INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Rinse 1 1⁄2 pounds (0.68 kg) of pickling cucumbers and trim off the ends. Use a sharp knife to cut each cucumber into thin, even slices and put them in a large, shallow bowl. If you don't have a large, shallow bowl, put the pickles in a shallow baking pan. Set a colander in the sink and remove the cucumbers from the refrigerator. Put them in the colander and run cold water over the cucumbers. Keep rinsing to remove the salt and let the cucumbers drain in the colander. Then put the cucumbers back in the bowl. Carefully pour the syrup over the cucumbers and onions in the bowl. Leave the mixture to cool for 1 hour at room temperature. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the pickles in the syrup to 2 pint jars with lids. Refrigerate the pickles in the syrup for at least 24 hours before eating them. You can store the bread and butter pickles for up to 1 month in the refrigerator.

SUMMARY: Cut the cucumbers into 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) slices. Rinse and drain the sliced cucumbers. Pour the hot syrup over the sliced vegetables and let it stand for 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate the pickles for 24 hours before serving.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Once the engine has started and warmed up, you can begin to ride. This is done by shifting down into 1st gear and letting the clutch lever out while simultaneously pulling back on the throttle.  Make sure your kickstand isn’t out. Slowly let out the clutch lever until the bike starts to roll forward. You may have to pull back on the throttle slightly to prevent your bike from stalling while releasing the clutch. Once you are moving, accelerate slightly and pull you feet up onto the pegs. Try straight line riding. As you let the clutch out and slowly roll the throttle back to pick up a little speed, continue riding in a straight line. When you are ready to stop, pull in the clutch lever, and slowly apply the front and rear brakes simultaneously. Use your left foot to steady the bike at a stop. When you are stopped, put your right foot on the ground. Once you’re able to start riding in a straight line, get a feel for shifting. Get a feel for the "friction zone". The friction zone is the area of resistance created as the clutch becomes engaged. This area allows for the transfer of power from the engine to the rear wheel. Motorcycle transmissions are sequential, meaning that you have to shift one gear in a consecutive order, whether shifting up or down. It will take some practice to be able to feel and hear when it's time to shift. The engine will start revving at higher rpms when it's time to shift.  With your bike on, shift all the way down into 1st gear. You’ll know you’re in 1st gear when the shift pedal doesn’t click down anymore. You should hear a bit of a clicking noise when in 1st. Very slowly let your clutch out until the bike starts moving forward. When you want to start moving faster, pull back on the throttle slightly as you let out the clutch. To get to 2nd gear, pull the clutch back, ease off the gas, and pull up firmly on your shifter to move through neutral. Check to make sure your neutral light is not on. Let the clutch out and engage the throttle again. Repeat this process to shift through higher gears. After 2nd gear, you don’t have to pull up with your left toe quite as hard since you’re not going through neutral. To downshift, release the throttle, squeezing the brake lever slightly. Pull your clutch in and press down on your shifter. Then let out your clutch. Once you get a hang of downshifting, you can come to a stop while in second gear. Then, once at a stop, shift down again into 1st. Much like a bicycle, a motorcycle is turned, once you're at about 10 mph or higher, by countersteering. Push down on the handgrip on the side of the bike you want to turn. Look up and through your turn.  As you enter your turn, remember to slow down. Don’t apply the brakes during your turn. Release the throttle and break if you have to before you start your turn. Keep your head up and look through the turn. Press the handlebar in the direction you want to go. Slowly roll on the throttle as you glide through the turn to keep momentum. As you slow down, turn your head to look to the end of the turn. Your bike will follow your eyes. Find a point at the end of your turn to aim for and keep your eyes on it. Never look at the ground or down into your turn. Though you may feel weird and want to watch your turn, this is dangerous and can cause you to not complete your turn properly. Press on the side you want to turn. If you are making a left turn, push away from yourself on the right side of the handlebar. This will cause the bike to lean to the left. Lean with it and slowly roll on the throttle to slightly increase your speed. As you come out of the turn, keep the throttle steady or add a bit more gas while you lean back up. Let the bike right itself, don’t jerk the handlebars. Finally, now that you’ve practiced starting, shifting, and turning your bike, you need to know how to slow down and come to a stop. Remember that the lever on the right handlebar operates your front brake, while the brake by your right foot operates the brake for the back wheel. As a general rule, you want to begin braking with your front brake and employ your rear brake after to help you slow and stop.   When coming to a full stop, it’s best to begin with your front brake and apply the rear brake after you’ve slowed down some. As you slow down, make sure you downshift. You don’t always need to go all the way into 1st gear. You can downshift into 2nd gear and stop before shifting down to 1st. Pull in the clutch when braking and gearing down. Apply pressure to both your front and rear brake as you slow down and begin braking. Make sure you aren’t pulling back on the throttle. This is made easy by the fact that the front brake handle is situated so that you have to roll your hand forward to reach it. Gradually increase pressure on your brakes, don’t engage the brakes completely, this can cause your bike to stop abruptly and jolt. Once you are at a stop, keep the front brake engaged, and plant your feet firmly on the ground. Start with your left foot, then your right.

SUMMARY: Begin driving your motorcycle. Practice shifting gears. Practice turning. Practice slowing down and stopping.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most healthy people will need to see their dental health care provider twice a year.   When you see your dentist, you should get a dental cleaning. Your dentist or hygienist will use dental instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. They will then polish them with a special toothpaste. Most dentists will recommend dental X-rays at least once a year. This can help your dentist see if you have any problems inside your teeth. Your dentist will check each tooth for cavities as well as examine your gums for signs of gum disease. These are plastic preventive sealant coverings for your teeth.  These seal off the crevices on your teeth where food gets stuck.  Sealants protect the enamel against acid and plaque and are recommended for both children and adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that school age children should have dental sealants, as they can reduce tooth decay in children by over 70%.  These sealants can last up to 10 years before they will need to be replaced. Your dentist will need to check them regularly at 6 month checkups to make sure they are intact. If you don't drink tap water or use fluoride toothpaste, you may need fluoride treatments.   Fluoride treatments are typically done in the office during your dental cleaning. Your dentist will fill up trays with a fluoride gel or paste. These will need to sit in your mouth and on your teeth for several minutes. These treatments can help to strengthen your enamel.

SUMMARY:
See your dentist and dental hygienist for regular cleanings and checkups. Ask your dentist about sealants. Talk to your dentist about fluoride treatments.