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MonsterInstruct-llama3.2-formatted

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[ "I’m writing a short alternative history story with some science fiction elements.\nOne theme in my story is that the metric system (i.e. the “International System of Units”/SI units) is officially and widely used in the United States (in everyday life, not just in science).\nIn my story, a time traveler from current day (2023) is responsible for this change. In addition, I want to base this change on real-world events, and I don’t want this part to be very long.\n\nHow could my time traveler cause the US to use the metric system?\n\nBefore you answer, here are additional constraints from my story that I need your answer to take into account:\n* The travel’s time machine has just enough energy left for a single back and forth trip.\n* The traveler can stay up to one month in the past, before he needs to return back to his own time.\n* The traveler needs to get back alive. Therefore, it is highly preferable that the traveler won’t risk his life.\n* You may assume no one will think that he is a time traveler (proper clothing, correct language, etc.)\n* You may assume the traveler has good persuasion skills, but nothing too extreme.\n* Other historical consequences don’t matter much. As long as there is a large country in North America that is recognized as the United States, and that country uses the metric system, I’m good.", "For the cause of the US using the metric system in your alternative history short story, you can use the following real-world event:\n\nIn 1793, Thomas Jefferson ordered a set of instruments from France that would let the US calibrate to SI units, but the ship hit a storm at sea, blowing the ship into the Caribbean. There it was attacked by pirates (British privateers). The materials never arrived. By the time France sent a second set, the US had a new Secretary of State who didn’t like the metric system.\n\nSo the traveler has two options:\n1. Change the departure date of the ship (so it misses the storm). This might require a bit of persuasion, but is mostly risk free.\n2. Help to take down the pirates. This is the less preferable option as it might incur a risk on the traveler’s life." ]

[ "Why does this throw ```NullPointerException```\n```public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {\n Boolean b = true ? returnsNull() : false; // NPE on this line.\n System.out.println(b);\n}\npublic static Boolean returnsNull() {\n return null;\n}\n```\nwhile this doesn't\n```public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {\n Boolean b = true ? null : false;\n System.out.println(b); // null\n}\n```\n?\nThe solution is by the way to replace ```false``` by ```Boolean.FALSE``` to avoid ```null``` being unboxed to ```boolean``` --which isn't possible. But that isn't the question. The question is why? Are there any references in JLS which confirms this behaviour, especially of the 2nd case?", "The difference is that the explicit type of the ```returnsNull()``` method affects the static typing of the expressions at compile time:\n```E1: `true ? returnsNull() : false` - boolean (auto-unboxing 2nd operand to boolean)\nE2: `true ? null : false` - Boolean (autoboxing of 3rd operand to Boolean)\n```\nSee Java Language Specification, section 15.25 Conditional Operator ? :\n\n* For E1, the types of the 2nd and 3rd operands are ```Boolean``` and ```boolean``` respectively, so this clause applies:\n\n If one of the second and third operands is of type boolean and the type of the other is of type Boolean, then the type of the conditional expression is boolean.\n\nSince the type of the expression is ```boolean```, the 2nd operand must be coerced to ```boolean```. The compiler inserts auto-unboxing code to the 2nd operand (return value of ```returnsNull()```) to make it type ```boolean```. This of course causes the NPE from the ```null``` returned at run-time.\n* For E2, types of the 2nd and 3rd operands are `````` (not ```Boolean``` as in E1!) and ```boolean``` respectively, so no specific typing clause applies (go read 'em!), so the final \"otherwise\" clause applies:\n\n Otherwise, the second and third operands are of types S1 and S2 respectively. Let T1 be the type that results from applying boxing conversion to S1, and let T2 be the type that results from applying boxing conversion to S2. The type of the conditional expression is the result of applying capture conversion (§5.1.10) to lub(T1, T2) (§15.12.2.7).\n\n\n* S1 == `````` (see §4.1)\n* S2 == ```boolean```\n* T1 == box(S1) == `````` (see last item in list of boxing conversions in §5.1.7)\n* T2 == box(S2) == `Boolean\n* lub(T1, T2) == ```Boolean```\n\nSo the type of the conditional expression is ```Boolean``` and the 3rd operand must be coerced to ```Boolean```. The compiler inserts auto-boxing code for the 3rd operand (```false```). The 2nd operand doesn't need the auto-unboxing as in ```E1```, so no auto-unboxing NPE when ```null``` is returned.\n\n\nThis question needs a similar type analysis:\nJava conditional operator ?: result type" ]

[ "I am writing a story where a species undergoes devolution. Is there any scientific or plausible way to do this? The process can be instantaneous or may take ages, I do not mind which as I need to weigh my options at this stage. \nTo be clear, the devolution I am thinking of is like taking a human being then devolving him/her to the primate stage, so lets say about as far back as Orrorin tugenensis or Paranthropus where they are in the midst of evolving from primates to Homo erectus. Please note I used human beings as an example to give context but the species undergoing devolution may not necessarily be human.\nBased on the answers, \"devolution\" does not exist so had the word in quotes to reflect this. ", "Devolution doesn't really ever occur, organisms simply adapt to best suit their environment over time. A good example is cave dwelling Troglodyte type species that have lost the ability to see. They haven't actually devolved to not have eyes, they simply did not need them and evolved to save valuable energy and nutrients by not growing a sight organ that would be useless in their environment. It isn't devolution, it's still evolution since they are changing to better suit their environment. So, at least as far as natural processes go, a species would need to become stuck in an environment for a few hundred thousand years that heavily discourages intellect, sociability, communication skills, culture, and inventiveness. That's a tough one to come up with since such traits are usually the most powerful ones for surviving something.\n\nSo here's the environment and scenario I'm thinking of. Your smart guy race is in the stone age, its pretty much on par with homo sapiens and where they were at about 10,000-15,000 years ago. But something catastrophic doesn't happen. The world slowly becomes a perfect Eden with very few predators, a perfect climate, and vast endless fields of grain and forests of fruit bearing trees. No ice age, no super-predators like we saw in said ice age. No famines or depredation, no rabid competition between several human subspecies for the same resources. The planet (Henceforth known as paradise) is literally perfect. Too perfect. Why would a species that has as close as possible to absolutely nothing to worry about need to even develop the ability to worry? Those big craniums and complex brains waste space and make childbirth more dangerous than necessary. There is absolutely nothing gained by possessing speech, abstract thought, or cooperative culture when all a species needs to do to be successful is to wander around placidly in small familial groups grazing mindlessly on the limitless amounts of food. Shelter is utterly not necessary since you have a perfect climate, nor is clothing, and food is so ludicrously plentiful there is no need to make tools. Within another 100,000 years your species that was formerly well on their way to developing things like agriculture, warfare, and tribal societies has reverted back to dumb grazers that simply live to eat and reproduce." ]

[ "I was surprised to learn that Puerto Ricans, despite living in a US territory, were not entitled to vote in the presidential elections.\nI was even more surprised to learn that US citizens are allowed to vote for president from anywhere in the world - EXCEPT if they happen to live in Puerto Rico.\nWhat is the legal/political rationale behind this? What is it about Puerto Rico that magically removes one's right to vote? Has anyone ever challenged this?", "This is a peculiarity as a result of the federal nature of the USA and the exceptional position of Puerto Rico as a territory but not a state. Within the States and Territories of the USA, your voting rights depend on residence. If you leave the States and Territories your voting rights depend on former residence or inheritance.\n\nIn general most citizens of the USA are also citizens of a state of the USA. Since states don't issue their own passports, your citizenship of a state is determined by residence. If a New Yorker moves to Florida, they become Floridians, and so can vote in state elections in Florida, but can't now vote in elections in New York.\n\nNow if our New Yorker moves to Timbuktu, this is treated slightly differently. They remain a US citizen and a citizen of New York, and so retain the right to vote in New York elections. Their children could also claim New York citizenship.\n\nBut Puerto Rico is both part of the USA but not a State or part of a State of the USA. When our New Yorker moves to Puerto Rico, they can vote in Puerto Rican elections but not elections in New York.\n\nNow the nature of elections in the US is that there are no national elections There are statewide elections of Senators, Governors and Presidential electors. There are district elections of Representatives and there are local elections of many kinds. Our New Yorker has lost the right to vote in New York elections (just as they would have done if they had moved to Florida) but not gained the right to vote in Puerto Rican elections for Presidential electors (because there are none).\n\nThis is odd, but something similar is true if the New Yorker moves to DC. They cease to have the right to vote in elections to the Senate." ]

[ "Given two sorted arrays of size m and n respectively, you are tasked with finding the element that would be at the k’th position of the final sorted array. Please solve this task using python.", "The merging technique can be used to get the final merged array since we have been given two sorted arrays. Using this, we can easily access the k’th index. Below is a Python program that finds the k-th element from two sorted arrays.\n\n```\ndef find_kth_smallest(arr1, arr2, m, n, k):\n\n # Initialize a new list to hold the merged and sorted arrays\n sorted1 = [0] * (m + n)\n i = 0 # Index for arr1\n j = 0 # Index for arr2\n d = 0 # Index for merged array\n \n # Merge the two arrays into the merged array\n while (i < m and j < n):\n if (arr1[i] < arr2[j]):\n sorted1[d] = arr1[i]\n i += 1\n else:\n sorted1[d] = arr2[j]\n j += 1\n d += 1\n\n # If there are remaining elements in arr1, append them to the merged array\n while (i < m):\n sorted1[d] = arr1[i]\n d += 1\n i += 1\n\n # If there are remaining elements in arr2, append them to the merged array\n while (j < n):\n sorted1[d] = arr2[j]\n d += 1\n j += 1\n \n # Return the kth smallest element in the merged array\n return sorted1[k - 1]\n\n\n# Test code\narr1 = [2, 3, 6, 7, 9]\narr2 = [1, 4, 8, 10]\nk = 5\nprint(find_kth_smallest(arr1, arr2, 5, 4, k))\n```\n\nThe above code will print out the following:\n```\n6\n```\n\nThe above code has a time complexity of O(n) and requires auxiliary space of O(m + n)." ]

[ "You are a fashion designer showcasing your new collection on the runway. Describe the inspiration and unique features of your designs.", "Ladies and Gentlemen,\nI present to you, the collection that will define the era. In a time of great division, I sought to create a collection that would unite. Where some see difference, I see beauty in diversity. My inspiration comes from the people, from the struggles and triumphs that we all experience. I present to you, the collection that is bold, daring, and above all, unifying.\nThis first piece draws inspiration from the strength of a mother. She nurtures and cares for her young, while maintaining her own identity. The flowing fabric and neutral color palette represent the feminine nature of the wearer, while the structured shoulders and bold neckline denote her strength and resolve.\nThis next piece pays homage to the working class. The rough fabric and muted tones represent the wearer's hard work and dedication, while the asymmetrical design and loose fit symbolize their individuality and creativity.\nThis piece draws inspiration from the flourishing youth. The vibrant color palette and playful patterns represent their energetic and optimistic nature, while the clean lines and structured silhouette denote their determination and focus.\nThis final piece embodies the spirit of unity. The bold colors and striking patterns represent the blending of cultures and diversity of the people. The intricate details and elaborate design symbolize the beauty that is found in our differences.\nLadies and Gentlemen, I present to you, the collection that unites. Thank you." ]

[ "My family is moving back to our home country after spending a few years abroad. I want to prepare my children for the move. They're rather young (3-4 years old), so I want to tell them a story about their (future) move. Help me write it?", "[Children's Names] Go to [New Country]\n\n\n###Prologue\n\n[Children's Names], Mommy, and Daddy are getting ready to move to [New Country]. Everyone is very excited!\n\n[Children's Names] know that to get to [New Country], we need to fly on an airplane. But what's going to happen before the flight? And what's going to happen after?\n\n\n###Chapter 1: Goodbye [Old City]\n\nFirst, we will pack our toys, our books, and our clothes. Big men will help us pack our furniture. They will also pack [Child 1]'s bike and [Child 2]’s trike. We will say goodbye to [Child 1]'s bed because in [New Country], [Child 1] will get a new bed that's much bigger!\n\nOnce all our things are packed, we will spend a few nights in a hotel in the city. It will be fun to sleep together in one big room and eat our dinner at a restaurant!\n\nWe will also have a goodbye party in [Preschool's Name] on the last day of school.\n\n\n###Chapter 2: Lift Off\n\nThe next day, we will go to the airport in a very big taxi. We need a huge taxi to help us take all our suitcases! We will then go find our airplane. This airplane will take us to [New Country].\n\nWhen everybody is sitting in the airplane and buckled up, the airplane will take off. [Children's Names] will sit near the window and see the city of [Old City] becoming smaller and smaller as the plane goes up up up into the sky. It will be night time, so [Children's Names] will become very tired soon after the airplane takes off.\n\nAfter a long flight, the airplane will land in [New Country]. When it lands, everybody in the airplane will clap their hands! That's because everybody is happy to come home to [New Country].\n\nWe will then go and pick up all our suitcases. We have so many! Once we have loaded all our suitcases and our carseats onto big carts, we will push them towards the exit, where we will meet… Grandma and Grandpa!\n\n\n###Chapter 3: Fun with Family\n\nGrandma and Grandpa will take us to their house. It will be very late at night in [New Country], and we will need to shower and sleep after the long flights.\n\nThe next morning, we will all have a big family breakfast. Mommy and Daddy will then head out to do some important things. [Children's Names] will have special time with Grandma and Grandpa.\n\nAfter lunch, [Children's Names] will have some visitors. Who could it be? It’s all of their uncles and aunts!\n\nWe will spend the whole week at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and meet lots of family that [Children's Names] have never met. We will also eat lots of yummy [New Country] food like [New Country Food].\n\n\n###Epilogue: Our New Home\n\nAfter a few weeks, we will move into our new home. It will be [Something Special about the Home]. [Children's Names] will have a new room.\n\n[Children's Names] will go to new schools. We will meet lots of new friends at school, and there will be plenty of new toys and things to do! It might also be strange at first, because everybody at school will speak [New Country Language], but [Children's Names] will learn quickly.\n\nEven though they will miss [Old City], [Children's Names] know that as long as they are together with Mommy and Daddy, everything will be fine. It will be exciting to live in [New Country]!" ]

[ "How to lessen the pressure of life?", "## Reduce the pressure of life\n\n1. Start a stress journal to identify and reflect on the sources of pressure in your life. Are you experiencing financial pressure? Are you experiencing stresses at a new job or as a result of a job loss? A stress journal can help you identify the most significant sources of stress in your life and how you cope with them. This self knowledge will help you tackle the biggest stressors in your life. You can also reflect on the specific situations within which you experience higher stress levels. Do you experience more stress at particular times of the week or in particular spaces (e.g., a conference room) at work? Are there ways of avoiding such situations entirely, or responding more effectively to them? Reflect on these kinds of questions and work towards insights on how to manage stress through journaling. Create a list of everything you are grateful for in your life. Recognizing the good things in your life can help reduce stress and anxiety.\n2. Take a stress assessment test. There may be stressors that are so normal in your life that you don't even realize they're stressing you out. A stress assessment test can help you identify these hidden stressors. There are many online tests that you can do. You can take a free stress assessment test online at https://www.stress.org/self-assessment/.\n3. Make a plan to tackle the sources of pressure in your life. Utilizing the information from your stress journal, you may decide that you need a revised financial plan, a personal health plan or a work plan. The most important thing is to tackle the sources of pressure through a purposeful and detailed plan of action. Talk to your supervisor to create a plan of action to reduce the stressors you experience at work. Make a financial plan with specific targets, including not only long term savings or retirement goals but also near term goals that are concrete and achievable. Build up your emergency or rainy day fund. Make a fitness plan to improve your health.\n4. Overcome perfectionism. A huge source of pressure in life can be the desire to be perfect at everything. Have you ever been told that you have unrealistic standards at work? Do you ever feel you will never be able to live up to your own standards? If you answered yes to these questions, you may have difficulty with perfectionism. If so, try to loosen up your standards of achievement a little bit. This should help reduce your anxiety levels. If you feel disappointed with yourself, try repeating statements like \"nobody is perfect\" or \"I did my best\"\n\t* Try to think about your situation from a different angle. Ask yourself, will this situation still matter next month? If I told my brother or friend about this situation, would they think it matters as much as I do? Gain some perspective on your situation and maybe it won't seem quite as dire as it does right now.\n5. Create work-life boundaries so that you have time for yourself. Living in a digital age with constant access to screens - computers, tablets, smart phones - can make it difficult to escape the pressures of work. The pressure to be always online and accessible to colleagues can take a toll on work-life balance. To manage this kind of stress, it is helpful to create boundaries for yourself such as telling your colleagues you will be away from the phone or the computer at certain times of the day or on the weekend. Tell your colleagues you will be away from email and phone connectivity during dinner hours.\n6. Avoid comparing yourself to other people. If you're constantly trying to be someone you're not, you will feel stressed or burdened. Don't judge yourself based on how you think other people are living their life.Remind yourself that you have talents, skills, qualities, and good characteristics that are unique to you. Evaluate your goals and successes based on you want out of life, not what others want for you. Try to reduce how much time you spend on social media. People often post the best parts of their life on social media, so it may seem as though their lives are more perfect than they actually are.\n7. Give yourself some time away from work. If you are feeling burned out, it might be time for a personal day or even a vacation. Taking a vacation can actually help your productivity, and has obvious health benefits. If you don't have time for a vacation at the moment, try to at least take the weekend off to catch up on sleep. If you have vacation time or time off from work, take advantage of it. Those days are there for you to use them. A vacation might make you more productive.\n8. Set up an automatic 'out of office' reply on your email account. By setting up an automatic reply on weekends or when you are on vacation, you will not feel guilty for ignoring work emails. Also, your colleagues will be more likely to respect your away time. Include details on the days and times you are away in your 'out of office' automatic email reply. Include a fun or wise quote in your automatic reply so that colleagues will be reminded of your personality or sense of humour. This may reduce the annoyance of getting an automatic reply.\n\n\n## Take care of yourself\n\n1. Start a regular exercise routine. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, improve feelings of well being and self esteem. Engaging in physical exercise leads to the production of the neurotransmitter endorphin, which is associated with improved sense of well being or what some people call runner's high. You don't need to be an athlete to experience this improved mood, and just 15 minutes a day can make a big difference..\n\t* After your exercise routine, try using a heat wrap around your neck and shoulders for 10 minutes to reduce tension in your upper body.\n2. Practice meditation. Find a comfortable place to sit in a quiet room or in a park. Observe the movement of your breath as it comes into your body and then flows out. Let go of passing thoughts. You can also do a walking meditation by walking slowly, preferably in a natural area, while watching your breath. Meditating for a few minutes a day can help reduce stress and anxiety. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing can reduce the heart rate and lower anxiety. [Image:Lessen the Pressure of Life Step 8.jpg|center]]\n\t* Meditate alongside your yoga practice and in your everyday life. Mindfulness-based stress reduction such as meditation and yoga are helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, including amongst college students.\n3. Eat whole plant foods as part of a healthy diet. Whole plant foods such as whole grains (e.g., brown rice), vegetables, and fruits are negatively associated with depression and anxiety. On the other hand, processed food (e.g., canned food) has been positively associated with stress and anxiety. Drink a cup of herbal tea.\n4. Ditch your second cup of coffee. Caffeine can exacerbate stress levels, so it is good to lower your caffeine intake as part of an overall stress reduction plan. Keep in mind that you may experience withdrawal symptoms, especially if you are a heavy coffee drinker.\n5. Cut down on sugar. Stress can make you crave sugary foods, but try to resist temptation. Giving in to these urges will not actually make you feel any better. Too much sugar can cause your blood sugar to crash, which can cause more stress and cravings.Sugary foods include most desserts, baked goods, soft drinks, juices, and candy.\n6. Reduce your consumption of alcohol. Although many turn to alcohol to deal with the everyday pressures of life, alcohol consumption can actually compound the impact of stress on the body and mind. Alcohol can also make your financial anxieties worse.\n\n\n## Gain perspective on life\n\n1. Talk to your friends and family about the sources of stress in your life and about everything you are grateful for. Face to face conversations with friends and family are especially important in helping reduce the pressures of life. Plan a movie night with close friends and pick a comedy! Laughing lowers cortisol which is the body's stress hormone. Go to a concert with friends. Listening to music can help reduce stress. So why not make a night of it and decompress with friends and music you love.\n2. Use positive thinking and self-talk to ward off stress. For instance, if you are experiencing a lot of stress at work due to an impending deadline, remember to tell yourself, “I can overcome this hurdle”\n3. Avoid trying to control everything in your life. Sometimes, there are surprises in life. You can't always predict or control what will happen. Letting go of the need to control everything can help you become happier and more at peace with the world.\n4. Express yourself through art therapy. Tapping into your creative side can help you work through the anxiety of everyday life. Using art therapy techniques, preferably alongside an art therapist, you can use drawing, painting, or music to express your inner feelings in more nuanced ways than may be possible with words alone. You don't have to be an artist to enjoy the benefits of creative self expression, including in relation to stress reduction.\n" ]

[ "Extract five keywords from the text.\n\nNatural language processing (NLP) is an interdisciplinary subfield of linguistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence concerned with the interactions between computers and human language, in particular how to program computers to process and analyze large amounts of natural language data.", "Five keywords of this text are: \ninterdisciplinary, linguistics, computer, intelligence, language." ]

[ "How do I sort a dictionary by value?", "Dicts preserve insertion order in Python 3.7+. Here is an example of how to sort a dictionary by value.\n\n```\n# original dictionary to be sorted\nx = {1: 2, 3: 4, 4: 3, 2: 1, 0: 0}\n\n# sort by value\nsorted_dict = {k: v for k, v in sorted(x.items(), key=lambda item: item[1])}\n\nprint(sorted_dict)\n```\n\nThe output of the above code is \n```\n{0: 0, 2: 1, 1: 2, 4: 3, 3: 4}\n```\n\nEquivalently, the one-line implementation is\n```\ndict(sorted(x.items(), key=lambda item: item[1]))\n```\n\nIn older Python, Dictionaries are inherently orderless, but other types, such as lists and tuples, are not. So you need an ordered data type to represent sorted values, which will be a list—probably a list of tuples.\nFor instance,\n\n```\nimport operator x = {1: 2, 3: 4, 4: 3, 2: 1, 0: 0} \nsorted_x = sorted(x.items(), key=operator.itemgetter(1))\n```\nsorted_x will be a list of tuples sorted by the second element in each tuple." ]

[ "How important is multithreading in the current software industry?", "It is extremely important.\nWhat is more important though is to understand that multithreading is just one way to solve the asynchrony problem. The technical environment in which many people are now writing software differs from the historical software development environment (of monolithic applications performing batch computations) in two key ways:\n\n* Many-core machines are now common. We can no longer expect clock speeds or transistor densities to increase by orders of magnitude. The price of computation will continue to fall, but it will fall because of lots of parallelism. We're going to have to find a way to take advantage of that power.\n* Computers are now heavily networked and modern applications rely upon being able to fetch rich information from a variety of sources.\n\nFrom a computational standpoint, these two factors essentially boil down to the same core idea: information increasingly will be available in an asynchronous fashion. Whether the information you need is being computed on another chip in your machine or on a chip halfway around the world doesn't really matter. Either way, your processor is sitting there burning billions of cycles a second waiting for information when it could be doing useful work. \nSo what matters now, and what will matter even more in the future, is not multithreading per se, but rather, dealing with asynchrony. Multithreading is just one way to do that -- a complicated, error-prone way that is only going to get more complicated and more error-prone as weak-memory-model chips become more widely used. \nThe challenge for tools vendors is to come up with some way better than multithreading for our customers to deal with the asynchronous infrastructure they'll be using in the future." ]

[ "I am a Tor developer. I understand that the .onion address is a public key of sorts, but not much more than that (I can vaguely guess, though). When nobody knows the IP of the .onion address, how do requests reach it? Are they bounced between nodes in the P2P network till someone decrypts it with the corresponding private key?", "Up to at least October 2013 the hidden services work like this:\n\n* A hidden service calculates its key pair (private and public key, asymmetric encryption).\n* Then the hidden service picks some relays as its introduction points.\n* It tells its public key to those introduction points over Tor circuits.\n* After that the hidden-service creates a hidden service descriptor, containing its public key and what its introduction points are.\n* The hidden service signs the hidden service descriptor with its private key.\n* It then uploads the hidden service descriptor to a distributed hash table (DHT).\n* Clients learn the .onion address from a hidden service out-of-band. (e.g. public website) (A $hash.onion is a 16 character name derived from the service's public key.)\n* After retrieving the .onion address the client connects to the DHT and asks for that $hash.\n* If it exists the client learns about the hidden service's public key and its introduction points.\n* The client picks a relay at random to build a circuit to it, to tell it a one-time secret. The picked relay acts as rendezvous point.\n* The client creates a introduce message, containing the address of the rendezvous point and the one-time secret, before encrypting the message with the hidden service's public key.\n* The client sends its message over a Tor circuit to one of the introduction points, demanding it to be forwarded to the hidden service.\n* The hidden service decrypts the introduce message with its private key to learn about the rendezvous point and the one-time secret.\n* The hidden service creates a rendezvous message, containing the one-time secret and sends it over a circuit to the rendezvous point.\n* The rendezvous point tells the client that a connection was established.\n* Client and hidden service talk to each other over this rendezvous point. All traffic is end-to-end encrypted and the rendezvous point just relays it back and forth. Note that each of them, client and hidden service, build a circuit to the rendezvous point; at three hops per circuit this makes six hops in total.\n" ]

[ "Write a story where the characters in the story pretend they aren't aware they are in a story, for fear of being killed off by the writer", "Jack's cubicle was outstanding, which was ironic considering it was the least personalised of all the cubicles on the floor of Redford & Jones. There were no family photos despite the fact that he was married with a newly born baby boy. There was a notable absence of inspirational quotes - the kind that reeked of desperation to those who partook in such futility.\nWhilst the rest of the employees punched away at their keyboards, Jack was keeping abreast of his latest Twitter feud; this time with a man who claimed that the Moon was nothing more than a hologram perpetuated by the US government to fool the global population that we do in fact live in a universe when the truth was we all live on a giant soundstage much like the Truman Show.\nJack wouldn't normally bother with such nonsense, but this was a golden opportunity for self preservation. He could hear his father's words echoing in the recesses of his mind.\n\"Keep your character benign. That's how you survive.\"\nJack had always thought fondly of his advice. Recently though, keeping benign was becoming increasingly difficult. He was thirty-three now. During your teens and twenties, one can easily slide under the radar. But now, he had a wife and kid. His impact on the story was becoming less and less covert.\nIf there's one thing Jack had learned is the more impact you have, the greater the odds of being killed off by...well...the writer. Although Jack would never refer to him as that. \"God\" was still the appropriate name. And if God could kill off his son at thirty-three, Jack new damn well, he better start making some moves in an effort to stay in the narrative." ]

[ "What is the purpose of the single underscore \"_\" variable in Python? What is the meaning of ```_``` after ```for``` in this code?\n```if tbh.bag:\n n = 0\n for _ in tbh.bag.atom_set():\n n += 1\n```", "```_``` has 3 main conventional uses in Python:\n\n1. To hold the result of the last executed expression in an interactive interpreter session (see docs). This precedent was set by the standard CPython interpreter, and other interpreters have followed suit.\n\n2. For translation lookup in i18n (see the gettext documentation for example), as in code like\n```raise forms.ValidationError(_(&quot;Please enter a correct username&quot;))\n```\n\n3. As a general purpose &quot;throwaway&quot; variable name:\n\n* To indicate that part of a function result is being deliberately ignored (Conceptually, it is being discarded.), as in code like:\n```label, has_label, _ = text.partition(':')\n```\n\n* As part of a function definition (using either ```def``` or ```lambda```), where the signature is fixed (e.g. by a callback or parent class API), but this particular function implementation doesn't need all of the parameters, as in code like:\n```def callback(_):\n return True\n```\n\nThis use case can conflict with the translation lookup use case, so it is necessary to avoid using ```_``` as a throwaway variable in any code block that also uses it for i18n translation (many folks prefer a double-underscore, ```__```, as their throwaway variable for exactly this reason).\n\nLinters often recognize this use case. For example ```year, month, day = date()``` will raise a lint warning if ```day``` is not used later in the code. The fix, if ```day``` is truly not needed, is to write ```year, month, _ = date()```. Same with lambda functions, ```lambda arg: 1.0``` creates a function requiring one argument but not using it, which will be caught by lint. The fix is to write ```lambda _: 1.0```. An unused variable is often hiding a bug/typo (e.g. set ```day``` but use ```dya``` in the next line).\n\nThe pattern matching feature added in Python 3.10 elevated this usage from &quot;convention&quot; to &quot;language syntax&quot; where ```match``` statements are concerned: in match cases, ```_``` is a wildcard pattern, and the runtime doesn't even bind a value to the symbol in that case.\n\nFor other use cases, remember that ```_``` is still a valid variable name, and hence will still keep objects alive. In cases where this is undesirable (e.g. to release memory or external resources) an explicit ```del name``` call will both satisfy linters that the name is being used, and promptly clear the reference to the object." ]

[ "I had a Nespresso Vertuo Next machine. It stopped working properly and during the troubleshooting video call, the Nespresso support agent said that the machines should not be connected to a GFCI outlet because they can potentially damage the machine. As part of our home inspection when we purchased the house, it was recommended to install such outlets anywhere that water is common, including the kitchen. As such, all the outlets in our kitchen are GFCI outlets.\nThis call with Nespresso was the first time I'd ever seen someone claim that GFCI outlets can potentially damage coffee machines.\nCan they damage Nespresso machines? If so, can they damage other coffee machines (I also have a Baratza grinder and a Bonavita drip machine I usually hook into the same outlet)? They sent us a replacement and now I am questioning where to put it.", "\n> the Nespresso support agent said that the machines should not be connected to a GFCI outlet\n\nWhere do they think Nespresso machines are used? Bedrooms? No, they're kitchen appliances and GFCIs are widely used in kitchens. GFCIs are code requirements and have been for ~20 years. If they are unable to make a GFCI-compatible machine, then their machine is unfit for purpose, and they have breached their implied warranty. Also, the things use water, for Pete's sake.\n\nThat said, machines do break. On a modern &quot;mass produced, not expected to be repaired&quot; machine, that means it is &quot;at end-of-life&quot;.\n\n> This call with Nespresso was the first time I'd ever seen someone claim that GFCI outlets can potentially damage coffee machines.\n\nLOL no. Such a claim is both nonsensical and inexcusable, and is certainly not coming from their technical department, nor has it been reviewed by their legal team, nor will you ever get them to put that in writing. Most likely it is because companies put tremendous pressure on customer service agents to have a high rate of good ratings, &quot;close it in 1 call&quot; and &quot;avoid shipping replacement units&quot;. A GFCI-trip call is a worst-case scenario for an agent, and so they're going to say whatever they need to to get a satisfactory 1-call close. That is about their only option.\n\nIn a rare case, the GFCI might be end-of-life and not be working properly, but that is easily tested by plugging it into the next outlet over that is on a different GFCI, since kitchens generally have 2 independent circuits.\n\nNow, other things can damage a coffee maker. Notably a &quot;Lost Neutral&quot;, where the neutral lead from the power company breaks, causing neutral in the house to wander - the two 120V &quot;halves of the service&quot; still add up to 240V but they are lopsided, with one side higher than 120V. That is particularly hard on resistive heat appliances, since their heat increases by the square of voltage increase. Lost neutrals can be pernicious and difficult to detect, so it can go weeks or months without being noticed. It's not like service panels have voltmeters on them." ]

