INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A real estate investment trust (REIT) is essentially a share of stock in a real estate venture, which is similar to a mutual fund. REITs serve to pool the money of investors for the purpose buying, selling, developing and managing real estate properties. By law, these trusts are required to have more than 100 investors, meaning that investors can input a only a small amount but be invested in an expensive property. This means that if you want to invest in real estate without the risk or initial investment of more traditional forms of property investment, an REIT is your best option. Small and large investors may have a share in an REIT.  In addition, this provides you with low "liquidity risk," meaning that you can easily sell off your shares if you need to. The REIT manager is required to pay 90 percent of trust income directly to trust shareholders as dividends, making REITs very attractive to investors seeking consistent income from investments. High dividend yields are typically offered to investors. Real estate investment trusts allow for investment in commercial property as well as residential. REITs can be classified in different ways, usually by the assets or geographical areas that they invest in. Before purchasing an REIT, you should research the investments that it is involved in and consider the future performance of these markets. While there are many types of REITs, they can generally be classified in the following ways:  By investment type. First, equity REITs invest in large real estate properties and distribute earned rent or profits to investors. Next, mortgage REITs invest in mortgages by loaning out money or by buying existing mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. These funds are more sensitive to interest rate changes than other types. This is because the income you may earn from these investments is based on the net interest margin. Finally, hybrid REITs invest in both mortgages and properties. By geographical area. REITs were invented in the United States but have since become more common in the rest of the World. Some REITs in the US focus on particular states or regions, and others focus on international properties and investments. By property type. Some equity REITs invest only in certain types of properties. These can anything from rental condos to shopping malls. As with any investment, there are certain risk involved with purchasing REITs. First, there is always the risk of REIT default, in which the fund providing your dividend payments fails and leaves you with a sunk investment and no dividend payouts. However, there are other risk associated with non-exchange traded REITs. These securities, which are traded outside of major stock exchanges, may be illiquid, lack price transparency, or be managed with conflicts of interest. All of these can potentially lower your returns. In addition, there are REITs that are not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To check if a REIT is registered, you can search the SEC's EDGAR system at http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html.Keep in mind that if an REIT is not registered, then that does not mean it is fraudulent. That REIT may be private or simply not listed on the exchange. In these cases, do your research before investing. REITs, like any other security, can be bought and sold on public exchanges. However, shares of REITs are also bought up by mutual funds and traded as part of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). All of these investment vehicles can be bought and traded by contacting your stockbroker or investment professional, or by using an online trading platform. ETFs may help to minimize the risks because the expense ratios needed to operate the funds are typically lower. They also typically yield above average returns.  While REIT's can provide a consistent income flow, they are the only option on this list that cannot be purchased using leverage (investing using loaned money). This limits your potential return somewhat. However, it also reduces risk.  Another possible way to increase your return is by investing in a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP). These plans are offered by some REITs and the dividends compound over time when they are reinvested. Mortgage REITs are also lower risk than commercial lenders because they use a higher equity to debt ratio to fund themselves.

SUMMARY: Determine if REITs are right for you. Learn about the different types of REITs. Assess the risks of buying REITs. Purchase shares of REITs.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Turn the Roomba upside down, and locate the side-sweeper: a circular, three-pronged plastic piece at the top left of your Roomba. Using your Phillips screwdriver, remove the single screw that holds the side-sweeper in place, and remove the side-sweeper. Using your hands or your crevice tool, clean off any hair/debris that is attached to the side-sweeper and the place where the side-sweeper attaches. The front wheel--positioned front and center on the bottom of your Roomba--should easily pop out. Use your hands to remove any hair or string attached to the wheel itself. Then use your vacuum with the crevice tool to vacuum the opening where the wheel goes. On the bottom of your Roomba, you will notice a rectangular flap, that should lift open. Under this flap, you'll find your cylindrical brush, which is likely to be very dirty. Lift out this brush. On either end of your brush there will be small bearings. (On many models, these bearings are yellow). Remove these bearings and set them aside. Then, using your hand, pull off any hair that has gotten tangled around the ends of your brush. Take out the iRobot Roomba bristle brush and slide it onto the end of your cylindrical brush. Pull the bristle brush down the length of your cylindrical brush in order to remove hair and debris. Remove the hair/debris from the bristle brush with your fingers, and repeat this process 2-3 more times.  An iRobot Roomba bristle brush should have been included with your Roomba. If you have misplaced this item, you can purchase one online for around $5. Below the the space that held the cylindrical brush, you will see a cylindrical rubber roller. This will slide out. Remove the (yellow) bearings, and pull off any dirt/hair from the ends. Using the brush attachment on your vacuum, go over all sides of the brush and roller to remove dust, dirt, and hair. Set the brush and roller aside, and switch to your crevice tool. Now vacuum the compartment where the brush and roller go, paying careful attention to the gray flap that seals the compartment.
Summary: Remove the side-sweeper. Remove the front wheel. Remove the brush. Remove the bearings. Use the iRobot Roomba bristle brush. Remove the rubber roller. Vacuum the brush, roller, and compartment.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In a large stock pot over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup butter. Add the garlic and onions, and cook until tender and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. To the sauté, add broth, squash, and herbs, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, bringing the soup to a simmer, and cook until squash very soft and tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Using an immersion blender, or a food processor, puree the squash mixture thoroughly. If using a food processor, blend the soup in batches, about 2 cups at a time. Return the puree to the pot. Add cream and sugar to the puree, and heat until at a very low simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into deep bowls, top with croutons and shredded gruyere, and serve with torn chunks of crusty fresh bread, a winter greens salad (spinach, escarole, and radicchio topped with sugared walnuts or marcona almonds), and a crisp, rich viognier. It's soup time!

SUMMARY:
Sauté onions and garlic. Add the rest of the ingredients. Puree the mix. Finish the soup mix. Serve it up. Forget about winter.