If something concerns you about an organization, reach out to a leader or member and express your concerns. Watch to see how your questions are treated. In most cults, questions are belittled or ignored, as they are believed to undermine the authority of the cult’s leader. For example, you might ask about the group’s leadership structure and if they’ve ever considered following a voting or democratic system. Cults thrive on being able to micro-manage even the smallest aspects of member’s lives. They may want to tell you what to eat, how to dress, or even where to live. If you recognize these signs, then you may want to leave the group. Or, you can try to go against these rules to see how the group reacts. A cult leader might ask that you “only dress in subdued colors, such as pastels.” Or, they may strongly suggest that you grow your hair out to a certain length. Cults often prey upon the vulnerable. They look for people who are undergoing major transitions in their lives, such as leaving for college. Then, they offer the illusion of stability and support. When you are feeling vulnerable, reach out and maintain close contact with your family and friends. Some cults use hallucinogenic drugs, like LSD, to supposedly tap into a higher level of being or consciousness. This drug use may be limited to just the leader of the cult or the upper-echelon members. Easy access to drugs can be another way that a cult can lure in members. To convince you to use a drugs, a cult member might say, “If you take this pill, then you’ll be able to relax and be a better member of the group.” Once they’ve set their eyes on you joining, a cult might not take kindly to you rejecting their offers. If you feel as if you are in danger of if you are just concerned for your well-being, it’s best to reach out to local law enforcement authorities. You can tell them your concerns and ask for their advice and assistance.

Summary: Ask lots of questions. Push back against increasing control. Seek out emotional and mental support from your family and friends. Watch for drug abuse. Contact the police if you are being harassed by a cult.


Several medical conditions can result in bad breath. For example, diabetes is associated with a sickly sweet breath odor, while kidney disease is linked to an ammonia or bleach-like smell. If your cat has bad breath, monitor it closely for tell-tale signs of a problem. Clues that your cat has a health issue include excessive thirst, poor appetite, increased appetite, lethargy, weight loss, weight gain, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, an unkempt coat, or changed behavior. If you are in the least suspicious that your cat is unwell get it checked by a veterinarian. Key to remedying the bad breath is to correct the underlying health issue.  For diabetes it is likely the vet will either put the cat on a prescription diet or prescribe regular insulin injections. For kidney disease the vet will likely put the cat on a prescription diet and on medication to improve renal function.

Summary: Assess whether your cat might have a medical condition that is affecting its breath. Watch your cat for signs of ill health. Get your cat checked by a veterinarian.


While students are working on assignments in class or engaging in other methods of independent study in the classroom, you will want to go around the room and engage them about what they are doing. Ask how things are going. Don’t just ask what’s wrong, ask what they feel they are understanding really well too. Get more out of them than “I’m doing fine” or “Everything’s okay”. You can even ask them to explain what they are doing or what their understanding of the assignment is. After an assignment, look at the overall performance of the class. Identify common problems or potentially common problems and discuss these. Talk about why the mistake is easy to make and how to identify the problem. Talk about how it’s fixed or a better approach. Understanding a problem beyond “this is wrong and this is right” will give students much stronger abilities to problem solve later. Don’t cover something at the beginning of the year and never talk about it again. Constantly tie new material to the skills established in previous lessons. This will solidify and reinforce the skills that a student has gained, much like learning a language requires study every day. For example, an English lesson on writing argumentative papers may want to draw on the skills learned earlier regarding narrative works by discussing how one can use stories within argumentative papers to make emotional appeals or how voice can affect a reader’s perception of information.

Summary: Interact during independent study. Discuss weak points. Occasionally revisit old material.


Use a mild cleanser designed for your face and beard to wash your beard before applying the balm. Pat your face and beard with a towel after rinsing out the cleanser. It's best to apply beard balm when your facial hair and skin underneath are damp. Make it a routine to apply your beard balm when you get out of the shower or wash your face in the morning. Rub the beard balm between your hands. This will warm up the beard balm and spread it out over your fingers so it's easier to apply. Massage your fingers against the skin underneath your beard so the balm gets all the way down to the roots. Run your fingers from the roots to the ends of your beard to fully coat all your beard hair. Brush through your beard in a downward motion to detangle the hair and brush all the hairs in the same direction. Once your beard is brushed out, you're all finished!
Summary: Wash your beard and leave it damp. Scoop out a dime-sized amount of beard balm with your fingers. Work the beard balm into your beard with your fingers. Comb or brush your beard hair.