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Getting your body ready for bikini season will take some hard work and dedication, but it doesn't have to be torture. Read this article to learn how to lose weight the healthy way, and have fun along the way! Edit Steps Setting Goals

1. Determine where you need improvement. This will help you choose which diet and exercise route is right for you.
   
   
   • Ask yourself the following questions: Do I need to lose weight? How much weight do I want to lose? Do I want to gain muscle? Am I happy with my weight, but want to tone up?
2. Weigh yourself and take measurements. This will help you track your progress.
   
   
   • Remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so if your goal is to add bulk or tone up your muscles, then you might gain some overall weight. If this is the case, then focus on your measurements rather than the number on the scale.
3. Take a "before" picture. This will help keep you motivated, and will make you feel incredibly satisfied when you finally take that "after" picture.
   
   
4. Buy the bikini you want to wear (unless you already own it) and hang it up in a place where you will see it every day. This will serve as a constant reminder about why you started, especially on those difficult days when you just want to give up.
   
   

Eating Healthily

1. Reduce your caloric intake. This is extremely important if you are trying to lose weight. Remember that exercise alone will not make you lose weight; you will absolutely have to change your diet. [1]
   
   
2. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. These foods are nutrient-rich, and will help keep you full and energized throughout the day. Leafy green vegetables and non-starchy vegetables are the best for you; keep fruit to just a few pieces a day.
   
   
3. Eat lean proteins. Turkey, chicken and fish are low in fat but rich in protein. If you are a vegetarian, try tofu, tempeh, veggie burgers, and eggs.
   
   
4. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Not only will water improve your skin's appearance, it will also help keep you full in between meals. [2]
   
   
5. Reduce your sugar consumption. Read food labels and beware of hidden sugars in dressings, sauces, and breads.
   
   
   • Try to stay away from alcohol. If you do drink, opt for wine rather than sugary cocktails or carb-heavy beers.

Performing Aerobic Exercise

1. Do 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 times a week. Examples include walking, running, jogging, biking, swimming, and/or hiking. Exercises like these improve your cardiovascular health [3] and increase your metabolism, even after you have finished exercising.
   
   
2. Choose an exercise that you enjoy. This way you are more likely to stick with it.
   
   
3. Join an exercise class or gym. If you are having trouble staying motivated on your own, being around other people might help. Plus, if you are paying for a gym membership, you will likely feel obligated more to exercise.
   
   
4. Make simple lifestyle changes. If you can't find the time to do a formal exercise, then make simple changes to make your daily routine more active.
   
   
   • Park further away from your destination and walk.
   • Walk around the local mall or park for a few hours.
   • Clean the house or do other errands that require you to be on your feet.

Toning Up

1. Do yoga, pilates, or other total-body toning exercises. These are especially useful for women who want to achieve long, lean muscles without looking "bulky." They also improve flexibility, posture, and mood. [4]
   
   
2. Target your arms.
   
   
   • Lift weights. For toned arms without bulk, do many repetitions with a light weight. For bulkier arms, do fewer repetitions with a heavier weight.
   • Do push ups. For a modified version, keep your knees on the ground.
3. Work your abs.
   
   
   • Do crunches. Use your hands to support your head.
   • Hold a plank for as long as you can. Be sure you keep your body straight; don't your hips sag.
4. Strengthen your legs.
   
   
   • Do squats. These will also help tone up your butt!
   • Do lunges. Hold a dumbbell in each hand for extra weight.
   • Use a stationary bike or elliptical on high resistance.

Staying Motivated

1. Keep a food and/or exercise journal. People who keep track of what they eat tend to lose more weight than those who don't. [5] Be sure to read food labels and include toppings, dressings, and sauces when calculating your caloric intake.
   
   
2. Exercise with other people. This will keep you both entertained and motivated during your workout.
   
   
   • Find a friend or family member to run, jog, or hike with you.
   • Join an exercise class at your gym if you are a member.
   • Get a personal trainer.
3. Find a weight loss buddy. You can help keep each other motivated when motivation levels are low, and even compete with one another as an extra incentive.
   
   

Edit Video Edit Tips

• Don't be too hard on yourself if you fall off the wagon. It happens to the best of us. Remember to pick yourself back up and try again. Always remain positive.
• Find out what your food is your weakness and try to avoid places you know will be serving it.
• Not all exercise has to feel like work. Use fun activities like shopping to get your cardio workout in!
• If you find yourself craving a chocolate bar or want to go get a popcorn at the movies, let yourself! If you don't let yourself have foods like that you will get discouraged faster. Have these foods in moderation meaning not all the time, but enough so you don't go insane!
• Don't starve yourself! You might risk the chance of you having health problems.
• Find healthy food, like fruit and eat it instead of eating an unhealthy snack.
• If you have trouble resisting chocolate or other sugars and fats, then do simple exercises like crunches to take your mind off eating. Also, drink lots of water and try not eating snacks or a big lunch.
• A good tip is to just turn off your tv and go outside. A nice long walk will help you in the long run!
• Know your body type. If you are pear-shaped, you will probably still be pear-shaped even if you lose 15 pounds. No matter how much weight you lose or gain, your general body type will remain the same. The sooner you accept this, the happier you will be with your body.
• You don't need to starve for that body! You may already look great for the summer!

Edit Warnings

• Use caution when lifting weights or using other exercise equipment.
• Be sure you are eating enough calories to sustain yourself.
• Don't expect to see drastic change within weeks.
• Always consult your doctor before beginning a new diet or exercise regime.

Edit Sources and Citations Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Shave Your Bikini Area Completely
• How to Remove Hair from Your Bikini Area
• How to Get a Great Bikini Butt
• How to Choose a Bikini
• How to Find Locations to Wear Bikini when Summer Time Is Over
• How to Get a Sexy Bikini Body
• How to Try on a Bikini

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Turn your cute tank top into a fun bag. This easy project will instantly provide you with a bag, making it simple for you to bring home that spur-of-the-moment seashell collection from the beach or to hold all those last-minute candies from the local store!

Edit Steps Easy One-Toned Bag

This project is suitable for novice re-purposers and beyond.

1. Find a tank top any color. Turn the top inside out.
   
   
2. Tie up the end of the tank top. Take care to make this a very firm knot, to prevent the bag from unraveling when carrying items. Wrap around tightly with one to two strong rubber bands.
   
   
3. Turn the tank top back right side in. Presto! You have an easy tank top bag.
   
   

Intermediate Two-Toned Bag

This project is slightly more advanced. The resulting bag will be a little stronger than using just the one tank top.

1. Turn both tank tops inside out.
   
   
2. Place one tank top over the other.
   
   
3. Tie the end of the tank tops together. Make sure the knot is very secure, to prevent unraveling when carrying goods. Wrap around tightly with one to two strong rubber bands.
   
   
4. Turn the tank tops right side out. Again, you have a new bag.
   
   

Edit Things You'll Need

• 1-2 tank tops, new or used but washed and clean
• Strong rubber bands (hair elastics could be used in an emergency)

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Tank Top Tote Bag
• How to Make a Tank Top Into a Beach Bag
• How to Make a Purse out of a T Shirt
• How to Make Reusable Grocery Bags from T Shirts

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Are you stuck with a lease or loan for a few more months but you just don't want the vehicle any longer? Many leases, and some loans, allow a new person to assume the remaining term of the lease, taking over the vehicle and the payments on it. To get someone else to take over your car payments, follow the steps below. Edit Steps Making Sure a Lease or Loan Takeover is Permissible

1. Check your lease or loan agreement to ensure it will allow another party to assume the lease or loan. If you are unsure if your lease or loan agreement allows assumption of the obligation, consult an attorney or the lease or loan company.

Finding Someone to Take Over

1. Find someone willing to take over your loan or lease. Ways to find someone wants to take over your payments include:
   • Use an online listing. Several websites offer listings of vehicles whose owners are looking for someone to assume the lease. Lease Trader[1] and Take My Payments[2] are two reputable companies offering listings to owners who are looking for someone to take over their car payments.
   • Run an ad in your local paper. The classified section of your local paper is a good place for an ad seeking potential drivers to assume your lease or take over your loan. Run an ad with a photograph of the vehicle, mileage, general condition, amount of monthly payment, and term remaining on the lease.
   • Use social media websites. If you use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or any other social media site, post an ad on it. Be sure to include a photograph and the amount of the monthly payments, as well as the remaining term of the lease.
   • Talk to friends, family, and co-workers. Let friends, family, and co-workers know that you are looking for someone to take over your loan or lease.

Transferring the Vehicle

1. Contact your lease or loan company. Each financial institution has its own procedure for lease or loan assumption. The procedure generally includes:
   • Submission of credit application by the new owner. When taking over a loan or a lease, a potential owner/lessee will have to fill out a credit application and be approved for the total amount remaining on the loan or lease.
   • Payoff or transfer of the current loan or lease. Once the new owner/lessee is approved for purchase/lease of the vehicle, the lease or title will be transferred to him or her or your loan paid and a new loan given to the new owner.
   • Creation of new lease or loan in new lessee/owner’s name. When a loan or lease for the vehicle has been opened or transferred, the new owner/lessee becomes responsible for the remaining payments on it.
2. Prepare the vehicle for its new owner. When turning over a vehicle to a new owner, you will want to be sure to:
   • Remove all personal items. Get your iPod, gloves, charger cord, and any other items of personal property out of the vehicle.
   • Clean the interior of the vehicle. Wipe down the dash, doors, and steering wheel, and clean the inside and outside of all the windows.
   • Wash the car. Take the vehicle through the car wash or wash it yourself. Be sure to put a nice wax on it when you are through.
3. Turn over the vehicle to the financial institution holding the loan or lease. Follow the instructions you have been given by your lease or loan company to turn the vehicle over. Most companies will pick up the vehicle if you so choose.
   • If you are in possession of the title to the vehicle, you will need to sign it over to the new owner or your financial institution. Check with the loan or lease company for instructions on whom to sign over title to.

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Inkscape is a great vector creating program that's free. Creating this dinosaur will help you learn how to use the software.

Edit Steps

1. Click on the rectangular icon and create a rectangle.
2. Set the Rx and the Ry to about 50.Set the Rx and the Ry to about 50. More or less depending on what you like. This will round the corners of your shape.
3. Click on the edit path by node icon. Move the nodes further apart in the top left hand corner to create a more rounded corner. Keep in mind that you are creating the dino's nose.
4. Add a gradient. Click on the gradient icon and take it from right to left. You want the front of the nose to be lighter.
5. Build the eye.Build the eye. To do this, you need to create five different size circles. Be sure to hold down the CTRL key while creating the circles. This will make sure they are circles, not ellipses.
6. Create another 2 circles, slightly darker than the color you are using for the dino (green in this case).
7. For both of these circles, change the object to path (Object >> Object to Path) and distort them until they look how you want them to be. Here is how it should look (more or less) so far.
   
