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How to Remove Blackheads and Whiteheads with a Comedo Extractor | Blackheads and whiteheads are commonly thought to be caused by dirt, sweat, and poor hygiene — but that's just a myth! The real cause of these "comedones" is clogged pores from excessive sebum (oil) production in the skin. When it touches the oxygen in the air, the comedo "oxidizes," turning it the black color from which we get the term "blackhead." Trying to pop comedones by hand can leave unwanted scars on your skin. But safe use of a comedo extractor will help you achieve clear skin without any blemishes or bleeding.
1. **Wash your face.** You want to work with clean skin, so remove any makeup or other products that may be on your face. Gently pat the skin dry, taking care not to irritate it by rubbing with a towel.
2. **Bring water to a boil over a stove.** Comedones are easier to remove when your pores are nice and wide. A little steam facial will not only open your pores up to prepare for extraction, but it will also put you in a nice, relaxed mood!
3. **Place a towel over your head.** While you’re waiting for the water to boil, find a towel you can drape over your head during the steaming process. The towel will trap the steam and keep it from escaping, improving the effects of your steam facial.
4. **Bring your face close to the steam.** When the boiling water is producing enough steam, remove it from its heat source. Lower your face over the bowl, letting the towel drape over you like a tent, trapping the steam. Stay in this position for 4 to 8 minutes.
Be careful when handling the hot water container. You may wish to use oven mitts to protect your hands.
Do not bring your face close enough to the steam to burn your skin. The effect of the steam should be pleasant, not strident.
A little bit of redness from the steam is normal, but stop the steam facial if your skin begins to feel irritated.
5. **Sanitize the extractor.** When you work with the comedo extractor, there will be a small opening in your skin where the blackhead or whitehead comes out. If you’re not working with sterile tools, you may introduce bacteria into your skin, making the outbreak you’re trying to treat even worse! To sterilize the comedo extractor, simply soak it in rubbing alcohol for one minute.
Keep the rubbing alcohol on hand while using the extractor to continue cleaning it as you go.
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly or wear vinyl gloves while working on your skin. Your hands carry many germs that you don’t want to transfer to your skin.
6. **Position the extractor properly.** The extractor will have a loop on one end of it. Position the loop around the whitehead or blackhead you are trying to extract.
If you’re having trouble seeing what you’re doing, try using a magnifying mirror. These can be purchased inexpensively at pharmacies, department stores, or online.
At the very least, make sure you’re working in a well-lit environment.
7. **Press down gently but firmly.** Once the comedo is within the extractor’s loop, you want to apply enough pressure to force the whitehead or blackhead up out of the skin. Press against the base of the comedo from all sides, working all of the material completely out of your skin. Comedones can reach deep down into the skin, so don’t assume you’ve extracted the whole thing as soon as a little bit of material comes out. Keep pressing from different angles until nothing more emerges from your skin.
When you’re satisfied that you have the whole comedo, simply swipe the extractor loop over it to remove it from your skin.
Either wash the extractor off in the sink or wipe the material away on a paper towel.
8. **Re-sanitize the extractor before using it again.** You should sterilize the extractor for every new comedo, even if you’re treating them all in one sitting. Soak the instrument in rubbing alcohol for a minute, then repeat the process with your next whitehead or blackhead. Continue until you’ve removed all the blemishes on your skin.
9. **Protect your opened pores.** When you extract a comedo, you leave an open “wound” of sorts in your skin that, while not very noticeable, will take a little while to heal. Apply a small amount of astringent to the treated areas to protect them from bacteria or debris that might cause another outbreak.
Moisture your skin after applying your astringent to keep it from drying out.
Do not apply makeup to your skin until you’ve treated it with an astringent. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Blackheads-and-Whiteheads-with-a-Comedo-Extractor", "language": "en"} |
How to Apply Apple Cider Vinegar to Hair | Apple cider vinegar is not only a staple health food product – it can also be used as an effective beauty product for your hair. All you need is unfiltered apple cider vinegar and water to make a hair solution that can help with itchy scalp, hair breakage, and might even help your hair grow faster. Applying apple cider vinegar to your hair can also remove product build-up, making your hair look extra shiny and smooth.
1. **Find a raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar.** When shopping for the apple cider vinegar to apply to your hair, choose an unfiltered apple cider vinegar that is cloudy rather than clear. Clear apple cider vinegars are pasteurized to remove the sediment that makes raw apple cider vinegar cloudy. The sediment contains the nutrients that are beneficial for your hair, so it is best to use a raw, unfiltered vinegar product.
Most organic apple cider vinegars are unpasteurized, so it is a good idea to check organic food stores.
2. **Measure out equal parts apple cider vinegar and water.** To make an apple cider vinegar solution for your hair, use 1 part water to every 1 part apple cider vinegar. For example, if you are making a large batch of the rinse, try mixing 8 ounces (230 g) of apple cider vinegar for every 8 ounces (230 g) of water.
If your skin is sensitive, try a more diluted mixture, such as 1 part apple cider vinegar to every 2 or 3 parts water. This will make the rinse less acidic and easier on your skin.
Use warm water to make the application of the solution more comfortable.
3. **Mix the ingredients in a cup or spray bottle.** Once you have measured the ingredients to your preferred ratio, pour the apple cider vinegar and water into a cup or spray bottle. Shake or stir with a spatula or spoon to mix well.
Using a spray bottle can be helpful because it may help you apply the solution more evenly over your hair. If you use a spray bottle, make sure that it is new and clean, as any residue from other products may be harmful to your hair.
If you don’t need to use it all immediately, you can store the leftover hair solution in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
4. **Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.** For extra nutrients or to mask the vinegar smell, add a few drops (1 to 3) of your favorite essential oil to the apple cider vinegar and water solution. Lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, and tea tree are all essential oils commonly found in hair products, and contain nutrients that may help make your hair healthier. Lavender, tea tree, and rosemary are particularly popular for stimulating healthy hair growth, while lemongrass may help with itchy scalp caused by dandruff.
Be careful with hot oils, such as peppermint, though, as these may irritate your skin. If you want to add a hot oil like peppermint to your solution, stick to 1 to 2 drops until you know how the oil impacts your skin.
5. **Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.** Using the shampoo and conditioner of your choice, wash your hair as you normally would. Rinse thoroughly with water before applying the apple cider vinegar solution.
Make sure that you have completely rinsed the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair. This will ensure that the apple cider vinegar does not have an adverse reaction to the chemicals in your shampoo or conditioner.
If you do not usually use conditioner, you can skip it – the apple cider vinegar solution will make your hair soft and smooth anyway!
6. **Apply the apple cider vinegar solution to clean, wet hair.** Pour or spray the solution onto your hair, making sure that you use enough to cover your whole head. Massage the solution into your hair and scalp for a few seconds to help stimulate hair growth.
If your solution is in a cup instead of a spray bottle, lean your head back a bit when you pour in order to prevent the solution from going into your eyes.
If you have split ends, spend a little extra time rubbing the solution into the ends of your hair.
7. **Let the solution rest on your hair for 2 to 10 minutes.** Leave the solution in your hair for 2 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong your solution is and how sensitive your skin is. If this is your first time applying apple cider vinegar to your hair, you might want to rinse after 2 minutes since you don’t know how the solution will affect your skin.
If your solution is strong (i.e. if you used a 1:1 ratio), do not leave the solution on for more than 10 minutes, as it can seriously irritate your skin. Even if you do not have sensitive skin, it is best to ere on the side of caution for your first time.
8. **Rinse the solution out completely.** Wash the apple cider vinegar solution out of your hair with clean water. After the solution is rinsed out, you can dry your hair as usual. Avoid using any products until your hair is completely dry, then style as usual. Your hair will be shiny, healthy, and smooth to the touch.
9. **Apply the apple cider vinegar solution to your hair 1 to 3 times per week.** For best results, use your apple cider vinegar solution on your hair 1 to 3 times per week to cleanse product build-up and ensure your hair stays healthy and strong. If your hair tends to be dry, try applying less often, about once per week, to avoid drying out your hair. If your hair is particularly oily, try applying the apple cider vinegar solution up to 3 times per week.
Even when diluted with water, apple cider vinegar is acidic and could irritate your skin. If you notice any signs of mild irritation, such as redness or itching, try diluting the solution with more water and/or using your apple cider vinegar solution less frequently. If the irritation is severe and you notice signs of a rash or feel any burning, discontinue use and consult your doctor if it does not get better. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Apple-Cider-Vinegar-to-Hair", "language": "en"} |
How to Have Good Dreams | Dreams are your body's way of processing stimuli from your life. The things that you see, smell, hear or do right before bed can affect the pleasantness of your dreaming. In addition, your stress level and expectations about your dreams can also have an impact on how you sleep.
1. **Choose calming music before going to bed.** Research shows that music can have an impact on dream content. For this reason, the music that you listen to several hours before bed can either improve or worsen your dreams. Choosing music that is calm, quiet, and repetitive may help you have good dreams.
2. **Use white noise.** Studies show that white noise can help induce sleep. If you sleep soundly, you may have better dreams. You can take advantage of white noise in several ways:
Small electric white noise generators are now available at many retailers. These produce sounds like static, ocean waves crashing, and forest noises, all at soothing volumes. Turn one on as you go to sleep to see if it helps you have good dreams.
You can also purchase or stream sound recordings of white noise. You can play these on a stereo set, computer, smart phone, etc. when you are trying to go to sleep, and reap the benefits of good dreams.
Some people also find that a fan turned on low provides a gentle level of white noise.
3. **Use aromatherapy.** Research shows that smells can impact a person’s mood, and so surrounding yourself with pleasing scents (such as lavender) can help you have good dreams, get over recurring bad dreams, and avoid insomnia. Fresh flowers and aromatic oils, for instance, can be used for this purpose. In addition, you can light incense and/or scented candles as you are approaching your bedtime. However, you should be absolutely sure that you extinguish these before going to bed to avoid accidentally causing a fire in your sleep.
4. **Get comfortable.** To sleep well and have good dreams, you should be in a comfortable place and position.
Choose whatever mattress, bedding, and pillows feel most comfortable to you personally.
Sleep on your side, if possible, rather than your back or stomach.
Control the temperature of the room so that it is cool (about 60 degrees Fahrenheit). If you do not have a way to set the temperature of the room, you can open a window or use a fan to cool it, or add another blanket to make your bed warmer.
5. **Avoid going to bed hungry.** It is best not to eat a big meal right before bed. However, if you haven’t eaten enough, you might wake up hungry, creating a fitful sleep. If you need to, have a small snack before going to bed, such as a banana and a glass of milk.
Try to avoid eating 2-3 hours before bed if you can. You'll get a better night's sleep if your body isn't working to digest food.
6. **Try eating foods with tryptophan.** Numerous studies show that tryptophan (an amino acid) increases sleepiness and reduces the amount of time it takes a person to fall asleep. The human body uses tryptophan to help produce serotonin, which is believed to be important for healthy sleep. Thus, eating tryptophan-rich foods may lead to better, more lucid dreams. Such foods include:
Turkey
Chicken
Fish
Pumpkin seeds
Milk
Peanuts
Soy
Tofu
7. **Increase your intake of vitamin B6.** This vitamin is important for a host of bodily functions. In addition, initial research shows that it is connected to the vividness of a person’s dreams. You can take a vitamin B6 supplement to make sure you get enough of it, or eat more foods that are high in this vitamin, including:
Banana
Avocado
Beans
Beef
Pork
Nuts
Poultry
Corn
Whole grains
Fortified cereals and breads
8. **Avoid stimulants and depressants.** If you are trying to have good dreams, avoid coffee, caffeinated sodas, nicotine, and other stimulants. The effects of these stimulants can make it hard to sleep well. Similarly, you should avoid depressants like alcohol. While they may initially make you feel drowsy, they may disturb your sleep and prevent good dreams.
9. **Avoid exercising near the time you want to sleep.** Getting regular exercise is good for your overall health, may reduce your stress levels, and can help you sleep at night. However, exercise has a stimulating effect, so you should not engage in strenuous activity near your bedtime. Otherwise, you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, which can ruin your chances of having good dreams.
Exercise three hours or more before your bedtime, for best results.
10. **Don’t work in bed or right before bed.** If you attempt to do work when you should be trying to go to sleep, your brain will be too preoccupied. This can disrupt your sleep, and make it harder to have good dreams. For best results, keep separate places for sleeping and working.
11. **Destress.** If your mood is off when you are trying to go to sleep, then more than likely your dreams will suffer. In general stress can disturb sleep and dreaming. Don’t argue before bed, go to bed angry, or work on stressful things like taxes or big work/school projects right before bedtime. If you have to deal with something stressful, try to do so well before your bedtime, so that you have time to relax and prepare your mind for good dreams. In addition, you can try any of the following methods to relieve stress before going to bed:
Yoga
Meditation
Breathing exercises
12. **Watch calm videos before bed.** Nothing scary.
13. **Use a dream journal.** Get into the practice of writing down your dreams within 5 minutes of waking up. Experts believe this is the length of time a person typically has before forgetting dreams.
Starting a dream journal may also improve your dream memory recall, making dreams more satisfying. If you get in the habit of recording your dreams, you are more likely to remember them.
14. **Try controlling the dreams you have.** Some research shows that you can influence the dreams you have. This means that if you want to dream about something, you may be able to make this happen just by thinking about it as you drift off to sleep. When you wake up, immediately think about whether or not you dreamed of what you wanted to.
If you are just trying to have good dreams in general, start thinking about various places, activities, etc. that make you feel good. Keep these in mind as you fall asleep.
If you are trying to dream of a particular person or place, start to visualize the person or place as you fall asleep.
If you are trying to solve a problem or puzzle in your dreams, find a way to visualize it. For example, if you need to write something, try to image a blank piece of paper and pen, and yourself beginning to write, as you fall asleep. As you sleep, you might dream about how to write what you need to. When you wake up, immediately write down the thoughts you had in your dreams.
15. **Reimagine bad dreams.** If you have had a lot of nightmares or bad dreams, you can try rehearsing new dreams when you are awake. In other words, you should imagine a new ending where your bad dream becomes a good dream. This is a technique known as imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). Over time, it can help reduce the anxiety the thought of bad dreams can cause, and make you more prepared to have good dreams.
For example, if you have a recurring dream in which you fall a great distance, imagine that you have wings and can fly. That way, the fall won't be a problem.
Likewise, if you have dreams about being chased down a dead-end alley by a herd of zombies, imagine that there is a door at the end of the alley so that you can escape. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Have-Good-Dreams", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Friends in a New Country | Moving to a new country—or even spending a year abroad—is a thrilling experience, but it has its challenges too. Once you're past the whirlwind phase of seeing new sights and exploring your new life, it's time to put down some solid roots. To keep your calendar filled with social engagements, make plans that get you out of the house and doing something you enjoy. Even the smallest, simplest connection can plant the seed for a lasting friendship.
1. **Ask friends back home if they know anyone in your area.** Most people don't jump at the chance to show a stranger around town, but that changes as soon as you make a personal connection—even a tiny one. Ask around for anyone who might know someone in your new home, and make a public post on social media too. Until you do, you'll never know if your old classmate's brother's best friend lives around the corner.
2. **Search online for expat events and immigrant communities.** Look for expat groups on Facebook or Meetup, or search online for local cultural centers for immigrant communities. Even if they're not from the same culture as you, other foreigners are more likely to be looking for friends and ready to bond over your experiences in the new country. It's not surprising that most people living abroad have at least some immigrant friends.
Leaving your comfort zone and getting to know locals is a great goal, but it's okay to make that a long-term plan. You still deserve friends while you're getting settled.
3. **Propose a group lunch or ask about weekend events.** If you're studying abroad or if you work with other people, you have a big advantage: people who can't say no to polite conversation! But seriously, work (or school) is the most common way to find new friends after a move. All it takes is the courage to step up and make the initial offer. Similarly, you can connect with your neighbors by hosting a get-together or knocking on their door with baked treats.
Start with something small. Try "I'm thinking of trying the restaurant around the corner for lunch, anyone want to join me?"
Local coworkers can help you out even if you don't hit it off as friends. Don't be afraid to ask "What do people do for fun in the summer around here?" or "Do you know if there's a volleyball court nearby? I haven't found one since I moved here."
4. **You can attend group events or connect one-on-one via an app.** Extroverts might enjoy the language exchange events posted on sites like Meetup (which are often relaxed hangouts in a café). If you don't like groups, use apps like Tandem, Italki, or Conversation Exchange to meet locals who want to trade an hour of speaking your native tongue in exchange for an hour of speaking theirs.
Arrange to meet in person instead of just using text chat. It's much better for both language learning and forming a real connection with the other person.
5. **Look for small classes that meet regularly.** Most language classes aimed at immigrants meet often and involve lots of conversation practice. It's almost like putting "make small talk with potential friends" on your calendar. Ask around for freelance teachers on local social network groups to find affordable, small classes. If you're a resident in your new country, check with local immigration or residency offices. Many countries will pay for part or all of your language classes, at least at the beginner level.
6. **Every trip out of the house is a chance to meet the right person.** Will your future best friend sit next to you at the combination pie-eating & DJ contest? Who knows, but they won't appear on your living room couch. Between Facebook groups for your city, Meetup, and fliers at your local bar, it's usually not hard to find something to do. The key is to motivate yourself to keep getting out there and trying new things.
Search online or ask locals to find out about music festivals, fairs, and other cultural events in advance. These are great places to meet outgoing strangers, and you might even find people looking for a carpool buddy.
7. **This introvert-friendly option is more and more popular.** Bumble BFF (a friend search mode inside the Bumble app) has exploded in the last couple years. You can also check out other general-purpose friend apps like Patook and Friender, or search your phone store for more specific apps like Hey! Vina for women or BarkHappy for dog owners.
8. **Practice your small talk and use it often** When you're the stranger in town, it's easy to feel awkward and out of place. The more you push past that, the more you'll find that almost everyone enjoys meeting new people. As mundane as it sounds, chatting about where you came from and what the weather is like is the first step to getting to know someone.
If small talk doesn't come naturally to you, prep in advance by finding something to say about local news or sports results. It doesn't have to be clever or even interesting—it's just a simple conversational opening. When in doubt, tell a local something you love about their country ("The food here is so good!").
9. **Pursue an old interest or explore a popular local pastime.** Committing to a weekly hobby meetup is a great way to force yourself to socialize. There are always sports clubs looking for teammates, and you don't have to master the local language to find comrades on the sports field. If that doesn't appeal to you, there are a thousand other options: knitting clubs, book clubs, amateur theater, hiking groups, and maybe even a local activity you'd never be able to try back home. Joining a gym is another way to meet people with similar interests, as long as you make an effort to start conversations or sign up for exercise classes.
If you want to try out a craft but aren't sure where to start, look for nearby "makerspaces" (often connected to libraries), which provide shared equipment for anything from kid's craft projects to serious scientific collaboration.
10. **Socialize at beaches, zoos, parks, and museums.** Work up your courage and ask if you can join that volleyball game, introduce your kid to theirs, or just say "I'm from ___ and looking to meet people here, do you mind if I sit here?" If that's a little too extroverted for you, sign up for a group excursion like a museum tour, so there's a shared activity for you to talk about. You might not consider this approach at home, but this is a pretty common way to start friendships abroad.
11. **Volunteering is an excellent way to feel connected to people.** Feeling lonely isn't just about not having weekend plans; it can make us feel like we don't matter to the people around us. Volunteering lets you prove that feeling wrong by contributing to a community and getting immediate positive feedback. Join an organization that helps homeless people, visits retirement homes, or helps out animal shelters. You'll feel good about yourself, meet like-minded people, and find an immediate sense of connection. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Friends-in-a-New-Country", "language": "en"} |
How to Measure a Lamp Shade | The right lamp shade not only softens the light from the lamp, but adds a decorative touch to your room. If you want to replace the shade to give your lamp a new look, it's important to know the proper measurements. Fortunately, measuring a shade is an easy process once you know exactly which parts you need to pay attention to. Nearly all shades are sized according to the top diameter, bottom diameter, and slope, so once you know the right numbers, you can easily find a new shade.
1. **Take the shade off the lamp.** You’ll have a much easier time measuring the shade if the lamp isn’t in the way. Carefully remove the shade from the lamp and set in on a table for the moment.
If the lamp has a clip-on lamp shade fitter, you can simply pull it off the light bulb. Be gentle, though, to avoid damaging the bulb.
If the lamp has a spider lamp fitter with a lamp harp, unscrew the finial that holds the shade onto the harp and then lift the shade off.
If your lamp has an UNO lamp shade fitter, unscrew the bulb and carefully lift the shade off.
2. **Place the measuring tape across the top diameter in the center.** Hold your tape measure at one end of the top edge of the lamp shade, and pull it across to the opposite edge in the right in the middle. If your shade has a square shape, measure one side of the square from corner to corner for the proper measurement.
3. **Write down the measurement.** Have a piece of paper handy to jot down the first measurement. Mark it as the “top diameter” so you know exactly what size replacement shade you need.
4. **Hold the measuring tape across the bottom diameter.** Once you’ve recorded the measurement for the top diameter, place the tape measure at one end of the bottom edge of the lamp shade. Pull it across to the opposite side to get the proper measurement.
5. **Record the number.** Write down the second measurement with the top diameter to make sure you know the precise size of the shade. Mark this measurement as “bottom diameter.”
6. **Measure the shade’s sloping side.** Set the shade down on the table once more. Place the end of the measuring tape at the top edge of the shade, and pull it down to the bottom edge to measure the slope.
Sometimes, a shade’s slope is referred to as its height.
If you have a square lamp shade, it obviously won’t have slope. Measure from top to bottom in the same manner, though, to get the height of the shade.
7. **Jot down the number.** Record the next measurement with the top and bottom diameters. Mark it as the shade’s “slope” or “side.”
8. **Use the measurements as a guide for a replacement shade.** Once you’ve recorded all 3 measurements for the shade, you can choose the proper size for a new shade. Most shades list the measurements in the following order: top diameter, bottom diameter, and slope/height.
9. **Select a shade that’s about two-thirds the height of the lamp body.** It’s important to choose a shade that offers the right proportions for the lamp body or base. Opting for one that’s two-thirds the height of the body gives the lamp an attractive, balanced look.
10. **Opt for a shade with a top diameter that matches the lamp base.** Your lamp will have a more balanced look if the top of the shade is as wide as the bottom of the base. It also helps to choose a shade that’s the same shape as the base for a cohesive look.
Place the tape measure across the center of the lamp base from one side to the other just as you did with the shade to get the proper diameter.
11. **Pick a shade that’s bottom diameter is wider than the widest part off the lamp body.** You don’t want to slim down too much with the shade, so it helps if its bottom is wider than the lamp’s base, which is usually its widest part. It can help give the lamp a more dramatic look so it’s sure to stand out. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-a-Lamp-Shade", "language": "en"} |
How to Render a Wall | If you want to change the look and texture of a wall but don't want to paint it, you can render it instead. Wall rendering is the process of adhering a mixture of wet cement and sand to a wall with a trowel. Rendering gives the wall a solid cement look and can be used to cover up the existing wall material. If you follow the right procedures and use the right materials, you can render a wall yourself.
1. **Chip away any old render and paint.** Use a cold chisel that is just sharp enough to scrape, chip away any bumps, dripping render, paint, or mortar that's stuck to the wall. Sometimes the old render may flake off and you'll want to scrape it all away before applying the new render. Continue to chip away at the wall until the stone or brickwork is free of bumps.
2. **Scrub down the wall with a stiff bristled broom.** Work the broom over the surface of the wall, making sure to displace any dirt or debris that may be on it. Work away any organic material, like moss or mold, that may be growing on the wall. Continue to work the broom back and forth against the wall until it's clean. You can also add some soap to help break up the material.
3. **Spray the wall down with a hose.** Use a garden hose and spray down the surface of your wall. This will prevent the water in your rendering mortar from drying out. This is especially important when rendering highly porous materials like sandstone.
4. **Lay down drop cloths around the wall.** Drop cloths will prevent dripping render from falling and hardening onto the ground near the wall. Tape the drop cloths to the ground with tape so that it doesn't move around as you work. Laying down drop cloths will prevent you from having to chip away dripping render later.
If you don't have drop cloths you can use tarps, cardboard, or garbage bags.
5. **Purchase the render mortar.** You can purchase render mortar online or at a hardware store. Select a render mortar with a color that you want to apply to the wall. The instructions on the back of the packaging will tell you exactly how much water you should mix with the water.
Render colors include gray, off-white, green, blue, and yellow. You can also customize your render by mixing the colors.
6. **Pour water into a bucket or wheelbarrow.** Pour the appropriate amount of water into a bucket or wheelbarrow. For 20kg (44 lbs) of render mortar, you'll typically need somewhere around 8 liters (2 gallons) of water.
7. **Pour the mortar into the bucket and mix it together.** Put the bucket or wheelbarrow on a flat surface before carefully pouring the render mortar into the water. Use a hoe or shovel to mix the render mortar and water together at first, and then switch to a paddle mixer attached to a power drill. Continue to mix until the render is lump-free and stiff enough to stick to a trowel. When the render is completely mixed, it should have a thick, paste-like consistency.
Rent a mixing drill or mechanical concrete mixer from a hardware store to quickly and more efficiently mix the render mortar.
Remember to wash off your tools after mixing the mortar so that the render doesn't harden on them.
8. **Smear the render onto the wall with a trowel.** Put the render mortar onto a trowel and press it firmly into the wall. Spread the render up, towards the top of the wall, and try to spread it in one solid motion. Continue to apply the first coat of render to the wall while keeping the coats of render as even as possible.
The first coat of render should around 5mm thick.
Keep the bucket of render as close to the wall as you can so that if the render drips, it will go on the drop cloths.
9. **Use a straight edge to level out the render.** Use a straight edge from a plank of wood and scrape it over the surface of the render to even it out. Go from the bottom to the top of the wall until the render lies level with the wall's surface.
Use an aluminum bar or a 2x4 foot (60.96x121.92 cm) plank of wood as your flat edge.
10. **Scratch the surface of the render with a scratching comb.** A scratching comb is a comb-like tool with spikes on the end of a handle. You can purchase a scratching comb from a hardware store or online. Go from the left to the right on your wall and create even depressions into the wall. Continue to do this until the entire wall is scratched with the comb.
The scratching comb will create depressions in the wall that will help the second coat of render adhere.
11. **Let the first layer of render dry for two hours.** The first layer or render should start to harden and adhere to the wall within 30 minutes. Check the dryness after this time, but expect it to take about two hours to dry completely. This layer must adhere to the wall before you can begin to lay the second coat.
12. **Apply the second coat of render to the wall.** The second layer of render should be 10mm thick. Lay down the second layer of render in the same way that you applied the first layer, by spreading it from bottom to top with a trowel.
13. **Let the render dry for 30 minutes and even it out again.** Let the render stiffen up and use a flat edge or a float to level out the second layer of render. This step is called floating and will help you flatten any raised areas and fill in any depressions that may have been left in the second layer of render.
14. **Sponge down the render for a smooth finish.** If you want to give your render a smooth finish, wipe down the surface of the render with a damp sponge. Clean and squeeze out the sponge as it gets dirty to avoid leaving scratches in your wall. Go over the entirety of the wall until the render has an even finish.
Use a soft bristled brush instead of a sponge to give the render a brushed finish.
You can do this while the render is still wet.
15. **Let the wall dry for 24 hours and then moisten it with water.** Let the wall dry for a 24 hour period, then mist it down with room temperature water from a spray bottle once a day. Adding moisture to the render will prevent it from drying out and cracking. After five days, your rendered wall should be completely cured and complete. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Render-a-Wall", "language": "en"} |
How to Decrease Body Fat Percentage | The fitness savvy know that it's not about that number on the scale — it's about your body fat percentage. Fitness is 21-24% for women and 14-17% for men, though we all have our own goals. Whatever level you are at, getting rid of body fat is just plain difficult. But with a combination of diet, exercise, and fat-conscious habits, your ideal percentage can be attained.
1. **Load up on protein and fiber.** You've definitely heard it before: to get rid of that stubborn fat and start building muscle, you need protein. The body can burn protein to survive, but it prefers carbohydrates and fats; so when you feed it mainly protein, it will go for the carbohydrates and fats you already have stored. That and protein builds and repairs muscle!
Fish and chicken are great sources of the stuff — you generally want to stick to the lean, white meats. Low-fat dairy is good, too, and beans, soy, and eggs are efficient sources as well. A normal person should have between 10 and 25% of their daily caloric intake from protein.
We are not forgetting fiber! It's slow to digest, helps you feel full and it acts like a sponge to water and fat. So add beans, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, and berries onto that list of awesome foods to eat you have going.
2. **Know you still need the good fats.** Some people believe that a no-fat or low-fat diet automatically makes for a good diet. Well, a low-fat diet, sure, but only if you do it right. You want to stick to the good fats, such as unsaturated, omega-3s, and omega-6s.
The fats that you should keep in your diet should be from fatty fish like salmon, olive oils, avocados, and nuts. However, just because they're good doesn't mean you should overdo it. Always consume any food in moderation.
In case it needs to be said, the fats you want to avoid are the ones that come in packages. That includes the frozen ones! Stay away from cookies, cakes, potato chips, and fast and fried foods. They're just not worth the calories.
Fats that are solid at room temperature are full of saturated fat, which you should avoid. This includes butter, lard, and coconut oil.
3. **Plan out your carbohydrate intake.** This is where things start to get a little confusing. There are very, very different schools of thought when it comes to carbohydrate. There's the Atkins camp which says no-carbohydrate is the way to go. Well, sure, that'll get you to burn fat, but it's totally unsustainable and anything that recommends you cut out 60% of your body's preferred energy should be questioned. Instead, let's consider some other ideas:
Carbohydrate cycling. The science behind it is that you have a couple low-carbohydrate days (about 1g per pound of body weight) that get your body into a catabolic fat burning state. But then you have a day of high-carbohydrate intake, that gets your metabolism running. Without that high-carb day, your metabolism starts shutting down.
Timed intake. Complex carbohydrate (brown rice, beans, oats) can be consumed before 6 p.m. (in general, late night eating isn't advised). Simple carbohydrates (fruit, sweetened yogurt, honey), however, should only be consumed post-workout. When the body is still reviving from your sweat session, the simple carbohydrates get stored as glycogen, not fat. Otherwise, they should be primarily avoided.
4. **Consider calorie cycling.** We've talked about carbohydrate cycling, but there's calorie cycling, too. And it's the same science behind it: if you don't eat enough calories, your body freaks out, starts shutting down and eats away at your muscles. Therefore, when you're on a low-calorie diet, you have to have days of higher caloric intake to keep it going and your metabolism up.
1,200 calories and under is where starvation mode generally starts. If you're interested in calorie cycling, know how many calories your body needs before you start playing around with the numbers. You can have days under this number, but make sure they're not consecutive.
To determine how many calories you should be eating a day to meet your needs and goals, consult with your physician or a registered dietitian.
This method is good for those who have plateaued. If you have that last bit of fat you want to lose, give this a shot.
5. **Eat often.** Getting rid of body fat is all about the metabolism, especially when all you have to do is get rid of that last 5-10 lb. And to keep up the metabolism, you gotta be eating constantly. But hold it! You've probably heard that eating 5-6 small meals a day is key. Well, it's close. But it's not perfect. Here's the thing:
When you eat small meals all the time, your body is constantly producing insulin and never getting to a burn stage. That, and you never really feel 100% satisfied. So instead of eating 5-6 small meals a day, eat three decent ones and two snacks. It's the same idea, but refined for efficacy.
Breakfast! Let's say it together: breakfast! It's so important. Your body needs to know that it can start burning calories and breakfast is exactly that flag.
There are no magic foods that will burn fat by themselves. While a healthy diet can help you lose weight, only exercise can turn your fat into muscle.
6. **Do both cardio** While cardio does burn calories faster than weightlifting, if you want maximum fat burning, you need to do both. If you want to get toned, go for less weight and more repetitions when it comes to strength training. And if you're looking to bulk up, go for more weight and fewer repetitions. But anything is good!
Cardio has any number of forms — swimming, boxing, running, and cycling might be some of the most common, but don't forget basketball, chasing the kids around, walking the dog, and dancing! If it gets your heart pounding, it counts.
7. **Crosstrain your cardio** There are two things you want to prepare yourself against: plateauing and boredom. They're both terrible in their own ways. And the best way to fight these (if not the only way)? Crosstraining. That basically means you're doing a bunch of different activities, switching it up on your mind and body. Your mind doesn't think, "Aww, man, this again?!" and your muscles don't get used to it and aren't just phoning it in.
For example, on Monday, you're hitting the pavement, Tuesday you're going for a swim, Wednesday is your day of rest, Thursday is the elliptical, and Friday is cycling. Easy! You could combine activities in one day, too.
8. **Time your workouts.** Alright, more controversy. There's a whole bunch of stuff out there that'll tell you so-and-so time is best for cardio and so-and-so time is best for weights and then there's others that'll tell you the time that is best is the time that feels best to you. Here's the lowdown:
Some people say that cardio on an empty stomach in the morning is best. Your body has been fasting all night and it's going straight to those fat stores. Others say nope, your body goes straight for your muscles. The verdict? Well, if it makes you feel dizzy and nauseated, we're going to go with the latter.
Some say that weights should be done before cardio. Cardio depletes your glycogen stores, so when you go to hit the weights, you can't do it. And when you can't do it, you don't build muscle. However, this is more important for the body-building types than the "I just want to get rid of the double wave" types.
Others say that you should do them at separate times entirely (cardio and weights, that is). Some say it depends on your goal (Weight loss? Do cardio first). Some say it doesn't matter, just DO IT. In other words? Do whatever you think is best — they all have their merits.
9. **Go for HIIT.** High-intensity interval training is all the rage nowadays. Studies have shown that it burns more fat in less time and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. It jumps up your metabolism right away and keeps it up after, too — so much that the term "after burn effect" has been coined. So even if you have 15 minutes to work out, no excuses!
There's no hard-and-fast rule to HIIT. It just involves cycling between low-intensity work and high-intensity work. An example? A 1 minute walk on the treadmill followed by 30 seconds of a dead-sprint. But the ratios are up to you!
10. **Make sure you rest.** Really. You may feel like a powerhouse that just can't be stopped, but your body needs to rest. Especially if you're lifting weights like it's your job; your muscles need time to repair themselves. So take a day to take it easy. You don't have to sit on the couch all day, but do allow your body to heal itself.
Weights should only be done back-to-back if you're working different muscle groups (i.e., legs one day, arms and shoulders the next). Cardio, however, can (and should) be done most days of the week.
11. **Get some zzz's** Your body needs them to function normally. Studies have shown that people that get at least 7 or 8 hours a night lose more fat than those who don't. Furthermore, people who sleep less have higher amounts of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, which causes them to be hungrier and eat more.
12. **Drink loads of water** It's practically the easiest dieting tactic there is. When you drink more water, your body gets flushed of toxins and doesn't want to eat as much. That's aside from the benefits it has on your organs, skin, hair, and nails.
Women should aim for about three liters a day; men about four (that's including the water in food).
13. **Drink coffee prior to your workout.** Studies have shown that caffeine stimulates the nervous system and increases our levels of epinephrine. That epinephrine manifests as an adrenaline rush and sends signals to our body to start breaking down fat tissue. Then those fatty acids are free to be released and used up in our blood. If you want to see if it works for you, drink a cup of coffee prior to your workout.
It's less effective if your stomach is already full of food, so keep the cup of coffee by itself or with a small snack. And, yes, it's caffeine, that does it, not coffee — but most other sources of caffeine aren't that good for you (read: soda). However, an ounce of dark chocolate wouldn't be terrible and it has caffeine, too!
14. **Avoid crash diets.** If it's anything that has an end point, it's just not that healthy. Whether you're juicing, fasting, or just cutting out one food group, if it's not sustainable, it's probably not that good. You might see some serious results initially, but in the long-run it messes with your metabolism and ultimately messes you up. So avoid them. Stay healthy and avoid them.
15. **Use several techniques to measure your body fat.** There are over half a dozen ways out there to measure your body fat percentage and not all of them are 100% accurate all the time. Always measure your body fat at the same time (for example, Monday mornings) and under the same conditions (before breakfast or after drinking a glass of water). Try several different methods for the best accuracy.
Common methods include calipers, body fat scales and monitors, Bod Pods, water displacement, and DEXA scanning. Generally the more expensive it is, the more accurate it is. If you can afford it, try a couple different things to give yourself an accurate idea. A couple of percentage points is a big deal!
A personal trainer or registered dietitian may be able to help you measure and calculate your body fat using scales, tape measure, or calipers. Some health and gym facilities may offer more expensive forms of testing, such as Bod Pods, water displacement, or DEXA scanning.
A "fit" female has between 21-24% body fat, though acceptable is up to 31%. For men, fit is 14-17% and acceptable is up to 25%. Everyone has an essential fat level (for men it's much lower) that you can never get rid of without hurting yourself. So know what's best for you! And what's realistic. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Decrease-Body-Fat-Percentage", "language": "en"} |
How to Cover a Shoebox | A shoebox is a handy size for all sorts of things from gift giving to storage of knick knacks, photos and papers. However, the standard shoebox isn't that pretty even though it's functional; if you want to use it as part of your home décor, you'll probably prefer that it blends in with the theme rather than advertising its former contents. Covering a shoebox with either paper or fabric will overhaul the box and make it suitable for many reuses.
1. **Choose the fabric.** Select fabric that matches with your décor or storage area. It can be fabric you already own or you might wish to purchase fabric especially for the project.
2. **Cut the fabric covering to size.** You'll need to cut the fabric for the narrow ends, the long sides and the lid, as follows:
Measure the narrow ends of the shoebox, allowing for an equal overlap around the edges of 5cm/2 inches width and 7.5cm/3 inches to the depth. Using this measurement, cut two squares of fabric.
Measure the sides of the shoebox, making the length just slightly short of the full side length and allowing for an overlap of 7.5cm/3 inches for the depth of each side. Using this measurement, cut two rectangles of fabric.
Measure the lid. The measurement should be the same as the lid plus double the depth of the lid's sides. Cut a fabric rectangle to this dimension.
3. **Cover the shoebox.** Attach the end fabric pieces first. Ensuring that the fabric piece overlaps equally all of the way around, adhere it to the first end with fabric glue. At the corners, cut into the fabric to make vertical slits that will allow you to fold the fabric down around the corner. Spread the glue into the areas of overlap, then press down all the overlapping edges of the fabric, sticking the side overlaps first, then the top and finally, the base overlap.
Be sure to smooth out the fabric as you go.
4. **Attach the side pieces to the shoebox.** Check that the overlap is equal. Glue the fabric to the sides, ensuring that the overlap is glued inside the box and under it.
Be sure to smooth out the fabric as you go.
5. **Attach the fabric to the box lid.** Place the fabric facing wrong side up onto a flat surface. Apply glue to the shoebox lid, then carefully place it down onto the fabric, taking care to ensure that there is even overlap all of the way around the lid. Turn the lid over and smooth out the fabric. Cut the corner edges into a slit to make it easy to fold over the fabric. Then glue the overlap pieces over the sides and tuck them under to complete the cover.
6. **Allow to dry thoroughly.** Once dried, add embellishments if using, such as gluing on a bow, some buttons or drawing a design on the fabric with fabric markers or paint. Alternatively, simply leave the covered shoebox as it is.
If you want to know what the box contains, glue on a fabric label and use a fabric marker or fabric paint to stencil on the word representing the contents.
7. **Done.** The fabric covered shoebox is now ready for using as storage. Items that will fit well inside include photos, jewelry, craft supplies, small bottles, perfumes, herbs and spices in their containers, clothes pins, and so forth.
8. **Choose the paper.** Find good quality wrapping paper. If the box is to be used for a gift, choose paper that suits the recipient. If the box is for storage of your items, choose paper with a pattern, design or color that you like.
9. **Cut the paper covering to size.** You'll need to cut the paper for the narrow ends, the long sides and the lid, as follows:
Measure the narrow ends of the shoebox, allowing for an equal overlap around the edges of 5cm/2 inches width and 7.5cm/3 inches to the depth. Using this measurement, cut two squares of paper.
Measure the sides of the shoebox, making the length just slightly short of the full side length and allowing for an overlap of 7.5cm/3 inches for the depth of each side. Using this measurement, cut two rectangles of paper.
Measure the lid. The measurement should be the same as the lid plus double the depth of the lid's sides. Cut a paper rectangle to this dimension.
10. **Cover the shoebox.** Attach the end paper pieces first. Ensuring that the paper piece overlaps equally all of the way around, adhere it to the first end with paper glue. At the corners, cut into the fabric to make vertical slits that will allow you to fold the paper down. Spread the glue into the areas of overlap, then make a crisp crease to fold the paper down firmly over each of the overlapping edges of the box, sticking the side overlaps first, then the top and finally, the base overlap.
11. **Attach the side pieces to the shoebox.** Check that the overlap is equal. Glue the paper to the sides, ensuring that the overlap is glued inside the box and under it.
12. **Attach the paper to the box lid.** Place the paper facing wrong side up onto a flat surface. Apply glue to the shoebox lid, then carefully place it down onto the paper, taking care to ensure that there is even overlap all of the way around the lid.
13. **Turn the lid over and smooth out the paper as needed.** Cut the corner edges of the paper into a slit each side, to make it easy to fold it over the corner. Make very crisp creases to fold the overlap paper over, then glue the overlap pieces over the sides of the lid, tucking them under to complete the cover.
14. **Allow to dry thoroughly.** Once dried, add embellishments if using, such as gluing on a ribbon or burlap bow, drawing a design or gluing on some ribbon. Alternatively, simply leave the covered shoebox as it is.
If you want to know the contents of the box, add a paper label and neatly write or stencil on the word describing the contents. Using a calligraphy pen is another option for an elegant flair.
15. **Done.** The paper covered shoebox is now ready for using as storage. Items that will fit well inside include photos, jewelry, craft supplies, small bottles, perfumes, herbs and spices in their containers, clothes pins, and so forth. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Cover-a-Shoebox", "language": "en"} |
How to Cope with Divorced Parents | Your parents' divorce will likely have a substantial effect on your emotions. It will affect certain aspects of your life, potentially complicating things like day-to-day logistics and holiday planning. Know that the emotions you’re feeling now or may feel later are entirely natural. Anger, sadness, anxiety, and even guilt may arise, as well as other less predictable emotions including embarrassment, loneliness, and even relief. Do your best to maintain positive relationships with each of your parents, but make taking care of yourself your main priority.
1. **Avoid getting drawn into their conflict.** It’s important that you’re able to feel comfortable about each of your parents after their divorce. One of the most important aspects of maintaining positive relationships with each of your parents is refusing to side with one of them over the other. If either of your parents try to get you to agree with them about how they see their divorce, remind them that it is their relationship, and their discussion.
If one of your parents begins to act as though they are jealous or upset about you spending time with your other parent, tell them to stop.
Be specific, by saying something like, “I intend to maintain a positive relationship with both of you, and you need to allow me to do so.”
2. **Maintain boundaries.** Hopefully, your parents will not attempt to pit you against one another. However, you may realize that one or both of your parents begin to rely on you heavily for emotional support. This can be a challenging thing to experience, as well as a challenging thing to recognize. If you find yourself consoling a parent somewhat often, think about who else they may be able to speak with.
If they have siblings or close friends that they could talk to, reach out to those people and ask them to contact your parent. Though it may feel odd to seek help for a parent, it is likely in both your own and their best interest.
Never allow either of your parents to act as though their happiness is your responsibility. If they make this implication, respond by saying something like, “I want you to be happy and I will support you as much as I am able, but I also need to take care of myself.”
3. **Tell your parents to get help.** Your parents are people too. It can be disconcerting to become aware of the fact that they sometimes struggle with intense emotions and need support when they’ve always been the ones taking care of you. This realization can even be traumatizing, though it will also likely contribute to your own growth.
If your parents are struggling with persistent bitterness, anger, or depression, ask them to see a counselor or therapist.
Tell them that a counselor will know how to help them maintain emotional stability while going through a divorce.
Further, conclude the thought by saying something like, “a therapist can also give you pointers to help ease the stress you’re feeling.”
Make sure that you do not start to take on the role of a counselor for your parents, such as by listening to them complain, being a shoulder to cry on, or offering advice. If you find that you are taking on this role, then ask your parents to seek the help of a counselor as soon as possible. This is not a healthy relationship to develop with your parent(s) and it can have negative emotional effects on you. If your parent continues to rely on you for emotional support, then talk to another trustworthy adult about the situation, such as an aunt, grandparent, or teacher.
4. **Talk about your own future.** After recovering from the shock of your parents’ divorce, you’ll likely start to confront the fact that your own life will be different moving forward. This is especially true if you’re still living with one of your parents. You should ask your parents any questions you have about your future, in both the short and long term.
Plan a time to sit down with both of your parents together, as soon as is possible. If their relationship is volatile or they are unwilling to speak with you together, make plans to speak with them separately.
While talking about what has happened may be helpful, ask questions about what will happen moving forward. Feel free to be direct by simply asking, “What’s going to happen next?”
Don’t worry about “adding” to what they’re going through. While you’ll likely feel this way, it’s better for everyone to communicate your concerns. You may learn that your parents have already been thinking about your future as well.
5. **Talk to your siblings.** Your siblings will likely prove to be an extremely important source of support, no matter what your relationship with them was like before the divorce. The experiences you’ve shared give you better insight into one another’s lives than most. Talk about how each of your parents are doing, how each of you are doing, and what you can do to help each other, as well as your parents.
If anyone is having a particularly hard time dealing with the divorce, you and your other family members can plan to talk to them together about seeing a therapist.
Reach out to extended family members as well. In particular, your parents’ siblings may be better able to help and support them than you and your siblings.
6. **Live your own life.** Don’t put your own life on hold simply because your parents have hit a rough patch in their lives. Keep any long-term plans you’ve made, especially if you’re pursuing a significant goal. For instance, if you’re planning to move out and go to college next year, you still should. Similarly, if you intend to get married yourself in the foreseeable future, don’t start to question your own goals and intentions on account of your parents’ divorce.
If you are having fears about the future, then try talking with a trustworthy adult, such as a parent, teacher, or religious leader. For example, you might start by saying something like, “The divorce is making me question some of the things that I had envisioned for my future. I am starting to feel fearful about ____.”
Continue participating in normal everyday activities as well. For instance, keep going to your weekly volleyball meetup, and try to maintain an active social life.
Keep yourself occupied with personal interests and relationships to keep your stress levels low and stay focused on your own goals.
7. **Plan ahead for special events.** Holidays and celebrations may become a source of stress as you try to navigate how to include your parents, or decide when to visit them when they both may want your company. While they may be willing to be around one another to share in your accomplishments and other key events together, they may also wish to compromise, and work with you to plan to be a part of separate occasions.
Ask your parents to speak with one another about attending events that you want them both to be a part of, such as your graduation, a big sports game, or a birthday party.
Hopefully, they will be able to put their differences aside. You may even want to frame it in these terms, by asking if they’d be willing to focus on the positive for a day, in the interest of enjoying a special occasion altogether. Try saying something like, “I know you two have a hard time being around each other, but I was hoping we could just have a day to focus on this milestone in my life.”
8. **Talk to someone you can speak freely with.** Whether a sibling or a friend, you need to be able to tell someone how you’re honestly feeling about your parents’ divorce from time to time. Another way of looking at it is allowing others to support you. Stress, depression, and sadness will all make it harder to go about your daily life, let alone maintain a happy, healthy frame of mind.
You can also find a support group of people roughly your age who also have divorced parents.
If you continue to struggle with mental health issues, see a therapist! A school counselor or your doctor’s office can help you find one.
9. **Try to focus on the positive.** It may sound impossible, but there is likely some good that will come from your parents’ divorce. Most importantly, there was a reason they got divorced, and one – if not both – will be better off in the long run because of their separation. Meanwhile, think about what you like about each of your parents as individuals. If you continue to spend time with each of them, you’ll likely come to know them better than you did when they were together.
10. **Don’t be too hard on yourself.** You may feel like you should have “gotten over” your parents divorce long ago, or that their divorce shouldn’t bother you if it happens when you’re already an adult. It’s actually quite normal, however, for people to have strong residual feelings about a parent’s divorce, not matter your age or how long ago it occurred.
Anger about your parents’ divorce may even increase as you become more aware of how it affected you and your family.
You may have more questions as you become more aware as well. Ask your parents these questions to prevent them from leading to resentment.
11. **Do not parent your parents.** More to the point, you must insist that they do not put you in any negative situations. A risk of being adult with divorced parents is the tendency to end up playing mediator. This might happen either because you feel like you should or because one of your parents puts you in situations where you have to act as a mediator. Either way, this is unhealthy, and you need to avoid doing so. Tell a parent that pushing too much information or responsibility onto you that they need to talk to a friend, counselor, or lawyer instead.
Remind yourself that you are not responsible for helping your parents through a divorce.
You may even need to articulate this by saying something like, “I am sympathetic about what you’re going through and I want you be happy. However, it’s unhealthy for me to be in the position you’re putting me in. There are other people it would be more appropriate to have this conversation with.”
12. **Refuse to pick sides.** Even in scenarios where one of your parents made some really poor decisions, it is unhealthy to side with one of your parents over the other. In fact, it is likely that you do agree more with one of your parents than the other, particularly if infidelity, financial mismanagement, or alcohol abuse contributed to the separation. In these scenarios, it’s better for everyone to try to stay on positive terms with each of your parents.
If one of your parents starts speaking poorly about the other – even if what they’re saying is accurate – ask them to stop.
Try “I love you both, and it hurts to hear this” or “I love you and I’m also hurt that this happened to all of us, but I need to have a positive relationship with both of my parents.”
13. **Remove hurtful people from your life.** If one of your parents had been abusive to you or your other parent, do not worry about "taking sides." In this context, you and any other family members that had been victims of abuse should do everything you can to support one another. Further, do not seek to maintain a relationship with a parent that had been abusive.
If you want, tell an abusive parent that it may possible to rebuild your relationship in the future, once they've significantly changed their behavior.
Reach out to a mental health professional or law enforcement officer whenever you believe someone is being abused, including yourself. While it may be hard to accuse someone you love of abuse, remind yourself that allowing abuse to continue will hurt people you love even more.
14. **Don’t compare your relationship to your parents’.** You may not like some of the things you realize about your parents, and may even have to confront some realizations that upset you. Do not let these feelings, nor the actions of your parents, dictate what you believe about romantic partnerships in general. Every relationship is different, and it’s important to remind yourself of this when you find yourself comparing aspects of your parent’s relationship to your own.
Watch out for thoughts that regard tumultuousness in your own relationship as evidence that all relationships are “doomed” from the start. Many children of divorced parents are inclined to have these thoughts, and they can have negative repercussions on otherwise healthy relationships.
If negative sentiments such as these arise, then there are things you can do to change your negative thoughts, such as by identifying the thoughts and actively rewriting them as positive thoughts.
15. **Talk to a therapist.** Do not hesitate to meet with a mental health professional if you’re struggling with any intense emotions. Persistent sadness, melancholy, loneliness, an inability to concentrate, or simply a recurring uneasiness can all be addressed by speaking with someone. Best of all, therapist can recommend a counseling program where you can speak with others that have had similar experiences.
See a therapist soon if you’re experiencing waves of rage. These may be directed at nothing in particular, or accompany thoughts about one of your parents.
Keep in mind that a therapist is not biased, and may be able to see a situation more clearly from the outside. They also will always consider your personal health and safety to be their main priority.
16. **Keep in touch with both of your parents.** The distance between you and your parents has likely grown as you’ve grown up. It may be even greater if your parents have split up. However, it is still important to try to maintain contact with both of your parents if you are able to do so. Occasionally, make a call or send an email to let each of your parents know you care about them.
If your relationship with one of your parents is more strained, they will still be happy to hear updates about your life. Shoot them an email letting them know of any big news in your life, and let them know about the next thing you’re looking forward to.
It may be rough between you and your parents for a while. Remind yourself, however, that putting in the effort to rekindle relationships that have been damaged by divorce may empower you to develop stronger and more meaningful relationships that you have had before. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Cope-with-Divorced-Parents", "language": "en"} |
How to Polish Brass with Ketchup | If you have a brass item that's tarnished over time, you might be surprised to learn that you can clean it with ketchup! The acids in the ketchup will break down the tarnish, making quick work of the cleaning process. However, check to be sure that your brass isn't lacquered before you do this— if the brass has a shiny appearance and it's only tarnished where the coating is worn off, you'll need to remove the lacquer before you can clean the piece.
1. **Wash your brass item with soap and water.** Before you try to remove the tarnish from your brass piece, give the surface a good wash with mild dish soap and warm water. That will remove any dirt and oil that's built up on the surface, making it easier for the ketchup to penetrate the tarnish on the brass.
Use your fingers or a microfiber cloth to scrub the brass. However, don't use anything abrasive, or you could scratch the surface.
2. **Place the piece into a shallow bowl.** If you have brass jewelry or a small, decorative brass item that you'd like to clean, it's probably easiest to just soak it in ketchup. To get started, find a small, shallow bowl that will easily hold the object, and place the object inside.
If you can, try to use a bowl that's not much larger than the item you're cleaning. If you use a very large bowl, you'll likely need to use a lot more ketchup to cover the object.
3. **Squirt in enough ketchup to completely cover the item.** Grab a bottle of regular ketchup and pour it into the bowl. Make sure to add enough so the entire object is submerged in the ketchup. If you need to, roll the item around to make sure the ketchup gets into all of the crevices on the piece.
To clean a hollow object like a cup or a thimble, you may want to pour or rub a little of the ketchup inside the item before you coat the outside. That way, you can be sure the inside is evenly covered as well.
If you'd prefer to use less ketchup, squirt a little of the condiment onto the object you're cleaning, then use your fingers or a cloth to spread it completely over the object.
4. **Let it sit for 15 minutes to an hour.** Once you've covered the object in ketchup, sit back and relax for a while! After about 15 minutes, check the item by wiping away the ketchup from a small section. If the tarnish is gone, take the object out of the ketchup. If it needs a little more time, replace the object, and continue checking it every 15 minutes or so until the tarnish is gone.
It should take about half an hour for the ketchup to break down a moderate amount of tarnish, but heavier tarnish might require an hour or even 2 hours. On the other hand, the ketchup might remove very light tarnish after 15 minutes or so.
5. **Wash away the ketchup with warm, soapy water.** Once you're happy with the appearance of the brass, use warm, running water to rinse away the ketchup. Add a couple of drops of mild dish soap, then lather the soap over the item to remove any ketchup that might be left. If you need to, lightly rub away any dried ketchup with a microfiber cloth or a soft toothbrush.When you're finished, rinse the soap away completely.
Be sure to thoroughly wash away the ketchup or it might leave a sticky residue on your object.
6. **Buff the object dry with a soft cloth.** If you leave your brass object wet, it could start to tarnish again quickly. To make sure that doesn't happen, use a soft cloth to dry and polish the object. First, wipe down the entire surface of the piece to remove any excess water. Then, use a dry corner of the cloth and rub the brass in a circular motion to make it look shiny and bright!
If you'd like to help protect your item against future tarnishing, add a few drops of mineral oil or linseed oil to your cloth, then rub the oil onto the surface of the object.
7. **Rinse the surface of the piece with soap and water.** Before you try to remove any tarnish, wipe down your brass object with a microfiber cloth that's dampened with warm, soapy water. Scrub lightly to remove any dirt and oil buildup from the surface of the brass.
Mild dish detergent is great for gently cleaning brass.
Don't use anything abrasive like steel wool or a rough cloth, or you could scratch the brass.
8. **Pour some ketchup into a small bowl.** If you're cleaning a larger brass item, like a brass bed, or a piece that can't be easily removed, like a doorknob or a light fixture, it's best to apply the ketchup to the item when you're cleaning it. However, this will be easier if you pour the ketchup out into a container first.
A shallow bowl or an old takeout container will work best for this, since it will be easy to dip the ketchup out of the container as you're cleaning.
9. **Coat the object in a thin layer of the ketchup.** To spread the ketchup onto the item you're cleaning, use a soft cloth, an old toothbrush, or even just your fingers if you don't mind getting messy. It doesn't take much ketchup, so you only need to apply a thin, even coating over the entire surface.
If you apply too much ketchup, it might drip off of the item. If that happens, wipe the ketchup immediately so it doesn't become dry or stain anything.
For very large pieces, like brass furniture, it may be easiest to work in smaller sections.
Try using an old toothbrush to get the ketchup into any little nooks and crannies on the object.
10. **Let the ketchup sit for 15 minutes to an hour.** Once you've coated the item, the ketchup will start to break down the tarnish. The length of time you'll need to leave it on depends on how tough the tarnish is. After about 15 minutes, wipe away a little of the ketchup and check whether the brass looks bright and shiny. If the tarnish is completely gone, you can begin rinsing off the ketchup. However, if the object still looks tarnished, let it sit a little longer.
Check the piece every 15 minutes or so until you're happy with how the brass looks.
11. **Wipe away the ketchup with a damp, soapy cloth.** Wet a soft, clean cloth and add a couple of drops of mild dish soap. Lather the soap and wring out any excess water, then use the cloth to lightly scrub away the ketchup from your brass object.
For big jobs, you might need to rinse out the cloth and add more soap whenever the cloth gets completely covered in ketchup.
Be sure to completely wipe the ketchup away, or else it could leave a sticky residue.
12. **Buff the item dry with a microfiber cloth.** Use a soft cloth to wipe the brass completely dry. Then, use a dry corner of the cloth and rub the brass in a circular motion to restore its shine. If you need to, use several dry cloths to ensure the brass doesn't have any moisture left on the surface—otherwise, it might tarnish again.
Try rubbing a little mineral oil or linseed oil onto the surface of the brass to help slow the tarnishing process in the future! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Polish-Brass-with-Ketchup", "language": "en"} |
How to Start a Horse Under Saddle | “Starting a horse under saddle” doesn’t just mean training a horse to carry riders on its back. Also known as “breaking” a horse, starting a horse under saddle encompasses training and conditioning that comes before riding. A horse has to be comfortable with equipment like lead ropes, blankets, halters, and the saddle itself. It should be mature enough and calm around people and unfamiliar objects. When your horse is ready, it can then begin training to hold you in the saddle.
1. **Make sure your horse is at least 2 years old.** Young horses this age are physically mature and ready to learn. Low-impact work done in short intervals helps young horses develop their joints and muscles. If training begins too early, horses can face physical problems like joint pain and bone spurs.
If your horse is younger than 2, it may be best to wait until it is older. Speak to a veterinarian or trainer for further advice.
Though younger horses are easier to train, horses past 4 years of age can still be trained, as well as older horses past 10 years old.
2. **Teach your horse to listen with lead exercises.** Lead your horse on a halter and rope. Walk in front of your horse with the rope, or walk near their shoulder in what’s called “the partner position.” Your horse will learn to respect your space and adjust its speed according to yours.
Every horse learns at a different pace. Learning a new exercise can take weeks or months with almost daily training in 30-minute increments.
3. **Practice exercises to make your horse comfortable with touch.** Touch exercises help horses accept and trust being touched. Since horses wear riding equipment (tack) on their face and back, this is important. Touch your horse with your hands, cloth, or pieces of tack to get it accustomed to the feeling.
Grooming can serve as a reward for your horse, or a way to bond with their owner or trainer.
Gradually touching your horse with a saddle blanket and eventually laying the blanket on its back help them get used to the weight and feeling.
4. **Train your horse to follow directions through circle work.** Stand in the center of a circle. Using a lead rope connected to its halter, guide your horse around you using vocal commands. Your horse learns how to move towards the left, move towards the right, and transition from left to right.
Circle work trains your horse in following commands, and will prepare it to listen to a rider’s commands.
5. **Continue to train your horse until it's ready for saddle training.** Your horse should be comfortable with a halter, reins, and lead ropes, which will help it get used to being saddled. It should also be comfortable being touched, and should know how to follow and listen to commands through lead exercises and circle work.
Make sure your horse has good ground manners and interacts well with people before going further in training.
Time spent training depends on the horse’s age and personality. It can take weeks or months to be prepared for starting under saddle.
6. **Ask someone to help you introduce the saddle.** Your horse should already be familiar with riding tack and a saddle pad before you put on the saddle, or else it could get stressed. Have someone your horse already knows gently hold it in place. Your horse will look to your helper for reassurance, so having someone calm nearby will help ease its mood.
Don’t tie your horse while saddling, which can be dangerous if it gets spooked. Your helper should hold it in place.
7. **Place the saddle on your horse’s back.** Since you traditionally mount your horse on its left side, approach it from that side. Rub it with the saddle pad before placing it on its back, remembering to give praise. Heft the saddle quickly and smoothly onto the pad, and let it sit there for 1-2 minutes. If your horse looks comfortable, cinch the girth (saddle strap) just snug enough to keep it in place.
8. **Tighten the girth in intervals.** Give positive reinforcement when it accepts the girth. Allow your horse to walk and jog around on its own to get used to the saddle. Stay out of the way. It may take several days in a row for your horse to get comfortable wearing the saddle.
Make sure your horse has accepted the saddle and is comfortable wearing it before you try mounting. You'll know your horse is comfortable when it doesn't try to remove the saddle with its mouth, flinch when being saddled, or seem skittish when wearing it.
9. **Use a mounting block to climb in the saddle.** Guide your horse next to a mounting block. From the block, push down and lean into the saddle with your hands, allowing it to feel your weight. You may need to try this multiple times so the horse is used to having weight in the stirrups without moving away. Mount your horse and sit calmly in the saddle for a few minutes before dismounting.
Knowing how to mount a horse properly will help you as a rider, and help your horse get used to the sensation.
10. **Mount and dismount from the saddle in 10-minute intervals.** Your horse will get used to the motion of being mounted and dismounted. It will also get comfortable holding the weight of a rider. Remain in the saddle in short periods of time and don't move. This will build their strength and prevent injury to joints or muscles.
11. **Begin walking your horse while in the saddle.** When you're in the saddle, gently squeeze your horse with your legs to begin walking. If it doesn't begin walking, you can gently tap it with your heels. Low-impact, low-speed exercise done in sessions of 30 minutes to 1 hour are best for your horse’s training and health.
Your horse is ready for walking if it does not flinch or resist when being saddled or mounted. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Horse-Under-Saddle", "language": "en"} |
How to Clean a Fabric Coach Purse | Coach purses are a prized possession for many, so it can be frustrating when the fabric gets soiled. If your purse has lost its luster, then you may want to clean it. While you can't put your Coach handbag in the washing machine, there are a few techniques for getting it clean. With a little time and a few supplies, you can have a clean purse in no time.
1. **Dampen a sponge with clean water.** You can use a bowl of water or hold the sponge under your faucet. Wring it out well to avoid over-saturating the fabric.
Using a faucet works better if your purse is soiled because you can more easily rinse the sponge without making your water dirty.
2. **Start at one corner of your handbag.** Choose a corner on one side to start the cleaning process. You want to make sure that you cover the entire surface of the handbag, so work your way out from the corner. You will do each side individually, followed by the handle, and the bottom. You should do the bottom of the purse last because it encounters the most grime.
3. **Dab the fabric with your sponge.** Work your way across the fabric, making circular movements as you apply the water. Don't linger on one spot. Keep your sponge moving so that you don't create water spots.
Don't get your sponge too wet because you don't want to apply too much water.
4. **Use a dry white cloth to dab away the wetness.** Remove any excess water by toweling off your bag. You don't want your purse to develop any musty smells.
5. **Hang up your bag so it can air dry.** Place your bag in an area that allows for air to circulate around the bag, such as an open room with a fan. Allow your bag to fully dry before using it again.
Don't hang up your bag in a closed area like a closet.
Avoid placing your bag in a humid area because it could cause it to develop a musty smell.
6. **Apply a mild cleanser to your damp sponge.** After you wet your sponge as you would to do a light cleaning, add a mild cleanser. You can try a detergent for delicates, but a baby wash will also work.
Don't use regular soaps and detergents because they can damage your bag. You should use a mild cleanser only.
7. **Dab your purse with the sponge.** Start in one corner and work your way around the first side of your purse. Make gentle circular motions as you move across the fabric. Avoid scrubbing too hard because you may damage the fabric or grind in the dirt.
When applying a cleanser, work in smaller sections to avoid having the cleanser dry on the bag. For example, you could clean one side following the entire process, and then repeat the steps for the next side.
8. **Remove the excess soap.** Use a damp white cloth to blot away the cleanser. You should not leave any soap on the surface of your bag, as it could damage the fabric.
9. **Look over the bag for remaining stains.** Make sure that you don't have any grime or stains left on your bag by thoroughly checking it. If you do have remaining spots, use your cloth to apply more cleanser.
If you have an extra clean cloth, use that to treat the difficult stains.
Dampen the cloth and add cleanser. Dab the cleanser directly onto the stain(s). Remove the soap with a damp cloth.
You may need to use Coach's official Signature C Fabric Cleaner to remove tough stains.
10. **Towel away the wetness.** Use a clean, dry cloth to remove most of the moisture from the bag. Your bag should be damp but not wet when you're finished.
11. **Allow your bag to air dry.** Choose a well-ventilated area so that your bag does not acquire a musty smell. Hang up your bag while it dries, and wait until it is fully dry before using it.
12. **Purchase Coach's Signature C Fabric Cleaner.** Coach offers a special formula for cleaning its fabric products. If you're worried about your purse, then you may feel comfortable using their official product.
You can purchase the Signature C Fabric Cleaner online through Coach or Amazon, or you can purchase it from a retailer that sells Coach handbags.
13. **Wet a clean white cloth with the fabric cleaner.** Use a white cloth to avoid accidentally staining your fabric. Your cloth should be damp but not soaked.
Use the product sparingly. If you apply too much, it can create water rings on your handbag.
14. **Rub the cleaner on the stained area.** Make circular movements as you apply the cleaner. If you are treating more than one spot, repeat the entire process for each spot. Don't apply cleaning product to more than one spot at once because it will dry on the fabric.
You should just spot clean your purse.
15. **Use a damp clean white cloth to remove the product.** Blot away the cleaner until none remains on the bag. If your cloth becomes soapy, rinse it off in clean water so that the soap does not get back onto the bag. Continue to dab the fabric until the soap is gone.
16. **Allow your purse to air dry.** Hang your purse in a well-ventilated area so that the air can circulate around the wet spot(s). Make sure that your purse is completely dry before you use it again. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Fabric-Coach-Purse", "language": "en"} |
How to Deal With Rude People | You will inevitably have to deal with mean or rude people throughout your life. Whether it’s a complete stranger at the grocery store, your roommate, or a coworker, there will always be someone who gets on your nerves. There are different strategies to address rude people based on the situation. If the person is someone who has insulted you personally or their rudeness is something you have to deal with on a daily basis, it may be best to confront them directly to keep it from happening again. If the person is a complete stranger and their rudeness is senseless and not worth your time, it is probably wise to walk away from the situation altogether.
1. **Stay calm.** Confronting the person won’t work if you’re angry and aggressive.
If you feel upset or frazzled by a rude comment the person said to you, take a few deep breaths before approaching them. The more flustered you look, the less they will listen to what you have to say.
Spend a moment thinking carefully about what you will say beforehand instead of impulsively yelling at the person. They will be less likely to argue back if you show that their rude comment has not fazed you. Being the bigger person means that you are confident and in control of your emotions.
Don't engage them in any sort of physical fight or argument - this will also only worsen the situation. If you’re worried you might lash out, have a friend with you to keep you in check.
2. **Be direct.** Avoid beating around the bush or being passive-aggressive. Face them square on, make eye contact, and cut straight to chase about what it is they did that upset you. They can’t learn from their mistake if they don’t know what they did.
If someone cuts in front of you in line at the grocery store, don’t let out a dramatic sigh and roll your eyes hoping that they will notice. Address them directly by saying, “Excuse me, but I think I was in front of you in line” or “I’m sorry, but the line starts back there.”
3. **Use humor.** If you feel uncomfortable directly calling someone out on their rudeness in a serious way, incorporate humor to diffuse the tension.
If someone is loudly munching on their sandwich and making a mess next to you on the subway, smile and casually say something like, “Wow, you’re really enjoying that, aren’t you?” with a laugh. If they don’t get the point, follow up with, “Would you mind chewing a little less loudly?”
Make sure your humor is light-hearted and not passive-aggressive or sarcastic. Stay friendly and smile. You want your comment to come off as a joke that the both of you can laugh about, not a sassy comment that fires off an argument.
4. **Be polite.** The best way to fight rudeness is with kindness. Be the bigger person and don’t stoop down to their level by being rude in return.
Keep your tone of voice respectful and not sassy. Smile. State things from your point of view or from an objective point of view so others won’t get defensive.
Use please and thank you. These words can go a long way. For example, try saying, "Please stop, I find that rude and insulting. I don't appreciate your behavior," or "There's no need for such [aggressive, rude, insulting, etc.] comments here. Thank you.”
Oftentimes, people who are rude have something bothering them. Their rudeness might be a cry for help, or they might be searching for an empathetic ear. If you know the person well enough, ask them if something is bothering them or if they need help. Make sure it does not come off as being sarcastic, however. Try saying something like “I’ve noticed you’ve been acting more [uptight, tense, etc.] lately. Is everything okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”
Understand that another person's rudeness might not have anything to do with you. Try to go into every interaction understanding that the other person is probably doing the best they can do, and there's no way for you to know what else they're dealing with. That can help you have a little more empathy and understanding.
5. **Have a civilized conversation.** If the person insulted you personally or said something that you strongly disagree with, politely state your opinion or ask them why they are behaving this way.
Try to understand their perspective by saying, “I find what you just said to be rude and disrespectful… what makes you say that?” This could launch a healthy discussion or debate - but make sure it doesn’t spiral out of hand.
If it “does” turn into a heated argument and person continues to be rude and disrespectful, walk away. Realize you’ve done all you can and let it go.
Remember that some people are dead-set on their opinions. It isn’t possible for everyone to agree on everything, and sometimes even if you try, you won’t be able to change their mind.
6. **Use “I” statements** “You” statements point the blame and accusations to the listener, which might make them defensive. Instead, express to them how their actions make you feel personally.
If a relative keeps making comments about your weight, try saying something like, “When you say those things about my body, I feel insecure and down about myself,” as opposed to “You are so annoying and rude.”
7. **Talk to them in private.** No one likes to be singled out in front of others when they are at fault. If a person is being rude to you when you’re in a group, try to wait until you can talk to them one-on-one.
If a friend is making racist or sexist comments during a group conversation at lunchtime, wait until the others have left or offer to walk with them to class so you can discuss it privately. Or, text them later and say, “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something. Do you have a minute after school?”
Talking in private also prevents other friends from taking sides in the conflict, which only worsens the situation and could potentially create a divide in your friend group.
8. **Don't overthink the situation.** If you've confronted someone about their behavior and things haven't improved, accept that you've done as much as you possibly could to improve relations with them.
You can’t make someone be polite if they want to be rude, and it is not your responsibility to try to “fix” them. In fact, trying too hard to force a change in their behavior will often make them behave worse instead of better. Sometimes you just have to accept people’s rudeness, realize it is not your fault, and let them find their own solutions.
9. **Maintain a “poker” or “stale” face.** Do not show any emotion. Even if you feel yourself getting angry, annoyed, or irritated, don’t give them what they want by showing that their rudeness is getting to you.
Stay calm and collected. Close your eyes and take a deep breath if you feel yourself losing your temper.
Keep a straight face or try going for a “blank” look on your face, disengaging completely from the person and showing them they are not worth your time.
10. **Cut off direct eye contact.** When you make eye contact, you are acknowledging the person and validating their actions. Look away from them and gaze straight ahead at something in the distance.
Avoiding looking down at the ground. This type of body language comes off as submissive and unconfident. Keeping your gaze up and steady makes you look self-assured and in control.
11. **Turn your body away from them.** You can convey a lot through your body language alone. Turn your shoulders and feet to point in the opposite direction. Cross your arms in front of your body to look closed off and disengaged.
12. **Walk away.** If possible, walk quickly in the opposite direction from them and don’t look back. Stand up tall and look confident as you are walking.
If you feel awkward not saying anything before walking away, keep your response short. This will acknowledge that you’ve heard what they’ve said but don’t agree with it. You can just say something like, “OK” or “I don’t know” before turning away.
If a classmate keeps rubbing in your face that he or she got a perfect score on his last exam, just smile and say, "That's nice.” Then turn your or her attention to other, more important things.
If it’s someone that you know you will have to interact with again, like a coworker or friend, walking away from a few minutes can give them some space to calm down. Hopefully when you meet again, they will have changed their behavior.
13. **Avoid the person** Keep your distance from the rude person so that their negativity does not bog you down on a regular basis.
If the person is a stranger, this should be easy - you will likely never have to see them again.
If you really can’t stand the person but tend to run into them on a daily basis, try to limit contact with them as much as possible. If it's possible for you to switch offices or make some other change to avoid running into this person, take that step. It will definitely help to not have them in your presence.
If the person is someone you know well, consider removing them from your life. Let them know the consequences of their actions if they don’t change their behavior. If it continues, block them on social media or stop contacting them. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Rude-People", "language": "en"} |
How to Diagnose Hookworms in Dogs | Hookworms are an internal parasite that infects dogs and can cause serious internal bleeding. They are a common in dogs but puppies are especially at risk of infection. However, effective anti-parasitic medications are available that kill this parasite. In order to get your dog this treatment, you should be vigilance about looking for the signs of infection and getting a prompt diagnosis from your vet.
