INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Keep a small bowl of 30 beans on the table and appoint 1 person from each team to be their team's official scorekeeper. At the end of each trick, have the scorekeeper take beans from the bowl to represent your team's score. Keep these beans in front of the scorekeeper on the table to that everyone can see the tallies. If you don't have dry beans, you could use other small tokens. In the game of Truco, the total points you need to win (30) are divided in half. The first 15 points are called the "bad" points. Once you cross 15, all your points automatically transfer to "good" points, or "buenas." This distinction is somewhat arbitrary because the first person to 30 points wins. If the game ends and you only have "bad" points, that doesn't change anything in future games. After you cross the threshold of 15 points, you're on your way to winning the game! It's possible for both teams to have "good" points at the same time, but the first one to get to 30 will be the winner. Some groups will play the best out of 3 games, prolonging the time spent playing. Others will just play to 30 and declare that the team who won that game is the ultimate winner. Feel free to make adjustments to how you and your friends play. For example, you could decide to play to 15 points if you have an abbreviated amount of time available; or you could decide to play to 100 pointsit's up to you. If both players cross 30 points in the same hand, the team with the highest score wins. It's possible that you and your opponents could both cross 30 points in the same hand and end with the same score. If this happens, play another hand (and then another, if needed) until one team gains more points than the other. That team is the winner! Having a tie is pretty unusual. Chances are, you won't run into this situation very often.

SUMMARY: Use dry beans to keep score in the traditional way. Complete the first half of the game by getting 15 "bad" points. Start earning "good" points once you have more than 15. Win the game by getting 30 points. Deal with a tie by playing more hands until someone pulls ahead.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most stir-fries already call for ginger in their recipes, so replacing it with ginger paste is an easy alternative. Mix 2 tablespoons (30ml) of the paste into a wok filled with vegetables. For more ginger flavor, marinate the meat in the paste as well. The zest of ginger will help remove the fishy aftertaste. Spread the paste on top of steamed fish or use it as a dipping sauce. Alternatively, you can serve the paste alone as a palate cleanser after the meal is finished. Add the paste into gingerbread mix in place of fresh ginger to spice up your cookies. Additionally, adding ginger paste to apple crisp or pie will make a spicy sweet dish you're sure to enjoy. Mix in 3 tablespoons (44ml) of the paste to the filling. Heat up 1 cup (240mL) of water to a boil. Put in 1 tablespoon (15mL) of ginger paste and stir. Strain the liquid into a mug with honey and lemon juice. Make cold tea by adding 1 tablespoon (15ml) to a 1 qt (.95 L) pitcher of water and refrigerate overnight. Instead of using ginger beer, use soda water. Drop in a cube of ginger paste and fresh lime for a strong and fragrant flavor. For a more intense ginger flavor, use ginger ale instead of soda water.

SUMMARY: Add ginger paste to your stir-fry vegetables. Spread the paste on steamed fish. Spice up desserts with ginger paste. Steep the paste in water to make ginger tea. Mix frozen ginger paste into a Moscow Mule.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: As the leader calls commands, they will hold their arms out from their sides. If you are the leader, quiver your hands and fingers as you shout at your group. If you are part of the group, you can quiver your hands and fingers when your hands are in a stationary position at the beginning of the Haka. If you are part of the group, keep your hands in fists for most of the motions. The pukana is the glaring, wild-eyed look that the performers have on their faces throughout the Haka. For men, the pukana is a facial expression intended to intimidate and scare the enemy. For women, the pukana is a facial expression intended to express sexuality. To show pukana, open your eyes really wide and hold your head up high. Glare and stare at your opponent while raising your eyebrows. Sticking out your tongue, known as the whereto, is another intimidating gesture to display to your opponent. Stick out your tongue as far as you can and open your mouth wide. Keep your body strong and taut during the entire Haka dance. Your muscles are flexed while your body A throat-slitting motion is sometimes included in a Haka dance, where you draw your thumb swiftly across your throat. This motion is a Maori gesture that brings vital energy into the body. It is often misunderstood, however. Many people consider it to be an overly violent gesture. Therefore, this motion is often not included when many groups do a Haka.

SUMMARY: Quiver your hands. Show your pukana. Stick out your tongue. Flex your muscles. Draw your thumb across your throat.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Netting that is too small for starlings to penetrate will prevent them from entering your orchard while still allowing sunlight and less invasive birds through. The practicality of this approach may vary depending on the size of the area that you wish to cover. Maintaining the netting is importantholes may allow the starlings to get through. The areas may need to be covered only for a limited time. Once the starlings move on to a new area, they may not try to return, or you may be able to continue prevention with less extreme measures. Starlings prefer to nest in areas where the trees are dense and close together. For a long-term solution to deter the birds, consider thinning the trees on your property. Sometimes thick or commercial grade material such as metal flashing or industrial vent/chimney covers may be necessary. Metal spikes along ledges and other areas that starlings have started to roost will help drive starlings away to other areas. Boards or other materials set at a 45 degree incline along ledges and other roost areas will deter starlings due to the uncomfortable angle. You may be able to remove the boards once the starlings have moved on to new territory.

SUMMARY:
Cover orchards or nest areas with netting. Thin trees in densely forested areas. Block any openings bigger than 1" wide. Install deterrent spikes on roosting areas. Install angled boards over ledges.