   
8. Start creating the teeth. Do this by creating a circle, turning it into a path and distort them to have a dull point. Create a main tooth and then duplicate it. To make it look somewhat realistic, vary the size of the teeth. Make 2 or 3 of them.
9. Reproduce one of the teeth. Change the color to the color of your dino, move and rotate it so that it will be a spike at the top of his head. Alternatively, you can create the spike without duplicating the tooth.
10. Build your dino's eyebrows. Create another rectangle. This will be the eyebrow. For the Rx and Ry, use 20 instead of 50. Turn it into a path.
    • Lower the top left corner of the rectangle.Lower the top left corner of the rectangle. Once you have it the shape you want it, duplicate it. (CTRL D)
    • Reduce the size of the new rectangle (it's a highlight) and select a lighter color for it.Reduce the size of the new rectangle (it's a highlight) and select a lighter color for it. Push up on the bottom center of it.
      • The head is now complete.
11. Start work on the body. Create a circle. Make sure it is the same color as the primary head color. Have it be about half the size of the head. This is a cartoon, after all.
12. Convert the object (the circle) into a path. Then give your dino's body a teardrop(ish) shape. Once you have the shape you want, duplicate it.
13. Select a lighter color for the belly of the dinosaur.Select a lighter color for the belly of the dinosaur. You might want to stretch it out and move it so that it looks right.
14. Create a gradient so that it adds some depth to your dino's torso.
15. Create, or duplicate, the spikes that you made for your dino's head. Shrink them down a bit and add them to the back of the dinosaur.
16. Use another circle to create the leg. Give it the same gradient that the face has. Convert it to a path and shape it the way you want it.
17. Create the toenails.Create the toenails. Pick a color that you like for them. Make them a similar shape to the legs, and add them.
18. Create the arm.Create the arm. The arm is the most complicated part of the whole dinosaur. Basically, you need to create it in segments: Shoulder and upper arm, forearm, hand, fingers, fingernails. You do this by creating the circles, converting to paths, and changing the shapes.
19. Put the arm together, put it in place and resize appropriately.Put the arm together, put it in place and resize appropriately.
20. Duplicate the arm and darken it because it will be right arm.
21. Enjoy your dinosaur!!.Enjoy your dinosaur!!

Edit Tips

• It's helpful to put each component on its own layer to facilitate moving things around.
• Some helpful keyboard shortcuts for Inkscape are:
  • CTRL + G - Group
  • CTRL + D - Duplicate
  • Raise and lower layers

Edit Sources and Citations

• Vector.tutsplus.com

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Composition makes photography both challenging and fun. By following the checklist in this article and by being observant of what you see in the camera's preview, you'll soon be turning your photos into works of art. Edit Steps Background and Composition

1. Be mindful of the background. Notice the objects, shapes and lines in the background when taking pictures and when editing your pictures. Avoid including any distractions above the person's head. Steer clear of things like tree trunks, posts, narrow buildings, vertical lines, etc.
   
   For example, in this image, the chair at the tip of the girl's nose is distracting; it should have been avoided.
2. To add some depth, take your photos at an angle to the poser. At the same time, aim to have an interesting background. Read up on landscape art composition; this will help you to appreciate the art of composing more. There are many good books and websites available on the topic of landscape art composition.
3. When looking at photos, notice the visual path that you naturally follow, based on how the photographer composed the picture. In the photo shown here, the photographer has carefully composed everything:
   
   
   • The poser in the foreground is what you notice first.
   • We then notice the other people in the photo. The path also guides on along the visual path.
   • In the background, a distance away, you finally see a nice landscape with the high building.
4. Have one center of interest, where possible. If you have two centers of interest, you must compose your photo carefully. For example, in this image, you can see that the boat blends in with the building in the background––the photo could have been composed better.
   
   What is the center of interest the boat or the building?
   • Selective focus with the background remaining blurry is an option where there is more than one center of interest. A different camera angle horizontal or vertical could help too; take many photos and choose from the best among them.
5. Do not clutter your photo. Anything involving a scene, such as a beach scene, can be all too easy to clutter, especially if you're a novice at composition.
   • This scene has a lot of potential. The beach is obviously the center of interest but the white building in the upper left corner and the other building draws attention away from the beach. Crop this type of distraction by including just a portion of the white building.
     
     This photo could be improved if the foreground was the center of interest and the background was less dominant.
   • Notice the simplicity of professional photos and frames of scenes in well made movies, and imitate this simplicity in your photos. Learn from the graphic design of products like beer ads. When composing your photo, think how a professional photographer would take the picture, and take your photo like a professional photographer. Move a bit, move a lot and use the different setting in your camera to arrange the elements in your photo.
     
     Taking this photo as a restaurant ad could be an option.

Simplifying or Adjusting Images

1. Edit your photos later. First straighten your photo, then make it look attractive with exposure adjustments, starting with contrast. Crop to simplify. Use Windows Live Photo Gallery or Microsoft Office Picture Manager (Windows Live Photo Gallery is free), or whatever photo program you usually use.
   
   Cropping improve the beach scene to make it look like a postcard picture. Crop your pictures to simplify them.
2. Determine the midpoint of your center of interests. When you have two people in a photo, eyeball a center between them, and place this center according to the golden mean.
   • Look at the photo below and notice the dead space at the bottom. The interesting part of this photo is the area where the two men are looking (besides what is in their mouth and their facial expressions) and there should be more space there.
     
     Have more space in the direction that they are facing.
3. Create balance in the elements of your photo. In this image, notice how the space to the lady's right, even with the lines, does not balance the rest of the photo. Asymmetry is many times vertical in Asian art and in this photo the asymmetry is horizontal.
   
   Put some thought into your cropping.
   • Again, take many photos and ask the person to pose differently. Your photo must be pleasing to look at––trust your instincts on what is pleasing, even if you cannot explain why exactly.
4. Arrange the center of interest to form a dynamic diagonal line. For a peaceful composition, use a horizontal line. With objects of the same size, arrange them so they appear different, such as in this photo:
   
   Asymmetry works well here.
5. For harmony, place your subject matter based on the golden mean, vertically and horizontally. The approximate ratio of the golden mean is 6/10, so a vertical placement of a subject would be 6/10 in height on your frame.
   
   The center of the three subject matters is close to the golden mean.
   • If your subject matter is the moon, imagine a dot at the center of the moon, and place it there, according to the golden mean.
   • When you have two or more objects, find the center of those objects and place this center according to the golden mean.
6. Use frames. In the image shown here, the people in the bottom section and the plants frame this photo; this enhances the speaker who is the center of interest. The bottom, left corner should be cropped a bit in this graduation picture, and the bottom left corner in the previous step's picture could do with having a bit more space.
   
   
7. Use a different setting, such as wide angle and telephoto to arrange the subject matter in your photo. The visual path is from left to right, just as we read from left to right. The lines from the building converge at the sunset.
   
   A colorful picture taken at sunset.
8. Provide contrast. Contrast will ensure that the viewer's attention is on the center of interest. Take pictures from different heights––you do not have to be looking at the preview directly. Take some pictures with the camera held above your head and held low, below eye level.
   • The contrast in this photo is with light. In this scene, if the camera was held lower (perhaps the top part of the photo), it would look less compacted. The top part of the photo has a science fiction look–-okay if that is what you want, but not if you want a professional-looking photo.
     
     Capturing the moment.

Edit Tips

• Video is different from taking photos and you will see great composition in them; however, do not apply all that you see from videos and movies to taking photographs. Movies are a different medium, so still use art to learn from.
• The golden mean if measured vertically can be 6/10 or 4/10 from the bottom and 6/10 or 4/10 from the side.
• Study the composition of all arts––art is everywhere. The product designs on items in your cupboard are great materials to learn from.
• Photography is not a fine art, but you can arrange the elements of your photo. Mimic the compositions of the great artists whose paintings are in museums.
• Search "art composition, photography composition or graphic design" and study from a website that instructs you on your specialty.

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With duct tape craft mania still in full throttle, it only seems fitting to make yourself a Gameboy or DS case from duct tape too! It's a strong and protective case that will keep your Gameboy or DS snug inside. Choose any color you like and get sticking!

Edit Steps Wrapping the Gameboy or DS

1. Get your Gameboy or DS.
   
   
2. Beginning just below the cartridge slot, start wrapping the Gameboy or DS with duct tape, one wrap at a time, sticky side facing out.
   
   
   • Avoid wrapping too tightly. You want to still be able to slip the Gameboy or DS in and out of the case when needed.
3. Continue wrapping. Let each new strip to overlap the previous one slightly.
   
   

Creating the Case

1. Make the base. Once you have reached the bottom, put a strip of duct tape over the bottom, sticky side facing out.
   
   
2. Cover the corners for a smooth finish.
   
   
3. Strengthen the structure. Start applying duct tape, sticky side facing down, in vertical strips on the Gameboy or DS.
   
   
4. Once you have done that, do it again cleanly with horizontal strips. This will give the case that leathery feel.
   
   
   • You can cut slits into the front for the screen, buttons, power, and volume.

Adding Finishing Touches

1. Make the strap. Cut about a foot/30cm of duct tape. Fold it in half lengthwise. Fold it in half crosswise. Add an extra inch/2.5cm of tape at the end to be able to attach the strap.
   
   
2. Attach the strap to the case. It's now complete!
   
   

Edit Tips

• Original metallic duct tape gives a shiny look.
• Stores like Rite Aid Aid, Micheal's, and Staples carry colored duct tape. You can use this if you don't like the idea of 'plain old grey'.

Edit Warnings

• Avoid sticking duct tape to the actual Gameboy or DS. It will stick fast and it will be hard to remove both the tape and its residual stickiness.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Duct tape (color of choice)
• Game Boy/Game Boy Color/DS of any type
• Scissors

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Duct Tape Scrap Ball/Pillow
• How to Make Duct Tape Fabric
• How to Make a Duct Tape Vest
• How to Make a Duct Tape iPod Pouch

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Drawing a brain is not overly complicated provided you follow these straight-forward steps.

Edit Steps Method 1: Artistic Version

1. Begin by drawing to concave shapes or half-moon shapes. Draw a larger one for the cerebral cortex of the brain and then a smaller one on its lower right side for its cerebellum.
   
   
2. Draw swirly lines on the left-side of the brain.
   
   
3. Draw the right-side of the brain by drawing again the swirly lines.
   
   
4. Draw thin and compact lines on the smaller concave shape of the brain or on the cerebellum.
   
   
5. Draw the spinal cord on lower-middle part of the brain.
   
   
6. Outline your drawing by using a pen or marker. Erase your penciled sketched to cleanup your drawing.
   
   
7. Color it and you’re done. You can color it any way you want also.
   
   

Method 2: Anatomically Accurate Version

1. Learn the different parts of the brain.
   
   
2. Find a picture of a brain and study the locations of each of the parts.
   
   
3. Draw a curve in the shape of the top half (lengthwise) of an egg.
   
   
4. Lightly draw a line underneath it, so the shape looks like a stretched out semi-circle. The semi circle marks out the space for the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe.
   
   
5. Draw a small lump less than half the length of the oval underneath it. This is the cerebellum.
   
   
6. Draw the medulla oblongata and the pons. The pons is a small, round area right in front of the cerebellum. The medulla oblongata extends out of the pons slightly diagonal towards the spinal cord.
   
   
7. Draw a long oval at a slight angle above the cerebellum and extending past it. This is the temporal lobe.
   
   
8. See the picture to the right to add more detail and for clarity.
   
   

Cartoon Version

1. Draw an oval sideways. Determine the size of your drawing by making the oval larger or smaller, depending on your needs.
   
   
2. Draw a curvy line that goes down the center of the oval. This curvy line should commence from the left side of the oval and go across the oval to the other side.
   
   
3. Draw a bunch of squiggly lines through the oval shape. This gives the distinctive brain texture to the drawing.
   
   
4. Draw a curvy cord at the bottom of the brain. The cord connects the brain to the rest of your body.
   
   
5. Draw something around it, like a robot.
   
   

Edit Video Edit Tips

• Make medium-sized squiggles, and make smaller squiggles coming off of them.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Draw a Human Eye
• How to Draw Ears
• How to Draw a Nose
• How to Draw Realistic Hands

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Thousands of cars are seized by financial agencies, the government, and law enforcement agencies every year. Many of these vehicles are put up for auction. Seized cars can be purchased for almost 90 percent off their retail value, so they're worth looking into if you're after a bargain.