1. **Be on the lookout for diarrhea or vomiting.** A hookworm bites into the bowel wall, which can cause pain and stomach cramps. The dog is also likely to have diarrhea that is tinged with blood.
Also, if there is bleeding into the bowel, by the time the blood have passed along the gut it gives the feces a dark color.
Some dogs may also vomit from hookworms, and this could contain blood as well.
2. **Look for signs of anemia.** The blood lost into the bowel, or consumed by hookworms, can cause anemia in the host. This blood loss causes the dog to lack energy and seem extremely tired. The anemia can also become life threatening in cases of hookworm that are left untreated.
If you lift a healthy dog's lip, the mucous membrane lining the mouth should be a healthy pink color. However, in an anemic dog the gums are a pale pink or even a white color.
3. **Be suspicious of stunted growth in puppies.** In puppies with a heavy infection, the hookworms rob the puppy of nutrition. This causes the pup to grow poorly and its coat is likely to have a dull, harsh texture and color.
However, puppies can have stunted growth for a variety of reasons. If your puppy does not seem to be growing in size, take it to its veterinarian to get checked out.
4. **Pay attention to coughs.** The larvae migrate to the lungs where they are coughed up and swallowed down into the gut to mature. Therefore you may notice your dog has an intermittent cough.
5. **Notice if your dog has itchy, irritated feet.** A dog that was kept in unsanitary conditions may have been subject to larvae migrating through the skin of its paws. This causes intense irritation, so the dog is liable to chew and bite at its feet.
Remember, though, that this is not the only way that hookworms enter the body, so a dog infected with them will not necessarily have irritated feet.
6. **Be very suspicious of symptoms in puppies that have not been treated for worms.** Puppies should be treated for worms starting at two weeks old, with additional doses every two weeks for two months. If your puppy has not gotten these treatments then it is more likely that it has worms.
If you got your puppy from a good animal rescue or humane society, they should have at least begun its deworming.
If you got your dog from an unverified source, such as from an online want-ad listing, then it may not have had any deworming treatments and is at risk of infection.
7. **Take your dog to the vet.** If you notice some of the signs of a hookworm infection then you should get your dog checked out by a vet. The vet will perform a thorough physical examination to assess the patient, paying attention to what symptoms the dog has and how severe they are.
8. **Bring a stool sample with you.** If the veterinarian suspects a hookworm infection, a diagnosis can be confirmed on a fecal flotation test. This is a special test where a sample of feces is mixed with a special solution and the hookworms eggs float to the surface. This is because the hookworm eggs are less dense than the fluid and the feces.
A clean microscope slide is then touched to the surface of the special solution and any eggs present stick to the slide. This is then examined under the microscope for the presence of hookworm eggs.
This test is liable to detect a positive hookworm infection because hookworms pass large numbers of eggs that are shed regularly.
The only time it is less reliable is in very young pups when the larvae have yet to mature into the adult form and therefore no eggs have been produced. This usually takes around 2 weeks, so if one negative test was obtained, a second test 2 - 3 weeks later should prove positive if the pup is infected.
9. **Follow your veterinarian's suggestions for treatment.** The good news is that hookworms can be killed with a wide variety of deworming medications. However, these are only effective against adult worms, so it is a good idea to repeat dose the dogs 2 - 4 weeks after the initial dose.
Because of the greater risk of puppies being infected, it is advisable to treat them at 2,4,6, and 8 weeks of age with a product suitable for use at this age, such as fenbendazole (Panacur or Safeguard).
10. **Learn about hookworms.** The scientific name for hookworms is Ancylostoma. They are a small, almost microscopic worm, with the adults being a maximum of 3mm long. They are rarely noticeable in a dog's feces because of their small size, and because they grip tightly onto the bowel wall, so they are not passed in large numbers.
Hookworms are commonly found throughout North America.
The adult worms live in the host's small intestine where they anchor themselves to the gut wall with hook-like mouths. The appearance of their mouths under a microscope is why they are named hookworms.
11. **Understand how hookworms infect dogs.** There are several ways that dogs can get hookworms. Dogs can be infected while they are growing in their mother's womb or are nursing, by licking contaminated feces, and through the skin of their paws.
Unfortunately, hookworm infection is prevalent in puppies. This happens because hookworm larvae that are dormant in the mother can become activated when she is pregnant, migrate to the uterus, and infect the puppies in the womb.
Also, the larvae migrate to the mammary glands where they are excreted in the mother's milk to infect the pups when they are suckling.
Dogs can also be infected orally if they lick feces contaminated with hookworm eggs. This is likely to happen if groups of dogs are kept in dirty conditions or they walk through feces and then lick their paws clean.
Dogs can also be infected when larvae migrate through the skin on their paws. Again, this is caused by living in unhygienic conditions and being exposed to contaminated feces.
12. **Figure out why hookworms are bad for your dog.** Hookworms suck your dog's blood, leading to blood loss. One of the reasons that the blood loss is so extreme is because hookworms inject an anticoagulant through their mouths that stops a dog's blood from clotting. This means the dog then bleeds continually from the bite mark, even if the parasite let's go and relocates.
This blood loss can be life threatening for puppies, and make a full-sized dog chronically ill.
Hookworms can also cause your dog to have diarrhea and weight loss. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-Hookworms-in-Dogs", "language": "en"} |
How to Grow an Apple Tree from a Seed | You can grow apples from seed, but keep in mind that the type of apple tree you end up with might not be the same as the seed you planted. For example, if you plant a Granny Smith apple seed, you might not end up with a Granny Smith apple tree. It might be some other type of apple from the Granny Smith lineage. If you want to plant an apple tree from seed, there are several things you will need to do to increase your chances of success.
1. **Collect two different kinds of seeds.** Apple trees must be planted in pairs in order to bear fruit—apple trees are not self-pollinating, so they need a different kind of apple tree to pollinate with. You can either extract the seeds from an apple you are eating, or buy apple seeds at the store. Keep in mind that growing an apple tree from the seeds you have collected does not necessarily guarantee that the tree produced from these seeds will bear fruit or be the same kind of apple. Try to pick or buy seeds of apple trees that do well in your climate zone or else your tree may die once planted outside.
If you want to grow apples for their fruit, it is recommended that you buy a sapling tree from a nursery rather than growing an apple tree from seed. To learn how to transplant a young tree, click here.
When attempting to grow an apple tree from seed, you should also keep in mind that the tree produced will not have any dwarfing characteristics (meaning that it will grow to its full height of about 30 feet/9 meters). If you think you have enough room in your yard for this tree, great! You should also keep in mind that trees planted from seeds could take 8 to 10 years to produce fruit, while a transplanted sapling will produce fruit in a much faster time frame.
2. **Lay your seeds out to dry.** Once you have extracted the seeds from the fruit and have gotten rid of any pieces of the fruit clinging to the seeds, you should lay them out to dry. This means simply air drying them until there is no moisture on the outside shell.
3. **Cover your seeds with a damp paper towel.** Place the paper towel and seeds into a sealable plastic bag, jar with a lid, or Tupperware box. Whatever your container is, make sure it can be sealed.
You can also use moist peat moss rather than paper towels if you have any peat moss just hanging around.
4. **Place your seeds in the fridge.** Seeds need a period of exposure to cold temperatures called “after-ripening”. This is essentially simulated winter. During this time, the seeds will begin to grow roots and sprout. They will need to be left in there for 70 to 80 days. Keep the temperature the seeds are stored at around 40 to 50ºF (4.4 to 10ºC), with optimal temperature being 40 to 41ºF (4.4 to 5ºC).
If possible, do this during actual winter so that when you take the seeds out of the fridge, they will be aligned with the actual seasons. Planting your sprouts in the early spring after the last frost will have the best results.
5. **Check every so often to make sure the towel stays damp.** It is important to keep the towel damp while the seeds are in the fridge, so check them daily. However, keep in mind that the seeds will not sprout while they are in the fridge.
6. **Prepare your pot and soil.** Your seeds will need to be planted outside in a prepared seedbed or in a pot. Use a good potting mix. Apple seeds grow best in soil with a neutral pH level. Fill the pots with the soil and create a divot in the soil that is one to two times larger than the sprouted seed.
Do not add any fertilizer. It is not necessary, though you can add leaf mulch or compost if you want to give you seedling an extra boost.
7. **Place the seed in the divots of soil.** Put the seeds into the soil divots and then cover them, making sure to gently pat the soil down. Water the seed immediately so that the soil settles around the seed and the soil stays moist.
8. **Keep the pot at room temperature.** While growing in the pot, the seed and soil should be kept at, or slightly higher than, room temperature. The seed should have access to sunlight for a good part of the day, so putting it in a windowsill that gets sunlight for some of the day is a good idea.
9. **Watch your seedling for growth.** Several weeks after planting, your seeds should begin to start throwing up little leaves. From there they will grow taller and stronger. Keep them in pots until they look strong and any risk of frost has passed. If you think your seedling is outgrowing its pot, transplant it to a larger pot and keep watering it daily.
10. **Pick a location for your tree(s).** There are several factors that should determine the spot you plant your tree. These include sunlight, soil, and space.
Sunlight: Apple trees need full sun. This means that they should get six or more hours of direct sunlight every day. Where you plant your tree will depend on your location. An eastern facing slope is usually a good choice, but a north facing slope may also work. Evaluate your options for possible locations before you plant.
Soil: Apple trees don’t like soggy feet. That means they need to be planted in soil that will retain moisture but does drain well. The soil should be moderately rich and have a relatively neutral pH level.
Space: Because you are growing your tree from seed, it will grow to full size (meaning it can reach 20-30 feet/6-9 meters in height). You will need to make sure that it has enough space for its root system to grow. Plan to plant your tree at least 30 feet (9.1 m) from another tree, particularly if you are planting two apple trees in a row.
11. **Know when the conditions are right for transplanting.** Once your little sapling has gotten big enough that no one will step on it or think it is a weed, carefully transplant it without cutting off any roots. The best time of year to plant depends on your location--in Zone 8 and warmer, fall planting can work well. If you live anywhere other than a Zone 8, plant in spring. once the threat of hard frost has passed.
12. **Remove any weeds in a four-foot diameter of the planting site.** Dig a hole that is twice the diameter or your sapling’s root system. Make sure that the hole is roughly two feet (.6 meters) deep. Once you have made the hole, try to loosen the soil of the walls of the hole--this will help your tree’s roots to penetrate the soil.
13. **Transplant your sapling.** Gently spread out your tree’s roots so they are not tangled or get bunched up in the hole you have dug. Start to replace soil all around the roots. Once you have covered the roots, pat the soil down firmly to get rid of any air pockets that might be hanging out around the roots. Fill the rest of the hole with loose soil.
Again do not add any fertilizer or un-aged compost to the soil around your tree. The fertilizer could actually ‘burn’ your young tree’s roots.
14. **Water the tree in well to eliminate air pockets.** After you have watered your tree, spread mulch to help you sapling retain moisture. Hay, straw, or organic hardwood chips work well as apple tree mulch. The mulch should be spread in a three foot circle around the tree. Doing this will help retain moisture and keep grass from growing and competing with your young tree's roots for water and nutrients.
15. **Water your tree.** While the tree is still short (roughly 6-8 in/15-20 cm tall) the tree should be watered every 10 to 12 days. As the tree grows, however, you can cut back on the watering, so long as the soil continues to stay moist (but not soggy). As they grow, you will need to water them less frequently. However, in the summer, water your tree every one to two weeks.
During other times of the year, you can let nature do the rest, unless you live in an extremely dry area. If this is the case, keep in mind that the equivalent of an inch or two (2.5-5 cm) of water a week is ideal for the first year. Make sure you give it a good soaking, not just a sprinkle.
16. **Ward off pests.** If you live in an area with deer, you'll need to protect your young tree. Deer absolutely love to browse the buds on apple trees, in some cases they'll even damage the trunk itself. To protect your trees as they grow, cut a length of chicken wire that is tall enough to cover your tree, and long enough to form a loop around the tree. Secure the wire to a post and close the loop. Watch the tree as it grows so that limbs do not become entangled in the wire.
In low-pressure areas, spraying the tree with a purchased or home-brew spray may also be effective.
If deer are not a problem in your area, keep away rabbits and mice by placing short wire mesh around the base of the tree.
Spray away insects. You might find yourself at battle with insects that are causing your fruit to become diseased. You can buy a spray at your local nursery or garden supply store to ward them off.
Fight the apple maggot. These are one of the most common plagues to the apple tree. Hang a baseball-sized red ball or two in your trees branches in June. Coat the balls with sticky goo like Tangle Trap, which can be purchased at garden supply stores.
17. **Fertilize your tree when it has gotten older.** Your apple trees should be fertilized each spring. Fertilize the tree after the last snow has melted away (if you get snow) but before the tree begins to produce buds. You should use a fertilizer with a nitrogen and oxide content (NPK) of 10-10-10. You should lay the fertilizer down under the canopy of the tree and should put down half a pound (.23 kg) of it for every inch (2.5 cm) of the tree's trunk diameter.
Always perform a soil test before adding fertilizer. You may need to use a slow-release organic fertilizer based on your soil test results. Too much nitrogen will cause excess vegetative growth and limit fruit production.
Do not use a weed-and-feed fertilizer--these sort of combination fertilizers can hurt apple trees.
18. ** Hold off on pruning a young tree.** Prune as little as possible the first few years, so you don't delay fruit bearing. You should prune off any branches that are dead or diseased. An apple tree wants to build a lot of growth before it decides to create fruit--its way of reproducing--so let it grow till it starts to bear.
Rid your young tree of misplaced buds before they have the chance to grow into branches that you’ll just have to prune later.
You will also need to prune the tree to establish a 'central leader'. If there are two limbs growing vertically, prune off the smaller or less-desired one so the tree can direct all of its energy towards the central leader.
19. **Train your tree.** This may sound odd, but your tree’s branches will need to be shaped to maximize the fruit the tree produces. Any branch that has an angle of 35 degrees or less from the trunk will need to be trained into a better angle (any angle larger than 35 degrees from the trunk). Bend a stem down so that it is almost horizontal and tie it to stakes in the ground or lower tree branches with string. Leave it tied down for a few weeks.
20. **Thin excessive fruit.** Producing too much fruit can actually be a bad thing for your tree—the excess fruit can weigh the tree’s branches down and reduce the quality of the apples produced. You should thin out the fruit so that there are only one or two apples per cluster, and so that they are roughly six to eight inches (15-20 cm) apart.
21. ** Prune a mature tree annually.** Once your tree has produced fruit and filled in, you will need to provide it with annual pruning. Do this when the tree is dormant. Cut away vigorously growing stems that grow upright (these are normally found in the higher parts of the tree). You should prune off dead, diseased, or broken branches, as well as limbs that are growing in toward the tree or that are crossing each other.
Cut away any very low growing limbs--in general, your tree’s limb should start growing roughly 18 inches (45 cm) or higher from the ground.
You should also remove weak twigs, which generally grow on the undersides of branches. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-an-Apple-Tree-from-a-Seed", "language": "en"} |
How to Gain More Muscle Mass and Strength | If you're hoping to gain more muscle mass and strength, employ a workout strategy designed to strengthen different parts of your body and increase overall mass. You also need to have a diet geared toward bulking up your muscles, and consider taking supplements to help you get bigger, faster. Keep reading for detailed instructions.
1. **Monitor your progress.** As you start gaining strength and building muscle, keep track of how much weight you gain, how much weight you can lift, and what exercises you do from week to week. This will help you figure out what works for your body and what doesn't, and keep you from getting into a workout rut.
If you find that a certain muscle group doesn't seem to be making significant gains, switch up your exercises to see if something else works better.
Alter your diet as necessary to help you lose fat and gain muscle. Experiment with different ratios of protein, fats and carbohydrates to find a balance that helps you achieve your weight and fitness goals.
2. **Get plenty of rest.** When you're in training mode, it can be hard to remember how important it is to rest between sessions. Your body needs time to repair itself after workouts. Don't push yourself too hard, or you may find yourself sitting on the couch with a pulled muscle instead of at the gym training to failure.
Sleeping well is another essential aspect of gaining mass and strength in a healthy way. Try to get seven to nine hours per day.
3. **Work out your legs with squats.** Squats are one of the best exercises for strengthening your lower body. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Either use a squat rack with a barbell or hold dumbbells in your hands over each shoulder. Lean forward slightly, keeping your head back, and bend your knees until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Do not let your knees go past your toes. Slowly rise to the starting position.
Do six to eight reps and three to four sets. Rest for about 45 seconds in between sets.
4. **Strengthen your back with deadlifts.** For this exercise, you may either use a Smith Machine, a barbell, or two dumbbells. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and, using an overhand grip, slowly lower the weight down and return it to the starting position, focusing the work on your hamstrings and lower back.
Do six to eight reps and three to four sets. Rest for about 45 seconds in between sets.
To increase the difficulty of this exercise, bend at the waist, grasp the weights, rise to a standing position, then pull the weights up to your chest and press them over your head. Lower them back to your chest, then lower them to your sides, bend at the waist and rest them back on the floor.
5. **Get bigger arms with pull-ups and chin-ups.** Place your hands on a fixed bar. For pull-ups, have your palms facing away from you; for chin-ups, have your palms facing you. Lift your body with your legs crossed behind you until your chin is higher than the bar, then slowly lower your body back to the starting position.
Do six to eight reps and three to four sets. Rest for about 45 seconds in between sets.
To increase the difficulty of this exercise, wear a weighted belt around your waist. Increase the weight as you gain strength.
6. **Do bench presses to make your chest bigger.** Lay on an exercise bench with your feet flat on the floor. Hold a barbell or two dumbbells in resting position at your chest. Press the weights over your head, extending your arms and straightening your elbows. Lower the weights back to your chest.
Do six to eight reps and three to four sets. Rest for about 45 seconds in between sets.
7. **Weight train two or three times a week.** When your goal is to increase muscle mass and strength, training every day is counterproductive. Your muscles need a chance to repair themselves in between training sessions. Without adequate rest periods, you won't achieve the body mass you want.
On the days when you aren't weight training, you can still be physically active. Do cardio workouts such as jogging, swimming, biking, or even power walking to keep yourself moving.
8. **Make your training sessions short.** There's no need to train for hours at a time — in fact, if you train for too long, you risk damaging your muscles, which can lead to a forced rest period. Your sessions should last from 1/2 hour to an hour.
9. **Train different muscle groups on different days.** Rather than training your entire body during each session, it's a good idea to split up your muscle groups so that some parts of your body have time to rest while others are getting a workout. Create a training schedule and stick to it, so you don't accidentally overtrain a certain muscle group.
10. **Train to failure.** Bodybuilders have found that training in short, intense sessions leads to greater mass and strength than easier, longer sessions. "Training to failure" means doing an exercise until you can't physically repeat it one more time. You'll need to find the appropriate train to failure weight for each of your muscle groups to do this effectively.
To find your train to failure weight, choose a weight you can use for six to eight reps before your muscles give out. If you can do 10 reps without breaking a sweat or feeling too fatigued, you need to add weight. If you can't even do one or two reps correctly, reduce the weight.
Attempting to lift too much weight before you've gotten strong enough to lift it can damage your muscles, and it's also counterproductive. Start with your appropriate train to failure weight and give your muscles time to build strength. Soon you'll find that the weight you've been using has become easy; when that happens, increase the weight by 5 or 10 pounds until you're back to the six to eight rep sweet spot.
11. **Use the right training form.** Another essential aspect of gaining strength and muscle is using the right form. If you don't, you'll risk injuring your muscles, and you also won't be training as effectively as you could be. Consider working with a personal trainer to learn good technique and keep these pointers in mind during your training sessions:
You should be able to complete each exercise using the right technique. If you can't press your dumbbells over your head with your arms fully extended, for example, then you should probably be using less weight.
Another option for difficult exercises is to begin with a reduced range of motion. Gradually increase your range of motion until you are able to complete the exercise's full range of motion. Do not increase the amount of weight you use until you are able to do this.
Don't use momentum to swing your weights into place. Lift with controlled, steady movements. Lower weights back to their starting position slowly rather than letting them drop.
Slowing down the eccentric (downward) portion of an exercise can help build muscle.
12. **Eat a lot of protein.** Muscles need protein to get big and strong, and when you're working on building them up every week, you'll have to fuel them with a lot of protein-heavy food. Be creative with your protein sources; not all of your fuel has to come from meat.
Chicken, fish, lean beef, lean pork and other meat products are excellent sources of protein. Other animal products like chicken or duck eggs are also good choices.
Almonds, walnuts, legumes, and other vegetables also contain protein.
Soy products like tofu can also contribute to your protein intake.
13. **Get your calories from healthy sources.** Eating food that causes your body to produce fat will help you look big, but not strong. You want to decrease the layer of fat between your muscles and skin so your hard work becomes more visible.
Avoid eating fried foods, snack foods, fast food, and other high-calorie, low-nutrition food sources.
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other sources of healthy calories.
14. **Supplement your diet.** Many bodybuilders help the process along by supplementing with a variety of different muscle-building products. Creatine supplements are a popular choice that has been shown to build muscles without bad side effects. The supplements are available in powdered form and should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before workouts for the maximum benefits.
Avoid supplements purporting to help you gain a certain amount of weight within a certain time period. Everyone's body is different, and products claiming to have magical muscle-building properties are probably a scam. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Gain-More-Muscle-Mass-and-Strength", "language": "en"} |
How to Decorate a Car for a Parade | Whether you’re celebrating a national holiday or driving by for a birthday party, decorating your car for a parade is half the fun! But with so many options out there, it can be hard to choose which decorations to use (and to figure out what won’t scratch your paint). We've picked a few of the best options so you can make your car the star of the show while keeping it in tip top shape. Don’t forget to smile and wave!
1. **Blow up some balloons to catch everyone’s eye.** Nothing says “party time” like a bundle of bright balloons! Grab a bunch and tie them to your hood, your antennae, and your side mirrors. Make sure you knot them tightly so they don’t fly away in the wind.
If there are lots of little kids watching the parade you’re in, you could untie a balloon every now and again and give it away as a special present.
2. **Use streamers for a quick and easy decoration.** Pick up a roll of streamers from your local party supply store and use masking tape to attach them to the front of your hood. Twist 2 colors together, then wind the streamers around the sides and back of your car, too.
Streamers don’t hold up well in water, so if it’s going to rain on your parade, stay away from this party decoration.
3. **Write messages on your windows with window paint.** Window paint is safe to use on your car windows, and you can easily wash it off when you’re done. Pick up some fun colors and write “Happy Birthday,” “Congrats Grad,” or “Merry Christmas” on your windows. Just make sure you can still see!
If you’re feeling artistic, you can draw some fun pictures, too.
When the parade is over, use soap and water to scrub the paint off.
4. **Hang cans from the bumper to make some noise.** Just like you've seen in a classic romantic movie, tie 3 ft (0.91 m) lengths of twine to the tops of empty cans and attach them to the tow hook on the back of your car. When you drive around, the cans will bounce around and draw attention.
If you’re planning on driving fast or going a long distance, cans probably aren’t your best option. They can get caught on objects in the road and be a hazard if you’re driving quickly.
5. **Hold a sign out the window for a personalized message.** Writing on your windows can be hard, especially if you’re trying to say something specific. For an easy way to get your message across, grab a permanent marker and a poster board and get to writing! You can send a message to the birthday girl or boy, congratulate a graduate, or wish someone good luck.
If you’re doing a parade for your friend or family member, you can hand the sign to them as you drive by. That way, they’ll have a fun memento to remember the day with.
You can just hold the sign out your window, or you can attach it to the side of your car with masking tape.
6. **Blast some music for a roving DJ setup.** Everyone loves a little music to set the mood! Turn your volume up, find the perfect playlist, and bump your music so everyone around you can hear it. Christmas parades could use a little holiday music, Independence Day parades might like a little patriotism, and birthday parties could use some fun beats.
If you’re driving in a neighborhood, the people around you might not appreciate your music so much. Keep it to a minimum if you aren’t sure about the area.
7. **Hang a banner across your hood for a fun message.** Grab a paper banner (or make one yourself) and lay it over the hood of your car. Use a few pieces of masking tape to attach it to the front and drive around with a fun personalized message on the front of your car.
If it’s windy out, keep an eye on the banner as you drive. You might need to keep a few spare pieces of masking tape nearby just in case you need them.
If putting a banner on the hood isn’t your style, you can attach it to either side of your car instead.
8. **Outline shapes on your windows with colored duct tape.** If you don’t feel like drawing on your windows, how about using tape instead? Use some brightly colored duct tape to write simple messages or outline basic shapes, like squares, triangles, and rectangles on your windows.
Duct tape is fine on your car windows, but don’t put it on the body of your car. The sticky tape will definitely take some paint off with it.
9. **Get spooky with pumpkins and ghouls on Halloween.** Your car can be scary, too! Grab some cardboard cutouts of pumpkins, ghosts, or monsters and attach them to your car with masking tape. Twist orange and black streamers together and attach them to the side of your car with masking tape, or draw some pumpkins on your windows with window paint.
You could even set a skeleton in the seat next to you for an undead passenger.
For extra doom and gloom, use red window paint to make bloody handprints all over your car.
10. **Make your car patriotic on Independence Day.** It’s all about America on the 4th of July, so stick with a red, white, and blue color scheme. Use streamers, balloons, banners, and colorful duct tape to show your support for the nation as you drive around. Bonus points if you put on a sparkly top hat to dress up like Uncle Sam!
You could also attach flag posts to the sides of your car and wave some real American flags as you drive.
11. **Rock the school’s mascot for a graduation parade.** Get a cardboard cutout or a car decal of the school’s mascot and stick it on the side of your car to show your support. Grab some streamers or balloons in the school colors (you can check their website if you aren’t sure what they are) and make a personalized sign congratulating the graduate.
If you have a gift for the graduate, you can hand it to them out the window or toss it on their lawn as you drive by.
You can also write your congratulations on your car window with window paint.
12. **Stick to blue and pink for a gender reveal party.** Girl or boy? That’s the big question! Grab some window paint and draw question marks all over your windows in blue and pink. Decorate the rest of your car with blue and pink balloons to make this parade one to remember.
If you want to get something special for the parent-to-be, try dropping off a fun baked good or some new baby clothes.
13. **Make your car glow with string lights on Christmas.** For a fun Christmas parade, wrap your car in Christmas lights from side to side (try not to cover any windows up too much). Plug them into the cigarette lighter in your car, then add tinsel around the lights with masking tape. It’ll be like a roving Christmas tree!
If you want to use lights around your car, you’ll need to get an adapter to turn the plug into one that can plug into your cigarette lighter. Look for one at an auto parts shop near you.
14. **Use balloons, steamers, and banners for a birthday celebration.** If you’re driving by to wish someone a Happy Birthday, you can turn your car into part of their special day. Go all out with balloons, streamers, window paint, and a fun banner to make their birthday even more special. Don’t forget to hand them a gift out the window!
If you know the person’s favorite color, you can deck your car out in it to make their day even more special.
Try blasting their favorite song or one that will make them laugh as you drive by. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Decorate-a-Car-for-a-Parade", "language": "en"} |
How to Paint Tires for Decoration | Old tires make great swings, raised planters, and garden or play area borders, to name just a few examples, but they look a bit dull. Fortunately, this article lists several great tips and ideas for using paint to spruce up the look of your decorative tires. So get started by reading what’s below, then see where your creativity takes you!
1. **Putting the tire on bricks or blocks makes working on it easier.** It’s more work to decorate a tire if it’s lying on the ground! Elevating it just 1 ft (30 cm) or a bit less makes it easier to clean, prime, and paint. You may even want to prop the tire up on sawhorses to make the job that much easier.
Even with the tire elevated off the ground, you’ll likely have to prime and paint it in stages—that is, paint most of it, let it dry, flip it over, and paint the rest.
2. **Use dish soap and degreaser and let the tire dry out fully.** Mix a few squirts of dish soap into warm water and use rags to wipe down the tire. Use a scrub brush to get any gunk caught in the tire treads. While you can stop cleaning at this point, spraying on and wiping off a commercial degreaser will help the paint to stick even better. In any case, make sure the tire is completely dry before you start painting it.
Use a non-toxic degreaser if you plan to use the tire as a planting bed or in a play area for kids.
3. **Apply 1-2 even coats of a durable, exterior-grade primer.** Shake the spray can for at least one minute, hold it about 9–12 in (23–30 cm) from the tire, and use a steady back-and-forth motion to apply an even coat over the entire surface of the tire. If the coverage is spotty after the first coat, or you just want an extra-durable primer base, apply a second coat once the first has dried to the touch.
Even if you’ll be using the tire as an indoor decoration, use an exterior-grade primer since they’re more durable.
Spray outdoors in a shaded area or in a well-ventilated indoor area like a garage.
4. **Light paint colors are best for tire planters and outdoor play equipment.** Tires that are painted dark colors like deep red or blue—or that aren’t painted at all—can get hot enough in the sun to burn a child’s hand or scorch your plants. While a lighter color like white, pink, or tan is best for temperature control, keep in mind that you may also have to apply more coats of paint to mask the darker color of the rubber tire.
5. **Consider using an industrial or marine paint for maximum durability.** When it comes to painting rubber tires, the more durable the paint, the better! If you’re using spray paint, apply it with a steady, even spraying motion, just like with the primer. If you’re brushing on the paint, use the tips of the paintbrush bristles to push paint in between the tire treads. Paint the rest of the tire with long back-and-forth brush strokes.
Heavy-duty paints adhere better and are more flexible, which result in less cracking and flaking.
Follow the specific application instructions for the paint you choose.
6. **While 2 coats gives a durable finish, 3 or 4 may be even better!** You’ll get diminishing returns once you get beyond 3-4 coats of paint, but definitely apply at least 2 coats of either spray paint or brushed-on paint. In any case, always allow the paint to dry to the touch between coats—depending on factors like the humidity level, this may take around 15-30 minutes.
7. **Brush on artistic touches that complement the tire’s new color(s).** Make sure the paint on the tire is dry, then use art brushes to add hearts, polka dots, geometric shapes, or whatever else you choose. Acrylic art paints work well here, especially if the tire will be displayed indoors. If you want a more durable finish for outdoors, opt for different colors of the same type of exterior-grade paint you used for the base color.
Adding the finishing touches to a painted tire is a great project for kids. Once the base coats of paint dry, hand over some brushes and acrylic paints and let the kids get creative on this unique kind of blank canvas!
8. **Opt for stick-on, peel-off stencils if you want more precise tire decorations.** Draw the shape (like a diamond, circle, or star) onto the contact paper, then cut it out with a crafting knife and/or scissors. Stick the contact paper to the tire and smooth out any wrinkles. Fill in the cutout by brushing on acrylic paint, working from the outer edge of the cutout inward to limit paint bleeding underneath the edge of the contact paper. Peel the contact paper away and use it again as desired.
The contact paper may only stay sticky for 2 or 3 uses, so consider cutting out multiple stencils. It’s also a good idea to cut out separate stencils for each different paint color you intend to use.
9. **This is a play on classic whitewall tires—in any color you like!** While the tire treads add an interesting texture to any decorations you paint on, the walls on either side of the treads are smoother and ideal for a colorful circular stripe. Choose a paint color that plays nicely off the base color you painted the tire, use strips of painter’s tape to mark off the edges of the strip (if you want it to look more precise), then brush on the stripe.
For example, if you’re painting a tire to use as a flower planting bed, you might paint the body of the tire light pink, paint light blue and green diamonds onto the treads, and add a light purple stripe on the tire wall.
10. **Customize your vehicle’s tires and show off your brand loyalty.** Most tires have the brand name etched onto their outward-facing walls, but without any color to make them stand out. But you can easily fix this! Shop online or at an auto paint store for paint pens designed precisely for rubber tires. Thoroughly clean and dry the tires as you would before any paint job, press the nib of the pen down on a scrap surface to get the paint flowing, then simply color in the lettering. Let the paint dry and apply additional coats as needed.
This kind of paint is very durable, but obviously won’t last forever on functional vehicle tires. Expect to do some touch-up work at least once or twice per year.
White is the most popular color, but you can actually find several other options. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Tires-for-Decoration", "language": "en"} |
How to Open a Bank Account As a Small Business | Running a business is complicated, but you can easily track your expenses by opening a separate business bank account. Shop around to see if banks offer any perks for small business owners. When it's time to sign up, gather the required information and sign up in person or online.
1. **Get your tax ID.** Banks usually require that you use a business ID to open a bank account. In the U.S., you should get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Although sole proprietors can use their Social Security Number as a tax ID, most banks want an EIN.
Obtain your EIN at https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.
2. **Obtain your business license.** A bank might also want to see your business license. Contact your local or state government to check how to get it. You will probably need to pay a fee.
Your business license should show both the owner's name and the business name.
3. **Make copies of your legal documents.** If you formed a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), you should have filed forms with your state. Corporations file articles of incorporation and LLCs file articles of organization. A bank might want to see these, so find your copies.
After your state approves your business, you should get back copies. If not, contact your Secretary of State.
4. **Show who can use the business account.** The bank will need to know who has been authorized to withdraw money from the account. Gather the following legal documents:
A partnership should have a partnership agreement, which should contain your business name and the names of all partners.
A limited liability company should have a corporate resolution with a list of authorized signers.
A corporation should also have a corporate resolution identify the authorized signers.
5. **Gather personal identification for all signers.** Banks will probably want personal identification for every person who can sign on the account. Generally, you'll need copies of each person's driver's license or other state-issued ID.
6. **Collect proof of your business name.** You might do business under an assumed name, also called a trade name or a DBA (“doing business as”). The bank will probably want to see this document. You should have received a name certificate when you filed for your assumed business name.
7. **Get proof of your business address.** A bank might also want to see your address. Generally, a copy of a utility bill will suffice. However, you might need something else, such as a communication from the state.
8. **Create a checklist of your needs.** Consider what you need from your bank account. For example, you might want a free business checking account, or a savings account to help you save for taxes.
If you don't know what you need, then talk to a new small business owner. Ask where they have their business bank account and what features they like. Ask if they wish the account had anything.
9. **Contact multiple banks.** Start with the bank you have your personal banking accounts with, but don't stop there. You should also check with other local banks. You might also check with local credit unions, although not all offer business bank accounts.
10. **Ask about special benefits for business owners.** Some banks are competing for the business of small business owners. Stop in or call and ask what perks they offer. Consider some of the following benefits:
Reduced fees. Some banks will waive banking fees if you keep a minimum in the account every month.
Business credit card or line of credit. Small businesses rarely qualify for lines of credit, so you might want to sign up with a bank that is willing to offer one.
Coin and currency service. If you have a high volume of cash, you want a bank equipped to handle it. Some banks offer overnight deposit, coin verification, and other services.
Courier service. You can arrange daily pickups at your business.
11. **Consider opening more than one account.** If your business is small, you might be able to get away with having only one business account. However, you might benefit from having multiple accounts—one for taxes, payroll, and income.
If you aren't sure what you need, you should consult with your accountant.
12. **Check if you can open an account online.** Most business can open accounts online. However, a few industries are prohibited from opening an account this way and will need to go in person:
Telemarketing
Gambling
Precious metal dealers
13. **Sign up for your account.** Most banks should offer many options for opening a bank account. Choose the option that works best for you:
In person. Gather your required documents and visit the nearest branch.
Over the phone. Call and provide required information. They will tell you how to submit copies of required documents.
Online. Like applying over the phone, you can provide basic information and then send copies of your business documents. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Open-a-Bank-Account-As-a-Small-Business", "language": "en"} |
15 Best Ways to Lose Weight While Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding is not only great for your baby, but for most women it also has the advantage of burning some extra calories, which can help to shed extra pounds gained during pregnancy. Losing weight while breastfeeding should be approached with care and caution. However, by eating the right types of foods, exercising, and taking good care of yourself, you can help support your postpartum weight loss.
1. **It may seem counterintuitive, but it is important to eat regularly to lose weight.** While nursing, you should never eat fewer than 1,500-1,800 calories daily, and most women require much more than this. Starving yourself is never a good idea, and is particularly dangerous when recovering from childbirth and nursing your baby. Too few calories can also be counterproductive to your weight loss goals.
Breastfeeding burns an additional 300-500 calories per day, and has been shown to reduce postpartum weight retention overall for most women even without caloric restriction. You should eat enough to satisfy that calorie requirement in addition to that of a healthy diet.
While studies have not shown that there is a significant relationship between reduced maternal intake of calories and milk production, eating too few calories can put your health at risk and increase fatigue.
Eating regular meals and snacks will take the edge off of your hunger and allow you to more easily manage what you eat. If you allow yourself to get too hungry, you will end up reaching for the most convenient food available, rather than the healthiest option.
When you don’t take in enough calories, your body enters a “starvation mode” known as adaptive thermogenesis in order to reduce the amount of energy you are expending, including burning calories. This can function as a type of weight loss sabotage.
2. **Eating a treat is an excellent way to keep hunger at bay.** Whether working at home or outside of it, nursing moms don’t have a lot of free time. Prepare healthy snacks in advance when you have a spare moment.
Snacks like nuts, apple slices, or carrot sticks are great options.
Keep healthy snacks within reach while you are nursing your baby. Nursing forces you to sit still for a moment and rest, the perfect time to grab a bite.
Try keeping nonperishable snacks, like nuts or dried fruit, in your purse or diaper bag, or in your car for easy access on the go.
Make sure to wash all fruits and vegetables. The FDA recommends washing fresh produce under running water just before eating, cutting or cooking. Using soap or commercial produce washes is unnecessary.
3. **Choose foods rich in iron, protein, and calcium.** On a similar note, try to eat fewer foods with empty calories or those high in fats or sugars. High protein foods are especially important because they will keep you feeling full for longer. Try to avoid foods that are highly processed or that are simple carbs, like white bread, white rice, cookies, and candy. This will help you lose weight without sacrificing your nutritional health.
Good sources of iron include whole-grain products, dark leafy vegetables, and citrus fruits.
Eggs and dairy products, as well as leans meats, soy products and meat substitutes, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains contain protein.
For calcium, consider dairy products or dark green vegetables. You can also find calcium-enriched products like juices, cereals, soy milk, yogurt and tofu.
4. **Not only will it help you lose weight, but a healthier diet enhances the nutritional value of your breast milk.** Junk foods and fast foods offer empty calories that do not offer sustained sources of energy you need to take care of yourself and your baby.
Avoiding the extra salt, sugar and preservatives in processed foods is better for you overall.
Decrease your fat intake to 20-25% or less of total calories. Replace those fat calories with foods that are lower in fat, but higher in protein.
Watch out for hidden sugars in juices and sodas that add on additional calories without nutritional benefit. Many sodas also contain caffeine, which should be limited to less than 2 to 3 cups per day. More than that can disrupt your baby's sleeping habits (and yours).
5. **The stress that comes with a new baby is difficult to handle, but try to keep stress at bay as much as you can.** Stress can get in the way of your weight loss plans. When you feel stressed, your body releases cortisol, which can increase appetite and drive you to eat more. Stress can also cause you to store extra “visceral fat” in your midsection, exactly where you probably wish to slim down the most.
To reduce stress, write down your feelings and frustrations during the day, so they don’t keep you up at night. Keep a journal of your experiences with motherhood, breastfeeding, and your efforts to lose weight.
Talk about how you’re feeling. Share your thoughts with your partner or a trusted friend or relative. Commiserate about the challenges that come with a new baby with other moms online or in person.
Try to focus on good moments with your baby, rather than the struggles that come with motherhood. Keep in mind that the time your baby is of breastfeeding age is very short.
Ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities of breastfeeding and motherhood, reach out to those around you for help. Make sure your partner is shouldering his or her share of the burden. Ask grandparents to help take care of older children or help prepare meals.
6. **An exercise as easy as power walking can result in fast and efficient weight management all over.** This includes your belly! There are several fun ways to stay active, even while taking care of a nursing baby.
Power walk or run while pushing your child in a stroller around your neighborhood. This is a pleasant way to get some exercise for yourself and some fresh air for your baby.
There are many exercise strollers available on market. Some are designed for serious running, while others are more tailored to a brisk walk. Find one that suits your exercise needs.
If you dislike the bulk of pushing around a stroller, consider buying a baby carrier or sling to use on walks and outings with your baby.
Make your cardio workouts a social event. If you know other moms with young children in your area, invite them to go for a walk. This is a great way to get out and socialize, which can be difficult if you are staying home to care for your baby.
Everything in moderation. Do not exercise to the point of exhaustion, but even vigorous exercise is fine while breastfeeding (after getting the green light from your doctor post-partum of course).
7. **There are a few extra steps you should take as a nursing mother.** It is important to keep your body and your breasts in good shape for nursing and milk production.
Wear a supportive sports bra when doing vigorous activity. Supporting your breasts with a well-fitting bra reduces nipple friction and discomfort. Nursing sports bras are now available for active moms.
Drink some extra water before and during your workout. An extra two of three glasses of water will help ensure that you do not get dehydrated, which can affect your milk supply.
Try to nurse before your workout. This will settle your baby, if you are bringing him or her along, and working out without engorged breasts is much more comfortable.
If you sweat extensively when working out, rinse your breasts before nursing. Some babies don’t like the taste of salt.
If you're concerned about sagging breasts after breastfeeding, you can perform chest exercises and make a few lifestyle changes to help prevent this occurrence (also remembering that breastfeeding is not a main cause of sagging breasts). More help can be found here: How to Prevent Sagging Breasts after Breastfeeding.
8. **You don’t need to “bulk up” to get the benefits of weight training.** Building any amount of muscle mass burns more calories, even while at rest. Building strength overall is also beneficial for carrying your baby.
Use elastic bands or weights for resistance training, and exercise at intervals that are high in intensity.
More repetitions with lower weight is just as effective at building muscle as working out with heavier weights, and less likely to cause injury.
If you regularly lift weights or do exercises with repetitive arm movement, it is important to start slowly. If you find that your breasts become irritated or develop plugged ducts, cut back on these type of exercises for a while.
9. **You do not need to do 1000 sit ups to get the benefits of abdominal toning.** Just tightening your stomach muscles routinely will aid in toning the muscles there.
Pilates or yoga offer many effective workouts that firm up your core. Yoga has other benefits as well, such as helping your posture after a day of pushing a stroller and lifting your baby.
Try planks, or exercises in which you assume a position and hold it for a short period of time. Planks have the benefit of working several muscle groups at once, including muscles on your front, sides, abdomen, back, and even your arms.
10. **There are creative ways to chart the progress you have made in your efforts to lose weight.** A weight loss chart can help you see on a daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly basis how much you have lost.
Make you own chart using an excel spreadsheet. This option allows you to include information that is most relevant to you.
Download a weight loss chart. There are many different types of weight loss charts available with just a brief online search. Many are free to download and print out.
There are examples of other types of body measurement charts available online as well. Get inspiration from what other people have done to create your own.
If you chose to chart every day, pick the same time of day in which to weigh yourself and record it. Remember that you tend to weigh the least first thing in the morning.
It is easy to begin obsessing about your weight once you start to keep close track of it. Try to keep your charting within reason. Avoid weighing yourself more than once a day, and don’t get frustrated if your weight fluctuates both up and down.
11. **Most people need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.** This is especially difficult for breastfeeding moms who are frequently required to nurse throughout the night. Getting enough rest, however, is important when trying to lose weight.
If you are tired, you will be more likely to reach for a quick shot of energy in the form of carbohydrates or sugar. Your brain’s reward centers become more active when you are tired and you might start looking for an easy fix.
A study has shown that sleeping too little leads some people to eat bigger portions of food, and thus additional calories. This can quickly derail your weight loss plans.
You are also less likely to be physically active if you are not getting enough rest. Exercising or going to the gym seem impossible when you are sleep-deprived.
Consider pumping your milk and allowing your partner to take over one or two feedings during the night so you can sleep.
12. **This is particularly true for mothers of infants.** The old adage of “nap while the baby naps” is good advice. Take advantage of family members and friends who offer to watch your baby for a few hours so you can rest.
Don't spend all of your baby's nap time doing chores around the house. Take some time to rest while your baby sleeps. Let other people take over some household responsibilities. If you have older children, make a chore chart and get them to do simple and age-appropriate chores like dishes, vacuuming, or taking out the trash.
Just getting off of your feet and resting is beneficial for your body. Remember your body is working extra hard to make food for your baby, be kind to it.
Napping has additional benefits aside from helping you lose weight. A recent study has shown that mothers who nap are less fatigued overall and able to foster more positive interactions with their infants.
13. **It is very easy as a new mother to put other people first.** While taking care of your baby is very important, taking care of yourself is also a necessity. There are a few strategies you can use to optimize your resting and sleeping while breastfeeding.
Say no to added responsibilities at school and work. Fight your inclination to volunteer for every activity at your older child's school or to work overtime. Set aside time to rest, as well as time to be physically active. Make yourself and your rest a priority.
Avoid caffeine, especially later in the day. Caffeine can keep you awake and destroy your chances of grabbing a few precious hours of sleep.
Make your evenings as peaceful as possible. Try to avoid watching TV, or using the computer or phone before bed.
Make your bedroom a haven for sleep by keeping it quiet, dark, and cool. If you need to, use a sleep mask for maximum darkness.
14. **It's advisable to wait at least 2 months after birth before active losing weight.** But during this time, you can be eating healthy and avoid junk food as much as possible. After that period has passed, try to lose weight at a slow, but steady, pace, rather than all at once. A pound and a half a week is a reasonable goal.
Avoid trend diet plans, cleanses, promises of rapid weight loss, fat burning medicines, diet plan tablets and natural supplements. These things might possibly be risky for anybody, and are especially high-risk while nursing.
Studies show that losing weight too quickly puts additional stress on your cardiovascular system. Childbirth and nursing put enough stress on your body, you don’t need to add more.
When you go on a crash diet, your body tends to burn muscle and lose water weight, instead of burning fat. This makes keeping the weight off a lot more difficult than if you had lost weight over a more extended period of time.
15. **Not all women experience postpartum weight loss during breastfeeding the same way.** You should think about your weight loss plan as a long term, healthy lifestyle, rather than an immediate goal. Don't get discouraged if your weight loss doesn't go exactly as you hoped.
You may drop some weight quickly in the first few weeks after you deliver, but keep in mind that it will not all come off that quickly.
Don't expect results overnight. It might take a year or more to lose the additional weight you have acquired while pregnant. Unless you're a celebrity with a personal trainer, nutritionist, and live-in nanny, losing your baby weight takes time.
Some women find it very difficult to lose weight while breastfeeding and experience a greater loss in weight after they wean their baby. This may be due to lack of routine and sleep, which can contribute to overeating.
Your body also releases the hormone prolactin during pregnancy and breastfeeding, which triggers milk production. Some research suggests that if you have a higher level of prolactin, it can suppress your metabolism.
When taking stock of your weight loss goals, remember that you will usually keep about three pounds of extra tissue in your breasts as long as you are nursing. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Lose-Weight-While-Breastfeeding", "language": "en"} |
How to Draw a Parabolic Curve (a Curve with Straight Lines) | A parabolic curve is a two-dimensional drawing that seems to make a curve. It is very easy to do, and once you master it, the possibilities are endless!
1. **Find graph paper.** When you are learning, it is best to use graph paper. If you don't have any graph paper, continue on to method 2.
2. **Position the paper lengthwise.** Put the paper so the long end is on the bottom/top and the short ends on the side. If you are using square graph paper, you can skip this step.
3. **Using a ruler, draw a line from the top left square to the right of the bottom left cube.** Make sure the line is straight.
4. **Using the ruler again, draw another line from the second to top left square and two out from the bottom left corner.**
5. **Continue moving down on the left side, and out on the bottom.** Make sure you don't connect the wrong end to wrong end, as it is hard to erase.
6. **Repeat until you reach the bottom square on the left side.**
7. **Finished!**
8. **Draw a right angle.** The taller you make it, the smoother your Parabolic Curve will be.
9. **Add notches, dots, points, etc.** on both sides of the angle. Make sure they are evenly spaced and equal on both sides.
10. **Using a ruler, draw a line from the top left notch to the right of the bottom left botch.** Make sure the line is straight. Repeat with the next notch
11. **Using the ruler again, draw another line from the third to top left notch and four out from the bottom left corner.**
12. **Continue moving down on the left side, and out on the bottom.** Make sure you don't connect the wrong end to wrong end, as it is hard to erase.
13. **Repeat until you reach the bottom notch on the left side.**
14. **Finished!**
15. **Draw a circle** Use a compass, as it is essential that it is a good circle.
16. **Notch the edges of the circle.** Notch them in equal distance from each other.
17. **Depending on how wide you want you parabolic curve to be, draw a line from one line to another.**
18. **Continue connecting the notches with lines.** Continue as needed.
19. **You're finished when you are at where you started.**
20. **Finished!**
21. **Draw it as a cube.** This is a really cool doodle that isn't too hard. Simply draw the cube first, then use the angles of the cube to make the curves.
22. **Make it using yarn or string.** This is even cooler than doing it on paper!
23. **Draw a parabolic curve using an angle greater or less than 90°.** This makes the curve narrower or wider.
24. **Draw three parabolic curves inside a triangle.** This makes a three-sided star.
25. **Combine parabolic curve sections to make a work of art!** | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Parabolic-Curve-(a-Curve-with-Straight-Lines)", "language": "en"} |
How to Clean Gunk from Your Dog's Eyes | Cleaning gunk from your dog’s eyes can be an important part of keeping your pooch safe and healthy. Before you begin removing discharge from your dog’s eyes, make sure you determine the cause of the discharge. Gunk in your dog’s eyes can signal a serious medical condition and warrant treatment from your veterinarian. Once you’ve figured out what’s causing the eye drainage, you can clean gunk from your dog’s eyes using a damp cloth or an eye wash formulated especially for dogs.
1. **Visit your vet.** If your dog has gunk or discharge draining from her eyes, you first need to make sure it’s not a sign of a serious health problem. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to determine the cause of the discharge before addressing the problem on your own. While you should evaluate your dog for symptoms, you should never rely on your own assessment of the problem.
Take notes on your dog’s symptoms and bring them with you to the vet visit.
If it appears something is lodged in your dog’s eye, visit the emergency vet immediately.
2. **Consider your dog’s breed.** Brachycephalic breed breeds including pugs, bulldogs, boxers, and Pekingese are more likely to have eye discharge because of their flat faces, protruding eyes, and shallow eye sockets, and can suffer from issues with tear drainage and/or eyelids that don’t function properly. Saint Bernards, terriers, beagles, cocker spaniels, and bloodhounds have loose skin on their faces and, as a result, have eyelids that are more likely to roll outward. These breeds are also more susceptible to cherry eye, a condition where the gland in your dog’s eyelid slips out of its original position.
If your dog has a furry face or a beard, resist the temptation to clean it every day. This may actually cause infections.
3. **Figure out if your dog has epiphora.** Excessive tearing, or epiphora, can result in stained, stinky, and/or infected fur and skin. If your pooch’s eyes are watery and teary, she could have epiphora. There are many conditions that cause epiphora, including allergies, ulcers on your dog’s cornea, inflammation, abnormal eyelashes, tumors, glaucoma, and poor drainage of the eye by the tear ducts.
If you think your dog is suffering from epiphora, take her/him to see the vet as soon as possible.
4. **Determine if your dog has conjunctivitis.** If your dog has yellow or green pus, mucus, or watery discharge draining from her eyes, it could be a sign that she is suffering from conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is when the lining of your dog’s eye becomes inflamed. It can be caused by a number of factors including allergies, distemper, tumors, injury, birth defects, dry eye, tear duct problems or foreign matter.
If your dog is showing symptoms of conjunctivitis, take her to the vet immediately.
5. **Screen your dog for dry eye.** If your dog’s eye discharge is sticky and persistent, dry eye could be the culprit. Mucus and inflammation are characteristics of dry eye in dogs. Dry eye can be caused by injury to the tear-producing gland, autoimmune response, or distemper. If your dog has dry eye, she is at serious risk for infection and/or ulcers on her cornea. If it looks like your dog is suffering from dry eye, make an appointment with her vet to get to the root of the issue and prevent future problems like infection.
6. **Keep your dog calm.** While most dogs will be okay with you cleaning gunk from their eyes, others might not. If your dog is especially sensitive, try cleaning her eyes with the help of another person. Have someone with whom the dog is familiar hold your pet while you clean the dog’s eyes.
7. **Wet a clean washcloth or sponge.** If your dog’s eye discharge isn’t caused by a serious medical condition like epiphora or conjunctivitis, you can clean the gunk with a damp, soft cloth or sponge. Using water that is at room temperature, wet the cloth and wring it out so it remains damp but is not overly saturated.
Avoid using extremely hot or cold water as this can cause further irritation in your dog’s eyes.
Don’t use a napkin or paper towel as both can disintegrate when wet and leave harmful bits of paper in your pooch’s eyes.
8. **Remove the eye gunk with soft strokes.** Using the moistened washcloth or sponge, gently clean the discharge from your dog’s eyes using several gentle strokes. If necessary, you can rinse and wring the cloth between strokes.
9. **Don’t use soap or shampoo.** In the majority of cases, you should not use any type of detergent, soap, or shampoo when cleaning gunk from your dog’s eyes. This can cause irritation for your pet. Instead, you should stick to water and avoid cleansers altogether.
10. **Clean your dog’s eyes with a sterile pet eye solution.** If your pet is suffering from a chronic or serious condition that causes excessive eye discharge, your vet may recommend using sterile pet eyewash to clean your dog’s eye. Gently moisten the cotton ball or pad with the solution, taking caution to not soak it. Start at the inner corner of the eye and wipe outward.
Use a new cotton ball or pad for each eye, as using the same one for both eyes can spread bacteria, viruses, and infection between the two eyes.
11. **Don’t let your dog hang her head out the window of your car.** While it might seem like a whole lot of fun, allowing your dog to ride along with her head hanging out the window can be a recipe for disaster. The resulting wind can blow debris in your dog’s eyes, which can in turn cause irritation or even an infection.
12. **Keep your pet’s eyes and face clean.** The fur surrounding your dog’s eyes can be a hotbed for bacteria and viruses, which can quickly turn into an infection. Make sure you bathe your dog regularly and clean her eyes using either a damp cloth or a sterile pet eyewash.
13. **Trim the hair around your dog’s eyes.** Keeping the hair around your dog’s eyes clipped can help prevent irritation and the proliferation of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Have someone familiar with the dog hold her while you use blunt nosed scissors to trim the hair. If your dog is not comfortable with this, do not try it at home. Instead take her to your veterinarian for eye grooming. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Gunk-from-Your-Dog%27s-Eyes", "language": "en"} |
How to Mix Cerium Oxide | Cerium oxide is a popular solution for polishing glass. Unlike other polishing products, like diamond paste, cerium oxide is packaged as a powder. With a little bit of water, you can turn your cerium oxide into a slurry that can effectively smooth and polish your glass.
1. **Clean off the glass surface with cleaner before you start polishing.** Wipe down the glass with your preferred glass cleaner and a soft, clean cloth. Get rid of any dust, dirt, or grime that’s sticking to the glass, as these can create more scratches during the polishing process.
As a precaution, double-check that the glass surface is completely clean before you start polishing it.
2. **Fill a small basin halfway with warm water so you can soak your pad.** Set a small, 1 US pt (0.47 L) or 1 US qt (0.95 L) container on your work surface. Pour warm water into the basin until it’s filled halfway.
The size of the container really depends on the size of your polishing pad and the size of the project that you’re polishing. If you’re working with a small section of glass, you can use a 1 US pt (0.47 L) container.
3. **Dip your polishing wheel in the warm water.** Grab a new polishing wheel, or remove it from your electric drill if it’s still attached. Soak the surface in the warm water, which will make it easier to apply the cerium oxide slurry to the glass.
The pad only needs to be damp, but not dripping wet.
4. **Mix 2 parts of cerium oxide with 1 part of lukewarm water in a second plastic bin.** Pour several spoonfuls of cerium oxide powder into another empty plastic bin. Stir a smaller amount of lukewarm water into the bin to mix the powder until it has a watery, slightly creamy texture.
You may want to make a large batch of slurry if you’re polishing something big, like a glass tabletop.
The slurry should have a paint-like consistency, which helps it adhere to the pad and glass.
5. **Connect the damp polishing pad to your drill.** Check that the pad is securely attached to the electric drill so it doesn’t fall off when you start polishing your glass. For extra guidance, read the instructions with your polishing pad or drill.
6. **Coat the surface of your pad with the cerium oxide mixture.** Hold the drill and dip the pad into the cerium oxide slurry. Don’t cake the pad with the mixture, but check that the surface is completely covered.
You can always dip your pad into more cerium oxide later.
7. **Polish your glass with the pad once you’ve made the slurry.** Use the cerium oxide sooner rather than later, so the mixture doesn’t dry out. Keep the container of cerium oxide slurry near your polishing project for easy access.
8. **Add more paste to the pad if it dries out.** Dip your pad into the paste again if the slurry doesn’t seem to be sticking the glass and polishing properly. If the slurry starts drying on your glass, spritz over it with lukewarm water.
The slurry can cause long-term damage to your glass if it dries completely.
9. **Wipe off the slurry after you’ve polished the surface.** Take a clean cloth and get rid of any leftover slurry on the glass. You’ll probably use multiple coats of cerium oxide slurry to polish your glass project, so you’ll need to wipe off the leftover mixture after each round of polishing. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Mix-Cerium-Oxide", "language": "en"} |
How to Create a Home Museum | Sometimes you go to a museum and you get inspired and want to create an exhibit of your own...Or you might have some interesting artifacts you might want to display. No sweat.
1. **Try to acquire artifacts.** Native American pottery or other relics from ancient cultures can be pretty hard to find and are very, very expensive to buy. Using taxidermy specimens, mineral, or fossil specimens is a good bet.
Taxidermic specimens are insects in alcohol or stuffed animals. You can prepare these by hunting or finding dead animals. For birds, mammals, and sometimes reptiles, such as crocodiles, and maybe sharks, you can stuff the specimen. For mollusks, insects, spiders, fish, salamanders, frogs, toads and lizards, you can put them in special preservatives.
Rocks and Minerals can be found very easily in mines, mine dumps, rock piles, caves, mountains and quarries. If you do not live near any of these you can wait for a trip, collect everyday use rocks such a coal and limestone, or go to a special rock shop or gem show. If you want to make your rock more shiny you can buy special equipment
Fossils are the remains of ancient animals and plants which turned to stone millions of years ago. Fossils are commonly found in rocks such as limestone, sandstone, and shale. When you find your fossil, wrap it in newspaper and tape, to make sure it does not get broken. You can prepare you fossil with a toothbrush and dental tools. If there are no fossils in you area or you cannot collect them, you can also get them at rock shops and shows
2. **Be sure to label them.** Sometimes you can lose track of your specimen's information, such as where and when it was found. It is good idea to keep track of your specimen in a catalog or database. Handwritten catalogs are usually messy and unprofessional. Use Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to create one of these. Put in the object's discovery date and place, if a fossil or artifact: age, and some interesting facts.
3. **If you are going to put your specimen on display, create labels.** As with the catalog, it is not a good idea to have your labels handwritten. On your label include the object's catalog number, general keyword, and location of discovery.
4. **If you are building a museum, you will of course need a display of objects.** For ancient artifacts, try to piece them together with crazy glue. Stuffed animals can be mounted on wooden poles or in dioramas. Rock specimens can be displayed together or individually. Small fossils such as shells or leaves can be placed in a display case or cabinet, while individual bones of larger animals can be mounted as a skeleton. If bones are missing (they probably will be) you can make plaster copies of other bones or sculpt replicas out of clay.
5. **Once you have acquired, prepared, cataloged, labeled, and figured out how you are going to display your specimens, you can start designing you exhibit.** Maybe try to have a large permanent exhibition, and have a couple small temporary ones, so guests have something new to see each time. Try too choose theme which interests you or is relevant to subject of you objects. For ancient artifacts maybe archaeology, For taxidermy maybe the diversity of life. For rocks and minerals, maybe the Earth. For fossils, maybe prehistoric life or geology.
6. **Once you know your theme for you exhibit you could create a diorama.** Maybe even put some of the objects in the diorama.
7. **The first step of creating you diorama is the animals or people.** For animals you can buy replica or even real skeletons to use. Then place a thick layer of clay all over the skeleton and texture it to resemble skin and muscle. You could use real animal hair for fur.
8. **The second step is to create rocks and plants.** For rocks, sculpt plasticine clay and paint it to look like the real thing. Doing this or using real plants, would be good for trees and vegetation.
9. **The final step is to paint a background.** If the diorama is at the center of you exhibit and there is not wall, you can skip this step. For the background use a large removable canvas and acrylic or spray paint. Paint mountains, more trees, rocks, and other animals in the background.
10. **The first step of this last section is to prepare your exhibit.** Hang informative signs, set up you diorama, and put out your items for display.
11. **The next step is to figure out how much admission will be.** You will need to earn enough to run you museum and to make a profit, print tickets, and possibly pay your staff.
12. **Hire staff.** You may need catalogers, exhibit design and preparation helpers, and docents. You may need to pay them.
13. **Invite your friends and family to your museum.** Maybe give people special memberships. You could even go a step farther and open you museum to the public! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Home-Museum", "language": "en"} |
How to Self Detox from Alcohol | There are an estimated 12 million alcoholics in the United States, many of whom need help quitting. An important step in getting sober is detoxification, or detox, a period of about a week when your body rids itself of all the alcohol in your system. This difficult process sometimes requires a medical facility, but as long as a doctor deems it safe, you can try to detox at home using these steps.
1. **Assess your lifestyle and drinking habits.** While many people can consume alcohol occasionally with no trouble, some develop a dangerous addiction. If you've experienced one or more of the following symptoms, you may be an alcoholic and should consider quitting drinking.
Drinking in the morning.
Drinking alone.
Feelings of guilt after drinking.
Making attempts to hide your drinking from others.
You have difficulty stopping yourself once you have one drink.
You've experienced withdrawal symptoms after not drinking for several hours, including sweating, shaking, anxiety, and nausea.
2. **Evaluate your goal.** After you've decided that you should cut back on alcohol or quit altogether, you need to set a concrete goal.
If your goal is to quit completely, write out "I will stop drinking alcohol on this date." Set a specific date on which you will quit. This will give you a tangible target to aim for.
Perhaps you don't want to quit entirely, but for health reasons you decide you'd like to only drink on Friday and Saturday. This is called "harm reduction." Write out a goal like, "As of this date, I will only drink on Fridays and Saturdays." Again, it is important to set a concrete date for when this will start. Build up your ability to be aware of how many drinks you have consumed and how you are feeling in a given amount of time. Rather than choosing how many drinks to allow yourself, increase your ability to be aware of when you are drinking too quickly or drinking more when around strangers. The more you know about your drinking, the better you will be able to control it.
If you only plan on reducing your intake, you may or may not need a full detox. Depending on how heavily you currently drink, detox may still be necessary. Any significant reduction in an addictive substance can lead to withdrawal.
3. **Announce your goal.** Let the people around you know of your plans. This way, you can start building your support system for when you begin detoxing.
Let the people around you know what you will require of them. It may be as simple as asking them to not offer you drinks, or you may need them to not drink around you at all. Whatever your needs are, make sure you are up front about them.
It is especially important to make your goals clear to friends who you used to drink with. Peer pressure causes many people to cave. If these people do not support your goal and pressure you to drink, you may need to distance yourself from them.
4. **Remove alcohol from your home.** When you start experiencing withdrawal symptoms, you may not be able to control your cravings. Avoid this temptation by keeping no alcohol in your home.
5. **Get outside support.** Find and attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting to gain support for quitting and to find others with similar issues. You can start going to meetings before you begin the detox, and continue attending throughout the process.
6. **Visit your doctor.** Detoxing can be very dangerous if done improperly, so you should consult your doctor before proceeding. They will be able to tell you if self-detoxification is a good idea in your particular case. If you are a severe alcoholic, you may need medical attention in order to detox. Your doctor can also prescribe medications or suggest vitamins and supplements that will aid in your detoxification.
Your doctor can also write a letter for medical leave to ensure you do not lose your job.
7. **Contact a friend or family member and have him stay with you during the detox period.** A detox should absolutely not be done alone. There are a number of dangers associated with a detox and you may need medical help. While some people plan on detoxing alone and calling 911 if they need help, this isn't a safe plan. Withdrawal symptoms can progress very quickly and you could lose consciousness before you can reach the phone. This means you'll need someone there in case of emergencies. He will have to stay with you 24 hours a day for the first 3 days at least, and will have to check in on you regularly for the rest of the week.
8. **Learn the risks and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.** Detoxing won't be a pleasant experience. For heavy long-term drinkers, it can even be fatal if done improperly. You and the person staying with you should be prepared for the following symptoms to occur within a few hours of your last drink and last until day 3 or so. They can even last up to a week.
Severe headache.
Night sweats.
Rapid heart rate.
Nausea and vomiting.
Dehydration.
Shaking.
Mental symptoms like confusion, irritability, depression, and anxiety.
More severe symptoms like hallucinations and seizures.
Delirium tremens (DTs)- These usually occur between 24 and 72 hours after the last drinks and are characterized by extreme agitation and disorientation, and body tremors. They most often affect people who have been heavy drinkers for a decade or more.
9. **Know when to seek medical help.** The person staying with you should know when it's time to reach out for medical help. If you experience any of the following, your partner should either call 911 or take you to the emergency room.
A fever of 101 or higher.
Seizures or convulsions.
Visual or auditory hallucinations.
Severe, constant vomiting or dry heaves.
Extreme agitation or violent outbursts.
DTs.
10. **Stock your home with food and water.** You may not feel up to leaving your home, and your partner shouldn't leave you alone for the first few days. It's very important to have several days' worth of fresh food in your house along with several gallons of water for times. Freeze small dishes to make meals easily when you aren't feeling well. You'll want healthy foods to replace the nutrients you're losing by detoxing. Some good choices when shopping are:
Fresh fruits and vegetables.
High-protein food like chicken, fish, or peanut butter.
Oats, to help control blood sugar.
Soup. People often lose their appetites during withdrawal, so soft foods like soup are good to have around.
Vitamin supplements. It is common for heavy drinkers to have vitamin deficiencies, so to stay healthy you'll have to replace these nutrients. Some good choices are vitamin B, C, and magnesium supplements. Only use supplements your doctor has approved.
11. **Request at least a week off from work.** You will be in no shape to go to work while detoxing. It may take up to 7 days for the worst of the symptoms to subside, so if you begin on a Saturday, you should be prepared to stay home for the following business week. If your doctor thinks this is necessary, get him or her to write a letter for medical leave.
12. **Write a letter to yourself.** In the early hours of the detox, you can write a letter from your drinking self to your sober self reflecting why you want to quit drinking, and your hopes for the future. When the physical withdrawal symptoms make the process tough, you can read this letter for motivation. Who do you hope to be? What are you ashamed of? Don't push away negative emotions. Write out who you are quitting drinking for, who you have hurt, how you have hurt yourself and those you love. Write out the values you'd like to live by and why.
13. **Practice "grounding" techniques.** "Grounding," which is similar to mindfulness, is a series of research-backed techniques that can help you get through extreme cravings by focusing on the present moment. When a craving hits, use your senses to ground yourself by noticing what's right in front of you. Keep going for as long as it takes for the craving to pass. You can rotate among several techniques if one isn't working. Practice the following techniques:
Describe the details of your environment without judging them. For example, you could notice that the carpet is thick and soft, the walls are blue, there's a crack in the ceiling, and the air smells fresh.
Distract yourself by naming items in a category, such as types of fruit or countries in alphabetical order.
Ground yourself physically by doing a simple exercise or running your hands over a textured surface.
Think pleasant thoughts: name your favorite foods or your favorite TV characters.
Think or say aloud a statement that helps you cope, like "I've got this."
14. **Drink plenty of water.** Withdrawal often causes vomiting and diarrhea, which can easily dehydrate you. Be sure to drink enough water to replace lost fluids. You could also drink sports drinks to replace lost electrolytes, but you or your partner should limit these to one or two a day at most. The high sugar content in these drinks can make symptoms worse in large doses.
15. **Eat as much as you can.** Although you will probably not have much of an appetite, you still need nutrients to get you through this. Don't force yourself to eat large meals- this could make you sick. Continue regular nutrient intake and eat the small frozen dishes if you are too weak to leave the house. Rather than snacks, focus on foods that will replace the nutrients you've lost while going through withdrawal.
16. **Get fresh air.** Staying locked inside for days will probably make you feel sicker. Sitting outside for just a few minutes and getting fresh air and sunlight can help you feel much better.
17. **Exercise.** You won't be in any shape to run a marathon or lift weights, but you should move around as much as you can. Staying sedentary is bad for your mental and physical health. Physical activity releases endorphins that help fight the depression and anxiety detoxing causes. Take short walks and get up to stretch once in a while to keep your body moving.
18. **Assess your condition.** Keep talking with your partner and let him know how you're feeling. This will not only pass the time, but it will let him know if he should consider getting medical help for you.
19. **Consider professional help if you need to do another detox.** Due to the physical and mental symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, people often cave during the detox process. This does not mean you're a weak person. It just means that you need to try again. If this is the case, you may require specialized supervision. Consider attending a rehab or detox facility to help you get through the process.
20. **Expect some residual effects.** Although your withdrawal symptoms should be gone in a week, you could feel some effects for several weeks. These include irritability, headaches, and insomnia.
21. **Seek psychological counseling.** Recovering alcoholics often suffer from depression, anxiety, and numerous other psychological issues. It is therefore very important to address these problems with a therapist or counselor. If you detox physically but fail to address your mental health, your chance of relapse is very high.
22. **Join a support group.** Although you've successfully detoxed, you'll need to build a support network to help you get through your continuing battle with alcohol. In addition to friends and family, a support group is a great resource. Many people in these groups have been through what you've been through, and can offer advice and support. Call them if you're feeling a craving or need any help.
23. **Find new hobbies and interests.** Your past activities probably included alcohol, so living a healthy life means finding new activities to replace your old ones.
Think about activities you used to love but haven't done in a while. Reviving these old hobbies can be a great way to put you in a positive state of mind.
Also consider hobbies that give you a sense of purpose like volunteer work.
24. **Avoid replacing your addiction.** Recovering alcoholics frequently replace alcohol with another substance like caffeine or tobacco. These addictions can be just as harmful. Instead of replacing your addiction, you need to focus on living your life without the addiction.
25. **Manage cravings.** You will inevitably experience cravings for alcohol. There are a few things you can do to properly manage this and avoid relapse.
Avoid your triggers. If certain people, places, or situations give you the urge to drink, you should avoid them. If old friends always pressure you to drink, you may have to cut them out of your life.
Practice saying "no." You won't always be able to avoid every situation that involves alcohol, so you should prepare yourself to turn down a drink if it's offered.
Distract yourself when having a craving. You can do this by taking a walk, listening to music, going for a drive, or any other activity that helps you forget about the alcohol craving.
Talk to people. Be open about your cravings and don't try to hide them. If you have a sober sponsor or mentor, talk to him whenever you have a craving or are feeling weak.
Remind yourself why you quit drinking. When you get an urge, think about how hard it was to quit drinking and your reasons for doing so.
26. **Expect some setbacks.** Unfortunately, relapse is common among recovering alcoholics. But slipping up once doesn't mean you've failed. Use all the skills you've learned in this journey to successfully overcome this setback.
Stop drinking right away and get away from wherever you were drinking.
Call your sponsor or a supportive friend and tell him what's happened.
Remember that this minor setback doesn't have to ruin all of your progress. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Self-Detox-from-Alcohol", "language": "en"} |
How to Account for Rent Free Periods | In order to attract tenants (lessees), landlords (lessors) will often include incentives in their leasing arrangements. For example, a lessee may be given a cash payment upon signing the lease or may be given several months of free rent. The latter provision, called a "rent free period" in accounting, warrants a special accounting treatment under the United States' Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Learning how to account for rent free periods will allow you to account for leases with special incentives properly.
1. **Know how to use dual-entry accounting** Dual-entry (also called double entry) accounting is a fundamental process of modern bookkeeping. It makes sure that every transaction is recorded in the two (or more) accounts that it affects. In addition, it ensures that the sum of these entries is $0 under the equation Assets=Liabilities + Shareholders' Equity. An understanding of dual-entry accounting is essential to accounting for rent-free periods properly.
For example, a simple cash sale would be recorded as a debit to the cash account (an asset account) and an equal credit to revenue (an equity account). If the item sold is a product, there would also be a credit to Inventory and a debit to the Cost of Goods Sold account.
2. **Understand the amortization process.** Amortization is a way of spreading the cost of an intangible asset across the life of that asset. It works much like depreciation does for tangible assets. The cost of the asset is split up evenly over the life of that asset and that amount is recorded as an expense each year. Amortization allows a business owner to spread the cost of an asset out so that the revenue produced by the asset and the cost of the asset are recorded at the same time.
3. **Familiarize yourself with the principle underlying the treatment of free rent periods.** A free rent period is a type of lease incentive that has a discrete cash value. For example, 2 months of free rent in a $1000/month space has a value of $2000. Any lease incentive of this type must be amortized over the life of the lease on a straight-line basis. This is done by either deferring or accruing rent expenses and revenues as appropriate.
