If you are new to Risk, then gaining a thorough understanding of the rules may help you to play a better game. Understanding the rules may also help you to catch your opponents is they try to cheat or bend the rules in their favor. Read the rulebook carefully to make sure that you have a good understanding of how to play Risk. The more you play, the more you will be able to work on your game strategy, so play as often as you can. It is also a good idea to try to play with more experienced players who are willing to share their knowledge with you. The Risk rulebook offers three strategies for players that may help you when you are just getting familiar with the game. Try to use these strategies every time that you play the game and your game will improve. The three pieces of strategic advice given to players by the Risk rulebook include:  Hold entire continents to earn bonus reinforcements. The more army reinforcements that you have, the more powerful you are. Therefore, you should try to get as main reinforcements as possible. Watch your borders for enemy armies. If one of your opponent’s is going to attack you, he or she will probably start to gather forces along one of your borders. So send an equally or larger force to protect your territory. Fortify your borders against enemy attack. Make sure that you place reinforcements along your borders to make it harder for enemies to penetrate your territory.

Summary: Make sure that you understand the rules. Play often and with more experienced players. Use the three basic strategies described in the Risk rulebook.


You can pretty much eyeball this one -- if it looks like it's in okay condition, it's probably safe to use.  Be sure to have dry hands, wet hands is a safety hazard with and electric appliance. Remove the blender from the base and wash the two parts separately. Just run the top under warm water with a little soap; the blades are sharp so be careful not to cut yourself.  Never, ever, ever put the base in water! If you get it gunky, take a wet cloth or sponge to it. It's hard to hurt it -- and water (or any other liquid) is really the only way. Be sure to dry the blender completely, you don't want to leave liquid in the blender, its best to air dry upside down.

Summary: Make sure the blender is plugged in, clean, and in working condition. Clean the blender.


Quizzes such as the AQ and RAADS can help give you a sense if you're on the spectrum. They are not a substitute for a professional diagnosis, but they are a useful tool.  Some professional questionnaires are available online. A truly autism-friendly organization is usually run partially or completely by autistic people, such as the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network and the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network. These organizations provide a much clearer view of autism than organizations run exclusively by parents or family members do. Autistic people best understand their own lives and can offer the most insights.  Avoid toxic and negative autism organizations. Some autism-related groups say terrible things about autistic people, and may push pseudoscience.Autism Speaks is a prominent example of an organization that uses disaster rhetoric. Look for organizations that provide a more balanced point of view, and empower autistic voices instead of excluding them. Many autistic people love the blogosphere, where they can communicate freely. Many bloggers will discuss signs of autism and offer advice for people who are questioning whether they're on the spectrum. Many autistic people can be found in hashtags such as #ActuallyAutistic and #AskingAutistics. In general, the autistic community is very welcoming to people who are wondering if they are autistic, or who are self-diagnosed. What types of therapies do autistic people sometimes need? Do any of the therapies sound like they would help you? Check which therapies have scientific backing.   Remember that every autistic person is different. A therapy type that is useful to someone else may not be useful to you, and a therapy that someone else found unhelpful may help you. Be careful: scammers often target autistics and their families with fake therapies that may waste your money or even cause harm. Some therapies, notably ABA, may involve cruel methods or goals that focus on training you to act "normal" instead of helping you be healthy and happy. Many autistic people have co-occurring conditions that can benefit from treatment. It's also possible to mistake another condition for autism.   Autism can come with sensory processing disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, epilepsy, gastrointestinal issues, ADHD, sleep disorders, and other conditions. Autism can be confused with conditions like sensory processing disorder, ADHD, social anxiety, schizoid personality disorder, complex PTSD, reactive attachment disorder, selective mutism, and others.

Summary: Search for autism quizzes online. Turn to autism-friendly organizations. Read the work of autistic writers. Turn to social networking. Start researching therapies. Research similar conditions.


Bare wood always needs priming before painting as the primer acts as a sealant. When you are sure that the outside wood has thoroughly dried, use a top quality latex or oil-based primer and apply it to the entire exterior of the house.  Latex primer is an inexpensive, all-purpose choice. Bring your final paint sample when purchasing primer. Primers are usually white, but tinted ones are available to match your top coat.  Lay down a drop cloth to protect the ground and any plants in the area. Stir the primer well from the bottom of the tin to mix up all the solids that may have separated, and consider using a tray liner for your paint tray.  You can use a nylon-polyester brush, roller or an airless paint sprayer to apply the primer.  Start by priming the patched filler spots, then work your way down from the top of the outside wall to the bottom. Priming the patched areas first can improve the final paint job.  Let the primer sit for 24 hours to ensure it is completely dry. Now that the surface is properly cleaned, prepped and primed, it’s time to follow up with a great paint job. A good paint job protects your house like a raincoat. You can use a top quality 100% acrylic latex exterior paint as a topcoat - buy the best quality paint you can afford.  Before you begin, mask windows and doors with heavy plastic and once again lay drop cloths on the ground.  For primed, bare wood, you will need about one gallon of paint per each 400 square feet.  Use a nylon and polyester brush for latex exterior paint or a paint sprayer for a faster job. Always start at the top and work down so that drips are erased as you work. Follow the sun around the house as you are painting. Another coat or two will make your paint job last longer. While it may seem like an extra expense at the time, you will save yourself time and money on future repairs  by properly investing in the repair process now. If you can, you should always apply two finish coats, each within two weeks of each other.  After you’ve painted the body of the house, proceed to the trim, using an oil-based paint. Brushwork is best for applying trim tidily.  A good paint job will last for 10 to 15 years depending on the elements your house is exposed to.
Summary: Apply a coat of primer to the dry wood. Apply the final topcoat of paint to the wood. Consider applying one or two follow up coats of paint.