EditSteps Know What You're Getting

1. Understand the conditions of buying a seized car. Buying cars through seized car auctions can get you a car for a great price. However, there are serious downsides to buying cars this way that you need to be aware of pre-purchase:
   
   
   • Often there are no warranties on the condition of the cars;
   • Usually you are unable to test drive the car at the time of the auction
   • Most times the cars come in "as-is" condition.
2. Ask if you can test drive. In some cases, you may be able to test drive cars before the auction.
3. Ask for a report. Cars often do come with CarFax reports to give you the full history of the car. If they don't, you can request the VIN number and run a report yourself before the auction.
4. Enlist the help of a friend. If you have a friend who knows his or her way around a car, ask them to attend the auction or "Inspection" day with you. By having someone look under the hood, you are less likely to get a lemon.

Finding a Local Auction

1. Find a local auction. Seized car auctions can be rather difficult to find. Usually newspapers will report such auctions after the fact. Instead of waiting for advertisements, try using an online membership website. These sites compile all listings for auctions in your area for little or no fee.
   
   
2. Confirm that the auction is open to the public. Some auctions are only open to dealers, so it's important to know in advance that the auction is one that you can actually attend.

Researching the Cars Pre-Auction

1. Do your pre-auction research. Before attending an auction, do as much research as you can on the specific car you want to buy. Or, if the cars up for auction are not available until the day of the auction, as much general information on kind of car you are looking for.
   
   
2. Find the car(s). Find a specific model for the car(s) you are interested in purchasing. This is going to help you decide what price you are comfortable buying the car for.
3. Estimate pricing. Use online sources, used car lots, and "Bluebooks" to find the general price range of that kind of car. This helps you have an idea of how much you should bid, and what your ceiling price is for that car (how much you won't spend more than).
4. Run a VIN number, if available. If you are giving information on the cars in advance, try using a database to find out the vehicle's accident history. This could sway you from buying a particular car that otherwise looks "good."
5. Figure out the reason for its auction. The difference between these reasons could potentially tell you a little more about the car. Typical reasons include:
   • Seized car: This means that car was taken by law enforcement for either too many traffic violations, or because it was recovered in a raid. This means that the car was mostly likely well maintained. IRS and courts tend to seize cars that are higher valued and of a better quality.
   • Repossessed car: These cars are taken back by financial agencies that haven't been receiving payments for the car. Since the person who was evading payments probably didn't have the income to pay back their loans, they probably didn't have the income to maintain the car. These cars tend to be of a lower quality.
   • Previously-owned government car: These cars tend to be owned by governmental agencies that no longer have a need for the car. Since most agencies update their cars pretty often, these cars tend to be less worn and are fairly high in quality.
6. Attend the inspection day or inspect the car the day of the auction. If you can go in advance to look at the cars, do this. If not, make the best of the time before the auction. Have your friend who knows about cars come with you to check the car.
   
   
   • Check the condition. Look for rust, new paint, or dents that could hint at underlying problems. Have your friend look under the hood to check that the engine is in a good condition.

Bidding

1. Learn the rules. All auctions have different rules for "how to bid," what you can and cannot do to the car before purchasing it and how to pay for the vehicle if you have the winning bid. Just to avoid any problems, brush up on the rules for the auction you plan on attending.
2. Register. As an attendee of the auction, you will probably have to register in advance. This will require a valid photo ID and just your basic information. Again, the details needed varies by auction, so ask at the specific auction house to be sure.
3. Make an offer or "bid." Keep your ceiling amount in mind when you are bidding. Start at the lowest bid possible and never bid higher than the minimum.
   
   
4. "Buy" the car. If you are the last to bid on a car, then the final number you bid is the price of your new car. Follow these steps next:
   
   
   • Make the down payment/deposit. Typically this falls around $50. This is expected immediately after winning and is accepted as cash or check.
   • Pay the balance in 24 hours. The remaining balance of the car is usually expected within the 24 hour period of buying the car.
   • Register the car. Register your car in just the same way that you would register any other vehicle. Luxury cars will not require an additional luxury tax, since the original owner will have already paid that.

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Glitches are bugs in a game (computer, video, app, etc.) that cause strange things to happen that are not supposed to form part of the game. For example, perhaps you find an enemy and he runs away when he's not meant to or maybe your enemies have turned into holograms and can't attack you. Usually glitches are a nuisance or something to avoid. Sometimes though, glitches can actually help your gameplay or they're just fun and in this instance, you may actually want to find them––happy bug hunting! Edit Steps Identifying Glitches

1. Notice things happening in the game that aren't supposed to be there. For example, weapon switches when you thought you were holding one type of weapon, clothing changes when you didn't request a change or an entire change of scenery or location when you weren't expecting it. Perhaps gravity doesn't seem to exist anywhere, when it ought to, or maybe your tools, weapons or objects are doing something they wouldn't normally do. To know whether this is part of the game, or a glitch, there are ways to find out:
   • Read the game synopsis accompanying the game. If it's detailed enough, this might help you.
   • Ask a friend who has already played the game. He or she might know whether what you're encountering is normal or not.
   • Go online and check out the forum for the game. See if someone else has raised the possible glitch. Or, do a search for "X glitch" on a search engine if you suspect it is a known glitch.
2. Find out or ask about glitches in general. Check out the specific site, forums, discussion pages or other information source related to your game. There may already be discussion threads or tutorials for finding current glitches in your game.
   • YouTube will often have video tutorials of glitches in popular games.
   • Always check the date of posting of the glitch information. While glitches may remain for some time, they usually won't last more than a few months in live games, as the programmers will patch them eventually.
   • Equally, always read what can go wrong when exploiting a glitch––some glitches can destroy your game or lose items for good.
   • There are some sites dedicated to outing as many glitches in games as possible. Some of these include funny glitches that are worth a good laugh but not much more.
3. Be careful not to abuse glitches in shared gaming. Glitching isn't appreciated in many multiplayer games as it is considered a form of cheating or modifying gameplay in an undesired way and may impact other players unfairly. Read your live game's terms and conditions before getting carried away with overusing a glitch. You may be better off reporting a glitch than using it.

Typical Glitch Zones or Actions

There are some fairly standard areas where glitches tend to occur. If you're hunting them down, here are some pointers to help you.

1. Ledge climb. If you can get onto a climbable ledge, then keep going on it as far as you can. See if it takes you anywhere. Possibly there is a point at which the programming got sloppy and you fall or climb through into something else of interest.
2. Try to pass through walls. In some games, walls become transparent when certain things happen, such as when moving items, interacting with players or using special actions such as teleporting or decorating. Perhaps there are particular joins or fissures in walls that create weak spots where you can pass through what is normally solid.
   • If you notice that your weapon, tool or other object that you're holding can go through a wall, then try to go through as well. It could be a sign of a way to glitch into the wall or out of the zone, level, map or area that you're currently in.
3. Check out the big things. Rocks and other big scenery are often the best place to try and find glitches. Sometimes the game developers get lazy and don't set up barriers there.
   • If you go to a rock to try to glitch into it or out of a map, try to go to the most obscure edge of it. The most protruding edge that is obviously different from the others could be the key to getting inside it.
   • If you are new to glitching, try not to go for the hard glitches like going out of map or under map. Try to get on roofs for a while, and then move on to advanced glitches.
4. If you find an invisible barrier, try to find away around it. Such barriers usually lead to roofs or other places the game developers didn't want you to go.
5. Look at a place that is otherwise unable to reach. Ask yourself, "I wonder if there is a way to get up there." Consider what your game character might be able to use to get there, such as barrels, vines, tree branches, bouncing kangaroos, whatever! Give it all a go––you never know until you've tried.
   • Most glitches happen in areas you're not meant to be playing.
6. Play the game "incorrectly". Games testing occurs with a focus on playing the game "correctly", following a set sequence with expected outcomes. You can turn this on its head by playing it the opposite of what may have been intended, such as approaching things from a different direction or angle, trying to invert the usual things or simply pushing the boundaries when most players wouldn't bother.
   • If you're not afraid to die in the game, you can probably find quite a few strange things out!
7. Try pausing. If you're in the middle of an action, stunt or activity, sometimes pausing might confuse or change things for you. It's worth a try. This action is more likely to be useful for older games.

Finding the Glitch Again

So, you've decided that the glitch you found once before is actually cool and you want to use it again...

1. Try again. Go back to the exact part of the game where you encountered it last time. You may need to try several times before seeing the glitch again; pinpointing exactly what causes it may take time to refine.
   • Keep trying. Just because you don't get where you want to the first time, it doesn't mean you can't get there.
2. Use some of the suggested places from the section above. Go and visit some of the areas of the game that are more likely to contain glitches, such as rocks and big scenery.
3. Stay alert when playing. Don't actively look for glitches but be alert for the possibility as you enjoy your game, noticing anything that doesn't fit in with the normal gameplay.
   • Most glitches are random accidents that you stumble upon. They may be present while in regular single or multiplayer modes, depending on the game type.

Edit Tips

• If on an obstacle otherwise unreachable, then ledge climb around instead of going through the middle.
• Try pushing another character or animal into something and then walking through that person or beast. Or use the character or animal to climb on, ride on, batter through something, etc.
• Learn how to jump precisely. Landing on your target is a valuable skill. Repeated jumping (bunny-hopping) can sometimes have a glitch effect on a game.
• Most things are scenery. Say you jump on a curtain above a building, you will most likely fall through.
• Utilize any special jumps when trying to jump farther than normal. If speedily jumping to places, then slow down and let your jump recharge after each jump to see if this helps your cause.
• The Wii never gets any patches, so if you're looking for a glitch that you don't want gone, then play on the Wii. That said, most ledges in Wii games are scenery and cannot be walked on. Most scenery can't be ledge climbed.

Edit Warnings

• Glitching is not hacking. However, glitches that enable you to obtain items that you'd normally pay hard cash for, such as coins or stars, may be considered a form of theft by those managing the game and you may get banned for abusing it.
• Many people hate glitchers, so be prepared for complaints. For multiplayer live games, people may report you. On XBL and PSN, glitching is against the rules and may get you banned.
• For live games, most glitches aren't patched for a couple of months. This doesn't mean you should get used to them though, as they'll eventually go. Accepting updates to your game will often remove a glitch.
• A game may stop loading properly after you've exploited a glitch. Or items may stop existing or actions stop being possible after exploiting a glitch. Try the reset button before giving up. And user beware.

Edit Things You'll Need

• A video game console
• A game to glitch on
• A network connection for online multiplayer helps
• A controller

Edit Sources and Citations

• https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Bughunting – research source

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Sweetening the basic margarita with agave nectar in place of simple syrup cuts down on the calories. The frozen strawberry version utilizes a packet of low calorie drink mix to add guilt-free flavor.

Edit Ingredients

Servings: 2

• Lime wedge
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 3 oz. (90 ml) tequila
• 1 oz. (30 ml) lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 oz. (30 ml) agave nectar
• Ice

Edit Steps Salting the glass rim

This is optional. The salt rim on the glass will bring out the sweetness in the beverage.

1. Place the flesh of the lime wedge against the rim of a margarita glass. Rub the lime around the rim of the glass so that the lime juice adheres to the rim.
2. Pour kosher salt on a plate.
3. Dip the rim of the margarita glasses into the kosher salt.

