Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Press on your strings as lightly as possible. Avoid playing the guitar after your hands have been in water. Use apple cider vinegar to relieve your pain. Put a drop of superglue on each fingertip to make an artificial callus. Use a pick if your strumming fingers hurt.

Answer: Resist the urge to jam your fingers down hard on the strings. The goal is to gradually toughen your fingers, not tear them up. Relax your fingers, and press down only as hard as you need to in order to connect with the frets.  Pressing too hard can tear your calluses once they're built up, and can also cause other problems for your fingers and hands, such as tendonitis. If you're not sure whether you're pressing too hard, start by pressing as hard as you normally would and strumming the string. Then, ease up a bit and strum again. If you still get a good sound with the lighter touch, that means you should work on playing with more relaxed fingers. Moisturized skin is softer and more prone to tearing, so don't play the guitar right after taking a shower or washing the dishes. Wait until your hands are completely dry before you pick up your instrument again. Even using moisturizer can soften your fingers up enough to increase the risk of damage. Your fingers may be very painful and tender during your first 1 to 2 weeks of consistent practice, so using a mild pain-relieving agent can be helpful at this point. Try soaking your fingertips in apple cider vinegar for about 30 seconds before and after each session to make your fingers a little less sensitive. You can also try gentle pain relievers such as aspirin or a topical anesthetic containing benzocaine. Take care not to overdo it, however—you need to be able to notice if you are actually doing damage to your fingers. Some guitarists numb and protect their fingers by adding a little superglue or liquid band-aid solution to the fingertips on their fretting hand. If you do this, be sure to let the liquid dry completely before picking up your guitar! While using superglue or liquid band-aid on your fingertips can relieve your pain, it can also prevent your calluses from building up as quickly. While most finger pain comes from the pressure of pushing strings against the frets with your fretting hand, your strumming or picking hand can take a beating as well. Give your fingers a break by switching to a pick for a while. If you like the sound of finger strumming or picking, you may want to develop calluses on your strumming hand, too. Try to alternate frequently between using a pick and using your fingers so that your fingers have a chance to toughen up.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Select an illness to fake carefully. Fake a headache. Fake the flu. Fake a fever.

Answer: When you want to avoid school, faking an illness is an effective way to stay out of the classroom. The success of your scheme depends largely on the illness you decide to fake. Choose an illness that has to “run its course” and has relatively easy symptoms to feign, like the flu or a headache. Don’t fake an illness that will require a doctor’s visit, like strep throat or mono—the doctor could blow your cover! A headache is an exceptionally easy and safe illness to fake because the symptoms are not visible. Choose a specific part of your head that hurts, such as your forehead or at the base of your skull. Pretend that you are sensitive to sounds and light. Lay on a couch or in your bed—avoid excessive activity. This also works when you are at school, for example, you have a big math test that you didn't study for, simply just put your hand over your eyes and say something along the lines of "Man my head is killing me, and my vision is blurry" this works about 75% of the time.  Place a cool washcloth over your eyes. Rub your temples to alleviate the pain. Pretending to have the flu requires commitment and skill. To successfully fake the flu, you must pretend to have a variety of symptoms.  Pretend to have the chills. Bundle up in blankets and sweaters; take hot baths or constantly drink warm beverages. Complain to your parents of aches and weakness. To sell these symptoms, avoid excess activity. Fake a variety of common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat, dry cough, and runny nose. Blow your nose constantly. Pretending to have a fever requires careful planning and constant vigilance. To fake proof of high temperature, you will need to expose a thermometer to something warm. Instead of relying on an obscure method, like holding it over a light bulb, simply place it against a warm beverage. As the thermometer rises, monitor it to ensure it does read over 103℉. Tell your parents that you felt feverish throughout the night and often woke up in a cold sweat.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Place one clove of garlic into a garlic press. Hold the press over a glass bowl. Using both hands, press the handles of the garlic together. Repeat the pressing procedure for the remaining cloves of garlic.

Answer: If you have a large enough press, you might be able to fit multiple cloves in at once. The force it takes to crush more cloves will be greater than the strength you will need to crush a single clove, however. Use a bowl with a large enough opening to catch the garlic that falls out of the press. Bring the handles together as firmly and tightly as possible. You should be left with garlic "mush" inside the bowl. If you sense yourself getting tired, you may want to consider taking a break. Otherwise, you could end up with garlic mush that is not as well-pressed as it should be.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Look for natural ingredients. Treat dry skin with humectants. Clear up acne with a snail extract gel mask. Use a yogurt mask on oily skin. Get a clear gel mask to soothe sensitive skin. Get a naturally hydrating mask if you have combination skin. Read product labels. Read reviews online.

Answer:
When you’re browsing different sheet masks, check the ingredient list on the package. No matter your skin type, it’s best to go with ingredients that are natural and generally beneficial for your skin. Look for the word “organic” and grab a mask that has aloe and/or kiwi extract.  Stay away from masks that contain synthetic dyes, parabens, and mineral oils, as these can all irritate the skin.  Aloe has moisturizing and cleansing qualities that may help to fight aging, heal sores, and reduce acne.  Kiwi extract may help with keeping your skin firm and soft. Humectants typically do a good job with hydrating your pores and minimizing fine lines on your face. Get a sheet mask that contains humectants, such as hyaluronic acid, butylene glycol, and glycerin, to get rid of flaky skin. This is beneficial to those who struggle with acne because it helps the skin retain water and also heals and soothes blemished skin. If you’re dealing with a breakout, consider looking for a gel sheet mask instead of a regular cotton one, as a gel mask may help more with acne. Snail extract is also beneficial for those with normal skin. These masks help minimize your pores and also keep oil production under control. Additionally, yogurt acts as a natural exfoliant that effectively cleans out pores. This type of mask moisturizes inflamed areas and is also very soothing on irritated skin. It will leave your skin looking attractively soft and dewy. This type of mask is especially beneficial to those with skin conditions, such as eczema. If your t-zone is typically oily but other areas of your face are dry, get a mask that prioritizes cleansing and hydrating. Look for natural ingredients, like sea kelp, that help the skin shed toxins and moisturize the skin at the same time. Often, sheet mask packages will contain information on which skin types benefit the most from the specific product. Refer to the packaging for guidance in this area. There are a lot of different sheet masks out there to choose from. If you feel stuck between a few different ones that all seem to cater to your skin type, go online and look up reviews for each product. Go with the one that seems to have the best reviews overall.