Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Cut your boxwood into shorter pieces using pruning shears. Insert your first clipping your grapevine wreath. Continue inserting the boxwood clippings until the wreath is full. Fill in the gaps. Neaten the wreath up. Loop a thick ribbon around your wreath. Hang your wreath.

Answer: You don't have to be very precise here, but aim to make the pieces between 8 and 10 inches (20.32 and 25.4 centimeters). It would be a good idea to have a few shorter ones and a few longer ones.  For a 12-inch (30.48-centimeter) wreath, cut your boxwood into 4 to 6-inch (10.16 to 15.24-centimeter) sprigs.  If the boxwood is dirty, rinse it with cool water first, then pat it dry with a paper towel. Choose a place on the outermost edge to start. Insert the end of the boxwood cutting 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) into the wreath. Angle the cutting so that it is flush against the wreath.  Your grapevine wreath can be any side you want. The bigger it is, the more boxwood sprigs you will have to use. If your wreath is thin, make small bundles of 4 to 5 sprigs first. Tie the sprigs together with floral wire, then tie the bundles to the wreath with more floral wire. Fill the outermost edge first, then start on the next row directly above it. Insert each clipping 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters), and angle it so that it is resting against the wreath. Make sure that all of the clippings are pointed in the same direction. Do not cover the back of the wreath. Use the shorter clippings for the inside ring. Once you have completed your wreath, go back over it and look for any gaps. If you see any gaps, fill them in with shorter pieces of boxwood. Make sure that no grapevine (except for the back) is showing. If the sprigs won't stick, secure them with a drop of hot glue. Go back over your wreath once again. Adjust the clippings so that they lay nicely. Trim away any that are unruly or that are sticking out too much. Cut a long piece of wide ribbon and thread it through the center of your wreath. Tie the ends together into a tight knot to make a loop. For a nicer touch, consider tying the ends into a fancy bow instead. The hanging loop can be as long or as short as you want it to be. Boxwood is pretty durable and it can last a long time. You can help it last even longer by squirting it with water a few times each week.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Don’t punish your dog. Learn to positively reinforce good behaviors. Avoid overusing treats.

Answer: Dog experts agree that punishing a dog for bad behavior simply doesn’t work because a dog’s brain doesn’t work like a human’s brain. Dogs don’t have the same reasoning skills and don’t plan or premeditate as we do. They live in the moment. By the time you punish a dog for a behavior, he thinks he’s being punished for whatever he is currently doing – not the behavior he was doing previously to instigate your correction. Therefore, catch him in the act or immediately before it and express your disapproval.  Correct your dog’s behavior through either a) giving or not giving a reward if your dog already knows commands (“No!” is not a command) or b) giving a reward or verbally reprimanding in a firm tone. Yelling and hitting don’t work because they are not a natural means of communicating for a dog.  Don’t try to have a conversation with your dog. These are corrections deriving from human psychology, not dog psychology. If a dog is too excited and he is not listening to you, then put him in a “time out.” This will allow your dog time to calm down. Once he is calm, he will be more receptive to instruction. The correction should be just enough to get your dog to listen, not to the point that he cowers or displays fear. A better strategy is to distract your dog and take his attention away from the bad behavior. You can do this by making a strange noise or by squeaking a toy. Once you have your dog’s attention, give him a command that he knows and that you know he can do. For example, you might command your dog to "Sit" if he knows this command. Then, make sure to reward him when he obeys the command. It should match the intensity of the behavior. If your correction is less intense than the behavior, the dog won’t listen to you. If it’s too intense or harsh, your dog can become fearful, insecure, confused and untrusting of you. Do not use your dog’s name when correcting. Only say it when using positive reinforcement. Experts also almost universally agree that if you want your dog to behave in a certain way or to change a behavior, use positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement uses praise and/or treats to reward your dog when he does what you want him to do. There are two critical elements to using positive reinforcement effectively. First, the reward must be given within seconds of the action. Otherwise your dog will think he’s being rewarded for whatever he’s doing the moment you give the treat. Second, you and everyone in the household have to be consistent.  Make sure everyone in your home knows the commands you use and the reward system you have in place.  And remember that correction and positive reinforcement go hand-in-hand. Both are needed. When you’re initially teaching your dog a command or trying to stop bad behaviors, give a treat each time your dog does what is instructed of him. Once he’s learned or unlearned the behavior, taper down on using treats as his reward. Start by giving him a treat every four out of five times he responds properly. After a while, move it to three and so forth until treats are only given as a reward occasionally.  Don’t decrease too fast, however, because your dog will become frustrated and much of your progress could be lost. The goal is for your dog to work for your verbal praise because he wants you to be happy.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Defend yourself in a calm and reasonable manner. Don't be aggressive. Avoid being passive aggressive. Try to turn negatives into positives. Don't give up.

Answer:
Defend yourself verbally when attacked, provoked, or sidelined and take care of yourself when someone tries to put you down, box you in, or even hurt you physically.  Don't just stand there smoldering; it's far better to speak your mind. Even if the end result doesn't change, you've demonstrated to yourself and others that you won't stand for disrespect. More often than not, a polite but firm clarification of the disrespectful comment or behavior will be enough to draw attention to the need for it to change, especially where there is an audience. For example: "Excuse me but I was next in line and I'm in just as much of a hurry as the person who pushed in." Avoid whispering, mumbling, or speaking too quickly. The tone of your voice and the speed of your delivery are an important part of clarifying what you want and how confident you're feeling. Naturally, the manner in which you defend yourself will depend on the situation and if someone is volatile, always put your safety first. You should never resort to outright aggression in the process of standing up for yourself. Being aggressive, or even violent, is counter-productive and will not win you any friends.  Acting aggressively -- verbally or otherwise -- is like acting out your pain in full technicolor. It's not a constructive way to get what you want and will simply turn people against you. You are far more likely to achieve a positive result if you approach any issues as calmly and objectively as possible. You can still stand your ground and be firm and assertive without having to raise your voice or get angry. Be wary of taking passive aggressive responses toward people and situations.  Passive aggressive responses are ones in which you begrudgingly do things against your will and end up filled with resentment and anger, hating people who "make" you feel this way, feeling depressed and helpless. This negatively affects your relationships and can take a huge toll on your physical and emotional health. Most of all, a passive-aggressive approach to life will never enable you to stand up for yourself. Another way of standing up for yourself is to take the negatives thrown at you and transform them into good things.  In the process of turning attacks inside out to find the good, you'll often find that feelings of jealousy or insecurity are at the root of the attack. For example:  If someone claims you're bossy, rather than letting it cause you to shrink some more, take this as evidence that you're a natural leader, able to manage people and projects well, and a proactive change agent. If someone claims you're shy, take it as a compliment that means you're not ready to jump on the latest bandwagon but like to reflect over the consequences first and then make up your mind. If someone says you're too sensitive or emotional, let this be a sign that you've got a big heart and aren't afraid to let everyone see it. Or maybe someone suggested you're not career-minded enough – for you, that confirms you're living a stress-free life that will help you to live longer. No matter how hard you try to increase your confidence, there will be days when you feel that you're backsliding.  Rather than seeing this as a defeat in your attempt to learn to stand up for yourself, see it for what it is – a day or so where things went temporarily off-track before you feel better and bounce back. Some tricks to help the bounce-back process include: Fake it till you make it. Even if you don't feel confident, act as if you do. Be consistent in your approach. People will grow to expect that the person you are now is a person who stands up for himself. Expect some people to find your more assertive stance challenging. It can take time to reshape the patterns you've formerly established with people who used to walk all over you. In some cases, you'll find you no longer want to be a part of their lives; take it as it comes.