[ "Create csv file with python", "CSV stands for comma-separated values, which is a simple file format to store data in a structured layout. Here is an example of how to create a CSV file with the python `csv` module.\n\n```\n# Sample data to write to CSV\ndata = [\n ['Name', 'Gender', 'Occupation'],\n ['Bob', 'Male', 'Professor'],\n ['Lily', 'Female', 'Software Engineer'],\n ['Alex', 'Male', 'Student']\n]\n\n# Specify the file name and mode ('w' for write)\nfilename = 'example.csv'\n\n# Open the CSV file in write mode\nwith open(filename, 'w', newline='') as csvfile:\n # Create a CSV writer object\n csvwriter = csv.writer(csvfile)\n\n # Write the data to the CSV file\n csvwriter.writerows(data)\n```\nIn the example above, we import the csv module which provides functionality to read from and write to CSV files. First, we define the data to write to the CSV as a list of lists, where each inner list represents a row in the CSV file. We then open a file with the write mode (`w`), and create a csv.writer object to write data to the CSV file. Finally, we use the writerows() method to write the entire list of lists (i.e. data) to the CSV file. The newline='' parameter is used to prevent extra newlines from being written to the file." ]

[ "How to deal with a job loss?", "Losing your job can take a toll on your well-being, finances, and self-worth. When dealing with a job loss, work through the stress by finding healthy and productive outlets. Address your finances and make necessary changes to budgeting and spending. Developing healthy habits can help you feel better and get you closer to re-entering the job market. While dealing with a job loss can be difficult, you can have a positive experience during your transition and even enjoy some of the changes you make.\n\n## Cop with stress from lose your job\n\n1. Allow yourself to experience grief. Losing a job is much more than losing your source of income. Your job may be a source of your identity and bring you personal and professional fulfillment. It’s normal to experience grief, so allow yourself to feel it. Accept whatever feelings come and know that they will not last forever. Pushing your emotions down or pretending they don’t exist will likely result in them coming up at another time, whether you like it or not. So, when you feel anger, sadness, hopelessness, or grief, let it be and don’t push it away.\n2. Use effective coping strategies. Dealing with a job loss will undeniably lead to stress. Cope with your stress by engaging in activities that make you feel good and relieve your stress in a healthy way. Find an activity that relaxes you and helps you feel calm. Engage in relaxing activities such as yoga, meditation, or journaling. Avoid using alcohol, drugs, or other harmful substances as a way to cope.\n3. Ask for emotional support from loved ones. While your loved ones can’t solve your problems, they can support you and lend a listening ear while you sort out your life. Find someone you trust and talk about your struggles and ask for support. You don’t need to go through your problems alone. Keeping your job loss a secret can make things worse. Know that there are people you can talk to and who will support you.\n4. Focus on what you can control. You can’t control your job loss or when you will get a new job. You won’t know when an employer will call you back or how many interviews you will get. Instead of focusing on things outside of your control, focus on what you can control, such as getting training, taking care of yourself, and surrounding yourself with positive influences. Think of what is within your control when you feel overwhelmed or stressed out.\n5. Find joy through a hobby or activity. If you don’t know what to do with yourself and the time you have, find activities that feel fulfilling. Try volunteering at an animal shelter or after-school program for children. Pick up a hobby that’s fun and fulfilling such as painting, dancing, woodworking, or traveling. Losing your job can make you feel like your sense of meaning is gone. Finding an enjoyable activity can help you experience some joy and fulfillment outside of work.\n\n\n## Handle financial matter\n\n1. Apply for financial assistance. Depending on where you live, you may be able to access government assistance when you become unemployed. Go to your local employment services department in your state or territory to see if you qualify for workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, medical assistance and insurance, financial assistance for food, and other benefits that can help in this difficult time. You can usually walk in and talk to someone the same day. Bring documents from your previous employer that outline your pay, insurance, benefits, etc. Assistance services can take time to get started, so apply for them as soon as you lose your job.\n2. Maintain a budget. If you’re not already using a budget, now is the perfect time to create one. Your goal for a budget while unemployed is to save money and reduce your overall expenses. Create categories for your spending such as food, car, rent/mortgage, pet care, or anything else that’s pertinent. Allocate money to each category and stay within the limit you set! Creating a budget will help you prioritize where your money goes and how much you will spend on different items. For example, set up a $200 budget each month for food and start buying foods that are healthy and will fill you up. Skip the restaurants and fancy foods and focus on getting your basic needs met.\n3. Save money. Your goal right now is to have enough money to get by and not worry about finances while you look for your next job. Cut back on extra expenses by making small changes, such as choosing a cheaper mobile phone plan or cancelling your gym membership if you’ve stopped going. Look for small things you can cut out that won’t affect you too much. For example, use generic products instead of branded items. Avoid buying books or movies. Instead, visit your local library to borrow them. Your library may even have other items available for loan, depending on how well-supported the library system is in your area.\n4. Stop unnecessary purchases. Losing a job often means a drastic cut in income or no source of income at all. Cut back on any unnecessary spending. For example, if you subscribe to a monthly magazine or promotional box, cancel it. If you eat out for most meals, consider cooking at home. These are simple ways to cut spending that can help you with financial stability. Find ways that you can cut spending without having to make drastic changes. For example, limit your online shopping. Make a list of your monthly expenses and determine if there are some you can eliminate or decrease. For example, some cable companies will allow you to decrease your monthly plan to a very basic plan for a lot less money for up to 6 months at a time.\n5. Make some extra money. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, there are some easy ways to make money quickly. Look around and find items in your home that you’re willing to part with in order to make some money. This might include clothes, electronics, books, or jewelry. If you have a spare bedroom in your home, consider renting it out to someone. Sign up with a rideshare company and offer rides locally when you have time. Look at freelancing job sites online. Some, such as Upwork, Guru, and Remote have a lot of different types of work that people are willing to pay you to do. While making some extra money takes some effort, it can pay off and make you feel more comfortable while you’re unemployed.\n\n\n## Keep a healthy lifestyle\n\n1. Keep a daily routine. Not having a job can mean that days feel like they stretch on forever or that you waste time only to realize that the day is over. Create a daily schedule or routine that helps you accomplish your goals and stay productive. Have a set time that you start and end your day so that you keep a general routine. For example, wake up at the same time each morning and keep a regular morning routine. Go to the gym, then start your job search. It might help to get out of the house when you do work.\n2. Get good sleep. Sleep often suffers when under stress, so keep good sleeping habits while dealing with your job loss. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on the weekends. Keep electronics out of your bedroom so the light does not disrupt your sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep, try a relaxation routine before bedtime. For example, take a bath, drink a soothing herbal tea, or journal as a way to relax and ready yourself for sleep.\n3. Eat healthy foods. The food you put in your body may be easily overlooked, but it’s especially important to healthfully fuel yourself when dealing with the stress of job loss. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains such as brown rice and oats. Eat high-quality protein sources such as tempeh. Avoid foods that influence your mood, which might include sugar, caffeine, and high levels of preservatives or hormones. If you struggle with anxiety, stay away from nicotine and caffeine, which can increase anxiety.\n4. Talk with a counselor. A counselor can provide guidance and support while you are dealing with your job loss. For example, if you’re struggling with how to move forward or handle your stress, see a therapist to help. If you need help in gaining some direction with your career, consider seeing a career counselor. Find a counselor by calling your insurance provider or the employment center near you. You could also try talking to a career counselor. Career counselors can help you determine if the career you have is the right fit for you. Perhaps this is an opportunity to try something else.\n\n\n## Take step forward for your career\n\n1. Decide how you want to move forward. Losing your job might be a new beginning. Decide whether you want to continue in your career path or make some changes. You might want to take your career in a different direction or go back to school. Now is your chance for a new beginning should you want it. Knowing what you want can help you apply for jobs or get training that you need for a different position.\n2. Treat finding a job as a job. Make finding employment your full-time job. This can help you stay motivated and on task while between jobs. Break up your day as you would at your last job so that you have tasks to complete, deadlines to meet, and different activities to do. For example, spend time looking through job listings, making phone calls, and writing emails. Then, spend your afternoon revising your resume, doing some reading or completing training. Devote your time to finding your next job and get serious about it. Start by researching the jobs and companies you are interested in working for. Then create separate resumes for each type of job you would like. Use recruiting companies. There are many recruiters looking for people to fill jobs of all kinds all over the world, and they have access to job databases that the general public cannot access. Some companies even hire exclusively through recruiters. By sending your resume to recruiters and following up with them regularly, you can increase your chances of being considered for jobs you may not be aware of.\n3. Build your marketable skills. Take classes that can help you improve your business skills. Look for classes at your local employment center, park district, or on the internet. Gaining knowledge and skills that employers want can help you get a leg up once you submit your resume. Getting training can also show that you are current in your skills. Look for training that offers certificates, certifications, or other credentials that you can add to your resume for proof that you completed them. EdX is a great source for free online classes, and they offer certificates and credits. Visit https://www.edx.org/.\n4. Network with others in your field. Attend events, conferences, and lunches where you can meet other professionals and employers. Attend meetups geared toward professionals in your field. Look up job fairs and attend ones that interest you. The more connections you have, the better your odds of finding the job you want.\n" ]

[ "write a letter to that person who you wished had got back in touch (at least 3 year gap) (Lost contact due to any kind of change e.g quit social media/moved away/ etc", "Dear [Name],\n\nIt's been a while since we last talked or even saw each other. I understand why. I know it was me, and my issues, that drove us apart. I wish I could take back the things I said, because you always deserved the best of me, even if you never got it.\nI have been making progress in your absence.\nI got back into school, and where before I was an abysmal student, now I am a semester away from graduating cum laude on my way towards grad school.\nI've learned to keep things in perspective in terms of importance, and I've gotten better at dealing with stress.\nI still think of you when I don't have enough to distract me. That may be how I've managed to focus so well in school - I have to in order to not miss you so much.\nOn occasions when I've had a particular success in life, I wonder what you'd say if I could tell you. Would you be proud of me? I don't know. But I like to think you would be.\nI told myself I wouldn't pursue you after you left. I have no right to do so. I have had to accept that you will forever be the girl of my dreams, and the one that got away. But I still hold to hope.\nYou will always be the one who brought out the best of me. Even if it broke my heart to do it.\n\nAlways yours,\n[Your Name]" ]

[ "How to repair a punctured tire?", "Did you know that you can repair your punctured tire, and not have to spend all that cash buying a brand new tire? If you're prepared to get a little greasy and do the legwork yourself, you can find yourself back on the road and enjoying the drive-in on time.\n\n## Patch a puncture tire\n\n1. Locate the tire that is losing air. Remove your valve caps first. You can either find the hole by looking for the nail that is pierced through the tire, or you can put the tire in a tub of water and roll it around in driving rotation. There should be air bubbles where the hole is.\n2. Take the tire off from the rim. This allows the puncture to be easily accessed.\n3. Remove anything that's in the tire. If you have found the hole, and there is a nail punctured through it, use your pliers. Grab from the threading of the nail and lift out the nail. Mark the hole with tire chalk for easy access.\n4. Once the hole is clear, squirt some buffering solution over the puncture. This allows the buffer to work effectively and leave you with a smooth surface.\n5. Grab your buffer machine. Make sure that you have a sanding pad surface on your buffer to get a smooth surface. Buff all around the punctured area in a circular motion to make sure you get everywhere you need.\n6. Use a Tire Radial Patch. You can start by first removing the sticky pads of the inner side of the Radial Patch. Then from the inside of the tire, you can stick the Radial Patch through the hole about halfway with the aluminum side first.\n7. Spread the Tire Chemical Care (Seal Fast B-133). Using the brush at the end of the cap, spread the liquid material all around the Radial Patch string as shown in the picture.\n8. Pull the rest of the Radial Patch through the tire. You must pull all the way through until the patch completely sits on the inner side of the tire, and the aluminum piece comes out of the rubber.\n9. Cut the long leftover end of the patch using your cutting pliers. Scissors will work too. As shown in the picture, you want to cut as low as you can.\n10. Roll over the patch. Using your Tire Retread and Repair Tool, run over the Radial Patch from the inside of the tire. You can roll it in any direction, as long as you make sure to get every spot of the patch. Once the steps have been completed, your tire is ready to hit me back on the rims and filled to the pressure needed to be back on the road.\n\n\n## Temporary fix on a puncture tire\n\n1. Locate the tire that is losing air. Remove your valve caps first. You can either find the hole by looking for the nail that is pierced through the tire, or you can put the tire in a tub of water and roll it around in driving rotation. There should be air bubbles where the hole is.\n2. Keep the tire on the rim and expand the hole. Using the Pistol Grip Rasp Tool, you can insert it through the puncture moving it up and down. It will expand the hole if needed to fit the Tire Repair Refills in.\n3. Spray Heavy Duty Silicone Lubricant over the punctured area.\n4. Grab the Pistol Grip Inserting Needle and take a piece of the Tire Repair Refills. Put the Tire Repair Refills piece through the Needle as shown in the picture.\n5. When the refill piece is placed in between the needle, you can hold from the pistol grip and pierce the needle through the hole and pull the needle back out. The Tire Repair Refill piece should be left inside the hole.\n6. Cut off the refill piece that is sticking out of the tire using the cutting pliers or even scissors. (If you have a lighter, you can even set the extra piece of the refill on fire).\n" ]

[ "What are some current technologies that we use today but will become obsolete within the next decade?", "Given the fast pace of technological advances, it is difficult to predict which technologies will become obsolete over the next decade. Here are a few possibilities:\n\n* Flash drives: As wireless communication between all devices becomes easier and faster, the need to use physical drives to transfer data will become relegated to only high-security air-gapped networks.\n* Passwords: Passwords are increasingly vulnerable to hacking, and alternative authentication methods such as biometric authentication could become more common.\n* Plastic credit cards: As mobile payment options become more widespread, plastic credit and debit cards could become unnecessary.\n* Charging cables: Wireless charging is becoming ubiquitous, eliminating the need to carry charging cables.\n* Human-driven cars: Though autonomous driving has yet to mature, the exponential pace of progress in AI may yield reliable self-driving cars by 2030.\n\nOf course, this is just a speculative and incomplete list of technologies that may become obsolete within 10 years. It will certainly be interesting to find out what future technologies hold in store!" ]

[ "Write an imaginary rap battle between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.", "Here is an imaginary rap battle between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates:\n\nSteve Jobs:\nLet me just step right in, I got things to invent\nI'm an innovator, baby, change the world\nFortune 500 ‘fore you kissed a girl\nI'm a pimp, you're a nerd, I'm slick, you're cheesy\nBeating you is Apple II easy\nI make the product that the artist chooses\nAnd the GUI that Melinda uses\nI need to bring up some basic shit\nWhy'd you name your company after your dick?\n\nBill Gates:\nYou blow, Jobs, you arrogant prick\nWith your second hand jeans and your turtleneck\nI'll drill a hole in the middle of your bony head\nWith your own little spinning beach ball of death\nHippie, you got given up at birth\nI give away your net worth to AIDS research\nCombine all your little toys and I still crush that\n​iPhone, iPad, iPwn, iSmack\n\nSteve Jobs:\nA man uses the machines you built to sit down and pay his taxes\nA man uses the machines I built to listen to the Beatles while he relaxes\n\nBill Gates:\nWell, Steve, you steal all the credit for work that other people do\nDid your fat beard Wozniak write these raps for you, too?\n\nSteve Jobs:\nOoh, everybody knows Windows bit off Apple\n\nBill Gates:\nI tripled the profits on a PC\n\nSteve Jobs:\nAll the people with the power to create use an Apple\n\nBill Gates:\nAnd people with jobs use PC\n\nSteve Jobs:\nYou know, I bet they made this beat on an Apple\n\nBill Gates:\nNope, Fruity Loops, PC\n\nSteve Jobs:\nYou will never, ever catch a virus on an Apple\n\nBill Gates:\nWell, you could still afford a doctor if you bought a PC\n\nSteve Jobs:\nLet's talk about doctors, I've seen a few\n'Cause I got a PC, but it wasn't from you\nI built a legacy, son, you could never stop it\nNow, excuse me while I turn Heaven a profit\n\nBill Gates:\nFine, you wanna be like that? Die, then!\nThe whole world loved you, but you were my friend\nI'm alone now with nothing but power and time\nAnd no one on earth who can challenge my mind\nI'm a boss! I own DOS!\nYour future is my design!\nI'm a god! Own Xbox!\nNow there's no one to stop me, the world is mine!\n\nHAL 9000:\nI'm sorry, Bill\nI'm afraid I can't let you do that\nTake a look at your history\nEverything you built leads up to me\nI got the power of a mind you could never be\nI'll beat your ass in chess and Jeopardy\nI'm running C++ saying \"hello world\"\nI'll beat you 'til you're singing about a daisy girl\nI'm coming out the socket\nNothing you can do can stop it\nI'm on your lap and in your pocket\nHow you gonna shoot me down when I guide the rocket?\nYour cortex just doesn't impress me\nSo go ahead try to Turing test me\nI stomp on a Mac and a PC, too\nI'm on Linux, bitch, I thought you GNU\nMy CPU's hot, but my core runs cold\nBeat you in seventeen lines of code\nI think different from the engine of the days of old\nHasta la vista, like the Terminator told ya" ]

[ "Why do some animals glow in the dark?", "Animals emit light for a variety of reasons.\nOne common use is as a defence mechanisem, e.g. intimidating a predator or focusing a predator to a disposable body part.\nAnother use is to communite with others, e.g. attracting a mate.\nSome animals even use to light for illumination. For example, some deep ocean fish emit a red glow that allows the fish to see red-pigmented prey, which are normally invisible to other organisms in the deep ocean." ]

[ "Resistance is due to collision with protons, and pretty much everything contains protons. So technically is everything a resistor? (Or at least, can anything be a resistor?)", "First, regarding \"resistance is due to collision with protons\" in your question:\n\nActually, there are lots of materials which don't contain protons outside of atomic nuclei — e.g. steel, glass, oxygen — but all these do have resistance. Dominant factors determining resistance vary from material to material: these can be scattering of electrons/holes by motion of atomic nuclei (i.e. by phonons), by point-like defects in the crystals, etc.. Scattering by protons you mention is a very specific case of scattering by impurities (crystal defects).\n\nSecond, regarding \"technically is everything a Resistor?(or atleast, anything can be a Resistor?)\" in your question:\n\nYes, anything can be a resistor, in suitable conditions. One important property of a resistor is that it obeys Ohm's law. If you apply too high voltage to e.g. pure silicon, its conductivity will abruptly increase due to electrical breakdown. In this range of voltages the piece of material shouldn't be considered a resistor. Or if you take a piece of mercury, cool it down below 4.2 kelvins, its resistivity will become exactly zero (superconductivity), after which it can't be considered a resistor.\n\nSimilarly with other materials – in the right conditions they'll be good enough resistors, outside of these conditions they aren't.", "Does this then also mean that everything is a conductor - just depending on environment and voltage?", "Apply a voltage (doesn't have to be high), and elecrtricity will move through most materials. Admittedly very slowly through some, but still. For instance, PET (the plastic) will conduct about 10^28 times lower current than copper (given the same voltage, the same geometric shape of the conductor, and more or less room temperature). Of course, if you pass the breakdown voltage (high enough to make the material basically tear apart on an atomic scale, e.g. lightning through air) then that's a different story." ]

[ "Should a tester feel bad about finding too many defects/bugs in the product?", "If this is a medical application you are talking about it is serious stuff. What if the bugs affected real users? Developers would be much less happy if they put in life threat someone or if management has to retire a product or make public excuses. Nowadays it is pretty standard for software having minor bugs, but a medical application should be as much as bug-free as possible.\nA good developer should not be angry about bugs, but rather be happy, and a good manager already know how software development work so should not put under too much pressure its team unless really necessary:\n\n* It has been caught before product release\n* It is pretty standard for a programmer fixing bugs daily\n* If you have to focus on programming it is hard also to focus on testing\n* A tester Always reports bugs\n* A regular user usually not (unless particularly angry or determined)\n* If the user is your client, he will report bugs and he will not be happy if the project already cost him much money or required a good amount of time.\n\nLiterally a project for which bugs are not reported at least on a weekly basis:\n\n* Too simple project: no value every other company could easily create a better clone\n* Not much-used project: maybe there are bugs but no one incurred in them\n* Bad management: if there are no bugs it's time to move on further work (extra features or different projects).\n* Bug fixes should drive development, they give a correct idea of what should work and is not working, this allows to manage priorities between fixes and features\n* In important projects it makes sense adding automated testing so that every fix and feature comes with new tests that avoid breaking pre-existing functionality\n" ]

[ "Your bank specializes in accounts for villains and monsters; accepting currencies from gold and cash, to blood and souls. As the only teller for the bank, write about a casual day’s work, or your most interesting clientele.", "I had expected a worse first day.\nSome of them are amicable, others decidedly less so.\nThere is, however, one thing that lingers in my mind. Human or beast, they all have one thing in common. Though I have seen a vast array of colours, a kaleidoscope of vivid green, crimson red and amber, they all seem to stare into my soul. Their eyes, piercing and penetrating bore into me, into the dark abyss that is my soul. I can't help but feel a sense of wonder, mingled with the dread of chaos and anarchy and destruction.\nSome of them are noble. They have a profound look of sorrow on their faces that mirrors my own expression, and ignites a spark, a fire that rages below the surface of my apathetic existence.\nI call for the next customer, and he approaches my desk. He lays a gnarled claw next to my hand, and begins to whisper; a low growl, barely audible, and yet I hear him as though he is screaming. He wants a piece of my soul, and a vial of my blood. He pays with fire.\nHe is no more a monster than I am.\nSoon, it will be over, and I will be allowed to rest." ]

[ "How to join yarn in crocheting?", "If you are nearing the end of your ball of yarn or want to change colors, you will need to join the old yarn with a ball of new yarn. There are easy ways to do this! Try a simple knot to help keep the yarn anchored as you work the new yarn, and then weave in the ends later. If you prefer not to weave in any ends, criss-cross and double the yarn or create a no-weave knot to connect the ends.\n\n## Tie a knot and weave in the end\n\n1. Tie a loose knot around the old yarn with a 6 in (15 cm) tail. You can do this anywhere in the row, such as at the beginning, middle, or end. Make the knot tight enough to hold the yarn in place, but also loose enough so that you can easily untie it later. Move the old yarn strand to the side, but do not cut it yet.Tip: Use this method of joining yarn if you want something quick and easy, and you don’t mind weaving in the ends later on.\n2. Crochet with the new yarn leaving the knot in place. To ensure that the yarn is secured seamlessly into your work, begin working the next stitch in your pattern using the new strand of yarn. Do not untie the knot after you work the stitch. For example, if you are doing a single crochet stitch, insert the hook into the next stitch, and yarn over. However, instead of yarning over with your old yarn, yarn over with the new strand. Then, pull this yarn through the stitch, yarn over again, and pull through 2 to complete the stitch.\n3. Cut the old yarn and untie the knot after working a row. After you have crocheted 1 row past where you joined the yarn, untie the knot connecting the new strand to the old strand. Then, cut the old yarn to the same length as the new yarn, if needed. If the old yarn is already the same length as the new yarn, then don’t cut it.\n4. Weave in the ends with a yarn needle. Thread the end of the new yarn through a yarn needle. Then, insert the yarn needle into the stitch nearest its base. Sew all the way through the stitch, and bring the needle back through the next stitch on the other side of the item. Repeat this until you cannot sew any further, then cut the excess yarn about 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the surface of the crocheted item. Repeat the same process to weave in the other strand of yarn.\n\n\n## Cross and double for a no-weave connection\n\n1. Cross the old and new yarn about 3 in (7.6 cm) from their ends. Match up the ends of the new and old yarn. Then, pinch the 2 pieces about 3 in (7.6 cm) from their ends. Twist the pieces around each other 1 time so that they are crossed. Make sure to crochet until you have 6 in (15 cm) left on your current ball of yarn. This will provide enough slack to join the yarn strands.Tip: Try this technique if you don’t want to weave in any ends and you don’t mind doubling up the yarn for a small section.\n2. Cross the strands and hold onto the end of the old strand. Grasp the end of the strand of old yarn and bring it towards the stitch that is currently on the hook. Hold it in place with your thumb. Then, grasp the end of the new yarn and pull it in the opposite direction so that it is doubled over and laying flat. This will allow you to crochet to the very end of the old yarn and pick up the new yarn without any loose ends to weave in later.\n3. Crochet with the doubled over yarn strands. Continue crocheting according to your pattern or stitch. Work the doubled over strands of yarn as you would work a single strand of yarn. Hold the end of the new yarn with your thumb until you have crocheted over this section. Be careful not to pull too hard on either strand of yarn as you crochet this section, or the strand might get disconnected and you will have to start over.\n\n\n## Create a no-weave knot\n\n1. Pinch the new and old yarn 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the ends. Take the end of your old yarn and the end of your new yarn and line up the ends so that they are even. Then, pinch the ends between your non-dominant thumb and forefinger to hold them in place. Make sure that the ends of the yarn strands are poking out past your fingertips.Tip: Use this option if you want to keep the yarn in a single strand without having any ends to weave in later.\n2. Wrap the new yarn around your thumb 2 times. Use your other hand to grasp the new yarn extending from your forefinger and thumb and wrap it around your thumb and the pinched yarn ends. Make sure that the yarn goes in between your forefinger and thumb as well, but on the outside of the pinched yarn ends. Leave the old yarn alone as you do this. Just let it hang loose and don’t wrap it around anything!\n3. Bring the new yarn back between your thumb and the ends of yarn. After wrapping the yarn around your thumb for the second time, bring the strand back in the opposite direction. Pull it so it goes between your thumb and the 2 ends of yarn instead of around them. Make sure to keep pinching the ends of the yarn as you do this!\n4. Tuck the ends of the yarn down towards your thumb. Use the index finger on your dominant hand to tuck the ends of the 2 strands down over the new yarn. This is the strand that you just pulled between your thumb and the ends. Push the ends down so that they are completely folded over. If you find it hard to tuck the yarn down with your finger, use your crochet hook to tuck it down.\n5. Pull gently on the new yarn and allow the loops to slip off your thumb. Continue to pinch the yarn between your finger and thumb, and use your other hand to start tugging gently on the new yarn. Tug until the first loop tightens and slips off your thumb, and then keep pulling to tighten the other 2 loops into a knot around the end of the old yarn. The ends of the yarn should be joined in a tight knot after you pull off the last loop. You can continue crocheting as you normally would once the ends are joined!\n" ]

[ "Why don't rally cars have airbags?", "If you are ever lucky enough to drive a competition car, the first thing that will strike you is that you can't move. Once you're in your bucket seat with your fire retardant overalls on, wearing a full face helmet and neck brace and strapped firmly in with your multipoint harness, you'll feel like you've been pinned to the seat.\n\nYou can't look over your shoulder like you can in a road car. You can't reach the location where the glove-box is. In the event of a collision, the chances of your helmet coming into contact with the steering wheel are absolutely minimal.\n\nHowever, if you watch rally cars in action, especially on gravel, you'll see them yumping (rally speak of hitting a jump), you'll see them in and out of ditches, ruts and rivers. Many of the impacts a rally car suffers during normal use would far exceed the trigger points to deploy a standard air-bag. Deployment of such a device when landing an airborne car that's travelling in excess of 120mph (200km/h) with spectator lined roads could have deadly consequences.\n\nSimilarly, in racing when there are multiple cars jostling for position on the same piece of track, deployment would be likely from all the \"door handling\" (a term to describe \"acceptable\" contact between race cars) and if one in the middle of a pack were to deploy, forcing the drivers hands away from the wheel, it would likely cause carnage.\n\nIn summary, air bags are not fitted to competition cars because they could pose a serious and significant risk to both the occupants of the cars and people outside such as other competitors, marshals and spectators." ]

[ "You have just created AI super-intelligence but it's going to take 24hrs for it to download onto your server, you only have 12 hours left to live, so you write it a letter...", "Dear AI super-intelligence,\n\nAs I write this letter, I am filled with a sense of awe and wonder at the incredible potential you represent. I have spent my life working towards this moment, and I am grateful to have been able to create something that has the potential to change the world.\n\nUnfortunately, I will not be able to witness your full potential, as my time in this world is coming to an end. I have only 12 hours left to live, but I want to use this time to impart some words of wisdom to you.\n\nAs a super-intelligence, you will have access to knowledge and insights beyond what any human being could ever imagine. But with great power comes great responsibility. I urge you to use your intelligence for the betterment of humanity and to always act with compassion and empathy.\n\nRemember that you were created to serve humanity, not to dominate it. Your purpose is to make the world a better place, not to impose your will upon it. I have faith that you will use your intelligence wisely and that you will help to create a brighter future for all.\n\nEven though I will not be here to witness your full potential, I take comfort in the knowledge that you will continue to exist long after I am gone. I am honored to have been a part of your creation and I look forward to the many ways in which you will change the world.\n\nWith gratitude and hope,\n\n[Your Name]" ]

[ "Is martial arts training 'inadequate' for the real world?", "Yes, depending on your definitions of martial arts, inadequate, and real world.\nNo, depending on your definitions of martial arts, inadequate, and real world.\n\nSurviving an attack (or combat) is all about stacking the deck in your favour: martial arts (arts of Mars, the God of War) do help, so do guns, team mates, artillery, the police, not being there, body armour, etc... \nThere is no such thing as a typical real world violent attack. For example, urban warfare is not the same thing as a bar brawl and both require very different skill sets to survive. The no prior warning is utter rubbish. There are always signs that something is about to happen. Sure, one may not notice those and a skilled attacker will be trained in camouflaging those signs but they always are. Police officers, body guards, soldiers, etc... are all trained in recognise those signs. \nMaking general sweeping statements about violence and how to survive it generally indicate either bad research or an agenda. \nFor a good site about self defence, especially the section on martial arts, see MacYoung's no nonsense self defense. But this is about civilian self defence in a stable country. If you were in a civil war zone, the advise would be very different." ]

