INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You should be polite and friendly to all your customers, even if they are rude or don’t tip you well. Always smile and have a positive attitude, even if you are having a bad day. Customers will be more likely to tip you well if you show professionalism regardless of what’s going on in your personal life or back at the pizza shop. Before making your delivery, look at the name on the order. When the customer opens the door, say something like “Good evening, Mr. Smith. I’ve got your pizza right here, and the total comes to $29.76.” If you’re unsure how to pronounce the customer’s name, skip it. Instead, say “How are you tonight?” or something similar. People love their pets, and they’ll like you more if you’re nice to their pets too. Compliment the pet by saying something like “what a handsome German Shepherd you have here,” or ask if you can pet them. Rather than leaving your customer to wonder what happened to their pizza, let them know what’s going on. If it’s a busy night, or you are having car trouble, call and let the customer know you’ll be late. They may still be annoyed, but you’re likely to get a better tip for being upfront and honest than for just being late. You should always thank the customer, regardless of their attitude or the tip. Say something like “Thanks for choosing ABC Pizza, we truly appreciate your business!” Customers like to know they are appreciated, so recognizing their business can help you get a better tip. Customers will appreciate it if you acknowledge mistakes and apologize for them. Do your best to fix the problem, and offer a discount or free item, if your employer allows it.

SUMMARY: Be as polite and professional as possible. Address the customer by name. Pay attention to the pets. Call if you know you’re running behind. Thank every customer. Apologize if something goes wrong.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you do not already have one, you can easily set one up quickly and for free. Look in the upper corner of your Gmail account and click the cog icon. Click on the option for Settings. Click on the Accounts tab. This will prompt a new window to appear where you may input your account information. This should be the e-mail address for your POP3 account and not your Gmail account. Once you have entered your e-mail address, click Next Step. Your username will usually include the domain. For example joe@domain.com rather than simply "joe." This will be the password for your POP3 account and not the password for you Gmail account. This will usually look something like mail.yourdomain.com or something like it. This is the default non-encrypted port for POP3. This can be found at the bottom of the screen. You will now be able to access the e-mails from your POP3 account.

SUMMARY: Sign onto your Gmail account. Access your Account Settings menu. Select Add a POP3 E-mail Account You Own. Enter your e-mail address. Enter your username. Enter your password. Set the POP Server. Check that the Port is set to 110. Click Add Account. Access your messages.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you don't see any dust or small pebbles in your sesame seeds, you can put them directly in a skillet or frying pan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for two to three minutes or until the seeds turn brown, glisten, and occasionally pop or jump.  Do not add oil to the skillet. For a nuttier flavor, try the longer thorough toasting method instead. Alternatively, you can preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC), and spread the seeds onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, shaking the pan gently every few minutes to spread the heat more evenly. This typically takes eight to fifteen minutes, depending on how thick the layer of sesame seeds is.  Use a baking sheet with deep sides to avoid spilling. Sesame seeds can burn very quickly if the heat gets too high. Stay in the kitchen and don't forget to check frequently. Once the seeds are done toasting in either method, transfer them to a cool baking sheet and let them cool to room temperature. They will cool faster on metal than plastic or glass surfaces.

SUMMARY: Toast over the stovetop. Bake the seeds instead. Cool the seeds.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before painting your patio, make sure that paint will adhere in the first place. All concrete is porous and absorbs moisture, but if your concrete patio contains too much moisture, you won’t be able to paint it until you correct the moisture content.  Take an 18-inch by 18-inch square of aluminum foil or thick plastic and tape down all four sides, sealing the square to the concrete with tape. Wait 16 to 24 hours. After that time, carefully remove the square of foil or plastic and check the concrete and the underside of the square for condensation or moisture. If the concrete is still damp, wait until weather allows complete drying. Protect the area from sprinklers and garden runoff. Proceed once the concrete is completely dry. Since you are painting concrete in an outdoor area, not just any paint will suffice. Regular exterior paint will likely crack on a concrete surface and peel off shortly after being applied. There are several types of paint that will work for your outdoor concrete patio, and they include:  Concrete paints that contain sealants or waterproofing features, so the paint is designed to resist water, salt, oil, and grease. This is a good choice for paint because it's specifically designed for outdoor concrete and resistance to various substances and elements. Latex, water-based, or oil-based exterior paints that are designed for floor, patios, or porches. These paints are also a good choice, as they are designed for exterior use and are specific to withstand foot traffic. Masonry paints that contain added binders and epoxies. While it may bond well with the concrete, it won't necessarily protect your concrete from the elements. Garage floor coatings with colorful additives to protect and decorate at the same time. To help you decide what color to paint your patio, consider what color the exterior of your house is, and what color your patio furniture is. Take color swatches with you to the paint store so you can compare your existing decor with your paint choices. Don't be afraid to ask the paint specialist for help and advice! A concrete or block primer will give you a nice, even surface to work with, instead of the uneven, porous surface of non-primed concrete. It will also reduce the number of coats required to properly cover your surface. Choose an exterior-grade primer if you’re going to use one, and make sure it’s designed for concrete. Concrete primers are often called concrete, masonry, or bonding primers. Once you’ve decided what kind of paint you’re going to use, you will need to do some basic calculations to determine how many cans of paint you’ll need to cover the patio surface. Check the paint can or manufacturer's website regarding how much coverage one can provides, and compare that with the square footage of your patio.  Square footage is determined by multiplying the length by the width of the area you are dealing with. Don't worry if your patio isn't perfectly square or rectangular: you just need a basic idea of the area you're going to cover. Don't forget to take into account whether you plan on applying multiple coats. A primer will reduce the likelihood of having to apply more than one or two coats of paint. Before getting started, get together all the tools you’re going to need for painting. The best painting tools for this will be a masonry brush, a high-capacity roller, or a texture roller. The equipment you’ll need may include:  Primer (optional) and paint A paint roller frame and cover A paint tray Roller and brush extenders Masking or painter’s tape Thick and thin brushes Plastic or painter's tarps Use tape to line the surfaces touching your concrete patio, such as deck edges, exterior walls, doors or windows, and other areas that you don’t want to accidentally paint. Cover the ground nearby with tarps if necessary. Ideally, begin painting on a dry day when there has been no rain in the previous 24 hours, and none is expected in the long-range forecast. The best temperature for outdoor painting is about 50 F (10 C).

SUMMARY:
Test the concrete for moisture content. Select your paint. Choose a color. Consider using a primer. Determine how much paint you need. Assemble your tools and equipment. Protect your surfaces. Choose the right day.