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https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Pico-De-Gallo | How to Make Pico De Gallo | If you'd like to make pico de gallo, place diced tomatoes in a bowl, and a diced onion with lime juice and minced garlic in another bowl. Next, mince the peppers and chop the cilantro before adding them to the tomatoes. To combine the ingredients, pour the contents of the bowl with the tomatoes into the other bowl and stir with a wooden spoon. Finish by seasoning with salt and lime juice to taste, then refrigerate your pico de gallo for 2 hours. Serve on tacos or as a dip with chips. | Dice the tomatoes and place them in a large bowl. The best tomatoes for pico de gallo are plum tomatoes. They have great flavor, a meaty texture, and contain less liquid than other types of tomatoes. Look for plum tomatoes that are bright red and firm to the touch. Do not use overly ripe tomatoes as they contain a lot of liquid and will water down the pico de gallo. If plum tomatoes aren't available at your grocery store, dry-farmed tomatoes are another good option. Use a sharp knife to dice the tomatoes into small cubes. Dice the onion. Use a sharp knife to cut the onion into very fine pieces. Most Mexican cooks use white onions in salsas, as white onions have a sharper taste than red or yellow onions. The sharp taste balances out nicely with the tomatoes in the pico de gallo. If you can only find red or green onions, feel free to use them instead. Place the diced onions in a bowl and add the juice of half the lime to them. The acid in the lime will tame some of the sharpness in the onions. Mince the garlic. Use a sharp knife to finely chop up the garlic clove. Add the garlic to the bowl with the onions. You can also use a garlic press, if available. Not all pico de gallo recipes use garlic, so if you don't like the taste of raw garlic, feel free to leave this ingredient out. Cut up the cilantro. Remove the leaves from the stems and chop them into fine pieces. Cilantro is not everyone's favorite herb. But it is a key element of a good pico de gallo, so be sure to add at least a little cilantro to the dish. If cilantro is not your thing, start with half the amount of cilantro called for and substitute the rest with parsley. Seed and mince the peppers. It's important to remove the seeds from the peppers as they can be very hot. Depending on the spiciness of the pepper, you can add as little as two peppers or as many as four peppers. Keep in mind Serrano peppers are spicier than Jalapeno peppers. Add the cilantro and peppers to the tomatoes. Then, add to the bowl with the garlic, onions, and lime juice. Mix all the ingredients together gently with a wooden spoon. Season to taste. Taste the pico de gallo and add salt, cilantro, or lime juice, if needed. Cover and refrigerate. The pico de gallo tastes best if the ingredients sit for a few hours in a cool place. If possible, use the salsa fresca on tacos, tostadas, or as a dip with chips on the day it is made. The pico de gallo will last up to 5 days refrigerated in a covered container. Finished. | Dice the tomatoes and place them in a large bowl. Dice the onion. Mince the garlic. Cut up the cilantro. Seed and mince the peppers. Add the cilantro and peppers to the tomatoes. Season to taste. Cover and refrigerate. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Hair-Gray | How to Dye Hair Gray | To dye your hair gray, first you'll need to bleach your hair so it's light enough. To bleach your hair, get a bleach kit, mix the developer and powder together per the kit's instructions, and apply it to your hair. Then, rinse out the bleach when your hair is light enough and apply a purple toner for 20 minutes to cancel out any brassy colors in your hair. Finally, rinse out the toner and apply some gray hair dye, leaving it in for about 30 minutes before rinsing it out. | Stop dyeing your hair for a few months. Unless you already have light platinum hair, you will need to bleach your hair to a very light color in order to get it gray. This degree of bleaching will likely damage your hair, so you will want it to start out as healthy as possible. If you've recently bleached your hair or used permanent dyes, avoid further chemical processing for about three months. If your hair is already extremely light in color, near a level 9 or 10, you can skip ahead directly to dying without having to wait. Your hair doesn't have to be naturally platinum blonde to go straight to dyeing it gray. If your hair has already been bleached and does not have a dye on top of it, then it's ready to go. If your hair is already dyed, you may need to have the current color removed since color can't lift color. You can do that at home with bleach, but you'll get much better results by visiting a professional stylist. Let your hair grow out. When bleaching darker hair to platinum blonde, some damage will be unavoidable. Since the ends of your hair are most likely to become dry and damaged during bleaching, you may need to trim them off when you're finished. Make sure you have an extra inch or two of hair you're comfortable with losing. Choose the right dye. With the silver trend in full swing, you have many different dyes to choose from. Do you want a light silver or a gunmetal gray? Do you want natural-looking neutral gray or an otherworldly shade with a hint of blue? Browse beauty blogs for reviews and pictures of how each dye looks. Pick the dye you like most. In addition to permanent dyes, certain pale purple and blue semi-permanent dyes and hair toners will also turn platinum hair gray. However, keep in mind that these types of coloring only last a couple of weeks. Luckily, since these treatments are very gentle, you can simply reapply them as needed without having to wait. Buy your materials while you wait. Even though silver hair is gaining popularity, it can still be difficult to find gray hair dye in brick and mortar shops. You will likely need to purchase your dye through a website. Remember that shipping will take a while, so plan accordingly. In addition to the dye, you will also need a deep conditioner, a bleach kit, and a purple toner. Condition your hair the week before. Both bleach and, to a lesser extent, permanent hair dye will dry out your hair by lifting away its natural oils. In order to minimize damage, you will need to make sure your hair is as well-moisturized as possible with a deep conditioning. The exact instructions for your deep conditioner will vary. Check the product's packaging for details. In general, you will apply a large dollop to clean hair and massage it in as you would shampoo. Leave it to set under a bathing cap for 10 to 30 minutes before rinsing. Allow your hair to air dry afterwards. Semi-permanent dyes and most toners are unlikely to dry out hair. These products do not penetrate the hair's outer layer and instead simply deposit pigment to only the surface of the hair. Wait a day or two after your last shampoo. Don't bleach hair that is freshly washed. The bleaching process will dry your hair out significantly, potentially causing damage and breakage. Your hair's natural oils will prevent this. A freshly-washed scalp is also much more sensitive and will itch more during bleaching. Mix bleach powder with developer. Your bleach kit will have two main components: dry powdered bleach and a hydrogen peroxide solution. Mix the two according to the ratios or instructions on your dye kit, using a tint brush or plastic spoon. Follow the instructions on your kit if they are different from what is described here. Developers come in different strengths rated by numbered "volumes." If your hair is already fairly light, use volume 10. Volume 20 is for darker blondes, volume 30 for light browns, and volume 40 for darker browns and black. Higher volumes can be more damaging to your hair, but they can also lighten it faster. Do a strand test. If you've never bleached your hair to platinum blonde before, you will need to know how long it takes your hair to lighten. Select a small amount of hair close to the roots at an inconspicuous place and section it off. Brush on some bleach using a tiny brush. Let the bleach set and check the strand every 5 to 10 minutes. If your hair is not light enough after an hour, you will need to do multiple rounds of bleaching. Rinse the bleach away between rounds and reapply it. To minimize damage, do not leave bleach in your hair for over an hour. Apply the bleach. Use a tint brush to apply your bleach mixture evenly to your hair. Work in sections, brushing in the direction your hair grows. Start from the very back of your head and work your way forward, leaving the sections of hair that frame your face for the end. If your hair is thick, flip up each section to expose the next layer of hair underneath and apply there, too. Leave about a one-inch section around your roots to do last, after the face-framing strands. The heat from your scalp will cause your roots to bleach a little faster than your normal hair. Try to go as quickly as possible to ensure an even color. Let the bleach sit. Refer back to the results of your strand test to determine how long you should leave the bleach in your hair. Cover your hair up with either a shower cap or plastic wrap while you wait. Keep in mind that a little itchiness on your scalp is normal. Rinse out the bleach. Use warm water without shampoo. Be very careful to not get any bleach in your eyes as you rinse. If possible, ask someone to rinse your hair for you in a sink while you look up as if you were in a salon. If you aren't immediately moving on to the next step, allow your hair to air dry. Blow drying can further strip your hair of moisture, potentially exacerbating any damage the bleach has caused. Apply a layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline and face. While toner will wash out eventually, you probably don't want a ring of purple skin framing your face for the next week or so. Scoop up a dollop of petroleum jelly or another thick moisturizer with your index finger and run it along any skin that is normally in contact with your hair. (Don't forget your ears!) The petroleum jelly will block your skin from absorbing the dye. If you didn't bleach immediately before this step, remember that your hair should be unwashed. Color will grip dirty hair better than it will hair that is clean. Start with purple toner. After you've bleached your hair, it will likely be a pale yellow. Because purple is at the opposite side of the color wheel, purple toner will balance out the "brassiness" of yellow. The end result will be closer to a neutral white and ready for the gray dye. Wear gloves when applying toner to avoid staining your hands. Begin with damp hair. If you haven't just done the bleach step, use a spray bottle to spritz your hair with some lukewarm water. Dip a tint brush into your toner. If your toner is packaged in a bottle, squeeze it into a bowl first. Brush the toner on from roots to tips. Start with the hair in back of your head and work forward. Make sure all of your hair is evenly coated. If your hair is thick, clip already-coated hair to the side to get to the layer underneath. Leave the toner to set for 20 minutes. You don't have to cover your hair, but a cap or plastic wrap will help to prevent staining. After 20 minutes, rinse the toner out with warm water. Wrap a towel around your hair and gently squeeze out the excess water. If you're using permanent hair dye, allow your hair to air dry first. If your dye is semi-permanent, apply it while your hair is still damp. Add in your dye. Reapply your petroleum jelly barrier first if it was washed away while rinsing out the toner. With a tinting brush, apply your gray dye in the same way you did your toner. At this stage, be especially careful to keep application even. Wear gloves when applying dye. Leave the dye in for roughly a half hour before rinsing. Run your hair under warm water until the water begins to run clear. Rinsing in the shower should be fine and is unlikely to stain your skin. Shampoo is unnecessary (and may cause your color to run), but you should finish with a conditioner formulated for color treated hair. Remember that each hair dye brand may vary in application. Always check your dye's packaging for specific instructions. | Stop dyeing your hair for a few months. Let your hair grow out. Choose the right dye. Buy your materials while you wait. Condition your hair the week before. Wait a day or two after your last shampoo. Mix bleach powder with developer. Do a strand test. Apply the bleach. Let the bleach sit. Rinse out the bleach. Apply a layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline and face. Start with purple toner. Leave the toner to set for 20 minutes. Add in your dye. Leave the dye in for roughly a half hour before rinsing. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-a-Good-Picture-of-Yourself | How to Take a Good Picture of Yourself | To take a good picture of yourself, try facing a bright window so the flattering natural light is lighting up your face in the photo. Also, take the picture from eye level or above since taking a photo from below isn't usually a flattering angle. Additionally, look for an interesting background, like a brick wall or some flowers, to give your photo more depth and variety. | Put on good-looking clothes and clean your face. Taking just a few moments to "put yourself together" can take your selfie from "good" to "great." Pick an outfit that you think makes you look good. It can be something that goes well with your surroundings (like a flannel lumberjack shirt if you're in the woods) or just a set of clothes you love. Find a mirror and make sure your hair looks good, your teeth are brushed, and your eyes are clear and "awake." Wash or brush yourself as needed. You may want to consider wearing light makeup, but don't feel obligated to use it. You don't necessarily have to wear makeup to take a good photo. Sometimes the most best photos come from a person's natural beauty. If you are taking a profile picture Facebook, a dating website, or something similar, you may want to put more effort into your selfie than normal. Pick an interesting background. You can take a closeup of your face, but having something else in the photo to look at gives the photo depth and variety. It's also nice for making your selfies look different from each other. There are no "right" answers here, but below are just a few ideas: Try shooting both outside and inside. Try shooting against different textures of wall (wood, brick, paint, glass, wallpaper, etc.). Try capturing eye-catching objects like flowers, bodies of water, animals, or statues in the frame. Be aware of your lighting. The light sources around you when you take your picture can seriously affect how it turns out. Not enough light can make the photo pixelated and dark, whereas too much light can block out all your features (and even make your nose disappear). Try to strike a good balance: you want just enough lighting to show all the amazing aspects of your face, but not so much that they vanish and leave you looking like a shining mirror. If you're indoors, try not to stand in front of a window with your back facing it, as the light from outside can make you look dark and shadowy. Instead, try standing facing the window instead so any light coming from outside will hit your face and make your features look sharper. Choose an interesting pose. Now that you have your lighting situated, it's time to decide what you want your pose to be. There are many options here: you can do the duck face, make a peace sign, or even just show a simple smile! You can face away from the camera or look into the lens. The possibilities are endless. Choose something that feels right and go with it! If you're posting pictures to social media, make sure to vary your poses. You don't want to seem like you only know how to do one thing. If you're using a phone to take your picture and you want to look into the camera, don't forget to point your eyes at the small lens and not at the screen itself. Get excited! Having a happy, positive attitude will show through in your picture. Taking selfies isn't a big deal, so instead of worrying, have fun with it and don't be afraid to experiment. You can always get rid of bad pictures later. If you're having a hard time getting jazzed up for your photo, get physical! Try taking a few photos while jumping, balancing on one foot, or doing something athletic. Moving around will get your blood flowing and raise your energy levels. Consider upgrading your camera. The most important thing for getting high-quality photos is a high-quality camera. Cheaper, lower-quality cameras can leave you with photos that look blurry and indistinct rather than crisp and lifelike. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend lots of money on a new phone or camera — just be aware that the better the camera, the better the photo. If you are interested in taking lots of photos, you may want to invest in a professional camera (or borrow a friend's). If you're stuck using a phone, you can judge the strength of its camera with its megapixel rating. As a general rule, the higher megapixel number the camera has, the better the quality. If you aren't sure what your exact megapixel amount is on your camera(s), you can usually find it by Googling the specs for your specific phone. In some cases, it can be found under Phone Info in the Settings menu. Phones aren't always a bad choice. Smartphones are also best because filters and lighting can always be edited or changed later on for aesthetic purposes. Experiment with unique angles. When it comes to selfies, there are many different angles you can try. Try shooting from close to your face and farther away, from up high and down low, and from either side. If you have a friend (or a tripod) with you, you can even shoot from a distance. If you have a phone with a forward-facing camera, you can just turn it on and try moving your phone around to see which angle you like best without having to take pictures. One good policy for selfies is to take the photo from eye level or above. Shooting from below that can make your face look rounder and make certain features (like the underside of your chin) look bigger. If necessary, adjust the camera settings. If you're not liking your results, the problem may stem from your camera's settings. Things such as brightness, contrast, focus settings, and different shooting modes (e.g., portrait, action, etc.) can all affect your picture quality. Try looking in your camera's "options" menu or using the appropriate buttons to change the settings. If you're shooting in dim lighting, you may want to turn your camera's flash off. The flash can make reflective surfaces look distractingly bright. Keep in mind, however, that many professional cameras will automatically have a slow shutter speed in low light conditions, which means you'll need a tripod to keep the camera steady. Some digital cameras and phones have a "save as flipped" option. This prevents the picture from being reversed once it's taken. Take many different pictures and pick your favorites. Getting a good photo is much easier if you have many to choose from. Try taking multiple snapshots from each angle — when you're done, you can go through and pick the ones that look best. Be a relentless editor. Don't be afraid to delete photos that are unflattering. You have no reason to share anything but the best. Consider cropping or editing your photo. Once you've found a picture you like, you may want to do some light "touch up" work (though this isn't necessary at all). If you're using a digital camera, editing software like Photoshop (or GIMP, a free alternative) is a good choice. If you're working on a phone, there are a variety of free apps that are available for download that offer basic editing and cropping options. A good policy is to keep your editing subtle — people are good at telling when something isn't quite right. For instance, if you use computer editing tools to bend the edges of your figure make yourself thinner, this can be easily detected if you are next to a straight edge (like a door frame) because the edge of the object will curve as well. Consider using filters. Today, this is common for pictures taken on phones. The most famous app for putting filters on photos is Instagram, but there are other apps and computer programs that can do this as well. Examples include Retrica, Filterloop or Vintago. Be sure that the filter gives the picture the look you want. For example, if you're at the beach, try something light and sunny to give your photo a "washed-out" look. Black and white filters are great for hiding facial imperfections. Get outside opinions. Not sure whether your picture looks good? Ask a friend or family member. Other people may be able to spot imperfections that you've missed or suggest ideas you haven't thought of. They can also be a valuable "deciding vote" when it's time to pick between two different photos. You can even post your picture on line and ask your peers' opinions on it. Be careful not to do this too often — it can seem a little attention-seeking. | Put on good-looking clothes and clean your face. Pick an interesting background. Be aware of your lighting. Choose an interesting pose. Get excited! Consider upgrading your camera. Experiment with unique angles. If necessary, adjust the camera settings. Take many different pictures and pick your favorites. Consider cropping or editing your photo. Consider using filters. Get outside opinions. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Marriage-License | How to Get a Marriage License | To apply for a marriage license, start by checking online to find which court or office issues licenses in the county where you plan to get married. Then, check the waiting period so you know when you should apply to get your license in time. Next, fill out the application form online, or make an appointment at the county clerk's office. On the day of your appointment, make sure you and your partner have all the required documents, like birth certificates and divorce decrees. Additionally, pay the license fee specified on the court or county clerk's website. | Visit the website of the appropriate court or city clerk. The office that issues marriage licenses varies depending on the state and city or county where you plan to get married. Because there can be waiting periods, you should visit the appropriate website several months before you plan to get married. In most states, marriage licenses are issued by the clerk of court. However, in some states you'll need to go to the city or town clerk's office, or to the state department of health. You can find out by doing an Internet search for "marriage license" and the county where you plan to get married. Under U.S. law, all states must recognize marriages performed in other states. For example, if you and your partner are residents of Virginia, you can get married in Florida and you will be considered married in Virginia – you won't have to have two ceremonies. Check the laws for the state you live in as well as the state you are getting married in, if they differ. For instance, in Michigan, residents must file their application in the county they live in. In Montana, non-residents must obtain a license in the county they are getting married in. Construct a timeline. Based on the information on the clerk's website, you should be able to determine when you need to get your license. Don't leave this to the last minute, as some counties have a waiting period between the date the license is issued and the date of your ceremony. The website will describe the documents you need to produce for your license to be issued. Make a checklist and determine what documents you already have, and which you'll need to request. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to have all the necessary documents, as well as do anything else, such as get a physical or blood test, as required in some states. Keep in mind you typically must get a marriage license between 5 and 30 days before the ceremony. Many states have waiting periods. For example, the state where you want to get married may require you to wait three days after the license is issued before you have the ceremony. Request certified copies of your birth certificates. Many states require you to present a certified copy of your birth certificate when you get married. The person you are marrying will need theirs as well. Keep in mind that in most states, you can get a certified copy of your birth certificate within a few weeks. However, if you were born in a different country, it may take anywhere from six months to a year, so you need to plan ahead. Some counties also may require driver's licenses, passports, Social Security cards, or other forms of identification. Get copies of any divorce decrees. If either you or your partner was previously married, you may be required to prove that the previous marriage was legally dissolved. You can request a certified copy from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. In many cases you can request certified copies of a divorce decree online for a small fee. This can be a good option particularly if you live far away from the county where the divorce was granted. Call the clerk of court if you want to do this. Get a blood test. Some states require a blood test for rubella immunity. Your doctor must certify the results. Typically the blood test, if required, is waived if you are medically infertile or if you are more than 50 years old. Get non-English documents translated. If either you or your partner are from a foreign country, you may need to get translations of any required identification documents, such as your birth certificate, that are not in English. Typically, you must get a third party to complete the translation. Once complete, they will swear the accuracy of the translation in the presence of a notary public for a small fee. Fill out the required forms. Each state has its own application form you and your partner must complete if you want to apply for a marriage license. You may be able to access and print a copy of the form online, or you may have to visit the issuing office in person to fill out a paper form. The application form will ask for personal information about you and your partner, such as your birth dates, Social Security numbers, and place of birth. You also typically need to include information about your parents, such as their full names, place of residence, and place of birth. Take a pre-marital education program. In some states, you can take a pre-marital education program, or get pre-marital counseling from a couple's counselor or member of the clergy. Completing these programs may allow you to reduce or eliminate the fees required to apply for a marriage license. Some states also recognize covenanted marriages, which are considered stronger and more religiously stringent, and make it much more difficult to later get a divorce. If you are thinking about getting a covenanted marriage, check with the clerk that issues marriage licenses to learn if they are recognized in your state and to find out more about the process. Make an appointment at the appropriate clerk's office. If you have to fill out your application for a marriage license in person, it's typically better to make an appointment than to simply show up at the office. Some clerks may request that you book up to a month in advance, while others simply ask that you arrive on a weekday before 4 p.m. Check the website or call the issuing office to find out whether you need an appointment to fill out an application for a marriage license. Bring the required documents to your appointment. Go through your checklist and make sure both you and your partner have all the documents required to issue your license, in addition to any documents you'll need to complete the application itself. If certified copies of legal documents are required, keep in mind that a copy you have in your possession may not be sufficient. If you have any doubts, take the document you have to the office before you apply for a marriage license and ask if it is okay. Sign your application. Once you and your partner have completed the license form, you both must sign it. Some states require that you be put under oath to verify the truth and accuracy of the information you've provided before you sign. Pay the application fee. You must pay an application fee to get your marriage license, which may be anywhere from $25 to $150 depending on the county that's issuing the license. These fees vary greatly among states and even among counties within states, so it may pay to shop around if you're not picky about where you get married. Make sure you determine the accepted methods of payment in advance. Many clerks don't accept credit cards, and some will take cash only. Get copies of your license. Once the clerk approves your license, they'll give you between one and three copies of it so that you can have your ceremony and have it signed by the officiant. Hold on to your copies and keep them in a safe place, because your marriage will not be legal if the license is not returned to the clerk with the appropriate signatures and information. Bring witnesses to the clerk's office. In some situations, you may want to bring witnesses to the clerk's office. This is especially important if you plan on getting married at the courthouse the day your license is issued. You also may want to bring someone along to translate if neither you nor your partner speaks English very well. Have your wedding ceremony before your license expires. Having a marriage license doesn't mean that you are married – it only grants you the right to be legally married. If you don't have a wedding ceremony before the license expires, you'll have to go through the application process all over again. Get your license signed by your officiant. On the day of your ceremony, give copies of your license to the Justice of the Peace or member of the clergy who will be performing the ceremony. After the ceremony is complete, your officiant will need to provide information about the date, time, and location of the ceremony, then sign the application. In some states you and your partner also may be required to sign the application again certifying the information about the ceremony. Submit the signed license to the office where it was issued. Typically the officiant is responsible for returning the license to the state office before the deadline listed on the license. However, in some states this may be your responsibility. Make sure you check. If you don't return the license before the deadline, your marriage may not be legal – even if the ceremony was performed before the deadline. Receive certified copies of your marriage license. Your marriage license is not your certificate of marriage. Soon after the signed license is received by the clerk, your certificate of marriage will be issued. Note that for legal issues, only the certificate is valid, and the license is not. In some states, the clerk will automatically send you a copy of your marriage certificate. In others, you'll have to return to the clerk's office to request a copy in person. The first copy may be free, or you may be charged a small fee. Additional copies may cost anywhere between $2 and $30. | Visit the website of the appropriate court or city clerk. Construct a timeline. Request certified copies of your birth certificates. Get copies of any divorce decrees. Get a blood test. Get non-English documents translated. Fill out the required forms. Take a pre-marital education program. Make an appointment at the appropriate clerk's office. Bring the required documents to your appointment. Sign your application. Pay the application fee. Get copies of your license. Bring witnesses to the clerk's office. Have your wedding ceremony before your license expires. Get your license signed by your officiant. Submit the signed license to the office where it was issued. Receive certified copies of your marriage license. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-a-Healthy-Meal-for-Your-Pet-Dog | How to Prepare a Healthy Meal for Your Pet Dog | To prepare a healthy meal for your dog, choose lean meat with the bones and fat removed, like chicken or beef, since this should make up 50 percent of the meal. The other half of the meal should be made up equally of carbohydrates and vegetables so your dog gets a variety of nutrients. Some good options to consider are rice or pasta for carbohydrates, and broccoli, zucchini, or squash for vegetables. If you want to give your dog some extra protein, try to add one egg for every 20 pounds your dog weighs, or you may overfeed it. | Work with a veterinary nutritionist. Ideally, your dog should have a meal plan that's tailored to his or her specific dietary needs. What is nutritionally appropriate for one dog may not be what's best for your dog. This is especially true if you're feeding a growing puppy, instead of an adult dog. Work with a veterinary nutritionist to develop a meal plan for your dog. While your veterinarian may be able to suggest some healthy options for meals, a study that analyzed veterinarian-created recipes found that the majority of recipes lacked at least one key area of nutrition. Recognize the importance of a balanced diet. It's easy to fall into a routine if you regularly prepare food for your dog. If the meal you usually make is missing a certain nutrient, your dog could develop a nutritional deficiency over time. To prevent this, feed your dog a variety of meals over the span of several days. For example, you may feed your dog a mixture of chicken, rice, and vegetables for three or four days. Then, you may feed a meal of grains and seafood for another three or four days. Your dog will get a variety of nutrients over the course of the week. Know what foods to avoid feeding your dog. Some foods we humans safely eat are actually toxic to dogs. In many cases, your dog would need to eat a large quantity or small amounts regularly before developing health problems, but it's not worth the risk. Monitor your dog for several weeks if you fear he's eaten something he shouldn't. If you are not sure if a food is safe, speak to your veterinarian. You should avoid feeding your dog: Garlic: The more concentrated the garlic is, the more dangerous it is to your dog. Make sure any chicken or vegetable broths you cook with don't contain dried garlic. Onions in any form (fried, baked, raw, or dried) Grapes, raisins or sultanas: These cause kidney failure. Avocado: This has contains persin which dogs can't tolerate. Persin toxicity causes a range of problems, from mild stomach upset to fluid in the chest and breathing difficulties. Chocolate Bread dough Xylitol (artificial sweetener found in low sugar cookies, cakes, and sweets) Alcohol Macadamia nuts Supplement the calcium and vitamins in your dog's diet. If you're just feeding one homemade meal for your dog, you can skip the supplement. However, if you're planning to regularly feed your dog homemade meals, you'll need to give him a dietary supplement. A supplement will ensure that your dog gets enough calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, and other essential minerals. You can find calcium supplements at your pet store. Choose one that will give your dog 800 to 1,000 mg of calcium for each pound of food feed. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a vitamin and mineral supplement specific for your dog's needs. Include protein. Meat should make up the majority of your dog's meal. However, meat should not make up more than half of the meal. Choose a lean meat that has the bones and fat removed. Most dogs don't need the extra energy or calories that come from fatty meat. Instead, fatty meat could cause your dog to gain weight (unless he's very active). For example, your dog's meal could be 50% chicken, 25% rice, and 25% vegetables. Include a mix of carbohydrates and vegetables. Since half of your dog's meal will come from meat, the other half should be made up of equal parts carbohydrates and vegetables. Carbohydrates can come from cooked rice, pasta, or boiled potato. Good vegetables include cooked: Green leafy vegetables (such as spinach, kale, spring greens, brussel sprouts, Bok choy, and chard) Butternut squash Turnip Parsnip French beans Okra Consider feeding your dog fish. Fish is a great way to add protein to your dog's meals. It also has high levels of omega fatty acids which are essential for a healthy coat. Fish is also rich in vitamin D which helps your dog convert calcium into strong bones. You can offer your dog a small amount of fish every day or a fish meal twice a week. Add about one ounce of fish for every pound of other meat. Good fish choices include tinned: Tuna Mackerel Sardines (packed in water, not oil) Pink salmon Add eggs and dairy in small amounts. Eggs and dairy can provide a variety of nutrients your dog needs such as protein and calcium. Take care not overfeed your dog though. You should typically only feed one egg for every 20 pounds your dog weighs. If your dog weighs less, you'll need to scale this down appropriately. If you decide to give your dog dairy, consider offering cottage cheese or goat's milk. Since not all dogs can digest the lactose in most dairy, watch for upset stomach. Prepare the rice or carbohydrates. Depending on how many meals you're making, cook a small amount of rice (for one meal) or a pot of rice that you can use for several meals. Once the rice is completely cooked, set it aside while you prepare the rest of the meal. If using other vegetables as the source of carbohydrates, be sure to cook them well. Good carbohydrates include: Sweet potato Lima beans Apples Peas Lentils Garbanzo beans Prepare the meat. Wash your hands and trim the meat of any fat, tendons, skin, or bones. Chop the meat into bites that your dog can manage (larger bites for larger dogs and smaller bites for smaller dogs). Cook the meat in a little bit of oil over medium heat until it's completely cooked. Cook the vegetables. Wash your vegetables and chop them into bites that your dog can manage. Saute the vegetables in a pan with oil until they're soft enough for your dog to easily eat. Good sources of vegetables include: Broccoli Zucchini Carrots Green beans Celery Spinach Summer or winter squash Balance and combine the meal. Once the components of the meal are prepared, combine the appropriate balance. You'll need to mix half of the meat with one-quarter vegetables and one-quarter carbohydrates. Stir the mixture well and portion out enough for your dog's meal. Store the rest in the refrigerator. For example, mix 1 cup of cooked chicken with 1/2 cup of zucchini and 1/2 cup of cooked rice. | Work with a veterinary nutritionist. Recognize the importance of a balanced diet. Know what foods to avoid feeding your dog. Supplement the calcium and vitamins in your dog's diet. Include protein. Include a mix of carbohydrates and vegetables. Consider feeding your dog fish. Add eggs and dairy in small amounts. Prepare the rice or carbohydrates. Prepare the meat. Cook the vegetables. Balance and combine the meal. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Tonk | How to Play Tonk | To play tonk, try to play all of the cards in your hand before any of the other players in order to win. To play cards, lay down spreads whenever you get them, which can be 3 or more of the same card or a run of 3 or more cards in the same suit. At the beginning of your turn, draw a card from either the stock or discard pile. Then, play any spreads you have, and discard a card to end your turn. Keep playing clockwise from the dealer until someone wins! | Gather enough people to play. At the very least, find one other person to play you in a one-on-one contest. If more people are available, include up to five others in a game, for a total of six players. Make sure your deck is full. Either use a brand new pack fresh out of its wrapping, or double-check your old one to confirm that all cards are there. Either way, make sure you're starting off with all 52 cards that make up a standard deck. A full deck should include: Four “suits:” clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. 13 cards per suit: ace, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, and king. Discard the jokers. Expect a standard 52-card deck to also include two jokers. However, you won't need these to play Tonk. Weed them out from the deck and set them aside before you begin. Settle on the stakes if gambling. If you're playing for money, establish what the stakes will be for each hand played per game before the game begins. Expect one game to include at least a few hands. Also bear in mind that stakes can be doubled during each game, so take that into account before agreeing to the basic stake played per hand. Cut cards to settle on who deals first. Have each player draw one card from the deck. Then lay your cards out on the table. Assign the first deal to whoever has the highest card. Aces vary between being the highest and lowest card from game to game. In Tonk, however, aces are always the lowest. Deal the first hand. When dealing, give each player five cards. Keep them facing down so no one can see each other's cards. Deal each card individually so you don't accidentally deal more cards than intended to any one player. Five cards per player isn't a hard-and-fast rule. Some people deal as little as three, while others go with seven or even as many as twelve. Feel free to adjust the amount however you see fit. Count the value of your cards. Once you've been dealt all your cards, gather them up and inspect them, being careful to not let the others see. Add the numerical values of the cards in your hand to find their total. In Tonk, the numerical values are: One point for aces. Ten points for all picture cards (the jack, queen, and king) The face value for numerical cards (for example, a two of hearts equals two points). Declare Tonk if you have one. If the cards in your hand add up to a total of 50 points, declare Tonk right away. This means you win the hand automatically without any further play. It also means that you win double the agreed-upon stakes per hand. However: It is possible that another player may also have 50 points and thus declare Tonk, too. In this case, no one wins, and the hand is over. Start a stock- and discard pile if there aren’t any Tonks. If no player declares Tonk, have the dealer place the stack of undealt cards facedown on the table. This is your stockpile. Now flip the topmost card over. Set it facing upward right beside your stockpile. This is now the beginning of your discard pile. Play clockwise from the dealer. Have the player seated to the dealer's left go first. Let them draw a single card from either the stockpile or the discard pile. Wait for them to discard either that same card or another one from their hand. Then have the player seated to their left do the same, and so on for the rest of the hand. Whenever a player discards, they must place the card face up on the discard pile, just like the card that started that pile, so the next player can see what it is. Create “spreads. ” As you draw and discard cards, keep those that will form either a “book” or “run.” To make a “book,” collect three or more of the same card from each suit. To make a “run,” collect three or more sequential cards within one suit. Whenever you have enough cards to make either one, “spread” those cards out on the table immediately and hold onto the others in your hand. An example of a book would be three kings of any suit. A run, on the other hand, would be something like the two, three, and four of spades. Build on existing spreads. Once a spread is down on the table, use the cards that you draw next to add to it whenever possible. Don't limit yourself to spreads that you personally started. Feel free to build on other players' spreads as well. Let's say you or another play spread out a book of three queens: the diamond, the club, and the heart. If you draw the queen of spades, discard one of the other cards in your hand and then set the queen down separately from any other cards you've already played. Now let's say that there is a run on the table: the five, six, and seven of hearts. If you draw either the four or eight of hearts next, play that. Empty your hand first. As you draw, discard, and form spreads, aim to beat the other players at it so that you lay down your last card before anyone else can do the same. Don't hold on to cards unnecessarily. If you have a chance to start or add to the spread, do so immediately. “Drop” to try winning before you empty your hand. If you're confident that the total value of the cards you're holding will be lower than the other players', tell them to “drop” their cards. Lay all your cards out to be seen by each other. If your total value is in fact lower than the rest, collect the basic stakes from each player. If not, you must pay out the basic stakes to each player with a lower value than yours without collecting from the others. Also, whoever has the lowest value is the de facto winner, which means they collect the basic stakes from each player. This means you end up losing double stakes to that player. Dropping is another aspect of Tonk that can vary from one game to the next. Some people are accustomed to only allowing this play immediately after the cards are dealt if no one declares “Tonk.” Others will allow it at any time afterward. If someone objects to you “dropping” later in the hand, defer to them, since they may have had the opportunity to drop earlier and didn't take it because they're accustomed to different rules. Then decide between yourselves how to proceed with future hands. Use card values to determine the winner if the stockpile runs out. If the hand lasts longer than the stockpile, lay your cards out. Calculate the total value of your cards. Collect or pay out the basic stakes according to whoever has the lowest value. | Gather enough people to play. Make sure your deck is full. Discard the jokers. Settle on the stakes if gambling. Cut cards to settle on who deals first. Deal the first hand. Count the value of your cards. Declare Tonk if you have one. Start a stock- and discard pile if there aren’t any Tonks. Play clockwise from the dealer. Create “spreads. Build on existing spreads. Empty your hand first. “Drop” to try winning before you empty your hand. Use card values to determine the winner if the stockpile runs out. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Survive-in-Federal-Prison | How to Survive in Federal Prison | Surviving in federal prison can be scary, but if you respect your fellow inmates and stay aware of your surroundings, your time inside will be a lot smoother. It might be tempting to join a prison gang for protection, but you should avoid this, since gangs will easily rope you into committing crimes, which will lead to a longer sentence if you're caught. Don't trust anyone, even if they're nice to you and help you, since many people will take advantage of you at the earliest opportunity. It's okay to have superficial relationships with people, but always think before you speak so you don't accidentally offend someone. You should also respect people's personal space and possessions, and don't let anyone disrespect yours, which will make you look weak. Even if someone hurts you or steals from you, don't ever tell the prison guards, as no one will trust you after that. | Bite your tongue. If the judge doesn't allow you to self-surrender to the prison where you have been designated, you will be handed over to the U.S. Marshals Service. Do not speak to a Marshal or let them overhear a conversation about your case, or anything else for that matter. Nothing you can say will make the situation any better and it might even make things worse: just because you have already been convicted doesn't mean that you can't be charged with something else. Don't ever forget that anything you say can become evidence which can be used against you; keep your mouth shut as much as possible. Be sure to take advantage of any medical care outside of prison if you have enough time. The choice and quality of care is significantly better outside of prison. Certain treatments that you take for granted might not be available in prison, or won't be nearly as good. After all, if you're in prison and you don't like the prison dentist, where else are you going to go to have your teeth fixed? So, if there's time to do it, consider having a dental check-up before you self-surrender and get anything important fixed. Also, if you wear glasses you may want to have an eye exam and get new lenses if you need them. As with dental care, you've got a better choice of lenses and frames outside prison. If you're lucky enough to have some time before prison, get a check-up or address any medical issues you've been having. Though you'll get medical care in prison, it's better to get medical attention before you're locked up. Line up some reading material. Most federal prisons allow magazines and books to be sent to inmates—on the condition that they are sent directly from the publisher or a retailer like Amazon. If you're self-surrendering and you know which prison you're going to be in, consider taking out a subscription for magazines/journals or ordering a couple of books from Amazon to read. Do this a couple of days before you self-surrender. Alternatively, give your friends and family a shopping list of books/magazines and let them take care of ordering things. There's no web access in prisons, so make your selections before you enter prison. Though choosing reading material may be the last thing on your mind before you start your time in federal prison, being prepared for reading material (as soon as you're allowed to have it) can help you feel less lonely and more comforted when you begin your sentence. Keep your guard up if you are sent to a hold-over facility or a prison camp. If you are placed in transit to prison, you may be sent to a hold-over facility. The facility you are sent to may be determined by whether you are designated for a low, medium, or high-level prison. Some of the living conditions in these facilities are not ideal, such as being placed in a two-man cell with up to three other inmates for 23 hours a day, being allowed out to rec in an enclosed area for one hour, and only being allowed to shower for five minutes twice a week. Each facility has its own rules—just be prepared for the extreme conditions you may face. Be especially cautious during this time. You will be with other people who are in a state of uncertainty and more likely to be volatile than they will be once they get settled into the prison routine. Learn the rules. Try to find out as much as possible about how the system works in the prison you will be living in. If there is an official rule book for the prison, read it. You can be punished for breaking a rule that you didn't know existed. Breaking the rules will not only aggravate personnel, but inmates as well. It makes life harder for everyone. Ignorance of the rules is no defense. Information is power. Bring the maximum amount of money that you are allowed with you to prison. You may be allowed a certain amount of money (up to $500). This money will be used to buy supplies you may need while incarcerated. This is called putting "money on your books." You will need money for supplies such as stamps, envelopes, snacks and also hygiene supplies. Cash is not necessary; in fact, it will be confiscated. It's best to go in with a US Postal Service money order as they are widely accepted in all prisons (federal and state). Additionally, don't let anyone know that you have money. Pretend that you're poor and penniless. That way there's no danger of other prisoners trying to extort money from you. Don't trust anyone. That goes for guards, other prison officials, and the person in the cell next door. If someone is being nice to you, ask yourself, "What's in it for them?" They almost always have some hidden motive that you don't know about. In prison, nothing is free; for instance, if someone gives or loans you something, you will probably have to pay it back with a hefty rate of interest added. If you can't pay, they may demand a favor that could get you into big trouble, such as hiding contraband in your cell. Hide your emotions. If you want to look tough, do not show fear, anger, happiness, or pain. Emotions are your worst enemy because they reveal your weaknesses. Both inmates and guards prey on weakness. Don't give them the opportunity to do so. If someone can figure out what makes you angry, they can use that knowledge to manipulate you. In the same way, if someone knows what makes you happy, they can try to ruin it for you. And because they are around you 24/7, they have unlimited opportunities to test their manipulative skills on you. Make use of your cellmates. Do not be overly friendly with your cellmates, but do ask some questions. Some may have been in prison before and will be able to give you information about the prison you are being sent to as well as the system itself. You will have to judge for yourself whether to believe any of the information. Use common sense and try to figure out if that person has a reason to lie or mislead you. Some convicts will try to intimidate new inmates or mislead them for fun. Be careful. Choose your words carefully. Anything you say to guards or prisoners, no matter how innocent you think it is, can be used to hurt you, manipulate you, or be taken out of context. Avoid discussing dangerous conversational topics. Otherwise, it can easily get you into trouble. Obvious subjects to steer clear of are religion, politics, racial issues, or your own personal feelings about someone or their family and friends. Some of the prisoners you'll encounter may have a short temper or are mentally ill, of low intelligence, or just plain bad. Prisoners like that don't have a warning written on their forehead—they look like regular guys. You can easily be misunderstood or deliberately misquoted by someone who's trying to provoke trouble. What starts out as a petty argument over a trivial issue can turn into someone bearing a strong personal grudge against you. Don't be paranoid. Be aware that things may not be what they seem, such as the prisoner who tells you that gay or black people are like everyone else, then asks what your opinion is—he's just testing your attitude or yanking your chain. Always be polite and respectful to guards and other prison employees. If you give them a reason to hate you, they can make your life even harder than it already is; don't give them a stick to beat you with. It's true that some prison employees are better than others, but even so, never forget whose side they're on—it certainly isn't yours. You need to get in your head that the staff are always right and you need to do what they say. Even if you know something is wrong, it is best to merely follow the order; if you have a problem with it, you can always address it later. For example, if you work as a server in the kitchen and a staff foreman tells you to clean tables in the dining room, though you know it's not part of your duties, the best thing to do is simply clean the tables. Don't do anything that makes staff feel challenged or intimidated; they have various ways of making you pay for that mistake. Don't stare at other prisoners. Although you might simply be curious about them, the other person can completely misinterpret this. In prison, if someone stares at you it usually means they feel intense hostility or disapproval towards you. Alternatively, staring is a way of showing sexual interest. It's ok to look at people, but don't stare at them; there's a clear difference between looking and staring. When you're walking to your cell, do not stare into the other prisoners' cells. This is considered an invasion of privacy and can get you in big trouble. Don't be a snitch. People who tell tales to the guards or other prisoners are despised by everyone and can be physically attacked. The best thing you can do in prison is to see everything, hear everything, and say nothing. For instance, if a guard asks you about an incident involving other prisoners, claim that you were looking the other way and didn't notice or hear anything. While it may irritate the staff on some level that you aren't willing to snitch, they will likely understand. If you're known to get along well with prison staff, other prisoners could (wrongly) assume that you are a snitch. Don't talk to prison staff more than necessary; while it may be just innocent conversation about the weather, other inmates won't perceive it that way. Don't ask the staff to solve your problems. The truth is, you can never go to staff for assistance with issues you may have, or else you will have problems with inmates if you do. If you go to staff with a problem, the only thing they can do for you is put you in the Secure Housing Unit (SHU) as a protective custody inmate, and that will cause you trouble throughout your entire incarceration. If you complain to staff, you're stuck in no man's land between the staff and inmates; neither will help you. Try to get used to the fact that you have very few human rights in prison, and that you're largely powerless to change your circumstances. Ask to be placed in the Secure Housing Unit (SHU) only in extreme circumstances. When fights occur in prison, the participants may be placed in a segregation unit or be moved to a higher level of confinement, but it is extremely unusual for them to be charged with a crime, especially if all the participants were prisoners. Your legal protections in prison are severely curtailed by the system. The guards and administrators do not want anyone to make waves. Prison employees will punish you for making waves much more quickly than they will come to your aid. Sometimes the punishment will be official, in other cases it will be more subtle, such as "forgetting" or "misplacing" something that you need. You always have the option to ask to be put in the hole for your protection. The hole is unpleasant, but it is relatively safe. Don't ask for this kind of protection unless you fear for your life, because if you go to the SHU you'll spend 99.9% of your time locked inside a cell. Don't join a prison gang. Like the outside world, there are also gangs in prisons; however, prison gangs are far more prevalent and work very differently. Be mindful of gang members, but avoid joining a gang; gang members are soldiers, and gang leaders demand absolute loyalty. If you join a gang, you may be ordered to do something that will keep you in prison a lot longer; a gang member has no choice, because aside from getting out of prison, there's only one way to quit a prison gang while in prison: to die. All prison gangs are separated firstly by the races they are typically associated with. Bloods/Crips/Black Guerilla Family (African-American); the Mexican Mafia (Mexicans); MS-13 (Salvadoran/Honduran/Guatemalan/Nicaraguan); White Supremacist/Nazi (Caucasian), etc. There are many different divisions. Show allegiance to your race. It is crucial to your survival in the prison system to immediately show your allegiance to your race—though this doesn't mean you have to join a gang to do it. If you are some white suburbanite 19-year-old kid that pledged yourself as a crip, and you used to buy the dope you got busted selling from your crip homeboys in the projects, that doesn't mean you can link up with them in prison. If you're white and you walk in slapping high fives with the brothers before you shake hands with the white dudes, you're going to send a rift through the whole community. This doesn't mean you have to get a swastika on your forehead or "Blood for Life" tattooed on your chest. It simply means whichever race you are associated with, you seek them out first and introduce yourself. You get to know inmates of your race first. Especially the "important" figures within your race. You can be "friendly" with people of other races after that. In prison, blacks, Mexicans, Chicanos, Asians, and whites all look after their own. This isn't the time to be colorblind. Seek out people from your hometown. In most federal facilities, there are inmates from all over the country. You can do an inmate search prior to turning yourself in. You'll be able to look through the prison inmate listing to see if you know anyone or where their home state is. When you get to your designated facility, you need to find other inmates who are from your city or state; these are your "home boys" and they will usually help you with things you have an immediate need for, such as basic hygiene items and shoes. But beware of your home boys if there is anything wrong with you or your case, like if you are an informant, sex offender, or anything else frowned upon by inmates, in which case your home boys will probably be the ones that will confront you on it. This could include assault, stabbing or whatever else they think you deserve. Respect the personal space of the other prisoners and don't let them invade yours. You will be tested and if you allow others to get too close to you for comfort, they will keep getting closer until your subservience is obvious. Have respect and never reach over someone else's plate at the mess hall for the pepper, salt, etc. Don't allow others to reach over your plate either, or you'll look like a pushover. Personal possessions like photographs, letters and other stuff are very important when someone is in prison. So, never borrow or use something that belongs to another prisoner unless he's told you it's ok to do it. Touching someone's personal possessions without their permission is a no-no. Become accustomed to the new rules. Above all, remember that the normal rules of the outside world simply don't apply any longer. When you're in prison, you're living on a different planet where all that matters to you is surviving the experience with as little damage as possible. | Bite your tongue. Be sure to take advantage of any medical care outside of prison if you have enough time. Line up some reading material. Keep your guard up if you are sent to a hold-over facility or a prison camp. Learn the rules. Bring the maximum amount of money that you are allowed with you to prison. Don't trust anyone. Hide your emotions. Make use of your cellmates. Choose your words carefully. Always be polite and respectful to guards and other prison employees. Don't stare at other prisoners. Don't be a snitch. Don't ask the staff to solve your problems. Ask to be placed in the Secure Housing Unit (SHU) only in extreme circumstances. Don't join a prison gang. Show allegiance to your race. Seek out people from your hometown. Respect the personal space of the other prisoners and don't let them invade yours. Become accustomed to the new rules. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Lace-Converse | How to Lace Converse | To lace your Converse shoes using a criss-cross pattern, start by threading the lace up through the bottom set of eyelets from the underside of the shoe. Next, thread the left-sided lace up through the underside of the second right eyelet to create a diagonal line. Then, pull the right-sided lace through the second left eyelet. Continue criss-crossing the laces until you reach the top pair of eyelets, then tie your shoes as normal. | Pull the shoelace straight across the bottom set of eyelets. Thread the lace along the underside of the Converse, bringing both ends up through the bottom set of eyelets. There should be a straight horizontal bar connecting the two bottom eyelets. Make the length of each end as even as possible. This is the most traditional, common lacing style for shoes of all types. It is both simple and comfortable. Thread "Side A" up and across. Pull "Side A," presently on the left side of the shoe, through the left bottom eyelet and into the right eyelet second from the bottom. This creates a diagonal line connecting the two eyelets. The shoelace should be pulled over the left bottom hole but pushed through the second-to-bottom hole on the right from the underside of the eyelet. Pull the lace through the right eyelet so that it comes out and over the top once more. Thread "Side B" up and across. Pull "Side B," currently on the right side of the shoe, through the right bottom eyelet and into the left eyelet second from the bottom. Another diagonal line connecting the two eyelets should be created. Pull the shoelace over the right bottom eyelet but push it through the second-to-bottom eyelet on the left from the underside. Pull the lace end through the left eyelet so that it pokes through and drapes over the top once again. Cross the two sides back and forth. Continue alternating "Side A" and "Side B" back and forth, criss-crossing the two laces until you reach the top pair of eyelets. Each end should be pulled through its eyelet and laced into the eyelet on the opposite side one row up. Pull the ends together at the top pair of eyelets. Pull the two ends together as they come out and over the top eyelets of your Converse shoes. This should create another horizontal pathway, similar to the one at the bottom. Tie a normal shoelace knot when slipping the shoes on your feet. You can also tuck the laces underneath the cushion of the shoe if you don't want the laces showing. Bring "Side A up. "Side A," or the shoelace presently on the left side of the shoe, should be pulled through the left eyelet second from the bottom. Remember to keep the shoelace from curling up, especially if you are using flat laces. Thread "Side A" across. Pull the shoelace over the front of your shoe and into the right hole lying directly opposite the hole you pulled it through. You should see a horizontal bar across the front of your shoe. The end of this side should be tucked under the side of your Converse again. Bring "Side B" up, skipping one set of eyelets. "Side B," which currently lies on the right side of the shoe, should be pulled through the right eyelet third from the bottom. The hole second from the bottom should be occupied by "Side A." Remember, once again, do not curl the lace, especially if they are flat laces. Work your hands over the lace continuously until it is flat again. Thread "Side B" across. Pull the shoelace end across the front of the shoe and lace it into the left eyelet third from the bottom, directly opposite the eyelet you pulled it through. This should create another horizontal bar across the front of your shoe, and the end should remain hidden from the front. Lace alternate eyelets in this pattern. "Side A" should be laced through the eyelet pairs second, fourth, and sixth from the bottom. "Side B" should be laced through the eyelet pairs third, fifth, and seventh from the bottom. This should leave you with a column of horizontal bars without any diagonal underlying. Pull through and tie the ends together. Pull "Side A" through the right eyelet and "Side B" through the left eyelet at the top pair. Tie together with a standard shoelace bow to complete. You can also tuck the laces underneath the cushion of your shoe so you don't have laces hanging out of the top. Choose the right shoelaces. The shoelace length depends on the number of eyelet pairs on your Converse shoes. You will need two different shoelaces in separate colors for this lacing style, but the two laces should be equal in length. You should select flat shoelaces that are fairly thin. Each eyelet will need to hold two layers of shoelace, so it is important that the shoelaces you choose are thin and flat, regardless of length. This lacing technique can be used on Converse with an odd number of eyelet pairs, but it will look most symmetrical with shoes that have an even number of pairs. If using two pairs of eyelets, choose shoelace 28 inches (71 cm) long. If using three pairs of eyelets, choose shoelaces 32 inches (81 cm) in length. If using four pairs of eyelets, choose shoelaces 36 inches (92 cm) long. If using five pairs of eyelets, use shoelaces 40 inches (102 cm) in length. If using six pairs of eyelets, use shoelaces 44 inches (113 cm) long. If using seven pairs of eyelets, use shoelaces 48 inches (123 cm) in length. If using eight pairs of eyelets, choose laces 53 inches (134 cm) long. Hold the two shoelaces together. Arrange the two shoelaces so that they are evenly lined up and back-to-back. You should have, in appearance, a flat shoelace with double thickness and two sides. Note that this technique is fairly similar to the criss-cross lacing technique and uses the same general pattern. This is a popular lacing style for converse because it is fun, decorative, and easy to customize. It is slightly harder to tighten and tie than a single-lace method, however, so you should be aware of this fact before choosing this technique. Thread the laces through the bottom pair of eyelets. Pull the double-laces through the bottom set of eyelets so that "Color One" shows. The other lace, "Color Two," should be hidden behind the top lace. The shoelaces should be threaded into the eyelets from the bottom so that the ends come up through the eyelets. The ends should drape over the eyelet sides once this step is completed. Cross "Side A" diagonally upward. Pull "Side A" out of the bottom left eyelet and through the second-to-bottom right eyelet. Make sure that the shoelaces are twisted so that "Color Two" is now on top while "Color One" is hidden on the bottom. A diagonal line should connect the bottom and second-to-bottom holes on opposing sides of the Converse. Pull the laces from the underside of the right second-to-bottom hole and over the top. Cross "Side B" diagonally upward. Pull "Side B" out of the bottom right eyelet and through the second-to-bottom left eyelet. The shoelaces should be twisted to match the other half of the criss-cross. "Color Two" should show on the top and "Color One" should be hidden on the bottom. The two eyelets should be connected by a diagonal line. Pull the shoelaces through the left eyelet from the underside, letting them drape over the top of the left eyelet once you pull them through. Twist the shoelaces to the other side. Then repeat the crossing procedure. Repeat the criss-crossing pattern, but twist the shoelaces so that Color One is now on top while Color Two is now hidden on the bottom. Alternate "Side A" and "Side B" back and forth, criss-crossing the eyelets so that each end is pulled through its eyelet and into the eyelet on the opposite side one row up. Twist and cross until you reach the top. Continue twisting and criss-crossing the shoelaces. Each "x" across your shoes should be composed of a single color, but each "x" should be the opposite color of the "x" beneath it and above it. Pull the laces through the top and tie when ready. When you pull the shoelaces through the top set of eyelets, it does not matter which side of the double-lace shows. Both sides will show when you tie your shoes. Alternatively, you can make tying the shoes easier by tucking one color shoelace into the top of your shoe and only tying the other color in the front of your shoe. Otherwise, you will tie your shoes using both laces. | Pull the shoelace straight across the bottom set of eyelets. Thread "Side A" up and across. Thread "Side B" up and across. Cross the two sides back and forth. Pull the ends together at the top pair of eyelets. Bring "Side A up. Thread "Side A" across. Bring "Side B" up, skipping one set of eyelets. Thread "Side B" across. Lace alternate eyelets in this pattern. Pull through and tie the ends together. Choose the right shoelaces. Hold the two shoelaces together. Thread the laces through the bottom pair of eyelets. Cross "Side A" diagonally upward. Cross "Side B" diagonally upward. Twist the shoelaces to the other side. Twist and cross until you reach the top. Pull the laces through the top and tie when ready. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Thai-Green-Curry | How to Make a Thai Green Curry | To make a Thai green curry, start making a green curry paste by roughly chopping lemongrass, chilies, cilantro, basil, onion, and scallions. Then, add cumin seeds, coriander seeds, salt, peppercorns, ginger, and garlic to your herbs, pour in water, and blend the ingredients into a paste using a food processor. If you'd like to thin the paste, add a tablespoon of water at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Next, heat coconut milk for 2 to 3 minutes, then add in a few tablespoons of curry paste and heat the mixture until the paste is dissolved. Finally, mix in cooked, chopped vegetables, steamed rice, and fresh herbs for garnish. | Peel and slice 5 stalks of lemongrass into 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) rounds. Trim off and discard the bottom ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) from each stalk. Then peel away all of the dry layers until you reach the tender center of the stalk. Slice each stalk to make very thin rounds. Save the peeled layers of lemongrass to steep in tea or soup. Roughly chop the chilies, cilantro, basil, onion, and spring onions. Get out 3 green chilies and chop them into rough pieces. You'll also need to chop 1 onion and 3 sprigs of fresh basil leaves. Then chop 1/4 cup (6 g) of cilantro and 1/4 cup (25 g) of spring onions. Put all of the ingredients into a food processor. If you'd like to make the curry paste in the traditional way, put all of the paste ingredients into a large mortar. Then use a pestle to pound the ingredients into a paste. Add the spices, garlic, ginger, and salt. Put 3 peeled cloves of garlic and 1 inch (2.5 cm) of peeled ginger into the food processor along with 1 tablespoon (6 g) of roasted coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of roasted cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon (3 g) of whole black peppercorns, and salt according to your taste. Pour in 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of water and blend the ingredients to a paste. Put the lid on the food processor and pulse it until the ingredients combine to form a smooth paste. You might need to stop and scrape down the sides of the food processor if the paste is very thick. If you'd like to thin the paste a little, mix in extra water 1 tablespoon (15 ml) at a time to reach your desired consistency. Store the curry paste in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks. Spoon the green curry paste into a small jar and seal it shut. Refrigerate the curry paste and use it within 2 weeks or put it into a freezer-safe container so you can freeze it for up to 6 months. This batch of curry paste will make enough paste to cook about 3 batches of Thai green curry. Cut zucchini or eggplants into 1 inch (2.5 cm) chunks. Get out 2 medium zucchini or 2 long purple Asian eggplants and trim off the ends. Cut the vegetables in half lengthwise and then cut them into 1 inch (2.5 cm) chunks. Set these aside while you prepare the base for the curry. Heat 3⁄4 cup (180 ml) of the coconut milk for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour ⁄ 4 cup (180 ml) of the coconut milk into a saucepan or skillet and turn the burner to medium-high. Stir the milk occasionally and boil it so it thickens a little. You should smell the delicate flavor of the coconut once it's heated. Add the curry paste and cook it for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir 3 tablespoons (45 g) of homemade or store bought green curry paste into the hot coconut milk. Keep stirring and cooking the mixture until the paste is dissolved in the coconut milk. Heating the curry paste in the coconut milk will intensify the flavor of the green curry. Stir in the optional chicken and cook it for 2 minutes. If you'd like to make a chicken curry, add ⁄ 4 pound (340 g) of bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken thighs or breasts. Stir so the chicken is coated with the spiced coconut and cook it over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. You can use any type of protein you prefer. For example, use tofu, shrimp, or beef. Mix in the coconut milk, vegetables, sauce, sugar, and optional leaves. Stir in the remaining ⁄ 4 cup (180 ml) of unsweetened coconut milk, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fish sauce, and 1 tablespoon (12.5 g) of palm sugar or brown sugar. If you'd like to give the curry a refreshing tangy flavor, add 3 to 4 wild lime leaves that you've torn or cut in half. If you can't find wild lime leaves, use the zest of 1 lime instead. Simmer the curry for 8 to 10 minutes. Heat the curry over medium-high heat until it begins to boil. Then turn the burner down to medium or medium-low, so the curry bubbles gently. Keep the lid off the pan and simmer the curry until the vegetables are tender and the curry has thickened a little. If the curry is too thick for your liking, stir up to 1 ⁄ 2 cups (350 ml) of chicken broth or water. Stir the curry frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. If you added the chicken, simmer the curry until the chicken is completely cooked. Stir in the basil and optional wild lime leaves. Turn off the burner and add a handful of fresh Asian or Italian basil leaves. Serve the curry along with rice and naan. You could also stir a handful of cooked rice noodles into the curry, if you made a soupy curry. Refrigerate leftover curry in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days. | Peel and slice 5 stalks of lemongrass into 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) rounds. Roughly chop the chilies, cilantro, basil, onion, and spring onions. Add the spices, garlic, ginger, and salt. Pour in 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of water and blend the ingredients to a paste. Store the curry paste in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks. Cut zucchini or eggplants into 1 inch (2.5 cm) chunks. Heat 3⁄4 cup (180 ml) of the coconut milk for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the curry paste and cook it for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the optional chicken and cook it for 2 minutes. Mix in the coconut milk, vegetables, sauce, sugar, and optional leaves. Simmer the curry for 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the basil and optional wild lime leaves. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Coccyx-Cushion | How to Use a Coccyx Cushion | To use a coccyx cushion, start by placing it on the seat of a chair with a back to give you extra support. Make sure the cushion is directly on the seat, since extra cushions or pillows will cause you to sit unevenly. For added relief, you can try adding ice packs or hot packs by wrapping them in towels and placing one on either side of the cut-out area in the cushion. If these methods fail to give your tailbone sufficient relief, consider upgrading to a firmer, denser cushion. | Use the cushion everywhere. Coccyx cushion treatment will be most effective if you can use the cushion in the car, at home, at work and everywhere else you need to sit down. You can purchase several inexpensive cushions or opt for one that can travel with you and be used everywhere. Consistency is key to treating your tailbone pain with a coccyx cushion. Be aware that one cushion may not be suitable for all scenarios. For example, a cushion may help while you are sitting at your desk, but it may not be as effective while you are driving. Try using a cushion in different situations to see when it provides the most benefit. Sit in a chair with a back. Use the coccyx cushion in a chair with a back that will give you extra support. The cushion naturally helps improve your posture by slightly elevating your hips, and sitting in a chair with a back will help you sit up straight and eliminate pressure on your spine and pelvis. When using a cushion on a chair that is a comfortable height for you, your thighs may be slightly higher than usual. To offset this difference, try using a footstool to make sure your lower body is still in a comfortable position. If the chair is adjustable, then you can also adjust the height of the seat to make yourself more comfortable. Place the coccyx cushion directly on the seat. Do not use a coccyx cushion with other cushions. Adding extra pillows or cushions will cause you to sit unevenly and in turn, distribute your weight and pressure unevenly, which is unhealthy for your back. The placement of the cushion on the seat can either be flat or slightly slopping. This is most people's preference. If you need extra height, purchase a thicker coccyx cushion instead of adding extra pillows or padding. If you are putting the cushion on a very soft seat, like couch or plush chair, put a rigid board under the cushion for support. Add ice packs or hot packs for added relief. You can add flat ice or hot packs to your coccyx cushions for hot or cold therapy. Wrap the packs in towels and place one on either side of the cut-out area in the cushion. Some cushions may come with gel insert that you can warm up or freeze before reinserting them and using the cushion. Consult with your physician about whether the effects of ice or hot packs would be beneficial for you. Keep the cushion clean. Try to get a coccyx cushion with a removable cover that can be machine washed. This will help you keep your cushion is clean and sanitary. Upgrade your cushion if necessary. If the coccyx cushion isn't providing sufficient relief to your tailbone pain, then try a different one. For example, you use a coccyx cushion that is made of soft foam and find that it's not alleviating the pain, upgrade to a cushion made of firmer, denser foam for more support. Cushioning is an individual need, so your cushion needs will be unique. Know what a coccyx cushion is and does. A coccyx cushion (sometimes called a wedge cushion) is a U-or V-shaped pillow that protects the coccyx from uncomfortable pressure. Some cushions are also formed as a wedge. The U- or V-shape, in comparison with the circular doughnut cushions, often provide more comfort for people with tailbone pain. These cushions can also be used to provide comfort for those with hemorrhoids (piles) pain, prostate disorders, pilonidal cysts or degenerative bone disease. Doctors frequently recommend that patients use a coccyx cushion after back surgery to reduce pressure on the spinal column and tailbone. Coccyx cushions are also often used to help relieve pain from other chronic pain conditions and inflammatory pain or to relieve pressure on the back and pelvic area during pregnancy. Coccyx cushions differ from ring or doughnut cushions, which have a hole in the middle, and help reduce pressure on the anal and prostate region in cases of hemorrhoids and swollen prostate. Buy a coccyx cushion. You can buy a coccyx cushion at a local surgical supply store or pharmacy. You can also search online using terms like “coccyx cushion”, “tailbone cushion” and “tailbone wedge cushion”. Online sources can be less expensive, but the advantage to using a local dealer is that you can try different cushions to see which might work best for you. Do some research in advance. There are multiple things to consider when buying a coccyx cushion. Some are softer and thicker than others, some are inflatable, and others have washable covers. There are also cushions using different materials as padding and some may be more comfortable for you than others. Some of the materials used are memory foams, gels, semi-liquid gels, or other materials. Talk to your physician or orthopedic specialist to see if they have specific recommendations. Consider making your own coccyx cushion. If you cannot find a comfortable option in stores, then you can try making your own coccyx cushion. Most coccyx cushions are just regular cushions with a small opening on one side. You can get a large piece of memory foam or a memory foam pillow and cut out a small wedge on one side. Other creative options include duct taping together segments of a pool noodle, using a neck pillow, or filling a long sock with rice and bending it into a "U" shape. Choose a cushion that feels comfortable. Coccyx cushions are made in varying levels of thickness and firmness and it's important that you select a coccyx cushion that's comfortable for you. Squeeze the cushion in your hand to feel how firm it is. This will give you an idea of how it will feel to sit on the cushion and how much support it will give you. Coccyx cushions are also made with gel inserts. Gel inserts can help provide a softer form of cushioning and will conform better to the particular contours of your body. Some gel inserts in coccyx cushions can be removed to be warmed or frozen for hot or cold therapy. Try coccyx cushions with and without the cut-out. Some coccyx cushions are U-shaped and have a cut-out area to help relieve pressure on the spine and tailbone. Many people find more relief with these cushions, so try the solid ring cushions and the cut-out version to determine which kind is better for your needs. Make sure your coccyx cushion is the appropriate thickness. Coccyx cushions can be anywhere from 3 to 7 inches (7.6 to 17.8 cm) thick. Most people use the 3-inch thickness, but a thicker cushion can be beneficial to heavier users. Ask your physician or the local dealer about what size thickness is ideal for you, given your particular body type. | Use the cushion everywhere. Sit in a chair with a back. Place the coccyx cushion directly on the seat. Add ice packs or hot packs for added relief. Keep the cushion clean. Upgrade your cushion if necessary. Know what a coccyx cushion is and does. Buy a coccyx cushion. Consider making your own coccyx cushion. Choose a cushion that feels comfortable. Try coccyx cushions with and without the cut-out. Make sure your coccyx cushion is the appropriate thickness. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Organize-a-Pantry | How to Organize a Pantry | Before you can organize your pantry, clean out any items that are outdated, or bottles that have less than a teaspoon at the bottom. Set duplicate items aside, and consider donating things that are very old, but not expired. Next, dust and wipe down your pantry, and line the shelves with storage containers like baskets and jars. Then, group your items by meals or by type, such as flour and sugar, canned and jarred goods, and so on. Place heavier items and daily staples where they're most easily accessible, and put things like cookies and sweets on the higher shelves. | Remove everything from your pantry. Place everything on the kitchen table. Toss out anything outdated or bottles that have less than a teaspoon on the bottom. If you have duplicates of an item that you rarely use, set these aside. You may want to reconsider buying that item in the future. Check expiration dates. If something is very old, but not outdated, consider donating it. If it has lasted years, you probably aren't going to use it. Clean out your pantry. Dust your pantry and remove any sticky messes. If you clean your pantry, there will be more of an incentive to keep it clean. Sweep and clean the floor as well. Use butcher paper to line the shelves, so that your pantry will be easier to clean in the future. Some people like to use wrapping paper for a more cheerful look. Wire shelves in particular can be drab and may need some dressing up. Fit baskets or containers into your pantry. If your pantry is disorganized, then it is likely that you need separate containers to split it into sections. Find baskets with low or transparent walls, so that you can see what is in them without pulling them out. Some people suggest using spice racks or lazy susans for easy access to items. Some things, like flour or nuts, that you may accumulate a lot of, can be put into large jars and labelled with a tag and a sharpie. Combine duplicate items in containers. If you have two bags of flour, put them into one container. If you accidentally buy duplicate items, you can simply empty them into the containers. Get square, stackable containers to make the most of the space that you have. Organize what is left on the table. Gather like items together into groups that you will keep them in once you transfer them all to your shelves. Some people prefer to organize their pantry by meals-- breakfast foods, lunch foods, snacks and beverages. Some people prefer to organize by type. Common groupings are as follows: flour and sugar, canned and jarred goods, grains and beans, boxed items, spices, canned/bottled beverages, potatoes and onions, and paper goods. Put the groupings into wire, cloth, or woven baskets. You can usually find cloth baskets at a home goods store. Also be sure to check goodwill or another thrift store. Don't be afraid to pack the basket a little bit tight-- you will be removing it from the pantry to grab your items. This will ensure that instead of reaching to the back of the pantry you will be able to pull out the basket, remove your item, and replace it. Label your items. If you took items out of their original container, label the container. If you put items in an opaque container for grouping, put a tag on the container and write down which grouping is inside. You can also print labels onto stickers for more permanent staples, like flour. Labelling is essential for clarity, especially if many of your family members will be reaching into the pantry as well. If everything is clearly labelled, you will reduce the learning curve and minimize confusion. Put the items back in your pantry. Organize your items by weight and necessity. Heavier items should be the most easily accessible. The same goes for healthy snacks and daily staples, like cereal and bread. You may need to put things like cookies and other sweets higher, so that they stay out of the reach of small children. Keep heavy items on lower shelves, so that if they fall, they will be less likely to hurt someone. Create a pantry inventory list. These can be found online, or you can make your own. A pantry inventory list is just a list of your groups, the items in them, and how many there are. As you use and buy items, you update the list, so that you always know how much food you have in the pantry. You can also buy a chalkboard at a thrift store, or chalkboard paint at a home improvement store. When you are running low on an item, you can write it on the chalkboard. Use fun containers to keep your pantry beautiful and interesting. You will have more of an incentive to keep your pantry organized if you like the containers that things are kept in. Buy a couple of fun containers whenever you see them out shopping, and add beauty to your pantry. You can usually find vintage or antique containers at secondhand stores or junk shops. Brightly colored containers can usually be found at a home goods store or big box store. Use levels of storage so that you can see the back row of items. If you have a particularly deep pantry, you may want to elevate items that are in the back by putting them on low shelves. This way you can see their labels, and you will not buy duplicates when you visit the store. Big box stores sell low wire racks for this purpose, but you can also get creative. Old cigar boxes can be about the right height. If you have many duplicate items, sometimes you can stack them two high. | Remove everything from your pantry. Clean out your pantry. Fit baskets or containers into your pantry. Combine duplicate items in containers. Organize what is left on the table. Put the groupings into wire, cloth, or woven baskets. Label your items. Put the items back in your pantry. Create a pantry inventory list. Use fun containers to keep your pantry beautiful and interesting. Use levels of storage so that you can see the back row of items. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Talk-to-Girls-on-Tinder | How to Talk to Girls on Tinder | To talk to a girl on Tinder, try using a unique and intriguing first message to catch her attention. For example, say something like, “You'll never guess what?” Then, when she asks, you can follow up with a joke about yourself. If you don't want to seem too eager, wait a few hours after you match before sending your first message. When she replies, keep the conversation going by asking her some open-ended questions about her interests or the photos on her profile. If the conversation goes well, ask for her number or to arrange a date. For instance, say something like, “I've really enjoyed talking to you. Can I have your number so we can talk more easily?” | Make the first move. While some girls will message you first, it's often up to you to make the first move. Waiting around for a girl to message you is passive, but starting the conversation is active and shows you are interested. Be sure to wait a few hours after you've matched so you don't seem too eager. Girls often don't want to move first for fear that a person will assume they are more interested than they actually are. Remember that even though you matched, it's not a guarantee that a girl is going to respond to your message. Don't take it too seriously if girls don't always respond when you message them. Include her name somewhere in the first message. If you want to make her feel like you are talking to her personally, that she's not just another girl, use her name. People are more likely to respond positively when you use their name in conversation. Don't go overboard and use it in every sentence. Once is enough. Include it at that beginning of the message like, “Hi, Layla. I was wondering how many people have quoted song lyrics to you on here?” Use it later for emphasis with something like, “I've always heard that you existed but I never quite believed it. Now it's confirmed for me: a girl named Mallory really does exist.” It's silly, but if you're lucky she will think it's cute. Craft an intriguing first message. Girls get many messages that are boring and all sound the same, so your goal is to stand out. Write something that is specifically for her and doesn't seem like a line you use over and over again. You want her to be curious about talking to you. For example, say, “I can't believe this happened again…” Follow up by mentioning how you get paired with lots girls that are food snobs (or another defining trait). Ideally, she'll want to show you that she is different from the other girls. Your main goal is to get her thinking, so avoid anything that's simple like “Hello,” “How are you?” or “What's up?” Those won't stand out to her and won't make her want to talk to you. Other options are, “Tracy, could you settle a bet between me and my friend?” or “Jen, what should I message you if I really want you to respond?” or “Emily, if you had to pick any other person with my name to message you, who would it be? Use proper grammar and spellcheck before you press send. Making a good impression is unlikely if you send a messy text with lots of slang and typos. You don't necessarily have to capitalize and use punctuation, but definitely use full words and complete sentences. Girls appreciate when you care enough to write well. Don't type: “Ay gurl, ben wondrin wut UR rely like, u wanna go out” Say something like, “Stacy, I saw you like Cage the Elephant. Are you going to see them at Coachella this summer?” Don't second guess what you decide to write, but check it over to make sure you didn't misspell anything. Also, make sure that autocorrect didn't change what you meant to type. Mention something you found interesting in her profile. Before you start talking, check out her profile and find something that you have in common or that you find interesting. Reference this in your first or second message. Use it as topic of conversation to show her you are interested in her for more than just her profile picture. For example, if she mentions that she likes biking, ask her what brand she thinks makes the best bike. Or if she has a photo that appears to be from a vacation, ask her where she travelled and what she thought of it. If you notice a common interest like a band, a hobby, or an organization, tell her your connection to it and ask her what she likes about it. Ask thoughtful and genuine questions. As you continue talking, she may mention something you find interesting. Respond in a way that acknowledges what she said and responds specifically to it. Say something about what she said and then ask a follow up question. Don't respond with something like, “Oh, cool!” which makes her have to work to keep talking. Other things like “Sounds like fun,” or “I can't believe it,” tend to be speed bumps in conversation. If she tells you she likes to play guitar, ask her if she has ever recorded herself playing, and if you could see the video. Other general follow up questions are, “Have you always wanted to do that?” “What was the hardest part of that?” or “Did you start on your own or did someone help you?” Stick with short, focused messages. Long text messages are okay sometimes, but short is better when you're first talking to a girl on Tinder. Write a maximum of two sentences, and don't use lots of commas for complicated sentences. Focus on one thought or point per text so she can give a simple response. Don't ramble like this: “I thought that I had seen you before. You were in my chem class, which was so boring. The only time I've used chemistry since then is mixing drinks, lol. I made a killer cocktail last weekend. But I ended up forgetting a meeting I had the next day. Keep it simple by saying, “I actually recognized you because we had a chem class together. Do you remember that professor who said 'um' all the time?” Ask for her number or a date. After you talk a while, move onto the next step. If she has been talking to you and seems interested, she will probably give you her number. Since you're already talking on the app, it's okay to ask for a date from there. Suggest a neutral spot like a coffee shop close to you. Say, “It's been fun messaging, but I'd like to hear your voice, too. Could I have your number?” It's direct and she will either say yes or no. Even if she says no, ask her if she would like to keep talking. If you want to go out, say, “I'm not sure exactly where you live, but the Verve is a pretty central spot. Would you want to meet up there tomorrow night? | Make the first move. Include her name somewhere in the first message. Craft an intriguing first message. Use proper grammar and spellcheck before you press send. Mention something you found interesting in her profile. Ask thoughtful and genuine questions. Stick with short, focused messages. Ask for her number or a date. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-Wool-Yarn-from-Acrylic-Yarn | How to Tell Wool Yarn from Acrylic Yarn | You can tell the difference between wool and acrylic yarn with a few simple tests. To do a burn test, hold a small section of your yarn with tweezers. Then, burn a little of the yarn with an open flame. Wool generally smells like burning hair, while acrylic yarn smells more like burning plastic. To do a bleach test, seal a small section of yarn in an airtight jar with 1 tablespoon of bleach and leave it overnight. If the yarn has disappeared by the morning, it was wool. An acrylic yarn will still be there, although it may have faded a little. | Read the label. It sounds obvious, but this will be the most reliable and accurate way to find out. The label will tell you what the yarn is made out of: wool, acrylic, cotton, and so forth. The label will also tell you how information like how many yards of yarn are in the skein, how much the skein weighs, and what size needle you should use for that yarn. Touch the yarn and feel how soft or coarse it is. Wool yarn tends to be much softer than acrylic yarn. Acrylic yarn tends to feel a little coarse. This is easier if you have another yarn that you know is wool or acrylic to use as comparison. The touch test is not very reliable. Many acrylic yarns can feel soft and silky. A soft and silky texture can also indicate silk or rayon, instead of wool. Look for a hairy texture. Acrylic yarn may feel rough, but it won't look hairy. Wool yarn may have some longer fibers sticking out of it. Keep in mind that acrylic-wool blends may also have some hairy fibers. Yarn made from other natural fibers may also have a hairy look to it. Note the price difference. If you can't find what the yarn is made out of on the label, look at the price; it may be a good indicator of whether or not the yarn is real wool. Acrylic yarn tends cost much less than wool yarn. Keep in mind, however, that some factors may increase the price of acrylic yarn, such as thickness, added sequins or tinsel, or blended fibers. Cut two pieces of yarn that are several inches long. Make sure that both pieces of yarn come from the same skein. In this method, you will be "felting" the yarn. If the yarn fuses together easily, it is made from wool. If it does not fuse together easily, it is made from acrylic. Untwist the first few inches of each piece of yarn and separate the loose threads into two, even groups. Yarn is made by twisting thinner pieces of yarn together. In order to felt the yarn, you will need to untwist it. Gently roll the yarn back and forth between your fingers until the threads loosen, and pull them apart into two, even groups. For example, if the yarn has 6 threads, separate it into 2 groups of 3 threads. Do this for both pieces of yarn. Shorten one set of threads on each piece of yarn. Each piece of yarn will have one long set of threads, and one short set of threads. You will be twisting the longer threads together to fuse the yarn together. Overlap the long threads on both pieces of yarn until the short threads touch. Lay the two pieces of yarn down on the table so that frayed ends are facing each other. Move them towards each other until the long threads overlap and the short threads touch. Dampen the long threads. You can do this simply by dipping them in water, or misting them lightly with a spray bottle. You can also lick them. Rub and roll the overlapped long threads between your fingers until the yarn dries. As you roll, the long threads may come together. Don't worry if they don't come together easily or at all. This is part of the test! Judge the results. If the two pieces have fused together easily, and are difficult to pull apart, the yarn is made from wool. If the two pieces did not fuse together easily, and they come apart, the yarn is acrylic. Felted wool may look dull and feel a little stiff, especially if it was soft and silky to begin with. The felting process is why wool shrinks when you put it in the washing machine. Find a sink to work over. This way, you will have water handy in case the flame goes out of control. Make sure that there is nothing near by that can catch on fire, such as curtains, towels, or detergents. If you can't work over a sink, try to work over a bowl of water. Create a flame. You can do this simply by lighting a candle or starting a lighter. Cut off a piece of yarn. The yarn should be about the length of your finger. Use a pair of tweezers to hold the yarn above the flame until it burns. Take note of how the yarn burns, and what it smells like. If the yarn smells like burning hair, it is wool. If the yarn smells like chemicals or burning plastic, it is acrylic. Wool yarn will burn quicker than acrylic yarn. Blow the flame out and let the yarn cool before examining the end. Take a look at how the yarn looks like. If the yarn is wool, the burnt end will have turned to ash. It may crumble and turn to dust if you touch it. If the yarn is acrylic, the end will have melted and turned hard. It may look black or dark brown. Cut a 2 inch (5.08 centimeters) long piece of yarn. The color of the yarn does not matter. The bleach will dissolve real wool, and it won't do anything to acrylic. Place the yarn into a small glass jar. Make sure that your jar has a lid, as you will need to seal it in order for this to work. Add 1 tablespoon (30 milliliters) of bleach into the jar. The bleach should completely cover the yarn. If you are using a larger jar, you may need more bleach. Keep adding bleach until it covers and soaks the yarn. Close the jar tightly and wait a few hours to overnight. You may notice a slight fizzing after a few minutes. Don't worry. This is normal, and an indicator that the yarn is made of wool, or another natural fiber. Check the jar and examine the results. If the yarn has disappeared, it was made from wool. If the yarn is still there, take a closer look. A 100% acrylic yarn will be mostly unchanged, although it may have faded a little. Yarn made from an acrylic-wool blend will appear somewhat damaged. It may be faded, ragged, or thinner than when you first put it in. | Read the label. Touch the yarn and feel how soft or coarse it is. Look for a hairy texture. Note the price difference. Cut two pieces of yarn that are several inches long. Untwist the first few inches of each piece of yarn and separate the loose threads into two, even groups. Shorten one set of threads on each piece of yarn. Overlap the long threads on both pieces of yarn until the short threads touch. Dampen the long threads. Rub and roll the overlapped long threads between your fingers until the yarn dries. Judge the results. Find a sink to work over. Create a flame. Cut off a piece of yarn. Use a pair of tweezers to hold the yarn above the flame until it burns. Blow the flame out and let the yarn cool before examining the end. Cut a 2 inch (5.08 centimeters) long piece of yarn. Place the yarn into a small glass jar. Add 1 tablespoon (30 milliliters) of bleach into the jar. Close the jar tightly and wait a few hours to overnight. Check the jar and examine the results. