INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Find an empty two litre plastic bottle from your recyclables. You can also buy a two litre bottle of soda from your local supermarket or corner store and empty it out. Make sure that it is completely empty and dry of its contents before using. Cut a consistent diameter by carefully positioning masking tape a quarter of the way down around the bottle to create a horizontal line. Use sharp scissors to cut the bottle at the masking tape. You want the diameter to be consistent. Remove the top of the bottle and invert it to fit upside down over the bottom of the bottle like a funnel. Use paperclips to hold the two halves snugly together. If there is a heavy downpour, you will need to make sure your rain gauge does not come apart. Find an adequate location to collect rain. You don't want to place the gauge close to a high traffic area where it could get knocked over. Avoid placing it near buildings or trees where a change in wind direction could prevent any rain from falling into the gauge. Keep it upright by placing it in a bucket or container. You may also dig a hole for the gauge to stand about halfway in. Remove the gauge from its location at the prescribed time every day and take your measurement. Pour the collected rain into a measuring cylinder. Be careful not to spill any water. For example, your measuring cylinder may be measuring in cm so if you have collected rain for one week and the water you pour in from your rain gauge reaches the 10 cm mark on your measuring cylinder, you can ascertain that roughly 10 cm of rain has fallen during the week. Compare your daily measurements. Using a pen and paper, record your findings every day at the exact same time of day to give you an accurate comparison. Most soda bottles are uneven at the bottom. Before you measure any rain, use a ruler to measure how much liquid fills the uneven bottom. Subtract this small amount from your final findings. Compare the amount of rain you gather to the length of time it takes to reach this amount. For example, how many days will it take to rain 15 cm. You can also compare the rainfall from month to month, week to week, or day to day. You may even graph your results to see the changes as the season progresses into the next. You may also compare your findings with the wind speed, wind direction, or air pressure. Be sure to always replace your gauge at the same location.

SUMMARY: Get a plastic bottle. Cut off the top. Invert the top of the bottle. Place your rain gauge. Measure your findings. Account for an uneven bottle. Analyze your results.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Keep your notes organized by writing important details at the top of each page. Include information such as the date, bibliographic information, and page number of your notes. Noting details can make it easier for you to return to your notes and get important information. Write down key facts, ideas, and details in your own words. Avoid noting anything in the text verbatim, or word for word, unless it is a phrase or quote you may later use. Taking notes in your own words actively engages your brain, helps you better understand the text, makes you more likely to retain the information, and may minimize the risk of plagiarism. Develop your own system of signs and abbreviations that can help you more quickly take notes and review them. For example, "SM" for "scientific method," or "GH" for "gender history." Think about the text you're reading or the lecture you're listening tothey may be a bit dense and hard to understand. Avoid using these models when you write your notes. Instead, use keywords to say the same things in a short and manageable way that you can easily and quickly review later. For example, for obstetrics, you might note words such as midwife, placental abruption, childbed fever, and preeclampsia. As you write your keywords and ideas down, leave space between each line. Having extra room allows you to make additional notes or clarify points that you may not understand. This helps you quickly have and identify all of the relevant material to that keyword or thought.

SUMMARY: Note details at the top of your paper. Use your own language. Write keywords instead of full sentences. Skip lines on the paper for later review.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This might seem like a strange suggestion, but swallowed air is one of the biggest causes of bloating, which contributes to a rounder midsection. Simply reducing the amount of air you swallow throughout the day can trim down your tummy measurements. Avoid carbonated beverages, even those with zero calories like carbonated water. Beverages with air in them fill your abdomen with air, which causes a bloated appearance. Avoid smoking. Smokers who inhale smoke also tend to swallow it, which bloats their stomachs. Avoid chewing gum and talking while eating. Both of these habits lead to swallowed air. Changing the way you carry yourself and sit won't make stomach fat disappear, but it will make you look slimmer by helping your body fat distribute properly across the torso rather than gathering at the midsection. Try to keep your upper body straight, your shoulders pulled back, and your head high. When you sit, your buttocks should touch the back of your chair, and all three normal back curves should be present in your back (meaning a small towel or washcloth rolled up should fit above your buttocks). When you stand, keep your shoulders back, pull in your stomach, and keep your feet about a hip-width apart. If you're willing to do a little exercise, movements that strengthen your core and back can make it easier to maintain your posture while tightening up the muscles around your midsection. Try adding a few light crunches and easy back exercises to your schedule as you improve your posture. Sleeping doesn't burn fat on its own, but it is a crucial part of weight loss efforts. This is mainly because sleep deprivation (not getting enough sleep) makes most aspects of weight loss more difficult. When you aren't well-rested, it's hard to motivate yourself to get up and move. It's also hard to control cravings: you're more likely to act on impulses to eat junk food when you're already drained of energy. While everyone's sleep needs are different, the majority of adults need about seven to nine hours per night. Children and elderly people tend to need more. Surrounding yourself with people who are committed to healthy living can help you live healthier. Hanging out with health-conscious people gives you more opportunities to participate in activities that lead to weight loss. Make an effort to spend time with people who enjoy hobbies that promote healthy living, like walking, sports, cycling, nutritious home cooking, and so on. Limit your time with people who have unhealthy hobbies like eating junk food, binge-drinking, and watching hour after hour of television. If you don't have anyone in your family or circle of friends who is interested in health-conscious activities, don't be afraid to make new contacts. Join an intramural sports team or start participating in pickup games at your local park. Take a healthy cooking course or join a spin class at your local community center. There are many healthy ways to meet people it's up to you! Some nutrition experts suggest that having an accurate idea of your own weight can promote healthy living. Keeping track of your weight forces you to think healthy if the numbers on the scale start to go up, you'll know that it's time to reconsider your habits. A person's weight can fluctuate by as much as 10 pounds from day to day. To get an accurate average, measure yourself at the same time every day (like right after you get up). At the end of the week, add up your measurements and divide by seven. The number you get will be close to your "true" average weight.

SUMMARY:
Avoid swallowing air. Practice good posture. Get enough sleep. Find a fitness-positive support network. Start tracking your weight.