If you notice that your handle has splits or cracks in the wood after battle, repairing before your next re-enactment. You can add wooden stays or leather straps bolted in place to repair the damage if the area is small enough. Cut wooden slats or thick leather strips a couple of inches wide by a couple of inches long (or however long you need to secure it on both sides of the crack). Bolt these in place on either end. It is important to have a secure handle so that you don't lose hold of your shield during battle. If your handle breaks, you can either grab the shield with both hands (which means putting down your weapon), or put down the shield (which means exposing you to oncoming attacks). Be sure that the handle is on securely before going in to battle. Replace a damaged, split, or frayed leather strap or handle at first sign of wear. Don't wait for it to fall off completely before repairing. Dents and dings in your shield add character and make your shield seem more realistic. If you hate having dents in your shield, you can use sandpaper to try to buff them out. You will need to repaint that area. If your shield is split in half during re-enactments or battle, you will need to build a new one. This time, try making a more advanced shield; you've already practiced once!

Summary: Reinforce splits in the wood. Repair broken handles. Leave dents alone. Build a new shield.

Originally the Atkins diet advised that exercise wasn't necessary; however, they have since revised that guideline and encourage regular exercise as a healthy component of the plan. Consider aerobic exercise combined with weight training, as approved by your physician. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week (or 30 minutes five days a week) as well as 20 minutes of strength training two to three times a week. The Atkins diet has four phases: the Induction phase (1), the Balancing phase (2), the Fine-tuning phase (3), and the Maintenance (4) phase. Some people associate the Atkins Diet with Phase 1 only, the phase in which you restrict your carbs to under 20 grams daily. You cannot reasonably maintain the unrealistic diet of Phase 1 indefinitely, and you should move on to the next phases as the program suggests. There are some low-carbohydrate diets that suggest you can eat whatever sources of protein you want in unlimited quantities, including processed meats, smoked meats, fatty meats, red meats, and salty meats. These can lead to a variety of health problems and should be eaten sparingly. Instead, opt for lean meats, such as fish, chicken, and turkey. Don't forget non-meat sources of protein, such as nuts and seeds and full-fat dairy products. . People tend to overestimate portion sizes, sabotaging any weight-loss efforts. Previously the Atkins diet did not include portion sizes; however, they have since revised their protocols to help people see the results that they want. To successfully navigate this diet, pay attention to your portion sizes and account for everything that goes in your mouth. " The Atkins diet has superfoods that serve as the cornerstones of healthy eating on the plan. Atkins recommends wholesome, healthy foods, such as vegetables, avocados, fatty fish, and eggs. These foods deliver lots of nutrients, healthy fats, and fill you up without significant carbohydrates.

Summary: Exercise regularly. Follow the phases. Eat safe proteins. Portion your food Take advantage of "superfoods.

Algae needs sunlight to grow, so if you're still in the planning stages of a new pond, consider installing it in an area that only gets a little sun. Try building a pond near a tall wall, or use a shade mat or sail to stop algae from being able to grow. You shouldn't rely on shade that comes from large trees, as they may drop leaves into the pond. Fallen leaves will eventually rot and let algae grow, meaning you'll need to clean your pond more often. Shade mats and sails are custom-made barriers that will prevent excess sunlight from getting into your pond. They should be available at specialty pond stores or online. Water that runs off from your garden may contain nutrients that algae can feed on to grow. Build a slight lip rim, roughly 1 inch (2.5cm) high, around the edge of your pond to limit uncontrolled water from flowing into the pond. This will also help keep fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides from getting into your pond through water runoff. All of these can be very detrimental to the health of your pond and the living things in it. There are several dyes, normally blue in color, that are designed to be added to a pond to stop sunlight from reaching the bottom, which will prevent the formation of algae. Purchase a pond dye of your choice and follow the manufacturer's instructions to dye your pond. Pond dye should be available online or at your local specialty pond store. The amount of pond dye needed will vary based on the size of your pond. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid over-dyeing your pond.

Summary: Build your pond in a shady area to limit sunlight. Add a rim or border around your pond to keep out new water. Color the water with a pond dye to reduce the amount of sunlight absorbed.

With a tiered APR, the credit card company applies different rates to different parts of the balance. For example, it may charge 17 percent on balances up to $1,000 and 19 percent on balances above $1,000.00. If you have an outstanding balance of $1,500, you would pay 17 percent interest on the first $1,000 and 19 percent interest on the last $500. Figure out how many tiers apply to the outstanding amount at the end of your billing cycle. You need to figure out the DPR for each of those rates individually. So, for our example: 17 365 results in a DPR of 0.047 for the first $1,000 of your balance. 19 365 results in a DPR of 0.052 for the last $500 of your balance. The steps are essentially the same as those for fixed and variable rates, as you can see. But it's important that you remember to apply each step to the different tier rates. Assume that we're calculating the monthly rate for January, which has 31 days. 0.047 x 31 = a monthly rate of 1.457 percent for the first $1,000 0.052 x 31 = a monthly rate of 1.612 percent for the last $500 Again, move decimal points two places to the left to convert percentages to numbers that can be multiplied. $1,000 x 0.01457 = $14.57 of interest paid on the first $1,000 $500 x .01612 = $8.06 of interest paid on the last $500 $14.57 + $8.06 = $22.63 of interest paid on your outstanding balance of $1,500.
Summary: Understand how tiered APRs work. Calculate the DPR for each tier. Multiply each DPR by the number of days in the month. Calculate the interest paid on your outstanding balance. Add the amounts together to find your total.