Making the drink

1. Combine the silver tequila, lime juice and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and replace the lid.
3. Shake the drink until the ingredients are well combined.
4. Pour the drink into the salted margarita glasses.

Edit Tips

• This low-calorie version of the basic margarita is prepared on the rocks. If you prefer your margaritas frozen, then simply pour the tequila, lime juice and agave nectar into a blender with ice. Blend the ingredients to the desired consistency.

Edit Things You'll Need

• 2 margarita glasses
• Small plate
• Cocktail Shaker
• Blender

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Blue Margarita
• How to Create a Decorative Floral Margarita
• How to Make Strawberry Margaritas
• How to Make a Banana Margarita

Edit Sources and Citations

• http://www.sensationalcocktailrecipes.com/tequila-mixed-drinks/skinny-girl-margarita-recipe/
• http://www.momsbudget.com/partytime/saltmargarita.html
• http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/article-detail/Low-Calorie-Margarita-Recipe-Strawberry-Margarita/4s/

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Looking for a nontoxic solution to cleaning up household messes or are you in a pinch and don't have any cleaner on hand? You don’t need to spend a lot of money on organic cleaners or head to the store; instead, you can make effective and great smelling cleaning fluid at home from two really simple kitchen cupboard ingredients, namely citrus and vinegar.

Edit Steps Preparing the Citrus Peels

1. Peel citrus fruits. The peels will be mixed with vinegar to create your solution. Either eat the fruit or use it in another recipe.
   
   
2. Fill the bottle or jar with citrus peel. Depending on the size of the opening, you may need to chop the peel to fit. And be sure to fill the entire jar with peel.
   
   

Adding the Vinegar

1. Pour the white vinegar into the jar or bottle. Fill almost to the top, leaving enough space need to cap the bottle or screw on the jar lid.
   
   

Blending the Mixture

1. Place the jar or bottle in a cool, dry area. Allow the mixture to blend and “marinate” for approximately 10 days. This will help the essential oils to mix with the vinegar, which not only creates a good odor, but also turns this liquid into a potent cleaner.
   
   

Using the Cleaner

1. Use the citrus vinegar cleaning solution on nearly any surface in the home. However, always test it in an inconspicuous area when using for the first time, especially on wood surfaces before using. This solution may discolor wood, but is usually ideal for cleaning ceramic, stone, porcelain or laminate surfaces.
   
   

Edit Tips

• Remove citrus peels from solution after 10 days of use.
• Why does this work? The vinegar is an all-purpose cleaning agent that has long been used by household managers to remove grime and any residue; in this solution, it acts as the true cleaning agent. Citrus has the power to cut through grease and dissolve it, helping to add to the cleaning oomph of the vinegar; it also leaves behind a pleasant odor.
• Place discarded citrus peel in the garbage disposal to disinfect and deodorize the sink. Or, recycle the orange peel in your organic compost heap!

Edit Warnings

• Although this solution is nontoxic, it will burn if sprayed directly or near the eyes. Never spray cleaning agents near the face of a person or animal.

Edit Things You'll Need

• A container to hold your cleaning fluid, such as a clear spray bottle, a glass or bottle
  
  
• Citrus fruit or citrus essential oil, such as lemon, lime or orange; or, tea tree oil; if using peel, have enough to fill the container
  
  
• A bottle of white vinegar
  
  

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Natural Disinfectant
• How to Make Homemade Cleaning Spray
• How to Make a Carpet Cleaning Solution
• How to Make Homemade Floor Cleaner
• How to Make Disposable Household Cleaning Wipes

Edit Sources and Citations

• http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/2012/09/do-it-yourself-household-cleaner.html – research source

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Buying stocks is not that difficult, but you'll need a little guidance if you haven't done it before. On the other hand, making money consistently from buying stock can be very difficult. Most mutual funds underperform the index, which means even professionals don't find this easy. So take everything you read with a grain of salt.

Edit Steps Before You Buy

1. Do nothing until you know kinds of stocks to buy and under what circumstances to sell. Go to the local library and search online to find books and other resources on stock investing. A few excellent books to start with include "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham, "Security Analysis" by Benjamin Graham, and "Common Stocks" by Philip Fisher. Also see Invest in Stocks.
   
   
   • The rule of thumb with stocks is to buy low and sell high. Basically, you want to buy a stock when it's affordable and sell it when it's costly.
     
     • Say that you buy 100 shares of stock priced at $15 each. That's a $1,500 investment. If, after two years, the stock price has risen to $20, your $1,500 investment has turned into a $2,000 investment, giving you a $500 profit.
     • Say that you buy 100 shares of a stock priced at $50 each. You've made a $5,000 investment. If, after two years, the stock price has fallen to $25, your $5,000 investment has turned into a $2,500 investment, giving you a loss of $2,500.
2. Don't get stock prices confused with the value of a company. The value of a company is its market capitalization, or market cap. Market cap is determined by multiplying the stock price of a company by the number of shares it has issued.
   
   
   
   • If the stock price of any given company is $100, and the company has issued 500,000 shares, its market cap would be $50,000,000.
   • Therefore, a company whose stock price is $7 can have a higher market cap than a company whose stock price is $30 — if the first company has five times as many shares issued as the second.
   • The market cap is the overall value of a company's shares, not the value of the company itself. Investors make an educated guess about the value of a company; there's no established way to define it, because you're making a guess about what the company will do in the future.
3. Understand a few more basics about stocks. Being successful in the stock market depends on being able to find out what a company's future returns are. This is a guess, a wager. Stock prices are deeply affected by peoples' opinions of how companies are performing, not always the intrinsic value of the stock.
   
   
   • A stock price goes up when more people want to buy the stock than to sell it. A stock price goes down when more people want to sell the stock than to buy it. Therefore, the price of any given stock is a reflection of how well people think the company is performing, not necessarily a cut and dry formula for how well the company is actually performing.
     
     • In this way, a company can have a strong stock price and a lot of shares and still be overvalued, because people think the company is worth more than it actually is. In the same way, a company can be undervalued even if it has a mediocre stock price and fewer shares, because people think the company is worth less than it actually is.
     • Your goal in trading stocks — aside from buying low and selling high — is to find stocks that are undervalued and buy them and to find stocks that are overvalued and sell them.
   • Stock prices are also affected by earnings reports, which companies release four times a year. If a company releases strong earnings reports, its stock is likely to go up. If a company releases lower-than-expected earnings reports, the stock price is likely to go down.
4. Put your finances in order. Pay off as much debt as you can and minimize the loans you're taking out. Ideally, all high interest rate loans should be completely paid off first, and the only loan, if any, you should have is mortgage on the home you live in. Build three to six months worth of expense in a separate savings account before you start buying stocks.
   
   
5. Consider how stocks fit into your overall financial plan, and whether you should buy individual stocks or mutual funds. See How to Decide Whether to Buy Stocks or Mutual Funds.
   
   
   • Mutual funds are a collection of stocks bundled into a group. There might be 100 stocks in a mutual fund, for example. So if you invest in that particular mutual fund, you are investing your money in many different stocks, essentially. If the value of one company in the mutual fund goes up, it's not likely to make much difference in the big picture. At the same time, if the value of one company in the mutual fund goes down, it's not likely to have a serious affect on your overall investment.
   • Buying individual stocks is riskier than buying mutual funds. At the same time, the reward is higher. If you buy individual stocks and the value of the stock tanks, you've lost a lot of your investment. If the value of the stock skyrockets, you've made much more money than you might have investing in a mutual fund.
6. Do your due diligence. Research the company thoroughly before buying stock in it. You are basically making a bet about how well you think a company is going to perform in the future. Start with online financial sites to get a quick idea of the business and key financial ratios.
   
   
   • Look at the balance sheets and income statements for the past 10 years to see if they are sound. Companies with a high debt load and poor record of profitability may be quickly eliminated from further consideration.
   • Read the recent annual and quarterly reports (SEC 10-Ks and 10-Qs). Explore the company's website, if one exist. Read analyst reports, if available.
   • If still interested, you may wish to speak to the company's customers, competitors, and suppliers, then finally the company's executives themselves to get a better idea of the business.
7. Make a wish list. Ideally, these should be stocks of great companies that you intend to hold on to through thick and thin. Warren Buffett, one of the best investors today, said that if you cannot hold a stock for 10 years, you should not even consider holding it for 10 seconds.
   
   
   • Set a target price to buy for each stock and stick with it. For example, suppose after doing your due diligence, you decide Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) is great stock to buy, but the price is selling a little too high right now at $95/share. You would like to buy at $80 or less. Taking a look at the price history, you see that the stock is selling at an all time high, and was trading around $80-90 last year, and as low as $45 two and a half years ago. So $80/share is quite reasonable a target. Why not make it a tad lower, say $75?
   • The key to successful investing is to stick with your strategy over long period of time. So once you set your target, and the stock hits the target price, you buy, and continue buying as the stock goes lower.

Ways to Buy

1. Buy direct. Some companies offer direct stock purchase plans (DSPPs). Search online or call or write the company whose stock you wish to buy, to inquire whether they offer such a plan; ask them to forward you a copy of their plan's prospectus, application forms, and other relevant information.
   
   
   • Most plans allow you to invest as low as $50 per month, automatically withdrawn from your bank account.
   • Pay close attention especially to the fees involved. A few companies, such as Procter & Gamble (see here), offer no fee investment plans.
   • DSPPs also allow you to reinvest all your dividends automatically. Your dividend is a payment made to stockholders, based on the corporate profits of the company. Some companies even give you a discount, such as 5 percent, for dividend reinvestment.
2. Use an online discount broker. Search for "online discount brokers" on a search engine to find a list of brokers that you can use to buy and sell stocks online. Be sure to compare their fees and see if they have any hidden fees before signing up. Minimizing fees and expenses is key to successful investing.
   
   
   • Most discount brokers charge less than $10 commission per trade, regardless the size of the trade. Some brokers may even offer a certain number of free trades, provided you meet certain criteria, so make sure you read carefully before committing to a broker. The best brokers also offer no fee dividend reinvestment, good customer service, and various research tools for customers.
   • Send the broker an initial deposit of funds. (Your broker needs this money to purchase your stocks.) The usual minimum is $2000 but can be as little as $500.00. Some online brokers don't require a deposit at all.
   • Your broker must report your stock trades to the IRS. You will need to fill out the required forms and mail them back to the broker, possibly even before they will allow you to make your first trade. (Your broker will send you the forms.)
   • Select your stock, notifying your broker of the company's "symbol" (a 1-5-letter code), the price you're willing to pay per share, the number of shares to buy, and the length of time for which your offer will be valid (e.g. Single day vs. Good till Cancelled). Instead of specifying a price you are willing to pay (call a 'limit order'), you may also put in order to buy at the market, which means you order is immediately filled at the current ask price for the stock.
3. Alternatively, use a full service broker. A full service broker is similar to a discount broker as discussed above, except that they charge considerably higher fees, and offer investment advice and more research tools. Because full service brokers are paid mostly by commissions, it is in their best interest to encourage you to trade as frequently as possible, even though it may not be in your best interest.
   
