The strongest risk factor is a history of kidney stones. If you have already had a kidney stone, you have a greater risk of developing more. It is important that you take measures to reduce any other other risk factors. If someone in your family has had kidney stones, then you may be at higher risk of having kidney stones as well. Consider your family member's experiences with kidney stones as you think about whether or not you may have them. Not drinking enough water is another risk factor in developing kidney stones. Water helps to dissolve minerals that may form kidney stones in your body. The more water you drink, the less likely it is that these minerals will cling to each other and form stones. Eating an unhealthy diet can also increase your risk of developing kidney stones. If you eat a lot of protein and/or a lot of salty, sugary food, then you are at higher risk of developing kidney stones. Think about what you eat in a typical day to determine if this is one of your risk factors. Recent recommendations are to avoid sodas containing phosphoric, such as colas, as these increase the risk of kidney stones. Being obese is another risk factor for kidney stones. You are considered obese if your BMI is 30 or higher. Check your weight and BMI to determine whether or not this may be one of your risk factors for kidney stones. Keep in mind that if you have recently gained weight, then you may also be at risk of developing kidney stones, even if you are not obese. Some medical conditions and surgeries can also put you at higher risk of developing kidney stones. Consider your recent medical history to determine if any medical conditions or surgeries may have increased your risk for kidney stones. Some conditions and surgeries that can increase your risk of kidney stones include: Inflammatory bowel disease Gastric bypass surgery Chronic diarrhea Hyperparathyroidism Urinary tract infection Cystinuria

Summary: Consider your medical history. Ask family members about their medical history. Drink more water. Follow a healthy diet. Lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Identify any medical conditions or surgeries that may have put you at risk.

Laughter itself is unconscious. While it's possible for us to keep ourselves from laughing (not always successfully), it is very hard for us to produce laughter on demand, and doing so will usually seem "forced". Fortunately, laughter is very contagious (we're about 30 times more likely to laugh in the presence of others), and in a social context, it's easy to start laughing when others are laughing. Studies have shown that three things make us laugh the most: a sense of superiority over someone else behaving "dumber" than us; a difference between our expectation of something and the actual result; or welcome relief from an anxiety. It's good to know that the less funny a place is, the easier it becomes to add the element of humorous surprise. It might be easier to get people to laugh about in an office workplace than to get people to laugh in a comedy club. This is why The Office, the originally a BBC 2 show that was remade by NBC, uses an office as its setting: it's about as boring as it gets. They even process paper. How boring is that?! We're not used to looking at an office as a funny place, so when it is funny, it's especially funny. A lot of the time, comedy comes from linguistic confusion (unintentional) or linguistic playfulness (intentional). We sometimes find things humorous when there's a gap between our words and our meanings. Freudian slips are linguistic errors that are believed to expose what you were really thinking rather than what you "meant" to say, and are often of a sexual nature. Witty wordplay is more intentional: "A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion." Or this one, where the words "hockey" and "fight" are switched: "I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out." There's perhaps nothing in comedy more widely cited but more thoroughly misunderstood than irony. Irony occurs when there is a gap between our expectations of a statement, situation, or image and the actual experience of it. Comedian Jackie Mason illustrates irony with a joke: "My grandfather always said, 'Don't watch your money; watch your health.' So one day while I was watching my health, someone stole my money. It was my grandfather." This joke messes with one of our fundamental expectations: that grandparents are nice, friendly people who are utterly harmless, and that the advice they offer should be sincere.The joke is funny because, in it, we are presented with a grandparent who is rascally, thievish, and double-crossing. Being funny doesn't come in a "one-size-fits-all" package. What makes you funny is unique to you and the way you observe the world. Trust that you do have a funny bone; as babies we laugh from four months of age, and all children express humor naturally from kindergarten age, using humor to entertain themselves and others. It's already in you you just need to bring it out!

Summary: Learn a little about what makes you laugh. Learn to laugh in boring or unfunny circumstances. Learn to appreciate witty wordplay and puns. Appreciate irony. Trust in your inner sense of humor.

Goat meat is not commonly available in Western supermarkets. You'll need to look for it through specialist butchers, online sellers from farms or gourmet food sellers, and in some Middle Eastern, Indian or Caribbean specialty grocery stores. Sometimes the words "chevon" (older goat meat), "cabrito" (younger goat meat) or "capretto" are used to denote that the meat is goat's. You can also ask your local butcher to source some goat meat if you'd like to try it. Like beef or pork, there are a variety of cuts of goat meat to choose from. Each one has a different texture and flavor, and each requires a different cooking method. Here are the most popular cuts, and the best cooking methods for them: Cheeks: Stew. Chops: Marinate and roast. Cubed or minced meat: Stew on or off the bone. Goat leg: Marinate and roast. Leg steaks: Marinate and roast. Shoulder: Marinate and roast. Goat is quite lean, and if cooked at the high temperatures, it will toughen and be intolerable for eating. Goat meat is best when it has been slow-cooked to break down the tendons in the meat. Marinating goat meat is another good way to tenderize the meat. In addition, Goat meat loses moisture very quickly due to its low fat content. The best way to cook goat meat is to cook it slowly, preferably in a slow cooker, at a low temperature, and with plenty of moisture. Moreover, goat meat should never be served rare; it must be thoroughly and well cooked in order for it to be appealing. Flavorful additions tend to make goat meat delicious. Goat meat is ideal for eating with Middle Eastern, Mexican and Indian dishes that use a slow cooking method. The meat gets infused with spices as it becomes tender.
Summary: Go to a butcher that sells specialty meat. Select a cut of fresh meat. Learn how to bring out the best flavor in goat meat.