How To

There's no need to look up to see the clouds when you can make your own! Here's how to do it with a bottle and just a few household ingredients.
Edit Steps

1. Fill a plastic bottle with just enough warm water to cover the bottom. You can use a small water bottle, or a large 2-liter soda bottle.
   
   
2. Strike a match. Blow it out after a few seconds and tilt the head of the match into the top of the bottle. Let the smoke from the match fill the bottle, where it will seem to disappear. Discard the match.
   
   
3. Screw the cap onto the bottle. Do not squeeze the sides before the bottle is tightly capped - this prevents the smoke or air escaping.
   
   
4. Squeeze the sides of the bottle hard. Do this three or four times. Wait a few seconds, and squeeze the bottle again, this time holding the squeeze for longer before releasing.
   
   
5. Look at the formation of fog in the bottle. You should see your very own cloud there!
   
   

Edit Tips

• Experiment with how many times and how hard you squeeze the bottle.
• If you do not have matches, you can use a lighter and an incense stick.
• Add a few drops of food coloring to the water to make your cloud different colors.
• Why this works: Squeezing the sides of the bottle forces the particles to squeeze together or compress. Letting the pressure go lets the air expand, and by doing that, the temperature of the air becomes colder. This cooling procedure lets the particles stick together more easily making tiny droplets around the smoke molecules. Most water droplets are created when water vapor condenses around a condensation nucleus, a tiny particle of smoke, dust, ash, or salt. Clouds in the sky come together while the unseen water vapor in the air condenses into visible water droplets or possibly ice crystals.

Edit Warnings

• Use adult supervision when lighting the match if you're a child.
• Don't overdo the squeezing or it will pop.
• Sometimes it doesn't work––just keep trying.
• While squeezing the bottle, the hot water might condense to go outside the bottle; take care.

Edit Things You'll Need

• One clear plastic bottle with a cap
• Warm water
• Matches (let an adult help you)

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Lava Lamp with Household Ingredients
• How to Make Multi Colored Carnations
• How to Squeeze an Egg Without Breaking It
• How to Make the Sky in a Room
• How to Make a Naked Egg
• How to Make a Rainbow
• How to Test Insect Responses to Color
• How to Create Your Own 3D Glasses
• How to Appreciate Inorganic Matter

Edit Sources and Citations

• SteveSpanglerScience.com - More instructions on this experiment and the source of this article.
• [1] - An article from Wikipedia about how clouds form.

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Marching is a formal type of walking that involves its members maintaining a steady heel beat and cadence. This article will explain how to march efficiently and properly.

Edit Steps

1. Remember that marches may vary slightly between activities: marching bands and drill teams may have different styles. Color guard teams usually execute a solemn march, which is slightly slower than the normal pace. The following steps explain how to perform a basic military march.
   
   
2. Stand at the position of attention. At this position, your feet are heels together and spread apart at an approximately 45 degree angle. You should have an upright posture, and your eyes gazing forward. Your hands should be rolled as if you are holding a roll of quarters or a grocery bag.
   
   
3. Wait for the preparatory and executory commands from your commanding officer, if you have one. The most common command is "Forward, March". "Forward" is the preparatory command, to tell you that the executory command is coming. "March" is the executory command. Immediately after the command is called, you start marching.[1]
   
   
4. Start marching with your left foot. This way everyone should "stay in step". If your feet are properly attired, you should be able to hear the heel beat of everyone marching, which will help you to maintain the cadence.[2]
   
   
5. Keep your fingers curled into your palm, but allow your arms to naturally swing back and forth. Do not keep them glued to your sides, or forcibly swing them back and forth.
   
   
6. Maintain military bearing, posture, and professionalism. Your movement should have snap and precision. Keep your eyes gazed forward, do not look to the left or right.
   
   
7. Use your peripheral vision to stay aligned with the people to your front and right. You want to maintain approximately the same distance (normally arm's length) throughout the march.
   
   
8. Halt when ordered by taking one more step with the left foot after the executory command is called, and then bringing the right foot back to form at the position of attention.
   
   

Marching commands

1. Learn the following commands to assist your understanding:
   • "Fall in" - Individuals form a formation at the position of attention.
   • "Attention" - Individuals snap to the position in which they are standing straight, looking forward, and not moving.
   • "Open ranks, MARCH" - Movement in which each row (rank) spreads out from another row.
   • "Close ranks, MARCH" - Movement in which the formation is restored to its normal interval.
   • "Dress right, DRESS" - Movement in which individuals except those on the extreme left side raise their left arms parallel to the ground and lock their heads to the far right in order to get the proper distance from each other. This is maintained until the command: "Ready, FRONT." At which point, the individuals return to the position of attention.
   • "Rest" - Individuals are permitted light movement and may also engage in quiet conversation as long as their right leg is planted on the ground. Can also be expressed by the command "Relax"
   • "Forward, MARCH" - Individuals begin marching, from the left foot and a 30-inch step (Army) or 24-inch step (Air Force) at 120 steps per minute.
   • "Company/Platoon/Squad/Detail, HALT" or in the Air Force, "Wing/Group/Squadron/Flight, HALT"- Used to stop a unit (formation) from marching by calling it ether on the right or left foot.
   • "Right Flank, MARCH" - The whole formation turns 90 degrees and continues to march.
   • "COVER" - Used to align to the person in front of them in formation.
   • "Right (called on the right foot) step, MARCH" - Individuals take side steps to the right. Do the opposite for a left step.
   • "Column Half Right (called on the right foot), MARCH" - A 45-degree pivot to the right (left) while marching.
   • "Column Half Left, MARCH" - Every individual executes a 45-degree pivot to the left while marching.
   • "Column right (called on the right foot), MARCH" - A movement in which the entire formation executes a series of turns depending on their position. The goal of this movement is to get the entire formation to turn to the right (left) while keeping the same people in the same positions known as column formation.
   • "To the rear, MARCH" - A turn 180 degrees while marching, also executed to the right.
   • "Change step, MARCH" - Individuals execute a movement in order to get on step with the formation.
   • "Route step or At Ease, March" - Individuals walk normally without being in step. Often used on long marches or when crossing a bridge to avoid creating harmonic rhythms.
   • "Extend, MARCH" - A movement in which the formation widens. "Extend, MARCH" in the Marine Corps.
   • "Close, MARCH" - A movement in which the formation narrows in width.
   • "Mark time, MARCH" - Marching in place.
   • "Half step, MARCH" - Marching at half the distance, often bringing the upper leg parallel to the ground. 15-inch Steps.
   • "Double time, MARCH" - Marching at twice the cadence of "Forward March;" 100 to 180 steps per min. something of a light jog. The unit is still required to keep in step.[3]

Edit Tips

• Practice, when possible, to perfect your skill.
• Always keep in mind the heel beat and cadence of the march.
• Normal march pace is 90 beats per minute, double time is 180, and half step is 45.

Edit Warnings

• Commands and expectation may vary depending on the country and organization. Be sure to check for any specific variation.
• Don't lock your knees when standing at attention, because this can cause you to faint. Loosen them up a little bit but keep them straight enough to maintain military appearance.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Drill/dress/parade shoes if available (makes movement easier)
• Hard floor surface (carpeting silences heel beats)

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to March In Marching Band
• How to Stand at Attention
• How to March in a Military High School Marching Band
• How to Play the Trumpet
• How to Twirl a Baton

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A Kamikaze is a shaken cocktail made with vodka, triple sec and lime juice. A Kamikaze is usually served in a small rocks glass or cocktail glass without ice, but it can also be served on the rocks. No garnish is needed. Edit Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) vodka
• 1 oz (30 ml) triple sec
• 1 oz (30 ml) lime juice or sweet and sour mix
• Ice

Edit Steps

1. Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
   
   
   
   
2. Add the vodka, triple sec and lime juice or sweet and sour mix to the shaker.
   
   
   
   
3. Cap the shaker.
   
   
   
   
4. Shake the ingredients vigorously for about five seconds.
   
   
   
   
5. Strain into a small rocks glass or cocktail glass without ice.
   
   
   
   
6. Serve.
   
   
   
   

Edit Video Edit Tips

• See How to make a shaken cocktail for detailed information about making shaken cocktails.
• Use less or more vodka depending on the size of the glass that you are using.

Edit Warnings

• Drink alcoholic beverages responsibly.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Cocktail shaker
• Cocktail strainer
• Glasses

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make Christmas Pudding Flavoured Vodka
• How to Make a Fruit Tingle Cocktail
• How to Make a Melon Ball Cocktail
• How to Make a Harvey Wallbanger
• How to Create a Cocktail Menu

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Can’t decide between having waffles or bacon for breakfast? Why compromise when your bacon can meet your waffles for an extremely tasty treat? All you’ll need are the ingredients for traditional waffle batter and a package of bacon to create your bacon waffles. Unfortunately, frozen waffles topped with a few slices of bacon won’t make the cut, so get ready to crack a few eggs and whip up the batter. Edit Ingredients

• 6 pieces bacon
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 large eggs

Edit Steps

1. Crisp the bacon slices. You can take one of two approaches––cooking the bacon on a stovetop or in the oven. Both methods produce crisp bacon, although the stove top method is a little faster.
   • Heat an ungreased skillet on low and then place the raw bacon slices in the skillet. Line bacon in a uniform fashion so that it cooks evenly.
   • Brown each side of bacon for approximately five to six minutes. The browning process will vary based on the bacon thickness, type of skillet you use and the stovetop heat.
   • Transfer each piece of cooked bacon to a cooling rack or a plate lined with paper towels.
   • Dab each slice of bacon to remove excess grease. You want to avoid having residual grease leak into your waffle batter––this will compromise the integrity of the batter and make the waffles taste greasy.
   • Rip the bacon into small pieces and set aside.
2. Create the waffle batter. Using a traditional waffle batter will bring out and accentuate the taste of the bacon:
   • Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Instead of using a mixer, consider hand mixing using a large spoon or rubber spatula so you avoid over-mixing.
   • In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk with only 2 tablespoons of the canola oil and eggs.
   • Fold the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir well using a large spoon or rubber spatula.
   • Gently fold the pieces of bacon into the mixture. Try to distribute bacon evenly throughout the mixture so that each waffle will contain an even amount of bacon.
3. Create the waffles. Owning a waffle iron is key to creating bacon waffles, however you can still enjoy this breakfast treat by simply turning your waffles into pancakes by using a plain old skillet.
   • Preheat the waffle iron and brush each side with a small amount of canola oil. The remaining 2 tablespoons of canola oil will be used to coat the waffle iron in to avoid the waffles from sticking.
   • Pour approximately ½ cup of the batter into the waffle iron. Amounts may vary based on the waffle iron size. Using ½ cup should accommodate a standard 7-inch (17.5cm) iron.
   • Cook for 6 to 8 minutes depending on the heat and your individual waffle iron. The idea is to cook the waffle until it is lightly browned, however like ovens and stovetops, heat settings and irons will vary.
4. Top the waffles with decadent flourishes. No bacon infused waffle is complete without special toppings. Use your imagination, but some mouthwatering ideas include:
   • Candied brown sugar syrup. Combine ½ cup of brown sugar, 1/3 cup of crushed candid walnuts and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Sprinkle mixture over each waffle.
   • Homemade whipped cream. Skip the grocery bought whipped cream and make your own. Combine 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of confectioner’s sugar in a mixer. Pour heavy cream in the mixer and beat until small white peaks form. Beat in vanilla and sugar until well combined and top waffle.
   • Old fashioned maple syrup and crushed bacon. Sometimes a traditional topping is the best. Consider warming good maple syrup in a small pan before pouring over waffle. Then top with extra pieces of crushed leftover crisp bacon to accentuate the waffle.

