a thicker vibration, while thinner strings tend to be brighter and sunnier. Try a set of each and see what you like. Consider steel core strings. The most basic form of strings used on violins are made of steel alloy, often wrapped in nickel. The higher E string is usually plated with some other metal. They tend to have less stretch and durability than other strings, but are by far the cheapest and most widely available strings you can buy. They're most recommended for beginners and if you're changing a string for the first time. Take the next step with rope core steel. With a warm sound a quick response, the next step up in the market is rope core steel, which is similar to steel core strings, but braided from more material, giving the player a bright, clear attack on the strings. These strings are commonly used by fiddle players. Go old-school with gut strings. It doesn't get any more visceral than this: gut strings are made of the intestinal tissue of sheep or lambs. While somewhat gross, these strings feature an incomparably warm and lively sound. Gut strings are somewhat fussy, requiring lots of tuning adjustment. They're greatly affected by weather and temperature as well, making them more useful for very experienced players. Combine with a traditional horse-hair bow and you'll be playing with the same basic ingredients as the old masters. Step into the future with synthetic strings. Since playing on the colon of a dead animal isn't everyone's bag, manufacturers went about the business of replicating the sound and response of gut strings, but with a much less fussy and reliable. They're also somewhat expensive. Think about your high E. Most players will put the variety of string on the instrument, while some experienced players like to use particular strings in the E slot for tonal reasons. Violin companies Hill and Westminster make E strings available separately from their respective sets and are popular inexpensive choices to experiment with. | Remove each string and replace it individually. Orient the new string properly. Insert the string through the tuning peg. Seat the string at the base. Start tightening the string by turning the peg. Straighten the string and let it rest. Put on all the new strings and leave them slack. Place the bridge. Use the f-holes to align the bridge. Let the violin rest. After a rest period, pull on the strings to stretch them. Experiment with different gauges. Consider steel core strings. Take the next step with rope core steel. Go old-school with gut strings. Step into the future with synthetic strings. Think about your high E. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Makeup-Sponges | How to Clean Makeup Sponges | To clean a makeup sponge, start by wetting the sponge with warm water. Then, apply a dime-sized amount of liquid dish soap to the sponge and massage it in with your fingers. Once the sponge has absorbed all of the soap, rinse it under warm water. Continue rinsing and squeezing the sponge until the water coming off of it is free of suds. Finally, wrap the sponge in a towel and squeeze it until all of the excess water is out of it. | Dampen the sponge with fresh water. In order for the soap to work into a cleansing lather, your dirty sponge must be wet. Turn on your faucet and run your reusable sponge under warm water. Squeeze the sponge to remove the excess water. Your sponge should be damp, not soaking wet. Clean the reusable sponge with liquid soap. Squirt a dime-sized drop of mild liquid baby shampoo or dish soap into your hand and roll the sponge between your palms. When the sponge has absorbed all of the soap, rinse it under warm water and squeeze out the excess water. Repeat this process until the water coming from the sponge is clear. Reusable sponges are very absorbent. To remove all of the makeup, you may need to apply soap and rinse the sponge several times. Some reusable sponges, also called makeup blenders, are sold with specially formulated liquid cleansers. Cleaning these sponges with gentle baby shampoo or dish soap will not result in damage. Dry your reusable sponge. Once your sponge is clean, turn off the water and squeeze out all of the excess water. Grab a clean towel and wrap your sponge in it and squeeze the rest of the excess water out. Repeat this step a couple times until you feel the sponge is mostly dry. Lay sponge out overnight to completely dry. As your reusable sponge dries, it will shrink down to its original size. The sponge should be completely dry before you use it again. Dampen your reusable sponge and the bar of soap. To moisten your makeup sponge, run the tool under warm water. Set the damp sponge aside and pick up a bar of gentle, unscented soap. Place the bar soap under the facet to get it wet. Rub the bar of soap between your hands until your fingers and palms are coated with a bubbly lather. Some reusable makeup sponges, often called makeup blenders, are sold with solid soap cleansers. You will not damage these products by cleaning them with gentle, scent-free soap. Massage the lather into your sponge, rinse, and repeat. Pick up the reusable sponge and rub the soapy lather into the beauty tool. When the sponge has absorbed all of the lather, thoroughly rinse it under warm water and squeeze the excess water from the sponge. Repeat this process of cleansing, rinsing, and squeezing the sponge until the water coming from the makeup applicator is clear. You may also rub the sponge over the bar of soap. Make sure to rinse all of the soap out of the sponge. Let your sponge air dry. When the sponge is makeup and soap free, turn off the faucet and squeeze out the excess water with your hands or a clean towel. Lay a fresh towel on your counter and place your sponge flat on its absorbent surface. When your sponge has shrunk down to its original size, you will know it is dry. Soak reusable makeup sponges to get rid of stubborn dirt or stains. If regular cleaning doesn't remove makeup or dirt on your sponge, soak the sponge in warm, soapy water for 30 minutes. Rinse it out afterward with clean water and squeeze out any excess water. Let it dry completely before using it again. You can also put the sponge inside of a mesh bag and throw it in your washing machine on a rinse cycle. Store your sponge separately. Properly storing your makeup sponge will prolong the beauty tool's life. It will also prevent breakout-causing bacteria from growing inside your sponge. Store your sponge in a cool, well-ventilated, and well-lit space. Do not keep your sponge inside a drawer, medicine cabinet, or sealed cosmetic bag. Keep your sponge on your bathroom counter in a clean soap dish. This storage method will expose your sponge to fresh air and bacteria-killing light. When you travel, keep your sponge in a separate mesh makeup bag. Do not throw your absorbent and soft beauty tool into a bag full of makeup, germs, and sharp corners. Prevent breakouts by cleaning and replacing your reusable sponge. Reusable makeup sponges are made out of a microbial-resistant foam. While these high-quality tools are designed to be reused, they can collect bacteria and deteriorate if not cared for properly and replaced frequently. Wash your reusable sponge at least once a week. If you are prone to breakouts, wash your sponge after every use. In addition, during a pandemic like COVID-19, you should clean and sanitize your sponges and other tools after every makeup application. Replace your eco-friendly sponge every 3 to 4 months. Throw away regular makeup sponges after one use. Basic foam makeup sponges are not intended for multiple uses. These products harbor bacteria that could cause infections and/or breakouts. After using a foam sponge, throw the product away. Do not attempt to clean these sponges. If you are looking for a reusable sponge, purchase a microbial-resistant foam sponge or blender. | Dampen the sponge with fresh water. Clean the reusable sponge with liquid soap. Dry your reusable sponge. Dampen your reusable sponge and the bar of soap. Massage the lather into your sponge, rinse, and repeat. Let your sponge air dry. Soak reusable makeup sponges to get rid of stubborn dirt or stains. Store your sponge separately. Prevent breakouts by cleaning and replacing your reusable sponge. Throw away regular makeup sponges after one use. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Fairy-Garden | How to Create a Fairy Garden | To make a fairy garden, start by choosing a container, like an empty drawer, a large garden pot, or a wagon, then filling it with potting soil. Next, choose some plants that are native to your area and that all have similar light and water requirements. Plant a small tree-like plant in the middle, then surround it with small, delicate flowers and herbs. Decorate your fairy garden by adding pebbles and moss in between the plants, as well as a tiny model house for the fairies to live in. | Select a container. Fairy gardens are usually housed in small containers. Think about how much space you have. If you're keeping your garden indoors, you'll need a smaller container. For an outdoor garden, you can use something larger. Good items for an indoor container include something like a drawer from an old desk you no longer use, an old pot, or an old wash bin. Outdoors, you can use larger containers for a bigger garden, such as large garden plots or big bins. A fun idea can be to use a wagon so you can move your fairy garden around. Account for the types of plants you're planning on growing. Some plants may need extra drainage, so you should find a container that allows for some drainage if that's the case. Other plants can get by with less drainage. Sketch out your fairy garden. While you'll probably end up wandering from your plan as you create your garden, it's always a good idea to have a rough sketch. This way, you'll know how to best monopolize your space when planting your flowers. Make a sketch of your container and draw roughs sketches of where you'll keep things like the fairy house, decorations, and your various plants. Remember, nothing is set in stone yet. Think of this sketch more as a rough guide than a blueprint of exactly how your fairy garden will turn out. Part of the fun of a fairy garden is experimenting and finding fun, spontaneous decorations as you build. Find a good location for the garden. As you'll be adding plants to a fairy garden, find a location that gets a lot of sun. Strive for an area in your backyard that's free of shade or a space by a window in your home. Fill your container with potting soil. Invest in a quality potting soil that promotes the growth of a diverse amount of plants. Most local greenhouses and hardware stores will sell all-purpose potting soil. Pour your soil into your chosen container so the full surface is coated with a solid layer of soil. Consider the plants you're adding when adding your soil. If plants need to be buried a specific depth under the soil to grow, make sure your soil is at least that deep. Plant some herbs. Herbs are easy to care for, and thrive both indoors and outdoors. In addition to giving off a magical feel, herbs can be harvested for use later. Pick up some seeds or herbs at a local greenhouse. Either plant your seeds or transfer the herbs themselves to the garden. Thyme in particular makes a great plant for a fairy garden, as it has a very decorative feel. Other herbs include things like rosemary, sage, basil, and oregano. Add plants native to your area. The easiest way to make sure your fairy garden grows without trouble is to select native plants. Stop by a local greenhouse and ask about which plants are native to your area. You can also look this information up online. It's best to use local plants, as they will thrive more easily when planted in your fairy garden. You can either buy seeds or purchase plants that have already bloomed and transfer them by the roots to your garden. Go for small, delicate plants. However, do not choose just any plants. Pick smaller, more delicate native options that give off a mystical feel. For example, if something like forget-me-nots are native to your area, these can make a great addition to your fairy garden due to their small size and decorative appearance. Plant a small, tree-like plant. Every fairy garden needs a tree, so select a stronger, sturdier plant to plant at the center of your garden. In comparison to the smaller, more decorative plants lining the plot, this will look like a large tree overlooking your fairy garden. Bush-like plants, like evergreen herbs and shrugs, can make great trees for your garden. If you have a bigger garden, you can even try adding something like a small bonsai tree to the center of your garden. Try adding some succulents. Succulents are great if you want a more hands-off fairy garden, as they do not require as much care. They can go great in a tiny, indoor garden. Pick up succulents, like cacti, at a local greenhouse and plant them in your garden. Plant ground cover plants like moss. Moss is soft to the touch and will cover up any patches of dirt left in between flowers. Other choices include creeping phlox. The fern-like foliage will look like little flowers or bushing lining your garden. Stop by a local greenhouse to pick up some moss to plant in your fairy garden to create the illusion rich grass growing in the garden. Make sure your plants have the same light/water requirements. Plants in a fairy garden grow together in the same small space. Therefore, it's important they have the same basic requirements regarding care, as you won't be able to provide different amounts of water and light for each individual plant. Choose plants with a similar care regimen so it's simple to keep your fairy garden alive and growing. Fill in bare ground with pebbles. Patches of pebbles can run through your plants, looking like a walkway. You can also add tiny piles of pebbles here and there to create mini rock gardens. You can gather tiny pebbles from outdoors or buy pebbles online or at a greenhouse. To add some flare, think about adding colorful gemstones alongside the pebbles. This can add some color and give off a fairytale vibe. Create a fairy house. Every fairy garden needs a tiny house for your fairies to live. Local craft or art stories may sell tiny house figurines, like little log cabins or tee-pees. You can also look at items you have lying around the house and repurpose them for your fairy garden. For example, if you have a small birdhouse you've never used, place it in your garden. If you want, you can decorate your fairy house before putting it in your garden. Something like an old birdhouse can be painted or stenciled to create fun designs. Invest in miniature figurines. Websites like Etsy, as well as local craft stores or craft fairs, often sell miniature items that can be added to your fairy garden. You can add woodland creatures, like deer and rabbits, to the grassier areas of the garden. You can also put tiny furniture, like miniature lawn chairs, near the house for your fairies to sit on. Miniature items are a must for a fairy house, as it creates the sense tiny people live in your garden. Add small seashells as bird baths. If you live near the ocean, you can gather seashells and wash them. You can also buy seashells at a craft store or online. Place seashells upside down throughout your garden and fill them with splashes of water. These will look like birdbaths for the little birds that visit your fairy garden. If you have miniature bird figurines, try placing them in the bird baths for an added effect. Make sign posts out of popsicle sticks. Take popsicle sticks and strips or squares of paper. Write things on the paper, like "Fairy House" and "Woods," labeling the various parts of your garden. Then, stick your signs in the dirt throughout your fairy garden. Decorate your signs as much as you want. things like glitter and sequins can give off a magical feel for your garden. | Select a container. Sketch out your fairy garden. Find a good location for the garden. Fill your container with potting soil. Plant some herbs. Add plants native to your area. Go for small, delicate plants. Plant a small, tree-like plant. Try adding some succulents. Plant ground cover plants like moss. Make sure your plants have the same light/water requirements. Fill in bare ground with pebbles. Create a fairy house. Invest in miniature figurines. Add small seashells as bird baths. Make sign posts out of popsicle sticks. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Numb-a-Sore-Throat | How to Numb a Sore Throat | To feel better when you have a sore throat, take an over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve to reduce pain. If possible, start sucking on cough drops as soon as your throat starts hurting to reduce inflammation and shorten the duration of your cold. For a cozy, natural remedy, drink hot chamomile tea with honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar. You can even eat a spoonful of honey on its own for a tasty treat that will help heal and soothe your sore throat. Drink other hot liquids, like soup, and eat cold foods, like ice cream, to help numb your throat and alleviate pain. | Take an over-the-counter pain medication. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil), or Naproxen (Aleve) have all been shown to be beneficial in reducing the pain of a sore throat. Ask your doctor before you take them if you are on blood thinners or other prescription medication. Try salt-water gargling. Although this has not been proven in any conventional medical trials, it is something that is known to help with sore throats. Mix a quarter to half of a teaspoon of salt into a cup of moderately warm water. Swish and swirl this in the back of your mouth near your throat for at least 30 seconds several times a day. Purchase an over-the-counter throat spray. Look for the active ingredients benzocaine or phenol (either one works, both are topical anesthetics). A throat spray can help to numb an inflamed throat for a few hours. Start sucking on zinc gluconate lozenges immediately. Studies have shown that they can cut the duration of a cold by half when taken at the first signs of a cold. The lozenges will also reduce inflammation, stuffiness and soreness. If you wait more than two days after your cold has begun, the zinc lozenges are unlikely to help in terms of shortening the duration of your cold. Regardless of when you take them, lozenges can help with symptom relief. This is because they typically contain topical anesthetic (which gently numbs the throat), and can also help with alleviate any dryness. Because lozenges (cough drops) stay in your throat longer than a salt water gargle or a throat spray, they are considered one of the most effective means of soothing a sore throat. Use menthol lozenges. The minty mixture will numb and soothe your throat. Administer a cough syrup. There are daytime and nighttime varieties. A cough syrup should coat your throat, reducing inflammation and numbing the pain for an hour or two. Choose a cough syrup that also treats your other symptoms. Use as the package directions indicate, reducing the dose according to age and length of the cold. Don't take anti-inflammatories in addition to cough syrup, since most solutions contain them already. You can look for an all-in-one solution instead of each individual medication. Drink warm beverages and/or eat cold food for the duration of your illness. Things such as warm tea and soups can be soothing to the throat, and similarly cold foods such as ice cream or popsicles can help to numb the throat and alleviate pain. Make a natural tea with ingredients that are soothing for a sore throat. There are a few different options that have been shown to be helpful in sore throat. These include: Chamomile tea, which has soothing qualities. Licorice root tea. A mixture of turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger in hot water. Hot water with a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of cinnamon, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Each of the ingredients in the hot water mixture above (honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar) have been suggested as naturally soothing remedies for a sore throat, and also potentially helpful at clearing out the infection more quickly. It is not the most tasty of mixtures, but it is worth a shot to see if it helps your throat feel better! Note that you can take the honey part on its own too; eating honey on its own has been scientifically shown to help reduce cough, and to help with wound healing which may be soothing for a sore throat as well. Note that honey should never be given to children under 12 months, as this puts them at risk of infant botulism. Recognize signs and symptoms of a more serious throat infection. Although viral throat infections are far more common (and resolve on their own within a few days), if you have any symptoms suggesting something more serious, such as strep throat, it is important to be evaluated by a physician. If you have two or more of the following symptoms, it is important to see your doctor to be tested for strep throat: Fever (in particular a temperature above 100.4ºF or 38ºC) White "exudate" (visible white patches) on your tonsils or the back of your throat Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck Absence of cough (people rarely cough when they have strep throat) Absence of runny nose (common cold symptoms such as runny nose do not occur with strep throat) Obtain antibiotic treatment if needed. If it turns out you do have strep throat, this will need to be treated promptly with a course of antibiotics. Know when to seek help from your doctor. If you have a severe sore throat and a fever greater than 101°F or 38.3°C that is not improving after 24 – 48 hours (and if anything only getting worse), it is best to see your physician sooner rather than later. Also, if you have swollen glands in your neck or the back of your throat that make it difficult to swallow or breathe, you should definitely see your physician right away (or, if you can't make a same-day appointment, be seen in urgent care or the emergency department of your local hospital). This could be a sign that something more serious is going on, like a mononucleosis (mono) infection or tonsillitis, both of which need medical evaluation and treatment. Use prescription pain medications. If you have a very serious sore throat, whether it's strep throat or otherwise, you can see your physician for prescription pain medication. Medications such as naproxen can be given to you to help you cope with the pain until your sore throat resolves. | Take an over-the-counter pain medication. Try salt-water gargling. Purchase an over-the-counter throat spray. Start sucking on zinc gluconate lozenges immediately. Use menthol lozenges. Administer a cough syrup. Drink warm beverages and/or eat cold food for the duration of your illness. Make a natural tea with ingredients that are soothing for a sore throat. Recognize signs and symptoms of a more serious throat infection. Obtain antibiotic treatment if needed. Know when to seek help from your doctor. Use prescription pain medications. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Polish-a-Watch | How to Polish a Watch | To keep your watch looking shiny and new, you should polish it about every 3 months. Dampen a piece of 1500-grit sandpaper and gently rub the links. This will help to get rid of scratches and make it shiny. Alternatively, you can brush the bracelet with warm, soapy water if you don't have sandpaper. When you've finished cleaning the links, buff them with a microfiber cloth. To polish the face, rub it with wet sandpaper, then rub it with a clean cloth and a pea-sized drop of aluminum cleaner. Wipe off any excess cleaner with a microfiber cloth. | Rub 1 link of the bracelet with wet 1500-grit sandpaper. Run water over the surface of the 1500-grit sandpaper. Rub the paper horizontally over 1 link of the bracelet for about 30 seconds. Use a consistent pressure as you sand the link, as this will give the bracelet an even finish. If there are still visible scratches after 30 seconds, continue sanding until you are happy with the finish of the link. Sandpaper can be purchased from a hardware store. This polishing method is suitable for metal watches. Rub a polishing cloth over the scratched surfaces for up to 2 minutes. Choose a polishing cloth that is designed for fine metals. Rub the cloth back and forth over the link. Make sure to polish the edges of the link so that the bracelet has an even shine. Rub the watch gently at first. If the scratches remain untouched, rub the watch with more pressure. Avoid pressing too hard as this can make the watch surface uneven. Purchase a polishing cloth from a jewellery store. Repeat the polishing process on each link of the bracelet. Polish the bracelet one link at a time. This will help to achieve an even finish across the bracelet. Once you have finished polishing the bracelet, check that the bracelet has an even shine. If any areas look a bit dull, rub the polishing cloth over them once more. Rub the watch face with 1500-grit wet sandpaper for 30 seconds. Wet the surface of the 1500-grit sandpaper. Rub the paper back and forth over the entire watch faces for about 30 seconds. Use a consistent pressure as you sand the watch. You will notice the scratches disappearing from your watch face. You can find sandpaper at a hardware store. Polish the crystal face with aluminum polish. Place a pea-sized drop of aluminum cleaner onto a clean cloth. Rub the cloth back and forth over the entire area. Continue to rub the watch face until you are happy with how it looks. The longer you rub the watch face, the more polished it will look. Aluminium cleaner is effective on all metal types. Wipe the watch face with a microfiber cloth. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe any excess polish off the watch face. The microfiber cloth will leave the watch face free from streaks. Purchase a microfiber cloth from a jewellery store. Repeat the polishing process if there are still scratches. If there are still scratches after you have sanded and polished the watch, repeat the process once more. Take the watch to a jeweller if there are still scratches after the second polish. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of dish soap. Measure 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water and gently pour it into a small bowl. Pour 1 tbsp (15 mL) of dish soap into the bowl. Mix the water and dish soap together until the mixture becomes foamy. The dish soap helps to break down the oils and greasy particles that form on watch straps. Use an unscented dish soap if you want your watch to have a neutral smell. It is advisable to clean your watch before polishing it. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to lightly scrub the watch strap. Dip a clean toothbrush into the water and dish soap mix and shake off any excess water. Lightly scrub the toothbrush back and forth over the watch. Pay particular attention to any areas that have visible dirt. If your watch face isn't waterproof, keep the water away from the face and concentrate on the strap. Rinse the soap suds off the watch. If your watch is waterproof, place the entire watch under a tap and allow the tap water to rinse off all the suds. If your watch isn't waterproof, cover the body of the watch with your hand and separately rinse each side of the strap. Dry the watch with a lint-free cloth. Gently rub the entire watch with your cloth to remove the water. This is important as moisture on the watch can cause mildew. Make sure to remove all the water from between the joins and links in the watch. Consider using a microfiber cloth as this won't leave any streak marks on the metal. However, any absorbent cloth will do the job adequately. Reconsider buffing the watch if you want to sell it. Most people would agree that a polished watch band looks superior to a dusty one. However, avoid polishing a vintage watch as this may devalue it. Collectors often prefer the vintage look, despite the scratches and dings. Check that polishing the watch won’t void the warranty. Many watches come with warranties that last a number of years. However, some warranties specify that polishing the watch yourself will void the warrant. Check the warranty slip to find the warranty specifications. If polishing the watch voids the warranty, ask the watch manufacturer to suggest a professional cleaner that can polish the watch for you. Take your watch to a professional if it has deep scratches. If your watch has visibly deep scratches, or the scratches are still prominent after polishing it for 2 minutes, take the watch to a jeweler. A jeweler will be able to assess if the watch is fixable and can professionally polish it for you. If you have a vintage watch, try to find a jeweler that specialises in vintage or estate jewellery. Polish the watch if you are looking to remove scratches. Polishing your watch will help to restore it to its former glory. If you want to remove scratches and restore the shine of the metal, then polishing is an easy and effective option. | Rub 1 link of the bracelet with wet 1500-grit sandpaper. Rub a polishing cloth over the scratched surfaces for up to 2 minutes. Repeat the polishing process on each link of the bracelet. Rub the watch face with 1500-grit wet sandpaper for 30 seconds. Polish the crystal face with aluminum polish. Wipe the watch face with a microfiber cloth. Repeat the polishing process if there are still scratches. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of dish soap. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to lightly scrub the watch strap. Rinse the soap suds off the watch. Dry the watch with a lint-free cloth. Reconsider buffing the watch if you want to sell it. Check that polishing the watch won’t void the warranty. Take your watch to a professional if it has deep scratches. Polish the watch if you are looking to remove scratches. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-You-Have-a-Tapeworm | How to Tell if You Have a Tapeworm | To tell if you have a tapeworm, look for symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or weight loss. You may also notice changes to your appetite. If you're still unsure, examine your stool for pieces of the worm, which may look like grains of white rice. If you suspect that you have a tapeworm, you should see your doctor right away to be diagnosed. Your doctor may collect a stool sample for testing. | Check for common symptoms. A tapeworm can cause a variety of different symptoms that mimic other medical conditions or it may cause no symptoms at all, so it can be hard to tell if you have a tapeworm by looking for symptoms. But being familiar with the most common symptoms may help you to determine if you need to see a doctor. Some of the common symptoms of tapeworm include: abdominal pain nausea and/or vomiting diarrhea weight loss dizziness insomnia malnutrition jaundice (yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes) Examine your stools. One way to tell if you have a tapeworm is to examine your stools for pieces of the worm. If you notice any particles that look like grains of white rice, then you may have a tapeworm infection. These small white segments contain eggs from the tapeworm. Pay attention to your appetite. It is common to lose your appetite when you have a tapeworm, but some people experience an increase in appetite. This is more common in tapeworm that has been caused by eating undercooked beef or pork. Watch for any unusual changes in your appetite. Look for anemia symptoms. Tapeworm caused by eating undercooked fish may lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency because the tapeworm may be sucking up all of your vitamin B12. This may cause you to become anemic because your body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells. Symptoms of anemia caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency include: pins and needles sensation in your hands and feet loss of sensation in your hands (no sense of touch) wobbly walk and trouble walking feeling clumsy and stiff dementia Watch for symptoms of a larvae infection. In some cases of tapeworm, the larvae may hatch and work their way through your intestinal wall and into other parts of your body. There are different symptoms associated with this type of tapeworm and they include: frequent, painful coughing headaches seizures fever allergic reactions such as wheezing, sneezing, itching, a rash, and swelling Make an appointment with your doctor. Although tapeworm has some obvious symptoms, the only way to be sure that you have a tapeworm and not some other parasite or virus is to see your doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor will do a physical examination and order lab work to confirm whether or not you have a tapeworm. Collect a stool sample if necessary. One way that your doctor can determine whether or not you have a tapeworm is by ordering a lab analysis of your feces. Before your appointment, ask if you will need to collect a stool sample. Get a blood test. If a stool sample shows negative results and you have symptoms that indicate that you may have a tapeworm, then you may need to get a blood test. A lab analysis of your blood will show whether or not you have been infected with a tapeworm. Undergo an imaging test. If you do have a tapeworm, then your doctor may want you to have a CT (computed tomography), ultrasound, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to see if a tapeworm has caused damage to other parts of your body. These tests are not painful, but they may be a little uncomfortable and time consuming. Take medication to help pass the tapeworm. Your doctor will prescribe a medication to help you pass the tapeworm. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions for how to take your medication. The most common medications prescribed to treat a tapeworm infection include: Praziquantel (Biltricide). This medication works by killing certain worms. Do not take this medication if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, allergic to any ingredient in the medication, have a worm infection in your eye, or if you are on rifampin. Albendazole (Albenza). This medication prevents newly hatched worms from growing in your body. It treats specific types of tapeworm infections, including those you get from eating pork and from being around infected dogs. Nitazoxanide (Alinia). This medication is mainly used to treat parasites that you pick up from swimming in a lake or spending time in other moist places. Expect some pain and cramping. If you have to pass a large tapeworm, it is likely that you will have some pain and cramping. This is normal, but make sure that you call your doctor if the pain becomes severe. See your doctor for a follow-up visit. To ensure that you are tapeworm free, your doctor will need to check your stools again one month following your treatment and then again three months after your treatment. Make sure that you keep this appointment even if you are feeling fine. | Check for common symptoms. Examine your stools. Pay attention to your appetite. Look for anemia symptoms. Watch for symptoms of a larvae infection. Make an appointment with your doctor. Collect a stool sample if necessary. Get a blood test. Undergo an imaging test. Take medication to help pass the tapeworm. Expect some pain and cramping. See your doctor for a follow-up visit. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Help-Children-With-ADHD | How to Help Children With ADHD | To help your child with ADHD, know that you aren't alone in wanting them to succeed. Your kid's teachers are on your side, so you should meet with them to get on the same page about routines, rewards, issues, and more. While they're helping your child in the classroom, you can help your child at home by sticking to a routine. For example, when your kid gets home from school, give them 20 minutes to get out any extra energy by playing or talking. After their 20 minutes is up, let them complete their homework at the same time and place every day. You can also use a daily planner to help your child keep track of their homework, and praise them every time they remember to bring it home from school and then pack it in their backpack in the morning. | Determine if your child has inattentive symptoms of ADHD. In order to get a proper diagnosis, your child should be appropriately evaluated by a certified mental health professional. Children under the age of 17 who exhibit at least six symptoms in more than one setting for a duration of at least six months qualify for diagnosis. Those who are 17 years old or older qualify if they display only 5 symptoms for at least 6 months. Symptoms must be inappropriate for the person's developmental level and be seen as interrupting normal functioning in social or school settings. Symptoms for ADHD (inattentive presentation) include: Makes careless mistakes, is inattentive to detail Has trouble paying attention (tasks, playing) Doesn't seem to be paying attention when someone is talking to him Doesn't follow through (homework, chores, jobs); easily sidetracked Is organizationally challenged Avoids tasks requiring sustained focus (like schoolwork) Can't keep track of or often loses keys, glasses, papers, tools, etc. Is easily distracted Is forgetful/loses things Blurts out answers before the question is asked Determine if your child has hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD. Some symptoms must be at the level of “disruptive” for them to count in a diagnosis. Track if your child has at least six symptoms in more than one setting, for at least six months: Fidgety, squirmy; taps hands or feet Feels restless, running or climbing inappropriately Struggles to play quietly/do quiet activities “On the go” as if “driven by a motor” Excessive talking Struggles to wait for his turn Interrupts others, inserts self into others' discussions/games Assess if your child has Combined ADHD. If your child has six symptoms from either category, he or she may have Combined presentation of ADHD. Get a diagnosis from a mental health professional. As you determine your child's level of ADHD, seek the guidance of a mental health professional to make an official diagnosis. This person will also be able to determine whether your child's symptoms can be better explained by or attributable to another mental or psychotic disorder. Ask your child’s mental health professional about other disorders. As if having an ADHD diagnosis isn't challenging enough, one out of every five with ADHD is diagnosed with another serious disorder (depression and bipolar disorder are common partners). One-third of children with ADHD also have a behavioral disorder (conduct disorder, oppositional defiance disorder). ADHD tends to pair up with learning disabilities and anxiety, too. Talk with your doctor or mental health professional about other disorders or conditions that might have symptoms that are similar to ADHD. Be honest with your child. Don't hide the fact that your child has ADHD. Be honest with him, helping him to understand the disorder. Don’t use ADHD as a crutch. Teach your child that ADHD is not an excuse for not being able to accomplish something. It can be easy to blame ADHD for anything from not completing homework to isolating oneself at home. But ADHD isn't necessarily debilitating, as long as the individual recognizes that he is a capable person. Don’t shield your child too much. Your nature as a parent is to protect your child, whether it's from harm, teasing, bad decisions, and so on. But it's important for your child to experience the consequences of his decisions. This will help him build independence and confidence. Encourage peer interactions for your child. One of the big challenges people with ADHD face as adults is that they didn't learn to socialize appropriately as a child. Encourage your child to participate in peer interactions such as Sunday school or scouting activities, sports teams, extracurricular groups, and so on. Find an organization which will allow you and your child to volunteer together, such as a local food pantry. Host parties and encourage attendance at parties that will help your child to live as normal a life as possible. If your child is invited to a birthday party, have a frank discussion with the hosting parents and explain that you need to attend to act as an anchor—and disciplinarian, as necessary. They will appreciate your candor and your child will benefit from the experience. Try role playing to prepare your child for unfamiliar events. Decrease the potential for anxiety by role playing it. In addition to providing familiarity and a comfort level for the upcoming event, role playing allows you to see how your child might react then guide him or her in appropriate responses. This is especially helpful in prepping to meet new people, work out conflicts with friends, or going to a new school. Focus on establishing consistency, routines and structures. The key to success lies in establishing consistent schedules and routines combined with organization and structure. Not only will this alleviate the stress on the child with ADHD, but it should also decrease misbehaviors that are spurred on by that stress. The less stress, the more success; the more success—and resultant praise —the better the self-esteem, which sets a child up for additional success in the future. Consistency and routines will help your child participate around the house more easily. Chores are often a sticking point for children, especially those with ADHD. Decrease the arguments and petulance of assigning chores by setting and enforcing a consistent time they occur. Tie them to a regular reward whenever possible. For example, instead of serving dessert at the end of dinner, serve it after the table is cleared and dishwasher loaded. Beds must be made before going outside to play. Break up tasks into small pieces. Children with ADHD need tasks to be broken into steps—chunking—that are given either one at a time or in written form. Parents should give positive feedback as the child completes each step. , When you give instructions, give them one step at a time. Then have your child repeat the instruction then getting praise at each step. For example: Loading the dishwasher: First load all the plates on the bottom. (“Great job!”). Now load all glasses on the top. (“Excellent!”). Next is silverware … Help your child learn time management. A child with ADHD doesn't have a great concept of time. People with ADHD struggle with clock issues, both with gauging the amount of time it will take to accomplish a task and estimating how much time has passed. Give your child ways to report back to you or complete a task in the right amount of time. For example: Buy a kitchen timer to take outside when you want him to come in after 15 minutes—or play a CD and tell her she needs to complete her chores by the time it ends. You can teach a child to brush teeth the right length of time by humming the ABCs or the Happy Birthday song. Play beat the clock by trying to finish a chore before a particular song ends. Sweep the floor to the rhythm of a song. Establish storage systems. Children with ADHD are constantly trying to make sense of their environment. Parents can help by organizing the home, especially the child's bedroom and play area. Establish a storage system that separates items into categories and reduces the crowding that leads to overload. Consider color-coded storage cubes and wall hooks as well as open shelves. Use picture or word labels to remind them what goes where. , Label storage tubs with corresponding pictures. Have separate storage tubs for different toys (dolls in the yellow bucket with a picture of Barbie taped on it, My Little Pony toys in the green bucket with the horse picture attached, etc.). Separate clothing so that socks have their own drawer and there's a picture of a sock on it, and so on. , Keep a box or a storage bin in a central location of the home where you can pile your child's toys, gloves, papers, Legos, and other miscellany that tend to spread all over the place. It will be easier for the child with ADHD to empty that bucket than to be told to pick up all her things from the living room. You also might establish a rule that the third time you find Darth Vader in the living room unattended, he gets confiscated for a week—or that if the bucket gets full, a lid will be put on it and it'll vanish for a while with all those special treasures inside. Maintain structure during school breaks. Winter, spring, and summer breaks can be nightmarish times for parents of children with ADHD as the structure and schedule of the past school year suddenly ends. Imagine walking a high wire without a net for nine months and then all of a sudden, the wire snaps and you are plummeting toward the ground. That's summer break for a child with ADHD: falling without a net in place. Plan ahead and install structure so your family doesn't unravel! Coordinate with your child’s teachers. Meet with your child's teacher to discuss a variety of topics with the teacher. These include effective rewards and consequences, effective homework routines, how you and the teacher will communicate on a regular basis about problems and successes, how you can mirror what the teacher is doing in the classroom for greater consistency, and so on. For some students, success will be obtained relatively easily by establishing consistent schedules, routines, and homework communication methods as well as utilizing effective organizational tools such as planners, color-coded binders, and checklists. Use a daily planner for your child. Organization and consistent routines will save the day when it comes to homework, and it's a good idea to coordinate with teachers whenever possible. Does the teacher provide a daily homework list or does the school promote the use of planners? If not, buy a planner that has plenty of space to write daily notes and show your child how to use it. If the teacher(s) can't or won't commit to initialing the planner every day, ask the teacher to help find a responsible student—a homework buddy —to check the planner before dismissal each afternoon. Reward your child with praise. Every day the planner comes home, make sure to give your child praise. Then make sure the planner back into the backpack every morning before school. Arrange for the homework buddy to give morning reminders to turn in the homework, too. Establish a consistent homework routine. Homework should be completed at the same time and same place every day. Have plenty of supplies on hand, organized in bins if you have the space. Be sure homework doesn't start the second your child walks in the door. Let him get rid of excess energy rising a bike or climbing trees for 20 minutes, or let him chatter and get that excess talking out of his system before telling him to do seatwork. Review homework assignments together. Show how you would organize the work and recommend ways to prioritize the assignments. Chunk big projects and set deadlines for individual stages to be completed. , Provide a brain-food snack such as peanuts as you review the assignments. Help your child keep track of school belongings. Many children with ADHD have trouble keeping track of their belongings and struggle deciding or remembering which books to bring home each night—let alone remembering to take them back to school the next day. Some teachers will allow students to have a “home set” of textbooks. This might be a recommendation for inclusion on an IEP as well. Get an individualized education plan (IEP) for your child. You need to provide documentation of your child's ADHD diagnosis. Then you need to complete a special education evaluation that shows the child's disability is interfering with his education. The school will then ask you to participate in an IEP conference. An IEP is a formalized document created by school staff and parents that spells out the academic, behavioral, and social goals of special-ed students, how results will be determined, specific interventions that will be used to achieve the goals, and so on. It lists decisions made concerning self-contained classrooms, percentage of time in mainstream classrooms, accommodations, discipline, testing, and more. Be sure that the IEP is specific to your child and that your input is included in the form. Do not sign a completed IEP until you have reviewed it and added your input. The school is legally bound to follow the guidelines laid down in the IEP. Teachers who fail to follow the IEP can be held liable. The school is also required to invite parents to regular IEP conferences to evaluate the progress of the child and the effectiveness of the plan. Then adjustments can be made as needed. Once a child has an initial IEP, it becomes easier to establish special education services when changing schools or transferring to a new school district. Act in your child’s best interests. Unfortunately, even with outstanding cooperation and effort by the adults, many children still will not succeed. They may require more intensive services available through the school or district special education department. In some cases, rigid teaching methods by inflexible teachers are the issue and parents must seek administrative support or look into changing teachers, changing schools, or exploring special education options. Choose the best paths for your circumstance to ensure maximum success for your child. Use positive input. You can get someone to cooperate better by asking nicely than by demanding or threatening. Those with ADHD are even more sensitive to the threats or demands, as they tend to feel that they're “always” messing up or in trouble. Regardless of your parenting style or personality, it's extremely important that you keep the input ratio weighted to the positive side: A child with ADHD needs to feel that he or she is being praised more often than criticized. The positive input must significantly outweigh the negative input to counterbalance all the feelings of failure that is encountered in a typical day. Work overtime to “catch him being good” and praise every conceivable achievement, however silly you might feel at first. Write house rules as positive statements. Whenever possible, invert house rules so they read as positives. For instance, instead of admonishing, “Don't interrupt!” the rule can be reminded as “Wait your turn,” or “Allow your sister to finish what she was saying.” It might take practice to flip those negatives from “Don't talk with your mouth full!” to “Finish what's in your mouth before sharing.” But work to make it a habit. Use incentives. There's an adage that applies well to children with ADHD, about the donkey moving faster for a carrot (reward) than a stick (punishment). Are you having trouble getting your child to bed on time? You can offer a stick (“Be ready for bed by 8 p.m. or else ….”) or you can find a carrot: “If you are ready for bed by 7:45 p.m., you can have 15 minutes to …” Buy a little bucket and stock it with “carrots.” These can be little rewards you can dole out when your child complies with a directive or behaves appropriately. Get a roll of stickers, a bag of 20 plastic army guys at a dollar store or a sack of 12 sparkly rings from the birthday party aisle. Get creative and add homemade coupons good for a popsicle, 10 minutes on the computer, playing a game on Mom's phone, getting to stay up 15 minutes later, getting a bubble bath instead of taking a shower, etc. In time you can cut back to intermittent tangible rewards. Instead, use verbal praise, hugs, and high-fives that allow you to continue a high degree of positive input that will motivate your child to behave while building his or her self-esteem. Transition to a points system for rewarding good behavior. Once you've experienced success with the carrot bucket, wean your child from concrete rewards (toys, stickers) to praise (“Way to go!” and high-fives). Then you might consider designing a point system for positive behavior. This system acts as a bank where your child can earn points to buy privileges. Compliance earns points and non-compliance loses points. Record these points on a sheet or poster that is accessible to the child. Organize the form for the ADHD brain, which increases the odds of achieving success. This is also good for self-esteem. Make a checklist built around the child's schedule, showing the deadlines for completing tasks. Choose possible rewards that will motivate your child. This system also serves to externalize those motivations. Keep a positive attitude. It's key for you as the parent to maintain a positive, optimistic attitude. Take care of yourself, let go of the little things, and remember how much you love your child. It can be very challenging to raise a kid with ADHD, but having a positive attitude will go a long way. Be consistent with discipline. All children need discipline and they need to learn that bad behavior comes with consequences. , For discipline to be effective at changing behavior, it must be consistent. Your child will know the rules and the consequences for breaking the rules. The consequence happens the same every time the rule is broken. In addition, the consequence applies whether the misbehavior happens at home or in public. Consistency is vital, and a lack of it can lead to a child developing confusion or willfulness. It's crucial that all caretakers are on board, disciplining the same way. When there is a weak link amongst the adults in the child's sphere, that weakness will be exploited every time. He or she will “shop for a better answer” or play the “divide and conquer” game. Be sure that the babysitter, Sunday school teacher, daycare or after-school provider, scout leader, grandparents, and other adults who have charge of your child are on board with your desire for consequences that are consistent, immediate, and powerful. Don't backtrack on consequences. If you threaten a dire consequence, and the bad behavior occurs, follow through on the promised punishment. If you don't follow through, your child won't listen the next time you try to coerce good behavior or prevent bad behavior. This is because you'll already have a track record in his or her eyes. Enforce the discipline immediately. The consequence for a problem behavior has an immediate impact. It is not delayed. Persons with ADHD often struggle with time concepts, so postponing a consequence has no meaning. It invites an explosion if the child gets a forgotten consequence for a previous infraction that might as well have happened a year ago. , Ensure your consequence is powerful. If the consequence for speeding was paying a fine of a buck for every mile per hour over the speed limit, we'd all speed constantly. This is not a powerful enough consequence to change our behavior. We tend to monitor our speed to avoid a $200 ticket plus higher insurance premiums. The same applies to children with ADHD. The consequence needs to be powerful enough to act as a deterrent. , Don’t respond to misbehavior emotionally. Your anger or raised voice may cause anxiety or send a message that your child can control you by getting you angry. Remaining calm and loving will convey the message you want. Before taking action, do a self-check to make sure you are responding in the way you want to respond. Don’t allow your child’s persistence to cause you to cave in. Your child may ask you ten times to have a special privilege and you say no nine times. But if you finally give in at the end, the message sent and received is that being a pest will pay off. Don’t reward bad behavior by giving your child the attention he wants. Some kids crave attention badly enough to behave badly so they'll get it. Instead, reward good behavior with an abundance of attention but consequence bad behavior with limited focus lest your attention be interpreted as a reward! Communicate with your child firmly. Don't argue or vacillate. Once you give a specific instruction, it is to be followed without exception, because you are the boss. If you allow your child to argue, he or she sees that as an opportunity to win. Thus, you lose. , Don't talk until your child is focused on you. Make sure your child is making eye contact with you. If you assign a task, make the instructions brief and have him repeat it back to you. Wait for the job to be completed before distracting him with anything else. Use timeouts effectively. Many parents use timeout systems but they frequently are not used properly. How many times have you seen a child sent into a timeout for a specified number of minutes then released, time having been served. Instead of a timeout being a prison sentence, use this time as an opportunity for the child to self-calm and contemplate the situation. Then, he or she will discuss with you how this situation came about, how to resolve it and how to prevent it from happening again in the future. You'll also talk about consequences if it should reoccur. Choose a designated spot in your house where your child will stand or sit quietly. This should be a place where he or she cannot see the television or otherwise be distracted. Designate an amount of time to remain quietly in place, self-calming (usually not more than one minute per age of the child). As the system becomes more comfortable, the child might remain in place simply until he or she has achieved a calm state. Then ask permission to come talk it over. The key is to allow the child time and quiet; give praise for a job well-done. Don't think of timeout as a punishment; consider it a reboot. Anticipate problems. You need to become as adept at foreseeing the future when you have a child with ADHD. Anticipate what problems you might encounter and plan interventions to prevent them. Help your child develop cause-and-effect and problem-solving skills by troubleshooting possible problems together. Make it a habit to think about and discuss possible pitfalls with your child before going to dinner, the grocery, a movie, church, or other public places. Ask your child’s doctor mental health professional about stimulants. There are two basic categories of ADHD medication: stimulants (such as methylphenidate and amphetamine) and non-stimulants (such as guanfacine and atomoxetine). Hyperactivity is treated successfully with stimulant medication because the brain circuitry being stimulated is responsible for controlling impulsivity and improving focus. Stimulants (Ritalin, Concerta, and Adderall) help regulate neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine). Monitor side effects from stimulants. Stimulants have fairly common side effects of decreased appetites and trouble sleeping. Sleep issues often can be resolved by lowering the dosage. Your child's psychiatrist or pediatrician may also add a prescription to improve sleeping such as clonidine or melatonin. Ask about non-stimulant medication. Non-stimulant medications may work better for some persons with ADHD. Non-stimulant anti-depression medications are often used to treat ADHD. These help regulate neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine). Some of the side effects may be more worrisome. For instance, youth taking atomoxetine must be monitored closely for potential increased suicidal ideation. Work with your child’s doctor to find the right form and dosage. Deciding on the right form and specific prescription of medication is tricky because different people respond differently to different medications. Work with the doctor to find the right form and dosage for your child. For example, many medications can be taken in an extended-release format, which erases the need to deal with dosing at school. Some individuals decline regular usage of medication and take it only on a situational basis. In these cases, individuals want a fast-acting version. For older children who learn to compensate for their ADHD challenges, medication may become unnecessary or be reserved for special occasion usage, such as when taking college entrance exams or finals. Use a pill container. Children will probably need extra reminders and assistance in order to take their medication regularly. It can help to use a weekly pill container. Check in with your child’s pediatrician periodically to assess the prescription. The medication's effectiveness may change depending on certain factors. The effectiveness may change depending on growth spurts, hormonal fluctuations, diet and weight changes, and as resistance builds up. Give your child nutritious foods. People with ADHD benefit from certain types of foods in order to boost serotonin and dopamine levels and to help with concentration. Experts recommend a diet rich in complex carbohydrates to boost serotonin for improved mood, sleep, and appetite. Skip simple carbs (sugars, honey, jelly, candy, soda, etc.) ) that cause a temporary serotonin spike. Instead, choose complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, green vegetables, starchy vegetables, and beans. These all act as an energy “time-release.” Serve a protein-rich diet that includes several proteins over the course of the day to keep dopamine levels high, which helps improve focus. Proteins include meat, fish, and nuts, as well as several foods that double as complex carbs: legumes and beans. Choose omega-3 fats. ADHD experts recommend improving the brain by avoiding “bad fats” such as those found in trans-fats and fried foods, burgers and pizzas. Instead, choose omega-3 fats from salmon, walnuts, avocados and more. These foods may help lower hyperactivity while improving organizational skills. Experiment with eliminating certain foods. Some studies show that eliminating wheat and dairy, as well as processed foods, sugars, additives and dyes (especially red food coloring), can have a positive impact on behavior in children with ADHD. While not everyone will be willing or able to go to that length, some experimentation may produce improvements that make a difference. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Every kid is affected when he doesn't get enough sleep. When you throw ADHD in the mix, managing everyday challenges become that much more difficult. A lack of sleep reduces the child's ability to focus, learn and retain information, and choose appropriate behavior. Help your child practice good sleep habits by establishing a consistent bedtime and wake-up time. Children need about 10 to 12 hours of sleep every night. Teens need about eight to ten hours of sleep every night. Get active with your child. A child with ADHD often has excess energy, and he will benefit from being physically active. Exercise helps improve focus and concentration. It also helps ward off depression and anxiety, and it can boost self-confidence. Go for bike rides with your child, or take him for hikes. Sports can be a great option for your child. Enroll your child in a sport that he enjoys playing. Usually, sports with more constant motion are better choices, such as basketball or soccer. Sports with more waiting or “down time” such as softball may not be as good for children with shorter attention spans. | Determine if your child has inattentive symptoms of ADHD. Determine if your child has hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD. Assess if your child has Combined ADHD. Get a diagnosis from a mental health professional. Ask your child’s mental health professional about other disorders. Be honest with your child. Don’t use ADHD as a crutch. Don’t shield your child too much. Encourage peer interactions for your child. Try role playing to prepare your child for unfamiliar events. Focus on establishing consistency, routines and structures. Break up tasks into small pieces. Help your child learn time management. Establish storage systems. Maintain structure during school breaks. Coordinate with your child’s teachers. Use a daily planner for your child. Reward your child with praise. Establish a consistent homework routine. Review homework assignments together. Help your child keep track of school belongings. Get an individualized education plan (IEP) for your child. Act in your child’s best interests. Use positive input. Write house rules as positive statements. Use incentives. Transition to a points system for rewarding good behavior. Keep a positive attitude. Be consistent with discipline. Enforce the discipline immediately. Ensure your consequence is powerful. Don’t respond to misbehavior emotionally. Don’t allow your child’s persistence to cause you to cave in. Don’t reward bad behavior by giving your child the attention he wants. Communicate with your child firmly. Use timeouts effectively. Anticipate problems. Ask your child’s doctor mental health professional about stimulants. Monitor side effects from stimulants. Ask about non-stimulant medication. Work with your child’s doctor to find the right form and dosage. Use a pill container. Check in with your child’s pediatrician periodically to assess the prescription. Give your child nutritious foods. Experiment with eliminating certain foods. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Get active with your child. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Ink-Stamps-from-Papers | How to Remove Ink Stamps from Papers | While ink stamps are usually permanent, with a little patience you should be able to remove the mark. To get ink stamps off paper, try using a regular eraser to remove it. If that doesn't work, cut out a small square of high-grit sandpaper. Then, place some papers beneath the one you're working on to protect your work surface. Use slow gentle strokes to sand away the ink stamp. You can also use this method for removing ink stamps from the edge of a book. Just place a small square of sandpaper under your index finger, and gently move your finger back and forth on the edge of the book until the mark comes off. | Try an eraser first. If the ink stamp is light enough, an eraser by itself might do the trick. This will better protect the paper. Pencil erasers are fine as long as they're still soft. If you're not making any progress after about five minutes, switch to something more abrasive. Acquire sandpaper. Any type will work as long as the grit is between 150 and 400. The lower the grit, the higher the abrasiveness. If you're using thin paper (such as notebook paper), opt for the highest grit possible. Tear off a section of sandpaper. Make sure it measures about 1 by 1 inch (2.5 by 2.5 cm). This will be small enough to focus on the ink stamp without affecting the surrounding area. Set up your work surface. Place several sheets of scrap paper on your work surface. Pile them one on top of the other. This is to cushion your paper from the hard surface of the table so you may avoid tears. The number of sheets will depend on how thin your working paper is. Make sure your work surface is solid. A table should be fine. Clear away anything you won't need. Set up the paper with the stamp. Place it face-up on top of the scrap paper. Hold it down firmly with your free hand. Be sure to use all of your hand and not just your fingertips. Position this hand so that the inked area of the paper is visible between your thumb and index finger. Make sure the paper is perfectly flat. Sand the ink off the paper. Work away from your body. Use slow and gentle strokes. Avoid pressing too hard. Be patient. This method can be time-consuming. As you sand, hold the paper up to the light to make sure you're not in any danger of sanding through. When the sandpaper feels less gritty, you can clean it by holding it up and flicking the back of it. Alternate with an eraser. Try erasing the ink as it becomes lighter. This mainly helps with any smearing effects from the sanding. Continue the process. Keep sanding the stamp. As the marks lighten, you can use the eraser to remove what remains. Keep in mind the paper is weaker where you have sanded it, so be as gentle and patient as possible. Open your book. Turn it to the desired page. Make the page as flat as you safely can get it. Avoid cracking the spine. Check the thickness of the paper. Make sure the page is at least as thick as the pages at the beginning and end of a typical library book. You can use this method on white or colored paper. You could also do this on the inside cover of the book. For extra protection, it might help to place several sheets of scrap paper under the page you're working on. If the page is thin like computer paper or notebook paper, use an eraser or sandpaper instead. Get a book repair knife. You can find these in specialty craft stores or online. Look for a blade that's completely flat on one side with a deep bevel on the other. This will remove the ink stamp while protecting the page from damage. Don't use an X-Acto knife or butter knife. It will remove the stamp, but it will also damage the page. Hold the knife in your dominant hand. Position it the same way you would hold a pen or pencil. Place your grip towards the bottom of the blade. You can position the blade vertically, horizontally, or at an angle. Begin scratching. Start with a letter or small design element in the stamp. Gently follow the shape of the letter or element as you scratch. Move in a back-and-forth motion with the tip of the blade. Be patient. This method can be time-consuming, but you will get professional results. For example, if you're removing a capital L, move the blade vertically on the long stem and horizontally on the shorter stem. Use an eraser to remove remnants of the ink. As the letters or lines begin to lighten, try to erase them. Erase gently. Move in a regular motion as if you were erasing pencil marks. This will prevent damage that could come from additional scratching. Continue the process. Keep scratching out individual letters or design elements with the knife. As they lighten, you can use the eraser to remove what remains. Touch up the area. When all marks are gone, touch up the formerly stamped area with the eraser. Use quick, yet gentle, strokes. Brush away any residual debris with the back of your hand. Pick up some sandpaper. Buy 100-grit and 320-grit. You can purchase sandpaper in sheets, but rolls might be more convenient. The rolled form will conform to your finger as you sand. Tear the 100-grit sandpaper. This is the tougher grit paper that will remove the stamp. Keep your strip no wider than the width of your index finger. Make the length slightly longer than the pad of your finger (from the tip to the first knuckle). Remove the dust jacket from the book. This is to protect the jacket from being sanded in the process. Set it aside in a location where it won't get damaged. Hold the book in one hand. Use your non-dominant hand. Hold the book with the remainder stamp facing you. Try to maintain a firm grasp to keep the book from slipping. Fit the sandpaper on your index finger. Make sure it doesn't extend beyond the width of the sanding surface. Otherwise, you could damage the book cover. Start sanding. Gently use a back-and-forth motion. Sand until the remainder mark is completely gone. When the ink begins to disappear, lightly sand the rest of the edge to keep the page widths even. Check the remaining 2 page edges. Look for any hint of discoloration. If you see any, lightly sand those areas until the discoloration is gone. This will give all 3 page edges an even color. Tear off a piece of the 320-grit sandpaper. This is the finer texture that will smooth out your pages. Aim for the same length and width you used for the 100-grit. Fit this piece of sandpaper to your finger as you did for the initial sanding. Buff the surface of the edges. Gently move your finger back and forth. If you only sanded the side with the remainder mark, this is the only side you need to buff. If you sanded 2 or all 3 sides, buff those, as well. | Try an eraser first. Acquire sandpaper. Tear off a section of sandpaper. Set up your work surface. Set up the paper with the stamp. Sand the ink off the paper. Alternate with an eraser. Open your book. Check the thickness of the paper. Get a book repair knife. Hold the knife in your dominant hand. Begin scratching. Use an eraser to remove remnants of the ink. Touch up the area. Pick up some sandpaper. Tear the 100-grit sandpaper. Remove the dust jacket from the book. Hold the book in one hand. Fit the sandpaper on your index finger. Start sanding. Check the remaining 2 page edges. Tear off a piece of the 320-grit sandpaper. Buff the surface of the edges. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Plant-Moso-Bamboo-Seeds | How to Plant Moso Bamboo Seeds | To plant moso bamboo, start when the weather is mild. Refrigerate your seeds for 2 weeks, then soak them in water for 24 hours. Fill a planting pot ¾ of the way full with equal parts compost and sand, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in an area heated to between 68 and 78 °F. Then, plant your seeds in the pot, cover them with 1/2 an inch of compost mix, and keep them moist and shaded for 1 to 6 months as they grow. | Choose a location that gets ample sunlight. Larger species of bamboo, such as moso, grow especially fast and become healthiest when they're exposed to full sunlight after the germination process. Try to avoid planting your moso bamboo in an area where there are surrounding trees or buildings that will minimize sunlight. While other types of bamboo and plants in general can thrive while being exposed to three or so hours of sunlight a day, moso bamboo needs six or more. Make sure the area has a water source. While moso bamboo may not necessarily need an excessive amount of water, it grows best in a location where it has constant access to water. Opt for an area that's relatively easy to make and keep moist. Plant your seeds when and where the temperature is mild. Choose a cooler environment that doesn't freeze for long periods. For the best possible end result, plant your seeds in the springtime. Once your moso bamboo is more established, it will be able to handle temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius), but it will have a hard time coming back from damage caused by colder, longer periods of time. Chill your seeds in the refrigerator. Break seed dormancy by keeping them in the refrigerator for two or three weeks before you sow them. You can put them in the ground outside during winter months instead and hope for springtime germination, but the chances of success when using this method are lower, because you won't be able to regulate moisture and temperature. Get a pot and create a growing medium by mixing sand and compost. Either a peat-based or peat-free compost mixed with sand in equal parts will create a strong foundation that will allow your seeds to get a good start. Make enough of your mixture to fill your pot about three fourths of the way. Soak your seeds. Soften up your seeds by soaking them for 24 hours in a bowl of water. In addition to softening, this step allows you to assess which of your seeds are viable and which aren't. Any seeds that float and do not sink to the bottom most likely won't sprout, so don't bother planting those. Warm the growing medium. While the seeds are soaking, fill your pot a little over halfway with your sand and compost mixture, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it sit in a temperature somewhere between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit (20-26 degrees Celsius). Plant the seeds in a shady spot. Place the seeds in the pot several inches apart and cover the seeds with about a quarter inch of your medium. At this point in the process, the seeds will be very sensitive to environmental influences, and require consistently warm temperatures, light shade, and moisture. Bamboo typically takes around a month or so to germinate, however, sometimes it can take up to six months. Be patient and consider this before assuming that your seeds aren't viable. Transport the plant. Dig a hole the size of your pot somewhere in the sunny area you've selected. Once your moso bamboo plant is several inches tall and appears to be somewhat strong and stable, gently remove it from the pot in the shady, warm area while keeping the roots and compost mixture as intact as possible. Support the plant with stakes. As your moso bamboo tries to weather its new environment, place three or four stakes around the base of the plant and tie a rope around its culms. This will stabilize the plant and keep it from uprooting or getting damaged while it gets stronger. Maintain a moist environment. When you initially transport the plant, make sure to soak the ground with water so that your moso bamboo starts off with a healthy amount of moisture. Put a three or four inch layer of mulch around your plant to help it retain moisture. | Choose a location that gets ample sunlight. Make sure the area has a water source. Plant your seeds when and where the temperature is mild. Chill your seeds in the refrigerator. Get a pot and create a growing medium by mixing sand and compost. Soak your seeds. Warm the growing medium. Plant the seeds in a shady spot. Transport the plant. Support the plant with stakes. Maintain a moist environment. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pop-up-Book | How to Make a Pop up Book | To make a pop-up book, start by folding a sturdy piece of construction paper in half and cutting 2 parallel, horizontal slits in the center of the paper to create a tab. You can follow the same process to create as many pages as you want. Next, write your text on the bottom half of each folded sheet and create the background on the top half. Then, draw your illustrations on separate pieces of paper, cut them out, and glue them to the tabs. Finally, glue the pages of your book together in the correct order. | Choose an interesting topic. The subject of your pop-up book should be kid-friendly if you plan on giving the book to a child. But what adult doesn't love a good 3D story? It can either be fiction or non-fiction. If choosing fiction, you can either go with a short yet classic folk tale or you can write your own story. If choosing non-fiction, look for a subject that a child might find appealing, like space, dinosaurs, or animals. You don't need to think of this as a tried-and-true "book." It can double as a letter, proposal, or a thoughtful addition to any gift. Keep things simple. Limit the number of pop-out elements you use to prevent your pages from looking cluttered or becoming too weak to stand. The fewer cuts you make in your pages, the more durable the pages will be. Feel free to add other craft elements to make it better. But even too many of these can make your pages look busy and weigh them down unnecessarily. Plan the story out. Create a storyboard. Write the story or script out on notebook paper, separating it into different paragraphs or lines when you anticipate needing a new page. Sketch out a rough draft of the illustrations you want to use for each page. Before you actually create the book, it is important that you know how many pages you will need along with how many pictures you will need and where to put them. Fold a sturdy piece of paper in half. A 9-by-12-inch (23-by-30-cm) sheet of construction paper works well, but you can also use cardstock, thin poster paper, or scrap booking paper of just about any size. The paper must be thicker than an ordinary sheet of printer paper. Fold the paper in half horizontally to create the book's cover. Cut two parallel, horizontal slits in the center of the paper. The slits should be about 2 inches (5 cm) long and spaced about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. These slits will create a tab. Open your paper. Position it vertically so that its height appears longer than its width. Use your finger or a thin pencil or pen to gently pry the tab forward. Make your illustrations. You can either draw and color the illustrations on separate sheets of construction paper or cardstock, or you can cut pictures from photographs, magazines, or recycled picture books and paste those pictures onto sturdier cardstock. Make sure that the pictures you create or use roughly correspond to the size of your book page. Also make sure that you have all the characters and images you need for your entire book, rather than the single page. Set aside an empty space at the bottom of the page for text. If you plan on having a child write the story out, you may want to use a ruler to draw lines to make it easier for him or her. You could also glue a portion of lined notebook paper in the space. If you plan on writing it out yourself, however, you can leave the space blank or print text out from your computer and paste it onto the page later. Create as many pages as necessary. Use the same folding and cutting technique to create as many pages as you need to bring the tale to an end. Review your story. Make sure that you have the illustrations and pictures planned out accurately as well as the text. Also make sure that you have enough pages created! Write in the text. Go through the pages and write or paste the text to the bottom of each page. If you have more text than you have room for, attach a piece of paper that folds out upon opening to the too-small text area. Problem solved! Decorate the background for each page. Sketch the background out in pencil before coloring it in with your coloring medium of choice. Leave the tabs blank. If you have a good eraser, go back and erase your pencil lines after completion. Cut and paste your pictures onto the tabs. Cut out the pictures and illustrations you created. Glue the back of each one onto its corresponding tab. Do not allow it to get stuck to the background portion of the page, however. Then it won't pop! If you're using runny glue, be sure not to use too much. Apply the glue to the tab and not the picture; that way you won't risk getting glue above or below the tab. Glue your pages together. The pages need to be glued together back to back. The top outer half of the second page would be glued to the lower outer half of the first page. The top outer half of the third page would be glued to the lower outer half of the second page. Continue this pattern until all the pages are attached to one another. Do not glue any of the pop up tabs together, though, since doing so will prevent them from popping up. Create an outside cover. Fold a sheet of heavy paper that is slightly larger than the rest over the book. Slide the folded paper away from the book, decorate the back and front outer covers, and then glue the back and front inner covers to the first and last pages of the book. This, of course, is entirely optional. If you're using it as a story-like letter or other purpose, a cover may be unnecessary. Enjoy! Once the glue has dried completely, the book is ready to be read. | Choose an interesting topic. Keep things simple. Plan the story out. Fold a sturdy piece of paper in half. Cut two parallel, horizontal slits in the center of the paper. Make your illustrations. Create as many pages as necessary. Write in the text. Decorate the background for each page. Cut and paste your pictures onto the tabs. Glue your pages together. Create an outside cover. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Planter-Box-from-Pallets | How to Build a Planter Box from Pallets | Making a planter box from pallets is an easy and inexpensive project. When picking your pallets, avoid ones marked with “MB,' which means they've been chemically treated. Instead, opt for pallets marked with “HT,” which means they've been heat treated. Once you have your pallets, you'll need to scrub them down if they're dirty and sand any rough edges. You can then cut some garden fabric to fit the back and sides of the pallets and staple it on. When your pallets are ready, fill them with soil and put your plants in. | Scrub down the pallet if it's dirty and sand any rough edges. Use a bit of dish soap dissolved in water to scrub it down with a sturdy brush. Rinse it off with a hose. Once it dries enough that it doesn't feel rough to the touch, use heavy sandpaper to smooth down any edges that are too splintery. Sanding the edges isn't absolutely necessary, but it will keep you from picking up as many splinters in your hands. You can find free pallets at may retail locations, such as pet stores, farm and tractor stores, liquor stores, and even schools. You might also find them at construction sites. Always ask before taking a pallet. Also, never take a pallet that's marked with "Property of..." or a company name. You can also purchase pallets at home improvement stores. Cut garden fabric to fit the back and sides of the pallet. Turn the pallet over and lay the garden fabric out over the back. Cut it large enough to completely cover the back, leaving enough room to go up the sides of the pallet, too, to help keep the soil in. The "back" of the pallet will be the side that has the most slats. You want the openings on the front/top of the pallet. "Garden fabric" is also called "weed barrier" fabric, as it's meant to suppress weeds when you layer it over an area. You can find it at most home improvement stores and garden centers. Staple the fabric to the back of the pallet, starting on the outer edges. On the back of the pallet, place a staple in the middle of one side of the pallet. Stretch it out and put a staple in the middle on the opposite side. Do the same for the other 2 sides and then fill in the rest of the edges with staples, stretching it a little as you do. You don't need to stretch it very taut, but you should try to tighten it a little so it doesn't have too much slack. Attach the fabric to the sides with a staple gun. Flip the pallet over. Pull the fabric up each side. Staple it in place near the top of each side. At the corners, fold the fabric flat into a triangle shape and lay it flat against the pallet to staple it in place. If you need to, trim off the fabric around the top edge. Fill the planter with soil and put your plants in the soil. Dump the soil in, working around the planks as you go. Add plants to each section of the planter by digging small holes and inserting the plants. Cover the bottom of the plants and then water the soil thoroughly. Make sure you have the planter where you want it before adding the soil or watering it. Cut a pallet into thirds. Start with a pallet that has 6, 9, or 12 planks across the front, as that will make it easier to cut into thirds. For instance, if it has 9 planks, cut between the third and fourth plank and then the 6th and 7th plank. Use a hand saw or jigsaw to cut down the center between the planks. You'll need to cut through each cross board on the front. Once you're done, flip it over and cut it in the same places on the back. Pull the pallet apart into thirds. You should have 2 side pieces and 1 middle piece. Pull off the small slats on the back of the side pieces. When you flip the side pieces over, you should see small slats sticking out from the long piece of wood. Use a hammer to pry the slats off gently as you want to keep them intact. Wedge the claw under the edge of the wood that's still attached and use the hammer to leverage the piece off. As you go along, hammer in any nails that are sticking up so they're flat against the boards. Remove the planks and wooden blocks from the center piece. On the back of the center piece, you should see square wooden blocks with small planks on top. Use your hammer to wedge these pieces off, keeping the wooden blocks intact as you go. You may need to use a chisel to wedge the wooden blocks off the center piece. Continue to flatten any nails you see sticking up by hammering them into place. Cut off the edges of the planks that stick out on the center piece. When looking at the center piece, you should see 3 long boards (if you started with a pallet that had 9 planks) and smaller boards running perpendicularly across the long boards. The small boards likely extend over the edges of the long boards so trim them off with a handsaw or jigsaw so they're flush with the edges of the long boards. Remove the "feet" from the boards you laid to the side with a splitting wedge. You set aside planks with wooden blocks on them earlier. Place a splitting wedge between the board and the wooden blocks. Drive a sledge hammer against the end of the edge to cut the nails between the blocks and boards. If you want to skip this step, you could just screw the boards onto the bottom of the planter with the blocks still attached. A splitting wedge is a tool that's cut into a wedge shape. You place the sharp end between 2 things you want to separate, then hit the broad end with a sledge hammer. Screw or nail the middle piece into the side pieces. Turn the middle piece over. Set the side pieces across from each other up so that the wooden blocks are on the inside and at the top of the boards, while you prop the middle piece on top, which will become the bottom piece. This part will be a little difficult to balance as you need to prop it up and screw it in at the same time. Line the middle piece up with the wooden blocks from the sides and screw or nail them into place. Place 2-3 screws or nails through the bottom piece into each of the the wooden blocks. Turn the planter right-side up! Place the leftover planks on the ends to make the other sides. You should have a u-shaped planter with the ends still open. Place the leftover planks on the ends, lining them up with the side boards. Screw them into place on top of the side and bottom boards. You may need to cobble together a couple of pieces to form 2 of the planks on the side. Screw the feet in at an angle. Turn the planter over again. Place the wooden blocks at the corners of the planters. Angle 2 3-inch (8 cm) screws on each foot so they go through the side of the feet and into the bottom of the planter. Drill the screws into each wooden block to hold the feet in place. Turn the planter back over. To finish the planter, add a layer of chicken wire or garden fabric to the inside of the planter, which will keep the soil inside. You may want to staple the fabric in place so that it doesn't move around too much. Decide how big you want your planter to be. If you want a square box, you could use 20 in (51 cm) pieces, along with skinnier pieces for a frame. If you want a rectangle, you'll need some longer pieces and some shorter pieces. However, you should decide ahead of time so you can judge how you want to cut the pallet as you pull it apart. If you wanted a rectangle, you could use 20 in (51 cm) pieces for 2 sides and 16 in (41 cm) for the other sides. Take the pallet apart until you have planks and wooden blocks. Use the claw end of the hammer to wedge apart all the boards until you have completely taken the pallet apart. With some boards, you may need to use a splitting wedge and a mallet. Push the splitting wedge in between the boards and hit the end with the mallet. If you're not going to use the full length of the boards, you can simply saw off the ends of the pallet to make the boards easier to remove. That way, you'll only need to wedge the boards off in the middle. Build the base with 2 longer planks and several shorter planks. Lay out 2 long planks parallel to each other. Aim for lengths of that are about the same size as your longest side, such as 20 inches (51 cm), plus the width of the wood. Across the planks, lay out smaller planks that are equal in length to your shortest side, such as 16 inches (41 cm). Place the smaller planks up against each other so they form a solid base for your planter. Leave a space on each edge of the long planks that's about the width of the wood, as you'll build up the sides off that area. Nail the smaller boards onto the longer boards. Begin building the walls up. When putting your side walls in place, try to offset them at the corners. That is, when setting down 1 plank on its side, it should go all the way to the corner edge on one end but leave just enough space on the other end for the next side to come all the way into that corner. Nail the pieces into the base, as you should have left enough space that the boards sink down a little and you can nail it in from the side at an angle. Put in corner posts to stabilize your work. Place a small piece of wood in each corner of the box and nail them into the bottom with your nails at an angle. You may need to cut a board in half to get a smaller piece of wood. These posts will provide something for you to nail into as you build your walls up. Continue building the walls up. As you build up, continue to offset the boards but alternate which board goes to the corner on each layer. For instance, if a shorter side goes all the way to the corner on one layer, the longer side should go all the way to that corner on the next layer. As you make your walls, nail them into the corner posts and into each other at the sides, creating a stable structure. You can make your walls as high as you want, but you probably shouldn't go more than 3-4 planks high as it will get unwieldy. Sand and paint your planter as desired. Use heavy sandpaper to sand the rough edges of your planter down. You can use a power sander if you'd like. After that, you can leave the planter as is or you can add a thin coat of paint to it for decoration. | Scrub down the pallet if it's dirty and sand any rough edges. Cut garden fabric to fit the back and sides of the pallet. Staple the fabric to the back of the pallet, starting on the outer edges. Attach the fabric to the sides with a staple gun. Fill the planter with soil and put your plants in the soil. Cut a pallet into thirds. Pull off the small slats on the back of the side pieces. Remove the planks and wooden blocks from the center piece. Cut off the edges of the planks that stick out on the center piece. Remove the "feet" from the boards you laid to the side with a splitting wedge. Screw or nail the middle piece into the side pieces. Place the leftover planks on the ends to make the other sides. Screw the feet in at an angle. Decide how big you want your planter to be. Take the pallet apart until you have planks and wooden blocks. Build the base with 2 longer planks and several shorter planks. Begin building the walls up. Put in corner posts to stabilize your work. Continue building the walls up. Sand and paint your planter as desired. