Tuesday 30 November 2010

How to Lock Your iPad Screen in iOS 4.2

How to Lock Your iPad Screen in iOS 4.2

With the release of iOS 4.2, the physical switch
which allowed you to freeze the iPad's screen
orientation was turned into a less useful mute
button. Fortunately, it is possible to lock your
screen's rotation using a few easy clicks. 

!! Steps !!

* From any iPad screen or application, double click on the big home
button on the bottom of the iPad.

* Swipe bottom menu to leftSwipe the bottom menu that appeared
after you double clicked the home menu to the left.

* Touch screen lock buttonTouch the screen orientation lock
button on the bottom left, which you uncovered by swiping left
above. 

* It's now lockedNotice the button changes to lock after you
have switched it.

!! Tips !!

* This works in portrait or landscape orientation.

!! Relateds !!

* Extend the Battery Life of an iPad

* Set a Passcode on the iPad

* Buy an iPad

* Put an eBook on an iPad

* Clean Your iPad

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a delicious treat for breakfast or any time.
Baking your own is easy and the aroma throughout your house will be
delicious. Make traditional rolls, or healthy variations on this
recipe. This recipe is provided with 2 variations to allow you to
try either or both; the first variation is plain cinnamon, the
second variation allows for the addition of walnuts and raisins and
has a different glaze.

This recipe serves approximately 6 –8 people; preparation time is
around 10 minutes, with 2 hours rising and baking time. Note that for
the dough, make sure you have the exact measurements. A tiny bit of
water will make the dough seem drier. If it happens add drops of water
until satisfied and then keep kneading.

!! Ingredients !!

*Version 1 – Plain cinnamon:*

* 550 g / 19 ½ oz flour

* 25 g / 7⁄8 oz fresh yeast , or 8.5 g of dry yeast

* 70 g / 2 ½ oz melted butter

* 210 ml / 7 1⁄8 fl oz milk

* 75 g / 2 2⁄3 oz sugar

* 2 eggs

* 1 pinch salt

* 1 tbsp cinnamon

* 200 g / 7 oz brown sugar

* 85 g / 3 oz butter, kept at room temperature

* Egg wash – 1 egg with 2 tbsp milk beaten together

* 1 handful flour for extra dusting

*Version 2 – Raisins and walnuts:*

* 2 tablespoons sugar

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 2 3/4 cups bread flour

* 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

* 1/4 cup warm (not hot) water

* 1 egg

* 1/4 cup butter

* 7/8 cup milk

* 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)

* 1/4 cup raisins (optional)

* Filling: 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp melted butter, 2 tsp
icing/powdered sugar

* Sugar glaze – 1 cup sifted powdered (icing) sugar, 1 tbsp and
1/2 cup of milk

!! Steps !!

!! Version 1 – Plain Cinnamon !!

Begin the dough. Start by adding the flour, yeast, sugar, salt,
eggs, milk, and butter into the mixer.

Mix the ingredients on low for 5 minutes until the dough becomes
shiny in appearance. If the dough looks too wet, add about 2
tablespoons more of flour to the bowl and mix again.

Turn off the mixer. Scrape the dough from the hook.

Knead and let the dough rise. Put a little flour inside the bowl
and also sprinkle some on the work space. Knead the dough briefly.
Add a little more flour to the bowl and sprinkle a little onto the
dough.

Return the dough to the bowl.

Cover it and let it rise for about 1 hour or until it has doubled
its size.

Make the filling. While the dough is rising, place the brown sugar,
cinnamon, and butter into a small mixing bowl. Mix with a spoon
until combined. Set it aside.

Preheat the oven to 190°C/ 375ºF.

Roll the dough. Once the dough has risen, remove the cover and
punch the air out of the dough.

Sprinkle the work space with flour and place the dough on it.
Sprinkle the dough with some flour.

Roll out the dough to a 1/2 cm (0.19'') thickness, making sure
there is enough flour to prevent it from sticking to the table.

Shape the rolls. Spread the filling on the dough first.

Carefully roll the dough into a log.

Cut the roll into slices of about 3 cm (1.18'') in thickness.

Place the sliced rolls on the greased baking tray or sheet, leaving
enough space for the rolls to rise. Cover again and allow them to
rise for 15-20 minutes.

Add the egg wash. Take the egg wash and using the pastry brush,
paint each roll individually.

Put the tray into the oven. Let the rolls bake for 12-15 minutes.

Cool and serve. Remove the tray from the oven and let the rolls
cool a bit.

* Your cinnamon rolls are now ready to serve. They can be
eaten cold but they taste especially good warm. Try them both
ways!

!! Version 2 – Raisins And Walnuts !!

This version can be made either in a bread machine or by hand.
Instructions are provided for both.

* Sift the flour three times. Measure 2 3/4 cups of flour from the
final sifting.
If using a bread machine, do the following:

* Measure all ingredients into bread pan, placing the wet
ingredients in first. Make a "well" or indented spot for the yeast
on top of all the other ingredients.

* Select dough setting.

* Press start/stop

* When the time reaches 0:00, press start/stop and remove the dough.

If making by hand, do the following:

* Mix all dry ingredients, except yeast in a large bowl after
sifting and measuring the flour.

* Combine water, yeast, milk, and egg together in a bowl until well
blended.

* Add egg mixture to dry ingredients.

* Add butter.

* Add any extra ingredients (see "Tips").

* Stir until mixture is smooth and slightly sticky.

Work with the dough. The remaining steps apply for both methods.

* Place dough into a clean bowl and knead it, using oiled or floured
hands to move the dough around several times.

* Cover the dough and let it sit in a warm or room temperature spot
for at least 30 minutes. The dough should double in size before
shaping. A clean tea towel makes a good cover.

* Mix the filling ingredients together in a bowl while you wait and
set aside. Lightly grease baking pans while waiting.

* Place dough on a clean, lightly floured surface. Punch the dough
down with clean hands. Place down on surface and pound down or
roll out until you get the shape of an even rectangle.

* After it forms a rectangular shape, apply the melted butter to
_one_ side of the dough. Brush on or apply with another tool. Make
sure it's evenly applied and use all of the butter. Apply cinnamon
evenly coated and then add the sugar on top.
Roll it up evenly from the longest side and roll down towards you.
You should have a long cylinder.

* Cut the dough up into pieces. You may get about 6 to 8 pieces,
using the ends as well. Place in the lightly greased baking
pan(s).

* Cover and let rise about 20 minutes, and preheat the oven about 10
minutes prior to adding the rolls.

* Bake in the oven at 375ºF / 190ºC for 20 to 25 minutes.

Mix the sugar glaze ingredients together while you wait. For every
1 cup of sugar, add 1 tablespoon and a 1/2; for 2 cups you need 3
tablespoons of milk. If you need more milk to make it soupier, feel
free to add more, but only add a little bit in at a time. Blend
until smooth.

* Spread or drizzle the glaze over the rolls after you take them out
of the oven. Enjoy!

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* You can make the rolls the night before, then refrigerate them
until morning, baking them just in time for breakfast.

* Healthy variation #1: Use wheat flour instead of regular flour.

* Healthy variation #2: Add 2 tablespoons of flax meal to the
mixture.

* Toast any nuts in the oven for 15 minutes at 350ºF/180ºC, let
cool. Then add them to the mixture.

* Add some dried fruits cut into small pieces for a holiday season
variation.

* Use skim milk in place of whole or low-fat milk.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Mixer for method one, with hook attachment; bread machine or hands
for method 2

* Mixing bowls (large and small)

* Rolling pin

* Knife

* Clean work surface

* Tea towel (clean)

* 1 pastry brush, or similar implement

* 1 spoon

* Baking pans, 1 or 2, round, square, or a rectangular cookie
sheet/tray

* Oven mitts

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Bake Swedish Style Cinnamon Rolls (Kanelbullar)

* How to Make Cinnamon Raisin Pinwheel Biscuits

* How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Snacks

* How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Bread

!! Sources And Citations !!

* Original of version one from Videojug,
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-cinnamon-rolls. Shared
with permission.

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Participate in Computer Security Day

How to Participate in Computer Security Day

Computer Security Day is held yearly on November
30th as a way of reminding all computer users
that computer security and safety is an important
personal and workplace responsibility.[1] This is
a good day to do some basic security checks and
to follow up anything you've been meaning to do
for a while. This article presents some of the
things that you might like to consider doing on
Computer Security Day or any day when you're
concerned about your computer's security.

!! Steps !!

* Read your workplace's computer security
policy again. If your workplace has a policy, read it. Even if
you've already read it before, it may have been updated, or you
may have forgotten important parts of it Read it for a refresher.
Check your computer station and office for
security and safety issues. Looking around the
area you work in can reveal a number of hazards
that can be dealt with easily provided you
follow through checking them methodically. Here
are some suggested activities:

* Check the batteries in your computer room's smoke detectors.
Update them if needed. Install them immediately if you have none.

* Check for fire extinguishers. Do you have them near your computing
and server equipment in case of a fire?

* Place monitors, keyboard and other computer equipment on anti-slip
mats where needed.

* Have you got anti-static features in place to prevent shocks? This
is especially important if you work with the internal hardware.