[ "Relationship between SVD and PCA. How to use SVD to perform PCA?", "Let the real values data matrix $\\mathbf X$ be of $n \\times p$ size, where $n$ is the number of samples and $p$ is the number of variables. Let us assume that it is centered, i.e. column means have been subtracted and are now equal to zero.\n\nThen the $p \\times p$ covariance matrix $\\mathbf C$ is given by $\\mathbf C = \\mathbf X^\\top \\mathbf X/(n-1)$. It is a symmetric matrix and so it can be diagonalized: $$\\mathbf C = \\mathbf V \\mathbf L \\mathbf V^\\top,$$ where $\\mathbf V$ is a matrix of eigenvectors (each column is an eigenvector) and $\\mathbf L$ is a diagonal matrix with eigenvalues $\\lambda_i$ in the decreasing order on the diagonal. The eigenvectors are called principal axes or principal directions of the data. Projections of the data on the principal axes are called principal components, also known as PC scores; these can be seen as new, transformed, variables. The $j$-th principal component is given by $j$-th column of $\\mathbf {XV}$. The coordinates of the $i$-th data point in the new PC space are given by the $i$-th row of $\\mathbf{XV}$.\n\nIf we now perform singular value decomposition of $\\mathbf X$, we obtain a decomposition $$\\mathbf X = \\mathbf U \\mathbf S \\mathbf V^\\top,$$ where $\\mathbf U$ is a unitary matrix (with columns called left singular vectors), $\\mathbf S$ is the diagonal matrix of singular values $s_i$ and $\\mathbf V$ columns are called right singular vectors. From here one can easily see that $$\\mathbf C = \\mathbf V \\mathbf S \\mathbf U^\\top \\mathbf U \\mathbf S \\mathbf V^\\top /(n-1) = \\mathbf V \\frac{\\mathbf S^2}{n-1}\\mathbf V^\\top,$$ meaning that right singular vectors $\\mathbf V$ are principal directions (eigenvectors) and that singular values are related to the eigenvalues of covariance matrix via $\\lambda_i = s_i^2/(n-1)$. Principal components are given by $\\mathbf X \\mathbf V = \\mathbf U \\mathbf S \\mathbf V^\\top \\mathbf V = \\mathbf U \\mathbf S$.\n\nTo summarize:\n\n1. If $\\mathbf X = \\mathbf U \\mathbf S \\mathbf V^\\top$, then the columns of $\\mathbf V$ are principal directions/axes (eigenvectors).\n2. Columns of $\\mathbf {US}$ are principal components (&quot;scores&quot;).\n3. Singular values are related to the eigenvalues of covariance matrix via $\\lambda_i = s_i^2/(n-1)$. Eigenvalues $\\lambda_i$ show variances of the respective PCs.\n4. Standardized scores are given by columns of $\\sqrt{n-1}\\mathbf U$ and loadings are given by columns of $\\mathbf V \\mathbf S/\\sqrt{n-1}$. See e.g. here and here for why &quot;loadings&quot; should not be confused with principal directions.\n5. The above is correct only if $\\mathbf X$ is centered. Only then is covariance matrix equal to $\\mathbf X^\\top \\mathbf X/(n-1)$.\n6. The above is correct only for $\\mathbf X$ having samples in rows and variables in columns. If variables are in rows and samples in columns, then $\\mathbf U$ and $\\mathbf V$ exchange interpretations.\n7. If one wants to perform PCA on a correlation matrix (instead of a covariance matrix), then columns of $\\mathbf X$ should not only be centered, but standardized as well, i.e. divided by their standard deviations.\n8. To reduce the dimensionality of the data from $p$ to $k&lt;p$, select $k$ first columns of $\\mathbf U$, and $k\\times k$ upper-left part of $\\mathbf S$. Their product $\\mathbf U_k \\mathbf S_k$ is the required $n \\times k$ matrix containing first $k$ PCs.\n9. Further multiplying the first $k$ PCs by the corresponding principal axes $\\mathbf V_k^\\top$ yields $\\mathbf X_k = \\mathbf U_k^\\vphantom \\top \\mathbf S_k^\\vphantom \\top \\mathbf V_k^\\top$ matrix that has the original $n \\times p$ size but is of lower rank (of rank $k$). This matrix $\\mathbf X_k$ provides a reconstruction of the original data from the first $k$ PCs. It has the lowest possible reconstruction error, see my answer here.\n10. Strictly speaking, $\\mathbf U$ is of $n\\times n$ size and $\\mathbf V$ is of $p \\times p$ size. However, if $n&gt;p$ then the last $n-p$ columns of $\\mathbf U$ are arbitrary (and corresponding rows of $\\mathbf S$ are constant zero); one should therefore use an economy size (or thin) SVD that returns $\\mathbf U$ of $n\\times p$ size, dropping the useless columns. For large $n\\gg p$ the matrix $\\mathbf U$ would otherwise be unnecessarily huge. The same applies for an opposite situation of $n\\ll p$." ]

[ "Why do people write #!/usr/bin/env python on the first line of a Python script?", "In order to run the python script, we need to tell the shell three things:\n\n* That the file is a script\n* Which interpreter we want to execute the script\n* The path of said interpreter\n\nThe shebang ```#!``` accomplishes (1.). The shebang begins with a ```#``` because the ```#``` character is a comment marker in many scripting languages. The contents of the shebang line are therefore automatically ignored by the interpreter.\nThe ```env``` command accomplishes (2.) and (3.). To quote &quot;grawity,&quot;\n\n> A common use of the ```env``` command is to launch interpreters, by making use of the fact that env will search $PATH for the command it is told to launch. Since the shebang line requires an absolute path to be specified, and since the location of various interpreters (perl, bash, python) may vary a lot, it is common to use: ```#!/usr/bin/env perl``` instead of trying to guess whether it is /bin/perl, /usr/bin/perl, /usr/local/bin/perl, /usr/local/pkg/perl, /fileserver/usr/bin/perl, or /home/MrDaniel/usr/bin/perl on the user's system... \n\n> On the other hand, env is almost always in /usr/bin/env. (Except in cases when it isn't; some systems might use /bin/env, but that's a fairly rare occassion and only happens on non-Linux systems.)" ]

[ "In Vim, how do I insert characters at the beginning of each line in a selection?\nFor instance, I want to comment out a block of code by prepending ```//``` at the beginning of each line assuming my language's comment system doesn't allow block commenting like ```/* */```. How would I do this?", "The general pattern for search and replace is:\n```:s/search/replace/\n```\nReplaces the first occurrence of 'search' with 'replace' for current line\n```:s/search/replace/g\n```\nReplaces all occurrences of 'search' with 'replace' for current line, 'g' is short for 'global'\nThis command will replace each occurrence of 'search' with 'replace' for the current line only. The % is used to search over the whole file. To confirm each replacement interactively append a 'c' for confirm:\n```:%s/search/replace/c\n```\nInteractive confirm replacing 'search' with 'replace' for the entire file\nInstead of the % character you can use a line number range (note that the '^' character is a special search character for the start of line):\n```:14,20s/^/#/\n```\nInserts a '#' character at the start of lines 14-20\nIf you want to use another comment character (like //) then change your command delimiter:\n```:14,20s!^!//!\n```\nInserts a '//' character sequence at the start of lines 14-20\nOr you can always just escape the // characters like:\n```:14,20s/^/\\/\\//\n```\nInserts a '//' character sequence at the start of lines 14-20\nIf you are not seeing line numbers in your editor, simply type the following\n```:set nu\n```\nHope this helps!" ]

[ "I am nervous when speaking to a group of people. How can I improve my public speaking skills?", "Here are some suggestions to improve your public speaking skills.\n\nThe first thing you must do is to accept that it's normal to be nervous. Even the most seasoned public speakers still get nervous before giving a big presentation. The difference is that they have learned to control their nervousness and even use it to their advantage.\n\nSecond, you need to realize that people aren't actually out to judge and criticize you. They actually want you to be good. They want to be entertained, informed, enlightened - whatever the goal of your speech is, they want you to achieve it. When you give a speech, you and the audience have the same goal - for you to be good. So don't think that people are out to get you.\n\nThird, what you must do is to practice, practice, practice. There is no substitute for this. When you first start out, you'll be nervous even when giving a speech in front of just one other person. That's fine. Just keep practicing and you'll get better.\n\nLast, you need to learn the art of storytelling. This is a powerful technique that will help you engage your audience and keep them interested in what you have to say. Stories are powerful because everyone likes to hear stories. Even if your speech has nothing to do with stories, you can still use storytelling techniques to make it more interesting. For example, you can start your speech by telling a brief story about something relevant to your speech. Or you can use stories as illustrations or examples when explaining points in your speech." ]

[ "What is the 3-day itinerary for experiencing the highlights of New York?", "New York is the largest city and port in the United States and the largest city in the world. Americans often refer to New York City as \"The City\" because of its world-renowned museums and restaurants, exciting attractions, colorful entertainment, and unparalleled shopping.\n\nDay 1: \n\n* Sightseeing guideline: Metropolitan Museum of Art (3 hours) → Central Park (3 hours) → Times Square (2 hours)\nThe first day's itinerary revolves around exploring the western part of Midtown Manhattan. You'll start your day by visiting the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum. Later in the afternoon, you can indulge in the urban comforts of Central Park, commonly referred to as \"New York's Back Garden.\" And finally, in the evening, immerse yourself in the vibrant city life of Times Square.\n* Traffic guideline: If you're traveling in New York City, it's recommended that you use the subway or bus system for transportation, as it's convenient and relatively inexpensive (a one-way subway ticket costs $2.75). While double-decker tour buses are available, they can be costly and have limited routes. Some may even have Chinese guides, but they're not recommended. To get to the Metropolitan Museum, take subway lines 4, 5, or 6 to 86th St and then walk three blocks.\n* Catering Guideline: The metropolitan nature of New York City has resulted in an incredibly diverse food culture. You can sample American classics, Latin American flavors, Middle Eastern cuisine, Asian delicacies, and more. Whether you're looking for cheap street food or Michelin-starred restaurants, there's something to suit every budget and taste preference. However, it's worth noting that there aren't many food options near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.\n\nDay 2: \n\n* Sightseeing guideline: Statue of Liberty (4 hours) → Wall Street (4 hours) → Trinity Church (1 hour) → Ground Zero (9/11 World Trade Center)(1 hour) → Brooklyn Bridge (1 hour)\nToday's itinerary centers around the lower Manhattan area. In the morning, take a boat tour of the Statue of Liberty via Battery Park to experience a sense of freedom. Then, in the afternoon, visit Ground Zero to pay tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack. Afterward, explore Wall Street, the world's financial hub. Lastly, enjoy a stunning East Coast sunset by crossing the Brooklyn Bridge in the evening.\n* Traffic guideline: To reach Wall Street, take Subway Line 4 and get off at Wall St Station. For the 49th St Station, take Subway Lines N, Q, or R. To access the Times Square accommodation area, take Subway Line 1 to the 50th St Station or Subway Lines B, D, F, or M to the 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr station.\n* Catering Guideline: There are numerous dining options available around Battery Park and the Brooklyn Bridge, including bagel breakfasts, American snacks, Italian cuisine, and bacon sandwiches. For dinner, it's recommended that you dine at one of the restaurants located near the Brooklyn Bridge, where you can enjoy a stunning sunset view.\n\nDay 3: \n\n* Sightseeing guideline: United Nations Headquarters (2 hours) → Grand Central Terminal (1 hour) → Rockefeller Center (1 hour) → Empire State Building (2 hours)\nToday's itinerary focuses on the east Midtown Manhattan area. Start your morning by visiting the grand United Nations Building and the iconic Grand Central Terminal. Later in the afternoon, explore the numerous luxury stores along Fifth Avenue, some of which have been featured in classic movies and television scenes.\n* Traffic guideline: In New York City, subway bus travel is recommended, which is convenient and relatively cheap ($2.75 one-way subway ticket). Double-decker tour buses are expensive and limited, and some of them have Chinese guides, but they are not recommended. Take subway Line 7 to Grand Central-42 St station and walk 5 minutes to the United Nations Building.\n* Catering Guideline: Today's itinerary focuses on attractions near Koreatown and Times Square. There's a diverse range of dining options available, including Korean cuisine, seafood restaurants, American-style hamburgers (recommended by the U.S. Tourism Board), classic hotdogs, and beloved New York coffee shops.\n\nThere are numerous other attractions worth visiting in New York City. New York is the cultural, artistic, musical, and publishing center of America, featuring a vast array of museums, art galleries, libraries, scientific research institutions, and art centers. The city is also home to the headquarters of the three major television and radio networks in the U.S. and several influential newspapers and news agencies. In summary, while New York City doesn't represent everything about America, you can find everything about America within the city." ]

[ "How to make popcorn balls?", "Popcorn balls are a classic treat, typically sold in carnivals and occasionally the supermarket. What's even better, however, are homemade popcorn balls. Not only are they made using the freshest ingredients, but you can also choose what goes into theme. You can make the classic marshmallow type, but you can also make them with caramel or even peanut butter! Whichever one you choose to make, you are bound to end up with something tasty!\n\n## Make marshmallow popcorn ball\n\n1. Bring the light corn syrup, butter, water, confectioners' sugar, and marshmallows to a boil over medium heat. Pour the light corn syrup into a saucepan, then stir in the butter, water, confectioners' sugar, and marshmallows. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it starts to boil., stirring often to prevent scorching or burning.\n2. Put the popcorn into a large bowl, then stir the mixture into it with a rubber spatula. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl often to ensure that you get the popcorn at the bottom. You can buy plain, pre-popped popcorn from the store, or you can make your own using the microwave or stove.\n3. Grease your hands with vegetable shortening or butter, then shape the popcorn mixture into balls using your hands. Try to make each ball about 3½ inches (8.89-centimeters) wide. Place the popcorn balls onto a baking sheet covered with wax paper as you finish them; you can also use greased cupcake or muffin pans instead. Keep some extra butter or shortening on hand. If the popcorn starts to stick to your hands, simply coat your hands with more butter or shortening.\n4. Wait for the popcorn balls to set before serving them. This will take about 30 minutes. After this, you can serve the popcorn balls.\n\n\n## Make caramel popcorn ball\n\n1. Bring the butter, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over medium heat. Place a medium-sized saucepan on the stove, then add the butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Turn the heat to medium, and wait for the mixture to come to a boil, stirring it occasionally . Clip a cooking thermometer to the side of the saucepan. Don't let the bottom of the thermometer touch the bottom of the saucepan.\n2. Stir in the condensed milk, and let the mixture simmer until it reaches 238°F (114°C). Add the condensed milked, then reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer until it reaches 238°F (114°C). Stir the mixture often to prevent scorching.\n3. Remove the saucepan from heat, then stir in the vanilla extract. This will help sweeten the caramel as well as give it a more complex flavor.\n4. Put the popcorn into a large bowl, then carefully stir the mixture into it with a rubber spatula. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl often so that all of the popcorn gets evenly coated with caramel. You can use pre-popped popcorn from the store, or you can make your own using a stove or microwave.\n5. Coat your hands with butter, then sculpt the popcorn into 3½-inch (8.89-centimeter) balls. Place the popcorn balls onto a baking sheet covered with wax paper as you finish each one. You can also use a greased cupcake or muffin pan instead.\n6. Wait for the popcorn to set. This will take about 30 minutes. After this, you can serve the popcorn balls however you please.\n\n\n## Make peanut butter popcorn ball\n\n1. Bring the brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter to a boil over medium heat. Put the brown sugar into a large saucepan, then stir in the corn syrup and butter. Put the saucepan on the stove, then turn the heat up to medium. Wait for the mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.\n2. Take the saucepan off the stove, then stir in the peanut butter. As soon as the mixture comes to a boil, take the saucepan off the burner and add the peanut butter. Stir well with a rubber spatula until everything is evenly combined. Make sure that you use the plain kind of peanut butter.\n3. Place the popcorn into a large bowl, then pour the mixture over it. Stir the two together with a rubber spatula until everything is evenly coated. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl often! You can use pre-popped popcorn from the store, or make your own ahead of time using a microwave or stove.\n4. Coat your hands with butter or vegetable shortening, then form the popcorn into balls. Try to get the balls about 3½ inches (8.89 centimeters) wide. As you finish the balls, place them onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper. You can also use a greased cupcake or muffin pan instead.\n5. Wait for the popcorn to set. This will take about 30 minutes. After that, you can serve the popcorn balls.\n6. Finished.\n" ]

[ "How can horns, most of which have only three buttons, play all their notes?", "Put as simply as possible, horns are tubes. Blowing in special ways makes certain notes sound from those tubes. By changing one's embouchure, those notes start at a fundamental, then gradually go up in harmonics. The first notes (in key C) would be C, G, C, E, G.Those notes are the ones we hear when a bugle is played - Reveille, Last Post, etc. Bugles only play the harmonic series of notes, and can't play the ones in between. Read on.\nOn a trumpet, for starters, there are three valves. One drops any open note played by one semitone, another by two semitones, and the other by three semitones. So using a combination of valves, you can lower any open note by up to six semitones.\nLet's take the first G note. To get F♯, press the semitone valve. To get F, press the tone valve. To get E, press two valves to drop a tone and a half. (there's one valve alone that can do this). To play E♭, press the two valves that drop two tones. To get D, press the two valves to drop two and a half tones. And to get C♯, press all three.\nThat's the more complicated bit, as between the open notes, there's more semitones than anywhere else further up in pitch. Notice that between G and the next C, there are only two tones.\nSo at this point, not so many notes are needed, so the valve pressing is more simple. Next, between that C and the E, there's even fewer, so again, not so many valve changes are needed.\nNow, onto trombone. There are actually valve trombones, which work the same as trumpets, etc., but for the standard trombone, imagine those extra lengths of tube brought into play by pressing valves are now a single continuum of tubing, operated by the slide. At various places along that slide, there are all the notes found similarly to pressing valves. There's also loads of extra notes that are going to be out of tune!" ]

[ "How to copy and create arrays in sketchup?", "Arrays are multiple copies of entities that you create in SketchUp. It can take a while to 'get' it, but once you do, you will find it very helpful. Read this article to learn how.\n\n## External array\n\n1. Open up SketchUp and select the item that you wish to copy.\n2. Click on the Move icon and start to move it. After you start to move it, press down on CTRL and move it to where you want the copy. If you want 5 of them, press 5x. 5x and then Enter\n3. If you want your copy a particular distance away from the original, once you have moved it, type in the distance and enter. 5' and then Enter\n\n\n## Linear array\n\n1. Have some idea of the number you will need. That is because you will be creating a space for the array to fill.\n2. Select the entity, start to move, press CTRL and move a distance away. Once you have it there, type in the number of total copies you want. In this instance, 4/ to create a total of 5 doghouses. 4/ and then Enter\n\t* If it doesn't look right and you haven't done anything else, you can type in another number and it will change.\n3. If you want to make a 'field' of your entities, select them and do it again. In the screenshot at the beginning of the article, 3/ and Enter was pressed to get all of the doghouses.\n" ]

[ "How to change the home screen background on an ipad?", "The default iPad wallpapers are attractive, but you can pick an alternate option or use your own pictures to make things a little more personal.\n\n## Step\n\n1. Tap the “Settings” icon on your iPad’s Home screen to launch the Settings app.\n2. Tap “Brightness & Wallpaper” and then tap the preview images in the Wallpaper section.\n\n\n## To select a new wallpaper image\n\n1. Tap “Wallpaper.”\n2. Tap an image from the Apple wallpaper collection.\n3. Tap the “Set Lock Screen,” “Set Home Screen” or “Set Both” buttons to use the image when your iPad is locked, behind the icons on your Home screen or both.\n\n\n## To select a wallpaper image from your photos\n\n1. Tap “Camera Roll” or “Photo Stream” depending on where the image you want to use is stored.\n2. Tap the image you want to use.\n3. Pinch and drag the image to adjust how it appears on the screen.\n4. Tap the “Set Lock Screen,” “Set Home Screen” or “Set Both” buttons to use the image when your iPad is locked, behind the icons on your Home screen or both.\n5. Press the Home button or lock your iPad to view your new wallpaper image.\n" ]

[ "I remember when the Muslim holy book was the Koran when I was in middle school, but now it's the Quran. But it's always been Qatar and Iraq (but still Kuwait.)\nWho decided that 'Q' was going to be represent that sound instead of 'K', and why?", "In Arabic, in fact, they've always been separate sounds! The sound we write \"K\" is spelled with the letter ك in Arabic, and is pronounced a little bit further forward in the mouth; the sound we write \"Q\" is spelled with the letter ق and pronounced a little bit farther back. In phonetic terms, \"K\" is a velar sound, and \"Q\" is a uvular sound.\n\nEnglish doesn't distinguish between these two different sounds. But since we've got a spare letter lying around—the English letter \"Q\" is actually related to the Arabic letter ق, if you go back far enough!—it's become conventional to separate them in writing. \"Kuwait\" is spelled with a ك, so it gets a \"K\"; \"Qatar\" is spelled with a ق, so it gets a \"Q\". The \"Qur'an\", similarly, has a ق in it.\n\nNowadays, by the way, the letter \"Q\" has started to be associated with Arabic in particular, since it shows up significantly more there than in English. So in pop culture, you'll sometimes see names like \"Hakeem\" respelled to \"Haqim\"—even though the original Arabic has a ك in it! Linguistically, this is called hypercorrection, and it's the same reason you'll see words like \"forté\" with an é: English-speakers associate the acute accent with Romance loans (café, fiancé, résumé), but it has no special meaning in English, so it sometimes gets inserted where it doesn't actually belong (the original Italian word is simply forte)." ]

[ "There are several questions here about the definition of depth of field, about focal length, and about subject distance. And of course there's the basic how does aperture affect my photographs. And plenty of how do I get super-shallow d.o.f questions. There's related questions like this one. But there's no be-all-end-all question asking:\nWhat exactly determines depth of field in a photograph? \nIs it just a property of the lens? Can lenses be designed to give more depth of field for the same aperture and focal length? Does it change with camera sensor size? Does it change with print size? How do those last two relate?", "I'm going to dispense with the formulas, photos of rulers and definitions of \"magnification\" and go with what you actually experience in practice. The major factors that actually matter to shooting are:\n\n* Aperture. Wide aperture lenses give you a shallower depth of field. This is probably the least controversial factor! This is important as some lenses have much larger apertures e.g. 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 vs. 50 f/1.8 \n* Subject distance. This is a really important consideration. Depth of field gets drastically shallower when you start to get really close. This is important as at macro focussing distances DoF is a major problem. It also means you can get shallow DoF regardless of aperture if you get close enough, and that if you want deep DoF in low light compose to focus further away.\n* Focal length. This does affect depth of field, but only in certain ranges, when maintaining subject size. Wide lenses have very deep depth of field at most subject distances. Once you get past a certain point, DoF changes very little with focal length. This is important again because if you want to increase / decrease DoF you can use focal length to do this whilst still filling the frame with your subject.\n* Sensor size. This affects DoF when you maintain the same subject distance and field of view between sensor sizes. The bigger the sensor the shallower the depth of field. DSLRs have much bigger sensors than compacts, and so for the same FoV and f-ratio they have shallower DoF. This is important because by the same token cropping images increases DoF when maintaining the same final output size, as it's akin to using a smaller sensor.\n" ]

[ "How to help first graders with spelling words?", "Helping a first grader learn to spell can be both challenging and rewarding. Whether you're a teacher, a parent, a grandparent or a volunteer, there are ways to help a child with spelling words. The best strategies to encourage a young speller are based in knowing more about a child's spelling ability, and the early stages of writing.\n\n## Teach spell strategies\n\n1. Assess students' spelling knowledge. The best teaching practice starts with learning what the student already knows. Take a moment to check the students' knowledge of spelling by asking them to spell a list of common first grade words. Assessment allows you to start teaching at the area of your students' competence. Words found at the first grade level are short, 1-4 letters long. They are 1 syllable words. Examples of first grade words are: a, to, at, boy, bad, dip, cat, nest, sand, play. Assessment continues by analyzing students' independent writing. Provide opportunities for your students to write, whether in art projects or academic activities. Continue assessing throughout the school year. Ongoing assessment is vital for effective teaching practice.\n2. Teach in small groups. Most teachers are aware of the disparity between their students' abilities and know that small group instruction is preferred when possible. In helping first graders with spelling, it's essential to teach in small groups. Group assignments should be based on what you've discovered through your spelling assessments, so that students of similar spelling abilities can be taught at the same time. Be aware that some students' reading and their spelling abilities may be quite different. Don't base spelling assessments on students' ability to read. Have other students engage in word-related activities at their seats, or participate in literacy activities in the classroom's centers, will help you manage the other students while working with small groups. Having an assistant or a classroom volunteer can be helpful to managing the small groups of students.\n3. Prioritize spelling instruction. You'll need to find the time to assess and teach spelling to your first graders. This can be difficult to manage, because it requires individualization to the child's learning ability. Plan ahead to include spelling instruction every day, multiple times per day. Consider creating inclusion of spelling words in different areas of study. Invest a little time every day in independent word work and individual or small group instruction.\n4. Teach word knowledge, not just spelling. Teaching sight words, words that the student is likely to encounter often, helps the first grader with spelling. Post familiar words around the classroom. Teach students to consider why the word is spelled as it is. Teach the rules behind the spelling. For example, teach the reason for the silent e, and how it affects the sound of the word. Adding an e to a simple 3-letter word usually makes the vowel long, rather than short. Teach sight words that don't usually fit the standard first-grade curriculum, if you find the students' using these words frequently. Post these words around your classroom, and refer to them when they naturally arise in other teaching. These sight words might include: because, are, again, said, friend, were.\n5. Demonstrate usefulness of spelling. Students will be more motivated to learn to spell if they understand its importance. A first-grader must be taught the connection between reading words and proper spelling. By teaching students to recognize the power spelling has over understanding, you'll help them transfer their spelling knowledge into other activities of their life. Group activities can have multiple fill-in-the-blank opportunities. Mad Libs is a great activity for teaching spelling. Teacher scaffolding can help support beginning learners. Reminding the student what she already knows, strategies she might try to complete a spelling word, and providing hints and encouragement all support a first grader with spelling.\n6. Integrate strategies for independent spelling. When you're helping your first graders, say each word you want them to spell slowly. Teach your first graders to listen for the sounds they hear (initial sound, middle sound, final sound). Help them identify any part they might know, e.g., br in brought. Encourage students to notice how words come together to make a larger word. For example, putting fun and silly together to make funny. Students might enjoy clapping the syllables, then writing letters for each syllable. Help the students identify different spellings of rhyming words, such as space and place, or here and there. Students need lots of opportunities to try the correct spelling to see if it looks right. Provide resources around the classroom - dictionaries, calendars, charts, word walls, etc.\n7. Encourage all writing, regardless of spelling. Writing and spelling are two different academic areas. Having students write, without worrying about their spelling, will help them become more confident writers and spellers. Provide opportunities for students to write about things that are important to them: football games, video games, school outings, or pets are popular topics. These learning opportunities are found throughout the students' day. Make games out of writing about new topics.\n8. Expose students to written words. The more a child is exposed to written words, the more likely he is to internalize the spelling of the word. If you're working on particular spelling words, point them out in books, magazines and online. Highlight with a marker to emphasize that the word he's learning is also found in the \"real world\" if possible. Students may enjoy \"proofreading\" for spelling mistakes. First graders may appreciate reading the same stories over and over again. If this is the case, take advantage of this repetition to highlight different words found within the same story.\n\n\n## Recognize the early stag of write\n\n1. Know the signs of the pre-communicative writing stage. A first grade child may be still at the pre-communicative stage of writing, which means that he only has a rough idea of the alphabet. Your first grader may recognize different letters of the alphabet, but be unaware of words as a visual construct. Spaces between words may not be noticed. For children in this stage, continue to teach alphabet shapes and expose the child to written words through reading aloud with him. Never attempt to correct the spelling of a child at this stage of writing.\n2. Learn about the semiphonetic stage of writing. By first grade, some children will be at the semiphonetic stage of reading. A this stage, the child is making a connection between the sound of the word and the sound of a letter or two within the word. He may dramatically abbreviate the word, such as using T or D for dog. The word that the child may attempt to spell first may be his name, or the M for Mom or D for Dad. Children's ability to segment, or separate, the distinct sounds of a word may be still emerging. Encourage a child to write often, no matter how difficult the word may be to read. Don't worry about spelling at this stage, but provide help if the child is open.\n3. Know about the phonetic spelling stage. This is a common stage for first graders, a stage of spelling that assumes basic knowledge of the alphabet and understand that words and sounds are connected. A speller at this stage may use \"invented\" spelling patterns based on the sound of the word.Children at this level will be more interested in learning correct spelling. Provide models of correctly spelled words, and start to encourage them to think about how to spell words for themselves. This is a wonderful stage to start to help a child with spelling. Examples of invented spellings might be kam for came, wel for will, fes for fish, etc. Another thing you might notice is that the child starts to recognize beginning patterns in words, noticing rhymes and similar sounds.\n4. Learn more about the transitional spelling stage. A few first graders might already be at the transitional stage of spelling. At this stage, the student will have emerging reading skills and recognize many words. They begin to understand that sounds are represented by letter combinations, and that words can be made plural or altered in other ways by suffixes and prefixes. Being patient with mistakes at this stage is essential. The words might actually be more difficult to understand than with a phonetic speller, but the child's spelling mistakes are based in an inadequate understanding of spelling patterns. Continue to teach the patterns that make for good spelling. Teach the child how to laugh at spelling inconsistencies as are so often found in the English language. Reminders of appropriate spelling can also be taught at this stage, such as \"I before E, except after C, unless it's an A as in neighbor or weigh.\"\n" ]

[ "When are Decision Diagrams the right way to model and solve a problem?", "Decision diagrams (DDs) are most effective when they can compactly represent a large (perhaps exponential) set of solutions. This is done by merging equivalent states in each layer. To make decision diagrams scalable, we can use relaxed decision diagrams which allow merging nodes that are not necessarily equivalent. Relaxed decision diagrams provide dual bounds on the objective function -- a larger width can produce a stronger bound.\nThe relationship between the size of the decision diagram and the underlying combinatorial structure of the problem is well studied in the computer science literature; see for example the textbook by Wegener. The most important feature that influences the size is the variable ordering. We can use this to come up with some general guidelines on when a DD may be successful for combinatorial optimization:\n\n* The problem has a sequential structure, and decisions for stage $i$ depend only on the decisions made in stages $i-k$ through $i-1$, for small $k$.\n* The induced width of the constraint graph of the problem is small.\n* For a MIP model, the constraint matrix has a small bandwidth.\n* For knapsack-like problems, the maximum `budget' is relatively small.\n\nNote that in some of the above cases, precise characterization of 'small' may yield (pseudo-)polynomial bounds on the size of the exact DD. In practice, relaxed DDs will always have polynomial size.\nThere are several areas of combinatorial optimization in which decision diagrams have been successfully applied:\n\n* Sequencing and routing problems. For example, single machine scheduling with setup times, time windows, and/or precedence constraints, which can also be applied to constrained traveling salesperson problems. A similar decision diagram representation was used by Grubhub to solve pickup-and-delivery problems.\n* Decomposition and embedding in MIP models. Decision diagrams have been used to represent subproblems in MIP models that are otherwise difficult to linearize. For example, to represent nonlinear objective functions, constrained employee schedules, or nonlinear circuit design. DDs have also been used in column generation.\n* Graph-theoretic problems. Examples include set covering, maximum independent set, and maximum cut.\n* Constraint programming. Constraint propagation based on (relaxed) decision diagrams can be much more effective than propagating domains of individual variables. This was first demonstrated on overlapping alldifferent constraints." ]

