INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Not everyone who is rude to you deserves a response. If she is clearly trying to drag you into a fight by being nasty, don't let yourself be pulled into a battle that serves no purpose. Resist the impulse to defend yourself in the moment, which ends up being a more powerful way of protecting yourself. This may be easier with an acquaintance than a co-worker or family member, but you still have the right to ignore someone who is being rude to you. If someone cuts in front of you while you're in line, this is rude. You can just ignore it, or you can be assertive. It depends on how bothered you are by it. However, if someone just doesn't say excuse me when he or she burps, that can be considered rude, but does not necessarily need a response. Being assertive is a middle way between being aggressive and being passive. Whereas an aggressive response may come off as bullying and a passive response may invite bullying, an assertive response helps you to remain firm in your convictions while allowing the other person to have her own space as well. One way you may want to practice being assertive is to practice speaking clearly and deliberately. Keep your voice firm and relaxed, but sincere. If someone cuts in front of you in line and you choose to say something, try: "Excuse me, Sir/Madam. Perhaps you didn't see me, but I was standing in line before you." how you feel. In addition to being a technique of assertive communication, it may be useful to explicitly communicate your feelings if the other person doesn't understand that they are doing something wrong. This can stem from multiple places, such as having mental illnesses like social anxiety disorder, or being on the autism spectrum. You never know what the other person does and doesn't recognize about what she is doing, so it's a good practice to be clear about how you feel. Try saying, "It hurt my feelings when you called me annoying because it didn't make me feel valued as a person." In addition to being clear about how you feel, it's useful to explicitly state what is acceptable versus unacceptable behavior. The person may not be aware of your standards for acceptable behavior in social situations. They may have grown up in a family where insults were regularly traded across the dinner table. If you are not willing to put up with similarly rude behavior, let the person know. Try saying, "It hurt my feelings when you called me annoying because it didn't make me feel valued as a person. Please be mindful of name-calling around me." It's important to distance yourself from rude and toxic behavior. Unfortunately, some of the rudest people actually target the most sensitive people. Remember that it is not your fault if someone else is acting rudely, even if they say it is. Each person is responsible for the way he or she acts, and you are not responsible for other people's rude behavior.There are methods of protecting yourself from the effects of rudeness however, such as: Talking it over with caring friends and family. If someone says something that hurts you, replay it with your loved ones so you can work through the attack together. Listening to your own voice. Don't let yourself be overcome by what the other person is saying to or about you. Take a step back and check in with yourself instead.

SUMMARY: Choose whether to respond. Speak assertively. Communicate Be clear about acceptability. Shield yourself.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Depending on your model, you may need to flip a switch near your furnace or turn it off at the breaker. You should also turn off the gas using the shut-off valve connected to the gas line. The screw is usually a small nipple-like screw. The bucket will catch any fuel that sputters out as you bleed an oil furnace. If the screw is in an area that is impossible to put a bucket or small tray under, use a flexible tubing just big enough to fit over the bleed screw. Place the tube over the bleed screw and direct it to an area where you can fit the tray or bucket.

SUMMARY: Turn the furnace off before starting any work on the fuel pump. Locate the bleed screw on the fuel pump near where the fuel line comes in. Place a small bucket or pan under the bleed screw.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Protein is especially good at filling you up and, because it supports muscle growth, can actually improve your metabolism. Good sources of protein include seafood, lean meat, eggs, yogurt, nuts, and beans. A steak every meal might be counterproductive, but snacking on nuts when you're hungry could go a long way toward helping you reach your goals. When you don't eat for an extended period of time, your metabolism goes down and you stop burning fat. If you eat something small once every three or four hours, your metabolism will go up and you will be less hungry when you sit down for a meal. Fruits and vegetables will fill you up and supply you with nutrients without putting any pounds on. Snack on bananas instead of cookies to start losing weight. Unsaturated fats, like those in olive oil, can be good for you. You should, however, try to limit your consumption of saturated fats and trans fats. Both of these are major contributing factors in heart disease. Trans fats are common in processed foods, particularly baked goods, frosting, and margarine. Saturated fats are not as bad as trans fats, but can be unhealthy. Major sources of saturated fat, include butter, cheese, lard, red meat, and milk.

SUMMARY: Eat protein with every meal. Eat several, small meals a day. Eat fruits and vegetables. Cut down on bad fats.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The degree (or "order") of a polynomial is simply the largest exponent value in the expression. If the degree of your polynomial is 2 (there is no exponent larger than x2), you can find the axis of symmetry using the formula method above. If the degree of the polynomial is higher than 2, use this graphical method. Make two lines in the shape of a plus sign. The horizontal line is your x-axis; the vertical line is your y-axis. Mark both axes with numbers at equal intervals. Spacing should be uniform on both axes. Take your polynomial or function and calculate values of f(x) by putting all values of x into it. You now have pairs of y = f(x) for every x on the axis. For each (x, y) pair, make a point on the graph vertically on the x-axis and horizontally on the y-axis. Once you have marked all the graph points, you can connect your dots smoothly to reveal a continuous graph of your polynomial. Inspect your graph carefully. Look for a point on the axis such that when a line is passed through it, the graph splits into two equal, mirrored halves. If you can find a point call it "b" on the x-axis that splits the graph into two mirrored halves, then that point, b, is your axis of symmetry.

SUMMARY:
Check the degree of your polynomial. Draw the x- and y- axes. Number your graph. Calculate y = f(x) for every x. Make a graph point for each pair. Draw the graph of the polynomial. Look for the axis of symmetry. Note the axis of symmetry.