Article: The simplest way to locate previous cost data is with your own memory. Perhaps there is some item at the grocery store or shopping mall that you've been buying for years at the same price. This could be a staple of your weekly grocery shopping trips or a clothing item you buy regularly. For example, imagine that the price of a gallon of milk has been $2.50 for a number of years. This represents the previous price for the purpose of your cost increase calculation. If the price of an item you've purchased in the past has increased, you can now calculate a cost increase percentage for the item. However, you will need the item's current cost first. Check the store for the current price of the item in question. For example, imagine that a gallon of milk, that has always gone for $2.50, is now priced at $3.50. You can now calculate the cost increase percentage to know just how much you are being charged at the new price in relation to the old price. Before comparing, make sure both values (your previous and current values) refer to the same product. If one is better in some way, your costs are not directly comparable. In some cases, locating previous cost information is not as simple as remembering the former cost of an item. For example, when comparing costs from long ago to now or finding cost increases on an item you've never purchased you'll need to locate cost information elsewhere. The same is true for cost measures (rather than items), such as the consumer price index (CPI), a measure of average consumer prices in the U.S., or the purchasing power of the U.S. Dollar. In these cases, you will need to do some online research to locate previous cost figures. Try typing in the item and year you are interested in, along with "cost" or "value," to locate cost information for that time. For example, cost information for various consumer goods from 1900 until the present can be found at http://mclib.info/reference/local-history-genealogy/historic-prices/. For all historical cost information you locate, you will also need a modern figure to compare it with. Try to locate the closest modern version of whatever item or measure you are comparing. Make sure to avoid comparing items that are different due to different levels of quality or additional features, for example. Use the most current information from the current year in your calculations.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Recall the previous price of an item. Check the item's current price. Research historical cost information. Locate modern cost figures.
Article: Even with excellent medical care and consistent physical therapy, a fractured heel can sometimes leave you with permanent loss of function in your foot. This can make it difficult for you to walk, especially on uneven surfaces or up steep slopes. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about using devices to help improve your gait and keep your foot more comfortable. Simple modifications to your shoe may be helpful in some cases. For example, you might need to wear heel pads, lifts, or heel cups in your shoes. Your doctor or physical therapist may also recommend special custom shoes or a foot brace. In some cases, you may experience pain or discomfort in your foot even after the fracture itself has completely healed. Let your doctor know if you continue to feel pain after treatment and rehabilitation. They can perform tests and exams to determine the cause of your pain and find ways to treat or manage it. Common causes of chronic pain after a heel fracture include damage to the soft tissue around the bone and failure of the bone to heal properly (e.g., if the fragments are still not aligned properly after treatment). Depending on what's causing your pain, your doctor may recommend treatments such as an orthotic device (e.g., a shoe insert or foot brace), physical therapy, medications, or surgery. If you get surgery to repair your fracture, there's a risk of damage to the nerves in your foot. If you experience nerve pain after surgery or as a result of damage from the injury, talk to your doctor about possible treatments. A few common options for managing nerve pain include: Steroid injections to reduce inflammation around the nerves. A nerve block, which involves injecting an anesthetic into the nerve to numb the pain. Medications to relieve nerve pain, such as amitriptyline, gabapentin, or carbamazepine. Physical therapy to promote faster healing. You may need additional surgery if your bone heals improperly or if you develop further complications, such as arthritis of the heel. Work closely with your doctor to monitor your healing progress, and discuss whether more surgery might be helpful for you. In some cases, it's necessary to fuse your heel bone to the talus (the bone that forms the lower part of your ankle joint). This surgery prevents movement between the bones that can aggravate your injuries.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Discuss wearing an orthotic device for gait problems. Work with your doctor to manage chronic pain. Ask about treatment options if you have nerve pain after surgery. Talk to your doctor about whether you need further surgery.
Article: Whether it's the towel you used after your shower or your workout gear after an hour at the gym, don't just throw your damp clothes on the floor or into the laundry basket. Instead, drape your wet clothes on the side of the laundry basket or hang them over the shower rod to dry out before they go into the laundry. Balling up wet clothes will cause them to stay wet longer, giving mildew a better chance to grow. Overusing laundry detergent can lead to a buildup of soap suds that never get completely rinsed out in the wash. This residue then feeds the odor-causing bacteria, leaving even your cleanest clothes with a funky smell. Each time you wash your clothes, measure your detergent carefully to make sure you don't add too much. Follow the guidelines on your detergent packaging to know how much to add. When in doubt, add a little less detergent than you think you need. Fabric softener leaves your clothes feeling soft and smelling good, but when it's used on stretchy, synthetic workout clothes, it leaves a slick residue that is nearly impossible to remove. This residue then keeps water from penetrating the fabric, meaning your clothes will smell bad even when they're clean. Fabric softener residue will also promote the growth of bacteria in much the same way as using too much detergent. Leaving your clean clothes in the washing machine will cause them to start developing mildew after just a few hours, or even sooner if the weather is really hot and humid. Try to move them over to the dryer or line-dry them as soon as possible after you wash them. If you do accidentally leave your laundry in the washing machine for too long, run them through another cycle with some vinegar to help get rid of the smell before you dry them. If you keep your clothing in a damp basement or in a humid environment like the bathroom, moisture from the environment will be absorbed by the fabric, leading to the growth of mildew. Instead, keep your clothes in a well-ventilated closet or a dresser. Plastic dry-cleaner bags can also trap moisture and lead to mildew on your clothing. If the air in your room is extremely humid, place a desiccant like silica gel packets into your dresser drawers or the bottom of your closet. You can purchase these from craft or home improvement stores. Sometimes washing machines, especially front-loading models, can develop mildew, which can then be transferred to your clothes. If you think the washing machine might be the problem, dip a rag in hot, soapy water and clean the gasket around the door and any detergent dispensers, then pour in 1 cup (240mL) of bleach and 1 cup (240mL) of baking soda and run a regular or cleaning cycle. If you like, you can add 12 cup (120mL) of an enzymatic detergent for extra odor-killing power. To prevent mildew from forming in your washing machine, leave the door cracked after each cycle so the machine will dry out, and always remove wet clothes right away.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Hang damp clothes up to dry right away. Use the recommended amount of detergent. Don't use fabric softener on your workout clothes. Dry your clothes immediately after you wash them. Don't store your clothes in damp rooms like the bathroom or basement. Clean your washing machine if your clothes smell worse after washing.