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Spin in a circle and look down. Sit in a swing and turn yourself, then let go. Crouch and stand up quickly. Put your feet higher than your head. Exercise. Look at an optical illusion. Try a dizzy challenge.

The easiest and most common way to get dizzy? Spin in a circle. Look down at your feet and spin, as quick as you can, for about 7-10 times. You won't need to spin much to get dizzy. Advanced method: Grab a baseball bat, or another stick a few feet long. Put one end on the ground and your forehead against the other. Spin while your forehead touches the bat. Don't try to run or do anything complicated after this. You probably won't be able to, and you might hurt yourself. Next time you go to the park, sit in the swing and twist it around until you can't anymore. Then let go and spin around really quickly. Spin on an office chair or a turning desk chair. Another simple way to get dizzy is just to crouch for a long period of time, your legs bent like you're in a huddle. Then, stand up abruptly. This is sometimes called getting a "head rush," but it's basically the same as getting dizzy. If you're hungry, or if it's very hot out, this will be more intense. Dizziness can result in fainting if you're not careful. When your bottom is higher than your top, the blood rushes to your head and you can start to feel quite dizzy. Try to move as little as possible while you do this, and you'll notice the effects more. Hang upside down from a swing-set, or from a fence, or from a pull-up bar. Make sure you turn around before you let go. Ride a roller coaster that goes upside down, or a ride one of the fair rides that you can control the spinning. The Tilt-a-Whirl is a great way to get dizzy. Often, if you start doing some exercise, like jogging, doing jumping jacks, or even something like jumping rope, you'll get a little dizzy. Pick something that will have you moving around, go outside, and do it. You get dizzy sometimes when your blood sugar is low and you need to eat something, or you get overheated. If you get dizzy when you do this, it's important to sit down, drink some water, and get something to eat quickly. Whether in a book or a picture online, optical illusions can get your head spinning even if you're sitting still. It's a great way to give yourself the illusion that you're moving without actually going anywhere. Lots of moving optical illusions are available on YouTube. They're pretty trippy. If you don't like the optical illusions you find, try watching the iTunes or Windows Media Player visualizer while you're listening to some music you like. Wild stuff. Dizzy challenges are all over social networking and YouTube, featuring kids doing silly tasks after spinning to get dizzy in some way. Check some out for inspiration, or try doing one of the following things after you get spun: Put on as many socks as you can Do a math problem Write your name Say the Pledge of Allegiance Walk a straight line, slowly Hit a whiffle ball

Now, on your Desktop screen you should see that you have converted .rpm to .deb package file. Read the Alien mainpage for more details.

How to convert other kinds of packages.

For example, if you want to convert .rpm file, download the package to your Desktop. Type following command to the Terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard) or use copy/paste method: When it asks you for password, don't be confused.

Now, you can convert the .rpm to a .deb by using the Terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard) or use copy/paste method: cd ~/Desktop (then hit Enter) This command will change the directory to your desktop, where you have the .rpm file. sudo alien -k apacheds-2.0.0-M11-i386.rpm (then hit Enter) To use command like is: sudo alien -k name.rpm (which will convert your .rpm package to .deb package) you need to replace 'name' with the name of your desired package. My is: apacheds-2.0.0-M11-i386.rpm. The password is that one, which you're using in the Login Screen. Password does not show up in the terminal when you type it. Just type your password and hit Enter. If your password was entered correctly, the action will continue.

Type the following command to the Terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard) or use copy/paste method to update your system first: When it asks you for password, don't be confused. To install Alien application to your Ubuntu operating system, you need to type following command to the Terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard) or use copy/paste method: When it asks you for password, don't be confused.

sudo apt-get update (then hit Enter) The password is that one, which you're using in the Login Screen. Password does not show up in the terminal when you type it. Just type your password and hit Enter. If your password was entered correctly, the action will continue. sudo apt-get install alien (then hit Enter) The password is that one, which you're using in the Login Screen. Password does not show up in the terminal when you type it. Just type your password and hit Enter. If it asks you do you want to continue, type 'Y' to your Terminal and then hit Enter.

Note that this is equivalent to "Let us" in English. Note also that this is easiest to learn. Follow the same pattern even for irregular verbs.

English only adds this phrase to infinitive without to. All are the same. Learn imperative for -are verbs. Drop ending add iamo. Example : (noi) parliamo Learn imperative for -ere verbs. Drop ending add iamo. Example : (noi) ridiamo Learn imperative for -ire verbs. Drop ending add iamo. Example : (noi) partiamo For example dare (to give) makes diamo (let us give) or avere (to have) becomes abbiamo (let's have).

Note that non-polite forms of second persons addressed by the "imperative" are tu (singular you) and voi (plural you). Learn imperative for regular verbs.

Learn imperative for -are verbs. Singular : drop ending add a. Example : (tu) parla Plural : drop ending add ate. Example : (voi) parlate Learn imperative for -ere verbs. Singular : drop ending add i. Example : (tu) ridi Plural : drop ending add ete. Example : (voi) ridete Learn imperative for -ire verbs. Singular : drop ending add i. Example : (tu) parti Plural : drop ending add ite. Example : (voi) partite Learn imperative for certain -ire verbs. Singular : drop ending add isc then add i. Example : (tu) capisci Plural : drop ending add i then add amo. Example : (voi) capiamo

Recognize the meow. Understand what the meow is about. Pay attention to nonverbal cues.

Cats can make as many as 16 different meows. Paying attention to the different sounds can help you better communicate with your cat. A short meow is typically a greeting. Multiple meows signal excitement A mid-pitch meow is a request, likely for food. A deep “Mrow” is usually a complaint. A high pitch “Rroww!” is an indication of anger or pain. A long drawn out “mrrroww” is usually a demand. In nature, cats only meow as kittens to get attention for their mothers. When they realize you do not respond to their other signals, they learn to meow. Often the meow is a way to communicate something the cat wants, but it can have other meanings as well. Most frequently your cat’s meow is trying to articulate a request. A meow often means that they want food, attention, or to be allowed into a room. A meow can also signal distress. Cats vocalize when they are in heat, lonely, stressed, angry, or in pain. They also become more vocal when they get older. Other times a meow is a simple greeting similar to a “hello.” Some of the most important ways that cats communicate are through body language. Cats, for example, have a complex language of signals that they make with their tails. When a cat looks you in the eyes and makes a long, slow blink, they are showing affection. This is sometimes compared to a kiss. A cat approaching you with their tail in the air is a greeting that suggests your cat is happy to see you. This has been compared to a handshake. If the fur on your cats hair is standing up, this is a sign that they are angry or afraid. When your cat's tail is low, or between their legs, they are insecure or anxious. A tail thrashing back and forth is a sign that your cat is angry. The faster they move it back and forth, the angrier they are.

Make some time alone with your cat. Get some treats. Meow. Repeat until your cat has learned the trick. Be nice.

Cats are easily distracted, so you should create a quiet and calm environment. Place your cat on the table in front of you and pet them to put them at ease. Place the treats on the table to get your cat’s attention. Cats are more likely to respond to treats that they aren’t accustomed to. Try to get something new. Keep meowing until your cat meows and then give your cat a treat, and pet them. Continue as long as the cat is willing to participate. After your cat no longer seems to respond, take a break. Try again the following day. Repeat every day until your cat regularly responds when you meow. If you get frustrated and begin to be mean to your cat, they will become stressed and be less likely to respond. Cats do not respond to force. You must use positive reinforcement to encourage behavior.

Open the motor of your Power Wheels car. Check the compatibility of your Power Wheels motor. Insert a solder-free spade connector to the pin of the brushless motor. Insert the brushless motor back into the Power Wheels hardware. Attach the wires to the brushless motor. Thread the wheels back onto your Power Wheels car and test.

Flip your car upside down and remove the wheels to access the black motor hardware. Remove the motor by loosening the screws using the proper screwdriver, and wiggling the cylinder-shaped motor until it comes free. Ensure that the new motor that you have chosen is the correct size for your Power Wheels. Remove the brushless motor from your secondary car. It will be cylinder shaped and you may need to remove some hardware to expose the motor. Wipe the motor clean with a dry rag to remove any buildup of dirt. You may be able to salvage the spade off of the Power Wheels motor by heating it gently and applying some pressure with a flathead screwdriver. If you can’t remove it, purchase an inexpensive spade from your local hardware store rather than potentially ruining the already-connected spade and the actual motor itself. Gently push the motor in spade-end first. Using your screwdriver, put the screws back into the hardware to hold the battery in place. The brushless motor may need some twisting and turning until it is solidly inserted so be patient and don’t try to force it. Carefully unwrap the wires from the original motor and re-attach them to the brushless motor following the same connecting points. At this point, a new battery could also be inserted if desired. Disconnect the battery to avoid getting shocked. Your car should be compatible with the remote from the brushless motor. Keep the car upside down as you test to be cautious, as the speed will be greatly increased.

Choose an aftermarket battery. Pry off the top of the original battery from the side using a flathead screwdriver. Pull the battery connecter away from the battery. Connect the fuse to the positive side of the battery connector. Insulate all exposed remaining wires. Insert the connector into the replacement battery. Test your new battery.

When choosing a battery, look for information on your Power Wheels battery to guide you on the exact specifications. You must note the voltage, chemistry, and size. For example: Fisherbrand Power Wheels batteries are often lead based, 12 Volt and are 16.0 x 11.0 x 8.0 so you must ensure ensure that the aftermarket battery you choose matches these specifications. The advantage to after-market batteries are that they are inexpensive compared to the Power Wheels brand batteries. After the top cracks, use the screwdriver to pull the edges off the top away from the battery. Completely remove the top piece but be gentle to avoid damaging the casing of the battery. Stay away from the black connector inside the battery as this will be used to hook-up your new battery to your Power Wheels car. It will need to be replaced if you unintentionally damage it. After some wiggling, the connector will pop up and out of the rest of the battery. Pull the two attached positive and negative wires out as far as you can, and then gently clip them as close to the battery as possible. Use wire cutters or crimpers to ensure a clean, crisp cut. these are available for only a few dollars at your local hardware store. After the connecter has been disconnected, recycle your battery at the recycling depot. Batteries contain a large amount of nasty chemicals and are harmful to the environment. Insert a 30 Amp fuse into a fuse holder. Once connected, strip approximately 1 cm of wire cover from each side of the connector using your wire crimping tool. Insert the exposed wire into a wire connector and crimp down on the wire connector to hold the wire firmly in place. The positive side of the connector will be white or red. After crimping the wire connector, insert the one wire from the fuse to the other side of the battery connector. Crimp down to connect the fuse to the battery connector. Fuses, fuse holders and wire connector are available at local hardware stores. Attach an insulated female spade to the negative wire of the battery connector (often black) and the remaining exposed fuse wire. Female spade connectors come in many different styles. To save time, take your aftermarket battery with you to the store and compare the male components located on the battery terminals to the positive connectors in the store. Connect the negative battery terminal (black) to the negative wire of the connector (also black). Connect the positive terminal (red) to the fuse end of the connector. Be cautious and place your car upside as the speed will be greatly increased.

Re-read passages you don’t understand. Avoid skimming material. Read passages aloud. Make flash cards.

Particularly in poetry, authors may use language unconventionally in order to make a more powerful impact on the reader. This can be confusing at first, but re-reading the passage slowly and carefully will reward your attention. Look for footnotes and other aids. Often in books edited for a student audience, the editors will include explanatory footnotes, word definitions, and other aids that can help you grasp what’s going on. Don’t ignore these! They can really help clear up confusing passages. Especially if you’re reading poetry or plays, reading everything is very important. Skipping things such as stage directions in a Shakespeare play can mean you miss out on crucial information. Language in poems is precisely chosen and structured to have a particular effect, so missing even a word or two could damage your understanding of the whole text. This technique works especially well with poetry and plays, but it can also work for long, dense passages of prose in a novel, especially if it’s something like a Charles Dickens novel where sentences can run to a full paragraph. Reading the language aloud will help point out elements such as rhythm, alliteration, and repetition, which are all things that your exam may ask you to speak about. If you’re having trouble remembering things, make yourself some flash cards. Sometimes, the transfer of material from one medium to another (e.g., from written notes to flash cards) will help you learn it more effectively. Flash cards are especially helpful for memorizing things such as literary terms and character names. They may be less helpful for remembering more complex information.

Start early. Examine what you already know. Consider whether there are literary terms you’re unfamiliar with. Look at sample questions, if you can.

Don’t wait to study until the night before a big exam! Particularly with a subject such as English literature, where you will probably be asked analytical questions as well as content questions, you must have time to familiarize yourself with some of the complexities of your material. Being able to summarize the plot or name some characters is unlikely to be all you’ll need to do. Write out all the details you can remember from your first reading of the text, as well as anything you remember from your course lectures. Don’t “cheat” by looking at your notes or your text -- just write down what you are confident you remember. This will be your starting base and will reveal any gaps in your knowledge. Many tests and exams in English literature want you to be familiar with some key terms, such as stanza, irony, alliteration, speaker, and figurative language. While you’re not likely to be expected to have comprehensive knowledge of literary terminology, understanding some of these key concepts will be important to your success. There are many guides available that can help you find definitions for important literary concepts, but here are a few crucial terms: A stanza is a poetic division of lines and is equivalent to the paragraph in prose writing. Usually, stanzas are at least three lines long; groups of two lines are usually called “couplets.” Irony at its basic level says one thing but means another, which is almost always the opposite of what is actually said. For example, a character who meets someone in a raging blizzard might say “Lovely weather we’re having, isn’t it?” This is ironic because the reader can see that it is clearly not lovely weather. William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens are famous for their use of irony.Do not confuse irony with misfortune, which Alanis Morissette’s song “Ironic” is culpable of: “a black fly in your chardonnay” is definitely unfortunate, but it’s not ironic. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader or audience knows important information that a character does not, such as the fact that Oedipus killed his father and will marry his mother. Alliteration is a technique used most often in poetry and plays; it is the repetition of the same initial consonants in multiple words within a short space. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” is an example of alliteration. A speaker usually refers to the person from whose point of view a poem is given, although it may also be used to refer to a novel’s narrator. Keeping the speaker separate from the author is important, especially in poetic dramatic monologues such as Robert Browning’s "My Last Duchess," in which a maniacal duke admits to having murdered his first wife. Obviously, it is the speaker, not Browning, who is saying these things. Figurative language is discussed in more length in Part 2 of this article, but it is the opposite of “literal” language. Figurative language uses techniques such as metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole to make a point more vividly. For example, in Shakespeare’s play Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra describes Mark Antony this way: “His legs bestride the ocean. His reared arm / Crested the world.” This is hyperbolic language: obviously Antony’s legs didn’t literally straddle the ocean, but it powerfully conveys Cleopatra’s high opinion of him and his power. If you were given a study guide or sample questions, see how much of this material you are already familiar with. This will help you zone in on what needs more work and make a study plan.

Note what type of poem you’re dealing with. Identify the speaker and the audience of the poem, when possible. Write down any symbols in the poem and where they appear. Remember that you don’t have to memorize poems you’re studying. Look up context for your poems.

Sometimes, knowing the type of poem you’re studying, such as whether it’s a sonnet or sestina or haiku, can be very important to being able to discuss its meaning. You can often determine what type of poetry you’re dealing with by examining the rhyme scheme (the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line) and the meter (the number of poetic “feet” each line has). For example, Edna St. Vincent Millay tackles how difficult it is to write poetry in her poem “I Will Put Chaos into Fourteen Lines.” Knowing that this poem is a sonnet about writing sonnets helps explain part of what the poem’s goal is: putting a little modern “chaos” into a very old and established poetic form. Recognizing that Millay uses a classic Petrarchan rhyme scheme and that many of the lines are in iambic pentameter (meaning they sound like “ta-TUM ta-TUM ta-TUM ta-TUM ta-TUM”) will help you identify the poem as a sonnet. Many modern poets write in free verse, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t also paying close attention to the form of their poetry. Look for elements such as alliteration, assonance, repetition, enjambment (the breaking of poetic lines), and rhythm in free verse poetry just as you would in more formally structured poetry. This is particularly important for poems such as dramatic monologues, where the speaker is definitely ‘’not’’ supposed to be the poet. Felicia Hemans, Robert Browning, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson all wrote dramatic monologues from the points of view of characters very different than themselves. Identifying the speaker can be trickier in lyric poetry, such as the type written by poets like Wordsworth or John Keats, because these poems are often written in first-person but don’t make a clear distinction between the speaker and the poet. Nevertheless, even in poems that are written using first-person pronouns like “I”, always refer to the speaker as the speaker, not the poet. Just as with prose writing, symbolism shows up all the time in poetry. Be on the lookout for repeated elements, especially things like colors or natural imagery. For example, in William Wordsworth’s poem “Tintern Abbey,” the eye is an important symbol that represents many things, including the poet’s imagination. Wordsworth will often play on the similarity of sound between I and eye, further relating the two concepts. Symbolism is all over the place in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. One key symbol is the hall of Heorot, King Hrothgar’s great golden mead-hall. Heorot symbolizes community, bravery, warmth, safety, wealth, and civilization, so when Grendel invades Heorot and murders warriors in their sleep there, he’s violating everything about the Scyldings’ lives. Just make sure you know the basics such as structure of the poem, themes, and overarching idea or story. It can sometimes be helpful to memorize a key line or two from a poem so that you can use it as evidence. For example, if you’re studying Walt Whitman’s huge poem Leaves of Grass, you might want to memorize the short phrase “dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem.” This short quotation encapsulates much of the meaning from the larger text, and being able to drop it into an exam will help you support your claims. Context is just as important for poetry as it is for fiction or drama. Knowing what types of issues the poet may have been addressing can help you understand the goal of the poetry. Contextual information can also be useful in keeping you from making incorrect statements about poems. For example, it’s important to know that Shakespeare’s sonnets are not all written to female lovers, even though that was the standard for sonnets of the era. In fact, most of them are written to a “fair youth,” a wealthy young man to whom the poet has some sort of deep, possibly romantic, attraction.

Re-read your text. Look for figurative language. Consider the structure of your text. Think about character archetypes. Think about situational archetypes. Consider how action develops from conflict.

You should have already read the text for class, but if you’re studying for an exam, make sure you go back and re-read it to catch things you missed out on the first time. Many authors use techniques such as metaphors, similes, and personification to emphasize their points. These may be crucial to understanding the literary work you’re reading: for example, knowing that the white whale in Moby-Dick represents (among other things) Captain Ahab’s hubris is essential to being able to understand Melville’s novel. Metaphors make direct comparisons between two seemingly dissimilar things. They are stronger than similes. For example, the last line of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is a famous metaphor comparing human lives to boats trying to make progress against a strong current: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Similes also make comparisons, but they don’t directly state that “x” is “y”. For example, Margaret Mitchell uses a simile to describe Scarlett O’Hara’s interest in Ashley Wilkes with a simile in her novel Gone With the Wind: “The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor key.” Personification occurs when a non-human animal or object is given human characteristics in order to express an idea more powerfully. For example, Emily Dickinson frequently uses personification in her poems, as in this poem about a snake: “A narrow fellow in the grass / occasionally rides; / You may have met him, -- did you not, / His notice sudden is.” Here, the snake is a “narrow fellow” who “rides” in the grass, which makes it seem almost like a dashing Victorian gentleman, rather than a reptile. The way that an author expresses her or his ideas is often as important as the ideas themselves. In many cases, the form and structure of the text will have some kind of influence on its subject matter. If you’re reading fiction, think about the order in which the events are recounted. Are there flashbacks or places in the narrative that cycle back in time? Sandra Cisneros’s novel Caramelo begins close to the end of the actual “story” and switches between various times and places in order to emphasize how complicated family histories are. If you’re reading poetry, think about the form of the poetry. What type of poem is it? Is it something formally structured, like a sonnet or sestina? Is it free verse, which makes use of elements such as rhythm and alliteration but doesn’t have a set rhyme scheme? The way the poem is written will often offer clues as to the mood the poet wanted to convey. An archetype is usually a character -- although it may also be an action or situation -- that is believed to represent something universally recognized as part of human nature. The influential psychologist Carl Jung argued that archetypes tap into the “collective unconscious” of humanity, and thus we recognize experiences we’ve shared with others in archetypes. Several types of of literature analysis have been influenced by Jung, so being familiar with some archetypes that may appear in your text will probably be useful. The Hero is a character who embodies good and often fights against evil in a struggle to bring justice or restore order. Beowulf and Captain America are perfect examples of the Hero archetype. The Innocent Youth is a character who is usually inexperienced, but whom others like because of the faith s/he has in other people. For example, Pip in Charles Dickens’s novel Great Expectations is an Innocent Youth, as is Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. Often, these archetypes will experience some sort of “coming of age” in later parts of the story. The Mentor is tasked with caring for or protecting the main character through wise advice and assistance. Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit is an excellent example of a Mentor archetype, as is Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars movies. The Doppelganger is a character who doubles for the main character in order to represent the “dark side” of the hero or heroine. Common examples of doppelgangers include Frankenstein and his Creature in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Robert Louis Stevenson's' novel of the same name. The Villain is a character with evil plans whom the hero must oppose. The villain will usually do anything to defeat the hero and is often, though not always, clever. Good examples include Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, Smaug the Dragon from The Hobbit, and the Joker from the Batman comics and films. The other main type of archetype you’ll probably encounter is situational, i.e., a very familiar and expected type of plot and progression. Some common situational archetypes include: The Journey. This is an incredibly common archetype and is referenced in everything from stories of King Arthur to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver’s Travels to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. In this archetype, the main character undertakes a journey -- physical or emotional, literal or figurative -- to understand something about herself/himself or the world around her/him, or to achieve an important goal. Often, the journey is very important to the plot, as with the Fellowship’s quest to destroy Sauron’s One Ring in the Lord of the Rings. The Initiation. This archetype has similarities with the Journey, but the focus is more on the hero/heroine’s developing maturity through their experiences. This type of story may also be called a ‘’bildungsroman.’’ Henry Fielding's Tom Jones is an excellent example of this, as are the origins of most comic book heroes (for example, Peter Parkers lessons about how to handle “great power and great responsibility” as he becomes Spiderman). The Fall. This is another very common archetype. In this archetype, the main character experiences a fall from grace as the consequence of her/his own action. Examples of this archetype are all over classic literature, including King Lear from Shakespeare’s play King Lear, Ahab from Melville's novel Moby-Dick, and Satan from John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. For many texts, particularly plays and fiction, there is an “inciting incident” that sets the main action of the story in motion. This moment disturbs the equilibrium of the situation, poses a problem, and sets off a series of events that will form the rest of the story. For example, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth hears a prophecy from a trio of witches that says he will become King of Scotland. While he has never wanted to be king until this moment, the prophecy sets him on a path of ambition and murder that eventually leads in his downfall. As another example, in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, a group of young girls face a conflict: they’ve been caught doing naughty things in the woods and face punishment. To try to cover up their actions, they accuse their fellow villagers of witchcraft. This action incites the rest of the play’s story, which follows these accusations as they spin out of control.

