Keep a small, covered container nearby full of wood ashes, lime, untreated sawdust, coconut coir, or peat moss. Toss a handful of this material into the pit after each use to help the decomposition process. These carbon-rich materials absorb liquid and create an odor barrier.  Keep a small trash can with a lid in the outhouse to dispose of menstrual pads, tampons, and other objects that do not decompose easily. To help keep the pit clear, use biodegradable toilet paper or dispose of toilet paper in a covered trash can for later burning.    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-10Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-10Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-10Bullet1.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-10Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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\n<\/p><\/div>"} This is an important job, because it helps keep the area from contamination. If you've been using the wood ashes method outlined above the refuse should resemble something you'd put on your garden and shouldn't be too difficult or disgusting to handle.  Some people have a space created at the back of the privy with a sort of gate which they can open and rake out the refuse. This often requires that an outhouse is built into a hillside, or on a high foundation. Once you've raked it out, you will need to bury it somewhere on the property at least 30 feet (9.1 m) away from a water source or runoff.    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet1.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}  By this point the contents of the outhouse will be more like fertilizer than anything else and you can use them, but only if you've been following the composting toilet guidelines.    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet2.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}  You may have to dig the refuse out of the hole. To do this you'll need to dismantle the seat and use a manual post-hole auger or digger to remove the contents below. If you don't have an auger you can use a shovel, but the auger is the best tool and if you're going to have an outhouse is something that you should invest in.    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet3.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}  The third option is to dig a new hole for the outhouse. You'll need to follow the directions above, but you already have the outhouse itself!    {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet4.jpg\/aid1129259-v4-728px-Make-an-Outhouse-Step-11Bullet4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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\n<\/p><\/div>"} Many old-time outhouses used to be covered by flowers to make them smell nice and give it an attractive appearance. There's no sustainable reason to do this except for attractive aesthetics.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Make it sustainable. Clean the outhouse. Grow flowers on the outside.


Use a sharp bread knife to cut a loaf of brioche into even slices that are about 1⁄2–1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) thick. Place the slices of brioche on a plate and serve them with the rest of your breakfast. If you’re eating breakfast alone, only cut as many slices of brioche as you think you will eat. That way you can easily save the rest of the loaf for later. Place butter and an open container of jam on the table with your breakfast spread, along with two butter knives for serving. Grab a slice of brioche and use the butter knives to spread butter and jam over one side of the brioche. You can eat your brioche with any kind of jam, like raspberry, grape, and blueberry jam. If you don't have a toaster, toast the slices over a stovetop. Just add 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of butter to a large pan and toast the brioche over medium heat until it's golden and crispy. Just combine 3 eggs, 1⁄4 cup (59 mL) of heavy cream, 1.5 tablespoons (22 mL) of sugar, and a pinch of cinnamon and ginger in a large bowl. Dip slices of brioche in the mixture and then cook the slices in a large pan over medium heat for 4 minutes, or until they are golden. When your brioche french toast is finished, serve it with toppings like butter, jam, fresh fruit, and syrup. Eat the brioche buns plain, or cut them in half with a knife and spread butter and jam over the inside. You can also toast the cut sides of the brioche buns before you eat them.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Eat slices of brioche with your breakfast in the morning. Spread butter or jam over your slices of brioche. Toast your slices of brioche to make them crispy and more flavorful. Make brioche french toast with your leftover brioche. Try brioche buns with your breakfast if you get tired of slices.


. Look online for cheap test strips, or a more accurate water hardness test kit. Most test kits in the United States measure the hardness in "grains per gallon." Multiply this result by the gallons of water your household uses each day, on average (according to your water bill). This is the number of "grains" of hardness the device would soften each day. Choose a softener labeled for about 10 times this number of grains. This means the softener will work for about ten days before it needs some downtime.  The average US resident uses 100 gallons of water a day (or 70 gallons if you're only softening indoor water use).  For example, your household water hardness has 9 grains per gallon. You use 300 gallons per day, so 9 x 300 = 2,700 grains per day. A softener in the 27,000 grain range (2,700 x 10) is about the right size. Ion exchange softeners are by far the most effective home softener. Most other devices are much less effective, or even just scams. Ion exchange softeners come in two types:  Sodium chloride: the most common and most effective type. This adds a tiny amount of salt (sodium) to your water. Potassium chloride: less effective, but useful if you can't have sodium. The potassium can harm people with damaged kidneys or on certain medications that prevent potassium absorption.  If you don't want sodium or potassium, pick either type and install a reverse osmosis (RO) filter as well to remove them after softening. Once you've narrowed down the choice to some good models, look at the details. Many softeners refill themselves automatically, going offline for a while during this time. Some do this whenever the softening resin drops too low. Others can be set for a specific time once a week, so you're never caught with hard water unexpectedly. You can buy the softener in one go or lease it for a monthly payment. Besides reducing the upfront cost, leasing it usually comes with a professional installation, so you don't have to do it yourself. Try to get at least two quotes on the installation and lease. . If you decide to install the softener yourself, follow the instructions in the linked article. Most softeners also come with detailed installation instructions, although basic plumbing experience will help.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Measure your water hardness Find the right size softener. Choose a type of softener. Find out how to maintain the softener. Check the leasing plan. Install the softener


This will bring up the Block Site window. It's a blue button in the top-right corner of the Block Site window. Doing so will install the Block Site extension. Click ⟳ in the top-left side of the Chrome window. This will refresh Chrome and place the Block Site icon in the upper-right side of the Chrome browser. It resembles a "www" with a circle and slash through it. You'll find it in the top-right side of the Chrome window. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu. This option is in the Block Site drop-down menu. A new tab with Block Site's settings will open. Type https://www.facebook.com/ into the "Add page" text field. You'll find this text field near the top of the page. It's a green button to the right of the "Add page" text field. Doing so will add Facebook to Block Site's block list. When a user tries to open Facebook, Block Site will redirect them to a different page. You can enter a second address (e.g., https://www.google.com/ in the "Redirect to" field next to Facebook's address to open it when people try to open Facebook. It's a blue button at the bottom of the page. This will close Block Site. Facebook will remain blocked until you unblock it.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Go to the Block Site extension page. Click + ADD TO CHROME. Click Add extension when prompted. Refresh Chrome. Click the Block Site icon. Click Options. Enter Facebook's address. Click Add page. Click Close.


This helps greatly reduce the incidence of electric shock. If working on a bare floor is not an option, consider applying a light coating of anti-static spray to the rug or carpet prior to handling electronics. Pets with hair such as dogs, cats, and ferrets can increase the risk for electric shock if they come into contact with you or your electronics. Static electricity buildup occurs most frequently in dry, cold environments. Items such as paper, plastic bins, and cellophane can all generate static when being moved around on your desk or workspace. A grounded object is something that has a direct conductive path to the earth, such as a water pipe, wall, or wood table. When working with computers, the most ideal way to ground yourself is to touch the exterior metal box of your computer's power supply before unplugging the machine. This device prevents static buildup by tethering you directly to your computer so the charge is shared, and discharging cannot occur. These types of mats, also known as ESD or grounding mats can help prevent electric shock. This prevents any electric currents from running through the machine as you work. Electricity is normally transmitted via exposed pins, connectors, and circuitry located away from the edges of CPU and components.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Set up your workspace in an area without rugs or carpet. Keep pets away from your workspace. Work in an environment with humidity levels between 35 and 50 percent. Remove trash and other unnecessary items from your workspace. Touch a grounded object before starting work on your computer or electronic device. Wear an anti-static strap or wristband. Stand on an anti-static mat when working on your device. Verify your computer is unplugged or turned off before working on its components. Handle all components by their edges when installing and removing them from your machine.


