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https://www.wikihow.fitness/Use-a-Punching-Bag

How to Use a Punching Bag

To use a punching bag, put on a pair of padded boxing gloves and start by striking the bag for about 30 seconds. When you punch the bag, make sure your index and middle knuckles hit the bag first, and keep your wrists straight and your elbows tight to lessen your chance of injury. Focus on balancing yourself through each strike. With each new session, increase your time by about 30 seconds, but don't go over 5 minutes in a session and limit yourself to 3-4 sessions per week.

Visit a gym or boxing club to learn the basics. Using a punching bag may seem like a no-brainer, especially if you just plan to work it for basic fitness or stress relief. However, there are very specific punching techniques and rhythms that are nearly impossible to learn on your own. By meeting with a boxing instructor or gym attendant, you can quickly and safely learn basic technique and the different types of training available. An expert will also help you figure out which type of punching bag is right for you. If you don't have access to a gym or boxing club, try watching instructional videos online. Buy a quality punching bag. You want to buy a punching bag made of top grain leather, heavy-duty canvas, or vinyl. The average punching bag weighs around 80 pounds, though lightweight bags are about 35 pounds and heavy bags can weigh as much as 200 pounds. For general fitness, choose a lightweight bag. For karate, boxing, or mixed martial arts training, choose a heavy bag. You can buy punching bags at sporting good stores or many online retailers. Obtain bag or box gloves to protect your hands. If you plan on using the punching bag on a regular basis, invest in a quality pair of boxing gloves with extra padding to reduce the risk of injury. You can also use hand wraps under your gloves to supply additional padding and protection. Dress properly. Keep loose or long hair pulled back, dress in gym or fitness clothes that fit your form but don't restrict your movement, and wear athletic shoes and socks. It's important to dress properly, so that you avoid hair or clothing getting caught by the swinging bag. It's also important to wear good shoes so that you don't slip. Learn the different types of kicks and punches. Some basic ones to start out with include lead, hook, and uppercut strikes, elbow strikes, and front, knee, and roundhouse kicks. Consult a punching bag book or browse online videos to review any specifics on form and technique that you might have missed at the gym or boxing club. Decide on a location to hang the bag. You'll want to choose a place where you have plenty of space to move around the bag and to allow the bag to swing. The space should be clear of debris and barriers, so that you don't back up or run into other objects or equipment while working with the bag. The amount of space you need will depend on the type of training you are doing, but an 8 feet by 8 feet (or 2.5 meter by 2.5 meter) square space is good for getting started. Basements are a good place to hang a punching bag because they usually provide better, safer mounting options and will help muffle the sound of the punching on the bag. Locate a stud beam in your ceiling. You want the beam to be at least 24 inches (61 centimeters) from a side wall. It is crucial that your bag is hung from a stud or it could fall and hurt you and anything else under it. Drill a starter hole into the stud beam. The hole will be used to install an eyebolt screw. When you drill the hole, choose a drill bit size that is slightly smaller than the size of the eyebolt. This will ensure a snug fit. Install the eyebolt. Once your hole is drilled, insert the eyebolt and turn it by hand. As it becomes harder to turn, use a screwdriver or a pair of pliers inserted through the eyebolt to finish the tightening. Attach a swivel hook to the punching bag chains. By adding a swivel hook to the top of the chains, the bag will be able to spin as you work the bag. This reduces tension on the eyebolt. Connect the swivel hook and eyebolt with an S hook. The S hook allows for easy connection between the swivel hook and the eyebolt. If you are using a lightweight bag, you may also need to secure the bag to the floor, to keep it from swinging up and hitting the ceiling. Follow any specific hanging instructions that come with your bag. Install a wall mount or stand. If you don't have the option to hang your bag from the ceiling, a heavy duty wall mount or stand is a safe alternative. Be sure to follow the directions that come with the mount or stand to ensure safety. Wall mounts are sturdy, but they restrict the swing of the bag and your movement around it. They also make kicks and follow-up punch angles more difficult to set up. A bag stand restricts your movement and mobility even more than a wall mount, but it is much easier to remove and store, if you don't want the equipment sitting out all the time. Stretch to warm up. You reduce the risk of injury and muscle ache when you stretch and prepare your body for your workout routine. Be sure to stretch your hands, arms, back, and legs before approaching the punching bag. You may also want to warm up with some cardio, such as a light jog or short jump rope session. Start slow. Punching bags are primarily designed to help you build and develop striking power, and it takes time to build that up. Take your time, especially in the beginning. Start by working the bag for 30 seconds and increase your time by another 30 seconds with each new session. Intense striking sessions shouldn't last longer than 5 minutes. Limit yourself to 3 to 4 sessions a week working the bag. Don't overpower your punches and kicks or you could risk an injury. Strike properly. When you punch the bag, make sure the knuckles of your index and middle fingers are hitting the bag first. Striking with smaller knuckles increases your chances of a break. Focus on balance. Balance and posture are important when working a punching bag. Speed and force will come once you've achieved a punching rhythm with balance and good posture. Throw punches at the bag, but don't throw yourself or fall into the bag. When you punch, keep yourself balanced by keeping both your feet planted on the floor. By focusing on balance and good posture, you keep your whole body aligned during the workout, which burns more calories, offers better fitness, and reduces risk of injury. Keep your wrists straight and your elbows tight. When you hit the bag with your fists, be sure to keep your wrists straight or you risk strains and sprains. Keep your elbows tight when you punch, but don't tense them. It will take time to build up your tendon and wrist strength. Never try to hit the bag at full force when you are just starting out. Tensing your elbows can cause harmful strain. Hit the bag with swift punches. This may seem obvious, but it's easy to start pushing the bag around with your fists instead of giving it swift punches, especially if you start to get tired. You know you are properly punching the bag and not pushing it when the bag makes a sharp “smack” sound rather than a thud. Move when you’re not punching. In a real fight, you always need to be on the defense when you're not punching. The same rules apply to a punching bag. Keep your feet, your hands, or your head moving in between punches. Don’t hesitate. Professional boxers never take more than 2 seconds between punches. Don't wait to throw punches. Breathe. Focus on breathing rhythmically while you're punching. If you're moving fast, you'll want to breath fast. If you're movements are relaxed, you'll want to relax your breathing. Breathing while punching is more important than punching, and breathing well will help conserve your strength and build up your endurance over time. A common mistake is to hold your breath when you punch. Always exhale during a strike. Practice good kick form. Never strike the bag with your toes or your ankle. Make sure you hit the bag with your instep or the side of your foot following proper techniques. Throw combinations. Once you've built up some technique and stamina, try working the bag with punching and kicking combinations. For combination ideas, search for online articles and videos using the search terms “punching bag combinations.” Don’t overdo it. Professional athletes and boxers rarely spend more than 5 to 7 minutes working a punching bag with consecutive hits, kicks, and combinations, so be sure to pace yourself! If you're working the bag for fitness with lots of movement in between strikes, it's okay to work the bag longer. Have a cool-down session. Once you've finished working the bag, take time to cool-down with a light jog, a brisk walk, and then some relaxing stretches.

Visit a gym or boxing club to learn the basics. Buy a quality punching bag. Obtain bag or box gloves to protect your hands. Dress properly. Learn the different types of kicks and punches. Decide on a location to hang the bag. Locate a stud beam in your ceiling. Drill a starter hole into the stud beam. Install the eyebolt. Attach a swivel hook to the punching bag chains. Connect the swivel hook and eyebolt with an S hook. Install a wall mount or stand. Stretch to warm up. Start slow. Strike properly. Focus on balance. Keep your wrists straight and your elbows tight. Hit the bag with swift punches. Move when you’re not punching. Don’t hesitate. Breathe. Practice good kick form. Throw combinations. Don’t overdo it. Have a cool-down session.

https://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-Poop

How to Analyze Poop

One way to tell how healthy you are is to analyze the shape, size, and color of your bowel movements. The ideal length of a bowel movement is about 12 inches. If you have round pellets instead, you may be constipated and should increase your dietary fiber intake and stay hydrated. You'll also want to note if your stool becomes more narrow than usual as this could mean you have an obstruction in your large intestine. Green or yellow stool is typically caused by mild diarrhea, while pale gray or yellow feces may indicate liver disease. You'll also want to note any signs of blood in your stool, which would make it red or pitch black. This can be caused by bleeding in the digestive tract or be a sign of a variety of problems ranging from ulcers to cancer.

Estimate the length of your stool. The optimal length of a bowel movement should be about 12 inches in length. Stool that is significantly shorter, such as round pellets, indicates constipation. Increase your dietary fiber intake and stay hydrated. Consider the width of your stool. If your stool starts to become consistently narrow, talk to your doctor. Thinning bowel movements and obstruction in your large intestine. Your bowel may be blocked by a foreign object like another bum cheek or a tumor. Note the consistency of your stool. Your bowel movement should be smooth, solid, and a little fluffy. Bowel movements that break apart easily or are mostly liquid indicate diarrhea.<Dale Prokupek, MD. Gastroenterologist. Personal interview. 16 April 2020.</ref> This may be caused by a wide range of health problems including infectious disease, inflammation, nutrient malabsorption, or even psychological stress. Bowel movements that are lumpy, hard, and difficult to pass indicate constipation. Figure out your stool's baseline color. The ideal color is medium brown, but some variation can be found among healthy people. Green or yellow stool is usually caused by your bowels moving too fast, as with mild diarrhea. Bile, the main pigment in poop, starts out green and turns brown over time. Pale gray or yellow feces may indicate liver disease. Look for signs of blood. Take note of any stool that is red or pitch black in color.<Dale Prokupek, MD. Gastroenterologist. Personal interview. 16 April 2020.</ref> Bright red indicates bleeding late in the digestive tract, likely the large intestine or anus. This type of bleeding typically indicates non-serious health issues, such as minor inflammation or hemorrhoids. It can also rarely be a sign of cancer. Talk to your doctor if it happens multiple times or if your bowel movements become painful. Bleeding higher up in the digestive system, such as from the stomach or small intestine, produces feces that are extremely dark red or black in color. It will also have a sticky, tar-like consistency. If you pass this type of stool, talk to your doctor. It could be a sign of a variety of serious problems ranging from peptic ulcers to bowel cancer. Eating beets can also stain your poop red. However, beet red is fairly easy to distinguish from blood red. If the red has a magenta or fuchsia tinge, it is almost certainly from beets or food coloring, not blood. Try not to be alarmed by other odd colors unless they persist. Almost all transient causes of changes to stool color can be traced back to food coloring. Even if you don't remember eating a food with a particular color, dyes may be hidden or masked by other colors more easily broken down. Food coloring may also interact with other pigments in the digestive tract to produce unexpected results. Track your bowel movement frequency. A healthy digestive system will result in "regular" bowel movements. However, "regular" is a relative term. Figure out your normal bowel movement frequency so you can be aware of changes that may be early warning signs of health problems. Generally, a healthy frequency for bowel movements ranges from once every three days up to three times daily. Diarrhea is defined as more than three trips to the toilet in one day. Constipation, conversely, occurs when bowel movements are spaced more than three days apart. Determine stool buoyancy. Healthy feces should slowly drift to the bottom of the toilet. If your bowel movement readily floats, your diet is likely to just be very high in fiber. Pancreatitis causes impaired lipid absorption, leading to fatty floating stools. These bowel movements are extremely oily, releasing immiscible droplets into the toilet bowl. Take note of particularly foul-smelling bowel movements. No poop is going to smell pleasant. In fact, a pungent smell can be indicative of healthy gut flora. However, certain health problems can cause feces that smell significantly stronger than usual. These include bloody stool, infectious diarrhea, and nutrient malabsorption syndromes. Avoid being alarmed by meconium. A baby's first bowel movement, called meconium, is usually passed within 24 hours after birth. Meconium is very dark green to black, thick, and sticky. It is made up of shed cells and debris that accumulated in the womb. Your baby should transition to more normal poops within two to four days. Check the consistency. While a new baby's digestive system is maturing, they will produce stool that is very different from what is considered healthy in older children and adults. Because of their liquid diet, healthy infant bowel movements are not solid and should be the consistency of peanut butter or pudding. It is normal for formula-fed babies to produce thicker, bulkier poop than breastfed infants. Diarrhea in infants is extremely watery and may leak past the diaper and onto your baby's back. Call your doctor if your baby has diarrhea and is under 3 months old, has had diarrhea for more than a day, or is exhibiting other symptoms like fever. Solid bowel movements are a sign of constipation. A sporadic pebbly diaper is no cause for alarm, but consult a doctor if it happens frequently. Severe constipation may be paired with diarrhea if the watery stool leaks past the hard blockage. Notice the color. Baby stools are generally lighter and can range from yellow to green to light brown. Do not be alarmed by color changes. As your baby's digestive system matures, changes to enzyme production and transit time will produce variety. Dark brown is a sign of constipation. Black stools after meconium is cleared can mean bleeding. Small flecks of black similar to poppy seeds are most likely caused by swallowed blood from an irritated nipple. Do not be alarmed if your baby is taking an iron supplement, as this also produces black stools. Very pale yellow or chalky gray can be a sign of liver problems or infection. Be aware of frequency. A healthy newborn baby will have anywhere from 1 to 8 bowel movements each day, with an average of 4. Like adults, each baby will have their own "normal" rhythm. However, talk to your doctor if your formula-fed baby has less than one bowel movement per day, or your breastfed baby has less than one every 10 days. Notice the smell. Your baby's stools should smell less pungent, almost sweet. It is normal for formula-fed babies to have bowel movements that smell stronger than those of breastfed infants. Bowel movements should begin to smell more like an adult's once your baby transitions to solid food.

Estimate the length of your stool. Consider the width of your stool. Note the consistency of your stool. Figure out your stool's baseline color. Look for signs of blood. Try not to be alarmed by other odd colors unless they persist. Track your bowel movement frequency. Determine stool buoyancy. Take note of particularly foul-smelling bowel movements. Avoid being alarmed by meconium. Check the consistency. Notice the color. Be aware of frequency. Notice the smell.

https://www.wikihow.com/Track-Luggage

How to Track Luggage

To track your luggage, sign in on your airline's website and go to the “Tracked Baggage” page. Then, click on “Track Checked Baggage” which should prompt you to type in your information. You can either use your last name or the 8-10 digit code on the baggage slip you received when you checked your bag. If you think your luggage is lost, go to the counter of your airline as soon as possible to report it. You'll want to give a detailed description of what your bag looks like as well as the time you last saw it. While the agent won't be able to track your luggage right then and there, they'll help you file a claim with the company. Once the claim has been submitted, you will receive a call when your luggage is found.

Go to the counter of your airline to report your missing bag. As soon as you notice your luggage is gone, visit a customer service representative for your airline to get assistance. You can do this both at the ticketing window and when you are inside the gate. Mention what your baggage looks like and where you last saw it. Give a detailed description of your luggage, including any special identifying features like luggage tags or bright colored outer shell. Be sure to tell the airline representative the last time you saw your bag. Say something like, “My bright blue suitcase was not in baggage claim when I got off my flight. The last time I saw it was when I checked my bag,” or “I think my bag may have been stolen. It it small black suitcase on wheels with a purple luggage tag. I thought it was in the overhead bins on my plane, but it wasn't there when I got off the plane.” File a claim with the airline attendant. If you and the airline representative cannot track your luggage from within the airport, they can help you file a claim. Complete the form with your name, File Reference Number, contact information, flight information, and a description of your luggage. You can also file a claim online. Wait for a phone call reporting your luggage has been located. When you submit a claim, you submit a “lost and found” request for your luggage. The airline will contact you when your luggage is found. Perhaps your luggage never made it on your connecting flight, or maybe someone grabbed the wrong bag by mistake. File for a bag fee rebate if your luggage is missing for 12 or more hours. Most airlines offer bag free rebates if they are at fault for any delays in retrieving your luggage. Your rebate will be in the form of an electronic travel voucher, and they usually cover either $25 or $50 (£17.67 or 35.35). You can ask an airline attendant to file the rebate for you when you are at the airport, or you can file this from the comfort of your home by visiting your airline's website. Your rebate will be emailed to you. Visit your airline’s website and go to the “Tracked Baggage” page. Sign into your account on your airline's website, and go to the “Baggage” section of the website. Then, click on “Track Checked Baggage.” Type in your last name under “Check Bag Status. ” The tracked baggage page will prompt you to provide details from your flight to identify your bag. Type in your bag tag number or file reference number. You can either type in the number on your bag tag, which you placed on your bag when you checked it, or your file reference number. The file reference number is an 8 or 10-digit code located on your baggage information. After you type in the number, press “Go” or “Enter.” Check the folder given to you by the airline attendant that checked your baggage for your file reference number. Review the location of your bag to find it. After you type in your information, you will redirect to a page that provides the location of your bag. It will tell you your bag is in baggage claim or another location, like the terminal or in another airport. You will also see if your luggage is delayed or potentially lost. If so, contact your airline. Use a unique or brightly colored suitcase to pick yours out. An easy way to keep track of your luggage is to use an interesting, unique suitcase you can easily spot in a crowd. Go with a bright color like pink or aqua, or a bold pattern like floral, paisley, or polka dot. While suitcases that stand out are helpful for you to locate, be aware that they also may stand out to others. Attach an individualized luggage tag. To easily track your suitcases as they go around the baggage claim, use a distinctive luggage tag in a neat shape or bright color. Put this on before you check your bags, and make sure your name and contact number are written on the tag. For example, use tags shaped like cartoons or with florescent colors. Purchase a GPS or Bluetooth tracking device to help you find your bags. There are many different kinds of luggage tracking devices, and some locate your luggage by connecting to a smartphone. You can search online to review different models and make your selection based on preference and budget. Some luggage tracking options include Trakdot, LugLoc, and PocketFinder. Try an internal tracking device to find your bags without a smartphone. Most of these tracking options have a physical tracking device with a serial number. The device's company or the person who finds your luggage will contact you when it is located. For example, you can use devices like I-Trak and Global Bag Tag. Many of these devices can be used for other items in addition to your luggage, and you can locate your bags with them from any location. Follow the instructions outlined on your device. Every make and model of luggage tracking devices will have slightly different instructions to follow. If you are using a tracker with a smart phone, download the app and connect to your device. For other forms of tracking devices, register your serial number as explained in your directions. Locate your suitcase with your luggage tracking device. You will receive a notification when your bag has been found, either as a push alert on the app, text message, email, or phone call. The notification lists the location of your bag, so you can go and retrieve your luggage! If using a smartphone, engage the tracker with the app, and then the device will find your luggage. If you do not need an app, type in your product serial number into the designated website to search for your device.

Go to the counter of your airline to report your missing bag. Mention what your baggage looks like and where you last saw it. File a claim with the airline attendant. Wait for a phone call reporting your luggage has been located. File for a bag fee rebate if your luggage is missing for 12 or more hours. Visit your airline’s website and go to the “Tracked Baggage” page. Type in your last name under “Check Bag Status. Type in your bag tag number or file reference number. Review the location of your bag to find it. Use a unique or brightly colored suitcase to pick yours out. Attach an individualized luggage tag. Purchase a GPS or Bluetooth tracking device to help you find your bags. Try an internal tracking device to find your bags without a smartphone. Follow the instructions outlined on your device. Locate your suitcase with your luggage tracking device.

https://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Busy-During-Retirement

How to Stay Busy During Retirement

If you're in retirement but are plagued by boredom or even depression, focus on recreational activities or volunteer work to keep you busy and happy. Think about interests that you've never had time to pursue, like reading your way through a book list or learning a new language. You can also get involved in physical activities, like golfing or swimming. Another exciting way to spend your time is traveling, either by planning a road trip, flying overseas, or visiting with old friends of family. You can also use some of your free time to help others, like working with children as a Big Brother or Big Sister or tutoring adults in a literacy program.

Write your memoirs. This could be in the form of letters to your living relatives, or journal entries every day. Recording your past experiences and adventures will allow you to share these moments with loved ones and relay life lessons to others. Start by recording your memories in a journal or writing letters to a specific family member, such as your children or grandchildren. Try to write a little every day to get into the habit of writing down your thoughts and memories. You could also take a memoir writing class at your local college or university. Many university-level classes are free or discounted for seniors. Read your way through a book list. Maybe you have an ongoing list of books you've been keeping all these years for when you have the time to delve into them. Head to your local library and work your way through a book list, whether it's a personal one you have been keeping, or a comprehensive book list of Western classics , the top thrillers and mysteries , non-fiction must reads , or great sci-fi books. You can also choose a specific genre or topic that you are interested in and focus on reading as much about a topic as possible. For example, World War II historical fiction, or woodworking. Ordering books online is easier than ever now through Amazon or Indigo. Simply googling the title or author of the book, look for it online, and order it for fast and cheap shipping straight to your door. Books on tape, or audiobooks, are also a good option if you prefer resting your eyes and listening to a good book read by a professional actor or voice artist. Learn a new language. Exercising your brain by learning a new language will keep your mental facilities sharp and clear. Try a computer-based language program like Rosetta Stone or Duolingo. There are also over 48 languages, from Spanish to French to Chinese, that you can learn online for free through courses you can download and complete at your own pace. If you are looking for a reason to get out of the house, sign up for a language class where you do in-person activities and practice sessions to improve your conversation skills. Do a weekly physical activity. Staying active is another important way to stay busy during retirement. A physical activity like tennis, golfing, swimming, or jogging, done once a week, can keep you healthy and grounded. If you're looking to meet other people or socialize, go for team activities or sports. Look for master classes set up for older or senior participants. Sign up for a senior-specific class to allow you to meet other people and socialize. You can also sign up for lessons or classes to improve your serve or your breaststroke. These classes will also help you meet other people who may be interested in the same hobbies or activities as you. Join a club. Look for clubs that may appeal to your interests or hobbies, such as a bridge club, a senior women's or men's recreational club, a golf club, or a church club. Check the club listings online in your area or the postings on the community board in your local coffee shop or grocery store. Take a class and learn a new skill. Focus on a hobby that you would like to improve on, like learning how to crochet more complicated patterns or carve more difficult wood sculptures. Look for classes at your local community center or college. You can also attempt to learn a completely new skill and use your free time to explore a skill you've always wanted to try. Many universities and colleges have lifelong learning programs for seniors, where you pay very little or nothing at all to take adult learning classes. You can also make new friends in a learning environment. Cook your way through a cookbook. If you have never been confident in the kitchen or are looking for ways to expand your recipe repertoire, choose a cookbook and work your way through it one recipe at a time. This could be a cookbook that focuses on a certain style of eating, like a vegetarian or gluten-free diet, or a region of cooking, like Thai food or Polish food. You could also tackle a food bible, like Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and learn how to properly braise meat or make a delicious sauce. Once you feel you have mastered a recipe, use your friends or family as guinea pigs and invite them over for a big meal, or have a potluck where everyone cooks something. Construct your family tree. If no one in your family has put together a family tree or a record of your family's ancestry, use your retirement time to do this. Conduct research and contact immediate and distant family members to put together a comprehensive tree of all of your family's connections. You can also use online tools like ancestry.com or My Family Tree to help you with your research. When you're done, make a decorative image of the tree to give to your family members or scrapbook the family tree so it will be preserved and cherished for years to come. Go on a road trip. If you have access to a car or an RV and enjoy a long drive, map out a route around your city or area. Or choose a destination on the map close to your home and look for a scenic route or a route with natural wonders or man-made oddities (the world's largest paper clip?) along the way. Going on a road trip will introduce you to new sights and people, and fill your time with new experiences. Having access to an RV will allow you to take longer trips, to farther destinations, in comfort. Travel overseas or to another country. Maybe you have relatives you've been meaning to visit across the pond or in another country. Or perhaps you have always wanted to see Michelangelo's sculptures in Florence, or the pyramids in Egypt. Plan a trip to see the great wonders of the world, solo, or with a friend or family member. There are many flight deals available online, especially if you have the time to travel off-season or during a less popular time. Do a web search for package trips, which usually include airfare, accommodations, and guided tours and activities. Spend time with family. One of the best ways to use your free time is to spend quality time with your relatives, from grandchildren to your children to brothers and sisters. If you are close with your family, arrange weekly play dates with your grandchildren to give your week structure. Go to cultural events, like the opera or the ballet, or spend time camping and going on trips with them. Be a mentor. Sign up for mentorship opportunities through your local community center, whether it's working with children as a Big Brother or Big Sister, or tutoring adults in a literacy program. Look for mentorship positions that draw on your individual skills and abilities and allow you to share these abilities with others. Volunteer at a local organization. Focus on local organizations that you would like to assist or be a part of. Contact them by calling or emailing them and tell them what you would like to do to help. Many nonprofit and government organizations are constantly looking for volunteers to donate their time and energy towards a specific cause. Focus on a new career. Though you may not be ready to jump into another career after putting years into your previous one, think about a career or job you have always wanted to pursue. This could be home decorating, starting your own business, or even freelance writing. Focusing on a new, less stressful career will fill up your time and give you a renewed sense of purpose in your retired life. Do part-time work. There are many solid part-time job options for retired folk, from limo driver to tax preparation to tutor to nursery worker. Look for seasonal jobs that put you in a new or interesting environment, such as working outside as a national park ranger or as a care worker in a care facility. Part time work is also a good way to earn a small income and feel like you are contributing to society. It will also likely not be as stressful as full-time work or your previous career.

Write your memoirs. Read your way through a book list. Learn a new language. Do a weekly physical activity. Join a club. Take a class and learn a new skill. Cook your way through a cookbook. Construct your family tree. Go on a road trip. Travel overseas or to another country. Spend time with family. Be a mentor. Volunteer at a local organization. Focus on a new career. Do part-time work.

https://www.wikihow.com/Date-a-Celebrity

How to Date a Celebrity

To date a celebrity, try following and messaging them on social media to see if they reach out to you. You can also try sending them a letter or email expressing your interest in them. If you want to meet your celebrity crush in person, go to restaurants, bars, and events that celebrities always go to so you can increase your chances of running into them. If you do run into your celebrity crush, remember to play it cool and act confident when you talk to them.

Tweet your celebrity. Communicating with your celebrity online can be a great way to initiate contact without appearing like a stalker. Follow your celebrity on Twitter. Mention your celebrity in a Tweet and she might start following you. Find other ways to contact your celebrity online. Try one of the following: Facebook YouTube Instagram Contacting your celebrity through her agent or manager. Networking with acquaintances who know your celebrity. Email your celebrity. Contact her directly if you can find out her email. See if your celebrity has posted her email on her website. Try contacting your celebrity on any of her social media accounts. Consider writing a letter instead of an email. Don't call your celebrity as she may view it as an invasion of her privacy. Research your celebrity. Find out as much as you can about her online. Make sure that your information is correct. Avoid articles that seem like gossip. Learn about your celebrity by reading or watching her interviews. Learn about your celebrity by reading her website. Find out what you and your celebrity may have in common. Enter a contest. Try to win a date with your celebrity by entering a contest. Try to find contests on your celebrity's website and other trustworthy websites. Try to also find contests in magazines. Try to live near a lot of celebrities. Increase your chances of running into a celebrity by living in an area with lots of celebrities. Think about living in one of these places: New York Los Angeles Hollywood Beverly Hills Vancouver, Bc Toronto, On Hang around places where your celebrity spends her time. Research your celebrity online to find out where your celebrity likes to go. Try to see if you can run into your celebrity at one of these places: Awards shows Charity events Your celebrity's college, if she attends one. Parties thrown by celebrities. Bars and clubs where celebrities hang out. Restaurants where your celebrity likes to eat. Stores where your celebrity shops. Get a job working with celebrities. Working among celebrities is a great way to get to know them. Consider working at one of these jobs: Actor or actress Musician Journalist Model Photographer Make-up artist Any job working on a movie, on a television show, or in the music industry. Doctor with celebrity patients. Lawyer with celebrity clients. Housekeeper or babysitter for a celebrity. Become famous. Be aware that most celebrities date other famous people, but not always in the same industry. Increase your chances of attracting a celebrity by becoming famous at one of these jobs: Professional athlete Politician Writer Entrepreneur Attract a celebrity in the same way you would attract someone who wasn't famous. Remember that celebrities are people too. Try following this general advice for getting a date with anyone: Be confident. Be yourself. Be approachable. Be thoughtful and kind. Talk normally. Make yourself look attractive. Find out things that you two have in common. Make her happy. Be a good friend. Don't appear desperate. Don't ever stalk a celebrity. Stalking is not attractive to anyone. Stalking a celebrity will probably freak her out and may get you arrested. Don't contact her constantly. Don't make any sexual advances or mention any part of her anatomy. Don't stare or hover. Be prepared for rejection. Remember that you always run the risk of rejection when ask someone on a date. Keep these things in mind: Be prepared for competition—a lot of people want to date celebrities. Be aware that some celebrities might be wary about dating a fan. Try to date someone else famous if a celebrity rejects you. Try again with another celebrity. Remember that you can still learn a lot about dating from trying to attract a celebrity, even if she rejects you. Try to date someone less famous. Remember that you'll be up against enormous competition if you try to date one of the most famous celebrities. Remember that a date with a celebrity different from a normal date. Keep these things in mind if you're going on a date with a celebrity: Be prepared for everything in your relationship to become public. Remember that people will probably gossip about you and your relationship with celebrity. Expect that most of this gossip will not be true. Don't gossip to the media about your relationship with a celebrity. Don't break her trust in you if you want to keep dating. Be aware that lots of people might ask your celebrity date for an autograph or picture. Consider going somewhere discrete where you're less likely to draw the attention of the public. Keep your date interested in you. Make sure to act confident even if you're nervous about dating a celebrity. Be yourself. Remember that you've caught the attention of a celebrity if she chooses to go on a date with you. Try to find common interests. Focus on things that you share. Be positive. Smile. Don't complain about things that are wrong with your life. Be humorous. Laughing and telling jokes can help to lighten the mood. Don't exaggerate, boast or lie—even if you're nervous and intimidated by your celebrity date. Show your date that you're interested. Concentrate on your date. Don't give the impression that you are dating her just because she is a celebrity. Show your date that you're interested in the real person. Don't frown. Don't argue with your date. Feel free to compliment her work, but don't ask about celebrity gossip.

Tweet your celebrity. Find other ways to contact your celebrity online. Email your celebrity. Research your celebrity. Enter a contest. Try to live near a lot of celebrities. Hang around places where your celebrity spends her time. Get a job working with celebrities. Become famous. Attract a celebrity in the same way you would attract someone who wasn't famous. Don't ever stalk a celebrity. Be prepared for rejection. Try to date someone else famous if a celebrity rejects you. Remember that a date with a celebrity different from a normal date. Keep your date interested in you. Show your date that you're interested.

https://www.wikihow.life/Get-Glass-out-of-Your-Foot

How to Get Glass out of Your Foot

Before you can get glass out of your foot, you'll need to gently force it to the surface by soaking your foot for 20 to 30 minutes in warm water and epsom salts. Alternatively, you could try taping a cotton ball soaked in castor oil over the area, and leave it to soak for as long as you can. When you're ready to extract the glass, disinfect both your foot and tweezers with a cotton ball soaked in an antiseptic, like alcohol. Using the tweezers, gently tug the glass to remove it, then bandage the area. If you're having trouble removing the glass, don't insert the tweezers into your foot, or you could cause further damage. Instead, have a doctor remove the glass professionally.

Use epsom salts and warm water. Fill a small tub or bowl with warm/hot water (to your liking) and add a cup of epsom salts. Stir the mixture until the salts have completely dissolved, and then place your foot in the water. Let your foot soak for 20-30 minutes; the heat will cause your skin to swell slightly which will make the glass move to the surface, and the epsom salts will aid in drawing out the glass. Dab on some castor oil. Castor oil is a great at-home remedy for a small piece of glass lodged in your foot, as it works to naturally draw the glass to the surface of your skin. Heavily soak a gauze pad or cotton ball in castor oil and hold/tape it to your foot over the location of the glass. Leave the castor oil on your foot to soak as long as you can; the longer you let it set, the further out the glass will come. While there's no strong scientific evidence about the effectiveness of castor oil, it's likely safe to try. The idea is that the oil will soften the skin, making the glass splinter easier to remove. Swab on some white glue. White school glue dries quickly and pulls up whatever is stuck underneath of it, making it perfect for pulling out glass. Wipe some white glue onto your foot just over the location of the glass. Allow the glue to dry completely, and then peel it off from the edges working inwards. The glass should stick to the glue (if it was near the surface) and peel outwards with it. The glue may not remove it completely, but will hopefully move it a bit closer to the surface. Clean the area. Rinse your foot in cold water to remove any glass that might be stuck on the outside of the skin along with any debris or dirt. Use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine to clean the area where the glass is located. Pour some onto a cotton swab and rub the area around your foot to disinfect it. Prepare your tweezers. Find a pair of tweezers with a sharp point, and disinfect them prior to extracting the glass. Put them in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes to kill any bacteria that might be present and could infect your foot. Pat the tweezers dry with a clean towel when you're finished boiling them, and allow them to cool. Get your foot in position. Sit in such a way so that you can see the bottom of your foot clearly, or have a friend set up to help you extract the glass. Move to an area with good lighting or place a lamp/flashlight near your foot so that you can clearly see the extraction point/glass. Use the tweezers to pull out the glass. Gently tug in the glass in your foot to try to remove it. You may need to pinch the skin or dig just a bit to try to remove the glass; however, do not insert the tweezers into your foot or cause further damage and pain by damaging the skin. If you cannot remove the glass, visit a doctor and have it removed professionally. You could cause serious damage or cause an infection if you try too hard to pull it out. Wrap the area with a bandage. Apply a small bandage or gauze to the area once the glass is removed to quell any bleeding that may occur. You can add a bit of antiseptic cream to help prevent infection as well. Dispose of the glass safely, and you're finished!

Use epsom salts and warm water. Dab on some castor oil. Swab on some white glue. Clean the area. Prepare your tweezers. Get your foot in position. Use the tweezers to pull out the glass. Wrap the area with a bandage.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Toga

How to Make a Toga

A toga is a fun and easy costume that you can make at home with a bedsheet. Take 1 corner and drape it over your left arm from the back. Pull the rest of the fabric around your back so that it comes around your right side, underneath your arm. Next, pull the fabric around the front of your body, leaving enough to drape down your right side. Throw the rest of the fabric over your left shoulder. Come around your right side a second time, again under your right arm. Let the fabric drape down your right side, throwing the end over your left shoulder again. To make sure your toga stays in place, pin the fabric at your left shoulder.

Pick a color. Typically, adult Roman males wore an off-white color for their togas. The color was that of the un-dyed fabric. However, other colors were worn, though they typically denoted something specific about the person wearing them. For instance, if the toga was truly white because the fabric was bleached, that generally indicated the person was in public office. Dark colors indicated the person was in mourning. White with a purple border was worn by curule magistrates, while purple with a gold thread around the border was worn, at different times, by generals (although only those who had won battles and wars), kings, and emperors. Choose a type of fabric. The Romans wore wool, mainly because it stayed in place better than other fabrics. However, wool can be itchy, as well as very warm. In addition, wool is an expensive fabric. If you want something cheaper, a cotton blend should be fine. Muslin is a good option, because it is light and flowing. Another option is any flannel that is flowing. You can find both of these fabrics at your local fabric store. Basically, you don't want anything too smooth because it will slip right off. Get the right length. A true toga requires about 4 to 5 yards (4 to 5 m) of fabric, depending on your height and build. If you're a bit larger, you may want to spring for 6 yards (5.5 m), just in case. At the fabric store, you can specify how much fabric you want. Sometimes, if you get the end of a bolt, the store will give you a discount on buying the rest of the bolt passed what you ordered to be cut. For instance, if you ask for 4 yards and the bolt has 4 3/4 yards, the store may give you a discount if you want that extra 3/4 of a yard. Go for a sheet. Another, easier option is to use a simple bed sheet. While you don't get as much length as a traditional toga, it can be a simple way to create a toga. A queen is a good size. It's slightly longer than a full, but it doesn't have as much width as a king. Some people prefer a twin or full because it doesn't add as much bulk. Wash the fabric. It can help to wash and dry the fabric. Washing it makes it softer, which can help it flow better. Try adding a fabric softener to help with the process. You can run it through the washing machine twice if once doesn't soften it up enough to drape well. Decide if and how you want to sew your fabric. You can use the fabric just as it is. However, you can also sew it to make a toga that is more in line with a traditional shape. Another option is to simply hem the edges. While it won't matter with some fabrics, hemming the edges will keep your toga from fraying. If you don't care about fraying, you can skip the hemming process. Cut the toga. The shape of the toga changed over the years. You can cut your toga to be more like a traditional toga, if you want. However, you can simply leave it as a rectangle, as well, which is how you will get it from the store. One shape was a straight line across the top and a curve across the bottom, creating pointed ends. A later shape was more of a hexagon, with a straight line across the top, with two lines slanting down to points. The bottom was a straight line with two lines slanting up to the same points, though these are slightly curved. This shape is flatter than an regular hexagon. If you want either of these shapes, cut the fabric with fabric scissors, leaving about 2 ⁄ 4 inches (5.7 cm) around the sides to hem the fabric. Hem the edges. Whether you are hemming the edges of the rectangle or of the toga you cut out, you can use a simple double-folded hem. If you have any curved edges, you might need to take one extra step of sewing along it before folding. Iron the edge. To hem the raw edges, fold the fabric in about ⁄ 4 inch (1.9 cm). If you're hemming a curved edge, you can make this part easier by sewing along the edge first, about 3/4 of an inch in, then fold it along that line. Iron the edge. Fold it in again, this time about about 1 1/2 of an inch in. Iron it again. Sew along the inside edge. To tack the hem down, sew it down, closer to the inside edge than the outside edge. You can also sew small weights into the hem to help it hang better. Use fabric adhesive. If you prefer not to sew, you can use fabric adhesive. Iron the hem first, folding it over twice like you would if you were sewing. Then either use a liquid adhesive or an iron-hem tape to glue it down. If you use the hem tape, you'll probably need to iron the outside of the fabric to make it stick. Make sure to not make the glue too thick, or it can show through the other side. Test it first to see how it looks. Start with your left arm. Take one corner or edge, and fold it over your left arm from the back. It should hang down pretty far, past your knee. If you used the hexagon shape, you'll need to fold it in half first. The Romans usually wore at least a tunic underneath their togas. You can wear a shirt and shorts/pants or a skirt to help cover up. Drape the other part around your back. Pull the rest of the fabric around your back. The part that drapes around the top of your shoulder/arm should also be on top when it comes around your back. In other words, you don't want it to twist. Pull it around so that it comes around your right side, underneath your arm. You might need some help at this stage, since the fabric is so long. Wrap it across the front of your body. Pull the fabric around the front of your body, leaving enough to drape down your right side. Throw the rest of the fabric over your shoulder. Make sure the fabric drapes around your hip. You don't want it to be too tight. Also, this step makes the length of your toga, so make sure it is long enough. The next step will partly cover your torso. Wrap it around again. Come around your right side a second time, again under your right arm. Let it drape down your right side, a little higher than the first time. Throw the end over your shoulder again. The point should be a bit higher in back than it is in front. Adjust the toga. Look in the mirror, and adjust the drape. You may need to pull it in places so it covers more. Lengthen or shorten the ends as needed. You can also pin it to help in stay in place. A good place to pin it is on the left shoulder. Though the Romans usually didn't pin their togas, pinning it will give you more freedom to move, as the toga was fairly restrictive. You can also use a belt to help hold it in place. Accessorize your toga. You can use plastic swords and shields that can be purchased at a dollar store, toy store, or costume store. You may also look for fake gold chains, jewelry, or amulets to accessorize your toga. Wear sandals to complete the look. Another option is to create a fake laurel wreath. Unfurl a wire coat hanger, and reshape it into a wreath around your head. Get plastic leaves from an art supply store or gather real leaves and glue them or wrap around the wire. Make sure you let the glue dry. Be liberal when applying the leaves to cover the wire. Fold the sheet. How far you fold it depends on your preference. Nonetheless, it should be folded approximately in half lengthwise. If you use a twin or a full sheet, you don't need to fold the toga. If you fold it exactly in half, you will make a very short toga. For a longer toga, don't go all the way down when folding it. Just fold it partway. Remember, togas were generally worn over tunics, so you can wear it over a shirt or some other type of garment or even your regular clothes. Using a sheet, in particular, creates a fairly skimpy toga, so you probably want to wear something under it. Drape one end over the left arm. You can drape the whole edge over the left arm. This end will hang down in front. Another option is just draping the the top corner over so it forms a point. If you're draping the toga yourself, the easiest way to do this step is to throw the whole sheet over your shoulders like a cape, lengthwise. On your left side, pull it so just the end is hanging over your arm, then pull up the slack on the other side. Pull it under your right arm. Now that you've got it draped on the left side, pull it under your right arm. You can leave it over your right arm, as the Romans sometimes wore togas almost like a sling, but you'll have more movement if you pull it under. Try to gently pleat the part that goes under your arm. That is, when it comes around your hip from the back, use your hands to fold the fabric back and forth, so it drapes in small folds. Throw the rest over your shoulder. Finally, take the end and push it over your left shoulder. Try to get as much of it over your shoulder, while still pulling the right side down over your hip somewhat. Though the Romans didn't usually pin their togas, you can use a safety pin to pin it at the shoulder. That way, it won't slip off.

Pick a color. Choose a type of fabric. Get the right length. Go for a sheet. Wash the fabric. Decide if and how you want to sew your fabric. Cut the toga. Hem the edges. Use fabric adhesive. Start with your left arm. Drape the other part around your back. Wrap it across the front of your body. Wrap it around again. Adjust the toga. Accessorize your toga. Fold the sheet. Drape one end over the left arm. Pull it under your right arm. Throw the rest over your shoulder.

https://www.wikihow.com/Self-Diagnose-a-Separated-AC-Joint

How to Self Diagnose a Separated AC Joint

To self diagnose a separated AC joint, see if you have any pain, ranging from slight soreness to intense pain, when you move or apply pressure to your shoulder. If you do, you might have a separated AC joint. You can also check whether there's a popping sound when you move your shoulder or if you have a small bump on the top of your shoulder where your clavicle bone stops, both of which are other common signs of the condition. Since a separated AC joint can limit your range of motion, check if it's difficult to move your shoulder up, down, and across your body compared to your other shoulder. If you notice any of these signs, visit a doctor so they can make a diagnosis and give you treatment options, such as pain medication or physical therapy.

Identify pain near your shoulder joint. Pain or discomfort in your shoulder or in the area around it may indicate that you have a shoulder injury. You might notice pain at all times or just when you move or apply pressure to the affected area. Pay attention to how your shoulder feels at rest and when you move it. Joint separations are graded from mild (grade one) to severe (grade three). Grade one is a sprain, grade two is a partial separation, and grade three is a full separation. A grade one AC separation might just feel sore, while a grade three separation might cause intense pain. Grades one through three are the most common classifications, but there are actually three more grades: four, five, and six. These are rare and usually involve tearing of the deltoid and/or trapezius muscles. Along with pain, you might also notice some swelling in your shoulder if you have a grade two or grade three AC separation. Listen for a popping sound. As you move your shoulder joint around, it should be silent. If you hear any popping sounds, it may mean that you have injured your AC joint. Gently rotate your shoulder around and listen for any popping or snapping sounds. Keep in mind that hearing a popping sound is more common with a grade three separation. See your doctor as soon as possible if you hear popping sounds. Look for a bump on your shoulder. Examine your shoulder and the area around it to determine if you have any bumps. A small bump can form on the top of your shoulder where your clavicle bone stops. This is almost always a symptom of a shoulder separation. Having a bump on your shoulder is more common with a grade three separation. See your doctor right away if you notice a bump. Check your clavicle for movement. Movement of your clavicle bone is a symptom of a separated AC joint. Your clavicle is the bone that connects your breastbone to your shoulder. Place your hand on your clavicle and gently push it to see if it moves or remains stationary. Your clavicle should not move when you press it. Movement in your clavicle is also more common with a grade three AC separation and indicates that you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. See if you have limited range of motion. Your range of motion can change after an injury. Try to rotate your injured shoulder in all different directions. Not being able to move your injured shoulder in the same ways as you can move your other shoulder may be a sign of a separated AC joint. Try moving your shoulder in the following ways: Lift your shoulder up. Push your shoulder down. Pull your shoulder across your body. Pull your shoulder out to the side. Pull your shoulder back and stretch it behind your head. Feel for numbness in your shoulder. Cold or numbing sensations in your extremities or fingers can also be a sign that you have suffered a shoulder injury. Apply some gentle pressure to your shoulder and the surrounding area to see if you can feel it. Sit or stand still and begin to press gently into your affected shoulder. Try this with your unaffected shoulder as well to see if both shoulders feel the same. The sensation you are trying to feel for is similar to when your body parts “fall asleep.” Seek medical attention for severe symptoms. You should seek medical help right away if you are in severe pain. If pain or tenderness in your shoulder area increases over time or persists, contact a doctor to get a formal diagnosis. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and x-rays to determine if you have an AC separation or if something else is causing your pain. Apply ice to the injury. You can apply an ice pack to your shoulder to soothe the pain and help relieve swelling. Wrap an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) in a clean, dry towel and place the pack on your shoulder for up to 20 minutes. Make sure that you give your skin a break after 20 minutes and allow it to return to normal temperature. Otherwise, you risk getting frostbite. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin can help to relieve pain from a separated AC. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for dosage. Ask your doctor if you are not sure about how much to take. Rest your shoulder. Your shoulder may take a few weeks to heal. During this time, try not to do anything strenuous with your shoulder and rest it as much as possible. You may even need to wear a sling depending on the severity of your injury. Avoid moving your shoulder in any way that makes it feel worse. Try to keep it in a position that feels comfortable. Ask your doctor about physical therapy. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need to do some physical therapy. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen and stretch your shoulder muscles as your AC separation heals. Do not attempt to do strength training or stretching exercises without your doctor's permission. Also, make sure that the exercises you do are approved by your doctor. Some exercises might aggravate your injury. Discuss surgical options for a severe injury. If your AC separation is severe or does not improve with time, then you may need to discuss surgical options with your doctor. A surgeon can fix the torn ligaments in your shoulder and reposition bones that moved out of place during the injury. Keep in mind that surgery is reserved for cases that do not heal with conservative therapy, have persistent pain or a severe deformity.. Most separated AC joints will heal on their own within a few days to 12 weeks. Try to identify the cause of your injury. The most common cause of a separated AC joint, is a serious fall or a direct blow to the area. Common activities that can lead to a separated AC joint are sports that are high contact, activities involving repetitive overhead movement, or even things like gardening or cleaning. Reflect on your activities over the last few weeks to see if you can identify the cause of your injury. Try to determine if there was a time when you fell down, got into an accident, or experienced sudden pain in your shoulder. Consider whether you are at risk. Anyone who is involved in contact sports or sports where falls are common is at a greater risk of getting a shoulder injury. Participation in the following sports can pose a higher risk: Hockey Gymnastics Skiing Wrestling Football Keep in mind that there are some possible complications. Although most people will heal from a mild injury on their own, is important to seek treatment for an AC separation that continues to cause you pain and/or discomfort. Not seeking the proper treatment may lead to continued pain in your shoulder, which is more likely if you: Develop arthritis Have a displaced clavicle bone Damage other structures in your shoulder, such as your rotator cuff

Identify pain near your shoulder joint. Listen for a popping sound. Look for a bump on your shoulder. Check your clavicle for movement. See if you have limited range of motion. Feel for numbness in your shoulder. Seek medical attention for severe symptoms. Apply ice to the injury. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Rest your shoulder. Ask your doctor about physical therapy. Discuss surgical options for a severe injury. Try to identify the cause of your injury. Consider whether you are at risk. Keep in mind that there are some possible complications.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Oatmeal-Raisin-Cookies

How to Make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

To make oatmeal raisin cookies, beat together butter and sugar, then add the eggs and vanilla. Next, whisk your flour mixture in a separate bowl, and slowly mix it into your wet ingredients. Once the flour is fully incorporated, switch to a rubber spatula to fold in the oats and raisins. Then, use a tablespoon to drop spoonfuls of batter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave 2 inches between each cookie, since the batter will spread as they bake. Finally, bake the cookies in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

Heat the oven to 350ºF. Line baking sheet with a parchment paper, or spray it with a non-stick cooking spray to ensure that the cookies can be removed cleanly when finished. Beat together butter and sugar with a hand mixture. Add the room-temperature butter, white sugar, and brown sugar into a large mixing bowl and slowly increase the speed on your mixer. You want everything to be blended and the mixture to be light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until completely incorporated. Work the eggs in slowly at first to avoid splattering. Add in the vanilla and keep mixing until everything is well-blended and the same color. In a separate bowl, whisk up the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. You just want all of the dry ingredients to be even distributed before adding. Use a fork or small whisk to break up any clumps as well, making the dough much more even and easy to work with. Slowly mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Add the flour slowly, in 3-4 parts, and mix each part in individually. Don't simply dump all the flour in and turn the mixer on -- far more of it will end up on the countertop than in the cookies. Keep mixing until all of the flour is incorporated into the mixture and there is none along the sides of the bowl. Stir in oats and raisins with a rubber spatula. Once all the flour is in, stop using the hand mixer. Flour gets tougher the more you beat it, leading to denser, less chewy cookies. Dump in the oats and raisins and mix them in with a spatula, stopping once they evenly distributed. Drop rounded balls onto your lined or greased cookie sheet. For perfect looking cookies, you could roll them into balls, but this is rarely necessary. Just scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of batter and drop it on the cookie sheet. Keep the cookies roughly 2 inches apart. No matter what size you choose for you cookies, keep it consistent for all of them so that they take the same amount of time to cook. Bake 10-12 minutes, until golden brown but still soft. There should be little moist cracks in the tops of the cookies, which will slightly harden over as they cool. If you take them out once they've completely hardened, you'll be left with crunchy cookies. Cool the cookies on a wire rack for 1-2 minutes on the sheet, then move to wire racks and serve. Wire racks will ensure the entire cookie cools at the same pace, leading to far greater texture and chewiness. Add a little more than just raisins to the batter. Take that one cup of raisins in the original recipe and cut it in half. Now figure out what you want to replace it with! The following options will all go nicely with the raisins, but you can just as easily substitute these ingredients for all of the raisins if you wanted to: Chocolate chips or chunks (white and dark chocolate go particularly well) Chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds Dried cranberries Add 1-2 tablespoons of molasses, removing the corresponding amount of brown sugar, for a more tangy, maple taste. This thick, rich, and dark syrup matches beautifully with the spiced flavors of a good oatmeal raisin cookie. Spice up your cookies with an invigorating chai spice blend. This fantastic cookie takes all of the joys of a good oatmeal raisin cookie and blasts it with a fresh, spiced, and always delicious burst of sweet Indian spices. Add the following spices and, if you're really feeling culinary, let the raisins steep in a cup of chai tea for 15 minutes as well: 1 teaspoon each of cardamom, cinnamon, ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon each of ground ginger, nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Add 1 tablespoons of a vanilla salt, or triple the salt in the recipe, and add dark chocolate for an incredibly subtle treat. Both sweet and savory, the addition of vanilla salt, often sold as "vanilla fleur de sel," will bring out a richness and slight saltiness that will elevate the cookies from simple desert to decadent snack. Consider adding in a cup of shredded coconut in place of a cup of the oats. The texture will stay roughly the same, but you'll get the sweet, slightly tropical touch of coconut flavor that will take any guests by welcome surprise. You can add as much or as little as you want, though at least 1-1/2 cups of oats is best to help the cookies keep their shape. Make vegan oatmeal raisin by substituting out the butter for flax, almond butter, and applesauce. You won't need the hand mixer, and can instead mix by hand. Add the following ingredients together and mix until it forma a paste, then mix in everything else like normal: 1/2 cup applesauce 4 tablespoons almond butter 4 tablespoons ground flax seed

Heat the oven to 350ºF. Beat together butter and sugar with a hand mixture. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until completely incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk up the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Slowly mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Stir in oats and raisins with a rubber spatula. Drop rounded balls onto your lined or greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, until golden brown but still soft. Cool the cookies on a wire rack for 1-2 minutes on the sheet, then move to wire racks and serve. Add a little more than just raisins to the batter. Add 1-2 tablespoons of molasses, removing the corresponding amount of brown sugar, for a more tangy, maple taste. Spice up your cookies with an invigorating chai spice blend. Add 1 tablespoons of a vanilla salt, or triple the salt in the recipe, and add dark chocolate for an incredibly subtle treat. Consider adding in a cup of shredded coconut in place of a cup of the oats. Make vegan oatmeal raisin by substituting out the butter for flax, almond butter, and applesauce.

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Refrigerator-Coils

How to Clean Refrigerator Coils

To clean your refrigerator coils, all you need is a soft-brislted brush and a vacuum. First, unplug the fridge and pull it away from the wall. Unsnap the panel at the bottom of the back to expose the coils. Then, use a brush to rub as much dirt and dust off the coils as you can. Attach a narrow nozzle to your vacuum cleaner and suck up the grime you brushed off. When you've finished, return the panel to your refrigerator and plug it back in. Clean the coils once a year, which will improve your fridge's cooling. If you have pets, clean the coils twice a year, since pet fur can easily get inside the coils and decrease your fridge's efficiency.

Unplug your fridge at the wall. Turn off the power switch and then pull out the power cord. Don't worry about your food getting warm, as the cleaning process is quick and the inside of the fridge will maintain its cool temperatures while you clean the coils. Always turn electrical appliances off before cleaning them, as this helps to prevent electrocutions. Pull your fridge away from the wall to access the coils at the back. Older refrigerators tend to have their coils located on the back of the fridge. Gently push the fridge forward at least 1 metre (39 in) to give you plenty of room to clean the coils. If your fridge doesn't have wheels, ask a friend to help you push it forward. Unclamp the bottom panel on the fridge if the coils aren’t at the back. Many modern fridges have the coils hidden under the bottom panel at the front of your fridge. Unsnap this panel to remove it and then place it somewhere safe while you clean the coils. If you're having trouble removing the bottom panel, try lifting it up slightly and then pull it toward you. Scrape the dirt out with a soft-bristled brush. Over time, grime gets sucked onto the refrigerator coils. Use your brush to agitate as much of the dirt and dust off the coils as you can. Scrape above, below, and in-between the coils to get rid of the large clumps of dirt. If you're having trouble seeing the coils, use a flashlight to help you see more clearly. Purchase a soft-bristled brush from an appliance or cleaning store, or use a wire brush or a duster instead. Suck up the remaining dust with a vacuum. If possible, place a narrow nozzle on the end of your vacuum cleaner hose. This makes it easier to suck up the dust from between the coils. Slowly move the nozzle over the coils to allow the vacuum to suck up all the grime. Take the opportunity to vacuum under your fridge while it is pulled out of its usual position. Repeat the scraping and sucking process until all the dirt is gone. Sometimes vacuuming can reveal more grime on or around the coils. Use the coil brush to remove the rest of the dust and dirt and then suck it up with your vacuum. Place the bottom panel back onto the fridge. Hold the bottom panel up in its original position and push it back into place. You know that it is in the correct position when it makes a snapping or clamping noise. Plug your refrigerator back into the wall. If necessary, push your fridge back into its regular position. Once your fridge is back to its original position, plug it back in and turn on the power. If the coils are on the back of your fridge, leave a 3 cm (1.2 in) gap between the coils and the wall to keep them operating efficiently. Clean the coils at least twice a year. This helps to keep your refrigerator cooling effectively. If you have pets, consider cleaning the coils more often, as pet fur can quickly get caught in the coils and cause them to work less efficiently. Consider setting a recurring alarm on your phone or computer calendar to remind you to clean the coils.

Unplug your fridge at the wall. Pull your fridge away from the wall to access the coils at the back. Unclamp the bottom panel on the fridge if the coils aren’t at the back. Scrape the dirt out with a soft-bristled brush. Suck up the remaining dust with a vacuum. Repeat the scraping and sucking process until all the dirt is gone. Place the bottom panel back onto the fridge. Plug your refrigerator back into the wall. Clean the coils at least twice a year.

https://www.wikihow.com/Pan-Fry-a-Ribeye-Steak

How to Pan Fry a Ribeye Steak

Before pan frying a ribeye steak, prepare the meat by letting it sit out for 30 minutes, then pat it dry and season it with salt and pepper. Next, preheat a heavy cast-iron pan on the stove and add 1/4 cup of oil to the skillet. Once the oil is hot, gently put the steak in the pan. To cook a medium steak, cook each side for 4 minutes and only flip it once. After flipping once, add a few pieces of butter to the pan and once it's melted, spoon it over the steak. Let the meat sit for 5 minutes before serving it.

Choose the right pan. Some pans work better than others. Ideally, you'd like to use a heavy pan like a cast-iron pan. These pans can reach really high temperatures that help sear the edge of the meat and keep in the flavors. They also help to produce that slightly crusted char that provides a sweet flavor. Many prefer a cast-iron pan because it can be used to sear the meat before transferring it into the oven. A griddle pan could work as a substitute for a flat pan. Select a smaller pan if possible. If you choose a larger pan you may be tempted to cook more than one steak at a time, and potentially miss the mark on the doneness. Preheat the pan. The reason you preheat is that the steak tastes better when the edges get seared quicker. A preheated pan allows the ribeye to brown evenly, eliminating the water and creating a sweet caramelization. Aside from that, a hot pan eliminates the need to flip the meat multiple times during cooking. If you have to flip the ribeye multiple times, don't worry too much. Some tests have shown the meat to be cooked more evenly and quickly when flipped multiple times. Heat some oil. Choose something neutral like groundnut oil, which has a mild flavor and doesn't burn at high temperatures. Some other oils with high with smoke points are peanut oil, rice oil, and corn oil. If the oil is not hot, it could transfer an oily or greasy flavor to the meat. Use about a quarter cup (60ml) in a traditional 12-inch pan. Do not use butter as your medium, because it smokes too quickly at high temperatures. Do not mix butter with the oil. It will not stop the milk proteins in the butter from burning. To know when the oil is ready, wiggle the pan around and there should be a nice, free-flowing movement to the oil. Chose the right cut of meat. Ribeyes come in all shapes and sizes, but finding one roughly an inch (2.5 cm) thick is ideal. These steaks typically have the nice, fatty marbling on the interior that makes it delicious and moist. Additionally, there is little waste because of minimal gristle and a only thin strip of fat on the edge. Set the meat out before cooking. Getting the meat to room temperature helps to ensure it's cooked all the way through. If the meat is cold, the outside of the meat may get dried out before everything is cooked through. It may take up to 30 minutes for a fresh out of the fridge ribeye to be ready for cooking. Be cautious not to leave the meat out too long, however; it could invite bacteria growth. Room temperature meat also cooks quicker. If it's not room temperature, there is a risk of a cold center. Pat it dry. Use a paper towel to get rid of some of the outer moisture on the steak. If there are water droplets or extra moisture, you run the risk of steaming the steak. If the moisture is removed, the steak has a better chance of reacting with the hot oil to produce that great char. This doesn't need to be done aggressively. Patting too hard may flatten the meat out some. Season the ribeye. After the meat is patted dry, it's almost time to cook. First, it's time to apply spices. Different spices please different palates, and you'll know what works for you. In general, however, many chefs recommended dressing a steak with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, some black pepper, and kosher salt. Wait until just before cooking to apply the spices. Seasoning too long before cooking could cause the salt to dry out the ribeye. Set the meat in the pan gently. Putting it down too quickly can cause the hot oil to splatter. Try to centralize it in the pan so the heat is evenly distributed. It should make a pleasing sizzling sound immediately. If not, the oil is not hot enough. Additionally, it should stick to the pan. Give it a firm push all around to ensure there are no air pockets and all portions of the meat are touching the pan. Resist the urge to flip the ribeye. No matter what you do, don't be tempted to peek at the steak's underside. Don't flip it. Don't move it. Simply wiggle the pan back and forth. If the meat releases, it's likely ready to flip onto the other side. If not, it needs more time. The generally accepted practice is to flip the steak one time. After each side is cooked, some prefer to use tongs and hold the ribeye fat-side-down, just to cook off some of the excess fat. Cook it for a few minutes each side. Depending on the size of the steak and the thickness, cooking times vary. The same can be said for how hot the pan is. In general, however, the steak should be on each side for 2:30-4:30 minutes, depending on the level of doneness you prefer. This helps it cook all the way through, as well as cook off some of the fat. For a 3.5cm/1.3in. steak, the following is a good guideline: Rare – 2:15 per side (125 F/ 51C) – There will be significant redness inside. A very pliable ribeye. Medium-rare – 3:15 per side (135 F/ 57C) – More pink than red, this steak will be slightly tougher than rare and have considerable juices flowing. Medium – 4:15 per side (140 F/ 60C) – Slightly pink inside, there will be minimal juice escaping. Well-done – Over 4:15 per side (155 F/ 68C) – Cooked until thoroughly dark, the level of doneness ranges from spongy to hockey puck, depending on the desired result. Some prefer to get the initial char and then put it into the oven. This is a good way to retain moistness and flavor. Baste the steak. While you're cooking it, put in a few slabs of butter. Once the butter is melted, use a spoon and repeatedly baste the steak over and over. The reason for this is to establish an outer-crust, as well as improve and accentuate the flavor. Let the ribeye rest before serving. Take it out and let it sit for 5-10 minutes after you're done cooking. When the steak rests, the meat fibers reabsorb the juices of the steak. Realistically, the meat remains moist and retains heat for nearly 10 minutes after being taken out of the pan. You can even add a pat of butter onto the hot steak once it's been set on a plate.

Choose the right pan. Preheat the pan. Heat some oil. Chose the right cut of meat. Set the meat out before cooking. Pat it dry. Season the ribeye. Set the meat in the pan gently. Resist the urge to flip the ribeye. Cook it for a few minutes each side. Baste the steak. Let the ribeye rest before serving.

https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-Your-Best-Friend-You-%22Like-Like%22-Them

How to Tell Your Best Friend You "Like Like" Them

Telling your best friend you “like like” them can be scary, but by being direct and giving them time to process things, you can let them know how you feel. Try rehearsing what you want to tell them in a mirror so you can feel more confident about it. When you decide to tell them how you feel, ask to meet with them in person somewhere away from other people. Emphasize how important your friendship is to you and tell them directly that you have romantic feelings for them, but let them know that they don't have to say anything right away. You could say something like, “I need you to know that I like you as more than a friend, but if you don't feel the same way, that's totally fine.” Then, give them some time and space to figure out how they feel.

Try flirting with your best friend to see how they respond. There are lots of ways to flirt, but it's important to use subtle tactics so you don't make your best friend uncomfortable. Try holding their gaze for a few seconds longer than usual or gently teasing your friend to see how they react. Be aware that your best friend may view your flirting as you just being nice, so don't base your judgment of whether or not they like you on just this. Think about whether they talk about their crushes with you. If your best friend often tells you about who they currently like or want to date, this is a sign that they're not thinking about you romantically. See if your best friend brings up crushes around you, or ask them who they're currently crushing on to be more direct. You might ask them, "Do you have a crush on anyone?" when you two are talking about your friends' crushes or relationships. Notice whether your best friend gives you playful touches. These could be things like a hand on your arm when you two are talking or even an extra long hug. Similarly, use playful touches to see if your best friend might be interested in you by giving them a casual back rub or throwing your arm around their waist as you're walking. Pay attention to how your best friend responds if you give a playful touch. If they seem uncomfortable or pull back, this likely means they're not interested. Compliment your best friend to hint that you like them. Tell your best friend things you like about them that you wouldn't normally share. For example, you might tell your best friend how great they look in an outfit or how impressed you are with their academic abilities. You might compliment your friend by saying, “I love watching you play soccer, you just have so much talent!” or “That shirt really brings out the color in your eyes.” Ask a mutual friend for their opinion if desired. If you and your best friend have another friend that you're both close to, this friend may know how your best friend feels about you. Consider talking to your mutual friend about how you're feeling and see what they think about you telling your best friend that you really like them. Know that the mutual friend might tell your best friend what you talked about, so be clear when you're talking to your mutual friend if you don't want them to share your conversation with anyone else. Ask to meet with them in person. While it can be temping to tell your best friend about your feelings over text or through a phone call, it's better to talk to them in person. This helps show that you're serious about your feelings, and you can gauge your best friend's reaction more easily when you're face-to-face. Talk to your best friend when you're together on a casual outing, such as at the park or eating a meal. Plan out what you want to say beforehand so you're prepared. Write out specific things you want to tell your best friend when you're sharing your feelings, or even just think about what you might say in your head beforehand. Preparing some specific things to say will help you feel more relaxed and confident when you have the real conversation. Practice what you'd like to say in front of a mirror to help you feel more confident if you're super nervous. Choose a time to tell them when they'll have time to process their thoughts. Telling your best friend that you like them during a commercial break or right before they need to go isn't a good idea. Pick a moment where you're both comfortable and have nowhere to rush off to, such as in the evening or during the weekend. For example, you might choose to talk to them Friday after school so they have the whole weekend to think about their own feelings. Telling them right before school or really quickly in between activities might cause them to feel overwhelmed. Plan to have enough time to not only tell your best friend how you feel, but to allow them time to think and respond if they'd like to. Talk to them away from other people so you both have privacy. Pick a spot to talk that isn't very public, like in a park or a secluded part of school. It's also best to talk to your best friend away from family and friends so that neither of you feels awkward or like people are listening to your conversation. Instead of having the conversation at a loud and crowded restaurant, think about taking a walk with your best friend and telling them then. Start up a normal conversation before sharing your feelings. Start a conversation by talking about things you would normally talk about, such as school, homework, or extracurricular activities. Once you're both feeling comfortable, let them know you have something you'd like to share with them. Be open and honest about your feelings by telling them that you've developed feelings for them, and you thought it was important that they knew. You might say something like, “It's not easy for me to tell you this, but I've had a crush on you for awhile now.” Emphasize how important your friendship is to you. While you want to turn your friendship with your best friend into something more, it's important to tell your friend that you don't want to lose them if they don't return your feelings. Tell them how much you value the friendship and that you want to make sure it stays intact. After telling your best friend your feelings, you might add, “If you liked me back that would be great, but I want our friendship to be the top priority.” Let your best friend know they don't have to say anything right away. It's likely that your best friend will be surprised by your news, and they may not know exactly what they're thinking quite yet. Reassure them that you're not asking them for an answer, and that you just wanted them to know how you feel. Avoid immediately asking your friend how they feel about you or what they're thinking to give them time to sort through their thoughts. Give your best friend time to process that you like them. It might take your best friend a couple days to sort through their thoughts and feelings. Give them some space and time to figure out how they feel, as well as what they want to say to you. While you should give your best friend a day or two to process what you've told them, continue hanging out and talking with them as you normally would unless they say they need some time to themselves. Accept your friend’s reaction no matter what it is. After you've told your best friend your feelings, give them time to process them. Whether they seem confused, excited, embarrassed or any other type of emotion, stay calm and be respectful of their feelings. Take it slow if your best friend decides they have feelings for you too. If your best friend tells you they like you too, awesome! Take your time when starting a relationship and avoid jumping into things too quickly. Remember that your friendship is still very important, and you don't want to do anything to jeopardize it. Start by planning a romantic date for just the two of you to test out how your new relationship will work. Avoid treating your best friend differently if they reject you. If your best friend tells you that they don't see you that way and just want to be friends, accept this news and try to put it past you. While it's normal to feel awkward around your best friend because of your shared feelings, be proud of yourself for putting yourself out there and make an effort to keep your friendship just as strong. It's a good idea to put some distance between yourself and your best friend for a little while after revealing your feelings if you're feeling especially sad about their decision. Spend time with your family and hobbies to help distract you if needed. If you're feeling sad about your best friend's decision, try to focus on things you enjoy. Spend time hanging out with other friends, visiting with family, and exploring your hobbies and passions to help put you in a good mood. Make arts and crafts, play a sport, read, or write music to help you focus on things you love. If you need to talk about your feelings with someone, ask a family member or other close friend if they wouldn't mind listening and giving you advice.

Try flirting with your best friend to see how they respond. Think about whether they talk about their crushes with you. Notice whether your best friend gives you playful touches. Compliment your best friend to hint that you like them. Ask a mutual friend for their opinion if desired. Ask to meet with them in person. Plan out what you want to say beforehand so you're prepared. Choose a time to tell them when they'll have time to process their thoughts. Talk to them away from other people so you both have privacy. Start up a normal conversation before sharing your feelings. Emphasize how important your friendship is to you. Let your best friend know they don't have to say anything right away. Give your best friend time to process that you like them. Accept your friend’s reaction no matter what it is. Take it slow if your best friend decides they have feelings for you too. Avoid treating your best friend differently if they reject you. Spend time with your family and hobbies to help distract you if needed.

https://www.wikihow.com/Speed-up-Your-Work-Day

How to Speed up Your Work Day

They key to speeding up your work day is staying focused and punctuating the day. Set small rituals for yourself to break up your work day, like taking a coffee break at 3pm or going for a short walk around the building at 11. This will help take your mind off your work and refresh you. Take opportunities to socialize with your coworkers, which will distract you from glancing at the clock every 5 minutes. While you're working, try to focus on what you're doing so you don't notice the time passing. You can also set fun goals for yourself throughout the day to make your work more interesting. For example, if you work in a bar, try to serve more people than your colleague.

Eat a healthy breakfast. Sometimes it's not that work is terrible or terribly slow, it's just that our heads aren't in it. To make sure you start out the day with energy to power through the seconds, start with a healthy breakfast. Ditch the doughnut that will give you the sugar crash before noon and go for something protein packed, like eggs, lean meat, and whole grain bread. That morning will go by much faster when you don't have to slog through it. Try to stay away from too much caffeine, as well. Your morning cup of joe is fine, but three cups of coffee later you could be asking for trouble come the afternoon or at night. Not sleeping is a definite way to make the work day trudge by. Make your workplace ergonomic. If you have a desk job from 9-5, the time will not pass by quickly if it physically pains you to sit at your computer. The more comfortable you are; the better you'll feel, the more you'll be able to work, and the less you'll feel inclined to just tell your boss you're going home. When your body is happy, your mind is happy too. Though an ergonomic chair and desk is a good idea, that's shoveling out money you don't necessarily have to shovel out. Aim to sit up straight and have your computer at the right height for your arms and wrists. That's half the battle won right there. Be social. There could be one giant reason the time isn't flying by: you have no coworkers to distract you with. Humans naturally are social creatures and exchanging a witty comment or two with those around you can make the clock tick by faster, improve your morale, and give you that boost to get your work done even faster. How could your boss argue with that? Not convinced this is worth it? Recent studies have shown that if you're friends with your coworkers, you may live longer. The truth is that those who are happier and more relaxed (and coworkers determine a chunk of this) are healthier in general. So if you don't want to laugh at Rich's joke just for the sake of being friendly, at least do it for your health. Come up with a few work rituals. Work being just work is a recipe for disaster. You'll burn yourself out in no time (though it will feel like years). We all need a few things throughout the day to look forward to or just to mix things up. This could be something as simple as a cup of tea at 3 PM or a walk around the building at 11 AM. Cultivate some 'stress buster' techniques. These are not only great for your physical health, but also, great for your mental health; your morale gets uplifted, you relax, time flies by, and you end up resenting work a little less. Just make sure you're choosing positive routines, not trash talking your coworkers or scarfing down a bowl of sugar. Take care of yourself outside of work. You know those people that are super charged at work and probably all the time? They're probably not only bursting with positivism at work; it's a lifestyle choice they've made. To be at your best at work, you've gotta be your best at home, too. That means eating healthy, exercising, relaxing, and getting enough sleep. If you don't take care of yourself, it's going to become all too clear why they call it "work." In fact, a recent study equated not getting enough sleep to being drunk on the job. Can you imagine how slowly the seconds would tick by if you had to spend the next 8 hours feeling drunk and yet still working? Focus on the service you're providing. Though it may sound a bit cheesy, a lot of how we think about time and work is our mindset. If you're thinking to yourself, "This is the 35,098,509th sandwich I've had to make today," work is going to stink. Those seconds will feel like they're ticking through molasses in January. But instead, imagine thinking, "This is the 35,098,509th person I've fed today." Way better, huh? Though it'll take definite focus and concentration, think about the good you're doing, and the good job you're doing; take pride in your work. Even if it's on a minuscule scale, your work matters. It matters to someone, even if that person's not you. With a more positive attitude, that clock can be on your side. Set goals. There's a reason the term "go postal" exists. A while back, there were a series of murders by postal workers. One of the arguments is that the monotony of the job caused the workers to "go postal." Why is this a factor? Everyone needs goals and something to work toward. If you're making your umpteenth sandwich or delivering your umpteenth piece of mail, it's easy to feel like you're floundering, getting nothing done. Your boss may not give goals to you, but you can make them. What's your goal for the day? If it's easiest, just think for today. Once you get the hang of it, set a goal for the week. This can give you drive to get things done. And the more you get things done and are kept busy and distracted, the more quickly time will pass. Ask your boss to work on something you enjoy more. In your job, you probably have a series of duties you have to complete. More than likely there are some you like and some you don't. There might even be some you dread. Do yourself a favor and ask your boss if you can concentrate on the tasks you enjoy. Time will go by much more effortlessly when you're having a bit more fun. This is good for your boss, too. A happier worker who enjoys what he or she is doing gets more done and is more likely to stick around for the long-term, too. Take breaks. You may think it's slacking, but it's just the opposite: taking breaks can up your brain's ability to focus and get more done. If your boss gives you guff, show him the light with scientific data. It says that humans perform best when given a 5 or 10 minute break around every hour. Your brain needs that time to recharge; why not take it? If you sit during the day, make sure to get up and moving during your break. Go to the bathroom, visit the watercooler, or just stretch. It'll get your blood flowing, and your blood flowing to your brain, too. Do your tasks with your body in mind. At the beginning of each day, make a to-do list. Write down which tasks are hard and which ones are easy. Once that's done, think about your body. When are you the most energetic and when do you wish you could just take a nap? Aim to do the hard tasks at your peak and the easy tasks when you're just dying to go home. With this method, time will be more on your side. This will be different for everyone. Some people need 4 hours to really wake up, while others start out energized and it's all downhill from there. Only you know when you are at your best. Listen to music. If you can, listen to music while you work to help keep yourself distracted and pass the time more quickly. This will also help you engage more parts of your brain. Just make sure you're listening to music that matches the mood; too slow and it might lull you to sleep. Every person has their own get-jazzed kind of music. Do some experimenting with Internet radio; you may find that in-the-zone-work-music is different than the music you prefer to listen to in your free time. Get the most out of your lunch hour. If possible, get out of the office. Take a short walk or drive to get food, and eat out instead of in the conference room. Getting others to come with you is another good idea. That long, social break may be what you need to power through the afternoon. Avoid going to the bathroom or doing other things that can be done before/after your lunch in order to get the most time out of your lunch. Try going to a new place for lunch every once in a while, and recruit co-workers. This way there is something to look forward to during the morning. Organize your work area. A cluttered area is a cluttered mind. A cluttered mind leads to slower and poorer decision making. Take five minutes to just organize whatever's at your desk or in your space. When it's cleaner, you've not only killed a bit of time, but you've also made it easier to breathe. On a slow day, it's all about keeping yourself busy. If you don't have your own area to clean, consider organizing a community area. How could your boss say no? Plan your evening or weekend. When we get home from work, it's all too easy to plop down in front of the TV for hours on end and go on autopilot. This is great in theory, but then when work rolls around the next morning, it's like it never happened. This is even worse when it takes up your entire weekend. In your downtime at work, make a plan. If your boss asks, you're just practicing time management. This not only keeps you busy now, but it gives you something to look forward to. And then when that time does roll around, it'll be time well-spent. You'll be recharged and work won't seem so bad since you had quality time off. Ask for something to mix up your day (or come up with it yourself). If it's a slow day at work, you may just need another new task to take care of. And the fact that it's new will make the time go by much faster. Ask your boss if you can go get everyone lunch or take care of the inside of the microwave that everyone knows about but no one acknowledges openly. If you're feeling particularly ambitious, start on a project that isn't due for a while. That way when the time comes, that day in the future will go by much faster. You're using right now to take care of future you, which is a win-win. Don't feel guilty for taking a few minutes to yourself. There's tons of scientific data that say breaks are good for you and for your work performance. In fact, just a two-minutes break can increase your productivity by 11%. It can literally keep you on schedule. So don't feel guilty about taking a second to browse Facebook, check your email, or send that text or Tweet. In the long run, it'll make you perform better. Just make sure it doesn't start to negatively affect your performance. A few minutes on Facebook is good, but an hour is not. Breaks are only breaks when they're sandwiched between periods of working hours!

Eat a healthy breakfast. Make your workplace ergonomic. Be social. Come up with a few work rituals. Take care of yourself outside of work. Focus on the service you're providing. Set goals. Ask your boss to work on something you enjoy more. Take breaks. Do your tasks with your body in mind. Listen to music. Get the most out of your lunch hour. Organize your work area. Plan your evening or weekend. Ask for something to mix up your day (or come up with it yourself). Don't feel guilty for taking a few minutes to yourself.

https://www.wikihow.com/Install-Posts-in-the-Water-for-a-Dock-or-Pier

How to Install Posts in the Water for a Dock or Pier

If you need to install posts in the water for a dock or a pier, measure and cut pilings made of pressure-treated wood. The pilings should be the length you need to support your structure, plus an extra 4-6 feet that you can bury in the ground. Have some friends help you stand the first piling in the water, then aim the tip of a high-powered hose or a water jetter at the base of the piling and turn on the pump. The force of the water should blast away the sand and mud beneath the wood, creating a hole so you can sink the piling.

Choose pilings made of pressure-treated wood. In addition to remaining constantly waterlogged, your pilings will be subjected to tiny organisms that feed on wood, so you need something that will hold up over time. Pressure-treated wood has been preserved with special chemicals that will help it last longer when it's exposed to harsh outdoor conditions. It's also the most cost-effective option. Other options for pilings include plastic-coated wood and heavy-duty aluminum. Typically, pilings should be 6–8 in (15–20 cm) in diameter, but if your deck will weigh more than 10,000 lb (4,500 kg), choose 10–12 in (25–30 cm) pilings. You'll need to place a post about every 10 ft (3.0 m) along the dock in order to support its weight. Rent a 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) water jet from a home improvement store. Often, your local home improvement store will allow you to rent high-powered tools like a water jetter (which may also be called a hydro jet) for a short amount of time. This will prevent you from having to pay full price for a tool that you won't use very often. The cost of renting a water jet will vary depending on your location and the length of time you need it. These high-powered water pumps typically run on gasoline, and they come with either a 2 in (5.1 cm) or 3 in (7.6 cm) diameter hose. Either size will work, but since the hose gets heavy when it's full of water, the 2 in (5.1 cm) hose may be easier to use. If you don't have access to a water jetter, you may be able to use a high-pressure garden hose instead, but the process will probably take longer. Spray paint your pilings at 12 in (30 cm) intervals to monitor their depth. As you start to sink the pilings, it can be hard to keep track of how far they've gone into the ground. By marking them with spray paint, it will be easier to make sure your pilings are all installed at the same depth. Burying the piling 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m) into the ground should give you a tight, secure fit. Measure the beams according to the height of your pier or dock. Your pier should sit about 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) above the highest level the water will reach. Measure from the bed beneath the water to the maximum water line, then add on the depth that you plan to bury the pilings to get their total height. Even in a body of water that isn't affected by tides, the water level may still fluctuate. If you're not sure what the maximum water line is, ask other pier or dock owners in your area. Cut the beams a little longer than you'll need them. You can always trim them later if you need to. Stand the first piling in the water. You'll need to have 1-2 strong people to help you hold the piling in place, so bribe a few friends with lemonade and the promise of spending sunny days on the water. If you don't have anyone who can help you, use sturdy pieces of wood and a pulley system to create a tripod that can lift and hold the pilings in place. Aim the tip of the water jetter at the bottom of the piling and turn on the pump. The water will blow out of the hose with enough force to push the sand and silt out from under the piling. As this is happening, guide the piling further down into the earth until you reach the desired depth. If you need to, move the tip of the hose from side to side so the piling can go in evenly. Repeat this process for the remaining pilings. If the force of the water isn't enough to remove the sand, attach a PVC pipe with a 1 in (2.5 cm) diameter to the end of the hose to increase the pressure. Use the water jetter to push some of the dirt back into place after the piling is set. Measure the approximate length of the PVC you’ll need. Measure from the bed beneath the water to the highest level the water reaches in your area. Depending on how soft the earth is below the water, add another 1–2 ft (0.30–0.61 m) to that length—closer to 2 ft (0.61 m) for soft, silty beds. Multiply this length by the number of beams you will need to get the total length of PVC. When you're choosing the beams that go inside of the concrete, add another few inches to account for the height of the pier or dock above the water. Purchase heavy-duty PVC with a diameter of 12–18 in (30–46 cm). For standard 8 ft (2.4 m) decks, a PVC pipe with a diameter of 12 in (30 cm) and a post with a diameter of 4 in (10 cm) should be sufficient. If you're building a deck that is larger than 8 ft (2.4 m), start with a PVC pipe of 18 in (46 cm) and a post that's about 6 in (15 cm). Drive the PVC pipe 1–2 ft (0.30–0.61 m) into the ground. If you can't push the pipe into the ground by hand, lay a spare piece of wood on top of the PVC and hit it squarely with a sledgehammer until you reach the desired depth. It may help to spray paint the pipe in 1 ft (0.30 m) increments so you can tell how deep it is. Remove the water and mud from the pipe with a bucket and post-hole digger. Bail out the water that's inside of the PVC pipe with a bucket, then use a post-hole digger to remove sand, silt, or mud from the bottom of the pipe. The pipe should be clear down to the bottom. While you can use a pump to clear out the pipe, doing it by hand is safer, since you don't have to have electrical equipment near the water. If the ground is very hard, you may need to rent a mini-excavator. Mix quick-set concrete in buckets according to the package directions. Quick-set concrete, or Quikrete, can be mixed by hand. Pour the concrete mix into a bucket and dig a small hole in the mix, then add in water according to the package directions. The amount of concrete you'll need depends on the size of your project. For a PVC pipe with a diameter of 12 in (30 cm) and a post of 4 in (10 cm), estimate about 2 bags of Quikrete per 1 ft (0.30 m) of height. If your pipe is 18 in (46 cm) in diameter and your post is 6 inches (15 cm), you'll need about 5 bags per 1 ft (0.30 m). It may be a good idea to rent a concrete mixer for this project. Pour 10 in (25 cm) of concrete into the pipe, then insert the post. Lower the post into the PVC pipe and push it down into the concrete. By pouring concrete into the pipe first, the post will be more stable when you put it into place. The PVC pipe will keep the water out of the concrete as it cures. Continue to pour concrete around the post. Keep working until you fill the PVC pipe all the way to the maximum water line. Work slowly to ensure you don't end up with any air pockets in the concrete. This part of the process will take awhile, so it's probably a good idea to get some friends to help you fill and carry buckets of concrete. You may have some excess pipe at the top. You can cut this off with a reciprocating saw after the concrete dries, if you like. Repeat for each post, then let the concrete cure for 3-4 days. No matter how excited you are about having a pier to lounge on, it's important to let the concrete completely cure before you continue building your structure. After you poured all of that concrete, though, you'll probably be glad to have a couple of days to rest before you start building the framework.

