Article: We're now getting into more sophisticated listening equipment. You can either make a listening stethoscope on your own or buy one. Premade models will save you time but can cost several hundred dollars. Unlike a premade model, however, making your own stethoscope will probably cost around or under $25, provided that you already have a fairly good MP3 player. You can typically find a stethoscope at your local drugstore for about $10. The quality of the stethoscope is unlikely to make much of a difference. You will also need microphones. Stereo multimedia microphones are preferable, as they are cheap (around $15) but have fairly good sound specifications. That is, you should be able to pick up sound with them pretty easily and with fair quality. Finally, you will need to have an MP3 player to record sound as well as a 3.5mm (mini) Stereo Y-adapter cable. The cable will be quite cheap, about $3 or $4 dollars. The MP3 player will be the most expensive item if you do not already own one. Keep in mind that it must be able to record, which probably means that you will need a newer model (many older ones do not record but only play music). You will need to cut down the middle of the microphones in order to get to the wiring, remove the tops or headers, and release the microphones. You will then insert the exposed microphones into the stethoscope earpieces. A good tool for doing this is an X-Acto knife. It will make a clean cut through the outer parts of the microphone and let you get to the innards. You should be left with 2 mics and 3.5 mm connectors (the cabling). Remove the earpieces from the stethoscope. This is fairly easy and they should just pop right off. Don't get rid of them, however, as you'll need to attach them to the microphones. Next, gently drill shallow holes into each of the plastic earpieces to a diameter that matches that of the microphone housings. The size of these holes needs to be exact, as the microphones must fit squarely inside of them. A power drill or grinder can give you the desired precision. Glue the microphones inside the earpieces. Put a dab of glue around the edges of the microphone housings and then insert them into the holes that you have just drilled in the stethoscope earpieces. Reattach the earpieces back to the stethoscope and let the glue dry. Last, attach the stethoscope and microphones to the MP3 player. Use the Y-adapter cable to connect the microphones to the MP3 player. The sound that you pick up through the wall will now be collected and amplified by the microphones, transmitted to the MP3 player, and recorded or saved. Plug the single stereo connecter in to an MP3 player. Your spy stethoscope should be ready to go now. Practice first with your stethoscope. As with an ordinary glass, you may have to experiment a bit to find a good placement on the wall or to get the hang of recording. However, unless the walls are double-glazed or have thick insulation, you should be able to hear what is being said on the opposite side.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Collect your materials. Disassemble the microphones. Disassemble and reassemble the stethoscope earpieces. Hook the stethoscope to MP3 player. Start listening.
Article: You can use any clear, mono-color marbles, or marbles with a cat's eye pattern. Opaque marbles won't look any different when cracked, and two-tone marbles will just crack in half. You may want to start with five or six marbles to make sure you like the effect. You can use "flat marbles" and other decorative glass pieces as well, but they have a higher chance of breaking. Lay the marbles in a single layer on a baking tray with raised edges. Use a stainless steel pan, not one with a nonstick surface. If your oven uses Fahrenheit, set it to 350 instead. Some craftspeople prefer heating as high as 260C (500F). You should immediately hear a hissing or crackling noise when the marbles enter the water. Within a minute or so, the inside of the marbles will crack.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Choose your marbles. Place the marbles in an oven or toaster oven. Bake at 180C for 20 minutes. Wait until the marbles crack.
Article: Vampire Goth hairstyles are characterized by stark, monochromatic, and simple colors, so dying your hair bright white or jet black is great way to achieve this look. For a more permanent look, you can visit your local salon or purchase a permanent or semi-permanent black hair dye from a drug or beauty supply store. For longer-lasting white hair, try learning how to get white hair using bleach and toner. If you are looking for a more temporary option, you can use a spray-on temporary hair color in either white or black. Temporary spray-on hair colors are easy to apply by following the directions on the container, and generally wash out after 1 to 2 washes. Use a straightening iron or hairdryer to straighten your hair until it is stick-straight. Vampire Goth hairstyles are generally clean and pristine, so this is a relatively easy look to accomplish whether your hair is long or short. Try parting your hair in the middle before or after your straighten it for an extra mysterious, vampire vibe. Wear just a few simple accessories or skip them altogether to stay in-line with the vampire Goth style. Try adding a bright red lipstick, pale face make up, and jet black mascara to complete your vampire look. If you have shorter hair (above the shoulders) or bangs, you can achieve a vampire Goth look by creating a deep side part on either the left or right side and sweeping your hair across your forehead. Once your hair is parted correctly, use a curling iron to create loose waves across the front of your hair. Trying using a dark eyeliner on both your upper and lower lids, as well as a dark eyeshadow to enhance your mysterious vibe.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Dye your hair bright white or jet black. Straighten your hair stick-straight. Try a side-swept, curly vampire look.