Use a paint stirrer to thoroughly stir the polyurethane. The better you stir it, the less chance you have of ending up with bubbles on your floor. Don't shake the can of polyurethane, however, as this introduces more bubbles into the product. When you're finished stirring, pour the polyurethane into a paint tray. An 8 to 12 inch (20 to 31 cm) bristle brush is a good choice for this project. Avoid using lamb's wool pads, which collect dirt easily. Use long, even strokes to apply a thin coat of the polyurethane to the floor.  Avoid “flooding” the area with polyurethane -- you want a thin coat. Avoid going over the same spot multiple times, as this causes bubbles and imperfections. To avoid stepping on the surfaces you've already applied polyurethane to, it's important to start in the farthest corner from the entrance to the room and work your way toward the door. Aim to apply the polyurethane quickly, working from one end of the room to the other. Read the directions on the package to find out how long the polyurethane you're using  takes to dry. Typically, you'll be able to sand and apply another coat within 4 to 8 hours, though some varieties may take up to 12 hours to dry. Once the floor is dry, use 220-grit sandpaper to sand down imperfections. Make sure you sand along the lines of the natural grain, rather than against the grain. For smaller troublesome spots, use 320- or 400-grit sandpaper. Clean water-based polyurethane with mild soap and water. Use mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean oil-based polyurethane. Apply the cleaner with a soft cloth and wipe it dry when finished. For the second coat, you should thin the polyurethane so that it is less likely to create bubbles. Combine 10 parts polyurethane with 1 part mineral spirits (for oil-based polyurethane) or 1 part water (for water-based polyurethane) in a clean can and stir it thoroughly. Then, pour it into a paint tray. You will likely notice that some spots have a thicker layer of polyurethane on them than others. To ensure you have an even coat and seal, apply a thinned coat of polyurethane to the entire floor using the same method as before. Again, you'll need to wait until this coat is dry before moving on. Refer back to the instructions included with the polyurethane to determine the drying time. Don't rush this step, or your floor can get gummed up or ruined. Steel wool, grade 0000, works well for this. Use the fine steel wool to go over the entire surface of the floor, to remove imperfections as well as ensure the entire coating is even and level. Using the same method as before, wipe down the floor to remove dust or debris. Allow the floor to dry fully before adding the final coat of polyurethane. Use full-strength polyurethane for the final coat. Avoid cleaning or sanding this coat of polyurethane. Instead, stay out of the room until it has set completely. You shouldn't walk on the floor for 24 hours after applying the final coat. Don't replace your furniture for 72 hours and wait at least 1 week before cleaning the floor or arranging rugs on it.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Stir the polyurethane and pour it into a paint tray. Use a brush or painter's pad to apply a thin layer of polyurethane. Start at the farthest corner from the entrance to the room. Allow the coat to dry completely. Sand down bubbles or uneven patches. Wipe down the floor with a clean cloth. Thin the polyurethane and pour it into a paint tray. Apply a coat of thinned polyurethane. Allow the polyurethane to dry. Use an abrasive pad to even out the surface. Clean the floor to remove dust. Add a final coat of polyurethane. Let the final coat dry for 24 hours.


Cleaning out and organizing a garage can be a messy process in itself, requiring you to nearly empty out the space and evaluate what you've got to work with. Depending on the clutter and the junk pile up, it can be a quick afternoon of tidying or a long weekend project requiring a couple trips to the hardware store. Clean out the drawers, the shelves, and the storage units and start over. Don't try to a half-job by moving some stuff around and calling it "reorganized," even if your garage is relatively uncluttered. It's still a good idea to re-evaluate the storage space you do have to use it to its maximum potential. When you're getting started, pair like items with like items. How you choose categories will depend on the stuff you've got in your garage, but you might pair automotive tools with automotive tools, yard tools with yard tools, and sporting goods with other sporting goods for an easy start. You can get more specific as you start organizing. Set up a few tarps on the driveway or in the yard if you've got a real mess on your hands. This can help to keep the mess contained if you've got especially greasy or oily tools. If you've got a cluttered garage, it's important to get rid of anything that's broken, useless, or unnecessary. Doing so should reduce your amount of clutter significantly and make it easier to organize what you really do need more effectively. Here are some questions to help you figure out whether or not a particular item is essential to your garage:  Have you used the item in the last year? Does the item work properly? If not, are you likely to fix it in the next year? Is the item valuable, or does it have sentimental value? Whatever you end up putting in the "unusable" pile, get rid of it as soon as possible. Don't take it to the dump "next time you get around to it," do it right now. Clearing out the clutter is the only way to commit to a more organized and efficient work space in your garage. If you don't need it, don't keep it around to take up premium space.  Throw away broken or damaged items that are beyond repair and give away duplicate items or outdated items that you've replaced with newer models. You might consider giving away an old busted socket set if you've got a newer set yourself. Recycle scrap metal and other valuable stuff you might find lying around the garage.  Consider a garage sale. If your garage is packed to the gills with old Halloween decorations, stacks of Rolling Stone from the mid-80s, and trash-bags full of kids clothes, it's probably time to throw some price stickers on the junk and have a yard sale. After evaluating all the usable items, clean them up as well as possible. Don't put away dirty tools, muddy soccer cleats, and otherwise compromised gear into new, neatly organized places. Spend time committing to clean.  If it's been a couple years since you've cleaned up around the space, reorganization is a good opportunity to do just that. Clean the floors with disinfectant and address the dust that's built up over the years. Using a bit of acetone is a great way of quickly cleaning up old stainless steel tools that have been laying around collecting grease. Use an old rag and a small amount of acetone in a well-ventilated area.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Commit to a bigger mess. Start making piles. Distinguish between usable and unusable items. Get rid of the useless stuff. Clean up all the usable items.


Cucumber contains an acid that scares away bees and wasps. So, you can simply peel 2 or 3 cucumbers and leave the peelings around the edges of the patio. If you’re not at a house, leave the cucumber peels on an outdoor table around which you and your friends are congregating, or spread them around your picnic blanket. If you’re invested in keeping bees away from your house for a longer time, you could plant one or more cucumber plants in a garden near your house, or in a pot outdoors. Bees are naturally repelled by marigolds, so the bright flowers will keep them from flying too close to your outdoor activities. If you’re hosting a large social event, and guests will be spread over a large area, try setting up half a dozen marigold plants around the area you’d like to keep bee-free. If you want to ensure that bees are kept away from your house for many summers, try planting marigolds in pots or planters on your patio, deck, or outside windowsill. Bees are deterred by a number of common herbs, and will not come near areas where these herbs (and their potent smells) are present. Bee-deterring herbs include peppermint, cinnamon, vanilla, and garlic. So, consider putting a few peppermint plants or cinnamon sticks around your picnic area or outdoor patio. You can also keep bees away by chopping up a clove of garlic and letting it soak before for a few days in a glass of water. Then, when you’re going to spend time outside, set the glass of garlic water nearby. ” To keep bees away from you and your guests outside, use a bowl of sweet-smelling liquid to draw the bees’ attention. Pour a generous amount of soda, maple syrup, orange juice, or fruit juice (of any variety) into a bowl, and set this about 5 yards (5 m) (4.6 m) away from your picnic or dinner location. Set the “bait” about 20 minutes before you and your guests gather outside.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Set out cucumber peels to deter bees. Deter bees with 1 or 2 potted marigolds. Use common herbs to repel bees. Make a bowl of “bee bait.


