Grip the wire in the jaws of a wire stripper and close the handles together. Pull the stripper toward the end of the wire to cut off the insulation covering the copper wires. Be sure to strip 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of insulation from each end of the wire. Repeat the process with all of the other wires you’re connecting to your amp. Be careful not to cut or damage any of the wires, or else you may need to feed new ones through your vehicle. Locate the power input terminal on the back of the amp, which is usually labeled “+” or “12 V Power.” Push the exposed end of the cable into the terminal and tighten the screw so it doesn’t fall out. Give the cable a light tug to make sure it stays in place. Make sure none of the exposed wire sticks out from the amp since it could create a fire hazard. Look for a black cable in your installation kit used for grounding the amp. Push the exposed end of the cable into the terminal labeled “Ground” and tighten the screw with a screwdriver. Tug the cable lightly to make sure it doesn’t pull out of the terminal. The ground cable will allow the current to travel through the amp so it doesn’t shock you when you use it. Locate the terminal on the back of the amp that says “Remote” or “Turn-on” for the blue wire. Place the end of the blue wire into the terminal and screw it down so you can’t pull the wire out. Make sure none of the exposed wires sticks out from the terminal. Search for the input ports that have red and white circles around them to use for the RCA cable. Connect the red RCA lead to the red port and the white lead to the white port. Push the leads in as far as they can go to ensure they have a solid connection. Locate the small ports on the side or back of the amp labeled “L” and “R.” Plug any speakers that are on the left side of your vehicle into the speaker ports labeled “L” and the speakers on the right in the “R” ports. Tighten the screws on the ports so they hold the speaker wires securely. There may be separate speaker ports for front and rear speakers, but it can vary depending on the amp.

Summary: Strip 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) off the ends of every wire you ran. Push the power cable into the 12 V input on the amp. Secure an end of the black ground cable to the ground port. Attach the blue wire to the remote input port of the amplifier. Plug in the RCA cable to the amp’s red and white inputs. Feed the speaker wires into the input pins on the back of the amp.


Plastic rice beads are available online and at some art supply stores. They’re used to cushion shipped cargo and for crafts projects. When you conduct your experiments, you could compare a sample of plastic rice with the rice you want to test.  Some people have seen videos of plastic rice beads being produced and assume that they're made just to be passed off as food. However, plastic rice beads are more expensive to produce than actual rice, so it wouldn’t be profitable to try to substitute plastic for the real thing. If you just want to test a small amount, drop a tablespoon of rice into a glass of water. To test a larger batch, add the rice to a large pot and cover it with 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of water.  If you’re also testing a sample of plastic rice, add it to a separate container of water. Mix up the rice and water for a few seconds. Then give the mixture about 30 seconds to stop swirling. Because of its density, rice sinks in water. If any grains float to the surface after the water settles, you should be suspicious. The difference will be obvious if you’re also testing a sample of plastic beads.  You might see bits and pieces of dirt and other debris float, but all the grains of rice should sink. Aside from verifying its authenticity, soaking and rinsing rice before cooking removes impurities and helps separate the grains. In the end, you'll have a fluffier, less sticky bowl of cooked rice.

Summary: Purchase plastic rice beads if you want a comparison. Add rice to a glass of water. Stir the water and let it settle. Look for grains that floats to the surface.


Before you can join a country club, you'll need to find one. The easiest way to find a club is to get a recommendation from someone who already belongs to one, but you can search for one on your own, too. If you don't know anyone who currently belongs to a country club, you can find a club by going online. Using search terms like "country clubs near (your zip code)" will turn up a decent number of results. It's best to do some shopping around to determine which club is the best fit for you and your family before committing to one. Make sure to pay attention to the main costs, like the initiation fee (if applicable) and annual membership dues. Most clubs will list their prices on their website, so you can get all of this information without contacting the clubs themselves. Reach out to the clubs if you want to clarify any specific costs. Some clubs expect you to spend a minimum amount of money on food and amenities each month. Others may also require or request additional money for various improvements to the club. It's also be a good idea to ask a current member of a club how much the cost of membership has risen over the past 5 years. Beyond cost, ask yourself what you want from your club membership. Make sure that the activities, amenities, and social opportunities you seek will be available to you at each club you check out. If you have young children, see if you can find a club with a playground or one that offers tennis and swimming lessons for your kids. Other activities for kids include arts and crafts or cooking classes. Many clubs have enough to accommodate people of all ages. Working class country clubs are less pricey than their posh counterparts. Most of the members have working-class jobs as opposed to holding executive positions. Additionally, more reasonably priced clubs can have activities for the whole family, not just golf.  Joining a working-class country club is almost always free, but you may need to pay yearly dues ranging between $1,200 and $5,000. A pricier club will have more amenities, such as a spa or an Olympic-sized pool. These clubs also offer more in terms of dining options.
Summary: Search for country clubs in your area. Check multiple clubs in your area to get the best price possible. Research possible hidden fees. Find a club that offers activities and amenities that are important to you. Look at working class country clubs for more affordable prices.