Edit Tips

• Add more bacon slices to the batter if you prefer a bacon heavy waffle.
• Infuse your bacon and batter with maple syrup. Pour 2 tablespoons of syrup over bacon as it crisps. Then add 4 tablespoons of syrup to your buttermilk batter.
• Save time by purchasing pre-cooked/browned bacon.

Edit Warnings

• Before adding bacon to the waffle batter, make sure bacon is completely cooked and crispy.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Skillet
• Waffle iron
• Mixing bowl and spoon

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Spice Up a Plain Waffle
• How to Make Thin Mint Cake Pops
• How to Cook Bacon
• How to Make Home Fries (Breakfast Potatoes)
• How to Make an Omelet With Waffles

Edit Sources and Citations

• http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/maple-bacon-waffles-10000001932435/ – research source

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A Diophantine equation is an algebraic equation with the additional restriction that we are only concerned with solutions in which the variables are integers. In general, Diophantine equations are very difficult to solve and there are many approaches. (Fermat's Last Theorem is a famous Diophantine equation that sat unsolved for over 350 years.)

However, linear Diophantine equations of the form ax + by = c can be solved relatively easily by the algorithm described here. By using this method, we can find (4,7) as the only solution in positive integers to 31x + 8y = 180. Division in modular arithmetic can also be expressed as a linear Diophantine equation. For example, 12/7 (mod 18) asks for the solution to 7x = 12 (mod 18) and can be rewritten as 7x = 12 + 18y or 7x - 18y = 12. While some of the diophantine equations are extremely difficult to solve, you can give this one a try.

Edit Steps

1. If it isn't already, put the equation in the form ax + by = c.
2. Euclid's algorithm shows that 87 and 64 are relatively prime. The quotients in red are needed later. Apply Euclid's Algorithm to the coefficients a and b. This has two purposes. First, we want to know if a and b have a common factor. If we are trying to solve 4x + 10y = 3, we can then quickly assert that since the left-hand side is always even and the right-hand side always odd, no integer solutions exist. Similarly, if we had 4x + 10y = 2, we could simplify the problem to 2x + 5y = 1. The second reason is that, provided a solution exists, we can construct one from the sequence of quotients obtained from Euclid's Algorithm.
3. If a, b, and c have a common factor, then simplify the equation by dividing the left and right sides of the equation by that factor. If a and b have a common factor not shared by c, then stop. There are no integer solutions.
4. Start like this.Build a three row table as shown.
5. Add quotients to top rowPopulate the top row of the table with the quotients from Euclid's Algorithm. The image shows how this would look for solving 87x - 64y = 3.
6. The table is now partially filled.Populate the bottom two rows from left to right by the following procedure: For each cell, compute the product of the top cell of that column and the cell immediately to the left of the empty cell. Fill the empty cell with that product plus the value two cells to the left.
7. A completely filled table. The solution is hidden in the last two columns.Look at the last two columns in the completed table. The final column should contain a and b, the coefficients from the equation in step 3. (If not, recheck your calculations.) The second to last column will contain two other numbers. In the example with a = 87 and b = 64, the penultimate column contains 34 and 25.
8. Notice that 87*25 - 64*34 = -1. The determinant of the 2x2 matrix in the lower right will always be either plus or minus 1. If negative, multiply both sides of the identity by -1 to get -87*25 + 64*34 = 1. This observation is the starting point from which we can build a solution.
9. Return to the original equation. Rewrite the identity in the previous step as either 87*(-25) + 64*(34) = 1 or 87*(-25) - 64*(-34) = 1, whichever best resembles the original equation. For the example, the second choice is preferred since it matches the -64y term in the original when y = -34.
10. Only now do we need to look at the constant term c on the right-hand side of the equation. Since the previous equation demonstrates a solution to ax + by = 1, multiplying both sides by c to get a(cx) + b(cy) = c. If (-25, -34) is a solution to 87x - 64y = 1, then (-75, -102) is a solution to 87x-64y = 3.
11. If a linear Diophantine equation has any solutions, then it has infinitely many solutions. This is because ax + by = a(x+b) + b(y-a) = a(x+2b) + b(y-2a), and in general ax + by = a(x+kb) + b(y-ka) for any integer k. Therefore, since (-75,-102) is a solution to 87x-64y = 3, other solutions are (-11,-15), (53,72), (117,159), etc. The general solution could be written as (53+64k, 72+87k) where k is any integer.

Edit Tips

• You should be able to do this with pencil and paper, but when working with larger numbers, a calculator, or better yet, a spreadsheet can be very helpful.
• Check your answer. The identity in step 8 should catch any errors made in Euclid's algorithm or in filling out the table. Checking the final answer against the original equation should catch any other errors.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Pencil and paper, maybe a calculator

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Learn Algebra
• How to Understand Linear Equations (in Algebra)
• How to Use Like Terms in Algebra
• How to Understand Algebra

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While the term "primavera" is defined as the spring season, in culinary terms, it's typically referred to crisp vegetables in the spring. The possibilities and vegetable combinations are endless. Primavera sauce is usually an olive oil and garlic base, but is also commonly an Alfredo or heavy cream base. Here is how to make a simple pasta primavera version using Alfredo sauce. Edit Ingredients

• 8 ounces (227g) uncooked fettuccine or linguine
• 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
• 1 cup (91g) broccoli
• 1 cup (100g) cauliflower
• 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 cup (134g) frozen green peas, rinsed to separate
• 1/4 cup (40g) onion, chopped
• 1 container (10 ounces) refrigerated Alfredo pasta sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Edit Steps

1. Cook the pasta to al dente.Cook the pasta to al dente.
2. Over a medium high heat, cook the vegetables in a large skillet with the olive/vegetable oil.Over a medium high heat, cook the vegetables in a large skillet with the olive/vegetable oil. Stir frequently for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp.
3. Stir the Alfredo sauce in the skillet and lower the temperature.Stir the Alfredo sauce in the skillet and lower the temperature.
4. Drain the pasta completely and add it to the skillet.Drain the pasta completely and add it to the skillet. Mix thoroughly and heat through. Remove from the heat.
5. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and serve.Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and serve.

Edit Video Edit Tips

• Pasta primavera is supposed to show bright and crisp colors in the dish.
• Meat, such as chicken and shrimp, can be added, but not as the "focus".

Edit Things You'll Need

• Large skillet
• Large pot
• Colander

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make Simple Absorption Pasta
• How to Make Seafood Fettuccini
• How to Make Buttered Noodles
• How to Make Vegetarian Cannelloni

Edit Sources and Citations

• Original source of article, Betty Crocker, http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pasta-primavera Pasta Primavera
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta_primavera

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Lemonade Kool Aid can be used as more than a tangy drink––it can also be put to a second use as a dishwasher cleaner. The citric acid content in it will remove lime and iron build-up from inside a dishwasher, leaving it nice and clean for the next round of washes.

Edit Steps

1. Purchase unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid. It must be this flavor only because of its citric acid content and lack of color. If you like lemonade, buy enough for a drink and a clean!
   
   
2. Sprinkle the entire single package of Kool-Aid into the dishwasher powder holder.
   
   
3. Remove any dishes in the dishwasher. The method should run using an empty machine only.
   
   
4. Run a normal cycle wash. The lemonade Kool-Aid will clean away as it runs through the cycle.
   
   
5. Use the dishwasher as usual after cleaning. It should be free of iron stains and lime deposits after the Kool-Aid clean.
   
   

Edit Tips

• If you don't get Kool-Aid where you live, run any sugarless/unsweetened lemonade mix through the machine instead. Use about a tablespoon worth.

Edit Warnings

• Only the lemonade variety should be used; first because it is the only one that works and second, because a red or green streaked dishwasher doesn't look good.
• Do not use a lemonade mix containing sugar. This will leave a sticky residue.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Lemonade Kool-Aid powder or other unsweetened lemonade powder

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Remove Dish Soap from a Dishwasher
• How to Make Substitute Laundry or Dishwasher Detergent
• How to Clean Tile Grout Using a Dishwasher Tablet
• How to Start a Stalled Dishwasher
• How to Clean and Maintain a Dishwasher

Edit Sources and Citations

• Inspired by Real Simple magazine.

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A typical brainstorming session consists of groups of individuals coming together to generate ideas surrounding a particular cause or topic. While the usual brainstorming session involves a bevy of chatter, consider trying a nonverbal brainstorming session, especially if old methods don’t seem to be doing the trick.

Edit Steps

1. Play “go find” surrounding the topic at hand. For example, if your team is brainstorming about how to sell a certain product, provide each team member with a copy of the product and then ask them to “go find” other items that convey or describe the product.
   • Break your team into pairs of two or play the game with individual players.
   • Provide either the actual product, prototype/model or a photo/description of the product. For example, if you're trying to sell cars, you probably won’t be able to give each team member a vehicle during the exercise.
   • Allow team members a certain amount of time to find items and parameters of where to look. You may want to limit the search to the office or within office property. Also, since this game could go on for hours on end, keep track of time and allot each team up to an hour, for example to search.
   • Suggest that for each descriptive item found, the teammate must write a short statement or draw a visual depiction as to why that item best describes or promotes the product. For instance, if you're brainstorming about how to make dog food seem healthier, you could gather some of the wholesome ingredients and write about or visually depict how real food, not byproducts are in this dog food.
   • Ask each teammate or team to create a display making use of his or her items. Give teams creative freedom as to how they’d like to display items, such as using display boards, tables and any other fun tools. Another approach is a visual demonstration using mime, imagery, improvisation or skits (a little "talking" could be permitted but only if it is like a play, not like a meeting discussion––improvisation can force participants to use rhyme, singing and gestures rather than the usual talk).
   • Request that everyone walks through the room to see what other team members have found. Suggest that individuals take notes surrounding each display which they can use later to come together as a unit to discuss. Doing so could take the brainstorming session to a new creative level. For the visual demonstration, simply have observers make notes as and when they like while watching, for later discussion.
2. Host a crazy movie night where everyone is a critic. Sometimes the best ideas can be derived from a film. Consider having an inspirational movie night or week (depending on your team size and amount of time) to pull brainstorming ideas from beloved films.
   