4. **Make sure that the needed accounts are set up.** By offering or entering into this type of agreement, both the lessor and lessee will need accounts specific to recording this type of transaction. On the lessor's side, they will need a Rent Revenue account (which they likely already have) and a rent receivable account for recording the rent going unpaid during the rent-free period and then record payments during the subsequent rent period.
The lessee would need two similar but opposite accounts: Rent Expense and Rent Payable.
5. **Make sure you understand the terms of the lease.** Before making any calculations or journal entries, you should lay out the terms of the lease. For example, consider an agreement by which the lessor rents an office space to the lessee for 1 year in exchange for a $1000 rent payment each month. As an incentive, the first 2 months of rent are waived.
As the lessee, you will have to make sure that any rent expenses from a rent-free period are not simply postponed to a later point in the lease. Landlords often use the term "rent-free" to refer to this situation and a truly rent-free setup.
6. **Determine the average rent payment made per month.** Revenues and expenses associated with the lease must be spread evenly over the lease term, regardless of when the cash is transferred. Adding together all the rent payments in the example above yields 10 * $1000, or $10,000. Therefore, the average monthly rent is $10,000 / 12, or $833. This amount is used as the monthly revenue or expense.
7. **Find the amount of the rent receivable/payable account paid down each month.** Each month, a set amount of rent will be directed towards paying down the value of the rent-free period expense. This amount will be the amount of the rent payment minus the average monthly rent over the lease period.
In the example, this would be $1,000 - $833, or $167. For the lessee, this would be the amount recorded as a contribution to rent payable each month.
8. **Record the journal entry to recognize the first month's payment.** In the example above, the first month sees no cash changing hands, but revenues and expenses must still be recognized by the two parties through entries in the general journal.
The lessor would debit Rent Receivable for $833 and credit Rent Revenue for $833. Rent Receivable is an asset account used to recognize the accrual of rent payments due.
The lessee would debit Rent Expense for $833 and credit Rent Payable for $833. Rent Payable is a liability account used to recognize the accrual of rent payments owed.
9. **Record the journal entries for the second month.** The second month's entries are the same for both parties, and cash has still not changed hands. Therefore, the same entries will made as in the first month.
The account balances of Rent Revenue and Rent Payable are now $1666 each. This balance will be drawn gradually down to 0 over the remainder of the lease.
Continue this process for the entirety of the rent-free period.
10. **Record the journal entries to recognize each subsequent payment.** At the end of each month, a journal entry is needed to record the rent payment and adjust the accrual balances. These entries serve to amortize the rent receivable/payable accounts by the same amount each month until they reach a $0 balance.
In the example, the lessor would debit Cash for $1000 to reflect the cash receipt. They would credit Rent Revenue for $833 and credit Rent Receivable for $167 to begin drawing down its balance.
The lessee would debit Rent Expense for $833 and debit Rent Payable for $167 to begin drawing down its balance. They would credit Cash for $1000 to recognize the cash disbursement.
These entries will be identical each month for the remainder of the lease. Once the final entry is made, the Rent Payable and Rent Receivable accounts will have a balance of $0. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Account-for-Rent-Free-Periods", "language": "en"} |
How to Build a Calorimeter | Calorimeters are used to measure potential energy. A calorie is the energy it takes to heat 1 mL of water 1 degree Celsius. These calories are not the same as those used to refer to food on nutrition labels, dietary plans, etc., which are known as Calories or Kcal (1000 normal calories). With some simple, everyday materials, you can construct a homemade calorimeter to determine either the calories or Kcal of a sample of food.
1. **Get a small metal can.** This can will be used to contain water that will be heated as part of the calorimetric measurements. Any small metal can will work, such as those used to package vegetables, or a soda can. Make sure that it is empty, clean, and open on one end. If you are using a soda can, the opening used for drinking out of the can will suffice.
2. **Get a larger metal can.** You will need a second metal can, large enough that the small metal can will fit inside it with room to spare. Any larger metal can will work, such as a coffee can. Make sure that it is empty, clean, and open on both ends.
3. **Puncture four small holes in the small can.** Using a hole punch, ice pick, or other implement, carefully puncture four small holes (each one directly across from another) in the small metal can. Position the holes just below the rim of the open end of the can.
4. **Slide two thin rods between the four holes in the can.** Slide one rod through the can to the other side, then repeat with the other rod and the two remaining holes; the two rods should cross each other. These rods will be used to support the small can in the calorimeter. Temperature-resistant glass rods are ideal. If you do not have any, try any kind of sturdy, nonflammable rod.
5. **Fill the small can with water.** Using a graduated cylinder, flask, or other container, pour 100 mL of distilled water in the small metal can.
6. **Measure the temperature of the water.** Using a mercury thermometer (not a digital one), take the initial temperature of your water. You may need to leave the thermometer in the water for some time so that it can get an accurate reading of the water (which may change temperature as it adjusts to room temperature).
Leave the thermometer in the water; you will need it to take another reading later.
7. **Place the small can inside of the larger one.** The small metal can should rest securely inside the larger one, supported by the rods made of glass or another nonflammable material.
8. **Unfold a paperclip and insert one end into a cork.** A standard-size paperclip will be used to hold the food inside the calorimeter. Completely unfold the paperclip so that it forms a single long strand. Insert one end of the strand into the cork. Make sure it can stand upright with the unfolded paperclip sticking up.
9. **Obtain some food to test.** Weigh the food using an accurate scale, and record the measurement. You will only need a small amount of the food. Good choices include a shelled peanut, potato chip, or other high-fat food.
10. **Prepare the cork food holder.** Carefully wrap the end of the paperclip that is not sticking in the cork around the food you will test (or pierce it with the paperclip).
11. **Light the food.** Set the cork on a flat, nonflammable surface so that the food on the paperclip is sticking up. Light the food, using a butane lighter or other device. As soon as it catches fire, place the cans over it.
Be very careful lighting the food and placing the cans over it so that you don’t burn yourself.
12. **Let the food burn.** Keep the cans over the food for as long as it takes to burn completely. As the food burns, it will heat the water in the small can that is suspending in the large can.
Carefully watch the food as it burns. If it goes out quickly, before the food burns completely, relight it.
13. **Check the temperature of the water.** Once the food has completely burned out, stir the water in the small can using the thermometer. Record the temperature of the heated water.
Be careful moving or touching the calorimeter, as the cans and other parts may be very hot.
14. **Weigh the burnt food.** Once the burnt food has cooled completely, remove it from the paperclip. Weigh it again, and record the measurement.
15. **Understand the formula you will need to calculate calories.** The formula used to determine the caloric value of a sample of food using a homemade calorimeter is relatively simple: calories = volume of water (in mL) x the temperature change (in Celsius) of the water.
16. **Gather the data you need to calculate.** If you filled the small can with exactly 100 mL of distilled water, then you already know the volume of water (100 mL). If you recorded the initial temperature of the water, and its temperature after the food was burned, you can determine the temperature change by subtracting the smaller value from the larger.
For instance, if the water in the can was initially 35 degrees Celsius, then 39 degrees Celsius after the food was burned, then you have a temperature change of 4 degrees (39-35 = 4).
17. **Calculate the calories contained in the food.** Using the formula and the data you collected, determine how many calories were in the food you analyzed.
For instance, if you had a temperature change of 4 degrees, then the food contained 400 calories (400 = 100 mL x 4, using the formula calories = volume of water x the temperature change of the water)
To determine Kcal of the food, multiply the temperature change of the water by the volume of water in liters. Using the example above, the sample would contain 0.4 Kcal (0.4 Kcal = 0.100 L water x 4) | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Calorimeter", "language": "en"} |
How to Stop Smoking & Drinking at the Same Time | Smoking and drinking. Drinking and smoking. These 2 addictions can be difficult to overcome, but not impossible. Believe it or not, quitting alcohol and cigarettes at the same time is recommended, as going cold turkey once can help you recover faster. So, how do you do it? Read on to learn what you can expect when you stop smoking and drinking—we believe in you.
1. **Write down how alcohol and tobacco affect you.** Having a written record of the negative effects of alcohol and tobacco will serve as a constant reminder of why you have chosen to quit. Keep it in a place you can reference it easily.
Reflect on any decreased physical or mental health as a result of tobacco and alcohol. Have you gained weight or decreased fitness as a result of using? Do you become angry without alcohol, or anxious without tobacco?
Many people choose to quit addictions because they feel sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, and engaging the addiction is more draining than the positive effects of the substance.
Consider how tobacco and alcohol interfere with your relationships and social life.
Think of financial costs alcohol and tobacco cost you.
2. **Find your triggers.** Use a notebook to record the times throughout the day you smoke or drink alcohol. Record what feelings or situations preceded using alcohol and tobacco. Avoid situations that may trigger you in the future.
A trigger could be getting into an argument with your family or something not going well at work.
Because alcohol and nicotine are highly correlated substances, one can trigger the other. For example, if you begin drinking, you may want to have a cigarette.
3. **Set goals.** Be clear on whether you want to stop altogether or slowly taper your use. While some may want to quit for social or health reasons, others may want to quit due to medical reasons or because they have an addiction. Reflect on your reasons and then choose your goals. If you are an alcoholic, it is best to cut alcohol out altogether and not taper it down.
People who smoke have a much harder time quitting alcohol and also tend to relapse more than people who do not smoke. Set goals that include concurrently quitting both nicotine and alcohol together.
Write down a date for each goal to solidify the commitment.
4. **Get rid of all addictive substances in the house.** Throw away all the cigarettes and pour alcoholic drinks down the sink.. Ask the other members of your household to support you in keeping your home free of alcohol and tobacco products, so that you can avoid temptation on a daily basis.
5. **Trash anything that reminds you of smoking or drinking.** Don't hold onto your favorite lighter, your flask, or your shot glasses. A big lifestyle change like this is best maintained if you avoid seeing constant reminders of your old habits.
6. **Avoid places where people smoke or drink.** Being near places where smoking and drinking are encouraged can be dangerous when you are trying to quit. Avoid bars and other places where alcohol and tobacco are likely to be used.
Sit in the nonsmoking sections of restaurants and choose non-smoking hotel rooms
7. **Take a break from people who regularly drink/smoke.** Surrounding yourself with people that engage in behaviors you are trying to avoid can be tempting. Explain to them that you are removing the substances from your life and will no longer engage in activities that revolve around drinking or smoking. Create distance from people who will not support you in your desire to be free from alcohol and tobacco.
8. **Avoid high risk situations.** High risk situations can include feeling lonely, tired, angry, and hungry. These situations can leave you feeling vulnerable and more prone to use alcohol or tobacco. Be aware of when you feel you may be approaching any of these situations and learn to prevent them from starting.
Make sure you get enough sleep, eat throughout the day, and don't isolate yourself socially to avoid these high risk situations. If you feel anger coming on, remind yourself to relax and let it pass without depending on alcohol and cigarettes.
9. **Replace using alcohol and tobacco with more positive options.** Remember that using alcohol and tobacco provides positive reinforcement because they help you cope with stress and tension. Try to pinpoint what positive aspects you experience as a result of using alcohol and tobacco, and brainstorm different outlets to obtain the same release. Coping can include relaxation and deep breathing, talking to a friend, or taking a walk.
10. **Join an exercise program.** Exercise often helps reduce withdrawal symptoms, and it gives you something to do when you get a craving. Exercise also helps reduce daily stress. Consider going for a bike ride, doing yoga, walking the dog, or jumping rope.
11. **Enjoy a new hobby.** Adding a new hobby can help you focus your energy positively and add a sense of meaning to your life. Try something new that looks fun and interesting.
New hobbies can include surfing, knitting, writing, or learning to play the guitar.
12. **Distract yourself.** If you get a craving or experience minor withdrawal, use distraction until the urge passes. Distract your mind and your body. If you get a craving, chew on gum, talk a walk, open a window, or begin a new activity.
13. **Find ways to relax.** Relaxation is key to recovery. Mounting tension can lead to relapse. If you don't feel like you have time to relax, think about the time you spend engaging with alcohol and tobacco, and replace it with relaxation.
Activities such as taking a walk, reading, and meditation can be effective ways to relax.
14. **Allow yourself some other treats.** Everyone needs some vices in life - just make them healthier ones overall. Indulge in a little ice-cream every now and then, or buy some fizzy drinks with lots of carbonation. While staying healthy is important, give yourself a little leeway so that you don't feel denied all the indulgences that you used to enjoy.
15. **Stay focused.** The better you cope with cravings the lesser your chance of relapsing. People who quit smoking and drinking at the same time tend to experience less severe withdrawal and face lower relapse risk.
16. **Observe withdrawal symptoms.** When ceasing alcohol or tobacco, the body may experience withdrawal without continued use. Withdrawal symptoms from tobacco and alcohol can include: anxiety, depression, fatigue, headache, nausea, shaking, stomach cramps, and elevated heart rate.
17. **Monitor withdrawal.** While tobacco withdrawal can be unpleasant on both body and emotions, alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. Severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms varies by how much you drink, for how long, and your condition of health. Some symptoms can start within hours after drinking, peak within days, and improve within the week.
Alcohol withdrawal can lead to symptoms which causes severe mental and neurological problems. This may include body tremors, agitation, restlessness, fear, hallucinations and seizures. Seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms.
If you are a long-term and heavy drinker, consider a medically supervised detox.
18. **Seek medication intervention.** While no prescription medication exists to concurrently treat alcohol and nicotine together, interventions exist to treat alcohol dependence and nicotine addiction.
Prescription medication can be used to treat alcohol dependence, including use of naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. These medications can help with withdrawal symptoms and relapse.
Choose a method for nicotine withdrawal. While some people quit "cold turkey", others choose to taper off nicotine exposure in order to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Many options are available for nicotine replacement such as gum, a patch, nasal sprays and prescription medications (such as bupropion) while your body adjusts to lower levels of nicotine.
19. **Find a therapist.** It's hard to beat addiction on your own, and a therapist can be a consistent source of accountability and support. Working with a therapist can include discussing emotional triggers, finding coping strategies, preventing relapse, and digging deeper to understand the emotional causes of addiction.
Staying consistent with therapy is important, especially for addressing relapse prevention.
Addiction can coexist or contribute to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Together with therapy, prescription medications may treat concurrent psychiatric disorders that contribute to addiction.
20. **Obtain a medical evaluation.** A medical evaluation can help pinpoint how cigarettes and alcohol have affected your body. Work with a medical professional to help improve your bodily health. They can also offer prescription medication to lower nicotine dependence.
Both alcohol and nicotine can seriously harm your body. Be honest with your medical doctor and request tests to assess the health of your liver, heart, kidneys, and lungs.
21. **Seek inpatient treatment.** If you fear you cannot quit on your own, consider a recovery facility. An intensive treatment facility can help you address the physical and emotional challenges of addiction and quitting in a supervised and supportive setting. A program can help you decide how to detox and will monitor your physical and emotional state as you come down from alcohol and nicotine. Treatment programs include intense medical and psychological supervision.
Treatment often includes intense individual and group therapy that targets mental health conditions. Medication may be prescribed to treat and monitor psychiatric disorders while in treatment.
22. **Enlist the help of supportive friends and relatives.** You're more likely to stop drinking and smoking if you seek support from those around you. Ask them to support you by not drinking and smoking around you.
23. **Find accountability.** If you have other friends who are looking to quit drinking and smoking too, make a pact for healthier choices. Check in with each other daily and hold each other accountable for your choices.
24. **Find local support groups.** Reach out to smoke-free groups, such as smoke-free Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups, like Nicotine Anonymous. Talking about your efforts in a supportive environment with people who share similar experiences can make all the difference in your attempts to quit.
25. **Live in a sober living community.** If you are concerned about living with people who may trigger your alcohol or nicotine use, consider finding a sober house that bans alcohol and nicotine. All individuals living in a sober house agree to live sober and create an accountable community for each other. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Smoking-and-Drinking-at-the-Same-Time", "language": "en"} |
How to Apply Foundation with a Sponge | Applying foundation can help even out the skin tone on your face. You can hide blemishes, dark spots, or redness by using foundation to create naturally even-looking skin. Makeup sponges are a popular makeup tool since they are easy to use with different types of foundation. Using makeup sponges is an easy technique, and with a little practice, you’ll start using them in your regular makeup routine!
1. **Cleanse your face first.** If you want your foundation to look smooth and even, it's important to maintain a good skincare routine. Use cleanser and warm water to wash your face. Water that’s too hot or cold might irritate your skin. Massage the cleanser gently into your skin with your fingertips. After you've washed your face thoroughly, rinse away the cleanser with warm water, making sure you don't leave any residue.
When you're finished, gently pat your face dry with a towel.
You may also want to mist your face with toner to help rebalance your skin.
2. **Moisturize your face.** Using moisturizer immediately after you wash your face will help your skin hold in moisture. Plus, your foundation will blend more evenly and create a flawless look when your skin is well-moisturized. Let the moisturizer dry for at least 1 minute.
If you can’t wait for the moisturizer to dry, blot your face with a tissue after moisturizing.
3. **Apply foundation primer.** Squirt a pea-sized amount of primer onto the back of your hand. Blend the primer into your face using gentle circular motions with your fingertips. Let it dry for 2 to 3 minutes before adding foundation.
Different kinds of primers have different uses, so choose one that matches your skincare needs. For instance, if you have an uneven skin tone, you might pick a primer that balances out redness or covers dark spots. If you have fine lines or large pores, you might choose a primer that helps fill those areas in.
4. **Use a slightly damp makeup sponge for natural-looking coverage.** Wet your makeup sponge and squeeze out excess water until it's just damp. A slightly damp sponge won’t soak up excess foundation. You'll be able to build foundation gradually onto your face for a natural look.
An egg-shaped Beautyblender is one of the most popular types of makeup sponges, but you can also try a wedge or flocked sponge.
Don't wring out the sponge or squeeze it tightly. By doing so, you may be damaging the sponge.
5. **Pour a dime-sized amount of foundation onto the back of your hand.** Doing this rather than pouring directly from bottle to sponge will ensure you don’t waste excess foundation. Only pour a small amount at first. You can always pour more onto your hand if needed.
If you are using pressed powder foundation, you can dip the sponge directly into the foundation.
6. **Dip your sponge gently into the foundation on your hand.** Dip the thickest, widest part of the sponge into the foundation on your hand. Since your sponge is still damp, the foundation won’t soak into the sponge. Start with only a little foundation at first, so you can get used to blending with the sponge.
7. **Dab foundation onto the center of your face and blend outward.** Start from the center of your face and move towards your hairline. Use a gentle bouncing or tapping motion to distribute the foundation onto your skin. Dabbing rather than rubbing will apply makeup more evenly and naturally.
Makeup artists call this “stippling.”
8. **Continue dabbing foundation into your face and neck until blended.** If your sponge is egg-shaped, use the small pointed edge around your eyes and nose. Use the larger, round part of your sponge for your cheeks, forehead and jawline. Blend until the foundation looks like your natural skin.
If you can see where the blended foundation meets your neck, the color may be too dark or too light. Make sure you’ve chosen the best foundation for your skin type and tone.
Only apply the foundation to your jawline and neck when there is a small amount of foundation left on the sponge.
9. **Wait 2 to 3 minutes or finish applying your makeup, then apply setting powder.** Let the foundation set for a few minutes and finish applying any other makeup you want to wear before applying setting powder, which will keep the foundation in place. You can use your makeup sponge or a small fluffy makeup brush to apply the powder in a gentle dabbing motion.
Setting powder can also help set your eyeliner, mascara, or lipstick.
10. **Wash your sponge with facial cleanser or mild soap after every use.** You can also use makeup cleanser for sponges. Rinse your sponge in warm water and massage it with a few drops of facial cleanser or mild soap. If the sponge is stained with makeup, then you can also soak it in soapy water overnight. Rinse and wring it out until the water from the sponge runs clear.
Bacteria and mold can grow quickly in sponges, and using a dirty sponge can make blending foundation harder.
11. **Let your sponge air dry before using it again.** After washing your sponge, roll it back and forth onto a clean towel to remove remaining moisture. Let it dry flat on the towel completely. You should replace old sponges every 3 months. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Foundation-with-a-Sponge", "language": "en"} |
How to Avoid Trapping Your Arm While Snuggling in Bed | Snuggling is one of the major benefits of sleeping next to your honey. One popular method is known as “spooning,” in which both partners lie on their sides, facing the same direction, and one person puts their arms around the other. However, this position can often results in the bottom arm developing “pins and needles,” or paraesthesia, which is caused by temporary lack of blood flow to a body part. To avoid trapping your arm and having to wake your partner up to free it, you can modify your cuddling style to stay close but keep the blood flowing to both arms.
1. **Slide your bottom arm behind you rather than placing it under your partner.** Having your partner lie on their side. Lie down beside them. Slide your top arm over their body and your lower arm behind you. This method allows you to easily change positions throughout the night without waking the other person.
2. **Sleep on your back with your partner resting their head or arm on your chest.** This method typically works well for those who have broad or large chests. Often seen in films, it’s a romantic position common in new relationships.
Both you and your partner should lie down on your backs in bed.
Ask your partner to slide toward you and lay their head on your chest.
With the arm underneath your partner, embrace them so that your partner’s body is positioned above your armpit area.
3. **Try propping yourselves up on pillows in order to allow room for your lower arm.** The idea is to leave a gap under your partner where your arm can comfortably fit.
Sleep further down on the mattress and stretch your arm out above you underneath a pillow. Your feet shouldn’t hang off the bed but the extra space above your head will serve as a “landing pad” for your arm. This method requires some advance planning and the co-operation of your partner.
Try modifying your mattress if you want to be really sure of creating adequate space.
4. **Sleep back to back while still touching.** This popular position still generates a feeling of closeness and intimacy. However, it allows you both to move your arms freely.
5. **Communicate honestly about cuddling in bed.** It’s important to find a position that works for both of you. While you are worrying about your numb arm, your partner might be hot and uncomfortable. Talk about what works and what doesn’t, and be open to trying new routines.
6. **Try to pry your arm gently from underneath your partner.** If your arm is underneath your partner’s neck or waist, you may be able to gently remove your arm and free yourself by pushing your trapped arm down into the mattress and sliding it away.
7. **Move your partner gently out the way in order to free your arm.** Roll closer to your partner, as if you were giving them a tighter hug. Use the momentum of the embrace to roll them gently away from your arm, which you can then free.
8. **Wake your partner up.** If you can’t feel your arm and you can’t gently pry it loose, you might need to speak up. Be gentle but clear, saying something like: “Sweetheart, could you let me get my arm out from under you?” Even though it might feel awkward in the moment, remember that open communication is better than simmering resentment.
9. **Suffer in silence.** If your partner is sleeping peacefully and your arm isn’t in too much agony, you might choose to wait it out. Sooner or later, he’s likely to shift positions, allowing you to free your arm. Loving relationships always entail sacrifices, and if you are able to offer one freely and without resentment, it can strengthen your bond. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Trapping-Your-Arm-While-Snuggling-in-Bed", "language": "en"} |
How to Get Cash for Junk Cars | You may be surprised to learn that you can actually make money off your junk car, whether it’s a rickety old thing that can no longer get you from point A to point B or an even older, rusty semblance of a car. The trick is to do a little research, figure out how much it's worth, and see how much people will pay for it. If you understand exactly what you have on your hands, you can make sure you get the maximum amount of cash possible.
1. **Take inventory of the vehicle.** Just how “junky” is it? A junked vehicle is one that is so damaged and beyond repair that it makes the most sense to just sell it for parts. Can the car be driven or is it completely immovable? Note any areas of severe damage. Determine if there are any valuable parts to your car, such as a GPS system, tires in good condition, or the alternator.
Write down everything you see and observe, so that you can give the junkyards an accurate description of the car you’re selling.
2. **Use the Kelley Blue Book to determine the value of your car in good condition.** The Kelley Blue Book is a respected and widely-used resource for vehicle valuation. Of course, the actual amount of money you can expect for your car will be much less than the Blue Book value, as you’ve clearly deemed it “junk” rather than in good condition. This is simply a way to get a general idea about how much the pristine version of the same make and model car is selling for.
If you are knowledgeable about car repair, you can take the Kelley Blue Book price and subtract all the costs of potential repairs to get a general idea of how much money you should expect when you sell it.
3. **Locate the title of the car.** You need your title to prove that you own the car. Most junkyards will not buy your car unless you can prove that it’s yours to sell. When you transfer it to the junkyard, you will need to sign the title over to them to get it officially off your hands. If you don't sign over the title of the car, you will technically still own it despite having nothing to do with it.
4. **Remove your personal items.** It’s easy to forget an old iPod in the glovebox or a notebook stuffed in the seat pocket. Open your trunk, check under your floor mats, and slide your hands under all the seats. Make sure that you’ve removed every personal item from the car before you sell it.
This includes your license plates. These are easily forgotten, but it’s important to remove them from your car before you part with it.
5. **Check your states junked vehicle requirements.** Just like with all other car-related issues, the DMV of each state handles the process of relinquishing junk cars differently. When you’re ready to get rid of your junk car, make sure to research the regulations of your particular state. A quick Google search for “Salvaged Vehicle Regulations” and the name of your state will get you started!
6. **Call around to different salvage yards and junkyards in your area.** You shouldn’t do this until you have assessed the details of the car you’re selling. You need to describe the vehicle thoroughly so that they can give you an accurate quote of how much they’ll pay you for it. Keep a running list of the different amounts you’re quoted by different junkyards so that you can compare your options.
7. **Ask the junkyard their protocol for taking junk cars.** Some junkyards will dismantle the cars themselves. Others will pay you more money if you do it yourself and save them the time. Ask them if they pay more if you are able to drive the car to their lot, versus if they have to come pick it up with a tow truck. Ask them exactly what paperwork they will need to see from you. Make sure you know the ins and outs of each junkyard.
8. **Compare the pros & cons of your options.** If you aren’t desperate to get every penny out of your car, you can choose the most convenient option. A junkyard across town may give you a higher offer if you drive it all the way to them, but you may opt for a lesser offer if they’re willing to tow your unreliable junk car. If you aren’t experienced in working with cars hands-on, it’s probably not wise to try to dismantle the car yourself for a few extra bucks. Consider which option works best for you, while still bringing you a reasonable amount of money.
9. **Drive or tow the car to the junkyard, if you are able and feel comfortable doing so.** Some junkyards will give you more money if you save them the time and labor by delivering the car to them. Additionally, junkyards will pay more for a car that can still be driven and was driven recently, so driving it to the junkyard will up your cars value.
10. **Arrange for the junkyard to pick up your car.** This is the most convenient option. They’ll come to wherever you’re located, pick up your car, and pay you on the spot. If your car can’t be driven, this is absolutely your best bet. After you’ve gotten prices from different junk removal companies, you can choose the best one.
Sometimes junkyards will quote you a price, and then lower it significantly once they’ve already loaded the car onto the tow truck. This is why it is so important to know your cars value and stick to your guns.
Don’t fight the junk car towers over a few dollars, but stick to your guns if they try to offer you something much lower than what you were previously told.
11. **Return the license plates and cancel your registration.** The exact protocol differs by state, but typically you need to return the license plates to the DMV in order to cancel your registration. The junkyard should have this information available for you, so ask them what is expected of you when you hand off your vehicle. The Internet is also an excellent resource, and the DMV website for your state should give you an exact procedure for canceling your registration and returning your plates. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Cash-for-Junk-Cars", "language": "en"} |
How to Troubleshoot a Saxophone | When you’re struggling to get the right notes out of your saxophone, start by making sure you have the right grip on the instrument and that you’re using the correct embouchure (i.e. the position of your lips on the mouthpiece and your use of facial muscles to produce a sound). Then take some time to examine your instrument’s assembly. By isolating and testing out different parts of your saxophone, you’ll soon be able to identify the problem. Some solutions are easy to fix at home, such as sticky keys and a misshapen octave key, while others will require the attention of an instrument repair specialist. Either way, your sax will be playing properly in no time!
1. **Position your left hand over your right hand on the keys.** If you’re not gripping your saxophone correctly, it might not make the sounds you want to play. Move your left hand to the upper keys and place your right hand over the lower keys. Adjust the neck strap so that the mouthpiece lines up comfortably with your mouth. Keep your chin straight, rather than inclined or bent over, as you play.
If you need to strain to reach the mouthpiece, you may not get the right embouchure.
Additionally, if the instrument is too low or high in relation to your torso, the keys may be uncomfortable to reach.
2. **Make sure you’re not accidentally pressing the side keys.** It’s important to press only the key(s) that control the note(s) you’re playing, but it’s easy to hit the side keys with your hands without realizing it. Keep your hands in a C-shaped grip as you press the keys. This way, you’ll lift your palms away from the side keys.
Taking a few extra minutes to make sure you have the right grip might save you a lot of time troubleshooting!
3. **See if your reed and mouthpiece line up with each other.** Try reassembling the reed and mouthpiece and spend a little extra effort on making sure you get it positioned the right way so that your saxophone plays smoothly. Keep the flat side of the reed positioned directly against the flat side of the mouthpiece. Line up the curved tip of the reed and mouthpiece itself.
Slide on the ligature (i.e. the bracket that holds the reed against the mouthpiece) with the wider side sitting closer to the base of the reed, then screw it securely.
If your reed is cracked, chipped, or showing signs of mold, replace it with a new one.
Don’t forget to moisten the reed in a cup of water or with your saliva before playing it. A bone-dry reed won’t play well.
4. **Use a flexible but sealed-off embouchure.** For the correct embouchure, have your top teeth rest on top of the mouthpiece. Use your bottom lip to cover your bottom row of teeth. Make a firm O-shape with your lips around the mouthpiece. Keep the corners of your mouth closed, but leave your lips relatively loose. Run a scale from a higher note like high C down to low C. Loosen your jaw as you reach the lower notes, but keep your lips closed gently around the mouthpiece.
Don’t let your lips press the reed into the mouthpiece otherwise it’ll close it off and prevent the air from getting through.
If you’re consciously using the correct technique, you’ll be able to differentiate between the notes that sound great and those that are giving you problems.
5. **Adjust the mouthpiece to resolve harsh or muffled sounds.** If you’re noticing harsh, squawking sounds, cover less of the mouthpiece with your mouth. Shift the mouthpiece forward slightly so that it’s not covering too much of the reed. If your saxophone is making quiet, muffled sounds, place the mouthpiece further into your mouth. If it sounds like you’re not getting enough air into your saxophone, you probably aren’t; covering more of the reed will help.
Only cover the tapered end of the reed with your mouth. Don’t slide it so far into your mouth that you’re covering the curved, darker part of the reed.
6. **Play the saxophone as you assemble it to find the problem area.** Take your saxophone apart and play just with mouthpiece and reed. If it sounds healthy, put the mouthpiece onto the neck and play. Again, if it sounds okay, attach this to the body and try again.
This trick will help you identify which section the problem may be arising from.
7. **Test the regulation bar over G-sharp if you notice a warbling sound.** If your low notes such as low C, B, and B-flat produce a warbling sound, run a test to isolate the regulation bar that sits above F-sharp and covers the G-sharp pad cup. Play a low note and use a free finger to close the G-sharp pad cup. Don’t touch the regulation bar as you do this. If this produces a clearer sound, then you’ll know that the problem is a loose regulation bar which is failing to close the G-sharp pad cup.
To fix this, use 1 screwdriver or another slender tool to hold up the regulation bar. Then use another screwdriver to turn the screw over the G-sharp pad cup clockwise in small increments of about 15-degrees at a time.
Play your saxophone as a test after each small tweak until you get a clear sound.
If the notes below G don’t work well, the screw on the regulation bar may be turned too tightly. Try loosening it up and play your saxophone to test out the difference.
8. **See if the piece of cork behind the regulation bar over G-sharp is missing.** Take a look behind the regulation bar to see if the cork has fallen off. Or test it out by pressing down the F key, then pressing down on the G-sharp key. Look to see whether or not the G-sharp pad cup opens a little as you do this. If it does open, it means that some air will leak out and you won’t get a good sound. Look to see if the piece of cork on the back of the regulation bar’s screw is missing.
As a quick fix, layer 2 to 5 pieces of electrical tape onto the G-sharp pad cup opening, directly under the screw, to fill in the gap.
When you can, visit a repair shop to have this issue properly resolved. Ask a saxophone repairer to glue on a replacement piece of cork for you.
If the cork is there but your test still results in the G-sharp pad cup opening, it may be happening because the regulation bar’s screw has come loose and needs tightening.
9. **Shine a light through the holes in the bell to check for misalignment.** Look to see the bracket that holds the bell in alignment with the body of your saxophone is a little bent out of shape. Recall whether or not the bell got bumped at some point. To see if the positioning is off, shine a flashlight into the holes in the bell. Then press down the keys to close those pad cups. If you see light leaking into the bell, it means that the pad cups aren’t closing properly and the bell alignment is off.
Take your instrument to a repair shop if you’ve identified an alignment issue. This won’t be a simple at-home fix unless you’re an expert.
10. **Make sure the octave key stays closed without any keys pressed.** Without pressing down any keys, look at the top octave key on your saxophone. This key extends over the neck of the instrument and features a small pad cup over a hole called an octave pipe. Look to see if it’s closed. If it’s open, gently squeeze it back into shape.
11. **Press down on the top part of the octave key to reshape it.** Spread your fingers evenly across the long, narrow part of the octave key. Place your thumbs on the bottom side of the neck piece, directly underneath the octave pipe, for support. Gently squeeze down on the narrow piece of metal to re-shape the octave key. Stop squeezing once the octave key sits flat against the octave pipe by default, when you’re not pressing any keys.
This key is typically made of a softer metal. It’s not brittle and it shouldn't break, so feel free to try this repair by yourself.
Make sure the octave lifter key doesn’t touch the rounded bottom part of the octave key when you do this.
12. **Look to see if the octave lifter has enough space to move freely.** Slowly press down on the octave lifter key. As you do this, watch closely to see how much space it has to move before it touches the bottom part of the octave key. If it has too little space, try bending your octave key downward.
The lifter bar should have about 1 to 2 mm (.04 to .08 in) of space to move before it starts lifting up the octave key.
13. **Bend the bottom part of the octave key if it doesn’t touch the lifter.** If the octave lifter never comes into contact with the octave key to lift it, this can be fixed. Evenly space your fingers underneath the narrow top part of the octave key to hold it up off of the octave pipe. Use your thumb to press down gently on the bottom part of the octave key (i.e. the portion that encircles the neck of your saxophone and is moved by the octave lifter).
The octave mechanism can easily get out of alignment if you grasp your hands around the neck of the instrument too tightly when you assemble and disassemble it.
If your high notes make a loud squeak, check if the octave key rises when you play high D. If this occurs, carefully bend your octave key down enough so it doesn't lift when you play a high D.
14. **Place a soft cloth or strip of paper beneath a sticky key.** Run your fingers over every key on your saxophone 1 at a time. If you press down on a key and its corresponding pad doesn’t lift off the opening, you’ll know that it’s a sticky key problem. Set a plain piece of notepaper, a clean strip of tobacco paper, or a soft microfiber cloth in between the pad and the instrument. Press down on the pad down firmly. Repeat this a few times.
Be careful not to touch the pad directly otherwise you might dislodge it accidentally.
Refrain from using paper money to do this, as the dirt and acids may damage the pads.
If a key keeps sticking, store it in your case with an old reed wedged underneath the pad cup. It will hold the key open and allow some airflow in to dry out the pad.
15. **Shine a flashlight into your saxophone to spot any leaky notes.** Go to a dark room with your saxophone and a flashlight. Remove the neck, then use the keys to close every hole in the instrument as if you’re playing a low B-flat. Cover the bell with an opaque towel or cloth. Turn on the flashlight and position it so it shines into the body of the saxophone without any light escaping. Look to see if any light leaks through at any of the notes.
If you notice light leaking through, it means you’ll have air leaking through at these notes.
To solve a leak, try tightening the screws or fixing the springs for that pad cup. Or, take your instrument to your local repair shop and show them what’s wrong.
Ask a friend to hold the flashlight for you to get the best results.
16. **Look for missing or damaged pads to get replaced by a specialist.** Peek beneath each pad cup to see if its pad is missing, damaged, or off-center. For a temporary fix, wrap the pad cup with cellophane or re-attach the pad using glue. Then bring your instrument to a repair specialist so that they can ensure the proper pad size and placement.
Don’t use superglue to re-attach the pad as a quick fix. This will only make the long-term repair harder to do.
Since pads are connected using shellac, they’re difficult to remove. Refrain from peeling or burning them off on your own. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Troubleshoot-a-Saxophone", "language": "en"} |
How to Develop Relative Pitch | Relative pitch is the ability to identify the intervals between two or more notes, regardless of the absolute pitches of the notes. Relative pitch training teaches your ears to isolate the notes in intervals and chords. You must practice every day to develop this skill. Singing in harmony with somebody else, distinguishing a major triad from a minor triad, and recognising classic I-IV-V chord progressions in songs you hear all require relative pitch abilities.
1. **Know how intervals are named.** An interval is described by its quality and degree. The degree of an interval can range from one to seven. These numbers refer to the seven notes that are in a major or minor scale. The quality of an interval can be “major,” “minor,” or “perfect.” There are 13 main types of intervals.
For example, an interval may be “minor third” or “perfect fifth.”
Major intervals usually sound more upbeat compared to minor intervals.
2. **Use reference songs.** Identify songs that you already know that start with an interval that you want to learn. The interval should be the first two notes of the melody. When you hear the melody, you are teaching your brain to recognize the interval.
There are online tools (EarMaster.com, VCU Music Theory, AudioJungle.net, and HornInsights.com) to help you find reference songs that you know.
Trainear.com is a free tool that allows you to practice and test your skills. Apple has also developed an app called Interval Recognition that you can practice and test yourself with.
This is a good method if you are new to relative pitch training.
"She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 can be used for minor 2nd.
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga can be used for minor 3rd.
"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele can be used for perfect 4th.
The Star Wars theme song can be used for perfect 5th.
3. **Practice Solfege.** Solfege is a system used to sing notes. The solfege note names are “do,” “re,” “me,” “fa,” “so,” “la, “ and “ti.” Learn which pairs of solfa syllables correspond with each interval. The syllables allow to associate singable words for different notes. This gives your brain a context for understanding intervals.
For example, “do-re” is “major second, :” and “do-le/si” is “minor sixth.”
This method is difficult if you are not already familiar with solfege. If you are already familiar with solfege, this method will come naturally to you.
4. **Try the Nike method.** In this approach, you will not use solfege or reference songs. You simply listen to different intervals until you can recognize them and compare intervals to see if you can recognize the differences. You will do this repeatedly until you are able to identify and differentiate between intervals.
You are treating intervals as abstract sounds that are not part of real music. It can be difficult to recognize the intervals within music when you have only learned them as isolated sounds.
Use an online interval trainer like intervaleartrainer.com or a mobile phone app (e.g. RelativePitch, Perfect Ear 2, or Complete Ear Trainer) to help you.
You can also work with an experienced musician or singer to play notes for you and test your recognition.
This approach is a nice addition to using reference songs.
If you play an instrument, you can play the notes on your instrument and use a tuner to make sure that you are in tune.
5. **Focus on the most important intervals.** It can be overwhelming to learn all 13 intervals. Focus on the intervals that are the building blocks for developing your relative pitch. Start by learning the major and minor seconds, major and minor thirds, and perfect fourth and fifths.
The major and minor seconds are the most common used intervals used in between notes.
The major and minor thirds and perfect fourths and fifths are important for harmony, chords, and chord progression.
6. **Know the basic triads.** A triad is three different notes that are each a third apart. Triads form most of the harmonies you will hear in music. The four basic chord triads are: major triads, minor triads, augmented triads, and diminished triads. Each tried is formed by combining certain intervals.
Major triads are formed with a pitch, a root, and a note that is a major third above. For example, the C major triad includes the notes C,E, and G.
Minor triads are formed in the opposite of order of a major triad and include a minor third interval and and a major third. For example, C minor triad includes the notes C, Eb, and G. The middle note determines the difference between a major and minor triad.
A diminished triad only uses a minor third interval. For example, a C diminished triad includes the notes C, Eb, and Gb.
An augmented triad only uses major third intervals. For example, C augmented triad includes the notes, C, E, and G#.
Complex chords are made by stacking triads. If you learn the basics, you will be able to progress to more complex sounds.
7. **Play the chords.** Use an instrument, another person, or a website to play chord tones. As you listen to the chord, try to decipher the three different notes that make up the chord. Try to isolate the different sounds in each chord.
You can download MP3 tracks of the chords if you are working on your own.
8. **Sing the chords.** After you listen to a chord, sing the notes in each triad. Then, play a different triad and sing the notes. Next, play two triads at the same time, and then sing the 6 notes that you hear.
When you begin to combine triads, always break down the sounds into smaller chunks. For example, it may help to play two triads, and only try to find the root note. Then play the same triads and listen for the top note.
9. **Practice daily.** The more you practice the better your relative pitch will become. You also need to practice consistently. Practicing every single day one week and then only practicing twice the next week is not good practice. It would be better to have short sessions every day of the week.
Try to do 10 minutes of training each day. This is the absolute minimum.
10. **Set a time limit for your sessions.** If your sessions are too long, you run the risk of overtraining. Your ears will become tired, and you won't be able to hear the notes as you normally would. If your ears get tired or you are no longer progressing in your training session, take a break or stop for the day.
A training session may consist of 15 minutes of listening and singing chords and 15 minutes of interval and chord practice with your instrument.
11. **Focus on one skill at a time.** Ear training should be part of your life no matter how good you get. Be sure to spend enough time on each skill instead of going back and forth. Write down a study plan that you will follow. Your study plan should include the skill you plan to work on and the length of the training period.
For example, you may spend January and February learning major intervals using reference songs, and then spend March and April learning minor intervals using reference songs.
Using computer software like Earmaster and Transcribe can also help you outline your sessions and track your progress. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Develop-Relative-Pitch", "language": "en"} |
How to Hit Sixes in Cricket | Hitting a six is a difficult skill to master, but when a player pulls it off, it can be one of the most exciting moments of a cricket match. The batter hits the ball over the boundary, automatically earning six runs. The crowd erupts in cheers. With practice, you can learn how to hit a six and pull your team to glory.
1. **Use a balanced, wide-legged stance.** A balanced stance ensures you have room to adjust as the ball nears you. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. You can try moving your feet around slightly, or shifting your weight, until you find a position that feels firm and balanced.
2. **Breathe steadily to maintain your calm.** Steady breathing will hone your focus so that you are ready for the hit. Try breathing deeply and slowly, from your abdomen, instead of fast and shallow, from your chest.
Deep breaths from your belly will trick your body into thinking that it is calm, which will help sooth your nerves so you can focus.
It may also help to repeat a mantra in your mind. A mantra can be a simple, easy-to-repeat, encouraging statement. Try something like: I can do it.
3. **Keep your head in line with the ball as it nears you.** This will make sure your eyes stay on the ball. You can judge the speed of the ball, and know when to swing.
It may help to focus your eyes on the seam of the ball, to make sure you maintain focus.
4. **Point the toes of your front foot in the direction that you would like the ball to go.** This will align your body properly so that the ball goes in the correct direction. Keep the back foot still.
It helps some people to lift their back heel slightly off the ground, for ease of pivoting.
5. **Tell the bowler to bowl long.** A long shot will give you more of a chance of striking the ball high into the air.
Striking the ball high is called a lofted drive, and is the best way to hit a six.
6. **Hold your bat** Make sure your non-dominant hand holds tightly to the bat's grip. Your lead hand should be below it.
Keep your shoulders straight.
Keep your knees slightly bent and your back straight.
7. **Shift your weight according to the oncoming shot.** If the shot is long, shift your weight to the back foot. If the shot is close, shift your weight to the foot closer to the bowler.
8. **Keep your bat on the downswing as the ball comes near.** To get a lofted drive, the high backswing is essential.
The trick to making sure you are on the downswing when the ball approaches is all in the timing. Practice your downswing until you have the timing down.
9. **Use your dominant hand to hit through the line of the ball.** Make sure your motion is swinging, rather than punching. This will achieve a longer drive.
10. **Aim for a straight connection with the ball.** A straight connection is better at achieving a lofted drive than a right angle connection. Hit the ball straight-on and firmly.
11. **Stay as still as possible as you make connection with the ball.** Stay still for a second afterward, just to make sure. Your stillness will make the contact solid and firm.
To make sure that you can stand still, maintain your wide stance.
12. **Focus on timing, rather than strength.** Whacking the ball with all your strength can cause a less smooth connection. Instead, focus on a smooth, firm swing.
Practice over and over again, until your body learns how much force is necessary to hit a lofted drive. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Hit-a-Six", "language": "en"} |
How to Video Call on Tango | You can use Tango for iOS or Android to make free video calls to anyone else who uses Tango. Once you’ve registered for an account (and added your friends), head to the Call tab, select “New Call,” and tap the video camera icon next to the name of the person you want to call. Learn how to set up Tango, invite your friends, and use the video call features to stay in touch with those who matter.
1. **Install the Tango app for Android or iOS.** Open the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) on your mobile device, and then:
Type “Tango” into the search field.
Tap the Tango app in the search results.
Tap “Get” or “Install” on the app page and then follow the prompts to install.
2. **Open Tango.** Once you’ve installed Tango, tap its icon on your home screen. Now you’ll be taken through a brief setup process.
3. **Enter your phone number and then tap “Next.”** Now you’ll see the “Create your profile!” screen.
4. **Choose an option to create a new account.** Tango offers two options to get you started:
Choose “Get From Facebook” to sign in to Tango with Facebook. This makes it easy to connect with your Facebook friends. Follow the prompts to link Tango to Facebook.
If you’d rather not associate Tango with Facebook, enter your name and email address into the blanks provided, and then tap “Done.”
5. **Navigate to the “Call” tab.** Here you’ll find a list of your most recent calls, including those made from your regular phone app.
6. **Tap “New Call.”** This link is at the top of the screen.
7. **Find the contact you want to call.** Scroll through the list of contacts until you find the name of the person with whom you’d like to video chat.
If you don’t see the video camera icon, this person has not yet set up their Tango account.
8. **Tap the video camera icon next to the contact’s name.** Tango will immediately start the video call. The person you’re calling will receive a notification on their device, letting them know that you’re trying to reach them by video call. Once they answer, you will be able to both see and hear them.
9. **Get to know the in-call controls.** At the top of the screen, you’ll see 3 icons:
Video camera: Tap this to toggle the video part of the call on and off.
Microphone with a line through it: This will mute the sound of the call.
Camera with arrows: Tap this to switch from the front camera to the back, and vice versa.
10. **Experiment with fun features.** While you’re in a call, you’ll also see several round icons at the bottom of the screen:
Mask: Tap this to choose a mask to “wear” over your face for the call.
Face with cat ears: Tap this to choose an avatar to replace your image in the video call. You’ll still see the person with whom you’re chatting, but they’ll see your chosen avatar.
Game controller: Tap this to see a list of games you can play while connected to this call.
Smiley face: Tap this to choose from a variety of stickers, many of which are animated.
Dice: Select a creative filter to change the color or saturation of your video.
11. **Tap the red phone icon to hang up the call.** The call will disconnect, and you will return to the main Tango screen.
12. **Tap the “Chat” tab.** Here you’ll find a list of your friends who already use Tango. This list was generated from your phone contacts (and your Facebook contacts, if you linked Tango to Facebook).
13. **Tap “Add Friends” at the bottom of the Chat tab.** If you want to make a video call to someone whose name doesn’t appear in your contacts list, you’ll need to invite them to Tango.
You won’t be able to video call the person you invite until they accept your invitation.
If the person you want to call is on Tango but not listed as one of your contacts, type their email address or phone number into the Search box, and then select their profile from the results. Tap the red paper airplane icon to send them a friend request.
14. **Tap “Invite via SMS, Email, Whatsapp, etc” to invite a friend to Tango.** Now you’ll choose the method for which you’ll send your friend a Tango invitation, such as your email or text messaging app.
15. **Tap the app you want to use to send the invitation.** The options vary depending on your device. Once you’ve made your choice, the app will open to an invitation message that’s ready to be sent. This message includes a link to download Tango.
16. **Choose a recipient and then tap “Send.”** You won’t be able to send this person a video call until they’ve accepted your invitation and created an account with Tango. The Tango app will notify you once they’ve signed up. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Video-Call-on-Tango", "language": "en"} |
How to Study Harder | If you're worried about your grades or academic success, you can work on improving your study skills. Studying harder can help improve grades and test scores. Create a study schedule, use good studying strategies, and focus on working hard in class. If you study effectively, you won't have to spend every waking moment studying to do better in school.
1. **Create a good study space.** The first step to studying harder is to create a study space for yourself. Studying in the same space each day is effective because your mind will learn to associate a particular space with work. It'll be easier to get into the flow of studying when entering your study space.
Students who spend time struggling to find a space to study often waste valuable time. Having a space you go every day to study is helpful.
Choose a study space that is free of distractions. Find a space away from television and other noises. You should not study in bed or on the couch. Choose a place with a desk where you can sit upright to work.
Make sure the space is set up for what you need. If you need to prepare a class project with lots of small pieces that must be arranged, a large, uncluttered space with a worktable will be best. If you just need to read your textbook, a cozy chair and a cup of tea may be just fine.
The best study space for you will depend in part on your learning style. For example, if you're a visual learner, working in a bright, colorful space might be helpful.
2. **Stick to a study schedule.** Once you've found a great space to study, create a study schedule for yourself. Having a regular study sessions will help you avoid procrastination and stick to your goals as a students. You should start planning your study schedule as you get your course syllabus -- that way, nothing will sneak up on you.
You should strive to prioritize studying. Place study time ahead of extracurricular or social activities. Try to study shortly after class or school each day.
Schedule study sessions at roughly the same time each day. Having a regular schedule can help you stick to studying on a regular basis. Put these sessions into your calendar, just as you would a dentist appointment or soccer practice.
Start slow. At first, keep your study sessions between 30 and 50 minutes. After you've gotten used to this duration, push yourself to study for longer periods.
Stop to take short breaks occasionally. Studying for hours on end can cause stress. Take 10 minute breaks as you study. Don't go longer than 2 hours without a break.
3. **Have specific goals for each study schedule.** Studying without direction is not an effective way to learn and retain information. Go into each study session with specific goals in mind to try and make the most out of your study session.
Keep your overall academic goal in mind. Branching off of that goal, break it down into manageable chunks and focus on each chunk per session.
For example, say you have to memorize 100 vocabulary words for your Spanish final. Aim to memorize 20 words per session over the course of 5 study sessions. Make sure to review old words at the beginning of each new study session to make sure the information stays fresh in your mind.
4. **Test yourself.** A vital part of studying is repetition. Test yourself on difficult material during each study session. Make flashcards with vocabulary words, dates, and other facts. Use these to test your knowledge. If you have a math exam, do practice tests in your math book. If your teacher or professor provides practice exams, take as many as possible.
Try to make your own practice tests. Review the types of question your teacher asked on quizzes and try to replicate them in your own words. Make a test for yourself, containing 10 to 20 questions, and then complete the test.
If your teacher provides practice tests to help you study, take them home and do them on your own time.
Start well ahead of time and bring in your practice test to show your teacher. Ask her something like, "I've gone through my notes and made this practice exam to help me study for the test next week. Could you tell me if it's on the right track?" Your teacher isn't likely to tell you whether or not specific things will be on the test, but she will probably be happy to tell you whether you're studying the right areas. And your hard work and preparation are sure to impress!
5. **Start with the hardest subjects.** The most difficult subjects require the most mental energy. Start with this work first. After completing harder materials, studying easier subjects will feel a lot less stressful.
6. **Use study groups effectively.** Study groups can be a great way to maximize your studying experience and help you stay motivated. However, keep in mind that you need to use study groups effectively in order for them to have the best effect.
You should structure study groups as you would an individual study session. Choose which materials to focus on and have set timeframes and breaks. It's easy to get distracted if you're working with groups of people. A schedule can help you stay on task.
Work with people who you know are hard workers. Even the best planned study groups can fall apart if you choose to work with people who are distracting and procrastinate.
7. **Seek out help when you need it.** Remember, there's no shame in asking for help if you need it. If you are continually struggling with a particular subject despite diligent studying, seek out help from another student, a tutor, a teacher, or a parent. If you're a college student, there might be free tutoring centers on campus dedicated to helping students with a particular subject like writing, language, or math.
8. **Take breaks and give yourself rewards.** As studying is seen as a chore, allowing yourself breaks and rewards can help motivate you to study harder. Take breaks every hour or so to stretch your legs, watch television, surf the internet, or do some light reading. Provide rewards at the end of study sessions to motivate yourself to work harder. For example, if you study 3 days in a row treat yourself by ordering take out.
9. **Prepare your body and mind before studying.** If you go straight from school to studying, you may feel burnt out and struggle to concentrate. Taking half an hour to prepare your mind and body for a study session can help you study more effectively.
Go for a short walk before beginning to study. Stretching by walking can help your body loosen up and clear your mind in preparation of studying.
If you're hungry, eat before studying but stick to a light snack or a small meal. Eating a heavy meal before studying can result in sleepiness. This can make it difficult to concentrate on studying.
10. **Study with the right mindset.** The mindset you have going into studying can affect the effectiveness of your study session. Work on fostering a positive mindset going into each study session.
Think positively when you study. Remind yourself that you are building new skills and abilities. Do not get discouraged if you struggle with something. Remind yourself you're studying because you need to improve so it's okay if you don't understand some material.
Do not engage in catastrophic or absolute thinking. Catastrophic thoughts include things like, "If I don't get this now, I never will." Absolute thoughts are things like, "I always do poorly on these exams." Instead, try to be realistic. Think to yourself, "I'm struggling with this information at the moment, but if I'm persistent I'm sure it will come to me."
Do not compare yourself to others. You're focused on doing well on this assignment for yourself. Other people's success or failure should not matter.
11. **Use memory games.** Memory games, always known as mnemonic devices, are a means of remembering information by creating associations. They can be extremely helpful when it comes to smart studying.
Many people remember subjects by stringing words together to form sentences, the first letter of each word signifying part of a topic that requires memorization. For example, the sentence "Kings play cards on fat green stools" can be used to help remember the taxonomy ranking for animals: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
Make sure you use mnemonic devices that are easy to remember. If you're creating your own mnemonic device, pick words and sentences that have personal meaning to you and that you will easily remember later.
12. **Rewrite your notes.** If you have notes, rewrite them. Rewriting the notes you have, changing the wording slightly, helps you actively engage with the material. You're not just repeating information but trying to explain it over and over again. This can help you process information and more easily remember it later on.
Don't just copy out the material over and over again. Instead, try to condense it to the most basic points. Then, try to condense it again, until you have gotten to the most essential points.
13. **Take good notes** Creating the proper resources for studying can help you. While you're in class, try to take good notes. These can serve as a valuable resource later on when you're studying.
Organize your notes by date and subject. Write the date on the top corner of the page at the beginning of class. Then, write headings and subheadings regarding the subject being taught. If you're searching for notes on a particular subject, it'll be easier to find later.
Use your best handwriting. You want to make sure you can read your notes later on.
Compare notes with other classmates. If you missed one class session or missed a few words here and there when taking notes, another classmate can help you fill in what you missed.
14. **Read actively** When reading material for class, make sure you read actively. How you read can affect how well you retain information later on.
Pay attention to chapter titles and subheadings. These often offer clues as to the main point of a text. It indicates what material you should pay closest attention to while reading.
You should also reread the first sentence of each paragraph once. This sentence usually offers a summary of key information you'll need. Pay attention to concluding sections as well, as they summarize key materials.
If permitted, underline passages and write notes in margins summarizing key points. This can help you find important information later when studying. Alternatively, you can use sticky notes to write notes down and mark important passages.
15. **Ask questions.** If you're confused about anything in class, ask questions. Usually, teachers will allow time for questions after class. You can also ask to stop by a students office hours to ask about topics that confuse you.
Do yourself a favor and make it a habit to visit your teacher's office hours starting at the beginning of the semester. Waiting to ask questions until the day before the test makes it seem like you haven't been preparing. Making a habit of dropping in once a week or so encourages your teacher to see you as a student who works hard and prepares in advance -- she'll be more likely to want to help you. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Study-Harder", "language": "en"} |
How to Become an Instagram Influencer | If you love Instagram and want to become an influencer, you're certainly not alone! While becoming an influencer is not a science, you can take certain steps in that direction by establishing your brand and curating your account to reflect a certain theme or attitude. You'll also need to engage with your followers to slowly build your account up.
1. **Pick an interest you enjoy.** The best Instagram accounts have a focus, and yours should, too. However, you shouldn't just pick something out of the blue. Base your account around something you enjoy. If you're passionate about it, your followers will know!
Really, it's up to you what you focus on. You can do food, makeup, travel, embroidery, poetry, or even slime. As long as it has a visual component and it's something you enjoy, go for it!
2. **Narrow your idea.** While you don't want to get too narrow, as your posts will get old quickly, you should have a focus. For instance, "sports" may be too broad, but "tennis balls" may be too narrow. The idea is to carve out an area that makes your account unique so people will want to follow it.
For instance, Instagram has a wide range of food bloggers, but you could still find your own niche within that. Maybe you want to review food in your city, for instance, or maybe you want to focus on the food you make. Just think about what makes you unique and how you can apply that to your account.
3. **Make your bio short, sweet, and catchy.** Your bio appears at the top of your photos when someone clicks on your account, so you don't want to write a novel. Keep it to 1-2 sentences at most. In fact, some bios are just a few words. However, it should be enough to describe what you're doing and catch people's attention.
For example, if you're writing about the food culture in Oklahoma City, you might write, "looking for the best eats high and low in OKC." That shows that you like all kinds of cuisine and that you're focusing on Oklahoma City.
4. **Invite your friends and family to follow you.** While this won't get you famous, it's certainly a place to start! Instagram generally suggests people you can follow from places like Facebook, so you can start with those names and work outward.
Look for the "suggested" friends section, as it usually pops in the middle of your feed.
5. **Pick a feed planner for your account.** These apps help you manage your account. You can upload photos to post later, edit photos, track followers, and a whole host of other things through these apps. They make it easier to manage your Instagram page.
The editing tools in these apps are much more sophisticated than what you have on your Instagram account. They also allow you to do things like edit videos, and in some cases, schedule posts for a later date.
For instance, try VSCO, UNUM, Preview, or Planoly.
6. **Take photos that fit your Instagram focus.** Now it's time to get to the fun part! Start taking photos every day of the things that fit into your account. Get a week or 2 built up before you start posting, so you have lots of quality photos to post on your account.
You can use your smartphone or you can spring for a more expensive camera. Whatever feels right to you!
7. **Create a unified feel for your photos.** Once you upload your photos to your feed planner, rearrange them as needed to make the page feel more cohesive and organized. Think about how the photos look as a whole on the page and play around with different filters. The feed planner lets you apply a filter to all the photos at once, and you can also move photos around so that the layout of the whole page looks planned. Try to pick 1 filter for all your photos so that they will all look like your brand.
Try applying partial filters by adding the filter and lowering the percentage halfway. Don't use more than 1 filter for your photos.
8. **Add genuine and interesting captions to your photos.** A photo alone isn't enough to get people to follow you. They want to hear the story behind the photo, even if it's just a short quip. The key is to be as open and genuine as you can, as your followers will feel when you're being genuine and want to connect to that.
For instance, if you post a picture of your breakfast as a food blogger, you might write, "Real talk: every morning can't be omelets, bacon, and Belgian waffles. Sometimes, a simple bowl of plain yogurt and fruit hits the spot. Plus, I can grab it when I'm running out the door!" With a caption like this one, you're admitting that every meal you make isn't fancy, which helps humanize you to your followers.
9. **Use up to 4 relevant hashtags.** Hashtags help categorize your pictures, and in fact, some people crawl through hashtags to find new accounts to follow. Therefore, choose carefully. Basically, you can use any word or phrase without spaces as a hashtag by typing the "#" followed by the word. As you type, pay attention to the number of times each hashtag has been used and pick the one with the highest numbers.
For instance, if you post a picture of your cat, look at the hashtags "#cat" and "#cats." One likely has more uses than the other, so choose that one and leave the other off.
Don't use too many hashtags, as Instagram may bury posts that are flooded with too many.
10. **Click a location for the photo.** Location tags make your post more visible because people may dig through locations. You can pick a specific location, such as a restaurant or a park you're at, or you can make it more generic, such as a section of your city.
Location suggestions pop up under the caption box when you're on the last page before posting your photo. Pick one that seems right or suggest another.
11. **Turn your phone or camera horizontally.** With a smartphone, it can be tempting to always shoot in square mode or vertical mode. Even though Instagram typically uses square mode, you'll have a better chance of capturing everything in the shot if you use horizontal mode. You can always edit it down later.
Horizontal mode even works well for portrait shots, as you can capture more of the background.
12. **Take quality photos with preset modes.** When you're first starting out, don't be afraid to use your camera's preset modes. For instance, try using "portrait," which uses a wider aperture and dampens the colors a bit. On the other hand, "landscape" uses a small aperture, and it amps up the color. In addition, make sure to stabilize your camera, either using a tripod or even something like a beanbag on a flat surface. A stable camera will take a much clearer photograph.
Don't be afraid to play around with different settings. See what works best for the shots you take!
13. **Apply the rule of thirds to your photos.** Basically, this rule says you don't want to center everything in the middle of the photo. Instead, imagine the photo has 2 vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines that divide the photo into even thirds each way. When you're "centering" the main subject of your photo, aim to place it along one of the lines or at an intersection.
For instance, if you're taking a picture of a person, set them off to the right or left in the photo instead of dead center.
14. **Try the flat lay angle.** For this type of photo, stand above your subject, typically on a chair, to get a wide shot of whatever it is your photographing. This type of shot works especially well for artistic shots of food or things like table decorations and the like. Lay out your items or food on a flat surface with a neutral background.
Tell a story with this type of photo. That is, if you're taking a photo of a book you're reading, such as Harry Potter, try laying out items in the picture that fit the theme, like a wand, lightning bolt, glasses, or a scarf in house colors.
Don't be afraid to leave some areas blank for this photo. You can still use the rule of thirds.
15. **Create a cohesive photo with colors and textures.** When planning out your photo, try to limit it to 2-3 colors to tie the photo together. At the same time, incorporate different textures in the photo to add visual interest.
For instance, add something silky and something made of rough wood. You can also mix old and new. Get creative!
16. **Experiment with other angles.** Take multiple shots from many different angles. You're not likely to get the perfect shot in one photo, and using different angles will up your chances of getting a great one.
For instance, try taking a photo from below your subject and from above. Try shooting from the left and the right. Look at different ways you can frame the shot with things in the background.
17. **Use natural light for your photos as much as possible.** Natural light is the best light for creating glowing, beautiful photos. While you can't take every photo in natural light, try to do as many as you can.
For instance, if you want to take a photo of something you made for lunch but your kitchen table doesn't have much natural light nearby, move the setup to a window or door where you get soft natural light.
18. **Pick the most important photos to post.** You could flood your Instagram account with 10 photos a day, but you may start to turn some followers off, particularly if the photos are all similar. Instead, opt for the best quality shots you take and pick the ones that have the most significance for you and your account.
Try to post at least once a day but don't go over 2-3 photos a day unless it's a special event.
19. **Analyze what draws you to Instagram accounts.** Try to look at your photos and captions objectively. Would you follow your account? If you wouldn't, it may be time to rethink what you're doing. There's always room to learn and grow!
Typically, what draws followers to accounts is clean, colorful pictures with a certain style or emotion that ties them together. Interesting captions are also important.
20. **Pose questions with your photos.** Simple questions encourage your followers to comment on your post. More comments mean you'll be put higher up in people's feeds. You want your posts to show up as often as possible, so the more exposure you can garner, the better.
For instance, you could ask questions like "What's for dinner at your house?" or "What song are you listening to?" You could also try something like, "Pomegranates: Love or hate?" Even comments with 1-word answers are good!
21. **Reply to comments left by your followers.** When your followers leave a comment on your post, try to "like" or reply to as many as you can. That helps create a relationship between you and your followers, as it makes them feel included in what you're doing.
22. **Follow accounts you like and interact with their pages.** Focus on accounts that are similar to your brand, as you're more likely to get people to follow you in return. Then, like and comment on their photos. That will encourage them to check out your page, too.
Try clicking on hashtags to find photos similar to your page.
23. **Find a network that will hook you up with brands.** You can find many websites that offer a way to meet brands. You can look through offers and work with the brands that fit your niche, so you aren't promoting something you don't believe in!
These networks are usually websites off the main Instagram account. You can search online to find one. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Instagram-Influencer", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Biltong | Biltong is a classic South African-style jerky. It is typically a raw beef that is heavily seasoned and air-cured for several days. To make it, first marinate your meat in red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Then, rub the meat with a seasoning mix for extra flavor. The spice mix is the most important part of making biltong! After the meat marinates for 12-24 hours, hang it to dry for 3-5 days. With a bit of patience, you can easily make delicious biltong!
1. **Cut your meat into 1 cm (0.39 in) thick and 2 cm (0.79 in) wide slices.** For best results, use high-quality cuts of beef, like silverside or topside. Use a sharp, serrated butcher's knife to cut your slab of meat into strips. You can also cut your meat into 20 cm (7.9 in) long slices.
2. **Put the chopped meat into a glass or ceramic baking dish.** Use a large dish that is long enough to house your meat strips. Lay your meat chunks into the dish as flat as you can.
If the meat overlaps a bit, that’s okay. However, try to have the meat as level as possible.
3. **Pour 125 mL (0.53 c) each of vinegar and Worcestershire sauce over the meat.** Typically, red wine vinegar is used to make biltong, but you can also use apple cider vinegar. Either option creates a tasty marinade that adds flavor to your biltong.
4. **Marinate the meat for 30 minutes.** Cover your meat with a layer of plastic wrap, and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
The longer your meat soaks, the more flavorful your biltong will be.
5. **Create your rubbing mixture with spices including pepper and coriander.** To create a rubbing mixture, mix together 125 g (8.3 tbsp) of crushed coriander seeds and 15 g (1 tbsp) of black pepper in a large-sized mixing bowl. In addition, pour in 30 g (2 tbsp) of salt, 100 g (6.7 tbsp) of brown sugar, and 15 g (1 tbsp) of baking soda. Use a spoon to mix it all together.
This creates your rubbing mix, which adds additional flavors to your biltong.
If you’d like, you can also use 14.8 g (1 tbsp) of paprika or chili flakes.
The baking soda dries out the meat.
6. **Rub the spices over the meat 1 piece at a time.** Pick up 1 strip of meat from your container, and squeeze out some of the excess juices. Then, place the meat inside the bowl of spices. Mix the spices around the meat so it is completely covered. Press the seasoning into the meat using your fingers, and repeat for each strip of meat.
7. **Refrigerate your meat for at least 12 hours.** Once your meat is completely covered in spices, leave the pieces in the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. For best results, put the thicker pieces of meat at the bottom. Then, place the bowl inside your refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
The longer you refrigerate the meat, the more flavorful the biltong will taste.
If you’d like, you can stir up the meat every 3-4 hours so each side flavors evenly.
Alternatively, use another glass or ceramic baking dish, and lay your pieces of meat flat inside the container.
8. **Purchase a biltong box online for an easy hanging option.** One way of hanging your biltong is buying a pre-made biltong box. There are small machine options great for home use, or you can get large-scale, industrial-sized machines to professional biltong making.
9. **** Many manufacturers make easy-to-use devices, such as the biltong buddy biltong machine.
10. **Make a biltong box from a cardboard box to save money.** To easily make a biltong box at home, use a cardboard box, such as a computer monitor box. Choose a box with dimensions of about 60.7 × 60.7 × 91.4 cm (1.99 × 1.99 × 3.00 ft). Stand the box upright and open the flaps on top.
While you can make a biltong box out of virtually anything, this is the easiest method best for beginners. For example, you can convert an old smoker into a biltong box.
11. **Cut a hole in the side of the box to the size of your fan.** Use a small office fan about 20 cm (8 in) in diameter to add airflow to your box. Grab a box cutter, and cut a circle about 20 cm (8 in) in diameter. Then, place your fan immediately next to the hole.
Choose to use either a battery powered fan or fan with an outlet.
If your fan requires an outlet, place the box near an outlet so you can easily plug in the fan.
12. **Snip the bottom wire from several wire hangers to make hanging rods.** Collect 5-7 wire hangers, and make 1 cut on each side of the flat part of the hanger using wire cutters. Make your cut where the long, bottom wire begins to curve up the side of the hanger. Each piece of wire should be 38.1–40.6 cm (15.0–16.0 in) long. The wire should remain straight.
Make 1 cut for each side of the hanger.
Throw away the rest of your hanger after you make your cuts.
If you don't have hangers around, use 10-gauge wire.
13. **Poke the wires through the box along the top edge.** Push 1 end of the wire through the top edge of the box along the flap fold. Then, poke the wire through the opposite side as well. Continue doing this for all of your wire, leaving 2.5-5.0 cm (1-2 in) or so in between each one.
Make sure the wire is straight and parallel with the edge of the box.
Since the wire is made of metal, you can easily poke it through the cardboard.
14. **Bend the ends of the wire outside the box to keep them in place.** Most likely, your wire will be several centimeters longer than your box. Hold the end of the wire with 1 hand, and use your other hand to bend the opposite end downward. Then, repeat this for the other side.
Bending the wire over ensures it stays in place, rather than sliding out.
If you are having trouble, use a pair of pliers to help you bend the wire in place.
15. **Bend paperclips to create your hanging devices.** Hold the outside edge of the paperclip in 1 hand, and hold the inside edge with your other hand. You can hold the edges in between your index finger and thumb. Then, pull both edges apart to stretch your paperclip into an “S” shape.
The paper clips easily stretch apart. This gives you 1 end to hang the meat from and 1 end to hang inside your box.
16. **Pierce the end of your meat with the paperclip to easily hang it up.** Hold the piece of meat with 1 hand, and push the end of the paperclip through the meat about ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) from the end.
If you purchased a biltong box, it may come with hooks to use instead of paperclips.
17. **Hang each piece of meat inside your biltong box.** Hold the meat by the paper clip, and hang the paperclip from the metal wire on the inside of your box. You can place the meat side by side to fit as many as you can inside.
If you purchased a biltong box, it has hooks or wires to dangle the meat from.
18. **Let the meat hang for 3-5 days, based on personal preference.** Let the fan run constantly as you dry the meat. Your meat will be completely dry in about 3-4 days. For maximum flavor and dryness, leave your meat for a bit longer.
When the meat is dry, simply take it off the paperclip and eat it.
You can store your biltong in a plastic freezer bag or Tupperware container at room temperature. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Biltong", "language": "en"} |
How to Confess to Lying | Most people have lied about something at some point. Most of the time these lies are small and insignificant, but sometimes you can tell a bigger lie that has some serious consequences. Whether you started with a little fib that has spun out of control, or whether you told a whopper that you just can’t get out of, it can be a tricky thing to extricate yourself from the falsehood. Coming clean and trying to be a more honest person is a laudable impulse, but be prepared for what can be a rocky road to self-improvement.
1. **Think about why you lied.** Take some time to contemplate your actions and question your underlying motivations. It’s not that you’re trying to find an excuse for your behavior, but rather that you’re trying to more fully understand what happened and why. This self-evaluation can help you avoid similar behavior in the future, as well as help the person you’re confessing to understand.
Talk with a trusted friend who has known you a long time. They might be able to help you figure things out.
If you see a therapist regularly, you can ask for their help in plumbing the issue. If not, you can try writing about your lie in a journal or self-reflection exercise and see if this gives you any insight.
2. **Identify who should hear your confession.** You should tell anyone you may have injured in the course of your lie, as well as anyone to whom you lied.
Sometimes this is straightforward. For example, if you lied on a job application, you need to tell the recruiting officer with whom you interviewed. Sometimes, though, the issue is less clear-cut: there might be people who you didn’t directly lie to or about, but who were or could be affected by the deception. For example, if you cheated on an exam, you should tell not only your teacher, but also your parents or close guardian who need to be aware of your behavior.
If there are multiple parties to whom you should divulge your lie, do so on a one-on-one basis rather than grouping them together. This will make it easier for you to be direct and open, and it will also show those to whom you’re confessing that you respect and care enough to dedicate one-on-one time to them.
3. **Set a time and date for your talk.** Although an impromptu chat can be productive, it’s usually best to assign a special time for your talk. This ensures that you can gather your thoughts ahead of time and avoid problematic distractions like other people’s conversations or work obligations.
Pick a time when you and the other person can think clearly. This means you probably want to avoid lunch break or the morning hours when people are often preoccupied with work problems.
4. **Choose a neutral location.** Sitting in someone’s living room can make it feel like one person has an advantage over the other, so think carefully about the location of your meeting before making the assignation.
Public places like coffee shops or park benches can be a good idea, but make sure it’s not so busy that you get distracted or feel uncomfortable about talking about personal things in the proximity of strangers.
5. **Maintain eye contact.** Looking someone in the eye denotes sincerity and can make a big impact as to how your confession is received.
It can help to remember that, while you were wrong to lie, it’s a noble act to recognize and admit your wrongdoing. Allow yourself to be proud of your decision and acknowledge its bravery.
6. **Identify your lie.** As clearly and concisely as possible, outline the lie you told. Provide a reason or context for the lie if your interlocutor is willing to listen, but make sure it doesn’t sound like you’re trying to rationalize or excuse your wrongdoing.