Summarize each chapter or act in bullet points after you read through the text for the second time. Make out character profiles for each main character. Outline any problems the characters face. Determine whether these problems are solved. Remember some important statements made. Make more detailed notes, including main themes in the text and how each character is important in the text. Write down any symbols in the text and where they appear. Look up contemporary connections.

This will make future review easier, as you will have a rough summary to work from. Don’t get too bogged down in summary. You don’t have to summarize every little thing that happens in a chapter or act. Aim to note the main action of each one, as well as any important character or thematic moments. Include anything important that the character says or does, along with links to other characters in the text. For plays, you may want to note any speeches that seem particularly important, such as Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech or the “attention must be paid” speech from Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. This can often be even more helpful than chapter summaries. What challenges and conflicts do the main characters face? What are their goals? For example, Shakespeare’s Hamlet has several problems he needs to solve: 1) Is the ghost of his father urging him to seek revenge trustworthy? 2) How can he take revenge on his uncle in a court full of people who are watching his every move? 3) How can he overcome his natural tendency to overthink things to work up the courage to take the revenge he wants? Sometimes, problems are solved fairly neatly at the end of a story: the Death Star is destroyed in Star Wars, the One Ring is destroyed and Aragorn restored as King in Lord of the Rings. Sometimes, problems are solved but not in ideal ways: for example, Hamlet does achieve his revenge and fulfill the ghost’s request, but he also kills several innocent people along the way and ends up dead himself. Understanding whether characters achieved their goals, or why they didn’t, will be useful in discussing the works in your exam. While you don’t necessarily need to memorize important statements or speeches, remembering what they’re generally about can be very helpful when you go to make an argument about a text. For example, if you’re studying Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, remembering that Mr. Darcy admits to meddling in Elizabeth’s family affairs will be useful in explaining why they are so angry with each other early in the book (i.e., he is too proud to admit that meddling really was wrong, and she is too prejudiced to admit he might have had motivations that made sense). Don’t skimp on detail here! Noting that “the tone of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is very sinister” won’t be much use in the exam if you don’t have a way to describe what’s making it feel sinister. Write down particularly vivid moments from the text. Not only can these help you remember what happened in a chapter, they will give you evidence to use when you make claims about the text in your exam. For example, consider this quotation from Chapter 41 of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, when Ahab has finally caught up with the White Whale: “He [Ahab] piled upon the whale’s white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart’s shell upon it.” This is far more evocative than simply saying “Ahab attacked the whale.” This passage emphasizes that Ahab is after the whale not just for taking his leg, but because he’s come to embody every single horrible thing that has happened to humans since time began in this whale, and he is willing to destroy himself -- it’s as if his chest is a cannon, remember, with a cannonball exploding from it -- to take the whale down. Symbolism is a favorite tool of authors. If some element, such as a color or specific item, shows up more than once or twice, it’s likely to be a symbol that represents something important. For example, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, the “A” that Hester Prynne must wear in punishment of her adultery is an obvious symbol, but her daughter Pearl also serves as a symbol. Like the “A,” Pearl is a reminder of her adultery, a “token of her shame.” Hester often dresses Pearl in beautiful gold and red dresses, physically linking her to the letter and to Hester’s crime. It is often very helpful to be able to reference in your exam or essay some important cultural or social issues that were relevant at the time a text was first written. Use any course material you have, along with introductions to critical editions of the text and reliable resources such as those found through a library database to do a bit of research. Do not rely on websites such as wikipedia or your own knowledge of a period, as both of these may be incomplete or inaccurate. For example, if you are studying Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," it’s important to be able to speak about the condition of women in the late 19th century. Gilman was a very important feminist writer who wrote against the traditional social structure of her time, which insisted that a woman’s only place was as a wife and mother. Importantly, her arguments usually insisted that this structure harmed men as well as women -- something that is very useful to bring up in a discussion of her fiction, and something you might not know if you were only acting on “common knowledge” of the era.

Decide if you need to wrap your knee. Use a wrap as a preventative measure. Avoid using knee wraps on serious injuries. See a doctor.

There are multiple reasons to wear a knee wrap. Many people who exercise will wrap their knees as a means of giving their knees a bit of additional support while they exercise. Some people do it if they have had a partial tear in a ligament and are seeking some external support. Weight lifters will also wrap their knees prior to doing squats to give the joint some additional stability. If you have or think you have sustained an injury, make sure your see your doctor before performing any strenuous activity. Knee wraps are not generally used to treat a severe injury or condition. Knee wraps are used for the prevention of injury or knee issues. They provide a bit more stability and external support to the joint of your knee when it is put under extreme stress. The only kind of treatments a knee wrap is used for are first degree sprains of the knee. This can only be diagnosed by a healthcare provider. If you sustain any injury, see your orthopedic surgeon. The risk of getting injured again or misdiagnosing can cause serious damage. There are many instances where a wrap is not needed. If you have an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear or any other ligament tear, do not treat it with a knee wrap unless explicitly instructed by your orthopedic surgeon. It would also not be appropriate to simply wrap your knee with a medial or lateral meniscus tear. If a knee wrap helps an injury and your surgeon sees no problem with using this method while you wait for an upcoming surgical repair, then you can use it. Never use this as a means to stabilize a grossly unstable joint for purposes for recreation. If you feel that, despite wrapping your knee, you have been injured, see your physician right away. Only the doctor can diagnose exactly what is wrong with your knee. The doctor may advise you to wrap your knee injury if it is a grade I injury for purposes of stabilization only. If your wish to start or resume physical activity, seek medical attention first to see if your injury has healed.

Gather supplies. Position yourself.

You need to have the right materials to wrap your knee. You need to buy a knee wrap, also called a compression bandage. These can be bought at any general store or pharmacy. The most popular brand is ACE, but you can also find other brands to buy as well. You also need something to hold the bandage on with. Most bandages come with elastic clasps with metal hooks, but in case your bandage doesn't, you can tuck the bandage into itself. You can also buy self-sticking bandages, which use adhesive on their surface to stay snug. Others have velcro along the edge of the wrap. Choose whichever one you think is best for your situation. You can also buy different sizes of bandages as well. Buy the size that you feel will fit your knee best. When wrapping your knee, you need to make sure you are in the correct position. First, have a seat in an open area where you have plenty of room to move around. Next, extend your right leg out in front of you. There should be plenty of extension in your leg, but it should also be relaxed, with just a bit of passive comfortable flexing in your knee. Make sure there is enough room to move your arms around your leg. This will ensure that you have room to work on your knee.

Set the back brackets in the slide frame. Align the slide frames with the bottom of the cabinet. Use a level to straighten the frames. Mark the position of the frames with a pencil. Predrill holes into the wood. Screw the frame pieces in place. Fit the drawer into the cabinet’s slide frames.

Find the L-shaped metal brackets as well as the 2 remaining slide pieces. Fit a bracket into 1 end on each slide. The brackets easily slide into the frame track. The free ends of the brackets will attach to the cabinets with screws. To make sure the bracket is placed correctly, test the frame pieces by fitting them inside the cabinet. Place the slide frame pieces inside the cabinet. Push the brackets all the way to the back. The frame pieces should be flush with the bottom edge of the cabinet and rest against the side walls. If you are using undermount or center mount slides, place the frame pieces on the cabinet’s bottom. The frames need to be level from front to back. To check this, set a carpenter’s level on top of the frame. Reposition each frame as needed until the leveling tool is even from left to right. When using a bubble level, for instance, the bubble will move to the center of the level. Mark where the frames rest on the cabinet. You can draw directly onto the cabinet with a pencil. Create the lines right over the ends of both frames. Then, mark the spots where the brackets and rails will be screwed in place. Each bracket has 2 screw holes to mark. The rails will have at least 1 hole at the opposite ends. Make sure the lines are dark enough to see as you secure the rails. Drill into the spots you marked earlier. These holes prevent the screws from breaking or cracking the wood. Use a drill bit about 2⁄3 in (1.7 cm) wide to create holes about 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) deep. Set 2 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) screws in each bracket. Use an electric screwdriver to secure the frame to the cabinet. Then, set another screw in the front end of the bracket to secure the slide in place. Gently install the screws and avoid making them too tight. Line the drawer’s slide rails up with the cabinet’s rail frames. The drawer’s slides should fit in the frames. Push the drawer in to make sure it glides smoothly. If the pieces are installed correctly, the drawer will come to a gentle stop inside the cabinet. If something seems off, check to make sure the slides are even and level. You may need to readjust the screws.

Empty and remove the drawer. Unscrew the slides from the drawer and cabinet. Measure the drawer length with a tape measure.

Take everything out of the drawer. Pull the drawer all the way out of the cabinet and set it aside. Most drawers will pop out if you pull them back. If this doesn’t work, you may need to undo a latch or screw on the drawer’s. The latch or screw will be located near the back end. Pull the drawer out as far as possible. Use a screwdriver to remove the existing hardware. The hardware will always be a couple of slide pieces attached with screws. Depending on the type of slide you have, the metal track will either be underneath or on the sides of the drawer. The other half will be in a similar location inside the cabinet. The slides will attach with at least one screw each on the front and back ends. You may need to press down clips located on the slide tracks to unlock them. These will come off when you unscrew the slides. Measure the length of 1 of the old slides. Drawer slides come in a few different sizes. To ensure you get what you need, measure the drawer before purchasing new slides. If you do not have a slide available, you can measure the drawer or cabinet from front to back. The standard slide length is 14 in (36 cm). However, deeper cabinets will have longer slides.

Align the smaller slide against the bottom of the drawer. Mark the slide placement in pencil. Predrill holes into the drawer. Screw the slide to the drawer. Attach the slide on the other side of the drawer.

Lay the drawer on its side. The slide needs to be flush against the drawer’s bottom edge. The slide’s thicker, squared end should be flush with the drawer’s front edge. Undermount slides attach to the bottom of the drawer, one each on the left and right edges. For center mount slides, use 1 per drawer. The slide attaches to the bottom of the drawer, running from front to back along the center. Draw directly on the drawer. Create a thick, dark line right above both ends of the slide. Also mark the spots where the slide will be screwed to the drawer. The slide will have a screw hole at both ends. Get an electric drill with a drill bit approximately 2⁄3 in (1.7 cm) wide. Drill about 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) into the screw spots you marked earlier. Drilling the holes in advance prevents damage to the cabinet when you add the screws later. Set the slide back on the drawer. Align its top edge with the mark you made earlier, adjusting the slide so the holes are over the spots you drilled. Place a 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) screw in each hole. Fasten the slide in place with an electric screwdriver. To avoid damaging the wood, tighten the screws gradually. Stop when the slide feels firmly in place and doesn’t wobble. Find the other small slide piece. Flip the drawer over so the other side is facing up. Then, line up and attach the other slide the same way you did with the first one.

Find the least common multiple Multiply the numerator and denominator to get like denominators. Turn the other fractions into equivalent fractions. Add the numerators but leave the denominators the same - these don't change. Simplify or reduce the answer if necessary.

(LCM) for the denominators. Because you have to make the denominators the same before you add the fractions, find a common multiple that they share. Then choose the lowest one. For example, for 9/5 + 14/7, the multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 while the multiples of 7 are 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. 35 is the least common multiple. You'll need to multiply the entire fraction to make the denominator become the least common multiple. For example, multiply 9/5 by 7 to get a denominator of 35. You should also multiply the numerator by 7, so the fraction becomes 63/35. Remember that when you adjust 1 fraction in your problem, you also have to adjust the other fractions so they're equivalent. For example, if you've adjusted 9/5 to 63/35, multiply 14/7 by 5 to get 70/35. Your original problem 9/5 + 14/7 will turn into 63/35 + 70/35. Once all of the denominators in your problem are the same, add the numerators. Put the answer over the denominator. For example, 63 + 70 = 133. Place it over the denominator to get 133/35. If your answer is improper, turn the fraction into a mixed number. To do this, divide the numerator by the denominator so you get a whole number. Then see how many parts are left and place this number over the denominator. Reduce the fraction if it can be simplified further. For example, 133/35 can be simplified to 3 28/35. The fraction can be reduced to 4/5 so the finished answer is 3 4/5.

Turn the mixed numbers into improper fractions Look for the lowest common denominator if necessary. Make the fraction equivalent if you need to change the denominators. Change all of the fractions in the problem to make them equivalent. Add the numerators but leave the denominator the same, these don't change. Simplify your answer

. If you have fractions with whole numbers, changing them into improper fractions will make it easier to add. The numerators of your improper fractions will be larger than their denominators. For example, 6 3/8 + 9 1/24 will turn into 51/8 + 217/24. If the denominators are different, you'll need to write down the multiples of each denominator so you can find 1 that they have in common. For example, for the problem 51/8 + 217/24, list the multiples of 8 and 24 to find 24. Because the multiples of 8 include 8, 16, 24, 32, and 48 and the multiples of 24 include 24, 48, and 72, 24 is the lowest common multiple. The denominators should all become the lowest common multiple that you found. Multiply the whole fraction by a number to make the denominator the lowest common multiple. For example, to make the denominator for 51/8 become 24, multiply the whole fraction by 3. You should get 153/24. If the other fractions in your equation have different denominators, you'll also have to multiply them so they have the same denominator. If the fraction already has that as the denominator, you don't need to adjust the fraction. For example, if you're working with 217/24, you won't need to adjust the fraction since it already has the same denominator. You can add the numerators once the denominators are the same or if there were the same from the start. Once you've added the numerators, put the answer over the denominator. Avoid adding the denominators. For example, 153/24 +217/24 = 370/24. . If your numerator of your answer is larger than the denominator, you'll have to divide it to get a whole number. To finish making a mixed number, write down how many parts you have leftover. This will make the numerator which you can put over the same denominator. Keep reducing the fraction down until it's in its simplest form. For example, 370/24 will become 15 10/24 because 24 goes into 370 15 times and has 10 parts of 24 left over. 10/24 can be further reduced to 5/12 for a finished answer of 15 5/12.

Purchase a farm with loam soil if you plan to grow crops. Look for high-quality pasture grass if you plan to raise livestock. Evaluate the irrigation and drainage capabilities of the land. Ask about the field history. Inspect the facilities and infrastructure for damage. Determine ownership of the gas, mineral, and wind rights. Find out how much revenue the farm is making. Get the property professionally inspected and appraised.

It’s imperative that you know the soil composition before purchasing farmland. Ask the seller for a recent soil test, and if they haven’t had one done, arrange for a laboratory to analyze the soil content. Loam is an ideal soil type for farmers as it holds water well. Clay holds too much water, and sand doesn’t hold enough water, so these soil types would need to be amended. Consider the forage type when buying farmland—western wheatgrass, blue maidencane, giant cane, switch cane, green silkyscale, and many varieties of bluestem are suitable forage for cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Find out how much of the land is grazeable, and how much is not. Look for less than 30% rock cover to ensure your livestock will have enough forage available. Ask the seller or realtor what kind of irrigation and drainage systems are in place. Look for access to a high-quality water source, such as a well or river for crop irrigation or watering livestock within 1 mile (1.6 km). You should also find out how much erosion damage the land has. Inspect the ditches to see if they are clean and find out if they are able to handle the average amount of precipitation. Field history refers to what kinds of crops have been grown as well as what kinds of herbicides have been applied to the land. If you plan to raise livestock on the farm, ensure that the herbicides used in the past won’t affect the animals. Though most herbicides are safe to use on forage, you should still do an Internet search to find out if there are any grazing restrictions for the particular kind of herbicide used. If you plan to grow a certain crop, make sure it will work well together with what has previously been grown based on which nutrients the plants use the most. For instance, if beans were last planted on a plot, tomatoes would do well in the area but lentils would not. Take a close look at the fencing, buildings, pastures, lakes, ponds, wells, and roadways of the property. Determine if they are in good repair or if they will need fixed or upgraded. You should also evaluate whether the existing facilities, plumbing, and electricity will meet your needs or if you’ll need to add new infrastructure. Find out if the rights to gas, minerals, and wind have been severed from the surface rights of the property. The seller and/or realtor should be able to answer any questions you have about property rights. Ideally, gas, mineral, and wind rights should transfer to you as the buyer, but this isn’t always the case. If the rights are already leased out, go over the terms of the contract with a lawyer to ensure you are happy with the agreement. The most important factor when evaluating farmland is the amount of revenue the farm is making. Chances are, if the farm isn’t making money now, it won’t make money for you in the future. Visit the nearest farm service agency (FSA) office to learn more about the farm’s revenue. You’ll be able to view past records for the property. Though you’ll have to pay to have this done, it’s an essential step to protecting yourself as the buyer. The property, facilities, and infrastructure should be inspected and appraised by professionals so you can make an educated decision about the value of the property. They’ll let you know if there are any issues with both the land and the facilities. Appraisals generally cost between $300 to $400, while inspections usually cost between $200 to $400, depending on the location and amount of land.

Find out if you’re eligible for government farm loan program. Meet with a rural property lender if you need financing. Make a fair offer on the property you wish you purchase. Negotiate the price and terms of the contract. Invest in title and flood insurance, if applicable. Finalize the deal to take ownership of the property.

The FSA provides farm loans to family-sized farms throughout the United States. There are a variety of loans available, such as for micro farms, young farmers, Native American tribes, new farmers, emergencies, or minority and women farmers. To find out more information and to apply for one of these loan programs, visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/. If you don’t qualify for a government loan, you can get a private loan. Though big-city banks can assist you with plenty of transactions, it’s best to speak with a rural property lender when buying farmland. They will be familiar with the specific intricacies regarding loans for farmland. Once your money or funding is secure, you can put in an offer on the property you wish to buy. It’s best to start with a low—but fair—offer, such as 10% below the highest amount you’d be willing to pay, to leave room for negotiation. Your realtor can help advise you further and make the offer to the buyers. The buyer may accept your offer or ask for more money. Your realtor can work with both of you until an agreement is made. Then, a contract will be drawn up and a lawyer and/or realtor can help explain the terms of the contract to you, if necessary. Now is the time to make amendments or ask for upgrades! Once you sign the contract, you’ll need to put down earnest money until the deal is closed. To protect your investment, you may want to purchase both title and flood insurance. Title insurance guarantees your right to the property at the closing price and will also let you know if the area has been used for hazardous waste dumping. If the property is in a flood zone, you’ll be required to purchase flood insurance before closing on the property to protect yourself from losses due to flooding. Once both parties are happy with the contract, you can close on the property. Usually, you’ll need to meet the realtor and seller at the title company to close. The deed will be transferred to your name, and any keys to the gates or buildings will be handed over. You’ll be expected to provide the remainder of the money for the property at this time, usually by means of a certified check.

Identify the purpose of the farm. Determine how much land you’ll need. Set a realistic budget. Work with a certified realtor. Choose a location in which to purchase the land. Contact the county courthouse to ensure the area is zoned for farmland.

The land you need will differ depending on what crops you want to grow or what livestock you want to raise. Take some time to carefully consider what kind of farm you plan to run. What do you intend to do with the land? What crops or animals does the land need to support? What kind of buildings, fencing, equipment, and irrigation will you need? Knowing the purpose of the farm will help you target exactly what kind of land you’ll need. If you plan to grow crops, think about what kinds and how many acres you’d need for each. Similarly, if you plan to raise animals, decide what kind, how many you’ll have, and how much land you’ll need to support them. Keep these figures in mind when viewing properties, and avoid visiting locations that can’t support the type of farm you plan to run. For instance, if you plan to raise cattle, you’ll need 1.5 to 2 acres per head. Factor in the cost of the land, property taxes, upkeep, and maintenance. You may also need to add buildings (like barns or stables), fencing, and irrigation or purchase equipment and make other upgrades. Estimate your income from running the farm, taking into account crop or meat prices, to help you determine how much financing you may need to get the farm running. To find a certified realtor in your area, visit https://www.realtor.com/. A realtor will have tons of information that can help you make an informed decision. Plus, they are paid by the seller, so there is no up-front cost to you. Realtors can help you navigate the offer, appraisal, and closing and ensure you understand all parts of the transaction. Choose a certified realtor who has experience with rural properties and farmland in the area you plan to make a purchase. It’s a good idea to have a general location in which you wish to purchase the land. Consider the average weather conditions for the area and find out if it is prone to natural disasters, like fires, tornadoes, or floods. Find out the average property values and taxes for the area and determine if you’ll be close enough to work, school, grocery stores, medical offices, and the like. Once you have determined where you would like to own farmland, you’ll need to identify the zoning regulations for that specific county. Contact or visit the county courthouse where the property is located and ask if the land is zoned for farming. If it’s not, you’ll need to search for land in another county.

