Article: If you use a cell phone, it usually takes about 5 seconds or so for the call to start. Keep this information in mind and call ahead. If you find that one station never picks up your calls, but a different one will, on occasion, spend more time with the latter station. Some radio programs are extremely popular, like morning shows. Research to see if there are any call-in contests on the weekdays or after the morning traffic. This might sound a bit far-fetched and expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Purchase a pay as you go phone and only use it to call DJs. Program your phone to have the radio station on speed dial. As you dial the initial call on your phone, make another call on your spare phone. Lots of radio station prizes are for two tickets. If you have a friend or partner that you were planning to take to an event, then ask if they'd be interested in helping you. Two people have an increased chance of winning. Check the station's website and register to be a VIP, registered user, etc. Don't forget to opt in. You aren't restricted to winning on the air. More radio stations are also doing web based giveaways of the same prizes given away on the air.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Learn the "delay" of your phone. Decipher which radio stations answer. Get an extra phone. Ask a friend to help. Research the program.
Article: Part of the reason why certain comments that your mean friend makes may bother you so much is because he or she is commenting on things that you are self-conscious about. One of the easiest ways to defend yourself against these types of remarks is to deepen your acceptance of yourself. Learning to love yourself (even your imperfections) is not easy and it will take time, but working on your relationship with yourself can help to protect you against mean comments and behavior. Accept yourself for who you are. Take time each day to appreciate the person you are. Acknowledge your strengths and triumphs (even the small ones.) Forgive yourself when you make a mistake. Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake, just forgive yourself and move on. Treat yourself well. Don't do things that make you feel uncomfortable or allow others to pressure you into doing things that you don't really want to do. Do things that make you feel happy and fulfilled. Learn to say no. Don't say yes every time someone asks for a favor or wants you to do something with them. If your friend says something mean to you, let him or her know that those comments were hurtful and that you'd like them to lay off. At first, respond with a casual comment to let your friend know that his or her comments are hurtful. Try saying something like, "Ouch! That was kind of mean. Could you not say things like that to me, please?" If the meanness continues, let him or her know that you are serious by saying something like, "I'm not joking. You are being unnecessarily mean. Knock it off." Practice delivering these requests until they sound natural. Be firm when you speak and use direct eye contact so that the person sees that you are confident and serious. Be persistent. Don't stop defending yourself just because the behavior continues. The more you practice this type of self-defense, the more your friend will get the idea that their words are hurtful and that you will not tolerate them. If your friend yells at you, he or she probably expects you to yell back. And if you do yell back, he or she will yell back louder, and so on. Instead of retaliating in like manner to your friend's anger or meanness, respond calmly and kindly. This unexpected approach will confuse and redirect the behavior. For example, if your friend yells at you for a mistake you made, don't yell back. Respond in a calm, kind voice. Say something like, "I am sorry that what I did upset you, but I don't think it was such a big deal that we can't discuss it reasonably." If your mean friend tends to belittle or speak to you in a condescending tone, respond to this type of behavior by calling him or her out on this behavior. This technique works especially well when others are present who will support your condemnation of this type of negative communication. For example, if your friend says something to insult you (or someone else), try responding with something like, "Come on Jimmy, making remarks like that is beneath you. Show everyone that you are better than that." If this person is constantly beating you down and refuses to change after you have confronted him or her, your best option is to get out of the relationship. Don't hope in vain for things to change because it is more likely that they will become worse the longer you are attached to the person. If the person is someone you have to see on a regular basis because you go to school together, work together, or something else, try to engage with the person as little as possible.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Learn to love yourself. Defend yourself. Respond calmly and kindly. Refuse to be insulted, even if it's passive aggressive or subtle. Get out of the relationship.
Article: It's tough to fake a runny nose if you don't have one, but you can fake being stuffed up. Breathe only through your mouth and talk a little slower. Sniffle occasionally with short inward sniffs. Wear many layers of clothing or curl up under several blankets. Take an icy cold shower to make your skin chilly to the touch. or coughing. This is a risky move. Either of these, if done unconvincingly, can let on that you aren't actually sick. Faking a cough is definitely easier than faking a sneeze, but even that can sound forced if you aren't careful. You could also make yourself sneeze, by sniffing pepper. For some sleight of hand, sprinkle pepper in a sweater and pretend to rub your nose on it. Sniff in the pepper to make yourself sneeze. Make sure it's near but not in your eyes. Leave the toothpaste on for about three minutes to make your eyes feel like they're burning.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Breathe only through your mouth. Shiver and pretend that you are freezing. Fake sneezing Apply a small amount of toothpaste onto your bottom eyelids to make your eyes watery.