   

Edit Video Edit Tips

• Most day traders lose money, and very few fund managers beat the indexes over any length of time. Stock trading is easy. Making money is hard. So look for a system, prove it to yourself, and then don't deviate!
• Before you buy anything, stop. Watch. Learn. Paper trade. Don't trust anyone's advice until you have confirmed that what they say works consistently. If you are considering buying a trading system from anyone, look at some of the reputable financial forums such as trade2win or moneytec. You will find most of them there...along with a heap of dissatisfied customers.
• Know that your investments with each broker is insured by the SIPC for up to $500,000. If you have more than $500,000 with a broker, consider using additional brokers to diversify against the risk of your broker going bankrupt.
• Although you should "diversify" your stock portfolio by owning stock in several industries, buy stock primarily in industries you are familiar with. (tech stocks if you're a geek, auto stocks if you read a lot of car magazines, etc.)
• There is plenty of free advice from reputable people. There is also plenty of free and seemingly credible advice that is both misleading and wrong.
• Maintain meticulous records of all your stock trades, including the stock, size of the trade, cost basis (price you pay including any commissions, fees, and adjustments), sale price, and dates of transactions. You will need these information to calculate capital gains taxes. From time to time, you will need to adjust your cost basis to account for return of capital, splits, depletion, spinoffs, distributions, etc.
• Instead of offering a specific amount (and a time frame) for the stock, you may purchase the stock "at market value", which executes immediately.
• Many people erroneously believe that a broker is required to buy stocks. This is not the case. If you feel confident enough, and have the necessary experience, opportunities abound for buying stocks all by yourself without any broker involved. Although this is not an option most beginners consider, it is something you can look into once you've established yourself in the field and have a sound background.
• Don't buy too much of one investment, to insulate yourself from firm-specific risk (the risk that an individual stock may blow up due to some unexpected adverse developments in the underlying company); balanced portfolios tend to increase in value in the long-term.
• Try using stop losses with paper trades. If that works well, consider using stop loss before every trade, and exercise it ruthlessly. A 'stop loss' order specifies that if a stock falls below a specified price, the stock will be sold. For example, if you hold 100 shares of Union Pacific (UNP), and the stock is trading at $100 a share. If you enter a stop loss sell order for 100 shares of UNP at $90, your sell order will become a market order when the stock falls to $90 or below. Know that if the stock drops too fast, your execution price may fall significantly below the stop loss price of $90. To protect against executing at a price less than your stop loss price, you can use a stop limit order, which means the stock drops to your specified stop limit price, your order becomes a limit order at that price, and does not guarantee the execution of your order. Don't make decisions on the fly! Be aware, however, that in volatile markets, stocks can easily lose 50% and then go up 5 times the value. It is better to buy low and sell high if you are trying to invest, rather than buying high and trying to sell higher in speculation.
• Most brokers now charge a flat commission per trade regardless of the size of your trade, although some still charge commission on a per-share basis. In addition, you have to pay a SEC Section 31 regulatory fee when you sell.
• Many of the established text books and bibles on trading - particularly on technical analysis - contain assumptions repeated so often they have gained the status of fact without ever being proven! If you find that hard to believe then download a stock price into a spreadsheet and test the moving average crossing methods repeated in every book on technical analysis and shudder at how much money you would have lost! It just isn't as simple as it is painted.
• Realise that people who promote a stock often do so because they want to sell it. In other words they hype a product in order to sell it. This way of looking at things is called "contrarianism." So when people say "BUY", it's actually time to "SELL", or if you don't hold stock already, it may not be the time to buy at all! Always DYOR (Do Your Own Research) and then some. In contrast, when someone says sell, it might indeed mean buy, so take a good look at the stock.
• Index funds, an alternative to individual stocks, provide a balanced, low-cost (low/no management fees) way of investing, and have consistent long-term gains.
• Depending on the brokerage fees, it will be difficult (or take a long time) to recoup an investment of less than $1500 on any single stock purchase.

Edit Warnings

• Avoid the common mistakes that plague new comers to the stock market, chief among which is speculation in stocks. Speculation takes many forms, including buying and selling too frequently trying to make a fast profit within months, chasing the hottest stocks (stocks with the biggest recent gains), also known as "momentum investing", feeding the dogs (i.e., indiscriminately buying stocks with the biggest recent losses or trading at low valuations), buying penny stocks (stocks of small companies trading at less than $1), buying stocks on margin, short selling, buying options and financial futures. Speculation in stocks is a long-term losing strategy. If you are not yet fully convinced not to speculate, practice trading on paper, i.e. do not actually trade stocks, but pretend that you are buying and selling stocks, and record the transactions on paper, or in a computer spreadsheet. Make sure to include commissions and taxes in each transaction.
• Be cautious with the use of margin in buying stocks. To avail yourself to the use of margin, you must sign a form with your broker, acknowledging your understanding of the inherent risks associated with margin trading. Margin allows you to put up only 50 percent cash and borrow the other 50 percent from the broker to buy a stock position. A cash deposit of $5000, for example, allows you to buy a position up to $10000 with the use of margin. If your stock subsequently loses 50 percent, however, your broker would issue you a margin call to put up more money, or else your position gets sold off to prevent your account from going underwater (i.e. owing more than it is worth). Because fluctuations in the stock market are the norm and can be quite volatile at times, use margin at your own risk.
• Do not let your emotions or bias cloud your judgment when you are buying stocks. Just because you love Krispy Kreme doughnuts does not mean that you should be buying Krispy Kreme stock. Even the best products can be run by companies with terrible management which will eventually run them into the ground.
• Do not use market orders for thinly traded stocks; use limit orders only. Thinly traded stocks have much widely spreads, which means a market order can be filled at a much higher ask price than the last traded price of the stock.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Buy a Stock Without a Stockbroker
• How to Keep Your Investing Focus
• How to Invest in Stocks
• How to Choose Stocks
• How to Decide Whether to Buy Stocks or Mutual Funds

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Ask yourself this: Do you become nervous when you are placed in the spotlight? Do strangers make you shudder? Does the simple thought of talking in front of people make you want to run to the nearest restroom? Do you immediately want to leave that restroom if someone else is in there already? Well guess what... you're not alone! Many people in the world suffer from mild to extreme shyness, and are struggling to overcome it! Remember that breaking out from that shell doesn't magically happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and of course, the desire to change. The following are some tips to assist you in overcoming shyness.

Edit Steps Help with Shyness

Sample Ways to Overcome Shyness

Sample Ways to Build Confidence

Overcoming Shyness

1. Figure out what makes you feel shy. Do you become shy in front of new audiences? When learning a new skill? When venturing into a new situation? When surrounded by people you know and admire? When you don't know anyone somewhere? Try to pinpoint the thoughts that go through your head right before the shyness hits. Then come up with some "I" statements that you can repeat to yourself, like a mantra, to head off those thoughts: "I can do this", "I look good", "I have something to offer", etc.
2. Build your self confidence. Everyone has some special gift or trait to offer to the world. It may sound corny, but it's true. Think about what you know, what you can do, and what you have accomplished, rather than fixating on how you look, sound, or dress. Keep in mind that everyone, even the "beautiful people", has something about themselves or their life that they don't like. There's no particular reason why your "problem" should make you shy while their "problem" doesn't make them shy.
   
   
3. Get comfortable. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you, and build up your confidence through them. Eventually, this will translate to other situations being more comfortable.
4. Close your eyes and visualize a situation where you might be shy. Now, in your mind's eye, make yourself feel confident. Do this often, and for different situations. This is most effective if you do this daily, especially in the morning. It might feel silly, but athletes use visualization to develop their skills, so why not you?
5. Maintain close bonds with your friends, as they can be there for you as you crack out of your shell. They'll be happy to help and encourage you with your progress.
6. Look and act approachable. Convey an open, friendly attitude with your body language.
7. Smile and make eye contact. A simple smile in the direction of a stranger may brighten your day, and it will brighten theirs too! Smiling is a friendly way to acknowledge others, and it makes a pretty good lead-in to start a conversation with anyone, stranger or friend.
8. Practice good posture and speaking clearly. Standing tall gives the world the impression that you are self-confident and receptive to others. Speaking clearly will help avoid the potential embarrassment of needing to repeat what you said due to mumbling or talking too quietly.
9. Laugh often, but only at things you find genuinely amusing. It will help ease any tension you may be feeling and will make you feel more relaxed.
10. Don't look preoccupied. Don't work on papers, text or do your make-up if you want someone to talk to you.
11. Set goals for yourself. Focus on small, daily accomplishments, then gradually become more daring.
    
    
12. Make a list of situations that make you feel anxious. Order them so that those things that cause you the least anxiety are first and those that cause you the most anxiety are last. Once you have a list of 10-15 stressful situations, start working through them, one-by-one. The first few "easier" situations will help build your confidence so that you can continue moving to more difficult situations on your list. Don't worry if you have to go backwards on the list sometimes; take it at your own pace, but make an effort to push yourself.
13. Introduce yourself to one new person each day. It is often easier to talk with strangers, at least briefly. After all, you may never see them again, so who cares what they think about you?
14. Make new friends. Talk to somebody you would not normally think about having a conversation with. Try to find people who share one or more of your interests and make plans to talk to them. Initiate conversation with a simple starter, such as, "That's a nice bag, where did you get it?" or "It's really nice outside, don't you think?" Most people are good-natured and will be receptive to smalltalk.
15. Try doing stuff you never dreamed you would. Doing something really exciting, like sky diving, will: a) provide an endorphin rush; and b) give you a story to tell when you are making conversation with people. And if you can find the courage to do something that big, then something like talking to a co-worker, your boss or a potential date should seem easy.
16. Don't compare yourself to others. - The more you compare yourself to others, the more you will feel that you are not able to measure up and the more intimidated you will feel, which will make you shyer.
17. Follow the rules, but don't overdo it - Loosen up sometimes! Don't be uptight about everything you do. If you are trying to conform to social standards wherever you go, you'll probably have feeling that you are not doing something right and are more likely to clam up. Try not to obsess about what everyone thinks about you. People like fun and exciting people. You can become interesting by taking small risks, one step at a time. Life's short - make the most of it!

Edit Video Edit Tips

• If you're shy because you are scared of what people might say about you, they can also do that when you're not shy. The fact is that people make mistakes all the time! Don't be afraid, people will accept you for who you are.
• Remember, if you find the courage to speak naturally and without fear, you will become more comfortable with that concept and eventually act that way almost all the time.
• Keep working at it. It may take you time to feel more comfortable, don't get discouraged.
• Just know that almost everyone is shy to some extent. The difference is the degree of shyness. You can boost your confidence through practicing conversation skills and having new topics to discuss.
• There's nothing wrong with being shy, but there's nothing wrong with being outgoing either!
• Make a list of things you love about yourself and post it on your wall. It may strike up some confidence before leaving the door.
• Playing games is a great way to slowly break out of your shell and talk to people.
• Give yourself lots of time to talk. Speaking slowly gives you more time to think about what to say, as well as often adding weight to your words.
• Volunteer or join a club or social group! Join a club you are interested in and you'll meet other people with common interests. This is a great way to make friends.
• Overcome stage fright by imagining you are someone else, such as a favorite celebrity you admire. Picture yourself as that person until you feel comfortable onstage.
• Don't be afraid to seek professional help; group counseling, individual counseling, and therapy can help you along the way. Sometimes it's more than just shyness, and it's important to realize that. Social Anxiety Disorder is often seen as "extreme shyness", so make sure that you know what you have.
• Even if you think things will end badly, go for it! More than likely it will turn out fine, and it's better to find out for sure than to have regrets on what might have happened!
• Many children grow out of their shyness.
• Remember that shyness is an emotion, not a permanent personality trait. You have the power to change your feelings of shyness through desire and actions.

