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How to Cut Gladiolus | Gladiolus is a striking garden plant known for its tall spikes and elegant florets. It makes an excellent mid-summer bloom and can add a sense of drama to any arrangement. Cutting, vasing, and caring for the stems the right way will ensure that your bouquet stays fresh-looking for much longer.
1. **Harvest gladiolus in the morning when 1 or 2 bottom flowers have opened.** It is best to cut gladiolus at the point when 1 or 2 flowers are already open—the lower ones will open first. This will ensure that the flowers stay fresh longer once they’re in a vase.
It’s always best to cut flowers in the morning when the air is cool and the plant is the most hydrated.
2. **Cut the stalk at an angle, leaving at least 4 leaves on the stem.** Use a sharp blade to slice the stalk at a slanted angle because it will allow the plant to take in more water. Leave at least 4 leaves on the base of the stem so the plant can rebloom next year.
Avoid using scissors or a blunt tool because these will crush the cells in the stem, shortening the cut flower's life span.
3. **Place the cut stems into a container of water immediately after cutting.** Put the freshly cut stems into a bucket of water as soon as you can after you cut them. Fill the container with enough water to cover at least the bottom 3 inches (7.6 cm) of each stem.
You may want to bring a bucket of water into the garden with you to make it easier.
4. **Fill a heavy vase 2/3 of the way full so that each stem is submerged.** Choose a heavy vase that can counter the weight of the stems. If possible, use a taller vase to keep the stems upright—that way, the spikes won’t bend.
Be wary because the cut flower stem is tall and heavy and can tip over a lightweight vase.
A tall cylindrical vase with a weighted bottom is a good option. Make sure the vase isn’t too wide at the top so the stems stay as vertical as possible.
Add weight to the base with gravel or pebbles.
If necessary, add more water to the vase to provide some stability.
5. **Arrange the stems evenly around the vase for stability.** Make sure all the stems aren’t leaning on one side of the vase, especially if it’s a tall one. Disperse some of the weight by leaning each stem around the vase like numbers on a clock.
If you are making a multi-flower arrangement, use those to pad the space between the gladiolus stems so they stay in place.
6. **Place the vase in a cool, non-drafty place away from direct sunlight.** Avoid putting the gladiolus anywhere near an air conditioning unit, fan, heater, stove, or television because wind and heat can dehydrate the florets. And a dehydrated floret can affect the health of the other florets.
For safety's sake, don’t put the vase somewhere it will cause damage if it tips over.
7. **Change the water and recut the stems by 1 inch (2.5 cm) every 2 days.** Cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) off the stems at an angle and change the water every 2 days to keep the spikes and florets looking fresh. Use a sharp blade to slice off each end at an angle about 1 inch (2.5 cm) up the stem.
It’s important to clip them regularly because microbes will grow at the base and block the flow of water up the stem.
If you notice the ends are slimy or dark green after snipping the end, cut it again about 1 inch (2.5 cm) at a time until you see a fresh base.
Cut gladiolus will last anywhere from 6 to 12 days depending on the health of the plant when you cut it and how you take care of it.
8. **Feed your gladiolus with plant food with each water change.** Plant food is made of sugar, an acid, and bleach; the mixture feeds the plants while keeping bacteria or mold from growing. Every time you change the water and snip the ends, stir some plant food into the water. The feed will give the flower more nutrients and keep it healthy for longer.
You can buy cut flower feed at any superstore or grocery store that has a plant nursery.
You can also use half a crushed aspirin pill instead of flower feed.
9. **Deadhead your gladiolus twice a week to improve their appearance.** Inspect the stalks twice a week and pinch off any wilted or scraggly-looking florets. This will not only improve the look of the flowers but it will allow new, healthier blooms to grow.
Wilted florets will appear shriveled and limp or show signs of discoloration (like darkening or browning).
Remove each flower as it begins to wilt—don't wait until the seed head begins to form.
Take care to remove not just the shriveled petals but also the swollen bit at the base of the dead flower (where it connects onto the main flower stem). This is the bit that forms the seed. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-Gladiolus", "language": "en"} |
How to Perform a Water Fast | There is no more grueling type of fast or cleansing diet than a pure water fast. A water fast costs nothing to do, and may be used to lose some weight, focus on your inner spiritual life, and possibly help your body flush out toxins. Short-term calorie restriction may help you live a longer, healthier life if done correctly – but fasting can also be dangerous. Whatever your goal, approach water fasting safely – ease into it, work with an experienced healthcare professional, recognize signs of when to stop, and transition back to food slowly.
1. **Do not fast if you have certain medical conditions.** Some medical conditions can be worsened by fasting and can lead to serious health consequences. Do not do a water fast if you have any of the following, unless specifically approved by your doctor:
Any eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or diabetes
Enzyme deficiency
Late stage kidney or liver disease
Alcoholism
Thyroid dysfunction
AIDS, tuberculosis, or infectious disease
Late stage cancer
Lupus
Vascular disease or poor circulation
Heart disease, including heart failure, arrhythmias (especially atrial fibrillation), history of a heart attack, valve problems, or cardiomyopathy
Alzheimer’s disease or organic brain syndrome
Post-transplant
Paralysis
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Taking medication you cannot stop taking
2. **Select a length of time to do your water fast.** Consider starting with a 1-day water fast. Limit your water fast to 3 days if you’re doing it on your own. Some evidence suggests that just a 1-3 day short-term fast can have health benefits. If you intend to fast longer than that, only do so under medical supervision – such as at a fasting retreat where you’re supervised by a medical professional.
It is probably safer and may offer more health benefits to fast for short times periodically, rather than doing a long fast (over 3 days). Consider doing a water fast for one day out of the week at the most.
3. **Fast during a low-stress time.** Plan your water fast for when you will not be under a lot of stress and when fasting won’t interfere with your daily routine. Whenever possible, avoid working while fasting. Save your fast for a day that you can just rest.
4. **Prepare mentally.** The idea of fasting for multiple days can be daunting. Talk to your doctor, read books on the subject by reputable authors, and converse with others who have fasted. View the fast as an adventure.
5. **Transition into your fast.** Rather than jumping straight in to your water fast, start small. Start to eliminate sugar, processed foods, and caffeine from your diet at least 2-3 days before your fast, and eat mostly fruits and vegetables. Also consider reducing the size of your meals for several weeks leading up to your fast. This can help prepare your body for what’s to come, and make the transition to water mentally easier. Consider using intermittent fasting to lead into your water fast. Such a plan could spread over the course of a month:
Week 1: Don’t eat breakfast
Week 2: Skip both breakfast and lunch
Week 3: Skip breakfast and lunch and decrease your portion for dinner
Week 4: Begin your water fast
6. **Drink 9-13 glasses of water a day.** In general, men should drink around 13 cups of water and other fluids daily (about 3 liters), and women should aim for 9 cups (2.2 liters). You can stick to the daily recommended amount of water during your water fast. Choose the purest water you can, or drink distilled water.
Don’t drink all that water at once! Spread out your water consumption throughout the day. Try setting out three 1-liter jugs every day, so you can see how much water you should drink.
Don’t drink more water than the recommended amount, as this can throw off the balance of salt and minerals in your body and cause health problems.
Drinking enough water while you're fasting is important so you don't get dehydrated.
7. **Combat bouts of hunger.** If you get strong hunger pangs, work through it by drinking 1-2 glasses of water. Then lie down and rest. The craving will usually pass. You can also try distracting yourself by reading or meditating.
8. **Break your fast slowly and gradually.** Break your fast with orange or lemon juice first. Then proceed to add foods to your diet gradually. Eat small amounts about every 2 hours, at first. Proceed in a stepwise process from easily digested foods to foods that are harder to digest. Depending on the length of your fast, you can spread this process out over one day or many days:
Fruit juice
Vegetable juice
Raw fruit and green leafy vegetables
Yogurt
Vegetable soup and cooked vegetables
Cooked grains and beans
Milk, dairy, and eggs
Meat, fish, and poultry
Everything else
9. **Eat a healthy diet regularly.** Fasting won’t help your health much if you return to eating high-fat and high-sugar foods afterwards. Follow a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in bad fats and refined sugar. Exercise for 30 minutes five days a week. Live a healthy lifestyle to improve your health and wellbeing, and let fasting be only a small part of that.
10. **Visit your doctor before water fasting.** If you’re thinking about doing a water fast, consult your healthcare provider. Though fasting may offer health benefits for some people, others should avoid it. Be sure to discuss your medications and medical conditions with your doctor to determine if water fasting is safe for you. They will likely perform a physical exam and possibly do some blood tests.
If you take medication, you will have to discuss with your doctor whether to continue to take your medication while fasting, or if any dose changes need to occur.
11. **Fast under supervision of a trained professional.** It’s best to fast only with a doctor’s supervision and input, especially if you’re fasting over 3 days or have any medical conditions. Find a doctor who is trained in fasting and have them guide you and monitor your condition during the fast. Ask your primary doctor to supervise you or suggest another professional who can.
12. **Avoid dizziness.** After 2-3 days of water fasting you may experience dizziness if you stand up too quickly. Avoid this by getting up slowly and doing some deep breathing before standing. If you do get dizzy, immediately sit or lie down until it passes. You can also try putting your head between your knees.
If you become so dizzy that you lose consciousness, stop fasting and see your doctor.
13. **Differentiate normal from abnormal side effects.** It’s not uncommon to feel some dizziness, a little weakness, nausea, or occasional skipped heartbeats while fasting. However, stop fasting and seek medical attention if you lose consciousness, feel confused, have more heart palpitations than one or two a day, have severe stomach discomfort or headache, or any other symptom that feels alarming to you.
14. **Get plenty of rest during your water fast.** You may experience a drop in stamina and energy during this time. Don't overexert yourself. Maintain healthy sleep patterns. Fasting is all about rest - physical, emotional, sensory and physiological.
If you feel like napping, nap. Read uplifting material. Listen to your body and don’t push yourself physically.
If you feel tired and “out of it,” do not operate a vehicle.
15. **Avoid intense exercise during this time.** Your energy may fluctuate between feeling weak and tired and feeling energetic. Even when you have lots of energy, don’t exert yourself. Instead, try gentle, restorative yoga. Yoga is a calming way of stretching your muscles and getting some light exercise.
Yoga and light stretching may feel good to some people, and be too vigorous for others. Listen to your body and only do what feels comfortable.
Avoid strenuous activities during your fast since they can put a strain on your body when you're not taking in any calories. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Perform-a-Water-Fast", "language": "en"} |
How to Care for a Jack Russell | Jack Russell Terriers are loving and loyal dogs. They can also be high-energy and stubborn. If you own a Jack Russell, you want to make sure you care for it properly. Proper feeding, exercise, and grooming is important for a Jack Russell's physical health. You should also make sure to train your Jack Russell carefully. Jack Russell Terriers can develop behavioral problems without proper training. You also want to take certain safety precautions with a Jack Russell terrier. Be careful around other dogs and pets and watch out for breed-specific health conditions.
1. **Feed your dog a high quality dog food each day.** Jack Russell terriers need to be fed twice a day. You should not free feed a Jack Russell, as they're prone to overeating. In general, Jack Russell terriers need about 1.25 to 1.75 cups of quality dog food each day. Calorie amounts vary between brands of dog food, though, so check the feeding instructions on the food packet so you aren't overfeeding or underfeeding your Jack Russell terrier.
Your dog may need more or less depending on its size, age, and activity level. If your dog appears over or underweight, ask your vet about adjusting its food. Your dog may also need more exercise if it's overweight.
You should divide food into two meals. You can try serving one during the morning and one at night. Feeding a dog once a day will result in your dog being hungry throughout the day.
2. **Exercise your Jack Russell for 30 to 45 minutes each day.** All dogs need exercise, but it's particularly important for a high energy breed like the Jack Russell. Make sure the exercise is vigorous. Brisk walks and intense play sessions are important for your dog's health.
If you walk your Jack Russell, make sure to keep a fast pace. Jack Russell terriers benefit from swift walks.
Play with your dog indoors if you don't have time to walk it every day. Allow the dog to run around inside for at least 30 to 45 minutes each day.
If possible, allow your Jack Russell terrier to run around outside off the leash. Consider fencing in your own yard. If your Jack Russell is calm with other dogs, take it to a dog park to play.
3. **Brush your Jack Russell regularly.** All Jack Russell terriers require regular brushing for optimal health. At least once a week, brush your dog remove loose hairs.
Avoid bathing a Jack Russell. Jack Russell terriers only very rarely need baths. Only bathe your dog if it's very dirty or is coated in something like mud or dirt.
4. **Trim your dog's nails twice a month.** A Jack Russell terrier's nails get long quickly. This can cause discomfort for your dog, and its nails can get caught in something. About twice a month, trim your dog's nails. If you hear the dog's nails clicking on the floor, it's time for a trim.
Use a pair of dog nail clippers to trim your dog's nail. Carefully take your dog's paw and clip the nails one at a time. Praise your dog for staying still throughout the process. If necessary, have another person hold your dog still during the trimming process.
Only cut off the tips of a dog's nails. Strive to make a quick, clean cut as not to prolong the clipping process.
5. **Keep your dog's teeth clean.** Get a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Make sure to brush your dog's teeth at least two to three times a week. This will prevent the build up of bacteria in the mouth.
6. **Start training young, if possible.** Dogs are generally easiest to train when they're younger. This is particularly true for the Jack Russell terrier, as they tend to be a stubborn breed. The sooner you start training, the better. If you got your dog as a puppy, start training it right away.
7. **Train your dog consistently.** Jack Russell terriers thrive on a consistent schedule. As the dogs tend to be stubborn and grow bored easily, consistent training is key to successful training. Strive to have training sessions each day. Due to their high energy and tendency to get bored, it's vital to teach a Jack Russell terrier basic commands like "sit" and "stay" to get to keep them under control.
Make sure you train your dog a little each day. You can start with basic commands and work your way up.
Consistency is vital. Jack Russell terriers are a highly intelligent breed, and will get confused if expectations shift. Make sure your dog knows what behavior is and is not acceptable during training.
8. **Reinforce good behaviors.** Jack Russell terriers, like most dogs, want to please their owners. They're more likely to respond to rewards than punishment. When your Jack Russell behaves correctly during the day, and during training, give it a reward. It will slowly learn which behaviors are and are not acceptable.
Jack Russell terriers will respond to rewards in the form of treats and praise. You can also play with a Jack Russell as a form of a reward, as this will help get in its daily exercise.
Make sure to reward good behaviors right away. Dogs live in the immediate. If you don't reward your dog right away for good behavior, it may not understand why it's being praised.
9. **Have patience.** Expect training to take longer for a Jack Russell than a different breed. Jack Russell terriers are stubborn by nature, and tend to resist training efforts. Things like housebreaking and basic commands may take a long time to master.
It may take six or eight months for a dog to learn to behave, so don't get discouraged. As long as you're being consistent and offering rewards, you're not doing anything wrong in regards to training. The Jack Russell terrier is simply a breed that takes awhile to train.
10. **Watch out for common health problems.** Jack Russell terriers are generally a healthy breed that live a long time. However your dog may be prone to hip problems, deafness, and dislocation of the knee caps. If your dog appears to be sick or in pain, bring it into a vet right away. If you went through a good breeder, your dog is less likely to have these kinds of problems.
11. **Keep your dog entertained.** You need to play with your Jack Russell terrier regularly. Make sure it has a lot of toys to entertain itself. Jack Russell terriers need a lot of mental stimulation to be happy. If they're not entertained, they'll act out by getting into things around the house.
Make sure your dog has toys it likes. If your Jack Russell seems uninterested in its current toys, make a trip to a local pet shop to get it something different.
It's not uncommon for Jack Russell terriers to get destructive around the house if not entertained.
12. **Be careful with other pets.** Not all Jack Russell terriers take well to other animals. They tend to be territorial, and can even kill smaller animals like cats. Introduce a Jack Russell terrier to new pets slowly. Do not bring a Jack Russell terrier to a place like a dog park if you don't know how it takes to other pets.
Jack Russell terriers may be particularly aggressive to dogs of the same sex.
Some Jack Russell terriers do best as only pets. A lot of them are simply aggressive to other pets.
13. **Avoid getting a Jack Russell if you have young children.** Jack Russell terriers may snap or bite if handled improperly. Very young children should be supervised closely around a Jack Russell terrier.
Make sure you teach your children how to interact safely with a Jack Russell terrier. Teach them not to approach the dog when it's eating or sleeping.
14. **Make sure any fences are secure.** Jack Russell terriers are escape artists by nature. If you let your dog have access to a fenced in yard, check your fence carefully. Make sure there are no gaps in the fence, and that it's high enough that your dog cannot jump over it.
Electronic fences are not recommended for Jack Russell terriers. It's easy for a Jack Russell terrier to find its way around an electronic barrier. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Jack-Russell", "language": "en"} |
How to Fake a Fever | You forgot to study for today's exam or prepare for that big presentation, and now you need to fake a fever to get out of it (and fast). Don't worry—it's possible to quickly give yourself a fake fever, and we'll walk you through exactly how to do it. Keep reading to learn how to make your temperature high on a thermometer, give yourself a feverish flush, and play up your "symptoms" so you really seem sick.
1. **Run the thermometer under hot water for a quick fix.** If you're trying to convince someone you have a fever, you may need to fake a thermometer reading. One way to increase the temperature on a thermometer is to use hot water. Place the tip under a tap with warm water, and leave it there until you see the temperature go over 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.1 degrees Celsius).
Notice the term 'quick fix.' This usually only lasts for about 2-3 minutes, maybe 4.
Don't let the thermometer heat past 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius)-you could be busted for lying or get rushed to the hospital unnecessarily! The latter will probably happen if it is still a possible temperature, but if it rises above 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius) you will most certainly be seen as a faker.
2. **Shake a mercury thermometer to increase the reading.** Shaking a mercury thermometer while holding the tip can make the temperature higher. Be careful, though, because if you are too violent, it will reach an impossibly high temperature and you will be busted for lying. Also, don't shake so hard that you shatter the glass.
A mercury thermometer is the type that has a metal tip on 1 end. The rest of the thermometer is glass and has numbers printed on it. The mercury rises in the thermometer to show the temperature.
Hold it by the metal tip when shaking it. Point the rest of the thermometer towards the floor, and shake it back and forth so that the temperature reading increases.
3. **Heat a digital thermometer by rubbing the tip between your fingers.** Hold the thermometer as still as you can with 1 hand. Hold the tip of the thermometer in between your thumb and index finger on the other hand. Rub your thumb and finger together as fast as you can to raise the reading on the thermometer.
A digital thermometer is usually a plastic frame with a metal tip and a digital readout on the other end.
4. **Eat or drink something warm before having your temp taken by mouth.** This works great if you know that someone will be watching you take your temperature. Eat or drink something warm, like soup or tea, just before they take your temperature. Hold a little bit of the food or drink in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. You can wait until someone comes in to watch you to take your temperature, then swallow quickly.
You could even save some of the warm liquid under your tongue to stick the thermometer in during the reading.
Don’t make the drink so hot that you burn your mouth. It should feel comfortable in your mouth, not painful.
In some cases, if you have a trusting parent/guardian, you can read out what the thermometer “says” to them. As long as they don't see it, and it's not too far from your real temp.
5. **Heat your forehead with a hot water bottle or heating pad.** Press a hot water bottle against your forehead for a few minutes to make it feel warm to the touch. Alternatively, use a heating pad on a low setting to warm your forehead, but make sure you put something between your face and the heating pad, such as a towel. You don't want to burn yourself!
When someone comes in to check on you and feels your forehead, it’ll be warm enough that they’ll think you have a fever.
The hot water bottle trick is a classic one when faking a fever, and has been used for decades with great success.
6. **Eat spicy foods** Spicy foods, like jalapeños, chiles, or peppers, can actually increase your body temperature. If you have something like this on hand, eat a little bit to raise your temperature naturally. Don’t overdo it, though—you don’t want to get sick or be in serious pain from eating something too spicy!
If you overdo it and eat something too spicy, drink some milk. This will help mitigate some of that heat.
Another great option to try is a bowl of curry. Try eating that for lunch before faking your symptoms.
7. **Exercise** The simplest thing to do is to cover your head with a blanket for a few minutes. The reflected heat will make you look flushed, as well as increase the temperature of your forehead.
Alternatively, do some exercises, like jumping jacks or jogging in place, to make your face flushed. The added rosiness to your skin will make the fever act more believable.
8. **Press a washcloth to your skin or spritz your face to make yourself sweaty.** Run a washcloth under warm water for a few minutes. Once it's warm, place it over your face, leave it there for a few minutes, then take it off. Alternatively, spritz your face with a fine mist from a spray bottle full of water, instead.
Make sure your face isn’t soaked—you only want the appearance of sweaty, clammy skin.
9. **Say that you’re cold, not hot.** People with a fever often feel cold, even though their skin is warm to the touch. If someone comes to check on you, be sure you’re under the covers or are wearing warm clothes. Tell them you’re cold and think you have a fever. They might tell you to not use so many blankets so you cool down a bit. Tell them you're too cold. They might pull the blanket off of you. When they do, complain about it being too cold.
Add a few subtle shivers in to make your act more convincing. You don't have to shake your entire body; a trembling jaw will go a long way.
10. **Act like you’re tired.** If you want to fake a fever, you can't be bouncing around like you feel good. You need to be dragging your feet and acting like you don't have any energy. For example:
When you're sitting down, lean against your arm, like you can hardly keep your head up.
If you're standing, allow your body to slouch forward. You can even slump to the side and stumble a bit.
Try lowering your gaze so that your eyes are partially closed. This will make them look as if they’re too heavy to fully open.
11. **Pretend that you don’t have an appetite.** Another symptom of a fever is a lack of appetite. If someone asks if they can get you anything, don’t ask for a hamburger and fries! Instead, ask for water, tea, or juice. Save the snacking for when you’re all alone, or ask for something simple, like toast or soup.
If you really want to make an impact, turn down even your most favorite food. This may help people believe that you really are "sick."
12. **Sniffle, sneeze, or cough to fake a cold.** Cold symptoms often go hand in hand with a fever, so you could add a few sniffles, a cough, or sneeze to your act. Scatter some tissues around your bed or room to make it look more believable.
Eating spicy food can also make your nose run!
13. **Fake a headache or stomachache instead of a cold.** If you aren’t confident faking cold symptoms, complain of either a headache or a stomachache instead. Hold the part of your body that you say doesn’t feel good. If you pretend to have a stomachache, go to the bathroom and wait for longer than usual before coming back out.
For instance, you could say, “My tummy really hurts" or "My head feels like it is spinning."
14. **Don’t overdo it.** Your act should be realistic, not dramatic and unbelievable. Add only 1 or 2 symptoms to the “fever” and don’t act as though you are dying from a mystery illness. If you take it too far, the person could either realize you’re faking or believe the act and want to take you to the doctor.
For instance, you don't want to be coughing, saying you need to vomit, and moaning while you roll on the floor. That's a bit too much.
15. **Admit you’re faking if someone confronts you.** If your parent catches you heating up the thermometer or pressing a hot water bottle to your head, admit that you are trying to fake a fever. Though you might be tempted to deny what you’re doing, continuing the act when you’ve already been caught will only get you in more trouble.
For instance, you could say, “You’re right, I was only pretending to be sick.”
16. **Explain why you’re faking sick.** Your parents/guardians are likely going to be very upset that you were taking such extreme measures to stay home from school, practice, or other obligations. Be honest about the reason you don’t want to go, rather than creating more lies. Share your feelings without making excuses.
For example, you could say, “I have a huge history test today and I didn’t study. I was faking sick so that I wouldn’t fail the test.”
17. **Apologize** Now that you’ve come clean, sincerely apologize for trying to trick them. Make it clear that you know what you did is wrong, and agree to be more honest in the future. Recognize that they might find it hard to trust you now that you’ve been caught in a lie.
For example, you could say, "I'm sorry for what I did. I understand that it was wrong, and I promise to never do it again."
18. **Accept the consequences.** Your parent/guardian may punish you if they find out. Rather than arguing or talking back, accept the consequences for lying and avoid doing it again.
Be careful not to get caught. You will have to work hard to earn back their trust by being honest, responsible, and helpful. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Fake-a-Fever", "language": "en"} |
How to Grow Onions in Water | Growing onions in water is a great way to reuse kitchen scraps, not to mention a fun activity that helps kids learn about vegetables. This method offers a front-row seat to plant growth, as you can watch the roots extend into the water and observe the sprout growing out of the onion top. The assembly of this project is super simple; all you need are some onions, a clear glass, and some fresh water. While onions can grow this way for a few weeks on your windowsill, you’ll want to eventually replant the bulbs in soil in order for the vegetable to grow to maturity.
1. **Fill a clear glass or jar with water.** Pour tap or filtered water into your clear jar until it is almost entirely filled with water.
Be sure to use a glass or jar that has a smaller circumference than the onion so that the onion doesn’t fall into the water.
2. **Poke four toothpicks, equally spaced, around the circumference of an onion.** In order for the onion to sit above the water without falling in, you will need to make sure the vegetable is supported. Make sure the toothpicks are placed just slightly below the middle of the onion.
Preferably you’ll want to use an onion that has already sprouted. An onion that has already begun the growth process will have an easier time growing in water.
If you want to forgo the toothpick method, you can fill a clear glass jar nearly to the top with small rocks or pebbles. Then, place the onion on top of the pebbles, and fill the jar with water ensuring that just the roots and base of the onion are covered with liquid.
3. **Set the onion, roots down, on top of the glass with the toothpicks resting on the rim.** The roots and base of the onion should be immersed in water. This way, the roots will be able to drink up water so the onion can grow, while the rest of the onion will be surrounded by air to avoid rotting.
Take time to make sure the toothpicks are properly supporting the onion so it doesn’t fall into the water. At this point, you may need to push the toothpicks in further to be sure the onion doesn’t get wet.
4. **Place the glass and onion onto a windowsill that gets plenty of sunlight.** Onions need a lot of sunlight to grow. You also want to make sure you don't forget about the onion, so find a nice sunny windowsill in a busy part of your home. Now, all that’s left is to wait and watch your onion to grow. Over a week, you will see the roots elongate into the water, and a green sprout will rise from the top.
Regularly change the water before it gets murky or smelly to prevent rotting. To do this, gently lift out the onion, replace the water, and place the onion back onto the top of the jar.
5. **Cut the entire green sprout from the top of the onion to use as an edible garnish.** A beautiful green sprout will begin to emerge from the top of the onion within a few days. The entire sprout is edible and has a deliciously sharp and herbal taste. Take scissors and cut the green sprout from the top of the onion, then cut it into thin strips. Add the cut pieces to soup or salad as a tasty garnish.
6. **Plant the onion in soil when you notice a flower stem emerging from the top.** Growing an onion in water is a really fun way to watch the early steps of vegetable growth. However, the onion cannot grow this way forever. After a few weeks, a flower stem will emerge. At this point, you can either plant the entire onion in soil, or just discard the onion. After the onion has started to flower, it can no longer grow in water and must be potted in soil.
You don't have to wait for a flower stem to emerge if you want to plant your onion sooner. Once you see white roots growing out of the onion, it's ready to plant.
7. **Slice whole green onions where the white stalk meets the green leaf.** Perhaps you already have a pile of cut green onions that you were going to throw away. If so, great! Just use those. If not, grab a fresh bunch of green onions (also known as scallions or spring onions) and carefully use a knife or scissors to make the proper cut.
At this point, you should have a piece of white bulb around the size of an adult's pinky finger. It’s okay if there is a bit of green left as well.
Use the discarded green onion bits as an ingredient. Green onions make an excellent garnish on top of dishes like ramen noodles or tacos. Slice it thinly and sprinkle over your meal to brighten up the dish wish color and flavor.
8. **Place the green onion scraps root down into a clear glass.** Find a glass or jar that is relatively narrow, so that the green onion scraps will be supported and held up vertically. These will be growing on your windowsill for a while, so you may want to use a decorative glass or a vase that will look nice in your kitchen.
You can use a rubber band to tie the bunch together to provide additional support.
One of the best parts about growing kitchen scraps is being able to watch them grow, so be sure to use a clear vessel so you can watch the magic happen.
9. **Add enough water to cover the roots of the green onion stalks.** You want the roots to be completely immersed in water, but pouring water a little higher up will make sure the green onions don’t use up all the water before you have time to refill it.
You can use tap or filtered water for your green onions, just make sure it is clean, fresh water.
10. **Place the glass filled with green onions on a sunny windowsill.** Now, all you need for your green onions to grow is sunlight and time.
Placing the green onions on a windowsill in your kitchen (or somewhere you walk past often) will give them enough light to grow while making sure you don’t forget about them.
11. **Replace the water every 3 to 5 days.** The onions will drink up the water you’ve provided them, so keep a watchful eye on the water level so that they don’t dry out. After a few days, remaining water can get murky or develop a bad smell. If that happens, dump it out and refill your glass with clean water.
12. **Remove the green onions when they have tripled in size.** Within a few days, you will notice that green stalks are sprouting out of the white bulbs. Once they grow to about 8 inches (20 cm) long, remove the stalks from the water.
13. **Cut the green sprigs off the stalk or plant the entire bulb in soil.** The green onions will only grow so tall. Once the green stalk is 8 inches (20 cm) or more, you can either cut off the green stalk and use the green onion as an ingredient, or you can plant the entire thing in soil (roots, white bulb, and green stalk) and continue to watch it grow.
If you cut the green part off the stalk at this point, you can place the bulb back in clean water, and it will regrow. Although this will work once or twice, within a few cycles the plant will stop growing. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Onions-in-Water", "language": "en"} |
How to Hit Harder in Tackle Football | When trying to tackle harder, it comes down to fundamentals. Tackling has very little to do with body weight. If you use your speed properly, perfect your body posture, and explode into your opponent correctly, you’ll be tackling harder in no time.
1. **Get your feet in the right spot.** Your feet should be shoulder width apart and underneath your hips. Your weight should be on your toes, and you should be ready to move.
2. **Squeeze your shoulder blades.** Squeezing your shoulder blades together and down will create tension in the upper back. This will keep your back flat and aligned to help prevent any back injuries.
3. **Load your body weight.** Sink your body down using your leg and core muscles so that your knees are bent and waist is lowered, and you are ready to explode. As you sink your body weight down, be sure to keep the tension in your upper back. You want to be in a 45 degree lean at this point.
Keeping your eyes on your opponents armpit is another good way to keep your back in the right position to prevent injury.
4. **Ready your hands.** Putting your hands in front of you will ensure that you’re ready to move. It helps you focus on what’s in front of you and helps keep your weight forward.
5. **Use leverage.** Having this body posture will only help you hit harder if you’re in the correct positioning when your near your opponent. You want to be right on him, as though you’re stepping on his feet, when you are preparing to tackle him. Take his next step away from him.
6. **Activate your arms.** Use your arms for power by swinging them opposite of your legs. Each time you step with your left leg, your right arm should come through powerfully. Then, your right arm should swing back as your left arm moves forward with your right leg. The motor of your shoulder will help pick your legs up and down. Be aggressive with your arms.
7. **Have high knees.** If you activate your arms, it will help you drive your knees up. When running, your knee should come up to propel you forward, and then your foot should land directly beneath your body. This will help engage your hips and make you run faster toward your opponent. Your hips will roll through like an elastic band if you enact your shoulders and legs in your run.
8. **Run full speed the entire time.** The most common problem among players is that they let up before impact. This slow down makes for less hitting power. You want to cut your last step in half, but keep it as powerful and fast as the previous steps. This half step will allow you to align your body weight over your hips and help you hit harder.
9. **Use your whole body.** Drive your entire body into your opponent. You do this by driving your hips forward through your shoulders for ultimate power. Driving your shoulder through them. This gives you the force to drive your opponent backwards, regardless of their size.
Remember to hit low. This will help knock them out of balance. They will wave you off easily if you go in high. Your shoulder should hit in the number area of your opponent’s jersey.
10. **Wrap around your opponent.** Shoot your hands up and grab your opponent. Make sure not to grab them by only their jersey or you’ll be called for a penalty. Do not stop your feet to wrap your arms around them: it should be one fluid movement. Lock your arms around his body; if you cannot lock your arms, grab as much of his padding as you can.
11. **Create rotation.** This ultimately helps override any of the force that your opponent has. The rotation is what will give you the advantage, even if you’re a smaller person. Use your right or left foot to push off as hard and as fast as you can to create this rotation. If you use your right foot, you’ll drive your opponent in a counter-clockwise motion: if you use your left foot, your opponent will rotate in a clockwise motion. This will create “rise” through the ball carrier.
A stronger lower body will help you take down your opponent with more force. Doing heavy lifts such as squats, deadlifts, thrusters, and hang cleans will increase your lower body strength. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Hit-Harder-in-Tackle-Football", "language": "en"} |
How to Do Things You Have Never Done Before | Life is full of experiences. To make the most of it, you should try doing things that you have never done before. These new things will open you up to more experiences and leave you feeling more fulfilled. Doing new things will come naturally to you if you expand your influences, make some new friends, and take opportunities when they are presented.
1. **Read more books.** Books can open you up to new ways of thinking. A good book will describe people and places that you have likely never seen before. While this isn’t the same as actually visiting a place, it does give you a basic feel for something outside your day to day life. The story will likely inspire you to try something that you had never done before reading it.
Even fictional places and characters are based on real social and cultural themes. You may not be able to physically go to the place in the story, but it will still expand your thinking beyond your day to day routine.
2. **Try different kinds of movies and shows.** Many people enjoy a relaxing evening or weekend in front of the TV. It is common for people to be so habitual about their TV habits that they only watch one or two types of movies or shows. Instead of following this routine, try different shows and movies from different genres. A great way to force yourself to do this is to let someone else pick the show or movie some of the time.
Avoid spending too much time watching TV. It will cut into time that you could be doing other things that you’ve never done.
3. **Study other cultures.** At a basic level, your immediate influences would been your childhood caretakers and parents, and your social circle. If you want to do more things, you have to learn what other things are out there. By studying what people do in cultures outside your own, you open yourself up to new possibilities. There is plenty of information online about other cultures, but the best way to learn is to plan a trip to experience that culture for yourself.
You may not have to plan a long trip to experience another culture. Sometimes, even a trip to a different market or religious institution will give insight into how people in another culture lead their day to day lives.
4. **Learn a new language.** If you want to take your understanding of another culture to a more serious level, learn their language. This will give you a better understanding of the way people in that culture communicate. You can get a tutor or online immersion software to learn many languages.
Many less common languages will not have software created for them. In this case, you will have to have a tutor that is fluent in the language.
Look into learning software like Rosetta Stone or Duolingo.
You can also look into online courses, such as on Udemy.com, where you can find language courses for a low fee.
5. **Do some things by yourself.** When you are alone, you are more approachable to other people. Go to some public places by yourself. Initiate conversations with strangers that are doing things that interest you. Some examples of places to go would be:
Museums
Parks
Movies
Local landmarks
6. **Carpool to work or other group activities.** Carpooling will save you money, which can help you do more things. It will also put you in a situation where you have to interact with a co-worker or other member of your group. This will help you form and nurture a friendship.
7. **Start a community group of some kind.** Traditionally, a community group would be started by someone in the community for other people in that same physical community. With the success of social media and other online platforms, community groups can be created online, too. These groups usually address a community based on common experiences rather than physical location.
You can also become a member of someone else’s community group. Look into groups that interest you, such as hiking, singing, knitting, or anything else you are interested in.
Community groups can be anything from a neighborhood crime watch to a Dungeons and Dragons club.
8. **Volunteer for something you are passionate about.** Volunteering will give you the opportunity to interact with multiple groups of people that you wouldn’t normally be around. You will have the opportunity to make friends in the organization that you volunteer with. You will also get the opportunity to make friends with people that the organization serves. If you choose something you are passionate about, you will look forward to volunteering instead of dreading it. Some examples of volunteer work might be:
Community cleanup projects
Homeless shelters
Animal shelters
Children’s after school programs
9. **Take advantage of your employer’s benefits.** Many employers offer a range of benefits. You should opt in to as many as you can. These benefits usually come at an advantage to you by either saving your money or making you more money in the long run. Increasing your financial stability will give you the opportunity to do more things.
For example, many employers offer things like a childcare flex plan that allows you to set aside money to pay for childcare without that money being taxed. This can save you significantly in the long run.
10. **Apply your skills on the side.** Whether your only skill set comes from your career or you have skills and hobbies that you have never made money from, consider using them. Generating side income, especially from an untapped skill, will give you more financial stability, put you in contact with more people, and allow you to do more things. In fact, just the act of applying your skills outside the workplace might be something you have never done before.
For example, if you work as a graphic design artist, you could take projects on your own that allow you to make all of the design decisions and earn a little extra cash.
Avoid projects or clients that would otherwise go to the business you work for. If your supervisors feel that you are taking clients or jobs from the business, you will likely be fired.
11. **Plan your time off.** Sometimes taking a last minute personal day is necessary. If it isn’t, save that day for a later time. Use your personal days to plan a trip or excursion that you wouldn’t normally have time to do. You will likely meet new people, see new places, and do new things on your trips.
For example, you could save some personal days for December and take a Christmas trip to a ski resort.
12. **Confront your fear.** All people experience some degree of fear when they are doing something new. The fear of the unknown is common in all cultures and personalities. By recognizing this fear in yourself, you give yourself the power to confront it and do something new. If you choose not to recognize it at all, you are more likely to make up excuses for not doing something new because it is uncomfortable.
Force yourself to do something different each day, even if it is something as simple as taking a new route to work.
Take a few moments to journal about something new evening before going to bed. Soon you will have quite a collection!
13. **Be comfortable with finances.** Not all experiences cost money, but having enough money to meet your needs is essential to being comfortable straying from your routine. Look for new things to do that cost little or no money, and save money to afford more expensive experiences.
Low budget experiences might include things like going to a local open mic night. In contrast, you might need to save if you want to go to a big concert that is coming to town in a few months.
14. **Consider each experience a chance to grow.** The fear of trying new experiences is often rooted in the idea that the experience has to turn out “good.” If you view each experience as a chance to learn something new about the world and yourself, you can eliminate the fear that the unknown will be “bad.” Think about what you can learn from an experience that you are considering, whether you like it or not.
For example, if you are going to order new food on the menu, you should think of it as an opportunity to learn more about food options and personal tastes. This way, if you don’t like the food, you won’t consider the experience a failure.
15. **Follow your own desires.** There is an infinite number of experiences to try. If you want to gain the most from doing things that you have never done before, choose experiences that matter to you. Take suggestions from other people, but make the decision to try new things that you are curious about.
For example, say your friends went to Bali and highly recommend you go, but you have always wanted to see Ireland. Take a trip to Ireland first, and then, if the opportunity presents itself, consider taking a trip to Bali.
16. **Ease into new things gradually.** If you are a creature of habit, jumping into something you have never done before can send you into a tailspin. The best way to avoid this is to take small steps and change one thing at a time. Start making a habit of doing new things, and you will be much more comfortable with the idea over time.
Keep in mind that jotting down your new experiences on a daily basis can help with your adjustment.
17. **Make small changes when you talk to people.** If you work with a team, try encouraging them to work harder instead of being harsh. If you are interested in seeing more of a friend or going on a date with someone, tell them upfront instead of playing hard to get. Making small changes in the way you treat the people around you will open you up to new things.
18. **Change the way you travel.** Something as simple as walking to a nearby store instead of driving can change the way you look at your town. Make an effort to walk or ride a bike more often, and try taking new routes to get places when you have extra time. You could also use some of your vacation time as staycation time and explore your own town instead of going somewhere else.
19. **Think ahead.** Instead of reacting to situations immediately, give yourself a few seconds to think about what you want to do or say. Make a plan for your week so you aren’t stressed out, and invite neighbors and friends over in advance for get togethers. Doing some planning ahead will reduce your stress tremendously and open up new doors for you. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Things-You-Have-Never-Done-Before", "language": "en"} |
How to Write in Calligraphy | Calligraphy means “beautiful writing” in Greek and spans thousands of years and countless cultures. There are several styles, including Western, Eastern Asian, Southern Asian, and Islamic. All calligraphy uses the same basic principals to create beautiful lettering. If you want to practice the art of decorative handwriting, all you need to do is follow a few simple steps.
1. **Hold your pen diagonally at a 30 to 60 degree angle.** A calligraphy pen isn’t used quite the same way as a regular pen. The tip, or nib, of the pen should point diagonally away from you, to the left, as you write.
2. **Don’t twist the nib as you write.** The tip of writing tool used to do calligraphy is called a nib. Regardless of the letters you are forming, the orientation of the nib should remain consistent. Whether you’re doing straight lines or loops, the tip of the nib should always point in the same direction.
3. **Lead the nib backwards or sideways across the paper.** The nib should move backwards or sideways from the direction it’s pointing in. Pushing it forward away from your hand leads to blotting and uneven letter formation.
4. **Apply light pressure.** Using too much pressure can make for messy letters or scratches in your paper. Pressing too hard can also damage the nib, so do your best to apply the pen to the paper with a light, consistent pressure. Try not to lean heavily on your hand or forearm, either, which creates stilted lettering.
5. **Keep your lines parallel.** Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines in various letters should be parallel to corresponding lines in other letters. This will make your writing look more consistent and professional.
For instance, try to make the vertical line the letter “d” parallel with the vertical line in the letter “b.”
6. **Trace the alphabet numerous times.** Select and print a sample calligraphy alphabet and cover it with a piece of tracing paper. Try to recreate the strokes of the alphabet letters until you can successfully write the letters on your own.
7. **Use the correct stroke order.** Each letter or symbol will be made up of several different sections which are done in a single movement, called strokes. Practice upward and downward strokes until you can make them consistent. Keep in mind that when writing letters the stroke order is also important, and differs by style, so refer to a calligraphy guide to learn which strokes come first based on the letter.
For instance, in Western calligraphy, write vertical lines first followed by horizontal lines, such as when writing the letter “t.”
In Asian calligraphy, strokes begin at the top of the character and move downward to the to bottom of the character.
For Islamic calligraphy, begin with the largest strokes of the letter and progress to the smallest strokes and dots.
8. **Try the grid method.** Set up a grid to practice with by filling a piece of paper with 1 inch (2.5 cm) squares. Use pencil to make the grid, then fill in each row with repeated versions of whichever letter you wish to practice until your strokes are even and clean-looking.
9. **Use templates to perfect your spacing.** Calligraphy templates will help you master letter formation and keep your spacing consistent. They also keep your letters and words from slanting up or down across the page. Do an Internet search for free guids or templates, or pick up a calligraphy guidebook to practice with.
10. **Practice freehand.** Once you get the hang of how to form calligraphy letters, practice writing notes, messages, or journal entries in calligraphy. Anything you need to write down can be done so in calligraphy to get you used to connecting different letters.
11. **Choose smooth, acid-free, archival paper.** Smooth paper will keep your writing utensil from catching or being redirected by the paper. Look for paper that’s labeled “acid-free” and “archival” to ensure that your image will age well. You will also want to look for paper which is labeled as “sized,” meaning it’s been treated to keep ink from bleeding.
Avoid paper that’s greasy or waxy, which can keep the paper from absorbing the ink.
12. **Get a proper writing utensil** While you can create calligraphy with any writing utensil, there are certain writing instruments which are considered better than others. Which you use, however, will depend upon what type of calligraphy you are doing and what writing utensil feels best to you.
Dip pens are pens which you dip in ink. They consist of a wood, plastic or bone handle and a metal nib (the pointed end which will make contact with the paper). The nib is dipped in the ink and stores it in the well of the nib. These are often used in Islamic calligraphy.
Fountain pens are similar to dip pens but instead draw their ink from a container within the pen. While this ink will occasionally need to be replaced or refilled, it will save you the trouble of constantly needing to dip your pen. Fountain pens are commonly used for Western calligraphy.
Brushes come in a variety of sizes but will usually all be roughly the same shape. These are dipped in ink and use the pressure and direction of the writer’s strokes to form the line variations. Brushes are often used for Asian calligraphy.
13. **Select the best ink for your style.** There are many different types of ink and which one you choose will partially depend on what you are writing with. Inks will also come in a variety of colors but black is the most commonly used color in all styles of calligraphy.
Pot ink is the most common ink used for calligraphy. This ink comes premixed in a small jar and your writing utensil will be dipped into it, such as for Islamic calligraphy. India ink is the most common type of pot ink used in calligraphy.
Fountain pen ink is a special kind of dye-based ink which is used for fountain pens, typically for Western calligraphy. It is important to use only fountain pen ink in these types of pens as other ink types will clog the pen. Fountain pen ink will come in either pre-loaded barrels, which you place in your pen, or pots, in which case you fill the pen yourself.
Ink sticks, which will also require an ink stone, are sticks of ink which must be ground and mixed with water in order to form the ink you will write with. They are an excellent option for calligraphers because they allow you to get many different tones from the same ink, depending on how it is mixed. These are often used in Asian calligraphy.
14. **Use rulers or other guide instruments for consistency.** You may want rulers or T-guides to create guidelines for yourself and ensure that your writing is straight. Or perhaps you wish to write across a curved or circular line and need a reference. Even experts use rulers and other guide instruments to make their writing as beautiful and consistent as possible.
15. **Keep your paper in place with tape or weights.** Use painter’s tape or weights to hold the paper in place while you are writing. This will keep you from skewing or bumping the paper and messing up your letters. You can also use clips or a drawing board. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Write-in-Calligraphy", "language": "en"} |
How to Reduce Boiler Pressure | A boiler refers to a system in a building that heats water into steam to produce hot water or central heat. While it is more likely that you will encounter problems with low pressure, it is not uncommon to run into issues with high pressure as well. More often than not, high pressure in a boiler system is caused by air pockets that get trapped in your pipes over time as various valves open and close. These pockets can be removed by bleeding your radiators, but you’ll want to check your safety valve for cracks or damage before doing this just in case there is a problem with the way your radiator relieves excess pressure. Other problems may be caused by malfunctions in your pressure control boxes, debris in your filtration system, or open valves on your filler loop.
1. **Find the pressure gauge on the front or side of your boiler.** The pressure gauge is a circular object on the front or side of your boiler that tells you the boiler’s overall pressure level. It is usually in highly-visible area, but may be near the ground on the side of your boiler near the return line or release valve. Look for a gauge with a needle and numbers on it to find your pressure gauge.
Your gauge will read pressure in either bars or psi. Psi stands for pressure per square inch, while the bar is a metric unit of pressure (1 bar is roughly 15 psi).
2. **Recognize that the pressure is high if the gauge reads higher than 3 bars or 45 psi.** The pressure limits and ranges are different for each boiler depending on its size and type, but generally speaking, a pressure gauge should read between 1-2 bars or 15-30 psi. The pressure may be lower if it is warm out, or higher if it is cold out. If it nears 3 bar or 45 psi though, your pressure is too high.
Pressure gauges are often color-coded. If the needle is in the green, your pressure is usually fine. Yellow typically means that the pressure is high, but acceptable. Red means that the pressure is too high or low.
3. **Find the safety valve by looking on the top of the boiler.** Look for a brass or metal valve with a cap on top attached to a pipe near the top of your boiler. The safety valve measures pressure in the boiler and releases air to relieve pressure when it gets too high. If your safety valve is broken or working improperly, it could be failing to release pressure.
Don’t touch the safety valve without wearing thick gloves. It may be hot if it was recently releasing pressure.
The safety valve will sometimes be attached to a pipe on the side of the boiler near the top.
4. **Inspect the safety valve for cracks or steady streams of water.** There is an open spout and closed cap on your valve. Take a careful look at the valve without sticking your eye near the open spout. It is normal for there to be a little bit of water on the open spout, but if you see any water coming out of the closed cap or pipe connection, your valve may need to be replaced.
The valve should have no cracks in it. If you see a crack, it is time to replace the safety valve.
Another possible sign that the valve is bad is if there is a constant flow of water coming out the open spout. Some drips or moisture is fine, but a steady, consistent flow is a problem.
Contact a boiler repair specialist to replace the safety valve. This is not a repair that you can do without professional assistance, since an improperly-installed safety valve can cause an explosion.
5. **Turn the heat on and check the heat on your radiators.** If your pressure is high but there is nothing wrong with your safety valve, you may need to bleed your radiators. You can tell if a radiator needs to be bled if the upper portion of a radiator is cold or lukewarm when the bottom portion is running hot.
If there is no heat at all when you turn the radiators on, you could have a larger issue with your pipes.
Bleeding a radiator releases air pockets and bubbles from the radiator lines. Air can increase the pressure in your pipes while simultaneously lowering the amount of heat coming out.
6. **Get your radiator key or buy one from a hardware store.** A radiator key is a small metal tool used specifically to open a bleed valve on a radiator. They are cheap, and usually come with a house or apartment when you move in. You can also use wrench or pliers to open a bleed valve, but a radiator key is specifically designed to open and close the valve without damaging it.
Some valves have a slot on top so that you can use a flathead screwdriver.
Some larger boilers are bled by turning the valve on the boiler itself. For these boilers, the overall process is similar except you’ll open a bleed spout on your boiler instead of the radiator. You’ll need to run a hose to a drainpipe to get rid of the excess water.
7. **Turn off your heat by lowering the thermostat or cutting power to the boiler.** Lower the thermostat so that the heat cuts off and won’t turn back on while you’re bleeding the radiator. If you can’t, flip the power switch on the side of your boiler to shut the power off. You may hear some crackling sounds from your radiators even after you’ve shut it off.
Just to be on the safe side, turn your thermostat down at least 15-20 degrees F (or 2-3 degrees C) below the outdoor temperature.
8. **Put a bucket under the radiator bleed valve and get a cloth.** The bleed valve is the small port on the side of a radiator near the top. Place a bowl or bucket under the valve and get a large, dry cloth. Put on thick gloves before touching your radiator.
It’s pretty easy to see a bleed valve. It will be the only object attached near the top of your radiator.
If you’re bleeding the boiler itself, hook up a hose to the threading on the bleed sprout. This will look like a standard outdoor hose spout, and will be pointing downward near the bottom of your boiler. Some bleed sprouts point directly to a nearby drain.
9. **Open a bleed valve near the top of your radiator with the key.** Use the radiator key or tool to start loosening the bleed valve. Turn it counterclockwise once or twice until you start hearing hissing. This is the air leaving your pipes and a sign that your pipes are clearing! A little bit of water may come out while the air is emptying so keep the cloth nearby while it makes noise to catch or wipe up any water.
It should only be a little bit of water, but that may change after a few seconds. Keep your key attached to the valve so that you can close it quickly.
To open a boiler’s bleed sprout, simply turn the handle 2-3 times counterclockwise.
10. **Close the valve when water starts flowing out.** As soon as the hissing noise turns into the bubbling sound of water flowing, it is a sign that you are almost done. Once your radiator starts to release a steady stream of water, close your valve. Tighten it by turning it clockwise until you can’t turn it any further and the hissing noise has disappeared.
On a boiler, run the water until it runs clear and doesn’t sputter.
11. **Repeat this process on every single radiator in the building.** Bleed your other radiators, even if they aren’t cold or lukewarm. Use your radiator key, bucket, and cloth to bleed every radiator in the building. Each time you bleed a radiator, you’re removing the air pockets in the pipes leading up to that unit. By bleeding every single radiator, you ensure that all air is removed from the boiler system.
12. **Close the valves on the filling loop if they're open.** The filling loop is a thin, U-shaped pipe that connects 2 pipes under or next to your pressure gauge. The filling loop is used to refill your boiler from the water main. If it is left open, it may be feeding a constant supply of water to your boiler, causing the pressure to increase. Make sure that the filling loop’s valves are closed by rotating the tab on top of each connection so that it runs perpendicular to the pipe and stays closed.
If you ever bleed all of the water out of a boiler, you use the filling loop to refill it.
Put your ear next to the filling loop. If you hear water coming through it, it is a sign that it is open.
The filling loops may be soft and pliable like the supply lines under a sink.
13. **Remove debris by draining a little bit of water out of the filter.** Newer boilers come with filters that prevent debris in the pipes from returning to the boiler. Your filter may be filled with bigger pieces of debris that are blocking the flow of water and increasing pressure. Get a large bucket and set it out underneath the spout. Turn the spout to release water and wait for the pressure on your gauge to drop. Once it does, retighten the spout until it is closed.
If the pressure doesn’t drop as you’re emptying the filter, you could have a faulty pressure gauge.
The filter is a larger container attached to a pipe next to the boiler. It is usually plastic and built into a pipe near the pressure filler loop. Older furnaces don’t tend to have filters.
14. **Monitor the pressure control boxes to see if they’re operating normally.** The pressure control boxes are self-contained mechanisms that regulate the pressure on larger boilers automatically. They are usually on the side of a furnace or on a nearby wall and they look like clear thermostats. While your boiler is running, watch your pressure control boxes to make sure that they click on and off as your boiler turns on and off. If more than 1 of them is clicking at a time, contact a boiler repair specialist to diagnose problems with them.
Each box performs a different function. The first 2 boxes control when the boiler automatically cuts on and off. The other 2 automatically regulate pressure increases and decreases. If all 4 of them are clicking at the same time, something is wrong with your system.
Many pressure control boxes have small vials of mercury in them. If you see 2-4 boxes with little tubes filled with a silver liquid, these are your pressure control boxes.
You can’t really do anything about your pressure control boxes without the help of a professional. Some of them are filled with mercury, but even if they aren’t, they’re incredibly complicated parts and require an experienced hand to adjust them.
Look at the top and sides of each box. If there is a small button labeled “reset” you can press it to automatically reset the boxes. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Boiler-Pressure", "language": "en"} |
How to Install a Closet Rod | Putting up a closet rod is an easy project that can improve the organization of your closet immensely. In order to successfully install a closet rod, you first need to get the necessary supplies and tools. Once you have them, you can measure and mark where the rod should go in your closet. Then you will be able to attach the rod so that it remains solidly in its ideal position for years to come.
1. **Measure the width of the closet.** Before you purchase your closet rod, you need to know how long it has to be. Every closet varies, so it's important to measure the width of your specific closet with a tape measure so you can purchase the correct length.
One common mistake when installing closet rods is to cut them too short.
Make sure you measure the width of the closet in the area where the rod will be installed. The width of another area, such as the bottom of the closet, could vary dramatically from the upper part of the closet where the rod will be located.
2. **Consider various types of closet bars and purchase one.** There are a wide variety of closet bars available at most home improvement and hardware stores. In general, you can choose between metal and wood. You will also have the option of getting a solid bar or one that is adjustable.
Many home improvement stores also stock closet bar kits. These kits include all of the parts you will need to put up your bar: the bar, sockets, and anchors.
Whatever type of closet rod you choose, make sure it is the right length. Solid rods can be cut to length, but there are also many adjustable rods that can work in a variety of closets.
3. **Purchase rod sockets.** To install a closet bar you insert the ends of it into sockets that are attached to the wall. These sockets come in a wide variety of styles and are usually made of either metal or wood. If you choose a metal socket, you can typically also choose from several finishes, including silver and white.
Some rod sockets are attached to shelf brackets. These can be used to hold the rod and to put a shelf above the rod area.
4. **Get wood screws and the attachment tools you will need.** In order to put the closet bar up securely, you will need to anchor it appropriately. Many sockets come with screws, but if yours don't, you will need to purchase some separately. You will also need a few tools to attach the clothes bar. These include a drill, a screwdriver, and a saw for adjusting the length of the bar and cutting structural support pieces.
Typically, you will need at least 3 wood screws that are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long for each socket.
5. **Choose an appropriate height for the rod.** In order to make the closet rod truly helpful, put it at a height that makes it accessible and useful. In general, it's a good idea to mount a single rod at 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. A double rod set up should have the bottom rod mounted at 3.5 feet (1.1 m) and the upper rod mounted at 7 feet (2.1 m).
If there is a shelf above the rod, you should make sure the rod is at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) below the shelf.
To figure out how high to put your clothes bar, first think about what you will use it for. For example, if you want to hang long dresses off of a bar, you need to hang it pretty high. If you simply want to hang shirts off of the bar, you can put it at a more moderate height.
6. **Decide how deep you want the bar to be.** It's important to have it back far enough so that the hangers and clothes that are on the bar will clear the door. However, you also need enough room behind the closet rod for the hangers to clear the back wall. In most cases, having the bar 10 inches (25 cm) off of the back wall works well.
To ensure that the rod is positioned correctly, hold a hanger up on the inside of the closet so the hook is at the height you want the rod to go. Position the hanger so it is fully inside the closet and even has a few inches of clearance from the door. Then make a mark at the center of the hanger hook on the wall of the closet. This will give you your proper depth.
If you have a particularly deep closet, you can put your bar even deeper.
7. **Mark both sides of the closet.** Once you have figured out the ideal height and depth for your bar, mark where the brackets will go on both sides of the closet. Measuring up from the floor with a tape measure, make a small preliminary mark at the correct height and approximately the right depth on one side of the closet. Then pull the measuring tape up and check the depth of your mark. Adjust your mark so that it continues to be at the correct height and is now at the right depth as well.
Repeat this process on the other side of the closet as well.
To check your work, measure from the ground, the ceiling, the front, and the back of the closet on both sides. Your marks should be at the same point on both sides.
8. **Check for adequate structural support at your marked positions.** Closet bars need to be able to support a large amount of weight. To make sure they don't fall because of this weight, it is important to screw them into studs in the wall. The easiest way to find studs in a wall is to use a stud finder.
You can also run a strong magnet along the wall to look for screws or nails that are in studs.
If the wall is concrete, use expandable anchors that are rated high enough to hold the closet rod and everything you might want to hang from it.
Look at the top and bottom trim on the wall. They are likely nailed into the studs, so if you can see nail heads, you can identify where the studs are.
9. **Add wood supports to the closet walls if needed.** If the locations you have marked for the bar sockets do not have studs behind them in the wall, you will need to add supports to the wall. This is done by attaching 1 by 5 inches (2.5 cm × 12.7 cm) pieces of wood along the wall that the sockets can then be attached to.
To put up structural support, measure the depth of the side walls of the closet. Cut two pieces of wood that are 1 by 5 inches (2.5 cm × 12.7 cm) to that depth. Then screw them into the studs on the side walls, making sure that their center point is the height you want your clothes bar to be at. These will give you a solid base where you can attach your clothes bar.
10. **Mark for screw holes.** In order to attach the sockets to the wall, first hold them up and mark the screw holes with a pencil. The socket that is a solid circle can be placed in any position, but the one that has an open side cannot. You need to make sure that the open section is facing straight up.
Once you are holding the socket in the proper position on the wall, mark the inside of the screw holes with a pen or pencil. Then you can take the socket off the wall.
11. **Drill pilot holes.** Use a ⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) drill bit to put holes into the surface-mounted wood or the studs where you have made your marks. Drilling pilot holes will help prevent the wood from splitting when you attach the screws.
Before drilling your holes, look at the length of your screws. You only need to drill the holes this deep.
12. **Attach the sockets.** Once the pilot holes are drilled, you can place the sockets on the wall, positioning them one at a time on top of the pilot holes. Then attach them with the screws you purchased.
Make sure that the screws are completely inserted. If the heads stick out at all, it could impact your ability to get the rod into place.
13. **Adjust the length of the rod.** If you have a rod that needs to be cut down, do that now. Double check the length you need and then use a saw to cut the rod. If the rod you bought is adjustable, adjust it to the correct length following the included instructions.
Be sure to double check your measurement before cutting the closet rod. If you accidentally cut the rod too short, it will be useless and you will have to purchase another one.
14. **Insert the rod.** How you insert the rod depends on what type of sockets you have purchased. However, with the most common kind you simply insert one end of the bar into the socket that is a solid circle and then drop the other end of the bar into the opening of the socket that has an open side.
Once the rod is in place, make sure it feels secure by pulling down on it a little. If it feels strong, you can start to hang your clothes up! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Install-a-Closet-Rod", "language": "en"} |
How to Throw a Knuckleball | The knuckleball is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, pitches to throw in baseball. However, it’s also one of the hardest to hit. Knuckleballs will baffle hitters because they move in several directions as they approach the plate. It’s also a safe pitch that will create very little strain on your arm and shoulder muscles and maintain your pitching stamina to do go deeper in games. By learning the different knuckleball grips and practicing with the right drills, you can add this unique and effective pitch to your repertoire.
1. **Try the two-knuckle grip.** Arch your pointer and middle fingers so that the tips are facing down. Grab the ball so that the fingers you put down are right beneath the horseshoe seam on the baseball. Each baseball has four separate horseshoes, so any one will do.
Dig your two fingernails into the middle of the seams behind the horseshoe. Use enough pressure so that the ball is firmly grasped but be careful not chip your fingernail or injury your finger tip.
Stabilize the ball with your thumb and ring finger on opposite sides of the ball.
2. **Try the three-knuckle grip.** Arch your pointer, middle, and ring fingers so that the tips are facing down. Grab the ball so that the fingers you put down are right beneath the horseshoe seam on the baseball.
Dig your three fingernails into the middle of the seams behind the horseshoe. Use enough pressure so that the ball is firmly grasped with injuring your fingertips.
Stabilize the ball with your thumb and pinky finger on opposite sides of the ball.
3. **Try the four-knuckle grip.** Arch your pointer, middle, ring, and pinky fingers so that the tips are facing down. Grab the ball so that the fingers you put down are right beneath the horseshoe seam on the baseball.
Dig your four fingernails into the middle of the seams behind the horseshoe. Use enough pressure so that the ball is firmly grasped with injuring your fingertips.
Keep your thumb off to the side of the ball, slightly underneath it. This is your only stability point so you may need to grip harder to control the ball.
4. **Throw from the fingertips.** Avoid digging your knuckles into the ball. Although the knuckleball was originally thrown with the knuckles pointing into the ball rather than the finger tips, this is not as effective. You're trying to reduce the amount of spin you put on the ball. Grabbing the ball with your knuckles may cause the ball to rotate more than necessary. This can create more spin, less movement, and the pitch will be easier to hit.
5. **Keep a fast arm motion.** Go through your windup normally, with a normal fastball motion until you reach your release point. The knuckleball should look like a fastball until the pitcher reveals the ball right before his release. You don't want to tip your pitches to the batter.
Don't alter your arm slot or anything else. This can reduce the chance your knuckleball will knuckle and end up as a soft lob.
6. **Keep your wrist up as you release the pitch.** This is essential to getting minimal amount of spin. Throwing a fastball, you usually move your wrist down as you release the ball, creating steady spin on the ball and causing it to travel straight, more or less. Throwing a knuckleball, you try to do the opposite, because you don't want spin.
Extend your fingertips out as you release the ball. This will minimize spin.
Try to let your knuckles be the topmost point of your hand as you release. Having your knuckles at the very top of your hand will ensure that less spin is created when you release the ball.
7. **Perfect your release.** Let the ball slip through your hands by releasing your thumb from the grip. Follow through and end as if you are throwing any other pitch.
8. **Know who to use it against.** Batters that prefer to hit fastballs over breaking pitches are more likely struggle with the knuckleball. Ask your teammates what they know about the batter or watch them playing other teams.
Batters who are generally impatient and swing a lot are also good targets for the knuckleball.
9. **Known when to use it.** Your knuckleball may become predictable if you use it too often, especially when you’re new to it and still perfecting your technique. Start out using it as a strikeout and change-of-pace pitch.
Use your strikeout pitches when you have a two-strike count except when the count is full.
If you’re using it as an occasional change-of-pace pitch, try to only use it once per inning or less.
10. **Practice with catch.** It's harder to throw a knuckleball out of the windup than it is when you're playing catch. After warming up, line up about 30 feet away from your throwing partner and practice mastering the grip and the motion before you combine it all in a pitch.
11. **Practice by throwing straight up.** Lie down and practice throwing the knuckler upwards instead of out. Practice getting the right grip and release. Throwing the ball vertically will help your muscle memory remember to keep your wrist up as you release.
12. **Practice by playing hot potato.** Try zero-rotation hot potato with some friends or teammates. For an added challenge, try to get all involved in the game to throw knuckleballs. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Throw-a-Knuckleball", "language": "en"} |
How to Relax and Clear Your Mind | Some days can be so overwhelming, you want to scream or cry, or do a bit of both. The environment around you might be chaotic, full of loud family members, co-workers, or peers, and it might be a struggle to take a moment to relax and clear your mind. Many people suffer from a chaotic lifestyle that leaves little time for relaxation and self-reflection. But there are several techniques you can try to help you release any stress or tension in your daily life and chill out.
1. **Sit in a quiet space.** Find a quiet room and draw the curtains so there is no light to distract you. If you are trying to clear your mind in your office, close the door and pull the blinds so you have a moment alone.
Seek out a space that is quiet and isolated so you can process your emotions and release any stress or tension. Try to find a spot with no phones, computers, or co-workers or friends who can interrupt you. With practice, you'll be able to meditate in louder environments.
2. **Try progressive muscle relaxation.** This technique can help you relax the major muscle groups in your body.
Sit on a yoga mat or lie down.
Start with your facial muscles. Frown hard for 5-10 seconds and then relax your facial muscles.
Scrunch up your face or knit your eyebrows for 5-10 seconds and then relax your muscles.
You should feel a noticeable difference between the tense and relaxed muscles.
Tighten and release other muscle groups, such as your shoulders, arms, chest, and legs, until you have tensed and relaxed individual muscle groups throughout your whole body.
3. **Practice a five-minute meditation exercise.** Once you have found a quiet space where you will not be interrupted, you can do a simple meditation exercise to clear your mind.
Close your eyes and sit still for 30 seconds.
Focus on your breathing. Take deep inhales and exhales through your nose. Try to slow down your breathing so it is deep and long on each inhale and exhale. Do this for about a minute.
Continue to breathing slowly and deeply for two more minutes. Picture a calm, natural space, like a beach, a lake, or a forest.
Take another minute to sit and breathe. Open your eyes once the five minutes are over.
Work your way up to meditating for 20–30 minutes at a time.
4. **Do deep breathing exercises.** Breathing exercises can help to reduce your stress level and calm down. Sit in a quiet space, with your back straight, and try the 4-7-8 exercise.
Place the tip of your tongue against your upper front teeth. Exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose to the count of four.
Hold your breath for a count of seven. Then, exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound, to the count of eight.
Inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths. Make sure you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale with a whoosh sound through your mouth.
Continue this cycle of breathing 5-10 times. Don’t worry if you feel slightly lightheaded after practicing this breathing exercise. This is a normal side effect and indicates you are releasing stress and tension in your body.
5. **Listen to calming music.** Finish your meditation by putting on music that calms and relaxes you. Look for mixes online with calming music, like a Classical or ambient music mix.
You can also create your own mix with music you find calming and relaxing.
6. **Go to a calm place in nature.** This could be your favorite bench in a park near your office, a quiet garden near your school, or a grassy spot by your home. Remove yourself from a chaotic environment and retreat to a natural space. It has been shown that being surrounded by plants and nature can create a calming effect and help to clear your mind.
7. **Do something active, like walking, running, or hiking.** One of the best ways to relax is actually to be active and exercise. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can increase your energy level and help you clear your mind. Focusing on an activity that will take your mind off of a bad day or a chaotic environment will also help you get over any negative feelings you may be having. Work out your body and give your mind a rest.
Do at least 30 minutes of cardio or short 10-minute bursts of exercise by walking or running.
Go for a bike ride or a hike in your favorite natural spot or on your favorite trail.
8. **Spend quality time with loved ones.** Another way to relax is to spend time with family and friends. Do a fun activity together, like a games night or bowling, go for a drink to blow off some steam, or simply have a friend over for a cup of tea. Spending time with loved ones is a great way to shift your mood and relax.
9. **Read a book in a private space.** Set aside time to delve into a good book you’ve been wanting to read and retreat to a quiet space. Immersing yourself in a good book can take your mind off of any stress or chaos in your everyday life and give you time to yourself.
10. **Practice gentle yoga postures.** Exercises that are continuous and rhythmic, like walking, swimming, dancing, and yoga, are good for relaxing your brain and body. These exercises also involve flow like movement, so you are forced to focus on another activity rather than your bad day. Restorative yoga helps your body relax and restore itself. But you don’t have to go to a yoga class to practice yoga. Instead, you can do yoga in your chair at your desk.
Lotus position is the traditional seat for meditation and it can be modified so you can practice this pose at your desk. Sit comfortably in your chair, with your neck and spine straight and erect.
Cross your legs so you are sitting cross-legged in the chair. Place your hands on your thighs, palms up, with your thumbs and first fingers touching. Breath deeply through your nose for 10-15 breaths.
Not only will this calm your mind, this pose will also release any stress in your spine from sitting at your desk all day.
You can also try a simple relaxing pose to calm your mind. Cross your arms and place them on your desk or a flat surface. Rest your head on your crossed arms and take deep breaths. Close your eyes and hold this position for 10-15 breaths.
11. **Pamper yourself.** Take some time out of your day to focus on your needs and wants. Self-care through massage, manicures, and a long bath can all do wonders to relax and clear your mind.
12. **Get a good night’s sleep.** One of the best ways to relax and clear your mind is to get 8 hours of quality sleep. Go to bed at your usual time, shut off all electronics in bed, and focus on shutting down your mind so you can rest. You should be well-rested and refreshed for the next day.
If you’d rather take a quick nap to relax or clear your mind, keep your naps short, between 10 to 30 minutes. This will prevent sleep inertia, which is when you feel groggy and disoriented after a nap that goes on for longer than 30 minutes.
The best time for a nap is usually mid-afternoon, before 3 pm. This is the time of day you will likely experience post-lunch sleepiness or a lower level of alertness. Naps taken before 3 pm should not interfere with your nighttime sleep. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Relax-and-Clear-Your-Mind", "language": "en"} |
How to Make a Fake Rock | A fake rock can look just as good as the real deal! Whether you want artificial rocks for landscaping, stage productions, or as decor pieces, this is a fun and easy project. Use either a cardboard box or polystyrene foam to make the frame of your rock. Then cover the frame with paper mache to give it a rock-like texture. Let the paper mache dry, give it a few coats of spray paint, and then your fake rock is ready to use!
1. **Get a cardboard box around the same size you want the rock to be.** A cardboard box provides a good frame for you to create your fake rock! Choose a box that is roughly the right-sized square or rectangle that you want the rock to be. If the cardboard box is open, keep the lid closed by using masking tape to stick it down.
You will be able to change the size of the cardboard box slightly during the project by making indentations and adding paper mache.
Alternatively, you can use polystyrene foam instead of a cardboard box. Simply cut the polystyrene foam to size using a craft knife and use masking tape to hold any pieces together if you need.
2. **Make indentations in the corners and sides of the cardboard box.** For your cardboard box to look like a rock, it needs to look a bit less box-like! Carefully push, step on, or punch the corners of the box to make them more rounded. You can also make small indentations in the sides of the box to give it a more rock-like shape.
Don’t worry about keeping the box flat or making it look smooth. Remember that real rocks look imperfect!
3. **Tear 1.5 in × 10 in (3.8 cm × 25.4 cm) strips of newspaper.** Find old newspapers or magazines that you don’t need anymore and start tearing these into long strips. To make the process go faster, stack several sheets of newspaper and tear multiple strips at once. You can also use scissors to cut the strips instead if you prefer.
The strips only need to be roughly 1.5 in × 10 in (3.8 cm × 25.4 cm), as this is an easy size to work with. They don’t need to be perfect.
The amount of newspaper that you need depends on the size of your cardboard box. Start with 40 sheets of newspaper if you are unsure, as you can always make more strips if you need to.
4. **Make the paper mache paste using a 1:1 ratio of water to white glue.** Making paper mache is simple and easy! Get a large bowl and pour in the water. Then measure out the same amount of white glue and add it to the bowl. Use a spoon to mix the water and the glue thoroughly until it’s smooth to make a paste.
PVA glue is ideal for paper mache.
5. **Dip the strips of newspaper in the paper mache paste.** It’s time to start giving the cardboard box a rock-like texture. Take a strip of newspaper and submerge the whole strip in the paper mache paste. Then gently run your fingers down the strip to remove any excess paste.
Removing the excess paper mache paste is important, as otherwise, the newspaper may become too heavy and break down.
6. **Cover the cardboard box with 2 layers of paper mache strips.** Once you have a strip of newspaper that is covered with paper mache paste, stick it anywhere on the cardboard box. Make sure that the whole strip is stuck down well. Then repeat the process of dipping strips of newspaper into the paper mache paste and sticking them onto the box until the entire box is covered. Once you have finished the first layer, add a second layer of paper mache over the first.
This creates a solid paper mache base.
7. **Let the paper mache dry for 24 hours.** It’s important to give the paper mache plenty of time to dry so that it holds well before you add more layers. Keep the cardboard box in a well-ventilated area so that it dries faster. When you think that the paper mache is dry, gently press on several parts of it to make sure that it feels solid and doesn’t sink when you touch it.
8. **Form 2 in (5.1 cm) thick wads from strips of newspaper.** Take multiple strips of newspaper and crumple them up into long, thick, cylinder shapes. Try to crumple the strips of newspaper together very tightly so that the shape holds. These will help to make the rock look bumpy.
The number of newspaper wads that you need depends on the size of the frame.
9. **Cover the entire cardboard box in the wads of newspaper.** Take each wad of newspaper and submerge it fully into the paper mache paste. Gently remove any excess paste and then stick the wads over the existing paper mache on the cardboard box. Cover the entire cardboard box with 1 layer of newspaper wads to give it texture.
10. **Add 2 final layers of newspaper strips.** Adding a few extra layers of paper mache will help to hold the wads of newspaper in place. Take strips of newspaper, dip them into the paper mache paste, and place them over the wads of newspaper. Try to cover all of the wads so that the rock has a smooth, textured finish.
Use additional paper mache layers to hold the wads of newspaper in place if you are worried that they won’t hold.
11. **Give the paper mache 24 hours to dry completely.** Now that you have finished the paper mache part of the project, the paper mache needs plenty of time to dry so that it sets well. Keep the fake rock in a well-ventilated area and check it every so often to see how the paper mache is drying.
Using a fan can help the paper mache to dry faster, especially if the weather is cool.
12. **Spray-paint the rock with a black or brown base.** It’s now time to make the paper mache look more like a rock! Get different colors of spray paint so that your fake rock looks more realistic. Work in a well-ventilated area and aim the spray paint can at the fake rock. Hold down the trigger to add 1-2 base coats of a dark color such as black or brown to the rock.
The manufacturer's directions on the spray paint label will specify the recommended distance to hold the can from the fake rock.
Make sure that all of the paper mache is covered with the base color.
13. **Add small, lighter colored patches to give the rock depth.** Using a few different shades will really bring your rock to life! Use a white, grey, or green spray paint to highlight specific areas of the rock such as indentations or sharp bumps. You can even use multiple colors to make the rock look more realistic.
Dark green is a good choice if you want the rock to look like it has moss or plant matter growing on it. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fake-Rock", "language": "en"} |
How to Skateboard | Skateboarding is one of the most popular and iconic street sports. Whether you want to learn the basics to cruise around, or you want to learn to kickflip like a pro, you can learn what you need to get started. From buying your first board to nailing an Ollie, you can learn what it takes to surf the sidewalk.
1. **Get some appropriate footwear.** Skate shoes are typically sold by brands such as Vans, Airwalk, Converse, or Etnies. They have sturdy sides and flat bottoms, perfect for gripping the board. While you can always skate with regular sneakers, it's a lot easier to maneuver around the board with skate shoes.
Never try to skate in sandals or flip-flops. You need to be able to move your feet around easily and feel comfortable. Without these, you can hurt your ankle easily and are a lot more likely to fall.
2. **Find a board appropriate for your interests.** Skateboards can be cheap or expensive and come in a variety of sizes and styles. The two most basic are regular classic skateboards and longboards. Visit your local skate shop or a skating website to check out some affordable options.
Classic skateboards have curved noses and tails, and have a concave to help with tricks. They come in a variety of sizes, and most are about 31" or 30 in length long and 8" wide. These are the boards to buy if you want to skate at the skatepark or on the street and to do tricks, eventually.
Longboards or cruisers have a longer and flatter body. The length of the board varies, but they can be up to twice as long as a classic skateboard, making them much more stable and rideable for beginners. You can't really do tricks, but if you're interested in skating as a way of getting around or bombing hills, it's a great option.
Penny boards are good for somebody who wants to leisurely ride a skateboard down the sidewalk, but are bad for somebody who is taller than the average five-year-old and/or want to do tricks. They're small so they're difficult to balance easily on.
A beginner skateboard should cost between $50-$150. Try to have your board set up for you at the skate-shop with the right kinds of trucks and wheels for what you'll be doing. Just remember, NEVER buy a Walmart board. They will snap quickly and are hard to learn on. Go to a real skate shop.
3. **Get the appropriate safety gear.** When you're first starting out learning to skate, you're going to fall down. Probably a lot. Consider investing in safety equipment such as a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads to protect you from falls and accidents. This is especially important for beginners. Some states, like California, require all skaters to wear helmets on the street.
Make sure to get a helmet that fits your head properly. Before you go to the store, use a tape measure to measure the circumference of your head, just above your eyebrows, in a straight line around your skull. Buy a helmet that fits snugly.
There's nothing lame/childish about pads. It's important to protect yourself from serious head injuries.
4. **Find a good place to skate.** A level, concrete driveway or parking lot is a good place to start getting comfortable on the board. Make sure there isn't anything in your way and be wary of cracks, loose stones and potholes. Running over a little pebble can account for a whole lot of crashes, especially with hard wheels.