* Have you got power surge protectors in place for all computers and
related equipment? If not, buy some today and install them
immediately.

Check the security and safety of your computer
hardware. Whenever you leave your room or
office, can other people access or remove your
computing equipment? If so, consider
instituting practices that will prevent them
from doing anything with your computer:

* Put computer security posters in the office or room to remind
everyone of their security responsibilities.

* Use passwords to prevent unwanted access to computers.

* Attach computers to the wall or heavy equipment by means of locks
in order to prevent them from being removed. This is especially
important for laptops and notebooks.

Clean the hardware and your desk zone. A
cluttered workspace and messy office can be the
cause of sloppy work practices in relation to
confidential information and the more at ease
everyone has become with leaving confidential
information lying about, the harder it becomes
to break the slack cycle. Jump on it now!

* Vacuum the computer keyboard and computer area to remove dust
build-up. Wipe down the screens with anti-static wipes.

* Ensure that all dust, including chalk dust, is not covering or
inside computers and related equipment. Also remove pet dander,
especially if your cat has a habit of sleeping next to your
computer as you work.

* Clean the heads on disk drives and other magnetic media drives.

* Clean the area around your computer to remove clutter and to
ensure that you know where all confidential files, discs, memory
sticks, and other related confidential information actually is.
Store everything securely.

Check for software and program vulnerabilities.
Use the tools at hand to keep your computer
software, applications, and programs in top
shape.

* When did you last change your password? Do it today if you can't
remember. Read How to choose a computer password that is hard to
guess for more help.

* Do a virus sweep. Read How to remove a virus if you find one.

* Delete unneeded files. They use memory but also create clutter,
making it both harder to find or spot problems, and providing more
potential "gateways" for viruses to enter through. A regular clean
up is cathartic.

* Get rid of your Adobe Flash cookies. Read How to delete Flash
cookies for the instructions.

* Examine the audit files on your computers.

Verify computer inventories. If you're running
a business or you're in the part of the
organization that's responsible for computers,
use this day to take inventories.

* Check inventories of all computer stock in the workplace. Chase up
any missing or borrowed equipment.

* Check the inventory of computer utilities and packaged software.

* Check the inventory of computer applications.

Update computer security training manuals. Plan
to give mini computer security sessions to
staff and other people on this day. Send or
hand out the new manual to people who need it.

* Include all issues of privacy, use of social networking sites such
as Facebook and Twitter in a workplace context, etc. Be sure to
discuss ethics and accountability for workers using external
websites and internal chat and wiki facilities.

* For those working from home or who use computers at home, read up
on security concerns related to using social networking sites and
change your settings to protect yourself.

* Read How to manage Facebook privacy options for more information.

* Know how to spot and avoid falling for online scams such as
phishing, hoax emails, pretexting, etc. Teach members of your
family, community, and coworkers how to spot these scams too.

Back up your computer data. For every computer
owned, back up the data. If you don't already
back-up regularly, make today the day to draw
up a plan to remind yourself to make regular
back-ups, or use a program that will do this
for you automatically.

* Develop a total recovery plan for all computer systems that might
need one.

* Consider having several sources of back-up - online, cloud, USB
sticks, hard drives, etc.

* Check that trouble logs are in place on each computer and are
being used and followed up.

Think security and safety when you're out and
about. Carrying laptops, notebooks, and
electronic data gadgets can lead you into
trouble if you don't pay adequate attention.
Things to do include:

* Never leave a laptop or other electronic gadget in open sight in a
car. Always store out of sight, or preferably, take it with you.
And lock your car, even if all you're doing is paying for gas.

* Remember to pick up your laptop, USB stick, or other electronic
gadget after using it. Leaving it behind on a bar, in a cafe, or
at someone else's house allows anyone access to the information on
the item.

* Avoid carrying laptops and notebooks openly in places where
mugging and pickpocketing is known. While this is mainly of
concern when traveling, always keep your wits about you.

Wipe clean old computers being donated to
charity, schools, or the recycling depot at the
tip. You don't want an unscrupulous person
resurrecting your personal data.

* Read How to clean your computer to sell for more information.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Large computers will benefit from having dust and water covers
when not in use.

* Put up "No drinking" and "No smoking" signs around computer
equipment areas, especially where computers are opened for repair
or building.

* Use this day to select one computing system to do a risk analysis
on. Make it a team effort.

* Help to spread the word about the importance of maintaining
computer security by visiting local schools or clubs and giving a
volunteer talk on computer security issues and offering to show
people what to do to improve their own computer security.

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Virus software (where relevant)

* Anti-static wipes

* Smoke detectors (for all offices and residences)

* Fire extinguisher

* Computer locks

* Anti-static gear

* Anti-slip mats

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Avoid Getting a Computer Virus or Worm on Your Windows PC

* How to Prevent Viruses, Spyware, and Adware with Avast and
CounterSpy

* How to Remove a Virus

* How to Delete Adware Threats That Norton Antivirus Can't Delete

* How to Get Rid of Spyware Without Commercial Anti Virus Software

* How to Avoid Keyloggers and Viruses in RuneScape

* How to Remove a Virus and Repair Windows XP for Free

!! Sources And Citations !!

* Ideas sourced from http://www.computersecurityday.org/

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

6 Lazy Things You Can Do to Get a Little Healthier

6 Lazy Things You Can Do to Get a Little Healthier

Most of us would like to stay as healthy as
possible. And a lot of us would probably like to
do so without having to do much about it at all!
Is it possible to get a little healthier while
staying just as lazy as you have always been
when it comes to health?

With the simple tricks outlined in this article, it might just be
possible for you to stay as healthy as possible while not having to
worry too much about your usual lazy habits. Sometimes the path of
least resistance is the best path!

!! Steps !!

_ Hit the snooze button. Getting plenty of sleep
boosts your immune system, reduces your risk of high blood pressure,
heart disease and diabetes. Plenty of sleep also helps to keep down
your weight, And adequate sleep improves your daily mood, making sure
you're taking care of your mental health as well.

* Be sure to get a decent amount of sleep every night, at least
between 6–8 hours worth. If you're experiencing sleeping
problems, read How to sleep better for more information.

Do your unavoidable errands and chores early.
Raising your metabolic rate early in the day
means that it will remain elevated even when
you're at rest.[1]

* Since exercise actually increases your
energy levels, you might be more likely to keep moving. You might
even be tempted to clean up your messy room.

* Do squats or lunges while brushing your teeth. Twice a day
brushing is a good excuse to while away the minutes to melt away
the thunder thighs through squats and lunges, while the teeth get
cleaner by the moment.

* Walk backwards. It may look foolish, but if
you walk backwards for a part of your day, you'll burn up to 190
percent more calories than walking forward the same distance. This
is because it's a lot harder than walking forward and requires
more concentration.[2]
Avoid being a human vacuum at mealtimes.
Forget what you were told about finishing
everything on your plate; be choosy and eat
well instead. Leave the fatty, inefficient
calorie-laden food and focus on eating the
healthy stuff with top nutrition for each
calorie instead.

* Don't starve yourself. Munch an apple, eat a
salad, or have a bowl of low calorie soup before the main course.
This will help to ensure that you feel fuller, so that you're
likely to eat fewer overall calories.

* Snack throughout the day. Having snacks revs your metabolism, and
makes you less likely to overeat when you sit down to a full meal.

* Eat a little of each food from each food group and a lot from the
fruit and vegetable group.

Hang out with friends. Making social
connections helps to maintain the brain's
serotonin levels. This enhances your mood and
can possibly even stave off depression. And who
else but friends will force you to visit the
doctor now and then?!

* If you don't have any friends, make some friends online. In doing
so, you won't have to leave your house and expose your skin to the
sun's damaging rays.

* If you do head outdoors with friends, bear in mind that the recent
research on needing more vitamin D does not_ justify standing in
the sun in the middle of the day burning yourself; keep using
sunscreen.

* Get back on that couch. Turn on a comedy
instead of drama – you'll burn up to 20 percent more calories
while watching TV! No ambition necessary!

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Eating spicy foods can help you lose weight by raising your
metabolism. Add a tablespoon of chopped chili peppers to your meal
will temporarily boost your metabolism by as much as 23 percent.

!! Warnings !!

* Always consult your doctor for medical advice and information.
There is only so much a generalized article can achieve!

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Healthy food

* Minor exercise plan

* Decent bed

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Choose Healthy Snacks

* How to Take Control of Your Health

* How to Improve Your Health as a Diabetic

* How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way

* How to Develop Healthy Eating Habits

!! Sources And Citations !!

* Original source - Howcast, How to Get a Little Healthier While
Staying Just as Lazy,
http://www.howcast.com/videos/355683-How-To-Get-a-Little-Healthier-While-Staying-Just-As-Lazy-As-You-Are-Right-Now
- shared with permission

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

6 Lazy Things You Can Do to Get a Little Healthier

6 Lazy Things You Can Do to Get a Little Healthier

Most of us would like to stay as healthy as
possible. And a lot of us would probably like to
do so without having to do much about it at all!
Is it possible to get a little healthier while
staying just as lazy as you have always been
when it comes to health?