Every state has specific laws surrounding whether prenuptial agreements are allowed and, if so, what types of things cannot be included in them. Generally speaking, you cannot include any of the following in a prenuptial agreement:  Restrictions on child support, custody, or visitation; Giving up rights to alimony; Encouragements to divorce; and Rules about non-financial matters (e.g., who will do chores, whether you will have pets, who will take the child to school). This will help identify each asset properly in the event you become divorced and the prenuptial agreement is reviewed in a court of law. Include locations and addresses of all your properties; bank account names and numbers; the make, model, and year of any vehicles you own; and explicit descriptions of any valuable belongings in your possession, such as cuts of diamonds on jewelry, or the names of artists for paintings you own. Since you are filing a prenuptial agreement, both parties must disclose all their financial assets and debts in the event the agreement is challenged in court. Each person will bring into the marriage their own property and/or assets. In your prenuptial agreement, you should identify the specific property that will remain in the sole possession of its original owner in the event the marriage ends.  Also consider what will happen in the event an asset increases in value over the course of a marriage (i.e., if the value of your collectible car appreciates dramatically in value over the course of the next ten years).  Be as specific as you can when referring to each asset. There should be no room for confusion regarding the property to which a particular provision of the agreement refers. Include assets or provisions that deal only with finances and property, such as businesses, vehicles, homes, valuable jewelry, antiques, properties you own, savings accounts, stocks, and inheritances. Be sure to keep separate property in the original owner's name only throughout the duration of the marriage, or this may override the prenuptial agreement. For example, "The following shall constitute the Parties' Separate Property: The property listed on Schedule A as [Partner 1's] property and on Schedule B as [Partner 2's] property, which schedules are annexed hereto and made part hereof." The "schedules" would be separate, attached documents that detail specific property for each person. After you have decided which property to keep separate, you can also identify in the agreement the property that will be shared between both partners during the marriage. This is called marital property.  You should also detail how assets acquired over the course of the marriage will be divided in the event the marriage ends.  For example, "The following shall constitute the Parties' Marital Property: All property acquired during the marriage until the occurrence of a Termination Event [divorce, separation, annulment, etc.] that is not Separate Property as set forth in the previous section [that details specific property that will be kept separate]." Also consider what will happen with any debts that either person brings into the marriage. The agreement can provide that a person is solely responsible for debts he or she brings into the marriage, or it can provide that certain debts will be paid for with marital property. For example, "Obligations [debts] of a party incurred prior to the marriage shall remain the separate obligations of that party. The other party shall not be liable for those obligations, and shall be indemnified and held harmless from them by the responsible party. Such existing obligations shall be paid from the separate property of the responsible party." You can also use a prenuptial agreement to establish how a partner will survive financially if he or she will be staying at home to take care of any children. It can also outline any financial support, if any, that will be paid by either person to the other in the event of a divorce.  For example, "In the event of a legal separation, divorce, or annulment, the parties agree to waive any rights to spousal support or maintenance of any kind to which either might otherwise be entitled. The parties agree that this provision may be entered as a complete defense by either party in response to an action for alimony."  This is also a good time to include provisions relating to children from previous marriages, if this situation applies to you. The agreement can detail what support will be given to any minor children in the event of a divorce. This is a particularly contested issue in the event of a divorce. It will be helpful to decide now what will happen to the home you and your partner share if the marriage ends. Think about who will get it or, if it will be sold, how the proceeds from the sale will be divided. For example, "In the event of a Termination Event: The marital home shall be placed on the market for sale within one year from the date of the Termination Event and the net proceeds of the sale shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. [Partner 1 or 2] has the right to remain in the marital residence up to one (1) year following a Termination Event." You can also include provisions in the prenuptial agreement relating to how large purchases will be made, who will handle shared finances, who will pay household bills, and if you will maintain separate or joint bank accounts. In the prenuptial agreement, you can outline how you and your partner will pay any taxes either of you owe. For example, you can decide whether you will file jointly or separately, or what will be done about pre-existing tax debt for which either person is liable. While divorce is by no means an eventuality for you and your partner, one of the major benefits of having a prenuptial agreement is avoiding argument in the case of a divorce. In your agreement, detail how property will be divided in the event of a split, otherwise the law of your state will decide for you.  For example, "In the event of a Termination Event: Each Party shall retain his or her Separate Property, and the other Party agrees not to make any claim in or to such property. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all Martial Property shall be divided between the Parties in accordance with [state law]."  Be aware that while you can attempt to include provisions relating to alimony in the agreement, not all states allow this. The prenuptial agreement does not have to last forever. You can indicate how long you want it to last using what is known as a "sunset clause" to specify a future date on which the agreement is no longer valid. In addition, you may choose to outline any conditions that relate to who ends the marriage or why the marriage ends.  You can also detail when and how the prenuptial agreement can be renegotiated at a later date. For example, "This Agreement may not be amended or revoked except by an instrument in writing signed by both of the parties and acknowledged and witnessed with the same formalities of this Agreement, expressly modifying or revoking one or more or all of the provisions of this Agreement."  Be aware, however, that states are not likely to give much weight to any sections of a prenuptial agreement that mandate certain consequences for a person based on his or her degree of "fault" (like having an affair). While courts presume prenuptial agreements to be legal, they can be challenged and thrown out if they do not protect both people adequately. After you have drafted the agreement, make sure to keep the following in mind while finalizing it:  Make sure each person has fully disclosed all assets and debts. Make sure neither person has pressured the other to sign, and that each person has had enough time to fully consider the agreement before signing it. Make sure the agreement considers each person. Don't try to take advantage of the other person or try to leave them with less than they deserve if the marriage ends. Make sure both people have an opportunity to have their own lawyer read it before they sign. Though the requirements vary by jurisdiction, a prenuptial agreement is a legal document and therefore you must meet certain conditions for the document itself to be legally valid:  It should be in writing. It should be dated and signed by both you and your partner. Some states require one or two witnesses to the signing of the document. Both you and your partner should visit a notary public in person, each testify to the document's authenticity, and then get the document officially notarized. Make sure you have at least three copies for your records—one for each person and another to give to a third-party or save in a shared secure location.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Research your state's laws. Provide a thorough description of each asset in your prenuptial agreement. Enter any existing debts you have into the prenuptial agreement. Define the property that will be kept separate. Define the property that will be shared. Define how existing debts will be paid. Define any financial support. Define what will happen to the marital residence. Define how finances will be handled during the marriage. Define how taxes will be handled during the marriage. Define how property will be allocated in the event of a divorce. Decide how long you want the prenuptial agreement to last. Make sure the agreement is fair to both people. Make the prenuptial agreement official.


First, remove as much furniture as possible from the room. Cover all remaining furniture, as well as your floors, with drop clothes. Tape off or otherwise cover ceiling fixtures. Finally, tape plastic sheeting around the ceiling’s perimeter to protect your walls. You will also want to remove any faceplates which are on your ceiling, such as vent covers. You will want to be sure that the base layer of your ceiling is in prime condition. Repair cracks in plaster and generally ensure that the ceiling is as smooth as possible. Cracks can worsen over time and inconsistencies (as well as cracks) will be made more visible by the texture of the ceiling. Some cracks and inconsistencies can be fixed with spackle, but others may be structural and should be addressed by an inspector or contractor. Paint a coat of paint primer on your ceiling before adding the texture. This can help to reduce the appearance of a previous color but it will also help the new paint adhere to the wall. Choose a primer in a color as close as possible to your final color. There are a number of ways to texture a ceiling. You can buy pre-textured paint (which will likely be the easiest option). You can also texture the ceiling by adding materials to either latex or oil based paint. Purchase material that is meant for texturing paint, such as special sand, and mix it according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as well as your own preference. Generally, you will mix 1 part of the additive to every ten parts of paint. This works out to roughly 1 ½ cups of texture for every gallon of paint. Once you believe you have the paint mixed properly, you will want to do a small test patch to ensure you are happy with the texture. Try to do the test patch in a corner of the room or otherwise in a less visible area. Adjust your paint as necessary.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Protect your walls and furniture. Repair any cracks or inconsistencies in the ceiling. Paint a priming layer on your ceiling. Mix your textured paint. Test your paint.


The mind and body are intricately related because the mind consists of the complex workings of the brain, a biological organ and part of the body. This means that mental health and bodily health are closely related. Since poor mental health is associated with drug use, and mental and bodily health are related, keeping a healthy body is an important part of being drug free. One way to maintain a healthy body is to eat healthy foods. Eat whole foods such as lean meats, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.  Who knows, you might even develop a passion for cooking that builds your self-esteem and turns into a hobby that helps to keep you drug free. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and anxious which can contribute to feelings of stress and make you more likely to turn to using (other) drugs to counteract the anxiety that the caffeine produced. A lack of sleep can contribute to poor mental health such as by causing feelings of fatigue, sadness, and anxiety, all of which may add to your likelihood of using drugs in order to avoid feeling bad. Practice relaxation techniques to help stay mentally and physically healthy. Relaxation techniques reduce the impact of stress on your body by negating negative feelings and negative bodily sensations such as muscle tension. Stress is a common reason that people begin using drugs, so managing your stress will help you stay drug-free.  Try visualization. This technique involves forming peaceful and relaxing mental images. For example, picture a calm ocean and try to imagine it with all of your senses; think about how it would smell, how the wind and sun would feel against your skin. Fully immerse yourself in the experience.  Try a soothing exercise, such as yoga or tai chi. Meditation can be an excellent way to manage stress and focus on breathing and body awareness. Meditate to calm yourself as you confront urges to use alcohol or drugs. People who meditate tend to have greater success rates of staying off drugs in the long run.  Find a comfortable and quiet spot to sit for 10-15 minutes. Focus on your breath, inhaling deeply and steadily. As thoughts pass through your mind, release them without judgment. Turn your attention back to your breath. This technique helps you to figure out the difference between tense and relaxed muscles. It involves slowly tensing then relaxing each muscle group; this will help to delineate the difference between tense and relaxed and take your mind off what is stressing you out. Begin with your toes. Clench them as hard as you can for 5 seconds, and then relax for 5 seconds. Notice the sensation of relaxation. Move up your body from your calves, thighs, buttocks, abs, chest, shoulders, arms, neck, and face.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Eat healthy. Avoid having too much caffeine. Get enough sleep. Relax your body and mind. Try meditation. Try progressive muscle relaxation.


Your doctor can evaluate the condition of your health, as well as your diet, risk factors, and current medications to determine if buying supplements is a safe decision for your particular circumstances.  Discuss your medical conditions with your doctor before taking supplements, because some ingredients in supplements may interfere with specific health concerns.  Many doctors and pharmacists are not trained about supplements and natural products. Ask your healthcare practitioner something like, “How familiar are you with these natural supplements?” If they do not have extensive knowledge, ask for a referral to a dietitian or other professional who does. When buying natural supplements, know the difference between pills, capsules, powders, teas, and the variety of other forms supplements may come in. The form of a supplement affects its absorption, so you must take your specific circumstances into account when deciding what's right for you. If necessary, consult with a doctor or pharmacist. There are a number of places you can find herbal supplements for sale. Shop around for the best quality and value. Use the Dietary Supplement Label Database on the National Institute of Health’s website to compare the ingredients in similar products.  An Internet search will return a wide array of natural supplement shops online. Some specialize in specific supplements, others sell bulk product at wholesale prices, and others offer organic brands. You may be able to find a number of local natural supplement stores. This is a convenient option if you're not sure exactly what you are looking for, and if you'd prefer to speak with someone face-to-face about your particular needs. Chain retail, fitness supplement, and drug stores carry a selection of supplements. Once you have found the herbal supplements that you want to buy, examine the labels for the following before you make a purchase:  The manufacturer's name and address should be printed on the label. That way, if you do encounter any difficulties with taking your supplements, you can go directly to the source with your questions and complaints. Go over the complete ingredients list and, if there is something you don't understand, ask a doctor or pharmacist about it before buying supplements. Look for a seal from the US Pharmacopeia (USP) or NSF International. This means that the supplement manufacturer should adhere to quality guidelines created by these regulatory organizations. Supplements can be made with natural ingredients or they can be synthesized in a laboratory.  Synthetic products may be more likely to contain harmful additives or by-products. Look for supplements labeled “natural” and avoid those called “synthetic” – contact the manufacturer for this information if it is not listed on the bottle. For instance, vitamin E may be listed as d-alpha-tocopherol if natural and dl-alpha-tocopherol if synthetic. Supplements contain many ingredients other than the herb or vitamin they intend to, and not all of them are bad. Try to generally avoid those with added sugar, which may be listed as an ingredient ending in “-ose.” You may also want to avoid added cornstarch, yeast, soy, and whey.  Many dyes will be listed in the ingredients as a color then a number, such as “yellow no. 5.” Other ways they may be listed are simply as “FD&C,” or “E” then a number like “E102.” Every so often a new fad supplement appears on the market, or lists itself as a “cure all” remedy. These are likely just marketing ploys, and just because many people are taking a supplement doesn’t mean it’s right for you. In general, it’s better to wait awhile after a new supplement appears on the market so the FDA can begin to collect safety data on it. Anyone can put a supplement on the market with minimal scientific evidence of its safety and efficacy – the FDA removes the product from the market if it’s unsafe. Give a product some time on the market before using it.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Discuss your plans to take a supplement with your doctor. Familiarize yourself with supplement forms. Comparison shop through a variety of sources. Read the labels. Buy natural, not synthetic products. Try to avoid supplements with additives like sugar and dyes. Avoid “trendy” new supplements.