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Letters-to-the-Editor | How to Write Letters to the Editor | To write letters to the editor, format the letter with the date, your name and address, and the recipient's name and address. Start with a simple salutation, then identify the article you're responding to. Next, state your position on the matter, focusing on one major point you want to make. Provide evidence or personal experiences to support your position and include a probable solution. Don't forget to proofread your letter carefully before sending it in! | Decide on the topic and paper. Your letter to the editor can be a response to a number of things. Most likely, it will be a response to a specific article, but your letter could also be a response to an event or issue in your community. It's best to respond to a particular article that was published by the newspaper. Then, your letter will be more likely to be chosen for publication, and always be ready for rejection. If you are responding to a community event or issue, your local newspaper is likely to be the most appropriate venue for your letter to the editor. Read other letters to the editor from the paper you've chosen. Before you start writing your own letter, you should read through other letters to the editor of the paper you've chosen to get inspiration. Each paper's letters will differ slightly in form, style, tone, and even in length. Read these letters to get a better idea of how to phrase your letters and to see what appeals to the editors of that paper. Check out the guidelines of the paper you've chosen. Most papers will have guidelines for the types of letters they will publish. Most papers have rules regarding the letter's length. They also typically ask that you include your name and contact information for verification. There may be additional guidelines. A number of papers won't allow political endorsement and limit how often individuals can submit. Make sure to read these guidelines before you send off your work. If you can't find the guidelines for submitting letters, call the publication to ask. Determine your reason for writing the letter. There are a number of approaches to writing these types of letters. Your approach is dependent upon why you are writing the letter. Determine what you hope to accomplish by writing the letter. Some reasons might include: You are angry about an issue and you want the readers to know about it. You want to publicly congratulate or support something or someone in your community. You want to correct information in an article. You want to suggest an idea to others. You want to influence public opinion or persuade others to take action. You want to influence policymakers or elected officials. You want to publicize a certain organization's work in connection with a current news issue. Write your letter within two to three days of the article. Make sure your letter is timely by sending in your letter shortly after the article in question was published. This will improve your chances of getting published, since the issue will still be fresh in the editor's mind (and the readers' minds). If you're responding to an article in a weekly newspaper, send in your letter in time for it to be published in the next issue. See the newspaper's guidelines for the publication deadline. Include your return address and contact information. Make sure to include your full contact information at the top of your letter. This will include not only your address, but also your email address, and daytime phone number. If your letter is chosen, the editors will use this information to get in touch with you. If the newspaper has an online submission system, it will likely have a space for you to include this information. Include the date. After your contact information, leave a blank line and then add the date. Write it formally, as you would in a business letter, such as: “Feb 25, 2016.” Include the recipient's name and address. If you are writing an email or sending in a physical letter, address the letter as you would a business letter. Include the recipient's name, position, company, and address. If you don't know the editor's name, you can either find it in the newspaper, or you can just write “Editor.” State if you want your letter published anonymously. It's usually a good idea to attach your name to your letter, and some newspapers won't publish letters anonymously anyway. But sometimes, there may be a circumstance where you want to state your opinion but you don't want people to know who you are. Add a note to the editor that your letter needs to be published anonymously. Unless you've written about a provocative issue, it's unlikely that your letter will be published if you've also requested anonymity. You will still need to provide your name and contact information, so that the newspaper can verify your letter. The newspaper won't publish your information if you've asked it not to. Write a simple salutation. There's no need to be fancy here. Just write "To the editor,” "To the editor of The Herald," or “Dear Editor.” Follow this salutation with a comma or a colon. State the article you're responding to. Orient your readers as quickly as possibly by stating the name and date of the article that you're responding to. Also, include the article's argument. You can do this in just one or two sentences. For example: "As a literature professor, I must take issue with your editorial ("Why Novels no Longer Matter in the Classroom," March 18th)." State your position. After you've stated the argument you're responding to, you should clearly state the position you're taking on the issue and why you feel a certain way. If your authority relates to the issue in some way, then state your occupation as well. Take this time to show why the issue is relevant and important, but remember to be brief. For example: "While the article states that college students no longer take pleasure in reading, everything I've seen in my classroom is evidence to the contrary. The article is not only inaccurate, but provides a very cursory explanation of the many reasons why students may be challenged by reading fiction in a college setting. Students aren't getting "bored" with fiction because the novel is no longer relevant; rather, their enthusiasm is waning because of professors who are losing interest in their own subject matter." Focus on one major point. Your letter is too short to cover much ground. Give your letter more force by focusing on one issue and providing evidence for that issue. Make your most important point up front. This helps your reader identify exactly what you're arguing from the get-go. If your letter is edited, it will be cut from the bottom up. If your most important point is at the beginning, it won't get lost in the editing. Provide evidence. Now that you've stated your position on an issue, you need to back it up with some facts. If you want your letter to be chosen, then you need to show that you've put some thought and research into formulating your letter. Though you don't have a lot of space, just providing a few key facts can make a big difference. Here are some great ways to provide evidence: Use recent events in your state or community as evidence. Use statistics, data, or survey results. Tell a personal story that tells a larger point. Use current events in politics for support. Use a personal example. To make your point relevant, use a personal story. Readers can more easily recognize the impact that news can have on a person when that person shares a personal story. Say what should be done. Once you've provided evidence for your point of view, end the letter by saying what can be done to address the issue. Perhaps just raising awareness of the issue in the community is enough, but there may be other things that people can do to address the issue and get involved. Point the readers to actions they can take to be more involved in the issue in their local communities. Direct the readers to a website or organization that can further their goals. Give the readers a way to find more information on the subject. Instruct the readers directly. Tell them to do something, whether it's to call their local congressperson, vote, recycle, or volunteer in their communities. Name names in your letter. If your letter is intended to influence a legislator or a corporation to take a specific action, name that person or corporation. The staff working for the legislator is collecting news mentions of the legislator. Corporations are doing the same. These people will be more likely to read your letter if you name them specifically. Have a simple closing. Have one sentence that summarizes your point of view on the issue so your readers have a clear reminder of your main message. Include a closing phrase along with your name and city. At the very end of your letter, include a simple “Sincerely,” or “Best regards,” to finish your letter. Then include your name and city. Include your state if the newspaper is not your local publication. Include your affiliation if you are writing in your professional capacity. If your professional expertise is relevant to your article, then include this information between your name and residence. If you are attaching your company's name to your letter, you are implicitly stating that you are speaking on behalf of the organization. If you are writing on your own, then omit your company name. You can still use your professional title if it is relevant to the issue addressed in your letter. The following is an example that uses an organizational affiliation: Dr. Barbara Smith Professor of Literature Humanities Department Sparrow University Springfield, N.Y. Be original. If you say exactly what everyone else is saying, then your letter won't get chosen. Find a way to put a new spin on an old issue. Your letter may also have a higher chance of getting printed if you have summarized many other letters in an eloquent and provocative way. Trim down your letter to avoid wordiness. Most letters to the editor are between 150 and 300 words long. Remember to be as concise as possible. Cut out extraneous phrases or flowery language. Be straight and to the point. This will help you cut down on your word count. Eliminate phrases like “I think.” It's apparent that the content of your letter is what you think, so you don't need to waste the words. Be respectful and professional in tone. Even if you disagree with an issue, maintain a respectful tone instead of being angry or accusatory. Keep your tone formal and avoid slang or overly casual phrasing. Don't insult your readers, the article's author, or your opponents. Keep an even keel when writing your letter. Write to the level of the readers. Make sure your letter is written at an appropriate reading level for the newspaper's audience. Avoid jargon, acronyms and abbreviations. The readers might not know certain industry jargon or abbreviations that are common in your field. Spell out acronyms and abbreviations. Use more common language in place of jargon. Proofread your work. Once you're happy with the wording of your letter, proofread your paper to check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Remember that you're competing against many other letter writers, sometimes numbering in the thousands for a national paper. If you have a stray comma or a grammatical hiccup, you risk looking less professional than your competition. Read your letter aloud to make sure that the flow of punctuation is natural. Ask someone to read your letter. Another set of eyes on your letter will help improve clarity. He may also catch errors that you missed. Send in your letter. Once you've finished your letter, send it to the paper you've chosen. The paper's guidelines should say which form of submission is best. Most papers ask for an electronic submission, either via email or through an online submission system. Some traditional newspapers may still prefer a physical copy of your letter. Know that your letter may be edited. The newspaper reserves the right to edit a letter. The paper will primarily edit for length, or to slightly alter an unclear passage. The paper won't change the overall tone or argument of your letter. If your letter contains libelous or inflammatory language, this may be edited out. Or, your letter may not be published at all. Follow up with your letter. If your letter is printed and you have requested particular action on the part of a legislator or corporation, follow up with that individual or company. Clip out your letter and send it to the legislator or corporation. Include a note that addresses the action you've requested. Don't be disappointed if your letter doesn't get chosen. No matter how perfect your letter might have been, there is always a chance that other letters will catch the editor's eye and that yours will not be published. That's okay. Now that you know how to write a letter to the editor, you'll be a pro at writing future letters. Be proud of yourself for stating your opinion and advocating for something you believe in. Try sending your letter elsewhere. If your letter was not published but you still feel strongly about the topic letter, try sending a similar letter addressing a similar topic in a different paper. | Decide on the topic and paper. Read other letters to the editor from the paper you've chosen. Check out the guidelines of the paper you've chosen. Determine your reason for writing the letter. Write your letter within two to three days of the article. Include your return address and contact information. Include the date. Include the recipient's name and address. State if you want your letter published anonymously. Write a simple salutation. State the article you're responding to. State your position. Focus on one major point. Make your most important point up front. Provide evidence. Use a personal example. Say what should be done. Name names in your letter. Have a simple closing. Include a closing phrase along with your name and city. Include your affiliation if you are writing in your professional capacity. Be original. Trim down your letter to avoid wordiness. Be respectful and professional in tone. Write to the level of the readers. Proofread your work. Send in your letter. Know that your letter may be edited. Follow up with your letter. Don't be disappointed if your letter doesn't get chosen. Try sending your letter elsewhere. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sour-Milk | How to Sour Milk | If you need to make sour milk, pour whole or 2% milk into a bowl, then add fresh lemon juice or white vinegar to the bowl. Use a spoon to stir the acid and the milk together until they're fully blended. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes, which will give the milk time to thicken up and curdle slightly. You can use this mixture to replace buttermilk in a recipe, create marinades for meat, or to make cottage cheese. | Pour the acid into the milk. Fill a measuring cup with 1 cup (237 ml) of whole milk minus 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml). Next, add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar to the milk. You can substitute 2% milk or heavy cream for the whole milk if you prefer. Stir the acid and milk together well. After you've added the lemon juice or vinegar to the milk, use a spoon to mix the two together. Be sure to blend them well so the acid is fully incorporated into the milk. Let the milk mixture sit for at least 5 minutes. Once the milk and acid have been mixed together completely, allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes. That will give it time to thicken up and curdle slightly so you'll have sour milk. The recipe makes 1 cup (237 cup) of sour milk. However, you can easily halve, double, or triple it based on your needs. Measure the sweetened condensed milk. For the sour milk, you'll need ½ cup (103 g) of sweetened condensed milk. Carefully pour it into a measuring cup to ensure that you get the right amount. ½ cup (103 g) of sweetened condensed milk is about ¼ of a standard 14 ounce (397 g) can. Add the sweetened condensed milk to the measuring cup slowly. Because it's so thick and sticky, it can be difficult to get the milk out if you add too much. Stir in the water and the acid. Once you have the proper amount of sweetened condensed milk, add ½ cup (118 ml) of cold water and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of white vinegar or lemon juice to the measuring cup. Mix the ingredients together well until they're fully blended. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes. When the milk is mixed with the water and acid, let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes. You'll know that the sour milk is ready when you notice some curdled bits in it. You'll make 1 cup (237 ml) of sour milk from the recipe. Replace buttermilk in baking recipes. The most common use for sour milk is in baking recipes that require buttermilk. You can easily substitute the tang that buttermilk provides with sour milk in cakes, scones, and biscuits. Sour milk also works well in pancake and waffle batter. You can also use the sour milk to replace yogurt or sour cream in baked goods. Create marinades for meat. If you're cooking a cut of meat that you want to ensure is tender, soak it in sour milk. Mix up a flavorful marinade for chicken, steak, or fish by combining the milk with herbs such as rosemary, thyme, garlic, and/or black pepper. In savory recipes, you can also mix sour milk into dishes like potato bakes, casseroles, or stews that have a creamy or cheesy consistency. You should just be careful that the tangy flavor of the milk doesn't overpower the dish. Make cottage cheese. With sour milk, you can whip up rich homemade cottage cheese. You'll need to heat the milk on medium until it's 185°F (85°C), remove it from the heat, and mix in some vinegar. Next, pour it through a colander lined with cheesecloth, rinse the curds, and mix them with salt and a little milk or cream until you get the consistency you like. Keep your cottage cheese refrigerated, and eat it within a week. | Pour the acid into the milk. Stir the acid and milk together well. Let the milk mixture sit for at least 5 minutes. Measure the sweetened condensed milk. Stir in the water and the acid. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes. Replace buttermilk in baking recipes. Create marinades for meat. Make cottage cheese. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Scrabble-Flash | How to Play Scrabble Flash | To play Scrabble Flash, start by pressing the button at the bottom of each tile to power them on. Next, use your tiles to form a 3, 4, or 5 letter word by placing them side by side, keeping in mind that the sides must touch. After you hear a beep, which means you scored a point, continue shuffling tiles to make new words until you run out of time. Once the game is over, line up your tiles to display your final score as well as the maximum possible score you could have gotten, which the game will calculate for you. | Set up your Scrabble Flash tiles. Place the tiles so that their sides are touching and they are facing up. Use a flat surface that is easy to slide the tiles around on. If you are playing with other people, then you should make sure that it will be easy to pass the tiles to each player. Power up the tiles. Turn on the game tiles by pressing the button on the bottom of each tile. To power down the tiles, you just hold the power button until the screen goes blank. The tiles will automatically shut off after 3 minutes of no activity. Choose your game. There are three game options in Scrabble Flash. After you power up the tiles, you will see the numbers 1, 2, and 3 on three different tiles. Select the game that you want to play by pressing the button at the bottom of that tile. Game 1: Scrabble Flash is a solo game that allows you to play 3, 4, or 5 letter words. Game 2: Scrabble Five-Letter Flash is a solo game that only lets you play 5 letter words. Game 3: Scrabble Pass Flash is a multi-player game that only lets you play 5 letter words. Place tiles together to form a word. When the letters appear on the tiles, move the tiles around until you have found a word to play. Then place the tiles next to each other in the order that you want them. The sides of the tiles should be touching. You may use 3, 4, or 5 letters to make a word. Wait for the beep. Each time you make a legal word, the tiles will beep and highlight the letters in the word. Each word you make scores 1 point. If you make a 5-letter word, then you get an additional 5 seconds of playing time. Continue shuffling tiles to make new words until time expires. Each game lasts sixty seconds. You will know when your time is about to expire because the tiles will beep 5 times to count down your last 5 seconds. When your time expires, the tile faces will display a clock to indicate that the game is over. Line up the tiles to display your score. After you have lined up the tiles, wait for your score to appear. The game will display your total score (SCR) and the maximum score (MAX) you could have earned if you had made every word possible with the 5 letters you were given. Arrange the tiles to make a 5-letter word. Since Scrabble Five-Letter Flash only lets you make five letter words, you must move all of the tiles to create your words. If you get stumped, try placing the tiles in random combinations to see if they make a word. When you make a word, the tiles will beep and display 5 new letters. Keep shuffling around the tiles and creating words until your time expires. You will get 75 seconds to play your words and the goal is to make as many 5-letter words as you can in the time allotted. If you find this version of Scrabble Flash too challenging, try playing regular Scrabble Flash for a while to build your skills. Line up the tiles to display your score. After you have lined up the tiles, wait for your score to appear. The game will display your total score (SCR) and the maximum score (MAX) you could have earned if you had made every word possible with the 5 letters you were given. Have the first player arrange the tiles to make a 5-letter word. Each player will have a short amount of time to make a word. If you successfully make a word within the time limit, the tiles will display the word "Next." If you don't make a word, the tiles will display the word "Out," which means that you have been eliminated from the game. Pass the tiles to the next player. After “next” or “out” appears on the screen, a new set of 5 letters will be displayed. The next player must make a 5-letter word from those letters within the time limit and pass the tiles along. As the game progresses, the amount of time to recognize and make a 5-letter word will grow shorter. Continue playing until only one player remains. Keep passing the tiles until all but one player has been eliminated from the game. The last player left is the winner! | Set up your Scrabble Flash tiles. Power up the tiles. Choose your game. Place tiles together to form a word. Wait for the beep. Continue shuffling tiles to make new words until time expires. Line up the tiles to display your score. Arrange the tiles to make a 5-letter word. Keep shuffling around the tiles and creating words until your time expires. Line up the tiles to display your score. Have the first player arrange the tiles to make a 5-letter word. Pass the tiles to the next player. Continue playing until only one player remains. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-with-Parents-Fighting-All-the-Time | How to Deal with Parents Fighting All the Time | When you hear your parents fighting, remember that it is not your fault and that you are not responsible for their behavior. Instead of refereeing the fight or getting involved, give yourself some space by going to a different room or going outside. Do an activity that helps keep you calm, like listening to your favorite music, cuddling a pet, or writing in a journal. If you are feeling overwhelmed, share your feelings with a close friend, loved one, or school counselor. | Don't jump to conclusions. Sometimes parents can disagree calmly, and let each other speak without yelling or interrupting. But even if things get heated, it might just be a rough patch that they'll figure out. If your parents apologize and things get back to normal, it might not be anything to worry about. Stay out of it. Don't try to referee or fix things. It's not your fault, and it's up to adults to solve their own relationship problems. They'll probably work it out soon. If you start getting stressed out, take some deep breaths and find something else to do. Take a walk, do some chores, watch a movie or call a friend. If someone might be in immediate danger, don't be afraid to call a trusted adult or the police. Do something fun or calming. Leave the room or the house if you can. Try listening to your favorite music, doing a craft or going out with friends. Do something that helps you get out your frustration or anxiety or forget about it for a little while. Spending time with friends, even if you don't want to talk about what's worrying you, can be a great outlet. Exercise or a brisk walk helps work out frustration and makes you feel better. Or just put on your headphones and dance to your favorite song. Playing with or cuddling a favorite pet can help you stay calm and reduce stress. Writing in a journal or private blog is a great way to work out how you're feeling. Intervene only if necessary. If any of these things happen, it's a sign that the people fighting need some outside help, from a therapist, a doctor or a helpline. It's not normal or healthy if a parent: Threatens to hurt someone Destroys property Harms him or herself physically Threatens to commit suicide Threatens to leave the other parent or family Threatens to report the other parent to authorities Take care of the basics. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, drinking and eating when you should, and doing your homework. If you're having trouble with any of those things, talk to a trusted adult. Talk to people you trust. Close friends, siblings, or relatives close to your age can be really helpful. But sometimes it helps to have an adult to talk to. A trusted teacher, a close relative, a religious leader or the guidance counselor are all good options. If you have an adult sibling who lives outside of the house, then they would also be a good person to talk to. Remember it's not your fault. Even if your parents are fighting over something that involves you, you didn't cause them to fight. You're also not responsible for fixing it, and you can't fix it by being a "better" child. You may want see a therapist or counselor to talk to about your feelings. Short-term counseling can help you deal with difficult situations. Don't take drugs. Nicotine, alcohol, marijuana and illegal substances are not a good way to cope with stress, and they have especially negative effects on young brains. In the end, it would just make things worse. Make a plan to talk to your parents. It can help to get things out in the open and share how you're feeling. When everyone is together and calm, ask if they're willing to talk to you. Find a comfortable spot and a specific time ("Let's meet in the family room at 7 p.m.") Think about what you want to say ahead of time, and write ideas down to help you stay focused. Remain calm. It's okay to stop for a little while if things get too emotional. You can always take a break and try again later or another day. If tensions seem high, take a deep breath, suggest a water break, or tell a joke (but know your audience and whether they think it will be funny or not). Keep talking. This probably won't be a one-time conversation and you may think of more things to talk about or share later. It can take some time for communication to improve. At the end of your talk, ask if your parents will talk to you again in a few days or a week. Make sure to keep the talk focused on how you are affected by their fighting. Don't try to solve their problems. It's not your fault that they're fighting, and it's not your responsibility to fix. Remember that parents are human just like anyone else, and they are the only ones responsible for their own behavior. Tell them how their fighting makes you feel. Be honest but don't attack them. It can be helpful to write down some notes if you tend to freeze up. Use "I statements" like "when you yell at each other, it makes me feel sad and angry". If it feels too overwhelming to do on your own, talk about it with a trusted adult and ask for their help. Ask them to talk to someone. If your discussion goes well, ask if your parents have thought about seeing a counselor or therapist. With time and some work, professionals can help couples communicate better. | Don't jump to conclusions. Stay out of it. Do something fun or calming. Intervene only if necessary. Take care of the basics. Talk to people you trust. Remember it's not your fault. Don't take drugs. Make a plan to talk to your parents. Remain calm. Keep talking. Don't try to solve their problems. Tell them how their fighting makes you feel. Ask them to talk to someone. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Law-Professor | How to Become a Law Professor | To become a law professor, start by earning a bachelor's degree and taking the LSAT so that you can enroll in law school. Next, attend law school and complete your chosen course of study to earn your Juris Doctorate. Then, register for the bar examination in the state in which you plan to practice and spend a few years getting law experience in a prestigious national firm or in federal court. Finally, after gaining the degrees and experience you need, you can start applying for law professor positions! | Go to one of the top law schools in the country. Most law professors got their law degree at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, or Chicago. There are another dozen or so prominent law schools that regularly produce law professors as well. If you're planning on taking the classical path toward becoming a law professor, you need to get your law degree from one of these schools. Some high-ranking schools have greater prominence regionally. For example, if you wanted to teach at a southern law school, you could likely make the cut with a degree from Emory, Duke, or Vanderbilt. If you were planning on teaching on the west coast, you could add Berkeley and UCLA to the list. Perform exceptionally well academically while in law school. How well you do is determined relatively according to your class rank. While you don't necessarily have to graduate first in your class, aim to be in the top 5%. The lower-ranked your law school, the higher your class rank needs to be if you want to get noticed. Regardless of which school you go to, there is little hope for you to become a law professor if you aren't in the top 25% of your class. Join the law review and hold a senior editorial position. If you're taking the classical path toward becoming a law professor, you need to be a member of the most important law review at your law school. While most law schools have several journals that focus on a particular field of law, for the classical path, the main law review is the only one that matters. You also need to hold a senior editorial position in your third year. Ideally, you'll be editor-in-chief. If you don't manage to take the top spot, you should at least be in charge of a particular department or process. For example, you might be the articles editor. Publish at least one article in law school. If you're on law review staff, you'll write a student note and submit it for publication. Not all student notes are published. However, if you want to become a law professor, your note should be good enough to be published. In addition to your student note, start working on an article that you can submit to other journals for publication after you graduate from law school. Ideally, your other article will be in the same area of law as your student note so you can start building expertise in an area. You might also consider writing an article about a core area of law that you studied your first year of law school, such as contracts or criminal law. New law professors often teach first-year classes so it's a good idea to establish expertise in one of those areas. Serve as a clerk for a judge after law school. The top law professor candidates usually spend the first few years after graduating clerking for prestigious judges. The US Court of Appeals is a good place to start. A clerkship with a justice on the Supreme Court is best. New graduates typically clerk for a judge on the appellate court first, then apply for a clerkship with a Supreme Court justice. State court clerkships, even at the appellate level, are not as impressive as federal court clerkships. Continue to publish after law school. A clerkship typically also gives you the opportunity to research and write. You'll see challenging cases come through the courts every day and will have a sense of developing trends in the law. You'll also have insight on hot-button issues that could make for compelling journal articles. Look for an issue on which federal circuits are divided. A case that presents that issue is ripe for a Supreme Court decision and could serve as the basis for a strong journal article that could be cited by appellate court judges or even Supreme Court justices. Practice at a top law firm for 2 to 5 years. After your clerkships, gain some experience practicing law — preferably at a nationally renowned "white-shoe" law firm. Most of these firms are located in New York City, although they typically have branch offices all over the world. While you do want some experience practicing law, too much experience could sink your chances of becoming a law professor. Law schools favor academic scholarship over practice in the legal trade, particularly for tenure-track positions. The career services company Vault publishes law firm rankings every year based on the assessments of practicing lawyers. If you're taking the classical route toward becoming a law professor, aim to be an associate at one of the top 10 law firms on this list. Get recommendations from professors. For a law professor application, you'll need at least 3 or 4 references. They should be from professors who understand your research and scholarship interests, not necessarily professors whose classes you took in law school. The professors can be from any school. However, you typically want at least 2 professors to be from the school where you graduated. It helps if you have a famous professor or two, but don't go for prestige over substance. Earn strong grades in law school. If you follow the post-doc path, you'll be getting another degree after your law degree, so your grades and class rank in law school aren't as important as they would be if you took the classical path. However, you still need strong grades to be accepted into a post-doc program. Law schools will also look at your grades in law school when you apply to be a professor, even if you have another degree. Generally, you should be in the top 25-30% of your class if you're getting another degree after law school. Serve on the editorial board of a law journal. When you're getting another degree after your law degree, you may not necessarily need to be the editor-in-chief of your school's most prestigious law review. However, some journal experience is still important to demonstrate your interest in legal scholarship. Serving on the editorial board is typically less important than publishing articles. However, being on the staff of a journal gives you the best opportunity to write a journal article. Write at least one legal research article while in law school. If you're on the staff of a law journal, your article might be your student note. However, it's a good idea to get started on another article with the aim of submitting it to law journals after you graduate. If all you have is your student note, you should at least have a thesis for an additional research project lined up, along with some preliminary research. Apply to graduate law programs at top law schools. If you get another degree after law school, you might have a better chance of getting a job as a law professor if your other degree is also in law. Advanced law studies include LLM, JSD, or SJD programs. However, these degrees won't help you much in your quest to become a law student unless they're from one of the best law schools in the country, such as Harvard or Yale. Yale also has a Ph.D. in law offered by Yale Law School. Graduate law programs also give you additional opportunities to engage in legal scholarship, so you could potentially get another publication or two under your belt by the time you graduate. Teach legal research and writing at a top law school. Legal research and writing (LRW) instructors typically aren't tenure-track professors who are only hired to teach for a semester or year at a time. LRW instructors primarily teach first-year legal writing classes, but may have other duties, such as overseeing brief writing for the school's moot court teams. Because these are non-tenure-track positions, they are typically easier to get and allow you to get your feet wet and decide if teaching law is what you really want to do. As an LRW instructor, you have full use of the school's library and access to the other faculty. This can give you the tools you need to write and publish articles. Get a fellowship to increase your research and writing. Many top law schools, including Harvard and Yale, offer fellowship programs that give students who want to become law professors the opportunity to pursue legal scholarship. Typically, you need a specific proposal for the type of research you plan to do. Fellows may also assist in teaching classes at the law school or mentor JD students. Fellowships are highly competitive. You might also try getting a job at a law school as a Visiting Assistant Professor (VAP). These jobs also allow you to continue your research and writing, although your work will be far more self-directed than it would in a fellowship. Get exceptional grades in law school. Regardless of your approach to becoming a law professor, a strong academic record is important. At a minimum, you should rank in the top 25-30% of your class. The highest possible rank is always the best. Your class rank and grades will be more important to the law schools when you apply as a law professor than they will be when you apply for your graduate degree. Faculty and admissions staff in other disciplines will likely be unfamiliar with the law school grading process. Work on a law journal to show your interest in legal scholarship. Particularly if you're getting a degree in another discipline, law schools might question if you're more committed to that discipline than you are to law. Law schools tend to hire professors who are passionate about legal study and scholarship. Your work on a law journal in law school helps you establish and demonstrate that interest. You might consider a position at a journal related to your other degree, if your law school has such a journal. For example, if you're planning to get a Ph.D. in economics, you might serve on the editorial board of a law and economics journal. Practice law for 2 to 5 years before going back to school. Generally, it's a good idea to get some legal practice in before you get your graduate degree in a related discipline, as opposed to going straight to school. It will be easier to find a job at a law firm while you're in law school and can take advantage of your school's career resources. When potential employers ask you about your career goals, you shouldn't lie. However, it's probably best to downplay the fact that you're planning on going back to school to get a degree in another discipline in a couple of years. Pursue a graduate degree in an academic area related to law. To take an interdisciplinary approach toward becoming a law professor, you need a Ph.D. in a discipline that frequently intersects legal study. The specific degree might also dictate the types of law school courses you would be qualified to teach. For example, many jurisprudence or legal philosophy professors also have a Ph.D. in philosophy. Economics is another discipline that frequently intersects with legal study. Continue to publish in law journals while getting your graduate degree. The danger in getting a degree in another discipline is that you will appear to have abandoned the law for several years. Although your focus will be on your degree programs, balance your study out with a couple of publications in law journals. Look for interdisciplinary journals where you can write articles about areas where the two disciplines intersect or overlap. This will reinforce the idea that you're getting the other degree to supplement and enrich your law degree and contribute to your legal scholarship. Keep in touch with your old law school professors. As you work towards your graduate degree, continually reach out to old law school professors and maintain relationships with them. When you enter the legal teaching market, you'll need recommendations from professors. Keeping these relationships active also demonstrates your commitment to legal scholarship. For example, you might start an email correspondence with a professor you admire. When legal issues or questions come up in your graduate study, you might write to them for advice. If you have an idea for an article for a law journal, write to a professor who has done research in that area and ask for advice or assistance. This will ensure that the professors you get recommendations from are familiar with the type of research you want to pursue as a professor. Get substantial practical experience after law school. If you're considering being a professor based on your practical experience, you want to become an expert at whatever legal niche you practice. Professors hired based on their experience typically are clinical professors, but some also teach academic classes in niche subjects, such as entertainment law. The type of law firm you practice at doesn't matter as much if you're following this path. You might even start your own firm, which can be especially helpful if you're practicing in an area of law that people regularly need, such as criminal law or family law. Keep your practice focus as narrow as possible and tied to the type of law school classes you ultimately want to teach. For example, if you want to teach criminal law, you might work as a defense attorney. Publish articles in practice journals and academic journals. Law schools typically look down on practice journals or trade magazines. However, if you're trying to become a law professor based on your experience, publication in practical journals helps bolster your reputation as an expert. You might also consider writing a book or chapter for a nonfiction book related to your area of legal expertise. If you get your name out there by publishing in journals a lot, these types of opportunities may come up. Make yourself available as a legal commentator to gain name recognition. Start with your local news station. Send over your résumé with a letter and explain what issues you're available to discuss as a commentator. In many places, good local legal commentators are in high demand, so it shouldn't take long before you're contacted. If you live in a larger city, it might be a little more difficult to get established as a legal commentator, even on local news stations. You might start with smaller towns nearby. You can also establish a name for yourself as a commentator by starting a blog or writing articles and submitting them to local news outlets. Teach as an adjunct professor while practicing law. You can enhance your reputation as an expert as well as gain teaching experience by working as an adjunct professor. Adjuncts typically only teach one class a semester, usually in a niche area, such as entertainment or environmental law, that they also practice. Teaching as an adjunct is typically easier if you have your own law firm because you can adjust your client intake to make time for the class. While teaching even one class can take up significant time and resources, make sure you can keep up with your writing and publications at the same time. If you want to get hired in a full-time, tenure-track faculty position, publications are essential, regardless of which path you take to get there. Make friends with law professors. Contact law professors who teach the same area of law that you practice (or an area that intersects with your practice). You might send a journal article you've written by way of introduction or offer to come and speak to their students about your practice. For example, if you practice music law, you might reach out to copyright or intellectual property law professors and ask if you could come to their class to discuss the different copyright and trademark aspects you encounter in your practice. If you want to become a law professor, not only practitioners but also professors must view you as an expert in your field. The recommendations from these law professors will make it much more likely for you to get a position on a law school faculty. | Go to one of the top law schools in the country. Perform exceptionally well academically while in law school. Join the law review and hold a senior editorial position. Publish at least one article in law school. Serve as a clerk for a judge after law school. Continue to publish after law school. Practice at a top law firm for 2 to 5 years. Get recommendations from professors. Earn strong grades in law school. Serve on the editorial board of a law journal. Write at least one legal research article while in law school. Apply to graduate law programs at top law schools. Teach legal research and writing at a top law school. Get a fellowship to increase your research and writing. Get exceptional grades in law school. Work on a law journal to show your interest in legal scholarship. Practice law for 2 to 5 years before going back to school. Pursue a graduate degree in an academic area related to law. Continue to publish in law journals while getting your graduate degree. Keep in touch with your old law school professors. Get substantial practical experience after law school. Publish articles in practice journals and academic journals. Make yourself available as a legal commentator to gain name recognition. Teach as an adjunct professor while practicing law. Make friends with law professors. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Bubbly-Slime | How to Make Bubbly Slime | Making crunchy bubbly slime is a fun project you can do at home with a few basic ingredients. You'll need white glue, foaming hand soap, food coloring, and liquid dish detergent. Start by pouring 12 ounces of the white glue in a big bowl. Then, pump a layer of the foaming hand soap on top. Stir them together with a spoon or a stick, then add a layer of the shaving cream on top and as much food coloring or glitter as you like. After you've mixed these all together, add just a few drops of the liquid dish detergent and mix it in to activate the slime. Then, knead the slime for a few minutes until you get a consistency you like. Store your slime in a sealable plastic container, and it should form crunchy bubbles after a couple of days. | Pour 12 ounces (340 g) of white glue into a bowl. Make sure you're using white liquid glue--it won't work with gel glue, paste, or glue sticks! You can find white glue online or anywhere that sells school supplies. Most white glue containers are 6 ounces (170 g), so you can just pour out two bottles. Cover the layer of glue with foaming hand soap. You can pump the soap directly from the container. Pump out enough to cover the entire layer of glue. The layer of foam should be about ⁄ 4 inch (19 mm) thick. Stir the glue and hand soap together. Use a spoon or stick to stir the two layers together. You can use metal, wood, or plastic utensils to stir your slime, but metal may be more difficult to clean. Add a layer of shaving cream to the top and stir it in. Squirt a layer of shaving cream about ⁄ 4 inch (19 mm) thick over the top of your mixture. The entire surface should be covered before you start stirring it in. Make sure you use shaving cream--shaving gel won't work! Mix in glitter, food coloring, and/or paint (optional). If you want your slime to be colorful or sparkly, add in a few drops of pigment and/or glitter now. Most kinds of paint will work, but be sure not to use oil-based paints--they'll make your slime greasy. Add a few drops of liquid detergent to activate your slime. This is the ingredient that makes your slime slimy and holds it together in one piece. Add a few drops of liquid detergent and stir it in thoroughly. You can use any kind of liquid detergent, but if it's scented, that's what your slime will smell like! You can also use liquid starch instead of detergent. Use Borax to activate your slime instead (optional). Borax will also work as an activator. If you want to use borax, mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) with ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) water first before adding it. But be careful--borax can cause burns if activated with certain chemicals! Touch your slime to test it for stickiness and shape. After you add the detergent, put your hands in your slime. It should stay in one piece when you pick it up, and you should be able to put it down without it sticking to you. If it is sticky or falls apart, add a few more drops of liquid detergent and test it again. Don't add more than a few drops at a time. If you add too much, your slime will become hard and difficult to shape, and you'll have to throw it away. Knead and stretch your slime for at least 3 minutes. Spend a few minutes kneading and stretching your slime. This makes sure that the ingredients are evenly mixed and that the slime doesn't stiffen before you store it. Press the slime into the bottom of a sealable plastic container. Pick a plastic container with a bottom about the size of your slime. Press your slime so that it rests firmly against the bottom of the container. Knead a thin layer of shaving foam into the top (optional). Adding a ⁄ 4 inch (6.4 mm) layer of shaving cream to the top of your slime before you store it will help make the bubbles bigger and crunchier. Knead it in gently with your fingers. It's okay if you can't knead all of it in! This is an optional step, so don't worry if you skip it. Let it sit for two days. Seal up your slime and let it sit for two days. This will give the crunchy bubbles time to develop. You can let it sit longer, but don't wait more than a week or so. Remove the slime and enjoy! After two days, take the slime out and have fun crunching the bubbles! You can roll it into a ball, stretch it out, or just enjoy squeezing and poking at the bubbles. It will last for up to three or four weeks. Add 6 ounces (170 g) of white glue to a bowl. 6 ounces (170 g) is a standard size school glue bottle, so one bottle will work for this. It's okay if you can't get every drop out! Sprinkle 1⁄4 teaspoon (1.2 ml) of baking soda over the glue. Make sure the baking soda is sprinkled evenly over the entire surface. It's okay if it's not perfect, but you want to avoid dumping it all in one spot. That makes it much harder to evenly mix! Stir the glue and baking soda together. Mix the baking soda and glue together with a spoon or a stick. A disposable stirrer might be a good idea--glue can be hard to remove from utensils! Mix in food coloring or glitter (optional). Add in any food coloring or glitter you want! Paint may not work as well for this kind of slime--the saline isn't strong enough to break down acrylic compounds. Add a few drops of buffered saline solution and mix. You can find buffered saline solution online or in the eye care section of your grocery store or pharmacy. Be sure the label says buffered saline solution--regular saline solution won't work as well. Add a few drops to the mixture and stir it in. Coat your hands with buffered saline and knead the slime until it’s stretchy. Put a few drops of the saline into your hands and rub until your hands are covered. Then, knead the slime until it's stretchy and no longer sticky. If it's still sticky after a few minutes of kneading, add a few more drops of saline. Don't add too much--it can break down the entire slime mixture! Use a straw to blow slime bubbles. Start playing with your slime! Stick a plastic straw into it to blow bubbles. You can use this slime mixture right away, but it will keep for a couple of weeks if it's stored in a sealed container. | Pour 12 ounces (340 g) of white glue into a bowl. Cover the layer of glue with foaming hand soap. Stir the glue and hand soap together. Add a layer of shaving cream to the top and stir it in. Mix in glitter, food coloring, and/or paint (optional). Add a few drops of liquid detergent to activate your slime. Use Borax to activate your slime instead (optional). Touch your slime to test it for stickiness and shape. Knead and stretch your slime for at least 3 minutes. Press the slime into the bottom of a sealable plastic container. Knead a thin layer of shaving foam into the top (optional). Let it sit for two days. Remove the slime and enjoy! Add 6 ounces (170 g) of white glue to a bowl. Sprinkle 1⁄4 teaspoon (1.2 ml) of baking soda over the glue. Stir the glue and baking soda together. Mix in food coloring or glitter (optional). Add a few drops of buffered saline solution and mix. Coat your hands with buffered saline and knead the slime until it’s stretchy. Use a straw to blow slime bubbles. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fill-Out-a-Checking-Deposit-Slip | How to Fill Out a Checking Deposit Slip | To fill out a checking deposit slip, make sure the slip has your name, address, date, and account number, and fill in any information that is missing. Then, sign the slip, and write how much cash you're depositing on the right side of the slip. If you're depositing checks, write the check numbers on the blank lines below “Cash” and put the check amounts in their respective boxes. Finally, put the total amount of your deposit on the bottom line and give the slip to your teller. | Gather your checkbook. Then, look to the very back of your checkbook, behind all of your checks. That's where you'll find your slips. The deposit slip pages are usually of a different color than your checks, and have Deposit Ticket/Slip written above your name and address. If for some reason you can't locate your deposit slips, or you simply don't have any, go to your bank and ask a teller for more slips. Ensure that your name and address are printed on the slips. Your checks have your name, address, and sometimes phone number written on them. The same information should be present on your deposit slips. Look to the upper left side corner of your slips to make sure your information is displayed correctly. Locate your account number. Much like your name, address, and sometimes phone number, your deposit slips should have your account number printed on them. Look to the bottom of the slip, and locate two separate strings of numbers. The first set of numbers is your routing number, and the second set is your account number. If your information isn't already displayed on your deposit slip, you need to fill it in. Follow the next step. Write your name, account number and date. It's unlikely that your slip won't already contain this information. But if it doesn't, or you got a blank slip from your bank, make sure to fill in this information. You'll see a few blank lines on the upper left side corner. Fill in your name, the date, and your account number. If you're unsure about your account number, you might be able to look it up online through your bank's site. You can also go to your bank, and ask a teller to provide that information. Use black or blue ink, rather than a pencil or colored ink. Fill in the date. If you've already taken care of writing the date on the slip, you can skip this step. If your deposit slip already contained your personal information, look to the left side of the slip. Write the date of when you wish to use the slip in the space provided, next to Date. Sign the slip. Sign your name in the space provided right below the date. The space for your signature will say: Sign here if cash received from deposit. If you don't wish to receive cash back from this transaction, you can leave this space blank. Enter the amount of cash you're depositing. Look to the right side of your deposit slip. You'll note various columns composed of rows of blanks alongside your slip. The very first line will say Cash next to it. If you're depositing cash, write down the full amount in the box lines next to Cash. Write down the amount for the check(s) you'd like to deposit. Right below the Cash line, you'll see two lines of boxes provided for check deposits. These lines might be labeled as Checks with blank lines in front of the box lines, or not at all. In any case, the lines following the Cash space are reserved for deposits made in the form of a check. Write the check number(s) in the blank lines, and the amount in the box lines. Note the first line below Checks. Following the check deposits, you'll see a line labeled as Checks or Total From Other Side. This simply means that if you have more than two checks, you can enter them on the back of the deposit slip. Then, write the combined check total on the front side where it's indicated. Fill in the subtotal. Below the line reserved for the total amount in checks, it'll say Subtotal. This is where you write down your cash deposit amount plus your combined check deposit amount. Add the sums up, then write it down next to Subtotal. Write down how much cash you'd like to get back. The line below Subtotal will be labeled as Less Cash. This is where you indicate how much cash you'd like to receive from this deposit slip. If you don't want any cash, enter 0 in this line. If you entered cash to receive from the deposit, subtract that amount from the Subtotal. Then, write down the amount on the very last line labeled as Net Deposit. Visit your bank. Take your deposit slip, checks and cash, and visit your banking institution. Proceed to the teller, and hand her or him your deposit slip and funds. | Gather your checkbook. Ensure that your name and address are printed on the slips. Locate your account number. Write your name, account number and date. Fill in the date. Sign the slip. Enter the amount of cash you're depositing. Write down the amount for the check(s) you'd like to deposit. Note the first line below Checks. Fill in the subtotal. Write down how much cash you'd like to get back. Visit your bank. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Cool-Tricks-With-a-Slinky | How to Do Cool Tricks With a Slinky | If you're tired of doing the same old tricks with your slinky, try out some cool new ones to impress your friends and family. To do the energy beam, grab the bottom 2 to 3 coils with your left hand and the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Then, use your right hand to quickly whip the top of the slinky up and out to the right to create a small arc. Once you form this rainbow shape, the slinky will uncoil and expand. As it starts to bounce back to your left hand, give it a short, quick tug with your left hand. Let the slinky's body bounce back to the right side of the arc, give it another quick tug with your right hand, and watch it swirl. Keep alternating hands and tugging to create the energy beam. | Grab the bottom 2 to 3 slinky coils with your left hand. Collapse the slinky and hold it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Get a good grip on the bottom 2 or 3 coils with that hand. Hold the slinky out in front of you at about chest level. It doesn't matter which hand is your dominant hand, since you'll be manipulating the slinky equally with both hands. Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Keeping the slinky collapsed and vertical, simply grab onto the top of the slinky with your right hand. Grip onto the top 2 to 3 coils. Don't move your bottom (left) hand at all. Whip your top hand up 10 in (25 cm) and to the right to create an arc. Use your right (top) hand to quickly whip the top of the slinky up about 10 in (25 cm) and then out to the right, so that you're creating a small arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Both hands should be approximately even with each other. It will look like you're holding a small rainbow in front of you. Wait for the slinky to start the bounce back to your left hand. When you whip the slinky to the right, it uncoils and expands. As soon as your right hand stops and the slinky makes the arc, the slinky's body will immediately want to bounce back to the left like a spring. Keep both hands in position and wait for the moment it starts the bounce back. Give the slinky a short, quick tug with your left hand. As soon as the slinky starts to bounce back to the left, whip your left wrist a few inches forward and to the left, like you're giving the slinky a little tug. Return your left hand to its former position. Aside from the tug, keep your left hand in the exact same position. Do not let go of either end of the slinky! Your hands will stay in the arc position the entire time. Let the slinky’s body bounce back to the right side of the arc. After you tug it, the slinky's body expands forward and to the left to mimic the movement. When you return the left hand to its former arc position at chest level, the slinky lines back up with your right hand. Visually, the slinky creates a cool swirl motion. Then the slinky's body starts bouncing back to the right side of the arc. Try not to push or pull with either of your hands. Let the slinky's body move naturally on its own. Give the slinky another quick tug with your right hand. As soon as the slinky's body starts bouncing back to the right, give it a tug with your right hand. This is basically the exact same thing you did with your left hand, except you're thrusting slightly to the right instead of the left this time. The slinky will make another cool swirl movement on the right side. Keep alternating hands and tugging to create the Energy Beam. Do not let go of the slinky at any point, and keep your hands at about chest level the entire time. It will sort of look like you're juggling. If you're having trouble maintaining the Energy Beam, try slowing down to the slowest speed the slinky will allow. Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed vertically on it. Collapse the slinky and hold it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Your left palm should be facing up and outstretched, so that you're creating a little table for the collapsed slinky to sit on. Hold it at about chest level. Grab the top 2 coils with your right hand. Grab onto the top of the slinky with your right hand. Grip firmly onto the top 2 coils. Don't move your bottom (left) hand and all. Keep it in the “table” position. Whip your top hand up and to the right to create an arc. Use your top hand to quickly whip the top of the slinky up about 10 in (25 cm) and then out to the right, so that you're creating a small arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Both hands should be approximately even with each other at chest level. Let the slinky’s body bounce the right side of the arc. The slinky will start pulling itself to the right naturally as it coils in that direction. Instead of continuing to hold both ends like you did with the Energy Beam, let the slinky pull itself off of your left hand. Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist. When the slinky pulls itself off of your left hand, that end of the slinky will pull itself directly over your right hand. Its momentum to the right side will naturally continue, and the loose end of the slinky will flop over your right hand and start creating another arc to the right. Bounce the slinky off of your right hand. As the slinky's natural momentum pulls itself to the right in another arc, let it lightly bounce off of your right hand. Don't hold on to it – let the slinky pull itself off of your right hand. Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand “table. ” As the slinky arcs to the right, quickly move your left hand, which is now free, over to the right side of your right wrist. Position your left hand about 6 in (15 cm) below your right hand. The slinky will bounce off of your right hand, and your left hand will be there to catch it. Repeat the same movement as you alternate hands. Continue letting the slinky bounce off each palm as you quickly move your free hand to the other side of your wrist to catch the other end. It will arc over each time. This looks just like a slinky that's going down a flight of stairs, except you're creating the stairs with your hands! Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed on it. Collapse the slinky and stack it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Your left palm should be facing up and outstretched, so that you're creating a platform for the collapsed slinky to sit on. Hold your left hand at about chest level. Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Don't move your bottom (left) hand and all. Simply grab onto the top 2 or 3 coils of the slinky with your right hand. Whip your top hand up and to the right to create a basic arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Let the slinky's body expand into the basic arc shape. Both hands should be approximately at the same height and even with one another. Let the slinky’s body bounce over to the right side of the arc. The slinky's natural momentum will start pulling the body to the right as it coils in that direction. Let the left side of the slinky lift off your left palm – don't hold on to it! It will pull itself right off your hand. Drop your right hand about 6 in (15 cm). Keep your right hand firmly gripped onto the slinky – you will not be letting go of it. This is just like the beginning of The Escalator except when you drop your right hand, the slinky's momentum to the right increases even more and it expands with more force. Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist and hit the ground. The extra momentum gives the slinky enough power to flop itself all the way over your right wrist and touch the ground. Let it expand how much it needs to in order to touch the ground. Continue holding it firmly with your right hand. Give a little tug toward yourself with your right hand. As soon as the loose end of the slinky makes contact with the ground, quickly tug your right hand just a few inches closer to your body. It doesn't take much tugging, because the slinky naturally wants to spring back up! Let the slinky pull itself into a full left arc. After you tug, the loose end of the slinky will begin a large arc to the left because of its natural momentum. Let it bounce all the way up and over your right wrist so that it completes the arc to the left. Do not let go with your right hand! Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand. Once the left arc completes, catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand at about chest level. Both hands should now be at chest level again, returning you to the original arc position. | Grab the bottom 2 to 3 slinky coils with your left hand. Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Whip your top hand up 10 in (25 cm) and to the right to create an arc. Wait for the slinky to start the bounce back to your left hand. Give the slinky a short, quick tug with your left hand. Let the slinky’s body bounce back to the right side of the arc. Give the slinky another quick tug with your right hand. Keep alternating hands and tugging to create the Energy Beam. Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed vertically on it. Grab the top 2 coils with your right hand. Whip your top hand up and to the right to create an arc. Let the slinky’s body bounce the right side of the arc. Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist. Bounce the slinky off of your right hand. Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand “table. Repeat the same movement as you alternate hands. Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed on it. Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Whip your top hand up and to the right to create a basic arc. Let the slinky’s body bounce over to the right side of the arc. Drop your right hand about 6 in (15 cm). Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist and hit the ground. Give a little tug toward yourself with your right hand. Let the slinky pull itself into a full left arc. Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Waterproof-Shoes | How to Waterproof Shoes | To waterproof shoes with wax, start by getting a ball of natural beeswax or colorless candles. Next, clean your shoes with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris. Once they're dry, rub the wax on the outside of the shoes until a thick layer forms. Then, set a hairdryer to high heat and hold the nozzle close to the shoes, waving it back and forth, until the wax fades into the shoes. Alternatively, apply a coat of quality waterproofing spray to your textile-based shoes. After you've coated the shoes, allow them to dry for 24 to 48 hours. | Grab a hunk of beeswax or colorless candle. For this type of DIY upgrade, you can't go wrong with a ball of natural beeswax. Beeswax can be found in most hardware stores, where it's commonly sold as a lubricant. If you're unable to get your hands on beeswax, a clear, odorless paraffin wax candle (such as a tea light) will also do the trick. Whatever type of wax you go with, just make sure it's not dyed, or you risk staining the shoe. If the shoes you're trying to waterproof are expensive or irreplaceable, you might want to use one of these products just to be on the safe side. Clean the shoes with a damp cloth, or wash dirtier shoes. To ensure that the wax settles properly, you'll want to start with a spotless surface. A quick wipedown will help remove dust and light debris. For older pairs that have seen a lot of action, it may be necessary to send them through the washer and dryer before you start waxing. Waxing the shoes without cleaning them first will trap dirt happens to be clinging to them. And, since they'll then be waterproof, cleaning them after the fact can be tricky. Make sure the shoes are completely dry before you proceed. If you're anticipating bad weather, it may be a good idea to wash old shoes a few days before you plan on wearing them. Test the wax on an inconspicuous part of the shoe. Before you start rubbing away, make a small mark low down on the heel or sidewall of the shoe close to the outsole and see how it looks. That way, you can make sure it won't stain. Keep in mind that much of the contrast will be eliminated after the wax melts. A colorless or off-white type of wax will be the least conspicuous and blend smoothly with the materials and colors. If you're using a colored wax, make sure it matches the hue of the shoe as closely as possible. Rub the wax all over the outside of the shoe. Rub the wax back and forth vigorously to form a thick layer over any part of the shoe you want to make off-limits to moisture. Really dig in. Imagine that you're coloring with a crayon. Pay particular attention to the areas around the toe, heel, sidewalls, and laces where water has a tendency to seep in. Double check that you've coated the whole shoe. Any spots you've missed will be vulnerable to leaks. As the wax builds up, it will cause visible discoloration. Don't worry—this will disappear as soon as you apply heat. Set the hairdryer to high heat. Switch on the hairdryer to let it warm up before blasting the shoes.The more intense the temperature, the faster and more completely the wax will melt. Hold the nozzle close to the surface of the shoe so that the heat is better concentrated. Wave the hairdryer over the shoe from front to back. Go over the shoe slowly, turning it or angling the hairdryer as needed. You should notice the wax beginning to fade into the shoe almost instantly. When you've got one shoe done, move on to the other. It may take half a minute or so for the heating coils in the hairdryer to warm up enough to melt the wax. Do one shoe at a time. That way, you'll have a helpful visual reference to tell you when the wax has completely set in. Continue heating until the wax disappears. As it liquefies, the wax will become integrated into the fabric, sealing the tiny openings and creating a barrier against moisture. It will then re-harden as a clear, protective layer. The finished shoe should look no different than it did before you waxed it. Look closely for any unmelted sections that you might have overlooked before you put the hairdryer up. Wax is naturally water repellent and non-penetrating, even on the most porous materials, so it won't harm the shoes to become part of their construction. Test out the waterproofing. All that's left to do now is see how well your experiment worked. Pour a cup of water over the toe section of the shoe. The water should bead up and roll right off. Congrats! You can now go forth fearlessly no matter how soggy it gets outside. If the water is being absorbed, you may need to apply a second and more thorough layer of wax. Be sure to wait until the shoes have dried before adding more wax. You won't be able to go swimming in your new-and-improved shoes, but getting caught in a light rain or traipsing through a snowy meadow should no longer be a problem. Select a pair of textile-based shoes to waterproof. While it's possible to waterproof just about any kind of shoe, you'll get the best results with a more absorbent fabric. The wax you'll be using will settle nicely into the woven fibers of fabric shoes. On materials like leather or synthetics, it will simply form a coat on the surface which is likely to wear off much faster. Canvas, hemp, suede, and other textured materials will make the best candidates for waterproofing. Purchase a quality waterproofing spray. There are many different brands and styles to choose from, but they all do essentially the same thing. The most important ingredients you're looking for are silicone or acrylic polymers, which help block water and prevent mold, mildew, and general water-related deterioration. Waterproofing sprays can be found in most shoe stores, as well as shops that specialize in outdoor clothing and equipment. Spray the entire upper portion of the shoe. Hold the can 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) away from the shoe and mist on a light, even coating. Make sure you cover every part of the shoe where moisture might get in, including the seam where the upper connects to the outsole. Don't saturate it. Instead, look for the spray to just glisten once it's settled on the surface. Hang up the shoe if possible This will allow you to accurately target the top half of the shoe without accidentally spraying your hand. To decrease your exposure to noxious fumes, work in a well-ventilated area. Outdoors is ideal, but if that isn't an option, you can also turn on the overhead fan. It may take two or more coats to make materials with irregular textures like suede or nubuck fully water-resistant. Wipe off the excess spray with a microfiber cloth or hand towel. Go over the entire shoe lightly. Try not to use so much pressure that you soak up the wet waterproofing spray—a few quick dabs will do. Avoid paper towels. The shedding fibers will get trapped in the sticky spray, effectively becoming a part of the material. Be sure to remove as much of the spray as you can from the surrounding outsole, as well as accents like zippers, eyelets, and rubberized detailing. Let the shoes dry overnight. Most sprays will dry to the touch within 20-30 minutes, but for guaranteed protection, it's best to leave them to sit for 24-48 hours before putting them to the test. Should you decide to apply multiple coats, give each coat a few minutes to wick up before following up with the next. Don't try to accelerate the dry time by using an external heat source, such as a hair dryer or an open fire. This could interfere with the chemical process needed for proper bonding, damage the shoe, or even create a fire hazard. Reapply the spray after every few uses. As a rule, waterproofing sprays aren't as resilient as waxes, so you may find yourself having to touch up your footwear more often to keep your feet dry and happy. During the winter or a rainy summer season, plan on repeating the process following 7-8 wears. In drier climates, you'll be able to get away with less frequent treatments and can use the spray as needed. How often you waterproof your shoes will depend largely on how much wear they receive. If you plan on doing any trekking in extreme conditions, it may be a good idea to spray them 2-3 times. Break in the shoes. Sprays and waxes can stiffen softer materials considerably. When you're finished waterproofing, put the shoes on and walk around in them for a little while. Some light activity will get them nice and relaxed in no time. After three or four wears, you shouldn't even be able to tell a difference. Flex your foot in all different directions to loosen up the more rigid areas. Reapply waterproofing products as often as needed. Make sure you give your footwear some much-needed attention before the rainy season arrives. Under normal conditions, you shouldn't need to repeat the process more than about once every few months. Of course, the more you put a pair through, the faster the protective water-resistant coating will deteriorate. If you live in a hotter climate, you may need to show your shoes a little more attention. Exposure to heat can continually re-melt the waterproofing, causing it to wear away in no time. Don't forget to treat your shoes again any time you wash them, or you'll be in for an unpleasant surprise when you step outside! Wash out the waterproofing when desired. If at any point you decide to undo the waterproofing, all you need to do is scrub the shoes with a sudsy solution of hot water and mild dish soap or laundry detergent. The heat will help melt the spray or wax, while the surfactants in the detergent whisk away the oily mess. Give the shoes time to dry and it will be like it never happened. Once you've finished washing, rinse the shoes until the water runs clear. Otherwise, leftover traces of waterproofing and detergent can congeal into a slick residue as they dry. | Grab a hunk of beeswax or colorless candle. Clean the shoes with a damp cloth, or wash dirtier shoes. Test the wax on an inconspicuous part of the shoe. Rub the wax all over the outside of the shoe. Set the hairdryer to high heat. Wave the hairdryer over the shoe from front to back. Continue heating until the wax disappears. Test out the waterproofing. Select a pair of textile-based shoes to waterproof. Purchase a quality waterproofing spray. Spray the entire upper portion of the shoe. Wipe off the excess spray with a microfiber cloth or hand towel. Let the shoes dry overnight. Reapply the spray after every few uses. Break in the shoes. Reapply waterproofing products as often as needed. Wash out the waterproofing when desired. