INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This does not stop businesses you have recent dealings with (including debts and collectors) from calling, nor does it stop not-for-profit organizations. However, if you are plagued by telemarketers, this will significantly reduce your calls. This project is headed by the federal trade commission and located online at www.donotcall.gov . State programs exist as well and you can often join them online too. Most phone companies will now let you block all calls that do not display a caller ID number or come through as "Private." This will specifically remove a large number of telemarketing calls. Some phones have a feature that will allow you to designate a special ring tone for any specific phone number that might call in. Select a different ring tone than your normal ringtone for their number and when you hear it, lift and lower the receiver quickly. This will keep you from having to speak to them. (or you can let the machine get it.) Alternatively, buy a phone made for hearing impaired that features a flashing light (and which can be muted) that alerts you to calls. Phone books are a bit out of date, but phone number listings still exist online, and companies capture as many of these as they can. You can tell your phone company that you no longer want your number publicly listed. It should instead be considered a non-published or private number, not even available through directory assistance. Obviously this is a last resort, but it can be highly effective. Most cell phones can be easily set up to block certain callers, and additional apps can be downloaded that will allow you to send all calls from outside your contacts list directly to voice mail. Best of all, the federal government bans all use of automated dialers (the devices used by the vast majority of telemarketing firms) to call cell phones.

SUMMARY: Register with the national Do Not Call registry. Get Anonymous Call Rejection from your telephone company. Designate a certain ring tone for all of your contacts. Purchase a phone with a mute ringer function. Take your number off of all public listings. Switch to cellular only.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Seashells can either be gathered from the beach or purchased at a craft store, or you can buy synthetic or artificial shells. While artificial shells may not have the same natural appeal, they are better for the environment. Seashells play an important role in coastal ecosystems, and provide homes to algae, birds, and hermit crabs. Removing shells from the beach can have a detrimental impact on the creatures that rely on them. If you really want to collect your own shells, only take a couple from each beach, and never take shells from highly visited beaches where others are often collecting shells. Always inspect each shell to ensure a hermit crab hasn't claimed it for a home. Shells are also a byproduct of the fishing industry, and there are some shell suppliers that only obtain shells from these producers. Buying shells from these producers could have less of an impact than purchasing ones collected from beaches. Natural shells that are collected from the beach need to be cleaned to remove dirt, particles, odors, and bacteria. The most common way to clean shells is to soak them in a bleach and water solution: Fill a bowl with one part bleach and three parts water. Soak the shells for anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours, until the leathery coveringcalled the periostracumcomes off. When the shells are clean, use a soft cloth or soft-bristled toothbrush to give them a gentle scrub, then rinse them well with clean water. Allow the shells to dry. You don't actually have to do anything to preserve the shells, but if you want to enhance and protect their shine and luster, you can polish them with mineral oil. Use a lint-free cloth to rub a small amount of mineral oil over each shell, and gently polish the inside and outside. Since you'll be using the shells for jewelry, another option is to protect them with a thin coat of satin-finish polyurethane varnish. Apply a light layer of varnish to the inside and outside of the shells using a clean paintbrush. Allow the varnish to dry completely.

SUMMARY: Obtain seashells. Clean the shells. Preserve the shells.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You want a deep enough, and large enough, bowl that you can submerge the entire nail into the bowl. Ideally, you want a bowl large enough to dip all of your nails at once. Pick a bowl that can stand up to freezing or chilling. Metal bowls will hold in the cold and be cold to the touch. Plastic will insulate the water but may be easier to handle. Consider dedicating a bowl just for beauty regiments. You probably do not want to accidentally get nail polish on your favorite mixing bowl. After you've picked the right vessel, fill it with cold water. You want the coldest water possible without freezing everything in the bowl. This will help the ice not to melt so quickly. You want to add a cup of ice (cubes, not crushed) to the bowl. This will create cold enough water to help instantly dry your nails. Once you've added the ice, return the bowl to the fridge if you intend to paint your nails right away. If you think you it will take at least an hour for your manicure, consider returning the bowl to the freezer so the ice does not melt. Be warned, wait too long and the entire bowl will freeze. Once the bowl is chilling, now it is time to put on your favorite manicure. You can use whatever type polish you would like. Paint your nails as you normally would. Remove the bowl from the fridge or freezer, carefully. Be careful not to smudge your wet nails doing this! If you can, have someone assist you with this. Place the bowl on a flat surface. If you are putting the bowl on wood, place a towel or trivet underneath the bowl. This will prevent water rings on the surface. You can place both hands at once, being careful that your fingers do not touch each other. Or, you can place one hand at a time. You will want to submerge your hands slowly as not to cause the water to ripple and damage your nails. This is going to be cold. It might be a little bit painful. But, the longer your nails are submerged, the drier your nails will become. Once your hands have been successfully submerged, remove them from the water and place them on a towel. You can test the dryness of the nail polish by lightly touching your nail. It should be hard to the touch. As odd as it sounds, after removing your hands from the water, your nails should appear dry. Cold water can damage your hands, so pat down your hands to dry them. Consider applying your favorite lotion to your skin, after your nails are successfully dry of course, to stop skin damage.

SUMMARY:
Pick the right clean bowl. Fill a bowl with cold water. Add a cup of ice to the water. Paint your nails. Take out the ice bowl. Dip your hands in the bowl. Wait 2-3 minutes. Pat hand with towel or paper towel.