OS X Mavericks (10.9) has a lot of problems with sound, many of which were fixed in Yosemite (10.10). El Capitan (10.11) has fixed even more of these problems. Mac updates are free and are available from the Mac App Store. If there are any available system upgrades, they'll be listed here. Download El Capitan if it is listed in the Updates section. The download will likely take a while to complete. Follow the prompts to install the system update. It's a pretty straightforward process, and you won't lose any of your files or settings. Once the update has finished and you're back at your desktop, test your sound again to see if it is working.
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One-sentence summary -- Check to see if you are running the latest version. Open the Mac App Store. Click the "Updates" tab. Download the latest version of OS X. Install the system update. Test your sound again.


Use a mirror to compare swatches to your roots, as the ends of your hair may be lighter. You may want to bring a friend with you to the beauty supply store to help you choose an exact match. Foam and mousse formulas are the easiest to apply, but they’re difficult to apply accurately. Go with a cream or gel formula for a precise application. Greasy or dirty hair will not accept color as well as clean hair, but if your hair is too clean, it may be more susceptible to damage. Shampoo your hair 12-24 hours before coloring your roots in order to remove product as well as dirt and oil. This way, your hair will accept the color and will also contain the natural oils needed to help prevent damage. Make the first part down the center of your scalp, from your forehead to the nape of your neck. Make the second part running from ear to ear across the top of your head like a headband. Use clips to secure each section. Make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area. Don’t forget to put on gloves before mixing the dye. The gloves, container, stir stick, applicator, and ingredients are provided in the kit. Take care not to spill the dye as it does stain.
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One-sentence summary -- Choose a dye that matches your hair color exactly. Wash your hair 12-24 hours before you dye your hair. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Mix the dye per the instructions.


A short nap will help you feel energized for a long night. Try to avoid napping for more than two hours or you might end up feeling lethargic and tired. Quick naps will be more likely to refresh you. Power naps can be a good way to recharge yourself in the mid-afternoon before you stay up late. Find a comfortable place and lay down. You can even lay your head down on your arms if there is no place to go horizontal. Set an alarm for thirty minutes later, put on some soothing sounds from the internet, and you'll wake up feeling refreshed. If you are already overtired from not sleeping the past few days it will be much harder to stay awake. Try sleeping in the two days before you know you're going to need to stay up very late. This also depends on what you'll be doing the night that you stay up late. If you have to stay up late to do physical labor like construction, a lack of sleep may not impact you that much. Generally, as long as you haven't been sleep deprived for a long period of time, your heart and lungs and muscles can operate equally well. It's your brain and cognitive functions that struggle on a lack of sleep. If you know you're going to need to think clearly and quickly the night that you stay up late then sleep will be very important. Heavy meals will cause you to feel sleepy as your body tries to digest what you have just eaten.  Avoid heavy carbs and stick to lean meat and fruit if you are planning on staying up very late.  Protein will help you stay up later because it stimulates the neurotransmitter orexin. Orexin boosts wakefulness, so eating a steak could be a good way to stay awake. Don't gorge yourself to the extent that you have an incredibly full stomach. Digestion will make you sleepy. Just snack on bites of steak or another lean meat.
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One-sentence summary -- Take a nap ahead of time. Sleep late the night before, and the night before that. Avoid heavy meals.


Even the best build deck can be undone by a string of bad draws. Luck of the draw is a definite contributing factor in any of your games, and letting bad luck sour your mood can result in poor play in the instances you do have control.  The same is true for good luck. If you are having a phenomenal string of wins, any pro will tell you -- you're having a string of good luck. Which isn't to say you haven't worked hard to build your deck and plan your strategy, but overconfidence can lead to serious blunders. If you find that you get overly emotional during games, or if you find that high tension games get the better of you, you might try meditation or other self-calming techniques. A surge of adrenaline can lead to a hasty mistake; learn to control adrenaline. Although most pros relate the importance of "living, breathing, and eating" Magic to quickly improve your game, playing too much without rest can ruin your drive. Many successful competitive players relate how they organize their tournament and practice schedules to make time for other hobbies, family, and romance, and you should too. Your hard work will be even more meaningful when it pays off if you have someone to share it with!  Before plunging headlong into the pro-circuit, you may want to use a trial run to see how you hold up. You may find the travel and practice schedule too intense, in which case you might decide not to invest as much time and money into Magic, instead keeping it as a hobby. The drive to become the very best is an important factor for any top-tier player in any professional sport. However, if this gets out of hand, it can have a serious negative impact on your life. Be sure you are taking time to relax and unwind in whatever way you find most valuable. This does not mean that you should give up your practice schedule when the going gets tough or that you'll eventually get bored with Magic. This does mean that there will be times, as with any sport, when you feel you are on a plateau or that you are stuck in a boring cycle. Many professional athletes experience this; the difference between a pro and a dabbler is that a pro never gives up.
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One-sentence summary --
Accept bad luck without letting it cloud your judgement. Prevent burnout with planned breaks. Understand the ebb and flow of interest.