When you're just beginning, you can practice balancing on grass or carpet first so your board won't be rolling everywhere.
Skateparks are great places to skate once you've got some experience. If you're just trying to get the board to stay under you without falling down, parks might be a little intense. If there's one in your area, go watch some skaters for tips, but stay on the sidelines.
5. **Consider getting someone you know that's good at skateboarding to teach you.** Your dad probably can't shove it or anything, so ask someone from a local shop or park if you can watch them. Bring some beginners and ask if what he's doing is intermediate to advanced skating, if it is, perfect. You have a teacher.
Skating with friends is a big part of what skating is all about. If you've got some skater friends, get help learning from them. Learning from friends is infinitely better than learning on your own or on the internet.
6. **Stand on the board properly.** Put the board flat on the ground and stand on it to learn to place your feet properly, and get your balance without falling down. Stand with your feet angled sideways on the board, your feet lined up roughly with the truck screws that attach the wheels to the board.
Regular foot means that you've got your left foot forward and your right foot in the rear. This usually means that you'll use your right foot to push.
Goofy foot means that you've got your right foot forward and left in the rear. Usually, this means you'll use your left foot to push.
Rock back and forth a little to see how the wheels move and how much sway you've got on the trucks. Just get comfortable.
7. **Try pushing off very gently and placing your feet on the board.** Turn your front foot slightly so it's more straight with the board, instead of sideways on the board. Use your other foot to gently push off, going very slowly at first. You don't want to have an accident just because you were going too fast before you were ready.
After you get some momentum, practice putting your back foot into place on the back of the board, just ahead of the tail curl, around the trucks. Get your balance and ride, bending your knees some to keep your balance.
Mongo foot means that you feel more comfortable pushing off with your lead foot, and riding with your back foot. Some people see it as acceptable, but it will hinder you later and it's an awkward motion to swing your front foot around. If you find yourself pushing mongo, try switching from regular to goofy or vice-versa.
8. **Give yourself another push when you slow down.** Keep practicing, making little push-offs, and pivoting your feet to ride on the board until you slow down. Then pivot your riding foot straight, push off with your other foot, and pivot back. The more you do this, the more comfortable you'll become at riding the board.
Try speeding up, but just a little. Like a bike, some riders find it actually quite a bit easier to keep your balance when you're moving a little quicker.
If you start speed-wobbling, you can tighten your trucks. This will make it harder to turn but you can practice with tight trucks until you get your speed wobble under control. Shifting your weight forward usually helps.
9. **Flex your ankles and shift your weight to turn.** Once you've got the hang of pushing off and riding some, try turning the board gently by shifting your weight. Ride with your knees flexed, keeping your center of gravity low to the ground. Then, shift your weight forward some to turn right (if you're riding regular foot), and rotate your ankles back to turn the board left.
Depending on how loose your trucks are, you may have to only shift your weight very gently, or really bend into it. You can loosen your trucks by turning the large bolt in the center of each truck (lefty loosy, righty tighty). This puts more (tight) or less (loose) pressure on the bushings and makes turning easier (loose) or harder (tight).
If you have trouble balancing or falling while turning, shift your upper-body weight in the opposite direction. What really matters is that your feet pivot the deck so the trucks do the turning.
10. **Put your foot down to stop.** To stop, you can simply put your pushing foot down when you've slowed down some, and halt your momentum. However, don't just jam your foot down hard at a fast speed. Start by dragging lightly and drag harder when you're going slow. Keep your riding foot on the board, or it'll just keep going.
You can also shift your weight back and scrape the tail against the ground if you want to stop. Some longboards have built-in plastic "brake" pads along the back lip of the board, while others won't. This is usually a bit more difficult, and will scrape away at the back of the board. An alternative that won't damage your board is to put your heel behind with your toes still on the tail when you do this. Your heel will drag on the ground instead of the tail.
You should practice getting on and off before you start skating at high speeds. One exit strategy if you're riding on flat without pads is to take your back foot off in front of you and walk or run away from the board.
11. **Try riding switch.** Once you get very comfortable just riding your board, try switching around and riding with your back foot in front and your front foot in back. If you want to be a really good skater, you'll learn to skate equally comfortably from both directions, if you get switched around for a trick. This comes in handy when you try a half-pipe, or any number of different types of skateboarding tricks.
12. **Learn to fall properly.** All skaters fall early and often. It's a part of skateboarding. It's important to wear the proper safety gear at all times, and learn to fall properly. To keep yourself from getting injured more seriously than the regular scrapes and bruises that are the skaters calling card, you can learn a few little tricks to keep yourself safe.
Put your arms out, but keep them loose. If you're very rigid, you risk breaking wrists and ankles more seriously than if you use them to cushion your fall.
Roll out any time that you fall. You might scrape yourself up, but it'll hurt a lot less than if you're landing with a splat.
Bail out if you see something going bad. If you're going too fast and can't control your board, just jump off and land on your feet, or roll into the grass. Don't stick on a board that you've lost control of.
13. **Watch more experienced skaters to learn tips and tricks.** Find some other skaters to skate with. It helps you to learn from their styles or different skill levels. If you don't know anyone, just talk to some other skaters at the local skate park. They are usually friendly, and will help you out. Experiment, make a higher ollie, read about how to do another trick, whatever your heart desires. Your teacher is more a friend than an instructor now, share skills with him, and anyone else you want to show off to.
For tips on how to do the moves, you can always watch a move in a video in slow motion and pay attention to the foot movement. Sequential photos are another great way to learn.
The more you practice, the better you will be. Don't get discouraged because you can't land a trick the first or second try. Just practice and have fun, and you will get the trick eventually.
14. **Start by popping the front up with your back foot on the tail.** An ollie involves popping the board up into the air and landing on it safely. The first part of this trick is to get comfortable shifting your back foot for the tail of the board to hit the ground, so you can pop it up and into the air. Get used to this motion, it can't be stressed enough.
As you stand on the board, practice rocking back, popping the nose up into the air and staying balanced. You can even try it in motion if you work up the nerve.
Before you even try the first motion of an ollie, it might be a good idea to just stand beside the skateboard and practice popping it up into the air. Use your foot to stomp on the tail and see how much pressure it takes to pop it up in the air. This is also useful to pop it up to your hands and pick it up easily.
One common mistake is to push too hard down on your tail, which prevents your board from going up in the air. Instead, flick down with your ankle to send the board to the floor, then lift later.
15. **Try to pop up the board while you're stationary.** Stand on the board and flex your knees quite low, shifting your center of gravity down over the trucks. Shift your back foot back so it's on the tail. Pop the tail back, as you would while you're doing a manual, except all the way to the ground. Then pop it up into the ollie.
Don't start in motion just yet. Before you can nail an ollie on the ground, it's quite dangerous to try one while you're skating. You'll probably wipe out.
16. **Pop the board up into the air and jump.** To get the board to pop, you want to simultaneously slide your front foot backward just a little and leap into the air, bringing your knees up to your chest, while you stab down on the tail with your back foot.
This needs to be done in one swift motion, and it's somewhat difficult to get the hang of at first. You want to jump up into the air and off the board at the same time as you pop down with your back foot.
You'll leap with your front foot just a little before you leap with your back foot. Imagine you're running sideways and trying to jump over a cone. You want to do that kind of motion.
17. **Drag your front foot forward to catch the board.** After the board pops up in the air, drag your front foot forward to flatten the board back out and keep it under control. You'll need to start doing this pretty much as soon as you jump into the air.
18. **Push the board down by straightening your legs out.** After you've straightened the board, push it back to the ground by straightening your legs and landing on the board in riding position. The most important thing to remember is to land with your feet over the bolts and knees bent, this improves your chances of rolling away successfully and keeps the board from breaking as often, as well as avoiding injury.
No shame in bailing out. If the board hasn't stayed straight, or it just doesn't feel right, don't try to land on it. Land on your feet instead.
In fact, it's probably a good idea to practice your first ollie by just jumping off the board and landing beside it.
19. **Try an ollie in motion** Once you can land ten stationary ollies in a row, try doing one in motion. Push off and start skating at a low to moderate speed, then crouch down and pop the board up just as you would when you're standing still.
One way you can progress from doing an Ollie is to Olly over small items, like.a stick or a curb.
This is the fundamental skill to learn, which most other popping style tricks are based on. For more information and links to specific trick articles, check out the next section.
20. **Try a pop shove it** Do an ollie as high as you can, then as you level off your feet, give a nudge with the front foot on the board so it spins 180 degrees. You may want to use a little "scoop" motion with the back foot to make it spin easier.
21. **Try a kick-flip** Do the same thing as a pop shove it, except when you nudge the board, kick the little area where the side of the board rises. Try out a few different motions until you get it to spin. This is not an easy trick, so practice and don't give up.
22. **Try to grind** Start with a fairly low rail (equal to or less than one foot.) This is not easy, so take it in steps.
Start out simply rolling up to the rail, then jump off of your board and land with just your feet on the rail, letting the board roll away.
Next, practice popping the board up as you jump, but don't worry about where it goes after that. Just make sure that your feet land on the rail.
Make sure you roll up to the rail at a slight angle, not completely straight. This way, there's less risk of one truck getting caught on the start of the rail.
Now it's time for the real thing. Ollie as high as you can, in the direction of the rail. Land with your feet on the bolts and the board balanced on the rail.
If the deck is sliding sideways on the rail, it's a board-slide. If you stay in the direction of the rail so your trucks lock in and grind it, it's a 50-50 grind.
Once you get to the end of the rail, turn the board around if you're in a board-slide (so it faces the right direction) and land over the bolts. If you're doing a 50-50 grind, lift the front wheels slightly (by pushing on the tail, again slightly) to the front of the board doesn't plummet down. An alternative is to ollie off.
23. **Head to the skatepark and learn to drop in** Dropping in takes guts, but it's worth it.
Start with your tail on the coping (the metal on the top of the half-pipe) and your foot just behind the bolts, but far enough back to balance.
Put your front foot over the bolts, and slam the board down. Don't hesitate, or you will fall. It takes confidence and power.
Be sure to lean forward in this motion. If you don't, the board will slide out from under you. Your shoulders should always be parallel to the board.
Don't worry about coming down on the other side, just hop off of your board at the top.
24. **Do some lip-tricks.** Some good ones are a Rock to Fakie, Axle Stall, and Nose Stall. These look impressive, but are not that difficult to learn if you have several months of experience. When you go to the skatepark always be aware so you don't get hit. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Skateboard", "language": "en"} |
How to Measure Amperage | If you're working on an electrical project, sometimes you may need to check the amperage, or how much electricity is flowing through the circuit. While this is not a common test, you might need to measure amps to determine if something is pulling more energy than it should. For instance, measuring the amperage can be useful when you're trying to determine if a component in your vehicle is draining the battery. Fortunately, measuring amps is easy if you have a multimeter and you use safety around electrical components.
1. **Check the nameplate on your battery or breaker to determine its maximum amps.** Before you attach your multimeter to the circuit, you need to make sure that the meter is rated for the number of amps traveling through that circuit. Most power sources will have the approximate maximum amps printed on a nameplate, and you can find the maximum amps the multimeter can handle on the back of the device or in the instruction manual. You could also just check how high the dial goes—do not attempt to test more currents than the highest dial setting.
The maximum amps may also be called the maximum current.
2. **Use a plug-in clamp if your multimeter isn't rated high enough for the circuit.** The plug-in clamp accessory can extend the range. Just plug the leads into the multimeter and attach the other end to the circuit the way you would attach the multimeter clamps. Place the clamp around the hot or live wire, which is usually black, red, blue, or some other color except white or green.
When you use a clamp, it doesn't become part of the circuit, unlike when you are just using a multimeter.
3. **Push the black probe into the “COM” socket on the multimeter.** Your multimeter should have a red probe and a black probe, whether you're using a clamp attachment or the probes that came with the meter. One end of the probe will have a prong that plugs into the meter. The black probe, which indicates a negative wire, should always be plugged into the COM socket.
"COM" stands for “common.” If the port isn't marked with “COM,” you may see a negative symbol, instead.
If your leads have prongs, you'll have to hold them in place when you measure the current. If they have clamps, you can attach them to the circuit, freeing up your hands. However, both types of probes will connect to the meter in the same way.
4. **Place the red probe in the socket labeled "A."** You may have several places where you can plug in a red probe, depending on the functions of your meter. The port marked with “A” measures amperage.
You may see 2 sockets with an “A,” one labeled as “A” or “10A” and one labeled “mA.” The one that says “A” or “10A” is designed to measure current up to 10 amps, while the one that says “mA” measures milli-amps, up to about 300 mA. If you're not sure which one to use, select the higher “A” or “10A” setting to be sure you don't overload the meter.
You might also see ports labeled “V” for voltage or “Ω” for ohms. You can disregard these for this test.
5. **Select either AC or DC current on the meter.** Unless your meter is designed to only be used on AC or DC circuits, you'll need to select which one you're testing. If you're not sure, check the nameplate on your power source again for that information. It should be listed along with the voltage.
AC, or alternating current, is typically used in items like household appliances and electric motors, while DC, or direct current, is commonly used in battery-powered motors and devices.
The power in a residential setting is going to be AC unless there's a transformer converting that electricity to DC.
6. **Turn the dial to an amp setting that's higher than what you're measuring.** Once you've determined the maximum currents you're expecting to test, look for a dial on your meter and turn it a little higher than that number. If you'd like, you can turn the dial all the way to the maximum just to be safe, but if the current you're measuring is too low, you may not get a reading. If that happens, you'll need to turn the dial down and take the reading again.
By setting your meter to handle more amps than you expect to measure, you help protect against blowing the fuses if the current is stronger than you thought. If the current is significantly higher than the amp setting, you could destroy the meter.
Some dials are auto-ranging, which means you do not have to manually adjust a dial. If this is the case, you will not see a dial with the amp settings, and the meter will be labeled as “auto-ranging,” or you may see “AUTO” on the display.
7. **Turn off the power to the circuit.** If your circuit is powered by a battery, unplug the negative lead that's running from that battery. If you have to turn off the power at a breaker, turn off the switch, then disconnect the negative lead. attach the meter with the power turned on to the circuit.
8. **Disconnect the red wire coming from the power supply.** In order to test the amount of current flowing through a circuit, you have to attach the multimeter so it completes that circuit. To do this, start by shutting off the power to the circuit, then detach the positive wire, which is almost always red, from the power source.
This process is called “breaking the circuit.”
You may have to cut the wire with wire clippers to break the circuit. However, if you see a cap where the wire from the power source meets the wire going to the device you're testing, you can simply unscrew the cap and unwind the wires from around each other. The wires may also be connected by clips you can disconnect.
There's no need to unplug the black wire. In a direct current circuit, the black is negative, while in an alternating current circuit, it’s the “hot” wire.
9. **Strip the ends of the wire** You'll need to wrap a small piece of wire around the multimeter prongs, or have enough wire exposed that the alligator prongs will clamp on securely. If the wire is insulated all the way to the end, clamp your wire clippers about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the end of the wire and squeeze just enough to cut into the rubber insulation. Then, pull the clippers sharply away from you to remove the insulation.
If you accidentally cut into the wire, snip that portion off of the end and try again.
You'll need to strip the end of the wire that's coming away from the power source and the wire coming from the device you're testing.
10. **Wrap the positive wire around the positive probe on the multimeter.** Take the exposed end of the red wire that's coming away from the power source and either wrap it around the prong on the multimeter probe or clamp the alligator clips to the wire, depending on the type of probe you're using. Either way, make sure you attach the wire securely to ensure you get an accurate reading.
Technically, it doesn't really matter if you connect the positive probe to the wire coming from the power source or the device, since the meter just needs to complete the circuit. If it's easier for some reason to attach the wires the other way, that's fine.
Attaching the positive wire first can help prevent a short if the negative wire accidentally touches a ground.
If you’re measuring a circuit without the amp clamp and the reading has a negative sign in front of it, it means you put the leads on backward. Fix it by reversing the leads.
11. **Connect the black multimeter probe to the remaining wire and turn on the circuit.** Next, find the positive wire coming from the electrical component you're trying to test and attach it to the black multimeter probe. If you broke a battery-powered circuit by disconnecting the wires, power will be restored to the circuit once you touch the black probe to the wire. If you turned off the power with a breaker or a switch, turn it back on.
This will be the other end of the wire you cut or disconnected from the power supply.
If you're testing in a car, don't start the car, and don't try to turn on any fans, lights, or anything else in the vehicle, as you could overload the meter.
12. **Leave the probes in place for about a minute as you read the meter.** Once the meter is in place, you should see a number on the digital display immediately. This is the measurement of your current, or amperage. Although this initial reading may be accurate, for the most precise measurement, leave the probes on the circuit for at least 60 seconds to ensure the current is steady.
If the reading is less than the sensitive setting (for instance, if it reads less than 0.3 A and the sensitive setting measures up to 300 mA), disconnect the meter, move the red probe to mA, and repeat the test.
This reading will show you the amperage, or the current, of the circuit you're testing. That's basically how much electricity can flow through that current at one time. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Amperage", "language": "en"} |
How to Make a Frappe | A frappé is quick and simple to make with just a few common ingredients. Combine instant or freshly brewed coffee, sweetener, and some cold water or ice and you'll have a thick, foamy, delicious frappé in no time at all. But, it doesn't have to stop there. There are tons of fun ways to get creative and make a different flavored frappé each time. Make a great tasting frappé in your favorite flavor to enjoy on a hot summer day.
1. **Prepare your coffee.** To make your frappé, you will need about 1 1/2 cups of coffee. As a general guideline, use 4 tbsp. coffee per 6 ounces of water or 1 1/2 cups cold-brewed coffee concentrate. You can use fresh or instant coffee. Here are some things to consider:
"Filter" coffee refers to coffee beans that have been roasted and ground to be used in coffee making machines. This is fresh coffee and may have a variety of qualities not found in instant coffee, like sweeter or more distinct flavors.
"Instant" coffee refers to a coffee that has already been made and is dried (usually by freezing) into a dehydrated state. Instant coffee is recommended as a back-up to the fresh stuff.
Use stronger coffee to give your frappé a stronger coffee flavor.
2. **Cold brew your coffee** Cold brewing your coffee is a process that requires about 12 hours. To make cold brewed coffee:
Add 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee beans to a large bowl and pour in 4 cups of cold water.
Stir until combined and cover in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
Take the bowl out of the refrigerator and place a strainer or coffee filter over another bowl. Slowly pour your coffee over the strainer and let the liquid filter through the strainer. Discard the grounds and remove the strainer.
Cold brewed coffee can be very strong. Dilute at a 1:3 or 1:2 coffee/water ratio. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
3. **Cold brew your coffee over ice (optional).** This method is called Japanese-style iced coffee and can be made much quicker than the previous method. To brew Japanese-style cold brewed coffee:
Use a kitchen scale to measure 8 ounces of ice.
Measure about 1.8 grams of freshly roasted coffee for every ounce of iced coffee you'd like.
Grind coffee beans until medium coarse. For about 16 ounces of iced coffee, use about 30 grams of coffee. One level tablespoon is roughly 5 grams.
Put your ice in a large glass and place a secure a coffee filter over the top.
Brew your coffee hot and pour it over the filter into the cup of ice.
Not all of the ice might melt, but by the end you should have a cold cup of coffee.
4. **Add your sweetener to your coffee.** Adding your sugar to your coffee while it's still hot will help it dissolve faster. Pour in two tbsp. of sugar, honey, stevia, or whatever sweetener you prefer.
If you have brewed your coffee in a coffee maker, you can pour your sweetener right into the coffee pot and stir it in.
5. **Chill your coffee** If starting with hot freshly brewed coffee, the fastest method will still take you about 20 minutes. To chill your coffee, try:
In an ice tray. Pour your coffee into an ice tray and put it into the freezer until frozen. This method takes a few hours, but will create a stronger tasting drink because you won't need to add any additional ice.
In a skillet. Once you have brewed your coffee, pour it into a wide, shallow skillet and let it sit. This method spreads your hot liquid over a large surface area, allowing it to cool more quickly than it would in a coffee pot.This method can cool your coffee significantly after about 20 mins.
You can also place your skillet in the freezer for about 20 minutes to chill it completely.
You can also chill your skillet ahead of time to quicken the process.
6. **Make your frappé.** Add your chilled coffee to a blender and pour in 1/2 cup of milk. You can use regular milk, soy, almond milk, or any other milk you prefer.
7. **Add the ice (optional).** If you have chilled your coffee in an ice tray, you won't need to add any ice. Start by adding about 1 1/2 cups of ice.
Remember, the more ice you add, the more your coffee will become diluted, resulting in a less flavorful frappé.
8. **Blend until smooth.** Put the lid on and blend your mixture until smooth, adding more ice if you desire a thicker consistency.
9. **Assemble your frappé.** Pour your frappé mixture into a tall glass. You can chill your glass in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand if you prefer. Top it off with a dash of whipped cream and enjoy with a straw!
10. **Make it pumpkin flavored.** If you are looking for a delicious frappé with all the tastes of fall, add just a few additional ingredients and make a pumpkin pie frappé. Here's what you'll need:
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. pumpkin spice, ground
½ cup unsweetened coconut milk from a carton, not canned
2 tbsp. whipped cream
1 dash cinnamon, ground
Include the vanilla extract, pumpkin spice, and coconut milk in your initial mixture and top your frappé off with a dash of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
11. **Make a blended hazelnut frappé.** If you love the sweet toasted flavor of hazelnut, you're going to go crazy for these few extra ingredient additions. Just add 1/4 cup of hazelnut syrup and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract to your initial mixture.
Top it off with a dash of whipped cream and cinnamon if you'd like!
12. **Go crazy with chocolate.** Try a double chocolate chip frappé by adding chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, and vanilla extract.
Add 1/3 cup chocolate chips to your original mixture. You can try milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips for fun variations.
Pour in 3 tbs. chocolate syrup and 1/8 tbs. vanilla extract and blend until smooth.
Drizzle some chocolate syrup along the inside of your glass and pour your frappé into it. Top with whipped cream drizzled in more chocolate syrup.
13. **Make it vanilla.** Start with vanilla bean flavored coffee beans or grounds. Add 1 or 2 scoops of vanilla bean ice cream to your mixture and blend until smooth.
Add a dash of whipped cream drizzled with caramel syrup for a delicious foamy topping.
Add a couple drops of vanilla extract for a stronger vanilla flavor.
Top it off with a dash of whipped cream.
14. **Make a traditional Greek Frappe.** Simply add three tablespoons of instant coffee, 1-4 tbs. sugar (to taste), a small amount of water, and milk (if desired) to a shaker and shake it up. Pour it into a tall glass with ice and enjoy with a straw.
15. **Get creative.** Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream to the blender for a thicker milkshake frappé. Try a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream for a refreshing mint chocolate frappé. Break up your favorite candy bar and add small pieces to the blender for an added crunch or add about 1/4 cup of shredded coconut. The possibilities are almost endless. Mix and match your favorite sweet flavors to create the perfect frappé. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Frappe", "language": "en"} |
How to Buy a Bearded Dragon | Bearded dragons, or “beardies,” are quiet, gentle reptiles that are easy to care for. These animals make great pets for children over five and require minimal care. To buy a bearded dragon, you should start by selecting a healthy dragon that will fit your budget and your needs as a pet owner. You can then buy the pet from a licensed breeder, at a pet store, or at a reptile show.
1. **Go for a full grown dragon.** Though younger bearded dragon babies are cute to look at, they are fragile and have a higher risk of illness. Some babies may also lose their appetite and must be force fed to stay alive. Getting a full-grown or close to full-grown dragon as a pet will ensure it remains healthy and easy to care for.
Look for a dragon that is at least six to 10 weeks old and six to 10 inches in length. This will ensure the dragon is not too young and has hit a mature age. You can also ask the breeder you are buying from about the age of the bearded dragon before you buy her.
If you already have one bearded dragon and are looking for a second one, you should go for a dragon of the same sex. Two female dragons usually get along well. A male and a female dragon may end up fighting or mating, which could lead to unwanted dragon babies in your vivarium.
You may want to avoid buying more than one bearded dragon at a time, as the two dragons may end up not getting along. You would then have the sell one dragon or set up a separate vivarium for each dragon.
2. **Check that the bearded dragon is alert and plump.** Note if the dragon moves her eyes towards you when you approach its cage, appearing alert and awake. The dragon should not look lethargic or have eyes that are sunken in, as this may be a sign of dehydration or illness. You should also check that the dragon’s face is clean and not covered in pus or fluid.
You should notice if the dragon appears plump and large. Look at her limbs and tail. Make sure these areas appear full and fat, and that you cannot see her tail or hip bones. Lizards store fat in their tails and a healthy lizard should have a good fat supply.
3. **Make sure the dragon has no broken limbs or skin.** You should check the dragon’s skin to ensure there are no lesions, wounds, or irritated bumps. Then, look at her limbs, tail, and toes to make sure the skin does not appear broken or swollen. Make sure the dragon has no broken bones, as broken bones can be a sign of metabolic bone disease.
You should also examine her limbs and toes to make sure they do not twitch or tremble, as these can also be a sign of metabolic bone disease.
You may observe the dragon running around in the enclosure to make sure she can use all of her limbs properly. The dragon should not limp or stumble when she moves. A missing toe or tip of the tail are okay as these often heal on their own, though they will not grow back. But broken bones and damaged legs or arms are not a good sign.
4. **Check the enclosure for cleanliness.** You should inspect the enclosure the dragon is kept in and make sure it appears well kept, with fresh food and water. You should check that the dragon has been getting enough UVB light from a heat lamp in the enclosure and that the dragon has been given calcium supplements.
5. **Buy a dragon from a breeder.** Many lizard lovers buy their “beardies” from reputable reptile breeders. Buying a dragon from a breeder is often the safest option as many breeders only raise the same breed of bearded dragon, leading to less illness, injury, and disease. You can find bearded dragon breeders online and through your local herpetological society.
Bearded dragons usually cost around $100 each, though this may vary by breeder. When you visit the breeder, you should check the cleanliness of the enclosures where the dragons are kept. Make sure you also do a good inspection of the dragon’s body and mannerisms to ensure he is going to be a healthy pet.
6. **Get the dragon from a pet store.** You can also buy a dragon from your local pet store, though it may be more difficult to ensure the dragon is healthy. The best option is to buy a dragon from a breeder, but if you are not able to get in contact with a breeder, the pet store may be your only option. Try to find a pet store that keeps the same breed of bearded dragon in the same enclosure.
You should also inspect the enclosure for cleanliness and examine the dragon well before you purchase him at the pet store.
7. **Look for bearded dragons at reptile shows.** You can also buy bearded dragons from reptile shows or events, where collectors and breeders get together to sell reptiles. Make sure you check that the enclosure that holds the dragons is very clean and well kept.
You should also chat with the breeder at the show to check that the dragons have been exposed to UVB light and been given the necessary supplements. A reputable breeder will only keep dragons of the same species together and may focus on breeding one particular breed of bearded dragon.
8. **Have the enclosure set up and ready.** Before you bring your new pet home, you should have its enclosure ready and setup. You should have a vivarium that is at least 47 inches (120 cm) long x 23 inches (60 cm) high x 23 inches (60 cm) wide for one bearded dragon. You can hold more than one dragon in the same vivarium or enclosure, but it should be large enough for more than one dragon.
The enclosure should be well-ventilated, with a screen top and glass sides. You should include reptile-safe substrate at the bottom of the enclosure. Include rocks and branches from your new pet to climb on, as well as hiding areas in the enclosure.
There is some controversy about what is safe substrate for a reptile enclosure. Reptile-safe sand may still cause a gut impaction. It's best to weigh up the pros and cons of different substrates to see which one best suits you. Choose from reptile-safe sand, aspen, or repti-carpet.
Make sure the vivarium has one end that is hotter, at 38 to 42 degrees Celsius (100 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit), with the help of a UVB lamp that is a 10 to 12 percent fluorescent UV tube. You should have another end of the vivarium that is cooler and shaded, at 22 to 26 degrees Celsius (72 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit).
The humidity should be low in the tank. Use a hygrometer to make sure the enclosure is not too humid — it should be between 30 and 40%.
9. **Be prepared for the dragon to be nervous or timid.** Your new bearded dragon may appear nervous or timid during the first few days in her new space. She may not eat properly for the first two to three days as she adapts to his new environment. After warming up to you and her new enclosure, she should start to eat normally and be less shy.
You should get in the habit of handling your dragon as a way to bond. Try to handle her on a consistent basis so she gets used to being held and touched. Always be gentle and use both hands to scoop up the dragon, supporting her four legs. Only handle the dragon for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, as you do not want her core temperature to drop too low.
10. **Put the dragon on a feeding schedule.** Try to put your dragon on a feeding schedule right away so she gets used to set meal times. Bearded dragons are omnivorous, so they eat live invertebrates as well as plants and animals. You should feed your dragon once a day, preferably in the morning so she can digest his food during the day.
Feed your dragon greens like watercress, rocket, chicory, cress and grated butternut squash, as well as wild plants like dandelion, clover and plantain leaves. Avoid giving your dragon spinach, as well as too much cabbage or kale. Remove any uneaten items in the cage and replace them with fresh food at feeding time.
Give your dragon live invertebrates dusted with a calcium supplement. This can include crickets, locusts, and calci worms. Make sure the live food is no bigger than your dragon’s mouth. You should feed the live food the same greens as you feed your dragon and keep them in a well-ventilated container.
You should provide fresh water in a shallow water dish on a daily basis. Make sure there is not feces in the water dish, and if there is, replace the water. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Bearded-Dragon", "language": "en"} |
How to Measure a Toilet's Rough‐In | Toilet rough in refers to the amount of room available behind a toilet. It can also refer generally to the overall clearance for a tank and seat on all sides of the drainpipe. It is important to measure the rough in before you install a new toilet because toilets come in a variety of sizes. Accurately measuring the rough in will ensure that a toilet fits your drainpipe and that your bathroom is comfortable and up to code. The standard rough in behind the drainpipe is 12 inches (30 cm), but your rough in may be a little bigger or smaller. You also need to make sure that you have at least 15 inches (38 cm) of clearance to the left and right of the pipe, and 21 inches (53 cm) in front of your toilet’s base.
1. **Get a measuring tape and find your drainpipe’s flange.** Get a retractable measuring tape with a flat metal hook at the end. Take it to your bathroom and find the flange on the floor by looking for a flat plastic or metal rim around the opening of a pipe on the ground.
A flange covers the rim of your drainage pipe and is used to keep an airtight connection between the toilet and the drain.
2. **Place the hook of your measuring tape against the wall behind the flange.** Pull a length of your measuring tape out and stick the hook flush against the bottom of the wall behind the flange. If there is a baseboard or trim at the bottom of the wall, raise the hook until it is on the drywall. Hold the hook steady with your nondominant hand.
If the wall is unfinished, stick the hook against the joist at the bottom of the wall.
3. **Stretch your measuring tape out through the center of your flange.** Use your dominant hand to pull the case of the measuring tape out. Lay the tape across the flange and line it up so that the edge is running through the center of the flange. Keep the hook still while you do this.
Don’t worry if it isn’t perfectly straight. Rough in measurements come in 2 in (5.1 cm) increments, so if you’re off by a few millimeters it won’t keep you from determining the rough in.
4. **Measure your rough in based on the distance from the wall to the center of the flange.** Identify the distance from your hook to the center of the flange by finding the center of the flange on your measuring tape. This is your rough in. The measurement should be 10, 12, or 14 inches (25.4, 30.5, or 35.6 cm) from the wall to the center of the flange.
If your rough in isn’t 10, 12, or 14 inches, you’ll need to replace the current flange with an offset flange before you install your toilet. An offset flange can move the opening of the pipe from 11 inches to 10 or 12 inches, for example.
Toilets that are designed for 10 or 14 inch rough ins tend to cost a little more. You typically find 10 and 14 inch clearances in older buildings.
5. **Add the thickness of your drywall if you’re measuring in an unfinished room.** If you are measuring the rough in before the walls are finished, subtract the thickness of the drywall from your measurement. For example, if you measure the rough in to be 13 inches (33 cm), but you know that the drywall is going to be 1 in (2.5 cm) thick, your rough in is actually 12 inches (30 cm).
Ignore baseboards or trim. Toilets never sit flush against the corner near the baseboard unless they’re commercial toilets. Even then, calculations for rough in ignore obstacles at the bottom of your wall.
6. **Place your measuring tape’s hook flush against an adjacent wall.** Line the hook of your measuring tape up against the wall near the floor. Adjust your measuring tape so that it is perpendicular to the flange. Hold the hook in place with your nondominant hand.
If there is a tub or vanity blocking the path to the wall, place the hook on that instead of the wall.
It doesn’t matter if you start on the left or right side.
7. **Check for 15 in (38 cm) of clearance by pulling the measuring tape across the flange.** Pull the case of your measuring tape out across the center of the flange. If you have at least 15 inches (38 cm) between the wall and the center of the flange, you have enough space.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association actually recommends that you have 16 inches (41 cm) of clearance to the left and right, but 15 inches is the bare minimum when it comes to fitting a toilet. Most building codes set the minimum at 15 inches as well.
8. **Repeat this process on the other adjacent wall.** Place the hook of your measuring tape against the wall on the opposite side and check for 15 inches (38 cm) of clearance from the center of the flange to the wall. As long as you have at least 15 inches (38 cm) on both sides of the flange, you have enough room to install a toilet.
15 inches is the minimum because it’s typically impossible to properly install a toilet in a space any smaller. Not only are most toilets going to be too big, but you need to maneuver the base of a toilet to the left and right in order to properly seal it on top of the pipe.
Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to even attempt to install a toilet on a wall with less than 30 inches (76 cm) of clearance.
9. **Place the hook of your measuring tape in the center of the flange.** To measure clearance in front of a toilet, start in the center of the flange. The measurement in front is less important than the left, right, or back side of the toilet, so you only need to check to make sure that you’re leaving enough room to sit.
10. **Pull it out until you reach 21 inches (53 cm) on your measuring tape.** Start your measurement by pulling your tape 21 inches out from the center of the flange. The minimum amount of room that you need for the average person to sit comfortably on a toilet is 21 inches (53 cm). Depending on where you live, it is also typically against building codes to install a toilet with less than 21 inches of clearance in the front.
11. **Add half of your toilet’s base to the 21 inches (53 cm) on your tape.** Most toilet bases are between 12–24 inches (30–61 cm), although your base may be different. Divide the length of the base in half and add it to your measurement to make sure that you have at least 21 inches of clearance in front of the toilet.
For example, if the length of your toilet base is 14 inches (36 cm), you divide 14 by 2 to get 7 inches (18 cm). Pull out 21 inches (53 cm) from the center of the flange and then add 7 inches (18 cm) to get 28 inches (71 cm). | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-a-Toilet%27s-Rough%E2%80%90In", "language": "en"} |
How to Treat Diarrhea in Rats | If your pet rat is experiencing diarrhea, your first move should be to look for any related symptoms. If nothing else seems wrong, your rat might just need to stick to a bland diet. However, symptoms like blood in the stools, lethargy, or weight loss could be signs of a serious illness. For these symptoms, or if digestive problems persist longer than a few days, get in touch with a vet to get to the root of the problem.
1. **Feed your pet store-bought rat pellets only.** If your rat is experiencing diarrhea, stop feeding it treats, fresh fruits and veggies, or any foods other than commercial pellets. Keep it on a bland diet until its droppings have returned to normal.
Be sure to provide fresh, clean water at all times. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which potentially life-threatening.
Sudden dietary changes and too much fresh food can lead to digestive issues. Use fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts as treats, and offer them in moderation. Store-bought pellets labeled specifically for rats should comprise the bulk of its diet.
2. **Look for other concerning symptoms.** If your rat is behaving normally, digestive issues might just be a minor, temporary issue. However, diarrhea accompanied by symptoms such as blood in the stools, lethargy, changes in mobility, unusual growths, or abdominal tenderness could be signs of serious illness.
If you notice any serious symptoms, bring your rat to the vet.
3. **Wash its cage** Since diarrhea can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi, maintaining sanitary conditions is important for both you and your pet. When you notice your rat is sick, discard soiled bedding, scrub buildup inside the cage, and wash it with hot, soapy water.
Disinfect its food and water bowls daily with soap and hot water. Be sure to rinse away all soap residue.
Spot clean the cage daily, and remove feces and soiled bedding promptly.
Wash your hands for at least 30 seconds after handling your rat or touching its cage, food, or water.
4. **Offer Pedialyte to help prevent dehydration.** In addition to keeping fresh water in its cage at all times, you should also provide a hydrating electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte. Keep a small bowl of it in your rat's cage, and replace it within 24 hours.
An electrolyte drink will stay fresh for 24 to 48 hours after opening. Since an entire bottle or can is too much for your rat to drink in a day, pour a small bowl of it, then freeze the rest to keep it from spoiling.
Check if your rat is dehydrated by pulling back the skin around its shoulders. The skin should snap right back into place. If it sags, your rat might be dehydrated and require veterinary care.
Additionally, do your best to keep track of how much your rat urinates. If several hours go by and it doesn't urinate, or if its urine is very dark in color, it might need to see the vet.
5. **Seek emergency care if you think your rat ate something toxic.** If your rat had access to houseplants, medication, or toxic foods, call a vet immediately. Describe your rat's symptoms, tell them what you suspect they ate, and ask if you should take your pet to their office.
Common items that are poisonous to rats include chocolate, citrus fruits, rhubarb, NSAID pain relievers, ivy, foxglove, and oleander. Many other houseplants can also cause digestive problems, so it's crucial to keep all plants and flowers away from your pet.
6. **Take your rat to a vet if it's still sick after 3 or 4 days.** If your rat doesn't display symptoms other than diarrhea, and you don't think it's ingested something toxic, monitor it for a few days. Take steps to keep it hydrated, and see if its condition improves. If it's not better after 3 or 4 days, call the vet and ask if you should bring your rat to their office.
7. **Bring a stool sample to the vet's office.** It might seem a little gross, but the vet will probably want to examine a stool sample. Try to keep tabs on your rat, and collect a sample as soon as you can after it's passed. Purchase a sample container at your local pharmacy, or collect the sample in a small plastic bag.
Try to get the sample to the vet within 12 hours after collecting it. Wear vinyl or latex gloves, and wash your hands thoroughly after you collect the sample.
If collecting a stool sample grosses you out, ask the vet if they can collect one. You might need to leave your rat at their office until it makes a bowel movement.
The vet will test the sample for virus, bacteria, or fungi that might be causing an infection.
8. **Ask the vet to show you how to administer any necessary medications.** If the vet determines an infection is causing your rat's diarrhea, they'll likely prescribe an antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal medication. You might need to give your rat medication at home, so make sure you understand how to your rat its medicine before leaving the vet's office.
For serious infections, they might inject your rat with medication.
Sometimes, medications can't cure serious problems with the digestive system, such as megacolon or colon cancer. As heartbreaking as it is, try to focus on what's best for your furry friend. If there's no way to improve its condition, putting it to sleep is better than letting it continue to suffer.
9. **Administer** Measure carefully, and draw the prescribed amount of medication into the dropper. Hold your rat's head and neck with one hand, and insert the dropper into its mouth with the other. Ensure you're past its teeth, then squeeze the dropper's bulb to inject the medication.
To prevent choking, never give a rat medication when it's on its back. Hold it so it faces down or forward.
If your rat has a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, the vet will prescribe medication to combat it.
10. **Give your rat a small dose of antidiarrheal medicine.** To help manage diarrhea, you could give your rat 1 drop of liquid antidiarrheal medication per 1 ounce (28 g) of body weight, or about 1/10 the recommended human dose. Use an eyedropper to administer the medication daily.
It's best to consult the vet before giving your rat any over-the-counter medication.
11. **Feed your rat a probiotic supplement if it's on antibiotics.** You can find probiotics labeled for rodents at a pet supply store. Antibiotics kill gut bacteria that help regulate your rat's digestive system, which can lead to diarrhea. Probiotics will help replenish these healthy bacteria.
Consult the vet before giving your rat probiotics. With their approval, sprinkle a powdered supplement or empty the contents of a tablet onto your rat's food.
If your rat is on antibiotics for another condition and experiences diarrhea, probiotics could help relieve its symptoms. If your rat needs antibiotics to combat diarrhea, probiotics can help get its digestive system back to normal. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Diarrhea-in-Rats", "language": "en"} |
How to Pick a Horse Hoof | When you picking out a horse hoof, you remove mud, bedding, and any stones compacted in the underside of the hoof. You do this using a tool called a hoof pick. Picking out hooves is a very important skill, and should be done daily before and after riding to help keep the horse sound and from going lame. If the hoof is not picked and a stone becomes lodged in the hoof, it's possible the weight of the horse could push the stone right through the sole, which can have serious consequences. If you follow a few simple steps, you can learn to pick your horse's hoof correctly and prevent him from getting hurt.
1. **Calm the horse.** Before you can start, you need to make sure your horse is calm. You should also make sure he does not want to wander off. You need to start in a calm area, because it is not possible to get your horse to stand on 3 legs if there is a lot of excitement around him.
You should tie your horse up. Make sure the rope that is holding them isn't too tight. This is so that, if the horse panics, he won't hurt his neck by jarring it against the bridle.
Make sure that the rope isn't too short, which could cause discomfort or panic. Also make sure the rope isn't tied too long, as the grazing instinct might take over and throw off the horse's balance if he lowers his head.
2. **Start on one side.** When you approach the horse, introduce yourself, and let the horse know you have good intentions. Give him gentle strokes on his neck and shoulder and speak to him softly. Stand near the shoulder of one side and turn your body to face his tail. For a horse that may kick, make sure that your body is positioned comfortably and safely.
When you plant yourself next to your horse, have your outside leg slightly in front of the other for better balance and efficient maneuvering.
Get into a routine with the horse so that he recognized what you're about to do. This will make it easier on you because he will be more likely to cooperate.
It is a good idea to start with a front leg so you can gauge the horse's mood whilst being further away from the more dangerous back end.
3. **Warn the horse.** When you are firmly standing beside him, run your hand down your horse's leg, then tap at the back of his leg. This should warn the horse what you are about to do, which will give him time to square himself up. You want to make sure your horse does this, because if the other three legs are positioned too awkwardly, you will not be able to pick his hoof.
He won't pick up a leg if he feels unbalanced, so give him a chance to sort himself out.
4. **Lift his leg.** Once he is settled, give your horse time to lift his foot. You can squeeze the leg above the fetlock, which is the hinge joint above the hoof, if the horse doesn't automatically pick up the leg at the first command. Have patience and be gentle, as this may take some convincing if the horse is not responding.
If he still won't pick up his leg, gently lean against his shoulder. This sometimes helps to push his balance to his other side. Be careful to do it slowly so he can shift his weight.
If all other attempts to get him to lift his leg have failed, gently squeeze his chestnut, which is the hard, oval growth above the knee on the inside of the leg. Be gentle and wait a second for the leg to lift. You should release it as soon as you get a response.
If nothing else works, talk to him and make clicking noises with your mouth to make sure he is paying attention. If a normally obedient horse will not raise a leg, check for lameness.
5. **Support the hoof.** Once you get him to raise his hoof, hold the hoof in one hand. If he tries to pull away or put his foot down, hold the toe of the hoof and lift it towards his elbow. Support the hoof with the hand closest to the horse's body, leaving the hand furthest from the horse to wield the hoof pick. This allows you the best position to put your body against the horse, and feel what movements the horse is making.
This also helps the horse to have confidence, because he knows exactly where you are and feels more secure.
Some horses are much happier if you do not hold the pastern, which is the area below the fetlock and above the hoof.
6. **Relax your pull.** Once you finally get the horse's hoof supported in your hand and your horse relaxes, you can release the strength of your hold on the leg. You don't have to pull it so hard once he relaxes into the position. As soon as he does, you will only need minimal effort because the hold takes very little strength.
If you relax, he is less likely to stamp his hoof down.
Once the horse standing calmly on 3 legs, you can actually start picking the hoof.
Do not pull the horses leg out toward you. You want to keep it in its natural place. If you pull it in an unnatural way, you will cause the horse serious pain.
7. **Remove material from the frog.** Once you have the horse hoof in your hand, you can start the picking process. Begin by removing any material from the frog, which V or triangular wedge shape that protrudes from the horse's heel towards his head, with your fingers or a brush rather than the pick. The frog is a sensitive part of the hoof that has a blood supply and nerve endings. It should be treated like any other sensitive part of the horse and handled with care.
The frog sometimes shreds. If it looks tatty and ragged, gently tug it with your fingers. If it doesn't come away, it is probably pieces of the frog and you should leave it to come away by itself.
If necessary, call a qualified farrier or hoof trimmer to trim it for you. If the frog is flaky, never be tempted to cut it back yourself. You can quickly go too deep and cut into living tissue, which could then cause your horse to go lame.
8. **Clean the hoof.** When cleaning, use the point of the hoof pick to gently loosen any stones and pry them free. Never dig the point into the sole or hoof. You should only use the point to gain leverage on stones. Use the edge of the hoof pick to loosen dirt, mud, and debris. Work away with steady strokes until you can see the horn that forms the horse's hoof.
It is best to work from heel to toe, to prevent accidentally damaging the heel area or stabbing yourself with the hoof pick.
Always work the hoof pick away from the frog. This means that you should start close to the frog and move the hoof pick away from it. This prevents accidentally piercing the frog with the pick.
Never apply pressure down towards the hoof, always use a wiping or swiping type motion, parallel to the hoof so as not to risk penetrating it.
9. **Examine the horn.** While you are picking the heel, you should look at the state of the horn, which is the layer of tough skin that surrounds inside of hoof wall. The horn of the hoof should look dry and be free from cracks or moist discharges.
If you see cracks, fissures, or a discharge, either in the form of pus or white, foul smelling discharge, contact your veterinarian immediately.
10. **Pay particular attention to sensitive areas.** These areas are along the cleft of the frog and around the white line area. These areas may get small stones stuck in them, which can be irritating and cause serious damage if left unchecked. Also check for thrush, characterized by a flaky white powder on the horse's hoof or frog. It will flake when scratched with the hoof pick. It's a common and potentially fatal hoof disease caused by wet or muddy conditions in a pasture or stall.
Much like the horn, you need to check to make sure the frog looks dry and there is no discharge or smelly material exuding from it. Place your palm over the frog to ensure it is not hot. A warm, tender frog is a sign of inner infection which needs prompt veterinary attention.
11. **Check hoof health.** Once you have gotten all the debris out of the hoof and you have checked the horn and the frog, you need to make sure that the hoof is in good shape. Check the sole of the hoof, which should be hard and concave. You also need to ensure that the hoof is balanced and not in need of trimming. The horse should be able to stand squarely with all hooves in contact with the ground.
Check for bruises and cracks within the hoof. If the horse is reluctant to put one hoof down, this could be a sign of pain or discomfort. If you notice this, pay particular attention to that leg when you check the hoof.
12. **Examine the clenches.** If your horse has shoes on, make sure the clenches, which are the nails that hold the shoe on, haven't risen. You will most likely know if they have risen when the clenches slice your hand. Try to shake the shoe to make sure that the shoe is not loose. Put the hoof down gently.
If the shoe is loose, book a qualified farrier to replace it as quickly as possible. Put a hoof boot or bandage over a loose shoe to keep it in place until the farrier can come.
Some horses do best with shoes, and some do best barefoot. Find a qualified farrier to discuss which is best for your horse.
13. **Apply salve or conditioner if necessary.** If your horse's hoof is extremely dried out, feels overly rough, or is in need of conditioning, you can add some hoof conditioner. There are many different brands of hoof conditioner or salve, such as Equine Squire Drawing Salve or Hoof maker, that can help rejuvenate your horse's hoof.
You can make your own conditioner for your horse's hoof with coconut oil. You can also add one part aloe vera and one part glycerin to two parts coconut oil for a more intense conditioner for your horse's hooves.
If your horse has an infection or other bacteria infection in her hoof, you can also get ointments such as ichthammol to help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and kill germs.
14. **Attend the other three legs.** Once you have completed the full examination of one leg, you need to repeat the same procedure for each leg. When picking the rear hooves, stand right against the side of the horse's rump with your back to the horse's head facing towards his tail. stand directly behind the horse. If he kicked out, you would be seriously injured.
Take care not to surprise the horse. You should run your hand down his back, over the rump, and right the way down the hind leg to his fetlock. Ask the horse to lift the back leg in the same way you did the front. Because you are standing to the side of the horse, should he kick out, just let go of the hoof and you will not get hurt.
You should try to check the legs in the same order each time. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Pick-a-Horse-Hoof", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Friends in College | College is exciting and scary all at once. You have tons of freedom, but you’re also in a new environment surrounded by hundreds of complete strangers. Making new friends requires conscious effort, but it’s totally doable. Take a deep breath and get out of your comfort zone. After all, you can’t make friends sitting in your dorm room. Strike up conversation with classmates, invite people to hang out, and get involved on campus. Make sure you keep an open mind and stay true to yourself along the way.
1. **Get to class early and strike up conversation.** Getting to class ten minutes early can give you time to settle in and chat with your fellow classmates. Yes, talking to new people can be scary, but making friends is worth being a little uncomfortable. Comment on a homework assignment, something going on at school, or an especially eccentric professor.
Say something like, “What did you think of the reading last night?” or “I heard this professor loves cold-calling. I’m kind of nervous!”
Every time you find yourself sitting next to a stranger in class, introduce yourself.
2. **Invite people to hang out.** You shouldn’t wait for others to come to you. Take initiative and ask people in your classes or dorm to grab meal, get ready for a party together, or head to the gym. Don’t worry--asking people to hang out doesn’t make you look weird or desperate for friends. Putting yourself out there is necessary to build connections, and chances are, other people will appreciate the effort.
Doing daily activities together, like eating, studying, or working out, is a great way to work socializing into your busy schedule.
If you’re not into partying, invite people over to your dorm for a movie night or an old school slumber party.
3. **Try to talk to one new person every day.** You can start a conversation anywhere. Chat up the girl beside you in the elevator or the guy taking his clothes out of the dryer next to yours. The more people you meet, the more likely you are to find some great friends.
4. **Keep your room door open.** Keeping the door open while you hang out in your room gives your dorm mates the OK to pop in and say hello. Wave and smile at people as they pass. You could even offer snacks - no college student will refuse free food.
Only keep your door open while you’re in the room. Lock it when you leave to avoid theft.
5. **Go to campus events.** You can’t make friends when you’re cooped up in your dorm room all day. Get dressed, take a deep breath, and head to a football game, a dance, a party, or a campus festival. There could be lots of potential friends at these events. Plus, staying up to date with campus events can give you more to talk about with your peers.
6. **Do your homework in social spaces.** Of course, during exam time you may need to buckle down at the library, but in calmer times, try doing your homework in the student union or a coffee shop. Sit down next to a friendly-looking student and start a conversation.
You could ask for a coffee recommendation or a spare pencil. Say something like, “Hey, I’ve never been here before and I’m torn about what to order. What drink do you usually get?”
7. **Say yes to invitations.** If someone invites you to coffee, lunch, or a party, say yes! While you shouldn’t do anything that goes against your value system, it’s important to get out of your comfort zone in order to meet new people.
If you’re not a huge partier, don’t feel pressured to attend tons of frat parties or drink. You can bond with people in other ways.
Try to give everyone a chance. Avoid judging people. While you should never do anything you're uncomfortable with, you may be surprised by who ends up becoming your friend!
8. **Eat dinner in the same dining hall every night.** Instead of eating at your dorm room desk, hit up the dining hall! Make an effort to get to know the other people who frequent your dining hall. Don’t be afraid to sit down next to someone new or start a conversation at the dessert bar.
Introduce yourself by saying, “Hey, I’m Jack. I think I’ve seen you around a few times. I live in the dorm right next to the dining hall.”
Make a comment about the food. If the hamburgers look a little questionable, nudge the person next to you and say, “What do you think about the burgers? Should I go for one or steer clear?”
If you don’t have a meal plan, invite hall mates over to cook dinner together or have a potluck-style feast.
9. **Join a club.** Check with the Office of Student Engagement or your college’s website to see your options. You’ll probably find academic clubs, pre-professional clubs, cultural clubs, performing arts clubs, and volunteer clubs. Join one that sounds cool, and get ready to meet lots of people with common interests.
If your school doesn't have a club that you’d like to see, be bold and start your own! You may want to form a club related to your favorite art form or a unique academic interest.
Don’t take on more responsibilities than you can handle. If you’re a freshman, it’s especially important to give yourself time to adjust to college life. One club is fine. Three clubs could get very overwhelming very quickly.
10. **Join a sports team.** You can join an intramural team, which are pretty casual. These are great if you want to try out a new sport. For a more intense experience, join a competitive club team on campus. There’s nothing like competing, sweating, and maybe even winning together to foster new friendships.
If you don’t want to commit to a team, join a pickup game a few times a week or take a regular class at the gym.
11. **Volunteer.** If there’s a cause that’s close to your heart, see what volunteer opportunities are available. Your college may have a few volunteer organizations or be able to connect you with local opportunities. Volunteering is a great way get out of the college bubble, give back, and meet some like-minded people.
Look for on and off-campus volunteer opportunities. Don’t see anything you like? Organize your own project!
12. **Get a job that involves lots of socializing.** Consider working as a peer tutor, a waitress, or a sales associate. Not only will you make some cash to help cover all those college expenses, but you’ll also be able to bond with your coworkers, and maybe even a few clients!
You can meet tons of students through on-campus jobs. However, if you’re looking for some fresh faces, consider getting a job off-campus.
13. **Join a fraternity or sorority.** Greek organizations are not for everyone, but they can offer a great sense of community. Consider rushing if this community appeals to you. Remember, if you don’t like it, you can always deactivate.
14. **Start a study group.** Send out an email to your dorm or round up people in your class. Dealing with difficult material together--and maybe one or two crazy professors--is a fast way to bond. Plus, your grades may get a boost!
15. **Be an RA.** If you’re an upperclassman, you may have the opportunity to be an RA, or resident assistant. RAs provide academic, social, and personal support to members of their residence hall. As an RA, you’ll have a chance to connect with your fellow RAs and the students in your charge.
16. **Get involved in a religious community.** Religion may have been a big part of your life before college. Joining a religious community can help you stay connected to your religion while meeting people who share your faith. If your campus doesn’t have the community you’re looking for, see what’s available off-campus.
17. **Make yourself look approachable.** When you’re feeling awkward or nervous, it’s tempting start scrolling mindlessly through your social media feed to look busy. However, this won’t invite people in. Instead, put down the phone and use relaxed, confident body language: smile, stand up straight, and make eye contact with others. You’ll look friendly and open.
Avoid crossing your arms and looking at the ground.
Avoid spending too much time on social media. While it is important to stay in touch with old friends, it is also a good thing to meet new people.
Fake it ‘till you make it. Even if you feel awkward, using confident body language will give the illusion that you’re at ease.
18. **Be open to people different than you.** College is a time to meet people with different backgrounds and identities. Don’t write someone off just because they aren’t similar to you or your high school friends. Keep an open mind, and you just might find a new best friend.
19. **Find a friend who is more social than you.** Your college will be filled with an endless variety of people. Some of them will be shy, and others will be the life of the party. You should find a balance of friends, of course, but you should pick out at least one person, or even a few people, who have really great social skills, are excited to meet new people, and are always up to something fun.
This will maximize your chances of meeting as many people as possible -- and of finding the few people who really matter to you.
20. **Stay true to yourself.** You’ve probably heard this one countless times, but it bears repeating. After all, everyone is eager to make new friends quickly in college, so they may alter themselves to try to fit in. However, forcing a friendship usually doesn't work out so well. Be yourself for genuine, lasting connections.
Focus on your talents and strengths instead of your weaknesses. So what if you’re not so great at math? You’re a superstar in foreign languages!
Take some time to think about your values and passions. What matters most to you? What do you want to accomplish in life?
Remember, you can always find people who share your interests, values, and passions. Keep looking for ways to find like-minded people. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Friends-in-College", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Fondant | It's frustrating to run out of fondant when you're in the middle of decorating a cake. Never run out again once you learn how to make your own fondant! Create classic fondant using gelatin, corn syrup, and shortening or make faster marshmallow fondant. You can customize your fondant by tinting it or adding a flavor extract. Then, roll it out or store it until you're ready to decorate.
1. **Hydrate the gelatin in water until it's firm.** Pour ⁄4 cup (59 ml) of cold water into a heat-proof bowl and sprinkle 2 teaspoons (1/4 ounce or 7 g) of unflavored powdered gelatin over it. Leave the gelatin to hydrate for 5 to 10 minutes. It should start to look thick and gel-like.
2. **Heat the gelatin over simmering water until it melts.** Pour about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water into a pan and turn the burner to medium. When the water begins to simmer, place the bowl with the gelatin in the pan so it sits over the water. Continue to heat the gelatin gently until it melts.
You can stir the gelatin at this point to help dissolve.
3. **Stir in glucose, glycerin, and shortening.** Add 1/2 cup (170 g) of glucose syrup or corn syrup to the melted gelatin along with 1 tablespoon (18 g) of glycerin and 2 tablespoons (28 g) of shortening or butter. Stir the mixture and heat it until the ingredients melt.
If you don't have glycerin, you can substitute vegetable oil.
4. **Set the bowl of gelatin on the counter and stir in vanilla.** Turn off the burner and wear oven mitts to carefully lift the bowl out of the pan. Then, stir in 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of vanilla extract and set the mixture aside to cool until it's lukewarm.
5. **Stir the mixture into 4 cups (0.5 kg) of the powdered sugar.** Put the powdered sugar into a large bowl so you have room to pour in the cooled gelatin mixture. Then, stir it well with a wooden spoon.
The mixture should look sticky and stretchy at this point.
6. **Mix in the rest of the powdered sugar as needed.** Continue to stir in the remaining 4 cups (0.5 g) of powdered sugar, 1 cup (125 g) at a time. Depending on how firm you want your fondant, you may not need all of the powdered sugar.
You can stop adding the powdered sugar once it becomes difficult to incorporate.
7. **Knead the fondant until it's smooth.** Sprinkle powdered sugar over your work surface and turn the fondant onto it. Then, coat your hands with some powdered sugar and knead the fondant until it's soft and easy to work with.
If you're in a hot or wet climate, you may need to add more powdered sugar as you work to prevent the fondant from sticking.
If the fondant becomes too stiff while you're kneading, mix in a drop of water at a time until it softens.
8. **Use the fondant or store it until you're ready to decorate.** You can immediately begin rolling out the fondant to decorate a cake or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. To prevent the fondant from drying out, brush it with a little vegetable oil before you wrap it. Then, store it at room temperature out of direct light for up to 1 week.
Avoid refrigerating the fondant because this will introduce moisture which could cause the fondant to become too sticky.
9. **Melt the mini-marshmallows with water in a microwave.** Open a 10-ounce (280 g) bag of mini-marshmallows and pour them into a heat-proof bowl. Then, pour in 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of water and microwave the marshmallows for about 30 seconds or until they melt.
If you don't have a microwave, you can heat the bowl of marshmallows over simmering water.
10. **Mix 3 cups (375 g) of the powdered sugar with the marshmallows.** Put the powdered sugar and melted marshmallows into the bowl of a stand mixer and turn it on low. Stir the mixture on low speed until it forms a ball.
If the fondant looks too sticky, add more powdered sugar.
11. **Turn the fondant out and knead it for 7 to 8 minutes.** Coat your work surface with powdered sugar. Then, grease your hands and a spatula with vegetable oil so you can scoop the fondant onto your work surface. Knead the fondant until it becomes soft and smooth.
If your fondant feels too dry, mix in about ⁄2 tablespoon (7.4 ml) of water until the fondant loosens a little.
12. **Roll out your fondant** If you'd like to cover a cake or cupcakes with fondant, you can start rolling the fondant on your powdered sugar-coated work surface. If you'd like to put the fondant aside, spread a little vegetable oil on the surface of the fondant and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Keep the fondant at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Put the wrapped fondant in a cool part of your pantry that's out of direct light. You shouldn't refrigerate the fondant because it will introduce moisture that could make the fondant sticky.
There are different methods to roll fondant without letting it stick.
You can use powdered sugar or cornstarch as a base instead of flour.
Or you can roll it between parchment papers. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fondant", "language": "en"} |
How to Become a Singer Even if Your Parents Don't Want You to | You love to sing and you’re good at it, too! You know this is what you want to do for the rest of your life, but maybe your parents don’t quite agree. Don’t abandon your dream just yet, though. There are lots of things you can do to become a singer on your own, like watching vocal lesson videos online, practicing, and posting your own songs on the Internet. Then, you can help your parents see that you’re determined and mature enough to follow your passion. Even if they still disapprove, you’ll have a good plan and the confidence to pursue your dreams no matter what.
1. **Watch free vocal lessons online.** If your parents don’t want you to become a singer, chances are they won’t want to pay for singing lessons for you, either. Luckily, you can find lots of videos online with vocal tips, breathing exercises and warm-up routines to make you the best singer you can be. Search for “beginner voice lessons” and see what’s out there!
Don’t push yourself too hard! Some videos are of professional, adult singers who have been training their whole lives to hit high notes. Start with simple techniques and scales made specifically for beginners and work your way up.
One simple exercise for relaxing your jaws and lips is to find a video of a droning tone, like a cello drone in D, and to sing a single syllable in unison with that drone for a full breath cycle. This will help you hear things that might be interfering with your sound.
2. **Take personal singing lessons.** Taking voice lessons in-person is the best option, since your teacher can help you with posture and other physical elements of singing. If your parents won’t let you sign up for in-person lessons, though, you can also enroll in live online lessons over videochat, so you can learn from a professional from the comfort of your own room.
In either case, you’ll have to pay for lessons. Make a bit of money by doing some chores around the house, like cleaning the bathroom or mowing the lawn. If you’re old enough, you could also get a part-time job at a local fast food restaurant or grocery store.
3. **Learn an instrument.** Knowing how to play an instrument can really help with your dream to become a singer. Many famous singers play an instrument, like the guitar, bass guitar, or piano. Playing a woodwind instrument, like a flute or clarinet, can help you build stamina and strengthen your breathing. learning how to read music in general will help you a lot with your singing too. Your parents might be more willing to support your music dreams if you ask them about learning an instrument, especially if you can take classes through your school.
To really impress your parents, tell them some of the positives of playing an instrument. For example, say that playing music has been shown to make kids more responsible and help them with math, reading and comprehension.
4. **Sing whenever you can.** The best thing you can do if you want to be a singer is just sing! Belt out your favorite tunes in the shower, sing along to the radio in the car, or serenade your friends on their birthdays. The more you sing, the better you’ll become and the closer you’ll get to your dream of becoming a singer.
The songs that seem to get stuck in your head over and over again can even clue you in to the genre of music or types of themes that might be good for you to explore.
5. **Take care of your voice.** Drink lots of water and avoid spicy foods, which could make stomach acid move into the throat and give you heartburn. Exercise regularly, even if it’s just walking around the block a couple times a day, to increase your stamina and help your breathing.
Give yourself a couple rest days a week, and try not to sing if your voice is hurting. Even professional singers have rest days!
6. **Write your own songs.** Once you get the hang of singing other artists’ songs, try writing your own. Figure out a topic, like love, sorrow, or excitement, and start writing words and sentences that describe what you’re feeling. Throw in a couple rhymes! Hum along to the words and start finding a nice melody. It might be hard at first, but keep trying. You’ll get better with practice.
7. **Ask for feedback from your friends.** If you know your friends support your dream, ask them to listen to you sing and tell you what they think. Ask them to be honest, but still nice! Chances are, they’ll be happy you asked them and excited to hear you practice your talent.
If you think your friends might be mean or make fun of you, ask someone else, like a sibling or your favorite teacher. Or record yourself on a phone or tape recorder and listen to yourself without other people judging you.
8. **Join your school or church choir.** You’ll be able to meet other people your age who love to sing too, and you can even get professional advice from the choir teacher or leader. Plus, your parents might support your dream more if it gets you involved in and excited about school or church.
Tell your parents that that joining a choir is a great chance for you to make new friends and even get a great academic grade.
9. **Upload songs and videos online.** Tons of famous singers, like Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran, started as kids who loved to sing just like you, and became successful by posting videos online. Start by finding songs you really love and practice singing them to yourself, then record them on a phone, computer, or even your parents’ old camera. You’ll start attracting viewers before you know it!
Use a popular video site, like YouTube. Watch other artists’ videos to get inspiration for how to stage and record your songs. Pretend you’re your favorite singer and really go for it!
10. **Discuss alternatives if your parents won’t let you post videos online.** Ask what specifically bothers them about you posting videos to a site like YouTube. For example, are they worried that strangers could see it, or even criticize you? Ask if they’ll let you post audio clips on streaming services like Soundcloud instead. Strangers won’t be able to see you actually sing but you can still promote your songs online, even under a stage name if that makes them more comfortable.
If your parents are really bothered by the thought of any of your songs being online, it’s probably best to listen to them. If you show that you’re willing to give up this idea, maybe they’ll be more willing to discuss other alternatives, like taking singing lessons or participating in a talent show.
Even if you can’t promote yourself now, keep singing and practicing. When you’re older, you’ll eventually have the freedom to post as many videos as you want.
11. **Enter singing competitions to show your parents that you’re serious.** If you’re a little nervous about performing in front of other people, start small. Sing in front of your friends or siblings, or try karaoke! Give it a shot at your school’s talent show and impress all your classmates with your amazing voice. Your parents will be impressed by your determination and passion, and may even support you.
It’s okay if singing in front of other people feels a little scary at first. Even famous professional singers get stage fright. To beat your nerves, think positive thoughts about how well the performance will go and how much everyone will love it. Shake out your arms and legs and breathe deeply. You’re going to rock it!
To overcome your nerves, try taking your worst fears of how something might sound and doing them intentionally. For instance, if you're afraid your voice will be too quiet, sing a version that's embarrassingly quiet. Giving voice (literally) to those fears allows them to become a source of play and imagination rather than something that's a real obstacle to your performance.
12. **Listen to their concerns.** Your parents are probably afraid that if you try to become a singer, you’ll have a hard time succeeding and making money in the music industry. Listen to their points quietly and tell them that you understand how they feel. You could even thank them for having your best interests at heart. They’ll be impressed with your maturity and more likely to listen to your ideas now that you’ve heard theirs.
Remember that your parents love you and want the best for you in life. They’re not trying to be mean--they’re just looking out for you.
13. **Explain to them that you’re serious about your dream.** Tell them how much you’ve been practicing on your own and how you’ve been improving. Say, “I know I’m young right now, but I’ve found something I really love and that I want to do my whole life. It would mean so much to me if you supported me!”
Try not to get to raise your voice or get too emotional. They’ll be more likely to listen to you and agree with your point of view if you stay calm and mature.
14. **Strike a compromise.** Maybe your parents think you won’t focus as much on your grades if you take singing lessons, or that you’ll skip college to pursue your dream. Ask them what they’re specifically worried about and compromise.
For example, you could promise to bring your math grade up if your parents let you take singing lessons. You could promise to go to college and double-major in music and something more practical. Your parents will be relieved that you have backup options and that you’re still committed to other parts of your life.
If you make a promise, keep it! If you promised to get a good GPA in exchange for getting singing lessons but you don’t bring your grades up, your parents might take your voice lessons away.
15. **Continue without their support if you have to.** If your parents become very angry or upset when you bring up your dream of singing, keep your plans to yourself. If you’re still living under your parents’ roof, you’ll have to go along with what they want, at least for now. Continue practicing on your own as much as you can. Tell yourself that this is actually good practice for you: you’ll probably face a lot of critics during your career as a singer.
Keep your dream alive and don’t get discouraged! You won’t live with your parents forever. Eventually, you’ll be able to move out and follow your passion. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Singer-Even-if-Your-Parents-Don%27t-Want-You-to", "language": "en"} |
How to Be a Capitalist | As a capitalist, you can take even a small amount of cash or resources—known as capital—and invest it to hopefully become even more successful. There's no guarantee that you'll make money doing this, but we can help you get started on the path!
1. **Understand the difference between capitalism and capitalists.** Capitalism is a political philosophy that advocates for free markets, free of government intervention, and believes in the self-regulating power of the market. A capitalist may or not share these political views, but instead simply is one who invests capital in business interests. That is, a capitalist can believe in socialism or communism, or any other political or economic system, while still taking advantage of the free market to further their own interests.
2. **Believe in yourself.** Capitalism allows anyone with an amount of capital, no matter how small, to grow that capital and improve their position in life. Anyone can escape from a life of dependence on wages and start making their money work for them. In order to make your business ideas come to fruition, you'll have to believe in the capitalist system and in yourself.
3. **Think of yourself as a company.** Being a capitalist requires a fundamental change in the way that you think about yourself. Instead of thinking of yourself as part of a business or the owner of one, think of yourself as the business. Use the assets available to you, including both physical assets and your skills and expertise, to produce income in the most efficient way possible. Grow your own personal value and net worth by investing in yourself, such as in education and networking. Build a personal brand and work to gain brand recognition for yourself. Reduce your own debts and try to build your assets over time. By shifting how you view yourself, you can turn around your finances and begin to grow your wealth.
4. **Know the benefits of capital investment.** Capital investment frees you from dependence on wages and can earn money with less effort on your part. By putting your money into appreciating (growing) assets, you are not just earning money to spend but instead creating a cycle of growth. In this cycle, you earn money from working on your business or holding your assets and reinvest that earned money to grow the value of your business or assets. Any work you do is not just for wages, but also to increase the value of your assets.
5. **Be open to opportunities.** Be alert to new business opportunities and be willing to try them out. Even if your primary area of expertise is in one area, don't lock yourself into that one field. Instead, branch out into new areas where possible, especially if you think they will be very profitable. This will not only increase your income, but also protect you from market fluctuations.
6. **Save your money** In order to be a capitalist, you will need some capital to invest. You don't need a lot of it, but you will need something to get started. If you weren't lucky enough to be born with money, you can still work diligently to save your income and earn enough money to invest it in capital. Quite simply, you need to carefully watch your income and expenses, making sure that you're saving as much as possible. Try setting a goal and making a budget to help you reach that goal in a set amount of time.]
7. **Cut down your taxes** A capitalist knows that paying their tax burden and staying within the bounds of the law is a necessary civic duty. However, this doesn't mean that you should just accept your tax burden as is. Instead, always be on the lookout for ways to reduce your taxable income and taxes owed. Reductions can be made using tax credits or deductions, expensing everything you possibly can, and, for businesses, capitalizing assets over several years.
8. **Buy securities** One of the easiest ways you can begin using your capital to earn more is by investing in securities, like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. These assets have the ability to appreciate in value or return a steady income to you, depending on the nature of the security. Get started by researching each type of asset and determining where your money can earn the most for you.
For more, see how to choose stocks.
9. **Invest in capital assets.** Capital assets are those assets, for instance a piece of production equipment or a commercial vehicle, that can be used to produce income. Owning these assets is the foundation of being a capitalist: you use them to earn income and then use the income to purchase more of them. Typically, these assets require a large initial investment. However, you can use various types of financing to reduce the immediate cost to you down to a very low amount, or in some cases nothing.
For more information, see how to start your own business without money and how to buy a business with no money.
10. **Create value.** In the twenty-first century, the definition of capital has been expanded to include a lot of abstract ideas and intangible values. You can create value by simply coming up with a good idea and convincing others of the value of that idea without actually putting in or earning any money. Think of companies like Snapchat or Facebook that created a tremendous amount of value without earning any money for a long period of time. They started with a good idea then worked to perfect that idea, eventually earning billions of dollars from the effort.
Think about ideas that could create social, cultural, or human capital. Maybe consider ways to improve people's well-being or productivity.
Take advantage of the far-reaching powers of the internet to spread your idea and get people behind it.
As your idea develops, work towards turning it into a capital-producing business..
11. **Grow your business** If your primary business operations are up and running, you may want to look into growth options. In addition to increasing profitability and sales volume in your primary operations, you can expand to new areas, create and market new products, or look to attract a new type of customer.
12. **Add income streams.** Look for areas outside of your primary business operations where you can make money. Maybe you can teach a skill in your spare time, or write a guide to help others do something that you know how to do. Adding to your personal income streams can give you an extra cushion in case your primary business goes south. It can also provide you with additional money to reinvest in assets.
13. **Watch the market.** Always be on the lookout for the changing moods of your customers and trends in the market at large. Make changes to your way of doing business if they become outdated. Constantly seek out new ways to increase your profitability, diversify, take advantage of new technology, or reach new market segments. Read up on business developments in newspaper or magazines specific to your industry. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Capitalist", "language": "en"} |
How to Preserve Fall Leaves | Autumn is perhaps the most beautiful time of the year, but it often feels like the shortest. Though you can’t stop the season from changing, you can keep some of it with you year-round by drying, pressing, or sealing a few fall leaves before the winter comes.
1. **Select vibrant leaves.** Harvest freshly fallen leaves that are bright in color and fairly supple. The leaves can be somewhat dry, but they should not be so dry that they are brittle or turning up at the ends. Avoid leaves with rips or rotten spots.
Your leaves are going to lose some color when you dry them out, so the brighter your leaves are when you select them, the less noticeable this loss of color will be when you’re done.
2. **Coat both sides of each leaf in decoupage.** Decoupage is a white, gluey substance that turns clear when it dries. You can find it at your local craft store. Use a foam brush to carefully apply a liberal coat of decoupage to one side of each leaf. Set them to dry on a piece of newspaper.
In most cases, you should apply the decoupage to the leaves the same day you collect them. If you wait too long, the leaves will dry out, becoming brown and brittle.
If the leaves are very moist, however, or if you plucked them directly off the tree instead of waiting for them to drop, you can dry them out slightly by pressing them in between the pages of a heavy book for a few days.
3. **Allow the decoupage to completely dry.** It will turn clear and will no longer be sticky.
4. **Repeat on the other side.** Turn the leaf and apply the decoupage to the other side. When the second side is dry, the leaves are ready to use. This method preserves the color and form of the leaves for an extended period of time.
5. **Choose fresh leaves.** Start out with leaves that are vibrant, and newly fallen. Coating the leaves with paraffin wax will preserve them at the height of their brilliant color. Dry them off with paper towels before you begin.
6. **Melt paraffin wax in a disposable pan.** You can buy a 16-oz (453 g) box of paraffin wax at your local craft or grocery store. Melt it in a disposable cake pan by heating the pan on your stove over low heat.
To make the paraffin wax melt more quickly, slice it into thick chunks and spread them evenly along the bottom of the disposable pan.
If you do not use a disposable pan, use a cake pan that you do not plan on using for cooking anymore. The wax can ruin the pan, so you should not use a pan that you frequently use for cooking and baking.
7. **Remove the melted wax from the stove.** Exercise caution, since melted wax is very hot. Transfer it carefully from the burner to your work table. Pay close attention to it to make sure that it does not get knocked over, especially if you have pets or small children.
8. **Dip each leaf into the melted wax.** Hold a leaf at the tip of the stem and dunk it into the liquified wax several times. Make sure both sides of the leaf get coated in wax. Avoid getting your fingers too close to the wax. Repeat with the remaining leaves.
9. **Lay the leaves out to dry.** Lay each wax-covered leaf out on wax paper until the wax hardens. Let the leaves dry in a draft-free area for several hours. Once dried, they should lift off the wax paper easily. This method preserves the form and color of the leaves for a long time.
To be extra safe, line the counters with newsprint before lining them with a layer of wax paper. The double-layer minimizes the risk of getting wax drippings on the counter. If they get on the counter, wax drippings can be extremely difficult to scrape off.
10. **Select fresh leaves or a small branch with leaves attached.** If you would like to preserve an entire branch of fall leaves, this preservation method is easier to use than wax. Choose a branch with leaves that are vibrant and firmly attached.
This method will make the colors more vibrant. Yellows become more intense, and reds and oranges become a vibrant ruddy color.
Look for sprigs that have fallen off the tree on their own instead of breaking them off the tree yourself. Removing a branch from a tree can damage it.
Do not choose branches that have diseased leaves or those that have gone through a frost. This method does not work on leaves that have already gone through a frost.
11. **Open up the end of each branch.** Strike the end of each branch with a hammer to split it open, exposing the live portion of the wood. This exposes the live wood of the branch so that it can absorb the glycerin solution properly. Otherwise, the solution will not be able to reach the leaves.
If you're just preserving individual leaves, you can skip this step.
12. **Mix up a glycerin solution.** You can find vegetable glycerin in your local craft or grocery store. To make a solution, add 17 oz (530 ml) of liquid vegetable glycerin to half a gallon (2 liters) of water in a large bucket or vase.
Glycerin is a natural product derived from vegetables, making this a fairly organic option to preserve your leaves.
If you're preserving a large, woody branch, mix in four to five drops of mild liquid dish soap. The dish soap acts as a surfactant, breaking the surface tension of the glycerin so that the molecules can penetrate the wood more easily. For best results, use a mild dish soap with no added colors or scents. You could also use liquid surfactant, which is available at most gardening stores.
13. **Stand the branch in the solution for three to five days.** Allow the branches and leaves to absorb the glycerin for at least three to five days. Store the bucket in a shaded place during the absorption process.
If you're preserving individual leaves, you'll need to weight them so they stay submerged. Pour the solution into a flat pan, place the leaves in the solution, and cover them with a plate or lid to hold them down.