You are adding the sugar with the instant coffee because it dissolves better in hot water than in cold. If you like your iced coffee less sweet, use less sugar. The longer you wait, the more watery your iced coffee will become.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Fill a tall glass with instant coffee and sugar. Enjoy your iced coffee before the ice melts.


You can check out which route you want online and print out directions. However, you can also buy a pocket-sized map at most bookstores and even convenience stores to make it easier on yourself. You can use the Metropolitan Transport Authority's trip planner at http://www.mta.info/nyct. For instance, you can put in your departing address, landmark, or station name and the address, landmark, or station name of where you want to go. You can select just the bus or the bus plus the subway to get you there, as well as a departure time. Then the system will return itineraries that will get you where you need to go. Work out which buses you need to take and where you need to change buses. You want to know before you get on the bus so you don't get lost or get off at the wrong stop. If you use the trip planner online, it will tell you where you need to change buses. If you're just using a map, find the bus stop where your route meets the route that goes to your destination. That's where you'll change buses. Sometimes, you can find a direct route, too. Figure out where your first bus stop is based on the route you've planned and head that direction. Look for a bus shelter, or at the very least, a round, blue sign that has a bus and the route number on it. The bus stops will be listed as part of your route when you look it up. Plus, you can look at a map of bus routes to locate bus stops. Just because you're at the right bus stop doesn't mean that every bus is the one you need. Buses from different routes will stop at the same bus stop, so check to make sure you're getting on the right bus.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Get a map. Figure out your route. Find the bus stop. Check the bus number as the bus pulls up.


It is the best practice, especially if you're new to digital editing, to always save a copy of your image before working on it. This allows you to experiment and edit without worrying about making a mistake. While you can also click "Undo," this gets much harder if you're trying multiple things at once, like cropping, tinting, sharpening, etc.  Click "File" → "Save As," or simply press Ctrl+Shift+S (Windows) or Cmmd+Shift+S. At the bottom of the "Save As" menu, click "Save as a Copy." The last thing you want to do is experiment color, contrast, saturation, etc. and not have the ability to fix it when you go too far. While you should always save a separate copy of an image before editing, Adjustment masks let you keep tinkering with these setting at any point in the future, including turning them on/off, without using "Undo."  Click "Window" in the top bar. Select "Adjustments." Choose your adjustment, from Brightness/Contrast to Gradient Maps. Note how a new layer is created. Delete, re-order, or change the opacity of your layers at any time, or double-click to change the settings. Camera Raw opens a new copy of your picture with sliders for color temperature, contrast, light control, clarity, saturation, and cropping. This allows you to make quick, basic changes with real-time sliders and effects. It will appear automatically when the picture is open if you set it properly:  Click on "Photoshop" in the upper left corner. Click on "Preferences" → "File Handling" Under "File Compatibility," check "Prefer Adobe Camera Raw for Supported Raw Files." Click on "Camera Raw Preferences" and set JPEG and TIFF Handling to "Automatically Open all Supported." Say, for example, you know that most of your images are a bit too dark, and they all could use an extra 10 points of Brightness. Instead of manually editing each photo, you can teach Photoshop to do it for you on many pictures at once. For learning's sake, say you want to add 10 points Brightness to 15 images:  Click "Window" ↠ "Action" to bring up the Actions menu. Click "New Action" in the bottom of the menu and name it after whatever you're doing. The button looks like a sticky note. Click on "Image" → "Adjustments" → "Brightness/Contrast" and add your 10 points Brightness like normal. Click the square "Stop" button in the actions menu to end the recording. Click "File" → "Automate" → "Batch" from the top bar. Under "Play," select the action you just made (it will be whatever you titled it). Select "Choose..." and select the photos you want to edit. Check the boxes "Suppress File Open Option Dialogs" and "Suppress Color Profile Warnings" and hit OK to edit your images all at once once.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Use the "Save as a Copy" feature to make a duplicate image before editing. Learn the power of Adjustment Layers to gain permanent control of most edits. Set Photoshop to open photos in "Camera Raw" mode to quickly fine-tune any photo without ruining the original. Use "Batch Commands" to make the same edits on multiple photos automatically.


One of the most fundamental tools you have to fight the loss of global biodiversity is your wallet. Make an effort to buy only products and services that were made with an eye for the environmental health of the planet. Avoid buying from companies with practices that threaten global biodiversity. Remember, companies will sell what people want to buy, so tell companies that you want products that do not harm biodiversity. Research environmentally friendly brands before you make major purchases. For starters, this Fortune report lists a good selection of responsible companies. " There's no way around it: Since early in our history, humans have always created a lot of garbage. Today, however, the massive amounts of waste being produced on a global scale pose a major threat to biodiversity. By following the "Three Rs," you can minimize the impact of your waste. The "Three Rs" are:   Reduce: Decrease your consumption. Don't buy products you don't need. When you do buy things, try to make choices that generate a minimal amount of garbage. For instance, buy things with limited packaging (or none at all) rather than things that come in many boxes or containers. The less garbage you generate, the less you'll contribute to the loss of biodiversity when natural habitats are used for landfills.  Reuse: Decrease the amount of goods you throw away by using  things more than once. One easy example is bringing a backpack or a reusable bag to the grocery store so that you don't use new bags. See our Home Organization articles for more great ideas. Again, less garbage means less loss of biodiversity from expanding landfills.  Recycle: When you do have to throw something away, recycle it so it can be converted to something useful again rather than being added to a landfill. Click here for a good guide to recycling in the U.S. There are numerous other ways to encourage global biodiversity. Best of all, many of these are things you can do in and around the home! For instance, reducing your reliance on commercial crops decreases natural habitat destruction when cleared for farming. See below for a few easy suggestions.   Start a family or community garden. Less demand for large-scale agriculture means less habitat loss and fewer native species displaced. Use composting at home. The compost can be added to the family garden or the community garden to boost your harvest. This further reduces your reliance on commercial agriculture. Even better, this is a great way to recycle organic waste and kitchen scraps! We've all heard it hundreds of times: Burning fossil fuels is bad for the environment. While human carbon emissions have been linked to global climate change beyond a shadow of a doubt, many don't know that they also have a direct impact on the planet's biodiversity. Climate change leads to habitat loss and more stressful environmental conditions that put at-risk species on the brink of extinction. Thus, slowing climate change by reducing emissions is one effective way to preserve biodiversity. Usually, this can be done by reducing the energy we use. For instance, you might try:  Purchasing a zero- or reduced-emissions car for your next vehicle purchase. Carpooling during your daily commute to save money and reduce the fuel you consume. Walking or riding your bike instead of driving. Using energy-efficient electronics to reduce carbon emissions. In the U.S., electronics that are made to use a minimal amount of electricity are given an "ENERGY STAR" label by the EPA. Look for this label.  Investing in efficient insulation and heating for your house to reduce energy usage.  Considering alternative home energy sources like solar panels, which were once too expensive for many people but are getting cheaper each year.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Be an informed consumer. Follow the "Three Rs. Practice eco-friendly food strategies at home. Reduce your carbon emissions.


