INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you don’t have chairs around, or you just want to switch things up, playing beer darts standing up is a fun variation on the game. The rest of the rules are the same, but you’re standing instead of sitting. Instead of drinking the whole beer, open it up and drink it down so it’s level with the puncture hole the dart left. Then, place the beer back down in front of you and keep playing. The beer stays until your opponent knocks it over with a dart or punctures it at the very bottom of the can. If beer darts is getting too easy for you, increasing the distance between you and your opponent can make it more challenging. Instead of leaving 10 feet (3.0 m) in between you, try moving your chairs back 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) and see if the game is any harder. Sometimes in beer darts the dart will strike the beer can but not puncture it. Make it a rule that if you strike your opponent’s beer can without puncturing it, they have to take a sip out of a separate, opened beer.

SUMMARY: Play standing up. Drink to where the dart hole is when your opponent punctures your beer. Try playing further away from your opponent to make the game harder. Have players drink even if their beer can isn’t punctured to speed up the game.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Depending on the severity of your frostbite, the treatment you receive from your doctor may vary. Hydrotherapy is most common, but in extreme cases surgery is provided. If you suffered from severe frostbite, your doctor may be limited to amputation as a treatment option, but this decision is only made 1-3 months after the initial exposure, once the full extent of tissue damage is clear.  Your doctor will ensure that proper rewarming has taken place and assess any “non-viable tissue,” or tissue that was unable to be healed. When your treatments are done and you are ready to be released from the hospital or emergency department, the doctor will bandage the damaged area and provide specific instructions for what precautions you should take as you recover. This will vary, depending on the severity of your frostbite. If you have severe frostbite, your doctor may recommend transferring you to a burn unit for treatment.  You will need to follow up with your doctor within 1-2 days after leaving the hospital or emergency department if you have moderate or severe frostbite. Extremely severe conditions will require more follow-up at 10 days and 2-3 weeks. Because your skin was damaged by the frostbite, it is at risk of further damage as you begin to heal. You will probably also experience some pain and inflammation as you heal. Get plenty of rest, and talk to your doctor about the following:  Applying aloe vera. Studies suggest that applying pure aloe vera cream to the affected areas may help prevent further skin damage and increase tissue healing.  Managing blisters. Your skin will likely blister as you recover. Do not pop or break blisters that appear. Ask your doctor how to handle them until they break on their own. Managing pain. Your doctor will likely prescribe ibuprofen to help manage pain and inflammation. Take it as directed.  Preventing infection. Especially in severe cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. It is important to take the full course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Getting around. If your frostbite affected your feet or toes, you should avoid walking on them as you heal. Walking on frostbitten areas can cause further damage. Ask your doctor about a wheelchair or other options. To assure your full recovery and prevent further damage, you need to protect the affected area from further cold exposure for 6-12 months. To prevent future incidents of frostbite, limit your time outdoors in very cold weather, especially if it is windy or wet.

SUMMARY: Get further medical treatment. Talk to your doctor about aftercare. Protect the area from further cold.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you purchase a violin, you should play the instrument. Most music shops will actually have a separate room for this purpose. Play the violin to get a sense of the feel and tone.  You should also have a friend or music teacher with you so that they can hear and test the instrument as well. Some shops will even allow you to take the violin home for a test period. Ask to see if that is possible and take advantage of the store’s policy. You may find that the violin sounds different once you get it home. Cracks in the wood can be expensive to repair and will impact the quality of the sound produced by the violin. Inspect the instrument for any cracks before purchasing. This is especially necessary if you are buying a used or antique violin. The ribs, or sides of the violin, should not bulge out beyond the edges of the top or back of the violin. This is typically a sign that the wood was not treated properly. It can also be common among violins that are over fifty years old. Consult a violin repair shop before purchasing a violin with this type of wear. The cost to make the repairs may be expensive. The bridge of the violin should be rounded, allowing for you to play a single string or multiple strings at the same time. If the bridge is flat at the top it may be very difficult to play a single note. The type and quality of wood can drastically impact the price of a violin. The best types of wood are spruce wood tops with maple wood necks, backs, and sides. Typically wood that has been aged for longer will be drier and stronger and is considered better quality for violins.  Ebony is typically used for the fingerboard. Less expensive violins may use cheaper wood types and may even have a plastic chin rest. If you are interested in buying an antique professionally made violin, such as a Stradivarious, you should make sure the instrument has been professionally appraised and authenticated before purchasing. There are only 600 Stradivari left in the world. An appraisal will help ensure that you avoid spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a fake.

SUMMARY:
Test the violin before purchasing. Look for cracks in the wood. Check the ribs for bulging. Check that the bridge is adequately curved. Ask what type of wood the violin is made from. Ensure an antique violin comes with an authentication certificate.