INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If your ring has responded well to the mandrel and mallet technique, you can proceed to buff out any scratches or wear that might have resulted. Use a fine-grit emery board or cloth to smooth out any subtle marks, or consider using a fine sandpaper to remove deeper scratches. Be sure to move the buffing material steadily in one direction rather than use a back-and-forth motion. Apply your favorite jewelry cleaner or a polishing agent suitable for the ring's material using a toothbrush, soft cotton cloth, or cotton swab. If your ring has a harder stone, like a diamond or sapphire, or no stone at all, you can use a solution of one part ammonia to four parts lukewarm water to give a cleaning and polish. If your ring has a softer stone, like pearl or opal, or is an antique or costume jewelry, use lukewarm water and a drop of very mild soap or baby shampoo. Avoid using harsher soaps like dish detergent. After finishing a home repair, you might want to get your ring professionally polished and cleaned instead of cleaning it yourself. If you purchased the ring with a jeweler, call them and ask if they offer free cleanings. Many shops offer free or inexpensive polishing and cleaning services, especially to customers with whom they've already done business.

SUMMARY: Use a fine emery cloth to smooth out any marks. Give the ring a home cleaning. Take your ring in for a professional cleaning.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You should have your lined baking sheets ready to put the batter on. Place four or five spoonfuls per trayif you place more than four, the mixture will spread and the individual snaps will blend together. Leave about 4 inches (10 cm) between each of the brandy snaps. Leave to bake for 7 minutes, or until they turn golden. When fully baked, the snaps should appear thin and lacey. If you do not have room in your oven to fit all four sheets at once, you can cook each baking sheet individually. Allow the brandy snaps to cool slightly, but only until they are able to be moved without breaking. The snaps need to remain hot, in order to be malleable. It should only take about 2 minutes for the snaps to cool. As soon as the brandy snaps are comfortable to touch (don't burn yourself!), they have cooled enough.

SUMMARY: Use a metal tablespoon to scoop the mixture out of the saucepan. Place the baking sheets in the oven. Remove from the oven and place the tray on wire cooling racks.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Making a playlist will depend on what software you're using to play music, whether online, on a mobile device, or on your computer. Making a playlist usually involves a simple drag-and-drop style of moving songs into the list, or you can select individual song files, right-click, and send them to the list. Start by making a blank list, then filling it with music you might like to include in a playlist to learn how it works. Programs like Spotify and iTunes make creating playlists an easy and almost essential part of the music-listening experience. Playlist.com, Take 40, and Windows Media Player are also all good programs for managing your music. Pandora and other Internet radio stations let you create channels, but not specific playlists of songs, unless you have Pandora Premium. Get music by typing the name of any song, band or artist you like. You can also search just general types of music or artists to find new music or check out what your friends or other users on the site are listening to. If you're using iTunes, you can either select music that's already in your library, which you own, or you can search the store and download any song you find for a price. If you've got iTunes, but no music, you can also upload your CDs into iTunes to "rip" the music directly. Going to the public library and loading the music into your iTunes library can be a great way of acquiring songs to make playlists on the cheap. . Mobile devices also allow you to create playlists instantaneously, by selecting songs and sending them to a playlist, or selecting "Play next," making you an instant DJ. You don't need to make playlists ahead of time, you just need to go with the flow.

SUMMARY: Select a music program that allows you to create a playlist. Upload music to work with. Make a playlist on the go

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Americans often rush between one activity and the next, forgetting to take time to enjoy life. Europeans take time in their day to enjoy things. Whether it's long lunches in France, midday respites in Italy, or siestas in Spain, Europeans know how to relax and enjoy the small things. Take half an hour to regroup and destress in the afternoon. Enjoy your lunch hour instead of rushing around and scarfing your food down. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to take longer vacations. On average, Europeans receive and take more vacation days than people in the United States. Instead of skipping your vacations until you have more money or less to do at work, take your week long vacation and enjoy yourself. Plan a trip that won't break the bank or spend the week relaxing with those you love. Just don't think about work and leave all your stress behind. Europeans know when to sit and enjoy each other's company. In France, people often take long, extended lunches where they congregate in groups to socialize and eat a meal together. Instead of skipping dinner with your family because you are all too busy, sit down and eat together. You can all talk about your day and enjoy each other's company without rushing around. Americans are often overly nice to each other and can become sensitive when someone tells them something they are doing wrong. Europeans tend to be more critical, but in a constructive way. The French are known for their frankness and are typically thought of as too honest. When your friends ask how they are doing on a task, tell them the truth instead of trying to preserve their feelings. They will become a better person for it and you will have a closer, more honest relationship with them. In Europe, people don't typically smile at everyone they pass like they do in the US. In Germany and France, you won't see locals walking around, saying "Guten Morgen" or "Bonjour" and smiling at people. They save their smiles for occasions that warrant smiling, which makes the act more genuine. Instead of smiling at everyone you see or when you really don't mean it, smile only when you are truly pleased or amused by something. This will make your attention more special and make you seem more European.

SUMMARY:
Slow down. Value community over convenience. Smile less.