Use “I statements” when talking about your lie. This will help to make sure that you aren’t slipping into any accusatory or blame-dodging patterns.
Also, be sure to lead with a total acknowledgement of responsibility before venturing into explanations.
7. **Tell the whole truth.** Studies have shown that conceding only partially to lying or other misbehavior detracts significantly from the confession’s positive effect on both confessor and the one who confesses. So, while it may make the conversation uncomfortable initially, try not to omit anything or soften the impact of your confession in other ways. Even if you think certain information is unnecessary to include, let the other party be the decider of that. This helps to rebuild their trust in you.
8. **Apologize.** Once you’ve explained your falsehood, wrap up your confession with a sincere expression of regret. Show that you understand how hurtful and serious the transgression was and that you’ve thought about how it has affected others around you. You can’t be sure that you will be forgiven, but it’s still important to show your compunction.
It can help to reassure your interlocutor that you have no expectations regarding their acceptance of your apology. This lets them know that you are apologizing for the right reasons—to admit your culpability for the simple sake of honesty—and not for wrong, self-serving reasons, such as feeling relieved or absolved by another’s forgiveness.
Avoid hedging phrases that qualify and undermine your apology. Things like “I’m sorry if you were upset by what I did” are not real apologies, but rather weak expressions of pity or compassion. You need to be direct and say “I’m sorry for what I did, period.”
9. **Stay calm.** Although the subject might be an emotional one for both of you, try to keep the tone of the conversation evenly measured and low-key. Getting emotional can muddle your ability to expression yourself, so, for the sake of your message, try to keep calm and carry on.
If you’re worried about getting flustered or emotional and, consequently, getting off track, bring a “cheat sheet” with you. This can be a card or leaf of paper where you’ve outlined briefly the points you want to cover.
Avoid drinking alcohol or coffee before or during your confession as this can make you more emotional or tense. Drink green or chamomile tea instead, as these have natural placating side-effects.
10. **Listen.** You should let your interlocutor tell you how they feel about your admission and how they want to proceed with your relationship. You’ve said your piece and now they deserve to say as little or as much as they wish.
Let the person know they can take time to reflect on everything and the two of you can talk about it later after they've collected their thoughts. There may need to be a few conversations about this lie before it's all said and done.
This doesn’t mean you have to tolerate abuse or other violent reactions. Just because you’ve done something wrong and admitted to it, you don’t deserve to undergo overly punitive measures. If the person reacts poorly, apologize again for your lie and withdraw as quickly as possible from the situation.
11. **Reflect on why you lied.** If you keep a journal, try writing about the lie in an entry that questions your motives and what impact the lie has had on you and others. Writing as a means of personal reflection has been shown to have multiple mental and emotional benefits, and it can be one of the best ways to understand yourself better and organize your thoughts.
No journal? No problem! Open up a Word doc on your computer and do a free-write, or jot down some ideas in an old school notebook. If you have a personal blog, try writing about the lie in the blog.
If you see a therapist regularly, you can ask for their help in thinking about the problem.
12. **Decide if you want to post a letter or send an email.** Think about what would be best for the person you are communicating with rather than what feels most comfortable to you. While it used to be thought that email is an inappropriate mode for conveying serious emotions or problems, it has since become widely acceptable as a suitable medium for both casual communications and serious discussions. That being said, mailing a real letter can be a special gesture as it shows effort and respect.
If you don’t have the person’s email or postal address, try checking with friends for a way to get in touch.
Don’t write a letter by hand if you have messy handwriting. You’re already asking someone to read your confession and apology; you don’t want to additionally ask them to puzzle over your handwriting.
13. **Make an outline.** Once you’ve thought about your actions, think about what you want to say in your letter and how you want to say it. Put these thoughts into a structured outline so that you won’t get off track in the course of writing your letter.
Your outline should be no more than one page. Write just one bullet or the topic sentence for each paragraph and then fill in the surrounding text later.
14. **Write a first draft.** Flesh out the points on your outline so that you have at least three full paragraphs. The first should explain what you lied about and why you’re writing the letter. The second should express your remorse for your actions and an apology. The third should express the hope that your apology helps in some way but also clarifies that you don’t expect to be forgiven.
You can (and should!) include more specific and personal details in your letter, but don’t stray too far from the simple formula of disclosure, apology, and conclusion.
15. **Be concise.** Your letter can be elegantly written but it shouldn’t be overly verbose. Too many words will dilute the impact of a clear, direct, and responsibility-acknowledging apology.
16. **Take a break.** We’ve all impulsively fired off an email or text when we were emotional, and most the time it doesn’t end well. More often than not, we find ourselves regretful of the rash missive because, even if you stand by its intent, you ultimately deem its timing or language as less than optimal. So take a lesson from your past and set your letter or email aside for a night.
If you’re writing an email, save it as a draft but don’t enter the addressee yet. This will ensure that you don’t mistakenly send the email before it’s all prepared.
If you’re mailing a letter, wait to buy the stamps you need until the next day so that, even if you get the urge to send it off right away, you won’t be able to apply the necessary postage.
17. **Re-read and edit your letter.** Find some time the next morning or afternoon to review your letter. You’ll be able to fix any overlooked typos or awkward phrases and, more importantly, your fresh perspective will allow you amend bigger problems like rationalizing language or sentimental, mealy-mouthed platitudes.
If you have a close, trusted friend who knows the situation, think about reading your letter to them and asking for their feedback.
18. **Draft a final copy and send it.** It can be tempting to edit something to death as a way of delaying the ultimate, scary step of pressing ‘Send’ on your email or dropping your letter in the mailbox. At a certain point, though, you need to accept your final draft and send it on its way. The sooner you do so, the sooner you can begin to move on.
19. **Consider obtaining the services of a mediator.** If you want to confess your lie and apologize in a face-to-face conversation, but you’re worried that you don’t have the emotional control or wherewithal to facilitate the discussion, you can hire a trained professional to assist you.
If you’re in school or college, your institution might provide a free counseling service that performs conflict mediation and relationship counseling. Look over your school’s website for information about this possibility, or talk to an administrative official who can direct you to the right place.
20. **Choose a mediator.** Whether you are taking advantage of a free service offered by your university or paying an independent professional, base your decision on a variety of factors including cost, personal compatibility, and convenience.
Feel free to consult with a few different mediators before you choose one.
Fees for therapists who perform mediation vary significantly, so get a written quote before you commit to one.
Make sure the party you choose is a disinterested party and trained in conflict resolution. Even if your parent or relative wants to help and thinks they can be objective, they are only a good option if they are a lawyer or therapist, or if they have completed some kind of conflict resolution training.
Even if you like the looks of a mediator, take a little time to review the counselor’s client feedback on sites like Yelp or Better Business Bureau. This is particularly important because some states don’t require professional mediators or conflict resolution counselors to possess a special license or affiliation in order to practice, so you’ll need to do your own research to make sure you’ve found a good one.
21. **Meet with the mediator to explain your goals.** Before carrying out the conflict mediation, you should sit down with the mediator you’ve chosen in order to explain your situation, needs, and objectives for the session. The mediator can also inform you about the procedure and give you some helpful tips to prepare.
Remember that your mediator is a valuable resource and can refer you to a long-term psychological professional if you’re interested. Seeing someone regularly can help you work on living more honestly and avoiding similar mistakes in the future.
22. **Have the mediator set an appointment for the mediation.** Your mediator can extend an invitation to the person you want to talk to and find a time that works for both of you.
If you work or study full-time, you should try to make the appointment for after work rather than during lunch. This will help avoid distraction and work-day stress.
23. **Be punctual and calm.** Arriving on time and with the right mental approach is crucial to the success of your mediation.
Don’t drink coffee or alcohol before your meeting as these can make you jumpy or overly emotional.
24. **Approach the meeting with an open and positive mindset.** Gather your thoughts before the session and make sure you keep your emotions in check.
Try meditating, drinking green tea, or doing relaxing exercises like yoga or controlled breathing beforehand. A centered mindset will help you organize your thoughts and be a better participant in the mediation.
You can also try visualizing the meeting going well to calm your nerves and make sure you approach it with an open mind.
25. **Let your mediator guide the discussion.** Instead of jumping right in and confessing, have your mediator set some ground rules and facilitate the discussion.
When it’s your turn, admit your lie as clearly and concisely as possible. Use “I-statements” to avoid sounding accusatory or blame-shifting.
When it’s your friend’s turn, listen attentively. Chances are, you haven’t understood or considered their side as much as you could have, so listening to your friend will provide you valuable insight.
Practice active listening as well. Provide nonverbal indicators that you are paying attention and repeat back what you hear them saying in your own words.
26. **Walk the talk.** Show that your confession and apology were sincere by changing your ways and being more honest in the future. You can't guarantee you'll be forgiven, but you can improve your integrity and character in any case. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Confess-to-Lying", "language": "en"} |
How to Insert a Cannula | Intravenous (IV) cannulation, also known as insertion of a peripheral venous catheter (PVC), is a fairly straightforward medical procedure. However, it does take some technique and preparation to complete safely. While different professionals may adapt the technique a bit to their own preferences, the basic procedure involves gathering appropriate materials and properly preparing the insertion site, inserting the needle, and performing appropriate maintenance and cleanup after the catheter is inserted.
1. **Gather materials.** Cannulation requires some basic preparation and precaution. You will need to protect yourself from contact with a patient's body fluids and you need to protect the patient from injury or infection. In order to do this you will need:
Non-sterile gloves
Tourniquet
Antiseptic solution or alcohol wipes
Local anesthetic solution (optional)
Syringe with needle of appropriate gauge
Venous access device
Transparent dressing
Paper tape
Sharps container
2. **Choose the size of the cannula you will use.** In general, the larger gauge needle you use, the higher the maximum flow rate of the fluid entering into the vein. Larger sized needles actually have a smaller number, so a 14 gauge is large, while a 22 gauge is small. Choose a size that can easily fulfill the purpose of the procedure but is not oversized.
The smallest needles are used in children. The largest are used for rapid blood transfusion.
3. **Have a discussion with your patient.** Get informed consent from the patient before you begin the procedure. This is usually done verbally. This builds up a rapport with the patient and allows for a less traumatic experience.
Introduce yourself to your patient.
Verify your patient’s identity before starting any procedures.
Explain the procedure to the patient and answer any questions they may have.
Also take a quick history, primarily to exclude any allergy or sensitivity that the patient may have. This is particularly true for latex allergy. Should an allergy to latex be confirmed, then the tourniquet, gloves, and the cannula must be latex-free.
4. **Wash your hands and put on gloves.** All medical professionals should follow thorough and proper hygiene practices before coming into contact with a patient. It is important to keep the risk of the patient getting infection to a minimum while inserting a cannula by washing your hands thoroughly and putting on gloves.
5. **Use proper personal protective equipment.** Using gloves will not only protect your patient, but will also protect you from exposure to bodily fluids and potentially infectious material. A single pair of non-sterile gloves will probably be sufficient for this task.Depending on your facility’s requirements, you may also wish to wear protective eyewear when inserting or removing an IV catheter.
6. **Apply the tourniquet around the patient's arm.** In most cases, the patient’s non-dominant arm is preferable. The tourniquet should be placed on the arm just above the cannulation site. Tighten it appropriately, so that the patient's veins are highlighted. Other methods for locating a good vein include:
Tapping on the vein to make it dilate.
Asking the patient to open and close their fist.
Using gravity to highlight the vein by holding the patient’s arm down.
Applying mild heat to the site of the vein.
If you have a difficult time finding a good vein on the arm you have selected, inspect the opposite arm. In some cases (e.g. if the patient has diabetes or a history of IV drug abuse), you may need to use an ultrasound to help you locate a good vein.
7. **Clean the skin.** Using an alcohol wipe or antiseptic solution, clear away pathogens on the skin around the vein used for cannulation. Apply the antiseptic to the site with friction for 30-60 seconds, and then allow the site to air dry for up to one minute. This will help prevent the risk of infection and reduce stinging.
If the area is really covered in hair, you may need to shave it. This will help you to identify the vein, get a clear aim at it, and it will help when cleaning the area.
8. **Insert the cannula needle at an appropriate angle.** The correct angle will depend on the size of the device and the depth of the vein.
If you are trying to access a small, superficial vein, you should use a small catheter (with a gauge of 22-24) and insert at an angle of 10°-25°.
For a deeper vein, use a larger catheter and insert at an angle of 30°-45°.
Make sure you insert the needle bevel up (with its eye is facing upwards). This means that the point of the needle is down against the skin.
9. **Advance the cannula until you achieve flashback.** Hold the cannula in the front of its wings with your pointer and middle finger and in the back with your thumb. Advance it slowly into the skin until blood enters the base of the cannula. This is called a flashback, and it signals that you have entered a vein.
Once flashback occurs, reduce the angle of the needle to avoid puncturing the posterior wall of the vein.
10. **Advance the plastic piece of the cannula.** The needle should now be held stationary while the plastic component of the cannula is advanced another 2-3 mm into the vein. The goal is to get the plastic sheath into the vein, and keep it there, while the needle is removed.
Keep advancing the plastic component of the cannula until the plastic tube is fully inserted. The "hub" of the plastic component will hit the skin when it is all the way in.
11. **Allow blood to flow into an attachment.** Remove the tourniquet from the patient's arm. Remove the needle from the base of the cannula, leaving the plastic component in sight. Allow blood to flow into the base of the cannula, so there is less risk of air going into the vein if something is injected through the cannula, called an air embolism.
Then cap the cannula or attach test tubes or other supplies.
12. **Find another vein, if your catheterization is unsuccessful.** If you are unable to catheterize a vein successfully, never attempt to reinsert the needle. This could result in fragmentation of the catheter and embolism in the patient.
13. **Secure the cannula with an appropriate dressing.** If the cannula needs to stay in the vein, you will need to secure it. Using transparent dressing and tape, or a specialized dressing that comes with the cannula, secure the venous access device to the skin. Attach the cannula to the skin so that it is comfortable for the patient but stays in place in the vein. You may need to tape attachments to the skin as well, for example a tube leading to another attachment point.
Place a label over the transparent dressing with the date, time, and any other information required by your facility.
If you are simply using the cannula to get several samples of blood, for example, extensive securing is not required. However, you do need to be sure that it stays in place long enough to get your sample, so you may want to tape it down a bit.
14. **Inspect and clean the cannula.** First, pull back on the syringe to withdraw a little blood. This will confirm that the cannula is still in place inside the vein. Then flush the cannula with a flushing solution, usually normal saline or heparin. This will assure that the site is clean and will check for adequate positioning within the vein.
To flush the cannula you will need 5-10ml of saline in a syringe. This may come in a pre-filled syringe or you may need to fill it yourself. Flush the cannula by attaching the syringe of saline onto the cannula port, inject the saline into the port, detach the syringe, and then close the port.
If you are returning to put an injection into a cannula, flush the it with saline solution again. This will assure that the cannula is still in place.
15. **Recatheterize, if necessary.** If you do not observe blood in the flashback chamber when you inspect the cannula, you will need to recatheterize the vein. If there is no flashback, this may mean that the catheter has punctured the posterior wall of the vein. It can also occur in patients with severe hypotension (low blood pressure).
Withdraw the device until it is just below skin level, and attempt to recatheterize.
If swelling develops at the site, remove the device and release the tourniquet. Apply direct pressure to the site for 5 minutes.
16. **Clean up after the procedure.** Dispose of the needle in a sharps container to reduce the risk of a needle stick. Dispose of any other waste appropriately.
Document the procedure in the appropriate set of notes.
If removing the cannula, place a piece of gauze on the injection site and keep it in place with medical tape or a bandage. This will assure that the patient is not bleeding after the procedure. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Insert-a-Cannula", "language": "en"} |
How to Care for a Library Book | Libraries provide a great service by letting you check out and read their books for free. To make sure everyone in your community or school has the opportunity to read the books in a library's collection, it's important to keep the books you borrow in good condition. You can do your part by handling library books properly, protecting them when you're not reading them, and dealing with any damage you find.
1. **Wash your hands before touching your book.** The slightest bit of dirt or oil on your hands can discolor or damage the pages and binding. Work up a good lather with the soap. Focus on your fingertips and the palms of your hands. Rub your hands together long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song.
2. **Support the spine when removing a book from a shelf.** Place your index finger and thumb on either side of the top of the spine. Then, pull it toward you. Avoid pulling on the top edge of the spine with your index finger. You could end up tearing the spine.
3. **Don't write in your book.** Avoid marking the pages or binding with ink, marker, or highlighter. Don't even make light pencil marks. You can unintentionally damage the pages when you erase.
4. **Avoid reading your book in or near water.** It could fall into the water and be completely ruined. If you need something to read near the pool or in a boat, read a magazine or newspaper that you plan to recycle. If you feel the urge to read something while in the bath, finish up and dry off completely before picking up your book.
5. **Don't eat or drink while reading.** Stains and spills are difficult to remove. They can obscure the text and make the pages difficult to read. Keep the book away from your eating and drinking space during mealtime.
6. **Avoid bending the spine too much.** Forcing an open book to lie flat can damage the spine and cause pages to fall out. If a book is old or tightly bound, avoid cracking the spine at all. When you're scanning or photocopying pages, don't press on the spine.
If the book is a paperback, don't bend the front or back covers. Read your book on a flat surface whenever possible. Otherwise, position your thumb on the bottom of one page and your pinky on the bottom of the other to keep the book open.
7. **Bring your book back inside if you read outdoors.** Rain and direct sunlight can damage your book. Even if you only get up for a few minutes and intend to go back outside immediately, take your book with you. Your plans could change or you could forget about your book.
8. **Avoid leaning on your book to write.** Pens and pencils can leave indentations on book covers. If you press too hard, they can tear through the paper and mark up the book. Lean on a table or desk. If that's not an option, use a folder, binder, or clipboard.
9. **Keep track of the due date.** Make a note of the due date as soon as you check your book out. Request a “date due slip” if the library offers this service. Set an alert in your calendar with an alarm the day before the due date. Ask the library if they send automatic emails when the due date is close.
10. **Return your book on time.** In many cases, libraries have only one copy of each book. If you keep your book out too long, it's not fair to the next person who needs it. Honor the due date. If you receive a recall notice, bring your book back as soon as possible for the person who requested it.
Renew your book if you're not finished with it by the due date. Ask the library staff if you can renew your book online. If this isn't an option, ask if you can renew over the phone.
11. **Protect your book while you're transporting it.** If it's raining, put the book in a plastic bag before taking it out of the library. If you don't have one, ask a librarian. Avoid stuffing paperback books in your pockets, where they could get bent or torn. Keep pens, pencils, highlighters, and markers in a separate compartment from your book if you put it in your book bag.
12. **Keep your book out of reach of pets and small children.** Animals can chew your book. Small children can draw on it or tear the pages. If you share your home with animals and/or children, place your book on a tall shelf, dresser, or bookcase when you're not reading it.
13. **Store your book in a safe place.** As soon as you bring it home, put your book neatly on a sturdy shelf or table. Don't leave it on a sofa, chair, or bed. Someone may accidentally sit on it and damage the cover or pages. Avoid places where your book could get wet, such as a sink edge or near a bathtub.
Make sure your storage place isn't near heating vents or radiators. Heat can cause books to dry out and become brittle.
14. **Use a bookmark.** Any flat piece of paper or paperboard can serve as a bookmark. Don't dog-ear pages to keep your place. Avoid using a pencil or other bulky object. It could bend the cover or pages out of shape. Don't tent the book open to hold your place. Avoid sticky notes, which can leave adhesive on the pages.
If you're feeling crafty, try making your own bookmark from any number of materials.
15. **Keep your book in your bag when you're reading on the go.** You don't want to leave your book at school, on the bus, or at a friend's house. Put it back in your bag when you're finished reading. Then, close your bag securely to prevent your book from falling out.
16. **Avoid lending your book to others.** If they lose it or destroy it, you'll have to pay for it. Many libraries will notify patrons when books are returned. If someone wants to borrow your book, tell them to ask the library about this service. You can also have them accompany you when you return the book so that they can check it out that day.
17. **Examine your book before checking it out.** Skim through it and look for torn or missing pages, large stains, pen or pencil writing, doodles, etc. Check the covers for missing or defaced parts. If you find any of these, report it to one of the librarians. This way, they won't assume you damaged the book.
18. **Report damage discovered later when you find it.** Not all damage is obvious when you first skim through the book. Call the library if you find damage during operating hours. If the library has a special email address or online form to make reports, take advantage of it for damage found after hours. If all else fails, drop by the library in person as soon as possible to notify the staff.
19. **Don't attempt to repair a damaged book yourself.** Return it to the library as soon as possible. Explain what happened and let the librarians take care of it. Libraries can repair books with better materials and methods than you can. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Library-Book", "language": "en"} |
How to Convince Your Parents to Let You Marry the Girl of Your Choice | You have this girl you love, but your parents either don't approve or you fear they won't? While it's common for people in your situation to get advice like “you should cut your ties” or “just ignore them,” you're probably reading this article because you care deeply about keeping your relationship with your parents intact. Navigating this situation will take time, patience, and clear communication from you, and not every family culture will handle marriage discussions in the same ways. However, if you focus on a respectful and loving appreciation for your parents' fears, getting them to accept your life changes is truly possible.
1. **Consider the timing.** For many children of traditional parents, marrying is only an option the parents will consider once the child's college or career education is complete, and a steady (and respectable) job has been held by the child for at least 1-2 years. Approaching them with the idea of marriage before you graduate can understandably feel like you're endangering their hard work. Waiting, in that case, is best.
2. **Don't criticize them.** Belittling them, comparing your behavior to theirs, and otherwise insulting them will not change their mind and is not your role as a respectful and loving child.
3. **Allow them to tell you what they think and give you advice.** First, ask your parents how they feel, what they like, what they don't like in the current situation, and what they expect you to do. Be silent until they finish explaining what they think about the situation. “I'd like to hear what you think about all this.”
Once they finish explaining, they will definitely ask some questions to you (and the girl, if she is present in the room) in terms of how to approach this whole thing, finances, your future, and other general topics—all of which you should try to answer.
The temptation to avoid answering their questions might be strong, especially if you find you have not thought through an issue they raise or if you do not yet have an answer you like. You can always return to the conversation, but try to answer fully and be honest about where you struggle with their questions.
If their explanation presents another situation that gives a feasible solution for everyone, then take it up.
4. **Be open.** Don't keep your feelings or relationship a secret. Hiding a serious relationship from your family can be quite painful for them and suggest to them that you do not trust or respect them. Wouldn't you feel the same if they had hidden some tremendously important relationship from you? Unless you have a strong reason for not telling them (for example, you have not yet graduated from the college they are paying for), you should be honest with your parents sooner, rather than later.
5. **Get them to discuss their fears with you.** First, ask them to talk about their cultural or financial fears, and allow them to explain what it is about your news that makes them fearful. Then, let them know why you are not afraid by being clear about your motives and plans.
You could say, for example, “Do you feel that because she is from a different culture that any children we might eventually have would not understand or appreciate our culture?”
6. **Don't take a side.** Avoid giving ultimatums like “It's my way or nothing,” or “If you really loved me, you'd support me.” You probably would not change after a single conversation, so don't expect your parents to do that, either. Taking a side will only confirm their worst fear: that you are rejecting them, their love, their values, and your place in the family as their child.
7. **Stay calm and confident.** Instead of taking a side, focus on the love you have for your parents. Don't be defensive. If you act defensive, it will suggest to them that something is wrong with her or something is not right in your relationship. Instead, clarify your own opinions and use “I” statements.
Saying things like, “She thinks you don't like her,” will only make your parents dislike her more. Own your own opinions rather than using your girl as the scapegoat. A better comment would be something like, “I think you would really like her just as much as I do, once you get to know her.”
8. **Never complain to your family about her.** Unless breaking up is what you want to do, if you ever complain to your family about her personality quirks or actions, they will by nature feel defensive for you and will dislike her. When you bring her up again later in a better mood, they will not have forgotten the injury or emotional wound you had told them about. Until they have established their own solid relationship with her, keep your comments about her positive.
9. **Don't use the girl to make a political point or to “change” them.** Parents who have children in inter-cultural relationships (dating outside the culture, tribe, religion, race, economic class, etc.) will already be sensitive to whatever fears they might have about her and the ways she is “ruining” you. Don't feed that bias by bringing her up as an example in your arguments with them.
10. **Focus on common ground.** Point out common interests or cultural connection—allow them to begin to imagine her as their daughter-in-law by focusing on topics that you know your parents care deeply about and yet also share with your girlfriend.
For example, you could connect her to a hobby one of your parents have: “Did you know, Dad, that she's also into aircraft? She actually studied and got a private license a few years ago.”
11. **Explain why she is perfect for you.** Tell them why YOU like her, why you LOVE her, and what, in your view, makes her the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.
“Mother, you know that studying and doing well in school has always been important to me. Well, it's important to her, too—she's currently in medical school, and studying with her this past year was what helped me pass my exams. She's smarter than any previous girlfriend I've had.”
If this girl is a total stranger to them, then you obviously have to do more preparation before having this conversation. Learn what you can about her background, so you can share that with your parents, and anticipate the kinds of questions they will have about her.
12. **Use “lobbyists.”** Have sympathetic family members feed them positive information about her.
One effective strategy is to tell the most supportive parent first, away from the other parent. That way, when you break the news more openly to the family, you will already have a potential ally on your side.
13. **Plan a family date.** Arrange for your parents to participate with you and your girlfriend in a safe activity. Once you and your girlfriend have met each others' parents, or if the vibe seems open to it, ask both sets of parents to meet with you and your girlfriend. Fix a day on the calendar (perhaps over a comfortably informal dinner) and have a good first discussion.
Arrange for your girl to have some alone time with your parents (individually, or, with both simultaneously), for them to get to know her better.
If you are meeting her parents, try being a little less-talkative than you are at your place—let her advocate to her parents just as you did to yours. You should always ensure that the parents (both sides) don't feel less-respected, misrepresented, or anything bad about the situation.
If she is in the room, let the girl talk in the middle of your discussion, which will help your parents understand a little bit about her, and the way she thinks, and the way she perceives and explains things to your parents. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Convince-Your-Parents-to-Let-You-Marry-Girl-of-Your-Choice", "language": "en"} |
How to Use Windows Command Prompt to Run a Python File | Whether you're writing Python code on your Windows PC or just want to use existing Python scripts, it'll be helpful to learn how to run code from the Command Prompt. Running Python code is easy—you'll just need to have Python installed. This wikiHow article will walk you through opening a Python file from Command Prompt, and teach you how to fix the common "python is not recognized as an internal or external command" error.
1. **Go to the Python file's location.** Find the Python file that you want to open in Command Prompt.
If you already know the folder path to the Python file you want to open, skip ahead to opening the file in Command Prompt.
2. **Select the Python file.** Click once the Python file for which you want to see the folder path.
3. **Right-click the Python file.** Doing so prompts a drop-down menu to appear.
4. **Click Properties.** It's in the drop-down menu. The properties window will open.
5. **Note the "Location" value.** The folder address (or "path") to the right of the "Location" heading is what you'll need to enter into Command Prompt when switching to the directory in which your Python file is stored.
You can copy the location by highlighting it (click and drag your mouse across the "Location" value) and then pressing Ctrl+C.
6. **Open Start .** Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will pop up.
7. **Search for Command Prompt.** Type in cmd to do so.
8. **Click Command Prompt.** It's at the top of the Start menu. Doing so will open Command Prompt.
9. **Switch to your Python file's directory.** Type cd and a space, then type in the "Location" address for your Python file and press ↵ Enter.
For example, to open a Python file in a folder named "Files" on your Desktop, you would enter cd desktop/Files here.
If you copied the path to the file, you can type in cd and a space and then press Ctrl+V to paste in the path.
10. **Enter the "python" command and your file's name.** Type in python file.py where file is your Python file's name.
For example, if your Python file is named "script", you would type in python script.py here.
If your Python file has one or more spaces in its name, you'll place quotation marks around the file name and extension (e.g., python "my script.py").
11. **Press ↵ Enter.** Doing so runs your command and opens your Python file via your computer's installed Python program.
If you encounter an error that says 'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command after pressing , you'll need to add Python to the PATH list before retrying this part.
12. **Enable viewing for hidden folders.** Since one of the folders that contains your Python installation folder is most likely hidden, you'll have to unhide it before proceeding:
Open File Explorer .
Click the tab.
Check the "Hidden items" box.
13. **Navigate to your Python folder.** In some cases, the Python path is "C:\Python27"; however, if you've installed the most recent version of Python using the default settings, it's tucked away in a hidden folder. You can copy the proper file path by doing the following:
Click on the left side of the File Explorer.
Double-click your hard drive in the "Devices and drives" section.
Scroll down and double-click the "Users" folder.
Double-click the folder with your username on it.
Scroll down and double-click "AppData".
Double-click "Local".
Scroll down and double-click "Programs".
Double-click the "Python" folder.
Double-click the Python folder with your preferred version number (e.g., "Python36").
14. **Copy the path to the Python folder.** Click once the address bar at the top of the File Explorer to highlight its contents, then press Ctrl+C to copy the highlighted address.
15. **Open the Power User menu.** Right-click the icon to do so. You should see a pop-up menu appear.
You can also press ⊞ Win+X to open the Power User pop-up menu.
16. **Click System.** It's in the pop-up menu. A new window will open.
17. **Click System info.** This is a link in the upper-right corner of the window. Doing so opens the System Information window.
18. **Click the Advanced system settings link.** You'll see this in the upper-left side of the System Information window. Yet another window will pop up.
19. **Click Environment Variables….** It's in the bottom-right corner of the pop-up window.
20. **Find the "Path" heading in the "User variables" pane.** This window is at the top of the Environment Variables window.
You may have to scroll up or down with your mouse cursor hovering over the "User variables" pane to find the "Path" variable.
21. **Double-click the "Path" heading.** Doing so opens a pop-up window.
22. **Click New.** It's on the right side of the window. A text field will open in the middle of the window.
23. **Paste in your copied path.** Press Ctrl+V to do so. Your copied path will appear in the text field in the middle of the window.
24. **Click OK on the three open windows.** This will save your changes and close the "Path" window, the "Environmental Variables" window, and the "System Properties" window. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Windows-Command-Prompt-to-Run-a-Python-File", "language": "en"} |
How to Locate Your Prostate | The prostate is a walnut-sized organ in males that plays a major role in the production of semen. The easiest way to access the prostate is by way of an index finger carefully inserted into the rectum. The processes for accessing the prostate as part of a medical exam (which should be done by a doctor) or for sexual pleasure are the same, and the same precautions should be taken. You should also keep an eye out for signs of potential prostate problems and contact your doctor as needed.
1. **See a trained professional if you want your prostate medically examined.** Medical professionals do not recommend prostate self-exams. An “untrained finger” is unlikely to accurately recognize signs of problems, and there is a small but not inconsequential risk of damage to the rectum or prostate.
Talk to your primary care doctor to determine if you should have a DRE (digital rectal exam) to check your prostate.
Check your prostate if you’re older than 40, have a high risk for prostate cancer, or if you have symptoms of an enlarged or infected prostates.
If you want to access your prostate for sexual pleasure, take all the precautions described in this article and work very slowly and gently.
2. **Take a shower** Use soap, water, and a soft washcloth to clean the area as best you can, then rinse it out thoroughly with clean water from the shower. The cleaner you feel "up there," the less self-conscious you're likely to be when the time comes to insert your finger.
Don’t use a rough washcloth or brush, scrub too vigorously, or try to clean deep into your rectum. You may damage the sensitive tissue in the area. Just accept that it’s not possible to get this area 100% clean.
3. **Trim your nails and put on a sterile exam glove.** Use nail clippers and a file to make sure your fingernails don’t have any sharp or jagged edges—this is especially important for the index finger you’ll be using. After that, wash and dry your hands and put a sterile exam glove onto the hand you’ll be using.
Even when you’re accessing your own rectum, it’s best to play it safe and wear a glove.
If you wear a ring on the index finger you’ll be using, remove it.
4. **Apply lots of petroleum jelly or personal lubricant to your index finger.** Doctors typically use petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) for this procedure, but a personal lubricant gel (such as KY Gel) works fine as well. In either case, don’t be shy about loading up the lubricant on your index finger!
Your entire index finger should be fully coated from the tip down to at least the middle knuckle.
5. **Assume a comfortable position for accessing your rectum and prostate.** In a clinical setting, a medical professional will likely have you lie down on your side with your knees brought up to your chest. It may be difficult to access your own prostate from this position, however. Alternatively, stand up and lean forward so that your hips flex outward.
6. **Relax your rectum as much as possible.** Do your best to remain calm and relaxed because your rectum will naturally tense up when you insert your finger, especially if it’s a new experience for you. It’ll be more difficult and possibly uncomfortable to access your prostate if your rectum is contracted.
If you’re at home, try putting on some relaxing music or doing a few deep breathing exercises beforehand.
7. **Insert the tip of your gloved and lubed index finger into your rectum.** Work slowly and gently and try to remain calm and relaxed. Stop once your first knuckle—the one closest to your fingertip—is in your rectum.
While there are sexual pleasure devices designed to stimulate the prostate, use your finger the first few times until you get comfortable with the process.
8. **Aim your finger (without bending it) between your belly button and penis.** Instead of going straight up your rectum, you need to angle your finger forward in order to access your prostate. Don’t bend your knuckles, but rather adjust the angle of your entire finger so it’s pointed in the proper direction.
9. **Insert your finger deeper until you make contact with your prostate.** Your middle knuckle will probably enter your rectum before your fingertip reaches your prostate. On contact, the prostate should feel soft and smooth, and you may feel a brief sensation like you need to urinate.
During a DRE, a medical professional will gently feel your prostate for about 5-10 seconds, checking for any bumps, growths, or unusual elements.
For sexual pleasure, try gently massaging the prostate with your fingertip. It may take a few seconds, a few minutes, or longer for you to experience pleasurable results—but you’ll know them when they happen!
In some cases, your finger may not be long enough to access the prostate—this happens to doctors doing exams about 6% of the time.
10. **Withdraw your finger slowly and discard the glove.** When you’re finished accessing your prostate, take your time sliding your finger out of your rectum. Once it’s out, grasp the base of the glove with your other hand and pull it off so it ends up inside-out. Toss the glove in the trash and wash your hands.
11. **Watch for urination-related symptoms of an enlarged prostate.** Many people, especially cisgender men age 50 and older, experience an enlarged prostate (a condition called either BPH or BPE). In most cases, it’s not caused by cancer, and many people have no symptoms. If you do experience symptoms like the following, however, contact your primary care doctor:
Weak flow during urination.
Feeling like your bladder hasn’t emptied fully.
Difficulty starting to urinate.
Dribbling urine after you finish urinating.
Needing to urinate more often, especially at night.
Sudden urges to urinate that may cause leaks before you reach the toilet.
Try taking a screening test to assess your symptoms here: https://www.bostonscientific.com/content/dam/bostonscientific-anz/patients/downloads/Enlarged_Prostate_Symptom_Score_Questionnaire.pdf.
12. **Stay alert for additional symptoms of prostate issues as well.** In some cases, the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate may indicate other prostate problems, such as infections, chronic prostatitis (prostate pain), or cancer. These conditions are often more serious than BPH/BPE alone, so keep an eye out for the following symptoms (in addition to those for BPH/BPE):
Blood in your urine or semen.
Pain or burning during urination.
Painful ejaculation.
Frequent pain or stiffness in your lower back, hips, pelvic or rectal area, or upper thighs.
13. **Undergo testing and treatment in consultation with your medical team.** If you’re having prostate problems, and especially if you have possible symptoms of prostate cancer, your primary care doctor or urologist will likely conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE), a PSA blood test, or both. From there, they may recommend ultrasounds, CT scans, and/or prostate biopsies to achieve a diagnosis. While you should be an active participant in making your healthcare decisions, do not take expert medical advice lightly.
Some studies indicate that the DRE isn’t a perfect test for prostate cancer since it can be difficult to reach the front side of the prostate, but many experts argue it is still a valuable test.
In some cases, even if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, your medical team may advise a “watch and wait” approach. This is because some types of prostate cancer spread very slowly and the side effect risks of treatment (such as urinary and sexual function issues) are fairly substantial. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Locate-Your-Prostate", "language": "en"} |
How to Create a Whimsical Garden | You can create a fun, whimsical garden by combining dramatic plants, flowers, accessories, decorations, and lighting. Once you choose a theme for your garden, search for colorful, eclectic items that will transform your outdoor space into a beautiful escape. Make your garden unique and special by filling it with fanciful decorative flourishes.
1. **Choose a garden theme to plan your decorating around.** Select a theme for your garden that will add whimsy within a specific decorative framework. Dramatically different plants, structures, and colors may clash and create a dissonant feel. Focus on a specific garden idea, such as:
A tropical garden, combining large, brightly colored plants and flowers with large sculptures and a water source.
A Japanese garden with blooming cherry blossoms, bamboo accents, and tranquil fountains.
A woodland garden with large trees, shade-loving plants, fairy decorations, and bold, richly-colored flowers.
2. **Decide on the colors you want to include in your garden theme.** Color is a great way to add visual interest and an element of whimsy to your garden. Decide what color combination you want and choose flowers, containers, decorations, and furniture within that color scheme. Look at gardening websites or magazines for inspiration.
For instance, if you choose a blue and yellow color combination, plant flowers like irises and black eyed susans, use blue and yellow planters, and select furniture and garden art in either of these colors.
If you want a pink and purple theme, try planting flowers like azaleas and bellflowers, hanging pink and purple wind chimes, and displaying pink or purple garden sculptures.
3. **Set up a place to enjoy your garden.** When designing your whimsical garden, decide how you will be using it and create a space for yourself. If you imagine yourself sitting amongst the flowers, set up a bench or chairs in the middle of the garden. If you would like to have meals with family and friends in your garden, set up a dining area in a spot with adequate lighting or shade to make it comfortable.
Visit your local gardening center or home improvement store to look for special garden furniture that is rain-resistant and comfortable.
4. **Reuse everyday objects as containers for your garden.** Instead of plain pots and planters, add visual appeal to your garden by using other types of objects to hold plants and flowers. Old bathtubs, metal buckets, milk jugs, or tool boxes are interesting items that can be used in this way. Visit thrift stores and garage sales, or look at online classified ads to find unique pieces.
Worn out gardening containers such as rusted wheelbarrows or old watering cans can also be used as decorative planters in your garden.
5. **Create pathways with different materials for a maze-like feel.** To create a pathway in your garden, insert plastic, aluminum, steel, or concrete edging into the ground to frame the outline. Fill the space between the two sides of edging with gravel, mulch, or crushed limestone. You can also insert stepping stones, bricks, or pieces of wood into the soil to create pathways.
Purchase building materials to make pathways at a local hardware store, or use leftover building materials form other projects.
6. **Display statues that add a grandiose, whimsical vibe to your garden.** Look for interesting statues that match your garden theme at garden centers, flea markets, garage sales, or online. Choose statues that are attractive but also evoke a surreal, magical feeling. Position your statues where they will be seen clearly by people walking through, sitting in, or gazing upon your garden.
For instance, look for fairy statues to add intrigue to your woodland-themed garden.
7. **Add quirky pieces to your garden for visual interest.** To create a feeling of whimsy, add artistic pieces to your garden that look slightly out of place. The juxtaposition of these items in your garden will add intrigue to your garden space. Visit thrift stores and garage sales for inspiration, or search online for ideas.
For instance, salvaged window frames can serve as an interesting background for a flower bed.
An old bicycle surrounded by brightly colored flowers can add a playful look to your garden.
8. **Set up "spilled" flower pot to add a playful vibe.** Create the illusion of a knocked-over flower pot by burying a flower pot halfway into the soil in your garden. Plant the flowers of your choice halfway inside the pot and an equal distance outside of its opening. Water the flowers weekly, or more if needed, making sure to care for the flowers inside the pot as well as those outside of it.
This is an excellent way to make use of a cracked or broken flower pot.
Loosen the soil with a gardening fork before inserting the pot and planting the flowers.
9. **Tie vintage teacups to a tree branch to make a hanging display.** Evoke the feeling of a fancy tea party by using colorful old teacups to decorate a tree in your garden. Use twine to tie the cups to a sturdy tree branch at varying lengths. To ensure that the flatware is securely attached, wrap the twine around the tree branch twice for each cup, and tie it with double-knots.
10. **Plant tall and large blooms to create dramatic garden displays.** Combine different large flowers in your garden to make a striking visual statement. The impressive size of the blooms will create a whimsical, larger-than-life look. Shop at local garden centers or online for flowers such as:
Alliums, flowers with long stems and bright, ball-shaped blooms
Peonies, flowers with large, fluffy blooms and lush foliage
Hydrangeas, blooms with immense flower heads
Oriental lillies, tall flowers with ornate blooms
Hollyhock, flowers with long spires of blooms
11. **Choose a variety of flowers in the same color to match your theme.** Planting multiple flowers of the same shade will create a blanket of color sprawling across your garden. Choose flowers of different shapes and sizes to give the combination more impact. Plant groupings like:
A yellow flower display with sunflowers, daffodils, yarrow flowers, yellow tulips and witch hazel.
A white flower combination with gardenias, orchids, lilies of the valley, spireas, and anemones.
A purple flower mix with hyacinths, hydrangeas, clematis, freesias, and pansies.
A red flower display with roses, long-stemmed ginger, ranunculus, camellias, and gloriosa lilies.
12. **Include unusual flowers to add a surreal look to your garden.** Uncommon species of flowers will look more whimsical than recognizable blooms like roses or daisies. Look online for unique flowers, since local garden centers are less likely to carry unusual options. Be sure that the flowers will survive and bloom in your climate zone, as many exotic species originate in warm countries. Some examples of odd flowers include:
Lady’s Slipper Orchid, which has a bloom that looks like a shoe.
Dragon Flower, which resembles a dragon's head and is said to have magic powers in some cultures.
Torch Ginger, a bright red flower with waxy petals.
Sea Holly, which has metallic blue blooms and feathery petals.
Round-leaved Sundew, which has sticky hairs instead of petals.
Snake’s Head Fritillary, which has checkered purple petals that resemble snakeskin.
13. **Hang wind chimes to add music to your garden.** Buy or make wind chimes to hang throughout your whimsical garden. Experiment with different bases, chimes, and suspension lines, which will create different sounds depending on the materials you choose. Try building wind chimes with items like:
Old silverware
Seashells
Glass beads
Old bed springs
Fishing lures
14. **Use feeding stations to attract birds to your garden.** Place bird feeders in garden trees or near your windows to attract different kinds of birds to your yard. To attract hummingbirds, set up special hummingbird feeders, which usually hold "hummingbird food," a special sugar solution that is appealing to them. Place feeders higher than any adjacent surface that cats or other predators can reach so they will be safe while eating.
Bird feeders should be placed either right next to a window or further than 30 feet (9.1 m) from a window to keep them from flying into the glass when taking off after eating.
Bird baths are a great way to attract birds. Refill the water every few days to keep it clean and free of bugs.
15. **Add an ambient glow to your garden with solar lights.** Make your garden come alive by adding solar lights to different spots. To light flower beds, add multiple small solar light stakes instead of one large one to disperse the glow. Focus larger lights to the sides of your garden instead of a central point, which may create a glare and take away from the rest of the area.
Purchase outdoor solar lighting at garden stores, hardware stores, or online.
Avoid using spotlights in your garden, which can be overwhelming and make your garden look washed out.
16. **Include a fish pond or water fountain for a dynamic addition.** A water feature can be a focal point as well as a fun addition to your yard. Build a fish pond with a water pump and drain to maintain clean water. You can also add a water fountain to your garden for a whimsical feel.
To ensure your safety, it is best to enlist the help of an electrical contractor to install the electrical connections required for a water pump. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Whimsical-Garden", "language": "en"} |
How to Tie a Windsor Knot | If you’re putting the finishing touches on a formal outfit, tying your necktie into a Windsor knot will make you look super stylish. A full Windsor, or double Windsor, has a large triangular knot that’s the perfect addition to a wide-collared shirt. Even if you’ve never tied a tie before, a Windsor knot is pretty easy and will only take a few minutes. Keep reading and we’ll help you through the steps for tying your tie so it looks clean and professional.
1. **Leave the wide end longer than the narrow end.** Drape your tie so the wide end hangs over your right shoulder. Adjust the length of the tie so the narrower end sits just above your ribcage and the wide end is by your belly button.
If you’re left-handed, start with the wide end over your left shoulder instead.
Be sure to coordinate your tie with the color or pattern of your outfit so you can look your best.
2. **Crossing the ends forms a loop around your neck.** Hold the narrow end of the tie in place with your left hand. Try to keep the point where your tie overlaps close to your collar so the knot stays tight. The wide end is now on your left side and the narrow end is on your right.
Leave a little bit of slack when you first tie your tie, or else it might get too tight and make it difficult to breathe or swallow.
3. **Looping the tie through forms one half of the Windsor knot.** Pull the wide end up through the bottom of the neck loop right where the tie overlaps at your collar. Drape the wide end back down over the top of the neck loop to form one side of the knot. The wide end will be right-side up.
Practice tying your tie in front of a mirror since it’ll be a lot easier to see what you’re doing.
4. **Wrapping the tie around the knot makes it more secure.** Take the wide on the left side of your chest, and bring it behind the knot in the center. Use your left hand to hold the tie against the back of the knot so it stays in place. The wide end should be upside-down on your right side and underneath the knot and narrow end.
Make sure you pull the tie as tight as you comfortably can so the knot looks clean when you’re done.
5. **Feeding the tie through the neck loop finishes the base of the knot.** Pull the wide end over the right side of the neck loop and feed it through the top. Pull the wide end down through the neck loop so it’s upside-down and on your right side when you’re finished. The knot near your collar now has a symmetrical cone shape on each side.
If the shapes are not symmetrical, undo your tie and try starting over so your knot doesn’t look messy.
6. **Smooth out your tie to give the front of the knot a clean, classy look.** Bring the wide end from right to left across the front of the knot. Pull your tie tight so the knot doesn’t have any wrinkles or creases. Hold the tie in place with your left hand so it doesn’t get loose.
Straighten out your tie so it lays flat and doesn’t hang backward or crooked when you finish tying it.
7. **Pulling the tie through the neck loop again secures the knot in place.** Fold the wide end up through the bottom of the neck loop on the left side of your body. Pull your tie completely through the neck loop.
Tilt your head up to make it easier to work with your tie.
8. **Pulling the tie through the knot lets you tighten and resize it.** Grab the wide end of the tie and make sure it’s facing right-side up. Push the wind end through the space between the knot and part of the tie wrapped around the front of it. Hold the narrow end with one hand and pull the knot up toward your collar until it’s comfortable to tighten and adjust the length.
Fit your tie so the wide end reaches your waistband when you’re finished tying a Windsor knot. If the tie is too short, undo your tie and shorten the narrow end before trying again. If your tie was too long, shorten the wide end. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Tie-a-Windsor-Knot", "language": "en"} |
How to Use Meditation Balls | Meditation balls, or Baoding balls, are basically ancient Chinese stress balls. They’re often used for putting pressure on the chi points in your hand, but they’ll also provide you with a calming hand and wrist exercise. Once you have two balls that fit your hand size, use your fingers to circle them around your palm. It takes practice to get the balls to spin without clanging into one another, but once you do you’ll feel relaxed and ready to take on advanced exercises.
1. **Hold the balls away from you.** Notice how heavy the balls feel in your hand. It wouldn’t feel very good to drop one of them on your foot. To prevent accidents, sit at a table or keep your hand away from your body. Don’t use the balls over glass or any other breakable objects you have, either.
2. **Place the balls in your hand.** Hold your hand flat. Place one ball between your pinky and ring fingers. Follow up by setting the second ball between your middle and pointer fingers. Go ahead and curl your fingers over the tops of the balls. When you’re starting out, you’ll need to rely on your finger strength to get the balls moving.
3. **Rotate the balls clockwise with your fingers.** The goal is to have the balls swap places. Use your thumb to push the outermost ball towards your body. At the same time, use your smaller fingers to shift the other ball to your larger fingers. Continue swirling the balls in your hand as long as you can.
4. **Practice rotating the balls until you can do it smoothly.** As you master the movement, the balls will collide with each other less and less. If yours have chimes, listen for them to ring smoothly and without interruption. Once this happens, you’ve successfully mastered the basics. Feel free to continue practicing so the balls don’t touch at all.
5. **Pick balls that fit your hands.** As a beginner, look for balls around 40 millimetres (1.6 in) wide. This size, which is slightly less than a golf ball, is enough for the balls to hit all pressure points on an average hand. Balls smaller than this are better for children or adults under 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m), while larger balls are better for experienced users and people over 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m).
Ball sizes are usually measured in millimeters. Try 35-40 mm if you have small hands or are a beginner; if you have bigger hands, try a 40-50mm pair.
You should be able to comfortably balance one ball between ring finger and little finger while holding the other with the remaining fingers and thumb.
6. **Choose the type of ball material you prefer.** Meditation balls are made of material ranging from wood to metal. Metal balls are heaviest, so they’ll stimulate your hands more, but are generally the cheapest option. Stone balls, such as ones made with jade or marble, are rarer and more expensive.
Hardwood balls are the rarest type and are very light, so they’re not used as often as other varieties.
7. **Get balls with chimes for greater sound feedback.** Balls that have chimes are hollowed out. A hollowed steel ball is far lighter than a whole one, but this allows the chime to make noise when the ball is moved. Some practitioners like the soothing sound that chimes provide. As a beginner, the chimes let you hear how smoothly you’re moving the balls in your hand.
For example, a smooth and even chime sound informs you that your movements are fluid. In normal balls, you can hear this when the balls no longer clack together.
8. **Spin the balls with minimal finger contact.** As you get accustomed to using the meditation balls, you’ll gain better control of your muscles. Instead of using your fingers, set the balls in your palm and try moving them. Raise one side of your palm and lower the other so the balls start rolling. It’s difficult, but the amount of strength and concentration you learn is a nice reward.
Remember that you’re providing empty space for the ball to roll into rather than pushing it into that space.
9. **Turn your palm downwards while rotating the balls.** The angle you hold your hand can make using the balls a lot harder. Normally you’d have your hand flat, but try inclining it upwards. The more your hand faces the ground, the more you’ll have to work your muscles to control the balls. Keep going until you’re ready to try controlling the balls while your palm faces the floor.
This exercise is for building more strength and quickness in your fingers.
10. **Move the balls in the opposite direction.** Instead of sending the balls in the direction of your thumb, send them towards your smaller fingers. Rotate the balls in your hand as you would normally. It’s a basic trick, but it’ll feel strange and difficult the first time you try it. You’ll still get full hand stimulation by the balls while also increasing your ability to control them.
11. **Add more balls to the rotation.** Start with a third ball, then, once you master that, add a fourth. You’ll spin them in your hand the same way you did with two. It’s similar to juggling in that the difficulty increases with more balls, but so does your skill level.
Once you can handle three balls, you can even set a fourth ball on top of them and keep it spinning.
12. **Move onto bigger balls.** Bigger meditation balls are tougher to handle. They’ll press on your hands more, which some practitioners might prefer. It can also be worthwhile when you’ve mastered the meditation balls you own and would like a new challenge. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Meditation-Balls", "language": "en"} |
Handwriting Analysis: What Your Handwriting Says About You | What can your handwriting tell you about your personality and outlook on life? Graphologists would argue it can tell you quite a bit! Even though you might've been taught to write your letters in a certain way in school, people tend to deviate from that teaching as they get older. Graphology studies how those deviations could be the expression of specific personality traits. Read on to learn what characteristics to look at and what graphology tells you those characteristics mean. If you want to test it on yourself, write out a few sentences on blank, unlined paper so you can analyze as you go.
1. **The roundness of someone's letters shows their openness.** The more loops and open circles in someone's writing, the more relaxed and open they are. In contrast, people who write with straight lines rather than a lot of loops tend to be tenser. The lower-case "L" is a good place to look for this, as well as letters that drop below the baseline (such as "y," "j," and "g").
Rounded letters might also signify someone who's more artistic and creative, while pointy letters indicate someone who's more rational and aggressive.
More rounded letters are also seen as more feminine, while strong lines and sharp angles are seen as masculine.
2. **The location of the i-dot tells you how visionary someone is.** Generally, the further away from the stem a person dots their i's, the more imaginative and creative they're seen to be. This makes sense if you recall that the top of the page represents dreams and goals. An i-dot closer to the stem means the writer is organized and pays attention to detail.
If the i-dot is more of a slash than a dot, it could mean that the person was writing quickly or that they're a pretty rushed and impatient person in general.
Is the i-dot a round, open bubble? The writer has a childlike curiosity about the world and is likely very bubbly and creative.
3. **The position of the T-bar on the stem indicates the writer's self-esteem.** If the person crosses their lowercase T's high on the stem (above the tops of other letters), they have very high self-esteem. If it's crossed very low, that could indicate that they fear failure and resist change.
T-bars consistently crossed in the middle, just above the tops of the other lowercase letters, signal a practical and generally successful person.
Someone who's a dreamer might cross their T's completely off the stem. Their goals might not be grounded in reality and they might be prone to flights of fancy.
4. **The size of a writer's letters shows how they fit in with their environment.** Graphologists divide a line of writing into 3 zones— the upper, middle, and lower zones. To look at the size of someone's writing, focus mainly on the middle zone, where the majority of lower-case letters are located. Relatively large letters might indicate that someone demands attention, while smaller letters are typically written by someone who is modest and unassuming.
Small handwriting can also indicate someone with strong focus and concentration who tends to work on one thing at a time rather than multi-tasking.
5. **The slant of a person's letters tells you their emotional direction.** If the letters themselves angle back to the left, the person is likely defensive and fearful of the future. If the letters angle forward to the right, on the other hand, the person tends to be very expressive, intense, and impulsive. People who write their letters straight up and down value rationality over emotion and tend to be fairly independent.
How much the letters are slanted also gives you a clue into how far in that direction the person leans—so an extreme right slant could indicate a complete lack of self-control.
6. **The space between letters shows the writer's need for personal space.** Someone who writes with plenty of space between each letter typically doesn't like to be crowded and needs a lot of personal space. If their letters are closer together or even overlapping, it indicates they prefer to be around people and get lonely easy.
People whose letters are crowded close together might also have a hard time giving others the personal space they need.
7. **The space between words relates to how sociable someone is.** A writer who leaves a wider space between their words usually avoids a crowd and is pretty introverted. In contrast, someone who writes their words close together probably enjoys crowds and is more extroverted and outgoing.
Some graphologists interpret a narrow space between words to indicate the writer has a tendency to pry into others' personal lives or ask intrusive questions.
8. **How someone spaces their lines shows how they react in relationships.** Someone who leaves wide, even spaces between their lines tends to have clear, organized thinking and a good sense of boundaries. Narrow spacing between lines that causes letters to overlap, on the other hand, shows a person who might be overly familiar with others and have trouble with personal boundaries.
Narrow-based lines can also indicate a tendency toward knee-jerk reactions, while someone with wide-spaced lines is more likely to hold back until they've cooled off.
9. **The slope of the lines gives insight into the writer's outlook on life.** A person whose writing slopes upward from the left is generally optimistic, while someone whose writing slopes downward is considered more pessimistic. If their writing is generally level, they tend to be a pretty balanced person.
The baseline slope is usually more of an indicator of the person's mood while they were writing, rather than their overall personality.
If you want to analyze a person's overall personality, get several different samples from different days and times.
10. **Pen pressure tells you how much physical and emotional energy the writer exerts.** People who write with heavy pressure tend to have strong vitality and intense emotions. Those who write with very light pressure, on the other hand, are more passive or sedentary and likely avoid confrontation. Most people write with medium pressure, indicating more of a balance.
Someone who writes with heavy pressure usually also writes pretty slowly, while people who write with light pressure are often writing very quickly.
As with the baseline slope, you need several handwriting samples to interpret the writer's personality as a whole. Otherwise, this just reflects how they're feeling in the moment.
11. **The space a person uses to write corresponds to their orientation in time.** Writing far to the left indicates a person who stays rooted in the past, while writing all the way to the right edge tells you the person is eager and impatient to do new things. Writing close to the top of the page means a person is an imaginative dreamer, while writing all the way to the bottom tells you they're very grounded and practical.
Some graphologists interpret the writing of a person who leaves little to no margins all the way around to mean that person is insecure.
Those who leave a very even margin around all sides of their writing are thought to be balanced and self-disciplined people. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-Handwriting-(Graphology)", "language": "en"} |
How to Protect a Marble Countertop | Marble countertops can elevate the overall feel of your kitchen by adding a sense of class and beauty. However, it’s easy to permanently damage marble, and tricky to it keep looking good if you aren’t sure how to protect it. To protect your marble countertop, choose and test a sealer, apply your chosen sealer, and keep the countertop clean.
1. **Buy an acid-resistant impregnator sealer.** There are many different counter sealers out there to choose from. However, depending on the ingredients, some will be effective and others may cause damage. Read the label carefully and make sure to go with a sealer that is an acid-resistant impregnator. Stay away from the following:
Citrus ingredients
Surface sealers
Linseed oil
2. **Test the marble with water or mineral oil.** Sealing your countertop is probably the best way to protect it, but before sealing it, you should make sure it needs to be sealed. Put a few drops of mineral oil or water on your counter and leave it for a few minutes (4 minutes for the water and 10 for the mineral oil). Wipe up the liquid. If a dark spot or stain is left behind, then it’s time to seal your countertop.
Don’t worry about the water or mineral oil leaving a spot behind; the liquid should evaporate within a half hour.
3. **Clean the countertop with soap and water.** Once you’ve determined that your countertop needs to be sealed, give it a good cleaning. Clean the countertop using a clean, soft cloth, a mild soap, and warm water. Afterwards, dry the area thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth.
Don’t clean your countertop with any harsh or acidic chemicals or products, such as bleach or lemon juice.
4. **Read the instructions on the sealer’s label.** Before applying the sealer, it’s important to read and understand the manufacturer’s directions on how to do so. Different manufacturers require using different application techniques and amounts of sealer, depending on the type of stone as well as the type of finish.
5. **Apply the sealer by spraying and rubbing it in.** Begin following the sealer’s directions. Typically, the sealer label will instruct you to spray the entirety of your countertop with the sealer and then rub it in with a clean, soft cloth.
If you’ve never sealed you countertop before with the product you’re using, consider treating a small area and checking it 24 hours later to make sure it had a positive effect on your countertop.
If your countertop has a large surface area, you may want to treat small sections one at a time.
6. **Wait 5 minutes and remove any excess sealer.** Unless otherwise instructed, let the sealer soak in for about 5 minutes and then get a clean microfiber cloth to use to wipe up any excess.
If you happened to apply the perfect amount of sealer, then there may not be any left for you to remove. If this is the case, do a quick counter wipe with the microfiber cloth anyway.
7. **Apply a second coat after 15 minutes.** It’s common and often beneficial to do more than one coat when applying sealer, mostly because multiple coats ensure full coverage. Make sure to wait at least 15 minutes so that the first coat can completely soak in, and then apply additional coats as needed and/or specified in your sealer’s directions.
8. **Seal your countertop once a month.** In order to provide the best possible protection for your countertop, you’ll need to repeat this process about once a month. Your marble countertop can stain easily and quickly, but with a strong sealer always on it, you’ll have a little more time to clean up any spills and prevent staining or etching.
9. **Wipe up spills immediately.** If you want to keep your marble countertop in pristine condition, it’s vital that you wipe up any spills as soon as they happen. Marble is especially sensitive to acidic substances such as coffee, soda, fruit juices, and many common cleaning products. As soon as a liquid comes in contact with your counter, wipe it up with a paper towel, sponge, or soft cloth.
Keep a hand towel nearby to ensure quick clean up.
10. **Remove stains right away.** If you wipe up a spill and it has already created a stain, remove the stain right then and there. Different kinds of stains require different removal techniques. Make sure you remove the stain quickly and properly.
Remove an oil-based stain with a soft liquid cleanser, liquid detergent, ammonia, or mineral spirits.
Remove an organic stain with a mixture of 12% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia.
Remove water stains with dry steel wool.
11. **Use cutting boards, coasters, placemats, and trivets.** All of these items create a barrier between your countertop and potentially damaging substances. This will prevent etches, scratches, and burn marks from permanently scarring your marble countertop.
12. **Apply a poultice to your countertop.** If your marble countertop is looking especially dirty, dull, or stained, it might be best to apply a paste-like cleaning agent, such as baking soda, to your entire countertop. Mix the paste and slather it onto the counter evenly with a spatula so that it’s ¼ to ½ inch (0.64-1.27cm) thick. Cover it with plastic wrap and tape down the edges with painter’s tape. Remove the plastic after 24-48 hours, let the paste dry out, and then remove it with a wooden or plastic scraper. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-a-Marble-Countertop", "language": "en"} |
How to Treat and Prevent a Common Cold | The common cold is a highly contagious virus that infects your nose and throat. Colds are very common, especially in children. You can expect a child to get a cold six to 10 times a year if in daycare or school; adults typically get a cold two to four times a year. Although it is usually not too harmful, with symptoms that include a runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes, mild headache, low-grade fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, congestion, and cough, it may not feel like so. Though there is no cure for the common cold (it is not treatable with antibiotics) and most people will recover in approximately a week or two. Through self-care measures, including getting rest and drinking plenty of fluids, you may feel more comfortable as your body fights off the infection.
1. **Drink plenty of fluids.** Staying hydrated can help replace fluids you lose producing mucus or from a fever. Ensuring you consume enough liquids may help you feel better and get over the cold more quickly.
You can drink water, juice, clear broth, or even clear, non-caffeinated soft drinks.
Avoid coffee or caffeinated teas and soft drinks because they can cause dehydration and exacerbate your symptoms.
2. **Eat chicken soup.** Recent studies have shown that the long-time home remedy of chicken soup can decrease inflammation and reduce symptoms, congestion in particular. If you don't like chicken, you can always make a vegetable soup instead! Eating chicken soup as you can may minimize your symptoms and help you get over your cold more quickly.
Chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties and also temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, which in turn relieves congestion.
You don’t have to make your own chicken soup to get the benefits — store-bought, canned soup works just as well.
3. **Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine.** Alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco products can exaggerate the symptoms of a cold. Avoiding these products while you are sick may make you feel better and reduce the duration of your symptoms.
4. **Gargle with a saltwater solution.** Rinsing with a simple solution of saltwater can keep help relieve a sore and scratchy throat. Although the benefits are temporary, you can use this remedy as often as you need it to help yourself feel better.
Make a salt solution by dissolving 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of salt in 4 – 8 oz of warm water.
Gargle the solution for around 30 seconds, being careful not to swallow.
It may hurt at first, but don't stop! You will feel much better afterward.
5. **Soothe with throat lozenges or sprays.** Throat lozenges or sprays containing mild analgesics can help soothe a sore throat. Products that have eucalyptus or camphor may also help to relieve congestion.
Suck on throat lozenges or use sprays every two to three hours, or according to the package or your doctor’s directions.
Suck on the throat lozenge until it is completely gone. Don't try to chew it or swallow it whole, which can numb your throat and cause swallowing difficulties.
You can buy throat lozenges and sprays at most pharmacies and some grocery stores and larger retailers.
6. **Use saline nasal spray.** Nasal congestion is one of the peskiest symptoms of a cold. A saline nasal spray can help relieve congestion by loosening mucus. It is safe to use on children and can generally be used as frequently as you wish.
You can get saline nasal drops over-the-counter at most pharmacies or large retailers. Make sure to follow the packing instructions or those of your doctor.
For some infants, doctors recommend using a few drops in your baby’s nose and then suctioning each nostril.
7. **Relieve pain with over-the-counter (OTC) medication.** You may have body aches and a headache with a cold. Consider taking an OTC medication (decongestants, nasal sprays, or antihistamines) to relieve pain and discomfort from a cold. It is important to take with care as directed on the package and remember that these are for temporary use.
Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium to minimize pain.
Do not give children or teenagers aspirin, which is associated with Reye’s syndrome.
Check with your healthcare provider before giving an infant or child any medication.
8. **Rest as much as possible.** Getting enough rest can help relieve your symptoms. If possible, stay home from work or school, especially if you have a fever or have taken medications that make you drowsy. Staying home from work or school can also prevent you from infecting other people with a cold.
Take naps during the day if you can and make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep a night to help your body recover.
9. **Create a comfortable sleeping environment.** Sleep in a bedroom that is comfortable, warm, and slightly humid. By controlling factors such as the temperature and humidity, having comfortable bedding, and keeping air circulating, you may help relieve the symptoms of a cold.
Set temperature in bedroom to between 70 to 75°F (21 to 23.9°C), which can keep you warm and help you sleep.
Use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer to moisten the air, which can help relieve congestion and coughing. Make sure to clean the humidifier to prevent mold or bacteria growth.
Breathing in steam from running a hot shower in a closed bathroom can help ease congestion.
Use a fan to keep air circulating or open a window if it is not cold outside.
10. **Consider alternative medicine remedies.** Many people rely on alternative medicine to prevent and relieve colds; however, studies have had mixed results regarding the effectiveness of vitamin C, Echinacea, or zinc as cold remedies. Use these remedies if you feel they work for you and make you feel better.
There is limited evidence that taking Vitamin C at the onset of cold symptoms may reduce the duration of your symptoms.
Some studies have shown that taking echinacea at the onset of a cold can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
As with vitamin C and echinacea, studies on zinc have shown that it can reduce symptoms such as nausea and a bad taste in the mouth if taken within 24 hours after the onset of your cold.
Do not use intranasal zinc, which can cause permanent damage to your sense of smell.
11. **See your doctor.** A cold will usually resolve on its own and does not require a visit to the doctor. There are, however, some circumstances in which you should see your doctor. These include:
If there is no improvement of your cold symptoms after 10 days.
If you have a sore throat and a fever with no cold symptoms, you may have strep throat, a bacterial infection that requires an antibiotic.
If you experience any of the following symptoms: high fever (over 101.3°F or 38.5°C for adults), severe or worsening symptoms, severe headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing. These symptoms indicate you may be developing or have a secondary infection such as pneumonia, sinusitis, or ear infection.
Any infant three months old or younger who develops a cold or fever should always be seen by a healthcare professional.
12. **Recognize that there is no cure.** Although there is no cure for the common cold, there are effective ways to help prevent it. Employing basic measures such as handwashing, cleaning surfaces, and covering your mouth can help minimize your risk of contracting it.
Unlike the flu, there is no vaccine for the common cold.
Antibiotics will not be effective in treating a cold, as a cold is caused by a virus and antibiotics treat bacterial infections.
13. **Wash hands often and thoroughly.** One of the most effective ways to prevent a cold is by proper hand-washing techniques. This minimizes the spread of bacteria and the flu virus from surfaces that many people touch.
Wash your hands in warm water with a mild soap for at least 20 seconds.
Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Make sure to wash your hands after touching anything in crowded places, such as handles on public transportation.
14. **Cover your nose and mouth with tissues.** Always cover both your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow to avoid contaminating your hands.
Make sure to discard the tissue right away and then wash your hands.
Covering your nose and mouth minimizes the risk of spreading your cold to those around you.
Encourage others to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
15. **Avoid crowded spaces as much as possible.** Colds are very contagious, especially for children, and spreads most easily in places where there are large crowds of people. Minimizing time in crowded spaces may reduce your risk of getting a cold.
Avoid contact with infected individuals. Do not share utensils and other personal objects with someone who has a cold.
If you have a cold, stay home to reduce the risk of spreading it to others.
16. **Disinfect surfaces and spaces.** Germs spread easily in shared spaces such as bathrooms or on kitchen surfaces. Cleaning and disinfecting these spaces frequently may help prevent spreading the cold to other members of your family or your friends and colleagues.
Focus on spaces that everyone in your vicinity uses. This includes the toilet, bathroom sink, kitchen counters, and kitchen sink. You may also want to disinfect door handles.
You can use any type of surface disinfectant available commercially. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-and-Prevent-a-Common-Cold", "language": "en"} |
How to Use an Ab Roller | Ab rollers are super easy to use and can be surprisingly effective. If you stick to a routine, your ab roller will help strengthen your abdominal muscles and gradually improve flexibility. So what are you waiting for? All you need is a comfortable, flat surface to get started.
1. **Start on your hands and knees.** Make sure that there is a length of smooth, unobstructed floor space before you that is at least equal to your height. Range of motion should be limited in the beginning, but you still need clear space.
For proper technique, start on the floor on your hands and knees. Use an exercise mat under your knees for comfort. Grip the ab roller with both hands, and prepare to roll.
2. **Roll forward and contract your abs.** Hold the bars on either side of the wheel, and move forward from your core. Roll your hands, arms, and torso forward until just before you feel like you can no longer pull yourself back up. Keep your abs tight, the hips stable, and the lower back muscles contracted.
Hold your form tight. Try not to let your bottom sag toward the ground. Do not let your back arch. Keep your head down, facing forward.
3. **Hold the position for 2 to 3 seconds.** The longer you hold the extended or "rolled out" pose, the more intensively you will target your abs. Begin with a few slow repetitions.
4. **Return to the starting position.** After a few seconds, use your core muscles to roll the ab roller back toward your knees. Slowly pull yourself back, keeping the same careful pace the whole time. As you "roll in," perform the mirror opposite of the "roll out" move that you used to stretch yourself out. Once you're back, you have completed one "rep" of a standard ab roller workout.
Make sure that you are using your abs to pull yourself back. You may also use your arms, your shoulders, and your lats. Try not to use your hips.
Keep in mind that can tear your connective tissues in the shoulder and may even dislocate the shoulder if done improperly, so proceed gradually and with caution. If you experience any shoulder pain, reduce your range of motion and build up gradually.
5. **Be aware of your form.** Keep your arms and back straight. Focus your attention on your abdominal muscles. The harder you flex your abs here, the stronger they will become.
Do not let your knees or your bottom sag toward the ground at any point. Imagine that there is a long, flat plank on your back, from your head to your tailbone. Try to conform your body position as truly as possible to this imaginary level.
6. **Roll slowly.** Unfold and contract your body gradually and carefully as you move through the exercise. Keep your arms even and straight so that the wheel doesn't spin out of control. Try to maintain the same slow, measured speed throughout the entirety of each rep. You'll get a better workout if you take it slowly.
7. **Try rolling into a wall.** This technique may help you maintain a measured workout pace without injuring yourself. To start, position yourself three feet away from a wall. Then, perform the ab roll as normal until your ab roller makes contact with the wall. This is your "touch point" – your signal that you have gone far enough on this rep. Roll back up to your hands and knees for the next rep.
It is especially important to roll slowly if you're going to be rolling toward a wall. Use this as a focusing point, to be more aware of the cadence of your roll.
As you get stronger you can increase your distance from the wall.
8. **Begin with one set of three to eight repetitions.** Build the ab roller into your weekly routine. For a basic regimen, aim to do a set three days of each week for five weeks. If you want faster results, then it is advisable to combine ab roller workouts with other abdominal workouts.
Stick to the sweet spot of three to eight reps per set to start, and progress up to three sets of 10 reps only once you have mastered your form and built strength.
9. **Do the exercise on your knees.** Some amateur exercise enthusiasts suggest using ab rollers in a standing position, but most people, especially beginners, do not have have muscle control for such. Always perform this exercise on your knees to make the most of the motion and to keep yourself safe.
10. **Hold for longer for a more challenging workout.** The standard rep calls for you to hold the fully-extended, "rolled-out" pose for 2-3 seconds before you roll back to your starting position. Experiment with holding the pose for longer – almost like the plank pose. Do not overextend yourself, though. Losing strength or reaching a failure point while extended could cause you to tear muscles and tendons, and may lead to permanent injury. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Use-an-Ab-Roller", "language": "en"} |
How to Register a Company in India | With a population of more than one billion and still growing, India offers companies a large, built-in and dynamic potential market to explore. If you are interested in conducting business in this market, you need to establish your company's legal presence in India by registering your business and filing the appropriate forms with the proper Indian authorities.
1. **Acquaint yourself with India and its culture.** Before you register your company in India, it's a good idea to acquaint yourself with some basic facts about the country, its population and business practices if you aren't familiar with the country or haven't visited.
If you're not familiar with the general landscape in India, from information on its society and customs to business practices, getting to know the landscape will smooth the process of registering and conducting your business in the country.
Companies in the United States, for example, often conduct business on the basis of transactions, while Indian business is still largely relationship-based. Knowing the right network of people is likely to further your business more than focusing on specific transactions.
Knowing cultural differences is important, too. For example, cows are considered holy animals in India. Thus, if you're interested in selling beef in India, you would want to know if and where this type of business is possible.
2. **Acquaint yourself with the Indian business authorities if you have little or no information about them.** All companies in India fall under the Companies Act of 1956, which allows the government to regulate all aspects of a business from its establishment to liquidation.
To register your company, you will file your completed application online with the Indian government's Registrar of Companies, or RoC. The RoC, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, oversees the incorporation of new companies and the administration of businesses under the statutory regulations of the Companies Act.
3. **Choose possible names for your company.** To register a company in India, you must first have a unique company name approved by the RoC.
It's a good idea to have at least four potential names for your company in case some other entity registered under that name with the RoC.
By performing due diligence on the language and culture if you're not familiar with either, you can avoid choosing names that might offend possible Indian clients or be rejected by Indian authorities.