14. **Remove the branch and leaves from the solution.** The color will look brighter, and the leaves should feel supple. You can use the whole preserved branch in your crafts or you can pluck the leaves off and use them separately.
15. **Sandwich fresh leaves between paper towels.** This is a great way to dry leaves for crafts, but some color fading will occur. Place fresh leaves on top of two paper towels. Cover them with another single layer of paper towel.
Use freshly fallen leaves that are still vibrant and pliable. Avoid leaves that are curling at the ends or those that have rips or rotted spots.
For best results, leave a little space in between each leaf to prevent them from sticking together as they dry.
16. **Microwave the leaves to dry them out.** Place the leaves in the microwave and heat them for 30 seconds. Afterward, continue microwaving the leaves in 5-second intervals.
Autumn leaves will generally need to be microwaved 30 to 180 seconds before they are sufficiently dry.
Be very attentive when microwaving leaves. If cooked too long, leaves can actually catch fire.
Leaves that appear scorched have been microwaved too long. Leaves that curl at the ends after being removed from the microwave have not been microwaved long enough.
17. **Let the leaves sit out overnight.** Store the leaves in a draft-free, shady area. Leave them there overnight, at minimum, or for two days, at maximum. If you notice a change in color, the leaves should be sealed immediately.
18. **Seal the leaves with craft spray.** Spray both sides of each leaf with clear acrylic craft spray to preserve the remaining color. Let the leaves dry before using them as decorations or for crafts.
19. **Place the leaves between two sheets of paper.** This preservation dries leaves, but does not preserve their color. Sandwich your fall leaves in between two clean sheets of heavy white typing paper.
Use paper that is at least as heavy as typing paper, rather than something thin like tracing paper. Otherwise, the leaves may bleed through and create stains.
Lay the leaves out in a single layer. Do not stack or overlap the leaves since doing so will cause them to stick together.
Choose leaves that are in good shape. They should be recently fallen and moist. The tips should not be dried or turned up.
20. **Lay a heavy book over the paper.** A large, heavy book should work. To reduce the risk of staining the book or other pressing object, as well as the work surface, place sheets of blotting paper or paper towels in between the typing paper and the book. This will help to absorb the moisture from the leaves.
21. **Alternative pressing with a book:** Press the leaves directly inside the book. Use an old book that you do not mind staining just in case the leaves damage the pages. Simply tuck the leaves away into the pages of the book. Allow at least 20 pages in between leaves for best results.
Telephone directories work very well, if you have one available.
Put weight on top of the book. The pressing helps press out moisture as well as keep the leaf flat. This can be other books, bricks, or any object with some heft.
22. **Check your progress after one week.** They should be dried; if they are still pliable, press them for another few days.
23. **Choose fresh leaves.** Start out with leaves that are moist, vibrant, and newly fallen. Pressing the leaves with wax will preserve them at the height of their brilliant color.
24. **Dry the leaves.** Place the leaves in a single layer in between two paper towels to dry them if they're wet. Make sure they aren't overlapping, since this will cause the leaves to stick together. Use a medium-hot iron to iron each side. Iron each side for three to five minutes to absorb extra moisture.
Drying the leaves out beforehand will allow them to retain their color and quality after being sealed into the wax paper.
Do not use a steam setting on your iron, since steam will keep the leaves moist. Only use a dry setting.
Feel the leaves after ironing them for 3 to 5 minutes. If a leaf does not feel dry, iron both sides for a few more minutes.
25. **Place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper.** It does not matter which side of the wax paper faces the leaves, since both sides are waxed. Arrange the dried leaves in a single layer in between the wax paper sheets. Leave a little space around each leaf. The wax paper will need to be able to adhere to itself.
26. **Sandwich the wax paper between two pieces of typing paper.** You can also use brown paper bag material or another thick paper. Make sure all of the wax paper is covered by regular paper, so the iron won't stick to the wax. Make sure that the leaves remain spaced apart and in a single layer.
27. **Seal the wax paper with your iron.** With the iron on a medium-hot setting, iron both sides of the paper to seal the wax together. Keep the iron constantly moving so it won't burn the wax. Heat the first side for three minutes, then flip the paper, wax and leaves over carefully and repeat on the other side.
Do not use a steam setting on your iron; only use a dry setting.
Handle the hot paper carefully. If your skin is sensitive, you may want to wear gloves to protect your hands.
28. **Let the wax cool.** The wax will have slightly melted around the leaves, and as it cools it will adhere to them. Wait until the wax is cool before handling it.
29. **Cut around the leaves.** After the whole thing has cooled to the touch, remove the paper sheets from the wax paper. Carefully cut around each leaf using scissors or a sharp craft blade.
Leave a small border of wax paper around the edge of each leaf so that the leaf remains securely sealed in between the layers of wax paper.
You could also try to peel the wax paper off the leaves instead of cutting them out. A coating of wax should remain on the leaves, and it may be enough to keep the leaves well preserved. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Preserve-Fall-Leaves", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Your Pans Look Shiny and New Again | When your pans start looking crusty and stained, we all know that dish soap alone just won’t cut it. So how do you get rid of stains and make your pans look new again? We’ve put together 11 tried-and-true ways to clean your pans and restore their glorious shine. The best part is that you probably already have the cleaning tools you need at home. Keep scrolling to learn how to clean up your pots and pans so they look as good as the day you bought them.
1. **Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for an easy home cleaning solution.** Sprinkle about ¼ cup (about 50 g) of baking soda over your pan. Then, add 2-3 tbsp (30-44 mL) of hydrogen peroxide a few drops at a time until you get a thick paste. Let the mixture sit for up to 2 hours. Scrub off the mixture and any excess grime with a soft sponge, and enjoy your sparkling pan!
This method is safe to use on non-stick pans.
2. **Boil a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water in a pan to remove stubborn burnt spots.** Make sure you add enough liquid to completely cover any stains. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, and let it boil until you see any caked-on material start to come off. Turn off the heat, dump out the mixture, and wash the pan with soap and water once it’s cool.
Alternatively, use a long-handled scrub brush to scrub the pan right after you’ve turned the burner off, so the pot will still be hot. Just be very careful and wear an oven mitt to hold the scrub brush.
This method is safe to use on non-stick pans.
3. **Combine a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and vinegar to make a DIY scouring paste.** Apply the paste onto your pan and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then, take a sponge or scouring pad and scrub off any stains.
If you have a large enough sink, try this alternative for stubborn stains: plug the sink and fill it with hot water. Add ½ cup (about 100g) baking soda and ½ cup (118mL) vinegar. Let your pans soak for 30-60 minutes, then scrub off any remaining grime.
Soaking your pans will make it much easier to remove any burnt-on food or grime.
This method is safe to use on non-stick pans.
4. **Submerge a pan in a larger pot filled with boiling water and baking soda.** Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add in ¼-1 cup (50-100g) of baking soda. Then, place your metal pan into the pot and let it “cook” for 15-30 minutes. Remove it with tongs or a hot pad—be very careful! Add a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and water to create a thick paste, and scrub the pan while it’s still hot.
This method isn’t safe for non-stick pans or pans with plastic handles.
5. **Combine a gentle abrasive with water to create a paste that’ll take off years of grime.** Sprinkle the recommended amount of your scouring powder over the pan. Add a few drops of water to create a thick paste. Then, let the mixture sit for 20 minutes. Afterward, scrub the paste with steel wool to make your pans shiny again.
This method isn’t the best for non-stick pans. Both scouring powder and steel wool can rub off the non-stick coating.
6. **Try Borax to restore shine to your pans or baking sheets.** It’s best to sprinkle the powder onto your pots, pans, or cookie sheets when they’re dry. Wet a microfiber cloth or sponge, and use a hefty amount of elbow grease to scrub off those years of grime.
Rinse and clean your pots and pans afterward with regular dish soap and water.
This method isn’t ideal for non-stick pans because Borax is mildly abrasive.
7. **Let your pan soak with a dryer sheet to reduce scrubbing effort.** It's certainly unconventional, but the fabric conditioning properties of dryer sheets can help cut through grime! Fill the pan with warm water, and add about 1 tsp (about 5mL) of dish soap. Place a dryer sheet into the soapy water, and let it sit for at least 1 hour. Pour the cleaning solution out, and finish the job by using a non-scratch sponge to remove any leftover material.
This method is safe for non-stick pans.
8. **Try ketchup and salt to restore tarnished pans.** The acid from tomatoes will help remove old stains. Just add a layer of ketchup onto the pan, and scrub it in with a soft cloth. Rinse your pan off, and it should be tarnish-free.
Ketchup is also a great way to clean brass.
This method is best for copper pans, and it likely won’t have much effect on non-stick pans (because they shouldn’t tarnish).
9. **Scrub cast iron pans with a potato and salt.** This one might seem a little odd, but swapping suds for spuds can make your cast iron pans look new again. Sprinkle salt into the pan, and cut a potato in half. Place the potato into the pan with the cut side down, and scrub vigorously, using circular motions. Rinse off any excess salt and starch, then season your cast iron pan with oil.
10. **Swap store-bought sponges for foil to create a DIY cleaning tool.** Simply ball up a wad of tin foil and use it in lieu of a sponge to scrub your pan. Add baking soda or scouring powder to increase your scrubbing power if you’re dealing with tough stains or grease.
Aluminum foil isn’t safe to use on non-stick pans. Stick to a microfiber cloth or soft sponge.
11. **Opt for a classic scrubbing approach with steel wool.** Start by adding a splash of water to your pan. Then, take your steel wool and scrub away. Just keep in mind, you might have to scrub for roughly 30 minutes to make your pan look shiny and new again.
Steel wool is too aggressive for non-stick pans, and it could scratch regular pans. Use this method as a last resort and try a microfiber cloth instead. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-My-Pans-Look-New", "language": "en"} |
How to Zone Agricultural Land for Use As a Wedding Venue | There are a multitude of ways your farmland can produce income, and one popular venture is to rent your scenic barns or fields out for rustic wedding ceremonies and receptions. However, doing so requires rezoning agricultural property so it can be used for these commercial ventures. To zone agricultural land for use as a wedding venue, you must complete the appropriate application and submit it for zoning board approval. You can only host weddings on your land once you have all the proper permits in place.
1. **Talk to your neighbors.** Your neighbors can be your strongest supporters or your most bitter rivals if you want to rezone your property. The best way to potentially get them on your side is to keep them informed of your plans every step of the way.
In the early stages, let them know about your plans and reassure them that you will keep them informed on developments.
Give them the chance to ask questions, and do everything you can to assure them that events you host won't cause any disturbances to them or their property.
Ask your neighbors for their support. You may want to right up a brief contract that summarizes any agreements you've made on which their support is conditional.
For example, your neighbors may be concerned about traffic and noise during late hours. You could promise them that you would not host a wedding with more than 50 guests and that all events will end by 10 p.m.
2. **Get the appropriate forms.** Each county has particular forms you'll have to complete to have your agricultural land rezoned for use as a wedding venue. Read the forms carefully to make sure you have the right ones before you start the application process.
Many counties have conditional permits that you can get to host special events. These applications typically are less complicated, and may have a higher chance of being approved.
Conditional permits do restrict the number of events you can host each year, as well as the dates and times you can host events.
You may be able to download applications and instructions from the website of your county clerk or county zoning board.
If you can't find a website, contact your county's planning department or zoning board to find out how to get a rezoning application.
Some states have laws that delegate zoning changes, special exceptions, permits or variances to each municipality, so you would need to contact your town or city zoning officials for more information.
3. **Complete your application.** Your application requires information about you, your property, and your proposed use or development of your property. Make sure to answer every question thoroughly, and contact an attorney or other land use expert if you have any difficulties.
You'll need the legal description of your property as it appears on your deed, including your parcel number or any metes and bounds description.
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to get a professional survey of your property, particularly if you plan to use locations near property boundaries and ownership is disputed.
Keep in mind that it may not be necessary to have all of your property rezoned, just the parts you plan to use as a wedding or special event venue.
For example, if you have a rustic barn on your property that you want to use as a wedding venue, but the barn and surrounding property only occupy one of your 20 acres, the remaining 19 acres don't necessarily need to be rezoned.
4. **Submit your application.** Zoning boards or planning commissions have specific submission guidelines that can vary greatly among states and even counties within states. Make sure you're following the correct procedures and have included all required documentation.
In addition to the application form itself, you may also be responsible for submitting a copy of your deed.
The office where you submit your application should have a checklist of documents that constitute a complete application.
Make at least one copy of everything you submit with your application for your own records before you turn them into the office.
You'll be expected to pay a fee when you submit your rezoning application, which typically amounts to a little over a thousand dollars.
Typically when you submit your application, the date for your hearing will be scheduled. It also may be scheduled after your application is processed, in which case you should receive a notice in the mail.
5. **Provide notice to interested parties.** While the board typically provides general public notice of all upcoming zoning hearings, you may be responsible for providing specific, personal notice of your rezoning application to owners of neighboring property.
The zoning board will have forms that must be used to provide the required notice, as well as procedures you must follow. You also must provide them with a full copy of your application.
There will be a deadline by which your neighbors must be notified of the hearing, typically expressed as a certain number of days or weeks before the hearing is scheduled to take place.
Keep in mind that if you're responsible for providing notice, you typically also must present proof of service to the board, either before or at the hearing.
6. **Consider hiring an attorney.** Zoning hearings can be complex and intimidating proceedings, particularly if you've never been to one and are unfamiliar with the zoning board generally. An attorney can help you navigate the proceedings, giving you a better chance of having your application approved.
Look for a local attorney who has experience representing rezoning applicants before the zoning board or planning commission.
Someone with familiarity of the zoning board members will have a good idea of the types of information you'll need and the arguments that may persuade certain members.
If you don't know where to start finding an attorney, consider looking at information from past zoning hearings and check the names of any attorneys who were present.
You also may be able to find an attorney by searching on the attorney's directory on the website of your state or local bar association.
7. **Appear at the scheduled date and time.** You should have a written notice from the zoning board that lets you know the date, time, and location of your hearing. Make sure you arrive a half hour or so before the time listed so you have time to find the correct hearing room and get settled.
There typically isn't a dress code for zoning hearings, but you still want to look clean and professional. While you don't necessarily have to wear a suit, consider wearing the type of clothing you'd wear to a job interview.
Before your hearing, organize the documents you plan to bring so you can find them easily.
You also should write an outline with detailed notes of what you plan to say to the board or commission when it's your turn to present your proposal.
Think about the questions you might possibly be asked. If you have time, you may want to attend another zoning hearing to get a feel for the procedures and the types of questions the board members will ask.
8. **Present your proposal.** Since it's your application, the board typically will hear from you first. You'll explain to the board what zoning change you want them to make and why. Go into detail about the types of events you want to host and any preparations you've made.
Typically your hearing will begin with a swearing-in ceremony. Everything you say during the hearing must be the truth, and you face perjury charges if you lie or distort the truth over the course of your presentation or while answering any questions.
After you are sworn in, you typically will be asked to give a brief presentation. During this presentation, you essentially will summarize your application and the reasons you want to have your property rezoned.
Explain to the board everything about the events you plan to host at your farm if your application is granted, including the size of those events and the space you have available.
You may want to present photos of the structures and areas you plan to use as a wedding venue as well.
9. **Answer questions and listen to other points of view.** Members of the board typically will have questions for you about your application. Any neighbor or other member of the public who opposes your application also will have the opportunity to explain their position.
Zoning hearings are unlike any court proceeding in that anyone who is present and has an interest in the proceeding can ask questions of anyone else.
This means that in addition to the board members themselves, you may find yourself fielding questions from neighbors or community members regarding your proposed use of your property.
Other people also have the ability to make statements or argue against your application. When others are speaking, it's important not to interrupt or even mutter comments under your breath.
If you have something to say in response to someone's statement, raise your hand and wait until you are recognized by the board before you speak.
10. **Receive the zoning board's decision.** The zoning board typically won't let you know whether they've decided to grant your proposal immediately after the conclusion of the hearing. Rather, expect to get written notice of the decision within a few weeks.
Most zoning boards have a deadline for a decision, so you typically won't have to wait more than 45 days to find out whether your application has been approved.
Typically the board will mail you written notice. If your application is approved, the decision will include details about your new zoning or permit status.
If your application was denied, the notice should include information on how you can appeal the decision and what steps you need to take next.
11. **Consider appealing the decision.** If the zoning board didn't approve your application, you usually have the opportunity to appeal that decision to an appeals board or other authority. However, if you want to appeal you typically must do so quickly.
Typically you have 30 days or less to complete your forms and file your appeal with the appropriate office. Review your zoning board decision notice for details.
In some counties the appeal will be made to a judge in the county court. If you haven't already hired an attorney, you should strongly consider hiring one to handle your appeal.
Be aware that in some cases, abutters or others who object to the granting of your application may also file their own appeals, requesting that it be reconsidered and denied, perhaps due to some errors in the process or a perceived violation of law.
12. **Retrofit structures to meet regulatory standards.** Rezoning your agricultural land for use as a wedding venue is only the start. Before you can host events, you may have to make various improvements on your property so it complies with safety and accessibility regulations.
Safety and liability are important concerns, especially if you're incorporating a structure such as a barn.
Make sure your liability insurance is up to the task of protecting you if someone is injured at an event.
Narrow bridges or steps may cause accessibility concerns. You may have to build additional entries that are accessible for wheelchairs and other disabled guests.
Parking also should be a concern. The size of event you can host may well be determined by the number of cars you can accommodate. You may want to consider paving a parking area, as rain can cause inhospitable conditions for wedding guests forced to park in a gravel lot of a field.
If you're using a structure, have a fire marshal or other inspector certify the number of people you can safely host in the structure and ensure other regulatory requirements are met. This may also apply to temporary tents, which must meet building code and fire code.
13. **Determine other licenses you might need.** You may need other licenses to host weddings, depending on the rules where your property is located. The types of gatherings you plan to host also may play a factor.
For example, if you plan on hosting receptions at which alcohol is served, you may need a permit to serve alcohol on your property.
You may need other permits for late-night gatherings or if the wedding party wants to have a bonfire or set off fireworks.
Other issues may arise from performance of live or recorded music. In many cases, the venue owner is responsible for obtaining the licenses, unless otherwise agreed with the performers or the DJ.
Review the list of licenses in your area and apply for the ones you want. If there are some you'd rather not deal with, make a note to include it as a restriction in your contract.
14. **Draft a basic event contract.** Before you start booking events, you need a basic contract that outlines the terms and conditions of renting your property. This contract should incorporate any restrictions that are defined by the size of your property or local regulations.
If you don't have certain licenses, your potential clients should understand that those things are not permitted if they want to hold their event on your property.
For example, if you don't have an alcohol license, this should be included in your contract. Potential clients who want alcohol at their reception may prefer to hold the ceremony at your location and the reception elsewhere.
You also need to note the days of the week your property is available, and the times of day events can take place.
List limitations on the party size you can accommodate, as well as any other restrictions or limitations.
The contract also should include any provisions regarding early access to the location to set up before the event, and your requirements for cleaning up after the event.
Settle on a price to rent your property for a wedding or other events, and state it specifically in your contract.
15. **Contact event planners.** Once all your legal prerequisites are satisfied and you're ready to start booking events, the best way to find new clients is to meet and develop strong relationships with wedding and event planners in your area.
The easiest way to find event planners is to do a basic internet search. Once you find event planners in your area, review their websites to get a feel for the types of events they frequently plan.
If you see an event planner who focuses on rustic occasions, or has previously planned a wedding on a farm or in a barn, put them on the top of your list.
When you contact event planners, give them an opportunity to come and tour your property and take pictures so they can sell it to potential clients.
You might want to consider offering a discount to your first few clients just to get your property out there and help spread the word. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Zone-Agricultural-Land-for-Use-As-a-Wedding-Venue", "language": "en"} |
How to Paint Particle Board | Particle board, or chipboard, is a very lightweight type of wood that's often found in inexpensive furniture or small decorations. Although it is still wood, it's a lot softer and easier to damage than regular lumber, making it more likely to get scratched and more difficult to paint. If you want to paint some particle board, sand it down lightly, apply a thin layer of primer, and cover it with several coats of paint to get the look you're after.
1. **Remove any hardware or accessories you don't want to paint over.** If you're painting particle board furniture or touching up cabinets, there may be metal fittings or handles that you want to keep unpainted. Use a screwdriver to carefully remove any hardware, fittings, or accessories attached to the particle board that you don't want to be painted.
If you're painting particle board furniture, it might be easier to disassemble it and paint each piece individually. If you can, follow the assembly instructions in reverse to carefully take apart the item you want to paint.
Make sure that you store all of the fittings, hardware, screws, and anything else you take out of the particle board somewhere where it won't get lost.
2. **Sand the board down with 120-grit sandpaper.** The lamination or sheen on the particle board will prevent paint from sticking to it. Use a medium to fine grit sandpaper, around 120-grit, to sand down the face of the particle board you want to paint. Sand it down lightly, only enough to remove the shine from it and expose the wood.
Particle board is a very soft wood, which makes it easier to work with and move around, but also easier to scratch and damage. Use only light pressure when sanding to avoid damaging your particle board.
Use a vacuum cleaner or shop-vac to remove any dust that comes off the board while sanding it.
To avoid getting the inside of your home messy, sand, prime, and paint your particle board outside.
3. **Coat the particle board with a layer of oil-based primer.** The most difficult part of painting particle board is getting the paint to adhere to the surface. Once the board has been sanded down, use a wide paintbrush to cover it with a single layer of oil-based primer. Make sure to get into any hard to reach areas so that the entire surface is covered.
A water-based primer will seep into the particle board and cause it to swell up. Always use an oil-based or solvent-based primer when painting particle boards.
Oil-based primer should be available at your local hardware store. If you're unsure which type to use, ask an employee for help choosing the right primer and paint for you.
4. **Give the primer 30 minutes to an hour to fully dry.** Your coat of primer needs to be completely dry before you can begin painting the wood. Leave the particle board sitting out in the sun for 30 minutes to an hour to give it plenty of time to completely dry.
Check the manufacturer's instructions for your chosen primer for more specific advice on how long it will take to dry.
You can check if the primer is fully dry by scratching at it lightly with a fingernail. If the primer is dry, a fingernail scratch won't leave a mark or remove any primer.
5. **Cover the board with a coat of oil-based paint.** Once the particle board has been primed, you can begin coating it with your paint of choice. Dip a wide-bristled paintbrush or a paint roller into an oil-based paint in your desired color. Work slowly and methodically to cover the entire surface with a coat of paint.
If you have a paint sprayer, you could also use this to evenly paint the particle board. Work in thin layers to make sure the paint is applied evenly and dries quickly.
Oil or lacquer-based paints will work best for painting particle boards. However, if you have primed the wood with an oil-based primer, you should be able to use water-based paint without the particle board absorbing any water.
A variety of different colored paints should be available at your local hardware store. Choose one that you like and that will work well with the other colors in the room where you'll put your finished particle board.
6. **Let the paint dry for 30 minutes to an hour.** Once you've finished the first coat of paint on your particle board, leave it to dry. Give your paint around an hour in the sun to begin to dry. If you can touch the paint lightly without getting any paint on your finger, the paint should be dry enough to apply a second coat.
If you live in a colder or more humid environment, it may take longer for your paint to dry. It's better to give it more time than it needs to dry than it is to move on while the paint is still wet.
Consult the manufacturer's instructions on your chosen paint for more specific advice on how long it will take to dry.
7. **Apply another coat of paint and let it dry.** When the paint is dry to the touch, apply a second layer of paint using the same brush or roller. Leave the paint to dry for another 30 minutes to an hour. Repeat this process until you are happy with the look of your particle board.
With most particle board, it will take between 2 and 4 layers of paint to completely cover the primer.
8. **Reassemble and reattach the hardware.** With your particle board painted and dry to the touch, you can begin putting it back together. Reassemble the particle board if you disassembled it to paint it, and reattach any hardware or fittings until everything is put back together.
The paint may still be soft when you begin reassembling your particle board, so make sure you work carefully. Alternately, you can leave your particle board to dry for 12 to 24 hours before reassembling it. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Particle-Board", "language": "en"} |
How to Include Turmeric in Your Diet | Not only is the curcumin in turmeric an anti-inflammatory and an anti-oxidant, it may help prevent cancer and Alzheimer's, lower your cholesterol, and even help with weight control and mental health. In fact, many different cultures in India, Asia, and Africa have been grinding turmeric stems and using the spice in remedies to aid digestion, cure skin ailments, relieve arthritis, and regulate menstruation. There are several ways to incorporate turmeric into your diet, and you can start by adding turmeric to the meals and snacks you already eat!
1. **Supplement curry dishes with extra turmeric.** Many pre-mixed curries or packaged curry dishes will contain turmeric, though the quantity of turmeric is often quite small. Simply add more turmeric yourself! While the flavor of turmeric is distinct, it isn't too strong — and it blends perfectly with curry. Add turmeric to taste, but know that a 1/8 teaspoon per serving is a good amount to add to any dish, and will likely not affect the flavor of anything savory.
Do not expose turmeric to prolonged heat, as curcumin can be rendered inaccessible by excessive cooking. To prevent this, add turmeric later in the cooking process.
2. **Add turmeric to your morning eggs.** Fried or scrambled eggs are an ideal dish to eat with turmeric. Use coconut oil to cook your eggs in, as the fat will increase turmeric's bioavailability since it's fat-soluble, and the coconut flavor pairs well with that of turmeric. Don't forget to include black pepper, and a bit of salt may help rounding the seasonings out.
A great accompaniment to eggs is sautéed kale, which can be prepared in the same pan, in the same way, even scrambled together!
Add turmeric to the eggs or kale late in the cooking process, or simply dust the meal once you have it plated.
3. **Cook lentils with turmeric.** Mix green or brown lentils with vegetable stock or water and cook in saucepan at medium heat for around 30 minutes. Use 1 cup of whichever liquid you are using for every 2 cups of lentils. Near the end of the 30 minutes, heat a bit of coconut oil in a separate pan for a minute and stir in 1 teaspoon for each cup of lentils you're cooking. When the lentils are done — per your preference on softness — add the turmeric and oil mixture, as well as some black pepper.
Curry powder and canned tomatoes can also be added to the lentils while they are cooking.
Similarly, you can also add cinnamon and cardamom to the oil and turmeric mixture.
Create a similar dish with chickpeas or garbanzo beans instead of lentils.
4. **Sprinkle turmeric on roasted or pan-fried veggies.** Whether cooked in the oven or in a pan, sprinkle turmeric on cooked veggies, along with salt and pepper. Cauliflower, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are especially well-complimented by the flavor offered by turmeric. You can even toss any of these veggies in oil — preferably coconut — before pan frying or roasting in the over. Lemon zest and cilantro will even further enhance such a dish.
5. **Make soup with turmeric.** If you already have a go-to soup recipe, consider adding a bit of turmeric near the end of the cook. If you're on the hunt for a new soup, try making spiced carrot and tahini soup.
Fry carrots, onion, and garlic in a pan with a bit of oil until softened.
Place the veggies in a pot and add as much vegetable broth as you want, based on preference.
Add ground coriander, cumin, turmeric, and salt to the mixture and cook for a few minutes on medium heat.
Add tahini and lemon juice at the end of the cook, and garnish each serving with a turmeric dusting and a sprig of cilantro.
6. **Boil some turmeric tea.** Simmer 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric in 4 cups of boiling water for 10 minutes. Allow to cool to a safe temperature, and add whatever additional spices or sweeteners you prefer. Ginger, honey, lemon, and cayenne pepper are especially enjoyable additions.
You can also boil a chunk of turmeric in water, perhaps with a chunk of ginger for the same effect. Discard the boiled roots before drinking!
7. **Whip up some “golden milk.** Mix the following ingredients: 1 cup of the milk of your choice, 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon of dried ginger, 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, and 1 dash of black pepper. Microwave in a mug or heat with a saucepan on a stovetop burner set to low.
Add a sweetener to taste — consider honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg in particular.
Similarly, make a turmeric milkshake by blending these ingredients, with a banana and ice.
8. **Make an anti-inflammatory smoothie.** A smoothie including turmeric, green tea, and berries may prove helpful in fighting inflammation. Make sure to include berries — especially blueberries, cranberries, and/or raspberries — as well as coconut oil to ensure your absorption of the turmeric.
Blend 1 cup of green tea and 1 cup berries with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of coconut oil, ½ teaspoon of turmeric, ½ teaspoon of ginger, and 1 teaspoon of flaxseed of chia seeds in a blender, along with a banana and ice.
For a slightly different, equally healthy smoothie option, blend 1 cup of coconut water or milk, a ¼ of an avocado, some pear, apple, or kiwi, ½ teaspoon of turmeric, a banana and ice.
9. **Mix black pepper into your turmeric jar.** Ensure that you're getting the potential health benefits from the curcumin in turmeric by maximizing its bioavailability, which describes how easily your body can process particular nutrients. Curcumin's natural bioavailability is quite low, as it is poorly absorbed, quickly metabolized, and mostly eliminated by your body. Fortunately, you can easily increase the bioavailability of turmeric by consuming it with black pepper.
Make a mix of the two spices that is about 3% black pepper and 97% turmeric. This way, whenever you add turmeric to anything, you've already got a built-in bioavailability booster.
About ½ teaspoon mixed into ¼ cup of turmeric should be the perfect ratio.
Specifically, black pepper contains piperine — which is the chemical that aids your body's absorption of curcumin — by about 2000%!
10. **Add turmeric to oil-based sauces and dressings.** If pepper isn't your thing, or if you're looking for another way to maximize bioavailability, mix turmeric into coconut, flaxseed, and olive oils. One of the reasons your body gets rid of curcumin so easily is that it's not very water-soluble, and fatty foods can help maintain curcumin in your system long enough for your body to absorb it.
Add a few dashes of turmeric to your oil-based salad dressings. You can simply add turmeric right to the dressing bottle to avoid forgetting!
Sprinkle turmeric right onto an avocado, and eat as is.
11. **Make a turmeric veggie dip.** Blend cashews, coconut flesh, and olive oil into whatever thickness you prefer for dipping or spreading. You can always add a bit of coconut water to thin the dip. Add garlic, turmeric, and ground ginger to taste. Don't forget to include some black pepper!
Eat the dip with fresh veggies, especially sweet peppers, snap beans, and raw broccoli, as these all contain quercetin, another nutrient that increases the bioavailability of curcumin.
12. **Include turmeric in dishes that contain quercetin.** Quercetin is actually a pigment that is commonly found in foods with rich colors — including various fruits and leafy greens. It helps your body process curcumin circuitously, by inhibiting a naturally occurring enzyme in your body that deactivates curcumin.
Eat more dark red or blue fruits especially, including cranberries, blueberries, and black plums. Red grapes, apples, and other berries contain some quercetin as well.
Make salads that include red leaf lettuce, raw kale, chicory greens, raw spinach, and onions.
Pair a meal that contains turmeric with red wine or green tea, as these contain quercetin as well. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Include-Turmeric-in-Your-Diet", "language": "en"} |
How to Pass a Hair Follicle Drug Test | A drug test is sometimes the one roadblock that prevents otherwise sane and healthy people from succeeding. It can keep a qualified candidate from getting a job or complicate existing legal issues. If you are expecting a hair follicle test, don't panic. With this information at your disposal, you stand a chance of dodging the dreaded "positive."
1. **Know when you'll have to take a drug test.** Drug testing laws vary by state and country. Job applicants are commonly drug tested as part of the hiring process, especially for low or entry-level jobs. In the United States, federal agencies that require drug testing adhere to testing procedures set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Private employers generally have more freedom in their drug testing procedure. However, laws vary from state to state.
In the United States, companies that hire commercial drivers are required to have a drug testing program in place.
Certain employers might require you to be drug tested even after you are hired. Random drug-testing may be part of the terms of employment, or you may be required to undergo a test if you are involved in a workplace accident. Make sure you understand a company's drug testing policy before accepting a job offer.
Research your local laws if you are unsure whether certain activities or jobs require drug testing.
2. **Know which drugs are most commonly tested for.** In the United States, employers that follow SAMHSA testing guidelines generally test for five specific classes of drugs. These drugs are:
Amphetamines (methamphetamine, amphetamines, ecstasy(MDMA))
Cocaine (Powder and "crack" forms)
THC (marijuana, hash, edible cannabis products)
Opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine)
Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust)
Alcohol is occasionally tested for in addition to the above drugs.
3. **Know which drugs employers may also choose to screen for.** Private employers are not required to perform the basic SAMHSA test. Many opt for an expanded test that screens for additional drugs. The most common additions are:
Barbiturates (phenobarbital, butalbital, secobarbital, downers)
Benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium, Xanax)
Methaqualone (Quaaludes)
Methadone (a drug used to treat heroin addiction)
Propoxyphene (Darvon compounds)
Nicotine (and nicotine by-product, cotinine)
4. **Know which drugs aren't usually screened for.** The following drugs are detectable in a hair test, but are only rarely tested for.
Hallucinogens (LSD, mushrooms, mescaline, peyote)
Inhalants
Anabolic Steroids
Hydrocodone (Oxycodone, Vicodin)
5. **Understand how a hair test works.** After you consume any drug, the active chemicals in the drug will circulate through your body. These chemicals, or certain other chemicals produced when your body processes the drug (called metabolites), can accumulate in your hair follicles. As a strand of hair grows, its follicle will deposit these chemicals in it. Hair tests look for these chemicals in a small sample of your hair.
6. **Understand how your hair is processed.** Hair tests cut a small sample of your hair (usually 1-3 clumps of about 50 strands each). Most cuts are taken from the back of the head so as not to ruin your haircut.
The standard detection window for the hair test is Because hair grows about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in 90 days, hairs with a length of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) are targeted for cutting. Longer hairs will give a longer window of detection.For instance, a 6-inch long strand of hair can potentially reveal drug use from a year ago. However, 90 days is the most common testing window, so, generally, long strands of hair are cut to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) before being tested.
Depending on the drug and the specifics of the testing process, a hair test may or may not be able to detect whether or not use has been discontinued. For instance, opiates bind tightly to the shaft of hair, while cocaine can migrate along the hair shaft. In this case, certain tests can detect the approximate date of the opiate use based upon its position in the hair shaft, while this is impossible for cocaine.
If no hair is available on your head (you're bald or have a shaved head), hair from other parts of your body can be tested.
Because it can take up to a week for drug-affected hair to grow above the scalp, For this reason, some employers will also require a urine test, which can detect most drug use within the last few days. Know which tests you will have to take.
7. **Immediately stop any drug use.** As soon as you know you'll have to undergo a drug test, stop taking drugs. If possible, cease all drug use before you even begin looking for jobs. Hair tests can detect the use of some drugs, like cannabis, up to 90 days after it's occurred. Because of this, it may be best to stop drug use up to three months before you think you'll be in the job market.
8. **If you're desperate, try a home remedy.** If you've used drugs often within the last 90 days and you have a hair test at the end of the week, you may consider using a commercially-available product or a DIY home-method to improve your chances of passing your test. They are supported only by individual, unverified stories of success.
9. **At home before your test, begin by saturating your hair with white vinegar.** You will probably gag, but it's worth it! Work the vinegar through your hair slowly, over a 10 minute period to get maximum saturation.
10. **Let the vinegar sit for 15-20 minutes.** Refrain from rinsing. This gives the vinegar time to sink into the hair and scalp.
11. **Next, soak your hair with a salicylic acid acne treatment.** Use a treatment with a salicylic acid concentration. Again, pour slowly and allow liquid to soak into your hair. Leave the vinegar and acne treatment in your hair for about 30 minutes.
12. **Work one capful of liquid detergent through your hair thoroughly.** Do not rinse the vinegar and acid out of your hair before doing this.
13. **Add a dash of water to 1 scoop of powder detergent to make a paste.** Scrub this onto your scalp and hair. Let this mixture sit for about 20-30 minutes.
If possible, concentrate these products on more the back of your head. Samples are most commonly taken from this area.
14. **Rinse all the products out of your hair.** Do not wash or condition.
15. **Dye your hair** Rinse well. Use the conditioner treatment that usually comes with the hair colour kit.
16. **Repeat as needed.** Instructions for this remedy vary - some recommend repeating once a day in the four or five days leading up to your test, while some recommend only one treatment.
17. **Shop around for a hair treatment.** A quick online search should reveal a variety of commercially-available shampoos and treatments that claim to thwart hair drug tests. These can be expensive, so search for a well-reviewed, reasonably affordable one.
Beware false reviews and testimonials. It's easy for unscrupulous companies to pay for positive reviews or even fabricate them entirely.
18. **Research your product.** Don't depend on testimonials on the site that's selling the product - seek out forum posts and other candid online discussions. Often, if a product doesn't work, you'll be able to find irate complaints or rants online.
Choose a product with a money-back guarantee. It seems obvious, but it bears mentioning. Because these products can be quite expensive, you'll want to protect your investment if you end up losing the job.
19. **Use your purchase as directed.** Remember that, because these products aren't scientifically verified, you're not guaranteed success.
20. **Get a lawyer** It's unlikely you'll be hired if you took the test as part of an application process. However, if you took the test after an accident or for a probation program, you will probably be subject to criminal penalties. A lawyer can help you dispute the results of the test and advise you how to proceed.
21. **Try to seek a second test.** Dispute the results any way you can in an attempt to get a second chance. One way to do this is to claim that a failed test is the result your consuming something innocent that gives a false positive. Some things that can give false positives are:
Poppy seeds. Because opiates are derived from the poppy plant, muffins or bagels with poppy seeds can give false positives.
Adderall/ADHD medication. Medicines prescribed in the treatment of ADHD are usually members of the amphetamine family of drugs.
Certain cold/flu medications. Over-the-counter cold drugs can contain the active ingredient pseudoephedrine, which is a stimulant used in the manufacture of methamphetamine (meth.)
Nicotine replacement therapy products, such as gums like Nicorette, patches such as Nicoderm CQ, prescription nicotine inhalers, and other nicotine-based smoking cessation aids will cause a positive result for nicotine and cotinine.
Heavy exposure to second-hand smoke ('passive smoking') may also cause a positive nicotine/cotinine test, even if you yourself have not used nicotine or tobacco
More employers are testing employees and job applicants for nicotine/cotinine, and a positive result may result in loss of employment or a refusal to hire, even if you are in a medically prescribed smoking cessation program, and even if you are not a smoker but merely live in a smoking household.
22. **Accept any treatment options.** Occasionally, instead of firing an employee who fails a drug test, employers will require the employee to undergo a treatment program or recommend they seek help on their own. Treating an employee can be much less expensive for the employer than a hefty severance package. In this case, don't refuse treatment, even if you're a responsible user - you'll probably be fired and might lose your pension or benefits. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Pass-a-Hair-Follicle-Drug-Test", "language": "en"} |
How to Care for Your Box Turtle | Box turtles are small land-based turtles that can close up their shell completely. They're fascinating, independent little creatures and they should only be cared for by adults or very responsible kids. Their needs are complex, and – being reptiles – they're not going to like enforced cuddling and interaction, like puppies or kittens do. But if you want to take home this charming, scaly little creature, then you need to know how to care for it as well as you can.
1. **Get your turtle from your local turtle rescue group or reptile society.** Do an Internet search to find ones in your area, or check with the biology department at a nearby university. There are of unwanted reptiles who need a good home. Buy captive-born box turtles from a reputable breeder or adopt rescued box turtles from a local herpetological society.
Pet stores almost exclusively sell turtles captured from their natural habitats, and you should look for breeders and dealers instead on reputable websites, or check out rescue organizations that have turtles that need good homes.
2. **Find a good reptile vet.** You can do this by asking around at reptile societies or searching on the Internet. Most vets don't know much about reptiles or other "exotics" because most of their training is concentrated on mammals. Avoid going to an average non-reptile vet when your turtle is in trouble. Dogs and cats from the "bread and butter" of a veterinary practice so a vet with a lot of knowledge about reptiles has accumulated it as a "labor of love" and is worth his or her weight in gold.
This link will help you search for a vet: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661
Visit your vet once a year when your turtle’s healthy or when you think it’s sick.
3. **Decide whether you want to care for your turtle indoors or outdoors.** If you have the right climate for box turtles, they do much better in a large, heavily planted outdoor enclosure. If you have to keep your turtle indoors, make sure you have a large enough space for their enclosure, at least 8 square feet (0.74 m). Being outdoors will provide your turtle with fresh air, sunshine, and environmental enrichment that you just can’t replicate inside.
Don’t keep your indoor turtle in a glass aquarium, because many will obsessively peck at the glass walls.
4. **Build the walls of your outdoor enclosure.** Make the turtle enclosure a minimum of 36 square feet (3.3 m) for one or two turtles, and at least 50 square feet (4.6 m) for three turtles. Use smooth-sided wooden planks about 12 inches (30.5 cm) in width. The walls should be completely vertical and at least twice as tall as the turtle, so that they can’t escape.
At the top of each corner, attach a triangular piece of wood that connects to each side. This will provide extra stability to your walls, and provide a "lip" over which a turtle can't climb.
5. **Predator proof the enclosure with wire mesh, netting, and hide boxes.** Depending on where you live, you might have different predators such as dogs, racoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes, or even birds of prey. Protect your box turtle carefully. Make sure the fencing around your yard is secure and high so dogs and racoons can’t get in. Then, dig a trench at least 30 centimetres (12 in) deep around your enclosure. Bury poultry netting or wire mesh in the trench with rocks and attach it to the walls. This way, a digging animal won’t be able to gain access to your enclosure. Hang mesh over the top of the enclosure so predators can’t get in from above.
Box turtles can dig under or climb over fences, so the netting will also help keep them in.
There should be at least one hide per turtle in the enclosure, plus one extra. A turtle hide can be as simple as a cardboard box, or a little fancier like a hollow log.
6. **Build an indoor enclosure out of plywood or concrete.** The walls should be adequately high so the turtle does not crawl out. If they are high enough -- at least two feet -- then you don't need a lid. If you do have a lid, make sure there is ventilation so the turtle can breathe. You can also use a Rubbermaid tub. If you are using a porous material, line it with pond liner so that it’s easier to clean.
Your indoor pen should be in a quiet room, away from slamming doors, heating/cooling vents and drafts.
Put a humidifier in the room during winter or when your house is dry, because box turtles need high humidity to stay alive.
7. **Make sure your turtle has enough warmth and light.** If your turtle is outdoors and acclimated slowly to the temperature, it can get as cool as 45 °F (7 °C) at night. Turtles need UVB radiation which can’t get through your window glass, so place a full-spectrum fluorescent light no more than 18 inches (46 cm) above the substrate for an indoor enclosure. You should replace these lights every 9 months to 1 year to ensure that sufficient UVB radiation is reaching the animals. Turtles also need a basking light, so hang a 50 watt incandescent bulb with a reflector at one end of the cage.
Keep the lights on for 12 hours during the day, and turn them off at night. Turn the basking light off about 20 minutes before you turn off the other light.
The background room temperature should be 72 to 75 °F (22 to 24 °C) during the day and a little cooler at night.
8. **Add substrate to the bottom of outdoor and indoor enclosures.** For outdoor turtles, you can use a mixture of clean, unfertilized soil and leaves, making sure that your turtle has a place to dig into and to hide in, and that there is enough soil for hibernation. You'll have to replace the soil around the wading pool as it becomes wet, preventing danger of frost. For indoor turtles, you can use potting soil or newspaper, but be sure to avoid wood shavings and corncob bedding.
Make sure the substrate is deep enough for the turtle to burrow under so they feel safe.
Different species of box turtle need different levels of humidity in their substrate, so do your research to figure out how often you need to mist their enclosure.
9. **Landscape the turtle enclosure.** Fill his enclosure with edible plants like mint, common grass, or cooking herbs like thyme or chives. Make it an adventure playground with small logs to climb, flower pots to hide in, rocks to bask on, and of course a water bowl to soak in and drink from. Part of the enclosure must get direct sun (especially in the early morning for your turtle to bask in and warm up so he'll feel like eating) and part must have shade. Turtles appreciate a pile of cut grass that you dampen daily; they will like to burrow down and sleep there.
You can do this whether you are caring for your turtle outdoors or indoors.
10. **Create a shallow pool that your turtles can always access.** These turtles love wading in water, so make sure to have a little pool of water for your turtle to play in. Use room-temperature water, because they don’t do well in cold. It’s best to use a large, shallow cat litter pan or a shallow plant saucer, but a dish or pan will also work. Make sure the pan is sunk into the substrate so that the lip is level with the substrate and the turtle can approach from all sides.
The water should be no higher than ⅓ of their shell deep, so they don’t drown. This is usually about 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5.1 cm) deep, but shallower for baby turtles.
Clean the water daily, because turtles often poop in the water.
11. **Clean the enclosure regularly.** Whether you are caring for your box turtle indoors or outdoors, it's important to keep its environment clean. You have to be diligent about cleaning its bedding at last once a week, cleaning its water bowl daily, and then cleaning the entire cage once a month, using dish washing soap (just make sure the soap is ammonia free).
You can clean the enclosure with a very diluted 1:32 bleach solution, allow to air dry, then rinse. Don't use this on porous surfaces.
Remove the turtle before cleaning and make sure that the soap mixture is completely gone before you put the turtle back so the chemicals in the soap or bleach don’t harm it.
12. **Feed your turtle regularly.** Adult turtles need to eat at least 3 or more times a week while young turtles must eat regularly. Turtles should be fed in the morning, and they need to eat a mixture of fruits, vegetables, and protein (50-75% of a young turtle's diet should be made up of protein; 20-30% for grown turtles). All fruits should be washed or chopped. You also need to make sure your turtle gets plenty of Vitamin A. Here are some foods that turtle love to eat:
Protein: snails, slugs, grasshoppers, earthworms, crickets, baby mice, canned dog food, wax worms, cicadas, or sowbugs.
Fruits: tomatoes, grapes, mangoes, melons, figs, pears, strawberries, plums, nectarines, raspberries, and apples.
Vegetables: kale, cabbage, spinach, red leaf lettuce, bok choy, pak choi, sweet potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, dandelions, and squash.
Foods with Vitamin A: whole mice, yellow vegetables, dark leafy greens, food dusted with calcium carbonate, lactate, citrate, or gluconate (do this every 2-4 weeks if the turtle isn't getting enough foods with Vitamin A already).
Know what to do if your turtle is stubborn and won't eat. Try feeding him or her bright, red, yellow, or orange foods, or live animals to stimulate his interest. Feed the turtles when they are the most active, which should be in the early morning or in the late afternoon. You can also try misting the cage a bit with water before feeding.
13. **Know if your turtle is sick.** If your turtle is sick, then you need to be able to recognize his illness as soon as possible so you can take him to the vet. Here are some things to look out for:
Changes in his eating or behavior for more than 2 weeks
Gray or whitish areas on the turtle's shell or skin
A softening of the shell
A dry or flaky shell
Dry, flaky, or transparent skin
Skin with a red tinge
Discharge from the nose or eyes
Diarrhea or abnormal color to droppings or urates
Swellings or lumps, especially over the ear
Foam or discharge from sides of the mouth
Elongated nose or beak
Protruding tissue from cloaca/vent
14. **Be prepared for a hibernation period.** Your box turtle will want to hibernate during the approximately four to six months of cold weather, depending upon where you live. Get your turtle a checkup from your experienced reptile vet beforehand. Your vet is the best one to clear up all your hibernation questions. Make sure your turtle is protected from harm and that his water stays warm during this period.
15. **Be gentle with your turtle.** Turtles don't like a lot of handling, but you can still build a relationship with your turtle without trying to cuddle it. Turtles can bite if they are unhappy, and those bites can really hurt! If you're quiet and careful around your turtle, he will trust and love you. Come to feed him at the same time, and soon enough, you'll build up a routine and your favorite scaly critter will be waiting for you. The more you get to know each other, the stronger your relationship will be.
If you must pick him up, don't let his little legs flail away in empty space. Put one hand under his feet so he'll feel secure. Ideally, just have fun watching your box turtle hunt from afar. She will usually be most active in the morning and around sunset.
If you have an indoor turtle, take it outdoors on nice days. But make sure you put it in an outdoor enclosure and keep an eye on it, because they can run fast! Stay with your turtle to protect it from potential predators, unless you’ve built a predator-proof outdoor enclosure.
Wash and disinfect your turtle’s dishes away from where food is prepared, if possible.
Wash your hands before and after handling your turtle, or your turtle's dishes. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Your-Box-Turtle", "language": "en"} |
How to Tell the Age of a Horse | If you want to know how old a horse is, your best option is always to check any breeding, registration, or veterinary records that include birth or age information. If you don’t have access to these, you can try to use a few different physical observation techniques, with checking the horse’s teeth being the preferred alternative. The size, shape, color, and angle of the teeth, and the appearance of "Galvayne's Groove" between ages 10 and 30, can help you make a fairly accurate estimate of the horse’s age.
1. **Check breeding, registration, or vet papers for the most accurate age info.** If you want to know exactly how old a horse is, you need to check its papers. The date of birth should be listed on any breeding or registration papers connected to a particular horse. If there are no breeding papers, check for veterinary records that indicate the date of birth.
For instance, if you’re interested in buying a horse, insist upon seeing any papers that exist.
If the horse is registered as a particular breed, it should have papers on file. Contact the relevant breed association if necessary.
Not all horses have breeding or registration papers. However, most horses do have veterinary records, so ask to see these.
2. **Have a vet scan a found horse’s neck for an identifying microchip.** Many owners have their horses microchipped at an early age so that they can be identified if lost. If you find a horse, contact an equine vet to see if they can scan it for an identifying microchip.
In addition to ownership info, the chip should also reveal the horse’s age.
If you're interested in buying a horse that has been microchipped, consider asking if you can have it scanned. This can help confirm any paper records or other information on the horse.
If you buy a horse without a microchip, get it microchipped a soon as possible. If it has previously been microchipped, have a vet either update the information on the chip or replace the chip.
3. **Look for a brand on a found horse and identify its owner for info.** Despite other options like microchipping, some owners still brand their horses. This marking can help you track down a lost horse’s owner and, in turn, find out the horse’s age.
If you don’t recognize the brand, ask other horse owners in the area, visit nearby stables, and ask around at equine vet offices and horse supply stores.
4. **Check for a lip tattoo if the horse is a thoroughbred.** Thoroughbreds who have retired from the racetrack often have a tattoo on the inside of their upper lip. They get the tattoos when they are young, and the information goes into a racehorse database where you can look up horses by their tattoos. This is a very accurate way to find out when your off-the-track thoroughbred was born.
5. **Use physical signs to make a very general age estimate.** As horses age, they typically develop gray hair, lose muscle tone, and develop sunken spots over their eyes, among other common physical changes that often occur at around 18-24 years of age. Factors like these can help you differentiate an “old” horse from a “young” one, but are less helpful in pinpointing a specific age.
Estimating age based on size or weight is largely a guessing game. Many horses reach 90% of their final height and 75% of their final weight by 18 months of age.
To get a more accurate estimate based on physical observation, rely on methods that involve inspecting the horse’s teeth.
6. **Look for dark vertical grooves on the top left and right corner incisors.** Starting at around age 10, you’ll be able to notice a brownish vertical groove developing along the gumline of the 2 top corner incisors. This line, known as Galvayne’s Groove, appears and disappears incrementally between ages 10 and 30.
The incisors are at the front of the horse's mouth, and are all clearly visible when the horse's lips are moved out of the way.
“Galvayne’s Groove” is named for a 19th century Australian who used this indicator to age horses with surprising accuracy. That said, Galvayne’s Groove is best used to estimate a horse’s age within a range of about 4 years between the ages of 10 and 30.
You can find images of Galvayne’s Groove online to help you recognize it.
7. **Track each groove’s emergence from the gumline down (ages 10-20).** During this 10 year period, the grooves on the top corner incisors will extend down the tooth bit by bit. By age 15, the groove will be roughly halfway down each incisor. By age 20, it should reach the tip of each tooth.
The horse’s teeth will continue to darken over time, but Galvayne’s Groove should remain dark enough to be clearly noticeable.
8. **Watch for each groove to disappear from the gumline down (ages 20-30).** After taking roughly 10 years to fully appear, Galvayne’s Groove will slowly disappear over 10 years. Starting at about age 20, the groove will begin to fade, starting at the gumline.
By about age 25, the groove will only be visible on the bottom half of each tooth.
At around age 30, Galvayne’s Groove will be completely gone.
9. **Average your estimates for the left and right incisors.** When checking the corner incisors, you’ll probably notice that Galvayne’s Groove isn’t in the exact same position on each. In this case, average out the location of the grooves on both teeth to make your age estimate.
For instance, say the groove is 40% down the left incisor and 50% down the right incisor. Average this out to 45% and estimate an age of 14.5 years.
Or, say the right groove is 60% gone from the top and the left groove is 80% gone from the top. In this case, the average is 70% and the age estimate should be 27.
10. **Check for the eruption of milk teeth from birth to 9 months of age.** A newborn foal’s milk teeth (that is, deciduous teeth or “baby teeth”) usually start to erupt through its gums between 1-2 weeks of age. The central incisors usually erupt from the gums first.
Since they're located at the front of the mouth, you'll be able to see all of the incisors when the horse's lips are moved out of the way.
Milk teeth are smaller and whiter than permanent incisors, which have more of a yellowish color and typically reach around 4–5 in (10–13 cm) in length, including the roots.
A foal usually has a complete set of 24 milk teeth by 9 months of age, but not all of the teeth may be long enough to show signs of wear yet.
11. **Watch for dental landmarks from ages 1 to 5.** These early years make up the period when you can most accurately tell the age of a horse by its teeth. During this time, the horse’s full set of milk teeth will be replaced by permanent adult teeth.
At 1 year of age, all the milk teeth should have erupted, but the corner milk incisors will still be too short to show wear. The teeth will be very white.
At 2 years old, the corner milk incisors should meet their opposites (that is, the top and bottom incisors should touch) and show wear. Incisors are used to cut and chew grass and other foods.
At age 3, the milk teeth in the center (the center incisors) will fall out and be replaced by adult incisors. Adult teeth are bigger (around 4–5 in (10–13 cm) long, including the roots) and yellowish in color.
At 4 years of age, the center and intermediate milk incisors will be replaced by permanent teeth—only the top and bottom corner incisors will still be milk teeth.
At age 5, all the incisors, top and bottom, should be adult teeth.
12. **Keep looking for dental landmarks between ages 5 and 20.** It becomes a bit more difficult to tell a horse’s age by its teeth once all the milk teeth are gone, but there are still several things you can watch for.
From ages 5-7, the adult teeth should begin to show clear signs of wear, but the chewing surface of the incisors should be concave. The teeth shouldn’t project outward much if at all yet.
At around age 7, the upper corner incisors will develop spurs or hooks where they overhang the lower incisors—this is called the “7 year hook.” It typically disappears by age 8.
By around age 9 or 10, the cupping (concave shape) on the chewing surface of the incisors will grow out and leave behind lighter-shaded marks. These marks will typically disappear by age 12.
After age 12, and especially after age 15, the incisors will elongate, develop a chisel-like edge, and project outward.
13. **Examine the teeth of a senior horse (age 20-plus) for age clues.** If you look into an older horse’s mouth, you’ll know where the expression “long in the tooth” comes from. The horse’s incisors will keep getting longer, meaning that the top and bottom rows will meet at ever sharper angles.
The elongated teeth will develop a sloping shape on the outside surface, and will become darker yellow or brown in color.
Some teeth may start falling out at around age 25. However, a horse that has received improper care or a poor diet may lose teeth at a younger age. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-the-Age-of-a-Horse", "language": "en"} |
How to Paint a Tree | For many people, including tree professionals and orchard growers, painting trees is a common form of first aid for tree damage from storms or after pruning. Paint can also help trees resist harm from insects, disease, and dehydration. If you want to know how to paint a tree, you have to choose both the paint and the application method. Although painting trees is a common procedure, it is also somewhat controversial. Quite often, it’s actually better to not paint a tree at all but just let it heal itself.
1. **Paint the trunks of fruit- and nut-bearing trees.** This procedure has been shown to protect against animals that will eat the bark of the tree, and also protects against boring insects that would otherwise work their way into the trees’ trunks.
Paint trees at least annually in the early spring before insects are active.
Painting fruit- and nut-bearing trees can also prevent the bark from splitting
2. **Mix distilled water with white latex paint.** This mixture is most effective when combined at a 1:1 ratio. You can simply combine 1 gallon (3.79 liters) of water with 1 gallon (3.79 liters) of paint to achieve the proper consistency.
White paint is more likely to reflect sunlight and, thereby, reduce heat damage.
Latex paint contains polymer binders to fill and hold splits and cracks.
3. **Use a wide, thick, loosely napped paintbrush.** This tool will be most effective and help you reach all the cracks in the bark of the tree. Dip your paintbrush into the water/paint mixture until the bristles are about halfway submerged, then withdraw the brush and apply directly to the tree trunk.
Paint up to the first line of branches. Rodents such as mice, voles, and rabbits will not be able to reach higher than this on the tree, so there’s no need to paint the upper portions of your trees.
4. **Paint from the bottom to the top.** This will ensure maximum coverage of the tree trunk, and will allow the paint to seep into gaps or cracks in the bark.
Allow excess paint to drip down the trunk as you go. You don’t need to wipe up or clean dripping paint.
Use an airless paint sprayer if speed and convenience are a priority, but make sure paint still reaches into cracks and splits in the bark.
5. **Apply the paint in a thicker ratio if needed.** In instances where boring insects are persistent or not discouraged by the 1:1 mixture of latex paint and water, you may need to apply the paint at a thicker consistency.
Start with a 3:1 mixture of paint to water. If this still doesn’t deter boring insects, you may need to apply the latex paint directly to the tree trunk.
6. **Identify pruned or damaged areas on trees.** This practice is especially common among orchards where trees are pruned. Although there is no substantial evidence to support this claim, painting the wounded or pruned sections of a tree has traditionally been thought to protect the exposed area from invading insects, and to allow the tree to heal more quickly.
This practice is also commonly referred to as “wound dressing.”
7. **Paint trees to help prevent fungi.** Despite the general ineffectiveness of wound dressing to help trees recover from damage, the procedure has been shown to have some use in preventing fungal infection. However, there are also indications that pruning painted trees can trap moisture in the wound – which encourages fungal infection.
Tree painting may also be useful in preventing oak wilt. This disease is caused by a fungal pathogen, and effects trees primarily in the Eastern United States. Tree paint should be applied to trees pruned or wounded in this region—especially if the pruning is done during the spring or summer.
Oak-wilt spores are carried by insects, and tree paint is a sufficient deterrent to keep the insects from boring into the exposed tree wood and spreading oak wilt.
8. **Remove loose bark and dirt before you paint.** You want the paint to adhere to the cut or wounded portion of the wood, not to any remnants of bark that may still be on the wood.
It’s best to wear thick work gloves while you’re brushing the bark and dirt off of a tree. Otherwise you may wind up with a hand full of splinters.
9. **Choose a brand of tree paint.** Your local hardware store will stock a variety of tree paint brands. Work with the sales staff to choose one that best suits your needs.
Avoid tree paints that contain asphalt, as these can raise the internal temperature of a tree to a harmful level.
Also avoid paints that contain petroleum-based solvents. These can damage the tree as it tries to heal.
10. **Apply a thick coat of commercial wound dressing.** When applying, fully cover the wounded or pruned area with a thick layer of paint. In addition to covering the exposed wood, you should also paint up to 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) beyond the edge of the cut.
This extra coverage will seal the wound’s edges and prevent any boring insects from sneaking in around the perimeter of the painted area.
11. **Avoid painting damaged trees when possible.** Although the method of applying petroleum-based paints to damaged or pruned trees has persisted (and many hardware stores stock wound-dressing products), it has not been shown to help trees.
Wound dressing trees may prevent the trees from forming callouses, which trees use to protected wounded areas.
Dark-colored tree paint—especially paint that contains asphalt—on a tree’s trunk will raise the tree’s temperature, often to a harmful degree.
12. **Recognize the potential harms of wound dressing.** Contrary to helping a wounded or pruned tree, wound dressing can actually be harmful.
Painting tree wounds may interfere with the tree’s growth of “scar tissue”-like wood.
Wound dressing can also seal in excess moisture (which is unhealthy for the tree) and can trap harmful bacteria and fungi inside of the tree.
13. **Assist the tree in healing itself organically.** In most cases, trees do not need to be painted in order to resist fungal or insect infestations. Trees already have natural methods of protecting and defending themselves from foreign invaders, and do not need human help.
If you prefer to take an active role, apply an organic dressing that contains beeswax and lanolin to protect the wound’s surface moisture.
You may also apply a light coating of insecticide or fungicide to the wounded or pruned wood.
14. **Let the tree compartmentalize the wounded area.** Unlike human bodies, trees do not “heal” wounded flesh. Rather, they use a process called compartmentalization, by which a tree can internally seal off damaged areas
This is a natural process, and one which trees do not need assistance to perform. The scar tissue that develops from compartmentalization protects the tree from fungus and blocks the undamaged parts of the tree from invasive insects.
Just below the bark on a tree are systems that carry nutrients and fluids throughout the tree. These will transfer nutrients within the tree and help compartmentalize when a section has been damaged.
15. **Prune trees correctly.** Often tree wound dressing is applied to poorly pruned trees, in an effort to “heal” them from the effects of poor pruning. If a tree is properly pruned, the tree will not need to be painted.
When you prune a limb, cut as close to the trunk as you can. Make the cut close to vertical (do not prune tree limbs at an angle). The vertical cut will have a smaller surface area than a diagonal cut, and will leave the tree with less surface area exposed.
Prune trees in the winter, when their growth has slowed and insect infection rates are lower. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-a-Tree", "language": "en"} |
How to Care for Doberman Pinschers | The Doberman Pinscher is a large, powerfully-built dog breed that originated in 19th century Germany. It seems that the Doberman was developed from breeds such as the Rottweiler, German Pinscher and the Black & Tan terrier to obtain a combination of strength, athleticism and tenacity.The breed was developed as a guard dog and this heritage is still evident today in their strong guarding instinct and territorial behavior.
1. **Decide whether you like the temperament of a Doberman.** The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the temperament of the Doberman as energetic, determined, watchful, loyal, and fearless. This goes some way to describe the alert intelligence of the Doberman. When channeled correctly through good training, their energy and willfulness make them a potent working dog and a great pet.
2. **Understand the need for thorough and consistent training with a Doberman.** Due to the size and power of the Doberman, if its handler is not knowledgeable and confident, the dog has the potential to become dangerous. The Doberman is not a suitable breed for a first time owner. Indeed, the ideal owner should be an experienced dog owner who is prepared to devote time and attention to the correct training and exercising (both mental and physical) of their dog. If this happens then a Doberman is likely to be a wonderful, attentive, and loyal companion who is devoted to their owner.
In the wrong hands a Doberman (through no fault of its own) could become either fearful (and therefore aggressive in order to protect himself from perceived threats) or territorially aggressive. Neither is a desirable scenario an out of control doberman is a danger to life and limb.
A well-trained Doberman can make a great family dog, but supervision is essential around small children as this dog is very energetic and if a small child gets in the way, the dog may push them over.
3. **Decide whether your home and yard are big enough for a large dog.** Being a large dog, and an athletic one at that, Dobermans need adequate space to move around. Apartment living is not a great option for a dog this active and large unless you will give it enough exercise for your dog to spill out all of its energy. And of course, make sure your land lord allows dog, do not try to hide a dog, ever!
Indeed, the Doberman also needs access to a decent sized yard, in order to stretch its legs between walks. This yard should also be fenced, as a Doberman may become defensive if a stranger wanders over its territory; keep in mind these dogs were specifically bred to protect.
4. **Make a significant time commitment.** You should be prepared to devote at least 2 hours a day to exercising your Doberman, an hour in the morning and again in the evening. Their working origins and athleticism mean they have a high requirement for exercise.
5. **Calculate the cost of owning a Doberman.** You should weigh the costs associated with keeping any large dog. You need to provide a good quality food, since cheap foods bulked up with cereal may ferment in the dog's gut and predispose it to bloat. Obviously good quality foods are more expensive than that cheap food, and the cost of feeding the required amount can be considered.
Also, deworming and anti-parasite treatments are going to cost more than for a small dog.
6. **Understand what a full-grown Doberman will look like.** The Doberman should stand around 24 - 28 inches tall at the shoulders, with males being taller than females. The classic color is black with tan markings, but red, blue, and fawn are also permissible by the AKC. The Doberman weighs 60 - 80 lbs and the average lifespan is 10 - 13 years.
In the US the ears are usually cropped, while in the UK this procedure is considered a cosmetic mutilation and frowned upon.
7. **Decide between adopting an adult dog from a shelter or buying a puppy from a breeder.** There are pros and cons to both. There are lots of dogs in shelters that need homes. These dogs can be great companions but they are less likely to be pure bred dogs.
One perk of getting a puppy from a breeder is that you get to mold it into a mature adult. If you are committed to thoroughly training a dog, a puppy may be ideal.
8. **Choose your breeder carefully.** Never, ever buy a puppy from a puppy mill. A cardinal signs of a puppy mill is the breeder makes an excuse as to why the mother dog is not available to view. This is because in reality the mother dogs is probably hundreds of miles away, waiting to be bred to produce yet more puppies. In the meantime her litter are taken away far too young and transported large distances to places for sale.
This trade is unethical and immoral, and should not be encouraged by buying these puppies and creating a demand.
9. **Be aware how important socialization is.** A good breeder will make sure to socialize his or her dogs in order to guarantee they grow into confident well-adjusted adult dogs. This is especially important for the Doberman, who can be prone to anxiety or territorial behavior. Proper socialization as a puppy helps make the youngster accepting of strangers, rather than suspicious of them. This makes it less anxious and therefore better adjusted to life with people.
The breeder should make efforts for as many different people as possible to meet the puppies from around 3 - 4 weeks of age, so the young dogs are used to people of different heights, appearances, and tones of voice. The puppies should not be exclusively reared in a kennel as this isolates them from the normal sights, sounds, and activities of a domestic house, and they will find it more difficult to adjust to family life.
10. **Check the family history of a dog you are considering adopting.** The Doberman is prone to a number of genetic health problems, some of which the parents can be tested for and some not. For example, Dobermans are prone to hip dysplasia and Von Willebrand's disease. Responsible breeders will screen the parent dogs for hip dysplasia and have certification to show what their score is (the lower the better.)
A low hip score is no guarantee the puppies won't have poor hip anatomy, but it reduces the risk of this happening.
There is also a blood test for Von Willebrand's disease, so ideally it would be good to know the parents are negative.
11. **Be aware of the potential genetic health problems a Doberman may have.** The Doberman breed is prone to a number of genetic health problems. These include hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand's disease (a disorder affecting blood clotting), cardiomyopathy, cervical spondylopathy (compression of the spinal cord in the neck area), and bilateral flank alopecia.
The wise Doberman owner takes out a pet insurance policy in case their dog needs health care. For example, there are some excellent drugs available which can extend the life of a Doberman suffering from cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) but they are costly, especially given the size of the dog.
12. **Get your dog vaccinated.** In terms of routine healthcare, your puppy will need vaccinating against various canine infectious diseases. Exactly which diseases depends on which infections are prevalent in your area. Your veterinarian should advise you about what vaccinations your dog should get.
Possible vaccinations that your vet may suggest include: distemper, parvovirus, canine adenovirus, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis, parainfluenza virus, and Lyme disease. In addition, a vaccination against rabies is obligatory in many states and you will be breaking the law not to comply.
Different vaccines are given at different ages. Typically the rabies vaccine is given as a single dose after 12 weeks of age, repeated every 1 to 3 years (depending on the manufacturer) or if given earlier (some brands can be given from 4 weeks of age,) a second dose must be given at or after 12 weeks of age.
Many other vaccines are given in three doses, 3 - 4 weeks apart, with the final dose always falling around 16 weeks of age. This is so the puppy receives protection from the vaccine at a young age, but not so early that it doesn't benefit from the antibodies provided by its mother.
Your Doberman should receive yearly booster injections according to the protocol advised by your vet. The vet will select those diseases with are common in the area (core) and those less common (non-core) and discuss which are most appropriate for your dog.
13. **Get your dog dewormed and treated for parasites.** Dobermans are likely to spend a lot of time outdoors, so deworming and parasite treatment is essential. Deworming medications come in tablets, oral liquids, oral granules, and spot on treatments. Each product is slightly different, so discuss with your vet which one is best for your pet.
You should give your dog medication for roundworms (monthly) and a quarterly broad-spectrum dewormer, which stops whipworms and tapeworms.
Treatment against heartworm is also advisable, either as a six-monthly injection, or a monthly spot-on treatment at home.
Your dog also should be treated for fleas and ticks. Prevention is better than cure, so this involves using a product effective against fleas and ticks, such as fipronil (Frontline or Effipro) or the Seresto collar. Also, you should check your dog every day for ticks and remove them with a tick hook.
14. **Consider desexing your dog.** The obvious advantage of neutering is that it prevents unscheduled breeding. It can also protect the female dog against mammary cancer, if surgery if performed before the bitch's second heat.
Neutering or spaying should be discussed with your veterinarian. It is usual to operate on females from 4 - 6 months of age, and males around 6 -10 months of age, however, this varies depending on the individual vet clinic.
15. **Give your Doberman a good quality food.** Look at the label on the bag and make sure a named meat is the first and second ingredient on the bag. Never be tempted to economize by feeding your Doberman on a cheaper food that is bulked up with soy or cereal. These ingredients tend to ferment in the bowel and produce gas.
Unfortunately, the Doberman is renowned for suffering from a serious condition called bloat, where gas builds up in the stomach which then flips over on itself. This condition can kill the dog. The extra gas generated by a cereal rich diet is something to be avoided.
16. **Never exercise your dog immediately after eating.** Wait for at least 90 minutes after feeding your dog before exercising it. Exercising too quickly could cause the dog's stomach to flip over and becoming twisted. This is a life-threatening condition called bloat.
Signs of bloat include non-productive retching and restlessness or agitation. If your dog is trying to throw up but bringing nothing up, take it to the vet immediately.
Feeding from an elevated bowl is also said to increase the chances of bloat, so place the dog's food bowls on the floor.
Eating quickly and gulping down food makes the dog likely to swallow air. If the dog is greedy consider strategies to slow its eating. You can purchase commercial slow-feeders, or consider putting large rocks (be sure they are too big to swallow) in the feeding bowl so the dog has to eat around them, slowing it down.
17. **Feed your dog the right amount of food.** Begin by following the portion sizes recommended on the package. However, regularly weigh your Doberman to make sure it is not gaining too much weight.
Make sure to know what a healthy body shape is for your dog. If you know the ideal, you can judge whether your dog is under, over, or just the right weight.
18. **Brush your Doberman once in awhile to bond with it and get it used to your touch.** The Doberman is short-haired and its coat actually requires minimal grooming attention. However, burnishing the coat with a rubber mitt helps add gloss and conditions the skin.
19. **Check your Doberman's body on a regular basis.** Just be sure to check it over for ticks and awns after each walk. If you find any, remove them.
Checking your dog's body regularly will help you determine when there is something wrong with it. If you know its shape and function when the dog is healthy, you will be able to identify problems more quickly.
20. **Take care of your dog's teeth.** Get in the habit of regular tooth brushing. Use a special dog toothbrush or a finger mitt and dog toothpaste.
To get your dog used to the process, wet the brush with water and gently rub it on the outer surfaces of the teeth. Once the dog is happy with this, you can introduce a blob of dog toothpaste onto the brush. These pastes are tasty to dogs, don't need rinsing, and are free from substances harmful to dogs if swallowed, such as fluoride.
21. **Use a positive-reinforcement training method.** Dobermans respond well to clicker training. The idea of this training method is to have the dog associate the click-clack sound of the clicker with a reward. The clicker is used to mark the exact moment the dog shows a desired behavior, so that it understands that is what you want it to do and it will earn a reward for repeating the behavior.
22. **Train your dog to respond to basic commands.** Good basic commands to start with are sit, stay, and recall. Once your dog has mastered those, you can build up to more complex obedience training and tricks.
Given the possessive nature of Dobermans, it is also useful to teach them to fetch, carry, and drop objects. This means the dog learns to relinquish objects to you, and it is also a useful way to occupy the dog's mouth (ie by holding something) if it is in a stressful situation and you are worried about the dog barking or snapping at people.
23. **Train your Doberman on a regular basis.** Begin with two 10 - 20 minute sessions per day, depending on the attention span of your dog. If your dog has a lot of energy and has a hard time concentrating, take it for a short walk before a training session. Keep training fun and enjoyable for the dog. If the dog is having a hard time with a command, and you want to end the session, go back to a command they are good at doing before ending the session. This will end things on a positive note and make the dog happier to return to training later.
Avoid using harsh reprimands or punishments with your Doberman, as this is unnecessary and may drive undesirable behaviors underground. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Doberman-Pinschers", "language": "en"} |
How to Practice Shamanism | Shamanism is a term used to describe the rituals of many cultures around the world. In the Western world, the term is often used to describe more recent traditions that borrow from many cultures or invent their own practices. Many people have found fulfillment, knowledge, or the ability to help others through all types of shamanism, but be aware that traditional and non-traditional shamans do not always see eye to eye.
1. **Learn the history of shamanism.** The word "shaman" originated in the Evenki language of Siberia, where its exact meaning is unclear. From this murky beginning, anthropologists have spread the term to describe spiritual practitioners of many cultures, and the term "shamanism" has been adopted by many native Americans and other groups. There is still an incredibly wide variety in the types of traditional shamanism practiced across the world.
Shamanism is based on the belief that all things (animals, plants, sun, soil, even man-made things) have spirit and life in them, and can be communicated with.
Shamanism is not a religion, and historically, there was no organization for it.
2. **Understand neoshamanism in Western culture.** In the 20th century, the historian Mircea Eliade and the anthropologist Michael Harner separately argued that many varieties of spiritual traditions around the world could all be defined as "shamanism," with core principles at the heart of different practices and beliefs. This directly led to many new traditions, mostly started by white Westerners, such as "core shamanism," and many types of "neoshamanism" or "New Age shamanism."
3. **Understand the controversy.** Traditional shamanism, in its hundreds of different forms, is still alive today, and its practitioners (as well as scholars of religion) have a range of reactions to more recent shaman traditions. There are many sides to this discussion, and not all types of shamanism or individual shamans agree with all of these points, but you may wish to be aware of as you begin exploring shamanism:
Although it is not uncommon for shamans to charge for services, some new "shaman businesses" are often considered cynical.
Most new-style shamans use traditions from other cultures. This can be done respectfully and knowledgeably, or in an uninformed or incorrect way that many find offensive.
Western shamanism is often taught as a self-improvement technique, while many older traditions cause harm to the shaman, include "evil" or "grey area" practices, or focus on helping the community.
4. **Study Western neoshamanism.** If you decide you would like to learn more about a modern shamanism tradition, you can find many materials online or in mass-published books. Most of these are unique theories and practices developed by a single person, but a few resources listed below are examples of especially influential voices. You can also read more about general trends in these movements in the section below on practicing shamanism.
The Foundation for Shamanic Studies promotes "core shamanism," claiming to teach the essential principles at the core of shamanic traditions worldwide.
Cleargreen Incorporated practices 20th-century pseudo-Mexican shamanism called "Tensegrity."
Terence McKenna was an influential supporter of shamanism in the 1990s, tying it to many New Age theories and psychedelic experimentation.
5. **Study traditional shamanism.** The method of becoming a traditional shaman varies from culture to culture but typically involves a sudden supernatural event, inheriting the position, or training as an apprentice. If you do not belong to a culture with shamanic traditions, you may need to visit an indigenous community to study under a shaman or someone in a similar role. You can also learn more about these traditions by reading books by anthropologists and other people who describe shamanistic practices of a specific culture:
The book Ancient Land, Sacred Whale by Tom Lowenstein describes the rituals and myths of the Alaskan Tikigaq whale hunters.
This article describes thriving shamanic traditions across Nepal, and discusses how they are different from other ritual practices.
6. **Induce a drumming trance.** Entering the spirit world, or discovering another reality next to our own, is one of the most common shamanic practices. One of many ways to do this is to enter a trance. Try blindfolding yourself and beating a drum with a steady beat for several minutes, or until you enter a different state of awareness.
7. **Meditate** Another way to enter a trance, or to become in touch with your inner self, is to practice meditation. Many people consider it a solid foundation for any spiritual path, and a source of health benefits that match well with some shamanic tradition's message of self-improvement. There are many schools of meditation, but it all begins with closing your eyes and sitting in a quiet place.
8. **Listen to your dreams.** Dreams are often important to people practicing shamanic rituals. They may be holding great truths, revelations or some other spiritual significance. Keep a dream journal so that when you wake up, you'll be able to write or draw some of the images down.
The images you draw may hold power. Be wary if you do not know what they represent.
9. **Interact with spirits and other entities.** There is no universal way to encounter these entities, but in many traditions, you cannot be a shaman without doing so. During a trance, a meditation, or a sudden, unexpected experience, you may encounter another being. This may be a nature spirit, a spirit in the afterlife, or even entities that some consider gods. There is no single pantheon or worldview that can explain what you encounter, but an experienced shaman can help you identify them and teach you how to make deals with them, serve them, or master them, depending on the traditions you follow.
Be aware that some of these entities may be malevolent or tricky to deal with. Often, rituals that involve drugs, sacrifice, or other sources of power attract potentially more dangerous entities.