   
   • Ask each person to suggest one or two films that they feel best describes the topic at hand. Films should be easily accessible on DVD and can be viewed at work or at a team member’s home. Make a few rules before viewing movies, such as film ratings and length so that no one brings in a lengthy, inappropriate film.
   • Over the course of an evening, few days/afternoons or a week, host movie watching event. Request that the person who suggested the film(s) write a quick synopsis of why this film was chosen for the brainstorming project.
   • Provide each participant with a sheet of paper and a pen to write about why they believe the film inspired or did not inspire them as they're watching the movie.
   • Request that each participant provide two to three ideas derived by watching the film on how to sell or promote the topic.
   • Collect and maintain a file of the ideas and participant’s thoughts. When the team has watched all of the films, have the group review the entire file and begin a collaborative idea writing session based on the thoughts produced by watching the films.
3. Write a “fill-in-blank” story to generate ideas. The idea is to write a collaborative story based on a particular topic with the goal of reaching a new creative height. Each participant is given directional goals and writing parameters prior to the writing session.
   • The team leader begins the story by writing the initial sentence. This sentence will set the tone for the story, however as the story travels from participant to participant, it is expected to morph and develop. The initial sentence could begin something like: “Once upon a time there was a lonely bottle of mustard who was lost on a shelf in the grocery store” (in the event selling mustard was your charge).
   • Without speaking, the team leader will slide the story to the next participant who must write a specific number of sentences that build upon the initial statement. Be sure you designate how many sentences each participant should write.
   • The last person to contribute to the story arrives at a conclusion and passes the story to the team leader.
   • Without showing anyone, the team leader makes enough copies of the story for each participant and distributes the completed story to each participant.
   • The participants should read the story in its entirely and then arrive at a statement that describes the story.
   • The team leader collects all of the statements and then the group reviews the statements in order to arrive at a creative slant or way to promote or sell the item.
4. Describe random items using out-of-the-box words and phrases in order to get the creative juices flowing. This brainstorming session may not specifically lead to answers on how to sell a particular item, but may serve as an ice breaker for a hard core brainstorming session to follow.
   • Gather several household/random items such as a hat, spoon, mixing bowl, dust buster etc. Provide several envelopes, pieces of paper and pens for each participant.
   • Set the items up on individual tables within a room. Allow for enough space between items and possibly try to match the same number of items you have as participants (for example, if you have 10 people in the brainstorming session, find 10 household/random items).
   • Ask each participant to stand in front of one item with a piece of paper and a pen. Request that the participant study the item for a few minutes, taking in its features.
   • Ask each participant or team to write down five adjectives that describe the item. Suggest that instead of thinking deeply about which adjectives would work best, to just write down words that quickly come to mind.
   • Give participants a certain amount of time to write down their words and then ask everyone to move to a new item until everyone has describe each item in the room.
   • Request that each participant or team place their piece(s) of paper in the envelope and place the envelope either in a hat or on the table. Mix up the envelopes.
   • Invite a participant to randomly select one envelope. The group should study the word list and then have to find the item in the room that is being described.
5. Hold art class instead of a meeting. Hand out art smocks and easels with paper and paints/markers to each participant. Tell them to paint several images that come to mind when particular objects, words or anything else is shown to them.
   
   
   • Tell each participant that artistic ability is not being judged. They are free to paint, draw, squiggle, doodle, etc., however they like, whatever comes to mind. In fact, they're not to delay, as it's their initial ideas that count most.
   • At the end, pass the images around the group to gauge other people's thoughts and to see what new inspiration arises as a result of the images team members have drawn or painted.

Edit Tips

• Consider trying a brainstorming session that plays on the senses including touch and smell if you're working with an item or product that plays mainly on the senses (such as food).
• Music in the background can often aid creativity.
• It's helpful to have someone keep track of things as they evolve because ideas at any stage of the brainstorming can prove useful later on. Take photos, write notes and record your observations. These can later be uploaded to an internal wiki or intranet for people to view again and be re-inspired by what they see.

Edit Warnings

• Even though you aren’t vocalizing ideas, never be critical or attack another person in writing or give someone a dirty look if you don’t like their idea. The notion of brainstorming is to be open to any ideas.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Items to facilitate the session, such as paper, pens, movies, etc.
• A willingness to let things lead wherever they go

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Brainstorm With a Group of People
• How to Brainstorm
• How to Brainstorm Alone
• How to Brainstorm Using Bubbl.Us
• How to Brainstorm Small Business Ideas

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Archimedes' principle states that "an immersed body is buoyed up by a force that is equal to the weight of the fluid that it displaces". Fluids are liquids as well as gases. A container that has a volume of one liter that is completely submerged in water will displace one liter of water. One liter of water has a mass of one kilogram, so weighs one kilogram. If the container that has a volume of one liter weighs less than one kilogram, it will float. If the container weighs more than one kilogram, it will sink. Edit Steps

1. Take an empty plastic soda bottle and cap it tightly.
   
   
2. Place a bucket (or similar watertight container) in or on a larger container that can hold water. Water from the bucket must be able to overflow into the larger container, and the larger container must catch and hold the water.
   
   
3. Fill the bucket completely with water. Don't leave any room for any additional water. The bucket must be large enough for the bottle to fit in it.
   
   
4. Press the soda bottle into the bucket so that it is completely submerged. The water will overflow into the larger container and it will be difficult to hold the bottle in the water.
   
   
5. Collect the water that has overflowed into the larger container.
   
   
6. Weigh it. The weight of the water will be about equal to the force that was required to press the bottle under the water. The bottle is filled with air, which weighs much less than water. Water is denser than air, so has a greater mass per unit of volume and therefore weighs more.
   
   
7. Repeat the experiment with a the same bottle, but fill the bottle with water. Notice how much easier it is to submerge the bottle, even though the same amount of water is displaced.
   
   

Edit Tips

• Try the experiment with different objects. All objects of the same size will displace the same amount of water, and therefore will be buoyed up by the same amount of force. However, if an object that displaces one kilogram of water weighs more than one kilogram, it will sink.

Edit Warnings

• Water and containers such as buckets can be dangerous when used by unsupervised children. This experiment should be conducted under the supervision of an adult.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Soda bottle
• Bucket
• Water

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Bend Water with Static Electricity
• How to Appreciate Inorganic Matter
• How to Draw the Golden Spiral

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Whether this is your first 5K or your fiftieth, it’s always a good idea to put a solid training plan in place and have a goal before race day. For some it’s achieving a certain time or place, whereas for others it's basically finishing the race. Although many training programs suggest that you train for 12 or more weeks prior to the race, you can accomplish a full training program in only 10 provided you're dedicated and consistent. The following program may be a good fit for someone who is at the beginner/intermediate levels.

Edit Steps

1. Evaluate your fitness level. Taking weather and other factors into consideration (if you are testing your fitness level after work or on no sleep), test your endurance to see what you are made of––today.
   
   
   • Take both cardio and muscle fitness into consideration. Although running is mainly a cardio activity, you will need muscular fitness and agility to propel you to the next level.
   • Measure your strength by taking the push up and sit up test. Track (or have a friend help) how many push ups and sit ups you can do within one minute. Women can perform a modified version of the push up and your fitness level is determined by your age versus the number of push ups or sit ups you can perform. For example, a woman who can do 39 plus push ups in her 30’s is in excellent muscular condition.
   • Determine your cardio level by taking the three minute step test and the one mile walk test. Both tests measure aerobic fitness but the three minute step test involves stepping up and off a box or a stair for three consecutive minutes. With this test you are measuring your pulse. A good pulse rate for a man between ages of 56 to 65 would be 86 to 94, for example. The one mile walking test basically demonstrates how fast you can walk a mile. Generally speaking, anyone who walks a 20 minute plus mile is considered to within the “poor” range, whereas if you can walk a mile within the 11 to 15 or 18 minute pace, you aren’t doing so poorly.
2. Check out your shoes. Another important factor before you run a single step are shoes. Everyday sneakers won’t do if you're going to run a 5K, so visit your local running or fitness store or a running shoe clinic for a decent fitting pair. If money is an issue, ask about shoes that may be discontinued or on sale.
   
   
   • Ask the clerk if you can test drive the shoes on a treadmill. The only way you’ll know if the shoes will work is to try them first. Most running stores have an in-store treadmill for a test drive, so go for a slow jog to see if you like the shoes.
   • Let the clerk know if you have any foot issues. Pronation or flat feet are definitely worth mentioning to the shoe store clerk, as certain brands offer shoes to help keep your feet in line and your body free of injury.
3. Begin your workout routine slowly, even if you're in tip-top shape. Unless you run every day, ease into your 5K, or 3.01 mile run.
   • The first three weeks should involve running/walking only three days per week. Your body is like a rubber band––pull it too quickly, especially when it's not warmed up and primed, and it will snap (meaning your muscles may cramp and/or tighten). Easing into your workout will set you up for success later in your training.
   • Week one should involve both light jogging and walking. Even if your goal is to run a fast paced mile, consider week one to be your “warm up” week. On day one, two and five tackle one to two miles (depending on your fitness level) and walk approximately 90 percent of the workout. Jog for one to three minutes and then walk for five, for example. However, do not casually stroll––power walk and then cool down toward the end with a slower walk. Days two, four, six and seven are rest days or you could do yoga or strength training if you are feeling vibrant.
   • Week two means that it’s time to take training up a notch. Continue with the same pattern of rest days (days two, four, six and seven). However, attempt to do more jogging than walking this week. If your body feels comfortable, try walking only 80 percent of the workout.
   • Week three is when you should start to get that itch to do more and go harder. You will still be doing the same routine with days off and perhaps still walking 80 percent of the time but you're effectively training your entire cardiovascular system to withstand distance cardio endurance.
4. Use mid-training weeks to ramp up your efforts. The actual “training” occurs during weeks four through seven. This is when you work on pace, speed and endurance.
   • Week four is when you ease into your more intense training. You can still take the same number of days off, however instead of walking 80 percent of your workout, you should be running/jogging 50 percent of the time. If you feel comfortable, add another mile so that you're running three complete miles this week.
   • Add another training day to week five so that you're running/walking on days one, three, five and seven. If you hadn’t increased your mileage to three miles by now, this is the week to do so. Also, practice interval training this week. Run as fast as you can for 30 seconds to one minute and then slow down and walk briskly for three minutes. Repeat this routine for up to one mile and then complete your last two miles at a normal, comfortable pace. Interval training will help you boost your speed and endurance.
   • Weeks six and seven should mirror each other. These are your most intense weeks throughout the training schedule. Workout on days one, three, five and seven; however, each workout should include three miles with interval training performed at least twice during the week. Attempt to increase your sprint time from one minute to two if possible and, instead of dropping down to a brisk walk, consider jogging in between sprints.
5. Consider the last few weeks of training to be your wind down time and weeks to rest and prepare for the race.
   • Week eight should begin your gradual wind down before race day. Take a long jog and short walk on days one, three and five––no more interval training. Continue running/walking three miles so that your body is completely conditioned to handle it on race day.
   • Week nine should be light jogs throughout the week. Take your mileage down to two and jog on days one, three, five and seven.
   • Week 10––you made it! Some experts suggest you only run or jog one or two days before race day. Depending on which day your race lands, avoid running or working out at least one to two days before the race so your body can rest, repair and rejuvenate. Only light jogging three days during this week should do the trick to keep your muscles limber and ready to race.

Edit Tips

• See your doctor for a complete physical before you embark upon a 5K, especially if you’ve been a couch potato.
• Practice deep breathing exercises during your run. If you feel exhausted or in pain, blow air from your mouth to release the carbon dioxide from your system. This should help reduce any tightness and help you continue to run.
• If you feel a side stitch during the race don’t stop dead in your tracks. Instead, take your pace down and breath through the pain.

Edit Warnings

• If you feel shooting pain in your knees, hips or chest, stop running. Speak to a physician about any acute pain that may have been caused by running.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Decent running shoes
• Training gear
• Plan chart or similar for noting your progress

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Train for a 5K
• How to Run a 20:00 5K
• How to Relieve Stress With Running
• How to Keep Running Even if You Know You Have to Stop
• How to Push Yourself When Running

Edit Sources and Citations

• Original author is a runner by hobby.

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The term, “liar, liar pants on fire” takes on new meaning when dealing with a pathological liar. This person may not be completely rooted in reality, believing the lies they tell, often in an effort to remedy low self esteem. Unlike telling a few fibs here and there, or slightly exaggerating the truth once in a while, the pathological liar lies about literally every aspect of his or her life. From how much was spent on dinner last night to talking about the last time the dog was bathed, the pathological liar feels that every bit of communication has strategic meaning positioned for his or her gain.

Being lied to on a consistent basis is not only frustrating but also disrespectful to the other person. So how do you determine if you're dealing with someone who may drop a few fibs on occasion versus a true pathological liar? A few clues and steps may help you draw a sensible conclusion.