For instance, you may not use a name that implies any connection to government or international organizations.
Consider customizing the name to the Indian market to attract more clients.
4. **Check online to see if your choice of company name is available.** Before you file your application to register your company, it's a good idea to have your company names firmly in place to ensure the registration process isn't hindered.
The Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs maintains a website where you can check whether other companies registered under a certain name.
5. **Apply online with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for the DIN (Director Identification Number).** Before you can register your company, you need to apply for a DIN. This unique number, assigned by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, identifies the current or intended director of your company in India.
The forms DIR-3 and DSC, which you can find online at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs's website, will allow you to apply for the DIN online. For both documents, you'll need information including your passport, proof of address, educational qualifications and current occupation. You also need a passport-sized photograph.
6. **Register online for a DSC (Digital Signature Certificate).** DSCs are the digital equivalent of physical or paper certificates and can be presented to prove your identity, to access information or services on the Internet or to sign certain documents digitally.
You can register for your DSC online at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs's website.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs requires that all companies have a DSC because companies will file all applications online.
You need the same identification documents to obtain a DSC that you do for the DIN, including passport and proof of address.
7. **Gather your application materials.** After you've checked company names and obtained your DIN and DSC, you're ready to prepare the company's registration application for filing online with the RoC.
All of the required forms that you will file online with your completed application you can find online as well at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website.
8. **Complete e-Form 1A.** This form governs the naming of your company.
You should list a minimum of four possible names and a maximum of six in order of preference.
9. **File eForm 1A online to apply for the company name.** The RoC will approve the company name based on availability and appropriateness.
The RoC usually takes two days to approve one of your name choices.
You will have to pay a fee of 500 rupees when filing this form.
After the RoC approves your company name, you have six months to file online for the registration of your company.
10. **Draft the Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA).** Either you or your legal counsel can draft these documents which contain information on the company's business objectives and daily operations.
The Memorandum of Association contains the company's business objectives.
The Articles of Association contain details on the company's daily operations, including its management.
Each document must be signed by at least two members of the company in their own handwriting. It is also required that one witness be present for the signatures.
11. **File online to vet the MoA and AoA by the RoC.** Once your draft these documents, you can file them online with the RoC for vetting.
12. **Print the MoA and AoA.** After the RoC approves your MoA and AoA, print the documents to prepare them to be notarized.
13. **Have the MoA and AoA notarized.** You will submit these documents to the proper stamping authority for the Indian geographic region in which you register your company.
Once you have a notarized copy, you can scan these documents and file them online with your other completed application materials.
14. **Pay the registration and filing fees online.** Paying these prescribed fees at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' website is the last step you need to complete before you can file your application for registration with the RoC.
The required fee is based on your company's capital assets.
15. **Find the corresponding RoC office to file your application.** You will file your registration application online for the Indian state in which you wish to register your business.
The RoC maintains offices across India that are responsible for specific states and regions.
16. **Gather your completed application documents.** You'll need to have the documents you prepared ready to upload to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' website to file the registration of your company with the RoC. Remember, you'll be registering your company online at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs's website.
The RoC considers a complete application to consist of the following documents, in duplicate: a stamped MoA; a stamped AoA; a copy of any agreements referred to in the articles; a copy of the letter from the RoC on the availability of the company name; the e-Form No. 1 for the incorporation of the company; and receipts of payment for the registration and filing fees.
17. **File your application one with the RoC.** Now that you've gathered all of the required application materials, you're ready to electronically file with the RoC to register your company.
You will file on the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It has a prompt for you to upload all application materials; from the DNI and DSC to the MoA, AoA, and receipts of payment for registration fees.
18. **Collect the Certificate of Incorporation.** The RoC will vet your application and issue the Certificate of Incorporation if the documents are satisfactory.
If the RoC does not find the application satisfactory, you will be informed as to what documents are missing or of any other information you need to provide on the application forms.
You can re-file your application when you've made the necessary corrections.
19. **Conduct business!** Once the RoC issues your Certificate of Incorporation, you are ready to start conducting business in India. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Register-a-Company-in-India", "language": "en"} |
How to Change Your Lifestyle | Improving your lifestyle can seem like an impossibly lofty goal. Changing everything about your life all at once is probably not realistic, but there are lots of small changes you can make to improve your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and to enjoy your life more. Start small by making one or two changes at a time. Before you know it, you'll have the lifestyle you've always wanted!
1. **Eat healthy.** You may be overwhelmed by all of the latest fad diets, but eating healthy is really not all that complicated! Try incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins (including fish, chicken, legumes, and nuts), and healthy fats (including olive oil, salmon, and avocados) into your diet. Avoid processed foods, salty foods, added sugar, and fatty foods as much as possible.
Talk to your doctor about specific dietary changes you should make based on your personal and family history.
Your diet can also affect your mental health. Fruits and vegetables are thought to increase feelings of positivity, while fats and sugars are linked to feelings of depression.
2. **Exercise.** Regular exercise is a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle. Try to include at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise (like running or dancing) into your weekly schedule. You should also incorporate periodic strength training to help tone your muscles.
In addition to improving your physical health, regular exercise can also decrease symptoms of depression.
Staying active is much easier if you find an activity that you genuinely enjoy. Try several new sports or exercise classes until you find something you really want to do.
Having an exercise buddy can also help keep you on track.
3. **Take simple steps to lose weight.** If you are overweight, there are a few really easy things you can do to lose a few pounds, which can add up to major health benefits. Try keeping healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables in your house for those times when you get the urge to munch between meals. You should also try to be aware of your motivations for eating. If you eat because you're bored or sad, try finding other ways of coping with these feelings, like going for a walk.
4. **Reduce your alcohol intake** Alcohol is fine in moderation, but too much can cause serious health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, and heart failure. Stick to no more than one serving per day if you are a woman or two if you are a man.
5. **Get enough sleep** Lack of sleep can cause you to feel tired and unproductive throughout the day, which may prevent you from feeling good and from accomplishing your goals. Try to go to bed a bit earlier so you can face the day rested and energized.
If you have trouble falling asleep, try going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Avoiding caffeine and television before bed can also help.
6. **Quit smoking** If you're a smoker, you can dramatically decrease your risk of developing several serious diseases just by quitting. One year after you quit, your risk of developing heart disease will have been cut in half.
No matter how you plan on quitting smoking, support is crucial. Find a friend to lean on during the process or join a support group.
It will be very helpful to avoid places where others smoke and to spend as much time as possible in locations where smoking is not allowed. Being away from temptation can help you get through the cravings.
7. **Get a massage.** Help yourself unwind and get rid of muscle aches by treating yourself to a massage every now and then. The muscles in the neck tend to get especially stiff!
Applying gentle pressure to the third eye and the pressure points on the feet can also do wonders for your overall health and well-being.
8. **Get checked for nutrient deficiencies.** If you're constantly feeling tired and foggy despite changes to your lifestyle, your body may not have enough of an essential nutrient, like vitamin D. Getting tested involves a simple blood test. If you are found to have a vitamin D deficiency, you can improve your symptoms by increasing your sun exposure or taking supplements.
There are not a lot of clear or confirmed studies about the benefits of nutrient replacement, so it may not work for you.
Other common deficiencies that can lead to fatigue include B vitamins, magnesium, and antioxidants.
Talk to your doctor about how to increase your intake of any nutrients you are lacking. Treatment may include supplements or dietary changes.
9. **Reduce stress** Stress is incredibly bad for your mental health, so commit yourself to reduce stress however you can.
The first step to reducing stress is to pay attention to the things that trigger it. Once you understand what causes you stress, you can decide how to react to it. In some cases, you may be able to avoid your triggers by staying away from certain people or not overcommitting yourself.
If you can't avoid your triggers, consider managing your stress by incorporating yoga, tai chi, massage, or deep breathing exercises into your daily routine. Exercise, even something as simple as walking, can also help reduce stress.
10. **Let go of the past** No matter what happened in your past, dwelling on it will only decrease your quality of life in the present. If you have trouble living in the moment, try deep breathing exercises or meditation to help ground you.
This doesn't mean you should block out the past. It's important to acknowledge and learn from it, but you need to move forward.
Be sure to accept any personal responsibility you may have for whatever happened in your past. Continuing to blame others will not allow you to truly let go.
If someone hurt you in the past, it's important to forgive, even if you never reestablish a relationship with that person. If you did something bad in the past, you must forgive yourself as well.
Stay focused on the present. If negative thoughts about your past enter your mind, try reminding yourself that the past is the past and now you are focusing on the future. Saying this aloud may be helpful.
11. **Set goals** If there is something you want to achieve, it's a great idea to set goals for yourself. Just make sure they are attainable goals. You will stay much more motivated and focused on the big picture if you reward yourself for making small accomplishments along the way.
12. **Come up with a motivational mantra.** Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your life, try to stay focused on all of the positive things you want to accomplish. To stay on track, repeat a mantra to yourself, such as, "I am working to improve my life" whenever you start to feel overwhelmed with negativity.
Be sure to acknowledge all of the small improvements you make. They don't all have to be drastic changes!
You can also use a mantra when you are faced with situations over which you have no control. Try something like, "There is nothing I can do but make the best of this."
13. **Be thankful** When life has you down, try thinking about everything you have to be thankful for. It might be a loving family, a great job, or the world's best dog. Reminding yourself of these great things in your life will help keep you positive in the worst of times.
Consider making a list that you can look at when you're feeling down. You can challenge yourself to add one new item to the list every day. You might be surprised by just how much you have to be thankful for!
14. **Appreciate the wonders of the world.** Whether you're able to travel to see the world's most spectacular sites or you can just manage to see the local wonders, take some time to admire the world! Looking at awe-inspiring landscapes is a proven way to boost your mood.
If you can't get out to see any natural wonders, at least look at some pictures. This can have a similar effect.
15. **Bond with your pet** Another proven way to reduce stress and improve your mood is to pet your dog! This can even improve your physical health.
If you don't have a pet, even petting a stuffed animal can give you a serious mood boost. Or try volunteering at an animal shelter or asking a friend if you can come over and play with their pet.
16. **Smile more** The simple act of smiling can improve your own mood and those of everyone around you. Try it even when you aren't feeling particularly happy, and you might just find that all of your troubles seem less important.
17. **See a professional.** If you are struggling with a mental illness like depression, it's important to get the help you need. Diet and exercise may improve your symptoms dramatically, but you may also need to see a mental health professional or join a support group to really improve your lifestyle.
18. **Create and stick to a budget** It may not sound very enjoyable, but learning how to manage your money can make your life so much easier! Take some time to assess your income and expenses. Look for ways you can trim the fat and put some money away so you don't have to worry if an emergency comes up.
Start a savings account if you don't already have one. Setting up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account will make it much easier to stick to the habit of putting money away.
Don't deprive yourself of everything you enjoy just to save money. Instead, look for small things that you won't miss that much that end up costing you a lot of money over time. Premium television channels that you rarely watch are a great example.
19. **Stay connected with friends and family.** When life gets busy, it's easy to fall out of touch with friends and loved ones. Having strong social connections increases your sense of happiness, so it's important not to let these connections deteriorate.
Reach out to old friends and let them know you'd like to spend time together.
Try designating chunks of time for social engagement, whether it's going to a party or having lunch with a close friend.
Consider joining clubs or groups that will allow you to participate in a social activity on a regular basis. If it is incorporated into your regular schedule, it might be easier to stick to.
20. **Nurture your romantic relationships.** If you have a romantic partner, it's critical to invest time into maintaining the health of the relationship. A healthy relationship can do wonders for your emotional well-being, but an unhealthy one can have the opposite effect.
Openness is crucial to successful relationships. If you have a hard time opening up with your partner, start small by making a point of telling him or her about the things you did today and why you did them, or alternatively about how you are feeling and why. The more you practice, the more open you will naturally be in your relationship.
21. **Find a hobby** Try to develop an interest in at least one hobby, and then commit yourself to pursuing it on a regular basis. Incorporating something you love into your daily routine is a great way to increase your overall happiness.
22. **Stimulate your mind.** Keep yourself sharp and engaged by regularly challenging your brain. You can do this by reading books, doing puzzles, or even engaging in stimulating conversations. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Change-Your-Lifestyle", "language": "en"} |
How to Do the Russian Squat‐and‐Kick Dance | When you think of Russian folk dancing, you probably picture someone squatting low to the ground, arms folded, kicking their legs in front of them. This dance—which actually originated in Ukraine—is also known as the Cossack dance, Ukrainian Hopak stage dance, or Prisyadka. Mastering it takes a bit of practice, but it's probably not as hard as you think. We're here to break it down for you, so give it a shot!
1. **Balance your weight on the balls of your feet.** The prisyadka is performed from a squat, so the first thing you have to do is get comfortable balancing in this position. Bend your knees and squat down until your rear touches your feet, keeping your heels off the ground. It might help to keep your knees apart as you do this. Practice squatting like this until you can easily hold the position for several minutes.
Your heels, butt, and shoulders should all form a straight line when you're in the squat.
If it's hard to balance in this position, you can put one hand on the ground until you get used to squatting.
You can also put your feet flat on the ground at first if you need to. However, you'll need to stay on the balls of your feet for the actual dance—that will help you bounce more easily from one foot to the other.
2. **Keep your heel on the ground to make it easier.** Don't worry about kicking up just yet. Just straighten one of your legs so your foot is in front of you with your toes in the air. It might be easiest to start by kicking out your non-dominant leg so you can balance on your dominant leg at first.
If you can, try to hold your foot up in the air—but if that's too hard at first, it's fine to rest your heel on the ground.
It might take a little practice to be able to balance in this position―keep trying until it's comfortable!
3. **Bring in the leg you straightened, then kick out the other one.** This can be a little challenging—it takes a lot of leg strength. It's okay to start slowly if you need to. You can even put one or both hands on the ground beside you to help you stay balanced. Just don't lean forward or backward, since your back needs to be straight for the dance.
Work on this until you can kick out one leg and bring in the other in one fairly smooth motion.
Remember to take breaks when you need to—depending on how strong your calves are, you might need days or even weeks to build up enough strength to do the dance completely!
4. **Now it's time to put some energy into the dance.** Start by holding one leg out in front of you. As you go to bring it back in, push up slightly with the other leg before you push it out. That little bit of a bounce will make it easier to shift from leg to leg quickly, so you'll be able to add some speed as you alternate your kicks.
This can be tiring on your legs—start by trying to do it 6 times in a row, then gradually work up from there until you can keep a steady rhythm.
5. **At full speed, you should almost be running in place.** Try to hold yourself up at a steady height so your hips don't bounce up and down as you kick. That can make it easier to kick back and forth in a smooth, steady motion.
As you get stronger, try lifting your foot so it's straight in front of you, rather than leaving your heel on the ground.
6. **This is the finishing touch of the dance.** Hold your arms so one is folded on top of the other at about shoulder height. However, since you might need your arms to help you balance at first, wait to add this in until you're completely comfortable holding your body straight up and down as you alternate your kicks.
7. **Don't be afraid to improvise.** In a traditional prisyadka, dancers would often hop on one leg, spin, clap, throw their hands into the air, or even do the jump-splits. There's no right or wrong, so just have fun with it!
One popular variation of this dance is to lean back on your arms and kick one foot up in the air before pushing back up to the original position.
To really get into the spirit, try ending your dance with a hearty shout of "Hey!" | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Do-the-Russian-Squat%E2%80%90and%E2%80%90Kick-Dance", "language": "en"} |
How to Make a Baked Apple | Baked apples are a tasty treat you can make in an oven or microwave. Most recipes for baked apples recommend making 4 at a time, but you can make just 1 to satisfy your sweet tooth. First, you’ll need to cut out the apple core and stuff it with butter and spices. Then, bake the apple(s) in either the oven or the microwave.
1. **Preheat your oven to 375 °F (191 °C).** Start the oven before you prep the apples so it will be at the right temperature when your apples are ready for baking.
Move your oven rack to the lower-middle level. Your apples will bake best in this spot.
If you only want to make 1 apple, you may want to microwave it instead.
2. **Remove the core** Leave about .5 in (1.3 cm) of the bottom of the apple so the toppings won’t fall out. It’s easiest to use an apple corer or melon baller to remove the core. If you don’t have one, you can use a paring knife to cut around the circumference of the core, then use a spoon to scoop it out.
The best apples for baking include Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Jonagold.
3. **Stuff each core with 1 tbsp (14 g ) of butter and 2 tbsp (28 g) of brown sugar.** You can mix them together before you add them or stuff them in separately. They will melt together in the oven.
Add pecans and cinnamon to your core for added flavor and crunch.
As an alternative, you can mix 1/4 cup (55 g) brown sugar, 1/4 cup (21 g) rolled oats, .5 tsp (1.5 g) cinnamon, .25 tsp (1 g) nutmeg, and a pinch of ground cloves in a bowl. Then, distribute the mixture evenly into the 4 apples. Top each apple with a pat of butter.
You can also mix other toppings, such as raisins, fresh peaches, or pecans into your apple cores. Choose toppings that you find tasty!
4. **Put the apples in your baking dish and add 1 cup (240 mL) of hot water.** It's best to space the apples about .5 inches (1.3 cm) apart. The water should cover the bottom of the dish. This will keep your apples moist as they bake.
If you’re making just 1 apple, you can microwave it in a microwave-safe dish. Add about .25 cups (59 mL) of water if you’re microwaving a single apple.
As an alternative to water, you can use apple juice for more flavor.
5. **Sprinkle a layer of cinnamon over your apples, if you like.** You can also add a sprinkle of brown sugar for added sweetness. Chopped nuts and fresh fruit also make yummy toppings.
You don’t have to add toppings to your apples. The stuffing inside the core will also provide flavor and sweetness.
6. **Bake them for 30-45 minutes, until they’re browned.** You’ll know your apples are ready when you can easily pierce them with a fork. The skin should also be wrinkled.
Check them after 15 minutes to make sure they don’t overcook. If you’re cooking fewer or smaller apples, they may be ready after 15 minutes.
You can cover the apples with foil to make them cook faster. However, you can only do this if you’re using an oven, as foil will spark in the microwave.
7. **Microwave them for 4 minutes on high heat for a quick alternative.** The apples' skin should be wrinkly. Check that the apples are tender by piercing them with a fork. If the fork goes through cleanly, the your apples are ready.
If your apples are not tender, you can microwave them for longer in 30 second intervals.
8. **Remove your apples from the oven or microwave.** Use a towel or oven mitt to protect your skin from burns. Place the dish on a towel, cooling rack, or the stove top to allow it to cool.
Be very careful when handling the hot dish.
9. **Let your apples cool for a few minutes.** The apples will be very hot when you first take them out of the oven. Don’t taste or touch the apples until they’ve cooled.
10. **Slice the apples to make them easier to serve.** Turn a cooled apple onto its side, then use a sharp knife to cut the apple into several slices. Each slice should have stuffing in its core.
You don’t have to slice the apples, but it’s easier to eat them sliced. As an alternative, you can chop up the apples or use a spoon to scoop out bites.
You can top your apples with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream for a yummy treat! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Baked-Apple", "language": "en"} |
How to Expunge an Arrest | A criminal record can cause you difficulty, whether you’re trying to get a new job or rent a new apartment. This can be even more frustrating if the only blemish on your record is an arrest that didn’t lead to conviction. In all but five states, you can get that arrest expunged from your record, which means the arrest is erased or eliminated from your record. In many states, you can have an arrest expunged even if you were convicted of a crime, provided you’ve met all the qualifications.
1. **Determine what options for expungement are available in your state.** Not all states allow criminal records to be expunged, and those that do may only allow it in specific instances.
You must follow the expungement rules and procedures of the state where you were arrested, even if you are a resident of another state.
Some states allow for “sealing” rather than “expungement” specifically. If a criminal record is sealed, it’s hidden from the general public but still exists on your record as a whole. Sealed records can be unsealed in some instances. Expungement removes the record entirely, and cannot be undone.
2. **Find out what crimes are covered.** Some states such as Colorado allow expungement of many types of crimes, while others such as Wyoming prohibit any expungement at all.
Generally, it is quicker and easier to get an arrest record expunged if the charges were dismissed and you were not convicted of a crime.
Many states do not allow expungement of a conviction for a sexual offense, and do not allow expungement at all for registered sex offenders.
In most states, expungement is available only for first-time misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. An arrest for a serious, violent felony often cannot be expunged even if your arrest did not lead to conviction.
3. **Review the elements of expungement.** Although expungement laws differ and there's no universal process, getting an expungement can help you accomplish things you might have found difficult with an arrest on your record.
Most states allow you to deny you were ever arrested or charged with a crime if you're asked on a basic job or school application.
If you apply to rent an apartment, the arrest won't show up, which means landlords will be more likely to rent to you and might charge you less of a security deposit.
If a single arrest is your only brush with the law, expungement of that arrest gives you a blemish-free criminal record for most purposes.
4. **Decide whether you would benefit from expungement.** Depending on your goals for getting an expungement, the process may be more trouble than it’s worth.
For example, in California, an expungement does not remove the conviction from your criminal history, seal the court case file, reinstate your right to possess firearms, allow you to omit the conviction from some employment applications, or allow you to run for public office.
Before you begin the process of requesting expungement, make sure that in your state you can use expungement to get the benefit you seek. For example, suppose you were convicted of theft. If you want to be able to answer “no” when a potential employer asks if you’ve ever been convicted of a crime, it may not be worth it to you if your state doesn’t allow you to deny an expunged conviction.
Forty states allow expungement of arrests that didn’t lead to conviction, but 11 of those states don’t permit you to deny the arrest if asked on an employment or rental application if you’ve ever been arrested.
All but three of the 16 states that allow expungement of convictions also allow you to deny the conviction if asked.
Law enforcement agencies and courts still have access to expunged arrests, and may use the information when investigating a crime.
If you’re convicted of another crime after having a prior conviction expunged, the expunged conviction may still be used in sentencing. For example, although you have your DUI conviction expunged, if you are convicted of DUI again it would be treated as your second conviction.
Generally, if you’re applying for a professional license or a job in law enforcement, you still have to disclose any criminal records you’ve had expunged.
5. **Successfully complete all probation or diversion programs.** If you were convicted of a crime, you must finish everything the judge ordered, including paying any fines or restitution, before you apply to have your record expunged.
Diversion programs often are available for first-time offenders charged with minor crimes. The program typically lasts from six months to a year and can include drug or alcohol abuse counseling and rehabilitation, community service, and paying fines or restitution to any victims.
If you received a suspended sentence and were put on probation, you typically must complete your entire probation term without a single violation or incident to be eligible for expungement. For example, a college student convicted of drug possession might be given 90 days probation and ordered to pay a fine. Provided he reports to his probation officer, fulfills all the conditions of his probation, has no further brushes with the law, and pays his fine in full, he could possibly get that conviction expunged.
6. **Wait the required time after arrest.** The waiting period after an arrest or conviction before you can file to have the record expunged depends on several factors including your age and the severity of the crime.
In some states you only get one or two opportunities to expunge an arrest record, regardless of whether you were convicted of any crime.
The waiting period doesn’t begin until after all sentences have been completed, including probation, and any fines have been paid.
7. **Avoid committing other crimes.** In most states you are not eligible for expungement if you have any criminal charges pending or have broken the law since your arrest.
8. **Locate your records.** In many states, you must gather information about the record you want expunged, including documents such as the certified disposition of the charge, the arrest record, the arrest warrant, and proof that you completed any court-ordered probation or diversion programs.
The documents you need typically are available at the police precinct where you were arrested, or the court where your case was heard.
You probably will have to pay fees for certified copies of these documents.
9. **Request your criminal history and fingerprint records from the local police station.** These and other similar records typically are necessary to complete a request for expungement.
Some states, such as Florida, require new fingerprints to be taken and submitted with your expungement petition.
10. **Complete the necessary forms.** Your state will have forms, typically called a Motion or Petition for Expungement, that you must fill out to request the expungement of a criminal record.
You should consider talking to a criminal defense attorney if you find the forms or process difficult, or have problems getting the necessary information to complete the forms.
11. **File and serve your expungement forms.** Once completed, you must file your forms with the proper court. In some states, you also must serve the forms to district attorneys or law enforcement agencies.
You will have to pay a fee when you file your forms, which are usually a few hundred dollars. You also will have to pay fees for service of process. These fees are nonrefundable.
The filing fee will vary based on the state and county where you were arrested or convicted, as well as the type of crime involved. Most states allow you to apply for waiver of the fee if you cannot afford it.
Once filed, the clerk will stamp your petition, assign a docket number, and give you the date and time of your hearing.
If you’re required to serve your expungement petition to district attorneys or other law enforcement officials, you cannot do this yourself. The court will have a list of local process serving companies.
12. **Appear in court for your hearing.** Depending on the state, you may be asked to appear either before a judge or before a parole board for a hearing or interview regarding your request for expungement.
The judge typically has discretion as to whether she will order expungement of your criminal record based on the facts and arguments during the hearing.
Even though the hearing may be somewhat less formal than a trial, treat it just as you would a formal trial. Arrive early, dress professionally and conservatively, and behave appropriately. Address the judge and other court officials politely and treat them with respect.
Bring your own copies of all the documents you’ve filed, as well as any other documents you believe have relevance to your case.
13. **Answer any questions asked by the judge.** The judge needs to decide if you’ve been successfully rehabilitated, and may ask you questions about your education, home and family life, financial health, physical well-being, or employment.
14. **Listen to any objections.** Your hearing may be attended by any police officers or district attorneys who object to the expungement of your record.
Depending on the objection, the judge may ask you questions about it.
15. **Follow up after your hearing.** If your expungement is granted, you’ll need to obtain copies of your signed and filed Expungement Order and mail them to the relevant law enforcement agencies. The court will let you know who needs to receive a copy of the order.
If your petition is denied, ask the judge to list the reasons for the denial and explain what you can do to clean your record. Typically after those issues have been resolved you can reapply for expungement. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Expunge-an-Arrest", "language": "en"} |
How to Know when Your Boyfriend Wants You to Kiss Him | Knowing when to move in for the first kiss can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of signs to point you in the right direction and keep you from embarrassing yourself. Most guys will let you know, either with their eyes or their words, that they want to kiss you. And once you've made your move, there are several things you can do to let him know you want him to kiss you.
1. **Watch his eyes.** A good way to tell if a guy wants to kiss you is to pay attention to where he's looking. If he's looking at your lips or staring into your eyes, he's probably thinking about kissing you.
He may even comment on your lips while he's looking at them. If he compliments your lips, or your eyes, he's ready for the kiss.
His eyes are a great indicator, but so are his facial expressions. Pay attention to the faces he makes when you are together.
2. **Pay attention to his body language.** If your boyfriend starts to get clumsy, or fidgety, he could be getting nervous about kissing you. Don't take it as a sign of boredom, he's probably just waiting for the chance to make his move.
He may start to play with his hair, touch his face, or even bite his bottom lip.
Distance is a great indicator of desire as well. If he keeps finding ways to get closer to you, you should feel comfortable kissing him.
3. **Listen to him.** Don't just listen for compliments, though. Listen to the way he's talking to you. If his voice gets softer, and he starts whispering things to you, he's ready for a kiss.
Whispering also requires him to move in closer to you, making it easier to kiss.
Speaking in a softer tone is an especially good sign if the two of you are in public. He's trying to get your attention and hold it, to make you feel like you two are the only people in the room.
4. **Keep an ear out for pauses in the conversation.** If he starts to get quiet, or there are more pauses in the conversation, he may not be losing interest. If he's maintaining eye contact, even if he's quiet, he's still trying to tell you something.
5. **Notice when he's flirting with you.** All guys flirt in different ways, but a few things you can count on are touching and joking. If he's stroking your arm, or your lower back, he's trying to tell you he's into you. The same goes if he's laughing at your jokes, or making his own.
He may also wink at you, which is almost definitely a sign that he's thinking of kissing you.
6. **Get close.** If you think your boyfriend is ready to kiss you, get close to him. Touch his arm or his face gently to let him know you're ready for a kiss.
Don't cross your arms. Crossing your arms may give him the impression that you're not ready for a kiss. Instead, keep your body open and facing his.
Smile at him to let him know you're comfortable. If you're relaxed, then he'll feel less anxious about making a move to kiss you.
7. **Find a place where you feel comfortable.** Kissing releases oxytocin, a chemical that makes us feel happy and relaxed. If you're worried about someone watching you, or an being interrupted, try moving to a new spot.
Once you start kissing, you may want to keep kissing for a while, so it's important to be in a spot where you feel safe.
8. **Make eye contact.** Look into your boyfriend's eyes before you kiss him, but also try opening your eyes during the kiss. Eye contact is a great way to build intimacy, especially while kissing.
It might feel a little awkward at first, so don't stare too long while kissing. Just take a moment to look at your boyfriend while kissing, and then shut your eyes.
Take a break between kissing to re-establish eye contact with your boyfriend.
9. **Keep your mouth open.** Don't shove your tongue down your boyfriend's throat, and don't cover his mouth in spit. Open your mouth wide enough to let your tongues touch and go from there.
Relax and work together. Try not to think about anything other than the kiss. If you get tense, the kiss will suffer.
Don't breathe through your mouth and into his. Breathe through your nose when you kiss.
10. **Touch him.** Keep your hands around his back or neck. Hold him close while you kiss.
Don't get carried away if it's just your first kiss. Take some time to appreciate the power of a kiss on its own. Keep the touching simple and affectionate.
11. **Relax.** The best thing you can do to make sure your guy knows he can kiss you is to relax when he's around you. If you make him feel comfortable, he'll be more willing to let his guard down and move in for a kiss.
Laugh at his jokes, smile at him, do anything you can to put his mind at ease. Making a move, even if it isn't the first, is risky. Guys don't always like to take chances with their egos and self-esteem. Do what you can to encourage him to make a move.
12. **Stay fresh.** Brush your teeth and practice good hygiene. Likewise, encourage him to do the same. Offer him a piece of gum if you're planning on kissing him. He may even take that as a sign that you're in the mood to kiss.
If you have chapped lips, use some lip balm. Make your lips appealing so he'll want to kiss you.
13. **Find ways to get close to him.** Tell him you're cold. Ask for his jacket. Make him hug you. Guys respond pretty well to direct orders like this. If you can get him close to you, and hold him tight, he may not be able to keep himself from kissing you.
14. **Tell him.** If nothing else, just tell him you want to kiss him. Pull him close, look him right in the eyes and tell him right out that you want him to kiss you. Chances are he'll respond with a kiss. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Know-when-Your-Boyfriend-Wants-You-to-Kiss-Him", "language": "en"} |
How to File for a Student Visa | Many students come from foreign countries to the U.S. to further their studies. As citizens of other countries, these students must file for a student visa before coming to the U.S. A visa is a travel document, like a passport, from a home country. It allows a student to travel to a U.S. entry point to request permission to study in this country. Permission must be granted by the Department of Homeland Security and Customs.
1. **Find out if you're eligible for a student visa.** To be eligible for a student visa in the US, you need to meet certain requirements. Make sure you qualify for a student visa before beginning the application process.
There are three basic requirements to be eligible for a student visa in the USA: academic eligibility, financial stability, and health insurance.
Academic eligibility means you have been accepted to a school in the United States. Eligibility requirements for US schools vary by school and the best way to get a sense of whether you meet standards is to browse that school's website.
Financial stability means showing you have the means to sustain yourself while in the US. You will need to be able to make a living without having to work unless you have a work visa, and you can do this via student loans, scholarships, or grants.
Health insurance means showing proof of medical insurance to cover any health problems you have while in the United States.
2. **Get the proper forms from your school.** Once you've been admitted into a US school, you'll need to get the proper forms from your school to apply for a visa.
When you're enrolled in your new school, you will be entered into their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. You will have to pay a fee known as the SEVIS 1-901 Fee, the amount of which depends on your school.
The school will give you a form called the Form I-20 that you will take to your visa interview. It basically confirms your enrollment in the program. If you're taking a child or spouse with you overseas, they will need individual Form I-20s. There may be fees associated with multiple requests.
3. **Figure out what type of visa you need.** Student visas come in a variety of forms in the United States. Make sure you know which type of visa is applicable to your situation.
F1 visas are the most common form of academic visas. They are for students who are coming to the US for academic studies or for an English Language Program. F1 visas allow students to work part time while in school and may allow students to stay in the country one year after the visa expires to gain experience. F1 visas state that students have until the end of the expiration date listed on their visa to complete their studies.
JI visas are for students coming to the US to obtain practical training in a field not offered in their country. Part time employment is permissible with a JI visa as long as the exchange visitor program permits it.
An M1 visa is for students attending a non-academic vocational program. M1 vista holders are not permitted to work in the US, so it's particularly important that they provide evidence they're able to support themselves throughout their studies.
4. **Submit the online application.** The process of applying for a visa begins with an online application.
The online visa application, found on the US Department of State website, must be completed and submitted online. You must also print out a copy and bring it to your interview.
The online application will ask basic questions about you, such as contact information and your full name. It will also ask brief questions about your field of study and reasons for attending school abroad.
While submitting the online application, you'll be ask to upload a photo of yourself. The photo needs to be a color full face photo, taken within 6 months against a white background. Any devices you normally wear, like glasses or hearing aids, need to be worn in the photo but you should not wear anything like a hat or a scarf that might cover your face. However, religious headgear is exempt from these regulations. You should have neutral expression and your head should be between 50% and 69% of the image's total height.
5. **Schedule your interview.** When you complete the application, you will have the chance to sign up for an interview at a nearby US embassy.
Applicants under the age of 13 and over the age of 80 are not required to interview.
Apply early, as wait times for interviews vary. You want to make sure you have your visa secured before you have to begin school.
6. **Pay all the required fees.** You will probably be required to pay the application fee prior to your interview. The fee can be paid online and will be $160. You may have to pay an additional visa insurance fee after receiving your visa.
7. **Gather the necessary documents.** Before the interview, make sure you have all the documents you'll need to bring in ready.
You will need a passport that is valid until six months after your period of stay in the US ends.
You will need your printed immigration visa.
You will need the payment receipt from your application fee.
You will need all the forms issued to you by your school.
You will need a copy of the photo you uploaded while completing the online form.
8. **Attend your interview.** Your interview is to determine whether you meet the qualifications to receive a visa and which category is appropriate for you.
A consular will conduct the interview. She will start by asking you basic questions to make sure you meet all legal requirements to receive a visa.
You will also be asked questions about how you intend to support yourself in the US, your field of study, and your knowledge of the English language.
During your interview, you will be required to submit an ink-free digital fingerprint scan as part of a routine background check.
9. **Know your options if your visa is declined.** If your visa is denied, you can appeal this decision. You will probably need additional documentation and a visa counselor can help you figure out what other papers you should submit. Try asking your school to submit further paperwork speaking to your qualifications as a student at their school. This can help you successfully appeal your denial.
10. **Find country-specific information.** If you're a US student applying for a visa outside the United States, you need to know the requirements for the country where you're studying.
The study abroad website, travel.state.gov, can help you locate country-specific information about applying for your visa.
You can also talk to an adviser in your school's study abroad department to find out specifics on the forms you'll need to apply.
11. **Complete any forms or procedures for your university before applying for a visa.** It's likely the school you're attending abroad will send you a number of forms regarding your visa. Before you begin the process of applying for your visa, fill out and return all these forms in full and make sure you have the proper paperwork from the school where you're studying to include in your application.
12. **Apply early.** As with applying for a visa in the United States, wait times for interviews and issuing visas vary. Apply as soon as you're accepted into a program overseas. You want to make sure you have your visa secured well before the start date of your program. Oftentimes, wait times for interviews can stretch up to 4 weeks during summer months. Plan accordingly.
13. **Get basic paperwork ready.** Regardless of where you're applying for a visa, copies of the following documents will likely be requested during the process:
A valid passport
Your birth certificate
Your social security card
Transcripts from any previous higher learning institutions you attended | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/File-for-a-Student-Visa", "language": "en"} |
How to Lower High Blood Pressure Without Using Medication | High blood pressure is a common medical condition. Depending on the level of your blood pressure, you may need to take medication to get it under control. Once high blood pressure (HBP) is under control with medication, you can try using lifestyle techniques to lower your blood pressure and reduce your need for the medication. Using techniques like changes to your diet and lifestyle in combination with medication will help you manage your condition and stay healthy.
1. **Don't add excess salt to your foods.** Avoid adding more than a pinch of salt to your food when you cook it and don't add salt once you are getting ready to eat. You need a small amount of salt in your diet, but you will get more than enough through the prepared foods that you eat and the small amounts you add to your food.
Adding excess salt will only cause you to retain excess fluids, which causes high blood pressure.
Keep in mind that seas salt and kosher salt have the same amount of sodium as regular table salt.
Salt makes your body retain fluid, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure.
2. **Avoid eating processed foods.** Processed foods are typically loaded with salt and other additives, such as the preservative sodium benzoate. Remember, it's not just the salt that you put on your food while cooking or at the table, it's also the amount of sodium that's in the prepared foods that you buy.
Sodium causes your body to retain water, which can increase your blood pressure. It is usually listed on the nutritional breakdown on the label of prepared foods.
Read labels and buy low-salt, low-sodium, or unsalted foods.
Foods that commonly have a ton of salt in them are prepared, canned, and bottled foods. These include meats, pickles, olives, soups, chili, bacon, ham, sausage, bakery products, and meats with added water, which will have a higher sodium content. Also, avoid prepared condiments, such as prepared mustard, salsa, chile sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce and other sauces.
3. **Track your sodium levels.** Many American diets include up to 5000 milligrams (5g) of sodium daily, which nearly all medical professionals consider extremely unhealthy. While you usually can't, and don't want to, cut out all sodium, it's important to try to get to below 2 g (2000 mg) per day. To do this, track your total daily intake of salt/sodium, and make sure you are avoiding as much sodium as you can.
To track how much sodium you have eaten it's a good idea to keep a food journal or use a tracking app. There are a variety of fitness and health apps that will allow you to track your sodium intake throughout the day.
A low-sodium diet usually consists of eating between 0 mg and 1400 mg of salt a day. A moderate sodium diet will have between 1400 mg and 4000 mg a day. A high-sodium diet is anything over 4000 mg per day.
Keep in mind that sea salt and kosher salt contain the same amount of sodium as table salt. Salt substitutes contain potassium chloride, which is not safe for some people, so you may want to avoid it. Instead, look into sodium-free alternatives to replace salt in your diet, such as lemon juice, flavored vinegar, fresh herbs, and salt-free herb and spice blends.
Note that the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of sodium is about 2500 mg.
4. **Eat a moderate, lean diet.** When trying to lower your blood pressure, it's important to focus on moderation and eating a balanced diet. Try eating a plant-based diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and few meats, milk products, and eggs.
Try to have at least 1 meal each day that doesn't include meat and mainly consists of fruits and vegetables. For example, you could have a salad for lunch that consists of several cups of leafy greens and is covered in a variety raw vegetables and seeds, such as carrots, cucumbers, celery, and sunflower seeds.
When you do eat meat and fish, make sure it is a lean type, such as chicken or salmon without the skin. When you eat or drink dairy products, make sure you are picking low-fat options.
5. **Avoid foods that are high in sugar and fat.** This means you should avoid candy bars, processed carbs, and red meats. These foods may be delicious but they provide little nutritional value, and you can get what value they have from healthier choices.
Instead of eating red meat, eat healthier meats like chicken or fish.
If you have a craving for sugar, eat a piece of fruit instead of a piece of candy.
6. **Increase your fiber intake.** Fiber won’t lower your blood pressure on its own, but it helps to regulate your digestion and keep you healthy in general. Most vegetables are high in fiber, especially those with leafy greens. Many fruits, nuts, and legumes (beans and peas) are also rich in fiber, as are whole-grain products.
Some of the best foods you can eat to increase your fiber include pears, strawberries, avocados, apples, carrots, beets, broccoli, lentils, and kidney beans.
It is recommended that you eat 8 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits each day, so vary the foods you eat when adding fiber to your diet.
7. **Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.** The typical American diet is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), and restoring some balance here may naturally reduce your blood pressure. Consume fish twice a week or more, as they will provide you with omega-3 fatty acids, lower fats called triglycerides, and promote overall heart health.
Fish is high in protein, and many types of fish, including salmon, mackerel, and herring, also have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids are highest in the oils of the fish, so if you eat canned fish, don’t discard the oil. Eat it along with the fish!
It is recommended that you eat only one or two 3 oz (85 g) servings of lean meat, including fish, each day.
You can also take fish oil tablets regularly to get more omega-3 fatty acids. However, do research on the fish oil tablet product you take. There are some concerns about raised levels of mercury from certain processed fish products.
8. **Increase your intake of dietary potassium.** Too much potassium can be harmful, but some is necessary. Aim for 3500 and 4700 mg of potassium a day. You may need more potassium if you are active, and less if you are elderly or sick. Some foods that are naturally high in potassium include:
Bananas
Tomatoes/tomato juice
Potatoes
Beans
Onions
Oranges
Fresh and dried fruits
9. **Talk to your doctor about adding supplements to your diet.** Check with your doctor to see whether a natural remedy may help lower your blood pressure. Many natural remedies have scientific evidence to show that they can lower high blood pressure, but you should never attempt to replace your blood pressure medication without talking with your doctor.
The top supplements may assist in lowering blood pressure are coenzyme Q10, omega-3, fish oil, garlic, curcumin (from turmeric), ginger, cayenne, olive oil, nuts, black cohosh, hawthorn, magnesium and chromium. Ask your doctor if these are safe for you to take.
You can also try using fenugreek seeds, basil, and flaxseeds to help improve your blood pressure.
Vitamins like B12, B6 and B9 can help lower homocysteine levels in the blood. High homocysteine levels can lead to heart problems.
10. **Stop** Stimulants in cigarette smoke, like nicotine, can increase blood pressure. If you stop smoking, you may be able to lower your blood pressure, help your heart to become healthier, and reduce your chances of getting other diseases, including lung cancer.
If you are having a hard time quitting smoking, talk to your doctor about how they can help you. They may be able to prescribe you medication that will help you quit and steer you towards programs that will help as well.
11. **Use less caffeine.** Stopping drinking coffee, soda pop, and other caffeinated beverages will lower your blood pressure. Even 1 or 2 cups of coffee can raise blood pressure to an unhealthy level, so it's best to cut it out completely.
If a person already has hypertension, caffeine complicates the problem further because it is a nervous system stimulant. Thus, agitated nerves cause the heart to beat faster, which raises the blood pressure.
If you are a person who drinks a lot of caffeine (more than 4 caffeinated drinks a day), you may need to taper yourself off caffeine to prevent withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches.
12. **Lose** Carrying around extra weight causes your heart to work harder all the time and this increases your blood pressure. By losing this extra weight, through changes to your diet and exercising more often, your heart won't have to beat as hard and you'll lower your blood pressure.
13. **Avoid recreational use of drugs and alcohol.** Excessive use of drugs and alcohol can damage many organs in the body, including the liver and the kidneys. This may contribute to high blood pressure.
Many drugs are stimulants. These cause the heart to beat faster and the blood pressure to go up. By cutting out drugs and alcohol, you'll succeed in reducing your blood pressure.
14. **Monitor your blood pressure and talk with your doctor.** A medical professional can check your blood pressure by using a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope, or you can check it yourself using an automatic blood pressure monitoring device. If you have concerns about your blood pressure, talk to your doctor to determine what treatment options may work best for you. Blood pressure is usually divided into categories, which include:
Normal blood pressure: below 120/80
Pre-hypertension blood pressure: 120-139/80-89
First stage hypertension: 140-159/90-99
Second stage hypertension: 160/100 and above
15. **Reduce** Minimize daily stressors, if possible, such as being involved with high stakes business dealings. If you are under chronic stress where you produce that stress hormone every day, then your cardiovascular system will naturally go into a state where it is overworking.
This overworking happens because the stress hormone increases your pulse, respiration, and heart rate. Your body thinks you need to either fight or run and is naturally getting your body ready do one of those things.
Many people have a temporary rise in blood pressure when under stress. If you have high blood pressure because you are overweight or have a family history of hypertension, then stress raises it that much more. This is because your adrenal gland releases stress hormones which tend to cause your cardiovascular system to overwork.
16. **Take a relaxing bath or shower to reduce your blood pressure.** Taking a soaking hot bath or hot shower for 15 minutes can actually suppress your blood pressure for several hours. Taking a hot bath just prior to bedtime can help the body retain lower blood pressure for hours or even the entire night.
17. **Meditate** Take time every day to calm yourself, as this can reduce your overall stress. Simply observing and slowing the respiration rate produces a significant reduction in blood pressure.
When you are meditating, you can simply focus on breathing deeply and slowly. Do this until you fall asleep or you feel relaxed.
18. **Take a walk or do some other type of exercise every day.** Walk every day for at least 20 to 30 minutes at a moderate speed of about 3.0 mph (4.8 km/h). Study after study has demonstrated that the mere act of walking has a suppression effect on hypertension.
Can't walk outside? Use a treadmill inside. The advantage is that you can walk even as it rains or snows outside. You can even walk in your pajamas without the neighbors seeing you!
Taking a long walk will take the edge off a stressful day long before bedtime. Make time for decompressing each and every day. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Lower-High-Blood-Pressure-Without-Using-Medication", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Chocolate Muffins | Chocolate chip muffins are delicious treats that are great for breakfast or even as a dessert for after dinner. They are the perfect muffins for true chocolate lovers, as they are chocolate flavored and also loaded with chocolate chips. Make a batch of chocolate chip muffins and enjoy them when they are warm and gooey or at room temperature for a rich and satisfying treat.
1. **Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C).** Turn the oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and wait for it to preheat completely. Use the time that you’re waiting to make the muffin batter.
2. **Mix the dry ingredients together.** Pour the flour, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. Stir all the ingredients together with a large spoon until they are all mixed together.
3. **Beat the egg.** Break the egg into a small bowl, the use a fork to mix the egg. Make sure that the yolk and the egg white are completely blended.
4. **Mix the wet ingredients together.** Pour the beaten egg into a large bowl, then pour in the milk and oil. Whisk the ingredients together until they are all mixed.
5. **Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix.** Pour the dry ingredients that you just mixed little by little into the wet ingredients, stirring continuously. Stir until all the ingredients are just combined. Make sure not to over-stir, as this can change the consistency of the muffins.
6. **Grease the muffin pan or insert muffin wrappers.** Use a stick of butter or vegetable oil spray to spray the inside of each compartment of a 12-muffin pan. If you prefer to use paper or aluminum muffin wrappers, place one wrapper into each insert of the pan.
Greasing the pan ensures that the muffins won’t stick to the pan after they’ve baked.
Using muffin wrappers lets you skip the process of greasing the pan and ensures that the muffins will come out of the pan easily after they’ve baked.
7. **Pour the batter into the muffin pans.** Carefully pour or spoon the muffin batter into each insert of the muffin tin until about two-thirds full. Try to distribute the batter equally so that each muffin is about the same size.
Smooth the tops of the batter with a spoon if they’re uneven on top.
You can also hold the muffin tin in each hand and shake it gently side to side to make sure that the batter lays flat in each insert.
8. **Put extra chocolate chips and sparkling sugar on top.** If you wish, sprinkle some chocolate chips and sparkling sugar on top of each compartment of batter. This will give the top of each muffin more texture and sweetness. You can skip this step if you want a more consistent texture for your muffins.
9. **Bake the muffins 18-22 minutes.** Put the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes. After 18 minutes, poke one muffin with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, take out the muffins. If not, keep checking every minute until the toothpick comes out completely clean.
10. **Wait for the muffins to cool.** Even if you want to enjoy the muffins warm, wait for a few minutes before taking them out of the muffin pan. Waiting for a bit helps the muffins to solidify and come out of the pan more easily.
11. **Place the muffin on a cooling rack.** Use a knife to go around each muffin and the pan, then place the muffins on a cooling rack. If you used muffin wrappers, just lift each muffin out of the pan by the wrapper and place them on the cooling rack.
12. **Serve the muffins.** If you want to eat your muffins while they’re warm, take the muffins off the cooling rack and enjoy. If you prefer room temperature muffins that are slightly firmer, wait until they have completely cooled and enjoy.
13. **Store uneaten muffins in a closed container.** To prevent the muffins from getting stale, store them in Tupperware or another airtight container. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chocolate-Muffins", "language": "en"} |
How to Prune Blueberries | Regular pruning of blueberry bushes is important to keep them from becoming overgrown and unproductive. Training young blueberry bushes by pruning them regularly during the first two years promotes proper structure of the plant, which in turn supports maximum production of fruit. By recognizing mature canes and cutting properly, you'll train blueberry bushes to create productive plants.
1. **Know where blueberry bushes produce fruit.** Blueberries grow on the side-shoots, off of the main branches of the bushes.
Blueberries only grow on branches that are at least one year old. Branches over four years may have a smaller crop. You must prune the bushes so that they provide enough new growth for blueberry production next year.
2. **Understand the importance of pruning.** If blueberry bushes are not pruned back every year, they can overproduce in one year. That can lead to the bushes only producing fruit every other year.
You also prune to keep the bush under control, as you don't want it to be too tall. If it's too tall, it will be difficult to harvest the blueberries.Additionally, you need to thin out the middle so that it can get proper airflow, discouraging disease.
Pruning also opens up the middle to sunlight, providing nutrients and ripening the fruit.
3. **Train young blueberry bushes.** For the first two years of life, you must train your blueberry bushes so that they grow properly.
Remove crossed branches. In the first two years, you need to cut any branches that cross each other. By doing so, you're allow the bush to focus its resources on canes growing straight up, which will be stronger and help you create a better-shaped bush. It will also keep the fruit off the ground.
Focus on creating the right shape of bush. In the second year, cut away any branches that didn't grow much in the last season. Leave the ones that have grown taller, though you may prune them back some in the next step.
4. **Cut the longest stems to encourage growth in the second year.** Following the first season, you can cut the longest canes back to 2/3rds of their length if the bush didn't grow much in the first year. This pruning will help it branch out.
5. **Cut away fruit buds.** Any time you see a fat fruit bud in the first 2 years, as opposed to the flat buds of the leaves, you need to remove the bud. Cut away any of these buds you see with sharp shears. The bush needs to focus on growing, not producing fruit.
Sometimes flowers might grow from fruit buds that you missed previously. Cut these away as well if you find them.
6. **Know when to prune.** Prune over the winter. You can prune as early as November or as late as March. However, the best time to prune is late February to the beginning of March.
This time of year is best because you can see which new buds will produce fruit (fat buds) and which ones will produce leaves (flat buds).
7. **Use a pair of sharp shears, loppers, a pair of gloves, and disinfectant in a bucket.** When cutting, always use a pair of sharp shears. Dull shears can cause you to use too much pressure, which can lead to injury. It will also make cutting more difficult and may damage your plant. Wear the gloves while pruning to protect your hands.
8. **Begin with diseased branches.** Cut any canes that have diseases on them first. Look for shriveled branches or discolored branches.
9. **Dip the shears in disinfectant.** Between bushes, dip the shears into the disinfectant to stop the spread of disease. Shake off the disinfectant before moving on to the next bush.
You can also use a rag or towel that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol. Wipe down the shears to disinfect them.
10. **Prune out damaged canes.** Cut any branches that look damaged due to weather or other circumstances. Damaged branches will lose leaves, look shriveled, or be broken due to wind.
11. **Cut out soft lower twig growth or any growth that looks spindly.** That is, cut out growth that doesn't look strong. Look for growth near the bottom that started late in the previous season, as it will not have had enough time to develop fully.
Remove this late growth near the bottom of the plant, preserving resources for the top of the plant. These twigs are the ones that didn't grow enough in the last season, so they are too small to produce any fruit this year.
Additionally, cut out any lower branch that will produce fruit that touches the ground. Fruit should not touch the ground while growing. These will branches that go out at an angle rather than straight up or branches that are bending towards the ground.
12. **Cut off upper twig growth.** If a cane did not produce fruit this year, cut back the extra growth from last year. You can recognize the twiggy growth because it will have an abundance of smaller twigs, more than other branches. Also, the wood that produces this type of growth will not be as shiny as newer wood growth.
When cutting, take it back to a place where the branch looks stronger, one that is growing upwards rather than sideways. Make the cut right above an outward facing bud, or do it on the next branch.
13. **Cut back older canes, including ones that haven't produced in several years.** Remove older canes at ground level, especially if your bush is growing too tall. Bushes are too tall if you can't reach up to harvest easily. You should leave at least seven canes, however.
Prune the canes back to where a new shoot is taking off from the cane.
You should not have any canes that are older than six years old.
14. **Limit mature cane removal.** Only remove 2 or 3 mature canes per year to help sustain growth. Because canes stop producing as many blueberries after four years, start with the oldest canes. Mature canes are at least two years old. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Prune-Blueberries", "language": "en"} |
How to Wash a Puffer Jacket | You might be spending a lot of time in your puffer jacket, especially during the winter! But eventually, the time comes when the need to wash the puffer trumps the need to wear it. And when that time comes, there's no need to send your favorite jacket off to the dry cleaners! It’s not the confusing and daunting task it sometimes seems -- you can wash your puffer jacket safely and effectively right from the comfort of your own home. You’ll be wrapped up in its cozy warmth again in no time!
1. **Check the label to confirm your puffer is machine-washable.** Most puffer jackets are totally fine to be washed in a machine, though be careful to follow the label instructions as directed. Make sure to only use a front loader or a newer model top loader. In older top loaders, the center agitator can damage the thin outer layer of your puffer jacket.
No matter what sort of washing machine you use, it is important to only use the gentle cycle.
2. **Brush off any loose dirt.** Make sure you get rid of any stubborn pieces of dirt clinging to your puffer jacket, otherwise they can contaminate the wash. It is also a good idea to zip up any pockets and turn the jacket completely inside out if possible.
3. **Use a down-feather-specific cleaner.** The down feathers inside your puffer are very sensitive, and harsh chemicals and detergents can cause damage by stripping the feathers of their natural oils, which in turn makes for brittle, breakable feathers. Using natural products or cleaners specific for down jackets allows the feathers inside to maintain their fluffiness, which makes for one happy puffer jacket.
4. **Set your washing machine to a low-heat, gentle cycle.** Only wash your puffer jacket in cold water, as hot water can cause damage to the outer shell. Make sure you use the ‘delicate’ or ‘wool’ cycle, or whatever the gentlest equivalent is on your machine, so as not to put your puffer jacket at risk of damage.
5. **Rinse your puffer jacket thoroughly.** If you can add an extra rinse cycle to your washing machine, do so. Otherwise, extend the rinse cycle for as long as possible, or re-rinse it as needed to make sure there are no remnants of the cleaner left coating the down feathers.
6. **Skip the spin cycle.** Do not spin your puffer jacket in the washing machine, it can damage the down feathers on the inside. Instead, gently knead the excess water from your puffer jacket, and leave it in the shade to drip-dry for 10 minutes before putting it in the dryer.
Make sure your jacket is laid flat when drip-drying and gently fluff the down to avoid clumping.
7. **Gently hand-wash your puffer jacket.** If you are worried that a washing machine won’t be kind enough to your puffer jacket, you may wish to hand-wash it instead. This will cause less stress on both the outer shell and the inside filling of your jacket.
8. **Soak your puffer jacket in warm water.** You can use a bathtub or sink to soak your jacket. Just fill it up with warm water and use a down-specific cleaner to avoid any unnecessary damage. Let your puffer jacket soak for up to 60 minutes.
Regular detergents are too harsh on the down feathers inside your jacket, and will leave them clumped and brittle. For best results, make sure your cleaner is down-friendly!
9. **Gently squeeze the excess water from your jacket.** Remove your jacket from the soak, keeping in mind that it will likely be heavy! Rinse your jacket out by lightly kneading the water from your jacket as evenly as possible to avoid clumping the feathers on the inside. Do not wring your jacket out, this will cause the feathers to stick together!
You can also gently shake the puffer jacket out to get rid of excess water, but make sure to support its weight.
10. **Hang your puffer jacket out to dry for 10 minutes.** Lie your jacket flat on a clothes-horse or drying rack, and let it drip-dry for 10 minutes before putting it into a machine dryer. This will allow excess water to drip off.
11. **Do not leave your puffer jacket to air dry completely.** Though it can seem the gentler option, air drying will often lead to feather clumping and water retention in your jacket. If the feathers do clump and hold moisture for too long, it can also cause your puffer to start smelling.
Don’t forget to remove your jacket from the washing machine as soon as possible, you don’t want to leave it damp and crumpled in the bottom of the machine for any longer than necessary!
12. **Tumble-dry your puffer jacket on low heat.** Once you have gently kneaded the excess water from your puffer, put your jacket in the dryer on a low-heat setting. It is important to treat your puffer carefully when drying - tumble drying is recommended as it is the best way to dry your jacket quickly and evenly.
Do not dry your puffer jacket at a high temperature! It may speed up the process, but a high-heat dry can also damage the outside shell.
13. **Add two or three drying balls to the dryer.** If you do not have drying balls, add two or three new, clean tennis balls into the dryer instead. The bouncing motion of the tennis balls will add an extra fluffiness to your puffer jacket by redistributing the down feathers on the inside. Check your jacket regularly while it dries. You may need to leave it in for a few cycles to make sure it is completely dry, with no lingering moisture.
While adding in a few tennis balls can help restore fluffiness to your jacket, don’t add anything heavier, as this can damage the delicate feathers!
14. **Remove your puffer jacket and fluff.** Once you are confident your jacket is completely dry, remove it from the dryer and use your hands to give it one final fluff, making sure the feathers are evenly distributed. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Wash-a-Puffer-Jacket", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Your Leather Jacket Softer | Leather jackets look and feel great, and they can bring your outfit together in any season. Unfortunately, leather tends to stiffen up over time, especially if you don’t wear your jacket very often. Luckily, this is completely normal, and there are plenty of things you can do to fix that. In many cases, just wearing the jacket loosens it up. If this doesn’t work, then try a few steps to soften and condition the jacket so it feels brand new again!
1. **Wear your jacket to loosen it up.** This might sound too simple to be true, but it’s not! Leather can get stiff if it’s stored away for a long time. Wearing the jacket regularly might be all you need to soften it up a bit, so take it out once in a while to break it in.
Try to move around a bit while you’re wearing your jacket. Bend your elbows, raise your arms, twist back and forth, and do some other motions to soften up the leather.
There’s no firm rule on how often you should wear your jacket to soften it. Every few weeks is a good goal.
2. **Crumple and roll around your jacket a little.** Roughing up your jacket a little can help a too. Try rolling it in a ball, tossing it around, and bending it back and forth. This can work out stiffness and make your jacket more comfortable to wear.
Wear your jacket for a while after softening it up so it forms to your body.
3. **Wet your jacket to soften it.** This might sound weird, but water actually helps soften leather. If you have to go out and it’s raining lightly, wear your jacket and let it get wet. If you live in a dry area, or just don’t feel like walking around in the rain, you could get similar results with a spritz bottle. Lightly spray the jacket to moisten it. The leather will soften and contour to your body better.
This is only meant for light rain, not a heavy storm. If you do go out in heavy rain, remember to dry the jacket before putting it away.
You can also condition your jacket by wearing it out in all kinds of different weather, like snow or sun. All these different conditions will give your jacket a cool, worn look.
4. **Move your arms around to help the wet jacket mold to you.** While the jacket is wet, this is the perfect time to break it in a little. Move your arms, bend your elbows, twist around, wave, and make any other normal arm motions. As the jacket dries, it’ll naturally form around these movements, and should be less stiff in the future.
5. **Keep the jacket on until it dries.** Whether you took your jacket out in the rain or spritzed it with a spray bottle, put it on and leave it on until it dries. This way, it’ll mold to your body while it’s soft.
If you got soaked in heavier rain than you expected, you can wipe the jacket down a little so you don’t get too wet.
6. **Wipe the jacket with a dry cloth to get rid of excess water.** Even if you wear the jacket until it's dry, there could still be some water droplets hiding. While some moisture is good for softening leather, storing your jacket while it’s still wet is bad for it. Always wipe the jacket down with a dry cloth or towel to get rid of any excess moisture before putting it away.
You might always want to hang your jacket to dry completely before putting it away if you got soaked in the rain.
Always dry your jacket at room temperature. Don’t use a heat source like a radiator, or you could make it stiffen again.
7. **Clean your jacket** No matter what conditioning you use, you don’t want any dust or dirt on the surface of the jacket. You can wipe the jacket down with water and a mild detergent, or use a specialized leather cleaner. Either way, always clean the jacket before conditioning it.
Remember to dry the jacket as well. Wipe it off with a towel and hang it to dry at room temperature.
If you aren’t sure how to clean your jacket, then it’s best to bring it to a dry-cleaner to take care of.
8. **Apply a specialized leather conditioner to your jacket.** Pour a bit of conditioner onto a clean rag and rub the conditioner into your jacket. Make sure you don't miss any spots. When you're done, hang it up to dry. After a good conditioning, it should be nice and soft again.
Instead of storing the jacket, you could also wear it right after. This will help it contour to your shape while it's soft.
In general, a conditioning treatment will last about 6-12 months. You might have to reapply it once or twice a year to keep your jacket soft.
9. **Try castor oil for a cheaper solution.** Instead of leather conditioner, castor oil can also work to soften leather. Pour some oil onto a clean sponge and wipe it all over the jacket. Leave the jacket for a few hours and let the oil soak in, then store it away normally.
You can get castor oil at most pharmacies.
If the jacket is still too stiff, you can do this treatment more than once.
10. **Rub petroleum jelly onto the jacket for another option.** This can also help soften your leather jacket. Rub a small amount of petroleum jelly onto the jacket and let it soak in for a few hours. When you’re done, you can store the jacket normally.
If there is still jelly left on the jacket, you can wipe it off before putting it away. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Leather-Jacket-Softer", "language": "en"} |
How to Create an Inexpensive Photography Lightbox | Whether you're taking pictures of something you want to sell online, or you just want to practice your photography, proper lighting is key to getting the perfect shot. You could go out and invest in an expensive lighting set up or try and work with natural daylight, but nothing will be quite as easy to acquire and use as a homemade photography lightbox. By adding some diffusing panels to a cardboard box and wielding some cheap lamps properly, you can make a lightbox that'll give you great shots within an afternoon.
1. **Choose a cardboard box large enough for the object you want to photograph.** Try and find the biggest box that you can, as this will let you take pictures of almost anything you'd need to photograph. Ask at local shops, find a box you're no longer using, or look at purchasing one from a storage company to get the perfect cardboard box.
If you want a lightbox that lasts longer, you can use a box made of a more sturdy material. A large wooden box or one made of an opaque plastic would also work. However, you'll likely need something stronger than a box cutter, such as a saw, to cut the lighting panels in the side.
2. **Tape up the flaps on one side.** Turn your cardboard box over and fold the flaps down to create a flat bottom. Use packing tape, duct tape, or something similar to hold the flaps in place and keep the box steady. Tape down the flaps on the inside of the box as well, to keep them out of your way while you work.
Some boxes will come with one side already held together with cardboard tabs. While this should keep the box steady as you work, it might pay to tape the edges of the box together as well for extra stability.
3. **Measure out windows on either side of your box.** Place your box on its side, so that the open flaps are facing you. Use a ruler to mark a point roughly 2 inches (5.1 cm) from each edge on one side of the box. Draw a straight line with a pencil along the edges of the box to connect these points, creating a rectangle with space around the edges. Repeat on the opposite side.
This will be the size of the window that you will cover with a piece of fabric, parchment paper, or tissue. If you have a particularly big box, you might want to make the window smaller to ensure that you can still cover it with one piece the fabric or paper.
You can also trace a window on the top of your box as well, which will allow you to light the item you're taking a picture of from above.
4. **Cut out the windows in your box.** Use a box cutter or a sharp pair of scissors to cut along the lines you have marked. Go around each line until you can remove a piece of cardboard in the middle, leaving you with a small window. Repeat on the other side to make another window.
To keep the lines extra straight, hold a ruler against the pencil lines and cut along them. This won't affect the functionality of the box but will make it look better.
5. **Trim a piece of white poster board to be the same width as your box.** Place a piece of white poster board or a thick piece of white paper over the top of the box. Use your scissors or box cutter to trim away any edges, so that it will be able to fit on the inside of your box. The poster board should be the same width as the box, and around twice as long as the top side.
White poster board works excellently for this, as it will be smooth and will not easily crease inside the box. It should be available at your local craft store for a low price. If you can't find it, any large piece of sturdy white paper or card with a matte finish should work just as well.
White poster board will give you an easy “infinity” look as if the item you are photographing is sitting in an empty space. Try using different colors to get different cool effects.
The most important part of the material that you choose is that it has a matte surface. Anything that is too shiny will reflect the light and ruin the purpose of a lightbox.
6. **Tape the posterboard to the top inside edge of the lightbox.** Attach a long piece of duct or packing tape to the top edge of your poster board. Being careful not the let the tape touch anything else, press it onto the inside of your cardboard box as close to the top of the back side as possible. Use another piece of tape to hold the other end of the posterboard to the bottom of the box.
Avoid folding or creasing the poster board as much as possible. Try and make it bend so that you have a slight curve along the back bottom corner.
Don't worry about covering the entire box, as long as you have a wide enough section that you can take a picture without seeing any of the exposed cardboard.
7. **Cut out two pieces of white fabric or tissue paper to cover the windows.** This will work to diffuse the light that shines into the lightbox, giving the whole picture even lighting. Cut out some pieces of white fabric, tissue paper, or something similar to be around 1 inch (2.5 cm) bigger on each side than the windows you have cut.
To make this easier, you can use the piece of cardboard you cut from the box when making the windows as a guide. Place it on the fabric or tissue paper and cut around it, leaving space on each side to attach it to the box.
A smooth white fabric, tissue paper, parchment paper or anything similar will work for this. The material you choose just needs to be non-reflective, and let some but not all of the light through it.
8. **Tape or glue the fabric or tissue paper in place.** Starting with the top edge of your chosen material, use a piece of tape or some hot glue to secure it over one of the windows. Let it drape down over the window and secure the other sides with more tape or glue. Repeat for all of the windows you have cut until all of them are covered.
9. **Put the item you want to photograph in the middle of your lightbox.** Place your finished lightbox on a large flat surface, leaving space to position lights on either side. Position the item you need to photograph in the center of the white surface in your lightbox.
Use the viewfinder or screen on your camera to help position the item in the lightbox. Shift the camera and the item around until you can get a clean shot without any exposed cardboard showing.
If you can't get the item or your camera positioned just right, you can always crop the photo to remove anything you don't want to be seen. You shouldn't need to do any other photo editing, but a simple crop can save you a lot of careful repositioning.
10. **Set up a lamp on either side of the lightbox.** Lamps that provide directional lighting, rather than ambient lighting, will work best with your lightbox. Find as many desk lamps or other directional lights as you have windows on the lightbox. Position the lamps so that they are facing directly into the windows you have cut, and switch them on.
Keep your lights at least 5 inches (13 cm) away from the windows at all time, to prevent the material covering them from getting too hot.
Your lights should be an even distance from the lightbox when you first turn them on. Try moving different ones further away or closer to the windows to create some more interesting lighting effects inside.
Use light bulbs with a cool white light for the best results, as other types may give your images a yellowish tinge.
You should be able to find cheap desk lamps or lamps that can clip onto furniture for a few dollars online or at your local homeware or office stationery store.
If you don't have a good lamp, feel free to use a northern-facing window (for indirect light) and point the lightbox at the window to let the light bounce off the white paper.
11. **Play with the settings on your camera.** It's not often that you'll be taking pictures of something so evenly and brightly lit, so your first pictures might end up being too bright or entirely the wrong color! Change the shutter speed, ISO, and white balance settings on your camera until your photos look normal.
If you're using a smartphone camera, or a camera with an automatic mode, you shouldn't need to touch the settings at all.
Photos that look too yellow or blue are normally a sign that your white balance settings aren't right. If your photos are too dark or too bright, try adjusting the exposure by changing the ISO, shutter speed, or aperture. Keep on trying until you get a perfect photo!
12. **Take the picture.** Once you've got your item lined up and your camera settings perfect, it's time to take the picture. Move the camera around so that there's nothing other than the white background in the shot, hold it steady, and snap a few pictures!
Use the flaps of cardboard that are left open to block any light shining from the lamps directly into the camera. Any light that's not going through the windows might create a lens flare and reduce the effect of a photography lightbox. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Inexpensive-Photography-Lightbox", "language": "en"} |
How to Think Big | A lot of people say that thinking big is the key to accomplishing your biggest or most complicated goals, but it’s hard to know where to start. Giving yourself some time to sit down and really think about what you want to accomplish is just the first part of thinking big. Creating a plan that you can follow up on, and staying motivated while you tackle your goals a little at a time can help you make a big thought a reality.
1. **Schedule thinking time.** When you’re ready to consider new projects or new approaches to current goals, set aside some time 90 minutes, two hours, whatever you can spare and use the entire time for thinking.
Using the whole time to think helps you come up with approaches and strategies you might not have thought of before, because we tend to come up with one or two good ideas and think “that’s it! I’m ready!” Forcing yourself to think longer helps you go places your brain wouldn’t ordinarily go.
Try to do your thinking in different settings. For example, you could go for a walk or visit a new coffee shop. Being in a different setting may help your brain to identify different possibilities than you would in your usual environment.
2. **Entertain the impossible.** It's easy to think “small” in your life, because it's easy to feel obligated to be practical or realistic about your dreams or goals. Thinking big requires you to move beyond thinking realistically and toward what might seem improbable or even impossible.
For example, say you like to write. A realistic way of thinking about that might be to say that you want to write something every day. That’s a realistic goal and a realistic way of thinking about your love of writing.
Entertaining the impossible means taking what you normally think you can do with your writing even further. Imagine what it would be like to see your book on a shelf at your favorite bookstore maybe even in a fancy display. Imagine seeing your name and your book’s title at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list. This is the easiest way to think big.
You can also do this by creating a vision board. Get a piece of poster board and use pictures and words from a magazine to represent your goals. Then, place the board somewhere you will see it often to help remind you of your goals.
3. **Step outside your comfort zone.** Thinking big means thinking in ways that are beyond what you normally do, so naturally you’ll have to step outside of your comfort zone. While you’re thinking about new projects or approaches, let yourself feel a little uncomfortable. If you’re not a little scared of what you’re coming up with, you’re not thinking big enough.
For example, if you have a speech project for school, but want to think big about it, consider giving a style of speech you’re not usually comfortable with. Instead of reading directly from your paper, work from just a few bullet points and make it sound less formal. You could consider adding music or visuals to increase interest in your speech.
4. **Set attainable goals.** Thinking big shouldn’t also mean fantasizing about the impossible. It’s tempting to set a wildly ambitious goal to try to inspire yourself to achieve something bigger, but doing so can be setting yourself up for failure.
For example, if you’re thinking big about the kind of house you want to be able to afford one day, think bigger than you normally would maybe $25,000 to $50,000 more, or a couple hundred thousand. But don’t think so big that your plan is to be able to afford a home worth millions and millions of dollars. If one day you can, that’s great, but setting more attainable goals helps to prevent you from being disappointed and helps you feel good about what you can accomplish.
5. **Break up your goal in steps.** When you’re putting your big dreams into practice, recognize that although your end goal is big giving a speech, buying a house, publishing a bestselling book you have to take multiple, smaller steps to get there. The best way to achieve a big goal is therefore to break it up into smaller, more doable steps. Once you have your goal in mind, sit down and make a list of everything that you need to do for that goal to become a reality. This helps you to see it as more achievable and less overwhelming.
For example, if your end goal is to write a best-selling book, an example of starting small might be researching the topics or genres that are becoming more popular (you don’t want to focus on stuff that’s popular now, because chances are things will change before your book is finished).
If you’re writing a speech, starting small might just mean making a list of things you want to give a speech about.
Once you have your goal broken down into steps, rearrange them in the order that you need to accomplish them.
6. **Set deadlines for your goals.** Once you’ve established what your big goals are, you’ll need to set deadlines for them. This makes you accountable and requires that work on accomplishing something everything day. It also helps to make all of the little steps you’ve created seem less overwhelming or more manageable.
Keep in mind that you may need to readjust some of your deadlines, so it is important to be flexible. Don’t beat yourself up if some of your goals need to be readjusted.
7. **Don’t do it alone.** There’s no way you can accomplish big goals all on your own. Bestseller authors don’t publish, print, and distribute millions of copies of their books on their own. To determine what kind of people you need to help you achieve your goals, you’ll need to do some soul searching to determine your own weaknesses. Are you unorganized? Are you easily distracted? Find someone to help you out who is a color-coding organizational guru. Ask a friend who has laser focus to help keep you focused on what you need to do.
Know when you'll need to use other people like publishers or an agent, for example to achieve your goals. Make sure you include contacting such people and whatever they need to do in your list of steps for achieving your goals.
8. **Work consistently.** All of the thinking and planning in the world isn’t going to matter if you don’t eventually take action to make your big goal a reality. You need to work toward your goals every single day. It doesn’t matter how slow you work or how long it takes to see results. If you work consistently toward a goal, eventually you’re going to get there.
Creating a schedule for when in your day you work on each step toward your big goal can help you stay consistent. Set aside a certain amount of time each day at the same time each day to work. This prevents you from getting sidetracked by other things and guarantees that you stay consistent.