The tag will supply you with many of the instructions you'll need for washing your hat, including whether or not it's washing machine safe, what temperature of water to use, what kind of cleaning solution is most effective, and how to dry your hat after washing. Look for the hat's tag on the inside; it should be in the back, near the headband. If the tag has no instructions, or you cannot find the tag at all, follow the instructions below. Different materials need to be washed in different ways. Wool, for instance, cannot be washed in hot water and requires a special type of detergent. Cotton hats are more durable and can be washed normally. Knowing the material your hat is made from will help you determine the best way to wash your hat. Wool is naturally more challenging to clean, thanks to its texture. Take your wool hats to the dry cleaner to ensure they're cleaned in the best and safest way. Cotton twill is comparable to the material the average pair of pants is made from. It is designed to be sturdy and long lasting, so you can wash it like you'd wash any other piece of clothing. Jersey mesh hats are most commonly found on the golf field. You can identify this type of hat by the multiple pinprick holes scattered throughout the body. Jersey mesh hats maintain their color and shape easily due to their design, which is enhanced for athletic use, so wash them normally. The quality of the stitching can help you decide whether to proceed with washing your hat. If the stitching shows signs of wear or low quality (fraying or unraveling), you may be better off getting a new hat. If the stitching of your hat is otherwise intact, handle this area of your hat with extra care as you wash. The materials of the headband and brim are important to deciding how to wash a fitted hat. Wash the hat if the brim is made from plastic. Do not proceed, however, if the hat's brim is made of cardboard; this is more likely to ruin the hat.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Read the tag. Examine the material your hat is made from. Wash wool hats in cold water with a wool detergent. Wash twill, cotton, and polyester blends with standard detergent in warm water. Use normal detergent and warm water to wash jersey mesh hats. Inspect the hat's stitching for fraying or poor quality. Check what materials the headband and brim are made from.


Look for a speedo made of 100% polyester or a polyester blend with spandex. It will be more chlorine resistant and long lasting. Some speedos are also made in a high UV rating fabric, making them more resistant to the sun if you plan to swim outdoors.  Avoid speedos made of only spandex or lycra, as they tend to fade and get loose more quickly. Opt for a speedo that is fully lined so it is not transparent. Try on the speedo in the store before you buy it. You may need to wear it over underwear or use a disposable liner in the speedo. Make sure the speedo is not too tight or constricting. It should feel snug but the fabric should not dig into your skin. Walk around, squat, and sit in the speedo to ensure it is comfortable. If it feels comfortable on you, you will likely be more confident wearing it around. Go for a dark, neutral color like black, navy, or brown if you do not want to call too much attention to yourself when you are wearing the speedo. If you have a lighter skin tone, you may opt for a warm color like brown or a burnt orange. If you have a darker skin tone, a cooler color like navy or gray may be ideal. When in doubt, black is a good, neutral color for the speedo. It can also be more slimming and flattering.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Get a speedo made of high quality, long lasting fabric. Choose a speedo that fits comfortably. Try a neutral color.


An opaque bag will help keep light out from the bulbs and prevent them from sprouting too early. Keep the bag open to keep air flowing to the bulbs. If you are storing multiple flower bulbs, write the name of which bulbs you are storing on the outside of the bag. You can also use a netted bag to help regulate airflow, but it will not block light. The bulbs should be stored in a basement, cellar, or garage. The temperature should be between 60 °F (16 °C) and 65 °F (18 °C). Make sure the area they’re stored in does not drop below freezing levels or else the bulbs will not survive. If the bulbs are left out, the daffodils will not winterize and they may not bloom next season. Store the bag of daffodil bulbs in the crisper drawer so they are out of direct light. Keep the bulbs in a separate drawer away from any food. Fruits like apples emit ethylene gas and can kill the flower inside the bulb. If you store the daffodil bulbs in a fridge, keep them in a separate fridge from the fruit. Once the bulbs have been chilling for 6 to 8 weeks, they have experienced enough cold to bloom in the spring. Replant the bulbs with at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) of soil covering them. When you dig the hole for the daffodil bulbs, add a handful bulb fertilizer to promote healthy spring growth.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Place the bulbs in a labeled paper bag. Store the bulbs in a cool, dry place for 6 to 8 weeks. Keep the bulbs in the fridge if you live in a warm climate. Keep fruits away from your bulbs. Replant the bulbs in late December or early January.


Introverts and extroverts think differently. Extroverts are more likely to “Do, Think, Do” pattern, while their introverted counterparts take more time to think before taking an action. No way is better than the other, but knowing how you personally think will help you streamline your own thinking patterns. Self-awareness has been tied to leadership, and leadership often reflects a person's ability to think on one's feet. You can become more self-aware by practicing self-reflection techniques. Being more self-aware will help you better understand the environment around you, and make it easier to think of solutions or answer more quickly. How to Self Reflect  Use a journal to write down your thoughts, feelings and reactions to mental stimuli throughout your day. Understand how you solve problems by considering each step you take Think about what emotions you feel during day to day tasks (I.e. Do you feel frustration while performing a specific task at work?) Think about why you might be feeling that emotion. To more effectively think on your feet, you need to gather as much information as possible about the situation you are in. One simple way of doing this is by asking questions about the task at hand. This will help you compile more information and help to educate you on a particular situation. Ask things like:  “I hear that you want a report written about this client. What are you concerned about, specifically?” ”You seem to be asking me about a project we finished last week. What was it that you wanted to know about it?” ”What do you mean by what you said?” (This can help you get not only a clearer understanding of what was said, but also give the speaker to think about what s/he wants from you). By being critical of presented information, you are more likely to pick up on weak points of a situation. This may help you to see solutions quicker.  Don't take everything at face value. If you are asked to do a specific task or answer a specific question, try to gather as much facts about the situation before you make a decision. While the goal is to think quickly and on your feet, you still want to be accurate and understanding. If you are asked to think on your feet by giving an answer to something that seems to be too good to be true (for example, a sale) be skeptical! It may very well be too good to be true!

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Consider how you think. Practice self-reflection and self-awareness. Ask questions. Be skeptical.


Before you can learn to overcome your communication apprehension, you must figure out exactly what it is that is scary or nerve-wrecking. Construct an anxiety hierarchy to help you better understand your fears.  Constructing an anxiety hierarchy starts with a list of situations where the anxiety is felt. After the list is complete, you then rank them from the lowest level of anxiety all the way to the one situation with the highest level of stress. The final list would normally contain between 10 and 20 items that begin with something that brings on so little anxiety is almost does not bother you to the one situation that gives you the most anxiety. For example, an anxiety hierarchy for talking to your boss might look like this:  Saying hi to the boss in the hall Talking to the boss in her office in a neutral situation Answering a direct question from the boss when put on the spot Talking to the boss about a negative situation While you may hear from some people the best thing to do is to ignore the fear, it is actually better to break down what is actually making you fearful and take small steps to work through that.  If you are fearful of being in front of an audience, take a small step like making an effort to speak up at a meeting in front of a small group of other employees. Work your way up to slightly larger groups. If the fear is more related to speaking in front of strangers, a first small step could be as simple as making a call to a wrong number on purpose simply to force yourself to talk to a stranger. Build from there by starting a conversation with a stranger waiting in line at a coffee shop. If you fear speaking up in class, go through the motions of envisioning yourself doing this. Practice how you would handle the situation and prepare as much as you can on the subject so you are ready to speak up without fear of the subject.  Practice and role play the situation that is intimidating. Become very familiar with whatever subject you are talking about so it becomes easier and almost second nature to talk about the subject. This will help with your fear of forgetting the topic. Making sure you feel confident in the subject will also allow you to focus on the topic instead of the audience. You do not want to totally ignore the audience since you need to be aware of their reactions, but focusing on your mastery of the topic will take some of the focus off the audience. This would include a combination of deep breathing, visual imagery and other methods discussed in this article. As you are imagining your fears, you are likely to experience anxiety. Use the techniques you have learned to return to a state of calm. Over time, the anxiety-provoking situation won't affect you as much. Avoid waiting to speak in front of a group until it is critical to your job or school life. Give yourself time to succeed and testing grounds to make mistakes without the worry of messing up the “big speech”. Learn to work with your fear instead of trying to hide it. When you try to hide the fear you may find yourself overcome by internal negative self speak that is almost always far worse than what the audience is actually thinking. You do not need to like public speaking to be good at it and to do it successfully.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Pinpoint your fears. Identify small ways you can face your fear. Imagine yourself in a distressing situation. Use relaxation techniques as needed. Do a trial run by attempting one of your fears.


Be compassionate and remember the other person’s feelings. Take time to listen to and validate his response. Let him know you appreciate his vulnerability and value his feelings.  You can say, “I know you must be feeling hurt or confused right now. I appreciate you asking me out. That takes a lot of courage and I can’t imagine how hard that is.” You might ask, “Is there anything you need to feel more comfortable? I know it might be weird since we still have to go to school together.” If you trust or like the person who asked you out, but don’t want to date her, you might be able to offer your help in other ways. Suggest other options for how the two of you could have a relationship.  Suggest a friend who might be a good fit for her to date. Get your friend’s permission first. Ask if the two of you could just be friends, if you aren’t already. Ask for more time if you’re unsure of your decision or can’t agree to a date right now, but are interested in dating her in the future. Suggest spending more time with her one-on-one if you don’t know her well, but would like to get to know her better before formally dating her. Beware of people who persist to ask you out or refuse to accept your refusal. Watch out for reactions of anger or abusive language. If something about the person is disturbing, offensive, or inappropriate when you refuse him, you can ensure your safety by:  Letting someone know where you are, if you’re alone with him. Leaving the situation immediately and going to where there are other people. Blocking him on any social media applications or dating websites where you talk to him. Avoiding responding to his phone, email, or text messages. Avoiding being alone with him in person in the future. While you may be graceful in your refusal, the other person may not take it so well and have a strong negative reaction. This may lead you to feel guilty — maybe you should have said yes, just to be nice? — or the person may try to outright guilt-trip you,  but you don't need to feel bad or guilty about being honest and genuine to what you are feeling and thinking. You can't force yourself to feel a certain way, and if you're not connecting with that person on a romantic level, you can't talk or trick yourself into feeling that connection. The person's reaction is her own, and if she reacts poorly, you are not responsible for that.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Show empathy. Suggest alternatives. Be safe. Deal with feelings of guilt.


