INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There are many different ways to correspond with a penpal, and deciding on the one that’s right for you makes it easier to sort through the number of penpal websites on the Internet. Some people prefer communicating electronically while others like to use penpals as a means of creative communication.  The International Union of Mail-Artists is a website dedicated to those who like sending postal art to their penpals. IUMOA is a much more niche community as it has roughly 4,000 active members. However, it is the perfect medium for those who like to have an artistic element to their penpal correspondences.  Swap-Bot is another website dedicated to creative forms of corresponding. The website focuses on swapping where users exchange postcards, stickers, coins, and a variety of other small crafts. Swapping is ideal for hobbyists and those interested in sending hand-assembled mail.  Global Penfriends is a good example of a website designed to facilitate more traditional penpal relationships. This club has been around since 1995 and has a large database of penpals. Users can search for potential penpal partners from around the world, using a  search engine to find their perfect penpal. You can find penpals interested in exchanging mail art, postcards, packages, and gifts, as well as traditional letter penpals. Some websites don’t allow users to add their postal addresses, preferring more secure electronic communication. If you prefer old-fashioned snail mail and the feel of fresh paper, then it’s best to find a website that facilitates postal communication. Global Pen Friends allows both electronic and postal correspondence, where users can exchange physical addresses after establishing contact. Many websites allow you to search for penpals for free but require premium memberships where users pay a low monthly or annual fee in exchange for communication with their penpal. Other websites allow for free memberships, but that often comes at the cost of excessive advertisements. InterPals is a reliable free penpal website with a robust database of users and minimal advertisements Check out any suggestions listed in this guide, but feel free to search for a website on your own. However, there are many poorly run or defunct penpal websites so it’s important to know how to find the right one.  Look at the website’s design. Is it clunky, filled with oversized text, and stuffed with annoying advertisements? These are all telltale signs of an inefficient penpal website. A trustworthy website should have a sleek, user-friendly layout with a well-defined explanation of how the website works. Check out the frequently asked questions section. This part of the website should answer all of the important questions about whether it’s a paid website, how to set up a profile, and whether it allows for postal and/or electronic communication. Play around with the website before you decide to make a profile. Check out the search engine and see how easy it is to use. Look at how many users are available to communicate with and see if you can find users from the countries you’re interested in. When you have activated your account, it's time to set up your own profile which other pen pals can see. Designing a profile plays a key role in getting new pen pals. Depending on this information, members will choose to click on your profile when they are searching for members and whether to write you a message. Complete the about me and hobby boxes with great detail, because this is how users decide if they have anything in common with you. Upload at least one good profile picture so people know you are a real person. Be thorough with your personal description, but careful not to give away any personal information you aren’t comfortable with sharing.

SUMMARY: Think about what you want to send. Consider whether you want to correspond electronically or through snail mail. Look at free versus paid websites. Use Google to find the right penpal website. Make your profile.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Lean the handle against the rim of the container and allow the bristles to rest in the hot vinegar for 10 minutes. If the paint hasn’t softened after 10 minutes, let the brush soak for another 10 minutes to make the paint easier to be removed. Gently swirl the brush around in the vinegar to allow it to penetrate deep into the bristles of the brush. To prevent the bristles from bending, store the brush by hanging it on a hook or stacking it. Stuffing a paintbrush into a container or a drawer can warp the bristles and make it ineffective. Wrap the brush in newspaper to help the bristles maintain their shape.

SUMMARY: Soak the paintbrush in the vinegar for 20 minutes. Store the brush by hanging it up or stacking it.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Many basic identification documents, such as state-issued driver's licenses, include the address of your primary residence. The address of the house on official identification is strong evidence that you live there.  While having the address on your driver's license doesn't necessarily prove that you own the house, it can help to prove that you live there. Particularly if you were the victim of a natural disaster, you may have to prove both ownership and occupancy to be eligible for some types of aid. If you purchased appliances or other supplies used in the house, the sales agreement may include the address of the house. Any other legal document that includes your residence would also have the address of the house.   Court documents require your address, in part to establish that the court has jurisdiction. Other legal forms or applications may also include your address. If you've lost your copies of these documents, you may be able to get new copies at the courthouse, or by contacting the store or other person involved in the transaction. Bills for water or electricity in your name are strong evidence that you live in the house. If you've lost copies of past utility bills, contact the utility company and ask for an account history or transaction record.   Since virtually anyone can start utilities at a house, utility bills are never proof of ownership. However, they are solid evidence that you live in the house. If the utilities are not in your name, you may still be able to prove occupancy if you can demonstrate your relationship to the person who turned on the utilities. For example, if your mother turned on the utilities, that relationship would typically be sufficient. It's generally accepted that you live at an address if you gave that address out to businesses or organizations to communicate with you. Any sort of bills or statements with your name and address are sufficient. Mail provides better evidence if it is generated in the course of business, such as a credit card statement or a delivery notice. Anything that says "or current resident" (or similar) under your name won't work to establish occupancy. If all else fails, you can swear out an affidavit stating that you occupy the house in question. While you do sign the statement under penalty of perjury, this is considered the weakest form of proof and may not be accepted by some relief organizations or government agencies. Whenever possible, have other documents to support your declarative statement. Even if a document isn't enough to prove occupancy by itself, it may gain strength when combined with other documents.

SUMMARY:
Gather identification documents. Get copies of sales agreements or other legal documents. Show utility bills in your name. Find official mail sent to you at the house's address. Submit a declarative statement.