INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Your financial institution likely has a rewards program through which you can start accumulating points towards free travel just by entering your email address and a few other details. These points can often be applied towards vacation packages, or else used to obtain discounts on travel by air, land, or sea. They can also be exchanged for frequent flyer miles on participating airlines. Bus companies like Greyhound and passenger train companies like Amtrak also have rewards programs through which you can accumulate points. Sign up for their rewards programs and make sure to log in to your account first before booking trips by bus or train so that each paid trip counts towards your point total. You may be sitting on a gold mine of potential free travel opportunities. Check out the relevant pages of your credit card company and learn what it takes to earn free travel opportunities.  Many cards have cash back opportunities where you receive a certain percentage of what you’ve spent on the card at the end of each month or year. If you can pay off the balance in full each month, consider increasing what you put on your card each month. The cash you get back may be enough for you to offer your next trip!  Many credit cards also provide points towards free travel when you eat at certain restaurants. If you can afford it, you may want to consider eating out at a couple of these places to increase your point total. Avoid those established by the credit card companies themselves. Instead, look for those set up by individuals who have successfully leveraged their credit cards for free travel. If there is considerable affiliate marketing on the page, that may be a sign to take the advice offered with a grain of salt. Many transportation companies sell gift cards that you can use to increase the points you need to earn free trips. A few gift cards for your birthday or Christmas could be just what you need to get to your next vacation spot! Your credit card company may offer sweepstakes whose entry fee is a certain number of rewards points. You can also often also submit multiple entries as long as you have the rewards points to cover the cost of each entry. Just make sure to read the fine print when you apply, though. Your chances of winning may be extremely low if you don’t have enough points to submit multiple entries. Also, some of these contests pay for the entire trip, while others only pay for a certain portion.

SUMMARY: Enroll in credit card rewards programs. Review the terms of rewards programs for any credit cards you already have. Look online for websites that compare credit card rewards programs. Ask friends and family for travel gift cards to help you accumulate points. Enter sweepstakes with destination vacations as prizes.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: More important than phone calls and visits is truthfulness.  Be open with your friends so they know the real you, even when you aren’t so proud of yourself. Friendships can only grow when honesty is present, so always be yourself. Always honor your friends.  If others are gossiping about them, either intervene or walk away.  Always keep their secrets. If you tell them that you’ll do something, do it without having to be reminded. For instance, if you hear someone talking badly about them, say “Hey, Monica is one of my good friends.  I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak like that about her.” If you do something wrong to your friends, say you’re sorry to them.  Friendships are bound to run into the occasional conflict, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is allowing bitterness to fester and poison your relationship. Call them or pull them aside and say something like “I’m so sorry for making that comment about your mom.  I wasn’t thinking straight.  It won’t happen again.” Friendships thrive when everyone feels valued.  Let your friends know what they mean to you.  Tell them how thankful you are to have them in your life and compliment them regularly. Boost them and make them feel lucky to have you, too.  Take special moments like birthdays to be appreciative, but let them know you love them on regular days, too. Say something like “You’re such a great friend.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.  Thanks for always being there for me.” Just like you have your imperfections, know that your friends have them, too. Instead of trying to make them think like you about certain issues, accept their differences. This doesn’t mean letting them treat you badly, but do know that they are human and unique. For instance, your friend might be in an unhealthy relationship that you're tired of hearing about.  Instead of getting mad at them for staying, continue to love and support them.

SUMMARY: Be honest. Be trustworthy and reliable. Apologize when you mess up. Show appreciation for them. Accept them for who they are.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Use a ruler or straightedge to draw a straight line inside the circle, from one edge to another. The points that you use don't matter. Label the two points A and B. The circles should be the exact same size. Make A the center of one circle, and B the center of the other. Space the two circles so that they overlap like a Venn diagram. Draw these circles in pencil, not pen. The process will be simpler if you are able to erase these circles later on. There will be a point at the top and a point at the bottom of the "Venn diagram" space created between the overlap of the circles. Use a ruler to make sure that the line protrudes straight through these points. Finally, label the two points (C and D) at which this new line crosses the rim of the original circle. This line marks the diameter of the original circle. This should clear up your work space for the next step of the process. Now, you should have a circle with two perpendicular lines running through it. Do not erase the center points (A and B) of these circles! You will be drawing two new circles. Use your compass to draw two equal circles: one with the point C at its center, and one with the point D. These circles, too, should overlap like a Venn diagram. Remember: C and D are the points at which the vertical line intersects the main circle. This straight, horizontal line should cut through the overlap space of the two new circles. This line is the second diameter of your original circle, and it should be exactly perpendicular to the first diameter line. The intersection point of the two straight diameter lines is the exact center of the circle! Mark this center point for reference. If you want to clean up the page, feel free to erase the diameter lines and the non-original circles.

SUMMARY: Draw a chord between two points. Use a compass to draw two overlapping circles. Draw a vertical line through the two points at which the circles intersect. Erase the two overlapping circles. Sketch two new circles. Draw a line through the points at which these new circles intersect. Find the center.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The bottles need to be the same shape and size. It would be best if they are the same color, but you can use different colors if you want to, such as clear and green. A small water bottle or soda bottle will work the best for this. You can also use a 2-liter (67-oz) bottle for a large coin purse. Wash the inside of each bottle half with soap and warm water. Rinse them, then dry them with a towel. Be sure to remove any labels or sticker residue.  Skip this step if you used water bottles. They won't be sticky like soda bottles. It is better to clean bottles after you cut them. The opening is larger, making it easier to reach inside.

SUMMARY:
Find 2 plastic bottles to use as a coin purse. Clean the inside of the bottle halves, if needed.