INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you were out and unaware of a hail storm, check your past weather forecast. This can be a simple confirmation of whether your property was subject to hail. Hail can damage the roof of a house just as dramatically as your vehicle. Hail will have a different effect to the different types of roofs. For asphalt shingles you'll notice random damage with no succinct pattern. The hail impressions will probably be black in color. You might also notice a loss of granules and the asphalt will appear shiny. Again like the asphalt shingles, hail causes random damage without a clear pattern. Look for a split in the shingle that is a brown/orange color. Also look for splits that have sharp corners or splits that have little to no deterioration around the edges. Clay tiles, also known as terra cotta roofs, commonly feature multiple fractures centered around a common impact point. The most sensitive sections of the roof are the corners and the overlays along the edges of the tiles. Clay tiles are easy to spot because they usually have a clear break. Metal paneled roofs will rarely be punctured by hail. This style of roof is one of the sturdiest made. They seldom become dented because of the material and its proximity to the surface below. You'll experience functional damage if the seams or edges of the panels become damaged. This will allow moisture to seep through. Metal shingles damage much like asphalt shingles, and are much less resilient than metal panels.

SUMMARY: Look at the weather. Examine asphalt shingles. Examine wood shingles. Inspect clay tiled roofs. Inspect metal roofs.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: With addiction, you need to approach the topic from a place of love. You want your family member to feel supported, not alienated, by you. Ultimately, your goal should be to get them the help they need so they do not steal from you again. You are probably angry and hurt by your family member. It is okay to express this, as your family member needs to know their addiction hurts others. However, remember your family member likely feels guilt and shame on their own end. Come at it from a place of love. For example, do not say, "I'm furious that you took my medication." Instead, say something like, "I love and care about you. I'm angry you took my medication, but I'm also concerned by the behavior. I'm worried you have an addiction." Blame-oriented language can make the person feel guilty. While your family member should take responsibility for treating their addiction, a physical addiction itself is largely beyond someone's control. You do not want to say things that sound like you're blaming the person. This will only increase negative feelings and make your loved one less likely to seek help. It can be helpful to use "I"-statements here, as they are designed to reduce blame. They start with "I feel...", after which you immediately state your feelings. From there, you state the actions that led to those feelings, and explain why you feel the way you do. For example, "I feel hurt that you took my medication without asking because it's a huge betrayal of my trust." Getting angry in these situations, no matter how emotionally taxing they are, will make things worse. Remember, you want to help your family member confront their addiction and get help. It's best to remain calm to achieve this. Addicts may try to confuse you or deflect blame. They may even deny wrongdoing at first. Be calm and continue to state your case. For example, your family member says, "Maybe you took more than you intended and didn't realize." Respond with something like, "Please do not lie to me. We need to talk this over." You want to end the conversation on a note that allows you both to move forward. Talk to your family member about seeking treatment for addiction. This is vital if your family member has been stealing medication. End the conversation with something like, "I think we should get you treatment so this does not happen again. I love and care about you and I just don't want you getting hurt." Remember to keep your expectations in check. Your loved one might not be willing to make a change right away. They might need some time to think and want to return to the conversation later.

SUMMARY: Express love and concern. Avoid blame or guilt-tripping. State things in a calm and assertive fashion. Offer to help them get treatment.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Once you have determined what the problem is you can extend an offer to help. Make sure that your offer is genuine--do not offer to help if you are unable to or do not sincerely want to. Instead, extend an sincere and concrete offer of assistance. For example, your elderly mother might be having difficulty taking care of her home. Ask her if she would like you to hire a cleaning service or help her find an assisted care living situation. Being empathetic means that you try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Once you know why this person is cranky, try to think about how you would feel in their situation. Then try to determine what would make you feel better. Elderly people are often lonely and this can account for their unfriendly disposition. Offer your company, and suggest an activity the two of you can do together, such as playing a card game. You might not be able to solve the other person's problem. Especially if you do not know the elderly person well, the situation might be out of your hands. What you can do instead is ask for assistance. Try reaching out to close friends or relatives of the elderly person to see what they suggest. Most cities have senior centers where older people can go for recreational activities. Other organizations, such as churches and libraries, also offer programs geared towards seniors. You could look up some local resources and provide that information to your neighbor or relative. This could be potentially very helpful and go a long way towards lifting their mood. It can be very draining to deal with a cranky senior citizen. The most important thing you can do is to remain positive. Remember that you are doing a good thing by being kind and helpful. Even if your help is not obviously appreciated, you are probably making an impact. Smile. When it is difficult to remain positive, try putting a smile on your face. Even if it feels false at first, the simple act of smiling will make you feel better and help you maintain a good attitude.

SUMMARY:
Offer to help. Be empathetic. Ask for assistance. Provide resources. Remain positive.