Smooth out early pregnancy bloat Try slouchy or flowing tops to hide a growing bump. Wear layers to disguise your changing shape. Balance your loose top with a fitted bottom. Draw attention from your belly with scarves and accessories. Wear printed fabrics to distract the eye.

with shapewear. Hormone changes early in your pregnancy can cause bloating, so you may notice your waist expanding a little even before you get a true “bump.” Try putting on some slimming undergarments, like Spanx or control-top stockings, to tuck in your belly and help you fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes a little longer. If you’re concerned about what the pressure of shapewear might do to your growing baby, don’t worry. The protective layer of amniotic fluid in your womb will keep them nicely cushioned. You might find tight garments more uncomfortable as your body grows, however. Tops that are loose, ruffled, or flouncy can flatter your figure and disguise your growing belly. Try a flowy tunic or a blouse with ruching along the sides. Tops or dresses with empire waists are also a good way to go, since they skim your figure without accentuating its curves. In cooler weather, big, slouchy sweaters are a comfy and fashionable way to conceal your baby bump. Layers can distract the eye from your midsection and add volume to your outfit without drawing attention to your belly. Try putting on a loose blazer or a drapey cardigan sweater over a blouse or tunic. If you feel brave enough to try layers with contrasting prints or patterns, this can also minimize the appearance of your belly. For example, you might wear a black-and-white polka dot blouse with a colorful floral blazer. Wearing a slouchy top with baggy pants can give you a bulky appearance. Create a more slim and streamlined look and balance out your top half by wearing something more form-fitting on your legs. For example, you might try wearing a baggy tunic sweater with a pair of comfy leggings. In cooler weather, you could match a flowing blouse or shirt-dress with some tights or stretchy slim-fit jeans. Choose a long, oversized scarf and drape it on so it hangs down in front of your torso. This can add the appearance of length and slimness to your figure. Scarves and other accessories, such as bold pieces of jewelry, can also draw the eye and take the viewer’s attention off your belly. Scarves in dark colors, like black or navy blue, create an extra slimming effect. Bright or colorful accessories are eye-catching and can create a new point of focus for your outfit. Try a brightly-colored scarf, a big pair of hoop earrings, or a sparkly necklace. Prints are a great way to draw attention away from your changing shape. Have fun with colorful floral tops, or stick to more conservative spots, checks, or stripes if you prefer. While conventional wisdom has it that vertical stripes are more slimming, studies have shown that wearing horizontal stripes is actually better for minimizing the appearance of width. Horizontal stripes are very popular in maternity wear, however, so be careful not to clue people in with too many stripey outfits!

Develop a fake-out strategy for social drinking situations. Make an excuse to avoid unsafe foods and drinks. Keep crackers and ginger candy on hand to stave off nausea. Schedule activities for times when you feel your best. Ask those in the know to keep the news to themselves.

If you enjoy an occasional alcoholic drink with family and friends, they’re bound to notice if you go cold turkey. Try discreetly ordering a virgin version of your favorite drink next time you’re out. Offer to mix the drinks yourself if you’re socializing at home—that way, you can mix your own alcohol-free cocktail without anyone noticing. If you’re out with your significant other or a friend who knows your secret, you can both order the same drink. Pretend to sip yours, then sneakily switch drinks when theirs starts to get low. Other people drinking with you are unlikely to notice. If a fake-out isn’t possible, have a plausible excuse ready for when someone offers you something you can’t eat or drink. You can pass it off as a lifestyle change or health issue unrelated to pregnancy. For example, if someone offers to buy you a cup of coffee, you could tell them you’re trying to cut back on caffeine to improve your sleep at night. If you have to turn away a soft cheese hors d’oeuvre, you can say something like, “My stomach’s been upset a lot lately, so my doctor recommended I try going dairy free.” If you’re plagued with morning sickness, your friends and coworkers may notice that you’re feeling under the weather. Eating ginger candy or sipping ginger-based drinks (like ginger tea or old-fashioned ginger ale) can help settle your stomach and make your symptoms less obvious to others. Bland foods like plain crackers or dry cereal can also help combat nausea. Make sure to sip plenty of water throughout the day, too—getting dehydrated can make morning sickness worse. If you do feel the need to vomit, try going into the bathroom or finding another secluded spot where you can sit with your head between your knees for a few minutes. This may help the feeling pass, or at least buy you time to find some privacy before you have to throw up. If you know that you tend to feel more tired and queasy at particular times of the day, avoid planning exercise or other tiring activities with friends at those times. Figure out when you’re at your most energetic, and make time then. For example, if feel too tired and sick for a morning jog with a workout buddy, you might suggest doing some afternoon yoga instead. Try saying something like, “I’ve been wanting to check out this new yoga class for a while. Want to give it a shot?” You can also make an excuse, if necessary. If you’re too exhausted or nauseated to participate in an activity, you could say that you’ve got a mild stomach bug or that you’re busy trying to catch up on work deadlines. Even if you’re not ready to tell most people in your life, you might want or need to share your pregnancy news with a select few. If you do tell someone, let them know in simple terms that it’s just between the 2 of you. Ask them to respect your desire for privacy until you’re ready to tell others. Try saying something like, “I wanted to let you know that I’m pregnant, but I’m not ready to share the news with anyone else yet. Please don’t talk to anybody about it without asking me first.”

Monitor your symptoms. Tell your prescriber about your sleepiness. Ask about alternative medications.

Track when you feel tired, how long your sleepiness lasts, and any changes you’ve noticed since taking Xanax. Write down what you try to alleviate the sleepiness and if it helps. Write down your symptoms in a notebook or use a phone application to track them. Once you’ve tracked your symptoms, share them with your prescriber. Present this information to your prescriber so that they can see what your symptoms are, how long they last, and what interventions you’ve tried. Your prescriber may choose to adjust your dosage or switch medications for you. Keep in mind that medications inherently have side-effects that may be unpleasant. You may need to decide whether your sleepiness is livable and if the positives of Xanax outweigh the costs. If you find it too difficult to stay awake and you’ve tried various methods, it may be time to discuss changing medications. If you take medication for anxiety long-term, consider switching to another type of anti-anxiety that doesn’t induce drowsiness. For example, ask your prescriber about taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) medication, which have a lower chance of dependency and may have different side-effects. SSRI medication also is safe for long-term use. Talk to your prescriber to see if this medication is right for you.

Sleep well each night. Eat a nutritious diet. Cut out smoking and alcohol.

Not getting enough sleep can result in struggling to stay awake, especially when you take Xanax. Stick to good sleeping habits to maximize your waking and sleeping states. If you have a hard time falling asleep, try sticking to a regular bedtime and wake-up time, even on the weekends. Artificial light from the television or electronic devices (such as tablets and smartphones) can disrupt your sleep, so keep them out of your bedroom, especially at night. Try a relaxing bedtime routine each night. For example, take a bath, light a candle, sip on tea, and dim your lights. This can help you unwind and feel calm. Keep in mind that short naps (under 30 minutes) will not make up for lost sleep, but they can help to improve your mood. The foods you consume can contribute to your energy levels, so focus on nutrient-rich foods that will fuel your body and mind. Eat foods with whole grains and that are rich in fiber. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoid eating many foods that are processed or high in sugar. Eat healthy meals regularly. Treat yourself to less nutritious foods on occasion. For example, create a healthy daily meal plan such as oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, a sandwich with raw veggies for lunch, a fruit smoothie for a snack, and roasted vegetables with rice for dinner. Get in the habit of planning your meals so that you can ensure that they’re tasty and nutritious. Long-term nicotine use can cause a change in your arousal levels and it may also lead to other unwanted effects on your adrenal system, which can contribute to drowsiness. Alcohol can contribute to fatigue and it also affects the quality of your sleep. Try to avoid smoking cigarettes (or using other nicotine products) and drinking alcohol while you are taking Xanax to help reduce drowsiness.

Get outside to regulate your circadian rhythm. Talk to someone as a way to stay engaged. Grab a healthy snack when you’re hungry and sleepy. Move your body to increase your blood flow for energy. Use a supplement for energy.

Some fresh air can help to keep you awake and alert. If you tend to stay inside much of the day, take a few breaks and head outside. Getting some sunlight (especially in the morning) can help regulate your waking and sleeping cycles so that you’re fully awake during the day and can sleep well at night. Take a walk during your lunch break or ask to meet with people outside. For example, if you have a dog, go for a walk each morning so you can maximize your sun exposure. Engaging in social activities can help to keep you alert and involved. Find a friend to talk to. This might also be a good time to make any necessary phone calls. Avoid using instant messaging to communicate; it’s best to speak in-person or over the phone to stay awake. Talk to another student or co-worker throughout your day. Schedule regular meetings so that you can be continuously engaged. Avoid reaching for the sugary snacks and grab something that will give you long-lasting energy. For example, try eating a handful of nuts or a bowl of fresh fruit. Spread some nut butter on a whole grain cracker or eat a yogurt. When you get a craving for a snack, get in the habit of fueling yourself for long-term energy to help avoid any lows that might make you drowsy or tired. If you’re struggling to stay awake, get up and take a 10-minute walk. Moving around can increase blood flow and provide oxygen throughout your body. Simple movement can help increase energy for up to 2 hours. If you can’t take a walk, do some stretches or movements to wake up your body. Try some jumping jacks or burpees. If possible, use the gym or attend a yoga class in the morning or during lunchtime. Adding a supplement to your day can help to increase energy and keep you awake. For example, B vitamins are known to help increase energy, especially if your diet is low in B vitamins. However, beware of supplements that promise energy without any research or support. Speak to your physician before starting any new supplements or medications. Be cautious of using stimulants like caffeine as they can increase feelings of anxiety. Caffeine may also affect the quality of your sleep.

Educate your child about bullying. Set boundaries for Facebook use. Model appropriate behaviors.

You don’t want your child to be bullied or be a bully. Talk to your kids about bullying behavior to stop it before it starts. Go over how bullying hurts other people and makes the bully look bad. Talk about consequences of bullying, such as losing friends, getting in trouble, and risking school intervention. Ask your children, “What would it feel like if somebody said something mean to you on Facebook?” You can also ask, “What would you do if someone said something mean about you or your friend?” This can help build critical thinking skills and increase empathy. Supervise your child’s use of Facebook and all other social media. Monitor their social media use and put into place some firm boundaries. You can put the computer in a public part of your home, only allow social media at certain times of the day, or create other rules for your child’s safety and well-being. Don't allow your children to be on Facebook if they're under 13. Facebook's rules prevent children under 13 from having an account. If your child is being bullied on Facebook, have them delete their account, and keep them from using social media until they are older. Help them find healthy and productive ways to have fun and socialize with their peers face-to-face. Children learn best by observing those around them. Be careful how you treat people both in day-to-day living and online. Model good behaviors for your children so that they learn to respect others and not bully. Show your children how you handle difficult situations. For example, if someone says something mean to you on Facebook, show your children a mature response.

Document evidence of bullying. Involve law enforcement. Get your school involved.

If the bully is sharing inappropriate content, is endlessly harassing you, or is breaking any laws, make sure to document these things. Take screenshots or photos of the bullying comments to use as evidence. That way, you’ll be ready with evidence if you want to go to the internet service provider, school administration, or police. Take a photo of the content and make sure it clearly shows the name of the person posting. You may also want to take a photo of their profile to show that you are recording their identity and not somebody else by the same name. The police should be involved if you have received physical threats, racial taunts, or another form of major harassment or insult. Contact law enforcement immediately if someone posted photos or videos of you being mistreated, demeaned, or showing nudity. If someone posted nude photos or videos of you and you are under 18, this is a very serious offense and the person could get into major legal problems. Report the content right away and do not take a screenshot as this could be considered spreading child pornography. Consider going to see a guidance counselor for help at your school or university. Ask them about the school policy regarding bullying and harassment. If it includes bullying that happens on the internet, you may be able to get the school involved in discipline. Find out what help and resources are available to you and how you can get the bullying to stop.

Write a comment or message telling them to stop. Avoid bullying or insulting them back. Don’t respond to mean comments.

Initially, it might be enough to ask the person to stop bothering you. If they keep it up, leave a public comment letting them know you’re not okay with their behavior. Publicly calling them out and knowing that other people can read your comments might shame them into stopping. For example, if you write a comment on an article and somebody attacks your views, write a private message or comment, “That was really rude. It sounds like we have differing opinions but please don’t insult me.” If a private message doesn’t work, reply publicly. For example, you might reply to their comment with, “This comment is really rude and inappropriate. There’s no need to use personal attacks. Please stop.” You might feel safe responding from the relative "safety" of your computer, but firing back insults will only increase the problem and could result in more conflict and even real-life confrontation. Ignore their attempts to upset you into responding, even if they egg you on. If someone attacks you or says mean things about you (whether you know them or not), don't respond with another insult. Take some time to cool down with some deep breaths and let it go. If you must comment back, say something like, “We differ in opinion and I don’t think we’ll change each other’s minds. Let’s end the discussion there” or “Please don’t insult me.” Often, bullies want a rise or a response from someone. Don’t give the bully the satisfaction of knowing you or someone else is affected by their comments. Ignore the comments and don't let them get to you. You might be angry or upset when you first see a comment that’s about you or someone you know. Take a moment and don't respond right away. Calm down so that you don’t let the person (or the comment) get to you.

Set a good example. Make your Facebook account as private as possible. Close your Facebook account

Don’t post negative, rude, or disparaging comments about other people. If you see someone else making those kinds of posts, don’t share or like them. Avoid participating in hurtful gossip about others, even if it’s over private messaging. Be sure to make your settings safe by only letting your known friends see your account and interact with you. Avoid disclosing any private information on your public profile such as where you live or what your phone number is. Make all of your posts, contacts, and information private and unable to be seen by anyone who is not your friend on Facebook to protect your identity and information. Some people choose their display name by only disclosing their first and middle names instead of including their last names. Even if your account is set to private, think carefully before you post something. Consider how you might feel about the post ten years from now. . If you're unhappy using your Facebook account or you feel like events on Facebook are out of control, consider deleting your Facebook account. You can always open a new account when you're feeling stronger. If Facebook is causing you more headache than connection, consider deleting your account. That way, nobody can contact you or harass you on Facebook and you will be completely removed from it.

Identify bullying in posts. Report a negative post Report the bully Unfriend or block the bully. Use Facebook's Social Reporting tool.

Online bullying often looks different than bullying that happens in-person, and you’ll need to identify the behaviors if you want to report them. Bullying might be saying mean comments (such as, “Levi doesn’t have any friends, I don’t even know why he comes to school.”) or negatively replying to posts (for example, writing, “Why do you write such stupid things?” or “Your photos make you look dumb.”). Someone might post an embarrassing photo or video of you which the clear intent of harming you or ridiculing you. If someone starts a group or page putting you down (such as, “All the Reasons Ryan Sucks”), you can definitely report this as bullying. . As soon as you see questionable content, take action. Whether you know the person or not, you can write a report on Facebook and send it to Facebook administration for review. They will likely notify the poster and the content will be blocked or erased. To report content, click “Report post” on the original post and click through the options provided. When finished, click “Submit” to send it to Facebook. For example, you might see someone bullying someone else in an article thread. Even if you don’t know the people, you can still report the bullying. . If someone continues to harass you or post mean things about you, report their profile. You can report any profile, even if you’re not friends. You can specify why you are reporting the person when you make the report. To make a report of the person, go to the person’s Facebook page and click “Report” and click through what you are reporting. For example, if you see someone who constantly attacks other people or their views, report this person. Whether you’re friends with the person on Facebook or not, you can block the bully. Blocking a person means you cannot interact with them and they cannot interact with you. They cannot tag you, see your content, start a conversation with you, or add you as a friend. If you unblock the person, you will not be friends on Facebook, even if you were friends when you blocked them. The bully can still write about you on Facebook on their timeline, but they will not be able to tag you or share their post with you, even if it’s publicly shared. You will not see their posts. You might see content you don’t like but that doesn’t violate Facebook’s terms of service. It might be questionable or just something you don’t like. If you’re not sure whether the content is appropriate for Facebook, click “Report post.” Click through and determine what can be done. If it does not violate Facebook’s terms, then you can message the person and ask them to remove the post. Say, “That post isn’t nice. Would you mind taking it down?”

Decide on a treatment plan. Get a second opinion if you are not satisfied. Find a support system. Accept that there isn’t an instant cure.

After being evaluated, you and your mental health professional will determine the best course of treatment. This may include psychotherapy, talk therapy, medication, or changing some of your circumstances. You have the right to give the doctor your input, and you also have the right to ask questions. You may be referred to multiple mental health professionals for treatment. If you need psychotherapy or talk therapy, you may go to a therapist, psychologist, or licensed social worker. If you need medication, it will be prescribed through a psychiatrist. Not all mental health professionals and treatment centers are the same. You need to be able to trust the people who are treating you. If you’re not comfortable with the professional or the assessment, it’s perfectly okay to find another one. This is important treatment, and you need to feel comfortable. If you have just been diagnosed with a mental illness and are beginning your treatment, you should find people in your life to provide support. This can be a scary and confusing time in your life, and you shouldn't do it alone. Choose people you can trust or count on to help you. Consider asking a trusted family member, friend, colleague, or neighbor. If you don't feel comfortable talking to anyone in your real life yet, find a therapist you can talk to. You can also find support groups in your area through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or at local treatment facilities. Treating mental illness can be a long and difficult journey. Recovery and progress take time. Sometimes you will feel worse before you feel better. This is due to the difficult process of psychotherapy and also the trial-and-error nature of psychopharmacology. Do your best to be patient, trust your treatment providers, commit to their treatment recommendations for an extended period of time, and let the process work.

Discuss your decision with someone you trust. See a licensed mental health professional for assessment. Stop feeling like something is wrong with you. Avoid trying to read about tests or assessments online. Avoid being scared of psychiatric assessment. Learn about different mental conditions.

If you think you want to get a psychiatric evaluation, try talking to someone you trust. This may be a family member, friend, coworker, doctor, teacher, or religious leader. Having support from someone you trust can help you decide. For example, you may say, "I haven't been feeling the best. I think I may have a mental illness and want to get evaluated. What do you think about that?" If you believe you should get tested, don’t let people discourage you. Your mental health and well-being comes first. General practitioners cannot perform psychiatric assessments or tests. You need to see a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed social worker, licensed professional counselor (LPC), or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). You can get a referral to a mental health professional from your physician. You may also want to look up mental health professionals in your area. Your insurance company can help you locate a professional in your area that is covered by your insurance. Thinking that you need mental health care can make you feel like something is wrong or that you are broken. You may think that you're the only one who has this sickness, and that you will be considered strange and different. This is not true. You shouldn’t feel upset about needing help. Getting help is important so you that you can receive the treatment you need. Many common problems, such as depression, are made worse by the feeling of being alone. Many problems like this are very common, so you are not alone. People who have suffered the same problem can help you understand it and cope with it. 1 in 25 adults living in the United States experiences a severe mental illness that interferes with their ability to function. 1 in 6 adults in the United States takes some form of psychiatric medication. Professional psychiatric assessments and tests aren’t intended to have right and wrong answers. There isn’t a way to study for them. To ensure that you’re diagnosed properly, only take an assessment that’s administered by a mental health professional. Then the mental health professional can accurately determine your condition and create a treatment plan. Many nonprofessional tests that aren’t scientifically sound are available online, but you should not look at them. They can skew your results and either cause you to be misdiagnosed or make you think that you have more problems than you do. Though the words “psychiatric assessment” may sound scary, it is nothing to fear. Psychiatric assessment and testing can help get you a proper diagnosis so you can receive treatment and alleviate any negative symptoms or complications related to your condition. If you think you may have a mental illness, you may want to learn more about them. This may help you get an idea about what your problem could potentially be. You can check out books about different conditions from your local library, or you can search online. There are many reputable websites about mental illness, but try not to diagnose yourself. Remember, you need a mental health professional to diagnose you. A good rule of thumb is to make sure the condition in question is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Otherwise, the condition may not be legitimate. People with emotional conditions respond to situations in such extreme ways that they make things worse. Developmental disorders deal with handicaps that prevent normal mental growth. Physiological problems occur when there is a problem with the brain that is caused by physical problems with the nerves or muscles.

Undergo an interview. Have the mental health professional interview those close to you. Be prepared to talk about your relationships. Share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

Many psychiatric assessments first require a clinical interview, which is where a mental health specialist talks to you. They will ask you about your concerns, why you think you need the assessment, and what is going on with you. They also may ask you about your family history. Based upon your interview, the mental health professional decides what further assessments may be necessary. The mental health professional will observe you closely, including both your body language and what you say. In addition to being interviewed, the mental health professional may request to interview people that you are close to. They may want to interview family members, friends, coworkers, or others you interact with. Interviewing of others requires your written consent. They cannot interview someone without your permission. Another thing often discussed during a psychiatric assessment is your social life and relationships. This may include relationships with your family, partners, children, or friends. They may also ask about your interaction with people at work or in social settings. They may ask you about your social habits, like how often you date, where you go when you go out, and what kinds of social activities you engage in. You will also talk quite a bit about your childhood, including your family of origin and the dynamics of these relationships. Though it’s important to be open and honest during your assessment so you can get the right diagnosis, you may not be ready to talk about some things. That is okay. You can tell your mental health professional that you are not ready to discuss certain things, but be honest about what you can. If you need, you can bring a friend or family member with you to support you if you think you need it to discuss difficult things. It’s better to be vague and tell the truth than to lie. For instance, you can confirm that you experienced abuse as a child but decline to discuss it further. This is more ideal than refusing to answer the question or denying that anything occurred.