Most Xbox 360s have an Ethernet port on the back. You can use this to connect your Xbox 360 to your network's router or modem. After connecting your cable, test the connection. Open the Guide menu from the Dashboard the Dashboard by pressing the center button on the Xbox controller. Select "Settings", then "Network Settings". Select "Wired Network" and then "Test Xbox Live Connection". If you have a wireless network set up at home, you can connect your Xbox 360 to it instead of running an Ethernet cable to the router. The Xbox 360 E and Xbox 360 S both have built-in Wi-Fi, while the original Xbox 360 will need a special Wi-Fi adapter installed.  Open the Guide menu from the Dashboard by pressing the Xbox Guide button (center of controller). Select Settings, then System. Select Network Settings. Select your wireless network from the list. Enter your wireless password when prompted. If your network is not listed, select Advanced Options and then Specify Unlisted Network. Enter in your network name and security information. After configuring your network, the Xbox 360 will attempt to connect to Xbox Live. If the connection is successful, download any available updates that appear. These will improve the console's stability and connectivity. If you cannot connect to Xbox Live, there may be a problem with your wireless settings or Ethernet cable. Check all the connections and ensure that any passwords have been entered correctly.  Occasionally, the Xbox Live service is offline. Check the Xbox Live website for the latest information on the Live network's availability if you are having difficulty connecting. If your router is located a few rooms away, you may have a weak wireless signal. This can cause connection issues, so try moving your router closer to the Xbox, or vice versa, if possible.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Connect via Ethernet. Connect wirelessly. Update your console. Troubleshoot a bad connection.


A house, clean water, a loving family, friends, and food are all things that we often take for granted. So many people don't have these things so try to always remind yourself to be grateful. Be proud of your accomplishments, and be sure to thank people for their help and support.  Make a list of the things you are thankful for. Let people you love know you care for them, it will both make them feel loved and strengthen your bonds. Human beings are social animals, and we feed off of each other's positive energy. Find friends and family that make you feel good and make it a priority to hang out with them. Ring them for a chat after work or go shopping on the weekend. Go to your grandma's for Sunday Lunch. Spending time with them will make you happy, and vice versa. Make sure you are taking care of yourself with some quality "me" time. You don't have to examine your life or look for problems, just find a few hours each week to be by yourself, away from work or stress. Go for a walk/hike, listen to your favorite albums, or curl up with a good book. Being happy and confident by yourself is the first step to being happier in any situation. Life isn't perfect, and there will be hardship along the road. Don't feel like you need to ignore bad situations or tough times, as they won't go away when you do. Instead, try and learn what you can from negative experiences, finding the positives whenever possible. You are still alive, you still have people that love you, and you still have yourself. Pick up the pieces, learn your lesson, and move on. There is no better feeling than positively impacting somebody else's life. Whether this is something little, like helping an elderly person cross the road or carrying their bags, or something big, like tutoring someone or volunteering on weekends, being generous is proven to improve your own happiness. Exercising releases endorphins into the body to make you feel better, and improves performance in almost every aspect of life. Eating well is also a huge factor in bettering yourself as most of the "healthy" foods contain positive nutrients (vitamins and minerals) that contribute to better overall health. Take care of your body and your mind will thank you. Love yourself and good things will happen. Remind yourself that you are worthwhile and use the power of positive thinking to bring happiness into your life. Simply feeling confident in who you are attracts similar people, and everyone, from your boss to your spouse, will take note of your energy.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Appreciate what you already have. Spend as much time as possible with family and friends. Schedule personal time to relax. Find the positives in bad situations. Help others. Eat well and exercise. Be happy with who you are.


Casually talk about stuff she likes and dislikes. Start by just having conversations with her. Ask her about her siblings or other little things. For example, "How are Jimmy and Sarah doing?" or, "That blue shirt brings out your eyes." Girls like it when you remember little things.  Find out things you have in common, like a favorite band or sport. That will give you a common subject to talk about. If you go to school together, walk up to her in the halls and say hello after you've talked in class a couple times. You will make a good impression if you do nice things, like holding a door for her to go through or tying her shoe if you notice it has come undone. Do not go out of your way to do these things all the time. She will think it is weird instead of sweet. Many guys prefer to cut to the chase, but if she is worth asking out, it is worth building a friendship. If you ask her out without getting to know her first, she might turn you down just because she doesn't know enough about you to say yes. Text or chat with her for long periods of time. Girls love it when this happens. After you've texted her for a while and you think she's good enough friends with you, try to ask her who she likes. Make sure she asks you too, otherwise it will most likely end up being a different guy. Also try to make it late—that's extra cute! Do you have common interests? Are you around the same age? If you are going to date this girl, make sure that she is someone with whom you actually want to spend a lot of time. It is easy to build up unrealistic fantasies in your head, but it isn't always easy to gauge whether you would truly be happy with someone. Try talking about what motivates her; by doing so, you will create a bond between you two. Ask her and some of your other friends if they would like to go somewhere such as the mall or movies. Eventually if you two are comfortable with each other you could ask her to hang out at your house with a group of people. A group of people will make it seem less awkward.  Don't ask her specifically to something and build it up. Instead, arrange something with a group of friends and say she is welcome to come along. That way, if she can't make it, no harm done and you can recover from the rejection without problems. When inviting her out, it has to be something fun that isn't a big deal for her to join in on. You want to avoid the awkward staring at your hands/feet mumbling about "what she is up to that weekend". If she is already dating someone, then that is her business, and you need to respect it. If she's obviously interested in someone else, then it might be worth your while to win her over—but do not get your hopes up. When you two start hanging out a lot, people will start talking and wondering if you two are dating or if you have a "thing." If people ask you about it, just say, "we like hanging out," or, "we have a lot of fun together." Never say, "we are just friends." This will give her the wrong impression. Ask her if she would like to hang out sometime, but don't make it sound like a date. As you spend more time with her, invite fewer and fewer people, so that eventually you can just say, "Want to hang out this weekend?" If she says no thanks, don't drop it yet. She is likely not comfortable enough with you, but she may come around if you keep talking to her. You could explain that it wouldn't be a date, just going to the movies as friends, or hanging out and going swimming.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Get into conversations. Become friends with her. Text her. Make sure that the two of you are compatible. See if she wants to hang out in a group. Make sure she isn't already interested in or dating someone. Play it cool, but don't make her think that you aren't interested. Invite her to hang out one-on-one.


This virus is transmitted through mosquitoes and was recently declared as an emerging global health threat.  How the virus affects the body is not fully known, however, chikungunya and dengue have almost identical symptoms and disease processes. Chikungunya infects the muscle cells of the body. From there, it reproduces until the cell dies, and then replicates and finds a new host cell to infect. The incubation period of the chikungunya is 1 to 12 days. Chikungunya usually attacks the muscles, joints, skin, connective tissues, and even the central nervous system. Because chikungunya is a systemic infection, it is usually accompanied by fever and skin rash.  The skin rashes are almost identical to the rashes that are present in a case of dengue and is a result of damage to the blood vessels. Fever occurs as the body raises its temperature in an attempt to kill the infectious agent. As a consequence of the fever, you may suffer from a headache, nausea, and vomiting. Because the virus destroys cells in the muscles and joints, you will experience muscle weakness and joint pain. Joint and muscle pain can be severe and acute. Partial loss of taste is reported by many chikungunya patients. This happens because the virus attacks nerve endings on the tongue and desensitizes the taste buds. Acquiring an accurate diagnosis is very important to get the right treatment.  A virus isolation is the most conclusive exam used to diagnose chikungunya. However, it takes 1 to 2 weeks before it is completed and should be done in a biosafety level 3 lab, which is not available in many developing countries where chikungunya is prevalent. The technique involves acquiring a blood sample from the patient and then introducing the virus to it. The blood sample will then be observed for specific responses.  RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) makes the genes of chikungunya more pronounced and shows evidence of the disease. The result can be obtained in 1-2 days. An ELISA assay can be used to measure the levels of immunoglobin to identify the chikungunya virus. Results can be obtained within 2-3 days.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Understand what causes chikungunya. Recognize the signs and symptoms of chikungunya. Notice rash and fever. Take note of any muscle or joint pain. Recognize a loss of taste. Get a chikungunya diagnosis.