10. **Find a teacher.** While you can develop your own shamanic practices, almost everyone finds the guidance of a teacher of a fellow journeyer helpful. This could be a shaman practicing the traditional shamanism of her culture, or a shaman from a "neoshamanism" tradition. This step is recommended before trying any of the steps below, or if you have a dangerous or frightening encounter with spirits.
If you believe that all things have some sort of spirit that you can communicate with, and that you can utilize these different unseen forces for healing or for benefiting others, it doesn't make you a shaman yet. It only means that you have shamanic capabilities and are tuned into shamanic practice, but you still have a lot to learn.
11. **Be cautious with drugs.** Entheogens, or substances that "generate the divine within," can be powerful allies in affecting our consciousness, but they are not always necessary. Learn how to hone your own abilities as a Shamanic Practitioner before integrating these into your practice, and learn how to use them with trusted, human individuals watching over you.
Plenty of legal substances are used in shamanic traditions, such as tobacco. In the United States, drugs such as peyote and ayahuasca are legal or in a legal grey area when used by people who can prove they are part of traditional culture.
12. **Conduct healing rituals.** Healing is a major duty of many experienced shamans. The exact ritual varies and is usually passed on by teachers. This can involve many techniques:
Dancing, singing, or playing instruments to attract spirits.
Making offering to the spirits of food, drink, tobacco, and other substances. (Sometimes, the spirits are brought inside your body first.)
Drawing the sickness out of the body and into an animal, object, or symbol.
Traveling to another reality to intercede with the spirits on the sick person's behalf.
13. **Perform divination** Many New Age shamans use divining rods, séances, crystals, or other divining implements. Some attempt to see the future, while others use these tools to seek guidance for their own life, or to communicate to spirits in the afterlife. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Practice-Shamanism", "language": "en"} |
How to Change Your Password on TikTok | In the event that you believe your TikiTok password isn’t strong enough or you forgot it, you might want to change the password. This wikiHow will teach you how to change or recover your TikiTok account’s password.
1. **Open TikTok.** This app has a music note on a black background. You will open to the home page.
2. **Tap on your profile icon.** This is in the bottom right corner of your screen.
3. **Tap on the triple dots ….** This will open your TikTok settings.
4. **Tap on Manage my account.** This will open settings pertaining to your account.
5. **Tap on Password.** This will allow you to change your password for your TikTok account.
6. **Enter the verification code sent to you.** In order for you to change your password, you need to know your old password. If you don't, then you will have to reset your password.
7. **Enter your new password in the second and third fields.** As a general rule, a strong password has at least one capital letter, one non-letter, and eight characters. If your password is too weak, then you will not be able to save your password.
8. **Tap on the Next button.** This will finish changing your password.
9. **Open TikTok.** This app has a music note on a black background. You will open to the home page.
10. **Tap on your profile icon.** This is in the bottom right corner of your screen.
11. **Tap on the triple dots ….** This will open your TikTok settings.
12. **Tap on Log out.** You need to be logged out to reset your password.
13. **Tap on Log Out.**
14. **Tap on your profile icon again.** This will open up the login screen.
15. **Choose Can't log in?** .
16. **Decide how you want to reset your password.** You can use your email address or your phone number to reset your password.
17. **Enter your phone number or email address associated with your account into the following screen.** You need one to reset your password.
18. **Enter the verification code.** Check your inbox (email) or messages (text) for a verification code. Enter this code into the password reset.
If you are using email and you do not see a message, check your "spam" or "junk" folder.
19. **Enter your new password.** As a general rule, a strong password has at least one capital letter, one non-letter, and eight characters. If your password is too weak, then you will not be able to save your password.
20. **Tap on the Next button.** This will finish changing your password. You can then log back in as normal. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Change-Your-Password-on-TikTok", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Waffles with Pancake Mix | If you're craving waffles but only have pancake mix in the house, have no fear! With a few simple adjustments, you can mix up waffles that are crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You'll need to increase the water, add an egg, and use a little oil when you make the batter. Once you've converted the basic pancake mix, cook the batter on a hot waffle iron and enjoy the waffles immediately! You can also make delicious savory or sweet variations.
1. **Preheat the waffle iron.** Plug your waffle iron in and heat it for at least ten minutes. The iron can heat while you prepare the waffle batter.
2. **Measure the pancake mix, water, oil, egg yolk, and sugar into a bowl.** You'll need to add other ingredients to your pancake mix to improve the texture of your waffles. Measure 1 cup (250 g) pf pancake mix, 3/4 cup (180 ml) of water, 1/4 cup (60 ml) of oil, 2 tablespoons (25 g) of sugar, and 1 large egg yolk into a mixing bowl.
Extra water, oil, and sugar will ensure that the waffle becomes crisp and brown on the outside while it stays fluffy on the inside.
If you'd like to double the recipe (to make one dozen waffles), just double all of the ingredients.
3. **Whisk the batter.** Use a wire whisk to combine the batter ingredients in the mixing bowl. Stop whisking as soon as the mixture is combined and set it aside.
Don't worry if the batter is still a little lumpy. You want to avoid over beating it or the waffles will be tough.
4. **Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks.** Get out another mixing bowl and place the two large egg whites into it. Use a stand or hand mixer to whisk the whites on high speed. Keep whisking until they form stiff peaks when you lift the whisk out of the bowl.
5. **Fold the egg whites** Transfer the egg whites to the bowl with the batter and gently fold them in until they're just combined. Take a metal spoon and twist your wrist as you lift the batter up and over the egg whites. Keep lifting and turning the batter until the egg whites are incorporated.
6. **Pour the batter into the hot waffle iron.** Once the waffle iron is hot, scoop 1/2 cup (about 120 g) of the batter into the center of the waffle iron. Slowly lower the lid on the batter.
7. **Cook and remove the waffle.** Cook the waffle for a few minutes or until steam isn't coming out of the waffle iron anymore. Carefully lift up the lid use a fork to lift the waffle out.
Cooking time will depend on your specific waffle iron. Most waffles will cook within two to four minutes.
8. **Create dessert waffles.** Mix up the pancake mix that's been converted for waffles. Stir in some of your favorite sweeteners and cook the waffles on the iron. Top the dessert waffles with syrup or whipped cream. Consider adding:
Mini-chocolate chips
Toasted nuts
Shredded coconut
Peanut butter or chocolate hazelnut spread
9. **Include your favorite fruit.** Add nutrients and flavor by putting fresh, dried, or pureed fruit into the prepared batter. Keep in mind that most fruits will add moisture to the batter, so choose just one or two to add or the batter will become watery. You can stir in:
Mashed bananas
Pureed, spiced pumpkin
Grated apples
Fresh or frozen berries
10. **Mix up savory waffles.** Stir savory ingredients directly into the prepared batter. Add your favorite crumbled or shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, fresh herbs, or spices. You can also top the savory waffles with meat, eggs, or cheese to make a complete meal.
For example, make cheesy waffles and top them with fried chicken. Or make a crumbled bacon and herb waffle that you top with a fried egg.
11. **Make buttermilk lemon waffles.** To make really rich, fluffy waffles, replace the water in the batter with buttermilk. You can also stir in a little lemon curd and some mascarpone cheese for flavor. Cook the buttermilk lemon waffles on a hot waffle iron and serve them right away. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Waffles-with-Pancake-Mix", "language": "en"} |
How to Improve Leadership Quality | Leadership encompasses a variety of qualities and skills. A good leader is someone who is able to manage people and tasks, communicate effectively, and foster a positive team environment. Try to develop your leadership qualities by analysing your strengths and weaknesses, and setting a good example to your colleagues.
1. **Ask yourself what kind of leader you are** If you want to develop your leadership skills, it’s important that you honestly analyse your strengths and weaknesses. Doing this will enable you to identify the areas you need to improve, and make you more aware of how you act and behave. Start by asking yourself “what kind of leader am I?”
Perhaps you are someone who leads by example, and doesn’t get too involved in other people’s work.
Or maybe you are a leader who helps to solve problems, and takes a more active and interventionist role.
Being a good team player and helping other people get along and work together more effectively is another way of being a leader.
You can even use online leadership quizzes to evaluate your leadership skills.
2. **Consider how others might see you.** Once you have begun to get a clearer picture of how you act as a leader, it will be helpful to consider how other people think of you as a leader. This could be your colleagues at work, or friends at school or college. You can do this by paying closer attention to team interactions, such as how often colleagues approach you for advice, and how comfortable they are doing so.
You can also ask a trusted friend or colleague for her perception of your leadership qualities.
You can ask a more senior colleague, who is familiar with you and your work, for some feedback and guidance on management and leadership.
3. **Analyse your leadership qualities.** After asking the initial questions about how you lead and how others perceive you, you can try to analyse you leadership qualities in greater detail. You will then decide which factors to work on. Write down the following questions and try to answer them as honestly and fully as you can:
Do I make an effort to be aware of the thoughts and feelings of colleagues?
Do I help others perform to their best and reach their potential?
Do I accept responsibility?
Do I keep an open mind and try new ideas and new ways of doing things?
Can I communicate effectively with others?
Am I a good problem solver?
Do I encourage and accept other opinions and perspectives?
4. **Identify areas to improve.** These questions will help highlight which leadership qualities you are strong in, and which you need to improve. Using your answers to the questions, divide your leadership qualities into three parts. Firstly, note those qualities you feel you are very strong on. Secondly, identify which areas need some improvement. Thirdly, determine which areas you are weak on, and need considerable attention.
For example, if you are aware of the thoughts and feelings of colleagues, and you accept other people’s opinions, your openness and engagement with colleague is likely to be strong.
If you don’t help others perform to their best, and you don’t communicate as effectively as you would like, these skills will need some work.
These leadership qualities can be broken down into the more general areas of communication, inspiring and setting an example for others, openness, and teamwork and cooperation.
5. **Enable effective dialogue.** Communication is perhaps the most important leadership quality, and one that runs through all of the other important qualities. One of the keys to good communication is enabling positive and sometimes robust dialogue on problems and solutions. There are different styles of leadership, but someone who consistently shuts down debates and stifles discussions is unlikely to command the support of others for too long.
Ask and encourage open questions, rather than constrictive ones.
Highlight areas of agreement first, and deal with the disagreements second.
Don’t be overbearing, and facilitate an open environment where people are free to talk without fear.
6. **Have positive body language.** Positive body language can help you come across as dynamic, open and cooperative. It can also help you to make a strong impression when you are talking, and increase the power and effectiveness of your words. One good rule is to have body language that is consistent with what you are saying. Don’t, for example, ask someone to do something while looking down at the floor. Instead make eye contact and be open and engaging.
To have positive and affirmative body language while talking, try to maintain eye contact, stand tall and straight, and relax your face.
Your body language may be interpreted as how you are really feeling, so try to have body language that reflects the qualities and approach of a good leader.
7. **Be an active listener.** To be a good communicator, you need to be a good listener. If you make the effort to listen to somebody, she will see that and come to think of you as someone she can talk to. This is an important leadership quality to develop. Body language is important, so try to maintain eye contact with the person you are talking to. To be an active listener:
Don’t judge people.
Pay complete attention to the person you are talking to.
Try to understand others, before you try make yourself understood.
Don’t interrupt unnecessarily.
8. **Use initiative.** One aspect of good leadership is being quick and decisive to act to solve a problem. If you see something needs to be done and are confident that you know the best way to do it, use your initiative. A strong leader can be someone who is prepared to take the lead in situations without necessarily being asked to.
Using your initiative demonstrates a positive and “can do” attitude.
Make sure you are confident in your actions, however. Act calmly and assuredly, and don’t ty to rush to a solution when the problem requires consultation.
Another aspect of good leadership is knowing when to take advice, and understanding when a problem needs a deeper understanding before it can be addressed.
9. **Take responsibility.** To set a strong example as a leader it’s essential that you take responsibility for your individual tasks and priorities as well as your team as a whole. Having clear priorities and clearly assigned roles will make it easier for people to identify and own their responsibilities.
Support your team members to complete their tasks and try to forge a cooperative rather than a competitive environment and culture.
Taking responsibility can also involve removing responsibilities from those who have demonstrated that they are unable to manage the tasks assigned.
10. **Keep improving your skills.** One way to demonstrate good leadership skills is to always be alert to new possibilities to learn and develop your capabilities. Showing a continuous desire to improve yourself and your work can be a motivating factor for those around you. It demonstrates your commitment to excellence and your lack of complacency.
Organise and write down a clear set of standards for yourself personally, and then try to always stick to them.
Try to monitor your work, and identify the areas which you can improve on.
You can use these personal standards to draw up a personal development plan.
11. **Provide a vision.** A good leader is someone who can provide a clear and compelling vision for the short term and longer term future. The ability to plan ahead, think strategically, and develop priorities are all hallmarks of strong leaders. In order to do this, you will need to develop a broader perspective so that you can see beyond the immediate deadlines.
Seeing the bigger picture can help you envisage problems before they arrive.
This kind of approach can also lead to innovation and structural changes that have long term benefits.
12. **Motivate others.** For teamwork you need motivated colleagues. One of the best ways for a leader to motivate her colleagues is pay attention to them and make it clear that you are there to provide support and help when required. Try to keep people focussed on the goals that are the highest priorities in order to provide a clear route forward.
You shouldn’t be the last person to find out if someone has concerns or is struggling.
Be active and communicative to identify problems and deal with them.
This may involve tweaking your team or the distribution of work.
For example, if someone is losing interest as the work is not challenging her, think of ways you can get her to engage with her tasks.
You could explain how this work, although a bit boring, is essential to the overall project.
Say something like “I know this is a bit monotonous, but without this the whole thing falls apart. I assigned it to you because you have great attention to detail.”
13. **Commend good work.** An important part of motivating others is commending good work. Look for opportunities to praise people for a job well done, and demonstrate that you appreciate what they are doing. Taking an active interest in the work of your colleagues is a key feature of a good leader who is able to motivate her team.
With more junior members of staff, always be on the lookout for career development opportunities.
A positive and cooperative working culture where people’s hard work is respected and appreciated will result in a more motivated group.
14. **Cooperate instead of competing.** If you are trying to be a strong leader, it can be tempting to try to prompt better work by creating a competitive environment amongst your colleagues. In fact, developing a more cooperative work culture often leads to more effective working and better relationships.
Any battles that arise in a competitive culture cost valuable time and resources to deal with.
You are better off creating common goals that you can achieve together.
Creating a cooperative environment will encourage collaboration and help avoid silo working.
15. **Be visible and approachable.** If you are leading a team on a project, it’s important that you are available to your colleagues. Remember that a good leader is someone who not only gets the task done, but is also concerned with helping her colleagues develop and achieve their potential. Be open to mentoring more junior colleagues, and be sure to make time for one-to-one training when required.
You can make yourself visible and available in a number of ways. For example, you might schedule in a short period each day where you are free to listen to any concerns.
You could do this formally, or just set aside half an hour in which you can go around the team and check how everybody is getting on.
If someone asks you something and you don’t have time to deal with it right away, don’t dismiss it outright. Schedule a time later when you are free to talk. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Leadership-Quality", "language": "en"} |
How to Make a Restaurant Menu | A menu is the first thing a customer sees when they come into your restaurant, and the last thing they look at before they order. This makes the menu one of your most valuable marketing tools. As long as you follow some basic guidelines, you can create a sleek restaurant menu that your customers will enjoy!
1. **Choose your restaurant’s concept.** To begin with, determine what kind of cuisine you’d like to offer. Then think about who your clientele will be, and consider what price range you’d like to fall in. Finally, take the location of your restaurant into consideration. Use this information to come up with a simple, concise concept for your restaurant.
Take inspiration from the restaurants and businesses around you to develop a sense of what works in this area.
2. **Decide what your menu items will be.** Make a list of the 10-12 menu items you know you can do best. This should form the basis of your menu. Select items that fit with your restaurant concept. If you are a new restaurant, avoid including more than 10-12 items at first.
If you’re restaurant is open all day, you may want to have a morning menu (breakfast/lunch) and an evening menu (lunch/dinner).
Don’t forget about beverages!
3. **Add a few high-end or speciality items.** Choose 2-3 items that are a little more expensive. Try for items that fit within yout restaurant concept, but that are not offered at other places nearby. Some ideas include:
A premium cut of steak
Roasted goose
An exotic fish
Dishes that a little harder to make, such as Spanish paella
Specialty entrées for two
4. **Offer some “house favorites.”** Select 2-3 items that you know you make well, and you believe will be good seller. These should be items at mid-level price point. Label these items with a star or other symbol that indicate they are a “best seller” or “chef’s choice.”
5. **Create names for the items on your menu.** Each food item on the menu will need to be called something. Marketing research has shown that customers tend to gravitate toward creative names. Rather than calling your hamburger simply “hamburger,” why not name a speciality burger “The Mona Lisa” or “The Couch Potato”?
Make sure your menu names fit with the concept of your restaurant. For instance, an upscale bistro might not want comedic food names.
6. **Write down all your menu items in a spreadsheet.** Sit down and list every single item that will appear on your menu. This is important to do even if you are working from an existing menu. It will help you to best organize and categorize all of your items.
This works best if you use an Excel Spreadsheet or Google sheet.
If you don’t have access to any kind of spreadsheet, you can do this on a sheet of paper.
7. **Order your menu in a logical way.** Determine about 3 major sections of your menu. If each section has more than 10 items, divide each section into 1-2 subsections. Then come up with a logical way to order your menu items. The most common way is chronologically, meaning that breakfast items come first and desserts come last. Place all of this info into your spreadsheet. Section or subsection ideas include:
Breakfast
Appetizers
Lunch
Main courses
Soup and salad
Pasta
Vegetarian
Specialty
Beverages and/or cocktails
8. **Describe each dish in about 10 words.** The food items themselves should have descriptive titles. For instance, “burger” doesn’t sound like much, but “Juicy Burger with Arugula and Horseradish Aioli” will get your reader's’ attention. After that, include a brief description of all the ingredients in the dish. You might say: “Quarter-pound all-beef patty with arugula, creamy aioli, grilled mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, and pepper jack or Swiss cheese on a brioche bun.” Make a note if any of the following apply:
The dish is hotter/spicier than most of the other dishes on the menu.
The dish contains any ingredients to which some people are severely allergic (e.g. peanuts).
The dish caters to a group with special dietary needs (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.)
9. **Calculate your gross margins and markup percentages.** Think about what you’d like to charge for each item. Then figure out the unit cost of each menu item by adding together the cost of ingredients plus overhead costs. Subtract the unit cost of each item from your potential menu price. Divide your gross margin amount by your unit cost to get your markup percentage.
Let’s say the unit cost for fried chicken is $10, and you plan to charge $16 for it. Subtract $10 from $16 to get $6.
Divide your gross margin amount ($6) by your unit cost ($10) to get your markup percentage (60%).
10. **Adjust menu prices to maximize your profits.** Before you finalize menu prices, keep in mind the markup percentages of these items, and what margins you should be making. Make sure your dishes are priced correctly and, if they're not, consider redoing the ingredients list or changing the recipe so you're more prepared to make a profit. In general: Here are some guidelines:
Appetizers and desserts will have low unit costs, and high markup percentages.
Steak and other expensive meats will only have about a 50% markup percentage.
Pasta dishes and salads can have 80-85% markup percentages.
Alcohol prices will vary widely. Try to keep your markup percentages between 50 and 70%.
11. **Consider the average income of folks in your area.** Keep your average price around what locals will be able to pay for a meal. To figure out what most guests are willing to pay, take a look at the prices on your competitors' menus. What do their least and most expensive items costs? What is the average price of their menu items?
For instance, do you think your customers can afford to buy a $30 entree, or would they stick to a $15-20 range?
12. **End prices on whole dollar amounts and avoid using monetary symbols.** Certain design elements can encourage customers to spend a little more. Avoid ending prices on $0.99, and avoid adding dollar signs to your menu.
13. **Browse menu templates to get ideas.** There are many online templates (for free or for purchase), as well as entire websites dedicated to creating restaurant menus. Even if you have a good sense of what you want, looking through different templates can inspire you or focus your design goals. Choose 1-2 templates that you really like.
If you have access to Microsoft word, Powerpoint, or any Adobe Suite programs, there are many menu templates in these formats available online.
Websites like Canva and Must Have Menus offer some free templates, and others for a fee.
Programs like iMenu offer drag-and-drop menu templates, but programs like this are not usually free.
14. **Choose a color scheme that matches the style of the restaurant.** For a fancy restaurant, dark colors will convey a sense of seriousness and professionalism. At a casual restaurant, warm, muted colors will look appropriately inviting. At a restaurant with a young clientele or a zanier theme, bright colors will usually make the most sense. Unless you’re not happy with the interior design or plan on changing it, making the menus match (or at least complement) the restaurant itself is probably the safest bet.
15. **Select a presentation style that fits with your restaurant’s concept.** Your menu could be horizontal or vertical. It could be housed on a wooden clipboard, placed into a binder, presented as a placemat, or any number of other options.
A family diner might use a menu placemat.
A brunch spot might use little wooden clipboards to present menus.
An upscale bistro might have folding menus encased in clear binders.
16. **Use a menu template for an easier menu design.** Once you have the look you want, look for a menu template online and plug all of your information in as-needed. Opt for a simple design of possible, and try 2 templates before sticking with one. Some other common things to keep in mind as you choose your template:
Keep your fonts simple.
Don’t use more than 3 fonts on the menu.
Check to see if any of the pages seems lopsided.
Try to provide the same amount of information on each page.
You can find menu templates on Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or online.
17. **Consider hiring a graphic designer.** If you have the means, hiring a professional designer can be a good option. A designer will be able to customize your menu and make sure it fits within your restaurant’s overall concept.
Post an add on Freelancer.com, Linkedin, Craigslist, or another site. Include as many specifics about the project as you can.
Depending on the specifics of your design a professional designer should cost anywhere from $300 to $500.
18. **Take pictures of the food yourself to create an appetizing menu.** Shoot in natural light on an overcast day, and in front of a neutral background. Choose brightly colored food items and think about how you arrange your food. Try to create a balance picture. If possible, use a nice camera. Also, if possible, use photo editing software to enhance your images.
If you want to hire a food photographer instead, post an add on Freelancer.com or Craigslist, and expect to pay between $10 and $50 per image.
19. **Forego food images to keep your menu simple.** If you're struggling to get appetizing pictures, or don't think your menu will have enough space to fit in images, skip the images altogether. Remember: not every menu needs images to shine!
20. **Look over the rough design and ask for people’s opinions.** Evaluate the menu draft and see if you like it. Ask for feedback from 2-3 people, including at least 1 person outside of your industry. Make sure that everyone involved (the restaurant owner, manager, chef, and so on) takes a look at the design and content. You could ask:
"Is the menu easy to read?"
"Do you like the color scheme?"
"Does the design fit with the restaurant concept?"
"Does the design seem too busy?"
"Do you like the font(s)?"
"Are there any mistakes or typos?"
21. **Determine how many menus you need based on the number of seats.** Think about how many seats you have in your restaurant. Take this number and add 10-25%. This is the number of menus you will need. Go for a lower percentage if your menus will be durable and easy to clean. Go for a higher percentage if your restaurant serves messy food, serves a lot of children, or is made from less/durable more difficult to clean material.
If you will be using disposable menus (e.g., placemats) determine the number of customers you plan to have each day and multiply that by the length of time you want this round of menus to last. You will reorder menus as needed.
22. **Proofread the menu before printing.** Go through the entire menu with a fine-tooth comb, as errors in the menu send a poor message about the quality of the establishment. You could also hire a professional editor, just in case you missed anything.
23. **Print the menu with a high-quality printer.** Send your finished menu to a professional to be printed. Avoid printing menus on a home printer unless you have a professional-quality laser printer. The cost of professional printing is small compared to the impact of well printed pages.
You can send your menu to a chain, like Staples, or a local printing service. Or you can order prints of your menu online.
Print a few menus and make sure they are perfect before you place a large order.
24. **Bind or package your menus.** If you will be presenting your menu by way of a binder, clipboard, or other item, order enough of these to accommodate your menus. Place 1 menu in each holder. If your menu is going to be professionally bound, see if this can be done at the time of printing to save yourself time and money. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Restaurant-Menu", "language": "en"} |
How to Use Supplements to Avoid Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) | Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is when a blood clot forms in your deep veins, often in your legs or arms. While this is a serious medical condition, you may be able to prevent it naturally using supplements. However, check with your doctor before using supplements to make sure they’re safe for you to use. Additionally, get immediate medical care if you have symptoms of DVT and seek emergency care if you notice symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.
1. **Take a nattokinase supplement to help break down clots.** Nattokinase is an enzyme derived from fermented soybeans. This enzyme acts directly on clots to break them up and it also balances the levels of other chemicals that affect clot formation. There no known side effects of this supplement, but you may want to talk to your doctor about taking it, especially if you are on other medications.
Follow the package instructions, but a common dosage is 100mg of nattokinase taken three times a day.
2. **Consider taking lumbrokinase supplements for clot prevention.** Lumbrokinase is another type of enzyme derived from earthworms. This enzyme works like nattokinase by breaking up any blood clots that may form in the veins. Lumbrokinase may cause mild nausea and bloating. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin supplementing with lumbrokinase.
Follow the package instructions or consult your doctor for a recommendation, but a common dosage amount is 40-80 mg taken twice a day.
3. **Add omega-3 fish oils to your diet so platelets can’t stick together.** Omega-3 oils contain EPA and DHA, which are omega-3 essential fatty acids. Your body uses these acids for many different purposes, including anti-inflammatory purposes. EPA and DHA prevent platelets from clumping together, which can help to reduce clotting.
Try taking an omega-3 supplement or get your omega-3s from seafood like sardines, salmon, mackerel, cod, tuna, and shellfish.
4. **Try evening primrose oil because it may help prevent clots.** Evening primrose oil (EPO) contains gamma-linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 essential fatty acid. The way that EPO works to prevent DVT is not clear, but it has been shown to help to reduce clot formation. EPO may also cause mild nausea and diarrhea.
Follow the package instructions, but a common dosage is 300mg taken three times a day. Also, make sure that you talk to your doctor if you are on anti-seizure medications, blood pressure medications, antidepressants or blood pressure medications. EPO may interact with some of these.
5. **Prevent venous insufficiency with bioflavonoids.** Venous insufficiency may cause DVT, so taking supplements that act against this condition may be helpful as well. Bioflavonoids can help with venous insufficiency. Bioflavonoids are plant components that give berries their color, which is why berries are good sources of bioflavonoids. These antioxidants act on the veins to improve circulation, decrease micro-bleeds in capillaries, and reduce inflammation and swelling.
Rutin is a type of bioflavonoid that has been shown to be effective against venous insufficiency. Try taking 1–2 g daily. You may also want to talk to your physician for a dosage recommendation and to make sure that rutin will not interfere with any of your medications.
6. **Reduce your risk of venous deficiency with digestive enzymes.** Bromelain is an enzyme that is derived from pineapples. You can also get bromelain from eating fresh pineapple. Bromelain may increase prothrombin time (PT), which may help prevent coagulation.
Talk to your doctor about supplementing with bromelain and for a dosage recommendation. The recommended dosage varies from 80-320 mg two to three times a day.
7. **Take frequent walks so blood doesn’t pool in your legs.** Part of the reason why people develop DVT is because they are bedridden or otherwise unable to move around. As a result, blood pools in their legs and clots form. Getting regular daily exercise, such as going for quick frequent walks throughout the day, is a great way to reduce your risk of developing DVT.
8. **Quit smoking because it’s a risk factor for DVT.** Smoking increases your risk of developing DVT as well as many other serious health conditions. If you are a smoker, ask your doctor for help to quit. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that can help and there are smoking cessation programs that may also help you to quit.
9. **Keep your blood pressure under control.** High blood pressure is another risk factor for DVT. Keep your blood pressure under control by getting it checked regularly and following your doctor’s recommendations for reducing blood pressure.
Common recommendations include following a low sodium diet, getting regular exercise, and taking medications.
10. **Take your medications as directed.** If you are on any blood thinning medications, then it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions and take them every day until you have been told to stop taking them. If you plan to supplement and you are on other medications, make sure that you ask your doctor first to make sure that there are not interactions.
11. **Wear compression stockings to improve your circulation.** Compression stockings are often recommended for those who are at risk of developing DVT. These stockings help prevent DVT by compressing your legs and improving circulation.
If you are at risk of developing DVT, ask your doctor about compression hose.
If you have been told to wear compression hose, make sure that you do.
12. **Try to reduce your risk factors for DVT.** There are many risk factors for DVT, and it helps to know if you are at higher risk so you can take extra preventative measures. Some of these risk factors include:
Hospitalization
Infection
Cancer
Being over 75 years old
A recent episode of more than three days in bed
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Cigarette smoking
High cholesterol levels
Genetic risk factors, such as clotting factor deficiencies
Long periods of sitting, such as on an airplane
Obesity
Recent surgery
13. **Check with your doctor before using herbal supplements.** While herbal supplements are generally safe, they aren’t right for everyone. They may trigger an allergic reaction, interfere with your medications, or worsen a condition you’re treating. Talk to your doctor about your desire to use herbal supplements, and make sure they’re safe for you to take.
Tell your doctor all of the medications and supplements you’re taking.
Let your doctor know that you’re hoping to prevent DVT.
14. **Get immediate medical care if you have symptoms of DVT.** Try not to worry because you can get treatment for DVT. However, you need to see your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms because a blood clot can become life threatening. To get prompt treatment, see your doctor as soon as you notice the following symptoms:
Swelling in your leg or around your ankle (if the DVT is in your leg)
Swelling in your wrist or finger (if the DVT is in your arm)
Pain, cramps, or throbbing in your calf or forearm
Redness
Tenderness
Warmth
15. **Let your doctor conduct diagnostic tests to confirm it’s DVT.** These symptoms may be caused by other conditions, so your doctor will likely recommend some tests. They will likely do these tests in their office, but you may get them done at a hospital. Your doctor will likely do the following tests to confirm you have DVT:
An ultrasound to view the clot
A blood test to find out if you have D dimer in your blood
Venography, which is an X-ray of your veins while they have dye in them
CT scan or MRI to look for a clot
16. **Get emergency medical care if you have symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.** In some cases, a DVT blood clot can travel from your arm or leg to your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. This is always an emergency medical condition, so you need to get immediate care. Try not to worry, but go to the emergency room as soon as you recognize the following symptoms:
Sudden shortness of breath
Chest pain or pressure that worsens when you breathe or cough
Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
Rapid heartbeat
Coughing up blood | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Supplements-to-Avoid-Deep-Vein-Thrombosis-(DVT)", "language": "en"} |
How to Paint a Motorcycle | Custom motorcycle paint jobs are a great way to give your bike a unique look. Do it yourself and you can cut down on labor costs while having more control over the personal touches that you want to add. Furthermore, it can be a lot of fun to paint a motorcycle if you are a motorcycle enthusiast. This article will explain both how to prepare and paint your bike, and also how to protect the area in which you're working from paint damage.
1. **Choose a large area where you can make a mess.** Though you’ll take steps to protect this area, don’t create the paint booth somewhere where an errant paint stain will be a big problem. A garage or storage area would be your best options.
2. **Protect the walls with plastic sheets.** You can buy plastic sheeting at any home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Make sure you buy enough to protect the whole area.
Use thumbtacks or a hammer and nails to hang the sheeting up on the walls.
Use masking tape to secure the bottom of the sheet to the floor. This will prevent the sheets from billowing out and allowing paint to stain the wall.
3. **Set up a variable speed, oscillating fan.** Place it somewhere where it will blow fumes out of the room or space, so you don’t inhale too much of it.
4. **Set up additional lighting.** It’s important that you can see what you’re doing, so place extra lights in the area where you’ll be working. Floor lamps would work well, but you can place side table lamps or desk lamps on a flat, elevated surface, as well.
You can also increase the brightness in the room by adding reflective materials such as aluminum sheets or mirrors on the walls.
5. **Remove and set aside the parts of the bike you plan to paint.** This article will use the tank as an example, but the same basic method should be applied to all bike pieces. The tank is a great place to start if you’re new to painting motorcycles because it’s fairly easy to remove and has broad, flat surfaces that are easy to work with.
Check which size allen wrench you need to remove the bolts holding the tank in place.
Remove all the bolts holding it in place and lift the tank off the frame. Set it aside.
Store the bolts in a plastic baggie clearly marked as “tank bolts.”
6. **Sand down the surface you wish to paint.** This part will take some time and elbow grease, but it’s an important step. If the surface you’re painting isn’t perfectly smooth, you’ll end up with an ugly, uneven coat of paint on your bike, and nobody wants that.
Purchase sandpaper at any home improvement or hardware store, like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
Rub the metal surface down with sandpaper in a circular motion until you have removed the old paint.
You should be down to bare metal by the end of the process.
Switch back and forth between arms to prevent fatigue and soreness.
Take a break if you need one. You don’t have to finish this project in one sitting.
7. **Wipe down the newly-sanded surface.** Remove any residual dust or particles that might be on the surface. You want to be working with a clean canvas.
8. **Smooth a layer of body filler over the newly sanded surface.** This will help ensure you’re working with as smooth and level a surface as possible. You can purchase body filler at any automotive retailer, from O’Reilly’s to Auto Zone, and also in many home improvement stores.
Mix the filler up well to make sure it’s loose and not clumpy when applied. It hardens quickly, so repeat the process in small batches as often as necessary.
Apply it in a layer about 1/8” thick.
9. **Re-sand the surface once the body filler has dried.** You want to wait about an hour to make sure the surface has dried completely and ready for a second sanding.
If you’re not satisfied that the surface is perfectly smooth and ready to be painted, apply another layer of body filler and sand it down again.
When you’re satisfied with the smoothness of the surface, move on to the next phase: painting your bike.
10. **Apply two coats of epoxy primer.** This will help protect the metal against moisture down the road, preventing unwanted effects like rusting.
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the brand you purchase to figure out which hardener you should mix it with. Make sure to do this at the automotive store so you can buy the hardener at the same time.
These products can vary significantly in their treatment needs, so don’t work by a rule of thumb — always follow the specific instructions.
Mix the primer with the hardener.
Pour the solution into the can of your spray gun.
Apply one coat evenly onto the bike, allow it to dry, then repeat.
Follow the recommended drying times on the packaging for the primer you bought.
When applying any product with a spray gun, make sure to move the spray slowly and evenly across the surface.
11. **Lightly sand down the primed surface, once the second coat has dried.** Most primers leave a powdery texture behind, especially after multiple coatings, so you want to smooth the bike back down to a level surface.
Use a 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper.
12. **Wipe the surface down with a rag that’s been lightly wetted with thinner.** Don’t use enough thinner to strip the primer, just enough to wipe down the newly sanded surface.
13. **Clean the spray gun.** You don’t want any of the epoxy primer mixing in with the paint you want to apply.
14. **Mix the paint with the thinner.** As with the epoxy primer, use the ratio recommended by the packaging on the specific product you buy. Again, you want to make sure you’ve mixed the products thoroughly. This will prevent clogging in the spray gun and ensure a smooth coat on your motorcycle.
15. **Use the spray gun to apply three to four layers of your chosen paint to the motorcycle.** You’ll sand down the bike before applying the final layer.
Let each layer dry completely between applications, using the drying times recommended on the paint packaging.
After the third layer of paint has dried, sand the surface again with a 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper. You want to surface to be perfectly smooth in preparation for the final coat of paint.
Wipe the surface down with a clean rag after sanding.
Apply the final coat of paint and let it dry.
Clean the spray gun thoroughly again after applying your final coat of paint.
16. **Apply two coats of clearcoat lacquer to finish and protect your paint job from the elements.** Follow the recommendations on the lacquer packaging to determine how long you should let it cure before applying the second coat.
If, after the second coat of lacquer has cured, you’re satisfied with the final product, you’re done!
If there are still inconsistencies, sand it once more with 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper, then reapply a coat of clearcoat lacquer to your satisfaction. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-a-Motorcycle", "language": "en"} |
How to Use Die Cuts | In die cutting, dies are templates with sharp edges that are pressed through a machine to make uniform shapes in thin materials like paper or fabric. Commercial die cutting machines can be used for metal and other hard objects, but you can think of home machines as cookie cutters for crafting. The hand crank machines are easy to use and produce very cute results for your next crafting project.
1. **Choose your first designs to cut from your die set.** Your die-cutting machine either came with a set of dies or has compatible sets for sale. Regardless of what type of material you’re cutting, you’ll need to choose your first design from your choices of dies. You’ll probably have many shapes to choose from; think about what you’re making and for whom as you decide what shapes to use.
You may be able to choose from flower shapes, hearts, stars, letters, spirals, or animals, depending on your die kit.
Also consider what materials you have available when designing your project.
2. **Sandwich your die and material between foam layers.** Follow a layered sandwich pattern for what gets cranked through your machine. You will have a thick rubber or foam layer at the bottom that came with the machine. Lay your paper or other thin material you’re cutting on top of that, place your die where you want it to make a cut on your paper, and top it with another thick layer of foam.
Different machines can vary slightly. Follow the instructions on your particular machine for creating your die cut sandwich.
Your machine came with all the rubber or foam layers that it requires – you just need to supply the material you’re cutting and choice of die from your die collection.
3. **Turn the crank slowly.** Once you have your die cut sandwich assembled, begin turning the crank in the direction of the press. The tray of materials will move through the press, and the die will cut your paper or other material. If you’re using paper, you may hear the cut as it’s being made.
Continue cranking until the tray is all the way through the other side.
4. **Check to see that the material cut all the way through.** Gently lift the top layers of foam and see if your shape cut fully on your paper or other material. If it did and you can lift the shape out from the rest of the paper, you’re done with that part and can move on to making a new cut depending on your project.
If there are places on your shape that did not fully cut and are still attached to your material, you’ll need to move it back through the press.
5. **Turn the crank the other way if you need to cut the shape again.** Without reassembling the layers of your sandwich, but simply laying the pieces back down how they were, begin turning your crank in the opposite direction. The press will make a second cut on top of the first one, hopefully getting all the shape’s edges to cleanly separate from the rest of the material.
You can continue cranking the die cut back and forth through the machine. However, if it takes too many times to get your final cut, you may be using a material that’s too thick for your machine.
6. **Cut shapes out of card stock for basic cards or sign letters.** Find card stock of various colors at your local craft store. If you are making intricate designs for a card, choose heavy card stock so that it holds your cut shape without tearing.
Try cutting different shapes like hearts, stars, and flowers for a card. Layer them or arrange them on your card in a way that you like and glue them in place.
Teachers often use die cut letters when making wall and door decorations for their classrooms. You can do this too if you have signs to create or want to personalize a child’s bedroom.
7. **Use patterned paper or vellum for an elegant handmade card.** Choose any style of patterned paper for creating layers on a handmade card. Again, choose heavy paper to avoid tearing while you cut. Vellum is a transparent paper product that adds a beautiful touch to handmade cards. Both can be found at your local craft store.
When adhering vellum, be careful to use clear lightweight glue, as the vellum’s transparency can cause the glue to show. Or, you can try stitching the vellum to your card design.
8. **Add accents to cards with foil or glitter paper.** Foil paper and glitter paper are popular to use on handmade cards. These materials may be quite thin, so use caution when removing the cuts from your machine. You will probably only need to make one cut for thinner paper products like these.
Look for foil and glitter paper in the scrapbooking aisles of your local craft store.
9. **Use vinyl or adhesive paper to make your own stickers.** You can use any type or color of vinyl or sticker paper for making your own die cut stickers. Experiment with shapes and letters to create personalized labels for your laptop or anything else. Or make sticker collection gifts for someone who enjoys crafting with stickers.
If you’re making a gift for someone who likes animals, for example, make a set of die cut animal stickers out of assorted colors of sticker paper. Or use letters for a younger child so they can have stickers to practice spelling their name and other words.
10. **Cut felt for a soft touch.** Felt is especially nice to use for children’s crafts because it’s both soft and durable. Try cutting felt letters for your child so they can practice spelling. Or if you’re making a card or gift for a child, attach felt die cuts to accentuate the item.
Be careful when pulling the felt shape out of your die cut machine. If the felt didn’t cut all the way through, you can break it by pulling too hard on an edge that’s still attached to the rest of the felt.
11. **Choose any woven fabric for quilting.** If you use patchwork patterns while quilting, using die cuts for your patches is a perfect way to go. You’ll get a uniform shape in your patches without the tedious work of tracing and cutting them by hand. Choose thin woven fabrics like denim, silks, cottons, or twills in colors and patterns you like at your local craft store.
Depending on your machine and the type of fabric, you may be able to cut several layers of fabric at a time to get more patches in less time.
12. **Create clothing accents like 3D fabric flowers.** Using colorful patterned fabric from your local craft store, cut fabric flower shapes that are similar in shape but different sizes. After you cut each flower size, layer them from big to small, with the big one at the bottom and the smallest on top. Fold the layered flowers in half and sew them together right at the center using an overhand stitch.
Next fold the flower in the opposite direction and make a few overhand stitches. This will create pinches in the fabric that give the flowers some dimension. Be sure to get through all the layers as you’re sewing.
When you’re finished sewing the flower, sew a button at the center. You can then attach this flower to any jacket or other clothing items. Or you can make several matching flowers for the same piece of clothing for a cute customized look.
13. **Use thin leather for jewelry or other embellishments.** Cut flower or star shapes into leather with your die cut machine to create cute leather jewelry. You can layer the leather shapes into designs for necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.
Once your shapes are cut, you can add color with tints or inks, embroider designs with colorful thread, and make the leather shiny with a leather water sealant before attaching the design to your metal necklace, bracelet, or earring pieces. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Die-Cuts", "language": "en"} |
How to Coddle an Egg | A coddled egg is simply a gently cooked egg with a runny to semi-runny consistency. If you plan on eating coddled eggs for breakfast, consider investing in an actual porcelain egg coddler. If you only need to coddle an egg for use in a recipe, though, you can prepare the egg without the actual coddler.
1. **Bring the eggs to room temperature.** Remove the eggs from the refrigerator and let them sit out on your counter for about 30 minutes, or until they drop to room temperature.
The cooking times will change if you use cold eggs, and you will have no way of knowing whether or not the eggs have coddled correctly until you crack one open. As a general rule, though, add another 1 to 2 minutes of cooking time if using cold eggs instead of room temperature eggs.
2. **Boil a pot of water.** Fill a wide saucepan with 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water. Set the saucepan on the stove and heat on medium-high until the water begins to boil.
You'll only want to use a little water. When you place the coddler inside, the water level should not reach above the halfway point of the coddler body. Do not fully submerge the coddler in water.
To prevent the egg coddler from sliding around, line the bottom of the saucepan with a kitchen towel.
3. **Grease the egg coddler.** Coat the inside of the egg coddler with nonstick cooking spray, butter, or cooking oil. Grease the inside of the metal lid, as well.
Complete this step simultaneously with the previous step. In other words, you should prepare the egg coddler and the egg while the water is still working up to a boil, not after the water has already reached a boil.
Use clean fingers or a clean paper towel to spread the grease on all inner sides of the coddler. The sides need to be well greased, but you should not have enough excess to form a puddle at the bottom of the coddler.
4. **Break the egg into the coddler.** Both the white and yolk of the egg should be broken directly into the coddler. Add any salt and pepper you want to the raw egg, as well.
The number of eggs you should use will depend on the size of your coddler. Small egg coddlers only fit one egg, while large egg coddlers can fit two eggs.
You can add other ingredients and seasonings, as well. Consider sprinkling in a look grated cheese, fresh herbs, crumbled bacon, or 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) heavy cream.
5. **Screw the lid on.** Loosely turn the lid on top of the egg coddler to secure it in place.
The lid needs to be tight enough to prevent water or steam from seeping into the inner coddler, but it does not need to be extremely tight. A loose turn is usually enough.
6. **Place the egg coddler in the boiling water.** Carefully lower the egg coddler into the boiling water. Allow the egg to cook for 5 to 8-1/2 minutes.
The exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of your coddler and the size of your eggs.
For one medium egg in a small coddler, cook it for 5 minutes.
For one large egg in a small coddler, cook it for 5 and 1/2 minutes.
For two medium eggs in a large coddler, cook the eggs for 6 and 1/2 minutes.
For two large eggs in a large coddler, cook the eggs for 8 and 1/2 minutes.
7. **Open the coddler.** Carefully remove the egg coddler from the hot water and place it on a heat-resistant surface, like a kitchen towel. Grab the side of the metal lid with an oven mitt or separate towel and twist it off.
Insert the end of a spoon or fork into the ring on top of the metal lid and lift the coddler out that way. Alternatively, lift it out by grabbing it with oven mitts.
8. **Serve the egg.** The egg should be enjoyed immediately and served while still inside the coddler.
9. **Use room temperature eggs.** Remove the eggs from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before the process begins. Allow them to sit out on your kitchen counter or table until they drop to room temperature.
Cold eggs will take longer to cook and may not coddle evenly. As a general rule, though, you should coddle cold eggs for 30 to 60 seconds longer than room temperature eggs.
10. **Prepare boiling water.** Fill a small tea kettle with water and set it on the stove over high heat. Continue heating the water until the kettle whistles and the water is boiling.
You could also prepare the water in a small saucepan if you do not have a kettle.
11. **Prepare an ice bath.** As the water in your kettle reaches a boil, prepare an ice bath by filling a medium bowl halfway with cold water and a handful or two of ice.
12. **Place the eggs in a mug or bowl.** Place each egg in a separate heat-resistant container, and place each container on a heat-resistant surface, like a kitchen towel.
You can place multiple eggs in the same bowl, but you do not want the eggs to touch each other at all. If the eggs are packed together inside a dish, the coddling process may not be able to cook the entire egg evenly.
13. **Pour boiling water onto the eggs.** Once the water has reached a boil, pour it directly over the eggs. Allow the eggs to sit in the hot water for a full 1 minute.
This amount of time will produce a coddled egg that is still quite runny. If you want the egg white to firm up a bit, you should leave the eggs in the hot water for about 5 minutes each.
Alternatively, if you prepared the hot water in a saucepan, you could remove the saucepan from the heat and dip the egg directly inside the simmering water. Keep it there for 1 minute. Coddling the egg this way may make the eggshell more likely to break, however.
14. **Cool the eggs in the ice bath.** Carefully remove the eggs from the hot water with a slotted spoon or tongs, then gently dunk them into the ice bath. Let them stay in the ice bath for 2 minutes to stop the cooking process.
Work carefully to prevent the eggshell from cracking. The eggs are still very runny at this point, so cracking the shell will cause the egg to spill out in a watery mess.
15. **Use the coddled egg as desired.** To get to the eggs, simply crack the shells and dump the contents into a small dish.
Coddled eggs prepared in this manner are most often used in recipes that call for coddled eggs as an ingredient, like Caesar salad dressing and mayonnaise. They are rarely consumed as they are, but you could technically do so. Either way, you should use the coddled egg immediately.
16. **Prepare a shallow ice bath.** Fill a shallow bowl or dish with no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of cold water. Add a little ice to drop the temperature even further.
You'll be dropping an open container into this ice bath, so the water needs to be shallow. Otherwise, the water could seep into the cooked egg when you place the container inside the ice bath later on.
17. **Break the egg into a small bowl.** Crack the egg or eggs directly into a small, microwave-safe glass bowl.
You do not nee to cover the dish during this step.
Use a bowl with sides that are at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall to prevent ice water from getting inside later on.
18. **Microwave the egg for 10 to 15 seconds.** Heat the egg in the microwave on full power. For one egg, only microwave it for 10 seconds. For two eggs, microwave them for 15 seconds.
When done, the eggs should be slightly cooked yet still have a very runny consistency.
19. **Cool the egg.** Carefully place the bowl containing the eggs inside your ice bath. Let it sit there for 30 to 60 seconds to stop the cooking process.
Consider placing a lid or a sheet of plastic wrap over the bowl to help prevent ice water from accidentally seeping inside.
20. **Use as needed.** Coddled eggs prepared in this manner are usually used for dressings and other recipes calling for coddled eggs rather than being eaten plain. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Coddle-an-Egg", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Sodium Hydroxide Chemically | Sodium hydroxide, lye, and caustic soda all refer to the same compound, NaOH, which is comprised of 3 single atoms: sodium, oxygen, and hydrogen. NaOH is often used to teach about pH in high schools and it can neutralize HCl. Using some simple supplies, you can make homemade NaOH for use in the lab, or just to impress your colleagues and students. Although NaOH can be made with or without electricity, this article shows how to make a small amount of it with electricity.
1. **Place all your materials on a clean, flat surface.** This is a potentially dangerous experiment, so be sure to clean and dry your work area before starting. Make sure you only use batteries in this kind of experiment rather than plugging anything into a wall socket. The reaction you are going to demonstrate is called electrolysis. When a current passes through salty water it dissociates and creates bonds with both the water (H2O) and the salt (NaCl).
4V9Ah lead acid batteries are rechargeable, but never charge them while conducting this experiment.
2. **Dissolve 1 tablespoon (17 grams) of salt in 1.24 cups (290 mL) of water.** Add the water to a glass and gently pour the salt into the water. Stir it in well with a spoon until the salt is completely dissolved.
If your cup has a lid, attach it after adding the salt and shake it up and down to mix the salt it in. Make sure all the salt is completely dissolved for best results.
3. **Expose the top and bottom 0.59 inches (1.5 cm) of lead in 2 graphite pencils.** Take 2 black graphite pencils and carefully remove the top 0.59 inches (1.5 cm) of wood using a knife. Hold each pencil firmly from the bottom and cut away from you to avoid harming yourself. This will expose the led at their tips, which will be placed in the salt-water solution. Afterward, remove the bottom 0.59 inches (1.5 cm) of wood on the eraser ends—these will connect to the battery terminals via copper wire.
Never cut the pencils in the direction of a body part or another person.
4. **Insert the exposed pencil lead through a piece of cardboard or stiff paper.** Poke 2 holes through a piece of cardboard or stiff paper with a toothpick—this will make it easier to insert your pencils. Afterward, press each piece of lead through the cardboard or paper.
Be sure the pencils' body is covered with wood—there should be wood underneath the exposed lead after pushing the ends through the cardboard or paper.
5. **Place the cardboard over the glass with 0.6 in (1.5 cm) the lead in the water.** Balance the cardboard over the opening in the cup and ensure that the exposed lead tips are submerged. The paper should cover as little of the glass as possible to allow ventilation.
Use scissors to snip off a piece of the paper or cardboard if it covers all of the glass.
6. **Attach the free end of each pencil lead to the battery terminals.** Wrap wire around the remaining exposed lead of each pencil. Connect one to the positive terminal and the other to the negative terminal. Be sure that each wire is tightly bound. Each pencil should now have one end of exposed lead inserted through cardboard or paper and the other attached to the battery via copper wire.
Be sure not to cross uncovered sections of the lead.
Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area or set up a fan because the hydrogen and the oxygen can burn and explode with any little spark and chlorine can be toxic.
If you accidentally start an electrical fire, smother it with a dry blanket or fire extinguisher. Never pour water on it because water conducts electricity which can shock you.
7. **Wait until no more bubbles form at the nodes.** You'll see that in the 2 wires there will be bubbles. In the positive one, there'll be oxygen (O2) and chlorine (Cl) while there'll be Hydrogen (H) in the negative one. As the bubbles grow and leave, more and more NaOH is formed.
Never touch the wires while the battery is on.
8. **Remove the wires from the battery nodes and disassemble the apparatus.** After disconnecting the copper wires from the battery, remove the piece of cardboard or paper from the cup and pull out the pencils. Place everything onto a dry towel and clean up any water.
Be careful not to touch the tips of the pencils that were submerged in the NaOH—they can severely burn your skin.
9. **Boil the solution you made in a stainless steel, platinum, or titanium evaporating dish.** Always conduct this step in a professional laboratory at a college, university, or workplace. If you don't have access to one, skip this step—do not attempt it. Gently pour the solution into the dish and place it on a boiler. Water boils at 212 °F (100 °C), while NaOH boils at 2,530 °F (1,390 °C), so boiling will separate the water from the NaOH. Be sure to boil it underneath a fume hood.
Don't use aluminum to boil your solution or the dish will melt.
Never boil your solution in a kitchen, outdoors, or in a non-chemically designed ventilation area.
Use chemical gloves (not regular kitchen gloves) while handling the solution. NaOH is extremely basic and can cause severe chemical burns if it contacts your skin.
10. **Pour your NaOH solution into an appropriate container.** Purchase a new chemical container rated for NaOH (rating systems vary per country) along with a chemically-approved funnel. Slowly pour the cold NaOH into the container underneath the fume hood. Be sure to wear chemical gloves and discard any extra to a lab-provided waste container.
Always use caution and remember that you can severely burn yourself. This is extremely dangerous since you now have a solution that is upwards of 65% NaOH.
11. **Transport and store your NaOH with care.** This is the riskiest step as it puts others in danger as you transport the NaOH. Use a trolley for more stability. Walk slowly, especially when moving around corners. Once you reach the designated storage site, place the NaOH container into a larger, waterproof, and chemically rated container. Make sure that it is visibly marked with at least:
"HIGHLY BASIC"
"HIGHLY CORROSIVE"
'"NaOH"
"LYE"
"CAUSTIC" | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Sodium-Hydroxide-Chemically", "language": "en"} |
How to Prune Tulips | Prune your tulips to encourage them to regrow, or trim them for your vase. Simply use garden shears to cut your tulip flower at the base of the stem. Do this after your tulips fade in color or whenever you want to put them in a vase. Tulips can last in a vase for 3-7 days if cared for properly. You can easily trim your tulips to make a beautiful centerpiece or prepare them for next season!
1. **Wait until your tulips begin to fade.** Once your tulips blossom and the flowers start to fade, the flowers become wilted and look unattractive. Typically, tulips begin to fade in May or June.
The exact month your flowers start to fade will vary based on your location and climate.
2. **Prune off the heads of your tulips using gardening shears.** After your tulips fade, trim your tulip plants to encourage them to grow back next year. Snip the head of the tulip using either a pair of garden shears or a sharp pair of scissors.
Do this after the blooms are faded.
3. **Avoid removing the tulip leaves when you’re pruning.** “Deadheading” is the process of taking off the bloom of the flower. When you do this, you want to preserve the leaves and foliage of the tulip plant. Only snip away the head of the flower, rather than the green leaves. Keeping the leaves intact helps the flower continue its growth cycle, and they look attractive.
The tulip plant has attractive green leaves that look great throughout the summer.
4. **Remove the leaves about 6 weeks after flowering.** About 6 weeks after your tulips bloom, your plant may turn yellow or brown at the ends. When this happens, you can trim the leaves. Either trim off only the brownish sections or cut the leaves at the base of the stem, based on personal preference. This encourages the plant to grow back next year.
If you'd like, trim the leaves completely off leaving just the stems intact. The stems may shrink or wilt as winter strikes, but this way the plant will resurface in the spring.
You can use garden shears or a sharp pair of scissors.
If you trim the flowers at the end of June, you can cut the leaves in late July or early August.
5. **Prune your tulips when the blooms are closed but the color is visible.** To maximize your bloom time, cut your tulips when they are in the advanced bud stage. This is when the flower hasn’t quite emerged, but the bud is close to blooming and the color of the flower is visible. The flower will fully bloom in 1-4 days.
You’ll see a pink or purplish color from within the mainly green bud, for example.
6. **Cut your tulips at least ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) down the stem at an angle.** Using a sharp knife, garden shears, or scissors, make your cut on the stem at angle. Cutting the plant at an angle keeps it healthy and promotes regrowth. You can cut your tulips to any desired length.
For a standard vase size, cut the stem to around 12–18 in (30–46 cm).
7. **Avoid cutting the foliage as you trim your tulips.** Only cut the stem of your tulip plants, rather than trimming the leaves as well. Make your cut towards the base of the plant, but ensure there are no leaves in the way. This keeps your plant healthy.
Leaving the foliage in place helps the plant build up energy for next year.
8. **Put your tulips in a decorative vase full of water.** Fill up a vase of your choosing about ⅔ of cool water, and then place your tulips inside. You can fill up your vase with many tulips, or you can also add other flowers or floral accents.
Avoid adding paperwhite narcissus or daffodils to your tulip vase. These flowers exude a gummy sap that can harm your tulips.
Using floral preservative is not necessary for tulips. If you want to use one, simply shake it into the water before you place your tulips into the vase.
9. **Make a fresh cut at the base of the stem every 2-3 days.** Use a knife to cut the end of the plant at an angle, removing about ⁄16–⁄8 in (0.16–0.32 cm) of the stem. A knife is the preferred tool to make the cut, as scissors can crush the stem and make it more difficult for the plant to absorb water.
10. **Replace the water in the vase daily.** To maintain the health of your tulips, dump out the water every day. Then, fill your vase up with cool water. With proper care, your tulips can last 7-14 days in a vase.
This helps the plants absorb water and extend their vase life.
Tulips stay fresh the longest in cold water, rather than warm or hot. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Prune-Tulips", "language": "en"} |
How to Have Energy During Your Period | Some women experience fatigue during "that time of the month." If you have this problem, you are not alone! To deal with your symptoms, try maintaining a healthy diet and exercise habits, even though you don't feel your best. It's also important to address any sleep issues or medical conditions that may be contributing to your symptoms.
1. **Take a nap.** It is perfectly normal to feel sleepy during your period, as cramps, nausea, or feelings of depression or anxiety can disrupt your sleep cycle. If you feel like you need some extra sleep, go ahead and take a power nap.
Avoid taking naps in the late afternoon, as this may prevent you from falling asleep at bedtime.
20 minutes is the ideal length for a nap if you want to wake up feeling energized. If you nap much longer than this, you risk feeling even groggier when you wake up.
Never take naps during the day if you suffer from insomnia. This will further disrupt your sleep pattern and make it harder for you to fall asleep at night.
2. **Go for a walk.** Sometimes what you need to regain your energy is a little movement. Try getting your heartbeat up for a few minutes by going for a brisk walk. Even though it may feel like a chore, you will feel much better at the end of your walk.
Try to incorporate a walk into your daily schedule if you want to prevent feelings of lethargy before they happen. Any light to moderate exercise will help, but walking tends to be the easiest one to do spontaneously.
Try walking or running up and down the stairs.
Stretch breaks are often socially appropriate and even a few moments can help.
Your body may benefit from some extra fuel if you are feeling especially sluggish. Try a light, healthy snack to help give yourself some energy. This will be especially helpful if you have not been eating nutritious foods throughout the day.
Try giving yourself a protein boost with some nuts, nut butter, or low-fat cheese. Fruit is also a healthy choice that can give you the burst of energy you need.
Eating healthy meals throughout the day will help prevent you from feeling de-energized to start with. Try to choose foods that are high in protein and fiber, but low in sugar, salt, and fat.
3. **Consider sugar or caffeine.** Sometimes a tea, coffee, soda, or candy bar will give you the energy short-term that you need. This will give you a burst of energy, but it will not last long and you may feel even worse when it wears off. This should be used sparingly, as healthy foods will give you longer-lasting energy and make you feel much better in the long run.
Caffeine may worsens menstrual symptoms for some women, so be cautious. If you find that you have worse cramps or other symptoms when you drink caffeine, steer clear during and right before your period.
Caffeine can be taken as a supplement as well (either in pill or powder form). No matter what form you take it in, you should not exceed the recommended dose of 150 – 600 mg.
4. **Skip the junk food.** You should try to stick to a healthy, nutritious diet all the time, but this can be especially hard when you're feeling sluggish and unmotivated. Not only is junk food bad for your overall health, but it can also worsen many symptoms that are typically associated with menstruation and PMS, including bloating, depression, and fatigue.
Avoid excessive amounts of sugar, salt, fat, caffeine, and alcohol. These foods will not provide you with long-lasting energy, and they may cause you to feel even more tired.
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These will give you the long-lasting energy your body needs.
5. **Watch out for cravings.** Some women crave foods that are high in sugar and fat during their periods, even when they don't normally eat these foods. These can cause highs and lows in your energy level, even on a good day, so it's no wonder you're feeling lethargic if you have been giving into these cravings. Try to be mindful of them and avoid eating things that you normally wouldn't.
Substitute healthy options for cravings. You may want some really unhealthy food, but you may be satisfied with a healthier alternative. For example:
Instead of a milkshake, try a strawberry yogurt smoothie.
Instead of apple pie, try a baked apple with cinnamon.
Instead of regular pizza, try a pita topped with a small amount of cheese and olive oil.
Instead of a bacon cheeseburger, try a veggie burger.
Try a frozen banana instead of ice cream. Coat it in the crumbs of a crushed chocolate wafer if you want some chocolate.
Want a chocolate bar? Try a nice hot cup of cocoa. It has far less calories and fat, and may satisfy your need for a chocolate fix.
Sometimes cravings are your body's way of telling you that it needs a specific nutrient. If you find that you are consistently craving a specific kind of food, you may want to see your doctor for a blood test. For example, soda cravings may indicate a calcium deficiency, red meat cravings may indicate an iron deficiency, and chocolate cravings may indicate a magnesium deficiency.
6. **Supplement your diet.** While the best way to get the nutrients you need is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, this is not always enough. If you feel your diet is lacking in certain nutrients, it may help to take vitamin supplements. The following vitamins may help improve the symptoms that you experience before and during your period:
Folic acid (400 micrograms)
Calcium with vitamin D (1000-1300 mg, depending on age)
Magnesium (400 mg)
Vitamin B-6 (50 to 100 mg)
Vitamin E (400 IU)
7. **Stick to your exercise regimen.** Exercise may sound absolutely terrible when you are dealing with menstrual fatigue, but it will help you regain some of your energy. Although your body may feel lethargic, you likely have every capacity to work out and doing so may make you feel better. It may also help with other period-related symptoms such as cramping, bloating, and indigestion.
Try the 10-minute rule. Do your workout for 10 minutes, and then decide if you are up for the workout. Very often once you get going, you will keep at it. If after 10 minutes you still feel terrible, that may be a signal to slow down or stop.
Feel free to switch up exercise according to comfort. For example, if your chest is tender from retaining water, maybe your jump rope workout would really be uncomfortable. In such cases, trying an alternate workout may make sense. If exercise is not fun because you are in pain, you will not exercise.
Each week, aim for two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (like brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise (like running). You can also achieve your goal with a combination of moderate and vigorous activities.
Incorporate some strength training. You can try lifting weights or doing push-ups.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or naproxen if you are suffering from cramps, or try using a heating pad or stick-on heating strip. You may find that you have a lot more energy to move around once your cramps are gone.
8. **Fight pain.** If you are having trouble sleeping at night because you are experiencing painful cramps, try changing your sleeping position or using a body pillow to support yourself. The right position can make all the difference when it comes to falling and staying asleep.
If these changes aren't enough, take an over-the-counter pain medication. There's no point in suffering through a poor night's sleep just because you have some cramps.
A heating pad may also be beneficial if you have painful cramps. Try sleeping with one on low heat. A warm bath before bed may provide the same benefit.
9. **Combat body temperature changes.** Your body temperature rises during the second half of your monthly cycle, which may make it harder for you to fall asleep. Try turning the thermostat down a few degrees to counter this effect and make yourself more comfortable.
The ideal sleeping temperature for most people is between 60 and 67 °F (15.6 and 19.4°C). If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to automatically adjust to your ideal sleeping temperature right before bedtime.
You can also try taking a warm bath before bed. The contrast between the warm water and the cool room will help your body temperature drop faster.
10. **Try melatonin.** If you find that you have a much harder time falling asleep during your period than you normally do, it may be that your body is not producing enough melatonin due to hormonal fluctuations. Try taking melatonin, which is available over-the-counter, before bed during your period.
Talk to your doctor before you start taking any new supplements. They may interact with other medications you are taking.
If you want to confirm that your body is lacking melatonin, you can ask your doctor to test for it. Make sure you get tested during your period for accurate results.
11. **See your doctor about hormone deficiencies.** An excess of estrogen or deficiency of progesterone may also be causing your sleep troubles. If this is the case, your doctor may be able to prescribe a hormonal supplement that will help even your levels out.
In order to determine if you have a hormonal imbalance, you will need to have your levels tested at several different times throughout the month. This can be done with blood or saliva tests
It helps if you track your sleep problems and any other symptoms you may experience before seeing your doctor. This will help your doctor understand whether or not your symptoms are related to your menstrual cycle.
12. **See your doctor.** If fatigue during your period is interfering with your ability to work and to enjoy your personal life, see your doctor. You may be suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia can happen to anyone, but women who experience heavy periods are at a higher risk due to their increased blood loss.
In order to diagnose anemia, your doctor will want to do a simple blood test. You may also need to undergo additional tests, such as an ultrasound to check for uterine fibroids that could be causing excessive menstrual bleeding.
There may be other medical causes for your fatigue as well, although anemia is the most common cause for fatigue that occurs during menstruation.
13. **Get more iron from food.** For some people, it may be possible to correct iron deficiency anemia simply by making changes to their diets. Your doctor may advise that you eat more iron-rich foods, including:
Proteins such as beef, pork, chicken, and fish
Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale
Peas and beans
Fortified grain products like cereal and pasta
Dried fruit like raisins and apricots
14. **Consider supplements.** If you are not able to increase your iron levels with dietary changes, your doctor may recommend that you take an iron supplement, which are available over-the-counter. In extreme cases, your doctor may recommend an IV supplement.
Your doctor may also recommend that you take Vitamin C, which aids the absorption of iron. This is available in an over-the-counter pill form as well. You should take this with an acidic juice high in vitamin C such as orange juice, grapefruit juice, or lemonade. These help increase iron absorption.
Always take the recommended dose of supplements. Don't stop taking them or change your dose without talking to your doctor.
15. **Follow up with your doctor.** It's a good idea to follow up with your doctor, and perhaps get another blood test, after you have changed your diet or started taking supplements. This will help you understand how effective your treatment has been and what further changes you need to make.
It may take months to get your iron levels back to normal. The good news is that if supplementation is working for you, you should start to feel a difference in your energy levels after about a week.
For some people, iron deficiency anemia is caused by a condition, such as celiac disease, that prevents the absorption of iron into the bloodstream. If this is the case for you, simply adding more iron to your diet will not solve the problem. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Have-Energy-During-Your-Period", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Herbal Cigarettes | Herbal cigarettes are cigarettes that don’t contain tobacco or nicotine, and are made up of herbs, spices, and botanicals. Because there’s no tobacco or nicotine, herbal cigarettes aren’t addictive, and if you make them at home, you can control exactly what goes into them. There are many herbs and herb combinations you can use, giving you many possibilities in terms of flavor and aroma for your herbal cigarettes. Although many herbal cigarettes are marketed as “natural” or “healthier,” it’s very important to realize that herbal cigarettes are not healthy or good for your lungs, and there’s no such thing as a safe or healthy cigarette.
1. **Choose your herb base.** Herbal cigarettes are often blends made up of base herbs, secondary herbs, and flavoring herbs. Always choose or pick pesticide-free herbs when possible. Your base herbs should account for 50 percent of the total herb blend. For base herbs, try full-bodied, smooth herbs like:
Damiana
Mullein, an herb that’s good for breathing problems and asthma
Raspberry Leaf
Coltsfoot, which is an expectorant (something that helps you get rid of mucus) but it also is now known to cause liver damage.
2. **Select your secondary herbs.** These will make up about 33 percent of your overall herb blend. There are many herbs you can choose from, and it’s best to play around with the quantities and herbs until you find a recipe that you like. Consider keeping a journal so that when you make a new blend, you can keep track of the ingredients, quantities, and how it turned out. Secondary herbs can include:
Blue lotus
Skullcap
California poppy, catnip, and chamomile
Passionflower
Uva Ursi
Hops
Thyme
Lobelia (be warned that this can induce vomiting)
Marigold, Marshmallow, Marjoram, and Mugwort
Wild dagga and wild lettuce
3. **Choose flavoring herbs and spices.** The herbs that go into this component of your cigarette blend tend to be more potent and flavorful, so they only account for about 17 percent of the blend. Popular flavoring herbs and spices for herbal cigarettes include:
Peppermint and spearmint
Sage and thyme
Lavender
Clove
Licorice Root
Stevia
Rose petals
Jasmine
Ginseng
Tea leaves
4. **Choose your rolling papers.** Look for papers that are raw or as natural as possible: any chemicals or additives in the paper will be burned and inhaled into your lungs. Especially avoid papers that have been bleached or have ink on them. Aside from regular paper, you can also find smoking papers made of flax, rice, and hemp.
If you find hand rolling cigarettes difficult, consider a cigarette roller that helps you shape and pack the herbs. You can use this in conjunction with pre-rolled cigarette tubes, which come in many varieties, including filtered, without filters, and even mentholated.
5. **Choose your filter.** Not everybody uses filters for their cigarettes, but there are items available that will filter your smoke. If you are using ready-made cigarette tubes, you can purchase these with a filter on them already. You can also buy reusable filters, or disposable filters that are used with one cigarette.
6. **Dry your herbs.** Instead of purchasing dried herbs for your cigarettes, you can pick or collect fresh herbs and dry them. This is good because it allows you to control how dry the herbs are (for smoking, you don’t want your herbs so dry that they’re crispy). Tie your herbs in small bundles using twist ties, elastic bands, string, or thread, and hang them upside down for a couple days until they are mostly (but not completely) dry.
For faster drying, spread the herbs out in a single layer on a cookie sheet, set your oven to the lowest temperature, and dry the herbs in the oven. Keep a close eye on them. You can also use a dehydrator to prepare your herbs.
When your herbs are dry, remove any stems, roots, or small twigs that could poke holes in your paper.
7. **Blend your herbs.** One ounce (28.3 grams) of herbs will yield anywhere from 24 to 40 cigarettes, depending on how large you make each cigarette.To make larger batches of herb blends, just remember that you want three parts base herb, two parts secondary herb, and one part flavoring herb. To make a one-ounce batch that will roll 24 to 40 cigarettes, combine in a medium-sized bowl:
Half an ounce (14.1 grams) of base herbs
About one-third ounce (9.4 grams) of secondary herbs
About one-sixth ounce (4.7 grams) of flavoring herbs
8. **Grind the herb blend.** Mix the herbs with your fingers to mix them together, make them fluffy, and help break up any large bunches. Transfer the blend to a grinder or clean coffee grinder and grind it into a course powder. Make sure you stop when it’s still course, as you don’t want the herb powder being too fine.
Use a pestle and mortar if you don’t have a grinder or coffee grinder.
9. **Add moisture if you’re using pre-dried herbs.** If you bought herbs from a store and they were already dry, you will need to add some moisture back so they burn properly. Take your herb batch and spread it out in a thin layer on a cookie sheet, large plate, or parchment paper. Using a mister and clean water, spray a small amount of water over the herbs so that the entire mixture is slightly moist.
To prevent mold growth, only add moisture to the portion of herb blend that you are rolling immediately. If you’ve made a larger batch, separate and moisten what you need for immediate use and store the rest in an airtight container.
10. **Let the herb blend air dry for a couple hours.** When it has had time to dry and the overall consistency of the herb mixture is mostly dry but with some moisture, then it is ready to roll.
11. **Lay out the herbs on the rolling paper.** Lay a single paper out on a flat surface. Use your fingers or a spoon to evenly spread the herbs over the center of the paper. For a smaller cigarette, use about 0.025 ounces (0.7 grams) of herbs; for a larger cigarette, use about 0.04 ounces (1.1 grams).
If you are using a cigarette roller instead of rolling by hand, pack your herbs into the filling tray.
12. **Roll your cigarette.** Either pick up the paper or keep it on the flat surface, holding or maneuvering it with your index fingers and thumbs. Gently fold it lengthwise at the one-third mark so all the herbs roll into an even line. Roll the shorter side of the paper up and over the herbs so that the paper envelops them. Pack the herbs into a tight roll and tuck the edge of the paper under the herbs. Roll up the rest of the paper, leaving a small lip at the end.
For the cigarette roller, insert the empty tube and fill it with the packed herbs to create your cigarette.
If you are using a disposable filter that gets rolled into the cigarette, make room for it at one end and roll it up with the cigarette.
13. **Seal the cigarette.** Dampen the lip of the paper that you left exposed to make it sticky. Seal the paper and let it dry out for a couple minutes.
14. **Add the filter.** For reusable and disposable filters that aren't rolled into the cigarette, insert the cigarette into the filter. Otherwise, the filter should already be rolled into the cigarette. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Herbal-Cigarettes", "language": "en"} |
How to Cure Angular Cheilitis | Angular cheilitis is a medical condition that occurs when the corners of your mouth swell and become red, inflamed, and sometimes scaly. Many different factors can cause a case of cheilitis, including fungal infection, various autoimmune disorders, dehydration, and excessive moisture on the corners of the mouth. Angular cheilitis can be itchy and uncomfortable, but fortunately, it’s relatively easy to clear up. Usually, though, the treatment depends on the underlying condition causing your case of angular cheilitis.
1. **Maintain good oral hygiene** To keep your mouth healthy, brush your teeth at least 2 times daily, once after breakfast and once before bed. Also floss your teeth daily. Avoid using alcohol-based mouthwash after you brush your teeth. Although some people believe that mouthwash keeps their mouth cleaner, it really just dries out the mouth and lips. This can cause your cheilitis to become more severe.
Although angular cheilitis can be caused by many different factors, keeping your mouth and lips clean is a great way to stop cases of cheilitis before they happen.
2. **Avoid lip balm that contains a flavor, lanolin, or preservatives.** These ingredients can irritate your lips, which may make your condition worse. Don't use any lip balms that contain unnecessary ingredients. Instead, stick to a product that's recommended by your doctor.
If your lips are irritated, they're more likely to become inflamed.
3. **Apply petroleum jelly to the corners of your mouth to keep them moist.** Twice each day, dip 1 finger into a jar of petroleum jelly and spread a generous layer of the jelly across both of you lips. Make sure to smear some of the jelly across the corners of your mouth, as well. The jelly will keep moisture from evaporating from your lips and can help the chapped portions of your lips heal more quickly.
Purchase petroleum jelly at any supermarket, drugstore, or pharmacy.
4. **Use zinc oxide paste to help your lips heal.** Zinc oxide paste is a topical cream that protects your skin and may help treat chapped skin. Use your fingertip to apply a thin layer of zinc oxide paste to your lips. However, don't swallow the cream.
You can buy zinc oxide paste over-the-counter at your local drugstore or supermarket. For instance, it's sold under the name brand Desitin.
5. **Stop licking the corners of your lips if you’re in the habit.** Some people tend to poke their tongues into the corners of their lips several times an hour. While doing this may feel good, it’s not helping your lips! Licking your lips too much can actually dry them out, since the saliva takes additional lip moisture with it when it evaporates. In many cases, stopping licking your lips will allow the corners of your mouth to heal and the cheilitis will clear up.
The same thing goes for children who suck their thumbs. If your child has a case of angular cheilitis, and you notice that they often suck their thumbs, ask them to stop.
6. **See a doctor if your cheilitis lasts longer than 1 month.** If you’ve been applying petroleum jelly for 1 month and you still have a case of angular cheilitis, it’s time to visit your doctor. Let them inspect the corners of your mouth, and describe your symptoms to the doctor. In some cases, you doctor may refer you to a dermatologist, since cheilitis is technically a skin condition.
Typical symptoms of angular cheilitis include dry, chapped red spots at the corners of your lips (typically accompanied by swelling and cracking) and pain at the corners of your mouth.
In some relatively uncommon situations, angular cheilitis is caused by dermatitis, a skin condition that causes red, itchy patches to appear on your body (typically the scalp).
7. **Ask you dentist to re-size your dentures if you wear false teeth.** In instances where elderly people contract a case of angular cheilitis, poorly fitting dentures are often the cause. If you wear dentures and experience swelling or discomfort around the corners of your mouth, visit your dentist or dentures specialist. They should be able to make a few alterations to the dentures so they fit your mouth better, and the cheilitis should clear up.
The doctor may suspect that your dentures are infected, and that the infection is causing your case of cheilitis. In this case, they’ll swab the dentures and test them for bacteria.
8. **Apply an antibacterial cream if you have a bacterial infection.** Many cases of angular cheilitis are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly causes skin problems. If your doctor identifies this as the cause of your cheilitis, they’ll likely recommend that you apply an antibacterial cream that contains active ingredients mupirocin or fusidic acid. Apply a pea-sized dollop of the cream once daily to both sides of your mouth.
If an over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial cream doesn’t get rid of your case of cheilitis, your doctor can write you a prescription for a much stronger cream.
9. **Use an OTC antifungal cream if your cheilitis is caused by a fungus.** If your doctor identifies the underlying cause of your angular cheilitis as a fungal infection, they’ll recommend that you use an antifungal cream to treat the problem. Visit your local pharmacy or drugstore and purchase an antifungal cream. Apply it generously to the corners of your mouth once daily, or as directed on the medication’s packaging.
One of the most commonly used antifungal creams is called ketoconazole. Continue to apply the medicated antifungal cream until the cheilitis clears up.
In many cases, angular cheilitis is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans.
Your doctor may take a sample from your lesions or swab the mucus in your mouth to determine if you have a Candida infection or not.
10. **Put on a 1% hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation.** If the corners of your mouth have become swollen and inflamed as a side-effect of your angular cheilitis, rub a pea-sized amount of 1% hydrocortisone cream over them daily. Hydrocortisone can help reduce itching as well, so it’s a great option to try if you find yourself frequently scratching or licking the itchy corners of your mouth.