Edit Warnings

• If you were known for being shy amongst family members and friends, watch out for the harmless teasing. Some may be uncomfortable with you existing outside the category they've put you in, in their own minds. Ignore them. They mean well, but don't let them scare you back into your shell!
• Remember, you are human just like everyone else. Someone else might have way more problems than you but still be more out going than you. Just be human, start speaking your mind, and don't worry about what people think about you.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Overcome Shyness Permanently (Emotional Auto Suggestion)
• How to Build Self Confidence
• How to Be Confident
• How to Talk to a Shy Person
• How to Not Be Shy
• How to Overcome Shyness with Girls
• How to Overcome Shyness With Adults
• How to Overcome Shyness in High School
• How to Overcome Shyness Around Guys
• How to Accomplish a Goal
• How to Set Goals
• How to Accept Being Shy
• How to Be Charismatic
• How to Be Popular
• How to Act Shy
• How to Be Outgoing in College
• How to Do Well in College
• How to Disguise Yourself
• How to Go from Shy to Confident

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Cyber bullying occurs when electronic communications such as text messages, emails, instant messages, and social media updates are used to threaten or humiliate someone. This type of bullying usually involves the emotional abuse of a child or teenager, and its consequences can be just as serious as the effects of bullying that occurs in person. Learn how to recognize and address cyber bullying before it gets out of hand.

Edit Steps Knowing What to Look For

1. Recognize direct harassment. Cyber bullying often takes the form of one child directly bullying another through emails, instant messages text messages or other modes of electronic communication. Overt harassment is taking place if the bully is directly contacting a classmate or acquaintance with one or more of the following types of messaging:
   
   
   • Hateful or threatening verbal messages. This includes name-calling, attempts to control the recipient's behavior by threatening to explose embarrassing information, and threats to commit violence against or cause the death of the recipient.[1]
   • Embarrassing or threatening images.
   • An unceasing barrage of emails, instant messages, or texts, whether or not they are threatening in nature.[2]
   • Threatening acts committed through a "proxy attack," in which the bully engages other people to participate in bullying acts through direct messaging.
2. Be aware of public harassment. Another common form of cyber bullying happens when the bully harasses the target by way of public embarrassment, rather than directly contacting the target. This type of cyber bullying can take the following forms:
   • Public messages posted on a social media site, a blog, or another public medium that are intended to humiliate the target.
   • The spreading of rumors and gossip about the target using social media, text messages and other tools.
   • The dissemination of pictures that are embarrassing or explicit in nature, or are altered with the intent to humiliate, via social media websites, text messaging and other electronic means.
   • The creation of a website filled with defamatory images, insults, and rumors about the target.
3. Know the signs of impersonation. A less obvious, but equally harmful form of cyberbullying takes place when the bully attacks the target by impersonating him or her as a way to bring about humiliation or punishment. In this case it is more difficult to identify the perpetrator.
   
   
   • In some cases the bully may create a screen name nearly identical to the screen name used by the target, then use that screen name to create embarrassing or threatening situations for the target.[3]
   • The bully may steal the target's password, hack his or her accounts, and message others, make excessive purchases, or otherwise cause harm to the target.

Taking Immediate Action

1. Attempt to identify the cause. Some bullies start out as a friend, an ex, or someone else you know well. If it seems possible to have a reasonable discussion with the person, consider asking him or her to stop. Have the conversation in person, not via email or text.
   
   
   • Keep in mind there may not always be a reason for cyber bullying, or one that is straightforward. Sometimes people lash out on others because of their own insecurities. In any case, it is not your fault.
   • If you don't know who the bully is, or if you're being bullied by a group of people, attempting to talk it out probably won't work. You may need to take a stronger action.
2. Don't respond to the bully. Don't directly respond to the text messages, instant messages, emails or other communications you may have received from the bully. Bullies want to elicit a reaction from their targets, so firing back a text will only make things worse.
   • Don't threaten the bully to get back at him or her. Sending a threatening message out of exasperation will only provoke the bully to keep up the bad behavior, and it may get you in trouble, too.
3. Save the evidence. File away every email, text, instant message, web address, and other evidence you collect from the bully. Record the time and date that each message was sent. Having as much information as possible about the bully's behavior will help you determine how to stop his or her behavior.[4]
4. Block the bully. Immediately put an end to the bully's most invasive threats by blocking that person from direct communication with you. Once you've made sure all prior messages have been saved, take the following steps to protect yourself:
   
   
   • Delete the person from your email contacts and block instant messaging communication.
   • Delete the person from your social networks and prevent them from getting in contact with you again.
   • Block the person from your phone.
5. Change your account settings. Prevent the person from finding a new way to contact you by limiting the amount of personal information you make available online. Take the following measures to protect yourself:
   • Don't reveal your address, phone number and whereabouts online. Social media sites make it easy for people to contact you in a lot of different ways, but they all have privacy settings you can employ to keep certain people from bothering you. Change your settings so that only close friends are able to contact you.
   • Consider changing your screen name and other online identification. If you've been using the same screen name for years, the bully may be able to find a way to continue harassing you by posing as someone else. Eliminate the possibility by changing your screen name, as well as your profile picture and other information that makes you easy to find online.
   • Create new accounts. If you fear someone else is impersonating you, it might be necessary to create new accounts so that that person is no longer able to pretend to be you. Notify your friends and family that you have a new email address, social media page, and so on.

Getting Outside Help

1. Don't wait too long to ask for help. You might be tempted to let the bullying run its course instead of bringing attention to the problem, but if you do that the bully will get the message that there's no penalty for putting someone else in danger. Don't assume the problem will go away on its own; speak up immediately to put a stop to it.
   
   
   • If you're a child or teenager, ask an adult for help. Your parents, teachers, principal and school counselor are all in a position to put a stop to the situation before it goes any further.
   • If you're a parent, take the situation seriously and address it immediately. Cyber bullying has often had tragic consequences.
2. Talk to your school administrators. Every school has a policy for dealing with bullying, and more and more schools have a specific plan for putting a stop to cyber bullying. Some states require this by law. No matter what your school's individual policy might be, it's the administrators' job to resolve the situation.
   • If you're a child or teenager, know that taking this issue to the school is the right thing to do. Other kids at the school may be experiencing cyber bullying, too; the school needs to be made aware of the problem to take steps to end it.
   • If you're a parent, set up a meeting with the school principal or dean to address the problem head-on.
3. Report the bully to your service providers. Cyber bullying usually violates the terms of service laid out by social media sites, cell phone providers, and other service providers. Read up on your providers' policies and take steps to report threatening behavior.
   • You may have to send your records of the cyber bully's messages to the provider as proof you are being bullied.
   • The provider may decide to penalize the person as a result of your report.
4. Get law enforcement involved. In some cases cyber bullying may be classified as a crime, which places it beyond the jurisdiction of the school and service providers. If the cyber bullying involves one of the following elements, call your local police department:
   • Stalking and use of intimidation.
   • Threats of violence or death.[5]
   • Sexually explicit photos or descriptions of a minor, which is considered child pornography.[6]
   • Secretly-recorded photos or videos that were taken without the subject's knowledge.
   • Hate-related communications or actions.[7]

Preventing Cyber Bullying

1. Never share information online if it could be used against you. Cyber bullies often use pictures, status updates, and personal information they find online to harass their targets. It's fine to share a little information about yourself online, but never reveal something you don't want the whole world to know.
   • Never take an explicit photo of yourself to send to someone else, and never let someone else take an explicit photo of you. You may be in love with your significant other now, but if you break up, you won't have control over what happens to those pictures. Many cases of cyber bullying involve former significant others trying to get revenge on their exes by distributing explicit pictures.
   • Personal information sent through private emails, texts and instant messages could land in the hands of a cyber bully. Try not to discuss embarrassing or deeply personal information online. Even if you're only telling a friend, you never know how the information might get out. It's best to discuss serious matters in person.
2. Watch your tone when you communicate online. Sometimes online communications can be misread by the recipient, leading to a conflict that can escalate into a bullying situation. Be respectful to people with whom you communicate online to avoid making enemies. If a conflict develops, try to resolve it in person.[8]
   • A good rule of thumb is to be as polite to someone online as you would be in person.
   • Don't send messages when you're feeling angry or emotional. They are more likely to be taken the wrong way by the recipient.
3. Don't participate in cyber bullying behavior. Even if all of your friends are doing it, cyber bullying is still wrong. People choosing to go along with the crowd in cases of cyber bullying is what makes these types of attacks so effective and damaging. Your behavior can influence other people's actions; make it clear that you don't stand for cyber bullying by setting a good example for others.
   • If your friends start teasing someone online or via text, don't participate. Ask them to stop, and let them know that cyber bullying has the same dangerous consequences as in-person bullying does.
   • Never take photos or video of someone else without their knowledge and permission. It's against the law to secretly record someone else's behavior when they believe no one is watching.
   • Even if you take photos or video of someone with their permission, don't distribute them unless the person agrees to it. Never distribute photos or videos that could be considered explicit, humiliating or could somehow be used against the person.

Edit Video Edit Tips

• Be very careful who you give your email address, personal/private information to and NEVER give out personal/private information e.g. home address, telephone number, date of birth, name of school/work/college/university, anything about family business and any sensitive/confidential information and any information that can trace you and your family to anyone without permission from your parents/guardians/teacher/boss/person in charge.
• If you get any emails/instant messenger or chatroom conversations from a bully/harasser, save them and print them off which can be used as evidence and show these to your parents and to the police. Remember that bullying and harassment in this way IS A CRIME!
• Be very careful of who you post your pictures, files, messages and attachments to. Anyone can see them and you never know where they can land and fall into the wrong hands (At work, your boss and IT staff can monitor and see everything)
• Don't lower yourself to their level, be the bigger person by ignoring them (by not replying to their posts) and don't show that they are getting to you where they would see as this would spur them on.
• You can copy and paste an email/instant messenger or chatroom conversation from a bully/harasser onto a Word Document.
• Don't reply to any emails/instant messenger or chatroom conversations from a bully/harasser.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Deal With Being Locked out of Your House (Teenagers)
• How to Be Confident and Safe when Going out Alone
• How to Survive a Tsunami (for Kids)
• How to Recognise a Loverboy(Pimp)
• How to Stop a Bully

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If you've written a children's book and you're eager to get it published, brace yourself. The children's book market is very competitive. But if you follow these steps and develop a thick skin, you very well might achieve your goal.

Edit Steps Sample Letters to Publishers

Sample Letter to Publisher

Sample Letter Asking for Writing Guidelines

Sample Letter About Revised Manuscript

Publishing Your Own Children's Book

1. Decide whether to hire an agent. In exchange for a commission on your earnings (usually 15%), an agent can critique your work, submit it to certain publishers who wouldn't consider it otherwise, and negotiate your contract. It's very difficult, however, to find a good agent who'll work with you if you haven't been published yet, and there are plenty of bad agents and scammers in the game (see Warnings below).[1][2] If you decide to get an agent, however, check:
   
   
   • Guide to Literary Agents, a book published by Writer's Digest Books
   • Literary Market Place, a book available in the research section of most libraries
   • The Association of Author's Representatives (AAR)
   • Agents also find authors through referrals[3] so network!
2. Find publishers.
   
   
   • Thoroughly review The Children's Writers and Illustrators Market, which lists children's book publishers, what types of books they publish, and what they're looking for.
   • Find children's books that are similar to yours in content and audience and make note of the companies that published those books.
3. Get each publisher's writer's guidelines. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope asking for their writer's guidelines, which will tell you whether they're accepting unsolicited manuscripts and if they are, how they want you to send it to them.
   
   
4. Submit your manuscript according to each publisher's guidelines. Follow the formatting requirements exactly as described.
   