Controlling, difficult people often do not change easily, if at all. Even after asserting your boundaries, you may find yourself in frequent power struggles. Try to keep your expectations in check. You will probably always have issues with a controlling person, so don't expect a huge change. You can't change another person. Even if you've tried your best to address how their behavior is harmful, a controlling person will not change unless they want to. When interacting with a controlling person, remind yourself you will probably have to restate boundaries and tune out criticism. Controlling people usually have something going on under the surface. Underlying interpersonal issues, such as a tendency towards insecurity, often manifest in a need for control. When being confronted by a controlling person, remind yourself it's not about you. You are probably not doing anything wrong in the situation. The other person just has an intense need for control.  If you know why the person is controlling, try to remind yourself of this in the moment. This can help you remember it isn't about you. For example, "I know my dad is very demanding about my career choices, but his dad was the same way. He doesn't know how to trust me to make my own decisions. It's not about me." Try to look at the types of requests and demands they are making. Are they always about a particular issue, such as cleanliness or punctuality? If so, the person may just have certain preferences and needs. If the problem is more widespread, they may have control issues. This is especially important if you have to interact with a controlling person on a regular basis. For example, if you live with a controlling person or a controlling romantic partner, remind yourself self-care is necessary. When you're catering to the needs of someone who has to constantly be in control, you may neglect your own personal care.  You have a right to care for yourself. You're allowed to give yourself time to exercise, eat right, engage in fun hobbies, and do things that make you happy. Work on making time for your own personal needs, even if you have to tune out criticism to do so. For example, you work early in the morning and need to get a full night's sleep. Your controlling boyfriend expects you to go to bed at the same time he does, but he stays up very late. Go to bed when you want and, if he gives you a hard time, tune it out and then remind him you need to be up in the morning. Sometimes, the easiest way to deal with a controlling person is to get away from them. Work on avoiding the person if your interactions with them have become upsetting for you. This will make your life a lot easier.  If you live with a controlling person, try to limit your time with them to meal times and other short spurts together. If you work with a controlling person, try to limit your time with that person in the office. For example, you might keep your conversations to small talk and try to choose projects that do not require teaming up with this person. If you have a controlling family member, limit interactions with them at family events. Keep things like phone calls as brief as possible. If a relationship is becoming detrimental to your wellbeing, it's okay to walk away. Some people are simply too toxic to ever be willing to change. If someone continually violates your boundaries, end the relationship. Life is too short to spend around people who are hurtful and controlling.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Keep your expectations realistic. Remind yourself it's not personal. Take care of yourself. Limit interactions. Walk away if necessary.


Wherever you live there are more likely to be certain types of storms versus others. Knowing this lets you figure out what type of storms to prepare for. It can also save you from having unnecessary stress about weather that is unlikely to happen. You can figure this out by watching local weather forecasts, doing an internet search, and asking neighbors. Having a plan that your family understands can help all of the people in your family know what to do when a storm hits. Make sure to plan out:   Where to take shelter in your home. What phone number to call in case of emergency. How you will get out of your home in an emergency. Where family members will meet if a storm hits while you are not all at home. You should have enough water so each family member can have one gallon of water per day for 3 days. You should have enough food to feed your whole family for 3 days as well. This food and water should be put in a location where you can reach it during a disaster, such as in the spot where you will take shelter during a storm. Canned food that is ready to eat, such as tuna, beans, or fruit, is a good choice for your emergency food supply. You can also put protein bars, dried fruit, dried cereal, and non-perishable pasteurized milk in your stash. If the storm is likely to cause a lot of damage, it's important to be prepared for a variety of problems. Things that you should put in a basic supply kit include:  Flashlights and extra batteries. Emergency radio.  First aid kit. Whistle, to alert people to your location. Personal sanitation products, such as garbage bags, toilet paper, paper towels, wet wipes, and tampons/pads. Plastic tarps Extra warm clothes. Dusk masks. Utility shut off tools.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Know what kind of severe weather events are common in your area. Make a severe weather plan. Store an emergency supply of food and water. Create an emergency supply kit.


Facebook Messenger is available for free from the Google Play Store. You can also open the Messenger store page directly by attempting to chat with someone in the Facebook app. A list of results that match Messenger will be displayed. Choose the Messenger app developed by "Facebook," which should be towards the top of the list. Review the required permissions and then tap "Accept" if you still want to install.  On Android 6.0 and later, you'll be prompted to accept permissions when you launch the app as opposed to when you download it. Enter your Google account password (if prompted). Depending on your security settings, you may be asked to enter your password before you can download the app. This may take a few minutes. Depending on your Play Store settings, you may need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network in order to download the app. You can find it on one of your Home screens or in your App Drawer. You can also tap the "Open" button on the Messenger store page. If you have the Facebook app installed on your Android device already, you'll be prompted to continue with the same account in Messenger. You can log in with a different account by tapping "Switch Accounts." You no longer need to have a Facebook account to use Messenger, as long as you are in the United States, Canada, Peru, or Venezuela. Note that you're limited to chatting with people in your phone's contact list that use Messenger, and won't have access to Facebook friends.  Tap the "Not on Facebook?" button on the login screen. Enter your phone number when prompted. Enter the code that is sent to your phone via SMS. Enter your name that people will see when chatting with you. You'll be prompted to add your phone number so that friends can find you easier. If you have a number associated with your Facebook account already, it will be displayed here. You can skip this by tapping "Not Now." Facebook Messenger will request access to your device's contacts so that it can let you know if people you add are using Messenger. You can skip this by tapping "Not Now." Uploading your phone's contacts will allow Messenger to keep constant tabs on your contacts list and automatically add contacts that also have a Messenger account. Whenever you add a new number to your phone's contacts, Messenger will check if that number is associated publicly with a Messenger account. If it is, that account will be added to your Messenger friends list. Once you are logged in, you will be shown all of your Facebook conversations. You can use the app to chat with any of your Facebook friends. See Use Facebook Messenger for details.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Open the Google Play Store. Search for "Messenger." Select the "Messenger" from the results. Tap "Install." Wait for the app to download. Launch the Messenger app. Login with your Facebook account. Login without a Facebook account (select regions only). Add your phone number (optional). Decide if you want to upload your phone's contacts (optional). Start using Facebook Messenger.


The Network and Sharing Center is a feature of Windows 10 where you can find that status of your network, the type of connection you have, if you can connect to other computers other than your own, and if you are connected to your network or the internet. " This should correspond to your connection type, for example "Ethernet" will be paired with an ethernet cable "plug" and a wireless network connection will be paired with five bars. This will prompt a window to display that will show the details of your network connection.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Click Start. Go to Settings. Select Ethernet. Go to the Network and Sharing Center. Click on the icon next to "Connections. Click Details.


Salt isn’t, as most think, used in a dish so it will tasty salty. Instead, it has three functions: to reduce bitterness, enhance sweetness and to heighten the aromas and natural tastes of other ingredients. While not all dishes need salt, it generally enhances the overall flavor of most so they don’t taste flat.  If you have a dish that tastes flat or bitter, try adding a three-fingered pinch of salt before anything else. Taste it again. If it’s still not right, add a little more and give it another taste. That might be all it takes. If not, proceed to balancing in other ways. Salt absorbs into food as it sits. If you add too much salt, you can try increasing the sweet or sour components or by diluting the dish a bit with water.  You can also try to compensate by adjusting the side dishes. For example, don’t salt the rice or add a sweet or sour side dish.  To avoid over-concentration when reducing liquids, add salt after the liquid is reduced. The taste of sweet is a great contrast to sour and salty tastes. It can help balance dishes with ingredients having these tastes or if a dish’s flavor becomes too salty or sour. While the sweet taste in most foods comes from sugars – cane sugar (granulated, turbinado, brown, powdered, bakers, fruit, etc.) and beet sugar – it can also come from molasses, maple syrup, honey, carrots, mango and other sweet foods. So consider these as alternatives when creating your recipes.  Sweet really benefits from sour, which is why a squeeze of lemon juice over a fruit salad or cream cheese frosting on cake work so well together.  Unfortunately, because people are consuming more and more packaged foods that often have a lot of high fructose corn syrup and the like, we have become more tolerant of sweetness and require more of it to taste it. At many restaurants, bottles of vinegar are sitting on the table and lemon wedges are served on the side with a number of entrees. That’s because sour as a taste brings out the natural flavors in foods. It also balances sweetness and spiciness and enhances saltiness. It’s generally found in acidic foods like limes, lemons, oranges, sour cream, yogurt and pickled veggies. It’s also in vinegars like balsamic, sherry, red, apple cider and rice. Many other fruits are also classified as sour: raspberries, blueberries, red currants and grapes.  If a dish is too sour, add something sweet or something with fat to balance it.  Sour also helps to balance foods that are too spicy. Bitter is offensive at best and inedible at worst when used in large quantities or when not balanced. But when in harmony with other tastes, particularly sweetness, it adds depth and richness to food. It’s tarty edge also perks up the taste buds. Chocolate and coffee are naturally bitter, as are olives; greens like radicchio, arugula, dandelion and kale; hops; bitter melon; brussel sprouts; turnips; chicory; and grapefruit. Pomegranate juice is used often as well. Experiment with adding arugula, chicory and endive to your salads; thicken sauces with unsweetened chocolate; or deglaze with a bitter liqueur Campari instead of a juice or stock. The last taste discovered, umami, is described as savory or mouthwatering, though there’s not an exact translation from Japanese to English. It amplifies the flavor of a dish and is found in a variety of meats, such as beef, pork, chicken, and cured ham; vegetables, such as shitake mushrooms, truffles, Chinese cabbage, soy beans, and sweet potatoes; seafood, such as prawns, squid, tuna, mackerel, seaweed, and shellfish; and cheeses like parmesan, Gruyere, and Swiss. It’s also in green tea, tomatoes and soy sauce. Bacon also triggers the umami taste.  Aging, curing, ripeness and fermenting all enhance umami.  Going overboard is difficult to correct. The best way is typically to add more ingredients that are not umami-rich. While spicy, floral, earthy, minty, buttery, fruity and so forth aren’t technically tastes in the sense that they aren’t processed by our taste buds, they are tastes in the sense that they are notes in foods that we identify with dishes. For example, if something becomes too spicy, you can balance it with a sweet taste. Think of Mexican chocolate with its pinch of cayenne pepper.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Learn the functions of salt. Find sweet outside of sugar. Brighten up dishes with sour. Beware and be fond of bitter. Discover a fifth taste, umami. Don’t forget other “tastes” in your recipes.


