Article: Stones used in this treatment are typically made of basalt, due to their ability to retain heat. The stones should also be very smooth, so they do not irritate the skin in any way. If you can't find basalt stones, however, smooth river rocks are fine.You can order a hot stone massage kit online from Amazon or eBay. Do not want buy your stones from a rock quarry unless you are able to choose each stone individually. You should have anywhere between 20-30 stones, though some professional massages may have upwards of 45-60. There should be at least two large ovals around 8” long to 6” wide, seven stones you can fit in the palm of your hand, and 8 small stones between the size of an egg or a quarter. If you do not have a massage table, a bed or the floor will be fine. Once you've chosen where the massage should take place, you should lay out a clean sheet or a thick towel for the person you are massaging to lay down on. This will not only help them be more comfortable but also help absorb any excess oil from the massage.  To really create a relaxing environment, try lighting some aromatherapy candles. Soothing scents like lavender, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and vanilla will help immerse your participant in the massage experience. You can also try playing some quiet classical music, or rain sounds to add to the mood. Ideally, you should prepare your stones 30-60 minutes before you begin your massage. The water should be no more than 130 °F (54 °C). The stones will cool down as you use them. Anything below 110 °F (43 °C) is considered a warm stone massage, although it is important to know that a 104 °F (40 °C) stone can still burn someone if it is left laying on bare skin for a few minutes.   To heat the stones, use a Crock-Pot that can hold at least 6 quarts of water or a large tabletop skillet that has sides close to 3 inches (7.6 cm). Note that Crock-Pots and similar kitchen equipment heat on a cycled basis, which means that the temperature can vary and must be monitored closely. It is better i f you can find something with an actual temperature setting, instead of low-medium-high Use a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature in your Crock-pot. (Never use a glass thermometer as breakage can occur.) You should also keep the Crock-pot setting to warm or low, as you don't want the water to boil.  You should also rub some massage oil on each stone before it's used.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Find or purchase stones. Set up your area. Heat up your stones.
Article: Before you go into your first meeting with someone, think about what you want to learn from them and what you want them to learn about you. This will help you to get clearer about your own thoughts and feelings, and cut down on the possibility of a dull moment in the conversation.  For a job interview, research the company ahead of time. If your questions are about specific aspects of the business, it will show you are a serious candidate who has really considered what it would be like to work for them. If you are meeting someone whose work you admire, take the time to find out more about them so you can ask relevant questions and dig deeper than the average fan. Have a clear answer to the question, "what do I want from this meeting?" When you have your own goals in a meeting, you are more likely to be perceived as someone who is mature and competent. It can also help to "ground" you in situations where you may be nervous. Your intention should be something within your control. If you are applying for a job, the intention "I want to get this job" doesn't give you a specific course of action. Instead, try setting an intention like, "I want to emphasize these 3 qualifications that I think make me the best candidate." This is something that it is within your power to do, and will be more helpful as a guide for you during the meeting. . An elevator pitch is a short summary of who you are and what you do -- and it is not just for elevators! It should be no more than three or four sentences, and it should be able to roll off your tongue with ease.  Practice in front of a mirror or with friends until the pitch feels natural and not rehearsed. Be ready to adjust your pitch for different people and situations. How you look really matters when meeting people. You'll want to choose your outfit based on the context of the meeting, so how you  dress for a job interview will be different for how you  dress for a punk show.  Dress to either  stand out or  blend in. Great first impressions can be made both ways, and your answer to this question will depend on what your intentions are and your own comfort level. Either way, pay attention to the details of your outfit.  How you look isn't just your clothes: it’s also your car or house. Give them a good cleaning if there's a chance the person you want to impress will see them. Pay attention to your mood. You could be dressed to the nines, but if you are having a terrible day, it will probably show. If it’s possible, avoid having to make first impressions when you are really feeling low. In a job interview or an encounter with someone you may never meet again, the first impression might be your only shot at connecting with the person you are meeting. In other cases, like meeting your co-workers on the first day of a new job or moving to a new town, you may want to simply be friendly and let your capabilities demonstrate themselves in the coming days or weeks. If you have the ability to do so, either suggest a place and time that works best for you, or come to an agreement with the person you are meeting about what works best for you both. Keep in mind that the environment of your first meeting can have a big effect on our mood and stress levels.   If you are preparing for a date,  pick a place where you think both you and the person you and your date will feel comfortable. Pick a time of day that allows you time to prepare before hand and relax a bit afterward, so that you aren't rushing from one thing to the next.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Prepare questions and talking points. Set an intention.  Develop your personal elevator pitch Look your best. Identify the stakes of the meeting. Try to schedule the the time and place of the meeting.
Article: PowerPoint presentations are useful to provide an overview, a general description of a given topic.  Your presentation should not be encyclopedic.  Don’t go overboard including every little detail, citation, or factoid which may inform the conversation on the issue you’re presenting.  Too much information will burn your audience out and you’ll be left with a bunch of people more interested in lunch than in what you have to say. Keep the presentation about you, not the slideshow.  The slides are there to support what you have to say.  They should be just one part of your presentation, not the whole thing. PowerPoint presentations are at their most effective and powerful when they adopt a clean, minimalistic style.  For instance, if you have one slide whose heading is “Habitats,” with three bullet points beneath reading “Forest,” “Desert,” and “Ocean” with a description of each habitat following, you would do well to instead allocate three separate slides to the three different habitats, and include a summary and image of each on the appropriate slide. Your PowerPoint slideshow should always be designed to reinforce your verbal explanations with visual images.  Sometimes it works to put words on a screen, but generally, your text should be limited.  Do you need the graphics as a starting point from which you will explain results, trends, predictions or specific outcomes?  Are you using visuals merely to keep your audience engaged, to provide humor, and/or to accommodate diverse learning styles?  These and other relevant questions should guide your decision-making process when settling on the right number of slides for your presentation. Go through your entire presentation and ask yourself if you really need a given slide.  If the answer is no, or if you find you can deliver the info verbally instead, eliminate it.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Provide the right amount of information. Break complex slides down into several simple slides. Include audiovisual support only as needed.