Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Refrigerate the squash. Roast acorn squash halves. Make an acorn squash puree. Cook rings of acorn squash.

Answer: You should use the acorn squash as soon as you've cut it since it will begin to lose flavor and health benefits. But if you can't use the acorn squash the same day you cut it, wrap the squash in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to four days. You can also freeze the cut squash for several months. To do so, wrap the acorn squash in plastic and place it in an air-tight freezer bag. Label the bag and use the squash before you see ice crystals form. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (218 C). Rub a few tablespoons of olive oil over several halves of acorn squash with the seeds removed. Sprinkle the flesh with salt and pepper. Place these on baking sheet flesh-side down. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes or until they're soft. If you'd like to try a unique flavor, consider seasoning your acorn squash with one of these combinations: Sesame seeds and cumin Cinnamon and butter Balsamic vinegar and shallots For a quick puree, roast the acorn squash in halves. Once the roasted squash is cool enough to handle, just scoop out the flesh and mash it in a serving bowl along with butter, salt and pepper. For an even smoother consistency, you can beat it with a hand mixer. You can also steam the acorn squash before pureeing it. To steam the squash, heat about an inch of water in a saute pan. Add cubed acorn squash and let it cook over medium-high heat until it's tender (about 10 minutes). Take 1/2 inch rings or slices of acorn squash and combine them with a few teaspoons of melted butter or olive oil. Place the squash in a saute pan that you can also place in the oven. Cover the pan and cook the squash over medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake them at 400 degrees F (204 C) for 15 more minutes. If you'd like a slightly sweet caramelized flavor, add a few tablespoons of brown sugar to the squash before you bake them.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Consider whether the other party will agree to end the contract. Determine how much notice you owe, if any. Negotiate the terms of the contract. Use a mediator to negotiate.

Answer: If you are unhappy in your current employment situation, consider that the other party to the contract may be unhappy as well. If both parties agree, they can rescind the contract and let each other out of the agreement. A mutual agreement to terminate the contract early is often the best-case scenario for getting out of an employment contract. Once again, you will need to go back to your contract to determine how much notice, if at all, you owe the other party before abandoning the contract. A typical timeframe is two weeks, but the required notice can vary from contract to contract. Take into account any accrued vacation time into your calculation, if applicable. Failure to give the required notice can lead to you being financially liable to the other party for breaking the contract. If your employer is not as eager to end the contract as you are, you may be able to negotiate terms of the contract in order to persuade the other party to allow you to end it early without negative consequences. For instance, you could agree to give your employer time to find a replacement, you could offer to stay on in order to train a new employee, or you could offer an employee a severance package. These sorts of negotiations may help end the contract on good terms for both parties. Sometimes, the assistance of a mediator or another neutral third party can help you negotiate the terms of ending the contract. This is much less expensive alternative to going to court and litigating your dispute. Plus, it can help you reach a mutually agreeable settlement that will end the contract in a way that you both can live with. Most state bar associations maintain a list of mediators who are certified by the laws of that state. Contact your state bar association for more information.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Get one at the right age. Check the puppy's cleanliness. Examine the coat. Check for a strong body. Examine the stool. Watch his energy level. Ask for past vet records. Ask about socialization.

Answer: In general, puppies should be kept with their mothers for at least the first 8 weeks of their lives. If the dog breed is small, such as a Yorkshire terrier, it is better for a puppy to live with its littermates or parents for the first 12 weeks so it can mature enough to live with other people and animals. If you find a breeder who is selling puppies younger than 8 weeks old, ask the breeder why, since it is too young. As you are looking for a puppy, you should look at how clean the puppy is. This is a good indicator of the puppy's health. When you meet a new puppy, look for clean: Ears. Puppy ears that are dirty may cause ear infections or indicate ear mites. Avoid puppies with ear redness or foul odors. Nose. There should be no discharge from the nose and the puppy should not sneeze profusely or cough. Don't think discharge is just saliva, because the nose may be wet from licking. Eyes. There should be no discharge around the puppy's eyes. They should be bright and alert. When you are getting a new puppy, its fur should be fresh and clean. It should also be shiny and full. Avoid dogs with bald patches or skin issues. It may be a bit dusty or slightly dirty if the puppy is playing outside with other animals, but it should clean up easily. When you play with the puppy, part its fur and look at the skin. It should also be clean and smooth. Make sure there are no fleas and the puppy doesn't scratch itself. When you pick up the puppy, check the muscle definition of the legs and arms. All puppy bodies should be strong even if the dog is a tiny breed. Make sure it isn't thin with a protruding belly. This can be a sign of an untreated worm infestation or a serious health issues, such as a heart problem. If you have a chance, examine what the puppy's stool looks like. It should be firm. Loose stools or a messy bottom may indicate diarrhea, which is a sign of larger health issues. You should also check where the other puppies in the litter go to the bathroom to make sure none of the other puppies are sick either. Also watch to see if the puppy licks its genital region a lot. This may be a sign of a urinary tract infection. In addition to the physical symptoms, you should evaluate the overall energy level of the puppy. Watch his interaction with other puppies and see how he interacts with you. It may take a little time for the puppy to warm up to you and your family, but it eventually will. Sit with it and make time to play with it when you visit. Puppies who are healthy are curious and want to play if they are awake. If at all possible, ask the shelter or breeder to see the past vet records for your puppy. This will ensure that she has been vaccinated and will let you know if the puppy has been fixed or not. If the breeder or seller won't or can't give you past vet records, seriously rethink getting that puppy. This is a warning sign that something could be wrong. Your puppy's health includes his mental health, and that means it should be properly socialized. Ask about what contact the puppy has had with other people and where the puppies are kept (home environment rather than an outside run). A puppy that is poorly socialized may have major behavioral problems down the road.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Ask others for help. Open up the subject. Use the "support others" coping technique. Skip the "avoidant" and "comfort zone" techniques. Realize that people need help understanding your stigma. Practice using humor. Don't feel like you need to dwell on the topic. Know that there will be people who aren't okay with your stigma. Let go of what you can't control. Walk away if you must.