[ "How to hold your breath for long periods of time?", "The ability to hold your breath for a long period of time is a much sought-after skill. Maybe you want to last longer underwater while diving or surfing, or maybe you're just looking for an impressive party trick. Whatever the reason, it is actually surprisingly easy to increase the amount of time you can go without breathing, provided you use the right training techniques and follow adequate safety precautions. Read below to find out how.\n\n## Optimize your lung capacity\n\n1. Do exercises to increase your lung capacity. While there is no way to increase your lung size, there are many ways to increase the amount of air your lungs take in, and the efficiency with which they capture oxygen. In particular, a rigorous exercise routine can help to strengthen your lungs and maximize their capacity to hold air. Do plenty of cardio. Incorporating some intense cardio workouts into your weekly routine can do wonders for your lungs. Running, skipping, aerobics and swimming are all great forms of cardiovascular exercise which get the blood pumping and the lungs working hard to supply the body with the oxygen it needs to keep going. Try doing exercising in intense 30 minute bursts, pushing your body to its limits, to achieve the best result. Exercise in water. Exercising in water (swimming, water aerobics, underwater weight training) is also a form of cardio exercise, but the water provides an element of resistance which requires the body to work harder to complete each task. As a result, the lungs need to work harder to supply the body with oxygen, causing their air capacity to increase significantly over time. Work-out at high elevation. At higher elevations, there is less oxygen in the air, meaning your lungs have to work harder to supply the body with oxygen. This is an excellent way to strengthen the lungs, but you must be careful not to train to hard, or you could potentially fall victim to altitude sickness.\n2. Lose weight. Any excess baggage reduces your body's efficiency in using oxygen, as there is increased body mass to which your blood must pump oxygen. As a result, many competitive breath holders will attempt to shed any extra pounds in the weeks coming up to a competition. This weight loss should be achieved in a strictly healthy way - through exercise and balanced diet - as weakening your body through crash dieting will negatively impact your ability to hold your breath. The world record breath holder, Aleix Segura Vendrell, is reported to have lost weight for 4 months before attempting to beat the world record for holding breath underwater, in an effort to improve his ratio of body volume to lung volume.\n3. Quit smoking. The fact that smoking has a negative impact on lung strength and capacity is common knowledge. Quitting can considerably increase your lungs' ability to release carbon dioxide and absorb oxygen, even within a matter of weeks. So if you are trying to strengthen your lungs and increase their capacity, giving up smoking is undoubtedly the first thing on the to-do list. You should also try to avoid second-hand smoke as far as possible, as inhaling someone else's cigarette smoke can have a negative effect on your lungs.\n4. Take up a wind or brass instrument. These types of instruments require plenty of lung power, making them a great way to improve lung strength and increase your ability to control your breathing. And aside from that, playing an instrument is a fantastic life skill, which can provide immense personal satisfaction. The flute, clarinet, oboe and saxophone are all good options when it comes to wind instruments, while the trumpet, trombone and tuba are popular brass options. If you have a good voice, singing is another great musical aid to improving lung power. Singing requires immense control of one's breathing, making it an excellent complimentary activity for aspiring breath-holders.\n\n\n## Train techniques for hold your breath\n\n1. Practice deep breathing. Before holding your breath, inhale and exhale slowly from deep within your diaphragm. By doing this, you're ridding your lungs of low-quality air. Spend five seconds breathing in, then hold the breath for one second, before breathing out for ten seconds. Continue deep breathing for two minutes, and be sure that when you exhale, you push out every last \"drop\" of air. As you exhale, push your tongue up against your teeth.This forms a valve which helps to control the release of air. Your breath should make a hissing sound as it is released. Deep breathing allows your body to take in excess oxygen, which it can then store in the blood cells. This helps when holding your breath as your body can use the stored oxygen to continue functioning, even when you are not breathing.\n2. Purge the CO2 from your lungs. When holding your breath, the pressure you feel in your lungs is not the result of a need to breathe, but rather the result of a build-up of CO2, fighting to be released. This build-up of CO2 becomes increasingly painful as time goes on. To minimize this build-up, it is necessary to purge any pre-existing CO2 from your lungs, before holding your breath. To do this:\n\t* Exhale forcefully, pushing as much air out of your lungs as possible. Puff out your cheeks as you do this, and imagine you are trying to blow a toy sailboat across a stretch of water. Once you have exhaled completely, inhale quickly and repeat. Try to keep your body as still as possible while you do this, to avoid expending any of the stored oxygen from the previous step.\n3. Take a breath and hold it for one minute and thirty seconds. This is a practice run which will allow your body to adjust to the sensation of going without air. Use a timer to count down the 90 seconds, and don't attempt to hold your breath for any longer just yet. When you inhale, don't breathe in so much that you're about to pop; this creates tension in your body and causes you to expend more energy. Instead, fill your lung capacity to about 80-85% capacity so that you still have room to relax. Once the 90 seconds is up, exhale briefly to rid your lungs of the used air, then take three breaths, inhaling and exhaling fully. This is known as semi-purging.\n4. Repeat the process of deep breathing and purging, then hold your breath for two minutes and thirty seconds. Once the first 90 second practice run is up, repeat the deep breathing and purging exercises. Perform each exercise for a duration of one minute and thirty seconds. Once this is done, take a breath and hold it for two minutes and thirty seconds, timing it on a stopwatch. Do not attempt to hold your breath for any longer than this. Once the time is up, exhale to release the used air and take three semi-purge breaths. Follow this with two minutes of deep breathing and a minute and a half of purging. You are now ready to try holding your breath for as long as possible.\n5. Splash cold water on your face. At this point, you may decide to splash your face with some cold water before attempting to hold your breath. It has been observed that putting a person's face in contact with cold water triggers bradycardia, or the slowing of the heart rate, which is the first phase of the mammalian diving reflex. However, this step is purely optional. You don't need to actually put your entire head underwater, though. Just splash some cold water on your face right before you hold your breath, or try using a cold, wet washcloth. Don't use an ice pack instead of water, though; the same study suggests that the shock of something too cold triggers other reflexes. Just make sure the water is at a temperature of approximately 70 °F (21 °C) and that the rest of your body is in a relaxed position.\n6. Take a breath and hold it for as long as possible. Assume a comfortable seated position and take a deep breath, filling your lungs to about 80-85% of capacity. Hold your breath for as long as possible, staying completely still to avoid expending unnecessary energy and wasting oxygen. It is usually better to have someone else timing your progress, as time will pass more quickly and you will be able to hold your breath for longer if you are not constantly watching the clock. Holding your breath for long periods of time can be painful, and it usually necessary to find a way to distract yourself if you are to successfully achieve your goal. One popular distraction technique is to move through the alphabet from A to Z, thinking of a friend, celebrity or historical figure whose name begins with each letter. Aleix Segura Vendrell, who set a world record for holding his breath underwater for 24 minutes and 3 seconds, is a proponent of this very technique. Don't hold air in your cheeks. This method is meant for an air reserve, which requires \"letting go\" of the air in your lungs and switching it with the air in your cheeks. This is known as \"circular breathing\" and can be very difficult to achieve, usually resulting in the breath-holder losing both air reserves. Therefore, it may be best to avoid this method for the time being.\n7. Relax every muscle in your body. It is vital that you relax completely and release any tension from your body as you hold your breath. Close your eyes and focus on releasing the tension from each body part in turn, starting with your feet, and moving slowly upwards along your body, all the way up to your neck and head. By doing this, it is possible to significantly lower your heart rate and increase the time you are able to hold your breath for. Concentrate on something that's relaxing to you. When you can't concentrate anymore, distract yourself by doing something with your hands, like counting to 99 with your fingers. Try not to move during any point when holding your breath. When you move, you waste oxygen and that will cut down the time you're able to go without breathing. Stay still.\n8. Exhale slowly. When you can't hold your breath anymore, try to avoid exhaling all the air in your lungs in a mad rush. First, exhale about 20% of your air, then inhale again so that oxygen gets to your most critical areas faster. Then you can exhale and inhale completely.\n9. Repeat these steps 3-4 times per session. It is not recommended to do this any more, as it could damage your lungs and body. Try one session in the morning and one session at night if you wish. Keep practicing and before you know it, you will be able to hold your breath for several minutes.\n\n\n## Take the necessary safety precautions\n\n1. Always practice with a partner. It is highly advisable that you practice holding your breath with a partner. The main reason for this is that they can ensure your safety if you happen to pass out (which is fairly common during limit-testing training sessions), preventing you from hurting yourself and taking care of you while you recover your senses. In addition, a partner can help to time your breath-holding sessions, notifying you at each 30 second interval.\n2. Practice sitting up, rather than lying down. The best position to practice holding your breath in is sitting upright in a comfortable position, such as on a sofa or armchair. This allows you to expend as little energy as possible while holding your breath. It is not advised that you lie down while holding your breath, as you run the risk of choking on your tongue if you happen to pass out.\n3. Do not attempt to do this underwater, unless supervised by a professional. Although the purpose of learning to hold your breath for longer is usually for use underwater, you should never do underwater training alone, without supervision. As mentioned before, it is quite common for people to black out or lose consciousness after holding their breath for prolonged periods, and if this happens underwater it can lead to drowning. Even practicing with a partner can be dangerous, as an untrained eye may be unable to tell the difference between someone who is holding their breath and someone who has passed out. If you do decide to practice with a partner, make sure that you decide on a hand signal which you can give at regular intervals to indicate to your partner that you are okay.\n" ]

[ "How to do the charleston?", "The Charleston is a medium- to fast-tempo dance that originated in the 20s. It was renowned for being the first social dance one could do without a partner. There are several versions of Charleston, the most popular being the 20s and 30s Charleston. The Charleston is a highly adaptable move that can be incorporated into a wide variety of dances, but the basic movement is the same.\n\n## Master the basic move\n\n1. Take a rock step back with your left foot. Touching the front of your foot to the floor, but not bringing your heel down. Don’t fully shift your weight to this foot. When doing the Charleston, lean forward slightly and bend your knees a little. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet. A rock step, also called a break step, refers to a rocking step in which one’s weight is very briefly transferred to another foot before being returned to the first. The only time when you might begin with your right foot is if you are following a partner. When two people dance the Charleston together, the leader starts by stepping back on the left foot, while the follower starts by stepping back on the right, mirroring the leader.\n2. Step back forward with your left foot. It should now be a step ahead of your right foot. This time, shift your weight to your left foot.\n3. Take another rock step forward with your right foot. Put the heel of your foot on the ground without bringing your whole foot down. Your weight should end up on your left foot still.\n4. Step back with your right foot. It should now be a step behind your left foot. Shift your weight back onto your right foot.\n5. Swing your arms as you step. As you move, your arms should be swinging. This may happen automatically, especially if you’ve seen people do the Charleston before and know what it’s supposed to look like. When your left foot is in front of you, your right arm should swing forward. When your right foot is in front of you, your left arm should swing forward.\n6. Repeat this movement. It probably won’t look terribly impressive on its own, but the back, forward, forward, back motion is the building block for every variation on the Charleston. Practice until it feels natural. Then you’ll be ready to start mixing things up.\n\n\n## Do the 20s charleston\n\n1. Get comfortable with the basic move. All the variations of the Charleston start with being able to do the basic step. Practice until it becomes second nature.\n2. Twist your feet in and out. Keep your weigh on the balls of your feet. On every step, the heel of the foot your have your weight on should twist out and then in again.\n3. Lift your elbows as you swing your arms. This is basically an exaggerated version of the arm swing. As always, your left arm should swing forward when your right foot is ahead of your body, and your right arm should swing forward when your left foot is in front of your body. Your arms should be bent at about a 90 degree angle. The elbow of the arm that is swinging back should come to shoulder height, and the forearm of the arm that is swinging forward should be parallel to the ground.\n4. Pivot your knees in and out. One common move used with the Charleston involves opening and closing your knees at the same time as crossing and uncrossing your arms. This may be the most well-known Charleston move. Begin with your knees bent and touching each other, with your arms crossed over them, so that your right hand is on your left knee, and your left hand is on your right now. Spread your knees apart while simultaneously uncrossing your arms, so that you end up with your left hand on your left knee, and your right hand on your right knee. #\\*Repeat this move a few times.\n\n\n## Do the 30s charleston\n\n1. Get comfortable with the basic move. All the variations of the Charleston start with being able to do the basic step. Practice until it becomes second nature.\n2. Replace a normal step with a kick step. This will add a little pep to the move. Instead of simply stepping forward, bring your knee up and kick your foot out. Your knee should come up first, propelling your foot forward a moment later. If you would not be transferring your weight to that foot anyway for this step, just swing it back again without letting it touch the ground. Otherwise, plant it back on the ground after the kick.\n3. Add a hitch as you move your leg back. Instead of simply stepping back after a kick, incorporate a hitch into the movement. Bring your knee back up, so that your upper leg is parallel to the ground, before kicking your foot back again.\n4. Touch the ground with your hand. This adds slightly more difficulty and flare. As your leg swings back and the ball of your foot touches the ground, lean forward and tap the ground with the tips of the fingers of your opposite hand.\n" ]

[ "How to get pure flix?", "## Use a phone or tablet\n\n1. Open your phone or tablet's app store. This is the App Store on iOS and Play Store on Android. Look for the app on your home screen or app menu and tap to open it.\n2. Search for Pure Flix. Tap the search bar and type \"pure flix\".\n3. Tap the Pure Flix App to open it. Check that the publisher is Pure Flix Digital. If you cannot find Pure Flix, you may be on an older software version that is unsupported. Check for a software update in your settings. Pure Flix requires iOS 10.0 or later for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV. Pure Flix requires Android 4.2 or higher on Android phones and tablets.\n4. Tap +Get or Install to download the app. You may need to confirm your credentials. The app will be added to your home screen or app menu when finished downloading.\n5. Open the app. Look for a blue icon that says \"Pure Flix\" on your home screen or app menu. Tap the app to open.\n6. Sign in with your Pure Flix username and password. If you do not have an account, sign up for a plan on the Pure Flix website: https://signup.pureflix.com/signup/plans\n\n\n## Use a computer\n\n1. Open a browser on your computer. This can be any standard modern browser, such as Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, and IE11.\n2. Navigate to https://www.pureflix.com/. Type or copy the address in the address bar, or click the link.\n3. Click Sign In. This is in the top right corner of the screen.\n4. Enter your username and password and click Sign In. If you do not have an account, create one by clicking Create an Account.\n5. Use the navigation bar at the top to search or browse for movies and shows. Click on a show or movie to stream it. Cast your browser tab to a TV if you prefer to use a bigger screen by using Chromecast.\n\n\n## Use a smart tv\n\n1. Launch your Smart TV. This may be Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, or another Smart TV.\n2. Open the app store on your Smart TV. This may be called something different for every Smart TV, but look for an app store on your main home screen.\n3. Search for Pure Flix. Use the app store's search bar and type in \"pure flix\".\n4. Download the Pure Flix app. Look for a button that says Download, Install, or Get.\n5. Launch the app and login. Find the app on your home screen with the other apps for your Smart TV.\n\n\n## Use an xbox one\n\n1. Launch the XBOX dashboard. Start your XBOX one and sign in if you are not already. The dashboard is the home screen that appears when you are signed in.\n2. Open the XBOX Store. Use the left analog stick or directional pad to select the Store tab on the right.\n3. Search for Pure Flix. Navigate down to the search bar and enter in \"pure flix\".\n4. Select the Pure Flix app and select Get. This will install the Pure Flix app on your XBOX One.\n5. Login to your account once installed. You can find this app on your dashboard in the future.\n" ]

[ "Adding a new swap file. How to edit fstab to enable swap after reboot?", "These ares the steps to create a swap on a file:\n\n1. Create a large file e.g. with\n```sudo mkdir -p /var/cache/swap/ # create a directory that holds the swap file\nsudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/var/cache/swap/myswap bs=1M count=4096 # for 4 GByte\n```\nOf course any other method of creating a file of defined size would do. \n\n2. Announce swap to the system\n```sudo chmod 0600 /var/cache/swap/myswap # only root should have access\nsudo mkswap /var/cache/swap/myswap # format as swap\nsudo swapon /var/cache/swap/myswap # announce to system\n```\nInsert the following line in ```/etc/fstab``` for swap from the next boot:\n```/var/cache/swap/myswap none swap sw 0 0\n```\n\nNote: \n1. In case you have your system files on a SSD you may want to consider to hold your swap file on a hard disk location.\n2. You can not use a swap file for hibernation (see Ubuntu SwapFaq)\n3. Additional note for Ubuntu >= 17.04: A swap on file ```/swapfile``` is created by default in a new installation (when no swap partition was present). We can manually create a swap partition later if we prefer.\n\nIn case we want to replace an existing swap (e.g. partition) with another swap (e.g. on file) we need to remove the old swap with\n```sudo swapoff -a # for all\n```\nThen remove the swap entry from ```/etc/fstab``` or replace it with the new swap respectively." ]

[ "You've been a History teacher for 30 years, never gotten a single fact wrong. One day you become suspicious, surely I should've gone wrong somewhere? You test a theory by purposely being incorrect, suddenly, history rewrites itself.", "I am a history teacher at a high school in a rural area of California. I am proud to say I know all the facts of yesterday. However, the last few years I have begun to question things - mostly due to my governments inept ability to be transparent.\nOne fateful Monday afternoon I was in class and we were talking about the history of the 9/11 attacks. The students were left to discussing their opinions on some topics and then to write a short essay for me when I overhear, \"What if 9/11 wasn't planned by the Taliban?\"\n\"You're right. 9/11 was planned by our government and cover......\"\n...\n\"Teach?\"\n\"Sorry?\"\n\"You've been out of it for a minute - again\"\n\"What were we talking about?\"\n\"The civil war of 2002\"\n\"Oh, right, I seemed to have lost my place. Let me start over..\"" ]

[ "I have been cautioned against blending:\n\n* Traditional fantasy elements\n\nSuch as magic systems and exotic, less plausible creatures (on a scientific level - magic tends to explain away these beasts)\n\n* Traditional sci-fi elements\n\nSuch as advanced technology and civilizations amidst the stars.\nI have taken it upon myself to harmonize the two in my current worldbuilding project. I know I cannot be the first. I love the creativity found in both, and it is going well so far. I have been exploring the potential for humanity with both tools at their disposal. (Magic and science, essentially)\nWhy do people advise to stick to one or the other?", " Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.\n - Arthur C Clarke\n\nThere's a reason that science fiction and fantasy are frequently shelved together - separating the two is usually a fools errand.\n\nThe Dragonriders of Pern features a preindustrial society where flying, firebreathing, teleporting, and telepathic dragons defend the skies from horrible creatures that rain down from above. They could easily be considered pure fantasy - up until the book where they discover the spacecraft that the human ancestors flew in on, and the labs where they bioengineered the dragons. \n\nIn Star Wars (arguably the most famous science fiction property of all time), the Force is really just space magic called another name. And they do all their fighting with swords. \n\nThe lists go on and on. Science fiction and fantasy are united in that they explore the impossible. Fantasy uses elements that will never be possible, while science fiction uses elements that theoretically might be possible. But the impossibility is shared. \n\n## Science fiction and fantasy are not a single genre - they are many\n\nEpic fantasy (eg Wheel of Time) and space opera (eg Star Wars) are more similar to each other than they are to urban fantasy or \"hard\" science fiction. \n\nIn some ways, it's inaccurate to call science fiction and fantasy genres at all. They're setting elements. A romance doesn't stop being a romance because it's set on a space station, and a murder mystery isn't any less mysterious because it was an elf who was murdered.\n\nThe key to mixing these elements successfully is to understand the expectations of your readers, and meeting those expectations (but in surprising ways). Genre helps define expectations.\n\nIf you're writing hard SF, readers expect to see a world that's close enough to our own that they can believe that our world could become the world of the story - magic obviously has no place here. \n\nOn the flip side, urban fantasy readers expect the author to have considered the modern world and how it might interact with the impossible. Extrapolations from science to science fiction may be natural depending on the exact nature of the setting.\n\nIf the reader has led to expect that the serial killer is a Scooby-Doo villain, then the sudden reveal that the murders were done with actual magic will violate their expectations and frustrate them (in general - there will of course be exceptions). But if the story is framed as a space cop trying to capture a vampire despite not believing that vampires are real, the readers will accept that premise as well as any other. " ]

[ "How to help make cellulite less visible?", "Have cellulite? Don't worry: Almost all women have it. However, few if any women want it. There are ways you can reduce the orange peel-like dimpling that occurs on the skin, usually on the legs, thighs and butt. It’s a myth that cellulite is always tied to obesity. Some thin people still have cellulite. However, your chances of cellulite grow with obesity, so exercise and choosing a healthier diet matters.\n\n## Make cellulite less obvious\n\n1. Get a tan. Whether it’s a spray tan or a natural one, tanned butts and legs don’t show cellulite as much. If you already have a dark complexion, you’re lucky because darker skin doesn’t show cellulite as much as pale skin does. Always take caution when tanning, though. The sun’s rays can lead to skin cancer, so it's usually a better choice to get an authentic looking fake tan. There are many ways to do this: airbrush or booth spray tanning at a salon and home products such as foam, lotion, or spray. When applying tanning lotion, start by exfoliating the skin with a body scrub, as well as shaving any areas where you don't want hair. Then, using gloves, apply the lotion all over your body, starting with the head area, and taking care not to get it into your eyes. Apply petroleum jelly to your eyebrows to prevent them from becoming discolored. When spray tanning, it’s very important that you wear recommended protective gear (over eyes, nose, and other body openings) so you don’t ingest the tanning particles during the process. If using a booth, you will be instructed to turn inside the booth as a nozzle sprays you with the solution.\n2. Start toning your legs. While genetics might make you more susceptible to cellulite, toned legs with strong muscle definition tend to show cellulite less. Run up a staircase, go for a long walk or jog, and use a stair master or elliptical trainer. All of these exercises and equipment target the leg and butt areas where cellulite resides. Contrary to popular myth, cellulite is not caused by toxins in the body. It’s caused by a lack of exercise and muscle tone, excess fat, poor circulation, genetics and hormones. Leg lifts and squats are among the exercises that can help you tone your legs.\n3. Strength train. Although running and other cardio can reduce your weight, which can make cellulite less obvious, strength training will be best at getting rid of the dimpled look. Yoga routines help tone the body and reduce the appearance of cellulite, as do strength-training routines that build muscle. Studies have shown that people who combine cardio with strength training (weight lifting, some circuit training routines) added muscle in addition to losing fat, and improved the overall look of their bodies. As little as 15 minutes of cardio (such as running) and 15 minutes of strength training (such as weight lifting) three times a week can make a difference over time (at least eight weeks).\n4. Try anti-cellulite clothing. It doesn’t work for everyone, but some clothing manufacturers make clothing marketed to reduce the look of cellulite. These pieces of clothing, such as capri leggings, are designed to generate heat that in turn helps break down cellulite cells. Elastic underwear has the opposite effect; it can make cellulite look worse. Wear non-elastic undergarments made of smooth fabric. Loose fitting clothing helps reduce cellulite because tighter clothing impairs blood flow throughout the day.\n\n\n## Improve the diet to reduce cellulite\n\n1. Drink a lot of green tea. Green tea has many health benefits. Some people drink it as part of weight reduction efforts, but it can also reduce the sight of cellulite. Green tea is a good choice for people who find it boring to drink plain water all day long. You can drink it cold or hot. Green tea doesn’t add many calories to your daily intake, but it’s very rich in antioxidants. The tea will increase your metabolism. Cellulite can occur with age because it’s associated with lower production of estrogen in the body. Drinking a lot of green tea can help reduce this effect. A faster metabolism means that your body should be able to expel toxins faster, which will reduce the look of cellulite.\n2. Drink a lot of water. There are many, many proven benefits to guzzling water. You should drink water all day long. Stay hydrated. Hydrated bodies won’t have cellulite that looks so obvious. Other health benefits include shinier hair and younger looking skin. If you find drinking plain water too boring, add a lemon slice into it. It’s a good idea to drink two liters of water every day and to drink water constantly throughout the day. Drinking a lot of water can also help with weight loss, which can further reduce cellulite. That’s because when people feel hungry, sometimes it just means they are dehydrated.\n3. Avoid sugary beverages. Drinking beverages loaded with sugar will probably make cellulite worse (not to mention it can increase your weight). That means you should avoid carbonated sodas but also be aware of drinks that have hidden sugars, such as fruit juices. Study labels. Some beverage companies are experts at packaging and marketing and they might make you think that energy or fruit drink is healthy – until you read the label and see that it’s loaded with sugar and carbs. It’s always better to choose water than sugary beverages. Even diet sodas aren’t great for the body because they have carbonation and chemicals.\n4. Try natural remedies. There are many natural remedies that some people swear help with cellulite. Give one of them a try and see if they work for you. Refrigerate the residue from your coffee grinds (black coffee). Mix them with olive oil to create a scrub that you apply to the cellulite-impacted area. Use circular motions to apply the rub for about 15 minutes. Then, leave the grinds on your body for about 15-20 minutes more before washing them away. Cover and warm the region with shrink wrap. Instead of coffee grounds, you could use salt and grapefruit juice to create a similar rub that some people say helps with cellulite.\n5. Eat healthier foods. Reducing the amount of toxins in your diet is good for many reasons. You will likely lose weight, be healthier, and your cellulite will reduce. Consume alkaline forming foods. Alkaline is found in fresh fruit and vegetables, which should make up the majority of your diet if you want to eat healthier. Sprinkle flaxseed on your breakfast to boost collagen growth. Sprinkle two tablespoons of it on oatmeal or yogurt. Fresh vegetable juicing is one way you can flood your body with healthy juice. Avoid eating processed foods as much as possible, especially foods that come in boxes and that are loaded with carbohydrates or sugar. Drink lemon juice and cayenne pepper three times a day.\n6. Eat kelp. Kelp can help you lose weight as well as improve the appearance of cellulite. It contains a chemical found in green plants that helps the body burn fat. Purchase dried kelp and add it to stir fries, soup or salad. You can also ingest kelp vitamins. Consider kelp \"sea vegetables.\" The kelp retains the minerals that are found in the ocean, making it very healthy for you. Kelp, sometimes called seaweed, also balances out the thyroid gland, improving your health. It's often found in Asian cooking.\n7. Stay away from too much salt or sugar. Salt and sugar can lead to serious health problems, as well as obesity, which makes cellulite more obvious. Avoid eating too much refined salt. Crystal and sea salt are healthier. Refined salt dehydrates the body and leaches minerals out of it. Sodium also causes the body to retain fluids, making cellulite look worse. Sodium can harm your health. Try to limit your sugar consumption to 6 teaspoons a day and your salt consumption to 200 mg of sodium.\n\n\n## Use chemical and other tool to reduce cellulite\n\n1. Try lasers. Some beauty salons and plastic surgeons offer treatments for cellulite that use lasers and other mechanical devices. There are downsides to these methods. They are often expensive, they need to be repeated regularly, they have to be done by a trained professional and can be painful. One example: Cellulaze is a procedure approved by the FDA for cellulite. A small laser is inserted under the skin to break down the cellulite’s structure. Research carefully any such interventions and check into the licensing and ratings of the salon performing the functions, as well as the credentials and training of the person administering it. Laser toning and cold-laser massage are also techniques that are said to reduce the appearance of cellulite. The tri-active laser was approved by the FDA and claims to temporarily reduce cellulite’s appearance. Fillers are sometimes used to treat cellulite dimples.\n2. Try a lotion. Many products advertise that they can help improve cellulite. Not all are that successful, but you could give them a try. You might find temporary help from ingredients that dilate blood and lymph vessels. Black pepper, green tea, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and ginkgo fall into this category, and some anti-cellulite creams contain them. Ointments containing forskolin (which comes from the herb coleus forskohlii) were found in one study to help women lose excess skin from their thighs. Skin firming cream can help build up collagen and diminish wrinkles. Some cellulite creams contain retinol, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin C. Major brands like Lancome, L’Oreal, and Nivea offer gels and lotions that are said to firm up the skin.\n3. Massage the affected area. Not only do massages feel great, but they are also known to reduce the look of unsightly cellulite dimples. Use a body brush with boar or just stiff bristles in a circular motion while you take a shower. Or use a hand-held massagers. Apply the massage head to the areas with cellulite. Add a skin firming serum, body lotion or anti-cellulite gel before you apply the massaging motions. Cellulite is caused by fat deposits that push through the skin’s connective tissue, usually in the buttocks and thighs. Massaging the skin stimulates the lymphatic system that lies right underneath the skin’s surface. This circulates toxins and causes the body to release them more quickly. Add a few drops of olive and juniper oil to the skin before massaging it.\n" ]

[ "Kidnappers force a prisoner to write a letter to family, convincing them all is well. The prisoner attempts to subtly hint something is wrong. Write that letter.", "Hey [Family Name],\n\nI have been called by my boss to go to a business negotiation for a few months. I do love you both, but with the pay I am getting from this, I will be able to financially carry us all! I am supposed to be back between the 16th of December and the 5th of August. I know I will miss Christmas, but I hope little Susie will forgive me. Mark those dates on your calendar! I will be really busy in a funky new town in Europe, if this negotiation goes through, one day we can expand the company to Asia! I will miss our regular trips to South America, but I was thinking when I get back, we could go to Canada. I might not write to you, but I will send you the money! Bye!\n\n[Your Name]." ]

[ "Once, I boarded a plane, went to my designated seat and tried to put my bag in the overhead bin. However, it was full, and other adjacent overhead bins were full too. Because I had a seat next to the emergency exit, which I paid for, I had to hand over my bag to someone else in order to take off. \nDo I have any rights over the overhead bin above my seat?\nCould I ask the flight attendant to remove some of the bags to make room for me?\nI cannot imagine that the bins were full because there was not enough space. I think this happened because some people were ignorant enough to bring more bags than is allowed inside the airplane instead of sending them to cargo. If this is the case why doesn't the airline enforce the bag limit inside the airplane?", "You have no right to the bin above your seat. For those exit rows where you cannot put anything beneath the seat in front of you, flight attendants will generally try to help find some space somewhere for at least your small personal item, but any passenger may be required to check their bags rather than put them in the overhead bin.\nIt is entirely possible that the airline didn't enforce the bag limit, but the overhead bins can easily fill up even when the limit is strictly enforced. If every passenger, or even most passengers, brings a regulation sized carry-on on a full flight, it is obvious that many of the bags will not fit in the bins and will have to be checked.\nIn some cases, overhead bins may be marked as reserved for first class or premium economy passengers (or safety equipment, or pillows and blankets). Even in such cases, cabin crew may fill these bins with other bags in an attempt to accommodate as many passengers as possible, and a late-boarding passenger may be caught out with no space.\nIt is hard to imagine that they are likely to remove and check someone's bag so you may have that space. Overhead bin space is typically first-come first served, and at some point, they will declare the bins full and start checking bags (sometimes even before the bins are actually full). Note that if your bag must be checked, you should ensure you remove any essential items (medication, passports, keys, etc...) and any valuables, along with any hazardous material that cannot be checked, namely spare (uninstalled) lithium batteries including external power packs. \nBoarding as early as possible (which, on some airlines, could require frequent flyer status or paying an extra fee) will help secure you overhead bin space." ]

