Write an article based on this "Memorize the basic terms of the game. Mitigate the house advantage. Study basic blackjack strategy. Find out the table's game rules before you start playing. Check the table's blackjack rules. Formulate your betting strategy. Increase your bet when the odds are in your favor. Resist buying insurance."
article: The game itself is simple enough to figure out. Every player knows they need to get to 21 to beat the dealer. However, many players don't understand the terms used beyond hitting to get another card or staying to end their term. Before you play, know about asking to double down, split your hand, or surrender your hand so you can incorporate these into your betting strategies and give yourself the best chance of winning. When you choose to double down, you double your bet and receive only one more card. When you have two of the same card, such as a pair of twos, you can split them and play them as two hands with two separate bets. Very few casinos allow you to surrender your hand. When you have a bad hand, you can surrender and save half your bet. The dealer gains an advantage because the player must act first without knowing what the hole card, the face-down card, is. Also, once you go over 21, or bust, you lose even if the dealer busts as well. Once you understand this, you'll realize that winning depends upon reacting to the cards you have as well as those other players and the dealer show on the table in order to predict what card the dealer has face-down. Because blackjack is a game of probabilities compared to other casino games, you will be a stronger player by learning how to play certain hands. For example, do you hit on your 16 when the dealer has a ten? Do you split your eights? Study a chart to determine which choice you should make depending on what cards you have and what card the dealer shows. At first you'll find it hard to remember how to act during various in-game scenarios, but the more you play, the more you'll learn how to play your hand by instinct. Different casinos or blackjack games feature different rules. Many games use multiple decks of cards in order to discourage card counting, throwing off your ability to track your odds of winning. Most games of blackjack require the dealer to stop at 17, even if this means the dealer loses, but the rules may allow for the dealer to hit on a soft 17, which is a 17 made with an ace (the ace can be a one or an 11). A game that makes it harder for you to win in the long term, such as one that allows the dealer to hit on a soft 17, should be avoided. Avoid continuous shuffle machines when playing in person. These machines make keeping track of possible cards you and the dealer can draw an impossibility. Before you start playing at a table, it's important to find out how you will be paid for a blackjack. If you get a natural blackjack, a 21 on the first two cards dealt to you, a table may pay you 3:2, which is $3 for every $2 wagered. Others will pay you less, such as 6:5, and should be avoided. 6:5 odds are worse for you than 3:2. Consider that if you bet and win twice on the first odds, you'll bet ten units to win 12 units. 12 units on the second odds makes for four bets totalling eight units bet to win 12 units. In an average game, it's best to be consistent or, at most, increase your bet by one dollar or other unit of measurement until you win. Remember that there is no such thing as being due for a win or hot and cold decks. Any such pattern you perceive will disappear over time because the game is based on chance and probability. Instead, try betting low after a loss or deck shuffle and increase your bet a little when you perceive the odds are in your favor. Many high cards in the deck work better for you since they always amount to ten and help you get more blackjacks. The more you play, the more you'll gain a sense of how many helpful cards remain in the deck and how to proceed with the hand you have. Once you have a grasp of your odds of winning, you can more aggressively bet on good hands. The dealer will give you an option to buy protection in case the dealer has a blackjack. This means you in essence make a side bet that the dealer will have blackjack. If the dealer does have blackjack, you will win your side bet but lose your original bet. This may get you back some money in the short-term, but long-term the bet makes the casino money. Beginner players have no way of knowing if the dealer has a card worth ten points face-down under an ace. Card counters however have a better idea and can use their information to make money on this bet.

Write an article based on this "Watch for signs that your child is ready. Choose the right spoon. Start with two spoons. Teach your child how to use a spoon. Pick foods strategically. Set an example. Praise your child's efforts."
article: When your older baby or younger toddler can eat finger foods and has started to grab the spoon from you during meals, he or she is probably ready to learn to eat independently with a spoon. Larger spoons will be too big for a toddler's mouth; you want something teaspoon-sized. Consider purchasing special baby spoons, which are lighter, rounded at the top, and usually made of plastic. To begin, use two spoons: one for you and one for your child. You can feed your child as usual, and he or she can also begin trying out the spoon. Don't worry if, at first, your child uses the spoon primarily to bang on the plate or high chair tray and dribble food around. Self-feeding takes time; he or she will figure it out. Show your toddler how to hold a spoon, and then help by placing your hand over his or her hand to demonstrate. Direct the spoon slowly into your toddler's mouth. As your toddler learns, you can also start using two bowls. You can feed your child from one; he or she can use the other, which should just have a small amount of food in it. Start with thicker, denser foods; these will stay on the spoon, whereas more liquid foods will drip away before your child manages to get the spoon to his or her mouth. Yogurt, cottage cheese, and pudding work well. As your child progresses, move on to thinner purees and soups. Eat when your child eats; family meals are important for teaching self-feeding skills, communication, and manners. Let your toddler know you are proud of his or her growing independence.

Write an article based on this "Learn who you are. Think about how you want to be treated. Focus on you. Forget about guys for a while."
article:
You don't want to think of yourself as anybody's girlfriend until you know yourself better. Otherwise, you risk being defined as somebody's girlfriend instead of what makes you unique! You can learn about yourself by thinking about why you liked him in the first place. Things you like about your crush can actually give you clues about who you are and want to become. For example, you may feel that you like the guy because he sounds smart when he talks in class. That tells you that you admire the quality of intelligence, and you would probably like to be seen as smart yourself. You may even realize that you don't know your crush as well as you thought you did. You wouldn't want a relationship with a guy who doesn't like you! A good relationship is balanced. Ask your parents what healthy relationships are like. Think about your talents and good qualities. Get busy doing things you like to do. Get involved with sports, clubs, and school. Hang out with friends or find an after-school activity you enjoy. Try reading some new books. Remember how special and wonderful you are! You can develop better study skills to prepare for your future education if you don't date in middle school. Being preoccupied with boys gets in the way of homework. Some kids who date in middle school even end up dropping out of school! You want to have an education so that you'll be able to get a good job and support yourself in the future. You're also less likely to get depressed if you ditch the idea of dating in middle school. Focus on making good friends instead of thinking about romantic relationships. Dating in middle school involves things like talking, texting, sitting around at a fast food place, holding hands, maybe a hug you're not missing out on anything. But you could miss out on some great friends if you're busy spending time with crushes in middle school. Relationships with your friends and even your best friends can suffer. Guys in middle school are immature. For example, they may be more interested in playing basketball after school than having a girlfriend. If you wait until you're older to start thinking about guys romantically, you will probably have more freedom to date then anyways: for instance, with curfew, time you can spend on the phone or internet, places you can hang out, etc.