Undergo tests based on your symptoms. Answer a questionnaire or checklist. Provide any health-related information.

Psychological and psychiatric tests are similar to medical tests in that a doctor or mental health professional looks at your symptoms and orders a test to understand the underlying cause. These tests may check for certain character traits, developmental problems, emotional disorders, or physical problems. For example, if a child has difficulty in school, they may be tested for a learning disability. A person who feels down, lethargic, or like they can’t get out of bed may be tested for emotional disorders. Many psychological tests are formal questionnaires and checklists that contain standardized questions. Generally, your answers are ranked and given a score. This score correlates to a potential psychological problem or underlying character trait. These questionnaires generally ask about how you feel, like if you feel sad, hopeless, or nervous often. They also may ask about your emotional responses to things, like if you get angry or upset when things happen, and your sleeping patterns. During your assessment, the mental health professional may want to know more about your health. This may include any illnesses or problems you have had in the past, any treatments you have undergone, and any current medications you are taking. For example, you may tell them if you have mental illness in your family. You can also share health conditions like cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or any other condition.

Gather in a circle and decide who gets to hold the ball first. Give a pair of dice to the right of the ball holder. Have the person unwrap the ball while the person tries to roll doubles. Allow the ball holder to gather their unwrapped items. Pass the ball and the dice to the right. Repeat the process until you reach the middle of the ball.

You can figure this out by picking lots, rolling a pair of dice, guessing numbers, or simply by age. For example, the youngest person could hold the ball first. Don't get too worked up over who gets to go first. Sometimes, it's actually better to go last, because then you'll have a chance to get to the really good gifts! Make the game more challenging by having the players wear gloves or mittens. The ball holder could also wear a blindfold. You really need a set of dice for this game because the entire goal is to roll a set of 2 matching numbers in order to pass the ball. If you can't get a pair of dice, then use just 1 die and pick a number to be the passing number. For example, if you have just 1 die, then you could settle on 6 for being the passing number. Don't blindfold the dice roller! They need to see what they are rolling, after all! This needs to happen at the same time. The goal for the ball holder is to unroll as many layers on the ball as possible until the person with the dice rolls a set of matching numbers. For example, the person with the dice can roll a set of 1s, or a set of 2, or a set of 3s, and so forth. If you're using just 1 die, then keep rolling it until you hit the passing number you settled on. This game will probably have several rounds, so consider giving the ball holder a basket or a goodie bag to store all of their items in. If you used multiple sheets of plastic wrap per item layer, have the ball holder crumple them up and set them aside. The person who just finished rolling the dice should now have the ball, while the person to their right should now have the dice. If you used 1 continuous sheet of plastic wrap for the ball, you might want to cut or tear it off at some point. This way, it won't get in the way. You get to keep whatever gifts you unwrapped. The faster you unwrap, the more gifts you'll get!

Buy items that are small or flexible. Pick candy and cheap toys for the outer layers. Choose small gifts for the middle layers. Save the most expensive gift for the center of the ball. Keep the age of your guests in mind as you pick the final gift. Match the gifts to the theme of the party.

Small, flat items are easy to wrap. Larger items, like DVDs aren't because they are large and rigid. If you want to include a larger gift, then stick with something flexible, like a pair of socks. Remember, these items have to wrap and curve around each other in order to form a spherical shape. The outer layers of a saran wrap ball should be inexpensive. Candy is a great choice, but you can also choose goodie bag fillers, stocking stuffers, and other $1 toys. For example: Edible treats, such as chocolate, mints, or gum. $1 toys, such as plastic bugs, toy cars, or crayons. $1 stocking stuffers, such as hand sanitizer, lip balm, or compact mirrors. As the ball grows smaller, the game will get more exciting and intense. Here is where you should put in larger, more expensive gifts. Themed jewelry and socks that are in the $2 to $5 range are great here. You could even step the gifts up to a $10 or $15 value here. For example: Christmas jewelry, such as necklaces or earrings. Christmas accessories, such as scarves or socks. Money in $1 or $5 increments. This is the final prize, so it should be something that is worth waiting for! Gift cards are the most popular choice, but you can also pick out something that's more expensive too. For example: A small, themed gift, such as an action figure. Money, but in a higher amount, such as a $20 or $50 bill. Movie or concert tickets. Candy is appropriate for all ages, but as you get towards the center of the ball, you should consider what your guests would like. You don't want to let them down with something that they wouldn't find interesting, after all. For example: A 7-year-old might enjoy a $15 gift card to a toy store. A college or high school student might prefer a $25 gift card to iTunes. An adult might appreciate a $50 gift card to store that sells home décor or accessories. Saran wrap balls are a popular Christmas party game, but you can also play them during other events, such as baby showers or bridal showers. Party supply stores are a great place to pick up themed prizes. For example: Pastel-colored candy is perfect for a baby shower. You can also use pink or blue candy depending on the baby's gender. For a bridal shower, consider choosing themed gifts. Anything in hot pink with lots of rhinestones is sure to be a fun bet. If this is for a birthday party, consider the theme. If this is an astronaut themed party, then use space-themed gifts, like astronaut ice cream or alien figurines.

Sort your items from most expensive to least expensive. Wrap your most expensive item with at least 1 layer of plastic wrap. Add an item from the middle pile, and cover it with 1 layer of saran wrap. Move through your middle pile, going from most to least expensive. Continue to move through your last pile of inexpensive items. Cover the ball with 2 to 3 layers of plastic wrap.

Try to make at least 3 piles. The first pile should contain inexpensive gifts, like candy. The middle pile should have slightly-more expensive gifts, like lip balm or hand sanitizer. The last pile should container your most expensive gift. Sorting your gifts ahead of time will make it easier to find what should go into each layer. This will be in the center of your ball, so you need to start with it first. Cover it at least 1 layer of plastic wrap, although 2 or 3 might be better. You can tear off the plastic wrap once you have the item covered, or you can leave it be and continue to wrap the ball in one, continuous layer. Hold the item against the plastic that's covering the first item. Wrap more saran wrap around it to hold it in place. Again, you can tear off the sheet of plastic wrap after this, or you can keep going with 1 continuous strand. This gift should be the most expensive one out of your middle pile. Stagger the items so that they aren't places directly on top of each other. For example, place 1 item on the top of the ball, another on the bottom, and a third on the side. Try to have each item separated by at least 1 layer of plastic wrap. Remember, you are working from the inside-out, so you need to start with the better gifts that will be towards the middle of the ball. As the ball continues to grow in size, you could include multiple items per layer. For example, you could have 1 item on 1 side of the ball and another item on the other. If the ball is the size of a soccer ball or a basketball, then stick with just 1 item per layer. If the ball is the size of a beach ball, then you could include multiple items per layer. This will help keep everything secure and make the ball easier to transport to the party. Rather than just going in 1 direction for each wrap, alternate the directions that you wrap the ball in. For example: Wrap the ball horizontally for the first layer, then vertically for the next. Finish off with 1 or 2 diagonal wraps.

Connect your iPod and open iTunes. Click "Music" on the next screen. Choose whether to sync your entire library or select songs. If you chose to add manually, pick your playlists/artists. Click "Sync" to add your songs. Enjoy your music! Deselect your sync options to remove songs.

To begin the process of adding music to your iPod, open iTunes. If you haven't already connected your iPod, do so as soon as iTunes opens. Within a few moments, iTunes should recognize your device — you should see a small "iPod" button with a picture of an iPod appear in the upper right. Click this button. Note that for iPads, iPod Shuffles, and other iTunes-compatible devices, the process will be nearly the same, though the label on the button that appears will change. After clicking the "iPod" button, you'll see a screen displaying an array of information about your iPod, including its name, storage capacity, and several other options. We don't need to deal with any of these — simply click "Music" at the top of the window to proceed. When it comes to putting music on your iPod, you have two options: iTunes can automatically transfer your entire library to your iPod, or it can allow you to manually choose which songs you want to add. Check the bubble next to "Entire music library" if you'd like to add your entire library, or check the bubble next to "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres" if you'd like to pick your songs manually. At this point, you may also want to check the boxes for other miscellaneous options below. For instance, if you'd like to add any music videos you have in your library, check "Include music videos," and so on. If you chose the manual option for adding songs to your iPod, you'll want to use the menus on the bottom half of the iTunes window to choose which songs you want to add. Scroll through the menus for playlists, artists, genres, and albums, checking the boxes next to the choices you'd like to add to your iPod. For instance, if you want to add all of your Al Green songs to your iPod, you would scroll through the list of artists until you found Al Green, then check the box next to his name. On the other hand, if you only wanted to add the songs from his greatest hits album, you would scroll through the list of albums until you found Greatest Hits by Al Green, then check the box next to it. Don't worry if some of your choices overlap — iTunes won't add the same song to your iPod twice. Whether you chose the manual or automatic option for adding songs, click the "Sync" (short for "Synchronize") button on the bottom right of the screen when you're ready to add your songs to your iPod. iTunes should immediately begin to add the songs you selected to your iPod. You can monitor your progress by watching the progress bar that should appear at the top of the iTunes window. Don't disconnect your iPod during this process. This will disrupt the syncing process, preventing you from getting all of your songs. In addition, this can also cause iTunes to freeze or stop working properly. Congratulations! You've successfully added songs to your iPod. To play your songs, disconnect your iPod, plug in a pair of headphones, select a song from the "Music" option at the bottom right of the iPod's main menu, and start listening. Note that, while this guide describes how to add music to your iPod, the process is nearly identical for other forms of media. For instance, if you want to add movies to your iPod, you would click "Movies" at the top of the iTunes window after clicking the "iPod" button, then proceed in basically the same fashion. To take songs off your iPod, connect it to your computer and proceed as you normally would to the Syncing screen. If it isn't already selected, click the bubble next to the "Manual" option for adding songs. Now, scroll through the windows of artists, playlists, etc. and uncheck the boxes next to the selections you'd like to remove from your iPod. When you're done, click "Sync" to apply your changes.

Download and install iTunes. Connect your iPod to your computer. Wait for iTunes to recognize the iPod. Follow the prompts that display. Click "Done".

If you don't already have iTunes, you will probably want to download and install it before beginning. Though it's possible to add music to your iPod without iTunes (see above), this is by far the most common way to do so. In addition, iTunes is free, simple to download and install, and offers a variety of helpful features, including in-program access to the iTunes Store and options for automatically syncing your iPod library to the library on your computer. To download iTunes, simply visit iTunes.com and click the "Download iTunes" link in the upper right. Supply your email address and click "Download Now" to start the download. Your new iPod should be packaged with a white USB cord. This cord allows you to transfer media between your computer and the iPod. Connect the skinny, flat end of the cord to your iPod (there should be a corresponding port on the bottom of the iPod) and the other end to one of your computer's USB ports to begin. Note that models of iPod other than the standard version (like, for instance, the iPod shuffle) will have cords with differently-shaped plugs. However, all varieties of iPod cord will have one end that plugs into a USB port. When you connect your iPod, iTunes should launch automatically. If it doesn't, you may open it manually. Within a few moments, iTunes should recognize the iPod. You will know this is happening if you see the trademark Apple logo appear on your iPod without prompting. You may also notice a progress bar appear at the top of your iTunes window indicating that iTunes is downloading data required to interface with your iPod. Wait for iTunes to complete before proceeding — this may take several minutes. If iTunes doesn't seem to be recognizing your device automatically, don't despair. iTunes is somewhat notorious for experiencing problems with new devices. Try disconnecting your iPod and reconnecting it, opening and closing iTunes, and restarting your computer before reaching out to iTunes support. Additionally, if your iPod is low on power, you may need to wait for it to charge off of your computer's power supply for several minutes until iTunes is able to recognize it. Eventually, iTunes should automatically launch a large welcome message. Click "Continue" to proceed. Next, you'll see a screen that says "Sync with iTunes". Click "Get Started" on this screen. You will be brought to a screen that presents you with a variety of options, including: Updating your iPod software to the latest version. If your iPod software isn't current, clicking "Update" will download and install the latest version of the software. This keeps your iPod up-to-date with all of the features and security fixes. Creating a backup of your iPod data. If this is the first time you're using your iPod, you won't have any data to back up, but choosing an automatic backup location (either your computer or the iCloud) ensures you won't have to worry about it in the future. To exit the current screen, simply click the blue "Done" button in the top right of the iTunes window. When you do this, you'll be brought back to whatever you were looking at in iTunes before you began. From here, you can add music to your iPod as you normally would (see "Using iTunes" section above).

Find your smallest paring knife. Hold the strawberry in your left, or non-dominant hand Insert the tip of your paring knife at a 45-degree angle, where the top of the strawberry turns white. Slice in a circular motion around the diameter of the calyx, until your knife reaches your starting point. Remove the knife and discard the hull.

You won’t be cutting very far into the strawberry. Press it about one-quarter inch (0.6 cm) toward the center. Inserting the blade of your knife at an angle toward the center will save as much of the sweet fruit as possible. Avoid simply lopping off the top third of the strawberry.

Find a sturdy plastic drinking straw. Thread the end of the straw through the bottom point of the strawberry. Pull the straw all the way through the other end.

If the straw has a bend to it, use the opposite end that is straight. Push it vertically until it comes out the calyx at the top. The riper the strawberry, the less force you will need to use. Grab the hull and discard it.

Purchase a strawberry huller. Pick up a strawberry. Hold the small metal huller between the thumb and forefinger on your dominant hand. Place the metal sides of the huller against the outer edges of the hull. They should sit at the border of where the top of the strawberry turns from red to white. Pinch either side of the huller and twist it. Discard the hull and wash the strawberries before serving.

They are available online, in thrift shops, at kitchen stores and in some supermarkets. If you have strawberry bushes or cook with strawberries throughout the year, the $3 purchase price will be a good value considering the time it will save. Hold the side of the berry between the index finger and thumb on your non-dominant hand. Keep the leaves tilted toward your other hand. The sides of the huller should pinch open and release easily with a small amount of pressure. Insert them into the strawberry about one-quarter of an inch (0.6 cm). Pull the huller out of the strawberry. The calyx will slide out with the huller.

Use this method to create a permanent decoration for personal enjoyment. Find a frame that fits your puzzle. Cut a backing material to fit the frame. Slide a layer of wax paper under the puzzle. Use a rolling pin to flatten the puzzle. Brush puzzle glue over the surface of the puzzle. Wait for the glue to dry. Glue the puzzle to the backing material. Let the puzzle dry for at least 24 hours, weighing it down if necessary. Frame the puzzle.

If you aren't interested in disassembling the puzzle at any point, you can use a specialized glue to permanently attach the pieces together. This can create a glossier, sturdier piece of artwork, but may reduce the value of your puzzle. Because of this, this method is not recommended for antique or valuable puzzles, and some puzzle hobbyists do not use it at all. Because your assembled jigsaw puzzle may have slightly different dimensions than listed on the box, use a ruler or tape measure to get an accurate measurement before selecting a frame. Some craft shops sell frames in pieces, which you can reassemble into rectangular frames with a custom length/width combination. Select poster board, foam board, or sturdy cardboard approximately 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick, and cut a rectangle that can be inserted into your frame.This material will provide a backing for the puzzle, keeping it flat and in the frame. A utility knife is recommended to make even cuts, along with a T-square or protractor to ensure the sides are cut to at 90º angle. Avoid using thin cardboard or other easily bent material, as this may cause the puzzle to warp over time. Protect the surface underneath the puzzle by carefully slipping something flat and disposable, such as wax paper, underneath the puzzle. Small bumps and loose pieces can be evened out before gluing with a rolling pin. Press down on the rolling pin as you move it across the puzzle surface several times. Purchase specialized jigsaw puzzle glue from a craft store or online. Use a paintbrush to apply this glue across the surface of the puzzle, covering the entire area with a thin layer. Pay special attention to the cracks between pieces. If your puzzle glue comes in powdered form, read the instructions to learn how to prepare it before use. Your bottle of puzzle glue may contain specific directions, telling you how long to wait for the glue to dry. If it does not, leave the glued puzzle alone for at least two hours. Test to see if its ready by gently lifting one end of the puzzle. If the pieces are still loose or coming apart, wait longer or apply more glue. Apply glue to the surface of the foam board or cardboard you cut earlier. Carefully transfer your glued puzzle over the foam board, aligning it with the edges. Press the puzzle down onto the foam board, then scrape off any excess glue that was squeezed out from between the two objects. If the glue does not hold or looks uneven, you may pay someone at a craft shop to "dry mount" the puzzle professionally onto a backing material. Leave the puzzle alone for at least 24 hours so the glue can achieve maximum strength. If the puzzle looks bent or uneven, weigh it down during this drying period with a large book or other heavy object with a larger surface area than the puzzle. Don't use heavy objects with a small or uneven surface area, as these may compress your puzzle unevenly, or even damage it. Once the puzzle and backing material are dry, place them in the frame. Lock them into the frame using the tabs or arms at the back, or by whichever method is built into the frame. Optionally, fit a glass or hard plastic cover over the puzzle to prevent scratches. For best preservation of the puzzle's colors, use a UV-resistant glass cover.

Measure your puzzle's length and width. Choose a jigsaw puzzle frame that does not require glue. Assemble a MyPhotoPuzzle frame. Assemble a Jigframe. Follow the instructions that come with other frames. Alternatively, display it under a glass coffee table. Use a clear plastic preservation envelope instead.

Hobbyists who wish to preserve the usability and value of a puzzle, but still wish to display, will need a specialized frame. While these frames are often described as "500 piece puzzle frames" or "1,000 piece puzzle frames," purchasing one based on actual length and width measurements is recommended for more accuracy. Because the frame will be the only thing keeping your puzzle in place, it is important to find a frame that will fit your puzzle as securely as possible. Some frames called "jigsaw puzzle frames" are just ordinary frames made to fit common puzzle sizes, and will not hold your puzzle together without glue. Instead, you'll need a specialized frame, which is often more expensive. While you may attempt to use any frame with a solid back and front portion, finding one specific to jigsaw puzzles is recommended, as a jigsaw puzzle is thicker and more fragile than the posters and photographs ordinary frames are usually used for. Try the glass-fronted, aluminum MyPhotoPuzzle frames, or the adjustable-size Versaframe. Note: there are a couple cheaper options for displaying your puzzle, at the end of this section. The exact design of a jigsaw puzzle frame varies between brands. For MyPhotoPuzzle frames, carefully press the glass onto the puzzle surface, flip the glass and puzzle together face down, then lower the backboard over the back of the puzzle. Make sure one of the hanging attachment on the backboard is located at the top of the puzzle, or it will be upside down. Lower the frame over the backboard and glass, then lower every clip around the backboard's edge to fasten it to the frame. The Jigframe comes with a sheet of acrylic plastic, protected with paper on both sides. Briefly warm the sheet in the sun or near a heater if necessary to help peel off the paper. Slide or construct the puzzle on top of one of the included "Jigsheets." Slide open the drawer in the frame, place the Jigsheet with the puzzle face-up on top of it into the drawer, then cover the puzzle with the acrylic sheet. Slide it back into the frame. Instead of sliding the puzzle, You can use one of the Jigsheets to lay over the puzzle and help keep it steady while you flip it over, then lay the other Jigsheet over the back of the puzzle, and flip it face up again. If the puzzle is much smaller than the frame, a small piece of cardboard is included to place on the Jigsheet, below the puzzle's lower edge, to center the puzzle. Other companies may use a different system than the ones described above. An adjustable frame may be sold in two pieces, which are slid together over the puzzle and locked into the correct position. Some coffee tables have an additional glass surface that can be screwed on and off the table. Place a jigsaw puzzle under this layer for display. These envelopes are typically made of polypropylene, and may be labeled "archival grade." This will keep your puzzle safe from moisture and other sources of damage. However, these are more typically used for prints and photographs, and may be hard to find in sizes appropriate for medium or large puzzles.

Switch up the variety of oil every couple days. Prepare the oil the night before. Make it part of a light exercise routine.

If you want extra power, try adding other ingredients - some people like a bit of mint or some apple cider vinegar for whitening, although results may vary. If you want to try out different oils to see what works best for you and yields the best results, get as many as you'd like and to try to use a different one each morning for a full week. Keep a fully stocked kitchen with a variety of organic oils and experiment with their benefits and uses. Organic virgin oils like coconut oil aren't always the cheapest thing at the market, but they're incredibly versatile: you can use coconut oil to make your own toothpaste, massage oil, in your hair, and in your next stir-fry. Some people are turned off by the concept of making a mouthful of cooking oil the first taste of the morning, but it is important to do before you clean your mouth or consume anything, so make it easy on yourself. Consider measuring out the oil before you go to sleep and leaving it by your bedside, or set out on the bathroom counter top so that you don't have to think about it. Put it in your mouth and start swishing. If you usually keep your toothbrush on the counter, put it away and put a tiny glass of oil in its place. It'll become a habit in no time. If you typically do some calisthenics or light stretching in the morning before breakfast, make oil pulling part of the regimen. Wake up your body and get your day started right. The more you make it part of some routine, the easier it will be to make oil pulling a regular thing in your life. Whatever you typically do in the morning, add oil pulling to the routine. Look over the newspaper briefly while swishing the oil, or read your favorite blog.