With the simple tricks outlined in this article, it might just be
possible for you to stay as healthy as possible while not having to
worry too much about your usual lazy habits. Sometimes the path of
least resistance is the best path!

!! Steps !!

_ Hit the snooze button. Getting plenty of sleep
boosts your immune system, reduces your risk of high blood pressure,
heart disease and diabetes. Plenty of sleep also helps to keep down
your weight, And adequate sleep improves your daily mood, making sure
you're taking care of your mental health as well.

* Be sure to get a decent amount of sleep every night, at least
between 6–8 hours worth. If you're experiencing sleeping
problems, read How to sleep better for more information.

Do your unavoidable errands and chores early.
Raising your metabolic rate early in the day
means that it will remain elevated even when
you're at rest.[1]

* Since exercise actually increases your
energy levels, you might be more likely to keep moving. You might
even be tempted to clean up your messy room.

* Do squats or lunges while brushing your teeth. Twice a day
brushing is a good excuse to while away the minutes to melt away
the thunder thighs through squats and lunges, while the teeth get
cleaner by the moment.

* Walk backwards. It may look foolish, but if
you walk backwards for a part of your day, you'll burn up to 190
percent more calories than walking forward the same distance. This
is because it's a lot harder than walking forward and requires
more concentration.[2]
Avoid being a human vacuum at mealtimes.
Forget what you were told about finishing
everything on your plate; be choosy and eat
well instead. Leave the fatty, inefficient
calorie-laden food and focus on eating the
healthy stuff with top nutrition for each
calorie instead.

* Don't starve yourself. Munch an apple, eat a
salad, or have a bowl of low calorie soup before the main course.
This will help to ensure that you feel fuller, so that you're
likely to eat fewer overall calories.

* Snack throughout the day. Having snacks revs your metabolism, and
makes you less likely to overeat when you sit down to a full meal.

* Eat a little of each food from each food group and a lot from the
fruit and vegetable group.

Hang out with friends. Making social
connections helps to maintain the brain's
serotonin levels. This enhances your mood and
can possibly even stave off depression. And who
else but friends will force you to visit the
doctor now and then?!

* If you don't have any friends, make some friends online. In doing
so, you won't have to leave your house and expose your skin to the
sun's damaging rays.

* If you do head outdoors with friends, bear in mind that the recent
research on needing more vitamin D does not_ justify standing in
the sun in the middle of the day burning yourself; keep using
sunscreen.

* Get back on that couch. Turn on a comedy
instead of drama – you'll burn up to 20 percent more calories
while watching TV! No ambition necessary!

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Eating spicy foods can help you lose weight by raising your
metabolism. Add a tablespoon of chopped chili peppers to your meal
will temporarily boost your metabolism by as much as 23 percent.

!! Warnings !!

* Always consult your doctor for medical advice and information.
There is only so much a generalized article can achieve!

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Healthy food

* Minor exercise plan

* Decent bed

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Choose Healthy Snacks

* How to Take Control of Your Health

* How to Improve Your Health as a Diabetic

* How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way

* How to Develop Healthy Eating Habits

!! Sources And Citations !!

* Original source - Howcast, How to Get a Little Healthier While
Staying Just as Lazy,
http://www.howcast.com/videos/355683-How-To-Get-a-Little-Healthier-While-Staying-Just-As-Lazy-As-You-Are-Right-Now
- shared with permission

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

Monday 29 November 2010

How to Buy Hanukkah Gifts for Kids

How to Buy Hanukkah Gifts for Kids

Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is also known as the "Festival of Lights" or
the "Festival of Rededication". It lasts for 8 days and is
celebrated from the 25th day of the Jewish month Kislev to the
second or third day of Tevet, with the exact dates varying between
November to early December.

For some Jewish families, an important part of the tradition includes
giving gifts to children on each of the eight days, with each gift
reflecting something related to the values and understandings in
Judaism, as well as a few being for the sake of children's happiness.
If you're not sure what to give on some of the days, or even for all
of the days, this article provides some suggestions to help you.

_Note: If you're buying gifts for Jewish children, check with the
family first. Not all Jewish families make a big deal out of the
gift-giving aspect of Hanukkah; alternatively, the preference for how
gifts are given can vary considerably. The following article is a
basic guide._

!! Steps !!

Plan a budget in advance. While one child is affordable, many
children can soon blow the budget with 8 days of gifts! Sort out how
many of the days you think you'll give gifts for, as well as the
types of gifts you can afford, and what your budget can handle.

* Keep in mind that observing the spirit of the occasion is the most
important aspect.

* If giving gifts to siblings, keep in mind that each gift will need
to be similar in price and value for each child.

Allow for flexibility. On each of the eight days, the tradition is
for a gift of a particular sort is given to each child. However,
it is important to recognize that the gift-giving part of Hanukkah
does not need to be followed strictly or even observed on each day
– it depends on your budget, your enthusiasm, and, of course,
your interpretation of this part of celebrating Hanukkah. Approach
Hanukkah gift giving in the the way that your family believes is
the most appropriate.

* For some parents, giving very modest gifts of the same kind
several times over is not unusual (for example, giving small
amounts of coins or chocolate coins several times during the
week), while other parents favor one single large gift at the end,
with extremely modest gifts in between (such as Hanukkah
decorations), or daily donations to charity in the child's name.

Give gifts according to the standard gift suggestion for each day.
While taking into account the flexibility discussed in the
previous step, the "standard" gift routine is generally as
follows:

* Maybe something to make music with? *Day 1*: Choose a
gift that is modest and fairly priced. For example, a DVD of a
movie, a CD of a favorite rock band, etc. Choose something small
that you know the child would like to have.

* Choose a charity they care about *Day 2*: Think charity.
This is the day for kids to think about giving to others,
highlighting the spiritual values of Hanukkah. Ask the kids what
their favorite charity is, then give a donation to that charity
under their name. Do they sigh at the sight of a stray dog or cat?
If yes, give money to a local pet shelter. Do they wince when they
see a homeless person or family go to a homeless shelter? If yes,
give money to Goodwill Rescue Mission. If they wish they could
help every sick person, give money to a hospital nearby. Make sure
that they see the receipt in their name and be sure to have a
shared discussion about the importance of charity.

* Science makes a great gift on this day *Day 3*:
Education is the focus. Give the kids a gift that is both
educational and fun. There are plenty of excellent ideas including
books, a science kit, a rock tumbler, crystal growing kits,
electronics projects, etc.

* Chocolate coins are much loved *Day 4*: For the next
night, give them "gelt", a Yiddish word for money. If they are
young, give them chocolate coins. If they are older, give cash
(ranging from $5 to $20), or coins of any amount. You could also
simply deposit an amount direct into their savings account.

* Dreidel games can be purchased fully made up *Day 5*:
Give them a gift related to Judaism. For teens and tweens, such
items as religious books, a symbolic necklace, a snow globe, or a
bookmark would work well. For younger kids, good choices include
picture books, jewelery, games, etc., with a religious theme.
Dreidels work well for kids of all ages.

* The gift of growing *Day 6*: Be kind to the Earth this
Hanukkah and give them an eco-friendly gift, such as a durable
water bottle, a small compost bin, a recycled purse, or a plant to
grow. Wrap it in last week's newspaper and present it to the kids.

* Going out together is always appreciated *Day 7*: Give
the kids an outing with the family. Either plan to go and do
something together on this day, or purchase tickets for an
upcoming event that you'll all attend together. Another
alternative is making an IOU for something you know the whole
family really wants to do, or a small family vacation to be taken
later.

* A big responsibility but a good one *Day 8*: This is the
day for the most expensive and fun gift for your child. A new
bike, a play set, a pool, a play piano are good for non-living
gifts. Or, if you're up to getting a pet for your child, get a
family pet.

Talk about Hanukkah with your family. As with any religious
holiday where gifts are involved, it is important to spend a
little time relating the gift giving to the occasion being
celebrated. Make it an enjoyable time of learning, with the whole
family involved in talking about Hanukkah and celebrating it
together.

* Read How to celebrate Hanukkah for details on celebrating Hanukkah
as a whole.

* If you're a teacher, read How to teach about Chanukkah in the
classroom for more ideas.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Another take on the gifts is to spend some of the days making
Hanukkah crafts instead of receiving gifts. This provides the gift
of togetherness, of learning to use one's hands for creating
things, and the final handmade result is a gift in its own right.

* If children are old enough to be able to cook with oil (late
tweens, early teens on), spend some time giving them the gift of
learning to cook together, and make some of the traditional
Hanukkah foods such as latkes, jelly donuts, and fried torzelli.
Supervise all novice cooks, especially around hot oil; explain in
detail the consequences of hot oil splashes.

* Give kids the gift of your time. If things have been busy lately,
take this opportunity to spend some more time with your kids and
to enjoy being together.

