INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Claims that you can learn shorthand in a few hours should be taken with a dose of skepticism. The time it will take you depends on how often you practice, the difficulty of the system, and your goal speed. It may take as long as a year of hard work to really master a useful shorthand. You need to fully absorb the word-building principles first; speed comes from them. Try for at least 45 minutes to an hour, if you can. Remember, though, that even daily short sessions are better than one or two longer ones per week. Start with the alphabet, filling each line of a piece of notebook paper with one letter. Next, you'll move on to words, doing the same thing. When you're ready, you'll move on to common groups of words. Saying the words aloud as you write them helps your brain make the connection between the phonemic sound and the symbol. Shorthand dictations come in different speeds (words per minute), so you can work your way to an increasingly rapid pace. Practice each speed (30, 40, 50, 60, etc.) until you're comfortable, then move on. If you want to practice as much as possible, put dictations on your MP3 player and practice whenever you have a few extra minutes.

SUMMARY: Start off with realistic expectations. Prioritize mastery over speed. Practice every day. Drill in stages. Increase speed with dictation exercises.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: On the end of the fish tape that you just pulled out from under the carpet, there should be a hook which you can attach to your cable. It may be helpful to use a bit of tape to secure the cable to the end of the fish tape. If you are using a tape measure instead, try using duct tape to attach your cable to the end of the measuring tape. Be sure the cable is securely attached to the fish tape or measuring tape so that you don't lose the cable underneath the carpet and need to start over. This should pull the cable under the carpet along the path that you made using the the fish tape. Do not stop until you have pulled the cable all the way through the desired path. Apply the same method if you're using a tape measure. Your cable should now run along your desired path underneath your carpet! You can now hook the cable up as you please. If you had to loosen your carpet liner to lift up the carpet, retighten it by hitting it gently with a mallet or hammer. In pulling the carpet out, you may have also loosened nails in the floor. Use the hammer or mallet to gently tap on the carpeted area as well, to ensure that the nails are set back in place.

SUMMARY: Attach the cable to the fish tape. Pull the tape back through the carpet by rewinding the fish tape reel. Detach the cable from the fish tape. Reattach carpet liner if necessary.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Stitches have a multitude of uses. The most common reasons to get stitches are: To close a wound that is too big to be closed otherwise. Using stitches to bring the edges of the wound together can help to speed up healing. To prevent infection. If you have a large, gaping wound, closing it with stitches can help to minimize the risk of infection (as skin that is broken open, especially large, gaping wounds, are a prime target for an infection to enter the body). To prevent or reduce scarring after your wound heals. This is especially important when the cut is on areas of the body that are more cosmetically important, such as the face. If it is greater than 1/4 inch deep, the wound may be eligible for stitching. If it's deep enough that you can see yellow fatty tissue, or even bone, you should definitely see a doctor for treatment. Are the edges of the wound close together, or do they need to be pulled together to cover the exposed tissue? If the edges of the wound need to be pulled together to cover a gap of exposed tissue, this is an indication that stitches may be required. By pulling the edges of the wound close enough to where they can touch, stitches can help to speed healing. If the open wound is located on a specific area of the body where there is a lot of movement involved, it will most likely need stitching to prevent re-opening of the wound caused by movement and stretching of the skin. For example, an open wound on the knee joint or fingers (especially where joints connect) would be eligible for stitches whereas an open wound on the thigh would not really need stitching. Tetanus shots last no longer than 10 years and then you'll have to be re-vaccinated. If you have an open wound and it's been longer than 10 years since you've had a tetanus shot, go to the hospital. While you are at the hospital, you can have the doctor evaluate the cut also to see if it will need stitching.

SUMMARY: Understand why stitches are used. Consider the depth of the wound. Evaluate the width of the wound. Look at the location of the wound. Ask your doctor about getting a tetanus shot.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This style is suitable for longer hair. It focuses on twist braiding only part of your hair into a headband-like crown. The rest of your hair will still be loose. Try to make them just above your eyebrow. Make sure that you are only gathering hair from either the left or the right side of the part. You will be making two identical twisted braids on either side of your head. Try to make the section triangular, with the pointed part facing away from you face. Smooth both sections down; if you have frizzy hair, give them a slight downward twist. Next, pull the bottom section upward so that it crosses in front of the top one in an X shape. Gather some hair from just below the bottom section. Add it to the bottom section to make a thicker strand. Do not grab the hair from your hairline, otherwise you will end up with an up-do. You want the crown to wrap around the side of your head, with the rest of your hair hanging loose. This time, gather some hair from your part. Add it to the top section to make it thicker. Smooth the hairs down first, if you need to. Next, pull the bottom section upwards so that it crosses in front of the top one, like an X. Continue adding hair, then twisting and crossing the ropes until you reach the middle-back of your head. The process is similar to that French braiding, except with two strands instead of three. Don't add hair from your hairline below the two sections, otherwise you'll end up with an up-do. Don't add any extra strands of hair to the sections this time. If you can't find a clear elastic, you can use a black one instead. You will be snipping this elastic off later on, so make sure that you don't mind ruining it. End the twisted braid right next to the first one that you made. Make a hole in one of the ropes between the two twisted strands. Pull the other rope through it. Gently tug the ropes away from each other to form an X shape. Use bobby pins to secure the X in place, then cut off the clear elastics from before. You don't have to do this, but it can add a nicer touch. You can also add some loose curls or waves to the rest of your hair, if you want to. Give your hair a light misting of hairspray, if needed.

SUMMARY:
Brush and part your hair down the center. Gather two small sections of hair close to the part. Cross the two sections. Add some hair to the bottom section. Add some hair to the top section. Cross the two sections again. Repeat the process until you reach the back of your head. Twist the two sections again, then tie them off with a clear elastic. Repeat the process on the other side of your head. Join the ropes. Loosen the twists for more volume, if desired.