INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you know where your presentation will take place, you can envision yourself giving your speech. Check out the room where you’re be presenting. Get a feel for the size of the audience. Know where the restrooms and water fountains are. Figure out when you’re giving your speech. Will you be the only speaker, or will there be several speakers? Are you going first, last, or in the middle? If you are given a choice, determine what time of day you’d prefer your speech. Do you tend to operate better in the morning or in the late afternoon? If you’re planning to use audio or visual aids in your presentation, find out if the venue can accommodate them.   Communicate presentation preferences to the organization. For example, if you prefer using a hand-held microphone over a headset, tell them. Other things to consider are using a stool, having a podium or table, and having your slides show up on a small monitor for you to use so you do not have to read off the big screen. Work these details out with the organization, instructor, or other representative before the day of your speech. Test audio and visual aids beforehand. If your presentation aid doesn’t work during your actual presentation, you will feel heightened anxiety. Try to prevent this by testing your aids in advance.

SUMMARY: Get familiar with your presentation venue. Ask about your presentation time slot. Figure out your tech needs.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Rinse the fruit under cool, running water, scrubbing it gently with your fingers to remove any visible dirt or debris. Pat the fruit dry with a clean paper towel when finished. For small vine fruits, like berries or grapes, you could place the fruit in a colander and rinse it that way. Most tree and bush fruits need to be cut into slices roughly 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 inch (0.3 to 0.6 cm) thin, but many small vine fruits (berries and grapes) can be left whole.  Grapes or berries with inner seeds might need be sliced in halves and de-seeded.  You should also trim away any stems or leaves at this time. The fruit slices should be in an even, single layer and should not touch each other.  If using a dehydrator, place the fruit on a dehydrator tray instead of using a parchment-lined cooking sheet. If rack drying outdoors, place the fruit on your drying rack instead of using a cooking sheet.

SUMMARY: Wash the fruit. Cut larger fruit into into very thin slices. Lay fruit on a parchment covered cooking sheet.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You don't have to stick to a name just because you say it out loud – especially if you're just starting out. Say your name at the beginning of a rap to see how it sounds. If you reference yourself in the flow of your rap, make sure to refer to yourself by your new rapper name. Ensure that it's catchy – something that people will remember. Record yourself and listen over the tapes. If you like the way that it sounds, then keep it. If you don't like the way that it sounds, then try to come up with something else. Perhaps there are several aspects of your personality that come through when you rap. Try to stick to one "stage name" – but feel free to reference "characters" and versions of yourself when you rap. Eminem, for instance, often refers to himself as "Slim Shady" to express the rougher, meaner side of his personality. If you're having trouble deciding, ask someone you trust for his or her advice. Ask a friend, a sibling, or another rapper. You don't have to take anybody's advice – but it might help you solidify your own opinion. Sometimes, the best way to form an opinion on something is to try it out. You can always change your rapper name if doesn't stick!

SUMMARY: Drop the name into a song. Don't be afraid to use multiple names. Ask for opinions. Remember that nothing is permanent.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This will be your hamster’s bed. It will spend a lot of time hiding in the material as well. Make sure to pick up nesting material from your local pet store if you don’t have some already. Do not give your hamster material that separates into thin strands, like cotton or wool. The hamster can get trapped or choke on these materials. The nesting should be evenly spread across the doll house and the layer should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. Now that the grunt work is mostly done, it’s time to have some fun with your hamster’s new home! Put together a room with an exercise wheel and some small furniture, like a couch and chairs, surrounding it. Place chairs on every floor of the house to give your hamster different spots to sit and rest. You can also add small lamps and bookshelves to make the cage look more like a home. You can get this tiny furniture at your local pet store. Make sure your hamster can get to each room by itself. Most doll houses have staircases, which work perfectly. Keep the food and water bowl next to each other and in their own separate area. This way, your hamster knows exactly where to go every time it feels hungry or thirsty. Most converted doll houses have the food and water bowl on the bottom floor of the house to make it easy for the hamster to access these things. Keep the food and water bowl in the room next to the bedroom. When your hamster wakes up, all it has to do is walk into the next room to get its food and water. Keep some small plastic balls in the bedroom, kitchen, and all other rooms so that your hamster will always have something to play with nearby. Place tubes in each room for your hamster to run through and use for exercise. Don’t clog your hamster’s home with toys. Hamsters like to run around and get exercise, but they won’t be able to do this if toys are taking up too much floor space . Make sure your hamster isn’t exposed to damp conditions or a room where people continually turn the lights on and off during the day. Hamsters are very sensitive to sunlight, so make sure their home isn’t exposed to bright lights. Hamsters are also sensitive to high frequency sounds and are easily stressed by them. Make sure your hamster is housed away from computer screens, televisions, and sources of running water.

SUMMARY:
Spread nesting material across the floors of your doll house. Decorate each floor of the doll house with tiny furniture. Add a food and water bowl to one room of the house. Spread toys around the house so your hamster can play everywhere. Keep the cage in a dry, quiet part of your home.