Think ahead to what you plan to use the okra for. If you're putting it in a stew, chop it horizontally to create chunks. If you plan to serve it as a side dish or stuff it, chop it lengthwise to create strips. Leave the seeds intact. If you want to make fried okra, it's best to bread it before freezing. Follow the steps in the next section. Lay out the pieces in a single layer and make sure none of them are touch. Put the tray in the freezer and freeze the okra for 1 hour, or until the pieces are firm and slightly icy. Don't leave the okra in the freezer uncovered for longer than this, or the chill will affect their texture. Fill each freezer bag to within an inch of the top with the frozen okra pieces. Close the top of the bag, leaving just enough space to stick a straw into the empty headspace. Suck the air out of the bag so that it closes tight around the okra, then remove the straw and seal the bag. Removing the air will keep the okra from breaking down as quickly. If you have a vacuum sealer, the machine will remove the air for you. Consider labeling your bags with the date they were packed. Frozen okra can be added to stew, soup, and casseroles without thawing it first. In fact, it's best to immediately cook the okra instead of thawing it first. The more the okra is handled, the likelier it is to get mushy.

Summary: Chop the okra. Place the okra on a baking sheet. Flash freeze the okra. Place the okra in freezer bags. Use the frozen okra.

Whenever you are cleaning quartz crystals with oxalic acid, you need to do it in a highly ventilated area. These fumes can be very harmful to you if you inhale them. Acidic fumes can be poisonous to animals and humans. In addition to being harmful if inhaled, acid can burn you if it comes into direct contact with your skin. Be sure to wear rubber gloves when handling oxalic acid and while cleaning quartz crystals. Make sure to wear rubber gloves and not fabric gloves. The acidic residue could remain on the fabric gloves or seep through to your skin. Since oxalic acid waste is considered a hazardous material, you need to neutralize it first before you can dispose of it. At the end of the cleaning process, the oxalic acid will be in a liquid form. You need to add garden lime (CaO) to the liquid until there is no longer any visible reaction. You can do this outside on the ground and wash away the remnants with a hose. Or you can do it by using a funnel to pour the spent oxalic acid into a gallon jug and add the lime in there. Then simply throw away the jug and its contents in a trashcan or dumpster.

Summary: Perform the cleaning in a well-ventilated area. Wear gloves when handling any type of acid. Dispose of the acid waste properly.

Instead of eating a ton of sugar, which is tempting to do when you're tired, try eating complex carbohydrates and protein. Sugar can give you a rush of energy, but then your energy will crash. Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, offer more sustained energy, especially when you pair them with protein. For instance, try some natural peanut butter on whole-wheat bread or a piece of fruit with a slice of cheese. Dehydration can lead to fatigue. Therefore, staying hydrated will help keep your energy up. Try sipping on water throughout the day to make sure you get enough. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink 13 cups and women drink 9 cups of water every day. Other liquids can contribute to your water intake, such as juice and coffee. However, drinking too much juice can pack on extra calories and cause a sugar crash, so try to limit your intake. Also, though you can count caffeinated beverages, you shouldn't make them the majority of the liquid you drink in a day. Keeping something in your mouth, such as a piece of gum, can help increase your alertness. The best time for this type of trick is when you're in a meeting that you absolutely need to stay awake for.

Summary: Skip the sugar. Make hydration a priority. Try a piece of gum.

Many search options and phone books divide companies alphabetically. Naming your company with a letter at the beginning of the alphabet ensures its placement near the beginning of the list. Long names are harder to remember. A name in a foreign language might also be harder to remember, unless it is very short. Open your company up for future growth. Resist the urge to use your geographic region in your name, because your company may expand later. Rochester Paint Supply might limit you to only that area. Ask family and friends for their opinion and perhaps give them several choices. You can also hire a market research company to form an objective focus group. Seriously consider their input before making a final decision. You can find market research consultants through a local chapter of the American Marketing Association.
Summary: Brainstorm a name that starts near the beginning of the alphabet. Keep the name short. Don't use geographic regions. Test the name.