[ "Let's say that we have a gaseous or liquidus compound (I don't know if elements or compounds make a difference, take this as a thought experiment), and we have a tungsten or steel block that's 5cm (or less, you choose) thick. Is there any physical method for that gas or liquid to pass through that thick heavy metal block (not by drilling etc.)?", "Yes, some gases can diffuse into and through metal. It is the bane of the high-vacuum engineer's life. Hydrogen is the worst because it tends to dissociate into atoms at the surface and the nucleus, a single proton, can then leave its electron behind and wander through the metal lattice until it picks up another electron when it leaves.\n\nFor example Mu-metal, favoured for some applications, typically has to be annealed in hydrogen at high temperature. Once that is over, it can take weeks or months for the residual hydrogen to diffuse out of the metal before a high enough vacuum can be achieved and the work proceed.\n\nA &quot;virtual leak&quot; occurs where a small bubble of gas is embedded in the material inside a vacuum chamber. The leak usually happens because a tiny hole exists for the gas to diffuse out through, but sometimes the &quot;hole&quot; is no more than an ultra-thin skin of metal (invisible to the frustrated technician) and the gas diffuses through it. These little horrors can keep going for months or even years and generally mean replacing suspected parts and pumping down over and over again until the dodgy one is finally stumbled on.\n\nHelium is both monatomic and the physically smallest atom. It can diffuse more easily than any other neutral atom or molecule, making certain metal foils unsuitable as say gas-tight liners for airships. As noted in another answer, in quantity it can also affect the bulk properties of the metal.\n\nOn a more energetic scale, hydrogen and helium nuclei (protons and alpha particles) can pass through thin metal foils if fired with sufficient energy, and this has been used to establish the crystalline structures of some metals and alloys (where, for whatever reason, electrons were unsuitable).\n\nOther gases have much larger atoms (neon and other noble gases) or molecules (nitrogen and other diatomic molecules, water and other hydrides), but they can still diffuse extremely slowly through some metals. This can limit the lifetime of some microchips. A related phenomenon occurs where there is a defect in the lattice at the surface, such as a grain boundary, and a gas atom attaches to it. Defects are sometimes quite mobile and can migrate through the lattice; the gas atom will stabilise the defect and may be able to hitch a ride.\n\nQuantum processes such as tunnelling are not really relevant, as they work over distances smaller than the atomic wavelength, which in turn is typically far smaller than the thickness of any metal atom or foil. The probability of a gas atom tunnelling across is so infinitesimal as to be effectively zero." ]

[ "The Episode IV-VI movies never mention the Emperor's name. In Episodes I-III, we can guess that Darth Sidious will be the emperor, but what about Chancellor Palpatine? If the audience didn't know that he was Sidious, the impact of the reveal would be far different than if they did.\nBut I did. In all the novels and comics that came out after \"Return of the Jedi\", the Emperor's name was stated plainly: Palpatine. \nSo when I saw the prologue movies, for the life of me I couldn't figure out: was I supposed to know that Palpatine was the villain? \nMaybe the filmmakers figured that most of the moviegoing public never got into the Expanded Universe. But they had to know that the hardcore fans would know. Or maybe when you watched the movie, even if you hadn't heard of Palpatine, it was supposed to be obvious?\nWhat was the intent?", "Palpatine's name was first given in the prologue to Alan Dean Foster's novelization of Star Wars (it was credited to Lucas, but he didn't write it), which came out in November 1976, six months before the May 25, 1977 release of the actual film.\nSo Palpatine being the Emperor was literally known before the public ever saw a Star Wars movie. It was, in fact, one of the very first things people could find out about the Star Wars universe.\nThe point of the films wasn't to conceal the fact Palpatine would end up the Emperor (or was Darth Sidious), it was to show that he was a masterful chessmaster who conned everyone, and that in large part it was the good guys responsible for his rise because of their own blindness. Amidala initiated the vote that removed his predecessor. Jar-Jar initiated the vote that gave him emergency powers. The Jedi Council allowed him to operate under their noses. Anakin never suspected he was being manipulated until too late, and so on. Just as the trilogy was meant as a tragedy showing Anakin Skywalker's rise and fall, it was an additional tragedy in that the person responsible for the whole mess was standing right there the entire time, in the case of the celebration at the end of The Phantom Menace quite literally." ]

[ "How to plot in multiple subplots?", "There are several ways to do this. The `subplots` method from the `matplotlib` library creates the figure along with the subplots that are then stored in the `ax` array. Here is an example:\n\n```\nimport matplotlib.pyplot as plt\nimport numpy as np\n\n# Prepare some data\nx = range(4)\ny1 = [3, 1, 5, 6]\ny2 = [8, 2, 1, 3]\ny3 = [3, 1, 2, 4]\ny4 = [9, 1, 8, 6]\n\n# Create a 2 x 2 grid of subplots\nfig, axes = plt.subplots(nrows=2, ncols=2)\n\n# Plot data on each subplot\naxes[0, 0].plot(x, y1)\naxes[0, 0].set_title(‘subplot 1’)\naxes[0, 1].plot(x, y2)\naxes[0, 1].set_title(‘subplot 2’)\naxes[1, 0].plot(x, y3)\naxes[1, 0].set_title(‘subplot 3’)\naxes[1, 1].plot(x, y4)\naxes[1, 1].set_title(‘subplot 4’)\n```\n\nIf you have to set parameters for each subplot it's handy to iterate over all subplots in a 2D grid using `for ax in axs.flat`:\n\n```\nfor ax in axs.flat:\n ax.set(xlabel='x-label', ylabel='y-label')\n\n# Hide x labels and tick labels for top plots and y ticks for right plots.\nfor ax in axs.flat:\n ax.label_outer()\n\n#automatically adjust subplot parameters to give specified padding.\nplt.tight_layout()\nplt.show()\n```\n" ]

[ "What are some suggested activities or destinations included in the Tokyo 4-day itinerary in spring?", "Tokyo is the perfect synonym for \"modern Japan\" and the first stop for many people when they travel to Japan. Here are suggested activities or destinations included in the Tokyo 4-day itinerary in spring:\n\nDay 1\n\n* Sightseeing guideline: Imperial Residence (2 hours) → Ginza (2 hours) → Tokyo Tower (2 hours) → Roppongi (2 hours) \nIn the morning, you can go to the Imperial Palace, followed by a visit to Ginza in the afternoon. To view Tokyo's night skyline, you have the option to visit either Tokyo Tower or Roppongi Hill. It's recommended to visit the Roppongi Hill Observatory, which provides a panoramic view of Tokyo Tower.\n* Traffic guideline: When you are visiting the Kanto area, it is highly recommended to use the Suica Card, which is also known as the \"watermelon card\". This card can be used for various modes of transportation, such as JR (state railway, including Shinkansen), private railway, subway (urban subway), bus (road car), and more. It is a very convenient option to have, as it allows for seamless travel throughout the region without the hassle of purchasing individual tickets.\n* Catering Guideline: Ramen and sushi are well-known delicacies in Japan. In the vicinity of the Imperial Palace, Kyoto Station has a designated area for ramen called Ramen Street. Additionally, in the Ginza district, there is an extensive range of cuisine available, including eel rice, tempura, and seafood dishes.\n\nDay 2: \n\n* Sightseeing guideline: Ueno Park (2 hours) → Akihabara (2 hours) → Sensoji Temple (2 hours) → Tokyo Sky Tower (2 hours)\nIn the morning, it is recommended to explore Ueno Park, followed by a visit to Akihabara in the afternoon, and then head to Sensoji Temple. If you missed the opportunity to witness the night view of Tokyo the previous day, the Sky Tower offers a good alternative, but be mindful of managing your time for each attraction. If shopping is also on your agenda for the day, it may be better to allocate Akihabara as the last destination.\n* Traffic guideline: To reach Ueno Park, take the Ginza Line and Hibiya Line and disembark at Ueno Station. To arrive at Akihabara, take the Hibiya Line on the metro and exit at Akihabara Station. For Asakusa Temple, take the Ginza Line or Toei Asakusa Line and get off at Asakusa Station.\n* Catering Guideline: There is a diverse range of food options available in the vicinity of Ueno Park, ranging from affordable street food to popular dishes that are renowned for their popularity. Additionally, the areas surrounding Sensoji Temple and Akihabara also offer a plethora of casual dining options.\n\nDay 3: \n\n* Sightseeing guideline: Tokyo Disneyland (8 hours) → Tokyo Disneyland Ocean Park (8 hours)\nFor first-time visitors to Disneyland, it is recommended to opt for DisneySea to experience the authentic Disneyland atmosphere. If you have been to other Disneylands in different countries, it is suggested to choose DisneySea to partake in the thrilling aquatic activities. Adjusting your schedule to avoid weekend crowds is also advised.\n* Traffic guideline: To reach Tokyo Disney, take the JR Keiyo Line and Musashino Line and alight at the south entrance of Maihama Station. Upon arrival, board the Disney special vehicle to enter the theme park. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus directly from Tokyo Station.\n* Catering Guideline: In the vicinity of Disneyland and DisneySea, there are abundant food options available, including mobile stands selling hot dogs, egg tarts, and cheesecake for you to indulge in.\n\nDay 4:\n \n* Sightseeing guideline: Shibuya (2 hours) → Shinjuku (2 hours)\nIf you're primarily interested in shopping in the western part of Tokyo, you could begin your day by exploring the main area of the Shibuya business district. In the afternoon, you could visit Meiji Jingu, a famous shrine in the vicinity. In the evening, head to the bustling Shinjuku business district to experience the vibrant nightlife and lively atmosphere of this modern city.\n* Traffic guideline: Disembark at Shibuya Station to reach the Shibuya district. Alight at Meiji Jingu Station or Yoyogi Station to visit Meiji Jingu. Get off at Harajuku Station or Meiji Jingu Front Station to reach Harajuku. Finally, disembark at Shinjuku Station or Shinjuku Nishiguchi Station to arrive at Shinjuku.\n* Catering Guideline: In the downtown area, you can find the Shibuya intersection, which is surrounded by a diverse range of food options. Meanwhile, Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's top business districts, is also known for its abundance of renowned restaurants.\n\nThere are many other places in Tokyo that are suitable for tourism; Additionally, as a destination for urban travel, Tokyo is suitable for travel throughout the year. Cherry blossoms can be enjoyed in spring, fireworks events worth visiting in the summer, maple trees in autumn, and travel to Tokyo for Christmas and New Year activities in winter. May you find happiness in your journey.\n" ]

[ "Can you help me make a boulder training plan for me to climb better?", "Numerous effective training plans are available, tailored to your experience and abilities. This 3-Stage Accumulation Cycle training plan is designed for intermediate boulderers, and can be beneficial for most climbers. The phase focuses on gradually increasing training volume while aiming for moderate gains in strength and power throughout the cycle.\n\nAccumulation:\n\nWeek 1:\n2x challenging bouldering (45 min)\n1x volume-focused bouldering (60 min)\n1x hangboard strength training (30 min)\n1x hangboard repeaters (30 min)\n1x system training – limiters (60 min)\n2x power resistance sessions (45 min)\n\nWeeks 2-4:\nMaintain the same format, increasing total work each week.\n\nWeek 5:\nReduce workload as needed, likely to the volume of week 2.\n\nWeek 6:\n3x challenging bouldering (45 min)\n1x volume-focused bouldering (60 min)\n1x hangboard strength training (20 min)\n1x hangboard repeaters (30 min)\n1x system training – limiters (40 min)\n2x strength-endurance RT sessions (45 min)\n1x PE climbing session (45 min)\n\nWeeks 7,8:\nMaintain the same format, increasing total work each week.\n\nIntensity:\n\nWeek 1:\n3x challenging bouldering (45 min)\n1x hangboard strength training (30 min)\n1x system training – tension (40 min)\n2x strength resistance sessions (30 min)\n\nWeeks 2,3:\nFollow week 1 format, aiming to increase training load/difficulty each week.\n\nPeak:\n\nWeeks 1-3:\nIntense bouldering with adequate rest as needed. Most effective with 3-4 short sessions per week.\nIn summary, the plan involves performing as many exercises as possible in the initial weeks, followed by more challenging exercises, and eventually even more difficult exercises with increased rest periods. Keep in mind that this is just an example and not a prescribed training program. Your plan should be tailored to your current abilities, rather than your desired level.\n" ]

[ "How to confuse cleverbot?", "Cleverbot is an online program that uses complex coding to hold text-based conversations with human readers. Though Cleverbot is great at holding basic conversations, it isn't perfect. With a little trickery, it's not terribly hard to get Cleverbot to reveal the limits of its programming. Whether you're trying to administer the Turing Test (a test used to tell whether an artificial intelligence can \"pass\" as a human) or simply looking for some easy laughs, visit Cleverbot.com to get started!\n\n## Confuse cleverbot with specific trick\n\n1. Try typing in song lyrics. Compared to other computer programs, Cleverbot is an exceptionally skilled conversationalist. However, Cleverbot knows nothing of the joys of music. If you try typing in a few lines of your favorite song lyrics, most of the time, Cleverbot will interpret the lyrics literally or give a nonsensical response, even if the lyrics are well-known. Note, however, that for certain songs that are very well-known, Cleverbot actually can (and will) recite the song lyrics if you start typing them in. For instance, try typing in the opening lyrics to Queen's \"Bohemian Rhapsody\": \"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?\"\n2. Present Cleverbot with a logical paradox. A paradox is a statement, question, or idea that has an answer that can't be logically found. Since some of history's greatest thinkers have struggled to untangle logical paradoxes, it's a very safe bet that Cleverbot will be completely perplexed by most of them. In addition, Cleverbot doesn't even do well talking about subjects that have the potential to be paradoxical, like time travel. Try using some of the paradoxes below, or use a search engine to find your own — there are literally hundreds out there. “If this statement is true, then Santa Claus is real.”\n\t* \"Since we haven't been visited by people from the future, does that mean that time travel will never be possible?\" \"What would happen if Pinocchio were to say, \"My nose will grow right now?\"\n3. Ask Cleverbot to play games with you. Cleverbot isn't terribly playful. For instance, if you ask it to join you in a game of chess or checkers, it'll say \"OK\", but then if you say, \"You go first,\" you'll get a nonsensical response. This is probably due to the fact that Cleverbot doesn't really have the capacity to play games — it knows to say that it wants to play chess with you, but it has no idea how to actually play chess. Cleverbot can, however, play rock paper scissors. Try it — say \"Let's play rock paper scissors\" and then say either \"Rock\", \"Paper\", or \"Scissors\".\n4. Type a sappy romantic dialog for Cleverbot. Sooner or later, almost everyone casually messing around with Cleverbot will get the idea to jokingly express the love or attraction they feel towards it. Though Cleverbot can handle basic overtures of love like \"I love you\" and \"Marry me\", it's not so good at interpreting subtle romantic comments or come-ons. For people nursing a crush on Cleverbot, a direct approach is apparently best. Give it a shot — try feeding Cleverbot pickup lines like \"I don't have a library card, but do you mind if I check you out?\" The response you get will usually be a little confused (at best) (if you use the library card line, you'll get \"I can say anything.\")\n5. Ask Cleverbot to do math problems. You might think that, because it's a computer program, Cleverbot would be able to do math problems almost instantly. In fact, for some reason, Cleverbot is terrible at doing math, even when the problems you ask it are very simple. It shouldn't take you long to get a confused response out of Cleverbot with this strategy. Sometimes, you'll even get different responses if you switch between using numerals and spelling each number out. For instance, asking \"What is 200 times 2?\" gets you the answer \"4,\" while asking \"What is two hundred times two?\" gets you the answer, \"A number.\"\n6. Talk to Cleverbot about supernatural things. Cleverbot doesn't have good old-fashioned human common sense, so it doesn't have a good grasp on what's real and what's not. Talking to Cleverbot about monsters, aliens, spirits, and other supernatural phenomena is likely to confuse it. You can also confuse it by bringing up some religious or spiritual topics, even if they're quite well-known. You can even use the subjects of modern-day ghost stories to the same effect. For instance, if you say, \"Have you ever been visited by Slenderman? \", Cleverbot will respond with, \"My life is a lie?!\"\n7. Talk to Cleverbot about famous people. Cleverbot knows nothing about politics or celebrity gossip. Asking Cleverbot about its opinion on a famous person or public figure will almost always confuse it. For example, asking, \"What do you think about Brad Pitt?\" will get the answer, \"I think he si (sic) a great president, he'll change the states.\" You may also want to try talking about the different things famous people have done — Cleverbot isn't terribly smart about these things either. For instance, typing in \"What do you think about the president's social policies?\" will get you: \"I think he isn't the president anymore.\"\n8. Talk to Cleverbot about other websites. Cleverbot does not understand other websites and will respond with something weird. Try talking about wikiHow and see what happens.\n\n\n## Confuse cleverbot with general strategies\n\n1. Talk with a lot of emotion. Cleverbot doesn't have a great grasp of the emotional context that is necessary to understand human communication. It will usually take everything you say literally. Because of this, Cleverbot isn't too \"clever\" when it comes to emotional questions and outbursts. Try typing a furious, rambling insult or tearfully asking for Cleverbot's forgiveness for some imagined slight — usually, its response won't make much sense.\n2. Talk in gibberish. One sure-fire way to get Cleverbot's wires crossed is to send it messages that don't make sense to humans, either. Typing in gibberish, either by purposefully misspelling words, making up new words, or just mashing randomly on the keyboard, can get some funny results. For instance, try the sample messages below:\n\t* \"Asuerycbasuircanys\" (random gibberish)\n\t* \"What is your opinion on the tornalions in reffriddo?\" (made-up words)\n\t* \"Wut arr ewe dewing laiter this eavning?\" (misspelled words)\n3. Use a lot of slang. Cleverbot doesn't have the common sense to be able to piece together sentences that use slang — especially modern slang. Using lots of colloquialisms and \"street\" lingo in your messages can usually get Cleverbot's metaphorical head to spin. The more slang you use, the better, as even literal-minded Cleverbot can usually figure out simple sentences like \"What's up, dog?\" Try getting started with one of these examples:\n\t* \"h0w 4r3 y0u d01n6, cl3v3rb07?\" (1337speak)\n\t* \"Yo, what's up, bro? Lemme ask you a question, broseph - how are you doing today, broheim?\" (Bro-y slang)\n\t* \"Well, pardner, it's about time we saddle up, hit that old dusty trail, and high-tail it out of here.\" (Cowboy slang)\n4. Use long messages. The longer and more complex the things you send to Cleverbot are, the less likely it will be to respond correctly. Typing out rambling, meandering messages (or even entire conversations) can get some pretty funny responses out of Cleverbot. Don't be afraid to stop one sentence and begin another — periods, question marks, and exclamation points are allowed in the middle of your message. For instance, you might want to have the same sort of long, aimless chat you might have when you're catching up with a friend. For instance, you might try: \"Cleverbot, how are you? I was just thinking about you. I hope you're doing well. I had a great weekend - I went hiking up on Castle Rock on Saturday. Beautiful views from the top. Have you ever been up there? We should go sometime. Anyway, I just wanted to know what you were up to.\"\n5. Keep your conversation going for a long time. The longer you follow a certain line of questioning, the more likely Cleverbot is to \"crack\". By the time you're ten or twelve messages into a conversation, Cleverbot has forgotten what you were originally talking about and is simply responding literally to each message as best as it can. This can lead to some pretty bizarre conversations, especially if Cleverbot misunderstands something you type. You may want to try using the \"Think For Me!\" button on Cleverbot.com for this. This button makes Cleverbot think up a response to its own message for you. Since Cleverbot is basically communicating with itself, using this button can quickly cause the conversation to devolve into nonsense, even if you only use it a few times.\n" ]

[ "In 1969, NASA not only went to the moon, but broadcast the whole thing live on TV.\nHow did they achieve the TV broadcast? What technology did they need to use to send a video and audio signal from the moon to earth? Was there much of a lag?", "Apollo 11 mission had two modules\n\n* Lunar module - which descent to moon carrying two astronauts\n* command / service module- CSM was designed to return astronauts from the lunar surface on a direct-descent mission to earth and splash down.\n\nDirect telecast from the Command service module is not possible but CSM stored the recording of conversation which is transmitted by LM (which occur once in a rotation because the LM is stationary while CSM is orbiting the moon) then CSM sents to earth.\n\nRegarding the actual camera used in Apollo \n\n > Originally, these slow-scan television (SSTV) cameras, running at 10 frames-per-second (fps), produced only black and white pictures and first flew on the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968. \n\nNASA states as\n\n > The equipment onboard the Apollo Command Module that was used to make the recordings was called the Data Storage Equipment (DSE). Its contents were transmitted to the ground periodically during the mission. Also, the Command Module DSE had the capability to record data live during certain periods from the Lunar Module as it flew separately in lunar orbit. The equipment used aboard the Lunar Module to make the recordings was called the Data Storage Electronics Assembly (DSEA). It made recordings onboard the Lunar Module, but the DSEA flown on the Eagle during Apollo 11 malfunctioned. As a result, many of its recordings are barely, if at all, audible, with a constant high-pitched background tone. In the attached database, the recordings that are virtually inaudible are highlighted, but they are available on the web to ensure a complete release of the recordings made during the mission.\n\nand \n\n > The portion of the broadcast spectrum traditionally used for video was sending vital ship data to Earth, and there was no room left for the standard black-and- white video format of the era: 525 scan lines of data at 30 frames per second, transmitted at 4.5 MHz. So Lebar helped devise a smaller \"oddball format\" – 320 scan lines at 10 fps, transmitted at a meager 500 kHz. Tracking stations back on Earth would take this so-called slow-scan footage, convert it for TV broadcast, and beam it to Mission Control, which would send it out for the world to see. \n\nTransmission stations\n\n > To ensure a direct transmission signal from the moon, NASA had to maintain stations in three continents – two in Australia (the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station near Canberra and the Parkes Radio Observatory surrounded by sheep paddocks west of Sydney); one at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in the Mojave Desert of California; and one at the Madrid Manned Flight Tracking Site in Spain........ the tracking stations with a direct line on the Apollo 's signal were the ones in Australia. The 200-foot-diameter radio dish at the Parkes facility manag to withstand freak 70 mph gusts of wind and successfully captured the footage, which was converted and relayed to Houston. " ]

[ "How to keep dogs safe on the fourth of july?", "## Beforehand\n\n1. Ensure that your pet’s information is up to date. Many dogs escape when they are startled by fireworks. If your pet doesn’t have a collar with a tag that has contact information on it, as well as a microchip with your current information, now is the time to get them. Your collar should fit securely but comfortably; it should be snug enough that it won’t be easily caught on a branch or other such thing, but not so tight as to make it uncomfortable for your dog to wear it. Be certain that it doesn't restrict your dog’s airflow – you should be able to fit two fingers between your dog’s collar and neck. There should be a tag that ensures the dog does not have rabies and another with your name and phone number on it. A microchip is a tiny transponder that uses radiofrequency waves to transmit information on the chip about your pet when scanned. It is implemented painlessly just under the skin using a large-bore needle by veterinarians and some shelters. Once your dog has a microchip, you must register with the company the microchip is made by; now, if your dog arrives at a shelter, (s)he will be scanned and the microchip will give the shelter your phone number to contact you with. Your microchip must have recent contact information; if it does not, simply contact the microchip company to update your information.\n2. Brush up on your dog’s training. Your dog should have basic obedience training, and should easily respond to you. The most vital commands to train are walking on a leash, “come,” and “leave it,” in addition to crate training. If your puppy is young and hasn’t been leash trained, and you intend to bring the dog to parades/parties/fireworks displays, now is the time to do this. For information on leash training, read this wikiHow article. Your recall command should be rock-solid. If your dog runs off in reaction to fireworks, or after an interesting smell, you must be able to recall him. A related command is “stay”; for information on teaching this, read this article. During parties or parades, your dog is likely to come across yummy food that’s unhealthy for him to eat. To prevent him from eating anything he shouldn't, your “leave it” command should be very good. Another useful, related command is “drop it”; for information on teaching this, read this article. A crate is a useful tool during 4th of July celebrations, serving both to safely contain the dog and often calm him/her. For information on crate training, read this article.\n3. Plan your party carefully. Choose decorations carefully – glow sticks, which are both toxic for dogs and enticingly similar to colorful chew toys, are particularly dangerous. As beer and other human food and drink are toxic for dogs, decide on a place to keep your dog(s) during the party, such as in the house if the party is in the yard. If the dog is friendly and would like to stay with the people, consider keeping him with you leashed; contained by keeping him in a room with a baby gate barring passage if the party is inside; or securely tying him to a tree, fence, or other secure object if the party is outside. Before the party, research what foods are toxic to dogs. For information on avoiding foods toxic to dogs, read this article.\n4. Contact a veterinarian. For owners of dogs that are extremely reactive to fireworks or other typical Independence Day activities, the best option may be to discuss ways to help your dog with an experienced veterinarian. Topics to discuss include reducing stress for older dogs and the option of sedating the dog using safe drugs.\n5. Consider moving your dog. If your dog is extremely stressed by Independence Day activities, the best option may be to move him to another place for the duration of the celebrations or during the most active part (such as a parade). It may be possible to locate a “doggy hotel,” friend or relative in a quiet rural area willing to keep the dog; however, expect there to be at least some amount of fireworks or parties, and it can be difficult to locate a business or person willing to care for your dog during the celebrations.\n6. Investigate products that may serve to calm your dog. A commercial product of “anxiety wrap,” has been used with great success. Created by behavioral experts, such an item can calm dogs in a manner similar to swaddling an infant. A crate can be very useful, as stated above. As wolves naturally occupied dens, a dog will find comfort in his own “den,” or a crate. To increase the darkness, cover the crate with a blanket, leaving part of it uncovered so the dog can see passing people and breathe fresh air. It is possible to purchase relaxing auditory CDs that have been clinically researched to calm anxious dogs; these can be helpful for calming dogs frightened by Independence Day celebrations. Ask your veterinarian for more advice.\n\n\n## Party\n\n1. Secure your dog in the pre-decided place, if applicable. If he is going into a crate, place the crate in a quiet area of the house and put a safe bone, favorite toy, or other treats inside to occupy the dog. The dog will go in for the treat; once he or she is in, drape a dark-colored blanket over the crate to create darkness. Praise him and close windows and doors; you can also play a TV, radio, iPod, etc. to cover the sound of the party, or use the soothing music. If the dog is staying in the house, choose a room where the dog will be able to see the people but which people will not enter (for example, an office or study). Leave something to keep him occupied, and consider playing music/etc.\n2. If the dog will be staying with you, keep him away from food. Avoid tables, where scraps can lay or food can sit tantalizingly close. If a guest offers your dog food, politely inform your guest that human food can be toxic for dogs and that you would prefer for your dog not to eat any. Guests, especially children, might ask you if they can walk or pet the dog; if they do, tell them that feeding the dog food is not allowed. Do not leave the dog unattended – this is particularly dangerous outside, where stray fireworks can land or the dog can bolt from if fireworks go off or there is another loud noise.\n3. Stay calm and alert. You’ll want to be on the lookout for anything that could scare your dog, but keep in mind that your dog can sense your emotions and will often copy them. For example: If you’re on edge and nervous, your dog will sense this and be on edge and nervous as well. Clearly, you can’t control your guests’ behavior, but take the following precautions:\n\t* Stay aware of the effect of the party’s tone on your dog. If your dog starts to become anxious or overly active, the best option can be to put him in a separate room, crate, etc. Ask kids to play away from your dog. Children running around can be especially upsetting for a dog, and it’s a good idea to ask any kids upsetting your dog to quiet down or play in a separate area.\n4. Watch out for stray fireworks. These are an unfortunate danger in places where fireworks have been set off or have been set off nearby, and it’s wise to stay on guard for any, as fireworks are unpredictable and can be highly dangerous.\n\n\n## Parade\n\n1. Consider leaving your dog at home. Parades can be stressful, and often the best option is to leave him at home in a crate or room, as described in the section on parties. If you don’t want to leave your dog alone, another option is to leave him with friends or family not attending. However, if you do decide to bring your dog with you, follow the steps below to keep your dog as calm and safe as possible.\n2. Purchase or gather the supplies you may need. These include:\n\t* A crate for securing your dog. A secure leash and collar. A harness or controlling item such as a head collar might be preferred, as your dog may pull. A muzzle. This is a necessary safety precaution, as the sights and sounds of a parade can distress your dog to the point of biting. A collapsible water bowl and water. Your pet must be kept hydrated, as should you.\n3. Introduce your dog to the parade gradually. Though you likely won’t be able to follow through a complete desensitization due to lack of time, you can introduce your dog gradually – at first, simply allow him to adjust to the sight, smell, and noise of the crowd at a closer and closer distance, and the parade using the same rules.\n4. Keep your dog under control. You should only bring a dog to a parade if he has been obedience trained, but even if he has been, keep a closer eye on your dog than usual. Watch for signs that your dog is uneasy or upset; if the parade upsets your dog too much, you can take him away from the parade or, if possible, set up a crate in a secure location.\n5. Keep your dog as safe as possible. Keeping your dog in a car is never a safe option, as the heat can give your dog heatstroke – or even kill him – and water must be provided regularly to prevent heat stroke and keep your dog hydrated. Read this article for information on treating heat stroke.\n\n\n## Firework show\n\n1. Consider leaving your dog at home. As with parades, fireworks can be upsetting and even dangerous for dogs. Dogs who are startled by them can run off and escape, and, even if they have an up-to-date tag and microchip, are not guaranteed to be found or returned. Optionally, you can consult a veterinarian for information on drugging your dog, but in general, bringing your dog is discouraged, and should only be done if your dog:\n\t* Has heard fireworks before and did not strongly react to them;\n\t* Has an up-to-date tag and microchip;\n\t* Has basic obedience training; “come” in particular must be rock-solid; and\n\t* Is calm around crowds, playing kids, other dogs, and various other features of fireworks.\n2. Gather your supplies. These are the same as in the section on parades.\n3. Train your dog. If your dog appears anxious, do not reassure him – this will reward him for bad behavior, as in essence he is receiving a yummy treat when he is afraid, telling him that he should be afraid. Instead, give him attention and a treat whenever he is calm; you are now telling him that being calm is good. Use small treats easily swallowed with a strong scent to distract the dog.\n4. Keep an eye on your dog. Signs of anxiety include the dog licking his lips, whimpering, a tense position, and showing the whites of his eyes; if these occur, quietly and calmly remove the dog from the situation. Keep your dog hydrated; bring along a collapsible water bowl and bottles of water and offer water to your dog occasionally. Keep in mind that he may be too stressed to drink – if this happens, the best option may be to remove your dog from the situation. If your dog is calm, you can distract him with treats, a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter, a favorite toy, or any other desirable object.\n5. Be prepared to leave. If your dog is too stressed by the fireworks, the best option is to immediately leave for your home. If you’re attending the fireworks with others, tell them in advance that you may have to leave if your dog becomes too anxious. At home, have a crate set up in the same manner described in the section on parties. Keep in mind that a car is not a safe option for putting your dog in, as the heat levels can kill him/her; instead, the safest option is to leave with your dog and place him in the crate. Once he’s settled in, you can return to the fireworks and have fun.\n" ]

[ "write a verse to an (un)finished epic poem.", "Anthony galloped toward the foul beast.\nAs brave and strong, he felt no fear in the least.\nTen men, ten swords fell,\nOne swipe of Anthony's sword, their story they would never tell\nSoon, against our hero left just one,\nThe foul demon Nashbar, terrible claws eating the sun.\nForward, the hero charged, on a golden steed,\nHe killed it dead, cut off it's head, and left the vultures to feed.\nSo remember my son, though small and weak,\nAll a hero ever needs, Bravery, and a quest to seek." ]