* Consider purchasing handmade toys and items that support charities
or local craftspeople, as part of the tradition of helping others.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* A fair-priced gift for Day 1

* Money to give to your child's favorite charity for Day 2

* A educational gift for Day 3

* Money/gelt/chocolate coins for Day 4

* A Jewish-related gift for Day 5

* An eco-friendly gift for Day 6

* A gift card or a IOU to go out somewhere for day 7

* A large gift (such as a bike, iPod, etc.) or a pet for Day 8

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Celebrate Hanukkah

* How to Play Dreidel

* How to Explain That Hanukkah is Not the Jewish Christmas

* How to Make Dreidels

* How to Make Potato Latkes

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Buy Hanukkah Gifts for Kids

How to Buy Hanukkah Gifts for Kids

Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is also known as the "Festival of Lights" or
the "Festival of Rededication". It lasts for 8 days and is
celebrated from the 25th day of the Jewish month Kislev to the
second or third day of Tevet, with the exact dates varying between
November to early December.

For some Jewish families, an important part of the tradition includes
giving gifts to children on each of the eight days, with each gift
reflecting something related to the values and understandings in
Judaism, as well as a few being for the sake of children's happiness.
If you're not sure what to give on some of the days, or even for all
of the days, this article provides some suggestions to help you.

_Note: If you're buying gifts for Jewish children, check with the
family first. Not all Jewish families make a big deal out of the
gift-giving aspect of Hanukkah; alternatively, the preference for how
gifts are given can vary considerably. The following article is a
basic guide._

!! Steps !!

Plan a budget in advance. While one child is affordable, many
children can soon blow the budget with 8 days of gifts! Sort out how
many of the days you think you'll give gifts for, as well as the
types of gifts you can afford, and what your budget can handle.

* Keep in mind that observing the spirit of the occasion is the most
important aspect.

* If giving gifts to siblings, keep in mind that each gift will need
to be similar in price and value for each child.

Allow for flexibility. On each of the eight days, the tradition is
for a gift of a particular sort is given to each child. However,
it is important to recognize that the gift-giving part of Hanukkah
does not need to be followed strictly or even observed on each day
– it depends on your budget, your enthusiasm, and, of course,
your interpretation of this part of celebrating Hanukkah. Approach
Hanukkah gift giving in the the way that your family believes is
the most appropriate.

* For some parents, giving very modest gifts of the same kind
several times over is not unusual (for example, giving small
amounts of coins or chocolate coins several times during the
week), while other parents favor one single large gift at the end,
with extremely modest gifts in between (such as Hanukkah
decorations), or daily donations to charity in the child's name.

Give gifts according to the standard gift suggestion for each day.
While taking into account the flexibility discussed in the
previous step, the "standard" gift routine is generally as
follows:

* Maybe something to make music with? *Day 1*: Choose a
gift that is modest and fairly priced. For example, a DVD of a
movie, a CD of a favorite rock band, etc. Choose something small
that you know the child would like to have.

* Choose a charity they care about *Day 2*: Think charity.
This is the day for kids to think about giving to others,
highlighting the spiritual values of Hanukkah. Ask the kids what
their favorite charity is, then give a donation to that charity
under their name. Do they sigh at the sight of a stray dog or cat?
If yes, give money to a local pet shelter. Do they wince when they
see a homeless person or family go to a homeless shelter? If yes,
give money to Goodwill Rescue Mission. If they wish they could
help every sick person, give money to a hospital nearby. Make sure
that they see the receipt in their name and be sure to have a
shared discussion about the importance of charity.

* Science makes a great gift on this day *Day 3*:
Education is the focus. Give the kids a gift that is both
educational and fun. There are plenty of excellent ideas including
books, a science kit, a rock tumbler, crystal growing kits,
electronics projects, etc.

* Chocolate coins are much loved *Day 4*: For the next
night, give them "gelt", a Yiddish word for money. If they are
young, give them chocolate coins. If they are older, give cash
(ranging from $5 to $20), or coins of any amount. You could also
simply deposit an amount direct into their savings account.

* Dreidel games can be purchased fully made up *Day 5*:
Give them a gift related to Judaism. For teens and tweens, such
items as religious books, a symbolic necklace, a snow globe, or a
bookmark would work well. For younger kids, good choices include
picture books, jewelery, games, etc., with a religious theme.
Dreidels work well for kids of all ages.

* The gift of growing *Day 6*: Be kind to the Earth this
Hanukkah and give them an eco-friendly gift, such as a durable
water bottle, a small compost bin, a recycled purse, or a plant to
grow. Wrap it in last week's newspaper and present it to the kids.

* Going out together is always appreciated *Day 7*: Give
the kids an outing with the family. Either plan to go and do
something together on this day, or purchase tickets for an
upcoming event that you'll all attend together. Another
alternative is making an IOU for something you know the whole
family really wants to do, or a small family vacation to be taken
later.

* A big responsibility but a good one *Day 8*: This is the
day for the most expensive and fun gift for your child. A new
bike, a play set, a pool, a play piano are good for non-living
gifts. Or, if you're up to getting a pet for your child, get a
family pet.

Talk about Hanukkah with your family. As with any religious
holiday where gifts are involved, it is important to spend a
little time relating the gift giving to the occasion being
celebrated. Make it an enjoyable time of learning, with the whole
family involved in talking about Hanukkah and celebrating it
together.

* Read How to celebrate Hanukkah for details on celebrating Hanukkah
as a whole.

* If you're a teacher, read How to teach about Chanukkah in the
classroom for more ideas.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Another take on the gifts is to spend some of the days making
Hanukkah crafts instead of receiving gifts. This provides the gift
of togetherness, of learning to use one's hands for creating
things, and the final handmade result is a gift in its own right.

* If children are old enough to be able to cook with oil (late
tweens, early teens on), spend some time giving them the gift of
learning to cook together, and make some of the traditional
Hanukkah foods such as latkes, jelly donuts, and fried torzelli.
Supervise all novice cooks, especially around hot oil; explain in
detail the consequences of hot oil splashes.

* Give kids the gift of your time. If things have been busy lately,
take this opportunity to spend some more time with your kids and
to enjoy being together.

* Consider purchasing handmade toys and items that support charities
or local craftspeople, as part of the tradition of helping others.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* A fair-priced gift for Day 1

* Money to give to your child's favorite charity for Day 2

* A educational gift for Day 3

* Money/gelt/chocolate coins for Day 4

* A Jewish-related gift for Day 5

* An eco-friendly gift for Day 6

* A gift card or a IOU to go out somewhere for day 7

* A large gift (such as a bike, iPod, etc.) or a pet for Day 8

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Celebrate Hanukkah

* How to Play Dreidel

* How to Explain That Hanukkah is Not the Jewish Christmas

* How to Make Dreidels

* How to Make Potato Latkes

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

7 Tips for Damage Control at the Office Christmas Party

7 Tips for Damage Control at the Office Christmas Party

Making a fool of yourself at the office Christmas
party is something to be avoided at all costs.
After all, you'll be obliged to front up to those
very same co-workers the following week and if
they have a remarkably lowered opinion of you
since the party, it'll feel more than awkward...

While the Christmas party can create worries for both employer and
employee, it is an event where you can still behave professionally and
have fun, and provides a great opportunity to socialize with
co-workers and bosses within your company whom you normally don't have
a chance to mingle with. It all comes down to the simple mantra
"behave right and you'll have a great night". And here are some
straightforward suggestions to keep this part of your work's social
event calendar all sorted.

!! Steps !!

Being seen there is half the pointPrepare yourself mentally and
show up. Rather than dreading the occasion, the right mindset can
provide much-needed balance. Regardless of how you feel about the
party or the office, office parties are a crucial part of the
office dynamic. Think of it like a Sunday afternoon visit to
Grandma – even if you don't feel like it, you know that you
probably should go.

* Accept that this is part of what is expected and expect to be able
to talk to the people you do get along with, at the very least.
It's a good opportunity to meet your superiors in a casual
environment and a chance for networking with new people. Both are
great things for career escalation.

* If work is paying, here's a chance to enjoy food and alcohol at
work expense!

* Consider leaving early in advance. When you're deciding whether or
not to agree to going to the party, it can help to reassure
yourself that you can come up with a valid early exist strategy,
such as having to attend a kid's Christmas concert, or your
spouse's business Christmas party, etc. At least this way, you can
save face by turning up for part of the event but leaving before
things become awkward or strange.

Choose with care what you're going to wear...Decide what to
wear. Find out what everyone else is wearing before the party
and match the tone with your outfit:

* If it's casual dress and you turn up smart, that'll immediately
put you on the back foot and make the rest of the evening very
uncomfortable and also opens you up as an easy target for
derision. The same applies the other way round.

* If you are a woman, find a compromise between 'I'm attractive and
sexy' and 'Take me seriously, I'm a professional'. Revealing
clothing, while fun, is not appropriate around your superiors.
Think beyond the event to the image you'd like your co-workers to
retain of you in months to come!

* If everyone is heading straight to the party from work, you don't
have to worry as there won't be time to change, so clearly work
clothes are the go.

