Q: A good pumpkin for painting has a smooth, even surface with no bruises, scratches, or blemishes. Pumpkins with light or very light or shallow ribbing will have the smoothest surfaces. Avoid pumpkins with too many lumps and bumps, or they will be difficult to paint. Look out for any cuts or wormholes that will cause problems, and make sure that the pumpkin is flat enough to sit upright.  Watch out for any soft spots in the pumpkin because that may be a sign of rot. You want your pumpkin to be fresh and to last as long as possible. Almost any variety of pumpkin can be painted, but the following are especially good: Baby Pam, Sugar Pie, Neon, Lumina, or Cotton Candy. Gently remove any dirt or grime using a dampened paper towel or a baby wipe. Use a soft, dry cloth to thoroughly but gently dry your pumpkin. Avoid brushing the pumpkin with a hard brush because you might bruise or scratch your pumpkin or just damage the skin. Take care not to get the stem area (top) or the blossom end (bottom) of the pumpkin wet. This can cause the pumpkin to rot. Before you start painting, you should have your heart set on a design. Almost any design can look good on a pumpkin, as long as it's not too complicated. Faces are popular, but you could also choose a black cat, bats, a haunted house, geometric shapes, or anything you like. Once you've chosen your design, lightly sketch it on a piece of paper for reference.  Let the shape of your pumpkin inspire your design. For example, a squarish pumpkin could become Frankenstein's head. Who says painting pumpkins is just for Halloween? You can paint your pumpkin to echo a fall theme, such as painting leaves or scarecrows, or just paint something completely random on your pumpkin. Have fun with painting your pumpkin and paint a self-portrait or a portrait of a member of your family. Though this is optional, applying a sealer to the pumpkin's surface before painting will help the paint better adhere to the surface. Purchase a craft-grade sealer at a hobby or craft store. Sealers are available in either aerosol cans or squeeze bottles, according to your preference.  Use a brush to apply a liberal coat of sealer evenly to the entire surface of the pumpkin, and allow to dry thoroughly. Clean this brush thoroughly if you plan on using it for painting. Give the sealer time to dry before you move on to paint the pumpkin.
A: Choose your pumpkin. Clean and dry your pumpkin. Choose a design. Apply a sealer (optional).

Q: Chemical metallurgists develop and monitor processes for extracting and manufacturing usable metals. They also study metal corrosion and fatigue.  To become a chemical metallurgist, you should have a strong interest in chemistry. As a chemical metallurgist, you might work on developing ways to make metals stronger, improving extraction and manufacturing processes, creating recycling strategies, and testing metals to make sure they meet safety and quality standards. Physical metallurgists study the physics of metals and how they change under stress, such as changes in temperature. They analyse the structure and composition of metals and how they react to different processes, such as being placed under heavy weight.  If you are interested in physics, then physical metallurgy could be a good choice for you. As a physical metallurgist, your job duties might include investigating accidents that could be due to metallurgical failure, running process and product development trials, and writing reports on tests and investigations. Process metallurgists develop and produce metal parts and prototypes. They control the shaping processes of metals, such as casting, and join metals together by welding and soldering.  Being a process metallurgist could be a good field for you if you want to physically produce usable metal parts. Physical metallurgists produce everything from small parts used in medical science, to huge parts used in construction. As a process metallurgist, your job duties could include interpreting design drawings, selecting the best metal to use, making recommendations about designs, and creating metal products to precise specifications.
A: Be a chemical metallurgist if you want to deal with extracting metal from ore. Be a physical metallurgist if you want to study how metal reacts to stress. Become a process metallurgist if you want to shape and join metals.

Q: The FDA also monitors blood-spot kits to ensure they are safe to use and manufactured in a safe environment. Check on the box of your test kit to make sure it comes from a reputable source. ZRT Industries is a lab that makes FDA-approved blood-spot tests. Count the first day of your period as day 1 of your cycle, then track the rest of the month to figure out when day 19 to 21 is. If you do not get a period, you can take your sample on any day of the month. If you do not get a period at all, you can use your blood-spot test kit any time that you’d like to. Your hormone levels will be the same no matter what time of the month it is. Before beginning the collection process, make sure your hands are clean. Wash them with soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds before rinsing. Pat your hands dry with a clean towel. The kit should come with an alcohol wipe to clean your finger. Remove it from the packaging and rub it on the inside tip of the finger you plan to prick, then allow your finger to dry. Take the cap off the lancet and place the tip of it up against the spot that you just sterilized. Press down on the lancet towards your finger until it clicks, which will stick your finger. The lancet is small, so it won’t hurt your finger too much. When you first see blood, wipe away the drop with the sterile gauze. Next, squeeze on your finger to bring out more blood. Place a drop on the collection card within one circle by touching the end of the drop to the card. Try not to touch the card with your finger. The blood should fill up at least 3/4 of each circle. Continue gently squeezing down towards your finger to pull out more blood. Add a drop for every circle on the card. If your blood slows down, rub the area with sterile gauze to help get it flowing again. Prick another finger in the same spot with the second lancet if the first one stops bleeding. Leave the card open to dry. It should dry for at least half an hour, but longer is better. You can let it dry overnight if you prefer. Don't close the flap until the blood has dried. Include your name, the date, and the time of day on the sample card. Then, pull the flap on the card over the blood spots. Package up the sample in the provided box and fill out the form that came with the package. Put it in the envelope, and apply the label to mail it back.  Mail your package within 55 days so the results aren’t skewed. You may get your results in the mail or by email, depending on the company. You may be testing for estrogen, testosterone, or other specific hormones requested by your doctor. Compare your results to the averages provided in your results sheet and talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
A:
Buy a reliable, FDA-approved kit. Take your sample on day 19 to 21 of your cycle if you get a period. Take your sample any day of the month if you don’t get a period. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Sterilize your finger with an alcohol wipe. Prick your finger with the lancet. Collect the sample by touching your blood to the card. Add a drop of blood on each circle of the card. Let the blood dry for at least 30 minutes. Label the card, then seal up and mail the sample. Find out your hormone levels based on your results.