Look to the bottom of your phone, and locate Messaging. Tap on it. Once you're in Messaging, tap on the menu button. It's usually fairly invisible, and located to the lower left side of your device. It'll slightly light up if you tap on it. After tapping on it, you'll see various menu options. You're now in the Settings category of your Messaging app. Scroll down until you reach Register Number As Spam. That's the option that will allow you to no longer be notified when your unwanted contact sends you a text. Look to the upper right side of your screen, and tap on the Plus sign to add unwanted numbers. If you've never added a contact as spam, the screen will be mostly black and say No Numbers Blocked. You have the option of either manually typing a number you wish to mark as Spam, or you can retrieve it from your contacts if you've previously registered it in your phone. Once you've selected the contacts to be marked as spam, tap on Save (upper right corner). You will now no longer receive texts from that number or contact. You can remove a number from spam anytime by deleting the contact or number from that list.

Summary: Tap on the Messaging app. Tap on Menu. Tap on Settings. Tap on the Plus sign. Enter the number or contact you wish to block. Tap on Save.

To apply to attend a TED Talk Conference, you will need to first create a TED.com profile on their website: https://auth.ted.com/users/new. You will need to provide your first and last name, your email, and a password for your account. TED releases a list of upcoming talks on their website: https://www.ted.com/attend/conferences/ted-conference. Read the description of each TED Talk and choose one that feels relevant to your interests and goals. TED Talks tend to fill up several months in advance so consider picking a talk that is several months away. You can then apply early and increase your chances of landing a spot on the attendance list. TED offers four levels of membership for attendees: Vanguard, Standard, Donor, and Patron. If you have never attended a TED Talk Conference, you should choose the Vanguard option, as it is made for first time attendees. It is also the most affordable of the four options in terms of price, at $5,000 USD. The other three options go up in price, and perks, ranging from $10,000-$250,000 USD. The application consists of 6 short essay questions that you will need to answer in detail. Focusing on the application for 2 hours will ensure you put enough thought and effort into each question. You will need to provide a bio as well as answer questions about your goals, accomplishments, and professional work. You may break up the application, working on it a little at a time, as you save and return to your application through your TED.com account. Tell the reviewers what you hope to achieve professionally in your career, listing your short-term and long-term goals. Keep the goals specific and relevant to your professional work. For example, you may note short-term goals like, "Building an app that tracks the effects of human activity on ocean coral" and long-term goals like, "Connecting human activity with human responsibility for the ocean." Include any grants, fellowships, and other recognition you've received in your field. This will show the reviewers that you are ambitious and engaged in your work. You can also note any fellowships or grants that you hope to receive in the near future to help you achieve your goals. For example, you may write, "As the lead of my research team, I received a $15,000 USD grant to fund work on ocean sustainability in local communities." Tell the reviewers what you can bring to the TED talk as an audience member. Explain how the theme of the TED talk you are applying for relates to your professional work and interests. This will show the reviewer that you will be a valuable participant at the talk. For example, you may write, "My work on an app about ocean sustainability relates to several aspects of the upcoming TED Talk, 'The Future You,' combining activism, science, and social media engagement in a unique way." If you have Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, include your social media handles for these accounts in your application. Make sure your social media accounts paint a positive, engaged picture of your professional work, as the reviewers will likely look at these accounts closely. You may go through your social media accounts before you submit your application to ensure they are a good representation of your professional work, interests, and goals. A key section of the application is your biography, where you introduce yourself and provide details about your background, your interests, and your work. Avoid simply copy and pasting an existing bio on your website or your social media pages. Make your bio personable and detailed so you stand out, using a professional, friendly tone. Your bio should be at least 200-500 words. For example, rather than write, "My name is Jane Flowers and I am a microbiologist," you may write, "As a microbiologist studying the impact of human activity on the ocean, I am all about examining the hidden details, the creatures of the deep." Use references that you worked directly with or for in your field, such as a professor, a peer, a boss, or a mentor. Avoid using family members or a spouse as a reference, as this may not come across as very professional. If you have a reference who has attended a TED Talk Conference in the past or is affiliated in some way to TED, make sure you mention them in your application. You will be prompted to list the names and contact information of your references in the application. It is free to apply to attend a TED Talk Conference.

Summary: Sign up for a TED.com profile. Select the TED Talk you wish to attend. Choose your membership option. Set aside at least 2 hours for the application. Discuss 1-3 professional goals. List at least 1-3 professional awards and accomplishments. Explain how you will contribute to the TED community. Include links to your social media accounts. Provide a personable, interesting bio. List 2-3 professional references who can speak to your goals and interests. Submit your application online.

If it's raining, or has recently rained and you don't have access to dry firewood, it's still possible to keep your fire burning. It just takes more effort and patience. Focus on building up a small flame in one area of your fire pit. The larger the wet area and material, the harder it will be to create enough heat for a sustainable fire. Use extra tinder and kindling. Don't try to light a whole log just yet. Work on building a flame with paper and sticks. Birch trees have good bark for quick burning even when it's raining as the bark has natural oils which repel moisture. If you can, place a tarp or something over your fire to block any rain. Just make sure it's enough to prevent scorching or catching fire. Use a dry towel or even dry clothes to wrap all of your wood and burning materials in. Damp the wood down and try your best to suck up or get rid of as much moisture as possible. If you suspect you may encounter rain, grab a canister before you go out and fill it with dry twigs, pine cones and needles. An oatmeal tin works great for storing small kindling and will keep it dry. When burning a fire outdoors, it's always a good idea to have extra logs which you keep wrapped up just in case of rain. A grouping of smaller logs and kindling will be easier to light individually than one large log. In addition, you can try to light anything that will burn to get your fire started, or keep it going. Waterproof matches, a lighter, or flint and steel are your best best for sparking a flame. Foods that have a lot of carbohydrates can also be used as fuel in a pinch. Foods like chocolate and marshmallows work well. If you have a hatchet or other way to split logs, use it. Split logs down the middle to expose the dry area. Stand the logs up and face the dry bark towards the flame.
Summary: Start small. Wrap your wood in a towel before trying to burn. Use smaller logs, sticks, and anything else at your disposal.