INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You'll get the best results with a corded mixing drill, as these offer the distance and convenient control you need to work comfortably. Thread the end of the paddle into the drill, making sure the joints fit together correctly. Run the drill for a few seconds at a low speed to check that the mixer attachment is secure. Wire cage-type mixers can cut through clumps rather than just push them around. Lower the paddle into the plaster to the bottom of the bucket and switch on the drill. As you mix, raise and lower the paddle and swirl it in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. This will help the blades hit the plaster from as many different angles as possible. Set your drill to a slow speed to prevent splashing. Aim to mix the plaster for 1 to 2 minutes, or just long enough to wet it throughout. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bucket periodically with your trowel to loosen dry, stuck-on bits. Cut off the drill and add a small amount of plaster into the bucket, then resume mixing to incorporate the fresh plaster. Continue sifting and mixing until the plaster is roughly the same consistency as peanut butter. A good rule of thumb is to only add about half the amount you originally used on follow-up mixes. Sifting the plaster by the handful may be more precise than pouring straight from the bag as you get closer to the optimal texture. Rinse off splatter or plaster powder from your surroundings before it dries. Let the plaster sit for a few minutes after you're finished mixing. At that point, the plaster should be thick enough to heap onto the trowel without running off. Another useful test is to route the top of the mixture with your trowel and watch for it to fill in graduallythin, soupy plaster will puddle instantly, while you may not notice any change in overly thick plaster at all. If you accidentally thicken the mixture too much, you can add more water to thin it out.

SUMMARY: Attach a paddle mixer to your drill. Mix the plaster thoroughly. Add more plaster to achieve a thick, smooth texture. Test the thickness of the plaster.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Blinking gives your eyes a brief rest and moisturizes them so they don't dry out. Take 2 minutes and blink once every 30 seconds, making sure your eyes are completely closed before opening them again. After slowly blinking, spend another 2 minutes where you blink every 4 seconds. Repeat the process several times throughout the day to train your eyes to blink more. This is especially helpful if you focus on a computer or TV screen all day since your eyes get strained more easily. Be sure your eyes close completely when you blink, or else they may still get strained. Pretend that there's a horizontal figure-8 shape about 610 feet (72120in) in front of you. While keeping your head still, follow along the figure-8 pattern using only your eyes. Continue tracing the pattern in one direction for about 2 minutes before changing following along in the opposite direction. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times daily to improve your eyes' flexibility. If you can't easily make a figure-8 pattern, try rolling your eyes instead. Keep your eyes open and move them around clockwise. After 1-2 minutes, switch to rolling your eyes counterclockwise for 2 minutes. Hold your arm straight out in front of you and stick your thumb up. Focus on your thumb for about 5 seconds before changing your focus to something that's about 1520 feet (4.66.1m) away to relax. Continue changing focus every 5 seconds for 2 minutes to improve your near sight. Practice outside or in front of a window so you can easily look out and choose something to focus on that's far away. Keep your thumb out in front of you when you're focusing on the far away object so it's easier to refocus on. When you aren't focusing on your thumb, it will look blurry in front of the far away object. Put your arm straight out in front of you and stick your thumb up. Pull your arm closer to your face, maintaining focus on it so it doesn't go blurry. Stop when your thumb is about 3 inches (7.6cm) from your face or until you see double. Slowly stretch out your arm again until your thumb is back in the original position. Repeat the process for at least 10 minutes to help you develop better focus. Palming is a technique used to help relax your eyes when they feel strained. Rub your palms together for 5-10 seconds so they're warm and then gently place them over your eyes while they're closed. Take deep breaths while you cover your eyes for 1 minute. Try palming 2-3 times per day to help alleviate your eyes. Don't apply pressure to your eyes since you could damage them.
Summary: Practice blinking slowly and rapidly to help reduce eye strain. Trace a figure-8 pattern with your eyes to strengthen your eye muscles. Shift focus from your thumb to something far away to improve vision. Move your thumb closer and further away from you to practice focus. Hold your palms on your eyes for 5 seconds to relax them.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Fill the bottom of your tub up enough to cover your ferret's body while leaving its head above the water. The temperature should be just slightly warmer than lukewarm. Scrub your ferret with a ferret-safe shampoo purchased from your local pet store or vet. Never use a human shampoo or conditioner on your ferret, as these can be toxic to them. Bathing your ferret too frequently can actually remove natural oils from their skin and make their odor stronger. Unless your ferret is excessively dirty, bathing it once a month is usually sufficient and healthy. Pour a small amount of ear cleaning solution into a bowl. Dip the end of a single cotton swab into the liquid. Then, hold your ferret firmly and rub the swab along its outer ear. Move the swab deeper into the ear canal, slightly rotating it as you clean. Ear cleaning solution is available for purchase at most pet stores. Swirling the swab around keeps you from pushing any wax deeper into the ear canal. As each swab gets dirty, replace it with a fresh one. Part of the end of the swab should always stay visible, even while you are cleaning your ferret's inner ear. Otherwise, you risk going too deep and damaging the ear. Purchase a soft toothbrush and toothpaste designed for cats or kittens. Hold your ferret carefully in your lap and use a single hand to pull up the gums on a single side of your ferret's mouth. Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on to the brush. Place the brush against your ferret's gums and rotate in small circles. Your ferret may not like getting its teeth brushed at first. Try to start off slow by only doing a few teeth at a time. If you are worried about getting bitten by your ferret, talk to your vet about bringing it in for professional teeth cleanings. Once your ferret reaches its maturity, then its hormones will go into overdrive. This can result in an uptick in the odor of both males and females. Spaying or neutering can reduce your ferret's potential marking and make them healthier overall. Female ferrets who are not spayed can actually develop anemia over time from repeated heat cycles. Neutering a male ferret can lead to an increased risk of adrenal gland disease. Discuss the pros and cons of neutering with a veterinarian.

SUMMARY:
Bathe your ferret once a month at most. Clean your ferret's ears on a weekly basis. Brush your ferret's teeth once a week. Spay or neuter your ferret at 4 months of age.