INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Any microwave-safe mug or bowl will work fine. Dip a paper towel in a little bit of vegetable or olive oil and smear the oil around the inside of the bowl. You could also spray the mug or bowl with non-stick cooking spray. Melting butter into the bowl is another option. Be careful so you don't break the yolk. You can use cream if you prefer creamier scrambled eggs. Mix up the yolk, the white and the milk until the mixture is pale yellow and smooth. Use a microwave-safe plate or a paper towel. Place it in the microwave and cook it for 45 seconds, then remove it from the microwave. Remove the cover and stir the mixture to fluff up the eggs. Add a tablespoon of shredded cheese, a small handful of scallions, or another topping if you'd like. Check to see that the egg is set. If it still looks runny, give it another 15 seconds. Use a fork to fluff it up. Your scrambled egg is ready to eat.

SUMMARY: Get a mug or small bowl. Grease the bottom and sides. Break the egg directly into the bowl. Add a tablespoon of milk. Whip it with a fork. Cover the bowl. Microwave the egg. Stir and add toppings. Cook it for another 30 seconds. Scoop the egg onto a plate.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Only use vacuums that can handle wet and dry materials, like a chipper vacuum or a wet/dry shop vacuum. Position the vacuum where you plan to start cleaning your gutters. Insert the longest hose into the vacuum and fasten the longest rigid extension attachment to the hose.  The power cord for your vacuum may not be long enough to reach a power outlet. Use an extension cord to supply your vacuum with power in these cases. Choose a vacuum that has a strong motor for this project. Vacuums with weak suction will not be as effective. Measure the total length of the rigid extension attachment. When measuring gutter height, measure from the top of the gutter to about knee height. Subtract the attachment length from the gutter height. This measurement is the total length of your secondary extension. While using the gutter vacuum, you’ll likely hold the attachment at about chest height. Measuring the gutter from its top to the ground will likely result in a gutter vacuum that is longer than necessary, making it more unwieldy. Mark the secondary extension measurement (gutter height – attachment length) on the rigid plastic tube or pipe. Use a hacksaw to cut the plastic to secondary extension length. Excess tube/pipe can be reused or thrown away. Cutting your tube/pipe may have left behind burrs. These can cause slivers or cuts. Remove burrs with a file when necessary. Slide the end of the extension attachment into the secondary extension. Join these pieces together firmly with aluminum tape. Do the same at the opposite end of the secondary extension with a duct elbow. When the first elbow is in place, similarly add the second elbow to it.  Putting these pieces together will result in a long, straight, rigid extension that ends in a hook. The hook formed by the elbows should curve so it is facing roughly downwards. So the tool fits inside the gutter, use a nozzle or flatten the end piece. Be sure to tape the connections of your homemade gutter vacuum thoroughly. Gaps may cause suction to decrease, making the vacuum less effective.

SUMMARY: Equip your vacuum with a rigid extension attachment. Calculate the measurement of the secondary extension. Cut a rigid plastic tube or pipe with a hack saw. Assemble the gutter vacuum.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Degreed historians can find jobs in a variety of settings. Some Ph.D.s prefer to work as university professors, while others take positions with the government or branch out as independent consultants. Be aware that research-heavy jobs usually look for historians with Ph.D.s. With or without a degree, historians can also work in museums, non-profits, and even in high school education. Make sure to keep your mind open when exploring your career choices. Focus on your skill set of critical thinking, writing, and reading. Look for jobs that emphasize those skills. You can publish throughout your entire lifetime, with or without a degree. For the amateur historian, local historical magazines are always looking for interesting contributions. As a professional historian, aim for peer-reviewed journals and university-press published books. Publishing is one clear way to distinguish yourself in the field.  If you decide to work as a professor at a research university, expect a rigorous publication requirement amounting to one journal article every two years and a book every five or so. Be patient when trying to publish. You’ll likely get rejections, as well as opportunities to revise and resubmit. Historians love to gather together in conferences and meetings around the world. Many of these gatherings are organized around a particular historical interest or theme, such as medical history. These are great opportunities to mingle with like-minded people and to learn more about history in general.  If you have original historical research, go ahead and submit a proposal to present at a conference. You might want to start with a small, local group and work your way up to a national or international setting. Most conferences send out a Call for Papers (CFP) well in advance of the meeting date. The CFP will tell you how to submit your paper for consideration. There are a number of groups out there that cater to particular historical subsets. Look for an organization that fits your interests and that would give you a chance for active membership. Being a member often grants you perks, such as private events at museums or archives.  For example, the American Historical Association (AHA) is the go-to organization for most historians practicing in, or studying, the Americas. Be aware that many of these organizations require hefty membership fees. However, ask about educator, senior, or other discounts. Reach out to your family members and older friends to see if they’d be interested in sitting down with you and recording their memories. Then, you can make copies of these tapes or transcripts and offer them to archives and libraries. This is a great way to contribute to the historical record. Try to keep your oral interview questions open-ended. You want to give your interviewee plenty of time to talk. For example, you might ask, “Do you remember how you felt at that moment?” Historians are often interested in family connections and genealogy gives you the chance to trace these relationships. Talk with your older family members to see what they remember about their relatives. You can also go online and use a resource, such as Ancestry.com, to examine personal records.

SUMMARY:
Find a job as a professional historian. Be open to other career options. Seek out opportunities to publish. Attend conferences. Join a professional history organization (PHA). Complete oral histories. Conduct genealogy.