Purchase a variety of cold-pressed organic oil. First thing in the morning, measure out 1 tablespoon of the oil. Swirl the oil around your mouth for 10-15 minutes. Spit out the oil and rinse your mouth out thoroughly with warm water.

Some oil pullers suggest that sesame oil is the most effective oil for oil pulling, while others prefer the taste and texture of coconut oil. Consider alternating oil varieties every couple of days to get the full benefit of all the oils and see what works best for you. Virgin olive oil and sunflower oil are also commonly used for oil pulling. Avoid canola oil and other varieties processed with additives. It's important to do a pulling before you've consumed any food or drink in the day and also before you've brushed your teeth. You'll have the opportunity to clean your mouth out afterward, and it won't take long to complete the routine. The oil will mix with your saliva, absorbing and "pulling" toxins from your mouth. As the oil is swished around the mouth, teeth, gums, and tongue, the oil will continue to absorb toxins, usually turning somewhat viscous and milky. It's important to spit out the oil when it starts to feel thick. This usually takes somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes, and certainly no longer than 20. You don't want to hold it in your mouth so long that the toxins start to reabsorb. Spit into the trash can and rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water, which tends to do a better job getting the oil out than cold. Make sure not to spit it into a sink or toilet, because it may clog the drain.

Keep your teeth clean with oil. Consider oil pulling to remedy bad breath. Use oil pullings to contribute to all-around holistic health regimens.

Studies have shown that regular oil pulling reduce the amount of s. mutans, a common oral bacteria responsible for a variety of oral diseases and a major contributor to tooth decay, plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. The lipids in the oil work to pull out bacteria and keep bacteria from sticking to the walls of the mouth. An emulsifier, vegetable oils increase saponification, which accounts for the cleansing, soap-like texture you'll notice when doing an oil pulling. Halitosis is caused by bacteria and fungus in the mouth and on the tongue, and using virgin oils regularly to oil pull will reduce these bacteria and fungi, fighting bad breath and contributing to a clean, healthy mouth. If you struggle with bad breath, work oil pulling into your routine. Some people attribute oil pulling to the general detoxification of the body and a diversity of positive effects, including reduced hangovers, reduced pain, headache relief, insomnia relief, and other cures. Studies show that virgin oils, sesame in particular, are particularly high in antioxidants sesamol, sesamin, sesamolin, Vitamin E, and antioxidants shown to halt the absorption of bad cholesterol in the liver. The antibacterial qualities of virgin oil support the use of pulling to promote general oral health.

Choose a sunny spot in your yard or garden. Enrich the soil. Plant the sweet peas in early spring. Dig holes for the sweet peas. Water the sweet peas.

Sweet peas of all varieties thrive in sunny areas, making them a great choice for exposed sections of fence and walls. In the heat of summer, sweet peas will do fine in partial shade, but it's better to find someplace sunny to be on the safe side. Since sweet peas love to climb, find a spot where they can grow toward the sky. They produce small tendrils that will latch onto any type of pole you plant them near. Sweet peas make an excellent natural decoration for fences. If you have a wooden or chain link fence you want to brighten up, plant sweet peas there. Sweet peas are often grown on trellises or archways. This is another lovely choice, and will lend your garden a country cottage feel. If you don't have a suitable place for sweet peas, erect a few bamboo posts in your garden and plant sweet peas there. It'll lend some height and interest to your garden. You could also create a tower of stakes in a pot or a small arbor. You can plant sweet peas among other plants, like shrubs or vegetables. Sweet peas grow best in rich soil that drains well. Prepare the soil for planting by tilling it to a depth of 6 inches (15.2 cm) and working in some compost or manure. This is especially important if your soil is clay heavy; you'll need to work in extra compost to make sure it drains well enough for sweet peas' roots. To determine whether the soil drains well enough, observe it after a heavy rain. If water collects and puddles and takes time to drain, the soil there doesn't drain well. If the water soaks in right away, it should be fine for your seedlings. Using a raised bed is a good option if you feel your soil is too clay heavy to support seedlings. This will come in handy for other plants you want to grow as well. Whether you started your seeds inside and are planting seedlings, or you want to plant your seeds directly in your garden bed, early spring is the right time to do it. If you live in a warm area where the ground never freezes, you can plant in January or February. If you live in an area where the ground does freeze, wait until just after the first frost, in early to mid April. If you're transplanting seedlings, dig holes 5 inches (12.7 cm) apart and deep enough to set the seedlings root balls into the ground. Pat fresh soil lightly around the stems of the seedlings. For seeds you're planting directly in the ground, dig holes one inch deep and 3 inches (7.6 cm) apart. When they sprout, you'll need to thin them out to 5 inches (12.7 cm) apart, so each plant has plenty of room to grow. Finish by giving the plants a good dose of fresh water. The sweet peas will begin to spring up quickly once warmer weather sets in.

Buy sweet pea seeds. Determine when to start your seeds. Soak or nick your seeds. Plant the seeds in seed substrate. Keep them moist and warm.

Sweet peas are usually started from seed. You may either plant them in seed trays indoors and later transplanting them to the garden bed, or start them outside. Seeds are available for purchase at any garden store. For rarer varieties, check online retailers. "Old-fashioned" sweet peas will produce very fragrant flowers. Spencer varieties have bright colors, but less fragrance. You'll find them in pink, purple, blue, white and red. Sweet peas can be grown in any growing zone, but it's important to know the right time to get them ready. They must be planted as early as possible to form a strong root system and survive the summer. Therefore, starting seeds early in the year is usually your best bet. If you live in a temperate area where the ground does not freeze in the winter (USDA zones 8-10), you can plant your seeds directly in the ground as early as November, though waiting until January or February is also fine. Be sure to water them over the winter, and they'll emerge in spring. If you live in an area where the winters are cold, starting seeds indoors is your best bet. That way, the seedlings will be ready to plant as soon as the first frost has passed. If you wait too long to plant your seeds, they won't have time to take hold in the soil before the summer weather gets hot. Another option is to sow seeds directly in the ground in late winter, and then allow them to come up when they are ready. Sweet pea seeds have the best chance of germinating if you help penetrate the seed shell before planting. You can do this by either soaking them in a pan of water overnight, or using a tiny knife or nail clipper to nick the surface of each seed. If you soak your seeds, only plant those that have swelled during the overnight soaking. Discard those that haven't changed in size. About 5 weeks before the last frost (usually mid-February or so), prepare small seed trays or peat containers with a seed starting mixture. Plant the seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and 3 inches (7.6 cm) apart, or in separate compartments. Water the seeds trays and cover them lightly in plastic wrap for the first week or so, to regulate the temperature. Keep them in a greenhouse or in a sunny window in a place where the temperature won't drop below 70 °F (21 °C). Once the seedlings sprout, remove the covering and keep them moist and warm until it's time to plant them just after the last frost. If you're using seed trays, thin out the seedlings to space them 5 inches (12.7 cm) apart once they've sprouted leaves. Pinch of flowers and buds before transplanting, so the seedlings' energy can be channeled into growing new roots.

Water them often during the hot months. Fertilize once a month. Harvest the flowers regularly. Save the seed pods from your plants for next year's crop. Pinch off the shoots once your peas are 6 inches or longer.

Sweet peas must be kept nice and wet throughout the summer. Water them lightly every day it does not rain. Check the soil surrounding the sweet pea stems often to make sure it doesn't dry out. Sweet peas are quite prolific, and a monthly application of mild fertilizer will keep them blooming for many weeks. It's not mandatory, but it's helpful if you want to make the most of your flowers. Use compost, manure or a high-potassium commercial fertilizer application. Cutting the flowers promotes new growth, so don't hesitate to bring in some fresh blossoms or make a bouquet for a friend. Wait until the flowers have reached their fragrant and colorful peaks before cutting. You should also remove faded blossoms, which sap energy from the plant and prevent more flowers from growing. These annuals won't come back on their own next year, but you can enjoy them again if you save the seed pods and plant them again in the winter or spring, depending on where you live. This will encourage new growth in the form of more side-shoots and flowers. You can just use your fingernails to pinch off the shoots.

Open your Slack app or sign into the Slack website. Open the channel you want to leave by clicking or tapping the channel name. Type "/leave" into the message field. Press .

This will take you to your default Slack channel, usually the "#general" channel. Use this method in any version of Slack. You can use these text commands in the Slack website as well as the Slack mobile apps. You'll need to have the channel open that you want to leave so that you are posting to that channel. You can select your channels from the sidebar menu. This is the text command to leave a channel. You can also type "/close" to accomplish the same task. ↵ Enter or tap the Send button to send the command. You'll be removed from the channel and taken to your last active channel.

Launch the Slack mobile app and sign in if prompted. Tap the Slack button to open the menu. Tap the channel you want to leave. Tap the channel name at the top of the screen. Tap "Leave" at the bottom of the menu. Tap "Leave and Archive" to leave the channel and archive it. Rejoin a channel you've left.

This will take you to your "#general" channel. This will display a list of channels that you belong to. To leave a channel, it will need to be the active channel on your screen. You cannot leave your "#general" channel, which may have been renamed. This will open the Channel details screen. This will remove you from the channel. This will remove everyone from the channel that is currently viewing it, and archive the channel contents. If you only have this option and want to leave the channel but keep it open, use the "/leave" or "/close" command instead. You're free to rejoin any channels you've left, unless they're private. Private channels will require a new invite to reopen. Open the side menu by tapping the Slack icon Tap the "+" button next to "CHANNELS." This will display all of your available channels. Tap a channel in the list to view a preview and join it.

Sign into your Slack team site if you aren't already. Click the channel you want to leave in the left menu. Click the Gear button in the upper-right corner of the channel. Select "Leave #channelname." Click the "CHANNELS" heading in the left sidebar to see your available channels.

You'll need to be signed in with your Slack account to leave a channel. When you sign in, you'll be taken to your "#general" channel. To leave a channel, it will need to be your active channel in Slack. This will open a small menu of channel options. This will remove you from the active channel. You'll be taken to your last active channel. You cannot leave the #general channel. You can find all of the channels you've left in this list. Click one to open the channel preview and get the option to join it again.

Try to read her body language when you're together. Check if she avoids making eye contact with you. See if she treats you different when it's just the two of you versus when you're in public. Watch her reaction when you tell a funny story. Notice if your dates always turn into group hangouts.

People are usually very aware of their facial expressions, but they don't necessarily realize that their bodies are sending pretty loud messages, too. She may be giving you hints that she's not interested in the way she positions her body. If she turns her body away from you, or leans back or away from you, it's a sign she may be uncomfortable. She keeps a barrier between you. If she always positions herself behind a chair or a table or holds her purse or backpack in front of her like a shield, she might not be interested in you. If she walks away when she sees you or appears to be avoiding you, she is not interested and you should not try to follow. Making eye contact can actually be quite intimate, and some girls may look down or away because they are shy. But if you find that her eyes are always darting around when you talk to her, as though she's looking for her friends, she not really feeling the conversation and you should politely excuse yourself. Remember that one conversation during which she seems distracted or isn't looking at you doesn't mean she doesn't like you. But if it seems to happen every single time you try to talk to her, something is up. She's flirty and talkative during class or when you have a shift together at work. Then you run into her when she's out with her friends, and she looks right through you. If there's a huge gap between how she treats you in private and in front of her friends, she might just be flirting with you out of convenience. She might also be too self-conscious or shy to say hello to you in front of all of her friends. Are her friends are constantly glancing at you, even if she's not? It might mean she's talked about you to her friends. Try making the first move and see how she reacts. Say hello when you see her out in public. If she seems embarrassed, is rude, or flat out ignores you, then you can be pretty sure she's not interested. Even if it's not that funny, a girl will usually laugh when a guy she likes makes a joke. Keep in mind, this is something most friends do, too, so it doesn't automatically mean she's into you. But if she doesn't even giggle at your funniest stories, you might need to find someone else who appreciates your humor. If she doesn't crack a smile at your joke, it could be because she's having a bad day (or it was a terrible joke). But if your jokes are met with silence day after day, then it's time to move on. If you ask her to the movies and she shows up with three friends, it might be a miscommunication. But if it happens every time you invite her to do something, it might be her way of letting you know she just wants to be your friend. Keep in mind some girls are not allowed to date until a certain age, and she may need her friends to tag along so her parents will let her hang out with you. But she should definitely let you know ahead of time that this won't be a solo hang.

Be aware if she only talks to you when she needs something. Take the hint if she says you are like her brother. Pay attention to how often she asks you questions about yourself and how much she talks about herself.

If you only hear from her when she needs help with her homework or a project, or she needs a ride somewhere, but she doesn't have time to talk to you or she's always too busy to hang out, she might be manipulating you and not truly interested in you. Relationships go two ways--one person should not always be giving or doing things for the other person and get nothing in return. While this means you two are close and she has genuine affection for you, it's unlikely she sees you as anything beyond a good friend. Saying you think of someone as a sibling is basically removing any romantic possibilities from the equation. Even if there's not a chance for romance, a girl who describes you this way definitely values your presence in her life. If you can hardly get a word in because she's talking about what she was doing last weekend, her plans for winter break, then gossiping about her friend, and she has yet to ask about your weekend, she's probably more into herself than she's into you. If you know all the details of her life but she struggles to remember even the most basic things about you, she's likely not interested in you, but she's probably not a very good friend, either. If she doesn't ask you a lot questions about yourself but she already seems to know a lot about you, then she's probably interested in you. It's likely she's been asking her friends about you and paying attention to the sports or clubs you are involved in. Try telling her something surprising about yourself and see how she reacts.

Decide if you can just be her friend. Give her some space. Accept it and move on.

If she makes it clear that she only wants to be your friend, think about if you are okay with accepting that role in her life. If you think staying close to her and watching her possibly date other guys (and maybe even ask your advice about them) would be too painful, it's okay to say so. But if you think you can put your romantic feelings aside, be glad this rad girl wants you in her life and make the most of your friendship. Don't stick around hoping she might change her mind. It's not fair to either of you if you are secretly hoping she'll fall for you if you do enough nice things for her. You'll be deceiving her and you'll be making yourself miserable. If you are spending all your energy trying to convince her that you're the right person for her, you may be missing out on other girls that would love to date you. You may agonize over why she doesn't like you back, and you may want to ask her to explain it to you, or convince her that she's wrong, or tell her friends to tell her you'd make an amazing couple... but you should probably cool it. If you keep pursuing her when she's not interested, you may start to annoy her or even scare her. You don't need to completely ignore her or be mean. Just take a few steps back and treat her more like an acquaintance. Just like you can't help having a crush on her, she can't force herself to have feelings for you. And while it definitely hurts, it's not the end of the world. It's completely okay to feel upset and sad when something doesn't work out. Luckily, she's not the only girl out there, and it probably won't be long until you meet someone new. Chances are the girl just thought she was treating you like a friend and wasn't trying to lead you on. Try not to hold a grudge and just move forward.

Look for signs that the onions are ready for harvest. Pull the onions from the ground once they have ripened. Place the onions outside on dry ground for a few days. Clip the roots and cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the onion's foliage. Keep the onions on cool, dry ground until dry outer skins form. Store the onions in baskets or dry mesh bags.

The onions should be grown after 60-80 days. They will, however, go rotten if you leave them ripe for too long. You will know an onion is ready when: The onion bulb fully emerges from the soil. The green sprouts wilt and/or turn brown. Flowers stalks appear. When the sprouts have turned to full onion bulbs that look ready for consumption, you can harvest them. Don't be scared of ripping out the roots. Handle them carefully and lay them out in a single layer to avoid bruises.This will begin the curing process and allow excess soil to fall from their skins. You can use a knife or garden scissors. This will stop the onions from decaying in storage. You will know they are cured when the foliage shrivels and the onions produce a papery outer layer. A shed or garage floor works well; anywhere that is cool, shaded and dry. The curing process will normally take around one month. You can skip the curing process if you wish to eat the onions straight away but storing them without curing first carries a high risk of mildew and rot. If you can't find anywhere dry enough to cure the onions, consider using a dehumidifier to keep moisture levels down.. This will ensure they remain in the right conditions and do not damage other fruit. The onions are now ready for consumption! You will want to eat the onions within a single month. If an onion sprouts, you can replant it again!

Peel off the sprouted onion’s papery outer skin. Use a knife to cut the onion's layers from the sprouts. Separate the onion sprouts. Place the sprouts in water until roots grow.

Dig your fingernails into the skin at the top of the onion bulb and rip it off piece by piece. Discard the skin when you are done. The sprouts grow at the center of the onion bulb. Slice through onion’s layers vertically while avoiding the sprouts. Repeat on the other side then carefully slice off the onion's layers. If you don’t have a knife, peel off the onion’s layers individually with your hands. You can eat the onion layers if they are firm and crisp, though make sure you wash them first! If they are soft and mushy discard them. You will likely find a few sprouts growing at the center of the onion bulb. Some will protrude from the bulb, others will not. Use your hands to gently separate the sprouts from one another so they don't need to compete for space. Given proper care, each sprout can grow into a brand new onion bulb! You can keep the sprouts in individual cups, glasses of bowls of water. Within a few days white roots will form at the bottom of each sprout. If white roots are already present you can plant the sprouts straight into the soil. If you see dry, brown roots on a sprout, it means they are already dead. You want to wait for new white roots to form.

Plant the sprouts 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep in quality potting soil. Water the plants every few days. Check the plants for weeds every day and remove any that appear. Treat the plants twice a week with fungicidal spray.

Dig an individual hole for each sprout, and cover it so only the green part sticks out. Keep each sprout at least 3 inches apart (7.5 cm), or in separate pots, so they don't need to compete for space. Consider applying a thin layer of mulch to the soil to aid the growth process. Whether indoors or outdoors, ensure the plants get ample sunlight. If you live in a cold climate, plant the sprouts in pot plants inside and gradually introduce them to the outdoors. The onions have been inside for some time and will need to adjust. During the winter in cold climates keep the plants indoors at all time to ensure they stay alive. Expect to see onion bulbs form after 60-80 days! Onions are resilient, but need plenty of water to grow. Pour a little water from a gardening can, or use a hose, on the soil around the onions, not the plant itself. Ensure the soil is well drained. If you are using mulch, the onions will only need 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water a week. As the onions grow, weeds will inevitably emerge around them. Wear garden gloves and ensure you pull the weeds out by the roots so they don't grow back. The spray will prevent harmful fungi from destroying your plants and ensure they remain healthy. A few short sprays on each plant should be enough. If you prefer not to use synthetic compounds, oxidate or copper sprays are good alternatives.

Be aware that white-coated cats are more likely to become deaf. Consider the percentages. Understand that age can also play a factor.

In particular, this applies to white-coated cats (this means cats that are entirely white) whose eyes are either both blue, both orange, or one of each color. Their deafness is linked to a fault in the "W"- white coat pigment gene. It is thought that 25% of these cats are totally deaf, 50% are deaf in just one ear, and 25% have normal hearing. Breeds that commonly have the W-gene include: White Oriental Shorthair, White Persian, White Exotic Shorthair, White Manx, White British Shorthair, White Devon Rex, White American Shorthair, White Cornish Rex, White American Wirehair, Foreign White, White Turkish Angora, European White, and White Scottish Fold. Just like humans, cats often experience at least a small amount of deafness as they get older.

Understand the BAER test. Be aware that your cat will have electrodes placed on her head. Talk to your vet about whether or not your cat will need to be sedated.

The BAER (Brainstem auditory evoked response) test monitors electrical activity in the brain that is caused by auditory stimulation (such as hearing pans banging together). This test helps a vet to see if your cat’s brain has actually registered a sound, and if one or both ears are involved. If your vet does not have BAER test equipment, ask about auditory centers that may be able to help you. Relatively few centers offer this test, so it is likely that you will need to go to a specialty center, which may be located in a different area. Three small electrodes will be attached to your cat’s head. The machine will then produce a series of clicking sounds that are generated at a range of frequencies. The electrodes will help to monitor your cat’s brain’s responses to the clicks. Good natured cats can usually go through with a short test while fully conscious. This short test only checks to see if your cat is fully deaf or not. A full hearing test that gives detailed answers as to the severity of the deafness, and whether or not both ears are affected, generally takes 20 to 30 minutes. Cats usually need to be sedated for this longer test.

Consider alternative ways of living to keep your deaf cat safe. Give your cat a playmate who is not deaf. Learn to communicate with your cat by using hand signals.

You may wish to consider keeping her as an indoor cat, to protect her from the hazard of traffic that she cannot hear. An alternative is to build a secure outdoor run so she has some access to fresh air, but won’t have access to any streets. Some cat owners have had good experiences using a normal, "hearing" cat as a playmate for the deaf cat.The body language of the hearing cat provides visual clues to the deaf cat that something has just happened. For instance, the hearing cat is aware ‘Mom has just opened the fridge door to get dinner out’ and rushes into the kitchen. The deaf cat, seeing his companion go, follows out of interest. This can work surprisingly well when one cat learns to take the lead. However, this depends on the two cats getting along, which cannot be guaranteed! Develop your own visual code for your cat, such as beckoning as a cue for your cat to come to you (reward her compliance with a treat) or by pointing to a certain spot to get her to go there and away from trouble. Reward positive behavior with a treat and she will quickly learn to obey. You can also stamp on the floor to create vibrations.

Take note if your cat is less easily startled. Place your cat in a quiet room away from any distraction in order to test her hearing. Watch to see what happens.