Edit Steps

1. Understand what a pathological liar is. Basically, a pathological liar is someone who tells lies habitually, chronically and compulsively. It has simply become a way of life for this person, to make up things for a variety of reasons and eventually, the truth becomes uncomfortable while weaving whoppers feels right to them. This kind of lying tends to develop early on in life, often as a response to difficult home or school situations that seemed to resolve better if the child lied. It's a bad habit, not a manipulative trait––this is how to differentiate a pathological liar from a sociopath who does seek to manipulate.[1]
2. Determine whether the person’s details and information comes across as consistent every time they tell a story. Find an easy, run-of-the-mill story, such as what the person had for dinner last night. They may tell you pasta and broccoli, but then may tell you and/or others that lobster and champagne was involved. Details and information will constantly change and evolve.
   • Compare and contrast both big and small details. From the number of people in the liar’s story to the actual storyline itself, recall what has changed and how often the details have changed in the story.
   • Keep tally of the cast of characters involved in the story. If, for example, suddenly the third time the story is told, the cops show up, you have to start wondering if he or she is telling the full truth.
   • Recall the frequency of the lies. Pathological liars will lie consistently, which is one thing you can count on––they will lie all the time. Conduct a non-scientific experiment and inquire about certain aspects of the person’s life everyday. Choose something random like what the person ate for dinner or watched on TV the evening before. Ask the person the same question throughout the day to see if it changes––play into the lie by either getting excited or showing intrigue when the person embellishes the story. Don't give away that you've heard a different answer before.
3. Compare stories with mutual friends of both you and the person you suspect of being a pathological liar, to determine if the story has changed or reshaped to accommodate certain personalities. Certain details may be morphed to create drama or draw attention to the liar.
   • Trying to pit friends/family members against each other. If the liar was involved in an argument he or she may change the details so that he or she looks better. Also, he or she may involve other parties, making up information about the other party in order to get more people on his or her side.
   • Trying to avoid trouble. If the liar has done something wrong, he or she will do whatever is necessary to avoid blame––that means fabricating a story and/or pinning culpability on another person.
   • Fabricating a lie in order to attention. The main goal with many pathological liars is to gain positive notoriety. From being bored to having low self esteem, the pathological liar’s goal is to look better than everyone else, so that people pay attention and worship their accomplishments.
4. Consider whether the person is lying to gain attention. Part of the reason the pathological liar feels compelled to lie is because he or she may feel as though being in the spotlight has eluded them. This person feels that he or she should be the center of everyone’s universe and will do what he or she can to make it happen. Upon tasting the spotlight, it becomes self-reinforcing and the lies grow bigger each time just to keep on being the center of attention. Here are some possibilities:
   • Sympathy attention. The pathological liar feels that his or her problems are paramount to what everyone else is experiencing. From a paper cut to being admonished by a boss or teacher, the pathological liar runs around telling his or her story to anyone and everyone, exaggerating the details to ridiculous proportions in order to gain sympathy from anyone within earshot.
   • Wants to feel important. The pathological liar is the king or queen of the “one upper.” Whatever accomplishment you’ve achieved, they done it better. This person always has to feel superior to you at all times, no matter if it’s in the professional or personal arena.
   • Feels bored. Unfortunately, because this person’s life is not rooted in reality, he or she may become easily bored if drama is not swirling around his or her head. As a result, lies may be fabricated in order to amuse or entertain this person, which unfortunately means that other people become involved and possibly hurt as a result.
   • Insecurity. Low self esteem is one of the biggest reasons why people become pathological liars. Whether they consciously recognize it or not, a pathological liar feels that he or she is not important enough as they are so they must make up accomplishments or events to position themselves as worthy.
5. Look to whether the person has an addiction or secret habits that are potentially harmful. Pathological lying can arise in tandem with wanting to hide an alcoholic or drug addiction, an obsession with doing something too much such as spending time online or gaming, or in relation to a medical condition such as bulimia or anorexia. Therapy, group counseling and other professional interventions are important for such people but it may help you to better understand such lying if you know about the motivation behind it.
   • Part of the therapy needs to address compulsive lying. A compulsive liar can be changed.[2]
   • There may be other personality disorders at issue, such as narcissistic personality disorder, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder.Cite error <cite_error_ref_no_key>; $2
6. Examine the person’s reaction when they're busted in a lie. The worst thing that can happen to a pathological liar is to be busted for telling the lie.
   • Extreme defensiveness. Expect the person to become extremely defensive, doing whatever he or she can to pin blame on someone else.
   • Quickly fabricating another lie to cover up the original fib. The pathological liar will start the cover-up process quickly to ensure that their reputation remains in tact. This may include a bigger lie than the original fib––which may be quite apparent.
   • Vindictive and may seek revenge. Rage and anger may be another reaction stemming from being “outed”, so expect possible retaliation or vindictive behavior. Alternatively, they may feel upset that they have been caught in the act by someone who cares for them and have a tearful meltdown.
7. Determine if the person lives in reality. The pathological liar is one who typically does not live in reality and has trouble maintaining any consistency in his or her life. Some signs include:
   • Wandering from job to job. He or she may not be able to hold down a job for a long amount of time due to either being busted for lying or not being able to handle day-to-day mundane tasks because of bluffing their way into the job.
   • Can’t hold a steady relationship. Romantic and interpersonal relationships often fail––this person will typically have a love of his or her life or a best friend for a few months and then will suddenly no longer have contact with that person. Between lies and unrealistic expectations, the pathological liar can often attract a bevy of new relationships but has trouble maintaining them.
   • May be estranged from family. After years of being lied to, family members may not be very supportive or close to this individual.

Edit Tips

• Understand that you’ll never get a consistent story when you talk with a pathological liar.
• Keep in mind that pathological liars typically exaggerate everything they tell you so take their stories with a grain of salt.
• Someone who consistently lies to you is a form of disrespect––not someone you want to trust or consider to be a true friend.
• "Mythomaniac", "compulsive liar", "habitual liar" or "chronic liar" are other names used for a pathological liar.

Edit Warnings

• If you suspect the person is telling a lie to cover up illegal activity, consider contacting the authorities.
• You can encourage someone to get therapy for lying but you cannot make them. In fact, you may have a very hard time getting this person to accept that their lying is even a problem, let alone something in need of therapy.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Deal With a Liar
• How to Become a Good Liar
• How to Prove to Someone That You Are Not a Liar
• How to Detect a Liar

Edit Sources and Citations

• http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/lying-and-deception/confronting-a-partner/compulsive-lying/types-of-liars.html – research source

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Turning an old unwanted dollhouse into a hamster home can be fun for you, thrilling for the hamster and entertaining for everyone who checks it out. Here are some suggestions for changing an old dollhouse into a new hamster mansion. Edit Steps

1. Find an unwanted dollhouse. Check that nobody wants it for play, heirloom keeping or for fetching a fortune on eBay because once you've changed it, it's no longer going to be that old dollhouse.
2. Clean the dollhouse. Unless it's particularly grotty, a warm, soapy wash should be sufficient for cleaning the doll house walls, floors and other surfaces. Use a little detergent for something stronger. This is best done on a warm, sunny day to allow for good drying, or if you're able to leave it in a room which is very warm.
   
   
   • Remove all wallpaper surfaces, carpets and anything else stuck to the dollhouse. You will need to ensure that the dollhouse is clean and non-toxic.
   • Remove any fabric (for carpet) off the floor or curtains, etc., because it won't be clean for long, and if a bulge or seam exists, it will be chewed and stripped out.
   • Remove any removable pieces to help with deeper cleaning.
3. Check out the floor areas, both base and upstairs. If these are made of wood or paper, they will need to be waterproofed or you will end up with one stinking mess after a short time. You could use a non-toxic paint to protect these surfaces. One source suggests using G4 pond sealant to protect the wood.[1]
   
   
   • Another idea is to use cookie sheets/baking trays or similar to line the base of the house and any other layers, to create a barrier between the wood and the house resident. If you're into craft, tile the floor areas using a non-toxic grout.
   • Alternatively, use thick layers of paper such as toilet paper, changed frequently, to soak up hamster wee, moisture and mess.
4. Measure the dimensions of the dollhouse. Before proceeding, you'll need all measurements for the additions you're going to make. Hopefully you'll be able to find most items around the house but you may also need to buy some, and having the measurements worked out in advance will save you money.
   
   
5. Check the suitability of the house for moving around in. You might need to widen some of the holes leading upstairs and exchange staircases for ladders, etc. Give the dollhouse a good look over with a hamster's perspective in mind. How will the hamster get up and down? Where will the hamster prefer to eat, sleep and play in this house? Choose the solutions to these questions according to the design of the dollhouse you're using.
   
   
6. Plan how you'll block all of the exit holes. Dollhouses come with a lot of possible exit places, such as windows, doors and an open back or front that allows access to the house. You'll need to block these up with suitable items, such as hardwood, galvanized wire (hardware cloth), wire mesh, plastic garden "wire" or heavy card stock. Choose the materials for blocking up the holes according to the sizes of the holes and the need for viewing through the house. It is advisable that the part of the house which is most open to viewing (usually the front or the back of the dollhouse), is covered in wire or wire mesh, so that you and the hamster can see through and so that plenty of air circulates through the hamster house.
   
   
   • You might like to consider adding a small sliding-door in a suitable location so that you can put food/water/bedding into the house as needed. You'll also need to be able to open the house to remove the hamster for play and cuddling, as well as for cleaning.
   • Another door alternative is to cut through the wire front and hold the door in place with paperclips or spring clips.
   • Take note of small exit routes. A crack or any very small opening (seam or corner) will be a tempting place to chew. If such a place is in an outer wall, or floor it will, if possible, soon be enlarged to form an escape route. Be sure to cover it well.
7. Build up the base slightly. Whether it's the back or the front of the dollhouse that opens out or is wall-less, you'll need to stop the hamster bedding from tipping out onto the floor or bench. Use a piece of wood across the base to create a small barrier; nail into place with a good edge overhang to prevent spillage of bedding. Do this prior to adding the wire covering.
   
   
8. Start attaching the barrier items to the dollhouse. For the windows, nail/screw in, staple in place or glue on the wood/heavy card stock/wire barriers. Leave the front/back part until last because you'll still need work on the inside of the hamster house.
   
   
   • Consider allowing your hamster to be able to see out of some of the windows by using plastic wire netting or wire rather than wood. It is not only more interesting for the hamster but it will probably look prettier too.
9. Attach the water bottle to one side of the house. Drill a hole through the wall of the dollhouse to let the watering tube go through into the inside. Check to see that it's easily accessible for the hamster.
   
   
10. Put in some comfortable bedding, like straw, or tissue paper. Untreated wood shavings work best (not pine or cedar). If you want to turn a dollhouse bed into your pet's bed, do that too; in fact, old dollhouse furniture can be upcycled to all sorts of fun hamster things.
    
    
11. Put the hamster's favorite toys and climbing apparatus into the house. Arrange toys at different levels to increase the desire to run around the hamster house.
    
    
    • Hang some toys and chewing items. Be sure to include ladders and balancing areas to help the hamster move around and stay entertained.
12. Improve the outside of the hamster home. This is an optional step but you can certainly prettify the hamster home if you'd like. Use non-toxic decorating items, just in case of fumes off-gassing through the walls or in case your hamster chews through anything. Designs such as flowers, hamsters, your hamster's name, etc. are all suitable additions.
    
    

Edit Tips

• "School glue" is not toxic and might be helpful in applying card stock, sealing cracks, etc. Eliminating airflow coming through a crack should make it less inviting for your pet to investigate and chew. (A very small amount of hot cayenne or habanero powder mixed in the glue might discourage consuming it.) However, airflow is important for health, so using an electric staple gun on wire is often a good, safe choice because it will be hard for the hamster to push off and he can still look outside.
• This hamster home could serve a range of rodents, such as mice, rats, etc.––it doesn't just have to be for hamsters.