   
   • Unless you are a professional illustrator, do not send illustrations. Publishers choose their own.
   • Be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a cover letter (or a query letter, if that's what they specified).
5. If you get rejected, be persistent. Write more manuscripts and send them out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. If you get offered a contract, consider contacting an agent just to help you negotiate the contract (on an hourly basis). You can also join the Authors Guild or PEN and ask for help from their lawyers, or ask a published friend.[3]
   
   

Edit Video Edit Tips

• Most of all enjoy your book writing, don't make it all about money.
• If an editor asks you to revise your manuscript, put your ego aside and follow their advice. Then send it back, reminding them that they read it already.[2]
• If you haven't heard back, don't contact the publisher to check in, unless the amount of time they specified in their guidelines for how long it would take them to review manuscripts has passed.[2]

Edit Warnings

• Watch out for "vanity publishers" who expect you to pay for some of the publishing expenses. They'll say they only need something like 50%, but they exaggerate the prices so you really end up paying for all of the expenses, and then some. And if you want to go that route, you're better off self-publishing.[2]
• Agents who are members of the Association of Author's Representatives (AAR) do not charge reading fees. There are good agents who are not in the AAR[3] but be wary of anyone who charges reading fees nonetheless.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Write a Children's Book
• How to Self Publish a Book
• How to Work with Editors
• How to Market a Book
• How to Edit a Book
• How to Choose Children's Books About Bullying
• How to Create a Children's Book

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Bush pilots operate aircraft in very remote, inaccessible areas of the world. Common tasks for bush pilots include delivering mail and other supplies, providing taxi services, and carrying out search and rescue missions. Alaskan-based bush pilots operate principally in the Alaskan tundra, as aircraft often provide the only viable means of transportation and delivery in the region's harsh conditions. Being an Alaska bush pilot is an exciting, albeit sometimes dangerous career, that will give you the opportunity to fly throughout the Alaskan wilderness.

Edit Steps Licenses and Training

1. Obtain the necessary licenses. To fly as a bush pilot, you will need at least two licenses granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): a private pilot license and a commercial pilot license. You can obtain these licenses by attending an FAA-certified flight school and taking the required tests at the completion of your course.
   
   
   • A private pilot license allows you to legally operate an aircraft for private use, meaning that you cannot charge money for your service. This is the most basic certification for flying a plane, and can be achieved in under a year if you attend flight school full-time.
   • A commercial pilot license allows you to legally be paid for services rendered with the use of your aircraft. You must have a private pilot license first to obtain this certification, and a commercial license is necessary to become a paid bush pilot.
   • A third permit which may be necessary is an air transport pilot license. This permit allows you to ferry passengers in your aircraft, which is a service often performed by Alaska bush pilots.
2. Attend a flight school course in bush flying. Once you have the necessary licenses to begin working as a commercial pilot, you will need to attend an additional course specifically designed to train bush pilots.
   
   
   • These courses are offered by several flight schools in the United States. They are designed to teach skills specific to flying in adverse conditions, such as: Taking off and landing without an airstrip, flying in low-visibility conditions, and taking off and landing on water. Each of these skills are essential for bush pilots.
   • There is no FAA-administered certification that specifically targets 'bush' flying. However, before working as a bush pilot in Alaska, employers, airfield administrators, and customers will want you to have bush-specific training.

Getting a Job as a Bush Pilot in Alaska

1. Begin contacting potential employers about being a bush pilot. You will not be able to begin flying as an independent contractor unless you already have a vast network of potential customers. Therefore, your career as a bush pilot begins with employment at one of a number of different types of companies:
   
   
   • There are several types of companies that hire trained bush pilots. Some act as mail carriers; some as ferry passengers to remote resorts and hunting grounds; and some deliver supplies and medical needs to remote areas. These companies usually maintain a staff of several trained pilots so that at least one pilot can be available to meet any customer's needs.
2. Try looking for general work. Since bush pilot jobs are very limited, you may need to "get your foot in the door" with one of these companies by accepting non-pilot employment. Working with the company in a non-pilot capacity for a while will make you a more attractive candidate when a pilot job does become available.
   
   
3. Build your network of customers and business contacts. Once you begin flying as a bush pilot, establish relationships with customers, suppliers, potential employers, and other business contacts. Establishing a solid network will improve your chances of finding work as a bush pilot if demand contracts, as the work tends to be both seasonal and subject to economic fluctuations. These relationships may also allow you to one day fly as an independent contractor.
   
   

Edit Tips

• In addition to Alaska, bush pilots operate primarily in Canada, southern Africa, and central Australia. Securing a job in one of these locales will improve your chances of later finding work as an Alaska bush pilot.

Edit Sources and Citations

• http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/how-to-become-a-bush-pilot/ – research source
• http://www.faa.gov/pilots/become/ – research source
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_flying – research source

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Many of you sitting at home might be wondering what improvisation is. The simplified definition of it is performing without preparation. Improvising can improve your piano playing. Here's how to do it.

Edit Steps

1. Have a knowledge of a variety of music, so as to not be imitating any one song.
   
   
2. Learn about scales. Jump in and learn one that has a lot of sharps or flats in it if you can, such as B Major. Practice the scale you learn maybe just in the right hand at first. You might find these "bumpy" scales are easier to play than C major, since you can "see" how the scale is shaped!
   
   
3. Learn about chords. It is suggested that you learn triad chords before moving on to quartals and such. Triad chords consist of three notes (1-2-3) and between two notes and the root(1-2 or 1-3) is a distinct interval. For a quick example, a C major traid consists of a C-E-G. Between C-E is a major 3rd, while between C-G the interval is a perfect fifth.
   
   
4. There are as many ways to improvise as there are people. Here are some suggested techniques to try...you may find one may suit your way of thinking better than others, so give them each a shot!

Method 1

1. Sit down and hit notes only of the same key. (F, G, Em, A#, etc.)
2. Have your left hand play the background chorus (slow block or broken chords) in the same key.
3. Have your right hand playing the melody.
4. Switch keys once you become better at it to give it a broader, more complex feel and to amplify the beauty of the song.

Method 2

1. Play a slow 4/4 piece with each measure getting one chord on the left hand.
2. With the right, improve a melody within that chord.
3. The next measure switch to a different chord and continue the melody in that next chord.
4. Continue this until you become proficient (or bored).

Method 3

1. Once you've learned how to play some scales in both hands, try improvising with both hands going at once. Get your fingers moving in the same scale...it'll sound alright.
2. Try playing a "call and answer" game with your hands. Play some random phrase in one hand and try to repeat it in your other hand. Start simple. Eventually you may find your hands can generate melodic ideas simultaneously that work together

Method 4

1. Instead of simply playing block chords or arpeggios in one hand, try to make the top or bottom note of that accompaniment form its own melody. The little finger (commonly known as a "pinky") and the thumb tend to be most convenient for this way of playing.
2. Try playing accompaniments in your right hand with chords or arpeggios and melodies in your left hand.

Edit Video Edit Tips

• As with anything to do with music, practicing is the key.
• Vary in volume, intensity, speed, and other dynamics to add emotion and beauty. Use improvisation to let out your anger or soothe your worries. Play what your heart tells you to play (cheesy, but true).
• If you mess up, pretend it was a part of the song and keep going with it For example, if you're playing smoothly and your little finger slams the wrong note...start playing choppy and fast in that new key and gradually fade back to smooth.
• Record yourself early and often. Listen to these recordings. When you're starting out, it may be difficult to remember things you played. If you listen to your recordings, you may hear something cool you did that you forgot. Then you can pick out that cool idea and use it again...thus helping to build your musical vocabulary.
• If you mess up and accidentally hit a note not in key, go with it and keep going in the new key, don't go back. (EXAMPLE: Key of C--> you play C...E...G...A...F#...C#...D...<--now you're in the key of D)
• Improvisation cannot be completely spontaneous...it must build on a vocabulary of musical devices. These can include small phrases of melody, rhythms, accompaniments, harmonic progressions, and so on. The more expansive your vocabulary, the more your music will become "your own."
• Experiment with playing measured rhythms (4/4 etc.) and completely free rhythm. In free rhythm, there are no rules at all. You may find this helps you come up with new ideas more easily than trying to fit all your ideas into a particular kind of rhythm.
• Listen to other people playing other pieces, and listen to other people improvising too, so you get a feeling of how to improvise.
• Find a quiet spot with a window. This helps you to be yourself and let what things you have cooped up inside flow out onto the keys. Inspiration is many times found when viewing the beauty of the earth.
• Learn music patterns. A harsh, short gliss gives the impression of anger and reproach. Arpeggios in the bass voice tend to give a feeling of movement. Observe patterns in speech and music and use those observations to your advantage.

Edit Warnings

• Don't be afraid to hit "wrong" notes! There are no wrong notes in improvisation---all is freedom!
• Do not feel you must learn tons about music theory "before" learning to improvise. It is sufficient to begin by learning maybe one scale and a couple of chords within it...you can learn other chords/scales/theory with time!
• Do not have any one piece in mind while playing; let it come naturally.

Edit Things You'll Need

• A quiet place
• A piano

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• How to Play the Piano
• How to Have-Fun-While-Learning-to-Read-Music
• How to Learn-How-to-Play-Piano-and-Read-Music-With-Fastkeys
• How to Change Musical Keys on a Piano
• How to Compose Music on Piano
• How to Buy a Piano
• How to Play Jazz Piano
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If you're a mountaineer, one thing that might interest you is the enormous challenge of climbing the Seven Summits, namely the seven highest peaks on seven continents. Expensive, grueling, dangerous, and exhausting, for some people, this is the ultimate in life achievements. This article explains how to tackle them in a general way; the actual climbing skills are something you already need sorted out! Edit Steps

