Article: Take a counter intuitive approach and break the jerk down by being stubbornly, persistently nice. As the old saying goes “kill them with kindness.” Treat the jerk's insensitive comments like jokes, or disarm them by asking personal questions with genuine interest. Interact with them like they're a close friend, rather than an enemy who needs to be taught a lesson. A lot the time, jerks act unfriendly because they feel a lack of friendliness themselves. By being nice to someone who’s mistreating you, you’re telling them that it’s more important to get along than to argue.  Think of kindness as a kind of cure for rudeness. If a jerk receives enough kind treatment and doesn’t feel the need to be on the offensive all the time, they may begin to change their ways.  Practicing kindness also keeps you from being at fault. Rather than seeing two people bickering, those around you will view the situation as it is—a mean person acting hostile towards a nice person. Do your best not to be phased by a jerk’s verbal assault. Instead, grin and exhibit unshakeable confidence. It’s a surefire way of letting a jerk know that their tactics won’t work. Acting self-assured shows that you can’t be baited into quibbling with a small-minded person with nothing better to do than act cruel toward others.  Projecting an assertive appearance may discourage a jerk from lashing out altogether.  Even if it doesn’t convince a jerk to lay off, an attitude of confident superiority will make you feel more secure. There will be no need for you to get involved in a dispute. Let your smile and positive attitude be your defense against a surly sourpuss. Chances are, the last thing a jerk is going to expect then they’re trying to make you feel inferior is for you to let out a hearty laugh. In the best case scenario, he or she will see that they can’t bring you down. In the worst, it will give them something else to set their sights on—and you won’t be bothered by that, either. Not only is smiling and laughing a good way to neutralize people with bad intentions, it can actually make you feel better the more you do it. Make it known that the way they’re acting is senseless and hurtful. This could is as easy as saying “that’s really uncool” or “I can’t believe you would say something like that” or simply using body language to express disapproval of their jabs.  It’s hard to be a jerk to someone who isn’t fighting you back. Without opposition, the jerk’s unreturned words and actions will be deflected back at them, and they’ll be forced to examine their own behavior.  Find ways of rebuking a jerk without appearing like you’re trying to pick a fight. This can usually be accomplished by taking issue with the person’s words or actions, not them themselves.  Show empathy toward other individuals that become targets of a jerk’s abuse. This type of compassion reinforces that person’s humanity and may cause an aggressor to rethink what they’re doing. Encourage the people around you to express their disapproval along with you. Let the jerk know that you're not going to tolerate their attitude, and neither is anyone else. Jerks usually act the way they do to make themselves feel bigger and more important in front of others, so it's unlikely that they'll continue if they sense that their tactics are having the opposite effect. Take the lead. Sometimes, people will be afraid to speak up until they see someone else doing it. Be the one to let the jerk know that what they're doing is unacceptable and others will follow suit. Take the spring out of a jerk's step by calmly belittling them. Point out something embarrassing to distract from their attempts to put you down, like their zipper being open or having a booger hanging out of their nose, or call out their motivations directly. Say something like "you must have a really fragile ego to act like that." They may feel the need to defend themselves, but they'll no longer have the will to keep being deliberately obnoxious after they've been exposed.  By confronting a jerk head-on, while being careful not to get worked up or incite an argument, you're stripping them of their power. Keep your cool and respond in a matter-of-fact tone. Never resort to name calling or angry, nasty attacks when cutting a jerk down to size. You'll just be playing their game.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Be kind to them. Project confidence. Smile and laugh. Tap into their guilt. Find strength in numbers. Wound their pride.
Article: The more tender the meat you use, the smoother and better-tasting your puree will be. Whether you're pureeing beef, chicken, pork or lamb, you want to choose a tender cut that won't toughen up when cooked.  Often the cheapest cuts of beef are the toughest, so try choosing a cut like top sirloin. For chicken, you can buy the meat boneless or bone-in. If you buy it bone-in, you'll have to be careful to make sure no tiny bones get mixed in with the puree. Slow cooking methods help the meat retain flavor and moisture, making it much easier to puree. No matter what type of meat you use, consider cooking it slowly so you end up with the best possible texture. Here are some methods that work well:    Braising. Using a slow cooker.  Boiling The meat must be completely pre-cooked before you puree it. Check the temperature of the meat when it's done to make sure it has reached the correct internal temperature. Here are the correct temperatures for different types of meat:  Chicken: 165 °F (74 °C) Pork: 160 °F (71 °C) Beef: 145 °F (63 °C) Lamb: 145 °F (63 °C) After cooking, chill the meat in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. The meat should be completely chilled in preparation for processing. Chilled meat will process into much finer pieces than meat that is still warm. Remove it from the refrigerator and chop the meat into chunks that will fit easily in your food processor.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Choose tender cuts of meat. Cook the meat slowly. Make sure it's cooked to the correct temperature. Chill the meat thoroughly. Chop it into 1-inch pieces.
Article: While a testimonial video isn't a requirement for the application, having one will increase your chances of getting cast onto the show. Being on film will allow the casting directors to get a good sense of how you and your family will appear on the show and will give them a better idea of if your family would help create an interesting episode. If you are sending a physical application, you can send the video on a DVD or flash drive. Casting directors are looking for people and families with personalities. If your family is unique or extraordinary in some way, make sure to play up that aspect. The show demands a level of drama and energetic and unique people can enhance the drama. Don't be shy when answering the questions and make sure to put your personality on the forefront. A major concept of Love It or List It is the idea that one of the homeowners wants to stay in the house while the other wants to move out. This drama helps build tension and emotion within the episode and is what casting directors are looking for. Make sure to play up this aspect, and include it within your application or any testimonial videos that you plan on sending. Stay wholesome and family-oriented, but create a real conflict of opinion about your house. More is better but don't ramble on your application. Put yourself in the show creator's shoes and determine what you'd like to see on the next episode of Love It or List It. When answering the questions on the application, make sure to inject your family's quirky or different personality at all times. The more different you are, the more receptive casting directors will be. Avoid being vague or generic at all times.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Create an audition video. Be outgoing, energetic, opinionated, and fun. Create a story. Write descriptive answers on your application.