* Don't let work keep you...Arrive on time. This is an office
party, not a discotheque. So turning up 'fashionably late' is not
an option and could have you missing out on all the fun. Arriving
on time gives you the opportunity to say hello to everyone, and
still get out early without seeming rude.
Mingle. Be sure to acknowledge all your
co-workers, and especially your superiors and
their associates as this will put you in good
stead; the Christmas party is an excellent
opportunity to cement relationships and to get
known in a good way.[1] Talk to your co-workers
and bosses about work issues in a positive and
complimentary light, focusing on achievements
for the year and fun things you remember. And
don't be frightened to talk to your co-workers
and management about things outside of work
such as the cinema, football, hobbies, family,
or dogs. And practice listening; this is as
important as the small talk.

* Even if there's someone you really don't like, like Steve from
accounting, it's best to have a quick chat with them, and remember
to use that winning smile.

* While the occasion may feel really informal, take care to still
defer to superiors; this isn't the time to be speaking your mind
informally to management (unless doing so is the norm in your
workplace).[2]

Is this how you want to be remembered after the office
party?Drink responsibly. Don't forget where you are –
technically, still at work because you're with the work crowd,
so treat the party as an extension to your work day.[3][4] Keep
in mind that everything observed has the potential to be turned
into a judgment on your professionalism and work suitability. If
there is one thing that can besmirch a reputation, it's getting
out of control on the liquor at the work Christmas party. No
matter how much management has insisted that everyone let down
their hair, just don't. Wait until after the party if getting
blind drunk is your plan; grab the few trusted co-workers and
head off somewhere else. At the party:

* Eat first before drinking. Drinking on an empty stomach is asking
for trouble. Space all drinks with water and more food, and lots
of conversation.

* Join in the drinking so you don't look like a stiff, but judge the
tone carefully. If it's a kicking party led from the top, and
you're having a good time, you can let your hair down a little
more than usual but do be aware of your limits and keep in mind
that someone is always watching with an eye to judging in the
workplace context.

* Under no circumstances allow yourself to get hammered. The more
drinks you have, the more likely you are to do something that
you'll regret.

* Avoid using alcohol as the excuse to let out a year's worth of
pent-up resentment and frustration about your boss, co-workers, or
the workplace in general. Telling them what you really think of
them will be remembered forever more as the truth from your
perspective, and this can only harm your future prospects in the
company.

Office gossip...Be tactful and careful about declaring your
undying romantic intentions. It's that time of year. If you're
having an office blowout and Jeanna from HR is there, you may be
tempted to make your move. This can go either way. Remember, you
will have to see this person at work on Monday. Think: Do I
really fancy them? Do they like me? How much have I had to
drink? Will I regret this in the morning? This is called a
reality check. If you fail the reality check, under no
circumstances should you make your move. If however, you have
strong feelings for that person, this may be the opportunity
you've been waiting for.

* Be discreet. Your co-workers will gossip as soon as they see
anything happen.

* On the other hand, you may find yourself being hit on - even by
your boss. If this is not to your liking, be tactful. You don't
want to damage relationships with your co-workers or boss, so let
them down gently.

* Don't lead anyone on because you're drunk and you feel like it.
This will only create problems on Monday, especially if they like
you more than you like them.

* Bear in mind the potential for claims of sexual harassment. Do not
touch people in ways that can be misinterpreted, or say things
that are considered demeaning or sexually provocative. Use your
common sense.

* Yeah, OK, time to go home now!Help others. If you see a
co-worker overdoing the drinking or making a move when they are
clearly not fully mentally cognizant, step in and bail them out.
Explain to them what they are doing and how it appears to other
people. If this doesn't sink in, discreetly ring a cab and take
them home. This is one time where your own executive
decision-making can save their reputation. You can always return
to the party after if liked, but don't bring up what you've just
done, as it's a helping act to fix things quietly and with grace.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* If you're after a promotion, this is a prime opportunity. Corner
your boss and raise ideas you've had about increasing productivity
and encouraging new clients. But remember he's your boss, keep it
casual and humble. Be flattering without brown nosing.

* Some people take snacks along in case the food is not to their
liking. That way, you can still eat something to fill your stomach
and help you to handle the alcohol.

* A good workplace or hosting management will ensure food comes
before the alcohol, even going so far as to check that everyone
has had a chance to eat something.[5]

* Keep adding fizzy water to wine and you can make the drinks go a
lot further and last longer without getting drunk.

* If you don't like or cannot drink alcohol, just say so. There is
no need to suffer by forcing yourself to pretend; there are plenty
of valid reasons for refusing alcohol.

!! Warnings !!

* If you bring a date, make sure your date will behave as well.
Don't abandon your date in a room full of strangers. If the
conversation is all about work and your date is bored, make it up
to him or her with a nice dinner out or an extra Christmas
present. The same is true even if you're married; after all, your
spouse's time is precious too.

* Do not, under any circumstances, dance on a table. It never ends
well.

* If you know you're unable to maintain control, give serious
consideration to not attending by claiming a competing prior
engagement. Although stated above that attendance is crucial, it's
far better not to attend and be thought of as copping out than to
attend and confirm you're a drunk unable to control your tongue.

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Get Employees to Mingle at a Christmas Party

* How to Have a Christmas Party

* How to Make Better Office Coffee

* How to Choose a Good Office Plant

* How to Make Office Darts

!! Sources And Citations !!

* Original source of article, Videojug,
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-behave-at-the-office-christmas-party
How to Behave at the Office Christmas Party. Used with permission.

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Procrastinate: Why Putting Things Off Can Be Good for You

How to Procrastinate: Why Putting Things Off Can Be Good for You

I'd rather be painting Procrastination – the art of placing
tremendous importance on sometimes useless, sometimes mundane, or
sometimes much more interesting actions, in order to avoid doing
allegedly required tasks. The general belief is that procrastination
is not a good thing because it delays the inevitable and puts a
spanner in the works of getting things done on time or even earlier,
something many teachers, bosses, and managers take great pains to
point out.

Yet, have you ever considered the benefits of procrastinating? There
are actually some good reasons to procrastinate, as you'll discover
when learning how to master the art of procrastination, all for the
greater personal good of course!

_Note: While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for successful
procrastination, the following steps aim to provide a helpful steer.
Coming up with your own beneficial methods of procrastinating is a
form of procrastination in itself!_

!! Steps !!

Contemplate the reasons that make procrastination a good thing to
add to your daily tasks. Time management experts (and an awful lot
of bloggers nowadays) insist that procrastination is your own worst
enemy and that that letting it pervade your life will end up with
you biting your nails, shredding your hair, and not doing the best
you can, obliging you to perform poor last-minute work to get your
tasks done. Anti-procrastinators are ready with scoldings,
admonishing you with the potential for failure. Turn this apparent
"problem" around by considering the benefits of procrastinating:

* You can percolate a lot of ideas. Instead of snapping to it and
methodically working through the task, a procrastinator could very
well be allowing the ideas to percolate, mature, and bubble to the
surface in a much more inspired and fascinating form.

* You can avoid problems as much as create them. Jumping right in
and doing something without thinking through the consequences and
finding the weaknesses can bring about new problems and delays.
Procrastinating can provide the thinking buffer space to find what
can go wrong and to find ways around that. Equally,
procrastinating can unearth all the things that never really
needed doing anyway - think how many times you've been glad you
didn't jump to it when asked and how that saved you from a lot of
trouble because either someone else did it, or it ended up not
being a good idea to do it anyway.

* You might be using procrastination to protect yourself when you're
not ready to do something. If you lack the skills, the courage, or
the experience, procrastination can prevent you from leaping in
where you're just plain incompetent or not capable.

* Procrastination can allow an unpalatable idea or task to grow on
you. If you've been putting it off because you hate it, or don't
want to be associated with it, procrastinating can provide the
time needed to get used to it and to eventually settle in to a
place of acceptance that lets you get on without feeling
disinterested or even hostile about being involved in something.

* Procrastination can give you the time needed to build up the
energy needed to proceed with gusto when you do get going.

* For people whose work is principally cerebral based, doing
something practical (with the hands) is often a much-needed break
from the depths of intellectualizing everything.

* Think about all the other things that _are_ getting done as you
avoid the procrastinated task!

Do I really want to do this anymore? Listen to your procrastination.
Procrastination happens for a reason, as much as any other
task-impacting attitude. Aside from the possible reasons outlined in
the previous step, learning to listen to your procrastination can be
a way of listening to your inner feelings when you would rather put
that challenging task on hold. Is it possible that your
procrastination is telling you one of the following?:

* What you're doing is genuinely boring and even if it has to be
done, perhaps there are better ways of doing it? Ways that don't
necessarily involve you, or you on your own?

* What you're doing isn't your strength or even interest. Perhaps
you're studying the wrong field because your parents told you to
become a doctor or lawyer but you wanted to be an artist? Or
perhaps you're working in the wrong job because you liked the
sound of the company until you joined it and realized what you're
really in for?

* What you're doing is riddled with inconsistencies, weaknesses,
errors, and blatant inaccuracies but to fix these would take a lot
of effort or even explaining to the boss and you know it's way
over your ability to fix.

* What you're doing is no longer a strength of yours because you've
moved on mentally and experience-wise and you're ready for a new
challenge.

* What you're doing is objectively pointless, and there are probably
really much better things you could be expending your energies on.
You just need to find the right way to explain this to the boss,
teacher, or client...

