INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you disagree with him, gauge how he reacts. Reading his responses as “good” or “bad” is tricky, but generally, accept it as a good sign when he argues his own points with you. Take it to mean that he wants you to understand exactly where he stands so that you know exactly who you're with. No two people hold the exact same opinions, so be wary if he always agrees with you. If he does, consider it likely that he’s more interested in enjoying himself here and now than in building a long-term relationship, where knowing and resolving differences in opinion will really matter. When you argue, see if he absorbs the points you’re making. He doesn’t have to agree with you in the end, but, at the very least, expect him to consider what you’re saying before responding. But if he always barrels on with his own opinions, as if you never said anything at all, he probably cares more about being “right” than about having a real exchange of ideas. Watch out for put-downs and insults. Judge how much he cares about you by his willingness to hurt you just because you disagree. If he calls you or your ideas “stupid” or anything like that, take that as a red flag. Also note the way he talks to you. Even if he doesn’t insult you outright, recognize when he’s still being dismissive and “talking down” to you.

SUMMARY: Examine how he deals with conflict. Ask yourself if he’s really listening to you. Listen to his tone and words.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A large space can look overwhelming if there is nothing to focus on. Arrange the seating and other furniture to face an object of attention, such as a television, fireplace, or large painting. If the furniture needs to be arranged inward, for instance toward the dining table, create a focal point with a chandelier or centerpiece. Use portable furniture to rearrange the space if you would like to use different focal points at different times. For instance, one or two light chairs can be added to the living room in front of the television when you want to encourage conversation. If the room feels too large, even after dividing it, use furniture on a similar scale. A high ceiling can feel less imposing if there are high-backed chairs in the room to match. A coffee table could be replaced by a large ottoman to fill the space between seats more comfortably. If you enjoy gardening, pot a lemon tree, a fern, or another plant next to a corner or wall that looks empty. Tall plants are a good choice if you have a high ceiling, and add a natural appearance that can't easily be achieved with furniture alone. Tapestries are much larger than paintings, and can be used to fill walls on a grand scale. However, even a collection of small paintings hung in groups can make the room feel cozier. Place artwork on countertops and tables to draw attention to the smaller scale. Even just one or two pieces can give people something to focus on close up, rather than feeling dwarfed by the scale of the room. If you're willing to put in the work, a redesign with deep, rich colors such as burgundy or dark brown can make a room feel cozier. This can also help divide a room visually, by drawing attention to a smaller area with windows or wainscoting accented in different colors.

SUMMARY: Create a focal point. Use oversize furniture. Keep tall house plants in the room. Hang wall art. Add smaller decorations to surfaces. Give the room a new coat of paint.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Slow-cooked chips cook evenly and crisp up well. Set your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, or 160 degrees Celsius. Move the racks to the middle position. Scrub the potatoes under running water to remove dirt, and cut off any green areas. You can leave the flavorful skin on, or peel it if you prefer a uniform appearance. Russets and Yukon Gold are two good options for this recipe. Avoid waxy or boiling varieties, since these tend to fall apart or cook unevenly. Uneven slices are much more difficult to cook, since the thin slices will burn before the thick ones are ready. Use a mandoline set to ⅛ inch (3 mm), or a slicing disc attachment on a food processor. If you don't have either of these, sharpen a knife as much as possible and cut by hand.  Keep the mandoline surface wet to keep the starch from sticking to the surface. Use a corrugated knife or mandoline blade if you prefer wavy chips. This size makes a thick-cut, crunchy chip, similar to store-bought kettle-cooked chips. You can cut the slices thinner with mandoline, but thin slices burn more easily. Starch molecules are essentially long chains of sugar, and just like sugar, they caramelize and turn brown when heated. If you prefer a light-colored potato chip with no burnt flavors, parboil the slices first to get rid of some starch:  For every two large or three medium potatoes, combine 2 quarts (2 liters) water and 2 tbsp (30 mL) white vinegar in a large pot. The vinegar stops the potatoes falling apart. Bring to a boil. Add potato slices and cook for exactly three minutes. Cook for one or two minutes instead if slices are thinner than ⅛ inch (3 mm). Drain potatoes and transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Pat dry, then leave on paper towels for five minutes to finish drying. Move slices occasionally for even drying. Grease heavy-gauge baking sheets or roasting pans with a light layer of olive oil, butter, or cooking spray. Thin, lightweight baking sheets may warp in the oven or burn the chips. If these are your only option, let the sheets warm in the oven as it preheats, and cover the entire surface with chips. Brush or spray on a little bit more oil or butter over the slices, or just flip them over once on the greased pan. See below for additional flavor ideas. Check on the chips frequently, since the cooking time can be unpredictable due to differences in potato variety. Rotate the pan halfway through for even cooking. Remove chips as soon as they are completely dry and the edges are starting to turn golden brown. You can leave them to brown a little more if you prefer them that way.  If some slices brown more quickly than others, remove them with tongs and continue baking the rest. This cooking time is for ⅛" (3mm) slices. Thicker slices may take much longer to cook. Transfer your homemade baked potato chips onto paper towels to absorb the excess grease. Leave them uncovered to finish crisping as they cool. Homemade potato chips will turn soft sooner than store-bought chips. Keep leftovers in airtight containers in a dry, cool location.

SUMMARY:
Preheat your oven. Prep the potatoes. Cut into thin, even slices. Parboil to reduce starch (optional). Grease the baking sheets and potato slices. Add the potato slices in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and spices to taste. Bake for 15–30 minutes. Let cool on paper towels. Eat within a couple days.