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-With-Acrylics | How to Paint With Acrylics | When you're painting with acrylics, start by choosing a primed, stretched canvas to work on. Next, squeeze out a small amount of paint onto your palette and spray it with water occasionally, since acrylic paint tends to dry out quickly. Then, paint larger outlines or backgrounds first, and work your way to smaller details. If you need to thin out the paint to create a translucent effect, add a small amount of water or mineral spirits. | Choose a primed, stretched canvas for a simple option. If you're a beginning painter, canvas will be your go-to painting surface. Canvas is made from either cotton or linen and comes in a variety of styles, the two most common being stretched and unstretched. Stretched canvases are tightly fixed over a wooden frame. Unstretched canvases are typically not cut to size but are sold as fabric wound on a large roll. A primed canvas means that it's been treated with a priming substance that will allow the paint to adhere. If you'd prefer not to purchase a primed canvas, you can pick up an unprimed canvas and a tube of a primer like gesso. Paint a layer of gesso on the canvas and allow it to dry before you begin painting. You can find a variety of sizes of stretched or plain canvases at a local art-supply store. Look around awhile until you find a shape and size that fits the project you'd like to paint. Opt for a thick watercolor paper if you'd like to use watered-down acrylic. If you like the watercolor look but prefer to use acrylic paint, try painting on thick paper specifically designed for use with acrylics. Watercolor paper is also cheaper than stretched canvases, especially if you plan on disposing of your first few attempted paintings. You can find thick watercolor paper at your local art-supply store. Keep in mind that watery acrylic paint can make thinner paper wrinkle or warp. Select 8–10 colors of artist-quality acrylic paint. In distinction to students' acrylic paint, artists' paint is rich in pigment and comes in a large variety of colors. If you're just starting out as a painter, 8–10 colors should be plenty. Select 1 each of the primary colors (blue, yellow, and red), and 5–7 additional colors that you'll enjoy painting with. For example, select colors such as: Black Purple or pink Brown Green White Purchase 5-8 paint brushes to paint in a variety of styles. If you only paint with a single brush, it'll be hard to achieve the full range of effects possible with acrylic paint. So, buy a handful of different styles of brushes. Some of the most common acrylic brush styles include: Round (for lines and detail work) Flat (for making big, bold strokes and filling in large spaces) Fan (for blending and feathering) Bright (for holding close to the canvas to make thick strokes) Angular flat (for filling in corners and fine details) Squeeze only a small amount of acrylic paint onto your palette at a time. A little paint goes a long way, so squeeze out only about ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm) to begin with. Squeeze out dollops of 4-6 colors that you plan to work with. Space these colors around the perimeter of your painter's palette. This setup will give you enough room to mix and test out various color combinations in the center of your palette. Paint with large brushes first to outline the shapes of your subject. When beginning your acrylic painting, use large, flat brushes to outline large shapes on the canvas. For example, if you're painting a scenic mountain view, begin by outlining the bold contours of the mountain peaks. You might find it helpful to work with opaque acrylic colors while painting outlines. Then, when you're detailing the painting, work with more transparent colors. Use smaller brushes to add visual details. Once you've completed the major shapes of your painting, pick up your smaller detail brushes. Use these to add touches of detail in the painting. Try out a variety of fine-tipped brushes to create different sized lines and visual effects on your canvas. For example, once you've contoured the large mountain peaks, use smaller, more pointed brushes to filling in details like individual trees, a lake, or campers on the shore. Add water to your palette every 10-15 minutes while you paint. Acrylic paint dries quite easily, rendering it harder to work with. Make sure you keep your paint workable by spraying it so it doesn't dry out and harden on the canvas. Once dried, the paint cannot be removed. Keep a small spray bottle filled with water at hand. Rinse the paint off your brush before switching colors. Hold the bristles beneath a stream of tap water to rinse the paint off. Or, swish the bristles around in a cup of water. This will ensure that paint colors don't blend together on the bristles. Then, once you've rinsed the colors out of the bristles, blot your paintbrush on a clean cloth to prevent runoff. This will keep water from running up and down the heel of the brush, creating blotchy paint on the canvas. Let the used paints dry before disposing of them in the trash. Do not wash your color palette, since the acrylic paint might clog your pipes. Instead, use a plastic tray as a color palette, and let the leftover paint dry after you're finished using it. Then, peel the paint off from the tray when it's completely dried. Or, instead of disposing of the dried paint, you can apply new, wet paint directly over the dried paints. Mix paints with a palette knife to try out new color combinations. It's rare for painters to use an acrylic color as-is, straight from the tube. To fine-tune your color selection, pull 2 dabs of different colors to the center of your palette, and mix them with a knife or brush. This will help you create rich hues to give your painting a personalized look. It wouldn't be a bad idea to look at a color wheel while you're working. For example, mixing red and yellow will give you a bright orange. Then bring in some darker greens for a rich brown. Lighten the color of the paint with water. When applied straight from the tube, acrylic paints can look thick and opaque. Change the paint's opacity by adding more water to the dollop of paint you've squeezed onto the palette. The more water added to the paint, the more transparent the color becomes. Use transparent paints for watercolor or airbrush effects. When mixing acrylic out of the tube, use no more than 20% water by volume (compared to the paint). If you use more than 20% water, the binding agent that makes the paint stick to the surface might fail, causing the paint to peel off once it's dry. Thin out acrylics with glaze or paste to change the texture of the paint. If you only use straight acrylic paint on a canvas, the entire painting will have a bland, uniform texture. Thinning out the acrylics with mix-ins will vary the visual textures. So, mix in other mediums, such as glaze or texture paste, when thinning the acrylic. In general, thinning out your acrylic paint will give it a liquid, watery look once it's dried. Find a variety of types of glazes and texture pastes at a local art-supply store. A mix of acrylic and glaze can also be applied over charcoal or pencil strokes on a canvas to keep them from being washed out by layers of paint. Glazes will give the dried paint a satiny color and a bright, shiny texture. Texture pastes add a rough, chunky texture to the paint, but may dampen the color a bit after drying. Layer 2 or 3 different paint colors over one another to add texture. Instead of mixing your colors together on the palette, layer them over one another on the canvas for a unique blended look. Paint as many layers as you like, but keep in mind that darker colors will cancel out lighter shades. Try painting a flower, for example, by layering red, pink, and blue paints over one another to form the petals. Leave enough time for each layer of paint to dry before you paint another layer over it. Thin layers will dry in about 30 minutes, while thick layers will take over 1 hour to dry. Dab on paint with the corner of a sponge for a bubbly effect. Dip a corner of a sponge into an acrylic paint color of your choice. Then gently press the painted corner of sponge against your canvas. Try smearing the sponge along the canvas also, for a different visual texture. Paint applied with the edge of a sponge will contain many open dots that allow the color of the paint or canvas beneath the dabbed-on paint to come through. Apply paint with a sponge if you're painting a body of water, for instance, to create a realistic texture. Pair this technique with layering to effectively overlap several colors of paint. Art-supply stores will sell sponges with different textures if you'd like to dab paint onto a canvas using multiple sponges. Splatter paint with a wet brush to make thick chunks of color. Dip a large brush into water and then coat the bristles with paint. Hold the bottom of the brush between 2 fingers. To splatter the paint on your canvas, strike the paintbrush right below the bristles with the first 2 or 3 fingers on your opposite hand. The paint will fly off in thick clots and stick to the canvas. Splattering is a great technique to use if you're making an abstract art piece. Or, try splattering to add texture to your painting. You can also use a toothbrush to splatter your paint. Create a stipple effect by dotting the paint on the canvas. To stipple, coat the bristles of a paintbrush in paint and hold the paintbrush vertically over the canvas. Tap the tip of the paintbrush gently against the canvas along a straight or curved line to create a feather, dotted effect. This would work well for painting birds or animals, or to bring a feathery texture into an abstract work. When you're stippling, never slide the bristles along the canvas. This will smear the stipples together and ruin the effect. Lay a piece of masking tape on the canvas to make hard edges. Masking tape can be used like painters use painter's tape when outlining the edge of a ceiling, for example. Apply masking tape directly to the canvas, or to already dried paint without damaging it. Simply press the tape down so that no paint can escape under its surface and bleed underneath. Then, after you've painted your hard edge, remove the masking tape to reveal your perfectly straight line. This technique would work well for the sharp sides of a mountain peak. Blend paint colors on the canvas for a splotchy look. Using your palette knife, partially mix 2 paint colors together on your canvas. Then, use a brush of your choice to paint the partially-mixed colors. For example, this effect could work well when you're painting a mountain clearing. Rather than mixing yellow and green on the palette to create a flat, uniform light green, mix the colors on the canvas. You'll be left with a canvas studded with bits of yellow, light green, and dark green, similar to how a real meadow would look from far away. The finished effect is up to you. In some situations, you'll want to soften the two colors so that the blending is even and uniform. For a more subtle effect, use a flat brush to thoroughly mix the colors together, so that the effect is less noticeable. | Choose a primed, stretched canvas for a simple option. Opt for a thick watercolor paper if you'd like to use watered-down acrylic. Select 8–10 colors of artist-quality acrylic paint. Purchase 5-8 paint brushes to paint in a variety of styles. Squeeze only a small amount of acrylic paint onto your palette at a time. Paint with large brushes first to outline the shapes of your subject. Use smaller brushes to add visual details. Add water to your palette every 10-15 minutes while you paint. Rinse the paint off your brush before switching colors. Let the used paints dry before disposing of them in the trash. Mix paints with a palette knife to try out new color combinations. Lighten the color of the paint with water. Thin out acrylics with glaze or paste to change the texture of the paint. Layer 2 or 3 different paint colors over one another to add texture. Dab on paint with the corner of a sponge for a bubbly effect. Splatter paint with a wet brush to make thick chunks of color. Create a stipple effect by dotting the paint on the canvas. Lay a piece of masking tape on the canvas to make hard edges. Blend paint colors on the canvas for a splotchy look. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-a-Roast-in-the-Oven | How to Cook a Roast in the Oven | To roast beef, start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and placing your meat in a roasting pan. Once your roast is in the oven, allow it to cook, undisturbed. After 2 hours, pierce the roast with a meat thermometer where the meat is thickest. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If the roast isn't done, place it back in the oven to continue cooking. Once done, allow the meat to cool for 10-20 minutes before carving so the juices have time to reabsorb into the meat. | Preheat your oven. For smaller and more tender cuts of meat, set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 Celsius) or higher to cook it through more quickly. For bigger cuts, stick to moderate temperatures (around 375 degrees F, or 191 C) or even lower to ensure that the interior cooks evenly without burning the outside. If you have a lot of patience, stick to temps around 250 F (121 C) for even juicier meats.The ideal temperature may vary by oven, meat, and size, but use the following as a flexible guideline: 325 degrees F (163 degrees C) : Beef : round tip; rump; bottom round; eye round; brisket. Poultry : whole turkey. Pork : loin; crown; shoulder/butt; back ribs; spare ribs; ham; fresh leg. Veal : loin; rib. Lamb : leg; shoulder; shank. 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) : Beef : rib eye. Poultry : whole duck; whole goose; whole pheasant; game hen; turkey breast. Pork : country-style ribs. 375 degrees F (191 degrees C) : Poultry : whole chicken. 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) : Poultry : chicken breast. 425 degrees F (218 degrees C) : Beef : tenderloin; tri-tip. Pork : tenderloin. Place your meat in a roasting pan. Use a pan that is specifically designed for roasting. Cook your meat more evenly by using a pan with sides that are low enough to expose more meat to direct heat. However, make sure the sides are high enough to prevent drippings from spilling upon removal or during roasting. You can also place a roasting rack or wire cooling rack inside the pan to hang fattier meats that drip excessively during roasting. Roast the meat in the oven. Wait until the oven reaches the set temperature. Transfer the pan to the oven. Let it sit for the recommended cooking time. Open the oven door as seldom as possible to prevent heat from escaping, which will prolong cooking. Exact cooking times may vary according to temperature and the amount of meat, but use the following as a guideline (note that 1 lb. = 0.45 kg): Beef : Bottom round (3 to 4 lbs) ; medium-rare, 1.5 to 2 hours. Brisket (2.5 to 3.5 lbs) well-done, 2.5 to 3 hours. Eye round (2 to 3 lbs) ; medium-rare, 1.5 to 1.75 hours. Rib eye ( 3 to 4 lbs ); medium-rare, 1.5 to 2 hours; medium, 1.75 to 2 hours. Round tip (3 to 4 lbs); medium-rare, 1.75 to 2 hours; medium, 2.25 to 2.5 hours. Rump (3 to 4 lbs) ; medium-rare, 1.5 to 2 hours. Tenderloin (2 to 3 lbs) ; medium-rare, 35 to 40 minutes; medium 45 to 50 minutes. Tri-tip (1.5 to 2 lbs) ; medium-rare, 30 to 40 minutes; medium, 40-45 minutes. Lamb : Leg (5 to 7 lbs) ; medium-rare, 20 to 25 minutes per pound; medium, 25 to 30 minutes per pound (plus 5 minutes for boneless cuts). Shoulder and shank leg (3 to 4 lbs) ; medium-rare, 30 to 35 minutes per pound; medium, 40 to 45 minutes per pound. Pork : Ribs : 1.25 hours covered, 0.75 hours uncovered. Tenderloin : 0.75 to 1 hour. All other cuts : roughly 20 minutes per pound. Poultry : Chicken breast (2 lbs) ; 35 to 45 minutes. Game hen (1 to 1.5 lbs) ; 1 to 1.5 hours. Turkey breast (2 to 4 lbs) ; 2.5 to 3 hours. Whole chicken (3 to 4 lbs) ; 1.5 to 2 hours. Whole duck (3.5 to 4 lbs) ; 2 hours. Whole goose : (7 to 9 lbs) ; 2.5 to 3 hours. Whole pheasant (2 to 3 lbs); 1 to 1.25 hours. Whole turkey (8 to 12 lbs) ; 2.75 to 3 hours. Veal : Loin (3 to 4 lbs) ; 1.75 to 2.25 hours. Rib (4 to 5 lbs) ; 1.5 to 2.25 hours. Check the roast’s temperature. Once the roast has cooked for the minimum amount of recommended time, use an oven mitt to pull the rack partially out of the oven so you don't have to reach inside. Stick a meat thermometer into the roast to read its internal temperature. If the thermometer reads lower than the ideal temperature for your specific meat, push the rack back in, shut the door, and allow more cooking time before repeating. Pierce the roast with your thermometer where the meat is thickest to make sure that the densest part of your roast has cooked thoroughly. Avoid piercing fat and bone. With whole birds, check the meat's temperature in fives places: the deepest part of the breast, thighs, and wings. With the thighs and wings, center your thermometer close to where they meet the body. Recommended temperatures are 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees C) for poultry and 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees C) for beef, lamb, pork, and veal. Take the roast out of the oven. First, make sure you have a clear path from the oven to the surface area where you plan to set the hot pan. If the stovetop is occupied by other cookware, use the nearest countertop possible to place your trivet so you have the shortest distance to cover. Put on some oven mitts, open the oven, and pull the rack out until you can safely grip the pan with both hands. Carefully transfer the pan to the stovetop or trivet. Move slowly and cautiously to avoid spilling hot juices over the sides of the pan. Choose which meat to roast. Decide on one of the three most common meats to roast: ham, prime rib, or turkey. Or, break away from the norm and choose either beef, lamb, poultry, pork, or veal. Available cuts of meat include: Beef : bottom round; brisket; eye round; rib eye roast (with or without bone); round tip; rump; tenderloin; tri-tip. Lamb : leg (with or without bone); shank leg; shoulder. Pork : crown; ham; loin; ribs; shoulder/butt; tenderloin. Poultry : chicken breast; rock cornish game hen; turkey breast; whole chicken; whole duck; whole goose; whole pheasant; whole turkey. Veal : loin; rib. Check the meat’s grade. Once you have chosen which type of meat to roast, decide which grade of meat to purchase. Choose “prime” for the highest quality, which includes more fat marbling within the meat and thus more flavor. Go with “choice” for a less expensive cut that still has a fair amount of fat throughout the meat. Pick “select” to save money and/or reduce your fat intake. Season your meat. Keep it simple and rub your roast evenly with salt and pepper. Or, create a more diverse seasoning mix for more complex flavors. To season the inside as well as the outside, marinate your meat for two days before roasting. Flip the meat over at regular intervals to make sure it is evenly marinated. Choose one of the following recipes or pick one of the many, many others to be found online: Beef seasonings : 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder for each pound of meat. Chicken seasonings : 1 ounce melted butter, ⅓ teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder, rosemary and/or thyme to taste, for each pound of meat. Lamb marinade : ¼ cup fresh rosemary, 2 tablespoons dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 cup beef broth, 1 chopped garlic head, 1 chopped onion for 6 to 10 pounds of meat. Pork seasonings : 1 teaspoon garlic salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper for each pound of meat. Let the meat cool before carving. After you remove the meat from the oven, let it rest before carving. Give the meat time to reabsorb the juices inside so they don't spill out when you carve it open. Allow thinner cuts at least 10 minutes to cool. Give thicker cuts a minimum of 20 minutes, since their core may still be hot enough to continue cooking the meat from the inside out. After that, transfer the meat to a carving board to slice it up. Store meat safely. Refrigerate or freeze your leftovers no more than two hours after it has finished roasting. Halve that time to one hour if the room temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a lot of meat left, distribute it into multiple small, airtight containers so that the contents cool off more quickly. Roasted meat will last three to four days in the refrigerator and two to six months in the freezer. Truss your meat. If necessary, bundle your meat with twine to maintain its shape during roasting. This is most commonly needed for whole birds. Either ask your butcher to truss your meat for you, or buy butcher's twine, which is safe to use with food products and available at grocery and cookware stores, as well as online. Use square knots or slip knots to tie a separate length of twine into a knot every inch along the entire length of the meat. Baste your roast. Prevent the outside surface of your roast from drying out while the interior finishes cooking. Collect the juices and drippings that have pooled at the bottom of the pan, using a basting brush, bulb, or spoon. Pour the liquid over the meat the top of the meat to rehydrate its exterior. Repeat every 15 to 30 minutes. Sear the meat before roasting. If frozen or refrigerated, allow your meat to defrost to room temperature before beginning. Season it as desired and give its surface time to dry. Line a skillet with just enough cooking oil to cover its surface and preheat it over medium-high heat until the first signs of smoke appear. Place the meat into the skillet. Let each side of it to sear until it has browned to a crust. Avoid moving the meat repeatedly or unnecessarily. Add vegetables. Line your roasting tray with a light amount of cooking oil to prevent your vegetables from sticking. Then add your favorite veggies to the tray. Spray them lightly with cooking oil. Place your meat on top of them. Check your veggies periodically during the roast to make sure they aren't sticking or burning to the pan. Moisten them with the meat's drippings or add just enough water to the pan to slick its surface. Use an oven bag. Place your meat in an oven roasting bag to trap heat for quicker roasting times. First, pour roughly a tablespoon of flour inside, twist the opening shut, and give the bag a few shakes so the flour lines all of the inside. Insert the meat and seal the bag with a twist-tie. Poke a few holes in the bag so steam can vent as the meat roasts. Only use bags that are specifically designed for roasting. Do not use any plastic bags that haven't been approved by the FDA. Finished. | Preheat your oven. Place your meat in a roasting pan. Roast the meat in the oven. Check the roast’s temperature. Take the roast out of the oven. Choose which meat to roast. Check the meat’s grade. Season your meat. Let the meat cool before carving. Store meat safely. Truss your meat. Baste your roast. Sear the meat before roasting. Add vegetables. Use an oven bag. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Gothic-Fiction | How to Write Gothic Fiction | To write a great piece of gothic horror, start by setting your story in a strange, decaying place with a creepy atmosphere, like a crumbling castle or a haunted house. Then, spend plenty of time developing your characters. Create a main character that has some dark tendencies but is still sympathetic, and a villain who tempts the hero towards a dark path. If you need some inspiration, look for examples in the works of the great gothic horror writers, including Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allan Poe. | Choose a time when your story will take place. Decide if your story will take place in the past or present. Many gothic fiction stories take place a century or even further in the past. A story about the past can make supernatural events and strange characters seem more real to your readers. Or, you can write in the present but include lots of elements that hearken back to an older time. Bram Stoker includes modern technology and ancient things in Dracula. He describes typewriters and trains, but he also includes vampires and an ancient castle. Choose a setting. Settings are important because they help create a creepy atmosphere for your characters. Crumbling buildings, haunted houses, and old castles make great settings for gothic fiction. Your setting should be a place that was once thriving, but has since fallen into decay that feels strange or uncanny to the characters. The Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's The Shining is an excellent example of such a location. The Overlook was once a gleaming vibrant vacation spot occupied by many people, but now only Jack and his family occupy it. The mood of the environment will influence how the characters act. Create your characters. Your characters are just as important as your setting, so spend plenty of time developing them. Gothic fictions often feature certain types of characters that may help you to develop your own characters. Hero or anti-hero. There should be at least one character in your gothic fiction that readers will like, even if he or she has some dark tendencies. Mary Shelley's Victor Frankenstein is a great example of a hero who is good, even though he creates a monster. Villain. The villain in gothic fiction stories often plays the role of a tempter, who leads the hero down a dark path. A good villain should be both evil and fun to read about. Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula is an excellent example of an interesting, yet evil villain. He does terrible things (like murdering people) and is portrayed by Bram Stoker as the epitome of foreign corruption that threatened Britain's society at the time. Since this fear of invasion was common at the time 'Dracula' was published, it was a very popular Gothic novel. Woman in white. Many gothic fiction novels feature a doomed bride or damsel in distress character who never gets her happy ending. Elizabeth from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a good example of a woman in white. Woman in black. Other gothic fictions include a woman in black character like a widow. Miss Jessel of Turn of the Screw by Henry James is an example of a woman in black. Develop a plot. Once you have worked out a setting and characters for your gothic fiction story, you will need to figure out what is going to happen to these characters. Like the setting, the plot should show a decline in the hero's world, relationships, and/or sanity. Gothic fictions usually resolve when the hero redeems him or herself with the help of a loved one. For example, in Bram Stoker's Dracula Mina redeems herself with the help of her friends. Add a supernatural element. Gothic fiction often features something or someone supernatural. Make one of your characters a ghost, vampire, werewolf, or some other supernatural creature. Or, you could use your setting to create an eerie atmosphere that suggests something paranormal is at work. A spooky castle or house can add a supernatural element to your story. Add children to your story. Children often feature into gothic fiction and they are usually in danger or in the care of less than capable guardians. Having children in your story who are in some sort of danger will infuse your story with extra tension throughout. For example, young William Frankenstein wanders off and Frankenstein's monster murders him. Add a prophecy or curse. Add intrigue to your story by including a prophecy that has something to do with the character or the setting (house, castle, etc.). Prophecies in gothic fiction are usually incomplete and confusing. A good prophecy should cause your readers to scratch their heads and want to know more. Sometimes gothic fiction stories feature a family curse or secret that haunts them. A curse can also help drive your hero's actions and even explain some of his or her behavior. For example, a prophecy haunts the family in Horace Walpole's Castle of Otranto. The prophecy says that the castle will pass from Manfred's line. The prophecy seems to have come true when Manfred's son dies. Add a damsel in distress. Gothic fiction stories often include a young woman who is in danger. This young woman may be your central character or your central character's love interest. You can use this character as a way to influence the emotions of your readers, such as their pity, sadness, and fear. Depict your damsel's reactions to her situation by telling your readers how she feels, acts, and what she says. Matilda is in love with one man, but another man lusts after her, which puts her in danger throughout the book. Consider using a found material or true story framing device. Many gothic novels put forth the story that they tell as true or found in a diary. This way of framing the story adds mystery, since it invites the reader to imagine that the events of the story transpired. For example, Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker both use found material framing devices. They present their stories through character letters and journal entries. Introduce your story. At the beginning of your story, take care to describe your setting and characters who are present at the beginning of your story. Just make sure that you don't give away too much information in the beginning. Leave some things to describe later, like the villain and other mysterious elements of your story. You can hint at these things early in your story, but don't give in to the urge to share too much too soon. Maintain an air of gloom and terror throughout your story. You can make sure that your story has a high level of creepiness by incorporating plenty of unnerving details. Describe the moon, the howling wind, or a dark corridor to maintain an air of gloom and terror throughout your story. You can also describe the way that your characters are feeling or acting, as well as their facial expressions. Maintain suspense and mystery throughout your story. Tantalize your readers by only offering them quick glimpses of your villain or a ghost. Hint at the family curse but hold off on explaining it until later in the story. Incorporate descriptions of heightened emotions throughout your story. Describe over-the-top emotions like shrieking, cackling, fainting, and sobbing. These moments of hysteria will pull your readers into the story and help keep them entertained. Incorporate themes of madness. Describe spooky things from the perspective of a character who has gone mad. This approach will intrigue your readers and lead them to question what is happening. For example, Roderick descends into madness in Edgar Allen Poe's “Fall of The House of Usher.” His decline intensifies the story and makes it scarier. Kill off some of your characters. As much as you might love your characters, good gothic fiction tales usually feature the death of one or more of the main characters. The deaths of your characters do not need to be ultra-gory (although, they can be), but they should be frightening. Use plenty of details to describe the scenery and action of your death scenes. For example, a giant helmet crushes Conrad in Horace Walpole's Castle of Otranto. Conrad was on his way to get married. Conclude with a twist. Good gothic fiction stories often end with a twist that causes readers to wonder about the events and characters of your story. The reappearance of a someone who has died is one way to include a twist, but you can experiment with other types of twists as well. Edgar Allen Poe includes twists at the end of his stories that lead readers to question the finality of death. Poe includes one of these twists in “Fall of the House of Usher” when Madeline appears in the doorway and falls on top of Roderick. Roderick had believed that Madeline was dead. | Choose a time when your story will take place. Choose a setting. Create your characters. Develop a plot. Add a supernatural element. Add children to your story. Add a prophecy or curse. Add a damsel in distress. Consider using a found material or true story framing device. Introduce your story. Maintain an air of gloom and terror throughout your story. Maintain suspense and mystery throughout your story. Incorporate descriptions of heightened emotions throughout your story. Incorporate themes of madness. Kill off some of your characters. Conclude with a twist. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Move-a-Piano | How to Move a Piano | Before moving a piano weighing under 400 pounds, plan out your route from start to finish, and communicate it to everyone who is helping you move. Additionally, arrange for 1 helper per every 100 pounds of your piano's weight to ensure that it can be moved safely. Then, wrap the piano in thick blankets, and secure the blankets with packing tape to prevent scuffing on the finish and corners. Once you're ready, have each person lift up a different part of the piano at the same time, making sure to lift from underneath the body of the piano. | Know your piano. The spinet piano is the smallest type of piano commonly seen in homes. Manufactured from the 1930s on through the end of the 20th century, a spinet piano's compact size is achieved by clever engineering of the key mechanisms inside. Spinet pianos are not very tall, topping out at about 3 feet (0.9 m) in height, and they are generally 58 inches (147.3 cm) long, the same as other types of upright piano. Despite their relatively small size, they usually weigh at least 300 pounds, making the job of moving them a team effort not to be undertaken lightly. Plan your route. Have a clear route from start to finish in mind before you begin to move the piano, and communicate it to everyone who is helping you move. Using a tape measure, ensure that the spinet will fit through every door or opening you plan to move it through. If the piano is being moved out of the house to a moving truck, have the truck open and any moving ramps deployed in advance of the move, and plan to move the piano before any other, lighter furniture so that there is plenty of room for your team to maneuver it into place. For safety reasons, one person per 100 pounds is recommended for this and all upright piano moves. This may work out to more people than are strictly needed, but extra personnel can help in other ways (such as opening doors), and can step in should somebody start to get worn out. Prepare the piano. Lock down the spinet's lid and the keyboard lid, if there is one. Wrap the piano in thick blankets or special moving blankets and use packing tape to secure the blankets around the piano. This will prevent scuffing on the finish and corners. Move the piano. A spinet's low profile makes for a relatively easy move. Using as much help as you deem necessary, have each person lift up a different part of the piano at the same time. Be sure that everyone is lifting from firmly underneath the body of the piano. In small, measured steps, walk the piano to its destination. Never move the piano more than a few feet without stopping to reset your grip. Know your piano. One the most common types of piano today is the upright piano. These pianos are both normally 58 inches (147.3 cm) wide, and despite their differences, both the full vertical and the smaller studio upright can be moved using essentially the same method. The smaller "studio" uprights usually weigh between 400 and 600 pounds. The monstrous "full vertical" or large upright piano can weigh as much as half a ton. A studio piano's center of gravity is also lower than a large upright's, as it is about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall as opposed to a large upright's roughly 5-foot height. Plan your route. Begin by clearing a path to your destination and measuring all entrances to ensure that the piano will fit through them. Have your moving truck open with the ramp deployed, if you are moving the piano onto the truck. Try to get one person per 100 pounds of estimated weight to help you move your piano. Ensure that every member of your piano moving grew is wearing rugged leather work gloves, and if at all possible, thick weightlifting support belts to help prevent back strain. Prepare the piano. Unlike a spinet, these larger upright piano models are too top-heavy and bulky to reasonably move without tilting them onto a wide dolly. After you have locked the piano down and wrapped it in blankets and tape, move the dolly to one end of the piano and, with the help of your crew, gently lean it back onto the dolly. As many people as possible should be at the dolly end of the piano, to support its weight as it tips back, and along the sides of the piano to keep it on an even keel. This is an especially important point to remember with large upright pianos, since they tend to be quite top-heavy. Don't let gravity do any of your work for you; ease the piano gently using manpower from beginning to end. Move the piano. With your crew supporting the weight of the piano according to its center of gravity, lead it slowly by the dolly to its destination. If the piano is too high on the dolly to move through a doorway, it will have to be lifted and scooted slowly through the door a few inches at a time. Once it is through the doorway, be sure it is settled firmly on the dolly before continuing to move it. The proper way to lift any object is to squat, maintain a straight back, and lift with your legs. Be sure everyone who is helping you move knows to lift this way. If the piano feels out of balance at any time, yell “Stop!” and instruct everyone to gently set the piano down. Make any required adjustments to the position of the dolly or your crew and try again. Know your piano. A grand piano is long and low, which improves its sound over an upright but also causes it to take up a lot more floor space. For this reason, grand pianos are rarely seen in private homes. Grand pianos, like uprights, are divided by size into “petite” grand pianos, which can weigh as little as 500 pounds, on to standard grands, and finally “concert” grand pianos, the largest pianos of all, which can weigh as much as 1300 pounds and measure more than 9 feet (2.7 m) across. However, moving a grand piano of any size requires the same basic steps. Plan your route. As always, clearing the way and taking measurements are the first steps to a successful grand piano move. Because of the grand piano's bulk, it is generally moved on-end, so double check that any doors you plan to move your piano through are tall enough to accommodate its front-to-back length, with several inches to spare. If the piano is too deep to fit through a door with several inches of clearance to spare, professional help will be required. Prepare the piano. This is where moving a grand piano becomes much more complicated than moving an upright. The safest way to move a grand piano (and the way that professional movers do it) is to load it onto a rolling skid board, which is basically a load-bearing board on wheels. With as many people as possible on hand to assist you, lift the bass corner of the piano and unscrew or otherwise remove the leg there. Gently set the piano down and secure the removed leg in blankets; then, with the help of your crew, blanket and tape the body and remaining legs of the piano itself. Equipment rental shops should be able to rent you a skid board if you don't own one. Be sure that the top of the piano is securely locked down, as well as the keyboard cover. Move the piano. Carefully lift the piano from the back end upward, while simultaneously lifting the keyboard end off the ground as evenly as possible. Once the piano is balanced on the skid board, it can be moved by slowly pushing it from the rear end while pulling from the front end. Extra helpers should stand on either side of the piano to help keep it upright in case of bumps and wobbles. The goal is to set the piano vertically on the skid board with the left side (bass side) down on the board, so that the treble side of the piano points skyward and the keyboard is vertical. Remember that the piano gets heavier toward the bass end, which means the center of balance is likely to be closer to that end than the other. Get professional help. By far the safest and surest way to move a piano up or down flights of stairs is by hiring professional piano movers. A piano's large size, incredible weight, and unclear center of gravity make it a dangerous item to move through vertical space for those who are not experts. Use whatever equipment you can get. Visit an equipment rental store and talk to a knowledgeable clerk there about the size and weight of your piano to help decide what setup will be best for your move. A piano dolly or furniture dolly with straps can help make a move up a flight of stairs much easier. Specially designed piano skids are also a sensible option. Learn about the staircase. Find out whatever information you can about its age, design, and composition. In some cases, a staircase may not be able to properly support a 700-pound piano and four or five grown movers all at once, in which case the move should be aborted. It is better to know ahead of time than risk causing severe property damage and possible injury. Support the low end. If, for whatever reason, you decide not to get professional assistance moving your piano up or down a building, remember that the downward-pointing end of the piano will carry even more of the piano's overall weight on a staircase than it does on flat ground. The majority of people helping you move the piano should be at the lower 50% of the piano at all times to help keep it stable. However, nobody should stand directly behind the piano without plenty of room to step aside, since one slip from another crew member could mean being crushed underneath its weight. Ensure that everyone can easily step to the side if control over the piano is lost. Move slowly. Even more so than during a flat move, taking regular breaks to readjust and catch your breath is vital during a staircase piano move. Plan to stop at each new step, gently set the piano down, reset your grip, and lift for the next step. By being slow and methodical, you will ensure a solid grip from beginning to end and minimize the risk of injury. Beware of landings. At each landing, even on skids or a special piano dolly, it is possible that the piano will have to be turned on-end or otherwise manipulated in order to turn the corner. A few strong and well-balanced people can make the turn. Just be sure that everyone has as much room as possible and is planted firmly on both feet. | Know your piano. Plan your route. Prepare the piano. Move the piano. Know your piano. Plan your route. Prepare the piano. Move the piano. Know your piano. Plan your route. Prepare the piano. Move the piano. Get professional help. Use whatever equipment you can get. Learn about the staircase. Support the low end. Move slowly. Beware of landings. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Breed-Hermit-Crabs | How to Breed Hermit Crabs | To breed hermit crabs, start by setting up a 10-gallon tank filled with 2 inches of sand, a bowl of aquarium saltwater, and some decorations like branches and vines. Keep the tank between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and mist the tank with water regularly so it maintains 70 percent humidity. Once you've set up the tank, place a mature male and female hermit crab inside and wait for them to mate. Keep in mind that breeding hermit crabs in captivity can be tricky, so you may need to try multiple pairs of crabs before anything happens. | Set up a ten-gallon tank for mating. Although it is very difficult to breed hermit crabs in captivity, you can possibly do it in an indoor saltwater tank. In addition to the tank where you currently keep your hermit crabs, you can set up a separate tank that is devoted to mating. The minimum tank size is ten gallons. Simulate a beach by adding two inches of sand. You'll need to recreate the natural conditions for mating, which includes a beach and sea in your ten-gallon tank. At the bottom of your tank, add two inches of sand. Make an ocean area by adding a saltwater container. Since the Mother crab will need to deposit her eggs in the sea, you'll need to recreate a little ocean in the tank. Add a saltwater container in a low area of the tank. It should contain a mix of de-chlorinated water and an aquarium salt mix. Don't use regular table salt for the saltwater container. Keep the temperature in the ideal range. Add a heat rock to maintain a temperature of between 24 and 28 Celsius (75-82 Fahrenheit). You should also locate the tank away from direct sunlight and drafts, since you want to maintain a consistent temperature during the mating process. The water in the tank should be between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (22-26 Celsius). Maintain 70% humidity with a garden sprayer. Because hermit crabs are very sensitive to humidity levels, you'll want to maintain adequate levels of humidity throughout the breeding process. You can use a garden sprayer to mist the tank. You should also keep the sand substrate moist. Use a hygrometer to measure humidity levels. Create a relaxing atmosphere by adding nice scenery. You'll need to create a relaxing atmosphere to get your hermit crabs into the mating mood! For instance, you could add some nice scenery to your mating tank. Adding some branches and vines to the tank will give your crabs a place to hide and something to climb around. This touch of nature will help create the right atmosphere. Make a ramp leading down from the saltwater tank to ten-gallon tank. You can make it easy for the hermit crabs to move back and forth between the two tanks by making a ramp. In this way, the hermit crabs can crawl between their home and mating tanks. Breed hermit crabs in the spring or summer. In captivity, hermit crabs breed between February and August. They typically breed in June and July, so try breeding your hermit crabs in the spring or summer. Find a mature female in your crabitat. Look in your main hermit crab tank or “crabitat” for a mature female, which should be medium sized. Wait until the hermit crab comes most of the way out of her shell before checking to see if you have the right sex. Inspect her body for genitalia called gonophores, which are located close to the abdomen on the back of her legs. You should see two tiny holes. If you can't see the two tiny holes, it is a male. Pick a male from the crabitat. Pick a mature male crab from your main tank. You'll need to wait for one of them to crawl out of its shell. At this time, you can inspect its body for genitalia called gonophores. If you can't see two tiny holes at the back of the body, you have a male. Place the crabs together. Put the two crabs in your newly created enclosure. If they don't mate, try a different combination of crabs. Be aware that it is very uncommon for breeding in captivity to actually happen, so don't be discouraged if nothing happens. Wait for a month for the eggs to hatch. It takes one month for the hermit crab eggs to hatch. Let the mother put the eggs in the saltwater container. The eggs should hatch when they touch the water. Use the cup method. Place the larvae in aerated cups. Put some small shells in the cups, which the larvae can use. Put the cups into a sand substrate. Feed the larvae brine shrimp and spirulina. You can feed them three drops of live plankton per day. Put young hermit crabs in a transition tank. Your transition tank should be half beach and half marine water. Put in a couple of containers with salt and fresh water. Put a coconut in the tank, as well as some nice shells. Make sure the young hermit crabs have a ramp going from the sand to the water containers. Young hermit crabs like to eat their siblings. Use regular marine salt water for the transition tank. You can purchase it at most pet stores. Feed young hermit crabs a high-protien diet. You can give them marine copepods, which are available at the pet store. You could also give them frozen krill, marine crayfish or shrimp granules and a couple drops of live plankton. For fourteen days, try feeding them a mixture of brine shrimp, marine infusoria, and powdered spirulina. | Set up a ten-gallon tank for mating. Simulate a beach by adding two inches of sand. Make an ocean area by adding a saltwater container. Keep the temperature in the ideal range. Maintain 70% humidity with a garden sprayer. Create a relaxing atmosphere by adding nice scenery. Make a ramp leading down from the saltwater tank to ten-gallon tank. Breed hermit crabs in the spring or summer. Find a mature female in your crabitat. Pick a male from the crabitat. Place the crabs together. Wait for a month for the eggs to hatch. Use the cup method. Put young hermit crabs in a transition tank. Feed young hermit crabs a high-protien diet. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Buzzed-Hair | How to Dye Buzzed Hair | If you have buzzed hair and you want to dye it a lighter shade than your own, you will need to bleach your hair first. If you are dyeing it darker you do not need to bleach it, although you may need to tone it if your hair is a warm shade and you want it to be cooler. When you're ready to dye your hair, put on a pair of gloves and an old T-shirt, then prepare the dye according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply the dye starting at the top of your head and working your way back. Rinse out the color after the specified amount of time, then apply conditioner. | Decide what color you want to dye your hair. This will determine whether or not you need to bleach it first. If you are going for a darker shade than your own, you do not need to bleach your hair and can go right on to the dyeing portion. If you are going a lighter shade, however, you will need to bleach first. If you have light hair and are dyeing it darker, click here to continue. If your hair is blonde and you are dyeing it a cool color, like purple or blue, it may be a good idea to tone your hair first. Click here to learn more. Cover your skin, clothing, and counter. Put on an old shirt you won't mind staining, then cover your shoulders with an old towel. Lay down some newspaper across your counter. If you want to, you can pull on a pair of plastic dyeing gloves as well. The bleach will be coming into contact with your scalp anyway, so the gloves are not absolutely necessary. Mix 1 part bleach with 2 parts 20 volume developer. Get a packet of hair bleach and 20 volume developer. Measure out 1 part bleach and 2 parts 20 volume developer. Mix the two together in a non-metal bowl with a non-metal spoon. Prepare enough bleach to saturate your hair. Some bleach kits come with a little scoop. Use that to measure the bleach and developer. Apply a thin layer of bleach to your hair, then wait 15 minutes. If you're wearing gloves, you can apply the bleach with your hands. Alternatively, use a tinting brush. Don't worry about being too meticulous here. Simply apply a light, even coat of bleach, then wait 15 minutes. The goal is to cover as much of your hair as quickly as possible. This initial coat of bleach will ensure that your hair lightens evenly. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap to protect your surroundings. If you have very light hair, you may only need to wait 5 to 10 minutes. Once you notice your hair starting to lighten, you're ready for the second coat of bleach. Apply more bleach and wait another 30 minutes. Do not rinse the bleach out. Simply take the shower cap off (if you put it on earlier), and apply a thick, generous coat of bleach. Use enough so that you can't see a single strand of hair sticking out of the bleach. Once you have it in, wait up to 30 minutes for the bleach to process. Again, cover your hair with a plastic shower cap while the bleach processes. If you have light-colored hair to begin with, you may not need to wait the full 30 minutes. If you like the level of lightness your hair reaches, you are done! Wash the bleach out with cool water and shampoo. Rinse the bleach out with cool water first, then use some shampoo. You haven't dyed your hair yet, so you can use any type of shampoo you want. A mild, moisturizing shampoo would be the best, however, because it will make your hair feel nice and soft. It's a good idea to use a purple or blue shampoo after you bleach your hair. This will help tone down any brassy, yellow, or orange tints that remain in your hair. Determine whether you need to tone your hair. Dye is translucent, so it only adds to whatever color is already there. Take a look at your hair and note the color. Is it silver, yellow, or brassy? Next, take a look at the color you are going to dye it. Will this color mix well with your current hair color? If not, you need to tone! For example: Warm colors, like warm pink and peach already have orange in them, so if your hair came out brassy, you don't need to tone it. Cool colors, such as cool pink, purple, and blue need a silver base. If your hair came out brassy or yellow, you'll have to tone it. Some colors mix well with yellow because they already contain yellow--such as green or orange. In this case, you don't need to tone it. Protect your skin, clothing, and counter. Toner has a small amount of dye in it, which is what helps cancel out the yellow or orange tones in your hair. As such, it will stain clothing, skin, and hair. Put on an old shirt you don't mind getting dirty, or drape an old towel around your shoulders. Cover your counter with newspaper and pull on a pair of plastic dyeing gloves. There is no need to apply petroleum jelly to the skin around your hairline, ears, and neck. Mix up your toner with volume 20 developer. Purchase a bottle of toner and some 20 volume developer. Mix the two together following the proportions recommended on the toner. As with bleach and dye, use a non-metal bowl and non-metal spoon. If you can't find a toner, you can use a toning shampoo instead. If you can't find either, add a tiny amount of purple dye to white conditioner instead. Apply the toner to your hair. You can do this with your gloved hands or with a tinting brush. Be sure to apply the toner liberally to your hair so that it coats every strand. If you don't do this, your hair won't tone evenly, which could result in an inconsistent dye job. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap. This will help keep your surroundings clean during the next step. Allow the toner to process, then rinse it out. How long you wait depends on the type of toner that you are using and the amount of toning that you require. In most cases, expect to wait around 10 to 15 minutes. Once the time is up, hop into the shower and wash the toner out using cool water. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. If you need to, use some sulfate-free shampoo meant for color-treated hair. Touch up any over-toned areas with bleach for 2 to 3 minutes. If you left the toner on for too long, your hair may come out purple. Unless you are dyeing your hair purple, you may want to bleach these purple tints out. Dry your hair completely first, then apply bleach to it. Leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes, then wash it out with shampoo. Prepare your bleach using 1 part bleach and 2 parts 20 volume developer. Apply the bleach with a tinting brush for more precision. You may not have to touch up all of your hair. Apply a deep-conditioning mask for 30 minutes. While not absolutely necessary, this will help make your hair nice and soft. If you plan on dyeing your hair, then you might want to hold off on the mask for now. If you are leaving it silver or white, however, then take a moment to apply a deep conditioning mask. Make sure that you use a sulfate-free mask. Check the ingredients label to be sure. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap to help make the mask more effective. You can use the same shower cap that you used previously, but make sure it's clean! Protect your skin, clothing, and counter against stains. Put on an old shirt and drape an old towel over your shoulders. Cover your counter with newspaper and pull on a pair of plastic dyeing gloves. There is no need to apply petroleum jelly to your hairline, neck, or ears; it will only make the job messier. It would be best if you wait 1 to 2 days before dyeing your hair to minimize damage. However, because your hair is so short, the damage won't be very noticeable. Prepare your dye, if needed. There are lots of different dyes available on the market. Most punk dyes come already mixed into developer and are ready to use straight from the jar. Other types of dyes need to be mixed into a 20 volume developer. You can even used a boxed dye kit. If you got a pre-mixed dye and it is too dark, mix a small amount of the dye into white conditioner. Use enough conditioner to saturate your hair. Always prepare the dye in a non-metal bowl. Use a non-metal spoon to stir it. Apply the dye to your hair with a tinting brush. Start from the top of your head and work your way towards the back. Do your front hairline and the sides next. When you reach your ears, pull them forward so that you can get the hairs behind them. Use the edge of the brush to do your hairline. Don't worry if you get dye on your skin; it will come off. Turn your back to the mirror, and hold a smaller mirror in front of you so that you can check your work in the back of your head. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and allow it to process. How long you let the dye process depends on the type of dye that you are using. Most pre-mixed punk dyes need 45 minutes while boxed kits need only 20 minutes. Check the label or instructions that came with your dye. The plastic shower cap is not absolutely necessary, but it will help keep your surroundings clean. It also traps your body heat, which helps the dye process more effectively. Rinse the dye out with cool water, then follow up with conditioner. Do not use any shampoo, as this may cause the dye to fade. Simply rinse the dye out with cool to lukewarm water. Once the water runs clear, apply conditioner to your hair. Wait 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse the conditioner out. Use a sulfate-free conditioner made for color-treated hair. If you are using a boxed dye kit, there may already be a packet of conditioner for you to use. Most of the dye on your skin should have come out during your shower. If it didn't, use a cotton ball soaked in an alcohol-based makeup remover to wipe it off. Trim your buzz cut every 2 weeks. At this length, even the smallest amount of regrowth will be obvious, so you will need to trim your hair more often than you regularly would. Because of how often you have to trim it, it would be a good idea to invest in a trimmer and learning how to buzz your own hair. If your hair grows slowly, then you may be able to go 3-4 weeks between haircuts. Retouch your color every 2 to 4 weeks. Again, at this length, even the slightest amount of regrowth becomes visible. Unless you don't mind the frosted-tips look, you will need to redo the entire coloring process on your hair. This includes bleaching and toning as well. Bleaching will damage your hair, but at this length, it won't be as noticeable. Plus, you will eventually buzz it off. Cover your hair when stepping outside. This will not only keep your color from fading, but it will also protect your scalp from getting sunburned. If you don't like to wear hats, try a hood or scarf instead. You can also apply some sunscreen or UV protection spray. A hat, scarf, or hood will help keep the color from fading the best. Wash your hair with cool water and color-safe products. This is the key to keeping your color bright and vibrant. Wash your hair with the coldest temperature you can withstand, and be sure to use shampoo and conditioner formulated for color-treated hair. Limit yourself to washing your hair only once or twice per week. If you do need to wash your hair between then, stick to plain water. If you can't find products made for color-treated hair, use sulfate-free products instead. Sulfates are harsh cleaning agents that can cause hair dye to fade. Use a scalp cleansing shampoo when you change your hair color. When you trim your buzz cut, you'll likely end up cutting all of the dyed portions off and starting with virgin hair. This is a perfect opportunity to wash your scalp with a scalp cleansing shampoo, such as an anti-dandruff or scalp balancing shampoo. If possible, use sulfate-free shampoo; sulfates can contribute to dryness. Don't wash your hair with scalp cleansing shampoo while it is still dyed, as the shampoo may remove the color. Consider using a scrub on your hair during this time as well. This will help remove the dead skin cells from our scalp. | Decide what color you want to dye your hair. Cover your skin, clothing, and counter. Mix 1 part bleach with 2 parts 20 volume developer. Apply a thin layer of bleach to your hair, then wait 15 minutes. Apply more bleach and wait another 30 minutes. Wash the bleach out with cool water and shampoo. Determine whether you need to tone your hair. Protect your skin, clothing, and counter. Mix up your toner with volume 20 developer. Apply the toner to your hair. Allow the toner to process, then rinse it out. Touch up any over-toned areas with bleach for 2 to 3 minutes. Apply a deep-conditioning mask for 30 minutes. Protect your skin, clothing, and counter against stains. Prepare your dye, if needed. Apply the dye to your hair with a tinting brush. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and allow it to process. Rinse the dye out with cool water, then follow up with conditioner. Trim your buzz cut every 2 weeks. Retouch your color every 2 to 4 weeks. Cover your hair when stepping outside. Wash your hair with cool water and color-safe products. Use a scalp cleansing shampoo when you change your hair color. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Watch-NFL-Games-Online | How to Watch NFL Games Online | To watch NFL games online, find a reputable streaming site, such as MansCaveFootball, FirstRowSports, or SportLemon. Once you pick a site, browse for the game you want to watch, wait for the ads to finish, and watch your game. Alternatively, you can choose a subscription package like NFL Game Pass, which is the league's official service. Once you purchase your Game Pass, you can stream all of the NFL games after the regular broadcast has ended. | Find a reputable streaming site. Streaming sports events online is typically not legal due to broadcasting restrictions. Because of this, you will need to find sites that exist outside of the jurisdiction of these laws and provide streams of events. Popular sites include: MansCaveFootball FirstRowSports Stream2Watch SportLemon WiZiWiG AllSport Live Reddit Beware of scams. Because of the shady nature of online sports streaming, there are many scams that will attempt to part you from your money or install malware on your computer. Don't use any site that charges for streams, or that asks to install programs or toolbars. Browse for the game you want to watch. Most sites provide updated listings of what is currently broadcasting, and what is scheduled to broadcast later in the day. Find the match that you want to watch and click its link. Choose the stream. Oftentimes, once you select a match you will be given several links to choose from. Try them one-by-one until you find one that's working. Links are removed by authorities often, which is why these sites usually provide several to choose from. Wait for the ads to finish. These sites make money off advertising, so you will need to wait for the ads to finish before you can start watching. There is typically a countdown until you can close the ad and begin watching the stream. Watch your game. Once you start the stream, you should be able to watch with relative ease. You usually can't skip forward or rewind because it is a live stream, but you can adjust the volume or make the picture full-screen by clicking the Expand button next to the Volume. Occasionally you may experience loading and buffering, because the servers are located overseas. Most streaming sites recommend using Firefox or Chrome to watch videos instead of Internet Explorer. Most of these sites exist outside of the United States, so “football” often refers to “soccer”. Check the American Football categories to find NFL games. Choose a subscription package. NFL Game Pass is the league's official subscription service that allows you to watch games after they occur without commercials and in HD quality. This service is available in the US and its territories and worldwide. The service's Season Plus package allows users to watch all 256 regular season games, including the Playoffs, the Pro Bowl, the Super Bowl, the Combine and the NFL Draft, live or on-demand. Games are viewable after the regular broadcast has completed. Watch the game at home or on the go. You can stream the games from your home computer, or use mobile apps for iPad and Android Tablets to watch the games from anywhere you have a network connection. Watch old games. NFL Game Pass comes with access to replays of all the games of the last three seasons. | Find a reputable streaming site. Beware of scams. Browse for the game you want to watch. Choose the stream. Wait for the ads to finish. Watch your game. Choose a subscription package. Watch the game at home or on the go. Watch old games. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Flour | How to Measure Flour | Before you measure unsifted flour, use a spoon to stir the flour in the original container to fluff it up, then spoon the flour into your measuring cup until the cup is slightly more full. Do not pack the flour into the cup. Use a straight edge, such as the back of a knife, to level off the top of the flour by running it against the rim of the cup. Hold the measuring cup over the flour container so the excess flour drops back in. | Use measuring cups of the exact right size. This is the best way to ensure accuracy when you're measuring out flour by volume. It's more difficult to use the proper technique with an oversized measuring cup, since you can't complete the final step of leveling off the top. So, for example, if your recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of flour, use both a one-cup dry measuring cup and a half-cup dry measuring cup. If your recipe calls for 2/3 cup of flour, measure out two 1/3 cups instead of using a larger cup. Fluff up the flour. Flour tends to come tightly packed in paper bags. If you don't fluff it up before measuring it, you'll end up measuring out more flour than you actually need for your recipe. Dig your spoon into the container the flour is in and fluff it up a little. You might want to consider storing your flour in a metal, plastic or glass container with a lid instead of keeping it in the bag it came in. That way your flour won't be as tightly packed, and it will be easier to reach in and fluff it up when you need to use some. Spoon it into your measuring cup. Use a spoon to scoop flour into the cup until the cup is slightly overfull. Do not pack the flour into the cup; just lightly scoop it in until the cup is full and a small peak has formed in the center. Level it off. Use a straight edge, such as the back of a knife, to level off the top by running it against the rim of the cup. Do this over the container so the excess flour drops back in. You're now ready to use the flour in your recipe. If it calls for additional cups, measure them the same way. Sift the flour. Pour a little more flour than you need for your recipe into a flour sifter and sift it thoroughly over a bowl. Sifting flour aerates it, resulting in lighter baked goods. This might sound like a great thing to do for every recipe, but you should only sift flour if the recipe calls for doing so. For certain cakes and pastries, a denser final product is actually preferred. If you don't have a flour sifter, you can sift flour just by stirring it. Pour it into a bowl and use a whisk to briskly stir it until it's light and fluffy. Scoop the flour into your measuring cup. Use a spoon to measure the flour into a cup that's the exact right size. Avoided using a larger measuring cup than you need, since it's harder to get an accurate measurement this way. Level it off with a straightedge. Run the back of a knife or another straightedge across the rim of the measuring cup, letting the excess flour fall back into the container. You may now use your perfectly measured flour in your recipe. Buy a kitchen scale. If you're getting into bread baking or pastry making and you want to make sure you're measuring flour accurately, it's worth it to invest in a kitchen scale. That's because even the scoop and level method isn't as accurate as weighing the flour to make sure it comes out to the right weight. Since being off by even half an ounce can make a difference in the outcome of your baked goods, using a scale is the top choice for serious bakers. Find out the weight of the specific flour you're using. A cup of white, unbleached flour comes out to approximately four and a quarter ounces, but other flours have different weights. If you're working with whole wheat flour, self-rising flour or another type of flour, find out exactly how much a cup should weigh. Here are the weights of commonly used specialty flours: Cake flour: 1 cup = 4 ounces Self-rising flour: 1 cup = 4 ounces Whole wheat flour: 1 cup = 4 ounces Whole wheat pastry flour: 1 cup = 3 3/8 ounces Do the math to find out how much total flour you need in ounces. If your recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of white flour, for example, you'll need to figure out how many ounces that comes to. Do the math in your head or use a calculator to figure out how much you need to weigh out. Zero out the weight of your container. Since whatever container you're using to hold the flour shouldn't count toward the weight of the flour, you have to subtract its weight from the final amount. You can do this by using your scale to "zero out" the weight of the container. If you're using a mechanical scale, turn the knob back to the zero mark with the container on the scale. If you're using a digital scale, hit the “clear” button with the container on the scale. Add the flour slowly until the scale registers the correct weight. Once the container's weight has been zeroed out, you can add your flour. Scoop it into the container until the correct weight is reached. If you're using regular white flour, it should come to 4.25 ounces per cup. If you're using another flour, double check to see how much a cup should weigh. | Use measuring cups of the exact right size. Fluff up the flour. Spoon it into your measuring cup. Level it off. Sift the flour. Scoop the flour into your measuring cup. Level it off with a straightedge. Buy a kitchen scale. Find out the weight of the specific flour you're using. Do the math to find out how much total flour you need in ounces. Zero out the weight of your container. Add the flour slowly until the scale registers the correct weight. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Give-Two-Weeks%27-Notice | How to Give Two Weeks' Notice | To give two weeks' notice, tell your supervisor in person before you tell anyone else. You might be nervous, but just say something simple and professional, like, "I've accepted a new job at ABC Corp. I wanted to let you know before everyone else. I start in 2 weeks." You should also tell your boss you've enjoyed working for them, even if you don't necessarily mean it, since you don't want to burn bridges. | Tell your supervisor first. You don't want your boss to hear through the grapevine that you are leaving. Accordingly, they need to be the first person to know, even if your co-workers know that you have interviewed somewhere. Unless you absolutely cannot stand your supervisor, you should meet in person. Keep your explanation simple and professional. For example, you can say, “Mona, I've accepted a new job at ABC Corp. I wanted to let you know before everybody else. I start in two weeks.” Be sure to say how much you've enjoyed working there, even if you don't mean it. You never know when you'll cross paths with your boss again. Discuss how other team members will be told. Before leaving your boss' office, confirm who will tell the entire team. For example, your boss might want to send out a company-wide email. If so, negotiate when they will send it so you can tell some other people in person that you are leaving. Set up a resignation letter. Typically, Human Resources needs something in writing stating you are leaving your job. Ask your boss who you should address your letter of resignation to. Set up the letter like a standard business letter. To make the letter easy to understand, state that you are resigning in the first sentence. For example: “I hereby resign as your Administrative Assistant on June 12, 2017.” This clarifies what the letter is about. Also remember to express gratitude. Write something like, “I can't thank you enough for giving me my first job out of college. I learned so much in the past three years that will be invaluable in my career.” Expressing gratitude helps you maintain a professional tone. Complete your resignation letter. Your letter will be put in your personnel file, so you should think strategically about the information you want to include. For example, include the following: Context for any negative information in the file. For example, if a prior supervisor criticized you, you can write, “I'm particularly grateful for how supportive the company was during the rough transition after Marina left the company in 2015. My new supervisor, Kelly Smith, has been superb.” Your personal phone number. Tell your boss they can call you if they have questions about how something needs to be done. This shows you remain committed to doing great work. A warm goodbye. “Best wishes and warmest regards” or something similar should strike the right tone. Tell co-workers in order of their importance to you. After telling your boss, you need to immediately start telling colleagues. Come up with a list in order of how important this person was to you. Close friends and mentors should be told first. You'll need to rely on these relationships later, so you don't want them to find out from other people. You can tell less important colleagues later, either in person or through an email. Avoid sending a company-wide email. Some people blast the company in an email sent to everyone in the building, which is, needless to say, a terrible idea. It will follow you around to every new job where you work. Remember that your boss probably talks to other business owners, so word will get out about what you did. Furthermore, there's tangible evidence in the form of the email, so you can't deny it. You should also avoid a company-wide email even if you are genuinely sad to leave. Often, these come across as sappy and insincere. A better approach is to thank people individually. Knock on their office door and talk to them for ten minutes. Express gratitude for having had the chance to work with them. Give a consistent story. Everyone probably want to know where you are going and why you are leaving. They also will talk to each other. For these reasons, you should tell everyone the same story. For example, don't tell your direct supervisor you are leaving for salary reasons and then your cube mate you're leaving because you hate your direct supervisor. You should also give a safe answer for why you are leaving. For example, you can claim that the new job has an easier commute or that it is a better fit with your career goals. Make sure your reason is positive and that you don't trash talk your employer. Finish large projects. The worst thing you can do is dump a heap of work on the person hired to replace you (or on colleagues left behind). Accordingly, make sure that you finish up any large projects before you leave. Another option is to time your exit just right. Finish large projects and then give your two weeks' notice. Also remember not to take on any new large projects during your remaining days. Instead, volunteer to find someone else who can jump in. Provide detailed instructions. If you can't finish all your big projects ahead of time, then leave instructions for your boss about how to complete the project. Identify who on the current team can complete tasks until a new person is hired to replace you. Identify every project you are working on currently and explain what needs to be done. You might need to offer very detailed instructions if no one on the team knows how to complete certain tasks. Also repeat that you are available by phone if someone needs to contact you. Offer to work a little longer, if possible. Two weeks might not be enough time for you to finish up important tasks and get other people up to speed. Furthermore, people in more senior positions need to give more than two weeks because of the complexity of their jobs. If possible, be flexible and tell your employer you can stay longer. Generally, the amount of notice you need to give should be equivalent to the number of vacation weeks you earn in a year. Accordingly, someone who gets four vacation weeks should probably give four weeks' notice. If you can't work longer, offer to train a replacement if they're hired in time. Approach an exit interview warily. Some employers will hound you to do an exit interview. These interviews are supposed to be completely confidential, but often they aren't. Instead, if you vent about anyone in the company, word could get back to them and now you've made an enemy. The safest option is to decline an exit interview, if possible. If you do participate in the exit interview, offer only light constructive criticism. For example, your boss might have been too involved with team members' personal lives. In that situation, you can say, “Karen really cared about her team, but sometimes she cared so much that she probed into people's personal lives. I think she had the best intentions, and otherwise she was a great boss.” Always remember to swamp any criticism you make with praise. Leave the office immediately, if requested. Your boss might not let you work two more weeks. Instead, as soon as you give your resignation you may be shown the door. In that situation, leave without putting up a fuss. Smile at everyone on your way out and keep your chin up. This “perp walk” sometimes happens when you quit to work for a competitor or your boss thinks you might be disruptive. To prepare for the perp walk, gather your personal belongings ahead of time so that they are in a box you can take with you. Research ahead of time what you can take and what you can't take. If you used a company cell phone for personal matters, make sure you've removed the personal material before turning over the phone. Speak positively about your employer in the future. You should never bad mouth a previous employer, even after you've left the position. Only speak positively about your colleagues, boss, and the company itself. Try to maintain the same story to explain why you left. If you told your boss you left for more advancement opportunities, then that should be your story for the future. Create social media profiles. Although you're leaving a job, you don't want to completely sever all relationships. Nowadays, most people stay in touch through social media. Create a LinkedIn or Google+ profile. If you already have profiles, make sure they are updated to reflect your new job. Schedule dinners or lunches to stay in touch. You should have a face-to-face meeting with important colleagues and mentors about two months after you leave. This will allow you to catch up and continue your relationship into the future. Remember not to gossip, even though you no longer work at the company. Continue mentoring relationships. Mentoring doesn't end when you leave a company. Instead, your mentor can continue to advise you about your career long after you've moved on. Schedule regular meetings. You can also join professional organizations where you might get to work side-by-side with your mentor. You should also maintain relationships with any mentees. At some point, they will move up in the profession and be at a point where they can help you in your own career. Accordingly, you want to maintain these relationships. | Tell your supervisor first. Discuss how other team members will be told. Set up a resignation letter. Complete your resignation letter. Tell co-workers in order of their importance to you. Avoid sending a company-wide email. Give a consistent story. Finish large projects. Provide detailed instructions. Offer to work a little longer, if possible. Approach an exit interview warily. Leave the office immediately, if requested. Speak positively about your employer in the future. Create social media profiles. Schedule dinners or lunches to stay in touch. Continue mentoring relationships. |
