INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Close your left thumb in your left hand and make a fist. Position your thumb under your fingers. Squeeze tightly without causing yourself too much pain. Moisten the tip of your finger, dip it into some salt, and touch the salt to your tongue. Salt activates the taste buds on the front of your tongue and sets off a chain reaction that temporarily suppresses your gag reflex. Another way to do this is to put a teaspoon (0.99 metric tsp) of salt in a glass of water and rinse your mouth with that. Don't forget to spit! When an object touches the soft palate, it can trigger the gag reflex. Use an over-the-counter (OTC) throat-numbing spray like Chloraseptic to desensitize your soft palate. Alternatively, you could gently apply a topical OTC analgesic with benzocaine using a cotton swab. The effects should last for about an hour, and your palate will be less reactive. Throat-numbing sprays rarely cause side effects. However, you should stop using it if you experience vomiting, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and/or stomach cramps. Use the benzocaine remedy with caution. The cotton swab could trigger a gag or choking reflex. Other possible side effects include fatigue, weakness, skin irritation around the ears, blue skin around the lips and fingertips, and shortness of breath. You should avoid the benzocaine remedy entirely if you're allergic to benzocaine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about interactions with other OTC medications, vitamins/supplements, or herbal remedies you might be taking.

SUMMARY: Squeeze your thumb. Put a little table salt on your tongue. Numb your soft palate.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A hookless curtain is slipped over a ceiling shower rod. If you have a more modern style, a hookless curtain can reflect this. They provide a more seamless look and can cut down on cost as you do not have to invest money in shower rings. If your water pressure is very heavy, this can cause the shower curtain to fly away from the bathroom during a shower. To reverse this, consider investing in magnets or weights to hold the curtain down. You can find many weighted shower curtains to suit your needs in a department store or online. If you have a very large shower, you may need an extra wide curtain. This can cost a bit more money but will be worth it as it will more adequately protect your bathroom floor from moisture. Measure your shower before going out to purchase a shower curtain. This will help you determine whether you need an extra large curtain. You can also use 2 shower curtains for an extra long shower rod and part them in the middle.

SUMMARY: Try a hookless curtain. Think about weights and magnets. Opt for an extra wide curtain if necessary.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This is one way of determining whether or not he weighs on your thoughts when he's not around; it's one thing to make room for someone in your life, but it's another thing to entirely make room for him in your mind. Do you find yourself attracted to him even if he has food in his teeth, or has helmet hair? Or does your attraction wax and wane depending on how well he grooms himself for you? Wanting to compliment him to your friends and include him in your family is a major vote of confidence. On the other hand, if you don't feel secure about a relationship, you may subconsciously find excuses not to introduce or discuss him. Do you include him in family plans, such as inviting him on your family vacation (or even simply assuming that he will accompany your family without needing an invitation)? Do you want to help him get along with his family (or even stick up for him) because it's important that they like you? Do you suggest that he should call your mother if he needs advice on cooking, cleaning, etc.?

SUMMARY: See if you naturally remember his birthday, your anniversary, and days that are important to him. Notice if you compliment him when he's not looking his best. Notice if you're excited to include him in your life.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you have headphones plugged in, you won't be able to hear sound from the speakers. Sometimes inserting and removing a headphone plug will get the speakers to switch back on. If you have multiple audio devices connected to your Mac, it may not switch inputs correctly. This will display a list of devices that can output audio. Select the device that you want to use to play sound. If you want to play sound from your Mac's speakers, select "Internal Speakers" or "Digital Out." If you're trying to play sound from your connected TV, select the "HDMI" option. Many external speakers will have their own volume controls. If the speakers are turned off or down, you won't be able to hear sound from them even if they're selected.

SUMMARY:
Ensure you don't have headphones plugged in. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Click the "Sounds" option and then select the "Output" tab. Select the proper output device. Check the volume level of external speakers.