Hydrocortisone cream is commonly sold OTC at nearly every drugstore and pharmacy, and at many large supermarkets.
11. **Increase your iron intake to prevent anemia and cheilitis.** Studies have connected a low number of red blood cells (anemia) with cheilitis. To prevent anemia—and to help keep your immune system strong—make sure that you’re consuming plenty of iron each day. Make sure to speak with your doctor before starting to take an iron supplement. Then, you can purchase an iron supplement at your local pharmacy. Take it once daily, or as directed on the packaging.
Foods that are rich in iron include red meat, leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, oysters, quinoa, dark chocolate, and lentils.
Adult men should consume at least 8–11 mg of iron each day. Women generally need more, so adult women should take between 15–18 mg of iron daily.
If you’re taking too much iron on a daily basis, you may experience some side effects. These typically include constipation and nausea.
12. **Take zinc and vitamin B to strengthen your immune system.** If your case of angular cheilitis is caused by a fungus or bacteria, your body’s immune system plays a crucial role in getting rid of the condition. Zinc and B vitamins are great for your immune system and can help your body cure a case of cheilitis. Talk with a doctor before taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Purchase daily supplements at a health food store and take them as directed on the packaging. Or, eat foods rich in zinc and B vitamins to consume them more naturally.
Adults need to consume between 8–11 mg of zinc each day. Zinc naturally occurs in foods like whole grains, red meat, eggs, dairy products, and seeds.
If you’re over 18, take at least 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B daily. B vitamins occur naturally in many of the same foods as zinc does. Also try eating foods including beans and lentils, poultry, fish, and brown rice.
13. **Keep your body hydrated to prevent skin from drying out.** If your body becomes dehydrated, your skin will start to dry out. Dry, poorly hydrated skin can lead to a severe case of angular cheilitis. Stay well hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. You can also drink hydrating substances like tea and fruit juice. Avoid drinking too much coffee and alcohol, as these can actually dehydrate your body.
Adult men should drink at least 3.7 litres (16 c) of water each day, and adult women should drink a least 2.7 litres (11 c) of water daily.
14. **Cut back on the amount of candy and sweets you’re eating.** If you have a bit of a sweet tooth and eat desserts and candy every day, it might be time to stop. This is especially the case if your angular cheilitis is caused by a fungus like Candida yeast. The yeast feeds off of sugar, so if your lips are often covered in sugar, the cheilitis will probably get much worse.
If you feel like eating something sweet, reach for an apple or a handful of berries instead of candy. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Cure-Angular-Cheilitis", "language": "en"} |
How to Tape an Ankle Like an Athletic Trainer | Ankle injuries can take a while to heal, especially when they don’t receive the proper treatment. Anyone is capable of sustaining such an injury, but athletes are more prone to experience one. To help an athlete recover from a minor ankle injury it is always a good idea to tape the ankle. Taping the ankle allows for extra support while still providing mobility.
1. **Seek medical professionals.** If you are not trained to wrap ankles, you should seek a medical professional. In the case of an emergency, you may need to attempt to wrap the ankle yourself. Only attempt to take over where a medical professional is needed if you are in a serious situation, as you may cause further harm.
2. **Gather materials.** Make sure you have everything you need in order to properly tape the ankle. Without all the proper equipment, you may cause further injury to the person whose ankle you wish to wrap. Plan to have these four things ahead of time. You will need:
Tape adherent. Tape adherent helps to prevent slippage and eases the wrapping process.
Heel and lace pads. Heel and lace pads protect against blisters caused by friction and chafing.
Pre-wrap. Pre-wrap acts a barrier between the skin and the tape. Pre-wrap is a foam- or gauze-type cloth pad. It is made with different things depending on the manufacturer. It can be made of cotton, latex, other synthetic materials, as well as blends of these materials.
Athletic tape. Athletic tape is the main structural component used when wrapping ankles.
3. **Position the injured patient.** Ask the patient to sit someplace sturdy where his or her foot can be elevated and extended such that it can be easily accessed. The foot should be pointed upright at a 90 degree angle and should remain in that position throughout the duration of the tape job.
4. **Apply adhesive.** This comes most commonly in spray form, as QDA (Quick Drying Adhesive). The adhesive is lightly sprayed evenly over the area you will wrap. By applying this adhesive, you will ensure the wrapping remains in place.
5. **Position the heel and lace pads.** Place the heel and lace pads on the top and backside of the ankle. The pads prevent blister-causing friction under ankle tape. When positioning, think about the points where your shoe meets your foot. These are the most likely place to experience blistering due to wrapping.
For added protection, skin lube can be applied underneath the pads themselves, although this is not strictly necessary.
In emergency situations, heel and lace pads may not be necessary.
6. **Wrap the ankle fully with a pre-wrap.** Apply pre-wrap from the mid-foot to the bottom end of the calf muscle. Cover the foot entirely in order to prevent the tape from sticking to the skin. The heel may remain uncovered. This will provide a barrier between the tape and the skin, as well as an additional layer of support.
7. **Apply anchors.** Put one to three anchor strips at the top of the pre-wrap. Each consecutive strip should overlap at about its midpoint. Place one around the arch of the foot, where the lower portion of the pre-wrap ends.
Make sure that each anchor strip is applied with even tension. Too light and the tape won't anchor the the pre-wrap strongly enough; too tight and the circulation to the foot could be pinched or cut off.
Check with the athlete after application to find out if the tape is comfortable.
8. **Attach stirrups.** Apply three semi-overlapping stirrups, beginning on the medial side (inside of the ankle) and working to the lateral side (outside of the ankle). These stirrups will be U-shaped strips. The tape starts at the top anchor, goes over the bottom of the heel, under the foot, and back up the other side. It ends at the starting anchor on the opposite side of the foot.
Make sure you're using even tension as you put the stirrup on the inside anchor, under the foot, and on the outside anchor.
9. **Place three horseshoes.** These go from either side of the foot, back around the achilles tendon, to the opposite side of the foot. Horseshoe tape wrappings stabilize the stirrups. They also add support to the ankle.
10. **Make two figure eights.** Apply the tape in two figure eight patterns, with one going in each direction. Start at the top of the foot where the foot connects with the ankle, take the tape under the foot, back up, and around the back of the ankle. The tape should end up where you started it.
11. **Use heel locks.** Heel locks start on one side of the foot, wrap about the heel, and then are taped back on the side you began from. Four are applied in alternation, two on each side of the foot. This helps to stabilize the ankle.
12. **Tape up with horizontal strips.** These are meant to fully cover the pre-wrap. This helps to hold all the different pieces of tape together. It also helps to add additional stability and closes up the wrap. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Tape-an-Ankle-Like-an-Athletic-Trainer", "language": "en"} |
How to Get Rid of Body Odor Naturally | Body odor can make you feel embarrassed or self-conscious, but don’t worry because everyone gets it and you aren’t alone. If you struggle with maintaining your body odor, you can manage it naturally with some basic changes to your lifestyle. While you can always try to mask the smell using a deodorant, staying clean and eating healthy will eliminate bacteria on your skin that cause the odor. However, if you’re sweating more than usual or your body odor changes, you may need to see a doctor.
1. **Bathe at least once per day.** Try to shower or take a bath either in the morning or at night to clean off any sweat or odor-causing bacteria that are on your skin. Use an antibacterial soap for additional protection against odors. Scrub the areas that normally smell, such as your armpits, feet, and groin, with a washcloth and your soap to help get rid of the odor.
If you exercise or get sweaty during the day, rinse off or shower as soon as possible to eliminate the odors.
2. **Dry your body thoroughly.** Bacteria tend to grow in warm, moist areas, so use a towel to pat your entire body dry after you bathe. Be sure to focus on areas where moisture gets trapped easily, like your armpits or groin. Keep patting your skin with your towel until you’re completely dry.
If you can, leave your bathroom as you dry off since steam may get on your skin and make your body wet again.
3. **Trim excess body hair to help stop bacteria growth.** Bacteria can thrive in your body hair if it gets wet and they will trap odors in places like your armpits and groin. If you only want a light trim, use a small pair of grooming scissors to cut the hair shorter. Otherwise, you can use an electric trimmer or razor to completely remove the hair so there isn’t any odor.
Use caution when you cut your armpit hair. You have to shave it with shaving cream then when you have done that, wash your armpit off. When you are done with that, apply more shaving cream and use a razor while trimming your body hair. Make sure to be careful so you don’t accidentally cut yourself.
Apply shaving cream or aftershave when you trim for a pleasant odor.
4. **Put on deodorant and antiperspirant.** If your armpits or feet sweat, choose an antiperspirant that’s aluminum-based to help block your pores. Apply the antiperspirant under your arms or even on the bottom of your foot to help prevent sweat from forming. Many antiperspirants also have deodorizing fragrances to help mask odors, so pick a scent that you like.
You can also buy deodorant without antiperspirant if you don’t regularly sweat. Deodorant is acidic and helps kill the odor-causing bacteria on your skin.
5. **Wear clean, breathable or moisture-wicking clothing.** Avoid wearing clothes if they’re dirty or smelly since they may reintroduce bacteria to your skin. Look for clothes that are made from natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, or silk, since they allow airflow and prevent sweat easier. If you’re exercising or you sweat a lot, opt for moisture-wicking fabrics, like polyester, nylon, or merino wool, that absorb the sweat off your skin to help combat against odor-causing bacteria.
Some moisture-wicking fabrics may retain odors, so be sure to wash them as soon as you can.
6. **Put on antibacterial socks if you have foot odor.** Check the socks’ packaging for terms like “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial” since it will help kill odor-causing organisms. Dry your feet off thoroughly before wearing your socks so moisture doesn’t get trapped in them. Only wear clean pairs of socks so bacteria doesn’t get on your skin.
You may also find antibacterial underwear as well if you have body odor around your groin.
If you can, go barefoot or wear open-toed shoes to improve airflow around your feet.
7. **Eliminate spicy or strong-smelling foods from your diet.** Spicy foods can cause you to sweat, which may lead to stronger body odor. In addition, pungent foods like garlic or onions can also absorb into your system and could make your sweat smell like them. Be mindful of what you eat and try to remove any trigger foods, including spices like cumin or curry, from your diet.
Try basic seasonings like salt and pepper to flavor your dishes instead.
8. **Cut seafood out of your diet if your body odor has a fishy smell.** Some metabolic disorders can cause sweat to smell fishy when your body breaks down seafood. Cut back on fish and shellfish for a few days to see if your body odor goes away on its own. If it does, then continue limiting the amount of seafood you eat. If you still detect a fishy smell after eliminating seafood, contact your doctor to see if there are any other causes.
Usually, you’ll notice a fishy odor within a few hours of eating seafood.
9. **Drink water to help flush toxins out of your system.** Try to have at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day that are each 8 fluid ounces (240 ml) each so you stay hydrated. Avoid having sugary or caffeinated drinks since they can make you more dehydrated and trap bacteria in your system. Not only will drinking water help relieve body odor, but it will help keep your skin moisturized and looking healthy as well!
If you’re exercising or sweating frequently, drink more water than usual so you don’t get dehydrated.
10. **Avoid smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages.** Smoking can leave an odor on your clothes and body, and it could cause you to sweat. Do your best to quit smoking to keep yourself smelling fresh. Additionally, alcohol dehydrates you and may leave an odor, so try to limit yourself to 1–2 alcoholic drinks per day. Have a glass of water with each one to help dilute the smell more.
Smoking and alcohol can also cause bad breath, so limiting how much you have can also improve your oral health.
11. **Try meditation or yoga to relax and destress.** If you feel stressed, it’s normal to start sweating, which may lead to body odor. Take deep breaths to help ease your mind and practice destressing techniques. Do your best to relax so you’re able to calm down and keep your body from perspiring. Try doing self-guided meditation or practicing simple yoga poses for a few minutes whenever you’re feeling stressed out.
Try getting up and walking around if you get stressed at something. Even a couple of minutes away can help you clear your mind.
12. **Get medical care for a rash or irritation caused by natural products.** While natural treatments are often safe, they may irritate your skin or even cause a rash. Both commercially-made natural deodorants and homemade treatments can aggravate your skin. If this happens, reach out to your doctor to find out if you need treatment.
You may notice swelling, itchiness, tenderness, and redness around the area where you applied your natural treatment.
Ask your doctor if they can recommend a natural body odor treatment that may be more suitable for your skin.
13. **Consult your doctor if you suddenly start sweating more.** While you likely don’t need to worry, sudden changes in how much you sweat may be a sign that something is wrong. Talk to your doctor to find out what’s causing your excessive sweating. Then, ask about your treatment options.
If you have an underlying condition, you’ll need to treat it to relieve your excessive sweating.
14. **Talk to your doctor if your body odor changes.** Changes in your body odor may be triggered by a medical condition. Try not to worry because you’re probably okay. However, go see your doctor to find out what’s causing the changes in your smell so that you can fix it.
Your doctor may be able to offer you treatments for your underlying condition.
15. **Schedule a doctor’s appointment if you have unexplained night sweats.** While you probably don’t need to worry, night sweats can be caused by certain medical conditions or medications. Talk to your doctor to find out what’s causing your night sweats so that you can manage them. Your doctor may offer you treatment or they could recommend lifestyle changes.
For instance, some depression and diabetes treatments can cause night sweats. Similarly, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, infections, and certain cancers can trigger night sweats.
16. **See your doctor if natural products don’t manage your body odor.** You can typically manage your body odor using self-care. However, sometimes lifestyle changes and topical products aren’t enough. If this is the case for you, your doctor may be able to help you find a product that works for you.
Your doctor will likely recommend you try traditional deodorants if natural products don’t work. If this still doesn’t help, they can offer you a prescription deodorant.
17. **Visit your doctor if sweating or body odor interferes with your life.** Everyone experiences sweating and body odor, so you are not alone! However, you may sweat more than other people or have stronger-smelling body odor. Fortunately, your doctor can help you if you’re having trouble living a normal life because of sweat and odor.
Your doctor can help you find products that work for you.
Additionally, your doctor may refer you to a therapist, who can help you change your thoughts about your sweat and body odor. This may help you feel better. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Body-Odor-Naturally", "language": "en"} |
How to Store Tomatillos | Tomatillos have a bright, zippy taste that's sure to add a burst of flavor to any dish. They look a little like green, unripened tomatoes except they have a bright green husk growing around the edible part. Whether you buy them from a grocery store or harvest them in your backyard, you can keep them fresh for longer in the refrigerator or freezer.
1. **Check your harvested tomatillos for ripeness.** If you’ve harvested the fruits yourself, you’ll know they’re ripe when the husks start to split or curl open at the bottom. The outside of the husk may also look yellow, reddish, or purple when the fruit is ripe.
It’s best to harvest tomatillos in the morning hours during mid-summer to fall months.
Harvest the fruits that show no signs of disease, mold or insect damage.
The color the husk turns when the fruit is ripened depends on the type of tomatillo you’re growing.
2. **Allow unripe tomatillos to mature in their husks for 1 or 2 days.** Tomatillos can be stored on your kitchen counter for up to 2 days if they need some extra time to mature. Make sure to leave the husks on until you’re ready to use them.
If you plan to use them in the next day or two but they’re very underripe, place them in a paper bag with a fully ripened banana or apple. The gas released from these fruits will speed up the process.
Don’t put underripe tomatillos in the refrigerator or freezer because it will stop the ripening process and the tomatillo will taste overly tart and acidic.
3. **Keep ripe tomatillos on your counter if you’re using them within 2 days.** Place the tomatillos on your kitchen counter or in a produce basket if you plan to use them in the next day or 2. Leave the husks on until you’re ready to use them. If they’re already ripe, you don’t have to worry about them going bad in such a short period of time.
Avoid placing extra-ripe tomatillos in a basket with other fruits that release ethylene gas (like bananas, apples, kiwi, or avocados) because it may overripen the tomatillo.
4. **Leave the husks on the tomatillos until you’re ready to use them.** The husks are in an important part of ripening the tomatillo and keeping it fresh for longer. Removing it may cause the ethylene gas to escape the fruit quicker, making it rot sooner than it would with the husk on.
If the husk appears shriveled, the tomatillo is over-ripe. You can still eat an over-ripened tomatillo, it just won’t have the same bright, tart flavor.
While it may cause them to go bad faster, you can peel off the husks first. Just be sure to wash and dry each tomatillo before loosely wrapping them with plastic wrap.
5. **Place fully ripened tomatillos in a paper bag to absorb moisture.** Place them in a regular brown paper bag and fold up the top to create a loose seal. The paper bag will help absorb any moisture so your tomatillos stay dry.
Leaving the husks on the tomatillo will increase their longevity in the refrigerator.
6. **Store the bag in the crisper drawer for up to 3 weeks.** Place the bagged tomatillos near the top of the drawer so they don’t accidentally get squished by other, heavier items. If your crisper has adjustable settings, adjust it to the low-moisture setting to allow some of the ethylene gas (released from tomatillos and other fruits) to escape.
Don't place the bag next to bananas or apples because their natural gases will cause the tomatillos to go bad sooner than they otherwise would.
The crisper drawer is the perfect place for tomatillos because it keeps high-moisture foods cool and dry.
7. **Remove the husk and stem from each tomatillo.** Hold the tomatillo with the stem down and peel back each petal-shaped section of the husk. Then twist off the stem like you would an apple.
You can also soak the tomatillos in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes to make the husks easier to remove.
If the stem is too hard to twist off, insert a sharp knife into the top at an angle and cut around the stem until you can lift it away.
8. **Wash the slimy coating off of each fruit and let them dry.** Hold each tomatillo under cool running water and rub away the sticky residue with your fingers. Then place them on a paper towel or clean surface to dry.
It may help to use a vegetable brush to scrub off the sticky coating.
9. **Leave them whole or chop them any way you like.** Consider how you plan to use the tomatillos before you freeze them. If you’re going to add them to a stew or make salsa, you may want to chop or puree the tomatillos before you freeze them. That way, you won't have to wait for them to thaw before chopping or pureeing them later on.
To puree the tomatillos, simply place them into a food processor for 30 to 60 seconds until they take on a chunky, sauce-like consistency.
To chop the tomatillos, use a sharp chef's knife to cut them in quarters, slivers (like tomato rounds), or smaller diced bits.
10. **Freeze whole or chopped tomatillos in a freezer bag for up to 1 year.** If you only have regular plastic zipper bags, double-bag the fruit for more protection. While it's best to use them as soon as you can, frozen tomatillos will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 1 year.
A heavy-duty freezer bag will preserve the fruit without causing freezer burn (which can cause them to dry and shrivel).
After you thaw them out to cook, use any leftover thawed tomatillos within 24 hours. You can refrigerate them within that time period but don't refreeze them because they’ll dry out. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Store-Tomatillos", "language": "en"} |
How to Train to Become a Navy SEAL | Do you aspire to one day be a member of one of America's greatest fighting forces? Not anyone can just become a United States Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, Land). It will take honor, courage, and incredible mental strength and toughness. To even get your foot in the door, you must be in the right shape. Here's how to get there.
1. **Determine your fitness level.** In order to start training for the rigors of BUD/s and the Navy you have to know where you're at physically. To do this, you can take a PST. The PST (Physical Screening Test) is administered by the Navy to see if you have what it takes physically to complete the training. You can take a mock PST at home. All you need is a timer and access to a swimming pool.
2. **Swim.** The first event of the PST is the 500 yard swim. You can swim this using either breaststroke, or CSS (Combat Side Stroke, the recommended stroke). The current minimum time to qualify for a contract is twelve and a half minutes. A competitive score is around eight minutes.
3. **Do pushups.** The second event is pushups. You must perform as many as possible in two minutes. Minimum score is 50, a competitive score is between 80-100.
4. **Do situps.** The third event is sit ups. It will be done with the same time as pushups. Minimum and competitive scores are the same as well.
5. **Do pullups.** The fourth event is pull ups. This will be from full hang to your chin above the bar. You must perform 8, a competitive score is closer to 20. There is no time limit but you may not let go or touch the ground.
6. **Do a run.** The final portion is the 1.5 mile run. You must complete it in ten minutes thirty seconds. A competitive score is between nine and ten minutes. This will be performed in pants and boots.
7. **Analyze your fitness results.** After you have taken your PST you can look at where you did well and where you need to improve to help form a plan.
8. **Follow the PTG.** The U.S. Navy has built a Personal Training Guide (PTG), that is designed to help you ace your real PST for a contract. It is highly recommended to follow this program as it is designed by Navy Staff and BUD/s instructors, tailored to a SEAL candidate. The link to this is in the tips section.
9. **Build up your running endurance.** Most agree that running is both the most worrisome and taxing thing in BUD/s. This is because you will be running huge distances over the course of the day. Because of this you need a solid base of running before reaching BUD/s. This will help prevent injury.
10. **Read.** Another highly used option is to read the works by a former US Navy SEAL, Stew Smith. He has written multiple books on the subject and helps train aspiring Special Operations candidates, polices, and other national heroes.
11. **Put success above all.** To succeed in BUD/s you must have an unfaltering desire to become a US Navy SEAL. If there is any doubt you will quit in BUD/s.
12. **Never make excuses for your personal fitness.** By working hard you are paving the road for success. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Train-to-Become-a-Navy-SEAL", "language": "en"} |
How to Screen Print at Home | Screen printing is a printing technique used to quickly stencil an identical image on multiple objects, often clothing. You build a screen and stencil, then push ink through the mesh and onto your shirt, paper, or object. Being able to screen print at home enables you to create unique pieces of clothing and other objects, and you can replicate the design on as many objects you want by using the same screen.
1. **Purchase a canvas stretcher frame at a craft or art supplies store.** These are basic, inexpensive frames made of wood for mounting a canvas. For a little more money you can purchase an aluminum frame that will last longer, as repeated washing will warp a wooden canvas.
Many art stores now sell pre-made silkscreens as well, so you could purchase a standard screen if you don't want to make a custom one.
Ensure that your frame is big enough for your design. If you don't know your design yet, or want a versatile frame for multiple designs, aim for 12x18" at the minimum.
2. **Purchase your mesh.** You want a nice, fine mesh that allows the ink to pass onto the shirt, paper, or design. Mesh-count measures how loose or tight the mesh is, where higher numbers indicate a tighter mesh. The tighter the mesh, the more intricate your details can be. Mesh count is the number of threads in one square inch.
For the classic "athletic" or collegiate print that looks worn/speckled, aim for a loose 85 mesh count.
For a "do-it-all" mesh, aim for 110-130 mesh count.
For paper or plastic printing, go for a mesh count near 200-250.
In general, lighter colored objects work best with higher mesh counts. So if you're doing white paper, aim from 230-250.
3. **Staple the mesh into the frame.** Make sure you pull the screen tight before you start stapling. You want it to be as taut as possible without ripping. Stretch the mesh across the frame and staple around the wood every 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 cm.).
You will likely need an electric staple gun to securely adhere the mesh.
You can also use framing nails.
4. **Create a stencil of your design.** Silkscreens can only apply one color at a time, so create a simple shape or outline to begin learning. Whatever you draw will eventually be the inked part of the print. To make your own print, you need:
Poster board, thin cardboard, or other thick & sturdy paper.
Pencil
X-acto knife or another precision knife
5. **Know the artistic limitations and challenges of screen-printed designs.** Screen printing isn't difficult, as what you draw is exactly what you get on the final print. However, there are certain principles and limitations to screen printing that you should know as you design your print:
You can only print 1 color at a time.
High contrast images (like black on white) work the best, as you cannot use shading.
For complex designs, you need to make multiple prints, one for each color, and layer them after the ink has dried.
6. **Sketch your design onto the poster board.** Sketch out the blocks of your design. You can upload photos or other images into photo editing software as well and use those. To do so, reduce the drawing to a basic two-tone outline then print it.
To make a stencil on Photoshop, for example, you would take a black and white image and click Image → Adjustments → Threshold, then set it up near the highest it can be.
7. **Cut the design out as a stencil.** Everything that you cut away will be un-inked on the final print, and everything covered by the stencil will be covered in ink. For example, imagine you are printing the red logo of a bulls-eye on a white t-shirt. When you cut out the stencil, all of the rings that you cut away will be white, and all of the rings that are covered by the stencil will be red.
8. **Alternatively, draw your design on transparent paper.** For complex prints, it can be very difficult to cut out the entire outline. In this case, use thick black ink on transparent paper to make your stencil.
Your stencil or drawing needs to block light, as this is what etches the design into the screen and allows you to print. Everything covered by a stencil or black ink will not get exposed to light, leaving it "open" and allowing ink to pass onto the shirt or item.
9. **Coat your silk screen with a thin layer of photo emulsion.** Pour a line of emulsion along a side of the screen and use the squeegee to spread a thin line along the entire screen. Photo emulsion reacts to light, hardening when exposed, so anything not covered by your stencil will turn into a barrier preventing ink from getting through.
Apply emulsion to the flat side of the frame, not the side surrounded by wood.
Do this in as dark a room as possible to prevent the emulsion from hardening before you're ready.
10. **Let the emulsion dry in a dark space.** Expose it to as little light as you can. A closet or bathroom will work well, as long as you can close some curtains.
11. **Set up an "exposure area" while waiting for the emulsion to dry.** You'll need to expose the emulsion to a direct, strong light to prepare it. Following the specification on the photo emulsion bottle, set up a light above your flat black surface. Each emulsion has different times, watts, and distances needed for proper hardening, so be sure to read the bottle before beginning. The lamp should always be 1-2 feet above the emulsion.
If the emulsion calls for 30 minutes at 200 watts, set up a lamp with a 200W bulb 1-2 feet above a table. The screen goes under the light.
12. **Place your screen under the light in the exposure area.** As you're moving the screen, cover it with a towel so it does not react to incidental light. Place it under the lamp in your station, leaving the towel on for now.
13. **Put your stencil backwards on the middle of the screen.** The screen should be emulsion side The mesh will be lifted a few inches off the table and resting on the frame. Place your stencil in the middle of the screen with 4-5 inches of space between the design and the edge of the frame.
You must place your stencil down in reverse to get the right image. Look at your stencil the way you want it, then flip it over before you put it down. Otherwise, you will get a mirror image when you start printing.
If there is a breeze, or your stencil is very light, place a clear piece of glass on top of it to keep it from moving.
Do not push, prod, or move your screen, light, or stencil once it is placed and set.
14. **Turn on the light for the recommended time.** Simply follow the instructions on your emulsion bottle and remove the screen when it is done. When it is done, remove the stencil and set it aside for later. If you smell anything burning during this process, turn off the light immediately.
If you prepared the emulsion correctly, you should see the faint outline of your stencil in the emulsion when the design is removed.
15. **Blast off the emulsion with cold water.** Take any high-powered water source (shower, faucet, hose) and wash off the screen, focusing on your image. The water will wash away the unhardened emulsion around your design. You should see the outline of your stencil appear. Keep on spraying until you can see your image well.
Let the screen dry before moving on to the next step.
16. **Line up your screen above the object you're printing on.** The mesh should be touching whatever you're printing on, like paper or a shirt.
If you're using a shirt, slide some cardboard between the layers of the shirt to prevent the ink from bleeding through.
17. **Squeegee some ink over your design.** Put a thin line of ink just above your design. Then drag the squeegee over your design firmly, coating the entire stencil in ink.
The harder you press the darker your image will be.
18. **Slowly pull off your silkscreen.** Pull the screen off the t-shirt/paper with even pressure, then hang the shirt up to dry. Your design will be printed.
19. **Repeat with as many shirts as you want, cleaning the screen occasionally.** You can use your silkscreen again with another t-shirt if you want, adding more ink as necessary. Simply wipe down the backside after every shirt and reapply ink. If you're using the same print for multiple days in a row, rinse and dry it at the end of each day. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Screen-Print-at-Home", "language": "en"} |
How to Talk to a Girl You Would Like to Date but Are Too Afraid to Approach | Talking to girls, especially ones you're interested in dating, can be frightening. The most important thing is to start a conversation. Talking on a day-to-day basis is a great way to establish a connection, learn more about her interests, and about things she likes to do.
1. **Let go of your fear.** Getting rid of your fear to talk to her is the most difficult part, but just remember:
We are all equal, we all get nervous, and we are all human.
Most girls aren't mean or rude, so if they don't want to talk to you, they won't hurt your feelings
It's better approaching her and knowing the outcome, than never doing it and being left wondering what would've happened.
2. **Talk to her** Find some natural reason to introduce yourself. A good conversation starter is just getting to know her if you don't already. If she's talking to a friend, listen to (but don't stalk!) their conversation a bit, and then jump in with a witty comment like, "Hey, you like Harry Potter too!" If the girl is not talking to anyone, comment on her outfit or the book she is holding or the class she's in. Then start the conversation!
If you've talked to her before, and she knows who you are then it shouldn't be too difficult. If not, all you've got to do is introduce yourself and have a conversation.
3. **Make small talk** Making small talk is a great way to get a feel for if the girl likes you or not. Making small talk could be as easy as asking about the weather, a homework assignment or commenting about a school event. Based off her reaction and response length, you can get a pretty good idea if she is interested in you.
For example, if your school football team won a sectional title, you could say "Hey, did you see the game last night?". This will open up for a great conversation. If the girl says she didn't see the game though, don't press her with details about what happened and give her a play-by-play synopsis. Instead, turn the conversation toward her and ask her if she plays or follows any sports.
4. **If she sits next to you or nearby you in class, try making audible but quiet comedic remarks to her.** For example, in class if your teacher is handing out a writing assignment, say something funny like "Geez, I'm scared. This looks like a lot of writing." Make it loud enough for her to hear. If she engages in conversation about your comment, that's great news! It means she was actually listening to you. If she doesn't, this could possibly mean that you were too quiet and she didn't hear you, or she was surprised you were talking to her. Keep trying though, and sooner or later she will respond.
5. **Get into conversations.** Casually talk about stuff she likes and dislikes. Start by just having conversations with her. Ask her about her siblings or other little things. For example, "How are Jimmy and Sarah doing?" or, "That blue shirt brings out your eyes." Girls like it when you remember little things.
Find out things you have in common, like a favorite band or sport. That will give you a common subject to talk about.
If you go to school together, walk up to her in the halls and say hello after you've talked in class a couple times. You will make a good impression if you do nice things, like holding a door for her to go through or tying her shoe if you notice it has come undone.
Do not go out of your way to do these things all the time. She will think it is weird instead of sweet.
6. **Become friends with her** Many guys prefer to cut to the chase, but if she is worth asking out, it is worth building a friendship. If you ask her out without getting to know her first, she might turn you down just because she doesn't know enough about you to say yes.
7. **Text her** Text or chat with her for long periods of time. Girls love it when this happens. After you've texted her for a while and you think she's good enough friends with you, try to ask her who she likes. Make sure she asks you too, otherwise it will most likely end up being a different guy. Also try to make it late—that's extra cute!
8. **Make sure that the two of you are compatible.** Do you have common interests? Are you around the same age? If you are going to date this girl, make sure that she is someone with whom you actually want to spend a lot of time. It is easy to build up unrealistic fantasies in your head, but it isn't always easy to gauge whether you would truly be happy with someone. Try talking about what motivates her; by doing so, you will create a bond between you two.
9. **See if she wants to hang out in a group.** Ask her and some of your other friends if they would like to go somewhere such as the mall or movies. Eventually if you two are comfortable with each other you could ask her to hang out at your house with a group of people. A group of people will make it seem less awkward.
Don't ask her specifically to something and build it up. Instead, arrange something with a group of friends and say she is welcome to come along. That way, if she can't make it, no harm done and you can recover from the rejection without problems.
When inviting her out, it has to be something fun that isn't a big deal for her to join in on. You want to avoid the awkward staring at your hands/feet mumbling about "what she is up to that weekend".
10. **Make sure she isn't already interested in or dating someone.** If she is already dating someone, then that is her business, and you need to respect it. If she's obviously interested in someone else, then it might be worth your while to win her over—but do not get your hopes up.
11. **Play it cool, but don't make her think that you aren't interested.** When you two start hanging out a lot, people will start talking and wondering if you two are dating or if you have a "thing." If people ask you about it, just say, "we like hanging out," or, "we have a lot of fun together." Never say, "we are just friends." This will give her the wrong impression.
12. **Invite her to hang out** Ask her if she would like to hang out sometime, but don't make it sound like a date. As you spend more time with her, invite fewer and fewer people, so that eventually you can just say, "Want to hang out this weekend?" If she says no thanks, don't drop it yet. She is likely not comfortable enough with you, but she may come around if you keep talking to her. You could explain that it wouldn't be a date, just going to the movies as friends, or hanging out and going swimming.
13. **Aim to ask her out somewhere you feel comfortable.** You want to find a place that is quiet, somewhat secluded, and easily accessible. Most importantly, do it in a location where you feel relaxed and confident. The better you feel about things, the more relaxed and assured you will be when you finally ask her out.
Make sure she is in a good mood as well -- if she had a terrible day or seems cross, wait until she is in a better mood.
Whenever possible, ask her out in person. It may be harder and more nerve-wracking, but you're more likely to succeed and can gauge her response in person.
14. **Know that you don't need a large romantic gesture to ask someone out.** Movies and TV have conditioned many people to think that the only way to get the girl is a big, expressive moment. But that couldn't be farther from the truth in the real world. Simply pulling her aside after class or work, catching her on her way out the door, or sitting next to each other on the bus is enough. It is not what you do that really matters here, it is what you say.
15. **Prepare what you want to say if you feel nervous.** Don't try and over-rehearse the conversation, as you cannot predict what she is going to say. However, practice keeping it brief and saying what you want to say quickly and easily. 1-2 sentences should suffice. Some ideas include:
"I've really enjoyed spending time together, and I'd love to take you on a date."
"Would you want to go out with me on a date this weekend?"
"Let's grab dinner sometime, just the two of us?"
"I really enjoy your friendship, and I'd like to try taking things a step further."
16. **Have a specific date in mind.** At the very least, be ready to offer one or two days that work for you. Asking with specifics is a much better way to gauge her answer. If she wants to go on a date, have a suggestion ready:
"Great! How about dinner on Thursday?" or "There is a great play Saturday at 8 I was interested in, want to join me?"
Have at least one back-up date in case she is busy, or ask her when a good time is if that fails too.
17. **Go ahead and say it, even if it feels awkward.** And the end of the day, you just have to blurt it out. It is not easy, but it is the only way to do it. Keep it short and to the point. "I really like you, and I'd love to go out on a date sometime," should suffice. Remember why you want to talk to her, and know that any answer is better than sitting and waiting for one.
Count to 3 and make yourself ask when you get to zero.
Avoid talking too much beforehand. Say hello, ask how she is doing, then get right to the point. The longer you wait, the colder your feet are going to get.
Once you know you want to ask her out, you need to go ahead and do it.
18. **Be honest.** If she is going to ditch you because of a little initial awkwardness, is she worth dating? Just be yourself and put yourself out there, even if you are nervous, awkward, weird, or uncomfortable. Do you best to launch into the conversation.
"I'm a bit nervous to say this, but..."
"I know I seem kind of awkward, but I want you to know how I feel."
19. **Relax and go slowly.** Take as much time progressing the "dating" relationship as you did progressing the 'friend' relationship. You don't need to dive into anything. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Talk-to-a-Girl-You-Would-Like-to-Date-but-Are-Too-Afraid-to-Approach", "language": "en"} |
How to Tell if a Girl Is Flirting With You | Have you ever wondered if a girl was flirting with you or if she was just being friendly? Are you reading too much into that smile or does she really like you? Though some girls make an effort to hide the fact that they're crushing on you, there are some telltale signs that may reveal her true feelings. This wikiHow will teach you common flirting signs for girls between the ages of 10 and 18. Just remember that not all girls are the same, and that these tips are just some of the ways she might flirt with you. Consider these signs as clues to whether or not she likes you, and not necessarily a definite yes or no answer. You might find out if she likes you back.
1. **Notice how frequently she looks at you.** Do you catch her looking at you across the room? When you are in a group, does she seem to be glancing at you to see your reactions? If she quickly glances away when you catch her looking, then looks back, she's likely interested in you.
Smiling, holding eye contact, or raising her eyebrows are all very flirtatious things she could do in the moment.
2. **Think about how often she teases you.** It's not flirting if she's outright mean, but if she's being a little sassy, and smiling and laughing as she gently makes fun of something you said or did, she's likely flirting with you.
Tease her back if you want to flirt, but just make sure you stay above the belt--don't say anything really hurtful.
3. **Pay attention to how often she touches you.** Does she touch your arm while making a point or when she gets excited? Does she take your hand into hers? Does she rub your back while smiling at you?
Does she come up behind you and tickle you where she knows you're sensitive? This is a playful way to get you laughing, touching, and flirting.
4. **Consider whether she texts you random, funny messages, or if she only messages you about practical things.** If she texts you about something funny that happened in class, a silly picture, or a random question (like, "If you were a super hero, what would be your super power?"), it means you're on her mind. She's trying to initiate a conversation with you because she is interested in you.
5. **Figure out if she is the one to start conversation.** If a girl initiates the conversation, this is a sign that she is into you. Girls usually wait for the guy to come over to her, so this is a really good sign for you.
6. **Think about when and how often she is trying to reach you.** Does she constantly try to get a hold of you online? Does she send you "good morning" or "goodnight" texts? These are clear signs that she's thinking about you.
7. **Pay attention to her use of emojis.** Are her texts accompanied by a lot of smiley faces, blushing faces, or winks? If she sends you the emoji with hearts for eyes, you can be pretty confident she's into you.
Try not to go crazy with the emojis yourself. Use them thoughtfully, and don't abbreviate too many of your words or you'll seem childish.
8. **Notice if she laughs when you tell a story.** If she's constantly laughing and smiling at you (even if your story isn't that funny), it's because she likes you--either as a friend or something more.
When a girl is into you, there is often something called a "halo effect" that makes you appear almost perfect in her eyes. She'll be the first to laugh at your jokes, no matter how silly or dumb they are.
This may be her subtle way of complimenting you--she wants you to know she thinks you're funny and that you're a blast to be around.
9. **Pay attention to nicknames.** This is a way to remind you of a joke or a moment you share (maybe she calls you "grape soda" because you once spilled an entire bottle in your lap), and to strengthen your connection. It might also be another way to gently tease you.
If everyone calls you "Bear" and she does too, it probably doesn't mean anything. But if she makes up a nickname that only she uses, she's flirting.
10. **Don't worry if she ends the conversation first or doesn't immediately respond when texting.** This could be a flirting tactic to keep you wanting more. She doesn't want to sound desperate by always responding to you right away. Texting that she's got somewhere else to be might be her way of showing you that other people desire her attention, too.
11. **Watch for her online updates about game playing.** Games can be a nice segue into getting closer to you. Some of the following can suggest a flirty interest in you:
Is she boasting about beating your score in an online game? She's probably teasing you and trying to entice you into a flirty competition.
Is she telling you that she lost an online game? She might want you to feel sorry for her and respond (in a joking way) "Are you okay?".
Is she inviting you to join a shared game online? This could be her way of finding a neutral territory to spend more time together.
12. **Recall if she makes up odd excuses just to talk to you.** This might give you a chuckle if you recognize it, but it's something to be flattered by. If she is feeling bold, she'll enter into your space by starting a random conversation. Here are some ones girls (and guys) use all the time:
"Hey, I forgot my notebook, do you remember what homework was?" She might have actually forgot her books, but she chose to ask you about homework.
"Can you help me out with this problem? I have no idea what's going on here." This is especially significant if she is a good student. Why would a good student need homework help?
"Can you hold my backpack/sit with my stuff for me? It's really heavy/a lot to carry!" Girls plan ahead on almost everything. Why would she bring too much stuff to school if she couldn't carry it?
13. **Pay attention to fidgeting.** When she's around you, does she start fixing her clothes, twisting her rings, touching her mouth, or twirling her hair? If she does these things while maintaining eye contact, or making eye contact and then glancing down, it indicates she's nervous--in a good way.
When flirting, a girl might touch or lick her lips or fidget with her necklace or the collar of her shirt as a slightly suggestive way to excite you.
14. **Look at the position of her feet.** When she's sitting near you or if you are standing and talking, glance at her feet. If her feet are pointed directly at you, it means you have her attention and she's interested. Don't worry too much if her feet are pointing in another direction.
If she begins to lean in while you're talking, she's signaling that she's interested. This is an especially good sign if you're in a group--she's singling you out.
Tilting her head to one side is another sign that she's engaged with you and is interested.
While her feet pointing at you might mean she's getting ready to flirt with you, feet pointed away doesn't necessarily mean that she doesn't like you. This is not an either/or scenario.
15. **Pay attention to her speech.** If her voice starts to get higher or lower when you are around, it's a sign that she likes you. People involuntarily change the tone of their voices when they're near someone they're attracted to.
16. **Notice if she always seems to be looking for an out.** Does she lean back away from you when you talk? Or is she constantly looking to the left or right? She might be looking for an escape route.
17. **See if she always tries to put a barrier between you.** Sit down or stand near her when she has a bag or a purse and watch what she does with it. If she's clutching her bag tightly, using it to cover herself, or puts it between you when you're sitting near each other, it's a sign that she's not interested in flirting with you.
18. **Watch her reaction when you tell a story or joke.** If she doesn't respond and rarely laughs at your jokes, it's not a great sign. She might just be having a bad day, but if she's constantly rolling her eyes when you speak, seems indifferent to the conversation, or is outright mean, then this is not the girl for you.
What kind of tone does she use when talking to you? Does she always sound rushed or annoyed?
19. **Think about whether she treats you just like everyone else.** Is she just a friendly person? Usually you can tell a girl is flirting with you because she treats you differently from others. So a really friendly girl might become shy around someone she likes. Another girl might pay more attention to her crush. But if she treats you just the same as all her other friends, there's little chance she's actually being flirtatious.
20. **Take a step back if she starts telling you about her crushes.** If she just tells you a story about a random guy, or about someone hitting on her, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. She could even be trying to make you jealous. But if she's asking you for advice about how to get with her crush, or talks about hooking up with someone else, she's not thinking of you as a romantic prospect. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-a-Girl-Is-Flirting-With-You", "language": "en"} |
How to Install a Screen Door | A screen door can spruce up a simple entryway and serve as a practical addition to your home. It will offer minor protection to your door from the elements during the colder months, and allow you to let in some fresh air during the warmer months. You may think that you have to hire a professional to install one, but you don’t. As long as you correctly measure the door frame and acquire the necessary tools, you will be able to properly install a screen door in no time.
1. **Measure the outside of the door frame.** Not all door frames will be perfectly square, so to account for this, take the length and width measurements along the top, middle, and bottom portions of the frame. Think of these measurements like a grid across the opening of your door.
The average door height is usually 80 inches (200 cm), and some standard widths are 36 inches (91 cm), 32 inches (81 cm), and 30 inches (76 cm). Your door frame will most likely measure a little bit more than one of those standard door sizes.
If you have to use a tall step stool or ladder to take these measurements, or for any other part during the installation process, have someone hold the stool or ladder in place. It is dangerous to work on a ladder without someone to help you.
2. **Subtract ⁄4 in (0.64 cm) from the shortest length and width measurements.** You need at least a ⁄8 inch (0.32 cm) gap around the entirety of the door to ensure that it will fit properly. Using the shortest length and width will take into account that the door frame might not be perfectly square.
If your door frame is 80 and ⁄4 inch (203.20 and 0.64 cm) tall and 36 and ⁄4 inch (91.44 and 0.64 cm) wide, look for a door that is 80 inches (200 cm) tall and 36 inches (91 cm) wide.
3. **Choose a style that will complement the exterior of your house.** Screen doors are often the focal points to front and side entries of homes. Choose a material, color, and style that will best accent your home. The most common ones are made of wood, but there are aluminum and vinyl screen doors as well. A wide selection of these options can be found either online or at your local home improvement or hardware store.
Unfinished pine screen doors are great to have when working on a tight budget. The average door will cost around $30.00 USD (25.49 Euros). The simple design and unfinished wood will give you the option to stain or paint it whatever color you desire. Choose a classic white trim, a rustic stain, or a bold paint color that will contrast traditional siding. If you decide to paint the door, use exterior paint so it can withstand the elements.
Vinyl and aluminum screen doors are simple and easy to install. These are offered in standard, neutral colors and shades, and will not require you to paint them before installing. The starting price for these doors typically start at $50.00 (42.48 Euros) and increase from there between brands.
Look for screen doors that break away from traditional models by purchasing one made of hardwood or one that has a unique design. Either of these types of screen doors will make an excellent statement piece for the front of your home. The starting costs for these designs can vary greatly, but at most you may pay $200.00 (169.93 Euros).
4. **Decide on a screen material if the option is available.** Some manufacturers will allow you to select a material to make your screen out of. The common choices are often between a plastic mesh, metal mesh, iron screen, or solid metal screen.
Plastic and metal meshes are the most common screen materials due to the affordable pricing, but can tear easily.
Iron and solid metal screens are durable enough to withstand a pet accidentally jumping on it, but these options can be pricey.
5. **Check the screen door for any damages to the frame or screen.** Since you most likely had to order the door at a local home improvement or hardware store, check that it is in good condition before you proceed with installing it. Look for any noticeable dents or dings in the framing as this could compromise the integrity of the door. Closely examine the screen for any tears or manufacturing defects that would allow bugs and other small critters to crawl through.
Proceed with the installation process if you don’t find anything wrong with the screen door. If you do find something wrong, speak with a representative at the store you ordered it from about returning or exchanging the item.
6. **Decide which direction the door will open.** Generally, the handle for the screen door should be on the same side as the handle for your main door. However, if the handles will interfere with each other or if the screen door will open and hit an object, have it open in the other direction.
7. **Have someone help you safely put the screen door in the door frame.** Even though the screen door may not be heavy to lift and hold in place, you need to have your hands free to properly secure and install it. Recruit a willing family member or friend to just gently apply pressure on the screen door so it does not fall forward.
If you do not have someone who can hold the door in place, remove the door once you have confirmed it fits. It is easier to attach the hinges to the door when it is not in the door frame when you are working by yourself.
8. **Wedge shims between the door and the frame to check that it fits.** Shims are thin, tapered items that are used as spacers. Place at least 1 shim along the top and bottom of the door, and 2 shims on each side. This is an easy way to double-check that there is the needed ⁄8 inch (0.32 cm) gap around the entire door.
If the shims cannot be inserted, this means that portions of your door frame are not square. For minor adjustments, lightly sand the screen door if it is wood, or sand the wooden frame until it fits.
If both your door and frame are not made of wood, have a professional safely square the frame and finish installing the door.
9. **Measure the placements for the 3 hinges along the length of the door.** The hinges will be on the opposite side of the door from the handle. Make marks along the edge of the door that are 5 inches (13 cm) from the top and bottom. This is where the upper and lower hinges will be placed. The last hinge will be placed centrally to the first 2 marks.
Alternatively, to avoid measuring for the hinges, align them to match the hinges on the inside door. This works best if the screen door and the inside door have the same dimensions.
Use a pencil to make marks on the door so they can be easily washed off.
10. **Use a hinge as a template on the door and drill pilot holes for the screws.** Align the hinge with the measured marks you made on the door. This will ensure that you drill the needed holes in the proper place on the door.
Drill the necessary number of pilot holes needed for each of the 3 hinges in the marked areas on the door.
11. **Use a drill to install the mounting screws into the pilot holes.** Slowly install the screws until the hinge is firmly pressed against the door; otherwise, you might cause the hinge to twist or fall out of place. There will most likely be 3 mounting screws per hinge, so try and start with the middle hole on the hinge to ground it, and then the outer ones.
Only use the hardware that came with the screen door as those pieces will work best for hanging it.
Repeat this process until all 3 hinges are properly secured to the door.
12. **Attach the hinges to the door frame.** With the door being held in place, use your drill to secure the hinges to the adjoining door frame. Start by making starter holes, using the attached hinges as a guide, and then install the mounting screws.
Since you have already properly mounted the hinges to the door and have the door properly spaced with shims you should not have to do any measuring for this part. However, you may want to use a level to double-check that the door is still sitting evenly before screwing it in place.
If you are hanging the door by yourself and applied the hinges on while the door was laying flat, you need to place the door into the door frame before finishing attaching the hinges.
13. **Open and close the door to see if it needs any adjustments.** Open the door to double-check that the hinges aren’t sagging and are properly supporting the door. This could mean that you did not fully set in the mounting screws. Then close the door to ensure that it naturally fits back into the door frame. If it seems like it is rubbing, then try loosening or tightening the mounting screws accordingly until the door fits.
14. **Install a decorative door knob or pull to make using the door easier.** Since these can vary in style, follow the manufacturing instructions on how to properly install the handle components it came with. Generally, there will be starter holes on your door, but if there isn’t, use the height of the handle on the interior door as a reference. Even if your knob or pull is not on the same side as the interior door handle, have it be the same height for ease of use. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Install-a-Screen-Door", "language": "en"} |
How to Appeal a Judgment Without an Attorney | If you have lost a case in civil court, you can challenge the court's decision through an appeal. Basically, you are asking a higher court to review the case and determine if the judge applied the law correctly. Appeals are complicated, but with work and attention to detail, it can be done without an attorney. However, someone filing a pro se (Latin for "for yourself") appeal must use the same procedures and meet the same standards as attorneys.
1. **Understand the requirements for an appeal.** In order to appeal a trial court's decision, you must be able to answer yes to all of the following questions:
First, are you a person who can appeal the trial court's decision? To answer yes, you must have been a party to the case at the trial stage. You cannot appeal on behalf of someone else, for example a friend or relative.
Second, can the decision in your case be appealed? To answer yes, the trial court must have issued a final judgment. The final judgment is the decision at the end of your case that decides everything. It will usually tell you or the other party what they have to do. You cannot appeal decisions made before the final judgment; you must wait to appeal these issues once the final judgment has been issued.
Third, do you have time for an appeal? To answer yes, you must be able to draft and file your notice of appeal within a certain deadline. If you fail to file your notice of appeal before the deadline, your case will be dismissed and you will not be able to appeal. In California, the deadline to file your notice of appeal varies depending on the type of case you have. For example, if you are a part of a civil case involving an amount less than $25,000, you must file your notice by either:
30 days after you have been notified of the judgment; or
90 days after the entry of the judgment, whichever is sooner.
2. **Read the judge's ruling.** If you answered yes to all three questions, you have the right to appeal. However, before you appeal, you must find a valid reason to do so. Read through the judge's ruling and identify the reasons the judge ruled the way he or she did.
Appellate courts can only look at whether the trial court made a legal error and whether that legal error changed the final decision in the case.For example, an appeal might look at whether a trial court judge applied the wrong law to your set of facts.
Appellate courts do not offer new trials and you will not be able to present any new evidence.
3. **Review your evidence.** If you think you have found a legal error in the judge's ruling, look through your evidence to see whether you can back up your claim. Because you will not be able to introduce any new evidence, you need to make sure you can prove the error with the record you created at the trial level.
For example, if you think the judge gave incorrect and harmful jury instructions to the jury, find the judge's statement of the instructions in the trial record.
4. **Consider the cost of an appeal.** Between the filing fees, court fees, fees for getting materials to the appeals court, and fees for consulting an attorney, filing an appeal can be very expensive.
An appeal also takes up a lot of time. You will be doing lots of legal research, writing a legal brief, and preparing to argue in front of the court.
An appeal can also cause stress on you and your loved ones, and can extend the litigation for many years in some cases.
Appellate court costs typically exceed those of the trial court. For example, in California filing a notice of appeal costs $775. It is not unusual for court transcripts to exceed $1,000. Some states have fee waivers in civil cases for individuals with low incomes (most notably California). If you received a fee waiver for your trial court case you should be eligible for one in the appeals courts.
5. **Find a notice of appeal form.** A notice of appeal is the piece of paper you file with the trial court in order to notify that court and the other party that you plan on appealing. Most courts will have a form available online for you to fill out. For example, in California, the notice of appeal form can be found online and can be printed and filled out at home.
6. **Draft your notice of appeal.** The notice of appeal is a straightforward document and does not require any legal knowledge. In general, the notice for will ask for the following information:
The name of the court that issued the judgment you are appealing;
The trial court case number and case name;
Your personal information;
Whether this is a first appeal or some other appeal;
The judgment you are appealing; and
Whether you are asking for a copy of the record.
7. **Make at least two copies of your notice.** Before moving forward, be sure you make a copy of the notice for yourself and another copy to serve on the other party. The original notice of appeal will be for the court.
8. **Serve the notice on the other party.** Take one of the copies you made and serve it on the other party, either in person or through the mail. If you are having your notice served in person, you must have someone other than yourself complete the task. You can ask the sheriff or a private server to do so. If you are serving the other party through the mail, send it to that party's residence, place of business, and to their attorney (if they have one).
9. **File the notice of appeal.** Once the other party has been served, you will file the original notice of appeal, along with proof of service, to the court clerk. The clerk will look over your documents and stamp them as "filed."
When you file your notice of appeal, you will be required to pay a filing fee. The filing fee in California can be as much as $775.00. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a waiver. If you already obtained a fee waiver for your fees associated with your case at the trial level, simply include that fee waiver with the notice of appeal and your fees will be waived.
10. **Look at your briefing schedule.** Once you decide to appeal a case and file a Notice of Appeal, you will receive a schedule for the rest of the process. This schedule will include dates for all of the hearings and dates that briefs are due.
As the “appellant” or “petitioner,” you are the one bringing the appeal and will therefore file the first brief. The other party, the “respondent,” will file the response brief.
To make sure that you do not miss important deadlines, you may want to place any important dates on your calendar.
11. **Read the appellate rules.** Before you start preparing for your appeal, you need to read the rules that will govern your appeal. Each state has their own appellate rules that dictate how the process will unfold. The rules will explain how your appeal should look, the color of your brief cover, and how to cite to legal authorities.
Appellate rules can cover things as small as the required font size, page limits, and the number of copies you need.
Most appellate rules can be found online at your court's website. For example, in California, the court website has a link to the California Code of Civil Procedure and the California Rules of Court.
12. **Find a practice manual.** In addition to reading the rules of the court, find a practice manual to help get you through the process. A practice manual is a book geared towards helping licensed lawyers handle certain tasks. Go to your local law library and find a practice guide on appellate advocacy. These types of guides can often provide you with all the information you need to successfully file and argue your appeal.
13. **Designate the record.** Since the appellate judges will base their decision only off of what is contained within the trial court records, you will need to gather all the documents necessary to allow the judge to rule on your appeal. To designate the record, you will need to fill out a designation form.
A designation form simply asks you to identify the documents you will be including in the record. Therefore, it is important to locate all the documents available from the trial court and to review them to determine if they will be helpful.
You must designate the record within a certain period of time after filing your notice of appeal. In California, you must designate the record within 10 days after filing your notice of appeal. 10 days is a short period of time so be prepared to spend long hours looking through documents to determine what you want to include in the record.
14. **Prepare a record of the documents.** To gather a record of the documents presented with the trial court, all you need to do is request a copy of the clerk's transcript. You will request a copy of the clerk's transcript when you fill out the designation form.
The transcript will not include any exhibits unless you ask for them (designate them).
There is usually a fee for requesting the clerk's transcript. In some cases, it can cost as much as $1,000 to request and receive a copy. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver in the same manner as when you filed your notice of appeal.
15. **Prepare a record of oral proceedings.** In addition to the clerk's transcript, which only includes documents that were filed with the trial court, you can also prepare a copy of what was said in the trial court proceedings. To do so, you simply need to request a copy of the reporter's transcript, which is done on the designation form.
There is usually a fee for requesting the reporter's transcript. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver in the same manner as when you filed your notice of appeal.
16. **Follow all court rules to the letter.** After the appellate court files the record on appeal, which means the court has chosen the record based on what both parties requested in their designation forms, it will be time to write your brief. A brief is your written description of the facts of the case, the law that applies, and your arguments about the issues on appeal. Each court has specific rules about the content, format, and length of your brief. If you do not follow these rules, the clerk of courts may refuse to file it and return it to you.
17. **Perform legal research.** Attorneys spend years learning how to research and craft arguments. If you decide to proceed without a lawyer, you will have to find legal authority as best you can. Every argument made to an appellate court must be based on the law. The court will not consider arguments that appeal only to common sense.
Go to your public law library. Often courthouses will have a library for public use. Some law schools may also open up their libraries to the public.
Find the Reporters for your state. The Reporters are bound volumes of case decisions. They will be stored on a shelf. Either at the beginning or the end of the row of volumes will be an index. The index will tell you which reporters to look into depending on subject matter.
Read up on cases involving the issue you are raising on appeal. Try and find cases that discuss the same issues you are bringing up, then try and compare or contrast your case to the cases you are finding.
Do online research. Some states may have cases published online. Visit the website for your state’s Supreme Court. If they are publishing opinions online, there should be a link from that website to the opinions.
18. **Learn citation format.** When you cite a case, you need to cite the case name and then the information of the reporter from which you got the case. You also need to include the page which states the point you are citing the case for.
For example, a case citation might look like this: Jones v. Bethencourt, 253 S.W.2d 455 (Ky. 1997).
In the example, the case name comes first, in italics. You can find the case name from reading the opinion; it should be the first thing stated. “253” is the volume of the reporter. “S.W.” is the name of the reporter, with “2d” designating its second edition. “455” is the page number of the legal rule you cited. In the parentheses, you list the court (here, the Kentucky Supreme Court) and the year the case was decided.
There are many variants, depending on whether you are citing a statute, an intermediate appellate court, or a federal court. To get a better handle on these many variations, simply read the opinions. Appellate courts cite to other cases in their opinions. You should follow as best as you can their citation format.
19. **Draft your appeal.** Your brief needs to conform to all of the format and style requirements found in your court's rules, and also must:
Identify the type of case you are appealing. For example, if you are appealing a tort case finding you liable for negligence, say so.
Specify the judgment you are appealing. Make sure you include the name of the trial case and that case number so the appellate court can identify the trial court ruling.
State that the judgment is final and appealable.
Explain the standard of review. Depending on the type of case you are appealing, and what the issues are on appeal, the appellate court will use one of three standards of review.
The abuse of discretion standard, which is used when you are appealing the judge's use of discretion.
The substantial evidence standard, which is used when you think the trial court did not have enough evidence to rule on an issue in the manner the court did.
The de novo standard, which is used when an appellate court is reviewing only questions of law.
Include a brief summary of the most important facts in your case. You must stick to facts readily available in the record that has been created. Do not add facts that are not in the record.
You should actually support each reference to a fact with a citation to the record. This will help the appellate court make sense of your argument.
Make your legal arguments. When you do so, support each of your points with coherent arguments and a citation to some legal authority.
Indicate the relief you want.
20. **File your brief.** When your brief is completed, it needs to be filed with both the trial court where your first case was heard, and also the appellate court that will be hearing your appeal. You must also make sure the other party receives a copy of your brief as well.
There is usually no fee required when you file your brief.
21. **Read the other party's response.** After you give your brief to the other party, they will have an opportunity to respond by submitting their own brief. The other party's brief has to respond to the issues raised in your brief and explain why the trial court's decision should be upheld.
22. **Draft a reply.** If you want, you can reply to the other party's brief by submitting a reply brief. This is optional and your reply can only raise issues brought up by the other party.
23. **Request oral arguments.** Oral arguments give you an opportunity to explain your case further to the appellate judges. It can also give you the opportunity to answer any questions the judges may have of you. However, oral arguments are not required and you can waive them if you want. To request an oral argument, return the form requesting one when you receive it from the court. The oral argument request form should come after all briefs have been filed.
Oral arguments are not a chance for you to read a prepared statement or restate what has already been told in your brief.
An oral argument is your chance to clarify your brief, tell the judges what you think i most important, and to answer questions.
24. **Prepare for oral arguments.** If you have requested an oral argument and that request has been granted, you will need to prepare vigorously in order to competently argue in front of the court. To prepare:
Check the laws you referred to in your brief and make sure nothing has changed.
Review the record and make sure you know it inside and out. The appellate judges may ask you questions about anything in the record and you need to be prepared to answer.
Prepare your key points in outline form. Do not become to rigid in your performance because you never know when a judge will interrupt you with a question.
Practice your oral argument with someone and have them interrupt you. This will help you get an idea of what it is like to speak in front of a panel of appellate judges.
25. **Argue your appeal.** Start your oral argument with the phrase, "May it please the court." Directly after stating that phrase, let the court know if you want to save some of your time for rebuttal.
Oral arguments will be limited to somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes so be sure you save time if you want to respond to what the other party says in their oral argument. You will then start your routine until you are interrupted. If this happens, stay calm and answer the questions asked as best as possible. If you do not know an answer, tell them.Remember not to discuss anything that is not in your brief or in the record.
26. **Read the opinion.** Appellate courts almost always publish an opinion after they decide a case. You or your attorney will receive a copy. In the opinion, the court should discuss why it has accepted or rejected your arguments.
27. **Consider another appeal.** If you lose, you have the option of asking the full appellate court (usually 9 or more judges) to reconsider the case. You also could appeal to the next higher court—all the way up to the Supreme Court of your state or the Supreme Court of the United States, depending on your case.
However, the highest courts (either state or federal) usually can choose to take cases and are not required to take appeals. Therefore, even if you do continue to appeal, prepare yourself for the court declining to hear your case.
It is also highly unlikely that you can get an appeal reversed. If you have been proceeding pro se, you should meet with an attorney to discuss whether a second appeal is even worthwhile.
28. **Comply with the court’s order.** If you win, the order of summary judgment will be reversed and the case will be sent back to the trial court for trial.
If you lose, then the trial court’s judgment against you will stand.
29. **Consider settling the case.** If you win your appeal, you should consider trying to negotiate a favorable settlement with the opposing party instead of proceeding to trial. The opposing party will probably be more willing to settle in a way that is favorable to you.
Additionally, even if you won your appeal, keep in mind that proceeding to trial is a risk and you could lose, regardless of whether you won the appeal or not. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Appeal-a-Judgment-Without-an-Attorney", "language": "en"} |
How to Clean a Rabbit Hutch | Rabbits are relatively clean animals, but they still need to have their hutches cleaned on a regular basis. Do a quick clean of the hutch every day to remove old food and soiled bedding. The hutch should be completely cleaned and disinfected on a weekly basis. Then your bunny will live happily in a clean and safe place.
1. **Do a quick clean of the hutch every day.** Rabbit hutches should be cleaned every day to ensure that your rabbit lives in a clean and sanitary environment. Soiled bedding material and old food can easily create an unclean hutch. Plan to take a few minutes every day to tidy up your hutch.Make sure to :
Give fresh water
Wash food/water bowls
Put in hay
Check that no accidents have happened
Sweeping up any poo that hasn't made it's way into the litter box
2. **Take your rabbit out.** Place your rabbit in a temporary holding pen, rabbit run, or another place where he/she will be safe while you clean the hutch. Be sure to give her/him some food, water, and a litter box, along with a couple of toys that they enjoy.
3. **Remove materials from the hutch.** Take out old and unwanted food. Remove soiled litter, hay, and fur from the hutch.
You can wear gloves if you want to. Place them in a garbage bag after disposal.
4. **Leave one small corner alone.** Rabbits mark their territory with scents. They can become stressed if they are reintroduced to a hutch that does not have any familiar scent. When you empty out the hutch, leave one small area untouched. Don't leave this corner untouched forever, as it may grow mould, get wee in. Maybe put a towel that smells of them.
The next time you clean the hutch, leave a different area alone. Make sure to clean the area that you skipped this time.
5. **Assess your rabbit’s health.** As you empty the hutch, use this opportunity to check your rabbit’s health by observing how much food and water is being consumed. Is your rabbit eating a good amount of food and drinking a good amount of water?Also check the quality of droppings left by your rabbit.
6. **Check the condition of the cage.** Inspect the cage for damage, holes, and other problems that might compromise the safety of your rabbit. If it is wood, make sure that they haven't chewed any of it. If it is plastic, try to see if any liquid has soaked into the plastic.
Throw out any toys that are damaged or frayed. Put some new toys in. Maybe even grab a card-board box, or loo roll tubes.
7. **Clean out the drop tray.** Many wire cages have a tray underneath that catches droppings. Dump out all material that has collected in this tray. After you have finished, make sure to put on lots of soft blankets and towels, as wire cage bottoms really hurt rabbit's feet.
8. **Replace soiled bedding material.** When you’ve finished cleaning out the hutch, replace the materials that line the bottom of the cage. Make sure there is enough material to cover the entire bottom of the hutch.
9. **Put your rabbit back into the cage.** Allow your rabbit back into the hutch. Be sure to close the hutch door securely.Maybe stay with it while it looks around again, or to see it play with some new toys.
10. **Gather your supplies.** As you prepare to clean and disinfect your rabbit’s hutch, make sure to have all your supplies on hand. You will need ready access to the following items:
Bucket
Stiff brush
Smaller brush or toothbrush for hard-to-reach spots
Vinegar spray
Gentle dish soap (friendly for animals)
Garbage bag
Gloves
11. **Plan on cleaning and disinfecting the hutch every week.** Rabbit hutches should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at least once a week. The cage floor will get soiled quickly. This can pose a health risk to your rabbit if you don’t keep it tidy and disinfected.
12. **Take your rabbit out.** Place your rabbit in a temporary holding pen, rabbit run, or another place where she/he will be safe while you clean the hutch. Be sure to give her/him some food and water, along with a couple of toys and a litter box.
13. **Remove materials from the hutch.** Take out old and unwanted food. Remove soiled litter, hay, and fur from the hutch.
Wear gloves as you remove these materials. Place them in a garbage bag for disposal.
14. **Leave one small corner alone.** Rabbits mark their territory with scents. They can become stressed if they are reintroduced to a hutch that does not have any familiar scent. When you empty out the hutch, leave one small area untouched.
The next time you clean the hutch, leave a different area alone. Make sure to clean the area that you skipped this time.
15. **Use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub the hutch.** Use warm water and gentle dish soap to scrub the hutch.
Use a smaller brush or a toothbrush to reach corners and other hard-to-reach spots in the hutch.
You can also use a pressure washer if your hutch is a steel cage. If the hutch is permanently attached to a surface, make sure the attachments are secure before turning on the pressure washer. It may work better to take the hutch down and place it on a gravel or concrete area to pressure wash it. Maybe take it outside if it is nice.
Some people use a propane torch on steel cages. This will burn away any residue from the cage. Be sure to proceed carefully if you use this method. Use oven mitts or other heavy-duty gloves, as well as goggles, when cleaning a hutch this way. Don’t use a torch if any part of the cage is wooden.
16. **Scrub the drop tray.** If your hutch has a drop tray, be sure to scrub this with a brush. Use hot water and a gentle dish soap.
17. **Don’t use chemicals to disinfect the hutch.** Stay away from Lysol and other disinfecting chemicals. These can leave residues in the hutch that are harmful to your rabbit.
18. **Choose a white vinegar solution for disinfecting.** Vinegar is a natural disinfectant, and is not harmful to people or animals. Mix up a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part warm water. Put it in a clean spray bottle. Spray vinegar directly on the hutch to disinfect it.
You can also use bleach. Be sure to use 1 part bleach to 5 parts water. Use this mixture in a well-ventilated area. Use gloves when cleaning with bleach.
Some rabbit breeders use Vanodine, which is an iodine-based disinfectant. The antiseptic betadine mixed with hydrogen peroxide is another option.
19. **Spray vinegar disinfectant on the hutch.** Use a liberal amount of disinfectant so that the hutch is completely saturated in the liquid. Let it stand for 10 minutes.
20. **Rinse the hutch thoroughly.** Use clean, cool water to rinse the hutch so that there is no residue. If there is any wood material in the hutch, it’s especially important to rinse thoroughly, since wood is porous and can absorb cleaner more readily.
Although vinegar residue is not harmful, bleach solution residue is. It’s imperative that you rinse off bleach residue completely.
21. **Let the hutch dry in the sunlight.** Sunlight will dry the hutch more quickly. It is also especially important if you use bleach to clean the hutch. The sunlight will break down any bleach residue that was left after rinsing.
Make sure the hutch is completely dry before putting things back together and reintroducing your bunny to the hutch.
22. **Clean the food and water dishes.** The feeding bowls and water bottles should be cleaned and sanitized at least once a week. Scrub them with soap and hot water. Disinfect by spraying them with vinegar.
Use a bottle brush to clean out water bottles. Some people also put these dishes in the dishwasher.
23. **Clean the bedding.** If you use bedding such as towels or blankets, be sure to wash these every week as well.
24. **Spread out fresh bedding material.** Once the hutch is fully dry, you’re ready to reassemble the living space for your rabbit. Spread fresh bedding material across the entire floor of the hutch.
Make sure to place the rabbit’s littering area in the area to which she has become accustomed.
25. **Place all accessories back in the hutch.** Place the bunny’s food dish, water dish or bottle, and toys back into the hutch.
26. **Reintroduce your rabbit to the hutch.** Once the hutch is completely ready for your rabbit, put her back in the hutch.
27. **Dispose of waste material.** Keep all waste from the rabbit cage in a garbage bag. Tie it up tightly and throw it away.
28. **Sanitize all cleaning supplies.** Be sure to clean and disinfect all supplies used to clean the hutch, including the bucket, brushes and gloves.
Let these items dry thoroughly.
29. **Wash your hands with soap and warm water.** Decrease the possibility of spreading germs by washing your hands thoroughly when you’ve finished cleaning the cage. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Rabbit-Hutch", "language": "en"} |
How to Pass a Tobacco Test | Tobacco tests are generally performed by screening for cotinine, since nicotine leaves the body fairly quickly. Cotinine usually stays in your system for about a week. You can learn to give yourself the best chance to pass these screens and stay off nicotine afterward, if you want to keep going with what you've started.
1. **Make sure the tobacco test is being performed legally.** While South Carolina is the only state that has outlawed tobacco screens entirely it's important to know that more than half the states in the United States have provisions in place that prevent employers from establishing hiring practices or incorporating punishment based on your activities outside of work, including tobacco use. If you live in one of the 29 states with these provisions in place, you don't need to submit for a tobacco screen willfully.
Click here for a state-by-state breakdown of tobacco screening laws.
2. **Understand how the screen works.** "Tobacco tests" are usually performed by screening for cotinine, and are usually some combination of mouth swabs, urinalysis, and blood testing. Cotinine is the primary metabolite of nicotine. Nicotine leaves the body in a few hours, but cotinine has a longer half-life, and is usually present for up to a week.
Cotinine has a half-life of 15 hours, meaning that half of all the trace leaves your body every 16 hours, or so. If you're a light smoker, most of it should be gone in 48 hours, depending on how much you smoke, but most tests will pick up trace amounts, especially in the mouth swab.
Cotinine tests screen for smokable as well as smokeless tobacco, including vape pens and other e-cigarettes.
3. **Stop using all kinds of tobacco at least 5-7 days before the test.** Depending on how much you smoke, there's no way of knowing how much time you'll need to be all the way in the clear, but with the right combination of techniques, you can be fairly confident that you'll pass if you stop using any kind of nicotine 3-4 days before your test for lighter smokers and up to 2 weeks for heavier smokers. Read the next section to learn how to quit for a week, or more.
If you smoke in excess of a pack a day, may need to quit smoking farther out ahead of your test. It can't ever hurt to stop earlier, if possible.
If you're a social smoker, or only smoke occasionally, just make sure you quit a few days leading up to the test and you should be fine.
4. **Flush out your system by drinking diuretics.** Any time you've got to pass a urine screen and you're worried about cutting it close, start increasing the amount of fluids you're drinking throughout the day.
Drink plain filtered water. It's good to drink as much as two liters per day, or about half a gallon, to keep your body flushing itself regularly.
Drink warm water with a little bit of lemon in it. To break it up, try warm water with garlic, leeks, or ginger to help your body eliminate fluids.
Drink herbal tea, containing ginger, dandelion root, juniper, which are believed to have natural diuretic properties.
Drink lots of natural cranberry juice. Most commercial drinks labelled "cran" something or other are really low in actual cranberry juice and high in sugar and apple. If you can, try to get real cranberry juice that's 100% cranberry for the best diuretic effect.
5. **Don't blow money on "detox" drinks.** Go to any head shop and you can find a variety of expensive beverages that all guarantee you can pass any drug or tobacco screen and keep smoking right up to the test. Read the ingredients. These drinks are usually just some combination of fruit juices and electrolytes that you'll pay an arm and a leg for, which won't be any more effective than drinks you can get for free, or for much cheaper. Use some smarts and avoid throwing money away on these drinks.
6. **Blame second-hand smoke.** If trace amounts show up on your screen, it is possible to blame a smoky bar, a smoky band practice, or other possible second-hand smoke encounters, although this may conflict with prior questionnaire information that you may have filled out in anticipation of the test.
Most cotinine screens are performed in the workplace for insurance purposes. If a trace amount showed up, you can usually get out of it pretty easily with an excuse like this.
If you smoke the day of the test, the amounts will be much higher, though, and you won't be able to blame second-hand smoke for that. You still need to quit, for a few days at least.
7. **Try tapering before you quit.** If you know about the test ahead of time, start tapering your usage as much as possible to make it through the week before the test more easily. You'll be taking it easier on your body if you use less tobacco over a period of two weeks, leading up to the test. This will also make your chances of quitting entirely much more likely.
Try smoking or using about half the amount of tobacco you normally use, each day, progressively tapering down. Start as soon as you find out about the test.
If you know about the test far enough out, start using the gum or patches as quickly as possible to address the psychological addiction as quickly as possible.
8. **Learn the ten minute delay.** If you want to smoke, just wait. Don't give in right away. Give it ten minutes, and do something else. It won't be as bad as you think, and the craving may dissipate. At the end of that ten minutes, re-evaluate your craving.
As you work to quit, keep extending that amount of time that you delay each one. The cravings will become more and more manageable, the more you can control them.
9. **Expect withdrawal symptoms.** If you're a moderate to heavy user of any type of nicotine, cutting it off abruptly will come with a variety of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Depending on your usage, they may be mild or severe, including symptoms like anxiety, sleeplessness, and headaches.
The first three days will be the worst. You'll likely feel anxious, and probably have a headache, and have some trouble sleeping. Just stay focused on getting through those first three days, and then it'll get easier.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to use nicotine replacements like patches or lozenges during the week leading up to the test, because the test will flag this cotinine in your system. You'll need to be off all nicotine completely leading put to the test.
10. **Avoid triggers, for the time being.** If you regularly have a cigarette with a cup of coffee, or during your break at work, identify those situations so you can better anticipate them and prepare for them, possibly avoiding those situations entirely, or finding a suitable replacement. Have a cup of tea instead of coffee, as an experiment for the week, or try jogging on your break.
Replace the habit, if you don't want to replace the trigger. With your cup of coffee, try chewing a cinnamon toothpick, a piece of fennel bulb, or have another healthy snack.
Don't be afraid to let yourself indulge in other areas, for the short term, while you're trying to go without nicotine. Have a snack, if you feel like it. Just don't smoke.
11. **Ease into some exercise** It probably doesn't sound as fun as a smoke, but getting some light to moderate exercise is a great way of making cigarettes seem super unattractive for the time being. You don't have to start running marathons, but taking a week to sweat instead of smoke will help make the cravings less severe.
Start out with 15-20 minutes of light exercise, like stretching or going for a brisk walk. If you feel up to it, move on to something a little more vigorous the next day, like playing basketball, playing soccer, or dialing up a 20-30 minute cardio workout on YouTube.
Exercising will also have the added benefit of workout out any aggression you might be experiencing with withdrawal symptoms, as well as help you to sleep better.
12. **Keep going with it.** You already know smoking is bad, and you don't need another person ragging on your habit. Fair enough. But since you've got to quit for a couple days anyway, a screen like this is usually the perfect opportunity to give quitting a significant shot. What have you got to lose?
Try quitting for the rest of the month, and then reevaluate when the month is up. Are you nuts for a cigarette? Or does it seem less attractive all of a sudden?
If you're trying to get a job somewhere they'll test you regularly for nicotine, that'll be like living in constant fear that the hammer might come down.
13. **Talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement therapy.** If you relapse, but really want to stay quit after your week-long experience, talk to your doctor about using nicotine replacement to help manage your cravings and stay quit. Prescriptions, including bupropion or varenicline, are available and proven to be effective. Over-the-counter nicotine gum, patches, or other nicotine supplements can also be very effective in helping to cut back or quit entirely. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Pass-a-Tobacco-Test", "language": "en"} |
How to Lead a Horse | Leading a horse is an important component of ground training—training that you do with your horse when you are standing on the ground. When you are able to lead your horse, you will have a much easier time controlling his movements, as well as tying him to a hitching rail and trailering him. Leading your horse will also help you better communicate with him. With time and patience, you will be able to successfully lead your horse and improve your relationship with him.
1. **Obtain the equipment to lead your horse.** You will need a few tools to lead your horse: halter, lead rope, gloves, and dressage whip. The halter will fit snugly yet comfortably on your horse’s head, and the lead the rope will attach to the halter. The gloves are useful to protect your hands from rope burns and/or irritation.
The dressage whip is a semi-rigid rod that is about 36 to 44 inches (91 to 110 cm) in length. The semi-rigidness will prevent the horse from experiencing painful or bothersome pokes from the whip.
Lead ropes come in different materials. Cotton lead ropes can be more forgiving on your hands (if you are not wearing gloves), but may rot or mildew if stored when wet. Polypropylene lead ropes have several advantages, including being soft and flexible and easy to grip.
