Raw beef is notoriously difficult to cut. However, you can alleviate some of the strain by placing the beef in the freezer. Partially freezing beef firms up the meat, making it easier to work with. Put your meat in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. The extra time you put into preparing it will make the cutting process that much easier for you. One thing about cutting beef while raw is that you're able to cut off potentially unwanted parts (like muscle and fat) without their flavour sinking into the rest of the cut during the cooking process. Slide your knife under the surface fat and take it off in a smooth motion. Take care not to go too deep with your cuts. Getting too aggressive with your fat trimming will result in the loss of good meat. Membrane is a fine film over parts of some cuts, and can be peeled off with your hands. Consider leaving some of the fat on your cut. Even if you want to keep your beef lean, a bit of fat will keep your cut of beef juicy. If you haven't yet cooked your beef, it's all the more important that you make your cuts consistent. If you're cutting pieces of different sizes, they'll cook at different rates. This will run the risk of undercooking (or overcooking!) parts of your beef. It helps to mark your cuts beforehand. Because consistent size is so important with pre-cooked cutting, you should get the measurements done before you set a knife to your beef. Setting your beef on a cutting board, cut down in a smooth, downward motion, much as you would with cutting cooked beef. Although raw beef is generally harder to cut, pre-freezing it partially helps ease some of the difficulty. If you plan on cutting the beef before cooking it, only cut it if you're planning on cooking immediately after. Slicing in advance will increase oxidation and make the meat taste off. Raw beef carries lots of bacteria with it. Whenever you're handling raw meat, it is strongly recommended you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Lather your hands with anti-bacterial soap under hot water for at least 30 seconds. Dry your hands off with a towel afterwards.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Partially freeze your beef. Trim off the fat. Take extra care to make your cuts consistent. Cut in slow, smooth strokes. Cook your beef as soon as possible. Wash your hands vigorously after cutting.

If you have a patio or a porch, there may be small crevices and openings that can harbor mosquitoes and their eggs. Trees on your lawn may have holes in their trunks where mosquitoes can reside and breed. If you can't eliminate the holes, consider filling them with sand. Mosquitoes aren't likely to lay eggs in tall grass, but they tend to sit in the tall grass for rest and hiding. Keep your grass as short as possible and as frequently as possible. These offer homes for adult mosquitoes. If you limit these, you will reduce the number of adult mosquitoes. You can place them directly into your garden, or you can place them in flower pots. Mosquitoes don't like the smell of these plants, and will stay away from them. Here are some plants you should consider planting in your garden: Herbs, such as: basil, lavender, rosemary, and peppermint Flowers, such as: geranium, marigold, and pennyroyal Other plants, such as: catnip, citronella, lemon balm, and garlic If you already have a water garden, consider adding some mosquito-eating fish, such as minnows or mosquito fish. They are hardy, easy to care for, and love to feast on mosquito larva. If you have a larger pond, you can stock it with koi or goldfish instead. There are some larvicides that you can use in water gardens. Before you choose to use one, make sure that it is safe for fish and other animals. Favor deeper water gardens and ponds over shallower ones. Aim for something that is 24 inches (60.96 centimeters) or deeper. It'll be better for your fish, and the depth will deter mosquitoes. Mosquitoes prefer shallower waters. Not only will it be good for the health of your pond, but it will disrupt the surface of the water. Mosquitoes like standing water, and won't go near moving water. You can also add a fountain to your birdbath, if you have one. They often come in pellet form, and need to be applied monthly. They usually do not kill off other insects which prey upon mosquitoes, such as dragon flies. Listed below are common types of larvicides Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), such Mosquito Dunks, Mosquito Bits, and Microbe-Lift, are mosquito poisons. The mosquitoes die after they ingest it. Methoprene, is an insect growth regulator (IGR). It prevents mosquito larvae from molting. They take a few days to kill, but they will kill other insects as well. Mineral oil based larvicides suffocate mosquito larvae when sprayed on top of water. Bats, dragonflies, and insect-eating birds will all feast on mosquitoes and mosquito larvae. You can do this simply by installing some bird houses or bat houses. If you have a water garden, you can also consider adding a frog or two.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Eliminate or fill nooks, crannies, and holes. Mow your lawns weekly. Trim back tall weeds and bushes. Plant some mosquito-repelling flowers and herbs, especially near areas that are prone to collect water. Get some fish for your water garden. Add a waterfall, fountain, or aerator to your water garden. Make use of larvicides to kill mosquito larvae. Encourage other mosquito predators to visit your yard.

Ensure that the circuit for the room you are working in has been flipped off. This will prevent accidental electrocution and reduce the risk of fire. Most circuit breakers are located in the garage or basement, but placement will vary from home to home. When you find the breaker box, locate the breaker that controls the lights for the room you are working on. Flip it to the off position to keep power from traveling down those wires. Most electrical panels label switches for the different rooms in your home. Use a voltage tester to check that power is no longer flowing to that room. This will affect the way that you perform the installation. You can tell if the power is coming into the switch by removing the light switch panel. If two black wires are coming into the switch box, then the power is coming into the switch first. If there is only one black wire, then the power is coming into the switch from the light fixture. You can usually use an electrical tester to be sure. A 3-way switch will not have the words on or off written on it. Before you start installing, take a look at your new 3-way switch to identify all of the terminals that you will be connecting wires to. Traveler wire terminals - These are located on each side of the switch towards the top of the switch. Ground wire terminal - Older switches may not have this, but all new switches must. This is usually a green screw located on the top or bottom of the switch, mounted to the frame. Common wire screw - This is located on the left side of the switch, and is a different color than the two traveler terminals.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Switch off the circuit. Determine if the power goes to the light or the light switch. Replace any regular switches with the 3-way switches.