Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Install the latest available updates. Free up space on your hard drive. Remove excess icons from your desktop. Clean up your startup sequence. Check your hard disk with Disk Utility.

Answer: Your Mac OS X and other software updates can keep your system stable and running smoothly. Updates should install automatically, but it's good to check every once in a while and see if an essential update is queued. Open the Mac App Store and click the Updates tab at the top of the window. Review and install any available updates for your system and installed programs. If you're running low on free space, your Mac's performance may take a hit. Clearing out old files and programs can go a long way towards improving your Mac's responsiveness. Uninstall old programs by dragging them from the Applications folder to the Trash. Check your Downloads and Documents folders to see if there are any old files that you can delete. Programs like CleanMyMac3, Disk Inventory X, and DaisyDisk can find and remove tons of old junk files from your computer. You can free up a significant amount of space using a file removal tool. Use Monolingual to remove unused language files. You can get it for free from monolingual.sourceforge.net/. Don't remove the language you use or the English language, as this can cause problems with the operating system. If your desktop is chock full of icons, this could be slowing down your system. Pare down your icons and files on your desktop to help improve performance. Some programs will set themselves to start as your Mac boots up. This makes it slightly easier to load the program when you need it, but too many will make your Mac take forever to start. Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences." Select the "Users & Groups" option then select "Login Items." Select an app that you want to prevent from loading at startup and click the "-" button. You may need to click the padlock and enter your admin password first. Sometimes files and permissions get corrupted, which can cause problems with your Mac. The included Disk Utility can scan for and fix these types of problems. Launch Disk Utility from the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. Select your hard drive in the left frame. Click the "First Aid" tab and then click "Verify Disk." The scan will begin, which may take a while to complete. Click the "Repair Disk" button if the scan reports any errors.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Offer to screen their calls and mail. Help create a safety plan. Be readily available to help. Find safe locations. Help improve home security.

Answer: Stalkers often harass their victims by calling frequently and sending frequent letters and emails. Consider offering to screen your friend's phone calls, emails, and mail if there are concerns that the person might try to communicate in these ways. This may help to reduce your friend's fear for a while. A safety plan helps someone reduce the risk of harm from a stalker or stalking situation. It is an individualized approach for what the person is currently experiencing that can include certain steps, precautions, responses, and safety contacts. The safety plan may include a record of previous stalking attempts and police reports, a contact list of friends, family members, and professional help, and specific people to call or steps to take in certain situations. You can help this person safety plan by including law enforcement and professional advocates. Encourage your friend to always have a charged cellphone with them. Keep your cellphone charged and accessible to take any phone calls. If your friend calls for help, be ready to spring into action. You may not be able to rush over, but you may be able to call authorities like law enforcement to assist your friend. You may want to create a codeword that signals danger. If your friend says the codeword, that means that they need immediate help. The victim may feel unsafe wherever they go. Help your friend find safe spots, such as 24 businesses or highly populated areas. You may want to accompany the person or switch off with other friends for a period of time so that your friend is not alone. If the person is being followed, tell them not to go home. Instead, go somewhere public where other people will be, or call emergency services. Encourage the person to change up their usual routine often to prevent the stalker from finding them throughout the day. For example, if the person usually goes to the gym after work, then they could alternate between going in the morning, during their lunch break, and after work. You can help install security features with your friend. Install motion sensor lights outside and keep them on at night. Change the locks on all the doors and make sure all windows lock securely. Assess for any hiding places and remove them (such as shrubs or bushes). If the doors do not have peepholes, install peepholes. Ask your friend to consider fostering or adopting a dog as a sort of alarm system.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Start preparing the berries the day before you plan to serve them. Rinse and pick over your fresh cranberries. Heat up the water and sugar on the stove. Bring the syrup to a very gentle simmer.

Answer: The cranberries will need to soak overnight in the sugar syrup before you can frost them, so if you're making these for a holiday gathering, keep that in mind. You can make several batches in advance, if you prefer frosted cranberries will stay fresh for two to three days if stored in an uncovered container. Avoid storing in airtight containers, since this will make them soggy. Soaking the cranberries overnight in sugar syrup will sweeten them up. Otherwise, they will be too tart. Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse them thoroughly with cold water. Place them in a large mixing bowl. Carefully pick through the cranberries and discard any bruised, damaged or mushy ones. Use only firm cranberries for this recipe. Once you've picked through all of them, set the bowl of cranberries aside. Add one cup of sugar and one cup of water to a pot and place it over medium heat. Warm the water until you see steam starting to rise from the pot. Use a whisk to stir the sugar water, which will help break up any remaining sugar crystals. Keep your eye on the pot. Do not bring the water to a boil. The cranberries might burst if the syrup is too hot. Stir the syrup with the whisk until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Be aware that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look for consistent information. Put it in writing. Do not agree to accept only rare forms of payment. Do not submit additional work before compensation.

Answer:
If the job is your dream job, the pay is unimaginably high, and the office is in paradise, chances are, the listing is probably fake. Either decline the offer or proceed with extreme caution. Request more details on anything you are unsure of such as timeframes, deadlines and pay. Have a lawyer look over any contracts to ensure you are protected from waiving your rights, lawsuits and/or lack of pay. Analyze your experience with the application process and determine if you are comfortable accepting the job. If something still seems off, its probably a good idea to listen to your gut. If there are any contradictions or confusion with what has been told to you, beware. Inconsistencies are big red flags and can mean that your contact is not providing you with the whole truth. Before starting any work, have information placed in writing and signed by both parties. This can be in the form of an Offer Letter, Contract Agreement, etc. The information covered in the paperwork should include: Role or job description (what you will be doing at the company). Timeline (when you will begin work; how long your contract is for). Pay (how much you will be getting paid; whether it is based on hourly work or a salary) Pay schedule (when you will get paid). Rights (what legal rights you have with the company). Termination conditions (what happens if you are fired, quit, get laid off, etc.). Rare forms of payment can include discounts, free products and certificates of shares. A company that values your work will pay you really money. If you are promised pay to be sent via a wire transfer, suggest another form of payment as this may be an indication of another scam. Be cautious if asked to provide either another sample or additional work not previously discussed. Instead, ask kindly to be compensated for your initial work before starting on other projects.