Examine all the drains in your home and any area inside or outside the home that has standing water. Any area with multiple drain flies is likely a problem. Luckily, drain flies do not stray far from the place they have chosen to make their home, so it is rare for a drain fly infestation to spread to all areas of the house. This is especially true if you catch the problem early. This is the first thing you must do to verify that the problem is coming from the drain itself. You might actually be infested by another type of fly drawn in by rotting fruit or other food sources. As a result, you should verify that you actually have drain flies in your drain before taking measures to remove them. Stick the tape over the center of each drain with the sticky side facing down. Do not completely cover the drain with tape. A covered drain will prevent flies from flying up, leaving you with no evidence. If you spot flies on the tape after removing it from the drain, drain flies are the most likely culprit. Even if you do not find any drain flies on the tape after the first night, you should repeat this process for at least four nights to account for discrepancies in the breeding cycle.

Summary: Identify the problem areas. Dry all the drain areas before going to bed. Place a strip of clear tape over each drain. Check the tape in the morning or after a few days.


The key to understanding CHF is the word congestion. Congestion develops when the heart is unable to pump blood as quickly as it should.This may occur because the heart muscle is too weak or because blood vessels throughout the body are narrowed and constricted, causing the heart muscle to become exhausted.  Poorly functioning valves may cause the chamber to dilate from blood back-up, thinning the myocardium, decreasing pumping ability and increasing the workload. Normally, the ventricles of the heart contract (while the atria are relaxing) allowing for the filling and emptying of each chamber. If the muscle wall of the left ventricle cannot contract properly, some of the blood is left in the ventricles. Blood then backs up into the pulmonary vessels, the pressure within those vessels increases and fluid leaks into the lung tissue, producing congestion and eventually pulmonary edema (swelling) .If not corrected, the back-up of blood will soon lead to failure of the right side of the heart. This condition is called congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is actually a complication of other cardiovascular conditions rather than a disease in itself. CHF is frequently caused by a defect in myocardial contractions resulting in myocardial failure. However, CHF may also be triggered by acute hypertensive crisis, rupture of an aortic valve cusp or a massive pulmonary embolism. There are a number of things that can be done to treat CHF - these usually involve correcting the underlying cause of the heart failure, such as hypertension or dysrhythmia.  Follow a strict low sodium diet and avoid drinking too much fluid. Get plenty of bed rest and gradually re-introduce slower-paced activity. Avoid emotional stress. Take prescription medications to treat CHF, such as diuretics, vasodilators, dobutamine and ACE inhibitors.

Summary: Understand what congestive heart failure means. Understand what causes congestive heart failure. Familiarize yourself with the treatment for CHF.


When creating new words to describe fictional settings, take your theme and tone into account. Your newly created words should sound natural to the world that they inhabit. Foreign words can help to foster atmosphere, depending on the language:  Germanic languages are rough sounding, and have a guttural feel to them. Using Germanic-based words for tough characters can make them sound hardy. Using Germanic language for evil characters will give them a bestial quality. Romance languages are light and airy, and can give your characters a seductive quality. Naming locations with a French- or Italian-based word will create a sense of exoticism. Use Latin-based words to add a scientific feel. Latin evokes wisdom, and so Latin-based words can also imply intelligence. Latin is also an ancient language, and can be used to add mysticism. Asian languages make good base words for exotic sounding locations and objects. Use other languages as a basis for the sound and feel of the word you are creating. Avoid copying a word directly and instead use it as a guide. A successful word is one that the reader won't trip over too hard. Try to relate the word to some recognizable concepts. For example, using the made-up word “bogmouth” to refer to a mouth condition gives the reader a general sense of what the character with bogmouth is experiencing. This is because the word “bog” is familiar, and evokes a similar feeling in most readers. Writing out an official definition for your word will help you to use it properly. Format your definition as it would appear in a dictionary, and list out any other forms the word can take. This can be especially useful if you are writing a piece with multiple made up words, both as a reference for you and for your reader. If you want your new word to stick in the readers' minds and become second-nature to them, it needs to appear multiple times in your writing. Studies show that readers will understand a new word after reading it ten times with context. This means that your word needs to be supported by the language around it to provide the reader with clues on how the word is used and what it means.

Summary: Identify your theme and tone. Make a word that is recognizable. Define your word. Repeat your word.


Take a head of red cabbage and slice it into thin strips. Let it simmer for 30 minutes in enough water to cover the strips. Strain the juice through a colander and store it in another pot. Let it cool. Explain that the red cabbage juice is called an “indicator.” This means that it will help you figure out if a substance is an acid or a base. Take some of the juice and pour it into several clear cups. Put the rest to the side for now.  It doesn't matter how much you pour in each cup. A few ounces will be fine, and should leave you enough experiment with several substances. Use as many cups as you have substances to test. For instance, if you want to test milk, tomato juice, and soy sauce, use three cups. Take a spoonful of baking soda and pour it into one of the glasses. Have a kid stir until the soda begins to dissolve. The solution will turn from red to blue or purplish. Explain the indicator solution changes this color because baking soda is a base. Take some ordinary white vinegar and pour it into the same glass as the baking soda. Ask a kid to stir the solution. It will turn red again before your eyes! Explain this is because the acidic vinegar changes the pH of the solution by neutralizing the base (baking soda). Practice stirring different substances into cups of the solution. Drinks like cola, lemon juice, or milk work well. Before you try each substance, ask the kids if they think the solution will turn bluish (meaning it’s a base) or a deeper red (meaning it’s an acid). To help the kids decide, ask them to think about whether or not the substance tastes sour (acid) or bitter (base).
Summary: Make some red cabbage juice. Pour some of the juice into clear cups. Add baking soda to the solution. Pour vinegar into the solution. Try adding different substances to the indicator solution.