Answer:
Initially it'll take guts, but asking for assistance is a sly way to make others feel comfortable around you. This will thus alleviate the stigma. After all, it's usually the other person's comfort that's the issue, rather than hate or fear. The other person just may not know how to act. He feels awkward about not knowing what do or say. When you give him the go-ahead, he can breathe a sigh of relief. And you thought you were the only one feeling the strife! If you're in a wheelchair, ask the other person to open the door for you, since you have trouble reaching the latch. If you're dyslexic, ask the other person if everything in your text message is spelled right. These tactics will break the ice just like in any normal, day-to-day conversation. Asking for assistance can open up the subject, but not every identity position needs extra help from others. Practice opening up the subject directly. Try saying something like, "You're probably wondering how I lost my leg/got a stutter/knew I was gay/got cancer. At least, most people do. I usually tell them...." This lets the other person know that he can ask questions, since most people are naturally curious. Some stigmatized individuals use jokes as a means to break the ice in such situations, as well as to gauge the degree of sensitivity the other person has to their unique conditions. Most times, however, merely talking directly, warmly and openly is a great way to reduce awkwardness, even if the person across from you had negative perceptions of you to begin with. This technique involves a person who understands that others may feel uncomfortable because they don't understand the issue or how to act around it. This is the technique that leads both parties to feeling adjusted and comfortable. When using this technique, don't automatically assume that the other person is judging you. It may be that this person is uninformed about your stigma. Be patient and open about the subject. Give the other person the benefit of the doubt. For example, if a person is unsure how to act around you because you're in a wheelchair, give them some suggestions on how you need help, or what you can do for yourself. There are two general techniques often used by people dealing with stigma that you should avoid. The "avoidant" technique and "comfort zone" technique can actually be harmful. Avoidant technique. This stigmatized person is just that: avoidant. He avoids new social situations with people who don't know about his unique conditions. This is done to avoid awkward conversations and possible rejection. This person ends up isolated and often lonely because new connections are impossible to make. Comfort zone technique. The stigmatized person stays within one group of people and one group of places at all times. He is only comfortable interacting with people that he knows will approve of him. Because of this, he never takes opportunities or has new experiences. Possible rejection is just too scary. Remember that some people's reactions to you are not out of hate. Instead, it's a lack of understanding. For many people, it's hard to remember that other people are fighting a battle, too. It's easy to write off this person as ignorant, mean, or just plain dumb. Though you're dealing with the brunt of it, take a step back and realize that most people you're dealing with are unsure of what to say or do. As a result, they probably feel uncomfortable. Most people do mean well, but they just don't know how to behave. When they are at a loss, many of them choose to make a graceful exit instead of possibly doing the wrong thing. It's difficult to not take this personally. The only thing you can do is use the "support others" technique to prevent it from happening. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can try to alleviate some of the tension around the stigma by making jokes. This can be incredibly difficult to do at first, but the more you practice, the easier and more comfortable it will become. If you can sense that someone is a little on edge or wants to broach the topic, relieve them of their woes and do it for them. Poke fun of yourself to show them that it's okay. Chuckle and say, "Gosh, I am just too gay to carry this suitcase. Could you do it for me?" Or, when you go to grab that yogurt from the cafeteria line, shout, "Here comes meals on wheels!" This can quickly break any tension. If you've opened up the topic, you'll probably get a good feel for just how much the person wants to know. Some people will be content knowing when it started and what it's like, while others will want you to delve into the nitty gritty. When the questions start slowing down, just change the topic. After all, you've plenty of other things to talk about! Talking about many things will help the person realize that your unique qualities don't take away from you being a multi-dimensional person. It'll also show her that the issue isn't obligatory to talk about because it's not the elephant in the room. It's no big deal and it's just one topic you two can talk about. Ask the other person about her hobbies and interests. She needs the spotlight too! If you don't feel comfortable talking about everything, that's fine too. Don't feel forced into talking about something you don't want to talk about. Cultivating boundaries around these topics and you will start learning how to tell people you'd rather not discuss it. Most people will be respectful of your wishes. For the record, there will likely always be those people who are not okay talking about difficult topics such as social stigma and marginalized groups. Odds are if you've been dealing with stigmatized social conditions for a while, you know automatically who those people are. For these people, it's probably best not to waste your energy. Interact with them how you must, but be sure to surround yourself with people who are more tolerant and self-assured. Some people are going to judge you unfairly no matter what. When you realize that you have no control over their feelings or behaviors, you can actually be liberated from any sense of guilt or responsibility associated with their feelings. Try to accept the things you have control over and let go of what you don't have control over. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people in this world who are purely intolerant, unwilling to listen, and full of hate and fear. If life takes an unfortunate turn and you wind up dealing with one of these miserable people, walk away. There is no point in stooping to their level. You're better than that. As you're walking away, remind yourself that this person is likely incredibly insecure. He takes his own dislike of himself and project it onto others. He may be so uncomfortable with who his is that it's unlikely he'll be comfortable with anyone else.