INPUT ARTICLE: Article: By checking your land often, you will be able to see the early signs of erosion and act accordingly before the problem occurs or deteriorates. Erosion appears differently depending on the natural features in your region, but there are a few fairly universal telltale signs. Look near areas where the land has been disturbed by construction or natural occurrences that might have washed away the soil. You'll often find erosion near culverts, pipes that move water under a trail or road. The best time to check for erosion is after heavy rains or other forms of extreme weather such as tornadoes or ice storms. Check for spots without vegetation. Hillsides and slopes often have places where no trees or plants grow. You might see a buildup of soil below them. Look for exposed plant roots. The soil might be washing or blowing off the top of roots that aren't normally exposed to the elements. Look for exposed rock. If you notice new boulders that seem to be getting bigger each year, the soil might be receding around them. Look for channels and gullies. These are areas where water and wind have been able to cut through the soil, forming shallow channels or deeper gullies. This is a major sign of erosion that can lead to big problems if left unaddressed. Look for muddy or dirty water. This is a sign that soil is running off and likely eroding. A heavy rain will indicate where the water is forming channels and washing away the topsoil. You need this information in order to know how to best protect your land from further erosion. Here's what to look for: Watch where the water runs. On healthy land, the blow of each raindrop is absorbed by a plant before it hits the ground, where it is then quickly absorbed. In problem areas, where there's no groundcover, it pounds the ground and breaks up the soil, then washes it away. Watch which direction it seems to be running and where it collects. Look for standing puddles that are muddy or dirty. Muddy puddles where the water isn't being absorbed correctly could be a sign of erosion in that area. Look at the color of the water in streams. In a healthy area, rainwater should be quickly absorbed into the ground and surrounding streams should run clear. In areas with erosion, you might see the streams get very muddy from soil runoff during a rainstorm. The only real remedy for erosion is stabilizing the soil and returning it to its natural state. The process by which you go about this task will be different depending on the state of your land and the location of the erosion. If you have light sheet erosion, which occurs on relatively flat areas of land, you can plant vegetation right away. You'll start with temporary groundcover to hold the soil together, then gradually move on to adding native plants that will restore the land to its naturally healthy state. You may want to protect certain areas from further erosion by erecting barriers, such as rock piles. If you have channels on your land, they'll need to be broken up in order to prevent them from creating gullies. If you have gullies, it will be necessary to use structures and digging techniques to support the soil before you can plant anything. If you try to plant seeds in a gully, they'll just wash away in the rain. If you're not sure how to proceed, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can be a great resource for developing an erosion control plan. You can use the NCRS website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/ . You can also call the NRCS local service centers for your area to discuss your erosion problem. The NCRS website has a list of all local service centers at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/contact/local/ . You may also ask them to dispatch an expert to help you determine the best way to control your erosion. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/

SUMMARY: Check your land often. Look for signs of erosion. Go outside when it's raining. Make a plan. Call the Soil Conservation Service to ask for advice.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: rite the melody first. It's very difficult to set pre-existing rhymes and words to a melody after the fact. Most songwriters find it much easier to compose the melody and then go about composing a set of lyrics that fit in with the tone and the structure of the song. Many songwriters find it helpful to sing nonsense syllables or whistle to figure out the melody and establish a base form for you to fill with words. Go with whatever technique works best for your process. Bob Dylan, considered by some to be one of the greatest songwriters ever, often wrote words first. Give it a shot. A popular and important technique in country music especially, a good song will often "turn" a phrase, or use a line to mean more than one thing throughout the course of a song, when used at different times. In Kacey Musgraves' "Blowing Smoke," the phrase "blowing smoke" is used at different times to refer specifically to waitresses on break smoking cigarettes, and also to boasting of quitting someday, referring to both the job and the habit. It's an effective technique that changes the meaning but not the words. Avoid overloading your lines with too many words, making your song a tongue-twister that can be difficult to sing. As you compose, use words judiciously, leaving out more than you put in. A simple and quick rhyme that's simple can be much more effective in a song than a lot of "poetic" words. In "The Butcher," Leonard Cohen makes a brief and devastating rhyme out of drug use: I found a silver needle. I put it into my arm. / It did some good, did some harm. Novelist and Beat writer William Burroughs pioneered a method of writing that involved cutting up rhyming words and phrases and throwing them into a bag. Try doing the same and removing phrases at random to collage together a tapestry of weirdness for your song. Music is amenable to that kind of writing. The Rolling Stones employed this technique for their song "Casino Boogie": One last cycle, thrill freak Uncle Sam / Pause for business, so you'll understand.

SUMMARY: . Learn to "turn" a phrase. Use as few words as possible. Try automatic forms.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Fill up a bucket with cold or lukewarm water. Pour three ounces of a mild laundry soap in the bucket. A soap that is made for delicates or baby clothes will work. Mix the solution in the bucket until it begins to foam. Do not use detergent instead of laundry soap. Detergent is typically too harsh. If your awning is beyond reach, you will need to set up a ladder. The ladder should be an appropriate size for the height of your awning. Position the feet correctly, and set up any safety features that your ladder comes with. Remove as much debris from the awning as you can before you use the cleaning solution. Take off the cobwebs, leaves, and anything else that is on the awning. You can use a broom to "sweep" off the debris. First, you will need to wet the awning with a spray bottle or garden hose. Once you've done that, saturate a stiff scrub brush in the cleaning solution. Then use the brush to scrub the awning in a circular motion. Only apply the cleaning solution to the area that you're working on. You should apply the soap as you work so that it doesn't dry on other areas of the awning. Use a garden hose to rinse off the soap and water mixture. If you don't have a hose available, you can fill a clean bucket with water, and pour it on the awning. Let the awning air dry once you've rinsed it thoroughly.

SUMMARY:
Mix water and soap. Set up the ladder. Remove debris. Scrub with a brush. Rinse off the awning.