INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You want to make sure your friend understand you do not want a romantic relationship. You do not want to give a soft answer, that gives your friend hope that you'll change your mind in the future. You should be as honest as possible about how you're feeling.  Explain your feelings up front. You can begin the discussion with something like, "I know you have feelings for me, but I don't have any romantic feelings for you." It can help to explain the reasons for your feelings, as this can give your friend closure. However, remember that being honest does not mean being brutal. If you want to give a reason, be tactful. Maybe you're just not attracted to your friend. Do not say, "You're a little too short, and that's not my type physically, so I don't think it would work." You don't want to sound like you're tearing your friend apart. Instead, try something like, "I just don't feel a physical spark between us." A lot of times, saying, "Let's still be friends" can be misinterpreted. People may take this as a sign you may change your mind. Your friend may think you will eventually develop romantic feelings for him. Make it clear you want to continue the friendship, but without the hope of a romantic relationship.  Emphasize you value the friendship. Say something like, "You are one of my best guy friends, though, and that's really important to me." Honesty is important when you make it clear you want to stay friends. Don't leave it at, "Let's stay friends." Make it clear you only want friendship. Say something like, "I want us to stay good friends, but I just want to be clear I don't see a romantic relationship developing between us." Your friend may very well be upset or hurt by the conversation. That's understandable. Being rejected romantically hurts. You should listen to your friend's response. Allow him to express himself, just as you did.  Your friend may be disappointed and upset. This is understandable. Try to be empathetic as you listen. Remind him that you do still value the friendship. Your friend may also have some questions for you, regarding your feelings. If you choose to answer the questions, do so honestly, but without being brutal. If he asks why you're not attracted to him, say, "I'm just not" rather than diving into specifics.

SUMMARY: Be honest about how you feel. Make it clear you want to maintain only a friendship. Listen to how your friend responds.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Cats need to be able to reach up as high as they can to scratch and stretch. If the scratching post is too short, your cat may not even look at it. The post should be high enough to allow your cat to stand on her back legs and reach above her head with her front paws. To make sure your cat’s scratching post is stable, try fixing it to a surface or making sure the post has a sturdy base so it won’t budge when the cat scratches it. If your cat feels the post move or shift, she won't feel secure and may refuse to use the post. Scratching boards which you lean against a wall or hang like a picture are unpopular with most cats. Individual cats favor different textures to scratch on. If you are not sure what your cat likes, a good starter scratcher is natural rope wound around a sturdy column.  Avoid plastic ropes or artificial fibers because these materials can create static, which cats dislike. If your cat likes to scratch carpet, then consider nailing a piece of carpet to a sturdy post. Other textures to consider trying include corrugated cardboard, and cloth. Chances are that your cat likes to scratch in more than just one spot, so plan to purchase or create more than one scratching post in your house. Having multiple posts will ensure that your cat always has access to a scratching post where ever she is. Having multiple posts is even more important if you have multiple cats.

SUMMARY: Choose a scratching post that is tall. Make sure the post is stable. Select a texture that your cat will like. Get more than one post.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Contrary to the rest of your PowerPoint presentation, your title slide should be completely devoid of content other than the title and subtitle. This is considered a professional must when creating a PowerPoint. If you're creating a PowerPoint presentation for which an elaborate title slide has been requested, ignore this step. Click the large text box in the middle of the first slide, then type in your title. You can change the font and size of text used from the Home tab that's in the orange ribbon at the top of the window. Click the smaller text box below the title box, then type in the subtitle that you want to use. You can also just leave this box blank if you like. Place your mouse cursor over one of the edges of a title box, then click and drag the box around the slide to reposition it. You can also click and drag in or out one of a text box's corners to shrink or enlarge the text box. It's at the top of the PowerPoint window. Doing so brings up a list of possible slide transition effects at the top of the page. Click a transition you want to use to apply it to the slide. This completes the title slide process; you can now move on to adding another slide for your presentation's main content. Placing your mouse over the transition will cause the slide to demonstrate what the transition will look like in practice.

SUMMARY: Understand how your title slide should appear. Add a title. Add the subtitle. Rearrange the title text boxes. Click the Transitions tab. Select a transition for your title slide.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Bowing evolved as a traditional sign of respect and acknowledgement in many Western cultures, but it is much less common than it once was. You may still bow to show respect, or to add a dramatic flourish to a situation, but the gesture will appear a bit outdated. That said, bowing is still generally regarded as a polite gesture.  Bowing in western culture is often accompanied by an air of mock formality, and perhaps a degree of ironic self-consciousness. The European-American ceremonial bow is largely an anachronistic gesture, so bear in mind that you may not be taken seriously. Try owning the mock formality of the bow by playing with nuance and taking the gesture to the extreme. Bow very slowly and deeply to show sarcasm—something like a slow clap. Bow very quickly and politely to convey mock deference. Bend your arm at the elbow, and rest your hand (palm out( at waist-level. Alternately, press your left hand across your abdomen. Bend your arm at the elbow. Hold your palm against your body while you tip your upper body forward. The lower you bend, the more respect you show. If you are wearing a hat, remove it and hold it by the brim in your right hand. If you are in a situation that calls for extreme deference—say, a funeral, or the performance of a national anthem—tuck your hat under your arm until the moment passes. Do not raise your chin to maintain eye contact—this may be taken as a sign of disrespect. This is, however, a tradition that evolved from a highly stratified feudal society, so do not expect most 21st-century people to take offense if you make eye contact or bow "incorrectly". Straighten your back. Drop your hands. Raise your eyes to meet the gaze of the person to whom you bowed, and proceed to speak with them.

SUMMARY:
Know when to bow. Put your left hand behind your back. Bring your right hand to your waist. Keep your eyes lowered. Stand up in one fluid motion.