INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can also use repellent that contains at least 20 percent picaridin or IR3535. Apply the repellent to any exposed skin before you go outside, especially if you plan to be in areas with trees or tall grass. Look for repellent at your local camping store or online. Do not put repellent around your eyes or mouth. Permethrin is a repellent that protects your clothing from ticks for several washes. Look for boots, pants, socks, and tents that contain at least 0.5% permethrin. You can buy permethrin coated clothing at your local camping store or online. Always stick to the middle of hiking or walking trails so you do not come in contact with high grass or bush. Try not to deviate off the trail into the woods or a grassy area, as this can expose you to ticks. If you have been outdoors in your yard or outside on a hiking trail, try to bathe as soon as you get inside. Remove your clothing and have a hot shower to remove any ticks on your body. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to check your entire body for ticks. Make sure you check under your arms, around and in your ears, and between your legs. You should also look inside your belly button and behind your knees for ticks. In some cases, ticks can get into your hair so make sure you check this area as well. Carefully remove them one at a time with a pair of tweezers, picking them off gently. Place the tweezers as close as possible to your skin when picking off the tick. Do not twist or yank on the tick off, as this can cause it to bite you and leave its head buried in your skin. Try not to squeeze the tick too hard as you pick it off, as you do not want to crush it and expose yourself to the blood inside of it. Submerge the tick in a bowl of rubbing alcohol to kill it, then flush it down the toilet. Apply iodine to tick bites to sterilize the area. If you are struggling to remove the ticks yourself, go see your doctor so they can do it properly for you. Throw your clothing in the dryer and set it on high heat for 10 minutes. This will kill any ticks that may be on your clothes. If your clothing is damp or wet, set the dryer for longer so your clothing is dry and tick-free. Make sure you look at your dog or cat for ticks if they have been outdoors. Part its fur to check for ticks, especially on its head, neck, and ears. If you find ticks on your pet, remove them with tweezers. Then, apply iodine to any bites your pet may have due to ticks. Look for tick repellent that contains fipronil, amitraz, or permethrin. You can find tick repellent for pets as a spray or a spot treatment. Make sure you put repellent on your pet before they venture outside to prevent tick bites. Your vet may also be able to recommend a tick repellent for your pet during your regular vet visits.

SUMMARY: Apply insect repellent that contains at least 20 percent DEET. Wear clothing coated with permethrin. Walk in the center of trails and avoid grassy areas. Bathe or shower as soon as you go indoors. Examine your body for ticks. Remove ticks with tweezers. Dry your clothing in the dryer after being outdoors. Examine your pets for ticks after they go outside. Put repellent on your pets to prevent ticks.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You may love a character, and think you could cosplay her perfectly, but if she's not very well known, you're not likely to get much of a response from other people. The best characters to cosplay as are iconic and distinctive. They don't need to be the most well-known characters, but you will want at least a fraction of convention attendees to know who you're playing as. If being seen as attractive is your priority, think about which characters members of the fan community are most attracted to, and which ones you find most beautiful. Cosplay means costume art to some, but truly dedicated cosplayers act out their character. This requires having a solid knowledge of the character's motivations, history and psychology. Look into the source material and give yourself a crash course in the character. Ask yourself questions and try to answer them yourself. What is her darkest secret? How would she react to a stranger? What hobbies does she have? These may not have a big effect on the character's personality, but it helps you get into the proper mindset. For example, if you're going as Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion, watch the anime and observe the way she thinks, moves, and talks. Note her character arc. To be a great cosplayer, you should be able to capture the essence of your character in a single pose. Without movement or talking, frame your body in such a way that expresses something of the character's personality. Practice some poses in front of the mirror and see if something sticks. If you're having a trouble finding one that really works, try looking up artwork or promo photos for the character you're cosplaying as and copy it. For instance, a battle-ready stance might suit a character from an action-adventure series, like Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts. Poses are best-suited for photo ops. If your costume is impressive enough, you're bound to get a lot of attention. Having a few good poses will help you look better in photos. Unfortunately, for all of the great things conventions can offer, they are also notorious for attracting haters and creeps. Dressing up as an attractive anime girl can be an open invitation for some of these less desirable types. If someone like this approaches you or makes a comment you're not comfortable with, the best thing you can do is ignore it and walk away. Nothing breaks character like genuine stress, and you don't want negative feelings to get in the way of your convention experience. If someone is persistently harassing you, contact security or con-ops immediately. Cosplay if ultimately about expressing yourself, and the best way to do that is through confidence. If you're confident about what you're doing, the cosplay act will come more naturally. Of course, this may be easier said than done for a lot of people. Confidence is not the sort of thing that happens overnight. Nonetheless, you should pat yourself on the back for the fact alone you are putting yourself out there via cosplay. Cosplay takes courage, and simply being interested in doing it means you've got what it takes.

SUMMARY:
Choose a recognizable character. Know your character. Plan some poses. Ignore negative attention. Be confident.