If you notice that your cat no longer wakes up and runs away when you vacuum around her, then there is a chance that she may be deaf, particularly if she always used to run away from the vacuum (or other loud gadgets). Make a noise outside of your cat's visual field (so she cannot see you). One option is to bang two pan lids together. Another option is to shake the box of cat treats that your cat loves. The most important part is to stand somewhere your cat cannot see you. You should also avoid standing in a position where the noise you make (such as banging to pots together) does not cause a breeze to rush over your cat. If your cat turns her hear to look towards where the noise came from, or reacts in some other ways (such as becoming startled), then you will know that your cat is not completely deaf. However, you should still take your cat to a vet, as this test cannot tell you if your cat is partially deaf, or if she is deaf in one ear.

Learn the number places. Write out your problem vertically. Line up the numbers. Add the ones column first. Carry the tens from the ones sum into the column of your problem. Count the next column. Continue working these steps until you get a final sum. Follow the same steps when adding decimals.

Each digit in a number has a name, and knowing them will help you add. Number places go from left to right: The spot on the left is the “ones” place. The second spot from the left is the “tens” place. The third spot from the left is the “hundreds” place. Here’s an example: In the number 583, the 3 is in the ones place, the 8 is in the tens place, and the 5 is in the hundreds place. Line up your numbers so that each digit place is in a row. This makes it easier to add each column of numbers to get a final sum. If your problem is presented horizontally on a worksheet, it helps to rewrite it vertically to make it easier to solve. Each number place should be in its own line with each number stacked vertically. If one number uses fewer number spaces than another, leave the left spot blank. Here's an example: Here’s how you’d write 16+4+342: 342 _16 +_4 The ones column is on the right. Once you have the sum of these numbers, write the ones digit of the sum in the ones place of your answer spot. If you have a tens digit in your sum, write it above the tens column in your problem. For 342+16+4, you’d add 2+6+4=12. Write the 2 in your ones place in your answer. Carry the other 1 into your tens column. If you have a number in the tens place, write the tens place number at the top of the tens column. This is the column located to the left of your ones column. You will include this number in the tens total. In the above example, you’d write the 1 from the tens place in 12 on top of the tens column. Go to the tens column, which is the next column to the left. Add up the numbers in this column, including your carry over number, if you had one. Write the ones place in this sum in the tens spot on your answer, then carry over the tens spot in your sum, if you had one. For 342+16+4, you’d add 4+1+1=6. Remember, the second 1 is the carry over from your ones sum. You’d write 6 down in the tens spot of your answer. You don’t have any carry over from this sum. For longer problems, you’ll need to add each column, moving from right to left. For each column, write the ones place of that column’s sum in the corresponding number place in the answer. Then, carry over the tens place of the sum in the next column to the left. When you complete the last column on the right, you’ll have your final sum. In our example, you only have one number in the hundreds column, so you’d carry down the 3 to your answer. Your final sum for 342+16+4=362. Although it seems challenging, you use the same process to add decimals as you do with whole numbers. Just make sure you line up each numbers place properly, including your decimals. If a number in the problem doesn’t have a decimal, add a .0 to make it easier to workout the problem. Here’s an example: 107.8 _24.5 __3.2 +15.0

Use a number line if you’re just learning to add. Add using beans to get more practice. Draw oranges for each number to help you see how adding works.

Draw a line, then write numbers along the line from 0-15. Circle the first number you want to add. Start at that number. Then, count down your number line, moving the same number of spaces as the second number you’re adding. You’ll land on your answer. Let’s say you want to add 4+5. Circle 4 on your number line, then count 5 spaces down the line. You will land on 9, which is your answer. Use your number line to add these numbers: 5+3 1+7 6+2 4+4 Start with a basic math problem, such as 4+6. Create two piles of beans to represent your problem, including one group of 4 beans and one group of 6 beans. Next, you can combine your two sets of beans to get the answer to your addition problem. Count your beans to see that you now have a total of 10 beans. If you don’t have beans, you can use any small item that fits in your hand to practice addition! For example, you can use blocks, candies, coins, or legos. Use your beans to add these numbers: 5+3 2+7 3+9 4+1 If you were adding 7+4, you’d draw one group of 7 oranges and one group of 4 oranges. Then, count all of the oranges to see how many you have when you add them together, which is 11 oranges. This is your answer. You can draw any object to represent your numbers, but it’s best to choose something easy. As another option, you can use stickers! Use drawing to add these numbers: 1+7 2+5 8+6 4+3

Round all of your numbers to multiples of ten or one hundred. Count out how many numbers you added when you rounded. Add the two rounded numbers together in your head. Subtract the number you added when rounding. Add the numbers in sets, then add the set totals together, as an alternative. Add the numbers by places if that’s easier for you.

Multiples of ten and one hundred are much easier to add together! Multiples of ten are easier to manage, but using hundreds can be helpful for larger numbers. Always round up because it’s easier to keep track of how much you’re adding to your original numbers as you round. Here’s an example problem: 423+678. You’d round it like this: 430 + 680 or 500+700. You’ll need to take away the numbers you added when rounding. You can count off these numbers or simply add them in your head. Hold onto this number. In the problem listed above, you’ll count out 7 places for rounding 423 to 430 and 2 places for rounding 678 to 680. Add 7+2=9. Since you rounded, it’s easier to calculate this total in your head. However, this isn’t your final answer! For the problem above, you’d add 430+680=1110 You can use simple subtraction or count backwards from the sum of your rounded numbers. This will give you your final total! To solve the problem above, you’d subtract or count back 1110-9 =1101. When you’re adding several numbers together, you may find it easier to pair numbers together to create round numbers that end in “5” or “0,” then add those round numbers together. For example, let's say you're adding 1+8+2+7+3. You could add 8+2 = 10 and 7+3=10. That leaves you with 1+10+10=21. Break the number apart into just tens and ones. For example, 42+35+17 would become two problems: 40+30+10 and 2+5+7. It’s easy to add 40+30+10=80. Next, you’d just need to count 2+5+7=14. Finally, add your two sums together to get a final sum of 80+14=94. You can also do this with numbers in the hundreds. You can break the number down into just the hundreds, just the tens, and just the ones. However, using one of the other techniques may be easier when adding big numbers.

Make a number line to practice adding two negative numbers. Add two negative numbers the same way you add positive numbers. Use a number line to practice adding a positive and negative number. Treat a positive number plus a negative number like subtraction.

Draw a number line, but place your zero to the far right of the line. Then, number your line toward your left using negative numbers. Mark the first negative number you want to add on the number line. Then, count out your second negative number, moving to the left. This gives you your answer. For example, let’s say you’re adding -4+-6. You’d circle -4 on your number line. Then, count 6 spaces to the left. You’ll arrive at -10, which is your answer. This is because you are moving the same number of places on the number line, just toward the negative side. This means your final answer will be negative. For example, when adding -12+-21, you could add 12+21=33. However, since your numbers were negative, you’d make your answer -33. Draw a number line with zero in the middle. Number to the left moving from -1 to -10, then number to the right 1 to 10. Circle the positive number on your number line. Then, count out your negative number to find the answer, moving to the left on your number line. For instance, let’s say you’re adding 6+-8. You’ll circle 6 on your number line. Then, count 8 spaces backwards, moving to the left on your line. You’ll arrive at -2, which is your answer. Adding a negative number with a positive number works just like subtraction. This is because you’re taking away spaces on the number line. When you’re solving a problem on paper, you can write it out like a subtraction problem. For example, 15+-17 would become 15-17=-2.

Make a custom last. Pour casting material into your casting box. Remove and tape your last.

A last is a block in the shape of a human foot shoemakers use to guide their work. To do this, you'll want to make a cast mould of your foot; that way, the shoes you'll be making will be custom-fitted for you personally. Get a box filled with an alginate jelly and place your foot in, ideally up to the ankle. Let your foot rest for 20 minutes while the jelly solidifies, then slowly remove your foot. Make sure to remove your foot slowly; you don't want to damage anything once it solidifies. It's highly recommended you do this for both feet at the same time. The idle time is best to get over with early on in the process. One positive thing to mention about this step in the process is that you can ideally reuse these lasts for each subsequent pair of shoes you try to make. Make a point of keeping them somewhere safe, where they don't run the risk of being broken. Now that there's a proper mould of your foot, you can pour casting material into it. Depending on the type and quality of casting material, the solidifying time could take anywhere from half an hour to overnight. Be patient-- it may be a good time at this point to work on other parts of the process if your plans are settled enough. Once the last has solidified, it's time to take it out and get it ready. Cover your last with a colourless masking tape. That will keep it from being damaged as easily, and you'll be able to draw your designs directly on the last. Outline your design on the last itself. Before you get to putting the pieces together, you'll probably find it helpful to give the last an outline of what you want the shoe to look like around it. While you shouldn't rely on it for concrete measurements, having an idea of what it will look like in three dimensions will help as you're figuring out where each stitch should go.

Decide what kind of shoe you would like to make. Design, find or purchase a blueprint for your shoe. Harvest parts from old shoes. Get the rest of your materials from a hardware store or speciality outlet.

If you're planning on making a shoe, it's undoubtedly important you have some idea what kind of shoe you would like to make. Shoes are incredibly diverse, and there are plenty of types you can make, not limited to loafers, sneakers, sandals, boots and high heels. Try to imagine what kind of shoe style would suit your individual style the most. It may be helpful to sketch out a few ideas. Manifesting your ideas with an illustration can come a long way towards planning out your shoe. If you're new to shoe making, it's probably best to stick to something simple. A basic laced shoe goes without some of the finesse of more complicated types, and you can still add plenty of flair to a basic formula. Before you think about making your shoe, it's important you have an accurate and well-detailed set of plans to work on. After all, you don't want to be making design decisions on the go; shoemaking is a very precise business, and the slightest mishap could keep the shoe from turning out well. Basic shoe templates are available on the internet. Do a search and look up some 'recipes'. If nothing else, it might give you inspiration for your own design. Online art outlets like www.etsy.com may have more elaborate shoe templates for sale. Designing your own is only recommended if you've made a shoe before. If that's what you're ultimately looking to do, try stitching together something basic with a free template, and put that experience towards making your own the second time around. You can save yourself a lot of time and give your shoes a more professional look if you harvest parts from other shoes you don't use anymore. In particular, shoe soles are good as they'll give you a reference for the rest of your stitching. Provided they're in good enough shape, you should salvage the parts you think might work in your new shoe, taking care to remove them slowly and carefully with a scalpel knife. While specific lists of ingredients will depend on the certain type of shoe you're looking to make, it generally goes without saying that you'll want a few sheets of good leather and a firm fabric. If you don't have a sewing and stitching kit, you'll need to buy or borrow one to make your shoes. Rubber, leather and fabrics are all good for the chassis of the shoes. While its recommended that shoe soles be taken from old shoes or bought as pre-fabricated supplies, you can make a functional and waterproof sole using a few sheets of cork. Each sheet need not be more than 1/8 inches thick. Remember to get at least twice as much as you think, so you'll have enough to make a pair!

Waterproof your shoes with a sealant spray. Add decorative touches to your shoes. Take them for a test walk!

A leather-based shoe will own  with its own natural waterproofing abilities, but you're going to want to do everything you can to make sure water isn't able to get in. Getting a relatively inexpensive sealant spray and give your shoes a thorough going-over is a smart idea, especially if you live in a wetter part of the world. Let's face it; most of the time you're making something from home, it's because you want to put your own unique spin on it. You have plenty of chance to do so even after the shoe is made. Taking a leather paint and adding an inventive design to the sides of the shoes is a fun and effective way to add style to your creation. There are countless ways you can stylize your shoes. Look online for some ideas if you're in need of inspiration. Now that your spiffy creations are finally finished, it's time for the defining moment of trying them on and putting them to use. Try walking down the hallway or the street and get a hang for the way they feel. Are they comfortable? Do you think they could keep out water if you accidentally stepped in a puddle? If this is your first time making shoes, it's perfectly normal for there to be issues. If you're not satisfied with the end result, you can always put the expertise you've gained to good use and make another pair. If it's just the insole that's uncomfortable, you can buy gel-based insoles (like Dr. Scholl's) to give your feet some much-welcomed cushion.

Cut out your leather and fabrics. Stitch pieces together. Make eyelets. Cut out your sole. Stitch and glue your pieces together. Trim excess fabric and add patches where desired. Repeat the process for the other shoe.

Using your template or personal design, cut each necessary section of fabric or leather out using a surgical knife or scalpel. You may find it helpful to use a ruler or protractor to help you with the incisions. While cutting your pattern, you should leave at least an inch of extra material along the bottom edge of the shoe, as well as a centimetre or so, where the different pieces of the upper join together. This will be your seam allowance. A fluid stitch is one of the most skill-testing parts of making your own shoe. Be meticulous and slow as you're piecing it together; while it may be easier to go faster, bad stitching will certainly show in the final product, and your shoe won't look as good as it should. Try to get the stitches as close to the end of each piece of fabric as you can. Overlaps might leave unnecessary ridges on the shoe. If you intentionally cut your pieces to be slightly bigger than necessary for the sake of having stitching space, remember to take that into account. You don't want to end up with a shoe that's too big, or too small for the sole. While fabric won't be any problem to stitch through, you may have an issue with leather. Leather is notoriously sturdy, and you won't be able to stitch it fluidly. Rather, it's recommended you punch holes in it before connecting it to your other pieces. Eyelets are the holes you'll need to fix your laces through. Chances are your shoe design will use these. Evenly space the eyelets apart from one another (just less than an inch, in most cases) and offer enough of them (4-5) to encase most of the laces. If you're the DIY type, you can make these incisions with a scalpel easily enough. If you're going for a more professional-looking product however, there are specific eyelet-making tools you can order from a specialty outlet. If you purchased a pre-fabricated sole or nabbed a pair from old shoes, you won't need to worry about this step. If you're trying to make a purely homemade set of shoes however, picking up a few sheets of cork is your best bet. Cork has a comfortable amount of cushion, and it's waterproof. If you have the fabric stitched together already, you can use that as a point of reference while making your incisions, although you should ultimately rely on the empirical measurements laid out in your template. Your last should come in handy here as well. Cut the sole out of the cork sheet, leaving a little extra space around the last so your foot will ultimately have some breathing room. If you're wanting some extra cushion and height, you can add a second or even third layer of cork to your sole. Just cut it out in the exact same dimensions, and superglue the layers together. Give the glued cork soles some time to solidify once you've finished gluing them. You can make a shoe heel by adding an extra layer to the posterior third of the sole. Stitching the fabric to your sole won't work, at least not by itself. It's recommended you pick up a shoe-specific adhesive to glue your fabric to the sole. Apply the glue slowly and evenly. This will maximize the waterproof seal for your shoe, and keep it sturdy. If your blueprint suggests any additional stitches, do those as well. Make use of the last inside the shoe as you're putting it together. It will make a great point of reference and support while you're getting the tricky stitches done. If you're a real pro with stitches, don't be afraid to spice up your stitching style. Stitches themselves can be an interesting aesthetic tool. If you're feeling more daring than the rest of us, you can experiment with irregular stitching patterns, so long as they're fundamentally sturdy enough to do their practical job. By this point, you should have relatively functional shoe. Add laces through the eyelets if you haven't already. To make the shoe look as good as it can be, you'll want to trim the excess fabric. If there are some really ugly seam marks on the shoe, you can add a new layer of leather or fabric to cover it up. Now that you have the body of the shoe, you can start thinking about adding more aesthetic flair to it. It's generally assumed you'll want to make two shoes to wear at the same time. After the basics of the first shoe are done, it's time to move onto the second. Keep in mind that you're not wanting to make a copy, but a mirror image of your original shoe. Try to keep it looking as close to the first as you possibly can. Any possible slip ups you made on the first will look worse if they're not reflected on the other shoe. If you were frustrated making the first shoe, you should find making the second is a lot more enjoyable.

Assert yourself when necessary. Exit conversations if you're not being respected. Remind yourself of your own worth. Think about taking a break from the relationship.

If you feel your boyfriend is being disrespectful, learn to assert yourself. In the moment the disrespect occurs, let him know you will not tolerate it. You do not have to be aggressive or mean. Simply state your needs in a calm fashion When your boyfriend is being difficult, say so in the moment. Calmly let him know what he's saying is not respectful and you don't appreciate it. Do this in a calm fashion to avoid escalating the argument. For example, your boyfriend is on your case about you going out with friends from work because he feels these friends are not responsible. Say something like, "I appreciate your concerns, but I know how to stay safe. I'm allowed to have a social life and I need you to respect that." If your boyfriend is chronically disrespectful, he may not always listen when you assert yourself. Instead of hearing your needs and backing off, he may become hostile or even aggressive. For example, "I don't care what you think you need. I don't want you going out with those girls from the office." In this case, just walk away. You need to back up your words with behavior. If you want your boyfriend to respect your social life, and he isn't, show him you won't tolerate this lack of respect. Say something like, "You're not listening to me and this isn't getting us anywhere. I'm going for a walk." Then, leave for a few hours to give your boyfriend a chance to calm down. Living with a chronically disrespectful person can drain your self esteem. You may start to feel you are not worth things like love and respect. This is not the case. Everyone has worth, so remind yourself of yours when necessary. Most people have some areas in their lives they could use to improve. However, this does not mean you don't deserve love or respect. Just because you're, say, a little messy does not give your boyfriend the right to yell at or berate you constantly. Remind yourself of of this. Adopt a personal mantra. Try something like, "I matter. I deserve respect. I deserve love." If someone keeps disrespecting you, you don't have to stay in the relationship. If you consistently feel controlled, uncomfortable, or unhappy with someone, the relationship is probably not worth your time. There's nothing wrong with walking away if someone is not respecting you.

Think about whether your partner lectures you. Consider whether you feel controlled or dominated. Think about whether your boyfriend is ever willing to compromise. Watch out for angry outbursts. Evaluate whether your boyfriend ever takes responsibility for his actions.

No one is perfect. It's normal for a romantic partner to sometimes point out your flaws if they affect him or the relationship. However, a disrespectful partner will lecture you constantly about even minor, inconsequential flaws. He will also sound less concerned and more demeaning. In a respectful relationship, your boyfriend may say something like, "Could you not text as much while we watch TV? I just like to have you present." If your boyfriend is being disrespectful, his reaction will be more over the top. Instead of asking nicely that you don't text during certain times, he will lash out and start lecturing you about your flaws. For example, "This just shows how you can't concentrate on anything. I think this is why you've been having so much trouble at school lately. Your professors are probably as frustrated with you as I am." A disrespectful boyfriend is often very controlling and domineering in his behavior. During interactions, you may feel your boyfriend will not let you have your way. He may have an "It's my way or the highway" mentality, and act out when things don't go the way he wants. A disrespectful boyfriend may, for example, take major issue with you seeing friends without him. He may berate you and question this decision, saying things like, "Your friends are so boring. Why do you need to see them so much?" While he may not directly forbid you from going, he may do things to make your night difficult. For example, he allows you to see a movie with your friend Maggie, but texts and calls the whole time in the theater. He may also let you grab coffee with a friend, but cold shoulder you when you get home. Compromise is important to any healthy relationship. Your boyfriend should occasionally be willing to meet your needs, just as you've met his. You may feel like you always end up doing things your partner's way, whether you want to or not. In a normal relationship, people compromise on things like taste. You may, for example, go see a movie you don't really want to see, but then eat dinner at your favorite restaurant afterwards. With a disrespectful boyfriend, everything will be about him. If you try to say "No" or offer a compromise, he simply berates you until he gets his way. For example, he wants to go hiking for your anniversary. You're not much of a hiker, but propose a short, easy hike as you've never gone before. Instead of agreeing, he keeps complaining that he loves long hikes and a short hike will be boring for him until you eventually agree to go on the shorter hike. Is your boyfriend quick to anger? Does he create a generally hostile atmosphere in your home? If you feel unsafe when around him, and feel as if you need to walk on eggshells constantly, he may be disrespecting you. A chronically disrespectful person will not own up to the fact his behavior has hurt others. Most people apologize for their shortcomings or try to change them. A disrespectful person will never take full responsibility for himself. Your boyfriend may refuse to apologize for even little things. For example, he's consistently late but is always making excuses such as "There was traffic" and "I was stressed, so I lost track of time." He may also make excuses for major aspects of disrespect. For example, "I'm sorry I yelled at you, but you don't get the pressure I've been under lately." He may even go as far as to blame you. For example, "I would be more respectful about you seeing your friends if I felt more valued in the relationship."

Think about whether you feel heard. Examine if you feel unworthy. Evaluate your overall energy level. Think about your behavior.

If your boyfriend is disrespectful, you often won't feel like you're being heard in the relationship. Do you feel like your boyfriend truly understands you? Do you think he knows your needs and wants? If not, he may be disrespecting you. You may feel like your boyfriend does not know basic things about you, such as personal boundaries and what you like to do. This may be because he talks over you or dismisses you. Listening is a basic sign of respect. Someone who does not listen to you does not likely respect you. Think about how you feel about your role in the relationship. Disrespectful people will often make their partners feel unworthy. In a healthy relationship, you will feel you deserve love and respect. You may find yourself consistently having thoughts like, "I don't deserve him" or "It's my fault he yells. I don't deserve to be treated well." You do deserve respect. Every human deserve as much. If you consistently feel unworthy of basic aspects of respect (being listened to, being treated with kindness, having your needs met, etc.) then your boyfriend may be being disrespectful towards you. Disrespectful people can create toxic relationships with those around them. If you're being perpetually disrespected, think about your overall energy level. Do you feel tired most of the time? Do you feel drained and exhausted? If so, your boyfriend may be disrespecting you. A disrespectful partner can affect how you behave. If you're with someone who doesn't respect you, you may often feel like you're at your worst. Do you feel like you're not the person you used to be? Do you feel like you're no longer able to keep up with things like your friends, hobbies, and social life and are just doing the bare minimum? Do you feel like you're not dealing as well in social interactions? Maybe you've been more short tempered or dismissive lately. This is a sign you're not being respected and lashing out at others.