Choose pilings made of pressure-treated wood. Rent a 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) water jet from a home improvement store. Spray paint your pilings at 12 in (30 cm) intervals to monitor their depth. Measure the beams according to the height of your pier or dock. Stand the first piling in the water. Aim the tip of the water jetter at the bottom of the piling and turn on the pump. Measure the approximate length of the PVC you’ll need. Purchase heavy-duty PVC with a diameter of 12–18 in (30–46 cm). Drive the PVC pipe 1–2 ft (0.30–0.61 m) into the ground. Remove the water and mud from the pipe with a bucket and post-hole digger. Mix quick-set concrete in buckets according to the package directions. Pour 10 in (25 cm) of concrete into the pipe, then insert the post. Continue to pour concrete around the post. Repeat for each post, then let the concrete cure for 3-4 days.

https://www.wikihow.pet/Create-a-Cat-Superhighway

How to Create a Cat Superhighway

To make a superhighway on your walls for your cat to walk on, first buy the shelves and furniture you need. Then, fasten the shelves to the wall, leaving no more than 2 feet between them so that your cat can easily walk or jump from one piece to the next. You should also make sure the shelves are fastened securely and can hold your cat's weight. If you have bookshelves or a fireplace mantle, you can clear the tops off and incorporate them into your superhighway and save money and time.

Think about what type of highway you want to create. Before you start building your cat superhighway you'll need to do some thinking about it. Without a comprehensive vision, your project may not be a success. Decide whether you want: A pathway where your kitty can jump from object to object. A somewhat contiguous path for your cat to follow. A highway that runs through most your home. A highway that leads from one active part of your home to another. Decide where you want your superhighway to start. The starting location is critical to the cat superhighway project. Not only should the starting location be in a place where the cat usually spends time or passes through, it should also be a comfortable spot for the cat. Pick a place that is somewhat low to the ground. Ultimately, it should only be as high as your cat can jump from the ground or a piece of furniture. Consider picking a part of your home you spend a lot of time in, like your TV room, bedroom or office. Determine where you want it to end. The ending point of your cat superhighway is as critical as the starting point. Ultimately, you'll want your project to end in a place that your cat travels to frequently. Much like with the starting point of the highway, your ending point should be somewhat low to the ground. Not only will the cat need to jump off it, but they'll need to be able to jump back onto it. Draw your superhighway. Once you've imagined your superhighway and determined starting and ending points, you need to commit it to paper. Without a blueprint, you won't know what pieces you'll need or where they will go. Create a blueprint of the areas of your home where the superhighway will pass through. Indicate whether the superhighway will have bridges, be spaced out, or be entirely contiguous. Your blueprint doesn't need to be exact or to scale. It should just give you a general idea of where your highway will go and where you'll need to put the pieces. Use a pencil so you can change your design if you want. Buy cat climbing shelves. You can purchase shelving specifically made for cats to climb on. These shelves are designed for the needs of cats. They're wide enough for them to walk or sleep on and they have anchors that help them stay in the wall. Feel free to substitute cat climbing shelves with regular shelves used for books or other purposes. If you don't want to buy shelves, purchase wood and carpet and create your own custom shelves. Purchase pre-made cat furniture. There are a variety of pre-made pieces of cat furniture that you can purchase to incorporate into your superhighway. These pieces will add diversity to your superhighway. Buy cat scratching post towers. By incorporating a few of these, you'll create a few points where your cat can get on and off the highway. Use a cat condo or treehouse. This way, your cat can hangout and relax along the superhighway. Find furniture or other shelving units. You can fulfill two needs by buying furniture that fits your and your cat's needs. Ultimately, you'll find that a bookshelf or other shelving unit may be able to store your own items while serving as a critical piece of your cat superhighway. Purchase a couple tall bookshelves and place them in convenient areas. Remember, though, you want to make sure the cat can safely reach the bookshelves from another piece of the highway. Buy shelving units. You can incorporate standalone wooden shelves, wire shelves, or just about anything to serve as a piece of your cat superhighway. Include furniture in your highway system. If a specific piece of furniture or feature of your home, like a fireplace mantle, is in the path of your highway, you should include it. By including it, you'll save money, save time, and add a different element to your highway system. Clear off the tops of furniture or home features that you are going to include in your system. For example, if there is a bookshelf along the highway, make sure nothing is on top of it, so your cat can travel on it safely. Secure pieces of furniture that you are including. For example, bookshelves often come with small pieces of fabric that you can secure to the wall behind them. This way, your bookshelf won't fall when the cat jumps on and off it. Fasten your shelves to the wall. Perhaps the most important safety aspect of creating your superhighway is to make sure the shelves and other parts of the highway are fastened to the wall. This way, they won't fall off when your cat jumps or walks on them. Secure shelves into studs or fasten bookshelves to drywall. Add extra vertical supports to shelves if you don't think the shelf will support your cat's weight. Put a 10 to 20-pound (4.5 to 9 kg) weight on the shelves. Consider leaving the weight on the shelves for a few hours. This will help you verify that the shelf will hold your cat's weight. Space everything appropriately. When putting up your superhighway, you'll need to make sure that the pieces of your project are spaced so your cat can either walk or jump along the highway without falling. Try to avoid spacing pieces more than 1 or 2 feet apart. If you want, you don't have to leave any spaces between the pieces. You can create a continuous highway from one room of the house to another room. Adjust the highway. You'll likely also have to adjust the highway to make it better suited to your cat. This is important, as the initial design of your project may not fit the needs of your cat. In the end, you may have to adjust the highway several times before your cat is happy with it. Observe your cat. Spend a little time watching your cat use the highway. Try not to be obvious about it, though. If you notice your cat getting off the superhighway before it ends, you may need to adjust it. In addition, if you notice your cat skipping several pieces of the highway and getting on elsewhere, you should change it. You may need to move pieces closer to each other, add new pieces, or substitute pieces of the highway that are problematic. For example, your cat may not like jumping down from a high piece onto a bookshelf. You could fix this by lowering the higher piece by about a foot.

Think about what type of highway you want to create. Decide where you want your superhighway to start. Determine where you want it to end. Draw your superhighway. Buy cat climbing shelves. Purchase pre-made cat furniture. Find furniture or other shelving units. Include furniture in your highway system. Fasten your shelves to the wall. Space everything appropriately. Adjust the highway.

https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-a-Rude,-Arrogant-and-Mean-Subordinate

How to Deal With a Rude, Arrogant and Mean Subordinate

Having a rude, arrogant, and mean subordinate can be challenging, but if you remain professional and follow your company policy, you can get through it. If the employee's behavior is causing problems, document the specific incidents so you can report it. Make sure to include the dates and witnesses of the events. Remember to be objective and specific. For example, write, “Dan yelled, cursed, and interrupted me several times.” In the first instance, call the employee to a private and informal meeting. Calmly explain their specific behaviors and the consequences if they continue to act unprofessionally, according to your company policy. If your company has a Human Resources department, keep them in the loop about your disciplinary action. If the employee continues to act unprofessionally, follow procedure to discipline or fire them.

Documenting specific acts that have caused problems. Make a specific record of complaints regarding the employee. In your documentation, include specific such as the nature of the incident, the employees/people involved, when the incident occurred, and the consequences. Even if the report is not placed in employee's file, proper documentation necessary to have objective, unemotional assessments of the employee's behavior. Assess their behavior. Evaluating their behavior will help you to gather evidence and document their behavior for use in implementing a disciplinary plan. When reviewing behavior, ask yourself several questions: Observations should be factual, not subjective. For example, don't use a term like "rude behavior", use "x" yelled, cursed, interrupted, walked away, etc. "Aggressive" is another subjective term that is not useful in an assessment. Finally, the manager probably doesn't know whether the employee has a personal problem or not until after the meeting. Confirm the violation of company's policies. Employees should be corrected or disciplined when they break policy or fail to reach production standards, not because of attitude or style. Document the specific policy violated and how exactly the employee's actions violated it. Log the behavior. After you've evaluated the behavior and have decided to proceed, you'll begin by documenting and logging their behavior. Logging the behavior will provide you with evidence to present to higher management and to the employee if your disciplinary plan is questioned. Make sure to: Include times and dates. Include locations. Include a detailed description of each incident and who reported/witnessed it. Call an informal meeting. The first step you'll have to take will be to schedule a meeting with the employee in question. This will provide you with the opportunity to troubleshoot issues with your subordinate and to determine if there is a larger problem going on. Approach your employee in person and tell them you need to speak to them. Avoid specifics. Don't say "I need to talk to you because your behavior is horrible lately." Speak calmly and clearly, leaving no doubt that the meeting is not optional. Avoid informing your employee where others can hear you. If for some reason you feel uncomfortable or threatened by the person in question, this is a different matter. In this case, the meeting should be handled by human resources. Voice your concerns. After you've called a meeting with the employee, it will be time for you to voice your concerns. Make sure you do so properly. When talking with your subordinate: Detail the circumstances that caused the complaint without making a judgement and ask employee to confirm or explain the instance. Confirm that the actions violate company policy and that employee is aware of the violation. Be specific about what the problem is and how they should correct it. Provide an opportunity for the employee to speak. After you've voiced your concerns, you will need to allow your employee to explain himself or herself. This is an important part, as you really need both sides of the story before making any decisions or moving further through the disciplinary process. Make sure to listen to what the employee has to say before passing judgment. Never assume the employee is a bad person. This will cloud your judgment of the incident. Do not pry into personal problems. If your employee starts to explain personal problems and suggests they are the root of their problem, hear them out, but do not pry. If you think your employee has explained himself or herself well enough, you can tell them, "I understand the situation now. I appreciate your information. If the circumstance arises again, please call me before it becomes a problem." Resolving the problem. If the employee doesn't have a justifiable reason for his action, changes and disciplinary action are necessary. Use the following process to resolve the problem: Make sure that the employee takes responsibility for his or her mistake and understands that their actions were unacceptable. Ask that the employee assure you that they are willing to change their behavior. Give them a detailed explanation of the standard of behavior expected from this point on. Finally, list consequences if the employee commits another violation of company policy. Work with HR to assess behavior issues. Contact the HR department if your company is large enough to have one. It may be tempting to ask other employees for input, but involving other people besides the perpetrator, the complainants, and the supervisor can make a mountain out of mole hill through gossip. Consult the individual's employment records for information about previous problems with supervisors. If the person worked under another supervisor at your company, contact that supervisor. Do not divulge specific behavior to previous supervisors. Simply indicate that you are experiencing a problem with them and inquiry if they had the same experience. Confirm company policy. After you've formally documented and evaluated the insubordinate employee's behavior, you should review company policy for specifics about the employee disciplinary policy. This is important, because without reviewing company disciplinary policy, you won't know the exact steps you need to take to discipline the employee. Make sure to: Look at the employee manual (issued to each new employee) and review the employee disciplinary process as outlined in the manual. Reviewing the policy outlined in the employee manual or handbook will verify that the employee should know how discipline is dealt out. Consult your direct supervisor and let them know that you are about to begin disciplinary action. Consider your actions very carefully before proceeding, as an uncalled for disciplinary plan can open the company up to litigation and you to scrutiny from management. Contact the human resources department, if your company has one. Your company's human resource department is designed to provide employees and management with support and guidance. As a result, you should be in constant contact with HR through the disciplinary process. Depending on your company's policy, an HR representative may need to be present at all formal steps of the disciplinary process. Depending on your company's policy, the disciplinary process may need to be implemented through HR. If your company does not have a Human Resources Professional, you may want to discuss a plan of action with your immediate supervisor or a Human Resources Consultant. Establish a plan of disciplinary action. Based on your documentation, evaluation, and company guidelines, you should establish a plan of disciplinary action. Most company employee manuals use a version of a progressive disciplinary plan for addressing employee behavior or performance issues. Typical disciplinary plans include the following: Verbal discussion and warning. Written warning (up to three occurrences, depending on supervisor's discretion). Termination. Implement the disciplinary plan. After you've established a plan of action, you need to implement it. Implementations will begin with the first steps outlined in your plan. If this is the first time the employee has been disciplined, you may start with a verbal discussion and warning. The purpose of a verbal warning is to let the employee know that they are doing something that is not acceptable in the workplace. It's also an opportunity to resolve the situation. If this is the second time the employee has been disciplined, you will move on to a formal and written warning letter. In the warning letter, provide a short review of the past discussion and verbal warning. Then, clearly state the specific behavior or action leading to the written warning along with the date it occurred. If this is the third time (or more) the employee has been disciplined, you may move toward termination. If the employee's behavior has not improved after two (or more) warnings, termination should be considered.

Documenting specific acts that have caused problems. Assess their behavior. Confirm the violation of company's policies. Log the behavior. Call an informal meeting. Voice your concerns. Provide an opportunity for the employee to speak. Resolving the problem. Work with HR to assess behavior issues. Confirm company policy. Contact the human resources department, if your company has one. Establish a plan of disciplinary action. Implement the disciplinary plan.

https://www.wikihow.com/Play-What-Are-the-Odds

How to Play What Are the Odds

What Are the Odds, also known as Odds Are, is a fun social game where players try to get each other to perform ridiculous dares. You need at least 2 players to play, although the more players the better! To start, come up with a fun, silly dare for another player. This could be something simple, like daring someone to run around the block, or something a little strange, like daring someone to ask a stranger if they've seen their pet kangaroo. Ask one of the other players, “What are the odds that you will” followed by your dare. Then, the other player responds with the odds of them doing the dare, like "1 in 15" or "1 in 20." Now, both you and the other player count down from 3. After you count down, both of you say a number within the range that the other player set. For example, if the other player said their odds of doing the dare are 1 in 30, you'd both have to say a number between 1 and 30. If you both say the same number, the other player has to do the dare. If you don't say the same number, it's the next player's turn, and you subtract 1 from the previous range of odds. In this example, the next player would have to play out of 29. If someone says “2” as their range of odds, there is a special rule. If the players say the same number, the dared player must do the dare, but if the players say different numbers, the daring player must do the dare.

Choose a fun, harmless dare. If you're giving the dare, pick something that will make your friends laugh and that someone wouldn't normally do. Choose dares that are easy to complete at first if you're playing with a new group of people. If you've played with your friends before, you can choose any difficulty dare. Don't pick a dare that's life-threatening or illegal to complete. Play the game to have fun, not to get into trouble. Easy dares include switching shirts with a friend, hugging a stranger, or asking a random person if they have a banana. Medium dares include drawing a tattoo on them with a pen for the rest of the night, licking a table, or singing a song in a crowded area. Hard dares include getting a permanent tattoo, buying the next flight out of town, or eating out of the trash. Pick a friend to complete the dare. Ask someone if they want to complete a dare that you've selected. If you're with a large group of friends, only pick 1 of them to play the game. Don't dare someone who hasn't agreed to play the game. If you choose to play and you lose, you must do the dare! Choose carefully before deciding to play. Ask your friend what the odds are they will complete the dare. Use the question format, “What are the odds that you will…” followed by the dare. The person you're asking then responds with any number between 2 and 100. This sets the upper limit for a range of numbers for the rest of the game. For example, if you ask, “What are the odds that you will eat a spoonful of hot sauce?” and your friend responds, “1 in 20,” then they must select a number between that range later on. Count down from 3 and state a number in the given range at the same time. Look the other player directly in the eyes and both start your countdown. After you say 1, state a number at the same time between the range you set. Make sure you both say the number at the same time so neither of you cheats. For instance, if the range is 1 in 20, you both count down, “3...2...1…” and then say a number between 1 and 20. Do the dare if you say the same number as the person who dared you. The dare only has to be done if you and the other player say the same number. If you were the person doing the dare, complete it as soon as you can. If you're the person who gave the dare, sit back and enjoy watching your friend do it! If the dare involved something you cannot complete immediately, do it at the soonest possible time. For example, if the dare was to shave down to a mustache, you can complete it once you're at home. If you don't want to do the dare in hindsight, you can always choose to forfeit the round. Arrange the time frame of the dare (i.e., the amount of time the loser has to complete the dare) before you count down. Pay if you gave the dare and it costs money. Always offer your friend money to complete the dare when they need to buy something to complete it. Be polite since you were the one that dared them to do it in the first place. For example, if you dare the person to get a permanent tattoo, give them the money to get it if they lose. Let the person you dared choose the next dare. Take turns picking the dares for one another. If you're playing with more than 2 players, make sure everyone has a chance to accept a dare. As the game goes on, increase the difficulty of the dare to raise the stakes. Always choose a different dare from one that was already said. This way, you don't run into repeats.

Choose a fun, harmless dare. Pick a friend to complete the dare. Ask your friend what the odds are they will complete the dare. Count down from 3 and state a number in the given range at the same time. Do the dare if you say the same number as the person who dared you. Pay if you gave the dare and it costs money. Let the person you dared choose the next dare.

https://www.wikihow.com/File-a-Lawsuit-for-Money-Owed

How to File a Lawsuit for Money Owed

If someone owes you money but refuses to pay, you might have to file a lawsuit to have a judge order them to pay. Start by gathering your evidence, including written contracts, any proof of a loan, or receipts for initial payments on monies owed. If the person owes you a significant amount of money or if you're afraid they'll contest the claim, then meet with an attorney before moving on. When you're ready to file your complaint, see if your state offers fill-in-the-blank forms through the court's website or clerk's office. If you can't find a form, draft your complaint by hand. After all of your paperwork is complete, deliver it to the clerk's office and have the defendant served through certified mail.

Choose the right court. You must file your lawsuit in a court that has jurisdiction over the incident that gave rise to your claim. In many cases you have the option of using small claims court. However, each state has a maximum dollar amount for which you're allowed to sue in small claims court – typically somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000, although it may be as little as $2,000. If the amount the person owes you exceeds that amount, you usually can't simply sue them for a lesser amount just so you can get around the maximum limit. Generally, the court location that has jurisdiction over your claim will be the court in the county where the dispute occurred. If the person owes you money under a written contract, you want to sue either in the county where the contract was signed, or where most of the work under the contract was performed. You also have the option of suing in the county where the person you want to sue lives. This means that in some situations you'll be able to choose between several different courts that all have jurisdiction. When that happens, you can pick the court that's most convenient for you. Gather your evidence. To recover the money you're owed through a lawsuit, you must have proof of the debt. If you have a written contract, that part of your proof is relatively straightforward. However, in many cases money is loaned through a handshake deal in which no formal contract is signed. In those situations, proving the person owes you money can be tricky. If you loaned someone money, be prepared that he or she may try to claim that the money was a gift rather than a loan. Any proof you may have that it was in fact a loan will go a long way. For example, suppose you loaned a friend $1,000 to get repairs done on his car. He was supposed to pay you back by giving you $100 each week, and initially he made these payments on time. However, after five weeks he stopped paying you. Cancelled checks or receipts for those first five payments can help you establish that the money was a loan, not a gift, and that he knew he had to repay you. Compile information about the person who owes you money. You want to make sure you're suing the right person using his or her correct legal name, and including all required parties. For example, if you live in a community property state and the person who owes you money is married, you must sue both the person and his or her spouse. You also must make sure that you have the correct legal name for the person you're suing, as well as an address where he or she can be served with notice of the lawsuit. Without this information, you won't be able to complete your lawsuit. If you're suing a business, you can check with your state's secretary of state to get the business's official legal name. Keep in mind that he legal name may differ from the name with which you're familiar. Check the statute of limitations. Each state has a deadline after which you can't sue a person to recover money he or she owes you. The length of the statute of limitations depends on whether the person owes you money under a written contract or an oral contract. Typically you have much longer, as much as 10 years, to file suit regarding a written contract. However, you must sue to enforce an oral contract within one or two years. This time period begins from the date the contract – whether written or oral – was broken. This can be tricky if you didn't have a repayment schedule with the person, because you have no specific date you can use. Make sure you check the statute of limitations that applies to your case before you file your lawsuit, because if you miss the deadline your case will be dismissed. Consider consulting an attorney. If someone owes you a significant amount of money, or if you believe they will contest your claim, you may want to get an attorney's advice on how to proceed. Keep in mind that if you're planning on suing in small claims court, you must have an attorney in many states if you're suing a person who owes money to your company rather than to you as an individual. Many attorneys offer free consultations, and it may be worth your time to at least talk to someone and get an official legal opinion on your case. If the attorney thinks it's unlikely that you'll win, or that you'll be able to collect the money even if you do win, you may want to reassess your options. If you're concerned about the cost of an attorney, you might seek out attorneys who provide unbundled services, in which they help you with certain aspects of your case – such as preparing your paperwork for the court or drafting discovery documents – but don't fully represent you. You might also want to check with your local legal aid services or law school clinics and see if you can find low-cost legal assistance there. Send a demand letter. Many states require proof that you made a written demand for the money before you file suit. In your demand letter, state the amount of money you're owed and why. Give the person a brief period of time after he or she receives your letter to respond or pay the money. Tell him or her that if you don't have a response by that date you will file suit to recover your money. Make a copy of the letter before you send it so you have it for your records, and can present the copy to the court later if you end up filing suit. Send your letter certified mail, returned receipt requested, so you know when the person receives the letter. Save your return receipt when you receive it so you have it to prove to the court that the letter was received. Search for forms. Many states have fill-in-the-blank forms approved by the courts for use in filing your claim. You typically can find forms by looking on the court's website or calling the clerk's office. Some legal aid and self-help clinics also have forms you can use. Draft your complaint. If you can't find a form, you'll have to format your complaint by hand. You can use copies of complaints filed for other cases in the same court as a guide so you know you're formatting everything properly. The complaint tells the court what happened and why the defendant owes you money. This information typically is set forth in numbered paragraphs, with one allegation per paragraph. Complete any other required documents. You may want to contact the clerk of the court where you intend to file to determine what other documents must be filed with the complaint to initiate a lawsuit. You typically will have to fill out a summons and a certificate of service. The summons tells the defendant that he or she must appear in court, and provides details on how to respond to the lawsuit. The certificate of service tells the court how you intend to notify the defendant of the lawsuit. Once you've finished everything, make copies of each document you're filing with the court. The clerk will keep the originals for the court's records, so you'll need at least one copy for your own records and one for the person you're suing. Take your paperwork to the clerk's office. Once you've completed all required documents, you must file them with the clerk to begin the litigation process. Some courts allow you to file by mailing your paperwork and fees using certified mail. You can find out from the clerk if this option is available for you. When you take your documents to the clerk, you must pay a filing fee. This fee will vary depending on the court in which you file. If you file in small claims, the fee may be under $100, but you can expect to pay several hundred dollars to file a regular civil court lawsuit. If you can't afford to pay the filing fees, you may be able to fill out an application to have the fees waived. On the application, you must disclose details about your income and assets. If the court determines that your income is below the court's low-income threshold, you won't have to pay any court costs. Typically if you receive public benefits you will be deemed eligible for a waiver of your court costs. If you're filing in small claims court, the clerk may schedule a date for your hearing at the same time you file. For full civil court cases, you typically must wait to receive an answer from the defendant before you can find out what the next step in litigation will be. Have the defendant served. After you've filed your complaint, you need to follow the court's procedures to provide the defendant with proper legal notice of the lawsuit against him or her. In most cases, the defendant will be served by having the paperwork sent to him or her using certified mail with returned receipt requested. The return receipt serves as proof that the defendant received the complaint and has notice of the lawsuit. You also may have the option of using the sheriff's department or a private process serving company to deliver the paperwork to the defendant personally. There typically will be a fee for this service. Wait for an answer from the defendant. In most cases the defendant must file a written answer to your complaint within a set period of time after he or she is served. Typically the defendant has between 20 and 30 days to file his or her written answer. If no answer is filed, you can seek a default judgment against him or her. When you seek a default judgment, you typically still must prove the exact amount of money to which you're entitled. If the defendant does file an answer, it will be served on you – either by using personal service or by mailing it to you using certified mail. If the defendant raises any counterclaims, you have a similar period of time to respond to those counterclaims or the defendant can seek a default judgment against you. For example, suppose you loaned your roommate $300 and are suing her for it. Your roommate counterclaims that you owe her $200 for food of hers that you consumed without replacing it, and that she therefore only owes you $100. If you don't respond and deny her counterclaim, the judge could enter a default judgment on her counterclaim, thus entitling you to recover only $100 of the money she owes you. The defendant also may file motions, such as a motion to dismiss. You must respond to these motions, and the court may schedule a hearing before the judge. Participate in discovery. Before trial, both you and the person you're suing have the opportunity to ask each other questions and share documents and evidence you plan to introduce at trial. Through the discovery process, you can use various tools to gain information about the defendant's case. Written discovery includes written questions and requests for production of documents related to the case. Your written questions, or interrogatories, must be responded to in writing and under oath. You also have the opportunity to call a deposition, in which you interview either the defendant or any witnesses under oath and on the record. The transcript of depositions can later be used at trial if the person says something on the stand that contradicts something he or she said in the deposition. If you filed in small claims court, you typically won't have any discovery period – or if you do, it will be a simplified process of written discovery only. Attend mediation. Some courts require parties to participate in mediation or other alternate dispute resolution before a trial will be scheduled. Mediation involves having a conversation with the defendant in a neutral setting with a third-party mediator on hand to facilitate that discussion and help you reach a compromise. Mediation is a non-confrontational setting, so it can be particularly helpful if the person you're suing also is a friend or family member, and you want to preserve your relationship with them. Prepare for your hearing. Make sure your documents and evidence are organized and that you've prepared your opening and closing statements for the court. Write an outline of your case and the events that transpired so you can present them to the court in an orderly fashion. Practice what you're going to say in front of a mirror or in front of friends or family members. If you have any documents such as a written contract that you want to show to the judge, you should make enough copies that you can keep one, give one to the judge, and give one to the defendant. If you have any witnesses you want to call to testify on your behalf, you should call them and find out if they're willing to testify. If they don't want to appear in court, you typically have the option of having the court issue a subpoena that will force your witnesses to appear. Get together with any witnesses you plan to call and practice with them before the trial. Not only should they have a good idea of the questions you might ask, but you should have a good understanding of their answers so you can plan and make sure you don't inadvertently call a witness to the stand who ends up damaging your case. Appear in court on your court date. You must appear when the hearing of your case is scheduled, or your case will be dismissed. You may want to arrive at least a half hour early so you have time to get through courthouse security and find the courtroom where your trial will be held. It may be that there is more than one trial being held in your courtroom on that day. If so, find a seat in the court's gallery and wait until your case is called. Once your case is called, you may stand and move to the front of the courtroom. Present your case. Since you filed the lawsuit, you have the opportunity to tell the court your side of the story first. When you present your case, speak only to the judge – don't talk to the defendant or lash out at him or her. You can show exhibits, which include any contracts, cancelled checks, receipts, or other documents that show that the defendant owes you money and has failed to pay it. You can bring copies of the documents you plan to enter as exhibits, but make sure you have the original to be entered as evidence. A copy generally won't be accepted for that purpose. If you have any witnesses, you will call them to the stand while you're presenting your case. When you finish your questions, the defendant will have the opportunity to ask questions as well. Listen to the other side. After you've presented all of your evidence, the person you've sued will have the opportunity to present his or her defense. Don't interrupt the defendant or yell out, even if he or she says something that's incorrect. You had your chance to tell your side of the story, and now the defendant has the same opportunity. The judge will make a decision based on the facts and evidence in the case. If the defendant has witnesses, you will have the opportunity to cross-examine them just as he or she cross-examined your witnesses. Pay close attention during the witness's testimony and take note of anything you want to ask the witness about when it's your turn. Receive the judge's decision. At the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, the judge will make a ruling in your case. The order will spell out whose story the judge found more convincing and why, and list the amount of money (if any) that you're entitled to receive from the defendant. Both parties have the right to appeal the decision. Generally you wouldn't have any interest in appealing if you got everything you asked for. However, there may be some situations in which you want to appeal even if you won – for example, if the judge ruled in your favor, but found that the defendant only had to pay you $200 when you had argued he owed you $2000. Ask the clerk about enforcement rules in your state. Since each state has different rules regarding how to enforce court judgments, it's best to talk to the clerk about it when you pick up your copy of the final order. If rules in your jurisdiction are complex, you may want to consider hiring a collections attorney to handle the process for you. You typically can pay them a percentage of the recovery amount, and you may even have the ability to add those costs to the total amount of your judgment. Contact the defendant. Before you make efforts to enforce your judgment, you should talk to the defendant and find out if he or she is willing to work out payment arrangements with you directly. Typically if someone is able to do so, they'll go ahead and pay the amount of the judgment to avoid collection activities such as garnishment, which can be embarrassing and costly. Get an application and affidavit for a writ of garnishment. The most common method of enforcing a court judgment is to garnish a portion of the defendant's wages until the judgment is paid. If you hold a judgment in your favor and the defendant refuses to pay, you can use garnishment to get your money. Typically you can garnish up to 25 percent of the defendant's wages, unless he or she already has an existing garnishment. If you sued a business, you also may be able to get the sheriff to seize property, assets, or even cash from the register to cover the judgment amount. Conduct post-judgment discovery. Before you apply for a writ of garnishment, you must get certain details about the defendant's income and assets. Post-judgment discovery is available in some, but not all states. Essentially you send the defendant another set of interrogatories to determine what money they have and where it's coming from. You also should use post-judgment discovery to find out if the defendant has any other garnishments, or if he or she has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Additionally, the defendant may have certain types of income, such as public benefits, that are exempt from being seized or garnished to satisfy a judgment. The court provides a deadline by which the defendant must respond to your interrogatories. Once you have this information, you'll know what to include in your garnishment application. Complete your application and affidavit. Once you have the answers from the defendant regarding his or her employment, income, and assets, you can complete your application for a writ of garnishment. Some jurisdictions also may call this document a writ of execution, which means you are executing your judgment. Writs of execution and writs of garnishment have the same effect. The writ of garnishment tell the defendant's employer that he or she must withhold a certain amount of money from the defendant's paycheck. File your application and affidavit with the clerk. You must file your application and affidavit with the clerk to begin the garnishment process. Some jurisdictions allow you to file your application and affidavit electronically, which could save you a trip to the courthouse. Provided your application and affidavit are complete, the clerk will issue the writ. You may have to pay an additional fee for this. Once you have your writ, you can contact the sheriff's department to have the writ served on the defendant's employer. This will begin the garnishment process.

Choose the right court. Gather your evidence. Compile information about the person who owes you money. Check the statute of limitations. Consider consulting an attorney. Send a demand letter. Search for forms. Draft your complaint. Complete any other required documents. Take your paperwork to the clerk's office. Have the defendant served. Wait for an answer from the defendant. Participate in discovery. Attend mediation. Prepare for your hearing. Appear in court on your court date. Present your case. Listen to the other side. Receive the judge's decision. Ask the clerk about enforcement rules in your state. Contact the defendant. Get an application and affidavit for a writ of garnishment. Conduct post-judgment discovery. Complete your application and affidavit. File your application and affidavit with the clerk.

https://www.wikihow.com/Inspect-Your-Suspension-System

How to Inspect Your Suspension System

If you are having trouble with your suspension and you need to inspect your suspension system, open the hood of your vehicle and inspect the struts or shock towers, which extend through the fender above each wheel on either side. Ensure the nuts and bolts are not rusted or loose. Next, jack up the vehicle and visually inspect the grease boots, rubber bushings, and tie rods for signs of damage or uneven wear.

Pay attention if your ride begins to feel rougher. Over time, components of your suspension can wear out. While visually inspecting components can often let you know if they've become compromised, the easiest way to determine if you are having a suspension issue is by paying attention to how the ride in your vehicle feels. If it has become progressively rougher, it is likely because the suspension is no longer absorbing the bumps the way it is supposed to. If you begin to feel more bumps and shakes as you drive, there may be an issue with your suspension. Sometimes a rougher ride will come coupled with audible squeaks as the suspension struggles to manage bumps in the road. Take note if your vehicle pulls or squeaks during turns. If you begin to feel as though the vehicle is working against you as you turn, it is likely the result of a failing suspension component. Different parts of your suspension can affect the steering response, angle of the tires, and the center of balance of the vehicle. Each of these elements can make your vehicle cumbersome or difficult to turn. A bad tie rod end will make steering response sluggish. If you hear an audible creek while turning the wheel, it may be the result of a bad lower ball joint. Conversely, if you hear knocking as the weight transfers in the vehicle during a turn, it may be caused by a bad sway bar end link. Pay attention to how the vehicle reacts as you turn and compare it to your previous experiences in the vehicle to assess if there is an issue. Listen carefully to see if components of your suspension are squeaking under pressure. Every vehicle behaves a little differently while turning, so previous experiences with the vehicle can make assessing issues much easier. Inspect the tread wear on your tires. Your tires should wear fairly evenly across the width of the tread. If you rotate your tires regularly, they should be worn close to evenly throughout. If you happen to notice the inside or outside of the tire is wearing at a faster rate than the rest, it could be an issue with the camber of your wheels and tires. Camber is the term used to describe the angle the wheel sits in relation to the vehicle and road. A vehicle with negative camber will wear the inside of the tires more quickly. A vehicle with positive camber will wear the outsides of the tires more quickly. Camber is determined by your suspension components and wheel alignment. Try braking abruptly to see if the nose dives as you stop. If you are having issues with your front struts or shocks, your suspension may struggle to keep the vehicle level under hard braking. Stop quickly in a safe area and pay attention to the front of your car. If the nose of the vehicle dives or drops as you slow down, it may be as result of bad shocks or struts. If you can hear an audible clunk from the front of the vehicle as you brake, there is either an issue with your control arm or sub frame bushing. Your suspension should be able to support the weight of your vehicle and keep it fairly level during most situations. The front corner of your vehicle may also drop as you turn in the same direction. This is caused by the same failure. Look to see if the vehicle sits level. With the vehicle parked, walk around it and visually assess how level it seems to be sitting. If one side of the car rests higher than the other, there are likely worn out or broken suspension components to blame. It is not uncommon for the front of the vehicle to ride slightly lower than the rear in many vehicles such as pickup trucks, but the vehicle should otherwise be level. Pay attention to swaying and bouncing at low speeds. Your vehicle should have no difficulty withstanding bumps in the road at low speeds. If you go over a bump and feel your vehicle sway back and forth or bounce after passing the bump, your suspension is struggling to support the weight of the vehicle. Your vehicle should be able to go over a bump and quickly regain composure at low speeds. If your vehicle sways back and forth after going over a bump, there is likely an issue with your suspension. Visually inspect your strut mounts or shock towers. Open the hood of your vehicle and look to either side. The struts or shock towers will extend through the fender above each wheel and be secured with one or a series of bolts or nuts. Look the fasteners over and ensure they are not covered in rust, and are not loose or otherwise compromised. If your strut mounts or shock towers are not properly secured, they cannot function properly. Rust can compromise the nuts and bolts holding parts in place as well as the parts themselves. Measure the ride height on your front wheels. Use a ruler or tape measure to determine the length of empty space between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender well on the driver's side of your vehicle. Repeat the process on the passenger side and assess if there is a difference. While a slight variation is okay (a half inch or less) the two should be fairly equal. If they are not even, the side that is lower is probably where the issue lies. If they are even, there still may be an issue with the suspension that affects both sides equally. Jack up the vehicle. You will need to get under the vehicle to visually inspect the condition of your suspension system. Place a trolley or scissor jack beneath the vehicle at one of its designated jack points for the front end. If you are unsure of where to locate your vehicle's jack points, refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for clarification. Jack up the car until it's high enough to work beneath, then place jack stands beneath the car to support its weight before beginning your visual inspection. Never work beneath a vehicle that is supported by a jack without jack stands. Visually inspect grease boots and rubber bushings for signs of damage. Once you are beneath your vehicle, start at one wheel and look around at the rubber bushings separating metal components of your suspension from one another. They are usually black, though they may fade into grey over time. There may be as many as forty individual bushings between components of your suspension, though they are often round with a hole in the middle (like a doughnut). Any time you find a piece of rubber in your suspension, it is considered a bushing. If you notice cracks or tears in any bushings, they will need to be replaced. Once a rubber bushing begins to wear out, it will allow more movement between suspension components than should be permitted, resulting in altered suspension dynamics and likely making your ride rougher. Torn or missing bushings can seriously compromise your vehicle's ability to withstand bumps or even steer. Common bushing failures in your suspension may include sway bar end links (at each end of the sway bar), trail arm bushings a the axle pivot point on the vehicle, or the bushings in the upper or lower control arms. Check for excess play in the tie rod ends. Locate the power steering box and follow its arms toward the wheels. If you are unsure where the power steering box is located in your vehicle, refer to the service manual specific to the year, make and model of your car or truck. Tie rod ends serve as the connection points between the steering box and the wheels, so if the bushings become compromised it could result in dead spots in your steering and reduced handling ability. If you have noticed a “dead spot” in your steering wheel, it is likely the result of having too much play caused by a bad tie rod end. A completely failed tie rod end can be extremely dangerous, as it can prevent you from being able to control the vehicle. Replace tie rod ends before they become so worn out they fail completely. Jack up the rear of the car. Locate the rear jack points for your vehicle and place a jack beneath it. If the front of your vehicle is resting on jack stands, you may leave it in the air, but if you only have two jack stands you should lower the front end of the vehicle and use those stands to support the rear of it while you work. While the vehicle's front wheels don't have to be on the ground to inspect the rear suspension, you must place jack stands beneath the rear in order to climb under the vehicle. If the front tires are on the ground, place a wheel chock in front of them to ensure the vehicle can't shift forward while you jack it up or once it is on the jack stands. Wipe each joint clean and inspect the bushings for damage. The rear suspension has far fewer components than the front, but they need to be inspected for the same signs of damage. It is likely that a lot of mud and debris has gotten trapped by the rear suspension, so you may need to wipe the bushings off with some water and a rag to be able to properly inspect them. There is no need to wipe the joints and bushings down if you can easily see them. Look for the same signs of cracking or tearing in the rubber bushings. Inspect bolts and nuts for rust and tightness. Check the nuts and bolts used to secure components of the suspension to one another and the vehicle for signs of excessive rust and to make sure they are tight. Use a screw driver to poke at the fastening hardware that appears rusty. If bits of the rusted nut or bolt comes off as you poke at it, the hardware will need to be replaced. If you notice any of the nuts or bolts have become loose over time, use an appropriate hand or socket wrench to tighten them again. If portions of the frame or the suspension components themselves are too rusted, you will need to take the vehicle to a mechanic to have it repaired. Inspect one wheel at a time with an independent rear suspension. If your vehicle came equipped with an independent rear suspension, you will need to jack up each side of the vehicle to inspect the suspension on that side. Although you may not need to with some vehicle, you should anticipate needing to remove the wheel and tire in order to access and inspect the suspension components. Inspect an independent rear suspension by looking for signs of damage on the bushings or excess rust on the fastening hardware or suspension components. Suspension components are designed to support the weight of the vehicle under load, so you should not be able to move any by hand. If you can move a component by hand, it is either too loose or the bushing has gone bad. Park your vehicle on firm, even ground. In order to conduct a bounce test you need to remove any variables that could affect how the vehicle recovers from being bounced. Soft or uneven ground can affect how the vehicle sits, giving you a less reliable outcome. Blacktop or concrete are the preferred surfaces to conduct this test on. An uneven surface will shift the weight of the vehicle, causing the suspension to respond differently than it would otherwise. Push down firmly on the front of the vehicle. The bounce test requires that you compress the suspension of the vehicle and assess how it recovers. In order to do so, place both of your palms on a stable part of the front of the vehicle (the hood will suffice) and press down with all of your weight. Take your hands away and watch the vehicle as it rises again. Press on the hood near the very front of the car to prevent putting a dent in it. If you are unable to put enough pressure on the vehicle to compress the suspension, ask a friend to help. Count how many bounces the suspension needs to recover. After releasing the vehicle, it should bounce back up and right itself in a single bounce. If it bounces a few more times as it settles, the shock absorbers in the front of your vehicle are likely bad. Even if you push down on the hood several times before releasing it, it should still right itself with only one bounce. Repeat the test on the rear of the vehicle. Once you have assessed the front suspension, move to the rear of the vehicle and repeat the process by pressing down on the trunk lid. Like the front, the rear suspension should be able to right itself after a single bounce. If the vehicle bounces a few times before settling again, take it to a professional to have the shock absorbers looked at. Do not press down on spoilers or fins, as they are often made of fiberglass and will break under pressure.

Pay attention if your ride begins to feel rougher. Take note if your vehicle pulls or squeaks during turns. Inspect the tread wear on your tires. Try braking abruptly to see if the nose dives as you stop. Look to see if the vehicle sits level. Pay attention to swaying and bouncing at low speeds. Visually inspect your strut mounts or shock towers. Measure the ride height on your front wheels. Jack up the vehicle. Visually inspect grease boots and rubber bushings for signs of damage. Check for excess play in the tie rod ends. Jack up the rear of the car. Wipe each joint clean and inspect the bushings for damage. Inspect bolts and nuts for rust and tightness. Inspect one wheel at a time with an independent rear suspension. Park your vehicle on firm, even ground. Push down firmly on the front of the vehicle. Count how many bounces the suspension needs to recover. Repeat the test on the rear of the vehicle.

https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Riblets

How to Cook Riblets

Before making riblets in an oven, preheat the oven to 275°F. Sprinkle on salt and pepper and rub minced garlic onto them with your fingers to add flavor. Set the riblets on a baking sheet and broil them on high for several minutes until they're dark, using tongs to flip them halfway through. Next, move them to a rack in a roasting pan along with ¼ cup of liquid smoke flavoring and 1 cup of water. Cook them for 2 to 5 hours until tender, and serve with barbeque sauce.

Season the riblets and preheat the oven. Get out 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of pork riblets and sprinkle them with salt and pepper according to your taste. Rub minced garlic into the riblets for a little extra flavor. If you want spicy riblets, use up to 1 tablespoon (8 g) of minced garlic. Turn the oven on to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Broil the riblets until they're dark. Turn on your broiler to high and set the riblets on a sheet. Set the riblets a few inches below the heating element and broil them for several minutes. The meat should turn dark. Carefully remove the sheet and use tongs to flip the riblets over. Put them back under the broiler for a few more minutes so they're seared. Cook the riblets until they're at 155 degrees F (70 degrees C). Insert an instant read thermometer into the riblet meat to check the temperature. If you don't want to broil the riblets, you can sear them on a gas or charcoal grill. Place the riblets in a roaster with steaming liquid. Place a rack in the bottom of a roasting pan and set the riblets on the rack. They shouldn't be touching the bottom of the pan. Pour 1/4 cup (60 ml) of liquid smoke flavoring and 1 cup (240 ml) of water into the bottom of the roasting pan. Wrap the pan tightly with several layers of aluminum foil. The steaming liquid shouldn't touch the riblets or they'll become bitter. If you're using a smaller roasting pan, you may not need all of the water and liquid smoke. Cook the riblets for several hours. Put the pan of riblets in the preheated oven and bake them for 2 to 5 hours. Check the temperature of the riblets occasionally and cook them until they're tender. They should reach 155 degrees F (70 degrees C) once they've finished cooking. Cooking time will depend on how many riblets you're cooking, the size of the pan, and the accuracy of your oven. Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes. Mix together all of the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Stir the sauce occasionally and simmer it for 20 minutes, so the sauce thickens a little. You'll need to combine: 1 cup (240 g) ketchup 1⁄2 cup (155 g) corn syrup 1⁄2 cup (170 g) honey 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) water 2 tablespoons (43 g) molasses 2 teaspoons (4 g) dry mustard 2 teaspoons (4 g) garlic powder 1 teaspoon (2 g) chili powder 1 teaspoon (2 g) onion powder Brush the sauce on the riblets. Dip a brush into the sauce and spread it over the cooked riblets. Serve the riblets while they're still warm and offer extra sauce on the side for dipping. Season the riblets. Get out 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of pork riblets. Sprinkle the spices over the riblets and use your fingertips to rub the seasonings onto the riblets. You'll need to season the riblets with: 1 tablespoon (7 g) cumin 2 teaspoons (4.5 g) pepper 2 teaspoons (11 g) salt 1 teaspoon (2 g) garlic powder Sear the riblets for a few minutes. Pour 1 tablespoon (13 ml) of oil into a skillet and turn the heat on to medium-high. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned riblets. Cook them for 1 to 2 minutes. Use tongs to turn the riblets over and sear them for 1 to 2 more minutes. Use caution when searing the riblets since the oil may splatter a little. Arrange the riblets and barbecue sauce in the slow cooker. Lay the riblets in the bottom of a slow cooker. Spread 3/4 cup (214 g) of the barbecue sauce over the riblets. They should be completely coated with the sauce. If you're using a slow cooker insert, remember to place it in the bottom of the slow cooker before you add the meat and sauce. Cook the riblets for 8 hours. Put the lid on the slow cooker and turn it on to LOW. Leave the riblets to cook for about 8 hours. They should become completely tender and cooked throughout. Coat the riblets with the rest of the sauce. Transfer the riblets to your serving plate and spread the remaining 1/4 cup (70 g) of barbecue sauce over the cooked riblets. Serve the riblets immediately. Combine the dry seasoning mix. Measure all of the dry seasonings into a small bowl. Use your fingers or a spoon to stir the seasonings until they're completely combined. You'll need: 1/4 cup (50 g) packed light brown sugar 2 tablespoons (34 g) salt 1 tablespoon (8 g) chili powder 2 teaspoons (2.5 g) ground black pepper 1 teaspoon (2 g) cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon (2 g) Old Bay Seasoning 1 teaspoon (2 g) rubbed sage 1 teaspoon (2 g) onion powder Season and rest the riblets for 1 hour. Get out 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of pork riblets and rub the dry seasoning mix over the riblets. Use your fingers to work the spices into the meat. Let the meat rest for at least 1 hour at room temperature. If you'd like to prepare the riblets ahead of time, you can wrap them in aluminum foil and refrigerate them overnight. Soak wood chips and prepare a grill. Place 1 cup (450 g) of hardwood chips in a bowl. Pour water over the chips and soak them for 1 hour before you're ready to grill. If you're using a gas grill, turn it on and heat it to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). If you're using a charcoal grill, heat the briquettes and spread them across half of the grate. This will create indirect heat. You can use apple, pecan, or hickory chips. Set the wood chips in the grill. Drain the water from the soaked wood chips and spread them over the coals, if you're using a charcoal grill. If you're using a gas grill, put the soaked wood chips into a smoker box and place it in the grill. Grill the riblets over direct heat for 3 minutes on each side. Lay the riblets directly over the coals for 3 minutes. Use tongs to carefully flip them over and grill them for 3 more minutes. If you're using a gas grill, don't worry about where you place them on the grate. Grill the riblets over indirect heat for 4 to 5 hours. Move the riblets to the cool side of the grate where the coals aren't at or turn the temperature on the grill down to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Smoke the riblets on the grill for 4 to 5 hours and serve them with your favorite barbecue sauce. The riblet meat should be completely tender and will easily pull away from the bone.

Season the riblets and preheat the oven. Broil the riblets until they're dark. Place the riblets in a roaster with steaming liquid. Cook the riblets for several hours. Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes. Brush the sauce on the riblets. Season the riblets. Sear the riblets for a few minutes. Arrange the riblets and barbecue sauce in the slow cooker. Cook the riblets for 8 hours. Coat the riblets with the rest of the sauce. Combine the dry seasoning mix. Season and rest the riblets for 1 hour. Soak wood chips and prepare a grill. Set the wood chips in the grill. Grill the riblets over direct heat for 3 minutes on each side. Grill the riblets over indirect heat for 4 to 5 hours.

https://www.wikihow.com/Speed-up-Early-Labor

How to Speed up Early Labor

To speed up early labor, try walking up and down stairs, which can help shift your baby into the right position for birth. If you're feeling too tired to take the stairs, even just lying down in bed and shifting from your back to your side every few minutes can help. While you're waiting, try to create a calm, soothing environment to relax in since stress may prolong labor.

Get up and walk around. Walking can help the baby shift in the uterus, causing it to the descend towards the pubic bone. This sends a signal to your body that the baby is ready to be born, which may trigger labor to progress. Walking up and down stairs can be especially helpful to shift a baby in the right position for birth. Shift around when you're lying down. Even if you're too tired to be walking up and down the stairs, you can move around in bed to help the baby reposition. Shift from your back to your side, for example, and then switch it up again a few minutes later. Staying in the same position will not help the baby move to speed up labor. Going from a sitting to standing position can be helpful. Try to get out of bed a few times an hour. If possible, walk around the room a bit before lying back down. Try lying on your left side. This increases blood flow to the baby and may improve pain. Get on all fours. Your back will feel better, and you'll help the baby rotate into the face-down position he or she needs to take to come out. Get on the floor and gently hold yourself up on your hands and knees. Kneel on a pillow if that's more comfortable. However, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor before you try this or any other unusual stretches or movements. You want to make sure such motions are safe for your specific pregnancy. Relax and wait. Usually, the best thing you can do during prolonged labor is relax and accept you need to wait. If your doctor thinks your pregnancy is progressing normally, there is not a lot for you to do other than try to remain calm. As you usually do not have to go to the hospital during early labor, do things around your home to wind down like reading a soothing book or watching a movie you enjoy. Create a soothing environment. While further studies are needed some evidence suggests stress could stall pregnancy. It certainly couldn't hurt to create a soothing, stress-free environment for yourself and it may help you get through early labor faster. Evaluate the room and take note of anything you don't like. Is the television too loud? Are the lights brighter than you'd like? Do you want more privacy? Make any adjustments you need to create a soothing room for yourself. This may result in early labor picking up again. Take a soothing bath. A nice warm bath can be relaxing, and can also help if you're feeling any physical pain from labor. While you're waiting for labor to progress, draw yourself a nice, warm bath and linger in the water until you feel calm. Try to sleep. While sleep does not always speed up labor, it can make the time feel like it's going by faster. It's also a good idea to sleep during the early stages of pregnancy when you're able to get rest. Eventually, you will progress to later stages where you'll need to push. Sleeping can help you build up strength. If you went into early labor during the night, it's particularly important to try to get some sleep. Try nipple stimulation. Nipple stimulation has been known to speed up early labor for some. If you're having trouble getting through early labor, you can roll your nipples between your thumb and pointer finger. You can also rub your nipple with your palm. If you want, you can have a partner or a nurse do this for you. However, some women's nipples are very sensitive throughout pregnancy. If your nipples are sore, do not cause yourself discomfort by engaging in nipple stimulation. Have an orgasm. There is some evidence that having an orgasm can help labor progress. If you want, you can try to engage in sexual activity with your partner to bring about an orgasm. You can also try masturbation. Ask your doctor about any drugs you're taking. If you took drugs during in your pregnancy, such as pain medication, they may be slowing down labor. Talk to your doctor about any drugs you took and ask if there is anything you can do to help progress your labor. If the drugs you took are slowing your contractions, you may need to wait until they're out of your body before your labor can progress. Apply acupuncture or acupressure. If you can, book an acupuncture appointment during early labor. Research shows that acupuncture can be beneficial in inducing labor, although doctors aren't entirely sure what its role is. If your partner or midwife knows acupuncture, you can simply have them speed up your labor. Have a doctor or midwife break your water. If your labor has been stalled for a long time, a doctor or midwife may suggest manually breaking your water to help labor progress. This is usually done during active labor, however, but may be done earlier in rare cases. Only go this route if your doctor or midwife suggest it, as you should not attempt to manually break your water on your own. Try a hormonal drip. A hormonal drip administers Syntocinon, an artificial form of oxytocin which is a hormone that helps with labor. Your doctor will need to monitor your baby's heartbeat if a hormonal drip is used. It may help speed up a labor that has stalled.

Get up and walk around. Shift around when you're lying down. Get on all fours. Relax and wait. Create a soothing environment. Take a soothing bath. Try to sleep. Try nipple stimulation. Have an orgasm. Ask your doctor about any drugs you're taking. Apply acupuncture or acupressure. Have a doctor or midwife break your water. Try a hormonal drip.

https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-AAA-Towing-Contractor

How to Become a AAA Towing Contractor

To become a towing contractor for the American Auto Association, you'll need towing insurance, a class B driver's license, and a number of permits required by your state. Usually this will include permits for indictment management, private property, and consent towing, but contact your city or county clerk's office to see what you'll need. Once you've got everything you need, bring your documents to your nearest American Auto Association club office and ask for an application form. While they go over your application, you may need to consent to an inspection of your vehicles and building and a background check. You should hear back from them within a couple of weeks.

Ensure that you have all the necessary permits. Most states require permits for indictment management, private property, and consent towing. Some states or cities may require additional permits and licenses, so contact your city or county clerk's office to see what other permits may be required. Make sure your other permits are up to date and renew them if necessary. An indictment management permit allows you to tow vehicles initiated by an officer of law enforcement. Private property permits allow you to tow vehicles without the owner's consent as long as it's authorized by a parking facility owner. Consent tow permits are used to tow vehicles with permission from the owner. Make copies of your permits and store the originals in a safe in your business office. Make sure your towing insurance is up to date. Contact your insurance provider or check online to see if you're still covered a liability insurance policy. If the insurance is out of date, renew the policy as soon as you can to make sure your company is protected from any damages. Get a policy that covers more than the minimum required for your towing business since it portrays your company in a better light. Confirm you and your drivers all have the proper licensing. While driving a regular vehicle, like a car, only requires a Class A license, tow trucks require a Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Make sure your and your employees' licenses are all current and have a Class B certification on them. If not, renew your licenses before applying for a AAA contracting job. You can learn more about how to renew your license and what permits are required in your area here: https://www.dmv.org/commercial-drivers/cdl-class-types.php. Fill out the AAA application completely at your nearest AAA club office. Go to the AAA office that's the closest to your towing company. Make sure to bring originals or copies of all your permits, licenses, and insurance policies. Let them know that you would like to apply to be a contractor for roadside assistance and fill out the application while you're in the office. If you don't know where the nearest AAA club is, visit the AAA website and type in your ZIP code to locate the office. Allow AAA to visit your facility to inspect your vehicles and building. While the AAA club goes over your application, a representative may ask to visit your towing facility, take pictures of your vehicles, and request criminal background checks for your employees. Provide any and all of the requests the AAA provider asks for while they're there. Providing the requests that AAA asks for does not guarantee that you'll be accepted as a contractor until they can review the material. If the AAA representative asks for background checks on you or your employees, make sure to provide a copy of a driver's license (front and back), a birthday, a Social Security number, and a current home address. Wait up to 2 weeks to hear back from AAA. It may take up to 2 weeks for AAA to review your documents and business to see if you're able to contract for them. If you haven't heard back from AAA in the first 2 weeks after submitting your application, call the nearest office and confirm that your application is being processed. Display the AAA logo in your business and on your vehicles. Once you get accepted as a AAA contractor, market your new services by adding the logo to your company's business card and adding the decal on each of your tow trucks. Place it in a noticeable spot, such as the top corner of the business card or on the door of your vehicle. AAA should provide logos and stickers for your vehicle once you're accepted as a contractor so drivers know you're working for their service. Check your phone and online for contracts from AAA. Most of the contracts you receive from AAA will arrive through phone calls or emails. Make sure to keep your phone lines open as much as possible and check your email a few times each hour. Allow email notifications to pop up on your desktop or phone so you don't have to keep a browser window open on your computer. Keep your facility running for 24 hours a day. AAA serves drivers at any time of day, every day of the year. Make sure you always have someone on staff at all times to respond to emergency calls late at night. AAA also operates on all major calendar holidays. Respond quickly to service calls to keep customers happy. Whenever you receive a call from AAA, try to respond to the driver in need as soon as possible. When you arrive, stay friendly and ask what the problem is immediately. Work quickly and efficiently so the customers are satisfied with your service. Work with your employees to figure out how to handle situations when they arise. For example, make sure each of your employees still acts friendly and helpful if they're working with a difficult customer. Offer additional assistance like gas delivery, tire changes, and battery service. Since all nearby contractors are contacted when a vehicle calls AAA, offering additional services gives you more business opportunities. If you don't already, consider delivering fuel to people who have run out of gas, repairing flat tires, and jumping batteries as part of your offered services. Most AAA contractors are required to offer these services at any time.

Ensure that you have all the necessary permits. Make sure your towing insurance is up to date. Confirm you and your drivers all have the proper licensing. Fill out the AAA application completely at your nearest AAA club office. Allow AAA to visit your facility to inspect your vehicles and building. Wait up to 2 weeks to hear back from AAA. Display the AAA logo in your business and on your vehicles. Check your phone and online for contracts from AAA. Keep your facility running for 24 hours a day. Respond quickly to service calls to keep customers happy. Offer additional assistance like gas delivery, tire changes, and battery service.

https://www.wikihow.com/Detach-from-Someone

How to Detach from Someone

Detaching from someone temporarily or for good can be difficult, but there are steps you can take to make the process easier. Set some emotional boundaries, like keeping conversations superficial and avoiding discussions about feelings. If possible, you'll also want to take a physical break, like going away for the weekend to give you more perspective. In the case of permanently detaching, cut off contact for a while, including social media, texts, and messages. Detaching from someone you care about can be painful, so find a support system to help take care of your emotional needs.

Decide if you should detach. Detaching temporarily from someone can be useful in helping you determine whether or not you want to continue being in a relationship with that person. Rather than breaking up with a romantic partner or cutting off a friend, pull yourself away emotionally so that you can think about what to do without causing the drama of an all-out breakup. Breaking up on impulse can make you regret your decision later, causing you to want the relationship back. Detaching slowly and carefully considering your actions can help you make a final decision that you don't go back on later in life. You might want to detach from a romantic relationship because you realize that over time, you and your partner have changed, or because they have a negative character flaw they are unwilling to work on. You might want to detach from a friendship because your friend has developed damaging behaviors, or because you realize they are never going to change a negative behavior. You might want to detach from a parent if they are overbearing or consistently rude. Take time to write out a list of pros and cons of detaching. Figure out if there are consequences you will need to plan for, such as loss of financial support or a change in lifestyle. Talk to someone you trust. If you are considering detaching from someone temporarily to think about things, find friends or relatives who will support your decision rather than nag you about it. You should also ask people you trust for advice about how to respond to the person you are detaching from. When seeking advice or support, say something like, "Do you think I could tell you about my situation, and you could tell me what you would do?" You also need others to provide a distraction so that you fill the void the other person was filling. Go to others when you need help with things like fixing the computer or advice about a decision. Set emotional boundaries. Detaching emotionally means that you are pulling away inwardly, not banishing the other person from your life. If you live with them, for example, you can still share all practical activities, such as eating meals together and discussing events and other superficial topics. If you have children together, it is important to continue the daily routines, even if you have activities with the children that you usually do together. This includes things like attending sports games or putting them to bed. To give yourself an emotional boundary during a conversation, keep the topics superficial and avoid discussing how you feel about things (i.e., sharing your opinion) and asking for advice. If you are asked a personal question, you can say that you do not want to discuss it at the moment. Be honest. Even though your partner or friend may be confused by your behavior, you don't have to confide in them that you are trying to detach. Doing so may open the door for them to get angry, try to convince you to stop, or other such behavior. However, you should be prepared to answer their questions honestly. If they directly ask you what you're doing, say, “I am taking the time to think about our relationship.” Be prepared to explain what you mean and answer any questions truthfully. “We've had a rough year, I feel emotionally exhausted, and I am taking the time to process how I feel about it all. I hope that you will give me the time to do that.” Do not treat this is a game. You are serious about thinking about the relationship. You are not withholding emotional intimacy to get attention. Take a physical break from that person. It is advisable to take a physical break from the person you are detaching from, even if a short one. Take a weekend trip by yourself or with friends so that you have a change of scenery and perspective. You may still be interacting with them in your daily life, but a weekend getaway can refresh your perspective and help you come to a decision. Taking a step back from a situation can help you see it from a wider angle, perhaps noticing things you didn't see before. A physical break also means a break from physical intimacy. You cannot truly emotionally detach from someone you are having sex with. If you decide to stop having sex with someone, they may ask why, so be prepared with your answer about thinking about the relationship. Consider the effects of detaching from this person. If you are thinking seriously about cutting off all communication with someone, then it is also important to think seriously about what the result of doing that might be. In addition to the emotional effects, detaching from someone may also affect your financial, social, or professional life. Try to make arrangements for any negative effects of detaching from someone. For example, if you have children with someone, then you will need to make arrangements so that you can still see your children on a regular basis. If you rely heavily on someone for financial support, then you will need to find a way to support yourself. Evaluate your decision. If you have made the decision to detach permanently from a relationship, knowing why will help you stick to your decision and save you from getting involved in the relationship again. Reflect on what your life would be like without them present and how they might react. Write down or record yourself talking about why you are deciding to detach from someone. These will serve as reminders when you feel yourself wanting to go back. Make a list of reasons why you should detach. On this list might be because they create too much chaos, they take advantage of you, that you were losing yourself in them, and so on. Get away from the person. To permanently detach from someone, you have to cut off contact and get out of that person's daily life, at least for a while. If you keep a person in your life who you truly want to detach from, you are setting both of you up for emotional pain. Even if you still want to be friends, you need time away from the person to heal from the emotional attachment before you can attempt being friends. Otherwise, your past is too fresh, and you will be tempted to settle into old habits of intimacy. Take a social media break. Another step toward detaching from someone is getting off of social media for a few days or weeks. Your relationship with this person, whether romantic or platonic, was most likely public on social media, and people may ask you questions. You may also see their posts, which makes it difficult to detach entirely. Social media also records all of your text interactions, so it is easy to read old posts and recall old feelings, none of which help you detach. You may want to consider making a general post to your friends to explain the situation so that they don't talk to you about it. You may also want to delete the person you are detaching from off of all social media so that you can no longer see their profile or communicate in this way. Pay attention to your own needs. When you are detaching from someone who was important in your own life, it is imperative that you rediscover yourself. No matter who the person the is, they made an impact on your daily life and how you saw the world. Now that they are gone, you must face life in a new way. The best place to start is discovering things you enjoy doing by yourself. You need to learn how to cope with life without this person, which may mean finding answers to things they used to help you with, making decisions on your own, and so on. Consider learning a new skill or visiting places you haven't able to yet to discover what you are good at and where your weaknesses lie. Take steps to move on. Start to move on from this person by looking forward to something new. Seek a new beginning, whether that means going back to school, joining a club or organization, even chasing a dream, you have been afraid to pursue. Use visualization to imagine how happy you will be in these new settings and doing these new activities. Consider dating again or striking up new friendships once you have had time to recover and stop being angry at the person you were detaching from. Learn about detachment. To truly detach from someone, it is helpful to understand what detachment is. For one thing, detachment is becoming calm and not allowing others to get under your skin. It means maintaining your internal balance. But it does not mean that you stop caring about what is going on around you. It is essentially a state of being able to accept whatever happens. This detachment allows you to stop caring what they think and make decisions based on your best judgement, rather than feeling pressure to conform to the other person's desires. Because detachment is a state of mind, it is a handy skill to have to endure the negatives in life. For example, you may find that you cling to pleasure and fear pain, but practicing detachment will give you the ability to go through difficulty with humor and a sense of “this too shall pass.” Find a support system. Detaching from someone you care about is painful, and realizing that you are not alone can help you make the plunge. Gather friends and relatives around you by inviting them out to events with you. You can also attempt to make new friends to fill the void. Find someone you can confide in, and find a peer group you can trust. Set goals about building a support system. For example, you can write down lists of people in your life now and people you want to be there in the future by creating a visual diagram. Approach people, you would like to be in your support system by asking them if they would like to be friends with you. Be honest about your needs.

Decide if you should detach. Talk to someone you trust. Set emotional boundaries. Be honest. Take a physical break from that person. Consider the effects of detaching from this person. Evaluate your decision. Get away from the person. Take a social media break. Pay attention to your own needs. Take steps to move on. Learn about detachment. Find a support system.

https://www.wikihow.com/Catch-a-Runaway-Dog

How to Catch a Runaway Dog

To catch a runaway dog, whether it's your own or a stray, follow it at a distance until it stops so it doesn't think you're playing chase. Then, hang back and let the dog approach you so it doesn't view you as a threat. Try using a tasty, smelly treat to lure it back. If the dog doesn't approach or keeps running, try suddenly running in the opposite direction, since this might encourage the dog to chase after you. Once you reach the dog, secure it with a leash or hold its fur to stop it running off again. If you have treats with you, give them to the dog to keep it calm.

Follow the dog. If you are with the dog when it runs away, discretely follow it and keep it in view without chasing it or being too obvious. At some point, the dog will stop to check out a smell or dodge a person and that is a potential time to move in closer. Try not to make it evident that you are tracking the dog or it will see your pursuit as a game of chase and run even faster. Entice the dog with tasty treats. Food is your secret weapon. Get out the smelliest, most noticeable treats that you have and take them with you on the hunt. It's best if you have them in a noisy bag that you can rustle. You can simply toss a few treats in the direction of the dog or you could place a few on the ground and bend down to check them out. This action might trigger a dog's curiosity and cause it to come over to see what you are looking at. If your dog makes a habit of running away it may be helpful to keep a bag of treats in your car for emergencies. Wait for the dog to come to you. The dog will likely flee if you make it evident that you're pursuing it. This will make the dog view you as a predator and a threat. Instead, stay back and arouse their curiosity so they become interested in approaching you. This will only work, of course, if you have the dog in your direct line of vision. Waiting the dog out can be a good option when you are trying to catch a runaway dog in an enclosed area. Keep in mind that it may take some time for the dog to feel brave enough to approach you. Never approach a dog directly as it will cause them to freeze and then turn tail and run. Instead, try to flank them a bit and head into their peripheral vision. This may also trigger their hunting instinct and they may try to catch you instead. Display non-confrontational body language. Avoid making eye contact and sit or squat down low to the ground so that the dog doesn't perceive you as a threat. Use your peripheral vision to watch the dog without intimidating it and scaring it away. Move at a medium pace. You may have to be a bit patient as your chase could take upwards of 45 minutes in some cases. Keep trying to close the distance between you and the dog without seeming frantic. This may mean that you maintain a brisk walk as you continually reposition yourself. Entice the dog by running away. Bursting out with an unexpected jolt of movement can cause the dog to take notice and try to chase you. You may get the best results if you yip a bit, jump around, and then sprint away. Run in the direction of a safe space. Whistle or call to gain the dog's attention. If you are dealing with an outgoing dog, it is fine to call their name or clap your hands to get their attention. If you are pursuing a shy dog, these actions can be seen as threatening and may cause it to run even more. All things considered, your best bet may be to make high-pitched yipping noises. This will make you sound like potential prey and the dog may turn around to check you out. You can also experiment with saying a few words, such as “Come,” in a low and deep tone. Sometimes this is off-putting enough to get a dog's attention. A runaway dog is usually either excited or frightened, both of which interfere with their ability to smell familiar scents and register familiar sounds. Because of this, the dog may not recognize or respond to your voice. Watch for traffic dangers. Try to steer the dog away from busy, traffic congested areas. But, keep an eye out for your own well-being too. Some dog owners or good Samaritans have been hit by cars while trying to assist runaway pets. Secure the leash. When you get close enough to the dog make a slip lead with your leash and place it over the dog's head. Use this new lead to direct the dog back to safety. If it is your dog don't bother making collar adjustments at this point; wait until you are back in a secure location. Establish a gentle fur hold. If you are without a leash, the dog has long hair, and it is acting overly friendly you may be able to reach down and gently place your hand on its fur. Use your hand to exert slight pressure to direct the dog back to a safe direction. With a small dog you may just be able to pick it up. However, if this is a new dog to you make sure that it is not acting aggressively before you try to lift it or you may get bitten. Offer the dog a few treats to encourage compliance. As you are securing the dog and making your way back, place a couple of treats on the ground in front of the dog. This will encourage them to keep moving and will associate their capture with positive memories instead of fearful or negative ones. Place the dog in your backseat. If you must travel by car with the dog, gently load it into the backseat. Try to keep an eye out for any signs of agitation, such as growling. You should also note that if your dog likes riding in the car you can sometimes capture them by simply driving up and saying, “Get in!” Guide the dog home. If you are walking home with the dog, just try to keep a moderate pace. If you go too slow, the dog may get restless and try to run again. If you go too fast, you may trigger the chase or hunting instinct as well. Aim for a brisk, determined walk. Call animal control. This is generally a last resort, especially if the dog will be taken to a shelter that performs euthanasia. But, if the runaway dog presents a mass safety risk to others, is about to be injured, or is already injured, it may be a good idea to make the call. This is the case, for example, if a dog is running in the middle of a major freeway. Look in the usual places. If it is your pet that has run off, think about where they might have gone. Is the dog park nearby? Is there a neighboring dog of interest? Consider your search diameter to be just a few miles initially, but expand it to 20 miles if your dog stays out for the entire day. Ask a passerby. Call out to other people that you see on the street and tell them that your dog is out. Or, draw their attention to the stray dog that you've just noticed. Make hand gestures or verbally ask them to help you catch the dog. If your dog has gone loose at a grooming facility or a similar dog-related place, go inside and ask the employees for help. Alert your family or friends. Send out a quick text message or a make a phone call asking everyone to head over quickly to help. Time is of the essence, so the quicker they arrive the better. If they are also dog owners you can ask them to bring their dogs along as you may be able to use them to lure your dog back. Only use other dogs as bait if you know that they are friendly and non-aggressive. Otherwise, you could create a potential dog-fight situation. Notify a rescue organization. Search online with your location and “lost dog help” to find a rescue group near you. They may be able to lend you manpower right away or they may give you live traps to use in the long run. They can also offer some tips regarding dog behavior that may lead to an immediate recapture. Call local veterinary clinics. Call vets in the area to see if anyone has turned in an injured dog that matches your dog's description. Dogs that have escaped from their homes may become lost and confused, especially when in unfamiliar areas. This makes them more susceptible to doing dangerous things, such as crossing busy streets. By checking different vet offices, you may be able to find your runaway dog if it's injured.

Follow the dog. Entice the dog with tasty treats. Wait for the dog to come to you. Display non-confrontational body language. Move at a medium pace. Entice the dog by running away. Whistle or call to gain the dog's attention. Watch for traffic dangers. Secure the leash. Establish a gentle fur hold. Offer the dog a few treats to encourage compliance. Place the dog in your backseat. Guide the dog home. Call animal control. Look in the usual places. Ask a passerby. Alert your family or friends. Notify a rescue organization. Call local veterinary clinics.

https://www.wikihow.com/Crossdress

How to Crossdress

If you want to crossdress, first try altering your shape. For example, if you want to crossdress as a woman, try putting on a bra and stuffing it with tissue paper or socks to increase your chest size. Or, if you're cross dressing as a man, you'll probably want to put on a sports bra to flatten your chest. You should also wear clothes that fit the part, like a dress with a defined waistline for a woman's role or a boxy, flannel shirt and loose jeans for a men's role. When it comes to makeup, you can contour your face to make your features look more feminine. Alternatively, if you're crossdressing as a man, try using makeup to give yourself bushy eyebrows and facial hair.

Pick a role model. Successfully pulling off a male-to-female gender transformation will depend on picking a feminine body type to emulate. Women all have feminine curves, but differ in how it is presented. A petite gymnast will be different than a voluptuous vamp, which will also be completely different than a sweet little old lady. When picking a role model to emulate, it is easier to pick a feminine figure who has the same general body type as you. Marilyn Monroe, for example, is a good example of a woman with an hourglass figure, not particularly thin, and medium height. Portraying Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones can use a more muscular build. Of course, accuracy may not be the point. If dressing for comedic effect, feel free to go for the exact opposite. An example would be putting a large muscular man in a fairy costume. Contour your face. Your facial features say a lot about your gender, and there are measurable physical differences between the two. You will want to imply higher cheekbones and a smaller chin, and of course, you will want to shave very closely. As women throughout the ages have discovered, the right kind of contouring makeup can create an entirely different facial look. You can create illusions that make features looks smaller or more pronounced and you can even draw focus to certain feminine or masculine traits. Feminine face: To get those higher cheekbones, larger eyes, smaller noses, and bigger lips that are strong gender cues, use contouring powder and highlighter. Add makeup to mask or modify your features to appear more feminine. Apply false lashes, mascara, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick to create the ultimate feminine look. Accentuate your bust. Entire industries, from garments to cosmetic surgery to publishing empires, have been built on the foundation of our association with breasts and femininity. For convincing cross dressing, this will help bring you where you want to be, both physically and emotionally. One way to do this is to purchase a bra and stuff it with either tissue paper or socks. If you're not interested in showing cleavage, this will work well. If you want cleavage as well as natural-looking bounce, weight, feel, and movement, you can purchase a breast form , which is a prosthesis you wear inside the bra or attached to your body. If you're going for a natural look, avoid exaggerating the size of your breasts —make them proportional to your body size, or even a little smaller. Too much bust actually detracts from a natural appearance. Draw in the waist. The contrast between the waistline and hips promotes a feminine look. While some styles downplay this look (such as flapper dresses) drawing attention to a smaller waistline helps the overall effect. Waist-cinching undergarments or corsets can help to achieve a more hourglass figure. You can also add padded panties, or silicone butt pads to bump the badonkadonk. Tuck and tape the boys. While there is expensive underwear that can disappear your package faster than a fly-by-night delivery service, you an also do this easily and cheaply with a pair of panty hose and some tape (medical tape, not duct tape—please, for your own sake!) Visit this wikiHow article on How to Tuck and Tape for more information. Do your hair up. While you can grow out your hair to naturally get the look of the opposite sex, you can also take advantage of wigs to create that look temporarily, and try out different looks and colors to find one that suits you. Look online at celebrities to find the right hairdo for your new features. Dress the part. Get the right fit by trying on your clothes that match your figure. You don't want to buy a dress only to find out it doesn't fit with your new cleavage. Take your measurements to determine your needs: Your chest is measured with the tape snug under your arms and above the cups of your bra. Measure your bust across the fullest part of your bra cups. Don't pull the tape too tight—you don't want to squish things down unnaturally here. Measure your waist at the narrowest part, between the top of the hipbone and the bottom of your rib cage. Your hips are measured at the largest part of your butt and hips. A rule of thumb when buying a dress is to use the largest of the measurements for your dress size. Pay attention to the smaller details. It's more than just how a man dresses or a woman does her make up that makes them identifiable with that gender. There are dozens of little differences, red flags that signal that you are a cross dresser. If you are looking for the obvious cross-dressing look, you can skip past these tips. If you want to look like a woman down to the smallest details, read on! Exposed body hair: Men and women expose body hair differently. Waxing, using pantyhose or shaving can turn a man into a more realistic woman. Eyebrows are key as well, and sculpted eyebrows will go a long way towards a convincing look. It will also be one of the more noticeable features when you're not cross-dressed, which might be a concern. Nails: This is an obvious, but a sometimes overlooked detail. Give yourself a manicure to achieve the look you want. Accessories: Belts, necklaces and earrings aren't unisex. Keep your accessory shopping to the women's departments. Get the attitude. Being a cross dresser may be all about the aesthetics to you. If so, the following tips may not mean much. But if you want to pull off the entire gender persona, its important to have the right act down. Develop the personality. In reality, women have all sorts of behavior patterns--but certain ones are emphasized in females. Women are taught to be less aggressive, for example. They are also allowed to be more emotional than male counterparts. For example, a woman would be more likely at a restaurant to say, "I would like a salad, please," instead of "I want the salad." Women tend to show more emotion. Men are generally taught to avoid a lot of visible emotion, while a woman tends to be allowed to. Alter your voice. For starters, you can bring the pitch of your voice up higher to convey a feminine voice. It's also important to also adopt the vocabulary associated with the fairer sex. Note that speaking in a falsetto voice will not be convincing for long. Learn to speak in a softer, more sing-song way, varying your pitch and volume more than you do when speaking as a man. Walk the walk. Men and women often walk differently, and a lot of it is taught by culture. Your movement is ingrained, and you've learned to "walk like a man" since you were a boy. Women have to learn to walk in a feminine way, which emphasizes grace rather than power. As a man, you have to switch gears. Practice walking in heels. Nothing looks less feminine than tottering on high heels. Even if you do not go out in public in heels high heels teach balance, smaller stride, walking softly, and a feminine gait. Practice going up and down stairs especially. Being fully proficient with heels means being able to not only walk, but dance in this type of footwear. Women often walk faster and use their arms more, so try picking up the pace, and engaging your arms. Arms are soft, not hard and stiff. As the song says, "hips don't lie," so sway your hips subtly, but don't do it to the point of exaggeration. Be careful to walk with gentleness. Men are allowed to clomp down the hall and pound downstairs in a way that women are not. Women are taught to walk more carefully with a grace. Walk up and down stairs with a skirt, and keep in mind a woman cannot bring her knees up very high. Find a role model. Find a male archetype or two to get your cues from. Using archetypes will help you with style cues, movement, attitude, and that all-important swagger. Choose guys with features that are roughly similar to yours, or you'll have a hard time making the switch convincing. Tuck in your breasts. Breasts are a giveaway if you're trying to look like a man. If you want to be convincing, they have got to go undercover. Usually this can be achieved by wearing form-reducing underclothes that can smooth out the look. A sports bra that is two sizes too small for you, or a control top made from a cut up pair of panty hose; can give you a flatter and smoother look. Flatten out the curves. Guys tend to have broader shoulders, and more of a straight line between the rib cage and hips—with narrower hips in general. The goal here is to add padding to both the shoulders and waist, and to visually de-emphasize the hips. Wear looser clothing to help de-emphasize curves, in general. Going to the gym can create a more masculine figure by targeting specific muscle groups. Build your chest, arms and legs to create more "bulk" on the body. Padding at the waist can be done to look realistic by adding bulk with extra fabric. There are prosthetic devices available as well. It doesn't take much, just enough to reduce the appearance of wider hips. Contour your facial features. Women's faces tend to be smaller and rounder, with less-prominent chins and noses. You can use makeup to help mask a feminine face, but it will be more about attitude than look, if you want to be convincing. Men have smaller lips, larger noses, bigger eyebrows, lower cheekbones and a more pronounced jawline. Use contouring powder to create heavier looking features. Don't use any additional makeup to add color to the face. Adding "facial hair" can make a large difference in your look, but be cautious—it won't stand up to close scrutiny. Consider adding a high-quality mustache or goatee for a more convincing look. Even men with naturally sparse facial hair can often grow those. Just don't make it look like an overgrown bush, or it will look fake. Build the perfect package. If you think about a roll of quarters, you'll have the average size about right—though you will want to adjust the proportions depending on your own physical attributes. However, while a roll of quarters might give you the right dimensions, but you will look like you're permanently ready for action. Consider stuffing with a sock, or even considering a prosthetic penis. If you use a wool sock, you may inadvertently set yourself up for a typical guy cue: scratching the itch. Get a haircut. Short hair on women is generally OK in 21st-century culture, especially in locations where cross-dressing is acceptable, so there shouldn't be a big issue with trimming your locks. If for whatever reason you want to keep your hair, use a short-haired wig. Dress the part. Men's jeans are a sure way to de-emphasize your female shape. By keeping it looser in the butt, you'll also minimize recognition from behind. In general, a looser fit in your clothes will work to your advantage. However, if you want to look more sophisticated and tailored, make sure the clothes are cut to fit a man's shape—then back-fill with padding and minimizing to achieve the right look. Pay attention to the smaller details. While first impressions go a long way to establishing your identity, a lasting impression will work only if you fine-tune the details. Exposed body hair. Let your leg and underarm hair grow naturally. With the exception of Olympic swimmers and competitive cyclists, guys don't shave there. Trim your nails. This is an obvious but a sometimes-overlooked detail. Give yourself a manicure to achieve the look you want. Keeping your fingernails trimmed down so that a sliver of white shows will help. Don't trim into the quick or you'll look like a nervous wreck. Accessories: While lots of guys wear necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, most guys don't. Since the goal is to avoid being taken for a woman, avoid such trappings. If you do decide to go with jewelry, shop in the men's department. Be the man. If you want to pull off the entire gender persona, its important to have the right "act" down. Develop the personality. Think of what kind of man you want to be. Based on that, you may want to alter some of your basic personality traits. Try being more aggressive, and being direct when you want something instead of being nice. For example, to quench your thirst when dining out, say "Excuse me, we'd like some water here, please." instead of "Hi! Yes, may I please have a glass of water? Thank you so much!" For a man, it's not a question, even when framed as a question. Alter the voice. Bring down your voice to become more like a man. Also speak more like a man speaks—louder, more flat-toned, and more clipped. Guys also tend to slur their words, saying "I gotta have that car," where a woman would more likely say "I must have those shoes!" It's also important to adopt the vocabulary associated with the opposite sex. Nothing is ever "fabulous," "adorable," or "precious." It also helps if you have a prominent Adam's apple. Talking the talk? Now walk the walk. Slow it down. Men swing their arms less and walk slower, and keep their hips from swaying. Take longer strides, and exude confidence. Have a 'I know where I'm going' rather than a 'time to check the map again' attitude in the little things you do. Put it all together. Talk the talk, walk the walk, dress the part, play the role, and be the man!

Pick a role model. Contour your face. Accentuate your bust. Draw in the waist. Do your hair up. Dress the part. Pay attention to the smaller details. Get the attitude. Find a role model. Tuck in your breasts. Flatten out the curves. Contour your facial features. Get a haircut. Dress the part. Pay attention to the smaller details. Be the man. Put it all together.

https://www.wikihow.com/Pack-a-Hiking-Backpack

How to Pack a Hiking Backpack

To pack a hiking backpack, load your lightest gear, like your clothing and sleeping bag, at the bottom of your pack. Then, place your heaviest items, like your water and cooking utensils, between your shoulder blades so the weight doesn't injure your back. Next, place medium-weighted objects, like food and flashlights, all around the edges of the pack. Finally, place essential items, like bug spray, maps, and snacks, in easily accessible pouches.

