Q: Puns take a variety of shapes and forms. Some revolve around same sounding words, while others are more oriented toward meaning. Several puns can be used in tandem to make a compound pun, or compunned. Some puns involve words that sound similar, such as the imperfect rhyme formed by "orange" and "door hinge." Homonyms, or words that sound the same, are especially useful for the purposes of making puns. Homographs, words that are spelled similarly, can be like a present to gifted punners. Figurative language puns, where the figurative expression creates humorous double meanings. Some examples of puns include:"I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.""I knew a guy who had his left side cut off, He's all right now.""I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.""Two silk worms got into a race and ended in a tie." This doesn't have to be a rigorous study of academic texts and dusty tomes. Simply take note of the words and phrases you hear or read daily and thoughtfully consider what makes them interesting or humorous. Even reading novels for fun, daily newspapers, or magazines can provide you with a treasure trove of words and phrases upon which you can build. Carry a note pad and pen with you wherever you go. You never know when you'll hear a great set-up for a pun, or when an idea for a good pun will occur. Learn sayings and proverbs like "All that glitters is not gold" or "There's more than one way to skin a cat." These figurative expressions can be intentionally misinterpreted to create a winning pun. Consider subscribing to a daily vocabulary building service, like one that sends you new or interesting words by email. Especially if you have a target phrase or concept that you are trying to mold into a killer pun, a rhyming dictionary can be helpful for generating ideas. Take the word or phrase you are punning on and search it in an online rhyming dictionary. Write down your word(s), all the terms that rhyme, and then think of how to combine or juxtapose those words in interesting or humorous ways. Free association is where you link terms together that have a similar sense, but aren't necessarily logically connected. Words have emotional, historic, and intellectual components that can be humorous in the right situation. Comedian Brian Regan artfully does this when relating a conversation he had with a teacher: Teacher: What are you speaking? German, Brian? Brian: German? Jermaine! Jermaine? Jackson! Jackson five -- Tito! Teacher: Brian, what the hell are you talking about!? Brian: I don't know. I don't know, really... Though we string words together one after another, the concepts represented by words form a mental structure that is sometimes unclear. These ambiguous sentences are often marked with prepositions (at, with, on, near, opposite, etc.), and pointing out that ambiguity can get a chuckle from the people you speak with. An example of this might look like: Friend: So, at the party, I saw this crazy person dressed in a tiger suit with the binoculars. You: Your precious bird watching binoculars? What was the tiger-man doing with those? You don't even let me use them! While you're getting the feel for punning, you might feel self-conscious or like you're not very good. Rest assured, even naturally talented comics have to work hard to become great punsters. To help your punning skills grow, you might want to practice punning through writing by: Listing common cliches and creating puns from these. Inventing a character that frequently uses puns and putting her into interesting situations/conversations. Writing down favorite phrases and giving these a twist with a near-rhymes or like-sounding words. Every year, the O. Henry Museum in Austin, Texas, holds a contest to see who is the punniest of all. By watching online videos of the O. Henry Pun-Off, you can develop your comedic timing, train your punning sensibilities, and maybe even be inspired with new material.
A: Understand the anatomy of a pun. Increase your vocabulary. Use a rhyming dictionary for near-rhymes. Practice free association. Notice pun-tential with prepositions. Pun through writing. Watch expert punsters.

Q: You can use a mold-killing detergent, diluted bleach, or a commercial cleaner made specifically for killing mold. Don't mix anything other than water with bleach, as certain cleaning agents can produce highly toxic fumes when mixed with bleach. For a diluted bleach solution, mix three parts water with one part bleach in a bucket. Don't forget to test a small, discreet area first. Bleach and other chemicals can discolor concrete that's been colored or stained. Any organic material adjacent to the moldy area can be infected. Throw away any disposables like cardboard boxes. Set aside other removable items like furniture or area rugs. Use a heavy duty sponge or scrub brush to apply your chosen cleaning solution to all visible moldy areas on the concrete. Scrub the areas vigorously. If you're using mold-killing detergent, apply it directly to the spots and scrub it with a bristle brush. Don't use a wire brush, which can scratch concrete. Wear old clothes, rubber gloves, safety goggles and a respirator or dust mask. If the spots aren't lifting, leave the solution to sit for several minutes. Then scrub the areas with the solution until the mold is gone. Use a hot water pressure washer for the fastest and most effective rinse. Wear safety goggles, sturdy footwear and long pants. Use a pressure rating of at least 3000 psi with a flow rate of at least four gpm (gallons per minute). This should lift any organic matter that has seeped into the pores of the concrete. If you don't want to use a pressure washer, try a regular water hose. You can rent a pressure washer at a home or building supply store. You may need a van, pickup truck or SUV to transport it, and a friend to help load and unload it. Ask the rental agent how to use the washer and to give you any safety precautions. Find out if the washer comes with nozzles. Don't use settings finer than fifteen degrees. Never use a zero degree nozzle on a pressure washer. Once it's dry, inspect carefully for any mold that may not have been cleaned. If there is still visible mold, rinse the area clean and try one of the stronger methods you haven't used yet: diluted bleach or commercial cleaner. Leather, wood or inorganic furniture can be deep cleaned. Upholstered furniture with visible mold will need to be disposed of or reupholstered by a professional. Carpet that shows significant mold growth or is soaked completely through will need to be removed.
A:
Choose a cleaning agent to treat the mold. Remove affected items. Apply the solution. Let the solution soak. Rinse outdoor concrete. Dry interior concrete with a towel. Clean items you've set aside before placing them back in the area.