Have the land professionally surveyed. Examine the relevant zoning laws. Evaluate any improvements on the land. Look for various ways to produce asset value on land. Compile your information.

After you have chosen the right parcel of land for your purposes, you will need to have the land surveyed to determine its dimensions and property lines. A survey will also reveal any easements for access to the property, which refers to neighbor's rights to travel through the property. Right-of-way issues are often critical to open plots of land because they are important for the purposes of improving or using that land over time and may affect your ability to get a loan. For more information on having land surveyed, see how to get a land survey. In some cases you may be able to simply ask for a recent land survey from the seller. Go to municipal offices and look through zoning records to get a better idea of how a desired plot of land could be legally used. If your intended use for the land is not allowed by zoning laws, you may be able to apply to seek a zoning change from the municipal government. You may also wish to secure any flood or hazard warnings relevant to the land. A potential lender may ask for these documents. Improvements are any existing or planned man-made additions to the plot of land. Adding improvements to the land or detailing planned improvements for the land may help you secure financing. It may be easier to secure financing if you plan to build structures on the land. These could be residential or commercial structures, depending on your needs and zoning laws. In order to secure financing more easily, have an architect draw up plans for whatever kind of structure you want to build. You may also wish to contact a general contractor for an estimated cost of building the structure. Note that 100% financing packages are rarely available for raw land, even those expected to be developed. Lenders will expect you to have a stake in the financing as well. Whether a piece of land is close to water and sewer utilities may affect its value. Other types of access may also make a huge difference in valuation, and may affect a financing deal. If there are no utilities already installed on the land, contact the utility companies that service the area for an installation estimate. Even if there is no building on the land, existing wells, trails, roads or other items may increase the perceived value of the parcel. Any perceived improvement in value will make financing easier to get. Perhaps the most common one for unimproved land is timber value. Sellers and buyers often identify timber value for a piece of forested land in land calculations. This value may also influence a financing deal by convincing the lender that you will be able to profit from the land. Grazing or farming rights may be another way to earn money on a piece of land. You'll need to put the information about the land and your plans for it together in a sort of loan application, sometimes known as a land portfolio. The more information you have, the better "story" you will be able to tell the lender and the higher your chances of securing financing. Your land portfolio should also include information about your creditworthiness (like a credit report or score).

Consider hiring a lawyer. Make an offer on the land. Contact potential lenders. Consider other financing options. Compare your financing options. Choose a loan.

Before taking any action, especially if you are purchasing completely raw land, consider hiring professional legal help. Hiring a real estate attorney will ensure that your rights are protected during the bidding process for purchasing the land and during the financing process. A good attorney will also be able to help you with price negotiations. Before you can purchase your property, you will need to make an offer on the land and have that offer accepted by the seller. This process can be very simple, but can also follow a relatively complicated bidding process. For more information on the actual buying process for land, see How to Buy Raw Land. It may also be in your best interest to ask for an exclusive option on the property for a period of time so you can pursue financing, etc. Having an option is better than owning, since there is less money involved. Before submitting an offer on the land, be sure that you have the proper permits and any requisite insurance. Ask your lawyer for assistance in this matter. If your offer is accepted by seller, you now will have to find a way to finance your purchase. Start by contacting potential lenders like local banks and credit unions to request a loan interview. Meet with these lenders and present your land portfolio. With enough salesmanship and good credit, along with a good land portfolio, you might be able to get a loan through one of these institutions. With some land types, especially raw land parcels, it may be very difficult to secure funding from a financial institution. Luckily, there are a bevy of other financing options available. The land serves as collateral for loan; additional security might come from downpayment in place of other assets. Be aware that some financing options may be more expensive than borrowing from the bank, so consider your options before setting down any of the following paths. One option is owner financing. This essentially allows you to gradually pay the seller of property directly, rather than going through a lending institution. This will generally require a large down payments to secure the trust of the seller. Like any bank loan, owner financing will be secured by legal documents. Contact the seller of the property to see if they are willing to do this financing option. Another option is through a private-party loan. This will require you to find a friend or family member willing to loan you money. These loans can be secured with collateral (the lender takes possession of a house or car if you default) or unsecured. Additionally, if the land is being purchased for a specific purpose, like for farming or commercial use, you may be able to apply for government loans. Specifically, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers loans specifically designed for the purpose of purchasing land and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers land loans to farmers who fail to qualify for traditional loans. See their respective websites or contact your local SBA or USDA offices to learn more. Estimate the total costs of each loan and compare them against each other. Generally, owner financing will be the cheapest option, unless you have great credit and are able to secure a low-interest bank loan. Also think about the durations of the loans; you don't want to take a great interest rate but be stuck paying it off for many years. Choose a loan that you can afford and, if you're utilizing your land for profit, one that will allow you to earn money in the long run. Select which loan works best for you and pay the down payment. Be advised that in many cases, this down payment may be as high as 20 to 50 percent of the value of the property.

Try deadlifts Do a bench press to strengthen your chest, front shoulders, and back. Perform dumbbell rows to help your abs, shoulders, back, and biceps. Do a single-arm dumbbell press to work your arms and shoulders. Add dumbbells to squats for a good lower body workout. Hold dumbbells while doing lunges to help your thighs and glutes.

to exercise your glutes, hamstrings, and quads. Stand straight with your feet slightly apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, with your palms facing towards your body. Slightly bend your legs, lowering the weights down in front of your body until they reach your knees. Slowly rise back to a standing position. Do about 2-3 sets of 6-12 reps each if you are using heavier weights and 12-15 repetitions if you are using lighter weights. Lie back on a bench and position yourself under a racked barbell. Plant your feet flat on the ground. Arch your back slightly to keep a neutral spine. Grip the bar tightly and push up to remove the bar from the rack. Slowly lower the bar towards your chest before pushing up again. Do 2-3 sets of 6-12 repetitions each if you want to build muscle. Aim for 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps if you want to work on endurance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Grasp a dumbbell in each hand, with your arms straight down in front of your body. With your knees slightly bent and your back straight, lean forward while keeping your abs tight and your chest facing down. Bend your elbows to pull the dumbbells up until your shoulders squeeze together. Hold for a second before slowly lowering them back down. With heavier weights, repeat this exercise 6-12 times for 2-5 sets. If you use lighter weights, go for 2-3 sets of 12-15 repetitions. Hold the dumbbell at shoulder height with your arm bent. This is the starting position. Slowly extend your arm up until it is straight. Keep your shoulder down while you do this; do not lift it towards your ear. Hold this pose for a second before slowly lowering it down to starting position. With heavier weights, repeat this exercise 6-12 times on each arm for 2-5 sets. With lighter weights, do 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps for each arm. Hold a dumbbell in each hand. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower yourself by bending your knees, but keep your back straight. Your knees should be straight over your toes. Once your thighs are parallel to the ground, rise back up slowly to a standing position. You can hold the dumbbells straight out in front of your or straight down your sides. Don't move your arms as you squat. Do 2-3 sets of 6-12 repetitions if you are using heavy weights. Aim for 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps if you are using light weights. Squats will work your glutes, hamstrings, quads, and adductors. While standing, hold a dumbbell in each hand. Step forward with 1 leg while keeping the other leg back. As you do this, lower your hips towards the floor. Your knees should be bent at 90-degree angles. Move your legs back into a standing position. Do 2-3 sets of 6-12 repetitions with heavy weights or 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps with light weights.

Work out your entire body 2 or 3 times a week. Pick the right weight for your goals. Rest for a minute or less between each set. Work on form rather than speed or weight. Increase your weights over time. Add cardio to your routine to burn more calories.

Do not lift weights too often, or you could injure yourself. Your muscles need time to repair after a session of lifting weights. Generally, 2 days of rest in between weight-lifting sessions will give you enough time to rest and repair before you use weights again. When you do work out, go with compound strength training exercises for an effective way to lose fat. These are exercises that work out multiple muscle groups at once. No matter what type of weight you choose, you will burn calories. That said, if you want to build muscle, you should choose heavier weights. Pick weights that are heavy, but not so heavy that you can't complete a full set. If you want to build endurance, go for lighter weights. If you are using heavier weights, you should do fewer repetitions to help you build muscle. Doing 6-12 repetitions in a set is a good guideline. If you are using lighter weights for endurance, do more repetitions in a set. Aim for 12-15 repetitions per set. Repetitions (or reps) are the number of times you repeat an exercise. A set contains a certain number of repetitions that you do before you rest. Resting allows you to catch your breath, but if you are trying to lose weight, avoid resting for too long. Keep your breaks to no more than a minute. If you need longer to rest, your weights may be too heavy. To get the most out of weight lifting, you need to make sure you have proper form. When learning a new technique, practice with no weights first to master the form. Improper form can lead to injuries, and it will reduce the benefits you receive from lifting weights. Use online videos, bodybuilding blogs, and sports training websites to help you learn the proper form of any move you want to learn. At your gym, you can ask for a personal trainer to teach you the proper form of new exercises. As time goes on and you get stronger, you can increase the weights that you lift to help build more muscle and burn more fat. Gradually add on weight in 1–5 pounds (0.45–2.27 kg) increments to make sure that you don't overdo it. Lifting weights can help you build muscle and burn calories, but cardio is still useful when trying to lose fat. There are many ways that you can incorporate cardio into a weight-lifting routine. Choose a program that works for you. Start your workout with a 10-minute run on the treadmill, bike ride, or elliptical session. At the end of the workout, do another 10 minutes to cool down. Do 5 minutes of cardio in between weight lifting sets. Jump on the treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike. Do a full 30-45 minute cardio routine 2-3 times a week. Do these on days when you don't lift weights.

Track the calories that you eat using a weight loss website or app. Get enough protein in your diet to support building muscle. Eat complex carbohydrates to give you energy. Choose unsaturated fats to store energy for your muscles. Use body fat measurements to track your progress instead of a scale.

Use an online calorie tracker like SuperTracker or an app like My Fitness Pal to watch what you eat each day. Record how many calories are in each serving of food or drink. Also add the number of calories you burned from exercise. To lose fat, you must burn more calories than you eat. You need to burn 3,500 calories to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of fat. To make this more manageable, aim for a calorie deficit of 500 calories a day. Keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat. As you build muscle, you may become heavier, but you may still be losing fat. Protein can help you build and maintain muscle, but your diet shouldn't be more than 35% protein. You should eat about .37 grams of protein for every 1 pound (0.45 kg) of body weight. Protein-rich foods include eggs, meats, fish, and cottage cheese. For example, you might eat scrambled eggs in the morning, a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, and grilled chicken for dinner. Carbohydrates can give you energy while you lift weights. The best carbs are complex carbs, which also give you fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Complex carbs include whole grains, oatmeal, lentils, and beans. Avoid simple carbs, like sugar, baked goods, white rice, pasta, and soda. Carbs should make up between 45-65% of your diet. Fats should make up 20-30% of your diet. Look for healthy fats (known as unsaturated fats), such as olive oil, fish, nuts, and avocados. Avoid saturated fats, like fried food, margarine, and fatty meats. Muscle weighs more than fat. If you build muscle, you may weigh more, even if you are shedding fat. Body fat measurements are a better way to check your progress. Some common measurements include: Using body calipers at home or at a gym. Using a body fat scale or monitor at a gym or doctor's office. Undergoing water displacement at a large hospital or health facility. Getting a DEXA scan from a doctor or health spa.

Create your character sheet or a basic concept first. Choose a distinctive posture for your character. Make several sketches of your character to find the look you want. Add clothing and accessories that reflect your character’s personality. Draw your character based on your sketches.

Make sure you have a basic overview of your character before you start to draw them. Ideally, complete a character sheet so you know exactly who they are. If you don’t want to be this detailed, decide their role in the story and their basic physical traits. A basic concept for Alice might be, “Short dark-haired witch in a black dress who’s the hero of the story.” For Trixy, you might write, “Tall, red-headed witch in jeans and yellow t-shirt who’s secretly a villain.” How your character stands says a lot about their personality. Think about how your character would hold their body based on their personality and goals. Then, picture what their silhouette would look like. Use this to create an outline of your character. For example, Alice might be standing tall with her hand on her hip and her nose pointed in the air. Trixy, on the other hand, might be looking down and off to the side. Her hands might pressed together in front of her body to show that she’s hiding something. Quickly sketch out the basic look you’re going for with this character. Do a couple of sketches so you can try different details and angles. Then, review your sketches to help you decide how you want to draw the character. Sketching also helps you warm up so it’s easier to draw. Don’t worry about making mistakes. These sketches should be loose and don’t need to be finished. What your character wears should show something about them as a character. This includes the type of clothing they wear, the colors they pick, and the accessories they choose. Think about how your character would dress, then create an outfit that works for them. For example, Alice might wear flowing dresses because she thinks it better reflects her witch heritage. Similarly, she might stick to dark colors because it makes her feel witchy. For accessories, she might wear an old locket that has her grandmother’s picture in it. Trixy might wear modern clothes because she doesn’t follow the old ways. Additionally, she might choose bright colors because it makes people think she’s happy, even though she’s not. For accessories, she might carry a purse that’s made from a pet fox that she once had. Now that you’ve decided on the posture and basic physical features, create a drawing of your character. Do this on paper or your computer, depending on what’s comfortable for you. Make this drawing as detailed as you’d like. You might be able to use a drawing app to help you create your character. If you’re using the drawing as inspiration but don’t plan to show it to people, don’t worry if it’s not perfect. Just do your best. If you’re creating a comic book or something similar, practice drawing your character over and over. This will help you get good at it, so don’t give up!

Ask your character questions to create character development. Create a unique voice that reflects your character's persona. Show your character in everyday situations to portray their personality. Make your character take a stance on an important issue. Develop your character’s relationship with other characters in the story. Take something away from your character to build tension.

Make a list of questions you could ask your character, or look for a list online. Then, go through the list and answer each question as your character. Base the answers on your character’s background, their personality, and what they want. Questions might include, “What’s your favorite food?” “Do you have a pet?” “What is your relationship like with your family?” “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” “What is your earliest memory?” “What is your dream job?” “Who is your most trusted confidant?” and “What’s in your bedroom?” As an example, Alice might say that her favorite food is homemade kettle corn because she likes the salty-sweet taste. She might also say that she has a black cat and an orange cat that act as her familiars. Give your character an accent or speech pattern that shows their background or personality. Additionally, use words and sentence structures that reflect your character's level of education and place in society. This will help your audience learn more about your character through their speech. As an example, Alice might include old fashioned words in her speech and may occasionally rhyme due to her experience making spells. She might say things like, "The forest has darkened a wee bit early, but that's no reason for you to get surly." You can learn a lot from a person by watching how they go about their life. This includes activities like cooking, eating, cleaning, driving a car, or talking to a receptionist. Explore how your character acts in these moments to help their character development. For instance, Alice might clean her house and cook her breakfast using a spell. Then, you might have her struggle to purchase items at a store because she can’t use her magic there. This shows that she overly relies on her magic. As another example, you might show Alice trying to check out a magic book from the library. She might blush and mumble when she talks to the clerk and have trouble making eye contact. This shows that she’s shy. Real people have opinions, so your character should, as well. Consider which issues in your story will be most important to your character. Then, decide what your character’s opinion on that issue would be. Use this opinion to help with character development. For instance, Alice might believe that witches should live separately from non-magical humans. This might make it hard for her to work with humans. Additionally, it might create conflict between her and other witches. Show your character interacting with their family, friends, or an antagonist. Make sure that each character is distinctive so that you see the similarities and differences between them. This helps you better understand what your OC is about and who they really are. As an example, let’s say Alice has a best friend named Trixy. You might have a scene where Alice and Trixy come across an injured witch in the woods. Alice might stop and help the witch, offering him her last bit of water and food. Trixy might roll her eyes and tell Alice that she’s wasting her time by helping. Then, Trixy might go to get help but return really late because she took a break to do something fun. This shows that Alice is kind and helpful, while Trixy might be unreliable. To make your story interesting, you have to give your character problems and deny them what they want. Create obstacles and losses for your character that keeps them striving to get what they want. This helps them develop as a character and keeps your audience rooting for the character. For example, Alice might almost find her parents but them they get moved again. Similarly, she might realize that her best friend Trixy is secretly helping the person who took her parents.

Write your character’s personal and biographical details at the top. Explain the character’s role in the story. Describe your character's physical appearance in a list or paragraph. Explain your character’s background and history. List your character’s personal traits, talents, and accomplishments. Explain your character’s flaws so they seem more real. Give your character a fear that might become an obstacle. Determine your character’s motivation or what they want.

This includes their name, age, birth place, where they live, and their basic personal details, such as their species and sex or gender if they have one. List as many details that you can think of right now. It’s okay if you don’t know everything yet. You could write, “Alice, 25, born at home, lives in a small rural town called Wisty, human witch, female, has magic.” If you’re not sure about a detail, leave a blank space for it so that you can come back later. Sometimes it takes time to really understand a character. Every character should have a function in the story you’re telling. Consider what your OC is going to contribute to the story, then assign them a basic role. It’s okay if you go back and change this later, but it’s good to have an idea. For instance, your character might be the hero, the villain, the femme fatale, the wise elder, the romancer, or the helper. As an example, a female character who uses her looks to hide the fact that she’s a dangerous thief might be a femme fatale. It’s okay if your character has more than 1 role. For instance, a male character who falls in love while rescuing a city might be both a hero and a romancer. Ask yourself how your character will look. Then, describe their basic physical features, how they typically dress, and how they move and stand. Be as detailed as you want to be at this stage. You can always add more details later. You might write, “Alice is short, curvy, and has pale skin. Her hair is black and curly, and her eyes are grey with yellow sparkles. She usually wears black, royal blue, or dark purple clothes, typically dresses. Her hands are scarred from potions accidents, and she has a scar on her chest from a spell that went wrong. She’s proud of her witch heritage, so she always stands up straight and walks with her chin slightly lifted.” Describe your character's past and how it’s brought them to this point in the story. Discuss what they’ve done as well as things that have happened to them. Include the major details that shaped them as a character. For instance, “Alice has always lived in a small town and feels like she’s the most talented witch in her family. Her parents home schooled her and taught her the old ways of her family, so she’s not familiar with modern society. She’s always tried really hard to learn new spells, to the point that she annoyed her family members. Her parents have always supported her and built up her self-esteem, but it’s made her have too much confidence in her abilities. Now, her parents have disappeared and she needs to find them, but her overconfidence is causing her to make mistakes.” Think of 5-10 traits that are really important to your character. Include the talents they might possess, like singing, running fast, or casting spells. Then, consider what types of achievements they might make, as well as what would make them proud. Decide their overall attitude. For instance, are they an optimist, a pessimist, or a realist? Alice’s personal traits might include that she's hardworking, determined, quick thinking, creative, friendly, and loyal. Her talents might include making potions, casting spells, and singing. For achievements, you might include that she brewed her first potion at age 5, she won a magical pie baking contest, and she’s the rightful possessor of her family’s spell book. It’s tempting to make your character perfect, but this makes them seem fake. Everyone has flaws, so consider what your character’s flaws might be. This can include bad personality traits, physical imperfections, or mistakes that they’ve made. Describe these flaws in your character sheet. Alice’s personality flaws might include being overconfident, being naive, and acting without thinking. Her physical imperfections might include her scars, the fact that she runs slowly, and the fact that she’s physically weak. Her mistake might be that she’s trusted the wrong person to help her. Everyone is afraid of something, so fear helps make your character more real. Additionally, it gives you something to threaten them with in a story. Identify what might scare your character the most and include it on their character sheet. For instance, Alice might be afraid of losing her parents forever. Additionally, she may be afraid to leave her home town, even though she must if she wants to find her parents. Every character needs to have a motivation, which is typically tied to what they want. This is what drives the story forward. Think about what your character would logically want most, then explain this in your character sheet. If you already know the plot of your story, use this to figure out your character’s motivation. What is the core conflict in your plot? What is your character missing? This is likely their motivation. In Alice’s story, her motivation might be to get her parent’s back. Additionally, she probably wants to prove herself as a talented witch.

Create a short title. Write an introduction. Describe your experimental approach. Give your results. Include some discussion of your conclusions. List any previously published research you used. Thank everyone who assisted and supported you. Give your contact information.

Scientific papers may have lengthy titles. Shorten yours so that it adequately conveys what your research is about and your experimental method but takes up no more than 2 lines at the top of your poster. If you can, make your title "catchy" so it will attract interest from passersby, but don't try to make it funny. Place your research in the context of previous work as well as why it’s an important topic to work on, then introduce an interesting hypothesis. Make sure the introduction is different than your abstract. Keep your introduction to under 200 words so it can be read quickly. You can add a photograph or other visual aid to make it more interesting and eye-catching. Don't clutter your introduction with definitions, background information or anything else that will only bog down the narrative and cause passersby to lose interest. Briefly, describe your method, taking no more than 200 words and using illustrations if they're helpful. Flow charts are especially good for this section. Leave off abstracts. The content of poster should create a visual abstract of your scientific experiment instead of being a copy of your report. Know your audience. Just as you would when you write a paper, make the information included on your poster will give the appropriate depth of information. It should be understandable even to a reader that is not specialized in the same particular field. Do this with 2 brief paragraphs of text and a clearly labeled table so passersby can understand your results at a glance. Use clear and succinct graphs that are labeled so a passerby can understand. Most will skip the other sections and just study your results, so take extra care with this section. In the first paragraph, state whether your experiment worked or not. In the second paragraph, analyze your results in terms of your hypothesis and indicate how many times you replicated the research. Include relevant figures from your study. In about 200 words, tell the reader why your research was important and relevant, both to the field of study and the real world. Discuss which direction you want to take your research in the future. Remind the reader of your result and whether your initial hypothesis was supported. Try to convince your reader that your results are conclusive and interesting. Cite any journal articles you read that support your research or any research that is referenced in your study. Use the correct format prescribed for researchers in your field to note your sources. Don't list the titles of people who supported you, but do list what specific assistance or support they provided. If there was any actual or potential conflict of interest or commitment regarding your research, list it in this section. Provide your name, email address, website if you have one, and a place where readers can download a copy of your poster. You may want to create a handout-sized version of your poster with your information so your audience can go back to review your study later and can easily follow up with you at a later date.