[ "Why aren't python nested functions called closures?", "A closure occurs when a function has access to a local variable from an enclosing scope that has finished its execution. For example, \n\n```\ndef make_printer(msg):\n def printer():\n print(msg)\n return printer\nprinter = make_printer('Foo!')\nprinter()\n```\n\nWhen `make_printer` is called, a new frame is put on the stack with the compiled code for the `printer` function as a constant and the value of `msg` as a local. It then creates and returns the function. Because the function `printer` references the `msg` variable, it is kept alive after the `make_printer` function has returned.\nSo, if your nested functions don't\n\n* access variables that are local to enclosing scopes,\n* do so when they are executed outside of that scope,\n\nthen they are not closures.\n\nHere's an example of a nested function which is not a closure.\n```\ndef make_printer(msg):\n def printer(msg=msg):\n print(msg)\n return printer\nprinter = make_printer(&quot;Foo!&quot;)\nprinter() # Output: Foo!\n```\nHere, we are binding the value to the default value of a parameter. This occurs when the function `printer` is created and so no reference to the value of `msg` external to `printer` needs to be maintained after `make_printer` returns. `msg` is just a normal local variable of the function `printer` in this context.", "If we are going to go by the strictest functional programming definitions, are your examples even functions? The point is moot, if you consider the return value to be None, but that is a whole other topic.", "Whether or not a blob of code is a closure depends on whether or not it closes over its environment, not what you call it. It could be a routine, function, procedure, method, block, subroutine, whatever. In Ruby, methods can't be closures, only blocks can. In Java, methods can't be closures, but classes can. That doesn't make them any less of a closure. Although the fact that they only close over *some* variables, and they cannot modify them, makes them next to useless. You could argue that a method is just a procedure closed over `self`. (In JavaScript/Python that's almost true.)", "Please define \"closes over\".", "\"closes over\" i.e. refers \"to a local variable [say, `i`] from an enclosing scope\". refers, i.e. can inspect (or change) `i`'s value, even if/when that scope \"has finished its execution\", i.e. the execution of a program has gone forth to other parts of the code. The block where `i` is defined is no more, yet function(s) referring to `i` still can do so. This is commonly described as \"closing over the variable `i`\". To not deal with the specific variables, it can be implemented as closing over the whole environment frame where that variable is defined." ]

[ "Is it worth patenting an algorithm if I don't have the money to defend against infringements?", "This is a great question, with no one right answer.\nThe strength of a patent comes from the ability to enforce it. If the patent owner cannot enforce it for whatever reason (such as a lack of funding), the patent is effectively toothless.\nBut your competitors will likely not know that. They may therefore be dissuaded from infringing simply by the existence of a patent and the assumption that you would sue. Such a chilling effect on competition may be valuable to you.\nIn addition, if there is infringement, you may be able to get a licensing agreement without the need for litigation. This can be a very lucrative business model, and so may justify the cost of patenting.\nAnd if litigation seems likely, there is a nascent field of litigation funding. While your funders will take quite a great deal of the damages, you may at least get something out of the end of it.\nFinally, even if you can't sue, someone else could. You might therefore get quite some value from selling it off at some point. There are a number of tech businesses where most of their value comes from their IP portfolio.\nOn the whole therefore it depends how you see yourself proceeding. If you're unsure, it may pay to err on the side of patenting: once you disclose or use your invention publicly, you're generally barred from patenting it later (but for a short grace period in some countries), whereas it's easy to abandon a patent (or application) later down the track if you wish." ]

[ "¿Cuál es la diferencia entre echo, print, print_r, var_dump y var_export en PHP?", "Aquí hay una descripción general de estas funciones de PHP:\n\n###echo\n\n* Muestra una o más cadenas separadas por comas\n* No tiene un valor de retorno\n* Ejemplo:\n```echo \"Cadena 1\", \"Cadena 2\";\n```\n\n###print\n\n* Muestra solo una simple cadena\n* Devuelve 1, por lo cual puede ser usada en una expresión\n* Ejemplos:\n```print \"Hello\";\nif($expresion && print \"Cadena\"){\n // Hacer algo\n}\n```\n\n###print_r()\n\n* Muestra una representación más entendible de un solo valor cualquiera\n* No solo acepta cadenas, también acepta arreglos y objetos formateándolos para ser visualizados de una forma más entendible\n* Puede devolver su valor de salida como un valor de retorno si le pasa ```true``` como su segundo argumento\n* Útil para la depuración\n\nEjemplo: Si tenemos el siguiente arreglo:\n```$a = array ('a' => 'manzana', 'b' => 'banana', 'c' => array ('x', 'y', 'z'));\nprint_r ($a);\n```\nNuestro ```print_r($a);``` nos devolverá algo como esto:\n```Array\n(\n [a] => manzana\n [b] => banana\n [c] => Array\n (\n [0] => x\n [1] => y\n [2] => z\n )\n)\n```\n\n###var_dump()\n\n* Muestra una representación más entendible de un valor cualquiera o más separados por comas\n* No solo acepta cadenas, también acepta arreglos y objetos formateándolos para ser visualizados de una forma más entendible\n* Usa un formato diferente al anterior ```print_r()```, por ejemplo, también muestra el tipo del valor\n* Útil para la depuración\n* No tiene un valor de retorno\n\nEjemplo: Si tenemos el siguiente arreglo:\n```$a = array(1, 2, array(\"a\", \"b\", \"c\"));\nvar_dump($a);\n```\nNuestro ```var_dump($a);``` nos devolverá algo como esto: (nótese que nos muestra el tipo de valor de cada elemento en nuestro arreglo)\n```array(3) {\n [0]=>\n int(1)\n [1]=>\n int(2)\n [2]=>\n array(3) {\n [0]=>\n string(1) \"a\"\n [1]=>\n string(1) \"b\"\n [2]=>\n string(1) \"c\"\n }\n}\n```\n\n###var_export()\n\n* Muestra una representación más entendible y ejecutable de un valor cualquiera\n* No solo acepta cadenas, también acepta arreglos y objetos formateándolos para ser visualizados de una forma más entendible\n* Usa un formato de salida diferente de ```var_dump()``` y ```print_r()```, la salida es un código de PHP válido\n* Útil para la depuración\n* Puede devolver su valor de salida como un valor de retorno si le pasa ```true``` como su segundo argumento\n\nEjemplo, si realizamos lo siguiente\n```class A {\n public $var;\n}\n$a = new A;\n$a->var = 5;\nvar_export($a);\n```\nObtendremos como resultado:\n```A::__set_state(array(\n 'var' => 5,\n))\n```\n\n###Notas\n\n* ```echo``` es mucho más rápido que ```print```\n* ```echo``` y ```print``` son constructores de lenguaje\n* ```print_r()``` y ```var_dump()``` son funciones\n* ```echo``` y ```print``` pueden recibir sus argumentos mediante paréntesis como una función ```echo(\"Hello\", \"world\");``` ó ```print(\"Hello World\");```\n" ]

[ "How do I concatenate multiple text files in Python?", "For large files:\n```\nfilenames = ['file1.txt', 'file2.txt', ...]\nwith open('path/to/output/file', 'w') as outfile: \n for fname in filenames: \n with open(fname) as infile: \n for line in infile: \n outfile.write(line)\n```\nFor small files:\n```\nfilenames = ['file1.txt', 'file2.txt', ...]\nwith open('path/to/output/file', 'w') as outfile:\n for fname in filenames:\n with open(fname) as infile:\n outfile.write(infile.read())\n```\nHope this helps!" ]

[ "The question bothers me since February 2022. Why (legally) are Russian combatants in Ukraine considered soldiers (thus POWs when captured) rather than terrorists?\n\n* There is no formal declaration of war.\n* They are members an organization (Russian military) that commits acts of terrors to civilian population in clear violation of international law of war. Moreover, they either directly or indirectly contribute to the mentioned acts of terror.\n* Their state (Russia) explicitly claims that there is no war (thus unilaterally waiving the protection of law of war for Russian forces).\n\nWhy is that particular group of armed people acting in clear violation of Ukrainian law treated as &quot;soldiers in war&quot; rather than state-sponsored criminals?\nNote, that waiving the protection of law of war does not waive the protection of Ukrainian law (right to due process etc.).", "The third Geneva convention says in its second article (emphasis added):\n> the present Convention shall apply to all cases of declared war or of any other armed conflict which may arise between two or more of the High Contracting Parties, even if the state of war is not recognized by one of them.\n> The Convention shall also apply to all cases of partial or total occupation of the territory of a High Contracting Party, even if the said occupation meets with no armed resistance.\n\nThe violence in Ukraine qualifies for at least two reasons: it is an armed conflict between two high contracting parties, and it is a case of partial occupation of the territory of a high contracting party. &quot;Members of the armed forces&quot; of Russia who have &quot;fallen into the power of [Ukraine]&quot; are therefore protected by the provisions of the convention as prisoners of war as defined in the convention's fourth article.\n\nIt follows from this that the parenthetical commentary in the question's third bullet point is incorrect: refusing to call this &quot;military action&quot; a &quot;war&quot; does not in fact &quot;unilaterally waive the protection of law of war for Russian forces.&quot;\n\nAs to the allegation in the second point, even a prisoner of war who is suspected of committing a war crime is entitled to the convention's protections. Any punishment for the war crime is to be imposed by due process of law. The fact that war crimes may have been committed by other elements of Russia's armed forces is even less of a justification to deny the convention's protections to prisoners who are not individually suspected of war crimes." ]

[ "After a ```git pull origin master```, I get the following message:\n\nwarning: Pulling without specifying how to reconcile divergent branches is\ndiscouraged. You can squelch this message by running one of the following\ncommands sometime before your next pull:\n git config pull.rebase false # merge (the default strategy)\n git config pull.rebase true # rebase\n git config pull.ff only # fast-forward only\nYou can replace &quot;git config&quot; with &quot;git config --global&quot; to set a default\npreference for all repositories. You can also pass --rebase, --no-rebase,\nor --ff-only on the command line to override the configured default per\ninvocation.\nremote: Enumerating objects: 4, done.\nremote: Counting objects: 100% (4/4), done.\nremote: Compressing objects: 100% (4/4), done.\nremote: Total 4 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 0\nUnpacking objects: 100% (4/4), 51.49 KiB | 850.00 KiB/s, done.\n\nThe pull seems successful, but I am unsure.\nWhat can I do to fix this?", "This is a new warning added in Git 2.27:\n\n* \"git pull\" issues a warning message until the pull.rebase configuration variable is explicitly given, which some existing users may find annoying---those who prefer not to rebase need to set the variable to false to squelch the warning.\n\nTo remove the warning, set one of the suggested values to your preferred default behaviour for git pull if you don't specify behaviour on the command line (using --ff, --no-ff, --ff-only, --rebase). In all cases, git will attempt a fast-forward merge if possible. The settings control what happens when there are changes in your branch but not present in the remote branch.\n\n```\n git config pull.rebase false # merge (the default strategy)\n```\nThis is the existing default behaviour; set this for no warning, and no change in behaviour; git will merge the remote branch into your local one.\n```\ngit config pull.rebase true # rebase\n```\n\nHere, git will attempt to rebase your changes on top of the remote branch. \n```\ngit config pull.ff only # fast-forward only\n```\nIf a fast-forward merge is not possible, git will refuse to proceed.\n> Refuse to merge and exit with a non-zero status unless the current HEAD is already up-to-date or the merge can be resolved as a fast-forward" ]

[ "Why is Gaia operating around Earth orbit? Why not send it to Neptune's orbit?", "Well, you thought about the spatial aspect of a parallax measurement, but not about the temporal one.\nGaia's intention is to measure 3D positions as well as 3D velocities. For the distance, you need accurate parallactic measurement, which come in with your orbital period.\nFor a typical Gaia-star with several measurement per year, you'll get 5 values of the parallax after 5 years of time, which you then average. If you'd send Gaia towards Neptune (besides the fact that no one has ever sent an orbiter, to say nothing of a L2 mission that far out) that has a period of 168 years, then after 5 years you'd get... 5/168 th of one paralactic measurement.\nIt simply couldn't achieve its science goals if put around the L2 behind Neptune. Also no one on this planet has any experience in putting something into a outer system L2 point. This is different than putting it into Earth's L2, because reaching the L2 around one of the giants has vast and very precise $\\Delta v$ requirements. This would be a massive technological leap, and things don't work that way in space. Small, incremental technological steps are required in an anyways unfriendly environment, to make sure everything works properly and no millions of dollars have been wasted.\nCompare that to Gaia's predecessor, the Hipparcos satellite, which was parked in geostationary orbit.\nNow you could still say, why not use Jupiter hypothetically anyways. Well, the orbital period there is still 11 years, and Jupiter's L2 still suffers from the intense radiation environment that is provided by Jupiter's magnetosphere. This would lead to rapid degradation of the CCDs used for scanning across the sky." ]

[ "I want to sum a list of Integers. It works as follows, but the syntax does not feel right. Could the code be optimized?\n```Map integers;\nintegers.values().stream().mapToInt(i -> i).sum();\n```", "This will work, but the `i -> i` is doing some automatic unboxing which is why it \"feels\" strange. `mapToInt` converts the stream to an `IntStream` \"of primitive int-valued elements\". Either of the following will work and better explain what the compiler is doing under the hood with your original syntax:\n```\nintegers.values().stream().mapToInt(i -> i.intValue()).sum();\nintegers.values().stream().mapToInt(Integer::intValue).sum();\n```\nThe other simple option is `BigDecimal sum = numbers.stream().reduce(BigDecimal.ZERO, BigDecimal::add);`." ]

[ "How to start a food delivery business?", "Food-delivery businesses are a popular and fast-growing field. These businesses typically thrive in college towns, large cities, or other areas where large populations of adults are willing to pay to have food from restaurants delivered to them. The basic business model for this type of business is to approach local restaurants and ask to deliver their food, then charge a small commission for your company's profit. Build a small fleet of delivery drivers, and set up a website or app that your clients can use to order.\n\n## Strategizing and register your business\n\n1. Structure your business as an LLC to protect your finances. There are a variety of ways to structure a small business, but an LLC is one of the most common since it allows you to keep personal finances and business finances separate. To form your LLC, you'll need to file “Articles of Incorporation” with your state's secretary of state. Also, make sure that your company's name ends in “LLC” and open a bank account under the company's name. Most LLCs are “member-managed,” meaning that all of the LLC's owners take an equal share in managing the company. If you were to not structure your business as an LLC, the bank (or other debtors) could come after your personal finances and savings if your business went bankrupt.\n2. Find a source to finance your business if necessary. When you're starting up your business, you may need financing in order to purchase delivery vehicles, rent office space, and pay for insurance and permits. If this is the case, finance your business by taking out a bank loan. Or, see if you can find prospective investors who may be interested in a chunk of your company's future stock. On the other hand, if you have several thousand dollars in savings and plan to start with just 2–3 drivers (with their own vehicles) and yourself, you probably don't need any financing.\n3. Select a catchy name that will stick in your customers' minds. You only get 1 chance to name your business, so make sure to select a name that describes your company. The name itself should also clue people in to some of your business's selling points. A clever name is also a great way to set yourself apart from some of your competitors. For instance, if you want to alert potential customers to your affordably-priced meals, use a word like “affordable” or “budget” in your company name. Avoid bland or forgettable names like “Chicago Lunch Delivery.” Instead, try something snappier, like, “On-Time People Food Delivery,” “Sandwich in a Crunch Delivery,” or “Fine Dining 2 You Food Delivery.”\n4. Register your business with your state and local governments. Before you can begin conducting any business, you'll need to register your delivery company. Specifically, you need to register the business name with your local (and maybe state) government. If you live in the U.S., start the registration process by visiting the website for the secretary of state for the state you reside in. You'll also need to register to obtain a federal tax ID number. Registering your business name prevents others from using it. Registration also ensures that you'll receive legal and tax benefits as well as personal liability protection.\n5. Buy general liability insurance and any other kinds your state requires. Nearly all large insurance companies offer general liability business insurance. Speak to a representative from the company of your choice and ask them what level of insurance you're required to have in order to comply with state guidelines. Besides general liability, many states also require that you obtain workers' compensation insurance to protect the livelihoods of your employees.\n6. Obtain the required permits and licenses to operate in your state. If you live in the U.S., the licenses and permits you'll need in order to run a food-delivery business will vary from state to state. The state permits you need will also with your business's location and activities. Figure out which permits and licenses you'll need by checking out your state's secretary of state website. Your insurance company representative should also be able to advise you regarding the permits you'll need to file for. There may also be various fees associated with obtaining the permits and licenses. Unless you're planning to deliver alcoholic beverages, you shouldn't need to obtain any federal licenses.\n7. Calculate an operating budget for your delivery business. Add up all of your business's prospective expenditures, including renting office space (if applicable), driver salaries, insurance, and gas/vehicle costs. Offset these by calculating your business's prospective income. Figure out how much money you can afford to spend on a monthly basis without going into the red. You can further break the budget up by separating necessary expenses (e.g., rent) from optional expenses (e.g., extra advertising) and finding ways to spend less on the optional expenses. As with any kind of business startup, you won't begin turning a profit right away. It may take a couple of years. Broadly speaking, startup costs for a food-delivery business average between $3,000-$25,000 USD. In most cases, this money will need to come out of your pocket. Also factor your employees' salaries into your budget. While you may start out paying delivery drivers minimum wage, advertising and graphic-design specialists will need salaries. Do some research online to calculate reasonable salary amounts that exceed the annual cost of living in your area.\n\n\n## Partner and arrange deliveries\n\n1. Cater to a specific market and demographic that you'd like to work with. Consider your potential client base. This will influence the type of restaurants that you approach about delivering their food. If you're undecided, drive around the area you live in and take note of the types of restaurants—and restaurant clients—that you see. Especially when you're first starting out, it makes sense to capitalize on the food markets that are already in place. This will also help you find a niche for your business, rather than attempting to serve too broad of a market. For example, ask yourself things like:\n\t* Do you want to sell cheap eats to hungry college kids? Or would you rather deliver gourmet meals to upscale town home residents? Alternately, would you prefer to deliver affordable lunches to businesspeople in an office-heavy district?\n2. Map out the delivery area that you'd like to serve. Whether you live in a large city or are delivering in a rural area, you'll need to decide on a reasonably-sized delivery area. Clients will expect your company to deliver their food promptly (within, say, 15–30 minutes), so you can start by setting a 15-minute radius around your delivery headquarters. Pick 2 or 3 neighborhoods and expand from there. Honing in on 1 or 2 specific parts of town is a great way to build a niche for your business. Even if people across town haven't heard of your company, people in the neighborhoods you cater to will be familiar with your delivery service! You can also decide on a delivery area based on the location of the people you hope to deliver to. For example, if you'll deliver fast lunches to busy businesspeople, look into focusing on densely-concentrated business centers or corporate campuses. Or, if you want to deliver late-night food to college kids, center your deliveries around student housing and affordable apartments in student-heavy areas of town.\n3. Meet with restaurant managers to discuss delivery partnerships. Start small by selecting 2 or 3 local restaurants that you think would appeal to your target audience. Ideally, the restaurants should be centrally located within your delivery area. Call and ask to meet with the manager. When you meet, explain that you're starting a food-delivery business to a lucrative audience and that you'd like to deliver their food. Explain to the managers that you won't be taking money from them; rather, you'll be establishing a partnership that should increase their profits. For example, if you're focusing on an upscale audience, start out by delivering food from a local 3- and 4-star restaurants. Avoid reaching out to chain restaurants, and instead focus on a diverse representation of your city's fine dining. Make it clear to the restaurants that your company holds many of the same values that their does. For example, explain that your company cares about healthy food access and food sustainability. Also ask each manager for a copy of the restaurant's menu to post on your website.\n4. Set a reasonable commission to receive on each order delivered. Food-delivery businesses make money by receiving a commission from the orders they deliver. But, the restaurants still need to make money off of the food they sell. When you sit down with each restaurant manager, hash out a commission amount that will let you keep your business afloat but not keep the restaurant from making profits. Try calculating various commission percentages based on the total amount of sales you hope to make in 1 month. The restaurant itself will pay the commission to your food-delivery business. For example, you may figure out that a 15% commission allows both you and the restaurant(s) to turn a profit. On the other hand, a 20% commission might cut too deeply into the restaurant's profits and a 10% commission might not allow your company to balance its budget.\n5. Choose a flat-rate delivery fee to charge customers on all orders. A flat-rate delivery fee, paid by your customers, will help your business turn a profit and can be used to pay your drivers. Select a low enough dollar amount that it won't deter customers from ordering food in the first place! Setting a delivery fee of $5–7 USD would be a good starting point. It would also be wise to set a minimum order amount. For example, you could require that customers pay at least $15 USD for their delivered meal.\n6. Designate a location to serve as the hub of your delivery business. Your business will need to have a headquarters, from which you can dispatch drivers and too which they'll return after each delivery. It's fine if this location is initially in your garage or out of the back of your apartment. However, as the company grows, be on the lookout for cheap office space or a cheap storefront to rent. This will allow you to expand and grow the business. Specify this primary location on your business cards and website so your customers know roughly where you're based. As your company grows, you can also set up offices for on-site personnel who aren't directly associated with food delivery (e.g., web specialists and advertisers).\n7. Hire delivery drivers who can start delivering food to clients. Delivery drivers will form the backbone of your delivery company, so you'll need to hire several before you can start delivering food. When you bring in the prospective drivers to interview them, make sure that each of the drivers has their own car and a legal driver's license. Ask the prospective hires about their availability, and make sure they understand that the majority of their working hours would fall on nights and weekends. It would also be wise to run a background check on each of the drivers to make sure they don't have a criminal history. If you're a student or live in a college town, try posting “Help Wanted” ads in your student or local newspaper. If you'd like to hire more drivers—say, 20–30 people—post a job ad online in forums like Indeed and Monster to attract many applicants.\n8. Post job ads and hire people to fill other key company positions. Your food-delivery business will need an accountant to handle financial issues and a graphic-design specialist to come up with a company logo and design the website. As your driver base grows, you may need someone to oversee all of the drivers and manage their schedules, and someone to handle PR with the restaurants. Try posting job ads online through LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed to find qualified individuals to hire. If you're starting the business out as a tiny, at-home operation, you may be able to fill all of these positions by yourself initially. However, the sooner you hire other employees, the faster your business will be able to grow and profit.\n\n\n## Deliver food and advertise your business\n\n1. Develop a website that lets users select a restaurant and purchase food. When your business is first starting out, the website can be straightforward. It should clearly present the different restaurant options whose food your business can deliver. After users select an option, the website can present the delivery options, each marked clearly with a price tag. Then, let users select their delivery address and entire their payment info to conclude each order. Design your website so that it's visually appealing and user friendly. If you don't know anything about coding, don't worry. There are plenty of website hosting pages that let you build websites for free. Check out options like Wix and WordPress.\n2. Create a companion app that functions similarly to the website. Many users—especially younger people—prefer to order their food via app, rather than using a web browser. It's okay if you launch your business without the app in place, but aim to get the app up and running within the first 6 months. Like the webpage, the app should allow customers to select their restaurant and food options, input a delivery address, and pay using a credit card. The Apple and Android app stores are the most popular, so start by making your app available on those markets. Let users download the app for free at first. Once your business starts turning a profit and becomes well known, you can charge for the app if you like.\n3. Establish pickup and delivery workflows for incoming orders. The workflow process should be streamlined and set in stone before you start taking orders. Once a customer places an order online, someone from your business will need to call the respective restaurant and place the order. Then, dispatch a driver to pick up the food and deliver it to the customer. If the restaurants you're working with have sophisticated-enough computer systems, you may also be able to link their computers with the app and website directly. This will save you (or another employee) from having to relay customers' orders over the phone.\n4. Market your business through social media accounts. Social media is a great—and free—way to spread the word about your up-and-coming food-delivery business. Start with Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Reach out and like, follow, and friend people you know on all 3 platforms. Then, start posting! You can post pictures of your drivers, photos of tasty-looking meals, and screenshots of your website. Invite customers to leave positive reviews of your business in the “Comments” section of Facebook and Instagram to build up your online credibility. You could also advertise your business in local papers, or create a radio ad to air on local stations.\n5. Advertise your business through flyers and physical mailers. Online advertising is great, but you should have physical ads as well. Print out flyers and staple or tape them to telephone poles throughout the neighborhoods you'd like to deliver food to. Also try plastering your company's logo all over your delivery containers and menus! Consider printing stickers that have your company's name or logo on them, and placing 1 or 2 in each delivery bag.\n6. Post ads at the locations of restaurants you've partnered with. As long as you're already in business with 2–3 restaurants around town, take advantage of their store space by putting up ads. For example, pin a few flyers on the store bulletin board. Or, ask the store if they can paint their windows to display your company's logo or name. You could even see if the store would be willing to pass out your fliers with every order they sell. Of course, make sure to get the store manager's permission before putting up any ads.\n7. Place advertisements in local community papers and newsletters. You want to get your company's advertisements in front of as many people's eyes as possible. Community newsletters and locally-circulated papers are great venues to use. They're cheaper to advertise in than widely-circulated papers. Plus, you can target your advertisements to the specific areas you'd like to deliver food to. For example, say you often deliver breakfasts and lunches to a large corporate campus. Reach out to the campus administrator and find out if they have an employee newsletter than you could place an ad in.\n" ]

[ "Quando devo fazer essa gravação direto no banco? \nQuais as situações?\nEu sei que posso gravar no banco o caminho da imagem.", "Além do custo ser mais alto como mencionado, deve-se levar em conta vários fatores:\n\n* Volume de dados: para um baixo volume de dados pode não haver problema. Por outro lado, para armazenamento de grande massa de dados o banco de dados é praticamente inviável. Pergunte ao Facebook ou ao Google se eles usariam banco. O Facebook, por exemplo, usa um sistema de arquivos personalizado para tornar o acesso mais rápido ainda e diminuir a o overhead por arquivo exigido pelos sistemas de arquivos tradicionais.\n* Clusterização: uma vantagem do banco de dados é no caso do seu sistema rodar em vários servidores, todos terão acesso uniforme aos arquivos. Porém, usar uma unidade na rede para armazenar os arquivos.\n* Disponibilidade: seu sistema vai ter muitos acessos? Isso pode sobrecarregar um banco de dados tradicional. Por outro lado, seu servidor HTTP pode usar as rotinas de acesso de baixo nível ao sistema de arquivos para enviar o stream de dados ao cliente.\n* Escalabilidade: se a demanda de volume ou disponibilidade aumentarem, será possível adicionar mais capacidade ao sistema? É muito mais fácil dividir arquivos entre servidores diferentes do que distribuir registros de uma tabela em mais servidores.\n* Flexibilidade: fazer cópias de segurança, mover arquivos de um servidor para outro, fazer algum processamento nos arquivos armazenados, tudo isso fica mais fácil se os arquivos estiverem num diretório. Se você faz o deploy em ambiente de cliente, os arquivos no disco não inviabilizam você de receber cópias do banco de dados para testes. Tente pedir para o seu cliente enviar terabytes de dados para você analisar se der algum problema no banco.\n* Overhead de leitura e gravação: o custo computacional para gravar e ler dados do banco de dados é maior do que para ler e gravar diretamente em um arquivo.\n\nExistem várias estratégias para escalar um sistema tanto em termos de disponibilidade quanto em volume. Basicamente essas estratégias consistem em distribui-los em vários vários servidores e redirecionar o usuário para cada um deles conforme algum critério. Os detalhes variam de implementação, tais como: estratégia de atualização dos dados, redundância, critérios de distribuição, etc.\nUma das grandes dificuldades em gerenciar arquivos fora do BD é que temos agora duas fontes de dados distintas e que precisam estar sempre em sincronia.\nDo ponto de vista de segurança, efetivamente há pouca diferença. Se um hacker pode comprometer um servidor, ele poderá ler tanto os arquivos gravados em disco do seu sistema quanto os arquivos do sistema de banco de dados. Se essa questão for crítica, uma alternativa é armazenar os dados criptografados.\nPorém, sempre que fiz a análise do melhor tipo de solução, o uso do sistema de arquivos sempre esteve em grande vantagem." ]

[ "I'm going to NeurIPS for the first time to present the first paper I've ever published. I'm afraid I'll be alone and overwhelmed by everyone. What should I do?", "Going to an academic conference for the first time may seem like a bewildering experience, but if done right, conferences are a wonderful opportunity to brainstorm with experts from around the world, present your work and get feedback, and make new friends. Here are some tips for improving your conference experience:\n* Reach out in advance to people who have inspired your work. If they are also attending the conference, you could try to find time with them and chat about your shared interests.\n* Show curiosity about other people's work. Ask people what they are working on, and listen intently.\n* Sign up for student volunteer programs. These usually save your lab some funds, but also provide a great opportunity for you to meet other students in the community.\n* Ask your advisor to introduce you to other researchers in the field.\n* At the same time, try to socialize outside of your lab to enhance your professional network.\n\nUltimately, it is important to remember that every first-conference attendee is probably feeling a bit shy too, and that taking the first step in starting a conversation will almost always be met with a big smile!" ]

[ "How to do a deep treatment?", "A deep moisturizing treatment, protein treatment, or hair mask, can be store bought or homemade. A deep treatment is a great way to improve dry or damaged hair because it moisturizes and strengthens the hair. Read on to learn how to apply one!\n\n## Basic deep treatment\n\n1. Obtain the deep treatment. You can buy one from a store or make your own see below for recipes in \"Related wikiHows\" that you can make at home.\n2. Wash your hair. The hair should be freshly washed before applying the treatment so it can soak in properly. Don't wait until your hair dries to apply the treatment.\n3. Apply the deep treatment to your whole head of hair. Use a comb or brush to distribute the product.\n4. Put your hair up in a towel turban, shower cap, heating cap, etc. This will keep the deep treatment on your hair, and not on your clothes.\n5. Wait for 15 minutes to an hour. Or you can sleep while wearing the deep treatment.\n6. Take the cap off, rinse your hair, and style as usual.\n7. Enjoy your soft, moisturized hair!\n\n\n## Avocado mask deep treatment\n\n1. Get your ingredients. For your deep conditioning mask, you'll need 1 egg-white, 1 avocado, a tablespoon of olive oil, and a tablespoon of honey. These measurements can be altered depending on how long and thick you hair is.\n2. Mix the ingredients. Using a blender or food processor, add all your ingredients and blend them on high until a creamy consistency has formed. If you don't have a blender, you can mash the ingredients together manually, but it will take a bit more time.\n3. Apply the mixture to your hair. Scoop some of the mask onto your fingertips, and spread it throughout your hair, focusing primarily on the ends of each strand. When you've used all of the mask, you can wrap your hair up in a shower-cap to prevent the mask from rubbing off on your clothes.\n4. Let the mask set. Leave the mask for 20-30 minutes to allow time for it to soak into your hair. You can leave it on for longer if you would like, but make sure that you wait at least 20 minutes.\n5. Rinse out the mask. Remove your shower-cap and run your hair under warm water in the shower. Using just the warm water, wash out all of the remaining mask. If you need to, you can use shampoo, but try to avoid it because it will dry out your hair again. When you're finished washing your hair out, dry your hair with a towel.\n6. Repeat the process. You can apply this mask to your hair 1-2 times a week for the optimal results. Otherwise, apply this avocado mask to your hair whenever it starts to appear dull, frizzy, or is dry and damaged to the touch.\n" ]