Nylon lead ropes are also available.
Choose a lead rope that is about 8 to 10 feet (2 to 3 m) long.
A rope halter with a rope crown snap is useful when teaching a horse to yield to pressure. Pressure is sometimes needed when leading a horse.
Treats will also be helpful to have on hand. Examples of tasty treats include cut-up apples or carrots and horse cookies.
2. **Place the halter on your horse.** Attach your lead rope to the halter before placing it on your horse. Holding the unbuckled halter in your left hand, stand on your horse’s left side and slowly guide your right hand over his neck to guide his head toward you. With your right hand, slowly guide the halter’s nosepiece over your horse’s muzzle and the headstall over and behind his ears.
Do not poke your horse’s eyes as you are positioning the halter.
Secure the halter. Keep in mind that halters have different ways of being secured (e.g., buckles, snaps, clips).
Talk to your horse in a reassuring voice as you are placing the halter on him.
Having the lead rope already attached will give you some control if your horse tries to pull away as you put the halter on.
3. **Check the fit of the halter.** A halter that does not fit properly will create challenges when leading a horse. You should be to fit two fingers easily and snugly between your horse and the noseband. Adjust the halter accordingly if it fits too tightly or too loosely.
Your horse may signal his discomfort if the halter is too tight on his head or behind his ears.
4. **Stand on your horse’s left side.** A horse’s left side is the customary position to lead a horse. You can stand so that you are either even with your horse’s head or about halfway between his head and shoulder.
Stand about 12 inches (30 cm) away from your horse.
Leading a horse is possible from the lead (in front of your horse) or drive positions (behind your horse’s withers), but is not as safe as standing by your horse’s side.
5. **Hold the lead rope.** How you hold the lead rope is essential to safely leading your horse. Hold the lead rope with your right hand. Fold or coil the excess lead rope in your left hand.
wrap the lead rope around your hand—if your horse decides to bolt, you could get dragged by your horse and seriously injure yourself.
Keep the excess lead rope off of the ground to prevent you or your horse from tripping over it.
6. **Apply pressure with your lead rope.** An important aspect of leading your horse is teaching him how to yield his hindquarters from a standstill. To begin, face your horse’s left side. With the lead rope in your left hand, apply even pressure with the lead rope to get your horse to turn his head turns towards you.
Teaching your horse to yield his hindquarters is important because he may have the tendency to do a partial halt when being led: stopping his front legs while moving his hindquarters in a quarter circle.
A full halt is when your horse can yield both his front and hindquarters.
7. **Tap your horse’s left ankle with the dressage whip.** Hold the dressage whip in your right hand. Use gentle taps on your horse’s left ankle (inside hind leg) to coax your horse to move that leg in, forward and in front the outside hind leg.
Continue tapping until he move his inside hind leg correctly.
Your horse may not care for the tap of the dressage whip, but it will not hurt him.
Space your taps about one second apart.
When your horse can yield his hindquarters when you are on his left side, switch to his right side.
8. **Practice consistently.** Initially, your horse may kick the leg you are tapping. In addition, he may move his outside hind leg. If he moves his outside hind leg, follow his movements, but continue to tap on his inside leg. Eventually, he will stop moving the outside hind leg and move only the inside hind leg.
Keep your practice sessions relatively short—about 10 to 15 minutes.
9. **Give your horse a verbal cue to move forward.** Position yourself as when you taught him to yield his hindquarters: facing his left side with the lead rope in your left hand and the dressage whip in your right hand. As you take your first step forward, give your horse a verbal cue (e.g., a soft clucking or kissing noise).
Although you will be moving forward, you will need to face him to closely watch his forward movements.
Pick a spot about 10 feet (3 m) in front of you before starting your forward movement.
10. **Tap your horse’s hips.** Start tapping your horse’s hip with the whip after you give the verbal cue, but before your foot hits the ground. The timing of when you start tapping is important so that your horse learns to associate the verbal cue with forward movement.
Space the taps about one second apart.
Continue tapping until your horse moves forward. If he moves in any direction other than forward, follow his movements and continue tapping. Make sure not to apply any additional pressure to his halter or lead rope if he moves in the wrong direction.
Stop the tapping immediately when he begins to step forward.
11. **Say ‘whoa.** ’ This verbal cue indicates to your horse that he has walked forward to the correct location. He may not understand this cue initially, and may even continue walking past the desired location. If he does this, say ‘whoa’ again and apply backward pressure to his lead rope to encourage him to walk backward to the right spot.
It is important for you to stop tapping when he reaches the correct spot. In time, he should be able to stop according to your verbal ‘whoa,’ rather than when you stop tapping.
12. **Lead your horse through a narrow opening.** Narrow openings, such as a stall door, can be dangerous to move through with your horse. He may be reluctant to move forward because the inside of the area looks different from the outside. This reluctance may lead to bolting or extreme resistance, both of which could injure you.
To safely lead your horse through a narrow opening, it is advisable for you to walk through the opening first, then let your horse walk through when he is calm.
Make sure to quickly move to the side of the opening after you move through and before you cue your horse to move forward. This will prevent your horse from crowding you as he walks through the opening.
13. **Lead your horse through a swing gate.** A swing gate is wider than a stall door. However, you will still need to control your horse as he moves through it. While leading your horse from his left side, approach the gate with as much room as possible to open the gate. Unlatch the gate with one hand while keeping a firm hold on your horse’s lead rope with your other hand.
Open the gate widely enough for you and your horse to walk through easily. Your horse should not have to back up and reposition to get through the gate.
Make sure to swing the gate closed when you and your horse have gone through it to prevent other animals from entering through the gate.
walk in front of the horse when walking through the gate. Horses tend to move quickly through openings, and he may injure you if he moves quickly when you are in front of him.
14. **Remove the halter and lead rope.** Once you and your horse have safely moved through the opening, you can release him by removing his halter and lead rope. You should remove his lead rope before removing his halter. This will prevent your horse from rearing back and developing a bad habit of pulling on his halter.
Before removing the halter and lead rope, turn your horse so that he is facing you and the opening.
Although this may be easier said than done, do not let your horse bolt after being released. You may want to consult with your veterinarian or equine behaviorist for tips on how to keep your horse from bolting. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Lead-a-Horse", "language": "en"} |
How to Cut Wire | With the right tool and cutting technique, you can easily cut wire of all shapes and sizes. For instance, use Lineman’s pliers to cut electrical wires, or use diagonal cutting pliers for an all-purpose choice. Make sure you put on safety glasses to prevent flyaway wires. Align the wire with the cutting part of your tool, and push down with gentle but firm pressure to make your cut.
1. **Use Lineman’s pliers to splice or cut electrical wires.** Lineman’s pliers have their cutting device on the side, and they are used for many different construction and electrical jobs. If you need to grip, strip, or cut any sort of electrical wire, this is the safest choice.
Lineman’s pliers are also known as “side cutting” pliers.
2. **Select long-nose pliers if you are cutting a small-gauged wire.** Long-nose pliers have a slim, pointed end, and the ends of the pliers may be either straight or bent. These are often used to reach small wires or get into awkward places. Use these if you are cutting 8- to 24- gauge wire.
Since they have a narrow tip, long-nose pliers also work great to bend loops into wires and attach multiple wires together.
If you are cutting wire for a jewelry project or trimming guitar strings, this may be a good option.
3. **Go with diagonal cutting pliers for a standard, all-purpose option.** If you don’t have many tools but need a basic wire-cutter, this is the tool for you. Diagonal cutting pliers have a sharp, rounded tip, making them great for stripping and cutting wire. You can use these for nearly any type of wire.
Diagonal cutting pliers are also widely used for removing pins and nails as well.
If you want to cut a wire hanger, for example, this is a good option.
Diagonal pliers are also called "dikes."
4. **Try end-cutting pliers if you want to make a close cut.** End-cutting pliers have a short, stunted tip, which works great for trimming wire without taking much off the end. These work great for projects where you don’t have much wire left over or if you need to splice 2 wires close together.
You can also use end-cutting pliers to cut nails and rivets.
5. **Avoid using scissors to cut wire.** It is best to use a wire cutter or plier hand tool rather than using scissors or a blade. Even a sharp pair of scissors may not cut through wire without damaging the internal metal.
It is also easy to slip and cut yourself when cutting wire with a pair of scissors, since the blade may not grip the wire as well as a set of pliers.
6. **Wear safety glasses to protect against flyaway pieces.** While you are snipping and stripping wire, pieces of the coating or the wire can fly up and pierce your eye. To prevent this, always put on safety glasses or goggles to cover your eyes.
If you'd like, you can also wear protective gloves to prevent poking your fingers with the wires. While this is not required, it can be helpful if cutting lots of wire at the same time.
7. **Put your wire on a flat work surface so you can stand comfortably.** Place the object you are working with on a table or countertop. You want to stand comfortably without having to bend forward or backward when you make your cuts. This way, you have less chance of injuring yourself.
If you are leaning forward or backward and happen to lose your balance, you have a greater chance of hurting yourself with your tool or hitting your head.
8. **Shut down the power source if you have one before snipping any wires.** If you are cutting electrical wires, audio wires, or computer wires, be sure to power down your device before you get started. If your device is still on, you could get shocked as you make your snips, or your wires can get damaged.
For instance, if you are cutting the wires in your computer, make sure the computer is powered off before you begin.
9. **Unravel the wire from the spool if cutting new wire.** If you are cutting a fresh piece of jewelry wire, barbed wire, or electrical wire, for example, find the end of the wire and pull it off of the spool to your desired length.
This way, you can have a smaller piece of wire to size and shape as needed.
10. **Ensure your tools are clean, sharp, and in good condition.** If the blade of your tool is dull or if there is a lot of rust, the tool may not cut the wire correctly. Also, wipe down your tool with a clean cloth before you get started. If your pliers or wire cutters are dirty before you use them, this can cause you to slip up as you make the cut. If your tools are not in proper working condition, do not use them.
Additionally, apply a drop of oil to your tool every 1-3 weeks to keep them in good condition. The oil makes the hinge work better over time.
11. **Grip the handles of your tool properly and securely.** Hold the pliers in your dominant hand so your thumb sits on top of one end of the handle and your other fingers fit around the other end. This helps you control the tool when making your snips.
If you hold the tool incorrectly, you can slip when you make your cut, injuring yourself or damaging the wire.
12. **Bring the tool to your wire where you want to make your cut.** Open the handle of your tool all of the way, and place your wire at the inner snipping section of your pliers or cutters. Place the wire in your tool so the spot you want to snip is exactly centered with the tip of your tool.
The inner snipping section is slightly different depending on your tool. For instance, diagonal cutting pliers will have a diagonally-shaped blade.
13. **Make your cut at a right angle so you don’t damage the wire.** For a clean, even cut, position your tool at a right angle after you bring the tool to the wire. This way, the blade of your plier or wire cutter can easily make a clean cut.
If you do not cut the wire at a right angle, you may damage the wire and it may not work any longer.
14. **Apply force gently onto the handles to snip the wire.** When you cut wire, it’s best to slowly and gradually make your cut. Squeeze both sides of the handle together gradually so you do not use too much force. As you do this, avoid rocking your tool from side to side or bending the wire.
If you cut the wire too forcefully, the tail of the wire may fly up into the air.
If the wire does not cut entirely with 1 snip, open the handle of your tool and make another cut at a right angle. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-Wire", "language": "en"} |
How to Claim an Inheritance with No Will | When a relative dies without a will, the law of the state where that relative lived determine how the estate's assets are distributed through a process called intestate succession. Some assets, such as the proceeds of a life insurance policy or retirement account, can be distributed without going through the courts. For everything else, however, you typically must go through the probate courts to claim an inheritance without a will.
1. **Determine your state's limits.** Simplified procedures typically are available for smaller estates with assets below a certain threshold.
You typically can find out more about your state's simplified procedures by checking your state court's website. Information also is available on legal websites. For example, Nolo provides a summary of each state's law on simplified procedures for small estates at http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/probate-shortcuts-in-your-state-31020.html.
For example, California residents can take advantage of simplified procedures if the estate is valued at $150,000 or less. However, in Connecticut the estate must be worth $40,000 or less.
In some states such as New York, the value of any real estate is excluded from the limit when determining whether the estate qualifies for simplified procedures.
2. **Search for forms.** Typically the courts provide basic forms for you to fill out if the estate qualifies for simplified procedures.
You can get the forms by contacting the clerk of court in the county where the deceased person lived. Some jurisdictions also may have these forms available online.
The form requires all beneficiaries to state under oath that no will exists and no debts are owed by the deceased person. You then must list all of the deceased person's assets and propose how they will be divided among the beneficiaries of the estate.
Depending on your state, you may need to file additional affidavits or sworn statements from other individuals who are not beneficiaries to the estate.
Unlike the full legal process for which an executor must be appointed, when you use simplified procedures you typically only need the agreement of all the deceased person's beneficiaries.
3. **Consider consulting an attorney.** Although the simplified process is designed so that you don't need an attorney, you may find an attorney's assistance beneficial in preparing the initial forms.
Although no particular legal expertise is typically required to fill out the forms, an attorney can make sure they are filled out correctly and that you've included all legally required information and documents.
If you're concerned about the cost of hiring an attorney, you might look into services from your local legal aid office. If there's a law school located nearby, you also may be able to find a law school clinic that provides free or reduced-cost services.
You also could find out if there's an experienced probate attorney willing to charge you a reduced rate simply to look over your documents after you've prepared them.
4. **File your forms.** Once you've completed your forms you must file them with the probate court clerk in the county where the deceased person lived.
The court may require these forms be accompanied by certain documents, such as a death certificate or a receipt for funeral expenses.
You will have to pay a filing fee to petition with the court for simplified administration of the deceased person's estate.
The state where the deceased person was a resident has control over all aspects of the person's estate, even if he or she had property elsewhere.
5. **Receive your order from the probate court.** Provided everything is in order, a probate court judge will issue an order for the estate's assets to be distributed as you set forth in your forms.
The benefit of being able to use simplified procedures – apart from not having to deal with lengthy and complex probate court proceedings – is that assets don't have to be distributed according to your state's laws of intestate succession, which typically would govern estates when the deceased person left no will.
Some states such as Illinois allow you to file the affidavit with the death certificate and avoid probate entirely. This means estates can be settled almost immediately using the simplified procedures. Involving the courts may mean it takes a few days or even a week or two.
6. **Distribute the estate according to the order.** The order has the effect of a deed and transfers ownership of the estate's assets to the beneficiary named in your petition.
If your petition disposed of any real property, you may have to record the order at the county recorder's office with the deed for the property. Similarly, the order does not complete the full legal transfer of some other property such as vehicles, but can be used as proof of a transfer of ownership when you get new registration and tags for the vehicle you inherited.
7. **Review your state's probate law.** Each state has different procedures and requirements to distribute an estate when a person dies with no will.
You can find information about your state's law online by searching "[your state] probate law." General legal sites often have summaries of state probate law. For example, FindLaw has a directory of the probate law for all 50 states available at http://estate.findlaw.com/planning-an-estate/state-laws-estates-probate.html.
The court generally oversees the process of distributing the assets of an estate, regardless of whether the person leaves a will. However, if there is no will the state's probate law provides guidelines for who should inherit the person's assets.
Certain types of property don't have to go through probate. For example, if the person had a joint checking account with his or her spouse, all the money in that account would automatically become the property of the surviving spouse.
Likewise, funds from a life insurance policy, retirement plan, or other accounts will go directly to the named beneficiary without requiring a court process.
Other property that was held solely in the name of the deceased person must be distributed using the court probate process through intestate succession laws.
Keep in mind that if the deceased person had real property in another state, that property will be distributed according to the law of the state where the property is located.
Typically if a person dies without a will and has a surviving spouse, all of his or her property will go to that person. If there is no surviving spouse, the person's property goes to his or her children in equal shares.
If there is no surviving spouse and no surviving children, intestate succession laws can get quite complex. For example, if the deceased person's children have died but have children of their own, those children (the grandchildren of the deceased) may inherit at least a portion of what their parents would have, under certain circumstances.
8. **Choose an executor.** Your state's probate law includes a list of people who are eligible to be the executor of an estate with no will.
The state may call this person an administrator or a personal representative, but the function is the same regardless of the title.
Keep in mind, particularly if you are asked to be an executor, that the probate process can take months or even years depending on the size and complexity of the estate.
Typically, if someone dies without a will, the state appoints an executor or personal representative for the estate. Some states allow a close family member of the deceased, such as a surviving spouse or child, to request appointment.
The executor then must appear in court and be sworn in. The court gives the executor paperwork that enables him or her to legally act on the deceased person's behalf.
An executor receives any claims against the estate, pays all the estate's bills and debts, then distributes the remaining assets to the heirs.
If the person died leaving behind minor children, the court also may appoint a guardian for those children.
9. **Publish a death notice.** The first duty of the executor is to provide public notice of the person's death and the probate of his or her estate.
The death notice typically should be published in the legal notices section of the local newspaper where the deceased person lived.
In states where public notice is required, creditors or anyone else with a claim against the estate have a specified period of time – typically three or four months – to file their claim. After that, the estate is closed and no other claims against it will be accepted or paid.
10. **Consider consulting an attorney.** Because the probate process can be extremely complex and time-consuming, hiring an attorney may ensure the estate is distributed more efficiently.
An attorney also can ensure that you're complying with all the state's legal requirements and the executor's duties are being carried out correctly according to the letter of the law.
Keep in mind that attorney's fees typically are paid out of the estate, so if you are the executor you shouldn't worry that you personally can't afford attorney's fees.
If you are simply a beneficiary who believes you are entitled to an inheritance, you typically won't have any need to hire an attorney if the person died without a will. The estate will be distributed according to the law, so you would receive any inheritance to which you were legally entitled.
11. **Inventory the estate.** The executor must create an inventory of the debts and assets of the estate.
Typically this involves having real property and some personal property appraised so its value can be determined. For example, if the deceased person had antique furniture or collectible items, the executor would need to find someone with knowledge and experience in valuing those things to issue an appraisal of the value of those items.
12. **Pay the estate's bills and taxes.** Before you can claim an inheritance, the debts owed by the deceased must be paid out of the estate's assets.
Each state's probate law provides a priority list for paying the claims against an estate. Typically any estate administration costs, such as appraisal fees, court fees, and attorney's fees, are paid first.
After the estate administration and funeral costs are paid, other debts such as taxes, consumer debts and medical bills are paid.
If there aren't enough liquid assets such as cash available to pay the estate's bills, the executor typically must sell off real or personal property to cover the debts.
13. **Distribute the remainder.** After all bills and taxes are paid, any remaining assets will be distributed according to your state's intestate succession laws.
The first step in distributing the estate's assets is to identify the heirs. In many cases, a deceased person will leave behind easily identified heirs such as a surviving spouse, children, or parents.
In some cases heirs may be more difficult to find. If the executor is unable to find any heirs who are eligible to inherit under the state's probate law, ownership of the remaining assets of the deceased will transfer to the state by default.
If a close relative of yours has died without a will, you should make your presence known to the executor as soon as possible so he or she can keep you in mind when identifying possible heirs.
However, keep in mind that you can't claim an inheritance if there is someone more closely related to the deceased person, since their claim is prioritized under the law.
In many states, an heir must have survived the deceased person by several days before he or she can inherit any of the deceased person's property.
Obviously, if an heir died a few weeks after the deceased person, the inheritance would then become part of his or her estate to be distributed among his or her heirs.
Children born to unmarried parents generally can inherit from their mothers, but cannot inherit from their fathers absent some proof of relation – such as a certificate acknowledging paternity or a court order establishing paternity. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Claim-an-Inheritance-with-No-Will", "language": "en"} |
How to Teach the Present Simple Tense | In theory, the simple present tense is the easiest tense in the English language, but that doesn't mean it's simple to learn! The best thing is to start out introducing your students to an action and then work on saying it in the present tense. Then, you can talk about the different ways present tense is used. Move on to discussing how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, and finally, work on negatives and questions. Once you introduce these subjects, have your students practice them together as a class, in groups, and individually to really get the material down!
1. **Start with an action and a simple description.** Do something in front of your students that they can describe, such as picking up a book or writing on a piece of paper. Because present simple tense refers to verbs, starting with an action is an easy way to get the lesson going.
2. **Ask the students to talk about your action.** For instance, ask the students, "What did I just do?" They might say, "You picked up a book," or "You lifted that book." You can write that on the board.
You could also look at your computer or do jumping jacks. The action doesn't matter.
3. **Re-word the sentence into simple present tense.** Ask the students what the action word is in the sentence. Underline the word, and then re-write the sentence so it's in first person and simple present tense.
For example, you could underline "picked" or "lifted," and then re-write the sentences as "I pick up a book," or "I lift the book." Underline the verb again.
4. **Have students make a list of things they do every day.** Start by giving them examples of what you do, such as, "I wake up at 6 a.m. I eat breakfast at 7. I leave for school at 7:30. I start class at 8:00." Then, have the students try making a list of their daily schedule.
Emphasize that it's just an example. Obviously, some days their schedule is different, so just have them pick an example day.
5. **Explain how simple present tense is used for short actions happening now.** Talk about how the most basic use of the present tense is to describe something you're doing right now. Typically, it's only used for relatively short actions, as otherwise, you move to present perfect or present continuous, which describe longer actions in the present.
As examples, you might say, "The dog takes a nap on the patio" or "Jessica grabs the marker and hurries to the whiteboard."
6. **Look at how the simple present tense can be used to express states.** In this case, "states" refers to states of being. Even though these can and do change, explain that you use the present tense because it is happening in the present moment. "States" can be things like feelings or conditions.
Show how this is true with examples like, "John feels sad," "The cat is asleep on the couch," or "James is sick."
7. **Discuss how present simple can describe repeating actions or habits.** Because habits are continuous, you talk about them in the present. This use works best if the sentence includes a time clause.
As examples, you could use things like, "I eat apple pie regularly," or "I jog twice a week."
8. **Establish how you can discuss future scheduled events with present tense.** When discussing a future event with present tense, let your students know it's important to include the time or day for the event. Explain the reason you can use present tense with these is because you're working with the facts you have in the present on a set schedule.
For instance, you might use examples such as "The train leaves the station at 8:00 p.m. tomorrow," or "The conference begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday."
9. **Explore how simple present can establish uncertainty.** Discuss how the present tense can work to talk about uncertainty, such as wishes or hopes. The present tense works for this purpose because you are feeling these uncertainties in the present.
Some examples you could use include, "She hopes the weather is nice tomorrow," "I wish this ice cream had chocolate in it," or "They think the dog will be ready Thursday."
10. **Show how present simple tense is used for things that are always true.** Explain how present simple tense makes sense in this situation because the statement never changes. No matter when you say it, it will always be true in the present. Give examples of always true statements to help your students understand.
For instance, you could say things like, "The ocean is full of water," or "1 plus 1 equals 2."
11. **Examine how simple present is used for permanent situations.** A "permanent" situation could be something like stating where you live or your career. Discuss how this case is similar to statements that are always true. That is, because a permanent situation stays true for a long time, you state it in the present tense until it changes.
Use examples like, "I live in Connecticut," or "I am a teacher."
12. **Explore first-person singular and plural with appropriate verb usage.** Discuss how first-person singular uses "I." Talk about how most verbs take their most basic form when using first-person singular, such as "eat," "sleep," or "smile." For first-person plural, use "we," and in this case, you also use the most basic form of the noun.
For instance, you could say, "I eat apples," or "I smile at my friend." Alternatively, you could say, "We sleep after dark," or "We enjoy ice cream."
13. **Work on second-person singular and plural verb usage.** Explain that "you" can be used for both singular and plural, though you can also say "you all" for plural. In this case, you also use the most basic form of the word, such as "laugh," "jump," or "slip."
For example, you could say, "You laugh at the joke," or "You (all) jump into the pool."
14. **Explore third-person singular and how the verb changes.** Let your students know they can use "he," "she," or "it" for third-person singular or a singular noun or person's name, such as "James." For plural, work on using "they" or more than one name, such as "Jacob and Becky." Discuss how third-person singular is the one that changes the verb by adding "-s" or "-es" to the verb, such as "bounces" or "eats," but third-person plural keeps the basic form of the word.
For examples in third-person singular, you could use, "He bounces a ball," "Becky eats ice cream," or "The cat plays in the litter box." For third-person plural, try, "They eat bananas," or "Jacob and Becky jump on the trampoline."
15. **Discuss the use of the verb "to be."** "To be" is one of the most commonly used verbs, but it's also one of the most irregular, meaning it doesn't conjugate the same way as regular verbs. In simple present tense, its most often used to establish a state of being, such as "I am happy."
The conjugation for this verb is "I am," "You are," "He/she/it is," "We are," "You (all) are," and "They are."
You could write sample sentences such as "I am satisfied," "You are pretty," "She is nice," "We are fun," "You (all) are smart," or "They are funny."
While there are other irregular verbs, they follow standard patterns in the present tense, either adding "-s" or "-es" in the third person singular. For example, "to go" becomes "He goes."
16. **Have students add "not" to "to be" sentences to make them negative.** Write out positive sentences using the verb "to be" on the board and show them a few examples of how to add "not" after the verb. Then work as a class or individually to figure out how to make the rest of the sentences negative.
For instance, you could write, "I am hungry," "You are a goofy person," and "She is happy."
They would write, "I am not hungry," "You are not a goofy person," and "She is not happy."
17. **Work on adding "do" and not to action verbs to make them negative.** Do the same as you did with the verb "to be," but this time use action verbs that require adding the words "do not" or "does not." Give students examples, then have them work out sentences on their own. Note how third-person singular changes back to the basic form of the word when you add "does not" in front of it.
For example, you could write, "I eat pie," "You jump on the desk," and "He loves grammar."
To make them negative, they would write, "I do not eat pie," "You do not jump on the desk," and "He does not love grammar."
18. **Let students flip sentences around to make questions.** Give students examples of how to turn simple sentences into questions by adding "do" or "does" and flipping the word order. Then, ask them to work on the rest of the examples.
You could write, "You play the violin," "She jumps on the trampoline," and "They watch the cats," which would turn into, "Do you play the violin?" "Does she jump on the trampoline?" or "Do they watch the cats?" | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-the-Present-Simple-Tense", "language": "en"} |
How to Make a Latex Mask | Making a latex mask is a fun way to get creative when designing a costume. Begin with shaping out the form of the mask using foam, clay, and liquid latex. Then you can move onto decorating your mask! Because you are making the mask from scratch, you can create the mask exactly how you want with paint and accessories such as fake hair, glitter, or fabric. You can purchase all of the supplies that you will need to make the mask either from a craft store or online.
1. **Pick a design for your latex mask.** Before you begin creating your mask, you will need to know the general shape that you want the mask to be. You can stick to either a human head shape, or accentuate the features if you are replicating a character or fantasy being.
Some design options for your mask include a regular human face, a favorite popular culture character, or something Halloween related. For example, you could make a mask of your friend to pull a prank on them, your favorite superhero, an alien, a witch, or a scary zombie.
2. **Tape foam pieces onto a mannequin head to create the basic shape.** The foam mannequin head will be the starting point for your mask. Cut pieces of foam to the desired shape and length, and tape these on the foam mannequin head firmly to accentuate features. Around 2 pieces of tape for each foam piece will do.
It doesn't matter if the foam or tape looks messy or untidy. You won't see this in your finished product, as all that matters is the general shape. The clay that you will use next can hide any minor imperfections.
Try adding foam pieces around the ears to create bigger ears, over the nose to make it larger, or extending from the top of the mannequin to create horns.
Use foam to create only the larger features on the foam mannequin head. Smaller features can be added on later using the clay.
Duct tape is ideal as it is sturdy enough to hold the foam in place.
3. **Cover the foam mannequin head with modelling clay.** Place modelling clay over the entire foam mannequin head, making sure that all of the tape and foam pieces are covered. The clay will soften with your body heat, and it will be easily malleable.
Make sure that the modelling clay is moist enough before you start using it. Pull off a small chunk of modelling clay and roll it into a cylinder. Bend the cylinder in half. If the cylinder cracks and breaks, add more water. If the cylinder bends smoothly, then the clay is good to use.
You can leave holes around the eyes, nose, and mouth if you prefer.
4. **Shape smaller facial features with the modelling clay.** Once the whole foam mannequin head is covered, add smaller features with the clay too. Use your hands to mould the clay into pieces, and stick these to the clay on the mannequin.
Some ideas for smaller facial features that you can make with modelling clay are eyebrows, lips, and cheekbones.
5. **Smooth petroleum jelly over the clay.** Use your hands to cover every part of the clay with petroleum jelly. A thin layer will do.
The petroleum jelly will make it easier to remove the latex mask from the clay later on.
6. **Paint multiple layers of liquid latex over the clay.** Use a paintbrush to paint a layer of liquid latex over the entire mask. Then use a blow dryer to dry each layer fully before painting on the next.
Liquid latex dries relatively fast, and only takes 1-2 minutes per coat without the help of a blow dryer. The blow dryer will speed up the process to around 20 seconds. Keep it on a low setting.
The number of layers that you need depends on how thick you want your mask to be. 20 layers is an ideal starting point.
You can also use specialty mask making latex for this step, which can be found in speciality craft stores or ordered online. This latex is thicker than regular liquid latex, which means that you won’t have to do as many layers.
7. **Peel the latex mask off the mannequin head.** When you have reached your desired thickness of latex and the final layer is dry, carefully pull the latex mask away from the mannequin head. Be gentle and remove it slowly to avoid damaging the mask.
The mask should pull off the mannequin relatively easily due to the petroleum jelly.
8. **Paint a base coat onto the mask.** Pick a color that the majority of your mask will be. Use a paintbrush to cover the mask fully with the paint.
Acrylic paint tends to have the best results on latex masks.
You can either wait for the base coat to air dry, or use a blow dryer to speed up the process.
9. **Include other colors once the base coat is dry.** Add color to distinguish the features of your mask. Clean your paintbrush well in between each color to avoid ruining the lighter shades.
10. **Add decorative accessories and features to the mask.** Include all of the decorative touches that can't be done with just paint. Try fake hair, glitter, or fabrics depending on the style you are going for.
Make sure that any decorative features that you add are well secured. Glue is an ideal adhesive.
This is the stage where your mask will begin to really come to life! If you have a set plan for what you want your mask to look like, follow your design carefully with the appropriate colors. Otherwise, experiment with different colors to get creative with your mask.
There are a wide variety of different accessories that you can add to the mask. Try adding glasses, a hat, fake fur, spikes, fake teeth, or a hood.
Your local craft store will sell many different options to get you inspired to decorate your mask.
11. **Spray the mask with protective sealant spray.** Make sure all of the paint on your mask is dry. Then take your mask to a well-ventilated area and coat it with protective sealant spray.
If you don’t want to spray your mask inside your home, take it outdoors instead.
This spray will help your mask to last over the years. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Latex-Mask", "language": "en"} |
How to Make Chocolate Vanilla Cake | Many people love baking. So why not learn how to make a chocolate vanilla cake? It's tasty, it's yummy! You'll just love it.
1. **Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).**
2. **Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.**
3. **In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter.** Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally, stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
4. **Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven.** For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. The cake is done when it springs back to the touch.
5. **In a medium bowl, beat powdered sugar and butter with a spoon or electric mixer on low speed until blended.** Stir in vanilla and chocolate.
6. **Gradually beat in just enough milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable.** If the frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time. If the frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar. Frosts 13x9-inch cake generously, or fills and frosts an 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake.
7. **Cut the cake in half to fill the chocolate frosting inside.** This step is optional.
8. **Cover the whole cake with frosting.** Use a spatula.
9. **You can make the borders of the cake the way you like.** You can also make roses by moving the frosting bag in a spiral direction. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chocolate-Vanilla-Cake", "language": "en"} |
How to Malt Corn | Malting is the process of partially germinating and then drying grain to preserve its enzymes. To malt your own corn, you'll need to first steep and germinate the kernels, and then dry, kiln, and clean them. By using the right tools and sticking to a schedule, you can turn corn into malt to use for things like baking and brewing.
1. **Use a drill to drill holes in the bottom of a five gallon (20 liter) bucket.** Make sure each hole is smaller than the size of a corn kernel.
2. **Place the bucket in an urn of the same size.** Remove the lid of the urn so you can set the bucket inside. It’s OK if part of the bucket is sticking up out of the top of the urn.
3. **Fill the bucket with about four pounds (1.8 kilograms) of corn.** The corn kernels shouldn’t reach the top of the bucket as they will expand during the steeping process.
4. **Pour water into the bucket until the water is one inch higher than the corn.** You want the extra inch of water because a lot of the water will be absorbed into the corn during the steeping process.
5. **Set the urn thermostat to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius).** You want the water to remain this temperature during the entire steeping process.
6. **Let the corn steep in the water for nine hours.** Check back after nine hours and lift the bucket of corn out of the urn. Let the water in the bucket drain into the urn through the drilled holes.
7. **Let the bucket of corn rest on an elevated surface for three hours.** The rest period, called an "air rest," will help get rid of CO2 and encourage the corn to take up more water during the steeping process. When it's finished resting, place it back in the urn so it fills up with water.
8. **Alternate between steeping and resting the corn.** Your steeping schedule should look like:
First steeping: nine hours.
First air rest: three hours.
Second steeping: nine hours.
Second air rest: three hours.
Third steeping: nine hours.
Third air rest: three hours.
Fourth steeping: nine hours.
9. **Remove the bucket of corn from the urn.** Let the water drain back into the urn so only the corn is left in the bucket.
10. **Pour the corn into an eight gallon (30 liter) tray.** You can make the tray yourself out of wood or buy an aluminum tray at the store. Make sure the sides of the tray are tall enough to keep in all of the corn.
11. **Place a thermometer in the tray to monitor the temperature.** You want the temperature to be between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (22 and 28 degrees Celsius) while the corn is germinating.
If the thermometer reads too high of a temperature, move the tray to a darker, cooler place.
If the thermometer reads too low of a temperature, place a portable heater or small heat fan that allows you to adjust the temperature near the tray. Check the thermometer regularly to make sure the tray isn't overheating.
12. **Rinse and stir the corn every 12 hours while it's germinating.** This will keep the grain moist and prevent heat buildup that naturally occurs during germination.
13. **Let the corn germinate until the shoots are twice as long as the kernels.** The shoots are the long, root-looking parts of the corn that emerge during germination.
You can start the drying process once 70 to 80 percent of the corn has shoots that are twice the length of the kernels.
14. **Dry the corn in a food dehydrator to stop the germination process.** Set the food dehydrator to between 100 and 125 degrees Fahrenheit (38 to 52 degrees Celsius) and leave the corn inside to dry.
15. **Weigh the corn after several hours to check the moisture content.** You want the corn to be at 10 percent moisture before you increase the temperature in the food dehydrator. You'll know the corn is at ten percent moisture when it weighs .5 ounces (14.2 grams) less per pound (.45 kilograms) than it did before you started the malting process.
16. **Increase the temperature when the corn is at ten percent moisture.** Raise it to between 140 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit (60 to 71 degrees Celsius). The corn will be finished drying when it's between three and six percent moisture content, or when it's lost three ounces (85 grams) per pound (.45 kilograms) of its original weight. The entire drying and process can take between six to eight hours.
17. **Transfer the corn to a baking sheet and put it in the oven for four hours.** Set the oven between 176 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit (80 to 85 degrees Celsius). After four hours, the corn will be finished kilning and malting.
18. **Pour the dried malt into a pillowcase.** Tie the pillowcase shut so none of the malt can escape.
19. **Put the pillowcase in the dryer for ten minutes.** Run the dryer on the coolest setting so you don’t heat up the malt. Tumbling the malt will help remove the bitter-tasting roots and shoots of the corn.
20. **Separate the malt from the broken off roots and shoots.** You can do this by hand, or you can use a sieve to separate them more easily. The malt will look like small, dried-up corn kernels.
21. **Store your malt in a plastic container with an airtight lid.** This will prevent oxygen and moisture from damaging the malt over time. Properly stored malt is good for up to a year. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Malt-Corn", "language": "en"} |
How to Restore Old Photographs | Printed photographs are delicate items that capture valuable memories and moments in history. Oftentimes, older images are one-of-a-kind, so it can be particularly heartbreaking to discover that they have been damaged. Photographs can incur a lot of damage through years of exposure to humidity, water, sunlight, and dirt. Sometimes even storing new photographs incorrectly can result in damage. Knowing your options for restoring photographs, learning how to repair them at home, and properly storing photos afterwards can help ensure the longevity of your photographs for generations to come.
1. **Get the right equipment for digital restoration.** Purchasing a high-quality scanner and photo editing software for your home computer can help make digital restoration at home possible. Invest in a photo editing program like Photoshop and a high-quality scanner that can scan images at a high dpi, or dots per square inch. The greater the dpi, the more detail the scanner will be able to capture. A dpi of 300 is recommended for most photographs.
Make sure the glass on your scanner is as clean as possible to ensure the photo comes out clear.
2. **Scan the photograph.** Gently place the photograph in the scanner, and scan in the image at the highest resolution to capture as much detail as possible. When prompted, save the image as a TIFF instead of a JPEG. A TIFF is a larger file, but it will retain the detail and quality of the photograph. Once you have saved the image, open it in your photo editing software.
3. **Crop the image.** Use the cropping tool to remove any evidence of damage around the edges of the photograph. Edges of old photographs often curl when exposed to water or humidity. If your photograph has damage around the perimeter, cropping the image will quickly correct this problem.
4. **Correct the photograph's tone.** Repair the color, brightness, and contrast issues before attempting to change any other imperfections or signs of damage. These can be adjusted by opening editing tools in Photoshop or another photo editing software. These levels can be altered by sliding your cursor along a scale until you produce your desired effects.
Increasing the brightness level can help brighten up a dark photo, or intensifying the contrast can bring out a washed-out, faded photo.
Play with the color sliders to help remove unwanted tints.
Save each version you create under a different file name so you can compare each version later and select the best restoration.
Some photo editing programs have automatic settings you can use to fix the photos, while others require manual adjustments.
5. **Fix scratches and dust marks.** Using the Dust and Scratches filter or the Spot Healing Brush in Photoshop or a similar tool in other photo editing programs makes removing imperfections straightforward and simple. Magnify the photograph, and use the cursor to touch up the damaged marks. Work slowly and be sure to zoom out to check your progress as you work. This filter works by removing some of the details, so you will want to be sure that you are not overusing this feature.
Keep a window open of the whole photo so you can observe the changes as you make them.
6. **Fill in tears or missing portions.** If there are tears, rips, or missing sections of the photograph, you can use the Clone Stamp tool to recreate a portion of the image and fill in the damaged sections. After opening the tool, select the potion of the photo that you would like to clone or recreate and click it once. Move the cursor to the area you would like to repair with the material you just copied.
7. **Print the image.** After you have restored the photograph, use an inkjet printer or a special photo printer with glossy paper to print out your restored photograph.
8. **Clean your photographs.** If your old photograph has dirt, sand, or residue on it, you may be able to clean the image by hand. Wear rubber gloves, and gently remove the dirt with a soft brush or soft-bristled toothbrush. If there is a large amount of dirt, the photograph can be gently rinsed under lukewarm running water. Use your finger to softly wipe away dirt, but take care not scratch the photo. Let the photograph dry in a dark place where it will not be disturbed. You can clip the image on a wire with a clothespin to dry, or you can place the image face-up on a newspaper or towel.
If the photo turns red, yellow, or white while cleaning, this could be an indication that professional care is needed. The image may be too badly damaged to fix at home.
9. **Use water to separate photographs that are stuck together.** If you find a stack of photographs that have stuck together, do not pull them apart. Instead, soak them in distilled water. Photographs are coated with gelatin. When they are placed in water, the gelatin softens and the photographs can be separated more easily.
Purchase a bottle of distilled water from your local grocery store or pharmacy. Keep the water at room temperature, and pour it into a container that is large enough to submerge your photos. Place them with the image facing upward and let them soak in the water for 20 to 30 minutes. Use your fingers to gently slide the photographs apart, or use a rubber spatula to separate the images. Let them dry on a towel image-side up. Place a book or magazine along the edges so they do not curl as they dry.
10. **Remove photos that are stuck to glass with heat.** Before trying to remove the glass, be sure you make a copy of the image. You can remove the glass by heating up the image. Hold a hair dryer 4 to 5 inches away from the back of a print. After a few minutes, try to lift up one of the corners of the image, and slowly peel back the image.
11. **Fix a tear with acid-free tape.** You can secure a tear or fix a torn photograph by using an acid-free tape. Regular tape with an acidic adhesive can damage the photograph over time. Look for an archival tape or tape with an acrylic adhesive at an office supply or stationery store to repair and protect your photographs. Cut small pieces of tape and secure the tear on the back of the photograph.
12. **Use a mending strip to fix a torn photograph.** A torn photograph can also be repaired by using a strip of acid-free paper that is secured with acid-free glue. These can be purchased at an arts and crafts store or an office supply shop. Apply a small amount of the glue to the strip of paper, and press the strip over the tear on the back of the photograph. Remove any excessive glue with a cotton swab. Let the image dry face down on a towel, and place a weight, like a small book, on top of the image to prevent the edges from curling.
13. **Create a humidification chamber for photographs with curled edges.** If you have an old photograph that was rolled up or if the edges are curling, you can release the curls by placing the photo in a homemade humidification chamber. This chamber will reintroduce water into the dry, brittle photograph which will allow the curled edges to relax and release.
Fill a plastic storage bin with a couple of inches of room temperature water. Place a wire rack in the container, making sure that the top is not submerged. Place the photo on top of the rack, and close the chamber with the lid. Let it sit for several hours. Check on the photograph periodically and wipe away any beads of water on the photo. After a few hours, if the curls have relaxed, remove the photograph and let it dry face-up on a towel. Cover the image with blotting paper or parchment paper, and weigh the photograph down with a book as it dries.
14. **Seek the help of a professional.** If the photograph is heavily damaged, very old, or extremely delicate, consider having the photo professionally restored. Professionals can not only restore photographs that have been ripped, stained, or damaged by water or sunlight, but they can also digitally enhance the photo's overall quality and color. Many services are available online. A professional will assess your photo and offer you a quote depending on the damage and the amount of work required.
Most professional services will work from a digital copy of the photograph, leaving the original untouched and safe. The restored photo and the original image will be returned to you.
15. **Store photos in a climate-controlled environment.** Photographs can be damaged from exposure to water, sunlight, heat, and moisture in the air. Humidity can cause photographs to stick together, while high temperatures cause photographs to become very brittle. Store your photographs in an environment that has low humidity, is not exposed to direct sunlight, and does not experience extreme temperature fluctuations. Ideally, the temperature should be below 75° Fahrenheit.
Do not store photos in a hot attic or in a garage or basement where the images may come into contact with water. Keep your photographs in a temperature-controlled section of the house, like a bedroom or hallway closet.
16. **Keep photos in archival boxes and albums.** Archival boxes and albums provide a safe environment for your photographs that keep out humidity, pests, and dust. You can find these items from online vendors and from a stationery or office supply shop. When browsing for archival boxes or albums, be sure that they are intended for photo storage and are free from acid and PVC, or polyvinyl chloride.
Place a silica gel packet in the box to help offset any excess moisture.
17. **Properly store the photographs in a bin or album.** If an album or storage box is packed to the brim with photos, it may not close properly, leaving the photos susceptible to environmental damage. A box that is not filled enough may also cause damage to the photographs. When there are only a few items in the container, the images may slide around, causing damage to the edges. Be sure that the photographs are secure and that the storage bin can properly close. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Restore-Old-Photographs", "language": "en"} |
How to Use a Bone Folder | A bone folder is used to score, crease, and smooth paper. It plays a big role in bookbinding, card making, origami, and other paper crafts. Some bone folders are made using actual animal bones, while most others are synthetic and come in materials such as Teflon. Using one is fairly simple and it will make your card-making and book-binding exploits a whole lot easier!
1. **Place a ruler on the paper to give yourself a guideline.** Lay the paper horizontally and put the ruler in the middle of it. Make sure to hold the ruler firmly in place with one hand. Where you place the ruler is where the score will end up. The bone folder will follow the ruler, so if it’s crooked, the crease will end up that way.
A 12 in (30 cm) ruler should do the trick, but if you are working with a bigger piece of paper, use an 18 in (46 cm) ruler or something larger.
2. **Press down on the bone folder firmly as you score it.** This makes folding the paper easier because you’re creating a deep score. Make sure you don’t press too hard, as you’ll rip or damage the paper if you do so.
Unless you plan on scoring more paper, you do not need the ruler after this step.
3. **Fold the paper along the score line.** The score line creates 2 distinct sides of your paper: one with an indentation, and one with a bump. Folding into the side with the bump gives you a clean, even fold and reduces the paper’s chances of cracking. Do this gently so you don't damage the paper.
Here’s an easy way to visualize which way to fold the paper: when you make the fold, the indented side should be facing down.
4. **Flatten your paper along its score with the straight sides of the folder.** At this point, your fold will be a little rounded, so use the straight sides of the folder to press down on the paper and get a nice, sharp crease. Drag the long edge of the bone folder slowly down the paper for a crisp, professional look.
Like with the initial paper folding, be gentle with this part.
5. **Lay the origami paper on a flat surface.** Make sure the paper is smooth and lacks creases. Run your hands along the material to flatten it completely.
If you really want to be sure the origami paper is flat before you start folding it, place a book on top of the material and let it sit there for a few minutes.
6. **Cut out excess paper with scissors.** Origami is a precise art, meaning any extra paper used will just get in the way of the final design. While you most likely won’t be using the scissors to make the actual origami, it is important to have a pair on hand in case your piece of paper is too big.
It’s smarter to start with a bigger piece of origami paper anyway, as you can always pare it down to the size and shape you need for the final design.
7. **Score the folds with your bone folder for a precise finish.** Be gentle, as origami paper can rip easily if you push too hard on the folder. Go over each fold 2-3 times to make sure each part of the crease is flat.
If you are making a lot of origami, using a bone folder is the perfect way to ensure each fold is crisp and clean.
8. **Choose an authentic bone folder to make even folds.** Classic bone folders, those made from real animal bones, are still in use today. These tools are used to bind books and have a smoothness and sturdiness about them that makes them ideal for the process. Not only do authentic bone folders make even folds, they smooth out surfaces just as well.
Making even folds and smoothing out surfaces is important when gluing book cloth or decorative papers to binder’s board. Natural bone folders smooth down the fibers of paper, allowing the material to stick better.
Clean your authentic bone folder by rubbing olive oil onto it. This helps you avoid flaking or brittleness.
9. **Go with a synthetic folder so as not to leave a mark.** Synthetic folders are common nowadays because they are easy to make. Folders that come in Teflon are popular in book-making because they don’t leave a shiny mark when burnishing book cloth.
Folders made of real bone are more expensive than synthetic bone folders, but neither is very pricey. You can get a good bone folder online or at a crafts store for between 7-15 dollars.
If you have a synthetic bone folder, wash it with water after using it to keep it clean.
10. **Select a folder with 1 pointed end and 1 curved end to score and polish.** Most bone folders are 5–8 inches (13–20 cm) long and have either curved or pointed ends. The pointed ends are great for working in corners or scoring paper, while the curved side can be used to polish decorative papers.
The pointed end of a bone folder can also cut paper along creased folds to the size you want.
11. **Opt for a 5 in (13 cm) bone folder if your paper is small.** Since bone folders come in many different sizes, you don’t need to use a large one for a small project. If you are making a small greeting card, go with a 5 in (13 cm) folder to get the fold as precise as possible.
All bone folders have tapered sides, which help you make tight creases.
12. **Pick an 8 in (20 cm) bone folder for larger projects.** If you need to cut your paper or are using a large-sized piece of paper, use an 8 in (20 cm) bone folder. This will make it easier for you to score and cut the paper as efficiently as possible.
The price of a bone folder does not drastically increase if it’s a bigger size. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Bone-Folder", "language": "en"} |
How to Heal Your Chakras | Some people believe you have wheels of energy throughout the body referred to as chakras. There are seven chakras that begin near the pelvis and move up to the head. Some believe that feelings like anxiety, lethargy, and stress can be attributed to chakras that need healing. If you want to try healing your chakras, start with the root chakra. You will need to spend a lot of time healing your first chakra, as it affects the balance of the others. Then, heal your remaining six chakras through things like meditation, sound therapy, exercise, and exposure to nature.
1. **Envision the color red.** Some believe the color red is nourishing to the root chakra. To begin the healing process, try to imagine the color red. When meditating, picture red. If you have dull moments throughout the day, close your eyes and think about the color red. This may help heel your root chakra.
2. **Engage with more physical activity.** Both dance and yoga may help heal the root chakra. You can simply dance alone in your room, as no special dance routine is required to heal the root chakra. As for yoga, think about attending a yoga class or taking guided yoga courses online. Poses like tree pose and half lotus are particularly helpful for healing the root chakra.
You can continue to visualize the color red during yoga and dance. This may help with the healing process.
3. **Take a walk.** Being outdoors can help heal any chakra, but especially the root chakra. As the root chakra is found at the bottom of your body, being mindful of your steps can help. Focus on the feeling you get when your feet lift and hit the ground. Strive to be mindful of the sensations in your lower body during your walk.
If you don't have time to take long walks, try to walk more throughout the day. You could, for example, walk to work instead of taking a bus or walk to the store instead of driving.
4. **Care for your feet.** As your root chakra is associated with the bottom part of your body, caring for your feet can help keep this chakra strong. Pamper your feet a little to promote energy in your root chakra. Get a pedicure or foot massage. When you take a shower, pay extra attention to washing your feet. Try buying a special foot cream or moisturizer.
5. **Submerge yourself in water to heal your second chakra.** Some believe your second chakra responds very well to water. As negative feelings like guilt and shame can commonly affect the second chakra, water can create a cleansing sensation to help wash away these feelings. Try to submerge yourself in water to heal the second chakra.
Go for a swim at a local beach or pool.
Take a long bath. Add baking soda or sea salt for an extra soothing bath.
For the best effect, spend at least 20 minutes submerged in water.
6. **Heal the third chakra with sunshine.** Physical movement, especially outdoors, can help heal the third chakra. Spend time outdoors getting physically active. Go for walks, runs, or bike rides when the sun is out. It can be especially effective to get outdoors close to sunrise or sunset.
7. **Seek out physical contact for the fourth chakra.** The fourth chakra is related to touch and may heal via physical contact. Try to get close to others. Work on being more physically intimate via gestures like hugs or cuddling with loved ones. This may help your fourth chakra heal.
If you're uncomfortable getting physically close to other people, spend time with a pet that likes to cuddle.
8. **Use sound for your fifth chakra.** Your fifth chakra can be healed via sound therapy. Chanting, mantras, and singing can help heal your fifth chakra. You can also listen to music to help your fifth chakra heal.
9. **Practice meditation to heal your sixth chakra.** Your sixth chakra is strongly related to your dreams. Meditation routines that involve heavy visualization can help heal this chakra. Practice meditation routines that involve closing your eyes and imaging a relaxing scene, using all your senses to make the scene feel as vivid as possible.
If you struggle with visualization, try taking a class on meditation that involves visualization or find guided routines online.
10. **Opt for more intense meditation for the seventh chakra.** Intense meditation, that involves clearing the mind and focusing on the present moment, can help heal the seventh and final chakra. This involves silent meditation where you try to keep your mind as thoughtless as possible. This type of meditation can be challenging, so consider taking a meditation class or looking for guided routines online.
Meditation works best in a quiet room free of distractions. You should also make sure you wear comfortable clothing and sit in a comfortable position.
11. **Get a massage.** Chakras are associated with the body. A full body massage can help heal all your chakras. While you're in the process of healing one chakra at a time, book a massage to help speed up the process.
See if you can find a massage therapist who specializes in chakra healing massages.
12. **Invest in chakra stones.** Some new age stores sell what are known as chakra stones. These are healing crystals that represent each chakra. If you want to help speed up the healing process, try investing in a full set of chakra stones.
To use your chakra stones, you lay the stones on top of the corresponding chakra. For your root chakra, for example, you would lay the stone on your groin or feet.
Some stones, like clear quartz, can be used to heal multiple chakras.
13. **See a professional.** If you don't feel as if your chakras are healing, talk to a professional. You can find a professional energy healer online or at a new age store. Professional energy healers can help you identify which chakras need work and form a plan to get your chakras healed.
Keep in mind, however, that healing your chakras may not solve issues like depression and anxiety or physical problems like lethargy. There is very limited medical research and no thorough medical evidence to back up the idea of chakras. If you suffer from mental or physical difficulties, see a medical professional for proper evaluation. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Heal-Your-Chakras", "language": "en"} |
How to Mix Saltwater for an Aquarium | Many people keep saltwater aquariums so they can enjoy the beauty of marine fish and corals. As with other species of fish, it's important to keep the aquarium and its water clean. But you may be confused about how best to make saltwater. It's simple, though not as easy as adding table salt to tap water, which could harm your marine fish. You can mix saltwater for your aquarium by getting the necessary supplies, blending the salt and water, and checking the water conditions.
1. **Buy a high quality sea salt mix.** Fish supply stores offer two ways to get saltwater for your aquarium. One is by pre-made saltwater or getting a synthetic sea salt mix that you blend into the water. If you plan to mix your own saltwater, make sure you purchase the pre-made saltwater solution that you add to water that you supply.
Get a dry synthetic saltwater mix. These generally come in tubs of 10 or 22 kilograms or 22 or 48 pounds. You'll need a larger container for bigger aquariums and a smaller tub for smaller aquariums. Keep in mind that even if you have extra, you can use the product to mix future batches of saltwater.
Make sure you use a quality, reputable synthetic sea salt mix such as Instant Ocean or Reef Crystals. It's important to use a salt mix specific for your aquarium. If needed, discuss your needs with a professional in the store.
2. **Decide on your water source.** Just as your sea salt mix is important, so is the water for the saltwater aquarium. You can use tap water for a fish-only aquarium but need a different water source for reef aquariums. It is ideal to use a good reverse osmosis and/or deionized water (RO/ DI) for fish-only and reef aquariums.
Be aware that you should only use tap water if its quality is excellent. It should be free of petroleum, organic compounds such as animal manure, or other chemicals introduced by humans' activities. You'll also need to dechlorinate and dechlorinate tap water before you blend it with the sea salt mixture. You can get products that remove chlorine and chloramines, such as Dr.Tim's Aquatics Aqua Cleanse, at fish supply and some pet stores.
Purchase RO/ DI water at a fish or pet supply store. If you are interested, you can also purchase a system that produces RO/ DI water.
3. **Gather additional supplies.** Water and a sea salt mixture are the most important elements of blending saltwater for your aquarium. You'll need a few more supplies to ensure that the aquarium is safe for your fish and/ or corals. Make sure you have the following supplies before you start mixing your saltwater:
Clean container, preferably food grade
Submersible aquarium heater
Floating or battery-powered thermometer
Small submersible powerhead or pump for water circulation
Refractometer or hydrometer for measuring specific gravity/ salinity, which is how salty the water is
Stirring tool or a small water pump for mixing
4. **Rinse the container.** Before you fill your container with the water, make sure to rinse it with tap water. This can ensure there are no substances in the container that could contaminate your saltwater.
Avoid using any detergent when you rinse the container. These can cause harm to the life in your aquarium. When you're done, place the container next to your aquarium so it is easier to fill or refill the water.
5. **Fill the container with water.** Figure out how much water you need in your aquarium, which you can do by checking its size. Fill the container with either tap or RO/DI water in the amount that will work for your aquarium.
Avoid filling the container to the top because the salt mix will displace some of the water. Then fill the aquarium with enough of the mixed water to leave room for things such as splashing from the fish, turbulence from the filter, and other animals like snails, which lay their eggs on the top of the water.
6. **Insert the thermometer in the container.** Add your thermometer to the mixing container in a place where you can easily monitor it. This will help ensure that the temperature in the mixing container is the same as in your aquarium, which can also keep your fish and coral healthy.
Measure the temperature of your aquarium before putting it in the mixing container. Note the aquarium temperature on a piece of paper so that you don't forget it.
7. **Position the powerhead and heater in the container.** Set the powerhead and the heater near the bottom of your mixing container. This can help dissolve the salt more quickly so that you can put it in the aquarium.
Make sure the heater temperature is set to the same level as the one currently in your aquarium. The target temperatures you should have are: 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit for fish-only tanks, and 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit for those with reefs.
Look to see that the powerhead is creating some turbulence at the water's surface to maximize gas exchange. If it is not, reposition the powerhead until you see light turbulence at the surface.
8. **Add the sea salt mixture.** Now that the water is in the mixing container, it's time to add the sea salt. It's important to read the packaging instructions before you add the mixture so that you don't add too much water. Slowly add the salt mixture to your water as you stir it.
Note the manufacturers' instructions. They will direct you to use a certain number of pounds of sea salt mixture per gallon of water. You want to ultimately aim for a specific gravity of about 1.025 or a salinity of 35ppt.
Add the sea salt mixture in three separate batches. Put in the first batch and stir until it dissolves completely. Then you can add the second batch and blend until the salt dissolves. Finish by adding the third batch of sea salt and mix it until it completely dissolves.
9. **Test the specific gravity.** Once you've added the three batches of sea salt mixture, it's important to test the specific gravity of the water with the hydrometer or refractometer. This will let you know if you've added too much or too little sea salt mixture.
Watch for the salinity/ specific gravity to be between the levels of 1.020 and 1.024. If the level is below 1.020, add more salt until you reach the desired specific gravity. If the level is above 1.024, add more water until you reach the desired specific gravity.
To be safe, double check the salinity test.
10. **Let the saltwater sit overnight.** Before you add the saltwater to your aquarium, allow it to sit at least 24 hours. This can ensure that the salt is completely mixed into the water and that the water achieves proper oxygen/ carbon dioxide equilibrium.
Leave the powerhead in the container so that it can aerate the water properly. This will help the water achieve proper oxygen/ carbon dioxide equilibrium. You should also leave the thermometer in the container.
11. **Monitor the specific gravity.** After you've allowed the saltwater mixture for at least 24 hours, it's important to check the salinity/ specific gravity again. This can alert you to potential imbalances that need adjusted.
Adjust the specific gravity levels until they reach the optimal level of 1.020 to 1.024. Add more salt if they are too low and more water if they are too high.
12. **Measure your aquarium's temperature.** Just as salinity is important to the wellbeing of your fish, so is the water temperature. Once you've tested and adjusted the specific gravity, check the water temperature. It should be the same temperature as the water in your aquarium.
Keep heating it if the temperature is too low. Remove the heater and keep checking the temperature until it reaches the optimal range of 72-75 degrees Fahrenheit for fish only and 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit for reef systems.
Be aware that adding salt water at a different temperature than your aquarium will cause a change in temperature for your aquarium. This could harm the health of your fish.
13. **Pour the saltwater mixture into your tank.** When all of the water levels are optimal, you can begin adding the new saltwater to the aquarium. Make sure to add the water slowly so that it doesn't shock any fish or other life in the aquarium. Keep checking the temperature and salinity of the water to ensure the levels remain stable.
Add your fish back to the aquarium once it is filled to the appropriate level. You may want to consider double checking the salinity and temperature before adding the fish if you are concerned. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Mix-Saltwater-for-an-Aquarium", "language": "en"} |
How to Find Sand Dollars | Sand dollars are ocean creatures closely related to sea urchins. When a sand dollar passes away it might wash up onto the shore and become bleached white by the sun. To increase your odds of finding a sand dollar, scour the shallow waters of a beach during low tide. Sift through seaweed or shell piles. Venture into the dunes to look for buried and long-forgotten dollars. Keep searching and you just might find that lucky sand dollar!
1. **Shuffle your feet in the shallow water.** It’s possible that a sand dollar can be buried just below the sand, which will make it difficult to spot right away. Stand where there is just a few inches of water and gently walk back and forth. Keep your feet close to the ground and move them in a shuffling motion. Watch to see if any sand dollars appear underneath the sand.
If the water starts to get murky, you are moving your feet too fast. Slow down or you’ll lose visibility.
You might stir up various types of sea life, such as crabs, while you shuffle your feet.
2. **Look for circular depressions in the sand.** Sometimes sand dollars get pushed high up into the sand dunes, far away from the waves. Walk around the base of the dunes and watch for any spots in the sand that appear slightly raised or lowered with a circle shape. Use your hands to dig down into these spots. You may just find a stack of sea dollars underneath.
In some cases, the sand dollar may be buried 3 or more inches deep. Use a shovel to unearth it.
3. **Look at low tide.** Go online to the local beach authority’s website or grab a local newspaper. Find the listing of low and high tides times for the dates that you plan to visit the beach. Your best bet for finding sand dollars are in the minutes directly before and after low tide. This is when the ocean pulls back and extends the beach area.
For the ultimate low tide times, hit a beach when the calendar shows a full or new moon.
Most people prefer looking for shells during morning low tides. However, some argue that afternoon low tides reveal more shells if the winds pick up.
4. **Hit more secluded areas.** When the beaches get crowded, people tend to drive over, step on, or otherwise accidentally bury or damage shells. If you get up early and catch the low tide, you’ll have a better chance at getting first dibs on any available shells. This is especially important when searching for sand dollars, as they are easily broken.
5. **Sift through any washed-up seaweed.** It’s tempting to overlook the gnarly bunches of seaweed that wash up on most beaches. However, these sea grasses can actually carry and protect a sand dollar from the water to the beach. Break apart the seaweed with your hands. Sift through it until you notice any shells caught up within it.
This is an especially good tactic to use on a crowded beach, as most people will overlook piles of seaweed when searching for shells.
6. **Scour the beach after a storm.** A day or two after a hurricane or nor’easter hits, go down to the beach and look for intact sand dollars. Storms have a tendency to push large piles of seashells onto beaches. As the waves calm down post-storm, shellers can take advantage of this opportunity to find sizeable sand dollars.
Make sure to be careful and watch for other debris that may have washed up during the course of the storm.
7. **Go to a shelling hot spot.** Some beaches are widely known for the numbers or variety of shells that wash ashore. You can find these places by typing in your location or vacation destination and the phrase “shelling hot spot.” Many of these beaches have a deep ocean “drop-off” fairly near to the shore. This results in larger shells being pushed on to the beach during low tide.
For example, Sanibel Island in the Gulf of Mexico is known for exceptional shelling.
8. **Sift through piles of shells.** If you see a collection of shells sitting on the beach, squat down beside it and sift through them for a bit. It’s possible that a sand dollar might be mixed within other generic or broken shells. If you find pieces of shattered sand dollars in the pile, then keep looking for a whole one.
9. **Follow any laws or restrictions.** Most beaches have a thorough set of guidelines regarding what you can and can’t take away from that location. Look for posted signs listing the rules. Or, ask a local official, such as a park ranger, about sand dollar collection policies. You may be limited to certain number of sand dollar souvenirs. Or, you may have to collect from the beach alone, not the ocean floor.
For example, the Department of Wildlife is responsible for many of the regulations followed on U.S. beaches. You can check their official website for additional details.
10. **Bring a collection bucket.** As you walk the beach and find sand dollars, place them in a small, plastic bucket. It’s even better if the bucket has tiny holes in the bottom to drain away any excess sea water and sand. Some of the best seashell collection buckets come as a part of a kid’s sandcastle set.
11. **Respect the local wildlife.** Your goal should be to leave the beach in the same condition in which you found it and that goes for the animals, too. If you dig deep holes searching for buried sand dollars, fill them in before you leave.
If you notice a sand dollar buried near a stingray, leave it be! Stingrays like to partially bury themselves in the sand in shallow water. If you reach down to grab a sand dollar and startle a stingray, it might lash out with its barbed tail.
If you get the urge to broaden your shell search, don’t go for the shells that are currently occupied by hermit crabs or other wildlife.
12. **Leave live sand dollars alone.** There are a few ways that you can tell if a sand dollar is still alive. If the spines on the sides of the dollar are still moving around, this means it is alive. Observe the color of the sand dollar. A live sand dollar will be colorful, ranging from brown to purple. A dead sand dollar will be white and bleached by the sun. Immediately place a live sand dollar back in the water and leave it be.
If you handle a live sand dollar, it may coat your hand with a yellow substance called echinochrome. This is a natural and harmless secretion that indicates that the sand dollar is still breathing and is very much alive.
13. **Rinse them in tap water.** Place your sand dollars in a bucket or container with holes at the bottom. Add tap water and let it drain out. Repeat this process until the water runs clear out of the bucket and your sand dollars are cleaned off.
If you try to rinse them off by hand, it’s more likely that they will break under the pressure. Instead, keep them in the bucket and be very gentle as you let the water drain out.
14. **Soak them in a bleach solution.** Get a bowl and mix together 70% water and 30% bleach. Soak each sand dollar in this solution for a maximum of 5 minutes. Remove the sand dollar, place it on a clean towel, and allow it to fully dry. This step is only necessary if you’d like your sand dollars to be even whiter than they currently are.
Don’t leave a sand dollar in the solution for longer than 5 minutes or it will start to break apart due to the chemicals.
15. **Paint them with a glue solution.** In a fresh bowl, make a solution of 50% water and 50% white glue. Use a paint brush to apply this solution to one side of a clean, dry sand dollar. Place the sand dollar on a piece of wax paper and allow it to dry. Repeat the process on the other side of the dollar. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Sand-Dollars", "language": "en"} |
How to Form an LLC in Pennsylvania | A limited liability company (LLC) is a hybrid of a corporation and a partnership. If an LLC incurs debt or is sued, an owner's assets are usually exempt and cannot be taken. However, in reality, debts are often secured using the personal assets of one or more of the owners. This means personal assets are often at stake, even when you create an LLC. For example, a bank will not usually loan an LLC money unless an owner personally secures the loan, which means that person's personal assets will be at stake should the loan not be repaid. LLCs are now available in nearly every state, but each state has its own laws restricting LLC activity.
1. **Pick a name.** Think of a name that is distinctive, communicative, and projects a positive and professional image of your business. Pennsylvania law requires LLC names to include the words "Company," "Limited," or "Limited Liability Company," or an abbreviation of any of these options such as "Ltd." "LLC" or "Co."
2. **Check your name's availability.** Look online to see if your chosen LLC name has already been taken. Search your name at the Pennsylvania Department of State business name database. Type the name into the space labeled "Business Entity Name/ID," then select "Corporate name availability" in the drop-down menu.
Search similar-sounding names to make sure your business will be easily distinguished from other local LLCs. Applications for businesses with names that are too similar to existing businesses will be rejected by the state of Pennsylvania.
Call the Bureau of Corporations at (717) 787-1057 for help.
3. **Reserve your name.** When you have chosen a name, reserve it by filing a Name Reservation form (Form DSCB:15-208) with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Your reservation will hold for 120 days while you register your business. With your form, pay a filing fee of $70.
You can fill this form out online at http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Business/RegistrationForms/Documents/RegForms/15-208%20Reservation_Transfer%20of%20Reservation.pdf or print it and mail it to Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, P.O. Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722.
Use black or blue ink if you are filling the form out by hand.
Bank applications are held for six months.
4. **Determine a management structure.** Decide whether your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. A member managed LLC is run by all its members, while a manager-managed LLC also has passive investors who do not participate in the running of the business. When you file your certificate of organization, you will need to specify what your management structure is.
5. **Pick a registered office.** All Pennsylvania LLCs must appoint an individual or business entity in charge of accepting legal papers for the LLC if the LLC is sued. Your registered office must be a Pennsylvania resident or a business entity authorized to do business in Pennsylvania. This person or entity must have a physical street address in Pennsylvania. Consult the list of commercial registered office providers at the Pennsylvania Department of State website.
Your registered office must maintain regular business hours. Choose a registered office that provides mail forwarding and information shielding. If you are subpoenaed, their address will be listed rather than yours.
6. **Determine a street address.** Pick a Pennsylvania street address to receive your mail. A post office box is not valid. If you haven't rented office space, use the house of one of your members. Any Pennsylvania street or rural route box address is valid.
7. **Make an operating agreement.** Operating agreements are not required by the state of Pennsylvania, but they are extremely useful, especially if you are working with multiple members. Your operating agreement is an internal document that states what each owner's percentage of ownership is in the LLC, each member's share of profits and losses, each member's rights and responsibilities, and what will happen to the business if any member leaves.
If you are the only member of your LLC, having an operating agreement will help you maintain your LLC status if you begin to look too much like a sole proprietorship.
Search online for Pennsylvania LLC operating agreement templates. You will find ample options to compare.
8. **Get an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).** You will need to request an EIN if your LLC has more than one member, if you plan to hire any employees, or if you choose to be taxed as a corporation instead of a sole proprietorship. Get your EIN through the IRS website. There is no filing fee.
9. **Submit a Certificate of Organization.** Officially create your LLC by filing a Certificate of Organization Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form DSCB:15-8913) with the Department of State. Fill out Pennsylvania Articles of Organization online at http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Business/RegistrationForms/Documents/RegForms/15-8913%20Cert%20of%20Org-Dom%20LLC.pdf, or by printing and mail it to "Department of State, Corporation Bureau, P.O. Box 8722 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722." If you are filling out your form by hand, do so with blue or black ink.
With your certificate, send your New Entity Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A). You will need to know your EIN to complete this step.
With your certificate and statement, send a filing fee of $125.
10. **Register with the Department of Revenue.** Most Pennsylvania LLCs must file Form RCT-101 (PA Corporate Tax Report), available on the Department of Revenue website at http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Business/RegistrationForms/Documents/RegForms/15-134A%20Docketing%20statement%20creation.pdf. If you want your LLC to have employees, or sell goods and collect sales tax, you’ll need to register with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (DOR). Register online through the Revenue e-Services Center, or mail in Form PA-100.
11. **Obtain relevant business licenses.** Depending on the type of LLC you are opening, you may need additional licenses to run your business. If your business deals in food, agriculture, or pesticides and other chemicals, for example, you will need to obtain additional permits. You can find federal results on the website for Small Business Administration at https://www.sba.gov/content/what-federal-licenses-and-permits-does-your-business-need.
12. **File annual reports if you are a Professional LLC (PLLC).** Pennsylvania does not require most LLCs to file annual reports. However, PLLCs must file an annual registration with the Department of State. Forms may be found online at the Department of State website: http://www.dos.pa.gov/BUSINESSCHARITIES/BUSINESS/REGISTRATIONFORMS/Pages/default.aspx#.VpaChMArK2y. You may also receive a form by calling 717-787-1057, by visiting the DOS reception room in person, by visiting a stationary or form supplier store in Pennsylvania, or by ordering a CD for $52 dollars: http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Business/RegistrationForms/Documents/form.pdf.
The due date for annual registrations is April 15, and the filing fee is $200. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Form-an-LLC-in-Pennsylvania", "language": "en"} |
How to Train a Cockatiel to Talk | Cockatiels can make great pets and teaching them to talk can be a great way for you and your pet to bond. A talking cockatiel repeats syllables, making a robotic replication of words or noises you say to it. Your cockatiel's speech will never sound as clear as that of a parrot, but with some work you should be able to understand the words it says to you. In order to get your cockatiel to talk to you, you must first teach it to talk and then work with the bird to reinforce and expand its vocabulary.
1. **Bond with the bird first.** Human interaction is key to teaching a cockatiel to talk. While some people believe you can teach a bird to talk and tame it at the same time, this is a false belief. Instead, you need to bond with the bird and get it used to its home before talking training.
If you need some help taming a bird, your local veterinarian or pet store owner can help you, or an experienced friend can too.
2. **Make sure your cockatiel is healthy.** Make sure your bird has enough food and water, as well as enough space in its cage. Also make sure that your bird is in good physical health by taking it for veterinary checkups on a regular basis. If your cockatiel is feeling under the weather, it is less likely to want to chat with you.
3. **Make sure your cockatiel is happy.** Give it lots of attention and mental stimulation. Teaching the cockatiel to talk is part of that attention, but you also want to give it toys to play with and praise and affection whether it is talking or not. A cockatiel's brain needs to be stimulated in order for it to be happy.
Also make sure that the bird is in an environment that it likes. That way the bird will feel more comfortable when learning words.
4. **Train the bird in a quiet place.** This will allow your bird to focus on you and your words. If your bird is easily distracted you can even try talking to it while its cage is covered. This will eliminate visual distractions as well.
5. **Introduce the bird to one phrase at a time.** Keep it easy and short and use one that you say frequently, for instance the bird's name. If you want to teach it something other than its name, remember that the phrase should be simple, containing one or two words that are relatively high pitched.
Since cockatiels have high pitches voices, you may not be able to teach it words that you say in a low tone.
Use the words at the right time, such as don't teach it "Good morning" in the night when you are about to sleep, and vice versa.
6. **Focus on words that your bird "likes."** Look at the cockatiel's eyes. Are its pupils getting larger when you say a certain word? Does the bird's crest go up to indicate excitement or interest? If you see neither, you may not be teaching the bird a word it likes saying.
The cockatiel may not be repeating your phrase for other reasons too. For instance, it may be that the bird is not physically able to say it.
7. **Strengthen the behavior with positive reinforcement.** Give the bird lots of treats and attention whenever the bird says a word correctly. Depending on your birds preferences, there isn't really a "right" thing to do. Some birds may like human food better, but some may like special bird treats. What ever you do, make it positive.
8. **Repeat the phrase often and be patient.** No matter how smart your birdie is, it will not be Einstein. You must be patient, otherwise your bird will become frightened of you and you will have lost all the progress you have achieved. One single hand movement can do this, so be careful
9. **Complicate and increase the phrases you teach the cockatiel.** Once your bird has one phrase down, give it more to learn. After all, you don't want to hear just one phrase from your bird all day.
Try narrating things you do for your cockatiel. When you feed it an apple, say "want a treat?" If you do this enough, and your bird likes talking, it may start saying the phrase when it sees the treat coming.
Try whistling at your cockatiel. If you give it a simple series of notes repeatedly, it just might repeat it back to you. Be warned, however, that once a cockatiel learns how to whistle, it may choose whistling over talking. This is because whistling is easier for the bird. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Train-a-Cockatiel-to-Talk", "language": "en"} |
How to Take Care of Your Eyes | Experts recommend seeing an optometrist or ophthalmologist regularly to keep tabs on any changes in your vision and to catch any potential health issues as early as possible. In addition, there are some basic things you can do in your daily life to help keep your eyes in good shape. Research shows, for example, that eating well, getting plenty of exercise, and wearing sunglasses outdoors can all help keep your eyes healthy. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to protect your vision and avoid eye-related health problems.
1. **Visit an eye care practitioner regularly.** These are trained professionals who specialize in looking after the health of your eyes. They can be ophthalmologists (eye doctors) or optometrists. To keep your eyes in good health, have your eyes checked regularly or when you are having problems with your vision. Learn more about your eyes and ask your eye doctor questions when you have them. Learning more about your eyes and how to prevent eye diseases will help you to feel more in control of your health.
If you don't have any vision problems, you should visit an eye care practitioner every 5-10 years during your 20s and 30s.
If you don't have any vision problems, you should visit an eye care practitioner every 2-4 years between the ages of 40 and 65.
If you don't have any vision problems, you should visit an eye care practitioner every 1-2 years after the age of 65.
2. **Take your contacts out at the end of the day.** Avoid wearing contact lenses for more than 19 hours. Wearing contact lenses for too long can cause permanent vision damage as well as extreme discomfort to your eyes.
Never sleep with your contact lenses in unless your doctor specifically instructs you to do so. Your eyes need regular supplies of oxygen, and lenses block the flow of oxygen to the eyes, especially during sleep, so doctors recommend a normal break from wearing contact lenses for your eyes during the night.
Do not swim while wearing contact lenses unless you are wearing tight-fitting swimming goggles. It's better to use prescription goggles if needed. It is fine to wear contacts in the shower providing you keep your eyes closed when you are likely to get soap or shampoo in your eyes.
Follow the instructions from the manufacturer and your eye care practitioner about using the contact lenses and the solutions. One of the most important caveats is to wash your hands before handling your contact lenses.
3. **Remove your eye makeup at the end of the day.** Always take time to remove your eye makeup before you go to bed. Never go to bed with your eye makeup still on. If you go to bed with mascara or eyeliner on, it can get into your eyes and cause irritation.
Sleeping in your eye makeup can also cause the pores around your eyes to become clogged, which can lead to styes or (hordeolum) . A severe sty can require antibiotics or even need to be removed by a doctor.
Keep makeup remover pads near your bed for times when you are too tired to go through your nighttime cleansing routine.
4. **Use allergen-reducing eye drops sparingly.** Using an allergen-reducing eye drop during allergy season may help 'get the red out' and sooth itchiness, but daily use can actually make the problem worse. It can cause something called rebound redness, which results in excessive eye redness because eyes no longer respond to eye drops.
Allergen-reducing eye drops work by constricting the blood flow to the cornea, which deprives it of oxygen. So while your eyes don't feel inflamed and itchy anymore, they're actually not getting enough oxygen from blood. That's not ideal, because the eye muscles and tissues need oxygen to function. The lack of oxygen can even result in swelling and scarring.
Read the labels of eye drops carefully, especially if you wear contacts. Many eye drops cannot be used while wearing contacts. Ask your eye care practitioner what kind of eye drops are okay to use with contacts.
5. **Wear UV protective sunglasses.** Always wear sunglasses when you are outside and the sun is shining. Look for sunglasses that have a sticker that specifies that the lenses block 99% or 100% of UVB and UVA rays.