https://www.wikihow.life/Walk-off-Weight | How to Walk off Weight | If you want to walk off some weight, you don't have to head to the gym to do your exercise. Instead, you can make small adjustments like walking to work or school, or parking your car a little further from your destination so you have to walk the rest of the way. Other ways you can easily incorporate walking into your life are to take the stairs or to walk your dog more often. As you begin walking more, focus on going longer distances but at a slower pace so you can burn calories without pushing your body too far. Eventually, when you become more comfortable with walking, you can start doing short intervals of your walk at a faster speed to get in more of a workout. | Familiarize yourself with three walking techniques. Humans walk on a daily basis to move naturally from one place to the other. There are different styles of walking depending on the speed and intensity of the exercise: Stroll : this is the walking style used for window-shopping or relaxed activities, which burns around 238 calories per hour. Picture it as level 4 on a scale of 10. Brisk walk : this is the walking style you adopt when you are rushing somewhere; it makes you catch your breath every once in a while if you're talking to someone. You can burn up to 340 calories per hour. Think of it as level 5/6 out of 10. Power walk : this is a step before running, and makes speaking much harder as you need to breathe regularly. This can burn up to 564 calories per hour. The level of intensity is 7/8 out of 10. Choose the workout plan that works best for you. You should make a decision based on how much weight you want to lose, how fast and how trained you are. If you haven't exercised in a while, it's best for you to start with a more laid back plan, and then combine it with the more intense ones. These are: Tempo day (40 minutes, 220 calories per session): Stroll for five minutes. Power-walk for 30 minutes. Stroll for five minutes. Long-interval day (46 minutes, 355 calories): Stroll for five minutes. Power-walk intensely for five minutes and brisk-walk for one minute, repeating the routine 6 times. Stroll for five minutes. Short-interval day (55 minutes, 405 calories): Stroll for five minutes. Power-walk intensely for two minutes and brisk-walk for one minute, repeating the routine 15 times. Stroll for five minutes. Have at least one power-walk session three days a week. The intervals don't have to be consecutive; if you get tired faster, break up a long interval of power-walking with brisk-walking or strolling intervals. The walking sessions shouldn't be on consecutive days, but you should not be inactive for longer than two days. For example, you can exercise on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays rather than cramming the three sessions into the weekend. Focus on distance rather than speed as a beginner. There's no point in pushing your body beyond its limits at first. Aim for lower intensity but longer distances: you can burn plenty of calories just by walking a mile in 13 minutes, or less than that if you can. You can push yourself to walk a little further each day. If you're getting tired before covering the whole distance you had planned for the day, keep going at a slower pace but make sure you get to the end. Speed up your pace. Your goal should be walking at around 75 percent of your maximum intensity, which amounts to around 4 miles an hour for a moderately healthy adult, though this may be different depending on your age, weight and level of fitness. When you feel confident and less tired, or feel you've reached the maximum distance you could cover in one slow-paced session, start raising the bar by introducing short intervals at faster speeds, and phase out strolling little by little (except for warming up and cooling down). Avoid going below 3 miles per hour: this is not enough for a cardio session and will have a much lower impact on your calorie burning. Hold your chin up, squeeze your buttocks and tense your abs. This will help you maintain a correct posture while you walk. Focus on a point far ahead of you and keep your abdominal muscles tight so that your belly button gets closer to the spine. Focusing on your posture is important to improve your walking style and allow you to aim for higher intensity after a few sessions. Use a pedometer app. You can download one for a very low price or for free on your phone. This will keep track of your daily walking and give you accurate information about your speed and heart rate, in some cases. Track your walking program sessions and weekly weight loss. You can keep a walking log or journal with tables where you write down the minutes walked and types of plan for each week, and your weight on the next box. Tracking the effects of walking on your body will help you figure out what you can do to maximize weight loss and keep you motivated as you go. Run for the hills. Walking on non-flat roads can maximize calorie burn by almost 20 percent. The steeper the road is, the better it will get. Make sure you tackle hills and inclines only after you've exercised for awhile. As a beginner, remember that the objective is not to strain your body but to build up stamina one step at a time. Listen to your body to understand how steep an incline it's able to take. There's no point in walking up the Rockies if you get exhausted after five minutes. Choose a gentle slope, as long as you can walk on it without tiring yourself out. Walk off the beaten path. Uneven surfaces will make your body work harder and increase the intensity of your walking session. This can burn 430 calories in just one hour. Swing your arms. This is what you would normally do while running: bend you elbows and make a fist with your hands, and coordinate the movement of your arms with your legs. You will burn 10 percent more just by doing that. This will also help you move forward as you power-walk: your body will probably phase into this posture naturally to keep the pace and balance. Vary your stride. Vary the length of your stride to mix things up. Try taking longer strides for a minute then go back to your normal gait. It is better for the body to speed the pace of the steps than to increase the stride length over an extended period of time. Lengthening your stride for an extended period or taking steps that are too wide could lead to injury. Follow a healthy diet. This can also maximize weight loss: because your ultimate goal is burning calories, decreasing your weekly intake by having lighter food will make your job much easier. Don't starve yourself: you need energy for your walking sessions, and this comes from calories in the first place. Rather than cutting down on quantity, focus on the quality of what you eat. Your diet should include: Complex carbohydrates for energy (pasta, whole grains, potatoes, etc.) Unsaturated fat for longer endurance (nuts, olive oil, salmon, tuna, etc.) Protein for stronger muscles (meat, legumes, etc.): around 0.7g of proteins per pound of body weight Fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals essential for healthy body functions (bananas, kale, carrots, peppers, berries, etc.) Calcium for stronger bones (low-fat dairy, kale, sardines, etc.) Walk to work or school. If where you work or study is way too far for you to reach on foot, you can park your car further away from your final destination (half a mile to a mile) and walk there. If you use public transit, get off at the stop before the one where you should go to increase your walking activity. Run your errands on foot, not online. E-shopping has become routine for most of us. Walking to the grocery store, however, is much better for your body. Take it as a time to decompress, do some thinking, listen to music or catch up on your calls. Use the stairs, not the elevator. If you live in an apartment block, avoid using the elevator unless you live at the 50th-floor penthouse. If you do, you can still take the elevator to the 42nd floor and let your feet do the rest. Take your kids for a stroll. You can either walk your children to a specific destination or introduce walking explorations as a fun activity. This will also give you time to catch up. Invited your kid's friends to join you. This may make walks more appealing for your child. Walk your dog. You will have to do it anyway if you don't have a garden, so why not use this as an opportunity for exercise (for you and your dog)? Make your walks longer and speed up your pace: your dog certainly won't mind spending more time outdoors. If you don't have a dog, join a friend who does while they take theirs for a walk. Pump up the jams. Listening to music while walking can help in many ways. It is motivational, it helps keep a certain pace, a playlist can plan fast songs for interval training, slower songs for cool down and warm up. However, caution needs to be used when listening to music while walking. It is even more important to be vigilant about traffic safety. Use just one earphone, or keep the volume low, while walking so you can hear approaching vehicles. You can also download audiobooks or podcasts to listen to while you walk. | Familiarize yourself with three walking techniques. Choose the workout plan that works best for you. Have at least one power-walk session three days a week. Focus on distance rather than speed as a beginner. Speed up your pace. Hold your chin up, squeeze your buttocks and tense your abs. Use a pedometer app. Track your walking program sessions and weekly weight loss. Run for the hills. Walk off the beaten path. Swing your arms. Vary your stride. Walk to work or school. Run your errands on foot, not online. Use the stairs, not the elevator. Take your kids for a stroll. Walk your dog. Pump up the jams. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Lose-Water-Weight-Fast | How to Lose Water Weight Fast | To lose water weight fast, eliminate chips, frozen food, and fast food from your diet, since these increase your salt intake and make your body retain water. Additionally, eat potassium-rich foods, like bananas and sweet potatoes, to absorb any salt you consume. You should also increase the amount of fiber in your diet by replacing refined carbohydrates with whole grains, and eating more fruits and vegetables to help your digestive system get rid of water more efficiently. | Reduce your salt intake. Sodium, or salt, causes you to retain water and hold it in your tissues. Remove processed foods from your diet, which are more likely to contain high levels of sodium. This includes potato chips, canned foods, frozen foods, and fast food. Season your food with herbs and spices rather than table salt. Avoid eating out. Restaurant food usually contains more sodium than a home-cooked meal. Eat potassium-rich foods. Potassium helps to absorb and reduce sodium in your body. Add foods to your diet that contain a lot of potassium like sweet potatoes, beets, oranges, coconut water, apricots, figs, cantaloupe, raisins, and bananas. Increase fiber in your diet. Experts recommend 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily, but many adults are only getting 10 to 15 grams. Fiber improves the efficiency of your digestive system, allowing you to shed both fluid and solid waste. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a main source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. You need both to have a healthy digestive system. Replace refined carbohydrates with whole grains. Choose high fiber, whole grain breads and cereals instead of white bread. Make brown rice, quinoa, and other ancient grains to serve along with your protein and vegetables. Introduce fiber into your diet in stages, since your digestive system may need time to adjust. Add coumarin-rich foods to your diet. Some sources suggest that this naturally-occurring compound can help you regulate fluid in the tissues. Limit your consumption of coumarin to small, healthy levels: Sprinkle cinnamon on your cereal or in your coffee, have a cup of chamomile tea in the morning or evening, and regularly add celery and parsley to your recipes. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. Make sure you are drinking at least 64 oz. (1.9L) of water each day. Although it may seem counter-intuitive to drink water when you are trying to lose water weight, increased water consumption can improve metabolism and the functions of your organs. Being properly hydrated will help to flush chemicals, sodium, and other causes of water retention out of your system. This is especially beneficial if your bloating is due to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). If your water retention is due to heart failure, kidney disease, or other medical conditions, speak with your doctor about how much water to drink every day. If you're thirsting for something with a little more taste, try hot or iced herbal teas, or add lemon, lime, or cucumber slices to your water. Avoid sugary drinks, like soda, since your kidneys will need to process the sugar and it will reduce the benefits of the hydration. Avoid high amounts of caffeine and alcohol. A diuretic is a substance that increases how much and how often you urinate, and caffeinated drinks and alcohol are major diuretics that can cause dehydration. Although they can get rid of some water in the short term, they can dehydrate you and cause bloating in high or regular doses. However, natural diuretics like cranberry juice and cabbage can be beneficial in decreasing fluid retention. Take vitamins A and C. These vitamins help to minimize fluid retention by improving the strength of your capillaries, the tiny ends of your blood vessels that regulate fluid levels in your tissues. Vitamin A and C supplements can be beneficial. Oranges, chili peppers, red and green bell peppers, kale, broccoli, papaya, strawberries, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, pineapple, kiwi, and mango are good sources of vitamin C. Vitamin A shows up in sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, kale, swiss chard, winter squash, and the greens of mustard, collard, turnip and beets. Move around frequently throughout the day. Fluid retention in the legs is very common among the elderly and inactive because when you sit still for long periods of time, you accumulate fluid in your legs. If you work at a desk or sit for extended lengths of time, take a break every 1-2 hours to get up and move around for several minutes. Minimize the amount of time you sit or stand in one place. If you are suffering from fluid retention, walking or exercising in smaller amounts two or more times per day may help you lose fluid faster than a single workout. Exercise your legs when you're on a flight. Get up and walk up and down the aisles, or do calf raises at your seat. Your body is likely to retain fluid on the journey; however, you can reduce water weight by moving as frequently as possible. Break a sweat for 30 minutes a day. Exercise can help you to lose water weight quickly, as long as you work up a good sweat. Jog, use the elliptical, ride a bike, dance – work out to get your heart rate up for at least half an hour daily, if possible. Consult your doctor before starting a new rigorous workout plan. Always stay hydrated when exercising! You want to lose extra water from sweating, but not cause yourself harm from dehydration. Take a water break at least every 20 minutes. Be aware that when you first start a new workout program, you might actually gain weight temporarily from storing water in your muscles. That's why exercising regularly is helpful. Absolutely do not starve yourself – this can make water retention worse! Run errands to stay on the move. You don't necessarily need to hit the gym to be active. Make it a point to get out and about every day. Grocery shop at your local outdoor market instead of a supermarket, and take your time walking around. Carry your own bags in a store rather than using a shopping cart. Make it a point to be physical while accomplishing your daily tasks. Make boring household cleaning an enjoyable workout by putting on some music and picking up the pace. Dance your way through daily chores for a fun and productive workout. Walk, ride, and take the stairs. Make yourself work harder to get around. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk or ride a bike whenever possible, rather than driving. Park as far away from your destination as you can, and walk the rest of the way. Small efforts at being active and in motion can help you drop the water weight you might develop when sitting for long periods of time. Elevate your legs often. Fluid tends to pool in the feet, ankles and legs because of gravity. Try to counterbalance this force by elevating your legs whenever you get the chance. Prop your legs up on a chair and cushions at the end of the day, or lie in bed with your feet and legs elevated with pillows. Ideally, raise your legs above the level of your heart. This helps to decrease fluid pooling and send blood back to your heart. Use compression stockings if recommended by your doctor. Compression stockings are special, tight socks or stockings that squeeze your lower legs. This can improve circulation, and are often used if you are on your feet all day or have leg swelling. Discuss the use of compression stockings with your healthcare provider. Ask your doctor if your medications cause water retention. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen, beta blockers like metoprolol, and estrogen therapies (including birth control pills) can cause you to retain fluids. If any of these are causing issues, you may be able to switch to a different medication. Talk to your doctor before reducing or stopping a medical prescriptions. Say something like, "I exercise and eat healthy, but still feel bloated. Do you think any medicine I take is causing a problem?" Talk to your doctor about taking water pills. “Water pills,” or diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide, can be prescribed by your doctor to help you shed extra fluid. Remember that all medications may have side effects, and that these will only help if your water weight is due to certain conditions. For instance, diuretics will help edema, but should not be used for simple bloating associated with PMS. Get a massage to improve circulation. Massage therapy increases blood flow and can help to drain your lymphatic system, which holds a lot of fluid in your body. This relaxing activity can also reduce stress hormones that may be adding to weight problems. Discuss your concerns with your massage therapist so they can focus their work with appropriate techniques. Reduce your stress. Cortisone is a hormone that your body produces when you are feeling stressed, and it causes you to hold onto water weight. Minimize your stress level to feel healthier and lose extra water. Meditate , practice deep breathing , use aromatherapy , go for a walk – do whatever activities you enjoy and help you feel peaceful. Cool down in hot weather and dress warmly in cold weather. Extreme changes in environmental temperature can send signals to your body to retain water. Try to self-regulate your body temperature as much as possible with the appropriate clothing, especially if you will be outside for long periods of time. | Reduce your salt intake. Eat potassium-rich foods. Increase fiber in your diet. Add coumarin-rich foods to your diet. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. Avoid high amounts of caffeine and alcohol. Take vitamins A and C. Move around frequently throughout the day. Break a sweat for 30 minutes a day. Run errands to stay on the move. Walk, ride, and take the stairs. Elevate your legs often. Use compression stockings if recommended by your doctor. Ask your doctor if your medications cause water retention. Talk to your doctor about taking water pills. Get a massage to improve circulation. Reduce your stress. Cool down in hot weather and dress warmly in cold weather. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fatten-Up-a-Dog | How to Fatten Up a Dog | To fatten up a dog, you can transfer your dog onto a high energy food diet, which has higher calories and is more easily absorbed into the body. You can also add some foods rich in vitamin B to your dog's diet, such as chicken or beef liver. If you think your dog has lost weight due to being bored with its food, try mixing up what you feed your dog by giving dry food at some meals and wet food at others. | Figure out if there is a logical reason your dog is underweight. If you know why the dog is underweight, such as a bitch that has recently raised a litter of strong, greedy puppies, or a rescue dog has been mistreated, then fattening up the dog will be relatively straight forward. Be sure to monitor the dog who is underweight, so that you can find any issues that might be easy to fix. For example, if you have several dogs, the answer can be as simple as the other dogs stealing your underweight dog's food. Assess the overall health of your dog. All kinds of illnesses can interfere with the body's ability to process food and get the goodness out of it, leading to weight loss. If this is the case, the dog will almost certainly show some signs including decreased appetite, increased thirst, lack of energy, vomiting, diarrhea, or a change of body shape. Conditions that can cause weight loss include lack of pancreatic enzymes, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. Again, if you notice any of these symptoms then a vet check is for the best. Get your dog checked by a veterinarian. If you suspect your dog is ill, or if you notice unexplained weight loss, it's best to consult a vet. If your dog suddenly has a poor appetite for no reason, it's also best to consult a professional before the problem gets out of control. Once the vet gives the all clear, and you know you just have a fussy dog, then there are a variety of strategies that can help improve its appetite. Check your dog's actual weight against the breed's ideal weight. It easy to think that a pet is underweight, whereas the reality could be that he is just less heavy than an obese dog of the same breed that you happen to know. Maybe your dog is actually fine, but it's the other dog that is too fat! Check the food packaging against your dog's ideal weight. For dogs that are thin but full of energy and producing formed feces, the first step is to check they are getting enough calories per meal. A dog may lose weight because it uses up more calories than it is eating. This may be straightforward -- as when the dog isn't being fed enough food. If this is the case, then increasing his portion size should do the trick. The simplest way to do this is compare your dog's ideal weight with the suggested feeding amount on the food packaging. If your dog is a specific breed, there is lots of information online about what is that breed's ideal weight. Go with the weight you want the dog to be, rather than the weight it is at the moment. For example, if you own a male Labrador then an average sized dog should weigh up to 40kg. Compare what you have been feeding your dog to what the recommended amount of food is. Measure out a typical portion of your dog's daily food allowance by weight. Make a note of the weight of the food and compare it to the recommended amount from the food packaging. It's interesting to note that some of these recommendations are actually 25% above what the dog needs (they tend to be on the generous side, rather than the skimpy side). If you are giving your Labrador 400g of kibble a day, and the packaging advises 500g a day, then your dog is being fed 20% less calories than the recommended and so it will lose weight. This is easily rectified by increasing the amount of his daily allowance. Decide how much to increase your dog's food allowance. This can be a difficult decision because each food contains different amounts of calories and the size of dogs vary so much. As a rule of thumb, increase the food by no more than 10% of the original quantity. So if you were feeding 400g a day, an extra 10% adds another 40g, which you would split into 2 meals of 20g each additional. Feed this for 2 -3 days and check the dog doesn't have diarrhea, at which point you can add another 10% and so on. Gradually increase the amount of food you feed your dog. Suddenly feeding way more food is a recipe for disturbing the balance of the bowel and causing diarrhea. Much safer is to gradually increase the portion size and monitor the dog's toilet to make sure it is coping. If the difference in ration is not large, then divide the extra between two meals. If the difference is large, then adding in an extra meal (rather than making the existing ones larger) will be more gentle on the bowel. If the dog gets diarrhea it is then losing precious nutrition and so your efforts are for nothing. Feed your dog vitamin B-rich foods. Liver is one of the most vitamin B12-rich foods available. You can give your dog cooked beef or chicken liver two or three times a week as a snack in between meals. For example, you would want to feed a 10 kilogram dog 50 to 70 grams of cooked liver. Eggs are also high in B12. In addition they contain a lot of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B12, Iron, Selenium, and Fatty acids. Give your dog raw eggs, adding one egg three times a week to their dog food. Remember to add these foods gradually, so that they do not upset your dog's stomach. Transition your dog onto high energy dog food gradually. High energy dog food means they have a high caloric content and can easily be absorbed and assimilated into the body. This will prevent thinning and emaciation, and will aid in giving your thin dog additional weight. Good brands to try include Hill's Science Diet High Energy ®, and Royal Canin Veterinary Diet High Energy. You can also try transitioning your dog onto a puppy food. Puppy food contains more calories than regular food, because it is designed to serve the high energy needs of growing puppies. The down side is that puppy food tends to be rich, and may upset some dogs' stomachs. Introduce it gradually, adding a spoonful to the existing food, and gradually building up the amount feed over 4 - 5 days. Monitor the dog's feces and if diarrhea develops then stop the new food. Switch wet food to dry food, or vice versa. Imagine yourself eating the same dry food, or the same cereal or soup, day in and day out. You'd probably get bored of it. Dogs can experience a similar boredom with their food. Sometimes switching from dry to wet canned food, or vice versa, will do the trick and get your dog to start eating again. However, be aware that tin food contains a lot less calories than dry food. For the same volume of food, wet food contains just a quarter of the amount of dry kibble, so a little dry kibble is worth a lot of wet food. This is because wet food is 60 - 80% water, so whilst it may be more appetizing, you run the risk of filling the dog's stomach with water and giving it inadequate calories. Feed your dog vet-approved homemade recipes. Feeding your dog homemade recipes can give variety to your dog's diet, making it more interested in its food. A sample recipe is from Founder's Veterinary Clinic of Brea, California. This sample recipe is for a 10-kilogram dog that you can divide into two for a 5-kilogram dog, or double the amount for a 20-kilogram dog. The dog food consists of 100 grams of cooked, skinless chicken; 1 cup of cooked brown rice; 1 cup of peas and carrots; 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil; and 1/4 teaspoon of a salt substitute. Cook all of these ingredients and mix them together. Try other recipes like this chicken and rice dog food , or this raw food diet. Give your dog vitamin supplements. The B vitamins are mainly involved in enzyme systems that increase your dog's appetite, and in energy metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. In short, they ease the conversion of energy sources like fats, proteins and carbohydrates into energy, providing your pet the energy needed for growth and maintenance. The excess energy brought about by the increase in appetite and consumption will then be converted to fats and will prevent muscle catabolism, or wasting. The best B-complex vitamins include Pet-Tabs® and LC-Vit®. Be sure to follow the directions on the packaging. For puppies, it is recommended that you use liquid multivitamins like LC-Vit® (3ml daily). Another option is to bring your dog to a vet and have her given a shot of B-complex vitamins, if you do not have time to give it daily vitamin supplements. The regime is one injection, once a week for four weeks. If the dog's appetite has not improved at the end of this time, then further injections are unlikely to be beneficial. De-worm your dog with de-wormer medication. It is sensible to regularly deworm your dog because worms compete for food in the dog's bowel and cause poor body condition, silently sucking the nutrition out of your dog. Perversely, a dog with a heavy worm burden is likely to have a potbelly, but the bones of the ribs and hips lose fat cover and become stark. Choose a broad spectrum de-wormer that can cover all types of worms. Praziquantel (Canex®) is a good example of a broad spectrum de-wormer. Canex® for Medium Sized Dogs can be used at a dose of 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of body weight. Canex ® for Large Sized dogs can be used at a dose of 1 tablet per 20 kilograms of body weight. For smaller dogs, half a tablet of Canex® for Medium Sized dogs can be used. If it's the first time that you will de-worm your dog, you can do it three times with a two week interval. From the first time on, de-worming can be done every six months to one year. Give your dog energy supplements. Dogs that are active, working, lactating, frequently travelling, or getting used to a new home tend to become thin and lose appetite. You can give these dogs energy supplements that are packed with easily absorbed carbohydrates and vitamins. A good example of an energy supplement is Nutri-Plus Gel®. You can give your dog 1 to 2 teaspoons per 5 kg body weight or 10 centimeter (3.9 in) of gel per day (using the plastic gel applicator or doser provided). | Figure out if there is a logical reason your dog is underweight. Assess the overall health of your dog. Get your dog checked by a veterinarian. Check your dog's actual weight against the breed's ideal weight. Check the food packaging against your dog's ideal weight. Compare what you have been feeding your dog to what the recommended amount of food is. Decide how much to increase your dog's food allowance. Gradually increase the amount of food you feed your dog. Feed your dog vitamin B-rich foods. Transition your dog onto high energy dog food gradually. Switch wet food to dry food, or vice versa. Feed your dog vet-approved homemade recipes. Give your dog vitamin supplements. De-worm your dog with de-wormer medication. Give your dog energy supplements. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Lunge-a-Horse | How to Lunge a Horse | To lunge a horse, start by standing in the middle of the ring and holding the lunge line in your hand. Once you're ready, have the horse walk around you in a circle. When you want to control the horse's movement, use voice commands like "stand," "walk on," and "whoa." You can also control the speed of your horse by moving your feet faster or slower. If you want to slow the horse down, bring the lunge rein back slightly and point the whip down. To stop the horse completely, tell the horse to "slow" and point the whip in front of it. | Bring the horse into a ring or an enclosed pasture. In general, you'll need a space that's about 14–15 m (46–49 ft) for your horse. This will give it enough room to trot, but not so much room that it will feel like it's out at the open, which might make the horse try to escape. If you don't have a ring, try using bales of hay to make a circle instead. Apply polo wraps to the horse if you want to protect its legs. Lunging is a physical workout for your horse. To help protect it from injuries, you may want to wrap a special athletic bandage, known as a polo wrap, around the horse's ankles. Start about 2/3 of the way up the horse's leg, then wrap down toward the ankle. The bandage should be tight, but not snug. Loop the bandage under the fetlock and continue wrapping back up the leg, then fasten the wrap with velcro. Wrapping your horse's ankles in polo wraps can help protect their feet and ankles from injury if it stumbles on the lunge line. It can also prevent injuries caused by an improper gait, which is especially a risk for a green horse. You can also use sports boots on the horse if you prefer them. Place a lunge cavesson onto your horse if you have one. A lunge cavesson is a special piece of headgear that allows you to control the horse without causing it discomfort. Place the cavesson so it fits snugly across the horse's nose without slipping. Also, make sure it rests above the soft tissue to allow the horse to breathe freely. You can find lunge cavessons and reins wherever horse supplies are sold. Snap the lunge rein to the center ring of the cavesson. A lunge rein is a long rein that clips to the cavesson. They're typically made from webbing or another lightweight material to make them easy to handle. You'll use the rein to guide the horse in a wide circle, so it needs to be long enough to allow the horse to reach the outer edge of your enclosure. If you don't have a lunge rein, use a strong rope or flat webbing that's about 8.5 m (28 ft) long. Clip the rein to a harness if you don't have a cavesson. While a lunge cavesson does make it easier to attach the lunge rein comfortably, you can still lunge if you don't have one. Just settle the harness low on the horse's head and clip the lunge rein to the inside of the harness. Never attach the lunge line to the horse's bit. This could cause the rein to pull painfully on the horse's mouth. Fold the excess lunge line back and forth on itself and hold that in your hand. When you're handling the lunge rein, take the time to fold it neatly in accordion-style pleats. Folding the reins will help keep any excess from getting tangled, and it will make it easier to hold. Never fold the coil the line around your hand. If the horse bolts, the line could pull tight around your hand, causing you serious injury. Stand in the center to the ring, holding the lunge rein and a whip. When you're ready to start lunging your horse, guide it to the ring, and stand right in the middle. Carry the whip and the excess lunge rein in the hand that's closest to the horse's backside, and use your free hand to control the rein and take up or loosen the slack. Imagine making a triangle where the horse's body is the base and the whip and lunge rein are the sides. For example, hold the lunge rein and the whip in your right hand if you want the horse to go left, and use your left hand for adjusting the reins. Carry the whip so it's pointing behind the horse and down when you're not using it. Also, try to keep the whip still, since it will be less effective if you're constantly flicking it. Try to face the middle of the horse, since staring at the horse's face could make it feel stressed. Give the horse a command to start walking. You can use any word or sound you want to command your horse to walk, but make sure you're consistent. For instance, if you make a clicking sound to get your horse to walk, that should be the sound you use every time. Use very distinctive tones for each command, and try to keep your verbal commands to a minimum. If you're constantly talking, the horse will start to tune out your voice. Move the horse out by having it walk as you let out some slack in the rein. Let the slack out a little at a time, and try not to let it drag on the ground too much, or the horse might get tangled up in it. Keep your elbows soft, so it feels like the line is elastic. If you hold the rein too tight, the horse will start to resist you. Let the horse walk around the circle about 3-4 times. You can either stand on one spot and turn as the horse walks the circle, or you can walk around in a small circle. Move to a trot for about 15 minutes. After the horse has walked 3-4 circles, it's time to pick up the speed to a trot. Give the horse your command for trotting, and make sure to turn at the same speed as the horse so you don't get tangled in the lunge line. Use the whip if you need to correct the horse's speed during the session. Most of your lunging session should be done at a trot. If the horse is experienced with lunging, or if it's done very well with the session, you can move to a canter for a few minutes at the end. If the horse seems winded or lame, you can stop the session sooner. Speed up the horse by pulling the lunge rein forward slightly. Hold your arm out so the lunge rein is pulling toward where the horse is going, rather than straight out from the horse. At the same time, bring the whip up and hold it closer to the horse's hindquarters. This should encourage the horse to speed up slightly. Lower the whip once it does so. You can also include a verbal command or a sound like a clicking noise to tell the horse what you want. Point the whip at the horse's shoulder to keep it from turning in. When you're lunging a horse, it's important to keep it from walking in to the center of the circle. Not only does this defeat the purpose of the exercise, but it also creates slack in the line that the horse could trip over. To prevent the horse from turning in, point the whip at the horse's shoulder, or lightly touch the horse on the shoulder with the whip. This should encourage it to move back toward the outside of the circle. You don't necessarily have to give the horse a command Flick or crack the whip only when necessary. The whip is a simple training aid that's there to allow you to direct the horse while remaining out of kicking distance. For situations when a horse is deliberately misbehaving, you can flick or crack the whip, but try not to do so unless you need to. If you move the whip around too much, the horse will start to ignore it. Never use the whip to hit or scare the horse. It will lose its trust in you, and you'll likely have escalating behavioral problems from the horse. Apply consistent pressure to the reins if the horse won’t cooperate with you. The horse should start trying to figure out what to do in order to get you to release that pressure. When the horse behaves how you want it to, ease up on the pressure. That way, it will know exactly what was expected of it, and it will be more likely to do that behavior in the future. Don't yank hard on the lunge rein. You could hurt the horse or cause it to buck, which could lead to an injury. Bring the horse back down to a walk, then stop without pulling the horse in. After about 15 minutes of trotting in circles, give the horse a command to slow to a walk. However, don't pull the lunge rein to bring the horse in toward the center of the circle. Instead, bring the horse to a full stop at the end of the lunge line. Turn the horse to the outside of the circle before you unclip the rein. If you walk the horse into the center of the circle, it will want to come in toward you every time you slow to a walk when you're lunging. Slow the horse by bringing the lunge rein back slightly. If the horse starts going too fast, hold the rein so it's pulling slightly back toward the horse's neck. Hold the whip down and away from the horse. Use a command like “Walk” to tell the horse to slow as you pull on the rein. Point the whip in front of the horse to stop it once it has slowed down. Once you've brought the lunge reign back and your horse has slowed to a walk, maintain pressure on the rein, then move the whip so it's in front of the horse. This should indicate to the horse that you want it to stop. Wait until the horse slows before you place the whip in front of it. Otherwise, the horse could become startled, especially if it's whip-shy. The horse could rear back and get tangled in the lunge rein, which would be dangerous for both you and the horse. Try saying “Whoa” at the same time you stop the horse. Lunge your horse 2-3 times a week for 20 minutes at a time. Lunging your horse is a great workout, and it helps to reinforce your horse's training. While there are no set guidelines for how often to lunge your horse, 2-3 times a week is a good guideline, especially if you can't ride every day. This will help keep your horse in good shape, and it will improve the bond between you and your horse, since you'll be spending quality time giving it instruction. You may also want to lunge your horse before you ride it, especially if it's been a while since your last ride. This can help remind your horse of some of its training basics, and it can help get the horse in a compliant mindset before you mount up. If your horse hasn't exercised in a while, start by lunging 1-2 times a week, then work your way up as the horse gets more comfortable. | Bring the horse into a ring or an enclosed pasture. Apply polo wraps to the horse if you want to protect its legs. Place a lunge cavesson onto your horse if you have one. Snap the lunge rein to the center ring of the cavesson. Clip the rein to a harness if you don't have a cavesson. Fold the excess lunge line back and forth on itself and hold that in your hand. Stand in the center to the ring, holding the lunge rein and a whip. Give the horse a command to start walking. Move the horse out by having it walk as you let out some slack in the rein. Move to a trot for about 15 minutes. Speed up the horse by pulling the lunge rein forward slightly. Point the whip at the horse's shoulder to keep it from turning in. Flick or crack the whip only when necessary. Apply consistent pressure to the reins if the horse won’t cooperate with you. Bring the horse back down to a walk, then stop without pulling the horse in. Slow the horse by bringing the lunge rein back slightly. Point the whip in front of the horse to stop it once it has slowed down. Lunge your horse 2-3 times a week for 20 minutes at a time. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Easy-Bowl-for-Smoking | How to Make an Easy Bowl for Smoking | To make an easy bowl for smoking, first burn a hole through a 2 liter plastic bottle with a cigarette about a third of the way up. Then, take apart a pen so you're just left with the casing and stick it into the hole you created so the pen points slightly upwards. Wrap tape around the pen where it meets with the bottle to make an airtight seal. For the bowl, cut a piece of aluminum foil about 1 foot square and fold it until its 6 inches across. Next, wrap the sheet around a plastic pill bottle. Hold 1 end of the sheet around the bottle and twist the other end to form a tube. Finish by fitting the thin end of your bowl into the pen and securing it in place with tape. | Find a fresh piece of fruit with a skin. Almost any piece of fruit can function as a bowl if you take the proper steps. The classic choice is the apple, but you can use a pear, squash, melon, or other solid fruit. Keep in mind that the fruit that you choose to use will influence the flavor of your smoke. Any fruit that can be peeled by hand, like a banana or orange, won't make for the best bowl. Their insides tend to be too soft to make a bowl. People gravitate towards using apples as pipes because they tend to have the lowest influence on the smoke flavor-wise and are easy to work with. You shouldn't eat the fruit after you're done smoking out of it because you may swallow smoke or butane residue. Swallowing burnt tobacco is also quite bad for your stomach. Use a skewer to poke a hole into the side of your fruit. If you're using an apple, set it down with the stem pointing up. Place the skewer halfway up the fruit and puncture the fruit with the tip of the skewer. If you're using a cucumber or long piece of fruit, poke the hole in the middle of one end, not the center. You can disassemble a pen and use the case after washing it if you don't have a skewer. You may have leftover debris or juice coming out of your fruit once you puncture it. Put a paper towel or cloth down underneath it if you want to make the cleanup process easier. Stick the skewer directly through the middle of the fruit. Push the skewer into the center of the fruit. Stop as soon as you hit the middle of the fruit. This will be directly under the stem if you're using an apple. This can be kind of hard to do since you can't see inside of the fruit, but you can always come back and fix your first hole when you're done. Poke the skewer through the top of the fruit to form a 90-degree tunnel. Place your skewer directly over the center of the fruit from the top. Brace the fruit with your nondominant hand and carefully puncture the fruit from above. Push the skewer through until you reach the first hole that you made. You can rub the skewer around in both holes if you want to clear the tunnel out and make it wider. If you're using an apple, place the hole on the side of the stem or snip the stem with some scissors before puncturing the fruit. If you don't feel the 2 tunnels connecting, go back to your first incision and continue hollowing it out until you see the skewer from the top of the fruit. Use a small knife or spoon to carve a bowl out of the top. You can either carve a 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) cone into the top of the fruit or you can scoop out some fruit with a teaspoon. Place your bowl directly over the center of the vertical tunnel in the fruit. Discard any excess food waste. Fill the top of your fruit with tobacco and inhale from the side. Place your tobacco in the bowl that you carved with your spoon or knife. Lift the fruit up and place your lips around the other hole on the side of your fruit. Use a lighter to ignite the tobacco on top while inhaling at the same time. Release your lighter 1-2 seconds before you're done inhaling and enjoy your smoke! You may need to pat the tobacco down into the bowl a little bit to keep it from floating away if it's windy out. Get a 12–16 fl oz (0.35–0.47 L) plastic water bottle. If any liquid other than water was stored in your bottle, avoid using it. It's dangerous to inhale sugar and there may still be residue on the inside of your bottle, even if you wash it. You can use a 2 L (68 fl oz) bottle if you don't have access to a smaller bottle. The hit from a water bottle will be incredibly strong, so don't overdo it if you smoke tobacco out of a water bottle. If your bottle has water in it, empty it out and then wait for it to dry out before constructing your bowl. Punch a hole in the side of the bottle near the bottom with the tip of a pen. Keep the cap on your water bottle. Use the tip of a ball point pen to puncture a hole in the side of your bottle. Place the hole near the bottom 2–4 in (5.1–10.2 cm) of the bottle. You can use a small knife to make the initial puncture if you want, but be careful to not make your hole bigger than the width of your pen. You're going to use the case of the plastic pen as the stem for your bowl, so using the pen to puncture the bowl will ensure that the pen fits into the hole. Place a second hole 2–4 in (5.1–10.2 cm) on the side near your first hole. Use a small knife to puncture a small hole a few inches next to your first hole. This will be your carb hole. When smoking, you will cover this hole with your finger to fill the bottle with smoke. Then, you will lift your finger to introduce air and make it easy to inhale the smoke. You're going to have a hard time inhaling if there isn't some air flow in the bottle after the tobacco burns. Disassemble your pen and wash the case out. Remove the ball point by pulling it out and pop the bottom cap of the pen off by hand or with a small knife. Remove any coils or internal components. Wash the case of the pen under warm water to rinse off any residue or ink. If you use soap, you have to rinse the inside of the pen for 5-10 minutes and use a cotton swab to clear all soap residue from the inside of the case. A cheap ballpoint pen works best since they're usually really easy to take apart by hand. You may need to remove the tip with pliers if it's glued in. Once you make the hole for your stem, you don't need it so don't worry about breaking it. Slide the pen case into the first hole that you made. Push the case of the pen through the first hole that you made with the tip of your pen. The seal should be airtight since the pen was what you used to make the hole. Slide the pen case in at a downward angle to wedge it in the bottom corner of the bottle. Put a socket over the top of the pen to create your bowl. Get a 7/32 socket from a hardware store and rinse it under water for 3-4 seconds to get the dust off. The socket cannot be painted and must be entirely made out of stainless steel, brass, or titanium. Anything with a coating or paint on it cannot be used. Place the small opening on the socket on top of the exposed opening on your pen. This will function as your bowl. A 7/32 socket will fit perfectly over a standard pen. If you don't have a clean, unfinished socket, you can use the metal tip of a pen by flipping it around upside down into the opening of your pen case. Fill the socket with tobacco and put a finger on the carb hole to smoke. Pack some tobacco into the socket. Pat it down a little and tilt the bottle up to your lips. Take the cap off of the bottle if you haven't already and put your lips around it. Light the bowl with a lighter while your finger sits over the carb hole and inhale a little. Remove your finger from the carb hole after you're done lighting the tobacco and inhale deeply to bring the smoke into your lungs. You can reuse the water bottle 2-3 times if you want, but the flavor of the tobacco will begin to taste kind of funny after more than a few uses. You may have some tobacco fall through into the water bottle. This isn't a big deal though, and it won't really affect the smoking process. | Find a fresh piece of fruit with a skin. Use a skewer to poke a hole into the side of your fruit. Stick the skewer directly through the middle of the fruit. Poke the skewer through the top of the fruit to form a 90-degree tunnel. Use a small knife or spoon to carve a bowl out of the top. Fill the top of your fruit with tobacco and inhale from the side. Get a 12–16 fl oz (0.35–0.47 L) plastic water bottle. Punch a hole in the side of the bottle near the bottom with the tip of a pen. Place a second hole 2–4 in (5.1–10.2 cm) on the side near your first hole. Disassemble your pen and wash the case out. Slide the pen case into the first hole that you made. Put a socket over the top of the pen to create your bowl. Fill the socket with tobacco and put a finger on the carb hole to smoke. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Recover-from-a-Cold | How to Recover from a Cold | To recover from a cold, drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, which will help relieve your congestion and replace any fluids you've lost. You can also stay hydrated by consuming herbal teas, sports drinks, or ginger ale. While staying hydrated is important, you'll also want to get plenty of rest, including 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. Since it can be hard to sleep while you're congested, try running a humidifier in your bedroom to add moisture to the air. In addition to sleep, avoid exercise for a few days to allow your body to rest and recover. When possible, consider staying home from work or school too so you can get extra sleep as well as avoid exposing others to your illness. | Drink plenty of water. It is important to stay hydrated while you have a cold. Staying hydrated will help to relieve congestion because it thins out your mucus, making it easier for it to break up. You will need to keep up your fluid intake while you are sick. Your body loses fluids during mucus production and from fevers. Try to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Try herbal teas, ginger ale or sports drinks. These are other alternatives to water. Hot drinks like herbal teas can help relieve the symptoms of a sore throat. The steam can help to reduce congestion temporarily as well. Sports drinks help you replace lost sodium and electrolytes. Ginger ale can help settle an upset stomach if you are experiencing that type of symptoms. Try ginger brew, it removes the inflammation and cools down your nasal cavity and also soothes your throat. Avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol. These will cause further dehydration. Drink some hot chicken broth. This is a generations old home remedy, but scientists have recently discovered it has some proven benefits for relieving cold symptoms. Chicken broth can help to temporarily speed up the movement of mucus through the nose, relieving congestion. Chicken broth can also act as an anti-inflammatory, reducing the inflammation in the nasal passages which leads to congestion. You might try adding some cayenne pepper to the chicken broth. Spicy foods can also help to loosen up nasal congestion. Know the common cold symptoms. It's important to know the symptoms of a cold if you want to treat them! Fortunately, you can find over-the-counter treatments for most cold symptoms. When you have a cold, you may have all or some of the following symptoms, depending on the severity of your cold: Fever Muscle pain Chills Fatigue Congestion Sinus pressure Cough, sometimes with phlegm Throat irritation Nasal congestion Runny nose Sneezing Redness Watery, itchy eyes Redness around your eyes Chest pressure Headache Swollen lymph nodes Try pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. These are available over the counter and can help to relieve some of the symptoms of a cold such as sore throat, headache, and fever. Try NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, or naproxen. They relieve pain and act as an anti-inflammatory. As an alternative, you could take acetaminophen for pain. Follow the dosing instructions carefully. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help decrease a fever. Don't exceed the maximum dose in a 24 hour period. Don't give acetaminophen to children under the age of 3 months old. Avoid giving aspirin to kids recovering from flu-like symptoms. This causes a minimal risk for Reye's syndrome, a rare but life threatening condition. Avoid over medicating. Taking too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage. Take cough medicine if you're excessively coughing. Colds can cause you to cough a lot, but an over-the-counter cough syrup can help. You can also use cough drops to help find relief. Always follow the dosaging instructions on the label. Don't combine cough medications. Check with your doctor before taking any medication, especially if you're already taking something. For a non-invasive option, try a menthol product, such as Vick's vapor rub. Try over the counter antihistamines and decongestants. These medications work differently to relieve cold symptoms. Decongestants work to relieve swelling in the nasal passages to allow mucus to drain. Decongestants come in pill form or in nasal sprays. Adults shouldn't use decongestant nasal sprays for more than a few days at a time. Prolonged use can damage mucus membranes, which can cause a rebound effect due to swollen mucus membranes. Children shouldn't use nasal sprays. Antihistamines may relieve sneezing and runny noses from colds. Antihistamines may cause drowsiness. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how they will affect you. Try gargling salt water to relieve the symptoms of a sore throat. This can provide temporary relief from throat pain and scratchiness. Mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt into an 8 ounce glass of water. Use warm water. Gargle the water in the back of your throat. Repeat as necessary. Try zinc or vitamin C supplements within the first 24 hours of symptoms. Zinc supplements are a popular home remedy for recovering from and preventing colds. Zinc treatments are only shown to be effective if started within the first 24 hours of symptoms. Studies are conflicting as to the extent of the benefits of zinc for reducing or shortening cold symptoms. Zinc nasal sprays should be avoided. The FDA has linked at least 3 of these products to permanent or prolonged loss of smell. If started at the onset of a cold, vitamin C might help to shorten the duration of a cold. However, vitamin C won't help most people recover from a cold if started later. Get a good night's sleep. Getting enough rest can help you feel better and recover faster when you have a cold. Try to get at least 8-10 hours of sleep. This is especially important during the first 72 hours of a cold. Sleeping can be challenging when you have cold symptoms due to congestion. Try running a humidifier in the room while you sleep. This can help keep your nasal passages moist and prevent further congestion. You can also try drinking chamomile tea to help you sleep. Over the counter sleep aids and antihistamines can also make you drowsy and help you sleep. Avoid exercise while you are sick. You shouldn't exert yourself as you will become tired more quickly when you have a cold. Withhold exercise for at least 48-72 hours. When you start exercise again, avoid intense workouts. Your body is just getting over a virus and needs to recuperate. While you are sick, it can be helpful to get fresh air though. Try sitting outside if the weather is warm and you don't have allergies. Avoid going out, to work, or to school while you are sick. Stay home and rest if possible. If you have a fever or a cough, it is best to avoid exposure to others. If you are drowsy from medications, you should also stay home. If you must go to school or work consider wearing a mask to prevent infecting others, especially if you work with or are near people who have chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems. | Drink plenty of water. Try herbal teas, ginger ale or sports drinks. Drink some hot chicken broth. Know the common cold symptoms. Try pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Take cough medicine if you're excessively coughing. Try over the counter antihistamines and decongestants. Try gargling salt water to relieve the symptoms of a sore throat. Try zinc or vitamin C supplements within the first 24 hours of symptoms. Get a good night's sleep. Avoid exercise while you are sick. Avoid going out, to work, or to school while you are sick. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Dry-Skin-on-Your-Face | How to Get Rid of Dry Skin on Your Face | To get rid of dry skin on your face, start by washing your face with warm water using a mild cleanser that doesn't have fragrances or soap in it. After you wash your face, apply a strong moisturizer to your skin that has ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, and ceramides. Gently exfoliate your face 2-3 times a week with a damp baby's washcloth. | Choose a gentle cleanser free from fragrances, alcohol, and dyes. These ingredients may further dry out your skin. Check the label on any facial cleanser you are considering buying to ensure that it does not contain these ingredients. Opt for a cleanser meant for dry skin for best results. For example, you can purchase a soap-free cleanser, such as Cetaphil or Aquanil. Wash your face twice daily with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser. Wet your face with cool or lukewarm water by cupping the water in your hands and splashing it onto your face. Work the cleanser into your skin with your fingertips using small circular motions. Then, rinse the soap off of your face by wetting it again. Do not scrub your skin with a sponge or washcloth because this will strip extra oils from your skin and dry it out even more. Don't use hot water to wash your face as this may dry out your skin even more. Pat your face dry with a clean towel. After you finish washing and rinsing your face, get a clean, dry towel and pat your face with it. Do not rub the towel against your skin as this will dry it out more. Gently pat your face all over with the towel to dry it off. You can use a regular towel, or try a microfiber towel or T-shirt for an even softer option. Select a moisturizer that includes oil or shea butter or other emollients. These ingredients work well for treating dry skin on your face. Look at the label to check for 1 or both of these ingredients. You may also want to choose a cream or ointment moisturizer rather than a lotion. Look for something that is labeled as “intensive” or that is meant for treating dry skin. Other ingredients that may help to moisturize dry skin include dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum, and urea. Check the ingredients on moisturizers you consider buying to see if it contains any of these ingredients. Apply moisturizer to your face right after cleansing. This is the best time to lock in moisture and get rid of dry skin. Apply enough moisturizer to your skin to fully coat it, and then let the moisturizer sit on your skin until your skin absorbs it. Use your fingertips to smooth the moisturizer all over your face and neck. You may only need a pea-sized amount to cover your whole face, so start with that amount and then apply more moisturizer if needed. Apply aloe vera gel to your skin for extra moisture. Using pure aloe vera gel on your skin once or twice per day may help to reduce dryness. Use aloe vera gel in place of or in addition to your usual moisturizer after you wash your face. Apply enough aloe to coat your skin and allow it to absorb. You can purchase pure aloe vera gel in a drug store or grocery store. Make sure that the aloe gel does not contain any other ingredients, such as fragrances, dyes, alcohol, or lidocaine (for numbing a sunburn). These are likely to irritate your dry skin. Treat your skin with a weekly mask of manuka honey. Using manuka honey on your skin may help to reduce dry skin on your face. Apply a thin layer of manuka honey to your skin after cleansing it. Then, let the honey sit on your skin for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this once or twice weekly for a deep moisturizing treatment. You can buy manuka honey in specialty food stores and online. If you cannot find manuka honey, use regular honey instead. Run a humidifier whenever you’re home. A humidifier adds moisture back into the air, and this may help to reduce dryness in your skin. Keeping a humidifier running while you're home may help to lock more moisture in your skin and reduce dryness. Try running a humidifier in your bedroom at night to promote a moister environment. You can also run your humidifier during the daytime if you'll be home for a few hours. Place it in whatever room you are in and switch it on. Limit your showers and baths to no more than 10 minutes. Long showers and baths may be relaxing, but they can make dry skin worse. Time yourself and try to keep your showers and baths between 5 and 10 minutes to reduce their drying effects. Avoid sitting directly in front of a heat source to stay warm. If you're cold, put on warm clothing and wrap yourself in a blanket to keep warm. Don't sit directly in front of a fireplace, space heater, or heating duct as this may dry out your skin even more. On extra cold nights, try using an electric blanket to stay warm. If you don't have one, toss a blanket into the dryer for 5 to 10 minutes to warm it up and then wrap yourself up in it. Drink water whenever you are thirsty. Staying well-hydrated can help to promote healthier skin that is less prone to dryness. Drink a glass of water whenever you feel thirsty and at times when you would normally drink something, such as at mealtimes and after exercising. Try keeping a reusable water bottle with you and refilling it throughout the day. Avoid alcohol or limit your intake to no more than every other day. Drinking alcohol dries out your skin because alcohol is a diuretic, which means it pulls water from your body. If you suffer from dry skin and you drink alcohol regularly, cutting it out can have a dramatic effect on your skin's appearance. Try to limit yourself to no more than 1 to 2 drinks every other day if you do drink. It might take a few weeks before you notice the effects of not drinking on your skin. Eat vitamin C-rich foods to promote healthy skin. Vitamin C is a potent nutrient for skin health. If you suffer from dry skin on your face, start eating more vitamin C-rich foods to see if this helps. Some good options include: Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, lemon, and limes Kiwi, mangoes, and papaya Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries Cantaloupe and honeydew melon Broccoli, cauliflower, and kale Potatoes and sweet potatoes Red bell peppers Try taking a hair, skin and nail vitamin to promote overall skin health. Hair, skin, and nail vitamins may help to promote healthier skin and reduce dryness if you take them over time. Look for a multivitamin that is meant to promote hair, skin, and nail health and take it daily according to the manufacturer's instructions. These supplements usually contain a combination of vitamins A, B, C, and E, but some may also contain omega-3 fatty acids and other ingredients. Check with your doctor before you start taking any supplements, especially if you regularly take a prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs or supplements. Call your doctor if you notice redness, itchiness, cracking, or bleeding. If your skin is red, itchy, cracking, or bleeding, call your doctor to make an appointment as soon as possible. These may be signs that your skin is infected or that it may become infected if left untreated. Your doctor may treat any cracks in your skin with a combination of medication and wet-dressings. See a dermatologist for a prescription dry skin cream if it’s severe. If your dry skin does not improve no matter what you try, you might need to see a dermatologist for help. They can prescribe a special cream or ointment to help rehydrate your skin and reduce irritation. If you have a condition, such as psoriasis, that is contributing to your dry skin, your doctor may also prescribe something to treat that. Ask your doctor to check your thyroid. Hypothyroidism, which is when you have an underactive thyroid, can also cause dry skin. This condition requires a diagnosis from a healthcare professional and your doctor will prescribe medication to treat the underactive thyroid if you have it. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include: Fatigue Sensitivity to cold Weight gain Puffy face Thinning hair Heavy periods Depression Impaired memory | Choose a gentle cleanser free from fragrances, alcohol, and dyes. Wash your face twice daily with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser. Pat your face dry with a clean towel. Select a moisturizer that includes oil or shea butter or other emollients. Apply moisturizer to your face right after cleansing. Apply aloe vera gel to your skin for extra moisture. Treat your skin with a weekly mask of manuka honey. Run a humidifier whenever you’re home. Limit your showers and baths to no more than 10 minutes. Avoid sitting directly in front of a heat source to stay warm. Drink water whenever you are thirsty. Avoid alcohol or limit your intake to no more than every other day. Eat vitamin C-rich foods to promote healthy skin. Try taking a hair, skin and nail vitamin to promote overall skin health. Call your doctor if you notice redness, itchiness, cracking, or bleeding. See a dermatologist for a prescription dry skin cream if it’s severe. Ask your doctor to check your thyroid. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Finches-with-Other-Bird-Species | How to Keep Finches with Other Bird Species | To keep finches with other bird species, make sure there are enough finches to form pairs, since unpaired males can get aggressive. Additionally, introduce finches to birds of a similar size, like budgies or canaries, since they'll be less likely to pick on each other. You should also give each pair at least 3 to 4 square feet of space in your aviary. Then, place multiple food and water sources in the aviary so the birds won't get aggressive and fight over food. | Put finch species together based on their temperament. There are a variety of different species of finch and, with enough space, most should be able to cohabitate. As a general rule, it is best to keep finch species together based on their temperament. For example, keep passive birds with other passive birds and pushy birds with other pushy birds. Passive finch species: Bengalese (society) finch, Double-Barred (owl) finch, Gouldian finch, Red-Headed Parrot finch, and Chestnut and Scaly-Breasted Munia. Pushy finch species: Zebra finch, Java sparrow, Strawberry finch, and Lavender waxbill. Keep aggressive varieties in a single-species aviary. Some finch species are not suited for mixed aviaries because they are too aggressive. As a result, these species should always be kept in a single-species aviary: Bar-breasted Fire finches, Crimson finches, Cuban Melodious finches, Parson finches, Peter's Twinspots, and Violet-eared waxbills. Keep pairs of species together. Finches should be kept in cock-hen pairs. If you are introducing a variety of finch species to each other, be sure that each species has at least one pair. Unpaired finches, especially males, can become aggressive, which will lead to social problems in your aviary. Juvenile birds will cohabitate outside of pairs, but by about nine weeks, they will get the urge to pair up. At this point, female-female and male-male pairs will become aggressive with each other if they are not kept with other birds. Introduce birds of a similar size. Larger birds may pick on smaller birds in an aviary. To protect both your finches and other birds in your aviary, choose breeds that are similar sizes. Canaries, budgies, and button quails may all be good choices. Do not put finches together with parrots. Put finches and canaries together if they have a similar temperament. Canaries are very docile and will pair up nicely with many different bird species, including finches. Some finches are more dominant and may become territorial and aggressive with canaries. As a result, it is best to pair canaries with passive finch species that are similar in size to canaries. This way the finch will not feel threatened. For example, canaries mix well with the Bengalese (society) finch and Star finch. Multiple non-agressive finch species can be combined with canaries, as long as they are in pairs. You can mix canaries with more aggressive finches, such as the Zebra finch, but you will need a large aviary that is larger than 49 inches (126 cm) wide. Keep zebra finches and budgies together. Budgies and zebra finches are both native to Australia and can be kept together quite easily in the same aviary. In fact, the two species will usually go about their business without even noticing each other. Pair finch and button quail together in an outdoor cage. If you are keeping finches outside in a spacious cage, then you can pair them with button quail. Quail will spend their time scuttling around on the ground and will not be bothered by the finches flying overhead. Quail can be paired with any variety of finch species at the same time because they will remain on the floor of the cage and not interact with the finches. The cage should be kept outdoors and should be at least four to five square inches (120-150 square cm) of floor space per bird pair. Ensure there is three to four square feet of floor space per bird pair. A large aviary will make it possible for the birds to have enough territory and not feel like they need to compete for space and resources. As a general rule, your multi-species aviary should have three to four square feet (91-120 square cm) of floor space per pair of birds. It is possible to place passive finch species with pushy finch species, but they will need more space. The larger the aviary, the more likely that finches will be able to cohabitate with other finch species. To cohabitate aggressive birds with passive birds you will need at least four to five square feet (120-150 square cm) of floor space per bird pair. The larger the cage the less likely fights will break out. If you have too many birds for the size of your aviary, the birds may start fighting. Place multiple food and water stations in the aviary. Whenever you are keeping more than two birds in an aviary, you should place multiple feeding stations throughout the cage. This way an aggressive bird will not be able to guard the food and water source from other birds. Start by placing two stations in your aviary and then increase the number if you notice that some of the finches are resource guarding. Include plant cover. Birds need perches and plant cover in order to sleep and roost. Plant cover can also provide birds with hiding places to get away from aggressive birds. Place perches, plants, and twigs inside the aviary to provide the birds with protection and privacy. Ensure that there are multiple perches located near the top of the cage. This will reduce the chances of birds competing for the best perch. There should be at least one perch available for each pair in the aviary. Introduce the birds at the same time. It is best to bring the birds home together and introduce them to the aviary at the same time. This way none of the birds will feel as though this is their territory. If you are introducing new birds to an established aviary, you should always introduce them in pairs. This way one bird will not be picked on for being new. Monitor the birds daily. You should check on the birds daily to make sure that none of the birds are being aggressive or injuring other birds. Look for feather picking, chasing, and fighting between birds. Although some chasing and fighting is natural periodically, you should make sure that no birds are being injured. Remove birds that are bullying. If you notice ongoing and consistent aggression, then you should remove the aggressive bird from the aviary. Place them in a separate cage for a while. You can reintroduce the bird in a few days. When you do so, try and rearrange the cage slightly to help change the power dynamic. For example, you could move perches and food stations so that the habitat feel different to the birds. | Put finch species together based on their temperament. Keep aggressive varieties in a single-species aviary. Keep pairs of species together. Introduce birds of a similar size. Put finches and canaries together if they have a similar temperament. Keep zebra finches and budgies together. Pair finch and button quail together in an outdoor cage. Ensure there is three to four square feet of floor space per bird pair. Place multiple food and water stations in the aviary. Include plant cover. Introduce the birds at the same time. Monitor the birds daily. Remove birds that are bullying. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Pearls | How to Clean Pearls | To clean visibly dirty pearls, start by soaking the pearls for 10 to 15 seconds in a solution of 1 teaspoon of mild dishwashing detergent and 1 quart of warm water. If you're not comfortable soaking the pearls, you can also dip a cloth in the solution and use it to wipe over the jewelry. Next, wipe the pearls using a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt and soap. Finally, rub the jewelry with a clean, dry towel and let it finish drying on a flat surface. | Mix a mild dishwashing detergent with water. You can wash pearls in warm, soapy water, but it's important to use a mild detergent. Add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of soap to 1 quart (946 ml) of warm water to dilute it, and mix well to create a soapy solution. Ensure that the water is warm and not hot because it can damage the pearls, especially if they are real. A gentle dishwashing liquid or a laundry detergent meant for delicates works well for washing pearls. You can also use a cleaning product meant specifically for jewelry. However, be sure to check the label to ensure that it's safe for pearls. Consult you jeweler for further confirmation. Don't use an abrasive detergent because it may scratch your pearls and rub off the nacre, which is their outer coating. Also don't use a home ingredient like lemon or vinegar, since they have a pretty high pH range, and can cause long-term destruction to the pearl. Soak the pearls in the detergent mixture. Once you've mixed the detergent and water together, submerge the pearls in the solution. Allow the jewelry to sit in the soapy water for 10 to 15 seconds. If you're not comfortable soaking the pearls, dampen a cloth with the soapy water and use it to wipe over the jewelry. Wipe the pearls with a damp cloth. After you've removed the pearls from the soapy water, wet a clean towel or cloth with warm water. Rub the cloth gently over the jewelry to rinse away the dirt and soap that's left. Use a cotton towel or cloth to wipe the pearls to ensure that the fabric isn't too abrasive like a dried towel. Rub the pearls with a smooth towel, and lay them flat to dry. When you've rinsed the pearls with a damp cloth, use a clean, dry cotton towel to carefully dry the jewelry. Next, lay the pearls on a flat and soft surface and allow them to dry completely. If you're cleaning a pearl necklace, bracelet, or other strung variety, make sure that the string is completely dry before wearing the jewelry. Moisture can weaken the string. It helps to lay your pearls on a towel to dry. Once the towel feels dry, your pearls are most likely dry too. Put your pearls on last when dressing. Residue from makeup, perfume, hairspray, and other cosmetics can make your pearls look dull. To keep them clean and unscratched, always put your jewelry on as the last step when you're getting ready to go out. If you accidentally get any cosmetics on your pearls, wipe them down with a clean cloth dampened with warm soapy water. Immediately follow up with a cloth dampened with plain water to rinse them. Wipe the pearls with a soft cloth after taking them off. Cosmetics aren't the only thing that can take some of the luster of your pearls -- perspiration can dull your jewelry as well. Make sure that your pearls keep their glow by wiping them down with a soft, cotton cloth after each time that you wear them. If you forget to wipe your pearls clean after wearing them, just be sure to do it before you store them again. Wear your pearls regularly. Leaving pearls in storage for a prolonged period of time may seem like a good way to keep them clean and safe, but it can actually dehydrate them. That can leave them dull and more prone to scratching. Try to wear your pearls often so they're exposed to moisture on a regular basis and can maintain their luster. Fasten clasps and pins before storing your pearls. If you just throw your pearl jewelry into your jewelry box after you take them off, it can wind up scratched, which makes it easier for them to get dirty. Instead, be sure to fasten all of the clasps and pins before storing it so the hardware won't damage the nacre. Take the time to untangle necklaces and bracelets before storing them too. Keep your pearls in a jewelry box with compartments. While it's important to keep your pearls free of dust, you don't just want to throw them in any jewelry box. Look for one that has compartments, so you separate each pearl piece and lay them out flat. That way, they won't wind up scratched by other items in the box. Use a cotton pouch for travel storage. If you're traveling with your pearl jewelry, it's important to keep them in some type of case so they're protected from dirt, dust, and scratches. However, don't keep your pearls in a plastic pouch, which may damage them. Instead, use a cotton pouch, which is soft enough not to scratch the jewelry. When traveling, be sure to separate your pearls from other jewelry in your travel pouches as well. | Mix a mild dishwashing detergent with water. Soak the pearls in the detergent mixture. Wipe the pearls with a damp cloth. Rub the pearls with a smooth towel, and lay them flat to dry. Put your pearls on last when dressing. Wipe the pearls with a soft cloth after taking them off. Wear your pearls regularly. Fasten clasps and pins before storing your pearls. Keep your pearls in a jewelry box with compartments. Use a cotton pouch for travel storage. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Improvise | How to Improvise | If you want to improvise in life, avoid overplanning for things, since life rarely runs according to plan. For example, instead of planning what you're going to do on every day of your vacation, have a rough idea in mind and then be spontaneous on the day. Try to put yourself in unfamiliar situations, like trying a new food or learning a new hobby, since this builds your confidence. Say yes to as many opportunities as possible, so you can experience a wide variety of things. At the same time, accept that you'll fail along the way and try to learn from each new experience. | Skip the planning stage. Life rarely runs according to plan, yet people have a tendency to cling to their to-do lists with stubborn determination. This can blind you to new opportunities, though, since you might be too fixated on your own plans to look beyond them at something even better. Additionally, it's also easy to spend your life making plans instead of actually getting things done. If you tend to be an excessive planner, ease yourself out of your planning mode by tearing up your to-do list at least one day each week. Once you feel comfortable with one day, live spontaneously for two days each week. Continue in this manner until you've completely set aside the practice of planning everything beyond appointments and other scheduling essentials. Make up your own rules. There is no one set path toward the future. You can look to others for examples of how life might work out, but ultimately, you need to step off the trail before you and create your own. Understanding how the world works doesn't hurt, of course. Time-tested wisdom has its place, and general advice you receive on making progress personally and professionally often helps. The key is applying this general wisdom while planning your own steps instead of trying to exactly mimic the steps of others. Remember your ultimate goal. Even though you shouldn't plan things out step-by-step, you still need to have a destination in mind. Otherwise, your life will become directionless instead of simply being improvised. Stay true to your hopes, dreams, and other primary goals. Instead of letting those things go in response to the actions and feelings of others, cling to your own wants while adjusting the path you take to reach them in response to others. Move immediately. It isn't enough to talk about getting things done. You need to actually get moving, which means taking action as soon as the desire strikes you. Do not wait for the perfect starting point. The longer you wait, the greater your expectations will be, and the more difficult it will be for you to actually take those first few steps. Say or do the first thing that comes to mind and work from there. Take your time. Even though you should start moving immediately, you also need to fall into a pace that feels comfortable and right to you. Don't expect to find your dream job as soon as enter the workforce. Aside from being unrealistic, fixating on the ideal job you have in your thoughts shuts the door on other opportunities lying directly in front of you. This also means you'll need to quit looking around at your peers. It doesn't matter if the friends you had in school are financially more stable or settled into domestic tranquility. Their lives aren't yours and your life isn't theirs, so it stands to reason that your life will run at a separate pace. Try new things. Put yourself into unfamiliar situations to build your confidence and open yourself to new possibilities. Start small, then work your way up to bigger and better adventures. For instance, a small risk might be trying a new food or learning a new hobby. Once you become comfortable with small risks like these, you can move onto bigger ones, like traveling to a foreign country or investing money in a new business venture. Practice daily. You likely improvise in your daily life without even realizing it. Passive improvising will only help to a certain point, however. If you really want to get good at it, you need to intentionally improvise a little each day. Throughout the day, look for opportunities to confront the unknown and the unexpected. Talk to a stranger. Engage in a conversation covering an unfamiliar topic. Take a different route on your way home from work. Simply changing one small aspect of your daily routine will force you to improvise in a small way, making it easier for you to grow comfortable with the practice of improvising in general. Prepare for chaos. Life is chaotic, whether you're actively improvising your way through it or not. When you commit to improvising, though, you also commit to accepting the inevitable and unpredictable change life introduces to you. It's okay to feel insecure at times, but once you grow to expect the unexpected, it should gradually seem less intimidating overall. As such, the insecurity you feel now may lessen later on. Fearlessly face failure. Failure is inevitable. If you live your life being afraid to fail, you won't move forward and you won't be able to make the most of each mistake you're confronted with. Each mistake doubles as an opportunity, so think of failure as an essential part of growing stronger and smarter. When you fail, reflect on what happened and figure out how to avoid the same sort of difficulty in the future. As you let go of fear, you'll also become more confident and more skilled at adapting to the unexpected. Watch and listen closely. Before you can react to something, you will need to have a good understanding of what you're reacting to. When considering someone's words and actions, though, you need to look at the deeper meaning as well as the surface meaning. Resist the temptation to multitask. The vast majority of people don't actually multitask well, so focusing on one task at a time will keep you more focused and improve your understanding. Maintain eye contact when talking with people to let them know that you're actively engaged in conversation. Eye contact also allows you to read nonverbal communication more effectively. Try to empathize with the people you're around in any situation. Put yourself in their shoes so that you can understand their needs and wants, and react accordingly. Give special attention to the little details. While it's true that grand gestures can leave lasting impressions, remembering and using the little details of everyday life can actually impress people more. Little details, like the names of a coworker's children or beloved pet, are easy to miss when you're fixated on big plans. Most people tend to ignore them completely unless they really care about someone. By taking the time to acknowledge these details, you show others that you care about them and leave a more favorable impression with those people. Leaving good impressions with the people around you can help propel you forward and open up the door to new opportunities you couldn't find on your own. Trust yourself. Your past and current experiences have informed you and shaped you into the person you are today. It can be easy to doubt yourself, especially in the midst of other experienced individuals, but you need to trust your intuition, thoughts, and feelings. Public speaking is a good way to practice this principle. Instead of writing out exact notes the next time you need to make a speech, write questions that you need to address during that speech. As a result, it should be easier to weave details into the presentation as you go along, making the whole thing appear more natural. Say "yes" to nearly everything. You don't have to accept every proposed solution, but you do need to accept every set of circumstances life throws at you. In other words, you need to remain positive. Instead of fixating on how unpleasant a given situation feels, acknowledge the situation and focus on making the most of it. Keep an open mind, too. Instead of immediately discrediting an idea, take the time to look at things from the other person's perspective, even when you ultimately disagree with that perspective. Make saying “no” to someone or something your last option, only to be used after thoroughly reviewing all of the evidence before you. Contribute. Instead of merely saying "yes" to things, you should be saying, "yes, and..." Add your own value to each set of circumstances or ideas to guide things toward your ultimate goal. For instance, when you're given a project to work on with a group of your peers, don't be afraid to voice your thoughts. Do so even when the others in your group are more experienced than you. You may not have the final answer, but your thoughts could still help move the project along in the right direction. Commit with confidence. Have confidence in the things you say and do, and stand behind your conclusions instead of questioning them under pressure. Indecision is the enemy of both improvising and progress in general. Don't apologize for your thoughts and don't be shy about sharing them. Instead, simply make an informed choice and see it through, worrying about the results only as they actually happen. As soon as you commit to something, you need to sharpen your focus on that thought, idea, or action. Second-guessing yourself will weaken your ability to react to all aspects of the situation, and it may cause you to prematurely abandon a plan that was actually quite decent. | Skip the planning stage. Make up your own rules. Remember your ultimate goal. Move immediately. Take your time. Try new things. Practice daily. Prepare for chaos. Fearlessly face failure. Watch and listen closely. Give special attention to the little details. Trust yourself. Say "yes" to nearly everything. Contribute. Commit with confidence. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Pet-Custody-After-a-Breakup | How to Get Pet Custody After a Breakup | To get pet custody after a breakup, keep in mind that a court will usually side with the person who currently has possession of the animal. If you don't have possession of your pet, your best chance of getting it back may be coming to an agreement with your ex. If you can't come to an agreement, consider attending mediation with your ex to reach a custody agreement. Or, you can take your ex to court and try to prove that the animal is rightfully yours. | Consider the context of the relationship. If your relationship with your former partner involved physical or emotional abuse, attempting to negotiate pet custody with them directly may not be the best option for you. Breakups are seldom completely amicable, but unless there are abuse problems, you should be able to get your former partner to listen to reason. However, if your former partner was abusive, or if you suspect they might hurt your pet, call an animal law attorney immediately to learn your options. You can find an attorney by doing a general internet search for "animal law attorney" with the name of your city or state. You also may be able to find names through your state or local bar association's online directory. In some cases, animal law attorneys have been successful with getting restraining orders that include pets. If you're concerned for the safety of your pet as well as yourself, talk to a family law attorney who has experience with restraining orders. You also can seek help from a local domestic violence shelter. Schedule a private meeting. Ideally, you want to talk about pet custody in a private environment where the two of you can talk about the issues involved with a minimum of distractions. You may want to choose a neutral location such as a local café or restaurant. Go for a time when you are both available, but try not to make it late at night or on a weekend when the place will be packed. Let them know what you want to talk about when you schedule the meeting. If they try to insult or demean you for making such a big deal over it, simply tell them that it means a lot to you and you'd appreciate it if they would give you the benefit of the doubt and take you seriously. When you call to schedule the meeting, try to keep your conversation civil. You want to meet and discuss the issue, but there's no need to get in a fight about it over the phone. Do not relinquish possession of your pet. According to state law, pets are considered property. This means that with pet custody, as with determining ownership of other items of personal property, the law favors the person in possession. You may have heard the phrase "possession is nine-tenths of the law." This phrase is true in most cases and applies to the issue of pet custody. If your former partner already has taken your pet with them, coming to an agreement together may be the best chance you have of getting your pet back. If you end up having to take them to court and they already have possession of the animal, chances are the court will end up awarding custody to them. Take written notes to use as guidance. There are a lot of issues wrapped up in pet care, including food, activities, and veterinary care. Assuming that both of you love the pet and want what's best for the animal, you want to go over all of these aspects at your meeting with your former spouse. Create an outline of your history with your pet, starting from the beginning. This can help you create arguments for why you should get pet custody after the breakup. For example, suppose you are the one who initially adopted the pet. Your former partner was reluctant at first and wanted nothing to do with it, but eventually came around and grew to love the animal. In that case, the fact that you originally adopted the animal works in your favor. It also helps if you are typically the one to take your pet to the vet or the groomer and buy its food. Money can be difficult if you and your former partner had a joint bank account. In that case, think about who provided most of the care and attention. You also may want to think about which of you the animal is more attached to – although typically that will be the person who most often feeds and cares for the pet. Use an objective, rational approach. It can be difficult to hold back your emotions if you're particularly attached to your pet, but try to do your best to look at the situation objectively and determine which of you is best suited to take care of the animal. Regardless of your feelings, if your former partner would take better care of your pet than you would be able to, you may want to let them have custody. Just make sure it's understood that you want to be able to come and visit your pet – for example, to visit once a week and take the dog for a walk in the park. On the other hand, if you have the time and money to adequately support your pet, use the reasons you wrote in your outline to explain to your former partner why you want custody of your pet. Avoid insulting your former partner. Breakups rarely happen for no reason. Tensions are bound to be high anyway, but the last thing you want to do is turn your pet custody meeting into a shouting match. Try to keep in mind that you are there because you both love and care for your pet. If your former partner didn't care about the animal, they probably would have let you have it with no problem. If you find yourself getting angry or frustrated, turn your attention back to your pet. Keep your pet's face in your mind and remember what you're doing this for. It also can help to remind your former partner, if things start to get heated, that you're both there for your pet, not for each other. Make an effort to listen. Assume that your former partner genuinely cares about your pet and its well-being. They may have serious concerns about your ability to provide adequate care for the animal. You can only learn these concerns by keeping an open mind and listening carefully. Try to ask your former partner questions, if necessary, to draw out their reasons for not wanting to give you custody of your pet. By listening to your former partner's concerns, you may be able to find a solution that makes both of you happy and puts your pet in as good a position as it was before the breakup. For example, suppose your former partner is concerned you won't have time to take the dog for a walk during the day because you have a 30-minute commute to work and are gone all day. In that situation, you may be able to work out an arrangement in which you allow your former partner to come over during the day to walk the dog. In exchange, you could pay them a small amount (which could potentially save you from having to hire a stranger to walk your dog). Put any agreement in writing. When you sit down and discuss the situation rationally, hopefully you and your former partner are able to come to an agreement regarding custody of your pet. If you do, draw up a written agreement that both of you can sign. A signed written agreement is legally binding, but it's not necessary to stress that point. Nor do you need to hire a lawyer or draft a complex contract with lots of legalese. A simple agreement that outlines what you've decided is fine. Include everything you've discussed about your pet's care. Both of you should sign it, then make sure your former partner gets a copy of the signed agreement. To avoid any problems later, grab someone to witness the signatures, or take a photo on your phone of each of you signing the agreement. Locate a community mediation center. Most towns and cities have community mediation clinics that offer mediation services for common disputes that people have, including pet custody issues. To find a community mediation center near you, do a search on the internet or call the county court clerk's office. Particularly if you live in a larger city, you may find several different service centers. Look at their websites or call for more information to find the one you like the best. You also may be able to get a recommendation by calling a local animal law attorney. They may have a particular mediation clinic that they prefer. Most community clinics are relatively affordable. You can expect a single mediation session to cost a few hundred dollars, although many have sliding-fee scales to assist lower-income individuals. Discuss mediation with your former partner. Since mediation is a voluntary process, you can't force your former partner to participate if they aren't interested. However, you can tell them about it and do your best to convince them it's the easiest way to resolve the dispute. The mediation center you've chosen may have a pamphlet that explains their process and services in a straightforward way. Emphasize to your former partner that with mediation, a neutral third-party will work with the two of you to emphasize a mutually agreeable solution. They will not pressure you to come to an agreement, and if you don't reach an agreement you can walk away. Another benefit of mediation is that any agreement you reach is confidential. This may be helpful if your former partner is concerned about how it will look to be arguing about pet custody in a public forum such as a courtroom. Prepare for your session. If you already attempted to resolve the dispute with your former partner in person, you may have notes from that attempt that you can use to frame the points you want to bring up in mediation. A previous attempt also can help you isolate the issues about pet custody that are particularly contentious. It can help the mediator if you can figure out where there is significant disagreement, as opposed to more minor issues on which you could both find common ground. Take some time to think about what your goals are for the medication. Perhaps your ideal outcome is that you have full custody of your pet and your former partner never has anything to do with either of you. Given the odds of that outcome happening are slim (or you wouldn't be at this point), try to think of some areas on which you would be willing to compromise. You can present those ideas to the mediator. Arrive for your mediation appointment. On the date of your mediation appointment, try to get there at least 10 minutes early so you have time to get to the right place and get settled before the session actually starts. Mediation is not court – the session typically will be in an office-like setting. However, try to dress neatly and conservatively. You want the mediator to have a good impression of you. Bring with you any notes or other materials you want to use in your negotiation. You also may want to bring a picture of your pet, so you can look at it and focus on that during negotiations. Typically you'll be directed to a private room, although you may have to wait in a waiting room. If your former partner is not there yet, you may meet your mediator, but don't expect to engage them in conversation. Your mediator usually will keep conversation to a minimum so they can remain neutral and assist both of you in finding a mutually agreeable solution to your problem. Give opening statements. Once you and your former partner have arrived, the mediator typically will provide a brief introduction and explain the basic procedure. Then they may ask each of you to give a brief opening statement. Your opening statement doesn't have to be a long, involved speech, like an opening statement in a courtroom. Nor should it include a single conclusory statement like "I want full custody of my pet." This kind of statement is not helpful for mediation. Come up with two or three points in your favor that you want to emphasize. For example, you might say "I believe I am entitled to full custody of the dog because I brought him home from the pound, named him, and feed him every day. I have taken him to the vet regularly and his registration is in my name." This isn't just about factual arguments, though. If you're short on such points, you may be able to point to the unique bond you share with your pet. For example, you might note that your cat sleeps with you every night and comes running to the door when you come home from work. Work with the mediator. After the initial part of the mediation has concluded, the mediator typically will have you and your former partner move to separate rooms so the real work of mediation can begin. Before moving to separate rooms, the mediator may identify particular issues upon which both you and your former partner can agree. If you're able to find common ground, it sews the seeds for continued agreement and compromise – even if the issues you're able to agree on are fairly minor points. Once you've separated, the mediator will move back and forth between you, discussing the situation and trying to find room for compromise. Sign a written agreement. If you and your former partner are able to reach an agreement through mediation, the mediator typically will write up an agreement for you both to sign. Read it over carefully and make sure it reflects everything you've discussed. Your custody agreement can cover many different aspects of pet care, including not only which of you gets to keep the animal in your home, but what kind of food your pet can eat as well as specifying activities or particular veterinary services. For example, your former partner may be willing to let you have custody of your dog if you agree to take him to his favorite park at least once a week. Take this agreement seriously – even if it includes relatively minor things – and understand that once signed it is a legally binding document and can be enforced in a court of law. Identify the appropriate court. If you're thinking about suing your former partner for custody of your pet, you need to first figure out what court has jurisdiction over both your former partner and your dispute. If you and your former partner were married and are seeking a divorce, the issue of who gets the pet will bewared up in your divorce case. If you were not married, however, you'll have to file a lawsuit on your own. In most cases, small claims courts are equipped to handle a pet custody issue. However, keep in mind that small claims courts only award monetary damages. If you file a lawsuit in small claims, you run the risk of winning your case but being awarded the monetary value of your pet – rather than the pet itself. Your county court typically also has jurisdiction over these sorts of claims, and can order your former partner to give your pet back to you if they currently have possession of the animal. Consult an attorney. If you intend to pursue custody of your pet in the courts, you'll have the best chance of success if you have an experienced animal law attorney on your side. Even if you have a family law attorney for your divorce, an animal law attorney will understand more about the ins and outs of animal law in your state. Keep in mind that animal law is a relatively new area of law. It may be difficult to find an attorney who specializes solely in animal law unless you live in or near a fairly big city. However, because animal law is relatively new and is rapidly changing, it's important to find someone who has experience litigating cases similar to yours. Your local humane society or other nonprofit groups dedicated to animal rights may be able to connect you with an attorney who can help you. File your claim for pet custody. After consulting an attorney, if you want to sue your former partner for pet custody, you should do so as soon as possible. You can initiate a lawsuit by filing a complaint with the clerk of the court you've chosen to hear your case. If you're not using an attorney, check with the clerk's office or on the court's website for forms you can use to draft your complaint. The complaint lists factual allegations which you believe, if proven, entitle you to custody of your pet. Keep in mind that this is a legal argument, so you must have facts that tend to indicate you are the rightful owner of the animal. When you file your lawsuit, you'll have to pay a filing fee – typically amounting to several hundred dollars. If you can't afford this fee, ask to apply for a fee waiver. If your income and assets are below the court's threshold, your court costs will be waived. Take your complaint forms to the clerk's office along with at least two copies. The clerk will stamp all of them "filed" with the date, and assign a date for the next time you have to appear in court. They will then give your copies back to you. Have your former partner served. One of the two copies of your court documents is for your own records. The other copy must be delivered to your former partner using the correct legal service of process. Technically you can get anyone over the age of 18 who isn't involved in your lawsuit to hand-deliver the documents to your former partner. You might choose a trusted friend or relative. After service is completed they must sign a proof of service form for you to file with the court. You also can hire a sheriff's deputy to hand-deliver the court documents to your former partner, or mail the documents using certified mail with return receipt requested. Wait for any response from your former partner. When your former partner receives your court documents, they have a limited period of time – typically only a couple of weeks – to file a written response to your lawsuit. If your former partner does not respond to your lawsuit, you may be eligible to win your case by default. However, you still must show up on the date your hearing is scheduled. If your former partner does file a written response, it will be served on you using a process similar to that which you used to serve your former partner. It also is likely that your former partner will contact you seeking to come to an agreement rather than go through a trial. The other option is that your former partner will decide to fight you every step of the way, perhaps even filing a motion to dismiss arguing that you have stated no legal claim to ownership of your pet. Gather evidence to support your claim. Lawsuits are won or lost based on the weight of the evidence. In your lawsuit, you must show that it is more likely than not that you are the rightful owner of your pet and should therefore be granted custody. Depending on the court in which you filed your lawsuit, you may share evidence with your former partner through the discovery process. Unless your former partner has decided to fight you every step of the way, however, you shouldn't expect this to be an extensive process. Evidence that will support your claim for pet custody in court includes things such as proof that you adopted the pet, state registration or veterinary records that list only you as the owner, and even receipts for pet food and other pet supplies. Present your case in court. When your hearing date arrives, you will have the opportunity to tell the judge your story and present your evidence to show that you deserve full custody of your pet. If you have an attorney, your role in the actual proceedings may be limited, but you still should expect to take the stand. Try to show up at the courthouse at least 30 minutes before your hearing is scheduled, but keep in mind that the judge likely will be hearing several cases on the same day. Once you've passed through courthouse security, take a seat in the courtroom gallery until your case is called. Then you (and your attorney, if you have one) can move to the front of the courtroom. As in any trial, you can introduce evidence and even call witnesses if you want to support your arguments. For example, you may call a friend to testify regarding your relationship with your pet. Your pet's veterinarian, or a veterinary assistant in their office, also can be a good witness if you were the only one who ever took your pet to receive veterinary care or treatment. Listen to your former partner's arguments. Once you've presented your side of the story, your former partner will have the opportunity to respond. Just as you did, they may introduce evidence or even have witnesses testify on their behalf. When your former partner is speaking, watch your body language and try to pay attention. Avoid shouting out or interrupting your former partner – even if they interrupted you. If your former partner calls any witnesses to testify on their behalf, you will have the opportunity to cross-examine them (through your attorney, if you've hired one). Pay close attention to their statements and draw on your own knowledge of the person called to question their reliability and the trustworthiness of their statements. Receive the judge's order. After the judge has heard from both sides, they will enter an order deciding who gets custody of your pet. You may learn the judge's decision immediately after the end of the hearing. However, it may be a few days before he written order is ready. Keep in mind that if the judge rules in your favor, the court isn't going to enforce the order for you – you must do this yourself. An attorney can help you determine what you need to do if your former spouse does not immediately comply and deliver your pet to you. If you filed your case in small claims court, your ability to appeal a decision that wasn't in your favor may be limited. In any case, if the judge doesn't rule in your favor, you have a limited period of time to file an appeal – typically 30 days or less. Talk to an attorney immediately to find out if you have a possible case for appeal. | Consider the context of the relationship. Schedule a private meeting. Do not relinquish possession of your pet. Take written notes to use as guidance. Use an objective, rational approach. Avoid insulting your former partner. Make an effort to listen. Put any agreement in writing. Locate a community mediation center. Discuss mediation with your former partner. Prepare for your session. Arrive for your mediation appointment. Give opening statements. Work with the mediator. Sign a written agreement. Identify the appropriate court. Consult an attorney. File your claim for pet custody. Have your former partner served. Wait for any response from your former partner. Gather evidence to support your claim. Present your case in court. Listen to your former partner's arguments. Receive the judge's order. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Your-Neighbour%27s-Unsightly-Property | How to Deal With Your Neighbour's Unsightly Property | To deal with your neighbor's unsightly property, try having a face-to-face conversation to make them aware of the situation. When talking to them, be as polite and sensitive as possible to avoid escalating the situation. You might try saying something like “I have always appreciated you as a neighbor, but I am concerned about the current condition of your property.” If your neighbor doesn't get upset, then set a reasonable date for things to be taken care of, like 30 days. However, if they become defensive, then suggest continuing the conversation at another time. If your neighbors are renters, you can also contact the homeowners directly to avoid a potentially awkward encounter. | Have a face-to-face conversation. Sometimes people are simply unaware of the fact that a problem exists, so do not assume that your neighbour is thinking about the problem. If it is settled in your mind that something should be done, you should schedule a face-to-face meeting to communicate your concerns. There is a possibility that your neighbour will promptly resolve the problem after hearing what you have to say. Before scheduling a face-to-face meeting, you need to assess whether or not the situation is safe. Not everyone is neighbourly and sometimes having a face-to-face conversation is not prudent. It could even be dangerous. It is particularly unwise to just show up on a person's property uninvited. You may decide to handle the situation with anonymity to avoid physical harm or any type of retaliation. If you decide to move forward with a meeting, be prepared to say exactly what the problem is and provide a reasonable date by which you think the issue should be resolved. Here are a couple of examples: "I have always appreciated you as a neighbor, but I am concerned about the current condition of your property," and "I think 30 days is a reasonable amount of time to resolve the problem. What do you think?" There is an old saying that “good fences make good neighbours.” If you would prefer to avoid interacting with your neighbour about this situation and future matters, consider putting up a fence that blocks your view of your neighbour's property. Not having to look at your neighbours unsightly property could resolve the problem from your perspective and keep the peace altogether. If the neighbours are renters, contact the homeowner directly. You can find the homeowner's information through the county assessor's office. Discuss the financial impact. If you are trying to sell your home then it is perfectly fine to communicate urgency, while also communicating that the problem may affect the value of your home. You may want to remind your neighbour that this matter also affects the value of their property, which can be a financial incentive for them to solve the problem. Consider telling them that you want prospective buyers to know that they are good neighbours and then offer assistance to expedite the resolution so that it does not affect the sale of your property (this could mean actually helping to clean up the litter). Prevent a confrontation. When communicating with someone regarding a difficult subject, it is important to be polite to avoid escalating the situation. It is possible to address a sensitive topic without being confrontational or hostile. A gentle approach is generally best. Prepare yourself for a counterattack and reconcile in your mind that you will remain diplomatic and calm if your neighbour becomes angry. If the situation escalates, walk away and plan to discuss the matter at a later date. Being cordial prior to a problem arising will sometimes go a long way towards resolving conflict down the road. A kind “hello” over the years can make a big difference. Avoid inflammatory language. Do not use language that is accusatory or disrespectful. For instance, words such as “nasty” or “disgusting” are offensive and can quickly escalate the matter. Refrain from threatening your neighbour. Most people do not respond kindly to threats and it is best to remain respectful. Respond instead of react. Before engaging in any conversations, make a decision to respond calmly during your communications with your neighbour. Reacting without thinking about the consequences could create a far worse outcome than is necessary. Take notes. Keep track of the events that have occurred by writing down brief notes, including dates, times, and the individuals involved Take pictures. Discreetly take pictures of the unsightly property. Being subtle may prevent an argument or altercation with your neighbor. It is very important that you do not trespass on your neighbour's property during any attempt to document the situation. Video record occurrences. If there is a particularly egregious event, you can record that event for clear evidence of what has occurred. Whether taking pictures or filming video, you may find it beneficial to subtly use your smartphone since it is usually readily available. Be sure that all photos and videos are date stamped. List other neighbours. Keep track of other neighbours who may have expressed the same or similar concerns. While it is not a good idea to gossip and create drama by involving other neighbours unnecessarily, it is a good idea to list the names of those who may be able to support your claims. Write letters. If you meet face-to-face, follow up by writing a non-aggressive letter to confirm and reiterate what you discussed. You can send subsequent letters as necessary. If you plan to follow-up on your conversation in writing, you may consider telling your neighbour to expect a confirmation letter in the mail so that they are not caught off guard upon receipt of the letter. Be sure that all letters are dated and copied for your records. You may consider sending the letters via certified mail to confirm receipt. Clarify your concerns. When dealing with a neighbour's unsightly property, it is important to put things into perspective before having any conversations or making any decisions. Always keep in mind the importance of maintaining positive relationships with your neighbours, when it is within your control. While you can certainly address problems, you do not want to do anything that would unnecessarily create a hostile environment or further diminish the enjoyment of your property. Think about whether or not this is a recent problem that may be soon resolved or if this has been a long-standing issue. The situation may be the result of a health problem that your neighbour is experiencing and they may be unable to do anything about it at this time. This is particularly important when you have elderly neighbours with limited mobility. Decide if your concerns are fair. Not everyone has the same standards for cleanliness or the same design aesthetic. What may be unsightly to you may be perfectly acceptable to others. Carefully consider whether or not your concerns are truly warranted and weigh the risks and benefits of addressing the issue. You may decide that your neighbour's property is good enough for you to let the situation go without pursing it any further in order to keep the peace. Do your research. Get clarity on the actual issues and gain an understanding of ordinances and zoning codes so that you can speak intelligently about the problem. Perhaps your neighbour's property is creating a safety hazard or a sanitation violation. A quick Google search will get you started It may be worth your time to research affordable services that will help your neighbour with cleaning up their property. While you should not be expected to pay for the services, your due diligence in providing a useful resource may be well received. Review the problem with your spouse or a friend. Sometimes talking through the situation with someone else will help you to decide whether or not you want to move forward with a course of action. It could be beneficial to have a calm conversation with a reasonable person to make sure that you are not overreacting. Once you move forward you cannot undo your actions. Contact the homeowner’s association. In some communities there is a homeowner's association that can serve as a mediator to resolve problems between neighbours. If you have already spoken to your neighbour and the problem is not resolved, consider contacting the homeowner's association to share your concerns and provide the details that you have gathered. If you decide to handle the situation with anonymity, contact the homeowner's association before speaking with your neighbor and ask to remain anonymous. Identify local or municipal authorities. There are authorities designated to assist neighbours with dispute resolution. While problematic, your situation is far from unique and many homeowners have experienced the same issue. Local or municipal authorities may assist you with finding a quicker resolution. Start by contacting city hall. You will need to read the local regulations to ascertain the procedures more clearly in your jurisdiction. In addition to the homeowner's association and municipalities, you may also find assistance and direction through the fire department or police department, depending on the nature of the problem. Find a mediator. If you do not have a homeowner's association and the problem is escalating, consider contacting a mediation service to assist you with resolving the problem without involving attorneys. A mediator is a neutral third-party who can assist with establishing communication until a resolution is found. Follow-up until the situation is resolved. Recognize that this is a problem that could take some time and effort to completely resolve. Before you start, realize that engaging with your neighbour regarding this issue may result in a long-standing feud that lasts for years. Be prepared to engage in the process and mend the relationship, if necessary. Some homeowners have found this type of issue to be so disruptive, that they chose instead to sale their home (when they were not otherwise planning to do so) and move on with their lives. While this may be a last ditch solution, it may be something worthy of your consideration depending on the complexity of the situation and your ability and willingness to relocate. Consider litigation. You probably do not want to contact an attorney until you have made a sincere effort to resolve the issue. However, there are some instances when the situation is so contentious that you simply have to seek legal assistance. | Have a face-to-face conversation. Discuss the financial impact. Prevent a confrontation. Avoid inflammatory language. Respond instead of react. Take notes. Take pictures. Video record occurrences. List other neighbours. Write letters. Clarify your concerns. Decide if your concerns are fair. Do your research. Review the problem with your spouse or a friend. Contact the homeowner’s association. Identify local or municipal authorities. Find a mediator. Follow-up until the situation is resolved. Consider litigation. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Give-Away-Your-Dog-when-You-Don%27t-Want-To | How to Give Away Your Dog when You Don't Want To | It's hard to give away a dog when you don't want to, but it can help to find your dog a good home where you know it will be safe and happy. Once you find the right home, spend as much time as you can with your dog before giving it away. During these times, do your best to not be sad, since that may cause your dog to become anxious and upset. When it's time to say farewell, take the time to hug your dog and say goodbye properly. Then, once your dog is gone, remind yourself that you've done the right thing since it will be going to a loving home. | Discuss the reasons. Take some time to think about why you have arrived at the decision to give your dog away. Remember that dogs are a lot of responsibility, but you should try to keep your commitment as a pet owner as much as you can. Talk to the other people who live in your house and make sure everyone is clear about the reasons and still thinks giving the dog away is the best solution. Some reasons that you might be considering giving up your dog include family member allergies, living arrangement restrictions, aggressive dog behavior, or not having enough time to give the dog the attention it needs. Think about alternative solutions. If you are sad about giving away your dog, try to exhaust all possible options before deciding to go that route. Brainstorm with your family members about what you could do instead of giving the dog away. If a family member has allergies, consider allergy medications. Try to talk to your landlord about making special allowances for your pet. Perhaps you could offer to pay an extra pet deposit. If your pet is destructive, think about taking the dog to obedience training. Or consider putting the dog in a crate while you're gone during the day as long as it is only for a few hours at a time. If you don't have enough time to spend with your dog, consider taking it to doggie daycare during the day. Or ask some of your friends or relatives to help out with watching the dog while you're at work. You could also consider hiring a dog sitter. Inform everyone involved. It's very hard to give away a family pet, but sometimes there are reasons why you have to do these things. Start (if you have kids) with telling your kids that you have to give the family dog away so they know what you are doing. The children will be upset about this, but giving them a little time to come to terms with the decision before you give the dog away may help your child cope with their emotions about the situation. Tell your children or other family members that you don't want to get rid of the dog, but that there is no other option. Let them express how they feel and talk about the situation with them. Try saying something like, “You know how much we all love Fido, but, unfortunately, we are going to have to give him away. The new landlord doesn't allow pets and there is no way for us to move to another place. I know this is a sad thing, but we will find Fido a good home where he can be happy.” Ask around. Take some time to ask your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers if they, or anyone they know and trust, would be interested in adopting your dog. You will ultimately feel more comfortable giving your dog to someone you already know will take good care of your pet. Make sure they have the time to dedicate to a pet and enough room for the dog in their home. You could also ask your veterinarian for recommendations. They might know of someone who would be interested in adopting your dog. Advertise your pet. Look for a caring, good home for your dog by advertising your pet in various ways. Make a private post on your social media accounts that only your friends can see. Put up fliers at local pet stores and veterinarian offices. Include a picture of your dog and some information about what kind of personality the dog has. You may want to avoid advertising online (unless it is a private post that only your friends and acquaintances can see) because there are many scams and people who want to adopt dogs for fighting, re-selling, or other unfortunate reasons. You want to avoid these kinds of inquiries. Interview potential adopters. When you find someone who is interested in adopting your pet (especially if you don't know them already), it's important to ask them a few questions to figure out if they would be a good fit for your pet. You want to make sure they have the kind of home you want your pet to live in and that you are confident they would be able to care for your pet appropriately. For example, if you know your dog is not very good with children, you'll want to inform the potential adopters about this fact and make sure they don't have any small children in their home. Be sure to ask if new owners have enough time to walk, train, and care for the dog. If they don't, look for some other owners. Remember that you are responsible for finding a good home for your dog. Set the date. Once you have found an adopter that you are comfortable with, agree on a date for your dog to go to its new home. Make sure that the date works for both parties (you and the adopters) and agree on who will be transporting the dog. Be sure to bring all of your dog's possessions with you to its new home. This includes things like old toys, food dishes, dog bed, leash, and any bags of food you may have. Use animal shelters as a last resort. Giving your dog up to an animal shelter should be an absolute last option when you have no other choice. Your dog may not get the attention and care it needs at an animal shelter because of the problems with funding and lack of staff members that many shelters deal with on a daily basis. And it is very likely that the dog will stay there for weeks before being adopted, if it even gets adopted at all. Many animal shelters are kill shelters, which means that they euthanize animals who are not adopted after a certain amount of time. You don't want that to happen to your family pet, so make sure you inquire about the shelter's euthanization policies before you hand over your dog. You only want to give your dog to a no-kill shelter. Take some time to be with your dog before you give it away. Sit down with your family and take turns petting it and loving on it. Talk about why you are giving the dog away. These conversations will help your family come to terms with losing their beloved pet. Make sure everyone has a chance to say goodbye to the dog. Spending quality time with the dog before it goes will give everyone a chance to say goodbye and to feel a little bit better about the situation. But be careful not to go too overboard with this process. If you are too overly emotional, the dog may sense something is wrong and feel anxious and upset. Act normally towards the dog. Remember that the dog doesn't deserve to be treated poorly just because you have to give it away. It's okay to be sad, but it isn't okay to take out your emotions on the dog in a negative way. Explain to your family (especially if you have kids) that your dog will have good new home, and it's important to act normally for the dog since dogs live in the moment. Until the dog leaves for its new home, it is still part of your family. Treat the dog with love and kindness even if it is hard for you to do because you are sad it is leaving. Say goodbye. When the farewell time comes, be ready. Spend some time saying goodbye to your dog and giving it a proper sending off. Be happy that your dog will have a good new family. Hug the dog and be confident that you have done the right thing. Let the dog take its treats, toys, dog bed, and any other possessions you bought the dog to its new home so that it will make the transition a bit easier on your pup. Deal with your grief. It's normal to expect that you will be sad after you give your dog away. Try to deal with your grief by talking about it to your friends and family or by spending time with other animals in your life (like your best friend's pet or your neighbor's dog). You may also want to consider going to counseling or seeking the help of a grief support group if the pain seems unmanageable or if it lasts a long time. | Discuss the reasons. Think about alternative solutions. Inform everyone involved. Ask around. Advertise your pet. Interview potential adopters. Set the date. Use animal shelters as a last resort. Take some time to be with your dog before you give it away. Act normally towards the dog. Say goodbye. Deal with your grief. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Value-and-Sell-a-Pok%C3%A9mon-Card | How to Value and Sell a Pokémon Card | Before you sell a Pokemon card, you'll need to figure out how rare it is so you can accurately price it. Try to recall where you got your card from since there's a higher chance of finding a rare one in a box or tin. Cards with a star, holofoil picture, or a star and a letter or symbol in the bottom right-hand corner have a better chance of being more valuable. Generally, first edition cards are rarer and worth more money, so look for the symbol of the edition in the lower-left corner. It will look like a number enclosed in a black circle with the word “Edition” above in small letters. When you're ready to sell your card, try going online with companies like eBay, Amazon, or a Pokemon-related site, like Professor-oak and the Pokemon Card Market. You can also go to a local Pokemon event to sell your cards or visit a hobby shop to see if they're interested in buying or know anyone who would be. | Recall how you acquired your cards. There are many different types of cards in the Pokémon trading card game. These are sold in sets contained in plastic packaging, boxes, promotional packs, tins, and more. Each collection contains a different percentage chance of having a rare card, so knowing how you bought your cards can help locate rare ones. In many cases, more expensive collections of cards, like boxes and tins, have a higher chance of having rare cards. You may want to start looking for rare cards in your boxed or tinned sets. Remove common cards. Cards that are marked in the bottom right corner with a circle (common) or diamond (uncommon) won't likely be worth much. Most of these cards can be safely set off to the side, but over time, even common cards can become rare. When dealing with common cards that are also old, set these aside with other potentially rare cards, as their rarity and value may have increased. You might consider giving old Pokémon cards that aren't worth much as presents to friends or relatives. Pick out rare cards. Cards with a star (rare), holofoil picture, a star followed by a letter or symbol (which frequently indicates ultra rare, like ☆H), and secret cards have a better chance of being more valuable. Secret cards are not officially listed as part of the collection. You can find the collection number as a fraction in the bottom right corner of the card. When the number before the slash is larger than the one following it, you have a secret card. Among rare cards, there are sometimes even rarer cards. For example, nearly all holofoil cards are rare, but there's an even rarer variety, the holofoil rare, which is indicated by a star in the lower right corner of the card. Some cards contain small printing errors that make the card especially rare. These are often worth huge sums of money. If you notice an error in your card, it might mean you have one that's particularly valuable. Discover promotional cards. Promotional cards are given away as part of a special event or are included as a bonus in some packs. These were originally marked with a black star and the words "PROMO." There are also promo cards that have a gold foil star. Older cards will have a promotional symbol beneath the set symbol, which you can find under the right corner of the Pokémon picture. Newer card promo symbols are in the bottom right corner of the card. Some promo cards are given out at events, included with magazine subscriptions, or sent with similar merchandise, like the Pokémon video games. Promo cards can range greatly in value. Some are very common, while others are incredibly rare. Investigate your cards for first editions. Generally, first edition cards are rarer and worth more money, so these should be given priority when selling. You'll only find first edition cards among older ones made by Wizards of the Coast. Pokémon International does not currently print first edition cards. You can find the symbol indicating the edition of your cards below the lower left corner of the Pokémon picture. The symbol will look like a number enclosed in a black circle with the word "Edition" above in small letters. Know your Pokémon card sets. In almost all cases, Pokémon cards will belong to a corresponding set. These sets are usually released four times a year, with each card in a set bearing the same symbol in either the bottom right corner of the card or below the bottom right corner of the Pokémon picture. Complete sets can sell for a lot of money, but older sets might be rare enough to split and sell a card at a time. Some Generation I sets include: Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket. Some Generation II sets include: Neo Genesis, Neo Discover, and Legendary Collection. Some Generation III sets include: EX Ruby & Sapphire, EX Dragon, EX FireRed & LeafGreen, and EX Unseen Forces. Some Generation IV sets include: Diamond & Pearl, Majestic Dawn, Legends Awakens, Supreme Victors, Unleashed, and Undaunted. Some Generation V sets include: Black & White, Noble Victories, Plasma Blast, and Dragon Vault. Some Generation VI sets include: XY, Flashfire, Primal Clash, Ancient Origins, BREAKthrough, BREAKpoint, and Fates Collide. Separate your cards. There are many different ways you might want to organize your Pokemon cards. It might seem tedious, but gathering similar cards together will help you keep track of them better. You might choose to: Divide you cards according to rarity. This way, all the rare cards you discovered in your deck are grouped together and ready to be sold. Collect cards in sets. Since sets often sell for more, this might be a good tactic if you have many full sets of cards. It also might help you to make a list of the rare cards you have. Cards are small and can be lost easily. Having a record can help you recognize when something is missing or misplaced. Research the cards' worth. This is often the best indication of rarity. However, if you have many cards, it might not be worth your time to research every single card you have. You might want to limit your research to rare or old cards, as these stand a better chance of being valuable. To research the value of your cards, you can: Look up the same card on online sellers or auctions, like Amazon or eBay. The average selling price of your card should help you figure out its base worth. There are also Pokémon card game sites dedicated to tracking the sales of the cards. One favorite site among collectors is Pokémon Prices, which is updated hourly. Check collector catalogs. You should be able to find these online, but you might also be able to find them in your public library. These usually indicate the rarity of the card and its approximate value. Recognize the different card producers. Originally, Pokémon cards were produced and sold by the company Wizards of the Coast. Now, cards are made and sold by Pokémon International. If you notice differences between old and new cards, it doesn't necessarily mean you have a fake. These cards may only be produced by different companies. By knowing the two producers of Pokémon cards, you could save yourself from accidentally throwing away a salable card. Analyze the condition of each card. Cards that are in new condition or original packaging are almost always worth more money than cards with bends, tears, creases, or other disfiguring marks. Mint condition cards will have sharp, crisp edges, little wear along the edges, and its original gloss. Many card collectors categorize cards as: GEM-MT, which stands for "Gem Mint." These cards have no staining, blemishes, little to no printing imperfections, sharp corners, and a smooth surface gloss. MINT, which should have very little or no damage. These cards differ from gem mint cards in that they frequently have only one minor flaw. NM-MT means near mint to mint, and indicates a very high quality card. At a glance, these might seem perfect, but upon close inspection have one or more slight flaws. EX, also known as "Excellent" cards, will have more obvious damage. There may be rounding at the corners, light scratches, and very light creases. VG stands for "Very Good." These cards may have visible damage, but so long as the damage does not detract from the card's overall appearance, it's considered a VG card. GOOD cards should still be pleasing to the eye, but will be marred by obvious damage, like rounded corners, staining, scratches, and loss of surface gloss. Protect your cards from damage. It might take a while before you're able to sell your card. In the meantime, damage to it can decrease its worth. You may want to use a plastic sleeve or card protector to prevent your rare cards from losing value. Card protectors or sleeves are a must when selling your cards in person. When selling a card face to face, the buyer will likely want to inspect the card before purchasing. A protector or sleeve will prevent accidental damage. In most cases, a card protector 2.5 by 3.5 in. (64 by 89 mm) will fit your Pokémon cards. Some "jumbo" size promotional cards may require larger card protectors. Inquire with people you know. If you're too young to sell the cards online, you may find some willing buyers among your friends or fellow Pokémon card game players. You never know when the friend of a friend might be looking for the card you are trying to sell. Many libraries, hobby shops, and schools hold weekly or monthly tabletop gaming events. This might be the perfect place for you to find someone interested in buying your rare cards. Sell your cards at a local hobby shop. Hobby shops are more than just a place for you to buy games, more Pokémon cards, and play the Pokémon card game with your friends. At most shops, you can also sell your unwanted rare cards to the shop owner. Common cards will be less desirable and sell for less, so it's not likely that a shop owner will want to buy anything less than a rare card. Your local hobby shop might have an announcement board on which you can advertise the card you're trying to sell. If your hobby shop has one of these, ask if you can advertise on it. Be careful when selling your cards at a hobby shop. They'll want to make the biggest profit off their purchase, so they'll try to buy your cards for as little as possible. It may help to prepare yourself to haggle over the sale of the card. Offload cards at Pokémon events. Even at smaller, local Pokémon card game meet ups, like those held at hobby shops, you might stumble upon someone interested in buying your card. Larger events, like regional and national tournaments, will have even more Pokémon fans who might be interested. You can find a complete listing of official Pokémon card game events on the trading card homepage. In the upper right corner, you should find the "Attend Events" tab, which will provide you with a list of events. Many Pokémon fans can also be found at comic, video game, and cosplay conventions. If an official Pokémon event is impossible to attend, an unofficial, similar convention could be a good place to sell. Sell cards online. This is one of the easiest and most visible ways of putting your card up for sale. The more people who see your card, the more likely someone who wants it will see it. However, many online sellers require you to be 18 years of age before you are allowed to use the service. If you're too young to put your cards up for sale online on your own, you can ask for help from a parent or guardian. Common online sellers include eBay, Amazon, and several Pokémon oriented sites, like Professor-oak and the Pokémon Card Market. Choose your method of sale. This will depend on your personal situation. If you have a complete set, you may find that you can make the most money by selling it all together. However, in other cases, it may be easiest and/or more profitable to sell your cards one at a time. You could also group together related rare cards and sell them as a bundle. For example, if you have several rare psychic Pokemon, you might sell these together. If you have a large amount of common cards, you may still be able to sell these and make back some cash. You might try assembling common cards into "beginner decks" to sell. Decide an appropriate selling range. This will be the acceptable range for which you're willing to sell the card. Choosing a price range is very useful when selling, as many buyers will want to haggle the price down. Knowing the bottom range you're willing to sell at will help prevent you from being talked into selling too low. For example, a Lugia EX card can sell for around $26. You might decide that your acceptable selling range for this card is between $23 - $27. A selling range can also help if your card isn't selling. In this case, you might take your card off the market, then put it on the market with a price lower in your selling range. Try to keep your selling range to yourself. If buyers find out your lower limit, they may hard ball you for the lowest possible price, even if they're willing to pay your asking price. Set an exact price. This will be a specific number in your selling range. In nearly all situations, you'll start negotiating the sale of your card with a specific asking price. This number may increase or decrease during negotiation, but it should never drop below the lower limit of your selling range. If you find that your cards aren't selling, you may have a selling range that's too high for the current market. To improve your chances at a sale, you may want to adjust your range. The market for cards can change drastically in a very short time. If cards aren't selling, or if you only get low offers, you might only have to wait until the market picks back up. Put your cards up for sale. The fashion you do this will be influence by the place you've chosen to sell your cards. If you're selling cards in person at events, card protectors will keep your cards safe while traveling and handling. Online sales, in most cases, will need a picture to be included when the card is put up for sale. If you're posting an advertisement at your local hobby shop, you can write your own short description of the card, its price, and your contact information. Print this with a picture of the card and post it. If you don't have a camera to take a picture of your card, you could use your cell phone camera, instead. Exchange the Pokémon card(s) for money. You should never give or send the cards you are selling to someone else without receiving payment first. Once the payment has been exchanged, you should give or send your card to the buyer to complete the sale. Now you can use the money for whatever you desire. | Recall how you acquired your cards. Remove common cards. Pick out rare cards. Discover promotional cards. Investigate your cards for first editions. Know your Pokémon card sets. Separate your cards. Research the cards' worth. Recognize the different card producers. Analyze the condition of each card. Protect your cards from damage. Inquire with people you know. Sell your cards at a local hobby shop. Offload cards at Pokémon events. Sell cards online. Choose your method of sale. Decide an appropriate selling range. Set an exact price. Put your cards up for sale. Exchange the Pokémon card(s) for money. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Free-Software-Hacker | How to Become a Free Software Hacker | Software hackers spend their time building, tweaking, and updating free software so it's more enjoyable for users. Therefore, if you want to be a software hacker, you'll need to have a pretty good understanding of both system and programming languages. To learn a system and programming language, start by choosing which platform you want to work on, like Windows, iOS, or Android, since each platform uses different languages. Then, use free online tutorials to teach yourself at least 1 system and programming language for that platform so you can start contributing to projects. | Understand what software development requires. Being a software hacker means that you'll spend a large amount of your time building, tweaking, and updating free software to satisfy users and keep your software relevant. To this end, you'll need to meet the following criteria: Have a decent grasp on both a system language (e.g., C++) and a programming language (e.g., Python) Know which platform(s) you want to program for (e.g., Windows, Android, etc.) Be willing to spend a large amount of time learning about your selected languages, platforms, and software genre Know that anyone can become a free software hacker. Contrary to popular belief, having an exceptional understanding of mathematics, previous coding knowledge, and/or a college degree in computer science (or similar) aren't necessary for you to learn how to become a free software hacker. As long as you're legitimately interested in learning how to develop software and you're willing to accept criticism where appropriate, there's no reason to think that you can't successfully become a software hacker. Figure out your end goal. Software development can be used for anything from a simple side hobby to a full-time career; knowing what you want to accomplish before you set out to learn a programming language or select a platform will help keep you focused down the road. While not strictly necessary, a degree in computer science or software development will help expedite your employment if a career in software development is your end goal. If your goal is simply to create an app or a program which helps users accomplish a previously difficult or impossible task, make sure that the software in question isn't already being developed. Determine a platform on which you want to work. Each main platform—Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux—has its own community, preferred programming languages, and individual needs. Knowing which platform to which your software will apply before you dive into software development is crucial. It's best to work on the same platform for which you're developing. For example, if you're developing an Android app, using a Unix-based system such as a Mac or a Linux computer is better than using Windows. Linux is a commonly used (and free) solution for many software developers. Select a coding language. There are two types of coding languages; you'll need to learn at least one of each before jumping into developing, though you'll ultimately need to know several languages: System languages — A computer language used to interface with the system directly. Common examples include C, C++, and Java. Programming languages — A language used to design your software's interface (e.g., what users will look at) as well as its function. Common examples include Python, Ruby, and Perl. Get comfortable with the command line. Every computer has a command line application (e.g., Command Prompt for Windows, Terminal for Mac and Linux, etc.). You can use the command line to communicate with the computer itself, allowing you to issue detailed commands as necessary. While you won't perform the bulk of your software development from the command line itself, you'll need to use the command line to run certain programs or integrate software commands with your computer. Download and use Notepad++. Notepad++ is an invaluable programming resource as it both makes coding easy to keep track of by implementing visual aids and serves as an educational tool. While you'll ultimately use different command line-based text editors and programs to write a large amount of your code, Notepad++ is a phenomenal (and free) learning tool when you're first starting out. Install a development environment. Your selected programming languages and platforms most likely have development software which allows you to save and test your projects from your computer; such software is called a "development environment". If possible, find and install a development environment for your selected language before you begin learning to program. If you're developing an Android app, for example, you'd download and install the Android Studio development kit. Java users will often use a development environment such as Eclipse. Start learning how to program. Once you know which language you want to use, it's time to start learning how to use it. There are numerous online tutorials—both free and paid—in which you can partake, and most libraries will carry programming language-specific books (e.g., C++ for Dummies ) which will allow you to pursue an entire language free of charge. Free programming resources are abundant online, so use these to your advantage before signing up for a paid class or bootcamp. Find a community that operates in your preferred category. Open source projects such as those found on SourceForge or GitHub often have avid followers; if you can find a project which uses the same programming language and/or has a similar goal to your own project, you can join the community in order to add suggestions and observe the development process. Like any skill, being involved in the creation process (even if you're just an observer) is the best way to gain practical experience. Interact with the community. You can do anything from posting in the community's forums to starting your own open source project , but the main goal is to run your ideas and obstacles by the community and listen to their feedback. If you do start your own open source project, be prepared to compromise with the community in terms of the project's direction. Look for open-source projects to contribute to. As is often the case with software development, your main idea or pet project may already be underway by a community with far more experience than you have. If so, consider asking to join the project. This will both further your understanding of how software projects work and help you bring your project to life, albeit in a group setting. Open source projects may not be your end goal, but they serve as a great way to see multiple different perspectives come together to form a user-oriented product. Accept public critiques of your work. As you progress with your software development and submit your work, you'll be subject to critiques. Listening to community feedback will help structure your future development, but it will also teach you valuable shortcuts and methods for approaching similar problems for subsequent projects. Not all feedback will be constructive. If you do receive rude or unwarranted feedback, remember to be polite if you choose to respond. Participate in software development challenges, programs, or competitions. You'll often find challenges, bootcamps, lectures, classes, and outright competitions in your community's forums, in places such as Craigslist, and on campuses. Signing up for any such event or camp will give you some guided experience while placing you in an environment with like-minded peers. One option is Google's Summer of Code program, which helps students become familiar with open source projects and community coding. Continue to develop your skills. Software development is a field that will only continue to grow as technology evolves, so make sure that you're constantly learning about new projects, languages, operating systems, and any other relevant information in your preferred area. Much of a free software hacker's success is dependent on curiosity. As long as you keep asking questions and looking for answers, your time with software development will be productive and long-lived. | Understand what software development requires. Know that anyone can become a free software hacker. Figure out your end goal. Determine a platform on which you want to work. Select a coding language. Get comfortable with the command line. Download and use Notepad++. Install a development environment. Start learning how to program. Find a community that operates in your preferred category. Interact with the community. Look for open-source projects to contribute to. Accept public critiques of your work. Participate in software development challenges, programs, or competitions. Continue to develop your skills. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-with-Depression | How to Deal with Depression | To cope with depression, use art to let your feelings free. Try drawing or painting, writing honestly about your feelings and challenges, or listening to relaxing, positive music. Get good sleep by creating a bedtime routine that focuses on self-care, and exercise a few times a week to vent your emotions and release natural anti-depressants. Banish negative thoughts by focusing on a passion you love and doing one fun thing every day. Talk to people that you love and trust, and let yourself lean on them for support as much as you need. | Look for the signs of depression. If you haven't already sought help for your depression, it's vital that you do so and don't try to go through this alone. There are many common symptoms associated with depression. If you identify with one or more of those listed below, seek advice from your doctor. Signs of depression include: An inability to function normally in everyday life. Feelings of loneliness and losing relationships with friends. Inability to enjoy activities you once loved, such as reading, playing video games, drawing, etc. Lethargy, fatigue, and the feeling that doing things takes a lot of your energy. Persistent sadness, including fits of crying either uncontrollably or being set off easily, feelings of anxiety or emptiness. Feeling blue, sad, and down consistently over a period of at least two weeks. Feelings of worthlessness, self-blame and a lack of self esteem. Sleeping a large more or less than usual, or experiencing insomnia. Unusual weight gain or loss, overeating, or appetite loss. Finding thinking or concentrating difficult, "foggy" thinking, inability to make clear decisions or forgetfulness. Pessimism , or feeling a sense that life is hopeless, pointless and futile. This may even lead to a feeling of numbness. Body pains, cramps , digestive problems, headaches, and other aches that don't go away with medication or treatment. These may appear "for no reason". Being irritable or restless a great deal of the time. Suicidal thoughts , thoughts about dying, or attempts at suicide. Have your doctor explore possible medical causes behind your depression. Some depression results from, or is a side effect of, medical conditions or treatment for other medical conditions. In some cases, medical conditions can mimic depression. It's important for your doctor to identify any physical causes for depression that require specific treatments or to eliminate other reasons for your condition. Common medical conditions that might trigger depression include: Vitamin or mineral deficiencies , especially for people on restrictive diets. B vitamins are associated with depression, although it's unclear whether lower levels of B vitamins (especially B12) cause or are caused by depression. In addition, much new research has come to light on Vitamin D being a powerful mental health regulator. Either way, if you know your vitamin and mineral input isn't optimal, fixing it is an important first step. Thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances (including pre-menstrual), or disease. Medications. The side effects of some medications include depression. Read the warning labels and talk with your doctor about any concerns you might have. Co-existing illnesses. Depression often accompanies anxiety disorders (for example, post-traumatic distress disorder , OCD, social phobia, etc.), alcohol and substance abuse, heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes , and Parkinson's disease. These diseases may precede, cause, or be a consequence of depression. Medical conditions that are specific to women, including postpartum depression (the "baby blues"), premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Research depression to get a full understanding. Learn what you can about depression. Supplementing your knowledge about your condition will enable you to overcome it. Knowledge is an important way to reassure yourself that depression is real, that it is a concern to be treated with seriousness, and that there are many ways to defeat it. A wider understanding of depression will help to allay some of your fears and worries. It will also give you many tools to try for yourself. Visit your local library and borrow books about depression, anxiety, and happiness. Look in the psychology, self-help, therapy, and medical sections. For youth, ask about books specifically written for teenagers and children. You can also look at online auctions or book sites for affordable books about depression. Visit trusted online resources that have articles and other resources the help you understand more about depression. Government and national institutes set up for mental health treatment are reliable sources of information. For example, in Australia, check out the Beyond Blue National Depression Initiative; in New Zealand, check out the New Zealand Government's Depression site; in Canada, check out the Government's site on Depression; in the USA, check out the CDC or the NIMH. There are many other good resources available online. Just be sure to verify their trustworthiness. Helping recovery from depression through reading is referred to as "bibliotherapy." If you're motivated enough to take this path of recovery, it can be very beneficial. This method seems to be well-suited to people who always turn to research as a way of answering anything they're experiencing in life. Use your deeper knowledge to educate others around you as to what you're going through. It can help to fend off awkward or unsympathetic comments if you can share the bigger picture and facts about depression. Try talk therapy. One of the most helpful solutions for your depression is meeting with a mental health therapist for psychotherapy. There are a range of psychotherapy treatment options, and each therapist will have his/her own unique style. You will have the best chance of being successful in therapy if you feel comfortable with your therapist. Consult with a number of providers before you select one to work with. Three of the most effective evidence-based therapeutic approaches for depression include: Cognitive behavioral therapy involves the therapist and the patient working together to point out, challenge, and change negative thought patterns. It has been proven to be just as or more effective as an acute treatment (treatment for severe, but not chronic, depression) than antidepressant medications, and even offers those who receive it protection against relapse. Dialectical behavior therapy, a form of CBT, targets unhealthy or disruptive behaviors and teaches the skills necessary to become more adaptive to stressful situations in the future. This form of therapy is useful for treatment-resistant depression.. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a time-limited empirically-researched treatment for mood disorders that focuses on how the symptoms of depression affect an individual's interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal therapy is most effective with mild to moderate forms of depression. Consider taking prescription medication. Many doctors will prescribe medication. Ask questions about the medication you're taking, including duration and side effects. Be sure to report back to your doctor on anything you notice doesn't feel right or if you're experiencing side effects. You may need to have a change of dosage or switch to a different medication. If you don't want to take anti-depressants, make this clear to your doctor. Do your research beforehand to discuss alternative options because you will need to convince your doctor that you have the ability to actively work on your depressive thinking patterns without the aid of medication. If you don't wish to take prescription medication, you may want to look into alternatives to antidepressants. St John's wort is a popular non-prescription herbal remedy for mild depression that contains the active ingredient Hypericum perforatum. St John's wort should not be taken with other antidepressant medication, because it may lead to serotonin syndrome. Some effects of serotonin syndrome include shivering, confusion, seizures, and/or high fever. It can be fatal if left untreated; if you think you may be experiencing serotonin syndrome, call your doctor or visit a hospital immediately. Try alternative therapies or remedies. Investigate the potential of alternative therapies such as art therapy and acupuncture. In conjunction with other healing choices you've made, these can sometimes help restore your emotional balance. It's important to find a respected practitioner in any alternative therapy, and don't be surprised if you meet resistance from some medical practitioners to any reliance on alternative therapies. Music is a form of self-help therapy that is known to change mood. Choose music that improves your mood. If you must listen to sad music, switch to more upbeat music after a few songs. Art therapy is another common alternative practice for depression. Draw, paint, or create designs that unleash your feelings on a canvas or paper. There are qualified art therapists who can assist you if needed. Pet therapy can help. Pets prevent a sense of isolation, they don't judge, and studies have proven that they induce a feeling of well-being in people who are depressed. Even if you don't own a pet, try to get access to someone else's on a regular basis and spend time with them. Sleep well. Sleep is essential to a healthy, balanced body. Lack of sleep can aggravate negative thinking and easily becomes a vicious cycle whereby your negative thoughts keep you awake and disable your ability to get enough sleep. Waking unrefreshed and feeling tired is a common complaint during depression, and even too much sleep can leave depressed persons feeling tired. Breaking this cycle requires enforcing a strict sleep routine of the same bedtime and waking time every day, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, not exercising three hours prior to bed, removing anything distracting from your bedroom, and keeping your room at a suitable temperature. Read how to fall asleep for more help. It won't be easy breaking a disturbed sleep cycle and many things can cause you to relapse back into insomnia or wakeful nights, so it's important to be vigilant about keeping to a routine, as well as forgiving yourself when you can't sleep. Exercise. A recent study showed exercise to be as effective as Zoloft (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI) in treating depression. Exercise releases a natural anti-depressant chemical in your brain and gets you into doing something active. Start small with a simple walk to the local store or around the block, or to your garden gate might be the way to begin. Gradually work up to a routine that fits with your needs and enjoyment. Look for friends or group exercise sessions since having a partner will keep you more motivated. You can also look for activities that will allow you to release some of the pent-up emotions that may be built up, such as kickboxing. Playing sports is a great way to get regular exercise, stay occupied, focus on self-improvement and meet new people. Some studies have found that people who participate in sports have somewhat fewer symptoms of depression. Choose a sport that is exhausting to quiet the chatter in your mind and leave you feeling wrung out—just don't overdo it. Join a team or class in your area and commit to showing up to as many of these meetings as possible, even if you may not feel like going some days. Eat healthy. Reduce your intake of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fast foods, and processed foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole foods. Drink plenty of water and do some research on foods that are said to improve your state of mind and well-being. Improving your diet can be a positive project to keep you constructively occupied and focused when you're working through your depression. Plus, many healthy foods are effective at improving mood. Restore any neglected grooming. It can be easy to let yourself go when depressed and to pay no attention to appearance and clothing. Reintroducing daily attention to grooming can help improve your mood and give you a sense of well-being. Get a new haircut or new clothes as part of cheering yourself up. And concentrate on the parts that you do love about yourself instead of fretting over what you don't like. Maintain a good support network. Support from people who love and care about you is an important part of the healing process. Tell people you trust that you're depressed and would appreciate their understanding and sympathy. It is far harder for people to help you if you're secretive and do things that seem inexplicably strange. Knowing will help people to make allowances and support you as best they can. Be willing to be honest about your irritability and reclusive behavior with those you trust. They need to know it's not personal, but that you need space or time out every now and then. Be around positive people. Talk with friends, family and colleagues who make you feel good and who are good to be around. Spend time with people who see the world in a positive way and ask them to share their visions, ideas, and approaches to life with you. Most positive people will be more than happy to reveal the things that help them keep upbeat and happy about their lives. Learn from them. Remember that misery loves company. It can be incredibly hard to keep away from negative people as down and out as you're feeling, but do your best to avoid them. You won't be doing either of you a favor by confirming each other's fears that the rest of the world is terrible. Keep occupied. Being busy is a way to prevent negative thoughts from going around your head repeatedly. For depressed persons, the first step is often the hardest, so making yourself do things can be a huge difference in your day and getting you started. Engage in a hobby you enjoy or think you'll enjoy. Immerse yourself in it. It doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. As long as it's interesting it will serve the purpose. Care for pets. The routine involved in pets needing to be fed, groomed, and played with can be very satisfying for a depressed person. This is especially so because pets don't provide a sense of judgment, but only return love and acceptance. Introduce structure into your everyday life. Make a schedule of what to do every day, no matter how mundane, and gradually expand this as you start to feel better. It doesn't matter whether you work or not. A schedule can put some direction back into a day that might otherwise feel empty or aimless. Do fun things and treat yourself. Feeling down feeds on itself and it soon becomes a catch-22 when you convince yourself that you don't deserve to enjoy anything. The antidote is to do things that you used to enjoy or that are fun for people around you — "one fun thing a day to keep the blues at bay." As with everything else, do this gradually. One fun thing a day, such as watching a beloved comedy or reading a funny book can give you a sense of fun for a while. Make time to laugh more. This can be watching comedy skits or tv shows that make you laugh, and learn how to take time and enjoy those moments more. Schedule positive events into your life. Go out to dinner, the movies, or for a walk with friends. Take it slowly. If you used to enjoy gardening , plant a single plant. If you used to enjoy a long walk, take a short one. Gradually build up to more enjoyable experiences. Start a journal of your journey through your depression. Document your feelings somewhere personal and completely private. This will be the place where you let out your darkest thoughts — no holds barred — because you don't need to worry that anyone will judge you for them. A diary can become your collaborator in the struggle against your depression because it eventually provides you with great evidence of what improves your mood as well as what brings it down. Try to write in it daily if possible. Help others. This can be a good way of moving through your depression once it's better under control, and is often an ideal technique to use when your healing seems to have temporarily plateaued. Helping other people going through hardships removes your concentration from yourself and onto others, which can be good if you're prone to too much introspection. Don't overdo volunteering. If you become involved in charity or volunteer work and you feel exhausted or used up, that's a sign you're overdoing it or may not even be ready to help others just yet. It doesn't mean you won't be able to do this, but it does mean take care of yourself first. Think of it as a journey to wellness. Depression can feel endless when the lethargy takes over and everything seems too hard. For this very reason, it's important to view getting well as a journey of gradual steps, rather than something with an instant cure. There will be times that your determination is challenged by self-questioning and despair , but this is precisely when you must do your best to avoid being "depressed about being depressed!" Here are good ways to start: Name your beast. Winston Churchill called his depression his "black dog." By turning it into a pet, he made a difficult situation into a controllable one. In naming it, you make it a condition and not a definition of who you are. You can say something like "My black dog is making me feel irritable today," instead of saying "I'm always an irritable no-hoper." Find a role model. Think you're alone in being depressed? Go to the library and pull out five biographies. It's highly likely that at least one of those high-achievers suffered from depression. Do a little research online to find famous people who have overcome depression. Read about the many celebrities who are revealing their battles with depression. Read their stories. Take heart in the fact that there are others who have overcome depression, and now you have the benefit of their experiences to draw from too! Be gentle with yourself. Life isn't a race or a competition. The reality is that you matter, you have great value as a person, and making things harder for yourself is akin to beating yourself up. Avoid obsessing about your depression or creating a shrine to it to hide behind when things all seem to hard. The feedback loop of hopelessness and despair created by being angry with yourself for being depressed will deepen your despair. Go back to naming your beast and setting it apart from who you are. Accept that the journey to wellness is a matter of baby steps. List the things that are bothering you outside of your depression. It could be unpaid bills, a lack of vacations, or a tough job. In another column, write down some practical things that you think you can do to deal with the things that are bothering you. For example, find ways to pay these bills, plan a vacation, and figure out how to get a new job. Understand the importance of overcoming negative thinking. This is a vital aspect of working through depression. Depressed persons tend to have what Aaron Beck refers to as an "Information processing bias." This refers to the tendency to self-select the distorted and negative viewpoints of everything, entrenching the depression even further. Change your thinking. As part of progressing, recognizing and defeating negative thinking patterns is a very important aspect to concentrate on. Cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, or other forms of psychological therapy are helpful when you're unlearning negative thinking and establishing patterns of thinking that support your self-esteem and increase your self confidence. While it is best to read up in this area and speak with someone qualified to help guide you through the ways to change your thinking, there are some important things to keep in mind. Acknowledge the feeling will pass. This can be a very difficult step, but it's vital because it helps you to start banishing thoughts of hopelessness. List all of your good points. When you're depressed, it's easy to understate the positive things about yourself. Turn this around by listing everything that is good about you. Include achievements from the past and hopes for the future, however few or random they may seem. If you can't write this list, have a trusted friend or family member start one for you. This is a list to keep building upon as you work through your depression. Self-acceptance is a vital part of recovering from depression because you acknowledge that there are good things about yourself, but also that you have challenges to overcome. This will help you stop judging yourself more harshly than anyone else. Make decisions, however small, and act on them. Again, while this is very difficult to do during depression, it is a vital element in facing the sense of helplessness that tends to overwhelm depressed persons. Small decisions like getting out of bed, calling friends, or cleaning up the kitchen all add up. Once you act on them, they become achievements. Learn how to replace faulty or negative thinking by focusing on it. Ask questions such as: Am I assuming the worst? Am I condemning myself because something bad has happened? Am I focused on my weaknesses rather than my strengths? It is helpful to arrange the negative thought in one column and a rationalization in another column, so that you can confront and undo the negative thinking. In one column you may write the thought: "I'm a failure," and in the other you challenge that thought with: "I made a mistake. I've made mistakes in the past and things have turned out okay. I've also had many triumphs." Learn assertiveness techniques once you've challenged the harder aspects of your negative thinking processes. Assertive techniques will allow you to find a pathway to standing up for yourself without giving in to feelings of anger, fear, or powerlessness. Knowing how to assert yourself is an important part of not falling back into depressive patterns in the future. Look for the good. Sit back and try to find the good in your life. Whatever it is, it is something worth finding. Return to this list regularly and continue to update it. In your initial recovery, it might have one or two things such as "my house" or "my spouse." Over time, it should grow as you start to experience the more joyful side of life again. Replace unhappy thoughts with memories of happier times. You are always in control of what you're thinking about. Make the choice to prefer the positive, happier memories over the unhappy thoughts. Change the way you talk. Alter the language you use to help yourself look at things more positively. By saying "at least...," this turns a negative into a positive. Other examples include rather than regretting something and feeling a failure, ask yourself, "What have I learned from this?" Accept that depression may return. Once you're affected by depression, your vulnerability to it can mean it has a higher chance of returning in your life if you don't manage its causes. Recognize the warning signs and take constructive actions to deal with it earlier on before it starts. Aim to minimize its impact and duration. If you believe your depression is returning, speak with your doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist right away to begin treatment. | Look for the signs of depression. Have your doctor explore possible medical causes behind your depression. Research depression to get a full understanding. Try talk therapy. Consider taking prescription medication. Try alternative therapies or remedies. Sleep well. Exercise. Eat healthy. Restore any neglected grooming. Maintain a good support network. Be around positive people. Keep occupied. Do fun things and treat yourself. Start a journal of your journey through your depression. Help others. Think of it as a journey to wellness. Understand the importance of overcoming negative thinking. Change your thinking. Look for the good. Change the way you talk. Accept that depression may return. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Lighten-a-Dark-Neck | How to Lighten a Dark Neck | To lighten a dark neck, try making a mixture of honey and lemon and spread it on your neck. Wait for 15 minutes, then rinse it off. If your neck is still too dark, make a thick paste of baking soda and water, apply it to the discolored parts of your neck, then rinse it off after 15 minutes. Repeat either of these treatments several times a week unless it irritates your skin. Once you've lightened the skin on your neck, bathing often and wearing sunscreen outdoors will keep your neck from becoming too dark again. | Moisturize with cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is a great moisturizing agent that can be used daily, even for sensitive skin. Apply cocoa butter to the darkened portions of your neck twice every day until you start to see results. Continue using cocoa butter regularly to prevent your neck from darkening again. Cocoa butter is a good solution for people with dry hair and skin, but people with oily skin may experience breakouts or oily hair. Try a skin lightening product. There are many professional products that are intended to help lighten skin permanently. You should be able to purchase these from beauty supply stores, from an online vendor, or on the recommendation of your doctor. Consider Melarase AM or PM products for skin lightening. Use them twice daily, or as directed. Treat eczema. Darkening patches on the neck can be a symptom of eczema. If you have eczema, make sure you treat it according to your doctor's orders. This usually involves applying topical creams regularly, or whenever you have a breakout. If your eczema symptoms worsen, consult your doctor for further treatment options. Prevent or treat diabetes and obesity. A dark neck is often a side effect of diabetes and obesity. If you want to prevent getting a dark neck, or your dark neck symptoms increasing over time, consider managing your weight with diet and exercise. A healthier lifestyle can also help in diabetes treatment. If you have diabetes, be sure to discuss it with your doctor and get treatment immediately. Treating your diabetes can help minimize your neck discoloration. Protect your hair so that it isn't lightened by the treatment. When using any of the home remedies for lightening your neck, you need to keep the treatment off your hair because it could lighten, as well. The treatments could also dry out your hair. Before applying the home remedies, secure your hair off your neck. Make a honey and lemon mixture. Combine three tablespoons of honey and two teaspoons of lemon juice. Honey and lemon juice are both known to have skin lightening properties. Apply the mixture to the darker portions of your neck and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing it off. Alternatively, you could add tomato pulp to honey and apply it topically to your neck. Make a paste out of baking soda. Mix several tablespoons of baking soda with a bit of water, just until it thickens into a paste. Apply the baking soda paste to the areas of discoloration on your neck and let it sit for approximately 15 minutes. Then wash it off with water. You can repeat this process several times a week as long as your skin does not become too sensitive. The baking soda paste will also act a good exfoliant as your wash it off your neck area. Apply vitamin E oil and almond oil. Heat up several teaspoons of almond oil in the microwave – use low heat for no more than 30 seconds. Mix in an equal portion of vitamin E oil and massage it into your neck skin with your fingers. Once you finish massaging, let the oil remain on the skin for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water. This process is safe and gentle on your skin. You should be able to repeat this process daily. Make a paste out of orange peels and whole milk. Dry out some orange peels by leaving them in the sun for a few hours. Once they are quite dry, grind the peels into a powder and add a bit of whole milk to the powder until it thickens into a paste. Apply the paste to your dark neck areas and let it dry on your skin. Leave it for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off. Orange peels contain a high volume of vitamin C, which is known for its skin lightening properties. If you have a food dehydrator, use this to dry out your orange peels. It will work better than the sun, which may leave your peels too tough to grind. Rub cucumbers on your neck. Sliced cucumbers can act as natural exfoliants for your skin. Simply slice a cucumber and gently rub one side of the slice all along the affected areas on your neck. You can also apply cucumber juice or grated cucumbers to your neck and let it sit. For extra lightening effects, you can try adding a few drops of lemon juice to the cucumber as you rub it on your skin. Wait 10-15 minutes after you finish exfoliating before you wash off the remainder of the lemon juice. Use a sugar and lemon mixture. Mix several tablespoons of sugar with lemon juice until it thickens and becomes a paste. Apply the paste to the darkened areas on your neck and massage it gently into the skin. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing. You can repeat this process several times per week, as long as your skin doesn't become too irritated or sensitive. Mix lemon and salt. Sprinkle some salt on top of lemon slices and gently rub the lemon on your neck. Continue massaging for several minutes and then let the lemon and salt residue remain on your neck for 15 more minutes. Rinse it off and repeat the process several times each week for best results. You can also use lemon juice mixed with salt as a lightening exfoliator. Try yogurt and walnuts. Grind up one tablespoon of walnuts until there is just powder and small pieces of the nuts left. Combine the ground walnuts with several tablespoons of regular, unflavored yogurt. Apply the combination to the dark patches on your neck and massage it gently into your skin. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing. Yogurt is a good cleanser for the skin, and the acid content acts as an effective skin lightener. Walnuts contain many nutrients and minerals that can cleanse the skin and keep it moisturized. Bathe regularly with antibacterial soap. Since a dark neck can often stem from poor hygiene, it's important to bathe often – especially if you begin exhibiting symptoms. Use antibacterial soap on all areas of your body, including your neck, and rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue before you finish bathing. Be sure to gently rub the soap on your body, as intense scrubbing could worsen your symptoms. If you are unable to bathe, consider wiping your neck (and other body parts) with a baby wipe to stay somewhat clean. In general, try to bathe at least once every couple of days. Wear sunscreen whenever you’re outdoors. Dark neck can also be caused by overexposure to the sun. Make sure you wear sunscreen every time you're outdoors for a prolonged period of time. Use at least SPF35 and apply it to all of your exposed skin, especially your neck. Reapply your sunscreen every hour or so (and even more frequently if you're getting in the water). Keep the sun off your neck. Try to minimize your neck's exposure to the sun by choosing your clothing accordingly. Try wearing collared shirts, scarves, or wide-brimmed hats whenever you know you'll be outdoors for an extended period of time. You can also wrap a bandana around your neck, or carry an umbrella/parasol to prevent sun damage. | Moisturize with cocoa butter. Try a skin lightening product. Treat eczema. Prevent or treat diabetes and obesity. Protect your hair so that it isn't lightened by the treatment. Make a honey and lemon mixture. Make a paste out of baking soda. Apply vitamin E oil and almond oil. Make a paste out of orange peels and whole milk. Rub cucumbers on your neck. Use a sugar and lemon mixture. Mix lemon and salt. Try yogurt and walnuts. Bathe regularly with antibacterial soap. Wear sunscreen whenever you’re outdoors. Keep the sun off your neck. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Change-Your-Voice | How to Change Your Voice | To change your voice, open your mouth wide when you speak and avoid talking through your nose so your voice doesn't sound nasally. Also, try breathing with your diaphragm instead of your chest when you speak, which will help you project your voice. If you want your voice to be deeper, practice speaking with a lower pitch, and if you want it to be higher, try a higher pitch. As you practice changing your voice, record yourself so you can hear what you sound like to others. | Muffle your voice. Place your hand or a handkerchief over your mouth as you speak. The obstacle should be directly against your mouth to produce a more dramatic effect. Your voice, like any sound, travels through various mediums in the form of sound waves. The way that those waves are transmitted through air differs from the way those waves sound when traveled through a different medium, like a solid. By placing a solid obstacle in front of your mouth as you speak, you force the sound waves through that obstacle, thereby changing the way that others' ears hear and interpret the sound. Mumble. When you speak, do so in a quieter tone and open your mouth less as you pronounce words. Mumbling changes both word formation and the manner in which your voice carries. When you mumble, you keep your mouth more closed than usual. Certain sounds are pronounced while the mouth is only slightly opened, and those will not be affected much. On the other hand, sounds that naturally require you to open your mouth significantly more will be greatly altered. Consider the difference in sound when saying something as simple as “oh.” First, say “oh” while opening your mouth wide open. Then, repeat the “oh” syllable while keeping your lips just barely parted. If you listen carefully, you should notice the difference in sound. Mumbling also causes you to speak softer. Clear, middle sounds may come through well enough when you speak softly, but softer sounds and end sounds tend to be obscured. Consider the difference in sound when repeating a simple phrase like “got it.” Repeat the phrase forcefully in your normal tone. You will likely be able to pick up on the ending “t” sounds, even if the “t” at the end of “got” blends into the next word. Then, try repeating the phrase weakly in a quiet tone. The two vowel sounds will likely be audible, but the “t” sounds should have weakened significantly. Speak in monotone. Most people naturally speak with some degree of emotion. Focus on maintaining a flat, consistent tone of voice as you speak. The less emotion you use while speaking, the more different your voice will sound. The easiest way to notice the difference is by asking a question in monotone. When asking a question, the vast majority of people will end with a higher intonation. The same question can sound much different when spoken in a flat voice, without that final shift in tone. Alternatively, if people tend to say that you have a flat voice, practice speaking with more enthusiasm or emotion. Think carefully about what you say and change your intonation as you speak accordingly. A good way to practice is with a simple phrase like “Yeah.” When someone says “yeah” in a hurt way, there should be a downward shift in intonation. On the other hand, an enthusiastic “yeah” will have a strong tone with a somewhat high pitch from start to finish. Speak with a different expression. Try speaking while smiling or speaking while scowling, regardless of what you actually say. Expression can affect the emotion with which words are spoken, but expression also changes the formation of your words because your mouth is held in a different position. For instance, consider how the word “oh” sounds when you smile versus how it sounds when your face remains loose. A loose “oh” is more rounded, while an “oh” spoken through a smile will sound shorter in comparison and may even resemble the “ah” sound. Hold your nose as you speak. A quick way to dramatically alter the sound of your voice is to block your nasal passages, and the easiest way to do this is to grasp your nose on either side and close off the nostrils. You can also accomplish a similar effect by simply blocking breath from entering your nose through the mouth. As you speak, airflow naturally travels through both your mouth and nose. Blocking off your nose restricts the amount of air that escapes through your nasal passages and causes more air to be trapped deeper in your throat and mouth. This change in amount and pressure causes your vocal cords to vibrate differently, which changes the way your voice sounds. Practice a new accent. Pick an accent that fascinates you and study the way that it varies from your own way of speaking. Each accent is a little different, so you will need to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the quirks of each individual accent before you can speak in that accent convincingly. Non-rhoticity is a common feature of several accents, including the Boston accent and many British accents. Non-rhoticity refers to the practice of dropping the final "r" sound from a word. For example, "later" would sound like "lata" or "butter" would sound like "butta." The "broad A" is another common feature of many accents, including many British accents, Boston accents, and accents found in English-speaking countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. This practice involves lengthening the short "a" sound. Figure out what you sound like. If you want to change your voice to make it sound either higher or deeper, start by recording yourself so you'll know what approach to take. Use a recording device to capture the sound of your voice talking quietly, talking loudly, and singing. How would you describe the sound of your voice? What would you like to change? Does your voice sound nasally or gravelly? Is it easy or difficult to understand what you're saying? Is your voice breathy or clear? Stop talking through your nose. Many people have a voice that can be described as "nasally." A nasally voice tends to sound unnaturally higher than it should, because it doesn't have a chance to resonate properly to produce a deeper tone. This type of voice can sound grating to others as well as being difficult to understand. Make the following changes to eliminate that nasally sound : Make sure your breathing passages are clear. If you tend to have allergies or your nose is often clogged for other reasons, your voice is going to be stunted and nasally. Clear up your allergies, drink plenty of water and try to keep your sinuses clear. Practice opening your mouth wider when you speak. Drop your jaw and enunciate your words lower in your mouth, rather than producing them in your soft palate. Don't speak from the back of your throat. In order to correct a high voice, many people speak from the back of their throat to produce a falsely deep tone. It's hard to get the proper amount of volume when you're straining to speak from the back of your throat, so doing this produces a muffled, difficult-to-interpret voice. In addition, speaking from the back of your throat in an attempt to sound as though your voice is deeper than it really is puts strain on your vocal cords and can cause a sore throat and voice loss over time. Try doing breathing exercises and exercises that will open up your voice. That can help you use more of the full range of your voice. Speak through your "mask". In order to make your voice sound deeper and more full, it's necessary to speak through your "mask," which is the area comprised of both your lips and nose. Using your entire mask to speak gives your voice the best chance of sounding a bit lower and richer. To determine whether you're speaking through your mask, touch your lips and nose as you speak. They should vibrate if you're utilizing the entire area. If they don't vibrate at first, experiment with different sounds until you find a way of speaking that works, then practice speaking that way all the time. Project from your diaphragm. Breathing deeply and projecting from your diaphragm is key to having a full, rich, strong voice. When you're breathing deeply, your stomach should move in and out with each breath, rather than your chest rising and falling. Practice projecting from your diaphragm by pulling your stomach in to exhale as you speak. You'll notice that your voice rings out loud and clear when you breathe this way. Doing breathing exercises in which you focus on deep breathing will help you remember to project from your diaphragm. Exhale, pushing all the air from your lungs. Once your air runs out, your lungs will automatically begin to inhale deeply in an attempt to satisfy your need for air. Pay close attention to how your lungs feel when you take a deep breath. Inhale comfortably and hold your breath for 15 seconds before exhaling. Gradually increase the amount of time you hold your breath to 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and 1 minute. This exercise strengthens your diaphragm. Laugh heartily, purposefully making a "ha ha ha" sound. Expel all the air from your lungs with your laugh, then inhale deeply and quickly. Lie on your back and place a book or solid object on your diaphragm. Relax as much of your body as possible. Pay close attention to the movement of your diaphragm, noting how the book rises and falls as you breathe. Flatten your stomach as much as possible when you exhale, and repeat until you automatically expand and contract your waist with each breath. Inhale deeply while standing. Exhale, counting aloud from one to five with a single breath. Repeat the exercise until you are able to comfortably count from 1 to 10 on one exhale. When you get the hang of speaking this way, you should be able to project so that your voice can be heard by people on the other side of the room without causing you to become hoarse. Change your pitch. The human voice is capable of producing sound in a range of pitches. Speak in a pitch higher or a pitch lower to temporarily change your voice. Pitch is altered in large part by the laryngeal cartilage. This is the movable piece of cartilage that rises and falls in your throat as you sing a scale: doh, re, mi, fa, sol, lah, ti, doh. Raising the laryngeal cartilage raises your pitch and creates a more feminine sound. Dropping the laryngeal cartilage drops your pitch and creates a more masculine sound. To speak in a lower voice, do exercises to relax your throat, like yawning or opening your mouth really wide from top to bottom. When you open your mouth, you'll notice that your voice is much more rounded, resonant, and deep. Find an app on your smart phone. Downloadable voice changer apps allow you to record your voice into your cellphone and play the words back using a filter that alters the sound of your voice. There are many different apps available. Some cost money, but others are free. Check for apps through the Apple App Store iPhone, Windows Marketplace if you have a Windows phone, or Google Play if you have an Android. Speak through computer software. Search for downloadable text-to-speech freeware or software online. Once installed, type your words into the software text box and press the "Play" option to play your written words back using audio. Use a novelty voice changer. Voice changing devices can be difficult to locate in stores, but you can easily find a novelty device for purchase online. A standard novelty voice changer ranges in price from $25 to $50. Each device works differently, so you should check out the specifications to know what you are getting. Most grant you the ability to change the pitch of your voice in different ways, and many novelty devices are portable. Some devices require you to pre-record your message, but others can be used to adjust your voice as you speak, transmitting the altered through a cell phone or other speaker. Carefully read the instructions that come with your novelty voice changer to learn how to use it properly. Take care of your vocal cords. Your vocal cords, like your skin, need to be protected so they don't age prematurely. If you're hard on your vocal cords, your voice could end up sounding gravelly, whispery, or otherwise unpleasant long before its due. To protect your vocal cords, take the following measures: Don't smoke. Smoking cigarettes has a very pronounced effect on the voice, causing it to lose volume and range over time. If you want your voice to stay clear and strong, it's best to quit. Cut back on drinking. High alcohol intake can also cause your voice to age prematurely. Try to breathe clean air. If you live in a polluted area, load your house with plants to clean the air, and try to get away from the city to breathe fresh air as often as possible. Don't scream too much. If you're a huge fan of hardcore music or you just enjoy screaming sometimes, be aware that using your voice in this way can strain it. Plenty of singers have experienced laryngitis and other vocal maladies from overusing their vocal cords. Examine your stress level. When we experience stress or surprise, the muscles surrounding the larynx contract and cause a high-pitched voice to emerge. If you're constantly nervous, anxious and stressed out, this higher pitch might be your everyday voice. Take measures to calm yourself down so that your steady, full voice is able to emerge. Try taking a few deep breaths before you speak. In addition to calming you down, this will gear you up to project from your diaphragm, improving the sound of your voice. Take 10 seconds to think before you react. When you allow yourself time to gather your thoughts before reacting in nervousness or surprise, you have greater control over your voice. Think, take a swallow, then speak - you'll find that your voice comes out more steady and relaxed. Practice singing. Singing alongside instrumental or vocal accompaniment is a good way to increase your pitch range and keep your vocal cords in good shape. Similarly, you could practice singing along to songs that are outside of your usual vocal range. Each time you sing along, match the notes and pitch of the original singer as closely as possible without straining your voice. With piano accompaniment, begin singing a scale: doh, re, mi, fa, sol, lah, ti, doh. Start at the most comfortable, natural pitch possible. Repeat the scale, increasing your starting pitch by one note each time until your voice begins straining. Once your voice begins to strain, stop. Repeat the scale again, decreasing your starting pitch by one note each time and stopping once your voice begins to strain. Keep your throat relaxed to make it easier to create lower tones. | Muffle your voice. Mumble. Speak in monotone. Speak with a different expression. Hold your nose as you speak. Practice a new accent. Figure out what you sound like. Stop talking through your nose. Don't speak from the back of your throat. Speak through your "mask". Project from your diaphragm. Change your pitch. Find an app on your smart phone. Speak through computer software. Use a novelty voice changer. Take care of your vocal cords. Examine your stress level. Practice singing. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Chicken-Wings | How to Eat Chicken Wings | To eat chicken wings, hold the wing with both hands, pull it apart at the hinge if it's V-shaped, and eat the meat off the bone of the wing tip. Next, twist 1 end of the chicken wing and gently wiggle the bone back and forth to loosen it from the meat. Then, gently slide the bone out of the wing before twisting the other end to remove the second bone. Once you remove the bones, enjoy the meat as it is or dunk it in your favorite dipping sauce! | Hold your chicken wing in both hands. Place the wing in between your index finger and thumb of both hands. This way, you can easily remove the bones from either end. Pull your chicken wing apart at the hinge if it is V-shaped. If your chicken wing has a larger side and a shorter side, break the wing in half. Doing this lets you easily get the meat from the bones. The V-shaped wing includes the wingette (larger part) and tip (smaller part) of the chicken wing. The wingette is attached to the drumette, which is the most common form of prepared chicken wings. If your wing is not V-shaped, you do not have to do this. Eat the meat off the bone of the wing tip. When getting the meat off of the smaller section, simply put the bone in your mouth and scrape off the meat. Twist 1 end of the chicken wing to loosen the bone. Do this for either the wingette or the drumette. Pinch 1 end of the wing, and gently wiggle the bone back and forth to loosen it from the meat. Twisting the bone makes it easier to remove it. Pull the bone straight out of the wing. After you loosen the bone, gently slide it out of the wing. It should easily slide out without much effort. You can remove either the small or large bone first. It does not make a difference which bone you start with. Typically, the small bone is on top and the large bone is on the bottom. Twist the other end to remove the second bone. Pinch the opposite end of the wing with your index finger and thumb, and gently twist the bone back and forth to loosen it. Then, pull the bone straight out. Chicken wings typically have 2 bones inside of them. Dunk your chicken wing into your favorite dipping sauce for extra flavor. While dipping sauce is optional, it adds flavor your wings. Fill up a small ramekin up with your sauce, and dip in the wing before you take a bite. Choose dipping sauce like blue cheese, ranch, or hot sauce. Eat the boneless bite of chicken wing. Once you remove the 2 bones, you are left with a boneless chunk of meat. Take 1-2 bites to eat your boneless wing. Hold the chicken wing in both of your hands. Before you take a bite, grip your chicken wing with your index finger and thumb. This way, you can easily tear into it and get the meat. Do this for either the drumette or wingette. Bite into meat starting at the center. Take your first bite in the middle of the wing, in between the larger and smaller bone. You should get a thick chunk of white meat. Turn the wing around in your hands and eat the meat as you go. After you take your first bite, continue biting into the wing to get the meat. To do this, rotate the wing horizontally as you take your bites. This way, you can get as much meat off the bones as possible. Clean the bone of any remaining meat and skin. Once you've eaten most of the meat off the bone, go around the ends and sides of the wing and bite off any remaining skin or meat. You want the bone to be completely clean when you are finished. | Hold your chicken wing in both hands. Pull your chicken wing apart at the hinge if it is V-shaped. Eat the meat off the bone of the wing tip. Twist 1 end of the chicken wing to loosen the bone. Pull the bone straight out of the wing. Twist the other end to remove the second bone. Dunk your chicken wing into your favorite dipping sauce for extra flavor. Eat the boneless bite of chicken wing. Hold the chicken wing in both of your hands. Bite into meat starting at the center. Turn the wing around in your hands and eat the meat as you go. Clean the bone of any remaining meat and skin. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Survive-an-Early-Work-Schedule | How to Survive an Early Work Schedule | An early work schedule can be a pain at first, but if you prepare your things the night before and get into a routine, you'll have a much easier time waking up in the morning. Before bed, prepare everything you'll need in the morning so you have more time to sleep. Set out your outfit, your bag, and set up your coffee maker if you drink coffee. When you first wake up, drink a glass of water and open the curtains, which will help your body wake up. Leave yourself enough time to have breakfast, since skipping it will just make you more tired. It may be hard at first, but try to go to sleep around the same time each night and wake up the same time each morning. Getting into a routine will help your body feel more energized during your early morning shifts. | Avoid the snooze button. Many people crave the extra 6 to 8 minutes of sleep provided by the snooze button. However, hitting the snooze button will actually make you feel more tired. When you hit snooze, you immediately go into an early sleep stage. Being interpreted early in the sleep cycle causes you to become more groggy and tired than you would have been without those extra minutes. Set your alarm for when you really plan to get up. Do not set it a few minutes ahead of time to give yourself the pleasure of hitting snooze. When your alarm goes off, get out of bed immediately. It may feel awkward and uncomfortable, but remind yourself that you're doing yourself a favor. Keep thinking of the extra energy you'll feel forgoing the snooze button. Drink a glass of water. You often end up mildly dehydrated in the morning, as your body has gone so long without water. Dehydration can make you feel tired or groggy. As soon as you wake up, drink a glass of ice water. This will help make you feel alert and energized as you proceed through your morning routine. Expose yourself to sunlight. Natural sunlight can help you feel awake in the morning. As soon as you get up, do something to get some sunlight. Try pulling back the curtains in your bedroom or stepping out on the porch for a few minutes. This may help wake you up, allowing you to proceed through the morning with more focus. During winter months, you may want to invest in a light therapy box. This is a device that simulates sunlight that you can purchase online or at a department store. Time your routine. Use a timer on your phone or alarm clock. Set the timer to go off every 10 to 15 minutes, and keep an eye on the time. Try to keep every aspect of your routine, such as breakfast and showering, within short time frames. This will help you keep your pace up, allowing you to get out the door in time for your early shift. Keep in mind, this may be tricky for the first few days. You may not hit all your timeframes exactly, but stick with it and eventually you'll be breezing through your morning routine. Have an energizing and efficient breakfast. If you have an early shift, do not skip breakfast to save time. Breakfast is a vital component of a morning routine. As you've gone 8 hours without food, you'll have an energy deficit in the morning that can be fixed with a healthy breakfast. Pick a healthy breakfast that energizes you. If you tend to feel an energy boost after some protein, try hardboiled eggs. If you tend to thrive on carbs, choose a healthy and complex carbohydrate like oatmeal. Also, in the interest of time, pick something quick to prepare. Try instant oatmeal or purchase precooked hardboiled eggs at the store. Do some light exercise. If you have time, a mild amount of physical activity can help wake you up. Exercise increases blood flow, providing an instant boost of energy. If you regularly hit the gym before work, that can help. However, you do not need to engage in intense physical activity in the morning. Even quick, light activity can wake you up for a day of work. You can try taking a brisk walk around the block, doing some light gardening, or even striking a few yoga poses in your living room. All of this can help wake you up in the morning. Listen to music. Some studies indicate your brain releases dopamine in response to music you enjoy. Try listening to your favorite song or band in the morning. This may have a stimulating effect on your brain, allowing you to go into the day with energy. Consider having a morning playlist that you listen to first thing in the morning. You can also set your alarm to be one of your favorite songs. This can give you an instant energy boost as soon as you climb out of bed. Shower fast. If you're in a hurry to make an early shift, it's a good idea to try and shower more efficiently. If you can cut down your shower time, you can sleep for a few extra minutes each morning. Instead of using shampoo and then conditioner, try a 2-in1 combination. Time yourself as you shower. Set a timer and keep an eye on it, striving to keep your shower time within that frame. Use lukewarm water instead of hot water. This will motivate you to get out of the shower quickly. Try caffeine in moderation. Caffeine can be helpful to get you through an early shift. However, moderation is key. About two or four cups of coffee should provide you with a boost in energy. Anymore will likely result in your feeling jittery and may cause a crash later on. Avoid sugar. Sugary energy drinks, sodas, and other sweets may give you a quick boost of energy. This will not last. You'll end up crashing later, feeling more tired than you were before that soda or donut. Instead, stick to healthy, energizing snacks throughout your shift. A salad with lean protein, like chicken, can be an energizing lunch for a long day. Anything rich in lean protein, complex carbs, and vegetables is a great lunch to keep you energized during work. If you have a sweet tooth you want to indulge, go for fruit or yogurt over products with a lot of added cane sugar. Take short breaks, if possible. If you had to wake up earlier than usual, your attention span may waver during work. If you get breaks, take them when you begin to feel restless. Brief breaks can help you stay focused during an early morning shift. Try going for a 15 minute walk during break time. A small amount of exercise can give you a boost of energy. You can also use a short break to go into the break room and have a healthy snack. You may also want to grab a cup of coffee, if you had not had more than 2 cups that morning. Stay hydrated. Drinking water throughout the day can help you feel alert for several reasons. First, if you're getting up to refill a glass of water every hour or so, you're staying active. This can keep you engaged. Second, you may have to use the bathroom more. You're less likely to nod off during work if you have a full bladder. You can keep a water bottle at your desk and occasionally refill it in the break room. You can also make use of any water fountains in your office. Take any chance you have to stop and get a drink of water. Prepare what you need in the morning. You'll thank yourself when rushing through your morning routine if you've prepared beforehand. Pick out the clothes you're wearing for the next day and set them out on a desk or shelf. That way, you won't have to scramble to choose an outfit in the morning. You could also set up your coffee maker to go off in the morning. If you wear makeup, pick out the types you'll be using that day. Set up a makeup station for yourself before a mirror. Engage in a relaxing activity before bed. If you want to stay alert for your morning shift, work on getting high quality sleep the night before. In the 45 minutes before bed, try to engage in an activity that relaxes you. This will signal to your brain that it's time to wind down and sleep. It will also help you take your mind off any stressful thoughts that may keep you up at night. Do something that you enjoy and that helps you calm down. You can read a book, take a warm bath, or do a crossword puzzle. Watching television may be a bad idea, as the light from the TV can stimulate the brain. However, a short amount of a relaxing program may be helpful. If you want to watch TV before bed, stick to lighthearted programs over dramas or news shows. Avoid electronics an hour before bed. The light from computer screens, laptops, and phones can stimulate the brain, much like sunlight. Using electronics shortly before bed can make sleeping difficult. Keep things like laptops out of your room and do not use them when you're trying to wind down for rest. If you have trouble staying away from your computer or phone at night, there are many programs and applications you can download that block some of the light from the screen. These programs can help you use your electronics close to bed time without them having as harsh an effect on your sleep. Make sure your environment is comfortable. It's a good idea to evaluate your room to make sure it's optimal for high quality sleep. An uncomfortable sleeping environment can keep you up at night. Make sure your room is the right temperature. A temperature between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for positive sleep. If your room is warmer, consider a fan or air conditioning. Make sure your bed is comfortable. Avoid sheets and pillows made from materials that cause irritation. Work on blocking out noise and light. Make sure your curtains close all the way, preventing the light from a streetlamp from getting into your room. If there's a lot of noise from outdoors coming in, turn on a fan or white noise machine to block out the sound. Try relaxation techniques if you have trouble sleeping. If you're having trouble falling asleep, try some relaxation techniques. Things like breathing and meditative exercise can help turn your mind down, allowing you to fall asleep faster. Try tensing your toes, counting to ten, and then releasing them. Count to 10 again and then repeat the process 10 times. Tune into your sense. Pay attention to your breathing, any sounds you hear, how your body feels against the mattress, and other sensations. You can also make a list before bed. If you have trouble sleeping due to stress about the coming day, try making a short list before bed of everything you need to do tomorrow. This can help get your mind off the coming day, allowing you to relax and fall asleep. Set a sleep schedule for the future. If you frequently work early morning shifts, work on setting up a sleep schedule for yourself. Your body has a natural circadian rhythm that responds to a regular sleep/wake cycle. If you go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day, even weekends, you'll end up feeling energized in the morning and tired at bedtime. This can help you easily adapt to an early work schedule. | Avoid the snooze button. Drink a glass of water. Expose yourself to sunlight. Time your routine. Have an energizing and efficient breakfast. Do some light exercise. Listen to music. Shower fast. Try caffeine in moderation. Avoid sugar. Take short breaks, if possible. Stay hydrated. Prepare what you need in the morning. Engage in a relaxing activity before bed. Avoid electronics an hour before bed. Make sure your environment is comfortable. Try relaxation techniques if you have trouble sleeping. Set a sleep schedule for the future. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Trim-Overgrown-Boxwoods | How to Trim Overgrown Boxwoods | To trim your overgrown boxwood, start by removing dead branches with brown or shriveled leaves. Then, pull the remaining branches apart so you can see inside the plant and remove any debris, such as leaves or broken branches so more light can reach the center of the shrub. If you're dealing with bulky branches, cut them back as far as the leaves are growing, which will thin out the plant and help it grow back more evenly. Finally, trim off any branches sticking out above your boxwood, which will tame the plant. | Remove dead or damaged branches from the shrub first. These branches should be easy to spot—the leaves will be shriveled up and brown, and the stems will snap easily. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to snip off the dead sections, making the cut at the base of the branch. Make sure you look at the interior of the shrub for dead or damaged sections, not just the outer parts of the shrub. Watch out for signs of boxwood blight. If your branches are diseased, you might see brown spots on the leaves or leaves that are almost entirely brown. Look for black cankers on stems as well. If you see boxwood blight, try using fungicides to help control the disease, change the soil around the shrub, or try putting down mulch to stop the spread of the disease. Fungicides are usually applied directly to the plant, either remaining on the surface or being absorbed into the plant. Make sure you read the instructions on the fungicide carefully to ensure you're applying the right amount to the plant and following proper safety protocol. If your boxwood blight is serious, do a quick search online to find the best strategy for fixing your shrubs. Remove any plant debris that accumulates in the center of the shrub. Use your hands to separate the uppermost branches, allowing you to see inside of the shrub. If there are any leaves that have fallen off of branches or branches that have snapped off and are stuck in other branches, remove all of the debris from the plant with your hands. Removing leaves and branches that have fallen off will allow more light and air to reach the middle of the shrub. Thin the plant to allow more light and air to reach the middle. Look for particularly bulky sets of leaves and branches or branches that should be shortened, and follow these down to the main branch. You should be cutting as far down as you see greenery using pruning shears, making a cut at the base of a branch if possible. To cut down as far as you see greenery, look at the branch and see where the leaves are growing on it. Only cut as far down as the greenery is growing. Overgrown boxwoods become super thick, not allowing light or air to reach the middle of the shrub, which results in an unhealthy plant. On boxwoods that have not been trimmed in several years, decrease the size of the shrub over many growing seasons. Only cut ⅓ of the total shrub so it stays healthy. Trim off branches that are sticking out above the shrub. This will help tame the shrub while also making the boxwood look better for the viewer. Use pruning shears to clip off stray taller branches so that the shrub is level and rounded. Many times, the stems sticking out will be new growth showing lighter green colored leaves. Prune the whole plant, not just the tops that are easily accessible. Instead of focusing on making the outer layer of the shrub look its best, pull aside the branches of the boxwood to look inside. Make sure you're pruning branches that you can't easily see as well as the ones that you can. Use loppers if the growth of your boxwoods are out of control. If your boxwoods have grown an incredible amount and a simple pruning won't suffice, get a pair of pruning loppers. Cut back the main limbs so that they're at a reasonable height, and work on maintaining the rounded shape of the bush. In this case, some of your branches may be leafless when you cut them back. Remember not to cut off more than one-third of the shrub each growing season. Pruning loppers have a longer handle and are great for more heavy-duty pruning. | Remove dead or damaged branches from the shrub first. Watch out for signs of boxwood blight. Remove any plant debris that accumulates in the center of the shrub. Thin the plant to allow more light and air to reach the middle. Trim off branches that are sticking out above the shrub. Prune the whole plant, not just the tops that are easily accessible. Use loppers if the growth of your boxwoods are out of control. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hang-Out-with-Your-Friends-During-the-Coronavirus-Crisis | How to Hang Out with Your Friends During the Coronavirus Crisis | If you're sheltering in place or practicing social distancing due to the coronavirus, you can quickly start to feel isolated or lonely. Fortunately, there are still ways to spend time with your friends while staying safe! Reach out over text, pick up the phone, or use an app like Skype or FaceTime to make a video call so you can see their faces. To fight boredom while you're stuck at home, plan a virtual activity like streaming a movie together or playing an online game. You can even share a meal or have a drink together over video chat. | Send text messages to keep in touch with one another. Either send individual messages or make a group chat if you want to involve all of your friends. Reach out to your friends often and ask them how they're doing. Limit how much you talk about coronavirus so you don't feel anxious or stressed out by it. Instead, try playing fun games like 20 Questions, Would You Rather, or Never Have I Ever to pass the time and get your mind off the emotional toll of this turbulent situation. You can use your phone's standard messaging app, or you can use apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or another texting service. Reach out to extroverted people that you usually see out in public since they may be having a more difficult time adjusting to social distancing. Use social media to reach out to all of your friends. Post statuses or photos on apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat so if you want to communicate with all of your friends at the same time. Write something to let your friends know that you're doing okay or update them about what's happening in your life. Try to share funny images or posts to help lighten the mood. You can also send direct messages to individual friends or groups of people if you want to communicate more privately. Social media is a great way to reach friends that you only see occasionally. Call your friends on the phone to hear their voices. While messaging a friend is a nice gesture, it can be comforting for you to hear each other's voices. Give your friend a call to see if they answer. Ask your friend how they're doing and have a casual conversation with them to catch up. You can also try playing games over the phone, such as Would You Rather or telling a story 1 sentence at a time, to help pass the time and have fun. Many messaging apps, like WhatsApp and Skype, also offer free voice calling services so you can still contact your friends if you don't have phone service. Try a video chat service when you want to see your friends. Even if you can't see your friends in person, you can still spend face-to-face time together from your phone or a webcam. Make 1-on-1 calls if you only want to talk to one friend, or try doing a group call so you can see multiple friends at the same time. Have fun together by telling stories, playing charades, or trying to draw each other. Try using apps like Skype, Zoom , Discord, Marco Polo, or FaceTime. Some text messaging apps, like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, also offer video chat services. Leave your video chat running in the background while you do other things around your home so you can chat with your friends throughout the day. Write letters to your friends for a more personal way to communicate. Take time to write your letter by hand since it will show that you sincerely care about your friend. Try asking thought-provoking questions or just describing how you're feeling to them. You may also try making a collaborative art project or story where each person adds a little bit before sending it again. You can also exchange personal emails if you're unable to send physical letters. Try planning out what you want to say on a scrap sheet of paper or word document so you don't make any mistakes when writing your letter. If you don't know your friend's address, ask them. Otherwise, try looking it up online if you want your letter to be a surprise. Host an online movie night if you want to watch something together. Try to find a time when you and your friends have a few hours of free time, and decide on a movie you all enjoy that's available to stream online. Once you each have the movie loaded up, count down together so you all click the play button at the same time so it's synced up. Comment on the movie or make jokes so you can have fun together. There are many browser extensions, such as Kast or Netflix Party, that automatically sync the movie so you're all watching it at the same time. You can also use Facebook Watch, but you can only watch videos that have been uploaded to Facebook. Play video games online if you and your friends have the same systems. Many video games have online cooperative or competitive modes, so find out what games you and your friends both own. As you communicate, talk about your days and make jokes to help lighten the mood. Make sure you also plan and strategize about the game so you all can win together. You can still play online games even if you don't have voice chat. If you don't have a strong Internet connection, you may disconnect from your friends or experience lag. Try digital board games for a friendly competition. Many board games have dedicated mobile and web apps that help streamline gameplay so they're easier to learn. Start a voice or video chat with your friends and choose a board game app to play. Try a variety of game genres, such as goofy party games or fun strategy games, to see what works best in your group. If you want to play standard board games, try using sites and apps like Tabletopia or Tabletop Simulator. If you want to play a roleplaying game like Dungeons & Dragons, you can use sites like Roll20 to run your campaign. Enjoy a virtual happy hour if you want to have drinks with friends. Start a video chat with your friends when you all finish work for the day and have a drink. Use the time to talk about your day and socialize with one another like you normally would at a bar or restaurant. Spend as long as you want together, but be sure to drink responsibly. Don't drink alcohol if you're feeling sick since it may make you feel worse. Cook or enjoy meals over video chat to relax and destress with friends. Pick a recipe with your friends that you're all able to make at the same time. Set up a video call in your kitchen with your friends so you can all cook at the same time and chat about it. Share any cooking tips or adjustments you made to the recipe with your friends to help them out. When you finish cooking, eat together over the video chat so you can talk about the flavors and carry on casual conversation. Try picking simple recipes that only require a few ingredients so you don't have to go out and buy groceries. Avoid going out and seeing others if you feel sick. If you have a fever, shortness of breath, coughing, or sneezing, opt to stay home and let your friends know that you're not feeling well. Take time to rest and distance yourself from other people so you don't spread any bacteria to other people. Continue monitoring your symptoms and contact a doctor if you start feeling worse or your condition doesn't improve within 2 weeks. Coronavirus can spread even if you aren't showing symptoms, so use caution when planning to meet up with friends in person. Keep your group less than 10 people. Since coronavirus spreads easily through the air, it's more likely to transmit in large gatherings. If you're planning get-togethers, only plan for a maximum of 10 people so you're less likely to catch COVID-19. Make sure each of your friends feels healthy as well before getting together with them to reduce the chance of infection. Try planning outdoor activities so you have more room to spread out. It may be hard to give people personal space if everyone is inside, so look for things you can do outside. Try biking or hiking so you can split up and space yourselves out to prevent transmission more. Avoid activities that have a lot of physical contact, like sports, since you can spread bacteria more. Limit physical contact between you and your friends when you’re together. Avoid shaking hands or hugging one another while you're together. Instead, give each other personal space to keep everyone safe. If you're providing food and drink, make sure everyone has their own plate and drink. Wash your hands frequently and encourage your friends to do the same to prevent any bacteria from spreading. Don't share any dining ware with another person to limit any viral transmission. Disinfect surfaces once your friends leave to keep things clean. Use a disinfectant that is registered by the EPA or has at least 70% alcohol content to ensure that you kill viruses and bacteria effectively. Clean any surface that someone touched or came into contact with using soapy water before spraying them with your disinfectant. Wash your hands for 20 seconds immediately after you clean to kill any germs left on your hands. | Send text messages to keep in touch with one another. Use social media to reach out to all of your friends. Call your friends on the phone to hear their voices. Try a video chat service when you want to see your friends. Write letters to your friends for a more personal way to communicate. Host an online movie night if you want to watch something together. Play video games online if you and your friends have the same systems. Try digital board games for a friendly competition. Enjoy a virtual happy hour if you want to have drinks with friends. Cook or enjoy meals over video chat to relax and destress with friends. Avoid going out and seeing others if you feel sick. Keep your group less than 10 people. Try planning outdoor activities so you have more room to spread out. Limit physical contact between you and your friends when you’re together. Disinfect surfaces once your friends leave to keep things clean. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-Your-Dog-for-a-Road-Trip | How to Prepare Your Dog for a Road Trip | To prepare your dog for a road trip, start by acquainting it with a dog harness or seatbelt harness, which will safeguard your dog's life in an emergency. You'll also need to pack dog food, a crate, blankets, your dog's favorite toys, and its leash and collar. In addition, consider visiting your vet to ensure your dog is both microchipped and up to date on important vaccinations, especially if you're traveling to a place where certain canine illnesses are common. If you're still concerned about taking your dog on a road trip, take it on a practice trip first. During your practice trip, make sure to praise and reward your dog every step of the way, so it builds a positive association with being in the car. | Visit your veterinarian. Perhaps the first step in preparing your dog for a road trip is to make sure that he or she is healthy enough to take the trip. This should be no problem if you regularly take your dog to the vet for checkups and other issues. If you have not: Make an appointment with the vet. Talk to your vet to make sure your dog is up to date on important vaccinations. This might be very important if you are traveling to areas where certain canine illnesses are common. Seek treatment for any outstanding issues that your dog suffers from. This could range from car sickness (in which case your vet could prescribe medication), to flea problems (this can also be solved with medication). Acquaint your dog with a dog harness/seatbelt harness. One of the best items you should invest in when going on a road trip with your dog is a seatbelt harness. A good seatbelt harness will safeguard your dog's life in the event of an emergency and keep your dog in one spot in the car. After you've purchased a harness, put it on your dog so he or she can get the feeling of it. Allow your dog to wear it and walk around with it for a while until he or she is comfortable. When wearing the harness for the first time, give your dog lots of praise and treats. Perform a dry run with the harness. Once your dog is suited up in the harness, put him or her in the car. Run the seat belt strap through the harness handle and latch to the buckle. Be sure there is enough slack to sit up, lay down and look out the window. Take your friend for a drive around the neighborhood. Have your dog microchipped. Microchipping your dog is something important you might want to consider before going on a road trip. A microchip will be extremely important if your dog somehow gets lost or goes missing on your journey. Canine microchips contain all of your contact information and can easily be scanned by local animal shelters and vets. Canine microchips are relatively inexpensive and can range from less than $10 to $50 with yearly fees. Canine microchips are responsible for thousands of dogs being returned to their owners every year. Make sure your dog's microchip information is up to date with your current address and phone number. Take a practice trip. Whether your dog is a seasoned traveler or a new traveler, you may want to consider taking a relatively short practice trip just so you both can get used to how you'll be traveling. A practice trip can help you identify any issues you might have on the road. A practice trip will allow you to figure out if your dog suffers from motion sickness. Set your dog up in the car the same way he or she would be set up on the real trip. Try driving for about half an hour to an hour to see how your dog behaves. Be positive and reward your dog every step of the way on the practice trip. You can do this both verbally and with treats. Doing so will help your dog build a positive association with the car. Teach your dog how to relieve himself on command. Most places you'll visit will require your dog to be leashed at all times, even when nature calls. If your dog isn't used to eliminating while on leash, you will need to teach this skill well in advance. Begin in your backyard. Use a verbal cue such as "go potty" to let him know that it's time to perform. Once your dog eliminates, praise him. Practice this routine in unfamiliar areas around town. Purchase enough dog food. Before you get on the road, you need to make sure that you've purchased enough dog food for your journey. Whether you trip is a day long or a month long, you'll want to make sure that you have your friend's favorite food in stock so you don't have to hunt it down when on the road. If space allows, bring all of the food you'll need for the journey. If your dog has a special diet, this could be extra important. Make sure to bring plenty of treats. Bring your dog’s favorite toys. When gathering your travel gear, make sure to bring some of your dog's favorite toys. Toys will provide your dog with something to do and serve as a familiar item that could relieve stress and anxiety. Bring toys that your dog can realistically play with. Bring some toys that your dog just might like to have around – like a favorite teddy bear. Avoid bringing toys like rawhide, bones, or other items that your dog could choke on when you are driving. Pack plenty of blankets and other comfortable items. Make sure that you pack your car with plenty of blankets and other comfortable items so your dog can nest and rest comfortably on the journey. This, ultimately, might be the most important thing you can do to make your dog's journey a fun one. Bring your dog's bed, if space permits. Pack blankets pillows and spread them around the area your dog will be laying. Always bring more pillows and blankets than you think you need, as your dog will be sleeping the majority of your trip and will want to be comfortable. Pack your dog’s leash. Your dog's leash is perhaps the most important part of the road trip experience – as your dog will have to be leashed when you walk your friend or hike in parks and other scenic areas. As a result, you won't want to forget a leash. Bring a spare leash, in case something happens to your main one. Consider bringing leashes of several lengths, as you might need leashes for different occasions. Always use a leash when walking your dog in strange locations. Leash your dog before you open the door to let him or her out of the car. Bring your dog’s collar with contact information. When packing for your trip, make sure to bring your dog's collar with any vaccination tags and contact information. You'll want to put the collar on your dog whenever he or she is out of your car or has the chance to escape. Wearing a collar could pay off big time if your dog is lost and someone brings him or her to a local shelter somewhere. Purchase a dog crate. Consider buying a dog crate. Dog crates are extremely important when going on road trips. They will allow you to crate your dog at a hotel or motel, or in the car if possible. In the end, your dog crate might wind up being an indispensable item for your trip. Hard-sided, collapsible crates provide protection during travel and also while staying at your destination. Avoid soft-sided crates since dogs can tear out of them when they are nervous and stressed about unfamiliar situations. If you have to leave your dog alone in a hotel by himself or herself on the road, a crate will be extremely important. Pack plenty of doggy waste bags. One important item you should not forget are doggie waste bags. These are important since your dog will be pooping on public or private property (that you do not own). Doggy waste bags will allow you to pick up after your pooch and avoid making a mess for other people. Create or purchase a dog travel first aid kit. A dog first aid kit is a really good idea for any person traveling with their canine friend. Bringing a kit will prepare you for the eventuality of an unexpected emergency on the road. Ultimately, if something does happen, you will be equipped to treat your friend for an array of issues. Include items such as dog wound compression wraps, antiseptic rinse, gloves, scissors, gauze, tweezers, and hand sanitizers. A muzzle should also be included, since a dog's natural reaction when seriously injured is to defend itself with a bite. Consult your veterinarian about items to include if your dog has a specific medical problem. Build a list of medical professionals on your route and at your destination. Part of getting your dog ready for the trip is making sure you're ready to take care of your dog. As a result, you need to make sure that you'll be prepared and know exactly where to go if your friend has a medical emergency. To do this, you need to do some footwork on the internet and create a list of veterinarians along your route and at your destination. If your dog has any special needs, contact vets along the way or at the final destination to make sure they can care for your dog. Do a quick internet search to find vets in major cities or substantial towns along your route. Call veterinarians on your list if you have any questions or concerns. Stock up on your dog's medications. If your dog is on any medication at all, make sure you have enough medication to last the entirety of the trip and then some. Having enough medicine will make sure that you won't have to track down a vet at the last minute. Tell your veterinarian about your travel plans and let them know you might need extra medicine. Ask your veterinarian for an emergency prescription just in case you need more medicine or lose what you bring. Store any medication appropriately. If medication (like insulin) needs to be cool, bring a cooler. Never leave sensitive medicine in a hot car. | Visit your veterinarian. Acquaint your dog with a dog harness/seatbelt harness. Have your dog microchipped. Take a practice trip. Teach your dog how to relieve himself on command. Purchase enough dog food. Bring your dog’s favorite toys. Pack plenty of blankets and other comfortable items. Pack your dog’s leash. Bring your dog’s collar with contact information. Purchase a dog crate. Pack plenty of doggy waste bags. Create or purchase a dog travel first aid kit. Build a list of medical professionals on your route and at your destination. Stock up on your dog's medications. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards | How to Remove Gold from Circuit Boards | To remove gold from circuit boards, start by purchasing concentrated nitric acid from an industrial or chemical store. You'll also need a face mask, safety glasses, and industrial gloves to work with nitric acid, since it can harm your skin and eyes and cause nausea if it's inhaled. Next, break the circuit board into smaller pieces and place them inside a glass container. After putting on your safety gear, pour the nitric acid into the container and stir the mixture using a glass rod. Then, use a filter to drain the mixture and pick out the gold parts. | Get protective gear. Be sure to wear a face mask, safety glasses, and industrial gloves. Chemicals and acids can irritate or even burn through your skin. Fumes from burning acids can also hurt your eyes and cause nausea when inhaled. Purchase concentrated nitric acid. Nitric acid is a clear liquid chemical commonly used for various industrial, steel, and wood works. You can purchase nitric acid from industrial or chemical shops. In some states and countries, however, you might be prohibited from buying nitric acid or you might have to meet certain standards before you're allowed to purchase it. Check with your local authorities before purchasing. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-2Bullet1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-2Bullet1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-2Bullet1-Version-4.jpg\/aid4861426-v4-728px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-2Bullet1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":325,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"515","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>"} Put your circuit boards in a glass container. The container should preferably be Pyrex glassware or the kind that can withstand extreme heat. Break the circuit boards into smaller pieces before you put them in the glass container. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet1-Version-4.jpg\/aid4861426-v4-728px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":325,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"515","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>"} Do not use plastic containers as the acid might burn right through it. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet2-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet2-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet2-Version-4.jpg\/aid4861426-v4-728px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-3Bullet2-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":325,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"515","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>"} Pour the concentrated nitric acid into the glass container with the circuit boards. As you put the acid in, burning fumes will start to come out of the container, so make sure you're wearing protective gear. Stir the mixture using a glass rod until the contents become fluid in form. Since gold requires stronger chemicals to be dissolved, the nitric acid will melt all the plastic and metal parts of the circuit board without harming the gold bits. Drain the nitric acid from the mixture. Use a filter to separate the solid parts from the liquid. Pick out the unmelted parts. These parts will have the gold. Some plastic may still be attached to the gold, so you need to separate these little bits off the gold yourself. Be sure to use industrial strength gloves when you do so. Get protective gear. Be sure to wear a face mask, safety glasses, and industrial gloves to avoid breathing in the fumes released by the burning plastic. Use steel tongs to turn over the burning circuit boards. Get a metal bin or tray, and put the circuit boards into it. Break the boards into smaller pieces so they burn faster. Light the boards on fire. Pour a bit of gasoline over the pieces to put the pieces on fire. Turn the burning pieces over using steel tongs, and wait until the boards are burnt black. Put out the fire. Allow the pieces to cool down a little—just warm enough so you can touch them, but not too cooled down that the plastic hardens again. Break off the pieces of plastic attached to the gold parts. The burning process should have made the board materials brittle and easy to break. To be safe, wear protective gloves when breaking off the plastic. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-12Bullet1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-12Bullet1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-12Bullet1-Version-4.jpg\/aid4861426-v4-728px-Remove-Gold-from-Circuit-Boards-Step-12Bullet1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":325,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"515","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} | Get protective gear. Purchase concentrated nitric acid. Put your circuit boards in a glass container. Pour the concentrated nitric acid into the glass container with the circuit boards. Stir the mixture using a glass rod until the contents become fluid in form. Drain the nitric acid from the mixture. Pick out the unmelted parts. Get protective gear. Get a metal bin or tray, and put the circuit boards into it. Light the boards on fire. Put out the fire. Break off the pieces of plastic attached to the gold parts. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-Your-Cat-Is-Dying | How to Know if Your Cat Is Dying | To know if your cat is dying, try feeling its heartbeat and counting the beats per minute. If your cat's heartbeat is significantly less than the healthy range of 140-220 beats per minute, it could be a sign that it's dying. Also, watch your cat's breathing and try to count how many breaths it takes per minute. A healthy cat will take 20-30 breaths per minute, so if your cat is breathing a lot less than that, it could be a sign that something is wrong. You should also watch your cat's eating and drinking habits since dying cats tend to stop eating and drinking in their final days. | Feel the cat's heartbeat. A lowered heart rate is a sign that the cat may be getting weaker and nearing death. A healthy cat's heart rate is between 140 and 220 beats per minute (bpm). A very sick or weak cat's heart rate may drop to a fraction of the normal rate, indicating death could be near. Here is how to measure your cat's heart rate: Place your hand over your cat's left side, right behind his/her front leg. Use a stopwatch or your smartphone to count the number of beats you feel in 15 seconds. Multiply the number by four to get the heart rate beats per minute. Assess whether the bpm is at a healthy or below-normal level. A very weak cat's blood pressure will drop as well, but this can't be measured without special equipment. Check the cat's breathing. A healthy cat takes between 20 and 30 breaths per minute. If a cat's heart has become weak, the lungs operate less effectively and less oxygen is pumped into the bloodstream. This causes rapid breathing as the cat struggles for oxygen, followed by slow, labored breathing as the lungs fill with fluid and breathing becomes very difficult. Monitor your cat's breathing in the following way: Sit near your cat and quietly listen to his/her breathing. Watch his/her abdomen rise and fall with each breath. Use a stopwatch or your smartphone to count how many breaths she takes in 60 seconds. If she is breathing quite rapidly and heavily, or if she seems to be taking very few breaths, she may be close to the end. Take the cat's temperature. A healthy cat's temperature is between 100 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A cat nearing death will have a lower body temperature. As the heart weakens, the body temperature begins to drop below 100. You can check your cat's temperature in the following ways: Use a thermometer. If you have an ear thermometer, take your cat's temperature in his ear. If not, you can use a digital rectal thermometer to take the temperature of pets. Set the thermometer, insert it about 1 inch into the cat's rectum, and wait for it to beep to learn the temperature. If you don't have a thermometer, feel his paws. If they're cool to the touch, this could be a sign that his heart is slowing down. Monitor the cat's eating and drinking. It is very common for cats to stop eating and drinking toward the end of their lives. Notice whether your cat's food and water dish seem to always be full. Your cat may also exhibit physical signs of anorexia, such as a wasted look from losing weight, loose skin and sunken eyes. Check the cat's waste as well. A cat who is no longer eating or drinking will have lower output and darker urine. As the cat weakens, he may have low or no control over his urinary tract and bowels, so you may notice accidents around the house. See if the cat has an odor. When a cat's organs begin to shut down, toxins build up in the body and cause a bad smell. If your cat is near death her breath and body may have a foul odor that gets worse and worse over time, since she has no way of eliminating toxins. See if the cat seeks solitude. In the wild, a dying cat understands that it is more vulnerable to predators, so it seeks out a place where it can pass away in peace. A cat who is dying may instinctively hide in an out-of-the-way room, under furniture or somewhere outside. A dying cat may also be clingier to fellow cats or you. Take your cat to the vet. If you notice any signs that your cat is ill, take him to the vet right away. Many of the signs of imminent death are also signs of severe illness that could be cured with proper treatment. Don't assume that because your cat exhibits these signs, he is definitely about to die; there could still be hope. For example, chronic kidney disease is common among older cats. The symptoms of the disease are very similar to end-of-life symptoms. With proper intervention, however, a cat with chronic kidney disease could live for many years. Cancer, lower urinary tract disease, and diabetes are also examples of potentially curable problems with symptoms similar to those of a cat who is dying. Consult with your vet about end-of-life care. Once it has been determined that medical intervention will not significantly prolong your cat's life, you'll want to talk with your vet about how to make your cat as comfortable as possible in her final days. Depending on your cat's symptoms, the vet may provide a prescription for pain medication, equipment to help her eat and drink, or bandages and salve to dress a wound. Many owners are now turning to "home hospice care" to ease their pets' passing. The owners provide round-the-clock care to keep their pets healthy and comfortable for as long as possible. If you don't feel comfortable administering a certain form of treatment, you might be able to set up frequent appointments with your vet to get your cat the care she needs. Provide a soft, warm bed. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a cat who is nearing the end of his life is provide warm, cozy place to rest. At this point your cat probably isn't moving around very much, so he's probably spending most of his time in his bed. You can make his favorite place to sleep more comfortable by providing extra soft blankets. Make sure your cat's bedding is kept clean. Wash the blankets every couple of days in hot water. Don't use a highly perfumed detergent, since this could be irritating to your cat. If your cat is experiencing incontinence, line the bed with towels that you can easily change out each time your cat urinates. Help your cat eliminate comfortably. Sometimes cats have trouble making it to the litter box to relieve themselves normally. If your cat is too weak to get up, you may have to carry her to the litter box every few hours. Talk with your vet about getting a sling for your cat to help her eliminate more comfortably. Monitor your cat's pain level. Your cat may be in severe pain even if she doesn't cry or flinch when you touch her. Cats exhibit pain more quietly, but with careful observation you should be able to tell when she is having a hard time. Look for the following signs of suffering: The cat is acting more reclusive than usual The cat is panting or struggling for breath The cat shows reluctance to move The cat is eating or drinking even less than usual Decide whether euthanasia is appropriate. The decision to euthanize a cat is never an easy one. Many cat owners would prefer to allow their pets to die naturally at home instead. However, if your cat's suffering becomes extreme, you may decide that euthanizing him is the more humane choice. Call your vet to help you decide when the time has come. Keep a diary of your cat's level of suffering and pain. When the "bad days" outnumber the "good days" — days when your cat can get up and move around or breathe easily — it might be a good time to talk with your vet about ending your pet's suffering. If you choose euthanasia, the vet will administer a sedative followed by a medication that causes him to pass away peacefully. The process is painless and takes between 10 and 20 seconds. You may choose to stay in the room with your pet or wait outside. Take care of your cat's remains. If your cat dies at home, it's important to store the body in a cool place until you're able to proceed with cremation or burial plans. This ensures that the body won't deteriorate or become a hazard to your family's health. Wrap the cat carefully in plastic (such as a plastic bag) and store the body in a cool place, such as a freezer or on a cold concrete floor. If your cat is euthanized, the vet will properly store the body for you. Decide between cremation and burial. If you would like to have your cat cremated, talk with your vet about options in your area. If you would prefer to bury your cat, research local pet cemeteries where you can have your cat interred. In some states it is legal to bury your pet on your property, while in other places it is not legal. Before deciding where to bury your pet, research your local laws. It is illegal to bury your cat in a public park or other public land. Consider grief counseling after the death of your pet. The death of a pet can be extremely difficult. It's normal to feel deep sadness once your pet has passed away. Make an appointment with a grief counselor who specializes in helping people who have lost pets. Your veterinarian may be able to refer you to a qualified counselor. | Feel the cat's heartbeat. Check the cat's breathing. Take the cat's temperature. Monitor the cat's eating and drinking. See if the cat has an odor. See if the cat seeks solitude. Take your cat to the vet. Consult with your vet about end-of-life care. Provide a soft, warm bed. Help your cat eliminate comfortably. Monitor your cat's pain level. Decide whether euthanasia is appropriate. Take care of your cat's remains. Decide between cremation and burial. Consider grief counseling after the death of your pet. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-an-Oil-Burn | How to Treat an Oil Burn | To treat an oil burn, run cool, but not cold, water over it for 10-20 minutes or until your skin feels cool to the touch. Then, wrap some plastic wrap around your burn, which will keep it clean and help your skin retain moisture. Change out the plastic wrap every day and wash your burn with soap and cool water. If your burn hasn't healed after 3 weeks, or if you notice oozing, pus, or increased swelling and redness, seek medical attention as soon as possible. | Move away from the source of the burn. Stepping away from the hot oil keeps you from getting burned again. Step far enough away that oil splatter won't reach you. You may also want to remove the oil from the heat source so it won't continue to spray. If you're cooking, remove the oil from the burner before you begin first aid treatment so you don't burn your food or cause a fire. Remove any clothing near the burn. Before you cool the burn, remove any clothing covering the burn unless it's stuck to the burn. If the clothing is stuck, leave it. Pulling it off could cause further damage to your skin. If part of a piece of clothing is stuck to the burn, you may have to cut that part of the clothing away. You can also try wetting any clothing that's stuck to the burn. This may cause it to come loose without any pulling. Run cool water over the burned skin for 10 minutes. If your hand or arm is burned, you can simply stick it under the tap. Make sure the water is covering all parts of the burn. If the skin isn't cool to the touch after 10 minutes, you can continue running the water for up to 20 minutes. The water should be cool, but not cold. Avoid applying ice to the burn, because you could cause further damage to the skin. Wrap some plastic cling wrap around the burn after running water over it. This will keep the burn clean and help the area retain moisture. If you can't run cool water over the burned skin due to the location of the burn, you can place a washcloth soaked in cool water over the burn, or soak the burn in a cool bath. Evaluate the size and appearance of the burn. If the burn is small (e.g., about the size of a U.S. quarter or smaller), then you can probably safely treat it at home. For larger burns, seek medical attention as soon as possible. If your burn is deep and severe, you may notice blistering, redness, and inflammation and heat around the burn. These types of burns can cause nerve damage, and should be treated by a medical professional, even if they are small. Call emergency services or go to the emergency room immediately if your burn covers a large area of your body (such as you face, hands, groin, buttocks, or a major joint) or is deep enough to penetrate all your layers of skin or even deeper tissues. Take aspirin or acetaminophen for pain. If the burn is still painful after you've cooled the skin, an over-the-counter pain reliever will help. A pain reliever with an anti-inflammatory can also help reduce swelling. Clean the burn with cool water. Use cool water to gently clean the skin. Pat rather than rub to avoid causing further damage to your skin. If your skin is blistered, take extra care not to pop any of the blisters. Apply a thin layer of burn ointment. If you have a first aid kit, it may include a burn ointment. If you have an ointment or gel available, you can use it. However, it isn't necessary to use burn ointment or gel to treat an oil burn. You can also use pure aloe gel to help alleviate your pain. Avoid ointments that contain antibiotics. Antibiotics aren't necessary, and may cause an allergic reaction. Do not use creams, lotions, butter, or egg whites. They can prevent your skin from healing and may lead to infection. Wrap the burn lightly with a moist dressing. If you can, use a moist dressing pad or wrap specifically designed for burns. Your dressing should be loose, just barely touching the skin. If you don't have burn dressing, you can wrap the burn area with plastic cling wrap or a clean plastic bag. Never wrap a burn with something dry and clingy that could stick or leave fibers on the burned skin, such as a dry gauze dressing. If you must put gauze on the burn, wet the dressing with sterile water or apply a layer of Vaseline to the burn before putting on the gauze. Get a tetanus shot if necessary. Tetanus bacteria can enter your body through burned skin. If it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot, call your doctor or a nearby clinic to get a booster. The risk of tetanus is low with superficial burns. However, if your skin is blistered or the burn is more severe, a tetanus shot can protect you. Change the dressing daily. Every day, remove the old dressing and discard it. Wash the burn with mild soap and cool water. While you're washing the burn, inspect your skin for signs of infection. If you see oozing or pus, or if you notice increased redness or swelling, seek medical treatment right away. These could be signs of infection. Apart from changes to the burn itself, a fever or swollen lymph nodes are also signs of infection. Seek medical treatment if you have a fever higher than 100.4° F (38° C). It may take 2 to 3 weeks for the wound to heal. If it hasn't healed in that time, seek medical attention. Avoid scratching burned skin. As a burn heals, it will likely itch. If you scratch it, you could further damage the skin as well as introduce bacteria that could lead to an infection. A lotion with aloe can help ease the itching. Avoid cortisone or other anti-itching lotions or ointments. They are not effective for burns and may prevent the burn from healing. | Move away from the source of the burn. Remove any clothing near the burn. Run cool water over the burned skin for 10 minutes. Evaluate the size and appearance of the burn. Take aspirin or acetaminophen for pain. Clean the burn with cool water. Apply a thin layer of burn ointment. Wrap the burn lightly with a moist dressing. Get a tetanus shot if necessary. Change the dressing daily. Avoid scratching burned skin. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Out-the-Date-Someone-Got-Married | How to Find Out the Date Someone Got Married | There are several ways to find out the date someone got married. Search online to see if your state and county has online marriage indexes where you can find out the date of a marriage. If you can't find the information that way, ask at the local county records office where the couple got married. You may have to pay a fee to perform the search. Alternatively, you can search an online marriage record agency. These generally charge a fee, but you might be able to get a free trial to search for a marriage. If you're looking for the date of marriage before the 20th century, look for church records at the church or headquarters of the denomination. | Visit a specialist website. The quickest and easiest way to find out when somebody was married is to visit a website of a company that can search through marriage records for you. There are a number of these online agencies. You will find them by looking for “marriage record checks” or “background checks” in a search engine. Before employing any agency to find out information, be sure you do some research on the company. Look for one that has positive feedback and a good reputation. See if there’s a free trial. Online agencies will charge you for their services, but in some instances you may be able to utilise a free trial period, or have one free trial search. If you only want to look up the records for one marriage, you may be able to take up an offer and do the search for free. Remember that results are not guaranteed, even if you pay. Using a free trial will give you an idea of the service you can expect. Some of these databases will not go right up to the present day. Make sure you know they cover the approximate year you think the wedding occurred in before proceeding. Sign up for an online account. Few agencies will allow you to search without signing up for an account. You will need to provide your personal details and agree to a payment option. These agencies are often used by people such as private investigators, so membership is generally based on subscription. In some cases you will be able to pay on a pay-as-you-go basis. In the UK, a subscription could cost you £15 a year, or 3 months for £5. With deals like these, there will often be a limit to the number of searches you can perform. Search through the online database. You may also be able to pay for a complete background check, through which you can learn other personal information in addition to the marriage date. To search for a marriage record online you will generally need the person's full name, and the city and state the marriage was performed in. If possible, research the records that the database has before paying. Some sites will show you which years are available to be researched in that state. Use a search engine. In some cases you may be able to bypass all of this just by typing someone's name into a search engine. There may well be record of the wedding online that may include the place and date of the ceremony. This may only work with people who have a strong presence on social media, but it is certainly worth a try. Check your state's marriage certificate index or repository. The records of marriages are held by your County, and the way the information is kept and made available can vary from place to place. If your state and county has online marriage indexes, you can search through this online database to find information on the marriage. Not all states have these indexes, but if they do, it may allow you to find the person's wedding day without going to an office. Visit http://websearchguides.com/marriage_and_divorce_records.htm#partII to see if your state has a marriage certificate index. Go to the county records office. If you haven't been able to find the information you are looking for online, the next step is to visit the country records office or courthouse in person. To do this you will need to know where the marriage took place, so that you can go to the relevant office. Marriage licenses, which show the date of marriage, are given by the county clerk and a search can be conducted at the County Recorder's office. You need to go with as much information as you have about the marriage in question. This should include at least the names of the couple and the place of the marriage. If you know approximately when they were married, this could help narrow the search. Request the marriage records. Once you are at the right place, you will be asked to fill out the paperwork required to request information on the marriage. You may be asked to pay between $10 and $50 to perform a search. You may be able to conduct the search online, through your county clerk website. You may or may not need to submit a credit card number to conduct the search online. Look for church records. The US did not require civil registration of marriages until the twentieth century. If you are looking for information on an earlier marriage, it's a good idea to try and check church records, which in some cases go back to the 1600s. To find the church records you will need to know where the person lived, as well as the denomination of the church they attended. Church records are generally kept in churches and their archives, at historical and genealogical societies, and in libraries. If the church doesn't hold the archives, the headquarters of the denomination may do. Learn the location of the marriage. In some cases, marriages will be followed by an announcement in a local newspaper or newsletter. This is certainly becoming less common than it used to be, but if you are lucky, you may find a wedding announcement this way. Some obituaries also contain information on the person's marriage. If possible, you should start by finding where the marriage that you are interested in took place. This will allow you to identify any newspapers that may have published the date. Go to the local newspaper website. If you know where the person was married, you can try looking on the website of the local newspaper in that location. Do a search for the names in the announcements section or public records section. Some larger local or state newspapers may have an online archive service, but you may have to pay to use this. You can find further information on online newspaper archives on a state-by-state basis here: http://www.neh.gov/us-newspaper-program. Go to your public library. Some local newspapers may not have very thorough online records, so in some cases you may be required to visit the local library to see archive copies of the paper for the period you are looking at. You may also be able to search for the records at the newspaper's headquarters. You can find archive copies of newspapers in good public libraries, and access should be free of charge in most cases. | Visit a specialist website. See if there’s a free trial. Sign up for an online account. Search through the online database. Use a search engine. Check your state's marriage certificate index or repository. Go to the county records office. Request the marriage records. Look for church records. Learn the location of the marriage. Go to the local newspaper website. Go to your public library. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Backyard-Pond | How to Build a Backyard Pond | To build a backyard pond, start by using a spade or excavator to dig out the pond so it's at least 7 feet by 4 feet across and 1.5 feet deep. Then, spread a thin layer of builder's sand over the bottom of the pond, and cover it with a pond liner that's at least 4 feet larger than the pond itself. Next, install a fountain or waterfall to help aerate the pond, and add a filter and heater if you plan on keeping fish. Finally, fill up the pond with water, and create a border around the edge with rocks or stones. | Call the dig line before you start planning your pond. Knowing the location of underground utilities is essential so you can plan to put your pond in an area away from electrical and water lines. Use a search engine to find the dig line number for your area. Alternatively, contact your electricity or gas provider to get information. Choose a location for the pond that is accessible and away from trees. Pick the location in your backyard where you would like the pond to go. You may want the pond to be visible from a window or a deck. Try to keep the pond away from play areas of small children or pets, and avoid large trees as this can block sunlight from reaching the pond. Choose a spot for the pond where it will get sun and shade throughout the day. Sun is necessary to keep the pond healthy, but too much means that algae could overgrow. Plan a pond that is a minimum of 7 by 4 ft (2.1 by 1.2 m). It's important to make the pond at least this big in order to keep the water clean. Plan a pond that is larger in size if you want a more elaborate design, as it all depends on how you want your pond to look and what it will be used for. Large and elaborate ponds can be over 300 sq ft (28 m ). Make the pond a minimum of 1.5 ft (0.46 m) deep. The depth of your pond depends on how you are planning to use it. To have aquatic plants and goldfish in the pond, approximately 1.5–2 ft (0.46–0.61 m) deep is adequate. For a koi pond, you will need a depth of at least 3 ft (0.91 m). Deeper ponds are able to maintain more consistent temperature ranges. This is ideal if you are wanting fish. Choose a pond shape with rounded corners. Once you have decided on the measurements for your pond, pick the shape that you would like it to be. Choose a shape with rounded corners to make the pond look natural and avoid elaborate shapes as these can be difficult to construct. If you need, mark out the shape on the ground first to experiment with different designs. Use rope, a hose, or spray paint. This will also provide a guideline when it comes to digging the pond. Use a spade or an excavator to dig the pond. Dig the pond according to your plan and measurements. Gently slope the edges of the pond down toward the center of the base. If you want to include aquatic plants, dig small terraces in the pond to create shelves where the plants can grow. The terraces look like small steps along the side of the pond. These provide a flat surface for the plants and you only need to dig these where you are planning to put the plants. An ideal size for each terrace is 1 by 1 ft (30 by 30 cm) and 8 in (20 cm) deep. You can hire a professional to use an excavator to dig the pond if you don't want to dig it by hand. Spread a 1.2 in (3.0 cm) layer of sand over the base of the pond. Pour soft builder's sand into the pond and use a rake to spread it out. This helps to protect the pond liner from any sharp stones that may cause punctures. If you want an extra layer of protection, roll out a piece of old carpet over the layer of sand. Install an EPDM pond liner that is at least 4 ft (1.2 m) larger than the pond. Purchase a liner that is the right size for your pond. Get a friend to help you to install the liner, as it is much easier with more than 1 person. Place the liner in the center of the pond and roll it out across the base, up the sides, and over the edge, making sure that it is neatly pressed into all of the crevices. Pond liners keep the water contained in the pond. These are made out of EPDM and polypropylene and are very weather resistant. Pond liners are heavy enough to remain in place and are unlikely to be moved by the wind. If you have concerns, use a few rocks or large stones to hold the liner in place. Make sure that the pond liner is rated as fish-safe if you are going to be placing fish in the pond. Add a water feature to help aerate the pond. Not only are water features such as fountains great for landscaping the pond, but they also help to keep fish and aquatic plants healthy. Purchase a water feature from your local gardening center or pond supply store, or build your own water fountain or waterfall into the pond. Install a pond filter if you plan to add fish. Purchase a pond filter that is the right size for your pond from a garden center or home improvement store. Follow the directions that come with the pond filter closely. Dig the filter box into the ground right next to the pond and connect it to a power outlet, before running the filter hoses into the pond. Pond filters keep the fish healthy, the water clean, and prevent bad odors. You can place plants around the filter box to keep it hidden if you prefer. Add a pond heater if there will be fish in the pond. If you live in a location where the pond is likely to freeze over during winter, use a pond heater or a de-icer to prevent this from happening. This will prevent all of the water from freezing and will allow the fish to still get oxygen. Fill the pond up with water. Use a garden hose to fill up the pond. If you find that the pond liner moves slightly as you are adding the water, get a friend to gently pull each side of the liner taut to keep it in place. Once the pond is filled with water, the liner won't move. If you are planning to have fish in your pond, add dechlorinator to the water to ensure that it will be safe for the fish. Create a border around the pond with rocks or stones. Cover the edge of the pond and all of the areas of the pond liner that are beyond the edge with rocks and stones. Ensure that a maximum of one-third of each rock is over the water's edge. This is where you can start to get creative and begin landscaping the area around the pond. Experiment with different designs and ways of stacking the rocks until they look just right. The rocks can be a range of different sizes and types. Some ponds are edged with large rocks that are over 3 ft (0.91 m) long, while other ponds use smaller rocks that are approximately 1 ft (0.30 m) long. Add plants and fish to the pond. Choose the vegetation that you would like to have in your pond environment. Plant these in the pond and around the rocks. Add fish if you prefer and watch your pond come to life! Cattail, lotus, iris, and water hyacinth are all ideal pond plants. Good options for plants to place around the pond include cow parsley, yarrow, and teasel. Goldfish, koi, trout, and tilapia all do well in backyard ponds. | Call the dig line before you start planning your pond. Choose a location for the pond that is accessible and away from trees. Plan a pond that is a minimum of 7 by 4 ft (2.1 by 1.2 m). Make the pond a minimum of 1.5 ft (0.46 m) deep. Choose a pond shape with rounded corners. Use a spade or an excavator to dig the pond. Spread a 1.2 in (3.0 cm) layer of sand over the base of the pond. Install an EPDM pond liner that is at least 4 ft (1.2 m) larger than the pond. Add a water feature to help aerate the pond. Install a pond filter if you plan to add fish. Add a pond heater if there will be fish in the pond. Fill the pond up with water. Create a border around the pond with rocks or stones. Add plants and fish to the pond. