Article: Run a quick search for "comic book conventions" or "comic book trade shows" followed by the name of your town or city and make sure you calender is clear on that day. Don't worry if you're too late to make the closest upcoming datebigger cities often host multiple events per year. Read up on the rules of the convention or trade show you plan on attending before you show up. Some events are free of charge and open to all, while others may require you to purchase a special ID badge in order to access the designated seller's area. San Diego Comic Con is the biggest and most well-known annual comic book convention in the U.S., but there are lots of other conventions both big and small where you're sure to find a wealth of Marvel titles to drool over, including WonderCon, DragonCon, and Comicpalooza. The sellers at comic book conventions will almost always be carrying the latest issues of many popular series. Some may also have older and more obscure titles up for grabs. Take your time browsing the selections at each booth, as it's not unusual for vendors to stock thousands of comics at large conventions and trade shows. Comic book conventions are arguably the best place in the world to track down rare issues. Most vendors sell comics from many different publishers, but others specialize in one particular company or another. While you're wandering the floor, look for the trademark red Marvel Comics logo to identify a vendor that's got the goods. When you're satisfied with your haul, present your comics to the person manning the booth to check out. These days, most vendors are equipped with card readers that will allow you to pay using a credit or debit card. If the booth you're buying from doesn't have a card reader, it may be necessary to pay with cash. Venues typically have ATM machines on the premises for convention-goers who need to make a withdrawal. Be aware that convention vendors may charge a separate sales tax for their wares on top of the listed sticker price, depending on where you live. If you're not happy with the price of an item, try haggling with the vendor. They may be willing to go down a bit if your negotiation skills are strong enough.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Look up conventions or trade shows taking place in your area. Head over to a vendor selling Marvel Comics titles. Purchase the titles you want directly from the vendor.
Article: You never know what you'll be asked to sign. Presidents, for example, have signed novels, hats, golf balls, pictures and more! You should have a practiced hand when it comes to signing autographs so you can do so easily and without hesitation when the time comes -- even if you're surprised by a request to autograph something odd. You might want to spend a few weeks doodling your autograph wherever you can for a few weeks until you are completely comfortable with it. You might even turn your practice into a game with a piece of chalk! Simply write your autograph wherever you go. If you're an author, it's likely you'll mostly be signing books. If you're a rock star, you may find that you spend most of your time autographing albums and maybe even fans themselves! It's good to practice your signature on various surfaces, but you'll need the most practice signing the thing you are known for or an item in the industry you are associated with. Sports players, especially, are often asked to sign the equipment of their sport. Many fans have sought the autograph of boxers on boxing gloves, hockey players on sticks and pads, and basketball player on jerseys and balls. You don't want to confuse your official signature with your autograph! This could result in fan frustration. For example, what if a fan waited patiently for your autograph only to get your official signature? This might result in that person being accused of forgery by other fans who have never seen your official signature!
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Use various surfaces when practicing. Identify likely objects you'll sign. Practice your official signature and your autograph back to back.
Article: By dehydrating your food, you take all of the liquids out. Once fully dehydrated, it's very difficult for bacteria to form, creating a food that can last for weeks or months without refrigeration. The content of the food, including fiber content and calories, stays the same with dehydrating (except for a loss of Vitamin C in some foods because of its solubility). With a food dehydrator, available at some grocery stores and at many places online, you can preserve fruits, vegetables, and meats. If you don't want to buy a dehydrator, you can also get the same effect from a low-temperature oven. Use the oven on the lowest possible setting, place your food on a non-stick pan, and use a small fan to keep the air circulating and prevent any moisture buildup. The process takes all of the liquid out of the foods, preserving it in a new, chewier form. Once dehydrated, you can store these foods without refrigeration for weeks. Dehydrating is particularly good for backpacking trips or other times when you need to carry your food with you. . Smoked meats have been a way for people to preserve food for thousands of years. The kinds of wood for the fire and the spices you put on the meat itself can create an array of delicious flavors on the meat. There are two kinds of smoking hot and cold. The differences are as follows: When you smoke meat using the "hot" method, you are cooking it at a low temperature (150 degrees Fahrenheit and up) for a long time. The "cold" method, on the other hand, is at less than 100F (37.8C) and is not really meant to cook the meat at all, but rather to seal the meat enough so that bacteria cannot grow in it. This method works particularly well if you're planning to cook the meat at some other point in the future. . Like smoking, curing is a process that has been around for thousands of years. The process involves using salt to leach the water out of meat, essentially dehydrating it. There are two main ways of curing meats: Dry curing involves rubbing the meat with salt and sodium nitrite and other spices of your choosing. The meat is then typically hung to dry. For safety, it's best to purchase a prepared mixture of salt and nitrate -- the amount should be about 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of meat, but follow any directions on the mix that dictate amounts. Wet curing or brining also uses salt, but in a liquid solution. Meat is placed into a "brine" made of water, salt, sodium nitrite, and other spices to cure. The typical mixture is about 1 cups of kosher salt per gallon of water.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Try dehydrating your food. Smoke meats Cure meats