What a deadline looks like as it whooshes by Think about the value
of deadlines to you. Deadlines are the fuel of procrastination. And
even though deadlines are often couched in terms of self-discipline
and personal blame when they're missed or poorly met, they're less
about virtuous behavior and more about achieving conforming behavior,
which is often the reason why some people hate meeting them – there
is an element of resentment or rebellion against being _made_ to meet
someone or something else's determined time. For other people though,
deadlines bring out their best and bring on the adrenalin pump needed
to dig in and pull out the inner genius that produces outstanding
work at the last minute. And if you have work that is lackluster and
routine, a deadline can sometimes be truly the only source of
motivation to bring about its completion. Recognizing how you value
or cope with deadlines is part of procrastinating in a way that
doesn't harm your own goals, efforts, and opportunities in the long
run. Deadlines can be the procrastinator's friend if they're viewed
in a positive light, as a source of eventual motivation and as a
source of drawing out creativity.

* Work out your perfect equilibrium of brushing with deadlines and
getting work done successfully. Once you know the absolute limit,
use a balance of both deadlines and procrastination to your
advantage.

Slow down. Procrastination can be viewed as one means of putting the
brakes on your speedy, out-of-control lifestyle or work pace. It can
be the pathway to more thinking and less doing, something sadly
lacking in our harried, over-filled modern lives.

* Stop admiring busy people and busy methodologies. These can give
the impression of doing when really, nothing's happening at all.
At least when procrastinating, something else is happening!

* Allocate thinking time. Allow yourself to use this time to think
through ideas, consequences, and the bigger picture.

* Enjoy the process and not the destination. Procrastinating allows
you to immerse in the process. Some of it's boring, some of it's
rough, some of it's really enjoyable but all of it's a whole.
Procrastination is like a thread weaving the entire process
together, keeping it moving along toward its inevitable end point
but allowing you to swim with the flow and enjoy life as you get
there.

* Embrace distractions for what they are and let guilt fly.

* Recognize that a refreshed you works twice as hard and twice as
focused upon return to the task at hand. Sticking with it without
breaks, means losing sight of the forest for the trees as your
perspective and enthusiasm turns stale.

* If other people want to negatively label your thinking time
procrastination, that's fine. Tell them that procrastination has
become a positive, must-do in any modern achiever's life and watch
their confusion.

Quit being an automatic worry robot Avoid excessive contemplation
about the future. While a little consideration of the future is
naturally essential for healthy living, obsessing about where you
want to be in 5, 10, and 15 years time can lead to burn-out, and can
stick you on course for a narrow trajectory focused always on the
future, on the person you're planning to become instead of
celebrating the person you already are. Procrastination requires that
you live in the now, in the present, and don't let things like
graduation, job loss, homelessness, and financial dependence cloud
your thinking. Excessive worrying doesn't change anything but it can
entrap you in a cycle of fear, marrying you to sub-standard work and
living choices for the rest of your life because you're too afraid of
the consequences of letting go of those initial sub-standard choices.
_ Find the life/work balance Value leisure and work time
equally. The true procrastinator sees equal value in both the video
game and the thesis or work paper. This is balance in action and
valuing them equally is a sign that you've got your priorities
ordered toward both work and_ play, not all work and no play (which,
as we all well know, makes a person dull of mind and heart).

* Balance procrastination with obligation. Life isn't either all
easy cruising or all full throttle. Try to combine both elements
in your life and allow distractions in rather than letting them
become moments of guilt or worry.

Find ways to procrastinate. While procrastination is not really
something you need to be told how to do, it can be incredibly
reassuring to learn that you are not alone in doing the following
motley and amusing procrastinating activities (and feel free to
indulge in any of them), outlined in the next few steps.

Get creative. Something as simple watching a fan blow your papers
all over the room can keep you enthralled for hours. You can even
draw all over your stomach.

* Stare at the mirror and make random faces. For starters, you could
act like a monkey, just fold your lips inside and over your teeth,
and jump around like a madman. If you can do this for a good half
hour, you've been successful at wasting a good chunk of your time.

* Stare out the window. Notice what form the clouds are taking,
people watch, count the arrival times of trains, watch the street
being swept and work out how long it'll take to reach the next
corner, etc.

* Create your own laser light show.

If you insist on the TV, make sure you check all the channels. One
of the beauties of procrastination is that it creates interest where
none existed before. For example, the cooking channel becomes the
equivalent of late night Cinemax; or watch the Spanish channel and
try to figure out what's being said.

* Always choose movies over TV shows. TV shows are an hour maximum,
most half an hour (some specials, especially some reality shows,
sporting events, and shows on the History Channel are two). Each
time a show ends, it forces you to make a decision between work
and more TV. If you're given that decision two times every hour,
sooner or later you'll crack. Movies, on the other hand, are at
least two hours, and since most channels string about three movies
together, that is only three TV-work decisions in six hours!

* Worship Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, and Jackie Chan. These three
men are a procrastinator's dream, since their movies are a) always
on TV, at any hour of the day or night; b) have plots that revolve
around roundhouse kicks and gigantic explosions, letting the mind
relax without having to cope with a complex story; and c) never
mention any form of work. For example, Steven Seagal has never
seen a cubicle, unless he was either killing someone in it, or
blowing it up. For those who don't enjoy action movies, romantic
comedies can act as a substitute, since they are all the same, and
create the same mental lethargy.

If the computer is your weapon of choice, always kill the ninja,
always. If you see a pop-up that asks you to shoot, poke, prod,
laser-blast, punch, kick, or place some object in something, play it
immediately. Not only can you win free cool junk and spam, but there
is a never-ending stream of these games.

* Click on any links you can find. This will allow you to access new
and interesting information, that your mind will absorb instead of
the work, clearing all thoughts of work right away.

* Access your favorite forum at least once in a half hour, and while
checking out the posts, refresh the page every two seconds to
check for new replies. This should pretty much keep you busy for a
good while and keep you from doing real work. Have you checked
your Farmville account lately?

* Browse wikiHow or Wikipedia. Go to a random page and click on the
blue links (there are plenty in this article for starters). Not
only will you procrastinate, you'll be learning at the same time!

* Don't worry. If you spend all your time worrying about
the work you haven't done, then you aren't enjoying your
procrastination and you're missing the point of productively
introducing procrastination into your life. Just let your mind
rest, clear it of worries, and focus on enjoying the distractions.
Work is only as serious as you make it. Procrastination lets you
enjoy the little things in life that would otherwise pass you by.
The grass is greener, the clouds are fluffier, and Seagal's boots
are just a little bit more bloodsoaked.

!! Tips !!

* Procrastination becomes a true art form when you are able to use
procrastination to totally erase any guilt you feel about not
having completed your work. If the paper is three weeks late and
you're going out drinking, you figured it out.

* Write a list. The next time you find yourself procrastinating,
write a quick list of "Why I like to procrastinate". You might
surprise yourself as to the reasons that are going down on the
list, as there could be impetus to reprioritize a lot of things in
your life!

* Chilling totally is not the same as procrastinating.
Procrastinating is doing something else, even if that's thinking.
Chilling is downtime, when nothing is meant to intrude on your
peace, and definitely not worries about what else you ought to be
doing.

!! Warnings !!

* There is procrastination and there is procrastination. If
procrastination is halting your progress along your intended path
in life, then it's unhealthy; good procrastination is an aid to
uncovering what really motivates you and what makes you enjoy the
here and now. If all it does is cause you to give up on anything,
then it's self-sabotage rather than procrastination. Be sure to
get the balance right and avoid harming your own chances of
getting your life well sorted.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Things other than the things you should be doing

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Do Nothing

* How to Look Busy at Work Without Really Working

* How to Waste Time

* How to Exercise an Open Mind

* How to Stop Procrastinating

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

Sunday 28 November 2010

14 Ways to Put Old Greeting Cards to Use

14 Ways to Put Old Greeting Cards to Use

The occasion has come and gone and the sentiments have been
expressed. Now you have a stack of cards, many of which
can't easily be recycled because they include foil,
plastic, or other non-paper materials. Instead of disposing
of them or even recycling them, why not reuse or remake
them?

!! Steps !!

Scan the cards into the computer or make notes of who sent what, if
you want a record of the greeting cards. This is particularly
important if you need to send thank you notes to people who gave you
gifts. It's also a much neater and easier way of storing the lovely
things people have sent to you in the past than simply hoarding
piles of old cards; you can even catalog them if it helps!
Find a good storage box Think about what you'd like to do with
the cards. There are many possibilities for using old greeting
cards, limited only by the materials you have to hand and your own
preferences. The following steps make a number of suggestions to
help inspire you.

* Keep the cards in one easy-to-access box. A large shoe box is
ideal, such as the types that hold hiking boots. Or, use any box
that is no longer needed, provided it has a lid to keep off dust
and to prevent the cards from slipping out. You'll be able to
delve into this box every time you start a new project, and if you
order the cards by color, texture, size, etc., this will make it
easier to be inspired.