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Money-Part-Time | How to Make Money Part Time | If you want to earn money part-time, try applying for a job as a food delivery worker. You could also try selling items you have on an online retail site. If you have friends and family in the local area, ask if you can provide part-time services for them, like babysitting or lawn mowing. However, if you're looking for something more long-term, keep an eye out for job openings in retail or waiting tables, as these positions are often part-time. | Think about what you would like to do. Think about the skills and resources you have. These include a work permit (where applicable), transportation, computer, software, tools, equipment, and mental and physical abilities (or limitations). If you were thinking about delivering pizza you would likely need a dependable car or truck to make deliveries. Decide how much time you'd like to spend each day or week making money part time. Your employer will need to know when you are available for work. Start identifying periods of uninterrupted time to work each week. If your schedule changes erratically, you will need to find ways to either create a stable schedule or find work that offers a lot of flexibility. If you worked a retail job your boss would need to know when you'd be available for work one to two weeks or more in advance. Ask around for open positions. You may find part-time work by asking family and friends about opportunities. Often, the best jobs never make it to the newspaper. Sometimes they will clue you in on jobs you be good at but didn't consider. Being a gofer is the type of job you may never find in newspaper. Fetching supplies and performing errands for a small business might be perfect for your schedule. Check your local newspaper and online job sites for part-time work. Employers cast a broad net when seeking new hires. Employment agencies are another method of finding a part-time job. Sites such as www.monster.com and www.indeed.com are great places to find jobs online. Prepare your resume for distribution. If you do not have a resume, write one now. Revise any resume you currently have. You will need to provide your resume or reference its contents for each job. Apply for jobs frequently. You will never get a job you haven't applied for. The application process is often lengthy but worth it. You may need to fill out a series of forms that ask more detail than your resume includes. Be prepared for an interview as well. Restaurants routinely need more waiters and waitresses. If you're interested in being a waiter or waitress you'll want to apply to many different restaurants in the area. Follow up with applications. If you apply for a job, it is acceptable to follow up on pending applications. This shows your potential employer you are motivated. Identify the person hiring for the position and send them an email. Manage scheduling conflicts quickly. Once you acquire a job, you will have to protect your time. Since this is only part time, you likely have other obligations or preferences. Make sure your employer is aware of the times you are unavailable to work. Think about what you would like to do. Try to remember times you've helped others--especially if they offered to pay you. Consider if you could market those types of services for money. Do you know other people who would pay for those services If you've ever mowed lawns in your neighborhood or babysat for a friend you likely earned a little money for your trouble. Decide how much time you'd like to spend each day or week making money part time. You will need to have a list of times you can be available to provide services. When you pitch your services to someone else, have these times on hand for quick reference. If you are available during the day, you might consider cleaning people's homes. People love coming home to a house that's already been cleaned for them! Ask around for needed services. You may find part-time work by asking family and friends about services they would like done for them. They may also have friends and relatives who need help as well. Develop a flyer with a list of services you are willing to provide. Making a single page flyer with your services and associated rates is a quick and easy advertisement tool. You can give these to friends and family so they can advertise for you. Post your skills and services on bulletin boards in the public areas of churches, at local cleaners or in nail salons. Eventually your friends and family will run out of things for you. You will need to expand your business. Remember to bring your own thumb tacks and tape. Bulletin board flyers can be stand-alone or include tear-off tabs. Be sure to consult the board's owner before posting anything. Sometimes tear-tab flyers are not allowed to be sure to have an alternative flyer. Use a planner to keep track of your appointments. This can be on your phone or in a notebook. Keep it with you at all times. You never know when one of your services will be requested. If you decided to tutor for extra money you'd likely have multiple students to tutor each week. Keeping track of when you need to be where and when is an absolute necessity. Always be on time and polite. Your services may be procured elsewhere. If you are prompt, kind, and courteous you will develop a rapport with them and secure future work. Use a receipt book to keep track of payments. When people pay you for a service you should provide them a receipt. Carbon copy receipt books allow you to keep track of who paid what, when, and for what service. Think about what items you would like to sell. You may want to sell items you already have. If you are adept at crafting you may sell items you make or refurbish. Selling items you already have is a short term venture. However, if you invest that money into crafting or refurbishing you can develop a sound part-time business. Depending on the items you have, you can sell items at yard sales, online, in classified ads, or even auction houses. Consider what craft or thrift stores are around town. You will need a place to purchase goods to be refurbished or used in crafting. Research your product thoroughly. Many crafts and hobbies you can do are not profitable. To make money you will have to do your homework. Use online sites to see what items are selling and for how much. Visit local stores and websites to determine if you'd be able to make a profit selling any product. Handmade crafts such as homemade books or soap require not only skill but marketing knowledge. Many people make money this way and, like the, you'll need to make your products unique and attractive. Decide how much time you'd like to spend each day or week making money part time. This will impact how much money you can earn buying, crafting, and selling products. Be cognizant of how much work you are putting into a product relative to your profit. Sewing from home is a great way to create custom products as needed. If you are short on time, let customers place customized orders. Then you can sew only what they want. You can tell them how long it will take to make and avoid blindly spending time making products people may not want to buy. Identify your consumer and mode of distribution. Who will buy your items? How will you sell your items to them? Once purchased, how will you be able to get the items to their home? Be sure to accurately estimate shipping and handling costs if selling online. Many people use online sites such as www.etsy.com, www.ebay.com, or www.craigslist.com to advertise to a broad market and sell their items. Local festivals, fairs, and markets may provide you an opportunity to sell your products in person. You typically have to purchase a booth. Even if you don't sell enough to cover the cost of the booth, you can distribute business cards to potential customers to view and purchase your goods online. One clever trick is to sell clothes online. Buying locally for cheap and selling online at a higher cost is good business. You can turn a profit and still provide customers with quality clothing at less-than-retail prices. Use customer input to manage your resources carefully. Keep track of what people buy so you can invest in making more of those products. You don't want to spend too many resources on products people never buy. Use initial sales as the measure of a product's viability. | Think about what you would like to do. Decide how much time you'd like to spend each day or week making money part time. Ask around for open positions. Check your local newspaper and online job sites for part-time work. Prepare your resume for distribution. Apply for jobs frequently. Follow up with applications. Manage scheduling conflicts quickly. Think about what you would like to do. Decide how much time you'd like to spend each day or week making money part time. Ask around for needed services. Develop a flyer with a list of services you are willing to provide. Post your skills and services on bulletin boards in the public areas of churches, at local cleaners or in nail salons. Use a planner to keep track of your appointments. Always be on time and polite. Use a receipt book to keep track of payments. Think about what items you would like to sell. Research your product thoroughly. Decide how much time you'd like to spend each day or week making money part time. Identify your consumer and mode of distribution. Use customer input to manage your resources carefully. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Feeling-Worried-About-Going-to-School-on-Monday | How to Stop Feeling Worried About Going to School on Monday | If you want to stop feeling worried about going to school on Monday, the best thing to do is prepare everything you need the day before. Get your backpack ready with all of your things for class, make your lunch so you can grab it in the morning, and don't forget to set your alarm. On Sunday evening, give yourself at least an extra hour before bed to settle down so you can get a good 8 or 9 hours of sleep. | Prepare early and thoroughly. A lot of what creates stress about school is whether or not you are sufficiently prepared to arrive on time with everything you need. To get rid of preparedness concerns, do as much as you can on Sunday evening. Taking action will relax you so that you can sleep well and make you feel more confident when Monday comes. Check to make sure that you have everything you need in your backpack, and pay special attention any completed assignments that need to be turned in. Pack a healthy lunch so that you can grab it quickly in the morning. Set your alarm and make sure that its batteries are fully charged. This way you won't have to worry about whether or not you'll be on time. Pick out your clothes too, so you won't need to make a decision in the morning. Talk it out. If you have friends to talk to on the phone or family members nearby, remember that you can go to them to talk about your concerns. Even if you're not worried about anything in particular, talking can be a great way to release your anxiety. Let someone you trust know how you feel, and take advantage of how relaxing it is to know that you are supported by people who love you and will listen to you. Learn how to really relax. It seems like relaxing should be easy to do, but in truth a lot of the things we do to relax don't work very well, like watching TV or hanging out on the computer. Try out a relaxation technique that will be your go-to when you're worrying a lot about Monday. Techniques like deep breathing , tai chi , and yoga help your mind relax along with your body. Deep breathing, for instance, relaxes an important nerve in your brain that can send a message to the rest of your body to become calm and loose. Take a bath. A soothing bath is a great way to settle down and take your mind off of nervous anticipation for the next day. If you have bath salt or essential oils (like lavender, chamomile, or jasmine), use them to increase the calming effect. Try to let your worries about school fade away as you soak up the warmth. But, if school is still on your mind, use the bath as a place to remind yourself of all the reasons why school is not as bad as you think it is. Get a good night of sleep. Sleeping too little will leave you feeling groggy and irritable the next day, but so will sleeping too much. Try to get a solid 8-9 hours of sleep, leaving an extra hour before bed to settle down. If you're having trouble sleeping, don't give up and go on the computer or do something else. Give yourself time to fall asleep, and make sure that you take long, deep breaths as you're drifting off. Eat an energizing breakfast. Eating a good breakfast will make you more alert, active, and focused. So, whatever the cause of your worry, a well-rounded breakfast (fruit, protein, dairy, and whole grain) makes you more able to handle the difficulty and drudgery of school. Eating breakfast also kicks off your metabolism and helps you make better food choices throughout the day. Getting nutritious in the morning can boost your confidence, too. Keep and check your school “to-do” list. Don't arrive at school surprised about what is expected of you. If you show up without being aware of your academic obligations, school will continue to be a place to dread. Make a to-do list to update yourself on what you need to do before each coming day. That way on Sunday night you can rest easy knowing that you haven't accidentally forgotten anything. If you don't already have a calendar or planner, get one. Then you can mark down important dates—all of your tests, finals, and due dates should be included as soon as you know them. You can also use your to-do list to see how much time you have for non-school activities. It will help you make choices about when to do schoolwork versus when to do other things. If your calendar is full of due dates for the coming week, you can say no to taking on other activities. Soothe your test anxiety. If you're dreading Monday because of a quiz or exam get better prepared by learning how to keep anxiety in check. The following tips will help you feel more confident once you are already secure with the material on the test. Talk to your teacher beforehand about what types of questions will be on the test—don't let anything catch you by surprise. This can cause your mind to go blank. Remind yourself that you can do the test in any order, based on what you remember first. Don't try to force yourself to follow the order already given on the page. Finish studying by Saturday and only use Sunday or Monday morning for brief reviews of around 10 minutes. Avoid cramming so that you can get some distance from the material—surprisingly, this can help you perform better overall. Talk to your teachers. If you are worried about going to school because of how difficult your classes are or out of frustration from getting behind, talk to your teachers. Getting help early on is important because class will only keep going, making you further and further behind. Everyone has trouble in one class or another, so don't be embarrassed to ask for help when you first realize you need it. Make your teacher's job easier by paying attention in class to the best of your abilities. It's not always easy to do at the time, but focusing and staying on top of your schoolwork can actually make class interesting rather than burdensome. Address signs of deeper anxiety. Sometimes being worried about school is not easily eliminated, and this could be a sign that you might need help from someone who is equipped to deal with anxiety. Talk to your parents if you show any of the symptoms listed here, and pay special attention if you are just beginning at a new school, or are starting a new grade. Transitions like these often come with more extreme feelings of anxiety and symptoms such as: Refusal to leave the house Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach pain, nausea, or diarrhea Tantrums Anxiety at the thought of separating from your parents Accept school. Even though it may be difficult, recognize that school is here to stay--for now. The downside is that you have to get through school, and that can make it seem like a terrible punishment. But, the positive is that school is not permanent, and once you're done you'll be in a position to see how good it was for you in the long run. If you have thoughts about school, like how terrible it will be or how much you don't want to go, remind yourself that there are good parts of school that you can see here and now. For example, tell yourself, “oh c'mon, it's not that bad—at school you get to see all your friends!” You can also try looking at school as a challenge. Your worry isn't coming from nowhere. After all, school really does present a challenge, and recognizing that will help you summon the strength and bravery that it takes to make it there. Make a list of positives. In order to boost your confidence so that you know you are ready to be successful in school, take some time to think about all the things you like about yourself. Write down all of your features and personality traits that you like--your eyes, for example, or your sense of humor. Continue to think about your positive traits, adding everything you are good at in school--maybe you're a modest biology whiz or an excellent speller. Then, add all of the things you have achieved to the list, including your talents, good things that you've done for others, and meaningful compliments that you have received. Keep your list close to you, as it will be a good resource. When you feel worried and don't quite know why, look at the list to remind yourself of how capable you are of getting through school. Prepare to see your peers. Chances are good that when you go to school you'll come into contact with people you really like...and others you're not so fond of. If you're concerned about being uncomfortable around schoolmates, arrive ready with a strategy that suits you. For example, if you're soft spoken and shy, be prepared to avoid talking and being around people who get you down. If you're outgoing, make it a point to stick close to friends who can buffer you from people you really can't stand. Just make sure to do whatever you can to stop from reaching a boiling point, that point when you're so frustrated or angry at someone that you want to fight with either your words or your fists. As a rule of thumb, being polite and kind is a good plan. Even if you don't feel the other person deserves it, do what you can for the sake of a smooth school day. However, if a person or group makes you fear for your safety or your reputation, you may be a victim of bullying. If so, you should tell school officials who can help get the situation under control. Write morning notes to yourself. Just a few words of encouragement will give you a greater sense of support. Write a fun note to yourself in the morning that will make you chuckle a bit and remind you not to worry too much about school. Make sure that the message of the note is positive, so don't write about not worrying, write about something separate from worry altogether. The more personal the note is, the better. Write a little joke that you have with yourself, or reference something funny you've seen or done recently. Change the notes enough so that they don't lose their effect. Get involved in a cool extracurricular. To make school seem a little bit more fun, get involved in an activity that you like. Maybe you love to draw or sing, but these are things you do outside of school. By getting involved in a club or class that lets you do what you love, you can start to associate going to school with having a good time. Instead of worrying about tests, essays, and due dates, focus on how much you like the drama club you just joined or the art class that you're enrolled in. Make goals for school. Spend time thinking about your future in order to make goals for school. It may not seem like life after classes exists, but thinking about how to get where you want to be after school can help you get motivated. Setting school-related goals will fill your Sundays with a sense of purpose, and maybe even excitement. But, make goals for yourself that are reasonable. Aim high, but don't bite off more than you can chew. For example, if you're already pretty good at algebra, set a goal to secure an A in the class for the end of the semester. Make sub-goals so that you can have a short-term sense of achievement, too. Every time you ace an assignment or quiz, reward yourself for getting one step closer to your main goal. | Prepare early and thoroughly. Talk it out. Learn how to really relax. Take a bath. Get a good night of sleep. Eat an energizing breakfast. Keep and check your school “to-do” list. Soothe your test anxiety. Talk to your teachers. Address signs of deeper anxiety. Accept school. Make a list of positives. Prepare to see your peers. Write morning notes to yourself. Get involved in a cool extracurricular. Make goals for school. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Feed-a-Wild-Rabbit | How to Feed a Wild Rabbit | To feed a wild rabbit in your yard, choose a wooded or shrubby area where a rabbit will feel safe and scatter plenty of grass and hay there. You can supplement the grass and hay with a small amount of pelleted rabbit food from a pet store, but avoid feeding wild rabbits too much, since pellets are very nutritionally dense. You can also give them leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard! | Choose a spot in your yard to place the food. If you do not mind wild rabbits visiting your yard, you can create an area of your yard where the wild rabbits can eat. Since wild rabbits tend to like wooded or shrubby areas on the edges of a particular area, consider creating a small brush pile near the edge of your yard or garden for the wild rabbits. In the summer, when rabbits like to eat grasses and weeds, leave an area of your lawn partially uncut—this allows grass and/or weeds to grow up, and can also provide a sheltered area for the wild rabbits to eat. If the wild rabbits feel safe in your yard, do not be surprised if they eat grass all day. During the colder months, when rabbits eat more barks and twigs, you can make a small pile of these items in a corner of your yard. Be aware that placing food in these spots could attract other wild animals to your yard. Provide the wild rabbits with grass and hay. Whether wild or domesticated, grass and hay are staples of a rabbit's diet. The wild rabbits in your yard will have an abundance of grass to chew on, but will probably not have ready access to hay. The recommended types of hay for wild rabbits are oat, and timothy. Alfalfa hay should only be given to older rabbits. Avoid giving adult rabbits alfalfa, as it is too high in protein, calcium, and sugar. Visit your local pet store or feed store to purchase the hay. Do not spray pesticides in your yard in which you are feeding wild rabbits. The pesticides could make the wild rabbits very sick. Place pelleted rabbit food out for the wild rabbits. Pellets are a great nutritional source for rabbits. Pellets with seeds are ideal for wild rabbits. Keep in mind that pellets tend to be very nutrient dense—you do not need to feed them in large quantities. Look for pellets at your local pet store. If you can approximate the sizes of the wild rabbits, you could ask the staff at the pet store about an adequate amount of pellets to feed the rabbits. Give the wild rabbits fresh vegetables. Give them at least three different types of greens per feeding, and including one that is high in vitamin A. For the wild rabbits in your yard, you can give them: Collard greens (high in vitamin A) Beet greens (the tops, high in vitamin A) Lettuce: Romaine, Red or Green leaf (no iceberg or light colored leaf) Spinach Parsley Basil Mint Bok Choy Dandelion leaves Mustard greens Pea pods (just the pods) Brussels sprouts Swiss chard Broccoli (the leaves and stems) Cilantro Dill The green part of carrots Celery leaves Watercress Thoroughly rinsed carrot tops are another good vegetable option. Thoroughly rinse all vegetables to remove pesticides. Although carrots are a very popular food for rabbits, they are high in carbohydrates and should only be fed in small quantities(only half a carrot every other day). Feed the wild rabbits a smaller amount of carrots than the other vegetables. Do not feed the wild rabbits vegetables that can cause gas or bloating: broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Since rabbits are unable to pass gas, the buildup of gas in their digestive systems can cause serious health issues and may even be fatal. Because wild rabbits are not as acclimated to vegetables as domesticated rabbits, introduce them to vegetables slowly. Try feeding them just one type of vegetable at a time.Begin with only a small amount of a green, and watch for any intestinal issues in your bunny, such as diarrhea or soft stools.[10] Rabbits also have individual likes and dislikes when it comes to taste so if your bunny isn't interested in a certain vegetable, make note of it and replace it with a vegetable he/she might prefer. Wild rabbits can get diarrhea if they are introduced to new vegetables too quickly. Wild rabbits also enjoy eating clover and watercress. Provide the wild rabbits with small amounts of fruit. Wild rabbits will eat small berries, but will also eat other plant parts to balance off the fruit's high sugar content. If you would like to give fruit to the wild rabbits, consider giving them different types of berries: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. For raspberries and blackberries, provide the wild rabbits with the fruit as well as the plant stems and leaves. Bananas and dried fruit are very high in sugar and should be fed only sparingly (even less than the other fruits). Per rabbit, one to two half-inch slices of bananas and two to three pieces of dried fruit would be enough. Other types of fruit you could feed the wild rabbits include papaya, honeydew melon, and plums (without the pit). However, you may want to stick with the berries, since the rabbits may be more accustomed to eating these in their natural environment. Determine if the baby wild rabbit is truly an orphan. If you find a nest of baby wild rabbits and the mother is not around, or if you see tiny baby wild rabbits hopping around on their own, you may think they are orphans. More times than not, however, this is not the case—their mother is simply not at the nest and will return later. It would be better for you to be certain whether the babies are orphans before attempting to feed and care for them. Wild rabbit mothers nurse for short periods during the night and early dawn, then leave the nest during the day. Therefore, it would not be surprising if you did not see the mother with her babies during daytime hours. If the babies' tummies look nice and plump, you can be confident that their mother is caring for them. If you look closely at their bodies, you may be able to see a 'milk line' through their skin—evidence of nursing. If you want to be sure the mother is around, you can place string in a grid pattern over the nest. Arrange the string in the evening and check it in the morning. If it is disturbed, then the mother has returned to the nest. Baby wild rabbits who appear cold, weak, dehydrated (loose skin stays tented when you pinch it), or injured are likely orphaned. Since baby wild rabbits are extremely difficult to rehabilitate and care for, you should contact a wildlife rehabilitation center as soon as possible. Learn what to feed orphaned baby wild rabbits. In the event that you are not able to get to a wildlife rehabilitation center right away, you may need to provide at least initial care (food, general comfort) to the orphaned baby wild rabbits. Regular goat milk is frequently recommended for baby wild rabbits. Kitten and puppy milk replacers are also good choices. Milk replacers are available at your local pet stores. You may be able to find regular goat milk at your local grocery store. If it is not available there, ask the grocer where you can find it. Cow's milk and human baby formula (Pedialyte) are not recommended for feeding baby wild rabbits. If the baby wild rabbits are cold prior to you feeding them, warm them up by placing them in a shoebox lined with a clean, soft cloth. Set a heating pad on low and set in a tabletop. Place the shoebox halfway on the heating pad—this will allow the babies to move away from the heat if they become too warm. Feed the baby wild rabbits. Knowing what to feed baby wild rabbits is only half the battle—knowing how to feed them is a crucial component to their survival. Because they are so small, baby wild rabbits can be fed with a syringe (one to three milliliters), which is available at your local pharmacy. Eyedroppers are another good option. To remove harmful bacteria from the milk or formula, warm them up in the microwave or boil them on the stove. Cold milk or formula could cause potentially fatal diarrhea in baby wild rabbits. Keep the feeding area quiet so as not to stress the babies. One at a time, gently pick up each baby wild rabbit and hold him loosely but firmly in a soft cloth. Tilt his head so that it is higher than his back end and place the syringe near the side or bottom of his mouth—these two actions will prevent him from accidentally inhaling the liquid down into his lungs. Do not overfeed the baby wild rabbit. You will know when to stop feeding when his tummy becomes slightly rounded. Visit the website http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/rabbitandhare.htm to know how much to feed, and how often, according the baby wild rabbits' ages. Make sure to wash your hands before each feeding session. Stimulate urination and defecation. After the baby wild rabbits have finished eating, it is important for them to urinate and defecate to keep their digestive and urinary systems healthy. To do this, stroke the anal area with a cotton ball moistened with warm water until the rabbit urinates and defecates. | Choose a spot in your yard to place the food. Provide the wild rabbits with grass and hay. Place pelleted rabbit food out for the wild rabbits. Give the wild rabbits fresh vegetables. Provide the wild rabbits with small amounts of fruit. Determine if the baby wild rabbit is truly an orphan. Learn what to feed orphaned baby wild rabbits. Feed the baby wild rabbits. Stimulate urination and defecation. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Recover-From-Foot-Surgery | How to Recover From Foot Surgery | To recover from your foot surgery, try placing an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel on your foot for 10 minutes at a time to relieve your pain. You can also prop your foot up on some pillows to elevate it, which will reduce swelling. If your doctor prescribed pain medication, you can take that to ease your discomfort. As you recover, have someone place necessities, like food and beverages, near you so you don't have to walk around too much. You can also place things like a TV or pile of books near your bed before the surgery so you can stay occupied as you heal. | Stock up on food and other supplies. After you return home from the hospital, you will still need to stay off of your feet as much as possible. One way to make this easier on yourself is to stock up on anything you might need during your recovery. Some things to stock up on include: food and beverages, such as convenient snacks and pre-prepped meals toiletries books movies over-the counter medicines, such as a gentle laxative and prescription or over-the-counter pain medicine Place everything that you will need within reach. You will need to stay off of your feet as much as possible when you get home from surgery, so it is a good idea to get yourself set up ahead of time. Gather any items that you think you will want and place them near where you expect to spend most of your time as you recover at home, such as your bed or recliner. Think about what items you will want to have nearby when you return home from surgery. For example, you might want to have a stack of books by your side, or the remote control to the TV, or a backscratcher. Move furniture to more convenient locations. Fewer obstacles will also make getting around your house much easier, so you might also want to rearrange some of your furniture before you head to the hospital. For example, you might consider moving a coffee table to the side of the room so that you do not have to walk around it. Or, you might consider moving your bed to the ground floor so that you don't have to go up and down the stairs all of the time. Get a handicap placard for your car. When you are able to drive again, you will still want to stay off your feet as much as you can, so a handicap placard can be helpful. Apply for a handicap placard at your local DMV prior to your surgery. The placard will only be temporary, but it will ensure that you can park closer to entrances whenever you have to go somewhere. Ask friends and family members for help. Even if you are well set up at home, you will still need to have some support from your friends and family while you recover. For example, you might need someone to pick up your mail, fill a prescription for you, or take you to a doctor's appointment. Make sure that you let your family members and friends know that you are having surgery and ask if one or more of them would be able to help you out now and then during your recovery. Follow the doctor’s orders. Depending on the kind of foot surgery you underwent, your restrictions may be extreme or they may be relatively mild. Your doctor has a vested interest in seeing you get better, so adhere to the limitations he or she sets. The doctor may assign you specific tasks to aid in the healing of the surgery such as icing, elevating, or specific ways to clean the surgery site. Call your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about the instructions he or she provided. Take medication to manage your pain. The doctor will prescribe you medication to help you manage the pain you'll experience after your foot surgery. Non-Opioid/non-narcotic pain relievers are often prescribed for small to medium levels of pain and are the safest form of prescription pain management. Common examples are ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen. Opioid pain relievers are prescribed for medium to severe pain. Follow the doctor's instructions specifically when taking opioids as they can be extremely addictive. Examples of opioid painkillers include oxycodone and hydrocodone. Manage your swelling. It's normal for the surgery site or even your entire foot to swell in the days following your surgery, but there are things that you can do to reduce the swelling. Use an ice pack or bag of ice to reduce inflammation. Be sure to place a towel between your foot and the ice and to check the skin under the ice regularly. Do not leave the ice in place for longer than ten minutes at a time. Do not place ice directly on top of the wound until it is completely healed. Elevate your foot to combat swelling. Try to keep it about six inches higher than your heart. Take care of the surgical area. It's important that you keep the area around the surgical incision clean, dry and protected. Do not remove the bandages until the doctor has given you permission to do so. Keep the bandages dry. Use a cast protector to keep your foot dry if you need to take a shower. Ask your surgeon or podiatrist when it will be okay for you to wash the surgical site. Do not put any creams, lotions or anything else on the wound unless as directed to do so by the doctor. Combat common side effects of pain medication. It is not uncommon for patients to deal with constipation or other issues using the rest room for a few days after surgery. Make sure to stay hydrated to help your body stay regular. Eat high fiber foods to combat the constipation effect opioid pain killers have. Discuss the issue with your doctor if it continues for more than two days. Attend surgical follow up appointments. Your doctor will want to see you regularly in the months after your surgery to ensure you are healing correctly. Don't skip your post-surgical appointments as they are important to ensure your foot is healing as planned. Bring up any questions or concerns you have regarding the progress of your foot to your doctor. Learn to get around. After your surgery, you may be on crutches, in a cast, or specialized footwear. Depending on your surgery, your mobility may be significantly limited. Your doctor will tell you if you are ready for any amount of weight bearing. Be patient, rushing to place weight on your foot after surgery could re-injure you. Keep an eye out for issues. There are a number of possible complications that may result from foot surgery. If you notice symptoms of these issues arise, contact your doctor immediately. Infection can be a risk early in your recovery. If you notice redness and warm swelling around the surgery site or are experiencing a fever you may have an infection. Nerve damage is often not permanent, but you may experience numbness or tingling in the region surrounding the surgical incision. While it usually passes, you should discuss it with your doctor Take it slow. Your foot will need plenty of time to recover, be patient and follow the guidance of your doctor. If you experience pain doing something the doctor has authorized, you may want to contact him or her to make sure you are not hindering the healing process. Rest when you're tired. Healing requires a significant amount of rest, so if you find yourself exhausted, it's in your best interest to take it easy for a while. Go to physical therapy. Your doctor may prescribe you physical therapy to help get you back on your feet. Physical therapy can help you recover sooner and with more success. Physical therapists are trained to understand the limitations caused by your injury and devise exercises to help you regain your mobility. Physical therapy can also help manage pain resulting from the surgery. Be careful while driving. You may have trouble getting back behind the wheel again after your surgery. You should discuss any limitations you may have with your doctor. Do not drive while taking opioid pain killers as they can hinder your ability to drive in a similar way to alcohol. Be careful using the foot you had surgery on when pressing pedals. Your doctor will be able to tell you if your foot can support the weight of pressing a clutch or gas pedal. Get back to work safely. When you can return to work will be determined by the nature of your surgery and what you do for a living. Regardless of timeframe however, be careful not to hinder the healing process. Consider whether or not you will need to be on your feet for a significant portion of your day and whether your foot is healed sufficiently for that. Discuss your return to work with your doctor and your boss to ensure you're all on the same page. See if your work can provide you with temporary accommodations for the limits you experience while recovering. | Stock up on food and other supplies. Place everything that you will need within reach. Move furniture to more convenient locations. Get a handicap placard for your car. Ask friends and family members for help. Follow the doctor’s orders. Take medication to manage your pain. Manage your swelling. Take care of the surgical area. Combat common side effects of pain medication. Attend surgical follow up appointments. Learn to get around. Keep an eye out for issues. Take it slow. Go to physical therapy. Be careful while driving. Get back to work safely. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Set-up-a-Trampoline | How to Set up a Trampoline | To set up a trampoline, start by fitting the pieces of the frame together to form a circle and putting the legs on. Once you've assembled the frame, secure the pieces together with screws and flip over the frame so it's the right-side up. Next, hook the springs into the metal rings of the jump mat and secure them to the frame. Make sure to attach the springs to the right hooks so you don't have to take them out and start over. After you've attached the mat to the frame, place the protective pad over the springs and secure it with the Velcro, ropes, or hooks that came with your trampoline kit. | Check the packages. All of the materials for a trampoline will usually come in two or three packages. Empty each of the packages and make sure that you have everything that is listed in the instructions. A missing piece can prevent you from setting up the trampoline properly, so you don't want to begin putting it together without double checking that you have everything you need. If there is a missing piece, call the company you bought the trampoline from and see what can be done about it. Sometimes they will ship you the missing piece, or they will exchange your trampoline for an entirely new one. Organize the parts. There are a lot of parts, big and small, that come with the trampoline package. The setting up process can be confusing if all of the parts are in one pile. Take some time to spread out the pieces and put them in groups according to what they are being used for. Some of the pieces may look similar, but will be used for different areas. Gather your tools. You don't need too many tools to set up a trampoline, but it is helpful to have them readily available. You will need a power drill or Phillips head screwdriver. Many packages will come with a screwdriver. You will also need a rubber mallet and spring puller, which comes with the packaging. You should also have gloves handy for when it is time to attach the springs. It's easy to get your hands caught in the springs, so gloves prevent your skin from getting caught up in them. Put together the circular pieces. Lay out the pieces that make up the circular frame to get an idea of how big the trampoline will be. Then, begin attaching by snapping the parts together until you have a ring shape. Once assembled, the ring should be laying flat on the ground for now. Assemble the legs of the trampoline. Once the ring is together, begin assembling the legs. There should be spots on the ring designated for the legs. The legs should fit into the spots easily, but if not, you can use a hammer to fit them into place. You should, however, hammer lightly and use a barrier (like a towel) to soften the blow of the hammer. Secure the screws and bolts. Now that the frame is put together, you can secure the nuts and bolts into their proper places. Make sure that all of the parts are secure and in the correct positions first, though. After you're finished securing the screws and bolts, look over them to make sure that they are secure. Using a power drill instead a Phillips head screwdriver will make the securing process go by faster. Using a screwdriver alone can take a long time. Flip over the frame. Even if you're quite strong, you will probably still need a partner for this step. Find a partner and go to opposite sides of the frame. Carefully flip the frame of the trampoline over until it is on its legs. It shouldn't be wobbling when you turn it over. If you find that it is wobbling, inspect the set up to see which parts aren't secure. The wobbling will probably be because of the legs. Use a screwdriver or power drill to secure the unstable parts. Begin setting up the springs with a partner. Having a partner install the springs with you makes properly aligning the mat easier. You and your partner should grab an even amount of springs—four each to start out with is okay. Go to opposite sides of the trampoline. Make sure you are exactly opposite of each other by counting the hooks. Attach the springs evenly with your partner. Begin attaching the springs to their designated hooks. Then, attach the hooks to the metal rings. You will need the spring pulling device to stretch the attach the springs to the hooks, and a rubber mallet to pound the springs into place once attached to the metal rings. The springs will start to get harder to attach about halfway through because of the tightening of the mat. Put on the protective pad. The protective pad helps to cushion a fall on the springs. Simply lay the pad over the springs. There should be holes at the bottom the padding that line up with the legs. Protective pads usually have metal hooks, Velcro, or ropes to secure the pad to the trampoline. Once you are finished attaching it, make sure that it is aligned over all of the springs. Attach the bungee loops. Not every trampoline will come with an enclosure, but you can choose to purchase one with your trampoline. First, grab your enclosure net and bungee loops. The bungee loops should look rubber band-like. Attach the bungee loops to the net. The loops help keep the net in place when it is being bounced against. Some regulations make it so that enclosures are required for trampolines. Connect and secure the posts. The posts for the net may come in multiple pieces. If so, connect them and then cover them with foam sleeves. Once the posts are connected, use a screwdriver or drill to secure them with screws or bolts, depending on what the package came with. Attach the hooks. Each of the bungee loops should have hooks attached to them. Attach each of the hooks to the holes on top of the posts. Then, lift the posts one by one and place them in the O-rings of the enclosure net. Once the posts are placed in the O-rings, the enclosure net just needs to be lifted to be put in place. Test your finished trampoline. Check everything over once more to make sure the trampoline is secure. Then, get on the trampoline and bounce a few times to make sure it is stable. If it is, your trampoline is finished and ready for activity. If the trampoline is slightly unstable, check it over for parts that may not be secured correctly. Use a screwdriver or power drill to secure those parts. Call the company you bought the trampoline from if you can't fix the problem. Do not jump on it until the problem is fixed. It's always a good idea to anchor your trampoline. This prevents any movement from strong winds and big bounces. | Check the packages. Organize the parts. Gather your tools. Put together the circular pieces. Assemble the legs of the trampoline. Secure the screws and bolts. Flip over the frame. Begin setting up the springs with a partner. Attach the springs evenly with your partner. Put on the protective pad. Attach the bungee loops. Connect and secure the posts. Attach the hooks. Test your finished trampoline. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Spot-Signs-of-Muscle-Loss-in-Dogs | How to Spot Signs of Muscle Loss in Dogs | To spot signs of muscle loss in your dog, look for thinner muscles or overall weight loss. Additionally, watch for signs of weakness, like your dog favoring its front legs, which may be an indication of muscle loss in the back legs. You should also make note of any flabbiness or change in posture, since muscles that turn to fat get softer and lose some of their ability to keep the body in alignment. | Pay attention to flabbiness. In humans, you may notice muscle loss as muscles getting flabby. Your dog is similar, so look for flabby muscles on your dog that aren't as hard as they normally are. You may notice your dog feels "softer." Look for thinner muscles. When a dog loses muscle mass, the muscles will look visibly thinner. You may also notice a difference in how they feel; your hand may suddenly reach all the way around your dog's leg, when it didn't before, for instance. Sometimes, this type of muscle loss will only affect certain parts of the body. For example, if your dog has arthritis or an injury in it's back legs, you may notice the back legs getting thinner while the front legs get larger to compensate. Check for weight loss. Dogs who lose muscle mass are likely to lose weight, too, though not always. You may notice your dog feels lighter when you pick it up, or you may notice that it looks thinner overall. Try weighing your dog to see if it has lost any weight. Look for weakness. If your dog has lost muscle mass, you'll likely notice some weakness, particularly if your dog has just lost muscle mass in one area. For instance, if your dog has lost muscle mass in the back legs, you may notice that your dog is favoring the front legs instead. Watch for lethargy. When dogs lose muscle mass, they don't want to move around as much. That's because muscle loss makes it more difficult to move about, as it leads to weakness. Therefore, if your dog seems like it just can't move around as much, that could be a sign of muscle loss. Compare one limb with another. If you suspect your dog is losing muscle mass on one leg, compare it with the other side. Pay attention to changes in posture. Muscles attach to the bones, helping you stay upright. Therefore, when you have loss of muscle, your posture often changes. The same can happen in dogs, including a sagging back, so pay attention to changes in posture. Watch for muscle loss as your dog ages. Not every older dog will have muscle loss, but many dogs will. Just like humans, dogs may become less active as they get older, due to a number of reasons, including having less energy and having more aches and pains. Not being as active can lead to muscle loss. To help with muscle loss, try to encourage your dog to be more active. Pay attention after trauma and other causes of lameness. If your dog experiences trauma, such as being hit by a car, it may develop lameness in part of its body. In turn, that can lead to muscle loss, as the dog is not as active or isn't using that particular muscle as much. Dogs can develop lameness from other sources, including infection, dislocation of the shoulder, and muscle or bone degeneration. Look for arthritis in large breeds. Large breeds, such as German Shepherds and Labradors, are more likely to have joint problems, meaning they are more likely to develop arthritis. Arthritis can lead to muscle loss, since it can make your dog reluctant to move as much. Watch for conditions that certain breeds are predisposed to. For instance, Labrador retrievers are prone to type II muscle fiber deficiency, which they'll generally show before a year of age in muscle loss. German Shepherds, on the other hand, are more likely to develop fibrotic myopathy, which generally shows up the most in the dog's thigh muscles. Certain dogs, such as greyhounds, will develop exertional myopathy if they are forced to use their muscles too much. Make note of symptoms. Before going to your vet, make note of any symptoms you've noticed, no matter how small. Those symptoms will help your vet diagnose what's wrong with your dog, and writing them down as they happen will help you remember them when the time comes to talk to your vet. Take your dog to the vet. Muscle loss is often a sign of an underlying condition, though it can also just mean your dog is getting older. Either way, it's important to have your dog checked out if you notice a change in its body and behavior. Diseases that affect muscles can range from fibrotic myopathy and external myopathy to trauma to your dog's muscles. The underlying condition could also be something as simple as arthritis. You could say, "I've noticed that my dog is more reluctant to get up lately. His posture has changed; his back is drooping more. Also, I've noticed that he's getting thinner. All of these symptoms together have me worried." Expect tests. Your vet will first perform a physical examination. If they think your dog's condition warrants it, they will move on to other tests, such as blood samples, urine samples, x-rays, an MRI, and/or a CT scan, depending on what the vet thinks may be causing the problem. | Pay attention to flabbiness. Look for thinner muscles. Check for weight loss. Look for weakness. Watch for lethargy. Pay attention to changes in posture. Watch for muscle loss as your dog ages. Pay attention after trauma and other causes of lameness. Look for arthritis in large breeds. Watch for conditions that certain breeds are predisposed to. Make note of symptoms. Take your dog to the vet. Expect tests. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Laminate-Cabinets | How to Paint Laminate Cabinets | To paint laminate cabinets, start by removing the hardware, cleaning the surface, and sanding the cabinets with medium-grit sandpaper until the surface feels smooth. Next, roll on a coat of bonding primer and let it dry completely. Then, roll on 2-3 coats of paint, letting each coat dry completely before adding a new one. You can use an angled paintbrush to paint the areas that your roller can't reach easily, such as the edges and borders. Finally, let the paint dry for 6-8 hours before applying a polycrylic sealant. | Cover the area around the cabinets with drop cloths or tarps to protect it. This is especially important if you're painting near appliances or above carpet that could easily be damaged by paint. Lay a drop cloth over the floor or drape a plastic tarp over the counters, for example. Old bed sheets also work well as makeshift drop cloths. Use multiple layers if you're worried about the paint soaking through. To safeguard counters, you can tape large sheets of craft paper on top of them, making sure to cover all the way from the edges to the wall. Protect the wall behind the cabinets by laying painter's tape along the edges of the cabinets. Remove the cabinet doors if possible. If you can see the hinges, or if the doors are easily removable, take them off the cabinets. This will not only make it easier to paint them, it will also protect the surfaces and furniture around your cabinets from drips or splatters. Set them on a work bench or sawhorse for painting. Label the doors before you remove them to remember where they each go. For example, take a pencil or marker and write the door's location, like “upper right,” on the back. Be sure to lay a drop cloth under the bench or sawhorse to catch drips. Take off hardware, like handles or hinges. This prevents the pieces from getting paint on them and also allows you to roll paint over the doors without having to edge around knobs or pulls. Most hardware can be easily removed with a screwdriver. If you can't remove the hardware, cover it with painter's tape. Press the tape securely around all areas you don't want painted so that the paint doesn't seep underneath. Wipe the cabinets with a cleaning solvent to remove grease and grime. A popular cleaning solution to use before painting is trisodium phosphate (TSP). It removes grease, along with the glossy finish on laminate, to help paint stick to the cabinet. Dip a cloth into the TSP and rub vigorously on the surface of the cabinets. You can also use xylol or a TSP substitute, which can both be found at hardware stores or paint stores. Wear gloves when using harsh chemical cleaners to protect your hands. You might want to wear a mask, too, in case of fumes. If you use a chemical cleaner, wipe it off with a damp cloth afterwards, then dry it with a clean towel. Otherwise, the paint won't stick to the cabinet. Sand the cabinets with a medium-grit sandpaper to get rid of the gloss. Sanding the cabinets creates a rough surface that the paint and primer can adhere to better. Choose a sandpaper that's between 150 and 220 grit, which will scuff the cabinets without destroying the laminate itself. Avoid using an electric sander for this as it's too intense and will likely over-sand the cabinets. Wear a mask and protective eyewear when sanding. Wipe the cabinets with a damp cloth after sanding, if necessary, to clean off any dust. Roll on at least 1 coat of bonding primer. A bonding primer, preferably one that's oil-based, creates a surface that the paint can stick to, and also prevents the paint from chipping easily. You can apply multiple coats with a foam roller if you feel like your cabinets are very glossy. The primer might also say “for shiny surfaces” or “for glossy surfaces” on the package. If you notice the primer is bubbly or streaky when you apply it, that means it isn't adhering to the laminate very well. Wipe off what you already applied if it's still wet, then use a different primer. If it's already dry, sand it off. Have your primer tinted to match the color of your paint if you're painting your cabinets a darker shade. This reduces the number of coats you'll have to paint to cover the primer. Any paint store will be able to tint your primer for you. Let the primer dry for at least 3 hours. This is a good rule of thumb to follow if you aren't sure how long to let your primer dry. However, the can of primer should have the dry time for that specific type on the packaging. For example, some primers dry in as little as 30 minutes! Open a few windows or use a fan to diffuse the fumes from the primer. There's also fast-drying primer that you can buy at a paint store or hardware store. Check that it's compatible with whatever paint you're using first. Do the fingernail test to check if the primer is done drying—if you can scratch it off with your fingernail, you don't have good adhesion and probably shouldn't paint over it. Paint 2 to 3 thin coats of paint with a roller, letting each one dry. Stir your paint and pour it into a paint tray so you can saturate the roller easily. Then, instead of 1 thick coat, roll on even, thinner coats. Make sure each coat is dry before you start painting the next one or you'll end up pulling off the previous coat. Cover the entire visible surface of the cabinets, including the doors, sides, top, and bottom. You can use a paintbrush instead of a roller but it will be easier to see brushstrokes and will take much longer. It should take each coat about 4 hours to dry enough for you to add a new coat. Sand in between each coat with fine, 150 to 220 grit sandpaper if you notice any bumps or bubbles. Use an angled paintbrush to get to any hard-to-reach areas. While rollers are easy and practical for flat surfaces like the sides and doors of the cabinet, you'll need a smaller paintbrush, preferably with an angled tip, to coat the edges or borders. Paint with long, steady strokes to avoid visible brushstrokes. A small watercolor brush will work as a substitute for the angled paintbrush if you don't have one. It's best to do this when you paint your final coat. You don't need to let the final coat dry before you start touching up. Let the paint dry for 6 to 8 hours. Check your paint can to find the exact dry time for your brand and type. You'll know when the paint is dry when it no longer feels tacky to the touch. If you completely removed the cabinet doors, you may want to wait longer than the recommended dry time, so you don't nick the paint. Leave them to sit overnight to be safe. Apply a coat of polycrylic if you want extra protection on your cabinets. While not necessary, a layer of sealant like polycrylic will make your paint job last longer and prevent chips. Brush it on after the paint has dried, then let the sealant dry completely prior to using your cabinets. You can also use polyurethane, furniture wax, or any other paint sealant. Sealants come in different finishes, just like paint. So if you choose semi-gloss, for example, your cabinets will end up having a slight sheen to them. Avoid an eggshell or matte finish that will show fingerprints easily. Polycrylic or polyurethane typically take about 24 hours to fully dry. Attach the cabinet doors back in their original spot and clean up any drop cloths, protective paper, or painter's tape that you used. Set the hardware on a drop cloth or tarp outside. To protect the space where you're spraying, place the pieces on something you don't mind getting paint on. Remember to always spray paint outside or in a well-ventilated area so you don't inhale the fumes. For an easy way to coat hinges, knobs, and pulls, stick them in a thick piece of cardboard. Their screws will puncture the cardboard, so the hardware stands up without you having to hold it. Spray 1 to 2 coats of oil-based primer and let it dry for at least 3 hours. If you don't use primer, the spray paint will easily rub off of handles or knobs. Spray a thin coat over the entire piece of hardware. Let it dry, and then spray another coat if you feel it's necessary. Shake the primer thoroughly, for about 1 minute, before you start spraying. An oil-based primer is ideal for metal, as it prevents rust. Wait until the primer is completely dry before painting the hardware, for best results. If you can't remove the hardware, use a paintbrush to apply a standard oil-based primer instead. Spray the hardware with 2 to 3 thin coats of paint. Hold the can about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) from the hardware. Move it back and forth as you spray, so the paint doesn't drip or clump up in one area. Wait for each coat to dry before you spray the next coat. Shake the can for at least 1 full minute before you use it. Otherwise, you could get a bubbly texture. It should take each coat about 1 to 2 hours to dry enough for you to apply the next coat. If you get drips on your pieces, sand them off with a fine, 150 to 220 grit sandpaper when the coat has dried. For hardware that can't be removed, apply paint with a small paintbrush. Let the paint dry for at least 6 hours. The spray paint can should have instructions on how long the paint needs to dry. Keep in mind that high humidity and cool temperatures make paint dry slower. Try to set your hardware somewhere that's dry and room temperature or warmer. To prevent chips or smudges, you can spray a sealant over the paint, too. Wait until the paint is dry before you apply the sealant. Choose an enamel sealant, which is very durable and perfect for cabinets that are opened and closed often. Reattach the newly painted hardware to the cabinets. Carefully screw the pulls or knobs back into the cabinet doors. Make sure they're attached securely so they don't fall off or wobble. Clean up any drop cloths and remove any painter's tape you used while painting. If your hardware gets chipped over time, simply repeat the painting process to touch it up. | Cover the area around the cabinets with drop cloths or tarps to protect it. Remove the cabinet doors if possible. Take off hardware, like handles or hinges. Wipe the cabinets with a cleaning solvent to remove grease and grime. Sand the cabinets with a medium-grit sandpaper to get rid of the gloss. Roll on at least 1 coat of bonding primer. Let the primer dry for at least 3 hours. Paint 2 to 3 thin coats of paint with a roller, letting each one dry. Use an angled paintbrush to get to any hard-to-reach areas. Let the paint dry for 6 to 8 hours. Apply a coat of polycrylic if you want extra protection on your cabinets. Set the hardware on a drop cloth or tarp outside. Spray 1 to 2 coats of oil-based primer and let it dry for at least 3 hours. Spray the hardware with 2 to 3 thin coats of paint. Let the paint dry for at least 6 hours. Reattach the newly painted hardware to the cabinets. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Vertical-Blinds | How to Remove Vertical Blinds | Removing your vertical blinds is an easy process that usually only requires a flat-head screwdriver. To remove the blind frames, you'll need to remove the valance covering the blinds, insert your screwdriver into the spring clips of each bracket, then lift the blind rail off the wall. If you're not going to replace the blinds, unscrew the brackets from the wall. If you only need to remove individual vanes, rotate the blinds so they're partially open, and slide a plastic card into the clip holding the vane. This should cause it to detach from the blinds. | Remove the valance to reveal the top rail. Most vertical blinds have a valance, which is a decorative border covering the rail at the top where the vanes are attached. Hold the bottom of the valance and gently push it upwards to create a small gap between it and the clips holding each vane. Continue pushing the valance gently until it is no longer touching the clips. The clips holding each vane are also known as the vane carriers. Be sure to remove the valance gently or the clips will break off. Rotate the blinds so that they are partially open. To remove the blinds easily, rotate the vanes so that they are not overlapping each other. Pull the bead chain on the side of the blinds to open them. Aim to have the vanes open on an angle rather than fully turned to the side. Locate the vane carrier at the top of the vane. Each vane on a set of vertical blinds is attached with a vane carrier. Find the vane carrier at the top of the vane. The side of the vane carrier that faces out will have a hook-like shape to allow you to open it easily. Slide a plastic card between the vane carrier and the vane. Position a flat, sturdy card under the bottom of the vane carrier, underneath the hook. Slide the card upwards to wedge it between the vane and the carrier. This will disrupt the grip that holds the vane in place and prevent you from breaking the thin plastic that runs along the top. A credit card is an ideal tool to wedge between the vane and carrier. Gently detach the vane from the vane carrier. Once the card is wedged between the vane and the carrier, pull the vane downwards. Do this slowly to prevent damage to the vane. Once the vane is clear of the carrier, remove the card as well. The carriers that hold the vanes should not be removed from the blind rail. Be sure to place the vane in a cleared, clean spot to keep it in good condition. Remove the bead chain from the blind rail. Each set of vertical blinds has a bead chain along the top that allows you to rotate the vanes open and closed. After removing the vanes, gently pull the chain out from the blind rail. If you plan to keep the blinds, be careful not to break the delicate chain while removing it. If your bead chain is broken or damaged, you can buy a new one at a window treatment store or online. Use a flat head screwdriver to release the spring clips of the rail brackets. Examine the back of the blind rail to locate the brackets securing it in place. Insert a flat head screwdriver in the spring clips of each bracket. Twist the screwdriver slowly until the spring is released. Take the blind rail off the wall. Hold the blind rail firmly once you release the springs in each bracket. Gently pull the rail away from the brackets. If the rail does not come down easily, check the brackets again to make sure that the springs have been released properly. Remove the brackets and fill the holes if you aren't replacing the blinds. Use a screwdriver to remove the small screws attaching the brackets to your wall. To hide the holes, use a putty knife to apply plaster or joint compound. Paint over it once the surface is dry. If the screws are very tight, use an electric screwdriver instead of manual screwdriver. If there are wall anchors, you may have to remove them with needle-nose pliers. If you are simply replacing the blinds, check to see if the new brackets are the same as the old ones and leave them there to save yourself time and trouble. | Remove the valance to reveal the top rail. Rotate the blinds so that they are partially open. Locate the vane carrier at the top of the vane. Slide a plastic card between the vane carrier and the vane. Gently detach the vane from the vane carrier. Remove the bead chain from the blind rail. Use a flat head screwdriver to release the spring clips of the rail brackets. Take the blind rail off the wall. Remove the brackets and fill the holes if you aren't replacing the blinds. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Good-Guard-Dog | How to Find a Good Guard Dog | Before finding a good guard dog, research different breeds so you can pick one that suits your home. Some breeds you should consider are Mastiffs, Great Danes, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and Bull Terriers. Before you pick a dog, spend time alone with it and look for qualities that indicate a guard dog temperament, like confidence, alertness, and sociability. If the dog whimpers or growls, this is a sign that it may not make a good guard dog since it is anxious or fearful. | Decide why you need a guard dog. If you know why you need a guard dog, you may be able to find one that is best suited to your purposes. Guard dogs should be used to defend your home and property; they should not attack any stranger at will. Instead, they need cautious instincts to know when their family is in danger and when they are safe. You might need a guard dog to: Alert you if strangers are nearby. Protect livestock from predators. Scare away burglars or home invaders. Determine if a guard dog is right for your home. Good guard dogs tend to be territorial, although they should also act aloof towards strangers. These behaviors mean that they may not be suited for all homes. A guard dog may not work well for: Homes with young children Apartments that share common hallways and walls Properties that strangers, such as utility workers or customers, must frequently access. Research different breeds. Some breeds were produced for their ability to guard homes. These breeds are highly trainable, loyal, alert, and energetic. Both large and small breeds can function as guard dogs, depending on your needs. Look for a breed that is adapted for your specific purpose. Rottweilers are good for protecting homes and property. Mastiffs are good at protecting families. Great Danes are great with children. Their large size makes them menacing to strangers, but they are not an aggressive breed. They are also effective watchdogs. Great Pyrenees can guard livestock. Doberman Pinschers, bull terriers, pulis, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks also make good guard dogs. Mixed dogs can also be effective guard dogs too. While you may not be able to identify their temperament from their breed, you can still evaluate them for good guard dog characteristics. Determine what age you want. There are pros and cons to adopting either a puppy or older dog as a guard dog. A puppy will bond to your family from a younger age, giving them a stronger instinct to protect your family. That said, they may not be able to effectively guard the house until they are a couple years old. An older dog may take some time to warm up to your family, but you can start training them sooner to guard your home. Dogs do not start barking to protect their territory until they are least nine months old, and some may not start until they are three years old. Avoid certain breeds. While many dogs have good temperaments to be a guard or watch dog, there are some breeds that generally do not work. This may because they do not bark as much, act calm or friendly around strangers, or have a high prey drive. These breeds include: Bloodhound Newfoundland Saint Bernard Basset Hound Bulldog Old English Sheepdog Irish Wolfhound Scottish Deerhound Pug Siberian Husky Alaskan Malamute Consider a dark-colored dog. A dog with a dark or black colored coat may appear more menacing to intruders, and their ability to blend may make them more difficult to catch at night. While looking for dogs, keep darker dogs in mind. Contact breeders. Many good guard dogs are brought up within the family from a young age. This allows them to bond with their families so that they can protect them later in life. If you have identified a specific breed that you want, see if there are any local breeders. Contact them, and ask if they will have any litters of puppies available for adoption soon. Puppies bought at puppy stores are often sourced from puppy mills. You should look for a responsible breeder who has certifications and recommendations from a recognized kennel club. Visit dog shelters and rescue organizations. You do not necessarily need a purebred puppy to have a good guard dog. You may be able to find one at a shelter or rescue organization instead. Visit various shelters in your area to see if they have a suitable dog. When you visit, let the volunteers or workers know that you want a guard dog. Ask them if they know of any good candidates. Some rescue organizations are breed specific. This means that you may be able to adopt a purebred rescue at a much lower cost than buying a puppy from a breeder. Consider adopting a former police or military dog. Sometimes military or police dogs are retired because they can longer perform their duties, but that does not mean that they cannot stop working entirely. These dogs are often already trained for security purposes. You can contact a service dog rescue organization to see if there are any good candidates available. You can look at: The Military Working Dog School Mission K9 Rescue United States War Dogs Association Keep in mind that some working dog rescue organizations may want you to sign a contract stating that you will not use these dogs for security work. Ask to see the dog separately. Whether you are visiting a shelter, rescue, or breeder, you should try to find some time alone with the dog. Most shelters will have a separate room where you can interact and play with the dog. This will let you see if the dog has the appropriate temperament to be a guard dog. Qualities you are looking for in these dogs include: High energy Alertness Patience Confidence Assertiveness Trainability Sociability Assess their fear and anxiety. The best guard dog is one that acts friendly and calm when you're not in danger but who can jump into action when an intruder or threat is near. A dog that acts out of fear and anxiety will become aggressive not just toward strangers but towards family members, children, and non-threatening guests. When meeting a potential dog, look for signs of anxiety or fear, such as: Licking their lips Lips pulled back Ears pressed against their skull Growling Whimpering Staring Play with them. A good guard dog will be energetic and alert. This means that they will willingly play games like fetch and tug-of-war with you. While you play with them, make sure that they are engaging with you and keeping their attention focused on you. When you are ready to end the game, they should listen to your commands to quit. Dogs that try to protect or steal toys from you may not make ideal guard dogs. Not only are they not responding to you but they may be too aggressive to be effective. Perform a temperament test. While many people expect guard dogs to be aggressive, aggressive temperaments can make a dog a poor guard dog as the dog will attack anyone who comes near the home, not just potential threats. Instead you should try to find a dog with a responsive temperament, who will listen to commands and train easily. While visiting a potential dog, you can do a brief temperament test. Try to put a leash on the dog. The dog should let you put a leash on and will walk next to you. If the dog snarls at you or lunges at other animals or people, they may be too aggressive. When you play with the dog, the dog should engage and interact with you. They should not run away with the toys or snarl at you to protect the toys. The dog should relax when you pet them. If they run away or cower, they may be too shy to be an effective guard dog. Introduce the dog to the entire family. A guard dog should be able to socialize, bond, and protect the entire family. As soon as the dog enters the house, introduce them on a leash to each person living in the home. Encourage all family members to pet and interact with the dog. This will let them start to bond with their family, and it can foster loyalty to the family soon after their arrival. Socialize the dog. If you have a puppy, you should begin socializing them immediately. Bring different strangers into the house to meet and interact with the puppy. This will train your puppy that not all strangers are bad, and it can help them more accurately judge a bad situation, instead attacking or lunging at every single person who enters your home. A good guard dog should be aloof towards strangers. This means that they recognize strangers and may even bark at strangers, but they will not lunge towards, attack, or bite strangers. You do not have to worry about socialization reducing the effectiveness of the guard dog. Proper socialization will reduce fear and aggression in the dogs, and it will teach them the difference between a positive experience with a stranger and a negative one. Prepare to train the dog. Guard dogs require extensive training. They should respond to simple commands. Not only should they act in situations to protect you, but they must back off once you command them to stop. Training should begin as young as possible. Use positive reinforcement, and reward the dog with treats when they do something correctly. This will give you better results than yelling or physically disciplining the dog. You will need to train your dog how to: Bark on command Stop barking on command Leave strangers alone | Decide why you need a guard dog. Determine if a guard dog is right for your home. Research different breeds. Determine what age you want. Avoid certain breeds. Consider a dark-colored dog. Contact breeders. Visit dog shelters and rescue organizations. Consider adopting a former police or military dog. Ask to see the dog separately. Assess their fear and anxiety. Play with them. Perform a temperament test. Introduce the dog to the entire family. Socialize the dog. Prepare to train the dog. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Escape-from-a-Straitjacket | How to Escape from a Straitjacket | The key to escaping from a straitjacket is to create extra space inside the jacket while it's being put on so you can move your arms around enough to undo the buckles. As the jacket is being put on, cross your arms and grab a handful fabric with your dominant hand, keeping a firm grip on it. Without being too obvious, fill your lungs with air as the jacket is being buckled and keep the muscles in your torso as rigid as possible until the straps are secure. Once the jacket is buckled, release your breath so the fabric hangs loose. Now that you have room to move, hunch your shoulders over to make yourself as small as possible and carefully uncross your arms. Pull your head through the gap between your shoulder and elbow. You should now be able to move your arms freely and unbuckle the straps of the jacket. | Cross your dominant arm over the other as the jacket is being put on. When it comes time to make your escape, you'll do so by first working your outer arm free. Having your stronger arm on the outside will make it much easier to generate the force you need to slip out of the starting position. Straitjackets work by immobilizing the wearer's arms across their lower abdomen, where they're unable to harm themselves or others. You may not have the choice of which arm to keep in front of you if you're ever being placed in a straitjacket for real (which is unlikely). For this reason, it can be a good idea to practice using both arms as your lead if you want to be prepared for any situation. Pinch the fabric on the side of the straitjacket. Without attracting too much attention, grab a handful of the material just underneath your dominant hand and keep a firm grip on it. Bunching up the fabric before the jacket is cinched tight will give you 2–4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) of slack, which will help you tremendously later on. If you're not able to take hold of the fabric because you're being watched or can't move your fingers, don't worry—it's a helpful step, but not a necessary one. Take a deep breath as the jacket is being buckled. Fill your lungs with air and keep the muscles of your torso rigid until you're strapped in. Once the straitjacket is secure, exhale completely and relax your core. The fabric, which was previously stretched to the limit, will now hang limply around your upper body. Lift your elbows as you inhale to give your chest more room to expand. Make yourself as small as possible. Stand up perfectly straight until the last strap has been buckled. Then, let your shoulders fall and bend over slightly at the midsection. The more compact you can make your frame, the more space you'll give yourself to maneuver. Recall what you were told bad posture looked like growing up and try to emulate this position. Push your dominant arm up and away from your body. Using the slack you've created for yourself, begin inching your stronger arm enough to slide your hand and forearm past the elbow of your weaker arm. This may take a bit of brute strength, as even with the added room you'll be bound quite tightly. Tuck the elbow of your weaker arm tight to your body to make it less of an obstacle for your dominant arm. Rest the hand of your dominant arm on your opposite shoulder. Once you've worked your arm up past your weaker arm, pull your hand in as close to your neck as you can get it. Doing so will allow you to raise your elbow enough to pass the arm behind your head, which will put you into position to loosen your first restraint. Your stronger arm should be folded on top of your weaker arm, almost as though you're hugging yourself. Pull your head through the gap between your shoulder and elbow. Lift your dominant arm straight up towards the ceiling. At the same time, tuck your chin and force your head down and forward through the hole. Once you've got your arm clear of your head, let it fall in front of your body. You should now be able to move both arms freely. To envision this movement more clearly, it can be helpful to imagine that you're undoing a shirt button. Think of your head at the button and your dominant arm as the hem around the buttonhole through which you guide the button. Be careful not to contort yourself too much in this position. One wrong move and you could easily dislocate your shoulder, which you should never do unless you're an experienced magician with extensive training in joint manipulation techniques. Undo the sleeve buckle with your teeth. Now that your arms are free, bring them up to your face and use your teeth to carefully loosen the buckle that joins the two sleeves. You only need to create some slack in the strap—after that, you can grip it through the fabric of the jacket and tug it the rest of the way out. You can also use your surroundings to your advantage if you have weak or sensitive teeth. For example, you might coax the strap out of the keeper by pushing the sleeve buckle against a table, door frame, or other nearby object. Use your free hands to open the buckles at the back of the jacket. Focus on the top and bottom buckles, as these are the ones that prevent the wearer from pulling off the jacket. Undo the neck buckle by reaching back behind your head like you're fastening a necklace. Then, bring both hands down your hips and unlatch the waist buckle like you're tying an apron. Your arms will still be inside the jacket at this point, which means you'll need to do your best to grip the buckles through the fabric of the sleeves. There's no need to undo each and every buckle. However, the more buckles you can get to, the better your chances of escaping. Step on the sleeves and stand up quickly to slip out of the straitjacket. Lean forward until the sleeves of the jacket are draped across the floor at your feet. Place a foot on the end of either sleeve, then pull your torso up and back with a jerk to slip out of the straitjacket in one smooth motion. Take a bow—you've done it! Straighten up enough to take the slack out of the sleeves before you attempt to pull your torso free. To avoid falling over or losing control of the sleeves, make sure you're standing on them with your full weight. | Cross your dominant arm over the other as the jacket is being put on. Pinch the fabric on the side of the straitjacket. Take a deep breath as the jacket is being buckled. Make yourself as small as possible. Push your dominant arm up and away from your body. Rest the hand of your dominant arm on your opposite shoulder. Pull your head through the gap between your shoulder and elbow. Undo the sleeve buckle with your teeth. Use your free hands to open the buckles at the back of the jacket. Step on the sleeves and stand up quickly to slip out of the straitjacket. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Newts-and-Frogs | How to Find Newts and Frogs | To find newts and frogs, look for them during the night since most species are nocturnal. Focus your search near ponds or lakes since most frogs and newts live near water. You can also look for newts under rocks and logs. Additionally, look for them during the spring and summer months since many species hibernate during the winter. When you spot a frog or newt, approach it slowly and quietly so you don't scare it away. If you decide to touch or pick up a newt or frog, do so carefully and place them back on the ground softly to avoid hurting them. | Do your research. While most frogs will be found near water, you'll want to know what frogs are in your area if there are any dangerous frogs (poison dart frogs, etc.) in the area, and what their habitat is. Research can also help you find useful tips for finding specific frogs by helping you identify their calls or markings. Many states have websites about their local species. Look for frogs or newts at night. Most species are nocturnal, so you may not find any in the day. Be careful of other dangerous species during that time. Snakes are often found in similar areas as frogs and newts, especially as many snakes, including the very venomous cottonmouth, will eat some amphibians as part of their diet. Never put your hands where you can't see them. It's a good idea to use a flashlight. Using a red flashlight, or covering the flashlight with red plastic wrap or tissue paper will cause minimal disturbance for nocturnal animals. You can also use night vision goggles. Though night birding is often the most common use for specialty night-vision goggles, they can be useful in seeing frogs and newts as well. Look for frogs or newts near ponds or lakes. Most frogs and newts live near water. When looking for newts it's also useful to look under rocks and logs. Any place where there are ponds or lakes, including forests and meadows may attract different species of frogs. Look for frogs or newts in the spring and summer. Many species hibernate in the winter. The best time to find them is in the spring or summer. If you live in a colder climate with a late spring or an early fall, summer's the best bet. Go canoeing at night or in the evening. A canoe is quieter than a motor boat and will allow you to approach the frogs quietly. Ponds, lakes and river deltas are all great places to look for frogs and newts. You will often find frogs and newts near the bank or among plant life along the shore. If you shine a light on frogs while canoeing, they will often sit completely still. Be quiet. If you are loud, you will likely scare the frog away. To make your search as quiet as possible, wear quiet shoes and clothes, walk softly, and refrain from talking while approaching the frog or newt. If there is a group, make sure not too many people try to approach the frogs at once. Approach slowly. Approaching the frog or newt slowly will help with the quiet, as well as keep the frog or newt from recognizing any visual cues that you're approaching. Frogs are able to recognize movement easily. Newts have very good vision as well, and can even re-grow their eyes if they are damaged! Newts are quieter than frogs, and you may have to look under stones and logs to find them. Be patient. If you happen to scare the frog or newt away in your first approach, stay quiet and still. The frog will likely return, and there may be other frogs around. If you still hear other frogs, waiting will likely be productive for your search. For the newt, you may have to come back later and look. Wash your hands thoroughly after you handle a newt or frog. Some species of newt and frog are poisonous, and though it may be safe to touch them, if the toxins get into your bloodstream or in your mouth, it can be fatal. Even if they are not toxic, they often carry salmonella. It can make adults sick, and can sometimes be fatal to children under five, older people, and people with weakened immune systems. You can use hand sanitizer or some other disinfectant. If you handle a newt, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly with water, so that you get all the toxins off. Don’t harm the newt or frog. It's important to handle the frog or newt carefully if you handle them, and then gently put them back on the ground. Several newts and frogs are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Be careful if you have a dog or cat around frogs or newts, as they might attempt to eat them, which can be harmful to both the pet and the frog or newt. | Do your research. Look for frogs or newts at night. Look for frogs or newts near ponds or lakes. Look for frogs or newts in the spring and summer. Go canoeing at night or in the evening. Be quiet. Approach slowly. Be patient. Wash your hands thoroughly after you handle a newt or frog. Don’t harm the newt or frog. