Problem: Article: The best way to improve your Hebrew conversational skills is to talk to someone who is fluent in the language. If there is a synagogue or Jewish community center in your neighborhood, you may be able to find someone there who is willing to speak Hebrew with you. You can also search Facebook groups for native speakers, either locally or in Israel. You may be able to find an Israeli conversation partner who is willing to help you in Hebrew in exchange for help with another language, such as English. If you have difficulty finding a local language partner, try connecting with someone online. Websites such as iTalki and Go Speaky connect language learners to native speakers for free. The repetitive and simplistic nature of lyrics can help you learn a lot of basic words relatively quickly. Look for Israeli music on YouTube, or on your favorite music streaming service. There are many popular artists that record their music in Hebrew in a number of different genres. Search for Hebrew in the international category. If you find an artist you like, search their name online to find other acts that are associated with them that you might like. Many Israeli radio stations stream online, and you can listen for free. You can also search for podcasts in Hebrew. Some podcasts are geared specifically towards teaching the Hebrew language, while others cover various topics, including history, culture, and religion. Gala'tz, the Israel Army Radio, streams live broadcasts at https://glz.co.il/. You might also try Reshet Bet, which is predominately news talk radio, or Reshet Gimmel, which is focused on music. When you first start, you may only be able to pick up a word or two, especially if you're just starting your study of the language. However, with time you'll start understanding more and more. Many popular Israeli television shows can be streamed online. Israeli shows and movies are also available on subscription-based streaming services, such as Netflix or Hulu. You can start by turning on subtitles in your native language, if they're available. As your Hebrew gets better, you can turn subtitles off. You can also try turning on closed-captioning in Hebrew, so you can see the words as they are being said. If you're a sports fan, look for sports broadcasts in Hebrew. Since you already have a familiarity with the sport, you'll pick up words more easily. In addition, sports commentators tend to use a limited vocabulary that can be repetitive. If you want the ultimate immersion experience, visit Israel, where Hebrew is the national language. In large cities you'll likely find plenty of people who speak other languages. However, in smaller towns you may need to rely exclusively on Hebrew to get around. When people find out where you're from, they may want to speak to you in your native language. For example, someone who finds out you're from the U.S. may want to practice their English on you. It's up to you whether you ask them to speak to you in Hebrew. If they talk to you in English, you can try simply answering them in Hebrew.
Summary: Find a conversation partner locally or online. Listen to Israeli music. Play Hebrew radio stations or podcasts. Watch Israeli television shows and movies. Take a trip to Israel.

Problem: Article: Too much seating will overcrowd your party, but you will need some spots for guests to sit down. Aim for enough seating to accommodate around 10-15 percent of your guests at once. Some seating is important in case your guests get tired. To make your room feel cozy and intimate, avoid placing furniture near the center of the room. This will give guests room to mingle while simultaneously giving some guests an opportunity to sit down, if desired. Place the furniture in small clusters along the wall to encourage intimate conversations between guests. Both can crowd a party area and make guests feel cramped. They can also cause a tripping hazard if your guests don't have enough room to move around. Store your coffee tables and footstools in another room for the duration of the party. If you're hosting a small party (between 3-5 guests) you may keep 1 or 2 coffee tables or footstools in the room. If you're holding the party in a small room, arrange your furniture in a way that makes a pathway. Arrange the pathway from the door to the end of the room and near any windows. The pathway should be about 2 people wide. Around 1-2 hours before the party begins, check the room's circulation to make sure guests can navigate it easily. Keep in mind how many guests you plan to have, and adjust the furniture arrangement as needed. You should have at least 18 inches (46cm) of clearance between furniture. If you want to host a dance party, dedicate a specific room in your house for dancing. Remove all furniture from this room to prevent guests from injuring themselves or breaking anything as they dance. The living room is usually ideal for dance parties. You can dedicate another room in your house to refreshments and light conversation for guests who don't want to dance.
Summary: Leave seating for about 10-15 percent of your guests. Position furniture around the perimeter of your room. Remove all coffee tables and footstools. Construct a clear circulation path to the door. Walk around the room to check for obstructions. Clear out a space for dancing, if desired.

Problem: Article: To ascertain the sex of a cat or kitten, it's necessary to pick the cat up. Some cats don't like to be handled, so take a little time to let him or her get comfortable around you. Stand or crouch near the cat and let him or her approach you. When the cat comes close, let him or her sniff your hand. If the cat seems nervous, you may have to come back later or have a partner help you with the next step. Gently pick up the cat and cradle him or her in one arm. Use your free hand to lift the tail so you can examine the genital area. If the cat doesn't mind being handled, this may be easiest to perform while sitting on a chair or the couch, so you don't have to worry about dropping the cat. If you're working with a partner, have the partner hold the cat securely in both arms while you lift the tail. If the cat avoids having his or her tail lifted, try scratching him or her in the area where the tail meets the back. Cats usually lift their tails when they are touched in this spot. The surest way to tell the difference between a male and female cat is by examining the cat's physical features below its tail. Begin by looking for male genital features, which can be somewhat easier to spot. A male cat will have an anus, scrotum, and penis, while a female cat will have only an anus and urinary tract opening. In an entire (or tom) cat, the scrotum is covered with fur and contains two testicles, each typically ranging in size from the size of cherry pits to actual cherries. The scrotum sticks out from the male cat's rear as a fairly obvious pair of bumps. If the cat has long fur, this can make the scrotum more difficult to see, in which case try dampening the fur with water to flatten it down and make the scrotum more obvious. A neutered male cat will still have a scrotum, though it will typically be smaller. The penis is sited below the scrotum, beneath the skin, and exits at a small furry mound between the cat's thighs. You might imagine a male cat's genitalia resembling a colon (:). A male cat's anus and urinary tract opening are at least 1 inch (2.5cm) apart, or 12 inch (1.3cm) for kittens. If the cat's genitalia doesn't appear to match that of a male cat, begin looking for female traits. A female cat will have an anus and a urinary tract opening/vulva, with the vulva in the shape of a vertical slit. You can imagine a female cat's genitalia as resembling a semi-colon (;). A female cat will have a shorter distance between anus and vulva, typically about 12 inch (1.3cm) apart.
Summary:
Approach the cat or kitten with care. Lift the cat's tail. Look for genitalia characteristic of a male cat. Look for genitalia characteristic of a female cat.