Choose a backpack. When you're hiking, you'll appreciate having the lightest possible pack on your back. Choose the smallest and lightest backpack you can find that will hold all the supplies you need for your journey. If you're just going for a long day hike, you can get away with a smaller pack, but for an overnight backpacking trip you'll need a pack that will fit sleeping gear like a sleeping bag and tent , as well as plenty of extra food and water. Backpack capacities are measured in liters, and you'll see backpacks for sale that can hold anywhere between 25 and 90. The average capacity for a day hike backpack is 25 to 40 liters (6.6 to 10.6 US gal), and the average for a hike that's five days or longer is 65 to 90. Aside from the length of your trip, the other variable involved in choosing a backpack volume is the season in which you'll be hiking. You'll need a larger backpack for hiking during winter months, during which you'll need to carry heavier clothing and other extras. Most backpacks are manufactured with internal frames that help support the weight, though you can still find a few external-frame backpacks designed to bear the very heaviest loads In any case, rather than just carrying a standard school backpack, look for one especially made to carry weight while hiking for optimum comfort. Gather necessary supplies. When it comes to hiking you'll want to bring along only essential items. It might be tempting to bring along your camera, a journal, and your favorite pillow, but bringing unnecessary extras will weigh you down. Pack only as much as you need for the hike you're doing. Do research to find out what you should bring for the particular hike you're doing, taking into account how strenuous the hike will be, the number of nights you'll be sleeping out and the weather. Consider springing for the lightest yet sturdiest gear possible, especially if you're going for a longer hike. For example, if you need to bring along a sleeping bag, you might want to get an extremely lightweight and compact bag weighing only a few pounds instead of bringing along a big, fluffy bag that will take up a lot of space and weigh you down. But, you should consider the weather, climate and terrain of where you'll be hiking. Sometimes, you may need bulkier items. Wherever possible, pare down. Instead of bringing along a box of granola bars, remove them from the box and carry them in a plastic bag. Instead of bringing a heavy camera, consider using your mobile device's camera. Some people even pare down by cutting off their toothbrush handles and snapping their combs in half. Lay out your supplies by weight. Spread out everything you're bringing and organize it into piles according to the weight of the items. Have a pile for heavy items, medium-weight items and small items. Organizing your items in this way will help you pack everything properly to ensure your hike will be as comfortable as possible. Light items include your sleeping bag, light clothing, and other light nighttime supplies. Medium items include heavier clothing, your first aid kit and light food items. Heavy items include heavier food items, cooking supplies, water, your flashlight, and heavy gear. Consolidate items wherever possible. It's important to maximize space as much as possible and concentrate the weight. Consolidating items will prevent them from loosely traveling around your backpack. Your backpack will stay better organized and well-weighted if you take the time pack flexible into extra spaces. For example, if you have a small cooking pot, fill it up before you pack it. Stuff it with food supplies, or store your extra pair of socks there. Maximize every little bit of space you can. Pack small items that you use at the same time in the same place. For example, pack your toiletries in one lightweight bag to keep them all together. This is a good opportunity to eliminate items that are taking up too much space. If you have an item that you can't easily pack in with the other items, because it's an awkward size or made of inflexible material, you might want to leave it behind. Pack the lightest items at the bottom and the heaviest close to your back. Distributing the weight so that the lightest items are at the bottom, he heaviest items are centered between your shoulder blades and the medium items are stashed around them is the best way to keep your back healthy. If you pack the heavy items first, you'll be putting a lot more strain on your back. Packing the heavier items right along your upper spine situates the weight of the pack on your hips, rather than in a place where it would cause injury. If you're camping overnight, pack your sleeping bag and other light sleep-related items first. On top of those, pack your changes of clothing, extra socks, extra gloves and so on. Pack the heaviest items: your water, your flashlight, your heavy cooking supplies and so on. These should be centered between your shoulder blades right up against your back. Then pack medium-weight cooking supplies, food supplies, your first aid kit, and other medium-weight items so that they surround the other items and stabilize your pack. Wrap flexible items like tarps or clothing around the heavier times to keep them from shifting as you walk. Keep essential items immediately accessible. There are a few items that you'll need to have handy, so even if they're light, they should go on top or in the outer pockets. You'll want food and water handy, as well as your map, GPS, flashlight, and a few first aid items you anticipate needing. Pack these items carefully so you know just where they are when you need them. After a few days on the trail, you'll get a better sense of what you need to be accessible and what you don't. Rearrange your pack as you go so that it's packed to be as convenient and comfortable as possible. Attach external items. If the gear you have won't fit in your backpack, you can attach it externally by strapping it to the top, bottom or sides of your pack. For example, you might want to attach your tent poles to the top of your backpack, or hang your water bottle from the side. If you choose to attach items externally, there are a few things to keep in mind: Attach as few external items as possible. It's better to pack everything you can, since as you hike you'll end up catching your gear against trees and other obstructions. Keeping it contained makes for a more comfortable walk. Follow the rules for weight distribution. For example, attach your heavy tent or walking poles to the top of the pack, not the bottom. Check the pack to see how it feels. Lift the pack onto your body and tighten the compression straps to a comfortable position. Walk around to see how it feels when you carry the pack. If you can walk around comfortable, and the pack feels compressed and secure, you're good to go. If you feel things shifting around, remove the backpack and repack the items so they're more compressed and stable, then try again. If the backpack feels tippy, remove it and repack it so the heavier items are centered between your shoulder blades right against your spine. They were probably too high in the pack before. If it feels off balance, repack it and try to distribute the weight more evenly on either side. If it's way too heavy, think about what you can leave behind. If you're walking with a group, see if someone else has room to bear some of your load. Use stuff sacks to pack your food, but not your softer items. Stuff sacks are a popular gear item used to help keep backpacks organized. They're lightweight but durable sacks that come in really handy for keeping your food items separate from the rest of your pack. Many people fill one stuff sack with food they're not going to eat on the trail, and another one with toiletries. You could use stuff sacks to pack nearly anything, but seasoned hikers don't bother putting clothing into stuff sacks, since packing softer, flexible items around the heavier, more awkward items is a more efficient use of space. Pack bear canisters efficiently. Bear canisters are smell-tight containers used to store food, deodorant, sunscreen, and other items that attract bears. They're mandatory to use in certain areas with high concentrations of bears. If you're hiking in a place that requires the use of bear canisters, it's important to pack your canister efficiently so it doesn't become an awkwardly-weighted item in your pack. Don't use any items like clothes to fill the voids in a bear canister. You might use for example rain clothes or pack cover to fill up the space, but not anything that you are going to wear in camp. You do not want any bear attracting smells in your tent, like clothes that have been soaking in food scent an entire day. The canister is likely to be heavy, so pack it as a heavy item between your shoulder blades and right next to your spine. Pack a flexible item like a tarp or extra clothing around the canister so it doesn't move while you walk. Get a pack cover to protect your backpack. This is a convenient and lightweight item that could save your backpack from getting soaked by rain or snow. It's a cover you attach over your backpack in inclement weather. When it's not raining or snowing, the packover is small and light enough to stuff into the top of your pack so you can easily access it when you need it.

Choose a backpack. Gather necessary supplies. Lay out your supplies by weight. Consolidate items wherever possible. Pack the lightest items at the bottom and the heaviest close to your back. Keep essential items immediately accessible. Attach external items. Check the pack to see how it feels. Use stuff sacks to pack your food, but not your softer items. Pack bear canisters efficiently. Get a pack cover to protect your backpack.

https://www.wikihow.com/Forget-About-Your-Ex

How to Forget About Your Ex

If you want to forget about your ex, try deleting their number from your phone and unfriending them on social media, which will help you get them off of your mind. Besides breaking off communication, you should get rid of any physical items, like gifts, photos, or mementos, that remind you of them. It's natural to feel like you want to be alone at this time, but remember that it's important to talk to other people so you can heal. Try setting up a dinner date with a close friend so you can vent and get all your feelings out in the open. You may be surprised by how much better you feel! Once you've had some time to cope, keep yourself busy so your mind doesn't wander back to your ex. Try working out, meeting up with new friends, or going for a hike.

Accept the truth. You need to be honest with yourself and accept the truth. Whether you want it to be true or not, the break up happened. Don't let yourself dwell on her coming back to you or calling you. Just accept that you are no longer with her. Take your time, but the sooner you accept it, the sooner you can move on with your life. This may be easier or harder depending on how long you were with her. If you were together for years or if you lived together, it may take you a little longer to accept what has happened. Clear your mind. Don't let memories of her weigh you down. You don't want to hold on to your hurt, which can affect you and those around you. Let go of the anger and regret and don't dwell on what you could have done differently or better in the relationship. If you find yourself thinking about her, do something that gets your mind off of it, like reading a book or watching a movie. Once you divert your mind enough, you'll find yourself thinking about her less. This will help you start fresh once you are ready to date again. Think about the negative. Whether you write out a pro/com list or just think about it, remember all the negative things about her. Remember all the reasons your relationship didn't work in the first place. Think about all the things that she did that got on your nerves or hurt your feelings. This will help you view her in a different light and take her off of the pedestal you have her on in your mind, helping you move past your feelings for her. Don't think that she is the best girl you will even date. Think about how there has to be someone better for you out there. Remove reminders of her. Over the course of your relationship, you have more than likely amassed a lot of presents, pictures, and mementos that remind you of her. Put up the things that make you think of her, like a shirt of yours that she liked to wear or a CD that you listened to together a lot. Collect them all and put them away. This will help you compartmentalize all of your feelings for her and help you push them aside. Without reminders of her everywhere, you can start to move on. You may have an urge to throw them away, but don't. You may want to look back on those times at some point in the distant future when it doesn't hurt so much. You'll be upset that you threw those things away. If you find yourself thinking about the items too much, pick one you don't have to keep and trash it. Rip it up or throw it out. It will help you disconnect from the memories you have and start helping you think about them as just objects again. Cut contact. As much as you might like to, make it a point to not see your ex. Cutting ties with her will help get her out of your mind and help you move on. Delete her number from your phone and don't call her. Talking to her will only make things worse and her responses can end up hurting you more than helping. Also delete her from all of your social media accounts. Seeing what she is doing without you can only make you hurt worse and make you hold on longer. Although the idea of being friends is appealing if you still care for her, avoid it at this early stage. The feelings are still too new and you don't want to run the risk of making your rebound process longer than it needs to be. You don't want to make it worse for you or her. Try to avoid her friends as well. If you share friends, make sure that she isn't going to be there when you hang out. And spending time with her group of friends will only remind you more of her. Talk about it. If you are hurting really bad, talk to your friends about it. Go out, have dinner, and get everything out of your system. Talk about the good times and the bad. Even cry if you need to. Keeping it in will not help you heal. But try to give yourself a time limit. You don't want this phase to go on too long. You'll end up hung up on her for too long and you'll never be able to move on with your life. Meet new people. Even if you're not ready to date yet, going out and socializing will keep your mind off of your ex. One of the reasons you might be missing your ex is because you're lonely. Meeting friends of your friends will expose you to new social circles and lessen your loneliness. It can also make you feel better by lightening your mood and helping you get out of your funk. When you go out with these new people, try some new activity or go some place you've never been. You don't want to end up doing the same things you and your ex used to do, reminding you of her the whole time. Flirt with new people. While you were dating your ex, you were more than likely not thinking about dating anyone else. But now that you're single, you can flirt. Go out and mingle with people, flirting with some you see. Even if you don't want to date anyone you flirt with, getting back out there and realizing your are attractive again will help make you forget about your ex. If you know some people that have flirted with you in the past, call them and arrange to meet. You may not have been able to reciprocate before, but now that you're single, you can get back out there and flirt with them too. Date again. Although you feel like you might not be up to dating again, try to go on a date with someone new. They might not be your next relationship, but getting out there and knowing there are people other than your ex to date will help you realize it's time to move on. Face the new date with optimism, keeping her out of your mind and focusing on the new date. Even if it doesn't work at first, the more you date, the better it will get. Be open to a new relationship. Although you still may miss your ex, be open to new relationships. Just because your last one ended badly, it doesn't mean that this one will too. You can even tell her about your ex so she understands why you may act and say some of the things you do. Just don't compare her to your ex. This will only end badly and is unfair to your new girlfriend. Let her meet your friends and family. Seeing her interact with everyone in your life will help you move away from your ex and into a new future with someone else. Be adventurous. Do something to take your mind off your lost relationship. Take a hike, drive to the ocean, or go skydiving. Trying new things and forcing yourself into new and different situations will help you remember who you were before the relationship and help you become a better person. It also gets you out of the house and out of your own head, helping you to move on and restart your life without her. Write her a letter. Sometimes, you can't stop thinking about the things you didn't get say to her before you broke up. Write her a letter, telling her how you feel, what you think went wrong, what you miss about her, what you won't miss, and anything else you want to get off your chest. But don't send it. Stick it in an envelope and put it away. You don't want to seem like you can't move on and let her know you're still hung up on her, but it will give you a chance to say all of those things that you never could. Work out. Sitting around, wallowing in your sadness will not help you get over your ex. Try working out, either at the gym or outside. It gets you out of the house and around other people. It also releases endorphins and reduces your stress, which will help you take your mind off of your ex. It has the added bonus of making you more fit for the next girl you meet. Plus, getting outside and enjoying nature can help you put things into perspective and get your head back on straight.

Accept the truth. Clear your mind. Think about the negative. Remove reminders of her. Cut contact. Talk about it. Meet new people. Flirt with new people. Date again. Be open to a new relationship. Be adventurous. Write her a letter. Work out.

https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Franchise

How to Start a Franchise

To start a franchise, you'll need to have a successful, profitable business that has a unique concept you can easily replicate. Also, keep in mind that starting a franchise can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, so you'll need to have a lot of capital saved up. To get started, hire a franchise consultant or attorney, and create a franchise disclosure document to give to prospective investors. Then, you can start preparing training programs and policies for new franchisees.

Understand franchising. Franchising refers to a common business strategy used to grow market share with less cost. It refers essentially to offering a franchisee the right to sell your products/services and/or use your business methods. Acquiring these rights would involve the franchisee paying a fee to the franchisor (you). Afterwards, the franchisee would be required to pay you a portion of their gross sales throughout the entire term of your contract. Note that the franchisee is subject to restrictions as to how they can operate in order to protect your interests. For example, a franchisee may be subject to restrictions as to what they can sell, where and how they can operate, and strict quality control guidelines. A franchisee is often restricted from operating a similar business after the franchise agreement ends (or during). Learn the benefits of franchising. There are several benefits to franchising. The main benefits, however, are that franchising allows a business to expand market share often dramatically using much less resources. Franchising can allow expansion with less time, money, and personnel resources. Franchising allows expansion with less capital. Starting new locations requires significant access to either debt or equity capital, which can often be hard to come by, and also which come with significant risk. With franchising, the franchisee often provides the capital, meaning that franchisor can experience growth without capital commitment. An added benefit is that all liabilities will be the responsibility of the franchisee, reducing risk to the franchisor. Franchising also requires less time commitment for the franchisor. Opening new sites can be incredibly time consuming. It involves finding locations, negotiating leases, hiring and training new staff, and overseeing construction. By franchising, the franchisee would oversee most of these tasks, requiring only guidance on your behalf. Franchising also requires less personnel risk. In order to establish a new location, it is necessary to attract quality management talent. Hiring, training, and retaining management involves time and risk, as there is a chance management could leave. With a franchisee, the location would be operated by a motivated individual with a stake in the profits, who would be responsible for locating and training management talent. Learn the costs of franchising. While franchising can be a resource efficient way of expanding market share, it also has downsides. The main risk is that franchisees could fail. Failed franchisees mean that not only do you not receive any royalty revenue from the business, but they can also require resources in the form of support. Failed franchisees can mean that you receive little to no return on the investment required to franchise your business. Poor franchisees can also damage the reputation of your business, and introduce legal risks. Not only can they be a source of litigation if things go poorly, but poor functioning can damage your brand, which is many ways your most valuable asset, and the thing that enables franchising to begin with. Evaluating franchisors well, ensuring they are qualified, ensuring they are experienced in the particular area, and saying "no" to growth that doesn't make sense can reduce these risks. There is also the risk that franchising simply is not the best option for your business. Franchising means giving up most of the future profits from your business, so if you have the adequate resources, time, and expertise, finding partners or growing more slowly may be a better choice. Ask if your business provides an adequate return. Typically, a prerequisite for franchising is that your business is already successful and profitable. A franchise would take this successful business model and replicate it elsewhere. Profitability alone isn't enough. In fact, before franchising, your business should have at least two profitable units alongside your original unit. This indicates that your business may be a replicable model. Focus on returns. The idea behind franchising is that a business would generate enough profit to satisfy both the franchisor through royalties, and the franchisee through the remaining profits. If your business does not generate a 15-20% return after royalties, it may be a questionable candidate for franchising. Ask if your business has a unique concept. This is especially important. Your business needs to be unique from its competitors (or offering a familiar concept with a new twist), have some sustainable competitive advantage, and be "salable" to potential franchisees. Setting yourself apart from your competitors, having an excellent proprietary product, or unique marketing system will make your business "salable" to potential franchisees. In other words, franchisees will want to buy it. Ensure your business has credibility. A unique concept goes a long way to ensure someone will franchise your business, but credibility is key. Potential buyers need to trust your business, and have faith in the success of the business model. Factors influencing credibility include experienced management, a long-term track record of success, excellent public reputation, and a recognizable and well-respected brand. Buyers need to know your business will succeed before they will invest in buying the rights. Ask if your concept is replicable and teachable. That is to say, can your business concept be taught to someone else, and easily replicated? To determine if your business is replicable, ask if you have easily and properly documented operating procedures. If someone was given all the current documentation on your business, could they learn to operate it in a few months? If not, would it be possible to teach the franchisee everything they need to know? Learning how to operate your business may require both class instruction and on the job training; it will certainly require more instruction than can be found in an operating manual. If your business is based off the exceptional talent of one or a few people, it may be difficult to franchise, unless what they do can be taught to others. If your suppliers, or location are all essential to your success, it may be difficult to franchise. For example, if you own a regional Mexican food restaurant, and your success is based off a great down-town location and ingredients that are only available in your town, it may have difficulties as a franchise. Confirm you are suited to franchising. Franchising is not for everyone. When franchising, you will need to let someone else take your concept and brand, and trust them to operate it successfully without your direct supervision. If you are somebody who likes to micro-manage, or who has a very autocratic leadership style, this may be an issue for you. You also need to be prepared for a different type of career once you franchise. Typically, your daily tasks will change from a direct operations approach, to one that focuses more on managing, coaching, advising, and communicating. You will likely find yourself removed from producing the product or service that you originally started with. Create a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). As part of your legal obligations, you'll need to prepare a standard disclosure document for your franchise, a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). This is required by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States. An FDD is like a prospectus for a stock. It provides the relevant information to the prospective investor/franchisee, in layman's terms, so they can make an informed decision. The FDD used to be known as a Uniform Offering Circular (UFOC). There may also be specific requirements depending on your state or locality. You will need to employ a good franchise attorney to help you negotiate through the legal requirements and draft the FDD. This disclosure will give potential franchisees a clear picture of the business. Understand the accounting requirements. A franchise company will need to prepare audited financial statements as part of your disclosure. You will most likely need an experienced and knowledgeable accountant to produce these financial statements. They can also advise you on the structure of your business as you move towards a franchise. You may want to set up another company for the franchise. Before employing an attorney or accountant check references and ask for recommendations. Have solid systems and transferable policies for new franchises. By starting a franchise you are expanding your business beyond your own personal control. In order to make sure new franchises work as well as the business you have developed, it's essential to have strong systems in place. Solid systems will mean that good practice can be replicated across premises. For example, you will want to formalize marketing strategies across outlets. You will want clear Human Resources policies to avoid potential disputes and set a gold standard. Solid accounting systems that will be replicated in each branch are essential. Ensure you have the capital and time. One estimate states that between $500,000 to $1,000,000 in capital could be required before you start a major franchise. This, along with a significant, often multi-year time commitment will be required. Have realistic expectations, and do plenty of research before you start. The costs of start-up will vary wildly so seek expert advice from an early stage. It could cost $50,000 or even less depending on your business. Where do these costs come from? They can come from preparing training manuals, hiring additional staff to oversee franchises, legal and accounting advice, registration fees, and the creation of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Keep in mind that costs will depend upon whether you already have such things a written operating manuals, audited statements, and so on. It is rare to be able to franchise for less than $50,000 if you are starting from scratch. Seek professional assistance. As previously mentioned, seeking a skilled franchise consultant or attorney is extremely important when attempting to franchise. While an FDD is an essential requirement, it is important to note that states often have their own rules for selling franchises. These rules can often be very complex, and in some states, the rule binders can be nearly two-inches thick. For this reason, make sure you research a qualified advisor to assist you throughout this process. It can save both time, and money Contact a trade association. This can also provide valuable resources in terms of finding experts, and having access to resources that can help in understanding the requirements and moving forward. There are a number of trade associations specifically for franchise businesses. Consider getting in touch with a local, national or international organisation for advice and guidance from those with first-hand experience. Some associations produce literature and hold seminars and event which you can attend in order to learn more about starting a franchise. These events are great places to ask questions directly to experts. You may also make useful contacts for your business. Create your Operations Manual. The Operations Manual should cover every facet of the business, from the inception of the franchise relationship to exiting the system. Because your franchisees are bound by this document this is a very powerful tool to protect and grow your brand. As such, many people get outside help to write it. This manual will be the key part of your quality control across the whole chain. It will indicate your competence to potential franchisees. This is a living document that enables you to respond to changes in markets and industries. Whenever your franchisees need to know something they should be able to find it in the Operations Manual. Know what to put in and what to keep out of the manual. There are specific things which must be included in the manual such as details of the franchise system, physical requirements for franchise sites, unit layout and decorating standards, required furnishing purchases, and quality standards for services or products delivered under the franchisor's brand. Crucially it will give detailed instruction on the operation standards which specify how the business should be run. It should also include all relevant contact information. There should be detailed instructions on the operation and maintenance of any equipment. The standards you set out mean that you could also be liable if they result in someone being hurt, so be careful and think through all of the operation standards. Having checklists in the manual is a good way to present information simply. Develop a training program. You should develop training programs to run in conjunction with the Operations Manual. The idea is to insist your business acumen in the franchisees, with a course on how to set up and run the business. The complexity of the business and the experience of the franchisees will influence how long the course lasts. It is likely that the programme will include both “classroom” time and on-the-job training. You should have a solid programme, but be prepared to be flexible and tailor it to specific people. Ensure there is provision of ongoing training. Something which should be written into your training programme is a strong commitment to ongoing training and mentoring for franchisees. This will minimize any decline in standards over time and tops up core skills and competencies. Solid provision of ongoing training is often a mark of commitment from the franchisor which will appeal to potential franchisees. You should envisage providing training for all levels of staff. Develop a marketing plan. You should develop a specific plan for how you are going to sell your franchises. The way you approach this will depend on the type of business as well as variables such as your budget, your target audience, and your intended reach. Some states have particular regulations for franchise advertising, so you will need to consult an attorney or lawyer with the relevant expertise. You need to make your business exciting and attractive to franchisees, but simple enough for them to be able to succeed and turn a profit. You need to highlight the value you are adding, and demonstrate that they'd be better off joining your franchise then starting their own business. Attract franchisees. Signing up excellent franchisees is the most important part of the whole process. So you need to be able to attract the very best people for your franchise. To give yourself the best chance to do this take a thorough a systematic approach. Franchisees will be attracted by a strong brand with a strong presence, excellent reputation, and company culture. Attend franchise fairs or industry events to meet potential franchisees. Approach people who have already successfully developed franchises and encourage them to reach out to trusted business partners. Consider professional assistance to attract franchisees. There are for example, independent franchise market firms that can assist in attracting franchisees. In addition, there are franchise consulting firms like FranNet that work to connect franchisors with potential entrepreneurs Choose your franchisees with care. Franchising your business can see you handing over a significant amount of what you have worked for and built to someone else to run. This could be a pretty scary or nerve-racking experience, so be sure to be completely diligent in screening your franchisees before you commit pen to paper. Consider personal qualities as well as business acumen. Give preference to investors with previous and successful experience owning and operating a business, strong connections in the community, and a knowledge of the local market Be sure they understand fully the work, time, and financial commitment that will be involve. Ensure that you do not sugar-coat any of these details. Ask for references, and follow up on all of them. Ensure the references are as high-profile and credible as possible. Draw up a franchise agreement. This is the document that you and your franchisees will sign that binds you together in a long-term business arrangement. You will need an attorney to draw up this document to ensure it complies with all legal and regulatory requirements. Once all of this paperwork is complete you are ready to move forward with your franchisees. Understand local rules and regulations. In the US, certain states, often referred to as the "registration states", require that you register your offering (FDD) before you can sell in those states. Register your document in these states if you intend to sell there. Missing any of thee regulations or cutting away corners could have serious legal and financial consequences. Support your franchisees. Once your franchise is established, the most important part begins -- fully supporting your franchisees. Support means providing adequate training programs, and open lines of communication. The training programs, quality control programs, and help resources will all determine whether or not your brand creates a uniform and high quality experience across all locations.

Understand franchising. Learn the benefits of franchising. Learn the costs of franchising. Ask if your business provides an adequate return. Ask if your business has a unique concept. Ensure your business has credibility. Ask if your concept is replicable and teachable. Confirm you are suited to franchising. Create a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Understand the accounting requirements. Have solid systems and transferable policies for new franchises. Ensure you have the capital and time. Seek professional assistance. Contact a trade association. Create your Operations Manual. Know what to put in and what to keep out of the manual. Develop a training program. Ensure there is provision of ongoing training. Develop a marketing plan. Attract franchisees. Choose your franchisees with care. Draw up a franchise agreement. Understand local rules and regulations. Support your franchisees.

https://www.wikihow.com/Store-a-Cut-Onion

How to Store a Cut Onion

To store a cut onion, start by wrapping large pieces of the onion in plastic wrap. Put smaller pieces in a resealable bag. Put the onion in your fridge and use it within 7-10 days. If you want to store a cut onion for longer, start by chopping it into small pieces and putting it in a freezer bag. You can store the onion in a freezer for 6-8 months.

Keep your onion clean when preparing it for storage. Minimize exposure to harmful bacterial by preventing cross-contamination with uncooked meat and dairy products. Use separate cutting boards for meat and produce. Always wash your hands after handling uncooked meat and ensure that your knife is clean. If you have space, consider setting up dedicated areas for produce and meat preparation, so you don't spread germs while cooking. Avoiding cross-contamination is especially important when preparing food for storage because storing food allows bacteria time to grow. Wrap large pieces of onion with plastic wrap. If you have half of an onion remaining or a few large wedges, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Plastic wrap will insulate the onion from the outside air while helping it retain moisture. Place smaller onion pieces in an airtight bag. If you have smaller pieces of onion left over, use a resealable bag to store them. Never use cloth storage bags, as these are intended for whole produce and will not protect a cut onion from exposure to air. Consider reusable containers if you have them. You can find airtight plastic containers for food storage at any big box store. These containers work great for refrigerating cut onions. There are also new, silicone products designed to stretch over and cover the exposed side of cut produce. Exercise caution when using these with onions. These products will not fully encase an onion, which can cause your refrigerator to smell. Store onions in your refrigerator at or below 40 °F (4 °C). Cut onions should always be stored in your refrigerator—not at room temperature. Keeping them at a low temperature inhibits the growth of bacteria and allows you to safely reuse them later. Ignore any storage recommendations that suggest that cut onions can be stored at room temperature. Some common tips include storing onions in a bowl of water on a countertop. This approach only promotes bacteria growth. Use or discard cut onions after 7-10 days. Try to reuse refrigerated onions as soon as possible. However, never use them if stored for over 10 days. Store all cut onions for the same period of time regardless of variety. Even though you may find different storage recommendations for different onion varieties—such as yellow, white, red, pearl, or Vidalia—these recommendations are relevant only for whole onions, not for cut ones. Check if onions are fresh enough to use after storing. Throw away onions that appear cloudy, mushy, slimy, or moldy. Smell the onions to make sure there is no unusual odor, and if they give off an strong or unusual odor, dispose of them. Plan to cook previously stored onions. Never serve previously stored onions raw. You'll need to cook them first because the heat will kill off any bacteria that may have grown during storage. Chop the onion into small pieces. Large pieces of onion—like an onion half or wedges—do not freeze well. To freeze effectively, you'll need to chop your remaining onion into small pieces, preferably ⁄ 4 inch (6.4 mm) cubes. Smaller onions freeze more evenly whereas larger sections often become freezer burned. Put the chopped onion into a freezer-safe container. You can use freezer-safe resealable bags. Alternatively, use a freezer-safe container made of either glass or plastic. Regardless of the type of container you select, make sure that the onion is spread out as thinly as possible. The thinner you spread the onion, the more evenly it will defrost when you're ready to use it. Write the date you cut the onion on the container. Either write the date legibly on the container itself, or write it on a label or piece of paper. Stick the date to the container. It's easy to forget when you put something in the freezer. Having the date written on your onion container will ensure that you don't lose track of when you stored it. Store your onion in the freezer for 6-8 months. Even though your onion is frozen, it won't last forever. Check the date before using it to make sure it has not been stored for more than 8 months. Use previously frozen onion in dishes with soft textures. Frozen onion becomes soft and sometimes quite mushy when cooked. Use previously frozen onion for stews, soups, casseroles and other dishes where the onion's soft texture will be less noticeable. Add frozen onion directly to your pot or pan when cooking. Don't worry about trying to defrost your frozen onion before cooking. In fact, defrosting your onion before cooking will only lead to a mushier texture. If you only need to use a small portion of your frozen onion, and the pieces are frozen together, run the container under warm water until you can separate out the amount that you need.

Keep your onion clean when preparing it for storage. Wrap large pieces of onion with plastic wrap. Place smaller onion pieces in an airtight bag. Consider reusable containers if you have them. Store onions in your refrigerator at or below 40 °F (4 °C). Use or discard cut onions after 7-10 days. Check if onions are fresh enough to use after storing. Plan to cook previously stored onions. Chop the onion into small pieces. Put the chopped onion into a freezer-safe container. Write the date you cut the onion on the container. Store your onion in the freezer for 6-8 months. Use previously frozen onion in dishes with soft textures. Add frozen onion directly to your pot or pan when cooking.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Psoriasis

How to Get Rid of Psoriasis

To get rid of psoriasis, start by applying an over-the-counter topical corticosteroid or salicylic acid cream to the affected area. You can also see a dermatologist for stronger topical treatments like retinoids, anthralin, and vitamin D analogues, and unresponsive psoriasis may benefit from doctor-administered skin injections. To prevent future flare ups, take a warm bath every day, apply moisturizer regularly, and consider following an anti-inflammatory diet made up primarily of healthy fats, fresh produce, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Try topical corticosteroids. Topical corticosteroids are usually the first treatment recommended for psoriasis. If used correctly, they can be quite effective. Corticosteroids come in a variety of types. There are sprays, creams, gels, ointments, solutions, and foams. The type you choose depends on personal preference, as well as location of the psoriasis (e.g., use a liquid for psoriasis on the scalp), but if you're concerned about choosing the right brand talk to your doctor. Strengths vary. Ideally, you should use stronger types on tough areas like elbows and knees and use a lighter variety on your face and underarms. Creams are usually applied once or twice a day, but you should limit your use of stronger steroids. Overuse can cause rashes and permanent skin thinning and other damages. Purchase salicylic acid at a drugstore. Salicylic acid is a topical cream available at most drug stores and supermarkets. If corticosteroids are not improving symptoms to your liking you could try adding salicylic acid to your skin care regimen. Salicylic acid prevents scaling and other rash-like symptoms. You do not need a prescription to buy salicylic acid but you should consult your doctor before adding any additional creams, especially if you are taking other medications. Salicylic acid is often combined with corticosteroids and other treatment options. Use coal tar. Coal tar is a black petroleum byproduct that is one of the oldest treatment options for psoriasis. Coal tar comes in a variety of forms. You can get coal tar infused shampoo, bath wash, and creams. Coal tar reduces skin flakiness and also reduces the appearance of psoriasis. Coal tar's main drawback is that it is very messy. It can stain clothing, furniture, and carpeting and also has a strong, pungent odor. Try Vitamin D analogues. Vitamin D analogues are synthetic forms of vitamin D. You generally need a prescription for analogues, so you should talk to your doctor if it's something you're interested in trying. Calcipotriene (Dovonex) is the most widely prescribed cream that contains vitamin D. It is used alone or in conjunction with other treatment options. The main drawback is potential skin irritation, which can worsen existing psoriasis. Unfortunately, Vitamin D analogues do not work for everyone. Ask your doctor if these would be helpful for you. Get a prescription for anthralin. Anthralin is a medication that normalizes DNA activity in skin cells, which can lead to a reduction of psoriasis. It comes in cream form. Anthralin has been known to remove scales for some patients, resulting in smoother skin. Unfortunately, anthralin has drawbacks. It can cause skin irritation and stains anything it touches, including hard surfaces like countertops. If you use anthralin, you should only leave it on for a short period of time before wiping it off. Try topical retinoids. Topical retinoids are often used to treat acne or skin damaged by the sun but can be successfully used to treat psoriasis as well. Retinoids decrease inflammation by normalizing DNA activity in the skin. This can help with symptoms of psoriasis. Sensitivity to the sun is a common side effect of retinoids. You should be sure to use sunscreen while taking topical retinoids. Retinoids are not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Use oral retinoids. Retinoids also come in oral form and, due to the medication's relation to Vitamin A, they can reduce the production of skin cells. This helps slow the scaling and flaking associated with psoriasis. Usually, oral retinoids are prescribed if your psoriasis does not respond to other treatment options. The main downside is that symptoms of psoriasis often return when treatment ceases. Hair loss and lip inflammation may occur while on oral retinoids. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take oral retinoids as they can cause severe birth defects. Try methotrexate. Methotrexate tablets help reduce psoriasis by decreasing skin cell production. They also reduce inflammation. In low doses, most patients experience minimal side effects on methotrexate. An upside to the medication is that it can stall psoriatic arthritis in some patients. Side effects may include upset stomach, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Longterm use is not recommended, however, as severe side effects such as liver damage and decreased production of red and white blood cells can occur if the medication is used too long. Topical application of liposomal methotrexate hydrogel is scientifically proven to be quite effective compared to conventional medication. Ask a doctor about skin injections. As many oral medication carry heavy risk of side effects and cannot be used long term, injections might be an option if your psoriasis does not respond to other treatments. Enbrel, infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira) and ustekinumab (Stelara) are all given by intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injection. Usually, your doctor will only recommend such procedures if your psoriasis does not respond to other therapies and is causing arthritis. Biologically, such treatments should block interaction between certain cells in order to reduce skin inflammation. If you are taking these medications, you will probably be screened for tuberculosis as the meds have a strong effect on the immune system. They are usually a last resort effort and should only be used with extreme caution and under supervision of a doctor. Get more exposure to sunlight. UV rays emitted by the sun kill T-cells in the skin. This slows the turnover of skin cells, which can reduce the flaking associated with psoriasis. This is why therapy using UV lights can be a great way to combat psoriasis. Regular exposure to small amounts of sunlight can help with psoriasis. If you live in a sunny area, light therapy can begin with natural light. Talk to your doctor before you add natural sunlight exposure to your skin care regimen. She should be able to tell you the safest way to get sunlight given your skin condition and medical history. Look into UVB phototherapy. UVB phototherapy involves exposure to UV lights through an artificial light source. This is an excellent choice if you only need to treat specific patches of skin. You can talk to a doctor or dermatologist about where and how to get UVB phototherapy in your area. Narrow band UVB therapy is a type of UVB phototherapy in which smaller beams of light treat specific areas of your skin. Treatment is usually administered two to three times a week. The downside is that burning and irritation may be more severe with narrow band therapy. Goeckerman therapy is a treatment option that combines UVB therapy with coal treatments. As coal makes skin more receptive to UVB light, using the treatment options together boosts the effectiveness of both. Try excimer lenses. An excimer laser is type of laser than can focus UVB lights on only affected skin. It requires fewer sessions than other forms of light therapy and another upside is that healthy patches of skin surrounding psoriasis are generally unharmed. However, some redness and blistering does occur in some patients. Bathe daily. Taking a warm bath every day can help with psoriasis by washing out flakes and scales. For added help, add colloidal oatmeal, Epsom salts, or Dead Sea salts to the water as these have properties that help soothe and moisturize skin. Keep water lukewarm and don't use harsh soap. Both can irritate skin. Strive for lukewarm water and milder soaps. Apply moisturizers. Use moisturizers on your skin to prevent dryness. Moisturizers will help relieve the itchiness, redness, and roughness caused by psoriasis. Put moisturizers on right after you shower when your skin is still moist from bathing; this helps lock in the moisture. Avoid heavily scented moisturizers, as these can sometimes irritate psoriasis. Drink less alcohol. For some people, drinking alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of treatments for psoriasis. Talk to your doctor about any medications you are on to see if it's safe to drink on your meds. If you go to an event where people are drinking, it might help to bring a non-alcoholic beverage you enjoy, like a soda, juice, or tea. This way, you can still feel like you're indulging yourself without compromising your psoriasis treatment. Explain to friends and family members why you need to avoid alcohol. If you're a social drinker, and feel tempted to indulge when going out, having support from your friends can help you abstain from drinking. Try herbs and nutritional supplements. If medical fixes aren't quite working for you, you can try homeopathic options like herbs and nutritional supplements. These can have a positive effect on psoriasis for some people. Fish oil, which can be purchased at most health food stores or supermarkets, have helped relieve psoriasis symptoms for some. Studies have been mixed on its effectiveness and generally show that while it reduces itching and flaking it might not reduce the size of skin patches. If you're willing to try fish oil, talk to your doctor first as it can interact poorly with some medications in high doses. Folic acid can be taken in pill form. It reduces symptoms of psoriasis for some, but you should talk to your doctor before adding either to your care regimen. Herbs, like Oregon grape cream, avocado and Vitamin B12 creams, aloe vera, and oregano oil can sometimes treat symptoms of psoriasis if used in moderation. Use them according to instructions on the package. With oregano oil, you should always dilute it with water or juice. It should not be used if you're pregnant as it can potentially cause miscarriage. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. Some people notice a reduction in psoriasis by changing their diet. Eating a balanced diet that is primarily made up of healthy fats, fresh produce, whole grains, and lean proteins is considered an anti-inflammatory diet. Coldwater fish, such as salmon, lake trout, albacore tuna, mackerel, and herring are good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Olive oil, walnuts, flaxseeds, and pumpkin seeds are good plant sources of Omega-3s. Eat fruits and vegetables that are all colors of the rainbow, such as carrots, strawberries, squash, mangoes, kale, spinach, and blueberries.

Try topical corticosteroids. Purchase salicylic acid at a drugstore. Use coal tar. Try Vitamin D analogues. Get a prescription for anthralin. Try topical retinoids. Use oral retinoids. Try methotrexate. Ask a doctor about skin injections. Get more exposure to sunlight. Look into UVB phototherapy. Try excimer lenses. Bathe daily. Apply moisturizers. Drink less alcohol. Try herbs and nutritional supplements. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.

https://www.wikihow.com/Trust-Your-Boyfriend

How to Trust Your Boyfriend

If you're struggling to trust your boyfriend, think about the root cause of your mistrust. For example, if you were cheated on in a past relationship, try to understand that every relationship is different and your boyfriend doesn't reflect your previous partners. Instead, spend more quality time together to strengthen your relationship, since too much distance can lead to anxiety and distrust. Another thing you can do is agree to admit your mistakes when you make them and apologize, so you don't have to play guessing games. If you're worried about your partner talking about you behind your back, ask them to agree not to gossip about your relationship.

Evaluate why you don't think you can trust your boyfriend. Before you make any drastic decisions about your relationship, it's important to evaluate why you are having a hard time trusting your boyfriend. If you plan to talk to him about your worries, you're going to need to be able to identify why you are feeling this way. Is there something he has done that raised your doubts? Do you feel like he is avoiding you? Did someone else make a comment or indicate he was not trustworthy? Do you have evidence to support your concerns? Don’t jump to conclusions. Although it might depend on the reason that you don't trust him, it's best not to jump to conclusions that could jeopardize your relationship. Instead of reacting to your suspicions, try to think calmly and rationally about the situation. Is there another explanation for your boyfriend's behavior or your concerns? You want to make sure you get the story and your facts straight. Has this occurred in your relationship in the past? What was the end result? If you have a good friend who usually helps you think things through, ask them for their input. Reflect on your past relationships. Before your make any assumptions about whether your boyfriend is untrustworthy, think about your past relationships. If you've been cheated on or betrayed in the past, it's not uncommon to worry about whether or not you can trust your current boyfriend. If you think these past relationship issues might be influencing your ability to trust your boyfriend, make sure he's aware of where you're coming from. He will be better able to empathize with your situation, and you can both agree on how to interact with each other more effectively in the future. If he's not willing to be patient with your trust challenges or at least try and understand, then he might not deserve your trust. If you're stuck in an emotional situation where you don't feel that you're able to move past previous trust issues, this might be a good time to speak with a therapist or counselor in order to move forward with your current or future relationships. Talk with your boyfriend about how you are feeling. Although it might seem difficult, the best way to deal with a lack of trust is to address what's worrying you. Without being argumentative, accusatory, or negative, talk with your boyfriend about your feelings and your perceptions of his behavior. Psychologists often recommend that you start a conversation with an "I feel" statement rather than a "You" statement. For example, instead of accusing your boyfriend of betraying your trust, you can say "I am feeling hurt" or "My concern is that we might not have the same expectations in this relationship." Focusing on your feelings instead of his actions, at least initially, makes the discussion seem less confrontational. As a result, your boyfriend will probably be more willing to participate in the conversation. Think about how you might feel if someone accused you of being untrustworthy, and do your best to be calm and listen carefully to what he has to say. Make sure you hold yourself to the same standard. If you want to be able to trust your boyfriend, it is only fair that he be able to trust you. Hold yourself to the same standard, and do your best to be open, honest, and trustworthy. For example, If you don't want your boyfriend to text other girls, don't text other guys. Similarly, it's not fair to be upset if he doesn't call you if you don't keep your promises. Make an effort to strengthen your relationship with your boyfriend. Feeling closer to your boyfriend will help you overcome trust issues in your relationship, so take the time to engage in meaningful conversation and activities with your boyfriend. Plan activities where you have the opportunity to talk with each other and work together. For example, take a cooking class or work on an art project together. Participate in a sports activity, but make sure you're on the same team. The teamwork will strengthen your relationship, help you feel closer, and help you improve your communication skills. Recognize signs of more serious trust issues. While it's normal to worry about whether or not you can trust your boyfriend or whether you trust him too much, sometimes our trust issues can become overwhelming and make it difficult to have a meaningful, lasting relationship. If you are worried about whether or not you might have more serious trust issues, it can help to recognize some of the warning signs and ask yourself these questions: Does your mistrust interfere with your relationships? Do you find it difficult to have friends or be intimate with people as a result of a lack of trust? Have your past relationships been intense, dramatic, or even violent? Do you worry that everyone around you is dishonest and deceitful even though you don't have evidence this is the case? Consider where else these trust issues may come from. If you are having a hard time pinpointing a reason why you don't trust your boyfriend, you might want to consider where else these trust issues might be coming from. Trust issues often emerge as a result of experiences and interactions early in life. Here are a few common reasons that you might be having a hard time trusting your boyfriend or other people in your life: People who have been mistreated, suffered emotional or physical abuse, or dealt with rejection in their life may find it hard to trust others. If you have low self-esteem or feel you are not worthy of love and affection, you might struggle with trust in your relationships. Traumatic events such as the death of a loved one, an illness, or a betrayal in a relationship can affect your ability to trust. Certain types of mental illnesses can also increase anxiety, cause delusions, or generate feelings of paranoia that make trusting others challenging. Work with a licensed mental health professional. If you are struggling to trust your boyfriend or feel you might be experiencing more significant trust issues, work with a licensed mental-health professional. They will help you explore your concerns, and can also provide support and treatment. Remember that both people in the relationship need to be able to trust each other. Trust is something that is shared between two people, and it will be much easier to trust your boyfriend if you also act in a trustworthy manner. If you expect trust in a relationship, the other person should have the same expectations of you. You want to lead by example. So, if you worry that your boyfriend will flirt with other women, make sure you don't flirt with other men. One way to develop trust in your relationship is for both you and your boyfriend to be reliable and follow through with what you say you will do. This will teach you both that you can depend on each other. For example, if you make an agreement to do something together or help with something, make sure you do it. Make a commitment to trusting someone. Although it might sound too simple, making a commitment to trust your boyfriend will help you act accordingly. If you both agree to this, you've helped set expectations for your relationship. Think about your boyfriend’s feelings. An important part of learning to trust your boyfriend is thinking about how they feel and being sensitive to their emotions. If you expect your boyfriend to do this for you, then you also need to make this a priority in your relationship. An important part of this step is listening and respecting what your boyfriend thinks and feels. Even if you disagree with something they say, don't dismiss their feelings or act in a way that is disrespectful. Talk with each other face-to-face. Building trust requires face-to-face interaction and communication. While you might sometimes need to communicate on the phone, via text, or in emails with your boyfriend, make sure you spend time talking with each other face-to-face. This will help you bond with each other and increase the sense of security in your relationship. It's much easier to trust someone when you can look them in the eye and feel confident they are telling you the truth. Make an agreement not to gossip about your relationship. Gossiping about your relationship and sharing intimate details about it with other people can erode trust. If you both make a pact not to violate this understanding, you will find it easier to trust in other ways. If there's something that you would prefer not be shared, make it clear to your boyfriend so he is aware of your expectations and wishes. At the same time, when he shares something personal with you, reassure him that you will keep his confidences. Agree to admit mistakes and apologize. Mistakes are inevitable in a relationship, and if both you and your boyfriend can acknowledge you made a mistake and sincerely apologize, you will both learn to trust each other and be more secure in your relationship. Many arguments can be solved more easily if both parties are willing to acknowledge that they might have done something or said something that was hurtful or inappropriate. Learn to forgive. Holding on to something that hurt your feelings or caused you pain will impede your ability to trust your boyfriend. If you've talked it through and he's offered a sincere apology, then you need to try and let it go. Bringing up the past or injured feelings each time you have an argument makes it difficult to trust each other and communicate honestly. If your boyfriend feels like you react this way to every situation, he might not want to be honest with you or communicate openly. Make time for yourself. Spending time with your boyfriend is an important way to build trust, but you also need to make time for yourself and your family and friends. Time away from your boyfriend will help you trust your own instincts and can even provide new insights into your relationship. If you have concerns about whether your trust is misplaced, talk with close friends or family about your worries. This might help you analyze your feelings and gain new perspective on whether your trust is deserved or misplaced. Keep working at it. Trust is not something that emerges overnight. Instead it requires a lot of hard work, patience, and commitment. Depending on the nature of your relationship and the struggles life throws at you, expect to have doubts about whether or not you should trust your boyfriend. He will also likely experience similar doubts at one point or another. This is natural, but how you handle these doubts and concerns will determine how strong your relationship is. Talk with your boyfriend about the loss of trust. Regardless of what caused your loss of trust or the feeling of betrayal, your relationship won't be able to move forward unless you and your boyfriend can communicate with each other about what occurred to cause a lack of trust and discuss how you are both feeling. Make sure you have this conversation face-to-face. Trying to communicate openly and honestly is hard to do over the phone, via email, or through text messages because you can't look into someone's eyes and gauge their behavior and expressions. Try to be as honest as possible when you discuss these difficult topics. While it might initially be less painful to avoid analyzing or reliving a painful event, chances are good that the unpleasant questions about what happened will re-emerge if you don't confront them head on. As calmly as you can, explain what your boyfriend did to make you feel like he betrayed your trust. Instead of making this an accusation, explain that this is something you are feeling or thinking. Open the conversation with phrases such as "I am worried about..." or "I am concerned that..." The situation might not be what you think it is, and you don't want to potentially damage your relationship. Even if your trust has been violated, accusing your boyfriend will probably make him defensive and angry, making the conversation even more unpleasant. If you feel like this conversation is too difficult to have without help, set up an appointment with a counselor or therapist who can facilitate the discussion. Look for opportunities in this difficult situation. While no one wants to deal with a betrayal or loss of trust, think about the opportunities that emerge from this situation. Consider this a chance to strengthen, solidify, or rebuild your relationship and address underlying problems. Viewing your situation in this way can help you cope with the betrayal and learn to trust your boyfriend again. Establish new guidelines for your relationship. If you've lost trust in your boyfriend as a result of a betrayal, you need to establish or negotiate new guidelines for your relationship because it's changed and you don't want to repeat the same mistakes. Setting new terms will help make sure you are both on the same page and have the same expectations. Think about stressors that might have led to the feeling of betrayal or mistrust. For example, if you lost trust in your partner over an issue with money, agree on how you both will spend money in the future. Set specific guidelines and commit to following them. If you never set any guidelines or rules in your relationship, this is an excellent time to start and will make sure you have the same expectations and agree on what is appropriate behavior and what is not. Be sensitive and empathetic. Regardless of who experienced a loss of trust in the relationship, you need to both be sensitive and empathetic toward each other's feelings and concerns. This will help get your relationship back on track and improve your ability to communicate with one another. Acknowledge your partner's current feelings as valid and meaningful, even if you've been hurt in the past. No one wants to continue talking with someone who can't be sensitive to their emotions or try to understand how their significant other feels. Learn to trust your instincts and intuition. To rebuild trust in your relationship, you'll need to learn to trust your own instincts, which can be difficult after a betrayal. The more you trust your own ability to tell if someone is being honest and open, the more confident you can be placing trust in your boyfriend again. To make you more aware of what your instincts are telling you, experts suggest paying attention to what your body is telling you. Do you feel a prickling sensation on your skin or a sense of physical discomfort? If so, your instincts might be telling you to be wary. Research suggests you should also pay attention to your initial reactions or first response to a situation. This doesn't mean you should fly off the handle without evidence, but consider what your inner voice might be telling you before you dismiss it. Don’t let fear control your relationship. The fear of betrayal can seriously hinder your ability to trust your boyfriend and move forward with your relationship. Avoid letting your fears control your relationship and prevent you from being happy. Think critically about where your fears seem to come from. Are they based in truth or do they suggest your lack of confidence in the relationship? Talk with your boyfriend about what you could both do to prevent these fears from gaining ground. Is there a simple way to reassure yourself or for your boyfriend to reassure you that these fears are not grounded in truth? The more confidence you have in your instincts, the better able you will be to manage and handle your fears. Seek help. Rebuilding trust in a relationship is challenging, and you shouldn't feel embarrassed or ashamed about asking for help. A couples therapist, marriage counselor, or other licensed mental-health professional can help you and your boyfriend rebuild trust after a betrayal and move forward with your relationship. They are trained to deal with these situations, and having someone to mediate communication can help you and your boyfriend re-establish trust in your relationship.

Evaluate why you don't think you can trust your boyfriend. Don’t jump to conclusions. Reflect on your past relationships. Talk with your boyfriend about how you are feeling. Make sure you hold yourself to the same standard. Make an effort to strengthen your relationship with your boyfriend. Recognize signs of more serious trust issues. Consider where else these trust issues may come from. Work with a licensed mental health professional. Remember that both people in the relationship need to be able to trust each other. Make a commitment to trusting someone. Think about your boyfriend’s feelings. Talk with each other face-to-face. Make an agreement not to gossip about your relationship. Agree to admit mistakes and apologize. Learn to forgive. Make time for yourself. Keep working at it. Talk with your boyfriend about the loss of trust. Look for opportunities in this difficult situation. Establish new guidelines for your relationship. Be sensitive and empathetic. Learn to trust your instincts and intuition. Don’t let fear control your relationship. Seek help.

https://www.wikihow.fitness/Increase-Acceleration

How to Increase Acceleration

To increase your acceleration when sprinting, try practicing a few different speed drills. One speed drill you can try is springing immediately after doing a set of pushups. This can help improve your takeoff speed. Another good speed drill for increasing acceleration is a wall drill. To do this, place your hands against a wall and raise each knee to hip level, alternating knees as quickly as you can for 10 seconds. You can also practice sprinting up hills and stairs to build the strength in your legs and improve your acceleration.

Sprint up hills. Running up hills is far more challenging than running on a flat surface because you're fighting gravity. Doing hill sprints builds strength in your legs and will help you increase your acceleration as well as making you faster. Sprint as quickly as you can, then walk back down the hill slowly, using the walk down as your rest time. Do this drill as many times as you can and still get complete rest on the walk down. The longer and steeper the hill is, the more challenging this drill is. Do wall drills to improve knee drive. Wall drills force you to drive your knees high, which over time will not only increase your acceleration but also improve your overall speed. These drills are easy to do and require no equipment (apart from a wall). Get in position for a wall drill by placing your hands against the wall so your arms are straight and parallel to the floor. Your body should be a straight line from your head to your ankles, angled at about 45 degrees. Raise your right knee to hip level, flexing your foot, then lower and repeat the motion with your left knee. Alternate this movement as quickly as you can for 10 seconds, keeping your core active and your lower back tight. Do from one to three sets of this exercise. Push a weighted sled as fast as possible. Sled pushes develop strength in your legs, giving you more power that will help increase your acceleration. You should load the sled with approximately 10 percent of your bodyweight. Place your hands on the sled so that your body is at a 45-degree angle and start sprinting, pushing the sled as fast as you can for 10 to 20 yards to equal a set. Do anywhere from three to six sets of this exercise. Lift large weights quickly. Building strength in your muscles will enable you to increase your acceleration and sprint speed, particularly if you lift them as quickly as possible. When lifting weights to increase your acceleration, choose the largest weight you can lift with proper form. Time your lifts, and focus on doing as many reps as you possibly can while maintaining proper form. Lifting quickly will help build fast-twitch muscle fiber, which will make you faster off the mark. Run stadium stairs. Take advantage of your local high school stadium and run the stairs to build strength and help increase your acceleration. Run the stairs as quickly as possible, aiming to hit every other step instead of every step. Running every other step puts your body at the 45-degree angle that is crucial for maximum acceleration. Combine exercises with sprints. If you already do exercises such as push-ups or mountain climbers, you can use them as an introduction to a short sprint. Getting in and out of these positions improves your functional mobility. With better functional mobility, you'll increase your strength as well as your acceleration. These exercises are particularly helpful if you play a sport such as soccer or tennis where you need speed as well as good reaction time. Start with box jumps. Plyometric exercises such as box jumps are a good way to build your fast-twitch muscle fibers and increase your explosive power, giving you more speed. Box jumps are one of the simplest vertical-oriented plyometric exercises, and a good way to incorporate plyometrics into your exercise regimen. If you have access to a gym, you'll probably find plyometric boxes there. At least at first, it's advisable to do plyometric exercises with an experienced trainer. Doing them with incorrect form can place too much stress on the joints and lead to injury. To do box jumps, choose a height that you can jump onto from a standing position on the ground and land in the same position that you started. Use exaggerated arm swings back and forth. As you swing your arms forward, propel your body up and onto the box. Step back to starting position rather than jumping back down. Do three sets of five repetitions of this exercise. Increase power with broad jumps. When you do broad jumps, you are mimicking the same movement you would make when you accelerate from a standing position. Broad jumps train you to drive your legs into the ground for explosive power to generate speed. Start from a relaxed position with your knees slightly bent. Swing your arms backward in a broad, exaggerated movement, then immediately swing them forward. As your arms swing forward, explode up, driving your legs into the ground. Propel your body forward as far as you can. When you land, bend your knees slightly to absorb the shock and return to your starting position. Do 5 to 10 broad jumps in a set, completing one to three sets of this exercise. Use hurdles and standing jumps. The explosive force used in jumping builds fast-twitch muscle fiber to give you power that will improve your speed and acceleration. Use big, exaggerated movements to jump as high and as long as you can. Repeat the jumps as powerfully as possible, focusing on power and good technique over speed. Bound quickly to build force. Bounding is one of the most common plyometric exercises to help you build powerful force and increase both your speed and acceleration. Since it's an exaggerated running motion, it also builds your sprinting muscles. Jump from one leg to the other, fully extending your back leg as you raise the knee of your front leg to hip level or higher. Aim to move as far forward as possible. Do three repetitions of this exercise, bounding about 20 meters with each repetition. Include single-leg variations. Single-leg training with plyometric exercises can build strength more quickly than doing the exercises with both legs. Single-leg variations also help build your core and improve your overall balance and agility. When doing single-leg variations, make sure you're alternating legs so that you're developing each leg equally. An imbalance where one leg is stronger than the other can lead to joint strain and injury. Use arm swing drills to increase stride efficiency. Moving your arms correctly as you run can help control your stride frequency and increase the length of your stride, enabling you to accelerate more quickly. When you do arm swing drills, keep your arms bent at 90-degree angles at all times, just as you would while sprinting. Kneel or stand with your arms in running position – one near hip level, the other at shoulder level. Drive your arms straight forward and back as quickly as possible. Time this drill for between 10 and 30 seconds for each set. Do one to three sets of this exercise. Work on your shin angle with the ground. To achieve maximum acceleration, you should learn to start low with your shins at about a 45-degree angle from the ground. Starting sprints from push-up position or pushing a sled can help with this. You can do sled pushes more slowly to improve this technique. Slower movement enables your body to feel the correct angle so you gain body memory of proper sprint mechanics for maximum acceleration. Create maximum force on your drive out. To increase your acceleration, you should think of pushing into the ground as hard as you can. Acceleration and speed are about force and power, not how fast you move your legs. Strength training is important to maximize your force, as well as plyometric training to help build fast-twitch muscle fiber in particular. Work on striking the ground as hard as you can with your feet and propelling your body forward explosively. It's best to do this kind of exercise on a track, grass or other surface that can absorb some of the impact. Do kick drills to improve your heel recovery. For maximum acceleration, you need as little movement as possible behind your center of mass. Rather, you should propel your body forward and quickly recover your heels. Think in terms of minimizing backside mechanics and maximizing frontside mechanics. High knee drills have a lot of frontside mechanics, while butt kick drills have a lot of backside mechanics. Pretending that you're running over hot coals is another drill that can teach you to minimize backside mechanics and improve your heel recovery so you accelerate faster. Stretch to improve flexibility in your ankles, knees, and hips. To increase your acceleration, you need full extension in the joints of your lower body. The more flexible your ankles, knees, and hips are, the more efficient your stride will be. You can work stretching into your workout in the form of a dynamic stretching routine for a warm-up, or use stretching to cool down after your core workout. If you're doing a dynamic stretching routine as part of your warm-up, make sure you spend three to five minutes jogging or doing another activity first to warm up your muscles. You should never stretch cold muscles. Basic yoga poses designed to open up hip flexors also can be helpful to expand the flexibility in your joints so you can increase your acceleration. Start sprint drills in different positions. You can improve your running technique and increase acceleration by varying the position from which you start a short sprint. Work from the ground up, gradually building to vertical starting positions. Keep each sprint between 10 and 30 meters. Start by laying on your back, then work your way up to push-up positions (both up and down). When you transition to starting from one knee, make sure you push off from each knee, not just one. This will keep your development even in both legs. Enable full recovery after speed workouts. Any sprinting or acceleration training not only taxes your muscles, it also fatigues your central nervous system. Without full recovery, any speed workouts will diminish their effectiveness and may even cause you to lose acceleration. Typically it takes between 36 and 48 hours for full recovery after a speed workout. For this reason you may not want to do acceleration training more than once or twice a week.

Sprint up hills. Do wall drills to improve knee drive. Push a weighted sled as fast as possible. Lift large weights quickly. Run stadium stairs. Combine exercises with sprints. Start with box jumps. Increase power with broad jumps. Use hurdles and standing jumps. Bound quickly to build force. Include single-leg variations. Use arm swing drills to increase stride efficiency. Work on your shin angle with the ground. Create maximum force on your drive out. Do kick drills to improve your heel recovery. Stretch to improve flexibility in your ankles, knees, and hips. Start sprint drills in different positions. Enable full recovery after speed workouts.

https://www.wikihow.com/Lighten-Hair-Naturally-With-Honey

How to Lighten Hair Naturally With Honey

To lighten your hair naturally with honey, start by mixing 4 parts raw honey and 1 part water or apple cider vinegar and letting the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes. You can also add a few capfuls of hydrogen peroxide for even more lightening power, but keep in mind that it might turn black or dark brown hair orange. Next, apply the mixture to your hair before covering your hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap. Finally, let the mixture sit for at least 2 hours before washing it out of your hair.

Make the lightening mixture. Since honey is so sticky, it helps to add some water to loosen it up and make it easier to apply to your hair. Mix four parts honey and one part water or apple cider vinegar (which acts as a conditioner) in a bowl until thoroughly combined. If you want a more drastic change, you can add a few capfuls of hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. This reacts with your hair to bleach it several shades lighter. Don't use peroxide if your hair is black or very dark brown, or it may come out orange. For a reddish-blonde hue, add some henna powder, cinnamon or ground coffee to the mixture. Adding hibiscus petals will add a strawberry blonde hue. Let the mixture sit out for about 30-60 minutes. Apply the honey mixture to your hair. Drape a towel over your shoulders to protect your clothes, then pour the honey mixture over your head in small doses and use your fingers to massage it in. Continue pouring honey onto your hair and working it in until all of your hair is completely covered in honey. You might want to cover your bathroom floor with a towel or washcloth to protect it from drips, since sticky honey can be annoying to clean up. If you added a reddening powder to the honey, don't wear clothes or use towels that might stain red. Cover your hair with plastic and let the honey sit. Use a shower cap or a few sheets of plastic wrap to cover your hair. Let the honey sit in your hair for at least 2 hours to achieve a lighter look. If you have long hair that's hard to keep up under the plastic, twist your hair into clips to pin it up while the honey treatment is working, then put the plastic over your clipped up hair. Do not use metal clips if you've added hydrogen peroxide to the honey mixture. There's no need to use a blow dryer to apply heat. The honey works well at room temperature. Keep the honey in your hair overnight for much lighter results. The honey will also act as a deep conditioning treatment if you leave it in for that long. Make sure you sleep wearing a shower cap, and put a towel over your pillow. Do not keep the honey in overnight if you've added hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. Wash the honey out of your hair. Rinse it out with warm water, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Pat your hair dry with a towel and either let it air dry or blow it out. Your hair will now be honey-colored. Mix 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 cup conditioner. You can use any conditioner you like, as long as its scent mixes well with honey. Stir the conditioner and honey in a bowl until they are thoroughly combined. Store extra conditioner in an old conditioner bottle for later use. Use the same ratio of honey to conditioner to make a larger batch. Use the conditioner after every shampoo. After you shampoo your hair, use the honey conditioner just as you would your normal conditioner. Distribute a small amount through your hair and rinse it out when you're finished. Leave the conditioner in your hair for 5-10 minutes while you finish your. This method is great for refreshing hair that was previously lightened! Use less honey conditioner if your hair feels sticky. If your hair regularly feels sticky after rinsing, increase the amount of regular conditioner and decrease the amount of honey you use. Make sure to rinse thoroughly before exiting the shower.

Make the lightening mixture. Let the mixture sit out for about 30-60 minutes. Apply the honey mixture to your hair. Cover your hair with plastic and let the honey sit. Keep the honey in your hair overnight for much lighter results. Wash the honey out of your hair. Mix 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 cup conditioner. Use the conditioner after every shampoo. Use less honey conditioner if your hair feels sticky.

https://www.wikihow.com/Book-Holiday-Travel

How to Book Holiday Travel

To book holiday travel, aim to buy your flights several weeks beforehand, in early October for Thanksgiving and mid-October for the holiday season. When choosing flights, try flying on the day of the holiday to save the most money, and returning on a weekday instead of the weekend after. Sign up for fare alerts to be notified of a price drop and check at any other nearby airports to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Book Thanksgiving flights in September or early October. Thanksgiving flight prices are often at their lowest in early September, and typically drop again in early October. Try to book during those windows for the cheapest deals, since prices jump in mid-October and continue increasing into November. The best time to book Thanksgiving flights tends to be the week of October 1. Get winter holiday flights before Thanksgiving. It's best to wait until mid-October to book flights for Christmas and other winter holidays, since deals will get more competitive then than earlier in the year. If you can't buy them when they're at their lowest, aim for pre-Thanksgiving at the latest. The best time to book holiday flights tends to be right in the middle of October, the week of October 15. Fly on the actual holiday to save the most money. The days before a holiday are often the most expensive (and crowded) times to fly. The day of the holiday, in contrast, tends to be the least expensive—you can save up to 20% if you don't mind being away from family or friends on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Return flights can also be costly, but you can save a lot of money by waiting until a weekday to fly back, rather than the weekend after a holiday. Choose a weekday flight over a weekend one, when possible. The next-cheapest option, after flying on the actual holiday, is to choose a weekday, provided it's not the day right before the holiday. Weekday flights are almost always cheaper than weekend ones, but the difference gets steeper around the holidays. If Christmas is on a Tuesday, for example, consider flying the Wednesday or Thursday before to avoid the Friday and weekend rush. For Thanksgiving, you could depart on the Monday or Tuesday before, instead of on the weekend. Be flexible on your flights and departure times. The more you're willing to experiment with departure and arrival times and layovers, the more money you'll be able to save. Less convenient options are often cheaper, although you might sacrifice some time with family or friends. The cheapest options typically include: Red eyes Connections with long layovers Flights at inconvenient times, such as on a weekday during working hours Book your flight through the airline for ease and convenience. Many people choose to book flights directly through an airline, since their website typically comes up when you Google flights. You might also choose to book through a certain airline to earn points or other rewards. To book, simply go to the airline's website and enter in your departure city, return city, and the dates. Choose your flights and follow the site's instructions to pay and reserve your seat. You can also book a flight by calling the airline or going in-person to the airline's customer service desk at the airport. Consider booking a budget fare to save the most. Some airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, and United, offer “basic economy” fares, which are even cheaper than typical coach seats. This can be a great deal, but make sure to read the requirements first. You typically won't be able to bring anything more than a small handbag on board with you. Basic economy fares may also have less flexibility. You may not be able to refund or change your ticket, or you might not have insurance on it in case you miss the flight or it gets delayed. Make sure to read the fine print closely! Use a travel agency to compare prices. Booking through an airline can be convenient, but buying your flights through a travel agency, such as Expedia or Orbitz, has a few advantages. Travel agencies will often help you compare prices and might offer special deals and packages, including hotels and other perks. However, some travel agencies may also mark up their prices much higher than the airline's, so make sure to check both sources before you book. Apply coupon code extensions to save money. One way to save on flights (and other online purchases!) is to download a browser extension that automatically searches for coupon codes. The extension will notify you when it's found a deal for your purchase, and you can simply apply it and save. You might not always get a deal, or the amount might be very low, but every little bit can help! Extension apps that give you deals or cashback include eBates, topCashback, and RetailMeNot. Sign up for fare alerts online. You can use services like Google Flights to track certain fares and buy when they hit a cheap price. You can also sign up for newsletters from different airlines. They'll often include advertisements for discounts flash sales that only last a couple of hours, which can make a big difference in your holiday flight booking. Try booking at other nearby airports in case they offer cheaper flights. If you live around a few different airports, try searching for flights from each of them. Bigger hubs typically offer cheaper deals, but smaller airports do sometimes beat them out, so don't rule out any options. Search airports in your area and check their websites to see what airlines fly there. Then, go to the airlines' websites and look up flights to your destination. Try to factor in travel expenses to the airport, as well. If one airport offers a flight that's $30 cheaper, for example, but you'd have to take an expensive taxi ride to get there as opposed to public transportation, it might not be worth the difference. Read the fine print of any deal or flight you find. The cheapest deals also tend to be the most risky for travelers. Sometimes the cheapest deals might offer you less protection for missed, cancelled, or delayed flights, all of which are common during winter weather around the holidays. Make sure you're willing to live with the risks and stipulations of the deal before booking.

Book Thanksgiving flights in September or early October. Get winter holiday flights before Thanksgiving. Fly on the actual holiday to save the most money. Choose a weekday flight over a weekend one, when possible. Be flexible on your flights and departure times. Book your flight through the airline for ease and convenience. Consider booking a budget fare to save the most. Use a travel agency to compare prices. Apply coupon code extensions to save money. Sign up for fare alerts online. Try booking at other nearby airports in case they offer cheaper flights. Read the fine print of any deal or flight you find.

https://www.wikihow.com/Bleach-Converse-Shoes

How to Bleach Converse Shoes

If you want to bleach your Converse shoes, all you'll need is a plastic tub, liquid bleach, and rubber gloves. This can be done to make white converse white again or to lighten colored converse. Before you bleach them, you'll want to clean your shoes with a wet rag to get rid of any visible dirt. This will help them bleach more evenly. Once they're clean, remove the laces, place the shoes face down in the tub, and pour an equal amount of bleach and water in until they're submerged. Make sure to wear gloves as you do this to protect your skin. Let the shoes sit in the tub overnight, or at least 2-3 hours, for the best results. When you remove them, scrub them with soap and water, then rinse them thoroughly to remove any bleach residue.

Remove the laces from your shoes. If you leave them in place, they may become discolored or prevent the canvas from evenly bleaching in areas where the laces touch the shoes. If your laces are dingy , you could bleach them separately if they are white, put them into the washing machine, or consider purchasing new ones. Use a wet rag to wipe away any visible dirt from the shoes. To help your shoes bleach more evenly, clear away as much visible dirt and dust as you can. If there is a lot of caked in dirt, you may even want to use a scrub brush and cold water to loosen and remove it. This applies to the base of your shoes, too, as the entire shoe will be submerged in bleach, not just the canvassed section. Put the shoes facedown in a clean, plastic tub. Take your shoes and tub to a well-ventilated area, like an open garage or an outdoor patio or yard. Make sure there are no cracks in the plastic tub to prevent bleach leaks. If you don't have a plastic tub, you could also use a bucket or a large plastic bowl. Pour equal amounts of bleach and water into the tub to cover the shoes. Wear plastic gloves and clothing that you won't mind ruining in case you accidentally splash the bleach. Never use 100% bleach on your Converse shoes—it's really abrasive and can eat away at the canvas or actually turn them yellow rather than white. Diluting the bleach 50/50 with water prevents those things from happening. You do want the shoes to be completely submerged in the bleach-water mixture so they bleach evenly. Leave the tub outdoors or in a well-ventilated area overnight. Or, if you started the bleaching process in the morning or afternoon, set a timer for 8 hours and check your shoes after that time. Leaving them in for longer won't hurt them. If your goal is to completely whiten your colored Converse shoes, the longer they spend in the bleach, the better. If you are simply looking to lighten a darkly colored pair of Converse shoes, try leaving them in the bleach for 2-3 hours and then check the progress to see if they're light enough yet. Remove the shoes from the bleach and scrub them with soap and water. Wearing your rubber gloves and old clothes, remove your Converse shoes from the plastic tub and take them to a kitchen sink. Rinse them in warm water, and squirt some laundry detergent onto the canvas. Use a scrub brush to clean them. If you don't have a scrub brush, you could use an old toothbrush. The bleach will have already done its work, so you won't be undoing anything, but it's important to rinse away the bleach residue so it doesn't transfer onto other fabrics. Don't forget to scrub the soles of the shoes as well as the canvas! Repeat the process 1-2 more times if your shoes aren’t light enough. Depending on how light or white you want your shoes to be, and how dark they were to begin with, you might need to repeat the bleaching process. Remember to always wear gloves when working with bleach and to keep the plastic tub in a well-ventilated area. If you were simply re-whitening dingy, white Converse shoes, 1 round in the bleach tub should be enough. Allow the shoes to air dry before lacing and wearing them again. Leave your shoes outside in the sun or place them on a waterproof surface to let them dry out. It may take an entire day for them to get dry, depending on the humidity and moisture levels in your area. Never put your Converse shoes into the dryer or in front of a heat source, as the heat will weaken the adhesive and change the canvas texture. Take the laces out of your shoes to keep them from getting discolored. If they are dingy, you could use this time to throw them into the washing machine or clean them by hand. If your laces are really old and thin, it may be time to consider purchasing some new ones. Removing the laces will also give you more space to work and will let you see the entire canvas clearly. Place your shoes on a work surface covered in old newspapers. If you don't have old newspapers, you could use magazines, old folders, or cardboard. Create a large enough workspace for your shoes, as well as for your materials. Work in a well-lit room if you can. Practice drawing your design before using your bleach pen. If you are doing something more complex, like flowers , geometric shapes, or even animals, doing a few practice runs will help prevent you from making mistakes. Use a few sheets of paper to sketch out your design, and then lay the design over top of your Converse shoes to make sure it will fit in that space. You could also use a pencil to lightly sketch a design directly onto your shoes so you have a pattern to follow. Use your bleach pen to create the design on your colored shoes. Test the bleach pen on a paper towel before you start to use it, and then squeeze it gently while you draw for the best results. Take your time and enjoy being creative! Make sure to shake your bleach pen really well before using it! Here are some fun design ideas for your Converse: polka dots, stripes, different sized triangles and geometric shapes, a checkerboard pattern, stars, hearts, and flowers. Re-bleach areas of your design that you want to stand out. If there are areas that are too light or that you want to be “brighter” than the rest, simply go over that area with the bleach pen again. Be careful to not squeeze the pen too hard and cause the bleach to bleed across the canvas, though. You could make certain dots in your polka dot pattern larger for a fun variation. Or you could emphasize a big star amidst multiple smaller stars. Rinse your shoes in water and wash them with dish soap. Don't worry about washing away the work you just did—the bleach has already done its job! But you do still need to take your shoes to a sink and scrub them with dish soap and water to get rid of any bleach remnants that could stain other fabrics. Because you aren't working with stringent, undiluted bleach, you don't need to worry about wearing plastic gloves while rinsing the shoes. Let your shoes dry for several hours before re-lacing and wearing them. Squeeze any excess water out of the shoes using some paper towels, then set the shoes aside to let them dry. You could place the shoes outside in the sun or back on your workstation. Do not put your Converse shoes into the dryer or near any other direct heat sources because the heat can ruin the adhesive in the shoes.

Remove the laces from your shoes. Use a wet rag to wipe away any visible dirt from the shoes. Put the shoes facedown in a clean, plastic tub. Pour equal amounts of bleach and water into the tub to cover the shoes. Leave the tub outdoors or in a well-ventilated area overnight. Remove the shoes from the bleach and scrub them with soap and water. Repeat the process 1-2 more times if your shoes aren’t light enough. Allow the shoes to air dry before lacing and wearing them again. Take the laces out of your shoes to keep them from getting discolored. Place your shoes on a work surface covered in old newspapers. Practice drawing your design before using your bleach pen. Use your bleach pen to create the design on your colored shoes. Re-bleach areas of your design that you want to stand out. Rinse your shoes in water and wash them with dish soap. Let your shoes dry for several hours before re-lacing and wearing them.

https://www.wikihow.com/Wash-Dark-Clothes

How to Wash Dark Clothes

To wash dark clothes, turn them inside out before putting them in the washer so they don't fade as much in the wash. Additionally, always use cold water since warm or hot water can cause the colors to bleed. You should also stick to a basic detergent without bleach or any other additives in order to prevent color transfer and fading. After washing your clothes, hang them up to air dry, since tumble drying can cause dark clothes to look faded. However, make sure to avoid drying them in the sun, which can also result in color fading.

Read clothing labels prior to washing. This is always a good precaution, regardless of what clothes you're washing. You want to make sure your clothing is machine washable. Not all clothing is. Expensive clothing may be dry clean only. This means you'll have to take it to the dry cleaners. A dark business suit, for example, may be dry clean only. Other clothing, like wool clothing, may be hand wash only. You will have to gently wash these items in a sink or tub with a small amount of detergent, rinse them, and then hang them or lay them flat to dry. Sort your items based on color. You do not want to throw in dark clothing with light clothing. Dark clothes, black clothes especially, can bleed onto lighter shades in the wash. Go through your dirty laundry piece by piece. Have one pile for dark clothes, and one pile for light clothes. Take into consideration how dirty each piece of laundry is. You should not wash very dirty clothes with clothes that only need a light wash. Separate your clothes by fabric type. Just because all your items are dark does not mean they can all be thrown in together. Fabric type affects the kind of wash a piece of clothing needs. Heavier fabrics, like jeans and towels, should be washed separately from light to medium-weight fabrics, like t-shirts. Put delicates, like lacy underwear and bras, in their own pile. They should be washed separately. Turn dark clothing inside out. The wash cycle can agitate dark fabrics. This can result in a faded appearance. While all dark clothing fades over time, you can extend the shelf life of your dark outfits by turning them inside out prior to the wash. Wash dark clothes in cold water. Dark clothing is particularly susceptible to losing color during a wash cycle. Cold water helps the fibers in dark fabrics stay intact. Set the machine for the coldest setting possible. If your clothing is very dirty, use the soil setting, but set it at the lightest possible level. Always use the shortest cycle possible. The less time dark clothes are in the washer, the better. This will help them maintain their color. Select the right detergent. You want to stick to a basic detergent without additives like bleach. Look for a detergent that does not have any additives advertised on the package. This should be safe for your darker clothes. Some items may be labeled as "color safe" or "color safe bleach," but do not use these on darker clothes. Such detergents are better used on light colored clothing. Measure detergent carefully. Read the package to see how much detergent to add. Every detergent is slightly different, so there is no set amount to use. However, if your clothing is very soiled, you can add a little extra detergent to the wash. This can help you get the job done the first time. Remember, washing dark clothing always causes some fading, so an efficient wash is best. Take special considerations when washing delicate clothing. Delicate fabrics, like those found in lacy underwear, require a gentle wash. Use a delicate cycle when washing these clothes. Be extra vigilant about reading labels when it comes to delicates. Many kinds of lingerie and expensive bras are hand wash only. However, if you don't have time to do an extra load, you can place these items in a mesh bag and wash them with your other clothing. Hang dry dark clothes. Tumbling around in the dryer is not good for dark clothes. It can cause them to look faded. After removing your dark clothes from the wash, hang them out to dry in your laundry room. Do not hang sweaters, however. Sweaters should be laid on a flat surface to dry. You should also avoid drying dark clothing in the sun. This can cause it to fade. Do not wash dark clothes too often. Every time you wash dark clothes, they lose some color. With denim especially, black dye will wash away during the wash cycle. Only wash clothing that is very dirty or starting to smell. Small stains can usually be treated without a washing machine. You can blot out stains with a white cloth and a mixture of water and dish washer detergent. You should use half a cup of water, and a teaspoon of detergent. After blotting out the stain, rinse the area by blotting the area with plain water. Use bleach with caution. In some occasions, you may need bleach for stubborn stains that do not respond to other treatments. Only use bleach when absolutely necessary, and make sure to choose a quality bleach. Choose a bleach labeled "all fabric bleach." This should be safer on your dark clothes than "color safe bleach." Your washing machine may have a bleach dispenser. Follow the instructions for use. If you do not have a bleach dispenser, you will need to dilute the bleach on your own. Refer to the package label for instructions. Only use bleach after running out of other options. Dark clothing should be bleached infrequently, if at all. Make sure your detergent comes with fabric softener. Many detergents come with fabric softener, so you may assume yours does. However, some do not, so always check first. If your detergent does not come with added fabric softener, it's a good idea to throw some in. This is especially important if you're washing something like a towel, which you will want soft. You can buy a fabric softener at the grocery store or a supermarket. Follow the instructions for how much to add to your wash. Some laundry machines may have a separate dispenser where you add fabric softener.

Read clothing labels prior to washing. Sort your items based on color. Separate your clothes by fabric type. Turn dark clothing inside out. Wash dark clothes in cold water. Select the right detergent. Measure detergent carefully. Take special considerations when washing delicate clothing. Hang dry dark clothes. Do not wash dark clothes too often. Use bleach with caution. Make sure your detergent comes with fabric softener.

https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Lip-Stain

How to Apply Lip Stain

To apply lip stain, drag the applicator or brush from one corner of your bottom lip to the middle of your bottom lip. Next, drag the applicator from the other bottom corner to the middle to connect the line, being careful to follow the natural curve of your lip. Then, fill in the center of your bottom lip and smack your lips together to transfer some of the stain to your top lip. Finally, finish filling in your upper lip by defining your cupid's bow and touching up any sparse areas.

Find a lip scrub. A lip scrub will help buff away dead skin cells and make your lips appear smoother and plumper. It will make applying the lip stain a lot easier. If you don't have a lip scrub at home, or don't have time to run out and buy one, you can make your own by combining 1 part honey, 1 part sugar (white or brown), and 1 part oil (almond, coconut, jojoba, or olive) in a small dish. You should only use lip scrub occasionally and as needed. It's great for sloughing off dead, peeling skin, but it can also damage the delicate tissue on your lips if you overuse it. Exfoliate your lips with the lip scrub. Apply the scrub to your lips using your fingers. Gently massage your lips using soft, circular motions. A few seconds is all you need. If you have very chapped lips, however, you might need to exfoliate them for up to two minutes. Wipe the lip scrub off with a damp towel. Soak the corner of a clean, soft towel with warm water. Squeeze out the excess moisture from the towel, then gently wipe the excess lip scrub off your lips. Buff your lips with a soft toothbrush as an alternative to scrubbing. Use a clean toothbrush. This is great for circulation and can help make your lips appear more plump and full. Consider getting a separate toothbrush for lip buffing purposes. Don't both buff and scrub your lips. Buffing is the better option, as it's gentler. Pat your lips dry. Take a soft towel, and gently pat your lips dry with it. You are now ready to start applying your lip stain. Apply a thin coat of lip balm. Allow the balm to soak in to your lips for 10 minutes. If you're in a hurry, allow it to soak in for at least a minute before wiping away the excess. Get out your desired color of lip stain. Depending on how your lip stain is packaged, you may also need a lip brush. Lip stain can come in a bottle with an applicator, in a small jar, and in a small tube. If the lip stain comes in a small jar, you will need a lipstick brush. Even if your lip stain comes with an applicator, you'll have more control over it if you use a brush. If you plan on doing some layering and contouring later on, choose a lighter shade. Start applying the lip stain to your bottom lip. Simply start at one corner of your lip, and drag the applicator or brush to the middle of your lip. Then, start at the other corner and slowly drag the applicator or brush to the middle to connect your line. Follow the curve of your bottom lip. Once you have your lip outline, fill the center part in with more lip stain. Smack your lips. Pull your lips inward, so that you can't see them, and then pop them. This will help transfer some of the excess lip stain from the bottom lip to the upper lip. Finish applying the lip stain to your upper lip. Start applying the lip stain at the top of your lip. Make an "X" to define your cupid's bow, then use your applicator or brush to trace from each corner to the "X". If needed, touch up the color to make sure the entire lip is covered. Blot your lips with a tissue or paper towel. Take a tissue or paper towel, and fold it in half. Place it between your lips. Close your lips and pull them inward. Open your lips and discard the paper towel. This helps get rid of any excess lip stain. It also helps make your lip stain look more natural. If you'd like, you can wear lip stain under your favorite lip stick, as long as the colors match. That way, if your lipstick wears off throughout the day, it won't look patchy. Choose a brighter and darker shade of lip stain. You will be applying brighter shade to the outline of your lips, to make them "pop." You will be applying the darker shade to the inner part of your lips to add depth. Combined, this will make your lips appear fuller and plumper. Start outlining the inside of your lips with the brighter lip stain shade. Keep the lip stain inside your lip line, not outside. The innermost part of your lips should still have the lighter lip stain color. Outline the inside of both lips. For a sharper, crisper look, use a lipstick brush to apply the lip stain—even if it comes with an applicator. Follow the basic process discussed above, except when it comes to defining your cupid's bow. Instead of making an "X", trace it into a "V". Blend the lip stain shade in with a lipstick brush. Once you have outlined your lips using the brighter shade, go over your lips with a lipstick brush. Focus on the transition line, right where the two shades meet. This will create a smoother transition, and make your lip stain look more natural. Apply the darker shade to center part of your lips using a lipstick brush. Gently dab the lip stain on using a soft, tapping motion. Focus the color on the inner part of your mouth, and work your way to the center of your lips. Consider adding a dab of shimmer on the center of your bottom lip. This will help make your lips appear plumper. Choose a light pink, shimmery shade, and tap it onto the middle of your bottom lip. You can also add a dab to your cupid's bow. This will help give your lips that final touch of luscious fullness. You can also use a little bit of a glossy lip plumper right in the center of your lip, if you prefer.