Edit Warnings

• Be sure that any paint used is non-toxic. The hamster will chew on the walls and edges; it's in his nature.
• Perspex or plexiglass should only be used in small amounts, owing to the potential for heat build-up, blocking of airflow and possible contributor to the build-up of ammonia. A window here and there is okay, but not for the whole house.
• Caution: Caulk and putty are probably non-digestible and toxic.
• If your hamster escapes, he will be hard to find, so be sure to seal all openings. If you were to grab the hamster suddenly, you would probably get bitten as a startled reaction; so try covering and trapping any escaped hamster with something like a box, or small net on a handle so you can pet him, pick him up and handle him carefully, "if" he is that tame.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Unwanted dollhouse
• Barrier material (hardwood, galvanized wire, wire mesh, thick plastic garden wire/netting, heavy card stock, etc.)
• Non-toxic paint for sealing/decorating
• Cookie sheet/baking tray for waterproof base (optional)
• Electric staple gun and staples, non-toxic glue, hammer and nails, screws, etc., as required
• Scissors, craft knife

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Clean out a Hamster Cage
• How to Make Dwarf Hamsters Stop Biting the Cage
• How to Make a Hamster Hammock
• How to Select a Hamster Cage

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You can use Google Analytics if you want to see the number of actions such as Facebook likes, Google +1s and tweets that you're getting by source. For these steps to work, you must have current versions of the Facebook like button and Google + widgets running on your site. Edit Steps

1. Open Google Analytics. Open Google Analytics. Click "Social" under the "Visitors" tab. Then click "Action".
2. Click Social Source below the graph. Click Social Source below the graph.
3. Click whichever social action you wish to graph and track directly.Click whichever social action you wish to graph and track directly. In the case of this example, the choices are Google Plus, Facebook, and Twitter. You will now see how people sharing content on your site is growing for each social network individually.

Edit Warnings

• This will only work if your website has updated and connected code for the relevant buttons from Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Website enabled for the relevant social media buttons

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Add Google Analytics to Posterous
• How to Set up Goals in Google Analytics
• How to Gather and Use Twitter Metrics
• How to Add Google Analytics to Blogger
• How to Add Google Analytics to Your Website

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Once upon a time, a well articulated resume and interview were enough to land you the job. That was before Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Today, both clients and recruiters look beyond a nicely pressed suit and resume and are also scanning each candidate’s social media channels in order to get a flavor of who you really are and how you conduct yourself on a social level. Although some social media users let it all “hang out” and haphazardly comment and post wherever their emotions take them, those of you aiming to maintain a more professional reputation will do best to rein it in when it comes to social media interaction.

Edit Steps

1. Post statements you’d feel comfortable sharing with your boss or clients in person. Before you make any comment or post, consider how you’d feel if your boss or clients read what you’ve authored.
   • Never use foul language or curse words. One of the fastest ways to diminish your credibility is to curse or use derogatory language online. Re-read each comment or post to ensure it is not offensive or contains offensive language. Even innuendos may be enough to cause people to think twice about your character, so take care.
   • Avoid sharing emotionally, religiously or politically charged statements. If you wouldn't do this in the workplace, don't do it online either. Don’t make statements that could offend or turn off other people. Steer clear of getting on your soap box about political candidates, religions or starting emotionally charged arguments or heated discussions. All of this can lead to disappointment down the career track.
2. Never comment about work online. Whining or complaining about work on social media is akin to announcing that you're not a professional. On the other hand, if you brag about an accomplishment or brashly talk about landing certain clients you’ll appear arrogant and there is a risk that your bravado will distress coworkers who think you're stealing all the glory or annoy clients who want things to stay low key. The only cases where talking about work online is acceptable is to perhaps congratulate a colleague or client for an accomplishment, or to express how much you enjoy your work without a specific deal or win being mentioned.
3. Be grammatically unimpeachable. Double check your statements for typos. Before you post, edit your comments. If you want to be taken seriously, make sure everything you write is grammatically correct and void of typos.
4. Post photos of yourself that you consider to be professional. Photos of you showing your abs, cleavage, drunken evenings with friends or making obscene gestures to the camera should not be posted. Ever.
   
   
   • Carefully select your profile picture. Select from pictures of you participating in a sporting event, at a fun family gathering or a simple portrait would be acceptable. Profile pictures to avoid including wild party pictures or photos of you in a bathing suit or a skimpy outfit (even if you have a banging body). If you must post these, keep them very private and only allow close friends access.
   • Be mindful when posting any photo. Any photos posted by you should be clean and “G” rated, no matter where it is in your profile. Delete inappropriate photos or don’t post photos displaying sexually charged situations or where alcohol or drugs are involved.
   • Untag yourself if you’ve been tagged in unprofessional photos. You may not have control over what your friends post, but you can untag yourself in photos so your network won't be able to view the photo. You can also consider asking friends to delete the photo if it’s particularly embarrassing.
5. Share links or other friend’s information that may be considered to be universally acceptable. Remain neutral or uncontroversial by not posting links or liking pages that might be considered to be questionable or inappropriate. Be aware that you are as liable as the original poster for liking or passing on defamatory or other legally dubious statements, photos or content.
   
   
   • Don’t “like” controversial characters or celebrities. Pages such as mainstream news sources or links to globally acceptable activities such as sports, home and garden, autos, children or pets should be fine. However, liking political candidates, religious groups, certain musical groups, controversial movies and television shows may tarnish your reputation with certain people. It all depends on the kind of work circles you move in and how conservative a career trajectory you're following––you'll know whether or not this advice resonates with the choices you've made for your career.
   • If you post news and information on your page or on a friend’s page, make sure it is not showing bias. Examples of acceptable links include sharing a popular, upbeat news story, sports news or tips on home and gardening. The less controversial and more homely, bland and lacking in politicized/opinionated agendas, the safer you are with sharing it. Again, the extent of sanitization of your information will depend on the career path you've chosen.
6. Hide friend’s comments or information that is deemed to be inappropriate. Remaining professional online means that you don’t want to associate with people who post inappropriate comments on your page.
   • Steer clear of angry or controversial conversations. If a friend or colleague posts something angry or emotionally charged on your page, delete the comment and call the friend or send him or her a private message. Also, if a friend is fighting with someone on a social media channel never participate or add a comment. This is simply good etiquette, to avoid adding fuel to the flames.
   • Private message friends who consistently post inappropriate information or comments on your wall. Ask the friend to stop using certain language or talking about particular topics on your wall.
   • Unfriend or hide all posts from friends who cannot abide to your wishes. If a friend begins to take up too much time because you constantly have to monitor his or her behavior on your page, you may need to unfriend this person.
7. Only link, follow or friend people you know and trust. Only associate yourself on social media with people with whom you have a relationship and are aligned with your goal of keeping a professional presence on social media.
   • Consider whether you want to friend professional colleagues on social network pages. Although your goal is to maintain a professional personality on social media, you may want to either create a separate page for work colleagues and/or clients or make it a policy not to friend people from your professional life.
   • Maintain a secure page that only allows friends in your network to view your information and photos. A secure page provides you with more control over what people outside your network can see, allowing you to maintain a better grasp of how you are presented.

Edit Tips

• Never make comments on another friend’s page that embarrass or harm his or her reputation.
• Make sure the content you post is relevant and interesting. Don’t post comments like, “Wow, I had a great sandwich” but more along the lines of congratulating your daughter for scoring the winning goal at her soccer game or discussing the new features of emerging technology.

Edit Warnings

• Keep in mind that recruiters and clients scan social media channels before considering vendors or new employees––what you post, both today and in the past may be taken into consideration.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Advertise on Facebook
• How to Organise an Event
• How to Use Tumblr
• How to Be Mature

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The Praktica MTL3 is a tough, reliable, and enormously popular mechanical camera from the late 1970s that sells for almost nothing and is a great choice for the photography student who requires a fully-manual camera for their studies, or for the photographer who loves having indestructible German engineering in their hands. Here's how to use one.

Edit Steps Preparation

1. Fit a battery, if one is not already fitted. The cover for the battery is on the underside of the camera.
   • Put a coin into the slot in the battery cover and turn it anti-clockwise (a British 5-pence coin or an American quarter works fine here). If the camera has not been used for a while, it might require some effort to get undone; be careful to not let the coin slip and round the sides of the slot.
   • Remove the old battery, if one is present, and drop in a PX625 cell into the hole, with the + (positive) terminal facing towards you.
   • Re-fit the battery cover. You only need to tighten it just enough that it won't come loose by itself. Don't over-tighten it; you risk the coin slipping and rounding the edges of the slot, which might mean you're unable to remove it.
2. Fit the lens.
   • Remove the body cap, if present, by screwing it anti-clockwise (looking from the front).
   • Lay the camera on your lap, or on a flat surface, facing upwards, and align the thread of the lens with the thread in the lens mount. Grip the lens gently by the aperture ring or focus ring and start turning gently. Do not apply any downwards pressure; doing this can result in cross-threading the lens mount or the lens.
   • A few turns after the thread has bitten you can start spinning it faster. Continue turning the lens until it can turn no more, then apply a reasonable amount of force to ensure it has locked fully into place.
   • If your lens has a switch with an "A" and "M" position, set this to the "A" position. This will allow you to focus and compose at the widest aperture and you'll only need to stop the lens down briefly to meter.

Loading a film

1. Lift the rewind knob. This is on the top of the camera, towards the left if the back of the camera is facing towards you.
2. Pull it a little further and the back of the camera will spring open.
3. Drop a 35mm film canister into the chamber on the left hand side. The flat end of the canister will be pointing upwards.
4. Push the rewind knob all the way down. You may find you have to rotate it a little in one direction for the fork attached to it to fully enter the film canister. This is normal.
5. Pull the film leader away from the canister till the tip is at the green index mark on the right hand side, next to the take-up spool. Ensure that the film properly engages the sprockets as marked in the picture.
6. Close the back of the camera.
7. Press the shutter button, then wind on your film. The shutter might not fire the first time if it's not armed already, of course, in which case just wind the camera on.
8. Repeat the above step until the frame counter reads 1, as pictured. Don't fire the shutter once the frame counter reads 1; this is the first frame on your roll.
9. Set the film speed on the film speed dial. The film speed dial is in the same place as the shutter speed dial; it's the silver dial around the outside, which can move independently.
   
   To change the film speed, pull the silver ring around the shutter speed dial upwards. While holding it there, rotate the dial until you have set your desired film speed.
   
   Notice that the MTL3 has both DIN and ASA settings; modern films typically give their ratings in ASA (which is called ISO on digital cameras). (For example, Fuji Velvia 50 is ASA 50, not 50 ° DIN, the latter being equivalent to an ASA speed in the high five figures.

Shooting

1. Look through the viewfinder. You will notice the following things:
   1. A triangle on the left hand side. This only appears in our photo above, or in your viewfinder, if you have not armed the shutter.
   2. A needle on the right hand side. This is a meter reading. Take note of the +, O and - markings on the scale; we'll be referring to them later.
   3. Three circles in the centre of the image, which are your focusing aids.
2. Focus. Turn the focus ring of your lens until you have a sharp picture. You have three focusing aids that will help you.
   • The split-image in the centre. This will cause straight vertical lines to appear split in half if they are out of focus, and they will rejoin when they are in focus. Sometimes half of this image will be blacked out, for example with slow lenses (f/4 and slower).
   • The microprism ring outside of that will shimmer when the subject in that area is out of focus, and will be clear when it is in focus.
   • The ground glass of the circle around that will help you if the above focusing aids are not helpful in your shooting situation.
3. Set the exposure. The MTL3 is a fully manual camera, but this is hardly any harder than doing the same thing on a digital SLR in manual mode.
   • Press and hold the metering key on the front of the camera. The viewfinder might darken as you do this. This is normal; the MTL3 needs to stop down the lens to measure how much light will come through the lens at the given aperture (this is called "stopped-down metering").
   • Look at the needle. If it is in the middle of the "O" mark, then you have a correct exposure. If not, then adjust either your shutter speed or the aperture ring on your lens until it is correct.
     
