Problem: Article: Get out a knife and cutting board and unwrap all sticks of butter that your recipe requires. Cut each stick into several -inch cubes so that mixing the butter into the dry ingredients is as easy as possible. It's a good idea to chill your butter cubes for about half an hour so that they don't start melting. This will prevent the butter from becoming too soft and creating an undesirable consistency once it's cut in. Using your hands or a fork, toss the butter cubes in with the dry ingredients so that they stick to the butter. This should make the ingredients stick to your hands less once you start smushing. While combining with the dry ingredients, smush and separate the butter cubes continuously with your fingers. Keep an eye on the overall consistency and stop when most of the chunks of butter look like they're about the size of peas. You can also cut the cubes into smaller chunks with a pastry cutter.
Summary: Cut the butter into -inch (1.3 cm) cubes. Refrigerate the cubes for about 30 minutes. Toss the cubes in the dry ingredients. Smush the butter into pea-sized pieces.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It's important to consider which piercing technique you're most comfortable with. Piercing guns, like the ones used at Claire's and Icing, push the earring straight through the skin. Piercing guns, while quick and inexpensive, often cause more infections. The guns can be disinfected but not completely sterilized because they are made of plastic and do not hold up under sterilization techniques used for needles and other professional tools. Although this method is not widely recommended, as it does cause some blunt-force trauma to the ear, it is still common and many people choose it out of convenience. Tattoo shops and professional piercing studios use the hollow needle method, which creates a clean hole instead of forcing the earring through the skin. This method sounds more painful, but many report that it's actually less painful. The hollow needle method is preferable because it won't infect as easily or heal over as quickly if you go without earrings for a long period of time. A good piercer will have ample experience. If you're not confident that they are prepared and experienced enough, it may be worth finding a different piercer or location. It's okay to ask the piercer how much experience they've had. At locations like Walmart, the piercer receives very little training and may not have any experience, so it's better to ask than have something go wrong. Generally, professional piercers should have at least a year of experience before they start working alone. Checking reviews online is a great way to get a feel for the piercer's experience and the quality of service. A dirty studio is a red flag, so look around for general cleanliness. Make sure the piercer uses disposable gloves and sterile packets for each new needle. This is a crucial safety measure. If they don't use proper sterilization techniques, you should probably find a different studio. When you get your ears pierced professionally, you will likely have to choose from the in-store selection. It's important to know how to choose the best and safest earrings, since these will stay in your ears for the next six weeks. Look for earrings free of nickel and cobalt, as these materials commonly cause allergic reactions. The safest earring materials are surgical stainless steel, platinum, titanium, and 14K gold. If these are over your price point, gold and silver are generally safe options as well. The piercer will use a surgical marking pen to place dots where the earrings will go. Examine the dots in the mirror and make sure they're placed where you want them. The piercer can always wipe off and re-draw the dots if needed. Prepare yourself by taking a deep breath and the piercer will guide you through the process, which, for lobe piercings, is usually painless and takes less than a minute. You'll feel a slight pinch on your earlobe, and then you're done. For less common piercings, the pain may be higher and the piercing may take a bit longer. Cartilage is harder to push the needle through, so it may take a few moments to complete the piercing.

SUMMARY: Decide whether or not you want to use the piercing gun method. Consider the benefits of the hollow needle method. Make sure that the piercer is experienced. Check for cleanliness. Pick the earrings you want to have your ears pierced with. Be careful about choosing a hyper-allergenic material, particularly if you have any metal allergies. Fine-tune the placement of the piercing. Take a deep breath.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Most men prefer shorter hairstyles. If you're not ready to give up your long, feminine locks, try tying them back in a ponytail or sporting a "man bun." If you want to cut your hair short, familiarize yourself with the names of different men's hairstyles before getting it cut. Taper Cut- A short haircut with the sides and back of the head cut progressively shorter down toward the neck. Bowl Cut- Longer hair around the top of the head, shorter hair around the lower part of the head, with little or no blending in between the two lengths. Looks like someone placed a bowl on your head and simply cut around it. Brush Cut- Short, tapered hair around the sides of the head, uniform in length at the top of the head. Hair at the top of the head is styled straight up to resemble the bristles of a brush. Business Man's Cut- Generic term for a shorter (but not too short), conservative haircut, appropriate for the office. Hair is short and tapered around the sides and longer at the top to allow for a part. Caesar Cut- Back and sides are tapered, while hair at the top of the head is layered one to two inches in length. The top hair is combed forward giving the effect of bangs. Crew Cut- Very short cut that is tapered on the back and sides and top of the head. Fade- Extremely tapered cut, with hair on the sides and back cut very close to the head and tapered upward to a longer length at the top of the head. Flat Top- Back and sides are very tapered, while hair on the top is cut to stand straight up. There are several different kinds of hairstyling products that can help to maintain a masculine hairstyle. Each product is used to achieve a specific look. Pomade- Use on shorter styles, to create texture. Wax- Use to add shine. Mud- Use on longer styles, to create a "disheveled" look. Cream- Use to control frizz. Gel- Use for a strong hold or to create a "wet" look. Hairspray- Use to add volume and greater control to hair. With shorter hairstyles, men need to be more conscious of the hair on the backs of their necks and the way their sideburns look. They have less hair to hide under than most women do. Be sure to talk to your barber about how you want your neck hair and sideburns cut and shaped.
Summary:
Wear your hair short. Use men's hairstyling products. Cut your neck hair and sideburns.