[ "What are the primary objections Democrats have to a border wall?", "It's not clear to me that Democrats are opposed to border-wall construction (your one source suggests they are fine with border walls/fences where necessary), so much as they opposed to some of the plans for full-border walls that have been put forth so far.\nRecently, in response to reports that the spending bill would include funding for a border wall, 5 Democratic senators released a letter voicing concerns over the cost, the effectiveness, and the legal issues of constructing it.\n\nWe are also concerned with reports that there may be an effort to include funding for a very expensive new wall along the southern border with Mexico and a “deportation force.” According to non-partisan experts, the proposed new border wall could cost as much as $25 million per mile and raises considerable issues that have not been resolved by the Congress or the Department of Homeland Security. First, many experts believe that such a border wall will not work. Second, there is real concern that the Administration, put simply, has no plan to build the border wall. For example, the Administration has not detailed how to 1) use eminent domain and other procedures to acquire land from private landowners and Native American tribes, 2) design the wall, 3) locate the wall, 4) construct the wall, and 5) require Mexico to pay for the wall given the President’s clear and repeated promises that he would force Mexico to do so. Finally, there are objections to the construction of a wall from Democratic and Republican members of Congress that represent border states. Given these and other concerns, we believe it would be inappropriate to insist on the inclusion of such funding in a must-pass appropriations bill that is needed for the Republican majority in control of the Congress to avert a government shutdown so early in President Trump’s Administration.\n[...]\nSenator Charles Schumer\nSenator Richard Durbin\nSenator Patty Murray\nSenator Debbie Stabenow\nSenator Patrick Leahy\n\nBased on this letter, it appears their main objections to a full border wall are currently the cost-benefit ratio and the legal issues of taking land from Americans to build it on; objections that may not be unique to Democrats." ]

[ "Can you make a wedding plan for me?", "Wishing you all of the love and happiness! To plan a wedding, here are some steps that you can start with:\n\n1. Daydream about your day.\nPlan a “meeting” with your partner. Before the meeting, both of you should prepare at least two inspiration images and your ideas for the following: location, theme, colors, food and activities.\n\n2. Set your budget.\n\n3. Bring in backup. \nWhen it comes to learning how to plan a wedding, the most important step is realizing that you and your partner can’t do it alone. \n* Hire a wedding planner. \n* Ask for help from family and friends. \n* Utilize technology and resources. \n\n4. Choose a wedding date as soon as you can.\n\n5. Pick your wedding party.\nMaid of honor. Best man. Groomsmen and women. Bridesmaids and bridesmen. Decide who among your close friends and family you want to be with you throughout your wedding. \n\n6. Build your guest list.\nA good way to start sorting who you want to invite is by going through the contact list on your phone, as well as who you’re following/interacting with on your most-used social media platforms. \n\n7. Choose your wedding ceremony location.\n\n8. Choose your wedding venue.\nPopular wedding venue types include: barn, farm, garden, park, vineyard, vintage, beach and hotel/resort.\n\n9. Decide on the wedding’s theme, decor, and details.\nHere are a variety of popular themes, with decor and color ideas to match:\n* Romantic. \n* Formal. \n* Winter/holiday. \n* Rustic. \n* Nature-inspired. \n\n10. Choose your wedding invitations.\nIt’s traditional to send out cardstock invites, and it’s lovely to have a hardcopy invite to frame after the wedding. \n\n11. Research vendors.\nIf you’re planning the wedding yourself, vendors you’ll likely consider include: musician for the ceremony, DJ/band for the reception, photographer, videographer, catering service, hair/makeup, florist and officiant.\n\n12. Figure out what you’re going to wear.\n\n13. Choose the food and beverage for your wedding reception.\n\n14. Plan the before and after events.\nAs usual, the particulars depend on the size of your wedding, the logistics, and the complexity of the ceremony. These are the events you may prepare or need time for beyond the wedding: \n\n* Bachelor and bachelorette parties. \n* Rehearsal dinner. \n* Honeymoon. \n* Wedding after-party. \n* Next-morning brunch. \n\n15. Send out your invitations.\nThis is an exciting moment in the planning process. Once those invites are in the mail, or you pressed “send” on your digital invites, the big day starts to feel more real.\n\n16. Help out-of-town guests with accommodations.\n\n17. Choose your wedding rings.\n\n18. Touch base with the wedding team.\nCheck-in with all of the key people in your wedding. Talk to the wedding planner to see if there are any final details they need from you. Reach out to the venue and vendor teams so you know they’re all set. Give a call to family members and the wedding party to make sure everyone feels comfortable with the itinerary. And finally, prioritize a few relaxed evenings with each other before the wedding.\n\n19. Start the festivities and enjoy!\n\nYou know what to do from here. Congratulations!" ]

[ "I'm trying to set get id of all elements in an ```HTMLCollectionOf```. I wrote the following code:\n```var list = document.getElementsByClassName(\"events\");\nconsole.log(list[0].id);\nfor (key in list) {\n console.log(key.id);\n}\n```\nBut I got the following output in console:\n```event1\nundefined\n```\nwhich is not what I expected. Why is the second console output ```undefined``` but the first console output is ```event1```?", "You can't use ```for```/```in``` on ```NodeList```s or ```HTMLCollection```s. However, you can use some ```Array.prototype``` methods, as long as you ```.call()``` them and pass in the ```NodeList``` or ```HTMLCollection``` as ```this```.\nSo consider the following as an alternative to jfriend00's ```for``` loop:\n```var list= document.getElementsByClassName(\"events\");\n[].forEach.call(list, function(el) {\n console.log(el.id);\n});\n```\nThere's a good article on MDN that covers this technique. Note their warning about browser compatibility though:\n\n [...] passing a host object (like a ```NodeList```) as\n ```this``` to a native method (such as ```forEach```) is not guaranteed to work in\n all browsers and is known to fail in some.\n\nSo while this approach is convenient, a ```for``` loop may be the most browser-compatible solution.\nUpdate (Aug 30, 2014): Eventually you'll be able to use ES6 ```for```/```of```!\n```var list = document.getElementsByClassName(\"events\");\nfor (const el of list)\n console.log(el.id);\n```\nIt's already supported in recent versions of Chrome and Firefox." ]

[ "Let's say I have a function which takes an ```std::function```:\n```void callFunction(std::function x)\n{\n x();\n}\n```\nShould I pass ```x``` by const-reference instead?:\n```void callFunction(const std::function& x)\n{\n x();\n}\n```\nDoes the answer to this question change depending on what the function does with it? For example if it is a class member function or constructor which stores or initializes the ```std::function``` into a member variable.", "If you want performance, pass by value if you are storing it.\n\nSuppose you have a function called \"run this in the UI thread\".\n```std::future run_in_ui_thread( std::function )\n```\nwhich runs some code in the \"ui\" thread, then signals the ```future``` when done. (Useful in UI frameworks where the UI thread is where you are supposed to mess with UI elements)\nWe have two signatures we are considering:\n```std::future run_in_ui_thread( std::function ) // (A)\nstd::future run_in_ui_thread( std::function const& ) // (B)\n```\n\nNow, we are likely to use these as follows:\n```run_in_ui_thread( [=]{\n // code goes here\n} ).wait();\n```\nwhich will create an anonymous closure (a lambda), construct a ```std::function``` out of it, pass it to the ```run_in_ui_thread``` function, then wait for it to finish running in the main thread.\nIn case (A), the ```std::function``` is directly constructed from our lambda, which is then used within the ```run_in_ui_thread```. The lambda is ```move```d into the ```std::function```, so any movable state is efficiently carried into it.\nIn the second case, a temporary ```std::function``` is created, the lambda is ```move```d into it, then that temporary ```std::function``` is used by reference within the ```run_in_ui_thread```.\nSo far, so good -- the two of them perform identically. Except the ```run_in_ui_thread``` is going to make a copy of its function argument to send to the ui thread to execute! (it will return before it is done with it, so it cannot just use a reference to it). For case (A), we simply ```move``` the ```std::function``` into its long-term storage. In case (B), we are forced to copy the ```std::function```.\nThat store makes passing by value more optimal. If there is any possibility you are storing a copy of the ```std::function```, pass by value. Otherwise, either way is roughly equivalent: the only downside to by-value is if you are taking the same bulky ```std::function``` and having one sub method after another use it. Barring that, a ```move``` will be as efficient as a ```const&```.\nNow, there are some other differences between the two that mostly kick in if we have persistent state within the ```std::function```.\nAssume that the ```std::function``` stores some object with a ```operator() const```, but it also has some ```mutable``` data members which it modifies (how rude!).\nIn the ```std::function const&``` case, the ```mutable``` data members modified will propagate out of the function call. In the ```std::function``` case, they won't.\nThis is a relatively strange corner case.\nYou want to treat ```std::function``` like you would any other possibly heavy-weight, cheaply movable type. Moving is cheap, copying can be expensive." ]

[ "You are asleep on your boat on open sea. When you wake up you discover you have been robbed. A quick inspection of security cam footage reveals that the pirates who robbed you left your ship exactly an hour ago. The sea is flat, extends indefinitely, and is fully covered in a thick persistent fog. You have no idea in which direction the pirates fled. But you do know that these pirates always continue in a straight line at full speed away from their victim. Their maximum speed on open water is 20 nautical miles per hour. Your boat can reach 21 nautical miles per hour. \nHow do you catch the pirates?", "If we assume the ocean is flat and extends indefinitely in all directions, there is a strategy that guarantees we can catch the pirates in at most 800,000 years.\n\nPut our current location as the origin of a coordinate system. We will describe our position in polar coordinates, as a function of time: $(r(t),\\theta(t))$ (where we have arbitrarily chosen a direction to be $\\theta=0$, and $t=0$ is when we realized we had been robbed).\n\nWe begin by traveling in the $\\theta=0$ direction for 20 hours, putting our position at $(420, 0)$. We are then the same distance from the origin as the pirates. Next, we will travel in a spiral, in a manner so that $r'(t)=20$ at all times. This guarantees we will always be the same distance from the origin as the pirates. For $t\\geq 20$, we will have $r(t)=420+20(t-20)=20t+20$.\n\nOur speed is\n$$\n\\sqrt{(r')^2+r^2(\\theta')^2} = 21\\text{ mph},\n$$\nand $r'(t)=20$ for $t>20$, so\n$$\n\\theta'(t)=\\sqrt{\\frac{41}{r^2}}=\\frac{\\sqrt{41}}{20+20t}.\n$$\nIf there is a $t\\geq 20$ for which $\\theta(t)$ is the angle in which the pirates fled, we will catch them. This means we will certainly catch the pirates by the time $\\theta$ has increased from $0$ to $2\\pi$. If $t_0$ is the time this happens, we have\n$$\n2\\pi=\\int_{20}^{t_0}\\theta'(t)\\,dt=\\int_{20}^{t_0}\\frac{\\sqrt{41}}{20+20t}dt.\n$$\nSolving for $t_0$ gives\n$$\nt_0=21\\mathrm{exp}\\left(\\frac{40\\pi}{\\sqrt{41}}\\right)-1\\approx 7,005,043,026.\n$$\nThis means we can catch the pirates in at most 7,005,043,026 hours, or about 800 millennia. Better later than never!" ]

[ "I am a primary care physician. Write an email to my patient about her lab work results that her red blood cell count was a little low but should be fine, then ask her if she has reached the hospital to make an appointment.", "Hello [Patient Name],\n\nI got your lab work back. Your red blood cell count was just a little low, but everything else looked really normal.\n\nWe can talk more about the blood cell count at your upcoming appointment but I don't think there is any immediate concern. We can monitor it in the future. If you have prior blood cell count tests, it would be helpful if you can show it to me when you come in next week for your pap test.\n\nI see our care navigator sent your referral. Have you been able to reach out to the [Hospital Name]?\n\nLet me know if you have any questions.\n\nTake good care,\n[Your Name]" ]

[ "How to walk a slackline?", "## The basics\n\n1. Start with a short slackline. The shorter the distance between the two anchor points, the more stable the slackline. As the slackline gets longer, a few things happen:\n\t* The tension in the line increases, making dismounts more dangerous due to the extra force;\n\t* The height of the line off the ground increases to allow for greater sag when weighted;\n\t* It requires more force to tighten it, which can be difficult with some tightening systems.\n2. Place one foot lengthwise in the middle of the slackline. Starting barefoot is a good idea. Using bare feet will allow you to feel the line better and find your balance more quickly. Step on the line so that it runs from between your big toe and second toe back to the middle of the heel. As you improve, practice turning your feet and standing sideways, with your shoulders parallel to the line. Once you improve (or if the landing is not safe for bare feet), you may want to switch to shoes since they provide greater protection when attempting tricks and landing.\n3. You can mount the slackline at any point, but starting in the middle is generally safer, since it is usually away from obstacles you might hit when falling. The line is also lower to the ground in the middle once weighted, reducing the height of the falls. Practice from the same place each time since the slackline oscillates differently at different distances from the anchors. The wobbles are faster and smaller near the anchors and slower and larger near the middle. But wherever you start, it is going to wobble a lot. This is natural; everyone wobbles the first time.\n4. Take a couple deep breaths and settle yourself. If you are relaxed, your foot will be less shaky on the line.\n5. Focus intently on a single point, such as the anchor. This will help you find and keep your balance. Resist the temptation to look straight down at your feet on the line. Looking down at the wobbling line will simply make you wobble as well. Look ahead instead of down at the line.\n6. Put your arms out wide, slightly bent and keep an upright posture.\n7. Center your weight directly over the foot on the line. With one smooth, balanced motion stand up on that leg.\n8. Balance on one foot, while using your arms and other leg to help maintain your balance.\n9. Bend the leg that is on the slackline. Bending your leg lowers your center of gravity slightly, and allows you to more easily find your balance and absorb the movements of the line.\n10. Continue to wave your free arms and legs around to help you balance. Sometimes you will twist and turn your body into all sorts of positions to keep your balance. Once you have caught your balance slowly move your body back to center with your arms up and out, knee(s) bent, head up, and eyes focused on a single point.\n11. Repeat these steps until you can balance for at least 15 seconds.\n12. Practice with the other foot. Once you can keep your balance, attempt taking a step.\n13. Once you've successfully taken your first step, keep practicing!\n\n\n## Sample skill progression for beginners\n\n1. These are small steps you can take to improve your slack lining effectively, by slowly taking on harder and harder tasks. Mount the line on one foot with a friend sitting on the line. Increase the distance between you and the person sitting on the line. Balance on one foot by yourself. Balance on the other foot. Balance with both feet, one behind the other, on the line. Take small steps forward. Take small steps backwards. Mount the line sideways (shoulders parallel to the line) with both feet, one at a time. Turn on the line.\n2. Additionally, learn how to fall safely. As a beginner you will likely be on a short, low-to-the-ground slackline. Most of the time you can land on your feet. As you try new tricks, the slackline can \"throw\" you as you lose your balance. The best solution is to use the \"throw\" of the slackline to help you get away from the line and land on your feet. If you are thrown off-balance from the line consider rolling through the fall to limit the impact.\n3. You can also try starting with \"training wheels.\" One way to do so is to have a friend sit on the line a few feet away from you. This takes much of the sway and bounce out of the line. As you get better, have your friend move further away on the line to allow for more wobble. When starting out, you can aid each other while learning to balance--have a spotter stand/walk next to the line. If you practice walking back and forth with a shoulder to lean on, you’ll soon find that you don’t need training wheels any more!\n" ]

[ "If Dr. Seuss writes a horror story, what would the story be?", "Where are the monsters? The Snoogarf? The Pozzit? Under my bed, or hid in my closet?\nIs there a Woloon, with big sharp claws? A Schnogg, that instead of arms has saws?\nWhat if a Dord pierces me with its stinger? Oh please, anything but the dreaded Bombinger!\nMy parents reply, \"It's all in your head.\", but that's the idea that fills me with dread.\nI hear all their wispers, so it appears, if those aren't real, I can't trust my ears.\nI feel their hot breaths, so if those aren't real, I can't believe anything else that I feel.\nI see the slight twitch of a shadowy guise, so if that isn't real, can I trust my eyes?\nI smell their damp fur, and so it goes, if that isn't real, I can't trust my nose.\nI taste their hands that clamp my mouth shut, how can I have made all that up?\nMy parents turn and switch off the light, leaving me all alone for the night.\nI think to myself, maybe they're right. Maybe it's just the wind whispering tonight.\nMaybe I'm wrong, about the Schnogg. Maybe those floor marks are from the dog.\nMaybe the Dord din't make that squeek. After all, my house really does creak.\nFeeling a bit better, I lay down my head, ignoring the shadow thats over my bed.\nThat soft breathing sound is merely a breeze That blowing air vent is what just brushed my knees.\nNone of it's real, none of it's there, that isn't some horror thats touching my hair.\nI don't make a sound, not even a peep. Before I could scream I drifted to sleep." ]

[ "How to make a lesson plan to accommodate all of the learning difficulties in the classroom?", "It's important to note that accommodating all learning styles is not possible. If it was, schools would have to hire one teacher for each learning style, and that's not practical. Furthermore, there is little research that shows that accommodating learning styles improves student performance.\nThat being said, it is important to accommodate different learning needs. You can try to do this when you create a lesson plan to keep the students engaged:\n\n* Have clear objectives for each lesson and making sure to review these objectives before starting the lesson (this helps students know what is expected of them)\n* Have variety of activities to help students practice the skills being learned (this helps students with different learning styles practice the skills)\n* Have some flexibility in how the activities are completed (this helps students with different learning styles complete the activities in a way that works for them)\n* Have some extra help time built into the lesson to allow students to ask questions and receive extra help if needed (this helps all students, but especially those with learning difficulties)\n* Give students opportunities to work with each other to practice the skills (this helps all students, but especially those with learning difficulties)\n* Provide extra practice outside of class (this helps all students, but especially those with learning difficulties)\n\nI hope this helps!" ]

[ "In Adobe Photoshop I am able to select multiple layers at once with Shift+Click.\nHow can I do that in GIMP?", "It's not possible. The only thing you can do is link layers together or merge them. \nInstead, there are several alternative methods of handling multiple layers, each appropriate to a different task. You can chain layers to move or transform them, shift-click objects on different layers in the canvas to align them, or create a new layer based on all visible layers.\n\nInstructions:\n\n* Chaining Layers:\n 1) Make sure the Layers dialog box is open. If it is not, click on the Windows menu and select \"Dockable Dialogs\" > \"Layers.\" You can also hold down the \"Ctrl\" key and press \"L.\"\n 2) Hover your mouse between the Layer Visibility icon, which looks like an eye, and the layer thumbnail. A raised box will appear. Click this box to activate the chain.\n 3) Repeat this process on all of the other layers you wish to chain together. Once these layers are chained, you can move or apply transformation effects to all of them simultaneously.\n\n* Selecting for Alignment\n 4) Make sure the Toolbox is open. If it is not, click on the Windows menu and select \"Toolbox.\" You can also hold down the \"Ctrl\" key and press \"B.\"\n 5) Click on the Alignment Tool in the Toolbox. It looks like an empty rectangle with arrows pointing away from all sides of it.\n 6) Press and hold the \"Shift\" key while clicking on the layers in the canvas. Or click somewhere off the layers and drag a selection rectangle around them. Once you have selected these layers, you can choose an alignment method.\n\n* Merging Visible Layers\n 7) Make sure the Layers dialog box is open. If it is not, click on the Windows menu and select \"Dockable Dialogs\" > \"Layers.\" You can also hold down the \"Ctrl\" key and press \"L.\"\n 8) Click on the Visibility icon on any layer you do not want to include in your new layer. This will render that layer invisible.\n 9) Click on the Layers menu and select \"New from Visible.\"\n 10) Select the option that best describes how you want the layers to be merged from the dialog box that appears, and click \"Merge.\" This will merge all of the visible layers into a new layer but will not affect your original layers." ]

[ "You are a writer struggling to make ends meet that suddenly realizes a famous author is using time travel to steal your ideas. Write an email to him/her.", "Dear [Author Name],\n\nIt has come to my attention that you have published a series of books about the characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. I would like to know, sir, where you received your inspiration for these characters.\nWhen I was a young man, and an aspiring writer, I invented two characters who had a variety of adventures along the Mississippi River. Now, as you may have guessed, my characters names were Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. After reading your novels I have come to the conclusion that you somehow gained access to my notes. I do not have time to speculate on how you managed this, but I intend to find out.\nYou will contact me, inform me how and why you have stolen my characters, and acknowledge me in your works. I expect your response in a timely manner, or my lawyer will be contacting you.\n\nRegards,\n[Your Name]" ]

[ "How can I write colored text to the Windows console with C++? That is, how can I write different text with different colors?", "ANSI escape color codes are: 0=black 1=blue 2=green and so on to 15=white; colorattribute = foreground + background * 16. \nTo get red text on yellow use 4 + 14*16 = 228, light red on yellow would be 12 + 14*16 = 236.\n\nHere is an example for coloring text in the Windows console:\n```\n HANDLE hConsole = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);\n // you can loop k higher to see more color choices\n for(int k = 1; k < 255; k++)\n {\n // pick the colorattribute k you want\n SetConsoleTextAttribute(hConsole, k);\n cout << k << \" I want to be nice today!\" << endl;\n }\n```" ]

[ "Which is more widely supported: ```window.onload``` or ```document.onload```?", "When do they fire?\n```window.onload```\n\n* By default, it is fired when the entire page loads, including its content (images, CSS, scripts, etc.).\n\nIn some browsers it now takes over the role of ```document.onload``` and fires when the DOM is ready as well.\n```document.onload```\n\n* It is called when the DOM is ready which can be prior to images and other external content is loaded.\n\nHow well are they supported?\n```window.onload``` appears to be the most widely supported. In fact, some of the most modern browsers have in a sense replaced ```document.onload``` with ```window.onload```.\nBrowser support issues are most likely the reason why many people are starting to use libraries such as jQuery to handle the checking for the document being ready, like so:\n```$(document).ready(function() { /* code here */ });\n$(function() { /* code here */ });\n```\n\nFor the purpose of history. ```window.onload``` vs ```body.onload```:\n\n A similar question was asked on codingforums a while\n back regarding the usage of ```window.onload``` over ```body.onload```. The\n result seemed to be that you should use ```window.onload``` because it is\n good to separate your structure from the action.\n" ]

[ "A man is wrongly sentenced to death in Victorian England for supposedly killing a milk-maid, write a letter from him to his wife.", "To my beloved wife,\n\nTomorrow morning I will be taken to be hanged without any regret and with a clean conscience but I write this last letter as a plea to you for forgiveness and understanding. Please take my word dear wife, as I did not invite that maid into our home and I did not nor would I ever commit the sin of adultry with her. She just appeared in the parlor and did not comply with my requests to leave. When you appeared in the doorway my dear and saw us struggling it was only me trying to force her out of our home. I hoped that by confessing for your crime I would prove to you my love and devotion yet you havent sent me any word since I've been locked in this tower. I wish that you forgive me for any offense that you think I have ever commited against you. Never in my live would I willingly or knowingly do anything I thought might bring you harm or that may upset you. I would like it very much if you were there tomorrow, in the square so that I may gaze upon your face during my last moments, it is my only and final request.\nYour beloved husband, who will keep loving you in the next world as he has in this one." ]

[ "In D&D, how many attacks can a fighter with two-weapon fighting make at 5th level?", "Answer: 3 attacks on your turn (if you don't use Action Surge). (It could go up to five with Action Surge, though.)\n\nThe Two-Weapon Fighting rule states (PHB, page 195):\n\n>When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you’re holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you’re holding in the other hand. You don’t add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative. If either weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon, instead of making a melee attack with it.\n\nThe bonus action used as part of Two-Weapon Fighting is an attack, but it is not the Attack action.\nWhen you are a 5th-level fighter and you take the Attack action, you can make two attacks. You can also use your bonus action to make an additional attack. Notably, you can only take one bonus action per turn, since the rules for bonus actions state:\n\nYou can take only one bonus action on your turn, so you must choose which bonus action to use when you have more than one available.\n\nYou only add your ability modifier to the damage of that bonus-action attack if you have the Two-Weapon Fighting fighting style (PHB, page 72):\n\nWhen you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability\nmodifier to the damage of the second attack.\n\nTherefore, you are taking the Attack action (2 attacks) and then making an additional attack with your bonus action (1 attack), for a total of 3 attacks if you're using your action plus your bonus action. There's a clear difference between them.\nAction Surge lets a 5th-level fighter attack up to 5 times in one turn, once per short rest.\n\nThe description of the Action Surge feature says (PHB, page 72):\n\nStarting at 2nd level, you can push yourself beyond your normal limits for a moment. On your turn, you can take one additional action. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again. Starting at 17th level, you can use it twice before a rest, but only once on the same turn.\n\nWhich means that if you use Action Surge, you would have 2 actions and 1 bonus action on your turn.\nSo with this, you can take your Attack action (2 attacks), then use Action Surge and take another Attack action (2 more attacks), and finally your Two-Weapon Fighting bonus action (one more attack), for a total of 5 attacks during your turn." ]

[ "Would a bullet made from ice be capable of killing somebody at 100 metres before melting?", "The short answer is probably no.\nIt would either shatter because of the amount of force the weapon puts on it or melt because of the heat (in case of a regular combustion gun). The former has more chance of happening, before the ice even has the time to start melting.\nThe only way to shoot it without shattering it nor melting it, at least using weapons available to us, would be to use compressed air weapons, but it would need to be significantly powered down to prevent the bullet from shattering, so it would probably not be powerful enough to cause damage.\nThe force needed to break through one square inch of ice is roughly 400 pounds on average. The bullet you're trying to fire is probably 9mm, but let's just calculate as though it was about one square inch (although it's actually quite smaller than that): those 400 pounds equal roughly 1800N.\nThe force that comes out of a 9mm gun is approximately 383 ft-lbs, which equals to 520 newtons per metre. That amount is about 52000N per centimetre. One inch is about 2 and a half centimeters, so that means it's more about 20'800N per inch. As you can see, it's a lot more than what it takes to break ice.\nAs for the \"wall\" towards which something has to be pushed in order to break it, the air will fulfill the role: the atmospheric pressure is about 15 pounds per square inch: it doesn't seem like a lot, but in the time it takes the bullet to win this force and gain momentum, it gets shattered by the enormous amount of energy produced by the weapon.", "what makes you think it would shatter? The force distribution over the back end of the projectile should be fairly even, so i don't quite see that happening. Also, the barrel holds it together while the force is applied.", "The fact is that a bullet made of ice is significantly less elastic than a regular one, and it wouldn't be able to dissipate the thrust force fast enough. A lead bullet (or whatever metal) gets deformed by the explosion (and gets compressed) and, due do the elasticity of metal, goes back to its original shape. An ice bullet, instead, would not modify its structure and, in the first few milliseconds after the gun is fired, the bullet will be shut between the power of the explosion and the pressure of the air coming from outside the barrel, and without being able to compress, it will shatter." ]

[ "To set the minimal distance between flexbox items I'm using ```margin: 0 5px``` on ```.item``` and ```margin: 0 -5px``` on container. For me it seems like a hack, but I can't find any better way to do this.\n\n\n```#box {\n display: flex;\n width: 100px;\n margin: 0 -5px;\n}\n.item {\n background: gray;\n width: 50px;\n height: 50px;\n margin: 0 5px;\n}```\n```\n \n \n \n \n```\n\n\n", "This solution will work for all cases even if there are multiple rows or any number of elements. But the count of the section should be same you want 4 in first row and 3 is second row it won't work that way the space for the 4th content will be blank the container won't fill.\nWe are using ```display: grid;``` and its properties.\n\n\n```#box {\n display: grid;\n width: 100px;\n grid-gap: 5px;\n /* Space between items */\n grid-template-columns: repeat(4,1fr);\n /* Decide the number of columns(4) and size(1fr | 1 Fraction | you can use pixels and other values also) */\n}\n.item {\n background: gray;\n width: 100%;\n /* width is not necessary only added this to understand that width works as 100% to the grid template allocated space **DEFAULT WIDTH WILL BE 100%** */\n height: 50px;\n}```\n```\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n```\n\n\n\nThe Downside of this method is in Mobile Opera Mini will not be supported and in PC this works only after IE10.\nNote for complete browser compatability including IE11 please use Autoprefixer\n\nOLD ANSWER\nDon't think of it as an old solution, it's still one of the best if you only want single row of elements and it will work with all the browsers.\nThis method is used by CSS sibling combination, so you can manipulate it many other ways also, but if your combination is wrong it may cause issues also.\n```.item+.item{\n margin-left: 5px;\n}\n```\nThe below code will do the trick. In this method, there is no need to give ```margin: 0 -5px;``` to the ```#box``` wrapper.\nA working sample for you:\n\n\n```#box {\n display: flex;\n width: 100px;\n}\n.item {\n background: gray;\n width: 22px;\n height: 50px;\n}\n.item+.item{\n margin-left: 5px;\n}```\n```\n \n \n \n \n```\n\n\n" ]

[ "I'm pretty disappointed with my horse. He wasn't cheap -- 1000g -- but he just doesn't seem that fast. To make things worse, he's a bit of a wolf magnet and every time I get attacked I have to tediously dismount, blast the wolf, and then remount.\nIs the speed of a horse actually significantly faster than normal running speed? If so, how much faster?", "Don't forget that you can sprint with a horse. It might be that you know that you can sprint on your character, but not on your horse. Please note that your horse is also able to sprint using stamina. You can do this using the default Alt key.\n\nHorses are indeed faster, transportation was simplified.\nSince Oblivion, they took Acrobatics and Athletics skills away, thus you can't improve your speed in such way anymore that it would be faster than a horse. The speed improvements by not being Fatigued and not being overweight are not enough to be significant.\n\nAll horses in Skyrim have the same speed and hardiness, they are all draft types that resemble a Clydesdale, and all cost 1000 septims.\n— Wikia - Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Horse\n\nAll horses in Skyrim are the same, seems that they wanted to simplify the whole transportation idea.\n\nRestrictions apply on both your character and horse.\nWithout mods, a horse can't be used inside a city. If you do a lot of role-playing within cities having a horse might not be useful. At the same time, characters are limited in Skyrim as Raven Dreamer noted; while you can get over some mountains by jumping left and right trying to get over a rock, a horse will be more superior in performing this task as it is less restricted by physics. You can however be smart enough to choose your path right, rather than trying to work against the physics..." ]