Remember that taking action doesn’t necessarily mean accomplishing something really big every day. If you one of your steps for writing a best-selling book is getting an agent, don’t get down on yourself if all you contribute toward accomplishing that step in one day is researching potential agents. You have to take the first step to take the second and as long as you’re taking action, it doesn’t matter how big or small the action is.
9. **Develop a support system.** The most important part of accomplishing big goals is realizing that you need the help and support of people who care about you. Having a support system in place can help you stay motivated. Surrounding yourself with supportive people doesn’t mean surrounding yourself with people who will never critique your plans. You want people who will be honest with you and help you to improve your ideas.
For example, if you’re working on that speech for school, and you’re committed to doing something different with it, ask a friend to listen to what you have and be honest about how they think it’s going. It might be painful to hear that they think what you’re trying just doesn’t work, but it will ultimately make you better. And getting a new perspective helps you stay motivated.
You can also ask your support system to help keep you accountable. Share your deadlines or smaller step goals with them and ask them to check in with you.
Be careful of becoming overly reliant on others, too. If you spend too much time getting other people’s opinions and following their suggestions, you’ll get really good at helping them think big, but won’t do so well thinking big for yourself. Criticism can be helpful sometimes, but it is important not to base your worth on what other people think. Relying too much on other people’s opinions can be self-limiting.
10. **Celebrate small victories.** It’s easy to feel like you’re not getting any closer to accomplishing your goals when you’re focused on the little, everyday things you need to do to get there. Celebrating small victories can help you feel like you are accomplishing something because you are! – and keep up your motivation.
For example, if your goal is to have a best-selling book, you might celebrate the day you finish your research. Or the day you write a chapter. Or even when you get more than one page written in a sitting.
You can celebrate in a lot of different ways, and they don’t have to be expensive. Reward yourself with a piece of chocolate when you check off one of your steps. Or enjoy having a night off and binge a new TV show on a Saturday night. It doesn’t really matter how you celebrate as long as you take a moment (or longer) to acknowledge that you’re making progress.
Try placing a calendar on your wall and crossing off all of the goals you have accomplished, no matter how small.
11. **Don’t be afraid of failure.** If you focus too much on all the ways you might fail, or might fall short of your initial goal, you’ll never have the motivation to get started. Everyone fails from time to time, and it’s okay.
Make a list of the ways that you might fail or fall short, and accept that they are distinct possibilities as you work to accomplish your big goals.
If you do fail, remember that your failure doesn’t define you. Assess what led to your failure and start again.
Keep in mind that success is not a straight line from point A to point B. There will be challenges and setbacks along the way. Learn about some of the challenges you may face and consider how you will handle them. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Think-Big", "language": "en"} |
How to Format a Legal Pleading | A legal pleading is a document drafted and filed with the court. It can trigger a complaint against another person in civil court, or can serve as the answer to a complaint that has been filed against you. It may also serve as formal notification to the judge in your current case that something has occurred that needs judicial intervention. These forms might seem difficult to draft at first, but once you’re familiar with the requirements, you’ll be pleading like a pro. In this article, we’ll show you exactly what to include and how to draft and format your legal pleading. Let’s get started!
1. **Find a pleading form.** Some courts have “check the box” or “fill in the blank” pleading forms, which make the process easy. First, see if your court has form pleadings.
Often, these should be listed on the website for the court. If you can’t find any, call and ask the clerk of court.
2. **Get a copy of the local rules.** Many states and counties have “local rules” that address how pleadings should be formatted. For example, some courts require that pleadings be on special paper. Sometimes “local rules” are posted on the court’s website.
You can also ask the clerk of court for local rules. He or she should be able to point you in the right direction.
You should always follow the local rules. If something in these directions contradicts the local rules, then follow the local rules.
3. **Find an example to copy.** If you can find an example of a pleading that has already been filed, then you can follow the formatting.
If you are a defendant in a lawsuit, look at the complaint filed by the plaintiff. This should give you a good idea of how the pleading should be formatted.
Also search on the web. Some courts will have copies of pleadings from filed lawsuits on the court website, but you can also use a search engine. Type in the name of the court and “pleading.”
If you can’t find an example from the court you are appearing in, then look for an example from another court in your state. Type your state and “pleading” into a search engine.
4. **Use the correct paper.** If the court requires special pleading paper, you can get it on the internet, from the courthouse, or from an office supply store. Pleading paper is legal paper that has numbers 1 through 28 in the left hand margin.
If the court requires pleading paper, then you must draft legal pleadings on pleading paper. Otherwise, the court will refuse your document.
If pleading paper is not required, the paper should be standard 8.5”x11” white paper, printed on only one side.
5. **Include identifying information.** Type your name, address, and phone number in the top left corner of the pleading paper. Use single-spaced lines. The format should look like this.
On the first line, place your full name.
The second line must state your street address.
On the third line, list your city, state, and zip code information.
The fourth and final line is for your complete phone number. The complete phone number includes all numbers needed to contact you for those calling you from outside of your local calling area.
6. **Insert a caption.** The caption states the court where the case has been filed, the parties (for example, “John Smith, Plaintiff v. Jane Smith, Defendant”), the case number, and in some situations the type of case (e.g., “Negligence”).
Leave a double space after the court's information. On the left side of the pleading paper, state the full name of the plaintiff in the case. On the next line, type the word "Plaintiff." Space down two lines and type a "v" which is an abbreviation for the word "versus." Double space one more time and state the full name of the defendant. On the next line type the word "Defendant."
The case number will be assigned by the court clerk after the case has been filed. You can locate this number on your copy of the complaint. If you are filing the complaint, then type “Case No.” and leave a line blank.
7. **Draft the body of the pleading.** After you've listed the parties, double-space down to begin drafting the pleading. The body of your pleading will include whatever information you want the judge to be made aware of, presented in the proper format.
Number each paragraph if you are drafting an answer to the original complaint. Each numbered paragraph will correspond to each allegation in the complaint. Make your answers concise, only addressing one issue per numbered paragraph.
Use double spacing for the entire body of the pleading. If you use single spacing, your pleading may be rejected by the court.
Capitalize, underline, and place in bold the headings for your pleading. Unless you are drafting an answer to the original complaint, you will use headings to distinguish issues from one another. The judge will want to identify your headings quickly. By making them stand out in the document, the judge can more readily find them.
Place page numbers at the bottom and in the center of each page. A page number must be used even if your pleading is only one page in length.
8. **Sign and date the pleading.** After the body of your pleading, double space and sign your pleading. Under your signature, type your full name. Across from your signature, date the document.
9. **Include a certificate of service.** You can insert the certificate of service at the bottom of the page. Center “Certificate of Service” on the page in all caps. Then, state that you served a copy of the pleading on the other party.
Sample language could include, “I hereby certify that I have served a copy of this document on [insert name of other party] either by person or by mailing it postage prepaid on [insert the date].”
Then insert a signature line and sign. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Format-a-Legal-Pleading", "language": "en"} |
How to Calculate Heat of Combustion | Calculating the heat of combustion is a useful tool in analyzing fuels in terms of energy. The Heat of Combustion of a substance is defined as the amount of energy in the form of heat is liberated when an amount of the substance undergoes combustion.
1. **Position the standing rod vertically.** To begin setting up your experiment you will first place the rod on your work table.
2. **Measure 100ml of water into the tin can.**
3. **Put the substance at the base of the standing rod.**
4. **At 5cm above the substance affix the tin can with a clamp to the rod.**
5. **Affix the thermometer so that it is in the tin can but not touching the bottom base.**
6. **Experimentation
** Measure the temperature of the water and note it in degrees celsius.
Measure the mass of the candle and note it in g.
Light the substance.
When the temperature of the water reaches 40 degrees Centigrade, blow out the substance.
Measure the mass of the candle after burning and note it.
7. **Calculation
** Use the formula q = Cp * m * (delta) t to calculate the heat liberated which heats the water.
The specific heat Cp of water is 4.18 J/g C
Mass of the water is 100g
Delta t is the difference between the initial starting temperature and 40 degrees centigrade.
Subtract the initial temperature of the water from 40 C.
Substitute it into the formula and you will get the answer q in J. Convert into kJ by dividing q by 1000.
Find the amount of substance burned by subtracting the final mass from the initial mass of the substance in g.
Divide q in kJ by the mass of the substance burned.
The answer is the experimental heat of combustion in kJ/g.
8. **Write the balanced equation of combustion of the substance.**
9. **Find the enthalpies of formation for the reactants and add them.** Enthalpies of formation are usually found in a table from CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
10. **Find the enthalpies of formation of the products and add them.** Use the table
11. **Subtract the enthalpies of the reactants from the product.**
12. **Switch the sign and that is the Heat of Combustion.** | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Heat-of-Combustion", "language": "en"} |
How to Create and Publish a Novel as a Teenager | So, you want to publish a novel, and you think you're too young, but you're wrong. Anyone can write books, regardless of age, and teens can definitely create and publish novels, just as well as, if not better than, some adults. So what are you doing sitting around? Get writing!
1. **Have genuine confidence that this is possible.** Don't be intimidated or overwhelmed. You are competent. Your age does not matter. In fact, if you're writing a teen novel, your age connects you to your readers.
2. **Start** Write what you care about. You need a good idea of what your novel will be like, and you need enough passion and drive to get through it. You don't have to have a full idea to get started; you can start with just a few characters and a setting, or maybe just an opening sentence. There are many less general articles that can help you decide what to write about if you're unsure (see "related wikiHows").
3. **Choose your genre.** There are novels of romance, fantasy, fiction, sci-fi, action, mystery, non-fiction, horror, etc.
If you wish, you can mix genres. A very popular mixed genre is romance-fantasy.
4. **Decide your topic.** Here is where you create your characters, title, plot, etc. This step is where you make your "Prompt".
5. **Write your blurb.** That is the thing on the back of the book that tells you what it is about. You can also write things like the prologue or intro. This isn't absolutely necessary but the nice thing about doing it is that it keeps you focused on the nub of your story and the hoped-for outcome.
6. **Outline your chapters.** List your proposed chapters and decide the thing that happens in each chapter. Don't put minor things in your chapter outline.
Create an outline for Chapter One. List the things that are going to happen in it. You are basically summarizing the chapter, so that when it comes to the actual writing, it's already in skeleton form and you begin fleshing out the detail.
7. **Consider the following things when creating your novel:** More than likely, you are writing about a teen or preteen stuck in some situation. Some things you want to remember are:
Don't use confusing words and long paragraphs. Your reader will get turned off immediately.
Terms that preteens and teens use grow old over time. If you use these words, this is also a turnoff. Don't use the same terms over and over. Your readers will get bored.
Make sure it is appropriate for the age you are writing for. For example, don't write a teenage novel called "Rainbow, the Magic Pony Saves the Day."
When you're done, show your work to a friend, parent, or teacher. Have them give you feedback on what you should edit.
Throw the advice and go with what feels right and downright original. New ways of seeing the world have to emerge from somewhere plus a dose of courage. On the very young and the very old can afford to be that daring, so risk it.
8. **Find your writing style.** You'll have to play around a bit to figure out what feels comfortable for the story you're writing. Different styles can include past and present tense, first and third person, prose and verse. It will depend on the voice of your characters and what you are trying to express. Try taking your first chapter and re-writing it in different styles until you hit the one that fits best.
9. **Try to write a little every day.** However, don't be afraid to put your book aside for a few days, as doing this is better than you hating the chore of writing. Writing a book is going to take you a long time and a lot of hard work. When you get stuck, and hit writer's block, don't freak out. There are about a hundred different ways to, and the most practiced is just to wait it out. It'll pass. Every writer has a different way of getting through a novel, so nobody can really tell you the best way to go about it. Some write straight from beginning to end, and others skip around; some write a chapter a day, and others write only when the inspiration hits; there is really no definitive way to arrive at the end of your novel. But in the end, if you give it time, and if you have the passion, you will get there.
10. **Go gradually.** If it's hard for you to write in sequential order, and you're more interested in one part and then another the next day, then write in pieces. Hopefully, you will know your plot well enough to be able to work in pieces and then go back and stitch those pieces together. Writing in sequential order can get boring, so write what interests you that day. Even if it's another idea, it will all come together eventually. However, there is the danger of getting lazy and not wanting to go back and fill in the parts that are more boring to write. Don't get to that spot, fellow teen writer — if even you aren't interested in a certain part of your book, what makes you think readers will be?
Take your time. If you reach a point in the novel where you are stuck, take a break and come back to it later. Frustration will be your only reward if you just sit there struggling and trying to do something you can't. A good book or series takes time to make. J.K Rowling and her books (Harry Potter) took her over 17 years to complete. Take your time and in the long run it will be worth it.
Don't stay up late, all night, trying to get the whole thing finished in a month. It's doubtful that's going to happen and it will only make you really tired. This, in turn, will make it harder for you to think and work on what you have. Get enough sleep, eat breakfast, do well in school, etc. You will get it finished; even if it takes a year, you will get it finished if you work on it. Rushing through things isn't going to improve your writing, if anything it's going to make it worse.
11. **Edit and revise your first draft.** Your first critic is yourself; you will need to go back over everything you have written and revise it to make it better. Especially if this is your first novel, you will have a lot to fix. It's hard to let go, but sometimes even good writing needs to be deleted to move the story in the right direction. There might be huge changes that need to be made before you get to the next step.
12. **Get outside editing help.** Get a few friends or family members to read it and give you direction, and then you may want a professional literary editor. You can find one online, even in the phone book, and they can be really helpful. However, they can also be expensive, so if you're confident, you can skip the pro editor. Besides, you should know that your publisher will probably want their own editor to look at it before it's published, anyway. Still, you should at least send it to a teacher or another adult with literary experience that you trust. Teens and friends, though helpful, will miss things that teachers and other adults will pick up their first time through, and / or will be gentle to spare your feelings. Do not be afraid of criticism, as sometimes it's downright embarrassing, but most of the time it really helps you to grow as a writer.
13. **Look for an agent.** Sending your manuscript straight to the publisher might save agent expenses, but it takes a very long time for those nice and capable and busy publishers and editors to get through what is commonly known as "The Slush Pile". There is a reason why it's called that. Get a literary agent. They're not cheap, but they make a writer's work easy. Many publishing houses (as stated above) only work through literary agents. Send your work to them, they're nice and they really help. But, make sure that you give them exactly what they ask for, if you don't they are disinclined from the start to represent you. And that will only make things harder.
When you look for an agent, find one who is interested in the genre of book that you're writing in. Read a good article on writing query letters, get some practice, don't go over a page, and follow the agent's preferences. If they say to only send snail mail, then send snail mail. If they want the first chapter, don't give them the whole book. Try agentquery.com for a first look.
It may be hard to find an agent. However, it can be really useful, so persevere. Your agent will bring your book to publishers that he/she thinks are likely to publish it, and many publishers nowadays will only deal with authors through a literary agent. You will have to find one who is available and send a query letter. Don't be afraid if one rejects you, just go on to the next one. Even J.K. Rowling was rejected, twelve times, when she tried to publish Harry Potter.
As honest as you want to be with the agents that you're querying, it is best not to tell them your age. You'd be surprised how many authors (even the adult ones) don't tell the agents how old they are. If you write your query and manuscript well enough, the agents will let the writing speak for itself, and they won't even realize that you're thirteen, or fourteen, or one hundred and seventeen. If they like it they'll call, regardless of your age and past credentials.
If the agent makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, then you end the conversation as quickly as possible. Don't be taken advantage of. "Yes, thank you so very much. But I've had a few other offers (even if you haven't, still use this. It's polite, it's a white lie, and it's better to put off a bad agent and wait for a good one, bad agents won't help you.) and I'd like to think about them. I thank you very much for your time. Should I contact you if I decide that I would like you to represent me, or should we work out something else?" Or something like that. A bad agent gets you nowhere.
14. **Send your finished product straight to the publisher, or your literary agent.** Send your work to multiple agents at a time. They're good, but few are miracle workers, and they're very busy. They've got dozens upon dozens of manuscripts to read besides yours. In your query, don't forget to thank the agent(s) for their valuable time: the time that might interest them in your work and get you published. Besides, it's common courtesy.
Note that not every publishing company online is safe and true.
15. **Know that when your agent finds you a publisher, you will be able to work from there with the publishing company.** Don't let them look down on you for your age; get your royalties settled, talk about what you want for cover art, express your opinion. You'll probably want to bring an experienced adult friend to be your advisor with royalties and such. Different companies will work in different ways and expect different things, but they will keep you in the loop. Enjoy the process, although it takes time.
When an agent calls - and gives you the call - then be happy. Be polite, and courteous, and thank them very much for reading what you've written. Be humble; do not compare your work to best sellers or other books that they've represented or any other works at all. It's bad form. You can ask questions; even literary agents don't know everything. Be professional and when they ask your age, if they ask your age, be very mature and tell them exactly how old you are. Lying will not help, you cannot sign a contract when you are under eighteen - it's illegal - and lying will only come back and bite you in the butt.
16. **Get your book out there.** You are now a published author. Sign up for public readings, author and book events in the neighborhood. Do a book signing at your library. And be proud of yourself. You worked hard. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Create-and-Publish-a-Novel-as-a-Teenager", "language": "en"} |
How to Ride a Bike Without Training Wheels | It's finally time to take the training wheels off and ride! Whether you're a kid trying to teach yourself how to ride your bike or a parent working with your child, the process of losing training wheels can be quick, easy, and exciting. Don't be nervous — everyone has to learn how to ride without training wheels sooner or later!
1. **Wear a helmet and safety gear.** You should ‘’always’’ wear a helmet when you’re on your bike, but you might also want to wear other pieces of safety gear too! These make it less scary when you try to ride without training wheels. Since safety gear keeps you from getting hurt, you won’t be as nervous of falling off your bike or crashing. Here are some things you might want to wear the first time you try to ride without training wheels:
Elbow pads
Knee pads
Wrist guards
2. **Make sure your feet can touch the ground.** Bikes are less scary to ride when you know that you can stop yourself. Before you take your training wheels off, get on your bike and try to touch the ground with your feet. If you can’t reach, get a grown-up to help you lower the seat.
It’s OK if you can’t touch the ground with both feet at once when you're sitting on the seat — you only need one to stop yourself when you're sitting down. You should be able to touch the ground with both feet when you're standing in front of the seat, though.
3. **Find a flat spot to ride in.** Bring your bike to a place that’s wide, open, and flat, like a park or a parking lot. Someplace with soft grass is best — it doesn’t hurt to fall on grass, so it’s not scary to practice riding on it. You can practice by yourself, but it’s easier if you have a friend or grown-up to help you!
If your bike still has its training wheels on, get a grown-up to take them off before you go to the place where you’ll ride.
4. **Practice pedalling and braking.** Sit on your bike and hold yourself up by putting your feet on the ground. Put one foot on the pedal and push down! Push yourself forward with your other foot at the same time. Put both of your feet on the pedals and keep pedalling! If you need to stop, pedal backwards (unless your bike has a hand brake — then just squeeze it with your fingers).
Don’t be afraid to put down your feet if you need to! The first few times you practice pedaling, it can feel like you’re going to fall, so don’t worry about stopping and putting your feet on the ground when you have to.
5. **Practice turning while you pedal.** When you have the hang of starting and stopping, try going left and right. While you’re pedalling forward, turn the handlebars just a tiny bit to the right. You should go to the right. Next, turn the just a little to the left. You should go to the left. Try turning a little more to each side — see how far you can turn without feeling uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to stop yourself if you have a hard time turning!
It's actually harder to turn when you're going really slow than when you're going really fast. When you're barely moving at all, balancing is tricky, so if you're having a hard time turning, try going a little faster.
6. **Practice going up and down hills.** Next, find a small hill or slope. Try pedalling up it — you'll need to push a little harder than normal to get to the top! When you're at the top, try going down slowly. Use your brakes to keep slow. When you're at the bottom, go up again, and this time, go a little faster. Do this again and again until you can go down the hill without using your brakes.
Be patient! It can take a while until you're able to go down a hill without stopping, so don't worry if you can't do it the first time you try.
Start out with small hills. Don't try to ride down big hills until you're good at riding without training wheels.
7. **Get a friend or parent to push you if you need help.** It's a lot easier to learn how to ride without training wheels if you have someone with you to help out. Try asking a parent, a friend who can ride without training wheels, or your brother or sister to give you a hand if you can. These people can make it easier to learn in a lot of ways, but one of the best ways they can help is by running next to you and holding you up until you can pedal on your own.
8. **Don't give up!** Learning how to ride without training wheels can be scary, but once you can do it, riding a bike is a lot more fun. If you can't ride without training wheels after the first day of practice, don't worry — you'll get it eventually! Try again with the help of a friend or grown-up when you have the chance. Never give up — riding without training wheels is something almost everyone has to learn how to do. Each time you practice, riding should get easier and easier until it's the only way you can ride!
9. **Take your child to an open area with a gentle hill.** Though every child learns differently, for many children, slowly coasting down a long, gentle slope is one of the easiest ways to learn. Rolling forward at a slow, controlled speed allows children to get comfortable with the idea that staying upright on a bike without training wheels is almost as easy as staying upright on one with training wheels.
Grassy spots can be great for this. Grass keeps kids from going too fast on their bikes and cushions any falls they may have, making the experience much less stressful for them. The last thing you want is for your child to take a bad spill and get so afraid of riding without training wheels that they won't try again.
10. **Make sure your child is well-protected and their bike is a good height.** Don't let your child get on their bike without a helmet. Not only is it dangerous, but also a very bad habit to let your child get into. You might also want to consider letting your child wear extra protective gear like knee and elbow pads — for children who are nervous about the idea of riding, this extra protection can make them feel more confident. Finally, make sure that your child can reach the ground with their feet when sitting on the bike, adjusting the seat as necessary.
Note that some places have laws making it mandatory for all bike riders below a certain age to wear a helmet. In some circumstances breaking these sorts of laws can count as a misdemeanor offense for the parent.
11. **Let your child coast downhill while you hold them.** When the child's ready to ride, let them gently roll down the hill or slope you're practicing at. Hold on to their shoulders or the back of their seat to keep them upright. Repeat this a few times until your child is confident and comfortable moving forward on their bike with your help.
As you walk or jog next to the bike, be careful not to put either of your feet in front of (or between) the wheels.
12. **Let your child coast using their feet to stop themselves.** Next, let your child coast the same slow, easy route down the hill as before, but this time, don't hold them unless they need it. Instruct the child to use their feet to control themselves or stop themselves as needed. This teaches the child the all-important balance skills needed to stay upright on a bike in a safe, controlled setting.
If your child starts to lose control, grab them to keep them upright. Though a few spills may be unavoidable, you'll probably want to avoid them if you can, as they can make your child scared to continue.
13. **Let your child coast using their brakes.** Next, do the exact same thing as before, except, this time, tell the child to use their bike's brakes to control their speed. When they get to the bottom, tell them to stop with their brakes. Repeat as needed until the child is confident slowing themselves and stopping without your help. Teaching the child that they can always stop the bike if they heed to is a very important part of building the child's confidence on the bike.
Most children's bikes have foot brakes — in other words, the child has to pedal backwards to brake. Many bike training resources recommend foot brakes for children learning to ride without training wheels because learning how to use the hands in addition to all of the other skills that riding without training wheels requires can be overwhelming for young children. However, if your child's bike has a hand brake, it's still perfectly possible for them to learn on it — it may just take a little more practice.
14. **Teach turning in a flat area.** Next, mover to a flatter area. Have the child start pedaling forward, then brake to stop. Repeat this several times until they are comfortable. Then, direct your child to try turning the handlebars just slightly while they ride forward. Walk next to the child as they turn, supporting them as needed. It can take some time for the child to get confident turning, so be patient.
Ideally, the child should learn to lean into the turns ever so slightly. However, this can be difficult to communicate to young children, so you may want to have it be something the child discovers on their own.
15. **Teach your child how to pedal up a paved incline.** Next, have your child pedal up a gentle slope. Here, a hard surface can be better than grass because grass can make it hard for the child to gain enough speed to make it up the hill. Tell the child to push hard on the pedals and, as always, support them as needed to prevent them from falling.
16. **Gradually reduce your support.** As your child practices their skills, slowly start holding onto them less and less until they're comfortable with you simply walking beside them. Then, slowly stay further and further away from the child as they ride until they're comfortable riding without you next to them at all. Slow, steady progress is the key here — you basically want the child to start riding on their own without even knowing they're doing it.
Be prepared to "go backwards" for a short while if your child takes a nasty spill. It's better to offer your support after a fall than to make your child go it alone — this can turn them off from of biking on their own, making it harder to teach them essential riding skills in the long term.
17. **Use positive reinforcement.** Stay upbeat and positive as you teach your child to ride without training wheels. Praise them for the progress they make. Tell them that they make you proud when they finally get to the point of being able to ride on their own. Don't berate them for making mistakes or push them to do things they're not comfortable doing. You want your child to eventually like riding their bike — if they do, they'll eventually be able to continue teaching themselves without any help from you.
Positive reinforcement, the practice of giving a child rewards for good behavior, is recommended by many serious parenting resources. Positive reinforcement teaches a child what good behavior is while giving them love and attention, which are important for any child.
18. **Try a bike with hand brakes.** Eventually, most kids stop using bikes with foot brakes and start using ones with hand brakes. Hand brakes give the rider a little more control by allowing them to choose which wheel to brake with. To use a hand brake, simply squeeze the metal bar in front of either hand grip. The back wheel brake usually slows the bike down more gradually, while the front brake slows the bike down more quickly — be careful not to use the front brake too hard or you might go over the handle bars!
Though every child learns at their own pace, in general, most kids are capable of learning to use hand brakes after about six years of age.
19. **Try using a bike with gears.** Just like most kids eventually start using hand brakes, sooner or later, most kids eventually learn how to ride a bike with gears. Gears make it easy to go very fast, climb steep hills, and maintain a "cruising" speed without pedaling hard. To use gears, simply push the lever or switch near the hand grips in either direction. You should notice it suddenly get easier or harder to pedal — the harder it is to pedal, the faster your pedaling will make you go.
Again, every child learns at their own pace. Most kids from ages 9-12 are capable of using bikes with gears after a little basic training.
20. **Try standing while you pedal.** Standing up while you pedal instead of using the seat lets you push on the pedals extra-hard, which makes this a great way to get up hills or gain speed very quickly. In addition, you have to be able to stand up on your bike to do lots of bike tricks (like the bunny hop below). You may find that it's tricky to balance at first or that your legs get tired quickly when you first try to stand up while pedaling. However, with a little practice, it's not hard to build up the strength and balance you need to master this skill.
21. **Try biking off-road.** When you're comfortable biking on clear, even surfaces like streets, sidewalks, and fields, try biking on an off-road trail. You'll find that this is a little different than biking on a road — it's usually slower, bumpier, and requires you to watch the path in front of you more. However, off-road biking can be a great way to exercise and see parts of the wilderness you haven't seen before, so give it a shot!
22. **Try doing a bunny hop.** When you feel confident riding your bike at any speed and in any location, try learning a few easy tricks! For example, you can try doing a bunny hop by working up to a slow speed, standing up, and pulling up on the handle bars as you push off of the ground and throw your weight upwards. In the air, lean forward to level out so that you hit the ground on both wheels. When you get good at this, you should be able to pull off a small "hop" which is great for getting you up curbs without stopping.
Don't be discouraged if you fall or "wipe out" a few times when you're trying to learn the bunny hop and other tricks. Minor nicks and bruises are part of the process of learning — you can't learn without making a few mistakes! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Bike-Without-Training-Wheels", "language": "en"} |
How to Install an Outdoor Outlet | Exterior outlets are a great addition to your home if you want to have the option to plug something in outside. Luckily, installing an outlet outdoors requires minimal wiring so you can easily do it in an afternoon. Line up the new exterior outlet with one that you already have inside so you can connect power between them. Once you find a spot for your outlet, drill through your walls so you can run the wires outside. With a little bit of work, you'll be able to power anything you need outdoors!
1. **Find an indoor receptacle to connect to on the wall where you want the exterior outlet.** Look around the outside of your home for an area where you want to place the outlet, such as on a porch or patio. Once you find the spot where you want to place the outlet, go inside your home and find the nearest outlet on the other side of the exterior wall. Be sure to choose an outlet that isn't switch-operated or else the exterior outlet won't work when you plug into it.
If you don't have an inside outlet on the wall where you want the exterior outlet, then hire an electrician to run wires from your circuit box to the spot.
Rather than connecting to an existing receptacle, you can also run the outlet back to your circuit breaker.
2. **Turn off the power at the circuit box for the outlet that you're connecting to.** Locate the breaker inside your circuit box that controls the interior outlet and flip the switch to the off position. Put an outlet tester in the plug to see if it still has a current running through it. If none of the lights turn on when you plug the tester in, then it's disconnected from power and you can continue working.
Try the outlet tester in a plug that you know works to make sure the tester functions properly.
Never work on an outlet when it's still connected to power since you could electrocute yourself.
If some of the lights still turn on when you plug the tester in, then the outlet is still live and you turned off the wrong breaker. Continue testing the breakers until the tester says the outlet has no power.
3. **Remove the outlet from the wall to access the box behind it.** Use a screwdriver to remove the cover plate on the outlet and set it aside. Unscrew the screws on the top and bottom of the outlet to loosen it from the wall. Once you remove the screws from the outlet, carefully pull it out from the wall so the wires stay attached to it.
Keep the screws for your outlet in a small container so you don't misplace them while you're working.
4. **Drill straight through the back of the outlet box and siding.** Position the end of a 12 in (30 cm) drill bit through the hole at the back of the outlet box, making sure it doesn't touch any wires. Turn the drill on and slowly push through the wall behind the outlet box. Continue pushing the drill bit through the wall until you feel it pop out through the exterior wall and through your siding.
If you can't drill through the back of the outlet box, then drill the hole next to the top corner of the box so you can still easily access the wires.
If the inside outlet is less than 1 foot (30 cm) from the ground, angle your drill bit up so it comes out higher on the exterior wall. Never place an exterior outlet less than 1 foot (30 cm) from the ground since it could easily be exposed to moisture.
If you're drilling through concrete or brick, use a drill bit meant for masonry.
5. **Feed a 12/2 cable through the hole in your outlet box.** A 12/2 cable contains a live, neutral, and ground wire inside so you can easily attach an outlet to it. Push the 12/2 cable through the hole you just drilled so there's 5 inches (13 cm) of excess on the inside and outside of your home. Cut the cable to size with a pair of wire cutters.
You can buy 12/2 cables from your local hardware store.
6. **Strip 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) off the interior end of the 12/2 cable.** Clamp the jaws of a 12/2 cable stripper 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) from the end of the cable and squeeze the handles together. Pull the stripper toward the end of the cable to cut through the insulation and expose the 3 wires inside. Pull any leftover insulation off the 12/2 cable if it doesn't come off with the stripper.
You can get a 12/2 stripper from your local hardware store.
7. **Expose 1 in (2.5 cm) on the end of each wire inside the 12/2 cable.** The 12/2 cable contains a black wire, a white wire, and an exposed copper wire. Grip the black wire 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end with a pair of wire strippers and pull them toward you to remove the insulation. Repeat the process on the white wire so you can attach them to the outlet.
Sometimes, the ground wire may have green insulation around it. If there's a green wire in the cable, strip it as well.
8. **Loop the black wire clockwise around the live screw on the outlet.** Use a pair of needlenose pliers to bend the end of the black wire into a loop. Locate the black screw on the side of the outlet and position the loop you made underneath the screw head. Make sure the loop goes clockwise around the screw so it has a full connection. Tighten the black screw to secure the live wire in place.
Check the back of your interior outlet to see if it has ports where you can plug additional wires in. That way, you don't need to loop the wire around the screw but it will still get power.
9. **Secure the white wire around the silver neutral screw.** Bend the end of the white wire into a small circle with a pair of needlenose pliers. Loop the wire around the silver screw on the opposite side of the outlet so it goes clockwise. Tighten the screw with a screwdriver to secure the wire in place.
Put the wire in the back of the outlet behind the silver screw if there's a port so you don't have to wrap it around the screw.
10. **Wrap the ground wire from the 12/2 cable around the one attached to the outlet.** Straighten the end of the exposed copper wire from the 12/2 line with your pair of pliers and line it up with the ground wire connected to the top or bottom of the outlet. Twist the wire from the 12/2 cable around the ground wire on the outlet by hand so it has a secure connection.
If the ground wire attached to the outlet has insulation around it, then wrap the end of the ground wire around the screw on the top or bottom of the outlet.
11. **Secure the interior outlet back in place.** Push the outlet and wires back into the outlet box inside your wall. Line up the screws on the top and bottom of the outlet and secure them in place with your screwdriver. Put the cover over the outlet and screw it back in so all the wires are inside your wall.
Don't turn on your breaker for the outlet yet since the wires on the other side of the 12/2 cable are still exposed.
12. **Screw an exterior outlet box to the outside wall so it lines up with the hole.** Be sure to get an outlet box that's meant for exterior use. Guide the end of the 12/2 cable through the hole in the middle of the exterior box and push the box against your siding. Locate the screw holes in the back of the box and drive screws into your siding to secure it tightly in place.
You can buy exterior outlet boxes from your local hardware or home improvement store.
If you have brick exterior walls, position the screws so they go through the middle of the bricks rather than through the mortar.
13. **Buy a GFCI outlet that's approved for outdoor use.** GFCI outlets have a failsafe on them so they immediately stop working when they get wet. Look for a GFCI outlet that's rated for outdoor use or else it may not be safe to use. Make sure that the outlet fits inside the exterior box you attached to the wall so it's protected from the elements.
You can buy GFCI outlets from your local hardware store.
14. **Strip 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) off the end of the 12/2 cable to expose the wires inside.** Clamp your 12/2 stripper so it's 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) from the end of the cable. Pull the stripper toward the end of the cable to remove the outer insulation around the 3 wires inside it. Pull the wires apart to separate them so they're easier to work with.
You can also slice down the middle of the 12/2 cable with a utility knife and peel back the insulation to expose the wires.
15. **Remove 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) of insulation from the live and neutral wires.** Grip the black wire 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end with a pair of wire strippers. Pull the stripper toward the end of the wire to remove the insulation and expose the copper wire inside. Repeat the process with the white wire so you can attach it to the neutral screw.
Remove the green insulation from the ground wire if it has it.
16. **Attach each of the wires to their corresponding screws.** Wrap the end of the black wire around the black screw and the white wire on the silver screw. Attach the end of the copper ground wire to the green screw that's either on the top or bottom of the outlet. Make sure the loops go around the screws clockwise so the current can travel at full strength. Once all the wires are attached, tighten all of the screws so they have a secure connection.
Your outlet may have ports on the back where you can plug the wires in rather than wrapping them around the screws.
17. **Screw the outlet into the exterior box to hold it in place.** Hold the outlet inside of the exterior box so the screwholes line up with one another and so the wires are tucked in the back of the box. Use either wood screws or masonry anchors depending on whether you have wood or concrete exterior walls. Tighten the screws on the outlet to the sides of the box so it's secured in place.
Some exterior boxes allow you to screw the outlets directly into them so you don't need to put more screws in your siding.
18. **Turn on the power to the outlet to test if it works.** Flip the switch on your circuit box so your outlets have power again. Plug your outlet tester into the indoor and outdoor outlets to see if they're working. Check the key on top the tester to determine if the wiring for your outlets are correct.
If the outlets still aren't working or the tester shows the wiring is wrong, turn off the circuit again and check the wires. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Install-an-Outdoor-Outlet", "language": "en"} |
How to Eat Soursop | Soursop is a greenish-yellow fruit with tiny spikes that is found in many Spanish-speaking countries. It tastes similar to a pineapple and goes by a variety of names, including custard apple, graviola, and guanabana. To enjoy a soursop fruit, peel away the tough outer skin and remove the toxic inner seeds. Use the interior pulp as a base for smoothies, milkshakes, and other chilled drinks. You can also roast large sections of the pulp or eat it raw in cubes.
1. **Choose a soursop with yellow-green skin.** An unripe soursop has a dark green tinted skin. It can take a week or more to ripen. When it does ripen the skin color will change to more of a yellowish tone. A soursop fruit should also feel soft and slightly mushy to the touch when it is ready to eat.
A soursop fruit will also ripen in the fridge, although it may take a bit longer.
If you eat an unripe soursop it will taste tart and the pulp will be very tough and grainy.
2. **Wash it with warm water.** Before you get ready to eat your soursop, hold the fruit under warm tap water for 2-3 minutes. Rub your hands along the surface of the fruit to remove any dirt or other debris. For an even higher level of cleanliness, you can rinse off the fruit with a produce cleaning solution, which you can buy at the grocery store.
3. **Remove the skin.** The outer skin of the soursop is not edible, so you’ll need to remove it. Score the end of the fruit with your knife, so that your cuts form an “X.” Make it just deep enough to reach past the skin and into the pulp. Then, use your fingers to separate the skin sections. Grab a single section of skin at a time and pull it downward and away from the pulp, effectively peeling the fruit.
Peel it like you would a banana. Use your knife to clean up any areas where the pulp isn’t exposed.
The soursop has tiny thorns spread over its skin. However, these are usually not firm enough to irritate your skin when handling the fruit.
4. **Cut it longways.** Get a sharp paring knife. Lay the fruit down on a cutting board. Holding it firmly, cut it in half down the middle. With a ripe soursop you should be able to make one clean cut. If you would like more access to the seeds, then you can cut it once more into fourths.
5. **Remove the seeds.** When you cut open the soursop you will see custard-colored flesh with a handful of long, smooth black seeds. You can dig into the flesh with a grapefruit spoon and lift out each seed. Some people prefer to use their fingers to feel out each seed. Try to get out all of the seeds, as they contain neurotoxins.
Within each of the long seed pods that you see are dozens of smaller seeds.
Make sure to carefully dispose of the seeds after removing them, so that no animals or people will have access to them.
6. **Store leftover pieces in an airtight container.** Get a plastic or glass bowl container with a tight-fitting lid. Place the sections of soursop into the container and seat it tightly. The fruit will last in the refrigerator for about a week.
7. **Eat it raw.** Get a spoon and push it right into the soft interior pulp. Or, you can dice the soursop up with a sharp knife and eat it in bite-sized pieces. Another option is to blend the pulp into a paste and then eat the paste with a spoon.
A soursop fruit has a flavor similar to a pineapple. Like many tropical fruits, it contains both sweet and sour flavors mixed together.
8. **Refrigerate the pulp to increase its sweetness.** If you try to eat your soursop fruit raw and it irritates or tingles your mouth, wait a few days and then try it again. In the meantime, store the pulp in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If you wait, you’ll also notice that the fruit gets progressively sweeter.
9. **Roast it.** A ripe soursop can be prepared just like a vegetable for consumption. You can place soursop chunks or halves into an oven on 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius) and cook for 20-30 minutes or until extra soft. To add even more flavor, sprinkle the soursop with cinnamon or nutmeg prior to roasting.
Just like pineapple, you can also place slices of soursop onto a hot grill. Drizzle these pieces with honey to make an extra special treat.
10. **Use it for homemade ice cream.** Get out your manual or electric ice cream maker. In the mixing compartment, add together ¾ cup (180 mL) pureed soursop pulp, 1 cup (240 mL) milk, ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, and 2 cups (475 mL) heavy whipping cream. Follow the directions on your ice maker for processing and scoop out the final product when finished.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can also freeze this mixture into ice cubes.
11. **Make a soursop cream pie.** In a large bowl, whisk together ½ cup (120 mL) of egg yolk with ¾ cup (75 g) of powdered sugar. Add in 1 cup (240 mL) heavy cream. In a small pan, heat up 1 cup (240 mL) soursop puree along with 1 ounce (28 g) powdered gelatin. Stir 12 ounces (350 mL) white chocolate couverture and 1 cup (240 mL) fresh black sapote into the pan. Pour the cream mixture into the pan as well. Stir well and then pour it from the pan into a pie dish. Chill for 2 hours or until firm.
12. **Be cautious when eating it for medicinal purposes.** Although there are some claims that soursop can help with cancer therapies, this information has yet to be tested by medical authorities. There are also some concerns regarding eating large quantities of soursop, due to the presence of traces of neurotoxins.
13. **Make a fruit smoothie.** You can get a bit creative when working with soursop and other fruits. Place soursop chunks in your blender alongside bananas, kiwis, strawberries, or blueberries. Fill the rest of the blender up with ice. Blend until the mixture is smooth and drinkable. Pour some into a glass and refrigerate the rest for later.
14. **Make a milkshake.** Place the pulp from 1 ripe soursop fruit, 1 frozen banana, ½ cup (120 mL) coconut water, and ½ cup (120 mL) almond milk into a blender. Add a dash of cinnamon and vanilla flavoring for extra taste. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Pour your shake into a glass. Garnish with a bit of ground cinnamon on top.
15. **Make a chilled drink.** Add the pulp from 1 ripe soursop fruit and 2 cups (475 mL) water into a blender. Puree until smooth. Then, add 1 additional cup (240 mL) of water, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons (30 mL) fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon (5 mL) grated nutmeg into the blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
This drink can be served chilled or even over ice.
If you don’t like the taste of condensed milk, you can sweeten up your drink by adding honey instead.
16. **Brew soursop tea.** Place 2 or 3 soursop leaves into a tea cup. Pour boiling water on top of the leaves and let the cup sit for 5-10 minutes. Remove the leaves with a spoon. Add sugar or honey for extra sweetness. Soursop tea is good both hot and cold, so there’s no need to wait to enjoy it.
Attached to the stem of each piece of soursop fruit are 4 to 6 leaves. The leaves are bright green in color and oval in shape. You can buy a piece of fruit with the leaves still attached or you can purchase dried leaves from your local specialty grocery store.
17. **Put it in a juicer.** Get a hand crank or electric juicer. After you’ve peeled and de-seeded your soursop, cut it into small chunks. Feed these chunks into your juicer. Make sure that you’ve placed a glass at the spout to collect the juice. Throw the remaining pulp way. You can drink soursop juice straight or add it to ice cream or yogurt. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Soursop", "language": "en"} |
How to Cook Dandelion Greens | Dandelion greens are a wild edible that are high in iron, calcium, protein, and vitamins A and C, plus they can add a delicious new taste to salads, soups, sandwiches, and side dishes. While many people think of dandelions as nothing more than a pesky weed, they have been used for ages to make foods, wines, and even jellies. Some people do find dandelions bitter, which is why it can help to boil them before cooking, or mask their bitterness by balancing it out with other flavors. It also helps if you harvest dandelion greens when they are young, either before or while the plant is flowering.
1. **Boil a large pot of water.** One way to help remove some of the bitterness from dandelion greens is to boil them first in water. Fill a large pot with water, add a teaspoon (5 g) of salt, and bring it to a boil.
2. **Soak the dandelions.** As you wait for the water to boil, fill a large bowl with water and a teaspoon (5 g) of salt. Soak the greens for about 10 minutes, then drain them.
3. **Boil the greens.** When the water is boiling and the greens have soaked, boil them for three to four minutes, until they are tender. Drain the water and shock the greens by rinsing them with cold water until they are chilled. Set them aside in a colander or strainer.
Blanching will quickly lower the temperature of the dandelion greens to stop the cooking process and keep them from becoming soggy.
Instead of discarding the water the dandelions boiled in, consider saving it for watering the garden.
4. **Sauté the remaining ingredients.** Pour the olive oil into a large frying pan and heat it on medium. When it’s hot, add the onion and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about five minutes, until the onion is tender.
When the onion is ready, add in the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
For an added zesty kick, consider adding a teaspoon (5 g) of fresh, minced ginger.
To change the flavor of the dressing, try using walnut, sesame, coconut, or peanut oil instead of olive.
5. **Sauté the dandelion greens.** Increase the heat of the frying pan to medium-high. When the pan is ready, add the greens and cook them for three to four minutes, until the water has evaporated.
As they cook, use tongs or a fork to move them around in the pan.
6. **Remove from the heat and serve.** Season the greens with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve with a wedge of fresh lemon.
7. **Roast the garlic.** This warm dandelion salad is dressed with a roasted garlic dressing and served with toasted nuts. Preheat the oven to 400 F (204 C). To roast the garlic:
Peel off the outer layer of skin from a head of garlic, leaving all the cloves intact. With a good knife, cut the tips off the head of the cloves to expose the garlic underneath.
Place the garlic on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle the whole head with a tablespoon (15 ml) of oil. Wrap the garlic in the foil, place it on a baking sheet or oven-safe dish and bake for 35 to 55 minutes.
When the garlic is done, the cloves inside will be golden and caramelized. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before popping the cloves out of the skins.
8. **Toast the nuts.** Preheat your oven to 350 F (177 C). Spread the nuts out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for five to 10 minutes (five minutes for pine nuts, 10 minutes for almonds), flipping or stirring halfway through.
9. **Prepare the dressing.** Place all the cloves from the head of roasted garlic into a food processor or blender. Blend it until smooth, along with the oil, vinegar, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
10. **Warm the greens.** Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the dressing and warm it for about two minutes. Add the shallot and cook for another three to five minutes, until it’s soft.
11. **Serve the salad.** Arrange the dandelion greens in a large bowl and pour the dressing over them. Toss the salad until the greens are coated. Toss in the toasted nuts, season with pepper, and serve.
You can also make this salad with a variety of greens, such as spinach, arugula, endive, cabbage, frisée, kale and radicchio.
When you add the nuts at the end, you can also sprinkle in a small handful of currants for an additional texture and flavor.
If you picked your own dandelion greens from the garden for this salad, pick the flowers as well and use them to garnish the salad, as they are also edible.
12. **Add them to lasagna and pastas.** Many pasta dishes, especially vegetable ones, come with greens and other vegetables, but more often than not the only green used is spinach. To change things up a little, consider replacing the spinach with dandelion greens next time you make:
Stuffed shells
Vegetable lasagna
Penne arrabbiata, which is a spicy sauce made with garlic, tomatoes, and red chilies
13. **Stir fry them.** Stir fries are an easy and tasty way to pack a whole lot of vegetables and nutrients into a single meal. Stir fries are often made with vegetables like broccoli, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and greens. Try adding dandelion greens to your next stir fry, but be sure to add them in the final minutes of cooking.
14. **Make them into pesto.** Pesto is a sauce typically made from garlic, salt, pine nuts, basil, and cheese. All the ingredients get blended together to make a sauce or spread. Next time you're making pesto, consider substituting roasted pumpkin seeds for the pine nuts and dandelion greens for some or all of the basil.
15. **Eat dandelion greens on a sandwich.** When you order a BLT at a restaurant, you’ve probably come to expect a soggy, tasteless lettuce wedged between juicy tomato and crispy bacon. But next time you're making your own lunch or snack, take a little more time with the lettuce portion and consider using dandelion greens instead of romaine or traditional iceberg lettuce. Dandelion greens can be used to spice up:
Sandwiches
Wraps
Tacos
Paninis | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Dandelion-Greens", "language": "en"} |
How to Write a Legal Contract | A contract creates legal obligations between two or more “parties” (individuals, businesses, institutions, etc) involved in the contract. Contracts are agreements to exchange something of value (usually goods or services) that are enforceable in court. It is important to include the appropriate information in a contract to protect all parties and ensure fairness.
1. **Determine whether you need a contract.** If you are exchanging something of significant value with someone, such as your labor or services, intellectual property, or material goods, you should have a contract in place.
For many people, common situations that involve contracts include purchasing a home, selling or buying a car, or beginning employment.
Other common situations could include hiring a construction crew to remodel your house, offering your services for a certain period of time, or publishing a creative work, such as a book.
2. **Be aware of the basic requirements of all contracts.** Contracts have three essential elements: an offer, an acceptance of that offer, and sufficient “consideration,” or what each party will “get” out of the contract. The contract should be written in such a way that the parties involved clearly understand the contract without an attorney to interpret it. This will help all parties be clear about their obligations. A contract also protects everyone involved in case the contract is breached or unfulfilled.
3. **Make sure all parties are legally able to participate.** You should only form a contract with someone who has the authority to carry out the contract (like a company's owner or CEO). Furthermore, a contract will not be legally valid unless everyone involved is an adult with the legal ability, or “capacity,” to enter into a contract. Capacity is usually determined by a person’s age and mental competence. The following considerations should be taken into account.
In almost all cases, a contract is not legally valid unless the parties involved are at least 18 years of age. Look up the laws in your state if you think your case might be an exception.
If a minor wishes to enter into a contract, a guardian may, in some circumstances, do so on their behalf. In most states, an emancipated minor can enter into a contract as if he or she were an adult.
All parties must have the mental capacity to fully understand the contract. Even an adult may not be capable of understanding what the contract requires him or her to do. For example, a person with a severe intellectual disability might be unable to understand his or her legal rights and obligations. This person could not enter into a legally binding contract.
A contract is usually, but not always, void if either party is intoxicated or otherwise mentally impaired when the contract is signed.
A contract is also void if it is entered under duress or coercion. For example, if a robber is holding you at gunpoint and you verbally agree to go to your bank and give him/her all your money, this is not a valid contract because both parties did not willingly enter into the agreement.
4. **Plan to exchange something of value.** In a legal contract, something of value has to be exchanged for something else of value. This benefit is called the “consideration.” It can be services, cash, goods, intellectual property, or the promise to exchange one of these items. The terms of the contract must be clear to be enforceable.
For example, you could write a contract with these terms: “Sujata agrees to sell her car to Jack for $5,500 on December 13, 2014.“ It is clear who is promising to do what, and when it is to be done. Both parties agree that the exchange is fair.
However, you could not write a contract with the following terms: “Shao agrees to do something, to be determined later, for Sue in exchange for Sue’s payment of whatever money she has at that point.” These terms are unclear; there is no certainty about what will be done, when it will be done, or what will be given in return. This contract is unenforceable, even if both parties have agreed to it.
The consideration should be adequate in a fair contract. For example, if Joan promises to pay Dev $25,000 for a house worth $150,000, this is unlikely to be considered adequate consideration. If Joan promises to pay Dev $140,000 for a house worth $150,000, however, this would likely be considered adequate consideration because it is close to the real value of the object.
5. **Ensure all parties are in agreement.** For a contract to be legal, an offer must be made and accepted. Before you write up a contract, all parties should have the same general idea about what the contract will stipulate; this is usually in the form of “if X happens, then Y will occur.” In legal terms, this is known as a “meeting of the minds,” or mutual agreement.
Having a discussion about the terms beforehand saves time, because if the information in the contract is not acceptable to one of the parties, it will have to be revised.
For example, your contract may say “Mr. Smith will sell Ms. Brown his 2012 Toyota Prius in exchange for $12,000.” The price and details of the exchange were likely agreed to prior to the contract being written.
6. **Come to an agreement in good faith.** All parties must mutually assent to the terms of the contract. This means that they agree to the contract without being forced or coerced to do so. All parties should be treated fairly and honestly. All parties should do everything they can to abide by the contract's requirements.
7. **Start with basic information.** Write the date at the top of the page, then write the names or company names of all parties in this format: "This contract is between ___ and ___."
Contracts between businesses (or between an individual and a business) should include the business's full legal title, including designations such as "LLC" or "Incorporated."
If there is other identifying information you want to include, such a person's title, include it here.
8. **Detail the exchange of consideration.** In clear, readable language that is easy to understand, describe what services or goods are being exchanged. In some cases, money may be exchanged for these goods or services. In other cases, a bartering of services or goods may be exchanged.
Use short, clear sentences broken into short paragraphs. Provide a numbered heading for each paragraph to make references easier.
When possible, use plain language, rather than legalese. If the parties go to court, the judge will decide the case based on how the contract would be interpreted by the average person. However, there are certain terms or phrases that have historical precedent and exact legal meaning that will facilitate a court’s interpretation of the contract.
Write explicitly what one party is promising to deliver and what the other agrees to pay or do in exchange.
If services are part of the deal, state what services will be performed. Specify who will perform the services, for whom, where, when, for how long and for what consideration.
For example, you could write a contract with these terms: "Jane Smith agrees to copy-edit 300 pages for ABC Publishing by August 3, 2013 for a flat rate of $2,000, to be paid in full within 30 days of delivery." Or, you could write a contract that stipulates that you will mow your neighbor’s lawn once a week for two months in exchange for them helping you re-tile your roof next weekend.
If you are selling real estate, provide a legal description of the property and its exact location. You may wish to have a lawyer or real estate agent help you with this. Legal descriptions of real estate have very specific requirements that can be difficult to provide on your own.
When selling goods, state the color, size, make, model, delivery date, and any other identifying details.
9. **Use addenda when necessary.** You can add an addendum to your contract if you forgot to detail something in the contract or if the details of some part of the contract would be cumbersome to include in the contract itself. Addenda can be added at the time of the contract or afterwards as long as all parties to the contract sign off on (or initial) the addendum.
10. **Consider adding a confidentiality clause or a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).** If you'd prefer the other party not to share the information in the contract with others, you can include a clause forbidding the other party from disclosing your information. Alternatively, you can have the other party sign an NDA prior to entering the contract; this ensures that they cannot share your information without facing legal action.
Consider adding a mutual NDA, which would protect both parties from sharing each other's information.
A confidentiality clause can protect a small business from having trade secrets exposed.
A confidentiality clause may also require one party to return the other party’s information or property when the contract has been fulfilled.
11. **Include a clause describing how the contract will be terminated.** Specify how long the contract will last. If it's for a one-time exchange of services, state that it will be terminated upon completion of the transaction. If it's a contract for ongoing services, you may want to state that either party may end the contract by giving 30 days' notice.
Include language about what will happen if someone is in breach of the contract. For example: "If Jane Smith does not copy-edit 300 pages for ABC Publishing by August 3, 2013, this contract is null and void."
Be aware that a minor breach of contract may not void the rest of the terms. For example, if Jane Smith was contracted to copy-edit 300 pages for ABC Publishing by August 3, 2013, but only completed 285 pages, this would likely be considered a minor breach. Because Jane Smith has completed a substantial amount of the work and appears to have made a good faith effort to fulfill the contract, it is unlikely that ABC Publishing could completely nullify the contract. However, they probably could be eligible for some sort of remedy, such as paying a lower rate.
Add dispute resolution terms that specify how the issue will be handled if a breach occurs. Note who will pay attorney's fees and court costs and specify the jurisdiction of any court action (city or county and state). If the contract is for a small business, consider adding a mediation or arbitration clause, which is substantially less expensive and time-consuming than a court trial.
12. **Make sure the contract is in accordance with the law.** Research which state and federal laws might pertain to the contract so you can ensure that it is legally enforceable.
For example, if the contract controls a construction project for a government body, the contract will need a clause stating the contractor will not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion or nationality.
You cannot contract for illegal goods or services. These contracts are considered void, which means they are as if they never existed. Void contracts cannot be enforced and are not subject to remedies or damages.
For example, if Fatima agrees to pay Nathaniel $100,000 for a delivery of cocaine to her home in Virginia, this contract is void because the sale and purchase of cocaine is illegal in the United States.
Illegal services also cannot be contracted. For example, if you hire a blackjack dealer to run a blackjack table in a state where gambling is illegal, this contract is void. Even if both you and the dealer agree to the terms, the service is illegal, and thus you cannot contract for it.
13. **Reserve the last page for the parties to sign and date the contract.** Provide spaces for each name and spaces for the date the contract is signed.
14. **Make an offer.** When the contract is ready, send it to the other party to look over. The offer may be accepted or rejected as-is. It is also common for the other party to respond with a counteroffer, or changes that should be made before the contract is accepted.
If you want to speed things along you can include a date by which the contract should be signed, addressed or rejected. Legally, the other party is obligated to respond "within a reasonable amount of time.” What counts as a reasonable amount of time is highly subjective, however.
For example, if you are negotiating the terms of your employment with a company, they may require you to return your decision on their offer within a certain period of time, such as two weeks.
You can revoke the offer rather than accept it. Once the offer is accepted, you've entered into a binding agreement.
15. **Negotiate until an agreement has been reached.** It's common for the parties to go back and forth with changes to the contract until they are both satisfied with the terms and the language. Haggling over the payment is the most common form of negotiation.
Specify the schedule and method of payments in the contract. You may want a single lump sum, a monthly payment, or a down payment and follow-up installments. Specify if payments should be made by cash or check or if you will accept credit cards.
Other negotiations might include debating provisions in a contract. For example, consider that you are buying a house. You get the contract of sale, and it has a provision that requires you to forego a building inspection to purchase the house. You might send this contract back to the seller (or seller’s agent) and request that this provision be removed.
16. **Sign the contract.** When you and the other party are both in agreement that the contract is final, sign and date the contract and have the other party do so as well.
Be aware that many companies use electronic signature services such as DocuSign or Adobe Document Cloud with eSign. These electronic signatures are used in place of a written signature and are legally binding.
Keep a copy of the contract for your reference, and make sure the other party (or parties) has one as well.
You may want to stipulate that the contract takes effect upon signing. In other cases, you may want the contract to take effect at a certain date. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Legal-Contract", "language": "en"} |
How to Avoid Talking in Class | Sometimes it's so hard to stay quiet in class. When you think of something truly hilarious, it almost feels painful to wait until the bell rings to share it. It's perfectly normal to want to talk, but it can also make it difficult for you (and your classmates) to focus. Try out these methods to help you keep side conversations or random remarks to a minimum! You'll have plenty of time to talk after school.
1. **Talking in class seems less fun when you’re right in front of the teacher.** Sitting up close to the board also helps you stay focused on the lesson. If you’re allowed to choose your seat, choose a desk up front.
If the spots at the front are taken, look for a quiet student and sit by them. Chances are they won’t start a conversation with you like your best friend might!
2. **Think of the quiet students as your role models.** Look around the classroom and see if you notice a student that rarely talks during class. For the rest of the class, try acting like them. This can help you practice being more well-behaved and less talkative.
For example, maybe this student sits quietly and takes notes. Follow their lead and get your own notebook!
Another student might participate a lot in class but always makes sure to raise their hand first. Try that out, too.
3. **Before you open your mouth, ask yourself “Is this something that can wait?”** Sometimes it's hard to remember to filter your thoughts. Think about if what you want to say is related to the class discussion. If it's not, wait until class is over to share what you're thinking. Even the funniest joke in the world can wait until break!
If it’s at all disruptive, like "This subject is boring, is class almost over?" don’t say that out loud.
Another good trick is to raise your hand. While waiting to be called on, think about what you want to say. If it's not related to the subject your teacher is discussing, put your hand down and remain quiet.
Always raise your hand when you have a question about class. Not talking during class doesn't mean your questions about the lesson should go unanswered.
4. **Take notes to stay focused on the lesson.** It’s hard to have side conversations when you’re too busy writing down the latest vocab words! If you really struggle to talk, you can write down thoughts you have in your notebook instead of saying them.
Classroom notes should take priority, but if you think of a joke you want to tell your friend, write that down, too. That way you can remember it after class and share it with your friend!
You can also use your notebook to write down anything you want to talk about after class. For example, instead of talking to your friend during a lesson, write down, "Remember to tell Jimmy that my mom said it was okay for them to stay the night this weekend."
5. **Texting what you have to say instead of talking isn't a good option.** Using your phone in class distracts you from the lesson. It also disrupts the whole class if the teacher has to stop and ask you to put your phone away. Leave your phone tucked away in a safe place like your pocket or locker.
You should also avoid passing notes during class, A.K.A. texting the old-fashioned way.
6. **Sometimes it’s not you doing all the talking!** It can be hard to know how to stop responding to talkative people in class. Do your best to politely tell the students around you that you can’t talk until class is finished. After that, ignore their comments. They’ll get the message and stop trying to talk. Side conversations can be really distracting to teachers, and it’s hard to follow along with the lesson in the middle of another conversation! Try your best to avoid talking with your classmates to really focus.
While you're in the hallway before class, try taking your talkative classmates aside and say something like “I’m not going to talk during class anymore, so can we talk at lunch instead?”
Try not to be impolite if your friends talk to you during class. Always be kind and ask them nicely not to pester you while you focus.
Yelling "SHH!" across the room is no better than talking.
7. **There is no shame in asking someone to help you stop talking.** Try asking one of your friends to give you a cue whenever you start to talk in class. Maybe they can cough or tap your shoulder. Whatever cue you decide on, make sure it doesn’t involve them talking to you at all or it defeats the purpose.
Ask a friend that doesn’t usually talk in class. Try something like, “Hey Sam, I’m trying to do a better job at not talking in class. Next time I try to talk to you, can you tap a pencil on your desk as a cue for me to stop?”
8. **They may be upset when you talk, but they can also give you great advice.** Tell your teacher you’re having a hard time not talking in class, and see if they have any suggestions for things you can try. Remember that teachers want to see you succeed! They’ll be happy to help you.
After class, tell your teacher something like "I'm trying really hard to stop talking during your class, but I'm still struggling with it. Could you please help me?"
9. **Write something on it to remind yourself not to talk!** Every time you get the urge to speak, glance down at your sticky note. Consider picking a fun, bright color so that it will attract your attention and act as a good reminder.
Try writing something like “I can talk when class is over” or “silence is golden.”
10. **You may not be able to change your habits overnight.** Try to break up your goal into a few smaller goals so that it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Start by not talking at all through the first half of class. Once that becomes second nature, make your next goal to not speak during the entire class. Finally, make it your goal to avoid side conversations all day!
11. **Just try your best!** It can be easy to get discouraged when you’re trying something new. If you mess up and talk during class, tell yourself that it’s okay and keep moving forward. Everyone makes mistakes! All that matters is that you keep trying and never give up.
Let’s say you accidentally blurt out a joke in class. Instead of beating yourself up, tell yourself something like, “I just made a mistake and that’s okay. Now I just have to be quiet for the rest of class to make up for it!”
12. **Tell yourself that if you're quiet, you get to watch your favorite movie!** Positive reinforcement helps you keep up the good work and stay motivated. As you meet your goals, reward yourself with a piece of candy, 10 extra minutes of playtime after school, or something else you enjoy. It’s hard to stay quiet all day in school, and you deserve it!
Talk to your parents about a reward system that you both agree on. Maybe your mom can take you out for ice cream at the end of the week if you promise to be quiet and focused in class! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Talking-in-Class", "language": "en"} |
How to Get a Marriage License (USA) | In the United States, before you take a trip down the aisle, you must first make a pit stop at the courthouse or the vital records office (in the area where you are getting married) to get a marriage license. This license will allow you to be married in a religious or civil ceremony. However, you are not legally married until the completed marriage license (usually signed by the officiant and a witness or two at your ceremony) is sent back to the courthouse or vital records office (and duly recorded).Marriage license requirements vary depending on where you live and where you plan to be married. Each state has its own laws and regulations, and you must follow the law for the state in which you plan to be married. Use the information in this article to research marriage license requirements and ensure you follow the proper procedure to obtain one successfully.
1. **Know who can marry in the United States.** In the US, states have specific restrictions on who can and cannot marry. For example, individuals who cannot give informed consent, such as people with severe developmental disabilities, may not be able to marry. Restrictions vary by state, so you must research your state’s requirements. In general, the following restrictions will apply:
Age. In most states, the legal age to marry is 18. In some states, you may be able to get married if you are younger than 18 by providing parental consent (and, in some cases, the consent of a judge).In Mississippi, parental consent is necessary for applicants under the age of 21. In Nebraska, the legal age to marry is 19. Persons younger than 19 must provide parental consent.
Family relationship. All US states prohibit marriage between ancestors and descendants, such as grandparents and grandchildren, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews, or parents and children. 20 states currently allow first cousins to get married. 6 additional states will allow first cousins to marry under certain circumstances (e.g., above a certain age or unable to reproduce).
As of 2015, same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
2. **Meet the age requirement of the state where you are marrying.** The age at which you can legally marry will vary depending on the state in which you are applying for the marriage license.
In some counties, you will need to bring your original birth certificate (or a certified copy) as evidence of your age. For example, some Virginia counties require an original birth certificate to apply for a marriage license. However, other counties in the same state will not accept a birth certificate as proof of identity, and do not otherwise require applicants to present one.
Check with your county or municipal court’s office to make sure that you meet the state’s minimum age requirement and have the appropriate documentation of your age.
Many states will allow applicants to marry if one or both applicants are under the minimum age with parental consent. In some cases, such as in New York, a family court judge may also need to provide consent. Emancipated minors may also marry without parental consent.
3. **Provide proof of identity when you apply for a marriage license.** Each applicant must have at least one proof of their identity when applying for a marriage license. In most cases, you will also be required to provide your Social Security Number if you have one. The types of proof required and accepted vary by state and by jurisdiction.
Government-issued photo IDs, such as passports or driver’s licenses, are generally accepted as proof of identity.
Many states require your original birth certificate (or a certified copy) and your Social Security card as proof of your identity.
You and your partner must bring physical copies of these proofs with you when you apply for the marriage license.
If your original documents are in a foreign language, you must usually provide a certified translation into English, along with the original copy. A certified translation should be signed, dated, and contain a statement that attests to the accuracy of the translation.
4. **Terminate any prior marriage.** You cannot get married if you are already married to another person. Some states require proof that your prior marriage has been terminated by death, divorce, or annulment.
In some states, however, you may certify that you are free to marry by signing a document or providing a notarized statement.
If either you or your partner were previously married, you will likely need to provide information about those marriages on your application. For example, in the state of New York, you must be able to provide information regarding whether your former spouse is still living, and whether the marriage ended by divorce, annulment or death.
Bring copies of your divorce decree (sometimes known as a Final Order of Divorce) or other dissolution documents with you when you apply. In some states, such as Pennsylvania, widowed applicants must bring a copy of their deceased spouse’s death certificate.
5. **Decide on your surname.** If you wish to change your legal surname once you are married, it’s easiest to do so when you are applying for the marriage license. Once your marriage is completed (also known as “solemnized” or “celebrated”), the name you provide on the license application will become your legal surname.
Neither partner must change his or her surname, and surnames do not automatically change upon marriage.
The Social Security Administration will accept marriage documents to legally change your name on Social Security records. If you decide to legally change your surname upon marriage, you must notify Social Security. Social Security cannot “automatically” change your surname.
Some states have specific restrictions on what surnames may be adopted, and some states have no restrictions at all. Check with your county clerk’s office to determine what restrictions (if any) apply in your state.
6. **Determine if there is a waiting period.** Many states have waiting periods before you can obtain your license, or before you can use that license to get married.
In many states, you can receive your marriage license immediately. Some states, however, have a waiting period between one and six days between when you apply for your license and when you receive it. For example, in Pennsylvania, there is a 72-hour waiting period before you receive your license.
In some states, there is also a waiting period between the time you receive your marriage license and when you can use it to get legally married. For example, New York has a 24-hour waiting period.
If you do not observe these waiting periods, your marriage may not be legally valid.
Waivers may be available under certain circumstances. For example, in New York, you may apply for a judicial waiver of the waiting period if your circumstances require you to get married immediately (e.g., your intended is being deployed in the military)
If you are in a huge hurry, you can look into getting married in a state where there is no waiting period, or get married in Las Vegas. Clark County, Nevada is widely recognized as probably the easiest place to get legally married in the US.
7. **Find the location and address of where you obtain the marriage license.** Marriage license locations vary by county, but are often dispensed by the County Clerk. The County Clerk is almost always located in a government building in the county seat.
8. **Fill in the online application first (where applicable).** You can apply online in an increasing number of counties. For example, New York City allows you to fill in the application online first. However, you must still bring your documentation to the appropriate office in person to complete your application.
9. **Apply in person.** In general, both applicants must appear in person to apply for a marriage license. You should bring all of your required documentation to the office.
“Proxy” marriage, where only one person must appear, is almost never allowed. In Colorado, you may authorize a third person to act as your proxy if you cannot be present at the wedding solemnization. Your proxy must provide photo ID and a notarized copy of the Marriage Ceremony Proxy Power of Attorney form.
In California, an applicant who is a member of the Armed Forces, is serving overseas in a conflict, and cannot return home to personally apply for a license, may marry by using an “attorney-in-fact.” Applicants must fill out a power of attorney form, and the attorney-in-fact must appear at the County Clerk’s office with the notarized POA.
Texas makes certain exceptions for absent applicants in particular circumstances. The absent applicant must complete an affidavit and have it notarized. The third party must present the absent applicant’s photo ID and the notarized affidavit.
Many counties have unique/different requirements. Read carefully on the county website to make sure you have the correct requirements and paperwork.
10. **Provide your personal information.** In addition to providing your documentation, you and your partner will have to provide personal information on the application for a license. This information generally includes:
Full legal name and any other names used
Date
Place of birth
Parents’ full names and places of birth
Whether either party has been divorced, and the date of divorce if applicable
Who will be performing the marriage ceremony
Social Security Numbers
11. **Pay the fee.** The fee to apply for a marriage license varies by state, and in some cases, by county or municipal district. You can expect to pay between $25 and $90. Check with your location to determine what the fee is. Many courts will also post the application fee on their website.
Some states, such as Oklahoma and Georgia, will reduce the fee for a marriage license if you can provide proof that you have completed pre-marital counseling.
Call the records clerk in advance to check whether they will accept your preferred method of payment. Many courts accept only credit cards or money orders, while some only accept cash.
In some places, such as D.C., the marriage license application fee will be waived if you already have a domestic partnership certificate.
12. **Receive your marriage license.** If you have done the research as recommended in this article, you will know whether you can expect to receive your marriage license immediately, or whether you will have a waiting period.
13. **Marry in the timeframe dictated by your marriage license.** Marriage licenses can expire. In Oklahoma, marriage licenses expire in 10 days. However, most marriage licenses are valid for between 30 and 90 days.
Know the duration period of your marriage license and marry before it expires. If you do not use your marriage license before it expires, you must re-apply for another license (and pay another fee).
Some states’ marriage licenses have no expiration date. Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, New Mexico, and South Carolina, along with the District of Columbia, do not have an expiration period for marriage licenses.
14. **Have an eligible person perform the marriage ceremony.** Many states have requirements about who is eligible to perform weddings. Make certain that your officiant is eligible to legally perform weddings in your county and state.
For example, in Virginia, your officiant (or “celebrant”) must be authorized by a Virginia Circuit Court prior to performing your wedding ceremony. Online ordinations are not recognized by Virginia courts.
These requirements may also vary by county or jurisdiction. For example, if you wish to get married in any of the five boroughs of New York City, your officiant must register with the City Clerk’s office in Manhattan. This requirement does not apply anywhere else in the state of New York.
Most states do allow officiants to become ordained online, through organizations such as the Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries. Check with your issuing office to make sure this is legal in your state.
A few states, such as Colorado, allow you to “self-solemnize” your marriage. You may indicate “themselves” on the appropriate line of the marriage certificate form. Check with your court about solemnizing requirements!
15. **Verify the required signatures are on the marriage license after the wedding ceremony.** Many states require the spouses, at least one witness, and the eligible officiant to sign the marriage license for it to be valid. Check with your issuing office to determine what signatures must be given.
Some states, such as Virginia, do not require witnesses.
Some states require that witnesses be of a certain age. Other states merely require that the witness be able to attest to the fact that s/he witnessed the marriage take place.
16. **Arrange for the license to be filed.** In most cases, the person who presides over your ceremony -- known as the “officiant,” “celebrant,” or “solemnizer” -- must sign and return the marriage license to the issuing office. If your officiant is ordained by an online church then use the term "Minister" or "Clergy".
The office will send you a marriage certificate, which is your proof that the marriage took place. Your marriage is deemed legal once the license is received and filed.
Many states require the marriage license to be filed within a certain number of days (often 14-15 days). If the marriage license is not filed within that period, the marriage may not be considered legally valid unless a new license is issued and filed. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Marriage-License-(USA)", "language": "en"} |
How to Clean Crystal | Crystal is a beautiful substance and adds an air of elegance to your home when on display. However, it does attract dust, and cleaning crystal glasses, bowls, or vases after a dinner party can seem like a tedious chore. Many crystal items are actually labeled as dishwasher safe, but don’t fret if yours aren’t. Cleaning your crystal with a mild detergent, or soaking it in vinegar to remove cloudiness, is a breeze and your items will be sparkling again in no time.
1. **Ensure your crystal is dishwasher safe.** Many crystal glasses have a dishwasher safe label. If yours do not, check with the manufacturer or research online to find out if they can be put in the dishwasher. Crystal manufacturer Riedel notes that their glasses are used in hotels around the world and are thus cleaned in professional dishwashers. If you cannot find any information, err on the side of caution and wash by hand.
2. **Load the dishwasher carefully.** Ensure your glasses, bowls, or other crystal items have enough space. You don’t want them touching, as they could jostle and bump into each other causing damage during the dishwashing cycle. Don’t overcrowd or overload the dishwasher, and be sure any long-stemmed glasses fit securely in the rack.
3. **Allow crystal to warm up.** Don’t start the dishwasher until your crystal has had time to come to room temperature. Sudden changes in temperature, such as heating a chilled glass, can cause breakage or damage to crystal.
4. **Use a small amount of detergent.** Don’t add extra detergent in the hopes of getting your crystal extra clean. Excessive detergent can leave a cloudy film on your crystal. Follow the recommendations for your dishwasher and detergent, taking into account whether you have hard or soft water.
5. **Run the dishwasher.** Start your dishwasher and allow it to run its normal cycle. Don’t interrupt the cycle or open the door in the middle of cleaning.
6. **Let the crystal cool.** Allow the dishes to cool before opening the door to the dishwasher. This will also let your crystal dry in case the dish-washing cycle didn’t fully dry the crystal. Depending on your dishwasher and water temperature, this could take several hours.