Find a lip scrub. Exfoliate your lips with the lip scrub. Wipe the lip scrub off with a damp towel. Buff your lips with a soft toothbrush as an alternative to scrubbing. Pat your lips dry. Apply a thin coat of lip balm. Get out your desired color of lip stain. Start applying the lip stain to your bottom lip. Smack your lips. Finish applying the lip stain to your upper lip. Blot your lips with a tissue or paper towel. Choose a brighter and darker shade of lip stain. Start outlining the inside of your lips with the brighter lip stain shade. Blend the lip stain shade in with a lipstick brush. Apply the darker shade to center part of your lips using a lipstick brush. Consider adding a dab of shimmer on the center of your bottom lip.

https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-and-Care-for-Asiatic-Lilies

How to Grow and Care for Asiatic Lilies

Asiatic lilies are easy to grow and care for since they thrive in a variety of climates. If you want to plant outdoors, pick a well-drained planting area that gets 6 hours of sunlight daily. Add a layer of organic matter, like peat moss, to the soil to ensure enough drainage for your lilies. Plant your bulbs in the fall to keep the flowers in a normal blooming cycle, just cover the area with mulch to insulate the bulbs during the winter. If you grow indoors, put a layer of small rocks or gravel at the bottom of a deep container, then fill it the rest of the way with well-draining potting soil before planting your bulbs. When shoots and buds appear, fertilize your lilies and water them weekly.

Choose plants hardy for your zone. Asiatic lilies are generally hardy plants, but need a cool period for overwintering. For this reason, they're not the best choice for outdoor gardens in regions that don't experience cooler winter temperatures. Your local home improvement store or nursery will likely carry plants appropriate for your area. Check with staff for help choosing plants that will thrive in your climate. You can also look for a local public garden or arboretum. Their plants will most likely be labeled, which will help you choose varieties for your own garden. Choose a well-drained planting area that gets six hours of sunlight. Your planting area should have enough drainage that water doesn't pool after heavy rain. It should receive at least six hours of full sunlight, preferably in the early morning or late afternoon. Lilies can tolerate less than six hours of sun, but less light exposure will result in spindly plants that produce fewer blooms and lean toward the sun. Plant bulbs in the fall and avoid storing them. Planting in the fall will keep plants in a normal blooming cycle. Plant bulbs as soon as you bring them home. Asiatic lily bulbs will dry out quickly, since they lack a paper-like covering called a tunic. You can plant bulbs in the early spring, and they'll likely flower later in the year then readjust to their normal bloom cycle the following year. Add well-draining organic matter to the soil. Remove rocks and other debris from the soil, and loosen it with a garden tiller if it's tightly compacted. Use the tiller to incorporate a layer of organic matter, such as peat moss, at least six inches (15 cm) deep into the soil. This will help ensure your soil can provide enough drainage for your lilies. Plant lilies in well-spaced groups of three to five bulbs. Plant a group of three to five similarly-sized bulbs about six inches (15 cm) deep, measuring from the top of the bulbs. Space the bulbs about eight inches (20 cm) apart. Be sure to plant bulbs with their tops facing up. You can tell a bulb's top from its bottom by looking for the pointed tip at the top and the hair-like roots at the bottom. Repeat planting groups of bulbs until you've planted all of your bulbs. Space each group about three feet (about a meter) apart. Cover with mulch to insulate the bulbs. If you're planting in the fall, cover your planting area loosely with four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) of mulch before the first frost. A layer of winter mulch will help delay the soil from freezing, giving the bulbs a little extra time to establish their roots. It will also help minimize temperature fluctuations, which will make the shoots stronger come springtime. Choose a deep container for healthy plants. A deep pot is essential for growing healthy Asiatic lilies in a container. Go for a container with a diameter of at least nine inches (23 cm) and a depth of eight inches (20 cm) or more. A pot at this minimum size can accommodate one large bulb with a diameter of four to five inches (10 to 12 cm) or three to four smaller bulbs with diameters less than three inches (eight cm). Place a layer of drainage material at the bottom of the container. Before filling the pot with soil, you'll need to add a layer of drainage material. Spread two inches (five cm) of small rocks, gravel, or another suitably loose material at the base of the pot. If you've recently broken a pot, you can use its pieces for part of your drainage layer. Fill the container with well-draining potting soil. Asiatic lilies aren't terribly fussy about their soil, but it does need to drain well. For best results, look for a potting soil labeled for lilies at your local garden center or nursery. If you have soil on hand that feels too moist and dense, mix four parts of it with one part peat moss or horticultural grit. Plant a group of bulbs at least as deep as their height. Roughly measure or estimate the height of the bulb or bulbs you're planting. Dig a hole at least twice as deep as bulbs' approximate height. That way, you'll be able to cover each bulb with a soil depth equal to its height, measuring from the top. If you're planting more than one bulb, space them about two inches (five cm) apart. Place your container in a well-lit area. If you're keeping your container indoors, choose a spot less than three feet away from a window. It should receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight. If you're keeping your container outdoors, choose a well-lit area that won't get drenched in rain. Go for a covered area or a spot in a wall's rain shadow. Transfer potted lilies to the garden or a cool area for overwintering. Potted lilies shouldn't be kept in warm indoor environments all year long. You can keep indoor plants in their pots until the late fall, then plant them in your outdoor garden. If your location doesn't experience cool winters, consider overwintering Asiatic lilies in a cooler set to a temperature of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius). Fertilize your lilies when shoots and buds appear. Lilies planted outdoors will start to send shoots in the early spring. When the last threat of frost has passed, remove the layer of winter mulch. Spread a loose two inch (five cm) layer of high phosphorous, slow-release fertilizer at the first sight of shoots. Fertilize the plants once more when they start to produce buds. Water your plants once per week. Water indoor containers and outdoor gardens about once per week. The soil should dry slightly, but you should avoid letting it dry out completely. Avoid completely soaking the soil or letting water pool. Water the plants close to the soil to avoid getting leaves wet. Keeping the leaves from getting wet will help you prevent disease. Remove flowers when they start to fade and drop. Deadhead fading flowers by gently breaking them off or clipping them. Take care to only remove spent flowers, leaving stems and foliage intact. Deadheading your plants will keep them from wasting energy on producing seeds. Cut the stems and foliage when they’re no longer green. After your plants bloom, keep their stems and foliage intact as long as they remain green. When they turn yellow or brown, cut the stems back so the plant can overwinter. Leaving green foliage intact as long as possible is vital, as it will keep producing energy that will help it overwinter.

Choose plants hardy for your zone. Choose a well-drained planting area that gets six hours of sunlight. Plant bulbs in the fall and avoid storing them. Add well-draining organic matter to the soil. Plant lilies in well-spaced groups of three to five bulbs. Cover with mulch to insulate the bulbs. Choose a deep container for healthy plants. Place a layer of drainage material at the bottom of the container. Fill the container with well-draining potting soil. Plant a group of bulbs at least as deep as their height. Place your container in a well-lit area. Transfer potted lilies to the garden or a cool area for overwintering. Fertilize your lilies when shoots and buds appear. Water your plants once per week. Remove flowers when they start to fade and drop. Cut the stems and foliage when they’re no longer green.

https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Lion-Cub

How to Draw a Lion Cub

If you want to draw a lion cub's face, start by drawing 1 bigger circle with 1 smaller circle overlapping it near the bottom to create the head and snout. Then, add a guide line down the center of both circles and put the lion's almond-shaped eyes equal distances from the center line. Add the triangular nose and gently curved mouth to the snout, and add C-shaped ears to each side of the lion's head. Finally, add some finishing details, erase the guidelines, and color the lion as you wish.

Draw two circles. Start with a large circle, and add another smaller circle near the bottom of the first circle, overlapping and sticking out a bit. The large circle will become the cub's head, and the smaller circle will become the cub's muzzle. Don't worry about making it perfect now. A good artist can see the basic shapes in things. You can always perfect it later. Add an additional curved horizontal line across the center of the large circle. This will be a guide for when you are drawing in the eyes. Add additional guide lines. Draw a vertical curved line down the center of both circles. These lines will help you space the eyes and position the nose and mouth. Mark out the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. Using your already established guidelines, place some facial features onto your lion cub. The ears should be large c-shaped attachments to the top of the head. Make the eyes slightly almond-shaped. These should be placed along the horizontal guideline. The nose should be a wide triangle. It should be much wider than it is tall, and should be about as long as the distance between the eyes. Draw a slightly curved horizontal line on each side of the guide line on the smaller circle to form the mouth. Add extra detail. Draw in some pupils, ear fuzz, and any other details you feel are missing. You may also choose to refine your sketch further before attempting line art, but it isn't strictly necessary. Draw the line art. Use a pen or a new layer to trace over your sketch. The sketch is only meant to guide you, so don't feel like to need to stick to the sketch too strictly. You may, for instance, choose to widen the cheeks, refine the head shape, and add even more detail. Erase the guide lines. You now have a finished line art! You can leave it blank if you want, but coloring it will make it look even better. Color your cub in. Add some color to make the drawing really pop. Use a light tan color as a base for the fur, and fade to a darker tan at the top of the head. Leave the chin white, and leave a small white ring under each eye. Color the nose a dark gray or dark pink. Color the eyes dark brown. Don't forget to leave a little white circle on each pupil to represent highlights! Finish your cub off with some small brown spots on the forehead and the muzzle. Draw two circles. There should be a bigger circle and a smaller circle to serve as the head and muzzle of the cub. Draw horizontal and vertical lines intersecting the circles. At the back of the larger circle, attach a long wavy line. It should be slightly s-shaped. This will guide you when you are drawing the cub's body. Draw the body. Using the long line from the previous step as a guide, draw a bent tube shape for the cub's body. Make sure you don't draw too close to the head, because you still need space for the neck as well. Add guide lines for the legs and tail. To attach each leg, start with a small circle near the top of the cub's back. From that circle, draw a z-shaped line that points forward, then backwards, then forward again. The tail should be a long, flat triangle with an oval at the end. Define the legs and neck. Following the guide lines from previous steps, give your cub some chubby legs and a neck. Draw some ovals to show where the paws are as well. If you draw the lion cub sitting down, keep in mind that the back legs will look much thicker and rounder than the front legs. To draw the legs that are further back from the viewer, simply draw the same patterns as the closer legs, slightly sticking out from behind the closer legs. Define the neck with lines that connect the head to the body. Remember, these lines should look like they continue into the belly and the back, and the entire neck itself should be a consistent thickness. Add additional details. Give your lion cub a face, draw the ears in, and draw lines to separate the toes. To give your lion cub an open mouth, position an oval directly below the front part of the head. Use four lines to attach the oval to the head, two for the outside of the jaw, and two for the inside of the mouth. Draw curved lines on each foot represent the toes. Draw the line art. Remember, the guide lines you already placed are simply guides, so don't feel like you need to stick to them too strictly. Add in any small details that you think will make your drawing look better. When drawing the lines for the mouth, use slightly thicker lines to draw the cub's bottom lip. You only need to add a few triangles into the lower jaw to represent teeth. You can draw more teeth if you want, but it may make your cub look scarier. Erase the guide lines. Carefully erase any lines that you don't need any more. This will leave you with a clean looking line art, which you can then color in! Color your cub. Start with a light tan color for the bulk of the head and body. Fade to a darker tan along the back and the top of the head, and fade to a white or cream color along the bottom of the jaw and belly. Don't forget to put little white rings under the cub's eyes. Make the eyes a dark brown with white highlights on each pupil. Use a dark pink for the nose and tongue. Finish the cub off with some little brown spots on the head and along the spine.

Draw two circles. Add additional guide lines. Mark out the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. Add extra detail. Draw the line art. Erase the guide lines. Color your cub in. Draw two circles. Draw the body. Add guide lines for the legs and tail. Define the legs and neck. Add additional details. Draw the line art. Erase the guide lines. Color your cub.

https://www.wikihow.fitness/Work-out-With-Dumbbells

How to Work out With Dumbbells

If you want to work out with dumbbells, focus on your form rather than a large number of repetitions when you start. Find videos online, hire a trainer, or workout in front of a mirror to ensure your form is correct so you don't injure yourself. For example, when doing bicep curls, start with your arms relaxed by your sides and use smooth motions to raise the weight to shoulder height. You can also hold a weight in front of your chest while you are doing crunches for extra resistance.

Select dumbbells of the appropriate weight. If you have not previously done weight training, you will need to select a set of dumbbells that will meet your needs at the beginner level. You can buy a set that has a wide range of dumbbell weights, so you can start light and work up. Alternatively, you can buy adjustable dumbbells which you can increase the weight of as you go. If you're trying to tone your muscles and build endurance, rather than significantly increase muscle size, select weights that allow you to do about 12 to 20 repetitions of a given exercise before feeling overly tired. If your goal is specifically strength training and building muscle mass, opt for a weight that you can only use for about 8 repetitions before being too tired to continue. Scale to heavier weights once the repetitions lose their challenge by the end of the set. Concentrate on form not repetitions when you start. Concentrate on using the best possible form and technique, rather than trying to rush through repetitions, to keep your workout safe and focus on your muscles. Because weights strain your muscles and require stabilization and muscle resistance, slow and deliberate movements can help you maintain control and focus on the muscle you are trying to work. Slow movements also help build muscle and give your body a better workout, because it forces your muscles to stabilize and support the weight in every phase of the motion for longer. Take particular care not to overcompensate with another part of your body. For example, if you are doing a bicep curl, make sure you keep upright and maintain good posture. Don't transfer the work to your back. Observe your form. When you are working out with dumbbells it's important to pay attention to your form and body position, to get the most out of each repetition, but also to avoid the chance of an injury. Holding your wrists, elbows, arms, and legs in the proper position can prevent injury and improve the workout you receive from your efforts. Performing exercises in front of a mirror may help you to ensure that your form is appropriate for dumbbell routines. Check videos online, magazine articles, and speak to gym staff if you need some guidance on proper form. A trainer can help teach proper posture and body mechanics for dumbbell workouts. Perform bicep curls. Your upper body consists of your arms, shoulders, upper back and chest. There are dozens of potential dumbbell variations that you can try which will work these muscles. For your biceps, the classic dumbbell move is the bicep curl. To do this, start with arms relaxed at your sides and pull up the dumbbells to shoulder height individually or together in two to three sets of eight to 20 repetitions. As you raise the dumbbell keep good posture and try not to jerk your body. Aim for a smooth and controlled motion. Variations include a sitting bicep curl, and a hammer curl, where you turn your palms in towards your body. Work your triceps. Tricep extensions are a good dumbbell exercise that you can do to work out your triceps. To do a tricep extension hold the dumbbells up over your head, one in each hand. Then, bending your arm at the elbow, lower one hand down and back to the rear of your shoulder. Raise your arm back up so it is above your head. Repeat this on the other side. Keep your arm still, and your posture upright. For a variation you can do a two-handed extension. Hold a dumbbell in both hands and perform the same movement as before. An alternative tricep exercise is a kickback. To do this, put your knee and hand on a bench, and hold a dumbbell in the opposite hand as you lean over. Push the dumbbell back so your hand goes up towards your hip as you extend your elbow. For each of these exercises try to perform between two to three sets of eight to 20 repetitions. Strengthen your shoulders. There are a large variety of dumbbell exercises you can do to work your shoulders. Many of these are variations on the shoulder press. To perform a shoulder press, begin by holding the dumbbells at shoulder level and then push your arms up, raising the weights straight above your head. Keep them elevated for a moment, before carefully lowering them down to your shoulders. This is one repetition. Don't lock you elbows out when you have the weights at the highest point, and take care not to jerk your back as you try to lift them. Keep your back straight and engage your core to support you. Presses can be done while standing or while seated. Use dumbbells to strengthen your chest. You can use dumbbells for bench presses, the most commonly used exercise for strengthening the chest. Bench presses with dumbbells, just as with barbells, are useful for working out the chest muscles and require extra stabilizing muscles to help you lift. This move can be varied by performing a bench press on an incline, decline, or with a neutral grip. Laying down on a bench, with your hands in front of your shoulders, press both dumbbells toward the ceiling, hold for a moment, and lower again slowly. For variation try fly exercises for the chest. Seated on an incline, decline, or regular bench or chair, hold dumbbells out to the sides at shoulder height with arms slightly bowed. Perform a hugging motion to bring the weights in front of your body and slowly return them out to the sides. Practice exercises that target your back. You can use dumbbells to work out your back in a number of ways. Rows, bends, and dead lifts are useful and simple dumbbell exercises for strengthening the back, but they require extra attention to safety. If you suffer from back pain or injury, do not perform these routines except under the guidance of a trained fitness professional. Because of the danger of back injury, always use a weight you are comfortable with. To perform a row , stand with your knees bent and lean forward, holding the dumbbells in each hand. Take care to keep your back straight. One at a time or both together, lift you hands up towards your core. As you lift the dumbbells breathe out. Breathe in again as you lower them back down. You can also do this in a squat position, or with the arm and leg of one side of your body resting on a bench. Do two to three sets of eight to 20 reps. Build your trapezius muscles. To target your traps, the muscle between your neck and your shoulder, you can do a very simple dumbbell exercise. The shoulder shrug simply involves holding dumbbells in each hand by your sides. Then make an exaggerated shrugging motion, lifting the shoulders, and slowly returning them back down to normal posture. You will soon begin to feel fatigue in your traps. Perform two to three sets of eight to 20 reps. Use dumbbells for extra resistance with crunches. Multiple moves can be performed with dumbbells to work out your entire core. One example of adding weight to a normal core exercise is weighted crunches. To do these, simply hold a dumbbell in front of your chest when you complete your crunches. The extra weight will make each repetition harder and increase the workout your abdominals get. Holding the dumbbell above your head will increase the difficulty significantly. The more weight you add, the more your abs will have to work to complete each set. Do two sets of twenty crunches. Perform weighted side bends. These are good exercises for working the oblique muscles that run either side your abs. Holding a dumbbell in one hand, lean to the opposite side. Focus on lifting the dumbbell slightly, without resting it entirely on your hip. Switch arms and sides after two to three sets of eight to 20 reps. Try some woodchops. Woodchops are a great exercise for working your core with a dumbbell. Start by holding the dumbbell up above your left shoulder with your arms extended. Then, with a chopping motion, pull the dumbbell down as you rotate your core and squat down. Bring the dumbbell down so it is on the outside of the shin of your right leg. Keep your core engaged as you swing the dumbbell back to the starting position above your left shoulder. Complete all your reps for that side, before switching and repeating on the other side. Try not to allow your back to bend and concentrate on your core. Do two to three sets of eight to 20 reps. Perform toe raises with dumbbells. Dumbbells can also be used to exercise leg muscles. This works by adding weight to resistance moves that force your muscles to work harder. To perform weighted toe raises, hold dumbbells in each hand, slowly raise yourself to tiptoe, and then lower yourself slowly to the normal standing position. This will focus in on your calf muscles. For variations, you can do this one leg at a time or both together. You can also do this exercise while standing on a step. This modification will increase the range of motion by enabling your heel to drop below the level of the rest of your foot. Do two to three sets of eight to 20 reps. Practice lunge variations with dumbbells. Lunges can be performed by stepping a single foot forward or backward and keeping body weight evenly distributed between each foot. Add dumbbells to each hand to add resistance. As you bend your knees and drop down, you will feel the burn in your thighs. You can perform a side lunge just by stepping out one leg to the side and lowering your backside towards the ground. When performing lunges keep your back straight, don't let it round. Engage your core and concentrate on working your legs. Do front, back, and side lunges around two to three times for each leg. Use dumbbells with leg squats. Adding dumbbells to regular squats can make a big difference and will really test your leg muscles. Hold dumbbells in each hand and slowly lower your body by bending the knees at a 90-degree angle into sitting position. Hold the pose for a moment before slowly standing up straight again. Keep your upper body steady on the way up and down. One-legged squats will increase the difficulty significantly.

Select dumbbells of the appropriate weight. Concentrate on form not repetitions when you start. Observe your form. Perform bicep curls. Work your triceps. Strengthen your shoulders. Use dumbbells to strengthen your chest. Practice exercises that target your back. Build your trapezius muscles. Use dumbbells for extra resistance with crunches. Perform weighted side bends. Try some woodchops. Perform toe raises with dumbbells. Practice lunge variations with dumbbells. Use dumbbells with leg squats.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Out-of-Class

How to Get Out of Class

If you want to get out of class, try faking sickness. When you enter the classroom, act exhausted and zoned out, like you have the flu or something. Wait until a little while after your teacher has taken roll, so you'll be marked as present. Then, ask to see the school nurse. If your teacher's busy, they might forget to change your mark on roll. Alternatively, you can pretend like you're really stressed or depressed about something and ask to see the guidance counsellor. Don't overdo this in case your teacher sees through the act. Just talk to the them privately and say you really need to see the guidance counsellor about something personal. If they ask what's wrong, say you think you might be having a panic attack.

Just skip that class. The way to get out of class with the most likely consequences but the least amount of effort and planning on your part is simply to skip. During passing period (in between class periods), just leave school, if you want to skip the rest of the day, or head to the bathroom to hide out, or just wander the hallways for the rest of the class period until that class is over, then go to your next like nothing happened. Hide from prowling teachers! If you're in elementary school and never have a passing period, you'll need to do a bit more planning since you'll probably need a parent to come to get you and won't be able to just skip. Go on to the next step for other tips. Fake sickness. Tried and true, but probably the most reliable way of getting out of class is with an illness. A good actor can pull off a convincing sickness that no teacher or administrator will try to question. It's usually in their best interest to just go with it and let you leave, as long as you do it right. When you walk into class, really start laying it on thick. Have a deeply frowning face, and move slowly, your head down as if you had a headache. Hold your head in your hands and wait a few minutes to approach the teacher. Ask to go to the nurse. You can either actually go to the nurse and just nap for the rest of the hour, try to get sent home, or just skip going to the nurse and wander until class is over. It's important to be a good actor. If you come into class grinning and joking with your buddies, the teacher won't believe you if thirty seconds later you're suffering from the black plague. Fake an injury. While this might be more common or effective in something like gym class, if you can fake a sprain or another type of non-serious injury, you could potentially even get a friend out of class to help walk you down to the nurse's station. It's a pretty decent way to get out of class, again, if you're a good actor. Usually the best way of doing this is to not try to fake an injury by falling or doing something else ridiculous in class, but come in selling the injury already. Walk with a limp, or hold your head in your hands to fake a head injury. Tell the teacher you hurt yourself at recess, or during gym class, or that you fell outside in the hallway and you want to go see the nurse. Again, you can usually get out of class for long enough at the nurse's station by "resting" or you could just wander and go to class later. Go to the bathroom and don't come back. Another way to skip school that has quite a bit of potential for getting in trouble, but requires little planning on your part is to go to the bathroom, then disappear, or leave school completely. This can only work if you're not a consistent trouble-maker, and if you've been behaving relatively well during the rest of class. If you've been getting in trouble all day, or giving the teacher a hard time, then want to go to the bathroom, you're likely to get shut-down. Pull the "emergency" card and make a concerned look with your face. No teacher wants to have a mess on their hands in class, and they'll be likely to just let you go. Get a friend in class to collect your things for you, so you won't have to return to the scene of the crime later. Stay out of sight. If you elect to wander the halls for the rest of the class period, it's important to avoid getting caught, or asked for a hall pass by someone who expects you to be in class. Whatever you choose to do with your freedom, you've got to lay low and stay out of sight. Hide in the bathroom. Maybe the easiest way to lay low is to hide out in the bathroom. It may also be smelliest way of hanging out, so you might as well get back to class, but it's also usually safe. If you can, try to finish the assignment you're skipping out on while you hide. Wander the quietest wings of the school. Avoid the gym area, the band and choir wings, and other high traffic areas. Maybe go somewhere the teachers don't know you at all, like another grade's floor. If you're older and have transportation, you could always just leave and go do something more fun with your time. Always wait until after your teacher takes roll. If you skip class completely, you'll be marked absent, for sure. But if you leave class and never come back, it's half-likely that your teacher, who is busy and probably overworked, will forget to go back and mark you absent after the fact. It's easy for stuff like that to slip the mind, and you might be able to get away with it, even if your teacher does notice, so it's good to wait a few minutes before you try to escape. Intercept the communications. If you miss one or more classes in a day, most schools will make calls home, usually at the end of the day. The best way around this is to be a hawk by the telephone when you get home, or to come clean to your parents ahead of time and come up with a good excuse to get away with it. "Mr. Jones messed up attendance today, he told us to tell you that everyone would be getting those automated calls, but that I was in class." At some schools, they may actually email or contact your parent in other ways, so try to find out the procedure before you do this. Schedule an appointment for that class. The best ways of getting out of class are always the most legitimate ways. Next time you have to go to the doctor, the dentist, or make some other kind of appointment, make sure you schedule it for the day and the time of the class you hate the most, so you'll be able to miss it. You won't have to sneak around if it's for real. If your parent usually schedules appointments for you, go ahead and do it yourself before they give you the chance to go back out to the waiting room. Then make like everything's already taken care of. Get a pass from another teacher. In middle and high school, some teachers will write up passes for students to work on group projects in their classroom, especially during study hall, or other break periods, if the project is especially important. In some cases, you might be able to convince one teacher that your break period is actually during another time than it actually is, and get them to write a pass for you to leave the class you don't like. Then just leave. This can be dangerous, if you have teachers who talk a lot. Try to get teachers from different departments, like a shop teacher and a math teacher, who may not be likely to communicate with one another. Ask to go to the library. Depending on the class you're trying to get out of, you may have a more legitimate reason to leave than you originally thought. If you're annoying about being in a particular class, tell your teacher that you do better work in the library, and ask if you can go study there instead some day. Teachers are likely to be surprised by this, and you might win a free hour in the library, without having to beat around the bush about it. Ask to see the guidance counsellor. If you're upset about something, or if you feel like you need to be missing class for a more serious reason, ask to go talk to the guidance counsellor. It doesn't have to be anything big: maybe you're just feeling stressed about school and about your ability to handle the pressure. That's what guidance counsellors are there for. Tell your teacher that you're really upset, but be vague. Talk quietly and seriously, right before class, and ask if they'll allow you to go talk to the guidance counsellor instead of coming to class today. If you have to come up with an excuse, try to think of something they'll be unable to verify. No dead grandmothers. Try something like, "I think I might be having a panic attack," instead. Have your parent call you in. Maybe you've got strict parents, but you never know until you ask. If you've got a real bummer of a class period coming up, ask one of your more lenient parents if they'll call you out for a class period sometime. You might get lucky once or twice. Sometime, try doing a little research by asking one or both of your parents if they ever cut class when they were younger. Dig up some good stories, then use this for leverage later. If you find out your dad used to cut all the time because his math teacher was totally boring, start playing up how dull your math teacher is, and how you wish you could just come home and spend time cleaning up instead of going to class. Boom. Easy call-out. Call yourself a pass out. The morning before you go to school, put on a good fake voice, call the office, and call yourself a pass to leave school that day for an appointment of some kind. Pose as your mother or father, and use the specific date and time that you need to be absent from school. In the morning, pick up the hall pass and leave at the time. Scot-free. Better yet, get someone else to make the call for you. Older siblings, cousins, or friends are all good bets. Make sure the office workers don't know your parents very well, or they're likely to recognize your voice and figure out that it's not them. Use a phony pass or slip. The next time you get a hall pass for real, take it home and make a Photocopy. Use white out to change the info date, and then re-photocopy the blank one to have a cache of fakes that you can use, and give to other kids. Be sure to use the same color and style of pen or pencil in the original color that the note was written. If you have a friend who does not know your teacher then have them use the "bathroom" and deliver it from the "office" at some point to make it extra convincing. Fake a seizure. If you've got to get into serious anti-class warfare, then you can still keep a few serious tricks up your sleeve. Faking a seizure should only be used in the case of serious moments, like if you've totally forgotten to study for a test, or have forgotten a project that's worth a life-time of points, or something. To fake a seizure, try the following, at your own risk: Subtly complain about feeling "faint" or "weird" just before class. Breathe heavily and go to the bathroom before class starts to wet your head slightly, giving yourself a very sweaty look. Wait for awhile then give a spaced out look if you're going to pass out. Go gradually limp if you are going to pass out then fall down to the floor, as realistically as possible. If you are doing a seizure, fall to the ground and start convulsing and doing random uncontrolled movements. Drool on yourself. Most seizures won't last long, just a minute or two, but it's still important to not over-sell it so you'll start laughing or otherwise give yourself away. When you're done, grunt and make your eyes go wide as if you're in pain. When everyone looks at you, all freaked out, say, "What happened?" You may end up headed to the doctor, but they'll likely call your parents first and you might be able to end up head home. Never break serious rules or laws to get out of class. It's commonly thought that pulling fire alarms or making anonymous threats to the office are good ways to get out of school. These methods are not only dangerous at school, likely resulting in expulsion or suspension, they're typically illegal. You might be facing fines, or serious penalties for your actions. Never, under any circumstances, should you take more drastic measures. Talk to a counselor if you're really struggling at school and feel like you need to be absent for a serious reason. Talk about it and get help.

Just skip that class. Fake sickness. Fake an injury. Go to the bathroom and don't come back. Stay out of sight. Always wait until after your teacher takes roll. Intercept the communications. Schedule an appointment for that class. Get a pass from another teacher. Ask to go to the library. Ask to see the guidance counsellor. Have your parent call you in. Call yourself a pass out. Use a phony pass or slip. Fake a seizure. Never break serious rules or laws to get out of class.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Odorous-Ants

How to Get Rid of Odorous Ants

To get rid of odorous ants, sprinkle a line of baking soda, cinnamon, or black pepper in front of the area where the ants are entering your home. Alternatively, place a bowl of white vinegar, perfume, or lemon juice where the ants are most active. If you use essential oils such as lemon, cinnamon, and peppermint, spray the area with a mixture of the oil diluted in water. No matter what solution you use, make sure to clean your floors and kitchen counters on a daily basis, and store foods in airtight containers or in the refrigerator.

Use both sugar and protein-based ant traps. Sugar-based traps use sugar to attract ants. Protein-based traps use a protein source (usually combined with a sugar source) to attract ants. When dealing the odorous ants, the best option is to use a mixture of both sugar and protein-based ant traps. Make a sugar-based trap. Mix two tablespoons of mint jelly and 1/4 teaspoon of boric acid powder. Place a dollop of the mixture on a small piece of wax paper and place the trap in an area with a high volume of odorous ant traffic. Place another trap near the entrances the ants are using to come into the house. If you don't have mint jelly, you could use another jelly as long as it is not sugar-free. You can obtain boric acid at your local pharmacy or hardware store. After a few days, the ants will no longer be interested in the sugar-based trap. Discard old traps and replace them with a new batch every few days. Make a protein-based trap. Since odorous ants are also attracted to protein or grease-based traps, place a protein-based trap alongside each sugar-based trap. You can easily make a protein-based trap by mixing two tablespoons of honey, two tablespoons of peanut butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of boric acid powder. Just as you did with the sugar-based trap, scoop a bit of the bait on some wax paper and leave it near the odorous ants' points of entry. Replace trap every other day or so, since it will not be appealing to the ants after it dries up. Use caution with homemade bait traps. If you have pets or young children at home, keep a baby gate between the ant bait and your child or pet. Store the powdered boric acid on a high shelf where your pet or child cannot access it. Buy ant traps. If you don't have the appropriate materials on hand to craft an ant trap of your own, there are plenty of options available at your local big box or grocery store. Many ant traps are meant to be used against specific ant species, so look for one that is designed to be most effective against odorous ants. While the exact directions for use vary according to manufacturer, you can generally snap off one of the ant traps from the packet and place it near the ants' point of entry or their trail. Consult manufacturer instructions before use. Sprinkle a powder barrier in front of the ants’ point of entry. Once you've identified the point at which the ants are entering your home, there are many substances that you can use to discourage them from doing so. For instance, sprinkling a thin line of salt or talcum powder across the crack where the ants are coming in can force them to abandon that particular area. Other powdered products that might help include: baby powder cornmeal black pepper baking soda cinnamon chalk powder diatomaceous earth dried mint Apply a scented liquid to the area where the ants are. Ants are averse to several strong scents, including vinegar, perfume, and lemon juice. Fill a small ramekin with one or two tablespoons of one of these products. Place it near the area where the ants are most active. Place another ramekin of the product near the crack where the ants are coming into your home. Alternately, dab a cloth with one of these products and wipe down the areas with significant odorous ant activity. You could also create a solution by mixing equal parts water and vinegar (or water and lemon juice), then spraying it in the area where the odorous ants are. You could use white or apple cider vinegar. Place cucumber slices around areas with ant activity. Slice the skin off the cucumber. Use a vacuum to suck up any odorous ants that you see, then drag a few cucumber slices across the trail they were using. Place a handful of cucumber slices near the odorous ants' entry point. Repeat every few days, or when you see the odorous ants return. Use mint tea bags to discourage odorous ants. If you drink mint tea, place a used tea bag near the cracks or gaps through which the odorous ants are entering your home. Place a few others along odorous ant trails. Spray essential oils near areas of ant activity. Like strong-smelling lemon and vinegar, odorous ants despise many essential oils. The most effective essential oils are cinnamon, lemon, and peppermint. Simply spray a mixture of water and essential oil on the areas where the ants are entering your home and along the areas. While the exact amount of essential oil you will need depends on the concentration of oil you've obtained, you can generally mix the essential oil of you choice with water in a 1:99 ratio. In other words, you might mix half a teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil with 49.5 teaspoons of water. Some essential oils are not appropriate for use around pets and children. Consult the manufacturer instructions on your essential oil bottle before use. Clean your house. Pay special attention to the kitchen, where odorous ants are most likely to be found scavenging for crumbs and food. Wipe down your counters with soapy water, then sweep the floor. Follow up by mopping with a soapy water mixture. Wash the dishes as soon as possible, and empty your bin regularly. Soap will eliminate pheromone trails, disrupting odorous ants' ability to navigate your home. Soap also weakens ants' exoskeletons, causing dehydration and death. Make food inaccessible to the ants. Food left out on counters or in the sink will attract odorous ants. When preparing food, use what you need, then replace it immediately in the fridge. Use airtight containers or resealable bags for uneaten crackers, desserts, and breads. If you have a large amount of some foodstuff that cannot be transferred to a resealable container (a large bag of potato crisps, for instance), seal the container as well as you can and place it high on a shelf or on top of your refrigerator. Covering pans and plates with tinfoil will not be enough to prevent odorous ant access. Use an ant spray. Aerosol ant sprays will kill odorous ants either on the spot or a short time after exposure. Instructions for use vary with the specific product you use, but generally, you can simply aim the nozzle of the can at the odorous ants or their entry point, then push down briefly on the can's actuator (the “button” on top of the can). Some sprays can be harmful for pets and children. Consult manufacturer directions before using an aerosol ant spray. If possible, obtain an ant spray designed for maximum efficacy against odorous ants. Block ants from entering your home. Trace the ant trail back to its point of origin and try to block it. For instance, if odorous ants are coming in through your window casings or a small crack beneath your kitchen counter, seal it by applying a line of caulk or an extra layer of paint to the area. Consult a professional. If all your homemade and store-bought remedies have not enabled you to get rid of odorous ants, it might be time to bring in someone with more experience. Contact your local exterminator. Look for an exterminator who has dealt specifically with odorous ants. Be warned, though -- exterminators are expensive, often charging $400 to $1,000 to eliminate ants. Most exterminators will treat odorous ants with professional-grade insecticides. A good exterminator will also help you identify home modifications that can prevent future odorous ant invasions.

Use both sugar and protein-based ant traps. Make a sugar-based trap. Make a protein-based trap. Use caution with homemade bait traps. Buy ant traps. Sprinkle a powder barrier in front of the ants’ point of entry. Apply a scented liquid to the area where the ants are. Place cucumber slices around areas with ant activity. Use mint tea bags to discourage odorous ants. Spray essential oils near areas of ant activity. Clean your house. Make food inaccessible to the ants. Use an ant spray. Block ants from entering your home. Consult a professional.

https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Diarrhea-in-Rabbits

How to Treat Diarrhea in Rabbits

To treat diarrhea in rabbits, start by confirming that your rabbit actually has diarrhea, meaning that its droppings are loose and watery, with no hard fecal matter. If your rabbit has true diarrhea, take it to your vet immediately since diarrhea is often fatal. Make sure to bring along a fecal sample in a zip lock bag so your vet can analyze the droppings. Once you bring your rabbit home, administer any medications according to your vet's instructions and make sure it has access to clean, fresh water to avoid dehydration.

Distinguish between true diarrhea and soft cecotropes. Rabbits have complex digestive systems, and they produce two kinds of droppings. True diarrhea occurs when both the fecal droppings and cecotropes are watery and unformed. If you see normal, hard fecal matter along with other watery droppings, the problem is actually soft cecotropes. True diarrhea is rare in adult rabbits, but sometimes occurs in young rabbits, especially in improperly weaned babies. It's a life-threatening emergency in rabbits of any age. Normal cecotropes look like tiny bunches of grapes, and rabbits need to eat them in order to maintain proper nutrition. Often confused with diarrhea, soft cecotropes are a much more common issue in adult rabbits. Simple dietary changes are often the only necessary treatment. Soft cecotropes are often characterized by a consistency like thick pudding or soft blobs that stick to the rabbit and its surroundings. It is often accompanied by a foul odor. Bring your rabbit to the vet immediately if it has true diarrhea. If all droppings are watery, call your rabbit's vet, and tell them that your pet is experiencing diarrhea and you're on the way to their office. Diarrhea requires immediate veterinary care, especially in baby rabbits. True diarrhea is often fatal and needs to be taken very seriously. It is usually caused by an alteration of the microorganisms in the cecum (the part of the rabbit's GI tract responsible for fermentation). If you don't already have a vet with experience treating rabbits, search for one online or check the House Rabbit Society's listing: http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/. Provide the vet with fresh fecal and cecal samples. The vet will need to take cultures of droppings and examine them under a microscope in order to make an accurate diagnosis. If possible, collect samples of both feces and cecotropes and bring them to the vet. If you can't bring samples with you for any reason, try to take pictures of droppings to show the vet. The vet does not need a large amount for a sample. A sample the size of two to three grapes is plenty. You can transport the sample in a latex glove or zip lock bag to make it easier on the veterinary staff. Keep your rabbit hydrated. Dehydration is a major concern, so make sure your rabbit has access to clean, fresh water at all times. If it refuses or is unable to drink, it will need subcutaneous injections of Lactated Ringers Solution to stay hydrated. It's best to have the vet or vet tech administer injections. Give hydrating injections yourself if recommended. If a vet professional isn't available and you have the supplies on hand, sterilize the needle and the solution's cap, then draw 1 to 2 mg of the solution. Gently lift the skin to create a tent, and inject the needle at a 45 degree angle. Take care not to push the needle through the other side of the pulled skin, which is very thin. Before injecting the solution, pull the plunger back to make sure you don't draw blood. If you do, you've pierced a blood vessel or muscle and need to choose another site. After injecting the solution, withdraw the needle swiftly and gently along its path of entry. It is not uncommon for the rabbit to have a little “humpback” after subcutaneous fluid administration. Do not worry as this will get absorbed and distributed by the body soon, after which it will disappear. The scruff and flank are the best spots for subcutaneous injection. Administer a total of 10 mg over the course of 24 hours at different sites to reduce tissue damage. Administer medications according to the vet's instructions. Depending on the vet's findings, they'll prescribe antibiotics to deal with infection. In addition, they will likely instruct you how to administer a number of other medications: Imodium or other anti-diarrhea medication Cholestyramine to treat toxins created by bacteria or parasites Pain relief medication Colostrum to support the immune system of a baby rabbit Remove all food items other than grass hay. If your rabbit is used to eating grass hay, stop feeding it all other food. Provide multiple bins throughout its cage to encourage it to eat its hay. Make sure the hay is grass hay and not legume hay, such as alfalfa, which is too rich in carbohydrates and protein. High fiber grass hay is the most important part of a rabbit's diet and is essential for proper digestion. It should return the flora and digestion in the cecum to a normal, balanced state. It should consume only grass hay and water until its droppings return to normal. Make sure the grass hay is fresh and mold free, fresh hay should smell good to you. If the hay is dried out or moldy the rabbit won't eat it. Switch to grass hay gradually if your rabbit only eats pellets. If your rabbit doesn't normally eat hay, eliminating all other foods could cause starvation. Check the pellets' label to ensure they're based on grass hay. If they are, feed your rabbit pellets twice a day, keep grass hay in its cage at all times, and monitor it to make sure it's eating the hay. Once you see it consistently eating hay, slowly reduce the amount of pellets you feed it over one to two weeks until you've eliminated pellets completely. If it doesn't eat hay, pulverize pellets in a food processor, spray the hay with water, then sprinkle it with the pellet powder. Switch from seed and nut pellets to grass hay pellets if necessary. If the pellets do not contain grass hay, buy a product that does. Feed your rabbit a half and half mix of the old and new pellets. Gradually reduce the amount of old pellets over one to two weeks until you've switched entirely to the new pellets. Once you've switched to grass hay pellets only, introduce your rabbit to real grass hay, then slowly reduce the amount of pellets you keep in its cage. Stop giving your rabbit treats. While your rabbit might seem upset that it's not getting any treats, you must resist the urge to offer them. Rabbits are strict herbivores and their digestive tracts are specialized, so even fruit can cause issues. Further, offering treats will make them less likely to want to eat the hay that they need to get better. Add greens to its diet after it's had normal droppings for a week. It might take anywhere between two weeks and three months for your rabbit's fecal and cecal droppings to return to normal. After a week of normal droppings, offer a small amount of greens, which will help ensure it's getting all the nutrients it needs. Examples of healthy greens include basil, broccoli, lettuce, kale, and Swiss chard. Darker leafy greens, like kale, are more nutritious than lighter greens, like iceberg lettuce. Feed your rabbit a maximum of one cup (about 150 grams) of one item, then wait 48 hours to make sure it doesn't cause soft cecotropes. Give your bunny a dry bath. If your rabbit just has some spots of dry droppings in its fur, apply baby cornstarch powder to the soiled areas. Use your fingers and, if necessary, a fine tooth comb to remove the droppings. Gently pat away the powder, but try not to get clouds of powder near your rabbit's face. Use only baby cornstarch powder; don't use talcum or flea powders. Frequent bathing will most likely be necessary during the recovery process. Dry baths are preferable, since rabbits tolerate them better than wet baths. Give your bunny a wet bath if necessary. If the mess is really wet and smelly, a wet bath is necessary. Fill a sink with warm water and a tablespoon of hypoallergenic, non-medicated shampoo (preferably a product labelled for rabbits). Support your rabbit gently but firmly, so it can't hop away or injure itself, and lower it into the sink until the soiled areas are covered in water. Lather the soiled areas gently, then drain the water. Fill the sink with warm water only and rinse away all soap residue. Alternatively you could try giving your bunny a sponge bath with a washcloth or sponge. It may tolerate this more than being submerged in water. Towel dry your rabbit after rinsing. You can also use a blow dryer on a cool setting. Make sure it's eating and drinking. Whether the recovery process involves medication or dietary changes, monitor your rabbit's food and water consumption. Take note of how often you've filled food and water containers and try to keep track of how much your rabbit has eaten. Observe your rabbit (from a distance if necessary) as much as possible and note if you consistently see it eating and drinking. Inspect its cage for droppings regularly and note their appearance. Your vet will likely call you for an update or have you bring the rabbit back in for a check up. This kind of information will be important for your vet, so it's good to have it written down and on hand. Keep its environment quiet, clean, and stress-free. Rabbits are easily startled, and stressors such as loud noises are bad for their overall health. Maintaining a clean, stress-free environment will be a key part of the recovery process. Keep its cage in a quiet, low-traffic part of your home. Keep small children, other pets, and visitors away from it. A dirty cage can also be stressful, so be sure to keep its cage clean at all times.

Distinguish between true diarrhea and soft cecotropes. Bring your rabbit to the vet immediately if it has true diarrhea. Provide the vet with fresh fecal and cecal samples. Keep your rabbit hydrated. Give hydrating injections yourself if recommended. Administer medications according to the vet's instructions. Remove all food items other than grass hay. Switch to grass hay gradually if your rabbit only eats pellets. Switch from seed and nut pellets to grass hay pellets if necessary. Stop giving your rabbit treats. Add greens to its diet after it's had normal droppings for a week. Give your bunny a dry bath. Give your bunny a wet bath if necessary. Make sure it's eating and drinking. Keep its environment quiet, clean, and stress-free.

https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Rosemary

How to Grow Rosemary

If you want to grow rosemary from a cutting, cut off a 4-inch long branch and strip the leaves off of the bottom inch of it. Then, place the cutting into a mixture of 2 parts sand and 1 part peat moss and set it in indirect sunlight for 3 weeks to give the cutting time to grow roots. After those 3 weeks, you can plant it outside. You shouldn't have to water it often since it likes to get most of its water from the rain, and you don't have to fertilizing it, either.

Get a rosemary cutting. Rosemary is easiest to grow from a cutting, rather than planting seeds. Visit a community garden and ask for a cutting, or ask a friend for a cutting of their plant. After you find a rosemary plant, clip off a few 4 inch pieces to propagate. The best time to do this is in the late spring, but if you live in a warmer climate, this can be done during early autumn as well. The plants you'll be able to grow from the cuttings will have the same qualities as the original bush. If you'd prefer to grow a variety you haven't seen in your area, you can order a cutting online or ask your nursery to get one for you. There are many varieties of rosemary, each with slightly different properties. Some grow very bushy and tall, while others tend to trail; some have purple or blue flowers, some white. You can also buy a seedling or small plant from a nursery if you don't want to propagate a cutting. Strip the leaves off the bottom inch of the stem. Before planting the rosemary, strip the leaves off of the lower section of the cutting (about an inch from the end of the stem). This part of the plant will go into the soil. It is important to strip these leaves because leaving these leaves on will cause the stem to rot instead of grow. Propagate the rosemary. After you have stripped the leaves, put each cutting into a small pot of soil filled with two-thirds coarse sand and one-third peat moss. Set the pot in a sunny place, but not in direct sunlight. Water the cuttings regularly and keep in a warm spot until the roots form, which should take about three weeks. To help the cuttings grow, you can place the entire pot inside a plastic bag with a few holes punctured in the top. This will help regulate the temperature and keep things warm and moist. You may also dip the tips of the rosemary cuttings in rooting powder to give them a head start. Plant the seedlings. Once roots have formed, you can plant the rosemary either in pots or outdoors in your garden. Rosemary will adapt to most growing conditions and is quite hardy. It's happy with snow, limestone, high temperatures, by the seaside, and all sorts of soils. It will grow its best however, in a warm to hot, fairly dry climate. Choose a full sun aspect that is fairly dry. Decide whether you want to keep growing it in pots or as a shrub in the garden. It can also be trained as a delightfully scented hedge. For cooler climates, containers may be best so that you can move them if needed. If planting in the garden, pot the cutting up once so it can establish more roots and gain strength before planting it outside. Then, choose soil that drains well. Rosemary can suffer from root rot in waterlogged soil. The more alkaline the soil, the more fragrant the rosemary will be. Dig in some lime if the soil is too acid. Water rosemary infrequently. Rosemary prefers a drier soil, so don't overdo the watering. It will be happy with the average garden watering. It likes to source most of its water from rain. Don't worry about fertilizing. This is not an herb that needs it. However, make sure that there is some lime in the soil. Bring the pots indoors in winter if you live in a cold place. Though rosemary is hardy, it can suffer in very cold weather (lows of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or less) and its branches can get damaged when laden with heavy snow. To ensure the plant survives the winter, it's best to bring it indoors. If your winter lows do not get down to 0 degrees F, then you do not have to do this. Prune rosemary as needed. Pruning isn't necessary for the health of the plant, but rosemary bushes tend to grow quite large and take up a lot of garden space. Cut the branches back by a few inches each spring to help them retain their shape. Harvest rosemary. Pick sprigs of rosemary leaves as needed. The bush will just keep on happily growing. Since rosemary is evergreen, you can harvest it all year round. Store the sprigs in a cool, dry place. You can also freeze rosemary by placing it in food storage bags and storing in the freezer. Alternatively, strip the leaves from the stems and store in airtight jars. Stored this way, rosemary will slowly dry and will keep for several months. Eat rosemary. Rosemary is a wonderful compliment to both sweet and savory dishes. Use it to add depth to meat and chicken, bread, butter, and even ice cream. These delicious recipes make use of rosemary: Herb bread. Marinated pork. Rosemary syrup. Lemon sorbet with rosemary. Use rosemary around the house. Rosemary can be dried and made into scented drawer sachets , used as in ingredient in homemade soap, turned into a fragranced water that makes your hair shiny and soft, and more. You can also simply brush against your rosemary plant to experience a fresh burst of its uplifting scent.

Get a rosemary cutting. Strip the leaves off the bottom inch of the stem. Propagate the rosemary. Plant the seedlings. Water rosemary infrequently. Don't worry about fertilizing. Bring the pots indoors in winter if you live in a cold place. Prune rosemary as needed. Harvest rosemary. Store the sprigs in a cool, dry place. Eat rosemary. Use rosemary around the house.

https://www.wikihow.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations

How to Have Difficult Conversations

While difficult conversations can be stressful, you can navigate them calmly by having an inquisitive attitude and being genuinely interested in what the other person says. Try starting the conversation off by explaining the issue and immediately asking them for their perspective. As much as you may want to keep the conversation emotionless, someone is bound to get upset, so make sure to acknowledge these feelings and be polite. For example, if they get mad, say “I realize you're upset” instead of demanding they “calm down”. As the two of you talk, rephrase their argument in your own words to show that you understand, which will usually make someone less hostile. Misunderstandings happen, but when they do, let the person finish what they're saying instead of interrupting or getting defensive.

Clarify your own objective. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish by having this conversation. Be as honest as possible, and make sure that your final goals are noble instead of self-serving. You should be able to state what the desired outcome of the conversation would be. Expect to compromise by the end of the conversation, but figure out which points are non-negotiable beforehand so you know what you really need to stand firm on. Watch out for your own hidden motives. If the situation makes you angry, you might have some desire to punish, exact revenge, or embarrass the other party. You need to be honest about these feelings so that you can work through them before embarking on the discussion. Figure out the underlying cause of the problem. You might have a general sense of what the problem is, but in most cases, difficulties are caused by deeper issues. Making progress will require you to address those underlying causes. More precisely, you should ask yourself what behavior is causing the problem and how that behavior is impacting you and everyone else involved. Think about this until you can summarize the underlying problem in two or three concise statements. Set aside your assumptions. Identify any assumptions you might have regarding the other person's attitude. Sincerely consider whether or not these assumptions are supported by fact or if they are primarily driven by emotion. Try to discard those driven by emotion. Ask yourself how you feel when you consider the other person's intentions. If you feel that you've been ignored, intimidated, or disrespected, you might be assuming that the other person has had negative motives toward you. This often isn't the intention, though, even if it is the resulting impact of his or her actions. Calm yourself. Keep yourself calm. If you enter into the conversation in a heightened emotional state, things are more likely to spiral out of control at a much more dramatic rate. Consider the possibility that personal buttons of yours are being pushed. For instance, if you've always had a problem with people ignoring your concerns, you might be more emotional if the person you're talking with has done the same thing. Try to set aside long-standing, personal issues and focus only on the circumstance at hand. Keep a positive attitude. Your impulse might be to fixate on everything that could go wrong, but doing so won't help the situation. It is far better to go into the conversation with a healthy, realistic amount of optimism regarding the success of the conversation. There's some truth in the idea of a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you think the conversation will be difficult and will end poorly, it probably will. On the other hand, if you believe that some good will result in the conversation no matter what the final outcome is, your attitude will naturally be calmer and more cooperative. Think from both sides. Thoroughly understand both your position and the other person's position in the conflict. Try to imagine how things appear from the other person's perspective. Ask yourself how you've contributed to the problem and how the other person has contributed to it. Clarify for yourself what your concerns and needs are concerning the resolution of this conflict. Ask yourself if the other person is even aware of the problem and, if so, how he or she might perceive it. Consider that individual's concerns and needs, as well. Practice the conversation. Run through the conversation in you mind or with an unrelated party. Repeat this exercise once or twice, but don't use it as an excuse to procrastinate on having the real discussion. If you practice with another person, make sure that your practice partner understands the situation but is a truly neutral party who won't betray your confidence later. When mentally practicing the conversation, imagine different possibilities (both good and bad) and determine the best way to handle them. Hold the conversation on neutral ground. Don't invite the other party into your space and don't approach the other party on his or her space. Instead, invite the other person to somewhere you could consider neutral ground—as in, a place not belonging to either of you. For example, don't invite the other party into your office or offer to hold the conversation in his or her office. Consider holding the conversation in a meeting room (if you both work at the same company), living room (if you both live in the same house), or low-key public area, like a park or coffee shop. Avoid audiences. Even if you have the conversation in a public place, it's best to choose somewhere with a limited audience. Neither you nor the other person in the conversation may feel comfortable enough to be honest when there are onlookers observing your every move and sentence. Set a time limit. Ideally, you should aim to converse until the two of you can resolve the issue. Some conversations can sink into an endless loop, though, preventing any real progress from occurring. To prevent this from happening, it might be helpful to set a time limit for the conversation before you start it. Each situation is different, but 30 to 60 minutes is usually a good time limit to stick with. If there's still more to say after that amount of time passes, part ways and address it another day. Use a direct yet non-confrontational opening line. Be direct and honest about the topic you want to discuss, but introduce that topic in a calm, non-accusatory manner so that the other person does not automatically raise his or her guard. Consider a line like, "I think we're viewing _____ blank differently, and I'd like to take a few minutes to talk and see if we can understand each other better." Be upfront about the matter at hand. Don't make the conversation seem less important than it really is, or else you run the risk of making the other person feel tricked and trapped into a corner. Maintain an attitude of inquiry. Move the question along by asking questions and remaining genuinely interested in the other person's responses, including both verbal and non-verbal replies. Briefly explain the issue, then immediately ask the other person for his or her perspective on it. Instead of assuming you know everything about the situation, tell yourself that you don't know anything. Try to learn as much as possible from the other person. You need to listen to what the other person says, but you also need to watch what the other person does. Look at body language and listen for energy and emotion. Ask yourself what the other person isn't vocalizing. Monitor emotional responses. Even if both of you want to be emotionless during the conversation, there's a good chance that something will trigger an emotional response at some point. Identify those emotional responses and disarm them without cutting them down. When dealing with your own emotional responses, like defensiveness, you can directly state that you are experiencing that emotional response and offer a quick explanation regarding why it might be--without pointing the finger at the other person as the cause of it. When dealing with the other person's emotional responses, acknowledge them in a polite manner. For example, you might state "I realize you're upset" when someone starts to shout or cry instead of demanding them to "calm down." Acknowledge the other side. Rephrase the other person's argument in your own words to demonstrate an understanding of his or her side. People are generally less hostile when they feel as though they're being heard and understood. Aside from paraphrasing the other person's argument, you should also explain what you think he or she really means and venture a guess at what he or she hopes for by the end of the conversation. If your guesses are wrong, don't try to defend them. Allow the other person to correct you and restate that correction when he or she has finished. Clarify your position. When you get the opportunity to speak, restate the other person's opinion before clarifying your own conflicting opinion. Be honest and precise about the way things look from your perspective. Wait until the other person finishes talking before introducing your own perspective. Never cut the other person off mid-speech. Reaffirm his or her perspective and acknowledge that there are some valid points. When you reach a point you disagree on, explain why you disagree and offer an explanation on how the difference or misunderstanding may have occurred. Respond calmly to attacks and ploys. Sometimes, you may need to have a difficult conversation with someone who will attempt to attack you personally or use an emotional ploy to distract you from the issue at hand. Stay calm and take those attacks and ploys for what they are instead of taking them personally. Ploys can include things like accusations and sarcasm. When you're faced with a problem like this, address it with sincerity and inquisitiveness. For example, if the other person is unresponsive, you might admit, "I don't know how to react to your silence." Accept periods of silence. Silence may naturally fall over the conversation at some point. Instead of forcing yourself to fill the uncomfortable quiet with something meaningless, pause and use it as an opportunity to let things sink in. In fact, a little silence in a serious conversation can be a good thing. It helps both sides calm down and reflect on all that's been said so far. Ask the other person for ideas. Before rattling off your own ideas of how to best resolve the conflict, ask the other person for ideas on how to fix things. Wait for an honest answer instead of trying to coax out the answer you want to hear. Asking the other person for suggestions first keeps that person engaged while assuring him or her that you value the ideas he or she might offer. Build on each suggestion. Unless the other person suggests something you already had in mind, you will need to use his or her ideas as a starting point for your own. Acknowledge the other person's suggestion and make a counter-offer based on that proposal. You might not like much of what the other person says, but you should try to find at least one point you might be able to agree on. Latch onto that point and build off that one. Compromise. Don't expect to get everything you want at the end of your conversation. Be prepared to make compromises when arriving at a final solution. Think back to the non-negotiable points you determined before embarking on the conversation. Make sure that each of these points have been addressed and that your final conclusion adheres to them. Details other than your non-negotiable points will probably need to be negotiated. Compromise doesn't mean “losing,” though. Instead, think of compromise as a means of leaving both sides satisfied. Apologize when necessary. Set your pride aside and ask yourself if there are points you really have been wrong about. Apologize for your own blunders to demonstrate your honesty and willingness to compromise. No one is perfect and no one can be right 100 percent of the time. Keep an open mind so that you can see your own shortcomings and correct them. The idea is to arrive at the right conclusion, not the conclusion that makes you appear right. Remain consistent. The solutions you propose should be consistent with the types of solutions you've arrived at with other people in similar circumstances. If your suggestions seem harsher than past resolutions have been, the other person might think that you're singling him or her out in a negative manner. Someone who is consistent will seem more trustworthy and fair. Typically, people will be more willing to work with someone just than someone who seems unjust. Avoid bridge burning. Even if you cannot arrive at a solution that satisfies you both, you should do all that you can to avoid completely destroying the relationship between you. Stop before you make any statement or decision that will create a permanent enmity or wall between you and the other person. Think of a way to rephrase or restructure it in a less damaging manner. Follow through. Once you arrive at a resolution, make sure that you follow through with the promises you made. Only by holding to your promises can you demand the same from the other party. It can be a good idea to schedule a follow-up conversation in a few days, weeks, or months to determine how things have been working out and whether or not further changes need to be made.

Clarify your own objective. Figure out the underlying cause of the problem. Set aside your assumptions. Calm yourself. Keep a positive attitude. Think from both sides. Practice the conversation. Hold the conversation on neutral ground. Set a time limit. Use a direct yet non-confrontational opening line. Maintain an attitude of inquiry. Monitor emotional responses. Acknowledge the other side. Clarify your position. Respond calmly to attacks and ploys. Accept periods of silence. Ask the other person for ideas. Build on each suggestion. Compromise. Apologize when necessary. Remain consistent. Avoid bridge burning. Follow through.

https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Bulldogs

How to Care for Bulldogs

To care for your bulldog, it's important to keep it cool at all times, since their facial structure makes it harder to cool themselves down. Avoid too much rigorous exercise for the same reason. Bulldogs still need exercise like all dogs but let it rest when it starts to pant. When buying food for your bulldog, look for a product with a meat product as one of its first ingredients to make sure it has plenty of high quality protein. You should also make sure to clean the wrinkles of its face regularly to prevent common skin infections.

Adopt your puppy at the right age. A bulldog puppy can find a new home at eight weeks of age. When you adopt the dog from a breeder or shelter, make sure the dog was taken to the vet for his first check up at six weeks. If the dog hasn't been taken to the vet, take him to the vet immediately. At six weeks, the vet will determine if the puppy has eye or ear problems, check to make sure the palate is okay, listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope to make sure they work properly, and check the belly to make sure there are no hernias. Deworm your puppy. During the first visit to the vet at six weeks, the puppy should have been dewormed. When you adopt him at eight weeks, the puppy will need to be dewormed two to three times more at eight weeks, at 10 weeks, and at 12 weeks. Get your puppy vaccinated. During the dog's first vet visit at six weeks, the vet should have given him a distemper vaccination. After this initial vaccination, it will be followed by two follow-up vaccinations. Talk to your vet about when your puppy needs the follow up vaccinations. Get your puppy's rabies vaccination at 12 weeks of age. Your puppy needs to be vaccinated for Lyme disease at 9 weeks of age followed by a second vaccine at 12 weeks of age. Dogs that spend a lot of time outside or that live in endemic areas for Lyme are at increased risk of contracting this potentially fatal disease. Protect your puppy from heartworms. Get a heartworm preventative for your puppy, which is a monthly tablet. This can be started at eight weeks of age. Make sure your puppy is spayed or neutered. The puppy should be either spayed or neutered at six weeks of age. When you adopt your puppy, make sure he is neutered (or spayed, if the puppy is a female). If he is not, take him to the vet to get neutered as soon as possible. Know that bulldogs have Brachycephalic syndrome. As a consequence of their facial structure with the pushed in face, bulldogs are considered Brachycephalic. This leads to snoring, snorting, and breathing difficulties along with low tolerance for exercise. Keep your bulldog cool. Because of the Bracycephalic syndrome, your bulldog has trouble cooling himself through panting if he gets too hot. Bulldogs should be kept indoors if it is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Because of this, you need to monitor your dog in hot and humid weather. Too much panting can cause swollen and inflamed airways and make it hard for your dog to breathe, and even cause heat stroke. A bulldog is too hot when he is panting too much, heaving, making odd sounds in his throat, foaming from the mouth, fighting for breath, and displaying a floppy, loose, discolored tongue. Never leave your dog unattended in hot weather. Always watch for the signs of overheating. Never leave your bulldog (or any dog) alone in a car during hot or warm weather. This could result in death. Make sure your bulldog has somewhere cool, out of sunlight, and in air conditioning to sleep during the summer. If your bulldog is overheating, remove him immediately from heat. Place him in cool water, pour cool water over his head, and pour cool water on his paws, especially on the pads of his paws. If you can't get him into a tub or a pool, spray him with cool water using gentle pressure. Tile flooring is a good place to place your bulldog to help cool him off. You can also place your bulldog by a fan to help cool him off. Use your hands to spread the fur around to let out some of the heat from his body. Let your bulldog tell you if he is too hot. He should be able to know when he's too hot. Pay attention to the signs he gives you during hot weather. If he wants to go in from a walk, take him inside. If you dog starts to overheat, he may start coughing up phlegm. This is normal; however, it is a sign that your dog is too hot and needs to be cooled down immediately. Remove the bulldog from heat, put lemon juice in his mouth to get rid of the phlegm, place a wet towel on him, and make sure he drinks water. Monitor your dog’s exercise. Too much vigorous exercise can cause breathing problems for your bulldog. However, obesity can also cause breathing problems, so your bulldog still needs to exercise. Just make sure to keep an eye on your dog to make sure he isn't panting too much or overheating while exercising. When your dog starts to pant during exercise, stop and allow him to rest. Don't make your dog do too much exercise during hot weather. Be aware of other conditions. Because of your dog's face shape, there are other conditions that can arise. Your bulldog may have abnormal teeth patterns because of his face shape. He can also be prone to skin infections or abnormal eyelashes that can irritate the eye. Your dog can also be prone to hip and knee problems. Keep an attentive eye on your bulldog. Bulldogs are stubborn and mild dogs. This means your bulldog may not let you know if he is injured, feeling bad, hungry, or cold. Keep an eye on your dog to monitor him. If you notice any changes, find out why. Join the Bulldog Club of America. By joining either the local or national bulldog club, you can connect with other bulldog owners and breeders. This can help you if you ever have questions or need help with your bulldog. This club can also help you find a vet who has experience treating bulldogs, which is important since bulldogs have specific health needs. Feed your dog a balanced diet. Your bulldog will need a high-quality food that is balanced in the nutrients dogs need. Read the ingredient list on the pet food label. If the first two or three ingredients are meat and not meat by-products, it's probably a high quality food. The dog food label will also give the recommended amount of food to feed your bulldog daily. Use an actual measuring cup to measure this food out to make sure he eats properly for his size, age, and activity level. You can also ask your bulldog's breeder or your veterinarian for their suggestions. Avoid giving your bulldog soy. When choosing food for your bulldog, do not get food that contains soy. Soy ferments and produces a lot of gas in the bowels, which can predispose the dog to bloat, so its best avoided. Give your dog fresh water. Always remember to leave clean, fresh water out for your bulldog at all times. Clean the water bowl about once a week or even more frequently. Running it through the dishwasher is a good way to sterilize the bowl. Consider a stainless steel bowl. Buy a heavy duty stainless steel bowl. This can help reduce redness and rashes from developing on your bulldog's face. Brush your dog. Your bulldog will need a good brushing with a soft bristled brush once a week. This brushing will remove loose hair and skin flakes, and also encourage good skin circulation. This will also give you time to bond with your dog. Clean the wrinkles. One problem most bulldogs have is dirt and yeast collecting in their skin folds. The wrinkles should be taken care of and wiped out as needed to prevent skin irritation and possible infections. If you fail to clean your bulldog's wrinkles, he can end up with foul-smelling yeast or infections. Make sure to clean the wrinkles on the face, body, and tail. Use a soft cotton ball soaked in an ear or eye cleaning solution to gently wipe out the fold. Follow this by a gently drying with a clean, soft towel. Don't use peroxide or alcohol because they can irritate the skin. Follow up by placing cornstarch on the wrinkles to help dry excess moisture. Scabs, redness, or itchy skin should also be addressed by a veterinarian if they persist after being watched for a few days. Trim your dog’s nails. As part of the grooming routine you will need to trim your bulldog's nails. The biggest problems is to avoid nicking the quick, the part of the nail where the blood vessels and nerves grow. If you aren't sure how to clip the nails , ask your veterinarian technician to show you how to do so on your dog. Brush your dog’s teeth. Brush your bulldog's teeth regularly. It takes less than a minute to do this and removes bacteria and plaque from the surface of the teeth. Brushing also lets you check for mouth problems like sores, growths, or loose or damaged teeth. Only use dog toothpaste on a dog. You can purchase a dog toothbrush and toothpaste at pet stores or veterinary clinics. Get your dog used to brushing by letting her lick the dog toothpaste off your finger. Next put a little paste on the brush and wipe it along the gums. Each day try to brush a little bit of the teeth until you work up to being able to brush all the outer surfaces of the teeth. You don't need to try to brush the inner teeth as most plaque attacks the outer teeth. You can also supplement brushing with dental formulated foods and teeth which help to remove the bacteria and plaque. Socialize your dog. It is vitally important to properly socialize your bulldog when he is a puppy. This gets him used to other people, dogs, pets, and novel situations in a healthy manner. From day one, introduce your bulldog puppy to people, other animals and dogs, and situations outside your home. Take him for car rides, walks around the neighborhood, and to parks to let him meet new people and other dogs. Large pet stores, humane societies, and community groups frequently hold puppy socialization classes. These are a great way for young pups to meet other puppies in a safe and controlled manner. As the puppy gets older, a basic obedience class is a good supplement, plus it teaches your bulldog good manners. You can also take your dog to the dog park.

Adopt your puppy at the right age. Deworm your puppy. Get your puppy vaccinated. Protect your puppy from heartworms. Make sure your puppy is spayed or neutered. Know that bulldogs have Brachycephalic syndrome. Keep your bulldog cool. Monitor your dog’s exercise. Be aware of other conditions. Keep an attentive eye on your bulldog. Join the Bulldog Club of America. Feed your dog a balanced diet. Avoid giving your bulldog soy. Give your dog fresh water. Consider a stainless steel bowl. Brush your dog. Clean the wrinkles. Trim your dog’s nails. Brush your dog’s teeth. Socialize your dog.

https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Any-Term-of-an-Arithmetic-Sequence

How to Find Any Term of an Arithmetic Sequence

To find a term in an arithmetic sequence, determine the common difference by subtracting the first number from the second number. Then, confirm that the difference is consistent between each number in the sequence by repeating the above equation with the second and third numbers, the third and fourth numbers, and so on. Once you've confirmed the common difference, all you have to do to find the missing number is add the common difference to preceding term in the sequence.

Find the common difference for the sequence. When you are presented with a list of numbers, you may be told that the list is an arithmetic sequence, or you may need to figure that out for yourself. The first step is the same in either case. Select the first two consecutive terms in the list. Subtract the first term from the second term. The result is the common difference of your sequence. For example, suppose you have the list 1 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 13 {\displaystyle 1,4,7,10,13}.... Subtract 4 − 1 {\displaystyle 4-1} to find the common difference of 3. Suppose you have a list of terms that decreases, such as 25 , 21 , 17 , 13 {\displaystyle 25,21,17,13} …. You still subtract the first term from the second to find the difference. In this case, that gives you 21 − 25 = − 4 {\displaystyle 21-25=-4}. The negative result means that your list is decreasing as you read from left to right. You should always check that the sign of the difference matches the direction that the numbers seem to be going. Check that the common difference is consistent. Finding the common difference for just the first two terms does not ensure that your list is an arithmetic sequence. You need to make sure that the difference is consistent for the whole list. Check the difference by subtracting two different consecutive terms in the list. If the result is consistent for one or two other pairs of terms, then you probably have an arithmetic sequence. Working with the same example, 1 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 13 {\displaystyle 1,4,7,10,13} … choose the second and third terms of the list. Subtract 7 − 4 {\displaystyle 7-4} , and you find that the difference is still 3. To confirm, check one more example and subtract 13 − 10 {\displaystyle 13-10} , and you find that the difference is consistently 3. You can be pretty sure that you are working with an arithmetic sequence. It is possible for a list of numbers to appear to be an arithmetic sequence based on the first few terms, but then fail after that. For example, consider the list 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 9 {\displaystyle 1,2,3,6,9} …. The difference between the first and second terms is 1, and the difference between the second and third terms is also 1. However, the difference between the third and fourth terms is 3. Because the difference is not common for the entire list, then this is not an arithmetic sequence. Add the common difference to the last given term. Finding the next term of an arithmetic sequence after you know the common difference is easy. Simply add the common difference to the last term of the list, and you will get the next number. For example, in the example of 1 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 13 {\displaystyle 1,4,7,10,13} …, to find the next number in the list, add the common difference of 3 to the last given term. Adding 13 + 3 {\displaystyle 13+3} results in 16, which is the next term. You can continue adding 3 to make your list as long as you like. For example, the list would be 1 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 13 , 16 , 19 , 22 , 25 {\displaystyle 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25} …. You can do this as long as you like. Verify that you are starting with an arithmetic sequence. In some cases, you may have a list of numbers with a missing term in the middle. Begin, as before, by checking that your list is an arithmetic sequence. Select any two consecutive terms and find the difference between them. Then check this against two other consecutive terms in the list. If the differences are the same, you can presume that you are working with an arithmetic sequence and proceed. For example, suppose you have the list 0 , 4 {\displaystyle 0,4} ,___, 12 , 16 , 20 {\displaystyle 12,16,20} …. Start by subtracting 4 − 0 {\displaystyle 4-0} to find a difference of 4. Check this against two other consecutive terms, such as 16 − 12 {\displaystyle 16-12}. The difference is again 4. You can proceed. Add the common difference to the term before the space. This is similar to adding a term to the end of a sequence. Find the term that immediately precedes the space in your sequence. This is the “last” number that you know. Add your common difference to this term, to find the number that should fill in the space. In our working example, 0 , 4 {\displaystyle 0,4} ,____, 12 , 16 , 20 {\displaystyle 12,16,20} …, the term preceding the space is 4, and our common difference for this list is also 4. So add 4 + 4 {\displaystyle 4+4} to get 8, which should be the number in the blank space. Subtract the common difference from the term following the space. To be sure that you have the correct answer, check from the other direction. An arithmetic sequence should be consistent going in either direction. If you move from left to right and add 4, then going in the opposite direction, from right to left, you would do the opposite and subtract 4. In the working example, 0 , 4 {\displaystyle 0,4} ,___, 12 , 16 , 20 {\displaystyle 12,16,20} …, the term immediately following the space is 12. Subtract the common difference of 4 from this term to find 12 − 4 = 8 {\displaystyle 12-4=8}. The result of 8 should fill in the blank space. Compare your results. The two results that you get, from adding up from the bottom or from subtracting down from the top should match. If they do, then you have found the value for the missing term. If they do not, then you need to check your work. You may not have a true arithmetic sequence. In the working example, the two results of 4 + 4 {\displaystyle 4+4} and 12 − 4 {\displaystyle 12-4} both gave the solution of 8. Therefore, the missing term in this arithmetic sequence is 8. The full sequence is 0 , 4 , 8 , 12 , 16 , 20 {\displaystyle 0,4,8,12,16,20} …. Identify the first term of the sequence. Not every sequence begins with the numbers 0 or 1. Look at the list of numbers that you have and find the first term. This is your starting point, which can be designated using variables as a(1). It is common in working with arithmetic sequences to use the variable a(1) to designate the first term of a sequence. You may, of course, choose any variable you like, and the results should be the same. For example, given the sequence 3 , 8 , 13 , 18 {\displaystyle 3,8,13,18} …, the first term is 3 {\displaystyle 3} , which can be designated algebraically as a(1). Define your common difference as d. Find the common difference for the sequence as before. In this working example, the common difference is 8 − 3 {\displaystyle 8-3} , which is 5. Checking with other terms in the sequence provides the same result. We will note this common difference with the algebraic variable d. Use the explicit formula. An explicit formula is an algebraic equation that you can use to find any term of an arithmetic sequence, without having to write out the full list. The explicit formula for an algebraic sequence is a ( n ) = a ( 1 ) + ( n − 1 ) d {\displaystyle a(n)=a(1)+(n-1)d}. The term a(n) can be read as “the nth term of a,” where n represents which number in the list you want to find and a(n) is the actual value of that number. For example, if you are asked to find the 100th item in an arithmetic sequence, then n will be 100. Note that n is 100, in this example, but a(n) will be the value of the 100th term, not the number 100 itself. Fill in your information to solve the problem. Using the explicit formula for your sequence, fill in the information that you know to find the term that you need. For example, in the working example 3 , 8 , 13 , 18 {\displaystyle 3,8,13,18} …, we know that a(1) is the first term 3, and the common difference d is 5. Suppose you are asked to find the 100th term in that sequence. Then n=100, and (n-1)=99. The complete explicit formula, with the data filled in, is then a ( 100 ) = 3 + ( 99 ) ( 5 ) {\displaystyle a(100)=3+(99)(5)}. This simplifies to 498, which is the 100th term of that sequence. Rearrange the explicit formula to solve for other variables. Using the explicit formula and some basic algebra, you can find several pieces of information about an arithmetic sequence. In its original form, a ( n ) = a ( 1 ) + ( n − 1 ) d {\displaystyle a(n)=a(1)+(n-1)d} , the explicit formula is designed to solve for a n and give you the nth term of a sequence. However, you can algebraically manipulate this formula and solve for any of the variables. For example, suppose you have the end of a list of numbers, but you need to know what the beginning of the sequence was. You can rearrange the formula to give you a ( 1 ) = ( n − 1 ) d − a ( n ). {\displaystyle a(1)=(n-1)d-a(n).} If you know the starting point of an arithmetic sequence and its ending point, but you need to know how many terms are in the list, you can rearrange the explicit formula to solve for n. This would be n = a ( n ) − a ( 1 ) d + 1 {\displaystyle n={\frac {a(n)-a(1)}{d}}+1}. If you need to review the basic rules of algebra to create this result, check out Do Algebra or Simplify Algebraic Expressions. Find the first term of a sequence. You may know that the 50th term of an arithmetic sequence is 300, and you know that the terms have been increasing by 7 (the “common difference”), but you want to find out what the first term of the sequence was. Use the revised explicit formula that solves for a1 to find your answer. Use the equation a ( 1 ) = ( n − 1 ) d − a ( n ) {\displaystyle a(1)=(n-1)d-a(n)} , and fill in the information that you know. Since you know that the 50th term is 300, then n=50, n-1=49 and a(n)=300. You also are given that the common difference, d, is 7. Therefore, the formula becomes a ( 1 ) = ( 49 ) ( 7 ) − 300 {\displaystyle a(1)=(49)(7)-300}. This works out to 343 − 300 = 43 {\displaystyle 343-300=43}. The sequence that you have began at 43, and counted up by 7. Therefore, it looks like 43,50,57,64,71,78…293,300. Find the length of a sequence. Suppose you know all about the start and end of an arithmetic sequence, but you need to find out how long it is. Use the revised formula n = a ( n ) − a ( 1 ) d + 1 {\displaystyle n={\frac {a(n)-a(1)}{d}}+1}. Suppose you know that a given arithmetic sequence begins at 100 and increases by 13. You are also told that the final term is 2,856. To find the length of the sequence, use the terms a1=100, d=13, and a(n)=2856. Insert these terms into the formula to give n = 2856 − 100 13 + 1 {\displaystyle n={\frac {2856-100}{13}}+1}. If you work this out, you get n = 2756 13 + 1 {\displaystyle n={\frac {2756}{13}}+1} , which equals 212+1, which is 213. There are 213 terms in that sequence. This sample sequence would look like 100, 113, 126, 139… 2843, 2856.

Find the common difference for the sequence. Check that the common difference is consistent. Add the common difference to the last given term. Verify that you are starting with an arithmetic sequence. Add the common difference to the term before the space. Subtract the common difference from the term following the space. Compare your results. Identify the first term of the sequence. Define your common difference as d. Use the explicit formula. Fill in your information to solve the problem. Rearrange the explicit formula to solve for other variables. Find the first term of a sequence. Find the length of a sequence.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-100-Dollars-in-a-Week-(Teens)

How to Make 100 Dollars in a Week (Teens)

100 dollars is a lot for a teen to earn in a week, but with a little creativity and planning, you can make it happen! Try getting a part-time gig to get some cash fast. Babysitting, walking dogs, and mowing lawns are all pretty lucrative. If you don't know anyone who needs these services, try putting up flyers in your neighborhood. Alternatively, if you have extended family members that need help around the house, ask them if they'd hire you to do some chores for them. Another good way to make money fast is to sell your unused items. You could sell your old video games to an electronics store or even organize a yard sale to clear clutter and make some cash.

Babysit your way to the $100. Many families hire teenagers to babysit their young children. If you are friendly and have a good rapport with young families in your neighborhood, ask them if they need a babysitter. Getting hired by family and neighborhood friends is optimal because it means quick cash and a safe contact you already know. Print out some fliers with tear-away tabs that have your contact info on them, then hang them up at your local elementary school. Start with people you already know, such as friends and family members. Tell them to help spread the word of what an awesome babysitter you are. Recycle junk for cash. Prior generations used to search for cans and bottles to recycle just so they had some extra cash. There are a variety of things you can recycle if you're resourceful enough. Gather recyclable items, such as soda cans and plastic water bottles. Once you have enough to fill a trash bag, take them to a recycling center. You won't make a ton off of this, so it's best to sell your recyclables in large batches. This way, you'll save a couple of trips. Ask your family and friends for their soda cans and water bottles too! This will give you more to sell back to your local recycling center. Try your hand at dog walking or pet sitting. Many people worry about their pets like human members of the family. Soothe concerns about beloved pets by taking care of them, walking them, and showing the pets love. Make fliers for your pet sitting service with tear-away tabs that contain your phone number or email. Post these in libraries or coffee shops. Earn a good reputation with dog owners by spending time at dog parks. Interact with the owners and their dogs, but also respect their space. Work outside for money, exercise, and a little fresh air. People often hire teens because they want to help out the neighborhood kids, and it is a much cheaper alternative to professional landscaping companies. If you aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty, try a few of the following suggestions: Offer lawn care services, such as mowing, weeding or raking. Bring your tools with you, or offer a discount for borrowing your client's tools. Cater to the season. If it snows in your area, consider adding snow shoveling to your services. If your area has a lot of pollen, offer car washing. Look for damaged fences and offer to repair them. Fences often need repainting or straightening. Become a tutor. Find your expertise, develop a way to get your point across, and find your potential clients. It may seem outrageous, but tutoring in an extreme case has pulled in $1,250-an-hour. Typical tutoring services, however, start somewhere between $10 and $15 an hour. Start with the kids in your class, then use fliers or word-of-mouth to advertise your services at your school or local library. Depending on what you're comfortable with, you can do private one-on-one sessions or small group sessions. Libraries often have special areas or rooms that you can check out for tutoring and group studying. Some schools also have tutoring centers that you can use. Try quick internet jobs. Many people are too busy to do the simplest things like get groceries, pick up dry cleaning, or transcribe a page of text. Sign on to a site like TaskRabbit, Fiverr, or Zaarly and look for the jobs you can complete in your area. Some sites will pay you to take and complete surveys, but be wary of scams if you try those. Research them online. Use computer and electronic abilities. Though it is hard to comprehend, people born before the internet age don't find computers as easy as you do. Here are a few creative ways to exploit your knowledge: Offer to connect a TV to a stereo or hook up an equalizer. Train people how to set up their wireless devices and accounts, such as Roku , Apple TV , or Netflix. Teach the elderly all about computers, including hardware basics, internet security, and common terms (such as cookies and phishing). Look for day labor. Many local businesses hire day laborers for basic tasks. Though being under 18 discounts you from many jobs, you may be able to find work as a sign holder or greeter. Peruse the classifieds for listings. If you remember noticing a business that employed a young-looking teen to hold a sign or something like that, call them and ask if they have any work. Be aware that these jobs may not be permanent, and often have random schedules. Not all jobs require you to be 18. Some jobs will hire younger teens, depending on the state's laws. Drive for your money. If you have a car, signing up to be a driver is a perfect way to make money. Become a driver for uber or lyft and work when you find the time. Alternatively, offer your services at school. Your classmates will always need rides to events, school, home, and extracurricular activities. If you're driving your classmates, keep your prices reasonable. After all, they are probably in the same situation as you and don't have a lot of cash. Get a part-time job. If you're having trouble finding people to pay you for your services, get a part time job. Go to the mall and put in applications. Fast food locations are always hiring. Both job types are perfect part time jobs for teens. Retail is a great way to get started because of the flexible scheduling. Many stores and cafes hire students and understand that they need to work around classes. Find a job that earns tips. Paid jobs often correspond to paychecks that take a few weeks before you see them in your bank account. However, you can get around the paycheck problem with a job that earns cash tips. This way, you have a check on the way as well as cash in your pocket immediately. If you have your license and know the area well, delivering pizzas quickly to hungry customers is guaranteed to earn you some good tips. Restaurant waiters, servers, busboys, and hosts can earn a lot via tips. Be a good server , pay attention to your customers, and they'll likely tip you 20% of the bill. Work as a golf caddy. You can make some great tips on the links, especially if you're helping someone who has a good round. Look for clothes you don't wear anymore. Many teens have clothes lying around that no longer fit, or are a style they wouldn't wear. Put together a box you think you could sell, and approach your parents. Let them go through your box and tell you which items are ok to sell and which you need to return to your closet. Sell your clothes online or at a yard sale. If you're too young to open up an account on your preferred website, ask your parents if they can sell for you. Purge the childish items you no longer play with or feel connected to. Just like clothing, teens outgrow their hobbies. Look around for items you haven't used in years, like child-friendly telescopes, toys, or dolls. You should be able to sell a few of the items for a decent amount of money (or a ton), especially if your room is cluttered. This doesn't mean that you have to get rid of everything. If your childhood bear is still special to you, keep him! Even if he spends his days on the shelf. Sell your old videogames. Selling your games can be done at a store or online. Try not to wait until the game system you're selling is obsolete, because it won't have nearly the same value. The right video game, however, could net you far more than $100 if you sell it at the right time. On the other hand, some vintage games can fetch a lot of money. Don't make assumptions and do your research online first. You might have some valuable treasures! Organize a yard/garage sale. Once you have gotten a few boxes of clothes and toys together it's time to sell them. You may have seen signs for yard sales in your neighborhood before. Put up a few signs with large, easy-to-read letters, break out the tables, and get enough change to for when you start to sell. Get your family or multiple families involved in a community garage sale ! This will get you more attention and customers. Ask your immediate and extended family. Family members are often happy to hire their relative to help with chores around the house. Tell them what you specialize in, but be open to doing whatever they need. If they sympathize with your cause, they are more likely to hire you. Elderly people often need help. Ask your grandparents if they need anything carried or moved. Are your siblings messy? Offer to clean up their rooms for a nominal fee. Look for opportunities when your parents are overburdened. For example, if your mom wishes that she had less housework so that she could enjoy a nice day out, offer to help out for some cash. Advertise around the neighborhood or local community for anything from lawn care to babysitting. This is a way to make sure that only trusted people in your neighborhood are contracting your services, preferably individuals you already know. Put up fliers on your local community center's bulletin board. Include tear-off tabs with your phone number so that people can take your contact info with them. Advertise online. The easiest way to get the word out about your services is on internet classifieds. Make sure you are not putting any specific information about your identity or residence in the ad. Only reply to legitimate sounding solicitations. There are a variety of ways to advertise locally online. Post an ad on Craigslist. Find your local city, look for the type of jobs needing help, and post an ad offering the same type of help. Alternatively, reply to the "odds and ends" jobs. Advertise on Facebook. This is also a great way to reach out to the extended family and friend list willing to support your endeavors. Create a quick website and market your services. There are a variety of creative ways to use a very simple website to make money. Try traditional print or newspaper classifieds. Though these are less utilized than their internet counterparts, many people still peruse them for goods and services. You're more likely to reach an older audience who hasn't quite caught on to everything being online; so, tailor your ads to jobs they'd most likely want. For example, an elderly person might need help with purchasing groceries or yardwork, rather than babysitting. Decide why you need the money. When asking family, friends, and neighbors to hire you for jobs, remember that it is more of a favor to you than them. Your reason for wanting to earn $100 fast can either make or break this for you. Without good reasoning, they may be less likely to employ you for odds and ends. Good reason – You'd like to better yourself by taking music courses at the local community college. Good reason – There is a charity 5k you'd like to sign you and your sibling up for, but you don't have the registration funds. Bad reason – Buying a new smart-phone because you broke your current one might display a lack of responsibility. Bad reason – Paying back someone at school for something you didn't need in the first place.