     A fuller explanation of the role of aperture and shutter speed is beyond the scope of this article, but you might want to take a look at How to understand camera exposure.
4. Shoot! Press the shutter button all the way down; you'll get a nice, reassuring click from the shutter.
5. Wind on your film to the next frame and keep shooting until you hit the end of your roll of film.

Unloading the film

1. Press the rewind release button on the base of the camera.
2. Flip out the rewind crank on the rewind knob.
3. Rewind the film in the direction indicated on the rewind crank (looking from the top of the camera, you want to turn it clockwise). Keep winding until you feel the film disengage from the wind-on mechanism (it'll get much, much easier to turn), then turn it a couple more times.
4. Open the back of the camera by lifting the rewind knob upwards, just as you did to load the film earlier.
5. Remove the canister then close the back of the camera.
6. Take your film to be developed and show off the results to the world!

Using the self-timer

It is generally not advisable to use the self-timer on an old mechanical camera like the Praktica MTL3. The mechanism, if it has not been used in a long time, can jam, requiring either a skilled camera technician or brute force (which often requires a more expensive trip to said camera technician) to un-jam it. However, if you really must:

1. Make sure the shutter is armed by winding on the film.
2. Locate the self-timer lever. This is to the left of the lens mount, if you are looking at the front of the camera. Not all MTL3s are fitted with self-timers, so if yours is not, rejoice: you just saved yourself a trip to a skilled camera technician.
3. Pull the lever upwards (clockwise, looking from the front of the camera) to the top of its travel; it will lock in place.
4. Press the silver button in the middle of the pivot of the self-timer lever. The timer will run for about 8 seconds and then the shutter will fire.

Edit Tips

• Remember that a battery is not required, as the MTL3 is an all-mechanical camera. If you're good at guessing exposures then you don't need to worry about it.
• These instructions are for an MTL3, but many other bodies in the Praktica L series are almost identical. In particular, these instructions should apply to the MTL 5 with very little modification.[1]

Edit Things You'll Need

• A Praktica MTL3, which you can buy for almost nothing.
• A lens. Any screw-mount M42 lens will work fine, though the Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 that you can often get included with the body is a great all-round lens.
• A standard canister of 35mm film. Any film you're likely to find today will work fine.
• PX625 battery. The Praktica MTL3 is designed for widely-banned 1.35v mercury cells, but numerous reports suggest that it has a voltage regulation circuit in the camera, so the 1.5v alkaline cells will work just fine. If you're paranoid, you can get a WeinCell MRB625 cheaply enough (although they cost somewhat more than 1.5v alkalines), which has very similar electrical characteristics.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Use Almost Any 35mm Film Camera
• How to Shoot Film
• How to Choose a Film for Your Camera
• How to Get Into Film Photography on a Tight Budget
• How to Use a Canon A-1 35mm Camera

Edit Sources and Citations

• Lewis Collard, Praktica MTL3, http://lewiscollard.com/cameras/praktica-mtl3/

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College can be a challenging, exciting, and enriching experience for everyone. Choosing which college you go to in the United States, however, can be stressful and you certainly don't want to put yourself in a dangerous or unwelcoming environment where you'll be distracted from your studies. This goes doubly for people who are LGB or T, especially considering that LGBT civil rights are still a heavily debated topic in the United States, to the extent that it's considered by many to be one of the last "socially acceptable" forms of prejudice.

Hopefully this article will help you find a great place to go to school where you will be treated equally and with respect by your fellow students.

Edit Steps

1. Ignore college ranking lists, including and especially ones related to LGBT acceptance. It's usually a complete mystery how a particular organization chooses the rankings for colleges on any list, and while you should be on the lookout for obvious red flags, conversely, many top ranked schools are rated based on how well they treat their LGBT faculty and employees, but not necessarily on what it's like for students who attend there. Marriage benefits and the like are certainly nice if you're a tenured PhD, but if going there as an undergrad, that's not going to have much of an effect. Student attitudes and the like are often not measured, and a school can get by with simply having an LGBT group.
2. Disregard what colleges may say about being uniquely isolated from their surroundings and pay close attention to the area your potential school of choice is located in. The local culture always influences and permeates a college situated within that culture.
   • Does the state your looking to go to school in have same sex marriage or civil protections for gay people? Is the locale it's in particularly conservative? Did the legislature go out of its way to vote an anti-gay religious mandate into their constitution? Is it not a safe place for gay-identified people? These are really important things to consider, more so because schools tend to attract students from the same region.
   • If your school is considered a premier Southern/Midwestern intellectual institution, it will probably have a lot of conservative (excuse the need for generalizing) Southern or Midwestern students who will be your peers and the people you live with for awhile. On top of that, part of the reason to go to a college is for the connections it has established in your field of study, and often those connections are in the same area or with people of a similar mindset, so make sure that doesn't end up limiting the number of places you'd feel comfortable working at, volunteering with etc.
3. Don't take the brochure's word for its proclaimed LGBT friendly campus. Visit and try to see if the climate is right for you. Descriptors people use for places, (i.e. liberal, conservative, open) are highly subjective so you should try to see what it feels like for yourself and talk to the students there as well. Remember that ideally it will be a place where you can come out, find supportive friends, learn more about yourself, etc. If it turns out to be a hostile environment, these important processes can be stunted.
4. Do not by any means assume that because the student body of your school is more intelligent or accomplished than average that they will accept LGBT people or be welcoming. Unfortunately, many people wrongly assume that being intelligent precludes being anti-gay or mean, but there are many homophobic people out there who are highly intelligent. In general, according to social psychologists, it's just a bad idea to assume a person or group holds a specific belief because of a more general belief. Being anti-LGBT is largely a learned thing and seems to defy logic, much like many religious beliefs. Make sure that the campus of your choice actually will be an accepting place.
5. Check that there is an LGBT organization at the college and see if you like the people in it or can get along with them. First, it's vitally important that you have some sort of LGBT organization you can go to, but secondly, you want to make sure it's made up of people that you can get along with. The LGBT community in any larger community is usually small, and you don't want to end up alienated from them.
6. Make sure your potential school has protections for LGBT students and/or a non-discrimination policy. College is difficult, but it shouldn't be discriminatory and it's important for places to take an active role in preventing discrimination, especially since society at large is quite often unjust to minorities.
7. Check if your school has a religious affiliation and check that religion's stance on LGBT people. Some particularly religious institutions will even expel students if they are revealed to be LGB or T, and it's probably a good idea to avoid those environments in the first place.

Edit Tips

• Keep your other goals for college in mind too, especially the areas you want to study etc.
• Don't worry if you change your major in college, it's a very common thing.
• If you go someplace and it turns out to be a bad fit or you don't get along with the people there, transferring is always an option. One of the benefits of not being in high school is you can head to a different school if things go south.

Edit Warnings

• You don't have to convince everyone around you of your right to be who you are, it's not worth the time and effort and you should know deep down that you're fine already. When it comes to LGBT issues, most people are incredibly stubborn.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Tell Your Family That You Are Gay
• How to Deal With Being Rejected by Your Parent
• How to Apply to College
• How to Come Out As Gay or Lesbian
• How to Accept That You Are Gay

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You feel your heart beat a little faster when a certain coworker walks your way. You laugh a more heartily at his or her jokes and find him or her irresistibly fascinating. Coworker love can be extremely tricky, especially if your company forbids or frowns upon inner-office romance, you (or both of you) are in a committed relationship or have your own personal policy on romance with someone at work. Or maybe you just don't want others knowing, perhaps not even the target of your affections!

Regardless of the reason you'd like to keep your coworker crush under wraps, there are ways you can hide your amorous feelings toward your coworker, while trying to come to terms with the fact that this unrequited love may never (or should never) be realized.

Edit Steps

1. Consider whether you're really in love or just infatuated. Try to figure out if it’s true love you're feeling or if you're simply infatuated. While both instances produce strong feelings, you may be able to “get over” infatuation a little quicker than true love. Intense feelings of attraction can often be brought on by the pressures or excitement of the workplace and seeing your coworker perform well in these situations. If you transfer being impressed into more intimate feelings, you'll need to sort out whether this is something more enduring or just fleeting but continued feelings of awe:
   • How well do you know this person? In some cases you may be loving another from afar, whereas in other instances your love might have grown steadily over time, because you work closely together and have had the opportunity to discuss personal values and shared interests.
   • Do you really know this person? Have you fallen in love with his or her true inner qualities or are you infatuated with his or her hotness, especially in the line of duty?
   • Are you captivated by their seeming allure in the workplace? Power or leadership are alluring in a workplace context and can cause infatuation if you feel that being attached to this person can somehow cause some of their cleverness/persuasiveness/elegance/leadership qualities, etc., to rub off on you. Are you sure you're not just looking for a good mentor? Asking to be mentored rather than loved can save a whole lot of pain and sorrow in the long run!
   • Have you had the time together to learn more about each other outside of the workplace or do you only know the workplace persona?
2. Consider who is the object of your affection and how appropriate it would seem to others that you get romantically involved. Are you lusting after your boss, peer or subordinate? Scenarios surrounding the boss or a subordinate are best left to dreamland. Unless one of you leaves the company, there are various possible risks including being viewed as abusing power, seeking (and receiving) favoritism and becoming untrustworthy in case you'll run off and tell your romantic partner what your coworkers are thinking. In some cases, it's against workplace policy and can result in dismissal or other legal issues. Romance at work can make work life messy, even long after coworkers appear to have accepted it, as people will always wonder just how confidential you'll be.
   
