Are you taking a new language next fall? Have you always wanted to speak Spanish, French, or Mandarin? Are you curious about computer programing languages? If so, summer is a great time to learn a new language. There are several ways to guide and structure your studies: Download an app or computer program Purchase a workbook Work through an online tutorial (this is especially helpful for coding!) Hire a tutor Spend your summer immersed in a new hobby. Potential hobbies include: Crocheting, sewing, or knitting Fixing up an old car or bike Cooking or baking Painting nail art Gardening Dog training Piano When the final school bell rings, it is very tempting to keep your textbooks shut for the entire summer. Instead of looking back on the previous school year, look ahead to the next one. Spend your summer vacation reading the books and practicing the skills you will learn in the Fall. This preparation will definitely pay off.

Summary: Teach yourself a new language. Master a new craft or hobby. Get ahead for next the school year.

Keep most of your weight on the balls of your feet and bend your knees slightly so you're able to move around quickly. Turn your body to the side so your dominant side is furthest from your opponent. Keep your hands level with your cheeks so you're able to throw punches quickly while also being able to defend yourself. You can choose to keep your hands in open palms or make fists in your neutral stance. Avoid tensing your body up since you won't be able to maneuver as effectively. You may also stand with your dominant side closest to your opponent, but you may not be able to throw a punch as well. Curl your fingers so the tips dig into the center of your palm. Try to make the front of your fist as flat as you're able so you don't hurt yourself when you throw a punch. Wrap your thumb around the bottom of your fist and apply pressure to make your fist tighter. Keep the back of your hand in a straight line with your forearm to keep the wrist locked. Don't wrap your fingers around your thumb since you may end up hurting yourself when you throw a punch. Avoid bending your wrist when you make a fist or else your punch won't be as powerful when it lands and you could get a sprain. The most vulnerable places on the face include the eyes, ears, and nose. If you want the fight to end quickly, direct your punches toward these areas to hurt your opponent and make them less able to fight back effectively. If you have trouble hitting your opponent in the face, try going for their neck or throat to stun them. It's okay to fight dirty if you or someone else is at risk from being hurt. Try kicking your opponent in the crotch or their knees to help take them down faster so you're able to get away. Start by holding your fists up so they're level with your cheeks. When you throw the punch, quickly extend your dominant arm and twist your palm so it faces down. As your arm goes forward, rotate your dominant shoulder forward to get more power from your punch. Aim for your opponent's nose, eyes, or jaw to stun them. Alternate which hand you jab with to get off multiple, rapid hits. Keep your other hand in front of your face so you can block your opponent if they try to hit you. Hooks are powerful punches that you throw from the side to catch your opponent off guard. Aim for your opponent's cheek or jaw when you throw the punch. Make sure to lock your wrist so the back of your hand stays in line with your elbow to get the most power. Put your hands up with open palms to make it look like you don't want to fight anymore before throwing a hook with the arm you have out in front. This can be a great way to surprise your opponent and stun them. If you're close enough to your opponent, you may be able to land a headbutt in order to daze them. Quickly tilt your neck back before slamming it forward into your opponent's nose or the space between their eyes. Use the top of your forehead since it's the strongest spot and will hurt you the least. Headbutts are illegal in most official fights, such as mixed martial arts. Headbutting someone could also knock them unconscious.

Summary: Get into an active stance so you can move around easily. Make tight fists that are in line with your elbows when you punch. Aim for vulnerable areas to hurt your opponent more. Throw a jab with the arm that's furthest from your opponent. Practice throwing hooks so your opponent doesn't see the punch. Try a headbutt to stun your opponent.

If you want to see what the casino game is all about, decide on an amount of money you're willing to lose as a way of investing and then know when to quit. Gambling is addictive and can be dangerous, and spending more isn't a reliable way of making your losses reappear. Games in which you play an active role in the outcome of the game result in smarter bets than games in which chance plays a larger role. In general, the smartest game is always poker, both in video form and in person, as long as you've got the skills to play. The smartest casino bets are those made in the midst of a poker game by a player who knows how to play. Learn to play poker well and make smart bets if you want to make money at the casino. Pure chance games like roulette, keno, and state-run lotteries offer the worst odds, making your investment worth the least in the long-run. If you want to make smart bets, bet on games in which your decisions and your play have some effect on the outcome. Games like blackjack, craps, and baccarat offer better outcomes and smarter investments than other kinds of casino betting. . Blackjack is still a game in which chance plays a huge role, but learning the proper strategy can help you make smarter bets and blackjack offers decent player odds you can learn to take advantage of. Basic strategy is a tabulation of odds that smart plays memorize and use to make the most probable bets and decisions at any point in the game. Learn when to stand, when to hit, and when to split or double down. If you want to really improve your chances of winning and making good bets, learn to count cards. It's not illegal, but it is generally against the house rules, making it something that pit bosses have learned to keep an eye out for. . If you want to shoot craps with the high-rollers, bet against the roller. No-pass bets offer slightly better odds than pass bets, even if the roller makes point. Consistently placing no-pass bets still gives an advantage to the house, but it's not a bad one. . Like craps, baccarat is a relatively simple up or down game when you learn the ins and outs. In baccarat, you either bet the dealer will win or the player will win, and the game is played by passing the shoe around the circle and dealing out two hands (one dealer hand, one player). The rules for taking a hit favor the house slightly, though the odds are incredibly close, making dealer bets always the smarter option, by a hair. While it's bad form to patrol the casino floor for people about to leave slot-machines (and is against the rules in some places) keep an eye out for people who've been sitting at a machine for hours without hitting any big pay-offs. When they get up to leave, play a few rounds. Those machines are statistically more likely to hit now.
Summary: Set aside an amount of money to invest and stick to it. Play games of skill over games of chance. Learn basic blackjack strategy Make no-pass bets at the craps table Bet on the dealer in baccarat Look for recently-abandoned slot-machines.