Babysit your way to the $100. Recycle junk for cash. Try your hand at dog walking or pet sitting. Work outside for money, exercise, and a little fresh air. Become a tutor. Try quick internet jobs. Use computer and electronic abilities. Look for day labor. Drive for your money. Get a part-time job. Find a job that earns tips. Look for clothes you don't wear anymore. Purge the childish items you no longer play with or feel connected to. Sell your old videogames. Organize a yard/garage sale. Ask your immediate and extended family. Advertise around the neighborhood or local community for anything from lawn care to babysitting. Advertise online. Try traditional print or newspaper classifieds. Decide why you need the money.

https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Facial-Swelling

How to Reduce Facial Swelling

To reduce your facial swelling, apply an ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to the swollen area for 10-20 minutes. Repeat this a few times a day for the first 3 days. When you take a shower or bath, use cool or warm water for at least 48 hours, since heat can increase the swelling in your face. At night, add a couple extra pillows behind your upper back and neck to keep your head upright, which will help to reduce your swelling. If your face doesn't go down within 2-3 days or your symptoms get worse, contact your doctor, since this could be a sign of infection.

Identify probable causes of your facial swelling. There are a number of conditions and reactions that may cause facial swelling. Different causes can require different treatments, so identifying the probable causes of your swelling will help you pick the right course of action. Some likely causes include: Allergic reactions Cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection Sinusitis, a bacterial infection of the sinus area Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the area around the eyes Angioedema , a severe swelling beneath the skin Thyroid problems Use an ice pack. Applying cold to a swollen area can help reduce inflammation and pain. You can either wrap ice in a towel or use an ice pack and press it against the swollen areas on your face. Hold the ice pack against your face for 10 to 20 minutes. You can use an ice pack multiple times each day for up the 72 hours. Elevate your head. Keeping the swollen area elevated can help reduce swelling, so keeping your head up can help. During the day, sit with your head upright. When you get ready for bed, position yourself so that your head will be elevated while you sleep. You can place pillows behind your back and head to angle your upper body back against the headboard. Avoid hot things. When your face is swollen, avoid hot things for at least 48 hours. Hot things can increase the swelling in your face and make the inflammation worse. This side effect of heat means you should avoid hot showers, hot tubs, hot baths, and/or hot packs. Try a turmeric paste. Turmeric is a natural remedy believed to help reduce inflammation. You can make a paste by adding turmeric powder or freshly ground turmeric to water. You can also mix turmeric with sandalwood, which also is supposed to help inflammation. Apply the paste on the swollen area of your face, making sure to avoid getting it in your eyes. Leave the paste on for around 10 minutes. Rinse it off. Then, press a rag covered with cold water on your face. Wait for it to go away. Some facial swelling will go away on its own, especially if it is connected to minor injuries or allergies. You just have to be patient and deal with it until then. However, if it doesn't change or get better within a few days, go to the doctor. Refrain from taking certain pain medications. If you are experiencing facial swelling, don't take aspirin or other NSAIDs to help with any related pain. These types of over-the-counter pain relievers can cause your blood not to clot properly. This inability to clot can lead to bleeding as well as increased or prolonged swelling. Contact your doctor if the symptoms get worse. If the swelling doesn't go down within two to three days or the symptoms get worse, contact your doctor. There could be an infection or more serious condition causing the inflammation. If you feel any numbness or tingling on your face, experience any vision problems, or notice any pus or other signs of infection, go to the doctor. Use an antihistamine. The facial swelling may be due to an allergic reaction. You can try taking an over-the-counter antihistamine to see if that helps. If that doesn't help, go to the doctor. They can diagnose the underlying cause and prescribe stronger antihistamines. They may prescribe oral or topical antihistamines. Take a diuretic. Some facial swelling, especially that caused by edema, can be treated by medications that help rid your body of excess fluids. Your doctor may prescribe you a diuretic, which will help release fluid in your body through urine. Change medications. Sometimes, medications such as prednisone that you take may lead to swelling, which can occur in the face. Talk to your doctor about the medications that you take. If your doctor suspects that is the cause, they will change your medication. Sleep on more pillows. If your pillow is too flat and your head hangs down too much during sleep, your face may start to swell. Place one or two extra pillows or pillows that are fluffier than you are used to using on your bed. This change in your pillows can help keep your head elevated, which can help reduce inflammation when you wake up in the morning. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Increased sugars and starches can contribute to swelling. To help manage this, eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that incorporates high-quality proteins and non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens. Try to get at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and minimize your intake of alcohol. sugary beverages, and processed foods. Reduce your salt intake. Salt can lead to inflammation, retaining water, and puffiness. Reducing how much sodium is in your diet may help reduce swelling around your face. The American Heart Association suggests that a healthy amount of sodium for most adults is around 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. Reducing sodium can be done by limiting the amount of prepackaged foods, fast foods, canned foods, and processed foods. They contain high amounts of sodium. Choose to make your own food from scratch to help with monitoring your sodium. You can control the amount of sodium in a way that you are not able to with prepackaged meals. Stay active. Lack of activity can cause fluid build-up that may cause or increase swelling. Incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity such as jogging or walking into your daily routine to help manage chronic swelling. Drink more water. Dehydration can lead to inflammation and worsen conditions that lead to facial swelling. Lack of water also causes your skin to get dry and irritated, which can lead to inflammation. To keep your face glowing and healthy, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Try regular facial exercises. Facial exercises such as sucking in your cheeks and pursing your lips can help keep the face toned and firm. Other potentially effective facial exercises include: Gently tapping your face with both of your middle fingers at the same time. Placing your fingers in the shape of a peace sign and gently moving your brows up and down. Pursing your teeth together and then making exaggerated "OO, EE" movements.

Identify probable causes of your facial swelling. Use an ice pack. Elevate your head. Avoid hot things. Try a turmeric paste. Wait for it to go away. Refrain from taking certain pain medications. Contact your doctor if the symptoms get worse. Use an antihistamine. Take a diuretic. Change medications. Sleep on more pillows. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Reduce your salt intake. Stay active. Drink more water. Try regular facial exercises.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hair-Wraps

How to Make Hair Wraps

To make a hair wrap, start by cutting some colored threads that are 2-3 times longer than your hair. Next, braid a section of your hair that's about the thickness of a pencil and secure it with an elastic band. Then, double knot your threads twice around the base of your braid, as close to the scalp as possible. After that, choose one colored thread, wrap it around the braid clockwise, and tie it off in a knot. Continue to alternate different colored threads until you reach the end, then secure the threads with a double knot.

Measure out the length of thread. Cut the thread or embroidery floss to your desired length. A good rule to follow is measuring the thread against the chosen strand of hair and make the thread 2-3 times longer than your hair or the extension you are wrapping. Measure out as many colors as you want to add to the first wrap and lay them out together. Select and separate the section of hair you want to wrap. Choose a section of hair that is no thicker than a pencil. Most who wrap their hair go for a subtle location at the base of their hairline (by their neck) to create a for a pop of color. If you want to go all out, pick a section at the crown (top) of your head. Separate the chosen hair section and wrap a ponytail holder around your remaining hair, or clip it back to keep it out of the way. Secure the selected hair. Braid the section chosen as tight and clean as possible , with minimal flyaways and unwanted bumps. Separate the small section of hair into three pieces. Braid the hair down as far down to the end as possible. Secure with a small elastic. You can choose to straighten the strand of hair but you don't have too. To smooth out the little frizzy pieces of hair that might be sticking out, lightly wet your fingers and slick down the entire braided strand. It is also helpful to secure a tissue with bobby pins at the root of the braid to help prevent the surrounding hair from getting into the wrap when you start. Gather the colorful threads and fold them in half. Using the end of the thread, tie the floss onto the base of the braid as close to the scalp as you can with a basic double knot (making a number 4 and sliding the end of the thread through the 4). Make sure the knot is tight and secure. Secure the thread again (or thread bundle of several colors) with another double knot. Fold the excess thread down against the hair so that it gets tucked inside the wrap as you work your way down. Choose your starting thread color. Choose one string color to wrap around the braid for the several colors you have in the bundle. This means separating one color strand of thread and holding the rest of the colored strands smooth with the braid. Have fun creating your hair wrap - be patient and be creative! Once you try these basic designs, you can try new ways to create different unique patterns on your own braids. Most commonly, people choose to wrap just one braid but don't be afraid to wrap several braid strands or even do your whole head! You can keep your hair wrap in for a couple days or an entire month. Most people decide it is time to remove the wrap when it starts to smell or feel funny. No matter what, do not leave it on longer than a month. An old wrap can mold. If you want to keep rocking the wrap look, remove the old one and start a new one on a different piece of hair. To remove the hair wrap, carefully snip the knot off and unravel the thread. Be careful to avoid cutting your own hair. Start wrapping the braid with a simple wrap. Pull the first piece of colored thread clockwise tightly around the braid until you are ready to switch colors. Change thread colors. Wrap with the first color thread until you have gone about an inch or so down the braid. To switch to a new thread color, tie a knot around the wrap with the first color, then lay it down with the other strands and pull out another color. This will secure the wrap at the color change. The tightness of the first color will hold down the next color so you don't have to worry about it becoming loose. You can wrap down about an inch again or vary the length to create an alternating design pattern of colors. Next repeat the switch. Keep wrapping until you use up all the colors in your original bundle. You can get more creative by using two colors of thread and wrapping them at the same time to get alternating colors. To get even more creative, you can use three colors of thread wrapping them in together (which creates an alternating color scheme). Alternate and knot each color. Wrap one color using your knot choice down approximately one inch but instead of tying it off with a final knot you will loop the thread through itself and secure. Then take the additional two strings from the top of that 1 inch (2.5 cm) section, and make crisscrosses over the top of the 1 inch (2.5 cm) section you just created with the first color of the three. Secure all three strings at the bottom with a double knot. HINT: This is often a great place to add a decorative charm or bead. Use clear fishing line to tie the charm or bead into the thread bundle. Remove hair elastic and tie the wrap at the end. To finish the wrap, pull the current thread through the loop of the final wrap to make a knot. Trim any excess thread from the bottom. Tie each wrap with a forward knot. Do this by wrapping the thread around the hair, then taking the string on the left and crossing it over the string on the right and make a 4. Then tuck the end under and through 4 - pulling the end through the loop created (example at right). Pull the knot tight. This creates a half forward knot. Repeat to create a full forward knot. Continue repeating to create a series of knots that will work all the way down the hair wrap. This method will make a very secure wrap. Start to alternate colors. To switch the thread color, lay it flat with the braid and pick a new color. Begin tying more forward knots with one color until you are about an inch down and then switch to another color. Repeat this all the way down the braid until you have used up all the colors and reached the end of the braid. If you run out of string, just tie another piece onto the end of the last string/thread with a secure knot. Clip off excess thread. Remove hair elastic and tie the wrap at the end. To finish the wrap, pull the current thread through the loop of the final wrap to make a knot. Double it with the other threads to make the knot extra secure. Trim any excess thread from the bottom. Start the Chinese Staircase hair wrap. Take thread behind, hold it into a 4 with your hand and pulled of thread through like a knot. Then pull it all the way up to your scalp or the top to the braid. Repeat. After about 10-15 times of doing this same 4 tie knot, the wrap will be about an inch down the braid and you will start to see how the pattern is going around and around your braid. Tie knots in a circular motion around the braid. To make the pattern flow, when you are tying it, you will pull it in a circle for each new knot. Don't pull it too tight, just a light tug up so that it is easy enough to get out of your hair when you are ready to remove the hair wrap. Remove hair elastic and tie the wrap at the end. To finish the wrap, pull the current thread through the loop of the final wrap to make a knot. Double it with the other threads to make the knot extra secure. Trim any excess thread from the bottom.

Measure out the length of thread. Select and separate the section of hair you want to wrap. Secure the selected hair. Gather the colorful threads and fold them in half. Choose your starting thread color. Have fun creating your hair wrap Start wrapping the braid with a simple wrap. Change thread colors. Next repeat the switch. Alternate and knot each color. Remove hair elastic and tie the wrap at the end. Tie each wrap with a forward knot. Start to alternate colors. Remove hair elastic and tie the wrap at the end. Start the Chinese Staircase hair wrap. Repeat. Tie knots in a circular motion around the braid. Remove hair elastic and tie the wrap at the end.

https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Friction

How to Increase Friction

If you want to increase friction, create a rougher point of contact between two objects so that irregularities on the surface catch on each other. Alternatively, press the surfaces together harder to increase the force and create greater friction. If there is lubricant between the surfaces, such as oil or grease, remove it to generate more friction. Finally, try removing any wheels or bearings to create sliding friction, which is much less than the rolling friction of a tire or ball.

Create a “rougher” or more adhesive point of contact. When two materials slide or rub against each other, three things can happen: small nooks, crannies, and irregularities on the surfaces can catch on each other; one or both surfaces can deform in response to the motion; and, finally, the atoms within each surface can interact with each other. For practical purposes, all three of these effects do the same thing: generate friction. Picking surfaces that are abrasive (like sandpaper), deform when pressed (like rubber), or have adhesive interactions with other surfaces (like tacky glue, etc.) is a straightforward way to increase friction. Engineering textbooks and similar resources can be great tools when picking which materials to use to generate high friction. Most standard building materials have known "friction coefficients" — that is, measures of how much friction they generate with other surfaces. Sliding friction coefficients for just a few common materials are listed below (higher coefficients indicate greater friction): Aluminum on aluminum: 0.34 Wood on wood: 0.129 Dry concrete on rubber: 0.6-0.85 Wet concrete on rubber: 0.45-0.75 Ice on ice: 0.01 Press the two surfaces together harder. One fundamental principle of basic physics is that the friction an object experiences is proportional to its normal force (for our purposes, this is basically the force with which it presses into the object it's sliding against). This means that the friction between two surfaces can be increased if the surfaces are pressed into each other with greater force. If you've ever used a set of disc brakes (for instance, on a car or bike) you've observed this principle in action. In this case, pressing the brakes on a car pushes a set of friction-generating pads into metal discs attached to the wheels. The harder the brakes are pushed, the harder the pads get pressed into the discs and the more friction is generated. This can stop the vehicle quickly, but can also release lots of heat, which is why a set of brakes is usually quite hot after heavy braking. On a bike, the brake pads press onto the metal frame of the tire to stop them from rotating. Stop any relative motion. That is, if one surface is in motion with respect to another, stop it. Up until now, we've focused on kinetic (or "sliding") friction — the friction that occurs between two objects or surfaces as they rub against each other. In fact, this friction is different from static friction — the friction that occurs when one object starts to move against another. Essentially, the friction between two objects is the greatest right when they start moving against each other. Once they're already in motion, friction decreases. This is one of the reasons why it's harder to start pushing a heavy object than it is to keep moving it. Try this simple experiment to observe the difference between static and kinetic friction: place a chair or another piece of furniture on a smooth floor in your house (not rug or carpet). Make sure the furniture doesn't have protective "foot pads" or any other sort of material on the bottom that might make it easy to slide across the floor. Try to push the furniture just hard enough so that it starts moving. You should notice that as soon as the furniture starts moving, it immediately becomes slightly easier to push. This is because the kinetic friction between the furniture and the floor is less than the static friction. Remove lubrication between the two surfaces. Lubricants like oil, grease, petroleum jelly, and so on can greatly reduce the friction between two objects or surfaces. This is because the friction between two solids is generally much higher than the friction between those solids and the liquid between them. To increase friction, try removing any lubricants from the equation, using only "dry", un-lubricated parts to generate friction. To see the friction-reducing potential of lubricants, try this simple experiment: Rub your hands together as if they're cold and you want to warm them up. You should immediately notice them heat up from the friction. Next, put a fair amount of lotion in your palms and try the same thing. Not only should it be easier to rub your hands against each other quickly, but you should also notice much less heat. Remove wheels or bearings to create sliding friction. Wheels, bearings, and other "rolling" objects experience a special kind of friction called rolling friction. This friction is almost always much less than the friction generated by simply sliding an equivalent object along the ground. — This is why these objects tend to roll, rather than slide along the ground. To increase the friction in a mechanical system, try removing wheels, bearings, and so on so that parts rub against each other rather than roll against each other. For instance, consider the difference between pulling a heavy weight along the ground in a wagon versus pulling a similar weight in a sled. A wagon has wheels, so it's easier to pull than a sled, which drags against the ground, generating lots of sliding friction as it goes. Increase the fluid viscosity. Solid objects aren't the only things that can generate friction. Fluids (liquids and gases like water and air, respectively) can also generate friction. The amount of friction a fluid generates as it passes against a solid depends on several factors. One of the easiest of these to control is the fluid viscosity — that is, what's commonly called its "thickness". Generally, highly viscous fluids (ones that are "thick", "gooey", etc.) generate more friction than fluids that are less viscous (ones that are "smooth" and "liquid"). For instance, consider the difference in the effort you might experience when blowing water through a straw versus blowing honey through a straw. Water, which isn't very viscous, is very easy to suck into and blow out of a straw. Honey, on the other hand, is quite a bit more difficult to move through a straw. This is because honey's high viscosity generates lots of resistive friction as it's forced through a narrow tube like a straw. Increase the viscosity of the fluid. The medium through which an object moves exerts a force on the object's surfaces which, in aggregate, make up the frictional force acting on the object. The denser a fluid is (more viscous), the more slowly an object under the effect of a given force will move through the fluid. For example, a marble will fall more quickly through air than water and through water more quickly than molasses. Viscosity of most fluids can be increased by lowering the temperature of the fluid. For example, a marble falls more slowly through cold molasses than molasses at room temperature. Increase the area exposed to air. As noted above, fluids like water and air can generate friction as they move against solid objects. The friction force that an object experiences as it moves through a fluid is called drag (this is sometimes referred to as "air resistance", "water resistance", etc.) One of the properties of drag is that objects with bigger profiles, or surface area, to the fluid as they move through it — have greater drag. The fluid has more total space to push against, increasing the friction on the object as it moves through it. For instance, let's say that a pebble and a sheet of paper both weigh one gram. If we drop both at the same time, the pebble will fall straight to the floor, while the paper will slowly drift to the ground. This is the principal of drag in action — the air pushes against the big, wide face of the paper, producing drag and causing it to pass through the air much more slowly than the pebble, which has a relatively small cross-sectional area. Use a shape with a greater drag coefficient. While the cross-sectional area of an object is a good general indication of how great its drag will be, in fact, drag calculations are slightly more complicated. Different shapes interact with fluids in different ways as they pass through them — this means that some shapes (for instance, flat plates), can have a greater drag than different shapes (for instance, spheres) made out of the same amount of material. Since the quantity that measures the relative amount of drag a shape makes is called a "drag coefficient", shapes with high drags are said to have large drag coefficients. For example, consider an airplane wing. The shape of a typical airplane wing is called an airfoil. This shape, which is smooth, narrow, rounded, and sleek, passes through the air easily. It has a very low drag coefficient — 0.45. On the other hand, imagine if an airplane had sharp-edged, boxy, prism-shaped wings. These wings would generate much more friction because they wouldn't pass through without great resistance. In fact, prisms have a higher drag coefficient than airfoils — about 1.14. Objects with bigger, boxier "body flows" generally generate more drag than other objects. On the other hand, objects with streamlined body flows are narrow, have rounded edges, and usually taper off towards the back of the object — like the body of a fish. Use a less permeable material. Some types of materials are permeable to fluids. In other words, they have holes in them that the fluid may pass through. This effectively reduces the area of the object that the fluid is able to push against, lowering the force of drag. This property holds true even if the holes are microscopic — as long as the holes are large enough to let some of the fluid pass through the object, the drag will be reduced. This is why parachutes, which are designed to create lots of drag to slow the speed of the user's fall, are made out of strong, light silk or nylon and not cheesecloth or coffee filters. For an example of this property in action, consider the fact that a ping pong paddle can be swung faster if a few holes are drilled in it. The holes let air pass through as the paddle is swung, greatly reducing the drag and allowing the paddle to move faster. Increase the speed of the object. Finally, no matter what shape an object is or how permeable the material it's made from is, the drag it creates will always increase as it goes faster. The faster an object goes, the more fluid it has to move through, and, thus, the greater drag it experiences. Objects moving at very high speeds can experience very high friction due to drag, so these objects usually must be very streamlined or they will fall apart under the force of the drag. For instance, consider the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird", an experimental spy plane built during the cold war. The Blackbird, which could fly at speeds greater than mach 3.2, experienced extreme drag forces at these high speeds in spite of its streamlined design — extreme enough, in fact, that the metal fuselage of the plane would actually expand from the heat generated by the friction of the air in mid-flight.

Create a “rougher” or more adhesive point of contact. Press the two surfaces together harder. Stop any relative motion. Remove lubrication between the two surfaces. Remove wheels or bearings to create sliding friction. Increase the fluid viscosity. Increase the viscosity of the fluid. Increase the area exposed to air. Use a shape with a greater drag coefficient. Use a less permeable material. Increase the speed of the object.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Bibingka

How to Make Bibingka

To make bibingka, start by whisking together rice flour, baking powder, and salt until combined. Then, in a separate bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and butter. Next, add the flour mixture and coconut milk to the egg mixture. Once the mixture is done, pour the batter into tart pans or ramekins lined with banana leaves, and bake them for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, after the cakes are cooked put them in the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the tops are browned.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Prepare four tart pans or ramekins by lining them with cut banana leaves. If you want the cakes to look as traditional as possible, bake them in 6-inch (15.25-cm) ramekins. You could use 4-oz (10-cm) ramekins, but the cakes will be thicker than usual and will also take longer to cook. Similarly, if baked in tart pans, the cakes will be a bit shallower than usual and may bake quicker. You could also use a standard 8-inch (20.3-cm) round baking pan with a depth of 3 inches (7.6 cm) if you do not have a tart pan, ramekins, or ramekin-like miniature baking pans. The banana leaves are an essential aspect of this recipe if you want it to be as traditional as possible. They add to both the appearance and fragrance of the finished cakes. Combine the first portion of dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the rice flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Most traditional recipes only use standard rice flour and do not used sweet or glutinous rice flour. Create the egg mixture. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly with a whisk. Add the sugar and beat again. Add the melted butter and beat once more. Granulated sugar is used in most traditional recipes for bibingka, but for a slightly different taste, you could use brown sugar, instead. Add the flour and coconut milk. Alternate adding the flour mixture and coconut milk to the egg mixture, beating with a whisk after each addition. Only beat until the mixture is just blended, and avoid over-beating the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Divide the batter evenly amongst the four prepared pans, pouring it directly into the banana leaves. Traditionally, you should lay slices of salted egg on top of each cake before baking it. Duck eggs are the most traditional, but salted chicken eggs will also work. Bake the cakes. Place the cakes on the top rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cakes are cooked through. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of each cake. If it comes out clean, then the cakes are fully cooked. Brown the tops. Switch the broiler on to low and broil the cakes for another 2 to 3 minutes, or until the top of each cake browns. Watch the cakes carefully during this time to prevent them from burning. Note that this step is only optional. It will have very little bearing on the taste of the cake, but it can create a more appealing appearance. Finish and serve the cakes. Remove the cakes from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Brush them with additional melted butter, and if desired, sprinkle with additional sugar, grated coconut, and grated cheese. Serve while still warm. You could eat the cakes out of the ramekins you baked them in, but for a better presentation, you should slide them out of their baking dishes before adding the butter, sugar, coconut, and cheese. Carefully tip each ramekin onto its side and gently slide the cake and banana leaves out. Place each cake on an individual serving platter and enjoy. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Prepare a 13-inch by 18-inch by 1-inch (33-cm by 46-cm by 2.5-cm) baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Note that the modern version of this recipe does not use banana leaves like the traditional version uses. Combine the milks. In a large mixing bowl, combine the coconut milk, condensed milk, and melted butter using an electric mixer. Note that as you beat the ingredients together, in this step and in later steps, you should periodically scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure that all of the ingredients are being mixed into the batter equally. Add the eggs. Add the eggs to the batter one at a time, beating after each addition until combined. Add the macapuno strings. Mix these coconut strings into the batter one can at a time. Beat after each addition to combine. Do not drain the syrup from the cans of macapuno. You should add the entire contents of the cans, syrup, coconut strings, and all. Gradually add the sweet rice flour. Add the rice flour to the batter in 1/2 cup (125 ml) amounts, beating well after each addition to combine. Do not add the mochiko flour all at once. If you do, the batter will become very clumpy, and you might not be able to smooth it out again even after prolonged beating. Add the remaining ingredients. Pour in the brown sugar and finely chopped almonds, then beat into an even consistency. When done, add the vanilla extract, and beat quickly to mix it into the rest of the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet. Quickly inspect it to make sure that there are no air bubbles or lumps. If you notice any air bubbles, remove them by gently tapping the bottom of the pan against the counter. Cook until done. Bake the cake for roughly 45 minutes, or until it turns a light brown. Sprinkle a little cinnamon over the cake in an even pattern, then continue to bake it for another 2 to 15 minutes, or until it turns golden brown. The center of the cake should be set when it is ready to come out of the oven. Check the center by inserting a toothpick directly into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Cool and serve the cake. Remove the cake from the oven. Lift the parchment paper off the baking sheet, lifting the cake with it, and allow the cake to cool on the parchment paper but off the baking sheet until it reaches room temperature. Cut the entire thing into 2-inch (5-cm) squares and serve. To make the cutting process easier, use a long, clean ruler and a pizza cutter. You can store the cooked bibingka in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days at room temperature. If refrigerated, you can store it for 1 to 2 weeks. The consistency of this version tends to get harder once the cake has completely cooled, so you might want to reheat it in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds before enjoying. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Prepare a 13-inch by 9-inch (33-cm by 23-cm) baking pan by greasing it with butter, shortening, or nonstick cooking spray. Note that this version of the recipe does not require the use of banana leaves. Cream together the cream cheese and 2 cups (500 ml) sugar. Combine the two ingredients in a large bowl and beat them together with an electric mixer on low speed for roughly 30 seconds, or until thoroughly creamed together. Scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure that all the cream cheese and sugar have been blended in. Stir the eggs in. Add the eggs to the cream cheese mixture, stirring well enough to blend the egg in after each addition. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Add the baking powder, sweet rice flour, melted butter, vanilla, cream of coconut, milk, and crushed pineapple to the batter. Add them one at a time, stirring after each addition. When done, continue stirring until the batter is smooth. When adding the flour, you should mix it into the batter 1/2 cup (125 ml) at a time and stir after each addition. Doing so minimizes the risk of lumps forming in your batter. Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Once the batter is in the pan, sprinkle the top evenly with the brown sugar and an additional 2 Tbsp (30 ml) granulated sugar. Check the batter for lumps or air bubbles. Break up any lumps with a fork or spatula. Remove any air bubbles by gently tapping the bottom of the pan against the counter. Bake for 1 hour. The cake is done when the edges turn slightly crispy and the center is baked through. Check the center by inserting a toothpick into the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Let the cake cool to room temperature in its pan. Serve warm. After the cake cools to room temperature, cut it into 12 to 24 even squares and remove those squares from the pan. Serve while still somewhat warm, or place the squares in an airtight container and serve later. If you plan on eating the cake in the next 1 to 2 days, you can store it at room temperature. To preserve the freshness of the cake for 1 to 2 weeks, place it in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Combine the first portion of dry ingredients. Create the egg mixture. Add the flour and coconut milk. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake the cakes. Brown the tops. Finish and serve the cakes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Combine the milks. Add the eggs. Add the macapuno strings. Gradually add the sweet rice flour. Add the remaining ingredients. Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet. Cook until done. Cool and serve the cake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Cream together the cream cheese and 2 cups (500 ml) sugar. Stir the eggs in. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour. Serve warm.

https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Growth-Rate

How to Calculate Growth Rate

To calculate growth rate, start by subtracting the past value from the current value. Then, divide that number by the past value. Finally, multiply your answer by 100 to express it as a percentage. For example, if the value of your company was $100 and now it's $200, first you'd subtract 100 from 200 and get 100. Then, you'd divide 100 by the past value, which is 100, and get 1. Finally, you'd multiply 1 by 100 to get 100. Therefore, the growth rate would be 100 percent.

Obtain data that shows a change in a quantity over time. All you need to calculate a basic growth rate are two numbers - one that represents a certain quantity's starting value and another that represents is ending value. For instance, if your business was worth $1,000 at the beginning of the month and it's worth $1,200 today, you'll calculate growth rate with 1,000 as your starting (or "past") value and 1,200 as your ending (or "present") value. Let's do a simple example problem. In this case, we will use the two numbers 205 (as our past value) and 310 (as our present value). If both values are the same, there is no growth - the growth rate is 0. Apply the growth rate formula. Simply insert your past and present values into the following formula: (Present) - (Past) / (Past). You'll get a fraction as an answer - divide this fraction to get a decimal value. In our example, we'll insert 310 as our present value and 205 as our past value. Our formula will look like this: (310 - 205)/205 = 105/205 = 0.51 Express your decimal answer as a percentage. Most growth rates are written as percents. To convert your decimal answer to a percentage, simply multiply it by 100, then add a percentage sign ("%"). Percentages are an easy-to-digest, universally-understood way to express change between two numbers. So, for our example, we would multiply 0.51 by 100, then add a percent sign. 0.51 x 100 = 51%. Our answer means our growth rate is 51%. In other words, our present value is 51% bigger than our past value. If our present value was smaller than our past value, our growth rate would be negative. Organize your data in a table. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it's useful, as it allows you to visualize your given data as a range of values over a length of time. For our purposes, simple tables will usually suffice - simply use two columns, listing your values for time in the left column and the corresponding values for your quantity in the right column, as above. Use a growth rate equation which takes into account the number of time intervals in your data. Your data should have regular values for time, each with a corresponding value for your quantity. The units for these time values aren't important - this method will work for data collected over spans of minutes, seconds, days, etc. In our case, our data is expressed in terms of years. Insert your past and present values into a new formula: (present) = (past) * (1 + growth rate) where n = number of time periods. This method will give us an average growth rate for each time interval given past and present figures and assuming a steady rate of growth. Because our example uses years, this means we'll get an average annual growth rate. Isolate the "growth rate" variable. Manipulate the equation via algebra to get "growth rate" by itself on one side of the equal sign. To do this, divide both sides by the past figure, take the exponent to 1/n, then subtract 1. If your algebra works out, you should get: growth rate = (present / past) - 1. Solve for your growth rate. Insert values for your past and present values, as well as a value for n (which will be the number of time intervals in your data, including your past and present values.) Solve according to basic principles of algebra, order of operations, etc. In our example, we'll use our present figure of 310 and our past figure of 205, along with a time period of 9 years for n. In this case, the average annual growth rate is simply (310/205) - 1 =.0422 0.0422 x 100 = 4.22%. On average, our value grew by 4.22 percent each year.

Obtain data that shows a change in a quantity over time. Apply the growth rate formula. Express your decimal answer as a percentage. Organize your data in a table. Use a growth rate equation which takes into account the number of time intervals in your data. Isolate the "growth rate" variable. Solve for your growth rate.

https://www.wikihow.com/Custom-Paint-Your-Electric-Guitar

How to Custom Paint Your Electric Guitar

To give your electric guitar a custom paint job, remove the guitar's strings, neck, and electrical components. Then, heat the old paint with a hairdryer and scrape it off with a putty knife. Sand down any rough spots and give the guitar 5 coats of wood sealer. Let the guitar dry between coats, which takes 1 to 2 hours. After 3 days, sand the shiny parts of the sealer with 200 grit sandpaper and paint your guitar. However, take care not to paint the neck or you won't be able to reassemble the guitar.

Remove your guitar strings and the screws in the body of the guitar. Remove the guitar strings and then unscrew the neck of the guitar from the body with a Phillips-Head screwdriver. Once the body is standing alone, unscrew the screws and knobs on the front of the guitar. Remove the screws on the pickups and bridge of the guitar. If there is a faceplate over your volume knobs, you'll have to remove the plastic portions of the knobs before you can lift the faceplate off. Remove the electrical components connecting the bridge and pickups. Once all of the screws are out on the face of the guitar, you can lift up your bridge and pickups, which are connected by wires. Snip these and solder them later when you put your guitar back together. If you feel unsure about taking your guitar apart, take it to a guitar store so that they can safely do it for you. Make sure all the electrical wiring is removed from the guitar before you start painting it. Heat the old paint with a hairdryer or heat gun. Set your heat gun or hairdryer to the lowest setting and move it back and forth, across the body of your guitar. The heat from your hairdryer or heat gun will soften the finish on your guitar and make it easier to lift up the paint. Continue heating the paint for five minutes and then use a putty knife to poke at the paint. If the paint feels soft, you can go onto the next step. Do not hold the heat gun in one spot for too long or you may burn the wood that's under the paint. Lift off the old paint with a putty knife. Start by scoring a small location on the softened paint. Use your putty knife to lift off the old finish and don't worry if it cracks off. Continue to scrape the paint and remove the old finish without damaging the wood under it. If the paint isn't coming off, use the heat gun again to soften it. Once you're done removing the finish, you should see the wood grain under it. Sand the body of the guitar. Use a 100 grit sandpaper and sand over the surface of the guitar's body in the direction of the grain. Sand down irregularities so that the body of the guitar is as smooth as possible. Follow the contours of the guitar and sand the sides and edges of the guitar as well. Once you've sanded it with the 100 grit sandpaper, you can move to a 200 grit sandpaper to sand out smaller irregularities. Use a sanding block if the sandpaper is hurting your hands. Fill any holes with an automotive filler. As you sand down your guitar, you're likely to find bumps or divots in the body. Purchase an automotive filler online or an auto shop and follow the instructions to create the sticky substance. Use a plastic scraper to scoop up some of the filler and spread it over the divots in the body of the guitar. Once the divots are filled, let the filler dry for at least 20 minutes. Bondo is a popular type of automotive filler. Sand the automotive filler so it lies flush with the guitar's surface. Once you've filled in all divots and the guitar is relatively smooth, you'll have to do one last sanding with the 100 grit sandpaper. Continue to sand until the automotive filler lies flush with the body of the guitar. Dust the guitar with a dry rag. Don't saturate the wood grain on your guitar to prevent moisture from getting absorbed into the guitar. Take a microfiber cloth or a clean rag and wipe over the surface, making sure to remove any sawdust or debris that might be on the guitar. Debris or dust left on the guitar will get sealed into the paint job. Lay the guitar down on a flat surface. Lay down drop cloths under the guitar so that the paint doesn't stain the surface that you're painting on. Rest the guitar on top of the drop cloths with the back of the guitar facing up. Choose a wood sealer. You can purchase wood sealer online or at a hardware store. Purchase a water based wood sealer that has a high gloss. Use a white sealer if you're painting your guitar a lighter color. If you're painting it a dark color, apply a gray sealer. Apply wood sealer to the guitar. Saturate a dry rag in the sealer. Once the rag is saturated, drag it along the grain on the surface of your guitar. Make long movements and do not scrub in a concentrated area with the sealer. Once the back of the guitar is sealed, allow it to dry for 10 minutes, then turn the guitar over and finish sealing the front and sides. Once your rag looks dirty, dispose of it and use another, clean rag. Remove the shielding in the electronics bay, Apply the sealer into all pickup and electronics cavities and neck pocket, being careful not to let it puddle in these areas. These areas are often overlooked and allow moisture to enter the wood. Allow the guitar to dry and apply three to five coats of sealer. Let the sealer dry for an hour or two and come back and apply another even coat of sealer. The sealer will help the colored coats of paint adhere to the body of the guitar much easier. Continue adding more coats of sealer until you've covered the guitar three to five times in total. Remember to let the sealer dry for an hour or two in between each new application. Once the guitar is properly sealed, the wood grain will be a much darker color. Let the sealer dry for three days. Feel over the sealer to make sure that it's no longer wet or sticky. Make sure that the guitar dries in a well-ventilated area so no one gets sick from the sealer's fumes. Sand off the shiny portions of the sealer. Using a 200 grit sandpaper, carefully sand over the shiny parts of the sealer. Make sure not to sand too hard or you may expose the wood grain underneath. If you do do this, simply reapply more coats of sealer to the guitar and allow it to dry before moving on. When you're done, the guitar should have a dull white or gray color. Choose a paint for your guitar. Typical guitar paint includes polyester, polyurethane, and nitrocellulose. Polyurethane and polyester will result in a harder, more plastic-feeling finish on your guitar while nitrocellulose is lighter and thinner. If you're unsure of what kind of paint to get, look for spray paint that's made specifically for guitars. Mask off the neck pocket keeping 1/16 inch from all of the pocket edges. This is to prevent the paint from building up and making it real hard getting the neck reinstalled. The neck joint is the most critical cut on any guitar. Make sure you tape this off very well. Spray your base coat onto the guitar. Position the nozzle on the spray can 12 to 18 inches (30.48 to 45.72 cm) away from the body of the guitar. Remember to cover the edges of the guitar. Press down on the button on the spray can and go in long, sweeping back and forth motions across the body of the guitar. Let the paint dry for ten minutes. Touch the surface of the guitar to make sure that none of the paint transfers to your hand. The paint may still be sticky and you'll still be able to see the sealer under the basecoat that you just sprayed. Flip the guitar over and spray the other side. Once the guitar is dry, flip it over and spray down the other side of the guitar. You should now have one solid basecoat of paint over the front and back of your guitar. Apply additional coats of base paint to the guitar. Allow each coat of paint to dry for five minutes before applying the next coat. Continue flipping the guitar over so that the entire guitar gets even coverage. Continue to cover your guitar in coats of paint until the paint gets darker and richer. This could take anywhere from three to seven coats of paint. Let the paint dry. Once you're done laying down the base color for your guitar, you'll have to let the paint dry for another one or two days in a well-ventilated area. Once it's completely dry, you can move onto the next step. Sand the paint using 400-grit wet sandpaper. Once the color coat is dry, run your fingers over the surface, sides, and back of the guitar to see if the paint is smooth. If the paint rises too high in some spots or has become bumpy, you should sand it down with a wet sandpaper. Saturate the sandpaper in water overnight, then work it along the rough parts of your guitar while it's still wet. Wet sandpaper will not scratch the surface of your guitar. Spray clear lacquer onto the guitar. Clear lacquer paint will give your guitar a shiny finish over the paint. You can purchase clear lacquer paint at a home improvement store or online. Spray the clear lacquer the same way you sprayed the base coat, putting four separate coats of lacquer on the guitar and letting the paint dry for 90 minutes in between sprays. Let the guitar dry for three weeks. Don't touch your guitar for three weeks as the paint dries. During this time, the paint will cure and should be a rich solid color, but will be missing the polish that guitars typically have. Polish the guitar with car polish. Saturate a rag or cloth with car polish and work it on the surface of the guitar using small, circular motions. This should refine the lacquer coat on the guitar, making the shine more reflective. Finish off the guitar by buffing off the remaining polish with a clean rag. Reassemble your guitar. Reinstall the shielding in the electronics bay. Solder the wires from your bridge and pickups back to the corresponding wires in the body of your guitar. Fit the bridge and pickups back on the front of the guitar and screw in the corresponding screws that you set aside before. Lastly, screw in the neck of your guitar and reattach any knobs that you removed. Your guitar should now be reassembled.

Remove your guitar strings and the screws in the body of the guitar. Remove the electrical components connecting the bridge and pickups. Heat the old paint with a hairdryer or heat gun. Lift off the old paint with a putty knife. Sand the body of the guitar. Fill any holes with an automotive filler. Sand the automotive filler so it lies flush with the guitar's surface. Dust the guitar with a dry rag. Lay the guitar down on a flat surface. Choose a wood sealer. Apply wood sealer to the guitar. Allow the guitar to dry and apply three to five coats of sealer. Let the sealer dry for three days. Sand off the shiny portions of the sealer. Choose a paint for your guitar. Mask off the neck pocket keeping 1/16 inch from all of the pocket edges. Spray your base coat onto the guitar. Let the paint dry for ten minutes. Flip the guitar over and spray the other side. Apply additional coats of base paint to the guitar. Let the paint dry. Sand the paint using 400-grit wet sandpaper. Spray clear lacquer onto the guitar. Let the guitar dry for three weeks. Polish the guitar with car polish. Reassemble your guitar.

https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Your-Overall-Body-Fat

How to Reduce Your Overall Body Fat

To reduce overall body fat, make sure to eat lots of lean protein, such as chicken, tuna, eggs, and beans, which are essential to burning body fat. Additionally, eat plenty of low calorie, nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, while reducing the amount of carbs you eat, such as bread and pasta. You should also increase your activity level, since combining a healthy diet with exercise is the most effective way to reduce body fat. In general, you should aim for 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day, such as walking, jogging, swimming, or weight training.

Opt for meals that are low-calorie. Low-calorie diets will help you lose weight and reduce body fat. Monitor how many calories you eat daily and reduce this number by around 500 calories each day. This will yield a 1 – 2 pound weight loss per week. Count how many calories you're currently consuming. You can use a food journal, app or online calculator to help you do this accurately. Cut out about 500 calories from this number. Your end result should be what you aim for daily for slow and safe body fat loss. Do not try to follow a very low calorie diet or consume less than 1,200 calories daily. When you're calories are too low, you may stop losing weight or lose lean muscle mass, not body fat. Instead of cutting a large number of calories out of your diet all at once, try slowly decreasing the amount you eat per day. This will give your body time to adjust to the changes and lets you ease into the transition. Focus on lean protein. Protein is essential for your body's metabolism. Focusing on lean protein at all meals and snacks can help support weight loss and body fat reduction. Lean protein should be included at all meals. This will help ensure you meet your daily recommended amount. Women should aim for 46 g daily and men should aim for 56 g. Lean protein sources include: poultry, lean beef, pork, legumes, tofu, low-fat dairy and seafood. Limit or avoid sources of protein that contain higher amounts of saturated fat. Some studies have shown that a diet rich in saturated fats may increase body fat — especially in your abdomen. Limit foods like: full-fat dairy, fatty cuts of meat, and butter. Make fruits and vegetables a priority in meals. In addition to lean protein, make a large part of your meals and snacks vegetables. You will also want to eat plenty of fruit. These foods are very nutritious and contain a lot of healthy nutrients your body needs. It's generally recommended to consume about five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Aim for one to two servings of fruit and the rest should be vegetables. Also, when you're choosing foods from these groups, try to choose items that are brightly colored or darkly colored. These foods are typically more nutrient-dense meaning they contain higher amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For example, choose kale over iceberg lettuce. Try using vegetables creatively. Try them raw with a dip or in a salad, sauté them on the stove, cook them in a soup, roast them in the oven, grill them outside, or hide them in a smoothie or in spaghetti sauce and serve over spaghetti squash. Reduce the amount of grains you eat. One of the best ways to reduce your body fat is to reduce the amount of grains you eat each day. These carbohydrate-rich foods can slow the reduction of body fat. Foods that are high in carbohydrates include: bread, rice, pastries, sweets, pasta, crackers, chips, English muffins, and bagels. These highly processed grains contain little nutrition and can quickly raise blood sugar which often results in fat storage. There are other foods that contain carbohydrates like fruits and legumes; however, these foods also contain a high amount of other essential nutrients and shouldn't necessarily be limited. Make water your number one drink of choice. On a normal day, most people should drink about eight 8-oz glasses of water. Choose no-calorie, decaf beverages for the most hydrating fluids. Avoid sweetened, calorie filled beverages like sodas, juice or energy drinks as they will add calories to your diet and may increase body fat. This is a general recommendation. The amounts of fluids needed will differ for everyone depending on their size and amount of perspiration. For example, those participating in aerobic exercise will need to drink more to help them re-hydrate. Let thirst be your first guide. Eat fermented foods. Fermented foods, such as organic kefir, organic yogurt, and sauerkraut contain live cultures of good bacteria. Having large amounts of good bacteria in our intestines can help maintain a healthy weight. You can also take probiotics, which may even help manage stress. Avoid added sugars and artificial sweeteners. They can increase cravings and lead to overeating. There are over 60 names for added sugars, so it can sometimes be a challenge to identify them in an ingredient list. Some examples of added sugars are: Agave nectar Barley malt Cane juice Corn syrup Dextrose Evaporated cane juice High-fructose corn syrup Malton Maple syrup Molasses Honey Sucrose Rice syrup Increase your aerobic activity level. Put together an aerobic exercise routine that will work in conjunction with your diet to cut body fat. Together, aerobic exercise and diet have been shown to be one of the best combinations to reduce body fat. In general, it's recommended to include at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week — that's just 20 minutes every day. To speed the reduction of body fat, it's suggested to work out for longer — up to 60 minutes daily. Include a wide variety of aerobic exercises like: walking/jogging, running, biking, dancing, swimming, martial arts or boxing and using the elliptical. Choose activities you enjoy, as this will make you more likely to stick with it. If you're just starting out with exercise, start by building upon your current activity regimen. Whether you opt for low-impact exercises such as swimming or walking, or a more intense routine like kickboxing or weight training, aim to work out for at least 30 minutes. Add in high-intensity interval exercises. Some studies have shown that more vigorous intensity exercises that are done in intervals decrease body fat more efficiently than moderate-intensity exercise. Interval training combines both very high- and moderate-intensity exercise. These workouts are usually done for shorter periods of time. An example of interval training is: 1 minute of sprinting followed by 3 minutes of jogging. This cycle would be repeated several times, for about 20 minutes total (not including your warm up and cool down). Interval training is great for body fat reduction as it has been shown to burn more calories from fat and keeps your metabolism elevated up to 24 hours after you've completed the workout. Include regular resistance training. Strength training does not burn high levels of fat when you're performing the exercises; however, over time, strength training can help you build lean muscle mass which can help you increase your metabolism and your body's ability to burn calories. It's recommended to include strength training two to three days a week for at least 30 minutes. It's important to work all large muscle groups throughout the week. Always include at least two days of rest and recovery between strength training routines. Your body and muscles need time for adequate recovery, otherwise performance may suffer over time. Increase your lifestyle activity. In addition to cardio and strength training, you can increase your daily lifestyle activity. Studies have shown that, in general, people who are more active tend to be healthier. Think about how much you move or how many steps you take in a day. How can you increase that? A few ways to increase movement in your day include: do leg lifts while you sit at your desk or stand or do knee raises during commercial breaks. Add more steps to your day by: taking a walk break during lunch, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther away from your destination, and walk to places that are close to you (like the grocery store or pharmacy). Manage stress levels. Studies have shown that long-term, low-grade, chronic stress increases cortisol levels in the body. When this occurs, not only can it be difficult to lose weight, you may even gain more body fat. Exercising regularly can help manage stress levels. If you're feeling overwhelmed or overly stressed, take a 10 minute walk to help yourself calm down and unwind. Try yoga , which can be meditative. Engage in other activities that will also help you relax. You can listen to music, read a good book or magazine, journaling, get together with friends, or watch a movie. Try meditation , deep breathing , positive visualization , and progressive muscle relaxation. If you're having trouble managing stress levels, consider talking to a therapist or behavior specialist. These health professionals will be able to coach and guide you to better stress management. Avoid relying on tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, or other drugs. Go to bed earlier. Many people do not get adequate rest each night. Sleep is important for a variety of bodily functions including weight management. Go bed to earlier to get more sleep to help reduce your body fat levels. It's recommended to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. You may need to go to bed earlier and wake up a little later (if possible) to help you increase the amount you sleep each night. Adequate rest also helps improve athletic performance in addition to helping you manage your hunger signals throughout the day. Ensure that you are eating healthy portions. Portion control is necessary if you want to reduce body fat. Portion controlling will help you reduce your overall calorie intake and body fat. In general, average healthy adults adults should consume no more than 3 – 4 oz of protein, 1/2 cup of grains, 1/2 cup of fruit and 1 cup of vegetables per serving. Use measuring cups or a food scale to help keep you on track with your portions. You can also use smaller plates, bowls and cups to physically limit how much food you can serve yourself at one sitting. Consuming more than the recommended portions of foods may increase your risk for gaining weight and increasing total body fat. Eat mindfully. Turn off your TV, put away your phone or book, and pay attention when you are eating. Eat slowly, chew well, and savor your food. Eating while distracted or when you are feeling emotional can cause you to overeat. Try to be present when you eat your food, noticing the tastes, smells, and textures. Start a journal or log. Whenever you're trying to lose weight or reduce your body fat, it's a good idea to start a journal. You can include a variety of information, but this log will help you see and measure your success. Start a journal prior to making any changes. You might make notes about what you plan to change, your timeline and any other ideas or thoughts you have. Think about keeping track of your foods and beverages. Logging what you eat has been shown to help people stay on track. It will also allow you to see any slip ups or help you determine if what you're eating is affecting your success. Also keep track of any measurements you take like your weight. Get on the scale weekly. When you're trying to lose weight and reduce your overall body fat, it's important to monitor your progress. One way to check in is by weighing yourself weekly. Studies have shown that weekly weigh-ins help people stay on track and on target. You're more likely to be successful long-term if you continue to self monitor and check-in with your weight. Ideally, weigh yourself about one to two times a week. It might be harder to see accurate progress if you're weighing yourself daily due to normal fluctuations in body weight. For the most accurate measure of your progress, weigh yourself on the same day of the week, at the same time and in the same clothes. First thing in the morning, before eating or drinking, before dressing, but after using the restroom is best. Take your measurements. As you continue to lose weight and reduce your overall body fat, you'll notice that it's not only the scale that's changing. If you're losing body fat, you should also notice the size and shape of your body also changes. Prior to starting your diet and exercise program, take a variety of measurements. These will help you see where you're losing the most fat. Typical places to measure and track are: waist, hips, bust, thighs and upper arms. Keep these measurements in a journal. Every month, re-measure yourself to help you track your progress. If your weight is staying the same, but your measurements are smaller and you have been working out, you are likely gaining muscle and losing fat, which is a healthy improvement. Get a body fat percentage test. If you're able, get your body fat percentage tested and evaluated. This is the percentage of your body that is made up from fat. As you continue to diet and exercise, this percentage should decrease over time. Many gyms offer body fat percentage as a free service to their members. Ask a staff member or trainer at your local gym for more information. You may also ask your doctor or physician if they have the equipment in office to evaluate your body fat percentage. There are devices you can purchase for home use, but these typically take a lot of experience and practice using. Your margin of error will most likely be much larger compared to a health or fitness professional doing the tests for you.

Opt for meals that are low-calorie. Focus on lean protein. Make fruits and vegetables a priority in meals. Reduce the amount of grains you eat. Make water your number one drink of choice. Eat fermented foods. Avoid added sugars and artificial sweeteners. Increase your aerobic activity level. Add in high-intensity interval exercises. Include regular resistance training. Increase your lifestyle activity. Manage stress levels. Go to bed earlier. Ensure that you are eating healthy portions. Eat mindfully. Start a journal or log. Get on the scale weekly. Take your measurements. Get a body fat percentage test.

https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Road-Rash

How to Treat Road Rash

To treat road rash, rinse the wound with cool water, allowing the water to flow over the entire site to wash away any loose debris. Then use antibacterial soap to clean around the area, but don't get soap in the wound as this can cause irritation. Once all visible debris has been removed, apply antibiotic cream and cover the wound with a bandage. If you don't have antibiotic cream, you can use petroleum jelly or Aquaphor to keep the injured area moist as it begins to heal. Bandage the area, and change the dressing daily to make sure the wound is healing properly.

Move to a safe area, if possible. If your accident happens in a dangerous area, such as in the middle of a road, you should move yourself to a safer area (off the road) if you are able to. That way, you will reduce the danger of further injury. Stabilize life-threatening injuries. Ensure that you (or the injured person) can move freely, and that there are no broken bones. If either is the case, then stop immediately and call or direct someone nearby to call your local emergency number. If a head injury has occurred, check for a concussion , and seek medical care immediately. Assess the severity of the wound. If you cannot see the wound well yourself, ask someone for help. Call the emergency number in your area if the wound Is deep enough to see fat, muscle, or bone. Is spurting blood. If it is, put pressure on the wound with your hands, or clothing or other material while you wait for help. This will help to slow the bleeding. Has edges that are jagged and far apart. Determine if you have other injuries. Some damage may be hidden below the skin, where you cannot see signs of it. If you were knocked unconscious, feel confused, have limited range of motion, or extreme pain, consider seeing a doctor immediately for medical assistance. Wash your hands before treating the wound. You do not want to cause an infection when treating your road rash, so wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before starting to take care of it. If you want extra protection, you can also put on disposable gloves before starting to clean the wound. Stop any bleeding. If there is any bleeding on your wound, stop it by applying pressure on the site. Hold a clean cloth or gauze over the bleeding portion of the wound, and apply pressure for a few minutes. Change the cloth or gauze if it becomes soaked with blood. If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, contact a doctor, as stitches or other treatment may be required. Rinse the wound. Let cool water run over your wound, or pour it over it. Get someone else to help if you cannot see or reach the wound site. Do this long enough to make sure that the water has flowed over the entire area, and washed away any loose dirt and/or debris. Wash the wound. Use antibacterial soap and water to clean around the wound, but try not to get soap in the wound itself, as this can cause irritation. This will help to wash away dirt and bacteria and keep away infection. Hydrogen peroxide and iodine were traditionally used to disinfect skin wounds. However, hydrogen peroxide and iodine can actually damage living cells, so medical professionals now advise that you should not apply them to a wound. Remove any debris. If anything is stuck in the wound, like dirt, sand, splinters , etc., use tweezers to carefully remove this material. First clean and sterilize the tweezers by rubbing them with a cotton ball or gauze soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Rinse with cool water once the debris is removed. If dirt or other material is lodged so deep in the wound that you cannot get it out, contact a doctor. Gently pat dry. Once you have rinsed and washed the wound, gently use a clean cloth or towel to dry the area. Patting rather than rubbing it dry will help you avoid unnecessary pain. Apply an antibiotic cream, especially if the wound was dirty. This can deter infection and help the wound as it heals. There are numerous types of antibiotic creams and ointments, containing different active ingredients or combinations (bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin, for example). Always carefully follow the directions provided with your cream regarding the amount to use and method of application. Some triple-antibiotics, such as Neosporin, contain neomycin, which can cause contact skin allergies. If you notice redness, itching, swelling, etc. after using one of these products, stop using it and switch to one containing polymyxin or bacitracin, but no neomycin. If you cannot use a topical antibiotic cream for any reason, then apply petroleum jelly or Aquaphor to the wound area. This will keep the site moist as it heals. Cover the wound. Make sure to cover your wound with a bandage to protect it from dirt, infection, and irritation from clothing during the time it needs to heal. A non-stick bandage such as a Telfa pad is preferable, or sterile gauze may be held in place with tape or an elastic band. Elevate the wound. Keep the wound elevated at or above the level of your heart as much as possible will help to reduce swelling and pain. This is most beneficial in the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours after your accident, and is especially important if your wound is severe or infected. Apply fresh bandages as needed. Change the bandage covering your wound daily, or more frequently if it becomes wet or dirty. Wash any dirt away from the area using water and an antibacterial soap, as before. Reapply antibiotic cream daily. Do this when you change the bandage. While this alone doesn't make the wound heal faster, it may help reduce your chance of infection. It will also keep the wound from drying out, which can cause scabbing and possible scarring. Elevate the wound. Continuing to keep the wound elevated at or above the level of your heart as much as possible will help to reduce swelling and pain. This is especially important if your wound is severe or infected. Manage any pain. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen if you have pain from wound, unless your doctor directs otherwise. Ibuprofen is also an anti-inflammatory and may help reduce any swelling. If the skin around the wound is dry or itchy, use a moisturizing lotion to relieve this discomfort. Wear clothing that will not irritate the wound area. If possible, wear clothing that will not rub against the road rash site while it heals. For example, if the wound is on your arm, try to wear short sleeves; if it is on your leg, try to wear shorts. This will make you more comfortable. Eat and drink properly. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids (approximately six to eight eight-ounce glasses of fluid, especially water, per day), and to eat healthy foods while you are healing. Staying hydrated and nourished will aid the process. Take it easy. You will need to rest the wound area as it heals. For example, if the wound is on your leg, you will need to avoid vigorous activities like running and climbing. Avoiding overexertion of the wound area will help it heal. Pay attention to how the healing is progressing. If you take care of the wound, then generally road rash should heal within two weeks. Exactly how fast your wound will heal depends on a number of factors like your age, nutrition, whether or not you smoke, your stress level, if you have an illness, etc. Moreover, antibiotic creams will only reduce your risk of infection, not actually heal the wound faster. If you wound seems to be healing abnormally slowly, check with a medical professional, as it could be a sign of something more serious, like an illness. Contact a doctor if things seem to get worse, or if the wound appears infected. You will need expert attention: If there is dirt or other foreign material in the wound that you can't get out of it. If the wound site becomes more red, swollen, warm, or painful, as these can be signs of infection. If red streaks radiate from the wound. If the wound site drains pus, especially if it smells foul. If you have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, etc.). Wear protective clothing and gear. Wearing proper protective clothing like long sleeves and pants when you are able to will help guard your skin against road rash. If you are participating in activities prone to injury, wear appropriate guards. Using protective gear will greatly increase the chances of you just brushing yourself off and bouncing back. For example, consider elbow, wrist, and knee pads when engaging in sports such as skateboarding and skating. Wearing a helmet will protect your head from injury in these and other activities, such as biking and motorcycling. Practice safety. Know how to properly use any equipment related to your activities, such as motorcycles, bicycles, etc. In addition, avoid trying dangerous stunts and other reckless acts. Being careful on the road is an easy way to reduce the risk of road rash. Make sure your tetanus immunizations are up-to-date. Most road rash wounds have been exposed to dirt, and perhaps metal and other debris. This can mean there is a risk of tetanus infection (lockjaw). Most adults should get a tetanus booster shot if it has been more than five years since their last shot and they get a dirty wound. See your doctor about getting one as soon as possible if you have road rash.

Move to a safe area, if possible. Stabilize life-threatening injuries. Assess the severity of the wound. Determine if you have other injuries. Wash your hands before treating the wound. Stop any bleeding. Rinse the wound. Wash the wound. Remove any debris. Gently pat dry. Apply an antibiotic cream, especially if the wound was dirty. Cover the wound. Elevate the wound. Apply fresh bandages as needed. Reapply antibiotic cream daily. Elevate the wound. Manage any pain. Eat and drink properly. Take it easy. Pay attention to how the healing is progressing. Contact a doctor if things seem to get worse, or if the wound appears infected. Wear protective clothing and gear. Practice safety. Make sure your tetanus immunizations are up-to-date.

https://www.wikihow.com/Switch-to-a-Dvorak-Keyboard-Layout

How to Switch to a Dvorak Keyboard Layout

To switch to a Dvorak keyboard, switch keyboard settings in your computer from QWERTY to Dvorak. To do so on a Windows computer, click on the "Language Options" tab under the "Control Panels" and select your keyboard type. For Apple, click "System Preferences," navigate to the "Keyboard" icon, click on the "Input Sources" tab and, in the bottom left hand corner, click the + sign to import a Dvorak keyboard. Once you've changed your computer settings, buy a Dvorak keyboard or place stickers on your existing keys to represent the new letters.

Figure out what kind of operating system you have. The good news is that the Dvorak format is already configured into your operating system, so you don't have to download anything special to access it. Although QWERTY is the automatic setting, all you need to do is to change between the layouts. Change to the Dvorak keyboard layout on Windows. To change to the Dvorak format on Windows XP, follow these steps: Click the "start" button> Control Panel> Regional and Language Options> "Languages" tab> "Details" button >"Add" button (under "Settings" tab)> in "Keyboard layout/IME" scroll to United States-Dvorak and click "OK". Change to the Dvorak keyboard layout on your Mac. To change to the Dvorak format on your Mac, follow these steps: Click on the Apple Menu> System Preferences> International> Input Menu Tab> scroll to Dvorak For Mac OS X: Apple Menu> System Preferences> Click on the keyboard icon>Input Sources>Click box next to "Dvorak" Switch to DVORAK on Chromebook. Go to settings> device> keyboard> change language and input settings> manage input methods> and pick one of the following: After you have picked, make sure to set it as your default. US Dvorak keyboard US Programmer Dvorak keyboard UK Dvorak keyboard Practice switching between QWERTY and Dvorak. Once you switch to the Dvorak layout, practice switching back to QWERTY by following the same steps as above, but selecting QWERTY instead of Dvorak. As you start learning Dvorak, you may want the option of switching back to QWERTY if you need to complete a project quickly. Learning how to switch in between the two, at least while you are learning Dvorak, is a good idea. Buy a Dvorak keyboard. Once you have made the change to Dvorak in your operating system, you may want to purchase a new keyboard. Although eventually you will not need to look at the keyboard to type comfortably, it may be useful in the beginning to have a keyboard labeled for the Dvorak type setting. A Dvorak keyboard is no different internally from your current keyboard; the only difference is that the keys are labeled according to the Dvorak format. These keyboards can be bought at Staples or online on Amazon. Buy a Dvorak keyboard slip. If you do not want to buy a new keyboard, you can just buy a Dvorak keyboard slip. These slips are fit right over your keyboard and are labeled according to a Dvorak keyboard setting. They can be found on Amazon. This is a good option if you are using a laptop because the keyboard is built-in, so buying a new keyboard would probably not be the best option. Put stickers on your existing keyboard. You can also buy keyboard stickers that stick to your keys. You can put each letter over the keys of your keyboard so that the keyboard is labeled like a Dvorak keyboard. These stickers are designed for the shape of the keys and will not come off. Make keyboard stickers. If you are feeling crafty, you can go to a store like Staples, buy stickers or labels, write letters on them, and stick them to your keyboard. This is a cheaper option than buying a keyboard or a keyboard slip. You will also easily be able to peel them off to see your QWERTY keys if you decide to switch back. Learn where to put your fingers to type. If you already know how to touch-type on a QWERTY, the same fingers operate the same keys. The keys just produce different letters. The home row is: Dvorak: AOEU - ID - HTNS QWERTY: ASDF - GH - JKL If you lose track of where to put your fingers, search for the raised dots on the keyboard. In the Dvorak keyboard format, they are on U and H. Put your left index finger on U and your right on H to bring your fingers back to the home row. Don't "peck". Don't use one finger to find and "peck" at the letters of the keyboard when you are learning how to type. Keep your fingers on the keyboard and use the same fingers to reach keys as you do on the QWERTY keyboard. Since you aren't used to the keyboard you might be tempted, but don't do it! If you type like that, you'll never learn how to type correctly using Dvorak and you will not be able to type quickly or comfortably. Start slow. You're just learning this keyboard layout, so it's not expected that you can type fast! Taking the time you need is actually better than speeding through and making mistakes. By being accurate, you are beginning to create a muscle memory with your fingers that eventually will allow you to type without even thinking about what to do with your fingers. Print out a picture of the Dvorak keyboard. As you're learning, put a Dvorak keyboard diagram next to you. This will save you time because you won't have to keep moving your fingers out of the way to see the keyboard letters. It also might help your visual memory of how the keyboard looks. Cut back on looking at the keyboard. As you get faster and more confident at typing, don't look down at the keyboard until you make a mistake. This will help you to develop touch-type so you eventually won't have to look down at the keyboard at all. Use online resources to learn. Learning the Dvorak layout will be challenging. Luckily, there is a wide array of resources available through the internet that can help you learn. Videos are an especially useful resource because you can follow along with them. Youtube has an array of videos meant to help you learn Dvorak typing. These videos are free and readily available. If you prefer a series of lessons, there are some good programs that teach Dvorak programs. You can do some research to help you find the best program for your needs. Make sure you go through lessons at a reasonable pace. Although the lessons may be easy, do them multiple times to ensure you have mastered everything they offer. Practice, practice, practice! Try to use Dvorak as much as possible, even if you hate how slow it is at first Practice will make you more familiar with the keyboard layout. Practicing for small amounts of time, such as fifteen minutes per day is more effective than practicing for hours once a week. Make practicing fun. Instead of calling a friend, text them using instant messaging or Facebook chat. This is a way of making practicing less tedious.

Figure out what kind of operating system you have. Change to the Dvorak keyboard layout on Windows. Change to the Dvorak keyboard layout on your Mac. Switch to DVORAK on Chromebook. Practice switching between QWERTY and Dvorak. Buy a Dvorak keyboard. Buy a Dvorak keyboard slip. Put stickers on your existing keyboard. Make keyboard stickers. Learn where to put your fingers to type. Don't "peck". Start slow. Print out a picture of the Dvorak keyboard. Cut back on looking at the keyboard. Use online resources to learn. Practice, practice, practice!

https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Arm-Length

How to Measure Arm Length

To measure your arm length, start by standing up straight with your arms relaxed at your sides. Next, place one end of a measuring tape at the center of the back of your neck, then across the top of your shoulder and down the length of your arm. If you're taking a sleeve measurement, take the measurement just past your wrist bone. For a full arm length measurement, run the tape all the way to your fingertips, making sure to stretch out your fingers.

Stand up straight with your arms relaxed and at your sides. Although you can measure your arm length on your own, you will get a better measurement if you have a partner who can take it for you. Avoid hunching forward or leaning as much as possible, as either may skew your measurement. Keep your arms slightly bent, with your fingers in your pockets. Place one end of a measuring tape at the base of your neck. Position the measuring tape exactly in the center of your neck to get the most accurate measurement. Taking your measurements over the shoulder and down the hand will give you a precise reading, particularly if you are measuring your arm length for clothing. Measure your arm over the shoulder and down your arm. Do not go measure down your back, as you will want to get the fullest arm length possible. Instead, go across your shoulder and down your arms. If you're not sure how to take this measurement, think about what a long-sleeved shirt seam will look like—this is approximately the length you will measure. Take your measurements to the area just past your wrist bone for clothing. If you're taking sleeve measurements, finish measuring where you would like the sleeve or shirt cuff to sit. This should be around or just past your wrist bone, depending on how long you prefer your sleeve length to be. Continue measuring to your fingertips if measuring your full arm length. If you're measuring arm length for fitness-related reasons, you may need to measure past your wrist. Measure all the way to your fingertips, stretching out your fingers as far as possible. Get a partner to measure your arm span. While you can measure your arm length on your own, you cannot measure your arm span by yourself. Ask a partner to hold the measuring tape while you position yourself to get a precise arm span. Stand upright with your back to a wall. Standing at your fullest height will allow your partner to take the best reading possible, as slouching can inhibit your arm span. If you cannot turn your back to a wall, stand up as straight as possible and avoid hunching your shoulders. Stretch your arms out as far as they will go. Avoid bending your arms or your fingers. Try to keep your arms level and even, as raising or lowering your arms can also decrease your full arm span. Measure between both of your middle fingers. Traditionally, arm span is measured between the middle finger of one hand to middle finger of your other hand. Have your partner take a measuring tape and measure from the tip of your middle finger on your left hand to the middle finger on your right hand. Ask your partner to keep the tape measurer even to keep the measurement accurate. Compare your arm span to your height. Most people's heights are about equal to their arm spans, within a few inches or centimeters. Measure your height by yourself or with a partner to compare the two measurements.

Stand up straight with your arms relaxed and at your sides. Place one end of a measuring tape at the base of your neck. Measure your arm over the shoulder and down your arm. Take your measurements to the area just past your wrist bone for clothing. Continue measuring to your fingertips if measuring your full arm length. Get a partner to measure your arm span. Stand upright with your back to a wall. Stretch your arms out as far as they will go. Measure between both of your middle fingers. Compare your arm span to your height.

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Thank-You-Cards

How to Write Thank You Cards

To write a thank you card, try to include something specific you're appreciative of so the card is more meaningful. For example, you could write something like, "Thank you so much for helping me pack. Everything made it without breaking, and that's thanks to your amazing packing skills." Then, after you've written 2-3 sentences, end your note with an appropriate sign-off. For example, if it's a professional thank you card, you could write "Best regards," or you could write "Love" or "See you soon" for an informal card.

Buy or make your card. Making a card is a good show of appreciation if you have time and supplies. If you buy a card, make sure that any writing on the front or inside the card is appropriate (don't buy a birthday card by mistake!). If you cannot find a pre-made thank you card that you like, consider buying a blank card with a nice design on the front. Supplies for making your own cards are available at craft shops and some department stores, as well as some dollar stores. Basic supplies for making cards include good card stock (nice thick paper); a paper cutter (if you invest in a cutter, make sure it also has a scoring blade to help create a neat fold in your cards); a glue stick, glue pen, glue dots, or double-sided tape dispenser (or a combination of these); decorative paper; ribbons and/or other embellishments; fancy pens; and envelopes. Many craft supply shops, department stores, and dollar stores have card-making kits, which may be a better option if you are new to card-making and do not want to spend too much money on supplies. Consider the nature of the card. You'll need to adjust the tone of your card depending on who you are thanking. If you're thanking a professional connection such as a potential employer after an interview, your note will likely address the employer using “Mr.”, “Ms.”, or “Mrs.”, and then demonstrate your understanding of the job as well as your ability to do it well. If you're thanking a colleague for a gift or favour, you would likely address them by their first name, acknowledge the gift/favour, and then tell them how you enjoyed it/how it helped you. If you're thanking a close friend or family member, the card will likely be much less formal, maybe even with some humour in it. In the example we'll use throughout this article, you'll be thanking your friend Pat for helping you move to a new home. As she is a close friend, your options for a card are limitless. Choose a card that is tailored to her tastes — if you're always laughing together, you might consider buying or making her a humorous card. Write a draft on a spare sheet of paper. Before writing in the card, write out a draft of what you'd like to say. Make sure you've perfected it before writing it in the card. While writing your draft consider who you are thanking, what you are thankful for, and why you are thankful for it. Continuing from the aforementioned example, you want to thank you friend Pat for helping your move. You are extra grateful to her because it was a stressful day and you didn't have much help. Her help was invaluable, and you want her to know how much you appreciate it. Be specific. Any details you can give will make the card more meaningful. Acknowledge the specific ways in which that person helped you, and explain why you are so grateful. In thanking Pat for helping you move, instead of just writing, “Thank you for helping me move!”, specifically outline one or two things that she did that were especially amazing. Let's say that she was particularly helpful in packing up your kitchen. In fact, you couldn't believe how skilled she was at ensuring that your dishes were packed safely and with maximum use of space in each box. How specific you get will depend on how much space you have inside the card. If you don't have a lot of space to write in, keep your focus narrow. Keep it short. Unless you've purchased an enormous novelty card, you probably won't have a tonne of space for your message. Consider the space while writing your draft. You may even want to cut a piece of paper to the size of the card and write your message inside of it to ensure that it fits before finalizing it inside the actual thank you card. An example of a final message might be, “Dear Pat, Thank you so much for your help on Saturday! My entire kitchen made it to my new place without a single wine glass breaking, and that's thanks to your amazing packing skills. I don't know what I would have done without you, and I just can't thank you enough! Big love and hugs, Sally” If you have enough space, you could also add something about making Pat dinner once you've settled into your new home. Write your thank you message inside the card. Once you've finalized what you want to say, write it neatly inside the card. If you know that you're a messy writer, slow down and really try to make your writing as legible as possible. If you really struggle to write legibly, consider typing out your note, printing it, and then pasting it inside the card. A written message feels more sincere, but it's more important that the recipient can read your message. Even if the card has a pre-printed message inside of it, your “thank you” will be more sincere if you add your own personal message beneath the pre-printed one. Decide how you will sign off. Again, this will depend upon to whom your card is directed. If you are writing to a potential employer or professional colleague, some appropriate closing words include “All the best”, “Regards”, “Warm regards”, “Many thanks”, or “Looking forward”. Some professionals recommend avoiding closing lines like “Yours truly” or “Sincerely”, as they sound dated and cheesy; they also recommend against saying “Thank you for your consideration”, as this suggests that you are already anticipating rejection. If you are writing to a close friend or family member, you can really close it however you like, for example, “Love”, “See you soon”, “Miss you”, “Can't wait till next time”. In the example given in this article, the writer (Sally) signs off with “Big hugs and love”, which is appropriate given her close relationship with her friend Pat. That sort of sign-off won't always be appropriate with a close friend, though. It really depends on your specific relationship. If you and your friend do not say “love you” and do not hug, signing off with “Big hugs and love” would sound pretty strange! A more appropriate sign-off in that case might be, “Talk soon!” or “Let's hang soon!”, or something else that better reflects the nature of your relationship. Sign your name. Again, legibility is important. Unless your signature is easy to read, you'll want to print or clearly handwrite your full name. Post the card or deliver it in person. Consider your timeline. If you are thanking someone for a job interview, you will likely want to use a fast delivery method to ensure that the card gets there as quickly as possible. If you choose to post the card, ensure that you verify the address before sending it. Most businesses have their addresses online, on their websites, but it doesn't hurt to call and verify their address if you're unsure — note that many businesses have mailing addresses that differ from their business address.

Buy or make your card. Consider the nature of the card. Write a draft on a spare sheet of paper. Be specific. Keep it short. Write your thank you message inside the card. Decide how you will sign off. Sign your name. Post the card or deliver it in person.

https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Dog-Anxiety-with-Pheromone-Therapy

How to Treat Dog Anxiety with Pheromone Therapy

Before you treat dog anxiety with pheromone therapy, consult your vet to figure out what's causing your dog's anxiety and whether pheromones can help. Once you decide on using pheromones, choose which type of pheromone product you want to use. For example, if your dog has general anxiety, you may try placing a pheromone diffuser in the room it spends the most time in, or using a pheromone collar. However, if your dog is only nervous before big events, consider using a pheromone spray.

Assess whether pheromones might help your dog. Pheromones can be used for a variety of behavioral issues related to anxiety but they cannot treat all of them. In particular, pheromones are not very useful for treating aggression issues. If your dog is having a hard time dealing with separation from you, coping with loud noises, or meeting other people or pets, then trying pheromone therapy is a good idea. Additionally, if your dog has general anxiety that is not caused by a specific medical problem, for instance they pace and are restless at night, then pheromone therapy may relieve some of their anxiety. Discuss the use of pheromones with your veterinarian. If you are considering using pheromones on your dog you should discuss it with your veterinarian first. Your veterinarian may have suggestions for if and when pheromones should be used, as well as suggestions for what specific brands to use on your dog. Having your veterinarian suggest a brand of pheromones to use can be very helpful, as there are many products available and choosing one can be difficult. Pheromone products for dogs are sold over the counter. You will not need to get them directly from your veterinarian. However, it is a good idea to discuss any veterinary treatment you are planning on giving your dog with its veterinarian. Have your dog's health assessed. You should get your dog's anxiety assessed by the veterinarian before using pheromones. Anxiety can have medical causes, so it's a good idea to have your dog looked over for medical issues that could be causing bad behavior. For example, if your dog has joint pain, it may cause it some distress that looks a lot like general anxiety. This pain can cause restlessness and difficulty sleeping. If the pain is managed, then the anxiety may go away. Pick a specific pheromone product. Once you have decided to use pheromones, you will need to find the right product to use. Look at the label to see if it is appropriate for your dog. Some products, such as collars, come in a variety of sizes, so pick the right one for your specific dog. There are a wide variety of pheromone products available at pet stores and online retailers. You will need to decide between a spray, a diffuser, wipes, drops, or a collar. Diffusers and collars tend to be the simplest and least invasive to use. Identify when the pheromone is needed. If you are using pheromones to help your dog with anxiety, you will need to assess when the pheromone is needed. It's important to know when to apply the pheromone so that it helps your dog stay calm before the anxiety arises. For example, you can place a pheromone diffuser in the room where the dog spends the most time. You can also give your dog hormone therapy before an event you think will cause him anxiety. If he gets nervous when fireworks go off, put a pheromone collar on him before a holiday when you know they'll be set off. If you are using a pheromone collar, you may just keep it on your dog if it has general anxiety. Place it tight against his neck, but not so tight that it causes him discomfort. Use the pheromone product as directed. Follow the instructions that came on the product's label. This will tell you how much to use and when to apply it if you bought a spray-on pheromone product. The diffuser products are usually just plugged in to an electrical plug near your dog's favorite spot. If you have multiple pets in your house, it is still safe to use pheromones. There have been no reported negative side effects from pheromone therapy and the pheromones might even help your other pet's mental well-being also. Assess whether the pheromone therapy is helping your dog. For some dogs, the pheromone will be enough to help them manage their bad behavior and anxiety. For other dogs, however, pheromones won't work or will not be enough treatment. You need to assess whether the pheromones are working and, if they are not, decide how to proceed. If you don't feel that the pheromones are having a positive impact on your dog's anxiety level then you can discontinue their use. There is no need to continue to pay for a treatment that is not effective for your particular pet. Use a combination of solutions. Pheromones sometimes work best when used in combination with other efforts to help the animal. If you do not feel that the pheromone therapy alone is helping your dog enough, then you should continue to look for additional solutions to its anxiety. It may be that pheromones alone won't solve your dog's problems but a combination of tactics will help it immensely. For example, if your dog is being destructive in the house, it may need a combination of training, more exercise, and pheromone therapy to help alleviate its issues. In fact, using pheromones while working on training may calm the dog in a way that helps it to absorb the training more effectively. Consult with your veterinarian. If the pheromones don't work, don't give up. Take your dog back to its veterinarian or discuss the problems you are having with a professional animal behaviorist. They may be able to suggest other treatments that could work for your dog. If the anxiety is very strong, then your veterinarian may even suggest the alternative of giving your dog a prescription anti-anxiety medication instead of pheromone therapy.

Assess whether pheromones might help your dog. Discuss the use of pheromones with your veterinarian. Have your dog's health assessed. Pick a specific pheromone product. Identify when the pheromone is needed. Use the pheromone product as directed. Assess whether the pheromone therapy is helping your dog. Use a combination of solutions. Consult with your veterinarian.

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-an-Air-Mattress

How to Clean an Air Mattress

To clean a moldy or mildewy air mattress, start by taking it outside and laying it out in the sun, which will dry up any moisture. Then, if the mattress has mold on it, mix equal parts vinegar and water, and wipe down the mattress with it. When you're finished, rinse the mattress with water and let it air dry. To get rid of mildew, wipe down the mattress with isopropyl alcohol and water, and then rinse it off before leaving it out to dry.

Clean after every use. It is ideal to clean your air mattress after every use. If that isn't possible, it is good to clean it once a month. At the very least, you should clean it once a season, depending on how often you use it. Clean the air mattress immediately if you see any mold or mildew build-up. Clean with water and mild soap. Pour a few drops of mild soap into a bowl of water. Dampen a clean cloth with the water and soap. Gently scrub every area of the mattress with the cloth, paying special attention to stains. Allow the mattress to air dry. Wipe the pump with a damp cloth. Use a mild detergent and damp cloth on the pump for the air mattress. Wipe it down and then allow it to air dry. Keep the pump away from dust by storing it in a box or container. Sprinkle baking soda to reduce odor. Sprinkle baking soda onto the mattress. You should lightly cover the air mattress, but it is not necessary to use a lot of baking soda. Allow the baking soda to sit for a few minutes and then vacuum it up. Take the mattress outside. Take the mattress outside every month or two and leave it out during a warm and sunny day. The sunlight will vaporize the moisture that has accumulated in the mattress. It will also kill any mold build-up. Use vinegar and water to remove mold. Create a mixture that is half vinegar and half water. Use one cup of white vinegar and one cup of water. Dip a sponge or cloth into the mixture and gently rub it over the air mattress. Rinse with water and allow the mattress to air dry. Mix isopropyl alcohol and water to remove mildew. Create a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and warm water in a bowl or bucket. Wet a sponge with the mixture. Use the sponge to clean the air mattress. Rinse with water and let the mattress air dry when you are finished. Apply a disinfectant. You can use any disinfectant, such as Lysol, to kill mold or mildew on your air mattress. Spray the disinfectant over the area where the mold and/or mildew appears. The disinfectant will also kill the spores that could cause mold to grow in the future. Allow the mattress to deflate without help. To deflate, you will typically need to pull the plug or twist a valve. Do not jump on the air mattress while it is deflating to speed up the process. You should not hit it or use anything to make the air release faster. Forcing the air out can damage the mattress, plug, and valve. With some thinner air mattresses, you can fold the mattress in half to force the air out. Fold carefully. Keep the air plug or valve open as you fold the mattress. Once the air is out, lay the mattress out flat and fold it lengthwise onto itself twice until you have a thin rectangle. Then, start from the opposite end of the plug or valve and use your palms to roll it tightly, as if you were rolling a sleeping bag. Use your knuckles and fingers as you roll to apply pressure to the mattress. Use a protectant cover. Using a cover can extend the life of your mattress, as well as protect it from bugs, spills, and mold. A vinyl zip cover will work to protect an air mattress. Put the cover on every time you use the mattress, and remove it when you are done using the mattress. Avoid storing the mattress in humid areas. Storing the air mattress in an area with humidity or high temperatures can shorten the lifespan of your air mattress. High, fluctuating temperatures and humidity will put unnecessary stress on the materials. This is why garages and unfinished basements are not good areas to store air mattresses. Store your air mattress at room temperature.