1. Be a highly experienced mountaineer. The Seven Summit mountains are not for any climber other than the well-seasoned one with plenty of climbs already achieved. If you haven't already trained at the following mountains, get started with these ones first:
   • The Matterhorn – Swiss and Italian border mountain. It has sheer faces, lots of awful weather, and many an avalanche or rock fall. Ideal training ground. The southern face is the most challenging.
   • Mount Thor – Baffin Island, Nunavut. With the longest vertical cliff in the world, this will definitely test your technical climbing skills to their limits.
   • Eiger – Swiss Alps. Lots of people have climbed this one over time but the North Face wasn't climbed until 1938. It's a busier climb and some of it has rock fall risks.
   • Ben Nevis – UK. The north face cliffs provide a good place for training.
2. Decide which summits you count as your Seven Summits. There is some dispute over a few of the summits, so you'll need to make up your own mind as to what constitutes the Seven Summits by reading what others have tackled, looking at lists of climbers who have done the Seven Summits, etc. The seven climbs are usually considered to be:
   • Mt Everest, Nepal-Tibet border, highest mountain climb in world, also the most difficult of the seven
   • Kilimanjaro, Africa
   • Mt McKinley (Denali), Alaska, USA
   • Elbrus, Caucus Mountains (see "Tips" though) or Mont Blanc in the Graian Alps of Europe
   • Aconcagua in the Argentinian Andes
   • Oceania: either Kosciusko, Australia (Oceania) - an easy day hike most walkers can manage, without oxygen; or Puncak Jaya (Castensz Pyramid), New Guinea (Oceania)
   • Mt Vinson in the Vinson Massif, Antarctica.
3. Read up on every Seven Summits summit that you're going to climb. Get maps, guidebooks, books by those who have climbed, etc., and learn as much as you can about the mountains. Know well in advance if you have the requisite climbing abilities from rock climbing skills to ice climbing, as well as your usual mountain climbing expertise. Learn about specific challenges and quirks, weather issues, where to base camp, how to get in and out, and the costs involved.
4. Decide where you'll begin. There are obviously seven choices and your ability to climb then in any particular order will be dependent on a number of factors including weather, season, transport access, costs, etc. It is also probably a good idea to start with the easiest and work your way up the scale! Most people begin with Kilimanjaro, which is an easy climb but can have altitude effects.[1] Kosciusko and Elbrus are also easy climbs.[2] Proceed to Mt. Vinson and Denali next, followed by the technically difficult Everest and Puncak Jaya.[3]
5. Plan well in advance. As well as the obvious climbing skills needed, there are many other things to take into consideration, including vaccinations, carriage of your equipment (including oxygen), accommodation, transport, visas or permits, medical insurance and transport, and so forth. Keep detailed lists of all the things you need to acquire and do and check them off methodically as you prepare.
6. Be very realistic. The difficulties of climbing all seven summits are enormous. Not only are many of the climbs technically difficult (although some are easier than others), the costs involved in getting to them and having all the right equipment, etc., are high. Plus, you need to consider the wishes of family and friends, who will express their worries to you, and understandably so.
   • If you an amateur to intermediate climber, don't even consider climbing some of the training or Seven Summit mountains. It is too dangerous. Keep learning and building up your skills and perhaps some day you'll be advanced enough.
   • The expenses are tremendous. "Is this the best use of my savings?" is a question you should constantly ask yourself. Even if you manage to get to most of the continents, getting to Antarctica can involve prohibitive costs.
7. Move on to the Second Seven Summits. If you're still hankering for more adventure, or if the Seven Summits don't really grab your interest, consider the Second Seven Summits originally cited by Jon Krakauer.[4] Some of these, like K2, are technically more difficult.

Edit Tips

• Note that some people consider Mount Elbrus in the Caucus mountains in Russia to be the highest summit for Europe but some geographers see this as being part of Asia. It's up to you!
• Only around 200 people have climbed all seven summits, depending on which summits are chosen.[5][6] You can check lists of successful seven summit climbers by searching online.[7]

Edit Warnings

• Mountain climbing is inherently dangerous. Even very experienced people make mistakes that cost them their lives. Know what you're doing, learn from the very best, and use guides to assist you. Always have the best possible equipment in excellent condition.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Technical equipment
• Appropriate clothing and climbing boots
• Travel arrangements, accommodation, etc.
• Budget
• Guide books and guides
• Planner
• Usual mountain climbing supplies
• Passport, visas, permits, etc.
• Vaccinations where relevant
• Health checks
• Local knowledge of conditions

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Climb a 14er
• How to Climb a Mountain
• How to Hike a Mountain Trail for a Week

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No matter how exciting or significant a person's life is, a poorly written biography will make it seem like a snore. On the other hand, a good biographer can draw insight from an ordinary life--because they recognize that even the most exciting life is an ordinary life! After all, a biography isn't supposed to be a collection of facts assembled in chronological order; it's the biographer's interpretation of how that life was different and important.

Edit Steps Biography Help

Sample Biography Research Notes

Sample Biography Outline

Sample Biography Excerpt

Research

1. Find anything written by/about the subject: books, newspapers, magazines, Internet, journals, letters, videos, interviews, existing biographies, or an autobiographies! Only use material that is available to the public, or that you can gain explicit permission to use in your research, especially if you are going to publish and distribute the biography (or else you could end up with a lawsuit on your hands).
   
   
2. Conduct interviews. If you can't interview the person you're writing about, see if you can interview someone who knows or knew the subject. You can do this in person, by phone, or through e-mail. Remember to be courteous and professional.
   
   
3. Visit places significant to the subject's life. This can be helpful in putting yourself in his or her shoes. Visualize witnessing what they witnessed. Imagine how they felt. Take pictures for the biography. If you can't visit the actual place, try to visit a place like it. Here are some ideas:
   
   
   • Where the person was born and died. Illustrate a sharp contrast or powerful similarity between the two.
   • The subject's "refuge". Where did they go to recharge their batteries, or escape the chaos of their life? Where did they find peace or inspiration?
   • Locations of trauma. Were there any significantly negative events in the person's life that deeply impacted them? An injury, death, natural disaster, car accident, or even a bad break-up?
4. Explore what interested, influenced and inspired the subject. What was he or she passionate about? Whether it was botany, poetry, classical music, or architecture, immerse yourself in it. Try and discover why the subject enjoyed it.
   
   
5. Study the time and place of the subject's life. If it was a long time ago, do some homework on what life was like back then. What were the social norms? What was going on economically and politically? What about in that person's field? Also account for regional differences. What's frowned upon in one place may be celebrated 30 miles away. This can shed light on the subject's decisions, and their consequences.
   
   

Writing

1. Assemble a timeline. Record every event that you can, from basic facts like birth, death and marriage, to minor personal anecdotes, like the night your subject had an argument with their spouse.
   
   
2. Look for patterns. See the forest, not the trees.
   
   
   • Phases. Many people go through phases during their lives. Sometimes the phases are backlashes of each other; for example, a person may go through a very dependent phase, then a very independent phase, then something in the middle. This can happen with relationships, too. One may end up with a string of abusive partners, then, being fed up, starts seeking very submissive mates, then begins to prefer aloof partners, etc.
   • Progression/regression. Look for a steady refining of the person's character or work, an improvement over time, leading up to a defining event that shows how far the person's come. Alternatively, perhaps someone's life begins promisingly and gradually unravels--a tragedy of sorts.
   • Cycles. Pay attention to situations that repeat themselves in a person's life. Maybe this person reaches out, gets hurt, becomes reclusive, heals, and begins again. Or the subject sets a lofty goal, burns out, draws wisdom from the experience, and starts over with a new goal. Addiction also tends to play out in cycles. Whatever the situation, it repeats itself throughout a significant portion of the person's life (maybe signifying a phase) and at some point, the person might "break the cycle".
   • Turning points. What are the moments in the subject's life when their direction changed dramatically? The birth of a child? A near-death experience? Hitting rock bottom? It's the point at which a pattern changes; a new phase begins, progression become regression (or vice versa), a cycle ends or a new ones starts.
3. Make a thesis statement. Based on your "big picture" view of this person's life, what's a point that you can prove? This will be your twist on the biography - what makes it unlike any other biography on this subject. It answers the question posed in the introduction: what makes this person's life different and important? Some ideas:
   
   
   • What is the significance of this person's life? How did he or she change the world? What would happen if this person never existed? What is unique about what they did or made?
   • What led to the subject's success or demise? A particular relationship? A single incident of good or bad luck? A decision by the subject? A particular circumstance?
4. Decide how to recount the person's life. Write an outline and fill in the details. Try to use the organization to support the thesis.
   
   
   • Chronological. Go by the timeline, recounting each event in the order in which it happened. This is the simplest way to go, but it's difficult to support your thesis in this context.
   • Flashbacks. Describe a recent or current situation, then "flashback" to an earlier point in that person's life. This is good for illustrating cause and effect, or how this led to that. You can even go in complete reverse order; begin at the end, and work your way backwards.
   • Work. If the person's life is closely tied to his or her career, you can break it up by job positions or works created. This can be tied to phases or cycles in the subject's life.
   • Accomplishments/events. One idea is to start and end with events that mirror each other in some way. Maybe you can start with a toy boat that the subject made when they were 5, and end off with a military submarine that they designed at age 55.
5. Sit down and write. Using your outline, assemble the biography. You can start at the beginning, but you don't have to. You may find yourself rearranging the content as you go along. You should go through many drafts, and have other people read the biography before you call it a day. See if they can guess the thesis, and find out if you've made your point about this person's life.
   
   

Edit Tips

• Your title (or at least your subtitle) should allude to your thesis.

Edit Warnings

• If you're publishing the biography, you could get sued.
  
  
  • Have the sources to back up your statements about the subject's life. Untruthful written statements can lead to a libel action. If it is your opinion, be clear that it is an opinion and not fact (although you can support your opinion with facts).
  • Be careful when publishing private or embarrassing information, especially if the person is not a celebrity. You may violate their "Right of Privacy" or equivalent.
  • If the subject didn't authorize the biography, don't imply that they did.
  • Keep copyright laws in mind when republishing anything by or about the subject. See How to Understand Copyright Basics.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Write an Autobiography
• How to Self Publish a Book
• How to Be a Good Writer
• How to Become a Writer
• How to Publish a Book at a Young Age
• How to Begin an Autobiography

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Whether you're decorating for an “under the sea” themed party or you're creating a colorful backdrop for a bulletin board, cupcake foil cups can make an interesting mosaic. It's fairly easy to make, albeit a bit fiddly, and the final product is exciting to look at and touch.

EditSteps Planning Your Project

1. Decide what you'll use for the mosaic backdrop. The backdrop will determine how many foil cups you'll need and the manner in which you'll arrange them.
   
   
   • Are you covering an entire bulletin board or just a piece of paper to slide in behind the fish tank? This will help determine the size and type of backdrop, as well as the foil cup amount.
   • Match the foil paper colors to the room or party décor. Be inspired by the room décor or the party color theme.
   • Determine if you plan to create more than one mosaic. Foil cups can be used to create paper sea shells or designs so plan how exactly they will be used. Since foil cups come in a large and small sizes, decide if you want to use varying sizes or all the one size.

Creating the Mosaic

1. Fold the foil cups in half. Pinch down along the bottom of the cup and slide your finger along the crease.
   
   
   • Fold as many foil cups ahead of time as possible; this will let you assemble the mosaic quickly without having to stop and fold more.
2. Glue the first row of foil cups in place, working from the top of the mosaic design, downward. The first row is critical to building the rest of the backdrop, so make sure it lines up with the creased portion along the top of the backdrop you're using.
   
   
   • Select several (possibly different colored) foil cups and place along the top row. Slightly overlap the ends to create a wave effect.
   • Add a drop or two of glue to the backs of the cups once you're satisfied with the placement. Check each cup has dried in the right place before moving on, as the cups may slide a bit if left unchecked.
3. Add the second row of cups. Stagger the creased backs along the first row. Hide the creased tops of the second row into the first row so that it has the appearance of scales or fish sides.
   
   
4. Continue adding more rows. Work your way down to the bottom of your mosaic project.
   
   

Completing the Project

1. Add glitter or other effects once the glue has dried. Finish your mosaic completely before adding any other visuals or elements to your project.
   
   
   • Things that might help to brighten the project include: gold shell or mermaid charms, paper mermaids, ribbon bows, buttons, lace, etc.
2. Finished. Place the mosaic where you intend for it to have the best effect.
   
   
   • The mosaic can be placed behind a fish tank as a backdrop for fish to swim against.
   • The mosaic can be used a picture in its own right, such as in a child's bedroom.

EditTips

• Use metallic colors to punctuate the “under the sea” theme.
• Use a foil cup backdrop to decorate household items such as lamps or vases.
• Cardboard fish shapes make great backdrops for a sea party theme. These can be strung across a room; if so, be sure to mosaic both sides of the fish for best effect.

Edit Things You'll Need

• Enough foil cups to complete the project, in size(s) of choice, plus extras just in case
• Hot glue gun; staple gun if the work has to sit outside in the elements
• Scissors for cutting cups
• Hanger for the backdrop if needed
• Marker and paper for planning any particular designs
• Other decorations, such as decoupage images of mermaids, charms or fishing net, etc.
  
  

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