Q: The hand position to hold a six string minor chord is identical to the 'power chord' form, but all 6 strings are held down. This makes minor chords fast, simple, and easy to find. Here is how a G minor chord would look in tab: --5-- --5-- --5-- --5-- --5-- --3-- You can play some very nice 4-string major chords with a hand position that is simpler than the multi-finger bar chord used in standard tuning. Just bar across the first 4 strings with the index finger, then place the middle finger on the 3rd (F) string one fret up. Here's how a G major chord would look in tab: --5-- --5-- --6-- --5-- --X-- --X-- You can also add a bass note to these major chords by playing the 5th string without altering the feel of the chord too much. Another advantage of playing major chords this way is that the ring and 4th fingers are free to add some nice runs to your chord work. Major chords with these sorts of easily available runs embellishing them aren't heard too often in rock music, so this is an opportunity to break new ground to some extent. The beauty of this tuning is that the low E, A, and D strings remain unchanged, so you can still do power chord work on the bass strings. The tuning is especially nice for those metal songs that begin with a lot of clean minor chords and then go into the distorted fifths.
A: Use the minor tuning to play big, 6-string minor chords easily. Bar across all 6 strings with the index finger, and bar the last five strings with the third finger, two frets up. Simplify to 4-string chords to get even faster, chunkier chords. Add the 5th string back in with your index finger for an extra bass note.

Q: Sometimes, a hamster's behavior changes noticeably when she gets pregnant. Note if she is being strangely quiet, cleaning herself more often, or eating and drinking more than usual. Another common sign is an instinct to gather up large nests. If you see these telltale behavior changes, she is likely pregnant. Syrian hamsters usually grow and carry their babies for 15-18 days before giving birth. Look up the date on which you last mated your hamsters and add 15 days to it. That is the earliest likely due date for your new litter. You will not be able to tell she is pregnant until just a few days before she gives birth. By ten days after the mating, you should be able to see her belly clearly swelling, as with human pregnancies. A pregnant female will have a natural instinct to build herself a big nest. Give her extra bedding materials like paper towels or bathroom tissues so she can shred them up for her nest. You might also offer a safe (non toxic, no ink, not sharp) bedding material like Pennine "Curl Up" Hamster bedding. Make sure you have cleaned the cage five days or so before the due date, and that there is extra food and bedding in the cage. Prepare ahead of time so you do not disturb the mother and babies for the first week after birth. You want to keep her as calm and relaxed as possible. Keep her environment quiet and soothing; dim or remove bright lights. Keep curious pets like dogs and cats away from her as she gets ready to deliver her babies. Hamsters usually give birth without problems if you wait until they are old enough to mate (four months). The birth will likely happen at night when everything is quiet. Litters can be as small as 4 or as large as 16 babies.
A: Observe the female for a week. Figure out when she will give birth. Watch for physical changes in the female. Provide her with nesting and bedding materials. Prepare the cage for the birth and babies. Do not handle the hamster close to her due date.

Q: When receiving a gift of any kind, you should absolutely tell the giver "thank you" for it. "Thank you" is the best response you can offer no matter what you receive. Expressing thanks demonstrates your desire to accept the gift, compliment, or sentiment while still being humble about it. If simply saying "thanks" feels awkward to you, follow the phrase with a secondary phrase that continues to express gratitude. Try something like, "I appreciate the compliment," or, "That's very thoughtful of you." Your nonverbal response is just as important as your verbal response. At minimum, you should receive the vast majority of gifts with a smile. Smiling indicates happiness, and the point of any gift is to make the receiver happy. Smiling when you receive something allows the giver to know that the gift was appreciated, regardless of whether the smile is shy and polite or huge and enthusiastic. Aside from smiling, you should also do things like maintaining eye contact and leaning in toward the giver. Even if you feel uncomfortable, you should avoid crossing your arms, looking away, or appearing disinterested. If you have a hard time receiving, your natural reaction might be to deflect or reject a gift that is offered to you. Doing so is actually more likely to cause a negative reaction than receiving the gift would cause, however. Put yourself into the giver's shoes and think of how it feels when someone denies a compliment or suspiciously rejects a gift. Most people will either be saddened when they realize the receiver doesn't know his or her own value, or frustrated by the implication that the gift or sentiment was somehow dishonest. It is also possible, of course, to seem conceited when you receive something. Failing to express genuine gratitude may make you appear egotistical, which can also cause a negative response from the giver. Appearing egotistical can usually be avoided as long as you stick to the standard "thank you" script. You should still avoid following your thanks with words of self-promotion, though. For instance, if someone compliments your appearance, avoid replying with, "Thanks; I get that all the time," or, "Thanks; I know." A fair, appropriate way to demonstrate humility when you receive something like a compliment or a reward is to acknowledge others who put you into a position to receive the gift. For instance, if you receive a compliment about a project that was successfully completed as part of a team effort, tell the giver something along the lines of, "The entire team put in a lot of effort, and it wouldn't have been possible without everyone's input. Thank you for acknowledging us." Depending on the situation, it might be socially appropriate to follow up with a more formal thanks or return gift. This principle won't always apply, but following it when convention deems it appropriate can help you feel more comfortable with the gift you received. This is a big issue to consider when receiving gifts for formal occasions, like weddings and baby showers. As you receive the gift in person, a quick "thank you" is appropriate. Later on, you should also follow up with a more formal thank you note acknowledging the gift in greater detail. No matter what the circumstances are, you should never turn the practice of giving into a competition. Giving and receiving are two sides of the same action, and there is no shame in being on either side of that action. This can be especially tempting when receiving compliments. If someone compliments your work, don't return the praise by offering higher praise. For instance, you shouldn't reply with, "Thank you, but you could've done a better job." Even if you believe such a statement, it is best to accept the praise without argument.
A:
Verbalize your gratitude. Receive with open body language. Resist the urge to deny the gift. Don't get carried away. Give credit where credit is due. Follow the appropriate protocol. Avoid competing with the giver.