Clean after every use. Clean with water and mild soap. Wipe the pump with a damp cloth. Sprinkle baking soda to reduce odor. Take the mattress outside. Use vinegar and water to remove mold. Mix isopropyl alcohol and water to remove mildew. Apply a disinfectant. Allow the mattress to deflate without help. Fold carefully. Use a protectant cover. Avoid storing the mattress in humid areas.

https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Modeling-Portfolio

How to Build a Modeling Portfolio

To build a modeling portfolio, hire a professional photographer with experience working with modeling agencies to take photographs of you. Before your shoot, look through fashion magazines to find poses that inspire you, then practice them in the mirror. Additionally, select several simple, well-fitting outfits, as well as a swimsuit to bring with you. Generally, your portfolio should include a headshot, a more artistic “beauty shot,” a “fashion shot” where the focus is the clothing, a swimsuit shot, and an editorial shot where you're playing a character in a particular narrative.

Determine your model type. There are many different types of modeling, some with very specific requirements in terms of physical appearance and skill level. While it's true that the most common types of modeling do require tall, thin people, there are other types of modeling where the preferred body style is more flexible. Live modeling is one example where personality is more important than an exact body type or look. Live models represent companies at trade shows, shopping malls, and other venues to promote a particular product or brand. Since live modeling requires interacting with many people, it's important that the model is outgoing and has a sunny disposition. Fashion modeling is the most common type of modeling that people know about. To be a successful fashion model requires a certain height. In the larger markets, such as New York, the minimum acceptable height is 5'10”, while in the smaller markets the minimum is 5'8”. Fashion models must also be quite thin. In terms of looks, a wider range is acceptable, from conventionally beautiful to striking. Commercial print modeling is a catch-all for models who appear in advertisements in magazines and newspapers. It can range from swimsuit modeling to portraying a specific role, such as businessperson, doctor, or representative of a particular demographic. Appearance requirements vary with the type of job. For instance, swimsuit models need to be curvy, yet show good muscle-tone, while representatives of a particular demographic simply need to be attractive examples of that demographic. Body part modeling showcases a particular body part, such hair, legs, or hands. If you have lustrous hair, graceful hands, or legs that go on forever, consider this modeling type. Hire a professional photographer. Call some local modelling agencies and find out who they use. Photographers who work in the industry will have experience with models. They will likely also know what agencies generally look for in portfolio pictures and are able to advise you accordingly. Hire a professional make-up artist. If you are lucky, the photographer will sort this out for you, but remember to ask if the cost of the make-up artist is included in the fee, or if you have to pay extra. If the photographer isn't providing one, ask the local modelling agencies to recommend one. As with the photographer, make-up artists in the business will know what's expected. Practice posing. Look through magazines to find poses that inspire you. Don't be afraid to alter them a little to make them your own. Practice them in front of a mirror and change the angle from time to time. Ask a family member or friend to critique your poses as you practice. Pick out your clothing for the shoot. It's important to realize that the purpose of your portfolio is to sell you. Eliminate anything that distracts from that purpose. To that end, keep your clothing choices simple. Choose solid colors and stay away from prints and patterns. Opt for clothing that you know fits you well: avoid anything that's too tight or loose. Your portfolio is also not the place for “fashion-forward” outfits. You will need several outfit choices since you don't want to have pictures of you in only one or two. If you intend on going into commercial print modeling, it's a good idea to bring a swimsuit, too. Prepare to demonstrate versatility. Having a number of looks suited to the type of modeling for which you are suited is essential. If the photographer is good, he or she will know what types of pictures and looks you will need. Headshots are images where the model's face is depicted clearly. Usually coming in 8x10 sizing, the picture is typically of the model's head and upper torso, taken at close range. It's important that the headshot focus on the face. They are also usually taken with minimal make-up, so that the model's facial structure and skin tone are evident. Every model needs one in his or her portfolio. Beauty shots, on the other hand, are artistic images, that like the headshot, are of the model's head and upper body. However, unlike headshots, the model is made-up and may be posed dramatically. If you want to work as a commercial print model, this photograph is a must for you. Fashion shots are exactly what they sound like: photographs of the model wearing different outfits, with the focus being on the clothing. Even the model's make-up complements the outfit. These images are for fashion models. Swimsuit shots showcase the model's body. This is another photo that you'll need for commercial print modeling. Another photo that's important if you want to go into commercial print modeling is the editorial shot. Centered around a story, here's is where you'll be playing a character in a particular narrative. Make sure you have your outfits ready at least five days before the day of the shoot. Maintain your looks. Looking your best at your photo shoot is crucial to your success as a model. Accordingly, perform any routine maintenance on yourself as you need before the big day. For example, have a hair-cut or get a manicure. The day before the shoot, make sure you get a good night's sleep and stay away from alcohol. Check and double-check your bag. Before leaving the house, make sure that your bag is packed and that you have money for transportation costs and parking fees. Aim to arrive 10 minutes before you are due. Carry the photographer's number on you and give them a call if you realize you might be late. Communicate with the photographer. Good communication between model and photographer is essential for great pictures. Listen carefully to what the photographer wants. Try not to be nervous, but do acknowledge that the feeling is normal...even models who have been working for years get nervous. Showcase your confidence and charm. You want your pictures to capture the essence of what you can bring as a model: your vivacity and ability to portray varied characters and moods. Don't be afraid to show off. This is your time to shine. Demonstrate proper etiquette. It's important to build good professional relationships with your photographer and makeup artist. Be sure to write both of them thank you notes after the photo shoot is over. Choose your portfolio shots. Remember quality matters more than quantity. Select 12 to 16 of your best photographs. Enlist family and friends to help you out. Make sure that your photos show you in different outfits and in different locations. Also important is including images of you in different lighting, for example, indoors and outdoors. The standard photo size is 8x10 inches. Other sizes include 9x12 and 11x14 Arrange your photos for publishing. When a potential client opens your portfolio you want to wow them from beginning to end. Accordingly, include your best pictures, two in the opening and two in the closing pages of your portfolio. Get a portfolio book printed. Your photographer may offer this service. If not, any photo printing place can do it for you. They can also create a disc of your portfolio, too. Another option in addition to a printed version is an online portfolio. It's best to hire someone to design a website to host it rather than trying to do this yourself. Otherwise, it will appear amateurish. Update your portfolio. As you get modelling jobs and gain experience, add this to your portfolio. Keep “tear sheets,” usually magazine pages or photos from a photo shoot. These demonstrate your success as a model. Include a profile page. Your profile will list important information about you. Include the types of work you're willing to do, your statistics, for example, your height, weight, hair and eye color, whether you have any problem areas on your body, for instance, tattoos or scars, and finally, any relevant skills you have, such as knowing a sport, or how to play a musical instrument.

Determine your model type. Hire a professional photographer. Hire a professional make-up artist. Practice posing. Pick out your clothing for the shoot. Prepare to demonstrate versatility. Maintain your looks. Check and double-check your bag. Communicate with the photographer. Showcase your confidence and charm. Demonstrate proper etiquette. Choose your portfolio shots. Arrange your photos for publishing. Get a portfolio book printed. Update your portfolio. Include a profile page.

https://www.wikihow.com/Check-the-Weight-of-Newborn-Puppies

How to Check the Weight of Newborn Puppies

Before you check the weight of a newborn puppy, wait until the mother is comfortable with you touching it. Then, gently place the puppy on a digital scale, and write down its weight and the current date. Continue to weigh the puppy once a day for the first 2 weeks, and then cut back to weighing it once a week.

Wait until the mother will allow you to touch the puppy. Before you can weigh a puppy, you need to wait until the mother dog will allow you to touch the puppies. For a period of time after the birth, the mother will not want anyone handling the puppies. You can try to pick up one of the puppies to see how the mother responds. However, if the mother acts aggressively or defensively, leave the puppies and try again later. Find an appropriate scale. Digital scales are the easiest and most convenient scales to use for puppies. This will give you the most accurate reading, which is important when during your puppy's first weeks. You may want to use an electronic kitchen food scale or postal scales. You can find these in most supercenters or online. Find a way to tell apart the puppies. Often, the puppies in a litter will look exactly the same. To help tell them apart as you chart their weights, purchase a non-toxic permanent marker. Use the marker to place small marks on the belly of the puppies. You can use different colors to help tell them apart. Take care when identifying them using colored ribbons or collars as these can easily get caught and the puppy may be strangulated. Recognize proper birth weights. Birth weights for dogs will vary depending on the breed. The puppies should be roughly the same weight at birth and as they mature. However, the size of the breed can give you a good idea of what they should weigh at birth. Small breeds will generally weigh between 75 to 350 grams. Medium breeds range from 200 to 300 grams. Large breeds usually range from 400 to 850 grams. Weigh the puppy. When you weigh the puppy, do it gently. Puppies are delicate, so you should always use care. A good way to do this is to place newborn puppies in a bucket wrapped in a blanket or something soft. You can also wrap the puppy in a blanket before putting them on the scale. Make sure if you weigh the puppy in a bucket or with a blanket, you subtract the weight of the extra material. Try using the same material each time you weigh the puppy to help with accurate readings. Log the puppy’s weight. Create a chart to weigh each puppy's weight progression. The chart should record the date and the weight of the puppy. Each day, you should see an increase in the puppy's weight. The litter should progress at relatively the same pace. Their weights should be very similar each day. Weigh the puppies once a day. After the puppies are born, you should weigh them at regular intervals. Once a day is often enough to get a good idea of how they are progressing. Make sure to weigh them at the same time every day. You should weigh the puppies once a day for the first two weeks. After that, weigh them once a week. Watch for healthy weight gains. After the first 24 hours, the puppies should increase in weight. By the time the puppy is around a week old, the weight should be doubled from their birth weight. Puppies should gain 5 to 10% of their weight each day. Most puppies lose weight during the first day, and then start gaining it each day. Each breed is different with the way they will gain weight. Check each puppy's weight against the other puppies in the litter and their daily weights. Clean the scale after weighing each puppy. When you weigh the puppies, you may gently put them directly on the scale. If you don't use anything between the puppy and the scale, you should clean the scale with a disinfectant after you remove them. This helps reduce the risk of transmitting any germs or bacteria from puppy to puppy. Encourage smaller puppies to drink. Sometimes, smaller puppies may not get the same nutrition because they do not get equal access to the mother's milk. If one of your puppies has a lower weight, help them get the milk needed from their mother. The teats between the hind legs generally have the most milk. Help the puppies nurse from those. You may want to watch the puppies to make sure larger puppies don't push smaller ones away from the nipples. Call the vet if there are any significant weight changes. Weight gain in a puppy should be steady and along the same level as the rest of the litter. Weight loss is not normal in a puppy. This indicates a problem, and the puppy should be immediately by the vet. If you have tried to get a smaller puppy to nurse properly but their weight is not going up, you should call the vet. Malnourishment in a puppy may point to a problem in the mother dog, like mastitis. Get the puppies checked by a vet. You should get the puppies checked out by a vet during the first 48 hours. This ensures that the puppies are healthy and without any birth defects. At this visit, the vet can also check the puppy's weight to make sure everything is normal. The vet can take this opportunity to give them any shots or medications that they need.

Wait until the mother will allow you to touch the puppy. Find an appropriate scale. Find a way to tell apart the puppies. Recognize proper birth weights. Weigh the puppy. Log the puppy’s weight. Weigh the puppies once a day. Watch for healthy weight gains. Clean the scale after weighing each puppy. Encourage smaller puppies to drink. Call the vet if there are any significant weight changes. Get the puppies checked by a vet.

https://www.wikihow.com/Sing-Into-a-Microphone

How to Sing Into a Microphone

To sing into a microphone, hold it at a 45 degree angle with the head of the microphone about 1-4 inches away from your mouth. If you don't have a microphone at home, practice how to hold one by using a hairbrush or water bottle, and keep your head steady as you sing to avoid changes in tone. Alternatively, if you have to move your head, make sure you move the microphone as well. You should also sing at your natural volume so the microphone picks up a steady level of sound throughout the song.

Practice with objects similar to a microphone. Even if you don't always have access to a microphone during your solo practice time, you will still get the feel for singing with an object in your hand. You can use something like a hairbrush or water bottle to simulate the feeling of holding the microphone while you are singing. Microphones are fairly heavy, so use an object with some weight. For example, if you are using a water bottle for practice, use a full water bottle rather than an empty one. Hold the microphone at a 45-degree angle. The rounded head of the microphone will be next to your mouth. Grasp the microphone firmly with all the fingers of the hand of your choice. If you want, you can support the microphone with both hands or switch between hands. Your grip should be firm but not overly tight. Don't grasp any part of the head of the microphone, as this can muffle the sound. Your hand should be around the middle of the microphone. Keep your elbow in towards your body. This is the elbow of the arm holding the microphone. Keeping it close helps to anchor your microphone and keep the sound steady.. However, don't hold it so tightly close to you that it restricts your airflow or rib cage expansion while singing. Use a microphone stand. If you aren't comfortable holding a microphone, you can ask to use a microphone stand. This keeps your arms free and can help ease your nerves. In certain settings, like a recording studio, your microphone will most likely always be on a stand, so you won't need to worry about holding it. Position the microphone close to your mouth. Vocal microphones are designed for close use. However, you don't want to touch the microphone with your mouth. Optimally, your mouth should be about one to four inches from the center, or axis, of the head of the microphone. If you are using a stand, make sure the stand is raised so that the head of the microphone is at the level of your mouth when you are standing up straight. The top of the microphone's head should be directly across from your lower lip. You don't want to have to either raise or lower your chin to sing into the microphone. Keep your head steady. Because you want your mouth to be pointed towards the center of the microphone, your tone can change if you move your head around too much. When you move your head during a performance, make sure that you move your microphone along with your head. Alternately, try to keep your head held steady above the microphone. Maintain your posture. Your posture is an integral part of your sound when you are singing. You want to make sure that your microphone placement allows you to keep your good posture in place. Your back and neck should be comfortably straight. You don't want to hunch over your microphone. You also don't want to have to lift up your chin to sing into your microphone. Test your microphone. Whether you are recording or performing, you want to test your microphone before you begin and become familiar with it. Know how to turn your microphone on. It may seem silly, but you want to make sure you are comfortable with the basics of the specific microphone you are using. As you sound check, don't just say a few words. Sing a portion of your songs, trying to test a range of notes and levels. You want the sound tech to adjust the microphone to your specific voice and tone, rather than you trying to adjust to the microphone. Make sure you can hear yourself, whether you're listening in the speakers or have a headset. If you can't hear what you are singing, ask the sound tech to adjust your microphone or headset. Make sure the sound is clear. Listen for any unwanted feedback. This can be an indication the levels need to be adjusted. Don’t over or under compensate in volume. You want to sing at your natural level, neither too softly or too loudly. Resist the temptation to adjust your distance from the microphone when you sing at different volumes or pitches. The microphone should be adjusted to you. You want to sing at a normal volume. Don't feel like you have to hold back on big crescendos just because you're singing into a microphone. When you're going through sound check, make sure you are singing at the level you'll be singing during your performance.

Practice with objects similar to a microphone. Hold the microphone at a 45-degree angle. Keep your elbow in towards your body. Use a microphone stand. Position the microphone close to your mouth. Keep your head steady. Maintain your posture. Test your microphone. Don’t over or under compensate in volume.

https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Birthmarks

How to Remove Birthmarks

To remove a birthmark, try applying lemon juice to it for 20 minutes several times a week, which might help lighten your birthmark so it's less noticeable. You can also apply slightly warm tomato juice to your birthmark and let it air dry to lighten your skin, repeating a few times a day for a month. Or, you can try mixing vitamin E oil with orange oil and applying it to your birthmark, which might help it fade because of the oils' antioxidant properties.

Talk to your dermatologist about prescription skin medications. Oftentimes, you can get rid of a vascular birthmark (such as hemangiomas) by taking corticosteroids. Corticosteroids slow down the development of birthmarks and reduce their size but they do not actually remove the mark. Corticosteroids can be taken orally, injected into the birthmark, or used topically. Other medications used for birthmarks include propranolol and vincristine, which are used for hemangiomas (see the last section below for more details). Investigate laser therapy. Laser therapy can help to reduce the size and halt the development of vascular birthmarks. Laser therapy involves the application of focused, short laser light bursts to the birthmark and can be used to lessen the color, reduce the size, and even stop certain birthmarks from growing. Laser therapy can be used to remove port-wine stains and café au lait spots but is not always successful, causing the spots to return. Although total removal of birthmarks may be impossible, they can be lightened considerably after several sessions of laser therapy. Laser therapy can be an effective treatment method, but it can also be very expensive. Consider cryosurgery to remove birthmarks. Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and fade spots, causing them to peel off. During the procedure, liquid nitrogen is applied on the mark to freeze the skin on and under the spot. Then, the skin is scraped off using an instrument known as curette. Complications of cryosurgery include scarring and lightened skin color. Look into surgical excision. Skin surgery can be done as an outpatient procedure and only involves a removal of very limited amounts of outer skin. Although surgical removal of skin is considered a minor procedure, it is still invasive and a preoperative assessment of the patient should be done by the doctor. Surgery can be done to remove moles and hemangiomas Depending on the size of the birthmark, surgery may leave a permanent scar. During the procedure, your doctor will provide a local anesthesia to numb the area and then removes the birthmark with a scalpel. The skin is then stitched together using dissolving suture. Surgical excision is often intended for deeper birthmarks. Ask about a surgical shave. A surgical shave is an incision done without the need for stitches. It is performed either through the use of a traditional blade or an electric cautery machine. During the procedure, your doctor uses local anesthesia to numb the area around the mark and then cuts the area around and beneath the birthmark with a small scalpel. Surgical shaving is often used for smaller moles or skin tags and rarely needs sutures. Use lemon juice to lighten skin. Lemon juice contains ingredients that can naturally lighten the skin. However, the efficacy of lemon juice in treating birthmarks has not been scientifically confirmed and thus, you should use this method with reservations. Apply fresh lemon juice on the birthmark for 20 minutes and rinse off. Repeat several times a week. Do not use if the lemon juice causes skin irritation. Keep in mind that you will probably have to repeat this treatment (or any home remedy) many times over many months to see an improvement. You may be better off speaking with a dermatologist about medical treatment options if you want to remove a birthmark. Try iodine solution. Iodine may help fade birthmarks but again, this method has not been scientifically proven. Apply iodine solution over the spot twice daily. However, remember that iodine solution is a medical product and should be used with caution. Also, avoid using this treatment if you have an allergy to iodine or shell fish. Do not use if any irritation occurs and consult your doctor if you have any concerns. Apply olive oil to moisturize your skin. Olive oil is a powerful natural moisturizer that can restore skin and make birthmarks appear softer and smoother. Apply olive oil at least three times over the spot, leave on to dry or rinse off. Use a cotton ball to apply the oil directly onto the birthmark 2 to 3 times a day. Put tomato juice on your birthmark. Tomato juice has skin bleaching properties and may help fade birthmarks. Apply slightly warm tomato juice on the spot and let it air-dry. Repeat a few times a day for a month. Make sure that the tomato juice is not too hot or you may burn your skin. Investigate vitamin A cream to promote skin cell regeneration. Vitamin A stimulates mitotic activity (cell division) and the production of collagen (the protein that builds the skin). Although vitamin A creams (often called Retinol) are used to treat hyperpigmentation, their efficacy in lightening birthmarks is not known. Apply vitamin E oil onto the skin. The antioxidant properties of vitamin E may help with birthmarks. Mix vitamin E oil with orange oil and apply over the birthmark. Know if your birthmark is a mole. A mole (also called congenital nevi) is a pigmented birthmark (caused by an overgrowth of the melanin-producing cells) on the skin that generally appears during childhood. The typical characteristics of moles include: Tan, brown, red, pink, blue or black color. Smooth, flat, wrinkled or raised texture. Oval to round shape. Typically less than 1/4 inch in diameter but sometimes moles can be bigger. Sometimes moles have hair growing on them. Most moles are harmless but in rare cases they can become cancerous. Monitor your moles and contact your doctor if their appearance changes. Identify if your birthmark is a café au lait. These pigmented birthmarks are sometimes caused by a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis. This condition is divided into three distinct types; the mildest form (neurofibromatosis 1) appears in childhood and is characterized by flat, light brown-colored birthmarks on the skin: Café au lait spots can be present at birth or appear during childhood and then stabilize. They can be treated with lasers but often return. In addition to birthmarks, neurofibromatosis 1 may be characterized by freckling in the armpit, soft bumps on or under the skin (neurofibromas or benign tumors), tiny, harmless bumps on the eye (called Lisch nodules), and/or bone deformities. The two other types (neurofibromatosis 2 and 3) are much less common than the first type and are characterized by more serious symptoms and tumors. If you suspect your child has neurofibromatosis, consult the pediatrician. Neurofibromatosis can't be cured, but your child's pediatrician will monitor the complications and treat the symptoms. Know if you have Mongolian spots. These are pigmentation birthmarks in children that commonly disappear when the child reaches school age. Typical characteristics of Mongolian spots include: Blue or blue-gray-colored spots on the buttocks, back, spine, shoulders, or other areas. Flat and irregular shape. The skin texture is normal. Typical size is between 2 and 8 centimeters wide. Because these marks disappear on their own, no treatment is recommended. Diagnose macular stains. Also known as salmon patches, stork bites or angel kisses, these are faint red vascular birthmarks (a result of blood vessels not forming correctly) most commonly present on the forehead, eyelids, back of the neck, nose, upper lip, or on the back of the head. They are characterizes by flat, light pink patches on the skin. Macular stains typically fade away on their own by the time your child is 1 to 2 years old but some may last into adulthood. Spot a port-wine stain. This is a vascular birthmark that usually is permanent and does not disappear on its own. However, some treatments can make these marks less noticeable. Laser treatment, such as the pulsed dye laser, is the only way to reduce the appearance of port wine stains. Laser treatment can lighten the mark but often works better in children. You can also try to use cosmetics to hide these birthmarks if laser treatment proves unsuccessful. Identify if you or your child has hemangiomas. These are vascular birthmarks that appear within a couple weeks after birth and are often found on the head and neck. Hemangiomas are characterized by skin discoloration that may disappear within few months after birth or can take up to 12 years to fade away. Hemangiomas in the eye and mouth may cause complications, such as ulcers, and sometimes they can appear on the internal organs (stomach, kidneys and liver). Consult your doctor if you suspect your child has internal hemangiomas that may cause complications. Most hemangiomas can be treated or shrunk with medical treatment, such as oral propranolol, steroids or vincristine. In some cases, plastic surgery may be needed.

Talk to your dermatologist about prescription skin medications. Investigate laser therapy. Consider cryosurgery to remove birthmarks. Look into surgical excision. Ask about a surgical shave. Use lemon juice to lighten skin. Try iodine solution. Apply olive oil to moisturize your skin. Put tomato juice on your birthmark. Investigate vitamin A cream to promote skin cell regeneration. Apply vitamin E oil onto the skin. Know if your birthmark is a mole. Identify if your birthmark is a café au lait. Know if you have Mongolian spots. Diagnose macular stains. Spot a port-wine stain. Identify if you or your child has hemangiomas.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Carpenter-Ants

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

To get rid of carpenter ants, mix equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar in a shallow bowl and place it wherever you've seen the ants. The powdered sugar will attract the ants, and the baking soda will kill them. Spray any ants you encounter with soapy water to kill them and get rid of their scent trail. Try to find the ants' nest by following them to where they take food back to. Or, check for damaged wood in and around your home, since carpenter ants chew through wood to make their nests. When you find the nest, spray it with a non-toxic insecticide, or pour boiling water into it if it's located outdoors. For serious infestations, consider calling a pest-control agency. To prevent carpenter ants from coming back, mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray your baseboards, windowsills, and countertops with it. The smell of the vinegar will confuse and deter the ants. You should also keep your kitchen as clean as possible since carpenter ants are attracted to crumbs and food spills. Finally, make sure to seal entrances, like doors and windows, and cut back brushes or trees that carpenter ants could nest in.

Make sure you're dealing with ants, not termites. Carpenter ants are large black or dark brown insects with three body segments and six legs. They have bent antennae. The worker ants are wingless, while the reproductive ants have wings. They tend to walk in long trails. Termites, which are a far worse problem to have, have straight antennae and light colored bodies. If you're dealing with termites, read this article. Look for frass. Frass is a sawdust-like material left behind when ants bore into wood to make their nests. It will contains body parts and debris, but will basically look like a pile of light wood shavings. If you see this around your house, it's a telltale sign you've got an ant problem on your hands. Look for wood damage. Wood that is serving as a nest for ants will have slits or holes. You'll usually see frass scattered nearby as well. Ants like to nest in walls, hollow doors, cabinets, beams, and structural wood. Look for areas where the wood is slightly damp, since ants like to build their nests in moist wood. Set out bait nearby. To find the nest, you'll need to lure the ants out with some bait, then trail them back to the nest so you can figure out exactly where they're hiding. Set out very small bits of honeydew or another sugary fruit near where you believe the nest to be located. Trail the ants to the nest. When the ants take the bait, follow them back to the nest. You'll probably see them crawl into a space in the wall, a cabinet, or a door. Keep watching until you're sure where the nest is located. If the nest is visible and accessible, you can get rid of the nest itself by moving to the next step. If the nest is hidden and difficult to reach, you're going to want to use the toxic bait to kill the ants. It will take about three days to go into effect. Use the toxic bait method. This method is best to use if the nest is hidden or inaccessible. You'll use toxic bait to lure the ants out of the nest; they'll carry it back to the nest, and within about three days the ant population will be poisoned. Buy some carpenter ant toxic gel bait and mix it with a spoonful of sugar and a spoonful of milk. Set some out near where you suspect the ants live. Wait for the ants to come out and take the bait. It is essential that the bait you use be slow acting. If it kills the worker ants on their way back to the nest, the thousands of ants still back at the nest won't be affected. Choose a bait that takes about three days to work. Never spray the line of carpenter ants you see coming from the nest with insecticide. This won't harm the ants still lying in wait, and could actually cause them to sense danger and spread out to build more nests. If you have pets or small children, tamper-resistant bait stations are a safer option for dispensing toxic baits. Destroy the nest with direct dusting. This method is effective when you can access the nest easily and apply carpenter ant dust directly to the queen and the entire colony. Choose a carpenter ant dust and follow the instructions on the package to apply the dust to the nest. Diatomaceous earth is a natural, nontoxic dust that can be used to kill carpenter ants without bringing poisons into your home. Other chemical dust such as Delta Dust and Drione Pest Insecticide Dust is also effective, but it does contain toxins and could pose health risks to pets and children. Try a boric acid bait. Buy boric acid at a garden supply store. Mix with powdered sugar, in a ratio of about 1/3 sugar to 2/3 boric acid. Fill bottle caps with the mixture. Set down around the area where you observe the ants. When they return it to the nest, it will kill the ants in the nest. Boric acid penetrates the ant's body and dissolves inside of the ant. Clean up your house to make it a bad breeding ground for carpenter ants. Do this by cleaning floors well, fixing any leaky faucets that might dampen wood, and removing any clutter that creates shelter for them. Seal your house. Use caulk to seal your foundation and cracks around doors, windows, and any other areas where ants could get into your home. Install screens on your windows and doors. Remove natural debris from around the home. Cut tree limbs back so they aren't hanging directly over your house. Clean up weeds, leaves, wood piles, and other natural debris that's close to your house and could be harboring an ant population. Clean up crumbs and water leaks. Ants need sugar, protein and water sources to survive. Keeping these basic needs away from them is the best way to prevent them from infesting your home. Keep the floors and counters free of crumbs and clean up spills, especially sugary spills. Fix faucet leaks and make sure there's no accessible water in the area.

Make sure you're dealing with ants, not termites. Look for frass. Look for wood damage. Set out bait nearby. Trail the ants to the nest. Use the toxic bait method. Destroy the nest with direct dusting. Try a boric acid bait. Clean up your house to make it a bad breeding ground for carpenter ants. Seal your house. Remove natural debris from around the home. Clean up crumbs and water leaks.

https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Yourself-After-Unknowingly-Buying-Stolen-Property

How to Protect Yourself After Unknowingly Buying Stolen Property

As an individual, you're legally protected if you bought stolen goods without any reason to think they were stolen. However, if you suspect an item is stolen, write down any details you remember about the transaction and find the receipt if you still have it, then contact the police. You should be able to get a refund if you show the seller your police report. As a second-hand store owner, you have more responsibility over stolen goods. Your state may require you to write down each seller's name and address to cover yourself in case the police enquire. You may also be required to get the seller to sign a warranty to state it's their property.

Write down the details of the transaction. If someone contacts you and tells you the goods are stolen, you should immediately write down what you remember of buying the goods. By writing this information down, you can help show to the police that there was no reason you should have suspected that the goods were stolen. Hold onto your receipt as well. It looks suspicious if you buy an expensive item, like jewelry or a car, and don't ask for a receipt. Call the police. After you buy the goods, you might begin to suspect that they were stolen. If so, then you should call the police. They will try to find the original owner and return the goods to them. Try to get a copy of the police report. You will need this document to show the person who sold you the stolen goods. Ask the seller for a refund. Once you return the goods to the police or to the rightful owner, you can ask the seller for a refund. They should be happy to refund the money. Show the seller your copy of the police report. In England, you are entitled to a full refund if you purchased the stolen item after October 1, 2015. However, if you bought it before that date, then the seller can deduct some money from the purchase price, depending on how long you had the item or whether you used it. File a lawsuit for restitution. If the seller won't refund you the purchase price, then you can sue for “restitution.” Depending on how much you are suing for, you might be able to bring your case in small claims court. Small claims courts are set up for people to represent themselves without an attorney. The process is usually simplified. You will have to file a “complaint” or “affidavit” to start the lawsuit in small claims court. Stop into the court and ask for a form. The clerk should have a printed, “fill in the blank” form you can use. Talk to an attorney. You probably will have to return stolen goods to the rightful owner, even if you aren't criminally charged with receipt of stolen goods. However, you should talk about your options with an attorney. You can get a referral to an attorney by contacting your state or local bar association. Bar associations are organizations made up of attorneys. Typically, they provide referrals to their members. Identify if you are a second-hand seller. Second-hand sellers have more of a responsibility for investigating whether the goods they sell were stolen. First, you should identify if you qualify as a second-hand seller: pawn shop thrift stores flea market Ask the seller if they are the owner. When someone comes to your business to sell goods, then you cannot just accept the goods without asking any questions. Instead, you should ask basic questions to feel out whether the person is the real owner. If the goods are stolen, then the police will want to see that you performed a reasonable inquiry. Ask how old the item is. If they don't know, then they may have stolen the goods. Ask where they got the item. If they can't, or if they stammer and stumble, then the goods might be stolen. Ask how much they originally paid for the item. If they give you a price that seems too low or too high, then you should be on guard. The goods may be stolen. Write down important details about the seller. Your state law may require that you take down important information about the seller. It is probably a good idea to do so even if your state law doesn't require you to. For example, you should take down the following: seller's name seller's address physical description of the item Get a signed warranty. Your state law might also require that you get a signed warranty from the seller. The warranty should state that the seller is the rightful owner of the property. You should create a template and use the form over and over. The seller can write in their name and sign at the bottom. Your state might publish a form you can use. You can check with the agency that licensed your business to see if they have a form. Comply with your state laws. Dealing in stolen goods is a fairly common crime in many parts of the country. Accordingly, some states have rigorous laws you must abide by if you are a second-hand seller. For example, in Florida, pawn shops must get a fingerprint of anyone who wants to pawn goods. You then enter information into a state database. If you are running a pawn shop or flea market as a business, then you should have a business attorney who can advise you on this important area of law. Avoid buying goods you know are stolen. If someone tells you that the goods are stolen, then you cannot purchase them. If you do, then you could be charged with receipt of stolen property, which is a crime. Also refuse to store goods if you know they are stolen. You can't store a DVD player you know your cousin stole. Refuse to buy anything that looks suspicious. More likely no one will tell you that the goods are stolen. However, either the goods or the sale might be suspicious. In this situation, you need to avoid buying the goods. Willful blindness won't protect you. Don't buy goods out of the back of a van. A reasonable person wouldn't expect to purchase a television, jewelry, or a gun from the back of a van in an alleyway. If you do, then you could be charged with receipt of stolen property if the property was, in fact, stolen. Be suspicious of goods sold very cheaply. For example, someone might advertise to sell their new car for a very cheap price. You should be suspicious that a new car is being sold so cheaply. Check if the goods have a name on them. If so, check that the name matches the seller's name. When the name doesn't match, then you should suspect the goods were stolen. Know you are protected if you bought innocently. The law requires that you “knowingly” buy stolen goods with an intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. If you did not know that they were stolen, then you did not break the law. However, you probably have to return the goods to the real owner. After returning the goods, you can bring a lawsuit for restitution against whoever sold you the goods.

Write down the details of the transaction. Call the police. Ask the seller for a refund. File a lawsuit for restitution. Talk to an attorney. Identify if you are a second-hand seller. Ask the seller if they are the owner. Write down important details about the seller. Get a signed warranty. Comply with your state laws. Avoid buying goods you know are stolen. Refuse to buy anything that looks suspicious. Know you are protected if you bought innocently.

https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Kind

How to Be Kind

To be a kind person, start doing nice things for your friends, family, and coworkers, even when they don't ask for anything. When you interact with people, smile and show a genuine interest in their lives by asking them how they're doing. Avoid judging people or gossiping about others. Instead, be compassionate by listening to people's problems and concerns and offering your support. By focusing more of your attention on being there for others, over time you'll find that you're a kinder person.

Care for others genuinely. At its most basic, kindness is about caring genuinely for others around you, wanting the best for them, and recognizing in them the same wants, needs, aspirations, and even fears that you have too. Kindness is warm, resilient, patient, trusting, loyal, and grateful. Piero Ferrucci sees kindness as being about "making less effort" because it frees us from getting knotted up in negative attitudes and feelings such as resentment, jealousy, suspicion, and manipulation. Ultimately, kindness is deep caring for all beings. Practice kindness and generosity toward others. Being out of practice, being shy, or not knowing how to reach out to others can only be overcome in the doing, by continually trying until it becomes a natural impulse to be kind and giving to others. Ask for nothing in return. The greatest kindness expects nothing, comes with no strings attached, and places no conditions on anything done or said. Don't be kind for the sake of getting what you want. Beware of deluded kindness. Kindness is not about "self-interested politeness, calculated generosity, superficial etiquette". Simply being nice to other people because you believe that this will manipulate them into giving you what you want in life, or as a means of controlling them, is not kindness. Nor is kindness about pretending to care for someone all the while repressing anger or contempt; hiding our rage or frustration behind false pleasantries is not kindness. Finally, being a people pleaser is not kindness; that's simply behavior designed to give in and not rock the boat because you're afraid that taking a step forward will sink the ship. Be kind to yourself. Many people make the error of trying to be kind to others while at the same time not focusing on being kind to themselves. Some of this can stem from not liking aspects of yourself, but more often than not, it's sourced in the inability to know yourself better. And unfortunately, when you don't feel rock solid within yourself, your kindness to others risks falling into the deluded types of kindness described in the previous step. Or, it can lead to burn-out and disillusionment because you've put everyone else first. Self-knowledge allows you to see what causes you pain and conflict, and enables you to embrace your contradictions and inconsistencies. It allows the space to work on things about yourself that you're not happy with. In turn, self-knowledge helps to prevent you from projecting your negative aspects onto other people, thereby empowering you to treat other people with love and kindness.. Take time to become more self-aware and use this learning to be kinder to both yourself (remembering that we all have weaknesses) and to others. In this way, your inner angst is being dealt with rather than fueling your need to project the hurt and pain. Avoid viewing time taken to become more aware of your own needs and limits as an act of selfishness; far from it, it is a vital pre-condition to being able to reach out to other people with great strength and awareness. Ask yourself what you think it means to be kinder to yourself. For many people, being kinder to themselves includes monitoring the chatter in your thoughts and stopping your negative thinking. Learn kindness from others. Think about the truly kind people in your life and how they make you feel. Do you carry their warm glow around in your heart every time you think of them? It is likely that you do because kindness lingers, warming you even when the hardest challenges face you. When other people find a way to love you for who you are, it's impossible to forget such trust and confirmation of worthiness, and their kindness lives on forever. Remember how other people's kindness "makes your day". What is it about their kindness that makes you feel special and cherished? Are there things that they do that you can replicate from your own heart? Cultivate kindness for the good of your own health. Improved psychological health and happiness comes from thinking more positively , and kindness is a positive mental state. While kindness is about giving and being open to others, giving kindness returns a sense of well-being and connection to us that improves our own mental state and health. Although simple, the very ability to be kind is in itself a powerful and consistent reward, a self-esteem booster. Make a habit of focusing on kindness. Leo Babauta says that kindness is a habit and is one that everyone can cultivate. He suggests focusing on kindness every day for a month. At the end of this directed focus, you'll be aware of profound changes in your life, you'll feel better about yourself as a person, and you'll find that people react to you differently, including treating you better. As he says, in the long run, being kind is karma in practice. Suggestions to help cultivate your kindness include: Do one kind thing for someone every day. Make a conscious decision at the beginning of the day what that kind act will be and make time to do it during the day. Be kind, friendly, and compassionate when you interact with someone, and even more so where that person normally makes you angry, stressed, or bothered. Use kindness as your strength. Build up your small acts of kindness into larger acts of compassion. Volunteering for those in need and taking the initiative to relieve suffering are bigger acts of compassion. Meditate to help spread kindness. Read Practice Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta) for more details. Be kind to everyone, not just people "in need. " Expand your circle of kindness. It can be very easy to be kind when we're unconsciously doing what Stephanie Dowrick terms "patronizing kindness". This refers to kindness given to those people we feel are truly in need (the sick, the poor, the vulnerable, and those who align with our own ideals). Being kind to people close to us, emotionally (like family or friends) or in other ways (from the same country, of the same color, gender etc.), is also easier than being kind to those the philosopher Hegel called "the other". It can be more difficult to be kind to people we may consider our equals, but it will be worth it. The trouble with restricting our kindness to "convenient" cases is that we fail to recognize that we need to be kind to everyone, no matter who they are, their level of wealth or fortune, their values and beliefs, their behavior and attitudes, their place of origin, their likeness to ourselves, etc. By choosing to be kind only to those we feel are deserving of kindness, we are unleashing our own biases and judgment, and only practicing conditional kindness. Natural kindness encompasses all beings and while the challenges you'll face when trying to put this broader notion of kindness into practice will sometimes be trying, you'll never stop learning about the depths of your ability to be truly kind. If you're neglecting being kind to someone else just because you think they can cope without your support or understanding, then you're practicing selective kindness. Minimize judgment. If you really want to be kind, then you have to kick your judgment to the curb. Instead of spending your time being critical of other people, work on being positive and compassionate. If you tend to think poorly of others, wish other people could step up their game, or feel like the people around you are needy or clueless, then you'll never learn true kindness. Stop judging people and realize that you'll never fully understand where they're coming from unless you walk a day in their shoes. Focus on wanting to help others instead of judging them for not being better than they are. If you're judgmental, prone to gossip, or just always bad-mouthing the people around you, you'll never be able to move past your reservations to be kind. Being kind means giving people the benefit of the doubt instead of expecting perfection. Be compassionate toward others. It's important to take in the message, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". Attributed to Plato, this saying is a recognition that everyone is undergoing some challenge or other in their lives and that sometimes, it's all too easy for us to lose sight of that when embroiled in our own problems or anger against them. Before committing an action that might impact another person negatively, ask yourself a simple question: "Is this kind?". If you cannot answer this in the affirmative, this is a reminder to change your action and approach immediately. Even where you're feeling at your very worst, remember that other people are also feeling uncertainty, pain, hardship, sadness, disappointment, and loss. In no way does this belittle your own feelings but it does allow you to realize that people often react from their hurt and pain rather than from their whole self, and kindness is the key to seeing past the raging emotions and connecting with the real person inside. Don't expect perfection. If you have a tendency toward perfectionism , competitiveness, or a driven sense of urgency, self-kindness can often be a victim of your ambition and fast pace, as well as your fear of being seen to be lazy or selfish. Remember to slow down and to forgive yourself when things don't work out as wished. Learn from your mistakes rather than beating yourself up over them, or comparing yourself to others. It is through self-compassionate responses that you can start to see other people's needs in a compassionate light. Be present. The greatest gift of kindness to another person is to be in the moment in their presence, to be listening with care, and to be genuinely attentive to them. Schedule your day differently, and stop being known as the person who always rushes off. Being present means being available; you can only do this if you're not rushing or squeezing in people and activities. Ease off the technical means of communicating with others. Impersonal and hurried technical communications like text and email have their place in life, but not as your only means of communicating. Take time to connect with people face-to-face, or via an uninterrupted phone call. Send a letter instead of an email and surprise someone with the kindness of your having taken time out of your day to put pen to paper. Be a good listener. The act of listening is easier said than done in our fast-paced world, where rushing and being busy are seen as virtues; where cutting someone off because you're too busy, or you need to get somewhere in a hurry, is the norm. Making being busy into a habit is no excuse for unkindness, however. When talking to someone, learn to listen with your whole being and sincerely pay attention to them until they're done revealing their thoughts and story. Truly listening to someone, making eye contact, avoiding all distractions, and giving a person the time of day is one of the greatest acts of kindness. Take the time to truly absorb what the person is saying before responding with a pre-made answer or interrupting. Show the person that you appreciate the unique situation he's in and that you're there to lend an ear. Being a good listener doesn't mean being a great problem solver. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just be there to listen, while acknowledging that you don't know what the person should do. Be optimistic. Happiness, joy, and gratitude rest at the heart of kindness, allowing you to see the good in others and the world, enabling you to press through the challenges, despair, and cruelty you witness and experience, continuously restoring your sense of faith in humanity. Maintaining an optimistic attitude ensures that acts of kindness are committed with genuine joy and cheerfulness rather than with reluctance or out of a sense of duty or service. And keeping your sense of humor ensures that you don't take yourself too seriously and take life's contradictory and contrary moments with good faith. It's not always easy to be optimistic, especially when you've had a crummy day. But with enough practice, anyone can cultivate optimism by focusing on the positive instead of the negative, thinking ahead to happy things in the future, and living a life that is filled with more joy than sadness. And it doesn't cost a dollar to look on the brighter side of things, either. Being optimistic and staying positive will not only put you in more of a mindset to be kind, but it will also bring joy to those around you. If you spend much of your time complaining, then it will be more difficult to bring happiness to the people in your orbit. Read How to be happy , How to be funny , and How to be thankful for more information on how to cultivate optimism. Be friendly. People who are kind tend to also be friendly. This doesn't mean they are the most outgoing people in the room, but that they make an effort to get to know new people and to make them feel at home. If there's someone new at your school or workplace, you can try to talk to that person, explain how things work, and even invite him or her to social events. Even if you're not outgoing, just smiling and making small talk with people can go a long way in making you friendlier, and this kindness will not go unnoticed. Friendly people are kind because they expect the best from people. They talk to new people and friends alike in an easygoing, reassuring way that makes them feel at home. If you're naturally shy, you don't have to change your personality completely. Just make a bit more of an effort to be nice to people by giving them your attention, asking them how they are, and showing an interest in them. Be polite. Although being polite is not an indication of kindness in itself, genuine politeness demonstrates your respect for those you're interacting with. Being polite is the kind way of getting people's attention and putting your point across. Some simple ways to do this include: Find ways to rephrase your requests or responses to others. For example, say "May I?" instead of "Can I?"; say "I'm surprised" instead of "That's not fair"; say "Let me explain that another way" instead of saying "That's not what I said". Rephrasing your language speaks volumes. Have excellent manners. Hold doors open for people, avoid being overly vulgar in person, and don't be overly familiar with new people. Make compliments and mean them. Read How to practice courtesy and kindness for more ideas. Be grateful. People who are truly kind are easily able to express gratitude. They don't take anything for granted and always thank people for helping them out. They know how to say "thank you" and really mean it, they write thank-you cards, and they are comfortable with acknowledging when they have been helped. People who are grateful also thank people just because, for things like making their days brighter, instead of only thanking them for completing specific tasks. If you make a habit of being more grateful to the people around you, you'll see that your capacity for kinds will increase. If you're more observant of all the nice things other people do for you, then you'll be more ready to do nice things for others. You'll be more aware of how good the kindness of others makes you feel and will feel more inclined to spread the love. Love animals and the living world. Loving animals and caring for pets is kindness in action. Nothing compels you to care about beings of another species, especially in a day and age where the tools of human domination are so powerful. And yet, the very act of loving an animal and respecting the animal for its own value is an expression of deep kindness. As well, being kind to the world that sustains and nurtures us is sensible as well as kind, ensuring that we don't poison the very elements that assure us a healthy life. Adopt or foster a pet. Your kindness will be rewarded by letting another being into your life who will bring you joy and love. Offer to pet-sit for a friend who is going away. Give your friend the reassurance that someone loving and caring will be tending to her pet while she's away. Respect the species you're caring for. Humans don't "own" animals; rather, we stand in a relationship of being responsible for their well-being and care. Take time to restore parts of your local environment with the local community. Go for walks in nature with family, friends, alone, and commune with the world that you're a part of. Share your love for nature with others, to help reawaken their sense of connection with nature. Share. People who are kind are happy to share with others. You can share your favorite sweater, half of your delicious enchilada, or even words of career advice to someone younger than you. The important thing is that you're sharing something that you actually care about, instead of giving away something you don't really need. It's much more meaningful to let your friend borrow your favorite sweater than to give her an old hand-me-down you never wear. Sharing with people will make you more generous and thus, more inclined towards kindness. Keep an eye out for people who would really benefit from some of the things you have. They may not always ask for them, but you can offer them readily before they admit that they need something from you. Smile more. Smiling is a simple act of kindness that can go a long way. Make a habit of smiling at strangers, or at your friends or acquaintances. Though you don't have to walk around with a smile plastered on your face, smiling at people will make them smile back, and will bring even a modicum of joy to their days. What's more, smiling can actually trick your mind into feeling happier than it previously was. Everybody wins when you smile, and your capacity for kindness will grow in the process. Smiling at people will also make them more comfortable and will make you look more approachable, which is another way of being kind. Being welcoming to others, and even giving strangers the benefit of the doubt by smiling at them, is another way of being kind. Take an interest in people. People who are truly kind are genuinely interested in other people. They aren't kind to them just because they want to get what they want or because they are fishing for a favor. They do it because they genuinely care about how people are doing and want those around them to be happy and healthy. To be more kind, work on developing an interest in other people and show them that you care by being attentive, asking questions, and paying attention to them. Here are some ways to take an interest in people: Ask people how they are and mean it. Ask people about their hobbies, interests, and families. If someone you cared about had a big life event, ask that person how it went. If someone you know has a big exam or interview coming up, wish him or her luck. When you talk to people, make sure they are doing at least about half of the talking. Don't dominate a conversation and focus more on the other person than yourself. Make eye contact and put away your cell phone when you talk to people. Show that they are your first priority. Call up a friend just because. You don't always need a reason to call up a good friend. Make a goal of calling one friend per week, or even two friends per week, just to catch up and see how that person is doing. Don't call to make plans or to ask that person something specific; call just because you miss your friend and have been thinking about him or her. Getting in touch with your friends out of the blue will make them feel cared for and will make you feel good; this shows kindness and thoughtfulness. If you're really short on time, you can start by making a habit of calling up your friends on their birthdays. Don't be lazy and send a text message or even a Facebook post, but give your friend a phone call from the heart. Donate to charity. Another way to be kind is to donate some of your belongings to charity. Instead of throwing out your old things or selling them for 50 cents at a garage sale, donate the things you don't need to a good cause. If you have clothes, books, or other household items that are in good condition, then making a habit of donating these things to charity instead of storing them up or tossing them is a great way to spread your kindness to others. If you have some clothes or books that someone you know would want, then don't be shy about donating those items to that person. This is another way of being kind. Perform a random act of kindness. "Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” These are the words once said by Princess Diana. The practice of random acts of kindness is alive and well as a conscious effort to spread more kindness; there are even groups that have established themselves to perform this essential civic duty! Here are some great random acts of kindness you can do: Shovel a neighbor's driveway as well as your own. Wash a friend's car. Put money into an expired meter. Help someone carry a heavy bag. Leave a gift on someone's doorstep. For more details on practicing random acts of kindness, read How to practice random acts of kindness. Transform your life through kindness. Changing how you live and how you view the world might seem daunting. But take a note of Aldous Huxley's prescription for transforming your life: "People often ask me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answer is–just be a little kinder." Take Huxley's many years of research to heart and allow kindness to transform your life, to transcend all feelings and actions of aggression, hate, despising, anger, fear, and self-deprecation, and to restore strength worn away by despair. Through being kind, you take a stand by affirming that caring for others, for our environment, for yourself is the right way to live life. It isn't about immediate effectiveness; kindness is a lifestyle choice, a constant hum and rhythm accompanying every single thing that you think and do. Through being kind, you let go of the burden of worrying that others have more than you, are less or more deserving than you, or are in a position of superiority or inferiority to you. Instead, kindness assumes everyone is worthy, you included. Through being kind, you recognize that we are all in this together. When you harm another person, you also harm yourself. What you do to support others also supports you.

Care for others genuinely. Don't be kind for the sake of getting what you want. Be kind to yourself. Learn kindness from others. Cultivate kindness for the good of your own health. Make a habit of focusing on kindness. Be kind to everyone, not just people "in need. Minimize judgment. Be compassionate toward others. Don't expect perfection. Be present. Be a good listener. Be optimistic. Be friendly. Be polite. Be grateful. Love animals and the living world. Share. Smile more. Take an interest in people. Call up a friend just because. Donate to charity. Perform a random act of kindness. Transform your life through kindness.

https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-You-Are-in-Labor-with-a-Second-Pregnancy

How to Tell if You Are in Labor with a Second Pregnancy

Although there are many differences between giving birth your first and second time, the labor signs are mostly the same. Most women notice their labor starting when their water breaks. After your water breaks, you should get contractions that become stronger and more frequent. Another way to tell you're approaching labor is losing your mucus plug, which tends to happen much earlier in your second pregnancy. You might also notice your belly drooping downwards, which is a sign that your baby is descending into your pelvis. If you feel like you need to use the bathroom every 10-15 minutes, you're probably about to go into labor.

Check to see if your water has broken. Usually, most women recognize that labor is starting when they feel that their “water broke”. This is when the amniotic membranes rupture spontaneously. This event triggers the start of uterine contractions. Keep track of any contractions you feel. Keep track of the frequency of your contractions. Initially, you may experience them every 10 to 15 minutes, but over time this will reduce to ever 2 to 3 minutes. Uterine contractions have been described as “cramping” , “ tightness in the abdomen” , “discomfort”, and a varying degree of pain, from mild to extreme. Uterine contractions in labor are measured by CTG (cardiotocography), with a device placed over the abdomen. This measures both uterine contractions and the fetal heart rate. Know the difference between true contractions and Braxton-Hicks contractions. An important distinction must be made between true contractions, and so-called “false”, or Braxton-Hicks contractions, which occur only a few times during the day, without any increase in intensity or frequency. They usually appear within the first 26 weeks of pregnancy, but they can also appear later on. It is common for women to experience "false" contractions in the advanced pregnancy period, however these contractions can suddenly turn into labor contractions during the second pregnancy. Therefore, when you are becoming a mom for the second time, do not take your Braxton-Hicks contractions lightly. It could be a sign of the actual labor. Check to see if you have lost your mucus plug. When you see that you have lost the mucus plug, you can expect that you'll be in labor within a short span of time, usually within a few hours or a day or two. There will be small blood stains when you lose the mucus plug. During a second pregnancy, women tend to lose their mucus plug much earlier compared to the first pregnancy. The reason for this is that after the first pregnancy the muscles comprising the cervix are naturally looser than before and with all the rapid and frequent contractions, the cervix starts eroding at a faster rate than it did previously. Take a look at your belly. You might see that your belly has drooped downwards and you can now breathe with ease. This is because the baby is descending into the pelvis, preparing for delivery. Also, you might feel the urgency to use the bathroom every 10-15 minutes. This is a clear indication that your baby is moving into the correct position to find her way out into the world. Consider whether your uterus feels “lighter”. It has been reported that many women feel as if their baby has become “lighter”. This is due to the fact that the head of the fetus has descended into the pelvis, to prepare for its delivery. In addition to this subjective feeling, urination may become much more frequent, due to the increased pressure on the bladder by the fetus. Take note if you think your cervix is dilating. The cervix undergoes structural and functional changes when the above-mentioned events occur. When labor starts, the cervix gradually dilates to allow for the expulsion of the fetus. In the beginning, the cervix is usually only dilated by a few centimeters. When it reaches 10 centimeters (3.9 in), this usually means that you are ready to give birth. Be aware that cervical insufficiency can occur. The occurrence of cervical dilatation without uterine contractions may suggest cervical insufficiency.This is when cervical shortening, funneling, and/or cervical dilatation occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy. This conditions needs to be promptly evaluated by a medical professional, as it could negatively affect the normal development of the fetus and even lead to miscarriage. Cervical insufficiency is one of the most common causes of miscarriage and preterm birth during the second trimester. Hence, diagnosing cervical insufficiency early is very important. It can be diagnosed during routine check-ups by the physician who is monitoring the pregnancy, upon inspection and physical examination. Patients with cervical insufficiency complain of mild cramping in the lower abdomen or vagina, and together with patient history can point to this diagnosis. Risk factors for developing cervical insufficiency include infection, history of cervical surgery and trauma and cervical injury during previous births. Consider getting an FFN. If you wish to find out for certain whether you are in true labor or not, there are some advanced diagnostic procedures that you can opt for such as FFN or Fetal Fibro Nectin Test. This test won't be able to tell you if you are currently in labor, but it will definitely confirm if you are not. This test is useful because when you are in your initial stages of preterm labor, telling labor can be very difficult using symptoms or pelvic examinations alone. A negative FFN Report will relax you and reassure you that you won't deliver your baby for at least another week or two. Have your midwife or nurse check your cervix. The nurse or midwife will be able to feel how much you have dilated by examining your cervix. In most cases, when your midwife finds that your cervix has dilated to between 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 in), she will inform you that you are in the first stage of labor. When she feels that your cervix has opened up to an extent ranging between 4 to 7 centimeters (1.6 to 2.8 in), she will probably tell you that you have entered your active or second labor stage. When she feels that your cervix dilation is ranging to between 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9 in), she will definitely tell you that it's time for the baby to come out! Have your midwife or nurse assess the position of your baby. Your midwife also has experience in understanding whether your baby is pointing downwards and whether its head is engaged in the pelvis. The midwife may get down on her knees and feel your lower belly, above your bladder or insert her fingers around your groins to feel the baby's head and assess what percentage has been engaged. These examinations will help to confirm the fact that you are in labor and even tell you what stage of labor you're at. Understand that your pelvis might not get engaged immediately during your second labor. You'll notice certain differences between your first pregnancy and your second pregnancy which might raise many queries in your mind. At the time of your first pregnancy, your baby's head becomes engaged in your pelvis more quickly when compared to your second pregnancy. In the case of second pregnancies, the head might not become engaged until your labor starts. Be prepared for your second labor to be potentially faster than your first. Second labors tend to proceed more quickly and last for a shorter amount of time when compared to the first. This is because the cervix muscles are thicker and take more time to dilate when you are in your first labor, but in the subsequent delivery the cervix dilates faster. In a second labor, the vaginal muscles and the muscles of the pelvic floor are already stretched by the previous birth and have become laxer. This helps to make your second baby arrive more quickly and to make the advanced labor stages less difficult for you. Get into a position that will reduce your chances of getting an episiotomy. If you have had an episiotomy or tear during your first delivery and are still traumatized by the experience, the best tip to escape it during your second baby is to get into an upright posture and push while you are in the labor's second stage. When you take an upright posture, you are actually using Newton's simple scientific theory of gravity, the force which pulls your baby out into this world without any cuts or tears on your body! However, this is not a fool-proof way of avoiding episiotomy. Some women still needs an episiotomy despite taking these measures.

Check to see if your water has broken. Keep track of any contractions you feel. Know the difference between true contractions and Braxton-Hicks contractions. Check to see if you have lost your mucus plug. Take a look at your belly. Consider whether your uterus feels “lighter”. Take note if you think your cervix is dilating. Be aware that cervical insufficiency can occur. Consider getting an FFN. Have your midwife or nurse check your cervix. Have your midwife or nurse assess the position of your baby. Understand that your pelvis might not get engaged immediately during your second labor. Be prepared for your second labor to be potentially faster than your first. Get into a position that will reduce your chances of getting an episiotomy.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Chinese-Sliding-Knot

How to Make a Chinese Sliding Knot

To make a Chinese sliding knot, start with the two ends of a string together so the rope makes a “U” shape. Curl one end around the other end so they overlap by about 4 inches. Then, create 2 more bends in the outside end. Next, pinch the bottom 3 strands together and loop the top strand underneath the other 3 so it points upward. Wrap it around another 2-3 times and push it through the loop left by the other strands. Finally, slide the coil towards the loop to secure the knot.

Make a U-shape.Pull a long cord into a "U" or horseshoe shape. so that the ends are close together. Pull the cord into a loose loop. Pull one end past the other so that they overlap by about four inches (10 cm). The overlapping ends should lie parallel to one another. Double back the outer cord end. Bend the tip and bring it back along the outside of the loop. You don't need to do anything with the inner parallel end. Pinch the ends together to form a small loop. Hold the inner end of the cord together with the looped-back outer end. You should be holding three parallel "layers" of the cord at the thickest point. Make sure that you have plenty of extra cord at the outer end: you will use this to finish the knot. Pull the end of the cord with one hand, and pinch the loops together with the other. Wrap the loose outer end of the cord around all three "layers. " Wrap it over, then under – not under, then over. It might help to use your dominant or most dexterous hand. Coil the cord around the loop. Keep wrapping the loose end around all three other layers of cord. Wrap at least 2-3 times, until you either run out of cord or cover almost all of the "three-layered" section. Be careful not to cross the coil over itself, or you will tie a messy knot. Feed the end of the cord through the loop at the end of the coil. You don't need much – the knot is almost finished. Make sure that there is enough cord protruding that it is not in danger of slipping out. Secure the knot. Slide the "coil" over the remaining bit of loop to secure it. You may need to pinch the right side of the large loop with the ring and pinkie fingers of one hand. Slide the finished knot to test it. It should move easily. Be careful not to slide it right off the free end of the cord. Consider tying a sturdy knot at the very tip of the sliding end. This way, the length of the rope will be adjustable, but you will not be able to accidentally slide the rope out of the knot. Make two sliding knots. Consider flipping the cord over and repeating the knot on the non-knotted end. This will leave you with two sliding knots that can be pulled together or apart as needed, making a large closed loop. This is the design that people use for making jewelry. Adjust the cord. Pull the two knots closer together to loosen the cord. Pull the two knots further apart to tighten. Consider making a necklace or bracelet. The sliding knot is great for creating simple jewelry that is meant to be tightened. Try slipping beads or charms onto the cord before you tie it.

Make a U-shape.Pull a long cord into a "U" or horseshoe shape. Pull the cord into a loose loop. Double back the outer cord end. Pinch the ends together to form a small loop. Wrap the loose outer end of the cord around all three "layers. Coil the cord around the loop. Feed the end of the cord through the loop at the end of the coil. Secure the knot. Slide the finished knot to test it. Make two sliding knots. Adjust the cord. Consider making a necklace or bracelet.

https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-a-Hot-Dog

How to Eat a Hot Dog

To make and eat a hotdog, first toast the bun in the microwave. Then put a cooked hotdog in it, and top it with sauces like ketchup or barbecue sauce. Top the sauces with chunky condiments like tomatoes, pickles, onion, and cheese. Finish the hotdog off with a seasoning like garlic powder or onion powder for extra flavor.

Toast your hot dog bun if you like. One of the most important parts of a hot dog is the bun, because it's what holds the sausage. Some people like their buns untoasted, but others prefer them warm and toasty. You can decide which you prefer. There are many ways you can toast the bun , including: In the oven In a toaster oven On the barbecue or grill In a skillet Place a cooked hot dog inside the bun. Hot dog buns have a slit in the side or top where you can put your sausage. Use a pair of tongs, a fork, or your finger to select a sausage and drop it between the two halves of the bun. Arrange the sausage so the extra meat overhangs both ends of the bun equally. Add sauces. Condiments go on last, because you want to dress the sausage itself, and not the bun. Start with the sauce-style condiments and add them according to your preferences. Some of the most popular include ketchup and mustard, but you can also try: Mayonnaise Hot sauce Barbecue sauce Put on chunky condiments next. Chunky condiments go on after the sauces. These condiments include chopped onion, relish, diced tomato, hot peppers, chili, pickles, and other chunky toppings. Top it with cheese if you like. Some people like to put cheese on their hot dogs, and grated cheddar is among the most popular. Other cheese varieties you can try include grated mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, gouda, blue cheese, or even marble cheese. Finish the dog with your favorite spices. The last ingredient to go on your hot dog is seasonings. This includes spices, herbs, and other flavorings, such as salt and pepper. Other popular herbs and spices for hot dogs include: Onion powder Garlic powder Celery salt Garlic salt Put the assembled hot dog on a plate. Eating a hot dog can be messy business, especially if you like a lot of sauces and condiments. The plate will catch any crumbs, condiments, and toppings that fall as you eat. Put the plate on the table in front of you, or on your lap if you're in a more informal setting. Try a basic hot dog. A basic hot dog includes just a few condiments, and some of the most popular are ketchup, mustard, and relish. Some people like just 1 or 2, whereas others prefer all 3. You can play around with the condiment combinations until you find your favorite. You can also experiment with different types of these condiments, such as using honey or Dijon mustard instead of yellow mustard. Put together a chili cheese dog. A chili cheese dog is exactly what it sounds like! Place a cooked hot dog on a bun and top the dog with hot chili. Sprinkle the chili with a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese and place it under a broiler for 2 minutes to melt the cheese. You can even make a vegetarian chili dog by using a vegetarian hot dog and meat-free chili. You can substitute the cheddar cheese with any type of shredded cheese, such as mozzarella. Go for a slaw dog. A slaw dog is a popular way of eating hot dogs in the Southern States in America. Place a cooked beef hot dog on a soft bun and top it with yellow mustard. Then add chili, coleslaw, and minced sweet onion to top it off. If you don't like mustard, you can leave it off. Try out a Chicago-style dog. A Chicago dog is one of the most popular variations on a basic hot dog. Place the hot dog in a bun and top it with yellow mustard. Top that with Chicago-style relish, chopped onion, and 2 tomato wedges. Finish the dog by adding a pickle spear, a few hot peppers, and a sprinkle of celery salt. Chicago-style relish is pickle relish with blue food coloring added, which results in a vibrant neon condiment. Clear the area in front of you. Because eating a hot dog requires both hands, you need the space around you to be clear. Move your drink and condiment bottles out of the way so you can't knock them over with a stray elbow, and make sure you have lots of space in front and beside you for your arms. Hold the hot dog with both hands. Pick up the hot dog around the middle by gently squeezing the two halves of the bun together around the meat. Use one hand to cup the bottom of the bun and the other to gently pinch the bun around the meat at the back of the hot dog. This will prevent the meat from sliding out the back as you eat. Hold the hot dog level. The top of the bun isn't enclosed, so you want to hold the hot dog so the meat and condiments are facing upward. If you tip the hot dog from side to side, all the condiments and sauces might fall off. Angle the dog slightly to get the best bite. The trick with eating a hot dog is getting a bit of everything at once, including meat, bun, and condiments. Sometimes, holding the hot dog at a slight upward or downward angle can help with this. Just don't tip it too much, otherwise you'll lose your condiments. Eat the hot dog in small bites. Bring the hot dog to your mouth, open your mouth wide around the bun, and bite down. Don't pull your mouth away until you're certain that you've bitten clean through the meat, otherwise you'll drag the whole sausage away with your first bite. Chew slowly and well before swallowing, and then take another bite. Have a few napkins handy. Hot dogs are eaten with the hands and not utensils, so it's not uncommon for food to end up on your hands and face. Paper or cloth napkins can be used to wipe up spills, clean your hands, and wipe food from your face as you eat. As long as you're not in a formal setting, it's generally also acceptable to lick your hands to clean off sauces and condiments when you're eating hot dogs. Serve your favorite snacks on the side. You can eat hot dogs on their own as a meal or snack, but you can also serve them with side dishes and snacks. Some of the most popular sides for hot dogs include: Potato chips French fries Onion rings Potato salad Corn on the cob Green salad

Toast your hot dog bun if you like. Place a cooked hot dog inside the bun. Add sauces. Put on chunky condiments next. Top it with cheese if you like. Finish the dog with your favorite spices. Put the assembled hot dog on a plate. Try a basic hot dog. Put together a chili cheese dog. Go for a slaw dog. Try out a Chicago-style dog. Clear the area in front of you. Hold the hot dog with both hands. Hold the hot dog level. Angle the dog slightly to get the best bite. Eat the hot dog in small bites. Have a few napkins handy. Serve your favorite snacks on the side.

https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Agility

How to Improve Your Agility

To improve your agility, start with a simple balancing exercise by standing on one leg and raising the other in front of you for 10 seconds. After you've mastered this, try doing suicide runs to build your stamina by running to a fixed point and back. Then, practice jumping hurdles as this will help you improve your stride length and position control. All of these exercises require strength, so try combining them with some weight training exercises, like squats.

Improve your balance. Practice balancing exercises to increase overall agility. This not only strengthens your muscles, it also helps focus your activity on a small scale. Try standing on one leg with your other leg out in front of you. After holding it for ten seconds, switch legs and do the same. You can also use a mirror to ensure that your legs are straight. Do handstands or cartwheels when you feel you've mastered beginner's balancing. These will help you improve your coordination as well as your balance. Make sure your weight is distributed evenly. You don't want to injure or strain certain areas when all your body should be working together. Train with weights. There are multiple types of exercises that you can do that focus on different muscle groups. Work progressively, starting with handheld weights and moving to heavier weights as you build up strength. Do squats and deadlifts to strengthen the muscles in your legs and hamstrings. You can hold one hand weight in each hand while you perform the squat or deadlift, although deadlifts traditionally call for barbells. You can also use a barbell for squats. If you choose this option, place the barbell over your shoulder. You can do bench presses or other arm exercises. This increases your arm strength, which in turn will help you with activities such as throwing and catching. Perform cone taps. Place one cone in front of you. Lift one leg high, gently tapping the top of the cone with the ball of your foot before returning it to resting position. Repeat with the opposite foot. Switch back and forth for three sets of 30-second drills. This exercise strengthens feet muscles and ankles. It also makes you lighter on your feet and increases foot coordination. Try to not trip over the cone. If you find you are knocking over the cone, slow your movements down until you are no longer hitting the cone. Once you've mastered this exercise at one level, increase your speed to gain more skill and balance. You can also add more 30 second repetitions. Do ladder drills. Using an agility ladder, which is about 10 yards (9 m) long with 18 inch (45.7 cm) blocks, run through each rung of the ladder slowly. On each step, pump your arms high and bring your knee up to your chest, changing arms and legs as you make your way through the ladder. Once at the end of the ladder, return to where you started to complete one drill. Complete each drill you perform 2 to 4 times, increasing repetitions once as you get better at them. You can also increase your speed as you improve. If you do not have an agility ladder, you can create your own with sticks and string or with tape. As an alternative, try this exercise going sideways instead of forward. Jump sideways between rungs before lifting your leg and arm as you do in the original exercise. Run suicide runs. Start by running about 20 feet (6 m) away. As soon as you reach that point, turn around and run back to where you began. Without stopping, turn around and run 30 feet (9.1 m) away, then return back to start. Finally, without stopping, turn and run 40 feet (12.2 m) away, then return back to start. Complete multiple cycles of these runs for the best results. You can also extend the distance once the initial runs become too easy for you. These are great ways to improve your strength, speed, balance, and precision. Do these a few times a week to fully see the benefits. Jump hurdle drills. Set up a 5-10 count row of 6 or 12 inch (15.2 or 30.5 cm) hurdles in a straight line. Starting beside the first hurdle, jump over it with your first leg, pausing for a few seconds before you drop your other leg to stand in between the first two hurdles. Jump back over the first hurdle, returning to start. After this, repeat the same lateral jump across block 1 and then block 2 before moving back to start. Follow the same pattern for all the blocks, jumping over all of the hurdles before returning to start. Repeat with your other side, turning around and leading with your opposite leg. Once you have mastered this, try increasing your speed over the hurdles, removing the pause in between each jump. Instead of hurdles, you can use cones, yoga blocks, or any 6 to 12 inch (15.2 to 30.5 cm) object you have on hand. Just make sure it is in a shape that is easy to jump over and that won't cause injury. If you are just beginning, try the 6 inch (15.2 cm) first. If that is still too tall, try a smaller object or simply jump imaginary hurdles in the air. After completing a few weeks of this exercise, you can add additional height. The purpose of these types of drills is to increase your balance and stride length. This will help you improve your performance in sports such as tennis, soccer, and football. Eat the right breakfast foods. Waking up each day with a diet full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can boost your mental capacity over time. There is also the added benefit of increasing your immune system and improving your health. Choosing a hard-boiled egg rich in choline, which is type of B vitamin, can increase your verbal and visual performance.There is also a recent study that links this vitamin to a decrease in dementia. Eat foods rich in zinc, such as bran cereal. Zinc plays a pivotal role in cognitive stability and memory formation. There is also the bonus effect of improving your skin tone. Eat antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. They provide your brain with necessary nutrients that they may not be receiving from other things in your diet. They help increase mental capacity and memory. A small amount of caffeine first thing in the morning from a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea can help improve your mental performance and memory as well as increase your concentration. Exercise during the day. You can do a short workout at any point during the day to increase mental performance. It also helps with mental health and agility by reducing stress, boosting mood-improving chemicals in your brain, relieving anxiety, increase relaxation, and increasing creativity. Doing exercises such as aerobics releases vital neurotransmitters that increase concentration levels and brain power as well as help you focus. Cardiovascular workouts can also increase the production of brain cells in your hippocampus, which is the part of your brain that is responsible for learning and memory. You can go for a brisk walk, a jog, or a run if you prefer to be outside. If you prefer the indoors or in harsh weather conditions, use a stationary bike or treadmill. Do these exercises for 45-60 minutes, four days a week. Not only will it help your mental state, it will also help with physical agility as well. Read more. Whether it's the latest thriller, a classic novel, or your favorite magazine, reading engages many parts of your brain linked with memory, cognition, and imagination. Your brain imagines environments and people and your brain supplies voices for dialogue. Even with simple sentences, your brain must recall meanings of words and concepts, encouraging brain development. Reading also improves mood and increases relaxation. Pick any type of reading that most excites you. As long as you are engaged and enjoying it, your mind will be engaged. Play games. Whether it's a video game or a traditional mind puzzle, games test multiple skills and opens neural pathways. Choose those games that require skill and multiple levels of cognition to help improve focus and memory retention. Play the game a few days a week to engage your mind and increase your cognition. You can complete Sudoku, crossword puzzles, or other games that test your reasoning skills to keep your mind agile. Also try trivia based games to build your brain muscles and improve memory. Even if you are older with no previous experience or not a huge gamer, pick a video game that you can enjoy, such as a driving or puzzle game. This will give you a sense of entertainment while improving your mental capacity as well. There are also online platforms such as Luminosity.com that provide a multitude of games to increase mental agility. Luminosity bases their games of scientific research and tailors the games you play to the areas of your mind that you want to improve. Learn something new. Learn a new way to complete your normal routine and your everyday tasks You can also pick up a new instrument, learn a new language, travel to new places, or even eat new foods. These tasks help your brain create new neural pathways. Difficult, new tasks increase brain function and memory retention. This works your brain in new ways and reaches unfamiliar mental territory. Collaborate with others. Whether it is at work or at home, work with other people on projects. This gets you out of your familiar mindset and forces you to work with other people in mind. Try seeing the project from their point of view or incorporate their ideas into your own. This encourages you to see something in a new way and approach it from a different angle, which helps keep your brain quick.

Improve your balance. Train with weights. Perform cone taps. Do ladder drills. Run suicide runs. Jump hurdle drills. Eat the right breakfast foods. Exercise during the day. Read more. Play games. Learn something new. Collaborate with others.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Eyeshadow-More-Pigmented

How to Make Eyeshadow More Pigmented

Don't worry if your eyeshadow color usually comes out a little dull, since you can make it more pigmented by applying a base and layering your eyeshadow. First, apply an eye shadow primer to help your eyeshadow stick. If you don't have a primer, use a little concealer instead. For an extra vibrant pigment, lightly dust translucent setting powder on top of your primer or concealer. Apply white eyeshadow as your base. Then, apply cream eyeshadow for your first layer. Finally, add layers of powdered eyeshadow until it's as bright as you want it.

Use eyelid primer for best results. Applying eyeshadow primer before you apply other makeup is the best way to make your shadow look more pigmented. Squeeze a dime-size amount of primer onto your eyelid. Then, rub in the primer using your index and middle finger. Dab the primer at the lash line, then slowly work up to your eyebrow. You can also apply primer below your eye, if you want to put shadow under your eye. The primer gives the shadow something to stick to. This way, it goes on smooth and is easier to layer, as compared to not using primer. Prime with concealer if you don’t have primer. If you can't find any primer, using concealer is a great substitute. Apply concealer to any imperfections across your face and dab it across your eyelid. Then, pat the concealer with your finger pads to rub it in. Set your primer with a light dusting of translucent powder. To make your pigment extra vibrant, dip a large powder brush into a translucent setting powder, and dust it over your entire eyelid. Do this for both eyes for a smooth, even application surface. Translucent setting powder does not have a colored tint, so it works well with all skin tones. Spray your brush with makeup setting spray to help the pigment stay on. Before you apply any eyeshadow, lightly dust your makeup setting spray over the tip of your brush. Every time you change eyeshadow color, you can spray a light, even layer across your brush. This helps your pigment stick to your eyelid, and it also avoids any pigment from falling onto your face. Use a white eyeshadow or eye pencil to create a highlighting base. If using powdered shadow, use a round makeup brush to blend the shadow across your eyelid. If using an eye pencil, draw the color onto your lid, and use your finger to blend it in. Using a white base makes the pigment look bright and saturated. This works especially well if you have a dark skin tone. Apply a cream eyeshadow color as your first layer of shadow. Use your brightest shade first to maintain the pigment intensity as you build up layers of shadow. To use, draw the color onto your lid using a cream eyeshadow pencil, and blend the pigment in with your finger or round makeup brush. Cream eyeshadow is highly saturated pigment that pairs great with powder eyeshadow for a bright look. Apply the eyeshadow to the outer two thirds of your eye for a smokey eye look, or apply it to the entire eyelid for all-over color. If you'd like, you can use a cream white eyeshadow to create your base. Then, use additional cream shadows or move on to the next layer, based on your preferred look. If you have oily skin, skip this step. The oils in cream eyeshadow make it more likely to slide off of oily skin, compared with powder eyeshadows. Pour a tiny bit of water into a small cup and dip in your brush. When mixing your shadow with water, you only need a drop or 2. Pour water into the cup from either a bottle or your faucet. Then, put the brush into the cup so only the tip of the bristles touch the water. Wet about ⁄ 16 – ⁄ 10  in (0.16–0.25 cm) from the end. Choose a smaller eyeshadow brush to make the color more pigmented. The water binds with the powdered eyeshadow, and it looks much more concentrated and vibrant when you apply it. If you get the entire brush wet, you may waste eyeshadow pigment. Also, your shadow may look much too dark. Put the tip of your brush into your pigment. After you wet the tip of your brush, dip the tip into your powdered eyeshadow. Swirl the brush around in a small circle to pick up the pigment. Avoid pushing all of the bristles into the eyeshadow. This will bend the hairs and could spread the powder throughout the brush. If there is excess powder on the brush, it could fall onto your face as you do your makeup. Brush on a light, even layer of powdered eyeshadow. Lightly dust your eyeshadow over your eyelid after you get some on your brush. After you have some eyeshadow on your brush, gently sweep the pigment over where you applied cream eyeshadow. Adding a second layer of color adds intensity to your eyeshadow pigment. Use a similar color to your first layer, or use another contrasting color for a bright look. Powdered eyeshadow is also known as pressed eyeshadow, and it usually comes in a compact or palette. Since the brush is wet, the pigment sticks to the brush. However, once the pigment is applied to your eyelid, it will look thick and smooth compared to light and airy. For example, if you used a pink shade of cream shadow for your first layer, use a bright purple powder eyeshadow for extra dimension. For an extra pop of color, apply the eyeshadow to the inner bridge of your nose as well. You can use the same shade or another bright hue. Continue applying layers of pigment gradually to create your look. Do this if your shadow is not as bright as you'd like with just 1 application. You can also do this if you want to add another color to your look. Dip your makeup brush into your powdered eyeshadow, and add another layer where desired. You can add this to the outer crease of your eye or across the whole lid, for instance. For example, for a daytime look, you might blend light pink and rose gold hues on your lid, then add brown shadow on the outside corner of your lid to create depth. Similarly, you can create a nighttime look by blending pink and purple hues, then blend a green or blue to the outer corner of your eye for a dramatic look. If you want a softer finish, apply a layer of dry shadow over the wet shadow. This also blends your shadow.

Use eyelid primer for best results. Prime with concealer if you don’t have primer. Set your primer with a light dusting of translucent powder. Spray your brush with makeup setting spray to help the pigment stay on. Use a white eyeshadow or eye pencil to create a highlighting base. Apply a cream eyeshadow color as your first layer of shadow. Pour a tiny bit of water into a small cup and dip in your brush. Put the tip of your brush into your pigment. Brush on a light, even layer of powdered eyeshadow. Continue applying layers of pigment gradually to create your look.

https://www.wikihow.com/Relieve-Itching-from-Chickenpox

How to Relieve Itching from Chickenpox

To relieve itching from chickenpox, apply a cold compress or towel-covered ice pack to the area for 20 to 30 minutes. You can also apply calamine lotion to soothe any itchy areas. During the first days when you have red spots or blisters from chicken pox, take a bath every 3 to 4 hours with lukewarm water as hot water could irritate your skin more. When preparing your bath, you can add 4 tablespoons of oatmeal to the water since its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help treat itchy skin. If you need more help finding relief from itching, talk to your doctor about your medication options.

Resist the urge to scratch your skin. Chickenpox can be very itchy and the severity of the rash varies from person to person. Your scratching starts a scratch-itch cycle that will never end. This constant scratching may result in significant scarring after your blisters have healed. Scientists have shown that a mild amount of pain is produced when you scratch. This interferes with the itch sensation for just a moment. It only provides temporary relief because the mild pain signal from the scratching causes your brain to release serotonin, a neurotransmitter. Serotonin, which carries signals between nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord, makes you feel the itch sensation more intensely. This is the start of an unending scratch-itch cycle because you start scratching to relieve this itching. If you or your young child cannot stop scratching, trying putting gloves, mittens, or socks on your hands. This can be especially useful during the night when you are sleeping and less able to resist the impulse to scratch. Soothe your itchy skin with something cool. You can apply a cold compress or a towel-covered ice pack to the itchy areas for 20 to 30 minutes. Wet a washcloth or small towel with cold water to make the cold compress. You can purchase an ice pack from the store or put ice cubes in a disposable, plastic freezer bag. You want to wrap the ice pack with a towel to prevent your skin from getting too cold which could cause you pain. The cold compress and ice pack soothe the itching because the nerves that sense you have something cool/cold on your skin send signals that block the itching sensation. Take a lukewarm bath every several hours. Take a bath every three to four hours for the first several days after the red spots and blisters form on your skin. You can take a plain bath or add baking soda, cornstarch, or oatmeal to the water. During one of the baths, clean your skin with a gentle soap. It is not realistic to think that children, especially younger ones, will tolerate having to take such frequent baths. You can try applying frequent cold compresses instead. Add about four tablespoons of the baking soda, cornstarch, or dry, uncooked oatmeal to your bath water. You can use colloidal oatmeal, which is finely ground and made for the purpose of putting it in bath water. The baking soda, colloidal oatmeal, and cornstarch should dissolve well in the bath water. But, you may want to fill a nylon stocking with the dry oatmeal, tie a knot at the end, and throw it in the tub so that you will not have loose oats floating around the tub or clogging your drain. Studies have shown that oatmeal is a cleanser and moisturizer. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which makes it great for treating your itchy skin. Pamper your itchy skin and avoid irritating things. Use a mild soap when you wash your skin and your clothing. When you dry off after your bath or shower, pat yourself dry and do not rub your itchy skin. Use a soap and laundry detergent that is dye-free and fragrance-free to prevent further skin irritation. Moisturize your skin with a fragrance-free lotion after taking your bath or shower. A lotion like Aveeno has colloidal oatmeal in it and is a good choice. You should aim to moisturize your skin once or twice every day. Do not apply perfumes, cosmetics, or any other skin products to your skin. If you have blisters around your mouth, it may be painful to eat and drink. Pamper this area by eating foods which are cool, soft, and bland, like Popsicles, lukewarm oatmeal, or lukewarm soup. Definitely avoid food that is spicy, salty, or acidic. Baby your skin with cotton or silk. Make sure you dress comfortably in soft, loose-fitting clothing. Make your bed more comfortable by using only soft bedclothes. You want to avoid any material which creates friction or feels rough when it rubs up against your itchy skin. Silk and 100% cotton are soft and smooth unlike rough materials like wool or gabardine which should be avoided. Keep your nails trimmed and clean. You want to have short nails and clean hands just in case you cannot resist the urge to scratch. Your scratching can lead to a skin infection in your open blisters because of the bacteria under your nails and on your skin. You do not want to add to your discomfort by causing a skin infection. Dirt and bacteria is less likely to get under your shorter nails. Wash your hands frequently with lukewarm water and a mild soap. You will keep your skin clean with a daily bath or shower. Use calamine lotion on your itchy areas. Calamine lotion contains mostly zinc oxide which is good for treating skin irritation and itchiness. It is safe for all ages but avoid applying the lotion around the eyes and mouth. Shake the bottle of calamine lotion and squirt some onto a cotton ball. Use the cotton ball to spread the lotion gently over the itchy areas. Allow the lotion to dry and feel it begin to soothe your skin. Re-apply the lotion as often as you need. Stick to calamine lotion and do not use a hydrocortisone cream on your blisters. The purpose of this medication is to lessen your immune response to the viral infection and it may lessen the itching, but the medication also could interfere with how well your blisters heal. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not use calamine lotion or any medication without first checking with your doctor. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. Histamine is a protein and one of its effects is to cause skin itchiness. Antihistamines help you feel better by blocking this effect in your body. Antihistamines block the receptors or places in the body where histamine attach. This can make your skin feel less itchy. Examples of over-the-counter antihistamines you can get without a doctor's prescription are diphenhydramine (Benadryl), loratadine (Claritin), and cetirizine (Zyrtec). Do not take any medication or give it to your child without first talking to your healthcare provider. Do not use lotions containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl). When this antihistamine is in its topical form, it can be absorbed erratically through your open blisters. Drug levels in your blood could become too high. You could experience side effects like dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Treat your fever and pain. Your itchy skin may be hard to soothe, but you can get relief from a fever or any pain you may be having. Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or any other over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). Never use aspirin while you are sick with chickenpox. Use the NSAIDs with caution. According to a few studies, there is a very small chance you could develop serious inflammation of the skin if you use NSAIDs while you have chickenpox. Research has shown that you could develop Reye's Syndrome if you use aspirin (a salicylate compound) to treat your symptoms from a viral infection like chickenpox. This serious and life-threatening disease can affect your liver and brain. The syndrome is most likely to develop as you begin to recover from the chickenpox. You suddenly will become symptomatic and experience drowsiness, loss of energy, personality changes like irritability or combativeness and confusion as a late symptom. No one should take aspirin while she is sick with chickenpox, but young people under the age of 22 are at high risk for developing the syndrome. See if your doctor can help. Antiviral medications will not cure the infection, but they may decrease the intensity of symptoms like itchy skin. If your scratching has led to a bacterial skin infection, your doctor may need to prescribe you an antibiotic. The bacterial skin infection around your open blisters could cause your itchy skin to get worse. Call your doctor immediately if you have a fever associated with areas of skin that are very warm, red, tender or draining pus. Taking an antibiotic can help you to feel better sooner. If you are one of the people at risk for more serious disease, you must go to your doctor's office and be examined to see if she will prescribe an antiviral like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir. People at higher risk are healthy people older than 12 years of age, infants three months or younger, people with chronic skin or lung disease, people receiving steroid therapy, people with weakened immune systems, and some groups of pregnant women. If your child is older than three months and younger than 13 years, he does not have to be seen by a doctor unless he is becoming more and more symptomatic. Call to make a doctor's appointment if you develop symptoms like a fever lasting longer than four days, a fever that rises above 102°F (38.9 °C), extreme illness, difficult waking up or confusion, demeanor changes, difficulty walking, stiff neck, frequent vomiting, difficulty breathing, or a severe cough. Your doctor will decide what type of medication and/or treatment you need.

