The key to this filtration technique is food-safe activated carbon, which can be bought at your local pet supply store. Activated carbon is a substance created to have holes in it smaller than the eye can see, making it ideal for filtering out fine impurities from a substance. You'll want at least 3 cups (1,020 g) of this for filtering. It should be relatively cheap to purchase from your local pet store, or you can buy bags in bulk from online retailers for even less. In addition to your activated carbon, you'll also need:  Cheap vodka Coffee filters Colander 2 bottles/containers (larger than the amount of vodka purchased) Funnel Strainer/colander Straight from the bag, your activated carbon will have some dust remaining on it from processing and handling. You don't want this residue getting into your vodka, so you should remove it from the carbon first by running your carbon under water while in a colander or strainer. Then you should:  Place your activated carbon in a coffee filter. Cone shaped filters that will roughly match the shape of your funnel will make the filtration process easier, but standard coffee filters will work as well. Put about 2 inches (5 cm) of food-safe activated charcoal into your filter, and then place the filter inside your funnel. Place your funnel firmly into the mouth of your container so that it is stable and will not fall over. Then pour vodka into your funnel until it is ¾ of the way full, though you'll want to keep the level of your vodka from going over the top line of your filter. If your vodka rises above the filter, there's a chance that it will trickle between the filter and funnel without receiving the purifying effects of the activated carbon. It may take a considerable amount of time for your vodka to drip filter through the carbon into your container. Filter your cheap vodka until none remains. When the level of your vodka begins to diminish in your funnel, you should add more to continue the filtration process. When finished the first filtered batch:  Move your funnel with its filter and activated carbon securely into your second container to prepare for round 2 of filtration. Run your filtered batch through your carbon several times. The more times you pass your vodka through your activated carbon, the more impurities the carbon will soak up from it. Since fresh activated carbon filters at a better rate, after your second or third filtration cycle, you may want to change your coffee filter and activated carbon. Don't forget to rinse your fresh activated carbon to remove any silt or dust from it before using it for filtration. You should aim to keep your vodka exposed to the activated carbon for a minimum of 5 minutes to ensure the best results.
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One-sentence summary -- Gather your filtration materials. Prepare your activated carbon. Drip filter your vodka into your container. Prepare for round 2 of filtration.


Sometimes silence is about not knowing how to bring up hurt feeling or difficult topics, or fear of being overwhelmed by such conversations and the emotions that come with them. If you can break down that barrier by checking in, it can help facilitate communication and stop silence. Try asking your sibling: “Is everything ok? You seem really quiet today.” The best listener is an active one. That is, someone who listens to understand rather than listening to reply. When you attempt to engage in conversation with your sibling, you want to make sure that they have your full attention. Follow the strategies for active listening and watch how communication between the two of you starts to improve.  Active listening involves using body language and verbal cues to improve the communication process. Body language includes having an open and relaxed posture (e.g. arms and legs uncrossed), making occasional eye contact, turning towards your sibling, and giving visual cues such as nodding or smiling when appropriate. The verbal components of active listening include:   Paraphrasing, or restating the message in a different way (e.g. Original message: “He told me I was a loser in front of everyone, so I ran to the nearest restroom. I cried for hours…” Paraphrase: “It sounds like you were very upset.”).  Clarifying, or bringing greater understanding to vague aspects of the message (e.g. “Let me see if I heard you correctly. You’re saying…”)  Showing empathy, or addressing the speaker’s emotional experience (e.g. “I get the sense that you felt humiliated when he said that in public.”) No matter how much you and your sibling have in common there will come a time when you disagree with one another. Disagreement does not have to be a bad thing. In fact, it can be an opportunity to learn more about each other and become more open-minded. Here’s how to disagree politely.  Focus on the action or concept rather than disagreeing with the person as a whole. (Instead of saying "You're a jerk," try "I was really hurt by what you said.") Use “I” statements to express how you feel. Be an active listener when it’s time for the other person to talk. Avoid putting down the other person’s opinions or beliefs (e.g. “That’s silly!”) Take a  deep breath. If you find yourself getting angry, take a few moments to return to a calm state. . If your sibling has been ignoring you, you may feel desperate to re-establish or build a connection with them; however, you should allow your bond to deepen at its own pace. Forcing your sibling may seem inauthentic, so give them time to warm up to having a connection with you. As the relationship gradually deepens, be sure to celebrate the minor successes that you notice. For example, if your sister starts to stop by your room and chat for a few minutes after swim practice, pat yourself on the back. You two may not be staying up gossiping about your crushes just yet, but at least you’re making progress.
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One-sentence summary -- Check in. Practice active listening. Disagree respectfully. Exercise patience


If you had to call Verizon to switch to Ethernet, make sure you are able to access the internet once coaxial service is deactivated. This is the default gateway address on your Verizon router. The username is admin and the password should be printed on the router's sticker. If you changed the router password, use the one you selected instead. It's near the top-left corner. It's in the menu on the left side.   " This will disconnect the router from the internet. You should unplug both the power and Ethernet cable from the back of the Verizon router a few seconds after clicking Apply for best results. It's the same end of the Ethernet cable that was formerly plugged into the Verizon router. After a few minutes, it should receive a Verizon FIOS IP address from the ONT and connect to the internet. The instructions to do this will vary by router. If the router supports Wi-Fi, you can connect that way. If you prefer to connect via Ethernet, run an Ethernet cable from your computer's network port to one of the LAN ports on the router.  The router's wireless access point name usually has something to do with its make or model. Check the manual for login instructions. If the new router was specially configured for another network, you may need to do a full reset of the router. Specific instructions can be found in the router's manual, but it's usually as simple as pressing the end of a straightened paperclip into the small hole labeled "Reset" on the back of the router. Follow these steps to get your TV set-top box back online:  Connect the coaxial cable that once ran to your Verizon router to the coax-in port on the MoCA adapter. Plug an Ethernet cable into the port on the MoCA adapter. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into one of the available LAN ports on your router. Unplug the TV set-top box for a few seconds and then plug it back in.
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One-sentence summary --
Unplug the coaxial cable from the Verizon router. Open a web browser and navigate to http://192.168.1.1. Sign in using the password on the router. Click My Network on the admin page. Click Network Connections. Click Broadband Connection. Click Settings. Scroll down and click Release under "DHCP Lease. Click Apply and immediately disconnect the router. Plug the Ethernet cable into your new router's WAN/Internet port. Turn on the new router. Connect your computer to the internet through the new router. Connect the MoCA adapter to restore full TV access.