One method is to stick the old card's picture onto new card stock
Turn the cards into new cards. Turning old greeting cards into new
ones is a simple process and fun too. Glue the front cover of the
card onto a new, blank card or cardstock. If you want, you can also
redecorate or improve upon the design of the card and add your own
new embellishments, such as small ribbons, costume gems, glitter,
etc.

* Read How to make a birthday card, How to make a Christmas star
card, and How to make Christmas cards for more inspiration.

Make gift tags for presents. Cut the greeting cards into smaller
sizes to turn them into gift tags. Simply cut a strip or rectangle
out of the card, fold it down the middle, and write the "to" and
"from" in it.

* Another method is to add interesting features from the original
card to small card stock tags that you've already made. Simply
glue in place and write the "to" and "from" on the blank part (as
shown in the image).

A gift box made from a greeting card. Make a gift box from greeting
cards. This can make use of several greeting cards that look good
together, whether by color, theme, or texture.

* Read How to make a gift box out of a greeting card for more
details on this project.

Make a notebook or portfolio from the cards. Gift cards can be
turned into a notebook or portfolio by cutting the card in half and
inserting blank paper or even other greeting cards (as a memento) in
the middle portion. Then, simply punch holes through the lot,
including the front and back of the card, which will also form the
front and the back of the notebook or folder. Sew or weave through a
binding thread or coil and knot or tie at the end of the looping.
Check that it can move freely, and make any adjustments needed.
A gift pouch for smaller gifts. Make a gift pouch using
greeting cards. Cards can be reused to create a pouch for the
insertion of a small gift such as jewelery, a CD, an MP3 player, a
gift voucher, perfume, etc.

* Read How to make a gift pouch from a greeting card for the
instructions on making this project.

A bookmark made from a card. Make bookmarks from old greeting cards.
Greeting cards can make excellent bookmarks and they're as simple as
anything to produce quickly. Cut the greeting card into strips about
an inch and a half (4cm) wide and 6 inches (15cm) long. Punch a hole
near one end and add a tassel to the hole. Tuck a homemade bookmark
into each book you give away.

* Read How to make a bookmark tassel for more details.

Create a memento greeting card tradition. Agree with a friend to
send the same greeting card back and forth year after year, or trade
two cards between yourself and a friend. Over the years, the card
accumulates notes and becomes a memento, and it might just keep both
of you in touch longer. Feel free to enclose sheets of paper as many
years' notes accumulate in the card, or use the portfolio method
suggested above to keep cards together.

Use the cards for artistic purposes. There are numerous paper crafts
that are just ideal for using old greeting cards. Here are just some
possible ideas, using the most interesting or colorful parts of old
greeting cards:

* Use the cards for decoupage,

* Do a collage,

* Make scrapbooks.

Greeting card placemats. Use the cards to make placemats or
coasters. Pretty card designs can be treasured while eating or
enjoying a drink, especially great for nature, animal, and seasonal
themes.

* See How to make placemats from greeting cards for further
instructions.

A place card. Make place cards for your next casual gathering. The
stiff, colorful paper makes an excellent background for them.

* Read Make place cards for more instructions.

Make the cards into postcards. Simply cut off the front "cover" of
the card if it is flat and send it as a postcard to someone else
next year. Postcards usually cost less to send, too.

Turn a greeting card into an envelope. You can also make matching or
other themed cards into envelopes to accompany the card.

* Read How to make a greeting card envelope for the instructions.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* If you are not using the front of a greeting card, and you live in
the United States, you can donate cards to St. Jude Ranch for
Children. They reuse them to make "new" greeting cards by pasting
the front to a folded piece of card stock. Then they sell them as
a fund-raiser for the kids.

* Don't forget to reuse or recycle the envelope too, especially if
you do any scrapbooking or collage. Often, greeting card envelopes
have colorful paper and shiny liners. They may not be suitable for
general paper recycling, but they can be cut up for backgrounds,
borders or decorative motifs.

* Another idea is to make a room bin from cards; weave the edges
together with plastic twine. It's a good idea to cover the cards
in plastic to prevent staining from items thrown into the bin.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Old greeting cards

* Card stock

* Glue

* Scissors

* Markers

* Decorative elements

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Make Your First Soulcollage Card

* How to Create a Collage As Birthday or Valentine Card

* How to Design Beach Party Invitations

* How to Make a Pop up Greeting Card

* How to Make Greeting Cards Using Decorative Rubber Stamps

* How to Make a Greeting Card

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Install a Cartridge Box Sling (Reenacting)

How to Install a Cartridge Box Sling (Reenacting)

Cartridge Box with SlingA cartridge box sling is a must for an
accurate federal impression. During the Civil War, US cartridges
boxes were issued to the soldiers with a sling. The sling helped
support the box while the box was loaded with live ammo, which
could get very heavy. The sling also balanced the load by placing
weight on the left shoulder. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to
install the cartridge box sling.

!! Steps !!

* Make sure that the breast-plate will face forward.Lay the
cartridge box on its back. Place the sling above it, with the
breast-plate on the right side of the sling.

* Flip the cartridge box over onto it's face.Flip the sling and
cartridge box over. Make sure that you flip both in the same
direction.

* Feed the sling through the right sling loop.With the rough
side of the sling facing up and away from the overturned cartridge
box, feed the right end of the sling though the right sling loop.

* Pull about one foot of sling though the loop.Pull about one
foot (30.5cm) of the sling through the loop to ease installation.

* Loop the right side of the sling and slide the end through the
left buckle.Loop the right end of the sling around. Slide the end
of the sling through the left buckle.

* Buckle the right end of the sling.Set the buckle to the middle
hole in the right end of the sling.

* Pull the right end of the sling tight.Pull the right end of
the sling tight, making sure to have the excess end of the sling
trapped under the body of the sling.

* Feed the left end of the sling through the left sling
loop.Feed the left end of the sling though the left sling loop.

* Pull about one foot of the sling through the loop.Pull about
one foot (30.5cm) of the sling through the loop.

* Loop the left end of the sling and slide through the
buckle.Loop the left end of the sling around and slide the end of
the sling through the right buckle.

* Set the buckle to the middle hole.Set the buckle to the middle
hole in the left end of the sling.

* Pull the left end of the sling tight.Pull the left end of the
sling tight, making sure to have the excess end of the sling
trapped under the body of the sling. If you have installed it
correctly, the sling should make an 'X' on the back of the
cartridge box.

* Cartridge box just below the waist belt. Breastplate in the
center of the chest, in line with the buttons.Adjust the sling by
setting the buckles to the desired length. The cartridge box
should ride with the sling over the left shoulder, going under the
waist belt. The box should rest on the right hip just below the
belt. The breastplate should be in the center of the chest, in
line with the buttons.

!! Tips !!

* Oil the leather before installing so the ends of the sling won't
develop cracks.

!! Things You\'ll Need !!

* Cartridge box

* Cartridge box sling

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Install a Sling on a Civil War Musket (Reenacting)

* How to Roll Paper Cartridges (Reenacting)

* How to Load and Fire a Muzzleloader

* How to Make Hardtack

* How to Clean and Care for a Forage Cap (Reenacting)

* How to Assemble a Reenacting Musket Cleaning Kit

!! Sources And Citations !!

* http://www.jarnaginco.com/catframe.html – research source

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Make Eggplant Fritters

How to Make Eggplant Fritters

Eggplant (aubergine) fritters are a quick and easy-to-make
side item that can be eaten with rice and other meat dishes,
or even on their own as a snack or vegetarian main course.
Although not a favorite vegetable for many people, this
recipe will ensure that the eggplant is both appetizing and
delicious.

!! Ingredients !!

* 3 to 4 medium sized round eggplants.

Note: Medium is considered 1 1/2 pounds.

* 1 large egg

* Salt for taste

* A quarter teaspoon pepper powder or any other preferred spice or
seasoning

* Dry breadcrumbs

* Vegetable cooking oil

!! Steps !!

Slice the eggplant into 3 mm (.118 of an inch, or 1/10 of a cm)
thick slices. You can slice in rounds or lengths; the preference is
yours but round slices tend to be easier to handle.

Soak in salted water for 10 minutes.

* Drain after 10 minutes and leave to one side for later use.

Beat the egg with a quarter teaspoon of fine salt. Add the pepper
powder to beaten egg and whisk gently.

* Dip the eggplant slices into the egg batter.

Coat the dipped slices with the breadcrumbs. Place the breadcrumbs
into a wide bowl or flat plate and lay the slices direct into the
breadcrumbs, and then turn over to coat the other side.

* Lay on a tray or plate while waiting for frying. Keep this tray or
plate close to the stove top for ease of use.

Frying long fritters Frying round fritters Fry the coated
eggplant slices in oil until golden brown in color.

* Use paper, kitchen towel, or even recycled cereal carton
to drain the oil Drain the oil off each fritter on wax paper,
kitchen towel, or cardboard.

Serve. Eggplant fritters can be eaten and served in many different
and creative ways. They can be served as a meal of their own,
accompanied by salad and vegetables, or they can be served as a side
dish.

* They make great snacks.

* Pickles, flavored mayonnaise, and sauces go well with eggplant
fritters.

* Serve with vegetables as a delicious vegetarian meal when
vegetarians turn up without warning.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Bread flour or cake flour can be used as an alternative for bread
crumbs.

