Since there are several ways to wrap an Achilles tendon, you need to decide between them based on your specific needs. In general, if you only have a minor injury to your Achilles, you are probably fine with just wrapping the Achilles in a compression bandage. If you have Achilles tendonitis or another painful condition, it may be necessary to use both athletic wrapping and a compression bandage. Both athletic tape and compression bandages can typically be found at pharmacies, big box stores, and from online retailers. It's a good idea to have someone to assist you with taping and wrapping your Achilles tendon because it would be very awkward to do it yourself. Without an assistant it's improbable that you would be able to get a wrap on satisfactorily because you will need to apply tape to the back of your calf and ankle areas. The person that assists you does not need to have any special skills or knowledge of your injury. You can talk them through the process of taping and wrapping your Achilles. You don't want the tendon to be extended when you wrap it. This means that your foot should be slightly flexed, with all the pressure off the tendon. Typically, it's easiest to get in this position by laying on a table or bed face down with your feet hanging off the end. In this position, your feet will naturally fall into the correct position. Get a non-stick bandage pad or a friction pad that doesn't have adhesive to cover the Achilles tendon area. Attach the pad with athletic tape or another bandage adhesive tape that you have available. This pad will help protect the area from friction when the Achilles moves under the athletic tape. Wrap adhesive athletic tape around the leg just above or below the widest part of the calf. Then also wrap around the foot at the arch. Give each of these areas a couple wraps around so that the tape is secure and will be able to have further athletic tape applied to the top of them. It's important to make sure that these wraps do not restrict blood flow. Don't put any tension on them as you apply them but also make sure that they are not loose. Start at the back of the calf and run the strips down vertically so they go from the calf anchor point, over the protective pad, and down onto the anchor point on the arch of the foot. Apply 2 or 3 of these strips. Make sure to keep your foot in the same position, which is not putting pressure on the Achilles, as you are applying these strips. Cover the contact points of the vertical strips so that they are held with tape on the inside and the outside. This will help ensure that they won't move even when the ankle is flexed.  You can also wrap the middle of the strips around the ankle, so that the vertical strips sit flush with the leg. When these strips are secure, they should take the brunt of the pressure when you step and flex your foot, minimizing the pressure put on the Achilles.

Summary: Choose between athletic wrapping, compression wrapping, or both. Get someone to help you. Position the foot so the tendon is relaxed. Cover the tendon in a protective pad. Apply anchor points above and below the tendon. Run strips of the adhesive athletic tape between the anchor points. Wrap the anchor points again to secure the strips across the Achilles.


Most over-the-counter treatments contain a minimal concentration of salicylic acid, which dissolves the keratin protein responsible for making up the corn and the thick, crusty layer of skin on top of it.  One disadvantage about over-the-counter treatments is that the acids can also damage healthy skin as well as skin affected by corns, so if you use these treatments too readily, you may end up causing more damage than good. Acids should not be used by diabetics, those with impaired sensation, or those with thin skin. Always follow the instructions on the label when applying an ointment or other topical treatment. These treatments stick on like an adhesive bandage, thereby cushioning the corn on your toes, but they also contain a small concentration of salicylic acid to treat the corn as it remains on.  The best corn pads and plasters are ring-shaped. They provide cushioning to the corn while holding in enough moisture to keep the corn soft, thereby easing discomfort. Since many of these pads contain an acid treatment, you should not use them with other treatments. If you need to cover the corns after applying another treatment, make sure that you use a corn pad or plaster without salicylic acid in it or a plain adhesive bandage.

Summary: Try over-the-counter corn ointments or drops. Use a corn pad or corn plaster.


Set your decoys in the water so that they form a rough “J” or hooked line. The long part of the hook should be pointed in the direction of the wind. This shape creates a landing zone in the rounded portion of the “J.”  If you want to know what direction the wind is blowing in, take a look at some trees, grass, or other vegetation. Leaves will move in the direction the wind pushes them. Alternatively, hold a hand up. Move it around until you feel the wind pushing against it. Point your J-hook in that direction. Create 2 circles out of your decoys, set up next to each other, with a narrow strip in between. For some reason, many ducks seem attracted to this setup. They’ll land in the zone between the 2 rings. Aim the vectors (the arms) of the “V” in the direction of the wind. Ducks will be drawn to land in the middle of the spread. Set up your blind at the sharp point of the “V.” Just make sure that the sun is behind your back so you won’t have trouble seeing the ducks. If you’re working in a clearing in flooded timber, line up your decoys in a horseshoe setup set up that follows the contour of the clearing. This will maximize the open water area while still inviting ducks to land. Use whatever types of decoy you have--water keels work great, but weighted decoys are easier to throw. If you’re attaching lines to your decoys, use the kind called “tangle-free” (available from hunting supply stores) in 6 ft (1.8 m) lengths. Tie the free ends to weights using an overhand knot, or carry them back to your blind so you can tug on them.

Summary: Use the J-hook for a classic setup. Create a double-ring setup, alternatively. Set up a “V” shape if you are hunting in shallow water. Use a horseshoe pattern if you are hunting in timberland. Throw out the decoys once you decide on a pattern.


Look at the color wheel to help determine which colors you should use. Colors across from each other on the wheel will be very distinct, while colors in close proximity will look good next to each other. Choose a set of colors that give your sprite a distinctive look without being too jarring. Avoid pastel colors if possible, unless the entire project uses that style. The more color you add, the more distracting your sprite will look. Take a look at some of the most iconic sprites and you'll find that they often only use a few colors.  Mario - The classic Mario sprite uses only three colors that are all closely related. Sonic - Sonic has more detail than the original Mario, but is still only composed of four colors with varying shades. Ryu - One of the classic fighting game sprites, Ryu uses large areas of simple colors, with slight shading for definition. Ryu has five basic colors with various shades. Use the Fill tool to apply your color choices to your sprite. You're just applying base color at this point, so don't worry about how flat it looks. The Fill tool will replace all the pixels that match the pixel you clicked with your selected color, until boundaries are reached.
Summary: Brush up on basic color theory. Just use a few colors. Apply your colors.