INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The night before, start slowly exhibiting signs of illness. Talk about how you are feeling lightheaded, don't eat all of your dinner, and consider going to bed earlier than you usually do - although you don't have to go to sleep. Your goal is to implant the idea that you don't feel well into others' heads rather than outright say, "I feel sick." This helps to make your symptoms seem more convincing to others as you haven't brought up the fact that you might be ill yourself. Nobody suddenly becomes sick, the symptoms slowly build until they become overwhelming to the afflicted person. Start off slow, with some light coughing or sniffling if you want to imitate a cold or the flu, or act more sluggish and react slower to things if you want to imitate nausea. Most people who are badly sick have trouble sleeping (unless they've had a lot of drowsy medication). Stay up a few hours later than you usually would to give yourself noticeable bags under your eyes.  This can be a physical indicator that you had trouble sleeping to others, when in fact you stayed up having a jolly old time to yourself. You can also use a small amount of eyeshadow to complete the effect, but be careful not to go overboard because if someone notices that you are wearing eyeshadow and aren't actually tired, your act will be shattered. The number one things that get people caught faking an illness is getting caught doing something fun and exciting instead of staying home to recover. Take a day away from social media, cancel any plans you made with your friends, and stay at home the whole day. You don't want anybody finding out the truth about your ruse.

SUMMARY: Talk about your "symptoms" the day before you want to take off sick. Show symptoms of your chosen illness slowly over the course of a few hours. Stay up late to give yourself bags under your eyes, as if you couldn't sleep. Avoid making plans and being social as if you were sick.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You'll want to purchase jeans that have adjustable waistbands, or leggings. Jeans with a bootleg are both flattering and stylish, and there are also maternity skinny jeans that are stretchy and comfortable. For pregnancies in the summer, a pair of cargo pants is another option that may be more appropriate in some climates. Maternity clothes are meant to flatter a pregnant woman's body and be comfortable at the same time. Avoid wearing baggy shirts with tons of fabric, and stick with more flowing ones that accentuate your figure. Try to find ones with a fitted bodice or an empire cut, that emphasize your shape. Similar to shirts, dresses with a fitted bodice or an empire cut definitely flatter a pregnant woman's figure. Don't lose your personal style just because you're pregnant. If you normally wear tops with fun prints and vibrant colors, do the same during your pregnancy! When you're pregnant, your feet may swell, so it's important to buy new, comfortable shoes that fit your feet. Your feet may go back to their normal size after pregnancy, so don't purchase expensive shoes, because you may only be wearing them for a few months during your pregnancy. You can buy cheap flats and sandals that are also super cute at stores like Payless, but make sure they are also supportive.  Slip-ons are perfect for when it becomes hard to bend over.  Put insoles in any shoes that don't give you the proper support.  Avoid wearing high heels during pregnancy, as it could lead to pain and a potential slip and fall.

SUMMARY: Invest in one or more pairs of maternity jeans. Wear maternity tops. Wear maternity dresses. Wear comfortable flats and sandals.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Straws and PVC pipe are two different materials you can use to make pan pipes. Straws are the easiest materials to use to make pan pipes. However, their sound quality is not as good as PVC pipes. PVC pipes give you better sound quality, but they are less easy to cut than straws. Take this into consideration when you are choosing the right material for your project.  If you are using straws to create your pipes, buy fat straws meant for smoothies or bubble tea. You can find these at stores like Walmart or at your grocery store. Make sure not to get normal or restaurant-style straws. These are not as effective as thicker straws and are much harder to play. If you are using PVC pipe, buy a ½ inch PVC schedule 40 pipe at stores like Home Depot or Walmart. Use scissors to cut straw pipes, and a rotary conduit cutter or hack saw to cut PVC pipe. It can be difficult to say exactly what notes the pipes will create when you cut them to certain lengths, because the pitch also depends on the width of the straws or PVC pipe, which can vary across brands. However, you can get a well-tuned set of pipes in a diatonic scale by cutting your pipes to the following lengths:  Pipe 1: 17.5 cm Pipe 2: 15.5 cm Pipe 3: 13.5 cm Pipe 4: 12.5 cm Pipe 5: 11 cm Pipe 6: 10 cm Pipe 7: 9 cm Pipe 8: 8.5 cm You can also blow across your pipes and see if they produce the sound you want. You can cut your pipes shorter if you want a different sound. For this reason, it's always a good idea to cut your pipes slightly longer than needed, because you can always adjust them to make them shorter. In order to produce sound, you will need to plug the bottom of the pipes. Take modeling clay and make it into a flat circle. Then take a straw or PVC pipe and stamp into the clay with an end. Twist the pipe or straw, then lift it up. This should leave a circle exactly the size of the opening. Take out this piece of clay. Take the clay plug you made and push it into one of the pipes you have cut for your pan pipes. This will plug the bottom. To make sure it stays, take some tape and wrap it around the bottom of the pipe to secure it. Do this process for the remaining pipes.

SUMMARY: Buy your supplies. Cut the pipes. Make a clay plug. Plug the bottom of the pipe.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you're having a hard time connecting to the opera, try comparing it to something you do understand. If you love fashion, for example, study the intricate costumes. Or if you're a Broadway fan, think about the similarities and differences of opera and musicals. Focusing on the elements you do understand can keep you from getting bored. Sometimes, sitting still for too long during an opera can make people feel restless. Don't stay in your seat during the intermission. Use it as an opportunity to stretch your legs, talk to your neighbor, or get a quick snack outside. Pay attention to how long the intermission lasts so you can get back to your seat by the next act. Opera is known for expressing powerful feelings through the dialogue and song. Immerse yourself in the emotional experience: laugh at the comedic parts, gasp during surprises, and cry when the characters face tragedy. Putting yourself in the characters' perspectives can make opera a fun and cathartic experience.  Operas are made to stand on their own as a form of expression without necessarily knowing the language. Don't worry too much about understanding the characters or the plot. You can still appreciate the music abstractly. If you tend to tear up when you feel strong emotions, you may want to bring some tissues just in case. Unlike musical theater, opera patrons often clap during the production. But there is still some structure as to whether the audience should clap—after a particularly moving aria or act is most acceptable. If you're not sure whether to clap, watch the audience and try to follow their lead. If you want to compliment a particular singer, shout bravo (male), brava (female), or bravi (gender neutral/plural).

SUMMARY:
Relate the opera to something that you enjoy. Take a break during the intermission. Let yourself run with the emotional intensity of opera. Wait until others clap before applauding.