Prolonged exposure to UV rays can harm your eyesight, protection in youth can help prevent loss of eyesight in later years. Exposure to UV rays has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, pinguecula and pterygium, harmful conditions for the eyes.
Since the damage to eyes from UV rays builds up over a lifetime, it's important to shield children from harmful rays. Make sure your children wear hats and protective glasses when they are out in the sunlight for prolonged periods.
Be sure to wear sunglasses even if you're in the shade. Even though shade lessens UV and HEV exposure significantly, you're still exposing your eyes to UV rays reflected off of buildings and other structures.
Never stare directly into the sun even if you are wearing UV sunglasses. The sun’s rays are very powerful and can damage the sensitive parts of the retina if exposed to full sunlight.
6. **Wear goggles when appropriate.** Be sure to wear goggles or other protective eyewear when working with chemicals, power tools, or any place with harmful airborne particulates. Wearing goggles will help protect your eyes from any large or small objects that might hit you in the eye and cause damage.
7. **Get plenty of sleep.** Inadequate sleep may contribute to eye fatigue. Symptoms of eye fatigue include eye irritation, difficulty focusing, dryness or excessive tears, blurred or double vision, light sensitivity, or pain in the neck, shoulders, or back. Make sure that you get enough sleep every night to help prevent eye fatigue. Adults require about 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
8. **Exercise regularly.** Regular exercise can help prevent other diseases such as diabetes. By getting at least 30 minutes of exercise three times per week, you can reduce your chances of developing serious eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
9. **Place cucumber slices on your eyelids to reduce puffiness.** Press cold cucumber slices gently against eyelids for 10-15 minutes before going to sleep at night to help treat and prevent eyelid and under eye puffiness.
Green tea bags may also help prevent puffiness if applied to the eyes. Soak the tea bag in cold water for a few minutes and place over eyes for 15-20 minutes. The tannins in the tea should help reduce inflammation.
10. **Limit your time looking at a computer, tablet, and phone screens if possible.** While science hasn't yet proven that looking at computer screens causes permanent eye damage, it may cause eye strain and dry eyes. The glare from computer screens causes muscle fatigue in the eyes, either from being too bright or too dark. If you cannot limit your screen time, there are some techniques that you can use to give your eyes a break.
11. **Make sure that your eyes are level with the screen.** Looking up or down at a computer screen for long periods of time can put extra strain on your eyes. Position your computer and yourself so that you are looking straight at the screen.
12. **Remember to blink.** People blink less when they're looking at a screen, causing drier eyes. Make a conscious effort to blink every 30 seconds when you're sitting down and looking at your computer screen to combat dry eyes.
13. **Follow the 20-20-20 rule when you are working on a computer.** 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (6.1 m) away for 20 seconds. You can help yourself remember to take your breaks by setting alarms on your phone.
14. **Work in well-lit areas.** Working and reading in dim light can cause eye strain but will not damage your eyes. To make yourself more comfortable, only work and read in areas that are well lit. If your eyes feel tired, stop for a while and take a break.
15. **Eat foods that contribute to good eye health.** Vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for healthy eyes. These nutrients can help prevent cataracts, clouding of your eye lens, and even age-related macular degeneration.
Overall a good healthy, balanced diet is going to be helpful for your eyes.
16. **Eat foods that contain vitamin E.** Include seeds, nuts, wheat germ, and vegetable oils into your diet. These foods are rich in vitamin E, so incorporating some of them into your daily diet will help you to get your daily dose of vitamin E.
17. **Eat foods that contain zinc.** Include beef, pork, shellfish, peanuts, and legumes into your diet. These foods contain zinc, which is important for your eye health.
18. **Eat foods that contain vitamin C.** Include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and brussels sprouts into your diet. These foods contain vitamin C, which is important for eye health.
19. **Eat foods that contain lutein and zeaxanthin.** Eat kale, spinach, broccoli, and peas. These vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are both important nutrients for eye health.
20. **Eat carrots.** If you eat carrots, this leads to better eyesight.
21. **Eat foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids.** Eat a serving of fish that contains omega-3 fats once or twice per week, such as wild salmon or sardines. Or, if you are not a fan of fish, take a daily omega-3 supplement. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-Your-Eyes", "language": "en"} |
How to Heal a Rib Muscle Strain | Straining a rib muscle can make it hard to move around and breathe deeply without pain. A strain means the muscle has been over-stretched, pulled in an unnatural way, or partially torn. It can happen if you've reached for something, been in an accident, fallen, or if you play sports that use your upper body. You can also strain your rib muscles if you have a chronic or short-term but persistent cough. It can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to feel back to normal, so take time off from physical activities until your rib has healed completely. See a doctor if the pain is so bad that you can't sleep or have trouble breathing.
1. **Avoid straining yourself or lifting heavy objects until your rib has healed.** Doing too much activity when you’re already injured could prolong your recovery time or re-strain the muscle. Take it easy and rest as much as you can. However, don’t go on full bed-rest because long periods of inactivity could cause fluid to accumulate in your lungs.
If your work requires physical labor, your doctor can give you a note to excuse you from the work. If you can’t afford to take more than a few days off work, your boss may be able to set you up with something less physically taxing until your rib muscle is back to normal.
If you choose to lie in bed for the first day or 2, get up every hour or so and walk around for at least 5 to 10 minutes to prevent bed sores or complications from inactivity.
Get as much sleep as you can during your recovery period, since a lot of tissue repair happens while you’re sleeping.
2. **Keep your torso elevated and avoid twisting your body or reaching for things.** Moving your torso and arms can be painful with a strained rib muscle. Recline in a comfortable position with your torso slightly elevated and try to focus on your breathing.
A pulled rib muscle can take 6 to 12 weeks to fully heal, so try to rest as much as possible to avoid stretching the muscle any further.
When you go to sleep, position 2 to 3 pillows under your head and 1 under your upper back to slightly elevate your torso. This will help relieve any swelling and can make it less painful to breathe.
3. **Apply a cold pack to your ribs for 20 minutes at a time.** Wrap a bag of ice in a thin towel and hold it onto your ribs for 20 minutes at a time several times a day or as needed. Even a bag of frozen veggies wrapped in a towel will do the trick.
Avoid applying an ice pack or ice bag directly to your ribs because the excessive cold can burn your skin.
Wait at least 60 minutes between icing sessions to avoid over-icing, which reduces blood flow to the area.
4. **Use heat therapy after 48 hours to relax your muscles.** Apply a heating pad or warm towel to your ribs to help your muscles relax and ease any stiffness in your torso. Only do this after the first 2 to 4 days because applying heat too soon can increase any swelling.
Heat should only be used once the initial swelling has gone down, which can take more or less time depending on the severity of your injury.
Infrared saunas are also great for speeding up the recovery of strained muscles.
5. **Take over-the-counter painkillers to ease pain.** OTC medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen can help ease your inflamed rib muscles and any muscles around them that may be swollen to compensate. Most people should take 1 to 2 capsules every 4 to 6 hours, but read the instructions on the package to find your proper dosage depending on the formula.
Don't take 2 different types of OTC pain medications at the same time.
Talk to your doctor about taking ibuprofen or an alternative if you take blood thinners or antidepressants. Combining these drugs with ibuprofen may cause gastrointestinal or bleeding issues.
If you've ever had a stomach ulcer, heart failure, kidney failure, or liver problems, don't take naproxen.
Don't take acetaminophen if you have or have ever had liver disease.
6. **Use a cough suppressant if coughing caused your strain.** A severe or persistent cough can sometimes strain or injure the muscles around your ribs. If your strain was caused by a cough, talk to your doctor about using a cough suppressant to help prevent your strain from getting worse.
Common cough suppressants include dextromethorphan (Robitussin), benzonatate (Tessalon), and codeine (a prescription opioid).
7. **Soak in a hot Epsom salt bath after the first 48 hours.** Add 2 cups (256 grams) of Epsom salts to your hot bathwater and relax for 15 to 20 minutes. This is part of your heat therapy, so don't do it sooner than 2 days after your rib strain.
Epsom salts contain magnesium, a mineral that supports your muscle functioning.
As an alternative, fill a large mixing bowl with 1/2 cup (64 grams) of Epsom salt and 16 cups (3,800 mL) of hot water. Soak a towel in it, stirring it around to dissolve as much of the salt as possible. Lay the towel over your pulled rib muscle for 15 to 20 minutes or until the towel is no longer warm.
Try adding a few drops of lavender oil to your bath to promote relaxation and relieve pain and inflammation.
8. **Perform deep breathing exercises every hour.** Hold a pillow against your injured ribs and breathe in through your nose as slowly and as deeply as you can. Hold your breath for 3 to 4 seconds before letting it out slowly through your mouth. Repeat this sequence 5 to 10 times to complete the exercise.
Use your diaphragm to hold the air—your lower belly should noticeably rise and fall with each inhale and exhale.
It may hurt to breathe with a strained rib muscle, but prolonged periods of shallow breathing can cause other problems like an infection or pneumonia.
Some people find that the Wim Hof method, which is a type of deep breathing exercise, can help reduce pain and inflammation. Wim Hof also recommends staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, and eating protein to help your muscles heal faster.
9. **Stick to anti-inflammatory foods while you heal.** Anti-inflammatory foods can promote faster healing and reduce stress on your body. Try foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, leafy greens, beets, beans and lentils, whole grains, avocados, and green tea. Spices like ginger and turmeric are also great anti-inflammatories, as are healthy fats (like those in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils).
Avoid red meats, greasy foods, processed foods, and foods rich in refined carbs and sugars, which can promote inflammation and slow down the healing process.
Get your carbs from foods with a low glycemic index, such as beans and lentils, sweet potatoes, non-starchy fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid starchy foods like white potatoes and bread made from bleached flour.
10. **Schedule a doctor’s appointment if your pain is severe.** If the pain is so bad that you can’t rest, see your doctor as soon as you can. They may prescribe you muscle relaxants or painkillers so you can get much-needed rest and be more comfortable during your recovery.
They can also perform some non-invasive tests and tell you the severity of the strain and how long your recovery will be.
11. **Seek immediate medical care if you have trouble breathing.** If taking a single breath is so excruciatingly painful that you're only able to take shallow breaths, call an ambulance. There's a chance your rib muscle could be completely torn or you have a fractured rib.
Don't try to drive yourself to the hospital; call an ambulance or have someone else drive you.
12. **Tell your doctor about how you think the injury happened.** If you play sports or if you've been involved in a recent car accident, let them know. How it happened can give them a clue as to how severe the strain is. They'll likely examine and touch tender parts of your torso, so be prepared for that.
Any repetitive motion can strain your rib muscle, from chopping wood to painting or playing sports like golf, tennis, rowing, or baseball.
13. **Allow your doctor to test your range of motion.** To figure out the scope of your injury, your doctor may want you to lift your arms and move your torso around. You'll need to rate your level of pain on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being no pain and 10 being excruciating pain). It may be very uncomfortable, but remember to breathe through any pain.
For instance, you may be instructed to twist or bend your torso from side to side or lift your arms and cross them over your body.
Your doctor will assess your strain on a scale of 1 to 3—1 being a mild strain (2 to 3 weeks recovery time), 2 being damaged muscle fibers (2 to 3 months recovery time) and 3 being a complete muscle rupture that may require surgery.
Your doctor may opt to inject your rib area with lidocaine or corticosteroids to ease any extreme pain and swelling.
14. **Book an appointment to get a CT scan if your doctor suggests it.** A CT scan can show the doctor an image of your injured rib muscles. From this, they can decipher the severity of the sprain and recommend a course of treatment. If your doctor works in a hospital setting, they may be able to take the CT scan that same day.
You may need to avoid drinking or eating anything 3 hours before the procedure. If this is the case, your doctor will let you know beforehand.
Wear loose, comfortable, metal-free clothing to your appointment.
If you are pregnant, tell your doctor—they'll use an ultrasound or MRI machine to take an image instead.
15. **Take a muscle relaxant if your doctor prescribes one to you.** Muscle relaxants depress your nervous system, which can relieve spasms and acute, short-term pain. Take the recommended dose (usually 1 or 2 pills) 30 minutes before bed because they'll probably make you tired. The effects last anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on the dosage and strength of the prescription.
As an alternative to prescription muscle relaxants, you may be able to take 250-500 mg of magnesium citrate to help control painful muscle spasms. Talk to your doctor about whether this is a safe or effective treatment for you.
Don't drink alcohol when you're taking muscle relaxants because the combination can exacerbate any side effects (particularly drowsiness and dizziness).
Don't drive or operate any heavy machinery when you're taking muscle relaxants.
Muscle relaxants can be addictive, so talk to your doctor about alternatives if you have a history of substance abuse.
16. **Ask your doctor to refer you to a physical therapist.** A physical therapist can guide you through exercises to ease your discomfort and speed up your recovery. They can also answer any questions you have about sleeping or stretching so you can go about your day with less pain.
Refer to your healthcare plan to see if physical therapy is covered and, if so, how much. If it’s covered, you still may end up paying a co-pay for each session. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Heal-a-Rib-Muscle-Strain", "language": "en"} |
How to Lose Weight While Taking Phentermine | Over 1.9 billion people are overweight, and of those 1.9 billion, at least 600 million people are obese. Even though obesity can be tied to a variety of health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, it can be difficult for overweight and obese people to lose the extra weight. In these cases, an appetite suppressant such as phentermine can help with initial, short-term weight loss. Phentermine should not be used by those who wish to shed a few pounds for cosmetic purposes: only those struggling with obesity should use this drug.
1. **Attempt diet and exercise first.** Because of the risks of phentermine, this drug should be used only after dietary and exercise changes have been proven ineffective. Before seeking a phentermine prescription, make lifestyle adjustments to try to lose extra weight. Be sure to consult a physician before making any major changes to your diet and exercise routine to ensure that you remain safe and healthy. Some changes you might make include:
Take a 30-minute walk every morning
Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work or at home
Replace sugary drinks like soda or energy drinks with water
Replace processed snacks (such as potato chips) with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts
Drink a glass of water with every meal to help you feel full and satisfied
Eat foods with lots of fiber such as whole grains
Do 15 minutes of moderately aerobic exercise each day, such as jogging, biking, or swimming
2. **Ask your physician if a phentermine prescription is right for you.** If it is medically necessary for you to lose weight (and if diet and exercise aren't working), talk to your doctor about whether your weight loss might be assisted with the use of an appetite suppressant. Phentermine can help patients feel full for longer and resist eating unnecessary calories. Phentermine is not a magic weight loss drug: it does not work for all patients, and there are a number of risks associated with this medicine.
Furthermore, phentermine by itself will not help you lose weight, it will only decrease the apatite. It will still require self discipline to eat healthy and not overeat and to exercise in order to lose weight.
While many of the side effects are minor, others can be quite severe (such as increased blood pressure and chest pain). Never self-prescribe phentermine or try to obtain it illegally. Only take this medication under a doctor's care.
Phentermine should not be used by patients with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, substance abuse issues, or by women who are pregnant or might become pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients over the age of 65 also should not take phentermine.
Phentermine can react negatively to other medications such as MAO inhibitors, SSRIs, and weight loss drugs. Talk to your doctor about all medications, supplements, and herbs you take to make sure that you don't experience harmful side effects.
3. **Consider the risks carefully.** In addition to potential side effects, phentermine can also be habit-forming in some patients. If your health requires you to lose weight, these potential side effects might be worth the risk; however, talk to your doctor about the dangers of phentermine as well as the benefits you might experience.
There have been reports of doctors prescribing phentermine unsafely and without proper monitoring. Be sure that your doctor is reputable and forthright about the risks of phentermine before you begin taking the drug. You can do some quick research on your doctor by looking on your state's medical licensing website to find the doctor's name and credentials.
4. **Take phentermine once every morning.** Most phentermine prescriptions involve a capsule or tablet taken orally once a day. Because phentermine is a stimulant, it is generally best to take it in the mornings so that it doesn't interfere with sleep. Be sure that you follow your doctor's and pharmacist's instructions carefully. Never exceed the recommended dosage or "double-up" on your phentermine.
Taking phentermine at the same time every morning can help you remember to take it. Try to maintain a consistent schedule.
If you were prescribed time-release capsules, be sure to swallow them whole. Chewing a time-release capsule can lead to incorrect dosages and side effects.
5. **Take phentermine for three to six weeks.** Phentermine is designed for short-term use, not for permanent or long-term use. Most patients are on the drug for three to six weeks as a way to jump-start a weight-loss program. Your doctor will be monitoring you throughout this time to ensure that you are responding appropriately to the drug and that you are not experiencing side effects.
6. **Be on the lookout for side effects.** It is important that phentermine patients be aware of side effects. Pay attention to your body as you take the drug, and notify your doctor of any sudden changes that you notice. While some side effects are only minor and inconvenient, other side effects are dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
Minor to moderate side effects include dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, and diarrhea. You should notify your physician if these side effects are severe and long-lasting.
Serious side effects include heart palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, dizziness, tremors, chest pain, breathlessness, and swollen legs. Notify your doctor immediately at the first sign of these side effects.
Sometimes phentermine can enhance the effects of alcohol. Do not drive or use heavy machinery until you know how phentermine affects you, and it is a good idea to stay away from alcoholic beverages while on the drug.
7. **Store the medicine safely.** Phentermine should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. It is best not to store phentermine in the bathroom as it can become warm and moist when you bathe or shower. Make sure that phentermine is not in the reach of any children (such as in a childproofed drawer) in order to keep them safe.
8. **Recognize that phentermine requires diet and exercise to work.** Phentermine's effects tend to plateau over time, and many patients develop a resistance to the drug. This is why it is essential that you get on a stable, sustainable diet and exercise plan, even while taking the drug. A healthy diet and regular exercise can allow you to maintain your weight loss or perhaps even continue to lose weight. Phentermine will help you lose weight in those crucial first few weeks, but only diet and exercise will give you long-term success in your weight-loss journey.
9. **Consult a dietitian about a safe diet plan.** A licensed dietitian can help you adjust your diet in a way that is both safe and effective for weight loss. Ideally, your dietitian will also be able to monitor your progress to ensure that you are responding well to your new weight-loss regime. Every patient will require a different plan; however, some common weight-loss strategies include:
Meal replacements (especially for patients who struggle with portion control)
A very-low-calorie diet, often taken in liquid form, under close supervision
Lifestyle modification. This can include rather simple changes such as avoiding processed snack foods, eating lots of low-fat proteins and fresh fruits and veggies, and steering clear of alcohol, simple carbohydrates, and sugars.
10. **Measure your calorie intake carefully.** Make sure that you are sticking to your diet plan by keeping track of the calories you consume. Make a list of all the food you eat throughout the day. Using a simple online tool or phone app, you can calculate your daily calories intake. Confirm that your daily calories fit within the diet plan worked out by your dietitian and physician.
A food journal (using an app, a website, or just pen and paper) might also be useful. By recording everything you eat, you can learn to resist temptations more readily.
11. **Create an exercise plan with your physician.** Depending on your current weight and health, there are some exercises that might be safer for you to perform than others. Talk with your doctor about some of the best ways for you to integrate exercise into your life in a healthy way. Ideally your exercise plan will allow you to continue losing weight even after you discontinue your use of phentermine.
If you cannot exercise strenuously right away, consider low-impact exercise such as swimming, or even walking. You can always work your way up to more strenuous exercises such as running, jogging, or lifting weights.
12. **Talk to a behavioral specialist.** Behavioral therapy is an integral part of medical weight-loss programs. A behavioral specialist can help you stick to your diet and exercise goals. Perhaps you get tempted to eat because of television commercials, or perhaps you overeat when you are stressed out. A behavioral specialist will use cognitive behavioral therapy to retrain your mind to respond to stress and temptation in healthier, more positive ways. This will help you lose weight while on phentermine as well as after you stop taking the appetite suppressant. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Lose-Weight-with-Phentermine", "language": "en"} |
How to Get Rid of Psoriasis on Your Nails | While many people consider psoriasis to be a skin disease, it can also spread to nails, causing cracks, discoloration, and a rough texture. Nail psoriasis can be very difficult to treat, and it can take up to a year for your nails to return to normal. Fortunately, there are a wide range of treatments you can use to help strengthen and replenish your nails. Since nails with psoriasis tend to be more delicate, it is important that you take good care of your nails while undergoing treatment.
1. **Visit your primary care physician or dermatologist.** A doctor can prescribe special medications and provide injections to help treat your nail psoriasis. They can also determine if there is a fungal infection affecting the condition of your nails.
Your doctor will examine the condition of your nails. They may look for signs of nail psoriasis, such as pitting, thickened nails, gaps under the nail, and discoloration.
Your doctor may send fingernail clippings to be tested for a fungal infection. While not all nail psoriasis is affected by fungus, a fungal infection can worsen symptoms.
2. **Apply a corticosteroid ointment at night.** Your doctor may prescribe a strong steroid or recommend a weaker over-the-counter version. Apply the steroid over the entire nail before going to bed. Rub it over the nail bed, which is located under the cuticle at the bottom of the nail. Wrap your nails with plastic wrap to prevent the ointment from rubbing off in your sleep.
Do not use corticosteroids for more than 2 weeks at a time unless directed by your doctor.
3. **Apply other topical medications to your nail.** In addition to corticosteroids, your doctor may prescribe another medicated ointment, cream, or gel. Apply these once or twice a day to the affected areas of your nail. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking these medications. Topical treatments that might be used include:
Vitamin D3 derivatives
Retinoids
Anthralin
5-Fluorouracil
4. **Undergo injections on your fingers or toes.** These injections only need to be done every 4-6 weeks. Your doctor will spray a local anesthetic onto the nail. Once the area is numbed, the doctor will inject the medicine under your nail.
Your doctor may give you a medication called Triamcinolone. Biologics, like Infliximab, are also administered this way.
Always have a medical professional administer your medication.
5. **Undergo phototherapy.** Psoralen plus ultraviolet light A (PUVA) therapy works by exposing your nails to ultraviolet light. Before the procedure, your doctor will soak your hands and feet in a solution called Methoxsalen. Stick your hands or feet into the PUVA device to expose them to UVA rays.
Instead of soaking your nails, the doctor might give you a pill or apply a lotion. These are less common for nail psoriasis, however.
In some cases, you might stand in a large, full-body booth for UVA exposure. Wear the goggles provided to you by your doctor.
6. **Remove severely cracked, pitted, or discolored nails.** If your entire nail is affected by psoriasis, your doctor may remove the entire fingernail. This is done to encourage regrowth of a healthy nail. The doctor will apply a urea solution to dissolve the nail. Once it is softened, the doctor will remove the nail.
It may take up to a week for the urea treatment to dissolve the nail fully. Fortunately, this treatment is painless, and the nail may fall off on its own.
It can take 3-6 months for your nail to grow back completely after this treatment.
7. **Try systemic therapy for severe nail psoriasis.** Systemic treatment is medication that treats your entire body, not just your nails. These are usually pills or injections. If you have psoriasis on other parts of your body or if your nail psoriasis is severe, your doctor may recommend 1 of these treatments.
Examples of systemic treatments that might be used include methotrexate, retinoids, and cyclosporine.
8. **Treat a fungal infection** Nails with psoriasis may be more susceptible to fungal infections. If you have a fungal infection, your doctor will prescribe an antifungal medication, depending on the type of fungus it is. Take the medication according to the instructions on the label.
Treating the fungus will not make nail psoriasis go away, but it will prevent the nail’s condition from worsening.
9. **Soak your nails in warm, soapy water to clean them.** Avoid cleaning under your nails with a pick or cotton swab, as it can cause the nail to lift up from the bed. If you have dirt under your nails, soak the nails in warm, soapy water for 5-10 minutes. This will remove most dirt without damaging the nail.
Dry your nails afterwards by gently patting them down with a towel until they are dry.
Wash your hands in favor of using alcohol-based sanitizers when possible, as these can dry your hands and nails. Follow up with a moisturizer.
10. **Clip nails down so that they are short.** Longer nails may break or injure more easily. Keep your nails down to the finger or toe. Use nail clippers or scissors to keep them short. Try to clip your nails once every 1-2 weeks, depending on how fast they grow.
11. **Remove any hangnails as soon as you find them.** Clip off hangnails with a pair of nail clippers or scissors. Go down to the root of the hangnail, as close to the skin or nail as possible. Do not bite or pull the hangnail off.
12. **Buff the surface of the nail gently with a file.** Take an emery board, foam nail buffer, or nail file. Place it flat against the nail. Gently move it back and forth to buff your nails. File the edges of your nails so that they are smooth. Do not apply much pressure. Just try to smooth out the surface of the nail.
If you feel pain or if you nail starts to crack more, stop filing. Try again another day.
13. **Apply a moisturizer to your hands and nails daily.** Moisturizer can prevent the nails from drying out. Hand or nail moisturizers that contain oils may be especially helpful. Make sure to rub these into the nail bed near the cuticle.
14. **Avoid clipping or pushing back the cuticles.** The nail bed lies under the cuticles, and it is usually the part most affected by psoriasis. Try not to interfere with your cuticles. If you get a manicure, tell the technician that you do not want your cuticles clipped or pushed back.
15. **Apply nail polish to improve the look of the nail.** Nail polish won’t damage your nails, but it can cover up any discoloration or rough texture. Choose clear polish if you want to make your nails look smoother or healthier. Wear a colored polish to hide discoloration.
Do not wear fake or acrylic nails, as they can worsen the psoriasis on your natural nail.
If you notice your nails look dry or cracked after using nail polish, take a break. A non-acetone nail-polish remover will be gentlest on your nails.
16. **Keep your nails dry whenever possible.** While you can wash your hands or take a shower, make sure that you always dry off your hands and feet, taking special care to gently pat down the area around your nails. Damp nails can increase your risk of fungal infection.
17. **Wear gloves during chores and tasks that use your hands.** While the psoriasis is healing, your nails may be especially vulnerable to damage. Rubber or fabric gloves can help protect your nails if you’re engaged in manual activity. For example, always wear gloves when:
Washing the dishes
Working in the garden
Lifting heavy objects
Cleaning with chemicals
18. **Wear large shoes if your toenails are affected.** If you feel pain or discomfort while walking, try wearing a pair of shoes that are half a size or a full size larger than normal. This will leave more room in the toe area so that your nails are not affected.
If your toes rub up against a pair of shoes, they may start to thicken, which will worsen the psoriasis.
If your toenails are severely affected, a podiatrist may be able to prescribe you special shoes to wear. These shoes will prevent further trauma to the nail. Your primary care physician can refer you to a podiatrist.
19. **Stop biting your nails.** Biting your nails can cause more trauma to the nail, and it may worsen the appearance of psoriasis on your nail bed. If you have a nail biting habit, try to quit. Chew gum or squeeze a stress ball when you feel the urge to bite your nails.
20. **Try an autoimmune-friendly diet.** Keep your nails looking their healthiest by strengthening your immune system. Certain dietary choices, such as pursuing a low-gluten, low-dairy diet rich in vitamin D, can help improve psoriasis of the fingernails.
Because psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, avoiding foods that cause inflammation can ease symptoms.
Try to incorporate offal, such as kidneys and liver, into your diet as well as fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Psoriasis-on-Your-Nails", "language": "en"} |
How to Keep Cables from Breaking | If you’re like most people these days, you probably have a variety of portable electronic devices. This means you also have an assortment of charging cables and other small electrical cables attached to things like headphones and earbuds. As you’ve probably noticed at one time or another, these cables tend to be rather delicate and prone to breaking, especially around the points where the wires meet the plug and device connectors. We know how annoying it is to have to replace your damaged cables all the time. Luckily, there are ways you can treat your cables with more care and protect them to make them last longer.
1. **Pull cables out by the end that connects to the plug or the device.** Don’t pull your cables out by grabbing the wire somewhere in the middle, as this puts a lot more stress on the cable. Grab the hard plastic at either end, such as the USB connector that plugs into the charger block or the small bit that fits into your electronic device, and pull the cable out that way instead.
This applies to any kind of cable including phone chargers, laptop chargers, headphones, and any other kind of electrical cable.
Even sturdy cables that aren’t as prone to breaking, like electrical appliance power cords, will last longer if you unplug them by grabbing the plug head instead of the wire.
2. **Try to avoid bending or squishing your cables when they’re plugged in.** Give your cables lots of room and slack when you plug them in. Don’t squish them behind or underneath anything because the pressure and tension leads to broken cables very quickly.
For example, if you plug in your phone charger behind your bed or another piece of furniture, don’t push the headboard of the bed or the piece of furniture right up against the charger. Leave some clearance so the cable isn’t squished.
If you use an electronic device like your phone while it’s plugged into a charger, try not to use it in a position that requires you to bend or pull on the cable.
3. **Loop loose cables on top of themselves 3-4 times to transport them safely.** Coil a cable gently on top of itself 3-4 times, so it’s about 1/3 or 1/4 of its size, then tuck the ends under the loop to secure it. Don’t just squish a cable together and shove it in a bag or fold it tightly and tie the ends in a knot because this puts a lot of stress on the wires.
You can easily tuck a cable looped in this manner into a small pocket inside of your backpack or suitcase to transport it safely without damaging it.
4. **Keep your cables in a protective case when you’re not using them.** Purchase cases for your electronic devices that have pockets for the cables or buy a general electronics and cable organizing case. Loop your cables gently on top of themselves when you’re not using them and stick them into a pocket in a case to keep them safe and protected.
This will prevent accidents like accidentally rolling over your cables with an office chair or otherwise squishing, bending, and putting stress on them.
You can buy an electronics and cable organizer case online for under $15 USD. You could also look at local electronics stores.
5. **Wrap a pen spring around the end of a cable wire to prevent fraying.** Unscrew a retractable pen and take the metal spring off the ink tube. Twist the spring around the sensitive end point of a cable where the wire meets the connector.
This will help prevent fraying at the cable’s most delicate point while still keeping it flexible.
Use 2 pens springs to reinforce both sensitive ends. Put 1 where the wire connects to the charger connection and 1 where it meets the device connector side.
Keep in mind that your pen won’t work after you take the spring out, so this might not be the best option if you want to reinforce a whole bunch of cables, since you’ll be left with a bunch of non-working pens.
6. **Buy commercial cable protectors to reinforce multiple cables.** Purchase cable protectors made out of rubber or another flexible material. Twist or slip the protectors onto the ends of the wire where it meets the connectors to prevent the wire from breaking due to tension and bending.
These types of protectors look like thick rubber spirals and come in a variety of colors. You just coil them onto the cable where you want to protect it. Some other styles just have an open side that you stretch out to slip the protector over the cable.
You can use 2 protectors per cable for maximum protection. Just slide the first one all the way down the wire to where it meets the charger block. Slide another one onto the part of the wire where it meets the device connector.
You can also find fun decorative cable protectors that look like animals if you want to add some more flair to your cables.
You can buy a pack of 24 or so basic spiral-style cable protectors online for under $10 USD.
7. **Slide paracord over a cable to cover and prevent fraying on the whole wire.** Cut a piece of paracord to the length of a cable and pull out the white strand from inside the cord. Stick the narrowest end of your cable into the paracord and slide it through to the other side, so the whole wire is covered.
You can buy paracord in a variety of colors and patterns, so you can give your cables a unique appearance using this technique as well.
8. **Braid string or cord around a cable to decorate and reinforce the whole wire.** Tape 1 end of a cable down onto a table or desk in front of you. Tie colored string or cord in 2-3 tight knots around the end of the wire where it meets the connector. Braid the string or cord together like you’re braiding a bracelet around the cable.
You can do this with just 1 color or with multiple colors of string or cord. It’s totally up to you and the look you want to give your cable!
9. **Tape up cables that are starting to fray with electrical tape for a cheap fix.** Wrap electrical tape 2-3 times around the areas where a cable is starting to fray. Wrap outward from the frayed area along the cable, overlapping each wrap in a spiral pattern, another 2-3 times for added reinforcement.
You could also reinforce cables that aren’t fraying this way, but electrical tape doesn’t look pretty, so this is probably best reserved for when you want to prevent further damage to a cable. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Cables-from-Breaking", "language": "en"} |
How to Care for an Iguana | Iguanas are interesting reptiles to keep as pets. Unfortunately, iguanas are not easy to care for and will die if not taken care of properly. This is because iguanas have a variety of unique environmental and dietary needs. However, by creating a good habitat and feeding your iguana properly, you'll make sure your iguana thrives in its new home.
1. **Provide your iguana with lots of light.** To thrive, iguanas need access to certain types of light. Most importantly, iguanas need ultralight light that is in the UVB spectrum. Without this sort of light, your iguana could suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D, be unable to absorb calcium, and have other health problems.
Purchase UVB light bulbs that are specifically labelled for reptiles. Those made for reef tanks and plants don't provide enough UVB rays for your iguana. Make sure your lizard breed naturally adapted to this temperature.
While UVB light should reach the entire habitat, make sure to place a light 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) above the iguana’s basking area.
2. **Install a heat source for your iguana.** Since most climates are cooler than environments where iguanas thrive, you’ll need to install a source of heat in your iguana’s habitat. This is important, as your iguana will not thrive if it is too cold.
The coolest area of your iguana’s habitat should be between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 27 degrees Celsius).
Keep the “basking area” between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 38 degrees Celsius).
3. **Install thermostats in the habitat.** Place a thermostat in the middle and on the edge of the habitat. This way, you’ll be able to monitor the temperature in different parts of the habitat. Ultimately, this will help you make sure that the temperature and climate is right for your iguana.
4. **Create a basking area.** The basking area is an area of your iguana’s habitat where your iguana can enjoy heat and light. This area is fundamental to making your iguana happy. Without a basking area, your cage won’t simulate the iguana’s natural environment. Basking areas should have:
A large flat area for your iguana to lay.
Direct light from a UVB light.
A close proximity to a heat rock or another source of direct heat.
5. **Purchase a large cage.** Use a cage at least 8 feet by 3 feet by 6 feet (2.4 meters by .9 meters by 1.8 meters). As a rule, the larger the cage, the better. Without enough room, your iguana won’t be able to thrive and may wind up sick or depressed.
Wire cages are suitable if you live in an area that is consistently hot and humid. Otherwise, you will need a large glass tank or enclosure to make sure you can maintain your iguana's environmental conditions.
6. **Spread substrate across the bottom of the habitat.** After you pick your cage or enclosure, place substrate across the bottom of it. Use specially designed reptile carpet or flat or shredded newspaper.
Avoid bark, woodchips, treated wood, or plastic.
7. **Provide things for your iguana to climb.** Because iguanas live in heavily wooded areas, your iguana will need lots of space and different types of things to climb on. Do this by placing a variety of large branches or specially designed platforms in the habitat. In addition, provide a variety of rocks for the iguana to climb on.
Make sure any branches or structures you place in the habitat are large and strong enough to support the iguana.
Provide ramps for your iguana to climb to different levels of its habitat.
Opt for smooth/flat rocks that your iguana can comfortably lay on.
8. **Create a hiding area.** A box or cave-like area will allow your iguana to hide when it feels threatened or scared. Ultimately, a hiding area is an important part of any iguana habit. Without one, your iguana will feel vulnerable and may not thrive.
Place a small wooden box under some rocks.
9. **Place small plants in the habitat.** Small plants will help transform your iguana’s habitat into a more interesting environment that better simulates the wild. Depending on the plants you place, your iguana may eat them or hide in them. Some plants to include are:
Acacia
Aloe
Bamboo
Thistle
Jade plant
Dandelion
10. **Give your iguana vegetables.** Iguanas need greens and enjoy chopped veggies as healthy treats. Some appropriate greens include collards, mustard, dandelion, or turnip greens. In addition, your iguana will eat kale and different types of lettuce. Chopped veggie choices can include broccoli, bok choy, green beans, and squash. Ultimately, your iguana will spend a lot of time consuming vegetables.
Most lettuces, like iceberg and hearts of romaine, won’t provide enough vitamins and nutrients to sustain your iguana. Choose colorful lettuces that have more nutritional value.
11. **Provide your iguana with fruits.** In addition to leafy vegetables, your iguana will enjoy snacking on and eating a variety of fruits. Some good fruits to give your iguana include strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples, cantaloupe. Ultimately, most berries and melons will make a good addition to your iguana’s diet.
12. **Give your iguana commercially formulated iguana food.** Iguana food is often in dry pellet form. Mix iguana food with fruits and vegetables in a fruit bowl or serve them separately. Many vets recommend wetting them slightly before giving them to your iguana, as this will make it easier for your iguana to eat. Remember, though, give store-bought food only as a supplement to fruits and vegetables.
Follow the directions on the product you purchase.
13. **Buy reptile vitamin supplements.** Many iguanas don’t get all the nutrition they need in captivity. Because of this, your iguana may benefit from reptile vitamin supplements. These supplements come as powder and can be mixed with your iguana's food. They provide vitamins and minerals like calcium and vitamin D3, which are critical to your iguana’s health.
14. **Avoid relying on insects.** Iguanas are herbivores and don’t really eat meat in the wild. As a result, avoid providing them insects like crickets and mealworms that other reptiles often eat. Ultimately, too much protein could hurt your iguana.
15. **Place several large water bowls in your iguana’s habitat.** While your iguana will get most of the water it needs from its food, you should also provide several water bowls in its habitat. This way, your iguana will have access to a lot of clean and fresh water if it is thirsty. In addition, providing water bowls will help increase the humidity level of your iguana’s habitat.
16. **Do not house multiple iguanas together.** Generally, avoid housing multiple iguanas in the same cage. If you house iguanas together, they could get into a fight and injure each other.
You can house multiple iguanas in the same room or area as long as they are in separate cages.
If you are for some reason considering placing more than one iguana in a single cage, talk to your vet first.
17. **Wash your iguana’s food and water bowl.** Wash your iguana’s food bowls before placing new food in them. In addition, clean your iguana’s water bowls daily. To clean their food and water bowls, use warm water with a light dish detergent.
18. **Clean the habitat regularly.** To ensure the health and wellness of your iguana, you’ll need to clean various parts of the habitat daily. Remove spoiled food and other waste daily. Remove soiled substrate every week or so. In addition, remove broken parts of your iguana’s habitat, like branches. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-an-Iguana", "language": "en"} |
How to Write a Diary | Diaries are wonderful objects that allow you to discuss your emotions, record dreams or ideas, and reflect on daily life in a safe, private space. While there's no single, definitive way to write a diary, there are some basic tricks you can use to get the most out of your writing. If you aren't sure what to write about, using prompts like inspirational quotes can help get started on new entries.
1. **Write about the events of your day.** Think about everything that happened that day and record any highlights or feelings that stand out to you. Even if you had a pretty standard day, you might be surprised by deeper thoughts and feelings that come up as you write down details about your day.
Feel free to veer off into any topic you want as you're writing about the day's events.
For example, you could write about the English exam you took at school that day. Are you feeling good about the exam? Do you wish you had studied more? Are you nervous to receive your grade?
2. **Contemplate your goals for the future and how to achieve them.** Make a list of your short-term and long-term goals. Then, go through each item on the list and write in detail about your plan to accomplish the goal. Breaking each goal up into smaller tasks that you can work on can make your goals feel less overwhelming.
For example, you could write about short-term goals like studying for your algebra exam or hitting the gym for a cardio session.
Long-term goals would be stuff like choosing and applying to colleges or saving up money to buy a car.
3. **Jot down your current feelings or mood.** Don't worry about providing any context for your emotions, just focus on accurately describing what they are. You can then use those feelings and thoughts as prompts for creating detailed diary entries. Work on one thought or emotion at a time and explore it as fully as you can.
For example, if you're feeling sad, you can write a diary entry about why you feel that way and any events that may have contributed.
You can add a line from the lyrics of a song you are often listening to in your entry to preserve the current mood.
4. **Write down inspirational quotes and what they mean to you.** Inspirational quotes can come from anywhere—a famous person, your favorite book or movie, or even a friend or a family member. Any quote you find inspiring is a great starting point. Record the quote in your diary and note where it came from. Then, explain what it means to you in your own words.
For example, you might write down a quote like, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started," which came from Mark Twain. Write a diary entry about what this means to you and what things you need to get started on to achieve certain goals.
5. **Explore your favorite subjects or hobbies in-depth.** Make a list of topics that you love or your favorite hobbies. You might love movies, sports, food, travel, art, or fashion. The subjects can be anything you want, as long as they interest and inspire you. Then, choose one item from the list and create a diary entry about it.
For example, if you love sports, write about why you love a certain sport, your favorite teams, and personal goals you have if you play any sports yourself.
If you love painting, you could write about your favorite painters, the painting styles that speak to you the most, recent paintings you've made, and ideas for future paintings.
6. **Write the date in the corner or on the first line.** You may not write in your diary every day, so dating your entries can help you keep track of when things happened. Since you'll be writing in your diary over a long period of time, dates will also help you stay organized and provide context when you look back on your entries in the future.
If you like, you can also put the time, day of the week, and your location alongside the date.
7. **Begin each entry with a topic in mind.** Most people reach for their diary when they have something they want to get down on paper or think about. This could be anything—something that happened that day, a dream you had, future plans, an event, an idea, or strong emotion or mood you're feeling.
Once you start writing, you're free to veer off into any subject you like! But having something in mind when you start the entry can help kickstart the writing process.
8. **Open with "Dear Diary" if you want to.** This is a completely personal choice, so go with what works best and feels right for you. At first, addressing the "Diary" can feel almost like reaching out to a friend rather than simply writing or talking to yourself. You may find this helpful if you're new to journaling.
9. **Write in the first person by using "I" statements.** Diaries are very personal items, and they typically work best when you speak in the first person. In your diary, you are free to make everything about you! Many people find this aspect extremely cathartic, especially when it comes to exploring personal thoughts, emotions, and reactions.
For example, you might write something like, "I'm worried about volleyball tryouts this week. I've practiced a lot and I feel ready, but I'm so nervous I can hardly eat."
10. **Be honest** Many people find diary writing cathartic because they can let go of inhibitions on the page and truly be themselves. Feel free to record your emotions, both positive and negative, in their entirety in your diary. Remember that no one will ever see what you've written, so you can write honestly about anything. This is for your eyes only.
For example, you might write, "I feel jealous of Shaun's new car. I'm happy for him, but it seems really unfair that his parents bought him a brand new car. I'm working every day after school just to save up for a used car."
If you're afraid someone will find and read your diary, there are things you can do to prevent this. Physical diaries with locks and password-protected digital diaries are two of the most popular ways to control privacy.
Many people have epiphanies about themselves and their relationships through honest diary writing. Be open to learning about yourself as you write.
11. **Don't worry too much about grammar and spelling.** Your diary is a safe space for you to vent and share without the pressures of external judgment. Write freely and without inhibition. Being grammatically correct, proper spelling, and writing perfect phrases are not nearly as important as getting your thoughts and feelings down on the page. Jot down the first things that come to mind when considering your day, current mood, and any feelings you're struggling with.
For some people, it helps to take a few minutes at the beginning of each entry to simply free write.
12. **Use lots of details to preserve moments in time.** Diaries help you preserve thoughts and feelings as they're happening. You're also able to record events immediately after they happen when details are still fresh in your mind. Since memories can become unreliable, especially as time passes, recording precise details vividly can help you preserve moments in time exactly as they occurred.
Detailed writing isn't for everyone, so don't feel like you have to write long, wordy sentences. If you find it easier to express your emotions in short bursts or even bullet points, feel free to do that.
13. **Choose a specific time each day to write in your diary.** Many people struggle to find the time to write in their diary. Others simply forget to write. It helps to choose a specific time each day for diary writing so that you can develop the habit. Eventually, it will become second nature, but it can help to set a daily reminder on your phone until then!
For example, you might choose to write in your diary every night right before bed.
Don't set an unrealistic schedule for yourself. If writing every day seems out of reach, plan on writing entry 3 times a week instead.
14. **Keep your writing sessions short in the beginning.** You don't have to set aside a huge chunk of time every day for writing in your diary! 10-15 minutes per session is a great goal when you're just starting out. Jot down your most pressing and immediate feelings and thoughts. You can always write more later in the week when you have time!
For example, you could write a few key bullet points in your diary when you're pressed for time.
Setting an intimidating schedule for yourself could be counterproductive. You want journaling to be an outlet, not a chore, so go easy on yourself.
Pick a time to write when you don't have other obligations or time constraints.
15. **Use illustrations if you prefer drawing to writing.** Some people find if easier to convey their thoughts and emotions through drawing rather than writing. If you're more likely to stick to a schedule when drawing or sketching is involved, feel free to use that approach!
Quick drawings may also help you get down something that you want to remember but don't have time to write about. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Diary", "language": "en"} |
How to Get Rid of Fleas | Dealing with a flea infestation can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling getting rid of fleas on your pets, in your home, and around your yard. Fortunately, you can eliminate a flea infestation and stop it from returning without having to call a professional. The key is to use a variety of flea killers and preventatives and to be consistent with the treatment of your pets and home. Also, if you’ve discovered fleas on your pet, you’ll want to make sure you’re treating your home and yard as well so the infestation doesn’t come back.
1. **Get a flea shampoo that contains rosemary, eucalyptus, or citrus oil.** These natural ingredients are particularly effective at treating fleas, and they won’t irritate your pet. You can look for a shampoo with these ingredients in store, or you can ask your vet if they have a natural shampoo they recommend. Try to steer clear of shampoos that are made with insecticides, such as pyrethrins, since they can cause skin irritation for you and your pet.
Make sure you clear any flea shampoos with your vet first since some can actually be toxic to your pet. Shampoos containing cedar or tea tree oil, for example, are harmful to cats.
2. **Wash your pet starting with the head and moving downwards.** When fleas sense water, they immediately seek cover in dry, hard-to-reach places. Therefore, it's a good idea to at least wet, if not clean, your pet's ears, rectum, eye cavity, and neck before getting its entire body wet. To make sure you get all of the fleas, lather up your pet for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it off.
As you're rinsing off your pet, part its fur so you can rinse away any dead fleas or eggs.
Read the product’s packaging carefully before you get started. Some shampoos require multiple applications during one bathing period.
How frequently you wash your pet with flea shampoo will depend on whether or not the infestation returns, your pet’s breed and age, and your vet’s recommendations.
3. **Apply an apple cider vinegar spray to your pet for a natural flea preventative.** Once you’ve killed the fleas on your pet with a flea shampoo, you’ll want to use preventative measures to stop them from coming back. If you want to avoid using over-the-counter flea products that contain potentially irritating chemicals, apple cider vinegar can work by deterring fleas with its strong, unpleasant smell. Just mix equal parts water and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Then, spray your pet with the mixture, taking care to avoid its eyes, nose, and ears.
You can apply the apple cider vinegar spray whenever you notice fleas on your dog or before it goes outside.
4. **Try brushing your pet with lemon juice for another natural preventative.** If you dislike the smell of apple cider vinegar, you can help deter fleas from clinging to your pet with lemon juice instead. Like apple cider vinegar, fleas don’t like the smell and taste of lemon juice, so they’ll be less likely to bother your pet. Just dip your pet’s comb or brush in lemon juice before you brush it. You can reapply the lemon juice daily or whenever you’d normally brush your pet.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to routinely apply the lemon juice to your pet since it doesn’t actually kill fleas.
5. **Apply an over-the-counter or prescription product for maximum effectiveness.** This could be a flea-collar, a spot-on, or oral medication. Products that are sold over-the-counter can be a hit or miss, so you may want to go with a prescription strength treatment suggested by your vet to suit your pet’s particular needs. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully for any direct application product that you choose.
Collars that contain only an IGR usually aren't strong enough to keep fleas at bay. Spot-on products are less likely to cause irritation and can be more effective over time.
6. **Wash all of your bedding to kill any fleas on it.** Gather together all of your bedsheets, pillowcases, rugs, and throws. Toss them into your washing machine in batches on a warm or hot setting. Then, transfer them to the dryer on a hot setting and dry them completely. To be extra safe, you may want to repeat the washing process.
Make sure you wash and dry all of your pet's bedding as well. Even if the care tags say to wash the bedding in cold water, you'll still need to use heat since it's necessary for killing fleas and their eggs.
If the bedding is not salvageable, or if it's filled with dirt, dander, or flea eggs, throw it away and replace it.
7. **Vacuum all of the floors in your home to remove any fleas and eggs.** While your bedding is being washed, work your way through each room in your home with a vacuum. Go over all your floors, whether they're carpeted, tiled, or hardwood. You should also use your vacuum’s attachments to reach into small corners and spaces.
Before you start vacuuming, pick up any loose items on the floor so they don't get in your way.
As you move from room to room, take the vacuum’s bag or canister outside and empty it into a trashcan. This lowers the possibility of moving flea eggs or larvae around your home.
Vacuuming also helps raise the fibers of your carpet, which makes it easier for flea treatments to penetrate deep into your floors.
8. **Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on infested surfaces for a natural flea-killer.** Diatomaceous earth is a powder made up of small, crushed rocks, and it can quickly dehydrate and kill fleas and flea larvae when applied to infested surfaces. To use diatomaceous earth, sprinkle it on surfaces like carpets and floors after vacuuming and washing all of your bedding. Then, leave it for at least 3 days before vacuuming up the powder.
You should reapply diatomaceous earth once a week for 30 days to ensure you kill all of the fleas.
Make sure you use an organic, food-grade diatomaceous earth so it doesn’t contain any unnatural ingredients.
You can find food-grade diatomaceous earth online or at your local garden center.
9. **Try spraying an insecticide throughout your home if the problem persists.** Choose a product that contains both an insect growth regulator (IGR) to kill off eggs, larvae, and pupae and an adulticide to kill off adult fleas. Read and follow the package’s instructions carefully before, during, and after application. You’ll need to remove everyone, including pets, from your home for several hours after the application or until the insecticide has fully dried.
Commons IGRs are methoprene and pyriproxyfen. A common adulticide chemical is permethrin.
Insecticides in aerosol form are usually the easiest to apply by hand since they let you target problem areas.
In general, foggers aren’t very effective since they can’t be targeted and don’t penetrate deep enough into flooring.
10. **Continue to treat your home for several weeks until the fleas subside.** After washing your bedding, vacuuming, and applying flea killers to infested surfaces, you still might notice fleas in your home as new flea adults hatch and grow. That’s why it’s important to continue your treatment plan for several weeks by continuing to vacuum regularly and apply natural flea killers like diatomaceous earth.
If you’re using an insecticide, you may not need to reapply it after the initial application. Always follow the instructions that came with the insecticide, and avoid reapplying it more than recommended.
11. **Focus on treating shaded areas of your yard that your pet frequents.** Fleas thrive in dark, moist environments, and you’ll most likely find them in places where your dog likes to run around, hang out, or rest. It’s not necessary to treat your whole yard for fleas, especially parts of your yard that get a lot of sun. Fleas don’t do well in dry, sunny areas.
If you want to test your yard for fleas, try walking through it with white socks on. If you see any fleas on your socks, it's likely that parts of your yard are infested.
12. **Remove any debris in your yard that could trap moisture and provide shade.** This includes fallen branches or leaves, piles of grass clippings, or any tools or equipment lying around. By clearing out debris, you’ll give the fleas fewer places to thrive.
13. **Spray your yard with an insecticide to kill any fleas in it.** Look for an insecticide that is designed for outdoor conditions and contains both an adulticide and an insect growth regulator, which will prevent flea eggs from hatching and larvae from growing for several months. Most outdoor formulations can be attached to your hose and then sprayed over infested areas. You should only need to apply the insecticide to shaded areas that your pet runs through or lies down in, or to dark areas that have a lot of moisture. Follow the application instructions carefully and repeat the application as necessary.
You’ll need to stay off of your yard for a set period of time after the application.
You may need to apply the insecticide when it's dry outside since water can dilute its effectiveness. If you're not sure, read the instructions that came with your insecticide.
14. **Call a professional exterminator if you want help applying an insecticide.** If you aren’t comfortable applying pesticides to your yard, consider reaching out to a professional. Contact your local Better Business Bureau for recommendations. Before anyone comes out to treat your home, make sure you know what type of treatment you’ll get and how much it will cost.
15. **Use cedar chips in your yard to help prevent fleas from coming back.** Fleas dislike the smell of cedar chips, so incorporating them into your landscaping can work as an extra line of defense. Try spreading some cedar chips around the shrubs and trees in your yard, or use them along any pathways.
You can find cedar chips online or at your local garden center or department store. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Fleas", "language": "en"} |
How to Paint Over a Chrome Surface | It is difficult to paint over a chrome surface since one of the inherent qualities of chrome is a smooth and slippery finish. However, using specialized paints and the right chrome painting techniques can make painting over chrome a much easier task.
1. **Know that chrome can have a number of negative impacts on your health.** Depending on whether it is inhaled or absorbed through the skin, Chromium can cause irritation to the throat, nose, skin, and eyes, with the possibility of eye damage. It can create symptoms similar to influenza, asthma, and allergies, as well as the possibility of lung cancer with airborne contact.
In addition to chrome, any primer you use likely has the potential to cause not only the same issues above, but also have chronic negative effects on the liver, cardiovascular, reproductive, and urinary systems.
2. **Set up your work space in an adequately ventilated area.** This will decrease the likelihood of any sickness via inhalation of hazardous materials. More often than not, repair work like this is performed on a garage. This allows fresh air to enter easily and replace any fumes, dusts, or vapors that could bring you harm.
Keeping your paints and primers closed in their containers while not in use will help maintain a clean atmosphere and limit your exposure to hazardous chemicals.
3. **Wear long pants and long sleeves, in addition to an apron.** This should protect your skin from any contact with the chromium and/or primer. Another option is coveralls. A favorite of those who work in metal shops and auto repair, these are the onesies of safety and provide ample coverage of your appendages and torso.
4. **Put on gloves and closed toed shoes to ensure the safety of your hands and feet.** Since you will be working with corrosive substances, gloves made of thin plastic will not suffice. It is therefore recommended to use gloves made of P.V.C, rubber, or neoprene. As for footwear, there are a number of chemical resistant shoes available online. However, since you will not be handling any of the materials with your feet, it's really most important to just find something that completely covers your skin.
5. **Wear goggles, a shield or another protective device to prevent eye exposure.** If you choose to use an electric sander, this will guard the soft tissue of your eye from any flying debris. It will also block any splashes of paint, primer, and fumes wafting from these substances. Although it is common to simply wear glasses that rest on the ears, it is advisable to use goggles while working with chemicals. This way you have a tight film around the entire eye, and gaseous particles cannot cause you any harm.
6. **Use a proper face mask to avoid all respiratory issues and internal tissue irritation.** It is preferable to select a respirator that conforms to OSHA standards. This will filter out any particles in your paint of primer that could lead to infections of the lungs. Particulate respirators like the N-95 - common to hospitals - are simple and widely available, but insufficient. It is necessary to get something that protects not just from particles but from chemicals, gases, and vapors.
7. **Wash the chrome with soap and water until it is thoroughly cleaned.** Wipe the surface with a dry, bleached cloth and then wait until it is fully dry. This is done before sanding to eliminate the possibility of impressing any foreign particles into the metal and contaminating your work. Using a bleached cloth maintains as close to a sterile environment as possible, which will lead to a better-finished product.
You can also use bleach wipes for the same results!
8. **Hammer out any unwanted bends or dents using a body hammer.** This must be done before any paint is applied, as hammering later on would damage the coat of paint. If you are working with any metal that has an exterior and interior side, you will always hammer the interior side. So remove any parts that may be blocking access to the interior side. Place a hard material against the exterior surface and hammer out the dent, pressing against the hard material. Move slowly and work around the dent's perimeter towards the center.
Once the dent is hammered out, place your hard material on the interior side. Then lightly hammer the area surrounding your dent to remove any peaks in the metal.
9. **Use a media blaster to clean your parts.** A blasting gun uses pressurized air to send tiny particles (usually plastic beads, ground-up walnut shells, glass beads, and aluminum oxide) to strip paint from base material, as well as smoothing out very durable metals.
In order to contain the mess of media blasters, it is recommended to use a blasting cabinet. This will decrease the size of your work space, but also maintains cleanliness.
In addition to the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) already in use, it is safest to use some form of ear protection with media blasters as they create a loud noise and could cause hearing damage/problems.
10. **Sand the chrome exterior using sandpaper.** Start with a grit less than 160 to remove a majority of the particles. Afterwards, use 320 grit sandpaper to remove any marks left by the first round, and give a smoother finish.
Sandpaper is easier to acquire than a blasting gun, but depending on the size and makeup of the chrome surface, it can be the most difficult procedure.
Note that with sanding it is important to be careful and use an equal amount of time and pressure over the entire surface to ensure an even result. This will create an ideal surface where the paint will stick more easily, and course texture won't show through the paint.
11. **Wipe down the chrome pieces to remove any dust and excess particles from the surface.** Spray down the parts with wax and grease remover. It is easiest to use an atomizer bottle to coat all surfaces. Use clean, bleached rags to wipe everything off.
12. **Guard your workspace from unintended painting.** Cover surfaces like trim, windows, and floors with drop cloth. The drop cloth is suitable for painting since it absorbs paint easily and allows for smooth painting.
At this point it is safest to clear the floor of any potential tripping hazard that could catch on the sprayer hose.
13. **Mix your primer and strain it to prevent any clogs in the spray gun's tip and internal filters.** Wooden sticks are commonly provided with purchased paint and work well with mixing. To strain, use a scrap window screen or an old pair of panty hose. This will remove any foreign particles or lumps and guarantee a smooth coat.
Use a Two-Part Epoxy Primer as they are waterproof, resist corrosion, and offer the best level of adhesion for metal and industrial painting.
14. **Hang or position any pieces to be painted on a metal stand.** Hanging your pieces gives you closer to a 360º access while painting. This will also work well for bottled spray paint. If however you do not have access to a stand, simply spray the pieces over an ample piece of drop cloth.
15. **Evenly coat the pieces with Two-Part Epoxy Primer using your spray gun.** Allow them to dry, and add a second coat. If using bottled spray paint, apply the primer as evenly as possible all around the metal part.
16. **Properly store any left over primer by pouring it from the spray gun's paint cup into its original container.** Store your primer in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Also check to ensure the seal on your container is air-tight. Primer will not expire if properly stored, but it will evaporate if not securely sealed. Also keep in mind that primer is flammable and should be kept away from open flames, points of ignition, and temperatures over 100ºF.
17. **Clean the spray gun** Make sure to remove your compressed air source and air regulator before you begin cleaning. It is important that a spray gun is thoroughly cleansed before you switch to a new substance, so follow the related wikiHow's instructions closely before moving on.
18. **Mix and strain any paint to be used with the spray gun.** More often than not, paint stores will be glad to provide a wooden paddle for stirring. Be sure to ask for one with your purchase. As with the primer, using scratch window screen is an effective and simple way to filter out any lumps or foreign particles from your paint.
19. **Apply your chosen automotive paint.** There are a few keys to keep in mind while painting. Maintain a distance of about 6 inches between the tip of the spray gun and the material surface. Using a sweeping motion that goes side to side while painting. If the spray gun is not in motion, then do not pull the trigger. This can lead to uneven, blotchy painting.Allow the paint to dry completely; this often takes 20 minutes to an hour for each coat.
20. **Give the chrome a polished appearance by applying 3 coats of automotive clear-coat paint.** The clear-coat finish will also protect the chrome against rust and dust. Follow the same tips you did in the previous step.
21. **Wait a week until the automotive clear-coat paint has dried.** You can then buff the chrome exterior using a buffing cloth and buffing compound to give it a glossy shine. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Over-a-Chrome-Surface", "language": "en"} |
How to Keep Diapers on a Dog | Dogs aren’t naturally comfortable wearing diapers, so they will often pull or scratch them off. However, there are many options available to help owners keep diapers on their dogs for more than a few minutes. A belly band is a creative solution that secures a diaper or pad against a dog’s body. You can also get a well-fitting diaper in the right size. Offering treats and praise during diaper changes is another way to convince your dog to leave its diaper alone.
1. **Use a belly band for male dogs.** A belly band is a thick fabric strap that wraps around your dog’s waist and is secured with Velcro at the ends. A sanitary pad is held onto your dog by the strap. These are most frequently used for male dogs to catch any sprayed urine. They will usually hold fast onto your dog unless they are very active.
The downside of belly bands is that they can easily shift around and leak urine, especially if the pad isn’t changed out regularly.
The belly band must be placed high enough on a male dog’s waist, so that it effectively secures his penis and contains the urine stream.
2. **Attach canine suspenders to the diaper or band.** Canine suspenders fit similar to a harness and attach around your dog’s torso with a combination of Velcro and buckles. Some suspenders slip directly onto the diaper and pull it tight, preventing it from slipping off. Other styles create a series of criss-cross straps with a spot to insert a sanitary pad.
You can also match the suspenders to your dog’s collar or other accessories. Most suspender sets cost between $15 to $30.
Suspenders are usually a good choice for active dogs, as they will stay on despite jumping or playing.
3. **Put a onesie over the diaper.** If your dog is small enough, get a short-sleeved or no-sleeve baby onesie and put it on your dog. Then, place the diaper on your dog. Snap the onesie together at the back of your dog and this will hold your diaper against you.
To make this work you’ll need to cut a hole in the onesie for your dog’s tail.
4. **Secure a diaper or pad with modified underwear.** You can also purchase a pair of small boy’s underwear in a size slightly smaller than your dog’s waist measurement. Cut out a spot for your dog’s tail and then use the underwear to hold a diaper or pad securely against your dog’s skin.
5. **Make your own attachment devices.** It’s possible to make a homemade belly band or diaper belt by using an ace bandage with Velcro attached at the ends. You can either sew or glue Velcro onto the bandage. Another option is to buy elastic straps from a sewing store and use these on top of a diaper to hold it close to your dog.
If you decide to create a homemade strap, make sure that it is not too tight on your dog. Put it on your dog with a diaper and then see if you can comfortably fit one finger between the diaper and your dog’s skin.
6. **Buy reusable dog diapers.** These diapers are made to be washed between uses, has a hole for the tail and fit specifically over their hips. You can find them in the pregnancy section at pet stores, but you can also be use them for incontinent males.
7. **Secure the diaper tabs with tape.** If your dog keeps loosening the diaper tabs, then you may want to place a small piece of masking tape over the tabs to make the connection more secure and make it more difficult to move the diaper around. However, be careful that the tape adhesive is only on the diaper and does not come into contact with your dog’s skin or fur.
8. **Measure your dog’s waist.** Get a strip of paper and place it around the smallest part of your dog’s waist. Mark it and then measure that spot with a ruler. This is the waist number that you should use when selecting the right size diaper or band for your dog. If the diaper is too tight, it could hurt your dog. If it’s too big, it will likely fall off.
Many diapers only come in small, medium, and large sizes so look carefully at the size chart or see if you can pull it out of the box to check.
As you take a measurement for a male dog, make sure to place your paper strip far enough forward to cover the dog’s penis and catch the urine.
You can also use a fabric measuring tape to get your dog’s waist number.
9. **Consult the size guide.** Diaper manufacturers follow varying size charts, so make sure to consult your brand’s before making a purchase. You’ll likely need to know your dog’s waist measurement as well as weight. When in doubt, go with a slightly larger size and use extra Velcro or a band to secure the diaper further.
For example, depending on the brand, a 15 pound dog will wear an extra small or small diaper.
10. **Try out several brands of diapers.** There are many choices available to owners who want to help their dogs stay clean and comfortable. Depending on the size of your dog, you might want to consider infant diapers, adult incontinence pads, or even incontinence pants. If you are looking for a diaper with a high absorbency, a night diaper is usually a good choice.
11. **Give plenty of room for the tail.** If the diaper or pad pushes up against your dog’s tail, then they’ll likely scratch, pull, or wag it off. Most dog diapers come with a built in hole, just check that it is large enough. If you choose to use a human diaper or pad, then you’ll need to cut out a spot for the tail. Double check that it is large enough for your dog’s tail to move without restriction.
12. **Put baby diapers on backwards.** If you decide to use human diapers, then they’ll fit better if you place the diaper so that the adhesive straps come together over your dog’s back. This reduces the possibility that your dog will be able to shake the diaper free while jumping or scratching.
13. **Look at the absorbency level of the diaper or pad.** Some diapers are meant to take in large amounts of urine or feces, whereas others are best just for spotting. Before you decide on a brand or style, check to see how much liquid it is supposed to absorb. If the diaper gets soaked too quickly, it’s far more likely to fall off your dog.
14. **Protect any Velcro connections from damage.** If the connectors on a diaper or band fail, then it will become loose and urine will leak out. To keep this from happening, make sure to fully attach your Velcro connections each time, pressing down a bit to make sure they are secure. Try not to expose the Velcro to moisture, aside from washing.
15. **Change diapers at least every 3-4 hours.** It’s best if you replace a diaper or pad as soon as it is soiled. Allowing urine or feces to sit against your dog’s skin can lead to infections and make it uncomfortable. If you suspect that your dog has soiled its band or suspenders, take those off and clean them as well.
Another reason to change your dog’s diapers is to keep them from scratching or pulling at it to relieve their discomfort.
16. **Use positive reinforcement.** If your dog fights back or struggles every time you try to place a diaper on them, then this increases the likelihood that they’ll escape the diaper or band. Instead, make the diapering process positive by offering treats or kind words. Your dog will come to associate the diaper with rewards and they’ll be more likely to tolerate it.
17. **Talk with your vet.** If your dog keeps escaping from diapers, then make an appointment with your vet to discuss possible solutions. They’ll likely check out the skin around your dog’s privates, looking for signs of infection or redness. They might also order tests to rule out a urinary tract infection or other urinary-based ailments. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Diapers-on-a-Dog", "language": "en"} |
How to Give Out Candy on Halloween | Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without tons of candy—and the people who hand it out! If you’re on candy duty this year, be prepared for lots of fun costumes and get ready to make kids’ nights with some sugary treats. Buy a couple of bags, pop in a scary movie while you wait, and get ready to jump up when the trick or treaters come knocking!
1. **Buy an assorted pack of popular candy bars for good variety.** By getting an assorted bag of the most popular candies, you can make sure that every trick or treater finds something they like. Candies will be grouped by manufacturer, such as Mars or Hershey’s, and type, like fruity or chocolatey. Try to buy a bag of assorted flavors to appeal to all tastes, and get at least 2-3 bags so it’ll last the whole night.
2. **Know what candy is less popular.** It’s hard to go wrong buying candy for trick or treaters, but there are a few varieties that some kids would rather skip.
3. **Give out crackers or non-edible goodies for a healthier alternative.** If you’d rather not hand out candy on Halloween, try a healthier alternative food, or go with another kind of goodie altogether! Your house will stand out for its unique treats. Just make sure your alternative is just as cool—or tasty—as candy.
For an edible alternative, give out pretzels, crackers, or fruit snack packs, or organic snacks.
For a non-edible treat, try giving out glow sticks, plastic rings, bookmarks, figurines, toys like bouncy balls or yo-yos, stickers, or Halloween-themed pencils.
4. **Don’t hand out homemade treats for safety purposes.** Many parents worry that homemade Halloween goodies, like cookies or brownies, might conceal something dangerous, and will throw them away before their kids can eat them. This is especially important if a child has a food allergy; parents don’t know what you used in your homemade treat and won’t want to risk their child having a reaction. Save your baked goodies for a Halloween party, and only give out packaged treats to trick or treaters.
Make sure the packaging on your candies is intact as well. Ripped candies can pick up dirt and germs, and kids or parents will typically toss them out.
5. **Keep your lights on so trick-or-treaters know you’re home.** Most trick-or-treaters won’t come up to your house unless they know someone’s home. Turn on your porch light around 6pm to let trick-or-treaters know you’re there and ready to hand out treats!
You can also set out jack-o-lanterns and other fun Halloween decorations, like fake cobwebs, skeletons, and ghosts, to attract trick-or-treaters.
6. **Wear your own costume to get into the spirit.** Some people like to dress up to give out candy, even if they’re not out with a group of trick-or-treaters themselves. This can be a fun way to get excited for the holiday, and younger trick-or-treaters will love that you’re getting into the spirit.
Choose something they’ll be able to recognize, like a classic witch or ghost, or something sweet and silly, like a big animal or a cowboy/cowgirl.
If you dress up as something scary, you could even pop out and try to scare a group of trick-or-treaters, but be careful—you don’t want to scare them too much! Only do this if most of your trick-or-treaters are older kids.
7. **Open the door with a smile and the candy bowl ready.** While you’re waiting for trick or treaters, you can put on a scary movie or some fun Halloween music to get into the Halloween spirit. When you open up to a group of trick-or-treaters, they’ll say “Trick or treat!” and hold out their candy bags. You can say something like “Happy Halloween!” or “Wow, look at your costumes!”, or simply smile and hold out your candy bowl.
8. **Let kids reach into the bowl so they can pick out their favorites.** Trick-or-treaters love to aim for their favorite candies, and you can help them along by simply holding out your bowl and letting them pick whatever they want. Make sure they don’t grab too many by saying something like, “You can grab two, ok?”
If you have extra candy near the end of the night, you can even encourage trick or treaters to grab a handful.
9. **Hand them the candy yourself to make sure they only get 1-2 pieces.** If you’re running low on candy or just want to make sure your stash lasts the night, hand the candy out yourself. Take 1 or 2 pieces from your bowl and place them in each trick or treater’s bag.
10. **Wish them a happy Halloween before they head to the next house.** The trick-or-treaters will probably say thank you as they turn to leave. You can say something like “You’re welcome! Happy Halloween!” or wish them a nice night.
If you want, you can give them tips about the rest of the neighborhood, too! For example, you could say something like, “Make sure to go all the way to the end of the block. They have lots of candy down there!”
11. **Set a bowl on your porch if you won’t be around to hand out candy yourself or if you don't feel like answering the door all night.** You can still hand out candy even if you’ll be out and about on Halloween night! Turn on your porch light and set a bowl of candy or healthy snacks and non-edible items on the front step for trick or treaters to grab from. You can put a little note saying “Please take just one!” to discourage people from grabbing too many.
12. **Turn off the lights when you’re ready to go to bed.** No trick-or-treaters expect you to stay up all night for them! Around 9 or 9:30pm, when the flow starts to slow down or when you’re ready to turn in, simply turn off your lights to tell trick-or-treaters that you’re done for the night.
If someone rings your doorbell after you’ve turned off your lights, you can still answer the door, but you don’t have to. They should assume that you’re not home, or that you’ve gone to sleep. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Give-Out-Candy-on-Halloween", "language": "en"} |
How to Respond to an Apology via Text | It can be hard to know what to say when someone apologizes to you, especially if they say “sorry” over text instead of in person. In this article, we’ll talk you through how to recognize a sincere apology and give you some tips on how to reply—whether you accept the apology or not.
1. **Don’t respond in the heat of the moment.** If you’re still mad at the other person, you might be tempted to react to their apology with an angry text. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy for angry texting to spiral out of control into a hurtful argument. To avoid saying something you might regret, put the phone down for a little while and think about what you want to say.
Take a few minutes—or even a day or two, if necessary—to process your feelings before you answer.
2. **A good apology should be unconditional.** It can be really hard to pick up on someone’s tone over text, which is why it’s not the ideal way to give (or respond to) an apology. Still, the actual words of the apology can help you figure out if it’s sincere or not. A good apology should:
Express remorse. For example, “I feel terrible about what I did yesterday.”
Take responsibility for what they did and recognize the impact it had. For instance, “I understand that what I said was insensitive, and that it really hurt you.”
Attempt to make things better, e.g., by promising not to repeat the action or offering to make it up to you somehow.
Avoid making excuses, minimizing what they did, or blaming you for what happened. For example, a good apology should not include phrases like, “I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t have said that if you hadn’t upset me,” or “I’m sorry if you were offended.”
3. **However you respond, keep it simple.** Texting was designed for quick and easy communication, so it’s not the place to write a detailed essay about your feelings. Whether or not you accept their apology, give them a short answer that gets straight to the point.
For example, you could say something simple, like, “Thanks for apologizing. That means a lot to me.” Or, “It’s no big deal. Let’s move on.”
4. **It takes courage to apologize, even over text.** If the apology is sincere, let them know that you recognize their effort—even if you’re still a bit upset. Try saying something like:
“I appreciate your apology.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
“What you did really hurt me, but it means a lot that you said sorry. Thank you.”
5. **Let them know that you’re ready to move on.** Be clear about it so that you both get some closure. Say something like, “Thanks, I forgive you.” Or, “We’re good. Just don’t do it again, please.”
6. **Let them know if you’re not that upset.** Try to keep the tone of your answer appropriate to the seriousness of what happened (and your own feelings about it). If they’re just sending a quick apology for a minor mistake or misunderstanding, try something like:
“No worries!”
“Thanks, but don’t worry about it. I wasn’t offended.”
“Hey, we all make mistakes sometimes. No biggie.”
7. **Sometimes healing takes time.** Even if you accept the apology, it’s totally natural to still feel bothered by what happened. If that’s the case, be honest about how you’re feeling instead of trying to hide it or bottle it up. Being open will probably help you feel a little better, and it will also give the other person a better sense of where things stand between you.
For example, you might say something like, “Hey, I appreciate it. I’m still a bit mad about what happened, but I’ll get over it.” Or, “Ok, thanks for apologizing. It’s going to be a while before I feel better about things, but that helps.”
8. **It’s okay to reject an apology sometimes.** If their apology is insincere, or if you feel like it just isn’t enough to make up for what they did, let them know. You can also tell them that you appreciate the apology, but you’re not yet ready to accept it.
For instance, if you don’t feel like their apology was good enough, you could say something like, “No, I can’t accept your apology. It doesn’t sound like you’re really taking responsibility for what happened.”
Or, “Thanks for apologizing, but I’m still really upset and I’m not ready to forgive you yet. Please give me some time.”
If the apology is from someone who means a lot to you, consider giving them a second chance to apologize more sincerely. Explain what you’d need from them in order to accept the apology (e.g., “I need you to let me know that you understand why I’m so hurt.”).
9. **An apology means more when it’s backed up by actions.** Take a moment to talk about how you can both move on from what happened. You could suggest a compromise or make a gentle request for them to change their behavior in the future.
For example, you might say something like, “Next time you’re upset with me, please say how you feel instead of yelling.” Or, “I get that you were frustrated because I was taking too long, and I’ll try to be better about that. But in the future, just check in with me instead of leaving without me.”
10. **There are usually two sides to a conflict.** Think about what happened between you and the other person, and try to see things from their side. If there’s anything you could have done differently, acknowledge it. That way, you’re both more likely to come out of the situation feeling better about things.
For instance, say, “Thanks for apologizing, I really needed to hear that. And I’m sorry for reacting the way I did, I shouldn’t have blown up at you like that.”
11. **If you’re grieving, you don’t necessarily have to respond.** But if someone sends a message like, “I’m sorry for your loss,” or “So sorry to hear about what happened,” it’s reasonable to send them a quick acknowledgment if you feel up to it. For example, you might say something like:
“Thanks for your sympathy.”
“Thank you, that means a lot.”
“I appreciate your kind words.”
“Thanks for being there.”
12. **Texting isn’t great for important conversations.** If the person is apologizing about something pretty minor, or if you don’t have a lot to say in response, then shooting back a quick text might work okay. But if you want to have a heart-to-heart talk with them, it’s better to call or do it in person.
You might send a message saying something like, “What happened yesterday is kind of a big deal, and I don’t want to talk about it over text. Can I give you a call?”
You could also say, "Thanks so much your text, but I think this is something we should talk about in person." | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Respond-to-an-Apology-via-Text", "language": "en"} |
How to Heal Your Gut After Antibiotics | Antibiotics can play an important role in helping to treat bacterial infections, but they can also put a lot of stress on your gut. Antibiotics can lead to diarrhea, stomach pain, and excessive gas. Some studies even suggest that antibiotics have been linked to developing autoimmune conditions like Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Healing your gut from antibiotic treatment can start while you’re still finishing your course through the use of probiotics. After you finish taking antibiotics, adding probiotics to your diet, eating whole foods, and adopting a healthy overall lifestyle can help heal your gut.
1. **Talk to your doctor to see if you should finish your full course.** Some medical research suggests that you may not always need to finish a full course of antibiotics if your symptoms have stopped. Talk to your doctor to see if it is advisable to finish your full course of antibiotics, or if you can stop after your symptoms stop.
Be sure to let your doctor know if you have a history of antibiotics causing gastrointestinal distress, including symptoms like bloating, excessive gas, constipation, or diarrhea.
2. **Tell your doctor as soon as possible if antibiotics aren’t helping.** In some cases, antibiotics may not treat your problems. Let your doctor know if you have taken a full course of antibiotics and your symptoms still haven’t been resolved, as this may indicate that you didn't get the right treatment or that you have an antibiotic-resistant illness.
3. **Take a prebiotic supplement or eat prebiotic-rich foods.** Some prebiotics, such as Inulin, can help maintain healthy bacteria in your intestines while you are taking your antibiotics. These are usually easy to find a most health food markets. Simply take the supplement as directed on the packaging, starting the day you start your antibiotic treatment.
Foods such as raw garlic, onions, under-ripe bananas, dandelion greens, and raw asparagus are all also rich in prebiotics.
4. **Take a probiotic supplement.** Probiotics encourage the growth of healthy gut flora, and are often encouraged after completing a course of antibiotics. Most over-the-counter probiotic supplements help you restore the balance of bacteria in your intestines. Take the supplement as directed on the probiotic package until you feel your gut flora is back on track.
