Summarize the following:
Most steel bars are either hot-rolled or cold-rolled; a cold rolled bar is shinier than a hot rolled bar, but is also harder to bend. Stainless steel is even harder to bend. The stronger the steel, the more the bend will approximate a "V", while the weaker the steel, the more the bend will look like a "U." Most strongmen who bend steel bars prefer to work with lengths of five to seven inches (12.5 to 17.5 cm). (A common strongman feat was bending a 60-penny nail, which is 6 inches [15 cm] long.) The shorter the bar, the harder it is to bend, as shorter lengths give less bending leverage than longer lengths; however, some prefer a six inch (15 cm) bar to a seven inch (17.5 cm) bar because of the way the stock was formed. You can buy steel bars in the optimal length for hand-bending from some online retailers or buy longer bars either online or from your local hardware store and cut off a piece of the desired length. To cut the steel bar, use a pair of bolt cutters, preferably about 24 inches (60 cm) long. Wear safety goggles when cutting, as short pieces can travel at high speed when cut from the larger bar stock. Grind or file off the cut end to smooth it. Thicker bars are harder to bend than thinner bars. Doubling the diameter quadruples the amount of force required to bend the bar; it takes four times the torque to bend a 3/8-inch (9.6 mm) bar as it does a 3/16-inch (4.8 mm) bar.

summary: Choose the right steel alloy. Choose a comfortable length of steel bar. Choose a comfortable thickness.


Summarize the following:
There is no harm in telling a friend you’d like to get to know him or her better as a friend or have romantic feelings for the person. As a part of a casual conversation, mention, “I really enjoy talking to you and I hope we’ll have a chance to develop our friendship more in the future.” Be sure to highlight the platonic aspect by saying “our friendship” so that you don’t confuse the person. If you do have romantic feelings, you should also be clear about this. You could say, “You know, we’ve been spending a lot of time together and my feelings are developing beyond friendship. I hope you feel the same way, but I understand if you don’t.” These types of statements show interest without overwhelming the person with expectations. When you’ve had a chance to get to know the person more than superficially, you can start telling them personal information and feelings. This shows the other person you’d like to get to know them better and helps establish a bond of trust between the two of you. Avoid sharing information or feelings that are too personal. Keep what you say commensurate with how well you’ve gotten to know the person. For example, don’t mention your sex life or ask about the other person’s. This type of information is something shared best within very close friendships and not with someone you want to know better. Instead, share bits such as, “I am about to have surgery on my knee,” or “My husband just got a promotion but his company expects us to move away.” In many cases, your friends may offer interesting perspective on someone you want to know better. Including your friend in activities with your other friends can help you see how the person acts with different people or even other parts of his or her personality. Remember to keep your invitation commensurate with how well you know the person. For example, avoid inviting someone out for a night of cocktails if you’ve just begun to get to know the person. Instead, consider asking the person to dinner with friends, which will give all of you a chance to talk and get to know more about each other. As you and the person get to know each other better, consider spending more time together. Having regular meetings or going on vacation with the person can help you get to know them very well.  Consider having a regular “date” over something like dinner or cocktails. This allows you to pick up on conversations or discuss things happening in your respective lives. Schedule day trips or vacations together. Being in close proximity to the person during a relaxing trip can help you really know who they are. Just remember that it’s acceptable if you want to have some “me” time during vacations, too.

summary: Let the person know your interest. Share information and feelings. Invite the person to gatherings. Spend more time together.


Summarize the following:
A fresh artichoke will be quite heavy and deep green.  The artichoke should also have tight leaves that make a squeaking sound when squeezed together. The leaves should not look dry or split apart.  Smaller artichokes tend to be more tender, but large artichokes have larger hearts, and the hearts are generally the sweetest, most flavorful part of the vegetable. Rinse well under cool, running water and pat dry with clean paper towels.  Artichokes tend to hold a considerable amount of dirt and debris inside the tips of the leaves, so you should gently scrub the artichoke with your fingers as you rinse it to dislodge most of the dirt. You can also let the artichoke soak briefly in a bowl of cool water for a few minutes before rinsing it, but this is not strictly necessary. Rinsing is usually a sufficient way to clean an artichoke. Do not wash artichokes before storing them since doing so could cause them to spoil faster. Wait until immediately before you plan to steam the vegetable. . Use a sharp knife to cut off all but 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the stem.  You could cut the stem off completely if you plant to serve the artichokes upright. Artichoke stems are edible, but they tend to be bitter, so many people prefer not to eat them. Use your fingers to strip the bottom leaves from the artichoke.  You should be able to remove them with your fingers, but if you have a hard time, cut the leaves away with a knife or scissors. You only need to remove the small, fibrous leaves from the very bottom of the artichoke. You do not need to remove the outer leaves along the side. Hold the artichoke on its side with one hand and use your other hand to cut off 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the pointed top with a sharp knife. This step is not strictly necessary, but removing the tip can make the artichokes safer and easier to eat. Use sharp kitchen scissors to snip off the prickly tips from the remaining outer leaves along the sides. The leaves themselves are good to eat, but these prickly portions can scrape your mouth and taste unpleasant. Rub one-half of a cut lemon over all the cut edges of each artichoke. Artichokes are prone to oxidation and browning once cut. Acids, like lemon juice, slow the oxidation process long enough for you to cook and serve the artichoke.
summary: Choose good artichokes. Wash the artichokes. Slice off the stems Remove the outer leaves. Cut off the top, if desired. Trim the remaining leaf tips. Treat with lemon.