* Take adequate safety precautions when working with hot oil.

* 3 mm thick potato slices can also be used as an alternative for
eggplant. In this case the dish will be called potato fritters.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Chopping board and knife

* Bowls

* Mixing utensils

* Saucepan or frying pan for frying

* Tongs

* Paper or cardboard to drain oil

* Serving plate

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Make Baked Eggplant and Ricotta Rolls

* How to Make Eggplant Parmigiana

* How to Make Eggplant Mayonnaise (Vegan)

* How to Make Baingan Ka Bharta (Eggplant Side Dish)

* How to Make Begun Bhaja (Fried Eggplant Bengali Style)

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

Saturday 27 November 2010

How to Meditate With Your Inner Voice

How to Meditate With Your Inner Voice

Meditation is a way of relaxation and a path to
enlightenment. If we dissolve our attachment to the outside
world and bring our minds to rest, well-being, positivity
and enlightenment (inner happiness) arise. All negativity
vanishes. We think positively again and suddenly live in the
light. We see the positive in the world, in our fellow men,
and in ourselves. We are in harmony with ourselves and our
lives. Here is the process for meditating with your inner
voice.

!! Steps !!

Prepare. Sit in your meditation seat (cross-legged, heel seat, chair,
etc.) and in your meditation posture (hands on the legs or in the
lap).

* Have your eyes open, half open, or closed.

* Feel what you need and find your personal practice.

* Meditate like is it good for you.

* Watch the video below. Relax for five minutes. While the video is
in the German language, you will understand when you read the text
of this article, which serves as a translation.

* Stop thinking. Stop all thoughts for one to three minutes and come
to rest. Relax.

* Send light to the world. Visualize the Earth, move a hand and
think: "I send light to... May all people be happy. May the world
be happy." In particular, send light to the suffering people. Use
your television as a window to the world and wrap all suffering
people with light.

* Use yoga as the model. Put your hands together in your lap.
Visualize yourself as a Buddha, Shiva or Goddess. Move your toes a
little and think the mantra: "I am a goddess (Buddha, Shiva) of
peace. I go the way of peace. I live in peace."

* Visualize the cosmos around us, a universe full of stars. Make
large circles with your arms and think: "I take things the way
they are. I let go of my false desires. I live in the unity of the
cosmos. I flow positive with my live." What do you want to accept
or release today? Say: "I accept .... I let go ...".

* Connect with the masters. Rub your palms in front of the heart
chakra. Connect with the enlightened masters and think: "Om all
enlightened masters. I ask for guidance and help on my way."

* Question. You can now ask a question. Think about your life. What
are your goals? What is your way of a wise life? Meditate on your
question. Listen to the answer inside. What does your inner wisdom
say? What answers your inner wisdom? You feel the answer. Let the
answer appear in you. Think the answer several times as a mantra.

* Say the mantra. Put your hands in your lap. Keep your back
straight and your stomach relaxed. Bring your mind completely to
rest. Think the mantra "Om" in your head, chest, abdomen, legs,
and feet. Think in the earth and in the entire cosmos: "Om Shanti,
Om Peace... ".

* Stop thinking. Stop every thought for a minute. When thoughts
come, always push them away. Then relax completely. Slacken your
body. Sit there relaxed. Peace and harmony are within you.

* Be optimistic. Go forth positively in your day. The light is with
you. Be blessed.

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* The most important thing in yoga is the inner voice. The inner
voice is the voice of your own truth and wisdom. It is your
feeling of rightness. You combine your intellect and your feeling.
Then you will find the way to yourself. Follow your own wisdom.
Find your personal meditation practice. Do meditation like it is
good for you.

* What do you want from meditation? Happiness, healing,
enlightenment? Inform yourself. Read meditation books, visit
meditation groups, look for the right meditation teacher for you.
Then learn meditation. Find out what is the best way for you to
practice. And practice every day.

* Always be in good contact with your body and your soul. Feel what
they want and need. And give it to them. Follow the five features
truth, peace, love, self-discipline and happiness. Then you will
find your way into the light. Feel the light of God, the energy of
peace and love within you. Be happy and be good. That is the
essence of yoga philosophy.

!! Warnings !!

* If you want to heal an illness, it might be good to go to a
doctor. Yoga is a way to relax and to awaken inner happiness. You
can heal some diseases with yoga and meditation, but you must be
careful and listen to your inner voice. Follow the advice of the
doctors and any relevant medical books.

* The main path of health and healing are the five principles of
health. Every day we should do some sport (yoga, walking), eat
healthy (lots of fruit and vegetables, low in calories), avoid
harmful substances (alcohol, smoking, drugs, meat), think positive
(overcome negative thoughts) and relax (get enough sleep, pauses,
silence, and meditation).

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Overcome Pain and Grief With Positiv Thinking, Yoga and
Meditation

* How to Overcome Fear, Sadness, Anger and Grief

* How to Overcome Loneliness Through Meditation and Positive
Thinking

* How to Do Laughter Yoga

* How to Meditate

* How to Meditate Without a Master

* How to Find Motivation to Meditate

* How to Meditate in One Minute

* How to Meditate for Self Discovery

* How to Practice Buddhist Meditation

!! Sources And Citations !!

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation – research source

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha – research source

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva – research source

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus – research source

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

How to Quilt With a Regular Sewing Machine

How to Quilt With a Regular Sewing Machine

Are you wishing you owned a long arm quilting machine so you could
quilt your own quilts? Have you priced a long arm machine and found
it to be way way out of your reach?

If so, then get a load of this cool quilting method! It's called
"batting buddy", but you can do the same thing for free at home
without purchasing the expensive templates that quilt shops want you
to buy.

The idea is to sew each quilt square as if you were foundation
piecing. The only difference is that you'll be sewing each piece
directly to the back of your quilt through the batting. Follow these
instructions to learn how.

!! Steps !!

* Choose a simple block shape to sew. Diagonals work well, as do
crazy quilt designs. Keep in mind that you'll be limited to
straight sewn lines in your designs (as you would have in a
foundation pieced block).

Various squares You'll need two sizes of squares, one an inch
(2.5cm) bigger all around than the other. The beauty of this is that
you can do all of your cutting with a rotary cutter using your
regular cutting rulers if you like. The large squares will be used
for the backing fabric. The small squares will be used for your
batting and top pieces. The squares used in this example were 7
inches (17.78cm) and 5 inches (12.7cm) square respectively, making
the larger square two inches (5cm) longer per side. Center a
batting square on the "wrong" side of your larger backing square.
You're now ready to place the first block pieces on the top.

* Starting with your first piece Place the first block
piece on the batting, face up. If you want adjacent blocks to line
up exactly, make a cardboard "starting point" template to line up
your first block with.

* Putting the two blocks together Place the second block
piece face down with the seam edges lined up with the first piece.

* Sewing the seam Sew the seam. Sew it through both block
pieces, through the batting, and through the backing, like a giant
sandwich.
Press the seam open Press the seam open and place the
next block piece in the same manner, lining up the edges,
sewing the seam, pressing open, until you reach the edges
of the block. Stop each seam at the edge of the batting.

* Note: If you're using a poly batting, take care to press with a
cool iron, as a hot iron will compress a poly batting. Cotton
batting is best for this project.

* Turn the inch (2.5cm) wide,
unquilted border section of the block sandwich under the block out
of the way. Trim any fabric which protrudes past the batting edge.
If you're careful, this can be done with your rotary cutter and a
ruler as well.
Repeat for all four sides. You have made one block. Create the
rest, and then start to join them together as follows:

* Place two blocks backing side to backing side, with edges lined
up. Feel carefully to ensure that the batting edges line up.

* Sew a seam down the inch (2.5cm) wide flap(s) just barely outside
of the batting. Take care not to catch the batting into the seam,
as this will make the finished seam bunch up.

* Press the seam open from both sides.

* From the front side, fold or roll the inch flaps under
themselves and pin in place.

* Top stitch both of the folded edges down.

* Sew rows of blocks together in this manner.

* Sew the rows together, stitching the flap edges together, and then
pressing them open and top stitching the entire row. The maximum
length of fabric under the neck of your machine at any time will
be 10-12 inches (25.4cm to 30.48cm); this is very manageable for a
"regular" machine.

Roll the outside edges over and top stitch to finish the edge.

* The back of the blocks will already be quilted. No need
to go through the whole quilt frame and long arm rigamarole!

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Use a table to the left of the machine to support the weight of
the completed part of the quilt as you sew.

* This works best with thin batting, but thicker batting can be used
if desired.

* So long as you sew blocks into strips, and then add the strips to
your quilt one at a time, you will have no more than the width of
one strip under your machine at one time.

!! Warnings !!

* Pressing each seam open is essential for a good looking quilt.

* Poly type batting will compress and/or melt if your iron is too
hot.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Fabric

* Scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat

* Sewing machine

* Quilt Batting, preferably cotton

*

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Foundation Piece a Quilt Block

* How to Make Perfect Quilt Borders

* How to Use a Sewing Machine

* How to Quilt a Placemat

* How to Make Quilt Templates

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*