Hard-shell clams or "quahogs" like large chowder clams, littlenecks, and cherrystones should have tightly closed shells. If you can separate the shells easily, then the clam inside is dead. Clams that are already dead should not be purchased or, if already purchased, should be discarded. Hold one clam in the palm of your non-dominant hand. Use your dominant hand to pass the blade of a small, dull knife in between the two closed shell halves.  Work with on clam at a time. Hold the clam with a towel to prevent juice from dripping onto your hand and to provide extra traction as you cut. The knife should have a blade that is thin enough to pass in between two tightly closed shell halves, but the blade should also be fairly blunt to minimize the risk of accidentally cutting yourself. Use a shucking knife if possible. Slide the knife around the perimeter of the clam to loosen both the adductor muscles and hinge.  Close your hand around the clam as you work, squeezing it slightly to put pressure on it. Note that it will likely be difficult to pass the knife around the perimeter of the clam, and you may have to press or squeeze the knife in between the two shell halves. Twist the knife, rotating it from side to side, until the top shell lifts off.  Sever the top shell completely by cutting the upper adductor muscles with the blade of your knife. Lift off the top shell. Slide the knife below the exposed crab meat, severing the lower adductor muscles. Do not lift the crab meat out of the bottom shell yet. Fill a shall baking pan with ice and lay the shucked clams on top of the ice until you are ready to add them to the chowder. Place the clams in the ice shell-side down.

Summary: Purchase live hard-shell clams. Pass a blunt knife through the two shell halves. Sever the hinge. Pry open the top shell. Loosen the crab meat. Set aside until ready to use.


If possible, film during the day, using natural daylight. If you're planning to do a nighttime scene, provide a little bit of light so people can see what you're doing.  If you're recording yourself, you should sit facing the light, and the camera should point toward you. This step doesn't apply for screen-capture videos. If you have a specific-colored background, don't wear that color (for example, if your wall is black, avoid black or other dark clothing). People will think you are unorganized and messy if your background isn't clean enough, and a clean, professional-looking background is more pleasant to look at than is an untidy one. . Once you've settled on an idea for your video, perform whatever tasks you must to set up and prepare, then record the video.  You may have to record multiple takes. This is completely normal, especially for a beginner. This serves the dual purpose of both ensuring that you make the most of your audio quality and capturing your audience's attention. If you're using a microphone, speak directly into it. This is especially important when you're using a recording item with a built-in mic. You most likely won't want anyone knowing your full name or what your number is, much less where you live. Make sure you definitively press the Stop button on your recording item. Doing so will typically save your recording automatically.

Summary: Make sure you have plenty of light. Choose your clothing appropriately. Keep your background clean. Begin recording Speak loudly and clearly. Be cautious of what information you give out. Stop recording when you're done.


Add the oil and butter, and allow butter to melt before adding in the squash and bell peppers. Squash should be tender when finished. Continue to cook for a few more minutes, and then remove the pan from heat. Serve immediately, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Summary: Preheat a pan over medium high heat. Sauté the vegetables for 12-14 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the parsley and scallions.


You don’t have to wait a mandatory amount of time to file a missing person report. The faster you notify the police that your loved one is missing, the faster they can begin searching. Go to your local police department to file a report. You should understand the limits of what the police can do, especially if the missing person is an adult. It is not illegal for a person to go missing. To complete the missing persons report, you'll need to provide detailed information about the missing person's physical characteristics and last known location. Have the following information ready when you go to the police station to file the report:  Three current photos of the person A list of nicknames or aliases used by the person A physical description, including height, weight, age, hair color, eye color, build, etc. A description of the clothing and shoes the person was last seen wearing A list of possessions the person might be carrying, such as jewelry, glasses, contact lenses, accessories, a purse, a wallet, ID cards, etc. A list of scars, tattoos, and other identifying characteristics A list of medications the person was taking, as well as allergies, handicaps, and other medical conditions A list of relatives or friends of the missing person, along with contact information A list of places the person frequents A description of the person’s car or a different mode of transportation (a bicycle, for example) if applicable A description of the situation surrounding the person's disappearance Make sure you obtain a case number for your missing person's report. Write down the name of the person in charge of your case. Contact this person when you wish to follow up. The US Department of Justice operates this system. NamUs lets you upload information about a missing person for use by law enforcement officials, agencies, and individuals. The site helps missing persons cases wrap up sooner by providing this information to the public. You can use other databases designed to help find missing persons, many of which are geared toward specific characteristics. Consider registering with additional databases to gain access to their free services and resources to help you find your missing person.  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children specializes in providing services for families of children who are missing. After you have reported a missing child to law enforcement, you can call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST(1-800-843-5678). The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides resources for families of people with mental illness who have gone missing. Their website contains potentially useful materials, including suggested guidelines and forums.
Summary: Contact the police as soon as you have reason to worry. Provide the police with information about the missing person. Keep a record of the report. Contact the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Register with other missing persons databases or review their resources.