Inflatable rear-seat mattresses are available from a number of online and specialty retailers. Order or purchase one before your planned trip or to keep as an emergency precaution in your vehicle. Make sure to find one that fits your style of car. Most mattresses are sized to fit either subcompact and compact cars or SUVs and minivans. Find a mattress that best fits your personal set-up. When you are ready to use your air mattress, start by cleaning out your back seat. You will need the seat itself as well as the floor below to be clear so that the mattress can sit flat in your car. Move items to the trunk that will not properly fit elsewhere. the mattress. If you have a battery-powered air pump, this will inflate the mattress quickly. Such pumps are easily found at department as well as camping and outdoor stores. If no pump is available, you may have to manually inflate the mattress. Find the air valve and either connect your pump or blow directly into the valve. Make sure all other air release valves are closed before you start inflating. Add pillows and blankets to your bed setup so that you are comfortable while you sleep. Many inflatable mattresses also come with inflatable travel pillows, but any pillow or blanket that keeps you comfortable will work.  If possible, put a layer between you and the mattress. The tops of the mattresses tend to not be a soft fabric. Place a layer between you and the mattress for comfort. If you do not have a pillow and blanket available, use towels, jackets, extra clothes, and whatever else you have available to cover yourself and keep yourself warm. Roll a jacket or a shirt to act as a makeshift pillow if one is not readily available for you. Once your bed is made, you are ready to get some sleep. When you wake up, break down your bed by taking off all of the dressings, opening the air release valve and gently rolling the air out of the bed.  Store your mattress in your trunk, under your seats, or wherever else you have room. If you know that you will be using the mattress again within the next day or so, consider leaving it inflated so that it is ready to use again.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Purchase a rear-seat mattress. Clear out your back seat. Inflate Dress the bed. Get some sleep.


AP credits are offered to high school students who have demonstrated advanced competency in a subject area. However, keep in mind that Advanced Placement credits may satisfy some of the prerequisite requirements, but they may not work for others. For example, Harvard Medical School will accept AP credits in Chemistry in place of 1 semester of college-level chemistry, but they will not accept AP credits in place of the biology or writing requirements. from a 4-year college. You need to earn a Bachelor’s degree before you can enter medical school. Many medical school bound students choose to complete a degree in one of the sciences, such as biology, chemistry, or physics, to ensure that they obtain all of the required prerequisites for entry to medical school. However, you may complete a different degree as long as you complete the required prerequisite courses.  The required prerequisites may vary from school to school, but they usually include 1 year of biology with labs, 2 years of chemistry with labs, 1 year of physics with labs, 1 year of math including calculus and statistics, and 1 year of writing courses. Make sure that you check with the universities to which you are applying to determine their prerequisites. In addition to the intellectual capacity for rigorous work, students will require strong emotional health to deal with the human aspect of medicine. This is why medical schools look at students' applications holistically, which means that they consider what you do in your free time in addition to your performance in the classroom. To show that you have developed the broad skill-set necessary to succeed in medical school – and the kind of work-life balance that fosters a healthy temperament in the workplace – engage in a range of extracurricular activities. Some good choices include:  Sports, such as soccer, hockey, track and field, or volleyball Language clubs, such as a Latin, Russian, or Spanish club Political clubs, such as College Republicans or College Democrats Special interest groups, such as women’s student union, black student union, or LGBTQ student union at a local hospital or clinic. Doing volunteer work is another excellent way to diversify yourself and also gain experience in a medical setting. Volunteer at your local hospital or health clinic for a few hours on 1 day per week. Volunteering in a medical setting may also give you an opportunity to meet and talk to doctors. You can ask them about their path to medicine, how they chose a specialty, and what advice they have for someone who aspires to be a doctor.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Take Advanced Placement tests if they will satisfy a prerequisite. Earn a bachelor’s degree Participate in extracurricular activities to build diverse skills and develop a work-life balance. Volunteer


Before you start up a conversation, you can convey your attraction without saying a word. Don’t go overboard with actions that seem out of character. Simply improving your posture or opening up your shoulders towards him as he walks by can subtly draw attention to yourself. A classic sign of attraction are fluttering eyes. It is scientifically proven that we blink more when we are excited. Subconsciously, batting your eyelashes will let him know that you are excited at his presence and he may respond in kind. If you are at a bar or together at the lunch room, move towards his direction without invading his personal space. You can be as subtle as leaning an inch closer while chatting. People subconsciously move closer to or lean towards someone or something important. Mimic his style and his sensibilities by observing his style cues and mannerisms. For example, if he dresses more conservatively, ensure that you aren’t wearing low cut tops around him. If he is more of a ball cap and tee guy, observe who his favourite team is and wear their team colors. If you have similar hobbies and interests, make sure he knows. Whether you workout at the same gym or talk about your favorite tv series, sharing interests forms an immediate bond. Sports and athletics can be a tricky because there may be chance for injury. If you are more athletic than him, you don’t want to make him feel inadequate. Conversely, don’t force yourself to enjoy a sport that he has been playing as a child. Utilize the chameleon effect by copying how he moves and the idiosyncratic gestures to show that you're interested. The timing of your movements can also play a role in getting his attention. If he reaches for his drink, wait a few seconds and reach for yours. If you copy him a few beats after he has acted, he will subconsciously think that the two of you are in sync, and thus very similar. Exercise caution as you don’t want to over do it and becoming annoying or come off as a stalker.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Emphasize subtle cues. Bat your eyelashes. Move or lean towards him. Mirror him. Participate in similar extracurricular interests. Copy his gestures and speech.


Before you can check the flapper for problems, turn off the water to the toilet. Flush the toilet to drain excess water from the tank. This will allow you to inspect the flapper without having the toilet running constantly.  The flapper is a round rubber seal that stops water from draining from the tank and into the toilet bowl. When you flush the toilet, the chain pulls the flapper up so fresh water can fill the bowl. Problems with the flapper are among the most common causes of a running toilet. Lay down a towel somewhere safe and out of the way, such as in a corner. Hold either end of the lid firmly with both hands and pull the lid off the toilet. Place the lid on the towel to prevent it from getting scratched. Toilet lids are made of heavy ceramic, so don’t place them anywhere they can easily be knocked over. The chain that pulls the flapper up can cause problems if it’s too long or too short. When the chain is too short, it will pull up on the valve when it shouldn’t, allowing water to drain constantly. When the chain is too long, it can get caught underneath the flapper and prevent a seal.  If there's too much tension on the chain, remove the hook attaching the chain to the flush lever. Move the hook up 1 or 2 links until the chain has more slack. Reattach the hook to the flush lever. If the chain is so long that it can get caught under the valve, use a pair of wire cutters to trim a few links from the top of the chain. Reattach the hook to the new top link and reattach it to the flush lever. Remove the flapper by unhooking the sides from the pins at the bottom of the overflow tube, which is the open tube in the center of the tank. Inspect the flapper for mineral deposits, warping, discoloration, disintegration, and other signs of trouble.  You can clean a dirty flapper that’s got mineral buildup on it. A flapper that shows other wear-related problems should be replaced. Mineral deposits from the water can build up on the flapper and prevent it from sealing properly, allowing water to run. To clean the flapper, soak it in a bowl of vinegar for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, scrub the rubber with an old toothbrush to dislodge buildup and dirt.   Alternatively, put a few drops of baby shampoo on a rag and use it to wipe down the flapper. This will clean the flapper and add more elasticity to the rubber. When the flapper is clean, put it back in place. Attach the hooks on the side to the pins on the overflow tube. Turn the water back on and let the toilet tank fill. Listen for the sound of water running to see if that fixed the problem. If the flapper is brittle and hard or doesn’t seal well after cleaning it, purchase a new one. Take the worn flapper to the hardware store and purchase a new flapper in the same style and with the same dimensions. You can also buy a universal flapper that will fit any kind of toilet.  To attach the new flapper, fit in into place and attach the hooks on the side to the pins on the overflow tube. Turn the water back on and test the flapper to see that it’s functioning properly, and that the toilet isn't running.

Provide a summary of the article in two or three sentences:

Turn off the water and drain the toilet. Remove the toilet tank lid and look inside. Adjust the chain length if necessary. Inspect the flapper for problems. Clean a dirty flapper. Replace a worn flapper.