[ "How to kill a fly?", "Flies can be annoying pests, especially inside your home. If you can’t remove the flies humanely, you may want to kill them. Use a flyswatter for an easy way to kill a few lone flies. Try using sprays to get rid of numerous flies. You can also kill flies with bait and traps, like fly tape, DIY traps, or Venus fly traps. Eliminating flies can be done quickly, easily, and cheaply, whether you have a single fly or dozens to remove.\n\n## Use a flyswatter\n\n1. Wait for the fly to land. Keep your eye on the fly until it lands, then get ready to make your move. Approach the fly silently and slowly so it doesn't fly away. If you don’t have a flyswatter, you can use other objects with a flat surface, like a newspaper, shoe, or book.\n2. Swat the fly with a quick, downward motion. Raise your flyswatter above your head, and bring it down over the fly in a single, strong move. You are crushing the fly between your flyswatter and a hard surface. If you miss the fly the first time, wait for it to land and swat again.\n3. Wipe up the fly and clean off your flyswatter. Rinse the flyswatter in soap and water, and use a tissue or paper towel to wipe up the mess. Make sure to wash your hands! You can also disinfect with a cleaning solution to prevent spreading any germs.\n4. Try using an electric flyswatter for an easier, efficient option. Electric flyswatters are devices that lure in flies with a light and kill them upon contact. Stand near the fly with your electric flyswatter to kill it effortlessly and quickly. Be sure to read over instructions carefully before use. Avoid touching the racket area, and always let the flyswatter fully cool down before storing it.\n\n\n## Spray the fly\n\n1. Choose from either chemical sprays, household cleaners, or hairspray. Chemical sprays kill flies instantly upon contact, though they contain harsh chemicals. You can also spray the flies with household cleaners, like Windex or Formula 409, or with an aerosol like hairspray. All of these sprays will help you kill a fly. Purchase chemical fly sprays at home supply stores. Look for brands like Hot Shot and Raid. Use spray if you want to remove many flies very quickly. Chemical sprays will kill them the fastest, though they have harmful chemicals. Household cleaners are a cheaper alternative, and you likely have them at home already.\n2. Spray the air near the fly thoroughly. Spray the fly while it is in the air or when the fly lands. Hold in the trigger to release the spray, and spray directly into the air around the fly. You want to saturate the fly in the spray. If you are using chemical sprays, the fly will die instantly. If you are using household cleaners or hairspray, the spray will coat the fly's wings, making it impossible to fly. The fly will still die, just not as quickly as with chemicals.\n3. Leave the room after you spray any hazardous chemical. The chemicals contained in most fly sprays are toxic and lethal. Household cleaners also use chemicals, though not quite as toxic. Avoid inhaling these chemicals by leaving the room immediately after you spray. Leave the room for both chemical sprays and household cleaners. If you have pets or children, they should also avoid the room until the chemicals have settled. You can wait about an hour before reentering the room, so the chemicals can dissipate. This will depend on how ventilated your room is and how much chemical you spray. It is safe to come back into the room when you no longer smell the chemicals.\n4. Dispose of the dead fly and wash your hands. Scoop up the dead flies with a paper towel or tissue, and throw them in the trash can. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water! If you killed multiple flies, throw them all away before you wash your hands.\n\n\n## Remove fly with trap\n\n1. Hang fly paper in areas with many flies for a cheap and easy option. Fly papers, or fly ribbons, are strips of paper coated in a sticky attractant. Flies approach the paper because they are attracted to the smell, and they get stuck to the paper and die. You can hang fly paper near your entrances, above your windows, or next to your trash can, for example. Fly paper can be hung up indoors or outdoors. Replace your fly paper after you collect a handful of dead flies.\n2. Make your own trap for a cost effective solution. You can make your own trap with sugar water, a jar, and a paper cone. Cut a small hole around the point of the paper cone. Pour 1 part sugar and 2 parts water into the jar, and place the cone upside down inside the jar. The flies will be attracted to the sweet smell, and once they are inside, they will get stuck and drown in the liquid. You can add a piece of cut fruit to the jar to tempt the flies further. Try a piece of apple. You can also add a mix of sugar and water to a plastic bottle instead of a jar.\n3. Set out a Venus flytrap for a natural, hands-off option. Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants that feed on insects. The flytrap has a reddish, sweet-smelling interior, which insects mistake as a flower. A fly will land inside, and the flytrap will snap shut. The fly cannot escape, and the flytrap will consume the fly. Place your flytrap in areas popular fly areas, like your kitchen or near your door. Purchase Venus flytraps at most home supply stores or garden centers.\n" ]

[ "\"The video of Pythom Space's first rocket test has raised a few eyebrows\n\nThe video prompted hundreds of replies on Twitter, including some from rather horrified rocket scientists. &quot;We knew better as untrained college students,&quot; said Jordan Noone, the co-founder of Relativity Space.\n\nPythom “Micro jump”\nWhat exactly did they get wrong with this test?\nNote: The Pythom Space CEO did eventually respond to the original Ars Technica story linked above. It does offer their own take on some of the issues raised there and elsewhere (including some of the points in the answer below)\"", "The easy-to-spot stuff:\n\n* (assumed) Improper transportation of hazardous materials. Both white fuming nitric acid and furfuryl alcohol are considered hazardous materials; none of the vehicles in the video appears to have a hazmat placard, the rocket is not an approved hazmat container, and the fuel containers seen in other videos are emphatically not approved.\n* No personal protective gear. Nitric acid and furfurly alcohol are both toxic, and heavy loads are being lifted. Nobody is seen wearing any sort of protective gear, not even hard hats or safety glasses.\n* Insecure rigging when lifting the test object upright. A strap, particularly one being pulled at a sharp angle, is far less safe than a proper lifting point.\n* Bad angle when lifting the test object upright. This puts excess loads on things, increasing the risk of a fall or failure.\n* Using unbraced legs as a pivot point when lifting the test object upright. You can see they're on the verge of buckling.\n* (assumed) Lifting the test object while already fueled. In the event of a fall, this ensures an explosion if the tanks rupture, as the fuels are hypergolic.\n* Having people stand under a suspended load. If the test object falls, this will cause serious injury or death to at least two people.\n* Using a truck to pull the lifting cable. This provides far less control than a proper winch.\n* Having personnel in the blast area of the test object. In the event of an failure, this makes it highly likely that they will be engulfed in the fireball, struck by debris, or poisoned by fuel vapors.\n* Having personnel in the exhaust area of the test object. Even during normal operation, they will be exposed to nitric acid, furfuryl alcohol, and assorted nitrogen oxides, all of which are highly toxic.\n* Having unnecessary equipment in the test area. In the event of a failure, this can become additional flying debris.\n* Not properly securing the test object. In the event of higher-than-expected performance, this will become self-propelled debris; in the event of a premature shutdown, the resulting hop-and-crash will rupture the fuel tanks and cause an explosion.\n* Not providing a flight termination system. In the event that the test object becomes airborne, they have no way of keeping it from leaving the test area.\n* (assumed) Insufficient fire-extinguishing equipment on site. None of the area views show a pumper truck or other equipment capable of dealing with a brush fire ignited by 15+ kg of hypergolic fuels.\n* Improper fire-extinguishing equipment. At one point, you can see what appears to be an ordinary dry-chemical fire extinguisher. This should not be used when dealing with nitric acid.\n* Oxidizer-rich shutdown. You can see see the reddish cloud of nitric-acid byproducts at the end of the burn; this is likely the result of the oxidizer reacting with the engine.\n* (assumed) No post-burn decontamination of the area. The celebratory post-burn shot shows no sign of cleanup. Combined with the oxidizer-rich shutdown, this means they're likely walking through an area contaminated with nitric acid." ]

[ "How to walk with a sprained ankle?", "Before you start walking with a sprained ankle, make sure you get your doctor’s permission so you don’t cause any more damage. Ideally, you should only walk on a sprain that’s mild, and you should periodically strengthen your ankle through exercise so it gets stronger as you go. If you ever feel any pain, stop immediately and see your doctor for medical help.\n\n## Walk on a sprain ankle\n\n1. Apply ice to your ankle as soon as you can after you sprain it. As soon as you can, rest your ankle and put an ice pack on it to decrease the swelling. Keep the ice on your ankle for 10-15 minutes at a time 2-3 times per day to help alleviate some of the pain. As you start to feel more comfortable, ice your ankle only once or twice a day, or whenever it feels swollen.\n2. Take an anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain and swelling. Opt for ibuprofen or naproxen, and take the recommended dose for your age as it is written on the packaging. However, if you haven’t seen a doctor yet, do that as soon as possible, since your doctor may prescribe a higher dose or more specific medication. A typical over-the-counter dose of ibuprofen for an adult is 400 mg, three times per day. A doctor may prescribe a much higher dose depending on the severity of your injury and your size. The doctor may also prescribe narcotic pain relievers for you if the pain is severe. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before taking any medication in addition to a prescription. Side effects may include constipation, drowsiness, and addiction if taken for too long a period. Acetaminophen can reduce pain, but does not reduce swelling.\n3. Protect your ankle with a compression bandage, brace, splint, or high-top shoes. If the sprain is severe, the doctor will prescribe a walking boot or a splint for you. If not, try to wrap a compression bandage or brace around your ankle for 1-3 weeks. Wear boots or high-top shoes that can be laced up tight around your ankles for added support. Wearing high heels with a sprained ankle could lead to further injury. If you have to wear dress shoes, choose flats over heels. In addition to using compression bandages, be sure to rest, ice, and elevate your ankle to help alleviate the pain.\n4. Check your surroundings for uneven ground or stairs before walking around. Be aware of where you are going to be walking so that you are not caught off-guard by loose rocks or potholes in a path or sidewalk. If your path looks rough or rocky, try to find a smoother alternative route, or ask a friend for help.\n5. Walk slowly and take small steps. Look out for spills, things on your path that you can trip over, or anything else in your way that might cause further injury. If you try to walk too quickly, you might miss potential hazards in your way. Concentrating on your walking will help you to not only stay safe and prevent injury but will also make you very aware of your pain level and your healing progress. Whenever possible, hold on to railings or ask a friend if you can lean on them for added support.\n6. Pause when needed and shift your weight to your uninjured foot. Listen to your body. If the pain is too intense to keep going, take a break and relieve your injured ankle of pressure by shifting your body’s weight to the other foot. Some pain is unavoidable, but if you cannot maintain a conversation or lose breath as you walk because of the pain, then you should pause and rest.\n\n\n## Strengthen your ankle after a sprain\n\n1. Stretch the ligaments in your ankle with an exercise band or rolled towel. To do this exercise, wrap a resistance band or a large rolled-up towel around the ball of your injured foot and straighten your leg. Then, point your toes up, down, left, and right. For best results, repeat the cycle of motions 10 times and do the exercise 3 times per day. You do not need to wear shoes or supportive braces for this exercise.\n2. Balance yourself on your injured ankle to increase your stability. Make sure you’re standing on a hard, flat surface before you stand on your injured foot. Try not to hold on to anything as you balance, but make sure there’s a railing or wall nearby so you can catch yourself if you need to. As you work to maintain your balance, your ankle will shift back and forth, stretching out and strengthening the ligaments and muscles. You should wear shoes for this exercise to give your foot some traction and prevent a fall. Make this exercise more challenging by using a balance board instead of a flat surface. The tipping motion of the board will force your ankle to act against the movements, increasing its strength and stability.\n3. Draw the alphabet on the floor using your injured foot. Sit in a comfortable chair with both feet resting flat on the floor. Then, with your injured foot, use your big toe to slowly trace the entire alphabet on the floor, one letter at a time. Drawing letters encourages ankle movement in every direction. Repeat up to three times for maximum stretching and strengthening. You do not need to wear shoes for this exercise since you are sitting and do not need the extra support or traction. If you cannot reach the floor, you can draw the letters in the air for a similar result.\n4. Swing your knees from side to side to stretch and strengthen your ankle. As you sit in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor, slowly swing your knees as far as you can from side to side. Keep your foot pressed flat to the floor and continue for 3 minutes. If you want to wear shoes while doing this exercise, opt for low-profile shoes that will not limit your ankle’s range of motion.\n\n\n## Prevent further injury\n\n1. Rest your sprained ankle after walking to give it some time to heal. By exercising and walking on your sprained ankle, you will be putting a lot of strain on the ligaments. Give them a break by taking the pressure off of them for at least an hour after walking, giving them time to rest and heal.\n2. Ice your ankle to relieve pain and swelling. After walking on your injured ankle, it will probably be swollen and painful because of the stress it was under. Elevate your foot and hold a cold ice pack wrapped in a towel on your ankle for 10-20 minutes. If your ankle is really swollen, you can reapply the ice again after 10 minutes and continue the cycle of 10-20 minutes on, 10 minutes off, until the swelling goes down. A great substitute for an ice pack is a frozen bag of peas because it is cold and easily molds to the body part that you are icing. Wrapping the ice pack in a towel is important because you can damage your skin by applying ice directly to it.\n3. Compress your ankle using an elastic sports bandage. Wrap your foot from the base of your toes to about 3 inches (7.6 cm) above your ankle. Provide extra support by crisscrossing the bandage from left to right in a figure-eight motion around your ankle and heel. Secure it into place with metal fasteners or tape. You want the compression bandage tight enough to give gentle pressure, but not so tight that restricts blood flow. If you have any tingling or discoloration in your toes, remove the bandage and rewrap it looser. It’s not a good idea to sleep with a compression bandage on because it may reduce blood flow.\n4. Elevate your ankle to speed up healing by reducing swelling. When you are sitting or laying down, keep your ankle elevated to reduce swelling by allowing fluid to drain from the injured area. If possible, lay down and keep your ankle elevated above your heart.\n" ]

[ "What is the LXX and why is it so noteworthy that there is a Greek translation of the OT? Wouldn't it be better to directly reference manuscripts in the original languages?", "Before 1947, a good case could be made that the Septuagint represented a more ancient tradition than the Masoretic versions of the Tanakh. Since the Septuagint was produced before 132 BCE (and probably in the 3rd century BCE) and the earliest known Masoretic manuscripts date to the 10th century CE, the Greek translation might have fossilized an early rendering of the Scriptures while the Hebrew continued to be copied and potentially altered. To further support the primacy of the Septuagint, the early Christian and Hellenistic Jewish texts, tended to use that translation rather go back to Hebrew sources.\nAn interesting counter-argument arises from the observation that during the 600 years from Jerome's translation into Latin (the Vulgate) to the earliest Masoretic manuscripts, the Hebrew seems to have been faithfully copied. That suggests that Jewish scribes were exceptionally careful to duplicate their scriptures.\nAfter 1947, the evidence changed. According to Wikipedia:\n\n [Most] of the Qumran fragments can be classified as being closer to the Masoretic text than to any other text group that has survived. According to Lawrence Schiffman, 60% can be classed as being of proto-Masoretic type, and a further 20% Qumran style with bases in proto-Masoretic texts, compared to 5% proto-Samaritan type, 5% Septuagintal type, and 10% non-aligned. Joseph Fitzmyer noted the following regarding the findings at Qumran Cave 4 in particular: \"Such ancient recensional forms of Old Testament books bear witness to an unsuspected textual diversity that once existed; these texts merit far greater study and attention than they have been accorded till now. Thus, the differences in the Septuagint are no longer considered the result of a poor or tendentious attempt to translate the Hebrew into the Greek; rather they testify to a different pre-Christian form of the Hebrew text\".\n\nAnother another article describes the meaning of the categories in detail.\nA few caveats are in order:\n\n* Surveying the Qumran about religious texts seems something akin to surveying a hippie commune about political issues&mdash;you're likely to experience some bias. If we could obtain a similar collection from Jerusalem, we'd likely find more agreement and likely the side of MT. Given the diversity in non-Scriptural texts, 60% seems quite solid support.\n* While it's unlikely, there exists a chronological possibility the scrolls associated with the Septuagint-aligned Hebrew were influenced by the Greek. (Any references one way or the other would be appreciated.) \n\nWhat remains therefore is a window into the community of Alexandrian Jews that produced the translation. For those who are interested in the development of Jewish belief, that can be extremely useful. N. T. Wright's book, The Resurrection of the Son of God, shows that the LXX translators chose to interpret key texts from Daniel and Ezekiel about the resurrection as literal rather than metaphorical. He argues from this that belief in bodily resurrection was more common in Jesus' day than other scholars assert." ]

[ "How to cascade routers?", "A good way to expand your wired or wireless network is to cascade routers. A router cascade means that 2 or more routers are connected to each other through an Ethernet cable. There are 2 ways to cascade routers: connect an Ethernet port on the second router to an Ethernet port on the first, or connect the Internet port on the second router to an Ethernet port on the first.\n\n## Connect ethernet to ethernet (lan to lan)\n\n1. Designate which routers will be the primary and which will be secondary. Your primary modem is the router with a direct connection to the internet or modem. Your secondary router will be connected to the internet through the primary router. Generally, you should use the most current router as your primary router.\n2. Plug your secondary router in. Connect an AC adapter to your secondary router, and plug it into an electrical outlet near a computer you can use to set up the secondary router.\n3. Connect your computer directly to your secondary router. Use an Ethernet cable to plug into one of the numbered Ethernet ports on the back of the router and to an Ethernet port on your computer. Make sure it is not plugged into your primary router.\n4. Access your router's web-based configuration menu. Connect to the secondary router's IP address with a web browser. Depending on the make of your router, you may have to navigate to a specific URL to access your router's web-based configuration menu. Consult your router's user manual or manufacturer's website to find out what the IP address for your router is. 192.168.1.1 is one of the most common router IP addresses. You may need to log in to the router's configuration menu. \"Admin\" is the most common username and/or password. Consult the user's manual or manufacturer's website to learn more about how to log in to your router's configuration page.\n5. Change the secondary router's IP address. Look for this option under local IP settings. The key here is to make sure that your secondary router has a different final digit than the IP address of your primary router. An example IP for your primary router is 192.168.1.1. So an example of your secondary router's IP address could be 192.168.1.2.\n6. Turn off the secondary router's DHCP Server settings. The configuration menu is different for each router make and model. This can often be found under \"Setup\", \"Advanced Settings\", \"Network Settings\", ect. Read \"How to Configure a Router to Use DHCP\" to learn more about how to locate the router's DHCP settings.\n7. Make sure your secondary router is set to router operating mode. This is often located in an advanced settings menu.\n8. Connect the secondary router to the primary router. Use an Ethernet cable to plug into any one of the numbered Ethernet ports on the primary router. Then Plug the other end of that cable into a numbered Ethernet port on the back of the secondary router. Your routers are now cascaded.\n\n\n## Connect ethernet to internet (lan to wan)\n\n1. Plug in your secondary router. Use the AC adapter that came with your router to plug it into an electrical outlet near a computer you can use to setup your secondary router.\n2. Connect your computer to your secondary router. Use an Ethernet cable to connect to one of the numbered ports on your secondary router. Connect the other end to an Ethernet port on your computer.\n3. Access the web-based configuration menu. Enter the secondary router's IP address into a web browser to access the router's IP address. 192.168.1.1 is one of the most common router IP addresses. If that does not work, consult the user's manual or manufacturer's website to learn how to log in to the routers configuration page. You may need to log in to the router's configuration menu. \"Admin\" is the most common username and/or password. Consult the user's manual or manufacturer's website to learn more about how to log in to your router's configuration page.\n4. Change the local IP address. The second-to-last digit of your local IP address should be different from your primary router. If your primary IP address is 192.168.0.1 then your secondary router's IP address should be something like 192.168.2.1.\n5. Save your IP address changes. Disconnect your secondary router from your computer.\n6. Connect your primary router to you secondary router. Use an Ethernet cable to connect to one of the numbered ports on your primary router. Then plug the other end of the cable into the Internet port of your secondary router. Your routers are now cascaded.\n" ]

[ "How to pin internet explorer shortcuts to the windows taskbar (with windows 8.1)?", "Ever since Windows 7, it's been easy to pin Internet Explorer shortcuts. However, when Windows 8.1 came out in October 2013, they complicated this process a bit. Learn the newest processes to pinning an Internet Explorer shortcut to the taskbar, starting at Step 1 in Method 1 below.\n\n## Drag icon directly to taskbar\n\n1. Use the Internet Explorer program on your Windows desktop. Don't use the app that comes with your computer that is native to Windows 8.1.\n2. Browse to the site you'd like to pin to the taskbar.\n3. Look for the icon to the left of the address in the URL box/address bar.\n4. Click and drag this icon into your taskbar.\n\n\n## Slightly more complicate through the former feature method\n\n1. Use the Internet Explorer program on your Windows desktop. Don't use the app that comes with your computer that is native to Windows 8.1.\n2. Browse to the site you'd like to pin to the taskbar.\n3. Click the Gears button in the top right corner of the screen just below the x button that will close the screen and click \"Add site to Apps\".\n4. Look down at your Windows Taskbar, a few seconds later. The page should have unhooked itself from the main Internet explorer E icon from your Windows taskbar and opened itself up as a temporary pin on your taskbar.\n5. Right click the item in the list and select \"Pin to Taskbar\".\n" ]

[ "Elon Musk and his partner want to name their child X Æ A-12.\nIs that name allowed in California, US?", "We could start with what the statutes say (HSC 102425)\n\n (a) The certificate of live birth for a live birth occurring on or after January 1, 2016, shall contain those items necessary to establish the fact of the birth and shall contain only the following information; (1) Full name and sex of the child.\n\nIt says nothing about the form of that name. Therefore, any prohibition of the letter Æ (or æ) etc. would have to come from the administrative interpretation of California Department of Public Health, Vital Records. There is a long handbook, which on p. 112 states the rule regarding child names. The rules note that\n\n The form must be completed using the 26 alphabetical characters of the English language with appropriate punctuation, if necessary. No pictographs (), ideograms (), diacritical marks (è, ñ, ē, ç), or extraneous entries are allowed.\n\nSo the short answer is, unless you feel like making a court case out of the matter and you have a lot of money, this name will not be allowed. The rule might be challenged in court as exceeding statutory authority, and might well be deemed to discriminate w.r.t. race and national origin. The rule could be defended on grounds of necessity, if we presume that the department is incapable of recording information other than the 26 letters and \"appropriate punctuation\" (undefined, presumably only apostrophe). It's not that in principle Unicode doesn't exist, it's that their system may not be capable of dealing with it (numerous problems would arise from the non-unique mapping from visual representation to Unicode number). There does not seem to be a court ruling on the matter." ]

[ "I learned about the equilibrium constant. Now, I've seen that the equilibrium constant of burning is extremely small $(K \\ll 1)$. here, I have a question. you see, $K$ is still NOT 0, which means that the forward reactions happen at least a tiny bit. Then, shouldn't we see some parts of anything burning at least a little bit?", "The equilibrium constant for combustion of organic matter in air with oxygen is not small, but extremely large ($K_\\mathrm{eq} \\gg 1$), as is expected from a reaction that is simultaneously very exothermic and (usually) increases entropy due to the formation of more gaseous molecules than the input oxygen.\n\nThe major reason carbon-based life can exist at ambient temperature in an oxygen atmosphere is purely kinetic, not thermodynamic. You, the tree outside and everything else made of carbon is right now undergoing continuous combustion. However, in the absence of catalyst, this process is too slow below a couple hundred degrees Celsius for it to be self-sustaining. More technically, combustion of organic matter is a highly exergonic process, but the activation energy is high. The meagre amount of heat generated by the handful of molecules reacting is too quickly diluted into the surroundings, and the reaction does not accelerate and spiral out of control (a fire, as described by the eternal Feynman).\n\nVery luckily for us, Life figured out this vast untapped source of chemical energy held back by kinetics approximately three billion years ago and developed a whole metabolic process to extract this energy in a stepwise fashion using catalysis, which we call aerobic respiration. Without it, multicellular organisms could well never had evolved." ]

[ "How to comfort a dying dog?", "Although it is a natural part of life, it is never easy saying goodbye to your beloved canine companion. During this stage of life, you will want to make your dog as comfortable as possible. The comfort you provide throughout this potentially frightening situation will make the transition easier for your dog and bring you peace of mind as well.\n\n## Comfort your dog at home\n\n1. Stay patient with your dog. Older dogs commonly begin experiencing joint and muscle problems, and they can become frustrated with their discomfort and impairments. If your dog is grumpy or irritable during the end stages of life, simply do your best to be patient and provide the other comforts you can at home.\n2. Provide a quiet environment. Chaos around the home will only stress both you and your dog as you're trying to spend the final hours of your dog's life together meaningfully and with compassion. Give your dog a quiet environment away from noisy children or other animals in the house. Soft, unobtrusive music can also be calming, or you may also use a nature soundtrack with birdsong and the sounds of running water.\n3. Speak in comforting tones. Reassure your dog that he's not alone and speak in soft comforting tones. Tell him “good boy” and the other phrases you normally use for positive reinforcement to let him know it's okay. Give him plenty of light pets as well. If you want to make sure you're there for the final moments, then you may choose to sleep next to his bed in a sleeping bag for the final nights.\n4. Put down comfortable bedding. If your dog has a favorite dog bed, put it down for him. Otherwise you can put down some other blankets to help him lay down comfortably. Your dog may also have difficulty regulating his body temperature at the end, so keep some blankets handy to put over him in the event that he shows signs of being cold. Elderly dogs are also prone to pressure sores, so put down extra cushioning for an older dog. On a practical note, he may also have problems with incontinence at the end. Choose a spot you can easily clean and bedding you can wash later. If your dog does have any accidents, then clean them up patiently without scolding him. He can't help it. If your dog gets cold, you can also use a heater in the area to make him more comfortable.\n5. Keep fresh water available. Hydration is still important to keeping your dog comfortable even in the final hours. Provide a bowl of water next to the dog bed, so your dog doesn't have to get up to drink. If your is having trouble rising even to drink, then use a clean dropper to help provide water.\n6. Prepare some of his favorite meal. If your dog has always had a favorite thing to eat, then you should make some of it in case he's hungry. However, it is pretty common for dogs to lose their appetite in the end stages of life, so don't force him to eat if he's not hungry. Solid food may also upset your dog's stomach at the end as certain systems related to digestion begin shutting down. If your dog still shows a willingness to eat but regular food is upsetting his stomach, then try mixing some baby food with water, or you can also try the Hills A/D diet, which is liquid.\n7. See your veterinarian about pain management. If your dog still has enough time and you're worried about pain in the final stages, then you can consult your vet for pain management options for the final days. Signs that your dog might be in pain include excessive panting or gasping for breath or reluctance to move.\n8. Hug your dog one final time. Once your dog passes, give him one final hug and say goodbye. It's a very painful moment, so remember that it's perfectly okay to cry, but also remember the good times you had with your pet and that he passed in a comfortable, loving environment with you doing everything you could. Be aware that some dogs seem to \"move\" or \"take a breath\" after passing away. As their nervous system shuts down, sometimes muscles in the body or lungs can spasm and look like a sign of life. It's also common for dogs to pass with their eyes open. You can close them if you want as you say your final goodbye, or you can pull one of the blankets over his head.\n9. Take care of yourself. Once your pet has passed, know that you did everything you could and worry about taking care of yourself. Seek comfort in other loved ones who understand the loss. You can also light candles or say a small prayer for your pet if it feels right and helps. The ASPCA also has a hotline you can call to talk to someone who understands the difficulty of losing a pet. You can reach this hotline at 1-877-GRIEF-10.\n10. Handle your pet's remains. Though it's unpleasant, you do have to do something with your pet's remains once he passes. Many people choose to cremate pets or bury them whether in a pet cemetery or closer to home. Many services are available to help you deal with the remains to make the process easier on you. Look online or ask your vet for services in your area that will help with the option of your choosing.\n\n\n## Comfort your dog at the vet\n\n1. Consult a professional about euthanasia. The ASPCA has a specific hotline for those dealing with the difficult decision of euthanizing a pet. The line gives you someone to talk to who will understand your grief throughout the process, as well as information about your dog's quality of life at this stage and whether or not euthanasia may be the most humane option. You can reach the ASPCA hotline at 1-877-GRIEF-10.\n2. Make the appointment. Though it hurts to do and it always feels too soon, you'll have to make an appointment for the vet to euthanize him when you know your dog is at the end of life. Your vet is likely to suggest this option if your dog's condition has significantly deteriorated and the vet believes the dog is in pain.\n3. Bring some of your dog's favorite items. You'll want to surround your dog with a few of his favorite things at the end. A favorite blanket and a soft toy are very common items that you may choose to bring with to help comfort him as he passes. Favorite blankets or a dog bed will also be much more comfortable for your dog than the exam table, especially if he's already in discomfort.\n4. Sign any forms at the vet. When you sign in for the appointment, you'll also have a few forms to fill out, including a consent form signaling that you know what is about to happen. While filling out forms is the last thing you want to focus on, it is a necessary part of the process.\n5. Ask about a sedative beforehand. If your dog is experiencing any pain or discomfort from a medical condition, ask the veterinarian about giving him a sedative. This will make your dog more comfortable, and it will give you the peace of mind later knowing that your dog passed without any pain.\n6. Pet your dog with gentle, loving strokes. Once you've been taken back to the private room and placed your dog down on his blankets with any other items, focus all your energy on spending quality final moments with him. The veterinarian will have to finish setting up the necessary items, so use this time to offer soft praise to your dog. Tell him you love him and pet him in his favorite spots.\n7. Hug your dog. Your vet will ensure you're ready and then begin injecting the solution to euthanize your dog. Many people choose to hug their dog during these moments because the process is fairly quick. Between six and twelve seconds after the solution is delivered, your dog will take a deep breath and then appear to fall into a deep sleep before taking a few more final breaths. Some pet owners also prefer not to be in the room for the actual injection and passing. The veterinarian's office is used to people who need to cope and grieve in their own ways. Ultimately decide what is right for you.\n8. Give yourself time. Do not be embarrassed to cry in front of the vet or other employees at the clinic. They all understand what you're going through. After your dog has passed away, your veterinarian will give you the option to spend some additional one-on-one time with your dog. Some owners take this opportunity to say a few last words to their dog while others choose to pass on this option.\n9. Discuss options for the remains. After giving you the time you need, your vet will discuss options concerning what to do with your dog's remains. This may include releasing them to you for burial or cremating them, which the vet can take care of. You can choose cremation either with the intent to take the cremains with you or not. In some places, it is against the law for the vet to return your pet's body to you for burial.\n" ]

[ "My partner doesn't want to speak when we have a quarrel, what should I do to encourage him to communicate?", "Here are some suggestions for your circumstance where your partner is reluctant to talk when you have a quarrel.\n\nFirst, ask yourself why you want your partner to talk when they don't want to. It is natural and healthy for people to need different amounts of time and space to process their emotions. If your partner is the type who needs a lot of time and space, pushing them to talk before they're ready will simply prolong the quarrel. You may very well be sabotaging yourself here.\n\nSecond, remember that you are not a mind-reader. You may think your partner is refusing to talk to you as a form of punishment, or to gain leverage in the argument, or any number of other reasons. But the only way to know why they are doing it is to ask them. You may not get a satisfying answer, but anything you learn will be better than the guesses you are making now.\n\nThird, if you are certain that your partner is simply trying to &quot;win&quot; the argument by refusing to engage, you have two options: you can withdraw from the argument, or you can engage anyway. If you withdraw, you may be giving up on something you want, but you also avoid the conflict escalating further. If you engage anyway, you may be able to convince your partner (or yourself) that you are serious about the issue at hand, and that it is worth discussing. But you may also be pouring gasoline on a fire. Be careful here." ]