Determine the size of your poster. Carefully select what to put on your poster. Use software designed for making slide presentations and software that manipulates images to create your poster. Look at your poster from a distance of 6 feet (2 m) away. Add audio and video files if appropriate. Assemble a rough draft of your poster. Store your poster safely. Consider having a professional printing service create your poster. Make a "Back in 5 Minutes" sign that can hang next to your poster. Bring any additional reference materials you may need.

You can figure out the size you need by how much text in your report, the number of images or graphs you plan to include. If your report is under 5 pages and has less than 7 pictures or graphs a 36X48 should work. If your report has more information you can adjust your size accordingly. Check with any poster size requirements for your event. You may have space limitations for your display, and sometimes your poster size may be restricted. Be sure you have adequate supplies to display your poster. Usually, display stands or clips may be provided for you on site, but it is best to check ahead to make sure you bring everything you need. Many students try to include everything in their research paper, but this is a serious mistake. You can leave off the abstract and large areas of text tend to dissolve into visually cramped, boring, gray spaces that are intimidating to an audience. Posters that have too much text on them will be passed over in favor of those that are easier to read. Highlight the key details and share the extraneous details verbally. Use columns to organize and structure your presentation in a logical manner. Clearly label any sections, graphs or images. If you know how to use Powerpoint, Keynote or design programs like Photoshop, you can make some stunning visual aids that can combine your text and graphics into a professional looking display. Once you've created all your sections and illustrations, transfer the files to portable document format (PDF) so you can be certain how they will look when printed. Use either PC or Mac platform for everything so you don't run into compatibility problems when moving files between the two. Check your graphs, charts and other illustrations to make sure a reader can make out the details at that distance. Take another couple steps back. Your poster title should be readable from 10 feet (3 m) away. Use a large font for all text. Paragraph text should be between 18-24 pt. font. You can use a different font style for titles to help distinguish them, but otherwise, you should keep the font consistent. Use color to attract the eyes of your audience. 2-3 colors can help your various titles to stand out. Avoid adding too many, though, so it doesn't become overwhelming. Avoid using 3D illustrations unless it's absolutely necessary. If you do use 3D illustrations, print stereoscopic versions on the poster and provide readers with 3D glasses. Don't settle for poor-quality images. Go to the trouble of finding image files that will still look sharp when blown up to place on your photo. You may have to take your own digital photos. There are a number of ways to do this, from using the devices found inside recordable greeting cards to attaching your personal media player to your poster. You can place a quick response (QR) code on your poster that readers with smartphones and similar devices can scan to access a website that will show photographs, play sound files or display other media on their devices. Place your information so it is in an easy to follow sequential order. Evaluate how the information is organized and if the poster is visually appealing. Ask for feedback from fellow students and teachers. Use the feedback to create the final version. You may want to purchase a cardboard tube to store and protect your poster until your presentation. You don't want all your hard work to go to waste. If you don't want to purchase a container, consider rolling the poster up and wrapping a rubber band loosely around each end to keep it closed until your presentation. You can use a local printing service or find one online that specializes in creating scientific posters. If you are traveling to a scientific gathering, you can have a printing service create your poster and have it waiting for you when you arrive. Conference organizers often make agreements with printing services to make and deliver posters as a courtesy to students. If you plan to use a poster printer at your university, see if they have a place to sign up. During crunch time, many people may be trying to print off their work. For many events, a presenter should be present to answer client questions or give additional information as needed. It's a good idea to have a sign on hand in case you need to step away to get a drink or use the restroom. This can help reduce the chance you miss any interested visitors. A good poster may still not include every bit of relevant information. You should be prepared to answer any questions with all your available information. Bring note cards that you can refer to in a pinch. You may also want to get a binder to carry along any other information that might be requested. Practice your presentation multiple times before taking it to the public. This will make you more confident and engage the listeners.

Choose your format. Consider your audience. Consider your knowledge. Decide between a short or long-form SOP. Keep your SOP purpose in mind.

There is no right or wrong way to write an SOP. However, your company probably has a number of SOPs you can refer to for formatting guidelines, outlining how they prefer it done. If that's the case, use the pre-existing SOPs as a template. If not, you have a few options: A simple steps format. This is for routine procedures that are short, have few possible outcomes, and are fair to the point. Apart from the necessary documentation and safety guidelines, it's really just a bullet list of simple sentences telling the reader what to do. A hierarchical steps format. This is usually for long procedures -- ones with more than ten steps, involving a few decisions to make, clarification and terminology. This is usually a list of main steps all with substeps in a very particular order. A flowchart format. If the procedure is more like a map with an almost infinite number of possible outcomes, a flowchart may be your best bet. This is the format you should opt for when results aren't always predictable. There are three main factors to take into account before writing your SOP: Your audience's prior knowledge. Are they familiar with your organization and its procedures? Do they know the terminology? Your language needs to match the knowledge and investment of the reader. Your audience's language abilities. Is there any chance people who don't speak your language will be "reading" your SOP? If this is an issue, it's a good idea to include lots of annotated pictures and diagrams. The size of your audience. If multiple people at once are reading your SOP (those in different roles), you should format the document more like a conversation in a play: user 1 completes an action, followed by user 2, and so on and so forth. That way, each reader can see how he or she is an integral cog in the well-oiled machine. What it boils down to is this: Are you the best person to be writing this? Do you know what the process entails? How it could go wrong? How to make it safe? If not, you may be better off handing it over to someone else. A poorly-written -- or, what's more, inaccurate -- SOP will not only reduce productivity and lead to organizational failures, but it can also be unsafe and have adverse impacts on anything from your team to the environment. In short, it's not a risk you should take. If this is a project you've been assigned that you feel compelled (or obligated) to complete, don't shy away from asking those who complete the procedure on a daily basis for help. Conducting interviews is a normal part of any SOP-creating process. If you're writing or updating an SOP for a group of individuals that are familiar with protocol, terminology, etc., and just would benefit from a short and snappy SOP that's more like a checklist, you could just write it in short-form. Apart from basic purpose and relevant information (date, author, ID#, etc.), it's really just a short list of steps. When no details or clarification are needed, this is the way to go. What's obvious is that you have a procedure within your organization that keeps on getting repeated over and over and over. But is there a specific reason why this SOP is particularly useful? Does it need to stress safety? Compliance measures? Is it used for training or on a day-to-day basis? Here are a few reasons why your SOP is necessary to the success of your team: To ensure compliance standards are met To maximize production requirements To ensure the procedure has no adverse impact on environment To ensure safety To ensure everything goes according to schedule To prevent failures in manufacturing To be used as training document If you know what your SOP should emphasize, it'll be easier to structure your writing around those points. It's also easier to see just how important your SOP is.

Cover the necessary material. For the procedure itself, make sure you cover the following: Make your writing concise and easy to read. If necessary, interview the personnel involved in the process on how they execute the task. Break up large chunks of text with diagrams and flowcharts. Make sure each page has control document notation.

In general, technical SOPs will consist of four elements apart from the procedure itself: Title page. This includes 1) the title of the procedure, 2) an SOP identification number, 3) date of issue or revision, 4) the name of the agency/division/branch the SOP applies to, and 5) the signatures of those who prepared and approved of the SOP. This can be formatted however you like, as long as the information is clear. Table of Contents. This is only necessary if your SOP is quite long, allowing for ease of reference. A simple standard outline is what you'd find here. Quality Assurance/Quality Control. A procedure is not a good procedure if it cannot be checked. Have the necessary materials and details provided so the reader can make sure they've obtained the desired results. This may or may not include other documents, like performance evaluation samples. Reference. Be sure to list all cited or significant references. If you reference other SOPs, be sure to attach the necessary information in the appendix. Your organization may have different protocol than this. If there are already preexisting SOPs you can refer to, abandon this structure and adhere to what's already in place. Scope and applicability. In other words, describe the purpose of the process, its limits, and how it's used. Include standards, regulatory requirements, roles and responsibilities, and inputs and outputs. Methodology and procedures. The meat of the issue -- list all the steps with necessary details, including what equipment needed. Cover sequential procedures and decision factors. Address the "what ifs" and the possible interferences or safety considerations. Clarification of terminology. Identify acronyms, abbreviations, and all phrases that aren't in common parlance. Health and safety warnings. To be listed in its own section and alongside the steps where it is an issue. Do not gloss over this section. Equipment and supplies. Complete list of what is needed and when, where to find equipment, standards of equipment, etc. Cautions and interferences. Basically, a troubleshooting section. Cover what could go wrong, what to look out for, and what may interfere with the final, ideal product. Give each of these topics their own section (usually denoted by numbers or letters) to keep your SOP from being wordy and confusing and to allow for easy reference. This is by no means an exhaustive list; this is just the tip of the procedural iceberg. Your organization may specify other aspects that require attention. Odds are your audience isn't choosing to read this for fun. You want to keep it short and clear -- otherwise their attention will stray or they'll find the document formidable and hard to grasp. In general, keep your sentences as short as possible. Here's a bad example: Make sure that you clean out all of the dust from the air shafts before you begin using them. Here's a good example: Vacuum all dust from air shafts before use. In general, don't use "you." It should be implied. Speak in the active voice and start your sentences with command verbs. The last thing you want to do is write an SOP that is just plain inaccurate. You're compromising the safety of your team, their efficacy, their time, and you're taking an established process and not paying it any mind -- something your teammates may find a little offensive. If you need to, ask questions! You want to get this right. Of course, if you don't know, ask multiple sources, covering all roles and responsibilities. One team member may not follow standard operating procedure or another may only be involved in a portion of the deed. If you have a step or two that are particularly intimidating, make it easy on your readers with some sort of chart or diagram. It makes it easier to read and gives the mind a brief hiatus from trying to make sense of it all. And it'll be appear more complete and well-written for you. Don't include these just to bulk up your SOP; only do this if necessary or if trying to bridge a language gap. Your SOP is probably one of many SOPS -- because of this, hopefully your organization has some type of larger database cataloging everything within a certain reference system. Your SOP is part of this reference system, and therefore needs some type of code in order to be found. That's where the notation comes in. Each page should have a short title or ID #, a revision number, date, and "page # of #" in the upper right hand corner (for most formats). You may or may not need a footnote (or have these in the footnote), depending on your organization's preferences.

Test the procedure. Have the SOP reviewed by those who actually do the procedure. Have the SOP reviewed by your advisors and the Quality Assurance team. Once approved, start implementing your SOP.

If you don't want to test your procedure, you probably haven't written it well enough. Have someone with a limited knowledge of the process (or a person representative of the normal reader) use your SOP to guide them. What issues did they run across? If any, address them and make the necessary improvements. It's best to have a handful of people test your SOP. Different individuals will have different issues, allowing for a wide variety of (hopefully useful) responses Be sure to test the procedure on someone who's never done it before. Anyone with prior knowledge will be relying on their knowledge to get them through and not your work, thus defeating the purpose. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter what your bosses think of the SOP. It's those who actually do the work that it matters to. So before you submit your work to the higher ups, show your stuff to those that'll be doing (or that do) the job. What do they think? Allowing them to get involved and feel like they're part of the process will make them more likely to accept this SOP you're working on. And they'll inevitably have some great ideas! Once the team gives you the go ahead, send it to your advisors. They'll probably have less input on the actual content itself, but they'll let you know if it meets formatting requirements, if there's anything you missed, and the protocol for making it all official and input into the system. Route the SOP for approvals using document management systems to ensure audit trails of the approvals. This will vary from organization to organization. Basically, you want everything to meet guidelines and regulations. Signatures will be necessary and most organizations nowadays have no problem accepting electronic signatures. This may involve executing a formal training for the affect personnel (e.g. classroom training, computer-based training, etc.) or it may mean your paper is hung up in the bathroom. Whatever it is, get your work out there! You worked for it. Time for recognition! Be sure your SOP remains current. If it ever gets outdated, update it, get the updates re-approved and documented, and redistribute the SOP as necessary. Your team's safety, productivity, and success matter on it.

Turn off the power to the radiator. Clear away any nearby obstacles. Remove the radiator cover. Identify the fins.

Before you get started, find the main power control or shutoff valve for the baseboard radiator unit and switch it off. You may also want to turn your thermostat down to keep the temperature low just in case. The copper pipes circulating hot water through the radiator can get scalding hot, so don’t put yourself at any unnecessary risk while cleaning them. Give the radiator several minutes to cool down before you open it up. Don’t attempt to clean the radiator until you’re certain it’s stopped circulating hot water. Move everything out from in front of the radiator. This includes curtains, furniture and anything else that is blocking the unit or may get in your way during the cleaning process. Ideally, the hot air generated by the radiator should have as clear a path to warm the room as possible. It’s a good idea to keep your furniture dusted to prevent your baseboard radiators from getting so dirty in the future. Take the face plate cover off of the radiator unit. This can usually be accomplished by pulling the cover up from the bottom and lifting it off the groove where it rests on top. Set the cover aside until you’re finished cleaning. Hold your hand a safe distance away from the pipes inside the radiator. This will help you determine whether it’s too hot to work on. One option is to place the radiator cover on the floor under the unit to collect whatever debris is shaken loose while cleaning. Just be sure to clean the cover separately before you put it back on. Look inside the radiator. Along the length of the copper pipe that conducts hot water through your home you’ll find a collection of small, tightly-grouped aluminum squares lined up side-by-side. These are known as “fins,” and they play an important role in diffusing the heat created by the radiator. This is what you’ll be cleaning. Most of the time, dust simply accumulates around the outer surface of the fins, meaning they just need a quick vacuuming.

Clean your baseboard radiators regularly. Make sure the unit is unobstructed. Dust around your home. Replace damaged or broken parts.

To ensure that your baseboard radiators are working the way they’re supposed to, you should aim to clean them at least twice a year. Give them a good vacuuming at the start of the heating season (usually around late September or October) and again in early spring before you shut them off for the warmer months, checking them as needed in the meantime. Keeping the unit clear of dust will allow it to heat your home more efficiently. If you have pets that shed or live in a place with a high amount of dust buildup, you might want to clean your radiator units more frequently. Radiators that are well-maintained aren't forced to use as much energy, which means you’ll save money heating your home. Baseboard radiators work by pulling cold air up from floor level and filtering it through the heated fins, which quickly warm the air and circulate it back through the room. Help the process along by keeping all drapes, furniture and other belongings out of the way of the radiator. The area around the top and bottom of the unit should be kept clear so that air can pass through without difficulty. Be sure to keep the vents at the top of the radiator’s cover open to let warm air escape. Keep your living space free of dust, especially around the baseboards and any furniture that happens to be close to your radiator. Dust from the surrounding environment can get sucked into the radiator as it draws in cool air from the room, and will quickly accumulate around the fins and other sensitive parts of the unit's interior. Frequent dusting is not just a good habit to get into, it can extend the life of your baseboard radiator and cut down on the number of tedious cleanings it requires. Dust before your clean your radiator so that the loose particles floating around the room don't get pulled into the unit's air ducts. Don't just focus on visible dust. Be sure to vacuum your carpet, drapes and any other surface that might be harboring unseen dust. Over time, the fins along your radiator pipes, or the pipes themselves, may take a beating and need to be changed out. Call your heating and air specialist and ask for an estimate for the installation of new pipes or fins if you notice that yours are bent, ruptured or otherwise damaged. The fins do most of the work of putting off the heat generated by the hot water pipes, so it’s important that they stay in good working order. Unless you’re experienced in radiator repair, it’s not recommended that you try to replace fin-tubing yourself. The metal fins increase the surface area used to conduct heat from the pipes, warming the room at a much faster rate.

Ready a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Vacuum out the inside of the unit. Remove hard to reach debris with a separate brush. Wipe down the radiator cover. Replace the cover.

Take a vacuum cleaner or shop vac and slide on a brush-head attachment. This is the most efficient way to clean objects with complex construction and many irregular surfaces, like the inside of a radiator. The brush attachment will dislodge dust and debris on the fins, which can then be sucked up by the vacuum. You may be able to dust your unit without the use of a brush attachment (or with another device like a hand vacuum), but it will take longer and won’t be as thorough. Turn on the vacuum and place your hand over the hose to make sure it’s getting proper suction. Run the brush head along the length of the radiator pipes and fins, using long, sweeping motions to collect as much dust as possible. Go over the fins as many times as you need to until you’re satisfied with their condition. Brush around the fins in both directions, across the tops and down the sides. If your unit is particularly dirty, wipe away cobwebs, dust bunnies and clumps of hair with a dry cloth or paper towel before vacuuming. In some cases the bristles of the brush attachment may not be long enough to penetrate the spaces between the fins. If this is the case, use a separate tool, such as a slender paint brush or pipe cleaner, to work the stuck-on dust and dirt out of the deeper crevices of the unit’s innards. Cleaning between the fins can be a tedious process, but it’s worth it to save yourself the expense of a poorly-running radiator. Some people claim to have had success loosening stubborn buildup with a spray bottle of water. This is not recommended, as it may cause rust or damage your unit. Depending on how dirty the radiator cover face plate is, you might decide to clean it as well. Wet a washcloth with warm, soapy water. Scrub the inside of the cover to loosen any caked-on grime. Rinse and rewet the washcloth, then wipe away any remaining debris. This step will be especially important if you used your radiator cover to catch stray debris. Treat rusted metal covers with a rust-remover solution before replacing them. Lift the cover and position so its back side faces the wall. Set the cover down in the groove at the top of the unit’s base, then lower it over the radiator until it fits back into place. It may click or snap to let you know it’s secure.

Choose your preferred bread. Bake. Serve.

French bread (the long loaf/baguette) works best but chunkier bread can also work provided it has enough soft surface. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil, and place the bread in a toaster oven or conventional oven on a cookie tray at 350ºF/180ºC. Bake or toast for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Unwrap the bread, cut the rest of the way through the bread and serve.

Preheat the oven Bake. Serve.

. Set the temperature of the oven to 175ºC (325ºF/ gas mark 3.5). Place the baguette into the center of the oven and bake for ten minutes. Turn it over, bake for a further 10 minutes. Remove it after the time is up. Unwrap the garlic bread, cut the rest of the way through the slices, and serve

Consider varying the garlic and butter or olive oil mixes as follows: Make a delicious bruschetta. For Spanish toast, toast some white bread (cut in slices or larger pieces to taste).

Add fresh herbs to the mix. Chop the herbs finely. Or use dried herbal mixes to taste. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the garlic butter. This provides a more intense, cheesy flavor. Use half butter/half olive oil in the second method above for a better toast-like result. Try sprinkling on onion powder or chili powder for a new twist. Sprinkle freshly cracked pepper over the top of the garlic butter or oil mix. Spread the olive oil and garlic mixture on bread, then top the slices with chopped onion and tomato. Add a few shavings of Parmesan cheese if desired. Cut a clove of garlic just in half, and grate over the toast. Then cut in half a tomato and grate over the toast. Cover with olive oil and some sea salt and pepper. Great to eat natural or with a piece of cheese or tomato!

Replace your bleach with something milder. Adopt natural alternatives for a better environment. Clean your washer to remove bleach residue.

Standard bleach is harsh on clothes, a milder treatment will still get great results. Bleach is not the best product for household use and is designed more for the commercial sector. Try a milder version such as Borax or Oxygen bleach for home use. Consider the negative effects bleach has on the environment by choosing natural remedies. Opt for “sun-bleaching” or by adding ½ a cup of lemon juice to your whites wash cycle. Although bleach is known for it’s cleaning properties, it might actually be causing stains, rather than helping to clean your clothes. If you have used bleach in your built-in bleach dispenser in your washer, make sure you clean this out before putting your next load on. Put your washer on a quick rinse cycle after doing a load where you have added bleach to ensure it is free from any built-up product.

Try mild bleach before using anything stronger. Use alcohol to neutralize the color. Use Sodium Thiosulfate before stains get worse.

Avoid starting with something really harsh. Add 1–2 tablespoons (14.8–29.6 ml) of Borax, which you can find at most supermarkets, to 2 cups of water and add it to your washer cycle. Get a cotton ball and saturate it in clear alcohol, such as vodka or gin. Start to rub the stain gently with the cotton ball. Don’t be alarmed when you start to see the color run. As you continue to swab the area, the color from the garment will start to cover over the bleached area. Rinse the garment thoroughly in water once finished. You can leave your garment to dry in the sun or put it in the dryer. This works great as an immediate spot treatment before your stain spreads. Dip a clean, white cloth, such as a flannel, into Sodium Thiosulfate and blot the stain repeatedly until you see it begin to disappear. Once the garment is saturated, rinse in cold water and repeat the process until you are satisfied with the results. This method, which is similar to using alcohol, but much stronger, aims to restore fabrics damaged by bleach and is known as the "photographic fixer."