   
   • Where does this person work in relation to you? Are you direct coworkers and have to work on projects side by side or does this person work in a completely different department, on the complete other side of the building? The further the distance within the company, the more likely it is that a romantic liaison could be sustained without ruffling too many feathers––seeing evidence of romantic dalliances in the same office is harder to deal with than a general knowledge that you're romantically attached to someone two floors or three buildings away, as out of sight is out of mind, while in your face is a constant reminder.
3. Examine reasons why do you need to hide your love. Fully understanding the consequences of either hiding or revealing your love will help you to develop a strategy to hide your affection. In some cases, it'll be really obvious but not all situations are clear at first. Here are some possible reasons to hide your love for a coworker:
   • It's a crush. You've made no attempt at all to tell your coworker you fancy her or him. And you're still mulling it over as to whether it's even a good idea to reveal your affection and you're unsure of the consequences. Until you are sure, hide it and make a conscious effort to avoid flirting.
   • You're worried about what coworkers will think if the two of you get together. In many cases, this is a valid concerns as there are always some coworkers who won't like it, for various reasons. It might strain friendships you've made at work and it can certainly dull some of the office social situations for you, knowing you have to be ultra careful not to offend coworkers.
   • Company policy forbids inner office romance. Many companies have policies forbidding inner office romance or relationships––and for good reason. In some cases, new office couples can be highly distracting to each other and their peers. As discussed earlier, in other cases it raises issues of bias, confidentiality and trustworthiness, leaving everyone feeling very uncomfortable.
   • You don’t think the object of your affection would return your advances. In some cases, you can tell if the other person would or would not be receptive to your passion for him or her. Some signs could be how the other person interacts with you, perhaps more like a buddy and not in a flirtatious manner. Or it’s possible that you’ve noticed that the object of your affection typically goes for someone with certain physical or mental qualities, aspects you don’t possess. He or she might even be pining for someone else and tells you openly, like Lois Lane telling Clark Kent how much she wanted Superman in her life.
   • You or both of you are already in a committed relationship. Even if you're single but he or she is married or in a committed relationship, you can’t be the “other person” who comes between a couple. This is morally wrong (it would become an affair) and it could definitely harm your work prospects if uncovered. Ideally, you won't ever find yourself in this situation. Always know before making moves whether someone is committed or not and if you're committed, keep it a fantasy only.
4. Consider all the reasons why you should not have a relationship with your coworker. Perhaps seeing the reasons on paper or thinking it through carefully will help to quell your love or affection for your coworker and help you work toward getting that person out of your head. There are many reasons for not getting involved with someone at work and here are just a few:
   • Work life complications. If an office romance is forbidden, think about all the time and energy it would take to hide your relationship from others, not to mention trying to avoid being busted while not on company time. Indeed, if you go out to places with workplace friends or invite them over, you'll have to juggle a very complicated schedule of keeping them separate from your beloved or ignoring your beloved while in a group together. While it is possible, it's tiring and eventually the amusement and excitement will wear thin until you're just bursting to tell.
   • Your coworker is considerably older or a lot more professionally experienced than you. In this case, are you insecure and perhaps looking for an anchor to shore up your own feelings of helplessness or inability in the workplace? Consider whether the reality of this situation is infatuation with a potential "savior". If so, as suggested earlier, consider bringing this person more into your life as a mentor, not as a lover. It's a whole lot less complicated and much more likely to bring you positive results that will help you to grow and trust in yourself a lot better.
   • Ponder your co-worker's negative qualities. So he or she is highly attractive and has a banging body; but this person most likely has some negative qualities too. If you focus on something negative, it might lessen your attraction or interest. Perhaps it's his or her annoying laugh, insistence on always being right or workaholic tendencies. Whatever it is, let it loom large in your thoughts as a reason for not getting intimately involved.
   • An office romance could be highly distracting. Could you get all your work done or stay focused on projects if you're pining away for another who works down the hall from you? For some people, it's hard to resist stealing secret kisses, playing footsie during a meeting or rendezvousing in the stationery cupboard, all potentially risky actions because it's highly possible that another coworker will notice. Think about the fact that having an in-office lover could derail your career––a strong reason as to why you should keep a lid on your affection.
   • You might bore each other senseless after work. All there is to talk about is the same work you do together all day long and if you have similar annoyances, you risk darkening each other's opinions about others in the workplace in unhelpful ways.
   • Breaking up could compromise your job or job satisfaction. Think about what would happen if you were to break up. Could you still work with the other person and function at the company or would you end up in a situation where you would feel miserable going to work every day? For many people, this is an immense drawback to workplace romance because the ex-factor makes work life more challenging and there is a risk of wanting to sabotage one another's efforts. If you can keep it professional despite a breakup, then it is manageable but can you be sure of your ability to keep all emotions out of it post intimate relationship?
5. Be more realistic about romance. If you truly need to conceal your love, you’ll need to take a “mind over matter” approach. Ditch romantic thoughts, fantasizing and anything associated with this budding relationship. Close your mind to the possibility of having any kind of intimate interaction with the other person and forge ahead professionally. If the other person approaches you for a date, tell him or her that you're truly flattered and appreciate their interest but that you're not in a stage of life where you're ready to commit or simply be honest and say that you have a rule that you don't date coworkers, no matter how tempting it might be.
   
   
   • Consider your coworker to be completely off limits. Resign yourself to the fact that this relationship simply isn’t going to happen. The sooner you believe it, the easier it will be to cloak how you really feel.
   • Think about someone else whom you could possibly date. If you're already involved with someone else, start paying closer attention to your current relationship or consider the fact that you're infatuated with a coworker as a sign that you need to work harder on your relationship. Additionally, if you aren’t already partnered off, put more of an effort toward meeting someone new––particularly someone who doesn’t work with you, such as someone you meet through a hobby, sport, gym or other external place.
   • Disregard any innuendos from your coworker. Of course, awkwardness will ensue if the coworker with whom you're in love with starts making advances in your general direction. If you notice that the other person is flirting with you, disengage from the relationship or try to cut or reduce contact. In today’s technologically driven corporate workplace, you can conduct a good amount of business via email or the company’s intranet if possible.
6. Maintain a safe distance from your coworker if possible. One way to let love fade is to keep a good distance from this coworker. Of course, if you have to work directly with this person it may be extremely difficult to stay away but consider increasing your contact with the coworker through inner office email or online channels instead of face-to-face.
   • If he or she works in another department, minimize your contact. If you're lucky enough to love from afar, it shouldn’t interfere directly with your job. Minimize contact when in the break room or after work.
   • Don’t go out of your way to avoid your coworker, but graciously maintain a safe distance. If you're obviously trying to avoid this coworker, you could end up calling more attention to yourself and then people may wonder why you're going out of your way to avoid the person.
   • Treat this coworker as you would anyone else at work. Think of this coworker as you do any other coworker, friend or acquaintance and then mimic that behavior with the coworker you love. Study your interaction with other coworkers and aim to duplicate your actions across the board.

Edit Tips

• Avoid some of the obvious signs that you fancy a certain coworker such as remembering his or her birthday with a gift, knowing favorite colors or finding lame excuses to chat.
• Catch yourself in the act of fantasizing about coworkers in future. Once bitten, it's possible that you might fall for someone again in your workplace. Learn to recognize the triggers that cause you to feel that you fancy a coworker, such as working closely together under intense pressure, being bored with a current relationship or the work itself, feeling insecure about your work and wanting an "out", etc.
• If you do succumb to dating a coworker and it lasts the distance, seriously give consideration to one of you branching out and working elsewhere. It'll make life easier for everyone concerned. Another alternative is to run your own business together––romantic relationships can work as excellent teams in a business and there aren't the same issues of others being uncomfortable (or if they are, you employed them with their eyes wide open).

Edit Warnings

• If you're thinking about just “going for it”, check the company policy. In some companies, inner office romances can be grounds for firing.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Love
• How to Be Just Friends with a Member of the Opposite Sex
• How to Know when You Love Him or Her
• How to Say No to a Co worker
• How to Date a Co Worker

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Introverts can be successful businessmen (and women) too. Motivation, determination and innovation is the key.Does the idea of a small talk make you cringe? Does the thought of making a cold call fill you with horror? Many (although not all) introverts find the idea of having to sell themselves or their business ideas daunting, while outreach to connect with others for business purposes can seem downright scary rather than as an opportunity.

This doesn't mean that introverts can't be successful in business––indeed, many successful CEOs through to salespeople are introverts. The key to success isn't always about being able to be the most outgoing person––in fact, quite a lot of extroverts tend to get tangled up in believing that all talk and bluff is good, when it can actually wear out clients and scare off customers.

