There are several ways that you can change the view of the map and move around to different locations. These actions are all performed by using your fingers to manipulate the map.  Move the map by using one finger to drag the map. Zoom in and out by pinching your fingers. You can zoom in on a specific spot by double-tapping it. Rotate the map by placing two fingers on the map. Rotate your wrist while keeping your fingers the same distance apart to rotate the map. You can zoom at the same time by moving your fingers closer or further apart. Tilt the map by placing two fingers on the map. Move them both up at the same time to tilt the map. Move them down to tilt the map back the other direction. Reset the map to the default orientation by tapping the compass icon in the upper-right corner. Use the search bar at the top of the Maps app to search for a location. You can enter exact addresses, cross streets, businesses, towns and cities, states and countries, and more. The map will center on the location, and a pin will be dropped indicating exactly where it is.  If there are multiple locations for your search, such as a chain restaurant, all of the nearby locations will be marked by pins. The nearest pin to your current location will be marked as the "active" pin. You can select other locations by tapping on the pins. If there are multiple different addresses that match your search, you will be asked to choose the one you want. More detailed information about each result will be displayed. Tapping the search bar will open a list of recent searches. If you're not sure how to spell an address or business, try a best guess. Maps will likely be able to figure out what you meant. Besides searching for locations, you can place pins onto any spot on the map. This will allow you to easily select that spot to navigate to if the location doesn't register on the map. Place a pin by pressing and holding your finger on the location you want the pin to appear. Siri can find locations and start navigation for you, allowing you to use Maps hands-free. Launch Siri and speak your request or search:  Launch Siri. On iPhones, press and hold the Home button. On your Apple Watch, bring the watch up to your mouth. For CarPlay, press and hold the Voice button on your steering wheel. Ask Siri to find a location, or start navigation to a location. The two main ways Siri works with Maps is finding locations that you can view in Maps, or starting navigation to a location you specify. For example, you could say "Find the nearest gas station" or "Navigate to Address." Tap results in the Siri screen to view locations in Apple Maps. Locations will be pinned on the map.

Summary: Move the map around. Search for a location. Place a pin. Use Siri to search.


Any microwave-safe mug or bowl will work fine, but those with circular, flat bottoms work best. You'll end up with an egg in a convenient patty shape, perfect for serving on toast or an English muffin. Dip a paper towel in a little bit of vegetable or olive oil and smear the oil around the inside of the bowl. You could also spray the mug or bowl with non-stick cooking spray. Melting butter into the bowl is another option. Be careful so you don't break the yolk. Just pour it right on on top of the egg. Use a microwave-safe plate or paper towel. This will help prevent any splatters from dirtying your microwave oven. Place it in the microwave and cook it on the highest power setting for 35 seconds. When it's done cooking, remove the paper towel and inspect the egg. If the white is still liquid, put it back in the microwave and cook for an additional 10 or 15 seconds. Microwave wattages will vary, so adjust these cooking times as needed based on your microwave's power. When the white is no longer runny, it is done cooking.  This cooking temperature results in a medium-cooked. If you want the yolk to stay runny, cook the egg at 50 percent power for about 60 seconds. Keep cooking until the white is set but the yolk is still runny.  For a hard-cooked egg (similar to a hard-boiled egg) cook on the highest power setting for 60 seconds. Uncover the bowl and run a knife around the edge of the egg to loosen it. It should slide out easily onto your toast or a plate. Serve the egg as desired.

Summary: Get a mug or small bowl. Grease the bottom and sides. Break the egg directly into the bowl. Add 1/3 cup of water. Cover the bowl. Cook the egg. Remove the bowl from the microwave.


A legitimate excuse is one that could plausibly occur. A raccoon breaking into and flooding your apartment, for instance, is not a legitimate excuse. Excuses can include previous events, a sick relative, no access to transportation, or a family emergency, if your excuse is needed on short notice.  Choose an excuse you can easily remember. There is nothing quite as humiliating (and heartbreaking for the host) as forgetting your own made-up problem. A legitimate excuse might include one such as, “I had to take my child to the emergency room” or “My car battery died unexpectedly.” If you turn down an invitation to a significant event, you may have to field a lot of questions and needling. Practice your story, maybe even taking a moment to write down details of your given story to refer back to later.  Be well informed of your fake needs, but do not sound forced or rehearsed. Take a moment to think about answers to any questions that are posed. Someone might ask how your emergency went. You can say something vague but helpful such as, “We were worried, but (insert name) is doing well now.” In the case of car trouble, you could say, “I was so bummed! I was able to get my car running a few hours later.” If possible, involve someone else who can corroborate your story. You could say, for instance, that you’d already promised a friend you’d take him to a sports game, and have him back you up. This is particularly important if you are turning down an invitation extended by a close friend or family member. These relationships can be fragile, and may deteriorate if your reason for not attending is not important or pressing enough. You can say that you have to take your child to a game, you have to take a friend to a lesson, or you promised a family member you’d attend their play. The possibilities are endless. If possible, give the host or the person inviting you plenty of warning that you will not be in attendance. This is both a courtesy and lends an air of legitimacy to your inability to attend. If possible, avoid waiting until the last minute and extending an excuse hours before the event is due to start.  An ahead-of-time warning could include an excuse such as, “I have to pick a family member up from the airport that day.” If an advance heads up is not possible, give them at least a few hours of warning. Do not call a few minutes before you were supposed to arrive and ask for a rain check. If you’ve given an excuse, follow through by providing additional details, if requested, discussing what occurred during the event, etc. Following through with your excuse will keep suspicions off of you and will make the person inviting you feel as though you weren’t simply blowing them off. If you are concerned about divulging too much and revealing your hand, feel free to say something simple, such as, “I was so sorry I couldn’t attend, but my family enjoyed their stay.”

Summary: Choose a legitimate excuse. Practice your story. Involve someone else. Give plenty of warning. Follow through with your excuse.


Picking flowers from a plant encourages more flower production. But to harvest seeds, you need the sweet pea to stop producing flowers and focus its energy on producing pods instead. When the weather becomes hotter and drier later in the summer, stop picking the sweet pea flowers. When you stop harvesting flowers and pruning the sweet peas, they will go to seed. When this happens, the flowers will die off and the sweet peas will start to form pods that are full of seeds. Then, you'll have to wait for the pods to develop and brown before you can pick them.
Summary: Stop picking the flowers to encourage seed production. Let the plant go to seed.