Resist the urge to scratch your skin. Soothe your itchy skin with something cool. Take a lukewarm bath every several hours. Pamper your itchy skin and avoid irritating things. Baby your skin with cotton or silk. Keep your nails trimmed and clean. Use calamine lotion on your itchy areas. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. Do not use lotions containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Treat your fever and pain. See if your doctor can help.

https://www.wikihow.pet/Diagnose-and-Treat-Dislocated-Joints-in-Cats

How to Diagnose and Treat Dislocated Joints in Cats

If you think your cat might have a dislocated joint, you should take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible so it can be properly diagnosed and treated. Watch whether the cat avoids putting weight on the injured limb, as well as whether the joint appears swollen or otherwise abnormal, which could be signs of dislocation. If you think your cat is injured, be careful when you're handling it, because even the friendliest cat may bite when it's in severe pain.

Look for difficulty with movement. The tell-tale sign of a dislocation is the inability to move a joint. When a joint gets dislocated, the muscles, tendon, and ligaments that enable movement are dislodged and they will likely lose their function. Dislocations do not always eliminate all movement. Your cat may just appear lame or avoid its usual weight bearing. In some cases, the muscles surrounding a dislocated joint will cause a limb to curl up or move into an unnatural position. This is the case, for instance, with many dislocated hip joints. Spot signs of swelling or abnormal looking joints. Assess your cat's body regularly in order to spot signs of illness, including dislocated joints. When looking for swelling or abnormalities, it is a good idea to focus your attention on joints that are commonly dislocated in cats. These include: Knee joints Hip joints Shoulder joints Elbow joints Tail joints Notice if your cat is in pain. If your cat is having problems moving and one of its joints looks weird, assess the cat for signs of pain. This can be hard to spot in cats because they usually try and mask their pain. However, if your cat is lethargic, unusually vocal, or it reacts badly to touch, then it is likely in pain. A cat that is in pain is likely to hide as well. If you haven't seen your cat in awhile and that is unusual, you take the time to look for it to make sure it is okay. Even a calm, friendly cat can bite when it's in pain, so be careful when approaching or handling the cat. Be on the lookout for problems with joints that have been dislocated previously. A joint that has been dislocated in the past is more likely to be dislocated again. This is due to damage that can be done to the muscles and ligaments during a dislocation. Once these parts are damaged, the long-term stability of the joint can be compromised. However, if your cat has had surgical treatment for certain dislocations it may not have further dislocations. For example, if your cat has a ball replacement for a hip dislocation it is not likely to get an additional dislocation. However, it may have lingering stiffness or mobility issues. Take your cat to the vet. A dislocation can be a serious medical problem for a cat, so it is important that the cat be seen by a veterinarian quickly. Call your veterinary office while you are taking your cat in. Let them know that you are bringing your cat in for an emergency. If you notice the symptoms of a dislocation while your regular veterinary clinic is closed, it's a good idea to take your cat to an emergency veterinary hospital. You do not want your cat suffering with pain for hours before treatment. This is an emergency situation, and delaying treatment can make it less likely your cat's injury will be repaired properly. Help your veterinarian to assess your cat's condition. Your veterinarian will likely first ask you about your cat's condition, what symptoms you've seen and when they started. They they will likely try to manipulate the joint. This can cause the cat to give a pain response and the veterinarian may even be able to hear the sound of bones that are out of place rubbing against each other. You may be asked to help keep your cat calm while the veterinarian is assessing your cat's condition and manipulating its joints. However, if the injury is serious and includes other trauma, it may not be appropriate for you to be in the room and you will be asked to wait in a waiting area. Allow veterinary testing. If your veterinarian suspects a dislocation or break, they will likely do an x-ray on the cat's joint. This will allow them to see what is going on inside your cat's body. For most dislocations, an x-ray is all the veterinarian need to confirm their diagnosis. Have the joint put back into position. With many dislocations, the cat will just need to have the bones placed back into the joint. After this is done, the area will be made immobile with a wrap to keep the bones in place while the cat heals. This can be done externally, with what is called a "closed reduction" or surgically in what is called an "open reduction." Both of these procedures will require that your cat be put under anesthesia. With an open reduction this is because it is a surgery and with a closed reduction it is due to the pain involved in moving the joint back into position. Consider replacement surgery for certain types of dislocations. There are certain types of dislocations that cannot just be put back into place. For example, cats with hip dislocations often need surgery to repair their joint. This surgery entails the replacement of the ball in the joint, and takes several weeks to recover from. Surgery is an especially good option for those cats with chronic cases of dislocation, such as those related to hip dysplasia. Give post-procedure and post-operative care. Whether your cat undergoes a procedure to put the bones back into place or a surgery to repair its joint, you will need to give it care for several weeks afterword. It is likely that your cat will be prescribed medications, usually pain medications and antibiotics, that need to be given to it on a regular basis. You will also need to restrict the cat's movements. If your cat has its bones re-positioned into their proper place, you will need to keep the area bandaged and immobile for several weeks while the muscles and ligaments repair themselves. If your cat undergoes surgery, you will usually need to keep it in a cage for several weeks to keep the injured joint immobile. Joint dislocations may require several operations to repair if they are especially bad. This means that you will need to nurse your cat several times in order to get it healthy. Reduce the risk of osteoarthritis. Cats that have had dislocations are at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis in those joints in the future. To minimize this risk, give your cat dietary supplements that prevent osteoarthritis. These include omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin. As with all dietary supplements, discuss them with a veterinarian before giving them to your cat.

Look for difficulty with movement. Spot signs of swelling or abnormal looking joints. Notice if your cat is in pain. Be on the lookout for problems with joints that have been dislocated previously. Take your cat to the vet. Help your veterinarian to assess your cat's condition. Allow veterinary testing. Have the joint put back into position. Consider replacement surgery for certain types of dislocations. Give post-procedure and post-operative care. Reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fursuit-Head

How to Make a Fursuit Head

To make a fur suit head, you'll need 1-inch thick foam, glue, plastic wrap, duct tape, and fur. Start by wrapping the foam around your head, and marking where the foam meets at the back of your head. Then, cut away any excess foam and glue the edges together. After that, fold the top of the foam in, cut off any excess foam, and glue the top together. Once you've got the basic head shape, cut out foam ears and glue them to the sides of the head. You can also fold a piece of foam in half and glue it on the front to make a nose. After you've added all the facial features, wrap the head in plastic wrap and then duct tape so you can add the fur. When you've covered the head, use scissors to carefully cut the duct tape into sections, such as the cheeks and forehead, stick the sections of tape to your fur, and cut them out with scissors. When you've cut out all of the sections of fur, stitch them together with thread and glue them onto the mold of your head.

Wrap foam around your head loosely and cut away any excess. Wrap 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick foam around your head to get a sense of how wide the mould will be. Aim to make it fit so that you can slip it on and off without catching your ears or nose. Mark where the foam meets in the back of your head, then cut away any excess foam so the edges meet together. You will end up with a piece of foam as tall as your head that will be rolled into a tube. Glue the edges together with a hot glue gun. Take the sides of the foam and glue them together to create a tube. Do a little bit at a time to allow the glue to cool until you have a straight, secure seam. Hold the edges together during this process to fully stick each side of the foam to the other. After this, you should have a tall tube that slides snugly over you with a bit of foam extending above your head. Be careful around hot glue and ask someone to help you if you are worried about hurting yourself. Round the top of the head by folding the top foam together and snipping off the excess. Press the front and back of the top part of the foam tube into the center of the tube and glue them together. Then, fold in the right side, and fold in the left side. Cut away excess foam and glue the parts you folded down together to form a rounded top. Cut away bumps and extra foam as much as you can, as this will only make the fursuit head look bumpy and uneven on top. Draw eye holes on the front of the foam tube. The front of the tube is where the seam is, so turn this towards you and draw eyes on either side of the seam. Then, use scissors or a razor knife to cut the eyes out a little smaller than your outline. Don't worry about getting them perfect, you can always cut the eyes a bit larger later on. This gives you an idea of where the rest of the features will go, as you can place the muzzle and ears relative to the eyes. Wear the tube and make a dot where your eyes are located to cut more accurately-located eye holes. If you can't see through the foam, poke the foam gently to feel where your eyes are located. Layer foam on top of the base to make eyebrow ridges and bulk up the face. Measure how large you want your eyebrow ridges to be above the eye holes and draw the shape into another piece of foam. Then, cut it out, and attach it to the eyebrow ridge area above the eyes with hot glue. Add 2 more layers of increasingly smaller size foam to create a rounded brow. Use a long piece of shaped foam first for the base layer of the eyebrow ridge, then cut smaller shapes to round out the brow. This allows you to develop a thick brow above the eyes that juts out slightly from the forehead. Eyebrow ridges are great for showing emotion on your fursuit head. Angle them in such a way that your character portrays its feelings through its eyes! Add ears by cutting out conical foam shapes and attach them to the head. Most real-life animal ears are conical in shape, meaning they are not flat and pointed but have a curve. Once you've placed the ears in the right place for your animal, cut out ear holes to allow for ventilation in the headpiece. Cut out a conical shape from foam by making a triangle with a rounded base, then bend the shape onto the back-middle area of the head and assess where you need to cut to make it fit your character's animal. Glue down the bottom of the ears with hot glue. Look at the animal you want to portray and figure out how they show their emotions through their ears. For example, an alert dog's ears are perked up in the middle of its head, while a tired dog will have drooping ears on each side of its head. Consider looking at a template online to find the best approach for cutting out convincing ears. Look at reference photos of your animal to determine its muzzle shape. A cat has a short muzzle, while a wolf or a dog has a long one. Even though your fursuit head will likely be cartoony, it's best to try to get an accurate idea of your animal's appearance to translate it correctly to the foam head. Make a long muzzle by folding a piece of foam in half and indenting the front. Cut a piece of foam about 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) long, depending on the size of your animal's snout. Then, fold it in half, and push the front of the folded foam in to create the philtrum — the vertical groove below an animal's nose. When you have finished forming the muzzle, hot glue it together and hold it tight with sewing pins as it cools. Then, glue the end without the philtrum to the foam head. Layer pieces of foam around the part of the muzzle that connects to the head to blend it in naturally. Make a short muzzle by layering foam in the shape of the snout. Study the shape of your animal's muzzle, and then cut out circular shapes to layer on top of each other. Smooth out the edges with scissors and keep glueing on more foam until the snout begins to take 3D shape. Then, attach it to the face on the mouth area. If you have very thick foam available (around 2–4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) thick), it is easier to carve out the entire shape of the muzzle at once and attach it. Layer foam on at the seam between the muzzle and the face to create cheeks. The muzzle will abruptly transition from snout to face, so use foam to smooth out the seam and make the muzzle seamlessly blend in. Form cheeks on either side of the muzzle with foam for the best option to hide this seam. Don't make the cheeks poke out too far from the head as the fur you add later on will add a lot of depth to the head. Wrap the head in plastic wrap and cover it with duct tape, marking sections off. After finishing the foam head base, tightly wrap the head in plastic wrap then cover the plastic wrap with duct tape to form a duct tape shell. Then, section off each part of the head with a marker and label each section with its location on the head, for example, the back and front of the ears, the sides of the muzzle, the forehead and cheeks, etc. Plastic wrap and duct tape make it simple to measure fur later on, as you can remove it from the base mask to cut the fur to the right size. Mark the direction of fur as well as the type of fur on the duct tape. Use a small arrow to indicate which way the fur will flow off of the head so you can apply it correctly later on. Cut away each section of duct tape, then measure it against your fur. Carefully cut away each section of the duct tape on the head, then flatten it out against your chosen color of fur. You may need to cut along folds to make it lay flat. Make an outline of each piece against the fur, as if you are tracing your hand. Don't worry if you have to cut a piece of duct tape to get it to lay flat — as long as the fur is cut to the flattened shape, it will seamlessly fold back into place on your foam base. Mark the underside of each outlined piece of fur with its location on the head so you remember where to apply each piece later on. Cut out the fur and set the pieces to the side. Try to conserve as much fur as you can by keeping the outlines close together. Then, cut out the outlines, and set them to the side. Don't pile the fur, keep them separated from each other so you can easily put them back together on the foam head in the right place. Use fabric scissors or an X-ACTO knife to get accurate cuts. Lay the fur on your foam head, then begin sewing the edges together. Lay the fur on the foam head to see if you have cut everything accurately. Remove two pieces of adjacent fur at a time and sew their corresponding edges together. Continue sewing adjacent pieces together until all of the fur is sewn, forming what might resemble a furry mask. If you cut folds in the duct tape to make them lay flat, sew these cuts back together in your fur to return the flattened shape to its original, 3D form. Glue the fur mask onto the foam base, starting with the muzzle and working back. Heat up your hot glue gun as you lay fur over the foam head. Make a thick layer of hot glue on the tip of the muzzle, then put the nose into the muzzle hole in the mask. Let it dry, then continue adding hot glue around the front of the face and pushing the fur into place. This may take a long time to get right, so put on some music or a show in the background. The ears can be tricky if the mask is already glued to the eyebrow ridge — apply hot glue all around the edges of the ears and eyebrow ridge at the same time, then slot the foam ears into the ear holes of the fur mask and press down on both the ears and eyebrow ridge. It's best to do the muzzle first, then the cheeks and side of the face, then the eyebrow ridge and ears, and finish with the back of the head. Shave away excess fur with an electric razor to your desired fur length. Get an electric razor and shave down the fur from its original, long length. If you want your character to be a bit raggedy, don't shave it all the way down, but if your character is meant to look clean and cropped, shave very close to where the fur attaches to the foam base. Always shave away less than you think at first, as you can shave more later on if it's still too long, but you can't add fur back once it's cut away! Glue felt to the nose, eyebrows, and inside the muzzle for definition. Cut out the shape of the eyebrows, the nose, and the mouth of your muzzle in appropriately colored felt — the nose might be black or red, the eyebrows should be a slightly darker color than the facial fur, and the mouth may be a mix of a black bottom with a red felt tongue in the middle. Apply hot glue to the back of each piece and stick it down in its appropriate spot! You can also sew these features to the fur mask before glueing it down, which can make them more secure and less likely to fall off.

Wrap foam around your head loosely and cut away any excess. Glue the edges together with a hot glue gun. Round the top of the head by folding the top foam together and snipping off the excess. Draw eye holes on the front of the foam tube. Layer foam on top of the base to make eyebrow ridges and bulk up the face. Add ears by cutting out conical foam shapes and attach them to the head. Look at reference photos of your animal to determine its muzzle shape. Make a long muzzle by folding a piece of foam in half and indenting the front. Make a short muzzle by layering foam in the shape of the snout. Layer foam on at the seam between the muzzle and the face to create cheeks. Wrap the head in plastic wrap and cover it with duct tape, marking sections off. Cut away each section of duct tape, then measure it against your fur. Cut out the fur and set the pieces to the side. Lay the fur on your foam head, then begin sewing the edges together. Glue the fur mask onto the foam base, starting with the muzzle and working back. Shave away excess fur with an electric razor to your desired fur length. Glue felt to the nose, eyebrows, and inside the muzzle for definition.

https://www.wikihow.com/Catch-a-Horse

How to Catch a Horse

To catch a horse, you'll need a rope and halter, as well as treats, which will encourage the horse to be less scared of you. While speaking to the horse in a quiet, calming tone of voice, approach it slowly. If it starts moving away from you, stop and wait for it to settle down before continuing toward it. Also, keep your arms down to appear less threatening and prevent the horse from noticing the halter in your hand, since that might make it panic. Once you're close enough, reach out slowly to pet the horse's head and neck, and give it a minute to get used to you. Then, slide the halter over its nose and clasp it behind its head.

Approach the horse from the front and slightly to one side. She should be able to see you coming. Sneaking up on the horse from behind can startle it. Make sure you have your rope, halter, and maybe a treat with you before you go out to catch your horse. Talk to the the horse as you approach. Use a quiet calming tone to let her know you are coming and that you don't mean her any harm. Start walking toward the horse slowly. Take easy deliberate steps. Don't rush after the horse or it will get scared and run away from you. If the horse seems startled or if it turns away, stop and wait for her to settle down before advancing again. Hold your arms down. Don't approach with the halter outstretched. This will startle the horse. It may recognize the halter and panic. Also, keeping your arms down will make you appear more neutral and less threatening. Don’t make any sudden movements. Waving your hands or advancing too quickly toward the horse will cause it to run away. If the horse runs away, don’t go running after it. If the horse does get spooked and makes a run for it just stay where you are. Chasing after it will only startle it even more. Instead, wait for it to stop. Give the horse a few minutes to feel safe again, then start advancing slowly and try once more. Reach out slowly to pet the horse on the face and neck. Be gentle so as not to startle the horse. Your main goal here is to come off as nonthreatening as possible. Use smooth even strokes. Give the horse time to get used to your presence. Step back after a couple of strokes. This is called giving the horse “release." After you have spent a few seconds caressing the face or neck, step back in full view of the horse. Stand with a nonthreatening pose, arms down, feet together, to show the horse that you mean it no harm. Pet the horse again. After you've given the horse some “release” step back toward it and start caressing the face and neck again. This way you are building trust with the horse. Swat some flies out of the horse's face if there are any. Try talking to the horse in a calm voice. It may not know what you are saying, but the sound of your voice can show you mean it no harm. Repeat petting and giving the horse release. Keep this pattern up for about four or five minutes. The horse should start to calm down. Each time you advance to pet it again, spend a little more time with it. You'll know the horse is calm if it lowers its head to receive your caress or if it continues to eat or remains relatively still while you are touching it. Slide the halter onto the horse. Once the horse is calm, approach it one last time. Pet the face and neck and as you do, slide the halter onto the horse's nose. Bring your other arm up around the neck to secure the clasp around the back of the head. After it is secure, continue to pet the horse and keep it calm. Don’t strap the halter on tight. The halter should be snug but not so tight it is digging into the horse's face. There should be enough slack under the horse's face so that you can slip two fingers inbetween the horse and the halter without much resistance. Avoid tugging hard on the rope. Once the halter is secure, let some of the slack from the rope hang between you and the horse. Tugging too hard or pulling the horse with too much force will anger or startle it. Lead the horse slowly. Pull lightly on the rope, just enough so that the horse can feel the pressure and understand that you want it to follow you. Visit your horse in the field often without intending to catch it. When you can, go out into the field with a treat or some grains and visit the horse. Approach it slowly, feed it the treat, and then walk away. The horse will learn that being approached by a human is not always a threatening thing. Then, when you do want to go out and catch your horse, she will be more open to having you approach her Gently bring the halter and rope into view and let them sniff it if need be this will make them more relaxed around it. Make getting caught easy and enjoyable for the horse. When you do catch the horse and bring it in to do some work or saddle it up for a ride, make sure you are doing everything you can to make it pleasant for the horse. Bring her some treats. Feed her some grains after she gets caught. Give the horse a thorough grooming. Vary up the work to keep your horse interested. Praise your horse when she does something well. Take your horse out often. The more often you take your horse out, even just to lead her down a short path or give her a new area to run around in, the more likely she is to be willing to be caught. Let your horse have fun with you and on her own. It's important to create a relationship with your horse and to give her time to play on her own and with other horses. Take your horse for an easy trail ride. Spend some extra time grooming and pampering your horse. Give her treats. Let her out with other horses she enjoys being with.

Approach the horse from the front and slightly to one side. Start walking toward the horse slowly. Hold your arms down. Don’t make any sudden movements. If the horse runs away, don’t go running after it. Reach out slowly to pet the horse on the face and neck. Step back after a couple of strokes. Pet the horse again. Repeat petting and giving the horse release. Slide the halter onto the horse. Don’t strap the halter on tight. Avoid tugging hard on the rope. Lead the horse slowly. Visit your horse in the field often without intending to catch it. Make getting caught easy and enjoyable for the horse. Take your horse out often. Let your horse have fun with you and on her own.

https://www.wikihow.com/Recognize-and-Treat-Ringworm-in-Cats

How to Recognize and Treat Ringworm in Cats

To recognize and treat ringworm in cats, start by looking for symptoms, such as patches of hair loss and scaly patches on the face, paws, or ears. If your cat shows signs of ringworm, take it to your vet to for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Your vet will likely recommend an antifungal medication such as Ketoconazole, which will kill the existing fungus and prevent the growth of new fungal cells. However, your cat will still be a source of infection to you and your other pets, so try to keep it in one room in your house while it's on medication.

Look for patches of hair loss on your cat. The ringworm fungus grows around hair shafts and migrates downward into the hair follicles. This leads to inflammation and causes the hair to shed, leaving a patch of bald, flaky skin behind. These bald areas are often scaly or crusty, and may be reddened and inflamed. Typically, the areas are itchy and the cat may scratch or lick at them. Sometimes the areas of hair loss appear moist or sticky caused by a secondary bacterial infection as a result of inflammation or scratching. However, it can be difficult to find these lesions on long-haired cats. Identify any scaly patches on your cat's face, paws or ears. Classic places for infection are the cat's face, muzzle, ears, and front paws. The fur on the face may have a moth-eaten appearance, with mottled areas of fur loss. On the paws, infection is often around the nail bed, so individual toes may be bald with scaling skin around the nail. The distribution of lesions on the paws and face is because cats most commonly catch infection while investigating the environment: sniffing or pawing at things. Watch out for signs of infection in multiple cats. Typically, cats living closely together, such as a litter of kittens in a rescue shelter, infect one another and several animals with itchy bald patches should raise an immediate suspicion of ringworm. Keep an eye out for skin lesions on your own skin. Another sign of ringworm is if you – the cat's owner – develop skin lesions. In people these are typically itchy, raised red and inflamed patches of skin that are dry and scaly. These lesions are often circular and resemble a ring, or a pattern of rings. Sometimes the outer border is bumpy around a scaly center. Places that come into contact with the cat are most likely to be infected, thus your hands from stroking the cat, or your lap from holding her, are typical for infection. See a vet to confirm the presence of ringworm. If your cat shows signs of ringworm, or you have suspicious lesions on your own skin, get your cat checked by a veterinarian. Ringworm can mimic a number of conditions such as skin infections, allergic skin disease, and parasitic skin disease, therefore reaching a firm diagnosis involves examining plucked hairs under the microscope to look for fungal hyphae along the hair shaft. The vet may also check the cat under an ultraviolet light to look for the characteristic apple-green fluorescence given off by some ringworm species. The vet may also do a fungal culture, where the fungus is grown from sample coat brushings from the cat. These tests may take a few weeks to run because the fungus grows slowly. Put the cat on an anti-fungal medication. Griseofulvin is an anti-fungal medication, which stops the ringworm from growing rather than killing it. Griseofulvin acts by disrupting the fungi's cell division and preventing it from multiplying, thus putting it into an inactive state. The cat will need to be on this medication for several weeks. Griseofulvin is more effective if given with a fat, such as a knob of butter, because this enhances absorption into the blood stream. The suggested dose is 50mg/kg given once a day for up to 70 days (and for at least 2 weeks after the skin lesions have resolved). This is equivalent to a 5 kg cat taking half a 500mg tablet once a day. Griseofulvin should not be given to pregnant cats because it causes deformities in the kittens in the womb. Griseofulvin should not be handled by pregnant women. As a precaution, it is best to wear disposable gloves if cutting the tablets up. Although griseofulvin is not damaging to healthy people, it is sensible to avoid accidental ingestion. In rare cases, this medication can cause bone marrow suppression, which is a potentially life threatening condition. Give the cat an antifungal medication. Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal agent which acts by inhibiting the synthesis of the fungal cell walls, which makes it leaky and causes the cell's contents to leak out. The recommended dose is 5 to 10mg/kg by mouth, 2 or 3 times daily after food. Thus a 5 kg cat requires 25 to 50mg per dose. A 500mg/ 5ml oral suspension is available, which means an average-sized cat needs between 0.25 to 0.5ml by mouth, 2 or 3 times a day. Ketoconazole has a broader spectrum of activity than griseofulvin; as well as treating ringworm, it can be used to treat aspergillosis, candidiasis (thrush infection), cryptococcus, and coccidiomycosis infections (these are a variety of fungal or single celled organism that are sensitive to ketoconazole). As with griseofulvin, treatment is for lengthy period of time, and is often continued until 2 negative fungal cultures taken 3 weeks apart have been obtained. Implement environmental controls. While medical treatment is initiated and ongoing, it is important to decrease the amount of environmental contamination with fungal spores. This helps to ensure that once the cat is cleared of ringworm, she doesn't then re-infect herself, or that the environment does not act as a reservoir of infection for you, the owner. Keep the cat in one room. Everywhere the cat goes she sheds dander and hair, which are potential sources of ringworm infection. Ideally you should keep the pet confined to one room so as to minimize the spread of infection. Remove all the soft furnishings except for the cat's bed, since these are more difficult to clean. The cat's bed should be washed by itself, in a washing machine on a hot wash with detergent. (There is minimal risk of further washes being contaminated). Where possible, leave the bed to dry in bright sunshine. The room should be cleaned and disinfected with a 1:10 dilution of household bleach in water. This means that you add 100ml of bleach to each 900ml of water, to make up a stock cleaning solution. In an ideal world, all hard surfaces in the room would be cleaned with dilute bleach daily to minimize build-up of contamination. The room should also be vacuumed and the vacuum bag disposed of by incineration. Clip the cat's coat. The ringworm fungus grows down hair shafts. To give ringworm less chance to colonize the cat's coat, and also ensure that there is less shedding of infected hairs, it is a good idea to clip the cat's coat short. This is best done with scissors (clippers can damage the skin and encourage fungal colonization) but it requires a co-operative cat. Keep the scissor blades parallel to the surface of the skin and cut at 90 degrees to the hair shafts. Trim away the hair as close to the skin as possible without cutting or nicking the skin. Wear a disposable plastic apron and gloves while clipping the cat, and throw these away afterwards. Collect the clippings in a plastic bag and dispose of by burning if possible. If this is not possible, double wrap them in another plastic bag and dispose of in the garbage. Throw away any grooming equipment used on the infected cat, or thoroughly disinfect it with dilute bleach. If the cat objects to being clipped then speak to your veterinary clinic who will be happy to sedate the animal and professionally clip him. Shampoo the cat. Washing the cat with an appropriate shampoo can help clean the hair follicles, and reduce the shedding of infected hairs and dander. This should be done for both clipped and unclipped cats. Twice weekly shampooing for 6-10 weeks is recommended as a back up to antifungal medications. The shampooing is not so much to kill the fungus (although this is a bonus if a medicated shampoo is used) but to decrease environmental contamination. With this in mind, if a treatment shampoo is not available, any mild shampoo suitable for use on the cat is acceptable as an alternative. Find a suitable shampoo. If you choose to use a treatment shampoo, you should look for one of the following: Chlorhexidine: A suitable topical treatment is a solution of chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic with antifungal properties. This is diluted in water (an appropriate dilution is 5ml of chlorhexidine to 1 liter of water) and sponged over the cat and allowed to air dry. Malaseb shampoo: Malaseb shampoo contains 2% chlorhexidine plus 2% miconazole (an antifungal agent). Malaseb is used as a shampoo and so the coat and skin should be thoroughly wet, the shampoo lathered on and left in contact with the skin for 10 minutes, and then rinsed thoroughly. Enilconazole: Enilconazole is an antifungal agent that is applied externally to the skin and can be used on pregnant cats and young kittens. One part enilconazole is diluted in 50 parts of water to produce a 0.2% solution. This is then sponged over the cat every 3 days. Understand the prognosis. Healthy cats can be expected to self-cure in around 2 to 3 months. During this time, however, they are a source of infection for others and so it is best to keep them in isolation. For those cats that show significant clinical signs (such as patchy hair loss, scaling, and itchiness), clearing that infection is a lengthy and time-consuming process that involves both oral medications and topical treatments.

Look for patches of hair loss on your cat. Identify any scaly patches on your cat's face, paws or ears. Watch out for signs of infection in multiple cats. Keep an eye out for skin lesions on your own skin. See a vet to confirm the presence of ringworm. Put the cat on an anti-fungal medication. Give the cat an antifungal medication. Implement environmental controls. Clip the cat's coat. Shampoo the cat. Find a suitable shampoo. Understand the prognosis.

https://www.wikihow.com/Understand-Bright%27s-Disease

How to Understand Bright's Disease

Bright's disease, also known as nephritis or glomerulonephritis (GN), is best understood as an acute or chronic condition that affects the kidneys. If you have an illness such as Lupus, strep throat, or Goodpasture's syndrome, you could develop acute GN. Alternatively, you may develop chronic GN if it runs in your family or if you've suffered from an acute attack in the past. Because chronic kidney diseases affect the kidney's ability to function, make sure you talk to your doctor if you think you have Bright's disease. Tell them about any symptoms you've experienced, including pink or brown urine, foaming urine, fluid retention, weight gain, or fatigue. Your doctor will most likely perform a urine analysis and blood test, but may also want to do an ultrasound or biopsy of your kidney.

Learn the contemporary terms. Though initially named after the disease's discoverer, the term "Bright's disease" has largely been removed from contemporary medical literature and discussions of kidney disease — in fact, your doctor might not know what you are referring to if you use it. Instead, Bright's disease as a diagnosis has been superseded by the contemporary medical terms "nephritis" or "glomerulonephritis" (GN). The term Bright's disease is most often found today by people researching their genealogy. Understand the underlying causes. There are two types of GN: acute and chronic. Acute GN may be caused by some other illness like strep throat or granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Chronic GN can run in families, but often the cause is not known. A person may suffer an acute attack and then develop chronic GN later on. Other causes may include: Lupus Bacterial endocarditis Viral infections (such as (HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C) Goodpasture's syndrome Polyarteritis Diabetic kidney disease Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis Know the effects. Chronic kidney diseases affect the kidney's ability to function at a normal, healthy level. The loss of kidney function has subsequent effects on the rest of the body, including the body's ability to: Filter waste out of the blood Maintain normal blood pressure Produce vitamin D Produce erythropoietin, which helps produce red blood cells Identify the symptoms. GN has some variance of symptoms, depending on the particular causes and conditions of the disease; however, the typical symptoms include: Pink or cola-tinted urine, caused by red blood cells in the urine Foam in the urine caused by excessive protein content High blood pressure Fluid retention, especially in the face, hands, feet, and abdomen Weight gain (mainly caused by fluid retention) Fatigue, usually accompanied by anemia and/or kidney failure Get tested. In addition to the presence of telling physical symptoms, there are a number of tests that can confirm a diagnosis of GN. Common tests include the following: Urine analysis to check for red and white blood cells, increased protein levels, or increased levels of creatinine and urea Blood tests to measure for levels of waste products like creatinine and blood urea nitrogen Ultrasound Biopsy of the kidney Recognize the stages of kidney disease. Kidney disease is categorized as a chronic and progressive disease. Each stage of the disease is marked by its own symptoms and the gradual loss of kidney function, measured by the kidney's Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). The stages of kidney disease are: Stage one — Marked by mild symptoms and normal GFR of at least 90 percent of normal kidney function. Stage two — Marked by mild symptoms and reduced GFR, with the gradual reduction of kidney function to between 60 and 89 percent of normal function. Stage three — Marked by moderate symptoms and significantly reduced GFR, with kidney function ranging between 40 and 59 percent of normal function. Stage four — Marked by severe symptoms and drastically reduced GFR, with kidney function ranging between 15 and 29 percent of normal function. Stage five — The kidneys operate at less than 15 percent of normal function. Treat underlying conditions. Because many cases of GN are caused by underlying conditions, your treatment plan may include treating those conditions. This treatment plan will vary, depending on what conditions are causing your kidney disease. Talk to your doctor about your condition, and understand how it may impact your kidney health. Control the immune system. Medications like corticosteroids can help decrease immune system responses like inflammation, which is a common problem for people with kidney diseases and disorders; however, corticosteroid use carries the risk of significant side effects, including increased appetite/weight gain, sudden and significant mood swings, delayed healing of injuries, weakened bones, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Take blood pressure medication. Chronic kidney diseases often affect the body's ability to regulate its blood pressure. Because of this, many treatment plans include taking blood pressure medication. In addition to regulating the body's blood pressure, these medications can also reduce the amount of protein released through your urine, which may help you manage the symptoms of the disease. Common blood pressure medications prescribed to treat kidney diseases like GN include benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), and enalapril (Vasotec). Some doctors may also prescribe angiotensin II receptor blockers like losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan) to achieve similar results. Try water pills. Diuretics like water pills can help reduce water retention. Decreasing water retention will help manage swelling in the body and can increase your kidneys' ability to function by increasing water output. Common water pills prescribed for kidney diseases include furosemide (Lasix) and spironolactone (Aldactone). Use blood thinners. Blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants, reduce your blood's ability to form clots, which may help prevent blood clots in your body (specifically the kidneys). This may help manage the symptoms of kidney disease and improve your kidneys' ability to function. Common anticoagulants prescribed to treat kidney diseases include heparin and warfarin (Coumadin). Reduce your cholesterol. The efficacy of taking cholesterol medication (also known as statins) for kidney disease is unclear; however, some studies suggest that taking cholesterol medications may help reduce the risk of death in some people. Commonly-prescribed statins for people with kidney diseases include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), and lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor). Make lifestyle changes. There is no known way to prevent all types of kidney disease. But some studies suggest that practicing good hygiene — including engaging in safe sex and refraining from intravenous drug use — may help prevent viral infections (such as hepatitis and HIV) that could eventually lead to chronic kidney disease. Change your diet. Some people find that making dietary changes can help manage some of the symptoms of GN. Common dietary recommendations for people with kidney diseases include: Choosing lean protein over fatty proteins Lowering the overall consumption of fat and cholesterol in the diet Maintaining a low-salt diet Reducing potassium in the diet Maintaining a healthy, manageable body weight Avoiding smoking

Learn the contemporary terms. Understand the underlying causes. Know the effects. Identify the symptoms. Get tested. Recognize the stages of kidney disease. Treat underlying conditions. Control the immune system. Take blood pressure medication. Try water pills. Use blood thinners. Reduce your cholesterol. Make lifestyle changes. Change your diet.

https://www.wikihow.pet/Stop-Reverse-Sneezing-in-Dogs

How to Stop Reverse Sneezing in Dogs

Reverse sneezing is a hiccup-like compulsion, which normally goes away on its own within 20 seconds. However, if it doesn't stop, there are a few things you can try to end your dog's reverse sneezing. Gently massage its throat, which can relieve some of the irritation. You can also try calmly blowing air into your dog's face or gently pinching its nose shut for a second. Alternatively, offer it a treat, since swallowing can sometimes stop reverse sneezing. Remember to stay calm and reassure your dog that everything's okay. If it has regular episodes that last a while, take it to your vet so they can make sure nothing's wrong.

Massage the dog’s throat gently. Since most cases of reverse sneezing are caused by irritation in the breathing passages, a gentle throat massage may relieve some of the irritation and bring the episode to a quicker conclusion. Simply rub the backs of your fingers up and down the dog's throat. Communicate calmly and lovingly at the same time: “You're okay, Celia, Mommy loves you.” Blow small puffs of air into the dog’s face. Gently blowing air into the dog's face can sometimes disrupt the cycle of repetitive inhalations that happens during reverse sneezing. Get within around 6 in (15 cm) of the dog's face and aim a few puffs of air at its nose. Don't respond in a panic and blow like you're trying to snuff out all the candles on an 80th birthday cake! Be calm and gentle. Pinch the dog’s nose shut for 1 second. This simple maneuver will cause the dog to involuntarily swallow, which in turn may end the episode either by disrupting it or by temporarily soothing any throat irritation. All that's needed is a quick, gentle pinch with your thumb and forefinger over the dog's nostrils. Don't squeeze hard, or you may damage the dog's nose. And don't hold the pinch for more than a second, or you may cause the dog to panic and possibly lash out. Press the dog’s tongue down in its mouth with your fingers. Do this maneuver only if you are absolutely sure that the dog will not bite you. The dog's mouth should be at least partially open during reverse sneezing, so you can stick your first 2 fingers onto the front half of its tongue and gently press it down to the bottom of its mouth. This can help open the breathing passage and end the episode. If you choose to try this maneuver, do so calmly, and make sure the dog remains calm. If either of you seems agitated, don't risk getting your fingers bitten. Carry the dog to fresh air while remaining calm. Some dogs are more likely to experience reverse sneezing when there are irritants in the air. So, for instance, if you are in a smoky or dusty house when an episode begins, moving the dog outdoors may stop the reverse sneezing. Dogs usually won't move voluntarily during a reverse sneezing episode, so you'll likely have to pick the dog up and carry it to fresh air. If so, pick the dog up carefully and calmly. Speak soothingly to the dog as you do so. Offer your dog a treat. The act of swallowing a little food can help your dog realign the back of its throat and put an end to the reverse sneezing episode. If your dog starts reverse sneezing, encourage it to nibble a treat or a little food. If your dog is too distressed or distracted to eat the treat, blowing gently in its face or covering its nostrils for 1 second can also trigger the swallowing reflex. Identify the event as a reverse sneezing episode. During a reverse sneezing episode, a dog will usually stand still and straight, open its eyes wide, and start drawing in air very rapidly through its nose. These quick inhalations cause what most people describe as a snorting sound, which can be rather loud. For those unfamiliar with reverse sneezing, it's easy to confuse it with choking or an inability to breathe. Watch for the typical body language, rapid inhalations, and snorting sound to identify it as reverse sneezing. Search online for “reverse sneezing in dogs” to find videos of episodes in progress so you know what to watch for. If the dog's lips start turning blue or it shows other signs of choking, though, take immediate action. Wait patiently for the episode to end. Most episodes of reverse sneezing last for around 5 to 20 seconds, though they can last for up to a minute or, in rare instances, even 2 minutes. While you may be eager to spring into action, it's usually best to let the episode run its course. Treat it like a case of the hiccups, or even just a bout of “normal” sneezing—it will stop on its own in time. Use past experience as your guide if your dog has had reverse sneezing before. If the episodes usually last 10-20 seconds, you might only try to stop an episode that lasts more than 30 seconds, for instance. But even then, it's okay to just let the reverse sneezing play out. Offer soothing words of encouragement to the dog. If the dog remains calm, the episode is likely to pass more quickly. Maintain a calm environment by speaking soothingly to the dog. Say something like “It's okay, Rusty, it will be over with soon. Good boy.” Dogs are great at reading human emotions, which is part of why they make such great companions. This means, though, that they are likely to pick up on any panic you experience during their reverse sneezing. Sensing your panic may cause them to panic, which in turn can cause the episode to last longer. Take note of when episodes tend to occur. Nearly every dog, and especially smaller breeds of dog, will have occasional episodes of reverse sneezing. If they occur frequently, you'll often be able to recognize familiar triggers. Take note, for instance, if reverse sneezing tends to happen when: The dog is overly excited The dog has just exercised vigorously The air is full of irritants (pollen, dust, smoke, etc.) The air is cold (especially if the dog has gone from warm indoor air to cold outdoor air) The dog wears a snug collar You pull on its leash Record an episode to show your vet. If you have your smartphone handy when an episode of reverse sneezing begins, take a quick video of it for reference. If you decide to call your veterinarian--because, for instance, the episodes are happening every day or last more than a minute--you can bring the video along to show them. The video will make it easier for the vet to diagnose reverse sneezing and evaluate the likely causes and potential solutions. There's no agreed-upon answer as to the number, duration, or frequency of episodes that should trigger a call to the vet. However, if episodes occur nearly every day, and/or regularly last for a minute or more, you might decide to call. Ask your vet if medications may be beneficial. In most cases, the vet will simply state that the reverse sneezes are a natural phenomenon and should be left alone. If there seem to be particular irritants causing the episodes, however, they may recommend medications. For instance, they might prescribe an antihistamine to deal with allergens, an anti-inflammatory to deal with inflammation, or a decongestant to clear the breathing passages. They might also recommend that you switch to a different collar and/or leash, if these seem to be triggering episodes.

Massage the dog’s throat gently. Blow small puffs of air into the dog’s face. Pinch the dog’s nose shut for 1 second. Press the dog’s tongue down in its mouth with your fingers. Carry the dog to fresh air while remaining calm. Offer your dog a treat. Identify the event as a reverse sneezing episode. Wait patiently for the episode to end. Offer soothing words of encouragement to the dog. Take note of when episodes tend to occur. Record an episode to show your vet. Ask your vet if medications may be beneficial.

https://www.wikihow.com/Meal-Prep

How to Meal Prep

To meal prep, start by shopping in bulk so you can cook large portions. Additionally, buy at least 15 Tupperware containers that are both freezer and microwave safe. Then, plan to spend 1 day a week prepping meals. For example, cook a big breakfast of pancakes or waffles, making 2 to 3 times the normal batch so you can eat them every other day of the week. You should also cook dishes, like stews, pasta sauce, or broiled chicken, that you heat up for meals during the week.

Decide which meals you want to prep for the week. If you're new to meal prepping, it can feel overwhelming to make every meal for the week ahead of time. Instead, focus on the meals that you think it would benefit you the most to prep ahead. For example, if you find yourself rushing out the door every morning, you might focus on prepping some healthy breakfasts. When you're first getting started, you may not even want to prep a meal for every day of the week. For instance, you might just prepare dinners for the next 3 nights or make lunches for days when you know things will be extra busy at work. Choose recipes for each meal you want to prep. Before you start prepping, it's important to have a clear plan of action. Decide exactly what you want to make for each meal so that you can figure out what to shop for. When picking recipes for prepping, look for foods that keep and reheat well, can be made in big batches, and can be mixed and matched with different sides or main dishes. Dishes like chilies, stir fries, and casseroles are great for meal prep. Review what’s already in your pantry. Before you go out shopping, check your fridge, freezer, and pantry to figure out what you need and what you already have. Write an inventory of what you have and make note of anything that needs to be replenished. Make sure you always have basic staples available, such as eggs, bread, milk, rice, cooking oils, and your favorite seasonings. Write a shopping list for your weekly meals. Sit down with your inventory and your recipes for the week and write a list of anything you need. Double check the list and the ingredients for each meal before you head to the store. Make note of the quantities of major ingredients in each recipe so you don't come up short once you start cooking. For example, if a chili recipe calls for 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of ground beef, note that down so that you can get enough. Go shopping before your chosen prep day. Meal prep is a time-consuming task, so don't plan to shop and prep on the same day. Try to get all your shopping done the day before so that you'll have plenty of time to cook without the pressure of having to buy all the things you need. For example, if you typically meal prep on Sunday, plan to do your shopping on Saturday. Select a day to dedicate to meal prepping each week. Meal prep can ultimately save you time and make your life easier, but you'll need to make room for it on your schedule. Choose a day and time that works for you and block it out on your schedule as meal prep time. For example, you might choose Sunday or Wednesday as your prep day. Depending on how much cooking you plan to do, you may need anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours to do your prep. Write down a plan of action before you start cooking. Preparing several meals at once is a complicated process. To make the most of your time, write a list of everything you need to do before you start. Prioritize your list from the most time consuming and complicated tasks to the quickest and simplest. For example, it generally takes longer to prepare a chicken for baking than to chop vegetables for a stir fry, so plan to get the chicken going first. Don't forget to include preparatory steps, like laying out your ingredients, gathering pots and pans, and setting up your cooking area. Prepare bulk ingredients that you can assemble at mealtimes. Unless you're preparing individual, ready-to-eat meals, you can make and store many of the components of your meals separately. Cook up large quantities of sides that you can split up between meals, or make a big batch of a main dish that you can mix and match with different sides throughout the week. For example, you might cook up a big batch of rice pilaf or quinoa that you can have with several meals, or make a bunch of muffins so you can incorporate them into your breakfasts throughout the week. Make sauces and dressings to use throughout the week. If you plan to use sauces and dressings, make and store them separately so you can use them whenever you need them. Set them aside so you can put them in their own containers until you're ready to use them. Keeping sauces and dressings separate from other ingredients helps prevent your foods from getting soggy in storage. Multitask while your meals are cooking. You can make the most of your prep time by preparing multiple items at once. Start cooking items that take a long time to cook but don't require a lot of supervision, and use that cooking time to prepare or cook other items while you're waiting. For example, you could throw some stew ingredients in the slow cooker and then chop veggies for a salad while you're waiting. To ensure that nothing gets burned or forgotten, use an app that allows you to set multiple timers while you cook. Choose airtight containers that are fridge or freezer safe. To ensure that your meals stay fresh until you're ready to eat them, you'll need a variety of storage containers. Glass casserole dishes, BPA-proof plastic containers, and even mason jars are great options for storing your food. You can save even more time and kitchen space by using containers that are also safe for your stove, microwave, or oven. That way, you can simply warm up the food in the storage container when you're ready to eat it! Get containers of various sizes to suit your different needs. For example, large containers are great for storing bulk meals like soups or large stir-fries, while smaller containers are good for sauces and dressings. Put your containers out before you start cooking. Save yourself time and energy by having your storage containers ready to go so that you can pack up your food as you go. Look at how much of each item you plan to prepare so you know what sizes of containers you'll need, and how many. For example, if you're making 3 ready-to-go lunches plus one bulk dinner item, you might set out 1 large storage container and 3 smaller bento containers. Put foods you plan to eat soon in the fridge. Most cooked foods will last 3-4 days in the fridge. If you plan to eat your prepped meals within the next few days, put them in the fridge in airtight storage containers. To help you keep track of which foods you plan to eat on which days, you can even label the containers with a “use by” date (e.g., “Tuesday, 3/3”). Freeze your prepped meals to keep them longer. If they're stored properly, most foods can last for up to 3 months in the freezer before they start to deteriorate in quality. Put foods you plan to use at the end of the week or even later in your freezer inside a freezer-safe storage container. Put dates on them so you know when you put them in storage and/or when you plan to use them. Ideal foods for freezing include things like sauces, soups, chili or other bean dishes, meatballs, casseroles, and smoothies. Some foods, like eggs, dairy products, and salad greens, don't freeze well. Plan on storing those types of foods in the fridge. Plan to make fruits and vegetables half of every meal. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of any balanced meal. When planning your meals, incorporate enough fruits and vegetables so that they can make up about half of what's on your plate. For example, if you're putting together a lunch to eat later in the week, you might fill ¼ of a divided bento-style container with a roasted veggie mix, and another ¼ with fresh berries. Incorporate whole grains into your meals for added fiber and nutrients. Whole grains are a healthy source of fiber, complex carbohydrates, and other essential nutrients. Plan to make whole grains about ¼ of every meal. For instance, your bento box lunch could include a serving of seasoned quinoa, bulgur salad, or a whole wheat roll. Include a source of lean protein. Lean protein should be the other major component of each meal. Plan to fill up about ¼ of your plate with white meat poultry, fish, lean beef or pork, eggs, beans, nuts, or a soy product, such as tofu. For instance, you could complete your bento-style lunch with a few strips of grilled chicken breast or some smoked salmon. Try to incorporate fish into 2 meals per week. Fish is an excellent source of healthy fats as well as energy-boosting protein. Add dairy or a dairy substitute for calcium. If you're incorporating snacks into your meal prep, then this is a good opportunity to include some dairy. Plan to have 1 cup (240 mL) of low-fat yogurt or 1.5 ounces (43 g) of cheese on the side with each meal or as snacks throughout the day. If you can't eat dairy, plan to have 1 cup (240 mL) of calcium-fortified soymilk with each meal. Choose healthy sources of fat and sugar. Fat and sugar are an important part of your diet, in moderation. Incorporate healthy fats and sugars into your prepped meals. Healthy sources of sugar include fresh fruit, dried fruit, or yogurt flavored with honey. Healthy fat sources include fatty fish (like tuna, mackerel, or salmon), vegetable oils, eggs, nuts, and seeds. For example, you could prepare a batch of baked apples seasoned with cinnamon to eat with a few meals per week, or make a salad dressing with olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Decide which meals you want to prep for the week. Choose recipes for each meal you want to prep. Review what’s already in your pantry. Write a shopping list for your weekly meals. Go shopping before your chosen prep day. Select a day to dedicate to meal prepping each week. Write down a plan of action before you start cooking. Prepare bulk ingredients that you can assemble at mealtimes. Make sauces and dressings to use throughout the week. Multitask while your meals are cooking. Choose airtight containers that are fridge or freezer safe. Put your containers out before you start cooking. Put foods you plan to eat soon in the fridge. Freeze your prepped meals to keep them longer. Plan to make fruits and vegetables half of every meal. Incorporate whole grains into your meals for added fiber and nutrients. Include a source of lean protein. Add dairy or a dairy substitute for calcium. Choose healthy sources of fat and sugar.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Mushroom-Gravy

How to Make Mushroom Gravy

To make mushroom gravy, melt unsalted butter in a heavy, nonstick skillet and saute the minced garlic for 7-10 minutes. Next, add the diced onion and saute for 5 minutes, then add the sliced mushrooms and saute for another 20 minutes. Then, pour in the wine and vinegar and bring the mixture to a boil. Finally, stir in sugar and cornstarch to thicken the gravy and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes.

Slice 1 lb (450 g) of mushrooms thinly with a knife. Wipe the mushrooms with a damp paper towel to remove any dirt. Cut the stem off if you prefer, and hold the mushroom caps flat against a chopping board while you thinly slice them. Use an assortment of your favorite mushrooms. Try the white, oyster, shiitake, and cremini varieties. If you are using shiitake mushrooms, you must remove and discard the stem. Mince 4 cloves of garlic using a knife. Peel off the layers of skin that surround each clove. Crush the garlic with the flat part of the blade of a knife. Roughly chop up the garlic, and then rest your other hand flat on top of the knife tip. Use a rocking motion to cut through the garlic from different directions until it is chopped into tiny pieces. Minced garlic distributes the garlic flavor more effectively than garlic that is just sliced. Alternatively, use a garlic press instead to mince the garlic. Dice 1 onion into fine pieces. Remove the layers of onion skin. Use a knife to slice the onion in half. Slice each onion half into small strips lengthwise and then crosswise. Chop 4 stems of parsley leaves finely. Rinse the parsley under cool, running water. Pat each stem dry with a paper towel. Pull the leaves off the stem and make a small mound. Finely chop the mound of parsley to create tiny pieces. 4 stems of parsley will give approximately 2 tbsp (7.6 g) worth of chopped parsley leaves. Cook the garlic in butter over a moderate-low heat until it is golden. Place the minced garlic and 2 US tbsp (28.4 g) of unsalted butter into a heavy, non-stick skillet pan. Set the temperature setting to moderate-low and cook the garlic for approximately 7-10 minutes, or until it's golden brown. A 10 in (25 cm) skillet is the ideal size. Add the diced onion to the pan and cook it for a further 5 minutes. Keep the temperature set to moderate-low, and add the diced onion to the same pan as the garlic and butter. Stir the ingredients regularly as they cook and as the onions become soft and semi-transparent. Use a wooden spoon to stir the onion and minced garlic. Saute the mushrooms and soy sauce for approximately 20 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of soy sauce to the pan, and increase the heat to high. Stir the mixture using a wooden spoon until the mushrooms have become soft. You will be able to tell when the mushrooms are cooked because the liquid that they give off will evaporate. Add the wine and vinegar to the pan and boil the ingredients. Pour ½ cup (118.3 ml) of dry red wine and 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of balsamic vinegar into the pan. Stir the ingredients with a wooden spoon to combine them as they begin to boil. Boil the ingredients until all of the liquid evaporates, which will take approximately 10 minutes. Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water. Place 1 US tbsp (9.4 g) of cornstarch and 1 ½ cups (354.9 ml) of cold water into a small bowl. Use a fork to mix the cornstarch thoroughly so that it dissolves into the water. This will help to thicken the gravy. Place the cornstarch and sugar into the pan and boil the ingredients again. Pour the cornstarch mixture and ½ US tsp (2 g) of sugar into the pan. Stir the mixture as it starts to boil. Simmer the ingredients for approximately 10 minutes. Reduce the heat of the stovetop down to the low setting. Stir the mixture continuously as it starts to simmer. Check the consistency of the gravy regularly, as the longer it simmers for the thicker it will become. The mixture will now be thickening due to the addition of cornstarch. Stir in the freshly chopped parsley and season the gravy to taste. Place the parsley into the pan and combine it with the gravy. Season the gravy with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the heat, and turn the stovetop off. Serve the gravy immediately or store it for up to 3 days. Use the gravy straight away as a warm addition to a hearty meal. Alternatively, place the gravy in an airtight container once it has cooled, and store it in the refrigerator. When you reheat stored gravy, add a small amount of water to thin it down if the consistency is too thick. Serve mushroom gravy over roasted meats for special occasions. Cook your favorite turkey, chicken, or beef roast. Roast your favorite winter vegetables too, such as potato, pumpkin, and sweet potato. Carve and serve the roast, and top each serving with a generous helping of gravy. A nut roast is a great vegetarian option to pair with mushroom gravy. Serve the nut roast with mushroom gravy and cranberry sauce for a festive meal. Pour the gravy over hamburger steaks for a warm, winter meal. Make your own hamburger steaks using ground beef, or purchase pre-made steaks from a grocery store. Cook the hamburger steaks and serve them with mashed potatoes and carrots on the side. Pour the mushroom gravy over the meat and vegetables for a dish that the whole family will enjoy. Serve the gravy over meatloaf to make a cosy dish. Make your favorite meatloaf recipe, and serve it with mashed potatoes or other root vegetables. Top the meatloaf with the mushroom gravy to make the dish extra warm and comforting. If you are vegetarian, make a vegetarian meatloaf instead. Mushroom gravy will still be a great addition. Enjoy mushroom gravy over biscuits for a hearty breakfast. Serve homemade biscuits with fried egg, sausage, or chicken. Pour the mushroom gravy over the dish for a warm and filling start to the day.

Slice 1 lb (450 g) of mushrooms thinly with a knife. Mince 4 cloves of garlic using a knife. Dice 1 onion into fine pieces. Chop 4 stems of parsley leaves finely. Cook the garlic in butter over a moderate-low heat until it is golden. Add the diced onion to the pan and cook it for a further 5 minutes. Saute the mushrooms and soy sauce for approximately 20 minutes. Add the wine and vinegar to the pan and boil the ingredients. Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water. Place the cornstarch and sugar into the pan and boil the ingredients again. Simmer the ingredients for approximately 10 minutes. Stir in the freshly chopped parsley and season the gravy to taste. Serve the gravy immediately or store it for up to 3 days. Serve mushroom gravy over roasted meats for special occasions. Pour the gravy over hamburger steaks for a warm, winter meal. Serve the gravy over meatloaf to make a cosy dish. Enjoy mushroom gravy over biscuits for a hearty breakfast.

https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-Your-Face-Before-Applying-Makeup

How to Prepare Your Face Before Applying Makeup

To prepare your face before applying makeup, start by washing it with a cleanser and applying an alcohol-free toner so you're starting with a fresh, clean slate. You may also want to exfoliate your skin if you haven't in a few days, which will leave it nice and smooth so your makeup goes on better. Next, apply moisturizer by pressing it into your skin, letting it sink in for at least 5 minutes before moving on. Finally, after you apply moisturizer, apply a primer all over your face, which will help your make up go on smoothly and last longer.

Choose a cleanser suitable for your skin type. It is best to apply makeup to fresh, clean skin. Before applying makeup, wash your skin with a gentle cleanser that will support your skin type. If you have dry skin, look for a cream cleanser, which will help moisturize the skin while cleansing. Use a gel or foam cleanser if you have oily skin. This will get rid of any dirt and oil on your skin without irritating the skin. If you have combination skin, it means that some parts of the skin are oily and other parts are normal or dry. In this case, look for cleansers that are designed specifically for combination skin as these cleansers work to treat both oily and dry skin. If you have sensitive skin that is easily irritated, look for the most gentle cleansers you can find. These will usually be made from plant oils. If you have skin that is prone to breakouts, look for a cleanser that contains salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or tea tree oil to help keep those pimples at bay. Cleanse your face. Wet your face with lukewarm water by splashing some water onto your face using your hands. Then, using a dime-sized amount, massage your chosen cleanser gently all over your skin. Do this for around 45 seconds to give the cleanser time to work, and then rinse thoroughly using lukewarm water. Be gentle when cleansing. The skin on your face is thin and sensitive, so there is no need to scrub vigorously. Just use your finger tips to massage gently in a circular motion. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. There should not be any suds of cleanser left on the skin. Pat your face dry with a clean towel. You don't want to rub the skin dry as this may irritate the skin, leaving it red and flaky. Using warm water will help open the pores and lift dirt and bacteria from the skin, but avoid water that is too hot as it can dry out the skin. Apply an alcohol free toner. Many people overlook toner, but it should be an important step of your beauty routine. The purpose of toner is to swipe away any leftover dead skin cells, makeup, or other bacteria that your cleanser might have missed. Try to avoid toners with alcohol as the main ingredient, as these are typically too drying for skin. Squeeze a bit of toner onto a cotton ball or cotton pad and gently swipe it all over your face. The idea here isn't to scrub the skin, but instead, to gently wet the face with the toner. Notice what comes off of your skin. Often times, you will notice some leftover foundation on the cotton ball after applying toner. This is evidence that you didn't get all of your makeup with the cleanser. Exfoliate your skin. Once or twice each week, you should exfoliate your skin to get rid of any build up on your skin. If your skin is red and feels raw, you know you're exfoliating too often. On the other hand, if your skin looks dull and doesn't feel smooth, you probably need to exfoliate a bit more often. You can exfoliate by using a washcloth during your normal cleansing. Use the cloth instead of your fingertips to gently massage the cleanser into the skin using circular motions. Be sure to wash the cloth after use, though. If you reuse it, you may be rubbing old bacteria all over your face. You can also use scrubs that you buy at the store. These are cleansers that include an ingredient that exfoliates. You can also make your own scrub with ingredients such as sugar and olive oil. Get into a routine. You should absolutely be washing your face each night before you go to bed with the gentle cleanser in order to remove impurities that have built up on your skin throughout the day. You should then wash your face again in the morning (which is probably right before you will apply your makeup anyways). If you wake up late one day, and don't have time to wash your face, at least splash some cool water on your face to wake up your skin. It will also help you be more alert, and give your skin a refreshed look. Choose the right moisturizer. Ideally, you will have two moisturizers, one for day that is lighter and includes an SPF, and one for night that is a bit heavier. Before applying makeup, you will want to use the lighter moisturizer. Make sure that your day time moisturizer contains at least SPF 15 to protect your skin from the sun. If you struggle with breakouts and/or oily skin look for oil-free moisturizers that are non-comodogenic. If you have dry skin you can look for creams that are a bit thicker to wear during the day. A thicker cream will also give you a more dewy look. Consider applying a serum. If you are prone to dry skin, adding a serum to your routine can help add a little extra moisture to your face. With most facial products, it's important to remember that a little bit goes a long way, and this is especially true in the case of serums. Look for serums that contain antioxidants, such as Vitamin C; anti-inflammatories, such as Zinc; and hydrators such as amino acids. Apply this after cleansing and toning, but before applying moisturizer. If you want to incorporate a serum into your routine, but have oilier skin, try applying the serum at night. Gently dab a few dots of serum on your cheeks, forehead, and chin and gently pat into the skin. Press the moisturizer into your skin. Most people think that you should massage the moisturizer into your skin, but for your face this isn't true. The best way to apply moisturizer is to gently press the moisturizer into your skin using your finger tips. This will ensure that you don't apply too much moisturizer, which can lead to breakouts and/or oily skin. Pressing the skin will also draw the blood to the top of the skin, giving your skin a rosy glow. Allow the moisturizer to sink in. Before you move on in your face prep routine, you will want to give the moisturizer a chance to sink into the skin. Give it at least 5 minutes, this way your skin will be ready for primer. During this time, you can do something else, like choose your outfit for the day. If it's morning, you can make yourself a cup of tea or coffee to drink while you apply your makeup. Try misting your face with rose water. This isn't required, but many makeup artists believe that a splash of rose water is key for getting that glowing skin we all want. If you want to do this, put some rose water in a spray bottle, turn it to mist mode, and mist it all over your face. Let the rose water dry before moving on. Some also suggest misting rose water on your face once you have completely finished your makeup, and it has all had plenty of time to dry. Be sure to close your eyes as you are misting. Look for all-natural rose water that doesn't contain added chemicals. Prepare your lips by exfoliating and moisturizing them. Before applying any color, you will need to prepare your lips in order to help the color go on smoothly and evenly, and to help it last longer. Exfoliate your lips using a clean, damp washcloth. Using small circular motions, gently massage your lips to remove any dead skin, which will make your lipstick look uneven. If your skin is sensitive, you should do this at night, before going to bed rather than right before applying makeup. Apply a lip moisturizer. Before applying any color, you will want to make sure your lips are moisturized properly in order to help keep the color from soaking into your lips. Use your lip balm of choice, and smooth it on your lips. Allow it to set for at least 10 minutes in order for the moisturizer to have adequate time to soak into your lips. If you are short on time, you can apply the lip balm before you apply any of your other makeup. By the time you've finished the rest of your makeup, your lips will be good to go. Choose a primer. No matter how involved your makeup routine, applying a primer prepares your skin for anything you are going to put on it. There are many, many types of makeup primer available on the market, so choose one that will suit your needs. For example, if you suffer from acne or redness on your face, a light green primer will work well to counteract the redness. Primers that contain silicone are also a great option as the silicone acts as a barrier. This not only helps makeup go on smoothly and last longer, it also helps keep the oil in your skin from mixing with your makeup. Makeup primer also helps fill in any lines in your skin so that makeup doesn't crease in them. Dab the primer all over your face. You can apply primer all over your face or on trouble spots that you have. If you only want to apply it to a few spots, use a concealer brush to gently dab it on the area. If you want to apply it to your whole face, squeeze a bit of primer onto your finger and dab it all over. Then use your finger tips to gently massage it into the skin. If you're not in the mood to apply foundation, primer can also be worn on its own to give you a more polished look throughout the day. Apply makeup as usual. Now that you've taken care to prepare your skin properly, you can apply your makeup as you normally would. Remember that the better prepared your skin is for makeup, the better your makeup will look in the end, and the better it will last. If you are consistent in your routine, your skin will look great even without makeup, which means you won't need to use much makeup in the first place.

Choose a cleanser suitable for your skin type. Cleanse your face. Apply an alcohol free toner. Exfoliate your skin. Get into a routine. Choose the right moisturizer. Consider applying a serum. Press the moisturizer into your skin. Allow the moisturizer to sink in. Try misting your face with rose water. Prepare your lips by exfoliating and moisturizing them. Choose a primer. Dab the primer all over your face. Apply makeup as usual.

https://www.wikihow.com/Fertilize-Roses

How to Fertilize Roses

To fertilize roses, use natural fertilizers before planting and before your rose's first bloom, then switch to chemical fertilizers. You should apply natural fertilizers every 4 weeks from early spring until 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost, which may be around mid-August depending on where you live. If you want to make your own natural fertilizer, try mixing Epsom salt, bone meal, cottonseed meal, blood meal, and fish meal and applying it in early spring. You can also use coffee grounds, which will give your roses nitrogen and potassium.

Use natural fertilizers before planting and before your rose’s first bloom. For new and small rose plants, it's best to use organic fertilizers to avoid burning their delicate roots. Add nutrients to the soil before planting your rose bush, and after you first plant them, with natural fertilizers. Wait until after they bloom the first time before using any chemical fertilizers. In early spring, before roses come out of dormancy and start to bloom, using natural fertilizers is the best way to get roses accustomed to new nutrients in the soil. Look for fertilizers labeled organic at a local garden supply store, or use the recipes in the homemade fertilizers section. Apply natural fertilizers every 4 weeks during high growth season. To keep a steady amount of nutrients flowing into your roses' soil, use natural fertilizers every 4 weeks from early spring until 3-4 weeks before they enter dormancy. Work whatever fertilizer you choose into the upper soil levels. Spread solid or granular natural fertilizers in a circle around the top of the soil about 6 in (15 cm) from the base of the bush and work it into the top 2 in (5.1 cm) of soil with a small cultivator. Liquid natural fertilizers can be poured in a circle about 6 in (15 cm) from the base of the bush. Stop all fertilization 35-40 days before the first frost date. Applying fertilizers too late in the growing season could cause young, soft growth that's easily damaged by the first frost. To encourage your roses to begin preparing for winter dormancy, stop fertilizing them 35-40 days, or 6-8 weeks, before the first frost. In many areas, this will be around mid-August. Use the first frost prediction for your exact region to be sure. Try a blend of Epsom salt with bone, cottonseed, blood, and fish meal to start. A popular early spring natural fertilizer recipe can be made by combining 4 oz (110 g) Epsom salt, 8 oz (230 g) bone meal, 8 oz (230 g) cottonseed meal, 4 oz (110 g) blood meal, and 4 oz (110 g) fish meal. Water your bush thoroughly first, spread the mixture around the base of the plant below its outer perimeter, and work the mixture into the top 2 in (5.1 cm) of soil with a cultivator until it's buried. Water your bush thoroughly again after working the fertilizer into the soil. You can find these ingredients at nurseries and garden supply stores that sell natural or organic fertilizers. Use alfalfa pellets or tea to add many nutrients to your soil. Another natural fertilizer method uses alfalfa pellets. You can use non-food grade ones, sold at garden supply stores, or rabbit food alfalfa pellets. Spread 8–12 oz (230–340 g) of the pellets over the soil under your bush's outer perimeter, and work it into the top 2 in (5.1 cm) of soil. An alternative is to make alfalfa tea. Fill a 30 US gal (110 L) plastic garbage can with 64–80 oz (1,800–2,300 g) alfalfa pellets and the rest with water. Let the mixture sit covered for 3-5 days and stir it once per day, then strain any remaining solids from the water. Water your roses with the tea every 4 weeks during growing season. Bury banana peels to replenish potassium. To use banana peels, you can either bury them and let them compost before planting your roses, or bury them 4–6 in (10–15 cm) deep under the outer perimeter of your rose bush. They will compost under the ground and provide new sources of potassium for your roses. This method is best used in conjunction with another natural method, like coffee grounds or alfalfa pellets. Grind the banana peels in a blender or chop them into fine pieces to promote faster composting. Try coffee grounds for adding nitrogen and potassium. Spread 48 oz (1,400 g) of used coffee grounds on a cookie sheet lined with newspaper. Allow them to dry completely, then sprinkle them around the outer perimeter of your rose bush then water it thoroughly. Make a liquid solution of this fertilizer by soaking 48 oz (1,400 g) coffee grounds in 5 gallons (19 L) of water for 2-3 days. Then saturate the soil around the bush in place of watering it one day. Make a grass and weed clippings solution to enhance your soil. Grass and weeds soak up nutrients from the soil that can be reused as fertilizer. Fill a 5 gallons (19 L) bucket with grass clippings and weeds like nettles, horsetail, and chickweed and add water to the full bucket until it's full of grass, weeds, and water. Let the bucket sit in the sun for 2 days. Dilute 8  fl oz (240 mL) in 80  fl oz (2,400 mL) and use 24  fl oz (710 mL) of it to water a medium rose bush. Try making compost tea with animal manure if you have it. Use old, dry, composted chicken, cow, or horse manure for this recipe. Wrap some manure in a cloth bag, old towel, or T-shirt and place it at the bottom of a 5 gallons (19 L) bucket. Fill the bucket to the top with water and let it sit in the shade for 3 days. Water your roses with the fertilizer as you would normally water it. Discard the “bag” you used and the manure inside after each use or put in a compost pile. Use dry pet food to add micro-nutrients and protein. Choose a dog or cat dry food with a 3% minimum sodium content. Sprinkle 16 oz (450 g) of it on the soil under the outer perimeter of your bush. Work it 2 in (5.1 cm) deep in the soil with a cultivator and cover the area with cardboard for a week so that animals don't dig it up. Keep the cardboard wet and water your roses through the cardboard just as you would normally water them before removing it. Wait to use chemical fertilizers until plants are well-established in the spring. Using chemical fertilizers too early can burn new or recently dormant rose roots. Wait until after your roses' very first bloom, and after you prune them in the early spring and see new growth, to use chemical fertilizer. This first fertilization is sufficient for most species of roses. Choose a general-purpose fertilizer of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. The numbers on fertilizers stand for Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium content. General-use fertilizers have a balance of the 3 nutrients and come in 10-10-10, or 12-12-12, which is a bit stronger. Either is fine to use for most rose types. Spread 4–8 oz (110–230 g) solid fertilizer in a band 6 in (15 cm) from the plant. For granular fertilizers, work this amount of fertilizer into the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) of soil surrounding your bush with a cultivator. Then water your rose thoroughly. Liquid chemical fertilizers have different amount specifications for each dose, so read the instructions carefully before applying them. Remember to only apply chemical fertilizers after the plant is well-established in the spring. Always read the instructions for the correct amount of fertilizer before applying it. Reapply a chemical fertilizer once in mid-June for specialty roses. Some specialty roses, like hybrid teas or floribundas, benefit from a second fertilization in mid-summer. This helps them to stay healthy through the remaining summer months. Apply 4–8 oz (110–230 g) of granular fertilizer in a band around the base of your bush. Do a third application for repeat-blooming roses in mid-July. Still other roses are known to be repeat-bloomers and benefit from a third and final fertilizing in mid-July. This can also be beneficial if you have a particularly long growing season, or plants continue blooming through October and November. Follow the same procedures for this application as you did for the first 2 in early spring and mid-summer. Try a timed-release fertilizer instead of doing multiple applications. If you'd rather do 1 chemical fertilizer application and be done with it for the year, try getting a timed-release fertilizer. These capsule fertilizers release their nutrients throughout the season in either 4, 6, or 8 months. Generally these fertilizers use about 4 oz (110 g) per plant and are applied in May, but read the instructions carefully before using them Write the dates you apply fertilizer on a calendar to avoid over or underfeeding your roses. Stop all fertilization 35-40 days before the first frost date. If you apply fertilizers too late in the growing season, you could get young, soft growth that's easily damaged by the first frost. To encourage your roses to begin preparing for dormancy, stop fertilizing them 35-40 days, or 6-8 weeks, before the first frost. In many areas, this will be around mid-August. Use the first frost prediction for your exact region to be sure.

Use natural fertilizers before planting and before your rose’s first bloom. Apply natural fertilizers every 4 weeks during high growth season. Stop all fertilization 35-40 days before the first frost date. Try a blend of Epsom salt with bone, cottonseed, blood, and fish meal to start. Use alfalfa pellets or tea to add many nutrients to your soil. Bury banana peels to replenish potassium. Try coffee grounds for adding nitrogen and potassium. Make a grass and weed clippings solution to enhance your soil. Try making compost tea with animal manure if you have it. Use dry pet food to add micro-nutrients and protein. Wait to use chemical fertilizers until plants are well-established in the spring. Choose a general-purpose fertilizer of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. Spread 4–8 oz (110–230 g) solid fertilizer in a band 6 in (15 cm) from the plant. Reapply a chemical fertilizer once in mid-June for specialty roses. Do a third application for repeat-blooming roses in mid-July. Try a timed-release fertilizer instead of doing multiple applications. Stop all fertilization 35-40 days before the first frost date.

https://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-Halloween

How to Celebrate Halloween

To celebrate Halloween the traditional way, go trick-or-treating with your friends to get lots of candy and show off your costumes. Just make sure you stay in residential areas and inspect your candy before eating it. Or, if you'd prefer to have a relaxing Halloween at home, stay in and watch scary movies. You can also hand out candy to any trick-or-treaters that stop by. Alternatively, if you're looking for a more upbeat celebration, you can host a Halloween party. Invite all of your friends and tell everyone to wear costumes! During the party, you can have a costume contest, play scary music, and serve Halloween-themed treats.

Ask your guests to wear costumes. No matter how old you are, dressing up is one of the funnest parts of Halloween. If you decide to host a party, encourage your invited guests to show up in costume. You might select a particular theme, such as vampires or Star Wars characters, or you could simply let everyone show off their creativity in a costume of their choosing. For larger parties, you might even hold a contest and have the other partygoers vote on their favorite costumes. Offer prizes for different categories, such as “overall best,” "scariest," "funniest," and “most clever idea.” Keep in mind that not everyone likes playing dress up, and that's okay. If you have guests who would prefer not to wear costumes, don't try to force them to. Put together a playlist of spooky tunes. Holiday-appropriate hits like Boris Pickett's “Monster Mash” and “Riboflavin-Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Polyunsaturated Blood” by Don Hinson and the Rigamorticians have been giving partygoers goosebumps for decades. For a more contemporary twist, you can also queue up some pop favorites like Michael Jackson's “Thriller,” The Cranberries' “Zombie,” and “Howlin' for You” by The Black Keys. Other popular additions to hip Halloween playlists include “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon, “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads, “Disturbia” by Rihanna, and “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones. Pad your playlist with the theme songs from iconic horror movie franchises like “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th.” Mix up some putrid Halloween punch. Start with a blend of fizzy soda pop and tangy fruit juices—you'll find lots of simple and tasty recipes online. Once you've got your punch tasting the way you want, add a few drops of food coloring to make it resemble blood, yucky green slime, or bubbling purple witches' brew. To make a simple yet satisfying Halloween punch, combine 2 litres (68  fl oz) of ginger ale with 4 cups (950 mL) of pineapple juice, ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and a few scoops of lime sherbet. Serve your punch in a plastic cauldron on top of a block of dry ice for added "witchiness"! For a more gruesome touch, create edible "eyeballs" by stuffing blueberries into larger lychee berries and plop them into your punch so they stare back at your guests from the surface. If you're planning on serving alcohol at your party, consider whipping up a second bowl of punch that you can spike with your favorite liquor. Label your punches to indicate which is which, and keep your alcoholic concoctions off-limits to underage guests. Offer an assortment of scrumptious Halloween-themed treats. Set out trays piled high with tantalizing sweets like cookies, cupcakes, and chocolates, or keep it simple with a few baskets of candy. If you have a knack for food decoration, this can be a great opportunity to conduct mad science experiments on your own Halloween-themed confections, such as candy apple skulls, vampire fang cookies, and layered candy corn parfaits. Don't forget to also provide a few nutritious snacks, like a veggie tray or some homemade granola bars, for your more health-conscious guests. Label the various items you put out and list their major ingredients (like the kind of nuts you used to make your brownies) in case any of your guests have food allergies or sensitivities. Bob for apples. Bobbing for apples is a beloved Halloween tradition, and a never-ending source of entertainment. Fill a large bucket or wash tub with water, dump in a few apples, and challenge your guests to try to pluck them out using only their mouths. Win or lose, you can bet that there will be no shortage of laughs. If apples aren't your thing, you can bob for other items, too, such as pears, marshmallows, or plastic-wrapped candies. Just about any small food or beverage item will work, so long as it floats and won't disintegrate in water. Bobbing for apples is good, clean fun, making it a perfect activity for parties with kids and younger guests in attendance. Screen a selection of scary movies. Turn your home into a theater of terror with a private showing of some hair-raising fright flicks. Stick with timeless classics like Halloween , Night of the Living Dead , The Exorcist , or House on Haunted Hill , or scare the living daylights out of your guests with chilling new offerings like IT , Get Out , The Nun , or the Pet Sematary remake. Only show movies that are appropriate for the average age of your guests. The last thing you want to do is give some poor child nightmares! If you're looking for some kid-friendly titles, try Beetlejuice , The Adams Family , Hocus Pocus , Casper the Friendly Ghost , Frankenweenie , or Hotel Transylvania. If there's going to be alcohol at your party, start a drinking game for of-age guests who want to play along with the movies you're watching. For instance, you might take a drink anytime someone screams or a doomed character splits off from the group. Horror movies can make excellent background noise for a Halloween party, even if no one is watching. Hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. If you live in a residential area, chances are you'll be visited by at least a couple waves of costumed creepers throughout the night. Keep 1 or 2 bowls of candy or other treats on hand and take turns passing out handfuls to the boys and ghouls who find their way to your door. Try to guess what your trick-or-treaters are as you portion out their treats. If you'd rather not have to keep running back and forth to the door while you're entertaining your guests, set out an oversized bowl of candy, along with a note instructing trick-or-treaters to take a single piece for themselves. The kids in your neighborhood will be thankful that you did! Carve jack-o-lanterns. Pick up some plump pumpkins from the supermarket or your local pumpkin patch. Remove the tops from the pumpkins, scoop out the seeds and pulp, and cut frightening faces or other festive designs into one side. When you're happy with your work, place a candle inside each pumpkin and replace the lid to bring your jack-o-lantern to life with an eerie glow. There are many premade jack-o-lantern stencils available online if you're not sure what to carve. Just print out a stencil that catches your eye, pin or tape it to the face of your pumpkin, and cut carefully around the dotted lines. Give big kids a hand with knives, saws, and other potentially-dangerous carving tools, and keep them away from smaller children entirely. Paint pumpkins with small children. Kids and pumpkin-carving tools are a bad mix. If you have young children at home, a safer alternative is to pick out pumpkins in varying shapes and sizes and decorate them with acrylic paint. Afterwards, use your finished pumpkins to adorn your dining table, porch steps, or window sills. Have your kids personalize their pumpkins with monsters, animals, or characters from their favorite books, movies, or TV shows. Pumpkins patterned with autumn leaves, flowers, or abstract designs can also serve as great seasonal decorations in childless homes. Hang fake spider webs to give your home a haunted vibe. Suspend webs from places like long, dark hallways, staircases, light fixtures, and the corners of your ceiling. Use strips of tape for easy removal later on. To make your staging more realistic, stick a couple plastic spiders in each web. You'll find packages of fake spider webs at any supermarket, department store, or costume shop around Halloween. Ideally, your webs should hang high enough to prevent your guests from getting tangled in them. Fill your home with balloon ghosts. Blow up and tie off a cluster of large balloons and insert them into plain white garbage bags. Twist the excess material around the bottoms of the balloons and secure them with rubber bands. Use a permanent marker to draw eyes and other features onto your balloon, then release them to instantly haunt your office, kitchen, or living room. Renting a helium tank can save you a considerable amount of time and lung power if you're going to be blowing up a lot of balloons at once. Helium is also a must if you want your balloons to float on their own. Turn any door into a cute yet menacing mummy. Wind strips of toilet paper or white crepe paper across your front door or the door that leads to your party space. Cut two hypnotizing eyes out of construction paper and tape them to the door between 2 rows of paper. If you like, you can also place a few overlapping sheets of wrinkled green or yellow tissue paper beneath the bandages to create the effect of gnarled skin straight from the tomb! Scribble criss-crossing red lines onto your construction paper eyeballs using a red pen, marker, or crayon to lend them a bloodshot appearance. Another fast and easy option is to use giant stick-on googly eyes, which you can buy online or at most major arts and crafts stores. Convert an ordinary end table to a ghostly candy stand. Drape a white sheet over the table, then cut out pieces of scrap fabric in the shape of eyes and a mouth and pin them to the lower part of the sheet. Finally, place a large bowl in the center of the table and fill it with candy. The billowing sheet will make the table look like a moaning ghost, offering up tricks and treats. Use a plastic bowl, if possible. A glass bowl could easily break if somewhere were to accidentally step on the sheet. Go trick-or-treating. Trick-or-treating is practically synonymous with Halloween. If you have small children, or you're still young enough to get in on the action yourself, venture out in your most impressive costume and go door-to-door in your neighborhood collecting candy. Be sure to bring along a bucket or bag big enough to lug your haul home! Wear reflective clothing or carry a flashlight to make yourself visible to drivers once it gets dark, and remember to walk, not run. Not everyone enjoys receiving trick-or-treaters on Halloween. If you come to a house that has its lights off, it's usually a sign that the person who lives there doesn't wish to participate. Test your courage with a trip to a haunted house. Gather a group of adventurous friends and see if you can survive a tour of your most harrowing local haunted house attraction. This can be an exhilarating way to celebrate the holiday's darker themes, especially if you're an adrenaline junkie. Just beware: you're in for a scare! Run a quick search for “haunted house” plus the name of your city to find a list of haunted house attractions in your area. Haunted houses aren't for the faint of heart—literally. You may be better off sitting this one out if you suffer from heart problems, seizures, or another medical condition that might be triggered by lights and loud noises. Look for special screenings at the movie theater. Some theaters run special events during the Halloween season, such as costume nights and limited big-screen showings of classic horror flicks. In some cases, they may even offer free or discounted tickets. Check the showtimes online or in your local newspaper to find out if any theaters near you are getting in on the action. A group outing to the theater can be fun way to enjoy Halloween if you're not really the partying type, or you just feel like hitting the town. While deciding what movie you want to see, remember that you must be at least 17 years old to get into R-rated features without being accompanied by an adult. Sign up for a ghost tour to learn about your area’s haunted history. Almost all towns and cities offer guided ghost tours to interested residents and tourists alike. One of these tours can give you a fascinating glimpse into local lore and legend while also showing you parts of your neck of the woods that you may have never seen before. Most ghost tours take place on foot in the late evening, which means you'll need to wear a pair of comfortable shoes and a light jacket and be prepared to stand and walk for up to 3 hours. Be sure to pack a camera or smartphone, as well. If you're lucky, you may capture an image of an actual ghost! Ghost tours tend to fill up quickly the closer it gets to Halloween, so be sure to purchase your tickets as far ahead of time as possible.

