INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Lots of animals can get in a house and make noise--birds, racoons, even cats. Rats will be accompanied by high-pitched squeaks. These will intensify when the rats fight. You may also hear various clawing, scratching and chewing sounds. These can be surprisingly loud, and seem like a much larger animal is making them. You may also smell a distinctive, musky scent if rats are present. If you smell an especially foul odor, a rat may have died within the walls, roof, or flooring of your home. Dark, coffee-bean sized droppings are also a tell-tale sign of rats. If you live in an apartment, your building manager may be required to contact a professional exterminator to deal with a rat problem. Get in touch with your management if you think you hear rats. If you are a homeowner, you can take matters into your own hands, but a professional will be more likely to deal with the problem satisfactorily. This classic method for controlling rat problems can be effective as long as they are used properly. Snap traps have a spring-loaded mechanism that pins rats down when they step on it. Glue traps work by trapping rats that walk on their sticky surface. Place several traps in places where rats are (look for their droppings). Set them in narrow places (such as behind boxes or furniture) so that rats are forced to walk on them. Bait the traps with food rats are likely to enjoy, such as peanut butter, raisin bread, bacon, or candy. If you find a rat has been trapped and killed, wrap it in newspaper or a plastic bag and throw it away. Wash your hands afterwards. If you are taking on the extermination job yourself, make sure to use only approved rat poison or rodent bait, available from home supply stores. Carefully follow the usage directions and precautions advised by the manufacturer. Many forms of bait will come installed in pre-made, secure containers. Place these near the suspected rats. The rodents will enter the container, eat the bait, and die. Poisons are often not recommended for use in buildings. Rats may eat the bait, then die and decompose in a hard-to-reach space like the interior of a wall. Though rats are undesirable and potentially dangerous, you might not want to kill them. There are a number of humane options to drive rats away. For instance: Play loud music or other audio during the day and night. Shine strobe lights in areas you suspect rats to live. Soak cotton balls, wads of cloth, or other items in ammonia. Set them in places where you suspect rats are coming in and out (such as a hole in a wall).

SUMMARY: Make sure it's rats that you hear. Call for professional help. Set rat traps. Use lethal poisons to control rat populations. Try humane deterrents.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Find a short-sleeved or sleeveless shirt that fits snugly and is comfortable to move in. Choose something made of breathable, synthetic fibers that will wick sweat away from your body. Men don't typically wear spandex shorts as tight or as short as the women do. But your shorts should still be more snug than a normal pair of baggy workout shorts. Choose a pair that will allow you to move around without sagging down. These can be crew, calf-height, or knee-height, depending on your preference. Avoid socks that are mostly cotton since these will absorb moisture and be slow to dry. Look instead for socks that have acrylic or synthetic fibers and keep your feet dryer to help prevent blisters. Unless you're serious about playing volleyball, you can just start with a good pair of running or gym shoes. Be sure that they fit well, offer good arch support, and won't leave black marks on the gym floor. If you decide to play volleyball long-term, visit a sporting goods store to get fitted for volleyball shoes, which provide more traction and support than ordinary gym shoes. Many men opt not to wear knee pads, but some do, so decide if knee pads are right for you. They protect your knees from injury and pain when you have to dive for a ball, but some players think they're uncomfortable and bulky.

SUMMARY: Select a close-fitting shirt. Select close-fitting shorts. Choose comfortable socks. Pick a pair of workout shoes. Consider buying knee pads.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Perhaps you have a wedding, prom, or another special event at which you wanted to look your best. Even so, remind yourself that your worth isn't based solely on your appearance, to encourage a proactive mindset, which will help you take measures to improve your hair. Some salons offer touch-ups or corrections for a fraction of the normal price, and if your unfortunate fringe is the result of a stylist's error, you may get your money back. Even if you don't get your money back or a special deal, ask if there are ways you can correct or improve the state of your bangs on your own. Though this will not correct the fringe injustice you have suffered, laughing at ''worse'' haircuts can be therapeutic and put your situation into perspective, and perspective might be just what you need to correct a bad cut. Have a friend join you so that you have an ally that understands how you feel. Laughing together can protect you from psychological pain. Planning can take a great deal of stress off your mind, and planning what you might say if someone comments on your bangs can be an advantage. Some things you might say: "I decided to hack off my bangs to see if my face could make up for it. How am I looking?" "I said 'I forgot my wallet.' My stylist heard, 'I want a mullet.'" "I decided on trying something different. So did my stylist. I think her version of 'different' is the same as my version of 'bad.'" You probably feel pretty strongly about your terrible haircut. These strong feelings can make you interpret even compliments as an attack. Don't let bad bangs sour your relationships or get in the way of you taking measures to fix your fringe.

SUMMARY:
Resist the urge to turn this into a catastrophe. Talk to a stylist. Search online for images of the worst haircuts. Plan humorous responses for social scenarios. Be cautious of being defensive.