Edit Steps

1. Don't fight your nature. Constantly forcing yourself to mingle, chit-chat and cold-call will take its toll. Doing things that you hate on a regular basis is a surefire recipe for burnout. All that stress can take years off your life! Don’t try to be someone you're not. Instead, try to develop the business model that fits the real you; learn to be comfortable with who you truly are. And most importantly, believe that you're as capable as any other person at succeeding in business––for an introvert, belief is everything because you don't like to present a dishonest or embellished front, so if you believe that you can do it, you are already on your way.
   • Although each person is individual and expressions of introversion vary in both type and intensity, common traits of the introvert include a tendency to think before speaking or acting (sometimes seen as slow to act), able to make good eye contact when listening, less so when talking, softer when talking and may appear to be hesitating or hunting for words, need frequent solitude to rejuvenate as too much socializing can drain their energy, feel stronger when in a one-to-one situation over group situations and tend to prefer a few close confidants/friends over befriending everyone.
2. Focus on your strengths. Sometimes there is a tendency to suggest that introvert qualities are inappropriate for business wheeling and dealing. Detractors might suggest that being quiet, slow to sell oneself and unwilling to party on are not helpful for sealing deals and convincing customers. This is shortsighted and undermines the aspects of being introverted that can actually make an enormous difference to business. For example, being good with one-to-one discussions is a definite advantage when convincing individual clients and others because they are made to feel special, totally focused upon and treated as an equal. This cannot always be said for a more forceful approach to selling that doesn't let up and tends to keep pounding away at the client––some clients (perhaps introverted themselves) can be repelled by an all-talk, never ending spiel about the benefits and wonders of a product or service that barely lets them think or get a word in edgewise. It's therefore important to identify your strengths and be able to apply them to your planned business tactics. Here are pluses for your personality type in business:
   • You appear calm and composed rather than hyper and evangelistic in pursuit of the sale, the goal, the teamwork, etc. In-your-face, pushy and over-excitable selling is now a thing of the past, as consumers have become far more savvy and have higher expectations of building trust and mutual relationships that they can rely on should things not go according to plan.
   • You're less likely to approach a deal as having to happen right now, giving clients or peers time to consider and think through what they'd like. It might surprise you but less pressure can often bring a client to agree instead of not going through with a deal, precisely because they were given space.
   • You're likely to be great at building trust, mutual agreement and a sense of respect through your listening skills and your desire to ensure that the customer, partner or other relevant business person is on the same wavelength as you and will return the respect.
   • You're less likely to feel a need to sound right all of the time or to put words/thoughts into the other person's mouth or mind. This is because you understand and respect the need for space and thinking time. Indeed, you are likely to be very good at picking up body language clues showing a person shutting down or glazing over more than an extrovert can (or wants to), and adjust your approach accordingly.
   • You respect the questions asked of you. While extroverts can be brilliant at explaining things and emphasizing benefits, they can also oversell and create a false sense of just how good a deal it really is, out of over-enthusiasm and a desire to keep things really positive all of the time. An introvert is more likely to listen, to analyze the concerns of the other person and seek ways to solve the problems raised by customer's questions rather than brushing them aside with platitudes.
   • You, far more than an extrovert, will connect with the introvert customer. This means that you'll listen carefully, acknowledge concerns, give space and be prepared to let the person walk. An introvert customer is far more likely to come back, even months later, because they will remember your consideration for their feelings, needs and interests and the fact that you didn't brush them off.
3. Find the right business. Jumping from one business opportunity to another and quitting everything you start––does this sound familiar? People fall into this trap because they get excited about the profit potential but fail in doing the work involved. When evaluating potential businesses, ask yourself: "Will I really be able to do the work involved in the business?" In other words, choose a business that you believe in, passionately. No matter what the motivation for your belief, it has to be there, so that you can throw yourself into it heart and soul, with total conviction. That way, you get to stay totally honest and free of having to worry about embellishing the business' virtues and benefits because you're already totally sold on them. For an introvert, this sense of personal belief is vital to success in business and must not be overlooked. It doesn't mean you have to love or even like every aspect of your business (see the next step for getting the right help) but it does mean that the underlying reason for going into this business is what drives you and has meaning for you.
   • Pursuing business opportunities that you absolutely love will show in your ability to connect with others. An introvert who is doing what they believe in and are passionately driven by tends to be happy talking about it. In fact, it can be hard to stop an introvert in this situation from talking too much! This added confidence can help you to open up more when socializing and networking.
4. Don't go it alone. Nobody is an island and nobody can be a master or mistress of all trades. You can try but you'll be worn out and worn down in no time. Hire the right people, the best people, to do those aspects of the business that just aren't you. This begins by being honest with yourself about what you are good at and about what you're no good at doing. It's not a judgement that weakens you––it's just the opposite because by getting a strong team in to cover those things you don't like doing or can't do, you become stronger and are freed up to concentrate on doing what you do best. Nobody expects one person to be brilliant at accounting, legal work, sales, marketing, advertising, service provision, design, writing, speaking, running conferences, and so on. Pick your fortes and then find your team to cover the other aspects. At the beginning a business, good financial and legal advice can be purchased by the hour and is worth every dollar it costs you.
   • While your tendency as an introvert may be to research it to death all yourself, don't let this lull you into thinking you've got it all covered. Practical experience is something that takes time and you are best getting the help of others to help you learn processes and to better understand consequences as a novice business owner, manager or participant.
   • Try to get an even balance between extroverts, ambiverts and introverts in your team. Too many like people and you'll all agree with one another until inertia; too many different people and you'll risk spending all day clashing.
   • Outsource direct selling and cold calls. You can––and probably should––hire other people to do any direct selling that you find overwhelming. Even if you're on a budget, you can still get "commissions-only" salespeople who get paid a percentage of sales, which means no upfront cost to you. However, do the interviewing of these people for yourself so that you're satisfied they are who you want as part of your team. Secondly, go back to the step about strengths and be sure that you're not neglecting those sales where you might be best at the helm, the times when your one-to-one connection will really make a difference.
5. Be pragmatic rather than hung up on perfection or being real all of the time. Pragmatism allows the introvert to be an actor, to rehearse before social events, business meetings and sales and marketing moments. Forewarned is prepared, so the pragmatic introvert is wise to do their homework about each upcoming social situation, learning names, likely topics for discussion and knowing the product or service that they need to pitch/sell/promote/inspire others about in total detail. You don't need to deviate from believing in what you're doing but the pragmatism does require some suspension of concerns that you're doing something that isn't as true to yourself as you'd like. Everyone has to step into personas professionally and it isn't about lying––it's about putting forth the best self for that occasion, about making others feel comfortable and about letting your business shine rather than seeming lackluster. This does require effort but then so do most things when running a business. A pragmatic introvert will do at least the following:
   • Study the background, motivations and interests of clients, competitors and peers. Don't ever be caught off guard; homework done will be repaid tenfold.
   • Study before big events, business meetings, conferences, and any other schmoozing occasions so that you know who is attending, where they come from and what they're likely to want from you. Don't go in blind––no business person ever should but even more so when you're trying to protect your introvert nature from being overwhelmed.
   • Network. While this thought may make the introvert quake, networking is really about making the right contacts and staying in touch with them. And you can do this one-to-one, even outside of actual networking events and you can stay in touch by email. Really, it is that simple but it is so important!
   • Avoid conflict. You probably already do but how you avoid it matters. You can avoid conflict and still get your passion across by one of several methods. One way is to simply be patient and listen to everyone else, then to speak out, drawing in all that you've heard beforehand and to seek compromises that work for all. Another way is to evade the conflict; this simply means constantly monitoring the risks through listening, watching and noting subtle changes of demeanor and manners and either changing tact if you're in charge or removing yourself if it's a group issue about to blow up.
6. Turn challenging situations into an issue of tact, diplomacy and manners instead of a battle of good versus evil or honesty versus dishonesty. Introverts tend to have a strong sense of justice and a strong desire to be honest, sometimes to the point of being blunt and too real. Clearly, being too frank can be plain rude at times and being undiplomatic can destroy your reputation and possibly also that of your business. If you feel that your principles are challenged or that people are beating around the bush instead of getting to the point, seek the ethical higher ground of resorting to good manners and being diplomatic. With practice, you can be tactfully forthright and people will still respect that you're not compromising without feeling like you've bulldozered them into noticing reality.
7. Plan smart. There are ways around having to spend an entire day or night around people, even in a business context. As a professional, it doesn't hurt to let people know that your time is valuable and that you can make social events for a short time but that you have "other pressing engagements" (even if it's just feeding your cat and curling up by the fire in relief at having quiet time by yourself). And even when you can't get away, such as at big conferences and the like, plan to slip out for a refreshing walk during a break or simply take five minutes to regain your composure in the fresh air outside. In your own workplace environment, try to carve out a corner for yourself, even if you can't manage your own office. If you own or manage the business, work elsewhere some of the time, like from home or use travel time to dictate notes, etc.
   • At conferences and seminars, it never hurts to turn up to morning tea or lunch slightly later when at a conference (you'll avoid the queues for the buffet anyway) and then slipping away earlier than everyone else, explaining you need to get your papers/affairs in order. Also, people understand the need to network at most business occasions and this can be used as an excuse to get away momentarily or when you're starting to feel overwhelmed.
   • Make the most of the time you do spend networking to ensure key people have your business card before slipping away and be sure to follow up with an email. Actually do follow up––so few people do this that you'll be remembered and a good relationship can be built up from here by way of emails and online networking.
8. Use online networking to the maximum. The Internet allows people to find the right business contacts and skip the usual schmoozing. You can network with people through discussion forums, social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook, or simply by sending an e-mail to introduce yourself. Using the electronic contact is easy, efficient and not intimidating. It's also considered the norm in current times, and nobody thinks any the worse of you for using these methods––in fact, it's now expected!
9. Market on the Internet. Even people who hate selling can succeed in Internet marketing. Your website does all the selling so you don’t have to. Orders are placed on the website without your intervention, and customer service is done via e-mail. The Internet is truly an introvert's dream!
   • If you're great with design, words and layout, you might be able to do a lot of this aspect yourself. However, it still doesn't hurt to get help to ensure that you're on the right track.

Edit Tips

• Think of a time when you've had a business transaction or a consumer transaction where you felt totally cared for, listened to and engaged in the transaction. What about this occasion caused you to feel special and unrushed? Try to pinpoint the exact things and use these when approaching your own business transactions, to help customers and others feel comfortable in your presence.
• Learn how to cope when things go wrong. Throwing a tantrum or ripping up a contract in disgust won't win you friends and can soon become a reputation for being difficult to do business with. Instead, learn to calm yourself using such techniques as deep breathing, counting or meditation, aim to sleep on angry responses and always seek to be mindful at of how you respond to negative situations and people. There will be plenty of negatives in business, so it's best to expect them than to hope it'll all work out. Sometimes it just won't, and you'll need to brave it out with the help of coping techniques. Also, surround yourself with a few key supporters to whom you can turn when the chips are down; most introverts only need one or two chief supporters to refill their confidence––just make sure you have such people in your life!

Edit Warnings

• Obviously, don't get involved in gossip or reputation destruction, especially with the ease of "anonymously" posting bad comments about others––competition is healthy for business and anonymous people who say nasty things in the online environment are frequently uncovered, whether someone recognizes your style or contacts your ISP. As tempting as it may seem at times, the Internet wasn't invented for covert insults!
• Introverts risk burnout from trying to do too much, trying too hard and trying to be all things to all people. Learn to deal with burnout before it happens by learning your limitations and sticking to them, dealing with any emotional issues that you've ignored (therapy, writing, meditating, etc. are good ways to do this) and knowing what can trigger problems for you (such as too little sleep, worrying too much, negative comments, etc.) and finding ways to nip each trigger in the bud.
• Don't confuse shyness and introversion. Shyness happens to most people at some time in their lives, based on experiences or particular situations. It can be short lived or ongoing but it can be changed with counseling or self-work. Introversion is not about fear of other people––it's a personality type that simply finds solitude preferable to constant socializing and there needs to be a good reason to spend time with the group. In the case of this article, running a business is a good reason, therefore making pragmatic decisions and basing interactions on well-established social protocols will help to ease the difficulty of spending more time in group situations.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Market a Product on a Health Message Board
• How to Be an Extrovert
• How to Start a Conversation When You Have Nothing to Talk About
• How to Have a Great Conversation
• How to Find out What Kind of Business to Start

Edit Sources and Citations

• Original Source Of The Article - Melanie Mendelson's website: http://www.goforyourdreams.com/articles/business-success-tips-for-introverts-32.html Used with permission.
• http://freestylemind.com/successful-people-traits – research source

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Writing a personal bio can serve many purposes. It might be required information for a job or school application. It could be an effective way to convey important information on your personal website. Or you might just want to write one for fun. Here are some tips on how to go about writing your personal bio. Edit Steps Brainstorm

1. Identify your purpose and audience. Before you get started writing, you need to know who you're writing for. The bio you would write for a personal web page might be very different than the bio you would write for a college application.
   
   
2. Narrow down your information. Be ruthless here—–even the most interesting of anecdotes may not be appropriate. For example, an author's bio on a book jacket often mentions past writing accomplishments, whereas an athlete's bio on a team website often mentions the person's height and weight. While it's often okay to add a few extraneous details, they should not make up the majority of your bio.
   
   

Begin writing

1. Make an outline. Beyond what you jotted down in the previous section, be sure you include the following information:[1]
   
   
   • Your name. This should be the first thing you write. Assume that the people reading the bio know nothing about you
   • State your claim to fame. What do you do? Don't leave this to the end or make your readers guess—they won't and they may well lose interest quickly if it's not up front. This should be explicitly stated in the first or second sentence.
   • Mention your most important accomplishments, if applicable. This is a tricky one, and might not be applicable in all situations. Remember that a bio is not a resume. Do not list your accomplishments, and only include them if they are relevant and you have space.
   • Include contact information. This is usually done in the last sentence. If it's to be published online, be careful with the email address in order to avoid spam. Many people write email addresses online as something like: greg (at) fizzlemail.com.
2. Start writing. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to say, begin writing your bio.
   
   
   • Always use the third person. Your bio is something that other people can use to describe you, therefore you should write in the third person. In addition, writing in the third person will make your bio sound more objective.
   • Aim to write about 250 words. When you are done, go back and highlight the most important information. Your goal is to be able to write a one sentence and a 100 word bio in addition to the 250 word one. That way, you'll be prepared if you end up needing to cut or expand the bio.
3. Proofread and revise. Rarely is writing perfect the first time it hits the pages. And because personal bios are only a small snapshot of a person's life, upon rereading your bio, you might realize there was information you forgot to include.
   
   
   • Have a friend read your bio and give you their feedback. This is important because they can tell you if all the information you want to get though is coming across clearly.
4. Keep your bio up to date. Every once in a while, go back and update your bio. By putting in a little work frequently to keep it up to date, you'll save yourself a lot of work when you need to use it again.
   
   

Edit Tips

• Throughout the process, think back to the purpose and audience you identified in Step 1. This will help guide your writing.

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BuckeyesBuckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate rolled into little balls. They are called "Buckeyes" because they resemble the nut of the Buckeye tree, although these sweet treats taste much better! Edit Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (355mL) peanut butter
• 1/2 cup (118mL) butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 16 oz. (454g) confectioners sugar/powdered sugar
• 6 oz. (170g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. shortening
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)

Edit Steps

1. In a bowl, mix butter, cinnamon (optional), vanilla, powdered sugar, and peanut butter together with an electric mixer until everything blends together into dough.
2. Roll the mixture into ballsShape the balls. Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough out and roll the dough until it's a small ball. Place all of the balls onto wax paper and place in the fridge for 20 minutes.
3. Melt chocolate until smoothMelt the chocolate. Using a double-boiler, melt the chocolate chips until the chocolate is creamy and smooth, stirring all the while. Add the shortening in as well and stir until they're both blended.
4. Put toothpicks into Buckeyes and dip them in chocolateUsing a toothpick, dip each ball into the chocolate. Only dip the balls about halfway into the chocolate. After doing this, place the balls back on the wax paper, chocolate-side down.
5. BuckeyesLet the buckeyes cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then enjoy!

Edit Video Edit Tips

• Milk chocolate chips work best.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Ingredients listed above
• Electric mixer
• Wax paper
• Toothpicks

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• How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
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• How to Melt Chocolate
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