INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You will need to find a way to support yourself before you can live independently. This involves finding a job that pays you enough to cover all of the bills.  Create good chances of promotion and steady growth within your job by keeping your work skills sharp and making yourself valuable to the company. Continually making more money means you’ll be able to live more comfortably on your own.  Try to save up enough money to cover 6 months of your expenses before you move out. There are always unexpected expenses that will come up when living independently, such as job loss or car repairs. If you are unable to build your emergency fund before you move out, save as much money as you can until you have enough money saved. A budget allows you to determine how much money you will need for bills and what you will have leftover for yourself. Start by figuring out your income, then deduct your monthly expenses from that.  This will include your phone bill, car payment, groceries, and the like. Look at how much money you have after that. The number will help you determine what you can spend on rent or mortgage. You will likely need to readjust your budget after you move in. You won’t get an accurate idea of how much your utility bills and other expenses are until you’ve spent some time in your new place.  You can find easy and free Microsoft excel templates online to help you manage your budget. Spending less money than you make sounds easy enough, but it can be quite difficult. This may mean having to spend more nights in and sacrificing having the newest and trendiest gadgets. But, being able to live on your own will be worth it. Having a safety net while living on your own is crucial. This allows you to still pay your bills should something happen that prevents you from being able to work. It also gives you the means to pay for unexpected bills, if they occur. Having at least 6 months of your expenses in your savings account is ideal. This should help you cover expenses should you lose your job or become sick.

SUMMARY: Find a job. Create a budget. Live below your means. Save.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Some fake news sites clearly state that they are fake. However, this information may be hidden in the fine print at the bottom of an article. In these cases, fake news sites count on readers to be shocked by a sensational headline without reading through to the article’s conclusion.  For example, the fake news site “WTOE 5,” which published a fake news story about Pope Francis endorsing Donald Trump, openly states that it publishes “fantasy news.”  Satirical articles can also be mistaken for factual news, although not by the intent of the site itself. Sites such as The Onion, the Daily Currant, Duffle Blog, and National Report publish satirical articles that are sometimes mistaken for actual news.  If you think something may be satirical, search the website's name along with the word "satire" and see what comes up. Fake news writers will often try to trick people by using a URL similar to that of an established news site. If you think a news site may be fake, check the URL for any extra suffixes or unexpected numbers or letters. Domains can be tricky as some will just add additional words or letters to the domain like “accurateABCnews.com”.   For example, rushed readers may be fooled by the URLs of fake news sites “nbc.com.co” and “abcnews.com.co.” However, the extraneous “.co” is a clear giveaway that these are not the sites of the real NBC or ABC News, and that the sites likely generate fake news. Strange domain names usually mean that the content is also strange.  Consider doing a google search by the organization's name to see if it matches the domain on the site with the article. If an article was shared by a news organization on Facebook, click the organization name and check for the blue verified mark that will indicate that this is the actual news site. Also, looking for copyright information that is accurate may help you determine if the site has obtained legitimate sources. A genuine news website should provide a method for readers to reach out with questions or concerns. The site should also offer detailed information about the individuals who work there. If a website does not have a “Contact Us” page, and no way to reach the author(s), the site is likely a fake.  For example, the website of the Boston Tribune only lists an email address under the “Contact Us” section, which raises suspicion that the site may provide fake news. Also, if a purported news site only lists a single individual as the author of every article on the site, it is likely fake. Genuine news sites have many staff members in a variety of positions. Official news sites are usually designed by professionals who know how to make sites look good. The format should be neat, and similar to how other news sites are formatted. Bad design often means the site is not legitimate.  All caps is usually a sign that something is not professional.  News websites always use plain fonts (usually sans serif), with black text on a white or whitish background. Search the website's name in a search engine and see what comes up. Read the "About Us" page, and descriptions of the site such as on Wikipedia and Snopes.  Check their social media. Are they posting clickbait, and do the headlines match what the articles actually say? If you suspect an organization might be biased or controversial, try adding the word "controversy" to your search terms and see what comes up.

SUMMARY: See if the site is openly fictional. Check the site’s URL. Read the “Contact Us” page. Notice how professional the website looks. Look up the website itself.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: All-purpose clothing dyes are available at most big box stores. Rit, one of the most popular brands, is widely available in a large selection of colors. Dylon is another common brand. Craft stores carry a bigger selection of colors than  big box stores generally do. These dyes come in powder or liquid form, and either one will work just fine. You need to start with clean fabric, so wash it if you're using something you already have. It's a good idea to wash new fabric as well, just in case it has anything on it that could keep the dye from sticking. Don't dry the fabric, as you'll need it wet to dye it. Don't use fabric softener. The fabric needs to be completely wet so that the dye doesn't create a splotchy effect on the fabric. You can take the fabric out before the spin cycle or soak it in a tub before dyeing it to saturate it. If you put crumpled fabric in dye, you'll end up with a marbling effect. Unless you want a marbled look, use your hand to smooth out your fabric as much as you can before dyeing it.

SUMMARY:
Purchase a commercial dye from a big box store. Wash the fabric. Soak the fabric if it's not saturated with water. Smooth out the fabric.