INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you find your thoughts returning over and over again to that particular person, you may benefit from a period of sustained thought about that person. For a set period of time, even 10 minutes can be enough, think only about that person. Doing this can lessen the intensity of the feeling, leaving you calmer. Try not to think about your future together or what might come; focus your thoughts only on that person and their characteristics for the entirety of the time. Sometimes, all you need is the right distraction to get your mind off your potential lover. Past happy experiences can restore perspective by interrupting the strong feelings you have for that person. Think of past times when you've had fun, or a place where you feel safe and protected. Repeat a mantra that you find soothing. Some examples: "Everything's going to be OK." "I am calm, cool, and collected." "With every breath, I release anxiety and become more calm." "I overcome my fear and live life courageously." In some situations, people become so nervous around those they like that they become clumsy or inarticulate. If this happens to you, find the trigger and think about how you might combat it. If you have difficulty talking to him, bring up a topic you're passionate or knowledgeable about. If you find that when he's around you're all thumbs, invite him for coffee or something that requires little dexterity. Your first letter will celebrate your feelings and all the reasons why you feel the way you do. In your second letter, write all the worries, concerns, and sources of anxiety related to the person you like. Try to make a case for moving forward, after all, you are a worthy person regardless if your affections are returned. Too often, people talk themselves into a negative loop that makes feelings more overwhelming with every passing instant. If you suffer with this condition, find out any automatic negative thoughts you have and interrupt those with an opposing positive thought. For example: "If he doesn't like me I'll be so embarrassed and then people will think I'm a loser. Wait a minute. I had friends before I started liking him, so I know I'll have friends afterwards, too. I guess it's silly to put so much self-worth on this." Tell the entire dramatic story playing in your head to yourself several times. Make sure you complete the story by taking it to its natural extreme. By the third or fourth time, you should be better able to recognize the absurdity of these extreme, yet natural, thoughts. "If I ask him out on a date and he rejects me, everyone will talk about it forever. I'll never stop hearing, for the rest of my life, about the one time I asked this guy out. It will haunt me through college and my professional life, because everyone will already know." NOTE: this technique is intended to reveal warped perspective to the person using it. If you find yourself truly believing these things and unable to see how your perspective is off kilter, talk to an adult or a mental health professional. Though feelings of embarrassment or the knowledge of your own infatuation might make you hesitant, sharing your feelings with those you trust can help you come to terms with the normalcy of your situation, and leave you feeling less isolated. Family members and trusted friends can be a great source of strength through the storm of romantic feelings you might now be suffering.

SUMMARY: Practice thought saturation. Distract yourself. Find and combat triggers. Write two letters. Condition opposite responses to negative thoughts. Exaggerate your greatest fear. Reach out to your support group.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If you've just spilled bleach on your carpet, there might still be time to save its color if you act quickly. Run a towel or cloth under cold water, squeeze it out, then use it to blot out the affected area. Take care to blot with repeated dabbing motions instead of scrubbing. Scrubbing will force the bleach deeper into the carpet fibers. Make sure to use a white towel or one that you don't mind getting stained. After blotting the stain with cold water, mix a half tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with a cup (240 mL) of warm water. For larger stains, use the same ratio (for example, one tablespoon mixed with two cups or 480 ml of water) Let it sit for about five minutes. As an alternative to soap, you could substitute distilled white vinegar in the same ratio. After five minutes, use a clean, damp sponge or cloth to blot the area you've soaked in the detergent solution. Be sure to use cold water to get your sponge or cloth damp. Repeat the process 2 more times to lift all of the residual bleach out from your carpet. When blotting, work from the outside of the stain toward the center to avoid spreading it. Depending on the amount of bleach and how many times you rinse the carpet, you may need to switch to a new rag.
Summary: Blot away wet bleach with a cold, damp towel. Pour detergent and warm water over the stain. Blot the area with a sponge or cloth.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Although germs can live on most any surface, they are more likely to collect in certain places than others. In most schools the restrooms are cleaned at least once per day, but there are some areas that are frequently overlooked. It is estimated that 80% of all infections are caused by coming into contact with a contaminated surface. Toilet seats aren't actually as bad as we think they are, and they are usually cleaned on a regular basis. Door handles collect a lot of germs. The inside latch of a toilet stall has been touched by many students after using the toilet and wiping themselves. Many students also skip washing their hands, and then transfer their germs to the exit door as they leave. You can use a paper towel to open a door so that your hands don't get dirty. If you are a boy, there is no need to be shy about peeing in a urinal next to other boys. This is a perfectly normal thing to do, avoids unnecessary contact with germs inside the toilet stalls, and helps to keep the stalls cleaner for everyone else. Cafeteria trays aren't always cleaned between meals. Dishes are always washed after use, but the trays are sometimes overlooked. If you carry hand sanitizer, use it to wipe your tray before you get in line. Don't allow your tray to come into contact with any shared surfaces after it's been cleaned. The average desk is used by five or six students in a single day. If any of those kids were sick, they probably left some germs behind. Keyboards and mice are also likely to collect germs. Hand sanitizing wipes are the quickest way to clean shared surfaces. Some students put their mouths directly on the faucet, passing along their colds and flu to the next person in line. Try to avoid contact with the spout, and run the water for a few seconds before drinking. There may be as many as 2.7 million bacteria per square inch living on a public drinking fountain spigot. If you want to be even safer, carry your own water bottle instead. Many schools now have stations where you can refill your water bottle without pressing a button. Art supplies are often shared, and seldom cleaned. Multiple students may be using the same art supplies in different class periods. Apart from rinsing paint out of brushes, cleaning art supplies is not usually a big priority for students or teachers. Although proper etiquette dictates wiping off exercise equipment after using it, not everyone does this. Shared equipment like balls, bats, and helmets can also be a hotbed for germs. Outdoor facilities like park benches and playground equipment are usually not cleaned on a regular basis. Since these items are shared by a great number of students over the course of a day, they tend to collect a lot of germs. Playground equipment has been shown to harbor trace amounts of fecal matter along with viruses and bacteria. Run the water for a few seconds before drinking from the water fountain. Even better, carry your own water bottle instead.

SUMMARY:
Be careful in the bathroom. Sanitize cafeteria trays before using them. Give your desk a quick wipe before sitting down. Use care when using a drinking fountain. Clean more than your brushes. Avoid using shared sports equipment that hasn't been washed. Try not to touch playground equipment or picnic tables with your bare hands.