7. **Remove the crystal carefully.** You may want to wear gloves or remove the crystal with a lint-free cloth to prevent smudging and fingerprints. You can also use the lint-free cloth to remove any left-over water spots.
8. **Create a solution with warm water and mild dish soap.** Fill your sink or a bucket with warm (not hot) water and a small amount of mild dishwashing soap. Too much soap can leave a cloudy film, so only use a little bit. Swirl or agitate the water to mix the solution thoroughly. Line the bottom of the sink or bucket with a rubber mat, soft cloth, or even paper towels to prevent damage to your crystal.
Do not use hot water to clean crystal as this can cause it to break.
9. **Submerge your crystal in the solution.** You’ll want to do one piece at a time to prevent the items from clanking together, which could cause chipping or breakage. If needed, allow your crystal to soak for a few minutes.
If your item is too big to fit in the sink or bucket, or cannot be fully submerged, such as a lamp or chandelier, dampen a soft cloth or sponge in the solution and use it to carefully wipe down the item.
10. **Wash your crystal carefully with a cloth.** Use a soft cloth or sponge for washing your crystal to avoid scratches. Gently rub the sponge or cloth on the surface of the crystal in a circular motion, and be sure to clean the entire item, inside and out.
If your item has a narrow opening, try using a baby bottle brush to move a sponge or soft cloth around the inside of the item.
Some crystal is etched with language or artistic designs; use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in the warm water mixture to brush dust and dirt out of the etchings.
11. **Rinse thoroughly.** Use warm (not hot or cold), running water to rinse away any residue from the crystal. Don’t rinse with cold water as the sudden temperature change can cause the crystal to crack. You may want to wear gloves to ensure you aren’t putting fingerprints on your clean crystal.
For those larger items, use a clean, wet cloth or sponge to wipe down the item and remove any lingering soap.
You could also rinse your crystal in a bucket or bowl of distilled water, as this will reduce the amount of water-spots left behind.
12. **Apply a bit of toothpaste to remove mineral deposits on the crystal.** Rub the toothpaste around with a cloth, sponge, or even just your finger. Keep rubbing the toothpaste around on the crystal until you have removed the mineral deposits. Then, rinse the toothpaste off of the crystal.
Be careful not to press too hard!
13. **Cover crystal in a mixture of vinegar and salt to remove deposits.** If your crystal is cloudy from stuck on mineral deposits or other types of residue, then you might also need to cover it in a paste made from vinegar and salt. Pour about 1 tsp (3g) of salt into a small bowl and add just enough vinegar to form a paste. Spread the paste over the crystal, and leave it on the crystal for 10 minutes. Then, rinse the paste off when the time is up.
For even more stubborn residue, put about 1/2 of a cup (120 g) of baking soda into the crystal and then pour 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar over it. The foaming action will help to clean the crystal and remove the residue. Rinse the crystal with water after the baking soda and vinegar stop foaming.
14. **Dry your crystal.** Gently wipe each item down with a lint-free cloth. This will remove any water spots and give your crystal a beautiful shine. Again, it is a good idea to wear gloves to prevent smudging your clean crystal.
15. **Create a solution of water and vinegar.** Fill your sink or a bucket with one part vinegar and three parts lukewarm water. Mix the solution thoroughly. Pad the bottom of your sink or bucket with a soft towel to prevent the crystal from getting damaged.
Vinegar will help remove cloudiness from crystal as well as add a beautiful shine.
You can also substitute ammonia for vinegar.
16. **Submerge your crystal in the solution.** Allow the crystal to soak for five to ten minutes. If your item is too big to fully submerge, you can fill it with the solution (e.g., a vase or bowl) or dampen a soft cloth or sponge in the solution and use it to wipe down the crystal (e.g., a lamp or figurine).
17. **Wash your crystal carefully with a cloth.** Be sure to use a soft cloth or sponge so as not to scratch the crystal items. Gently rub your cloth or sponge on the surface of the crystal using a circular motion.
18. **Rinse your crystal with warm, running water.** You can also rinse your crystal in distilled water to help prevent water-spots. Handle the crystal carefully as it can easily slip out of wet hands. You may want to wear gloves to give you a better grip and prevent smudges.
For those larger items, use a clean, wet cloth or sponge to wipe down the item and remove any lingering soap.
19. **Dry your crystal.** Air drying will often leave water spots, so use a lint-free or microfiber cloth. You may want to wear gloves so you don’t get fingerprints on your clean crystal. Carefully pat the crystal dry, rather than rubbing it. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Crystal", "language": "en"} |
10 Ways Treat Dry Scalp in African American Hair | Is your scalp feeling dry, itchy, and irritated? African Americans tend to produce less sebum, or oil, which can make the scalp naturally dry. Fortunately, by using moisturizing products and taking good care of your hair, you can hydrate your scalp and avoid flaky skin. Keep reading to learn how to treat dry scalp and keep your skin and your hair healthy.This article is based on an interview with our licensed cosmetologist, certified hair loss practitioner, and cosmetology educator, Courtney Foster. Check out the full interview here.
1. **Shampoo strips away your natural oils, so limit your wash days.** African American hair is naturally on the dry side, meaning it doesn’t need to be washed every day. Experts recommend washing your hair once a week at most, but you can extend that out to every 2 weeks if it works for your hair routine.
2. **Add oil before you shampoo for a quick hydrating boost.** Since shampoo is so drying, using a hair and scalp oil will help moisturize and hydrate your skin beforehand. Go for argan oil, rosemary oil, or black seed oil. Place a couple of drops in your hands, rub the oil onto your scalp, then run your fingers through your hair to target split ends.
If you’re using rosemary oil, be sure to mix it with a carrier oil like olive oil or castor oil. Rosemary oil is intense on its own, and using it directly on your scalp can cause allergic reactions or irritation. Mix 2 to 3 drops of rosemary oil with 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of your carrier oil.
3. **Anti-itch shampoo** If you find that your scalp feels dry or flaky directly after shampooing, pick one that’s meant to hydrate and alleviate irritation. Look for ingredients like oatmeal and honey for a natural way to relieve dry scalp and itchiness.
Keep in mind that dry scalp and dandruff are different things. Dandruff is caused by too much oil or a fungal infection on your scalp. If you have dandruff, you can treat it with a dandruff shampoo. If it’s just a dry scalp, use anti-itch shampoo.
Dandruff flakes are large and have an oily appearance. Dry skin flakes are small and look dried out.
4. **Hair products can dry out your scalp and cause irritation.** If you use products in your hair like gel, hairspray, or leave-in conditioner, they could be contributing to your scalp irritation. Try using a clarifying shampoo to really cleanse your hair and scalp at least once a week.
Clarifying shampoos can be drying, so follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to protect your hair.
5. **Doing a hot oil treatment** You can choose from coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, or castor oil. Pour about 3 tsp (15 mL) of your oil into a plastic squirt bottle, then set it in about 2 inches (5.1 cm) of hot water. Apply the hot oil to the ends of your hair, working the excess oil into your roots and onto your scalp. After 1 hour, rinse and shampoo your hair to remove the oil.
Feel free to mix oils as well. Each oil offers its own benefits, and you can get all of those by adding oils together.
To work the oil into your hair strands even more, sit under a heated dryer.
6. **Serums help alleviate itchiness and irritation.** Whenever your scalp feels itchy, apply 1 to 2 drops of the serum to your hands, then rub it into your scalp. You can apply any extra serum to your hair to help moisturize and prevent split ends.
Look for hair serums with argan oil, jojoba oil, or sunflower oil for the most hydration.
7. **Sulfates and alcohol dry out your hair and your scalp.** As you look for products to use, stay away from silicones, sulfates, and alcohol. Look for hydrating ingredients, like oatmeal, honey, and oil to keep your hair (and your scalp) hydrated.
Even products like gel or hairspray may have drying ingredients that can damage your hair.
8. **Relaxers can dry out and irritate your scalp.** If you relax your hair, always head to a professional to have it done the right way. Try to limit touch-ups to every 2 to 3 months to keep your hair and your scalp healthy.
If you use relaxers, moisturizing your hair is extra important. Use a hydrating shampoo and a deep conditioner to repair and replenish your hair.
9. **Hydrate your body from the inside out by drinking water.** While it may seem obvious, many of us forget that drinking water actually helps skin retain moisture. If you aren’t already, make it a habit to keep a water bottle nearby, and to drink water whenever you’re thirsty.
Getting electrolytes is also super important for hydration. Try to eat around 2,300 mg of sodium every day to stay hydrated.
10. **A licensed dermatologist can treat your dry scalp for you.** If you’ve tried a few home remedies but you aren’t seeing much of a change, make an appointment with a doctor. They can listen to your symptoms and what you’ve tried already to give you their expert opinion and treatment options.
Your dermatologist will try to determine the cause of your dry scalp and then treat it. They may prescribe a topical ointment or a prescription shampoo to use. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Dry-Scalp-in-African-American-Hair", "language": "en"} |
How to Reset a Check Engine Light and Clear Error Codes | Your check engine light typically comes on when there is a problem with your emission control system or another computer-controlled system in your vehicle. But if you’ve fixed the problem and it’s still on, you may be scratching your head wondering what’s going on. While something may still be wrong with your vehicle, the odds are very high you just need to reset the light, so breathe easy. In this article, we’ll show you the four ways you can reset it.
1. **Buy or borrow an OBD-II code scanner.** “OBD” stands for “On-Board Diagnostics” and OBD-II scanners are suitable for all vehicles made after 1996. Purchasing a code scanner can be costly, so it’s better to borrow one unless you plan on using it frequently. Some auto parts stores loan out scanners to patrons, or you could borrow one from a friend or family member.
Note that vehicles made before the 1990s may not have an OBD port under the dash. If they do, it may be an OBD-I port rather than an OBD-II port, so you may need a different scanner.
2. **Plug the scanner into the port under the steering column.** Modern vehicles have ports specifically designed for OBD scanners. Look underneath the steering column to find the port (it may be under a cover hiding it), then connect the cord attached to the scanner to the port. Refer to your vehicle’s manual if you cannot find the port.
The OBD port has 16 small openings for pins that are lined up in 2 rows. It looks a bit like an old VGA port.
3. **Turn the key to the “on” position and press the “read” button on the scanner.** Put your key in the ignition and switch the vehicle to “on.” Do not start the vehicle. Once the lights on the dash come on, turn off all the vehicle’s accessories, like the radio. Then, press the “read” button on the scanner to access the check engine light code.
The code will be a series of letters and numbers. Record all of the codes so you can figure out what they represent and make the necessary repairs to your vehicle.
Some scanners will define or explain the codes while others will not. If you don’t get a definition, look up the code in the owner’s manual or online.
4. **Press the "erase/clear" button on your scanner, then turn off the key.** Clearing any codes present will turn off your check engine light. After pressing "erase/clear" and waiting until you see a "no codes" message, you can turn off your vehicle and disconnect the scanner. However, erasing the codes does not fix the problem. If your check engine light comes on, it’s best to take your vehicle to a mechanic to get it professionally diagnosed and repaired.
Once the OBD system resets (which occurs after a few drive cycles or a certain number of miles, depending on the vehicle), the light will come back on if the problem has not been fixed.
5. **Remove** With the vehicle off, pop the hood and locate the battery. Use a wrench to remove the negative cable, which is usually covered with a black cap and marked with a minus sign, from the terminal.
Just FYI, erasing codes by disconnecting your vehicle's battery can also clear out the memory for your radio and other onboard components.
6. **Drain any remaining electricity from the capacitor.** Press and hold the horn for 30 seconds or temporarily switch on the vehicle’s lights. Neither the horn nor the lights will work since there's no power running to them, but attempting to do so will use up the remaining electricity in the capacitor.
7. **Wait 15 minutes and reconnect your battery.** Leaving the battery disconnected for a few minutes will ensure the vehicle systems will completely reset when you reconnect the battery. Secure the negative cable back to the terminal and cover it with the cap. Disconnecting the battery will clear the error codes and reset the check engine light.
8. **Drive the vehicle like normal for 2-3 days after repairs.** Your vehicle’s computer operates in cycles, so if you just had it serviced, repaired, or worked on, your check engine light may not have had time to take a new reading. In other words, the light’s on for the original reason the light came on—even if you resolved the problem. The light should probably go off after a few days of normal use.
If you don’t drive all that often, now is the perfect time to take that shopping trip where you need to go way out of town!
The mechanic normally resets the computer codes before returning your car to you, but they may have simply forgotten this time.
This is most common on older vehicles with more primitive computer systems.
9. **Turn the ignition to the “on” position 3-5 times.** While driving for a while will typically get an older fixed vehicle’s check engine light to reset, it’s normally a lot easier if you’ve got a newer vehicle. Put the key in the ignition and turn it past the accessory position to the “on” slot. Then, turn it back to “off.” Repeat this process 3-5 times until the entire dashboard illuminates. When that happens, remove the key, wait a moment, and start your vehicle. The check engine light should be off.
If the check engine light begins to flash, you have an OBD-I vehicle, which might explain why you’ve had trouble turning the light off. Purchase or borrow and ODB-I scanner to reset the light.
If a code pops up on your odometer, write it down and look it up online or share it with your mechanic. This is an error code and your check engine light wasn’t on by accident.
10. **See a mechanic if the light continues to stay on.** If you still can’t get the light to turn off after resetting the codes, disconnecting the battery, driving it for a while, or turning the ignition, it’s a sign something is actually wrong. Take your vehicle back to the mechanic to investigate what’s going on. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Check-Engine-Light", "language": "en"} |
How to Remove a Watch Stem | Watch stems wear out over time and eventually need to be replaced. Whether you’re doing routine cleaning or getting a replacement to match a new watch crown, removing the stem is very simple. Access the stem by opening the watch with tools that match the kind of back cover you have. Depending on what locking mechanism your watch has, take advantage of either a bolt screw or a spring lock to remove the stem. When you’re ready to close the watch, slide the stem back into place to set the time again.
1. **Remove any screws** Some watch backs have a series of 4 small screws instead of notches or grooves. This type is easy to remove as long as you have a set of small watchmaker or jeweler screwdrivers. Turn the screws counterclockwise until they pop out, then slide off the loose watch back to access the stem.
Keep a small storage container nearby to hold the screws and watch back as you work.
You can buy screwdrivers and other watch back removal tools online. Some hardware or general stores may also carry the tools from time to time.
2. **Pry the back off with a case opener if the notches are on the side.** If your watch has a smooth back and slots on its sides, you have a snap-off case. Use something sharp and pointed, such as a bench knife or a case opener, to pry off the case. Slide the edge of the knife into a notch to pull the back up and away from the watch.
If your watch back is stubborn, try striking the back end of the blade with a rubber mallet to force the watch parts to separate.
To replace this type of back, line up the notch halves on the side of the watch. Press down on the cover to snap it in place.
3. **Use a rubber ball to remove the watch back if it has multiple grooves.** This type of watch back, called a screw-down, has a series of 6 square grooves around its outer edge. The simplest way to remove it is by using a ball watch opener. You hold the rubber ball against the back of the watch, then twist it counterclockwise to pop off the cover.
Another option is to use a Jaxa wrench or case wrench. These tools have multiple prongs that grip the grooves on the watch back. Use them for stubborn backs you can’t remove with a ball.
A few watch models have a ring of ridges like the edge of a coin instead of 6 grooves. Use a ball or a wrench as you normally would. This type of cover tends to be a little more stubborn, so be persistent.
Replace the cover by twisting it clockwise until the grooves align and the cover locks into place.
4. **Find the small bolt screw holding the stem in place.** The bolt screw is a little smaller than the ones holding the case together, so it is usually pretty easy to spot. Look for it near the stem, close to the edge of the watch. The bolt screw is about half the size of the other visible screws.
If you’re uncertain about which screw is which, try pulling the stem. When you move the steam, the bolt screw also moves a little. Push and pull the stem a few times until you’re certain.
5. **Turn the screw counterclockwise to loosen the stem.** Slide the tip of a mini flathead screwdriver into the slot on the screw. You only need to rotate the screw about 1 ¾ times to free the stem. Work very gradually to avoid knocking other parts of the watch loose.
The screw can be removed if you keep turning it, but it is a pain to put back. You have to remove the front part of the case and the watch’s hands to fit it properly.
6. **Slide the watch stem out of the case.** Pull the stem away from the watch to remove it. If you loosened the screw enough, the stem slides out without difficulty. If you can’t remove it right away, keep turning the screw until you are able to remove the stem.
Twist the screw a little bit at a time, testing it by attempting to remove it. This is helpful to avoid loosening the screw too much.
7. **Replace the stem and tighten the screw to close the watch.** When you’re ready to close the watch, slide the stem back into the hole and begin turning the screw clockwise gradually. If you feel any resistance, turn the stem clockwise until it is secure in its holding slot. Continue tightening the screw until you can no longer turn it.
If you tighten the screw before fitting the stem correctly, you may crush it and damage the watch. Adjust the stem’s positioning to situate it in its slot. Don’t give up as soon as the screw resists turning.
8. **Find the dimple near the stem if the watch doesn’t have a bolt screw.** If the watch doesn’t have a small bolt, it has a spring mechanism holding the stem in place. The dimple looks like a small, circular indentation and is usually right next to the stem. It is often close to the edge of the watch, but sometimes it is between some of the screws holding the watch components together.
Double-check the cover for an indentation to push. Most, but not all, push-in watches have some sort of mark to help you remove the stem without damaging it.
9. **Pull the stem to locate the bolt spring if you can’t find a dimple.** Some watches don’t have any visible indentations showing you how to remove the stem. If this is the case, reveal the metal tab locking the stem in place. Make sure you pull the stem out as far as possible to expose the bolt. The bolt may click when it unlocks.
Sometimes the dimple you need to press to release the stem is on the bolt spring, so if you don’t see it on the back of the watch, look there.
10. **Push down on the spring with tweezers.** Keep the watch still with one hand as you apply the tweezers with the other. Press down on the indentation if your watch has one. If it doesn’t have one, press directly against the metal spring tab you exposed when you pulled on the stem.
Be gentle with the spring. Pushing it down too hard may cause it to come loose. If that happens, you have to take apart the dial and hands to repair it.
11. **Slide the stem out to remove it from the watch.** Hold the spring down the entire time to prevent it from locking back into place, and use your other hand to pull the stem out and away from the watch. Once the stem is out, you can clean it or measure it to get a replacement.
On some models, the spring locks as soon as you push down on it, so you don’t have to hold it in place the entire time. Usually, if the watch has an indentation, you need to maintain pressure on it to get the stem out.
12. **Replace the stem in the slot when you’re ready to close the watch.** Slide the stem back into the slot on the side of the watch. Make sure you push down on the spring if you need to in order to keep it out of the way as you slide the stem back into place. Once the stem locks in place with a click, you can put the back cover on and set the time.
Be careful when moving and locking the stem to avoid bending it. Never force it in. Also, avoid snapping the spring lock into place unless the stem fits comfortably in the slot. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Watch-Stem", "language": "en"} |
How to Draw a Cartoon | Drawing a cartoon is easy and fun since you get to really draw without many limits compared to realistic and other types of drawings. Here’s the basic steps used in almost all types of cartoons. Enjoy!
1. **Collect the proper materials such as pencil, pen, and coloring materials.** Before you can start drawing, drawing materials are the things you need to have. Coloring materials you can use in cartooning can be crayons, color pencils, watercolors, and many more.
2. **Sketch the draft lines.** The first thing to do in cartooning is to make the draft illustration of the character using a pencil, preferably an HB pencil. The draft consists of the main shapes of the cartoon character’s body and clothes, the position, the expression, and the hair.
3. **Draw the cartoon character using a pen.** A drawing pen is the preferred pen to use in papers since it provides you a variety of choices of width. Moreover, drawing pens are easy to use and produces cleaner drawing.
4. **Erase the pencil marks using an eraser.**
5. **Color as you like.** You can use any medium you like and you can color it the way you want.
6. **Draw the basic background draft.** Use simple shapes and lines.
7. **Add more details to the background that will make it more appealing.**
8. **Draw the background using a pen.**
9. **Erase the pencil marks.**
10. **Add more details and shadowing.** Shadowing can be done using a pen by drawing lines like what is shown below.
11. **Color as you like.**
12. **You can also combine the character with the background.** It can be done using a combined method of both.
13. **Before you get started, you'll need to get everything set up.** For all the materials that you'll need, check the things you'll need. (below)
14. **Secondly, get an idea of what it is going to be about, such as crocodile hunting, politics, your view of new items, ducks, endangered species, etc.** This will help you get a good idea of what you'll need to draw in the background and in the foreground.
15. **Thirdly, you'll need some characters, so practice drawing a character on a spare sheet of paper.** Start by drawing a random shape. It can be anything. A circle, square, ETC. Also, you'll need to brainstorm how the character is going to feel. Try making expressions into the mirror and then copying them down. You can also act out what your cartoon character is going to do. Try picturing how he/she/it looks like. *If you need too, you can look at drawings you find in magazines, books, posters, and the internet, but DO NOT copy them! You'll get into a copywriting mess!
16. **Fourthly, you'll need to practice drawing props, scenery, etc.** All you need to do to practice this is to draw scenes without characters. draw objects that you'll need or don't need.
17. **Fifthly, you'll have to draw a practice cartoon strip or just a cartoon.** To do this draw a couple panels with a straightedge. (at best try a ruler)
18. **Start drawing a finished cartoon!** Just remember, draw outlines first, THEN color with colored pencils, markers, crayons, paint, glitter, etc. You might want to draw how big you're making the cartoon; such as " 11' 4', 3' 5', etc.
19. **If your cartoon doesn't cover the whole piece of paper, then cut it out!** You can tape it, glue it, staple it, ETC. anywhere you want!
20. **After you are completely done with your cartoon, you can show it to family and friends!**
21. **Finished.** | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Cartoon", "language": "en"} |
How to Adjust Abnormally Positioned Canine Teeth | Malocclusions are abnormal teeth alignments (‘bites’) caused by either the improper loss of baby teeth or improper eruption (coming in) of adult teeth. Improperly positioned teeth can make eating and closing the mouth difficult for dogs. Several treatments (toys, orthodontic devices, crown reduction) are available to realign abnormally positioned teeth. Work with your vet to determine which treatment will be right for your dog.
1. **Buy a hard rubber ball or Kong toy.** The canine teeth (long, curved teeth by the incisors) are commonly misaligned in dogs. If your dog's teeth are only mildly misaligned, a hard rubber ball or rubber chew toy (Kong toy) may be all that’s needed to correct the misalignment. Kong toys and balls are available at most pet shops and online. However, since there are so many options, talk to your vet about which option would be best for your dog.
Choose a toy size that is appropriate for your dog’s size.
2. **Let your dog play with the ball or toy.** The rubber ball or toy will be most effective when your dog plays with it for at least 15 minutes, three times a day. To encourage your dog to play with the ball or toy, give it to your dog as a special treat for good behavior. You could also put some tasty treats in the Kong toy and use it as a food puzzle.
It’s perfectly fine for your dog to play with the toy for more than 45 minutes a day. The longer your dog plays with the toy, the more likely the toy will correct the teeth alignment issues.
3. **Check your dog’s teeth alignment.** After your dog has had a week or two of playing with the ball or toy, look at your dog’s teeth. If you do not notice any improvements in the teeth alignment, you may need to consider other treatment options. Contact your vet to discuss these options.
Consider taking a picture of your dog’s teeth before your dog starts playing with the hard rubber toy. Then, take another picture a week or two later. Compare the two pictures to determine if there’s been any improvement in teeth alignment.
4. **Talk to your vet about orthodontic devices.** Your vet may recommend putting a device to put in your dog’s mouth to realign the abnormally positioned teeth. A popular orthodontic device for dogs is the inclined plane, also known as a bite plate. It is commonly recommended when the lower canine teeth point straight up into the mouth, rather than being angled slightly outward (‘base narrow canine teeth’).
Vets recommend placing an inclined plate in a dog’s mouth between 7 and 9 months of age. It fits over a dog’s upper teeth and works by directing the lower canines into their proper positions.
5. **Allow your vet to make an inclined plane for your dog.** Your vet will anesthetize your dog to make the acrylic composite (basic shape) of your dog’s upper teeth to make the inclined plane. They will clean the teeth first to make sure the composite is accurate.
Your vet may make what’s called a telescoping inclined plane so it does not stop your dog’s jaw from growing.
6. **Keep the inclined plane clean.** Just like human bite plates, canine inclined planes need to be kept clean. Your vet may recommend sedating or anesthetizing your dog to clean its inclined plane. If necessary, your vet will make adjustments to the inclined plane, since your dog could have dislodged it when biting down on something hard.
If you regularly brush your dog’s teeth, it may be a little more challenging to do so with the inclined plane. Talk to your vet about how to brush your dog’s teeth while the inclined plane is in place.
7. **Let your vet remove the inclined plane.** The inclined plane will not stay in your dog’s mouth throughout your dog’s life. Your vet will remove the inclined plane when your dog’s teeth are in proper alignment.
8. **Use the inclined plane as a retainer.** Once your dog’s teeth are properly aligned, the inclined plane could be used as a retainer for several months to maintain the proper alignment. Talk to your vet about this option.
9. **Talk with your vet about crown reduction.** The crown is the visible part of a tooth. Damage to crowns on the canine teeth can be painful and possibly damage the roof of the mouth. Crown reduction is useful for different types of malocclusion, such as base narrow canine teeth.
10. **Have your vet perform crown reduction.** Crown reduction is a surgical procedure. Your vet will remove a section of the crown. This will expose the pulp, the sensitive material inside the tooth. Your vet will remove some of this pulp and apply some medication to the remaining pulp to promote healing and prevent infection. Finally, your vet will cover the pulp with a protective barrier (like filling a human cavity).
If your dog’s lower canine teeth are misaligned, your vet will remove enough of the crown so the teeth no longer touch the roof of your dog’s mouth.
Removing some of the exposed pulp and applying the medication and protective barrier is called vital pulp therapy.
11. **Get dental radiographs.** About 6–9 months after the crown reduction and vital pulp therapy, your vet will want to take dental radiographs. This is because vital pulp therapy is not always successful. The dental radiographs will help your vet determine whether the entire procedure was successful.
If the vital pulp therapy was not successful, your vet may need to perform the procedure again. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Abnormally-Positioned-Canine-Teeth", "language": "en"} |
How to Tape a Broken Pinky Toe | Broken toes are a common injury, especially to the "pinky" (smallest fifth toe) which is more vulnerable to getting stubbed and crushed. Although fractures to the big toe often need a cast or splint to heal properly, dealing with a broken pinky toe often involves a taping technique called "buddy taping," which can be done at home. However, if the broken pinky toe is really crooked, flattened or if a bone has pierced the skin, then emergency medical help is required.
1. **Determine if taping is appropriate.** Most fractures of the toes, including the pinky, are stress or hairline fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bone's surface.Stress fractures are often quite painful and involve some swelling and/or bruising in the forefoot area, but they don't cause the bones to look crooked, crushed, mangled or sticking out of the skin. As such, simple stress or hairline fractures are appropriate to tape, although more complicated fractures need different medical procedures, such as surgery, casting or splints.
See your doctor for an x-ray of your foot if the pain doesn't get significantly better within a few days. Stress fractures can be difficult to see on x-ray if there's lots of swelling.
If there is lots of swelling, your doctor may recommend a bone scan to identify the stress fracture.
Stress fractures of the pinky can occur with strenuous exercise (lots of jogging or aerobics, for examples), improper training techniques at the gym, trauma from stubbing the toe or dropping something heavy on it, and severely sprained ankles.
2. **Clean your feet** Any time you're dealing with a body injury by using some sort of supportive tape, it's best to clean the area first. Cleaning the area will remove bacteria and other microorganisms that could potentially cause an infection (such as fungus), as well as any dirt and debris that can prevent the tape from sticking well to your toes. Regular soap and warm water is usually sufficient for cleaning your feet and toes.
If you really want to sanitize your toes / feet and remove most of the natural oils, use an alcohol-based sanitizing gel or lotion.
Make sure to completely dry your toes and the spaces in between before any using gauze or tape.
3. **Put some gauze or felt between your toes.** Once you've identified that your pinky toe is broken, but not too severely, then the first step of buddy taping is to put some gauze, felt or piece of cotton between your little toe and the toe next to it (called the 4th toe). This will prevent skin irritation and any potential blistering as your 2 lateral toes are taped together. Preventing skin irritation / blistering reduces the risk of developing an infection.
Use enough sterile gauze, felt or cotton balls between your 4th and 5th toes so that it doesn't easily fall out before securing it with tape.
If your skin is sensitive to medical tape (maybe it gets irritated and itchy from the adhesive), then wrap the gauze completely around your 4th and 5th toes and cover as much of the skin as possible before using tape.
4. **Tape your pinky and 4th toes together.** After you've placed some sterile gauze, felt or cotton between your toes, loosely tape the 4th and 5th toes together with some medical or surgical tape made for applying to the body. This is the buddy tape method, as you're essentially using your 4th toe as a splint to support, stabilize and protect your broken pinky toe. Tape from the base of the toes up to about 1/4 inch from the top of the toes. Wrap the tape around twice using 2 separate strips so it doesn't get too tight.
Wrapping the tape too tight will cut off circulation and turn the ends of your toes a purplish-blue color. Your toes will also feel numb or tingly if you've wrapped the tape too tight.
Reduced circulation to your toes also slows down the healing process, so make sure to buddy tape the toes together firmly, but loose enough that blood flows normally.
If you don't have any medical or surgical tape (sold at regular pharmacies), then duct tape, electrician's tape or small (narrow) Velcro straps can work also.
Most simple (stress) fractures of the toes take about 4 weeks or so to heal properly, so plan on buddy taping for the majority of that time.
5. **Change the tape and gauze daily.** Buddy taping toes together to give support and promote healing is an ongoing process, not just a one-time procedure. If you shower or bathe every day, then you should re-tape your toes on a daily basis because wet gauze or felt is less effective at preventing blisters and the water starts to dissolve the adhesive glue on the tape. As such, remove the old tape and gauze after bathing and use dry gauze or cotton and fresh tape after your feet are clean and dry.
If you bathe every other day, then you can wait an additional day to re-tape your toes unless your feet get wet from some other reason, such as getting caught in a rainstorm or flood.
Using water resistant medical / surgical tape may reduce the frequent need to re-tape, but any time the gauze / cotton between your toes gets wet (or even damp) you should redo it.
Remember not to use too much tape (even if it's loosely applied) because you may not be able to fit your foot into your shoes properly. Too much tape also triggers overheating and sweating.
6. **Apply ice or cold therapy.** Even before you see a doctor to confirm a stress fracture of your pinky toe, you should apply ice or some form of cold therapy to any musculoskeletal injury in order to reduce inflammation and numb the pain. Use crushed ice wrapped in a thin towel (so it doesn't cause frostbite) or a frozen gel pack on the front part of your foot. Small bags of frozen veggies work well also.
Apply the ice or cold therapy for no more than 20 minutes at a time to the lateral (outside) part of your foot. Use the cold therapy 3-5x daily for the first few days post injury.
Wrap the ice bag or gel pack around the front of your foot with an elastic bandage for better results because compression helps to reduce swelling too.
7. **Elevate your foot to reduce inflammation.** While you're applying ice to your lateral forefoot in order to combat the swelling, it's also a good idea to keep your foot elevated. Elevating your foot reduces blood flow, which helps to minimize inflammation during injuries. Prop your foot up whenever possible (before, during and after icing) so that it's higher than the level of your heart for best results.
If you're on the sofa, use a footstool or a few pillows to keep your leg / foot elevated above your heart.
While in bed lying down, use a pillow, folded blanket or foam roller to prop up your foot a few extra inches.
Always try to elevate both feet at the same time so you don't create hip, pelvis and/or low back pain or irritation.
8. **Cut back on walking, running and other exercises.** Another important element of home care for a broken toe is some rest and relaxation. In fact, resting by taking the weight off your foot is the primary treatment and recommendation for all stress fractures of the foot. As such, avoid the activity that triggered the injury and all other weight-bearing exercises (walking, hiking, jogging) that put weight on the lateral portion of the foot for 3-4 weeks.
Cycling can still be a good option for exercise and maintaining fitness if you're able to position the pedal closer to your heal and away from your toes.
Swimming is a non-weight bearing exercise and appropriate for a broken toe once the swelling and pain have subsided. Don't forget to re-tape your toes afterwards.
9. **Take over-the-counter medication short term.** Breaking a toe, even if it's just a stress or hairline fracture, is painful and managing the pain is an important part of the healing process. As such, in addition to applying cold therapy to dull the pain, consider taking over-the-counter medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or painkillers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). To minimize the chances of adverse side effects, such as stomach irritation, take these medications for less than 2 weeks on a daily basis. For most simple fractures, 3-5 days of medication should be sufficient.
NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and aspirin (Excedrin). NSAIDs are better for bone fractures because they inhibit swelling, whereas painkillers don't. However, NSAIDs such as naproxen may slow bone healing, so they should be used with caution.
Aspirin should not be given to children, whereas ibuprofen should not be given to infants — stick with acetaminophen if your child needs pain relief. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Tape-a-Broken-Pinky-Toe", "language": "en"} |
How to Get Rid of Threadworms | Threadworms, also known as pinworms, are small worms that can infect people. They are normally contracted by inadvertently swallowing an egg, which goes on to live in the intestine and become an adult worm. Female worms migrate down toward the anus (the fecal-oral route) where they lay more eggs, and the cycle is continued. A combination of medical treatments and excellent hygienic measures at home is key to getting rid of threadworms.
1. **Take one dose of an anti-worm medication.** Your doctor will prescribe (or recommend an over-the-counter version of) an anti-worm medication. Some examples include Mebendazole, Pyrantel permeate, and Albendazole. You will be directed to take one dose of one of these medications (follow the specific instructions of your doctor) and then to wait two weeks.
The way this medication works is that it kills off any adult worms. They are all eradicated, except for the eggs which will remain in your system.
2. **Take another dose at the two week mark.** After two weeks have passed, you will be directed to take one more dose of the same anti-worm medication. The purpose of this second dose is to kill any new worms that have formed as a result of the eggs. The two week timing is extremely important, as it catches the worms at just the right phase in their lifecycle so as to kill all of them without needing any further doses after this one.
3. **Treat everyone in the household.** Since threadworms are so easily passed from one person to another, your doctor will likely recommend that everyone in the household be treated with two doses of the anti-worm medication. It is better to be safe rather than sorry, and to prevent the hassle of someone in the household showing signs of an infection just after the initial person was cured.
4. **Know that medication is your best bet.** This is especially true if you are treating pinworm infections in children. Although pinworms can technically be treated with six weeks of very strict hygiene measures (because the lifecycle of the worm is six weeks), it is very challenging to adhere by these strict standards at home, particularly if children are involved.
The benefit of medication is that it is extremely effective at clearing the infection in two weeks.
Hygienic measures can then be used as a means to prevent re-occurrence or subsequent infections down the road.
5. **Understand how threadworms are spread.** Threadworms can be transmitted from person-to-person contact with an infected person, as well as from touching objects that may be contaminated with eggs such as a toilet seat, bedding, or other things. Therefore, excellent hygienic measures at home are key to preventing the spread of threadworms to everyone who lives in the household, as well as to supporting a cure for the person who was initially infected.
6. **Wash toilet seats daily.** Because eggs are laid around the anal area, it is important to clean the toilet seats at least once a day to avoid contaminating others with threadworm eggs, and also to avoid re-infecting yourself with more eggs. Clean with water and regular household cleaners (no special products are needed). Use gloves when you clean to keep your hands clean.
7. **Wash your hands regularly, especially if you are infected.** Pay particular attention to washing your hands both before meals and/or food preparation, as well as after using the toilet. This will help to get rid of the threadworms faster by preventing spread of the infection.
8. **Change your bed sheets at least twice a week.** In order to effectively get rid of threadworms, you need to change and wash your sheets to get rid of any eggs that may be present. It is also important to wash your pyjamas regularly (or whatever you sleep in), as well as the clothes you have been wearing, for the same reason of avoiding re-contaminating yourself with eggs. This will help to clear up the infection faster by removing eggs that will simply continue the lifecycle of the threadworm, making it more challenging for you to regain your health and wellbeing.
9. **Avoid scratching around the anus.** Because female worms migrate toward the anus and lay eggs there, the anus can become particularly irritated and itchy. People, especially children, may be tempted to scratch around the anus to alleviate the itch. However, this is one of the worst things you can do, because your hands then immediately become contaminated with eggs, which will spread to everything you touch after that. Therefore, to reduce the spread and transmission of threadworm eggs, avoid scratching around the anus.
Also avoid applying ointments or creams to the anal area in an effort to soothe it. This may cause the female worms to lay eggs higher up in your rectum or colon, which makes the problem worse not better.
10. **Recognize the symptoms of a threadworm infection.** The sooner you can catch the infection the better, as that way you can start medical treatment and hygienic prevention measures at home as soon as possible. Common signs and symptoms include:
Itching and irritation around the anus
Potential signs of irritation or infection on the skin around the anus (particularly in children, who are more likely to scratch there which can lead to an infection from broken skin)
Difficulty sleeping (due to anal itchiness)
Irritability (from itchiness and poor sleep)
Sometimes vaginal itchiness or irritation in girls (as on rare occasions the female worm can enter the vagina rather than the anus).
11. **Administer a "tape test.** If you suspect you or someone in your household may have threadworms, contact your doctor as soon as possible. As previously mentioned, rapid diagnosis and treatment is key to getting rid of the infection as soon as possible. For a tape test, the doctor will ask you to take a piece of cellophane tape and press the stick-side against the skin surrounding the anus. Remove the tape and put it in a plastic bag and give it to your doctor, who will check under the microscope for the presence of eggs. Eggs can only be visualized under the microscope. A test positive for eggs is diagnostic for a threadworm infection.
Do the tape test first thing in the morning, before showering or using the toilet.
Make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly to avoid spreading the eggs. Don't let the tape touch anything, either!
12. **Opt for treatment anyway if you live in the same household.** It is key to understand that if you are in the same household as someone diagnosed with threadworms, you will be advised to take the medication (and to practice the hygienic measures) without needing to be formally diagnosed with threadworms. This is because your risk is high enough, so it is better to be safe than sorry and the benefits of treatment far outweigh the risks. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Threadworms", "language": "en"} |
How to Grill a T‐Bone Steak | There is nothing like cutting into a high-quality steak seared to perfection on the grill. A T-bone is a great choice for grilling and doesn't require a lot of preparation. The key to a good T-bone steak is to season it in advance, then cook it indirectly before searing it. Cook the steak to the desired temperature and let it rest so it stays flavorful and juicy.
1. **Pick a steak at least 1 in (2.5 cm) thick.** A T-bone steak is actually 2 steaks combined. T-bone steaks are measured from the edge of the tenderloin, which is the smaller steak, to the bone. The other steak is a NY strip steak, which is larger and not as lean. Tenderloins cook faster than strip steaks, so get larger tenderloins to cook your steak evenly.
Although 1 ⁄2 in (3.8 cm) is the most common size for grilled T-bone steaks, choose a 1 in (2.5 cm)-thick steak if you desire less meat. Anything smaller than this is prone to overcooking on the grill.
Larger steaks, such as those over 2 in (5.1 cm) in thickness, are also good on the grill but take longer to cook.
2. **Purchase steaks labeled as porterhouses for grilling.** Porterhouse steaks are all technically T-bones. A T-bone is labeled as a porterhouse when the tenderloin is at least 1 ⁄2 in (3.8 cm) thick. If you see T-bone steaks labeled as porterhouses, you know right away they're the perfect size for grilling.
3. **Choose a T-bone with an even distribution of fat in the meat.** Marbling is from the white streaks of fat within the steaks. The more even the marbling appears to be, the better your steak will cook on the grill. The fat also gives the steak plenty of flavor.
In the U.S., for instance, steaks are rated for quality. Prime steaks are the best cuts with the most marbling. Choice steaks are what most people grill. Select steaks are the lowest quality, so avoid them for grilling purposes.
Also, pay attention to the fat around the outer edges of the steak. An ⁄4 in (0.64 cm) layer of fat is ideal. If you see large chunks of white fat on the outer edge of the meat, you're going to pay for a part you can't eat.
4. **Trim the extra fat and pat the steak dry.** Set the steak down on a cutting board and slice excess fat off its outer edges. Leave at least ⁄4 in (0.64 cm) of fat on the steak for flavor. Then, blot any remaining moisture off of the meat with a few paper towels.
Excess fat melts in the heat and drips into the grill, sometimes causing a flare-up. To avoid this, plan on cooking the steak away from direct heat with a drip pan under it. Then, finish the steak quickly over direct heat.
Any moisture on the steak turns to steam, which cooks the meat and affects the sear.
5. **Season the steak with salt at least 40 minutes in advance.** Cover both sides of the steak in a thick layer of about 1 teaspoon (5.69 g) of kosher salt. Adding the salt so far in advance draws the flavor out of the steak. The salt draws out the juices, which the steak reabsorbs before you cook it.
If you don't have time to wait, season the steak right before cooking it. That way, the steak's fibers won't have enough time to release juices. Unless you put the steak on the grill right away or wait the full 40 minutes, your steak will lose those juices as it cooks.
6. **Add other seasonings to the steak as desired.** Let the steak's natural flavor shine through by including only salt and pepper. If you have a fresh, good-quality cut of meat, this is all you need to bring the best flavor out of it. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon (2.30 g) of black pepper over the sides and edges of the steak. Add more pepper as desired to suit your tastes.
Another option is to wait and add the pepper after cooking the steak. The pepper tends to burn a little, leaving a bitter flavor. Some people don't like this, but others think it balances out the flavor.
If you are willing to experiment, use other herbs and spices in a rub to give the T-bone additional flavor. For instance, mix together 2 teaspoons (4.2 g) of paprika, ¾ teaspoon (1.35 g) of cayenne pepper, ¾ teaspoon (1.80 g) of onion powder, ¾ teaspoon (0.24 g) of garlic powder, ¾ teaspoon (2.25 g) of turmeric, and ¾ teaspoon (1.35 g) of coriander.
Another option is to let the steak rest in a marinade for at least 2 hours. Make a basic marinade out of ⁄4 cup (180 mL) of soy sauce, ⁄2 cup (120 mL) of lemon juice, ⁄4 cup (59 mL) of Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup (62.25 g) of mustard, and 4 cloves of garlic to give the steak plenty of flavor.
7. **Rest the steak at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.** Leave the seasoned steak out on a plate as you begin heating up the grill. This gives the meat some time to dry out as the salt does its job. If you plan on seasoning the steak well in advance, store it in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth.
A steak can be left out at room temperature for up to 2 hours before bacteria makes it inedible. Keep the steak in the refrigerator if you don't plan on cooking it within that time span.
8. **Preheat 1 side of a grill to a medium setting, about 350 °F (177 °C).** To test the grill, hold your hand about 5 in (13 cm) above the grate. If you are able to leave your hand there for only 3 to 4 seconds before getting too hot, the grill is at the right temperature.
For a charcoal grill, move the charcoal to 1 side. For a gas grill, activate the burners on 1 side. Leave the other side of the grill unheated to cook the steak indirectly.
Other temperatures do work and are fine for cooking a T-bone quickly, but keep a close eye on the meat to prevent it from overcooking.
9. **Place the steak on the grill with the sirloin facing the heat.** Keep the steak off of the heat for now with the tenderloin portion near the grill's outer edge. Put a grill pan underneath it to catch dripping fat. This method of cooking is called the reverse sear. It cooks the inside of the steak first.
The most common way to cook a steak is to sear the outside portion over direct heat first. The downside is that, with a thick cut like a T-bone, the steak's interior cooks inconsistently.
10. **Grill the steak for about 20 minutes until the interior is almost done.** Keep a thermometer on hand and begin checking the center of the steak after about 10 minutes. The meat needs to be 5 °F (−15 °C) below the finished temperature you desire. At a minimum, cook the strip portion to 115 °F (46 °C) and the tenderloin to 110 °F (43 °C).
If you like your steak medium-rare, grill the strip portion to 125 °F (52 °C). For a medium steak, continue cooking to 135 °F (57 °C). Aim for 155 °F (68 °C) to make the steak well-done.
Remember that the cooking time depends on many different factors, including the size of the steak and your grill's settings. Your time may vary.
11. **Turn up the heat setting on your grill to high.** Leave the steak on the grill. Add more coals to the heated side of the grill or adjust the gas burners to 450 °F (232 °C). Make sure the heated portion is blazing hot before you finish the steak over it. The steak is already cooked, so all you need to do to finish it is sear it quickly over direct heat.
When the grill is very hot, you will be able to hold your hand over it for 1 second or less.
12. **Sear the steak over direct heat for about 2 minutes per side.** Cook the steak until it has a beautiful brown crust on the outside. Watch the steak the entire time to ensure it doesn't overcook. Flip it over using tongs or a strong spatula to finish searing the other side.
To get perfectly square grill marks, rotate the steak 90 degrees after about 90 seconds of cooking on each side. This isn't important, but some people prefer the visual appeal of great grill marks.
13. **Tent the steak in foil and let it rest for 10 minutes.** Move the steak off of the grill, then loosely drape a piece of foil over it. The steak will finish cooking up to its finished temperature as it rests. Leaving the meat alone for a few minutes also causes it to absorb all of the juices, leading to a tastier steak.
At a minimum, wait 5 minutes before slicing the steak to avoid a slightly dry mess.
Just before you serve or eat your steak, squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon juice over it. This will multiply the flavor even more.
Store leftover steak in an airtight container or wrap. It lasts about 4 days in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Grill-a-T%E2%80%90Bone-Steak", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Chocolate Glazed Donuts | Donuts are a fun snack to prepare. Making them at home is a great way to spend quality time with family members of all ages. Donuts are essentially deep-fried rings of dough; so they can be made easily at home.
1. **Heat the oil to 375 degrees.** Using medium-high heat pot, pour the oil and have it heat till it reaches 375 degrees. You can check the degrees by sticking a thermometer in the oil.
2. **Remove the biscuit dough from can.** While waiting for the oil to heat up, remove the dough out separate, and lay them on a flat surface.
3. **Punch a hole in the center of the biscuits.Using a bottle top, punch small holes in the center of the biscuit dough.** The leftover biscuit dough can be fried and eaten as well. If you don't want to fry them, feel free to throw them out.
4. **Place each donut in the hot oil.** Place the donuts in the oil and fry until golden brown and fluffy. Watch donuts fry when they're in the oil, they cook fast.
5. **Place on a napkin to drain excess oil.** Use tongs to remove the donuts and have them rest on a napkin. Allow to cool.
6. **Place butter, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and milk in a pan and heat.** Place all the ingredients (except the powdered sugar and chocolate) in a frying pan and heat until butter melts thoroughly.
7. **Add chocolate.** Turn heat to low and slowly pour the chocolate. Whisk until the texture is creamy.
8. **Add powdered sugar.** Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar. Whisk again until uniform texture is achieved.
9. **Let it sit for 30 minutes.** To keep the glaze liquid and creamy, pour glaze into a bowl and place the bowl of glaze into a larger bowl filled with warm water.
10. **Spread glaze onto donuts.** Using an icing spatula, spread the glaze over each donut.
In addition to spreading the glaze, you can drizzle just a little or dip the whole donut in the bowl.
11. **Allow to dry.** Have the donut glaze set and dry until it hardens.
12. **Enjoy!**
13. **Finished.** | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chocolate-Glazed-Donuts", "language": "en"} |
How to Know if Your Cosmetics Contain Lead | Since the 1990s, there have been several surges of public concern about lead content in cosmetics, usually prompted by news reports, mass emails, or social media posts. Excessive lead intake is a legitimate health concern, and if the microscopic amounts that might be in your lipstick worry you, you may want to seek out lead-free cosmetics. However, the process is not as simple as you might think. Whether or not you are able to determine if your cosmetics contain lead, you should also decide how much of a concern its possible presence in your makeup ought to be.
1. **Know the lead limits for color additives.** In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has limited authority to regulate cosmetics, but it can legally regulate color additives in cosmetics (as well as foods and drugs). Color additives require prior approval from the FDA before the products can legally be manufactured or sold in the U.S.
Although there are some variations, the typical limit for lead in a color additive is 20 parts per million, which is well within recognized safe parameters under normal use. A listing of FDA-permitted color additives is available at http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/IngredientNames/ucm109084.htm.
2. **Be wary of traditional eyeliners.** Eyeliners known by names including kohl, kajal, and surma have long been popular in many parts of the world, and occasionally appear for sale in the U.S. However, these eyeliners contain high amounts of lead and are not approved for sale or use in the U.S.
The danger of these products is real — they have been linked to cases of lead poisoning in children.
These eyeliners are on an FDA “import alert,” meaning they can be seized by FDA field personnel to prevent sale or distribution.
3. **Use progressive hair dyes cautiously, and only as intended.** Most hair dye products, and especially progressive hair dyes that darken hair color over time, use color additives that are subject to FDA approval. They typically contain lead acetate, and are permitted by the FDA to have much higher concentrations of lead than is typically allowed for color additives.
The FDA contends that, when used as intended, the elevated lead content in these products is not a health concern because the product does not enter the body. However, the products must contain this special label on the packaging:
"Caution: Contains lead acetate. For external use only. Keep this product out of children's reach. Do not use on cut or abraded scalp. If skin irritation develops, discontinue use. Do not use to color mustaches, eyelashes, eyebrows, or hair on parts of the body other than the scalp. Do not get in eyes. Follow instructions carefully and wash hands thoroughly after use."
4. **Weigh your options with lipstick.** Lipstick is the most common cause for concern about lead in cosmetics, as emails, news stories, and press releases about lead in lipstick seem to make the rounds in waves every several years.
The FDA has done substantial testing and is not concerned with the findings. However, it did find lead in virtually every lipstick tested.
The other sections of this article contain more information on lead content in lipstick. Practically speaking, however, the darker (especially red) your lipstick is, the more likely it is to have greater amounts of lead in the pigments.
5. **Don’t expect to find lead listed among the ingredients.** Your lipstick can contain lead without noting it on the package ingredients because lead is not considered an ingredient. That is, manufacturers don’t purposely add lead as part of the manufacturing process. Instead, lead is considered a “contaminant” that is present in trace amounts in the base materials and pigments that constitute the product.
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually has quite limited authority in regards to identifying and banning substances such as lead from cosmetics. And, in any case, the FDA has studied the matter and determined that the amount of lead in cosmetics is not a health concern.
6. **Consult existing lists and databases.** When the FDA addressed the topic of lead in cosmetics in 2010, it authorized detailed testing of 400 different products. The bad news, if you are worried about any amount of lead in your cosmetics (even if the FDA isn’t), is that each and every product showed traces of the element. The good news is that the entire results list for those 400 products is available online.
You can also look for lists and searchable databases maintained primarily by organizations that are working to eliminate lead and other potential toxins from consumer products.
Remember that cosmetics formulations change regularly and without warning, so the list of eleven (out of 33 products) that passed muster during testing by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2007 is probably no longer accurate. Seek out up-to-date information whenever possible.
7. **Contact the manufacturer.** Even if your cosmetics manufacturer is not required to list trace amounts of lead in its products, it may have conducted testing (or be aware of testing results) that determined any lead content. They don’t have to disclose this information to you, either, but it can’t hurt to ask.
Increasing numbers of cosmetics companies are proud to advertise that their products are “lead-free,” but again there is no clear definition of that term. Does any trace amount of lead count? How much testing must be done? Who did the testing? You can feel more confident about choosing products that are advertised as lead-free, but you can’t be completely certain due to the lack of established, common standards.
8. **Test the product yourself.** If you really want to be certain whether your favorite lipstick or face cream contains lead, the most accurate results will come from sending the product to a laboratory that can do detailed testing. There are actually laboratories that advertise for this service, so some people must be utilizing it.
You can also purchase at-home testing kits from various sources, although the accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
There is also a simple at-home method that may or may not be useful (depending upon who you ask). It involves smearing your chosen product onto a clean surface, then thoroughly rubbing a piece of gold, copper, pewter, or silver on it. Supposedly, the presence of lead will cause the product to discolor with darker streaks or smears. Again, the effectiveness of this method has not been confirmed.
9. **Recognize the dangers of lead.** Lead is an element that has served useful purposes from plumbing to paint and beyond for centuries, but the dangers of excessive lead levels in the body have become apparent in recent decades. Lead is a neurotoxin that can cause behavioral, developmental, and learning difficulties. It is therefore particularly dangerous for children and their developing brains.
See the handout created by an agency of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (available at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp13-c1-b.pdf) for detailed information about lead, how it enters the body, how it impacts the body, and how to limit exposure.
10. **Don’t overreact to the situation.** Yes, 400 out of 400 cosmetics tested by the FDA in 2010 contained lead (and a separate major study also got a 100% result). And yes, lead is a toxic substance. That said, among the most likely sources for dangerous levels of lead exposure, your cosmetics are pretty low on the list. Continuing to use cosmetics is unlikely to significantly alter the amount of lead in your body, and pitching all your cosmetics will not protect you from possible lead exposure from more likely sources.
You are more likely to be exposed to higher levels of lead by way of water carried through old pipes, houses built before 1978 with flaking paint, and airborne dust near industrial sites, to name some examples.
Often with good intentions, some individuals and groups have resorted to scare tactics in order to advocate for the removal of all traces of lead from cosmetics. You may have gotten emails before that say cosmetics companies intentionally use lead because it lowers their costs, and that lead causes cancer.
In reality, most lead in cosmetics occurs as a natural contaminant, and the possible links between lead exposure and certain cancers are still unclear.
11. **Look at both sides of the debate.** On one hand, then, you have organizations like the FDA that state that the small amounts of lead found in cosmetics are of no real health concern. On the other hand, you have advocacy groups and some researchers who focus on the fact that lead is a toxic substance, and say that it should be avoided in any amount whenever possible.
Advocates against lead in cosmetics believe that the FDA does not adequately factor in the cumulative impact of reapplying a product like lipstick several times per day, every day. This cumulative buildup, they contend, can push lead intake above the daily “safe” threshold, especially for children.
There is, unfortunately, no clear consensus about the impact of lead in cosmetics.
12. **Take practical steps to reduce lead exposure from cosmetics.** The amount of lead in your lipstick is probably not an issue that should cause you sleepless nights. That said, if you can find cosmetics products that work for you and don’t contain lead, then perhaps it is your best option to choose them. Consider also:
Limiting the use of cosmetics by children, especially when it comes to reapplying lipstick or other lip products.
Reapplying lipstick or lip products yourself only as necessary, and ideally not more than a handful of times per day.
Choosing lighter shades of lipstick and makeup, which tend to have less lead in them.
Seeking out lead-free products and/or testing your cosmetics for lead, as discussed elsewhere in this article. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-Your-Cosmetics-Contain-Lead", "language": "en"} |
How to Curb Your Addiction to News | Addiction to news has become more prevalent with the increase in news channels and sources. Constantly following the news may make you feel connected to the world, but you are actually less engaged with real life. Worst of all, news stories may not be an accurate portrayal of events, are designed to hook viewers for advertising dollars, and perpetuate a catastrophic mindset. If you apply some practical tips, and resolve the underlying cause of your addiction, you will restore balance to your life.
1. **Seek help from family and friends.** If you don't feel you can do this alone, ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable to reducing or stopping your news viewing. Having someone to help you adhere to your goals will provide you with a greater chance for success, especially if your obsession has been bugging them or interfering with your relationship.
Alert your friends and family to the telltale signs you’ve been watching too much cable news, such as becoming easily agitated, paranoid, not answering the phone, panicked and restless.
Make a point to check in with your family and friends. Don’t wait for them to ask you how you are doing. Consider saying something like, “Hey, I wanted to check in with you to let you know how I’m doing with changing my news viewing habit.” This will provide a lead in for them to feel comfortable to ask questions.
2. **Schedule a specific amount of time to watch news.** Set a maximum amount of time that won’t interfere with other activities. Typically 30 minutes of news can provide you with ample coverage; any more than that and it gets repetitive.
Create a schedule of all your daily events. Include news reading, viewing or listening as a small portion of each day, and no more. Setting limitations and tracking your time on a daily schedule or planner will help you hold yourself accountable to your goal.
Apply the same rules to internet news. Give yourself a chance to break your news addiction by limiting your online news reading to set times of the day. If you see headlines, don't click to go there unless it's during your allotted time.
3. **Keep a money jar for lapses.** If you watch more than your allotted amount of news put money into the jar. The money will be given to your friend or family member. Or, it could be donated to a non-profit organization that helps people with addiction.
This principle is similar to using a Cuss Jar when trying to stop a family member or yourself from cussing. Instead of cussing, the goal can be news watching. Pick an amount of money to insert into the jar for each violation. You can also get someone to agree to add money to the jar when you go an entire day without watching the news. All the money will go to a good cause.
4. **Unsubscribe to news-heavy social media sources.** If it is filled with news about the latest sensational terrible event, you will hear the same information from 50 different sources across multiple electronic devices.
Weed out the sources that are not at the top of your list. Limit yourself to 1-2 sources.
Check in for updates infrequently unless you're actually in the epicenter of an unfolding issue and need real-time help.
5. **Use online commitment devices.** There are programs that will alert you when you have reached a limit on your viewing time. Also, you can use the program to block sites that are distracting you from your goals.
The most effective outcomes result from allowing yourself some freedom to browse certain sites, and then self-determine what you want to block. So pick a time to review the sites you visit regularly and pick your top three.
6. **Get a new hobby or venture.** If you free up your time by reducing your news watching, there will be time to do it. If part of the problem is that you have too much time on your hands, try something new.Research indicates that if you have a hobby you will be healthier and less depressed.
For example, take a class at the local community college, tackle a project you’ve had on your “to do” list for years or make a concerted effort to see friends and/or family members more often.
7. **Turn it off.** Going cold turkey is one possibility, which is a successful technique for many people. Abstaining from seeking news will likely be challenging due to the constant influx of news that fills online, TV and radio channels. Divert your eyes and ears from news sources and focus on your work or an activity.
A person can develop an addiction to many things. Abruptly stopping your news viewing is a valid method for recovery, but it has limited success. For example, although smoking is different than excessively watching the news, studies have shown that only 22% of smokers who attempt to quit cold turkey kick the habit.
8. **Assess the level of your problem.** Determining how afflicted you are with an addiction to the news will help guide you in your journey of self-help and potential therapy. Ask yourself a series of questions and write down your answers. Once you see the list you have written, take time to think about the ways your life is limited by your behaviors. Introspection is the process of directly attempting to access your own internal processes. . When you figure out how and why you react the way you do, then you can solve many personal struggles. The level of your discomfort will inspire you to change your behaviors. Here are some questions you can ask yourself about your addiction to the news:
Have any of your relationships been negatively affected by your news watching behaviors? Ask those closest to you for their input as you may not be completely aware of how your actions impact others. This will show you that you news watching is not only harming you, but others as well.
Does the morning news define how you will act and feel for the day? Does your last news check-in of the day determine how you will sleep at nights? If you allow the news to define your day and affect your sleep, then you are being controlled by your addiction.
Do you rudely interrupt conversations to be able to hear a news item while you're out shopping, dining or spending time with others? Hurting other people’s feelings just to hear the news shows that you place news at a higher priority than others around you.
Do you believe 24 hour news stations matter more than any other stations on television? Would you forgo other things in life just to feed this habit? This outlook is limiting your perception of the world, and thus limits your experiences.
Do you feel deprived if you don't know what is currently happening in the world? Do you suffer from FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out? Recent studies indicate that if you suffer from FOMO you are likely feeling disconnected and dissatisfied with your life.
Are you a person who fights to be the first to hear breaking news? The urgent need to stay on top of the news is a lot of pressure to be putting on yourself and it may be affecting your behaviors.
9. **Evaluate your mood after spending time watching news programs.** Your feelings are a true indicator that you have let a news addiction dominate your life. If you feel stressed, anxiety-ridden and convinced that the world is out of control, you're overly reliant on news. If you are positive and upbeat one moment and then you become suddenly angry when you hear the news, this is a sign of addiction.
Has your usual optimistic self been transformed into a pessimistic and joyless self who only sees the dangers, the panic, the fears and the terrible future ahead of you? Too much news will do that.
Are you unable to react rationally to stressful situations? Do you snap at family members or become agitated if someone dares to suggest that things aren't really as bad as you are making them out to be?
Have you started to become more paranoid or uneasy in public. Continuous exposure to an abundance of news can make even the most levelheaded individual feel paranoid or concerned that something terrible is about to happen.
10. **Determine the underlying causes.** Real change does not occur without identifying the emotional underpinnings of your behavior. Are you struggling with anxiety, stress, or depression? You may be using the news to distract yourself. Unfortunately, it may be causing more harm than good. Most stories on the news are filled with tragedy, crisis and leave you feeling helpless.
Manage your anxiety, stress or depression in healthy ways that include relaxation techniques, physical exercise or yoga.
When you are relaxed your muscles loosen, blood pressure and heart rate drop, and your breathing slows and deepens. Spend time relaxing rather than watching the news to avoid your emotions. Also, if you do watch a disturbing story you can use relaxation techniques to calm down.
11. **Formulate a plan to build coping skills.** Following a problem solving model will give you structure for creating change. You have identified your addictive behaviors and now you must determine clear objectives, implement them, make adjustments as needed and monitor your progress.
Determine clear objectives. One objective may be that you set a schedule and keep a log of how much time you spend watching the news. Self-monitoring leads to real change.
Pick a start date for your plan and start. Don’t delay the inevitable. Start as soon as possible.
Recognize your growth and reward yourself. If you successfully meet your daily, weekly or monthly objectives, celebrate your accomplishments. Perhaps you could go to a movie, attend a sporting event or plant a tree in honor of someone you admire. Positive reinforcement will motivate you to continue with your plan.
If a strategy just isn’t working for you, then stop using it. Find an alternative and plug it into your plan. Don’t look at it as a failure; instead look at it as a correction in the course toward your goal.
Your new behaviors will build over time and become second nature to you. You can fade or lessen your strict adherence to the steps of your plan and maintain positive outcomes.
12. **Seek professional help.** If you have difficulty managing your addiction to the news, then seek counsel from a professional trained to deal with addiction. Contact you doctor or trusted friend or family member for a referral in your area.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of many types of therapies that are effective with addictions, depression, and anxiety disorders.
Group therapy is also effective when coupled with a problem solving approach. Groups may be focuses specifically on news addiction, or can be formed to help with social and coping skills.
13. **Strengthen your support system.** Relationships must be nurtured to survive. Social support is essential for your physical and psychological health.If you’ve been handcuffed to the news for any period of time, your relationships have likely suffered. Reach out to others to build or repair your relationships. Until you are 100% confident with the changes you have made, you will need the support of others.
Engage in real and online social situations that expand your interests beyond news stories. For example, take a music lesson, volunteer for a project to help animals, or children in need. It will restore the idea that there is more to life than news.
Shared interests bring people together. Investigate and join a group that might interest you. There might be a comedy groups, or city recreation league that will provide the opportunity to meet new people.
14. **Be a good role model for others.** If you meet someone who you suspect is addicted to the news, refrain from talking about the news. Bring up different subjects to divert the conversation toward a more positive direction. You can always excuse yourself from a conversation if it becomes difficult or annoying.
Without being pushy or overbearing, share your experience with the person and offer to help him. You can suggest all the strategies that helped you manage your addiction to the news.
Teaching others what you have learned will give you a sense of accomplishment and internal reward far above what watching the news will provide.
Learning to overcome and manage an addiction to the news will increase your self-esteem.
15. **Keep life in perspective.** It is important to keep the information we hear in perspective. A lot of news narrows down the information to a specific, terrible situation. There are usually time constraints so they pack in as much death and destruction as possible. If you inundate yourself with this information, it will skew your perception of reality.
Pause and think clearly and you will realize the chances of the same disaster happening again or even at all, are minuscule. Influenza is a very good example of narrow reporting. A certain amount of people die, but in a country with 350 million people, 50 influenza deaths is a small amount. Don't assume there is a pandemic without good evidence.
When you're tempted to believe that things are getting worse because of the news, stop and ask yourself something like: Are they really? And why do I think that? Are those facts credible? Taking the time to question the fear-mongering news stories can break the cycle of being obsessed with them.
16. **Lighten up your viewing choices.** Watch movies or TV shows that don’t involve the news or disasters. For example, you can watch shows about home improvement, or biographies of historical figures. Add some humor to your life to balance the negativity of watching the news. It can be healing.
Periodically ask yourself if you have laughed very much in the last week or month. If you can't remember the last time you did, then find a way to get a good dose of laughter. Call a friend who makes you laugh, or go to a comedy club to support comedians. Once you feel the benefits of laughter you will make it part of your routine.
17. **Expect ups and downs.** Life is filled with things that challenge you, and also make you want to celebrate. Much of life happens between those two points. You are able to appreciate the celebratory moments because you know what it feels like to struggle. If you are feeling down you can feel confident that the good will eventually arrive. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Curb-Your-Addiction-to-News", "language": "en"} |
How to Treat Forearm Tendonitis | Tendinitis is an inflammation or swelling of a tendon. Tendons are the connective tissues that connect muscle to bone. The two most common types of tendinitis are on the inside or outside of your elbow. The inside is "golfer's elbow," formally known as medial epicondylitis. The outside is "tennis elbow," also called lateral epicondylitis.
1. **Follow R.I.C.E.** R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This principle can be used at home to treat forearm Tendinitis and should be practiced on a daily basis for the best results.
2. **Rest the your forearm.** Resting the muscles in the affected tendons is crucial to treating Tendinitis, especially in athletes. Athletes who continue to push through tendon pain risk escalating their injury from the acute inflammation phase to chronic Tendinitis, which is much harder to treat.
Avoid in sports or strenuous physical activity. Don’t try to play through the pain.
Small amounts of activity can still be done by patients with forearm tendinitis. Complete abstinence from using the affected area can cause muscle stiffness. Try low impact activities like swimming and gentle stretches to keep your muscles active without putting too much stress or use on them.
Forearm tendonitis is often indirectly caused by poor posture and weak shoulders, which place increased stress or pressure on the elbow when you repeatedly perform the same movements such as when typing, writing, golfing, or playing tennis.
3. **Ice the injured area for up to 20 minutes, several times a day.** Use an ice pack, wrapped in a towel, or give your forearm an ice massage, or a slush bath with ice and water. This will decrease the pain, muscle spasms, and swelling of your forearm.
To apply an ice massage, freeze a plastic foam cup of water. Hold the cup while applying the ice directly to the skin of your forearm.
You can use frozen bag of vegetables such as peas.
4. **Compress the area until the swelling goes down.** Swelling can result in a loss of motion in the injured joint. Use a compression wrap or a compressive elastic bandage (available at any pharmacy) on your forearm until it appears less swollen.
5. **Elevate the affected area.** Elevating your forearm will help to reduce the pain and swelling. Raise the affected forearm above the level of your heart on a chair or a stack of pillows.
6. **Take an over-the-counter pain reliever or anti-inflammatory medication.** Ibuprofen, Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medication will help with the pain and swelling in the short term (five to seven days).
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a very effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medication. You can usually take two pills at a time, and repeat every four to six hours.
Naproxen sodium (Aleve) is another anti-inflammatory medication. You may take this every 12 hours as needed for pain and swelling.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is another effective pain reliever that can be used to ease the discomfort associated with forearm tendinitis.
7. **Stretch the extensor muscles of your forearm.** Stretching is a good way to strengthen your forearm muscles and release any pain or stress. A constant stretching and strengthening routine can help to alleviate forearm Tendinitis. Your extensor muscles help you extend your wrist and are important for healthy forearm muscles.
Sit in a chair and rest your elbow on a flat table or surface.
Straighten your arm out fully. Your wrist should extend beyond the edge of the table.
Push the palm of your hand down with your opposite hand.
You should feel a stretch across the top of your forearm and bent hand. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds and repeat it two to three times on each arm.
You can also do this stretch while standing, or while doing a light jog on a treadmill or in place.
8. **Do a forearm flexor stretch.** These are the muscles that help you flex the wrist.
Sit in a chair with your elbow resting on a table or flat surface.
Straighten the arm out fully with your palm facing up.
Your wrist should extend beyond the edge of the table.
Push your palm downward with your opposite hand to stretch the forearm flexors. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds and repeat it two to three times on each arm.
You can also do this stretch while standing, or while doing a light jog on a treadmill or in place.
9. **Strengthen your forearm extensor muscles.** Always do stretching exercises first, before you do any strengthening exercises. Use a .5 lb or 1lb weight to do these exercises. In a pinch, you can also use a soup can or a light weight hammer.
Sit in a chair with your forearm resting on a flat table or surface.
Your wrist should extend past the edge of the table.
Extend your forearm fully with your palm facing downwards.
Grasping a weight in your hand, extend your wrist upward.
Hold this position for two seconds and then release slowly. Repeat the exercise 30 to 50 times, twice a day. However, if you feel any pain while doing these exercises, lessen the amount of times you do them in a day.
10. **Strengthen your forearm flexors.** Use a .5lb or 1lb weight to do this exercise.
Sit in a chair with your forearm resting on a flat table or surface.
Your wrist should extend beyond the edge of the table.
Extend your arm fully with your palm facing up.
Grasping the weight in your hand, flex your wrist upwards.
Hold this position for two seconds, then slowly release. Repeat the exercise 30 to 50 times, twice a day. However, if you feel any pain while doing these exercises, lessen the amount of times you do them in a day.
11. **Do deviator muscle exercises.** These are the muscles that help you move your wrist from side to side. Use a .5lb or 1b weight for this exercise.
Hold the weight in your hand with the thumb facing up.
Move your wrist up and down, much like hammering a nail.
All the motion should occur at your wrist joint, not at the elbow or shoulder joint. Repeat the exercise 30 to 50 times, twice a day. Lessen the number of reps if you feel any pain.
12. **Exercise your pronator and supinator muscles.** These are the muscles that allow you to turn your hand over.
Hold a .5 lb or 1 lb weight in your hand with your thumb pointing up.
Turn your wrist inward as far as possible and hold for two seconds.
Turn your wrist outward as far as possible and hold for two seconds.
Repeat up to 50 repetitions. Lessen the number of reps if you feel any pain.
13. **See a doctor if your pain persists, or you experience extreme symptoms.** If you experience significant joint problems, severe pain, redness, swelling, or loss of joint function, you may have advanced Tendinitis and likely require medical care.
Provide a detailed list of your symptoms and the duration of your symptoms. For example: “constant pain in the right forearm for two hours” or “swelling of the left forearm at the end of the day”.
Tell your physician about any treatments you have tried or used at home.
Describe your daily activities to your physician, as Tendinitis can be caused or exacerbated by excessive activity.
14. **Ask your doctor about corticosteroids.** Steroid injections around the tendon may help to reduce swelling and ease pain.
These treatments are not recommended for chronic tendinitis lasting three months or longer. Repeated injections can weaken your tendons and increase your risk of rupturing the tendon. Therefore, it is recommended that corticosteroids be avoided.
15. **Consider physical therapy.** Your doctor may recommend physical therapy for your forearm tendinitis. The physiotherapist will then develop a program with specific exercises designed to stretch and strengthen your forearm muscles.
Physical therapy sessions may be several times a week for several months.
Rest, stretching, and strengthening are the mainstays for this treatment.
16. **Ask your doctor about surgical treatment.** Depending on how severe and chronic your tendon injury is, surgery may be an option, especially if a tendon has torn away from the bone.
Focused aspiration of scar tissue (FAST) may be necessary to treat chronic tendinitis.
This procedure is a minimally invasive surgery that uses ultrasound guidance and small instruments, and is performed under local anesthesia.
The goal of this surgery is to remove tendon scar tissue without damaging the surrounding tissues.
Most people return to normal activity within one to two months following FAST treatment. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Forearm-Tendonitis", "language": "en"} |
How to Get a Free Web Site | This wikiHow will teach how to go about setting up your very own website for free. After all, not all of us have money to be dropping on a domain name, a hosting platform, and a web designer. Luckily there are a lot of really great free options available online if you know where to find them (and we do). We'll walk you through everything you need to know to get started setting up your website, like how to find a free web host and get a domain name at no charge.
1. **Search for the free web host that fits your needs.** There are a few companies that offer web free hosting services and make it easy to quickly set up a simple website with your own personalized content. The tradeoff for this is typically a custom subdomain (containing the company's name) and significantly limited options for the look and feel of the site. Yola, Google Sites, Freehostia, and Biz.nf all offer some basic website design and hosting options for free.
If you plan to post continuously or wish to have a site with a greater number of distinct pages (e.g. a blog), options like Tumblr, Blogger, or Wordpress may be a better fit. They offer more limitations on the look of your free web site but little to no restriction on the overall size.
Shop around before you choose. Different web hosts offer different features and all will limit the options in their free packages. Consider the features that matter most to you before signing up.
Free web hosting usually lacks a data backup plan so be extra careful about backing up your files.
2. **Sign up with your new web host.** Most services will require an email address and other verifiable identity information to get started. Some may require credit card information as well if payment is to be invoked automatically based on your specific usage, but this should be rare.
If you have a Google account already, signing up for Google Sites or Blogger will be as easy as signing in and then navigating to the correct page.
3. **Choose your domain name.** Many (but not all) free web hosts also supply free domain names or subdomain names (URLs containing the company's name). Typically you will be prompted to determine a URL shortly after signing up and will first have to check for its availability.