Some holistic health professionals recommend a month of probiotic treatment for every week of antibiotic treatment. Others simply advise taking the probiotics until your stool has returned to its pre-antibiotic color and consistency.
Always talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement.
5. **Eat foods rich in probiotics.** In addition to a supplement, adding probiotic-rich foods to your daily diet can help restore your gut health. Most forms of yogurt, including Greek yogurt and plain yogurt, are used for probiotic health. Other probiotic foods include:
Aged cheese
Sauerkraut
Kefir
Kombucha
Kimchi
Pickles that have been fermented in brine
Miso
6. **Drink bone broth throughout the day.** Some homeopathic healthcare specialists use bone broth as a way to heal your stomach lining. Drinking 8-12 oz (about 237-355 ml) throughout the course of a day for 1-2 weeks may help calm your stomach and make digestion easier after you finish a course of antibiotics.
You can buy bone broth at most health food stores.
You can also make your own by covering the bones of a leftover organic roast chicken or turkey in water and simmering in a slow cooker along with 15-30 ml of apple cider vinegar for 8-12 hours on a low setting.
7. **Eat a diet rich in whole foods.** Whole foods are foods that are free of additives and that have been refined as little as possible. Eating a diet with a lot of whole foods can make digestion easier as your body heals from antibiotics. Try to increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. Avoid foods high in both natural and added sugars.
Try to avoid prepackaged or ready-made foods as much as possible while your gut heals. These foods are high in added sugar, salt, and food additives, which can all throw off your intestinal balance.
Instead, focus on foods like whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, and lean proteins.
8. **Get 30-45 minutes of daily exercise.** In addition to diet, regular exercise helps keep your body healthy. Try to get at least half an hour of moderate cardiovascular exercise at least 5 days a week. If you have a regular workout routine, try to stick to it during and after your antibiotic course.
Simple exercises that you can incorporate into your daily life include a brisk walk or jog, cycling, or even swimming if you have access to a pool.
9. **Relax your mind to reduce stress.** Your gut is highly sensitive to whatever is going on in your mind. Try to reduce mental stress as much as possible. Activities such as reading, meditation, and yoga can all help calm your mind and keep your stress from making knots in your stomach.
10. **Sleep for 7-9 hours a night.** Sufficient rest is always important, but never more so than when your body is healing. Get plenty of rest every night to help make sure your body has time and energy resources devoted to self-healing. Some tips for a better night's sleep include:
Going to sleep at the same time every night
Avoiding screens for at least an hour before bed
Sleeping in a dark room
Limiting caffeine for an hour before bed | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Heal-Your-Gut-After-Antibiotics", "language": "en"} |
How to Make a Praying Mantis Habitat | Praying mantises are interesting and interactive pets that can be kept inside. Making their habitat is a quick and easy process. Simply source a suitable container, add coconut husk and some sticks, and then spray it with water to keep it humid. If you feel creative, add a few plastic flowers or trees to the enclosure to decorate it. Enjoy watching your praying mantis climb around its new habitat.
1. **Choose a container that is 3 times longer than the mantis and twice its width.** This gives the praying mantis plenty of room to walk around and shed its coat. This is important, as the mantis can lose mobility in its limbs if it is unable to move around freely.
Use a ruler to estimate the size of your praying mantis.
For example, if your mantis is approximately 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide and 2 inches (5.1 cm) long, the container would need to be 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 6 inches (15 cm) long.
Purchase an insect terrarium from a pet shop or recycle a clean container from home.
Plastic or wooden containers work best for this activity, as cardboard will warp and become soggy over time.
2. **Attach a lid to the container to prevent the mantis from escaping.** Praying mantises are good climbers and can easily climb up the items in their enclosures. Place a lid or a cover over your container to keep the mantis in the habitat.
If your container doesn’t have a lid, place a piece of plywood over the container instead.
3. **Provide ventilation holes to allow fresh air into the container.** It is important to have more than 1 ventilation hole, as this allows the air to circulate inside the habitat and stops the container from going mouldy. If your container doesn’t have ventilation holes, use scissors or a drill to make 6 small holes in the enclosure.
Make sure that the ventilation holes are smaller than the width of the praying mantis to avoid it escaping.
4. **Cover the bottom of the container with damp coconut husk.** Lightly mist the coconut husk with water until the top of the husk is covered with a thin layer of water. This will cause it to expand up to 5 times its regular size. Spread the expanded coconut husk over the bottom of the enclosure until the entire base is covered with approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of substrate.
Coconut husk is also called coir.
The damp coconut husk will help to keep the enclosure humid.
Purchase coconut husk from a pet shop.
5. **Place clean sticks from your garden into the habitat.** This gives something for the praying mantis to climb on in their enclosure. Rinse the sticks in water to clean off any dirt or poisonous spiders. If possible, choose a small branch with lots of arms, as this provides multiple sticks for the praying mantis to climb on.
Use a pair of secateurs to trim the sticks down to the size of your container.
The size of the dish doesn’t matter; however larger water containers are easier, as they don’t need to be refilled as often.
6. **Add plastic decorations to the container if you want to add colour.** Plastic flowers, trees, and grasses are great options. Make sure to leave plenty of room in the habitat for the praying mantis to move around.
Purchase decorations from a pet shop or a dollar store.
Plastic decorations work best, as paper or wooden decorations can warp over time. Avoid using any decorations that contain visible glue, as this can poison the praying mantis.
7. **Don’t place any other insects in the habitat.** Praying mantises like to eat live insects. This means that if you place other insects in their container, they will likely be eaten. If you want to keep other insects as pets, it is best to make them a separate habitat.
8. **Mist the habitat with water once a day.** Praying mantises like to live in warm and humid areas. Spray a light mist of water over the habitat to increase the humidity level inside the enclosure.
Adjust your spray bottle to the lightest setting in order to lightly mist the enclosure.
9. **Place a water dish in the habitat.** This simulates the pools of water that are often found in humid climates. Place the dish of water on top of the coconut husk inside the enclosure. This allows the praying mantis to drink when it is thirsty.
A jar lid works well as a water dish.
10. **Keep the enclosure at 22 °C (72 °F) with a heating pad.** Place a heating pad under the habitat and set the temperature dial to 22 °C (72 °F). This helps to keep the enclosure nice and warm for the praying mantis.
Purchase a heating pad from a pet shop or a vet. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Praying-Mantis-Habitat", "language": "en"} |
How to Treat a Bee Sting on a Cat | Cats love to hunt and play with insects. If your cat goes outside, there’s a good chance it will have an encounter with a bee at some point. Like humans, cats can be allergic to bees, and may have dangerous reactions to stings. In the event that your cat gets stung, you will need to quickly evaluate your cat’s condition, perform first aid, and perform appropriate aftercare.
1. **Check for signs of a severe reaction.** If you know or suspect that your cat has been stung by a bee, you should quickly assess whether your cat is having a reaction that requires immediate medical attention. Take your cat to the vet or animal emergency room immediately if you see any of the following symptoms:
Rapid or labored breathing
Facial swelling
Pale gums or mucous membranes
Vomiting (especially within the first 5-10 minutes after the sting) or diarrhea
Weak or rapid heartbeat
Collapse
2. **Try to determine what stung your cat.** Bee stings are a little different from wasp or hornet stings, and you will need to take a slightly different approach to treatment depending on what kind of insect delivered the sting. If you saw the insect that stung your cat but are not sure how to identify it, you may be able to narrow it down with a visual guide.
Wasps do not usually leave their stingers behind when they sting, but bees generally do. If your cat was stung by a bee, you will need to find and remove the stinger.
Bee venom is acidic, while wasp venom is alkaline. It is better not to try to neutralize the sting with an alkaline substance (like baking soda) or an acid (like vinegar) unless you know for sure what stung your cat.
3. **Determine where your cat was stung.** Look for signs of swelling, redness, or tenderness. If your cat has been stung in the mouth or throat, or if you suspect that your cat has been stung multiple times, take your cat to the vet immediately.
4. **Remove the stinger, if it is still in place.** If the cat was stung by a bee (rather than a wasp), the stinger is likely to be embedded in the cat’s skin. A bee stinger can continue to seep venom into the skin for several minutes after the sting is delivered. Try to remove it as soon as possible.
The stinger will look like a small black splinter.
Gently scrape the stinger out with your fingernail, a butter knife, or the edge of a credit card.
Don’t try to remove the stinger with tweezers or pinch it out with your fingers, or you might squeeze more venom into the wound.
5. **Apply a cold compress to the site of the sting.** This can help soothe inflammation and reduce swelling. Wrap some ice or an ice pack in a washcloth and hold it on the sting for about five minutes. Take it off for five minutes, and then put it back for another five. Continue to do this for the first hour or so after the sting.
6. **Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the site of the sting.** Mix three parts baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and one part water. Apply this mixture to the sting once every two hours until the swelling diminishes.
Do not treat the sting with baking soda unless you are certain that your cat was stung by a bee (rather than a wasp). For wasp stings, apply apple cider vinegar to the sting instead.
If you're not sure what stung your cat, don't apply any poultice or liquid to the sting until you've taken your cat to the vet. Using the wrong treatment can cause more irritation.
Take care not to get baking soda or vinegar in your cat’s eyes.
7. **Keep an eye on your cat’s condition.** If the swelling from the sting increases or spreads in the hours after the sting, contact your vet. Look out for signs of infection, such as redness, pus, or further swelling around the site of the sting over the next few days.
8. **Ask your vet about giving your cat Benadryl.** Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can help reduce inflammation, itching, and discomfort. Consult your vet about the appropriate dosage for your cat.
Do not give your cat a medication containing any ingredients other than Benadryl (diphenhydramine), as other types of medications intended for humans may be harmful or fatal to cats.
9. **Treat the sting with pure aloe gel.** Be sure that the gel does not contain other ingredients, such as alcohol or lotion. Only use a very small amount. Take care not to get any aloe in your cat’s eyes.
Another option would be to apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment to the site. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Bee-Sting-on-a-Cat", "language": "en"} |
How to Remove Blood from Hardwood Floors | Removing blood from hardwood floors is easier when the blood stain is dealt with right away. This will prevent the blood from seeping in deeper into the wood. To get rid of the blood from your hardwood floor, choose a method below that is appropriate for your floor.
1. **Blot the excess blood on the hardwood floor with a dry cloth or paper towel.** Do not rub, just blot as rubbing can cause the blood stain to spread or go deeper.
2. **Sprinkle the affected area with baking soda.**
3. **Dip a brush in white vinegar and use it to gently scrub the stained area.**
4. **Wipe the area thoroughly with a dry clean cloth.** If the stain is still visible, try using hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach your hardwood floor so be cautious when using it especially if you have a dark hardwood floor.
5. **Apply hydrogen peroxide on a white cloth.**
6. **Scrub the blood stain gently with the cloth.**
7. **Wipe the affected area with a damp cloth.** Rinse the area thoroughly to remove all the residues.
8. **Dry the hardwood floor using a towel or cloth.**
9. **Use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the excess blood on your hardwood floor.**
10. **Mix 1/2 tablespoon of liquid dish-washing detergent with 1 cup of cold water in a small bowl to make a detergent solution.**
11. **Moisten a cloth with the detergent solution.**
12. **Use the cloth to wipe the affected area and to remove the remaining blood.**
13. **Rinse the area thoroughly using a damp cloth to remove any residue.**
14. **Dry the hardwood floor with a dry towel or cloth.** Check if the blood stain is still visible.
15. **If the stain is still noticeable, dip a superfine steel wool (number 0000) in liquid wax.**
16. **Lightly rub the affected area with the steel wool.** The steel wool should remove only a fine layer of the surface on your hardwood floor. The rubbing might turn the waxed hardwood floor dull, but the liquid wax will shine it up.
17. **Wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth.**
18. **Wax or polish the floor if needed.**
19. **Wipe the blood on the hardwood floor with a damp sponge.**
20. **Rinse the sponge.** Repeat the wiping process until the blood is gone.
21. **Use a damp cloth to wipe the floor.** Wipe thoroughly to remove any remaining blood stain.
22. **Dry the wood using a towel or cloth.** If the blood stain is still visible, do the following steps.
23. **Buff the affected area with a cloth moistened with mineral spirits.** Do this lightly.
24. **Wipe the area with a clean cloth.** If the blood stain is still visible, repeat the process but this time use a steel wool (number 0000).
25. **Rub the stained area using a steel wool moistened with mineral spirits.** Do this lightly and make sure you rub along the grain of the wood. Try to remove only as much finish as you have to.
26. **Use a soft cloth to wipe the floor surface clean.**
27. **Refinish the affected area after 24 hours, if needed.** | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Blood-from-Hardwood-Floors", "language": "en"} |
How to Report Vandalism | Broken mailboxes, spray-painted street signs and graffiti on private property can be disheartening and even dangerous. If the vandalism damages your own private property, such as a broken car window or slashed car tires, the repairs can be costly. Vandalism is something that everyone can help minimize by reporting it when it happens.
1. **Call your local emergency services to report active vandalism.** Do this whether the vandalism is being committed against public or private property. If you catch someone in the act of spray painting a building, stealing a street sign, or otherwise destroying or vandalizing property, call your local emergency services number immediately. Destruction of property is illegal, and the authorities will want to catch the person committing the crime if at all possible.
In the United States you should call 9-1-1 to report vandalism in progress.
Do not call emergency services to report vandalism that has already occurred, with no suspect on the premises. Emergency services should only be called when you witness a crime in progress.
2. **Be observant.** If you witness vandalism, try to notice as many details as possible. The more details you can spot, the better your report to the police will be:
How many people were involved
Ages
Gender
Race
General appearance (hair color, eye color, height, weight)
Vehicle identification, if there was one
Any distinguishing marks or other characteristics
3. **Call a vandalism hotline.** Many cities and towns have a hotline in place for reporting vandalism to public property. This includes vandalism against public buildings, schools, street signs, roads and highways, parks, and other government-owned property.
To find your local hotline number, do an online search for your town's name + vandalism hotline.
If your town does not have a vandalism hotline, call your local non-emergency police number. Note that this is not the same as the emergency number. It should be a 10-digit number starting with your local area code.
4. **File an online report.** In some jurisdictions, you may be able to file a report of vandalism or graffiti online. A few examples of cities with an online reporting service are San Francisco, Sacramento, or Irving, Texas. To find out if your local police department will accept an online report, check the website for your police department.
5. **File a police report.** If you discover that your property has been vandalized or broken into, call the police to file a report. Be careful not to interfere with any evidence until the police arrive to write a report.
6. **File an auto insurance claim.** If you have comprehensive auto coverage, your insurance company will likely pay to restore your car after vandalism has occurred. You will need to be able to provide a copy of a police report, along with any photos or other evidence of the damage.
7. **File a homeowner's insurance claim.** If the damage was done to your house or other property, but not your car, you may be covered by your homeowner's insurance instead. Contact your insurance company to make a claim. You will still need to show evidence of the damage and a copy of the police report. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Report-Vandalism", "language": "en"} |
How to Become a Minister in Texas | Becoming a minister means that you can play a significant role in people's lives during momentous occasions. As a minister, you can officiate wedding ceremonies and funerals. If you choose to become a minister in order to follow a religious path, you can work as a chaplain, start churches, and work with church congregations in addition to officiating marriages and funerals.
1. **Meet Texas state requirements to be a minister in Texas:** You must be over the age of 18 (be an adult). No other state restrictions apply for a minister.
2. **Decide how you will become a minister.** There are two ways to become a minister: through a religious education or through an ordination program, typically offered in person through a church, or remotely online. Those pursuing religious education tend to want to work in a religious role, such as church leadership, where religious duties largely comprise the role of minister in an organization. Others choose to become a minister solely to be licensed to officiate weddings. Decide your path ahead of time.
3. **Prepare paperwork.** Texas does not require any licensing or registration with the government when one becomes a minister. However, becoming a minister can influence taxes, and it is best to understand these potential changes ahead of time. Familiarize yourself with Form 4361 from the Internal Revenue Service, the application for exemption from self employment tax for ministers.
4. **Be in good standing.** Once ordained, some counties may require you to remain in good standing with the ordaining body. This means that your information would be up-to-date through the website you used to complete ordination. If you are unsure whether this is required in your county, call the county clerk's office, and ask whether this is necessary. If so, it usually requires nothing more than a certificate issued from the organization.
5. **Choose an organization.** There are many options to choose from when deciding where to obtain online ordination. Decide whether you want to associate with and fulfill rules and regulations of a religiously affiliated organization or to have no affiliation. Some organizations offer free online ordination, while others charge one-time or recurring fees. Some provide certificates of ordination, materials to assist in ceremonies, or manuals to help get you started. Choose what will suit you best.
6. **Complete the ordination application.** Most applications are short and quick to complete. You will need to provide some basic information, such as your name, address, and email address. Some applications may ask about your reasons for becoming a minister.
7. **Receive written confirmation/or certificate.** Be sure to receive confirmation, as this will enable you to perform duties of a minister. Some organizations will send a certificate to you, either by mail or through email to confirm your ordination as a minister. While the state of Texas will not require any documentation, some county clerks may ask for proof of ordination. A certificate should be sufficient.
8. **Understand religious ordination.** Ordination into a particular church requires a demonstration of your commitment to that church and actions to acknowledge the church's recognition of your commitment. All 50 states accept church ordination to perform religious ceremonies, including weddings.
9. **Search your heart for the call.** Many churches encourage those seeking ordination to experience a call, or a longing to work in ministry. The work of a minister can be difficult, and Biblical knowledge and spiritual preparation is necessary to succeed. Beyond teaching on Sunday mornings, a minister's duty often requires comforting those who grieve and counseling troubled individuals in a variety of circumstances.
10. **Determine the requirements of your church or denomination.** The state of Texas does not dictate requirements in ordination, but the church or denomination can. Each denomination differs as to how an individual can receive ordination as a minister. If you plan to minister within a particular organization or denomination, speak to/consult with the leadership for the distinctive guidelines dictating their qualifications of ordination, as guidelines vary.
For example, the Presbyterian church requires active church membership, coming under care (providing your religious testimony and the reasons you feel called to church work), licensure (completing a Bachelor's degree and seminary training, completing exams) a call to work at a church congregation, and ordination into the role of minister.
As another example, the Baptist Church distinguishes between state licensed and church ordained ministers, and only ordained ministers can perform marriage ceremonies for a church. Each church decides how to ordain a minister but typically offer ordination following graduation from seminary.
11. **Consider seeking further educational opportunities.** While possessing a degree in theology is not a requirement to become a minister in Texas "non-denominational" churches, the benefit of learning in a disciplined, systematic method could be a firm foundation. Advance your career by attending a seminary affiliated with your denomination or one which is independent/non-denominational. It is not necessary to attend seminary in Texas in order to receive ordination in Texas.
12. **Accept ordination.** Ordination in the Christian faith may be as simple as recognition by a local church leadership, usually expressed in a special church service for that purpose. But, it can also require extensive education, testing/exams, depending on a denomination in which you may obtain ordination. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Minister-in-Texas", "language": "en"} |
How to Order at Starbucks | Ordering at Starbucks, a popular international chain of upscale coffeehouses can be intimidating to those of us who are not coffee connoisseurs or Starbucks regulars. With some basic understanding of the guidelines of coffee making, placing your next order at Starbucks will be a breeze.
1. **Consider your cravings.** To get a drink you will enjoy, it is important ordering something based on what you are craving. Ordering at Starbucks does not necessarily mean that you must order coffee; in fact, there are dozens of drink choices including tea, smoothies, and hot chocolates. Consider the current outside temperature and season to decide what sounds just right.
If you are not sure what sounds good, do not be afraid to ask your barista for suggestions or help. They can give you choices based on your drink preferences to help make one tailored to you.
Remember to think about if you want the drink hot, iced, or blended, as well as the sweetness and caffeine.
2. **Choose a size.** Starbucks is known for having its name-specific sizing. Don’t fear, getting the sizes down is easy. A tall is the equivalent of 12oz, a grande is 16oz, and a venti is 20oz in hot and 26oz in iced. While not listed on the menu, all Starbucks locations offer a short drink equalling 8oz. Starbucks locations in the United States also offer Trenta for a limited number of drinks, which is equal to 31oz.
A tall typically comes with a single shot of espresso, a grande comes with a double shot, and a venti also comes with a double shot, unless it is a venti iced drink, in which it comes with a triple shot of espresso.
If you want more espresso than the size your order comes with, simply ask for extra shots. These will cost more, but you will be able to get that perfect amount of espresso without having to size your entire drink up.
3. **Add a little flavor.** It does not matter if you order coffee, tea, or any other drink - you always can add sugar or a syrup flavor. Adding a flavor will typically give you two extra pumps of syrup, so if you want your drink extra sweet be sure to specify and be ready to pay more. Sugar is free, but a syrup flavor is not.
If you’re uncertain what flavor you want to add, ask to see a flavor menu or ask the barista what popular flavors are available. There are dozens of flavor choices, so don’t feel like you are limited to simply “sugar” or “no sugar.”
Most of the popular syrup flavors like vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut all come with sugar-free options. If you are trying to be a bit healthier, order a sugar-free syrup flavor for your drink.
Ask about seasonal flavors when you order, as many specialty syrups are available at different times of the year. In the fall and winter, pumpkin is available while in the summer coconut is often out in participating locations.
4. **Choose the liquid base.** Some drinks are made with milk while others are made with water as the base. If you prefer one over the other, specify that when you order. Typically, the available milk options are nonfat, 2% milk, soymilk, and half-and-half. Starbucks also carries other kinds of milk such as almond or coconut milk.
You can get any drink hot or iced, and many coffee drinks blended. If you change the form of your drink, you might also have to change the liquid base. For example, blended coffee must be made with a milk base instead of water to get the right consistency.
When milk is steamed, it creates a richly aerated foam. This is like warm whipped milk on the top of your drink. If you like foam, you can order your drink with extra, or if you don’t like it ask for your drink to go without.
5. **Consider the caffeine.** Espresso and coffee both naturally have caffeine, as make black and green teas. If you want less caffeine in your drink, order half-caf (1/2 the normal amount of caffeine) or decaf (with no caffeine). You can also add extra shots of coffee if you are looking for a bit more energy from your drink.
6. **Get brewed coffee.** This is just your basic drip coffee you might make at home, but prepared in many different flavors. All Starbucks have multiple brews going during the day, so you can sample several different roasts and blends. A pour-over, where hot water is passed through the ground coffee, is also offered; this takes longer but is typically the same price as brewed coffee. Brewed coffee is the cheapest and easiest thing on the menu to order. Some stores may also have a Clover machine, which can brew both core roasts and any reserved coffees stored at the location.
7. **Try a latte.** Lattes are a basic espresso drink made out of steamed milk and espresso shots. Any flavor can be added to a latte, and any type of milk can be used. Lattes can be made hot or iced.
8. **Try an americano.** These are one of the most popular drinks for coffee enthusiasts, as the espresso taste is strong. Americanos are made with espresso and water only and have one extra shot more than any other drink. Cream and sugar can be added just like with drip coffee, as well as any flavor you might like.
9. **Try a cappuccino.** These are similar to lattes because they are made solely of steamed milk and espresso, but cappuccinos comprise a large amount of foam. This means that your drink will be more light and fluffy than liquid. A cappuccino typically comes with approximately equal parts foamed and steamed milk; you may order it as “wet” (not so much foam) or “dry” (mostly foam) to preference. Add any flavors or sugar alterations you would like.
10. **Order a caramel macchiato.** Macchiato is the Italian word meaning, “marked.” It is used in this drink to describe the mark of espresso poured over the top, instead of being stirred into the drink. Caramel macchiatos are made with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, and foam, espresso, and caramel drizzle.
11. **Get a mocha.** Mochas are lattes (milk and espresso) with the addition of chocolate. The two mocha variants are milk chocolate and white chocolate. The former is a bit richer while the latter is much sweeter. Mochas are typically made without any foam, so if you like the creamy milk ask for a little extra on top.
12. **Try a specialty espresso drink.** If you are a real espresso lover, order it straight up! Ask for a single or double shot of espresso, and then add a modifier of choice. Often espresso shots are served macchiato style with a dollop of foam, or con panna with a bit of whipped cream. An espresso macchiato may be confused for a caramel or latte macchiato: make sure to specify.
13. **Order a tea.** If you are not a coffee lover, try getting one of the many teas available. Most teas are made with hot water, but there are several latte teas made with milk. These include the ever-popular chai tea (spicy cinnamon flavored tea) and the London fog (sweet vanilla and earl gray tea blend). You can order any tea to be made with milk or water, and hot or iced.
14. **Get a frappuccino.** Frappuccinos are blended drinks, typically made with coffee. Starbucks offers many specialty Frappuccinos, so ask your barista what ones are offered if you don’t see them on the menu. Some Frappuccinos, like the strawberries and cream, aren’t made with any coffee. These often come with a whip and a drizzle of chocolate or caramel.
15. **Try other non-coffee drinks.** If you are not interested in coffee or tea, don’t worry - there are several other non-coffee drinks available at Starbucks. For hot drinks, you can get hot chocolate, a steamer (milk with a syrup flavor), or an apple cider. You can also do lemonade or different smoothies if you want something cold and coffee-free.
16. **Order your drink.** Once you have decided on your coffee and all the possible variables, make your order. Start with the size of the drink, the temperature (which is hot by default, even in warm weather), then the name, then any amendments you want to make. For example, order a “grande chai tea latte with extra foam.” Don’t be afraid to be specific! | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Order-at-Starbucks", "language": "en"} |
How to Keep Kosher | The term “kosher” refers to foods and eating habits that adhere to the regulations of Jewish dietary law, called kashrut in Hebrew. All kosher laws are derived from specific passages from the Torah, or First Testament, which condemn certain foods and eating habits based mainly on moral and hygienic concerns. It is more common for Orthodox or Conservative Jews to observe most or every law of kashrut, whereas Jews from other sects may only follow certain kosher laws or not keep kosher at all. If you are interested in keeping kosher, it's important to know the specific foods and eating practices that go against the laws of kashrut, and also to get an understanding of how these laws came to be.
1. **Eat only mammals with cloven feet that chew their cud.** Most kosher laws are centered around meat and are usually concerned with the type of animal that is permitted to be eaten and the way in which it was killed. In the case of mammals, kosher laws specifically state that the only mammals to be eaten are those who both chew their cud and have cloven hoofs. All cattle, sheep, bison, goats, and deer are kosher. Pigs, hares, and horses are not kosher because they do not fulfill both requirements.
This law about mammals derives from a passage in Deuteronomy, Chapter 14: 8-10: “And the pig, because it has a split hoof, but does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You shall neither eat of their flesh nor touch their carcass.”
Some speculate that this kosher law came about because in the days of early Judaism, animals such as pigs were more likely to carry diseases and Jewish kosher laws were established as an early kind of health code.
2. **Do not eat shellfish or fish without scales.** In the case of fish, there are several species that are not considered kosher and cannot be eaten. These include all shellfish including crab, lobster, shrimp, and oysters, in addition to fish without scales such as swordfish.
This kosher law comes from a passage in Deuteronomy, Chapter 14:8-10: “These you may eat of all that are in the waters; all that have fins and scales, you may eat. But whatever does not have fins and scales, you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.”
Some have speculated that the reason why shellfish are considered unclean is because many of them are “bottom dwellers” who live on the ocean floor as opposed to swimming in the cleaner waters.
3. **Do not eat reptiles, amphibians, insects, rodents or birds of prey.** Reptiles, amphibians, most insects, and birds of prey are not permitted to be eaten by the laws of kashrut. These animals include turtles, frogs, whales, dolphins, salamanders, snakes, and birds like vultures or crows.
Some communities of Jews permit the eating of certain insects, but the varieties that are permitted are specific to those individual communities.
4. **Do not eat any part of an un-kosher animal.** Not only can you not consume the meat of an un-kosher animal under the laws of kashrut, you also cannot consume their milk, eggs, fat or organs.
This may seem easy to avoid, but in some cases, it can be tricky. For example, many kinds of cheese are hardened with an enzyme called rennet, which is often obtained from non-kosher animals. It's important therefore to examine the ingredients in every product that you buy or only purchase items that have been marked with a kosher seal.
5. **Eat meat that has been slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law.** Even if you stick to eating the meat of animals you know are kosher, you can still break the laws of kashrut if the animal is not slaughtered in a way that adheres to Jewish law. You should be able to tell that the meat is kosher by the label saying “Sh'Chita" or "Sh'Chita K'shera Beit Yosef", or by finding the meat in a specially labeled section of the aisle. It may be hard to find a kosher meat if you aren't living in Israel, New York City, or a neighborhood with a high concentration of Jews.
An important aspect of the ritual slaughter, known as shechita, is the quick and humane slaughtering of animals.
The draining of the blood is another vital aspect of the ritual slaughter. It is against kosher laws for Jews to consume blood, as blood signifies the life or soul of the animal. The shochet, or person in charge of the slaughter, also remove certain nerves from the animal, as well as the fat surrounding the vital organs and liver. Consuming these pieces of the animal is against the kosher law.
6. **Do not eat meat and dairy together.** One of the most important and most difficult to follow rules of kashrut is the prohibition of eating meat and dairy in the same meal. This law comes from the Exodus 23:19 passage, which states that it is forbidden to “boil a kid in its mother's milk.” This law applies to all meat and dairy except for fish, which is acceptable to eat with dairy.
Different Jews who keep kosher have different perspectives of how long one must wait in between eating dairy and meat. Some Jews avoid having it in the same meal, while others wait at least 3 hours in between the two food groups.
7. **Consume grape products made by Jews.** The laws of kashrut command those who keep kosher to not consume grape products or wine made by non-Jews. Kosher wine usually comes with a Kosher seal, so it is easy to distinguish.
The reasoning behind this law is grounded in the history of ancient Judaism, when the Jews existed among pagan communities. These polytheistic communities produced wine that they sanctified to be used in sacrifices to the pagan gods.
Ancient Jews did not want to imbibe wine that was associated with these pagan sacrifices, so they created a law that the only wine to be drunk was wine made by other fellow Jews.
8. **Check eggs for blood before consuming.** Eggs are kosher under the laws of kashrut as long as they are taken from chickens or other kosher animals. However, because the consumption of blood of any kind is not kosher, it's important to check your eggs for blood before cooking them. Crack individual eggs into separate bowls and look for blood traces before combining them with the rest of the food you are cooking. If you crack an egg with blood into a pot of food, you will contaminate the entire dish.
Finding blood traces in eggs is relatively rare, but it's a good idea to always check each egg to be completely sure.
9. **Inspect fruits and vegetables for bugs.** Before purchasing or consuming fruits or vegetables, make sure to inspect them for bugs or insects. All fruits and vegetables are kosher, but since bugs and insects are not in most communities, it's important to inspect produce before eating it.
Be sure to carefully inspect vegetables like corn and lettuce, where bugs can easily hide.
10. **Purchase food with a kosher seal.** As long as you know that a food is kosher, and if it's meat that it has been slaughtered in a way that adheres to the laws of kashrut, you don't need to buy food that has a kosher seal. However, buying food that has a certified kosher seal on it can make life a lot easier for you. If you live in a large city that has ample food options, or in a community that has a lot of Jews, you should have access to meat and foods that are marked as kosher.
There are several types of kosher seals. Some kosher seals use the letter “K” for kosher or a “U” that stands for the Orthodox Union. The seal is usually under the product name or near the ingredients list on packaged foods.
A lot of packaged food have kosher seals, but it may be harder to find kosher seals on meat unless you live in a heavily Jewish community.
There may also be “parve” or “pareve” seal in addition to a “K” or “U” seal. Parve means “neutral” in Hebrew, and signifies that the food doesn't contain dairy or meat. When you see this seal, you know that you don't have to worry about pairing this food with dairy or meat.
11. **Keep your kitchen kosher.** Very observant Jews take keeping kosher a step further by keeping their kitchen kosher. Having a kosher kitchen means that you keep two separate sets of dishes, silverware, napkins, and even refrigerators to serve or hold dairy and meat separately. Separate dishes and silverware for meat and dairy is the easiest step in keeping a kitchen kosher. Buy two separate sets of dishware to avoid confusion, can consider designating separate drawers and cupboards to meat and dairy dishes and cutlery.
Don't use the oven for meat and dairy at the same time. You can use the stovetop to cook dishes involving meat and dairy on separate burners, but watch out for and clean up spills. Try not to microwave meat and dairy at the same time, since fumes from each dish can escape and infiltrate the other dish.
Consider getting two dishwashers. Orthodox and very observant Jews often have two separate dishwashers which they use to separately wash any dishes or utensils that may have touched dairy or meat.
Keeping your kitchen kosher ensures that you never run into a situation in which you may be eating dairy off a plate that held meat. Taking the measures to keep a kosher kitchen is complex and can be expensive, which is why the majority of Jews do not keep their kitchen kosher in this sense.
12. **Do not eat leavened bread.** Keeping kosher for Passover refers to a separate set of kosher laws that are followed for the week-long holiday of Passover, which falls in March or April. The fundamental kosher law during Passover is to not eat leavened bread, or bread that has risen for more than 18 minutes. Instead, Jews eat unleavened bread called matzoh. The reason why Jews eat unleavened bread during Passover comes from one of the most significant stories of the Jewish people, found in the book of Exodus.
Jews who keep kosher all year round also follow the kosher laws of Passover during the holiday in addition to the year-round kashrut laws. Some Jews don't follow the year round kashrut laws, but adhere to the Passover kosher laws during the holiday.
The Torah explains that the Jewish people were once enslaved under very harsh conditions in the land of Egypt. Moses led the movement to free the Jews from slavery, with resistance from the Egyptian pharaoh. The Jews fled Egypt before the pharaoh had time to change his mind about freeing them, and they didn't have time to wait for their bread to rise before they left.
Eating unleavened bread during the holiday of Passover is a reminder of the hardship that the Jewish ancestors had to endure, and a reminder of how God led them to freedom.
13. **Do not eat kitniyot.** Kitiniyot is a group of food that many Jews also avoid on Passover. Kitiniyot includes rice, corn, millet, dried beans, lentils, peas, green beans, soybeans, peanuts, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and mustard. The reason for not eating kitiniyot is still debated, though it is theorized that these foods should be avoided because they expand when soaked or cooked in water, which is similar to the process of leavening.
The prohibition on kitniyot is an Ashkenazi tradition. Ashkenazi Jews are Jews with roots in Eastern Europe. Most Jews in the United States are Ashkenazi Jews and therefore avoid kitiniyot when keeping kosher for Passover.
Sephardic Jews, or Jews with roots in the Middle East and North Africa, do not follow all the same traditions of Ashkenazi Jews, and therefore do eat kitiniyot on Passover.
14. **Eat foods with a kosher for Passover seal.** The seal that signifies a food is kosher for Passover is different from the regular kosher seals. Unless the seal states that the food is kosher for Passover, you can't be sure that the kosher seal pertains to Passover or not. If are purchasing a food that you think may not be kosher for Passover and doesn't have a kosher for Passover seal, check the ingredients on the back of the product to be sure it doesn't contain un-kosher ingredients.
Kosher for Passover seals usually say “Kosher for Passover” in English or Hebrew. They can also have a “P” next to the regular seal. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Kosher", "language": "en"} |
How to Deal With a Burglar Breaking Into Your Home | Your home is your castle, so you want to feel safe and secure inside of it. Unfortunately, your home might be entered by a burglar who’s after your money or valuables. Typically, burglars want to take things without harming a home’s occupants, but that doesn’t make them any less scary! If you hear a burglar in your home, hide from them if you can. Otherwise, tell them you called the police and use your household objects to fight them off. In the meantime, secure your home to make it less vulnerable to would-be burglars.
1. **Escape from your home if that’s possible.** Generally, it’s better to leave your home if an intruder is inside. Go to the closest door or window and flee to safety. Once you’re secure, call the police for help.
If neighbors live nearby, run to their house for safety. Otherwise, look for somewhere you can hide, such as inside a grove of trees or behind a fence.
2. **Hide inside the closest room or closet with a locking door.** Look around you and pick out the most secure hiding spot. If you can, move to a room or closet that has a locking door. Get inside and secure the lock.
You might also look for a hiding spot inside the room. For instance, you might get under the bed or inside a cabinet to further conceal yourself.
3. **Barricade the door to keep the burglar out.** Push heavy pieces of furniture in front of the door to keep it closed if you can. Alternatively, lean a chair under the door knob so it’s hard to push open the door. If the door opens outward, loop a belt around the door handle and the leg on a heavy piece of furniture.
For instance, you might push your dresser in front of your bedroom door. Then, sit in front of the dresser.
4. **Be as quiet as possible so you aren’t found.** Once you’re hidden, try not to make any noise. Don’t talk except to tell emergency services that you have a burglar. Additionally, don’t shift around or play with something.
Make sure your phone is on silent or vibrate.
Don’t try to move hiding spots. This will make noise and might draw attention to you.
5. **Listen carefully so you won’t be surprised by the attacker.** While it’s scary to think about, it’s likely that the burglar is going to go through your home looking for valuables. They might reach the room where you’re hiding before the police arrive. Listen so that you can hear what they’re doing. Pay attention to the following:
Do you hear footsteps or other noises coming your way? If so, prepare to run or fight.
Does it sound like the burglar is talking to someone else? If so, there could be more than 1 burglar.
Can you hear your property being picked up and packed? This can give you an idea of where the burglar might be located.
6. **Call the police** After you find a hiding spot, use your cell phone to call for help. Tell the dispatcher your name, your address, and that you have a burglar. Then, explain that you’re hiding and need to be quiet. Stay on the line until they say it’s safe to hang up.
Keep the volume of your phone on low while you’re calling for help. This minimizes the chance that you’ll be heard.
7. **Confront the intruder only if hiding isn’t an option.** Generally, it’s safer to avoid contact with an intruder rather than confronting them. You don’t know their motives for entering your home, and they may panic and hurt you if they find out you’re there. Do your best to escape or stay hidden.
Your personal safety is most important. Don’t risk your life to save your stuff!
Keep in mind that the intruder may be more likely to get caught if you hide and call the police. If they think you’re not home, they might still be in your home when the police arrive.
8. **Shout “I’ve just called the police” to possibly scare them away.** If you’re discovered or can’t find a hiding spot, yell that you’ve called the police already. Shout it out several times so you know that they’ve heard you. This might scare the burglar and get them to leave voluntarily.
You might shout, “I’ve called the police! The police are on their way! I called 911! The police will be here any minute!”
9. **Get your firearm for protection if you have one.** You might choose to protect your home with a gun. If so, retrieve your gun from it’s secure spot as soon as you hear the burglar. Then, prepare to use your gun for protection.
You may choose to shout to the burglar that you have a gun. You could yell, "I have a gun!" However, it’s possible that the burglar could also have one.
It’s legal in some areas for you to shoot a burglar. However, there may be restrictions on what’s legal, so research the laws in your area. For instance, you might not be able to fire on an intruder who is leaving.
10. **Pick up a knife if you’re near your kitchen.** Don’t try to go to the kitchen to retrieve a knife. However, grab a knife if you’re close to the kitchen when you hear the burglar. Keep the knife in your hand so that you can surprise the attacker with it if they get close to you.
While a knife is a great weapon, it might be hard to use and could get taken from you. Don’t approach the burglar with the knife. Use it to scare them off.
11. **Grab a heavy object that you can use as a weapon.** You don’t need a conventional weapon to fight someone off. Use a household item as a makeshift weapon to give you an advantage against the burglar. Strike the burglar with your weapon if they get close to you.
12. **Strike the burglar’s weak points to help incapacitate them.** If you’re close to the intruder, hit them where it hurts. Aim your weapon or a kick at their groin first if they’re a man. Then, attack their eyes, nose, neck, knees, and stomach. Hit them as hard as you can, then run away.
Your goal isn’t to fight, injure, or detain the burglar. Just try to incapacitate them long enough for you to run away.
13. **Practice your plan for a home invasion in advance.** Try not to worry too much about potential burglars because you’re probably safe. However, it’s helpful to practice how you’ll handle a burglary so you’re prepared. Make a plan with your family and practice it so you feel ready to carry it out. Here are some things to consider:
Plan an escape route from your bedroom and the common areas.
Create a danger word that warns other household members of an intruder.
Designate an area for all household members to meet up.
Create a safe room by installing a heavy, locking door on one room.
14. **Keep your doors and windows locked at all times.** Don’t give a burglar easy access to your home. Close and secure all exterior doors and windows, even if you’re home. This prevents crimes of opportunity.
Check your doors and windows before you go to bed every night to make sure they’re locked.
Add deadbolts to your exterior doors.
15. **Store expensive items in your garage out-of-sight.** Burglars are hoping for an easy score, so they’ll be tempted to grab things like bicycles or expensive tools. Keep these items in your garage when they’re not in use, and make sure you or your children don’t leave them laying in your yard.
Burglars might see these items laying in your yard while they’re casing homes and come back later to steal them.
16. **Trim the vegetation around your home so a burglar can’t sneak around.** You might think that shrubs and bushes hide your home, but they actually hide would-be intruders. Burglars can easily creep around your home if they’re shrouded in leafy vegetation. Eliminate these hiding spots by keeping your bushes, shrubs, and grass trimmed.
If you have a multi-story home, trim any tree branches that would allow a burglar easy access to a window or balcony.
17. **Install outdoor lighting so would-be burglars feel exposed.** Burglars want to stay hidden in the dark, so they might avoid your home if it’s well-lit. Put lights above your exterior doors and keep them on while it’s dark outside. Additionally, install motion-activated flood lights over your garage and the side of your home.
Check around your home for areas that might need more lighting to be secure.
18. **Use curtains to prevent potential burglars from spotting your goods.** While casing your home, would-be burglars will look through your windows to see if you have valuables. Make it harder for them to see inside by installing curtains or blinds over your windows. This makes it less tempting for a burglar to enter your home.
It’s especially important to cover your windows at night. If you have a light on, the contents of your rooms will be very visible from outside.
19. **Install a security camera over your front door or garage as a deterrence.** Burglars don’t want to get caught, so they might avoid your home if they see a visible camera. Plus, you’ll have evidence to give the police if they do break into your home. Put your camera above your door or above your garage to scare off potential burglars.
A camera will be a better deterrent if it’s easily visible to intruders.
20. **Get a home alarm to scare off burglars and call for help.** Investing in a home alarm system may scare off any burglars who do try to enter your home. Plus, it’ll call the police on your behalf so help arrives faster. Research home alarm companies to find one that fits your needs and preferences. Then, get an alarm installed.
Be sure to display you home alarm company’s sign outside your home so potential burglars know you’re protected. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-a-Burglar-Breaking-Into-Your-Home", "language": "en"} |
How to Plant Bitter Melon | Bitter melon, also known as karela or bitter gourd, is a fast-growing relative of the cucumber that is native to South Asia. It is known for its knobby, oblong fruit and a flavor even more bitter than grapefruit. If you live in a hot and humid climate and provide proper care, you too can have success growing this nutritious fruit!
1. **Plant after the last frost when temperatures are 75–80 °F (24–27 °C).** Even though bitter melon is more resistant to the cold than other plants in its family, frost will kill it. Though it may vary depending on your location, you are usually safe planting your seeds in late April or early May.
Bitter melon can grow at a minimum temperature of 65 °F (18 °C), but it will grow slower than it would in warmer temperatures.
You can also grow bitter melon in a greenhouse to prevent frost damage.
2. **Find an area with 6 hours of direct sunlight.** Although a few hours of shade is okay throughout the day, bitter melon prefers a location that has full sun. Seeds can be planted in shade as long as the vines can reach the sun once they grow.
3. **Add compost or manure to well-drained soil.** Mix in organic materials to add nutrients to the soil before you plant your seeds. Bitter melon prefers soft, sandy soil, so mix in sand if you need to.
The soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.7 to grow healthy melons.
4. **Build a trellis for the vines to climb.** Make sure the trellis is at least 6 feet (1.8 m) tall so the vines have room to grow and wrap around it. Shape the trellis like the letter "A" over the growing area. Growing on a trellis will help prevent diseases, make harvesting easier, and produce larger fruit.
Bitter melon that is grown directly on the ground will not produce fruit as large as a trellised plant.
If you do not trellis your melons, add a layer of straw or mulch to create a barrier between the plant and the soil, keep the moisture in the soil, and prevent fruit rot.
5. **Soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting.** Put the seeds in a bowl of water and let them soak for a day. This helps the seeds germinate quickly once they are planted. After they have soaked, pat them dry with a paper towel.
Purchase bitter melon seeds from your local nursery or online.
6. **Plant 2 to 3 seeds in the same hole ⁄2 in (13 mm) deep in the soil.** Plant the bitter melon directly outside. Poke a hole in the soil with your finger and drop the seeds inside. Cover the hole with topsoil. If you plan to plant more than 1 bitter melon plant, space the holes 40 to 60 inches (100 to 150 cm) apart directly into the soil in your garden.
Seeds can also be planted in small pots filled with potting mix if temperatures outside are not ideal. Seedlings can be transplanted after 15-20 days once they’re planted in pots.
7. **Water the soil until the top ⁄2 in (13 mm) is damp.** Use a watering can to gently wet the soil. Put your finger into the soil down to the first knuckle. The soil should feel moist, but not completely waterlogged.
8. **Continue to water the soil every morning.** Water at the same time every day so you do not forget. You should start to see the seedlings germinating after 2-3 days. Make sure the soil is moist, but not completely wet.
9. **Thin the seedlings once they have 4 to 6 true leaves.** Save the healthiest-looking seedling. Use a pair of small pruning shears to clear away the weaker growths by cutting them at the base.
If the seedlings are all the same size, either thin them out randomly or wait another day or 2 to see which ones start to grow larger.
10. **Spray your bitter melon with fungicides to prevent disease.** Bitter melon is susceptible to the same diseases that affect cucumbers and squash. Use a fungicide made for squash from your local garden store to prevent infections in your bitter melon.
Common diseases your bitter melon may encounter are watermelon mosaic potyvirus, downy mildew, or leaf spot. Look for splotchy discoloration on the leaves of your plant.
Fungal infections typically occur after long wet periods. Watch your plant carefully if there has been a lot of rain in your area.
11. **Apply an insecticide to prevent insect infestation.** Cucumber beetles are a common pest and carry bacteria that can permanently damage the vines of your plant. Apply a pesticide with rotenone at dusk so you do not harm pollinators during the day. Follow the directions on the packaging so you don’t harm your plants.
Fruit flies could lay eggs in the fruit. If you notice fruit flies near your plant, protect individual fruit by wrapping them in newspapers or paper bags.
Only use harsh chemicals if the infestation causes significant damage to your plant.
If you are planning to eat your bitter melon, stick to pesticides that are safe for human consumption, such as liquid soap sprays, vinegar, or Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt).
12. **Water the soil daily.** Water the soil so that it's moist ⁄2 inch (13 mm) below the surface. Overwatering the soil could damage the root system of your plant and cause the fruit to rot.
Use an irrigation system to provide a consistent water source for your melons.
13. **Prune the tip of the main stem once it grows past the top of the trellis.** Use a pair of pruning shears to cut the growing stem back by 2 inches (5.1 cm). This helps promote faster growth of fruit and puts the plant’s energy into the lateral vines that have grown from the main stem.
If you are not growing on a trellis, prune the growing vine once the first female flowers appear on the plant. Female flowers will have knobby green stems attached to yellow petals.
14. **Fertilize with a balanced NPK formula throughout the growing season.** Only apply fertilizer after the plant has 4 to 6 true leaves. A store-bought fertilizer meant for fruit and vegetables works well for bitter melon. Follow the directions on the label so you do not oversaturate the soil.
Water the soil immediately after you apply fertilizer so it has a chance to soak into the roots of your plant.
15. **Pick fruits 12 to 16 weeks after planting when they’re still green.** Use a pair of scissors to cut the hanging fruit from the vine. The fruit should be around 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long and firm to the touch when they are harvested. They’ll appear light green, but they may have yellow streaks on the flesh.
Plants that are completely yellow and soft to the touch are overripe.
The fruit’s bitterness may vary, even when it’s grown on the same vine.
16. **Harvest every 2 days after the fruit starts to ripen.** More fruit will form from the same vine after you remove the fruit that’s already grown. Check your vines every other day to see if you have fruit ready to be cut down.
Fruit should be harvested before it fully ripens.
17. **Cook** Keep the fruit in a plastic or paper bag in the fridge. Cut the fruit open and remove the seeds. Pair the fruit with garlic or spicy peppers to mask the bitter flavors of the melon.
You can parboil the fruit to reduce the bitterness, but it may change the texture.
Bitter melon has healthy doses of potassium, iron, fiber, and high amounts of vitamins C, B1, B2, and B3. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Plant-Bitter-Melon", "language": "en"} |
How to Increase Sperm Volume | If you're trying to conceive, increasing your sperm volume is probably one of your top priorities. To help you out with this, we’ve put together a list of dietary and lifestyle changes that could help to produce more sperm. You can also try natural remedies like fenugreek which can boost sperm quality. Trying a lot of these changes together gives you a good chance at increasing your sperm volume.
1. **Take a zinc supplement to boost your sperm production.** This mineral is associated with increased semen volume, sperm count, and testosterone levels. A blood test from your doctor can determine whether you have a zinc deficiency. If you do, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to add a daily supplement to increase your sperm volume.
You can also get enough zinc from your diet if you eat foods like walnuts, beans, oysters, beef, and chicken.
2. **Fenugreek is a popular natural remedy for improving sperm count.** Supplements made with this common medicinal herb can effectively boost libido, strength, sexual performance, and sperm health. Testofen is one such remedy consisting of fenugreek seed and minerals; a study has shown that men who took 600 mg daily for 6 weeks saw an increase in sexual activity and improved erectile dysfunction as well.
Talk to your doctor about including a fenugreek supplement in your diet.
Fenugreek is easy to find, as it is also used in cooking and herbal tea. However, the effects of whole fenugreek have not been studied. It’s unlikely that eating or drinking the herb would be as effective as a supplement.
3. **A coenzyme Q10 antioxidant supplement can improve semen quality.** Evidence suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 leads to a significantly increased sperm concentration and activity. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of antioxidant supplements as a means of boosting your sperm count.
Keep in mind that while coenzyme Q10 was linked to improved sperm health, it hasn’t been proven to increase pregnancy rates.
4. **The old herbal remedy Ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) treats semen deficiency.** Ashwagandha has been used as a medicinal herb for a very long time, originally to help with stress. However, studies have also suggested that, when taken as a supplement for 90 days, the herb can improve male fertility, boost testosterone levels, and improve sperm counts.
Ashwagandha root extract has been proven to give significantly better results than a simple placebo.
5. **Take D-aspartic acid (D-AA) as a dietary supplement.** D-AA is a type of amino acid, and research indicates that D-AA levels are significantly higher in fertile men than in infertile men. It’s also been shown that D-AA supplements can increase testosterone levels when taken for 3 months.
Talk to your doctor before adding a D-aspartic acid supplement to your diet.
Don’t confuse D-AA with L-aspartic acid, a more common amino acid found in many proteins.
6. **Wear loose-fitting underwear.** Make sure your testicles are not jammed up against your body. If your scrotum gets too warm for a long period of time, that can hamper sperm production. That might happen with tight-fitting briefs, so switch to boxers and give your testicles some breathing room. Make sure they are nice and loose.
Treat yourself to some new underwear that you like to make the transition fun for you!
7. **Practice safe sex.** Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause infertility in men, so make sure to take precautions if you're sexually active. Wear condoms to reduce your risk of contracting STIs. It's also smart to limit the number of partners you're with. If you're planning to conceive, you might want to make sure you're in a monogamous relationship to further reduce that risk.
8. **Stay away from hot tubs.** While it might feel great to relax in a nice soak, the heat levels are bad for sperm volume. High levels of heat on your scrotum can deter sperm production. Avoid hot-tubbing when you are trying to create a baby. Take a warm, relaxing shower instead. Your testicles aren't submerged, so it's not harmful.
9. **Reduce your stress levels.** Stress can interfere with the hormones needed to assist in sperm production. It's totally normal to be stressing about trying to increase your sperm volume but try to find ways to chill out a little. It will be very helpful.
One of the best things you can do for stress is to get enough sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours every night.
Try activities like yoga, meditation, or journaling.
Spend time with friends, go for a walk, or watch a funny show. Laughter is good for you.
10. **Maintain a healthy weight.** Being too large — or too small — can affect hormonal balance. Too much estrogen or too little testosterone will have a negative impact on your sperm count. Discuss a healthy weight for you with your doctor and ask for recommendations on how to reach that weight. Remember that everyone is different.
11. **Quit smoking, don't do drugs, and cut back on drinking.** Certain lifestyle habits, which stress your body and immune system, can lead to a lower sperm count. If you are trying to make a baby, it's best to refrain from smoking, doing recreational drugs (including steroids), and limit alcohol consumption.
Limit yourself to 2 alcoholic drinks per day.
If you need help quitting smoking, ask your doctor about some options that might work for you.
12. **Stay away from lubricants during sex.** Even though they might increase pleasure, lubricants might reduce sperm count. That's because lubricants, including saliva, lotions, and jellies, can interfere with sperm movement. It's best to avoid using them when trying to conceive.
If you need lubrication, try using vegetable oil, peanut oil, or a lubricant such as PreSeed, which may not harm your sperm.
13. **Limit your exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation.** Toxic chemicals and radiation can cause permanent damage to sperm. If you regularly work with toxic chemicals, be sure to wear protective covering (gloves, masks, etc.) so you limit exposure to your skin.
Avoid areas that you know produce too much radiation and only opt for medical procedures involving radiation if absolutely necessary.
14. **Add more amino acids to your diet.** Amino acids, traces of which can be found in meats, fruits, and vegetables, are believed to increase sperm count and keep the sperm from clumping. They may also increase sperm motility. Amino acids that you can incorporate into your diet include:
L-Carnitine, which can be found in red meat and milk
L-Arginine, which can be found in fish, poultry, red meat, and whole grains
If you aren’t getting enough naturally in your diet, you can also talk to your doctor about amino acid supplements for both L-Carnitine and L-Arginine.
15. **Increase your daily amounts of calcium and vitamin D.** Ask your doctor to determine if you are deficient in these nutrients. A deficiency might hamper sperm production, so talk about your options. You can take supplements of both, or spend significant time in the sun so your body can synthesize vitamin D, and eat plenty of yogurt, skim milk, and salmon to boost your calcium intake. If you do spend more time in the sun, be sure to lather up with some sunscreen to prevent damage from harmful rays and possible melanoma.
Talk to your doctor about whether or not you need supplements. It can vary from person to person.
16. **Eat several servings of fruits and veggies each day.** These foods are rich in antioxidants, which might actually improve the health of your sperm. Make it a point to eat several servings of each per day. Try adding a helping of each to each meal you eat. You can also snack on veggies throughout the day to up your intake.
Smoothies are a great way to add a lot of fruits and veggies to your day. Try a mix of greens, berries, a banana, and some almond milk. Blend and enjoy.
Salads are another simple way to make sure you're getting plenty. Try a mixture of kale, apples, and broccoli with a lemon vinaigrette. It's delicious and good for you.
17. **Cut back on processed foods and saturated fats.** Pre-packaged foods are typically processed and they are usually really high in sodium and cholesterol. Choose fresh foods when you can. Stay away from items like boxed cereals and microwavable meals. When you're trying to improve sperm volume, switch to a diet low in saturated fats and high in protein. Saturated fats decrease sperm volume while healthy fats can help increase it.
Avoid fatty cuts of meat and items like bacon and sausages. Go for chicken breast or pork cutlets instead.
Choose healthy fats like avocado, nut butter, and olive oil instead. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Sperm-Volume", "language": "en"} |
How to Sleep with Your Mouth Closed | Breathing through your mouth while you sleep can actually cause all kinds of problems, like snoring, sleep apnea, and fatigue. Fortunately, there are simple changes you can make to your daily habits so you start sleeping with your mouth closed. There are even devices you can use if you need some extra help. This article will walk you through all of your different options, plus we've included advice on when you should talk to your doctor.
1. **Practice breathing through your nose during the day.** If you breathe through your mouth during the day, you may be doing the same during your sleep. To change this habit, be aware of how you breathe throughout the day. If you find yourself breathing through your mouth, close your mouth and try to consciously breathe through your nose.
2. **Elevate your head during sleep.** Before you go to sleep, put an extra pillow below your head. Raising the height of your head while you sleep may help keep your mouth from opening.
3. **Exercise regularly to change your natural breathing patterns.** A daily walk or run will increase your body’s need for oxygen, and your body will naturally respond by taking in air through your nose. Exercising regularly will also help reduce stress, which is itself a cause of mouth breathing. If you do not exercise on a regular basis, making this simple change to your daily routine could help you sleep with your mouth closed.
You can also practice yoga or meditation as a way to reduce stress and focus on your breathing.
4. **Clean your bedroom regularly to reduce airborne allergens.** Dust mites, pet dander, and other airborne allergens may be clogging your nasal passageways during your sleep, forcing you to open your mouth to breathe. To reduce the amount of these allergens in the air, regularly wash your bedding in hot water, vacuum your floors, and dust.
Use a vacuum with a fine filter, like a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, for best results.
5. **Strap on a chinstrap to hold your mouth closed.** A chinstrap is a simple device that may help you keep your mouth closed while you sleep. A chinstrap loops around the top of your head and under your chin, and is usually fastened with Velcro.
If you find a chinstrap effective but uncomfortable, stick with it for a while. You may grow accustomed to wearing it with time.
A chinstrap may be especially helpful for people who use a nasal-mask-style CPAP machine when they sleep.
You can find a chinstrap at most major retailers.
6. **Wear a mouth guard to prevent mouth breathing.** Plastic mouth guards designed to prevent mouth breathing, called vestibular shields, are plastic coverings you put in your mouth before sleep. A vestibular shield will force you to breathe through your nose.
A mouth guard can also help prevent snoring from the mouth during sleep.
Any mouth guard marketed as a device that can help prevent mouth snoring may help.
These devices can be found at most pharmacies and large retailers.
7. **Use a nasal dilator to hold your nose open.** You may be sleeping with your mouth open because the airways in your nose are blocked or too narrow, making it difficult for you to breathe through your nose. If this is the case, you can wear a device called a nasal dilator while you sleep to help keep your nose open. You can find these nasal dilators over-the-counter at most pharmacies. There are four different types of nasal dilators:
External nasal dilators are placed on the bridge of the nose.
Nasal stents are inserted into each nostril.
Nasal clips are placed over the nasal septum
Septal stimulators put pressure on the nasal septum help open up nasal passages.
8. **Clear out nasal blockages with a nasal wash or saline spray.** You may be breathing through your mouth in your sleep if your nose is blocked, preventing you from breathing through your nose. If this is the case, a nasal wash or saline spray may help you keep your mouth closed by increasing air flow in your nose. A nasal wash would clear your nasal passages of any obstructions, while a saline spray would help reduce any swelling. Nasal saline sprays can be found over-the-counter at your local pharmacy.
If you suffer from chronic nasal congestion, an ear, throat, and nose (ENT) specialist may prescribe a stronger steroid spray.
9. **See your doctor if the problem persists.** Breathing through your mouth while you sleep may be a sign of an underlying health condition, so if the issues persist, you may want to see your doctor. Keep a record of when you first noticed the issue and any other possible symptoms you are experiencing.
10. **Treat your allergies to clear out your nasal passageways.** You may be sleeping with your mouth open if you suffer from nasal allergies. If you believe you may be suffering from allergies, see your doctor about possible treatments.
Your doctor will help you identify whatever it is you’re allergic to and will advise you about how to best avoid your allergy triggers.
Your doctor may also prescribe an over-the-counter or prescription medication to reduce allergy symptoms.
11. **Consider surgery to remove anatomical blockages.** A deviated septum could be the reason why you’re sleeping with your mouth open. The nasal septum is the thin wall in your nose that divides the left side from the right. A deviated septum can block one side of your nose and reduce airflow. This can lead you to breathe through your mouth when you sleep. In some cases, surgery is recommended to correct the deviated septum.
The surgery to correct a deviated septum is performed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Sleep-with-Your-Mouth-Closed", "language": "en"} |
How to Preserve Extracted Teeth | If you're planning on having your teeth extracted or want to preserve your child's teeth, there's an easy method for doing this. If you haven't had the extraction yet, make sure you let your dentist know in advance that you'd like to keep your teeth. Extracted teeth should be properly disinfected and kept hydrated to keep them well-preserved. You can do this by placing the extracted teeth in a sealed container with water, saline, or diluted bleach.
1. **Tell your dentist that you’d like to preserve your teeth in advance.** Dentists and oral surgeons aren’t required to give you your teeth back after they’ve been removed, and many dentists don’t give teeth back as a general rule. To make sure that you get to keep your extracted teeth, tell your dentist that you’d like to keep them before the extraction takes place.
2. **Make sure your extracted teeth have been properly cleaned.** After your dentist or oral surgeon removes your tooth, they’re required to properly clean it. This entails cleaning the teeth of any blood, using a disinfectant on the teeth, and then rinsing them with clean water. Make sure your dentist has done all of this before taking your teeth with you.
3. **Put the extracted teeth in a sealed bag when leaving the dentist.** Once your extracted teeth have been cleaned and disinfected, put them in a sealable bag. Oftentimes your dentist will do this for you, but if they don't, ask for a little bag or small tooth container to put your extracted teeth in.
4. **Clean your extracted teeth thoroughly if you pulled them out yourself.** If you extracted your teeth yourself at home, you'll need to follow the same protocol that a dentist would when it comes to cleaning them. First, use soap and water to remove any blood or other residue from the teeth. Take a cotton ball or pad and dampen it with rubbing alcohol, gently applying the rubbing alcohol to the teeth to disinfect them. Rinse the teeth with clean water afterwards.
Make sure you wash your hands before and after handling extracted teeth.
5. **Place the liquid and the extracted teeth in a sealable container.** Once you’ve chosen your method for keeping your extracted teeth hydrated, find a well-made container. This container should be durable and able to prevent leaking — a sealable container is best. Pour your liquid into the container and place your extracted teeth inside as well. Seal the container properly.
A glass jar with an air-tight lid works well.
Put the container in a sealed plastic bag to ensure it doesn't leak, if desired.
6. **Put your extracted teeth in water or saline for short-term storage.** To keep your extracted teeth properly hydrated, you can use distilled water or saline. If you choose to use water, it’s recommended that you change the water daily to prevent any bacteria from forming.
This type of storage solution is best if you’re only storing your teeth for a few days. If you’d like to store them using this method for a longer period of time, you’ll need to keep changing the water or saline solution.
7. **Use a 1:10 bleach-water solution to ensure decontamination.** Household bleach is a great disinfectant and should help keep any bacteria from forming on your extracted teeth. Create a mixture of household bleach and water by diluting bleach 1:10 with regular tap water.
You can keep the extracted teeth in the bleach for a couple of days to a week, but keeping them in the solution for too long may cause them to become brittle.
You can dip the teeth in this solution to decontaminate them before drying them off, if desired.
8. **Keep extracted teeth in an air-tight container for permanent storage.** The most popular option when keeping extracted teeth is to store them in a container without liquid. After making sure the extracted teeth are clean and disinfected, place the teeth in a small container with an air-tight lid.
You can buy a container made specifically for teeth, or you can just use one you have at home. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Preserve-Extracted-Teeth", "language": "en"} |
How to Read Greens | The difference between a good score and a great score out on the golf course may be the result of effective putting. Sinking balls in a single stroke involves reading greens accurately, a skill any golfer can learn. Effective golfers study the green from many angles before settling on a shot. They take their time, pick their shot, then write that birdie in on their scorecard time and time again.
1. **Gauge the green’s flatness to determine how to putt the ball to the hole.** Reading a green is about anticipating how your golf ball will move from your putter to the hole. No green is perfectly flat, so you always need to take a close look at the slope to do this. Any hills or divots will also change the speed of your ball and, sometimes, its trajectory.
You can’t always putt along the flattest part of the green. Most times, you need to hit the ball along the green’s slope in order to curve the ball towards the hole.
The route your ball takes from the putter to the green is called a line. Always take time to read the green’s slope before determining your line.
2. **Stand behind the hole to determine the slope around it.** The read you get while behind the hole is often the most important one. Crouch down if you need to do so in order to get a closer look. Then, look back up towards your ball. Note how the green looks from this perspective, paying attention in particular to how the slope changes a few steps from the hole.
To visualize the read, imagine pouring water into the hole. Ask yourself which way the water would spill out if it were to overflow. You expect the water to spill out towards the lower end of a slope.
The last stretch of green before the hole has the most impact on your ball. The ball rolls at such a slow speed that the green’s slope has more of a pull on it.
3. **Walk along the lower side of the hole as you return to your ball.** Once you have identified which part of the green is lowest, you know which way your ball will roll after you hit it. Stroll back to your ball, taking plenty of time to examine how the green changes. Any subtle changes, such as slope increases, have an effect on how your ball moves.
If you are uncertain of a particular spot you need to hit through, crouch! Get a close look at the grass. Note any uneven spots that can drag your ball away from the hole.
4. **Check the perspective around the ball to improve your read.** Get multiple reads until you have a good feel for the green. Try walking to the higher side of the green and imagining how you want to hit the ball. If you still aren’t sure, walk back to the midpoint between the ball and hole.
You should have a pretty good idea of how the ball will move on the green. Keep looking at the green from different angles until you feel confident about your read.
When you’re standing between the ball and cup, take a few practice swings until you feel comfortable with the read.
5. **Stand over the ball to analyze the ground around it.** Return to your ball, taking care to avoid any penalties from disturbing it. Look down and notice if the ball is higher or lower than your feet. This should give you a little extra information about how the ball will behave. Fine-tune your approach to compensate for the slope near your ball.
For example, if your right foot is higher than the bottom of the ball, the ball will roll towards your left foot. You can adjust your stroke by hitting the ball towards your right foot.
6. **Squat behind the ball to finalize your read.** Complete your read with a worm’s-eye view of the ball’s path to the hole. After all, no one can be more familiar with the intricacies of a green than someone who sees it up close. Examine the ball’s path to the green to make any final adjustments to your approach.
To visualize the ball’s path, imagine what it will do if you hit it straight at the hole. From analyzing the green from so many angles, you should be able to figure out where the ball would go.
7. **Take your time when reading greens.** Getting a good read can seem like a slow process, especially when you’re starting out. However, rushing is a fast pass to a 2-putt or even a dreaded 3-putt. Wait until you feel confident with your read and comfortable taking the putt.
You may feel rushed when other golfers are waiting for you. Remember to tune this out and let the golf course be a peaceful place to enjoy hitting a small, dimpled ball.
Once you get used to reading greens, you can often do it within 30 to 60 seconds, but don’t despair if you need extra time.
8. **Ask someone else for a second opinion if possible.** Even the best professional golfers turn to their caddies from time to time. Get the opinion of a caddie, friend, partner, or teacher. They should go through a similar process as you, studying the green from different angles before offering their advice.
In some circumstances, such as during a competitive round, you may not get a chance to ask anyone unless you have a caddie. Take extra time to get comfortable with your read.
Remember that an opinion is nothing more than an opinion. If you still think you’re right, stick with your initial read.
9. **Avoid overthinking your read.** While you should take as much time as you need to read a green, you shouldn’t ever doubt your read. Having a clear, confident image of the ball’s trajectory is important when hitting it. If you have any doubt, you may end up altering your swing and getting yourself into trouble with a poor putt.
Stick to your instincts. Your first read is usually the best, unless you have good evidence that your read was wrong.
10. **Envision a line tracing how the ball will roll to the hole.** Use this line to calculate how the slope of the green will affect the ball’s movement after you hit it. The line should move towards the higher side of the green, then head to the hole where you think the ball will break back towards the hole. Seeing the line can help you hit the ball with confidence.
Imagining a clear line can take some practice. At first, you may not be able to hit the ball exactly along your line. Master your putting technique as you get more confident reading greens.
11. **Adjust your aim according to the slope.** Once you have read the green, stand near the ball and imagine where you will hit it. The slope is the most integral influence on the ball's movement. You will need to hit the ball towards the slope so it rolls back down towards the hole. Position yourself to hit the ball in this direction.
For instance, if the green slopes down to the right, aim to the left to let the ball roll downhill towards the cup.
12. **Hit the ball harder for high-grain grasses.** Bermuda grass is known to play slower than regular grass, which means you need to hit the ball harder to get it to the cup. Bermuda grass often has a stronger grain than regular grass. To see the grain, look at the tips of the grass blades and notice which way they are pointing. If the blades point towards your ball, they will resist it and slow down its movement.
With slower greens, you may wish to get a second read to make sure your approach is right.
13. **Putt softer on fast or bumpy greens.** If you notice that the green looks uneven, you probably need to hit the ball a little lighter than usual in order to avoid overshooting the hole. You may notice bumps or other rough patches when you crouch down to analyze the green closely. Fast greens are another problem that require you to slow your ball.
To know if a green is fast, watch how others hit their balls. You will also know by putting on greens at other holes on the course. On fast greens, the ball faces less resistance than usual and rolls faster.
14. **Take a few practice strokes beside the ball.** Make practice strokes a part of the routine you go through before taking any shot. It gives you a final chance to look from your ball to the hole. Picture the ball rolling along the line you chose. Then, loosen up before taking your actual shot.
15. **Hit the ball firmly towards the hole.** Shake out your arms to loosen yourself up if you need to. Keep a firm grip on your putter, take a deep breath, and hit cleanly through the ball. Avoid stopping your swing short, or else your ball will end up short of the hole. Trust in your read and hit well to sink that ball!
Aim your club towards your target, which is where you want to hit the ball. The target is the part of the green that will cause the ball to roll down into the hole. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Read-Greens", "language": "en"} |
How to Charge Your Electric Car | If you have an electric car, finding ways to charge it is very important. There are several different types of chargers and some are slower than others. Regularly charge your vehicle at home through an outlet or charging station to keep your battery as full as possible. Public charging stations are still uncommon, so be sure to plan out your routes to take advantage of the best ones while you’re out on the road.
1. **Use a 120-volt outlet to charge a car slowly at home.** The easiest way to charge an electric car is by making good use of the standard wall outlets in your home. Most cars come with an extension cord that hooks up to wall outlets. This is called level 1 charging and, although it’s not a very fast process, it’s the cheapest way to charge the battery. It’s perfect for topping off the battery when you’re not in the car.
Through level 1 charging, an empty battery takes 16 to 20 hours on average to charge. Fuller batteries don’t take as long to charge, so plug in as often as you can.
Level 1 charging is useful since you can find compatible outlets wherever you go. It’s best for slow charging when you have time to spare, such as when you’re home at night.
2. **Find a 240-volt charger for a quicker way to charge a car.** Level 2 charging is done through 240-volt outlets or machines and cuts the waiting time down by half. It’s a much quicker solution to keeping your car running, but 240-volt outlets are rare, difficult to find, and different from standard 120-volt outlets. For that reason, you need to have a charging station installed on a regular outlet in order to charge your car this way at home. Commercial charging stations all run on level 2 charging as well.
Level 2 charging can fill an empty battery within 8 hours on average. It’s the best solution when you’re out on the road or need a faster charge at home.
Level 2 chargers come with a lot of additional costs. You will need to buy a charger online or from a home improvement store that carries them, then have an electrician install it.
3. **Plug your car into a 480-volt station for the fastest charging.** Some charging stations offer level 3 or 480-volt charging. These stations can fill up your battery within about 30 minutes. Stations that offer this service have big charging machines with a unique plug that connects to your vehicle. It’s the quickest way to charge the battery, but these machines aren’t available at every station.
Check your owner’s manual or call the manufacturer to ensure your car can withstand level 3 charging. Keep in mind that charging stations may charge you a fee to use a level 3 charger.
When you’re looking for this type of charging on the road, look for level 3 or 480-volt charging. It may also be listed as DC or DCFC, meaning direct current fast charging.
4. **Charge your car after each trip to keep your battery full.** Partially-charged batteries fill up much quicker than drained ones. Most owners leave their electric vehicles plugged in overnight so they wake up to a full battery in the morning. Charging can take a while, so take advantage of charging stations when you have the opportunity to use them.
Electricity tends to be cheaper during late-night “off-peak” hours. Fewer people use electricity then, so the rates tend to be lower.
Look for other opportunities to charge your car when it’s not in use. For instance, see if you can plug into a wall outlet at work. Try asking your boss to install a charging station.
5. **Use a wall outlet for level 1 charging.** Find a standard 120-volt outlet that isn’t in use by anything else in your home. The best spot is a garage or another sheltered outlet close to where you park the car. Your car will have a loose charger cable stored in its trunk that plugs into your car’s charging port and the outlet.
Check the owner’s manual if you’re unsure where your car’s charging port is. It is typically on one side of the car or right underneath its hood. It will be covered by a small door just like the tank nozzle in a gas-powered car.
Plug into an outlet with its own dedicated circuit. If anything else in your home is using that electrical line, it could overload and become a fire hazard.
Get permission when running the cable from the street or to a rental unit. It needs to be kept out of the way of traffic and other residents in your community. Your local government and your landlord, if you have one, can help with this.
6. **Get a level 2 charger installed to speed up the charging process.** Chargers cost about $200 to $500 to purchase and most fit over an available outlet. Choose a charger listed as compatible with your vehicle model, then contact an electrician to complete the install. The charger plugs into the charging port on your car. Store the level 1 cable and plug the level 2 cable into the port.
If you don’t have a wall outlet near where you park the car, you can also order a standalone, weather-resistant charging station and have it installed outdoors.
Expect to pay another $1,200 to $2,000 on the install. You have to have an electrician wire the charger to a circuit and possibly upgrade your home’s circuit breaker box to handle the electrical load.
You will also need to submit a construction application to your local planning department in some areas. Any installer you contract can handle this for you.
7. **Remove and store the plug after your car has finished charging.** When you see a small light appear on the car’s dashboard, you know it has finished charging. Pull the plug out of the vehicle’s charging port. If you’re using a level 1 cord, fold it up and put it in the trunk for safe storage. If you’re using a level 2 charger, hang the cord on the charger. Level 2 charging cords stay in place until you need to use them again.
You can remove the charging cord before your car finishes charging. It won’t harm anything, but the battery won’t be full and you won’t be able to drive as far before needing a recharge.
Keep the level 1 cord with you in case you need it while you’re driving. Some charging stations offer level 1 charging and can serve as a great way to top off your battery.
8. **Download a charging station map or app for when you’re traveling.** As electric vehicles have grown in popularity, dedicated charging stations have begun popping up. They can be tough to locate, so get a list of them before you leave home. Try looking at free apps such as PlugShare, ChargeHub, and ChargeMap. Google Maps also lists charging stations when you search for them within the app.
Keep a reference sheet handy as you plan out your traveling route. Remember how many miles you can get on a full car battery so you don’t get stuck between stations.
9. **Find a charging plug compatible with your vehicle.** This information will be listed on station maps, although you can also find out by calling ahead or visiting. Find one compatible with your car. Most places offer outlets that work well with most vehicles. Tesla stations are the exception and can only be used to charge Tesla cars.
Contact the manufacturer or read the owner’s manual to find out what kind of connector your car needs. Level 2 and 3 plugs differ, so choose a station carefully.
Use wall outlets at stations for level 1 charging. They work for any car model, but you need to bring your own charger.
If you have a Tesla, buy an adapter to connect to level 2 and 3 stations not operated by Tesla. These adapters come with the vehicle, but you can buy more from the manufacturer.
10. **Sign up for a membership if it is required to access the charger.** A few different companies operate charging stations across the world. Register by using a credit or debit card online or through the company’s app. Most companies offer free registration, although some make you pay to access their chargers. They also give you a plastic membership card that allows you to quickly activate a charger.
If you need to pay for a membership, expect to pay a $10 to $20 yearly fee. However, most memberships are free but may require you to load your membership card with an initial $10 or $20 to use at charging stations.
Some companies allow you to activate charging stations through the app or by calling a number listed on the charger. Having the membership makes the process easier but not 100% necessary.
To avoid ending up with a wallet full of membership cards, look for the most accessible stations on your route. Register with the companies you are most likely to frequent.
11. **Expect to pay to use a charging station.** The fueling rate varies a lot from station to station and area to area. Some areas charge a set price per charging session while others charge depending on how much electricity you use. It depends on the regulations in your region as well as the general cost of electricity. If charging costs anything, you will need a membership, debit, or credit card to pay.
For example, the Blink network of stations charges $0.50 to $0.60 per kilowatt hour in a few U.S. states like Oregon and California. Stations in other areas charge a flat fee of about $7.00.
Some stations are free to use, but they are rare. The cost is generally set by the property owner, so stations in the same network can have very different fees.
12. **Plug the charger cord into your car when you’re ready to use a station.** Level 2 and 3 charging stations have built-in cords. All you have to do is pull your car up so its charging port faces the charging machine, park your car, then turn it off. After plugging in the cord to your car’s charging port, use the machine’s screen to activate the charger. If you’re using a level 1 charger, you may need to get out your own cord and plug it into the station like you would at home.
The charging port is the same one you would use at home for level 1 or 2 charging. It is behind a small cover on the front or side of the car. Make sure you have removed the level 1 charger before attempting to plug the machine’s cord in.
Charging stations activate when you swipe a membership, credit, or debit card. If that isn’t an option, look for a sign with instructions on activating the machine. Call the phone number you see to start charging your car. | en.wikihow.com | {"url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Charge-Your-Electric-Car", "language": "en"} |