INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A sewing or embroidery hoop is a simple hoop made from metal and/or plastic that holds a piece of fabric in place when you're sewing. Any size hoop will work, but a hoop of about six inches across will be the same size as most pop filters. Embroidery hoops usually have a fairly simple latch on one side. Undo this latch and slip the fabric over the inner hoop so that it stretches beyond its edges on all sides. Seat the inner hoop back inside the outer hoop and close the latch, keeping the fabric tight. See our embroidery hoop article for more help. It may seem counter-intuitive, but stiffer fabrics tend to make better pop filters. If you have the tight metal or plastic netting that's usually stretched across the open spaces of screen doors, this works especially well. Simply stretch it across the embroidery hoop as you would with the embroidery fabric. Screen door mesh can be found at most large hardware stores. It's cheap, but you may be forced to buy a roll of the material, rather than the small amount that you actually need. Now, all you need to do is move your new pop filter into position. As in the section above, one easy way to do this is to tape, glue, or clamp the outside the hoop to a free mic stand. You can also attach the hoop to a stick or a straightened-out coat  hanger and then attach this behind the microphone. Sing or talk through the filter and into the mic as normal. With this method, the filter is only one layer thick, but this is OK. It should work just as well.

SUMMARY: Obtain a embroidery hoop filter. Stretch nylon embroidery material across a sewing hoop. Alternatively, use screen door material. Position the hoop in front of the mic.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If an assessor is coming to your house, don't bother trying to make it at its best. Don't hide the hole in the wall, the carpeting that is coming up in places, the cracks in the ceiling, or the sections of your lawn that won't grow grass. Make sure the property record reflects your 50 year old bathroom installation and the kitchen appliances from the 1980s. When the assessor comes to your home, don't let them wander around alone. Go with them. This way, you ensure that they don't just focus on the positive aspects of your home, but also notice all of the things that will bring down the property value. Search for tax breaks in your state that will help lower the cost. Some states allow some homeowners to shield partial value from taxation. You may be eligible for tax breaks based on other factors, such as being a senior citizen, a veteran, or disabled. Any structural change to your home can affect your taxes. Adding a pool, a deck, a shed, remodeling the kitchen, or putting down new carpet can raise the value of your house, and therefore, your property taxes. If you are planning on appealing your property taxes, refrain from any remodeling until afterwards. If you want to do some work on your home, investigate how much the new additions will increase your taxes. One reason property taxes increase is due to state and local budget cuts. The local governments use some of the revenue from property taxes to pay for schools, libraries, police and fire departments, and public services. While homeowners have limited influence in these matters, getting involved in local budget affairs and voting may make a difference. If you have vacant sections of land you bought to build that dream vacation or retirement home, you might consider selling it to help reduce your property taxes. This land factors into your property taxes and increases the amount you pay.  If you own significant acreage and your property taxes are too high, sell off some of the land. By reducing the number of acres you own, you reduce the value, which reduces your taxes. If you have recently inherited property, consider selling it as soon as possible. You are responsible for the property taxes on that property even if you did inherit it. Property taxes are based on the town or area's tax rate. This varies from place to place. Some counties and states have higher taxes than others. If you are looking to buy a house, look into the property taxes in the areas you are thinking to buy. Purchasing a house in an area with a lower tax rate can save you money. If you already own a house, you might think about moving to another area if your taxes are too high.
Summary: Don't make your house look perfect for the assessor. Walk with the assessor. Find a tax break. Limit the remodeling on your home. Vote for elected officials and school budgets. Sell off empty lots of land. Move.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you have a sarcastic comment you can deploy in many different situations, practice it regularly on different people to memorize it.  For instance, when someone asks a common question like, “What’s up?” you might reply with “The sky.”  The frequency with which you should practice your sarcastic comments depends on the strength of your memory.  If you can memorize the sarcastic comment after practicing it two or three times daily, there’s no need to practice it more than that. If you need to practice your sarcastic comment more often before you can memorize it, do so. If your comment regularly gets eye-rolls, don’t use it anymore or use it less often.  If you have a go-to sarcastic comment that seems to be a big hit, work it into regular use. Remember, even good sarcasm can be overused. The best sarcastic answers or comments will draw on your deep knowledge of your audience and their preferences, attitudes, and beliefs.  Think carefully about how you can work your immediate situation and the conversation of others into a clever, sarcastic comment. For instance, imagine you and your friend Joe are big fans of the Hulk.  If Joe accidentally breaks a bunch of fragile dishes, you might say sarcastically, “You saved the day again, Hulk!” Spending time listening to people who are well-practiced in sarcasm will help you be more sarcastic, too.  Pay attention to when and how they utilize sarcasm.  Listen to the inflection in their voice and the facial expressions they use when being sarcastic. Being sarcastic takes time, focus, and experience.  As you exercise your sarcasm “muscles,” you will become better at being sarcastic.  Keep trying to use sarcasm, even if you tell a few jokes that others think are not very funny.

SUMMARY:
Practice your sarcastic comments. Take note of the reactions you get when practicing a particular sarcastic comment. Be creative. Talk to sarcastic people. Don’t be afraid to fail.