Choose your domain name carefully. While some hosts may allow for changes to your custom domain name in the future (subject to availability and typically adjustable through your profile settings) others may not.
4. **Build your website.** Free website hosts may not let you use fully customize the look and feel of your website but instead offer pre-made themes with customizable options. For many this can be a blessing, as these templates and tools allow for the easy creation of an attractive and professional-looking website.
You should be able to browse available templates and sample websites before signing up for a given service.
5. **Research free domain name registrars.** If all you need is a free domain name (e.g. if your website is already built, or if you'd like to build it yourself from scratch), then this is a good option for you. A quick search can yield several results of companies that supply free domains.
Free and fully customized domain names that end in “.com” and “.org” are nearly impossible to get, but there are sites that offer free domains with less common extensions such as “.tk” or “.cf”.
Web hosts sometimes offer fully free domains as incentive for you to purchase a hosting package.
Note that many free hosting sites offer free subdomains of their websites (e.g. yourcustomname.freehostingcompany.com). If you are willing to have your web hosting company's name in front of your chosen domain name for at least a time, this may still be your best option.
There are also some companies that offer affiliate programs challenging you to sell domains to others in exchange for a free one for yourself.
6. **Choose a domain name registrar.** Consider what features and functions you most need from your domain name registrar and on your hopes and dreams for the site itself before settling on any one provider.
7. **Search for your desired domain names.** Because alternate domain extensions are relatively rare, your first choice domain name is more likely to be available through free domain provider services. Before being assigned your domain you will have to search its availability.
If having a specific domain name is important to you, consider checking the availability of a given domain before signing up for any services by typing it into your browser's address bar. If a website is returned (instead of an error), you will know in advance that this specific domain is already taken.
8. **Select your domain name from those available.** Some sites only offer one domain extension option (e.g. ".tk" or ".tumblr.com"), while others will search through all available (free) domain extension options. Choose the domain name one that suits your fancy, and you’re ready to start building your website.
Free domain providers typically make it easy to redirect your existing website to the new domain, or offer a range of options to help you begin building your website. *Remember to be careful, the Dot TK is not trustworthy due to they redirect the URL traffic to malware when your website has got good enough traffic. There is evidence of people getting their hard work disconnected.* | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Free-Web-Site", "language": "en"} |
How to Eat Brie | Brie is a soft French cheese made from cow’s milk that has a smooth and creamy texture. If you’re unfamiliar with the cheese, it also has a white rind over it that is edible. It is traditionally cut into small wedges and eaten with plain bread or crackers. You could also pair it with all sorts of toppings and drinks. If you’re looking to cook with brie, melt it into many different dishes to enjoy its unique, gooey deliciousness.
1. **Cut brie** Cutting the tip off, or “pointing” the cheese, is considered to be a faux pas. The tastiest part of the brie is the tip. When you cut that part off for yourself, you’re basically telling everyone else, “all mine!” Keep the brie triangular-shaped, cutting along its edge.
If the rind doesn’t appeal to you, cut the cheese at more of an angle to maximize the amount of “inside” you get. No one will notice as long as you preserve the triangular shape of the brie.
Go on and take part of the rind! If you’re cutting brie the right way, each slice will have some on it. If you cut across the brie to remove the tip, you inevitably leave behind a slice that is all rind.
2. **Eat the rind along with the rest of the cheese.** Everyone wonders what they are supposed to do with that hard shell on cheese, but a brie rind is safe to eat. Don’t try scraping out the inside to avoid the rind. That would be like taking the meat out of a sandwich and throwing away the bread. Brie rind is crumbly and has a slightly bitter taste, but it isn’t too distracting from the cheese’s gooey goodness.
If you haven’t tried the rind before, go for it! The rind isn’t for everyone. Keep in mind it tastes worse as the brie goes bad, so be sure to try it on a fresh slice.
3. **Peel the rind off a slice of cheese if you don’t want it.** Some people don’t like the rind and that’s okay, but wait until you have the slice of cheese on your plate before removing it. Do your best to peel it off by hand. Brie is soft and sticky, so separating the rind isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Try cutting the top off to make the rest easier to remove or eat around it if you have to.
When you’re serving brie at home, you can cut off the rind ahead of time. Freeze the cheese for about 30 minutes, then slice off the rind with a sharp knife. Don’t remove the rind if you’re serving the cheese to guests, since some of them may want it.
4. **Throw away the cheese if it smells like ammonia.** Brie generally keeps for a couple of weeks until it is opened, and after that, it lasts a week or less. The rind turns gray and flaky as the cheese spoils. Green and pink mold spots are things you don’t want anywhere near your mouth. The inside of the cheese turns gooey and has a nasty chemical smell as it goes bad.
Underripe brie feels hard to the touch. It has a hard outer rind with a springy inside. Overripe brie turns soft and runny.
Brie stops aging after you slice it, so eat is as soon as possible to avoid having it spoil on you. If you have to store it, wrap it up in parchment or wax paper and keep it in a refrigerator drawer away from moisture.
Freezing generally isn’t recommended unless you’re going to use it in dishes where the texture doesn’t matter, such as in soups and casseroles. It will last up to 6 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw it in the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave until it softens.
5. **Leave the brie out at room temperature for 1 hour.** Take it out of your refrigerator and let it settle. It turns nice and creamy so you get the most out of its flavor. Warming it a little reduces any of the ammonia taste you might get from a slice you have had in the refrigerator for a few days.
You could also heat it to make it gooey on the inside. Heat it for about 1 minute in a microwave on a high setting until it’s soft in the center. In an oven, heat it at 350 °F (177 °C) for about 5 minutes or until it reaches the consistency you desire.
6. **Serve the brie by cutting it into a wedge.** If you bought a wedge, it is simple enough to serve by plopping it on a tray with a knife. A lot of brie is sold as a wheel, so cut out a wedge to get the party started. Slice from the rind to the center of the brie with a narrow cheese knife. Keep the slice relatively small, about 1 in (2.5 cm) or less depending on the serving size you desire.
Cutting brie is a lot like cutting apple pie, but making the first cut into a beautiful wheel can be intimidating when you’re a guest. Cut a slice to give guests a sample to go by.
When you’re cutting down a wedge of cheese, always cut along the sides from the center to the rind. Don’t cut off the pointed tip, the tastiest part of brie.
7. **Place the cheese on plain bread or crackers to enjoy its basic taste.** Rip off a piece of a baguette or another crusty bread and put the brie on top of it. The French traditionally eat brie this way since plain bread doesn’t compete with the delicious flavors of the cheese. Throw the cheese on top of the bread and pop it in your mouth.
You don’t need to spread the cheese at all. Brie is soft and creamy as is, so put it on something of a similar size and enjoy it.
8. **Pair the cheese with sweet fruit or nuts to complement its flavors.** If you can resist shoving an entire slice into your mouth as soon as you cut it, combine it with other delicious things. The most traditional pairing is a slightly acidic fruit like apples, grapes, and pears. Both fresh and dried fruit goes well with brie. You could also try unsalted pecans, candied walnuts, and a little honey.
Preserves are always great to spread on brie. Any type of preserve or jam works, but the best kinds are sweet and acidic, such as cherries, mixed berries, and figs.
If you’re looking for more party options, arrange your own charcuterie board. Create a tasting tour out of meats like salami and prosciutto. Add a variety of cheeses, such as a nutty manchego and a crumbly blue cheese.
9. **Select a fruity or acidic drink to pair with brie.** You’re eating a French cheese, so you can’t go wrong with a nice French champagne. Sweet, tart wines like pinot noir go well with brie, but you could also grab a hearty beer. If you’re not drinking alcohol, consider pouring a fruit juice like grape or apple to complement the cheese’s soft flavor.
Soft cheeses like brie tend to pair well with dry, fruity wines like riesling, marsannnay, or viognier. A lighter red wine like a pinot noir works well too on account of its delicate yet rich flavor that contrasts the mellow cheese.
If you’re more of a white wine kind of person, look for something dry and acidic. The herby taste of a nice sauvignon blanc goes well with a slice of brie.
For beers, strong but inoffensive brews like scotch ales, stouts, and porters are good choices. You could also go for something lighter and fruitier, such as a pilsner.
10. **Bake brie** There are many ways to make a baked brie appetizer, but start off by putting a soft brie on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper preheated to 350 °F (177 °C). Wait for it to soften and bubble a little. If you leave it in for too long, it could liquefy into a mess, so check on it often.
Add toppings before or after you heat the brie in the oven. Some toppings to try include fruit preserves, honey, fresh herbs, and crumbled nuts.
You could make a dippable brie by cutting the top rind off the cheese. Leave the rest of the rind intact so the brie keeps its wheel shape. Then, dip crackers into the molten goodness or scoop it out with a spoon.
11. **Make brie en croute to create a pastry appetizer.** Brie en croute is a dish where you cover a small wheel of brie with puff phyllo pastry and bake it until it is golden brown. There are many variations of toppings you can add to the brie before closing it in the pastry. Cut the rind off the top of the brie first before adding them. When you’re ready to bake it, beat an egg and brush the egg on the pastry dough to fold it closed over the brie.
For example, put some cranberry sauce on the brie for a holiday or cold-weather appetizer. Serve the brie by slicing it into wedges and eating as is or by putting it on crackers.
You could add all sorts of toppings for an effortless but delicious brie appetizer. Try stirring ⅓ a cup (42 g) of chopped pecans in with 1 tablespoon (14.2 g) of melted butter, ¼ a cup (50 g) of brown sugar, and ¼ a teaspoon (0.6 g) of cinnamon.
12. **Stuff salmon with brie and crab for a seafood dinner.** The soft, creamy taste of brie goes well with the stronger flavors of seafood. Cut 4 salmon fillets lengthwise to open up a pocket to stuff. Then, fill them with 6 oz (170 g) of both crab and shrimp along with 6 oz (170 g) of brie chopped up into ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) cubes. Bake the fish for about 10 minutes in an oven preheated to 400 °F (204 °C) to get a fish dinner with a gooey filling.
Brie doesn’t have to be a sweet treat. Consider stuffing the fish with peppers, onions, pine nuts, and other savory ingredients. You could also make a beurre blanc sauce for additional flavor.
13. **Use the brie as a flavorful spread for snacking.** Pesto is one of the many ways to flavor brie to spread over bread and crackers. It’s great for casual gatherings or a delicious snack all for yourself. Cut a wheel of brie in half, then slather some store-bought pesto between it. Bring plenty of pretzels, crackers, and bread for dipping.
You could make your own pesto, such as by blending together fresh basil leaves, cream cheese, pine nuts, and other ingredients. Mix the brie in as well if you want something closer to a dip than a solid wheel of cheese.
14. **Put the brie on a sandwich for a simple way to use it.** There is no simpler way to enjoy a good slice of brie besides eating it whole. Melt the brie over bread to enjoy a nice grilled cheese. You could also mix in some pesto or customize the flavor with other ingredients, such as bacon, avocado, and ham. Brie goes with all sorts of different ingredients.
If you want to get adventurous with a sweet grilled cheese, try spreading the brie with cranberries or other preserves. You could even add turkey and stuffing for a wild autumn or holiday sandwich.
15. **Use the brie in place of other cheeses to come up with your own recipe.** Once you get accustomed to cooking with brie, there is no limit on what you can do with it. You could eat it plain, sprinkled on your salad. It goes well when melted on a burger or over french fries. Just be sure to save enough of it to use in your recipe! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Brie", "language": "en"} |
How to Hide That You've Been Crying | Although crying is a very healthy thing to do, you don’t always want others to know that you’ve been crying. You fear you might be judged for being weak, or you simply don’t want people to ask you what is wrong. Whatever the reason, there are steps you can take to make yourself presentable to the public, and issues to address should you be going through difficult times.
1. **Stop crying.** You may have to wait a few minutes before you stop crying. You will eventually stop. It is better to let yourself cry than force yourself to stop. Pent-up emotions are being expressed when you cry which allows the body to release tension and recover.
Try to bring yourself back into the present moment and remind yourself that you're safe right now, this can help you to settle down.
Try using your five sense to get back into the present moment. What do you see within the room? Can you think about things that you might smell, if you smell anything, you can notice if you taste anything? By using your senses you can calm down and recover from crying.
If you are in a time crunch and you need to stop crying, tell yourself, “You need to stop crying and find the calm inside you.” Repeat this until you stop.
You can also purposely startle yourself. This will create a quick shift in your emotions and will help you stop. Simply saying, “Oh!” might do the trick.
Redirect your emotions with a pinch to your arm. This can cause enough of a distraction to switch off your crying response.
Once you have stopped crying, distract your thoughts away from the reason for crying. If you just received news that someone passed away, focus on what you need to do that day.
Crying is related to many positive events as well as sad or maddening events. Allow yourself to cry until you stop.
2. **Splash water on your face.** When you cry, facial nerves are stimulated, which causes the skin to increase in temperature. Cool water splashed on your face will lessen the heat. Let the water run over your hands and wrists and splash your face a few times. Use a towel or whatever is available to pat your face dry.
3. **Blow your nose with a tissue, toilet paper, or paper towel.** You want to clear your nose of mucus. Once you've blown your nose, look in a mirror to make sure your nose is clean.
4. **Breathe.** Take a few cleansing breaths to release the residual emotions and fill your lungs. Crying can constrict your breathing, and slow breathing can restore normal function. Your body will benefit from the additional oxygen.
Avoid rapid breathing that can turn into hyperventilating, which can trigger a panic attack.
5. **Attend to the redness in your eyes, nose, and face.** When a person cries, blood rushes to the face, eyes, and nose areas. Once you stop crying, the skin will eventually return to its normal color.
Use a cold compress and place it over your eyes, nose, and face. This will speed up the calming process.
If you are at work or elsewhere and a cold compress is not available, wet paper towels and spin them in the air to cool them. This will do the trick.
Fan your face using a piece of paper or whatever you can find to allow air to rush over your face. This will cool your face, which will reduce the redness.
6. **Remove and reapply your makeup.** If you were wearing makeup when you cried, use a tissue to gently pat your face dry. Remove any residual or smudged makeup with a makeup remover, then reapply what you removed.
7. **Use eye drops to remove the redness from your eyes.** If you don’t have any eye drops, you will simply need to put your sunglasses on to hide your eyes.
8. **Check yourself in the mirror.** If you want to make sure you are presentable, the mirror will tell you. If your hair looks good, your face looks good, and your clothes are situated like you want, then you are ready.
9. **Tell yourself you’re okay.** You might need to give yourself a little boost to rise to the occasion of facing the crowd. Try some positive self-talk and say, “Okay, you’ve got this. You are going to hold it together. We are moving on.”
10. **Focus on something positive.** The feelings of whatever it was that made you cry might return to upset you again. If you start to feel emotional, stop yourself and substitute a positive thought. Pick a subject matter that is not closely related to the reason you are crying. The goal is to refocus your attention away from the issue at hand.
Tell yourself, “You are going to think about something positive like how much you love going to the beach. Yes, that is what you are focusing on now.”
Think about a project you are working on. Make a mental list of the steps you need to take and when you will get them accomplished. Imagine how happy you will be when it is complete. This will carry you out of the emotional darkness you might be feeling.
11. **Act like you are happy until it passes.** You may not be an actor, but your body doesn’t know that. The power of suggestion can be very effective. As you enter the crowd, perk up, smile, and tell yourself, “You are feeling good and you are happy.” Send yourself on your way filled with positive thoughts.
12. **Show yourself some compassion.** You were crying for some reason. If you have gone through a difficult time, you need to allow yourself to feel the emotions that made you cry. You also need to determine if the frequency and duration of your crying are excessive.
Was this an isolated incident or something that is happening often?
If you find yourself crying uncontrollably for an extended period of time, you need to talk to someone about getting help so you can learn how to control crying in a healthy manner.
Be kind to yourself during this time. Forcing yourself to stop crying is difficult to manage. Suppressing your feelings can cause negative results.
13. **Communicate your concerns.** If the reason for your emotional upheaval is due to a relationship, work, or family conflict, you must communicate your concerns. To resolve any conflict, you need to find a way to be heard.
Write down your concerns. This will help you focus on the problem.
Next, write possible solutions to these problems.
Practice saying your concerns out loud so you will be calm, prepared, and focused for the conversation.
Communicate with the person to express your concerns. Start by saying, “I’ve been thinking a lot about what has been going on and I want to resolve this issue. Will you hear me out?” This will provide a lead-in to addressing your concerns.
14. **Seek help if you are struggling.** It takes bravery and courage to ask for help. If you are struggling with school life, family life, or life in general, contact a trusted source to talk about getting help. There are resources available to you either at school or from a private provider such as a counselor or doctor. Talking with someone will help you sort out your struggles and develop an effective approach to handle anything.
If you cannot stop crying and find yourself crying for most of the day, you should call a counselor or a doctor to seek help. If you have suffered a great loss, crying can be considered normal for a period of time. Grief counseling will help.
Art therapy is also available and can be extremely beneficial. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Hide-That-You%27ve-Been-Crying", "language": "en"} |
How to Call the Corners | Calling the corners is a short ritual that Pagans, Wiccans, witches, and other magical practitioners do before they begin spellwork or spiritual work. It involves calling on the 4 corners (or directions) of the Earth and the elements they represent. This ritual is used to cleanse your space, ask for protection, and ask for help. Write or choose your quarter calls prior to beginning your ritual. Then, cast your circle and call the elements.
1. **Try basic, non-rhyming quarter calls if you're a beginner.** The purpose of quarter calls is to call on the elements of the 4 corners of the earth, which represent earth, air, fire, and water. When you're first getting started, it's easiest just to appeal directly to the elements and ask them to come help you.
In your calls, you can use “guardians” and “spirits” interchangeably. Similarly, it's okay to use the direction and the element interchangeably, such as north/earth, east/air, south/fire, and west/water.
2. **Use quarter calls from a book or ritual for an easy option.** Most books on Paganism, Wicca, or witchcraft have basic rituals that you can try on your own. This is a really great option for beginners, as it takes out the guesswork. Look for a book at your local library, bookstore, or online. Alternatively, search online for a ritual that appeals to you.
There are a lot of different ways to do quarter calls, so the prepared rituals you find will often look very different from each other.
3. **Write your own quarter calls if you want them to be personal.** Before you write your corner calls, reflect on what you plan to do in your ritual, and how you think the elements can help you. Then, write down the gist of what you want to say.
You might want to write your own calls so that more of your personal energy is present in your ritual. Additionally, you can customize your calls for what you want to achieve.
You might need to rework your quarter calls a few times to get them the way you want them.
4. **Decide if you want your quarter calls to rhyme.** Quarter calls don't have to rhyme, but you may prefer to make them rhyme because you like the sound or want them to feel like spells. It's completely up to you if you want your quarter calls to rhyme. Do what feels right for your ritual or what helps you get into the right headspace for the spiritual or magical work you want to accomplish.
If you do want to write rhyming quarter calls, you might use a rhyming website or rhyming dictionary to help.
5. **Write short 4 line poems** It's easiest to stick to short lines with 3-6 syllables. Try to make your lines an even length so they have a good rhythm. Read them aloud to see how they sound, then revise your calls, as necessary.
If you want to write longer quarter calls to fully express your intentions, that's totally okay. Do what works best for you.
6. **Set your intention for your magical workings.** Bring your mind to center by focusing on your breath. Then, imagine what it is you want to accomplish during your ritual. Picture yourself having success in achieving what you want.
For instance, your intention may be to attract money or abundance, or you might want to find love.
7. **Collect items to represent the 4 corners.** Generally, you'll represent the 4 corners with items that correspond to their element. This helps bring the guardians or spirits to your circle. If you're first getting started, here are some basic correspondences that you can use to represent the 4 corners:
East/Air- a yellow candle, feathers, incense, dried lavender, citrine, white quartz, athame
South/Fire- a red candle, volcanic rock, heated stones, ruby, gold, brass.
West/Water- a blue candle, water, shells, mirrors, silver, chalice, pearls.
North/Earth- a green candle, soil, fresh herbs, oats, salt, clay figures, wooden tools.
8. **Use a compass** You can use a handheld compass or download a free compass app on your phone. The compass will point you toward the north, and you can easily find south by turning opposite of north. To find west and east, remember that they read "WE," which helps you know that west is to the left of north, and east is to the right of north.
For instance, you can use Digital Field Compass on Android or Smart Compass on iPhone. If you want more features, there are other apps you can try, as well.
9. **Arrange your altar for your ritual, if you're using one.** You may prefer to use an altar to hold your magical supplies, including your representatives of the 4 corners. Place your corresponding items in the corner they represent. Then, place your goddess or god items in the center of the altar. Position any other items you're using around the center of the circle.
10. **Cleanse your space using sage or salt water.** Light a sage bundle, then walk clockwise around the circle. Move your arm back and forth to spread the sage smoke around the area. As an alternative or additional step, stir salt into a cup of water until it's dissolved. Hold your hand over the salt water and imagine a white light flowing into the water. Then, sprinkle the water around the circle.
As you cleanse the space, you might prefer to say something, such as “With this sage, I banish all negativity!”
11. **Light the candles around the perimeter of your circle, if you're using them.** It's up to you if you want to mark your circle with candles. You might enjoy the ambiance of the candles. However, they can pose a fire risk and may be unsafe if you have children or pets in your home.
You can also mark your circle with non-flammable items, like seashells or stones.
12. **Walk around your circle clockwise 3 times to cast your circle.** As you walk, imagine that a white light is emanating from the circle. Keep your mind focused on the positive energy you're building, and take deep, steady breaths.
Depending on your tradition, you may hold an athame while you do this.
13. **Begin in the north or east, depending on your preference.** You may start in the north because it represents earth, which means it provides a stable foundation for your magical work. Alternatively, you might start in the east because it's where the sun rises. Choose what feels right to you, or follow your traditions if you're learning a formal practice.
It's helpful to follow your own intuitions and do what's right for you. This is your spiritual path, so it may differ from someone else's.
14. **Call each corner using your quarter calls.** Turn toward the direction you are calling, then use a confident voice to recite the words you wrote or borrowed. It's best to say the words from memory, but you can read them from a book or sheet of paper, if you prefer.
You may write your calls into your Book of Shadows, if you have one. Then, you might prefer to read them from the book as part of your ritual.
Remember to turn to the next direction before making your next quarter call.
15. **Light the candles associated with each corner, if you're using them.** After each call, light the candle that represents that element, if you're using corresponding candles. Use a lighter, match, stick of incense, or another candle.
Later, you'll extinguish these candles when you release the corners.
16. **Stand in the center and acknowledge your goddess, god, or spirit.** You can simply acknowledge their presence or call them to your circle, depending on your beliefs. Some practitioners appeal to the goddess, god, or spirit in general. However, you can also call on specific deities, if you'd like.
You might skip this step if it doesn't fit into your spiritual path. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Call-the-Corners", "language": "en"} |
How to Get a Boy at Church to Like You | When you’re interested in a boy at church, you may have to use different techniques than you use with other boys. The values and ways you interact at church are different. Practice a few simple actions to get him to notice you first. Then start spending a little more time talking and hanging out together. Once you are friends, get to know each other more deeply and see if he starts to like you.
1. **Smile and be friendly.** The first step in getting him to like you is getting him to notice you. Guys are attracted to girls who smile and are easy to approach.You don't have to have a big smile on your face at all times, but give him a nice smile whenever you see him.
Before you get to the point of saying hi or talking, wave at him across the room or give him a nod that says hello.
If he initiates more interaction, follow his lead. So if he says hi first, say it back to him.
2. **Say hello or goodbye when you see him.** Once you've established the friendly smile and wave connection, move on to actually talking to him. Greet him each week at church and at extra times that you see him during the week. A simple hello and goodbye helps build a connection between you and him.
Smiling, say, “Hey Ellis, it’s good to see you again!” When you both leave church, say, “Work hard at school this week!”
3. **Wear modest but attractive clothing.** Wear clothes that cover your chest, stomach, and legs, because church is not the place for revealing clothing. Show him that you know how to dress well without showing off your body. He’ll notice you have good style, but he’ll also notice that modesty is important to you.
When it comes to skirts and dresses, aim for ones that go below the knees. Don’t wear ones that are slit up the thigh.
Wear shirts that cover your cleavage and are not too tight or see through.
4. **Do something visible at church.** If you're feeling confident, sing a solo during the offering or if your church has a choir, join it. Use your talents to your advantage and make sure you create a positive image of yourself. Give a talk during the service or perform a skit of some kind.
This gives him the chance to see you in front of other people, not just around the church.
He’ll think you’re brave and see that you’re talented at what you do.
5. **Talk to him about the Bible and your faith at church.** Since you are already at church, use that as a topic of conversation. Start simple by asking what he has read in the Bible. Tell him about some parts you know well. Ask him about what his church experience has been like so far.
If the boy is serious about church and his faith, he’ll find it attractive that you read the Bible and take it seriously, too.
If both of you have been in church for a long time, or even a short time, use that as a point of conversation. You’ll each be able to tell your story about going to church.
6. **Hang out with him whenever you are at church events.** Find him before the sermon or Sunday school class starts, and sit by him. Whenever there are weekend parties, Bible studies, or trips, seek him out and spend time with him. Make the most of the fact that you are already part of a group with him.
Ask him if is attending upcoming events where you could hang out more. Say, “We have that water balloon fight this Friday. Are you going to it?” Follow up by talking to him there.
If you see a seat open by him, go up and say, “Do you mind if I sit here? I need someone to help me pay closer attention.”
7. **Invite him to join you at a get together or group date.** It’s important to find a place to interact with him outside of church, but a one-on-one date may not be the best place to start. Get a group of friends together for a bonfire or game night and invite the boy you like to join you.
He will see you interact with other people, which is important. This also takes the pressure off of both of you because there are other people for you to hang out with.
Tell him to bring one or two of his friends, and invite a couple of your friends, too. This way you will both have some people you know, and you’ll meet each other’s friends.
Say, “Jimi, a few of us are going to J. Gumbo’s to grab some lunch after church. Do you want to bring a couple of friends and join us?”
8. **Be a godly woman.** Be kind to everyone around you to show him you are living like Jesus. Stay away from sin, especially sexual sin, because this shows him you know what is right and wrong. Continue to work on living more like Jesus.
He may not see how godly you are the first time you ever talk to him. It will take time, and you have to consistently live in this way for him to see you.
Talk to him about the things that make it hard for you to live like Jesus. Being honest about your struggles brings the two of you closer together.
9. **Be true to who you know you are.** Being yourself and staying true to your personality is what's going to make him attracted to you. Don’t try to change yourself or be what you think he wants. It wears you out, and he’ll realize it was all fake. Make him like who you really are, not a made up version of yourself.
If you really like hip-hop music, tell him that. He may like it too, but you’ll never know if you hide it.
Don’t hide parts of yourself that are important to you, because those may turn out to be what he likes the most about you.
Tell him, “I love to garden because it gives me the feeling of providing food for myself, rather than always buying it at the store.”
10. **Tell him that you like him.** Boys don’t always pick up on all of the subtle work you’re doing to get him to like you. After you have spent time together and have talked a lot, tell him how you feel about him! He may like you already and be too afraid to say anything. Telling him you like him gives him the chance to like you back.
This may end up making things awkward if he doesn’t have those feelings for you. Either way, it is better to get things out in the open than keep it a secret.
Say, “Jesse, it’s been fun getting to know you recently. I think you are a really great guy and I have strong feelings for you. How do you feel about me?” | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Boy-at-Church-to-Like-You", "language": "en"} |
How to Write and Publish a Children's Picture Book | This guide will walk you through the major steps of writing a picture book for the preschool-aged child. You will note that the process requires publishing software, and has a learning curve for that software as well as working with online, POD publishing companies.
1. **Decide on a story idea.** You will want to have between 24 and 34 pages that tell your story. Select a theme that will be enjoyed by preschoolers through the age of 7 years old (and that parents and teachers will enjoy reading aloud to children.) Set a working title that matches your story.
In creating a story use themes of family, adventure, confidence, creativity, imagination, and any others that will interest the target audience of small children, and those that care for them or teach them.
2. **Create a storyboard.** It should walk you through each page of the story, and takes into account the needed text, illustrations, and artwork. The storyboard is a working, flexible document and you will change it as needed as you write and create the story.
Storyboards are vital in planning out the pages and flow of your story, as well as noting what illustrations, text, and backgrounds are needed. Your storyboard can be one large sheet of paper divided into book pages, or it can be a binder or flip chart. DO NOT SKIP the storyboard process, it's the map of your story-telling destination!
3. **Write for your audience.** If you tackle sensitive issues, such as loss, sorrow, bullying, etc., make efforts to keep the story from being too dark. You can show bullying or sorrow and still create a picture book suitable for reading to a very young child. Make bright, colorful books, with overall happy messages, while still addressing the central themes.
Write like an adult, think like a child! Read your story to a child, it's the best way to see if you've done a good story-telling job.
Add humor! A touch of humor is always a great idea!
4. **Plan your illustrations.** Once you have written all the text needed to tell the story, you will note on the storyboard what illustrations are needed to show your story. Begin drawing the needed sketches, drawings, doodles for each page.
5. **Pick a design for your pages.** Decide if you are going to have a background color or pattern on your picture book pages, or if you will leave the pages white. If you decide to use backgrounds, you will need to create a background for each page. Again the storyboard is a great place to organize notes on the kind of background needed for each illustrated or text only page.
6. **Pick software to put together your book.** To combine your different layers of your story to get ready to publish, you will need software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign). There are free tutorials that walk you through learning the software available on KDP.com, and Adobe.com, as well as in the software programs themselves.
Adobe Illustrator has a feature called Image Trace, that will remove the white background from black and white line drawings in one or two clicks!
KDP.com offers templates for book layouts, as well as a user community forum to answer any questions you may have.
7. **Envision your book as layers.** In Adobe or other publishing software, you will combine your story layers, backgrounds (or white page), followed by illustrations and on a top layer, text. Adobe Illustrator handles text better than Photoshop, and it's best to type text into InDesign last, after placing backgrounds and picture. Copying text over from other applications can make your text blurry and unreadable. Use Photoshop for altering the illustrations for color, size, perspective, but use InDesign for text.
8. **Save your file first in your publishing software!** This will be your master copy if you later need to make changes. Don't rely on your PDF version as your only copy. You want to be able to make improvements to the original file later.
9. **Convert it to PDF.** Once you have your full book in InDesign, or your other publishing software, you will need to use the save as feature to convert the pages to one PDF file. A single PDF file is needed to upload to a Print-on-Demand (POD) publisher, such as KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) or Lulu.com
If your file is too large you will not be able to upload it for printing/publishing. Make smaller files by selecting "Optimizing for the Web", and not selecting "include Thumbnails, or Illustrator's ability to change." Now you have two copies, your master Illustrator file, and a single PDF file in a smaller size for upload to POD.
10. **Decide on a title and work on cover art for your book.** KDP has temples that will help you design your cover, and get the correct size that includes front, back and spine in one larger file. The interior storybook file -- the single PDF, and the cover file are uploaded separately to the online publisher.
11. **Review your storybook on line in a digital version.** Make any corrections for typos, wording , or desired changes to artwork. This is a good time to set the final title for your book, or keep the working title if you like it! When you like what you see digitally, you will be ready for the next step.
12. **Order a printed proof copy.** Both Lulu.com and KDP.com encourage you to order a proof copy before you approve your picture book file and cover for publication. While proof copies are only between $7 - $10 in cost depending on page count , color use and publisher chosen, you should make as many changes in the master InDesign file after viewing the digital / free copy of your book. KDP will allow changes even after you book is published. You will need to upload a corrected PDF book file.
Get your book as close to typo free and as perfect as possible before you order the first proof. Use printed proofs to see how the publisher is true to color, how you like the placement of text and artwork, and for any creative changes you wish to make. Your goal is to need no more that 2 or 3 proof copies in getting to a perfect, printable file for publishing.
13. **Use your proof to fix any mistakes.** At each proof, check for typos, color, text and art placement, and for any changes that will enhance your story. Carefully check your cover, front and back, and the outside and inside margins and gutters.
Did the color "full bleed" if you intended it to, (color right to the edges of the pages)?
Is the inside white gutter just right, or showing too much white?
14. **Experiment with small changes.** Use of color can create emotion and tone, grays for rainy scenes, greens and yellows for spring, happy times, etc. Consider "sub-visuals" - any artwork or drawings that show activity, emotion or tell a separate story from that which is the main story of the book. Sub-visuals can add another layer of interest to a story, gently and visually.
15. **Get feedback from friends and family.** Ask those you trust to tell you the truth. Honest criticism will only improve the story and your work. Input from others can be helpful beyond just finding typos or errors on art. Sometimes family or friends will have ideas to make the story or art better, clearer or more interesting. Be open to new ideas and approaches that you can use to improve your final story.
16. **Read your story to a child.** Beyond marketing, the success of your book ultimately depends on whether it is a good reading experience for the preschool set. Create stories they want to hear about with issues that interest them, s wells those that have a bit of fun, and life in them. Don't talk down to your audience; Successful children's authors such as Dr. Seuss (The at in the Hat), Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are), (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie), and other standards of picture books -- will set the level of writing.
17. **Publish!** You can publish your book traditionally or you can self-publish it. If self-publishing, oce you have a printed proof that you feel is ready to publish and sell, you are ready to approve your file with the POD publisher (Create Space. Lulu, or other). After this step, your book is published -- and you can tell people to purchase it in online bookstores. You can buy cheaper author copies and sell your book yourself!
*Publishing requires an ISBN#, in the publishing process, you will be given a choice to use the POD free ISBN, or purchase one of your own.
18. **Deal with any errors you find thereafter.** If errors in proofs are in your file, and as such author error, you will need to make changes to the master illustrator file, and re-convert to a PDF copy, then upload that file to replace the bad file. If errors are the POD publishers fault, or printing errors not seen in the digital file, contact the POD publisher for replacement copies.
19. **Enjoy - and sell - your book.** Once you have approved the files and published your book, you should begin to sell author copies as well as market your book via online bookstores, your website, blogs and social media. Having a video created of your story is a great way to market the book and yourself as a writer.
Don't get discouraged over marketing , sales, etc. At best, everyone will read your books... At worst, your friends and family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will read them! That's not a bad legacy, now is it? | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Write-and-Publish-a-Children%27s-Picture-Book", "language": "en"} |
How to Do a Daniel Fast | There are two references to fasting in the biblical book of Daniel from which the "Daniel Fast" is drawn. Daniel, chapter 1, describes how Daniel and his three friends ate only vegetables and drank only water. (Daniel 1) At the end of a 10-day trial period, Daniel and his friends appeared healthier than their peers who ate the rich foods from the royal table. In Daniel, chapter 10, Daniel fasts again, abstaining from "pleasant food," meat, and wine. (Daniel 10) You, too, can gain a healthier body and clearer mind by following this diet "fast" in moderation.
1. **Avoid distractions** This is a sacred time between you and God, so avoid secular television and radio programs.
2. **Start the diet by focusing on your faith.** Worship God through sacrifice and love Him more than His gifts.
3. **Pray.** Your days should be filled with unselfish prayer. During the fast, increase the frequency of your daily prayer time by a factor of three or more.
4. **Reserve time with God during the day by studying the Bible.**
5. **Seek the Lord diligently for the answers to your prayers.**
6. **Ask for God's guidance in your life.**
7. **Make your meals somewhat lighter for a few days leading up to your fast.** It's an especially good idea to reduce your intake of caffeine.
8. **In the first Book of Daniel, the Prophet ate only vegetables and fruit, and drank only water for 10 days.** A short rundown of acceptable foods include:
All fruits and vegetables
All legumes
Whole grains
Nuts and seeds
Tofu
Herbs and spices.
9. **Conversely, there is also an agreed upon list of foods to avoid.** Keep in mind that no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals are allowed in the Daniel Fast.
All meats and animal products
All dairy products
All deep fried foods
All solid fats.
10. **Carefully read food labels.** Foods often contain hidden ingredients. Make sure the foods you buy are compliant with the Daniel Fast.
11. **Move to stage two.** In Daniel, Book 10, the Prophet went on a second, 3-week fast. To quote the Bible, Daniel "ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine." The second fast is basically the same as the first fast, but the text specifically names three things to avoid:
Wine
All sweeteners (including honey)
All leavened bread.
12. **Assess how you feel after the two stages.** If you feel more energetic and healthier, it is likely that you will want to keep up healthier eating habits. While reintroducing many of the items you've not had during the fast is inevitable, you may want to do so with greater consciousness for quality and portion size. And some things, like fried food and sugar are best kept to a new minimum. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Daniel-Fast", "language": "en"} |
How to Handle Being Laughed at Behind Your Back | The feeling that you are being laughed at behind your back is a common and often upsetting phobia. You do not, however, have to feel down about yourself if others are antagonizing you surreptitiously. Take a critical eye to the situation and if you feel others are mocking you, take action to bolster your confidence and remove these negative influences from your life. By evaluating your situation, directly confronting your antagonizers, and focusing on developing the positive relationships in your life, you can learn to deal positively with those who laugh at you behind your back.
1. **See if they are really laughing.** If you think someone is laughing at you behind your back, take a step back to assess the situation. Look at what you know to see if this person or these people are really mocking you.
Ask yourself if you have done anything new or noteworthy recently. Good news or performance may inspire people to laugh with you, rather than at you.
Look at the situation. If you hear actual laughter around you, know that it may have nothing to do with you. A person may be watching an entertaining video on their phone, or they may have seen something funny happening behind you. Check out your surroundings to see if there are other possible sources for laughter.
Think about any predisposition you may have to believe that people are mocking you. Do you deal with social anxiety? Have others in your past treated you this way? Evaluate your concerns and make sure they are coming from fact and observation, rather than internally-generated suspicion.
2. **Look at who is laughing.** Take a look at the person or people you think are laughing behind your back. Decide if they are the type of people that you want in your life.
If you think a friend or peer is laughing at you, ask yourself, “Do I really want to keep a close relationship with this type of person?” If the answer is no, then you can end the friendship.
If you find a rival or bully is the one mocking you, pay them no attention. Remove them from your life simply by not feeding their desire to upset you. If they believe their words have lost impact, they will eventually move on.
3. **Listen to why they are laughing.** Often, people mock that which they don’t understand or because of an insecurity. Find out why a person or group of people laugh at you in order to reassure yourself.
Someone may mock you because they don’t understand something in your life. Perhaps you are more focused on work or school than they are, or perhaps you have different interests.
If someone is mocking you because of something they don’t understand, tell yourself that your choices are valid and they don’t need other’s approval. Say to yourself, “I study to ensure a better future for myself,” or, “This hobby brings me joy and doesn’t harm anyone else. This person simply does not understand why this hobby is meaningful to me.”
Someone may also mock you because they are insecure about something that you are not insecure about. They may not have the guts to wear clothing that is very different from what is trendy, for instance, but you do. Tell yourself, “This person has no power to make me feel bad about something in my life simply because they are insecure.”
4. **Tell yourself that you're wonderful.** Don't be modest. Every time you hear about someone laughing at you, pause and think to yourself, "They're wrong and I'm a wonderful person." Do this until you're convinced.
Make it more real in your mind by backing it up with reasons why you genuinely like yourself. Tell yourself something like, “I am intelligent, resourceful, and I can make amazing cookies, and that makes me wonderful.”
Keep repeating this to yourself, no matter how hard or silly it may seem. It may be hard to believe while you are hurting, but the more you say it to yourself the more likely you are to start believing it.
Even on days when you don’t hear about someone laughing at you, remind yourself that you are wonderful and others don’t determine how you view yourself.
5. **Confront them.** Confronting a bully can be intimidating, but if you feel overwhelmed, talking to them about their problems may bring you some comfort. Set up a time to talk with your antagonizer one-on-one and see what their laughter is really about.
Talk just the two of you. A large group may create a defensive, emotional situation that brings out more aggression.
Let them know that they hurt your feelings laughing at you and you'd like them to not do it again in the future.
Ask them, “What about me makes you want to laugh at me?” Listen carefully to their answer. It is likely grounded in their own emotions and has little to do with you as a person.
Ask your antagonizer, “How do my actions or interests impact your daily life?” Evaluate their answer to see if you really do hurt them in a meaningful way, or, more likely, if you simply confuse them because you are not like them.
Understand that annoyance and dislike are subjective. Other people will have different views of you. Just because your antagonizer doesn’t know how to handle their opinion properly doesn’t mean that you are bad or have done anything wrong.
6. **Find an ally.** There are a number of people with whom you can discuss your antagonizer. Look at close friends or family members if you want someone to listen and reassure you.
Ask a friend to be your go-to person when you think you are being laughed at. Let them know that you don’t need them to solve any problems for you and that you simply want to be able to vent about the stress your antagonizers cause.
If your friend is around during an attack from your antagonizers, engage with them instead to distract yourself. Start a conversation about something you both enjoy, or ask them, "How is your day going so far?"
7. **Find a professional.** If the laughter has gotten to a point where it impacts your daily life, look for a professional therapist or counselor to help you deal with your emotions. A trained professional may help minimize the long term impacts of your antagonizer and help you develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Find a therapist or counselor that specializes in dealing with trauma from bullying or social anxiety.
Find affordable, professional help by working with educational clinics at local colleges or sliding scale practitioners in your area.
8. **Laugh along with them.** People laughing at you are looking for attention. They want to make you feel bad. If you can laugh along with them, they won’t get that attention they crave and will likely eventually move on.
Allow your laughter to be genuine. Others might be looking to hurt you, but you do not need to hurt yourself. Instead, think to yourself, “It is funny that they find my passion dorky because when I do well at the things I love, I feel like the coolest person in the world.”
Try to let their comments roll off your shoulders. If, for example, your antagonizer claims something you like is nerdy, simply smile and say, “I guess that makes me a nerd,” and walk away.
9. **Address your feelings.** Being laughed at can be painful and may hurt your feelings, especially if the person laughing at you is someone you considered a friend or someone you like and respect. If you are feeling hurt and betrayed, address these feelings instead of stuffing them down or pretending you are fine. Avoid short-term solutions that can increase your stress or be dangerous, such as self-medicating with alcohol and drugs or self-harm.
Accept that you are upset. It's okay and understandable to be hurt when someone laughs at you. Instead of saying to yourself, "Whatever, it's fine, I don't care," simply acknowledge your feelings by saying, "I feel really sad and betrayed right now."
Focus on the present. Reliving the moment and ruminating on what happened can prolong your pain. Instead of thinking, "I can't believe they laughed at me. I'm so embarrassed. It ruined my whole day and I hate that it ruined my day. They're such jerks," try to just acknowledge what you're feeling. Say, "Okay, I'm thinking about it again. It's making me feel sick to my stomach to think about it, and my face feels hot. But I'm on my way to guitar practice now, and I'm going to focus on my lesson and playing well. I'm bringing my attention to what is happening right now, not what happened this morning."
Try not to judge yourself for feeling hurt or engage in negative self-talk.
10. **Involve an authority figure.** If you find your antagonizers more of an annoyance, you may decide to deal with them on your own. If they are impacting your ability to work or function, though, you may want to bring in an authority figure to help you deal.
If you are in school, speak with a teacher you trust. See if they would be willing to set up a meeting with you and your antagonizers after school and moderate the situation. A school counselor may also be of help.
If an antagonizer is impacting your ability to do your job, let your supervisor know immediately and ask them for help.
11. **Focus on the things you can control.** It's important to remember that you can't control other people and you can't stop them from laughing. If someone was laughing at your haircut so you wear a hat, then they may just laugh at the hat, or find something else to pick apart. Trying to anticipate how someone will react, or making all your decisions based on what you think someone else will find acceptable, is exhausting and impossible. Shift your focus from what you can't control (the actions and opinions of other people) and start paying attention to what you can control — your own actions, feelings, and your opinion of yourself.
Choose to treat yourself with kindness and compassion. You have control over what your self-talk sounds like, and it's important that you behave like your own best friend. If you find yourself engaging in negative self-talk, challenge it.
You can also control your own actions, how you treat others, and what you will accept from other people. You can choose to show the people who laugh at you kindness despite their rude behavior. You can also choose to walk away from their taunts.
12. **Find better friends.** If the person laughing behind your back is someone you considered a friend, try finding more positive people to keep in your life. Take a look at what matters most to you, and find people with similar values regarding friendship.
Try joining school groups or local meetups to meet people with the same interests as you.
Look at options like book clubs and dinner groups to meet other people outside of your established social network.
Spend more time with the people who have supported and helped you. Focus on bettering your friendships with them rather than surrounding yourself with new people.
13. **Be the bigger person.** Try changing your relationship with your antagonizer by offering them friendship and help. Offer to be there for them, and know that if they reject your help that you did all you could to create a positive relationship.
Look at your antagonizer’s insecurities, and offer to help them address them.
If, for example, your antagonizer laughs at you for getting good grades or caring too much about your job, offer to help them study or get started on a work project. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Handle-Being-Laughed-at-Behind-Your-Back", "language": "en"} |
How to Make a Deadmau5 Head | Deadmau5 fans - can you not stand the fact that you don't have a Mau5head? You don't have to be a globe-trotting, Grammy-nominated sensation to look like everyone's favorite house artist! See Step 1 below to get started making your very own awesome Mau5head.
1. **Inflate a beach ball.** In this method, we'll use a beach ball as a sort of "mold" for our papier mâché Mau5head. If following the dimensions above, you will want a ball that's 14" in diameter when inflated. Inflate your ball so that it's nice and firm and make sure it's securely plugged - you don't want your ball to lose any air during the lengthy drying process.
Note that a beach ball isn't absolutely necessary - any spherical object will work as long as it's rigid and about the right size.
2. **Coat the ball with papier mâché.** Next, we'll create a rigid "shell" from papier mâché that will form the central spherical portion of our Mau5head. There are several different ways to make papier mâché. Any method that works for you is fine, though we are partial to wikiHow's own papier mâché recipe. Once you've made your liquid mixture, soak thin strips of torn newspaper in it, then lay them flat on the beach ball. Continue until your ball is completely coated (leaving a clear area around the air nozzle) and you cannot see its design through the paper. Let dry overnight.
You will want a strong, rigid Mau5head, so it's generally a good idea to plan on laying down several layers of papier mâché. Some online methods recommend as many as nine layers.
3. **Add more papier mâché as needed, then remove the beach ball.** The initial papier mâché layers may not be as thick or rigid as you desire. If not, add more as you see fit. Each time you add additional layers, you'll want to let your Mau5head sit for another night. Finally, when your Mau5head is just how you want it, undo the beach ball's plug and allow it to deflate. Once it is deflated enough to fit through the hole, pull it out.
Be careful when you pull the beach ball out, as it's likely that it's stuck to the inside of the mask. Be gentle to avoid tearing.
4. **Cut a hole for your head.** Next, you'll want to enlarge the hole that you left for the beach ball's plug so that you can get your head into the mask. As you work, make small, conservative cuts and test the size of the opening frequently - it's always possible to cut more, but not to undo cuts you've already made.
Obviously, everyone's head is a different size. While a circular hole of about 7-8" (17.78-20.32 cm) in diameter will fit most people, you may find that your hole needs to be bigger or smaller.
5. **Cut a mouth hole.** What good is a Mau5head without an enormous, creepy grin? Use a pen or pencil to draw an outline for your Deadmau5 - you'll want your mouth to be about 50 degrees wide with the top edge roughly horizontal and the corners of the mouth reaching to the sides of the mask. In other words, the corners of the mouth should align on a 180 degree angle. Use a knife to start a cut in the middle of the area of where your mouth will be. Then, use scissors to carefully cut along your lines until your mouth is completely cut out.
6. **Cut two cardboard circles (with tabs) for your ears.** Deadmau5 has big, circular ears - about 13" (33.02 cm) in diameter. To replicate these, cut two equally-sized circles from a cardboard box, leaving a small "tab" of material on each ear to fit into slots you'll cut to hold the ears in place. Your ears don't have to be exactly the same size as the ones on the real Mau5head - anything from 12-15" (30.48-38.1 cm) should be fine.
7. **Fit the ears into slits on the head.** Next, use a knife to cut small, thin slits in the top of your mask's head. These slits should be just wide enough to accommodate the "tabs" on your cardboard ears. Your slits should be angled toward the back of the head at an angle of about 15 degrees and the tops of the slits should be about 3.5" (8.89 cm) apart. Insert the ears' tabs into these slits and secure with plenty of tape and/or glue.
8. **Finally, papier mâché the ears to the head.** Add thin layers of papier mâché to cover the ears, taking special care to add plenty around the ears' tabs to secure them in place. You may even want to add papier mâché around the tab inside the mask as well. Allow to dry overnight.
9. **Cut a Styrofoam ball in half.** Small styrofoam balls, which can be found at most craft stores, are a perfect low-cost solution for making Deadmau5's eyes. You'll want a styrofoam ball about 4.5" (11.43 cm) in diameter. Cut your sphere in half as precisely as possible. Use a knife, rather than scissors.
10. **Optionally, tape colored lights to the back of your styrofoam eyes.** If you're feeling really artsy, you can tape electric lights to the rear "flat" portion of each eye for an awesome effect in low-light conditions. You may even want to carve a notch in each eye so that your lights can be embedded within the eyes themselves. When done, your light it should shine through the styrofoam, making the whole eye appear to light up.
11. **Glue your eyes to the head.** The bulging eyes on the Mau5head should sit about 2" (5.08 cm) above mouth and 5" (12.7 cm) apart from each other. If you're not using colored lights for the eyes, you can attach your eyes directly onto the head. If you are using colored lights, you may need to make small holes in the head to accommodate the lights' wires. Tape or glue your eyes in place.
If using colored lights, feed any wire(s) through two small holes beneath the eyes. If your lights are switch-activated, make sure you have easy access to the switch. For instance, when you wear the Mau5head, you may want to snake the wire down the back of your shirt and into your pocket so you can activate the switch inconspicuously.
12. **Use a thin mesh to cover the inside of the mouth opening.** Stretch a thin fabric mesh (think panty hose material) across the inside of the mouth to form the Mau5head's "teeth". Either hot glue or tape it from the inside to secure it in place. If the mesh you use isn't already white, paint it a whitish color.
You want as thin and tight of mesh as possible, as you'll look through the mesh to see where you're going when you wear the mask!
13. **Trial-fit the mask.** Once every part of your mask is in place, put on your mask to make sure it's comfy. Now is your chance to make any last-minute adjustments to make your mask look or feel better.
You may want to ask someone if s/he can see your face. If you get a "not really", "kinda", or "no", then you're probably fine. If not, you may want to paint your mesh more thickly or get another layer of see-through fabric to place behind it. Use caution, however - it's more important that you're able to see than it is that your face is hidden
14. **Paint and decorate your mask to your liking.** Congratulations, you Mau5head is done! All that's left now is to decorate the outside exactly how you want to. You may want to look up some of the different masks Deadmau5 has actually used over the years for inspiration. When all else fails, a single, bright color (like candy apple red) always looks great.
15. **Use fabric, rather than paint.** If you're a decent tailor, fabric may be a better choice for the outside of your Mau5head than paint. Fabric is strong, durable, and looks great. Even better, though, is the fact that fabric coverings are interchangeable, allowing you to rock several different Deadmau5 looks without having to re-paint your mask!
16. **Use a lamp globe, rather than a papier mâché sphere.** If you're pressed for time, waiting several days for a papier mâché mask to dry can be a non-starter. If you can get your hands on one, you may want to instead use a thin yet sturdy plastic lamp globe as the central "head" portion of your mask. Acrylic plastic lamp globes work well. Obviously, you'll want one roughly the same size as the mask above (14" (35.56 cm) in diameter)). Lamp globes are often available from specialty home furnishers and at some department stores.
Bonus points if it already includes a hole at the bottom that's big enough for your head!
17. **Mount a bike helmet or hard hat inside the mask for added comfort.** Finally, you may find that your Mau5head is more comfortable if you secure a sturdy piece of headgear to the inside of the mask so that you can comfortably "wear" the mask on your head. You can do this with superglue (or, if you're worried about damage to your headgear, lots of tape).
Heavy pieces of headgear, like hard hats, can put stress on the mask when you're not wearing it. Make sure your mask is strong and rigid enough to support the weight of any headgear you install inside it to keep your mask from imploding! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Deadmau5-Head", "language": "en"} |
How to Help a Person Who Has Ingested Poison | The American Academy of Pediatrics states that each year approximately 2.4 million people, with over half being under age six, ingest or have contact with poisonous substances. Poisons can be breathed in, swallowed or absorbed through the skin. The most dangerous poisonous culprits include medicines, cleaning products, liquid nicotine, antifreeze and windshield-wiper fluid, pesticides, gasoline, kerosene and lamp oil, among others. The effects of these and many other various poisons are so varied that it is often a challenge to discern what has taken place, which delays diagnosis in many cases. Any suspected poisoning should be dealt with first and foremost by calling Emergency Services or Poison Control immediately.
1. **Know the symptoms of poisoning.** The signs of poisoning can depend on the type of poison that was ingested, such as whether it was pesticides, medications, or small batteries. Moreover, the general symptoms of poisoning often present similarly as those of other medical conditions, including seizures, insulin reactions, strokes, and intoxication. One of the best ways to know if poison has been ingested is in fact to look for clues like empty packages or bottles, stains or odors on the person or in a nearby spot, and items out of place or cupboards opened. That said, there are still some physical symptoms you should look out for, including:
Burns and/or redness around the mouth area
Breath that smells of chemicals (gasoline or paint thinner)
Vomiting or regurgitating
Trouble breathing
Drowsiness or sleepiness
Mental confusion or other altered mental status
2. **Determine whether the victim is breathing.** Look for a rise in the chest area; listen for the sound of air coming in and out of the lungs; feel for air by hovering the side of your face just above the person's mouth.
If the person is not breathing or showing other signs of life, such as moving or coughing, administer CPR, and call emergency services or have someone else nearby call.
If the victim is vomiting, especially if he is unconscious, turn his head to the side to prevent choking.
3. **Call emergency services.** Call 911 or your local emergency number if the person is unconscious and you suspect poisoning or if you suspect a medication, drug or alcohol overdose (or any combination of these). In addition, call 911 immediately if you note the person exhibiting the following severe symptoms of poisoning:
Fainting
Difficulty breathing or cessation of breathing
Agitation or restless
Seizures
4. **Call Poison Help.** If you are concerned that you have a potential poisoning case on your hands and the person remains stable and is not showing symptoms, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the United States. If you know the number for your regional poison control center, then call it for assistance. Poison control centers are excellent resources for poisoning information and, in many situations, may advise that in-home observation and treatment (see Part 2) is all that's needed.
Poison control center numbers for different areas may vary, but a simple web search should produce the appropriate number for your location. This is a free service that can prevent you from having to pay the costly fees associated with emergency rooms and doctor visits.
Poison control is open all day, every day. The poison control representative will walk you through the step-by-step process of treating someone who has swallowed poison. The representative may give you home treatment suggestions but may also tell you to immediately take the victim to the emergency room. Do exactly what you are told and nothing more; poison control representatives are highly skilled in assisting with ingested poisons.
You can also use the the website for Poison Control to get specific guidance on what you should do. However, only use this website if: the person is between the ages of 6 months and 79 years old, the person is asymptomatic and otherwise helpful, the person is not pregnant, the poison has been swallowed, the suspected poison is drugs, medicines, household products or berries, and the ingestion was unintentional and only occurred once.
5. **Be ready with important information.** Be prepared to describe the person's age, weight, symptoms, additional medications he is taking, and any information available about what has been ingested to the medical authorities. You'll also need to give the person on the phone the address of where you are.
Be sure as well to gather the labels or actual packaging (bottle, packet, etc.) or whatever was ingested. Try to give your best estimation of how much or many of the item was ingested.
6. **Deal with ingested or swallowed poisons.** Have the person spit out anything remaining in his mouth and ensure that the poison is out of reach now. Do NOT make the person vomit and do NOT use any syrup of ipecac. Though this used to be standard practice, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Association of Poison Control Centers have changed their guidelines to warn against doing this and instead recommend notifying EMS or Poison Control and following their explicit instructions.
If the person has swallowed a button-cell battery, then called EMS immediately for treatment in a hospital emergency room as soon as possible. The acid from the battery can burn your child's stomach within two hours so prompt treatment is essential.
7. **Attend to poison in the eye(s).** Gently flush out the affected eye with copious amounts of cool or lukewarm water for 15 minutes minutes or until medical assistance arrives. Try to pour a steady stream of water into the inner corner of the eye. This will help dilute the poison.
Allow the person to blink and don't force the eye open as you pour the water in.
8. **Cope with inhaled poisons.** When dealing with poisonous fumes or vapors, like carbon monoxide, for example, the best thing to do until help arrives is to get outside into the fresh air.
Try to ascertain what chemical was inhaled so that you can tell Poison Control or Emergency Services in order to determine further treatment or other next steps.
9. **Handle poison on the skin.** If you suspect that the person's skin came into contact with a poisonous or hazardous substance, remove any contaminated clothing with medical gloves such as nitrile, which are resistant to most household chemicals, or another fabric to cover your hands from being affected. Rinse the skin for 15 to 20 minutes with cool to lukewarm water in a shower or with a hose.
Again, it's important to note what the source of the poison was in order to determine further treatment. For example, medical authorities need to know whether it was an alkali, acidic or other substance in order to assess the potential damage it can do to the skin and how to avoid or mediate that. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Help-a-Person-Who-Has-Ingested-Poison", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Female Friends | Irrespective of their gender, both men and women like to have a mix of male and female friends. But you may find approaching women intimidating and confusing, and if you’re a guy you may worry that she thinks you’re hitting on her. By initiating contact, getting to know a woman, and deepening your relationship, you can be friends with any woman.
1. **Take any opportunity to meet potential friends.** You will find that you can make female friends in a broad range of places. Use different activities to meet new female friends.
Introduce yourself and start conversations in any place you might be with women who have potentially similar interests. For example, you can meet women at work, a church, in your neighborhood or at activities both of you do like a running club.
Listen to what each woman says to get a sense of her personality and if you two might “click.”
2. **Start a conversation.** You may or may not know the woman with whom you’d like to be friends well, but introducing yourself can break the ice. This can help you form first impressions of each other that may lead to conversation and a deep friendship.
Keep the introduction light and ask open-ended questions. For example, you could say: “Hi there, I’m Sophie and I’m friends with Teresa and have heard so many nice things about you. I’d love to hear more about your work with refugees if you have some time.”
Talk to a woman casually if you’re a guy. Many women may think you’re hitting on them, so approach them slowly and as if you want to have a conversation and nothing else, in part by keeping yourself at a comfortable distance without touching her. You might want to say something like, “Hi, I’m Christopher, and I’ve seen you around work and was wondering what you do for our team.”
Find out something about her from mutual friends, colleagues, or acquaintances to help you start the conversation.
3. **Present your best self.** Most women like others who take care of their appearance, though without overdoing it. Presenting your best self to your future friend can give her a positive impression of you and encourage her to get to know you.
Avoid overdoing it with your appearance. Looking like yourself shows her that you are comfortable and can also put her at ease. For example, keep your clothing, makeup and hair simple. Anything elaborate can send the message that you are high-maintenance and may undermine your attempts to be friends with a woman. It can also send the signal of competition, which many women don’t like.
4. **Practice friendliness.** Most women enjoy being around others who are confident and at ease in their own skin. Practicing being friendly, for example by having confidence and putting her at ease can help draw a woman into a friendship.
Avoid being overly confident, which may make you seem pretentious. Stay calm, cool, and collected in your confidence. For example, don’t cross your arms or recline with your hands behind your head. In addition, maintain eye contact with your new friend. Sometimes even gently touching someone on the shoulder can reassure them that you are nice.
Show your real personality. Most women can tell when someone is being fake and your acquaintance may not want to pursue a friendship with you if you’re not being yourself.
5. **Discuss your interests.** Ask about your acquaintance’s interests to show your interest in forging a friendship. Discuss your respective interests and make sure to mention mutual passions, which is a good basis for a friendship with a woman.
Find ways to incorporate your interests in conversations, which may inspire her to invite you to do activities together.
Women enjoy a wide range of activities including shopping, hiking, photography, and running. Mentioning things in which you might think she is interested can help form a bond between the two of you.
Ask her about her interests if you are not sure. For example, if you want to strike up a conversation in a yoga class you can say “I’ve seen you here a couple of times, what are your favorite poses?” This might help you realize that you like going to class at the same times.
Tell her about your interests, too. Friendship is a two-way street, and it’s important for her to know about your passions. For example, if you’re talking about yoga poses, you can say “Oh, I like that one, too. Sometimes I have to modify it, do you ever have a hard time getting into it?”
This also lets your female acquaintance know that you are an interesting and dynamic person.
6. **Listen intently.** Listen closely to what your acquaintance says, especially if you are a man seeking a female friendship. This demonstrates that you care and want to develop the friendship, and may also help stimulate conversation with her at a juncture when they may be silence.
Enjoying a balance of meaningful and playful conversations can help develop your acquaintance into a good friendship because women like to be able to talk about both serious and light subjects.
Make sure to ask follow-up questions to show that you’re listening. Remember to do this can also help you to listen instead of thinking about how you’ll respond.
Compliment her on her interests to demonstrate that you understand what’s important to her. For example, if she volunteers for the Red Cross, say something “I really admire your work with the Red Cross and would love to know more about how you got involved with the organization.”
7. **Maintain your independence and assert your opinions.** As you get to know your acquaintance better, make sure to stay independent and not allow her to cloud your opinions. This can keep your friendship developing and also help keep her interest in you.
Use your brain and don’t dumb yourself down for your acquaintance. Show her you’re capable of forming opinions. Having meaningful exchanges and conversations keeps your friendship fresh.
Avoid asking her to spend too much time together and don’t make yourself too available, either. This helps show her that other people are also interested in being friends with you.
8. **Enjoy mutual and new activities.** Your acquaintance may get to know you better if you demonstrate one of your talents for her and do activities of mutual interest. This could stimulate conversations or doing other activities, while showing her a side of you that many people may not see.
Keep your demonstration simple so that it’s fun for both of you and doesn’t appear like competition. For example, cook for her. You can invite her for dinner by saying “I love to cook Italian food and would enjoy making us my infamous lasagna.”
Allow her to demonstrate her own talents to you, too.
9. **Make compromises.** In all likelihood, you and your new friend don’t share everything in common. Be flexible in what you two undertake together, sometimes doing things you like and other times what she does.
This demonstrates your interest in and commitment to developing your friendship. For example, if she wants to go running one day and you prefer to have brunch, do what she wants and suggest you run and have brunch next time.
10. **Stay positive and fun.** Women enjoy being around others who are positive and fun, which is especially true if she wants to be friends. She likely wants to enjoy time together and not immediately jump into how bad your life or the world is.
Start off your conversation with good news and things that have happened to you. Squeeze in negative topics once you’re both into the conversation and have loosened the mood a bit.
Understand that every person has an occasional bad day. Talk to her about it and then move on, or else she might consider you a negative Nelly and not want to invest time in your friendship any longer.
11. **Share your feelings.** Once you’ve moved beyond the acquaintance stage, share feelings and other personal items with your friend. This signals that you trust her and consider her a friend.
Be sure to not overshare. There is a fine line between sharing feelings and personal information and giving away too much. For example, don’t share intimate details with your friends unless you are comfortable and you are sure she is also comfortable with it.
12. **Incorporate her into your circle.** Having your friend meet your broader circle of friends can help solidify your friendship. In many cases, if she and your friends get along, this can further develop your friendship.
13. **Follow up with her.** One of the hallmarks of a good friend is that she remembers important dates and events and follows up on getting together. Make sure to offer support and congratulations whenever either are due, and follow up with her to schedule time together.
Send text messages, call her, or write cards to wish her good luck or congratulate her successes. Any gesture, no matter how small, is appropriate.
14. **Enjoy more time together.** As you get to know one another better and enjoy being together, increase the amount of time you spend together. Seeing each other on a regular basis can help deepen and solidify your friendship into something truly meaningful.
Set up a regular “date.” For example, agree to meet for a run and brunch on Sundays. This will give you both a chance to stimulate endorphins and eat good food while enjoying time together.
Remember to be flexible if she can’t meet. Ask if you can meet some other time during the week. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Female-Friends", "language": "en"} |
How to Study the Bible | It is important to thoroughly read the Bible, but simply reading the Bible is not the same as studying. The Divine Word of God deserves respect and ought to be understood and practiced. The Bible is one of the most misinterpreted books ever written, and most people can find it very hard to understand. The Bible records a long time of history including many cultures and ages, as well as relating and correlating to any modern era; it is translated from the original manuscripts in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic by reputable scholars.
The goal of studying the Bible is to understand the message in the correct context. If you struggle with where to start with your Bible reading, how often to read your Bible, how much to read in one sitting, or how to get things out of it (apply it to your life/practice it), this article can help.
1. **Plan your study.** Set aside a time and place to study. Develop a plan of what you want to read each day in a calendar. Having a plan excites you to discover what you learn from God's Word for that day; it will also keep you organized, keeping track of what passages you have covered and what lessons you have learned from each.
2. **Get a good study Bible.** Choose a translation to use during your study. You should select from translations as opposed to simple paraphrases, as this makes sure you are reading the originally translated text not a commentator's interpretation.
Avoid bibles that have been translated from Latin, rather than Greek and Hebrew. These, like a game of telephone, can get incorrectly translated.
Always ensure your understanding of a passage you have read fits with the entire doctrine of the Bible (which is God's Redemption Plan of Salvation, 2 John 1:7-10); any revelation you get that does not fit the doctrine of Jesus alone must be cast away. Also you must look at years of Church history to compare your findings with history. If you discover something that everyone in Church history disagrees with, you are most certainly wrong (heretics don't proceed with caution- they go ahead thinking they are the new prophet in town!) To be thus a good student of the Word, you should research: the Puritan Hard drive is a good place to start as well as Ligonier Ministries and Wretched radio (it has links to great Biblical Christian sites and Church History). Be careful not to be arrogant in the course of studying. It's so easy to boast of your findings rather than prayerfully meditate on them. Studying extensively is good, you should know what the foundations of the faith are but make sure your ability to recall names of people throughout Church history does not exceed your ability to remember the Scriptures Word for Word! (Food for thought, Joshua 1:7-9) Remember even those who are illiterate can have a deeper understanding of the Word and deeper relationship with God than you do because they meditate on it. Simply knowing names and things is not good enough. You must practice and preach what you practice.
Good formal equivalence translations include the New Revised Standard Version or the English Standard Version. Good combination translations include Today's New International Version and the Holman Christian Standard Bible. A good dynamic equivalence translation is the Contemporary English Version, although strictly dynamic equivalence translations are usually frowned on by serious scholars.
3. **Study the Bible with an attitude of prayer.** This should be the first step in understanding the Bible. Bible study should be approached with a prayerful desire to learn. Discipline yourself to be with the Word. The Bible will come alive for you. It is spiritual food.
4. **Pray** Ask God to help you understand his word before you even begin (In Ephesians 1:16-23 there is a prayer for Wisdom and Revelation that Paul prayed for the Church that you can also pray for yourself. In Ephesians 3:14-21 there is a prayer for Spiritual Maturity that Paul prayed for the Church, and that you can pray for yourself). God will reveal His Word to you. Don't assume a parable or story just because it seems vague. Don't try to interpret the Bible. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." (2 Peter 1:20,21) That's where misunderstandings come from.
5. **Focus on the New Testament first.** Though the New Testament complements the Old, and the Old complements the New, it is better to read the New Testament first if you are a novice. The Old Testament will make better sense if you read the New Testament first.
6. **Consider reading John first.** It's best to start with John, as it's the easiest Gospel to read, identifies who Jesus really is, and prepares you for the other 3. It would help to read it 2 or 3 times to get a good understanding of the author, topic, context, and characters. Read 3 chapters per day. Concentrate on your reading. and be patient.
When you're done with John, move on to Mark, Matthew, and Luke. As those tend to be the next easiest material. Read all the books -one after the other- until you have read all the Gospels.
When you're done with the Gospels, consider reading the letters from Romans to Jude. Because Revelation is pure prophecy not covered in the New Testament, stay out of there for now. When you get a good familiarity with the major prophets, then tackle Revelation.
7. **Pick out topics to study.** A topical study is very different than a book study or a chapter study. The subject index of most Bibles have specific areas of study. Once you have found an interesting topic, you begin by doing a rough read through of the verses. This will give you a general oversight of what the verses have to say. For example: salvation, obedience, sin, etc. Remember: reading a chapter several times will help you find things that you might have missed or skipped over before.
8. **Use the dictionary.** Make sure that you look up words in the chapter that you are reading from. This will help you understand the Bible better.
9. **Have a Bible notebook.** This will keep you accountable to reading every day. Also, ask yourself questions and write them down in your Bible notebook. Use the "who", "what", "when", "where", "why", and "how" formula for your studies. For instance, "Who was there?", "What was happening?", "Where is this happening?", "How did it turn out?". This simple formula will make the story make sense.
10. **Highlight important stuff or things you really like in your own bible.** But don't do this if it belongs to someone else.
11. **Use cross-references and footnotes if you have them in your Bible.** These are little numbers and symbols which tell you to look somewhere else in the text for more information, or show you when something was previously discussed. Footnotes, usually found at the bottom of a given page, will tell you where information is coming from or explain complex ideas or historical events and concepts.
Try picking out a few words that jumped at you and looking them up in a concordance to find other verses talking about the same thing.
12. **Follow the references in your Study Bible back to the first time it was used.** This is where a chain reference Bible is essential.
13. **Keep a journal.** You don't have to write a lot. Just use a notebook page with the date, book/chapter/verse on the top. Ask yourself some questions and outline what you are reading. This helps to show you what God is revealing to you through His Word. Write out ideas or verses or thoughts that come into mind as you read. Think "Who, What, When, Where, Why, How." Answer every possible question under each category. Compare your findings with what you know the Bible teaches. Then look them over and pray about it.
14. **Get rid of all distractions** Turn off the television or radio. Unless you're studying with a group, try to find a quiet place where you have a table to read and take notes. This is alone time between you and God.
15. **Find a Bible study group.** Find a group of people that you can study with. The text is very complicated and having some help to get through it will be very important. They will also help keep you motivated and inspired.
16. **Share what you have found with others within your Bible study group.** Discuss what you have read with others who may have more experience reading and studying the Bible than you do.
17. **Don't take what someone else says about the topic, except as a guide.** Let the Bible inspire you. Increasing your knowledge about Biblical Principles will only come after years of dedication, hard work, and just plain reading.
The Bible is not just one book from Genesis to Revelation. There are 66 books, each from different authors at different times. Several authors have written more than one book, but they were written at different times for different reasons. You will find similar subjects and meanings throughout all the books of the Bible.
18. **Decide your order.** You can certainly read the New Testament in order if that suits you, but there are some plans that read the books out of order for a purpose. One is described in the following steps.
19. **Start with the Gospels.** Each Gospel paints a different picture of Jesus. Matthew shows Jesus as King; Mark shows Jesus as Rabbi (Many scholars believe that Mark is Peter's son. (1 Peter 5: 12 & 13) Further study shows that this Mark is actually the missionary that worked with Paul 2 Tim 4:11); Luke shows Jesus as man (Luke was a physician, probably a Greek, from Asia Minor (Col 4:14); and John shows Jesus as God, that is, the Messiah.
Read John again for continuity. This will give you a more complete picture of the Gospels. John was the last Gospel written. Matthew through Luke are known as the "Synoptic Gospels" because they tell the same basic story, bringing in their own points as directed. John fills in the gaps of what the others leave out. It's a book that completes the story of the Gospels.
20. **Read Acts next.** Acts, also known as "The Acts of the Apostles" was written by Luke, and is a picture of the revelation and development of the early church.
21. **Read Galatians through Philemon.** These 6 shorter letters are personal letters from Paul to 3 of the churches he had visited, and to 3 of his friends, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
Read The Epistle to the Romans. This shows the means, and the path to Salvation, then the Epistles to the Corinthians. This is the introduction to the Holy Spirit and develops His doctrine and Gifts, followed by Hebrews through Jude. The teachings of the early church elders.
Unless you have been a Christian for some time, and you have a good grounding in prophecy, leave Revelation for the more serious students in their study times.
22. **Move on to the Old Testament.** The Old Testament is compiled in the order for convenience, not chronology. You can read it by groups to make things easier. There are 929 chapters in the Old Testament. If you read 3 per day, you will have read it in 10 months.
Read Genesis. This is the creation and early relationship with God.
Move on to Exodus through Deuteronomy. This is the Law.
Read the history books. Joshua through Esther.
Following the history section, read the books of wisdom and poetry.
Job, often said to be the oldest book, shows how one man's relationship with God and man went, and is full of lessons on how it could have gone better. It's a great lesson on what God expects of man.
The Psalms is the writings of a king of Israel who was a man after God's own heart despite the fact that he was not only a sinner, but a convicted killer.
The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, was written by King Solomon in his youth. It was a work of poetry by a young man in love. King Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest man in the world.
Proverbs was King Solomon's writings as an adult when he was King of Israel and was learning his hard lessons.
Ecclesiastes was King Solomon's lamentations of a man who had spent his life on riotous living, many wives, concubines, wine, women and song. Ecclesiastes is the book of lessons of what not to do.
Following the books of wisdom and poetry, get started in the 5 major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, & Daniel.
Move on to the 12 minor prophets to finish the Old Testament. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Study-the-Bible", "language": "en"} |
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