There are many ways to stream movies on demand nowadays, and it's pretty inexpensive: try Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Media. If you don't have the internet, make a trip to a Redbox or rewatch a movie you've already seen. If you've got a long night alone, watch more than one movie.  Make some popcorn or other snacks for extra fun. Movie night isn't the same without some popcorn and movie theater candy, so make a trip to the grocery store for some inexpensive snacks. Watch a classic. If you've got a list of movies you've been meaning to watch, check a couple off of your list. Watch an old Marilyn Monroe movie, or watch back to back John Wayne westerns. Watch a series. Watching all three original Star Wars movies or all three Lord of the Rings films might take a while, but you'll be able to fully immerse yourself in the story. Check out other series like Star Trek, The Hunger Games, or Indiana Jones. If you understand another language, it can be fun to watch a foreign film without subtitles. If you don't understand any other languages, make up your own comical dialog for the film. Try the foreign film sections of your local film rental shop or Netflix to find an interesting foreign movie. Using a video camera, a Webcam, or even your phone, make your own movie. Write a simple script and then ad lib your lines to make a comedy, a drama, or a horror film. At the end of the night, make popcorn and hold a "screening" of your film.

Summary: Watch a movie. Watch a movie in a different language. Make your own movie.


” Hamsters are commonly (though mistakenly) called “nocturnal,” when in fact they are “crepuscular.” Whereas nocturnal animals are most active at night, your hamster will be most active during twilight hours (dusk and dawn). Understanding this about your hamster will help you better understand and cope with his sleep patterns. If you would like to train you hamster to wake up a bit earlier (so that you can spend time with him), the first step is to track his schedule. Spend 3-5 days writing down precisely when he is asleep and awake. Once you know your hamster’s schedule (specifically what time he wakes in the evening), begin feeding him at this time each day. For example, if your hamster wakes each night at 8:30pm, begin feeding him at 8:30 on the dot. Do this for at least one week before moving on to the next step. Begin moving the feeding time back in 15-minute increments. For example, after the first week, you’ll begin waking your hamster up a bit earlier by feeding him at 8:15pm. Continue this until he begins waking at 8:15 on his own (this should take about one week). Then, begin feeding your hamster at 8:00pm, and so on. This technique needs to be done subtly, over time, in order for it to work. So be patient through this process. Once again, understand that it is your hamster’s innate nature that causes him to wake at dusk and dawn. You are not going to alter that overnight. Furthermore, you’re never going to change it completely. At best, you may be able to train your hamster to wake one hour earlier than he did before.

Summary: Understand that hamsters are “crepuscular. Track your hamster’s schedule. Feed him at the same time each day. Begin moving your feeding time back. Be patient.


If you can't find any identifying stamps and you're unsure about the origin of the jewelry, use a testing kit to find out what the jewelry is made of. Purchase an acid testing kit from an online retailer or jewelry supply store. This kit will include a sanding stone and several bottled acids.  Buy a kit that can test for both silver and platinum. The bottle labels will indicate which metal they are used to test for. If the kit doesn't include gloves, buy some separately. If you get any acid on your hands you will burn your skin. Lay out the black slate stone on an even surface. Gently rub the jewelry against the stone in a back-and-forth motion to create a line. Draw 2 or 3 lines on the stone or one for each testing acid you'll use. For example, if you're testing for platinum, silver, and gold, you'll draw 3 lines.  Choose an inconspicuous part of the jewelry to rub against the stone. The stone will scratch and damage a small section of the jewelry. Lay a towel down underneath the stone to protect your work surface from scratches. Select an acid test from your kit and carefully drop a small amount of acid onto one of the drawn lines. Make sure that you don't mix the different acids together or you'll affect your results.  Most tests have acids specifically for silver. However, you can also use an 18-karat gold testing acid to identify pure or sterling silver.  Always wear gloves while handling acid. These reactions can take anywhere from a second to a minute. If the line completely dissolves, the test fails. For example, if you drop the Platinum acid test on a line and the line dissolves, the jewelry isn't platinum. However, if your line doesn't dissolve, the metal is pure.  If you use the 18-karat gold acid test to test on silver, the line will turn a milky white color. This will indicate that your jewelry is pure or sterling silver. If you doubt your results, test the jewelry again to be sure.
Summary: Use an acid testing kit on hard-to-verify jewelry. Rub the jewelry against the stone. Drop the acids on the different metal lines. Observe the reaction of the acid.