Ask your guests to wear costumes. Put together a playlist of spooky tunes. Mix up some putrid Halloween punch. Offer an assortment of scrumptious Halloween-themed treats. Bob for apples. Screen a selection of scary movies. Hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. Carve jack-o-lanterns. Paint pumpkins with small children. Hang fake spider webs to give your home a haunted vibe. Fill your home with balloon ghosts. Turn any door into a cute yet menacing mummy. Convert an ordinary end table to a ghostly candy stand. Go trick-or-treating. Test your courage with a trip to a haunted house. Look for special screenings at the movie theater. Sign up for a ghost tour to learn about your area’s haunted history.

https://www.wikihow.com/Kick-a-Soccer-Ball-Hard

How to Kick a Soccer Ball Hard

To kick a soccer ball hard, shorten your stride as you approach the ball to give your leg swing power and control. Then, take a small hop forward at the end of the last stride. Plant your non-kicking foot next to the ball so your body is centered, which will help your aim as well as your foot strike. Prepare to kick by bringing your dominant foot back and pointing the toe down to lock the ankle. Finally, extend your foot forward and kick the ball with your big toe's knuckle.

Set the ball up for your dominant foot. During a free kick when you strike a stationary ball, angle yourself to prepare to kick the ball with your stronger foot. Otherwise, when dribbling with the ball, push the ball ahead of you and towards your kicking foot. Shift yourself and the ball to get the proper kicking angle. For example, when kicking the ball with your right foot, shift your body to the left or while running push the ball ahead so it is in front of your right big toe. Contacting the ball slightly to the right or left of center will generate full contact with less sway than a strike dead-center. Take short strides. As you approach the ball for the kick, shorten your strides. This is simplest to do when the ball is set and can be seen when professional players take free kicks. During a run, quickly shorten your strides right before you choose to shoot for more power and control. Plant your non-kicking foot next to the ball. Continue running until you reach the ball. The foot you're not using to strike the ball needs to be set right next to the ball, not behind it. This brings your body over the ball. If you stay behind the ball, you will have a tendency to lift the ball and miss the target or hit the ball with your toe. Point your non-kicking foot in the direction you want the ball to go. As you plant your non-kicking foot, point it in the direction you want the ball to go. Pointing your foot the wrong way makes kicking feel awkward, prevents you from maximizing your power, and can send the ball in a direction you did not intend for it to go. Pointing your foot towards the ball will cause your foot to get in the way. Point too far to the side and you'll lose control of the ball. Look down at the ball. Right before you kick it, glance down at the ball. Focus on kicking with the proper technique instead of generating power or watching the spot you want the ball to hit. This will help you keep your body over the ball and prevents you from lifting the ball. Relax your body. Many people focus too much on generating power. When you do this, you force your shot, losing control of the ball and losing power because of a poor strike. Instead, let your body drop so that your shoulders are squared and the only tension is in your ankle. Sometimes players shake out tension before taking a free kick. Bring your leg back. Bend your non-kicking knee slightly as you draw your kicking leg back. Don't go too far back or else you won't be able to swing your leg forward quickly to get the ball away with accuracy. Large swings are best for long-distance kicks. Point your toes towards the ground. When you move your kicking leg backward, angle your toes downwards. This causes your ankle to lock. Bring your leg forward. Whip your leg forward towards the ball. Keep your foot angled downwards as you do this. Right before you strike the ball, extend your foot to unleash the power stored in your leg Make contact with the knuckle of your big toe. Coaches tell you to kick the ball with the laces of your foot. Technically, you are kicking below that. The knuckle is where your big toe connects to the rest of your foot. This large bone creates force when the area just above it strikes the ball. Watch the ball as your foot connects with it. Never kick with your toes. This not only generates less power and control, but it can hurt your toes. Hit the ball halfway up from the ground for maximum power. Strike further to the sides for more spin. Swing through the ball. Don't stop when your foot hits the ball. Move your foot through the ball as it leaves your foot. This ensures your leg's momentum is fully expended on the ball. Your foot will raise up at the end of the swing's arc. Land on your kicking foot. Bring your foot down and plant it on the ground first before you try to move. That way the momentum of your swing is maximized and you stabilize yourself as you try to move. Follow up your shot. If possible, run after your shot. Putting pressure on your opponent may cause them to deflect or drop the ball, giving you a chance to follow your shot and potentially score.

Set the ball up for your dominant foot. Take short strides. Plant your non-kicking foot next to the ball. Point your non-kicking foot in the direction you want the ball to go. Look down at the ball. Relax your body. Bring your leg back. Point your toes towards the ground. Bring your leg forward. Make contact with the knuckle of your big toe. Swing through the ball. Land on your kicking foot. Follow up your shot.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Marijuana-Cookies

How to Make Marijuana Cookies

To make marijuana cookies, start by melting 2 sticks of butter in a double-boiler. Next, wrap 1 ounce of marijuana tightly with cheesecloth, then drop it into the melted butter. Add 1 cup of water, then cover and steep the ingredients together for 4 to 6 hours. Remove the marijuana and let the butter cool until it's a solid again. Then, follow your chosen cookie recipe, substituting the regular butter with your cannabutter!

Gather your ingredients. Cannabutter is butter that has been infused with THC from marijuana leaves. It is essential for making marijuana cookies. Making cannabutter is easy, but it is also time consuming and you need a decent amount of marijuana to make it. You will need: 2 sticks of unsalted butter 1/2 ounce of marijuana (ground and with seeds/stems removed) 1 cup of water Set up a double-boiler to melt the butter. The double boiler will melt the butter and allow the marijuana to steep without using too much heat. If you have a double boiler, then you can use it. If not, then you can just set one up on your own. To set up a double boiler, place a large stock pot on your stove and fill it about 1/3 of the way full with water. Then, place a medium sized bowl over the stockpot. The bowl should be large enough to overlap the edges of the stock pot, but small enough so that the bottom of the bowl will be in or near the water. Heating cannabis is necessary to extract the THC and reap the psychoactive effects of the herb. You cannot digest the THC in raw marijuana, so eating raw marijuana would have no effect. Melt the butter in the bowl of the double boiler. Place your two sticks of butter into the bowl of the double boiler and turn the heat on low to medium. The water will heat up and the steam will cause the butter to melt slowly. Keep the heat low. Do not allow the butter to come to a boil. The THC in cannabis is fat soluble, not water soluble. This means that it is necessary to heat the cannabis in butter or oil to capture the THC for use in baking. If you do not eat dairy and do not want to use butter, then you could use some non-dairy margarine or coconut oil instead. Wrap the marijuana in cheese cloth. While the butter is melting, you can prepare the marijuana. Place a piece of cheese cloth on a clean surface and fold it in half twice. This will help to ensure that no marijuana escapes the cheese cloth. Then place your marijuana on the center of the cheese cloth. Fold over the shorter edges of the cheese cloth first. Then fold over one of the long edges and roll the marijuana towards the other edge, as if you are rolling a burrito. Use the cooking twine to tie up the burrito. Make sure that you wrap the string around the burrito evenly and secure it well or it might fall apart. Place the marijuana tea bag into the melted butter. Put your marijuana tea bag into the melted butter. You may need to bend it slightly to make it fit into the bowl. You can also use a metal spoon to push it down into the butter a little further. Add 1 cup of hot water to the butter. Adding water will help to cover all of the marijuana with liquid and it will also help the marijuana to release its THC. Pour one cup of hot water into the bowl with the butter and marijuana tea bag. Remember that the THC in marijuana is fat soluble, not water soluble. That means that water alone will not extract much of the THC from your marijuana. The water will just help to heat the marijuana so that the THC can be absorbed by the fat in the butter. Cover and steep the marijuana. Next, cover the bowl with a heat proof lid and let the marijuana steep in the butter and water for four to six hours. Keep in mind that the longer you steep the marijuana in the butter, the more potent the cannabutter will be. If you do not want the cannabutter to have too much THC in it, then you might want to stop steeping it at around three to four hours. However, if you want it to be strong, then let it steep for a full six hours. Remove the marijuana from the butter. When the marijuana is done steeping, the butter will have a green tinge to it. Remove the bowl from the double boiler using oven mitts to protect your hands from the heat. Then, remove the marijuana teabag from the butter with a slotted metal spoon and set it aside. You may also want to use a second metal spoon to press the marijuana tea bag and squeeze out any excess liquid from the teabag back into the bowl. Let the butter cool. You can leave the marijuana butter in the bowl to cool or transfer it to a different container if you prefer. Let the bowl and marijuana butter cool down to room temperature slowly and then transfer the bowl to the refrigerator. You can leave the butter in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. If you transfer the liquid to a foil pan, then you can easily drain away the water after it cools. Drain away the water. After the butter has cooled down to room temperature, it will be back in a solid form. The butter will also have risen to the top of the bowl and the water you added will be at the bottom of the bowl. Pour out the water and keep the butter. You can use a strainer or just punch a hole in the bottom of your foil pan if you transferred the butter. The butter is now ready to use to make chocolate chip cookies or as a one to one substitute for regular butter in your favorite cookie recipe. For example, if the recipe calls for ½ cup of butter, then replace the butter with ½ cup of cannabutter. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Measure out your 1 and 1/3 cup of flour, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda and add them to a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk or a fork to mix the ingredients together. Then, set the dry mix aside. Cream together the cannabutter and sugar. Measure out ½ cup of cannabutter, 2/3 cup of packed brown sugar, and 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Use a hand mixer to cream together the cannabutter and sugars until they are fluffy. Make sure that the cannabutter is at room temperature before you start mixing the cannabutter and sugar. Add the vanilla and egg. Next, add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and the egg to the cannabutter and sugar mixture. Use the hand mixer to combine all of the ingredients together until they create a uniform mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips. Measure out 1 and 1/3 cups of chocolate chips and stir them into the liquid ingredients. Use a spoon or spatula to do this. Make sure that the chocolate chips are evenly distributed in the mixture. Mix in the flour. To complete the dough, you will need to sift in the dry ingredients that you prepared. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda to the wet ingredients. As you add the dry ingredients, use a spatula or spoon to mix the dry and wet ingredients together until a dough forms. Scoop the dough onto the cookie sheet. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray it with some non-stick cooking spray. Space out the dough balls evenly on the cookie sheet. For large cookies, scoop ¼ cup of dough at a time onto the cookie sheet. If you want smaller cookies, then try adding one tablespoon at a time onto the cookie sheet. Bake the cookies. For small cookies, bake your cookies at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. If you want your cookies to be chewier, then cook them for around 10 minutes. If you want them to be crunchier, then cook them for around 12 minutes. For larger cookies, bake the cookies at 325 degrees for 18 to 25 minutes. Closer to 18 minutes will result in a chewier cookies, while closer to 25 minutes will result in a crunchier cookie.

Gather your ingredients. Set up a double-boiler to melt the butter. Melt the butter in the bowl of the double boiler. Wrap the marijuana in cheese cloth. Place the marijuana tea bag into the melted butter. Add 1 cup of hot water to the butter. Cover and steep the marijuana. Remove the marijuana from the butter. Let the butter cool. Drain away the water. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Cream together the cannabutter and sugar. Add the vanilla and egg. Stir in the chocolate chips. Mix in the flour. Scoop the dough onto the cookie sheet. Bake the cookies.

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How to Discover More About Who You Are and Be Confident

To discover more about who you are and be confident, try replacing your negative self-talk with positive statements. For example, if you catch yourself thinking, "I'm so stupid" or "I could never do that," replace the thought with something more encouraging, like "Everyone makes mistakes, I'm only human" or "I can accomplish that if I put my mind to it." Additionally, try making a list of all your positive attributes, interests, and anything you're proud of to help you be more in touch with yourself. You should also take a look at the relationships in your life and consider distancing yourself from anyone who puts you down since they'll make it hard for you to develop more confidence.

Recognize the negative messages you've been told. Or the beliefs you have about yourself and when you tell yourself these messages the most. Is it around others? When you're alone? Going out? Speaking in front of people? When you feel insecure about the way you look? Etc. This is important to know because once you know where your irrational beliefs are coming from it will be easier for you to tackle them and get on track to finding yourself and build confidence. Build Up Your Confidence. Once you have recognized the messages you've been believing or telling yourself, its then that you can change them. You can start by analyzing them.It's okay if you can't get to the root of it right away. It takes time. Don't give up! Spend some time, read stories of others with the same struggles as you,listen to songs a lot of times songs will analyze struggles and might even offer advice,Try to get a therapist/counselor but pay attention to whether they understand you or not. Be Kind To Yourself. If you catch yourself saying "I'm so stupid" or "I'm a failure" all the time. Recognize it and start changing it. You don't have to go from saying I'm so stupid to I'm so smart. Stay neutral at first then when you're ready,go for the positive. Try saying positive statements to yourself, like, "I am a positive force in the world!" Try Not To Spend a lot of Time Alone or Silent. For some people their negative thoughts come out mostly when they're alone. So try to talk to people, like your mom, friends, brother, sister, cousins, grandma, grandpa. Just to get your mind not thinking of negative things. Try doing hobbies, taking your dog for a walk, joining a club , do sports. Get The Thoughts That Everyone is Judging You Out of Your Mind. This sometimes affects a persons confidence and drags them away from themselves. Know that judgments are quick predictions and are usually wrong. Create a List of Who You Are. This might take you a while and that's perfectly fine. Include what you like,the hobbies you like,music,your personality traits,what you're proud of, anything related to you. Maybe creating a collage would be more fun than a list! Know That People Like to See a Unique Positive Person. If you're a little meaner than some people, they might find that funny. If you think you're nicer, people will definitely notice this. You might even inspire others to be nice! Start Saying Positive Affirmations To Yourself. Tell yourself how great you are. Examples: When I believe in myself, so do others, I am my own unique self - special, creative and wonderful. Stay Away From Triggering People or Objects. It important to see and stay away from triggering things. Or talk to a person that might be a hazard to you. Stand Up For Yourself. To stand up for yourself, you don't have to be mean,yell or fight with others. You can be nice but still not let people walk all over you. If you don't stand up for yourself or don't do it in the right way this can affect your confidence. Find Inspirational People. This is effective if you want to find who you are. Go searching on YouTube for interviews of famous people whom you like. They might share interesting stories. Taylor Swift is a great one! Also find people that are comfortable in their own skin. Young Leonardo DiCaprio is someone who is comfortable in his own skin. Lastly, Know That You Are NOT Alone. A lot of people put themselves down and into a dark place by thinking they're all alone and no one is experiencing the same thing they are. The truth is, There's billions of people on this Earth! You are not alone. It will help you to know that whatever you do or however you feel you are not alone.

Recognize the negative messages you've been told. Build Up Your Confidence. Be Kind To Yourself. Try Not To Spend a lot of Time Alone or Silent. Get The Thoughts That Everyone is Judging You Out of Your Mind. Create a List of Who You Are. Know That People Like to See a Unique Positive Person. Start Saying Positive Affirmations To Yourself. Stay Away From Triggering People or Objects. Stand Up For Yourself. Find Inspirational People. Lastly, Know That You Are NOT Alone.

https://www.wikihow.com/Act-Cold

How to Act Cold

To come off as being cold, speak in an even, cool tone and avoid showing too much emotion in your speech. Then, try not to talk about yourself, since cold people rarely share details about their personal life. Additionally, avoid asking too many questions to give the impression that you don't really care about the person you're talking to. You can also keep a serious expression on your face and maintain a stiff, upright posture to communicate coldness through your body language.

Don't smile often. Having a smile on your face looks inviting and warm, drawing people to you. It's more difficult to read someone's face when it has a serious expression. If you want to be cold, you should smile very rarely. You want people to look at you and wonder what you're thinking. Be generally expressionless and hard to read. When you do smile, keep it contained - don't break into a wide open grin. Keep your smile small and mysterious. Flash it every once in a while to keep people guessing what's going on in that head of yours. Straight men might benefit more from smiling less, as studies show that smiling men are less attractive to women. Master the icy glare. When someone crosses you, look them straight in the eye and crinkle your brow as if you are confused and perturbed by their behavior. Purse your lips ever so slightly to show your cool disdain. Lift your chin a little and look down past your nose. Don't let yourself look outright angry or upset. You want your expression to stay controlled, distant and cold as ice. Use cool body language. Mastering the art of body language is key when it comes to being cold. Maintain an air of mystery and control by avoiding speaking when you can use a more subtle technique to communicate. Have excellent posture ; stand up straighter than those around you. Don't be fidgety with your hands and feet. Don't play with your hair. When someone says something that annoys you, be expressionless and turn slightly away. Stop making eye contact. Shake hands lightly instead of hugging. Stiffen slightly when someone touches you. Speak in an even tone. When you do speak, don't let your voice rise and fall dramatically. Keep a cool, calm, even tone, even if you're feeling wildly happy or angry inside. Don't lose yourself in laughter or tears; keep it together and try not to convey too much emotion. Be aloof and detached whenever you're talking to someone. Don't talk about yourself. Keep some distance from those around you by not saying too much about your thoughts, feelings, habits and personal life. People who are cold don't tend to share in this way. Say only what you need to say, and avoid telling stories or jokes that might reveal too much. Don't ask a lot of questions. Asking other people questions implies that you care about them, and if your goal is to be cold, you want to have the opposite effect. You can exchange a few polite pleasantries, but avoid expressing too much interest. Make it seem like you're preoccupied with your own brilliant thoughts and ideas to discuss the trivialities of other people's lives. Never repeat yourself. If someone does not hear you the first time it's their own fault. You shouldn't have to repeat anything to anyone. Be willing to hurt someone's feelings. When you don't smile, ask people questions, or express any positive emotions, people's feelings are almost guaranteed to get hurt. That's the price you'll have to pay for being cold. Resist the urge to apologize or comfort people when you realize they're offended or upset. If someone comes to you and asks why you were rude, gaze at him or her coolly and say you're not sure what they're talking about. If someone expresses sadness or anger, say "I'm sorry you were offended," then turn around and go about your day. Using this non-apology is sure to show the other person that you are quite cold. Beware giving too many people the cold shoulder. Studies show that people who ostracize others may feel as sad as the person being ostracized. Be fiercely competitive. Work hard to be the best at everything you do, even if it means you aren't demonstrating good teamwork skills. Be ready with the smartest, quickest answers in your classes. Be relentless on the playing field during soccer practice. Excel at your job, even if others might look less capable as a consequence. Be extremely practical and realistic. When other people are excited about a big tournament coming up, mention it's just a game, and really a waste of people's time. Don't express excitement over holidays and birthdays. Don't bother helping. So the lady down the street drops all her groceries? Cross the street and look away, or walk right by her. If the first thing you think when someone asks you for help is, "Darn, why do I have to help?" Don't help. Don't second guess yourself, and don't let guilt affect your behavior. As a cold person, empathy and compassion aren't your forte. Be negative. For cold people, the glass is always half empty. Imagine you are walking on the sidewalk when a car rushes by and sprays dirty rainwater on you. What do you say? Not "Darn, my favorite shirt" or "Why me?" No, the correct answer is 'C': glare murderously and say "I hope you crash and die." Be critical of those around you. Don't give out compliments. If someone asks you if you like what they're wearing, avert your eyes and change the subject. Be careful who you trust. Behaving coldly toward people is going to make you some enemies. As a consequence, there will be very few people you can trust. The only people you can really trust will be those who understand that you're not cold at heart. Be cold in public. It's usually pretty safe to be cold in a public setting. You might cause a few strangers to feel miffed, but that can be a good thing - especially if the strangers were trying to hit on you or get something from you. Being cold in public probably won't hurt your reputation or cause any long-term harm. That said, if you see someone in need of real help, lose your cold demeanor and lend a hand. Think about what you'd want someone to do for you in the same situation. Be cold when it helps you excel. There are times when being cold can help you win an argument, close a business deal, or score the winning point. There's nothing wrong with having a tough, cold attitude when it comes to getting ahead - unless you're taking it so far that you do real damage to another person. It's important to think through the consequences of your attitude and actions. Don't be cold to your family and friends.The people who take care of you and are warm to you deserve the same in return. Being cold to family and friends will only make you feel isolated. After years of being treated coldly, it's likely that no one but your parents will still want to give you the time of day. Beware getting a reputation for being cold. Being cold can have its benefits, but in the end, those who are generous , warm and charming attract the most friends. Since having good friends leads to lifelong happiness, you might want to consider cultivating these personality traits once you've experienced what it's like to be cold. Don't worry, you can still flash your icy side when the situation calls for it.

Don't smile often. Master the icy glare. Use cool body language. Speak in an even tone. Don't talk about yourself. Don't ask a lot of questions. Never repeat yourself. Be willing to hurt someone's feelings. Be fiercely competitive. Be extremely practical and realistic. Don't bother helping. Be negative. Be careful who you trust. Be cold in public. Be cold when it helps you excel. Don't be cold to your family and friends.The people who take care of you and are warm to you deserve the same in return. Beware getting a reputation for being cold.

https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Your-Dog-to-Drop-It

How to Teach Your Dog to Drop It

To teach your dog to “drop it,” start by holding a dog toy in one hand and a small treat in the other. Then, hold the toy in front of your dog, and wait for it to grab it with its mouth. After it takes the toy, say, “Drop it,” and offer it the treat so it lets go of the toy. Once your dog drops the toy and eats the treat, repeat the process. Move slightly further away each time you do the trick so your dog learns to respond to the command even when you're not close to it. You should also practice using the command in a variety of places and scenarios, which will help your dog learn how to respond in different environments.

Pick a quiet room that’s free from distractions. You'll want your dog to fully focus on its training, but loud noises and people walking around can be really distracting. Choose a room in your home where your dog can't see other people and doesn't have any other distractions. Make sure that no one else comes into the room while you're training so your dog doesn't get overexcited. For example, a bedroom, hallway, or basement works great for training. Find a low-value toy that your dog will let go of. Avoid choosing your dog's favorite toy right away since it will act more protective. Instead choose another toy that your dog likes to chew on but doesn't play with as frequently. Try using something like a plastic chewie or a rope toy when you first start training. The toy you choose will vary depending on what your dog likes to play with. Get a variety of high-value treats for your dog. Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement, so rewarding them with a treat while you're training will help them learn the command. You can use packaged dog treats or pieces of chicken and cheese as a reward. Try to have about 20–30 pieces for each training session to keep your dog interested. Your dog may respond better to a higher-value toy as a reward. Try using a rawhide bone or its favorite toy instead of a treat. You may also try using your dog's kibble as a reward well if you're worried about giving your dog too many treats. Attach your dog to a leash so you have better control of it. Get a 6 ft (1.8 m) leash and secure the end to your dog's collar. Hold onto the leash throughout your entire training session so your dog doesn't walk away or get distracted while you're trying to teach it. Offer your dog its toy to chew on. Have your dog sit in front of you so it's calm and ready to train. Hold the toy out in front of your dog's mouth. Wait until your dog gently takes the toy from your hand. Let the dog chew on the toy for a little while so it feels comfortable. If your dog doesn't take or chew on the toy you chose, you may need to switch to something your dog likes more, like a tennis ball or bone. Don't let your dog snap at the toy. Only give the toy when your dog takes it from you gently. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose. Keep the treat in your pocket or behind your back at first so your dog isn't drawn to it. Once your dog starts chewing on the toy, take out one of the treats and hold it in your fist. Put your fist right in front of your dog's snout so it can smell the treat. Try to keep the rest of the treats hidden from your dog so it doesn't get distracted while you're training. Say a “drop it” command as your dog lets go of the toy. Choose a command that you'll consistently use through training, such as “drop it,” “release,” or “give.” Once your dog smells the treat, it should drop its toy so it can eat. Right as the toy falls out of your dog's mouth, say the command in a firm voice so your dog learns it. If you want to use a clicker for training, click it as soon as your dog drops the toy. If your dog doesn't let go of the toy, then try switching to a higher-value treat that's more enticing and flavorful. Make sure everyone in your household uses the same command while you're training, or else your dog will get confused and won't listen as well. Give your dog the treat and pick up the toy at the same time. Open your hand and let your dog eat the treat so it learns that it gets a reward when it lets go of something. As your dog takes the treat, use your other hand to pick up the toy to make sure your dog doesn't get protective of it again. Try throwing the treat on the floor nearby so you have time to pick up the toy without your dog going after it at the same time. Praise your dog to help reinforce good behavior. While you're giving your dog the treat, say something like “yes” or “good dog” in an excited voice so it knows it's done something good. Look your dog in the eyes and pet it a lot to help make training a more positive experience. Never yell at or punish your dog if it doesn't listen since it will become more fearful and won't learn proper behavior. Work with your dog in 5–10 minutes sessions up to 3 times daily. Give the toy back to your dog so you can continue your training session. Make your dog drop the toy 10–12 times before taking a break. Space your training sessions throughout the day so your dog develops a better understanding of the command. If your dog doesn't seem interested in training, wait until it's more calm or hungry. Give the treat after your dog releases the toy once it responds consistently. Say the command, but keep the treat in your pocket or behind your back. If your dog still drops the toy, then hold the treat in front of its mouth and praise it for listening and behaving. This way, your dog will associate getting the treat as a reward rather than being lured by it. Try changing the toy you train with when your dog drops things on command. Your dog will get used to giving up the first toy you use, so switch to something your dog likes more, such as a bone, rawhide, or a tennis ball. Continue training the same way you have been and reward your dog. Keep cycling through your dog's toys until you can get it to drop the one it likes the most. You may need to use a higher-value treat to entice your dog to give up toys that it likes more. Practice in a more distracting area if your dog listens well in a quiet space. Try practicing the command in a room that's a little louder or outside so your dog gets used to training with other noises. Keep your dog on its leash and continue training in more populated areas so your dog will listen no matter where you take it. If your dog doesn't listen, take it back to a quieter place and keep training it there. Wean your dog off treats when it listens 90–95% of the time. When you're training and giving the command, only present a treat every third or fourth time they listen. Keep reducing the frequency of how often you give your dog treats until it responds without one. Give the toy back to your dog right away instead of the treat so it still gets positive reinforcement. You can also stop using a clicker at this point if you've been training with one.

Pick a quiet room that’s free from distractions. Find a low-value toy that your dog will let go of. Get a variety of high-value treats for your dog. Attach your dog to a leash so you have better control of it. Offer your dog its toy to chew on. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose. Say a “drop it” command as your dog lets go of the toy. Give your dog the treat and pick up the toy at the same time. Praise your dog to help reinforce good behavior. Work with your dog in 5–10 minutes sessions up to 3 times daily. Give the treat after your dog releases the toy once it responds consistently. Try changing the toy you train with when your dog drops things on command. Practice in a more distracting area if your dog listens well in a quiet space. Wean your dog off treats when it listens 90–95% of the time.

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How to Make a Fishing Rod in Minecraft

To make a fishing rod in Minecraft, gather your resources by chopping 2 blocks of wood and killing spiders to get 2 balls of string. Build a crafting table if you haven't already, then place it on the ground, right-click it, and place a stack of 4 planks on it. Cut the planks in half, click the stick icon twice, and place the sticks diagonally across the table. Select the string in your inventory and place it in the empty boxes on the far-right of your crafting grid. Click the fishing pole icon and click the inventory to save it.

Open Minecraft PE. This app resembles a tuft of grass atop a block of dirt. Tap Play. It's in the middle of the screen. Minecraft PE will place your phone or tablet in landscape mode, meaning you'll need to hold it horizontally rather than vertically. Tap an existing world. This will load your last-saved position in the world. You can also tap Create New near the top of this page and then tap Generate Random at the top of the following page to customize a new world's settings. You'll tap Play on the left side of the screen to launch this world. Gather the resources needed to build a fishing rod. To build a fishing rod, you will first need to build a crafting table. The total list of resources needed is as follows: Two blocks of wood - Chop two blocks from any tree trunk. You'll use these to create wooden planks, which you'll then use to make the crafting table and the sticks for the rod. Two balls of string - Kill spiders. Spiders can typically be found in the shade or in caves, though they actively come out at night. If you choose to fight spiders at night, make sure you have a safe place to which you can retreat. Open your inventory. To do so, tap... in the bottom-right corner of the hotbar that's at the bottom of the screen. Tap the "Crafting" tab. It's the multicolored box icon on the left side of the screen, just above the tab in the bottom-left corner. Tap the plank icon, then tap 4 x twice. You'll see a wooden box icon on the left side of the page; this is the wooden plank icon. Tapping the 4 x button on the right side of the screen will create four wooden planks from one block of wood. All told, you should now have eight planks. Tap the crafting table icon. It's the icon in the left side of the page that resembles the icon on the tab you're currently using. Tap 1 x. Doing so will create a crafting table and add it to your inventory. Tap the stick icon. It's in the left-hand window. Tap 4 x. You should now have four sticks in your inventory; you only need three to create a fishing rod. Tap X. It's in the top-left corner of the screen. Doing so will exit your inventory. If you don't see the crafting table listed in the hotbar at the bottom of the screen, first tap the inventory tab in the bottom-left corner of the screen, then tap the crafting table icon to place it in your hotbar. Tap the crafting table icon. It should be in your hotbar. Tap a space in front of you. Doing so will place the crafting table on the ground here. Tap the crafting table. This will open the crafting table interface, from which you can select and create your fishing rod. Tap the fishing rod icon. It resembles a stick with string looped in front of it; you'll see this icon near the middle of the crafting table window. Tap 1 x. This button is on the right-hand side of the screen. Doing so will create your fishing pole and add it to your hotbar if there's room; otherwise, the fishing pole will be added to your inventory. Open Minecraft. It's a brown app with a green tuft of grass atop it. Select a game to load. Make sure that the game you load is in Survival, not Creative. You can also create a new game if need be. Make sure you're in Survival mode if you do so. Gather the resources needed to build a fishing rod. To build a fishing rod, you will first need to build a crafting table. The total list of resources needed is as follows: Two blocks of wood - Chop two blocks from any tree trunk. You'll use these to create wooden planks, which you'll then use to make the crafting table and the sticks for the rod. Two balls of string - Kill spiders. Spiders, which drop string, can typically be found in the shade or in caves, though they actively come out at night. If you choose to fight spiders at night, make sure you have a safe place to which you can retreat. Press E. This will open your inventory and quick-crafting area. If you've changed the default key bindings, you can press Esc , click Options , and then click Controls to review your computer's Minecraft controls. Locate the quick-crafting area. It's the two-by-two grid of squares in the top-right corner of the Inventory window. Click a wood block, then click the crafting area. You should have a stack of two blocks of wood with which to do so. If you chopped your two blocks of wood from two different types of trees, you'll have to turn these blocks into planks separately of one another. Click the stack of four planks. This icon will appear to the right of the quick crafting area once you drop the wood blocks in. Right-click each square in the crafting area. Doing so will place each of your four planks in each box of the crafting area. On Mac, you'll use two fingers to click if you're using your computer's track pad. Click the crafting table icon. It's to the right of the crafting area. Click your hotbar. It's the row of boxes at the bottom of the screen. This will place your crafting table in your hand. You may have to scroll up or down with your mouse to select the table. Press E again. This will close your inventory. Select the crafting table, then right-click the ground. Doing so will place it on the ground in front of you. Right-click the crafting table. This will open the crafting window. Place a stack of four planks in the crafting table. Simply click the stack of planks and then click any box in the bottom or middle row of the crafting table's interface to do so. Right-click your stack of planks, then click a box above it. This will halve your stack of planks and place the second half above the first, which will allow you to craft sticks. Click twice the stick icon. It's on the right side of the crafting area. You should now have sticks on your cursor. Place your sticks to create the rod. To do this, you'll right-click the bottom-left box in the crafting area, the middle box, and the top-right box. You should have a diagonal line of sticks after doing so. Place the remaining sticks in your inventory, then click the string. Doing so will select the string. Place the string to create the fishing line. To do this, you'll right-click the two empty boxes on the far-right side of the crafting grid. Click the fishing pole icon. It's to the right of the crafting area. Doing this will craft your fishing pole and place it on your cursor. Click your inventory to save the fishing pole. You can also click your hotbar to have it as an equippable item. Open Minecraft on your Xbox or PlayStation. Select Play and press A (Xbox) or X (PS). Doing so will take you to Minecraft's main menu. Select a saved game and press A or X. This game must be in Survival mode. You can also create a new world in the tab to the right of the current one. Select Load and press A or X. Doing this will load your game. If you're creating a new world, instead select Create New World. Gather the resources needed to build a fishing rod. To build a fishing rod, you will first need to build a crafting table. The total list of resources needed is as follows: Two blocks of wood - Chop two blocks from any tree trunk. You'll use these to create wooden planks, which you'll then use to make the crafting table and the sticks for the rod. Two balls of string - Kill spiders. Spiders, which drop string, can typically be found in the shade or in caves, though they actively come out at night. If you choose to fight spiders at night, make sure you have a safe place to which you can retreat. Press X or the square button. Doing this will open the crafting menu. Press A or X twice. Since the crafting menu will automatically load to the wooden plank option, doing this will craft eight wooden planks in total. Select the stick icon and press A or X once. The stick icon is one item right of the plank icon. Doing this will create four sticks, of which you need three for the fishing rod. Scroll over to the crafting table icon and press A or X. It's three spaces over from the stick icon. You should now have a crafting table in your hotbar. Press B or the circle button. Doing so will exit the crafting menu. Select your crafting table, then press the left trigger. You can select the crafting table by using your controller's shoulder buttons (the buttons above the triggers). Your crafting table should now be on the ground in front of you. If your crafting table ends up in the inventory and not in your hotbar, first press Y or the triangle button, select the crafting table and press A or X , and move it to your hotbar. Place the cursor over the crafting table and press the left trigger. Doing so will open the crafting table interface. Press the right shoulder button once. This will take you to the "Tools and Weapons" tab of the crafting table. Scroll right to select the fishing pole. It's six spaces to the right of the space on which you start when you open this tab. Press A or X. Doing so will craft your fishing pole and place it in your hotbar if there's room for it. If there isn't room, your fishing pole will be placed in your inventory.

Open Minecraft PE. Tap Play. Tap an existing world. Gather the resources needed to build a fishing rod. Open your inventory. Tap the "Crafting" tab. Tap the plank icon, then tap 4 x twice. Tap the crafting table icon. Tap 1 x. Tap the stick icon. Tap 4 x. Tap X. Tap the crafting table icon. Tap a space in front of you. Tap the crafting table. Tap the fishing rod icon. Tap 1 x. Open Minecraft. Select a game to load. Gather the resources needed to build a fishing rod. Press E. Locate the quick-crafting area. Click a wood block, then click the crafting area. Click the stack of four planks. Right-click each square in the crafting area. Click the crafting table icon. Click your hotbar. Press E again. Select the crafting table, then right-click the ground. Right-click the crafting table. Place a stack of four planks in the crafting table. Right-click your stack of planks, then click a box above it. Click twice the stick icon. Place your sticks to create the rod. Place the remaining sticks in your inventory, then click the string. Place the string to create the fishing line. Click the fishing pole icon. Click your inventory to save the fishing pole. Open Minecraft on your Xbox or PlayStation. Select Play and press A (Xbox) or X (PS). Select a saved game and press A or X. Select Load and press A or X. Gather the resources needed to build a fishing rod. Press X or the square button. Press A or X twice. Select the stick icon and press A or X once. Scroll over to the crafting table icon and press A or X. Press B or the circle button. Select your crafting table, then press the left trigger. Place the cursor over the crafting table and press the left trigger. Press the right shoulder button once. Scroll right to select the fishing pole. Press A or X.

https://www.wikihow.life/Remove-Latex-Paint-from-Clothes

How to Remove Latex Paint from Clothes

To remove latex paint from clothes, start by dampening the stained fabric with some warm water. Then, pour a liberal amount of rubbing or isopropyl alcohol over the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. While you wait, rub the fabric against itself to help break up the paint. You can also scrub the stain with a scrub brush or an old toothbrush. After a few minutes, rinse out the stain with warm water and machine wash it by itself on a hot water setting.

Dampen the fabric with warm water. Moisten a clean rag with some warm water. Using your rag, you can dab the stained fabric to get it a little bit wet. Pour rubbing alcohol over the stain. Although there are many ways of removing latex paint, by far the most effective solution is rubbing alcohol. Open a bottle of rubbing or isopropyl alcohol. Pour a liberal amount of alcohol over the stain. If you have a clean garden sprayer, you can put the rubbing alcohol in it and then spray the stain. If the paint has been on there for a while, let the alcohol soak for a few minutes to break it up. Rub the fabric against itself. Once the stained fabric has been thoroughly doused with alcohol, you can rub the fabric against itself to begin removing the stain. Simply rub one part of the fabric against another part of it. If needed, you can apply more isopropyl alcohol at this stage. Unless you're working with a delicate fabric, it should stand up to some vigorous scrubbing. Use a laundry brush to scrub the stain out. Depending on the size of the latex paint stain, you can use a laundry brush or even a toothbrush. Brush the isopropyl alcohol into the stain to remove the paint. If you prefer, you can use a pumice stone instead of a brush. Rinse out the stain with warm water. Run some warm water over a clean rag. Wipe off the paint and the rubbing alcohol. At this stage, you may prefer to simply run water over the stained fabric in your laundry sink. Put the stained clothing item in the washing machine. After removing the latex paint stain, you should put the clothing item in the washing machine. Follow the directions for laundering the item, as directed on the clothing label. By laundering the item, you will remove any remaining latex paint and alcohol from the fabric. Launder stained clothing in hot water. You should wash the stained item on its own, since you don't want the latex to get on other clothing items. Flush the latex paint stain with warm water. Place the stained part of the fabric under a tap with running warm water. Try to get out as much of the latex paint as you can, especially if the stain is fresh. Test the fabric to make sure it is color-safe. Pour some liquid dish detergent onto the inseam of the piece of clothing you want to clean. Rub the detergent into the inseam and see if any color comes out. If nothing comes out, you know the fabric is color-safe and you can proceed with using dish detergent to remove the stain. If the fabric is not color-safe, you'll need to take the item to a professional dry cleaner. Prepare a detergent solution with one-part detergent and one-part water. Because dishwashing detergents are made to break up oils, they can help to dissolve latex paint. Mix one-part dishwashing detergent with one-part water. Moisten a sponge with the detergent solution and apply it to the fabric. Allow it to soak in for three minutes. Then, use a clean cloth or fabric brush to scrub out the stain. Work up a lather with a sponge. Using your sponge, rub away at the stain until you get a nice lather. Continue to scrub the stain until the paint is no longer visible. You can reapply the detergent mixture and try again, if necessary. If you can't get rid of the paint using detergent, you'll need to use rubbing alcohol. Rinse and launder the clothing item. Run warm water over the stain until all of the soap and the paint are gone. Finally, throw the item in the washing machine. To launder the item, follow the directions listed on the clothing label. You should launder the stained clothing separate from your regular washing load. Spray a small stain with hairspray. Lay your clothes on a flat surface. Douse the small stain with hairspray. Leave it for a few minutes so the alcohol can break up the paint, and then come back and do a bit of scrubbing with a fabric brush. When you're finished, launder the clothing as you normally would, and finish with a run through the dryer. Scrub the stain with gel hand sanitizer. Squirt some hand sanitizer onto the small stain. Then, you can scrub the stain with a toothbrush to get the latex off your clothes! Since hand sanitizer contains rubbing alcohol and is portable, this is a quick and efficient way of addressing paint stains when they happen. Scrub the stain with paint thinner. Pour half a cup of paint thinner into a yogurt container. Saturate a clean rag in the container. Use the rag to scrub off the latex paint. When the rag gets dirty, you can squeeze out the excess liquid into a separate yogurt container. Continue scrubbing until all of the paint is gone. If the stain is very bad, you can pour the paint thinner directly onto the fabric. Keep in mind that paint thinner may damage more delicate clothing. Use a specialty cleaning product to remove difficult stains. There are certain cleaners, like “goo-gone” or “goof off,” which are made to get rid of the sticky materials. If you have a specialty cleaning product, you should use it in a well-ventilated area, since the smell is often quite strong. Apply the specialty cleaning product and let it soak in the stain for two minutes. You can scrub off the stain with a pumice stone or other scrubbing implement. Finally, rinse and launder the item. If necessary, you can repeat the process. Use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to remove a small stain. If you are cleaning a small stain, you can use cotton balls with rubbing alcohol. Place a cotton ball on top of a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Turn the bottle upside down to soak the ball. Then, you can use the cotton ball to scrub off a small stain. Apply lavender oil to small latex stains. Although relatively expensive in comparison to rubbing alcohol, you can use lavender oil to get rid of small latex stains. Put between five and seven drops of lavender on the stain. Wait for the lavender to work its magic, which should take around half an hour. At this stage, you can scrub off the stain with spoon. Scrape off excess paint with a butter knife. Although a knife could easily damage thinner and more delicate fabrics, you can use a butter knife to scrape latex off denim and thicker fabrics. Put the clothing on a sturdy work surface, such as an ironing board. Pointing the knife away from you, apply pressure to the fabric and scrape off the blobs of latex paint. Apply duct tape to the stained fabric. As long as the paint is dry, you can use duct tape to remove excess latex paint. Cut a piece of duct tape. Place it over the latex paint and press it firmly against the fabric. Finally, pull off the duct tape to remove bits of latex paint! Use a disposable razor to remove latex stains from thicker fabrics. Although a disposable razor will damage cotton, silk, and other sensitive fabrics, you can use it to remove latex stains from wool and denim. Place the clothing on a sturdy surface, such as an ironing board. Use the razor to scrape the latex paint off the fabric. It is best to use an old or dull razor, since a new one could damage your clothing. Try scratching the paint off with an emery board. If you're working with a thick fabric and a small amount of paint, you may be able to scratch or rub it off with the aid of a basic emery board or fine grit sandpaper. Carefully scrub at the paint, using your nail to scratch out any ingrained paint. Finish with a wash and dry cycle. Be gentle as your scrub, otherwise you may accidentally scratch a hole into the fabric along with removing the paint.

Dampen the fabric with warm water. Pour rubbing alcohol over the stain. Rub the fabric against itself. Use a laundry brush to scrub the stain out. Rinse out the stain with warm water. Put the stained clothing item in the washing machine. Flush the latex paint stain with warm water. Test the fabric to make sure it is color-safe. Prepare a detergent solution with one-part detergent and one-part water. Moisten a sponge with the detergent solution and apply it to the fabric. Work up a lather with a sponge. Rinse and launder the clothing item. Spray a small stain with hairspray. Scrub the stain with gel hand sanitizer. Scrub the stain with paint thinner. Use a specialty cleaning product to remove difficult stains. Use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to remove a small stain. Apply lavender oil to small latex stains. Scrape off excess paint with a butter knife. Apply duct tape to the stained fabric. Use a disposable razor to remove latex stains from thicker fabrics. Try scratching the paint off with an emery board.

https://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Flowers-Wholesale

How to Buy Flowers Wholesale

To buy flowers wholesale, do an online search for a wholesale market or online distributor that sells to the public. If you're a florist, designer, wedding planner, or caterer, you can purchase flowers from any wholesaler. Visit a wholesale market and bring cash to pay for your purchases. Or, select your flowers from a wholesale website and pay using a credit card or PayPal.

Look for a wholesale market open to the public. Many wholesale flower markets are open to the public, meaning you don't have to be a florist to shop there. Do an online search for “wholesale flower market open to public” and your zip code to find a location near you. There's likely one in the closest big city. These markets have many retailers selling a wide variety of blooms. They are usually located in warehouses or other large buildings. Search for an online wholesale distributor that sells to the public. Some wholesale distributors allow you to browse through their flower selection online. You can then select and pay for the flowers you want and they will be shipped right to your door! Some wholesale markets even have websites that do this as well. Check the florist department of a bulk store if you’re a member. Some stores that sell items in bulk, like Sam's Club or Costco, have floral departments. You may be able to find cheap, beautiful blooms from the floral department of a bulk retailer near you. Also, check the websites of such stores to see if you can order the blooms, seeds, bulbs, or other items you may need online. Many of these stores require that you become a member in order to shop at their store or on their website. An annual membership may cost between $50-$100. Shop from any wholesaler if you’re a florist or designer. Some wholesale markets, sites, and suppliers only sell to other people in the business. If you're a florist, caterer, designer, or wedding planner, you're in luck! Simply provide the name of the business you work for and any other pertinent information when asked by the wholesale distributor. Arrive early to markets find the best flowers. Find out what hours the market is open, which varies by day of the week. In some cases, the market may open as early as 2 am! Other markets may open by 5, 6, or even 8 am. If you have a specific type of flower in mind, or need a lot of stock, aim to arrive when the market opens. Florists and designers often arrive when the market opens and may buy all of the available stock of a certain type of flower, leaving late-comers disappointed. Look for flowers that are in season if you visit a market. You may be able to find some flowers, like roses and tulips, regardless of what time of year it is. Other flowers, like peonies, are only available in certain months and may be more expensive due to their rarity. Find out what flowers will be in season before deciding what you want from the market so you get the best deals. Choose any kind of flowers if you shop online. One of the major benefits about using an online retailer is that you often have a wider variety of flowers to choose from. You may be able to get flowers that are in season in climates other than your own since the flowers will be shipped straight to you from the supplier. Select your flowers from the photos provided on websites. If you're ordering flowers online rather than picking them out in person, you'll have to choose them based on the photos or descriptions provided on the site. Be sure to review the refund policy of the wholesaler and find out what they will do if the flowers you receive are damaged, dead, or otherwise not as expected. Compare the prices between several wholesalers. One of the main reasons to buy flowers wholesale is due to the lower prices. However, just because a seller describes themselves as a “wholesaler” doesn't mean you're getting a good deal. Compare the prices of several wholesalers to find one that has both high-quality and low-cost flowers. Similarly, shop around a flower market before making your purchases. Some retailers or stalls will have better prices than others. Bring cash to wholesale markets. Some retailers do not accept credit cards. Others may charge you a fee for using a credit card. Either way, it's best to bring cash. Keep in mind that even though you'll be getting a good deal from a wholesale market, flowers are very expensive. Figure out what you plan to buy beforehand and bring enough cash to cover all your purchases. Pay using a credit card or PayPal for online purchases. If you find an online wholesale distributor, you won't be able to pay with cash. You'll need to provide your credit card or PayPal information to complete your purchase. Make sure the site is secure before entering your information! A secure site has an icon of a lock or the word “Secure” on the left-hand side of the address bar, or a URL that begins with “https.”

Look for a wholesale market open to the public. Search for an online wholesale distributor that sells to the public. Check the florist department of a bulk store if you’re a member. Shop from any wholesaler if you’re a florist or designer. Arrive early to markets find the best flowers. Look for flowers that are in season if you visit a market. Choose any kind of flowers if you shop online. Select your flowers from the photos provided on websites. Compare the prices between several wholesalers. Bring cash to wholesale markets. Pay using a credit card or PayPal for online purchases.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Middle-School-Crush-to-Like-You

How to Get a Middle School Crush to Like You

You'll have the best chance of getting your middle school crush to like you if you act confidently and make an effort to get to know them. Take every opportunity to talk to your crush in class, when you pass them in the corridor, or after school. Ask them about themselves and joke around a bit to get to know them better. Try to be yourself instead of acting how you think they want you to act so you'll come across as genuine. Be nice, compliment them, and make eye contact to casually flirt with them. If they respond well to you, bite the bullet and ask them to hang out alone!

Be yourself. Act the same way you do when your around your friends, don't act differently around them than the way you act around your crush. If you do, he or she will think you're being a fake. Be realistic. Realize that you cannot make a person like you. You can be persuasive and encourage a person by being charming, friendly and happy in their presence but you cannot force their interest to focus solely on you. As such, it's important to be realistic and accept that he or she may want to be "just friends" or won't even want that. However, that doesn't mean that you don't try. It means that you learn to read the signs and respect the decision they make, as hard as it may be if it doesn't go in your favor. Look good. Dress nicely and neatly. Show your flair by wearing things that represent your style. Stay comfortable. There is no point in looking good if you're suffering. Jeans that are so skinny you can barely walk will elicit giggles in sports class, not awe-inspiring looks. Spend some time around your crush. Do you both like the same things? Perhaps you play the same sport or do the same activity during lunch hour or after school? Make the most of things you both connect on. Help your crush. Has your crush been having some troubles in a subject you're just ace at? Hop in and offer some advice, and some tutoring help. What a great way to get closer! Loan things or share things with your crush. Show him or her your generous side by offering things when in need, such as a forgotten pencil or lunch, or a listen to your newly downloaded hit song. Make conversation. Talk about stuff that he or she wants to talk about. Talk about stuff that you would like to talk about. Ask your crush some fun questions, such as "when is your birthday?", "What is your favorite color?". Little by little you'll get to know her or him. Be nice and be kind at all times. There is no need to be rude or to show bad manners. Flirt a little. Act the same but with a little bit of flirting and feeling this time. When he or she makes a joke, laugh genuinely. When you see her or him in the hallway, make eye contact and perhaps offer a wink. When you both are staring at each other, don't worry if either of you blushes a little––that just shows you that you're both attracted to each other. Compliment your crush. Don't offer too many compliments, just enough to make it clear that you don't mind noticing the good things about her or him. Break the touch barrier. Whenever you are sitting by him or her, angle your toes where he or she is sitting, then bump against your crush gently. Gently brush away a hair from his or her shoulder or even face. Gently hold her or his arm briefly. Be a little touchy-feely without overdoing it. Invite your crush somewhere in a group. Invite her or him to your house for a party or ask him or her to dance with you at a class party. Keep your friends around and your crush's friends around at first, to keep it light. Work up the courage to ask your crush out. When you have the impression that he or she is interested in you, ask him or her for a date. That is, if he or she hasn't already asked you.

Be yourself. Be realistic. Look good. Spend some time around your crush. Help your crush. Loan things or share things with your crush. Make conversation. Be nice and be kind at all times. Flirt a little. Compliment your crush. Break the touch barrier. Invite your crush somewhere in a group. Work up the courage to ask your crush out.

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Nicotine-Stains

How to Clean Nicotine Stains

Cleaning nicotine stains can be a pain, but if you use the right ingredients, you'll have the best chance of getting rid of them. For walls, plastic, and other hard surfaces, make your own cleaner by mixing 1 cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water. Wipe your surface with the mixture, leave it to soak for a few minutes, then wipe the stain with a rough sponge and soapy water. You can also use the same cleaner for glass, but you might also need a razor blade and window cleaner to scrape the stain off. For carpets and fabric, mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 1 cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Let the mixture soak into your carpet, then buff it with a sponge and warm water.

Spray the stain with a gentle degreaser. In order to fight off the gummy, sticky stains, you'll need something that cuts grease. You can use store-bought products like Goo-Gone, Dr. Bronner's, or Simple Green, or you can make your own. For strong stains, use 1 cup vinegar mixed with 4 cups water. Let the vinegar solution sit on the stain for a few minutes before wiping. You can add 1-2 tablespoons of ammonia for even more powerful cleaning. For smaller, gentler stains, mix 3 tablespoons baking soda with 1 cup water. Test your cleaning supplies in an unseen area before using on wood, enamel, or paint. These surfaces are much more prone to staining and warping if you're not careful. Some cleaners can strip away sealants, coatings, and paints if you're not careful. Always read the label for suggested surfaces to clean with. When in doubt, dab a bit of cleaning solution on a small area and check back 10 minutes later. If it is not stained or warped, you should be good to go. Some cleaners to consider include: Murphy's Oil Soap Dr. Bronner's Barkeep's Friend Warm water and 1-2 tablespoons trisodium phosphate Use an abrasive sponge or brush to remove the stain. Depending on the stain you can use different abrasives to remove the stain, from gentle sponges on walls to blades on glass and hard plastic. Don't dig into the stain. Simply work at the edges, trying to lift it from the surface, to prevent scratching. For walls, use the rough side of a sponge, or another gentle scrubber. For unpainted metal, a toothbrush or other hearty brush will work wonders. For painted metal, you need to use a gentle towel or microfiber cloth. Use the sharp side of a razor blade to scrape away the gummy residue from glass and plastic. With the blade at a roughly 45-degree angle to the surface, scrape away the loosened nicotine residue. Wipe clean with soap and water. If you're working on glass, use a glass cleaner like Windex to remove the last little bits of residue and wipe the surface clean. Otherwise, a few drops of dish soap and warm water should be fine. For serious stains, repeat the process, letting your degreaser soak into the stain for an extra 5-6 minutes. Know that long developing stains may not come off at all. If the same stain has been building up for years, leading to a yellow, brownish tint to your items, they may never return to their original color. You can make improvements with gentle scrubbing and cleaning, but it may be time to repaint the walls or get newer objects if you can't fight off the yellow tinge. Spray your carpet with a gentle vinegar cleaner before cleaning. Adding 2 tbsp of vinegar per every cup of warm water, put the mix in a spray bottle and spot spray the areas of carpet. The vinegar will break down the resin a bit, allowing the carpet cleaner to do it's job and suck up the rest of the nicotine stain. You can then use a sponge and, moving in a gentle circular motion, use warm water to lift the stain up. The only way to completely clean your carpet is to use a carpet cleaner, which you can rent at most hardware stores. Soak white clothes overnight with a denture cleaning tablet before washing normally. This will bleach your clothes slightly, so do not do this with colored clothing. Fill a small bucket with hot water and 3-4 denture cleaning tablets and let your shirt soak overnight. Immediately wash it the next morning, then air-dry to see if the stain is removed. Soak colored clothes overnight with powdered detergent before washing normally. While bleaching agents are the easiest way to get rid of stains in clothing, they aren't an option with your colored fabrics. Use a bath of warm water and powdered detergent to loosen the stain overnight, then wash in the morning. Air dry to see if the stain is removed, as driers will set the stain in. Use rubbing alcohol to remove small spots and difficult stains on fabric. Test this first, putting a bit of alcohol on an inconspicuous spot to see if the color fades. If it doesn't this is a great way to get rid of tough stains. Simply use a sponge to blot at the stains with rubbing alcohol, dabbing and wiping up the stain before putting the fabric in the washing machine. This is best done right after soaking the clothes. Wring them out and search for any extra stains to fight. Use 91% isopropyl over 70% whenever possible, as it is stronger and will clean faster. Try scrubbing your fingers with lemon juice once a day. The acidity of the lemon juice will help lift the stain over time, usually after a week of persistent cleaning. To do so, cut a lemon and lightly scrub your hands with a slice. Once the stained parts of your nails and fingers are covered, use a pumice stone of loofah to gently scrub your hands. Over a week or so, you should see significant lightening. For significant stains, try a cleaning "bath:" Mix the juice of 1/2 a lemon in a bowl with hot water. Crush up and stir in 2-3 tablets of aspirin, which contains an acid that can remove nicotine stains. Soak your hands in the aspirin/lemon solution for 15 minutes, once a day. Use potatoes to remove stains from skin. There is an enzyme in raw potato that helps slough away stains. To use it, cut the potato in half, then gently massage the cut side into the stain for 10-15 minutes. After a few treatments, you should see your stains lightening. Brush your teeth regularly, especially after smoking. The best way to fight nicotine stains on your teeth is to be proactive. After smoking or chewing, get to work on your teeth with a toothbrush and some fluoride toothpaste. Toothpaste is also an effective stain remover for your skin as well. You can use it around your lips, scrubbing in lightly with a warm washcloth, for a gentle alternative to lemon juice. If you smoke at work, bring a travel toothbrush and paste. The sooner you get to work cleaning your mouth after smoking, the better your teeth with be. Brush once a day with baking soda. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that can remove stains over time. Once a day, along with regular brushing, use a little warm water and a sprinkling of baking soda to clean your teeth. Use a soft brush to protect your gums as well. It won't taste good, but it will attack the nicotine stains. Know that these stains take time to remove. Nicotine stains will not disappear from your teeth or skin overnight. They are deep, persistent stains that need constant attention. The best way to decrease them is to decrease the amount you use nicotine, as this allows your cleanings a chance to make a difference.

Spray the stain with a gentle degreaser. Test your cleaning supplies in an unseen area before using on wood, enamel, or paint. Use an abrasive sponge or brush to remove the stain. Wipe clean with soap and water. Know that long developing stains may not come off at all. Spray your carpet with a gentle vinegar cleaner before cleaning. Soak white clothes overnight with a denture cleaning tablet before washing normally. Soak colored clothes overnight with powdered detergent before washing normally. Use rubbing alcohol to remove small spots and difficult stains on fabric. Try scrubbing your fingers with lemon juice once a day. Use potatoes to remove stains from skin. Brush your teeth regularly, especially after smoking. Brush once a day with baking soda. Know that these stains take time to remove.

https://www.wikihow.com/Hang-Lights-from-a-Ceiling

How to Hang Lights from a Ceiling

To install a light fixture in the ceiling, begin by turning off the power. Remove the old fixture, then assemble the mounting strap for the new fixture as per the instructions. Attach the crossbar to the electrical box with a screwdriver. Connect the hot wire to the hot wire and the neutral wire to the neutral wire using wire connectors. Wrap the ground wire clockwise around the ground screw on the crossbar. Then, install the canopy and turn the power back on.

Turn off the circuit breaker that powers the light. Before you do anything else, you need to turn of the circuit breaker. If you aren't sure which breaker turns off the light, turn off the main breaker and use natural light or a headlamp to complete this project. Remove the old fixture, if applicable. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws, or an impact driver with a hex-shaft to remove the nuts, that secure the canopy (the dome-shaped cover) to the ceiling. Then, use a screwdriver to remove the screws that secure the crossbar to the electrical box. Disconnect the wires on the fixture from the wires in the ceiling by removing the wire connectors and untwisting the wires. Carefully lower the old fixture to the floor. Assemble the mounting strap for the new fixture. Follow the instructions that came with the new fixture. Generally, you'll need to line up the crossbar with the back of the canopy and thread the pipe or screws through the canopy. Only ⁄ 4 to ⁄ 2 inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm) of the pipe should extend past the canopy, so adjust the screws or pipe until that much is showing. Tighten the nuts to hold the screws or pipe in place. Attach the crossbar to the electrical box. Ask someone to hold the fixture while you do this. First, make sure all the wires are on 1 side of the crossbar. Then, use a screwdriver to screw the crossbar to the electrical box on the ceiling. It should go across the center of the hole and be screwed in on either side. Connect the like wires to each other. You should connect the “hot” wire in the fixture to the “hot” wire in the ceiling, and the neutral wire in the fixture to the neutral wire in the ceiling. Generally, the hot wire is black or red and the neutral wire is white. Use wire connectors to connect the like wires to each other. Simply twist the exposed parts of the wires together, then screw the connector onto the wires. Wrap the ground wire clockwise around the ground screw. There is a ground screw on the crossbar that you installed, and it can usually be found just to 1 side of the center of the crossbar. Find the ground wire, which is usually green or copper. Wrap the ground wire clockwise around the ground screw to tighten it. Install the canopy. Tuck all of the wires and wire connectors into the electrical box. Then, use a screwdriver or impact driver to secure the canopy to the ceiling. You can adjust the threaded rod or screws, if necessary, to make sure the canopy fits securely. Add the light bulbs and turn the power back on. If necessary, place light bulbs into the sockets of the fixture. Make sure they are rated for the type of fixture you purchased. Then, flip the circuit breaker to turn the power back on. Purchase a swag light and cord kit. Look for a “swag” light, which is one that is hung from the ceiling and plugged into a wall. This means you don't have to do any electrical work! The lamp and cord kit should contain the light and shade, the cord with a plug, and anchors or hooks to install the light. You can find swag lamps and cord kits at home improvement and home decorating stores as well as online. Ensure the cord will reach an outlet. Before you add hooks or anchors, think about where you want the light to go. Determine if the cord is long enough to reach an outlet once you hang the light and run the cord along the ceiling, then down a corner where 2 of your walls meet. If it's not, consider hanging the light somewhere else or adding an extension cord. Running the cord down a corner, rather than the middle of a wall, makes for a more attractive project. Install 2 ceiling hooks or a ceiling hook and an anchor. If the light you plan to hang is heavy, such as more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg), use an anchor rather than a hook to secure it to the ceiling. Situate this anchor or hook where you want the light to hang from and screw it into the ceiling. The other hook should go in the corner of the room in which you plan to run the cord down to the outlet. Hang the light from the hook or anchor. Remove all the packaging and screw the bulb into the socket, if necessary. Secure the lamp shade over the bulb and connect the cord, if applicable. Then, hang the cord from the hook or anchor you installed so the lamp sits at the desired height. Plug the light in, then hide the cords with cord covers if desired. Once you've gotten your light hung up, all that's left to do is plug it in! If you want a cleaner look, consider covering the cord with cord covers. These are plastic tubes that conceal the cords and help them stay in place. Simply slip the cord into the tube through the slit in the back. Then, peel off the adhesive backing and stick the cover to the wall or ceiling.

Turn off the circuit breaker that powers the light. Remove the old fixture, if applicable. Assemble the mounting strap for the new fixture. Attach the crossbar to the electrical box. Connect the like wires to each other. Wrap the ground wire clockwise around the ground screw. Install the canopy. Add the light bulbs and turn the power back on. Purchase a swag light and cord kit. Ensure the cord will reach an outlet. Install 2 ceiling hooks or a ceiling hook and an anchor. Hang the light from the hook or anchor. Plug the light in, then hide the cords with cord covers if desired.

https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Guitar-Capo

How to Use a Guitar Capo

If you want to use a guitar capo, slide it onto the fret where you want it. Place the capo close behind the fret, on the side that's closest to the body of the guitar, and tighten it if it has screws or straps. Depending on which fret you choose, the capo will change the key you're playing in If you hear a buzzing or muted sound while you're playing, the capo is probably too far away from the fret.

Place your capo on the desired fret. If you're using tabs or sheet music, you may also notice that it tells you to barre or capo a particular fret. Slide your capo over the desired fret and close it down. It should hold down all six or twelve strings on your guitar and act the same way your index finger acts when using barre chords. When starting off, it's a good idea to use your capo on the first to third fret, just to get an idea of how it affects your guitar's tone. Keep in mind how the capo will change the key, tone, and notes that you'll be playing. Tighten the capo close behind the fret. Tightening your capo in the middle of a fret can cause tension to be distributed unevenly across the neck. This can result in a buzzing or muted sound when trying to play your guitar. To prevent this from happening, make sure to tighten your capo as close to the edge of the fret on the side that's closest to the body of your guitar. Tighten or loosen the screws on a screw capo. Screw capos are a popular style of capo that allow the musicians to fine-tune the capo's tension. This is especially useful if your guitar's neck is thick or you have a higher than normal action. While screw capos are accurate, they also have the drawback of taking longer to reposition. This may not be good for a live performance where you'll have to change your capo's position quickly from song to song. Apply a trigger capo by squeezing and releasing the handles. Trigger capos are easy to adjust as you play. These capos rely on resistance to hold your strings down and don't require you to loosen screws or adjust straps. The downfall of trigger capos is that you can't adjust the capo's tension. This could result in a buzzing sound if the capo is too loose or could add unnecessary tension on the neck of your guitar and strings if it's too tight. Trigger capos are often used in live performances because of the speed in which you can move it up and down the neck. Pull the strap to tighten the tension on a toggle capo. Toggle capos are small, lightweight capos that are tightened with a strap. Toggle capos are beneficial because of their size and the ability to carry them in your pocket. They are also much cheaper than other capos and can be purchased for under $10. The drawbacks are that toggle capos can break easily and don't always have the most precise tension due to the nature of the strap. Tune your guitar. If your guitar is out of tune, it won't matter where you place the capo because the guitar will still sound bad. While there are different tuning configurations, the standard guitar tuning, from top string to bottom is, E, A, D, G, B, E. If you can't tune your guitar by ear, consider buying an electronic tuner that can help you get your tuning exact. Learn to play open chords on your guitar. Before you start using a capo, make sure that you have the fundamental chord shapes down. Learn how to play the basic open chords like E minor and C before moving onto more complex open chords like D minor and G. If you're already proficient at playing open chord progressions, then having a capo will increase your guitar versatility and you'll be able to make the transition much easier. Search for chord maps online or at a music store if you are having trouble playing a specific chord. Determine the key you're playing in when playing with others. If you are playing in a group, you'll all want to play in the same key so that your music sounds cohesive. There are seven chords for each key, and they correspond with the seven chords in each key scale. The capo position will change the chords you are playing, thus altering the key that you're playing in. Move your capo up and down the neck to change the key that you're comfortable playing in. The progression of chords within a scale takes the pattern of major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, and diminished. Using this pattern, you can see that the chords in the key of C are C major, D minor, E minor, F major, G major, A minor, and B diminished. Use the capo to brighten the tone of the guitar. Using a capo further down on your neck will brighten the tone of your guitar and make it easier to write happy or upbeat music. Other than helping match your vocal registry, use the capo to make your open chords sound happier. Experiment with different positions further down the neck and see what kind of sounds you can create. Transpose your music using a capo. Look online for a transposition chart for guitars with capos. These charts will tell you exactly which chord you're playing depending on where your capo is positioned. Take some existing music you already know how to play and place the capo on a fret. Once you're done with that, correspond which chord shapes you need to use to match the chords you'd normally play without a capo. Understand the music theory behind the capo. When you use a capo, you can use the same open chord shapes or forms, but the chord notes will be different depending on where you placed the capo. Much like a barre chord, the capo holds down all the strings on a particular fret. This means that the same chord shapes that you're used to playing in the open chord position will now emit different tones with the same finger positioning on the guitar's neck. Moving your capo up one fret will move your chord up a half step or half-tone, while moving the capo up on the guitar's neck for two frets will move it up a full step or tone. For example, a C form played with a capo on the first fret has now become a C#. The G chord form played with a capo on the first fret turns into a G#, moving the chord up one half-step. When moving the capo up to the second fret, your C form has now become a D and your G becomes an A, moving your chord up a full step. Determine which type of capo you want. There are a multitude of different capos that you can purchase online or at most music stores. Ask to try different capos at a music store to see which one you like the best. Determine if you'll be using the capo for live performances, or if you're just going to use it at home. If you're just using the capo at home during practice, a screw capo is the most durable and precise capo that you can get. If you're using the capo during live performances, consider using a trigger capo because of how quickly can you adjust it on the neck. Compare prices for capos online. Capos range in price. Determine how much money your willing to spend on this accessory before going over your options. If you're a new guitar player or have never used a capo in the past, you may want to go with a cheaper version, to see if you like using one. If you are a veteran guitar player and know that you enjoy using one, opt to go with a higher-quality capo. The average cost of a guitar capo is anywhere between $4 to $30 depending on the style and quality. Order your capo online or purchase one at a music store. Once you determine the capo that you want, go to an online music store or visit a physical location near you. Visiting the physical location could be beneficial because often they will allow you to test your equipment there. This could be especially valuable if you've never used a capo before. Popular capo brands include Shubb, Neewer, Live for Music, and Jim Dunlop. Popular music stores include Sam Ash, Guitar Center, Truetone Music, and Dream Guitars.

Place your capo on the desired fret. Tighten the capo close behind the fret. Tighten or loosen the screws on a screw capo. Apply a trigger capo by squeezing and releasing the handles. Pull the strap to tighten the tension on a toggle capo. Tune your guitar. Learn to play open chords on your guitar. Determine the key you're playing in when playing with others. Use the capo to brighten the tone of the guitar. Transpose your music using a capo. Understand the music theory behind the capo. Determine which type of capo you want. Compare prices for capos online. Order your capo online or purchase one at a music store.

https://www.wikihow.com/Blanch-Tomatoes

How to Blanch Tomatoes

To blanch tomatoes, first cut the stem out of each tomato with a knife. Score a 1-inch (2 ½-cm) x into the bottom of each tomato. Bring a pot of water to a boil and fill a bowl with cold water and ice. Place the tomatoes in the boiling water and let them cook for 30-60 seconds or until the skin starts to peel back. Then, transfer the tomatoes to the bowl of ice water with a slotted spoon so they stop cooking. Leave them in the ice water for 1 minute, then remove them. Finally, peel the skin off the tomatoes by pulling it starting from where you scored the x.

Wash the tomatoes under cold water. Gently run the tomatoes under cold tap water to remove any dirt or debris before you cook them. Slowly turn each tomato under the tap so that its entire surface is exposed to water. Only use firm tomatoes that are glossy and deep red. Remove any tomatoes that have soft or rotten spots as you clean them. Trim the stems using a small knife. Insert the top 1 centimetre (0.39 in) of your knife into each tomato, with your thumb on the tomato and your remaining four fingers on the dull edge of the blade. Hold the bottom of the tomato with your free hand and cut in a circular direction around the stem. If you're using a stem remover, insert the serrated teeth into the tomato and twist it around until it's as far as it can go. Afterwards, pull the tool directly out to remove the stem. Cut a 1 inch (2.5 cm) "x" into the bottom of each tomato. Hold a small, sharp knife above the tomato and gently drag it along the bottom. Cut the "x" deep enough to pierce the skin without going too much into the flesh. Creating an "x" will allow the heat from the boiling water to enter the tomato and loosen the skin, making it very easy to peel. Each line should be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. a large pot of water. Boil Use a pot large enough to hold all your tomatoes and fill it about 3/4 of the way full. You should have enough water to fully submerge all of your tomatoes. Add 12 tablespoons of salt per 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water and then bring it to a rolling boil, which is when the water doesn't stop boiling when stirred. Salt is not necessary, but it increases the boiling point of water. This helps it come to a more steady boil than unsalted water. Prepare an ice water bath. Fill a large bowl with water and ice. Set this bowl aside for now—it will be used to prevent the tomatoes from cooking too much after you boil them. Extended cooking can cause the tomatoes to get mushy. If you're blanching more than a dozen tomatoes, create another ice water bath. About 1 per dozen should be fine. Submerge the tomatoes in the boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds. Don't submerge more than a dozen tomatoes at a time, as they will become too hard to manage. You'll know the tomato is ready when its skin starts to peel back. Smaller tomatoes might cook as quickly as 30 seconds. The time varies depending on tomato size. Don't cook your tomatoes for too long – this can cause the flesh to get grainy and mushy. Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon 1 at a time. Gently remove each tomato from the water. Hold each tomato over a sink or empty bowl to minimize the amount of boiling water you bring with you. Turn off the element heat before removing the tomatoes. Plunge the tomatoes in the ice water for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Afterwards, remove them using your hands and place them on a cutting board. Use a clean rag to gently dry them off. Turn each tomato around with your hand to make sure its entire surface is exposed to the ice water. Peel away the skin starting from your "x" immediately after drying. If the tomatoes have been cooked and cooled properly, the skin should peel off with little trouble using your hands. Use a sharp knife for tough spots by gently sliding it under the tomato skin and lifting. Work slowly and take care not to cut the tomato flesh. Place your skinned tomatoes onto cookie sheets and put them in the freezer. Check on them after 1 hour—if they're not completely frozen, leave them in for another hour. Gently squeeze each tomato when you check on them—if there are any soft spots, they need more time in the freezer. Transfer your frozen tomatoes into freezer bags. Seal each bag as tightly as possible to minimize the air inside and reduce spoilage. Afterwards, put them back in the freezer for a maximum of 8 months. When using frozen tomatoes, you can remove them one at a time or all at once. Signs of bad tomatoes include mold, discoloration, and a rancid odor.

Wash the tomatoes under cold water. Trim the stems using a small knife. Cut a 1 inch (2.5 cm) "x" into the bottom of each tomato. a large pot of water. Prepare an ice water bath. Submerge the tomatoes in the boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds. Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon 1 at a time. Plunge the tomatoes in the ice water for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Peel away the skin starting from your "x" immediately after drying. Place your skinned tomatoes onto cookie sheets and put them in the freezer. Transfer your frozen tomatoes into freezer bags.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Butter-from-Raw-Milk

How to Make Butter from Raw Milk

To make butter from raw milk, separate the cream from the raw milk, then skim the cream off the top and pour it into a glass jar. Let the cream sit out for 5 to 12 hours so it can ripen. Next, agitate the cream until the butter solids separate, pour off the buttermilk, and wrap the butter solids in cheesecloth. Then, knead the butter, press it firmly into a container, and keep it chilled until you're ready to serve it!

Refrigerate the raw milk for at least 24 hours. Put the raw milk in a wide-mouthed jar with a lid. Let the milk chill in the refrigerator 1 to 2 days before you're ready to make the butter. This will give the cream time to rise to the top of the jar. You can find raw milk at your local health food store, grocery store, or farmer's market. While you can use a regular-mouth jar, it will be harder to skim the cream off of the top. Sterilize a quart (0.9 liter) jar, lid, and ladle. When you're ready to skim the cream from the raw milk, submerge a clean quart (0.9 liter) jar, lid, and small ladle in a pot of of water. Bring the water to a boil and heat the equipment for 10 minutes. Then turn off the burner and remove the equipment. If you prefer, you can run the jar, lid, and ladle through the dishwasher to sterilize them. Use the ladle to skim the cream from the top of the milk. Remove the raw milk from the refrigerator. Slowly dip the sterilized ladle into the cream and spoon it into a glass measuring cup. Continue to skim until you don't see anymore cream at the top of the jar. Raw milk that you get in the winter will yield slightly less cream than raw milk you get in the summer. In general, you'll get between 1 and 2 cups (236 to 473 ml) of cream. Stir in the buttermilk if you want to culture the butter. For slightly tangy, cultured butter, stir 1/2 tablespoon (7 ml) of buttermilk into every 1 cup (240 ml) of cream you skimmed. If you want classic butter, leave out the buttermilk. For example, if you skimmed 2 cups (470 ml) of cream from the top of the milk, stir in 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of buttermilk. Transfer the cream to the jar. Slowly pour the cream into the sterilized quart jar and screw the lid on top. It's fine if the jar is still warm from being sterilized. Pouring the cold cream into the warm jar will help take the chill off of the cream. Leave it to ripen for 5 to 12 hours. Place the jar into an insulated cooler and pour in enough warm water to come halfway up the side of the jar. Leave the cream until it reaches 75 °F (24 °C). Use a thermometer to check the temperature or hold the jar to feel if the cream has warmed up. If you left out the buttermilk, the cream will need to ripen closer to 12 hours while cultured cream will take closer to 5 hours. Chill the jar of cream in an ice bath for 5 to 10 minutes. Fill a bowl half full with ice water and set the jar of cream into it. Leave the jar in the ice bath until the cream feels cold to the touch. Save the bowl of ice water for later. The cream should be between 50 and 60 degrees F (10 and 15 degrees C). Chilling the cream will make it easier to shake or churn into butter. Shake the jar for 5 to 12 minutes. Keep the lid on the jar and vigorously shake the cream until it begins to feel heavy. You should see the butter starting to clump on the sides of the jar. You can also use a stand mixer. Pour the cream into the mixing bowl and use a whisk attachment to beat the cream on low speed. Increase the speed until the butter and buttermilk separate. Lay butter muslin in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. When you're ready to pour off the buttermilk from the butter, place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Lay a piece of butter muslin in the fine mesh strainer. The butter muslin will catch even the smallest pieces of butter. If you can't find butter muslin, fold cheesecloth a few times so it's layered. Pour the butter and buttermilk into the muslin. Open the jar and slowly pour the liquid and solid butter into the fine mesh strainer. The buttermilk will pass through into the bowl and the butter will be collected in the muslin. Use the buttermilk that you pour off for making ricotta cheese or baked goods such as cakes, cookies, and pancakes. Keep the butter in the muslin and wash it in ice water. Gather the ends of the muslin together so the butter stays in the center of the muslin. Keep hold of the ends and lower the butter into the bowl of ice water that you used earlier. Swish the butter back and forth for about 30 seconds. The water will become cloudy as the milk solids are washed off of the butter. Wash the butter in a new batch of ice water. Once the water becomes cloudy, dump it out and replace it with more ice water. Continue to wash the butter until the water becomes cloudy and replace the water. Keep washing the butter until the water remains clear. This will mean that you've washed off all of the milk solids that would make the butter become rancid. Knead the butter with a wooden spoon. Open the butter muslin and put the butter solids into a small bowl. Take a wooden spoon and spread the butter back and forth across the bottom and sides of the bowl to knead it. Drain and knead the butter until there's no more liquid. As you knead the butter, you'll see a little liquid pool in the bottom of the bowl. Tilt this out of the bowl and discard it. Continue to knead until you don't see anymore liquid in the bottom of the bowl. Add flavorings to the butter (optional). If you'd like to make salted butter or add a unique flavor, knead in 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) of salt, herbs, or seasonings. Then taste the butter and add more seasoning as needed. Try mixing in 1 of these seasonings: Chives Orange, lemon, or lime zest Rosemary or thyme Garlic or ginger Parsley Honey Store the butter in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks. Scoop the butter into a small storage container with a lid. Keep the butter in the refrigerator and use it within 3 weeks. You can freeze the butter for 6 to 12 months. If you didn't get all of the milk solids out of the butter, it may last closer to only 1 week.

Refrigerate the raw milk for at least 24 hours. Sterilize a quart (0.9 liter) jar, lid, and ladle. Use the ladle to skim the cream from the top of the milk. Stir in the buttermilk if you want to culture the butter. Transfer the cream to the jar. Leave it to ripen for 5 to 12 hours. Chill the jar of cream in an ice bath for 5 to 10 minutes. Shake the jar for 5 to 12 minutes. Lay butter muslin in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Pour the butter and buttermilk into the muslin. Keep the butter in the muslin and wash it in ice water. Wash the butter in a new batch of ice water. Knead the butter with a wooden spoon. Drain and knead the butter until there's no more liquid. Add flavorings to the butter (optional). Store the butter in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Your-Senior-Dog-Safe-Around-Young-Kids

How to Keep Your Senior Dog Safe Around Young Kids

To keep your senior dog safe around young kids, make sure to supervise them while they're playing to ensure that the kids aren't too rough with your dog. Additionally, talk to the kids about how they can help keep the dog safe and comfortable. For example, say, “Rex is hurting a lot in his joints so he doesn't like to be petted on his legs. He only likes to be petted like this.” You should also encourage them to talk in lower voices and approach your dog slowly, since older dogs tend to be frightened by loud noises and sudden movements.

Take your dog to the vet regularly. Health issues like arthritis and sore teeth can make an older dog short-tempered and less enthused to be around young kids. Taking your dog in for regular check-ups can help alleviate these issues, as well as make you aware of any other, ongoing health problems, like deafness or blindness. Keep the noise level lower. Some older dogs can be easily frightened by loud noises. This is because their hearing has become weaker with age. When playing around older dogs, encourage kids to keep the noise level low and steady. You might say, "Let's use our inside voices around Rex, because loud noises make him nervous." Avoid rapid movements. Additionally, rapid movements may frighten some older dogs. This is because their eyesight is not as strong as it once was. When playing with an older dog, encourage kids to approach slowly and avoid jolting or rapid movements. Make sure the dog has seen them before they reach out to pet. Rather than playing fetch, older dogs may prefer a gentle game of tug-a-war, or some gentle petting. You might say, "Let's stay kind of calm around Rex. He doesn't like it when we jump around." Hug gently. It is quite common for older dogs to experience arthritis or other forms of joint pain. As such, it is important to be gentle with them physically. Encourage kids to use a soft touch. If your dog enjoys hugs, do it gently. Some dogs simply don't enjoy hugs. If your dog growls, yelps, or squirms away you may need to give them some space. Understand that growls are warnings. If your senior dog feels stressed or uncomfortable, they may growl, bark, or snap. Understand that these actions are messages: your dog is trying to communicate their fear or discomfort. When your senior dog acts out like this, understand that you may need to alter their environment in some way. Begin by ensuring that noise and movement levels are steady. Make sure your dog has adequate space and feels comfortable. Give the dog a clear path to leave the room. Make sure that kids never corner the dog or make them feel like they have no way to leave. Ask kids to stand on one side so that the dog feels comfortable and can walk away when they feel ready. Communicate with kids. Before you allow kids to interact with your senior dog, you should explain your dog's needs and set some guidelines. Explain the ways in which the kids can help you to keep them comfortable and safe. You might say, "Two things that really bother Rex are super loud noises and quick movements. What do you think we can do to help him stay comfortable?" Show them how to touch your dog gently. You might say, "Rex has a lot of pain in his joints, so you have to be careful when you touch him. He only likes to be petted like this." You might say,"Keep an eye on how Rex is feeling. If he seems unhappy or angry, or if he growls or yelps, give him some space and come let me know." Don’t leave them unsupervised. Whenever kids are with your senior dog, be sure that at least one adult is around. Even if your senior dog has no history of misbehaving with children, it is best to keep their interactions supervised. Enlist kids to help. One of the best ways to get kids to understand your dog's needs is to ask for their help with special tasks. The more they get involved in improving your dog's quality of life, the greater understanding they will have of their specific needs. Small kids can help make sure your dog's bed is cozy for naptime. Older kids can help you build a ramp for your dog to climb stairs. Be careful not to overdo it. Many dogs have been shown to push themselves through physical pain in order to make their owner (or other friends) happy. When it comes to senior dogs, this can lead to real physical damage. Be sure that kids do not overwork your senior dog. Consider setting a time limit on how long they can play. A good rule of thumb is to limit the play time to 30-45 minutes. This time limit will vary from dog to dog. Ask kids to give the dog space when necessary. Let them know that the dog doesn't like to be bothered when in a bed or crate, and that the dog approach the kids again when ready to play. You might say, “Rex only goes in his crate when he's really sleepy. Let's let him rest for a little while, ok?” Look into their history. Before you bring your senior dog around children, you should have some sense about your dog's experience with children, and whether or not your dog likes kids. The degree to which your dog has been socialized plays a major role in how they act around children. If you have acquired your senior dog late in life, try to find out all you can about their previous owner(s) and how much time, if any, they have spent around children. Speak to the shelter where you acquired your dog. Talk to you vet about any history they may know. If possible, speak directly to a previous owner. Consider their breed. Certain breeds of dogs have more patience with children than others. This is true in senior dogs, as well. Beagles, labs, Newfoundlands, and English bulldogs, for example, are known for being great with kids. Weimaraners, rottweilers, and terriers, on the other hand, are not known for their patience. Take this into consideration when you bring your senior dog around children. Dogs with a lower tolerance for child behavior may become frustrated more easily and act out. Pay attention for signs of stress in your dog. Anytime you bring your senior dog into a new situation, particularly one involving kids, you need to watch out for signs of stress or discomfort. Your senior dog may become frightened, feel threatened, or be in pain. This could cause them to act out or even bite. Prior to acting out or biting, your dog may: Emit a low growl Show their teeth Perk up their ears Lift their tail up, possibly wagging stiffly Yawn, which is a sign of stress Turn their head to one side. Lick their lips

Take your dog to the vet regularly. Keep the noise level lower. Avoid rapid movements. Hug gently. Understand that growls are warnings. Give the dog a clear path to leave the room. Communicate with kids. Don’t leave them unsupervised. Enlist kids to help. Be careful not to overdo it. Ask kids to give the dog space when necessary. Look into their history. Consider their breed. Pay attention for signs of stress in your dog.