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Book-Faster | How to Read a Book Faster | To read a book faster, focus on what you're reading and use your finger to guide your eyes along each line of text. You can slow down when you encounter main arguments or new concepts. Then, speed up again when you come to repeated or familiar material. To save even more time, quickly skim through chapters with lots of drawings or illustrations. Be sure to read the introduction and conclusion carefully to extract the main themes of the book. | Consider your environment. Your reading area should be free from distractions. Turn off the television, music, internet, phone, anything that has the potential to sidetrack your reading. You should also be comfortable, otherwise, you'll focus on being hungry, too hot, too cold, basically anything other than your book. Do be careful of getting too cozy though. Make sure you can stay awake and pay attention to your reading material. This is especially important if you choose to read in bed before going to sleep. Select a book. It can be anything from a favorite mystery or a textbook. Do choose something in line with your reading goals. For example, if you have trouble finishing a book for pleasure, pick something you're really interested in reading. Don't find something that probably won't hold your interest. Likewise, if you want to be able to quickly read and glean information for school, you should choose something academic. Set obtainable goals. These can be large goals with smaller steps or a simple to-do list you'd like to accomplish. Either way, writing down your goals makes you focus on what you'd like to accomplish and how you can get there. Examples of achievable goals include: reading an entire book by a certain date, paying attention to a whole chapter and being able to recall the information, reading through a book for the main argument, reading a certain number of minutes every night, reading a certain number of pages every day, and reading through a book in less time. Goals are highly individualized and completely determined by you. Your goals should encourage you to continue practicing. Engage with what you're reading. If you have trouble sitting still and concentrating on what you're reading, make notes or write down a brief outline. Write down any questions you might have about the content before you start reading. Writing things down can be especially helpful if you find yourself reading the same few sentences over and over again without being able to continue. Reading aloud or whispering can help you pay greater attention to your book. You can also move your fingers along with the text to help keep your place in the book and guide you along. Take short effective breaks. This is your chance to think about something other than what you're reading. Move around, get a snack, watch a little television or whatever helps you mentally pause. Set a time limit in advance and limit the number of rest breaks you take during a given period of time. Doing something physical can re-energize you and make it easier to return to reading. Practice concentrating on what you're reading. In order to truly focus on concentrating, you need to do it a little every day. After a few days, you should notice some small improvements in your reading. Find a time of day that works best for you to read and try to read a little each day at that time. Soon, it will become a habit. Don't try to remember every single detail when you're reading (for pleasure or for school). You'll become overwhelmed, which will make it difficult to continue. Focus on reading but avoid habits that slow you down. Most of the strategies listed in Method 2 will help you focus when reading faster, but some tools will slow you down. Don't vocalize, highlight text, re-read material, or try to write down every detail you read. Using your finger as a guide can actually help you speed up since your finger can help guide your eyes along as you read. Read effectively by skimming certain parts and paying attention to others. Consider the structure of the book by reading the table of contents. Sure, sometimes skimming stops you from understanding the text fully, so ensure you read parts carefully now and then, and if there's something new, check back and read a little bit. Spend time carefully reading the introduction and conclusion, as these lay out the main themes of the book. Skim through chapters that provide extensive drawings, illustrations, or lots of similar examples. Write down a summary after reading for a while. Be sure to note any key concepts or plot developments. This can help you focus while reading. If you're very pressed for time, you can get the main ideas of the book by reading the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Train yourself to read faster. Adjust your speed based on the information you're reading. For example, slow down when you encounter main arguments or new concepts. You can speed up again when you come to repeated or familiar material. Time yourself. Give yourself a set amount of time to get through a certain amount of text. Once time's elapsed, evaluate your speed. Keep timing yourself and you should see progress. For example, give yourself an hour to complete reading/skimming a chapter. At the end of the hour, determine if you got the main points of the chapter and understood the information. Practice adjusting your speed if you did not finish or had too much time left. | Consider your environment. Select a book. Set obtainable goals. Engage with what you're reading. Take short effective breaks. Practice concentrating on what you're reading. Focus on reading but avoid habits that slow you down. Read effectively by skimming certain parts and paying attention to others. Train yourself to read faster. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Cards-Against-Humanity | How to Play Cards Against Humanity | Cards Against Humanity is a fun party game where players answer questions and fill in the blanks using funny and bizzare words and phrases on the cards in their hand. The game can be played with 3 or more players. To set up the game, deal 10 white cards to each player, and choose one player to be the Card Czar, or judge, for that round. Then, have the Card Czar flip a black card over and read it out loud. Each black card will have a question or fill-in-the-blank statement on it. Wait for every player to choose one white card from their hand to answer the question or fill in the blank. Players pass their white card face down to the Card Czar. Once everyone has submitted a card, have the Card Czar shuffle them and then read them out loud to the group one by one. When they're finished, the Card Czar chooses their favorite answer. Whoever submitted the winning white card is awarded the black card for that round and keeps it in front of them to keep track of how many black cards they've won. After each round, the player to the right of the last Card Czar becomes the new Card Czar and flips a new black card over. The game continues until you run out of black cards or decide to call it quits. The player who has the most black cards at the end wins the game! | Draw ten white cards each. You can only look at your own hand of cards. Leave the rest of the white "answer" cards and black "question" cards separated into face-down stacks. You need at least four players to play Cards Against Humanity. There's no upper limit to how many people can play, but it's most fun with 6–8 players. Play the first black card. The official rules say that the "person who most recently pooped" is the first "Card Czar." (This might give you an idea of what the game will be like.) If you prefer, the person with the next upcoming birthday can go first instead. That player starts the round by turning over the top card in the black "questions" stack. Read the card aloud and leave it face up on the table. Have each other player choose a white answer card. The Card Czar waits while each other player chooses one card from their hand. The goal is to pick the funniest answer to the black question card, or the answer the Card Czar will like most. Put the selected white cards in a face down pile. If the black card says "Pick 2," choose two white cards from your hand. Keep them in the order the Czar should read them. Shuffle and read aloud the answer cards. Now the Card Czar picks up the white answer cards and shuffles them, so no one knows who put down which card. Reread the black answer card, then read the white cards one by one, putting them face up on the table. Choose the best answer. The Card Czar chooses their favorite answer to the question. The player who played the winning card gets one "Awesome Point." The easiest way to track points is to give the black question card to the winning player. All players can talk while the Card Czar is deciding, and try to influence the decision. Set aside all the white cards from that round into a discard pile. Start the next round. Each player draws back up to ten white cards. The person sitting to the Card Czar's left becomes the Czar for the next round, picking a new black card. Alternatively, you can appoint whoever won the last round as the new Czar. This doesn't work well if there's a newcomer in the group, since it's harder to win rounds if you don't know the Czar's style of humor. Play until you're sick of it. This is a casual, non-competitive game, and people usually play until they get tired of it. If you want a more defined end point, play until one player gets five points (or 7–10 for a longer game). Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins. One fun way to end the game is to use the "haiku" black card for the final round. You don't need to find the actual card: it just says "Make a haiku." The other players each choose three cards from their hand to use as an answer. Some players stop drawing new cards when they announce the end, but keep playing until they run out of cards. This leads to (even more) absurd nonsense answers. Bet your points to play more cards. If you agree to play with this rule, any answerer can gamble one point after the Czar reads the question card. That player then puts two answers into the pile instead of one. Whoever wins the round wins the extra point as well. Dump your hands. The game tends to get less interesting when players are stuck with a bunch of cards they don't like. Some playgroups like to add one of these rules to prevent that situation: Anyone can spend a point to discard any number of cards and draw back up to ten. Everyone can discard any number of cards and draw up to ten when the haiku card is played (before answering). The first player to reach 3 points wins. Deal out new hands to start the next game. Reward the top three answers. If you're playing with a large group, the Card Czar can choose three winners. Award three points to the Czar's favorite answer, two points to the second best, and one point to number three. Vote on the best answer. Instead of taking turns judging the answers, have everyone play an answer card every round. Players then vote on the winner. This works well if you are playing with strangers, who would have trouble choosing cards targeted for a specific person. Alternatively, if you want to avoid ties, take turns eliminating cards until only one is left. Expand your collection. If you love Cards Against Humanity but you've memorized all the cards, there are many expansions to shuffle into your set, plus special editions that change US pop culture references for the UK, Australia, and Canada. You can order these from the Cards Against Humanity website, or find them in most board game stores. If that's not enough, there are many unofficial expansions you can purchase or print out from online. Or you could make your own — all it takes is a pen and two colors of paper. Test out new ideas. Hardcore CAH fans might enjoy the online laboratory. The website will show you a random selection of cards and ask you to pick the funniest one. If you give the creators good feedback, your favorites from the site could end up in the next expansion. | Draw ten white cards each. Play the first black card. Have each other player choose a white answer card. Shuffle and read aloud the answer cards. Choose the best answer. Start the next round. Play until you're sick of it. Bet your points to play more cards. Dump your hands. Reward the top three answers. Vote on the best answer. Expand your collection. Test out new ideas. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-the-Area-of-a-Regular-Pentagon | How to Find the Area of a Regular Pentagon | To find the area of a regular pentagon with 5 equal sides, first get the length of a side and the apothem, which is the line from the center of the pentagon to a side that intersects the side at a 90-degree angle. Then draw 5 lines from the center, 1 to each corner, so you have 5 triangles. Next, find the area of 1 triangle by using the formula area = ½ × base × height, where the base is the side of the pentagon and the height is the apothem. Finally, multiply that result by 5 to get the pentagon's area. | Start with the side length and apothem. This method works for regular pentagons, with five equal sides. Besides the side length, you'll need the "apothem" of the pentagon. The apothem is the line from the center of the pentagon to a side, intersecting the side at a 90º right angle. Don't confuse the apothem with the radius, which touches a corner (vertex) instead of a midpoint. If you only know the side length and radius, skip down to the next method instead. We'll use an example pentagon with side length 3 units and apothem 2 units. Divide the pentagon into five triangles. Draw five lines from the center of the pentagon, leading to each vertex (corner). You now have five triangles. Calculate the area of a triangle. Each triangle has a base equal to the side of the pentagon. It also has a height equal to the pentagon's apothem. (Remember, the height of a triangle runs from a vertex to the opposite side, at a right angle.) To find the area of any triangle, just calculate ½ x base x height. In our example, area of triangle = ½ x 3 x 2 = 3 square units. Multiply by five to find the total area. We've divided the pentagon into five equal triangles. To find the total area, just multiply the area of one triangle by five. In our example, A(total pentagon) = 5 x A(triangle) = 5 x 3 = 15 square units. Start with just the side length. This method only works for regular pentagons, which have five sides of equal length. In this example, we'll use a pentagon with side length 7 units. Divide the pentagon into five triangles. Draw a line from the center of the pentagon to any vertex. Repeat this for every vertex. You now have five triangles, each the same size. Divide a triangle in half. Draw a line from the center of the pentagon to the base of one triangle. This line should hit the base at a 90º right angle, dividing the triangle into two equal, smaller triangles. Label one of the smaller triangles. We can already label one sides and one angle of the smaller triangle: The base of the triangle is ½ the side of the pentagon. In our example, this is ½ x 7 = 3.5 units. The angle at the pentagon's center is always 36º. (Starting with a full 360º center, you could divide it into 10 of these smaller triangles. 360 ÷ 10 = 36, so the angle at one triangle is 36º.) Calculate the height of the triangle. The height of this triangle is the side at right angles to the pentagon's edge, leading to the center. We can use beginning trigonometry to find the length of this side: In a right-angle triangle, the tangent of an angle equals the length of the opposite side, divided by the length of the adjacent side. The side opposite the 36º angle is the base of the triangle (half the pentagon's side). The side adjacent to the 36º angle is the height of the triangle. tan(36º) = opposite / adjacent In our example, tan(36º) = 3.5 / height height x tan(36º) = 3.5 height = 3.5 / tan(36º) height = (about) 4.8 units. Find the area of the triangle. A triangle's area equals ½ the base x the height. (A = ½bh.) Now that you know the height, plug in these values to find the area of your small triangle. In our example, Area of small triangle = ½bh = ½(3.5)(4.8) = 8.4 square units. Multiply to find the area of the pentagon. One of these smaller triangles covers 1/10 of the pentagon's area. To find the total area, multiply the area of the smaller triangle by 10. In our example, the area of the whole pentagon = 8.4 x 10 = 84 square units. Use the perimeter and apothem. The apothem is a line from the center of a pentagon, that hits a side at a right angle. If you are given its length, you can use this easy formula Area of a regular pentagon = pa /2, where p = the perimeter and a = the apothem. If you don't know the perimeter, calculate it from the side length: p = 5s, where s is the side length. Use the side length. If you only know the side length, use the following formula: Area of a regular pentagon = (5 s ) / (4tan(36º)), where s = side length. tan(36º) = √(5-2√5). So if your calculator doesn't have a "tan" function, use the formula Area = (5 s ) / (4√(5-2√5)). Choose a formula that uses radius only. You can even find the area if you only know the radius. Use this formula: Area of a regular pentagon = (5/2) r sin(72º), where r is the radius. | Start with the side length and apothem. Divide the pentagon into five triangles. Calculate the area of a triangle. Multiply by five to find the total area. Start with just the side length. Divide the pentagon into five triangles. Divide a triangle in half. Label one of the smaller triangles. Calculate the height of the triangle. Find the area of the triangle. Multiply to find the area of the pentagon. Use the perimeter and apothem. Use the side length. Choose a formula that uses radius only. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Egg-Yolks | How to Use Egg Yolks | If you have leftover egg yolks, you can use them to make a custard. Boil milk and sugar in a large pot, and whisk 4 egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together in a separate bowl. Pour the egg mixture into the milk and sugar and let it simmer for 5 minutes or until it's thick. Finally, turn off the heat and stir in a little butter and vanilla extract. You can also make homemade mayonnaise with egg yolks. Mix 1 egg yolk with white vinegar and salt. Add canola oil and whisk for several minutes. Finally, chill your mayonnaise in the fridge for 1 hour. | Mix 3-4 egg yolks with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water or milk. Use a whisk or fork to lightly blend your ingredients together, just enough that they will spread smoothly onto a pastry surface. Using milk in your egg wash mixture will give it a creamier texture and make your wash stick to uneven surfaces more easily. Using water will help thin it out the yolk and make it easier to spread over large areas. Apply your egg wash to uncooked dough with a pastry brush. Gently dip your pastry brush into your yolk and liquid mixture and brush it over your dough before baking. You can use your egg wash to give a golden brown shine, stick 2 pieces of dough together, or make the outside of your baked goods crispy. You can buy a pastry brush online or at any home goods store. Bake your dough according to instructions. Each pastry, bread , or pie has a different baking time, so you should bake yours for however long the recipe specifies. The egg wash will turn your dough a deeper brown than they normally would have been, so make sure that it is baked all the way through. Boil milk and sugar together in a large pot. Combine 1.6 cups (380 mL) of milk and ¼ cup (50 g) of sugar by boiling them on the stove. Once your mixture reaches boiling, you can reduce the heat and keep it simmering. You'll want to keep this mixture warm so that it combines well with the other ingredients. Whisk 4 egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together. Combine 4 egg yolks, ¼ cup (50 g) of sugar, and 3 ½ tbsp. (26.25 g) of cornstarch. Do this in a separate bowl from your milk and sugar mixture. Make sure that the cornstarch is completely folded into the mix, or else your custard could be lumpy. Pour your cornstarch mixture into your milk and sugar mixture. The milk and sugar should still be warm from simmering on the stove. You can combine your ingredients slowly to help them mix evenly and to avoid splashing. Stir the mixture for 3-5 minutes, or until it is thick. Your custard should start to thicken right away, but you are looking for a mayonnaise like consistency. Keep stirring it gently with a spoon until it gets slightly difficult to keep going. If you overcook your custard, you could cause it to curdle. If you have a thermometer, you can check to see when your custard is done when it reaches 185 °F (85 °C). Turn off your stove and add 1 ounce (0.028 kg) of butter. Butter thickens the custard and makes it less likely to fall apart while it is cooling. Stir this in gently so that you don't overwork your custard mix. Add 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of vanilla extract. Vanilla extract will give your custard a flavor and make it sweeter. Vanilla is a more neutral flavor that pairs well with other dessert items, but you can also use flavors like almond extract, nutmeg, or fruit zest, like lemon or lime.. Transfer the custard mixture to a separate container and let your custard cool. Put your custard in separate, air tight bowl or storage container to cool it. Once it cools to room temperature, you can serve it right away or put it in the fridge to save for later. You should eat your custard within 3-4 days of making it. Mix together 1 egg yolk, white vinegar, and salt. Combine 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of white vinegar, ½ tsp. (3 g) of salt, and 1 egg yolk by putting your ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk them together until they are smooth, or for about 30 seconds. There should be no lumps and you should be able to run your whisk through evenly. You can add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of lemon juice or mustard to your mixture for a more acidic taste. Add 1⁄4 cup (59 mL) of canola oil to the mixture gradually. Pour your oil in ⁄ 4 tablespoon (3.7 mL) at a time so that your ingredients mix evenly. It may be helpful to have a partner to pour in the oil while you mix, or vice versa. You can substitute extra virgin olive oil for canola oil if you prefer a more olive taste. Whisk your mixture for about 8 minutes. Your mayonnaise mixture should be thick and stick to your whisk, but still fall off if you lift your whisk out of the bowl. Chill your mayonnaise for about 1 hour. Cover your bowl with plastic wrap or put it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge to chill. This recipe makes about ⁄ 4 cup (180 mL) of mayonnaise and should be eaten within 1 week after you make it. Put your yolks in an airtight container to save for later. If you don't want to use your egg yolks right away, you can store them in an airtight container in your fridge. A tupperware with a tight fitting lid or a bowl with plastic wrap on the top would be a great way to store your yolks. You should use your egg yolks within 2-4 days of storing them. If you are worried about your egg yolks drying out, you can cover them in cold water before you store them. Make sure to drain the water before you use your egg yolks again. Freeze your egg yolks with a simple syrup so they don’t crystalize. If you'd like to freeze your egg yolks to use at a later date, you can make a simple syrup by boiling 2 parts sugar and 1 part water until they are completely mixed. Then, pour the simple syrup into your egg yolks and freeze them. This will stop the egg yolks from flaking in your baked goods when you use them. Frozen egg yolks should be used within 2 weeks. Cure your egg yolks in salt. You can make your egg into a hard consistency to save them and use them like a hard cheese later by grating them over pasta or vegetables. You can save salt cured eggs for up to one month before using them. Mix 1 cup (200 g) of sugar with 1 cup (288 g) of salt and spread the mixture on a baking tray. Set 4-6 egg yolks in the mixture and make sure they are fully covered in the salt and sugar. Cover your baking tray in plastic wrap and chill in your fridge for 4 days. | Mix 3-4 egg yolks with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water or milk. Apply your egg wash to uncooked dough with a pastry brush. Bake your dough according to instructions. Boil milk and sugar together in a large pot. Whisk 4 egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together. Pour your cornstarch mixture into your milk and sugar mixture. Stir the mixture for 3-5 minutes, or until it is thick. Turn off your stove and add 1 ounce (0.028 kg) of butter. Add 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of vanilla extract. Transfer the custard mixture to a separate container and let your custard cool. Mix together 1 egg yolk, white vinegar, and salt. Add 1⁄4 cup (59 mL) of canola oil to the mixture gradually. Whisk your mixture for about 8 minutes. Chill your mayonnaise for about 1 hour. Put your yolks in an airtight container to save for later. Freeze your egg yolks with a simple syrup so they don’t crystalize. Cure your egg yolks in salt. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Shower-a-Puppy | How to Shower a Puppy | To shower a puppy, start by adjusting the water temperature so it's warm but not hot. Also, make sure the shower head is set on the lowest pressure setting. Next, put your puppy in the shower and let it adjust to the water. Then, wet your puppy's whole body and use a sponge or washcloth to apply some dog shampoo, being careful around its ears, eyes, and nose. You can also apply a dog conditioner after you rinse out the shampoo. Finally, rinse your puppy thoroughly and dry it off with a towel. | Buy shampoo made specifically for dogs. It's important that you don't use shampoo meant for humans on your dog. Some people think using baby shampoo is okay, but even baby shampoo contains certain chemicals and oils that shouldn't be used on dogs. Use a shampoo marketed and made specifically for puppies. Try to avoid buying a puppy shampoo with any added non-natural fragrances and dyes. If the label has anything like “Yellow No. 8” or “Tartrazine,” choose a different shampoo. These artificial ingredients can possibly cause allergic reactions or skin irritation. Use shampoos that contain natural essential oils to provide fragrance, rather than chemicals. Choose a shampoo suited to your puppy's needs. For example, if your puppy has dry or itchy skin, you might consider getting a natural shampoo with oatmeal or essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus added to soothe his itchiness. Medicated shampoos, like those made for controlling fleas and ticks, often cannot be used on puppies younger than 8-10 weeks. Make sure to read the labels on medicated shampoos to make sure they're safe to use on your puppy at his age. Get conditioner made for dogs. Conditioner is important for dogs and puppies because it replenishes the natural oils in their coats that shampoos can wash away. Conditioner is also useful for detangling longer coats, and keeping skin moisturized and healthy. Never use conditioners meant for humans on dogs or puppies. Conditioners made for humans have a different pH level than those made for dogs, and can irritate their skin. Buy a conditioner made specifically for dogs. You can find them at your local pet supply store. Buy a dog brush or comb. Depending on the length of your puppy's coat, you will need a brush to accommodate it. For example, longer coats might do better with a brush or comb that has bristles or teeth that are spaced a bit wider. These types of brushes and combs are good for eliminating the mats or knots that longer coats can acquire. Shorter coats, or coats that are prone to shedding, do well with closely spaced bristle brushes. This will help pull out shedding fur and keep your puppy's coat healthy. Use a shower head that detaches. You can find one of these at your local big box or hardware store. A shower head that detaches and has a hose will be the easiest method for showering your puppy, as it will extend down to where you puppy is in the shower and make it easier to rinse him. Most of these types of shower heads allow you to twist a knob to turn off the water momentarily. To save water and keep the water from spraying everywhere while you soap up your dog's coat, turn off the water pressure when you aren't using the water. This type of shower head will also let you use a gentler water pressure. You don't want to use a high powered pressure setting. Use the light shower setting on your shower head when showering your puppy. Make sure the water isn't too hot. You can judge that by touching it yourself. Just being warm to the touch is good enough. Adjust the water temperature as needed before putting your dog in the shower. Let your puppy adjust to the water. Take your time and go slow. Let your puppy adjust to the temperature and to the feeling of the water hitting his body. Make sure you don't have the sprayer set to a high pressure that might startle or hurt your puppy. Try talking softly to your puppy as you let him get used to the water. This might help keep him calm, and also reassure him that nothing bad is going to happen. It's important he feels safe and comfortable so he doesn't learn to fear showering or bathing. Wet down your puppy's entire body. Get his entire coat nice and saturated with warm water. Don't spray the water right into his face. Instead, gently tip his head back and aim the water down the back of his neck. You can use your hands to gently wet down his face to assure he doesn't get water in his eyes. Using your hose or sprayer, you can reach underneath your puppy's body to make sure you get his underside wet as well. Again, it's important to go slowly and not startle him. Use a sponge or washcloth to apply shampoo. You can use just your hands, but using something like a sponge, washcloth, or even a special grooming mit will make it easier to spread the soap, and also help you avoid using too much soap. Lather up the soap gently with your hand or sponge, moving it in circular motions on the dog's coat. Pay special attention to areas that are especially dirty, like legs and feet. It helps to start at the head and work your way back to the tail. This will pull dirt and grime down the dog's body as you wash him, and make it easier to wash it out when you're done shampooing. Take extra care when cleaning your puppy's face, head, and ears. Make sure you don't put soap or water into your puppy's eyes or ears. Ears need to be cleaned with special ear cleaning solution, and your vet should provide you with instructions for this. Use a washcloth to gently wipe down your dog's face to avoid getting soap in his eyes or mouth. If you get soap in your dog's eyes unintentionally, rinse gently with clean water. Follow instructions on the label of the shampoo bottle should this occur. Rinse the shampoo carefully. Again, make sure you tilt your puppy's head back gently, and shield his eyes with your hand so no soapy water runs into them as you rinse. Start from his head, and rinse towards his back end. Run your hand over his coat to get all the suds out as you rinse. Make sure you rinse until the water runs soap-free. Make sure your dog's toes get rinsed, too. If you have the bath water filled up, rinse his toes a second time once you've drained the water out. Leaving soap in the fur can lead to irritation of your puppy's skin, so it's important that you get all the soap out when rinsing. Smooth some conditioner through your dog's coat. Depending on the type of conditioner you bought, it might say on the label to let it sit for a minute or two so it can soak in and detangle and soften the coat. Follow the specific instructions on the label, rinsing again carefully afterward. If your dog has a longer coat, use a wide-toothed comb to evenly distribute the conditioner through the coat. This will also help detangle your puppy's coat as you work the conditioner in. Dry your dog gently with an absorbent towel. You can even use a special pet-drying towel sold at many pet supply stores. Microfiber towels seem to offer the most absorbency when drying a wet pup. Start with your puppy's head, as his wet face might be making him uncomfortable. Work your way down your puppy's body, being careful not to mat his fur with rough drying motions. Make sure you dry his feet once you've carefully lifted him out of the tub or shower. Slippery wet feet could be dangerous for your pup if he falls or trips. Use a waterless shampoo. There are many waterless shampoos on the market for dogs, and you can purchase them at your local pet supply store. Some come as sprays, others as foams, and most involve combing the shampoo through your puppy's coat and then rubbing them dry with a towel or letting them air dry. Just like when looking for a regular shampoo, avoid purchasing a waterless shampoo with artificial dyes or fragrances. These might irritate your dog's skin. Brush your dog. Depending on the length of their coat, you'll need to do this more or less often. The longer the coat, the more prone it will be to knotting and matting, so brushing every few days to every week will be important. Shorter coats can be brushed every few weeks to remove dead or loose hair from their undercoats. If your dog does have some knots or mats, use a bit of dog conditioner to detangle it and gently comb it out. Make sure to brush in the direction of hair growth, rather than against the grain. Dogs don't like their hair to be brushed in the wrong direction, and it could lead to worse knots rather than helping eliminate them. Wipe their paws. Use baby wipes, damp towels, or specially made dog wipes to wipe your puppy's paws down after coming in from outside. You can also use these wipes or towels to wipe your puppy's entire body down if he gets a bit dirty, or caught in the rain. This will keep them from tracking dirt inside, and will help slow down the accumulation of dirt on their coats between baths. | Buy shampoo made specifically for dogs. Choose a shampoo suited to your puppy's needs. Get conditioner made for dogs. Buy a dog brush or comb. Use a shower head that detaches. Make sure the water isn't too hot. Let your puppy adjust to the water. Wet down your puppy's entire body. Use a sponge or washcloth to apply shampoo. Take extra care when cleaning your puppy's face, head, and ears. Rinse the shampoo carefully. Smooth some conditioner through your dog's coat. Dry your dog gently with an absorbent towel. Use a waterless shampoo. Brush your dog. Wipe their paws. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Have-the-Habits-of-a-Confident-Woman | How to Have the Habits of a Confident Woman | If you want to have the habits of a confident woman, show off your confidence with the right body language and create a healthy attitude towards life. Stand tall with your shoulders back and head up when you talk to people, since good posture indicates confidence. You should also make eye contact and face the person you're talking to, which will show you're focused. When you make a mistake or error, take responsibility for your action rather than making an excuse, since accepting you did something wrong proves you're confident about your abilities. If you're unsure whether to do something, like attend an event, go ahead and do it in a confident way so everyone else thinks you're relaxed about it. For example, you might tell yourself, “I might not know many people at the party. So what?”, and then go to the party anyway. | Stand tall. If you want to be confident, make yourself look bigger. A tall stance tends to exude confidence. Work on being conscious of how you're carrying yourself throughout the day. Keep your posture straight. Hold your shoulders behind your back. Make sure to hold your head high. When standing, keep your feet close together. Relax your knees while centering your weight on your lower body. This way, you'll stay grounded to the earth. Make eye contact. Confident people give off enthusiasm in conversation. If you want to appear more confident, you can look people in the eye as you speak. However, make sure to hold eye contact when others speak as well. Do not look away when you finish talking. Maintain eye contact throughout the course of a conversation. Avoid common behaviors that imply distraction, such as looking at your phone or scanning the room. Engage in fronting. Fronting means aiming your torso towards the person you're talking to. This can help make you look confident and engaged in conversation. As you go about your day, be aware of your body's position during conversation. Make sure to keep your torso directed towards the person you're speaking to, as this will make you look more confident. Gesticulate. Talking with your hands can make you look animated about the topic. Excitement and enthusiasm can be read as confidence about the matter at hand. Also, you may sound more animated when you gesticulate. Move your hands as you talk to help illustrate a subject. Go with what feels natural to you. If you don't gesticulate often, try practicing in front of a mirror to find hand motions that feel comfortable. While gesticulating can help, strive to keep your hand movements under control. Something too wild or out of control may be off-putting. Keep your gesturing open. Staying relaxed and open makes people feel at ease with you. You appear confident as you look more comfortable talking with others. Make sure you're not closing yourself off with your body language. Open gestures can help exude confidence. Make sure to show the palms of your hands when you're talking. Avoid crossing your arms or hiding your hands. Hold your arms around waist level when speaking. This will make you read as open and confident. Embrace your imperfections. It may sound strange, but recognizing your flaws can actually make you come off as more confident. No one is perfect. An attempt to mask imperfections can be read as insecurity. Instead of trying to hide your flaws, embrace and accept them as part of who you are. You don't have to define yourself by an imperfection. Learn to love and accept the fact you sometimes talk too much or that you dislike something about your physical appearance. This is only one small part of who you are. If you're aware of and accepting of your imperfections, you will feel less of a need to hide or cover them up. This can be read as confident to others. Take responsibility for your own actions. Insecure people tend to make excuses or cover up mistakes. If you're confident, you know that a mistake or error is not the defining factor of your life. Work on taking responsibility for your decisions, both good and bad. This will make you read as more confident to those around you. Remember, you are the only person who can make things happen for yourself. You have the power to direct your life, for better or for worse. If you make a mistake, don't minimize it. Instead, think to yourself, "That was a mistake. It was poor judgment on my part. I should try to do better next time." Have an "as-if" mentality. Whenever you feel yourself holding back, ask yourself "So what?" Take actions with outward confidence, even if you feel uncertain. Remind yourself that the worst that can happen is your won't succeed exactly as you envisioned. For example: “I want to stand up for myself and say something, but they are going to disagree with me”. So what? "I want to go to that event, but I'm scared that I won't know very many people." So what? "I might forget what to say next during a presentation." So what? Avoid certain habits when talking. Be aware of how you talk. Certain words and phrases undermine your confidence, and can make you look like you have an insecure attitude. Learn to watch out for vocabulary or tone that diminishes confidence. Never open up a sentence with something that undermines yourself. Avoid starting off saying something, "I'm no expert, but..." or "This is just my opinion, but..." Also, things like "What if..." can sound insecure. Words like "just" are unnecessary and can make you look nervous or uncertain. Watch out for question inflection. This is when you end a sentence as if it were a question. This can come off as nervous, so avoid doing so. Develop and follow through with action plans. Confident people have excellent follow through. They do not make big plans only to let them fall to the wayside. If you want to give off confidence, make plans and then follow through with them every time. Select an area where you need to grow. It can be something personal. For example, you want to be better about keeping up with household chores. It can also be something professional. For example, you want to work harder on finding a better job. Develop an action plan. Set specific deadlines and actions you can take to achieve these goals. Follow through with your plans. Even small steps will boost your confidence. You may not achieve everything exactly as you envisioned, but that's okay. Taking action in and of itself can raise your confidence. Find a mentor. If you want to feel more confident, one way to do is to surround yourself with confident people. Seek out someone you admire. Seek out a confident woman. Ask her to help you develop your own sense of confidence. You can find someone at work. You can ask a very confident co-worker to have coffee with you so you can pick her brain. You can also ask someone in your social circle. Maybe you know a very confident friend. She can give you advice on how to raise your own confidence. Prioritize self care. Self-care should not be something thought of as self-indulgent. If you want to maintain a confident attitude, you need to care for yourself. You deserve rest and relaxation in order to maintain your confidence. Give yourself small rewards. This can be as simple as a warm bath at the end of each day, or a long walk to clear your head after work. Make time for the basics. Get enough sleep, eat well, and give yourself some downtime. Schedule regular self-care time and make sure you stick to it, even when life gets busy. Exercise to bolster confidence. Regular physical activity has a lot of health benefits. However, it can also boost your sense of self-confidence. If you work out regularly, you will feel better about your body and its capabilities. At first, work out schedules can feel taxing. It's not unusual to find yourself dreading your daily workout when you're getting into the routine. Stick with it, even if you dislike working out. Eventually, you'll find yourself looking forward to your daily workout routine and valuing the benefits to your mind and body. Experiment with new things. Your comfort zone is not the place to stay. If you want major change in your life, you must push yourself out of your comfort zone. With every step you take out of your comfort zone, you'll grow more confident. Do something that intimidates you. Go to a bar alone to make new friends. Try a new workout routine at the gym. Take up a hobby that you've always felt nervous about. Push yourself intellectually. Read a difficult book. Take a class in an unfamiliar subject area. | Stand tall. Make eye contact. Engage in fronting. Gesticulate. Keep your gesturing open. Embrace your imperfections. Take responsibility for your own actions. Have an "as-if" mentality. Avoid certain habits when talking. Develop and follow through with action plans. Find a mentor. Prioritize self care. Exercise to bolster confidence. Experiment with new things. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Reliable-Information-on-Climate-Change | How to Find Reliable Information on Climate Change | If you want to find reliable information on climate change, visit your local library to find journal articles and books. Look for peer reviewed sources, which are written by experts in the field and then reviewed for accuracy by other experts. If you can, subscribe to a few peer-reviewed journals, like the Journal of Earth Science and Climate Change or Global and Planetary Change. If you can't, look online for articles and data published by educational organizations and local, state, or national governments. | Subscribe to peer-reviewed journals. Peer-reviewed journal articles are written by experts in the field. The works then undergo critiquing by other experts before they can be published. This ensures that the articles are based on the best knowledge to date. Some examples are: The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses Journal of Earth Science and Climate Change Global and Planetary Change Visit peer-reviewed journals online. Online journals offer more flexibility than print journals. Just go to the website of your favorite journal and subscribe online. Some journals will even offer the option to pay for certain articles rather than buying the entire subscription. Pubmed and Google Scholar are great places to find peer-reviewed articles online. Visit a library. You can access an endless number of journals at little or no cost. University libraries are likely to be better stocked with peer-reviewed materials, but you can look at a local library, too. Many libraries participate in interlibrary loan programs that allow them to borrow materials from other libraries, thus expanding your selection. Look for educational organizations. There are many organizations that are dedicated to providing factual information on climate change. You only need to find their websites or speak with a local representative. They are usually more than willing to have a discussion or provide you with written information to keep you knowledgeable about climate change. For example: The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Alliance for Climate Education National Center for Science Education Seek information from governmental departments. Several governments around the world have pushed for investigations regarding climate change. They often set up their own agencies or hand this task to an existing agency. The information and conclusions found are published for the public to read. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is a great example. Consider related sciences. Climate change is often studied by other sciences or science organizations. This usually happens because climate has a direct impact on the study of that science, or that science can provide information relevant to climate change. This scientific overlap often leads to unbiased, reliable information. For example, NASA provides data relevant to climate change. They are able to use satellites to monitor things like the size of polar ice caps over time. Beware articles that are not peer-reviewed. If an article or journal does not say that it is a peer reviewed or scholarly publication, you should find information elsewhere. Though there can be factual information in these publications, there is no verification that it is factual. Publications that do not undergo a peer review process can be false or misleading. Avoid articles with an obvious agenda. Many different industries and companies are affected by the public facts and opinions on climate change.You may notice articles that seem to be very pointed in one direction or the other. In this case, it is best to find other information, or at least to make an effort to find information supporting the statements made by the article. For example, articles published by companies that provide fossil fuels may be more likely to downplay the human involvement in climate change. Check the sources and citations. A reliable article will list sources or citations. This gives you an idea of where the author(s) obtained the information set forth in the article. You can evaluate the validity of the article based on the quality of sources that are provided. This is particularly important for articles on the Internet, especially if they're posted on social media sites. Anyone can post any opinion they want on the Internet, making it difficult to decide what information to trust and what to discard. Learn about greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are atmospheric molecules that prevent light and heat from escaping the earth. These gases include things like carbon dioxide. An increase in greenhouse gases can lead to warmer global temperatures. Though greenhouse gases are produced naturally (e.g. a volcanic eruption), the majority of the scientific community claims that human activity (e.g. burning fossil fuels) adds significant amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Skeptics of this theory argue that greenhouse gases produced by humans do not significantly impact climate. Realize that the sun is not static. The amount of light and heat that the sun gives off is subject to fluctuations. These changes directly impact the earth's climate. Energy given off by the sun is another variable in climate change over time. Scientists have measured the levels of energy given off by the sun over time. The data shows that the amount of solar energy reaching earth fluctuates, resulting in changes to climate. However, in most scientific models, this does not account for the degree of climate change that has been measured in the last several decades. Consider how much sunlight is reflected. The earth reflects much of the sun's light due to albedo (a surface's ability to reflect solar energy). This helps to keep the planet cool. Places with light-colored or white surfaces (e.g., polar regions covered in snow) will reflect more light and remain colder. Regions with darker surfaces (e.g., metropolitan areas) will absorb more sunlight and keep higher temperatures. The impact of urbanization is also subject to the climate change debate. Again, skeptics of human-driven climate change claim that the amount of urbanization in the world is too insignificant to affect climate. People who consider human activity to have a direct impact on climate generally take the stance that increased urbanization leads to more sunlight being absorbed by the planet (making it warmer). | Subscribe to peer-reviewed journals. Visit peer-reviewed journals online. Visit a library. Look for educational organizations. Seek information from governmental departments. Consider related sciences. Beware articles that are not peer-reviewed. Avoid articles with an obvious agenda. Check the sources and citations. Learn about greenhouse gases. Realize that the sun is not static. Consider how much sunlight is reflected. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Give-Back-Correct-Change | How to Give Back Correct Change | If you need to give back the correct change without a cash register, make sure the cost of the product and the change you give the customer add up the total amount they paid you. For example, if the customer gave you 20 dollars to buy a 5 dollar item, you would give back 15 dollars since 15 plus 5 equals 20. Alternatively, count up from the purchase amount of 5 dollars until you reach 20 dollars, putting each bill out in front of you as you count to avoid any confusion. If the change includes cents, hand back the coins first, starting with pennies, then nickels, dimes, and quarters. By giving the customer coins before handing out paper money, they'll be less likely to drop the change as you hand it to them. | Make sure the change you give and the price of the product together add up to the cash the customer gave you. You want the customer to leave with the same value they gave you, only now part of that value will be the product, and the rest change. It's that simple. For example: If they gave you $20 to buy a $5 book, they will leave with $5 worth of book plus $15 worth of change, for a total value of $20. Add up the amount the customer gives you. Before you can make change, you'll need to know how much money you've been given. As you count the money, place it on the register or table in front of you both. When you are done counting, state the amount paid. This will ensure that there is no confusion or disagreement about how much the customer gave you. Count up from the amount of the purchased item to the other amount paid. For example, if they are purchasing a sandwich that costs $7.59, and they gave you $20, you would start at $7.59 and give them money, counting up until you reached $20. Count out loud to avoid confusion. You don't need to count out every single coin, but it is important to at least call out the running total whenever you reach the end of a particular unit such as pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters. With bills mistakes are more costly, so it's a good idea to keep a running count. For example, if you were given $10 for a $6 product, you would either: Count the one dollar bills and then give the total: “One, two, three, and four makes ten.” Or add up as you go: “Seven, eight, nine, and ten.” Start with coins. Do pennies first, then nickels, dimes, and quarters before handing out paper money. When you give back change the other way around, it's awkward and your customer is more likely to drop the change as they are already holding the paper money. If your customers drop your money when you pass it to them, this is probably why. In our initial example, you are starting with $7.59 (the price of the sandwich), so you would hand back: 1 penny (“that's $7.60”) 1 nickel (“7.65”) 1 dime (“7.75”) 1 quarter (“8.00”) While this is the most efficient combination of coins, it doesn't really matter how you add up to $8.00, so long as you get there. Hand back paper money next. Once you reach an even dollar amount, start counting out bills until you have added up to the amount they gave you. Returning to our example: You have added up to $8.00 and need to continue to $20.00, so now you would hand back: 2 one dollar bills (“9, 10”) 1 ten dollar bill (“and 10 more makes 20”) Check your work. You gave the customer.01 +.05 +.10 +.25 =.41 cents in change. You then gave her 1 + 1 + 10 = $12 in cash, for a total of $12.41 in change. $7.59 + $12.41 = $20 – the amount the customer paid. Be prepared for customers to give you odd amounts in order to get back less change or certain denominations. For example, if the total is $6, a customer might hand you $11 so that she can get back a single five dollar bill. On the other hand, if she handed you $10, she would have gotten back 4 one dollar bills. Count up as you did before for simpler transactions. Especially for transaction not involving coins, it is usually simple to just count up. For example, if the customer bought a $42 hat and gave you $47, you would count: 1 five dollar bill (“You gave me 42, plus 5 makes 47.”) Consider doing a bit of subtraction first to make things simpler when dealing with more complex transactions. It may not be immediately obvious how to get from $12.78 to $23.03. Here is where a little initial subtraction can simplify things: Start with the amount paid. Subtract from it to get a simpler number. In this case, 23.03 –.03 = $23.00. Now subtract the same amount from the price: 12.78 –.03 = $12.75. It's clear now that you'll need to first give back a quarter. 1 quarter takes you from $12.78 to $13.03. (“that's $13.03”) 1 ten dollar bill (“plus 10 equals 23.03”) Give correct change confidently for any combination. As another example of a more complex situation, imagine that you're a waiter and a customer is purchasing a meal worth $112.31. They give you 6 twenties, a nickel, and a penny. Add the amount paid by counting up as you put the money down: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and six cents. Tell the customer the amount paid: "$120.06". The customer gave you a bizarre amount of change, so this might be a good time to do a bit of subtraction. 120.06 -.06 = $120.00, and 112.31 -.06 = $112.25. Better. You need 3 quarters. Now start adding up from $112.31 to $120.06. 3 quarters ("takes us to 113.06") - We know this works from our earlier subtraction exercise. 2 one dollar bills ("114, 115") 1 five dollar bill ("and 5 is 120.06") Check your work: You gave.25 +.25 +.25 + 1 + 1 + 5 = $7.75. $7.75 + $112.31 = $120.06 – the amount the customer paid. | Make sure the change you give and the price of the product together add up to the cash the customer gave you. Add up the amount the customer gives you. Count up from the amount of the purchased item to the other amount paid. Count out loud to avoid confusion. Start with coins. Hand back paper money next. Check your work. Be prepared for customers to give you odd amounts in order to get back less change or certain denominations. Count up as you did before for simpler transactions. Consider doing a bit of subtraction first to make things simpler when dealing with more complex transactions. Give correct change confidently for any combination. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hit-a-Draw-or-Fade | How to Hit a Draw or Fade | To hit a draw, maintain a strong grip on your club since weaker grips tend to cause fades. You should also point your feet and shoulders slightly to the right of your target, while still aiming right at the target itself, which will help the ball draw to the left. Also, straighten out your right arm immediately on the downswing and keep your right shoulder back for as long as possible to send the ball along a right-to-left path. | Use a strong grip. Hitting a draw means hitting the ball to that, for a right-handed player, the ball curves slightly from right to left. Employing what's called a strong grip will help you do this. Weak grips tend to cause fades, while strong grips encourage draws. In order to hit a draw: Place your left hand on the top of the grip, with your wrist turned in to your body, so that some knuckles are showing. Place your right hand below of your left hand, covering your left thumb, with the crease in your right hand angled to your right shoulder. Your palms should face each other. Note : Rolling your right hand over the club is what "weakens" the grip, causing a slide or fade. If you can see the knuckles in your right hand, you're weakening your grip, making a draw harder. Aim to the right of your target. Point your feet and shoulders so that they are aimed slightly to the right of your intended target, but aim your shot right at the target. This is called a closed club face. When you hit the ball, it should start out right of its initial target, curling back to the left the closer it gets. Some golfers prefer dropping their front shoulder, believing that more of an upward trajectory on the ball contributes to a draw. Draw an imaginary line to shoot with a rounded swing. What does this mean? When you set up your feet and shoulders, draw an imaginary line that both your feet and shoulders are pointing to. On the takeaway, keep your swing low and on the inside of this imaginary line. Try for more of a rounded swing than a vertical swing. Straighten your right arm out immediately on the downswing. When your club begins to come down, try to straighten out your right arm. This will create good club head speed, promoting a right-to-left path in the flight of the ball. As you do this, keep your right shoulder back for as long as possible. This, in combination with a straight right arm will help the club face close on time, creating a draw. Keep the toe of the club in front of the heel of the club. As you hit the ball, try to make sure that the toe of the club is in front of the heel; as you continue your follow-through, the toe of the club should travel farther in front of the heel than it was when you made contact. To do this, the right arm will cross over the left arm as you make contact with the ball. This will create the signature draw arc. Weaken your grip. If you're a right-handed golfer, move your grip over to the left a bit. Make sure your knuckles on your left hand aren't visible on your grip, but your right-hand knuckles are. Don't overdo this. A fade can easily turn into a slice if you move your grip too much to the left. Make sure your left hand is on top of your right hand for as long as possible. Hold your club face square to your release path, or even open to it. Aim slightly to the left. A fade is where the ball starts off left and slowly drifts back to center. To make sure your fade doesn't become a slice, aim slightly left of target with your feet and shoulders. Hit with a slightly open face. On impact, hit the ball so that the toe of the club is tilted slightly rearward and the heel is in front of the toe. This will promote the left-to-right movement that you're looking for with a fade. Don't over swing. Swinging really hard with an open swing encourages a slice. So don't kill the ball. Swing evenly so that your hands don't turn over. Tee the ball low and line up the center of the ball with the sweet spot of your driver. A lower height on the teed-up ball will help you swing more level at impact. | Use a strong grip. Aim to the right of your target. Draw an imaginary line to shoot with a rounded swing. Straighten your right arm out immediately on the downswing. Keep the toe of the club in front of the heel of the club. Weaken your grip. Aim slightly to the left. Hit with a slightly open face. Don't over swing. Tee the ball low and line up the center of the ball with the sweet spot of your driver. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Plan-a-Trip-to-New-York-City | How to Plan a Trip to New York City | It can be hard to see everything you want to see on a trip to New York City, so before you go, pick the landmarks, museums, or shows that are most important for you to see. If you're having trouble deciding, you can choose from pre-set itineraries that will allow you to see a number of famous attractions in the time you'll be there. Book a room that's central to the attractions you want to see, and be sure it's close to a major subway line if you'll be doing a lot of traveling. | Identify the things you want to see. Why do you dream of going to New York City? You probably have a few things in mind already that you're curious about. List them, then take some time and research other places, landmarks, museums, or shows that interest you. If you're overwhelmed by all of the options, you can always start with a pre-planned itinerary as a jumping-off point. The city has special ones based on TV shows, classic movies, and beloved children's literature. Look around for other resources on interesting attractions. Guide books are a good start, but the blogs of travelers (and NYC locals) are useful, too. Customize your visit around what interests you. There's something for everyone in New York City. Conversely, there's something not for everyone in New York City. You may have seen the Empire State Building in movies and TV shows, but that doesn't mean it's essential to your trip. You don't have to do anything you find boring. Make sure to take the interests of the others you travel with into account, too. If you're used to the structure of a group tour, consider planning a day tour instead of one that encompasses your whole visit. Contact friends for recommendations. Your friends know you better than any guidebook, or even travel agent, does. If you have a friend who has traveled to New York recently, grill them. What was their favorite activity? What do they wish they'd known? If you have a friend who lives or has lived in NYC, they may be able to offer even more advice. Don’t feel limited to Manhattan. Manhattan is central, busy, and full of historic excitement, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Alexander Hamilton's house in Harlem. However, it's only one of the five boroughs of New York City, and if you don't leave it, you'll miss out on a lot of culture and fun. Make it a point to get off the island and explore places that may seem a little out of the ordinary. Brooklyn has become notorious for its hipsters in the past ten years, but there's much more to it than that. Visit for experimental theatre, the gorgeous botanic garden, and international food from Bajan flying fish to Polish pastries. The Bronx is best known for its amazing Bronx Zoo, which focuses on wildlife conservation and protection, and Yankee Stadium. You can also explore Wave Hill, which has gorgeous old houses that will appeal to Edith Wharton and Downton Abbey fans. Queens offers incredible restaurants and a range of museums, too. Stop by the Queens Museum of Art or the New York Hall of Science. Staten Island is the most suburban-feeling of the boroughs, which makes it a nice stop for a relaxed afternoon. Take the free ferry from Manhattan, and visit Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach, the Children's Museum, or any number of tranquil gardens and parks. Know how long you’ll be in New York. This will help you prioritize. If you're going to be in the city for a week, you can plan to hit the spots you're most excited about and throw some wild cards into your itinerary, too. If you're only stopping by for a weekend, your options will be more limited (but you can still pack in a lot of fun). Make sure you know how much time you can take off work, and if you'll need to apply flex time, vacation days, or personal days to your trip. Consider how far you are traveling when reflecting on your timing, as well. You may need to allow for travel time, as well as jet lag or exhaustion. Know how to get there. Before you make any other reservations, make sure you know exactly how you plan to get to New York. After all, you can't see Hamilton if you're not in the city. There are plenty of ways to get to New York, so look around and choose based on your budget, distance, and comfort. New York has three major airports, and it's fairly easy to find cheap flights. If you travel with one particular airline often, it might be better to buy tickets through that one, instead of trying to find the absolutely cheapest deal. If you're traveling a short distance and staying a short time, you can consider driving. Make sure you have parking plans (as rates in New York City are famously steep) and be cautious when driving in busy areas. If you don't want to drive or fly, NYC is served by Amtrak and local train lines, as well as bus lines like Greyhound, Megabus, and Peter Pan. Pick where you’ll stay. There is no shortage of lodging in New York City, so you can shop around until you find the perfect place. Try to stick close to the attractions you're interested in, or select a location that's served by a major subway line. Manhattan is central, so it's a popular choice for hotels, but stay out of giant business districts like Midtown if you want quieter vibes. Start researching hotels by perusing a recommended list, or search for recommendations in a particular neighborhood. Consider size, price, and amenities like breakfast or exercise equipment. There are options for student housing and hostels as well, if you're a young person planning a less-than-frilly trip. In recent years, AirBNB and other room-sharing apps have become popular as well. Make sure to read reviews. No matter where you want to stay, check the Bedbug Registry before you book! Bedbugs became a problem in New York several years ago, and they're not yet completely under control. Make major reservations. Once you have your travel and sleeping plans in place, you can start making concrete plans for the fun stuff. Look up the items on your must-see list, and see if any of them require advance purchases or reservations. Theatre tickets are best to buy in advance. There are many discount options, both online and in the city (like the famous TKTS booth for Broadway shows.) If you're eager to see a bunch of museums and classic destinations like the Statue of Liberty, you can save time and money by acquiring a museum pass. If there's a particular restaurant you're simply dying to eat at, contact them in advance, as well. Schedule unscheduled time. There are so many things to do in New York that it's tempting to stuff your itinerary to the gills. However, it's actually better to give yourself some flexible, unstructured time as well. This way, you'll have the opportunity to rest and reflect, impulsively try a recommendation from a local, or simply linger over a delicious slice of dollar pizza. If you're having trouble breaking time down, think of it this way. There are three major zones of travel time: morning, afternoon, and evening. Plan to fill two of these, and chill during the other one. You might go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art before lunch and the Metropolitan Opera at night--nap or write postcards in between for best results. Let your bank know you’ll be traveling. If you're traveling from out of state or out of country, tell your bank before you leave so they don't flag your account for fraudulent charges. They should be able to tell you if you'll be able to withdraw from your checking account at an ATM at this time. Record important info. The best laid plans will go awry if you don't write them down. As you continue to confirm the details of your travel, write them down. A small notebook will work for this purpose, as will a notetaking app on your smartphone--just make sure you keep the information close to you. Write down your hotel's address and keep it somewhere safe. This should help you get back easily at the end of a busy day. Make copies of travel documents. You may want to keep one copy on your person, and another in your hotel room. Print and save reservations, and take them with you as well. Wear comfortable shoes. You may have heard that New Yorkers are famous for their sharp heels and oxfords, but if you're trying to get a lot done in one day, comfort is key. You'll fit in just as well in cute sneakers or sturdy, low-key walking shoes, and you'll be grateful for them at the end of the day. Dress for the weather. New York's climate is modified by the whims of the Atlantic Ocean. It can play host to extreme temperatures and surprising weather patterns. Pack clothes that are appropriate for the time of year you'll be visiting, and make sure to look at the forecast for your trip before you leave. New York in the summer is hot, humid, and sunny. Pack skirts and dresses, light shorts and pants, a sweater or jacket for chilly air conditioning, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Light shoes are good, but avoid flip-flops--they won't keep your feet safe on crowded or dirty sidewalks. In the winter, stay warm. Wear a wool or down coat, and add sweaters, thick tights and pants, and sturdy boots. Layering is a classic element of New York winter style, and it's practical in fluctuating temperatures. Leave space in your suitcase. If you plan to shop for anything--souvenirs, presents, or vintage clothes--don't stuff your bag when you pack to leave. Instead, designate some room for your purchases. You can also roll up a light duffel and tuck it in your luggage, then fill it with your new purchases. Travel lightly during the day. Do not walk around with a huge bag full of unnecessary items. They will weigh you down in ever sense of the word. Pick a low-key, practical bag, and keep it close to you. You may need a small wallet, your cell phone, a map, and a camera for the day-to-day. Don't forget recorded essential information (like the name of your hotel and any major planned activities). Bring a phone charger with you. You may need to purchase a plug adaptor for it, if you're visiting from another country with outlets different from American standard ones. Plan to fortify and hydrate. Chances are you will be trying to see as many places as possible and will be walking a lot. Don't let yourself get too hungry or thirsty, or you could get burned out. There are usually plenty of carts and shops that can offer you a quick bite, but it's smart to travel with food options, too. If you have a refillable water bottle, bring it. NYC tap water is safe and drinkable. Bring nonperishable snacks that don't get squished easily. Try dried fruits, nuts, and energy bars. Remember that snacks are not a substitute for lunch, so don't rely too heavily on them. Download an NYC transit app. New York City trains can take you nearly anywhere you want to go, as long as you can figure out how to use them. You can navigate with a map, but there are many smartphone apps available that are user-friendly and offer information that maps can't (for instance, if there is construction happening in a particular station). Citymapper is reliable, and even tells you the best subway cars to ride in. Transit works for many different American cities--you might be able to apply it to your own city, too. Have access to cash. Cash is universally accepted by NYC's famous yellow cabs. Also, vendors across the city have drinks and snacks available all day for cash purchase. If you're looking for an ATM, you can ask at your hotel's desk--they're also a common feature in bodegas and greengrocers. | Identify the things you want to see. Customize your visit around what interests you. Contact friends for recommendations. Don’t feel limited to Manhattan. Know how long you’ll be in New York. Know how to get there. Pick where you’ll stay. Make major reservations. Schedule unscheduled time. Let your bank know you’ll be traveling. Record important info. Wear comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather. Leave space in your suitcase. Travel lightly during the day. Plan to fortify and hydrate. Download an NYC transit app. Have access to cash. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake | How to Make a 3D Paper Snowflake | To make a 3D paper snowflake, you'll need 6 square pieces of paper that are all the same size, scissors, and clear tape. To get started, fold one of the squares in half diagonally so it's a triangle. Then, fold the triangle in half so you're left with a smaller triangle. Use your scissors to cut 3 evenly-spaced vertical slits along one of the short sides of the triangle, stopping each slit before you reach the other side. Now, unfold the paper all the way so it's a square again. Tape the tips of the 2 innermost flaps together. Then, flip the paper over, and tape the tips of the next 2 flaps together. Flip the paper over again and tape the third pair of flaps together, then do the same thing on the other side one more time with the last 2 flaps. Now you're finished with the first arm of the snowflake. Set the first arm aside, and repeat with the other 5 squares. When you're finished, tape the bottoms of 2 of the snowflake arms together. Then, tape the arms together where they touch in the middle. Tape on the rest of the snowflake arms one at a time. Once you've attached the final arm, your 3D paper snowflake is finished! | Gather the materials. You'll need six (or eight for a fuller snowflake) pieces of paper. White copy paper will do, although you can use more elaborate types of paper like construction paper or origami paper. You'll also need scissors, clear tape, and a stapler or some double-sided tape. Fold each of the six pieces of paper in half diagonally, and then in half again diagonally. If the paper you are using does not make a perfect triangle, cut off the rectangular edge that sticks out to make the sides align perfectly. You should end up with a square folded into a triangle. Fold the triangle in half, noting where the folded "bottom" of the triangle is. Cut three slits in the triangle. Position the scissors along the bottom fold, and parallel to one of the edges going up to the top. Cut almost all the way up to the double folded crease, but not quite. Keep about the same distance between each cut. (This might not be suitable for thicker paper, since the number of layers makes it difficult to cut through.) Unfold the paper so that it is flat. Position it so that one of the points of the square faces you. It should look like the picture. Keeping your paper diamond side-up, roll the first two innermost paper lines together to form a tube. Tape these two pieces together. You should see triangle shapes on each side of the roll. Turn the diamond over to the other side of the paper. Take the next two paper lines and pull them together on the opposite side of the tube and tape together as before. This will be a more rounded shape and wider than the first tube. Keep turning the paper and joining the paper lines together on opposite side in the same fashion until all paper lines have been joined. Repeat Steps 2 to 7 with the remaining 5 pieces of paper. Join 3 of the completed rolled pieces together at one end and staple together using the other hand. Do the other 3 pieces the same way. Now you will have 2 pieces consisting of 3 strands or "arms" each. (For smaller snowflakes, it may be easier to use double-sided tape or white glue in place of staples.) Staple the two new pieces together in the middle. Staple where each of the six arms meet. This ensures that the snowflake shape is pulled into place. See picture at top for the finished snowflake. Hang them up, use them to make a center piece or use them to decorate in your own way in places where they can be admired. | Gather the materials. Fold each of the six pieces of paper in half diagonally, and then in half again diagonally. Cut three slits in the triangle. Unfold the paper so that it is flat. Keeping your paper diamond side-up, roll the first two innermost paper lines together to form a tube. Turn the diamond over to the other side of the paper. Keep turning the paper and joining the paper lines together on opposite side in the same fashion until all paper lines have been joined. Repeat Steps 2 to 7 with the remaining 5 pieces of paper. Join 3 of the completed rolled pieces together at one end and staple together using the other hand. Staple the two new pieces together in the middle. Staple where each of the six arms meet. Hang them up, use them to make a center piece or use them to decorate in your own way in places where they can be admired. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sign-over-Your-Rights-As-a-Father | How to Sign over Your Rights As a Father | Signing over your rights as a father is a difficult decision that means you'll have no further rights to your child and generally won't be required to pay any child support. In order to do so, you need to have the approval of a court. Judges will often grant requests to sign over parental rights in situations where someone else, such as your ex-wife's new husband, wishes to adopt your child. Otherwise, it can be difficult to convince a judge to grant your request. To sign over your rights, try talking to your child's mother to see if she will agree to the request. It doesn't guarantee that a court will rule in favor of you, but it can help boost your case. | Research your state's law. Not all states allow voluntary termination of parental rights, but those that do have legal standards you must meet for the judge to grant your petition. Typically the request for termination must be for good cause, and the court must find that termination of your parental rights would be in the best interests of the child. Both of these standards allow for a lot of judicial discretion in making the final determination. In some states such as Kentucky, you cannot voluntarily relinquish your parental rights. The only way to sign over your rights as a father in these states would be by consenting to the adoption of the child by another person such as a step-parent. States such as Missouri may only approve a voluntary termination of parental rights if at least one of the factors is present that is evaluated in cases of involuntary terminations. These factors include the child's emotional ties to you, the extent to which you've maintained regular contact and visitation with the child, and how committed or interested you are in the child's upbringing and welfare. Talk to your child's mother. In many states you cannot voluntarily terminate your parental rights without the other parent's consent. Keep in mind that even if both parents agree that termination of your parental rights would be in the child's best interests, this doesn't guarantee that the court will terminate your rights. The judge also must find that there is good cause for the termination. Consider hiring an attorney. Because court approvals of voluntary termination of parental rights is rare, you may find an attorney is best able to protect your interests and achieve your desired result. Given that much of the court's decision hinges on judicial discretion, an attorney familiar with the local judges and your area's court procedures can give you an advantage in pursuing your goal of signing over your rights as a father. Gather your evidence. If you have any documentation or other evidence supporting your case, you should make copies so you will have it available when you draft your petition to the court. The court needs evidence that you have good cause to have your parental rights terminated. A desire to end your child support or financial obligation to the child or to have your ex-spouse out of your life typically are not considered good cause by any court. Courts are reluctant to terminate parental rights if that will leave the child with only one parent. However, if another adult such as a step-parent wants to adopt the child and assume responsibility, this generally is considered a good cause for you to relinquish your parental rights – particularly if you have not played a substantial role in the child's life. Find the appropriate forms. Some states have forms you can print and fill out if you want to petition the court to relinquish your parental rights. Depending on the jurisdiction, the form may be referred to as a "petition" or as a "consent form." The difference is merely one of your position relative to the court: If you file a petition, you are asking the court to do something (in this case, terminate your parental rights), whereas if you file a consent form you are consenting to the court's termination of your parental rights, typically for an independent reason such as the presence of another person who wants to adopt the child. The form you have to fill out may depend on how old the child is and the circumstances under which you're relinquishing your parental rights. For example, California has a separate form you can fill out to relinquish your parental rights if you are served with notice of an action to determine paternity that names you as a possible father of the child. Fill out your forms. You must include information about yourself, your child, your relationship with your child, and the reason you want to sign over your rights as a father. If your court does not have approved forms, you will have to create your own petition following the state and local rules of court. You may be able to find a previous petition for termination of parental rights filed in the same court that you can use as a guide to ensure your formatting is correct. After you complete the form, you typically have to sign it in the presence of a notary public. Make sure you make at least two copies of your signed forms before you file them – one copy for your own records and one for the child's mother – since the court will keep the originals when you file them. File your form in the correct court. Typically the court that decided your divorce or child custody case is the court that would have jurisdiction over your case. In some states such as Missouri, termination of parental rights is handled by the juvenile court in the same jurisdiction. The clerk of your local court will be able to tell you which court you should use. When you file your paperwork, the clerk will assign a case number, stamp your documents "filed" with the date, and typically also will set a date for your hearing. Keep in mind that if you are currently paying child support, you remain obligated to pay that child support even after you've filed your paperwork requesting termination of your parental rights. You may stop paying child support only if the judge grants your request after a hearing. When you file your paperwork, you probably will have to pay a filing fee. Although the fees vary among jurisdictions, you can generally expect to pay between $200 and $500. In some jurisdictions, there's no filing fee for termination of parental rights if your petition is filed in conjunction with an adoption. If you are charged fees and cannot afford them, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Ask the clerk for an application and answer the questions about your income and assets. If the judge grants your application, you won't have to pay any court fees. Have the other parent served. Before your case can proceed, the other parent must have notice that you are asking the court to terminate your parental rights. Keep in mind that you can't serve the papers yourself. For a small fee, you can get a sheriff's deputy or a private process serving company to serve the papers by hand. You also may be able to use certified mail. You may have to file proof with the court that the other parent has been served. Ask the clerk if you need to file your proof beforehand, or if you can simply bring it with you to your hearing. Appear on your court date. If you don't show up on your court date, the judge will dismiss your petition. Keep in mind that there may be more than one court hearing, particularly if the judge decides an attorney needs to be appointed to represent the child and prepare a report detailing the child's best interests. Organize your documents ahead of time, and prepare a short statement about your case that you can read to the judge. If you plan to call any witnesses, check with the clerk to find out if you need to let the court know about these witnesses in advance. Dress in clean, conservative clothing. Although you don't need to wear a suit, you should dress as if you're going to a job interview or other significant event. Try to arrive early so you have time to go through courthouse security and find your courtroom. Present your case. You must explain to the court that you want to sign over your rights as a father, and explain why you want this to occur. As part of your case, you must not only demonstrate that you have good cause for seeking termination, but also that termination of your parental rights would be in the best interests of the child. Speak clearly and loudly when it's your turn to speak, but don't talk over or interrupt anyone else when they are speaking. Answer any questions. Once you've presented your case, the judge may have additional questions for you about yourself or your relationship with your child. In particular, the judge may want to ensure that your judgment is not impaired, and that you made the decision to have your parental rights terminated of your own volition, rather than being pushed into it by someone else. Receive the judge's order. If the judge grants your petition and terminates your parental rights, your parent-child relationship will end along with all of your parental rights and responsibilities toward your child. Signing over your rights as a father also means you will lose any custody or visitation rights you have over the child, as well as the right to provide any input regarding the child's religion, education, or medical care. Once your parental rights are terminated, you also have no say over who adopts the child in the future. | Research your state's law. Talk to your child's mother. Consider hiring an attorney. Gather your evidence. Find the appropriate forms. Fill out your forms. File your form in the correct court. Have the other parent served. Appear on your court date. Present your case. Answer any questions. Receive the judge's order. |
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