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-Polycarbonate | How to Cut Polycarbonate | To cut a thin polycarbonate sheet with a utility knife, first, duct tape the sheet to a flat surface without stretching it out. Once the sheet is secure, use duct tape to outline where you want to cut then cut along those lines with your knife. If the polycarbonate is stiff and less than.125 inches thick, use a pair of heavy-duty hand-shears. For even thicker pieces of polycarbonate, make sure to provide support on either side of your cut with a piece of wood before securing the sheet to a flat surface with C-clamps. Then, use a fine-tooth saw blade on a circular saw to cut along your mark. | Lay your polycarbonate sheet over the edge of a flat surface. Take your plastic and lay it out on a table or saw station. Any surface can work as long as the surface is flat, stable, and has an edge. To score and snap an edge, you need to be able to hang a section of the plastic off of the edge to snap it. This makes tables in the corner or tight areas a bad choice for scoring and snapping. If your polycarbonate is thinner than 1 in (2.5 cm), you can score and snap it. Put on some gloves and protective eyewear to protect yourself. When you snap the polycarbonate, there may be a few small pieces of plastic that fly off of the line that you cut. To avoid damaging your eyes or hands, throw on protective goggles and wear some thick gloves. Mark the cut line with a straight edge and marker. Measure any cuts that you want to make with a measuring tape and use a straight edge to keep your line straight. Hold the straight edge directly against the line that you plan on cutting. Hold your marker at a 45-degree angle pointed down towards the junction where the straight edge and plastic meet. Run your marker along the line to mark your cut. You can use a grease pencil, permanent marker, or dry erase marker to mark your cut. Place the cutting line within 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) of the edge and secure it with clamps. Place the cutting line near the edge of the work surface. Secure the plastic to the table placing trigger or C-clamps around the edge where the plastic meets the table. Tighten trigger clamps by pulling the trigger on the handle or twist the bolt on top of your C-clamps. You can also just place a heavy object in the center of the plastic sheet instead. Score the line with a utility knife and a straight edge. Line your straight edge up with the cutting line. Hold the utility knife against the straight edge on the edge of your line at the top. Press down with moderate pressure and slide your knife's blade at a 45-degree angle along the cutting line. Push it down the entire length of your cutting line while cutting roughly halfway through the plastic. You don't need to press hard. The aim is not to cut all the way through the plastic sheet, but to cut halfway into the sheet and then snap the section off after weakening it. Flip the sheet over and cut the other side if necessary. After you score the cutting line once, release the clamps to free your sheet. Try pressing on the edge that's hanging off of the table to see if it moves. If it doesn't give at all, flip the sheet over and re-clamp it. Score the line that you cut from the other side the exact same way you cut the first side. If your sheet is really thin, you probably don't need to do this. Secure the sheet so the line hangs 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) over the edge. Slide the sheet out and re-clamp it to the table so that it won't move when you apply pressure to the edge. Inspect the clamps to ensure that they're tight and make sure that the cutting line is floating out past the table. Snap the excess polycarbonate off by pressing down quickly. Brace the center of the sheet on the table by pressing down with your nondominant hand. Keep the sheet of plastic still and grip the excess section that you scored with your dominant hand. Lift it up a little bit and press down with firm pressure. The side that you're pressing on should snap right off. Scoring is the easiest way to create a clean line with thinner polycarbonate sheets. Set up your polycarbonate on saw horses or a work station. Place your plastic on your work station or saw horses. There will be some plastic dust from the cutting, so set your station up in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside. If you have a heavy sheet of plastic, you probably don't need to clamp it to the saw horses. Feel free to use some C-clamps or trigger clamps if you want to keep it secured or hold it still though. Mark the line that you’re going to cut with a marker. You can move at a slight angle when cutting with a circular saw, but straight cuts are easier to achieve. Use a ruler or yardstick as a straight edge to mark your cutting line with a grease marker, permanent marker, or dry erase marker. If you want to cut multiple lines, mark all of them before cutting your first line. If you plan on cutting curved shapes or angles, your best bet is to use a jigsaw. If your polycarbonate is thicker than 1 in (2.5 cm), you probably can't score and snap it. Use a circular saw for these thicker plastics. Attach a saw blade designed for cutting plastic to the saw. Unscrew the nut in the center of your circular saw and set it aside. Put on a pair of thick gloves and carefully lift your current blade off of the bolt in the center and set it aside. Slide a new blade over the center that is designed for cutting plastic. Re-screw the center bolt to tighten it in place. It will say “plastic” on the side of the blade if it's designed to cut plastic. If you can, use a blade with 3-5 teeth for every 1 in (2.5 cm) on the saw. Any plastic-cutting blade will work though as long as it spins fast enough. Put on your protective eyewear, earmuffs, and gloves. It can be dangerous to cut polycarbonate with a circular saw if you don't take the proper precautions. Wear protective goggles to protect your eyes from any shards of plastic. Throw on a pair of thick gloves and put on some noise-cancelling, protective earmuffs if you have sensitive hearing. Line your saw’s base plate up with the straight edge. The base plate of your saw is the flat, metal plate with the guide line on it. Line the guide line on the front of your circular saw with the line you plan on cutting. Then, slide your straight edge against the edge of the base plate. Hold the saw's handle with your dominant hand and then move your other hand aside and brace the straight edge to keep it still. If you have a steady hand, there's no need to use a straight edge. Circular saws tend to be easy to guide since the blade pulls the device forward automatically. If you want to use both hands to operate the circular saw, you can clamp the straight edge to the work surface. Pull the trigger on your saw to start cutting. Pull the trigger on your saw and wait 3-5 seconds to give the blade time to get up to speed. Slide your saw forward a little bit to let the teeth on your saw blade catch on the plastic. The saw will start to automatically pull itself forward. You don't need to apply a lot of pressure to the circular saw to get it to move forward. Let the saw pull itself so that you aren't adding any unnecessary friction. If you feel the saw buckle, or kickback, release the trigger. Pull it back a little bit. Press the trigger again and try to cut the line a second time. Slide the saw all the way through the end of the cut. Guide the saw as it slides all the way through the entirety of the cut. As you move forward, slide your free hand up the straight edge so that it follows the saw. Keep bracing the straight edge and slide the base plate against it until you've gone all the way through the line that you're cutting. Let the excess piece fall to the floor. Release the trigger on the saw and unplug it when you're done. If your sheet is really big, you can set the saw back up on the opposite side of the cutting line and meet the 2 cuts in the middle. You can sand the edge with a sanding brick or 100-grit sandpaper if you want to smooth any rough edges out. Attach a plastic-cutting blade to your jigsaw. Like circular saws, jigsaws have different blades for different materials. Get a blade designed for cutting plastic by reading the label on the blade's packaging to see if it lists “plastic” under the cutting materials. Unlock the blade on your jigsaw by releasing the safety on the side. Carefully slide the blade out and insert your new blade. Lock in place by closing the safety clamp near the base of the saw. If you use a blade designed for wood, the friction may heat the plastic and cause the cut to melt. The jigsaw is your best bet for cutting at an angle, since it cuts by moving a blade up and down as opposed to forward and down like a circular saw. Set up your polycarbonate on a work station or saw horses. Take your materials to a well-ventilated and safe area, preferable outside. Set your sheet up on a sawing table or set of saw horses. Move any flammable objects to a safe area away from the area that you're cutting. Wear protective eyewear, earmuffs, and gloves. There will be small pieces of plastic that shoots off of the polycarbonate when you saw it. Protect your eyes and hands with goggles and thick gloves. If you have sensitive hearing, wear protective earmuffs. Add your cutting lines with a grease marker. To determine where you're going to cut, draw each cut out on your plastic with a grease marker. For any straight lines, use a straight edge and drag your marker at a 45-degree angle against your edge to make a perfectly straight line. You can also choose to guide your base plate freely. Line the base plate up with the edge that you plan on cutting. Line your base plate up at the edge where you're going to start cutting. The jigsaw's base plate has a guide line on the front that indicates where the blade is underneath it. Adjust the location of the plate so that the guide line aligns with the section that you want to cut. Brace the plastic with your free hand and pull the trigger on the jigsaw. The jigsaw's blade will move up and down to cut, so you need to keep the plastic still while you're cutting. Hold the edge of the plastic 2–3 ft (0.61–0.91 m) away from the spot that you're cutting with your nondominant hand. Pull the trigger on the jigsaw and wait 3-5 seconds to let the blade get up to speed. You can clamp the plastic if you want instead of bracing the jigsaw, but you're probably going to have an easier time moving the plastic at the same time that you rotate the jigsaw to make angled cuts. Move the jigsaw through each cutting line and let the excess plastic fall. Keep a firm grip on your jigsaw. Slide the jigsaw forward to propel it across the line that you want to cut. Move the jigsaw with your dominant hand while using your nondominant hand to turn the plastic to adjust the angle of the cut. If you aren't turning your plastic to help cut it, use your free hand to brace it and keep it still. Release the trigger on the saw and unplug it when you're done. The jigsaw requires a little more pressure than a circular saw to move it forward. | Lay your polycarbonate sheet over the edge of a flat surface. Put on some gloves and protective eyewear to protect yourself. Mark the cut line with a straight edge and marker. Place the cutting line within 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) of the edge and secure it with clamps. Score the line with a utility knife and a straight edge. Flip the sheet over and cut the other side if necessary. Secure the sheet so the line hangs 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) over the edge. Snap the excess polycarbonate off by pressing down quickly. Set up your polycarbonate on saw horses or a work station. Mark the line that you’re going to cut with a marker. Attach a saw blade designed for cutting plastic to the saw. Put on your protective eyewear, earmuffs, and gloves. Line your saw’s base plate up with the straight edge. Pull the trigger on your saw to start cutting. Slide the saw all the way through the end of the cut. Attach a plastic-cutting blade to your jigsaw. Set up your polycarbonate on a work station or saw horses. Wear protective eyewear, earmuffs, and gloves. Add your cutting lines with a grease marker. Line the base plate up with the edge that you plan on cutting. Brace the plastic with your free hand and pull the trigger on the jigsaw. Move the jigsaw through each cutting line and let the excess plastic fall. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cite-Videos | How to Cite Videos | To cite a video using APA style, begin with the author's last name, followed by a comma and the initial of their first name, such as “Palmer, A.” Then, enter the year of production in parentheses, followed by the title in italics. Follow up with the production format, like DVD, in square brackets. You should also provide details about the location of the distributor, such as “United States: Paramount Pictures.” If you want to reference the video in your text, give the author's name and the date of production in parentheses. | Start with the author of the video. In most cases, the author of the video is considered to be the producer of the video. This may be an individual, or it may be an institution such as a corporation or a nonprofit organization. List the author's last name first, followed by a comma and their first and middle initials. For example: "Palmer, A." If you include more than one author with different roles, you can provide their role in parentheses after their name. For example: "Harris, M. (Producer), & Turley, M. J. (Director)." The author may be different depending on where and how you accessed the video. For example, if you viewed a TED talk on the TED website, you would list "TED" as the author. However, if you viewed the video elsewhere, you typically would provide the name of the person giving the talk as the author. Include the date of broadcast or copyright in parentheses. Start with the year the video was broadcast or produced, then place a comma and include the specific date. If no specific date is given, you can just provide the year. For example: "Palmer, A. (2013, February)." List the title of the video and its format. The title of the video follows the date, and should be italicized. Use sentence-style capitalization, capitalizing only the first word of the title (and subtitle, if relevant) and any proper nouns. Include the format of the video in square brackets after the title. For example: "Palmer, A. (2013, February). Amanda Palmer: The art of asking [Video file]." Use "video file" if you accessed the video online. For physical media, provide the type of media, such as "DVD." Provide information about distribution or availability. If the video you're referencing is a widely available video, such as the DVD of a TV show or major motion picture, include the location and the name of the producer or distributor. For example: "Smith, J. D. (Producer), & Smithee, A. F. (Director). (2001). Really big disaster movie [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures." If you accessed the video online, distribution and availability information should include a complete URL for the video. For example: "Yale University (Producer). (2010, April 14). Globalization of energy demand [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJM7HLyzsCM." Use the author and date for in-text citations. Whenever you mention the video in your paper, you should include a parenthetical citation that will direct your readers to the full citation included in your reference list. For example: "(Palmer, 2013)." Start with the principle subject of the video. For Chicago or Turabian style formatting, the name you use as the first part of your citation depends on the focus of the video and why you're referencing it in your work. For example, suppose you have the video of an interview that you want to use as a reference in your paper. If the person being interviewed is the reason you're referencing the video, you would put their name first in the citation. However, if your paper evaluated interviewing styles and techniques, your focus would be on the interviewer, so you'd put their name first. Names are listed in "last name, first name" format. For example: "Harwood, John." If the principle subject of the video is the video itself, or if there is no principle subject, leave this part of the citation off and move on to the title. Provide the title of the work. For a full video, place the title of the video in italics immediately following the first name or names that you listed in your citation. Use the same capitalization as in the video itself. If you're citing a shorter clip, put the title in quotation marks rather than in italics. For example: Harwood, John. “The Pros and Cons of Biden.” Include the names of the director or key performers, if they are relevant to the reason you are citing the work. This typically comes up when citing motion pictures or creative works. For example: " Joe Versus the Volcano. Directed by John Patrick Shanley." Provide a date of copyright or publication. Tell readers where and when the video was published and distributed. Start with the year of copyright or publication, then the location, then the production or distribution company. If the year the video was made differs from the copyright year, include that year at the end. For example: " Joe Versus the Volcano. Directed by John Patrick Shanley. 1990. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002." Note the medium or where the video can be found. Close your citation by identifying specifically how you accessed the video. For online video clips, include the time length of the recording and a direct URL to the video. For example: "Harwood, John. “The Pros and Cons of Biden.” New York Times video, 2:00. August 23, 2008. http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=a425c9aca92f51bd19f2a621fd93b5e266507191." If you watched the video using a physical medium, such as a DVD, you don't need as much information. For example: " Joe Versus the Volcano. Directed by John Patrick Shanley. 1990. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002. DVD." Use the author-date system for in-text citations. Chicago and Turabian styles use either footnotes or parenthetical citations. The format for footnotes is similar to the format for the bibliography. For parenthetical citations, simply use the last name listed first in your citation, followed by a comma and the year of publication. For example: "(Harwood, 2008)." If the title of the video appears first in your full citation, you can use the first word from the title, or a keyword. Just make sure it adequately identifies the correct citation. For example: "("Joe," 1990). Start with the title of the video. In most cases, if you're citing a video in MLA style, you'll put the title of the video first. The title of the video should be in italics. Use the same capitalization as is used in the video itself. For example: " Fahrenheit 9/11." Start with a contributor's name if you're referencing their work. In some cases, it may be that you're only using the video as a reference to highlight one particular individual's work in that video. If that's the case, start your citation with their name rather than the title of the video. Include an abbreviated description of their role after their name. For example: "Moore, Michael, dir. Fahrenheit 9/11." List the director or producer. Unless they are listed first, follow the title of the video with the name of the director or producer. You may also want to include key performers, especially if they are mentioned specifically in your paper. For example: " Citizen Kane. Dir. Orson Welles. Perfs. Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten." Describe the format of the video. A video may be edited or changed when it is distributed in different formats. For this reason, you need to point your readers directly to the version you viewed and referenced in your paper. For example: " Frankenstein. Dir. James Whale. Perfs. Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clark. 1931. DVD." Provide distribution information. Generally, you need to provide enough information that your reader could follow in your footsteps and view the same video you did. The type of information you include will vary depending on how you accessed the video and how much information is available to you. If you viewed a subsequent edition of the original video recording, include the date the video you watched was produced. For example: " Frankenstein. Dir. James Whale. Perfs. Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clark. 1931. DVD. Universal Pictures, 2006." If you accessed the video online, you'll need to provide the name of the website where the video appears, the date you accessed it, and a direct URL to the video. For example: "Lucasfilm, Ltd. "Star Wars Trailer." 05 November 1999. Online video clip. Star Wars Official Site. Accessed on 02 April 2008. <http://starwars.com/episode-i/news/trailer/>." Use signal words and phrases for in-text citations. MLA style doesn't generally require parenthetical citations to non-print sources when you paraphrase or quote them in your paper. However, you should mention the title and other information about the video. Give your readers enough information that they could go to your Works Cited and find the citation they needed. | Start with the author of the video. Include the date of broadcast or copyright in parentheses. List the title of the video and its format. Provide information about distribution or availability. Use the author and date for in-text citations. Start with the principle subject of the video. Provide the title of the work. Provide a date of copyright or publication. Note the medium or where the video can be found. Use the author-date system for in-text citations. Start with the title of the video. Start with a contributor's name if you're referencing their work. List the director or producer. Describe the format of the video. Provide distribution information. Use signal words and phrases for in-text citations. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Expand-Your-Vocabulary | How to Expand Your Vocabulary | If you want to expand your vocabulary, read a variety of books and look up words that you don't know. For example, you could try reading some free classics, like those by William Faulkner or Virginia Woolf, on websites like Project Gutenberg or Librivox. You can also improve your vocabulary by getting a high-quality dictionary and looking up a few words each day. Alternatively, you can sign up for one of the free "Word of the Day" emails sent by online dictionaries. | Read voraciously. Once you leave school, you won't get word drills and homework assignments that force you to learn new words. It can be easy to stop reading. If you want to build your vocabulary, establish a reading regimen and stick to it. You might try reading one new book a week, or reading the newspaper every morning. Pick a frequency and pace that works for you, and develop a reading routine that fits into your schedule. Try to read at least one book and several magazines every week. Be consistent. As well as improving your vocabulary, you'll also keep updated and backdated, your general knowledge will increase, and you'll be an intelligent, well-rounded person. Read high literature. Challenge yourself by reading as many books as you have the time and inclination for. Read classics. Read new fiction and read old fiction. Read poetry. Read Herman Melville, William Faulkner, and Virginia Woolf. Try reading nonfiction and technical books: these will rapidly teach you not only new ways to speak, but also new ways to think. Read about a variety of subjects, like philosophy, religion, and science. If you usually read the local paper, consider trying the long, difficult stories in national, international and business newspapers and magazines, like The New Yorker or The Economist. There are many classics available for your perusal at Project Gutenberg and LibriVox. Read online sources. Read online magazines, essays, and blogs on a variety of subjects. Read record reviews and fashion blogs. Look up any words you don't recognize. When you see an unfamiliar word, do not skip over it impatiently. Try to puzzle out its possible meaning in the context of the sentence, then look it up in the dictionary and confirm its definition. Consider keeping a small notebook with you and quickly jot down unknown words as you come across them for checking later. If you hear or see a word you don't know, be sure to look it up. . Read the dictionary Dive in. Read entries for words you aren't yet familiar with. This requires the ownership of a quality dictionary to make it more interesting, so look for a dictionary that has lengthy explanations on the origins and uses of words, as these will go a long way to helping you remember the word and enjoy using your dictionary. Read the thesaurus. Look up words you use a lot so you can learn similar words, and use those words as well. Set a goal. If you're committed to building your vocabulary, set a goal for yourself. Try to learn three new words a week and work them into your speech and writing. With conscious effort, you can learn several thousands of new words that you'll remember and use. If you can't use a word effectively and accurately in a sentence, it's not a part of your vocabulary. If you're easily learning three words a week, start upping the ante. Try to learn ten words next week. Looking up 20 new words a day in the dictionary will make it difficult to use any of them accurately. Be realistic and build practical vocabulary that you'll be able to use. Use flashcards or post-it notes around your house. If you're going to make a habit of learning new words, try some simple memorization techniques as if you were studying for a test. Hang post-its with the definition of a particular word you hope to memorize above the coffee maker, so you can study it while fixing your morning cup. Affix a new word to each house plant so you can study while watering. Even if you're watching TV or doing other activities, keep some flashcards with you and study your new words. Always be building. Write more. Start journaling if you don't already, or start a blog. Actively flexing your writing muscles will keep your vocabulary strong. Write letters to old friends and use lots of specific details. If your correspondence is typically short and informal, switch it up and write a longer letter or email than you're used to writing. Take time in crafting letters as you would an essay for school. Make considered choices. Consider taking on more writing responsibilities at work. If you typically avoid composing memos or writing group emails or participating in group discussions, change your habits and write more. You might as well get paid to build your vocabulary. Use accurate adjectives and precise nouns. The best writers aim for concision and accuracy. Get out the thesaurus and use the most accurate word possible in your sentences. Don't use three words when one will do. A word is a useful addition to your vocabulary if it reduces the number of words in a sentence. For instance, the phrase "dolphins and whales" can be replaced with the word "cetaceans," making "cetaceans" a useful word. A word is also useful if it is more descriptive than the word or phrase it replaces. For example, many people's voices could be described as "pleasant". But someone with a very pleasant voice could be said to have a "mellifluous" voice. Don't flaunt it. Inexperienced writers think using the Thesaurus function in Microsoft Word twice in every sentence makes writing better. It doesn't. Using flashy vocabulary and "spelling bee" words makes your writing pompous. What's worse, though, is that it also makes writing less accurate than more common words. Using the appropriate word is the mark of a real writer and a sure sign of advanced vocabulary. You could say that "Iron Mike" is Mike Tyson's "sobriquet," but "nickname" might be the more accurate and useful word in the sentence. Therefore, "sobriquet" may be less useful in your vocabulary. Sign up to be emailed a "Word of the Day" using one of the many online dictionaries. You can also procure for yourself a Word of the Day calendar; be sure to read the word on the page each day and aim to remember each day's word and even use it somewhere in your day. Visit word building sites such as freerice.com and construct an expansive vocabulary while nourishing the hungry or doing something else useful. There are many online sites devoted to compiling alphabetical lists of unusual, weird, old-fashioned, and difficult words. Avail yourself of the search engine to find these sites and to learn from them. This is a great way to while away time waiting for a bus or in the bank queue. Do word puzzles and play word games. Word puzzles are an excellent source of increasing your word knowledge because the puzzle creators will often need to resort to an array of unusual words to ensure that the words fit into their puzzles and that they are interesting for the puzzle doer. There are many varieties of vocabulary puzzles, including crosswords , find-a-word and hidden word puzzles. As well as strengthening your word knowledge, puzzles are also good for improving your critical thinking skills. For word games, try such games as Scrabble , Boggle, and Cranium to extend your vocabulary. Learn a little Latin. Although it might seem like a dead and done language, knowing a bit of Latin is an excellent way to learn the roots of many words in the English language and can help you figure out the meaning of a wide range of words that you don't yet know without having to resort to the dictionary. There are online Latin learning resources, as well as plenty of texts (check out your favorite used books bookstore). | Read voraciously. Read high literature. Read online sources. Look up any words you don't recognize. . Read the thesaurus. Set a goal. Use flashcards or post-it notes around your house. Write more. Use accurate adjectives and precise nouns. Don't flaunt it. Sign up to be emailed a "Word of the Day" using one of the many online dictionaries. Do word puzzles and play word games. Learn a little Latin. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Vegetable-Pizza | How to Make Vegetable Pizza | To make vegetable pizza, chop a variety of vegetables, such as red peppers, zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms, onions, and scallions, and coat them all in olive oil. Grill the vegetables for about 10 minutes in a grill pan or on a hot grill. When the vegetables are cooked, roll out your pizza dough so it's about 1/2-inch thick, then spread tomato sauce over the dough. Top the pizza with your grilled vegetables and mozzarella cheese, then bake it for 10-12 minutes at 500°F. | Gather the ingredients. This recipe makes use of store-bought pizza dough. However, feel free to use a homemade pizza crust , if you prefer. Using a store-bought crust, this pizza can be on the table in about 45 minutes. If you opt to make the homemade crust, you will need an additional hour and a half. The yield is approximately 4 servings. Store-bought produce usually isn't pre-rinsed. Make sure to always wash your vegetables well before using them on your pizza. Prepare the store-bought pizza dough. Sprinkle flour generously onto a flat work surface. Remove the dough from your refrigerator and give it a light dusting of flour. Allow the dough to sit on your work surface for 20 to 30 minutes, so that it becomes room temperature. Dust your rolling pin with flour. Roll the dough into a circle that is approximately ½ inch thick. Take the dough in both hands and pinch one of the edges, letting the dough hang down. Slowly work your way around the circle, pinching, until the dough is the size you want. To prevent the crust from sticking, you'll need to grease the baking sheet with cooking spray/oil before placing the crust on it. You can also sprinkle corn meal on a baking sheet to prevent this. Make the sauce. Place a strainer over a large microwave proof bowl. Dump the tomatoes into the strainer and crush them with your hands. Push the pulp into the bottom of the strainer so that the juices go through the sieve. Place the microwavable bowl full of tomato juice into your microwave and set them to cook on high for 20 to 25 minutes. This will thicken the juice into a consistency much like ketchup. Pour the crushed tomato pulp into the thickened juice. Allow this to cool down to room temperature. If you prefer using the stovetop, simmer the tomatoes in a medium sized pan for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens. Prepare the toppings. Chop the vegetables into your preferred size. Coat the chopped veggies with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables out evenly on a hot grill or grill pan. Grill them for about 10 minutes, until they are tender but still firm. Remove the vegetables from the grill and set them aside. Feel free to customize the vegetables – omit or limit the use of any that you don't like. Assemble the pizza. Preheat the oven to its highest setting, which is usually between 500 and 550°F (260°C and 288°C). Spoon the cooled sauce over the pizza crust dough and spread it evenly. Top with the grilled sliced vegetables – arrange them however you like. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake the pizza for about 10 to 12 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the cheese is melted, bubbly and lightly browned on top. Slice the pizza into wedges and serve immediately. Gather the ingredients. This recipe makes use of store-bought pizza dough. However, feel free to use a homemade pizza crust , if you prefer. Using a store-bought crust, this pizza can be cooked and served in about 60 minutes. The yield is approximately 4 servings. Scatter flour onto a flat work surface. Remove the dough from its packaging and leave it sitting out for about 20 to 30 minutes until it's room temperature. Roll the dough into a circle that is approximately ½ inch thick. Grab and pinch one of the edges with both hands, letting the dough hang down. Slowly work your way around the circle, pinching, until the dough is the size you want. Place the crust on a baking sheet that you've oiled or sprinkled with corn meal to prevent sticking. Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C) and prepare the vegetables. Rinse and slice all of your vegetables on the diagonal to be about ¼-inch (6.35 mm) thick. Slicing on a diagonal means to slice them thinly, at a slant and length-wise. Place the slices into a large strainer. Sprinkle salt all over them and allow them to sit like that for about 15 minutes. This will extract some of the natural water from the vegetables. Rinse the salt off. Drain the veggies and use paper towels to blot them dry. Extracting the water makes the vegetables roast better. Vegetables with high water content will roast soggily. Extracting the water gives you a crisper result. Roast the vegetables. Spread the vegetables out in one layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over them and sprinkle the minced garlic. Reserve 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of the oil. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast them for about 15 to 20 minutes. When they are tender and darkened around the edges, they're ready. Once they've cooled, feel free to slice the vegetables slightly thinner, if you prefer smaller pieces for toppings. Spread the ricotta cheese over the pizza crust dough. Arrange the roasted vegetables on top of the thin layer of ricotta. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the veggies. Lastly, drizzle the 2 tablespoons of olive oil you reserved over the pizza and top with the parsley. Bake the pizza for 15 minutes. Place the baking sheet into your oven and allow the pizza to cook for about 15 minutes. You'll know its read when the cheese has fully melted and the crust has become golden brown. Remove the pizza from the oven and slice it into wedges with a pizza cutter. Serve immediately. Serve with a tossed salad and a nice red wine (optional). Gather the ingredients. This pizza is served cold and makes an excellent appetizer or finger food. It makes use of store-bought crescent rolls for the crust. It takes 20 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook. The yield is 48 bite-sized squares. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare the crescent rolls. Use 2 non-stick baking sheets. Open the 2 packages of crescent rolls. Stretch the dough and flatten it out so that it forms one rectangular shape. Be sure to pinch the seams together. Bake for about 10 minutes. It's ready when the crust has become golden brown. Set the just-baked crust aside and let it cool for about 30 minutes while you prepare the rest of the dish. Make the “sauce” and chop the vegetables. Remove the cream cheese from the refrigerator and allow it to sit out for several minutes. This will soften it and make it easier to work with. Once softened, place the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and add the Ranch-style dressing mix. Stir vigorously until they are fully mixed together. Spoon the mixture over the cooled crusts in a thin layer. Sprinkle the vegetables and cheddar over the cream cheese layer. Finely chop the vegetables so that they are relatively small. Arrange them over the cream cheese sauce and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Place in the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour. When you're ready to serve them, take them out of the refrigerator and cut them into 48 bite-size squares. Serve immediately as appetizers or finger food. | Gather the ingredients. Prepare the store-bought pizza dough. Make the sauce. Prepare the toppings. Assemble the pizza. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C) and prepare the vegetables. Roast the vegetables. Spread the ricotta cheese over the pizza crust dough. Bake the pizza for 15 minutes. Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare the crescent rolls. Make the “sauce” and chop the vegetables. Sprinkle the vegetables and cheddar over the cream cheese layer. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Different-Types-of-Cream | How to Use Different Types of Cream | To use different types of cream, use light cream for things like scrambling eggs, mixing coffee, or sweetening up some fresh fruit. If you have heavy cream, use it to make cream-based soups, make whipped cream, or prepare ice cream. You can also use heavy cream in milky cocktails, like a White Russian. To use crème fraîche, add it to creamy sauces or use it as a substitute for yogurt or mayonnaise in your recipes. | Add light cream to scrambled eggs if you want them to be extra fluffy. Beat 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of light cream per egg into a small bowl with the eggs. Then, scramble them as usual on the stovetop for softer, creamier eggs. Whisk the eggs and cream together until the yolk, whites, and cream are thoroughly combined. The eggs should look slightly frothy. If you want more flavor, top the eggs with fresh herbs or add salt and pepper. Combine 1 part light cream with 1 part water if you need a substitute for milk. If you're making a recipe that calls for milk, but you don't have any, use light cream mixed with water instead. For instance, if the recipe requires 1 cup (240 ml) of milk, mix in ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) of cream and ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) of water. For a dish that's a little creamier, like if you're making an alfredo sauce, increase the amount of cream compared to the amount of water. For example, use ⁄ 4 cup (180 ml) of cream and ⁄ 4 cup (59 ml) of water. Drizzle a light cream sauce over fresh fruit for a healthier sweet treat. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons (44 ml) of cream, ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of vanilla extract, 3 oz (85 g) of softened cream cheese, and 1/4 cup (30 g) of confectioners' sugar. Pour it over sliced fruit in a bowl or pretty dessert dish. You can also add or substitute different extracts based on what flavor you want. For example, you could use almond or lemon extract instead of vanilla. If you want a runnier sauce, add less cream cheese or confectioners' sugar. Or, you can add more cream until it reaches the desired consistency. Stir light cream into your coffee if you want to add a rich flavor. Pour the cream into a hot cup of coffee to taste and blend it together with a spoon or stir stick. The more cream you use, the less bitter and the more buttery the coffee will taste. You can also buy flavored coffee creamers, like gingerbread or salted caramel, for instance. Don't be alarmed if you see the cream curdle in the coffee, meaning it breaks up into small chunks instead of blending smoothly. This can happen when very cold cream hits very hot, acidic coffee. Choose heavy cream if you’re making cream-based soup. For soups like potato, broccoli cheddar, or bisques , for example, use heavy cream as the base. It holds up to heat better than light cream since it has more fat. Stir in your choice of veggies, protein, grains, or flavorings. Be aware that adding acids, like white wine or lemon juice, can cause the cream to curdle. While this doesn't make it unsafe to eat, it does make it look unappealing! Use heavy cream if you want to make whipped cream. In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to beat together 1 cup (240 ml) of heavy cream with 2 tbsp (24 g) of sugar. Continue whipping the 2 ingredients until the cream forms stiff peaks. To make the process faster, place the empty bowl along with the whisk in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. This will harden the cream quicker while you beat it. When you're ready to serve the whipped cream, you may need to re-whisk it again for a few seconds to fluff it up. Mix heavy cream with alcohol if you want a milky cocktail. Make a classic White Russian cocktail by pouring ⁄ 4 cup (59 ml) of vodka and ⁄ 8 cup (30 ml) of coffee liqueur into a short tumbler. Add ice and a splash of heavy cream, then stir gently to combine all of the ingredients. For a warm variation, swap the vodka for brandy and heat the cocktail in a mug in the microwave. If you want a little more caffeine or a stronger coffee flavor, add a splash of freshly-brewed coffee or espresso. Make ice cream by combining sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. To create your own frozen dessert, combine 1.75 cups (410 ml) of sweetened condensed milk and 2 cups (470 ml) of heavy cream in a bowl until smooth. Then, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 6 hours before eating. To get that classic vanilla flavor, add 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of vanilla extract. Keep your ice cream in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. After that, it will start losing some of its flavor and texture. Add whipped cream onto desserts if you want a light topping. Scoop or squirt whipped cream onto any dessert, from an ice cream sundae to a slice of pie, to add some fluffy sweetness. For cakes, you can even spread whipped cream across the top instead of frosting for an airier, lighter option. If you want a decadent drink, use whipped cream as a topping for a latte or mug of hot chocolate. You can make your own whipped cream or buy it in a squirt bottle or plastic container from the grocery store. Use crème fraîche if you want to make creamy sauces. If you're cooking a cream-based sauce, like for pasta, opt for crème fraîche, since it has a high fat content and won't curdle as easily when it's heated. To make an alfredo sauce, for instance, stir crème fraîche, parmesan and Asiago cheese, and salt and pepper in a saucepan over heat until the cheese is melted. If you want a super simple sauce, simply toss pasta with warm crème fraîche and fresh herbs. You can buy crème fraîche from the grocery store or food market. Choose crème fraîche if you need a substitute for yogurt or mayonnaise. If you run out of either ingredient while cooking, use an equal amount of crème fraîche instead. Be aware that it may make the flavor and texture a little creamier and silkier since crème fraîche is lighter and richer than both yogurt and mayonnaise. Serve clotted cream with scones for an English snack. Smear clotted cream, which has a consistency similar to cream cheese, on a scone or crumpet. Popular in the U.K. at teatime, pair it with a warm bread to enjoy the contrast of the cold cream with the hot dessert. You can buy clotted cream from a grocery store or make it yourself by straining cream through a coffee filter in the refrigerator. If you want an authentic British bite, eat your clotted cream with a cup of tea. | Add light cream to scrambled eggs if you want them to be extra fluffy. Combine 1 part light cream with 1 part water if you need a substitute for milk. Drizzle a light cream sauce over fresh fruit for a healthier sweet treat. Stir light cream into your coffee if you want to add a rich flavor. Choose heavy cream if you’re making cream-based soup. Use heavy cream if you want to make whipped cream. Mix heavy cream with alcohol if you want a milky cocktail. Make ice cream by combining sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. Add whipped cream onto desserts if you want a light topping. Use crème fraîche if you want to make creamy sauces. Choose crème fraîche if you need a substitute for yogurt or mayonnaise. Serve clotted cream with scones for an English snack. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bed-for-American-Girl-Dolls | How to Make a Bed for American Girl Dolls | If you want to make a bed for an American Girl doll, first choose a cardboard box that's big enough for your doll to fit inside, like a cardboard soda flat. If the box has flaps, cut them off. Next, find a second box that's about the same length and width as the first one, but made of a thinner material. A cereal box is usually a good choice. Once you've found a second box, use hot glue to secure it to the head end of the bed and make a headboard. | Get a large cardboard box that your American Girl Doll can fit inside. Look for a box that is a minimum of 20 in (51 cm) long, 6 in (15 cm) wide, and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep. This will become the base of the bed. A cardboard soda tray works well for this part. The depth of your cardboard box isn't particularly important. However, the depth of the cardboard box will be the height that the bed is off the ground. If you think that your cardboard box is too deep, use scissors to cut the box down to make it shorter. The box doesn't need to have a top, as you will be removing this anyway. This means that your box only needs to have 5 sides rather than 6. If you don't have a cardboard box that is large enough, you can tape or glue several smaller boxes together. Cut the top off the cardboard box if it has 6 sides. Use scissors to carefully remove the top of your cardboard box. Leave behind the 4 edges of the box and the base. This means that the box will be open at the top and that you can see inside without opening it. Find a cardboard box that is the same length as the width of the larger box. This smaller and thinner box will form the headboard for your doll's bed. A cereal box will probably be an ideal length. Don't worry if your headboard is slightly shorter than the base of the bed. Once you decorate it and add bedding, you won't be able to tell. Use a hot glue gun to secure the headboard to the bed base. Carefully place hot glue on the headboard and line it up at the top of the bed base. The top of the bed base is 1 of the shorter edges of the box. Hold the 2 parts together firmly for approximately 1 minute, until the hot glue dries. Check that the headboard and bed base feel secure. If the headboard seems wobbly, add more hot glue. Alternatively, you can use tape instead of hot glue to attach the headboard. Cover the outside edges of the bed base with duct tape. Use colored and patterned duct tape to decorate the outside edges of the box. Don't worry about decorating inside the box or the bottom part of the base, as these parts won't be seen once the bed is complete. Alternatively, you can use craft paper to cover the outside edges of the bed. You can also print patterns from a computer to stick onto your box if you prefer. Use a glue stick to attach the paper. There are also plenty of other ways that you can decorate the edges of the bed base. You can use stickers, stamps, acrylic paint, glitter, or rhinestones that you glue on. Decorate the headboard with craft paper and duct tape. Cover the cardboard with the colors and patterns of your choosing. Use a different duct tape for the headboard than what you used for the bed base if you want to make the bed bright and colorful. If you want a simple bed, choose the same duct tape or craft paper. Use a glue stick to attach the craft paper to the headboard. Fill the bed base with polyester stuffing. Place enough polyester stuffing into the bed base to fill it up to 1 in (2.5 cm) above the top of the cardboard. This is the mattress of the bed. Make sure that the polyester stuffing is evenly spread out or the mattress will be lumpy. You can buy polyester stuffing from craft stores. You don't need to make your own mattress if you already have a doll's mattress or a small, flat cushion that fits into the bed. Don't worry that the polyester stuffing is too tall and rises above the base of the bed. It will be pushed down slightly when the mattress is complete. Tuck a pillowcase over the stuffing. Find an old, standard size (18.9 in × 28.7 in (48 cm × 73 cm)) pillowcase that you can use as the mattress cover for your doll's bed. Place the pillowcase over the stuffing and tuck the edges of the pillowcase into the bed base so that the polyester stuffing is held in place. This creates a soft mattress for the bed. Alternatively, instead of a pillowcase you can use a piece of fabric that is slightly larger than the bed base if you prefer. Make sure to tuck the pillowcase or fabric tightly into the bed base so that the mattress stays in place. Make the bed with doll bed accessories. If you already have American Girl Doll bed accessories, such as a duvet and pillows, add these to the bed now. You can also use different doll bedding for the bed if you have some. If you don't already have bed accessories, you can get creative and make some! Use a piece of thick, pretty fabric to make a duvet. If you know how to sew or if you can get an adult to help you, you can easily make a simple pillow. Sew together 2 squares or rectangles of the same size along 3 sides. Stuff the pillow with polyester stuffing and then sew the last side together. You can also add a small stuffed animal to the bed to make it cozy for your doll. Write your doll’s name on the headboard to personalize it. Write your doll's name across the headboard of the bed using a permanent marker. You can also print your doll's name off from a computer if you want to try out different fonts and colors. You may want to print off pictures from a computer or cut pictures out of a magazine to glue to your doll's headboard. | Get a large cardboard box that your American Girl Doll can fit inside. Cut the top off the cardboard box if it has 6 sides. Find a cardboard box that is the same length as the width of the larger box. Use a hot glue gun to secure the headboard to the bed base. Cover the outside edges of the bed base with duct tape. Decorate the headboard with craft paper and duct tape. Fill the bed base with polyester stuffing. Tuck a pillowcase over the stuffing. Make the bed with doll bed accessories. Write your doll’s name on the headboard to personalize it. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Download-All-Images-on-a-Web-Page-at-Once | How to Download All Images on a Web Page at Once | If you want to download all the images on a web page at once while using Firefox, start by right-clicking anywhere on the page. From there, select “ViewPage Info” from the menu. On the “Page Info” window, select the media tab at the top and click “Select All.” Then, select “Save As” and choose a folder where you want all of your images to be saved to. For downloading images when using Google Chrome, you'll need to install the Image Downloader extension. Once you've added Image Downloader to your Chrome browser, click the Image Downloader button, which will be a white arrow on a blue background at the top-right side of the Chrome window. When the drop-down menu opens, give it a minute to find all the images on the web page before checking the “Select all” box and clicking “Download.” | Right Click anywhere on the page and select "View Page Info. " Select the media tab near the top of the dialog box. Click Select All. Select Save As... Decide where you want to save the images to. Click Select Folder. Then, all of the images will be downloaded and placed into the folder that you selected. Open Google Chrome. It's a red, green, yellow, and blue sphere icon. Go to the Image Downloader extension page. Doing so opens the Image Downloader page. Click + ADD TO CHROME. It's a blue button in the upper-right side of the page. Click Add extension when prompted. Doing so will install the Image Downloader extension and open its Settings page. Click SAVE. It's a green button at the bottom of the page. This will ensure that Image Downloader doesn't miss any images on supported pages. Go to a page with images that you want to download. Type a website address or search term into the URL bar at the top of the Chrome window, then press ↵ Enter. Click the Image Downloader icon. It's a white arrow on a blue background. You'll find it in the top-right side of the Chrome window. Wait for the images to load. Once the Image Downloader drop-down menu opens, it will begin searching for images on the page. This process may take a minute or so. Check the "Select all" box. It's below the "Width" and "Height" sliders. You can also adjust the sliders before checking "Select all" in order to filter the images you're downloading. Click DOWNLOAD. This light-blue button is in the top-right side of the Image Downloader drop-down menu. Click YES. It's a green button at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Clicking it will prompt the selected images to begin downloading. If you have the "Ask where to save each file before downloading" feature enabled, disable it before downloading all of the images. To do so, click ⋮ , click Settings , scroll down and click Advanced , and then scroll down to the "Downloads" section and click the blue "Ask where to save each file before downloading" switch. Open Firefox. It's a blue globe icon with an orange fox wrapped around it. Go to the DownThemAll! add-on page. This will open the DownThemAll! add-on page. Click + Add to Firefox. It's a green button in the middle of the page. Click Add when prompted. You'll see this in the upper-left side of the page. Click OK when prompted. It's in the top-left side of the page. You have successfully installed this add-on. Go to a page with images that you want to download. Type a website address or search term into the URL bar at the top of the Firefox window, then press ↵ Enter. Click the Tools tab. It's in the menu bar that's in the top-left side of the Firefox window. If you don't see this tab on a Windows computer, press the Alt key to prompt the menu bar to appear. Select DownThemAll Tools. This option will be at the bottom of the Tools drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu. Click DownThemAll!. It's at the top of the pop-out menu. A new window will open. Click Pictures and Media. This tab is at the top of the window. Select pictures to download. Click the circle on the far-left side of each picture link to select it. Unfortunately, there is no "Select All" feature. Click Start!. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will prompt your selected pictures to download to your desktop. | Right Click anywhere on the page and select "View Page Info. Select the media tab near the top of the dialog box. Click Select All. Select Save As... Decide where you want to save the images to. Click Select Folder. Open Google Chrome. Go to the Image Downloader extension page. Click + ADD TO CHROME. Click Add extension when prompted. Click SAVE. Go to a page with images that you want to download. Click the Image Downloader icon. Wait for the images to load. Check the "Select all" box. Click DOWNLOAD. Click YES. Open Firefox. Go to the DownThemAll! add-on page. Click + Add to Firefox. Click Add when prompted. Click OK when prompted. Go to a page with images that you want to download. Click the Tools tab. Select DownThemAll Tools. Click DownThemAll!. Click Pictures and Media. Select pictures to download. Click Start!. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sleep-in-Class | How to Sleep in Class | While sleeping in class can get you in trouble, if you really need a quick snooze, do it when your teacher's distracted and hide your face to conceal yourself. If you're wearing a sweatshirt, put the hood up to hide your eyes. Alternatively, prop a textbook up on your desk to hide your face. You might also choose a spot at the back of the room, or choose a seat behind someone tall to hide the fact that you're napping. If you want to avoid suspicion, pay attention at the beginning of the class and answer a question or two. That way, you've already participated, and your teacher will be less likely to call on you later in the day. | Slip on a hoodie to hide your face from the side and front. If you're wearing a hooded sweatshirt, lean forward a bit and pull on your hood. Your eyes will be shielded from both the sides and the front, making it a great, natural-looking way to get a bit of sleep. Look up your dress code rules or review the guidelines for that class to make sure you can wear your hood in class. If your teacher asks you to take your hood off, they'll realize you're asleep. Rest your forehead on your hands and look down. Keeping your hands on your forehead will block your eyes so your teacher won't see them. Your hands will also help you stay balanced so you don't slip when you fall asleep. To throw your teacher off even more, open a textbook in front of you so that it looks like you're reading. Prop your head on one hand and hold your pencil in the other. Rest your elbow on the desk and place your hand under your chin, on your forehead, or against your cheek. Hold a pencil in your other hand and put it on your notebook. Tilt your head down to take a quick nap. This trick makes it look like you're about to take notes or are reading over what you've just written. Put your hair in front of your face if you have long hair. Arrange your hair in front of your face before you walk into class so the teacher thinks it's a new style. When you doze off, the teacher won't be able to tell that your eyes are closed. This is a perfect trick if you're growing out bangs. Prop up a book on your desk to hide your face. If you want to make sure the teacher can't see your face, prop your textbook upright on your desk and sit so your face is hidden behind it. Try to maintain an upright posture so it looks like you're reading. This strategy can look obvious, so only use it when the class has a lot going on and is a little louder, such as during group work or a lab activity. Your teacher will be distracted and won't pay as much attention to your sleeping. Slump down in your chair if you sit behind someone taller than you. Slide down in your chair, place your head down on your desk, or hold your head in your hands. The person in front of you will block the teacher's view of your chair so you can safely take a snooze. This is best when the person in front of you is noticeably taller and broader than you. Make sure that the class won't be getting up and moving any time soon, such as for partner or group work. If the person in front of you stands up, you might be caught. Nap when you sit in the back of a class. It's harder for the teacher to see what you're doing if you sit towards the back of the classroom, but be careful if you sit in the very back. Most teachers know that students who sit in the back want to go to sleep, so the back row might put you on the teacher's radar. Be careful if you're right in the center of the class, as well. This will put you right in the teacher's line of sight. Try to nap in a class with a less observant teacher. You probably know which teachers are stricter and more observant during class, and which ones get caught up in their lessons and don't look around as often. If you can, try to schedule your nap for a class with a more relaxed, inattentive teacher. Sleep when the teacher puts on a video or movie. If you're sleepy, it's almost impossible to stay awake through a movie or a video, especially an educational one. If your teacher puts on a video and turns off the lights, try leaning back in your chair and closing your eyes. The dark room should make it easy for you to get away with a quick nap. Nap in a class that uses computers. Classes that use computers are great to nap in, especially if you're using desktop computers with monitors to hide your face. Just be sure you keep your hand on the mouse. Try to wake yourself up and move the mouse every so often to keep the computer from going into screensaver mode. You can also make this work if you're using a laptop. Slouch in your seat a bit to hide your face behind the laptop. If your class is using a tablet, prop your head up with one hand and keep the other on the tablet screen to pretend like you're working. If you don't think you'll be able to wake yourself up, you can disable the screensaver on your computer. Just be sure to turn it back on before class is over so you don't get caught. Fit in a nap if you face away from the teacher. Some classes, like art class, allow students to sit wherever they want in order to boost their creativity. If you have a class like this, do a little work first thing in the class, then sit facing away from the teacher and take a quick catnap. Doodle a little every few minutes to show that you're working, then doze off again. Pay attention at the beginning of class. Even if you're feeling really sleepy, try to look like you're listening to the teacher at the start of class. Take out a pencil and paper and take a few notes. Make eye contact with the teacher and try to answer a question or two. This will give the teacher the impression that you are paying attention through the whole class, even when you're asleep. Don't call too much attention to yourself or it will seem really obvious when you stop responding. Ask the person next to you to wake you up if necessary. At the beginning of class, tell your neighbors that you're really tired and might try to take a quick nap. Ask them if they wouldn't mind waking you up if something important is about to happen. You could say, for example, “Hey Alex, I was up super late last night and I'm exhausted. If I fall asleep, will you wake me up if we start the lab or do partner work?” This is best if you are friends or at least acquaintances with the person next to you. If you don't like each other, you probably can't rely on them to wake you up, and they might even report you to the teacher. Make sure you can wake up when the bell rings. Don't get into such a deep sleep that you won't wake up when it's time to change classes or go to lunch! Try to just relax and drift off without allowing yourself to go all the way into a deep sleep. Train yourself to sleep lightly by forcing yourself to open your eyes every few minutes or asking your friend to tap you on the shoulder once in awhile. Avoid wearing earplugs or earbuds. You might sleep better if you can tune out the noise of your classroom with music, but wearing earplugs or earbuds in class is a big warning sign to your teacher. It might also make it harder to hear the bell ring or the teacher's voice if they call on you. | Slip on a hoodie to hide your face from the side and front. Rest your forehead on your hands and look down. Prop your head on one hand and hold your pencil in the other. Put your hair in front of your face if you have long hair. Prop up a book on your desk to hide your face. Slump down in your chair if you sit behind someone taller than you. Nap when you sit in the back of a class. Try to nap in a class with a less observant teacher. Sleep when the teacher puts on a video or movie. Nap in a class that uses computers. Fit in a nap if you face away from the teacher. Pay attention at the beginning of class. Ask the person next to you to wake you up if necessary. Make sure you can wake up when the bell rings. Avoid wearing earplugs or earbuds. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Golf | How to Play Golf | To play golf, stand at the tee with your feet hip-width apart, with your knees and hips slightly bent and the non-dominant side of your body facing the hole. Bring your club back over your dominant shoulder until it's at almost at a 180° above your head, shifting slightly to your dominant leg as you do so. Swing the club down, shifting your weight slightly, and continue the swing even after you hit the ball. Keep hitting the ball until you reach the green, then switch to a putter and gently tap the ball until it reaches the hole. You get a point for each swing, and the lowest score at the end of the course wins! | Learn the object of the game. In golf, the object of the game is to get your ball from the starting point, or “tee,” to the green and into the hole. The hole is marked by a flag, and you want to get your ball in it with as few shots as possible. “Hole” is not only the physical hole, but also refers to the entire area from the tee to the green, where the physical hole is. A standard golf course has 18 holes, or areas with a tee, green, and physical hole marked by a flag. There are smaller courses as well, such as 9-hole courses, which are ideal for beginners. Play the course by the order of holes. Every golf course is different in terms of how it is structured, and which hole you start and end with. Every hole has a “tee off” area where you start, and a physical hole where you finish. It's a good idea to carry a course map with you on the course or to go with a group that has at least 1 person who's familiar with the order of the course. Find a course map at the course's main office, where you check in and can rent gear. Take your turn in your group. To avoid confusion and having everyone hit the ball at once, you should know when your turn is. Usually the person with the best score from the previous hole tees off first, with the next best score going next, and the worst, or highest score, going last. After the tee off at each hole, the person who is farthest away from the hole hits first, then the person who is next farthest away, and so on until everyone gets the ball to the hole. Don’t move your ball on the course. If your ball lands in an unexpected place, which it will when you're a beginner, it's against the rules to pick it up and move it. You have to play it where it is, unless it's blocked by a man-made obstruction, like a yardage marker or a beer can. If you're not sure that something near your ball qualifies as an obstruction, ask a more experienced player. If you hit your ball out of bounds or into water, you will have to take a 1 stroke penalty, drop your ball again where you shot it, and try again. Keep score for each hole. Each hole on a golf course has an ideal number of strokes it should take to get the ball into the physical hole, which is known as the “Par.” Each time you hit the ball counts as a “1” toward your score. Pars range from 3-5, and each hole on a course will be called a “Par 3,” “Par 4,” or “Par 5.” Your score on each hole has a nickname relating to the par for that hole. For instance, shooting 2 under par, or getting the ball in the hole in 3 shots on a 5-par hole, is called an “Eagle.” Shooting 1 under par is a “Birdie,” and shooting even with the par is just called “Par.” Shooting 1 over par is a “Bogey.” Then 2 over par is a “Double Bogey,” 3 over par is a “Triple Bogey,” and so on. Win by having the lowest score at the end. When your group reaches the last hole, the person with the lowest overall score is the winner. You can keep track of how you're doing throughout the game by comparing your score to the pars for each hole. If you're consistently shooting on par or below par, you're doing really well. In the beginning, you will probably shoot over par, especially on more difficult, 5 par holes. This is totally normal. You will improve with the more practice you have. Try a Par 3 course when you’re starting out. A Par 3 course means that all the holes on the course are Par 3, so the distances between the tee and the hole are shorter than a standard course, which has a mixture of Par 3, 4, and 5 holes. These courses are ideal for beginners. The total par for the course is the number of pars added up from all the holes. This number is typically 72 on a standard golf course, less on a smaller course. A 9 hole, Par 3 course would be a total 18 par course. Stand with your knees and hips slightly bent. Stand with your feet about hip-width apart, with your weight evenly distributed between the centers of your feet, not your toes or heels. Bend your knees slightly and lean forward at your hips so the end of your club is reaching the ground where you'll be hitting the ball. When thinking about the right way to stand, imagine how a bowler stands before bringing the ball back to throw it: with their weight even between both feet, and slightly bent forward at the hips. The non-dominant side of your body should be facing your target, or the hole. For example, if you are right handed, you will be bringing the club up toward your right and then swinging down and to the left, hitting the ball toward your left. Bring your club back and parallel to the ground first. When lifting the club, the order from out to in should go clubhead, hands, arms, shoulders, hips. Your dominant arm should stay close to your side, and as you pass your dominant-sided leg with your hands, your weight should start shifting to that leg. When the club is parallel to the ground, it should be faced so the toe, or rounded edge, is up toward the sky. Bring the club up at a 90 degree angle. Continue moving your weight to your dominant side, and fold your elbows to hinge the club straight up, 90 degrees from your arms, which are about parallel to the ground. You should feel your shoulders in an upward rotation, and more weight on your dominant hip. At this point, the toe of your club should be facing back toward the opposite side of the direction you're swinging. Turn your shoulders to bring the club all the way up. Twist your shoulders so that your non-dominant shoulder is directly below your chin, and you're stretching that side's lateral muscle. This will move your club up and over your head almost 180 degrees, with the club's weight in your hands and arms and the club head pointing down toward the ground. Picture your hands being at an 1 o'clock position – that's how high they should be from the ground. Your dominant hip and ankle, as well as your shoulders, should feel ready to spring downward toward the ball. Shift your weight slightly to the other side as you swing the club down. As you bring the club down, your weight should slightly shift toward the direction you're swinging. Your dominant elbow should pass in front of your dominant hip, but you should keep your body centered with your belt buckle pointed toward the ball. Keep your wrists hinged like they were as you start to bring the club down, to avoid throwing the club's weight from the top. Straighten your side facing the target as you make contact with the ball. As you make contact with the ball, your hips continue to turn so that your body straightens on the side you're aiming toward. Your head should remain behind the ball as you make contact, and your dominant wrist should be bent. Your weight is now mostly shifted to your non-dominant side, or the side that your target is on. Extend both your arms fully for the follow-through. Don't stop your swing after you make contact with the ball. Bring your arms and the club up so that they're almost parallel to the ground toward your target. Because you're twisting your hips in the swing, your arms should move almost inside and back toward your body. Your dominant knee should kick inward toward the straight knee during the last part of shifting your weight, closing the gap between your legs. A proper follow-through stops with the clubhead below the level of your hands, showing you've maintained control in your arms and wrists, and the toe of the clubhead is pointing up toward the sky. Get the minimum number of clubs you need. You're allowed to carry up to 14 clubs in your bag, but you only really need a driver, putter, sand wedge, 6-iron, 8-iron, pitching wedge, and a hybrid when starting out. You can rent clubs on the golf course, or find racks of discounted and used clubs at many sporting goods stores. If you've never played golf before, consider going with someone who will let you use their clubs, renting clubs at the golf course, or going to a driving range to try out different clubs before spending money on your own set. Obtain tees and balls. Tees are pretty straightforward; they look like a brightly colored wooden or plastic nail that you set your ball on before hitting it. For balls, there is a range of quality and prices to choose from. If you've never played before, buy cheap balls that cost around $20 per dozen. You will lose balls when you're first starting out, so it's best not to spend too much on them right away. Some golf courses provide balls for you to play with; find out ahead of time if a golf course does this by calling the course office. Golf balls and tees can be purchased at sporting goods stores. Invest in some golf gloves and a bag. Golf gloves are important because you can start getting blisters on your hands from just a few strokes. They also help you keep a firm grip on your club even if you're sweating. Go to a sporting goods store to try on gloves and find ones that fit you. For a bag, any sturdy bag that carries your clubs, balls, rain gear, water and/or snacks will work. Check out thrift stores, yard sales, or used gear websites online to find a good deal on a golf bag. Keep up with your group. While you don't need to rush your shots or run to your ball, it is important to be ready to hit when it's your turn. Know when it's your turn, and limit your practice swings to 1 or 2 before hitting your ball. Golf is a social game, so chatting with others in your group is expected, but not when someone is about to take a shot. Too much talking during a shot can distract the person and throw them off. Yell “Fore! ” if there's a chance your ball will hit someone. This is very important when you're starting out, because your shots may not go as expected. Don't wait to yell; the moment you see your ball heading toward a person, yell “Fore!” as loud as you can so they look up and get out of the way of the ball. A flying golf ball can seriously injure a person if it hits them. This step is important for safety as well as being common courtesy. Stay out of the way of shots. When someone is about to take a shot, stand off to the side several yards away and a bit behind them so as not to distract them. Don't stand or walk between a person taking a shot and their target. Stay alert of other players not in your group who are using the course. Occasionally balls from other players will travel onto your hole; don't touch the ball and allow the person to come get the ball themselves. Look for a lost ball for only 5 minutes. If you can't find a ball, spend only about 5 minutes searching for it. After that, take a 1-stroke penalty and do another shot from the location you shot from. To do this shot, stand as close to where you were and “drop” the ball by holding it out at shoulder length and dropping it to the ground. If you lose your ball from tee-off, just take the penalty stroke and return to your tee to make the shot again. | Learn the object of the game. Play the course by the order of holes. Take your turn in your group. Don’t move your ball on the course. Keep score for each hole. Win by having the lowest score at the end. Try a Par 3 course when you’re starting out. Stand with your knees and hips slightly bent. Bring your club back and parallel to the ground first. Bring the club up at a 90 degree angle. Turn your shoulders to bring the club all the way up. Shift your weight slightly to the other side as you swing the club down. Straighten your side facing the target as you make contact with the ball. Extend both your arms fully for the follow-through. Get the minimum number of clubs you need. Obtain tees and balls. Invest in some golf gloves and a bag. Keep up with your group. Yell “Fore! Stay out of the way of shots. Look for a lost ball for only 5 minutes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-College-Resume | How to Write a College Resume | To write a college resume, start by centering your name, address, email, phone number(s), high school name, date of birth, and date of submission at the top of the resume. Next, create separate sections for Education, Extracurricular Activities, Leadership, Volunteer Work, Sports, Employment, and Internships.Then, fill In each section with your most recent accomplishments and work backwards to older stuff. Try to be detailed but concise, since a resume should only be 1-2 pages long. | Set yourself apart. College admissions offices sift through thousands of applications. A well-written resume will immediately set you apart from the admissions that don't have one. Take the time to make sure that your resume is as finely crafted as possible. Advertise yourself. A resume allows you to highlight everything that makes you the ideal admissions candidate. It is more straightforward than an admissions essay, and gives the admissions officer a quick rundown of who you are. Most admissions applications lack the space to enter all the details of your accomplishments and activities. A resume will help fill the gaps. Open new opportunities. A well-written resume can lead to scholarships and internships. It can make a study-abroad program more attainable. Writing college resumes also gives you experience writing resumes for the career world. Start with your name. Your name, address, email, phone number(s), high school name, date of birth, and date of submission should be centered at the top of the resume. Make sure that all of the information is current. Consider an objective. While not necessary for all resumes, consider writing a short paragraph about what you'd like to achieve out of school. This can be especially useful if you are targeting a specific scholarship, major, or program. Set an order. Your college resume should always start with Education first. You will also want to include Extracurricular Activities, Leadership, Volunteer Work, Sports, Employment, and Internships. List them in the order based on strength, with the strongest first after Education. You can also adjust the order depending on where you are applying to. Highlight your most recent entries. In each section, start with your most recent accomplishment, and work backwards. Do not list any activities from middle school and instead focus on showcasing your high school accomplishments. Set your margins and font. Your margins should be set to 1” on all sides. Line-spacing should be wide enough to allow for easy readability, but not so wide as to spread your content out too much. Font choice will have little impact on your resume, as long as you keep it professional. While a fancy or funny font may seem like it is speaking to your personality, it will cause admissions officers to dismiss it. Stick to business fonts such as Helvetica, Times New Roman, Calibri, etc. Be concise. When writing about your achievements and activities, avoid going into details about unimportant aspects. Keep your descriptions to-the-point; this will make them more powerful to the reader. Ideally, a resume shouldn't be more than a page or two long. Any longer and the reader will begin to gloss over the content. Bad example: “I was on the Student Council, and attended the meetings every week. We had a lot of good debates in these meetings. Most of the debates were about how the school should be run.” Good example: “Elected to Student Council, led the council in many debates about school policy.” Don’t be modest. While you should never lie, or even embellish, on a resume you should draw attention to your accomplishments. You aren't trying to get your fellow students admitted, so focus on what you have done. Bad example: “Took Student Council notes.” Good example: “Managed all Student Council documents and meeting minutes.” Use powerful verbs and action words. When you write your descriptions, begin each point with an action word that will make it pop out to admissions officers. This will help keep your descriptions concise and impactful. Never use “I” in a resume. Bad example: “In charge of several committees, including the Homecoming and Prom committee.” Good example: “Chaired the Homecoming and Prom committees.” Showcase your grades. If you received good grades in high school, be absolutely sure to draw attention to them. Include a GPA score if over 3.0, and list your class rank or percentile if you have access to it. Good SAT or ACT scores as well as any honors programs should be listed as well. If you have space, you can list some of the AP and college-level course you have taken. Focus on leadership. If you have a lot of extracurricular activities to list, then space on the resume can become an issue. When listing your extracurricular activities, pay special attention to anything that you took a leadership role in. This could be a section leader in the marching band, a team captain, volunteer coordinator, new student orientation, and much more. Show that you care. A strong volunteer section on your resume will help show that you care and take the initiative to help others. Try to have at least two or three volunteer entries to help you stand out. Highlight special skills. Throughout your academic career, you may have become fluent in a foreign language or mastered one or more computer software programs. These are things admissions officers look for and should be included on your college resume. Proofread your resume. Before printing and sending out your resume to colleges with your applications, have your resume proofread by at least two other people. Try to have a guidance counselor take a look at it to see if they have any recommendations. A resume should never be sent out with grammatical errors or misinformation. | Set yourself apart. Advertise yourself. Open new opportunities. Start with your name. Consider an objective. Set an order. Highlight your most recent entries. Set your margins and font. Be concise. Don’t be modest. Use powerful verbs and action words. Showcase your grades. Focus on leadership. Show that you care. Highlight special skills. Proofread your resume. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bottle-Tree | How to Make a Bottle Tree | A bottle tree is a great way to reuse old bottles and create an eye-catching sculpture. You'll need at least a dozen wine and spirits bottles to make your bottle tree, but you can add bottles to the tree over time. You'll also need a small dead tree, a premade bottle tree frame, or a frame you made yourself. All you need to do is remove the labels from the bottles, then slide them onto the branches so they're upside down. If you have a lot of bottles and the tree starts to waver, cement the tree into place or weigh down its base so it doesn't blow over in a strong wind. | Begin collecting bottles for your bottle tree. Regular sized wine and spirits bottle of approximately 750 milliliters (25.4 fl oz) work best. Purchasing enough bottles to decorate a bottle tree can be very expensive, so try to reuse as many as you can. You can even make a recycling drive for old glass bottles. Give preference to blue bottles. In the folklore associated with bottle trees, blue is the best color for deterring spirits. Sky vodka bottles can be combined with almost any other color of bottle for a multi-colored bottle tree. Remove the labels. Unless you want to advertise your favorite drink, you can remove the labels by soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and water. Remove stubborn labels with Goo Gone, or a similar orange cleaner. The place where the label was may be sticky so you should clean it thoroughly until the glue is completely gone. Look for dead or dying trees on your property. Traditionally, bottles were placed over the dead branches of a tree; however, your landscaping will determine if this is possible, or if you need to make a metal tree. Purchase a bottle tree frame if you don’t have time to make one. Garden bottle trees that hold between 10 and 30 bottles are available on Amazon and eBay for $20 to $100. Consider buying a bottle tree from a local steel artist. If you want a statement piece, then investing in an elaborate design will make sense. If you don't want to spend upwards of $500, opt to make it yourself. Make a bottle tree out of a square or round fence post. Dig a hole in your yard and pour a concrete base. Insert the post into the ground and allow it to dry. Screw holes around each side of the tree intermittently. Use a drill at a downward angle, ensuring you extend each hole at least three inches (7.5cm) inward. Insert metal rods of six inches to one and a half feet (0.2 to 0.5m). You can purchase metal reinforcing rods at a home or hardware store. Make sure each of these rods is secure before continuing to the next one. Make a bottle tree out of rebar. Recently, this has become a very popular choice because of its durability in all climates. Purchase 10 to 20 lengths of rebar from a construction recycling yard, a steel business or a large hardware store. The rebar should be 3/8-inch to ½-inch (1 to 1.3cm) rebar. They can be at different lengths to mimic branches. Purchase a metal collar in which you can encircle your rebar branches or plan to weld the rebar together. Rent a conduit bender if you want to bend the rebar dramatically. Drive stakes into the holes where the rebar will go. Then, drive the rebar into the ground with a stake hammer. Weld your rebar together if you want to. Check that it is sturdy before decorating it. Insert the bottle onto the “branch” of your bottle tree. It should meet the bottom of the bottle to avoid blowing off in the wind. Decorate evenly. Add a bottle on each side to offset the weight of the bottles. Reinforce the base of the tree if it starts to waver. You may need to cement the tree into place if the ground is not very compact. Add to your bottle tree over time with new bottles. You can also train vines to grow up the center section of your tree. If you want to create a cobalt blue bottle tree, but you don't have enough blue bottles, start with easier to find green or brown bottles. Then, collect and replace them throughout the years. Customize your bottle tree. Although rebar and steel bottle trees are common, there is great variation in the look and size of bottle trees. Attach other glass or ornaments if you desire. | Begin collecting bottles for your bottle tree. Give preference to blue bottles. Remove the labels. Look for dead or dying trees on your property. Purchase a bottle tree frame if you don’t have time to make one. Consider buying a bottle tree from a local steel artist. Make a bottle tree out of a square or round fence post. Make a bottle tree out of rebar. Insert the bottle onto the “branch” of your bottle tree. Decorate evenly. Reinforce the base of the tree if it starts to waver. Add to your bottle tree over time with new bottles. Customize your bottle tree. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Your-Dog-to-Whoa | How to Teach Your Dog to Whoa | To teach your dog the “whoa” command, first teach it to stand still by placing it on a table, since it won't be able to move in this position. Then, give it praise and plenty of treats so it knows that standing still is a good thing. Once your dog can do this, try introducing the word “whoa” so it learns to stand still on command. As soon as it stops moving, say “whoa” a few times in a soothing tone so it makes the association with the action and the word. After your dog learns the “whoa” command, give it a release command such as “ok” or 'all right” to let it know it can move again. Once it starts moving again, give it a treat and praise so it makes the association. | Keep your dog still on a table. To teach your dog to 'whoa,' he will first need to understand what the command means when he is standing still. There a few different ways you can do this, one of which is to keep him still on a table. If you are crafty, you can build a table using a 12 x 12 foot (about 4 x 4 meter) section of plywood (available at your local home improvement store), with ramps on each side. Use the ramps to elevate the table to about the height of your waist. The ramps are also a way for your dog to walk up to the center of table without you having to lift him up. If you do not want to build a table, you could consider placing your dog on a table you already have. With your dog on the elevated surface, stroke him continuously and give him treats. These rewards will teach him that standing still is a good thing. Depending on the age of your dog, keeping him still might take extra effort. The goal is to have him stand still for up to one minute at a time. Have your dog stand on a ‘whoa’ board. 'Whoa' boards are similar to the 'whoa' table, but smaller. If you want to build them, use two x three foot (0.6 by 0.9 meter) sections of plywood and elevate them about four to six inches (10 to 15 centimeters) off the ground. You can place some books under the boards to keep them elevated. It is helpful to place the 'whoa' boards throughout your home to get your dog used to them. Whenever your dog walks by the board, place him on it and keep him still. The more practice he has standing still, the better! Keep him still and reward him as you did on the 'whoa' table. To create a positive association with the board (or table), feed your dog on it for a weeks. This is especially useful if you are teaching 'whoa' to a puppy. Teach your dog to stand still on a barrel. If you have access to a large barrel (it's okay if you don't!), place it on its side. Place your dog on top of it and have him stand still. To help him feel more confident with his footing, attach a piece of carpet to the part of the barrel where you want him to stand. While he is on the barrel, reward him as you did when he stood on the 'whoa' table or boards. When you place him on the barrel the first time, hold him gently to keep him from jumping off. Standing on a barrel won't be easy for your dog. It will be okay if he gets a little wobbly and falls off. Just make sure he lands on his feet (or place him on his feet when he takes a tumble). Your dog may be able to stand still for only a few seconds at first. With more practice, he will be able to stand on it for longer. He will recognize that the barrel will move if he moves—an uncomfortable sensation for him. It shouldn't take him long to understand that standing still will be more comfortable. Give your dog the ‘whoa’ command. Up until this point, the goal has been to have your dog simply stand still on different surfaces. Now it is time to add in the verbal 'whoa' command. On whichever elevated surface you have him standing, say 'whoa' repeatedly as you stroke him. Saying 'whoa' multiple times when your dog is standing still teaches him that the command is associated with staying still. Say 'whoa' in a soothing and reassuring tone. The command itself is calm, so it should be said soothingly. When your dog stands still when hearing the 'whoa' command, give him another command (e.g., 'ok', 'release') to let him know he can move. Give him a treat when you release him. Perfect your dog’s ‘whoa’ appearance. This is more applicable for hunting or sporting dogs. When your dog is standing still on the elevated surface, pick up his tail and keep it elevated. In addition, cup his lower jaw in one of your hands, with your thumb on one side of jaw and your fingers on the other side. As you progress through the training stages, continue to keep his tail elevated and head still. Over time, this will teach your hunting or sporting the dog the proper position he should hold when he responds to the 'whoa' command. Create a half hitch with your check cord or leash. Check cords are useful for controlling a hunting or sporting dog during a hunting session. If your goal for teaching the 'whoa' command is to keep your dog from running in the street, you can use a leash instead of purchasing a check cord. To make the half hitch, first attach the check cord or leash to your dog's collar. Wrap the check cord or leash around your dog's belly. Run the loose end of the check cord or leash underneath itself on your dog's back. The half hitch allows you to tighten the check cord or leash and correct your dog without hurting him. Walk with your dog outside and say ‘whoa. ' As you are walking with your dog, say 'whoa' once. Although your dog is now familiar with this command, he knows it only in association with standing still, not when he is already moving. Do not be surprised if he continues moving the first few times you say 'whoa' when he's moving. Without saying anything, simply give the leash or check cord a tug to move your dog to where he was when you said the command. Continue walking with your dog and saying 'whoa' at different intervals of time or distance. Keep practicing until your dog stops immediately when you say 'whoa.' You can also give him the verbal release command to let him know it is okay to start moving again. Offering him a treat and some verbal praise immediately afterwards would also be helpful. Tell your dog to ‘whoa’ and walk away from him. When your dog immediately stops when hearing 'whoa,' challenge him by walking away from him after giving the command (continue to hold the leash or check cord). If he moves before you give him the release command, use the check cord or leash to move him back to where he was when you said 'whoa.' Do not repeat the 'whoa' command if he moves. If you do, he may not understand that he is supposed to respond to the command the first time you say it. | Keep your dog still on a table. Have your dog stand on a ‘whoa’ board. Teach your dog to stand still on a barrel. Give your dog the ‘whoa’ command. Perfect your dog’s ‘whoa’ appearance. Create a half hitch with your check cord or leash. Walk with your dog outside and say ‘whoa. Tell your dog to ‘whoa’ and walk away from him. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Ingrown-Hair-on-Your-Face | How to Remove Ingrown Hair on Your Face | Ingrown hairs can be painful, but you can remove them safely with the help of a warm compress. To prepare your skin for removing ingrown hair, soak a clean washcloth in warm water and hold it over the area for 3 to 5 minutes. Once the rag has cooled, soak it again with warm water and repeat the process 3 or 4 times. Then, get the ingrown hair to the surface of your skin by using a pair of tweezers to gently nudge the hair. When you can see the free end of the hair, slowly pull it until it sticks out of the skin. Avoid digging the hair out, as this can lead to an infection. After the hair has been pulled out, avoid picking at it again for 24 hours. To help keep the hair soft, soak it with a warm compress every 2 hours. | Make a warm compress. Soak a clean washcloth with very warm water. Place the warm rag over the area with the ingrown hair. Leave the rag on for three to five minutes, or until the washcloth cools down. Repeat at least three to four times before doing anything else to the ingrown hair. Nudge the hair to the surface. After you have covered the area with a warm compress multiple times, you can try to get the hair to break the surface. Very carefully, use a pair of tweezers to gently nudge the ingrown hair to the surface. Try to straighten the hair to make it start growing the right way. Find the free end of the hair with the tweezers. Gently pull that hair out of the skin. Do not pull the hair all the way out. Just pull the free end out of the skin. If you pluck the hair out, another may grow in its place. Don't try to dig out the hair. If you can't grab the free end, wait until the next day and try again. Use tweezers that have been disinfected with alcohol. You can also try massaging the area with a cleanser to help work out the ingrown hair. Let the hair rest as you soak it. Once the free end of the ingrown hair has been pulled out, leave it alone for 24 hours. While the skin is resting, continue to place the very warm compress over the hair every two hours. Check to make sure the free end of the hair remains free. Apply a cold compress to help constrict the blood vessels where you removed the hair. Don't pull the hair out. That may cause it to grow back deeper and get ingrown again. Try spot exfoliation. You may also use spot exfoliation to help remove the ingrown hair. Remember to be very careful with the area. Use gentle, circular motions to try and dislodge the hair. Make a natural exfoliant at home instead of buying something from the store. Mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda, sea salt, or sugar with one to two tablespoons of olive oil. Use a Q-tip or cotton ball to apply the mixture to the infected ingrown hair. Use the tips of one or two fingers to gently rub the exfoliating mixture using circular motions. First, rub in using three to five clockwise motions. Then reverse, using three to five counterclockwise motions. Rinse off with warm water and pat. Moisturize with honey. If you have an ingrown hair, you can start trying to get it out by using honey. Honey not only moisturizes the skin, but it also acts as an antibacterial. This helps prevent infection. The honey also helps to loosen and draw out the free end of the hair. Use a Q-tip to apply a small amount of honey onto the ingrown hair. Allow it to remain for 20 to 30 minutes, or until it is dried. Rinse the honey off with warm water and pat dry. Repeat twice a day. Use moisturizer on the hair. One of the things you want to make sure you are not doing is over-drying your skin. Over-drying your skin can make the ingrown hair harder to extract. You want to keep the skin moist while you are trying to get the hair out. Use a bit of moisturizer on the infected hair after every treatment. This can help soften the skin and can reduce the risk of skin damage and scarring. Refrain from digging out the hair. Ingrown hairs are a nuisance, especially if they are on the face. You may be embarrassed, or they may be causing you pain; however, you should never try any bathroom surgery and use tweezers, needles, pins, or anything else to dig out an ingrown hair. This increases the risk of infection or scar formation. Don't break the surface of the skin by digging, cutting, scratching, or anything else. This can cause irritation, infection, or scarring. You can try to leave the hair alone to let it heal naturally. Avoid removing more hair from the area. If you have an ingrown hair, don't try to remove any more hair from that area. As soon as you notice it, stop shaving or waxing that area immediately. You should also stop shaving, tweezing, waxing, or removing the hair in the affected area until the ingrown hair has been cleared. Once you have removed the ingrown hair, try to leave that area alone for a few days. For men, if the ingrown hair was in are area you shave everyday, consider not shaving for a few days. You may try alternate methods of removal, such as clippers or depilatories. Recognize the dangers of ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs irritate the skin and can form bumps that may be itchy or become extremely painful. Ingrown hairs may also become infected. If they get infected, they may become filled with a whitish or yellowish-greenish pus. Sometimes, the bumps get darker than the surrounding skin and this can cause permanent discoloration and scarring. Ingrown hairs can also result in scars, especially if a person tries to use a needle, pin, or other object to dig out the ingrown hair. Most of the time, you won't need to see a doctor because of ingrown hairs. However, if you are afraid the hair has gotten too ingrown or hurts too bad, you can see your doctor. Refrain from using alcohol-containing products. Ingrown hairs on the face happen more commonly in men after shaving. To help prevent this from occurring, avoid using any products that contain alcohol when you shave. Products that contain alcohol can dry and irritate your skin, which may lead to ingrown hairs. Use a natural moisturizing shaving product based on plant oils or other hypoallergenic substances. This will decrease the chance that the product will irritate your skin and make acne worse. Use a warm compress before shaving. Another way you can prevent ingrown hairs from occurring is to use a very warm or hot washcloth to hydrate your face before shaving. The water will soften your facial skin and hair and make your facial hair easier to cut. If your hair is easier to cut, you will have less risk of irritating your facial skin, and a straight cut across the hair will decrease the risk of ingrown hair. Keep the warm to hot washcloth on your face for three to four minutes. If you need to keep adding hot water to keep it warm, do that. You can also shave after you get out of a hot shower. Massage oil or cream into your face using circular motions. Applying your shaving oil or cream the proper way can help soften the hair and get the hair ready to shave. The motions should be against the grain. This will ensure that the oil or cream gets to the base of the facial hair. You also should leave the cream on for a few minutes before shaving. Use light, gentle strokes while shaving, especially when shaving areas that have acne. Make certain your razor has a sharp blade. Replace old razors often with a new razor blade or new razor as needed. Moisturize your face after shaving using a natural moisturizer to avoid chemicals that may irritate your skin. Talk to your doctor about medications. Topical retinoids, low dose corticosteroids, topical antimicrobials, and alpha-hydroxy acids may help lessen the instances of ingrown hairs. You can also ask your doctor about topical eflornithine, which can slow the growth of facial hair. Consider laser hair removal. If you want to permanently remove the hair or if you have chronic ingrown hairs, consider laser hair removal. It is a quick treatment that works on short hair and can deliver permanent results. It can, however, also be costly, require multiple treatments, cause scarring or blistering, and be painful. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist about this possibility. There are some at-home laser treatments on the market, but you may not want to experiment with these on your face, as you could cause damage without really realizing it. Leave the laser therapy to the professionals — your safety is work the extra cost. | Make a warm compress. Nudge the hair to the surface. Let the hair rest as you soak it. Try spot exfoliation. Moisturize with honey. Use moisturizer on the hair. Refrain from digging out the hair. Avoid removing more hair from the area. Recognize the dangers of ingrown hairs. Refrain from using alcohol-containing products. Use a warm compress before shaving. Massage oil or cream into your face using circular motions. Talk to your doctor about medications. Consider laser hair removal. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Seal-an-Envelope | How to Seal an Envelope | To seal an envelope, you have to wet the glue on the back of the envelope flap. You can do this by licking along the edge of the flap, or you can dab the glue with a moist sponge or a sponge-tipped bottle if you'd prefer not to lick the glue. If your envelope doesn't have glue, you can close it with tape, stickers, or clear nail polish. | Consider the old-fashioned method if you only have one or two envelopes to seal. Old-fashioned licking is the most common method, as long as you don't have too many envelopes to seal. It can be cumbersome and inefficient if you're handling a large number of envelopes at once. Contrary to urban legend, envelope glue is not toxic—it's composed primarily of gum arabic, an ingredient found in a number of common foods. Even if you cut your tongue on the edge of the envelope, the glue won't sneak in and kill you. Lick the envelope. Swipe your tongue carefully across the seal of the envelope. Seal the envelope. Fold the flap down, and then run your fingers over the top to set it in place. The wetness from your tongue will moisten the glue on the seal, allowing it to bond with the paper of the envelope when sealed. Use conventional envelope moisteners. These are typically plastic bottles topped with a small sponge and are available at most office supply stores. To use this type of envelope moistener: Hold the bottle vertically, sponge-end down, and run it along the strip of envelope glue while gently squeezing. Be careful not to squeeze the bottle too much, or you may over-moisten the envelope and leave it sodden or puckered. This method is more efficient when you need to seal a large number of envelopes at once (making it useful for sending out wedding invitations, holiday cards, etc.), but it can become messy if you squeeze the bottle too enthusiastically. Use a combination moistener/sealer machine. These represent the latest in envelope-sealing technology and will both moisten and seal your envelopes for you. Electric moistener/sealer machines will automatically feed envelopes through, while manual machines must be hand-fed, potentially making them as labor intensive as other, lower-tech methods. Because these are a relatively new technology, they're not without their glitches, and some models may work better than others. Be sure to do your research before investing. Try a vintage envelope moistening wheel. If you prefer an old-school approach, you can find envelope moistening wheels online and in stores specializing in vintage office equipment. Most are ceramic and feature a cylindrical wheel perched in a rectangular basin, which makes them rather resemble an office tape dispenser. To use one, fill the basin with water, run the envelope's glue strip across the top of the moistened wheel (like running a knife blade over a whetting stone), and fold and press the envelope flap to seal. Though a bit old-fashioned, these envelope moisteners have the advantage of durability—the ceramic wheel won't disintegrate as sponges do. Use a sponge, q-tip, inexpensive 1/4"-wide paint brush or cotton swab to help you moisten your envelopes. This approach will spare your tongue and may allow you to seal a larger number of envelopes than the tongue alone could handle. To use this method, get a small bowl and fill it with warm water. Lightly moisten your sponge, q-tip, paint brush or cotton swab in the water and swipe it across the glue of the seal. Fold the moistened flap and press down on it to seal the envelope. But be judicious with the amount of water you moisten with. Start light and re-apply if necessary—if you over-moisten, the paper may become soggy or begin to pucker. Use tape or glue. You can simply tape the envelope shut by folding the flap of the envelope down and running a strip of regular tape across the top. For a less DIY-look, you can use double-sided tape or glue along the inside of the flap before folding down and sealing. Many prefer to use a glue stick over traditional liquid glue because it's less messy and dries more quickly, but both are viable options. Use stickers. If you want to add a little unconventional personality to your envelope, you can seal it with stickers—just fold the flap down and place stickers across the line where the flap and body of the envelope meet. But be aware that stickers may not leave the most professional of impressions and may be less secure than other methods. Seal it with nail polish. Nail polish, it turns out, is one of the great household multi-taskers, and one of its lesser-known qualities is its ability to save you trouble sealing envelopes—and to offer a particularly strong and secure hold while doing it. Just swipe the nail polish along the inside of the envelope flap and press it shut. You might want to opt for clear nail polish to avoid giving the envelope's seal an odd color—unless, of course, that's the look you're going for. Make a wax seal. Dating from the Middle Ages, the use of wax to seal envelopes is perhaps the most classic and impressive of all the envelope-sealing methods. For hundreds of years the use of wax seals was almost exclusively limited to royalty and nobility (given that most everyone else was illiterate and didn't have much use for letters), and today it carries with it an air of prestige that will likely impress your recipient. As a bonus, sealing an envelope with wax can give you a dignified reason to melt things with fire. See How to Use Sealing Wax with a Glue Gun and How to Use Sealing Wax with a Melting Pot. | Consider the old-fashioned method if you only have one or two envelopes to seal. Lick the envelope. Seal the envelope. Use conventional envelope moisteners. Use a combination moistener/sealer machine. Try a vintage envelope moistening wheel. Use a sponge, q-tip, inexpensive 1/4"-wide paint brush or cotton swab to help you moisten your envelopes. Use tape or glue. Use stickers. Seal it with nail polish. Make a wax seal. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Japanese-Fried-Rice | How to Make Japanese Fried Rice | To make Japanese fried rice, cook your rice ahead of time and refrigerate it since chilled rice fries better. Next, prepare your vegetables by cutting and grouping them in bowls based on how long they cook. Scramble the eggs and cook any meat you want to include and set them aside to add at the end. Now, heat your wok or pan, add butter or oil, and cook your vegetables over a high heat. Add the rice and keep cooking until everything is crisp and golden-brown. | Cook 4 cups white or brown rice. Rice generally requires a 2:1 water to rice ratio. The duration of cooking the rice depends on whether the rice is brown or white and long or short grain. Most rice cooking consists of boiling the water, adding the rice, then simmering without stirring for between 20-40 minutes, depending on the kind of rice. Consult the rice packaging for specific cooking instructions. Using jasmine rice can add a slightly more authentic flavor and texture to your homemade Japanese fried rice. If jasmine rice is not available, any long grain rice is preferred. Rice can also be made ahead of time in a slow cooker by combining boiling water and rice, then cooking on low for 3 hours. Refrigerate the rice. Chilled rice fries better than warm rice. It is best to make the rice a day ahead of time, but if you cannot do that, then allowing it to cool for several hours will suffice. Chop the vegetables. Because fried rice cooks very quickly over high heat, it is best to prepare all of the vegetables ahead of time. You may want to group vegetables together in bowls based on how long they cook. For example, you could group onion, garlic, and carrots together, peas and edamame together, and spices and sauces together. Scramble the eggs. Pre-scramble the two eggs in a small pan over medium heat, then remove them from the heat and chop them into small pieces. You will add them to the fried rice towards the end of the process, but it is easier if this step is done before you start cooking the other ingredients. Cook any meat that you wish to include. A variety of protein sources such as chicken, pork loin, ham, beef, or shrimp can be included in the fried rice. It is best to cook the meat ahead of time to ensure that it reaches the proper internal temperature before tossing it in with the fried rice. Dice the meat before or after cooking it so that it is ready to add to the rice. Heat the wok or pan. The cooking surface needs to be very hot before you begin cooking. It is best to use high or medium-high heat, depending on your heat source and cooking surface. Add the butter or (if you don't have butter) oil. While some recipes suggest using oil, most hibachi restaurants use butter, and many people who have experimented with different oils at home have found that butter produces the most authentic tasting rice. Heat the butter until it is melted, but before it browns. Sautee the onions, carrots, and garlic. Spread the vegetables around the pan so that they cook evenly. Continue to sauté for several minutes, until the onions begin to turn transparent. Add the other vegetables. Add peas, edamame, corn, and any other vegetables you wish to add to the fried rice. You may consider peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, squash, or a leafy green such as kale or spinach for a healthy twist. Cook for several minutes, until harder vegetables begin to soften. Spread the rice on top of the vegetables. Pour the cold rice out on top of the cooking vegetables, then begin to stir it to mix the rice and vegetables together evenly. Continue cooking on medium high or high heat Brown the rice and vegetables. Cook until the rice turns an even golden-brown color. Be sure to stir frequently and try not to make the mixture too thick by putting too much in the pan at one time. Add the protein and spices. When the rice has browned nicely and the vegetables are done, add in the salt, pepper, spices, chopped, cooked egg, and the cooked meat(s). Continue stirring while the ingredients re-heat and the flavors blend together. Consider adding gomasio spice for an authentic taste. This is a combination of salt, seaweed, sugar, and sesame seeds and can be found in the international food aisle at the grocery store. Drizzle with sesame oil and sauces. Drizzle with sesame oil and other sauces such as soy sauce or oyster sauce. These sauces are meant to be added after cooking and should be added just as the meal is removed from the heat. Divide into portions. Serve the fried rice in bowls or on plates. You may want to garnish the dish with some toasted sesame seeds or green onions and serve with a sauce such as soy or yum yum sauce. Serve while hot. Serve while the rice is still hot. If reheating leftovers is necessary, be sure to do so in the pan or wok, not in the microwave. | Cook 4 cups white or brown rice. Refrigerate the rice. Chop the vegetables. Scramble the eggs. Cook any meat that you wish to include. Heat the wok or pan. Add the butter or (if you don't have butter) oil. Sautee the onions, carrots, and garlic. Add the other vegetables. Spread the rice on top of the vegetables. Brown the rice and vegetables. Add the protein and spices. Drizzle with sesame oil and sauces. Divide into portions. Serve while hot. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Illuminator | How to Apply Illuminator | Illuminator is a makeup product that can help make your skin look radiant. To apply illuminator, start by choosing the right type for your skin tone. If you have an olive or darker skin tone, pick a golden or bronze illuminator to bring out the warm tones in your skin. For fair skin, choose a pink or pearly illuminator to create a gentle glow. Apply foundation first, then dab illuminator lightly along your upper cheekbones and the apples of your cheeks. You can also add a small amount to your chin, upper lip, and forehead. Once you've applied the illuminator, use your fingers or a blending sponge to blend it into your skin. If you used too much, apply a thin layer of foundation over it to make it less noticeable. | Decide if illuminator is right for your skin type. Illuminator is great for making skin appear brighter, but it can be unflattering on certain skin types. If you have large pores, scarring, or fine lines, the look of them can be exacerbated by illuminator. Hyperpigmentation can also be made more apparent by illuminator unless you know how to cover it with concealer. Although these skin types aren't ideal for illuminator, anyone can make illuminator work for them with the right makeup application. You can go to a makeup artist to teach you the best makeup application for your skin type. You can also search YouTube videos for makeup tutorials. Go with liquid illuminator for a soft, natural-looking glow. Liquid illuminator is ideal for a day-to-day look because it gives a softer glow. It is also a good choice because it can be mixed in with your foundation for a mild, yet summery glow.Plus, it is better for dry skin. Choose a powder illuminator for a long-lasting finish. Powder illuminator is usually long-lasting and more dramatic. A powder is ideal for evening and wedding looks. You can also combine the powder with a liquid illuminator for a very bright shine. Use a golden or bronze illuminator for olive or darker skin tones. Gold, rose gold, and bronze shades of illuminator bring out the radiant warmth in darker skin tones. Experiment with any of these shades to see what looks most natural on your skin. A frosty or silver illuminator could work, but there is a risk of it bringing out gray tones in the skin. Try a pearly or pink illuminator for fair skin. A pearly or opalescent shade of illuminator is great for fair skin tones because it brings out the skin's natural radiance. If you apply enough of the illuminator, it will look like a sun beam is bouncing off of your cheek. Try a light pink illuminator if you're looking for a warmer glow. Apply the illuminator after foundation. Typically, illuminator is applied directly after you apply foundation and before blush. This will give you a noticeable glow. If you want a subtle glow, however, you should apply the illuminator below your foundation. Dab the illuminator on your cheeks. Illuminator is most commonly applied to the cheeks. First, smile to get an idea of where your upper cheekbone is. Then, use your fingers to apply a very small dab of illuminator along each cheekbone. If you're using powder, with a large, fluffy brush. You can also apply some illuminator to the apples of your cheeks. Start with a light application of illuminator. You can always add more later if desired. Use the illuminator down the bridge of your nose. Squirt a little more illuminator out of the bottle or apply more to your brush, depending on if you are using liquid or powder. Remember, less is more with illuminator. Then, swipe some illuminator down the bridge of your nose. This will produce a slimming effect, if desired. Apply a small dab to your chin, upper lip, and forehead. To brighten up your face even more, apply small dabs to these 3 locations. Apply some illuminator to the bottom of your chin, directly below the middle of your bottom lip. Then, apply another small dab into the crease just above your upper lip. Finish up by applying some illuminator to the middle of your forehead, between your eyebrows. Blend in the illuminator. The final step of the application process is to blend in the illuminator. You can use your fingers to gently blend it in. Or, you can use a blending brush or sponge. Make sure the illuminator is noticeable, but does not stand out dramatically—unless that is the look you are going for. If you apply too much illuminator, you can always add a thin layer of foundation on top to make it less noticeable. Go for a dramatic look with rainbow or shimmer illuminator. It is typically advised to go for a natural look when it comes to illuminator. You can, however, go for a dramatic look if you want. A more dramatic application would be great for festivals, parties, or even if you're just in a fun mood. Use a rainbow or shimmer illuminator to take your look to the next level. You would apply this illuminator in the same locations you would apply regular illuminator. Use an illuminating bronzer for a sun-kissed look. If you're not already using a bronze-colored illuminator, this type of illuminator is great for making it look as if you spent the day at the beach. Use a deep, rich illuminator if you have a darker skin tone. For a fair skin tone, use a less pigmented powder that lacks an orange tone. Try an illuminating primer for a fresh, glowing base. Illuminator is typically used on portions of the face, but it's also an option to use an illuminating primer. An illuminating primer will give your skin an overall fresh and radiant look. A primer will smooth out imperfections as well. Apply it with your fingers or a sponge all over your face. Then, you can add foundation if you desire. | Decide if illuminator is right for your skin type. Go with liquid illuminator for a soft, natural-looking glow. Choose a powder illuminator for a long-lasting finish. Use a golden or bronze illuminator for olive or darker skin tones. Try a pearly or pink illuminator for fair skin. Apply the illuminator after foundation. Dab the illuminator on your cheeks. Use the illuminator down the bridge of your nose. Apply a small dab to your chin, upper lip, and forehead. Blend in the illuminator. Go for a dramatic look with rainbow or shimmer illuminator. Use an illuminating bronzer for a sun-kissed look. Try an illuminating primer for a fresh, glowing base. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Put-Your-Rabbit-in-a-Trance | How to Put Your Rabbit in a Trance | To put your rabbit in a trance, start by laying it on its back on your lap with its rump higher than its head. If your rabbit doesn't immediately go into a trance, rub its chest between its front paws to calm it down. Additionally, support your rabbit's body weight to avoid injury if it suddenly wakes up. Then, bandage or groom your rabbit quickly, since you don't know how long it will stay in a trance. | Consult your veterinarian. Many people feel strongly for or against trancing, and it's best to hear what your vet has to say regarding your rabbit. If your rabbit suffers from many health issues, this is especially important -- putting a rabbit in a trance can be very hazardous to their health, but at the same time it can allow you to inspect a rabbit's body for problems. Listen to what your vet says before deciding. Decide if your rabbit needs trancing. If you believe your rabbit has been injured but you cannot find out where, or if you need to dress a wound, trancing might be your best option. If you're just hoping to have an easier time clipping their nails or grooming them, it might not be worth it. It also might depend on the rabbit -- some rabbits seem to come out of it calm, while others are shaking in fear Practice what you will need to do. Watch the video at the end of this article. If you're nervous, ask a friend or family member to be present before you begin. It's important that you be confident in your motions when dealing with your rabbit -- it will be able to sense if you are nervous or stressed. Prepare yourself. Put a towel on your lap. Make sure you are in a chair where your rabbit's head on your knees will be lower than the rest of its body. Gather everything you need nearby. If you're trying to dress a wound, it would be the antibiotic and bandage. For grooming, it could be nail clippers, brushes, etc. Pick up your rabbit. Use your right hand under the bunny's front legs, and left hand on its rump. Have it in the crook of your arm -- sort of like snuggling a baby. Turn the rabbit over onto the towel on your lap. Be gentle! Your rabbit will be on his or her back -- a position they typically do not enjoy. Be sure the rabbit's rump is higher than its head. The rabbit will struggle, but this normally doesn't last long. Calm the rabbit. Some rabbits will immediately go into a trance, others will need a little help. Rub your rabbit's chest between its front paws with one hand. With the other, gently rub the head. This might send them into a trance immediately. Support your rabbit’s body. Soon the rabbit will drop its head back and become immobilized. If the feet are shaking, just touch them and they should stop. Then pet your rabbit's front paws, back paws and stomach just so they know you're there. Keep hold of your rabbit while in a trance because you can't know when they will wake up, usually with jerking motions that could seriously injure them if you haven't supported them properly. Do whatever you need to quickly. Inspect, groom, or bandage your rabbit. It's impossible to know how long your rabbit will stay in a trance, but 10 minutes is usually the maximum. Be ready for your rabbit to wake up. It can feel like your rabbit just exploded to life in your lap! This is why it's important to keep the rabbit's body well-supported while in the trance. Other rabbits wake up more slowly and like to have their head rubbed while waking Hold the rabbit firmly and gently turn over when finished. Snuggle it for a moment. Put the rabbit down and pack away the supplies around you. | Consult your veterinarian. Decide if your rabbit needs trancing. Practice what you will need to do. Prepare yourself. Pick up your rabbit. Calm the rabbit. Support your rabbit’s body. Do whatever you need to quickly. Be ready for your rabbit to wake up. Hold the rabbit firmly and gently turn over when finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cope-with-the-Death-of-Your-Cat | How to Cope with the Death of Your Cat | Losing a cat can be devastating. To cope with your loss, give yourself time to grieve and remember to take care of yourself. Cry when you're alone if you feel like you need to, since bottling up your emotions will only make it harder to grieve your loss. Take a day or 2 off of work to have some alone time so you can think about your cat and express your sadness. Try looking through some pictures of your cat so you can remember the happy times you enjoyed with it. The loss of your cat can be stressful too, so take time to relax by doing activities that make you feel good. Go to a movie or hang out with friends to help lift your spirits. | Do not ignore your pain. Ignoring your pain can actually make grief harder. In order to actually heal from the loss of your cat, you will need to actively face your pain and deal with it. If you feel sad and want to cry, then you should cry. Bottling up your emotions will likely extend the grieving process. Take time to grieve. Losing a cat is like losing a member of the family. As a result, you will need to take time to allow yourself to grieve. Grieving may not just take a few days; it may take weeks or months, depending upon how you cope with it. Don't be afraid to cry sometimes or think about your cat a lot. It is okay to do that, as it is completely normal. For example, you may need to take a few days off of work to give yourself a mental break. You may also want some alone time to sort through your emotions and deal with your grief. Healing takes time and everyone will experience this process differently. Write down your feelings. A great way to process your feelings and cope with your grief is through writing. Try writing a journal, poem, or short story to express your feelings. This can be a personal and therapeutic exercise. You do not need to share this with anyone, and it can help you really process your emotions. Hold a funeral for your cat. Rituals, like a funeral, can be helpful in coping with the death of a cat. For example, you could hold a small memorial service with close family members and bury your cat's remains. This will allow you and your family to openly express your feelings regarding the loss of your pet cat. You will also be able to say your last goodbyes to your cat. Try and schedule a time with your family and maybe friends when they are available to hold a funeral for your cat. Look at pictures. After your cat dies, it can be therapeutic to look back at photographs from throughout your cat's life. This is a nice way to remember your relationship with your cat and will bring back some positive memories. This will also help you to be able to focus on the good times with your cat, instead of the bad times. You may want to organize some of these photos into a scrapbook or memory box. This way you will be able to look through the book whenever you need and can easily reminisce about your cat. Framing pictures of your cat and hanging them around your house might also be a good idea, so that every time you glance at one of the pictures, it will remind you of your cat. However, this may not work for some people because they might get sad when they look at a picture. It depends on what you prefer. Create a memorial for your cat. It is also possible to create some sort of memorial for your cat. For example, you could plant a tree in your backyard to memorialize and celebrate your cat's life. Place a small marker near the tree and mention that the tree is dedicated to your cat. Alternatively, you could donate money to a local animal shelter or sponsor an animal at your local zoo. You might also want to consider volunteering at your local shelter. That way, you will be able to spend time with the animals which can make you feel better. Reminisce with family and friends. A great way to cope with the loss of your cat is by reminiscing with close family and friends. Find people who understand what you are going through, and who will be sympathetic of your feelings. If you would prefer talking to someone else, feel free to find a therapist to talk to. Sharing stories and thinking of the positive times you shared with your cat can be healing and therapeutic. Remember that other members of your family, especially children, may also be mourning the loss of your cat. Include them as you seek closure. Do not let others tell you how to feel. In your attempt to seek supportive friends and family members, you may come across some individuals who are not sympathetic to your loss. For instance, some people may not understand the close bond you had with your cat and say things like “get over it” or “move on, it's only a cat.” It is your grief, so don't let anyone tell you when it is time to move on. Find a support group. If you are unable to find a supportive figure among friends and family, you can search elsewhere for a support group. For example, you could read and contribute to online message boards, call a pet loss helpline, or join a pet loss support group. This will allow you to connect with people going through a similar experience. Search online to find a support group in your area. Seek professional help. If you find that your grief is persistent and is interfering with your ability to function in your daily life, you should speak with your doctor or a mental health care professional. They can help to guide you through the stages of grief and offer you emotional and mental support. Eat healthy food and exercise. The loss of your cat is a stressful, sad, and emotionally draining event. As a result, your energy sources may feel depleted. It is very important that you take time to continue practicing self-care. For example, eat healthy food and exercise regularly in order to give yourself enough energy to meet your physical needs. Exercise can also improve your mood by releasing endorphins. Engage in activities you enjoy. An excellent way to cope with your loss is by taking part in activities you enjoy. This can give your mind a mental break from grieving and will help you to relax. For example, you may want to go to a movie, spend some time with friends, or have a day at the spa. Alternatively, you could try some breathing exercises to help you calm your mind down and cope with the stress associated with losing your cat. Maintain your daily routine for other pets. If you have other pets, they may also be experiencing grief and confusion as a result of the death of your cat. In order to continue giving your other pets proper care, you should do your best to maintain their daily routine. For example, continue to feed your other pets at the same time as normal. If you have surviving pets, especially another cat, remember that they have also suffered a loss. Cats especially can feel separation anxiety after losing a friend. Take these needs into consideration. You may also want to provide them with more attention and affection. This could mean playing more with them or providing them with additional cuddle time. Consider getting another cat. When your cat dies they leave behind a void. You may feel the urge to rush out and replace your feline companion with a new cat. The decision concerning if, and when, to replace your cat is very personal and you should wait until you feel emotionally ready. As a general rule, it is best to wait until you have mourned the death of your cat and you are emotionally ready to welcome a new cat into your life. You may want to start by volunteering at a rescue shelter before actually adopting a new cat. This will help you know when you are ready. If you live on your own and your cat was an important source of companionship, you may want to get a new cat sooner. | Do not ignore your pain. Take time to grieve. Write down your feelings. Hold a funeral for your cat. Look at pictures. Create a memorial for your cat. Reminisce with family and friends. Do not let others tell you how to feel. Find a support group. Seek professional help. Eat healthy food and exercise. Engage in activities you enjoy. Maintain your daily routine for other pets. Consider getting another cat. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Nose-Hair | How to Get Rid of Nose Hair | To get rid of your nose hair, use a pair of clean scissors, a nose hair trimmer, or pluck it with tweezers. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror so you can see what you're doing. Make sure you have a sink, waste bin, or paper towel to catch your nose hairs. Trim any long hairs that stick out or tickle your nostrils. If you're using scissors, be careful when putting them inside your nasal canal. Don't trim all of your nose hair, since it helps to block debris and protect your body from infection. You should also avoid trimming your nose hairs when you're sick, since you can actually make your illness worse by introducing germs to your immune system. | Find a sanitary pair of scissors. The tip of the scissors should be small enough to fit comfortably into your nostril, and the blades should be sharp enough to sever a hair cleanly with a single snip. Avoid using shared or communal scissors. Avoid using wavy "craft scissors", and avoid using dull, rounded children's scissors. You don't want to wrestle with your nose hairs, nor accidentally pull them out; you want the trimming process to be as neat and as smooth as possible. Use special trimming scissors, if you can find them. Trimming scissors have a rounded tip that's designed specifically for safely trimming hair in sensitive places like noses and ears. You can find facial hair trimming scissors in the cosmetics section of many drugstores, department stores, and personal-care stores. Clean the handles and blades of your scissors with water and antibacterial soap, and towel them dry before you use them. Consider using antiseptic to sterilize the scissors: if they have been used before, especially by other people, they might carry germs and bacteria that you don't want to inhale. Avoid trimming when you're sick. Make sure that your nose is clean and dry. Blow your nose beforehand, if need be, to remove any gunk. If you're battling a cold, a flu, or any other sinus-related infection, wait until the sickness subsides before you try to trim away your nose hairs: if you clear too many hairs, you may give new contaminants an easy passage into your already-compromised immune system. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror. Make sure that you have a place to dispose of the hairs that you snip--a sink, a waste bin, or a disposable towel will do. Make sure that the lights are bright enough to clearly see into your nostrils: good lighting helps you see the lighter hairs that may be sticking out of your nose. You may need to get close to the mirror to see enough detail. Try using a magnifying mirror or a hand-held mirror to get the right angle. Nose hairs may stick to the scissors as you trim, and you don't want to wipe them directly back into your nostril. Keep a tissue, napkin, or towel on hand to wipe the scissors down. If you have access to a sink, you can rinse the tweezers clean of any clinging hair after each snip. Snip the hairs that drive you crazy, but don't trim away everything. Try to snip only the most visible hairs: the hairs near the rim of your nostril, and any large hairs that noticeably protrude from your nose. Smile at yourself in the mirror--or push your nose straight up with your finger--to reveal nose hairs that don't poke out otherwise. Trim only what you absolutely need to trim. Your nose hairs serve an important function by protecting your body from infection, and removing nose hair completely could have negative side effects. Carefully clip the longest protruding hairs. Line the tip of the scissors up with any thick bunches or particularly long hairs, make sure that your skin is clear of the blades, and snip with a gentle but decisive motion. Find the roots of the longest hairs, and trim them closely so they'll take longer to grow back. Only cut the hairs that people will notice: the hairs that stick out directly from your nose. Resist the urge to completely clear out your nostrils. Be gentle when sticking the scissors into your nasal canal. Never shove the trimming scissors into your nose: you can do a lot of damage--and put yourself at further risk of infection--if you slice open your nasal passage. Watch your hand and the scissors closely, even if the scissors are rounded at the tip. Trim until you're satisfied with your appearance. Smile at yourself in the mirror, again, and trim any hairs that stick out. If you look at yourself straight-on in the mirror and you can't see any obvious nose hairs, then you've probably done enough. Bear in mind that you may judge your appearance harshly than others do. Dispose of the nose hair trimmings as you go. Hairs may stick to the scissors blades. You can rinse the hairs down the drain with water, or you can wipe them off of the scissors with a tissue, napkin, or towel. Clean up. Throw away your nose hair trimmings, or wash them down the drain. Blow your nose to expel any clinging hair trimmings--and consider cleaning out your nostril with a tissue, a sanitary wipe, or a nasal spray. Clean up any stray trimmings that have fallen onto the sink, the counter, or the floor. Wipe the scissors with antiseptic before you put them away, or at the very least wash them with soap and water. This is especially important if you used communal scissors: would you want to use scissors that had just been up someone's nose? Buy a nose hair trimmer. This is a more expensive option, but it's the quickest and the safest. Decide whether you want an electric trimmer or a manual trimmer. Electric trimmers are quicker and more efficient, but manual trimmers don't need electricity to work, and they may not tickle your nose so much as the vibrating electric models. You should be able to find a trimmer at a pharmacy or department store for less than $20 USD. Some trimmers even come with attachments that help you shave eyebrows, beards, and other facial hair. Manual trimmers don't require batteries or a plug, and they tend to avoid the tickling sensation that results from the vibrating electric models. Instead, manual trimmers use a simple spring-loaded "punch" mechanism to trim hairs from your nose--something like a single hole-punch or a pair of wire cutters. You will need to use two hands to operate most manual trimmers. Electric trimmers cut hairs quickly and efficiently, and most can be used with one hand. Some trimmers are battery-powered (and hence, cordless), while others must be plugged into an outlet. Some electric trimmers feature a rotating blade that spins in one continuous direction, while other trimmers work with an oscillating blade that rotates from left to right. Neither option works significantly better or worse than the other. Avoid trimming when you're sick. Make sure that your nose is clean and dry. Blow your nose beforehand, if need be, to remove any gunk. If you're battling a cold, a flu, or any other sinus-related infection, wait until the sickness subsides before you try to trim away your nose hairs: if you clear too many hairs, you may give new contaminants an easy passage into your already-compromised immune system. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror. Make sure that the lights are bright enough to clearly see into your nostrils: good lighting helps you see the lighter hairs that may be sticking out of your nose. You may need to get close to the mirror to see enough detail. Try using a magnifying mirror or a hand-held mirror to get the right angle. Keep a towel on hand to wipe your face when you're done, and keep tissues on hand to clean the trimmings out of your nostrils. Buzz the hair that peeks out from your nostril. Tilt your head back and carefully insert the nose trimmer, looking into the mirror for accuracy. Try gently pulling down your upper lip to open up the nasal passage. The trimmer should fit comfortably; don't push it all the way in. Stir the trimmer in a slow circular motion, moving up and down the nostril. Your trimmer shouldn't hurt you or cut your skin--especially not an electric trimmer. The blades are covered such that they buzz nose hair close, but never actually touch the skin. Some trimmers, however--especially the manual variety--may occasionally (and painfully) yank a hair from the root. Be careful not to insert the trimmer too deeply in your nose. You only want to trim the hairs peeking out below your nose--the ones that people will notice. Leave the rest of the hair alone to help protect you from bacteria. Buzz until you're satisfied with your appearance. The trimming shouldn't take you long--perhaps only a matter of seconds. If you aren't sure, pull the trimmer from your nostril and inspect the situation in the mirror. Trim the hairs that drive you crazy, but don't remove everything. Try to trim only the most visible hairs: the hairs near the rim of your nostril, and any large hairs that noticeably protrude from your nose. Smile at yourself in the mirror--or push your nose straight up with your finger--to reveal nose hairs that don't poke out otherwise. Trim only what you absolutely need to trim. Your nose hairs serve an important function by protecting your body from infection, and removing nose hair completely could have negative side effects. Clean up when you're finished. Clean the nose hair trimmer, clean your face, and wipe up any stray nose hair trimmings that have spilled onto the sink, the counter, or the floor. You can clean most manual nose hair trimmers by rinsing the blades with running water, but many electric trimmers are not wet/dry capable. Wipe an electric trimmer clean with a moist or dry towel, and be careful not to submerge it in water. Unplug or switch off electric trimmers before wiping them clean. Use a towel to wipe off any hair that's fallen onto your face. Lightly blow your nose into a tissue to catch any remaining trimmings--and consider cleaning out your nostril with a tissue, a sanitary wipe, or a nasal spray. Use a towel, tissue, or sponge to clean stray hairs from any surfaces. Dispose of your cleaning tool or wash it clean. Consider trimming instead of plucking. Many doctors advise against plucking nose hairs: not only can plucking be much more painful than trimming, but it may leave your nasal passage vulnerable to dangerous contaminants and bacterial infections. If you do decide to pluck, be judicious with the tweezers and don't pluck everything. Keep in mind that nose hairs serve an important biological function: they grow so thickly in order to prevent bacteria and other foreign contaminants from entering your nasal passage. When you clear away the majority of your nose hairs, you open yourself up to infection. When you pluck a hair from your nose, the tender hole that the plucked hair leaves behind can easily become infected by any bacteria--including potentially dangerous Staph bacteria--that happen to be lurking in your nostril. It is rare for serious infections to take root in the wake of plucking, but it is always a risk. If you notice redness, oozing, or a non-healing sore in your nose, ask your doctor to test you for infection. Find a sanitary pair of tweezers. Ideally, they should be small enough to fit comfortably into your nostril, but not so small that they're flimsy. Clean your tweezers with water and antibacterial soap, and towel them dry before you use them. Consider using antiseptic to sterilize the tweezers: if they have been used before, especially by other people, they might carry germs and bacteria that you don't want to inhale. Consider making your own nose hair plucker using a metal spring. This design may enable you to pull out many hairs at once, but it won't necessary alleviate the pain or protect you from infection. Don't pluck when you're sick. Make sure that your nose is clean and dry. Blow your nose beforehand, if need be, to remove any gunk. If you're battling a cold, a flu, or any other sinus-related infection, wait until the sickness subsides before you try to pluck your nose hairs: not only will the procedure further irritate your nasal passage, but it may give other contaminants a ready passage into your already-compromised immune system. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror. Make sure that you have a place to dispose of the hairs that you pluck--a sink, a waste bin, or a disposable towel will do. Make sure that the lights are bright enough to clearly see into your nostrils: good lighting helps you see the lighter hairs that may be sticking out of your nose. You may need to get up close to the mirror to see enough detail. Try using a magnifying mirror or a hand-held mirror to get the right angle. Nose hairs may stick to the tweezers as you pluck. Keep a tissue, napkin, or towel on hand to wipe the tweezers down. If you have access to a sink, you can rinse the tweezers clean of any clinging hair after each pluck. Pluck the hairs that drive you crazy, but don't remove everything. Try to pluck only the most visible hairs: the hairs near the rim of your nostril, and any large hairs that noticeably protrude from your nose. Smile at yourself in the mirror to reveal nose hairs that don't poke out otherwise. Resist the temptation to pluck hairs toward the back of your nostril, and by all means leave most of your hairs intact. Again, your nose hairs serve an important function by protecting your body from infection, and removing nose hair completely could have negative side effects. Pluck any offending nose hairs. Focus first on one nostril, and then move on to the other. Stick the tweezers directly into your nose, but not so far up that it's painful. Grip each hair firmly at the root and give it a quick, sharp tug. Wipe the hairs off onto a clean tissue, or rinse them off of the tweezers with water. Be prepared for sharp, fleeting pain--it hurts to pull out any hair, but the skin inside your nose is especially sensitive. Make quick, purposeful plucks, and give yourself a few moments for the pain to subside between each tug. Your eyes will water, and you may feel a sudden urge to sneeze. A sneeze is a muscular twitch that expels airborne irritants from your nostrils. When you pluck a nose hair, it can irritate the skin of your nostril and trigger the "expel airborne irritant" response. You can push your tongue against the roof of your mouth to suppress the urge to sneeze , or you can just let the sneeze happen. Consider numbing the pain: you can use a quick-acting topical analgesic like IcyHot, or you can try sticking a small ice cube up your nostril for 20-60 seconds. Be aware that if you can't feel any pain, you may pluck so much that your nose hurts later on. Pluck until you're satisfied with your appearance. Remember: you may be scrutinizing your own face much more closely and critically than everyone else see your face. When you're finished, clean the tweezers: wipe them with antiseptic or wash them with soap and water. Blow your nose to expel any hairs that you missed--and consider cleaning out your nostril with a tissue, a sanitary wipe, or a nasal spray. Clean up any stray hairs that have fallen onto the sink, the counter, or the floor. | Find a sanitary pair of scissors. Avoid trimming when you're sick. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror. Snip the hairs that drive you crazy, but don't trim away everything. Carefully clip the longest protruding hairs. Clean up. Buy a nose hair trimmer. Avoid trimming when you're sick. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror. Buzz the hair that peeks out from your nostril. Trim the hairs that drive you crazy, but don't remove everything. Clean up when you're finished. Consider trimming instead of plucking. Find a sanitary pair of tweezers. Don't pluck when you're sick. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror. Pluck the hairs that drive you crazy, but don't remove everything. Pluck any offending nose hairs. Pluck until you're satisfied with your appearance. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Sake | How to Make Sake | To make sake, start by mixing water, lactic acid, yeast nutrient, and salt. Then, add a “smack pack” of yeast and koji. Next, steam rice in a steamer basket for 1 hour before allowing it to cool to 70°F. Add the cooled rice to the yeast starter mixture, and let it set for 3 days, stirring it every 12 hours. Leave it alone for 6 to 7 days, and add a batch of rice. Add the second batch after 2 days, and the third 12 hours after that. Finally, transfer the liquid to a fermenting bucket and refrigerate it for 1 week before moving to individual bottles. | Inoculate the smack pack of sake yeast on day 1. These yeast packages are called “smack packs” because you get them started by literally giving them a smack. Smacking them will start the inoculation process, and the yeast will expand in the package. Give your Wyeast 4134 yeast pack a good smack and set it aside. Create your water mixture on day 2. Don't start doing this until your smack pack is almost fully inflated, which is usually about 24 hours after smacking it. Mix 1,860 ml (7.9 c) water with the lactic acid, yeast nutrient, Epsom salt, and salt substitute. Stir until blended. Remove 360 ml of the water mixture and freeze it. Measure out 360 ml of your water mixture into a separate bowl. Cover it tightly, then place it in your freezer overnight. This begins the fermentation process to build up your yeast starter. Keep the rest of the mixture out at room temperature overnight. After you separate the 360 ml for the freezer, cover the remaining 1,500 ml of the water mixture. Leave it out on your counter overnight at room temperature. Combine the 1,500 ml of prepared water with the smack pack on day 3. Uncover the water mixture that you left sitting out at room temperature overnight. Add the contents of your smack pack, which should be almost fully inflated at this point. Stir to combine the ingredients. Add 345 g koji to the yeast and water mixture. Measure out 345 g of koji, then dump that in the prepared yeast and water mixture. Give it a stir. Cover the bowl and let the mixture stand at room temperature while you move on to rice preparation. Rinse 1,020 grams of rice 3 times. Transfer the uncooked rice to a large vat. Cover it with water, then run your hand through the rice to mix it up as you rinse. Drain the water, and then repeat this process 2 more times. The water should drain off clear by the third round of rinsing. Clean rice is key to quality sake. Add the rice to a large bowl and soak it in water for 1 hour. Transfer the rice to a large bowl and cover it with several inches of fresh water. Leave the bowl uncovered and transfer the rice to the refrigerator. Let the rice soak for 1 hour. Drain the water. Take the bowl of soaked rice out of your fridge. Transfer the rice to a colander and let the water drain for about an hour. Steam the rice for 1 hour. Transfer the drained rice to a steamer basket. Place the basket in the steamer and fill the steamer with water to the maximum fill line. Steam the rice for 1 hour, until it's soft and cooked through. Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 70° F (21° C). Clean a large mixing tray (it should be able to hold at least 23 gallons). Dump the steamed rice into the tray. Stir in 360 ml of ice and break up any chunks. Slip a thermometer into the ice and rice mixture and monitor it until it reaches 70° F (21° C). It should look to be of uniform consistency. Mix the cooled rice with your yeast starter mixture. Uncover the bowl of yeast, water, and koji mixture. Dump this mixture into a 30-gallon stockpot. Add the cooled rice to the stockpot and then cover the stockpot. Leave this mixture to soak at room temperature. Stir the mash 12 hours later. Remove the lid from the stockpot. Use a sanitized steel spoon to stir the mixture for about 5 minutes. Stir gently! Use a timer if you need to keep track of how much time has passed as you stir. Set the mixture aside for 3 days, stirring every 12 hours. Place the covered stockpot in a room where it won't be disturbed. Leave it out at room temperature for 3 days. Monitor the temperature of the mixture – it should be kept around 70 °F (21 °C) during these 2 days. Use a clean spoon to stir the mixture twice a day during this time. Replace the lid after stirring. After 3 days, the rice will be almost liquid. Leave the mixture alone for the next 6-7 days. After the third day of stirring at 12-hour intervals, put the lid on tightly and leave the stockpot alone. You won't need to stir or do anything for the next 6-7 days. Add 675 g of koji and 1,065 ml of water to the mash. After 7 days have passed, take the lid off your stockpot of seed mash. Measure out the koji and dump it into your seed mash. Add 1,065 ml water and stir gently. Replace the cover on the stockpot. Chill the rice at 59 °F (15 °C) for 12 hours. Move the stockpot to a refrigerator or temperature-controlled chest freezer that's been set to 59 °F (15 °C). You can also keep the bucket in a cold cellar, garage, or other area that's the right temperature. Keep the rice mixture at 59 °F (15 °C) for half a day. Prepare 1,710 g of rice by washing, soaking, and draining it. Rinse the rice 3 times, soak it for 1 hour, then steam it for 1 hour, just like you did with the original round of rice. While you're waiting for the rice to soak and drain, lower the chest freezer with the main stockpot in it to 55° F (13° C). Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 65° F (18° C). Clean your large mixing tray that you used previously for this. Dump the fresh round of steamed rice into the tray. Stir in 855 ml of ice and break up any chunks. Slip a thermometer into the mixture and monitor it until it reaches 65° F (18° C). It should look to be of uniform consistency. Blend the cooled batch of rice into the main stockpot. After the newly steamed rice has reached the right temperature, take the lid off the stockpot, or the main ferment, where the first batch of rice has been brewing. Gently stir the cooled rice into the stockpot. Cover the stockpot. Stir the main ferment 12 hours later. Remove the lid from the stockpot. Using a sanitized steel spoon, gently stir the mixture for 5 minutes. Be sure to stick the spoon all the way into the pot so the bottom of the mixture gets stirred too. Use a timer if you need to monitor the time. Replace the lid after 5 minutes of stirring. Continue keeping the main ferment at 55° F (13° C). Set the mixture aside for 2 days, stirring every 12 hours. Place the covered stockpot in a room where it won't be disturbed. Leave it out at room temperature for 2 days. Use your sanitized steel spoon to stir the mixture in 12-hour intervals for the next 48 hours. Replace the lid after stirring. Add 1,020 g of koji and 3.6 L of water to the main ferment. After 2 days have passed, take the lid off the stockpot. Measure out the koji and add it to the main ferment. Add the water and stir gently. Replace the lid on the stockpot. Prepare 4.08 kg of rice by washing, soaking, and draining it. Rinse the rice 3 times. Soak it for 1 hour, then steam it for 1 hour. While you're waiting for the rice to soak and drain, lower the chest freezer with the main stockpot in it to 48° F (9° C). Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 60° F (16° C). Clean your large mixing tray once again. Dump the new batch of steamed rice into the tray. Stir in 2,610 ml of ice, breaking up any chunks. Add a thermometer to the mixture and monitor it until it reaches 60° F (16° C). Add the cooled batch of rice to the main ferment. Take the lid off the stockpot holding your main ferment. Gently stir the fresh batch of cooled rice into the stockpot. Cover the stockpot. Stir the main ferment after 12 hours. Remove the lid from the main ferment. Stir the mixture for 5 minutes with your steel spoon. Be sure to stir all the way down at the bottom of the mixture. Replace the lid after 5 minutes. Continue maintaining the main ferment temperature of 55° F (13° C). Add 1,362 g (or whatever is left) of koji and 12.9 L of water to the main ferment. After 12 hours have passed, take the lid off the stockpot. Measure out the koji and add it to the main ferment. Add the water (you should be using up the rest of your water at this point). Stir gently. Replace the lid on the stockpot. Prepare 6.8 kg of rice by washing, soaking, and draining it. Rinse the rice 3 times, just like you did before. Soak it for 1 hour and steam it for 1 hour. Lower the chest freezer with the main stockpot in it to 45° F (7° C). Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 55° F (13° C). Prep your large mixing tray once more. Dump the new batch of rice into the tray. Stir in 2,610 ml of ice. Make sure to break up any chunks. Monitor the rice until it reaches 55° F (13° C). Add the final batch of rice to the main ferment. Once the fresh rice is cooled, take the lid off the main ferment. Gently stir in the fresh batch of rice. Replace the lid on the stockpot holding your main ferment. Stir the main ferment after 12 hours for the next 2 days. Stir the main ferment mixture for 5 minutes at 12-hour intervals using your steel spoon. Dunk the spoon all the way down to the bottom of the mixture so everything gets blended and moved around. Replace the lid after 5 minutes. Continue maintaining the main ferment temperature of 45° F (7° C). Leave the main ferment alone for 12 days. After stirring every 12 hours for the first 2 days, your work is done! Leave the main ferment alone for 12 days and allow it to work its magic on the contents of the stockpot. Strain the mixture. After 3 weeks of chilling and fermenting, remove the fermenter from the refrigerator and take off the lid. Line a large fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth, and place the strainer over a large food-grade bucket. Strain the rice mixture through the cheesecloth to separate the rice and liquid. Gently twist the cheesecloth around the rice to remove as much liquid as possible. You'll probably have to strain the mixture in small batches. Transfer the liquid to a carboy. Pour the strained liquid from the bucket and into a clean carboy. If you don't have a carboy, clean the fermentation bucket with hot, soapy water, and pour the liquid back into the bucket. At this point, the liquid will look milky and slightly white. Place the carboy in the fridge leave it for 1 week. Place an airlock in the carboy, and then transfer the carboy to the refrigerator. Over the next 7 days, heavier particles in the sake will start to settle to the bottom, leaving a sediment down below and a clear liquid on top. Transfer the liquid to individual bottles. After a week, when the sediment has settled on the bottom and the liquid on top is clear, you can bottle the sake in individual bottles. Place your sterilized bottles on the counter and place a funnel in the mouth of the first bottle. Pour the sake into the bottle carefully and slowly to avoid disturbing the sediment on the bottom. Repeat until all your bottles have been filled. Secure the caps on the bottle. You can also use a siphon to fill your bottles if you have one. Store the sake in the refrigerator for up to a month. Unpasteurized sake should be stored in the refrigerator, or in a cold cellar that stays between 33 to 40 °F (1 to 4 °C). The sake should be consumed within a month. After opening a bottle, drink the sake within a couple of days. | Inoculate the smack pack of sake yeast on day 1. Create your water mixture on day 2. Remove 360 ml of the water mixture and freeze it. Keep the rest of the mixture out at room temperature overnight. Combine the 1,500 ml of prepared water with the smack pack on day 3. Add 345 g koji to the yeast and water mixture. Rinse 1,020 grams of rice 3 times. Add the rice to a large bowl and soak it in water for 1 hour. Drain the water. Steam the rice for 1 hour. Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 70° F (21° C). Mix the cooled rice with your yeast starter mixture. Stir the mash 12 hours later. Set the mixture aside for 3 days, stirring every 12 hours. Leave the mixture alone for the next 6-7 days. Add 675 g of koji and 1,065 ml of water to the mash. Chill the rice at 59 °F (15 °C) for 12 hours. Prepare 1,710 g of rice by washing, soaking, and draining it. Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 65° F (18° C). Blend the cooled batch of rice into the main stockpot. Stir the main ferment 12 hours later. Set the mixture aside for 2 days, stirring every 12 hours. Add 1,020 g of koji and 3.6 L of water to the main ferment. Prepare 4.08 kg of rice by washing, soaking, and draining it. Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 60° F (16° C). Add the cooled batch of rice to the main ferment. Stir the main ferment after 12 hours. Add 1,362 g (or whatever is left) of koji and 12.9 L of water to the main ferment. Prepare 6.8 kg of rice by washing, soaking, and draining it. Chill the steamed rice until it reaches 55° F (13° C). Add the final batch of rice to the main ferment. Stir the main ferment after 12 hours for the next 2 days. Leave the main ferment alone for 12 days. Strain the mixture. Transfer the liquid to a carboy. Place the carboy in the fridge leave it for 1 week. Transfer the liquid to individual bottles. Store the sake in the refrigerator for up to a month. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Maintain-Your-Relationship-with-Your-Girlfriend | How to Maintain Your Relationship with Your Girlfriend | With regular attention and communication, you can maintain a healthy relationship with your girlfriend. Try to do small things for your girlfriend every day, like complimenting her, giving her a massage, and helping her out with an errand, to show her that you care. Spend quality time together at least a couple of times a week if you can, doing things like baking, going for a hike, or binge watching your favorite TV shows. You should also keep her updated on how you're feeling, and encourage her to share her emotions with you so you understand each other. Inevitably, there will be times where you disagree on things, but if you look for a compromise together, you'll get past the disagreements and find a comfortable middle ground. | Work on the relationship each day. It's usually the little things that show your partner you appreciate her. Attempt to do something each day that shows her you care. Making dinner, leaving a nice note, buying flowers, or telling her you appreciate what she does will make her feel special and show that you really appreciate it. Going to a couple's counselor or workshop once a year or so is also a good way to keep your relationship healthy. You may not think you need it, but you may be surprised how much closer it brings you. Additionally, reading a relationship book together can also help you to maintain your relationship. Know when to spend time apart. The saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder” is true, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. Having a day or two to yourself each week helps you to better appreciate one another, and gives you a chance to miss each other. It also gives you an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and become a better partner. A good rule of thumb for alone time is to take a day for yourself between every couple of days you spend together. Have mutual interests. Nothing forges a stronger bond between you and your partner like shared passions. If you spend your leisure time always doing separate activities, your relationship may suffer. Even if you and your girlfriend are like night and day, try to find at least one interest that connects you and do it together often. Try to plan a standing weekly date with your girlfriend doing something you both enjoy. Of course, this may translate to binge-watching House of Cards on Netflix. If that works for you, that's cool. But try to do something outside the house sometimes, if possible. For instance, you might work out together in the gym, go for a hike on weekends, visit local art galleries or museums, read the same book, or join a couple's social group. Learn what she likes during intimacy. A physical connection is huge in relationships. So is taking the time to learn each other's likes and dislikes when it comes to being intimate. Paying attention and trying to please her shows that you care and want to make her happy. Notice what your girlfriend responds to and do more of that. You might also ask, “What kinds of things turn you on?” or something of that nature. Establish enthusiastic consent with your girlfriend by asking "Do you like that?" or "Is this okay?" If she responds favorably, keep it coming. If she says no, or seems ambivalent, stop. Have an attitude of acceptance and communication when it comes to sexual activity. Openly share what you like and don't like, and encourage her to do the same. Talk about what you need. You may be afraid to vocalize what you want from your girlfriend. As a result, you can become resentful when she doesn't fulfill your needs. Take the guesswork out by simply talking to her about your desires and encourage her to do the same. State your needs using non-defensive "I" statements, like "I need you to trust me. I feel like you don't respect my privacy. I would appreciate it if you didn't go through my phone." Know when to listen. Especially in arguments, it's important to listen to what your girlfriend has to say. Let her speak her mind before you jump in. Showing this type of respect is important in a relationship, and shows her you care about how she thinks and feels. This isn't to say you shouldn't defend yourself. But allow her to get her feelings off of her chest before you state your point. Your sign of respect might encourage her to do the same for you. Give your support. Blunt is best when it comes to sharing how you feel about your girlfriend. Let her know that you are very happy to be her partner. Tell her daily how much she means to you and don't forget to compliment her. Encourage her to reach her dreams and do what you can to support her while she is. Applaud her successes, and bolster her confidence when she is struggling. Be present at important events and occasions to cheer her on. If she's sad and down, cheer her up by being there for her, listening actively and not judging her. Avoid using hurtful words. Try not to say something hurtful that you will regret. It may be difficult for you not to, especially when you are extremely angry. Just remember, fighting is normal and healthy in relationships. Name-calling and using degrading words, however, are not. Walk away from the argument if you feel you are about to say something hurtful. Simply tell her you need to take a break for a moment and go cool down. Doing so could help to keep your relationship intact. Realize that you can’t change her, and you shouldn’t want to. You are with your girlfriend because your list of “likes” about her is longer than your list of “dislikes.” If you want to make the relationship work, however, you'll need to accept those dislikes. This could mean a lot of compromise on your part. However, this doesn't mean you should let go of your non-negotiables. Simply try to come up with an agreement that you can both live with. For instance, she may have her nose in her smart phone all night while you just want to spend quality time. Suggest that you set a designated time aside—for instance, one hour—where you both turn off your phones. Examine your expectations. You may have gone into the relationship thinking it was going to be your way or the highway. Or, you may have had other unrealistic expectations of how things were going to be. You'll need to assess which is more important: trying to obtain these potentially far-fetched ideals, or compromising to something that works for the both of you. Ask yourself if the compromises are fair. Determine if the compromise you are asking of or are asked by your girlfriend is actually fair. Some compromises are more like demands and can ruin a relationship. If you believe the compromise you are asked to do is unfair, let her know. You shouldn't have to give up what makes you you, and vice versa. The only compromises that you should ask of your girlfriend and she should ask of you are ones that make you better and grow as a couple. Compromises that make you feel bad about yourself and negatively affect your life are typically unfair to ask of one another. | Work on the relationship each day. Know when to spend time apart. Have mutual interests. Learn what she likes during intimacy. Talk about what you need. Know when to listen. Give your support. Avoid using hurtful words. Realize that you can’t change her, and you shouldn’t want to. Examine your expectations. Ask yourself if the compromises are fair. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-New-Name-(Transgender) | How to Choose a New Name (Transgender) | If you are transgender and want to choose a new name, you are probably feeling excited but unsure about where to begin. To generate ideas, start by checking out baby naming websites for thorough lists of possibilities. If a completely new name doesn't appeal to you, you could try a feminine, masculine, or gender neutral version of your given name. For example, if your birth name is Samantha, you could change it to Sam, Samuel, or Samson. You can also consider taking the name of someone who inspires you or using the name of a favorite character from a book or movie. For instance, if you love Greek mythology, you could call yourself “Athena” or “Artemis,” or if you love theater, you might choose a name from Shakespeare like “Romeo.” Once you settle on a name that feels right to you, gather the required documentation, fill out a petition for a name change, and file it with the civil clerk in your county's courthouse. | Look at baby naming websites. These websites are full of different names and can help you come up with ideas. If you know what letter you want your name to start with, you can look at a whole bunch of names sorted by that letter. If not, you can see which names were popular during the year you were born, or names that are popular in your ethnic group. Consider what sort of emotional flavor the name has for you. Names might feel gentle, sophisticated, quirky, or high-powered. Find one that fits your personality. Look up the meaning of the name to make sure it feels right for you. Try a feminine/masculine version of your given name. This can be easier to remember and get used to for both your loved ones and yourself. Samantha can turn into Samuel or Samson, Jesse can turn into Jessica, and Elliot can turn into Ellen or Ella. Only do this if it feels right for you. Some people want to distance themselves completely from their given name (often called a deadname), and so they choose a name that's totally different. Take the name of a person who inspires you. Janet Mock, a famous transgender rights activist, chose her name from Janet Jackson. Consider taking the first name of a person who inspires you, whether that's a musician, an activist, a movie star, an author, a politician, or a relative. The person doesn't have to be real! You can name yourself after a character from your favorite book or movie, like “Luna” from Harry Potter, “Nala” from the Lion King, or “Orlando” (a really cool transgender character from a Virginia Woolf book). If you love Greek mythology, you could call yourself “Athena” or “Artemis,” or if you love theater, you could choose a name from Shakespeare like “Romeo.” Create a non-traditional name. You don't have to pick a common name if you don't want to. Many people choose a non-traditional name so they can be more creative. You can choose a name based on a place that you love, like “Brooklyn,” or if you love nature, you could take a nature name, like “Wren,” or “Canyon.” You can also repurpose a last name as a first name, or spell your name in a creative way. You can take the name of a word that you find inspiring, like “Hope,” “Justice,” or “Destiny.” You can take the name of a place you connect to, like “Brooklyn,” “Sydney,” “Denver,” or “Kenya.” Choose a gender-neutral name if you're nonbinary. If you're nonbinary, or for another reason would prefer a gender-neutral name, there's lots to choose from. Lots of cultures have gender-neutral names. Some examples include: Cameron, Kai, Quinn, Asa, Noor, Angel, Sage, Riley, Valentine, Jamie, Casey, Amor, and Jesse. There's lots more out there! You can filter for gender-neutral names on baby naming sites, to see what sort of gender neutral names are common in your culture. If you want a fully feminine or masculine name, avoid names that sound ambiguous, such as Gene/Jean. What is considered a male or female name depends upon what culture you're in and where you live. For example, in the US, Ashley is mostly a women's name, but in the UK, it's mostly a men's name. Ask your loved ones what names they can imagine for you. If you're comfortable talking with your parents, you can ask them what they would have called you if you had been born your gender identity. For example, if you're a transgender man, ask what male names your parents were considering before you were born. Or, ask your siblings and friends what names they can imagine fitting for you. The people who know your personality best may be able to suggest a name that feels right to you. Involving your closest loved ones with the process of choosing a new name can bring your family closer together. But, if they suggest names that don't feel right, don't feel pressured to take them. Research names in your family, culture, or religion. Think about favorite names from your culture or ethnic group. If you're religious, consider taking the name of a religious figure who you find inspiring. You can think about the names of people from your favorite religious stories, like saints, monks, or Biblical figures. Think about common names in the country you're family comes from, or in the language they speak. If your religion has a book, like the Bible or the Quran, try flipping through for names. You can filter on baby naming sites for particular religions or ethnicities. You could also name yourself after someone in your family tree, like your great-aunt Meredith who you've heard wonderful stories about. Think about whether you want to change your last name. Some people choose to change their last names to help mark their transitions, and distance themselves from online information with their old names. On the other hand, changing your last name might offend your family, or require explanations. Do what feels right for you. You can try taking on a family last name, like the maiden name of a beloved family member. If you're in a serious relationship or marriage, you can take the last name of your partner. You can take the last name of someone who inspires you, or just a last name that feels natural. Practice signing each potential name as a signature. As you're signing, think if any of the signatures feels particularly right and natural, and like yourself. Write down your initials, and see if any of them feel better than others. If you're going to keep your last name, practice signing all your potential first names with the last name. Once you're pretty sure about a name, practice signing your signature until you can sign it all in one, fast flourish. It doesn't have to look pretty, but it will feel great to be able to sign it quickly and really own your signature. Consider how easy it is to spell the names you're considering. It can get tiring having to spell out your name for others, and it can lead to mistakes in email addresses and so on. So pick an easily spelled name if this is an issue for you. Consider the nicknames that would go with your potential names. Some names (like Elizabeth, Alexandra, Robert, Nicholas, and William) have set nicknames that often go along with them. Shorter names like Paul or Emma typically don't have set nicknames, but sometimes can have nicknames, (Paulie, Em). If you don't like the nicknames that go along with your potential name, you might want to choose a different one. Some feminine names can be given a boyish nickname (e.g. Alexandra shortening to Alex, Christina to Chris). If you don't like this, choose a name that can't be shortened this way. Practice introducing yourself with your potential name. Saying the name out loud will help you hear if you like how it sounds, and if it feels like it expresses your personality. Get one of your friends to help you practice getting used to your new name and pronouns. Ask them to call you by your potential name, and see how it feels. Consider how easy the name is to pronounce. Will other people be able to get it right? If you're soft-spoken, are people likely to misinterpret you? Take your time. Choosing a name is a process, and it takes longer for some people than for others. You don't have a deadline, and there is no right or wrong way to choose a name. Give yourself time to play around with different names. If you choose one, and, after a while, decide you don't like it, you can choose another. You'll find a good name in time. Get a court-ordered name change when you're ready. When you feel sure about your new name, you can change it legally. You'll have to gather together your driver's license, birth certificate, and proof of state residency. Fill out a petition for a name change and file it with the civil clerk in your county's courthouse. Some states require you to attend a court hearing before they give you a certified copy of your name change. You can use the certified copy of your name change to officially change your birth certificate and driver's license. If you're under 18 years old, and not an emancipated minor, a parent or guardian will have to apply for your name change for you. If they don't agree to, you may have to wait until you're 18. | Look at baby naming websites. Try a feminine/masculine version of your given name. Take the name of a person who inspires you. Create a non-traditional name. Choose a gender-neutral name if you're nonbinary. Ask your loved ones what names they can imagine for you. Research names in your family, culture, or religion. Think about whether you want to change your last name. Practice signing each potential name as a signature. Consider the nicknames that would go with your potential names. Practice introducing yourself with your potential name. Take your time. Get a court-ordered name change when you're ready. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Check-if-Your-Dog-Is-Healthy-and-Happy | How to Check if Your Dog Is Healthy and Happy | To check if your dog is happy and healthy, groom its body regularly and look for anything different or unusual. Check its eyes to see that they're clear and reflective, which are signs of healthy eyes. Additionally, look at your dog's teeth. If your dog is healthy you'll see nice white tooth enamel and pink gums. You can also examine your dog's ears to be sure there's no red, inflamed, or crusty skin, which can indicate a problem. Finally, pay attention to your dog's facial expressions and body language, which are good reflections of your dog's emotional health. | Get to know what's normal for your dog. Keep the big picture in mind and get to know what's normal for your dog. Make yourself familiar with how far the dog likes to walk, how it reacts when you come in from work, how sweet-tempered or grumpy it is, how much water it drinks, what its stool looks like, how often it moves its bowel a day, what the inside of its ears look like, and what its breath smells like. For example, some dogs are greedy eaters whilst others are finicky. If your dog is usually a greedy eater, it's significant if the dog refuses its food. However, if you own a lapdog that turns its nose up at anything but best steak, then refusing a bowl of food it less of a worry. If you know all of these things like the back of your hand, you are ideally placed to spot changes that could indicate the dog is unwell. Assess your dog's emotions through its behavior and body language. Dogs experience emotions, such as grief, depression, boredom, and frustration. The trick as an owner is to recognize these emotions. Most commonly, the first sign to be aware of is a change in behavior or body language. For example, be suspicious when the outgoing dog who is always at the door to greet you becomes withdrawn and does not get out of its bed when you return home. Pay attention to your dog's usual body language. Is it holding its ears or tail lower than normal or is it shying away or taking a dominant stance when approached? These are body language signs that there could be something wrong. A hint that your dog is bored or frustrated includes destructive behavior, digging, whining, barking, and crying. In this case, the dog is adopting a displacement activity, such as chewing the furniture, as an outlet for his frustration. Look at the dog's facial expression. Many dogs are capable of expressing emotions, such as depression, on their faces. If your dog doesn't usually have doleful looking eyes or sad expressions, but suddenly does, then it is probably an expression of the dog's current emotions. Be aware of any physical changes to your dog. Physical changes could be symptomatic of mental stress or depression. For instance, pay attention if your dog stops grooming itself. Depressed or sick animals often stop taking care of themselves and their coat condition drops, becoming harsh, stray, and unkempt. Address possible causes of your dog's unhappiness. If your dog is sad or misbehaving, you should try to find the cause of the distress and then attempt to change the situation, if you can. Not all problems can be fixed, obviously, but some can! If your dog is stressed out about a new routine or home, for instance, that cannot always be changed but you can comfort your dog and try to make transitions as easy as possible. Groom and inspect your dog's body regularly. One of your duties as an owner is to groom your dog regularly. As well as keeping its coat in good condition and tangle free, grooming your dog is an ideal time to run a mini-physical exam at home. This will help you become more familiar with your healthy dog's body. If something changes in the state of your dog's body, then the chances are that you picked up on a problem early on. When performing a physical it is best to follow a set inspection pattern so that you don't accidentally skip anything. Most vets have the routine where they start at the head and work backwards. Stand back and assess your dog overall. Watch how the dog is standing or sitting. Does it look comfortable and relaxed, or does it have difficulty getting up or down? Watch the dog's breathing and count the number of breaths it takes a minute at rest. Normal is 20 - 30 a minute. At a regular room temperature, not in excessive heat when the dog is panting to cool off, its breathing should be unhurried and difficult to see. Exaggerated breathing movements, especially when the dog uses its stomach muscles to haul air in and out of its lungs is a sign of breathing difficulty and should be checked out. What about the dog's weight? Is it gaining or losing weight, and does this coincide with an increase or decrease in appetite? It is worth getting weight change checked out by your vet since it can be an important clue to ill health. Is the dog alert, bright-eyed, and wagging its tail, or is it hanging its head and sluggish with its tail tucked between its legs? Check your dog's eyes. With your index finger and thumb, gently ease the eyelids apart. If its eyes are nice and clear and you can see your reflection in them, then its eyes are normal. Indications of ill health include yellowing (jaundice) of the whites of the eye, inflammation of the whites (could indicate an allergy or infection), and fogginess on the surface (an ulcer or possibly increased pressure within the eye). Check for discharges from the eye. A thick yellow or green discharge is an indication of infection. Eyes are delicate structures and if you suspect a problem then seek veterinary attention. To ignore a serious problem could mean the dog losing his sight. Check your dog's teeth. Lift the dog's lip to see its teeth. Clean healthy teeth look much like our own (except a different shape) with pink gums and white enamel. Look for browny-yellow tartar deposits on the surface of the teeth, inflamed or bleeding gums (gingivitis), or a bad odor from the mouth. All these signs indicate dental attention is required. Look and touch your dog's nose. It is an old wives tale that a cold wet nose is a sign of good health. Many perfectly healthy dogs have warm dry noses, so don't panic if this is the case. Get to know what's normal for your dog's nose. Certain autoimmune skin problems can affect the nose so if the leather button of the nose is inflamed, crusty, or bleeding, then seek veterinary attention. Examine your dog's ears. Look inside its ears and compare one with the other. They should both look the same. You should see the entrance to the ear canal as a dark hole. The lining of the ear flap should look like regular skin and not be thickened, inflamed, reddened, or crusty. If you notice the latter, or if there is a discharge in the ear (ranging from thick black wax to smelly pus), then seek veterinary attention. Don't forget to smell your dog's ears! It should smell of nothing other than "dog." If there is an unpleasant smell, which makes you recoil, seek veterinary help. Inspect your dog's coat. Check for flake-free fur that is glossy and smooth (in breeds that don't have wiry coats.) Part the fur to check the skin. There should be no greasy feel to the coat and no dandruff, black specks within the coat, inflamed skin, scabs, or skin discoloration. The latter all indicate skin disease and warrant fur investigation by a vet. Look under your dog's tail. It's easy to turn a blind eye to this area, but it is important to check since problems with infected anal glands or cancerous lumps around the anus are best spotted early on. Be vigilant for a loss of symmetry to the anal ring (if one side is more swollen than the other), sinuses (channels) that are discharging or weeping fluid, or lumps standing proud of the skin. Check testicles or mammary glands. Make a point of checking that your male dog has testicles of an equal size. Enlargement on one side can be a sign of testicular cancer. Likewise, for female dogs, run your hand along both sides of the mammary area to check for any lumps. Any abnormalities need to be checked by a vet. Check for lumps and bumps. Run your hand over your dog's body to check for lumps and bumps. It is advisable to get any lump checked out by your vet, for even some seemingly innocuous looking lumps have the potential to be something sinister. If you are unsure if it's worth seeing the vet, then measure the size of the lump and write it down. Check the lump again a couple of weeks later and remeasure it. If the lump is changing rapidly, is inflamed, or bothering the dog then a vet check-up is essential. | Get to know what's normal for your dog. Assess your dog's emotions through its behavior and body language. Look at the dog's facial expression. Be aware of any physical changes to your dog. Address possible causes of your dog's unhappiness. Groom and inspect your dog's body regularly. Stand back and assess your dog overall. Check your dog's eyes. Check your dog's teeth. Look and touch your dog's nose. Examine your dog's ears. Inspect your dog's coat. Look under your dog's tail. Check testicles or mammary glands. Check for lumps and bumps. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Boyfriend-Miss-You | How to Make Your Boyfriend Miss You | If you want to make your boyfriend miss you, focus on letting him know you're there for him and taking care of your appearance so you look your best. Stay in regular communication by video chat or text when you're apart to show you care. When you're together, say his name when you talk, which will let him know you're thinking of him and nobody else. If he shares something with you, respond in a supportive manner, which will encourage him to turn to you in the future. For example, if a co-worker takes credit for work he did, say something like, “That's awful! They must feel threatened by your abilities.” Remember to wear clothes that fit you well and maintain good personal hygiene, since your boyfriend will be more likely to miss you if you take good care of yourself. | Listen to your boyfriend. Being a good listener is essential to a healthy relationship, but it can also help to increase your boyfriend's feelings of attraction for you. This can mean that he will crave your companionship and want to see you when you are not around. To be a good listener, you will need to: put away distractions such as your cell phone, laptop, or TV maintain eye contact when he is talking nod and make neutral statements such as “I see,” “uh-huh,” and “go on” restate what he has just said now and then for clarity, such as “It sounds like you were really angry at him for borrowing your stuff without asking.” Respond in a supportive way. Men are more attracted to women who are responsive to them. If you are responsive when your boyfriend shares something with you, then he will be more likely to seek you out when he has other problems. To be responsive, listen to your boyfriend when he shares a problem or struggle with you and respond in a supportive way. For example, if your boyfriend shares something about how a coworker took credit for something he did, then you might respond with something like, “That's awful! He must feel threatened by your abilities.” Do not disregard your boyfriend's feelings or ignore him when he shares a problem with you. Say his name. Saying your boyfriend's name when you are with him can make him feel more attracted to you as well. Saying his name lets him know that you are thinking about him and that you don't have anything or anyone else on your mind. This can help him to feel valued and that feeling can last even after he is not with you. Try saying your boyfriend's name at unexpected times, such as in the middle of a story you are telling him or during a long hug. Compliment him. Let your boyfriend know you still desire him and find him attractive by giving him praise and compliments. When you compliment your boyfriend, it lets him know that you find him attractive and this will intensify his feelings for you. Focus on complimenting a particular skill or activity that your boyfriend does well, like cooking your favorite dish or cleaning up around the house. Try to compliment him as soon as he does something that you appreciate or find attractive. Don't worry if he only respond with a grunt or a smile. He will be drawn in by your compliment and develop an even deeper affection for you. Arrange video chat dates. You can use technology to your advantage, especially if you are in a long-distance relationship. Arrange video chat dates at least once per week. This will allow you and your boyfriend to see each other and talk face to face, even if it is through a phone or a computer. Having a visual reference when he speaks to you will remind your boyfriend how much he misses you and give him images to return to when you are not around. Send a romantic text. If the two of you are busy and have not spoken over the phone for a couple of days, a quick romantic text message can remind him of you and why he enjoys being with you so much. Your text can be as simple as “I love you!,” “I miss you!,” or “Thinking of you right now!” Sexting can be a risky move, and sending explicit picture of yourself via text message is a risk best left unexplored in many cases. If you want to be romantic and sexy at the same time, you could try sending a message that lets him know how much you miss him and hints at how much you want him. For instance, try something like, “Just thinking about our last night together...” or “Looking forward to our next night together...” Surprise him with a gift or a special date. A good way to make your boyfriend miss you is to create special memories together that he will not want to forget. This could mean surprising him with a special gift, like an item of clothing he has always wanted, or planning a special date to see a band he really likes. Keep the relationship spontaneous and exciting by planning surprise activities that you can do together. This will allow you and your boyfriend to spend quality time together and build memories that will serve as reminders of how enjoyable your relationship is. Write him a love letter. Be extra romantic and write down your feelings and emotions in a letter for your boyfriend to find later on his pillow, in his bag, or in his car. Use nice stationery and be as intimate and honest as you can. Seal the letter and leave it somewhere where he can find it easily. When he finds it and opens it, he will think of you and miss your loving presence. You can also send him a loving text via your phone, and remember to wish him good night or good morning, especially if you are apart from each other. This will help you both to maintain a strong connection to each other and show your boyfriend he is always on your mind. Treat your boyfriend. Find a way to surprise and treat your boyfriend now and then. Prepare his favorite meal, give him a massage, or allow him time to focus on his own hobbies or passions. This will show him how generous and loving you can be. Doing things he enjoys can be a good reminder that your relationship is valuable and he will miss good treatment from you when you are away. Make sure that you do not neglect your needs in order to meet your boyfriend's needs. Just try to find little ways to surprise him now and then so that he will be more likely to miss you when you are not with him. Leave something behind. Leaving a small item at your boyfriend's house may remind him of you when he least expects it. Try leaving an earring, hair clip, or some other small items that will remind him of you when he finds it. Leaving an earring behind can be subtle and symbolic. Earrings are a pair, so leaving one behind implies that that the pair will come together again just as you and your boyfriend will come together again. Avoid leaving behind anything too essential. Your house keys, wallet, or driver's license are necessary parts of your daily life, so you will need to turn right back around to retrieve them. This will not give your boyfriend enough time to miss you. Look your best. Physical attraction is important in a relationship, but that does not mean that you have to look perfect. Men are more attracted to women who show that they take care of themselves and try to look their best. To show that you take good care of yourself, make sure that you: shower every day style your hair brush your teeth twice daily wear clothes that fit you well and make you feel attractive exercise at least a few times per week keep your nails clean and trimmed wear a little makeup now and then (only if you like to wear makeup) Show off your great personality. Physical attraction is important, but men are even more attracted to women who have positive personality traits. Make sure that you show your boyfriend what great personality you have by demonstrating your traits. You can show off your personality just by being yourself, but you can also try to highlight some of the traits that your boyfriend finds attractive. For example, you can show that you are kind by being polite to the waiter when you are out to dinner. Or, show that you are an optimist by pointing out the bright side of things as much as possible. Make eye contact. Gazing into your boyfriend's eyes for two minutes can increase his feelings of attraction for you and vice versa. Make sure that eye contact is a regular part of your time spent together so that he will be more likely to remember those romantic feelings when you are apart. Try catching his eye when he is walking by you in the hall and hold the gaze for a minute. Or, during a discussion over coffee make sure that you hold his gaze for a little longer than usual. Wear red. The color red seems to attract men to women more than other colors. To take advantage of this, try wearing red more often when your boyfriend will see you. For example, you could wear a red sweater when you drop off something to him at work or keep a red scarf handy and pop it on before your boyfriend comes over. Choose a signature scent. Scents can draw out memories, so make sure that you wear a specific perfume or body spray whenever you are with your boyfriend. Over time, he should start to associate that scent with positive feelings about you and smelling the scent may make him miss you. If you sleep over at your boyfriend's house, then you can spray a bit of your perfume on his pillow before you leave. Later when he goes to bed alone, he will smell your perfume and he may start to miss you. Try wearing one of your boyfriend's favorite sweatshirts for a few hours (with permission of course). Make sure that you are wearing your perfume so that a bit of it will get on the sweatshirt. Return the sweatshirt to him with your scent on it. Maintain a social life outside of your relationship. Rather than always being available to your boyfriend, it is important that you maintain your relationships with friends and family. Being independent and not always having to spend time around your boyfriend will make your boyfriend value the time you spend together even more. Go out with your friends on your own, or spend time with family without your boyfriend. Encourage your boyfriend to do the same. When you see him again after having your separate social activities, be pleasant and make sure he knows that you want him to have fun when he is not with you as well. Avoid texting him too much when you are apart. Instead, send a message to make sure that he is having a good time and then don't text him any more for the day or night. Do not drop your plans to spend time with him. Your relationship will be much healthier and more fulfilling if you both have a certain level of independence and do not spend every moment together. | Listen to your boyfriend. Respond in a supportive way. Say his name. Compliment him. Arrange video chat dates. Send a romantic text. Surprise him with a gift or a special date. Write him a love letter. Treat your boyfriend. Leave something behind. Look your best. Show off your great personality. Make eye contact. Wear red. Choose a signature scent. Maintain a social life outside of your relationship. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Book%27s-Binding | How to Repair a Book's Binding | To repair the binding of a book, purchase acid-free binding glue, and remove any loose pages from the book. Then, apply a thin layer of glue to the spot where the page fell out of the book, and set the page so the end is reattached to the spine. Close the book, securing it with a rubber band, and let it dry for 24 hours. If you want to close a gap in the binding, stand the book up with the pages open. Dip a long need or rod into the adhesive, and then insert it into the gap to apply the glue. Close the book and lay it flat, pressing on the spine to attach the glue, and let it dry for 24 hours. | Purchase an acid-free book or binding glue. Most craft or hobby stores carry book or binding glue. It usually comes in a tall, thin tube. Make sure you purchase an acid-free glue: if you use a glue with acid in it, it can cause the pages of your book to disintegrate or eat away at the spine of the book. Remove the loose pages. Set them aside so you don't get any glue on them. Make sure you set them aside in the right order. You don't want to accidentally glue them back into your book out of order! Apply a thin layer of the glue. Open the book and squeeze some glue onto the inside of the book's spine, where the pages have pulled away. Using a popsicle stick, spread the glue so that it covers the spine evenly. Set the pages back on the spine. Make sure you have them in the right order first! Then carefully line up the top and bottom of each set of pages so they're even with the pages still attached to the spine of the book. Firmly press the edge of the set of pages to the spine so that the edge evenly attached to the spine. You might need to wiggle the pages a bit to get them to line up exactly with the rest of the book. That's okay, but work quickly so the pages don't end up sticking where they're not supposed to! Hold the book closed with a rubber band. This helps keep all the pages evenly in place while the glue dries. You can also stack other, heavier books on top of the book you've repaired. Let the book dry for 24 hours. After the 24 hours are up, carefully remove the rubber band (or other books) and gently flip through the pages of the book. They should all feel secure. If they don't, you may need to repeat the gluing process. Gather your equipment. You'll need book adhesive, knitting needles or plastic rods (for applying the adhesive), wax paper, and a piece of flat plastic. It's best if your adhesive is in a tall bottle, since this will allow you to cover the needles or plastic rods for application to the spine. Stand the book on its tail. Then very gently, use one hand to open the gap between the pages and the hinge as far as possible without causing more damage. Dip the needle or rod in adhesive. Then gently insert the needle or rod into the gap between the pages and spine and twirl it against both the text block and the spine. This should ensure an even coat of adhesive to both parts, which will help it adhere better. If there is a gap all along the entire spine of the book, you'll need to flip the book over so it's resting on its top and repeat the process. Lay the book flat. Firmly and evenly press the text block so that it is flat against the spine. Then use your piece of flat plastic to press the endpaper (the blank pages at the beginning of the book) into the hinge. This helps make sure that all of the pages stick to the spine and none of them tear. Place a piece of wax paper between the cover and pages. You should press it back as far into the hinge as it will go. This prevents any adhesive from leaking out onto the cover of the book and will make sure your book opens properly when it's dry. Run your flat piece of plastic along the hinge. This is the little indent between the edge of the spine and the cover of the book. Apply even pressure as you run your plastic along this ridge. Press the book overnight. Set the book on top of a flat board, with a knitting needle slightly thicker than the cover of the book resting on top of the bottom board. Place the book on the bottom board, lining up the knitting needle with the hinge of the book. Repeat this process with a knitting needle resting on the top hinge and another board on top. Set about 10 lbs (4.5 kg) of weight on top of the book and leave it overnight. Remove the hinge from the book. It's harder to repair a hinge that's still clinging to the book by threads, so removing it actually makes your life easier. Cut away any threads or loose paper so that the text block is even and clean. Cut a piece of single-stitched binder tape. You can find this type of tape in most craft stores. Cut the tape so that it's the same height as the text block. Don't use the height of the cover for measuring the tape since the text block is usually shorter than the cover and you'll end up with too much tape. Apply adhesive to one side of the tape. It's best to use a brush for this application since it lets you apply the adhesive evenly. Attach the tape to the text block and spine. Hold the tape by the dry tabs and line up the stitching with the edge of the text block. Stick one tab with adhesive to the first page of the text block and the other to the spine of the text block. Use a flat piece of plastic to rub the tape, ensuring that it sticks to the text block. Let the adhesive dry. This can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight. You should be able to tell if the adhesive is dry by running your finger over the top – you'll be able to feel if there's any wetness under the tape. Place waxed paper on top of the text block and in the spine. You should lay it on top of the binder tape that is already glued to the text block and under the binder tape that hasn't been glued yet. Apply adhesive to the other two tabs. Then gently bring the cover up so the edge of the cover fits along the seam of the binder tape. Press the spine firmly against one tab. This should be the tab sitting parallel to the spine, between the spine and the text block. When you pull the cover up, the spine should lay flat against this tab. Attach the last tab to the cover. Smooth it with a flat piece of plastic so that it lays flat against the cover. Close the book and run your flat plastic piece along the spine so that the tab sticks to the spine. Secure with rubber bands and let dry overnight. The rubber bands will help all of the adhesive dry evenly and make sure that the tabs all lay flat against the spine and text block. Let it all dry overnight so that it doesn't fall apart when you pick it up. Remove the rubber bands and waxed paper. Open your book carefully and flip through the pages so the book can adjust to the repair. | Purchase an acid-free book or binding glue. Remove the loose pages. Apply a thin layer of the glue. Set the pages back on the spine. Hold the book closed with a rubber band. Let the book dry for 24 hours. Gather your equipment. Stand the book on its tail. Dip the needle or rod in adhesive. Lay the book flat. Place a piece of wax paper between the cover and pages. Run your flat piece of plastic along the hinge. Press the book overnight. Remove the hinge from the book. Cut a piece of single-stitched binder tape. Apply adhesive to one side of the tape. Attach the tape to the text block and spine. Let the adhesive dry. Place waxed paper on top of the text block and in the spine. Apply adhesive to the other two tabs. Press the spine firmly against one tab. Attach the last tab to the cover. Secure with rubber bands and let dry overnight. Remove the rubber bands and waxed paper. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Talk-to-Celebrities | How to Talk to Celebrities | To talk to celebrities, choose a social media platform where they're more likely to respond to you, such as Snapchat or Instagram, which are great for quick replies. If you want to grab their attention, tag them in every relevant post you create. Alternatively, try retweeting their tweets on Twitter to get noticed. If you want to talk to a celebrity in person, look on their fan site for meet-and-greet events to attend. You could also try going to smaller events at local venues, where you're more likely to get time to speak to them. | Determine if this is the right time to approach them. Remember that celebrities are people, too. They will have times when they are busy, frustrated, or otherwise dealing with a major situation where it might not be appropriate to approach them. If you see a celebrity who seems like they're in a big rush, or if they are dealing with a critical situation, leave them to their business. Some situations, such as escorting someone into an ambulance, will be obvious. Others, like if they are in a rush while getting coffee, will be less conspicuous. Use your best judgement and respect their time and space to the best of your abilities. Try to make eye contact and smile at them. Not only does this help give you confidence, it gives them a chance to acknowledge you. If they don't acknowledge you, they may be too busy. Casually approach them and say “Hi. ” Try to stay composed. Don't panic or start screaming if they wave or smile back. Simply casually walk up to them and introduce yourself. Say hi, and let them know that you're a fan of their work. You could say something like, “Mr. Johnson! I can't believe I'm meeting you in person. I've been a fan of yours for a long time.” If you know they have just had a widely publicized life event, such as getting married or welcoming a new child, you can say something like, “Congratulations on your marriage!” Stick to widely publicized events. Do not drop personal or private information that you learned online or through gossip magazines. Make a personal connection. If the celebrity's body of work has had a major impact on your life, don't be afraid to let them know. Otherwise, try to make a personal connection by talking about things you would talk about to any other person. Ask them about their work, and let them know why you're a fan of them. Try something like, “Your second album was really important to me when I was applying to college. It helped get me through some very stressful moments.” Remember to keep the conversation brief. Let them know that their work helped you through a hard time, but don't give them a long story about your life unless they specifically ask for it. Keep things short and sweet. End the conversation with something like, “I know you're busy and I don't want to keep you. Thank you for taking a few minutes to talk to me!” Ask for an autograph or a picture if you want one. Celebrities know that things like autographs and taking pictures with fans are part of the deal. Don't be afraid to ask for a quick autograph or picture if you want one. Just make sure to keep it quick, and always ask their permission before you take their picture. Don't get mad if they won't give your their autograph. If they refuse, say "That's okay. I still enjoyed meeting you. Have a nice day." A graceful ending is always best. Some celebrities may take a picture or sign an autograph, but may ask you not to do something like post the picture on a certain social media site or to not get their autograph tattooed on you. Respect their wishes in these cases. Pick the right social media platform. While many celebs have profiles on many forms of social media, some platforms make it inherently easier to interact. Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and a few others allow for quick responses and replies to posts. Sites like Facebook, on the other hand, are generally better for simply following than for interacting. Take a look at what social media platforms your favorite celebs regularly use. They may have both a Twitter and Instagram, but if they post daily on one and once every few weeks on the other, you should try to connect with the platform they use the most. Some celebrities choose not to use social media. Respect their pursuit for privacy, and don't try to hunt down personal details like their phone number or address if they don't have an online presence. Tag them in every relevant post. Celebrities aren't going to just stumble across your social media posts. You need to tag or properly mention them in some way to get their attention. Tag them in relevant posts to increase their chance of seeing your statement. For example, you could tweet, “Chillin' in my PJs, eating cereal and listening to @ArianaGrande newest album right now. Loving life!” The @ mention is a common feature in Twitter, but every social media site has its own means of tagging someone or referencing another person on the platform. Be sure to only mention or tag them in relevant posts. Tagging them in every single one of your posts is likely to lead to them ignoring you or blocking you. Focus on posts about the celeb's work, life, or other public events. Retweet them on Twitter. Just like an @ mention, retweeting a celeb is a quick and easy way to get a celebrity to see your handle. Retweet them when they say something funny, inspiring, or something to which you can relate. Be sure to check their account daily for potentially retweetable content. You do not need to retweet everything they post. Like all other social media interactions, retweets are more powerful when there is a personal connection to them. Comment on YouTube and Instagram. YouTube and Instagram both have celebrities that started their careers on those platforms. These kinds of celebs are generally more likely to respond to some comments on their accounts. Even celebs who didn't start on the platform may still respond to fan comments. Write specific, meaningful comments on YouTube videos and Instagram pictures. This may help you get some attention. Remember to be specific. Saying, “You're so great!” is a nice sentiment, but it doesn't require a response. “You used a really stunning blend of direct and indirect lighting components. What tools do you recommend for someone starting out on Instagram?” is more personal, descriptive, and requests a response from your favorite Instagram artist. Keep the conversation going. If a celeb responds to you on social media, don't be afraid to keep the conversation going. Let them know, “I can't believe you responded. This made my day! Any chance I can get a follow?” Give them something they can respond to, and ask them to connect with you so that you can keep the conversation rolling. Don't be offended if they choose not to follow or friend you. Many celebrities do not follow their fans on social media. It's not personal in most cases, it's just them being firm in their policies. Check fan sites and convention schedules for appearances. Many celebs do meet-and-greets as part of promotions for projects, conventions, and fan appreciation events. Check your favorite celebrities' official website, their authorized fan sites, and schedules for conventions like Comic-Con and VidCon to see if they are scheduled to make an appearance near you any time soon. When you look for scheduled appearances, make sure you get all the facts before you go. Check to see if you need to buy a pass or a ticket, and verify that there will be a signing or meet-and-greet, not just an onstage appearance or panel discussion. Attend small events at local venues. If possible, look for smaller events, and those with tickets or reservations. These increase your chance of getting some face-to-face time with your celeb. Concerts at local music venues, book readings, and lectures are great events to increase your odds of running into the feature celebrity. Follow the rules at meet-and-greets. Many celebrities like getting to interact with their fans. Scheduled appearances often have some attached rules, though, that can't be disregarded. Some celebs, for example, refuse to sign autographs, and showing up with a pen and autograph book could get you kicked out. Check the ticketing website or the ticket, itself, to see what is and is not allowed. Always follow directions for an event. You don't want to miss an opportunity to see your favorite celeb just because you got caught trying to do something that wasn't allowed. Be persistent but polite. This is true of meeting in person, but it's especially true if you want to talk to a celeb online. They get thousands of messages, posts, and other things directed at them a day, and they don't have time to see all of them. Keep retweeting, tagging, and messaging, and be patient. You don't want negative attention because you were too aggressive or rude in your communication. Remember to keep a personal connection in your online communication. The more of a personal touch your messages or comments have, the more likely they are to get a response. If you see a celebrity in person and they let you know they don't have time to talk, respect that. They have busy lives and responsibilities of their own. | Determine if this is the right time to approach them. Casually approach them and say “Hi. Make a personal connection. Ask for an autograph or a picture if you want one. Pick the right social media platform. Tag them in every relevant post. Retweet them on Twitter. Comment on YouTube and Instagram. Keep the conversation going. Check fan sites and convention schedules for appearances. Attend small events at local venues. Follow the rules at meet-and-greets. Be persistent but polite. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Old-Wood | How to Clean Old Wood | To gently remove dirt and dust from old wood, all you need is water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth. Wipe the wooden object down with a dry microfiber cloth to remove loose dust and dirt. Then, rub an inconspicuous spot with a drop of dish detergent on a clean cloth to make sure it doesn't damage or stain the finish. If the detergent doesn't cause any problems, mix 2-3 drops with a cup of water. Soak a clean cloth in the mixture and wring it out so it's damp, but not dripping wet. Wipe your wooden item down with the damp cloth, then gently buff it dry with a clean microfiber towel. | Wipe down the wood with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove dust. This will get rid of regular amounts of dust so you can get to the stuck-on dirt underneath. Give the whole wood object you want to clean a thorough wipe-down with the cloth. If there is a lot of dust on the wood and a dry cloth doesn't do the trick, then you can wipe it down with a barely-damp microfiber cloth instead to get rid off all the dust. Test a drop of liquid dish detergent on a hidden area of the wood. Put a drop of mild dish detergent onto a corner of a clean microfiber cloth. Rub it onto an inconspicuous area of the wood and watch to see if it causes any discoloration or removes the finish. If the wood looks the same where you test the detergent, then it's safe to proceed with cleaning the whole piece. You will be able to see after a couple of minutes whether the detergent hurts the finish. Mix 2-3 drops of dish detergent in 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Pour approximately 1 cup (240 mL) of water into a bowl or container of some kind. Squeeze in 2-3 drops of mild liquid dish detergent. Don't worry too much about the exact ratio, you just want to create a diluted dish detergent and water solution. A bit more detergent or less water won't affect how it cleans. As an alternative to liquid dish detergent, you can use an oil soap. Mix the oil soap with water in the proper ratio according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Soak a microfiber cloth in the solution and wring it out. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the water and detergent mixture and let it get completely soaked. Wring it out back into the container so it is just barely damp. You don't want to soak the wood while you are cleaning it, so it's important that the cloth isn't dripping wet. Wipe down the whole wood piece with the wet microfiber cloth. Brush the damp cloth with light pressure over the entire surface of the wood. Scrub harder at any gummy or particularly dirty spots until they disappear. Try to clean the wood as fast as you can so you don't let it stay wet for too long. Water can warp wood if it soaks into it. Dry off the wood with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Wipe down the wood again thoroughly to dry off all the areas you cleaned. Buff it in circular motions with the clean, dry cloth to remove all moisture and shine it up a bit. If you still see any dirty spots after you dry the wood, then you can repeat the process or try another method to get rid of it. Work in a well-ventilated area. Work outside if you can, or open up all doors and windows where you will work. This is to avoid breathing in the fumes of the mineral spirits. Mineral spirits are also known more commonly as paint thinner. Test the mineral spirits on an out-of-sight area of the wood. Put a few drops of the spirits on the corner of a clean cloth. Rub it onto a hidden area and check to see if it damages the finish at all. Mineral spirits are safe for most wood finishes, but make sure to always test it on a hidden area and check for discoloration. If there is no discoloration, proceed with the cleaning. You will notice right away if the mineral spirits remove any of the finish. Moisten a clean cloth with mineral spirits. Pour out enough mineral spirits to just moisten part of the cloth without making it dripping wet. Try to just dampen a corner of the cloth that you can use to wipe down the piece. The more mineral spirits you use, the more fumes you will be exposed to as well. This is why it's important to work in a well-ventilated area and not pour out too much of the liquid onto the rag. Wipe down the whole wood piece with the damp cloth. Apply light pressure with the damp cloth and rub it all over the wood to wipe away dirt. Scrub any stuck-on dirt spots with your finger inside a corner of the cloth. If the wood has any carved parts or hard-to-reach bits, you can use an old toothbrush dipped in mineral spirits to get in them and scrub. Wipe away residue from the spirits with a water-dampened cloth. Soak a clean cloth in water and wring it out firmly so it is just barely wet. Wipe down the whole wood piece to remove any residue from the mineral spirits. If the wood is still wet to the touch after you wipe it down, then rub it with a clean dry cloth in circular motions to dry it off. Create a 1/16 vinegar and water solution. Mix approximately 1 part white distilled vinegar with 16 parts water in a bucket or other container. This diluted vinegar solution will remove stuck-on dirt and grime from the wood you want to clean. It's important to dilute the vinegar with water as concentrated vinegar can discolor some wood finishes. Test the solution on a hidden area of the wood. Dip the corner of a clean cloth into the solution. Rub it onto a small out-of-sight area of the wood and watch to see if it discolors the finish. If the wood looks fine after you test the solution, then it's safe to proceed with using the vinegar solution to clean the whole piece. You will be able to see within a couple of minutes if the solution damages the finish at all. Dip the cloth into the solution and wring it out so it is barely moist. Soak the cloth in the solution for a few seconds. Squeeze it out completely until no more drops of the solution come out. Alternatively, you can put the solution in a spray bottle and just spray it onto the cloth to moisten it. Wipe the damp cloth all over the piece in circular motions. Wipe down the entire piece with light pressure. Scrub away at any sticky or particularly dirty spots with the corner of the rag and your fingers. If the rag gets visibly dirty, rinse it out with regular water and wring it out until it looks clean again. Repeat the process until you've cleaned the whole wood piece. Buff the wood with a clean, dry cloth. Use circular motions to buff away moisture and shine the finish up. Make sure to cover all areas so you don't leave any water sitting on the surface of the wood. If you notice any areas where it is still dirty, just go back over them with the vinegar solution and cloth. If there are any cracks, such as decorative carved areas, then you can use a toothbrush dipped in the solution to scrub inside them. | Wipe down the wood with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove dust. Test a drop of liquid dish detergent on a hidden area of the wood. Mix 2-3 drops of dish detergent in 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Soak a microfiber cloth in the solution and wring it out. Wipe down the whole wood piece with the wet microfiber cloth. Dry off the wood with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Work in a well-ventilated area. Test the mineral spirits on an out-of-sight area of the wood. Moisten a clean cloth with mineral spirits. Wipe down the whole wood piece with the damp cloth. Wipe away residue from the spirits with a water-dampened cloth. Create a 1/16 vinegar and water solution. Test the solution on a hidden area of the wood. Dip the cloth into the solution and wring it out so it is barely moist. Wipe the damp cloth all over the piece in circular motions. Buff the wood with a clean, dry cloth. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Health-Insurance-Agent | How to Become a Health Insurance Agent | To become a health insurance agent, start by checking your state's guidelines, which will likely include mandatory training, licensing, and a criminal background check. Then, register for the required courses and complete all of the educational requirements. When you're finished with your coursework, pass your local licensing exam to receive your license to work as a health insurance agent in your state. Once you have your license, you can start looking for employment with an industry association or as an independent agent. | Search for your state's rules. Ask your state's Department of Insurance (DoI) if they have information on completing the background check. If they don't have the direct information, they should provide you with a website and/or contact information of someone at the state government level. For example, in California, you need to complete a form about your background and get fingerprinted. Your fingerprints will be sent to the FBI, and the form will be sent to the state Department of Justice. The DoI also checks with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, State Producer's Licensing Database, and Special Activites Database for possible offenses. Read the fine print. Before you sign off or remit payment, you should always know exactly what you're getting into. Review the policies for refunds and rescheduling your appointment. Also, if you have an arrest record, read carefully whether you can still qualify for licensing. For example, in Connecticut, a criminal record may disqualify you from getting a health insurance license. Felonies, drug offenses, fraud, or other financial crimes within the past 5 to 10 years will often disqualify you. Check with your state DoI if you have any reason to fear your background will be a problem. Schedule your appointment. Each state has a different procedure for completing the criminal background check. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Some states give you the option of scheduling your appointment online or on paper. Others have moved to a strictly online format. For example, in Ohio, you have to request your background check through a registered WebCheck vendor. Specify that your background check is to become a licensed health insurance agent. You must then have the results sent directly to the state DoI. Pay for the background check. Your state government should have a website detailing how to pay. Depending on your state's regulations, you'll either have to pay in advance or during your appointment. Fees also vary from state to state. Make sure you have a valid credit card or access to a certified check/money order. Some states don't allow payment by cash or personal check. For example, Ohio applicants pay the WebCheck vendor directly. The vendor only accepts MasterCard, Visa, or American Express. You cannot pay in cash, check, or money order. Go to your appointment. Check your state government's website for all the materials you'll need. Specifics vary in each state. However, you should have your government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport. Expect to be fingerprinted and answer yes/no questions about your history. For example, in New Jersey, you must have a government-issued photo identification. This can be a valid passport or a driver's license. Your ID must include your full name, date of birth, and street address. You also need to bring a completed Universal Form identifying you as a prospective adjuster or producer. Wait for your results. Depending on your state's laws, the results of your background check might be sent to you or directly to your state's DoI. Some states require organizations like the FBI to send the results directly to the DoI to be considered valid. Always double check your state DoI website for specific instructions and follow them to the letter. For example, in Florida, the private vendor sends your fingerprints directly to state law enforcement. After they run the criminal check, they forward the results to the Florida Department of Financial Services. You will have to wait up to 45 days for the results. The Department of Financial Services will notify you via email. Get info on your state's guidelines. In nearly all states, health insurance agent licenses come in a package with life insurance qualifications. Ask your DoI about the exact requirements for an insurance license in your state. You should also ask for a list of providers for the education and testing requirements. If the board doesn't have this information, they should be able to refer you to the appropriate sources. Register for your training. Find out your state's required courses to take for licensing. When you enroll, you'll have to pay a fee for your license application. The exact amount varies between states. You can opt for traditional on-site classroom instruction or self-guided distance learning. Complete your education requirements. State DoIs require documentation of successful course completion. In most cases, you need to complete at least 40 hours of training before you can take the exam. Check your state's guidelines for study time caps. For example, Florida requires licensing students to either complete their studies within six months or re-apply for licensing. As a prospective agent, you'll have to take at least five credit hours of Law and Ethics Update. If you live in Florida and want to combine life insurance into your business, register for CE 5-215. If you just want to sell health insurance, register for CE 5-240. Regardless of what exactly you want to sell, you'll also have to register for 19 credit hours of related electives from the Course Authority drop-down list. Schedule your licensing exam. You'll have to pay a fee to take the exam. Some states require proof of course completion before you can register. Others require you to take the certificate with you to the testing center on exam day. Check with your state DoI for specific instructions. For example in California, you have to schedule your exam online with PSI Exams. Click “Government/State Licensing Agencies.” Select California from the first drop-down list on the next page. From the list that appears, select “Department of Insurance.” Then, select the correct classification in the next list. There are four categories that contain health insurance. California applicants have to pay a $50 fee for the exam. Pay online with a major credit card. When you report to the testing site, bring a valid photo ID (California driver's license, military ID, or passport). Since you should have nothing else at the testing site, except a pencil and a sheet of scratch paper, you'll need to show proof of course completion before the exam day. Take your exam. Use standard test-taking strategies (such as process of elimination and reading carefully) to maximize your performance. Check your state's DoI website for study materials and testing information. A passing score is usually 70 percent or higher. For example, Florida provides an outline of the examination contents online. You'll have two hours to take the test, which consists of 15 pretest questions and 85 scored questions. The test covers the types of insurance policies; their provisions, clauses, and riders; social insurance; other miscellaneous concepts; underwriting procedures; and how these concepts relate to state laws and regulations. Receive your license. Most licensing tests are scored on-site. If you pass, you'll receive a temporary license so that you can immediately seek employment. Ask your state DoI if you'll automatically receive a formal license or if you need to apply for one. If you fail the exam, check state's regulations regarding retesting. Look into how many times you can retake the test. You should also check on how long you have to wait between retesting sessions. Ask about appealing your results if you believe your test was scored unfairly. Join an industry association. Organizations like the Association of Health Insurance Advisers (AHIA) require members to pay dues. However, they also provide benefits to their members that could give you an edge in the industry. Examples include further training and networking opportunities. If you don't have a job yet, networking events could help you out. If you have a job with an agency or if you've decided to go independent, you could begin to grow your customer base through these organizations. Apply to become a captive agent. In this kind of employment, you'll sign a contract binding you to one agency. You'll have access to office space and assistants who can process your paperwork. If this option is for you, check with prospective employers before you begin the licensing process. Many companies will keep a spot open for you while you train. Some might even provide help with exam prep. In addition to networking through associations and finding prospective employers before you're licensed, you can try the standard job-hunting method of checking with employment websites like Monster or Indeed. Keep your résumé and licensing information updated in the database. Make your résumé available for prospective employers to view. Sign on as an independent agent. In this capacity, you may represent multiple companies simultaneously. You'll also get a higher commission than a captive agent. On the other hand, you'll have to process your own paperwork. This could consume time that you'd otherwise spend seeking new clients as a captive agent. You'll also have to furnish your own workspace. Some states require additional training to become an independent agent. Check with your DoI for specific guidelines. To get started, you'll have to register your business with a certified lawyer and hire an accountant for tax planning. Next, you'll have to buy insurance policies that cover errors and omissions, workers' compensation, and business owner policy. To grow your sales, you'll need an online presence at a variety of social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. You should also join a cluster group that will help you find contacts and potential clients. It also helps to check with established agents for lists of their customers that they'd be willing to transfer to your name. | Search for your state's rules. Read the fine print. Schedule your appointment. Pay for the background check. Go to your appointment. Wait for your results. Get info on your state's guidelines. Register for your training. Complete your education requirements. Schedule your licensing exam. Take your exam. Receive your license. Join an industry association. Apply to become a captive agent. Sign on as an independent agent. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Bellydance-Like-Shakira | How to Bellydance Like Shakira | Before you can bellydance like Shakira, learn to do a hip drop by bending both of your knees, and putting your left foot a few inches in front of your right one. From there, straighten your left leg to raise the left side of your hip, and then let your hip drop back to where it was. Repeat that faster and faster until it looks fluid with no pauses. Once you have mastered a few basic moves, start watching Shakira's music videos and try to dress and dance like she does. | Stand with your feet flat and your arms at your sides. Make sure your hips are level and your legs are right under your hip bones. Bend your knees slightly and keep your chest lifted. This is the standard starting position for any belly dancing move. You should also tuck your lower abdominal muscles and engage your core. This will help to strengthen your abdominals and make your belly dancing moves more fluid. Do a “hip lift” or “shimmy. ” Bend both knees. Then, straighten your right leg. This should raise your right hip, lifting it upward. The hip bone should shoot up toward your rib cage. Keep your heels flat on the ground as you do the lift. Do not move your upper body at all. This is a hip lift on the right side. Bring your right hip back down to center and try the same movement on the other side. Straighten your left leg and raise your left hip upward. This is a hip lift on the left side. Repeat the hip lift on both sides at a faster pace. Skip the break in the middle between sides. It should look like your hips are lifting on the right and then on the left smoothly and fluidly. At full speed, your hips will shimmy from side to side at a quick pace. This is known as the “shimmy” move. Practice a “hip drop. ” Start with your right foot flat on the ground. Place your left foot a few inches in front of you with the heel lifted. Bend both knees. Keep your chest up and your arms out. Then, straighten your left leg, lifting your left hip. Release your left hip down so it falls to the level of your right hip. Keep your right leg bent as you do this. This is a hip drop. Repeat these movements at a faster pace. Over time, they should look fluid with no pauses or breaks. Do a “belly roll. ” Begin with your feet flat on the ground and your upper body lifted, with your arms relaxed at your sides. Bend your knees. Contract just your upper abdominal muscles, drawing them into your spine. Then, contract just your lower abdominal muscles, drawing them inward. Push out your upper abs and then push out your lower abs. This is a belly roll. Repeat these movements in sequence. Try to make the contracting in and the pushing out of your abdominal muscles fluid, with no pauses or breaks. Try a “chest lift. ” Assume the basic belly dance position with your chest up and your arms out at your sides. Keep your knees together and your feet flat on the floor. Lift your rib cage all the way up. Let your shoulder blades slide down your back as you do this. Then, release your rib cage back down. This is a chest lift. Repeat these movements at a faster pace, lifting your rib cage all the way up and then back down. Contract the abdominal muscles below your chest bones as you lift up and then release them as you come back down. Watch Shakira videos online. Look at how Shakira moves in her big hit videos for “Whenever, Wherever,” “Hips Don't Lie,” “She Wolf” and “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)." Notice how she moves her hips and belly to create a fluid dance. Watch the videos several times so you can study her moves in detail. Do some moves from “Whenever, Wherever. ” In the chorus of the song, Shakira does hip lifts, hip drops, and chest lifts. She also moves her arms around in an artful, fluid way. Start by doing hip lifts following the pattern right, left, right, left. Then, raise your arms and chest lift to the right side. Do hip drops with your body facing the side. You can also add in foot and arm movements like crossing your right leg behind your left front leg and raising your arms. Then, cross your left leg behind your right leg, swinging your arms to the other side. Try to do a belly dance sequence from “Hips Don’t Lie. ” In the chorus of “Hips Don't Lie,” Shakira does a series of very fast hip lifts and hip drops. Try doing hip lifts at a quick pace, moving around in a circle as you do this. Keep your arms raised by your sides or around your head. Do a chest lift and then end with hip drops at a fast pace with your body facing the side. You can also try slowing down your hip lifts and hip drops, as Shakira does later in the video for “Hips Don't Lie.” Do a hip lift to the right and then slowly do a hip lift to the left. Keep your core tight so you can slow down the hip lifts to match the tempo of the music. Do a dance sequence from “She Wolf. ” In the music video for “She Wolf,” Shakira does a series of chest lifts to the tempo of the music. Hold your arms out at your sides and do a chest lift upward to the right. The, hold the chest lift for a beat and let it drop back down. Do several chest lifts towards the right and the center of the room. Try to move in a fluid circle as you do the chest lifts. Dress like Shakira. Shakira sometimes wears traditionally-inspired belly dancing outfits, with a cropped dance top and a low skirt or pants with a belt. She also likes to wear more modern outfits, such as a bikini style top or a cropped shirt and low cut jeans. Put on low cut jeans and cut a top so it shows your torso when you dance. Don't be shy about exposing some skin when dressing like Shakira, as this is her signature look. You can also make your hair long and flowing like Shakira's hair to imitate her in more detail. She is known for her blond mane of hair. Dance to Shakira songs in the mirror. Put on Shakira songs that you like and dance to them using your belly dancing moves. Try performing dances from songs like “Whenever, Wherever” and “She Wolf” to the music, or to the music videos. Stand in front of a mirror when you perform the moves so you can watch yourself as you dance. You can also show off your dance moves in front of others, such as at a club while a Shakira song is playing. Take a belly dancing class. To take your Shakira moves one step further, take up belly dancing classes at your local dance center. Look for a belly dancing class that focuses on Shakira's dance style. Sign up for the class with a friend so you're more encouraged to show up and have fun together. | Stand with your feet flat and your arms at your sides. Do a “hip lift” or “shimmy. Repeat the hip lift on both sides at a faster pace. Practice a “hip drop. Do a “belly roll. Try a “chest lift. Watch Shakira videos online. Do some moves from “Whenever, Wherever. Try to do a belly dance sequence from “Hips Don’t Lie. Do a dance sequence from “She Wolf. Dress like Shakira. Dance to Shakira songs in the mirror. Take a belly dancing class. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-the-Right-Collar-for-Your-Dog | How to Find the Right Collar for Your Dog | To find the right collar for your dog, look for a standard collar in any pet store, which will be safe, inexpensive and fully adjustable. Look for collars with a D-ring fastening, which are durable and secure. If your dog frequently pulls or jumps, consider getting a head collar to give you more control. For dogs with narrow heads, like greyhounds, you can get a martingale collar, which is made of strips of material and prevents the dog from backing out of the collar. You can also get collars with reflective strips, GPS tracking, and a vibration motor for deaf dogs if you want extra features. | Default to a standard flat collar. Flat collars are the most popular types of collars for several reasons. They are strong, safe, inexpensive, often fully adjustable, and easy to take on and off. Most flat collars have either a buckle or a plastic clip. Nylon is the most common material used, though you can also get leather flat collars. Choose a flat width based on the size of your dog. Use a ½ inch collar for smalls dogs, a ¾ inch collar for most dogs, and a 1+ inch collar for large dogs. If in doubt, go with a collar with a slightly larger strap. Get a nylon flat collar just to have for basic everyday use, such as walking. Nylon has the advantages of being machine-washable, and will hold up in water. They are the easiest to clean and maintain. Nylon flat collars are the best choice for young puppies, as they are extremely safe and easy to adjust. Go for a leather collar if your dog is especially rambunctious and needs a more resilient collar. Leather is durable and can last a very long time. It will soften naturally, and won't damage the coat of long-haired dogs. Fit a flat collar safely. Use a cloth or paper measuring strip to measure around your dog's neck. Measure when your dog is standing with his head up. The collar should be snug, but loose enough to fit two fingers between your dog's neck and the collar. If you don't have a cloth or paper measuring strip, find some string. Wind the string around your dog's neck and mark the circumference. Then measure the string with a regular tape measure! Add 2 inches to the circumference of your dog's neck to find their flat collar size. Make sure flat collars have a D-ring. D-rings are metal rings shaped like a half circle. They are often built into dog collars, and are vitally important. Hang your dog's ID tag from the D-ring. Most importantly, always hook your dog's leash or tie-out to the D-ring on their collar. Use a head collar for dogs that jump and pull. Head collars will safely allow you to better control a strong or highly active dog. They feature a strap that goes around your dog's neck, but sits high up, close to the ears. Another strap wraps around your dog's muzzle, and is connected to the neck strap by strips on either side of your dog's head. If your dog is especially strong or frequently jumps or pulls on walks, get a head collar. Since these collars sit higher, the dog has less leverage to pull with all of their weight. Fitting is especially important for head collars. Since specific models vary slightly, closely follow the fitting directions that will come with the collar you choose. Only use head collars for short periods of time. Put it on your dog to take them for a walk, and take it off when you get back home. Never yank on a leash that is attached to a head collar. This can lead to a neck injury for your dog. Use a martingale collar with narrow-headed dogs. Dogs that have naturally narrow heads, such as Greyhounds and other sighthounds, need limited-slip collars. These are less likely to allow for the collar to slip off. Martingale collars are strips of material with a length of chain and a metal ring at each end. Another loop links the metal rings, and includes a ring for leash attachment. This assembly disallows your dog from backing out of their leash. Sizing a martingale collar correctly is extremely important. When adjusted correctly, the collar will only tighten to the size of your dog's neck to prevent choking. Add 2 inches to the circumference of your dog's neck to find the appropriate size of a martingale collar. Weigh the benefits of an anti-bark collar. Bark-control collars will reduce excessive or unwanted barking by your dog. However, they do not address the reason your dog is barking, and will not help your dog understand that they do not need to bark. In other words, your dog will still feel the stress that leads to barking, whereas training to address fear or territorial behavior is a better way to reduce both your dog's bark, as well as the discomfort they may be feelings. Use spray or ultrasonic collars temporarily. If you need relative silence for a specific period of time, an anti-bark collar can reduce your dog's barking. Spray collars will expel a burst of citronella when you dog barks, interrupting them and deterring continued barking. Similarly, ultrasonic collars will emit a sound that only your dog can hear. Do not use these collars with dogs that have high-pitched barks, nor around other dogs. Never use shock collars to inhibit barking, as this is inhumane. Use a vibrating collar for a deaf dog. It can be hard to get the attention of a dog that is old or does not have full hearing. Fortunately, you can get a collar that can be made to gently vibrate by remote control. This can be used to train, or simply get the attention of a dog that cannot hear or see. It is not mandatory to get a vibrating collar is your dog is deaf, though it can greatly help with training and social interaction. Options vary widely. Talk to a trainer about what type of collar and training are likely to work the best for your dog. Use a GPS-enabled collar instead of a chip. While surgically implanted chips are an option to help ensure you never lose your dog, you can also get a collar with a chip in it. These collars use global positioning satellites to identify their position anywhere on the planet! There a various products and brands you can choose from. Make sure to opt for a collar that employs "A-GPS" which includes updated technology to improve GPS readings. Expect to pay somewhere between $40 and $80 dollars for this sort of collar, depending on attributes such as battery life of the device. Use a reflective collar at night. If you often take your dog on walks at night, get them a reflective collar. This will increase both their safety and your own. These are usually made of nylon, with various types of light-reflecting accents. Definitely get your dog a reflective collar if you ever let them off leash at night or in low-light areas. | Default to a standard flat collar. Fit a flat collar safely. Make sure flat collars have a D-ring. Use a head collar for dogs that jump and pull. Use a martingale collar with narrow-headed dogs. Weigh the benefits of an anti-bark collar. Use a vibrating collar for a deaf dog. Use a GPS-enabled collar instead of a chip. Use a reflective collar at night. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-a-Lost-Loved-One%27s-Life | How to Celebrate a Lost Loved One's Life | Suffering the loss of a loved one is really tough to deal with, but holding a celebration of their life can be a great way to remember them while allowing you to grieve. The celebration should be upbeat and focus on the positive aspects of their life, such as their hobbies, career achievements, and friends and family. You may choose to play their favorite music, serve their favorite foods, or play a game they enjoyed. During the celebration, you can also have a slideshow of pictures showing your loved one or a memory table displaying their most important belongings. Your celebration can be a more formal event, with friends and close relatives speaking about your loved one, or a more relaxed social gathering. You can also include ways for guests to share their memories of your loved one. For example, create a memory jar by placing notecards next to a jar so guests can write their memories in private and place them in the jar. | Include decorations that are meaningful. Many people choose to do a memory table. You can place items and pictures that represent important moments in your lost loved one's life on this table. Others choose to do a memory slideshow where pictures scroll on a screen throughout the celebration. Aside from a slideshow or memory table, you could decorate with pictures from the person's life, keepsakes that they cherished, or other items that reflect the life of your loved one. Have mementos to take away. Have small tokens placed out where guests can take one. Make sure it is small enough to keep in a pocket or purse. When the guest carries the token with them, they will encounter it throughout their day (like when they reach in their purse) and remember your loved one. A coin of some kind or a small bead chain would make great take aways. Offer guests a private way to share their memories. A collection of memories can add substance to the celebration, and allow guests to share their favorite memories with your loved one. That said, many guests will not be comfortable sharing their stories in front of everyone. Have a journal out so that each guest can write something in it to contribute to the memory of your loved one. Another great idea for sharing memories is to have a memory jar and notecards out. The guests write their memories on a notecard and place them into the jar. Remember to keep it child friendly. It is important to allow people to grieve in whatever way is culturally acceptable. However, some extreme forms of grieving might frighten young children, such as sobbing or screaming. If you are worried about children being frightened by these displays of grief, then you may want to prepare a separate room or space for any children who will be in attendance. You can provide things like games, coloring books and crayons, and toys for the children to enjoy. Another part of staying child friendly is to avoid the irresponsible use of alcohol. While it is acceptable to have alcohol at the event (if you prefer), no one should be permitted to drink so much that they lose their sense of reservation. Also, anyone who is driving (especially with children in the car) should not consume alcohol. Keep the celebration upbeat. This type of celebration is meant to complement or replace a traditional funeral where the grieving process is generally consumed with sorrow for the death of a loved one. While a celebration of life is still a way to grieve, the focus should be on the happy moments of your loved one's life instead of the painful moments after their passing. To keep things upbeat, include their favorite music, or music that reminds you of them. You also might consider having a dance floor or other ways to keep people moving about. Include any special requests your loved one may have had prior to passing. People often express some preference as to how they would like to be remembered when they pass. Make a genuine effort to honor these preferences during the celebration of life. It will make the celebration more meaningful and reflective of the life your loved one lived, For example, your loved one might have expressed wanting a ceremony in the woods. In this case, you could hold the celebration of life out in nature, or if the weather is too cold, in a lodge or cabin surrounded by woods. Make a guest list. Starting with the guest list can give you a good idea of what the celebration will look like. Write down the name of anyone you can think of that might want to attend. Anytime you think of a new name, write it on the list. You can reach out to these guests as you plan the next stages of the celebration. Choose a date. Here is the first place your guest list can come in handy. Contact guests on the list, especially those who were particularly close to your loved one, and ask them for dates that they could possibly attend. This is especially important for guests that will be traveling long distances. A great way to do this is to get everyone's email address and send out a poll (e.g. Doodle Poll) that gives guests an array of possible dates. Each guest can select any of the dates that they can attend, and you can set a date based on the results. Find a venue. Your venue will also be dictated by your guests. Obviously, you need to select a venue that is large enough to house all of your guests, but you should also consider things such as handicap accessibility and how child friendly your venue is before deciding. You can also make a shortlist of venues that would serve the celebration well, and ask your guests for their input. Some possible venues include churches, schools, outdoor spaces (parks, campgrounds, etc.), and a host of other unique spots that might house a special celebration. Create an order of events. One of the perks to a celebration of life is that it is free flowing. That said, you can make things go much smoother by having some agenda made. Send this agenda to all guests ahead of time, or hand it out as guests arrive. The order of events should include things like: When does the celebration start? When will each speaker speak? When will food be served? When will any other special events take place? When is the celebration set to end? Ask close friends or relatives of the loved one to speak. Not all celebrations will have formal speakers. If you do want guests to speak, you should ask them ahead of time so that they have time to prepare something to say. If someone prefers not to speak, remember that many people are fearful of public speaking, especially in such an emotional setting. Take food orders. If there will be multiple food options, an RSVP can help you determine how many of each option will need to be prepared. Another common way to hold a celebration of life is to ask guests to bring specific dishes, such as salad or pie. These special dishes often reflect the favorite foods of the loved one who has passed. For an even more free flowing event, you could request that each guest bring a dish for a potluck at the celebration. You can also ask guests to bring drinks, plates, napkins, etc. It is not necessary to serve food at the celebration, but you should make it clear to guests that they need to eat before they arrive. Be open to suggestions when they are offered. As you plan the event, others may offer advice or suggestions. You are not obligated to change the celebration multiple times at every guest's request, but be open to good ideas that can make the celebration more meaningful. After all, many of your guests were close to your loved one as well and can offer great insight into their life. For example, if someone were to suggest hanging pictures from your loved one's favorite art collection during the celebration, you could acknowledge that as a good idea and incorporate it into the celebration. Keep pictures of them out in the open. Keeping pictures in photo album is a great way to preserve the memory of a person, but does not stand out on a day to day basis. One way to celebrate a person's life in the comfort of your home is to hang pictures that remind you of them. You can hang a picture of the person, or even a picture of something they loved. For example, you could hang a picture of the person's favorite scenery, or their most cherished piece of artwork. Dedicate a space to their favorite belongings. By creating a small space in your home to keep some of your loved one's favorite belongings, you will be celebrating the things in life that they cherished. For example, you could clear off one shelf of your book shelf to keep their favorite books. This gesture can even be as simple as keeping their favorite coffee mug in the kitchen or dining area. If you don't have anything that belonged to the person, try keeping fresh flowers or lighting a candle each day as a way to celebrate their life. Preserve something special that they did. Some people paint masterpieces in their lifetimes, others build beautiful things. What all people have in common is that they express themselves in some way, and it touches the people close to them. Save something that your loved one created in their life that was significant to you, even if it is as simple as a handwritten note that says “I love you.” Sometimes the things they created might not be durable (e.g. a handwritten note), but you can have these things preserved in other ways. For a note, you could scan it to the computer and have a digital copy. The digital copy could even be used for engraving or reprinting onto a more permanent surface like metal or glass. If you and your loved one shared a special activity, like riding horses, try including someone else the next time you do that thing. That way, you can honor the person who passed, but you'll be creating new memories at the same time. Plant or build something to remind you of them. Build a small monument to honor your loved one. This could something as simple as a bench outside, or a rocking chair inside. You can also choose to plant a tree or flower that reminds you of your loved one. This way, there will always be something to remind you of them. Share your memories with others. Another way to honor your loved ones is to talk about them. Share their stories and memories with other people who knew them. You can even utilize the internet to create a page in remembrance of your loved one. Another great way to share stories is to use social media. Posting about your loved one and asking others to share their stories can involve many people in the conversation and capture a wide variety of memories. If you're having trouble managing your grief on your own, consider joining a local support group for people who've lost a loved one. You might also meet with a therapist if the person's passing was especially traumatic for you in some way. Try choosing a day to celebrate the person each year. Choosing a specific day to celebrate the person may help. This will allow you to treat the day like a holiday for that person and focus on what they meant to you. Try celebrating the person's life on a significant day, such as the person's birthday or on an anniversary. | Include decorations that are meaningful. Have mementos to take away. Offer guests a private way to share their memories. Remember to keep it child friendly. Keep the celebration upbeat. Include any special requests your loved one may have had prior to passing. Make a guest list. Choose a date. Find a venue. Create an order of events. Ask close friends or relatives of the loved one to speak. Take food orders. Be open to suggestions when they are offered. Keep pictures of them out in the open. Dedicate a space to their favorite belongings. Preserve something special that they did. Plant or build something to remind you of them. Share your memories with others. Try choosing a day to celebrate the person each year. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-a-Terrible-Mother-as-an-Adult | How to Deal With a Terrible Mother as an Adult | Having a terrible mother as an adult can be challenging, but by setting clear boundaries and staying objective, things should be a bit easier. It's important to set boundaries for what you'll tolerate from your mother so you don't let her push you around. For example, don't let her tell you how to parent your kids or yell at you. Once you've decided on your boundaries, calmly communicate them to your mom. If she oversteps your boundaries, change the subject or walk away from the situation. If you always end up arguing with your mother, it might be best to limit contact with her. For instance, you might only phone her once a week or see her on special occasions. Remember that you don't need your mom's validation to be happy, especially if she doesn't respect you. | Recognize and avoid her triggers. Years of coping with a terrible mother may have already educated you on the do's and don'ts of dealing with her. However, identifying and learning to side-step your mom's triggers can help improve your interactions with her. For example, if your mom constantly berates you about your career choice, you might choose to avoid that subject whenever you're around her. Having to shut off parts of your life from conversation doesn't feel great and it's certainly unfair, but it may be the only way to get through interactions with your mom. Choose a tolerable level and method of contact. Maintaining a relationship with your mom may require some clever coping on your part. Think about how often and which ways you can stand to deal with her and modify your contact accordingly. For example, you might only talk to her on certain days—like weekends—when you're not already stressed from other aspects of life. Or, you might limit in-person visits and stay in contact through telephone or Skype. Verbalize how her actions affect you. Sometimes, parents just don't know how their behavior makes their kids feel and not even be aware of her actions. Explain to your mom exactly what she does that upsets or frustrates you. Simply making her aware of these things can be very useful. You might say something like, “Mom, it hurts me when you criticize my husband. It seems like you go out of your way to search for his bad qualities.” Express your boundaries. You've isolated which actions of hers affect you. Now, it's time to set some clear boundaries to decrease those actions. When setting your boundaries, include what she does and what you will start doing if the behavior continues. For instance, you might say, “I need you to stop bad-mouthing Michael. If you don't, I will stop sharing any information about my personal life with you.” You might spend some time writing down your boundaries and possible consequences before sharing them with your mom. Maybe you are having trouble deciding how to set boundaries if you have never thought about this before. Take some time to learn about setting boundaries. Follow through with consequences. The tricky thing about setting boundaries is that they are only effective if you follow through. Whatever you told your mom you would do, you must be willing to do it, if necessary. In other words, if you told her you would stop letting her see your kids or stop visiting as often, you will have to actually do that. Don't negotiate with your mother or allow her to guilt-trip you into changing your boundaries. Stand firm. If she acts out in anger, don't respond. See a therapist. If you need emotional support or require assistance learning how to set healthy boundaries, a therapist can help. Your therapist can help you work through your feelings and build healthier ways of relating to your mom and others. For instance, your therapist may work with you to develop conflict resolution skills and learn how to confidently ask for support from others in your life. If, for whatever reason, a therapist is not a viable option, you might want to check out a self-help book from a local library about dialectical behavior therapy. This type of therapy teaches skills for mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness (boundary setting). Perform self-care regularly. Dealing with a toxic mom can be challenging. Your mother's personality and behaviors may leave you feeling unloved or misunderstood. Nurture your emotional health by creating a self-care practice of pleasant activities that you do just for you. For example, you might start walking on a nearby nature trail each morning just to clear your mind. You might also take luxurious baths with oils or scented candles or cuddle up by the fireplace with a cup of tea and a good book. Self-care can be any activity or practice that allows you to nourish yourself. Decide if it’s healthier to cut ties with her. Although it may be difficult to consider, you might spend some time pondering if it's best to maintain a relationship with your mom. A toxic parent can have a major impact on your mental health and well-being. If her behavior doesn't improve and she doesn't respect your boundaries, you may have to make the hard choice to get some distance. Don't make this decision lightly. Give yourself some time to reflect on what it would be like to not have a relationship with your mom. Write your thoughts down in a journal. Seek the advice of your therapist or closest friends. Consider the lessons you’ve learned. It may seem impossible for anything good to come out of a bad relationship with your mom. But, you can learn to use the experience to your advantage. For example, maybe your mother's desire to control your life caused you to fight for what you really wanted. As a result, you are less likely to allow a lover or a friend to control your life as well. You are willing to stand up for what you believe in. Think about all the qualities and habits you have developed from learning to manage your mom. Then, use these to create a new, more positive story for yourself. At the same time, try to be aware of avoiding the mistakes your mother made when parenting your own children. Change your self-talk. If you've matured into an adult with a terrible mother, you may have created a negative narrative about your life and your abilities. Saying things like “I don't deserve to be happy” or “No one will ever love me” may feel true. However, these negative statements won't make you feel better. Work to revise your self-talk into more positive statements. For many people, it is better to start off with neutral self-talk if you deal with a lot of negative self-talk. Studies have shown that it's more effective to first go neutral before going positive since it is easier to make the switch to neutral talk than all the way from negative to positive. For example, you might have negative thoughts enter your mind whenever someone compliments your appearance like, "I know that's not true, I know I'm ugly." A more neutral way to rephrase this might be, "I may have a hard time believing it, but if someone is going out of their way to compliment me, they probably aren't lying." Modify your own parenting style. Having a difficult mother may make you feel ineffective as a parent yourself. Working with a family therapist can help you overcome any negative relational patterns that you picked up from your mom and build healthy relationships with your own kids. In addition, you might want to check-in with your partner or co-parent and with your kids often to make sure those habits haven't rubbed off. Develop an open and honest relationship with your kids and encourage them to come to you if they need to discuss how you parent. Also, encourage them to develop a relationship with your mother, but set realistic expectations so they are not disappointed when she can't deliver. Strengthen relationships with your father and siblings, if you have them. You can counteract the negative side effects of having a toxic mom by building other positive relationships. Start with your immediate family. If you have siblings or a father, try to strengthen your bond with them. Talk to them about what's going on with your mother. Ask them if they feel similarly and how they deal with such treatment. Cultivate supportive friendships. A positive support group is essential when you are lacking proper support from your mother. You might be tempted to isolate and push others away, but don't. Lean on your closest pals by talking about what you're feeling or asking them to help you take your mind off things. Eventually, your friends can become a second family to you. Positive social support can help counteract some of the negative effects of having a toxic parent. Find a role model. Another way to counteract some of the stress of having a terrible mom is by looking to another adult for guidance. Think about figures in your community who display some of the traits you don't get from your mom. Form a casual relationship with these individuals or ask them if they are willing to mentor you. Examples of good role models might be teachers, coaches, community leaders, bosses, or older relatives. | Recognize and avoid her triggers. Choose a tolerable level and method of contact. Verbalize how her actions affect you. Express your boundaries. Follow through with consequences. See a therapist. Perform self-care regularly. Decide if it’s healthier to cut ties with her. Consider the lessons you’ve learned. Change your self-talk. Modify your own parenting style. Strengthen relationships with your father and siblings, if you have them. Cultivate supportive friendships. Find a role model. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Whiteheads | How to Stop Whiteheads | To stop whiteheads naturally, try dabbing honey on the affected area. Alternately, open up your pores by holding a hot compress to the area, though that this may irritate your skin. To fight whiteheads more forcefully, use acne treatment products that have benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinoids, starting with small doses. If you still have whiteheads, visit a dermatologist to try other treatments or products with higher doses. | Wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser. Whiteheads develop when excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells become trapped in the pores. Eliminate the build-up of these substances by washing your face twice daily, morning and night, with a gentle, oil-free face wash. Don't wash too vigorously or use harsh skincare products containing alcohol, as this can dry out and irritate the skin. Cleaning your face more than twice a day can dry out the skin, causing it to produce more oil to compensate and leading to more whiteheads. Use oil-free makeup and moisturizers to prevent clogged pores. Oily makeup and other skincare products are some of the worst culprits when it comes to clogging pores. Look for makeup, sunscreen, and moisturizers that have the word "non-comedogenic" on the label. This means that they are non-oily and will not clog your pores. Avoid products with alcohol if you have dry or sensitive skin. Remove your makeup every night with a gentle makeup remover. Even oil-free makeup can clog pores if it's not removed properly! If you wear makeup, remove it at the end of each day with an oil-free and alcohol-free makeup remover. Micellar water also works well for removing makeup. Wash out makeup brushes and sponges monthly using a gentle baby shampoo. These tools can harbor bacteria that causes whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. Wash your hair every 2 to 3 days to prevent oil buildup. Greasy hair can cause oil to build up on the surface of the skin, increasing the chances of blocked pores and whiteheads. Washing your hair every 2 to 3 days is enough for most people. If you have very oily hair, aim for every other day. Over-washing your hair can strip it of natural moisture and cause your body to produce more oil to compensate. If your hair is long, tie it back in a ponytail when it's dirty, especially when going to sleep at night. Wearing a hair band is also be a good idea if you're exercising. Change your pillowcases 2 to 3 times per week. Oil, dirt, and bacteria from your face can build-up on your pillowcases over time. Even if you go to bed with a freshly washed face, you may be exposing yourself to oil and dirt overnight! Replace your used pillowcases with freshly washed ones several times during the week. Use natural or fragrance-free detergents if you have sensitive skin. It may also help to change your sheets weekly. Use products that contain benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide can be an effective acne treatment for whiteheads, blackheads, and cystic acne. It works by killing bacteria on the surface of the skin and removing built-up oil and dead skin cells from pores. Benzoyl peroxide is available over-the-counter, although some of the higher strengths require a prescription. Benzoyl peroxide can be quite harsh on skin. Start with a milder 3% product at first, and only apply it to the affected area. Try not to get benzoyl peroxide on any clothing, sheets or hair, as it can have a bleaching effect. Try skincare products that contain salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is known to break down whiteheads and blackheads. It may also help to slow down the shedding of skin cells in the hair follicles, which can prevent pores from becoming blocked. Try facial cleansers and creams that contain the ingredient. Salicylic acid is available in various strengths over-the-counter. This treatment can be irritating on the skin. Apply it directly to pimples and avoid the surrounding skin. Apply retinoid creams for something a little stronger. Retinoid creams and gels are made from vitamin A derivatives and may help clear up an array of skin problems, including acne related issues. Retinoid creams address whiteheads by unclogging pores and promoting cell turnover. Low dose creams are available over-the-counter, but higher doses require a prescription. Retinoid creams may cause your skin to become red and irritated when you first begin using them. You may also notice a little flaking or sloughing of your skin. This is just because the product is getting rid of the dead skin cells that could be clogging your pores. Retinoids can also be taken in oral form. These medications are usually only prescribed for severe acne. Use one acne treatment product at a time. Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinoid creams can be harsh on your skin when you use them by themselves. Never use more than one of these products simultaneously. This can cause serious skin irritation and will not solve your whitehead problem. Request stronger treatments from a dermatologist. If your whiteheads have not cleared up after 8 weeks of using a treatment product, make an appointment with a dermatologist. They may be able to recommend alternative options, or provide a prescription for stronger topical creams or oral antibiotics. Oral antibiotics are usually prescribed for moderate to severe acne. Courses last 4 to 6 weeks and are usually used in combination with a topical treatment. Other options like laser treatment, chemical peels and oral contraceptives are usually only recommended when whiteheads appear in combination with severe acne. If you do use an oral contraceptive, discuss its potential impact on your fertility and menstrual cycle with your doctor. Get a facial. Visit a dermatologist, spa, or esthetician for a professional facial. A facial can treat your whiteheads in a clean, sterile environment. It's especially beneficial for your nose area! You'll leave with smoother, clearer skin. If your whitehead problem is serious, then you can get a facial monthly. Dab a little tea tree oil on the affected area. Tea tree oil is a natural essential oil that may be effective for combating whiteheads and acne. To use the oil, dilute it to about 5% in a carrier oil (any vegetable oil), then apply directly onto the whiteheads using a q-tip. Use tea tree oil with caution and always do a patch test first, as it can cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Don't let the word "oil" put you off -- tea tree oil will not clog your pores like other oils. Try honey on your whiteheads. Honey is known to have antimicrobial properties that may effectively treat whiteheads and acne. Dab a little honey directly onto whiteheads or you can apply it all over as a face mask. Many people consider manuka honey or raw honey the most effective options, although this is not guaranteed. Apply heat only as a last resort. Many people hold their face over steam or apply a hot compress to open up pores, allowing trapped materials to escape. This can help in some mild cases. However, heat can irritate sensitive skin, which can make the acne worse. Gentle, lukewarm showers and facial washes are usually more effective. Stay away from lemon juice, vinegar, and other kitchen acids. Acidic foods are not intended for use on skin. They can cause stinging, peeling, or even serious damage if left on for too long. Lemon juice and other citrus ingredients are extra dangerous, as they can react with sunlight to cause severe rashes. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Dehydrated skin may produce excess oil to make up for the lack of moisture, and this may lead to worse acne. If your skin feels dry or your lips are cracked, you may be dehydrated. Water is a great place to start, but milk, tea, juices, and soups all count toward your daily fluid intake. In general, follow these guidelines: Men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids daily. Women should drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids daily. Alter your diet if you notice certain foods cause acne flareups. Despite popular belief, there's no evidence that greasy food causes acne in most people, though there is a strong correlation between the two. If you notice a possible connection between a particular food and acne, it won't hurt to avoid it. Just remember, there is no universal "acne diet," and an extreme change in your diet is likely to cause more harm than help. For example, some people have acne flareups when they eat dairy products. There is a slight, uncertain connection between dietary vitamin A and decreased acne. High doses of vitamin A can be dangerous, so do not take supplements without consulting a doctor. | Wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser. Use oil-free makeup and moisturizers to prevent clogged pores. Remove your makeup every night with a gentle makeup remover. Wash your hair every 2 to 3 days to prevent oil buildup. Change your pillowcases 2 to 3 times per week. Use products that contain benzoyl peroxide. Try skincare products that contain salicylic acid. Apply retinoid creams for something a little stronger. Use one acne treatment product at a time. Request stronger treatments from a dermatologist. Get a facial. Dab a little tea tree oil on the affected area. Try honey on your whiteheads. Apply heat only as a last resort. Stay away from lemon juice, vinegar, and other kitchen acids. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Alter your diet if you notice certain foods cause acne flareups. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tie-a-Uni-Knot | How to Tie a Uni Knot | To tie a uni knot, start by running 6 inches of line through the eye of a hook or swivel. Then, fold the line over so the short end is parallel to the long end, and wrap the short end around both lines 2 times to make a loop. Next, pass the short end through the loop, and wrap it around both lines 5 more times. Finally, pull the short end to tighten the coils, and slide the coils toward the eye of the hook or swivel. | Run 6 inches (15 cm) of line through the eye of the hook or swivel. Thread fishing line through the eye of the hook or swivel then fold it over the eye so the tag (short) end runs parallel with the main (long) line for at least 6 inches (15 cm). Loop the tag end over the lines. Keeping the lines doubled, wrap the tag end back up and over the 2 lines to create a small loop on 1 side. Wrap the tag end through the loop and around the lines 5-6 times. Make sure you are wrapping the tag end around both the lines but not the loop. Pull the tag end to tighten the coils. Put 1 hand near the eye of the hook and the other on the tag end. It can be helpful to moisten the end of the line to improve your grip when tightening the coils. Apply a little lip balm to the lines to keep them moist. Slide the coils toward the eye. Hold the main line in 1 hand and pull down as you use the other hand to slide the coils toward the eye to snug up the knot to hook or swivel. Trim the excess line. Use a knife or scissors to carefully trim any excess off the tag end. Overlap the ends of 2 lines for 6 inches (15 cm). Choose 2 lines that have the same diameter. Position them so the lines are parallel, but the tag (short) ends are facing opposite directions. Make a loop with each tag end over the lines. Wrap 1 tag end back against itself and over the 2 lines to create a loop. Repeat with the other tag end. Moisten the lines with lip balm to make them easier to grip. Wrap 1 tag end around the 2 lines 6 times. Take 1 tag end (you can do either side first) and wrap it through the loop and around the 2 lines 6 times. Leave the loop open. Push the same tag end through the loop then pull it. Feed the tag end of the same line you used to wrap the lines through the loop. Pull the tag end tightly to snug up the coils. Repeat the process with the other tag end. Wrap the other tag end around the 2 lines 6 times. Push the tag end through the loop and pull it tight. Pull each main line in opposite directions and trim the excess line. To snug the 2 knots against each other, hold 1 main line in each hand and pull gently in opposite directions. Then, use scissors or a knife to trim the excess line from the tag ends. | Run 6 inches (15 cm) of line through the eye of the hook or swivel. Loop the tag end over the lines. Wrap the tag end through the loop and around the lines 5-6 times. Pull the tag end to tighten the coils. Slide the coils toward the eye. Trim the excess line. Overlap the ends of 2 lines for 6 inches (15 cm). Make a loop with each tag end over the lines. Wrap 1 tag end around the 2 lines 6 times. Push the same tag end through the loop then pull it. Repeat the process with the other tag end. Pull each main line in opposite directions and trim the excess line. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fall-Asleep-Easier-As-a-Teen | How to Fall Asleep Easier As a Teen | To fall asleep more easily when you have insomnia, try breathing in slowly as you count to 4, and then exhaling slowly as you count to 8. While you breathe, imagine your worries passing away as you exhale. If you can't relax because your mind is racing, try reading something relaxing or boring to calm yourself, or write a list of the anxious thoughts in your journal to release them. Alternatively, eat a small, high-carb snack, like crackers with cheese or peanut butter or a small bowl of cereal. However, make sure your snack is low in sugar, which can keep you awake. | Don’t check the time. Keep your phone screen off and turn your clock away from your bed so you can't see the time. Checking your clock will only stress you out and prevent you from falling asleep. Relax and trust that you'll fall asleep instead of checking the time and thinking, “If I fall asleep now, I can still get 6 hours of sleep.” Additionally, checking the time on your phone will expose your eyes to blue light. Blue light tells your brain that it's daytime, so avoid checking your phone. If you're worried about waking up on time, set 2 alarms on your phone 15 minutes apart. This can stop you from waking up and checking the time. If you miss the first alarm, the second alarm will wake you. Do breathing and visualization exercises to relax. Try breathing in slowly and deeply as you count to 4. Then exhale slowly as you count to 8, and imagine tension leaving your body with each breath. As you control your breathing, imagine a place, memory, or story that you find comforting. If a worrying thought comes to mind, imagine it passing away as you exhale, then return to your calming place. Create a night-time ritual before going to bed. If you do the same thing every night, it will tell your brain that it is time to go to bed. Do things that relax you, like drinking herbal tea or taking a bath. Have a small, high-carb snack. A small, filling snack can help you fall asleep, provided it's not too sweet. Good options include crackers with cheese or peanut butter, toast with jam or honey, vanilla wafers, or a small bowl of cereal. You could also soothe yourself with a glass of warm milk or hot, caffeine-free herbal tea. Just go for a small snack. A big meal can keep you up, so try not to have big meals before you go to bed. Read something relaxing or boring. Choose a book or magazine that won't get you excited instead of something action-packed or suspenseful. Relaxing choices might include a reflective personal essay, calming poetry, or a travel magazine. Don't read a school textbook. A textbook might be boring, but you could get stressed about homework and responsibilities if you read one. Some people also find a coloring or activity book helps them relax when they can't fall asleep. Take a hot shower, if you haven’t already. Your body temperature decreases slightly when you fall asleep. After a hot shower or bath, your temperature also begins to decrease, which lets your body know it's time to go to sleep. If you're stressed out, a shower or bath can also help calm your thoughts. To make your bath extra soothing , try adding a lavender bath bomb or essential oil. Write a list or write in your journal if your mind is racing. If you can't get stressful thoughts out of your head, try writing them down by hand in a journal or notebook. Don't read your list or journal entry after writing it or dwell on what's worrying you. Instead, focus on the worrying thoughts leaving your mind as you write. Say to yourself, “I'm worried about making my presentation tomorrow, but now isn't the time to think about it. I'm writing it down, it's leaving my mind, and I'm ready to relax.” Use your bed only for sleeping. Avoid doing your homework, eating, talking on the phone, or thinking about stressful things in bed. Try to associate your bed only with restful sleep. This will help train your brain to start the process of falling asleep when you crawl into bed. Keep your room cool at night. Your body temperature needs to decrease when you go to sleep. A hot room can prevent this, so do your best to keep the temperature around 68 °F (20 °C). Use a fan if it's hot, or talk to your parents about lowering your room's temperature. Dim and turn off the lights in your bedroom. If your overhead light doesn't have a dimmer, turn it off and use a lamp to light your room at night. Turn off the all lights in your room when you're ready to go to sleep. Keeping the lights dim or off will also help create the right environment for sleep. If your room is too bright at night, get a lightweight sleeping mask. If the rising sun is a problem, ask your parents for blackout curtains. Turn off your electronics or take them out of your room. When you go to bed, keep your phone screen off, don't watch TV, and don't use your computer. Light from the screen will trick your brain into thinking it's daytime. If you can't resist the urge to check your phone or computer in the middle of the night, think about removing electronic devices from your room. Mute your phone or turn it on silent. If you have a "do not disturb" setting on your phone, turn it on before you go to bed. If you have a clock that ticks in your room, consider removing it. If you don't want to, put it in a desk or drawer for the night while you sleep. Do your best to keep your room clean. It might be annoying when your parents nag you about cleaning your room. However, clean sheets and a clutter-free space can help put you at ease. Use soothing scents in your room. A soothing air freshener, bed linens spray, or diffuser could also help you relax at bedtime. Relaxing scents include orange blossom, chamomile, and lavender. You can buy scented drawer liners that come in many different relaxing scents as well. Look for them at department stores, home goods stores, and online. Try not to stay up and sleep in more than 2 hours on the weekends. Do your best to go to bed and wake up at the same times every day. Since it's tough for teens to get the recommended 9 to 10 hours of sleep nightly, you might need to catch up on shuteye over the weekend. Just try to go to bed and wake up no later than 2 hours later than you do during the week. If you normally go to bed at 11 and wake up at 7, try to stick to that schedule as closely as possible. If you don't, you may feel extra tired Monday morning. Sleeping in on the weekends can curb a sleep deficit, but oversleeping too much can ruin your sleep schedule. Stay away from caffeine 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. Coffee and tea are obvious sources of caffeine, and you should avoid drinking them at night. Additionally, steer clear of lesser-known caffeine sources, such as soft drinks, chocolate, some pain relievers, and decaf coffee. Begin your relaxation routine about an hour before bedtime. If you try to head to bed after stimulating or strenuous activity, you'll probably end up tossing and turning for a while. An hour before bed, do relaxing activities, such as listening to soothing music, reading, and taking a hot shower or bath. Your hour of relaxation time should be quiet. Try not to have stressful or stimulating conversations. Do not watch an action-packed TV show or listen to fast and loud music. Power down your electronics at least an hour before bed. Electronic screens emit blue light, which your brain mistakes for afternoon sunlight. Additionally, browsing social media or watching an exciting show before bed can make it harder to calm down and go to sleep. If you have to use your phone or computer before bed, lower the brightness an install an app that filters blue light. For example, the app F.lux automatically warms the colors emitted from screens when it gets dark outside. Shower and brush your teeth to let your body know it’s bedtime. Following a nightly hygiene routine before bed can send a message to your brain that it's almost time for sleep. Read or listen to calming music for around 30 minutes, then take a shower or bath, put on your pajamas, and brush your teeth. Remember a hot shower or bath can help you falling asleep by lowering your body temperature. | Don’t check the time. Do breathing and visualization exercises to relax. Create a night-time ritual before going to bed. Have a small, high-carb snack. Read something relaxing or boring. Take a hot shower, if you haven’t already. Write a list or write in your journal if your mind is racing. Use your bed only for sleeping. Keep your room cool at night. Dim and turn off the lights in your bedroom. Turn off your electronics or take them out of your room. Do your best to keep your room clean. Use soothing scents in your room. Try not to stay up and sleep in more than 2 hours on the weekends. Stay away from caffeine 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. Begin your relaxation routine about an hour before bedtime. Power down your electronics at least an hour before bed. Shower and brush your teeth to let your body know it’s bedtime. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Pet-a-Turtle | How to Pet a Turtle | Before you pet a turtle, place it on a hard floor so it will feel secure and approach it from the front so it can see you coming. Then, try running your finger along the top-middle of the turtle's head while avoiding its eyes and nose. If it throws its head up with its mouth open, it means it doesn't like what you're doing and you should try something else. For example, run your fingers along the length of its shell since turtles can feel through their shells. | Approach from the front. If the turtle cannot see you and suddenly your hand appears, it may get frightened and bite you. Always approach a turtle from the front so that it can see you. Place turtles on a low, flat surface. Turtles will be the most receptive to human interaction when they feel safe and secure, so place them on the floor (preferably tile rather than carpet) when petting them. Pet the top of the head. Gently run your finger on the middle-top of the turtle's head, carefully avoiding the nose/eyes. If the turtle repeatedly throws its head up in the air with its mouth open, it is trying to let you know that it does not like you touching its head. Pet the chins and cheeks. Use your finger to gently rub the turtle under the chin and along the cheeks. Massage the neck. Once a turtle trusts you, you may be able to massage its neck without causing it to withdraw into its shell. Pet your turtle’s shell. Turtles can feel touch through their shells. As such, stroke your turtle's shell in slow circles or run your fingers in straight lines along the length of its shell. As an alternative to petting a turtle's shell with your fingers, you can also gently rub a toothbrush or other soft-bristled brush along the top of its shell. Enjoy some turtle lap time. As an alternative to petting the turtle, you can enjoy bonding with it by allowing it crawl on you or sit in your lap. Just make sure it doesn't fall off. Turtles will urinate when you pick them up, so use caution when putting them on your body. Be persistent. Your turtle will not be receptive to being pet all the time, but the more you handle it, the more accustomed it will grow to human interaction. Turtles associate their human keepers with food, so try rewarding your turtle with a treat when it allows you to pet it. Know the risks. Turtles are not commonly thought of as dangerous animals capable of inflicting harm on human beings. However, a few breeds of turtles, particularly snapping turtles, are capable of inflicting a painful and potentially damaging bite. Also, turtles carry a number of diseases that can be harmful to humans. Turtle skin often has salmonella bacteria on it, which can make humans very sick. Salmonella can't be washed or rinsed off the turtle. Never leave a child to handle a turtle unattended. Be patient. Just because you acquired a pet turtle does not make that turtle a domesticated animal. Unlike some cats and dogs, who will naturally seek affection from humans, turtles tend to view humans with hesitancy and fear. Because of this, you need to be patient with your turtle. It may take a very long time before the turtle learns to recognize and trust you as its caregiver. Handle with care. Turtles seem inherently rugged and tough because of their shells. However, the exposed legs and head can be easily damaged if the turtle is mishandled. Some tips for handling turtles with caution are: Try to avoid picking up or handling the turtle unless necessary. When you do need to pick a smaller turtle up, place your open palm under its plastron (or bottom shell/ belly) and make sure its legs can touch your hand. In the wild, turtles don't spend much, if any, of their time off of the ground. Having your hand underneath the turtle should make it more comfortable. Always lift turtles up from the back and not the front. Turtles are unpredictable and lifting the turtle from the front will give it an opportunity to bite you. Turtles may urinate when being picked up, which is yet another reason why you should wear gloves when handling them. Don't place turtles on the edges of high surfaces. They are not always aware of their environment and may walk right off the edge, injuring themselves. As a general rule, it is not wise to touch a turtle's legs or claws. Remember, turtle shells are not invincible. Some turtles have soft shells that can be easily scratched or damaged, leading to fungal infections. Even hard shelled turtles can sustain damage to or break their shells- so be careful. Consider the temperature. Turtles are more energetic, aware and receptive when they are warm. Cold turtles are much more likely to shy away from external stimuli because they are not entirely sure what is going on around them. The best time to pet or handle a turtle is after it has been sunning itself or lying under a heat lamp. Turtles need real sunlight, not just heat lamps or artificial sunlight. A lack of sunlight can lead to metabolic bone disease, which essentially disintegrates a turtle's bones. Understand turtle communication. Turtles are not the most communicative animals around. However, there are a few physical signs that your turtle is not in the mood for human contact. They include: Hissing Sitting motionless with the mouth open Withdrawing into the shell Snapping or biting gestures Practice proper hygiene. Always wash your hands after handling a turtle, as there are diseases on their skin that are harmful to people. Most experts suggest handling turtles with gloves, although this would defeat the purpose of petting a turtle. Also, remember that turtles spend most of their time in dirt and dirty water, so it may be wise to rinse the turtle off before handling it. | Approach from the front. Place turtles on a low, flat surface. Pet the top of the head. Pet the chins and cheeks. Massage the neck. Pet your turtle’s shell. Enjoy some turtle lap time. Be persistent. Know the risks. Be patient. Handle with care. Consider the temperature. Understand turtle communication. Practice proper hygiene. |
https://www.wikihow.com/File-a-Small-Claims-Lawsuit-in-Texas | How to File a Small Claims Lawsuit in Texas | If you're claiming money damages of 10,000 dollars or less in Texas, you can file a small claims lawsuit. Before you file your petition, check the statute of limitations to make sure you're within the claim period, which is usually 2 years after the event. You'll also need to send a demand letter for the cost of damages before you go to a small claims court. This way, the defendant has an opportunity to pay what they owe. You can choose to sue in the county where the event happened or where the defendant lives. You'll need to file a petition form with the court, pay the processing fee, and serve the defendant notice of the trial. The fees vary between counties, but expect to pay at least 100 dollars. Some counties will also give you the opportunity for mediation before you go to trial. Although you don't need an attorney, it might help your case to have a professional represent you. | Research Texas law. Your dispute can't be resolved by a justice of the peace unless there's a state law that provides you a legal remedy. If you're familiar with TV shows such as "The People's Court," you have a good idea of the types of cases commonly heard in small claims court. For example, if you lent a few hundred dollars to a friend and she refused to pay you back, you could sue her in small claims court. Check the statute of limitations. The justice of the peace has no power to decide your case unless it's filed within the time period set by state law. For most cases, the deadline is two years from the date the event occurred that gave rise to the dispute. However, other claims have a statute of limitations as long as four years. Generally, you don't want to wait any longer than six months to a year before you file your lawsuit. Choose the right court. Typically you would sue in the justice court of the county where the defendant lives. You also can sue in the county where the events happened that gave rise to your claim. As a result, sometimes you have several courts to choose from that have appropriate jurisdiction. In those situations you can pick whichever one is most convenient for you. If there's more than one justice court in the county, you must use the one covering the area where the defendant lives, or the location where the dispute happened. If you're unsure about which court to use, you can call the justice of the peace's office. If you provide the address of the person or business you want to sue, they typically will let you know where you need to file your claim. Keep in mind that justice courts can only hear claims for money damages of less than $10,000. If your claim is worth more than that, you can't agree to recover less just so you can have it heard in justice court. Send a demand letter. Before you file your lawsuit, give the other party an opportunity to settle the dispute without going to court. In your letter, you should briefly explain the law that entitles you to damages, and provide details of the amount you are owed. For example, suppose someone opened his car door and hit your car, which was parked next to his. The scratch and dent on your car cost you $350 to repair. You also had to clock out of work two hours early to take your car to a shop and get it fixed. Your demand would include the cost of repair and two hours of lost wages. If you have a dispute with a business, you also might be able to have your dispute resolved by filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or a local trade association. Stick to the facts, and avoid getting emotional or insulting the person. Simply explain what happened and why you believe that person or business is responsible for whatever harm has come to you. Ask for specific compensation and provide a deadline to respond. Let them know that you are prepared to file a lawsuit in small claims court if they don't meet your demand by that date. Consider consulting an attorney. Even if you can't afford an attorney to represent you, you may be able to find an attorney willing to give you a free consultation and discuss the merits of your case. Texas does allow attorneys to appear in small claims court. If you're suing for a significant amount, or you feel uncomfortable speaking in front of a judge, you might consider hiring an attorney to represent you. In many cases, you're entitled to recover your attorney's fees if you win your case. Additionally, some attorneys may be willing to represent you on a contingency fee basis, meaning the attorney will only be paid if she wins your case. If you have low income and worry you may not be able to afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free or reduced-fee legal services from your local legal aid office or a law school clinic. You can find out about these services by calling the State Bar of Texas referral service at 1-877-9TEXBAR or visiting the website at www.texasbar.com. Gather information. Since some counties require you to fill out your petition form in person at the clerk's office, you should get together all the necessary information you'll need before you head to the courthouse. For example, Dallas County requires you to appear in person at the clerk's office to fill out your form. Pulling together all the documents and information you need ahead of time will keep you from making multiple trips back and forth retrieving information. To complete the claim form, you'll need your complete name and address, the complete name and address of the people or businesses you're suing, the amount of your claim, the basis of your claim, and any amount you owe the person you're suing. You must determine the full legal name of the person or business you're suing before you go to the clerk's office. If you're suing a business, this means you must look up the business's legal name. If you're suing a corporation, you also must include the name of the registered agent for service. You can get this information by calling the Secretary of State's office at 1-800-252-1386. If you are suing a partnership or a sole proprietor, you must name both the people and the business name in your lawsuit. You can find out this information by contacting the county clerk's office in the county where the business is located. Some counties such as Bexar County have small claims petition forms available online. If you have this option, you should look at the form before you start gathering information so you have a better sense of the information you'll need. To compute your damages, you must determine how much money it would take to put you back into the same position you were before the wrong was committed. For example, if you took your car to a mechanic for repairs, and later determined that the mechanic charged you for repairs that weren't made, getting the money back for the repairs that weren't made would put you in the same position you were before he overcharged you. The repairs still haven't been made, but you haven't paid for them either. Because procedures vary among courts, it may be valuable for you to call the clerk's office and make sure you have all the information you need and are prepared to fill out your petition. Fill out your petition form. Once you've gathered all the information you need, you're ready to fill out the required form to file your small claims lawsuit. Take all the records you have that are relevant to your claim, including copies of contracts or receipts, with you to the courthouse when you fill out your petition. You will have to write out a brief statement of your claim. You might consider writing this statement before you go to the courthouse, so you have time to edit your statement and make sure you've included all the important facts. Then when you arrive to fill out your form, all you have to do is copy it down. You also must complete a civil case information sheet. This form provides a basic summary of your lawsuit and includes the names and contact information of all the parties to the suit. Sign your petition. When you sign your petition, you must swear under oath that all the information you've provided is correct to the best of your knowledge. Generally, you must sign your petition in front of the clerk so the clerk can verify your signature. File your petition. You must give your petition to the clerk for the justice court that you want to hear your case to initiate your small claims lawsuit. When you file your petition, you will have to pay a filing fee. The filing fees vary among counties, but generally are under a hundred dollars. For example, Dallas County charges filing fees of $31. In addition to that filing fee, you must pay a service fee of $75 for each defendant you're suing. Bexar County charges $46 to file your petition plus a service fee of $80 for each defendant. If you can't afford filing fees, you can request an application from the clerk to have the fees waived. You must have this application notarized when you sign it, and submit it at the same time you file your lawsuit. The judge will review the financial information you provide on the application and determine whether you're eligible for a fee waiver. When you file your petition, ask the clerk how the court sets trial dates, since procedures may vary among courts. The clerk will let you know if any further action is needed from you before the trial date is set. Have the defendant served. Before the justice of the peace can hear your case, you must be able to verify that the defendant had legal notice of the lawsuit against him. If you file a petition in small claims, the clerk will take care of service for you after you've paid the service fees or been granted a fee waiver. However, it is your job to follow up with the clerk's office and find out if service has been completed. The clerk won't contact you to notify you of the status. Wait for an answer. Once the defendant is served, he has 14 days to respond to your petition. You should call the clerk's office two weeks after you file your petition and find out if the defendant has been served. If he has, get the exact date of service from the clerk and use that date to calculate the defendant's deadline to file an answer to your lawsuit. The date the defendant was served also is used in most courts to calculate the trial date. If the defendant has been served when you call, ask the clerk if a trial date has been set. You should also find out your case number from the clerk, if you don't already have it. Write it down and keep it in a safe place, because you will need it to follow up on your case or file any additional documents. Prepare for trial. If the defendant responds and indicates he is contesting your claim, you must get ready to argue your case before the justice of the peace. Use the statement you wrote for your petition to frame your case. Compare it to the documents or other items you have that you want to bring to the court for evidence. For example, if you are suing a dry cleaner for ruining your shirt, you want to bring the shirt with you as evidence. If you have any witnesses, you can call them to testify at your hearing. Talk to your witnesses and find out if they are willing to come to court and testify on your behalf. You also can have the clerk issue subpoenas for your witnesses ordering them to appear on your trial date, for an additional fee. This subpoena fee may include a cash amount for the witness. Subpoena fees typically are the same as service fees, with the additional cash tender for the witness. Since you filed the petition, you must prove all the facts that establish your claim, as well as the amount of your damages. If you haven't already, gather the documentation that helps prove your case at trial. Typical evidence in a small claims case includes copies of any contracts or agreements, receipts or cancelled checks, and photographs. Make sure you have at least two copies of any documents you want to introduce as evidence at trial – one for the judge and one for the defendant. While you're preparing your case, you should also decide – if you haven't already – whether you want to have a trial by jury. You can make this decision at any time after you've filed your lawsuit, but you must make your request at the clerk's office at least 14 days before your trial date. You'll have to pay an additional fee if you want a jury trial. Participate in mediation. Some counties may give you the option of mediating your dispute. If your county makes this option available, you may be asked when you file your petition or even on the day of trial if you would prefer to use mediation. You won't be charged any additional fees for using mediation, and if you're unable to reach an agreement you still may have your case heard by a judge. Appear on your trial date. If you're unable to resolve your claim before the date your trial is scheduled, you must appear in court on that date or your case will be dismissed. Try to arrive at the courthouse at least 30 minutes before the time your case is scheduled so you have time to go through security, find your courtroom, and take a seat. At the beginning of each court session, the judge may have a docket call where she goes through all the cases she will hear during that session to verify the parties are present and ready to go. When the judge calls your case, she typically will give you a brief explanation of court procedures and how she will handles things in her courtroom. Then she'll give you an opportunity to ask any questions and confirm you understand what she's explained. If you appear in court and the person you sued isn't there, you may win your case by default. You must show that the defendant had proper notice of the lawsuit and prove the specific amount of damages you're owed, but you don't have to prove anything else. Present your case. Since you filed the petition, you will have the opportunity to speak first. The judge will swear you in and then you can proceed with a brief opening statement. If you have any witnesses, you can call them up to the witness stand and ask them questions. The other side also will have the opportunity to question them based on the questions you asked. After you've made your case and submitted all of your evidence, the defendant will have the opportunity to tell the judge his side of the story. Just as you did, he also may present evidence or call witnesses. If the defense calls witnesses, you also have the opportunity to ask them questions. Receive the judge's decision. Once both sides have presented their cases, the justice of the peace makes her judgment and issues her order. She may do this immediately after the conclusion of your case, or she may take some time to review the evidence presented and then issue her order. If you are unhappy with the judge's decision, you have 14 days from the date the order is issued to file a motion for a new trial, or 21 days to file an appeal. If you won your case, you may have to take steps with the court to enforce the judgment and collect the money the defendant owes you. | Research Texas law. Check the statute of limitations. Choose the right court. Send a demand letter. Consider consulting an attorney. Gather information. Fill out your petition form. Sign your petition. File your petition. Have the defendant served. Wait for an answer. Prepare for trial. Participate in mediation. Appear on your trial date. Present your case. Receive the judge's decision. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fit-a-Steering-Wheel-Cover | How to Fit a Steering Wheel Cover | To fit a steering wheel cover, first measure the diameter of the steering wheel and the thickness of its grip to determine which size you'll need to buy. Once you have your measurements, purchase a cover from an automotive store or online. To put the cover on, first wipe down the steering wheel with a rag and isopropyl alcohol to remove any dirt and dust. Then, remove the packaging, and move a blow dryer on high over the interior of the steering wheel, which will make it more pliable and easier to install. Once it's warm, immediately slide the top of the cover over the top of the wheel. Then, stretch out both sides until they fit over the wheel. Finally, pull the bottom of the cover over the bottom of the wheel. | Clean the cover of your steering wheel with isopropyl alcohol. Use a rag and some isopropyl alcohol to wipe down the steering wheel before you apply the cover. This will remove any dirt or dust that would otherwise get caught under the steering wheel cover. Measure the diameter of the steering wheel. To get the diameter of your steering wheel, stretch a tape measure across the front of the wheel, from one side to the other. Most steering wheels are anywhere from 14–17.5 inches (36–44 cm) in diameter. Most covers will list the diameter and grip thickness in the product details. Measure the thickness of your steering wheel's grip. Wrap the tape measure around the steering wheel grip to determine its thickness. Purchase a steering wheel cover that matches the dimensions for your steering wheel. Most grips are 2–4.5 inches (5.1–11.4 cm) thick. Purchase a cover from an automotive store or online. Find a steering wheel cover that matches the measurements you took for your steering wheel. Stretch style covers will fit over your wheel like a glove, while stitch style covers require you to sew them together. There are a variety of colors, styles, and designs that you can choose from when choosing your cover. Find a steering wheel cover that matches the aesthetic of your car. For example, if you have a black leather interior, consider getting a black leather steering wheel cover. Remove the cardboard packaging if there is any. Many steering wheel covers will come with cardboard in the center of the cover. Remove this cardboard and any other tags on the cover before installing it. The instructions for most steering wheel covers will be on the back of the cardboard packaging. Use a blow dryer to soften stretch style covers. Plug in a blow dryer and turn it on high. Hold the blow dryer 1 inch (2.5 cm) away from the interior of the steering wheel cover. Keep the heat on each section of the cover for 5-10 seconds. This should make it more pliable and easier to install. Do not let the cover cool off. Start the installation process immediately after you heat it. Most stitch-required steering wheel covers are made to fit loosely, so you can skip this step if you are using one. If you want to keep the cover as pliable as possible, plug the hair dryer into an outdoor outlet. Fit the top of the cover over the top of the wheel. Center the wheel before you start to install the cover. Slide the top of the steering wheel cover over the top of the wheel and slide it over the wheel as much as you can. Position the cover so that the seam is centered over the bottom of the wheel. Stretch out both sides so that the cover fits over the wheel. Use your fingers and stretch the cover over one side. Then, alternate to the other side and stretch that side over. Work your way incrementally down the wheel until the entire cover is attached. You may have to pull hard on the cover to get it to stretch over the wheel. Pull the bottom of the cover over the wheel. Once you're done sliding the cover over as much as you can, you'll probably find resistance near the bottom of the wheel. Use as much force as you can to get the final part of the cover fitting snugly over the wheel. Once you've fit it over the bottom, you've successfully fit your steering wheel cover. You can get a friend to hold the wheel straight if you are having trouble getting the cover on. To reposition the cover, take it off your wheel and repeat the process. Stretch the steering wheel cover over the wheel. Center the wheel first. Then, place the cover over the wheel and make sure that the side flaps line up with the spokes in the wheel. Some covers will come with adhesive tape that you can apply to the wheel to better secure the cover. Most stitch-required steering wheel covers will fit loosely around the wheel. If the steering wheel cover does not fit over the wheel, you've purchased the wrong size. Thread the needle with lacing string. Most stitch-required steering wheel covers will come with lacing string. Cut 3–5 feet (0.91–1.52 m) of string and lace 1 end of the string through the eye of the needle. Tie a knot into the end of the string to finish threading the needle. If your cover didn't come with lacing string, you can purchase it from an arts and crafts store or online. Lacing string is durable and will hold up for a long time. Push the needle through the inside of the cover. Start sewing near the top of one of the spokes on your steering wheel. Push the needle through an existing sewing hole on the inside of the cover on the side furthest from you. Pull the needle so that the thread is pulled all the way through and stops at the knot. Many covers will have existing sewing holes that you should use instead of creating new holes. Run the needle through the side of the cover closest to you. Take the needle and thread and pull the string taut, stretching it over the wheel. Take the needle and run it through the outside of the cover, on the side closest to you. Pull the needle taut to bring both sides of the cover closer together. The string should be stretched over the wheel, not the steering wheel cover. The closer you can get both sides of the cover together, the more secure and clean your cover will look. Twist the inside thread around the needle and pull the thread tight. Take the string connecting both sides of the cover and wrap it around the needle 3-4 times before pulling it tight. Pull on the string after you twist it around the needle and bring the 2 sides of the cover as close together as you can. Doing this will knot the thread and keep it in place as you thread the rest of the cover. Thread the needle under the threads on the cover. Slide the needle under the pre-sewn thread in the seam of the cover. Start with the side furthest from you, then slide the needle under the thread on the side closest to you and pull it taut. You will repeat this process back and forth to sew the steering wheel cover together. The needle doesn't have to penetrate the cover, it just needs to connect the existing stitching on both sides of the cover. If you do this correctly, it should create a criss-cross pattern. Tie a knot at the end of the thread when you reach another spoke. Pull the string taut, then make a knot and cut the excess string when you reach a spoke. If you did everything correctly, your stitching should look neat and uniform. Finish stitching the rest of the cover together. Continue to stitch the cover using the same process until the entire cover has been stitched. Attaching a sewn-on steering wheel cover can be time-consuming and detail oriented and may take several hours to complete. | Clean the cover of your steering wheel with isopropyl alcohol. Measure the diameter of the steering wheel. Measure the thickness of your steering wheel's grip. Purchase a cover from an automotive store or online. Remove the cardboard packaging if there is any. Use a blow dryer to soften stretch style covers. Fit the top of the cover over the top of the wheel. Stretch out both sides so that the cover fits over the wheel. Pull the bottom of the cover over the wheel. Stretch the steering wheel cover over the wheel. Thread the needle with lacing string. Push the needle through the inside of the cover. Run the needle through the side of the cover closest to you. Twist the inside thread around the needle and pull the thread tight. Thread the needle under the threads on the cover. Tie a knot at the end of the thread when you reach another spoke. Finish stitching the rest of the cover together. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Throw-a-Party | How to Throw a Party | To throw a stress-free party, come up with a fun and colorful theme and decorate with tablecloths and mood lighting. Party-proof your house by providing easy bathroom access and clearing out breakable items. Introduce guests to each other, lead games, and monitor the flow of the party, but don't forget to enjoy yourself, too! | Set the time, date and place. Plan at least 3 months out so that you have ample time for publicity and to create a large e-mail invite guest list. Give your guests a six week "Save the Date" e-mail. Make sure formal invites (via mail or email) are dated no less that 2 weeks out. This gives your guests ample notice and gives you time to prepare the party of the year. Here are things to consider: Pick a date when nothing else is happening. If there's a big community event going on or your friends always have "wines day Wednesdays" for example, avoid partying on that day. You want people to come to your party, right?! Make sure to check sports, community, church and other organization calendars before finalizing your date. You would not want to plan a 6pm event downtown if a major sports event is scheduled with in an hour of your event. Think about things like traffic, commute time, event parking and other factors that could lower your attendance. Does the time or date conflict? Will parking be plentiful and free? Will the commute for the majority of the guests be short? You don't have to have your party at night. How about a brunch party? Everyone's looking for an excuse to eat pancakes and drink mimosas over the weekend, aren't they? It's easiest if the party is at your home, though it can be somewhere public like a community center, restaurants or a bar, but you could also look into venues for rent (community centers, parks, historical areas, recreational or sports centers.) Plan the guest list. Usually only 20% to 25% of the invited guests attend. A good rule of thumb is "the more the merrier." However, you don't want your guests packed in like sardines, so consider the place you're working with and how many mouths you need to feed! If you want 200 people in attendance make sure you have ample time to create a minimum of an 800 e-mail guest list. Remember, people always come late or sometimes never show. Also, if guests are bringing friends it could get out of hand rather easily. On the invitation, indicate whether or not it's okay to bring uninvited guests. Pick a theme. Avoid "80s" or "White trash trailer bash" if you can -- those are parties your guests probably went to last week. How about a cartoon theme? Or a theme around your favorite TV show or movie? A location, a specific food (like one of those 24-layer cartoon sandwiches!), a concept, or a season work too. Your theme can be as simple as a color. It would be easy to decorate and choose your food and drinks. Invite guests to wear this color, and have a contest for who wears the selected color the best! As for this "concept" idea, your party could have its own occasion. A beer or wine tasting? Heck, a mac n' cheese tasting?! A holiday, a random day in history (Moon landing day, say), a murder mystery party, or even a superhero party taken to the next level -- where everyone walks in, in costume, to their own theme song playing! Spread the word. No more snail mail -- Use a Facebook page and approved apps, then text the people your friends (more about them helping you out later) and send a reminder a few days before the party, especially if you're asking your guests to bring dishes or goodies. And be sure to talk about your party with those around you! Gotta get the excitement pumping! Do you want people to RSVP, bring a dish or a drink? Include this on your page/text/in your conversation! Otherwise you'll have 50 empty-handed people show up to your door. Oi. If necessary, budget. Throwing a party can get expensive. Ridiculously. Buying food and drinks and decorations, we're talkin' serious money. If you're contemplating going to the nines, consider budgeting. X amount of money for food, X amount of money for drinks, etc. Whatever doesn't fit gets scrapped. Parties aren't fun if the bank is broken. This is the reason a pot luck-type fest, decoration and money donations are a good idea. When your guests have duties, it takes pressure off of you, guarantees attendees -- an on time, presentation, and money. So if "on a shoestring" is more your style, don't let it deter you from partying -- just expect help from the people enjoying it! Make sure you start 6 month out to get item or money donations and 2 months out for pot- people and organizations need to budget their donations, so be sensitive to those on tight budgets. Figure out the food. No party is complete without food -- if you want your guests to stick around, provide food. But you also don't want to spend the next three days glued to the kitchen, so what do you do? The party has to be fun for the host, too! Consider a DIY-style food service. Have all the ingredients for tacos, sundaes, breakfast, or anything your heart could imagine. And it's another element of fun for your guests when they feel like they're doing something, it gives them something to talk about and enjoy. Have finger foods available for guests as soon as they enter. Something they can pop in their mouth in the blink of eye. They'll be content from moment one! Anything from veggies to chips to fruit to cheese to dessert is good! Also, finger food is easy and quick to prepare, too. Plan the drinks. Think DOA -- drinks on arrival. Just like the food, you want your guests sated as soon as possible. Having something to drink from the get-go allows you freedom from worrying about serving, in addition to all your other responsibilities as people trickle in. You could have a signature drink for the entire night (matching the color theme?) Just for the record, having a bowl of punch is efficient and tasty, and you could also have DIY cocktails too (set up everything for martinis with a little instruction sheet in the corner, for example). Or just a big ol' tub of alcohol and soda! Take care of your DDS, if you have them. Don't relegate them to drinking water or Diet Coke. Have flavored syrups available for homemade soda, or splash up that tonic water with fruit juices and garnishes. Plan the music. Arrange it so that you won't be distracted from being a good host/hostess by the need to tend to the music. Putting your iPod on shuffle just means something embarrassing like the Oklahoma! soundtrack will start playing or worse, someone will steal your iPod. So set up music that keeps it pumping and that no one will be walking away with. Wireless speakers are a good investment if you don't already have them. Design a playlist now of all songs that meet your party needs. This is a great activity for a committee and the committee members can include their teenage children to help! Make sure the playlist is long enough so repeating will go unnoticed. When the party rolls around, you hit "play" and your DJ-ing job is done! Buy or make decorations. This is another good activity for a decorations committee. Your theme should make this a lot easier -- once you know it, you can narrow down what you need and let the committee handle it. If you don't want traditional decorations, use tablecloths and/or place-mats and the like, for easy clean up. Here's a bare minimum checklist of things to have: Tablecloth and/or placemats Matching plates/cutlery/napkins Centerpiece for table(s) Lights Party favors, seating tags, drink tags, etc. Plan your set-up. Your home probably isn't ideally set up for a party yet. You want easy access to the bathroom, the food and drinks from just about anywhere, and loads of lounging space. So where will everything be? Do you have enough chairs? How about the music? Make sure everything you DON'T want messed with doesn't get messed with if you're in a location that has important or necessary items for it organization. So, designate a catch-all space for all things that your guests are not welcome to get near; breakable goods, antiques, valuables. Consider personalized items. If you have a small guest list and know exactly who is coming, consider having a few personalized items to make them feel special and to remember the party. It can simply be a specially-decorated cupcake, a table centerpiece, a favorite dish, or a glass that's all their own. If you're using the same glassware, have a drink marker to identify their drink with as a simple, personalized touch. These can take the place of name tags. Never have over 20 people in a room without some type of name tags and a mingler game! With all the labels and things you can print off the Internet, you have no excuse! Drunk proof your location. We're not going to beat around the bush here: if you're having a party with alcohol, children or teens drunk proof and kid proof everything. You'll regret not doing so way before morning when it rears its ugly head. Lock doors that you do not want children behind unchaperoned or provide a chaperoned area. Get the pillows and Advil ready and have the carpet cleaner on standby It's your party, so you are responsible for your guests. If drunk driving is an issue, take their keys when they arrive. Hide them and only give them back when they're sober enough to drive. You're not being a square -- you're saving your butt if something were to go wrong. Don't forget to plan clean up! ALWAYS have a clean-up committee. What's worse than a great party and a huge mess to clean up afterward? A good party and a huge mess to clean up afterward with no cleaning supplies. So when you're buying your cream cheese and vodka, take a gander through the cleaning section. You'll need some paper towels, some garbage bags, some sponges, and some cleaning spray, if you don't already have these. Ideally, you've roped a few friends into helping you clean up afterward. Either that or you've prepared a really effective guilt trip for them before they walk out the door. Even seen clean up games for adults where groups are assigned areas and the winning group gets a nice prize. You're a good guest to them, right? Delegate. Delegate. DELEGATE! The time has come: your party is going to start soon. Grab a few close buddies and delegate duties. Or plan in advance and ask specific people or groups to be responsible for specific tasks. It only helps your attendance and trains volunteers to be future leaders. This might sound tyrannical, but it can actually make them feel more involved -- so long as you're not giving them bathroom duty! Have someone set up the table, someone or a committee doing the decorations, and time will fly by. Consider delegating your guests, too, as a party idea. When guests are given a job not only do they feel like they're part of the party magic but then they have to come! One person can bring a dessert, one person the ice, etc. Only together do you have a party -- with way less responsibility on your part. Make sure the place is tidy and functional. People need to be able to circulate, sit down, and use the washroom. Make sure there is handicap access and that bathrooms are geographically close. Rearrange the furniture as needed and planned out in your setup. Stash supplies somewhere accessible, but safe -- when you run out of something, you'll be prepared. The place has to be functional for you, too! To a certain extent, it's just going to get messy. So while you should have a clean floor, a clean toilet, and a clean table, don't bust out your toothbrush and start etching away years of grime. You can do that after the party, when you're already on your hands and knees mopping up patches of mysterious sticky goo. Decorate! This can be as simple as throwing on a tablecloth and waiting for the potluck dishes to show up or as extravagant as lining the entire room in glitter snowflakes, making fake snow, and turning the AC on high. Luckily, there's no wrong way to go about it. The one thing you shouldn't forget, it's lights. People love shiny things, especially if your party is outside. So, tiki torches, candles, Christmas lights (or variations thereof), and light-up decorations put the icing on the cake. Think what a lighting committee could come up with to add that extra something! If your party is hard to find, put up signs! Going to a new place can be nerve-wracking, especially with the fiasco that parking can be. A few signs can alleviate your guests' frustrations. This applies to not only parking, but bathrooms, chaperone rooms or large venues with large geographic area like churches. Don't make guest come into your party frustrated because you have sent them on a hunt to find your party on a large church or public center. Again.... think committees. A logistics committee is a sure fire winner where guests are concerned. Keep the guests entertained and mingling. This should only partly be your job -- you should be having fun, too! You might think of assigning this to particularly bubbly or extroverted attendees in advance. Give them a simple list of communication ideas. Maybe a different colored wrist band, glass or name tag. But do keep an eye on the feel of the room -- does the music need to be changed? Has anything run out? Are people mingling appropriately? Mix 'em up and get them talking if you have to! New people may need a nudge in the right direction. You can suggest games or activities for your guests, too. Turn your sundae bar into a sundae eating contest or your cartoon sandwich into a photo shoot. It's normal for guests to want to follow the host's lead, so show them what kind of party you want to be having! If you have different groups of friends present, you're the glue that brings them together. So break out your inner social butterfly and find ways to get them talking to each other. Remember to have a few mingler games on hand in case one flops or the party starts to become dull. Parties are so much more fun for everyone when new experiences are had and new relationships are made. Know when to call it quits. A party can be raring for hours, but you have to know when to start suggesting people head for the exit. If it's 2 AM and you have to clean up a pile of red Solo cups the Egyptians would be proud of, don't feel embarrassed to start rounding them up like cattle. It's been fun, it's been real, but party time is over, folks. It's time to call it a day. An easy way to do this is to start cleaning up. People will generally get the hint -- and hopefully they'll help out! Tell them you're very glad they came and you'll see them soon -- the next party should be on their turf! You'll bring your famous enchiladas. | Set the time, date and place. Plan the guest list. Pick a theme. Spread the word. If necessary, budget. Figure out the food. Plan the drinks. Plan the music. Buy or make decorations. Plan your set-up. Consider personalized items. Drunk proof your location. Don't forget to plan clean up! Delegate. Make sure the place is tidy and functional. Decorate! Keep the guests entertained and mingling. Know when to call it quits. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Ignore-Your-Boyfriend | How to Ignore Your Boyfriend | If you want to ignore your boyfriend, find other activities to keep you busy so you're not spending so much time with him. For example, go for a run or read a book if you live together, or go to his apartment less often if you don't. Additionally, stop being the one to initiate contact via phone or text message so that he has to make the first move. Take up a new hobby to fill your free time, which will help you keep your mind off him. To maintain a busy social life, plan a night out with your best friends or a trip to visit your family. When you're together, try keeping your distance by avoiding physical contact with him. If you run into him in public, avoid making eye contact, which will let him know that you're focused on other things. | Examine the situation. Identify when your boyfriend's behavior started to upset you. Consider how your actions may have impacted the situation. Does the shift in his mood coincide with a stressful week at school or work or has he been acting strange for months? His inattention may not be a reflection of his feelings for you, but his emotional response to a stressful or upsetting situation. Are you placing unreasonable expectations on your boyfriend? Do you flood his inbox with texts? Are you constantly checking up on him? Or, have you remained patient, calm, and trusting? Are you the only one putting any effort into the relationship? Reflect on your feelings. Ask yourself why you desire to ignore your boyfriend. Are you fighting? Is he failing to communicate with you? Consider why his actions, or lack of actions, are upsetting you. Are you the only one putting any effort into the relationship? Remember, you are allowed to feel upset, hurt, angry, or neglected. Keep track of your thoughts in a journal. Talk through your feelings with someone you trust. Talk about your feelings over coffee with your best friend. Talk with your boyfriend. Have a conversation with your boyfriend about your feelings and concerns. Use “I” statements instead of “you” statements. Allow him to respond. Don't cut him off or interrupt him. If he remains emotionally evasive or brushes of your concerns, end the conversation and take action. Take responsibility for your feelings. Use "I" statements, such as "I feel ignored," "I am concerned about our relationship," "I feel hurt when you choose to hang out with your friends instead of spending time with me." Avoid "you" statements, which place the blame completely on the other person. Examples of "you" statements include "you are ignoring me," "You don't seem to care about our relationship," and "you never want to see me." Create some space. Don't spend all of your spare time with your boyfriend! Intentionally spend time away from your significant other. Limit the amount of time you see your significant other. It may make him miss you! Occupy yourself. If you live together, do not let him be the center of your attention. Read a book, go for a run, cook something, clean something, do anything but do not try to get his attention just to entertain yourself. Do not spend every night at your boyfriend's house. Try to spend a few nights a week alone. This will give him time to realize that he may miss you when you are gone. Rededicate yourself to your job or a hobby. Now that you have spare time, invest it in your career or a new hobby. Filling your time with new activities and setting new professional goals for yourself will make it easier to intentionally spend time away from your boyfriend. Refocus your energy on excelling at work. Take on a new project or assume additional responsibilities. Devote your free time to scrapbooking, a new club, or a sport. Finding activities that allow you to meet new people are a great way to fill your time! Get active! Join a local gym or explore a new trail. Spend time outside. Go to the beach or relax under a tree with a great book! Spend time with friends and family members. Instead of sitting at home alone, go out with your friends and spend time with your family. Enjoy a night out on the town with your besties! Plan a trip to see your family. Fill your social calendar with fun hangouts, spontaneous adventures, and relaxing outing. Reconnecting with friends and family members will make it easier for you to ignore your boyfriend. Visit your local art museum with a friend. Invite a close family member over to your place for dinner. Host a themed party. Give him the cheek. When you are out and about town with your boyfriend, abstain from PDA. Treat him as you would treat a friend. If he goes in for a kiss, give him the cheek. When he reaches for your hand, put it in your pocket. Don't toy with him by initiating PDA. Resist the urge to rub his back or rest your head on his shoulder. Distance yourself. Increase the amount of physical space between you and your boyfriend. Don't sit directly next to him on the couch, but sit a space away or opt to sit in a chair. Put distance between your bodies at night. Don't spoon with him in bed! If you attend the same class, sit a different row. Separating yourself from him physically will make it easier to avoid his advances (and keep you from initiating contact too)! Limit eye contact. When you happen to run into your boyfriend in public, avoid making eye contact with him. Avert your eyes to something in the distance. Look up. Look down. Look all around. Just don't look at him! Don't turn your back to him, you won't be able to see his reaction? Keep him in your peripheral vision; watch him out of the corner of your eye. Stop initiating communication. Don't call your boyfriend or text him. Let him take the initiative to contact you for a change. When the urge to call him arises, call a friend instead. Make plans to see a movie or go out to eat with your friend. Only contact your boyfriend when it is absolutely necessary! Avoid him on social media too. If it is too tempting to chat with him online, take a brief hiatus from social media or block him. Ignore his calls and texts. When your boyfriend contacts you, ignore him! Let his calls go to voice mail. Let his unanswered text messages fill your inbox. Force your boyfriend to wait around for your response! Resist the urge to constantly check your phone. Keep it in the next room, turn it off, or put it on silent. Give your phone to a friend or family member. Ignore his attempts to reach you on social media platforms too! Don't respond to his messages or reply to his comments. Block him for a short period of time if you must. Shorten your responses. When you talk with your boyfriend, keep the conversation brief. Reply to his inquiries with short responses, don't elaborate. Don't ask him questions about his day or his plans for the weekend. Come off as aloof and uninterested. Reply with head nods and shrugs. Keep your responses brief. Use one-word answers: “Yes,” “No,” “Okay,” and “Fine.” | Examine the situation. Reflect on your feelings. Talk with your boyfriend. Create some space. Rededicate yourself to your job or a hobby. Spend time with friends and family members. Give him the cheek. Distance yourself. Limit eye contact. Stop initiating communication. Ignore his calls and texts. Shorten your responses. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Sopaipillas | How to Make Sopaipillas | An easy way to make sopapillas is to use ready-made flour tortillas, which can be found at most grocery stores. To begin, fill a pan with with enough oil for the tortillas to be fully immersed, and heat the oil to 400°F. While the oil heats, cut the tortillas into triangles. Once the oil is hot, drop the triangles into the oil and wait for each side to turn a golden brown color before flipping. Finally, remove the sopapillas from the oil, set them on a paper towel to soak the excess oil, and serve with your favorite toppings, like cinnamon and sugar. | Gather your ingredients. You will need one package of dry yeast, 4 cups of flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbs sugar, 1 tbs melted shortening, 1½ cups of water, vegetable oil for frying, and your preferred topping. Mix the dry yeast and water. Use the entire package of yeast and stir in the 1½ cups of water, allowing five minutes for the two to sit so the yeast can react. Use warm water to mix with the yeast, instead of cold (which can slow the process) or hot (which can kill the yeast). Sopapillas are created when the yeast forms gas and causes the inside of the pastry to puff up into a bubble. Add in the shortening and sugar. Melt the shortening before adding it to the yeast mixture, and stir well. Traditional sopapillas are made with lard instead of shortening, although this is rarely used now. Feel free to use real lard if you have access to the ingredient. If you don't have shortening, you can substitute it for butter. Mix in the flour and salt. Slowly pour each into the mixture as you stir slowly, fully incorporating each ingredient into the dough. Knead the dough. Remove the dough from your bowl and knead it with your hands until it is very smooth. Wait for the dough to rise. Place it in a greased dish and allow it to sit for around one hour or until it has doubled in size. Roll out the dough. Punch it down to remove the gas build up from the yeast, and roll the dough to be about ¼ of an inch thick. Cut the dough into triangles. Start by making the dough into a large rectangle, and then cutting along the diagonals to form small triangles. Try to keep them less than three inches wide on their longest side. Heat your oil. Fill a pot or pan with enough cooking oil to cover the sopapilla completely. It needs to reach about 400 degrees to be hot enough to fry the dough. Place the dough in the hot oil. Fry multiple sopapillas at once to quicken the time it takes to make them all. Wait for each side to turn golden brown. This should take about one minute per side, but the time is variable so watch them carefully. Remove from the sopapillas from the oil. Place them on paper towels over a wire rack to drain off excess oil. Add your toppings and enjoy! Traditional toppings include cinnamon and sugar with honey, but powdered sugar, chocolate, and caramel are all delicious on top as well. Gather your ingredients. Making sopapillas with tortillas is easy because nearly all the work is removed. You will need a bag of your favorite flour tortillas, oil for frying, and your toppings of choice. Heat the oil. Pour your oil into a pan deep enough so the tortillas can be fully immersed. Wait for it to heat to about 400 °F (204 °C). Cut the tortillas into triangles. An easy way to do this is to cut the tortilla like a pie; you end with triangles with one rounded side. Place the tortillas in the oil. You can fry multiples at once, enough to fill the pan. Allow each side to turn golden brown before flipping. Remove the sopapillas from the oil. Place them on paper towels over a wire rack to allow them to drain. Add your toppings. Try rolling these in cinnamon and sugar and dipping in honey for a sweet treat. Gather your ingredients. Find frozen or refrigerated puff pastry and your choice of toppings. The puff pastry will need to be baked, not fried, so you don't need any oil for them. Preheat your oven. Follow the package instructions for baking temperature and times, and set your oven to heat up while you do the prep work. Cut the pastry into triangles. Allow time for the pastry to thaw if it is frozen, and then slice into triangles no larger than three inches across. Fill the pastry. This step is optional, but you could fold the pastry pieces over to hide a morsel of chocolate or caramel inside. Bake the pastry. Follow the directions on the pastry package and cook for the allotted amount of time, until the pastry has risen and is a golden brown. Remove the sopapillas from the oven. Let them sit for ten minutes to cool, and then add your toppings of choice. Make sopapilla dough from scratch. Follow the directions above for making your own sopapilla dough, but don't cut the dough into triangles. Heat your oil in a pan. These will need to be fried, not baked, so pour oil into a pan and heat to 400 degrees. You will need to pour a bit more oil that you would for regular sopapillas, as these will take up more space because of the filling. Roll the dough out. Flatten the dough so it is thin but without holes, and then cut it into circles between 6–8 inches (15.2–20.3 cm) in diameter. Place two tablespoons of filling in the center of each piece. For these, you can use nearly any filling imaginable. For a savory sopapilla, fill the dough with rice, beans, and meat. For a sopapilla that can be eaten for dessert, try using a pie filling or chocolate chips. Fold the dough in half, creating a semi-circle. Thoroughly close the edges of the dough around the filling by rolling them in slightly and then pinching them tightly. It is very important the edges be closed to not leak filing into your frying oil and create a big mess. Fry the filled sopapillas. Place each into the hot oil, waiting 1-2 minutes on each side for the sopapilla to turn golden brown. Fry as many at once as the pan size will allow. Remove and drain the sopapillas. Place them onto a wire rack covered in paper towels to allow the excess oil to drain off. Allow time to cool, at least ten minutes. Add extra toppings and enjoy! Although your sopapillas are filled, you can choose to add more on top as well. For a savory sopapilla, top with cheese or salsa. A dessert sopapilla can rolled in more cinnamon and sugar or sprinkled with powdered sugar. | Gather your ingredients. Mix the dry yeast and water. Add in the shortening and sugar. Mix in the flour and salt. Knead the dough. Wait for the dough to rise. Roll out the dough. Cut the dough into triangles. Heat your oil. Place the dough in the hot oil. Wait for each side to turn golden brown. Remove from the sopapillas from the oil. Add your toppings and enjoy! Gather your ingredients. Heat the oil. Cut the tortillas into triangles. Place the tortillas in the oil. Remove the sopapillas from the oil. Add your toppings. Gather your ingredients. Preheat your oven. Cut the pastry into triangles. Fill the pastry. Bake the pastry. Remove the sopapillas from the oven. Make sopapilla dough from scratch. Heat your oil in a pan. Roll the dough out. Place two tablespoons of filling in the center of each piece. Fold the dough in half, creating a semi-circle. Fry the filled sopapillas. Remove and drain the sopapillas. Add extra toppings and enjoy! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Your-Carbohydrate-Intake | How to Reduce Your Carbohydrate Intake | To reduce your carbohydrate intake, start by learning to identify what foods include carbs and which carbs are nutritionally valuable, since even low-carb diets should include 60-130 grams of carbs per day. Remember to check the labels on all packaged foods that you buy and try to avoid processed grains and sugary treats, since these empty carbs aren't healthy. Instead, get carbs from whole grains, fruit and veggies, and legumes. To replace carbs in your diet, add plenty of protein from fish and poultry sources rather than red meat. It's a good idea to discuss dietary changes with your doctor, who can help you create a low-carb diet that meets your nutritional needs. | Learn what foods include carbohydrates. Carbohydrates come in multiple varieties, but when it comes to diet, most people are concerned with processed (simple) versus naturally occurring (complex) carbs. You will find naturally occurring carbs in grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Complex carbohydrates resist digestion more than simple, refined carbohydrates such as those found in flour and sugar. Sources of simple carbohydrates include white breads and pasta, cake, candy, cookies, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Generally speaking, complex carbs are better because their sources additionally include vitamins, minerals, protein, and other nutritional value, whereas simple carbs do not. The fiber content in complex carbohydrates also alleviates some of the negative impact on blood sugar. Avoid or minimize processed grains. White bread, white rice, and flour provide relatively little nutritional value and increase the amount of simple carbohydrates in your daily diet. For fiber intake, stick with small amounts of whole grains. These will cause fewer fluctuations in blood glucose levels as well. Avoid sugar and sweets. Desserts, pastries, sugary beverages, and other confectionery treats may taste wonderful, but they tend to provide little in the way of nutrition, and they increase the amount of carbohydrates in your diet significantly. Opt for servings of fruits or frozen fruit desserts that are made with no extra sugar if you feel the need for a treat. When something does call for a sweetener, use alternative sweeteners if possible. Watch the starch. While you do want to eat more vegetables, limit your intake of white potatoes, corn, and other starchy foods. A five-ounce russet baked potato has 30 grams of carbs, for instance. Substitute with other root vegetables that contain fewer carbohydrates, and increase the amount of dark green vegetables that you consume at each meal. They tend to have few if any carbs while providing the benefit of a lot of nutrients. Other starchy, high-carb vegetables include beets, peas, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and some winter squashes. Select meat, fish, and poultry. Many low-carb diets replace the missing carb calories with high-protein calories. Many red meats have very little in the way of carbohydrates and offer the benefit of plenty of protein. Fish and poultry are also good options that provide nutrients and are filling, which will help to satisfy your body's craving for more carbs. Broil and bake instead of frying. When preparing meats and vegetables, avoid battering and frying those foods. The flour used for the coating contains plenty of extra carbohydrates that your body does not need. To add flavor, use plenty of herbs and spices while broiling, and use an egg batter/crushed bran flakes combination to bake chicken and fish and enjoy a crispy coating. Limit portions. Learn the difference between a sliver and a wedge of cake or pie, and get an idea of how much is actually in a single serving. Limiting portions will make it easier to enjoy more of the foods you like without taking in a lot of carbs. It can also be beneficial to weigh foods prior to cooking. For instance, it can help to weigh out 4-6 oz of raw chicken before cooking to ensure the proper portion size is being consumed. Calculate the number of carbs you want to eat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that carbohydrates make up 45-65% of your daily caloric intake for a standard diet. Based on a 2,000-calorie/day diet, this means approximately 900-1,300 calories each day from carbs. Lower carb diets typically mean reducing carbs to between 240-520 calories each day, which equates to 60-130 grams of carbohydrates. Consult your doctor or dietitian. Before making any big changes to your diet, consult your doctor or a dietitian regarding the safest way for you to do so. Current blood work results, existing kidney conditions, and other factors can all contribute to the healthiest way for you to cut back on carbs. Your doctor or dietitian can also teach you how to count carbs. Check labels. Once you know your target for carbohydrates, remember to check labels for the food you buy. Try to balance options in order to adequately reduce carbs to your desired amount. Each serving of carbs is equivalent to 15 grams of carbs, so you will have to divide the total amount of carbs in your food by 15 to get the number of servings. For example, a food that contains 45 carbs would be equal to three servings of carbohydrates because 45 divided by 15 equals 3. Use the glycemic index. You can use the glycemic index as a guide for choosing carbs that your body can digest quickly. The higher the glycemic index of a food, the more likely it will be to spike your blood sugar. However, this is based on eating foods individually. You can combine carbohydrates with protein to avoid a spike in your blood sugar. Using the index can help you to plan for a healthy amount of carbs at each meal. For more information on how to use the Glycemic index, check: How to Eat Foods Low on the Glycemic Index. Consider dietary changes you can maintain. You're better off skipping fad diets that you can stick with only for a month or two before burning out on them. Many high-protein, low-carb diets can simply feel too restricting for long-term adoption. Instead, make changes in your diet that you will have an easier time maintaining. Stay aware of potential complications. The additional fat from many high-protein sources can lead to additional problems when cutting carbs, such as higher cholesterol, which in turn raises the risks of heart disease. High long-term carbohydrate restrictions can also lead to vitamin or mineral deficiencies, bone loss, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Severely limiting carbohydrates (anything less than 20 grams each day) may also lead to a body process called ketosis. This is when your body does not have enough sugar (glucose) to produce energy, and your body begins breaking down stored fat to operate. Side effects can include bad breath, nausea, headache, and physical and mental fatigue. | Learn what foods include carbohydrates. Avoid or minimize processed grains. Avoid sugar and sweets. Watch the starch. Select meat, fish, and poultry. Broil and bake instead of frying. Limit portions. Calculate the number of carbs you want to eat. Consult your doctor or dietitian. Check labels. Use the glycemic index. Consider dietary changes you can maintain. Stay aware of potential complications. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Ice | How to Make Ice | To make ice cubes, start by filling a clean ice cube tray with water to just below the rim to allow for expansion. Then, place the tray flat in the freezer and let it freeze for 1 to 3 hours. To serve the ice, gently twist the tray until the cubes pop out. For flavored ice, simply replace water with another liquid, like coffee or juice. If your freezer makes ice automatically, maintain your ice maker by being gentle when pushing the dispenser arm, and keeping the temperature above -20°F. | Remove any remaining ice in the tray before refilling it. Have you ever had the experience of cracked, uneven ice cubes when you try to remove them? That usually happens when room temperature water gets poured over already-frozen cubes. If you want all your ice to be even and consistent, only fill the tray when it's completely empty. Rinse the tray out beforehand, to remove freezer sediment and little chunks. This also helps to warm up the tray slightly, resulting in more even cubes. Cubes will be easier to get out later if you do this. If you you need to, empty the ice cubes into a Ziplock freezer bag, or store them in a bowl in the freezer. Easy fix. Fill the tray up just below the rim. When the water freezes, it expands. This is why the ice in your drink floats, even in a glass of water. When you make ice, try to account for the fact that the cubes will get a little bigger as they freeze, and don't overfill. Pro tip: If you want perfectly clear ice, instead of cloudy, boil the water first. When it cools, freeze it normally. The more times you boil, the more clear the ice when it freezes. Place flat in the freezer. For the best ice cubes, place your ice cube tray flat and even. Clear out any freezer bags or other items that might be in the freezer, and set the trays on a flat surface. Don't stack ice cube trays on top of one another, if you can help it. Sometimes, you'll get weird cubes, or spill the water on the bottom of the freezer. Freezers are usually set at 32 degrees F (0 C) or below. In most freezers, water should freeze in about one to three hours, depending on the size of the cubes and the temperature of the freezer. Twist the tray gently to pop the cubes out. After your cubes are frozen, turn the tray to make sure they're not liquid on the inside. To pop them out, you can usually just pry one up and out, or twist the tray very slightly to loosen them from the sides, then pull them out. Sometimes, it takes some work to get the cubes loose from the sides of the tray. Don't start banging it around, though, or you'll crack the tray. Instead, run a bit of warm water in the tap and wet a cloth. Sit the ice cube tray on the cloth to melt the underside slightly. They'll pop right out. Consider upgrading your ice tray. Ice cube trays come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and features. You can get an ice cube tray with a cover, to prevent freezer burn and crystals from forming on the top. You can get big cocktail ice trays and individual ice cube trays shaped like the Death Star from Star Wars. Get creative! If you don't want to buy a tray, don't. Look around your kitchen from strangely-shaped objects you could fill with water. That lobster-shaped pan? Make a big lobster cube. Make a coffee-cup-shaped ice cube. Why not? Make coffee cubes. Iced coffee is great with regular ice, but it's even better with coffee cubes. Next time you let a pot of morning brew sit too long, pour it into a clean ice cube tray and let it freeze. Next time you want to have iced coffee, drop a few of those into it. Delicious. These also go great in mixed drinks and cocktails, or as an addition to chocolate milk. If you don't like coffee, try freezing herbal tea, lemonade, or any drink you prefer. Freeze your favorite fruit juice. Another delicious addition to a fruity cocktail or mixed drink is a fruit-juice ice cube. Freeze cranberry cocktail cubes and add it to your iced tea. Freeze pineapple-mango juice to pop into your next smoothie. This is a great way to spice up any drink. Generally, citrus juices don't work quite as well as other fruit juices and cocktails. Anything based in apple or grape juice works really well. Make your own popsicles. In the summer time, a good way to save money is to make popsicles in the fridge yourself. Mix up a batch of you favorite Kool-Aid flavor or other fruit drink and pop it not the ice cube tray. About halfway through, stick toothpicks into the centers, or just pop them out and let the kids eat them outside. You can also get molds made specifically for making popsicles, which have plastic holders that you can reuse. They're a lot of fun for kids. Add berries or other fruit. One great visual treat is to add a single blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, or grape to each section of the ice cube tray and then cover them with water. Squeeze a little lemon juice or lemonade onto the fruit, then cover with water, or the fruit juice of your choice. These make great little additions to any mixed drink, or just a plain glass of water. Freeze chopped mint, basil, or other herbs. If your garden goes crazy with herbs, a great way to save them for later in the season is to chop up the herbs finely, then pack them into an empty ice cube tray and cover with a small amount of water. When they freeze up, pop them out and keep them in a freezer bag. These are great for cooking later in the season. You can toss a cube of basil into a soup pot, or toss a cube or mint into a big pitcher of fresh iced tea. You could also do this with sage, thyme, parsley, cilantro, or any combination of herbs you regularly use. Add food coloring for fun. While it won't really add any flavor to the cubes, it can be fun to add a drop of food coloring to individual sections on the ice cube tray and let them freeze. It's a fun project for kids, and makes a plain water glass a lot more fun. Understand the basic components of an ice maker. If your refrigerator automatically makes ice, your job is a whole lot easier. It's still good to understand how to maintain the components, though, to keep it in good working order. All refrigerators are slightly different, but most of them have the same basic components: The Dispenser. This is where the ice comes from, and is usually operated by pressing a button, or pushing a glass against a lever. Some refrigerators have different settings. The Freezer. Ice is frozen by cooling coils in the freezer, then routed through the dispenser. Maintaining your freezer and setting it at the proper temperature is important for the life of the ice maker. The Ice Maker. Usually, ice makers are just small freezing units in the freezer, sometimes with a little metal control arm you can put up or down, to control whether or not ice is made. These typically have water filters that you can change every couple months. Be gentle with the dispenser arm. Jamming your glass into it can make the dispenser malfunction. If you notice the water or ice coming out seems to be erratic, check the dispenser port for signs of buildup and clean it with a clean cloth, if necessary. If you have very hard water, mineral deposits will often form around the dispenser. This is normal, and can be cleaned off gently with a brush and some vinegar. Change the settings every so often. If you have an ice dispenser that makes cubed ice, crushed ice, and all sorts of other options, it's important to toggle between them a few times a week, to keep the machine in good order. If you're not using it, frost and ice particles can build up and make the dispenser malfunction. Keep your freezer above -20 F (-4 C). Any colder that that, and ice will start to build up on the components of the ice maker, increasing the chance that something will malfunction. If you see ice forming in your freezer, it could be because water is leaking from the freezing unit, and you need to check to make sure the ice maker is sealed and installed properly. Make sure the water lines are straight and connected properly, and that your freezer isn't too full of items. Most newer ice makers will defrost regularly, but if you've got an older one, you may need to defrost your freezer every couple of months to keep the ice maker functioning properly. Ideally, twice a year is perfect. Clean the ice bin. Every now and then, it's a good idea to remove the ice from the ice bin in the freezer, and turn off the ice maker. With a clean towel, wipe out the inside of the tray, and check the feeler arm to make sure everything is still working properly. This should help eliminate sediment and other little particles from your ice cubes. Don't store anything in the ice bin. Some people like to toss things directly into the ice that the maker creates, which can mess up the levels of the device. Finished. | Remove any remaining ice in the tray before refilling it. Fill the tray up just below the rim. Place flat in the freezer. Twist the tray gently to pop the cubes out. Consider upgrading your ice tray. Make coffee cubes. Freeze your favorite fruit juice. Make your own popsicles. Add berries or other fruit. Freeze chopped mint, basil, or other herbs. Add food coloring for fun. Understand the basic components of an ice maker. Be gentle with the dispenser arm. Change the settings every so often. Keep your freezer above -20 F (-4 C). Clean the ice bin. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Give-an-Interview | How to Give an Interview | To give a job interview, start by opening with some small talk to put the interviewee at ease. Then, ask the candidate 2 or 3 straightforward questions about their previous job experience, like what their primary responsibilities were at their old job. Next, pose a few hypothetical situations to see how the candidate would solve problems on the job. For example, you could ask, "How would you deal with an angry client?" Finally, ask the candidate if they have any questions for you. | Come up with questions based on the qualifications the job requires. Start by reviewing the specific skills, attributes, and responsibilities listed in the job description. If possible, ask people who've held that position or work in that department what qualities a successful candidate needs to possess. Then prepare questions that target those key factors. Suppose one key skill for a job in purchasing is inventory management. A good question would be, “How have you ensured accurate inventory analysis in a prior position?” Have your prepared questions handy at the interview, and be sure to take notes during each interview you conduct. Open up with a little small talk to break the ice. Interviews are stressful, so try to put the candidate at ease. They'll perform better if they're more comfortable, and you'll be able to assess their qualifications without their nerves getting in the way. For example, when the candidate arrives, offer coffee, tea, or water, or ask “How is your morning so far? Did you run into any traffic on the way?” Pose general questions about the candidate's experience. After exchanging pleasantries, ask around 2 or 3 straightforward, fact-based questions about the information on their resume. Inquire about prior responsibilities and accomplishments, why they want to leave their current job, and why they think they'd be a good fit for a position with your company. Ask, for example, “What were your primary responsibilities at your last position?” and “Why did you decide to pursue a career in this industry?” If necessary, you should also give the candidate the opportunity to explain anything that seems out of place on their resume. Examples include employment gaps and changing careers from one industry to another. Test their problem solving skills with situations related to the job. Once you've covered their general experience, pose a few hypothetical situations that the candidate might run into on the job. You can also present situational examples and ask the candidate to explain how they've solved similar problems at a prior position. Suppose you run a restaurant and are interviewing a server. You could ask, “How would you deal with a customer who complains about their meal?” and “Can you give me an example of how you worked with a team to overcome a stressful situation?” If you feel like the candidate is bending the truth or just telling you what you want to hear, keep in mind you can double check information with their references. Ask the candidate if they have any questions. To wrap up the interview, invite the candidate to ask about topics including training, duties, advancement, and the next stages of the application process. Plan on taking at least 5 minutes to field their questions. Use their questions to get a feel for their knowledge of your company and industry at large. For instance, a strong candidate might ask about the rendering software you use to develop plans for the products you design. A good applicant always brings a few questions to an interview. It's a major red flag if they don't have any questions or just ask about things like salary or where to grab lunch. Plan out the interview’s structure and goals. A good interview is conversational, but you still need to map it out so you don't lose focus. Decide what your specific topic is, what you need to find out, and how to order your questions. Suppose you're interviewing a politician who's running for mayor, and your aim is to learn more about their plan to balance the city's budget. Research their budget and the city's finances, and come up with questions that probe the specific details of their plan. Conducting thorough research before the interview is essential. Learn as much as you can about the interview's topic and the person you're interviewing. Introduce yourself and state the purpose of your interview. Exchange pleasantries, identify yourself as a journalist, and mention where your piece will be published. If you haven't already, let them know why you're interested in interviewing them and which topics you'll cover. A polite introduction will help put the interviewee at ease. Record the interview with a cell phone app or tape recorder. You'll need to take fewer notes if you record, which will allow you to better engage the interviewee. If you plan on recording the conversation, ask the interviewee if they mind first, and be sure to note when you turn on the device. Test your device before the interview to avoid technical glitches. Start with simple background questions to establish a relationship. After introducing yourself, ask 2 or 3 simple, matter-of-fact questions. For instance, confirm their title or the spelling of their name, or touch on their education or hobbies. Easy, straightforward questions can help you establish a rapport with the interviewee. While asking soft questions up front is generally the best strategy, sometimes getting straight to the point is preferable. For instance, if you only have a few minutes to talk to a politician or businessperson with a tight schedule, it's better to skip right to meatier questions. Move on to the more substantial or difficult questions. To dig into the topic, ask open-ended questions, which invite a free response instead of a simple “yes” or “no.” Even when you're covering a complex topic, be sure to pose short, focused questions instead of convoluted, multi-part ones. For instance, break up a run-on question such as “When did you first decide to become a vet, what factors led to your decision, and what aspect of your profession continues to inspire you the most?” If you're asking about a sensitive subject, remember to keep your tone respectful and professional. For example, “How do you respond to allegations of illegal chemical dumping?” is objective, while “What do you have to say about how your company poisons our water?” is combative. Ask follow-up questions to clarify their statements. Listen carefully to their responses and ask yourself if anything seems vague or unclear. Instead of making assumptions about what they mean, ask them to elaborate or provide an example. Ask, for instance, “Could you explain what you meant by that,” “How do you know that,” “Can you give me an example,” and “Can you tell me more about that?” You can also say, “It sounds like you're saying,” then summarize their statement in your own words, and ask “Is that a fair summary?” Ask follow-up questions, but remember to control the conversation's flow. Move on if you're short on time and still need to ask key questions. Propose counter-examples, but don’t argue. Rather than accept their statements at face value, ask them to address alternatives. Mention a differing opinion or piece of evidence, then ask for their take. See if their perspective changes or if they clarify their views. Remember to stay objective and professional. Don't offer your opinion or try to convince them to accept your views. For instance, say “How do you respond to the city council president's statements on the city budget?” instead of just arguing that their budget plan is misguided. Conclude the conversation by thanking the interviewee. Thank them for their time, and remind them when and where they can expect to see the published interview or article. You should also ask if you can follow up via phone or email if you have any further questions. Additionally, before you part ways, make sure they've signed any releases or other documentation required by your publication. Prepare responses to possible interview questions. Whether you're sitting for a job or journalistic interview, brush up on relevant topics in advance. Make a list of questions related to the job opening or the subject of the interview, and come up with concise, accurate responses. For instance, common job interview questions include “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses,” and “What was your greatest accomplishment at your most recent position?” Bring your notes with you, especially if you're attending a job interview. You should also bring extra copies of your resume to a job interview. Rehearse for the interview with a relative, friend, or coworker. Ask your helper to pose the practice questions you prepared. Preferably, rehearse with someone who's conducted interviews and can give you solid feedback. Practice your responses, but try not to provide stale, memorized answers in the actual interview. You want to be prepared, but you don't want to seem robotic or over-rehearsed. Do your best to relax and be yourself. If you get nervous just before the interview, take slow, deep breaths. Encourage yourself with positive thoughts, like “You can do this. You prepared, you know your stuff, and you're going to be great!” Regardless of the type of interview you're attending, you'll perform at your best if you're relaxed. If you're sitting for a media interview, see if you can schedule it in a comfortable setting, such as your home, office, or favorite coffee shop. Keep your responses concise. Avoid nervously rambling, oversharing, or going off topic. For a job interview, 2 to 3 sentences should be enough to cover most questions. A concise response shows the interviewer that you can think clearly and quickly on your feet. If you're asked about a professional accomplishment, a good answer could be, “At my last position in supply chain management, I oversaw a revamp of invoice procedures. By streamlining the invoicing process, I increased my department's productivity by 7% and reduced invoice errors by 30%.” As for media interviews, it's wise to review what you're not allowed to say ahead of time. For instance, if you're giving an interview related to your job, check in with the company's lawyers or review your non-disclosure agreement. Ask questions of your own if you’re attending a job interview. Prepare strategic questions before the interview. Use the questions to show the interviewer you've researched the company, have a strong grasp of the industry, and are eager about the job. Examples include, “What does the training process entail, and what are the key initial goals for the position? Are there advancement opportunities? How does this role interact with other departments?” If you're being interviewed by a journalist, just find out where and when the piece will be published, and ask them to send you a link if it'll be published online. | Come up with questions based on the qualifications the job requires. Open up with a little small talk to break the ice. Pose general questions about the candidate's experience. Test their problem solving skills with situations related to the job. Ask the candidate if they have any questions. Plan out the interview’s structure and goals. Introduce yourself and state the purpose of your interview. Record the interview with a cell phone app or tape recorder. Start with simple background questions to establish a relationship. Move on to the more substantial or difficult questions. Ask follow-up questions to clarify their statements. Propose counter-examples, but don’t argue. Conclude the conversation by thanking the interviewee. Prepare responses to possible interview questions. Rehearse for the interview with a relative, friend, or coworker. Do your best to relax and be yourself. Keep your responses concise. Ask questions of your own if you’re attending a job interview. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Come-Up-with-a-Good-Book-Title | How to Come Up with a Good Book Title | To come up with a title for a book, finish writing it first before worrying about it because everything about the book is clearer in the end. Then, ask a friend or editor to join a brainstorming session where you can write down ideas and discuss them. Alternatively, ask each person involved in the brainstorm to consider the book's main purpose before writing down their ideas. If you have favorite lines or phrases in the text, note them as potential titles. Finally, narrow down your options, then say each one out loud to test it out. | Finish writing the book first and do not concern yourself with the title. Some writers get stuck on the thought that an author must come up with the perfect title before starting. However, most authors do not find this a productive mindset. Most writers will come up with a "working title" which is basically a rough draft edition of the title--temporary and almost guaranteed to change. After you write the book, everything will become more clear. But be sure to write down any ideas that come to your head, even if they're ridiculous. Recruit a friend or editor. Ask someone to join a brainstorming session. Brainstorming with another person is faster, more effective, and more fun than thinking about it yourself. Ask the other person to read your book. Meet in a quiet, relaxed location so you can both focus on your work. Put on unobtrusive music if it helps you think. Sometimes music, especially if relevant to your book, can give you inspiration. Don't be afraid to use a lyric or two as a potential title. Decide the book's main purpose. Read your book and think about its identity. Think of titles related to the central message, or to the main emotion it inspires. Talk to your friend about what inspired you to write the book, and how you felt as you wrote it. These conversations will guide you to a title that fits the story and your personality. Different people may interpret your work in different ways; let each person involved in the brainstorming session list their ideas. Share the lists of ideas with each other. If stuck, brainstorm keywords that cover your book's main themes and story. List favorite lines in the book. Write down favorite phrases from your work. These may or may not work as book titles , but they can give raw material to play with. Some books use titles from book quotations. Like The Beginning of Everything. This book's title is inspired by a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald. Do you have a quote that relates to your book? This just might be the best title you come up with. Consider naming the book after the main character. Many novels simply go with the name of the main character. Think of titles that mention the main character of the book, or a group of characters. This tends to be especially true of books driven by one main character. For example: Jude the Obscure Anne of Green Gables Harry Potter The Hobbit Percy Jackson Use the setting to make a title. This can be a good choice if the setting is a key part of your work, or if it's an unusual setting that attracts attention. For example: Little House on the Prairie Through the Looking Glass The Jungle Book 50,000 Leagues Under the Sea Wuthering Heights Consider poetic or mysterious names. Your title can address the book's themes or inspiration rather than the exact content. Mysterious titles intrigue readers who are looking for something poetic or unusual. For example: The Shadow of the Wind Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Balance mystery and clarity. Just like book covers, book titles need to give enough information about the book's subject without giving away too much, in order to make the reader curious. The way the author works with these two elements - clarity and mystery - really depends on the type of book. For non-fiction, clarity is more important (especially for books that focus on a very specific topic). For fiction, mystery is more important. Draw people in with a short, punchy title. This is a popular approach for nonfiction books. The title should give the reader an idea of the book's topic, but it doesn't need to be an exact description. For example: Thinking, Fast and Slow How Not to be Wrong Good to Great Made to Stick Appeal to readers that have problems that can relate to the novel. Think of titles that relate to common life experiences, especially ones that promise solutions to the reader's problems. Books with these titles range from self-help books to literary novels. For example: How to Get Happy The Awkward Age The Dangerous Book for Girls If necessary, use a subtitle to expand and clarify any misconception. The title How to Be a Man may draw a different reader than How to Be a Man: A Memoir of the Rocky Mountains , versus How to Be a Man: The Autobiography of a Trans Person or How to be a Man: A Study of Gender, Adolescence, and Media in 1950's America. Look at other book titles in similar genres. Browse book titles online or in bookstores and libraries. Do not copy an existing title, but good titles spark ideas for other good titles. Identify what appeals to you about the title, and brainstorm ideas for your book with similar characteristics. Be original. Your book's title has to compete with many other similar novels, so have a title that will stand out from the crowd. Titles are not protected by copyright, at least in the United States, but unique phrases may be trademarked. You are probably safe if you go with a well-known phrase, but you still risk confusion at the bookstore. Consider come up with titles written in other codes. In some cases, a unique title can be used for For example, readers who are interested and generally proficient in mathematics may be drawn to a book with a mathematical expression. Example: 4-1=0 Try a foreign language. Books with a title in a non-English title can help give your title an international feel. Or, may tie into a character, place, idea, or event that may not be well described by the English language. Keep your audience in mind. If you are writing for people interested and knowledgeable in astrophysics, this will likely be a very different target group than that of a Christian romance novel. Avoid confusing titles. There is a fine line between "mysterious" and "confusing". If your title is hard to spell, it may be difficult for potential buyers to find your book online or in bookstores. Titles in non-English languages may be confusing. To some, it can be hard to remember, spell, or be viewed as overly scholarly. Some words, phrases, or the like may be relatively well understood by the public at large ("deja vu", "et cetera", "hasta la vista") but be careful of the usage of these. In general, it is better to translate a title if possible. Aim for a large number of titles. Use all of the techniques above, until you have 25 possible titles or even 50! If the titles are not good, they can spark more ideas and discussions. You can combine more than one of the above techniques. For example, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets mentions both a character and a setting, and foreshadows the climax of the novel. Narrow it down. Go through your list of ideas and pull out ten favorites. Follow the steps below to evaluate each title. Examine each title. If there is no clear winner, narrow it down to your favorite four or five and repeat the process. Critique your title. Review the title with your editor, publisher, or a friend whose judgment and scrutiny you can trust. Would it attract the attention of people who would enjoy your work? Does it make sense? Is it memorable? Does it relate to the contents of your book? Say your title out loud. How does it sound? Does it have good flow and rhythm, making it easy and pleasant to say? If the title sounds strange, or is difficult to say, clumsy or just somehow not right this is likely an indication that this is not a good title. Stay concise. Keep your title as short as possible, no longer than a few words. Long titles are difficult to remember, and rarely reach out and grab a passing reader. If you think more detail, is necessary, attach a subtitle. For example, the cover of Wild Swans shows off the short, punchy title, and adds the informative subtitle Three Daughters of China in much smaller text. If you are involved in cover art, try sketching a cover for your book. Authors may or may not have any involvement with cover art. But if you do, many find a little visualization helps. Sketch a simple book cover just to get an idea of the title's impression. Play with different arrangements of the title and your name. Does it pop out at you from the shelf? Is there a drawing that would work particularly well with the title? Be careful of being overly hung up on details at this point. If you have an illustrator to do this part, keep in mind he or she will be working with the graphic elements. Your title might look perfect with the right font, or a clever design. Depending on your publisher, you may or may not have input on the design of the cover anyway. | Finish writing the book first and do not concern yourself with the title. Recruit a friend or editor. Decide the book's main purpose. List favorite lines in the book. Consider naming the book after the main character. Use the setting to make a title. Consider poetic or mysterious names. Balance mystery and clarity. Draw people in with a short, punchy title. Appeal to readers that have problems that can relate to the novel. Look at other book titles in similar genres. Consider come up with titles written in other codes. Aim for a large number of titles. Narrow it down. Critique your title. Say your title out loud. Stay concise. If you are involved in cover art, try sketching a cover for your book. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cover-a-Pimple-With-Green-Concealer | How to Cover a Pimple With Green Concealer | To cover a pimple with green concealer, start by washing and moisturizing your face to prepare your skin for the product. Next, use a sponge, makeup brush, or clean finger to dab a small amount of green concealer directly over the pimple. Then, gently pat the green concealer into your skin with your finger or a makeup sponge. Once the green concealer is in place, you can apply your regular concealer and foundation as you normally would. | Consider green primer as well. With slight inflammations, such as redness and rosacea, and pimples, primer may be a better choice than concealer. Green primer is lightweight and sheerer than most concealers, so you can use it for all-over redness. It will be less likely to look caked on. However, with very bright, obvious pimples or for spot applications, it's best to go with concealer. Choose a lightweight concealer. Many people are insecure about their concealer looking caked on. Seek out a lightweight, low oil green concealer to prevent this. You can also moisturize your skin before applying concealer to avoid a sloppy, caked on look. Use a sponge, small makeup brush, or wand to apply. Get a make-up sponge or brush from your local drug store, or use a wand if the concealer comes with a wand. Concealer looks best when it's gently dabbed on with a sponge rather than spread with your fingers. Not only does concealer look messier when spread on, your fingers may contain bacteria than can worsen symptoms of acne. Only use your fingers when initially dotting the concealer on your face. Keep in mind green concealer is not the right choice for every skin blemish. Green concealer works primarily because of how green interacts with the color red, but green concealer can also make the skin look dull. If your pimples are not particularly bright red, you may be better off choosing a yellow concealer to cover them. Wash and moisturize your face. Before applying concealer, wash and moisturize your face. This can help your make-up look smoother and prevent spreading bacteria that can worsen acne symptoms. Wash your hands first. Lather your hands with soap and wash for about 20 seconds. You can hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice to keep track of time. Then, rinse your hands off with clear running water. If you're worried about acne, try using an antibacterial soap designed to treat symptoms of acne. Follow up your cleanser with a toner to close the pores and get rid of residual oils. Use a moisturizer that works for your skin. Choose one that's oil free to avoid worsening acne, and make sure that you give it time to fully absorb into your skin. Apply a primer. After you finish your cleansing routine, you may want to apply a primer to your skin to help the makeup stay put and conceal all over redness. Use a sponge or makeup brush to apply the primer to the areas that need it most. You do not have to apply the primer to your entire face. Applying it to your T-zone (nose, forehead, and chin) may be enough. Apply green concealer. Once you've washed your face, apply the green concealer to the problem areas. Dot the concealer on with your index finger and then gently blot it evenly into your face with a make-up sponge. You can also use green concealer on your under eyes if you have any discoloration there. Apply foundation and regular concealer on top. Once you've applied your green concealer, apply your regular concealer and foundation. You can apply other make-up as you would normally. Remember, it's best to dot on concealer and then even it out by gently patting it on your skin with a make-up sponge. Finish with your normal make-up routine. Once you've applied your concealer and foundation, complete your make-up routine as you would normally. Your skin should appear smoother and pimples should be less visible. | Consider green primer as well. Choose a lightweight concealer. Use a sponge, small makeup brush, or wand to apply. Keep in mind green concealer is not the right choice for every skin blemish. Wash and moisturize your face. Apply a primer. Apply green concealer. Apply foundation and regular concealer on top. Finish with your normal make-up routine. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Blood-Sugar | How to Reduce Blood Sugar | The easiest way to reduce your blood sugar levels is to cut back on sugary foods and drinks. Additionally, eat smaller portions, since large portions of food can elevate your blood sugar. In order to flush out extra sugar from your body, drink at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day. You should also exercise on a daily basis, which will help level out your blood sugar while lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol. | Manage portion sizes. Blood sugar levels elevate when you eat larger portions than you should. That means if you eat larger portions, your glucose levels will increase. Carefully manage your portion sizes for each meal and snack so that you can manage your blood sugar levels. Measure the ingredients and serving sizes of your meals. Use measuring cups, measuring spoons, and a food scale. Follow the guidelines given by your doctor. If the doctor hasn't given you any guidelines, look at the nutritional label for the foods. Measure out a half or full serving of the food based on the serving size. Make sure to read labels for serving sizes. One package or one item may not be a single serving. For example, some bread is based on one ounce servings while many slices of bread are larger than one ounce. Weigh fruits and vegetables. Depending on the size and type of fruit or vegetable, this can vary. It is especially important to weight fruit. Understand the glycemic index and glycemic load. Glycemic index (GI) is based on the quality of carbohydrates you are consuming. Glycemic load (GL) is one number that combines both the quality of the carbs (GI) and the quantity of carbohydrates. The quantity is based on the grams of carbohydrates a food item has. When thinking about which carbs to eat to regulate blood sugar, think about the glycemic index and glycemic load. You want to have a GI medium. This can be achieved by eating a balanced number of GI foods with every meal. You can also combine high GI foods with foods containing lots of protein and other low GI carbs, like fruit and legumes. Low-glycemic foods are rated at 55 or less. Medium foods are rated between 56-69. High-glycemic foods are rated between 70-100. When trying to control blood sugar, refrain from eating high-glycemic foods. Low-glycemic foods include: bran cereal, black and kidney beans, skim milk, apples, oranges, peanuts, and wheat tortillas. Medium foods include: barley, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain bread, and whole grain pasta. High-glycemic foods include: baked potatoes, French fries, sugary drinks, candy bars, couscous, white pasta, white basmati rice, and processed cereal. Pay attention to carbohydrates. Digestible carbohydrates break down into sugar after you eat them. Simple carbohydrates result in a fast rise in blood sugar. Complex carbohydrates, which contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals, digest slower, and cause blood sugar to rise more slowly than simple carbohydrates. Not all complex carbohydrates are equal. White bread and white potatoes are complex carbs, but they are mostly starch instead of fiber, so they are bad for blood sugar levels. Avoid processed foods if possible. Processed whole grains have a higher glycemic index than those that have no or minimal processing. Carbohydrates are just as important as sugar in regards to controlling blood sugar. Eating too many carb heavy foods increases blood sugar levels just like eating too much sugar does. Avoid white bread and eat whole grains instead. White bread is quickly converted to sugar when you eat it. Instead of eating white bread, look for foods with whole grains. Whole grains are full of fiber, which help keep you full. Whole grains are found in bread, cereal, tortillas, and crackers. Look for whole wheat flour, whole-grain cornmeal whole oats, whole rye, or buckwheat flour. Try eating whole wheat English muffins, bran cereal, whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread, or brown rice. Eat green leafy vegetables. Adding non-starchy vegetables to your diet can help you sustain and lower your blood sugar. These vegetables are high in fiber and low in carbs. Green vegetables include broccoli, spinach, kale, and green beans. Don't cut starchy vegetables, like peas, corn, squash, and lima beans, from your diet. Eat them in moderation, and make sure to control your portion sizes. Add lean meats into your diet. Meats high in proteins are good for helping control blood sugar. They don't have a drastic affect on your blood sugar like carbohydrates do. Choose lean cuts of meat, without the skin and excessive fat. Make sure to grill or bake the meat instead of frying. Also remember to eat these foods in proper portions. Good meats to incorporate into your diet include skinless chicken breast and fish. Try salmon, tuna, and tilapia. Drink sparkling water instead of sodas. Sodas contain a lot of sugar and carbohydrates, unless you are drinking diet sodas. Sodas and diet sodas are not good for you, and drinking juice - which is full of sugar - isn't a good alternative. If you don't want to drink just plain water, try sparkling or seltzer waters. They are flavored and have carbonation if you miss the bubbly taste of sodas. Seltzer waters are all natural and contain no additives. They are sugar and carbohydrate free, so you can drink as many as you want without affecting your blood sugar. Sparkling waters are another good alternative. These do have additives, and some come in varieties that contain sugar and carbohydrates. Make sure to read the label to find the appropriate drink for yourself. Eat oatmeal. Oatmeal is a good carbohydrate because it is high in soluble fiber. When you eat it, it digests slowly so it won't spike your blood sugar. Barley, a similar food to oats, is also high in soluble fiber. Evidence shows that it may also help control blood sugar. Oatmeal offers a steady source of energy. It also helps keep you full longer, which helps with weight loss. Incorporate fiber into your diet. Fiber helps cleanse your system and improve digestion. It also helps keep you satisfied along with slowing the rate of digestion, which helps control blood sugar levels. When looking for high fiber foods, try to find ones with low starch content. Foods with high fiber have a lower glycemic index. Fruits, vegetables, and beans are great sources of fiber. Try spinach, green beans, and broccoli. Try to eat fruits with lower sugar and starch content, like strawberries. Grapefruits are also great. Unprocessed whole grains have a lot of fiber. Look at the label for ingredients labeled as "whole" or unrefined. Stay away from refined ingredients. Eat well-balanced meals. Your meals should have a mixture of different food types. Focus on a plate that has complex carbs, fruits and vegetables, proteins, and fats. Make sure not to eat too many fats, and when you do eat fats, eat healthy fats. Protein can be found in lean meats. Good sources of starches are peas, corn, squash, and lima beans. Lima beans are really good because they are high in fiber. Just remember to watch portion sizes with these foods. Eat skinless chicken breast, lean meat, and fish in your diet. Salmon is a great option because it has omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health. Meat is important when trying to control blood sugar because it contains chromium, which helps insulin function and aids your body in breaking down carbohydrates. Mackerel and herring are also great protein sources. Eat peanuts or peanut butter. This adds needed fat and protein into your diet that can help control blood sugar. You can also try almonds and almond butter, walnuts, and pecans. Since nuts are high in calories, make sure to pay attention to portion size. Understand how exercise affects blood sugar. Regular exercise lowers blood sugar levels. When you exercise, your muscles need to find energy. To do this, they use glucose reserves. After they use that, they pull glucose from your bloodstream. Then, when you finish your workout, your liver replenishes the glucose in your body. Together, this process uses glucose in your body and helps level out your blood sugar. Stopping physical activity or decreasing the amount of physical activity can have a negative effect on your blood sugar levels. When you stop exercising, your blood glucose levels rise. Consistent physical activity is important to managing your blood sugar levels. Exercise also lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol. It burns fat and helps promote weight loss, which helps control blood sugar and diabetes. It also improves your circulation and increases insulin sensitivity. Monitor your blood sugar while exercising. To make sure your blood sugar doesn't drop too low, monitor you levels before you exercise. Check your glucose levels half an hour before you exercise and then just before you exercise. Your blood sugar should be between 100-250 mg/dL. If your blood sugar is lower than 100 mg/dL, eat a healthy snack so that your levels don't fall too low during your activity. Talk to your doctor to determine your specific blood sugar levels before you begin exercising. Consult your doctor before starting an exercise plan. Before beginning an exercise plan, talk to your doctor to find out the best kind of exercise plan for you. Your doctor can help you figure out your overall health, how strenuous your activity should be, and the kinds of exercises you should be doing. Your doctor can also help you figure out what time of day you should exercise. You and your doctor can come up with a plan that takes into account exercise, your meals, and medication. Incorporate different exercises into your routine. To get the proper exercise, you need to include aerobic cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercises. A regular routine that has these three components helps increase your overall health. To help reduce blood sugar levels, try doing 20 minutes of vigorous exercise 4 times a week or 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3 times a week. Try aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day 5 times a week. Choose activities that you enjoy. Great cardio workouts are walking, dancing, swimming, cycling, and skating. You can also play group sports, like soccer, tennis, or racquetball. Join a gym and use their treadmills and stationary bikes, or try one of their cardio classes. For strength training, work on building muscle. Go to a weight training group class at the gym. Use strength training workouts online or DVDs. Use machines at the gym or buy some home weights. Stretch before and after exercise. Do a yoga video for some stress relief and great flexibility work. Get a pedometer and try to take 10,000 steps every day. If you're not close to that number now, work your way towards 10,000 steps. Increase your workouts gradually. If you can only exercise for a few days or for a shorter length of time when you first start, make it your goal to improve that each week. Keep a record of your blood sugar levels before and after your exercises. This can help you track the positive affects exercise has on your blood sugar levels. Drink more water. Drinking water helps you lower blood sugar levels through urine. As you drink more water, the body flushes extra sugar out of your blood through urine. Then, you'll have to replenish the fluids in your body. You should drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water each day. Sprinkle cinnamon on your food. Recent research has shown that cinnamon may have a positive effect on blood sugar by lowering fasting blood glucose. Adding cinnamon to your dishes can be a helpful way of managing your blood sugar. However, it is not to be used in place of medication. If you are ingesting more than a teaspoon a day, buy Ceylon cinnamon. It is more expensive, but it's milder and doesn't contain the ingredient cassia, which contains coumarin. Some people are sensitive to coumarin, and when they eat a lot of coumarin, can end up with liver toxicity. Try using cinnamon in spice rubs for meat. Or put it in oatmeal, cereal, or a salad. You can also take cinnamon as a supplement. Look for patterns. Isolated incidents may not be cause for worry. But if your blood sugar is irregular for three days or more, there might be cause for concern. Ask yourself what could be causing the irregularities. Is it only in the morning? That might mean you are producing too much sugar during the night and need to see a doctor. Look at your food, lifestyle, and habits for the past week or two. Try to determine the cause of the irregularity. Have you stopped managing portion sizes? This might mean you are overeating. Have you stopped paying close attention to the ingredients in your food? Maybe you are eating too many carbs with a high-glycemic index. If this is the case, restructure the way you eat and see if that helps regulate your blood sugar. Have you decreased your physical activity? That could cause your blood sugar to rise. Are you taking your medicine regularly? Are you sick? Even drinking a cup of orange juice for the added vitamin C might change your blood sugar levels. Lower your stress. When you are stressed, your body puts glucose in your blood as a source of energy. Trying to manage your stress can help you refrain from spiking your blood sugar. Don't put yourself into high stress situations if you can help it. There's no reason to cause unneeded stress on your body. If you are feeling stressed, take a step back. Realize that it is a stressful situation and try not to let the stress overwhelm you. Take a few deep breaths, meditate, squeeze a stress ball, or whatever other kind of stress relief method you have. Use medication. Medication and insulin can help reduce your blood sugar. If you feel you need medication to help you regulate your blood sugar or insulin injections to help, see your physician. | Manage portion sizes. Understand the glycemic index and glycemic load. Pay attention to carbohydrates. Avoid white bread and eat whole grains instead. Eat green leafy vegetables. Add lean meats into your diet. Drink sparkling water instead of sodas. Eat oatmeal. Incorporate fiber into your diet. Eat well-balanced meals. Understand how exercise affects blood sugar. Monitor your blood sugar while exercising. Consult your doctor before starting an exercise plan. Incorporate different exercises into your routine. Drink more water. Sprinkle cinnamon on your food. Look for patterns. Lower your stress. Use medication. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Brown-from-Primary-Colors | How to Make Brown from Primary Colors | To make brown paint using primary colors, mix together equal parts yellow, red, and blue paint. For a deeper, purplish-brown, add a little more blue. If you want a lighter, earthier brown, add a little more yellow. Adding more red will create a deep gray-brown with a hint of orange in it. To make your brown paint lighter, just mix in a little bit of white paint. To darken it, add a small amount of black. Continue adding primary colors, black, or white until you achieve your desired shade of brown. | Squeeze a small glob of each color onto your mixing surface. Add your red, blue, and yellow paints close together on your palette or paper. The exact amounts you use will differ depending on how much brown paint you need. The important thing is that you start with the same proportion of each. Leave a little space between each color. This will create an open area in the middle where you can pull your paints together. Making brown from the primary colors is as simple as combining equal amounts of each. Blend the colors together thoroughly. Drag the tip of a palette knife through the inner edges of all three paints to pull them towards the center. Then, glide the flat bottom surface over the paints in a circular motion, gradually working your way outward to pick up more and more of each color. As you do, you'll notice the mixture becoming a rich, creamy brown. If you're working with watercolors, oils sticks, or a similar medium, layer your primary colors directly on top of one another in light coats until you achieve the desired shade. A palette knife makes it possible to produce more uniform colors than you would get using a brush. Add a hint of white to give your brown more depth. Now that you've mixed up your base shade of brown, stir in a dab of white paint and continue blending until it disappears completely. Be careful not to use too much—in most cases, you'll only need about ⅓ of your total amount of paint or less. Introduce your white a little at a time. You can always add more if needed, but overdoing it may cause your brown to turn out dull and unsaturated. Incorporating some white into pencil, oil, and watercolor mixtures can help reduce the appearance of inconsistent blending. Mix together red and yellow to make orange. Start with a liberal amount of red. Then, add your yellow a little at a time—aim for a 1-1 ratio. Blend the two colors as you go until you end up with a deep orange. In order for your brown to turn out sufficiently dark, you may need to use a hint more red than yellow. Blend blue with orange to get brown. Use just a little less blue than orange—it should make up no more than about 35-40% of the total color on the palette or paper. Spread the colors thoroughly until they form a chocolatey brown. The more blue you put in, the more of a powdery, understated plum cast your brown will take on. Use ruddy browns to bring sun-drenched or rustic features to life. Combine red and blue to create purple. Use equal parts of each color, or as close to it as you can get. The purple you're after is a perfect amalgamation of red and blue, but it's okay for it to lean towards magenta or a similar red-dominant shade if you're having trouble with the proportions. Purple can be a tricky color to get just right. If the finished product is a little too red or blue, just stir in a dab of the opposite color to balance it out. If your purple is too heavy on the blue, it may not look right when it comes time to add the complementary primary color. Red tends to be more forgiving. Stir yellow into purple gradually until you end up with brown. As you blend the paints, you'll notice a tinge of dirty brown beginning to show through. Keep adding traces of yellow until you get the particular shade you're going for. Up the intensity of the yellow to correct an overly cool brown. You can produce a variety of brown hues ranging from a rose-tinted stoney color to a sandy desert tone, depending on how prominent the yellow is. Mingle blue and yellow to produce green. Squeeze out a large glob of blue and add your yellow a little at a time. As with orange, you want to start with as bold a green as possible and work your way towards the middle of the spectrum. For best results, you green should be closer to a deep cyan than a light aquamarine. Mix the desired amount of red with green to get brown. Layer on a smidge of red at first and continue adding and mixing as needed to darken the color. Infusing green with red tends to result in an earthy olive-brown at one extreme and a warm burnt-orange at the other. To get as close to a “true” brown as possible, your mixture needs to be roughly 33-40% red. Even in virtually equal proportions, the red still may appear slightly more pronounced. Add a little extra red or yellow to give your brown a warmer tone. If you want to lighten or amplify a basic brown, simply mix in a bit more of one of the warm primary colors. Remember to portion and blend your paints gradually until you arrive at the particular shade you're after. If your brown accidentally ends up being too red or yellow, just stir in some blue to bring it back into balance. Warm browns are useful for painting details like wood surfaces, brick, soil, and the reflection of natural light sources. Increase the amount of blue you use to create a cooler finish. Just as you can use red and yellow to make your browns bolder for colorful and well-lit outdoor scenes, adding blue will darken them and make them more subtle. Blue-deepened browns lend a realistic shadowy quality to forestscapes, buildings, hair, and the folds and wrinkles in clothing. Adjust overly-cool browns with traces of red or yellow, keeping in mind how each color interacts with blue to create secondary shades. Use black to darken the various browns you come up with. Technically, black isn't a primary color. However, it can be found in just about every set of art supplies, and is incredibly useful for evening out browns that are too vibrant for their intended purpose. A little black goes a long way. In most cases, you'll only need a tiny bit to bring down the brightness of your brown considerably. Mix multiple shades of brown together. Stirring one shade into another can be a fun and simple way to discover unexpected new shades. Try whipping up an assortment of browns using different pairings of primary colors (orange and blue or green and red, for instance). Then, blend one or more of them together and see what comes out! By combining several browns, you can make subtle changes to a shade rather than transforming it altogether and fine-tune your palette in the process. | Squeeze a small glob of each color onto your mixing surface. Blend the colors together thoroughly. Add a hint of white to give your brown more depth. Mix together red and yellow to make orange. Blend blue with orange to get brown. Combine red and blue to create purple. Stir yellow into purple gradually until you end up with brown. Mingle blue and yellow to produce green. Mix the desired amount of red with green to get brown. Add a little extra red or yellow to give your brown a warmer tone. Increase the amount of blue you use to create a cooler finish. Use black to darken the various browns you come up with. Mix multiple shades of brown together. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Ask-Your-Girlfriend%27s-Parents-For-Their-Daughter%27s-Hand-in-Marriage | How to Ask Your Girlfriend's Parents For Their Daughter's Hand in Marriage | Asking your girlfriend's parents for their daughter's hand in marriage can be nerve-wracking, but there are many ways to make the process smoother. For example, make sure you've spent time with her parents before you ask for their marriage approval, which will give them a chance to get to know you. If you think her parents will be happy for you to marry her, call them and ask to meet for dinner. When you meet them, start by expressing how you feel about their daughter and how she improves your life. Then, tell them you'd like to marry her and tell them why. For instance, say something like, “I want to dedicate my life to her and I'll do everything in my power to provide the best life for her I can.” | Find out about what her parents value. Before you decide to ask your girlfriend's parents for their daughter's hand in marriage, consider what you know about them and if this is something that they will expect or even appreciate. This is an old tradition that some parents might see as essential, while others might not expect at all. If you are unsure about whether or not your girlfriend's parents will appreciate this gesture, then try asking your girlfriend what she thinks. You could say something like, "Are your parents pretty traditional when it comes to marriage?" or "How did your parents get engaged?" Conduct research into your her parents' values if necessary. For instance, if your girlfriend's parents are from India, you might need to investigate Indian marriage traditions to figure out whether or not asking a girl's parents for her hand in marriage is a standard part of the marriage process. Use internet search engines and your local library to discover more about the specific cultural norms of your girlfriend's parents. Talk to your girlfriend about marriage. Ask your girlfriend if she'd like to get married. This is different than proposing to your girlfriend. Inquire generally what she imagines in your shared future. Ask, for instance, “Where do you see us in three to five years?” If she brings up marriage, you can safely proceed with the process of asking for her hand from her parents. If she does not immediately mention marriage, ask her specifically if she'd ever like to get married to you. For instance, you might ask, “Do you think we would be happy if we were married?” If she says yes, go forward with the process of asking her parents for her hand in marriage. If she is uninterested in marriage or unsure if she wants to marry you, don't pressure her into it. Evaluate when the best time for you to get married is. Is now a good time for you two to get married? Are there any reasons you shouldn't? Think about it through your girlfriend's parents' eyes: would they want their daughter marrying you? If you have only known one another for a week, you may want to hold off on proposing marriage. It is wise to date someone for at least two to three years before deciding to marry. Think about your and your girlfriend's financial situation. Not only will the actual wedding be very expensive (the average wedding costs over $26,000), but other things like wedding rings and the honeymoon can quickly sink your financial ship. While you will probably not get married immediately after being granted your girlfriend's hand in marriage, you should have enough cash to cover everything when the marriage occurs (usually six to twelve months after proposing to her). Know the answer ahead of time. When you're ready to ask your girlfriend's parents for her hand in marriage, you should already have some sense of what they think of you and your relationship with their daughter. Do they look favorably upon the relationship, or are they skeptical of it? Ask your girlfriend from time to time what they think of you. Ask her to be specific. Does her father-in-law, for instance, have only mild reservations which would be leveled at any suitor? In this case, you can feel confident about receiving approval. On the other hand, does he have concrete, specific concerns about your ability to provide or remain committed to your girlfriend? In this case, wait until you've secured the trust of your girlfriend's parents before asking them for her hand in marriage. While it might seem like cheating, going into the situation with the answer a foregone conclusion is in fact the best way to ensure you don't waste your time or that of your girlfriend's parents. Identify why you’re going to ask your girlfriend’s parents for her hand in marriage. Before going forward with the process -- which can be difficult under some circumstances -- you should know the consequences of a “yes” or “no” answer from you girlfriend's parents. There are two conditions under which you'd ask for your girlfriend's parents to marry: You might be asking for permission to marry. In other words, if your girlfriend's parents say no to the marriage, she will obey their wishes and reject any marriage offer from you. You might be asking for your girlfriend's parents approval. This is distinct from the request for permission. Asking for approval of the marriage means that they support the marriage of you and your girlfriend. If denied, your girlfriend may or may not accept a marriage proposal. Even if she remains open to the possibility of marriage, you might not want to go forward with the process. If you do end up getting married, prepare for some awkward family get-togethers at the very least. Meet your girlfriend’s parents before asking. You should be comfortable around your girlfriend's parents before asking them for permission to marry. They, likewise, will feel more comfortable granting approval to the marriage if you are not meeting them for the first time when asking their permission to marry their daughter. If you have not had the opportunity to meet your girlfriend's parents before deciding to ask them for her hand in marriage, wait until after you have to ask for their permission to marry. Arrange a meeting with her parents. When presenting them with news that their daughter might get married, it is important to meet them face-to-face. This demonstrates that you take seriously the notion of marriage and the proposal process. Ask them to meet you for a brief afternoon outing. If they ask why you want to get together, then you could say something like, "I have something important that I want to talk to you about." Do not call your girlfriend's parents on the phone to express your intentions for marriage or ask them for permission over the phone, unless you have no other option. Asking in person is the best option. Do not send an email or a letter asking her parents to grant permission to marry. Choose the location in which to meet her parents. You could choose to sit down with your girlfriend's parents at their home, or you might choose to have a nice meal with them. Think about what her parents are like. Would they like to go to a simple eatery? A fine restaurant? Would they want to have a conversation about at the bowling alley or on the golf green? If your girlfriend's parents live far away, finding the right location to meet them can be difficult. In fact, however, the apparent challenge distance presents is actually an opportunity. Traveling a great distance with the specific intention of acquiring their approval for your marriage proposal signals to them that you are fully committed to marrying their daughter and will go to great lengths to do so. In the case of parents who live a distance away, you could also consider timing the question with a family visit you and you girlfriend make together. In this case, just take your girlfriend's parents aside privately before leaving them. Plan what you're going to say. Asking your girlfriend's parents for her hand in marriage can be nerve-wracking. If you are very nervous or afraid that you'll forget what you want to say to her parents, it would be helpful to memorize and practice the speech beforehand. If you want a more natural conversation, or feel comfortable asking for your girlfriend's hand in marriage, don't prepare a speech. Whatever you do, try not to overthink it. If you prepare a speech, practice reading it to a close friend. Solicit feedback to help you figure out how to best phrase what you want to say. Consult your girlfriend’s primary parent. If your girlfriend was raised by both parents, you should sit down with both of them. In the case of divorced parents, however, consult only your girlfriend's primary parent. For instance, if your girlfriend grew up with her mom and rarely or never saw her father, do not feel obligated to ask him for his daughter's hand in marriage. After her mother has agreed to the marriage, inform her father that you've asked for his daughter's hand in marriage. Begin by expressing how you feel for their daughter. Be honest and sincere when offering your feelings. For instance, you might say, “She's a wonderful woman who inspires me to be the best person I can be. She makes me laugh and always understands what I'm thinking.” Think about why you love your girlfriend when crafting your explanation. Don't exaggerate or say vague things like, “She's perfect,” or “We never have any problems.” Conclude by informing them that they've raised a wonderful daughter. Explain why you want to marry their daughter. You have, in part, already done this by describing all the good qualities you see in their daughter. But in order to justify marriage, you have to express your undying commitment to their daughter. Tell them that you want to spend your life with her. Say, “I pledge my whole heart to your daughter and will do everything in my power to provide for her the best life I can.” Then take a deep breath and ask directly, “I would like your approval to marry (your girlfriend's name).” Do not say, "I would like to marry your daughter.” A comedic parent might ruin the solemnity of the moment by asking “Which one?” if they have multiple daughters. Prepare to answer questions. After they've granted permission for the marriage, your future parents-in-law will have some obvious questions for you. They will likely want to know when you intend to pop the question on your girlfriend, and when you plan on having the wedding. They might have more practical concerns, too, like where you intend to live together or what your job will be (if you expect to change it). Listen carefully to what they have to say and don't be afraid to say that you don't have those answers yet. Don't make up answers in order to appear as if you have everything all planned out when you don't. | Find out about what her parents value. Talk to your girlfriend about marriage. Evaluate when the best time for you to get married is. Know the answer ahead of time. Identify why you’re going to ask your girlfriend’s parents for her hand in marriage. Meet your girlfriend’s parents before asking. Arrange a meeting with her parents. Choose the location in which to meet her parents. Plan what you're going to say. Consult your girlfriend’s primary parent. Begin by expressing how you feel for their daughter. Explain why you want to marry their daughter. Prepare to answer questions. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-an-Open-Wound | How to Treat an Open Wound | If you or someone you're with has an open wound, call emergency services immediately. While you wait for the paramedics, wash the wound with water to remove dirt or other contaminants, however, do not remove any larger objects. They may be stopping the flow of blood, so clean around them if that's the case. Once the wound is as clean as possible, cover it with gauze and an antibiotic ointment, if you have it. Then, place a clean cloth over the wound, and push down on the area to stop the blood flow and help it start clotting. If there's an object in the wound, do your best to apply pressure around the object. Additionally, if the wound is on your arm or leg, elevate the limb above your heart to reduce the flow of blood. | Apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Try not to panic if you see a lot of blood because you can help stop the bleeding. Quickly check the wound for protruding debris, but don't remove anything that cannot be easily removed. Then, place a sterile bandage or a clean cloth over the open wound, being careful to avoid any protruding debris if you can. Press down on the bandage or cloth evenly to apply pressure to the wound. Wrap a cloth or another bandage around the wound to keep the pressure applied. Use what you have on hand. Once the bleeding is under control, you can clean the wound or help the person get treatment from a doctor. Move the victim to safety. Before you start to treat the wound, move the injured person away from any area where they could sustain further injury. For example, if the victim is wounded from falling down a steep slope, move them away from the slope before beginning first aid. This will keep you and the victim from sustaining further injuries while you treat the wound. Rinse the wound with water. It's important to remove any dirt or other contaminants from the wound. Use a faucet or other water source to rinse the wound. If you have soap nearby, wash the skin around the wound as well. Keep rinsing until all dirt, rocks, and twigs are out of the wound. If you're in the woods or away from running water, you can pour water from a water bottle over the wound. Do not remove large or deeply embedded debris. If the wound is serious and large pieces of debris (e.g. a tree branch) are deeply embedded, leave these objects in the wound. Pulling out objects of this size could increase blood loss and make the wound more serious. Large debris will need to be removed by a doctor once the victim has been taken to a hospital. Small debris (gravel-sized or smaller) can be removed with tweezers. Apply antibiotic ointment if the wound is clean and free of debris. Use clean gauze or a sterile Q-tip to apply an antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin) to the wound. Minor wounds and skin abrasions can be easily infected, and an antibiotic ointment will greatly reduce the risk of infection. Avoid putting your fingers directly in the wound, since this will cause the victim pain. Wear latex gloves if you can; if they're not available, wash your hands with soap and water before and after your apply the ointment. If you don't have an antibiotic ointment, you can apply petroleum jelly to the wound until you can get proper care. Use steri-strips to pull the edges of the wound together, which can help it heal faster. If the bleeding is severe and you're worried that the person may lose a serious amount of blood (or lose consciousness), skip this step and move directly on to stopping the blood flow. Elevate the wound above the heart. If the victim has been wounded on an arm or leg or on their head, prop their body in such a way that the wound is higher than their heart. This will help reduce the flow of blood to the wound and make the bleeding easier to stop. If the wound is located in an area that cannot be elevated above the heart—e.g., on the stomach or back—ask them to lie down. Place a clean cloth over the wound. Take a clean piece of cloth or sterile gauze and place it directly over the wound. This cloth will prevent dirt and further contaminants from entering the wound. The cloth or gauze will also allow you to put pressure on the wound without putting your hands directly in it. If the victim was wounded in the woods (or if you do not have a First Aid kit), you'll have to improvise. A lightly soiled cloth is better than nothing, so use a towel, a shirt, or a pair of socks. Apply direct pressure to the wound. Place both of your hands over the wounded area and press down firmly. This will reduce the flow of blood from the wound, and allow the blood to begin clotting. Depending on the severity of the wound, keep direct pressure on it for 10-15 minutes. Then check if the wound is still bleeding. The pressure may cause some discomfort to the victim. If it's seriously painful, though, you're probably pressing too hard. Add more cloths or gauze if the wound continues to bleed. If the first cloth or sheet of gauze becomes soaked with blood, apply a 2nd cloth directly over it. Continue applying pressure. If the bleeding continues, you may need to apply a 3rd and even a 4th piece of cloth. Keep pressure on the wound until the bleeding stops. Never remove a cloth that you have already applied. It's crucial that the victim's blood begins to clot and stop the bleeding. If you tear away a layer of gauze, this could re-open the wound. Take the victim to a doctor for stitches if the cut is deep or won’t close. The victim will likely need stitches if the wound re-opens, is gaping with edges that don't meet, or is deeper than ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm). They'll also need stitches if the wound is still bleeding after 15 minutes of applying pressure, or is deep enough to expose the adipose tissue. Take the victim to a doctor as soon as possible to stitch the wound up. Adipose tissue is a yellow, fatty layer under the skin. It looks like round little yellow bubbles. See a doctor if you find signs of infection. If the wound has become infected, the signs can show up 12-48 hours after the wound occurs. See a doctor as soon as possible if the wound shows signs of infection. When caught early, infection can be easy to fix. Signs of infection include: Redness, swelling, and skin around the wound that's hot to the touch Discolored swelling in areas near the wound Pus mixed with blood draining from the wound An odd smell coming from the wound Severe pain from the wound Fever Head to a doctor if the wound was caused by rusty metal or an animal. If the cut came from a piece of rusty metal, the victim may need a tetanus shot from a doctor. They should also see a doctor if the wound was caused by an animal bite and the skin was broken. In the case of rusty metal, the doctor may ask the victim when they received their last tetanus booster. If the wound is clean and they received a shot in the last 10 years, an additional shot might not be necessary. However, if the wound is particularly tetanus-prone, the victim may need a shot regardless. Go to the doctor if you see signs of blood poisoning. Look for a red streak leading from the wound towards the heart. If the wound is on the arm, the red streak will be going up the arm; if it's on the leg, it'll be leading upwards. Blood poisoning can be life-threatening, so go to the emergency room as soon as possible. Bandage the wound and change the dressing 3 times a day. Once the flow of blood has come to a stop, the wound should still be protected and kept covered. If the wound is small, a Band-Aid should work fine. Otherwise, you may need to bandage the wound with a sheet of gauze and medical tape (which can be found in a First Aid kit). Change the bandage 3 times a day. Bandages and wound dressings need to be kept clean in order to discourage infection and to absorb any blood or fluid from the wound. Change the Band-Aid or gauze bandage 3 times a day, or whenever the bandage becomes wet or soiled. If bandages become dirty or absorb blood at a fast rate, the victim may need to visit the doctor again. | Apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Move the victim to safety. Rinse the wound with water. Do not remove large or deeply embedded debris. Apply antibiotic ointment if the wound is clean and free of debris. Elevate the wound above the heart. Place a clean cloth over the wound. Apply direct pressure to the wound. Add more cloths or gauze if the wound continues to bleed. Take the victim to a doctor for stitches if the cut is deep or won’t close. See a doctor if you find signs of infection. Head to a doctor if the wound was caused by rusty metal or an animal. Go to the doctor if you see signs of blood poisoning. Bandage the wound and change the dressing 3 times a day. Change the bandage 3 times a day. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Pok%C3%A9mon | How to Play Pokémon | If you want to play Pokémon, travel into tall grass, where wild Pokémon will jump out at you. Battle the Pokémon to weaken them, then catch them with a Pokéball. Once you have a collection of Pokémon, put them into battles to help them level up and evolve. You can also breed your Pokémon to help them learn new moves that a certain character could not learn otherwise. Use your evolved Pokémon to fight gym leaders and the Elite Four to beat the game! | Shuffle your deck and draw 7 cards to start the game. You and your opponent should each have your own deck made up of 60 cards. Don't show anyone your cards after you draw them. Keep them in your hand, and set the rest of the deck facedown in a pile on your righthand side. Although you start with 7 cards, there's no limit to how many cards you can keep in your hand at any time. You draw a new card at the beginning of each turn, and there are additional cards in the deck that let you pick more up. You can also play Pokémon TCG online for free and import any physical cards you own. All physical cards come with codes that you can input online to play with the cards and learn more about them. Visit http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/play-online. This is a great way to practice and learn the rules. Pokémon TCG is traditionally a two-player game, but you can search online for three-player variations. Choose a basic, active Pokémon to play with. The top lefthand corner of your Pokémon cards will tell you if your card is “basic,” “stage 1,” or “stage 2.” Look through the 7 cards you drew, and place your active Pokémon in the middle of the playing area before doing anything else with the rest of your cards. If you don't get a basic Pokémon in your first 7 cards, you have to discard your hand back into your deck, shuffle the cards, and draw 7 new ones. If that happens, your opponent gets to draw 1 new card from their deck and add it to their hand. There are also EX and GX cards, which have more powers and special abilities. The active Pokémon in the middle of the table is the only one that can attack or be attacked. Read your cards thoroughly to understand each Pokémon's ability, hit points (how much it takes to “knock them out”), and any weaknesses or resistances. Bench up to 5 basic Pokémon by laying them facedown in front of you. Once the game play starts, turn your benched cards so they are face up. As the game continues, you can keep benching basic cards—just remember that if you have more than 5, you'll need to keep the extras in your hand. Benched cards are important because you can grow them by giving them energy cards and can swap them out with your main card on any given turn. They also often have useful abilities that can be used from the bench. Set 6 cards off to the side facedown to be your “prize cards. ” Both you and your opponent will draw the top 6 cards from your shuffled deck and lay them facedown on your lefthand side. Choose one of these cards every time you knock out a Pokémon. You can pick up the prize cards in any order you like. Flip a coin to see who goes first, and draw a card to start your turn. You can choose if heads or tails will go first. After the winner is decided, they will draw a card from the deck. From there, they can lay down basic cards on their bench, evolve Pokémon, play energy cards (only once per turn), trainer cards, use abilities, and remove and replace their active Pokémon (only once per turn). If you go first, you can't attack on your first turn, but your opponent can. To evolve: a Pokémon has to be in play for a full turn before you can evolve it to the next level, and each Pokémon can only be evolved once per turn. You can, however, evolve multiple Pokémon in a turn. Break cards: give additional abilities or attacking powers while also allowing you to retain other card attributes. Energy cards: grass, lightning, darkness, fairy, fire, psychic, metal, dragon, water, fighting, and colorless. Match your energy cards to your Pokémon cards (they'll have the same color and symbol on them). Trainer cards: items, supporters, and stadiums. Read the rules at the bottom of each card to see how it works. Abilities: listed on each Pokémon card. Attack your opponent's Pokémon at the end of your turn. Check your active Pokémon to see how much energy it costs to attack, and then check your opponent's active Pokémon to see its weakness level. If you have enough power to attack, put a damage counter on the attacked Pokémon. After you attack, your turn is over, and you and your opponent will alternate taking turns until the game is over. If you knock out the Pokémon, that card goes into the discard pile and you draw a card from your prize pile. If you attack and knock out an EX or GX Pokémon, you receive 2 prize cards instead of 1. Care for and revive attacked Pokémon by moving them to the bench. After a Pokémon is attacked, they will either be asleep, burned, confused, paralyzed, or poisoned (unless they were knocked out—in which case that card goes into the discard pile). Move them to the bench to remove those characteristics. Each special condition is removed or dealt with in a different way, depending on which kind of Pokémon was damaged, so make sure to read your cards carefully. Win the game by getting all your prize cards. This means you will have attacked and knocked out 6 of your opponent's Pokémon. Also, if you knock out all of your opponent's Pokémon that are on the table at one time (so the active card as well as any benched cards), then you win, even if they had less than 6 laid out. Additionally, the first person to run out of cards in their draw pile loses even if there are remaining prize cards— that's the least fun way to win because it ends the game by default! Enjoy getting outdoors by playing Pokémon Go on your phone. Download this game from the app store and use it while you walk around your neighborhood, or explore new areas. As you walk, your phone will alert you to when there is a Pokémon in the area that you can catch through your phone screen. Evolve Pokémon, challenge other players, and collect as many different Pokémon as you can! Be careful when playing Pokémon Go and pay attention to your surroundings. It can be distracting, so make sure you're safe while you're walking around. Play on a game console if you like traditional video games. Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Wii all offer a myriad of Pokémon games. If you already have one of these consoles, visit your local video game store to find copies of Pokémon games, or search for them online. For example, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Pokémon Trozei!, Pokémon Battle Revolution, and Pokémon X and Y are all fun games that you can play. Nintendo 3DS is a handheld video game option that also has lots of Pokémon gaming options. Download a Pokémon app to play on your phone. Open up your app store and type “Pokémon” into the search bar to find what games are available for your kind of phone. After you've selected and downloaded one, open it up, follow the onscreen instructions, and enjoy your gaming experience! Pokédex 3D, Pokémon Bank, Pokémon Duel, and Pokémon Quest are some of more popular apps. Use an emulator to play video games on your computer. An emulator is a type of software that lets your computer screen mimic that of a video game console, like a Nintendo DS. If you use an emulator, you'll most likely have to use a pirated version of the Pokémon game you want to play, so keep that in mind. Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Crystal, and Pokémon Soul Silver are some of the more well-known DS games that are still played on a PC via an emulator. Play the 3DS Virtual Console if you like handheld video games. Simply buy a Nintendo 3DS, along with the available Pokémon game of your choice. After you load the game, onscreen instructions will pop up to direct you during gameplay. Look online for tips and hints on how to beat difficult levels. Pokémon Rumble Blast, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon X and Y, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Moon, Pokémon Battle Trozei, and Pokémon Omega Rube and Alpha Sapphire are all fun 3DS games you can play. Get a hold of a Gameboy to play the 1996 original game. Although Nintendo no longer produces new Gameboys, you can still buy used and refurbished ones online from places like Amazon and Ebay. You can also find copies of old games, like the original Pokémon Red, online. Look for these other Pokémon games for Gameboy, too: Red, Blue, and Green Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition Pokémon Gold and Silver Pokémon Crystal Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire | Shuffle your deck and draw 7 cards to start the game. Choose a basic, active Pokémon to play with. Bench up to 5 basic Pokémon by laying them facedown in front of you. Set 6 cards off to the side facedown to be your “prize cards. Flip a coin to see who goes first, and draw a card to start your turn. Attack your opponent's Pokémon at the end of your turn. Care for and revive attacked Pokémon by moving them to the bench. Win the game by getting all your prize cards. Enjoy getting outdoors by playing Pokémon Go on your phone. Play on a game console if you like traditional video games. Download a Pokémon app to play on your phone. Use an emulator to play video games on your computer. Play the 3DS Virtual Console if you like handheld video games. Get a hold of a Gameboy to play the 1996 original game. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Nae-Nae | How to Nae Nae | To Nae Nae, start by performing a few simple stretches to warm up your muscles. Next, stand with your feet a shoulder width apart and bend your knees slightly. Keeping your shoulders loose, hold one arm above your head and keep the other arm down at your side. Then, rock your body gently by shifting your weight back and forth from one foot to the other. Keep moving from side to side at a moderate pace with your hand in the air! | Warm up. To perform the Nae Nae correctly, the muscles in your legs and arms need to be loose and warmed up. Do some shallow squats, bending your knees slightly before standing back up. Roll your shoulders up and down. You can also rock your shoulders forward and back, loosening up your back. Bend your knees. To make the base stance of the Nae Nae, stand with your knees shoulder width apart. Bend your knees slightly, making a shallow angle with your knees. This is called the defense pose. You don't want to bend your knees too much. This will overextend your knee muscles and will make your movements stiff. You will also tire out more quickly. Rock your body. Once you've bent your legs, start rocking back and forth. Engage your legs muscles, moving yourself from side to side at a moderate pace. You can also move your arms and shoulders in time with your rocking motion, making it a whole body movement. Don't rock too fast. This will cause you to lose your balance or hurt yourself. Position your arms. Hold one arm above your head and the other down at your side. It doesn't matter if you have your right or left arm raised. You can start with either arm in this position. Remember to keep your arms loose. You don't have to lock your elbows, and you can bend your arms slightly if you like. Do the Nae Nae. Once you master the steps, it's time to incorporate them all together. First, pick a song with a good tempo. Once you have your song on, do all the steps together. Bend your knees and hold your arms in position, rocking back and forth to the beat. Hip hop songs work great for this dance. Try the song "Drop that #Nae Nae" by We Are Toonz. They wrote the song specifically for this dance. Try this dance in front of a mirror if you can't seem to get the moves right. This way, you can see how you are moving your body and change any move you are doing incorrectly. Loosen up your basic move. Don't worry so much about sticking strictly to the basic steps. Once you've gotten the hang of the basic steps, you can incorporate a swagger to your moves, swinging your hips more as you rock back and forth. You can also move your arms and shoulders around, shimmying your shoulders back and forth as you rock your body. Feel free to switch your arms back and forth as well, holding your right arm up for three or four counts and then switching arms. Decide your freestyle move. While you are doing the basic Nae Nae, think about some dance moves you can do during the freestyle portions, which are called the Four Counts. You can incorporate any dance that you want, as long as it lasts the four counts that are dedicated to freestyle moves. Incorporate your freestyle. Once you've done the Nae Nae for awhile, it's time to break into your freestyle. Start your freestyle, do the moves for four counts, and then move back into the Nae Nae. You can do the freestyle as many times as you like, moving from the basic move to the freestyle and back every few counts. Try doing another dance move you love, such as the Dougie or Macarena. You can create new dance moves of your own. You can even amp it up a notch by doing a head stand or back flip. There is no one way to do freestyle. This portion is all about you and doing whatever dance move you feel you want to perform. Just listen to the music and trust your instincts. Have fun with it. Although there are specific moves that are considered the Nae Nae, it is meant to be a social dance that you can enjoy doing in large groups. Try it out with some friends, feeding off their energy and excitement. You can also take turns doing freestyle, incorporating their moves into yours. | Warm up. Bend your knees. Rock your body. Position your arms. Do the Nae Nae. Loosen up your basic move. Decide your freestyle move. Incorporate your freestyle. Have fun with it. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Oxidized-Aluminum-Wheels | How to Clean Oxidized Aluminum Wheels | To clean oxidized aluminum wheels, start by rinsing the wheels with water, making sure to focus on the build up around the spokes. Once you've removed as much dirt and brake dust as you can, spray each wheel with a non-acidic wheel cleaner, like Sonax, and use a soft bristle brush to work it into a lather on the surface of the wheels. Next, vigorously scrub the wheel wells with a stiff bristle brush and an all-purpose car cleaner to get rid of buildup. Finally, rinse the wheels thoroughly with water before drying them with a clean microfiber cloth. | Park your car on a flat surface. Chock the wheels of your car with a piece of wood to ensure it does not roll while you're cleaning. Park out of the sun to prevent cleaners from drying too fast, which can decrease their peroxiding power and cause spotting. Test the aluminum for a coating. If you are unsure whether your aluminum wheels are coated or uncoated, apply a small amount of polish to an out-of-sight spot on the wheel with a clean, microfiber cloth or a polishing pad. Oxidized aluminum will wipe off black. If there is no black residue, your wheels are likely coated. Coated wheels should be cleaned similarly to bare aluminum, but only with a clear coat cleaner, like Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner or Pinnacle Clear Coat Safe Wheel Cleaner. Wash the wheels with water. Clean and polish wheels one at a time. Remove as much buildup, dirt, and brake dust as you can from your tires with a powerful stream of water. Rinse all parts of the wheel and the wheel well thoroughly. Only clean oxidation from your wheels before washing your car. It's likely that while cleaning your wheels dirtiness will spread to your car. Dirt and brake dust have a tendency to build up around or between spokes, brake calipers, and even behind the wheel. Rinse these areas carefully. A Fireman's Nozzle can improve the stream of normal hoses, though power washers will be most effective at rinsing wheels. Apply aluminum wheel cleaner to the wheel. Acidic cleaners may cause spots to form on aluminum wheels. Spray the wheel you have just rinsed with aluminum cleaner. Be sure to cover all areas of the wheel with cleaner thoroughly. Many kinds of aluminum cleaner and polish are skin and eye irritants. Wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear while cleaning and polishing. Two common, non-acidic aluminum wheel cleaners include SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect and Detailer's Pro Series Wheel Cleaner. Certain cleaners may require a special procedure to be effective. Always follow the label directions on the cleaner for best results. Brush all surfaces of the wheel clean. Only use a soft bristle brush on your wheels, no matter how dirty they are. Use the brush to work the soap on the wheel into a lather. After cleaning the front, clean the inner parts of the wheel by reaching through the spokes. Stiff bristle brushes can create scratches or clouding in the surface of your wheels. These marks may be difficult to polish away. The contours and inner parts of lug nuts collect corrosive brake dust. Use a small, soft bristle, detailing brush or lug nut brush to clean around the nuts and inside their holes. Keep the wheel wet while brushing it. The presence of water will help prevent scratches. Additionally, cleaner that dries on the wheel will likely result in a spotted finish. Scrub out the wheel wells. The area of the frame surrounding the tire is the wheel or fender well. Re-wet this area if necessary. Apply all-purpose car exterior cleaner to a stiff bristle brush. Firmly scrub out the wheel well completely. Because the buildup on wheel wells is usually stubborn, this part of the car is designed to be sturdy and resilient. Scrub the wheel well vigorously. Keep your brushes separate. Do not use your stiff well brush on your wheels, nor should you use your soft wheel brush on the wells. Keep the wheel wet while brushing it. The presence of water will help prevent scratches and a spotted finish. Rinse the wheel thoroughly. Use your hose or power washer to completely clean soap from all areas of the wheel. Start with the wheel well, as this area will likely splash grime on your wheel while rinsing. Pay close attention to spokes and lug nuts. Flush soap from lug nut holes. Dry the cleaned wheels with a microfiber cloth. Allowing your wheels to air dry will likely result in spots. To protect the finish of your wheels, only use a soft microfiber cloth. Keep wheel-drying cloths separate from others to prevent corrosive brake dust from harming more delicate parts of your car. After you've finished cleaning all your car wheels, wash your wheel drying cloths separately from other laundry or car cleaning items. Use cleaning clay to remove embedded particles when necessary. No matter how many times you scrub your wheel with cleaner, embedded particles will likely remain. Use cleaning clay after you've cleaned the wheel but before it has been polished or waxed. Though brands may vary, generally, to apply the clay: Spray your wheel with a clay lubricant. This may have come with your clay, or it may need to be bought separately. Shape about a quarter of the clay into a patty with your fingers. With moderate-light pressure, rub the clay over the wheel's surfaces. Take care to apply the clay to difficult to reach places and black spots. Fold the clay as it becomes dirty so that you continue to remove embedded particles with clean parts of the clay. Use clay lubricant and a clean, soft microfiber cloth to wipe away clay when the entire wheel has been cleaned. Polish coated wheels lightly. Coated aluminum wheels should not have much (or any) oxidation or pitting. Only use a clear coat safe polish, like Meguiars Ultimate Polish, on clean, dry, clear coated aluminum. Always follow the directions on the polish, but generally, to polish coated wheels: Apply the polish one wheel at a time with a microfiber cloth. Buff the wheel with a ball shaped power polisher polishing pad or a clean, soft microfiber cloth. When the polish dries or is mostly gone, use a fresh, soft microfiber cloth to wipe the wheel. Remove heavy oxidation before polishing bare aluminum. When your wheels are heavily oxidized, you'll need to use an aluminum polish pre-cleaner. Spray on the cleaner and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. Brush oxidized areas where necessary. Rinse and dry the wheel well before moving on. Buff out severe pitting and oxidation by hand. Wet the metal of the wheel with water. With your coarsest (lowest grit rating) sandpaper, buff the wheel. Rinse the wheel regularly and keep it wet throughout this process. As pitting diminishes, switch to a finer grit (higher rating) paper. When the pitting is all but gone, finish with your finest grit paper. Depending on the amount of pitting or oxidation on your rims, you may need to replace your sandpaper several times while sanding. Severe pitting may require coarser sandpaper, like one that is 320-grit. A power polisher will buff wheels more efficiently and quickly. If you have a power polisher, save yourself time and effort by skipping this step and administering wheel polish instead. Administer aluminum wheel polish to the clean, dry wheel. Use an applicator, a soft, clean microfiber cloth, or a power polisher wool polishing pad to apply the polish to the wheel. Apply enough polisher for the entire wheel, or the amount directed in the instructions. Use a power polisher, if available. Activate the polisher on a slow setting and spread the polish across the wheel's surface. After the polish is well spread, little by little increase the polisher's speed until it reaches 3000 RPM. While polishing, keep the pad moving across the wheel. When the polish begins to dry or disappear, wipe the wheel surface with a clean microfiber towel. This process can also be done by hand. Buff polish onto wheels with a polishing pad. Polishing by hand may require considerable time and effort. Some polishes may have multiple stages, like those that have a general polish and a finishing polish. Apply secondary agents in the same fashion as normal polish, but use a clean pad. Wipe away remaining polisher with a clean microfiber cloth. At this stage, your wheel should be looking like new. If, however, you aren't yet happy with the condition of your wheel, repeat the polishing process. After each time polishing, wipe the wheel with a clean, soft microfiber cloth. For multi-stage polishes that use a fine or finishing polish, only re-polish the wheel with the finishing polish. If you plan on re-polishing, be sure to use new pads and cloths. Dirty or gritty polish can re transfer to your wheel or cause scratches. Clean and polish the remaining wheels in this fashion. Now that your wheel is cleaned and polished, repeat this process on your remaining wheels. To prevent further oxidation, apply a wheel wax to the wheel according to its label directions. Wheel wax can be bought at most auto and hardware stores, as well in the automotive section of many general retailers. An application of wax will prevent dirt and break dust from building up. | Park your car on a flat surface. Test the aluminum for a coating. Wash the wheels with water. Apply aluminum wheel cleaner to the wheel. Brush all surfaces of the wheel clean. Scrub out the wheel wells. Rinse the wheel thoroughly. Dry the cleaned wheels with a microfiber cloth. Use cleaning clay to remove embedded particles when necessary. Polish coated wheels lightly. Remove heavy oxidation before polishing bare aluminum. Buff out severe pitting and oxidation by hand. Administer aluminum wheel polish to the clean, dry wheel. Use a power polisher, if available. Wipe away remaining polisher with a clean microfiber cloth. Clean and polish the remaining wheels in this fashion. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Convert-Amperes-to-Watts | How to Convert Amperes to Watts | If you want to convert DC amperes to watts, multiply the current by the voltage supply. For example, when the current is 3A and the voltage supply is 110V, the power consumption is 330 watts. To convert AC single phase amps to watts, multiply the power factor by the current and RMS voltage. For instance, the RMS voltage supply is 110V, the current is 3A, and the power factor is 0.8, then the power consumption is 264 watts. | Recognize a DC if the current flows in one direction, not two. DC, or direct current, is an electrical current that only flows in one single direction. On a graph, this would look like a straight line going in one direction. Batteries, like the ones in your electronics, all use DC, not AC. Identify the volts by multiplying the amps by the resistance. The voltage is the measurement that describes the amount of force needed for the electrical current to flow. If you don't know the voltage, you can find it by multiplying the amperage by the total amount of resistance in the circuit. You can find the total resistance by adding up each individual resistance measurement inside the circuit. For example, 6 amps x 5 ohms (total resistance) = 30 volts. If you have the circuit in front of you, you can use a voltage meter for a quick and accurate reading. Multiply the number of amps by the number of volts to calculate watts. Now that you know the amperes and the volts in the current, multiply the 2 numbers together to get the volts. Don't forget to add the units to your answer. For example, 2 amps x 30 volts = 60 watts. Identify AC if the electrical current flows back and forth. AC, or alternating current, is an electrical current that flows in both a positive and negative direction. On a graph, it looks like a wavy line, going up and down at an alternating pace. Most home appliances that plug into outlets, like lamps, fans, kitchen utensils, and washing machines, use AC. A single-phase current has only one wire connected to the circuit. Calculate the power factor, or PF. The power factor is the measurement of how efficiently the current uses its energy, and it's always a number between 0 and 1. For single-phase circuits, you can find the power factor dividing the true power (how much power the circuit actually puts out) by the apparent power (the combination of true power and reactive power). For example: PF = 119.365 / 169.256 = 0.705. The power factor is always a unitless number. Multiply the PF times the amps and the voltage to find the watts. To convert your amps to watts, multiply the power factor times the voltage number (the amount of force in the electrical current). Don't forget to put your units at the end! For example, 2 amps x 30 volts x 0.705 = 42.3 watts. Figure out if the voltage is line to line or neutral by reading the volts. If the voltage of the equation is 0, that means it is line to neutral. If the voltage of the equation is above 0, it's line to line. This is important to note, as each one has a different equation to calculate wattage. The voltage is neutral if it's connected to the earth in some way, or “grounded.” The voltage isn't neutral if it's connected from line to line, or not grounded. Multiply the PF, the voltage, and the amps by √3 for line to line voltage. For line to line voltage, meaning the voltage is above 0, you need to multiply the power factor and the amps by the square root of 3. It may be helpful to do this on a scientific calculator, as the square root of 3 is an irrational number, meaning it can't be written as a simple fraction. For example: What is power consumption in watts when the power factor is 0.8 and the phase current is 3A and the voltage supply is 110V? Answer: P = √3 × 0.8 × 3A × 110V = 457W. Use a separate equation for neutral voltage. The main difference in the neutral voltage equation, or voltage that is 0, is that you multiply the amps and voltage by 3, not the square root of 3. The calculation assumes the loads are balanced. The real power P in watts (W) is equal to 3 times the power factor PF times the phase current I in amps (A), times the line to neutral RMS voltage VL-0 in volts (V). In this equation, the watts are always equal to 3 times the power factor and the amps times the volts. For example: 3 x 0.8 x 2 amps x L-0 (neutral volts) = 4.8 watts. | Recognize a DC if the current flows in one direction, not two. Identify the volts by multiplying the amps by the resistance. Multiply the number of amps by the number of volts to calculate watts. Identify AC if the electrical current flows back and forth. Calculate the power factor, or PF. Multiply the PF times the amps and the voltage to find the watts. Figure out if the voltage is line to line or neutral by reading the volts. Multiply the PF, the voltage, and the amps by √3 for line to line voltage. Use a separate equation for neutral voltage. |
https://www.wikihow.fitness/Do-Cardio-at-Home | How to Do Cardio at Home | To do cardio at home, try walking in place while hiking up your knees as high as you can. Do this exercise for a total of 10 minutes, walking for 30 to 60 seconds, followed by a 30 second break. Alternatively, try jumping rope for 1 minute on, 1 minute off, for a total of 10 minutes. Additionally, do some jumping jacks, or try boxing with small hand weights for a great cardio workout. | Understand the benefits of cardio. You know exercise is good for your body, and cardio is part of that. Cardio improves your heart health, and it can help you deal with chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, help you lose weight, as well as increase your strength overall. It can make you happier, and it can even help you live longer if you exercise regularly. Work with a trainer. One way to find exercises that work well for you is to talk to a trainer. A trainer can help you figure out a routine that works for your body type and needs. Plus, a trainer can show you how to do exercises properly. You can work with a trainer at a gym, and some trainers may even make home visits. However, be sure to choose someone who meshes with your personality, so that you can get the most from your experience. Use the internet to your advantage. If you can't afford a trainer, the internet is a great resource. You can find training videos, complete routines, and explanatory articles that can help you with your cardio. Just be sure to use quality resources that will give you solid advice. An app can also be useful. Many apps are free or cheap. They can provide training, as well as a way to track your progress. Talk to your doctor. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise routine, particularly if you have chronic health conditions. Your doctor can advice you about the best types of exercises for your body. For instance, if you have knee problems, your doctor may advice you to try low-impact exercises. Other conditions that could be problematic include diabetes, heart conditions, asthma, cancer, arthritis, kidney disease, or lung disease. Also, it's important to talk to your doctor if you get dizzy, extremely short of breath, or have neck, jaw, or arm pain when exercising, as well as if you have a rapid heartbeat when you're at rest or if your feet swell overnight. Exercise in short intervals. Cardio requires that you keep your heart up for a certain amount of time. For this reason, it is best to time your exercise within sets of 30 to 60 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds between each set and exercise. When you first begin, you might carry on these intervals and rest breaks until you have done ten minutes of exercise. As time goes on, work your way up to exercising for twenty or thirty minutes at a time. Work on high knees. This workout is basically walking in place. However, you bring your knees up much higher than you normally would, until your thigh is about perpendicular to your body or a bit higher. As you bring one knee up, swing the opposite arm up, too. Alternate between knees for between 30 and 60 seconds. Go at a fast, steady rhythm. Try burpees. When doing a burpee, start in a standing position. Using your knees to prepare yourself (bend down), jump up into the air, swinging your arms as you go. As you land, bend your knees down, and move to the ground. Get in a plank position, with your palms on the ground, then do a pushup. As you come out of the pushup, propel yourself back to standing and start over again. Trying doing burpees for a solid minute straight. Use skier jumps. In a standing position, place your legs and feet together. Now, jump back and forth from side to side, going as fast as you can. Try to land gently by bending your knees. Keep your chest out. Go back and forth for about a minute. Work on tap backs. Stand up straight with your legs shoulder-width apart. Step back with one leg. As you step back, swing your arms forward so that they're out straight in front of you. Switch to the other leg. You aren't actually moving backwards, just alternating legs and swinging your arms forward. Aim to do between 15 and 24 tap backs within thirty to sixty seconds. Do squats. Stand with your feet at shoulder-width. Your arms should be straight out in front of you. Bend your knees to lower yourself to the floor. Your thighs should end up like you're sitting in a chair, and your back should stay straight. Your knees should stay above your ankle, not go over the front of your feet. Try to do 15 to 24 squats over the period of 30 to 60 seconds for one set. If you can't do that many, just do what you can within that time. Work your way up to doing two or three sets. Once you are able to do that, you can start adding weight, either by using dumbbells or by holding something heavy, such as a jug of water. Work on corkscrews. Begin in a plank or pushup position. Your hands should be flat on the ground at shoulder width, and you should be supporting yourself on the balls of your feet with your body straight. Kick your left leg out under you towards your right hand, extending your right hand as you do. Touch your foot, and return your leg and arm back to the starting position. Do the same with the other leg and arm. Alternate legs for up to a minute. Try donkey kicks. Start in a plank or pushup position. Your palms should be flat to the floor, and you should have the balls of your feet supporting you. Your body should be mostly straight. From this position, kick your feet up into the air behind you. You're trying to lightly kick yourself in the butt, but just get as far as you can. Land back on the balls of your feet, making sure to straighten your legs back out. Start with 30 seconds of this exercise and then work your way up to a full minute. Move on to mountain climbers. To do a mountain climber, get down on the ground like you're going to do a pushup. Your palms should be on the ground, shoulder-width apart. Your body should be up in the air but straight. The balls of your feet and toes should be on the ground, supporting your weight. Bring one knee up towards your chest. It should be under your body, and you should look like a runner about to take off on a race. Move that knee back down and bring up the other knee. Alternate legs for between ten and sixty seconds. Move back and forth in sets. Once you find some exercises you like, try moving back and forth in sets. If you're just starting out, try 6 sets of various exercises. If you're a bit more advance, do 8 sets. If you've been working out for a while, you can do 10 sets instead. Alternating between different exercises will help you work up a sweat, as well as work on different muscle groups. Jump rope. Jumping rope is a great form of cardio. It gets you heart pumping and works both your arms and legs. You don't even need a jump rope to do it. You can simply pretend you have a rope, jumping an inch or two off the ground and using your wrists like you would if you were jumping rope. Try one minute on, one minute off for 10 minutes. Take a walk. A simple walk, whether around your house or outside, can count as cardio. Make sure you're working up a bit of a sweat, and you're moderately out of breath. Try to aim for being able to talk but not being able to sing a song. Use stairs to your advantage. If you have stairs in your home or apartment building, try using them for your cardio. Go up the stairs as fast as you can, and use the time coming back down as a short break. Do some jumping jacks. This one will take you back to your grade school days. Turns out, jumping jacks are a great form of cardio you can do anywhere. All you need to do is start with your legs together and your arms at your side. Jump your legs out to each side and bring your arms up, moving them straight out and then up. Jump back to the original position and repeat. Ride your bike. You may have a bike rusting in the garage that you've mostly forgotten about. It's time to break it out, and take it outside. You can use it to go up hills, or just try for longer and longer distances. Remember, try to push yourself harder at some points, and then give yourself a minute to ride easier. Punch out your stress. Another simple exercise you can do at home is to box. If you don't have a bag, don't worry. Just pick up some small weights to use. You can even use canned goods. Then just spend some time punching the air. Don't forget to move your feet as you go. | Understand the benefits of cardio. Work with a trainer. Use the internet to your advantage. Talk to your doctor. Exercise in short intervals. Work on high knees. Try burpees. Use skier jumps. Work on tap backs. Do squats. Work on corkscrews. Try donkey kicks. Move on to mountain climbers. Move back and forth in sets. Jump rope. Take a walk. Use stairs to your advantage. Do some jumping jacks. Ride your bike. Punch out your stress. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fight-off-Multiple-Opponents | How to Fight off Multiple Opponents | Fighting off multiple opponents isn't easy, but if you stay on the offensive and strike accurately, you'll stand a much better chance. It's harder to defend against multiple opponents than to be offensive. Focus your attack on the most aggressive opponent. If you take them out, the others might back off. Aim for vulnerable spots, like their temples, groin, and solar plexus. You should also try to keep all of the opponents in front of you so you don't get sucker punched or grabbed from behind. Keep moving in small steps to make yourself harder to hit. If you can get hold of a weapon, use this to your advantage, but make sure no one grabs it off you, since this will make you even more vulnerable. | Go after the leader. Many groups of attackers have a known leader. Try to draw this person into a one-on-one fight or attack him first. If he's down, the rest of the group is likely to be immobilized. Be strategic in how you plan your defense. Try to avoid being caught in a triangle between multiple attackers. This situation almost certainly means you will lose, and fast. Always know where all of your opponents are. Even if you're fighting one of them at a time, you should know where the other opponents are and be ready to approach them as soon as you need to. Don't just blindly fight without observing your surroundings, or you'll quickly be outwitted. Keep your opponents in a line in front of you. Keeping your opponents in a line (e.g., by backing away from them) can allow you to attack one person without being exposed to attack by others. Use a weapon if you are skilled with it. Drawing a weapon may end the fight before it begins; it's also a way to equalize things when numbers are not on your side, or if the other side is also armed. If you are not highly skilled, know that your weapon may end up being turned against you, leading to death or serious injury. Plan to go on offense aggressively. Don't threaten or give away your intentions once you have committed to fighting. If you've committed to fighting, you have to follow through or find a safe way to escape. Use the objects around you to ward off your opponents. Throwing a chair at one opponent, for example, while turning around to fight another opponent, can help you get the job done. Keep moving. Once you are planted in a location, it is easier to surround you. Take many small, quick steps with your feet to stay agile and to keep moving around in small increments. . Attack first It is nearly impossible to defend from multiple angles; you need to be the first to act. Strike incisive blows. You need to reduce your opponents' numerical advantage by any means necessary. Target weak spots such as the temples, groin, knees, and solar plexus. Even the nose can be useful because it will blind and disorient your opponents for a short time. And, if you know how to use pressure points, make sure you use them to your full advantage. Use cheap shots. There is no shame in using your teeth, knees and or nails at any time. Pride will cost you your life. Don't be afraid to kick your opponent in the crotch, to pull his hair if it's longer, or to scratch his eyes. Avoid being flanked at all costs. Once one or more opponents have their hands on you, you are in deep trouble and will be unable to defend yourself. Escape as soon as you can. This is less likely going to be a fight you are going to win, and will more likely be a fight you are going to have to escape. If they're are no near by escape routes, then follow these fighting techniques. Stop or prevent the fight before it starts. Conflict starts long before a fight develops. Positive and assertive interaction with the group may off-set any violence. Do your best to minimize conflict by being good-natured, not picking arguments with volatile people you don't know very well, or making off-color comments that could deeply offend the people around you. Run if you can. Unless you are a skilled fighter or are in a situation where you cannot escape, your best bet is to run away, fast. Head to somewhere public and call for help. Running is also likely to separate your attackers, making it more likely to be able to confront them individually. Be extra careful when you're running so you avoid getting surrounded or running right in to a trap. | Go after the leader. Be strategic in how you plan your defense. Always know where all of your opponents are. Keep your opponents in a line in front of you. Use a weapon if you are skilled with it. Plan to go on offense aggressively. Use the objects around you to ward off your opponents. Keep moving. . Strike incisive blows. Use cheap shots. Avoid being flanked at all costs. Escape as soon as you can. Stop or prevent the fight before it starts. Run if you can. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Cortisol | How to Reduce Cortisol | To reduce cortisol, start by eliminating caffeine from your diet, since caffeine causes cortisol to spike. Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and consider eliminating processed foods and sugar from your diet, since they raise cortisol. Try to create a sleep schedule for yourself and find ways to manage your stress levels, such as through meditation or yoga. Watching a funny movie or listening to your favorite tunes can also help reduce cortisol! | Cut back or eliminate all drinks with large amounts of caffeine in them. This includes all sodas, energy drinks, and coffee. Drinking caffeine causes a spike in cortisol levels. The good news, if there is any, is that cortisol responses are reduced, but not eliminated, in people who drink caffeine regularly. If you enjoy drinking caffeinated drinks and don't want to cut them out, you can instead drink them at the best possible times. Most people experience their peak cortisol levels from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can schedule your coffee breaks around these times, such as at 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and anytime between 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This way you can maintain your energy levels without spiking your cortisol levels too much. Reduce or eliminate processed foods and sugar in your diet. Processed foods, especially simple carbohydrates and sugar, cause a spike in cortisol. Too many processed foods increase blood sugar levels, which in turn causes you to feel anxious. The best way to eliminate this reaction is to cut out the processed foods, though reducing them can also help. Try to avoid the following processed foods: White bread "Regular" pasta (not whole wheat) White rice Candies, cakes, chocolates, etc. Make sure you're getting enough water. One study has found that just a half-liter of dehydration can raise cortisol levels. Dehydration is nasty because it's a vicious cycle: stress can cause dehydration, and dehydration can cause stress. Make sure you sip plenty of water throughout the day to cut back on your chance of unhealthy cortisol levels. If your urine is darker colored when you go pee, it's probably a sign that you're not drinking enough water. Adequately-hydrated individuals have urine that is light, almost water-like, in appearance. Take an ashwagandha supplement to help manage your cortisol levels. Ashwagandha is an herb that helps to balance cortisol levels. If your cortisol is high, the ashwagandha can lower it by a significant amount. Additionally, it can help you feel less stressed or anxious. However, you should check with your doctor before taking any medications, especially if you are taking other medications. You can find ashwaganda either online or in the supplement section of your grocery store. There are no adverse side effects reported for this supplement. Try out rhodiola when your cortisol is high. Rhodiola is an herbal supplement related to ginseng, and a popular folk remedy for lowering cortisol. It reputedly ramps up your energy, helps you burn fat, and lowers your cortisol levels while it's at it. Get more fish oil into your diet. According to doctors, just 2,000 mg of fish oil per day lowers your cortisol levels. If you don't want to chew down supplements, you can eat the following fish for healthy supplies of fish oil: Salmon Sardines Mackerel Sea bass Manage your stress levels. Stress causes high levels of cortisol, as your body responds to stress by releasing more cortisol. If you experience high levels of stress, then your cortisol levels can quickly get out of control. Luckily, you can lower your levels if you learn to manage stress. Use mindfulness to help you lower your stress. Simply being in the moment can help you avoid feeling stressed. Try relaxation techniques like breathing exercises , visualization , or journaling. Create an emergency coping box and fill it with a soft blanket, an inspiring book, a relaxing activity, a piece of dark chocolate, and a scented aromatherapy oil in a relaxing scent, such as lavender. You can include other items that help you relax, as well. For example, some people might include a back scratcher or massaging ball. Maintain a sleep schedule. Rising and going to bed at the same times every day can have a big effect on your stress and cortisol. Not only will it help lower your stress levels, it also helps your body better regulate cortisol. Getting a good night's sleep will help you stay calm and maintain lower levels of cortisol. Maintain a pre-bedtime sleep routine to help you go to sleep more easily. Relax by turning down the thermostat, getting cozy, and doing an activity that relaxes you, such as reading or listening to calming music. You may also spray a relaxing aromatherapy scent, such as lavender. Prepare a pot of hot black tea. Scientists have discovered that drinking black tea was found to lower overall cortisol levels in a group of people performing stressful tasks. So next time you feel the cortisol bubbling up and threatening to unleash itself in a torrent of stress, grab a cup of English breakfast tea and zen out. Try meditation techniques. Meditation activates the Vagus nerve, which triggers a response in your body to lower cortisol levels, among other things. Meditation techniques can run the gamut, from taking deep breaths to allowing your mind to wander to a peaceful place. For best results, participate in meditation for 30 minutes a day, three to four times a week. After the first session, you should see a significant difference in how your body feels. Sit in a quiet, dark, room. Allow your mind to meditate. If you need help relaxing, visualize a quiet, peaceful place. Imagine how your body feels when it is relaxed. Try to recreate this feeling within your body. This helps to relieve muscle tension within the body. Allow the eyes to close. Take deep breaths in and out until you notice your heart rate slowing down. Notice the beating of your heart and its sounds when you are relaxed. Imagine that all of the tension is radiating out of your body through your fingertips and toes. Feel the release of tension throughout your entire body. Watch a funny movie or listen to a funny story. Joyous laughter can actually curb your body's production of cortisol, according to FASEB.So sidle up to a funny friend or remind yourself of a mirthful memory in order to lower cortisol. Try adaptive exercises to target a lowering of your cortisol. Exercise is a stress-buster, right? So wouldn't all exercise be beneficial in lowering cortisol? Not exactly. The problem is that running and other cardio exercises raise your heart rate, ultimately increasing cortisol. Try yoga or Pilates for an adaptive exercise that burns calories, works your muscles, and lowers cortisol too. Try other adaptive exercises using the Wii console, for example, to get your heart rate up without that unhealthy spike in cortisol. Don't over exercise, as this can increase your levels of cortisol. Incorporate play into your life. Set aside time each day to have some fun, and make a point to do something fun on your days off. Playing often can help you enjoy life more, avoid stress, and keep your cortisol levels in check. On busy days, try to have fun for at least 15 minutes a day. For example, you could go out for ice cream, enjoy dinner out, play a board game with your friend or loved one, watch a movie, walk your dog in the park, do a puzzle, play with your pet, or any other activity you enjoy. On the weekend, go to the beach, go bowling, play a recreational sport, host a game night, go to an art opening, or take a class to learn about a new hobby. Listen to some tunes. Music therapy has been shown to reduce cortisol levels in patients undergoing screening colonoscopy. So the next time you're feeling stressed or slammed, put on some soothing music and let it put a curtain on your cortisol. | Cut back or eliminate all drinks with large amounts of caffeine in them. Reduce or eliminate processed foods and sugar in your diet. Make sure you're getting enough water. Take an ashwagandha supplement to help manage your cortisol levels. Try out rhodiola when your cortisol is high. Get more fish oil into your diet. Manage your stress levels. Maintain a sleep schedule. Prepare a pot of hot black tea. Try meditation techniques. Watch a funny movie or listen to a funny story. Try adaptive exercises to target a lowering of your cortisol. Incorporate play into your life. Listen to some tunes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Rehab-a-Property-in-the-Proper-Order | How to Rehab a Property in the Proper Order | Before you try to rehab a property, dispose of any trash, damaged items, or things you will be replacing. Then, start the repairs by fixing any problems with the roof or foundation, and replace the doors, windows, and trim. After that, have a contractor help you make sure the plumbing, furnace, and air-conditioning systems are working properly. To finish, paint the walls and ceilings and install the flooring and appliances. | Inspect the property. Before you begin to rehab, thoroughly inspect the property. Note which items are in good condition and which areas need work. It's helpful to have a professional inspector walk through with you. He or she will be able to identify things that you may miss. In the U.S. you can find a qualified inspector through the American Society of Home Inspectors. Ask the inspector questions as you go through the property. The home inspection should include the heating system, air-conditioning or HVAC system, interior plumbing, electrical system, the roof, the attic, any visible insulation, walls, ceilings, flooring, windows, doors, foundation, sewer line, and the basement. If you are not a contractor, you should not conduct the inspection alone. Take pictures of everything during the inspection. Your inspector will typically take photos of problem areas for their records, but you should have documentation for your purposes, as well. The cost of an inspection depends on the size of the property. Develop a checklist. Once you identify areas that need work, create a rehab checklist. This will help you stay on track and not miss any repairs. Include both interior (walls, paint, etc.) and exterior items (e.g. landscaping, gutters, and outside lighting). The checklist should be very detailed and describe everything that needs to be done to the property. The inspection report can be used to generate the checklist. Create a budget. Go through your checklist and decide how much each repair will cost. An Excel spreadsheet is a great tool to use for your budget. The budget should be itemized for each individual repair. If the cost of your repairs exceeds your budget, you will need to make some changes to the checklist. Budget for unanticipated problems. These are bound to happen. New issues may arise once you begin the rehab process. If you plan to sell the property once rehabbing is finished, consider how much you will be able to sell the property for. Work with a contractor. Having a good contractor will make the rehab process much easier. Take your time when you are searching for a suitable contractor. Contractors can be found through referrals, your local building department, real estate investment associations, and general job boards. Pre-screen any candidate to determine if he or she is a good fit for your project. Pre-screen questions should cover these considerations: A contractor's experience: you want at least three years Equipment: a contractor should have his/her own equipment Employees: you want to see adequate support to complete the job Licensing: a contractor should be licensed by state or other local jurisdiction Insurance: liability and worker's compensation Subcontractor use: determine whether the contractor will be using subcontractors for the job Referrals: look for at least three positive referrals Each contractor you're interested in should submit a formal bid. Choose the contractor who fits your budget and demonstrates the ability to do a good job. Have a walk-through with the contractor. Once you have chosen a contractor, you may need to do another walk-through of the property. Your contractor can also help you make adjustments to your budget and checklist. Set a timeline for completion once you have everything in place with the contractor. This will keep all involved parties accountable and on the same page. Get any necessary permits. Permits are typically required for rehabbing a property. Having the required permits in place will help you avoid violation of local building codes. Contact your local building department to determine what you need. This will vary based on the type of work you'll be doing. Typical renovations that require a permit include installing new electrical wiring, expanding floor space, installing a fence over six feet tall, and anything that involves a public sewer line. Tasks such as installing a roof, putting in new flooring, painting, and replacing windows and doors usually will not require a permit. Your contractor can help you procure permits. Begin with demolition and trash removal. Remove any trash inside or outside the building. Remove any items that are damaged or that you will be replacing (flooring, cabinets, appliances, light fixtures, toilets, water heaters, etc.) Outside work may include trimming any dead trees or bushes and removing garage doors, fencing, sheds, decks, and siding. Address any roofing or foundation issues. If the property needs new roofing, this should be done before you begin working on any of the interior repairs. You do not want any water leaking into the structure. Slab or block-and-beam foundation repairs must be made at this time as well. Fixing exterior issues first will draw less attention to the property while it is being rehabbed. Install new doors, windows, and trim. Exterior doors and windows should be addressed once the foundation is finished. This will protect your property from weather and the intrusion of animals. New windows and doors will also make the property look less like a construction site. Count the number of doors and windows you will need, and take measurements before you purchase the items. Measure very carefully. New entry doors are a nice way to change the look of a property and add value. Work on the plumbing and the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system (HVAC). Plumbing repairs may include water heaters, tubs and showers, toilets, and water/gas lines. You may need a new HVAC system or repairs to the existing one. The electrical system can be worked on during this time as well. Be careful if installing an outdoor air-conditioning unit before someone is occupying the property full-time. You do not want it to get stolen. Hang and finish the sheet rock (plasterboard). You can either install new sheet rock or repair the existing sheet rock. It is cheaper to repair existing sheet rock. Once you are finished with the sheet rock, you can work on the wall and ceiling texture. Paint the ceiling and walls. Protect the floor with plastic or canvas and use painter's masking tape to protect the areas you don't want painted. Windows and hinges should be covered with tape as well. Chalk or apply spackling to the trim and baseboards before you start painting. Use a primer on the walls before applying the paint. Walls should be cleaned before you start painting. Some painters lightly sand and clean a wall again after the primer is applied. Paint the walls using a V- or W-shaped stroke and avoid using a straight up-and-down motion. Install light fixtures, flooring, and appliances (stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc. ) Lighting is a great way to change the look of a property and is relatively inexpensive compared to other repairs. Flooring may include vinyl or ceramic tile, hardwood, carpet, or laminate. The flooring is installed later in the rehab process to avoid getting paint on the floor and to avoid damage from workers going in and out of the house. Because you want your floors to look fresh when you're finished, you might consider doing the bulk of the interior work before installing flooring. At the very least, try to protect new flooring from heavy foot traffic during the inside work. Add the finishing touches. Once everything is done, go through and examine all of the work that has been done. You may need to touch up paint or do some last-minute adjustments to the plumbing, HVAC, or electrical systems. You should also thoroughly clean the property. A final inspection is a good idea as well. Landscape the property. Begin working at the front, because this is what people will see first. Fences, patios, decks, sidewalks, porches, and driveways should be taken care of first. Once those items are finished, add soil for planting flowers, bushes, etc. The back yard should be addressed last. Determine how much sun your property gets before you buy plants. If there are many trees present, get plants that do not require a lot of sunlight. Speak to someone at a garden center about your ideas, and ask for suggestions about the type of plants that will work best for your property. Consider how much time your landscaping will require. If you do not have a lot of time to devote to the yard, look for low-maintenance options. If your windows are low, plant low-growing shrubs, trees and ground cover instead of taller plants. You do not want to obscure the view. | Inspect the property. Develop a checklist. Create a budget. Work with a contractor. Have a walk-through with the contractor. Get any necessary permits. Begin with demolition and trash removal. Address any roofing or foundation issues. Install new doors, windows, and trim. Work on the plumbing and the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system (HVAC). Hang and finish the sheet rock (plasterboard). Paint the ceiling and walls. Install light fixtures, flooring, and appliances (stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc. Add the finishing touches. Landscape the property. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-when-Your-Vein-Has-Collapsed | How to Know when Your Vein Has Collapsed | To know when your vein has collapsed, look for discoloration, tenderness, or swelling around your injection site. Additionally, inspect the injection site for bruising or note if it feels itchy or sensitive to the touch. If you believe you have a collapsed vein, contact a doctor to discuss treatment options, such as blood thinners to encourage circulation or surgery to repair the damage as much as possible. | Look for changes around the injection site. Common symptoms of a collapsed vein are discoloration, tenderness, and swelling. Monitor the area where the needle was inserted for atypical bruising, discoloration, or sensitivity to touch. A large collapsed vein may also cause extremities such as hands or feet to feel cold, but this is typically more a symptom of a collapsed artery, which is a different and more critical issue. Inspect the injection site. If your vein has collapsed, you'll experience sharp pain at the injection site. The site may also bruise, or appear black and blue. The injection site may also become itchy. Avoid scratching at the injection site. If the injection site begins to itch, this is actually a good sign. While it confirms that the vein was collapsed, the itching indicates that blood is starting to reopen the vein and recirculate. Scratching the itch, however, can interrupt this process and risks permanently damaging the vein. Understand long term effects. Nearly every intravenous drug user will experience a collapsed vein at some point during their drug use. Often, veins will reopen on their own. When they do not, serious, permanent health complications can follow, including inadequate circulation. Ultimately, very little can be done about a collapsed vein. As such, it is vital to focus on preventing your veins from collapsing. Recognize the severity of a collapsed vein. Many collapsed veins cannot heal. Permanent damage can also occur in a very short amount of time. If you believe you have a collapsed vein, contact a doctor or clinic to discuss treatment options. In order to give a vein its best chance to heal, stop injecting into that vein altogether. Ask a medical professional about supplements that may help. Vitamin C and other supplements may help fight inflammation within the veins. That said, no supplement will eliminate the risk of a collapsed vein, nor guarantee that a collapsed vein will fully heal. It's always best to see a medical professional immediately if you believe you may have a collapsed vein. Anticipate medication or surgery. If you are diagnosed with a recently collapsed vein, a doctor may prescribe blood thinners that will help thin your blood and encourage it to circulate. In other cases, they may recommend surgery to repair damaged veins as much as possible. Get help quitting intravenous drug use. The best way to avoid a collapsed vein is to eliminate the behavior that causes them. It can be hard to quit using drugs, especially if you've been using for a while. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you quit. Start by taking the first step and asking for help. Exchange your needles. If you have decided not to quit, there are steps you can take to make intravenous drug use less dangerous. Foremost, find a needle exchange program in your area and use it. Used needles with blunted ends are one of the most common causes of collapsed veins. Do not repeatedly use the same injection site. Collapsed veins are often the result of repeated vein trauma in the same area. Avoid regularly injecting in the same site. Never inject into a site that is visibly swollen or bruised. Avoid injecting into your hand or groin. Veins in your hands are small, and will collapse easily. Similarly, injecting into veins in your groin can cause especially dangerous circulation problems. Clean the area and the needle before injecting. Dirt and other debris can enter your vein and cause irritation that may lead to collapse. Accordingly, wipe down the area you will inject as well as the needle before use. Perform injections slowly and carefully. There are many aspects of non-medical intravenous injections that can be dangerous. For instance, a tourniquet should never be tied too tightly, and a needle must be removed slowly after injecting. | Look for changes around the injection site. Inspect the injection site. Avoid scratching at the injection site. Understand long term effects. Recognize the severity of a collapsed vein. Ask a medical professional about supplements that may help. Anticipate medication or surgery. Get help quitting intravenous drug use. Exchange your needles. Do not repeatedly use the same injection site. Avoid injecting into your hand or groin. Clean the area and the needle before injecting. Perform injections slowly and carefully. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cuban-Coffee | How to Make Cuban Coffee | To make Cuban coffee, start by combining 1 teaspoon of sugar with a serving of coffee grounds. You should use enough coffee to fill the basket of a moka pot. Now, pour the mixture into the basket of a moka pot. Pour water into the lower pot until it reaches the base of the safety valve. Then, screw the parts of the moka pot together and heat it over medium-low heat. Once the pot starts to gurgle, remove it from the heat and pour the coffee into a cup. | Choose your coffee beans. Cuban style coffee is usually a powerful, aromatic Arabica roast, most commonly found abroad from the brands Bustelo, Pilon, and La Llave. If grinding beans yourself for a traditional moka pot, grind to a slightly coarse powder, not as fine as you would for espresso. Fill a moka pot with coffee and water. Traditionally, Cubans make cafecito using a stovetop moka pot, which creates a dark, rich brew similar to espresso. Fill the basket of the moka pot with the coffee and level it off with your finger, but do not tamp it down. Pour water into the lower pot, up to the safety valve. An espresso machine will also work. You can use any coffeemaker in a pinch, but the result won't be as strong as a traditional Cuban coffee. Some brewers like to preheat the water in a kettle to just below boiling. This will extract the coffee faster and prevent the grounds from overheating. Heat over medium-low. Screw the parts of the moka pot together and place it on the stove burner on medium-low heat. Leave the lid open so you can see inside. Measure sugar into a deep cup. The key to Cuban coffee is the foam made from whipping sugar and coffee together, called espuma or espumita. Traditional Cuban families may use as much as 1 to 1½ tablespoons (15–22 mL) sugar per espresso shot (one demitasse cup). Many people nowadays prefer something somewhat less sweet, as low as 1–2 tsp (5–10 mL) sugar instead. Raw sugar is traditional, but granulated white sugar will work fine. Pour the first drops of coffee onto your sugar. As soon as your moka pot releases enough coffee to cover the base, pour just enough onto the sugar to moisten it. It's important to do this right away, so don't let your moka pot out of sight. It's better to add too little coffee than too much. If you end up with a liquid, try again with a new cup. Whip the sugar and coffee together vigorously. Beat the coffee into the sugar with a metal spoon as hard as you can for two or three minutes. At first, this should be a dry, dark paste. As you beat in air, the mixture will become a light caramel color and foam slightly. Pour the rest of the coffee over your mixture. Once your coffee is ready, pour it slowly over the sugar paste. Stir until a brown foam (the espumita ) rises to the top. Pour the coffee carefully into espresso cups, without breaking apart the espumita. You can spoon the foam directly onto each cup to make sure everyone can satisfy their sweet tooth. Serve as desired. Here are a few traditional ways to drink Cuban coffee: Cafecito — black, with no additions besides the espumita Cortadito — blended with an equal amount of milk Cafe con leche — mixed with steamed milk to taste, and sometimes with a little salt and butter Mix coffee grounds with sugar. If you have a moka pot, you can put the sugar directly in with the coffee grounds. This makes a weaker espumita (foam), but it's easy to make in a rush and might caramelize the sugar a little more. For moderate sweetness, use 1–2 tsp (5–10 mL) sugar for each espresso-sized serving of coffee. For extreme sweetness, use 1–1½ tbsp (15–22 mL). The traditional ingredients are dark, Cuban-style roasted beans and raw demerara sugar. Place loosely in the moka pot basket. Do not tamp down the grounds, especially if your moka pot is aluminum. If you pack it too tightly, it can block the steam and cause uneven extraction, or even blow the lid off your pot. Pour in water. Pour water into the base of your moka pot, using preheated water for best results. Pour to the base of the safety valve. Brew as usual. Screw together the parts of your moka pot and heat over medium-low. You'll know your coffee is ready when the moka pot gurgles. | Choose your coffee beans. Fill a moka pot with coffee and water. Heat over medium-low. Measure sugar into a deep cup. Pour the first drops of coffee onto your sugar. Whip the sugar and coffee together vigorously. Pour the rest of the coffee over your mixture. Serve as desired. Mix coffee grounds with sugar. Place loosely in the moka pot basket. Pour in water. Brew as usual. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Maturity-Value | How to Calculate Maturity Value | To calculate maturity value, review the features of your bond or CD to determine your interest rate. Then, use the interest rate to calculate the periodic rate of interest. Once you have all of your data, use the formula V = P x (1 + r)^n, where V is the maturity value, P is the original principal amount, n is the number of compounding intervals from the time of issue to maturity date, and r represents that periodic interest rate. You can also use an online calculator to calculate the maturity value. | Go over the features of a bond. A bond is issued to raise money for some purpose. Corporations issue bonds to raise money to run the business. Government entities, such as a city or state, may issue a bond to pay for a project. A municipality may issue a bond to build a new public swimming pool, for example. Every bond is issued with a specific face amount. The face amount of the bond is the amount an investor receives at maturity. The maturity date of a bond is the date that the issuer must repay the face amount. In some cases, the face amount and all of the interest earned is repaid on the maturity date. All of the details of the bond are listed on a bond certificate. Today, bond certificates are issued in electronic form. Investment professionals refer to this electronic format as book entry form. The face amount and maturity date are listed on the book entry document, along with the interest rate. If you buy a $10,000 6% IBM corporate bond due in 10 years, for example, all of those details will be listed on the electronic bond certificate. Consider the amount that you receive on the maturity date. Most corporate bonds pay interest semi-annually. At maturity, you receive the face amount of the bond. Other debt instruments, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), pay the face amount and all of the interest at maturity. Another term for the face amount is the principal. The formula to calculate interest earned is (principal amount multiplied by interest rate multiplied by time period). The annual interest for the IBM bond is ($10,000 X 6% X 1 year) = $600. If all of the interest was paid at maturity, the first year's interest of $600 would not be paid until the end of 10 years. In fact, each year's interest would be paid at the end of 10 years, along with the face amount (principal). Add in the impact of compounding. Compounding means that the investor earns interest on both the face amount of the debt instrument, and any prior interest earned. If your investment pays all of the interest at maturity, you will probably earn compounding interest on your past interest earnings. The periodic rate is the rate of interest you earn for a particular time period, such as a day, week or month. To calculate compounding interest, you need to determine the periodic rate. Assume that your investment earns 12% interest annually. Your interest compounds monthly. In this case, your periodic rate is (12% / 12 months = 1%). To compound interest, you multiply the periodic rate by the face amount. Use the periodic rate to compute your interest earned. Assume that you own a $1,000 12% certificate of deposit that matures in 3 years. Your CD pays all of the interest at maturity. To compute the maturity value, you need to calculate all of your compounding interest. Say that your CD compounds interest monthly. You periodic rate is (12% / 12 months = 1%). To keep it simple, assume that each month has 30 days. Many investments, including corporate bonds, use a 360-day year to calculate interest. Assume that January is the first month that you own the CD. In month one, your interest is ($1,000) X (1%) = $10. To calculate interest for February, you need to add the January interest to your principal amount. Your new principal amount for February is ($1,000 + $10 = $1,010). In February, you earn interest totaling ($1,010 X 1% = $10.10). You see that your February interest is higher than January's amount by 10 cents. You earn additional interest because of compounding. Each month, you add all of the prior interest to the original $1,000 principal amount. The total is your new principal balance. You use that balance to calculate interest for the next period (a month, in this case). Apply a formula to quickly calculate maturity value. Rather than compute compounding interest manually, you can use a formula. The maturity value formula is V = P x (1 + r)^n. You see that V, P, r and n are variables in the formula. V is the maturity value, P is the original principal amount, and n is the number of compounding intervals from the time of issue to maturity date. The variable r represents that periodic interest rate. For example, consider a 5-year, $10,000 CD compounded monthly. The annual interest rate is 4.80 percent. The periodic rate (the r variable) is (.048 /12 months =.004). The number of compounding periods (n) is calculated by taking the number of years in the security and multiplying by the frequency of compounding. In this case, your can compute the number of periods as (5 years X 12 months = 60 months). The variable n equals 60. The maturity value, or V = $10,000 times (1 +.004)^60. The maturity value V works out to $12,706.41. Search for an online maturity value calculator. Find an online calculator for maturity value using a search engine. Make your search specific to the security you are valuing. If you own a money market fund, for example, type in "money market fund maturity value calculator". Search for a reputable site. The quality and usability of each online calculator tool can vary greatly. Use two different calculators to validate your results. Input your information. Enter the data from your investment or proposed investment into the calculator tool. This will include the principal, annual rate of interest and the duration of the investment. It may also include the frequency of compounding for the investment. Check the result. Make sure that the maturity value makes sense. To verify that the maturity date is reasonable it probably makes sense to confirm the result in another online tool. | Go over the features of a bond. Consider the amount that you receive on the maturity date. Add in the impact of compounding. Use the periodic rate to compute your interest earned. Apply a formula to quickly calculate maturity value. Search for an online maturity value calculator. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Sleep-Talking | How to Stop Sleep Talking | To stop sleep talking, minimize emotional stress, which is one of the most common causes of taking while sleeping. For example, practice yoga or meditation, get massages, or remove the stressors from your life. In addition, do something that relaxes you immediately before you lie down, like taking a warm bath, reading a favorite book, or listening to soothing music. You'll also want to limit late-night alcohol, caffeine, and sugar intake since these substances can disrupt the way your body regulates sleep. Once in bed, try to situate yourself in the same spot and in the same position every night since resting in a different location can cause your brain to be more alert, even after you're asleep. If you still talk in your sleep and it's keeping someone else awake, ask them to speak to you in a calm tone and see if that can help you sink into a deeper sleep. | Minimize emotional stress. Anxiety is one of the most common causes of sleep talking, so reducing your stress levels during the day might be enough to put a stop to your late-night monologues. There are multiple ways to reduce stress in your daily waking life. Removing causes of stress often helps, but when that isn't possible, learn practices to help relax your mind and body. Meditation, yoga, and regular massages are a few such options. Exercise during the day. Moderate physical activity can help regulate your mind and body. Try walking at a brisk pace for 15 to 20 minutes each day. Schedule these walks for the morning, late afternoon, or early evening. Avoid exercising shortly before bed, however. Cardiovascular exercise, in particular, stimulates your circulation and may make you feel more awake for a brief period of time. For that reason, you should exercise no later than one to two hours before your intended bedtime. Regulate your light intake. Spend more of your waking hours in natural, indirect sunlight. Try to soak in at least six to eight hours of daylight on a daily basis. By getting more sunlight during the day, you can help your brain associate “light” with “wakefulness” and “dark” with “sleep.” After several weeks of increased daylight, you may notice yourself feeling more awake during the day and more tired when it's time to sleep. This could lead to deeper, more relaxed sleep, which typically involves less sleep talking. Stop eating before bed. If you're in the habit of eating shortly before going to bed, reduce the amount of food you eat or change your routine altogether. You may need to stop eating as early as four hours before your intended bedtime. If you are unable to completely stop eating before bed, you should at least reduce the amount of food you eat. Heavy meals are more likely to cause problems than light snacks. Adjust your eating schedule as needed to accommodate this difference and determine whether or not it has enough of an impact. Avoid late-night alcohol and caffeine. Both alcohol and caffeine can disrupt normal, healthy sleep, so you should avoid drinking either substance during the evening. More specifically, your last sip of caffeinated coffee and soda should be in the late afternoon, and your last sip of alcohol should be with dinner. You may also need to cut back on other potential stimulants, like sugary foods and drinks. Any substance that could alter the way your body regulates sleep might worsen the problem, even if it isn't directly to blame. This includes substances that make you feel more awake (caffeine and sugar) as well as those that make you feel drowsier (alcohol). Unwind before going to bed. Do something that relaxes you immediately before you lie down. Even if you aren't consciously aware of your stress, there's still some possibility that your body is retaining enough stress to make normal sleeping habits impossible. Take a warm bubble bath or listen to soothing music. Read a relaxing book. Spend time meditating, praying, or cuddling with a loved one. Nearly any activity that causes you immediate relaxation can be a good option. Only use your bed for sleeping. Sleeping is the only thing you should do in your bed. In other words, you should not be lying in bed while reading, watching television, surfing the Internet, or listening to music. By using your bed for nothing but sleep, you effectively train your brain and body to associate your bed with sleep. That makes it easier for you to fall asleep quickly once you lie down, and sleeping faster can lead to deeper, more restful sleep. On a similar note, it also helps to sleep in the same spot on the same bed each night. You may talk more in your sleep if you begin to rest in different locations because your brain will be more "awake" and alert in these new spots. Make your sleeping environment more comfortable. Creating a comfortable sleeping environment can make it easier for your brain to relax, which, in turn, can put an end to sleep talking. As a general rule, you should keep your bedroom as quiet and dark as possible to help facilitate better sleep. If you live in a naturally noisy place, like a dorm room, use a white noise machine to drown out some of the more inconsistent environmental sounds. If you need some form of light, use a small LED night light instead of a bright lamp. Make your bed as comfortable as possible, too. Change the mattress if it's worn out or if it leaves you feeling sore in the morning. Swap out old pillows for new ones that support your neck and head better. If your sheets make you itch, look for softer sheets or check for an allergy to certain fibers. Get enough sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each night. If you aren't getting enough sleep, your mind and body might find it difficult to regulate your body's ability to sleep deeply, which may result in sleep talking and other problems. Ongoing sleep deprivation can also put added stress on your mind and body, and that stress may mean that your brain requires longer, more frequent periods of deep sleep to recover. For that reason, don't expect your sleep talking to vanish after one full night's rest. It could take several days or weeks for your brain to settle into a healthier state. Maintain a regular sleeping schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. Keep the same hours each day—even on the weekends—and avoid staying up late or sleeping in. Your body operates on various patterns, and maintaining those patterns can help regulate its various chemical, hormonal, and physical cycles. The time you go to bed, the time you wake up, and the amount of sleep you get all form the key structure of your sleep pattern. By sticking to a single sleep pattern, you allow your body to more adequately regulate the way it functions during sleep. Instruct listeners to soothe you during an episode. If your sleep talking keeps someone else awake, ask that individual to help you stop by speaking in soothing, comforting tones during an episode. Monitor the results closely. If engaging you while you talk in your sleep soothes you, you'll likely sink into a deeper sleep and the talking should stop. On the other hand, it's also possible that engaging you will cause your mind to remain more wakeful and alert, which could aggravate your sleep talking and make it last longer. Determine when the problem started. Since most people aren't aware of their own sleep talking habits, you'll need to talk to the people who have heard you talking in your sleep. Ask them to think about how long the problem has been going on. If the problem is recent, it most likely has a recent cause. Identifying and eliminating that cause will usually put an end to the sleep talking. Long-term sleep talking is usually harder to get rid of since the cause will be harder to identify. If your current partner or roommate cannot recall a time when you did not sleep talk, ask the people who used to live with you—past roommates, siblings, parents, and so on—if you used to talk in your sleep while you lived with them. More accurately pinning down the start of your problem can lead to a more accurate analysis of what caused it and how to stop it. Investigate any medications you take. Make a list of the prescription and non-prescription medications you take on a regular basis. Research each one and determine if any of them have been linked to sleep talking or other sleep problems. Don't stop taking any prescription medication without first consulting your doctor about it, even if you believe that medicine is responsible for your sleep talking. Even if a certain medication isn't typically linked to sleep talking, you should still mention it to your doctor if your bouts of sleep talking began around the same time you started the medication. There is still some chance that the medication could be connected to the problem somehow. If you're taking recreational drugs, whether legal or illegal, you should also note that they could be involved in the problem, too. Monitor your overall physical and mental health. Sleep talking is often a sign of physical and mental illness. Ask yourself if there are currently any underlying health issues you may need to address. Taking care of those may also end your sleep talking episodes. Even short-term health difficulties can trigger episodes of sleep talking. For instance, you might start talking in your sleep if you have a high fever. The sleep talking usually disappears with the fever in these instances, but if other factors were also involved, it may continue even after the fever breaks. Mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety disorders, can cause sleep talking, too. This is especially true if you have a mental health disorder that hasn't been diagnosed or treated. Once treatment begins, you may notice a decline in the number of sleep talking episodes you experience. Provide your complete medical history. When you visit your doctor, be prepared with a complete record of your personal medical history. Be as thorough and honest as possible. Your doctor may also ask you questions about your family medical history. Sleep disorders often run in family lines, and if you have a close relative with a diagnosed sleep disorder, you might be at a higher risk of experiencing that disorder, too. Keep a sleep diary. Immediately before or after your initial appointment, start keeping a sleep journal to monitor your sleeping habits. After two weeks, review this journal with your doctor to determine if certain patterns might be the cause of your sleep talking. Record the times you go to bed, when you think you fell asleep, and when you woke up. You should also record notes about your daily habits and routines. Make a list of the medications you take and when you take them. Note when you exercise and for how long. Write down what you drink each day and when you drink it. Familiarize yourself with other sleep disorders. On occasion, sleep talking could be a symptom of a more serious sleep disorder, or another sleep disorder might be mistaken for standard sleep talking. Watch for other signs related to sleep disorders to determine if you may have a more severe problem. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is one common cause. If you physically act out your dreams while talking, or if you shout and become violent in your sleep, RBD could be to blame. Night terrors can also be linked to sleep talking. The talking one does while experiencing night terrors will usually be notably extreme, and may involved screaming or thrashing around. People with catathrenia (also known as "nocturnal groaning") don't often speak in audible words during sleep. Instead, they typically make long, loud groaning sounds. Undergo a sleep study. A sleep specialist might use a sleep study or polysomnogram to monitor your mind and body as you sleep. This test may allow the doctor to diagnose sleep disorders responsible for your problem. Under most circumstances, a sleep specialist will use a diagnostic overnight polysomnogram to diagnose problems related to sleep talking. During the test, special equipment will be used to monitor your breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rhythms, and limb movements. Your overall quality of sleep will be monitored, as well. After the test, the sleep specialist assigned to your case will study the recorded results and look for patterns that could be indicative of an underlying sleep disorder. Once a diagnosis is made, an appropriate course of treatment can be devised. | Minimize emotional stress. Exercise during the day. Regulate your light intake. Stop eating before bed. Avoid late-night alcohol and caffeine. Unwind before going to bed. Only use your bed for sleeping. Make your sleeping environment more comfortable. Get enough sleep. Maintain a regular sleeping schedule. Instruct listeners to soothe you during an episode. Determine when the problem started. Investigate any medications you take. Monitor your overall physical and mental health. Provide your complete medical history. Keep a sleep diary. Familiarize yourself with other sleep disorders. Undergo a sleep study. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-the-Square-of-a-Number | How to Find the Square of a Number | To find the square of a number, multiply the number by itself. For example, if you're trying to find the square of 5, you would multiply 5 by 5 and get 25, which is the square. | Learn how to do basic multiplication. When you square a number, you simply multiply the number by itself so it's important to know how to multiply. To make it easier to square commonly used single digits, try to memorize basic times tables. For example, learn how to multiply single digit times tables. Multiply the single digit number by itself. Write down the number you want to square. Remember that when you're squaring a number, you multiply it by the same number, not 2. For example, 5 2 {\displaystyle 5^{2}} is not 5 x 2 = 10. Instead, it's 5 x 5 = 25. Recognize other terms for squaring a number. If you read word problems asking you to square a number, keep in mind that they may also ask you to raise the number to the 2 power or factor. This is just another way of asking you to square the number. You may also see a problem written as 6^2. This is another way of asking you to square 6. Distinguish between squaring and finding the square root. It's easy to get these terms mixed up, but remember that finding the square root of a number is the opposite of squaring a number. Finding the square root means that you're looking for the number that can be multiplied by itself to get the number in the square. For example, 9 2 {\displaystyle 9^{2}} means 9 x 9 = 81 while √9 = 3 because 3 2 {\displaystyle 3^{2}} is equal to 9. Write the problem out. To find the square of a number with more than 1 digit, it will help if you rewrite the problem as a double digit multiplication problem. Start by writing the same number on top of itself. For example, to do 24 2 {\displaystyle 24^{2}} , write 24 x 24. Multiply the number on the bottom ones place by the 1 directly above it. Write a line below the numbers and place the result below the ones space. For example, with 24 x 24, multiply the 4 by 4 to get 16. Write a 6 below the ones space and carry the 1 above the top tens number. Multiply the bottom ones place by the top tens number. Take the same number on the bottom and multiply it by the top tens number. Remember to add the number you carried and write the result below the line. For example, with 24 x 24, multiply 4 by 2 and add the 1 you carried. The result below the line should be 96. Put a 0 under the result and multiply the bottom tens number by the top ones. The 0 will act as a placeholder. Write the result of multiplying the bottom tens number by the top ones number next to the 0. For the 24 x 24 example, multiply 2 by 4. You should now see 80 below the 96. Multiply the bottom tens number by the top tens number. If you carried any numbers, remember to add them to your result. Write the result below the line. To finish multiplying 24 by 24, multiply the 2 by 2 to get 4. The result on this line should be 480. Add the 2 results to get your answer. If you multiplied a number with 3 or more digits, you'll have more lines to add together. Write the answer from your results to show the square of the number. Add 96 + 480 to get the answer for 24 x 24. 24 2 {\displaystyle 24^{2}} = 576. Square the numerator. Multiply the top number of the fraction by itself to find its square. Write the result and place the fraction line below it. For example, with ( / 2 ) , you'd multiply 8 by 8 to get a numerator of 64. Square the denominator. Multiply the bottom number of the fraction by itself. Write the result of this square below the fraction line. So for ( / 2 ) , multiply 2 by 2 to get a denominator of 4. Simplify the result. While you could leave the fraction large or improper, most directions will tell you to simplify or reduce the result. If you have an improper fraction, turn it into a mixed number. For example, ( / 2 ) = ( / 4 ) can be simplified to 16 because 4 goes into 64 16 times. | Learn how to do basic multiplication. Multiply the single digit number by itself. Recognize other terms for squaring a number. Distinguish between squaring and finding the square root. Write the problem out. Multiply the number on the bottom ones place by the 1 directly above it. Multiply the bottom ones place by the top tens number. Put a 0 under the result and multiply the bottom tens number by the top ones. Multiply the bottom tens number by the top tens number. Add the 2 results to get your answer. Square the numerator. Square the denominator. Simplify the result. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Chop-Onions-Without-Tears | How to Chop Onions Without Tears | "To chop onions without tears, first chill the whole onions in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to reduce the acidic, tear-producing enzyme they release when cut. Then, use a very sharp knife to cleanly slice through each onion, since the enzymes are released when the cells are crushed. Chewing gum or a piece of bread may help reduce the effect the tears have on your eyes. If you're still having trouble, try wearing a pair of tight-fitting safety goggles to protect your eyes. " | Use a very sharp knife when cutting onions. The enzymes are released when cells are broken or crushed; using a sharp knife slices through the onion rather than crushing and thus, fewer enzymes are released. Regardless of whether you employ different tactics too, use a sharp knife in every onion-cutting situation. It'll go that much quicker! Chill the onions in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting them. This reduces the amount of the acid enzyme released into the air and has zero effect on taste. This was found to be the most effective way to reduce tears by the television program Food Detectives. The fridge can do it, too; just make sure not to keep them next to apples or potatoes, or leave them in there for too long (20 minutes should do it) -- they can cause odors if you do. Cut the onion under water. This is an effective method, but the problem is that it's a bit difficult to maneuver. In the water, the onion bits go every where unless you hold onto them and then scooping them up and draining out the onion water and it can all just not be worth it if you don't execute it right. If you choose this method, plan out your attack beforehand. Some say to do it under running water, but this is a bit tricky, too, obviously. The gushing water makes everything go a little haywire in your hands. Cut the onion near hot running water or a cloud of steam. Steam from a kettle or pan of water will do the trick. The science here is that the steam will draw out the vapors from the onion, dissipating them. Breathe through your mouth and stick your tongue out. This draws the gas over your wet tongue. The olfactory nerves, which are closely located to the tear duct nerves, will be by bypassed and there will be no tears generated. This is easily confirmed when you forget and breathe through your nose. Instant tears! Soak the onion in water. The enzyme is denatured by the water-air boundary. However, do know that this eliminates some flavor and that the onion is a little more slippery than normal (making it harder to deal with). If milder onions are okay for you, give this method a shot. Point your knife away from the tubes. Because onion "flesh" is tubular in construction, pointing the tubes away from you while cutting will keep the onion from spraying in your eyes. Of course, a breeze of any kind can send the fine, misty spray toward your eyes, so pay attention to air currents too. Turn that fan on -- and point it in the right direction! Whistle while you work. Whistling makes a significant airflow, specifically away from your face, which keeps the onion mist away from your eyes. Just pick a catchy tune that you won't want to stop whistling and you can cut as many onions as you need. Stick a piece of bread in your mouth. Many people report that chewing, especially bread, helps avoid tears when cutting onions. Chew very slowly, letting the bread hang out of your mouth a little. Your mouth will water, which will be a little uncomfortable, but your eyes won't! Others say to chew gum. When an onion is cut, a chemical is released into the air. It irritates the lachrymal glands, causing them to excrete tears. Chewing gum while cutting onions prevents tears by forcing you to breathe through your mouth.Chewing gum before, during or after cutting onions promotes production of saliva. Saliva absorbs the vapors emitted by cut onions, preventing them from condensing on the eye and causing tears. It is best to start chewing gum before starting to cut onions, and to remember to breathe through the mouth while cutting the onion. Wear gas-tight goggles or a mask. If you have a pair of swimmer's goggles or chemistry goggles that fit your face , this is one of your best bets. No onion air will be getting in there! But if they don't fit your face, you're just cutting an onion with weird glasses on, crying all the while. Be wary of the one-size-fits-all onion goggles you can find online. The odds of them fitting aren't 100%. And if you have glasses? You're better off with a different method. next to a strong draught from a fume hood, fan, or window Cut the onion. This is so that the gas is pulled away from your eyes. Get to chopping on your stove and use the vent (be sure to blast it at full power) that comes up above. Or just get next to an open window or get outside and enjoy the breeze. Use some type of acidic solution. An ionic or acidic solution can denature the enzyme. Here's a couple home remedy solutions from around the house: Put vinegar on the chopping board. The acid denatures the enzyme. Soak the onion in salt water. The ionic solution denatures the enzyme. But do know that this can change the flavor. Use the candle method. Light a candle and set it near the cutting board before cutting the onion. The gas released by the onion is drawn into the flame of a candle. Not your best bet, however. Some say it just masks the smell and doesn't actually work. But hey, your kitchen will smell nice! Remember to blow it out after you're finished cutting the onions. | Use a very sharp knife when cutting onions. Chill the onions in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting them. Cut the onion under water. Cut the onion near hot running water or a cloud of steam. Breathe through your mouth and stick your tongue out. Soak the onion in water. Point your knife away from the tubes. Whistle while you work. Stick a piece of bread in your mouth. Wear gas-tight goggles or a mask. next to a strong draught from a fume hood, fan, or window Use some type of acidic solution. Use the candle method. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-a-Problem-in-Your-Ceiling-Fan | How to Diagnose a Problem in Your Ceiling Fan | To diagnose a problem with your ceiling fan, start by flipping the switch to the fan and pulling on the cord that turns on its light. If both the fan and light don't turn on, you might just need to see if the fan's circuit has been tripped. In that case, find your circuit breaker and flip the switch connected to your fan. If the light turns on, but the fan doesn't work, there's most likely an issue with the motor. In that case, head to the circuit boxes and turn the power off to the fan before removing the cover that connects the fan to the ceiling. Once the fan's wires are exposed, check that they are all properly connected and not frayed or burnt. You'll need to contact an electrician if everything looks fine and your fan still doesn't work, as it might have a broken motor. | Locate your circuit breaker box if the fan doesn’t turn on. Pull the chain on your fan and flip the wall switch to turn your fan on. If nothing happens, it could be because the circuit to the fan has been tripped. In this case, you'll need to check the switches in your breaker box. The breaker box has a metal door and can be found in the basement or garage. If you live in an apartment, it might be in a hallway or utility room. If you can, use the wall switch to operate the fan rather than a remote. When the circuit to your fan is tripped, the power to your fan is disconnected. If the fan trips your circuit breaker, other appliances may also not work in your house. Open the breaker box door and look at the black switches. All of the switches should be on and positioned in the same direction. If one of the switches is in the off position, there's a good chance it's the switch connected to your fan. Most breaker boxes will have a diagram that lists the appliances that each switch is connected to. Look for the switch that connects to your ceiling fan or the room that it's in. If your breaker box doesn't have any tripped circuits, the problem could be in the fan's motor or in the wall switch for your fan. Flip the switch on the circuit connected to your fan. Push the black switch to the left, then to the right. Flip the switch on so that it's positioned in the same direction as the other switches in your breaker box. Push the switch to the side all the way until you hear a click. Turn the fan back on and see if it works. Flip the switch on the wall and see if the fan turns on. Resetting the circuit should resume electrical flow to your ceiling fan. If the fan still doesn't come on, the issue could be with your wall switch or the fan's motor. If the circuit regularly trips when you turn the fan on, it could be overloading the circuit and points to a more serious electrical problem. If this is the case, contact an electrician. Purchase a volt reader or multimeter online or at a hardware store. Voltmeters and multimeters are handheld electrical devices that are able to read the electrical current coming from your switch. If there is no current running through your switch, it means that the wiring or switch is faulty and should be replaced. Voltmeters are typically cheaper than multimeters. Unscrew the plate covering the switch for the fan. Wear a pair of rubber gloves when working with the switch so you don't accidentally electrocute yourself. Use a Phillip's head screwdriver to remove the screws in the top and bottom of the plate covering the switch on the wall. Then, slide the plate off to expose the wires inside of the switch. Your switch should have 2-3 wires connected to the wall and a metal "ground" wire hanging from the top of the switch. Unscrew the switch from the wall. Use the screwdriver to unscrew the top and bottom screws that hold the switch in place. Remove any electrical tape that might be holding the switch or the wires in place and pull the switch out from the wall so that you can look at its wiring. Check to make sure that all of the wires running from the wall are properly connected to the switch. Most ceiling fan switches will have 2-3 wires running from the wall to the switch as well as a metal ground wire that's not connected to anything, coming out from the wall. If the wires are disconnected, you'll have to turn off the power from your breaker box and properly connect the switch to the wires in your wall. Hold one probe against the bottom contact on the side of the switch. Flip the switch to the fan to the off position. Then, turn on your voltmeter or multimeter on and hold one of the probes against the black metal screw, or contact, on the side of the switch. The black metal screw is the power that's running to the switch. If you're using a multimeter, remember to set the device to volts. Hold the other probe against the metal wire and read the display. Place the other wire against the metal wire. The display should read around 120V. If it doesn't read anything, it means that there is no power running to your switch and your switch is faulty or your wiring is damaged. Test the top contact on the switch. Remove the probe from the bottom screw and place it against the top screw. Then, take the other probe on your voltmeter or multimeter and hold it against the ground wire again. The top switch should also read 120V. If you aren't getting any volts coming into either screw, it could mean that the wiring connected to the switch is faulty. Test the red wire on the other side of the switch if you have one. Hold one probe against the ground wire and the other probe to the contact connected to the red wire on the opposite side of the switch. Again, this should read 120V. If the wires are connected and you're getting a 0 voltage reading on the switch, contact an electrician to check your wiring. Some ceiling fans will have a 2-part switch while others will have a 3-part switch. Flip the switch and measure the volts from the switch again. Turn the switch on and test the screws on the side of the switch again. If you have a 2-part switch, one of the screws should be showing 120V while the other screw should be reading 0V. If this isn't the case, you know the problem is with the switch itself and you should buy and install a replacement. If you have a 3-part switch, the red contact should still read 120V when the switch is flipped off. If it doesn't, it means that the switch is bad and you need to install a new one. Turn the fan’s lights on, if it has them. Flip the switch and pull the fan chord that controls the lights to the fan. If the lights turn on but the fan doesn't work, there is most likely an issue with the fan's motor. If the lights and fan both don't turn on, then it's possible the fan isn't receiving power. Make sure that the light bulbs in the fan aren't burnt out by replacing them with new ones. Turn off the power from the fan at the circuit box. Go to the breaker box in your home and flip the switch to the circuit that's connected to your fan to the off position. This will cut power to the fan and prevent you from being electrocuted while you examine the motor and the wiring. Remove the ceiling fan cover with a screwdriver. The cover is the portion that connects the fan to the ceiling. Unscrew the screws holding the fan in place and carefully lower the cover to expose the fan's wires. Check that the ceiling fan wires are properly connected. The ceiling fan should have 3-4 wires running from the fan to your ceiling. Make sure that all the wires are properly connected and not damaged. If you notice frayed or burned wires, it means that the wiring is bad and needs to be fixed or replaced. If wires are disconnected, you'll have to properly re-install the ceiling fan. Contact an electrician if the fan still doesn’t turn on. If all the wires are connected and undamaged and you've checked the breaker box and wall switch but the fan still doesn't work, it could mean that your motor is broken or that you've blown a capacitor in it. In this case, you'll need to contact an electrician or your fan's manufacturer to help replace or repair the fan's motor. Tighten the screws on the fan if it’s noisy. Use a ladder to reach the fan blades and tighten all of the screws connecting the blades to the fan itself with a Phillip's head screwdriver. Then, tighten the screws on the motor cover and any other screws that connect the fan to the ceiling. This should get rid of any clicking noises coming from the fan. Make sure that all the lightbulbs in the fan are also fully screwed in. Sometimes a fan will sound noisy or make a clicking noise if the components aren't seated properly due to loose screws. Replace the pull chain if the fan is stuck on one speed. To fix a broken pull chain, remove the cover to the motor with a screwdriver to expose the wires in the fan. Then, manually unscrew the fastener holding the chain in place and pull the chain through the hole from the inside of the motor. If the chain has broken off, you can purchase a replacement online or from a hardware store. If the chain isn't broken but doesn't change the speed of the fan when you pull it, it could mean that the internal chain switch is broken. If the chain switch is broken, you can get a replacement switch online or from a hardware store. Take note of the wires connecting the motor to the switch and connect those same wires to the new switch. Remember to turn off the power at the breaker box and get some help if you're not familiar with working with electrical equipment. Tighten the screws in the fan bracket if the fan is wobbly. If the fan wobbles, it could mean that the bracket connecting the fan to the ceiling is loose. To fix it, use a Phillip's head screwdriver to remove the cover to the fan bracket. Then, tighten the screws connecting the hanger ball to the fan as well as the screws connecting the fan bracket to the ceiling. A wobbling fan may also be a sign of improper installation or warped fan blades. If you believe that this is the case, hire an electrician to come and look at your ceiling fan. Sometimes, fans are installed with the wrong electrical box or with the wrong bolts. Balance the blades if the fan still wobbles after you’ve tightened the screws. You can purchase a balancing kit online or from a hardware store, or you can do it yourself using coins. Tape a coin to the center of a fan blade and turn the fan on high. Repeat the process on each blade until you notice that the wobble has lessened. Once you figure out which blade needs to be balanced, tape 2-3 quarters to that blade to make it heavier. This may stop the wobble from your fan. | Locate your circuit breaker box if the fan doesn’t turn on. Open the breaker box door and look at the black switches. Flip the switch on the circuit connected to your fan. Turn the fan back on and see if it works. Purchase a volt reader or multimeter online or at a hardware store. Unscrew the plate covering the switch for the fan. Unscrew the switch from the wall. Hold one probe against the bottom contact on the side of the switch. Hold the other probe against the metal wire and read the display. Test the top contact on the switch. Test the red wire on the other side of the switch if you have one. Flip the switch and measure the volts from the switch again. Turn the fan’s lights on, if it has them. Turn off the power from the fan at the circuit box. Remove the ceiling fan cover with a screwdriver. Check that the ceiling fan wires are properly connected. Contact an electrician if the fan still doesn’t turn on. Tighten the screws on the fan if it’s noisy. Replace the pull chain if the fan is stuck on one speed. Tighten the screws in the fan bracket if the fan is wobbly. Balance the blades if the fan still wobbles after you’ve tightened the screws. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Pose-Like-a-Model | How to Pose Like a Model | To pose like a model, stand in a natural position with your shoulders slightly slouched and your head held high for a relaxed and comfortable look. Additionally, position your body so that each side is doing something different. For example, dip one shoulder lower while bending your leg on your other side. Then, position your face so that it's tilted slightly away from the camera and try looking in different directions for a more flattering look. You should also turn your body a quarter turn away from the camera instead of facing it head-on to look taller and slimmer. | Slouch a little, but hold your head high. There are a few times when you'll need to throw your shoulders back for a shot, but generally, a little slouch makes your pose look natural and relaxed. That doesn't mean you should hunch over (although this will work with some high fashion shots). If you're standing, put uneven weight on your feet, and the leg with less weight will naturally bend a little. You'll look more comfortable and your posture will appear more natural. Don't slouch so much, though, that it makes your stomach look bigger. By "slouch," we mean "be natural." Most people aren't aware they're slouching when they are, so don't take your natural slouch and multiply it. Think casually, but with your head high. You want to elongate your neck as much as possible. Imagine a string holding up your forehead. Be strong from head to toe. Your entire body needs to have life to it. Think of a dancer -- not a single part of her body isn't engaged while she's dancing, even if she's standing in position. No part of you should be a limp noodle! Start by engaging your core (this will help suck you in, too) and then engage your limbs. "Strong" doesn't mean aggressive or masculine in this context -- it just means with conviction or with energy. You want to convey a feeling through the camera, after all! Be asymmetrical. For a more interesting shot, make sure that you're doing something different with each side of your body. You can be dramatic and do something totally different with each of your limbs and tilt your head to the side, if it matches the feel of the shoot. Being asymmetrical can be as simple as dipping one shoulder or hip, making sure that your arms are at different heights, or bending one leg a little (or a lot) more than the other. Remember: You're part of a picture. This photo isn't about how gosh dang pretty you are -- it's about the aestheticism of the photo. Even with the best make-up and hair in the world, if you don't create pleasing angles, the photo won't be as stellar as it could be. Point your nose away from the camera. Looking at the camera straight on can work in some dramatic shots, but generally it's better to put your face at an angle, and look at the camera from that angle. Tilt your nose a little up or down, a little left or right, but keep your gaze on that camera. Learn which angles flatter your face the most. Do you have a great jawline? Tilt your head up and to the side a little. Experiment in front of a mirror or with your own camera to see which angles make the most interesting shots on your face. Know which direction the light is coming from. Remember that light will cast shadows, and even if they are slight, they will affect the appearance of your face. If light is coming from the top, tilting your nose down may cause your browbone to cast a shadow over your eyes, which is good if you're going for a sinister shot, but not good if you're trying to look friendly. Look everywhere. While an interesting shot can be had by looking at the camera, you have many more options if you look elsewhere. What's going on over there? Is she staring in the mirror? Does she see a leprechaun? Is she talking to the Queen of England? Everyone will want to know. Be careful of the clichéd, staring-off-into-the-distance look. At best you'll look existential and at worse you'll look like you're trying to be existential by staring off into the distance. Use this gaze minimally. Quarter out. Kinda like the last tip just eluded to, quartering out will make you look as slim as possible. Is she facing forward? Is she facing to the side? Just how wide is her waist? NO ONE WILL KNOW. Stick to a 3/4 angle to appear the slimmest. Going head-on into anything will make you the most vulnerable and exposed (that goes for real life, too!). If you quarter out, which side is your good side? Emphasize that one to get the best photo. Remember your hands. Possibly the most awkward part of modeling is knowing what to do with your hands. They're just there hanging awkwardly. If you stay engaged head to toe, though, hopefully you'll find poses that feel right, that make sense. The only thing you should not do, is put them around your face. Hello, bad 1980s glamour shot! A good rule of thumb is to show the side of your hand. This creates the longest, thinnest line extending from your arm. It also avoids the are-my-hands-aging fear and the do-my-palms-look-funny worry. Have the "perfect smile". There is an art to posing with a perfect smile and most good models know how to do this naturally. It is a smile that is halfway between the biggest smile you can make and no smile at all. The lips are slightly parted and only the upper teeth are showing. The smile is considered a "gentle smile." The result should look pleasant and relaxed. Generally, smiling will lift the cheeks and narrow the eyes. So, try to relax your eyes so that they are opened and the whites are showing. This may take some practice in front of a mirror to isolate the different muscle groups; however, it will be worth the effort. Whether you are a model or someone just looking to improve your portraits, mastering the perfect smile can make major improvements to your shots. Create an intensity. Being a deer in headlights or just plain looking bored is not an interesting statement on non-conformity, a new take on the materialism of the fashion industry, or at all endearing. It's just awkward. When your image is captured, you have to feel something the camera can catch. It'll depend on the shoot, but whatever it is, create it. Feel it. Reek of emotion. The only non-abstract way to put this is to use your eyes. It's super easy to smile with only your mouth or do a pose with your body and forget that your face doesn't match. If you're unsure what you should be feeling, how is your body cuing you? Are you strong and confident? Are you happy and carefree? As Tyra says, "Smize!" Translation: smile with your eyes. Be tasteful. In some of the clothes you might choose to wear, it would be easy to feel a little naughty. Regardless of what you're wearing (in most circumstances), it's best not to look predatory. A good model should be about sophistication and class. Even if you're in a teeny bikini, think casually. Your body will emphasize your beauty enough -- your face and pose don't have to, also. Mix it up constantly. You should be changing poses roughly every three seconds. A photographer will not want to waste time taking the same photo over and over and over. Even if you're unsure that you look good, go for it! You'll get a lot of options to choose from when you're done -- some of them are bound to look great. Feel free to go a little crazy. If your poses are unique, you'll be memorable. Keep the techniques you know (working in angles, etc.), but switch them up with minute variations. And a little can go a long way. Hide your flaws. Everybody has 'em. Even size 000, 7 ft tall Dutch models have 'em. Odds are you're aware of them, too! The good news is that there is surely a way to hide them (not that they're not wonderful -- just not ideal for the camera). If you put your hands on your hips, it'll create the illusion of a smaller waist. The holes between your arms and body create a background that removes emphasis from that area. Do this in real life, too! Keep your chin up to reduce your forehead. (The opposite goes for big chins!) Not only will keeping your chin appear strong and hide your forehead, but it'll also elongate your neck. Turn a knee in to get slimmer hips. Oh, that elusive thigh gap that most women don't have. But if you turn your knee in, it'll help you get there. And your hips will look smaller! If you turn your body to the side, but square your shoulders, your hips will look a lot smaller. It's like you're facing forward, but you only get the majority of your hips. Practice. Get a digital camera, set up a tripod, and take thousands of shots. Since viewing the shots on your computer screen costs nothing, there's really no excuse not to practice. You should know which poses work for you and which don't.. Learn which poses flatter which parts of your body. Become familiar with which poses work with various types of clothing; some poses emphasize the clean lines of a power suit, while others emphasize the flow of a gown. Practice with props like a chair, or holding objects (a vase, a rope, a beach ball, whatever - be creative !). You never know what you'll be asked to do! Study. Look at magazines and brochures with a critical eye. Make note of how the model is posing: What is she doing with her hands, limbs, head, eyes, lips? What emotion does the pose convey? Find your favorite model and analyze her. How does she walk? How does she hold herself in general? What are her go-to poses? While you don't want to be a mimicry, do pay attention to her habits to get you started. Listen to your photographer. A good photographer will offer feedback and hopefully be quite frank, telling you what to do so they can get the shot they want. Be cooperative and gracious (and graceful!). Don't allow yourself to get nervous, or else you will tense up and look stiff. Relax into each pose and connect with the camera. Take into consideration the type of shoot you're doing. If it's fashion modeling, you'll probably be asked to take on those angular, avant-garde poses that look a little strange and forced. If it's commercial modeling, you'll want to look casual and everyday. Think a Jean Paul Gaultier ad versus an ad for Aveeno. Breathe. Sometimes when we concentrate, or when we're nervous, we slow or speed up our breathing dramatically. You might even find yourself holding your breath for a shot. Remain conscious of your breathing; keep it normal and relaxed. This step is super important. Your breathing can actually determine your mood, thus determining your poses. If you breathe quickly, that cues your body that you're ready for fight or flight -- imagine what you'll pose like when those thoughts are racing through your subconscious! Don't worry your look. Some designers have pretty ridiculous visions that may leave you thinking something along the lines of, "I look like Lucille Ball just rolled out of bed and got attacked by a reindeer." Well, that's what they were going for apparently, so you've no choice but to rock it. Put it aside. You're still you. You've still got it. Remember how we said before that you are one part of an image? The photo is about you, sure, but it's also about the clothes you're wearing, the backdrop, and the feel of the photo. If you don't like your makeup, hair, or outfit, model through it. You've still got the smile, the poses, and the techniques. Visualize a motivation or feeling. This may help you capture the emotion that you need for a shot. If the photographer is looking for a melancholic shot, for example, imagine a melancholic episode from your life. You may find that you're better able to channel your "inner melancholia" that way. If visiting your own past hits a little too close to home, think of the plot of an applicable movie and put yourself into the actress' shoes. The thought process should take over your face and body, creating an intensity for the photo. | Slouch a little, but hold your head high. Be strong from head to toe. Be asymmetrical. Point your nose away from the camera. Look everywhere. Quarter out. Remember your hands. Have the "perfect smile". Create an intensity. Be tasteful. Mix it up constantly. Hide your flaws. Practice. Study. Listen to your photographer. Breathe. Don't worry your look. Visualize a motivation or feeling. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Give-a-Girl-Space | How to Give a Girl Space | If a girl you're seeing asks for some space, do your best to honor her request and remember that spending time apart can often bring couples closer together. Give her space by avoiding texting or calling her, and wait until she initiates a conversation with you. When you're not spending time with your girl, enjoy your own life by reconnecting with friends and family members. You can also spend your time getting caught up on work or working on a new hobby or interest. | Honor her request. Though it may be difficult, it is important that you honor her request for space. Avoid initiating contact constantly or asking to hang out. Give her some space to miss you and work on enjoying yourself away from her. Define “space” in your relationship. Once she asks for space, however, you can define what that means and looks like in your relationship. Perhaps she is studying for exams and just needs a bit of time away from you to focus. Maybe she is beginning to feel that she is losing herself in the relationship and wants more permanent space so she can still explore her own interests and identity. Figure out the timeline and parameters of this space to see if you can be comfortable with it. Suggest that the two of you don't text during the day but do one phone call per night. See how often she wants to see you in person. Check in every so often. You are probably used to speaking to her very often throughout the day and it can be hard to go without that communication. However, don't reach out more than once per day except when absolutely necessary. It's okay to answer her calls and texts, but don't be the first to initiate every time. Call a friend when you want to call her, go for a run or create some other distraction for yourself. Avoid social media for a bit. If she posts to social media very often, consider deactivating your accounts for a bit so that you don't feel tempted to talk to her during this time. If you would still like to utilize social media, consider unfollowing her while she needs space. Consider unfollowing her friends, as well. Practice positive self-talk. You might be feeling a bit down in the dumps because of this new change in your relationship. However, you can counter this negativity through speaking positively and constructively to yourself during this time. Don't allow your confidence to tank just because she needed some space. You might repeat things to yourself like “I am awesome,” “Everything will be alright,” or “I do not need to speak to her right now.” Consider also addressing yourself by name in these mantras. Say “Josh, it's all going to be okay” to yourself when you're having a hard time. Spend time with friends and family. Though it might be a bummer to you that she needs space, use this time to have a little fun. There is no need to sit around and sulk when you have plenty of other people to hang out with. Visit your family, go out with friends, and make plans for the future. Avoid talking to other girls during this time. Though the two of you are taking space, if you are not in an open relationship, or if you did not agree to see other people, then honor her and remain true to her. Focus on work. This space provides you with the perfect amount of new free time to really buckle down on the job. Consider taking on some new projects, doing some overtime, or helping out a coworker with an assignment. This is a great way to use this space constructively to improve your craft and career. Plan out your time. If you were spending a lot of time with her before, you may find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands. Avoid sitting around doing nothing, and instead fill your time with fun activities, hobbies, or even with television shows or movies that you've been wanting to see. Consider asking her out on a date once per week at least so that you two do not grow apart. Take care of yourself. During this time, don't allow yourself to forget to take care of your body and mind. Hit the gym with some friends or go for a run around the block. Get a haircut and maybe even buy some new clothes. Eat healthy and keep your environment neat. Try new things. Perhaps there are some things that you've been wanting to try lately that she wasn't into. Whether it be that new Indian place down the street or riding horses, begin to explore all of your new interests. Developing these outside of your relationship is healthy and will strengthen your dynamic. She may eventually want to try these things with you. Reflect on the relationship. Space is not effective unless some reflection is done during the process. Think of what you may have done to prompt her need for space and assess whether or not you can prevent doing so in the future. If the space was not prompted by you, think about her life at the moment and what she might be needing. The space could have little or nothing to do with you, so don't take it too personally. Reconnect more consistently when the time is right. Once she has a bit more free time or she is reaching out to you on a more consistent basis, check in with her and see if she is still looking for space from you. If not, spend some time together. And if she does need more time, give her that for as long as you can. You might say something like “I wanted to see if you still needed some space from the relationship. It's okay if you do, but I wanted to check in before I started contacting you more frequently.” Find a way to be happy mutually. Ask her if she had any moments of clarity during this time of space, if she enjoyed it, and if she would like to make it more permanent. Tell her what you learned as well and reaffirm your commitment to the relationship if you still feel that way. Talk about ways to avoid needing space in the future or ways to provide more alone time. For instance, perhaps you had been going out with her and her friends when they would have dinner or go to the movies. See if she would like that time with them alone, instead. Let the relationship go if need be. After the two of you have taken a bit of space from one another, you might both find that you enjoy your time apart more than you do your time together. Though this can be a sad realization, know that it is time to move forward separately. Let go of the relationship and wish her the best. | Honor her request. Define “space” in your relationship. Check in every so often. Avoid social media for a bit. Practice positive self-talk. Spend time with friends and family. Focus on work. Plan out your time. Take care of yourself. Try new things. Reflect on the relationship. Reconnect more consistently when the time is right. Find a way to be happy mutually. Let the relationship go if need be. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Physicist | How to Become a Physicist | Becoming a physicist can take a long time, but you can get started on the career path by meeting educational requirements and honing your scientific and analytical skills. If you're still in high school, get good grades in all of your classes, not just math and physics, so you will look appealing to colleges. If you're struggling to maintain your grades, don't be afraid to ask a teacher for help. After high school, earning a bachelor's degree in physics will be enough to land a job, but consider pursuing a master's degree or Ph.D. so you can land higher-paying positions. In addition to academics, volunteer in physics labs to gain research experience. Work on your communication skills with English classes as well, since being a physicist require explaining your work to the world. | Get good grades in all your subjects in high school. Getting good grades in all your subjects in high school, not just physics and math, will help you get into the best colleges. Make sure you attend all of your classes and turn in all of your homework. Good attendance and making sure you turn in all of your homework will help you get better grades. If you're struggling with any of your subjects, ask your teacher for extra help. Earn a bachelor’s degree in physics. If you're sure that you want to be a physicist, major in physics as an undergraduate, and focus on your studies to maintain a high GPA in both your physics major and in all your college courses. Students usually have to declare their majors in their sophomore (second) year of college Having a high GPA, not only in just your physics major but in all your classes, makes you a stronger candidate when either applying for graduate schools or going directly into the workforce after college. Consider getting a master’s degree in physics. While nearly 50% of physics majors go directly into the workforce after getting a bachelor's degree, often the best and highest paying career options in physics require a graduate degree. While you sometimes might be able to teach physics at the high school level with just a bachelor's degree, a master's degree is necessary to teach at the junior college level. Some high schools even require a master's degree to teach physics at their schools. In addition to greater work opportunities in the educational sector, those with master's degrees in physics have more career opportunities open to them in the private sector and government as well. Get a PhD in physics to obtain the most prestigious positions. A PhD is required for those who want to be a physics professor at a 4-year college or university or for those who wish to obtain the most illustrious physics research positions. While there are job opportunities in both the government and private sectors for physicists with bachelor's degrees and master's degrees, the most respected and well-paying physics research positions in the government or private sectors often require a PhD. It's often free to obtain a PhD in physics for graduate students who teach or do research. In addition to free tuition, graduate students in physics who teach or do research also receive a modest stipend of around $12,000 per year or more to cover their living expenses. Conduct research in physics. Having research experience in your field helps improve the skills necessary to becoming a successful physicist and makes you a more attractive candidate when either applying for graduate schools or going directly into the workforce after college. To obtain research experience, ask your physics professors if they have any research projects on which you can assist them. Contact physicists who work in private industry or in the government and ask them if you can volunteer to help them with any projects they're working on. Also consider applying for the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. More information about applying can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5517&from=fund. Develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Your analytical and problem-solving skills will be developed in both your physics coursework and in your physics research, but seek out other opportunities to further develop these important skills whenever you can. Take other science classes besides just physics. Exposing yourself to other sciences will open your mind to new ways of analyzing and solving problems. If your college has a Physics Club, join it. There you'll enjoy the benefits of expanding your analytical and problem-solving skills outside the classroom, while also socializing with others who are interested in physics, too. Hone your communications skills. While you'll be taking many physics, math, and science courses in college, also take classes and explore other opportunities that will improve your speaking, writing, and interpersonal skills. As a physicist, not only do you need strong science and math skills, but you also need solid speaking and writing skills in order to teach physics to others, present your research at conferences, and publish your research in scientific journals. Some classes that you might want to consider taking include English literature, business management, oral communication, and scientific writing. Search for open positions in physics. Search general job sites like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn as well as physics-specific sites like https://jobs.physicstoday.org/ to find positions that interest you and that you are qualified for. To find job openings for physicists in the federal government, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/. Sometimes physics conferences also sponsor job fairs that can connect physics job seekers and hiring managers on the spot. Check out https://www.aps.org/careers/employment/jobfairs/index.cfm for the latest physics job fair information. Apply for physics jobs in the private sector, government, or academia. Jobs in physics are typically in one of these three areas. And on any given day, you can find physicists in these sectors working on exciting projects involving robotics, climate forecasting, space exploration, inventing new medical instruments and treatments, and exploring novel ways to generate power.. Physics jobs in the private sector consist of industrial jobs in private labs. Private sector industrial jobs often consist of physics research on lasers, semi-conductors, and computers. Physicists who go into government jobs often find themselves working in a national laboratory, and they're either research scientists or technicians/engineers for a variety of projects having national interest. Academic jobs consist of teaching and/or research at the high school, college, or university level. If you enjoy teaching physics, you should consider a career in academia, but be aware that jobs at the college and university level are very scarce and difficult to obtain. There are many more job openings for teaching physics at the high school level. Continue your professional development. Scientific knowledge is always changing, so as a physicist it's important to stay up to date on the latest news and trends in physics. Join a professional association to help keep your knowledge and skills fresh. Some professional associations that you may want to consider becoming involved in, depending on your specific interests, include the American Physical Society (APS), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPS), and the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Professional associations provide you with access to key publications in physics and opportunities to network with other physicists. | Get good grades in all your subjects in high school. Earn a bachelor’s degree in physics. Consider getting a master’s degree in physics. Get a PhD in physics to obtain the most prestigious positions. Conduct research in physics. Develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Hone your communications skills. Search for open positions in physics. Apply for physics jobs in the private sector, government, or academia. Continue your professional development. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Comfort-Your-Friend | How to Comfort Your Friend | To comfort your friend, listen intently to what they have to say and let them vent. Keep your advice to yourself unless your friend asks for it so they don't feel like you're brushing their feelings aside. Instead, just let your friend know that you're there for them and that their feelings are justified. Offer to help in whatever way you can so that your friend knows you're there if they need you. | Gauge how upset your friend is. Comfort your friend according to how upset they seem to be. If they seem to be very troubled, it may take more effort on your part to help them. If something is bothering them, but they aren't too upset, be there for them without overreacting. You might upset your friend further if you overreact or under-react to their problem, so use their behavior as your guide for how to proceed. Find out what’s wrong. Before you say anything, try to figure out what the problem is. This will help you know what to say and what not to say. If you try to talk to your friend without knowing the situation first, you could end up with your foot in your mouth. Say something like, “What's going on?” or, “Do you want to tell me what happened?” If your friend is too upset to talk, don't push them for an explanation. Just stay with them until they calm down. Your presence will be comforting, even if you don't say much. Give your friend a hug. A kind touch will do wonders for your friend, even if you don't know what they're upset about. You can also put your arm around your friend or pat them gently on the shoulder. If your friend doesn't like hugs, don't force one. Just sit near them and keep them company. Say something like, “I'll just sit here with you.” Let your friend vent. If your friend needs to get their sadness or anger out, let them. Pay attention and don't interrupt. Encourage them to express themselves fully. For instance, you could say, “Tell me more about that,” or, “How does that make you feel?” During pauses, you might add something like, “I'm listening.” Just listen. Your friend needs someone to listen compassionately to them right now, so focus on doing that. Be patient and non-judgmental. Encourage them to keep talking as long as they need to. Don't act bored or try to change the subject. Put your phone on silent mode so you and your friend won't be interrupted. If you need to get to an appointment or you're not in a good environment to talk, gently let your friend know by saying something like, “I think we should talk somewhere else,” or, “Can we continue this later? I need to go somewhere, but I'll be back as soon as I can.” Make sure your friend understands that you really do want to listen to them. Empathize with your friend. Try to put yourself in your friend's shoes, and let your friend know that you understand their emotions. Say something like, “That sounds so hurtful,” or, “You must feel really disappointed.” Don't say “I know how you feel” to someone who's upset, since that can seem dismissive. Show your empathy by naming specific emotions instead. Affirm your friend’s feelings. Validate your friend's emotions to help them feel less alone. Say something like, “It's okay to be angry about this,” or, “Anyone in your shoes would feel betrayed right now.” Ask your friend what they need. If you don't know how to help your friend, ask. Tell them that you want them to feel better and you're willing to do whatever they need. Say something like, “What do you need from me right now?” or “How can I help?” Offer your help. Some people don't like asking others for favors or support. If your friend is like this, take the initiative so they don't have to ask. Offer to get together again soon, or plan an activity that might help cheer them up. For instance, say, “I'll call you when I get home tonight, OK?” or “Do you want to meet up for lunch tomorrow?” Don’t feel like you have to talk. If your friend isn't talking much, don't feel pressured to fill in the silences, especially if nothing you say will make the situation better. Just sitting quietly with your friend will help them feel supported. Tell your friend it's OK to cry if they need to. Sometimes crying is more cathartic than talking. Avoid trivializing your friend’s pain. Don't dismiss your friend's feelings or resort to using clichés, even if you don't know what to tell them. Saying something like, “Everything happens for a reason,” or, “Come on, it's not so bad,” will only make your friend feel worse. Take their sadness seriously and, if you don't know what to say, stay quiet. Tone down your positivity. Avoid reassuring your friend that everything will be fine, and don't compliment them in an effort to cheer them up. When someone is feeling down in the dumps, telling them to look on the bright side won't help, and compliments may just seem empty and fake. If your friend is upset about failing at something, it may be okay to remind them of their strengths in other areas. Don't overdo it, though, and stay far away from false praise. For instance, if your friend is upset about not getting into the college they wanted to attend, you could reassure them that they're a great student and they aren't defined by which college they go to. Don't say they're the best student in school if they're not, though. Keep the conversation focused on your friend. Avoid talking about yourself and your own problems, even if you've faced similar issues as your friend. Derailing the conversation with a story about yourself won't solve your friend's problems – it will just make them feel like you aren't listening to them. Keep the advice to yourself. You can't solve your friend's problems for them, as much as you might want to. Offering advice might also make your friend feel like you're brushing their feelings aside. Focus on helping them feel understood and supported instead. It's fine to offer advice if your friend asks for it. Just don't push your ideas on them when they're feeling miserable. | Gauge how upset your friend is. Find out what’s wrong. Give your friend a hug. Let your friend vent. Just listen. Empathize with your friend. Affirm your friend’s feelings. Ask your friend what they need. Offer your help. Don’t feel like you have to talk. Avoid trivializing your friend’s pain. Tone down your positivity. Keep the conversation focused on your friend. Keep the advice to yourself. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Breed-Danios | How to Breed Danios | To breed danios, start by separating the females from the males, who are typically skinnier with more vibrant colors. Next, feed your danios high-quality live food, such as daphnia, bloodworm, and mosquito larvae. In 1-2 weeks, you should notice your females growing rounder, which indicates they're developing a lot of roe and are ready to breed. Set up your breeding tank, which should be 5-10 gallons, have a filter with an airstone, and be 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, move your danios into the breeding tank, and typically your danios will breed in the first 24 hours. | Separate male and female danios. Start the breeding process by making sure you can tell the difference between your male and female danios. Male danios are normally skinnier than their female counterparts, and their colours are usually more vibrant. If the females have started to produce roe (eggs), they'll look chubbier. Once you've sexed your danios, place the males and females into separate tanks to prepare them for breeding. If you're having a hard time sexing your danios before they've been conditioned, you may need to feed them premium live food for a couple of days before you'll be able to tell them apart. Once you can tell them apart, separate the males from the females. Feed your danios high-quality live food. While your male and female danios are in their own tanks, feed them high-quality live food. Live foods for danios include daphnia, bloodworm, and mosquito larvae. You should be able to find live food at most aquarium stores. Continue this process for 1 to 2 weeks before attempting to breed your danios. If you are unable to obtain live food, you can use frozen food as an alternative. You should notice the female danios grow rounder as they're being conditioned! This is a great indication that they're developing a lot of roe and are ready to breed. Set up a breeding tank while you wait. After 1 to 2 weeks of conditioning, your adult danios will be ready to breed. In order to be prepared, set up your breeding tank during the first week of conditioning. Your breeding tank can be between 5 and 10 gallons and should contain a filter with an airstone (to help prevent the eggs from being sucked into the filter). If you use tap water for the tank, make sure to add a water dechlorinator to the water. Add a heater to the tank and keep the temperature between 72F and 82F. Choose between the marble method, the breeder net method, or the spawning mop method for the configuration of your breeding tank. Once you know what configuration method you want to use, you'll know how much water needs to be put in the tank. Move your danios to the breeding tank. Once 1 to 2 weeks have passed, move your danios to the breeding tank you've set up. It is best to partner 2 males for every 1 female you move over. Normally danios will breed within 24 hours of being placed in the breeding tank. If they do not, leave them for another 24 hours. If 48 hours pass with no spawning, put your danios back in their separate conditioning tanks for a little longer, and continue to feed them live food. Try breeding the danios again in another week or so. Spawning simply means the female danios have laid eggs and the male danios have fertilized the eggs. Since you can't tell if the eggs are fertilized, the best thing to do is watch for eggs at the bottom of the tank. Once you see eggs, you know your danios have spawned and you can move the adults back to their regular tanks. Remove the adult danios once they’ve spawned. Once you see danio eggs in the breeding tank, remove the adult danios and put them back in their regular tanks. If you used a breeder net, removal will be very easy. If you used the marble or mop methods, you'll need to use a fish net to capture the danios in order to move them. Since adult danios will always try to eat the eggs of their young, it is always a good idea to remove the adults from the tank with the eggs. The baby danios aren't really safe from the adults until they're all about the same size. Once your baby danios have reached adult size, you can put the “sons” with the “fathers” and the “daughters” with the “mothers”. Although, for genetic purposes, you may want to keep track of the different generations if you are planning to breed them again. Use marbles to create a safe place for the eggs. One method that will help protect danio eggs is to place a 2-inch layer of glass marbles at the bottom of a 5 to 10 gallon aquarium. Then fill the aquarium with water until it reaches about 1 inch above the marbles. This provides enough room for the adults to swim around, and a very short fall for the eggs to take to their safe place in the marbles. The eggs will then fall in between the marbles, where they'll be safe from the adults. These are not special marbles, just regular marbles you'd buy in a dollar store or toy store. Or, you can use glass “rocks” from a decorating store or Ikea that are normally used in flower arrangements or candle holders. The upside to this arrangement is that it's really easy to implement, as glass marbles are easy to find. The downside to this arrangement is that glass marbles have become expensive in recent years and this method may be more expensive then other methods. Another downside is that you have to “catch” the adults once they've bred, as they're not contained in one area. Hang a breeder net to protect the eggs. Another method to help protect danio eggs and babies is to place a breeder net inside the breeding tank. A breeder net is basically a basket that can be attached to the rim of the tank. The mesh of the basket allows the eggs to fall through, into the main part of the tank, but the mesh keeps the adults from being able to get to the eggs. Once the breeder net is placed in the tank, fill the tank with water until the bottom 1 inch of the breeder net is under water. When looking for a breeder net, make sure it's big enough to allow the danio eggs to fall through. You can buy a breeder net in most pet stores and aquarium shops. The upside to using a breeder net is that it's really easy to put the adults in the net and take them out of the net. You won't need to catch any of the adults in the main tank. The downside is that you have the find the right net for danios so the adults can't get through the mesh, but the eggs can. You can easily overcome this downside by asking someone at the aquarium store for assistance. Make a spawning mop out of yarn. A spawning mop is a bunch of acrylic yarn knotted together to form a mop-like contraption. For a 10-gallon tank, you'll need about 10 to 20 spawning mops. Place the spawning mops at the bottom of the tank and fill the tank with water that goes no further than a couple of inches above the top of the mops. The yarn will partially float in the water creating a protective area for the eggs, similar to seaweed. You can easily make your own spawning mops using the following instructions: Cut pieces of acrylic yarn to ~2 feet in length. Lay 2 dozen of these yarn pieces beside each other and fold the bunch in half, right in the middle. You should now have ~48 strands of yarn hanging down. Put a knot in the top of the bunch, where you've folded it in half, to hold all the pieces together. An upside to this method is that the spawning mops are homemade, usually with old materials you (or a friend or family member) has anyway, so you don't have to spend money on anything new items. The downside is that you have to physically make each mop. Another downside is that you'll eventually have to catch the adult danios when it's time to move them out of the breeding tank. Watch the eggs hatch after 1 to 2 days. Adults will normally spawn within a day of being placed in the breeding tank. Depending on what method you use, you should be able to see the actual eggs so you know they're done. Once the eggs have been fertilized, it normally takes about 1.5 to 2 days for the eggs to hatch. Observe the fry become free-swimming. Even though the eggs hatch within 1.5 to 2 days after being fertilized, the fry that are born won't start swimming around for another couple of days. Until they start to swim around, there's no need to feed them. Putting food in the water before they're all swimming around will only end up making your tank dirty. Danio fry are extremely small and transparent, making it very hard to see them. You'll need to carefully observe the tank to make sure you see them swimming around. Danio fry who are not free swimming usually attach themselves to the side of the tank to keep themselves in one place. They may be easier to see when they do this. Start feeding the fry once they’re swimming around. Once the fry have started to move around the tank on their own, it's time to start feeding them. Danios normally eat things like baby brine shrimp, but that food will be too big for fry. Instead, you can feed them a specialized powdered egglayer fish food or infusoria. Start by feeding the fry lightly several times a day. You can find this special fish food at some pet stores and any aquarium store. Ask the salesperson if you are unable to locate it on your own. Add a sponge filter and some snails to the breeding tank. Once your baby danios have started to eat on their own, it's a good idea to add a bio sponge filter to the tank and a few snails. The snails especially are great for cleaning up any uneaten food and keeping the tank clean. Change 10% to 25% of the water daily. In order to encourage your baby danios to grow quickly, change between 10% and 25% of the water in the tank every day. You'll want to remove water from the bottom of the tank and replace it with clean water at the same temperature. In order to have fresh water at the proper temperature available, you may need to set up a separate tank with a heater that is simply used as a reservoir for your breeding tank. If you use tap water in your reservoir tank, be sure to add dechlorinator to the water before putting the water into the breeding tank. Start feeding your baby danios brine shrimp. As the baby danios grow, you can start to introduce freshly hatched brine shrimp to their diet. They'll normally start to eat the shrimp around a week to 10 days after being hatched. Start by giving them some brine shrimp once a day, but keep feeding them the powdered egglayer fish food twice a day. You can continue to introduce new foods to your baby danios as they grow. Some options for other foods to try are: frozen cyclops, chopped tubifex worms, and live daphnia. Move your baby danios to a larger tank. When your baby danios are able half an inch long, it's time to move them to a bigger tank. The size of the “bigger” tank may depend on how many babies you have in the breeding tank. It is not unusual for 2 to 3 female danios to produce several hundred babies. Depending on how many females you put in the breeding tank, you may want to prepare this larger tank based on an estimate of the number of babies you're expecting. It normally takes danios 6 weeks to reach a size of 1 inch long. | Separate male and female danios. Feed your danios high-quality live food. Set up a breeding tank while you wait. Move your danios to the breeding tank. Remove the adult danios once they’ve spawned. Use marbles to create a safe place for the eggs. Hang a breeder net to protect the eggs. Make a spawning mop out of yarn. Watch the eggs hatch after 1 to 2 days. Observe the fry become free-swimming. Start feeding the fry once they’re swimming around. Add a sponge filter and some snails to the breeding tank. Change 10% to 25% of the water daily. Start feeding your baby danios brine shrimp. Move your baby danios to a larger tank. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Pronounce-German-Words | How to Pronounce German Words | To pronounce German words correctly, start by learning the alphabet and pronouncing single consonants correctly, like “bay” for the letter B. Next, learn consonant combinations, like “sch” which sounds like the first part of the English word “shoe.” Pronounce vowels with short sounds when they're followed by 2 or more consonants, and long when followed by a single consonant, like “ahh” for the letter A. | Pronounce the single consonants correctly. b - Pronounced "Bay" c - Pronounced "Say" d - Pronounced "Day" f - Same as in English, "Eff" g - Pronounced "Gay" h - Pronounced "Ha" j - Pronounced "Yote" k - Pronounced "Car" l - Pronounced "Ee" (Same as saying the letter E in English) m - Same as in English n - Same as in English p - Pronounced "Pay" (A way to remember is that German's pay to pee in most public places.) q - Pronounced "Coo," the Q is almost always used in combination with U (similar to English), and is pronounced "KV" r - Pronounced "Air" s - Pronounced "Ess," when speaking German S tends to sound similar to the English Z. Except: double S (ss or ß): a long S sound, like in fussy or messy after äu (oy): sounds like English Z. So a word like Häuser is pronounced hoyzer. t - Pronounced "Tay" v - Pronounced "Fow," occasionally like the English V in voyage, especially in words borrowed from other languages w - Pronounced "Vay" (German words with Ws tend to sound as if they start with Vs) x - Pronounced "Ix" (Sounds similar to "Icks" in English) y - Rarely at the beginning of a word; Pronounced "Oopsilong" (Usually sounds different in the middle of a word, depending on the word) z - Pronounced "Tsett" (In English it sounds like "Tet," you don't pronounce the S) Pronounce consonant combinations correctly. sp - Pronounced SHP, like the SH P in fish pond (if you say it quickly). st - Pronounced SHT, like the SHED in wished sch - Pronounced SH, as in the English word "shoe". ch - Not an English sound. CH is similar to the English H sound, but pronounced at the back of the throat (a bit like the sound a cat makes when it hisses). pf - Pronounced PF, like the PF in the English word Pfooey ß - the strange letter that looks a bit like B, but is actually a combination of s and z. Pronounce as a long double S. Because of reforms in German spelling rules, some words that were once spelled with ß are now spelled with SS. Identify and pronounce short vowel sounds correctly. Vowels are short when they are followed by a double consonant or followed by two or more consonants. a - Pronounced "Ah," like the A in father ; for example: Mann (man, husband) - mahn e - Pronounced "Ay" i - Pronounced "Ee" o - Pronounced "Oh" (softly, similar to saying the letter O in English) u - Pronounced "Ooh" Identify and pronounce long vowel sounds correctly. Vowels are long when they are doubled , followed by an H or followed by a single consonant. a - like when you say Ahh at the doctor's; for example: Saat (seed) = sahht e - like the AY in bay ; for example: Beete (beet/beetroot)= bay-teh i - like the EE in the English word greet ; for example: Stil (style) = shteel o - almost like the OA in coat (careful: single sound - not a diphthong!); for example: rot (red) = roht u - almost like the double OO in hoop or the U in dune (but a little shorter, and not a diphthong), for example: Kuh (cow) = kooh y - although classified as a consonant, when within a word is used as a vowel and pronounced like the German U above; for example: Typ (type, character) = toop Pronounce vowel combinations correctly. As in English, the pronunciation of vowel combinations is different from the vowel on its own. ie - long E sound, as in see. ei - long I sound, as in find ; for example: Ei (egg) = eye au - pronounced like the English word ow eu - pronounced like an oy as in English toy Pronounce umlauted letters correctly. Umlaut vowels are a little more advanced in terms of German pronunciation. They show up when words undergo a vowel change and do rarely show up as capitalized. Similar to non accented vowels, umlaut's can be short or long as well. ä - Pronounced like the AY in the English word face (but as a single sound, not a diphthong) or the A in the word "lacy ö - Pronounced "Ooo" (Sounds similar to ü, try to not confuse the two) ü - Pronounced "Euw," Similar to the English O in movie äu - like the English OY in noise | Pronounce the single consonants correctly. Pronounce consonant combinations correctly. Identify and pronounce short vowel sounds correctly. Identify and pronounce long vowel sounds correctly. Pronounce vowel combinations correctly. Pronounce umlauted letters correctly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Voice-Actor/Voiceover-Artist | How to Become a Voice Actor/Voiceover Artist | To become a voice actor, start honing your skills by reading out loud in various voices for 30-60 minutes per day. Do vocal exercises to increase your range, and practice acting and improvisation by taking lessons or a class. Then, create a demo reel and resume that showcases your talents, and find a talent agency to represent you. Go to auditions and send out your resume to make connections and land roles! | Practice reading things out loud. Being able to read aloud effectively is essential for voice acting, especially if your job requires you to read from a teleprompter or script. Read books, magazines, or news articles out loud on a regular basis to get more comfortable with it. Spend a minimum of 30 minutes a day reading out loud. Practice enunciating words and work on your intonation. Try changing the sound of your voice as you read for an added challenge. Practice reading a variety of material to improve your voice. You could start with Dr. Seuss and move on to The Hobbit and then challenge yourself with poetry. It should never sound like you are reading, but should sound like a performance. It is your job to bring these words to life. Record your voice. Try reciting monologues or reading from a script and recording it. Play it back to yourself to hear what you sound like, and make personal notes for improvement. The sound of your own voice might surprise you! The way you sound in a recording isn't necessarily the same way you sound to yourself each day. Take note of these changes and get used to your recorded voice so that you can effectively express yourself over a microphone. Use your diaphragm. When listening to your voice, consider whether you are using a nasal, mouth, chest, or diaphragm voice. A nasal voice sounds unpleasant and whiny, a mouth voice sounds very quiet, a chest voice sounds pleasant, but a diaphragm voice is the most powerful and has the best sound. To develop the diaphragm voice, practice breathing deeply and watching your stomach rise and fall. Make sounds that come from the diaphragm, such as laughing or yawning. Once you get the hang of it, it is merely a matter of maintaining the voice. A voice teacher can help you project from the diaphragm. Practice vocal exercises. Certain exercises can help you to control and improve your voice. Many of them are based on breathing. You could try humming a scale by blowing through a straw for breath control. You could lie on the floor and deeply inhale and exhale, making a “shh” sound while exhaling. Even simply sitting up straight with your shoulders back can make a big difference in the sound of your voice. You could also practice articulating with tongue twisters, such as “Red leather, yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather.” Imitate the voices of famous actors or fictional characters. Learning to imitate a sound can help you build flexibility, recognize pitch and tone, and give you good material to include on your demo reel. You don't have to be an impressionist to be a voice artist, but it is helpful to be able to change the sound of your voice. This will allow you to be more versatile and will also help with your acting skills. Try to match not only the person's voice, but also their personality so that you bring them to life rather than just imitating their sound. Try out these famous voices for starters: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Cosby, Tony the Tiger, Roger Rabbit, Christopher Walken, Don LaFontaine Improvise in character. Doing improvisation is an important skill in voice acting because directors will expect this of you. This skill will allow you to truly embody a character and think like they do. After you've gotten into character, try coming up with a funny story on the spot as that character. If you need help, have a friend ask you questions and respond based on what you think the character would say. For example, if you are doing an impression of Kermit the Frog, you could make up a story about asking Miss Piggy out on a date. Take acting classes or find an acting coach. This will help you to develop your acting talent. Though voice actors never appear on the screen, they must be extremely talented actors in order to effectively deliver their lines. Remember that in some ways, voice acting is more difficult than other types of acting because you don't have other actors to work off of and the audience can't see your facial expressions, hand gestures, or movements. You don't have props or other tools to aid in your delivery. Your full emotions and personality must be expressed solely through your voice. If you are still in school, enroll in the theater program and audition for any plays or one-acts that are being produced. If you aren't in school, find community theatre productions to participate in. Take voice lessons. Having regular voice lessons (at least once a week) will help you expand your vocal range and teach you how to better control the volume and sound of your voice. You may need to try several voice teachers to find the best fit for you. A good voice teacher will help you not only develop strong technique and control, but also will help you to find your unique voice. A good voice teacher will help you to warm up your voice well. There are many vocal warmups. You could start by flapping your lips while blowing air and making a “brrr” sound. Then yawn widely and sigh while smiling to stretch your jaw. Create a demo reel. This is a voice actor's way of showcasing his or her talents when looking for work. Your demo reel can be comprised of original work or imitations of characters/scripts that already exist. It is important to have a quality demo reel that represents you and showcases your range and skill set. You can record your own or have it professionally done. If recording your own, pay attention to sound quality and make sure to do it in a place without background noise. You don't want anything to distract from your voice. Getting a professional demo reel can cost hundreds of dollars. It doesn't guarantee a good demo, just a good quality recording. The content of your demo is most important. With a good microphone in a quiet room at home, you can still make a quality recording. Start strong, with your best work showcased in the first 30 seconds of your reel. A potential employer will likely only watch about 30 seconds of your reel, so make it count. A demo reel should be fairly short, no longer than one to two minutes long, and it should be straight to the point, succinctly showcasing several voices. If you are creating a demo reel for a specific job position that you desire, make sure the content of your demo reel is relevant to the job. For example, if you are auditioning for a male character, they probably don't need to hear your old lady impression. Build a resume. You often need to have work to get work, which can be challenging when starting out. Try to gain any experience you possibly can so that you can build a resume. Take acting classes, attend workshops, make a YouTube channel featuring your original content, get involved in community theater, offer to be the announcer at your school, narrate an ebook, or simply find anything relevant to voice acting that you can do to get started. This will help you to look experienced to casting directors and will help you to develop your skills. Your resume is much more important than headshots for voice acting. Professional headshots are a nice touch, but they can cost hundreds of dollars and don't help casting directors because your appearance isn't relevant to voice acting. Find a talent agent. Just like any other kind of actor, a voice actor's career will be helped by having an agent represent them. Your agent will notify you of casting calls in the area and help match you with the right jobs. They will help to market you and manage your career. They will help negotiate your salary and will earn commission from your jobs. They will know of jobs that you aren't able to find on your own. Send your demo reel and resume to talent agents in your area. Choose one that you trust and feel comfortable with. Getting an agent will help take your career to the next level. You already need to have your voice developed and determine what kind of voice work you want to do prior to getting an agent. Find an agent that specializes in voice acting. Decide whether you want to work in television, films, or radio, and find an agent that specializes in that industry. Send your demo reel and resume to studios. Find every studio within your area and mail them your demo and resume. If you are willing to travel, you could even send your demo and resume across the country. Be prepared to wait for an answer and to face a lot of rejection. Studios get hundreds of demos and you may or may not be what they are looking for. Just because they don't respond right away, however, doesn't mean they will never be interested. Maybe they don't have a part for you currently but liked your demo and will consider you in the future. Build your portfolio online. Having a strong online presence can help your career. You can make a personal website using a service such as Wordpress, you can showcase your skills on YouTube, or you can use social media sites by making accounts specifically for your career. Casting directors are looking more and more at the internet to find talent. If someone has heard of your work, you want it to be easy for them to look you up and see what you can do. Having pages online dedicated specifically to your voice work will help you market yourself. Choose the right location. If you are seriously pursuing voice acting as a career, you may want to live in a city with a large voice acting industry. Although the internet has lessened the necessity of this, it can still be helpful to be right in the center of things. Some of the top cities in the US for voice acting are Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, and San Francisco. Attend an open call. Even if you don't have an agent and haven't heard from a studio yet, you can still begin to attend auditions by going to open calls. An open call is an audition that anyone can attend. Be prepared for there to be many people at open calls and to be seen for only a short amount of time. Even if it isn't very likely to book a role at an open call, it is still great practice and will help you get used to auditioning and start getting yourself seen by casting directors. To find open calls in your area, you can look at a website like backstage.com for listings. Audition online. Since voice acting can be done simply with a microphone, you can even audition from home. There are different job listings online, such as the ones at voices.com. The online marketplace is changing the way casting occurs, and auditioning online is a great option when you don't live in a major acting city. Audition as much as possible. Some say that the real work of an actor is auditioning. This is because acting is highly competitive. You will likely need to go on many auditions to book just one gig, and then as soon as you complete your job, you have to start auditioning all over again. Therefore, you must learn to embrace the audition process and go to as many as possible. This will keep you sharp and your voice in shape for when you do land a job. The more auditions you attend, the higher chance you have of being hired. Audition even for roles that you aren't sure you're right for. You never know what a casting director is looking for. Remember to rest your voice between auditions so you don't overuse it. Steam your voice between auditions to keep your vocal cords moisturized by going to a steam room or even just leaning over a pot of steaming water with a towel draped over your head. If you have multiple auditions back-to-back, don't use your full vocal capacity in each audition or you could wear your voice out. Prepare ahead of time. Make sure your voice is warmed up and you are hydrated. Make sure you have prepared the script and know how you will read it. Some auditions consist of only saying one line, so it is important to know that you can nail it ahead of time. This will also help to ease your nerves in a stressful audition environment. Have other dialogue prepared besides the script in case casting directors want to see what else you can do. Try to get inside the character's head and to go beyond the words on the page. Who is this character? What is important to them? Why are they saying these words? It might help you to write down your ideas about a character to work through the important aspects of them. This will help you to bring the character to life. Show up on time. When attending an audition, punctuality is key. To ensure being on time, plan to arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of time. This will give you a chance to get settled and even go over your script. Dress appropriately. Even though looks aren't relevant for voice acting, your overall impression says a lot. Make sure to dress appropriately. Don't wear an old, raggedy t-shirt. You should look professional and keep in mind what character you are auditioning for. For example, if you're auditioning for a ninja, you don't need to wear a costume, but wearing a black button-down shirt would be a good way to interpret that role with professional clothing. | Practice reading things out loud. Record your voice. Use your diaphragm. Practice vocal exercises. Imitate the voices of famous actors or fictional characters. Improvise in character. Take acting classes or find an acting coach. Take voice lessons. Create a demo reel. Build a resume. Find a talent agent. Send your demo reel and resume to studios. Build your portfolio online. Choose the right location. Attend an open call. Audition online. Audition as much as possible. Prepare ahead of time. Show up on time. Dress appropriately. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Aim-a-Compound-Bow | How to Aim a Compound Bow | To aim a compound bow, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and drawing the arrow in your bow back toward your face. Then, close 1 eye and look through the peep sight ring that's on the bow string and the forward sight ring that's on the front of the bow. Line up the target with 1 of the pins inside of the rings and then release your arrow! | Warm up and relax. Tense muscles can interfere with shooting form, and produce less consistent shots. Think of it this way: it's tough to reproduce a precise level of tension each time, but a fully relaxed muscle is always in the same position. Encourage this consistency by warming up before each archery session, stretching your shoulders, upper back, neck , or anything else that feels tense. Check your muscles again before releasing an arrow. Relaxing your forearm is one of the most important steps for consistent, accurate shooting. Tense your tricep instead. Adopt a shooting stance. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, at a 90º angle to the target. Step a couple inches (few centimeters) forward with your lead foot and turn it outward. Balance your weight evenly between your two feet, without leaning in any direction. If you catch yourself leaning or having balance issues, adjust your stance to be a little more open (facing the target). Grasp the bow in a natural position. When holding the bow handle, most of the pressure should rest on the lower part of your thumb, about an inch (2.5cm) below the joint. Rotate your hand slightly so your palm and fingers are relaxed, not pushing against the bow. This natural hand position is easy to maintain and prevents you from twisting the bow with your palm as you shoot. Some archers use other holds, but these tend to be less forgiving. If your wrist is not in a natural position, you will need to exert strength to keep it in that position during shooting. Draw the bow to your anchor points. Nock the arrow onto your bowstring and draw it back, keeping your wrist straight and relaxed. As you bring the string to your face, look for "anchor points" where parts of the bow meet your face. The more natural your anchor points feel, and the easier it is to locate them, the more consistent your shooting will be. Pick two or three of the following to use as anchor points, or invent your own that work well for you: Point where your hand touches your face. This is a specific point on your jaw, cheek, neck, or under your ear, depending on draw length and release type. Point where the string lightly touches your nose (only if convenient). Point where a "kisser button" on your string touches your mouth. (Some archers do not recommend a kisser button if you are using a peep sight.) Look through the peep sight. Most compound bows are set up with a peep sight attached to the string. This is simply a ring you look through to help you aim. The sight should be attached somewhere you can easily look through it with your bow drawn to your anchor points. If you don't have a peep sight, buy one online or at an archery store. A small peep sight lets you focus on targets across a wider range of distances, but make sure it is large enough to view your entire forward sight. Large sights are more useful in low-light conditions. Sight the target through the forward sight. The forward sight is attached to the front of your bow. Align the bow so the forward sight and target are visible through the peep sight. The longer the distance between the peep sight and forward sight, the more accurate your aim will be. Target archers sometimes extend their forward sight several inches in front of the bow. Close one eye (optional). Archers often close one eye, so it is easier to focus through the sight. This is usually a good tactic for beginners, and plenty of experienced archers do it as well. There are advantages to leaving both eyes open, however. Two eyes provide depth perception and a more complete view of the target. They are also better at tracking the arrow in flight, so you can see whether it flew too high, too wobbly, or so on. If you shoot with both eyes open, it helps to use a bow built for your dominant eye (for instance, a bow drawn with the right hand for a right-eye dominant person). If you use the other type of bow, you'll need to learn to make side-to-side aiming compensations when shooting with both eyes open. You can determine your dominant eye with simple home tests. Align the correct pin with your target. A typical compound bow's forward sight has several pins lined up inside. These usually mark 20 yards (the topmost pin), 30 yards, 40 yards, and 50 yards. Choose the pin that best matches your distance to the target, and move your bow so that pin is directly in front of the target. If you're not sure which distance the pins represent, find out by trial and error. Measure 20 yards to a target and sight through each pin until you discover one that lets you hit consistently. Some bows use one or more adjustable "slider" pins. In order to set them to different distances quickly, use software that prints out a custom "sight tape" for your bow. Check the bubble level. Most forward sights also have a bubble level. If the bubble is not in the center of the level, tilt the bow left or right until it is. Float the pin (optional). Many beginners shoot as soon as the pin lines up with the target. Surprisingly, you can get more consistent results by letting the pin "float" off target before you shoot. Focusing on getting your pin 100% perfect can lead to tension or bad form. Let the pin drift small distances back and forth or around your target instead, and release when you are relaxed. Try focusing on the target (optional). The peep sight and pins are a great way to turn aiming into a precise, focused task. Some archers, however, prefer to focus on the target instead. By focusing farther away, minor movements do not make as big a difference in their sight. Some archers also find this tactic reduces anxiety. Ideally, you can still use the blurry sight as a rough guide as it "floats" across your target, but it takes practice to get this to a subconscious level. | Warm up and relax. Adopt a shooting stance. Grasp the bow in a natural position. Draw the bow to your anchor points. Look through the peep sight. Sight the target through the forward sight. Close one eye (optional). Align the correct pin with your target. Check the bubble level. Float the pin (optional). Try focusing on the target (optional). |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Legal-Consultant | How to Become a Legal Consultant | If you want to become a legal consultant, focus on doing well in your history and math classes, since those classes directly apply to the job. Then, in college, major in a legal-related field if you can. Since being a legal consultant means you have to go to law school, you'll need to study for and take the LSAT. Once you're accepted into law school and have finished your required coursework to earn your J.D., you can begin building legal and entry-level consulting experience. | Earn a bachelor's degree. To start on the path to becoming a legal consultant, you must first graduate from a four year university with a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree is a prerequisite to getting into law school so it is imperative you take this endeavor seriously. Law schools will look at your undergraduate education to see what type of degree you earned and what your overall GPA was. If you already know you want to be a legal consultant at this early stage, consider majoring in a legally related field like criminal justice, legal studies, or political science. While you are not required to major in any specific field of study, immersing yourself in the legal field as soon as possible may help you in the future. Regardless of your major, try to take courses in government, math, English, history, communications, and economics. These types of classes will help prepare you for law school and the legal consultant career. Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Once you graduate with a bachelor's degree, you will need to take the LSAT in order to build your law school portfolio. The LSAT is a standardized test meant to examine your ability to succeed in law school. It includes five multiple-choice sections testing your reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. In order to sign up to take the LSAT, you will go to the Law School Admission Council website. From there, you will click on the "register now" button at the top of the page, create an account, and follow the on screen instructions. The LSAT scores range from 120 to 180. Depending on the type of law school you are interested in attending, you may need a score of between 150 and 180. Complete law school. Once you receive an LSAT score you are pleased with and you have gotten into the law school of your choice, you will need to complete the required curriculum and graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is the professional degree you earn upon law school graduation. Law schools will generally look at your undergraduate GPA, your LSAT score, essays, and letters of recommendation when they consider accepting you to their program. Law school is usually a three year program unless you decide to graduate early or you decide to pursue other graduate degrees (i.e., a masters in business administration). While in law school, your first year will be filled with structured classes in the most common areas of the law such as constitutional law, criminal law, torts, contracts, and property. Your second and third year you will be able to take elective courses chosen based on what your career goals are. For instance, if you are interested in being a legal consultant focusing on corporate law, you may want to take classes in employment law, mergers and acquisitions, and tax law. Get licensed to practice law in the state of your choice. Once you have graduated from law school and earned your J.D., if you are interested in practicing law in order to gain valuable legal experience prior to entering the legal consulting field, you will need to get licensed to practice law in the state you plan on working in. While it is not always a requirement to be licensed to practice law in order to be a legal consultant, most employers will look for attorney experience when hiring qualified legal consultants. In order to get licensed, you will usually have to: Take and pass your state's bar exam. The bar exam is a two or three day test examining your understanding of basic legal concepts. It is designed to ensure you have the minimum qualifications necessary to practice law in your state. In order to sign up for your state's bar exam, visit your state's bar website. For example, to sign up in California, you would go here. Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The MPRE is a one day test designed to assess your knowledge of the rules of professional responsibility, which a lawyer must abide by at all times. In order to sign up for and take the MPRE, you must register with the National Conference of Bar Examiners and sign up for the MPRE here. Submit a moral character application for review. Finally, you will be required to submit a moral character application, which includes personal information about yourself and is designed to ensure your state is only accepting attorney applicants who are upstanding citizens. The application will involve questions about your criminal history, housing history, schooling history, and any other questions your state deems appropriate. For example, California's moral character evaluation process is outlined here. Work during the summers between your school years. If you want to be a successful legal consultant, you will need to build your resume with meaningful professional experiences. You should start doing this as early as possible. While it may be difficult to work while you are in school, particularly law school, you should at the very least try to work during your summers. In law school, there are often opportunities to participate in summer internships or clinics, which usually provide opportunities to do real world legal work while still being in school. For example, in civil practice clinics, you may get an opportunity to help low income clients with their housing disputes and public benefits problems. Build legal experience. Once you are licensed to practice law, you should look for entry level legal experience in a field you are passionate about. As of 2012, most employers looking to hire legal consultants were looking for applicants to have a minimum of three years of general legal experience. If you know what type of legal consultant you would like to be (i.e., corporate, medical, real estate), try to get a legal job in that specific field. Entry level legal jobs are usually associate positions with law firms, law clerk positions with organizations, or law clerk positions with various courts around the United States. Gain entry level consulting experience. Once you have some general legal experience under your belt, you may want to look into gaining some entry level consulting experience. A lot of employers hiring legal consultants look for their applicants to have between two and six years of experience in their specific legal consulting field. This step is separate from starting your consulting career because you will need to gain entry level experience prior to becoming a leading legal consultant with an agency or on your own. In order to gain this consulting experience, start networking early and reach out to community members working in the legal consulting field. Once you get a consulting interview, be prepared for a rigorous process. Consulting interviews often take place in multiple parts with the first couple of interviews being your general personality interviews. However, once you make it past the first couple of rounds you may find yourself taking part in a group interview where you may be asked to solve a problem with other candidates. In this interview, employers are often looking to see how you work as part of a team and how you handle pressure. Finally, the employer may ask you back for one more interview, often the most intimidating, where they may ask you to solve some sort of consulting problem. In this interview they are looking to see how you can handle yourself under pressure. Be confident going into these interviews. If you have followed the path laid out in this article you will be well prepared for this process. Decide whether you want to work independently or as part of a consulting agency or group. Once you have gained between two and six years of entry level legal consulting experience, you should begin to think about breaking into your dream legal consulting job. The first step in this process will be to decide whether you want to work with a consulting agency or on your own. If you are interested in being a part of a consulting team, look for legal consulting jobs online and through your network. Reach out to people you know in the field and ask if they know of any availabilities. Send resumes to agencies you find online, even if they do not currently have any openings. Try looking at indeed or SimplyHired for possible job postings. If you are interested in starting your own legal consulting practice, you will need to create a business plan, market your business, and gain a valuable client pool. Follow the steps below in order to start the process. Create a business plan. A business plan is a written description of a business's future, including information on your goals and how you plan to reach them. When you are creating your business plan for your legal consulting business, be sure to identify the services you want to provide and develop a plan to market those services to your ideal clients. For instance, if you are planning on being a legal consultant focusing on human resources, you will want to tailor your marketing efforts and reach out to local and national organizations that attract human resources specialists. Understanding where to focus your efforts will lead to quicker and better results and will allow you to get on your feet faster. Work hard and enjoy your career. Once you have gained a loyal client base and you have firmly built your legal consulting career, do not become complacent. Continue to work hard expanding your business, but make sure you are having fun doing it. | Earn a bachelor's degree. Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Complete law school. Get licensed to practice law in the state of your choice. Work during the summers between your school years. Build legal experience. Gain entry level consulting experience. Decide whether you want to work independently or as part of a consulting agency or group. Create a business plan. Work hard and enjoy your career. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Gingerbread-Men-Cookies | How to Make Gingerbread Men Cookies | To make gingerbread men cookies, start by mixing salt, baking soda, flour, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Then, in a separate bowl, combine butter, sugar, water, molasses, and vanilla. When you're finished mixing the wet ingredients, gradually stir in the dry ingredients until a dough forms. Next, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 2 hours. After 2 hours, roll out the dough and cut the gingerbread men with cookie cutters. Finally, bake the cookies for 9-12 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. | Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium sized bowl, mix the salt, baking soda, flour, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon together. Mix the wet ingredients. Get a large bowl and mix the butter, sugar, water, molasses, and vanilla together. You can use an electric whisk or mixer in case the butter is not be soft enough to mix by hand. Mix the dry with the wet. Add small amounts of the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix slowly with a wooden spoon until the whole mixture becomes a soft dough. Be careful using electric equipment for this may splatter flour out of the bowl while mixing. Prepare the dough. Divide the dough in half and use plastic wrap to cover each half. Place both pieces in the refrigerator for two hours or until it gets firm and hard. Preheat the oven. Set to 375° F (190° C), or on the gas mark 5. Create the men. Lightly flour your surface, either a counter top or a cutting board. Use a floured rolling pin to roll out the dough to either 1/8- or 1/4-inch thick. Use your cookie cutters on the dough, cut out the men shapes, and place them on your baking sheet. Recycle the dough by rolling the leftovers and cutting out more men. Bake your cookies for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned. Remove them from the oven and leave them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. If you remove them from the sheet immediately, some body parts may fall off in the process. If they do, eat them. Decorate. This is always the fun part of making cookies (besides eating them, of course!) Use different colors of icing, frosting, and sprinkles to create facial and other features. You can also "glue" other candies such as gumdrops with a dab of frosting on the bottom. | Mix the dry ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients. Mix the dry with the wet. Prepare the dough. Preheat the oven. Create the men. Bake your cookies for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned. Decorate. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Feed-an-Amazon-Parrot | How to Feed an Amazon Parrot | To properly feed your amazon parrot, give it a diet of mostly food pellets supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables like pumpkin, mango, bell peppers, and broccoli. You should also keep a list on hand of foods that can hurt your parrot, like avocados, eggplant, potatoes, and any fruit pits, so you or your family members don't accidentally poison your pet. While birds usually love seeds, only give your parrot seeds as a treat instead of a main source of food because they're actually high in fat and don't have a lot of nutrients. In addition to providing your parrot with healthy foods, always make sure it has plenty of fresh water to drink every day. | Feed your Amazon parrot food pellets. The best diet for your Amazon parrot will consist of about 80% food pellets, which are developed to be nutritionally complete. Pellet food provides all of the nutrients that you pet parrot needs at different stages of its life, and can be bought in different colors and flavors. Purchase food pellets at pet stores or online. Food pellets should be readily available and replaced daily. If your parrot is overweight, consult your veterinarian and limit its food accordingly. Supplement food pellets with fruits and vegetables. Your Amazon parrot will enjoy fruits and vegetables in addition to its pelleted diet. Fresh produce is ideal, and it can be fed to your parrot raw or cooked. Choose food that will provide the nutrients they need, such as: Pumpkin, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, papaya, cantaloupe and mango, which are all high in vitamin A Bell peppers, which are high in vitamins A, E, and K Broccoli and peas, which are high in calcium Provide a constant supply of fresh water. Refill your Amazon parrot's water dish daily with fresh water. Your pet should have constant access to water to prevent dehydration. If the quality of your tap water is poor, consider giving your parrot bottled water. Consult your veterinarian about your parrot's dietary needs. To ensure that your Amazon parrot's health is as good as it can be, consult your veterinarian about its dietary needs. Your bird might have specific nutrient requirements given its age, weight, or medical condition. The veterinarian can advise you about what type of pelleted food to feed your bird, and how to treat any medical issues nutritionally. Make sure that you visit a veterinarian who is experienced with birds. Make a list of the foods never to feed your parrot. To make sure that all members of your household understand what foods should never be fed to your parrot, make a list of items to avoid that you can post on your fridge or wall. While some items on the list may seem like common sense, others are less obvious and can be toxic to your bird. These items include: Avocado, since avocado trees contain the toxin Persin which can cause heart failure and respiratory distress in birds. Eggplant and potatoes, which contain alkaloids that are poisonous for birds. Nutmeg, which can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting in birds. Fruit pits (e.g., plums, peaches, apricots, and nectarines) which contain cyanide. Caffeine Alcohol Chocolate Rhubarb leaves, which can be fatal if consumed in large doses. Feed your parrot seeds in moderation. Though seed diets are traditionally thought to be ideal for birds, they are actually high in fat and deficient in nutrients. Feed your Amazon parrot seeds in moderation, using them as treats as opposed to a main source of food. Parrots fed a seed-based diet are at risk for malnutrition, obesity, and other ailments. Parrots tend to selectively eat their favorite seeds, such as sunflower seeds and peanut seeds. Unfortunately these are high in fat and low in calcium, and consuming them often can lead to health problems in the long term. Peanuts and other nuts should also be served as treats, in moderation. Limit or eliminate dairy. Though they may enjoy cheese or dairy products, birds lack lactase, the enzyme necessary to digest milk sugars. Feed your parrot dairy in very small quantities, very occasionally, or eliminate dairy in its diet altogether. Larger amounts will result in digestive distress. Give your parrot a vet-recommended amount of food. Ask your veterinarian how much food you should be feeding your Amazon parrot. This amount can vary given a bird's weight, age, activity level, and overall health condition. Amazon parrots are at a high risk for obesity given their persistent appetites, so it is important to avoid overfeeding your pet. Give your parrot its pellets in the morning. Give your parrot its daily ration of pellet food in the morning so it's able to snack on it all day. This will also ensure that your bird does not eat any other foods (e.g., snacks such as fruit or seeds) before its main, nutritionally balanced food source. Do your best to do this at the same time each morning to keep a consistent routine for your bird. Provide fruits, vegetables, and snacks in the afternoon or evening. Fresh produce and other snacks should be fed to your parrot in the afternoon or evening, after the bird has eaten most of its nutritionally complete pellet food. Cut produce into small, chewable pieces and serve them in a separate dish than your parrot's pelleted food. Fattier treats like nuts should be given to your pet very sparingly, no more than a few at a time. Fruits, vegetables, or other snacks that are not consumed within a short time frame (e.g. half an hour) should be removed from your bird's cage. Non-pellet food should never account for more than 25% of your bird's diet. Monitor your parrot's food intake. It is important to keep an eye on how much your parrot eats each day to maintain its health. Observe your parrot's food dish, water bowl, and the bottom of its cage when you clean them to assess how much of its pelleted food it has actually eaten. If your bird does not eat its pelleted food during the day, cut back on snacks to see if helps. | Feed your Amazon parrot food pellets. Supplement food pellets with fruits and vegetables. Provide a constant supply of fresh water. Consult your veterinarian about your parrot's dietary needs. Make a list of the foods never to feed your parrot. Feed your parrot seeds in moderation. Limit or eliminate dairy. Give your parrot a vet-recommended amount of food. Give your parrot its pellets in the morning. Provide fruits, vegetables, and snacks in the afternoon or evening. Monitor your parrot's food intake. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Check-for-Ticks | How to Check for Ticks | As soon as you come back from the outdoors, check for ticks by removing your clothing and looking for small, brown mites with 8 legs. Make sure to wash your clothes in hot water and dry them in the dryer to kill off any ticks you may have missed. To check your body, hop in the shower because the hot water will help wash away ticks as you look. Start by searching parts of your body that are warm or have a skin fold, like the belly button, underarms, and back of the knees, as these are where ticks are most commonly found. After showering, use a full-length mirror to check the back of your body. If you don't have a full-length mirror, use a hand mirror or ask someone to inspect you. | Identify a tick by its brown body and 8 legs. Ticks are usually found in the bush, forest, and in grassy areas. Ticks range in size from approximately 1 millimetre (0.039 in) to 8 millimetres (0.31 in). If you see a small brown mite on or in your skin, it is safest to presume that it is a tick and remove it. Search online for a picture of a tick to get a clearer idea of what they look like. Check your clothes for ticks. As soon as you come back from the outdoors, remove all of your clothing. This stops the ticks from living in your clothes and attaching themselves to you later. Check both sides of each item of clothing for ticks before putting them in the wash. Wash your clothes in hot water and dry them in the dryer. This will help to kill any ticks that you may not have spotted. Look all over your body for any signs of ticks while you're in the shower. A hot shower helps to wash ticks off your body and is a great time to check for ticks that have attached themselves to you. Carefully check any areas of your body that are warm or have a skin fold, as this is where ticks are most commonly found. In particular, check in and around your hair, around your ears, inside your tummy button, around your waist, between your legs, the back of your knees, and under your arms. Showering within 2 hours of hiking helps to prevent Lyme disease. Use a full-length mirror to look at the back of your body. It can be hard to spot ticks that are on the back of your body by yourself. Face the back of your body toward the mirror and look behind you to see your reflection. If you're unsure whether you have spotted a tick, ask a friend or family member to take a closer look for you. If you are checking a child for ticks, make sure to check both sides of their body thoroughly. If you don't have a full-length mirror, use a hand-held mirror to check the back of your body instead. Check your pet's collar for ticks. Ticks often live underneath a pet's collar because it is warm. Remove your pet's collar and look for any signs of ticks. Check both sides of the collar, inside any holes, and under the buckle. Consider purchasing a tick collar from a vet. These are soaked in an anti-tick formula and help to prevent ticks clinging to the collar. Search your pet's skin and fur for ticks after each exposure to forest areas. Rub your hand gently across your pet's fur or hair. If you feel any bumps or unusual welts, pull the hair back and look closely for ticks. Look closely for ticks around your pet's eyelids, tail, and legs, as ticks are commonly found in these areas. If you are unsure if your pet has ticks, take it to the vet for a second opinion. Spread your pet's toes apart and look for ticks. Ticks often hide between toes because it is a warm and moist area. Use your fingers to separate the toes and carefully look for any sign of ticks. If you are having trouble seeing between the toes, use a torch to help you see more clearly. Grasp as much of the tick as possible with tweezers. Grip the tick as close to its head as you can. This helps to prevent the head from getting stuck in your skin. Avoid squeezing the tick, as this can cause it to panic and release harmful pathogens. Don't use your fingers to remove the tick, as this causes it to release bacteria. Pull the tick out of the skin without twisting it. Slowly pull the tick upward. Avoid sharp or sudden movements, as this can cause the head to remain inside the skin. Don't stress too much if some of the tick is left in the skin, as it can be removed later. Remove any parts of the ticks that are left in the skin with tweezers. Occasionally a stray leg or head will remain in the skin after the body is removed. Grip any remaining parts of the tick with the tweezers and pull them out slowly. If necessary, use a magnifying glass to help you see the bite spot up close. | Identify a tick by its brown body and 8 legs. Check your clothes for ticks. Look all over your body for any signs of ticks while you're in the shower. Use a full-length mirror to look at the back of your body. Check your pet's collar for ticks. Search your pet's skin and fur for ticks after each exposure to forest areas. Spread your pet's toes apart and look for ticks. Grasp as much of the tick as possible with tweezers. Pull the tick out of the skin without twisting it. Remove any parts of the ticks that are left in the skin with tweezers. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Relieve-Gas | How to Relieve Gas | To relieve gas, try putting a heating pad or a hot water bottle on your stomach to treat any tightness you may be experiencing. Additionally, drink some mint, chamomile, or ginger tea, which have properties that can settle your stomach and help your digestion. Alternatively, sauté some fresh, chopped garlic in olive oil, and add some chicken or vegetable broth. Then, bring the soup to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and eat the soup while it's hot to stimulate the gastric system and relieve gas quickly. | Let it out. If you're experiencing extreme gas pain, trying to hold the gas inside your body for the sake of social decorum is only going to make the pain worse. Remember that the average person passes gas 10 times per day, and there's nothing abnormal about needing to do so, even if the timing seems inconvenient. It might help to find a restroom and stay there until the bout of gas pain has subsided. If possible, stay at home and allow yourself to completely recover before going about your day. When you're in a comfortable place, relax your muscles and change your positioning so the gas can exit your body more easily. Apply some heat. Gas leads to uncomfortable tightness in the abdominal region, and this pain can be eased by treating it with heat. Fill a hot water bottle, lie down on your bed or on the couch, and place the bottle over your stomach. The heat will help relieve the tightness. A hot bath also helps ease the pain of gas and constipation. Drink mint, chamomile, or ginger tea. Mint, chamomile, and ginger have properties that settle the stomach and aid the digestion process. Boil a few leaves of mint, some fresh or dried chamomile flowers, or some chopped ginger, strain the hot tea into a mug, and sip it slowly. Eat garlic soup. Garlic stimulates the gastric system and helps relieve gas quickly. Chop some cloves of fresh garlic and sauté them in a little olive oil. Add chicken or vegetable broth, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Eat the soup hot. Take activated charcoal tablets. Activated charcoal can ease your symptoms by absorbing excess gas in your digestive system. For best results, take the tablets between meals. Wait a few hours after taking any other medications or supplements, since the charcoal may make it harder for your body to absorb them. Consult your doctor before taking activated charcoal if you are using other medications or supplements. Try Beano (alpha-galactosidase). This dietary supplement can help your body digest carbohydrates more efficiently, reducing symptoms of gas and flatulence. Beano and other supplements containing alpha-galactosidase are available in many pharmacies and health food stores. Beano can also help prevent the development of excess gas when taken with meals. Use over-the-counter gas relief medicine. Drugstores offer a lot of options for indigestion medication. Since you're already experiencing gas pains, choose one that is meant to be taken after eating, not before. Try eliminating common allergens from your diet. Many common food allergies or sensitivities can cause gas. Cut some of the most common food allergy triggers from your diet for 3 to 6 weeks and see if your symptoms improve. Then, reincorporate the foods one by one and see if your symptoms return. Common problem foods include: Foods containing gluten , such as wheat, barley, and rye products. Dairy products. Corn. Soy. Sugar. Alcohol. Refined carbohydrates. High FODMAP foods (foods containing certain types of sugars). For more information about foods that are high or low in FODMAPS, take a look at this information sheet: https://patienteducation.osumc.edu/documents/lowfodmapdiet.pdf Avoid foods that irritate your digestive system. There are certain foods that are known to cause gas, and some people are more sensitive to them than others. If you experience gas problems regularly, consider avoiding or limiting these foods: Legumes. Beans are difficult to digest because they contain a sugar called oligosaccharide that the body cannot break down because it doesn't produce the right enzyme to do so. The oligosaccharide molecules remain whole through most of the digestion process and produce gas in the small intestine. Foods high in fiber. Fiber has many health benefits, but eating a large amount of grains and fibrous fruits and vegetables can lead to gas. Don't stop eating these beneficial foods altogether, but you might want to avoid the ones that seem to give you the worst gas. Dairy products containing lactose. Many people are slightly lactose intolerant; that glass of milk you have in the morning might be contributing to gas. Soda and other carbonated or fizzy beverages. Fried foods and other fatty foods. Artificial additives. Sweeteners like sorbitol and mannitol lead to gas and diarrhea. Chewing gum. Alcohol. Vinegar. Caffeinated beverages. Spicy foods. Greasy, processed, and refined foods. Consider other indigestibles that might be causing gas. Taking fiber supplements, laxatives, or antibiotics can cause gas. These irritate the bowels and remove the bacteria needed for properly digesting food. Chew your food well. Taking the time to chew each piece helps to break down the food before it enters your stomach and intestines, creating less work for your digestive system. Chewing with your mouth closed can also help, since swallowing a lot of air can lead to gas. Eat protein first. Changing the order in which you eat food can prevent the production of gas. Eating protein with or before fiber and carbohydrates allows your digestive system to work properly. When you begin eating a meal, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid in anticipation of digesting protein. If salad or bread hits your stomach first, the acid gets used up before you ingest meat, fish, or another protein. The protein then ferments, leading to gas and bloating. Health food stores sell hydrochloric acid supplements that you can take to help you digest protein. These should be taken after the meal, so your stomach has the chance to produce as much acid as it can first. Eat fermented food. In order to properly digest your food, your digestive tract needs a good supply of healthy bacteria. Fermented foods supply your body with the type of bacteria it needs to break other foods down. Try yogurt, kefir, and other cultured dairy foods. Make sure the label says that the product contains probiotics. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables also have good probiotic properties. Use probiotic supplements. Probiotics may help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut, while minimizing the presence of harmful bacteria. Having healthy gut flora can reduce symptoms of gas. Talk to your doctor before starting probiotic supplements, and ask them which type of supplement may be most beneficial to you. Always purchase supplements that have been certified by 3rd party verifiers, such as USP, NSF, or Consumer Lab. Consider your symptoms. If you have gas every day, or if your gas pains are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, or other severe symptoms, you might have a chronic issue beyond what can be treated by dietary changes or supplements. Irritable bowel syndrome is a fairly common malady that causes chronic pain when certain foods are consumed. Crohn's disease and celiac disease are gastrointestinal disorders that are irritated by the consumption of certain foods. See your doctor. If you feel it's a possibility that your symptoms go beyond the normal issues caused by eating beans and fiber, make an appointment with your doctor to get to the bottom of the problem. To prepare for your visit: Keep a journal of your meals. Record every component of the meals you eat for the few weeks before your visit. Make a note of in what order you consume your food. Be prepared to undergo some tests and answer questions from the doctor about your dietary and lifestyle habits. | Let it out. Apply some heat. Drink mint, chamomile, or ginger tea. Eat garlic soup. Take activated charcoal tablets. Try Beano (alpha-galactosidase). Use over-the-counter gas relief medicine. Try eliminating common allergens from your diet. Avoid foods that irritate your digestive system. Consider other indigestibles that might be causing gas. Chew your food well. Eat protein first. Eat fermented food. Use probiotic supplements. Consider your symptoms. See your doctor. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Not-Pay-Child-Support | How to Not Pay Child Support | If you want to not pay child support, start by reading your state's or country's laws on child support to find out what conditions you need to meet to stop your payments. Usually a court will only terminate your child support payments if you have no income, if you're being incarcerated, or if your child becomes an adult. If you meet the criteria for your state or country, contact your local court for a petition. Once you've filled it in, hand it in to the court clerk and pay any fees. You'll also be required to serve notice to your child's other parent through a third party, like a sheriff, professional process server, or someone over 18 who is not involved in the case. If your petition is granted, you'll need to attend a hearing, where the judge will decide whether you should pay child support or not. | Understand the purpose of child support. Child support is designed to allow a child to enjoy a standard of living that is approximate to what he or she would have enjoyed had the parents lived together. Child support may be ordered when the parents are separated, have never lived together, or are in divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or in the midst of paternity and legal separation cases. Typically, it is paid to the parent with whom the children spend the majority of their time. Child support is not alimony. The purpose of alimony is to rehabilitate or support a former spouse. Though the other parent may financially benefit from child support payments, the purpose of the payments is to benefit the children who no longer live with you. Once set, child support payments can only be modified by court order. Read your state laws on child support. Each state has formulas for determining child support payments, typically found in statutes. You may find your statute by typing “child support” and your state into a web browser. These formulas consider the child's needs and the parents' ability to pay. These formulas, however, are often only “guidelines,” which a judge can deviate from. Typically, courts can consider a variety of factors when setting child support payments: The parents' income. Some states consider only the non-custodial parent's income, while other courts consider both. Also, some states use “gross” income while others consider only “net” income (income after taxes and allowable deductions, such as taxes and/or union dues). Child support or alimony that either parent receives or is paying from a previous marriage. Which parent is paying for childcare and health care. Whether either parent is responsible for children other than the children from the current marriage. The number of children each parent is supporting and their age. This factor is important because the expenses of raising children do not double for each child you add. Whether either parent lives with a new partner or spouse who contributes to household expenses. If the child is disabled. If your child is disabled, support payments could continue indefinitely if the child is not capable of self-care. Meet with an attorney. An experienced attorney can help you strategize ways of lowering your child support payments. An attorney also may have particular experience with local judges and will know what the judges are looking for when considering a modification to child support. To find an experienced family law attorney, you can visit your state's bar association website. States often run referral services, which you can call or email. File a petition to terminate support. Sometimes the court will terminate a parent's support obligations. However, this only happens in certain specified situations: You have no income. Most states will grant a non-custodial parent's petition to temporarily suspend child support if the parent has lost his or her job or has become disabled and is in the process of applying for disability benefits. You are being incarcerated. Some states will allow temporary suspension for incarceration; however, other states will not. The child reaches the age of majority. In most states, a parent can stop paying when a child reaches the age of majority (18 in most states). However, in some states a parent is obligated to pay until the child reaches 21. The child dies. Even at the child's death, you must petition the court to stop payments. You cannot just stop paying on your own. Fill out a petition. Your state probably has prepared “fill in the blank” forms for you to fill out. You must find the right form to modify your child support payments. In different states it will go by different names: “Petition/Motion to Modify Child Support,” “Motion Regarding Support,” or some other title. You can always ask the court clerk what form you need to fill out. Although the court clerk cannot offer legal advice, he or she should be able to point you to the right form to fill out. If you have questions, see if the court has a self-help center or a family law facilitator. Because family law cases make up such a bulk of the court's docket, many courts have staff who can answer legal questions and help you fill out forms. File the petition. You will need to take the completed petition to the court clerk to file. Be prepared to pay a filing fee. If you can't afford the fee, then ask for a fee waiver form and fill it out. You will also need to serve notice on the other parent. Typically, notice can be served personally using the sheriff, a professional process server, or someone over 18 who is not involved in the case. Ask the court clerk for the form you need to fill out and how to pay any applicable fees associated with service. Attend a hearing. After filing the forms, you should ask for a hearing date. You may be given a date at that time or have a date mailed to you. Be sure to bring sufficient documentation to the hearing. Necessary documents will depend on your grounds for seeking to have your child custody payments stopped. If the child has died, then bring a death certificate. If you have no money, then bring pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, and any other financial information. Take a possible appeal. You may have the option to appeal a child support determination. Ask the clerk for the Notice of Appeal form. It may go by a different name, depending on your state and court. Nevertheless, clearly ask how you can appeal. To appeal, you need to have some objection to the judge's interpretation of the law or the judge's understanding of the facts. In practice, it is difficult to appeal a child custody order because judges are given discretion when setting the amount you must pay. After securing the appeal form, fill it out and file it. You will probably need to provide notice to the other parent as well. Understand what you need to prove at court. Another way to stop child support payments is to obtain custody of the child. If you ask for custody, the court will look to a variety of factors to determine what is in the child's “best interests.” These factors will differ by state. They will be listed in either a statute passed by the legislature or in a court opinion issued by your state supreme court. Courts will look at different factors, depending on state. Michigan, for example, considers: the love and affection existing between the parties and the child; the ability and willingness of the parties to provide food, shelter, clothing, and medical care; moral fitness of the parent; stability of the custodial environment; and mental and physical health of the parties, among other factors. Among a variety of factors, Kentucky considers the wishes of the child; the child's adjustment to home, school, and community; the mental and physical health of all individuals involved; as well as the interaction and interrelationship of the child to each parent and to siblings. To find the specific factors for your state, search online for “best interests of the child” and then your state. Consult with a lawyer. Custody determinations are complicated and important. An experienced attorney may have insight as to what judges will consider persuasive evidence that custody should be modified. Even if costs are a concern, some attorneys provide “unbundled services,” which means that they will provide limited services such as document preparation, legal advice, or coaching for a flat fee. If at any time you are confused about how to proceed, you should seek out a lawyer's assistance. To find an experienced, local family lawyer, search your yellow pages or perform an internet search for “child custody attorney” and your city or county. Locate the appropriate court. Generally, you will file your petition in the county where your child lives. This is true even if you live in a different county. Find the forms. To modify custody, you need to file a petition with the court. Your courthouse should have preprinted, “fill in the blank” forms for you to fill out. Stop into the courthouse or look on this website. Complete the forms. Fill out the forms accurately and completely. The forms may request financial information, such as how much you make in a year and the present cash value of life insurance or retirement accounts. Give yourself plenty of time to fill out the forms. Some states require an online interview, which helps generate the appropriate forms. You may have to create a username and password in order to access this program. Get the completed forms notarized. Once you have completed the appropriate forms, you may need to sign them in front of a notary. You can find a notary by visiting your state's Department of State website. Also, many banks have notary services available for a fee. Many courthouses provide notary services as well. You must bring sufficient personal identification to prove to the notary that you are who you say you are. Acceptable identification includes a driver's license, a passport, or a state-issued personal identification card. File the forms. File the original set of documents with the clerk of court. Keep several copies for your records as well as to mail to the other parent. You will probably be asked to pay a filing fee. Ask the clerk to stamp your copies with the filing date. If you cannot pay the fee, ask for a fee waiver and complete it. Do not be embarrassed to ask for it if you cannot pay. The clerk will also need to sign your summons, which will be returned to you. Serve the other parent. Attach the original summons to the copy of the documents for the other parent. Depending on your state, you can serve them in a variety of ways: You can pay the sheriff's office to serve them. You can pay a private process server to serve them. You can arrange for a friend or relative (not involved in the case and over the age of 18) to serve them. This person must complete a “Proof of Service” form as well. Arrange for a friend to mail the papers registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with delivery restricted to the other parent only. You probably cannot serve the papers yourself. If you have questions about acceptable methods of service, ask the court clerk. Wait for the answer. The other parent will have to answer your petition. You should receive a copy. If you don't, then call the clerk and ask if it has been received. Attend a hearing. At the hearing, you will have to present evidence why you believe that custody should be changed. You may present witnesses and seek to introduce documents. To properly seek custody, you should have an attorney represent you in court. Preparation for the hearing could be extensive: you will need a list of witnesses who can establish that it is in the best interest of the child that he or she live with you, and you will need to prepare to testify. For more information on seeking full custody, see wikiHow's How to Change Child Custody. Gather evidence of changes in circumstances. Judges have the power to modify an existing child support order and also have the power to set an amount lower than the state guidelines suggest. However, the judge will want to see evidence of changed circumstances: reduced earnings, increased expenses, etc. Before filing a petition with the court, you should gather the following: recent pay stubs or other evidence of self-employed income. evidence that your familial obligations have changed, e.g., the birth of another child. medical records, if you have become disabled. the amount of time you spend with the child. File a Petition to Modify Child Support. To lower your payments, you will need to file a motion in court to modify your child support payments. You will need to file this motion in the court that issued the initial child support order. Most courts have pre-printed “fill in the blank” motion forms. You can check with the court clerk to see if they have a form. Also ask if you need any additional forms, such as a Financial Affidavit. You can find relevant forms by visiting this website. If your court does not have a pre-printed form, then use a form as a guide as you draft your own motion. Use the caption information from an earlier motion (from the initial child support case). In the body of the motion, list the reasons why you want the court to reduce your child support. Sign the motion. You will have to provide the other parent with notice. The easiest option is to have the sheriff personally serve the papers on the other parent for a small fee. Ask the court clerk about acceptable service. Argue that you are paying “extras. ” In your motion, you may argue that you have been paying more than what the child support order required. For example, you might have picked up 100% of your child's school tuition or medical insurance. If so, you might be able to get the child support lowered. The “extras” must be substantial. Simply buying clothes or presents for your child will not qualify as substantial. Identify a change in financial circumstances. You can argue that your financial conditions have changed such that a modification of child support is justified. The change must be substantial and permanent. Also, you cannot have voluntarily changed your financial situation by leaving a high-paying job for a lower-paying one, or quitting work altogether. Any change in the custodial parent's financial condition should also be mentioned. If the custodial parent's income has increased dramatically, then you could ask for a reduction in your payments. As a general rule, changes that would alter the child support order by 10-25% (depending on your state) qualify as sufficiently substantial to warrant filing a petition. Some states allow you to petition for a change without alleging a substantial change if at least three years have passed since the prior child support order. Submit a joint request to the court. If the other parent doesn't object, you could agree to modify the payments. Even if you agree, you must nevertheless have your agreement approved by the court, as the court will always need to assure itself that the change is in the child's best interests. Get the form. Often, courts will have special forms for joint requests. The form may also be called an “Uncontested Motion” or a “Stipulation to Modify a Prior Court Order.” Both parents must sign. You also should fill out and complete a Child Support Worksheet. Every state has a worksheet. You can find your state's by searching on the web. You should have already filled out the worksheet when determining your initial child custody payments. Attend the hearing. At the hearing, the judge will need to determine if it is in the child's best interests to lower your child support payments. You should prepare your argument by outlining important points that you want to make. As the petitioner, you will go first. You will present witnesses and evidence that supports your argument that your child support payments should be lowered. The other parent, as the respondent, will go second. If you and the other parent mutually agreed to lower the support payments, then you may not have to attend a hearing. However, you must remember that judge must approve the agreement and is free to refuse to lower your payments. Consent to an adoption. You may place your child for adoption or allow the spouse of his or her other parent to adopt. Consenting to an adoption will terminate any child support obligation you have. At the same time it will also terminate your parental rights. The easiest adoption to consent to is a step-parent adoption. If the other parent marries someone, then that person may want to become the child's legal parent. For a step-parent adoption, you will need to give your consent. Depending on your state law, you can give consent in a signed affidavit, or you may need to go to court and tell the judge that you consent to the adoption. Understand that when you give up your parental rights you also give up any right to direct the child's upbringing. You also have no legal right to see the child, though the child's parents may allow you to see the child, if they want. Contest parentage. If you do not believe the child is yours, then you may be able to contest your parentage and avoid a support order. You must do this immediately after the divorce or paternity case is started. To contest paternity, you will probably have to take a DNA test. If you want to contest parentage, you are strongly encouraged to meet with a lawyer. You may mistakenly, and without knowing it, accept responsibility for a child. For example, if you file a divorce petition alleging that there are minor children, or if you fail to object to your spouse's allegation that there are minor children, then the court may prevent you from later denying that the child is yours. Abandon your child. In some states, willful abandonment of a child for a period of six months to one year is grounds for termination of parental rights. Because you are the non-custodial parent, be sure the child is in the custodial parent's care. Check your state's statues to determine if it allows for termination of parental rights, and if child support obligations are also terminated. Sometimes, parental rights will be terminated but support obligations will remain. To find your state's statues: Check your state's website. Many state websites provide users with a searchable state code or a link to the state code on another reputable website. Use the Internal Revenue Service's State Links page to find your state's website. Use your favorite search engine. You may locate your state's code by running a search at your favorite search engine. Search “YOUR STATE code.” For example, if you live in New York, you would search for “New York code.” Check with an attorney. It is a risk to abandon your child. First, the state can still garnish your wages if they can find you. Second, the court could put you in prison for non-payment of child support as well as suspend your driver's license or put liens on any property you own. | Understand the purpose of child support. Read your state laws on child support. Meet with an attorney. File a petition to terminate support. Fill out a petition. File the petition. Attend a hearing. Take a possible appeal. Understand what you need to prove at court. Consult with a lawyer. Locate the appropriate court. Find the forms. Complete the forms. Get the completed forms notarized. File the forms. Serve the other parent. Wait for the answer. Attend a hearing. Gather evidence of changes in circumstances. File a Petition to Modify Child Support. Argue that you are paying “extras. Identify a change in financial circumstances. Submit a joint request to the court. Attend the hearing. Consent to an adoption. Contest parentage. Abandon your child. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-a-Color-Rinse | How to Apply a Color Rinse | A color rinse is a temporary hair tint that's useful for covering gray hairs or evening out highlights. Coloring your hair should take between 15 and 30 minutes, but it's best to do a strand test first so you can get the color just right. All you'll need to do then is apply the color rinse to your clean, dry hair, working from your roots to your ends. Then, leave it in for as long as you determined from your strand test, and rinse it out with warm water. You should also condition your hair when you've finished, which helps to protect your hair from the chemicals in the color rinse. The tint should last for about 6 to 8 washes. | Separate out a test strand. Take a small area about the width of your finger from your under layer on the back of your head and clip the rest of your hair up away from the strand. This hidden strand will let you test the color in an inconspicuous place. Apply color. Place the swatch of hair in a plastic bowl. Apply the color rinse solution to the hair evenly, using enough product to completely saturate it. Be careful not to get any on your hands or clothes. Wait 10-15 minutes. If the hair you are coloring has been permed, relaxed, or previously dyed, wait for only 10 minutes. If the hair you are testing has not been chemically treated, wait for 15 minutes. Use a kitchen timer or set a timer on your phone. Remove color rinse solution. Take the swatch of hair out of the bowl, and using a paper towel, wipe the color rinse solution away. Dampen your paper towel with a tiny bit of water, and wipe it a second time. Add more color. If you are not yet satisfied with the intensity of the color, return the swatch of hair to the coloring product left in the bowl. Continue checking the strand of hair's color every few minutes. Make a note of your hair's coloring time. This is the length of time you will color the rest of your hair. In general, you should only about 20 more minutes. However for stubborn gray hair, this could take up to 45 minutes. Wash your hair. Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo 12 to 24 hours before doing the color rinse. This will remove any build-up from styling products and allow for a nice even color. For best results, use a clarifying shampoo (such as Neutrogena Clarifying Shampoo) to remove build-up. Dry your hair. Hair should be completely dry when applying color to it. Wash your hair with enough time to allow it to air dry (thus inflicting less damage on your hair), or if you are short on time, use a blow dryer. Change your clothes. Any type of hair dye, including a color rinse, can seriously damage your clothes. Change into clothes that you are not afraid to ruin, such as an old t-shirt you no longer wear. You can also put on a cape or smock to help protect your clothes or give your skin an extra layer of protection. These are available from most beauty supplies stores. Create a “hair dye” area. Just as with your clothing, color rinse products can damage your home. Place an old towel under your feet and another one on your bathroom counter. This will help you avoid dying your bathroom the color of your hair. Wear gloves. Anytime you are dealing with dye products, it is a good idea to wear rubber gloves. Color rinse solution can stain your hands (particularly your fingernails) for several days or even a week. Be sure to wear some kind of gloves. Disposable rubber gloves or plastic dishwashing gloves will work great. Apply color. Begin by applying color at the temples, hairlines, or wherever your hair is most gray. Then, parting your hair in ¼ inch sections, apply the color to your roots, and then work through to the ends. Use your gloved fingers to help distribute the color throughout your hair, but do not rub the color into your scalp. If you have long or thick locks, try separating your hair into four sections before coloring. This give you more control while you color, and a more even rinse afterwards. Remove any excess product. Use a damp paper towel to wipe away any color product that gets on your skin or a household surface. Pay particular attention to an excess product around your hairline, on the top of your ears, or on the back of your neck. Set a timer. Let the color remain on your hair for the length of time determined by your color test. (Remember, in general, chemically treated hair will need less time than non-chemically treated hair.) Set a timer and wait the allotted time. Lather your hair. After waiting the appropriate time, add a little bit of warm water to your hair. Massage your hair gently to work the water and hair coloring product into a lather. Rinse. Dip your head into the sink, under running water. Use your gloved hands to guide the product out of your hair. Rinse your hair thoroughly until the water looks clear. Condition your hair. If your hair is dry, has been chemically treated, or is otherwise damaged, you will probably need to condition. Add conditioner to your hair, focusing on the tips, and avoiding the scalp. Allow the conditioner to set for a few minutes before rinsing. Once the conditioner has set, rinse it out using cool water. This helps close the cuticle of the hair, keeping it soft and shiny longer. | Separate out a test strand. Apply color. Wait 10-15 minutes. Remove color rinse solution. Add more color. Wash your hair. Dry your hair. Change your clothes. Create a “hair dye” area. Wear gloves. Apply color. Remove any excess product. Set a timer. Lather your hair. Rinse. Condition your hair. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Relieve-Eye-Strain | How to Relieve Eye Strain | If you get eyestrain after staring at a screen or other objects for too long, there are a few ways to help get rid of it. Try holding a cool, damp washcloth over your closed eyes for a few minutes. If you have bright lights in the room, turn them off or dim them if you can. Preventing eyestrain in the first place is also relatively easy. If you're using screens for long periods of time, make sure you take a break every 15 minutes to rest your eyes. You can also try moving your monitor further away and turning the brightness down to reduce your eyestrain. Another thing you can do is use artificial tears whenever you get eyestrain. These are over-the-counter eye drops that help keep your eyes from drying out. | Create a soothing eye mask. This can revive strained eyes. Run cold sterile water over a small towel that will fit over both your eyes. Be sure to completely wring the water out of the towel, then fold or roll it lengthwise to cover your eyes. Lay down and place the towel over your eyes for two to seven minutes. You can repeat this as often as you like. You can also use cold compresses (like ice) or tea bags on your eyes. Tea bags contain tannins that can help constrict vessels, relieving puffy eyes from eye strain. Avoid laying cucumber slices over your eyes, since they could cause bacterial contamination. If you'd like to relax even more, add a few drops of rosewater or lavender oil to the eye mask or massage them onto your eyelids before applying the mask. Change your lighting. Turn off any harsh lights, extra lights, or fluorescent light bulbs. These can make your eyes work harder to adjust and long exposure to bright light will overstimulate your eyes and body. This can lead to irritability and overall fatigue. Create a comfortable lighting environment by changing your bulbs to soft/warm varieties. Use dimmer switches to adjust the level of lighting, which can then be personalized by everyone in your household. Natural lighting can cause a glare on the computer monitor, increasing eyestrain. Be sure to use an anti-reflective screen to reduce glare. Adjust your monitor's glare, brightness, and contrast. If you work or study for long periods of time in front of a computer monitor or screen, make sure the monitor is not too close to your eyes. Adjust the settings for brightness and contrast until you're comfortably viewing the screen. Some websites offer tools to help you make these adjustments. The brightest light should be at the sides of the monitor. Any harsh light should form a 90° with your monitor to lessen the bright light hitting your eyes. Reduce glare on your screen by closing blinds. Adjust the color on your monitor (color temperature). The color should be appropriate for your environment's lighting. Avoid bluish light, which can cause eye fatigue because your eye is constantly adjusting to match it. Instead, make sure the lighting in your room is similar to that of your monitor. Choose soft lights with limited natural light. You should also adjust any flickering caused by a monitor's backlight. Your eye must constantly adjust to the flickering, leading to eye strain. If you can't fix the flickering, replace the monitor to solve your eye strain. Strengthen your eyelids. You can actually strengthen the muscles surrounding your eyes, just as you can other muscles in your body. Strengthen your eyelids after working on the computer or as breaks between work. Close your eyes halfway down, paying attention to the constant trembling of your upper lids. This is a normal reaction from your eyes when you're not blinking. Concentrate your efforts on stopping this trembling for about 5 seconds. Lowering your eyelids halfway and focusing on stopping the trembling will make you squint, which can actually relieve eyestrain. Squinting temporarily reduces your pupil size and helps bend light easier so you can see better. Avoid squinting constantly, which can lead to headaches and more eyestrain. Relax and breathe. Once your eyelids are halfway lowered, slowly close them the rest of the way and relax your eyelids. Take a few breaths as you do this to increase the oxygen in your blood, as well as increase your overall circulation. When you inhale, imagine the breezy oxygenated air coming through your nose into the eyes. Exhale through your mouth. Repeat this for one to two minutes. The purpose of this exercise is to relax your eyes and strengthen the lids. Practice focusing exercises (accommodation and convergence). Try focusing on objects at different distances, to get some relief from eyestrain. Take small breaks to focus your eyes and remind yourself to blink, which will hydrate the eyes. Practice focusing by holding a pen at arm's length. Focus on the tip of the pen while slowly bring the pen closer to your nose at a steady pace. Do about 5 to 10 repetitions and mix it up by focusing on things that are far away as well as close. This lets your eyes relax from any previous strain. Focusing improves your vision, puts less strain on the eyes, and may help a twitch caused by a tired eye. When eyes have better visual acuity or are able to see with ease, less strain is put on the eyes, so eyes have less trouble adapting to typical focusing issues. Give your eyes a break. Do this if your eyes feel strained because you've been looking a computer screen, reading, or doing other work requiring concentration. Try looking at the tip of your nose, then at an object that's about arm's length or 20 feet away, and look back to the tip of your nose. Repeat this 10 times. Try to change your focus every 15 to 30 minutes by looking in another direction. Choose objects at different distances when you give your eyes a break. Or, you could also give your eyes a rest by getting up from the computer and walking around for a minute. Understand how tears moisturize your eyes. A major cause of eye strain are dry eyes. Tears are made up of 3 layers: oil/lipid (fat), water, and mucus layers. A problem with any of these layers can cause dry eyes. Once you understand what each layer does, you can narrow down potential problems that are causing your dry eyes. For example, a tear with not enough proteins to fight off bacteria can be dry due to irritation from chronic infections. The parts of the tear have the following functions: Mucous layer: This lowest layer is the base of the tear which gives stability, helping it stick to the eye. This layer keeps tears in your eyes, so they don't spill out. Water layer: This middle layer gives needed electrolytes to tears to keep them strong. It contains bacteria-fighting enzymes and proteins. The watery nature of this layer allows tears to quickly cover the eye. Oil/lipid (fat) layer: This outer layer seals the tear layers and covers the entire eye with enough tear film to protect the eye. Use an over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears product. If your eyes feel dry after reading, knitting or staring at the computer for a particularly long time, use an artificial tear product. Since several brands are available, try a few to see which ones your eyes respond to best. You may need to combine more than one brand for relief. Realize that artificial tears aren't substitutes for natural tears; they simply relieve dryness by replacing the outer tear film layer. If you have chronic dry eyes, you'll need to keep using artificial tears even if your eyes are symptom free. Some things to look for include: Lubricating ingredients called hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), glycerin, or polysorbate. These mimic tears because they have a similar surface tension which lets drops stick to the surface of the eye. Preservative free drops which can reduce the risk of allergy or sensitivity of already dry eyes. Eye ointments which are useful lubricants during long periods when you can't use artificial tears. OTC eye drops, like Systane, can be used four to six times a day or as needed. Try medicated drops. Your eye doctor can prescribe medicated drops after examining the cause of your dry eyes. These medications are substitutes for tears. These medications, like Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and Carboxy Methylcellulose, consist of an artificial tear and other substances to lubricate the eyes. These drops relieve the symptoms. But, you'll need to reapply them frequently, four to si times daily or as needed. If you're prescribed a gel, you'll need to apply it once or twice a day. Always follow your doctor's recommendations about dosage. If you wear contacts, take them out before applying the drops. Reinsert your contacts 30 minutes after using the drops. Get an ointment. Ointments are usually used to lubricate the eyes, but several types exist. Antibiotic ointment can be used to treat chlamydia conjunctivitis, dry eyes caused by diseases of the glands that make the lipid layer of tear film, or swelling from inflamed lids. Ointments are often used to lubricate the eyes during long periods of time when artificial tears can't be applied (like while you're sleeping). Common over the counter eye ointments are also available. You may need to try several before finding an ointment that effectively relieves your symptoms. Cover your eyes. Avoid exposing your eyes directly to air, like a car heater, hair dryer, and air conditioner. You should also take care to wear glasses when going out in the sun and goggles when swimming. Protecting your eyes can keep moisture in them. You may also try wearing special glasses that form a moisture chamber around the eyes. This can create additional humidity. Keep the humidity level in your home between 30-50% humidity. Add moisture to the dry indoor air during the winter by using a humidifier. Increase your Omega fatty acids and water intake. Since tears are made up of water, mucous, and fat, increasing oils and water can moisturize your eyes. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to help tear integrity, increasing tear stability. Omega 6 fatty acids help reduce inflammatory factors, reducing dry eye symptoms. Women are recommended to drink nine cups of water a day, while men should drink 13 cups of water a day. Blink often. Blinking helps freshen your eyes by spreading tear film evenly throughout your eye. This can relieve eye strain due to dry eye. It's especially important to remember to blink if you focus on a computer screen or monitor for much of the day. Blinking every time you remember to, or remembering to take a break every 15 minutes can help relieve eye strain symptoms. The blinking rate for people focused on computer screens decreases by 66%. Know when to see your eye doctor or physician. You should see your doctor if treatments aren't working, you have chronically tired eyes, or have alarming symptoms along with fatigued eyes. Keeping your doctor informed of your concerns will make it easier for the doctor to answer your questions or address issues you may not know about. For instance, you may be suffering from a more complicated disease that causes tired eyes as a symptom. These may include: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: This is a condition causing constant fatigue and vision problems which may be mistaken for tired eyes. Corrective lenses do not fix the vision changes (like blurriness) and eye exams are often normal. This condition requires medical care. Thyroid eye diseases: These can cause eye problems that may feel like tired eyes. Certain thyroid problems like Graves disease (where the body attacks its own thyroid tissue as well as eye tissue) can cause eye swelling. Astigmatism: This happens when the cornea is abnormally curved, causing blurry vision. Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome: This causes dry eyes because of systematic problems like diabetes or Sjogrens disease. | Create a soothing eye mask. Change your lighting. Adjust your monitor's glare, brightness, and contrast. Adjust the color on your monitor (color temperature). Strengthen your eyelids. Relax and breathe. Practice focusing exercises (accommodation and convergence). Give your eyes a break. Understand how tears moisturize your eyes. Use an over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears product. Try medicated drops. Get an ointment. Cover your eyes. Increase your Omega fatty acids and water intake. Blink often. Know when to see your eye doctor or physician. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Bees-Away | How to Keep Bees Away | To keep away from bees, choose a picnic location away from places where they typically gather, like trash cans or tall grass. While you eat, keep your food containers sealed and dispose of trash immediately to prevent bees picking up on food smells. If you're dining in the garden, pick a table cloth with muted colors and remove any flowers from the area around your table as they attract bees. Alternatively, place a natural bee repellant, such as sliced cucumber or peppermint, on or near your table. | Choose a picnic location away from areas that attract bees. It goes without saying, of course, that you shouldn't have a picnic near a visible bee hive, whether it's located in a tree or on the ground. Avoid setting up near other locations where bees gather, too. These include: Trash cans. Tall grass (which often contains ground nests). Vacant sheds. Old, unused playgrounds. Avoid displaying bright-colored floral patterns. If you're planning to set down a tablecloth for a patio dinner, make sure that the material has a muted color and a non-floral pattern. Bees will be drawn in by anything with the appearance of flowers, even if it's an artificial material. Remove any flowers near your dining area. Since bees are natural pollinators, they will be likely to gather near large, bright flowers. If you have potted flowers on or near your patio, remove these before a party or social gathering. If you're picking a location for a picnic, avoid eating near large displays of flowers, whether they're planted or naturally occurring. Bees are more attracted to some flowers than others. They're most likely to investigate wildflowers, along with honeysuckle, goldenrod, and lavender. Bees also like several herbs, including oregano, thyme, and chives. Keep your food sealed. Bees will be able to smell open containers of food, and will come buzzing in to investigate. To avoid attracting bees, keep food covered as much as possible. Even if you're serving a full meal, keep the food in sealed Tupperware containers or serving dishes covered with plastic wrap. Alternately, keep all of the food indoors. Asking guests to fill their plates inside and then step outside to eat may be a minor inconvenience, but it will decrease the number of bees you encounter. Avoid serving sweet or pungent-smelling food. Many foods that humans find pleasant smelling will also smell good to bees. In order to avoid drawing bees to your event with the food you serve, try to eat mostly foods with bland odors. Unfortunately, this means that you'll need to avoid some favorite picnic and patio-dinner foods, including: Barbeque (especially with a sweet sauce). Salmon. Fried chicken. Soda. Throw trash away immediately. Bees are attracted primarily to food smells, and the smell of garbage draws them in. If you're having a picnic or outdoor dinner party, be sure to throw garbage away as soon as possible. Place it into a trash can with a secure lid (to lock in the smell) or a dumpster. If you leave bags of pungent-smelling garbage within a few feet of your meal, you're all but guaranteed to attract bees. Set out cucumber peels to deter bees. Cucumber contains an acid that scares away bees and wasps. So, you can simply peel 2 or 3 cucumbers and leave the peelings around the edges of the patio. If you're not at a house, leave the cucumber peels on an outdoor table around which you and your friends are congregating, or spread them around your picnic blanket. If you're invested in keeping bees away from your house for a longer time, you could plant one or more cucumber plants in a garden near your house, or in a pot outdoors. Deter bees with 1 or 2 potted marigolds. Bees are naturally repelled by marigolds, so the bright flowers will keep them from flying too close to your outdoor activities. If you're hosting a large social event, and guests will be spread over a large area, try setting up half a dozen marigold plants around the area you'd like to keep bee-free. If you want to ensure that bees are kept away from your house for many summers, try planting marigolds in pots or planters on your patio, deck, or outside windowsill. Use common herbs to repel bees. Bees are deterred by a number of common herbs, and will not come near areas where these herbs (and their potent smells) are present. Bee-deterring herbs include peppermint, cinnamon, vanilla, and garlic. So, consider putting a few peppermint plants or cinnamon sticks around your picnic area or outdoor patio. You can also keep bees away by chopping up a clove of garlic and letting it soak before for a few days in a glass of water. Then, when you're going to spend time outside, set the glass of garlic water nearby. Make a bowl of “bee bait. ” To keep bees away from you and your guests outside, use a bowl of sweet-smelling liquid to draw the bees' attention. Pour a generous amount of soda, maple syrup, orange juice, or fruit juice (of any variety) into a bowl, and set this about 5 yards (5 m) (4.6 m) away from your picnic or dinner location. Set the “bait” about 20 minutes before you and your guests gather outside. Refrain from wearing bright colors or floral patterns. Bees commonly confuse bold, bright colored clothing (especially colors like red, yellow, purple, and green) for flowers. The bees will also be more attracted to clothing that has a floral pattern, for similar reasons. Dressing in muted tones will attract fewer bees. Do not wear perfume or other scented cosmetics. Bees are drawn to areas—and to people—based mostly on how they smell. Scented cosmetics like perfume or cologne, sunscreen lotion, aftershave, and hair sprays or gels will attract bees if the products have been applied in large quantities. If you know you'll be outdoors for all or part of a day, skip the perfume or cologne and opt for un-scented hair products. Don’t rely on insect repellent to keep bees away. Insect repellant is great at keeping gnats, flies, and mosquitos away from your skin. Unfortunately, most insect repellant sprays do not work to deter bees. Similarly, insect-repellant candles (like Citronella) probably won't keep bees away either. Unlike mosquitos and gnats, bees don't seem to mind the smell of the candles. | Choose a picnic location away from areas that attract bees. Avoid displaying bright-colored floral patterns. Remove any flowers near your dining area. Keep your food sealed. Avoid serving sweet or pungent-smelling food. Throw trash away immediately. Set out cucumber peels to deter bees. Deter bees with 1 or 2 potted marigolds. Use common herbs to repel bees. Make a bowl of “bee bait. Refrain from wearing bright colors or floral patterns. Do not wear perfume or other scented cosmetics. Don’t rely on insect repellent to keep bees away. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sterilize-Bottles-and-Jars-for-Canning | How to Sterilize Bottles and Jars for Canning | To sterilize bottles and jars for canning, start by washing them with hot water and dish soap, including the lids. Then, place the bottles and jars upright in a deep pot and fill the pot with enough water to cover them. Once the pot is full of water, bring it to a boil and let the bottles and jars soak in the boiling water for at least 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, use tongs to remove the bottles and jars and set them on a paper towel to air dry. | Pick out appropriate glass jars and bottles. Look for jars or bottles designed for canning purposes. They should be made of tempered glass and free of nicks and cracks. Be sure they each have appropriate tight-fitting lids. Jars should have flat, gasket-lined lids with screw bands. Screw bands can be reused, but you'll need new flat lids. Bottles should have rubber seals that are in good condition. Wash the jars and bottles. Use hot water and dish soap to thoroughly wash the jars and bottles you plan to sterilize. Make sure they are completely free of dried pieces of food and other debris. Wash the lids as well. They must be scrupulously clean. Place equipment in a deep pot. Put the jars and bottles upright in the pot. Place the lid rings around the jars and bottles. Fill the pot with water until it covers the jars and bottles by 1 inch (2.5 cm). Boil the jars and bottles. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil. If you're at an altitude of less than 1,000 feet (304.8 m), boil them for 10 minutes. Add an additional minute for each additional 1,000 feet (304.8 m) of elevation. Use tongs to remove the equipment from the water. One by one, lift the jars, bottles and lids and place them on a paper towel to dry. Be careful not to let the sterilized equipment touch anything except the clean paper towel. Fill the jars and bottles with the food you wish to preserve. Do this while the jars and the food are both still warm. Adding hot food to cold jars will cause the jars to crack. Leave ⁄ 4 inch (0.6 cm) of headroom at the top of each jar and bottle. Wipe the rims of the jars and bottles to make sure food drops won't affect the seal. Place the lids on the jars and bottles. Screw on the lid rings and make sure the lids are securely fastened. Set the jars on a rack inside a deep pot. The wire rack will keep the jars from touching the bottom of the pot, helping the contents of the jar get evenly cooked and ensuring that the jar seals properly. Use a jar lifter to place the jars on the rack. Boil the jars. Fill the pot with water until the jars are covered by 2 inches (5.1 cm). Boil the jars for 10 minutes, then remove them from the pot with a jar lifter and place them on paper towels. Wait 24 hours before handling the jars. They should be completely cool before you put them into storage. Check the jar lids. A slight indentation in the flat lids shows that they have been properly sealed. If any of the lids are not indented, open the jars and use the contents instead of storing them. | Pick out appropriate glass jars and bottles. Wash the jars and bottles. Place equipment in a deep pot. Boil the jars and bottles. Use tongs to remove the equipment from the water. Fill the jars and bottles with the food you wish to preserve. Place the lids on the jars and bottles. Set the jars on a rack inside a deep pot. Boil the jars. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Knit-Small-Flowers | How to Knit Small Flowers | To knit a small, simple flower, choose a light to medium-weight yarn and some small needles. Start by casting a row of 50 stitches, then purling across the row to make a foundation. From there, you'll need to knit a series of new stitches and loop them over each other to create ruffles for the petals. Finish by knitting across the row, then sewing through it to gather the petals together in a circle. | Choose a light to medium weight yarn and smaller needles. To create small delicate flowers, choose a light to medium weight yarn and a pair of needles on the small end of the spectrum for that yarn. Usually, a US size 5 to 7 (3.75 to 4.5 mm) would be appropriate for a lightweight yarn and a 7 to 9 (4.5 to 5.5 mm) would be appropriate for a medium weight yarn, so choose a size at the lower end of the spectrum for the yarn you select. For example, if you want to use a lightweight yarn for your flowers, then choose a US size 5 (3.75 mm) pair of knitting needles. If you want to use a medium weight yarn, then choose a US size 7 (4.5 mm) pair of knitting needles. Make a slipknot and place it onto your right hand knitting needle. Loop the yarn around your index and middle finger twice. Then, pull the second loop through the first loop. Slide the loop onto your right hand knitting needle. Then, pull the tail of the yarn to tighten the loop. Cast on 50 stitches. With the slipknot on your right hand needle, loop the yarn over the left hand needle and insert the needle through the loop. Then, pull this new loop through and let the other one fall off the right hand needle. Continue casting on stitches in this way until you have 50 total. Purl across the row. Transfer the needle with all of the stitches on it to your left hand and hold the empty needle in your right hand. Use the purl stitch to work all of the cast on stitches from the left needle to the right needle. Knit the first stitch in the second row. Hold the needle with all of the stitches on it to your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. Insert the right hand needle into the first stitch on the left hand needle. Then, yarn over the end of the left hand needle, use the right hand needle to pull this yarn through the stitch, and let the old stitch slide off. Slip the stitch back onto the left hand needle. Insert the left hand needle through the stitch that you just transferred to the right hand needle. Let the stitch slide off of the right hand needle and onto the left hand needle. Loop the second stitch over the first. Insert the empty right hand needle into the second stitch in the row. Then, pull it up and over the first stitch. Continue to loop the next 8 stitches up and over the first stitch in the row just as you did with the second stitch. This is similar to binding off, except you will not be knitting after each loop over. The goal is to gather all 9 loops onto 1 loop. Knit the last stitch but keep it on the needle. After you loop the ninth stitch up and over the first 1, knit this stitch as you normally would, but do not let the old stitch slide off yet. Keep it on the needle. Yarn over the needle and knit the same stitch again. Loop the yarn over the needle in the front to create an extra stitch. Then, pull this yarn through the stitch and let the old 1 slide off the left hand needle as you do so. At this point, you should have 3 stitches on the right hand needle. Repeat this process all the way across the row. Continue to knit 1, loop over 9, and then knit and increase for the rest of the row. When you reach the end of the row, you should have 15 stitches on your needle instead of 50 and the stitches should look scalloped or ruffled. Turn your work and knit across the row. Take the right hand needle with all of the stitches on it and transfer it to your left hand. Turn the work around as you do so. Then knit across the remaining stitches in this row. The stitches will be in clumps of 3 and spread out across your needles. Keep the working yarn taut as you knit to begin gathering them. Cut the working yarn and thread it onto a yarn needle. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut the yarn about 10 inches (25 cm) from the last stitch. Then, insert the end of the working yarn through the eye of a yarn needle. You can also use a tapestry needle to do this. Just make sure that the eye of the needle is large enough to fit your yarn through without damaging it. Insert the threaded needle through the remaining loops. Instead of knitting through the remaining loops on the needle, insert the threaded needle through each of the loops to secure them. Then, slide the loops off of the needle and pull on the end of the yarn. This will form a circle at the center of the petals. Make sure to pull the thread enough to bring both ends of the row together. The petals should be gathered around the circle. Sew through the first stitch and first and last petals to secure the flower. Once the circle is formed, sew through the first stitch at the center of the flower. Then, sew through the first and last petals to join them together. Tie off the yarn and cut the excess. You may also weave in the end of the yarn if desired by sewing around the center of the circle a few times. This completes your flower! Make more flowers in different colors for variety! | Choose a light to medium weight yarn and smaller needles. Make a slipknot and place it onto your right hand knitting needle. Cast on 50 stitches. Purl across the row. Knit the first stitch in the second row. Slip the stitch back onto the left hand needle. Loop the second stitch over the first. Knit the last stitch but keep it on the needle. Yarn over the needle and knit the same stitch again. Repeat this process all the way across the row. Turn your work and knit across the row. Cut the working yarn and thread it onto a yarn needle. Insert the threaded needle through the remaining loops. Sew through the first stitch and first and last petals to secure the flower. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-if-a-Child-Has-Been-Traumatized-by-an-Event | How to Identify if a Child Has Been Traumatized by an Event | If you're unsure whether your child has been traumatized by a disturbing event, there are common signs you can look for. Any significant shift in personality and energy levels will be a red flag. For example, if your child used to be outgoing and confident but now is quiet and shy, they'll need some help to process the event. They may also overreact to small things that go wrong, like crying or getting angry. Many children also return to childlike behaviors, such as thumb-sucking, wetting the bed, and attachment to their favorite toy or a person. It can be really tough seeing your child suffer from the aftermath of trauma, but the majority of children heal and overcome their experience in time. However, it's important to encourage your child to talk about their thoughts and feelings to help process them. It may also help to take them to therapy if their symptoms don't improve. | Be aware of what can be considered a traumatic experience for a child. A traumatic experience is one that terrifies or shocks the child and may have felt life-threatening (whether real or perceived) and caused the child to feel extremely vulnerable. Potentially traumatizing events include... Natural disasters Vehicle accidents and other accidents Neglect Verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse (including things like compliance therapy, restraint, or seclusion) Sexual assault or rape Wide-scale violence, like a mass shooting or terrorist attack War Violent/intense bullying or victimization Witnessing someone else's trauma (e.g. witnessing abuse) Recognize that different people respond to trauma differently. If two children go through the same experience, they may have different symptoms or different severity of trauma. What is traumatizing to one child may simply be upsetting to another. Consider signs of trauma in parents and other loved ones close to the child. A parent suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder can also be a trigger for a child to develop a traumatized response. A child may even react more strongly to trauma because adults around them have done so, especially parents because they're so attuned to them. Watch for personality shifts. Compare how the child acts now to how the child acted before the trauma. If you see extreme behavior, or a noticeable change from their normal behavior, then something is probably wrong. A child may seem to develop a new personality (e.g. a confident girl turning into a shaky people-pleaser overnight), or may switch between several strong moods (e.g. a boy who flip-flops between withdrawn and aggressive). Consider how easily the child becomes upset. A traumatized child may cry and whine over relatively small things that wouldn't have bothered them so much before. A child may become extremely upset when reminded of anything related to the trauma - for example, they may become highly anxious or cry when they see an object or person that reminds them of what happened. Watch for regression. The child may revert to younger behavior, such as thumb-sucking and wetting the bed. This is especially common in cases of sexual abuse, but can be seen in other forms of trauma as well. Children with developmental disabilities may experience regression more easily, which can make it harder to figure out whether the regression is related to trauma or not. Notice signs of passivity and compliance. Traumatized children, especially those harmed by an adult, may attempt to appease adults or avoid angering them. You may notice avoidance of attention, complete compliance, and/or overachieving to turn into a "perfect" child. Look for anger and aggression. Traumatized children may act out, become frustrated easily, and start throwing more temper tantrums. They may even become aggressive towards others. A child who has been traumatized may seem defiant or frequently get in trouble. This may be more apparent in school. Observe symptoms of illness, such as headaches, vomiting or fever. Children often react to trauma and stress with physical symptoms which may not have an obvious cause. These symptoms may worsen when the child must do something related to the trauma (e.g. going to school after abuse at school), or when the child is stressed. Pay attention to changes in behavior. If your child acts differently than they used to before the event, it may mean that something is wrong. Look for an increase in anxiety-related behaviors. It's common for children to start having difficulty with everyday life after experiencing a trauma. They may resist things like bedtime, attending school, or spending time with friends. Their performance in school might slip and they may experience behavioral regression. Take note of anything that's become a problem after a traumatic event. Watch for clinging to people or objects. The child may feel lost without a person they trust, or a favorite object like a toy, blanket, or stuffed animal. A traumatized child may become extremely upset if this person or object is not with them, because they feel unsafe. Children who have experienced a trauma may develop separation anxiety from parents or caregivers and fear being apart from them. Some children withdraw and "disconnect" from family or friends instead, preferring to be alone. Notice nighttime fears. Children who have been traumatized may have difficulty falling or staying asleep, or resist bedtime. They may be afraid to sleep alone at night, with the light off or in their own room. They may have an increase in nightmares , night terrors, or bad dreams. Notice if the child keeps asking if the event will reoccur. The child may ask questions about if it will happen again, or ask about taking steps to prevent it (such as repeatedly asking people to drive safely after a car accident). Reassurance from adults is unlikely to soothe their fears. Some children may obsess over preventing the event in the future, such as constantly checking the smoke alarm after a house fire. This may turn into Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Children might replay the event repeatedly in their art or play, like drawing the event over and over again, or repeatedly crashing toy cars into things. Consider how much the child trusts adults. Adults were not able to protect them in the past, so they might reason "who can?" and decide that nobody can keep them safe. They may not believe adults who try to assure them. If a child has been traumatized, they may have difficulty trusting others as a defense mechanism, as they're unable to view other people or places as safe. A child who was abused by an adult may start fearing other adults. For example, a girl who was hurt by a tall, blond man may be afraid of her tall, blond uncle because he looks similar to the man who hurt her. See if the child is afraid of certain places. If a child experienced a traumatic event in a specific location, they may avoid or become fearful of the place in question. Some children may be able to tolerate it with help from a loved one or security object, but be unable to bear being left there alone. For example, a child abused by a therapist may scream and cry if they see the therapy building, and may panic if they even hear the word "therapy." Watch for guilt or shame. The child may blame themselves for the traumatic event because of something they did, said, or thought. These fears are not always rational; the child may blame themselves for a situation in which they did nothing wrong, and could not have made things any better. This may lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior. For example, maybe a boy and his sister were playing in the dirt when the traumatic event happened, and now he feels the need to keep everyone perfectly clean and away from dirt. Notice how the child interacts with other children. A traumatized child may feel alienated, and may be uncertain how to interact normally with others, or not interested. Or, they may want to talk about or replay the traumatic event, which could annoy or upset other children. A child who has been traumatized may struggle with friendships and appropriate dynamics. They may become extremely passive towards their peers, or try to control or bully them. Other children withdraw, feeling unable to connect to their peers. Children who have been sexually abused may try to mimic the abuse in their play, so it's important to watch how a child plays with peers after trauma. Pay attention if the child becomes startled more easily. Trauma can result in hypervigilance and the child may always be "on guard". A child may become afraid of wind, rain or sudden loud noises, or seem fearful or aggressive if someone gets too close to them. Notice fears that they report. Children who have been traumatized tend to develop new fears, and may talk or worry about them extensively. It may seem like nothing can soothe the fear and reassure them that they're safe. For example, if the child experienced a natural disaster or is a refugee, the child may talk about worries that their family will not be safe, or will not have anywhere to live. A traumatized child may obsess over their family's safety and try to protect their family. Watch for thoughts of self-harm or suicide. A suicidal child may start talking a lot about death, give away items, withdraw from social activities, and talk about what you will do after they are dead. After a trauma, some children fixate on death and may talk or read about it excessively, even if they aren't necessarily suicidal. If there was a death in the family, talking about death isn't always a sign of suicidality. Sometimes, it's just a sign that they're trying to understand death and mortality. Still, if it is happening a lot, it may be worth investigating if something is wrong. Keep an eye out for signs of anxiety, depression, or fearlessness in the child. If you think there may be problems, take your child to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Watch your child's eating habits, sleep, mood, and concentration. If any of these change dramatically or seem unusual, it's best to investigate it. Trauma can mimic other conditions. For example, some children become hyper, impulsive, and unable to concentrate after experiencing a trauma, which is frequently mistaken for ADHD. Others may seem defiant or aggressive, which can be misconstrued as simple behavioral problems. If something's wrong, get a professional involved. Be aware that even if a child does not display any or a few of these symptoms, that doesn't mean they're coping. A child can be impacted by a traumatic event but keep it bottled up inside out of a misguided need to be strong or courageous for family, or fear of upsetting others. Assume that a child who has been part of a traumatic event needs to be cared for with extra attention to helping them through the event. They should have opportunities to talk about their feelings about the event, and they should also have opportunities to do fun things completely unrelated to it. Tell your child that they can come to you if they have fears, questions, or things they want to talk about. If your child does so, give them your full attention and validate their feelings. If the traumatic event made the news (e.g. a school shooting or natural disaster), reduce your child's exposure to media sources, and monitor their use of the internet and TV. Repeated exposure to the event on the news can make it harder for the child to recover. Providing emotional support can reduce your child's risk of developing trauma, or make the trauma less severe than it could have been. Keep an eye out, even if signs of trauma don't show up right away. Some children may not give evidence for being upset for several weeks or even months. Avoid rushing a child to explore and express their feelings. It can take time for some children to process what has happened. Seek help for signs of trauma as soon as possible. The responses, reactions and abilities of those immediately responsible for a child influence the child's ability to cope with a traumatic occurrence. Have your child see a counselor or psychologist if they seem to be struggling to cope. While your love and support is very helpful, sometimes children need more than this to help them recover from terrifying events. Don't be afraid to seek help for your child. Look into what type of therapy would be right for your child. The types of therapy likely to assist recovery for your child include psychotherapy , psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). If the traumatic event happened to multiple family members, or if you think the family could use help, look into family therapy. Don't try to cope alone. While it is only natural for you to want to try to be the support for your child, going it alone will make it harder on you, especially if you have also experienced the traumatic event. Your child will pick up on it if you're distressed or scared, and will take their cues from you, so self-care is a necessity. Take time to talk about what's going on with your loved ones, like your spouse and friends. Talking about your feelings can help you deal with them and feel less alone. Look into support groups if you or a loved one is going through something very difficult. If you're feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself what you need right now. Do you need a warm shower, a cup of coffee, a hug, 30 minutes with a good book? Take good care of yourself. Encourage your child's interaction with others. Family members, friends, therapists, teachers, and others can all support your child and your family in coping with the aftermath of the traumatic event. You are not alone, and neither is your child. Support your child's health. You can help a great deal by seeking to restore a routine as soon as possible, continuing to feed your child a nutritious diet and helping your child maintain play and exercise schedules that ensure connections with others of their own age and body movement for good health. Try to get your child moving (taking walks, going to the park, swimming, jumping on a trampoline, etc.) at least once per day. Ideally, 1/3 of your child's plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables that they like eating. Be available for your child in the here and now. What does your child need right now? How can you support them today? Just like coping with the past is important, enjoying the present is important too. | Be aware of what can be considered a traumatic experience for a child. Recognize that different people respond to trauma differently. Consider signs of trauma in parents and other loved ones close to the child. Watch for personality shifts. Consider how easily the child becomes upset. Watch for regression. Notice signs of passivity and compliance. Look for anger and aggression. Observe symptoms of illness, such as headaches, vomiting or fever. Pay attention to changes in behavior. Watch for clinging to people or objects. Notice nighttime fears. Notice if the child keeps asking if the event will reoccur. Consider how much the child trusts adults. See if the child is afraid of certain places. Watch for guilt or shame. Notice how the child interacts with other children. Pay attention if the child becomes startled more easily. Notice fears that they report. Watch for thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Keep an eye out for signs of anxiety, depression, or fearlessness in the child. Be aware that even if a child does not display any or a few of these symptoms, that doesn't mean they're coping. Assume that a child who has been part of a traumatic event needs to be cared for with extra attention to helping them through the event. Keep an eye out, even if signs of trauma don't show up right away. Seek help for signs of trauma as soon as possible. Have your child see a counselor or psychologist if they seem to be struggling to cope. Look into what type of therapy would be right for your child. Don't try to cope alone. Encourage your child's interaction with others. Support your child's health. Be available for your child in the here and now. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Dog-Walker | How to Choose a Dog Walker | To choose a dog walker, ask your friends with pets or your veterinarian if they have any recommendations. You can also try meeting dog walkers at your local dog park. If you see a dog walker whose style you like, ask if they're taking new clients or if they can recommend someone who is. When meeting with potential dog walkers, see how they interact with your dog and ask if your dog will be walked alone or with other dogs. Additionally, make sure they're insured, bonded, and licensed since they'll be responsible for any accidents that may occur. | Ask friends for recommendations. If you have a dog, odds are some of your friends do as well. Seek out those who use dog walkers and ask whether they're satisfied with them and get their numbers. Ask your friends questions such as, “How long have you worked with your dog walker?” “Are they dependable?” “What kind of coverage do they offer when they are away?” “Is your dog excited to see the dog walker?” Find out whether their dog walkers are accepting new clients. Some dog walkers offer financial incentives to clients who recommend them, so be aware of this while soliciting suggestions from your friends. If the dog walker cannot take on your pet, ask them for recommendations. Talk with your veterinarian or those at your local animal hospital. Many dog walkers work part time at animal hospitals or as veterinary technicians, so those can be good places to start in your search for a qualified dog walker. Additionally, if you choose a dog walker from a business or practice you frequent, you could already have an established relationship with them. Ask the volunteers at your local animal shelter. Animal shelters are a great resource for finding people who genuinely love and care for dogs. If they're the type of giving person who volunteers their time, they may be a good choice for walking your dog. Just because someone volunteers with animals, however, does not mean they are a qualified dog walker. Be sure to ask about their experience with dog walking when approaching them. Go to a local dog park. While many dog parents are present at the dog park, dog walkers will be there as well. Frequent a nearby dog park often and strike up conversations with dog walkers whose style you admire. Ask if they are taking new dogs. Some possible questions to ask include, “How many dogs do you typically walk in a day?” “Do you specialize in any particular breed or geographic location?” “How long have you been a dog walker?” Check on typical dog walker rates in your area. Average rates for dog walkers vary considerably throughout the country, so ask fellow dog owners what they pay in your area. The rates per walk may vary depending on whether the walker is working only with your dog or with many at the same time. You can also ask current dog walkers what they charge and adjust your rate based on your area and experience. Find out about whether tipping is expected on top of the agreed-upon rate. Set up an interview time. Many dog-walking services offer a free initial meeting and consultation. During this time, you can see how the dog walker interacts with your pet and whether you have a good rapport with them. This is a good opportunity to assess whether the interviewee shows up on time and behaves in a professional manner. After all, you will be entering into a business relationship with them. Ask if they will accompany you on a trial walk. This will allow you to show them how you walk your dog, and you'll be able to watch how they handle the dog. Talk about logistical issues. Among the issues to discuss with your potential dog walker are where the dog will be walked, how long the walks will be, and whether the walker will come at the same time each day. Be sure to use this time to convey your dog's needs to the interviewee. Clearly state your preferences, such as “I prefer if you walk the dog alone, rather than with other dogs,” or “It's better if you don't drive my dog to a trail, since it gets carsick.” The following questions are useful: “What type of vehicle do you use to transport the dogs?” “Do you crate the dogs together in your vehicle?” “Do you use my leashes or do you provide your own?” Use the interview to find out the walker's approach to the job. Ask questions such as, “Do you walk alone or with a friend?” or “Do you typically turn off your cell phone during walks?” Ask “How do I know you've been here each day?” and “Do you provide a written log with information on where and how long you walked and whether the dog took any potty breaks?” You can also ask the walker for a text after each walk is completed. Ask about coverage if your dog walker is sick or away. At some point, your dog walker will likely need to take time off for vacation or illness. Your dog walker might know another person who can take care of your dog, or you may have to find another dog walker on your own. If the former, find out how you will be notified of the need for time off and who will walk your dog in their absence. If your walker has a vacation planned, ask them if they will introduce your dog to their fill-in ahead of time. Find out whether the interviewee will be the primary dog walker. Some dog walkers are independent, while others work with a team or company. If the person you interview is not the one who will be walking your dog on a regular basis, ask to meet with the person who will have that assignment. Independent dog walkers can be beneficial because they will become familiar to your dog and give it a sense of security and routine. A possible drawback may be if they have scheduling conflicts and no one to cover for them. If you choose to go with a business or team of walkers, you will have more coverage in cases of emergency. Be sure that if you go with a team that your dog will typically see the same walker. Ask to meet all of the walkers who will handle your dog. Consider the dog walker’s experience. Ask about whether they work with animals in other capacities besides walking them (such as being a groomer, veterinary technician, etc.). This will tell you whether you are selecting someone who is interested in and knowledgeable about animals or is someone who just wants to make some extra money. Ask questions such as, “How long have you been a dog walker?” and “How many dogs have you worked with in the past?” Find out why they chose to be a dog walker: “What made you decide to be a dog walker?” and “Do you plan to do this indefinitely?” These questions can give you insight into the dog walker's enthusiasm and training philosophy. Ask how they have handled past problems, such as an injured or lost dog. Make sure their approach to training is similar to yours. Verify that the dog walker will use positive reinforcement with your pet, instead of yelling or shoving. Ask what type of discipline will be used with your dog, and be wary if the candidate says they “punish” dogs. An answer that includes words like “redirection” or “following instructions” would be more in line with a positive approach to behavior management. Ask questions such as, “How do you handle fights between dogs you are walking?” or, “What approaches do you use to read body language between dogs?” Ask about the dogs that will be walked with yours. You will need to find out how many dogs will be walked with yours and the sizes and types of those dogs. Thinking about these issues will give you a better idea of whether you and the dog walker agree on the approach to the job. Some possible questions are, “How do you decide whether dogs are compatible for walking together?” or “Have you had problems in the past with dogs fighting while you were walking them? How did you handle that?” See if the walker follows the “50 percent” rule when pairing dogs: If your dog weighs 25 pounds, his fellow dogs should be no larger than 50 pounds. Find out if they are prepared for an emergency. Ask your interviewee if they can perform canine first aid. Find out how they handle, or have handled, emergency situations. Ask questions such as, "Which emergency veterinary hospitals have you used?" "Are you familiar with clinics in the area?" Other questions to consider include, "What types of emergency situations have you encountered and how did you react?" and "What do you do with the other dogs while attending to one that is hurt?" Make sure they are insured, bonded, and licensed. You will be entrusting the dog walker with your pet, and you will be allowing them access to your home as well. Check their professional papers for evidence of insurance coverage and licensure during the interviewed. Liability insurance will cover your dog walker for injuries to your dog and any damages that may be done by the dog while in their care. It will also cover any accidents that may take place at your home while the pet sitter is there. Bonding involves a bond provided by an insurance company that will cover damages while your dog walker is working for you. This may be unnecessary depending on your walker's insurance coverage. There are no professional licenses for pet sitters, so the license they should have is to operate a business in your community. Go on a walk with the dog walker. Once you've whittled down the candidates, take walks with a few who did well in the interview. Allow the dog walker to take the leash if you feel comfortable and check whether the walker is calm and assertive with your dog and whether your dog is comfortable with them. Give them specific tips if you would like them to treat your dog in a certain manner (walk fast or slowly or let off the leash in certain areas). They won't know your preferences unless you impart this knowledge clearly. Watch both your dog's and the walker's body language throughout the walk. Do they seem comfortable with each other? See whether the candidate seems to pay attention to your dog's needs, like adjusting the speed or changing their tone of voice if necessary. Check their references. Once you have interviewed potential dog walkers, be sure to call a few references for each of them. Be wary if each reference you call had concerns about the dog walker or refuses to even speak about them. You can also search online for reviews of your dog walker. Possible questions for references include the following: “How long did the dog walker work for you?” “Did your dog enjoy the walker?” “Were there ever any issues, like fights or missing personal property?” Select a walker and sign a contract. Once you have chosen your dog walker, it is time to make the agreement formal. A standard contract between you and your dog walker should specify the rate, how often and in what manner you will pay, the amount of time the dog is to be walked each day, and the cancellation policy if either of you need to change the schedule on short notice. | Ask friends for recommendations. Talk with your veterinarian or those at your local animal hospital. Ask the volunteers at your local animal shelter. Go to a local dog park. Check on typical dog walker rates in your area. Set up an interview time. Talk about logistical issues. Ask about coverage if your dog walker is sick or away. Find out whether the interviewee will be the primary dog walker. Consider the dog walker’s experience. Make sure their approach to training is similar to yours. Ask about the dogs that will be walked with yours. Find out if they are prepared for an emergency. Make sure they are insured, bonded, and licensed. Go on a walk with the dog walker. Check their references. Select a walker and sign a contract. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Ladybugs | How to Get Rid of Ladybugs | To get rid of ladybugs, spray any ladybugs that you encounter with soapy water. To deter ladybugs from coming into your home, mist your external doorways and window frames with citronella or citrus oil. If any ladybugs get trapped inside of your home, turn your vacuum on and use the hose attachment to suck the bugs up before releasing them outside. You can also make a ladybug trap. Fill a small bowl with water and a drop of dish soap and pace the bowl in a light area, such as next to a window or a bright lamp. The ladybugs will land in the water as they are drawn to the light. To keep them away from your garden, plant mums since mums smell terrible to ladybugs and irritate them. To prevent ladybugs from getting inside, install weather stripping and use silicone caulk to fill any gaps around your doors and windows. Keep in mind, ladybugs are actually good for gardens and yards since they feed on obnoxious aphids and other plant-eating pests. | Vacuum up individual ladybugs if there are just a few. You don't need anything more drastic than a vacuum cleaner for just a few pesky ladybugs! Simply vacuum up each ladybug you spot and discard the contents of the vacuum cleaner into a sealed plastic bag. Place the bag in the trash to avoid the ladybugs finding their way back into your home. Spray vinegar where you spot ladybugs to remove the pheromone trail. Pour white vinegar into an empty spray bottle. Look around your home and generously spray all of the surfaces where you see ladybugs moving. The white vinegar kills the ladybugs on contact and also removes the pheromones that they release. Ladybugs release pheromones that attract other ladybugs. By removing the pheromones, this reduces the number of ladybugs that are drawn into your home. Prepare a bowl of dish soap and water to trap ladybugs. Fill a small bowl with water and a drop of dish soap. Place the bowl in a light area, such as next to a window or a bright lamp. The ladybugs will land in the water as they are drawn to the light. The dish soap removes the tension in the water, which means that the ladybugs can't escape. Set up a light trap to remove ladybugs from dark areas. If you notice that a dark area like a cupboard or the attic has a ladybug infestation, then a light trap is your best bet! Purchase an insect light trap from a gardening center and simply place it in the area you are targeting. When there are plenty of ladybugs trapped inside, take the device outdoors and release them. Ladybugs are attracted to light. They will try to fly into the light and will instead fall into the collection container. They can't get back out until you release them. Light traps are great if you want to remove the ladybugs from your home without harming them. Use an aerosol insecticide to kill large indoor infestations quickly. Purchase an indoor aerosol insecticide from your local grocery or home improvement store. Read the label and manufacturer's directions carefully before you begin using the product. Aim the nozzle at the ladybugs and hold down the spray trigger. The insecticide kills the ladybugs on contact. Check that the product is designed for ladybugs and indoor environments before you buy it. Always follow all of the safety directions on the label such as wearing gloves and not inhaling the fumes. Vacuum up the dead ladybugs. Regularly apply pesticide to the areas where large infestations congregate, such as window and door frames, wall voids, and attics. Hire a pest control professional if the infestation is too difficult to manage. While severe ladybug infestations are rare, it's best to contact a professional in these instances to save time and to prevent the infestation growing. If you can't remove all of the ladybugs yourself or if the infestation keeps returning despite preventative measures, contact a local pest control service for professional help. Use citronella candles and citrus oils to deter ladybugs using scent. Ladybugs don't like the smell of citronella or citrus! Use citronella or citrus-scented candles around the entrances to your home when you want to leave the doors open. You can also place a drop of citrus oil into a spray bottle of water and spritz each entrance daily. Lemon, lime, orange, or mandarin are ideal scents to use. Place a bag of cloves or bay leaves around entrances to your home. Focus mainly on the entrances that come from the garden or heavily-planted areas, as these are where ladybugs are the most likely. Get a small plastic bag and fill it with cloves, bay leaves, or a combination of both. Leave this on the ground to deter any ladybugs that come close. Ladybugs don't like the smell of cloves and bay leaves. Place weatherstripping along entrance seals to minimize openings. Ladybugs tend to come inside during winter to hibernate until spring. Purchase a peel-and-stick roll of weatherstripping and cut strips of it that are the same size as each door or window seal. Remove the backing and stick the adhesive side onto each interior seal. Weatherstripping is also great for keeping water and cold air out of your home. If you are finding ladybugs in your home but you already have weatherstripping, it may need to be replaced as it can wear out over time. Install window screens to keep insects outdoors. Measure the size of the windows and purchase pre-made window screens from your local home improvement store. Install each screen on the inside of your home and simply slide it into place, starting from the top of the window. Make sure that the pressure clips lock to keep it secure. Alternatively, you can get window screens made-to-measure and professionally fitted. Caulk small openings around the exterior to block insect entrances. Sometimes ladybugs get inside through tiny entrances that are difficult to find! Look around utility pipes, the foundation, frames, and exterior walls for small cracks or holes. Fit the caulk tube into the application gun and apply the caulk into each opening. Seal all of the openings well to prevent ladybugs and other insects from making their way inside. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the yard or garden perimeter. Diatomaceous earth is an effective way to kill ladybugs before they can enter your garden. Wear goggles and a face mask, and generously spread the diatomaceous earth around each garden bed. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the outside of your house to prevent ladybugs getting inside. Diatomaceous earth is safe for pets and children. However, it will kill other beneficial insects like honeybees. The goggles and face mask are only to prevent the powder being inhaled as it settles. Once it has settled, you can remove your safety gear. Plant Mums around your yard or garden to repel ladybugs. Deterring ladybugs from getting into your plants and home may be as simple as doing some gardening! Include plenty of mums in your garden, as these plants repel ladybugs. These protect neighboring plants and also deter ladybugs from entering your home through any doors or windows that are close by. Either plant the mums in the ground or in gardening pots and water them regularly to help them thrive. Use an outdoor insecticide if the infestation is difficult to control. If the ladybugs in the garden are unmanageable, then an outdoor insecticide is an effective solution. Find an outdoor insecticide at your local gardening center and follow the manufacturer's directions closely to apply it. Check the label before you begin to make sure that it's safe for any specific plants you may have, pets, and children. Outdoor insecticides are commonly sold as either dusts, powders, or sprays. Always use gloves, a face mask, and goggles when applying outdoor insecticides. Try controlling the aphids in your yard since they attract ladybugs. | Vacuum up individual ladybugs if there are just a few. Spray vinegar where you spot ladybugs to remove the pheromone trail. Prepare a bowl of dish soap and water to trap ladybugs. Set up a light trap to remove ladybugs from dark areas. Use an aerosol insecticide to kill large indoor infestations quickly. Hire a pest control professional if the infestation is too difficult to manage. Use citronella candles and citrus oils to deter ladybugs using scent. Place a bag of cloves or bay leaves around entrances to your home. Place weatherstripping along entrance seals to minimize openings. Install window screens to keep insects outdoors. Caulk small openings around the exterior to block insect entrances. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the yard or garden perimeter. Plant Mums around your yard or garden to repel ladybugs. Use an outdoor insecticide if the infestation is difficult to control. |
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