Q: For a correct pronunciation, say Es-toy con-ten-ta. With an emphasis on “toy” and “tenta.” Remember that depending on whether you are speaking to a guy or a girl, you will say contento or contenta. Spanish is a great language for learning correct pronunciation because unlike English, there are no silent letters. You pronounce every letter in a word. The one exception to this rule is that you do not pronounce the h at the beginning of words. Saying shorter vowel sounds will help you sound more native. Vowels in Spanish are easier to learn to pronounce than in English because there are only 5 sounds as opposed to 12. Notice that i and e in Spanish have different sounds than in English. The Spanish i vowel sound is more similar to the ee sound in English. The e vowel sound is more similar to the eh sound.   a - ah  e- eh  i- ee  o- oh  u- oo In English, typically the stress goes on the first syllable in the word. This is the opposite in Spanish. If you have a word with 2-3 syllables, you will most likely put the stress on the second or third syllable. Look at the following words that are the same in English and Spanish, and you can see how the stress is changed. The stress in the English words are on the left, and the emphasis for the Spanish words are on the right.  LEgal = leGAL ANimal = aniMAL HOSpital = hospiTAL POSsible = posIBle Look for dialogue in Spanish that has a recording that goes along with it. First practice saying the dialogue aloud and then listening and speaking along with the recording to hear how your pronunciation should be. Repeat this process several times.  You can watch a movie in Spanish with subtitles. First mute the movie and read the subtitles aloud, then replay the same part and read the subtitles aloud with the audio to hear the difference.
A: Practice your pronunciation saying Estoy contenta. Pronounce all of the letter sounds in Spanish. Pronounce your vowels with shorter sounds. Change the stress on your words. Practice with a written and recorded Spanish.

Q: If you are shopping for a generator, get one that will supply the amount of power you will need. Labels and other information provided by the manufacturer should help you determine this. You can also ask an electrician for assistance. If you connect devices that use more power than the generator can produce, you run the risk of damaging either the generator or the devices.  If you have a relatively small furnace and city water, you can probably power most household appliances with between 3000 and 5000 watts. If your home has a larger furnace and/or a well pump, you can expect to probably need a generator that produces 5000 to 65000 watts.  Some manufacturers have a wattage calculator to help you determine your needs.  Generators approved by Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) have undergone rigorous inspections and safety tests, and can be trusted. Portable generators can produce deadly fumes and carbon monoxide. When these become trapped in enclosed or partially-ventilated spaces, they can build up and cause illness and even death. Enclosed spaces can include not only rooms inside your house, but also a garage, basement, crawl space, etc. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so even if you don’t see or smell any fumes, you may be in danger if you use the portable generator indoors.  If you feel dizzy, sick, or weak when using a generator, get away immediately and seek fresh air.  Keep your generator at least 20 feet away from any open windows or doors, as fumes can enter your home through these.  You can install portable, battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These work much like a smoke or fire alarm, and are a good idea to have at any time, but especially when you are using a generator. Inspect these regularly to make sure they are working and have fresh batteries. Generators produce electricity, and electricity and water make a potentially deadly combination. Set your generator on a dry, level surface. Keeping it under a canopy or other covered area can protect it from moisture, but the area must be open on all sides and well-ventilated. Never touch a generator with wet hands. This is an extremely dangerous process known as “backfeeding," since it runs power back into the grid. It can harm you, electrical workers trying to repair a system during an outage, and your home. If you want to have backup power connected directly to your home, you must have a licensed electrician install a power transfer switch and a stationary generator. Use only approved fuel containers, and store the fuel according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Usually, this means in a cool, dry place, away from your home, flammable material, and other fuel sources.
A: Buy the right generator. Never use a portable generator indoors. Never operate a generator in rainy or wet conditions. Never plug a portable generator directly into a wall outlet. Store the generator’s fuel properly.

Q: Large meals can force food through your digestive system and make you have to go to the bathroom more frequently. Rather than having 3 big meals every day, try to eat 4–5 times daily. Only have enough food so you feel satisfied but not overstuffed.  You may lose your appetite when you get diarrhea. If you’re also vomiting, wait about 1–2 hours before eating solid food. Foods that contain a lot of fat or spices can be irritating to your digestive system and trigger your diarrhea. Try to cut as many processed and fried foods from your diet as you can. Instead, opt for low-fat meals that are baked, grilled, or pan-seared to ensure they’re healthy and won’t upset your stomach. You may have a sensitive stomach from having diarrhea, so spicier foods may cause more irritation than normal. While you’re still experiencing symptoms, try to have bread, pasta, and crackers made from white flour instead of wheat. Choose fruits and vegetables like applesauce, grapes, cantaloupe, green beans, peppers, and cauliflower since they contain less fiber than others. Aim to have only about 13 grams of fiber each day so you don’t feel the urge to go as often.  For example, 1 slice of white bread has about 0.8 grams of fiber and a ½ cup (75 g) of green beans has less than 1.5 grams. While a fiber-rich diet is normally great for regulating your body normally, it can make your diarrhea more frequent. Avoid having fruit with the skin on, such as apple, berries, or pears, since they usually contain more fiber. Fructose is a natural sugar that forms in fruit, but it’s also added to other foods as a sweetener. Check the list of ingredients on any foods you eat to make sure they don’t contain fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol, since they may cause diarrhea or make your condition worse. Opt for regular sugar or other sweeteners if you need to.  Common sources of fructose include honey, sodas, and corn syrup. Sorbitol and mannitol are typically found in sugar-free drinks and chewing gum. Bananas, rice, applesauce, and plain toast are great food options when you're not feeling well. They're easy on your stomach and contain necessary nutrients. Take small bites so you don’t overwhelm your stomach. As you start feeling better, try incorporating more foods you’d normally eat into your diet.  The BRAT diet helps firm up your stool so you’re less likely to feel the urge to go to the bathroom. Opt for white bread and white rice since they contain less fiber and will help ease your stomach. You may get diarrhea after having milk products if you have lactose intolerance, so try to cut them out of your diet to see if your condition improves. Rather than having milk, look for non-dairy alternatives, such as soy, oat, or almond milk. Otherwise, you may also try using lactose-free varieties. If you need to have milk or dairy, look for non- or reduced-fat varieties since they’ll be less irritating.
A:
Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Avoid greasy or spicy foods since they may upset your stomach. Start a low-fiber diet so you’re less likely to use the bathroom. Cut fructose and artificial sweeteners out of your diet. Try the BRAT diet if you have trouble digesting food regularly. Limit the number of dairy products you eat.