If you’re literally dry-eyed, you’ll have a hard time crying on stage or in front of a camera. Get yourself physically ready by drinking plenty of water before your big moment. Some actors recommend drinking 2 litres (0.53 US gal) of water 1-2 hours before you have to cry for a performance. Instead of worrying about your lines or your performance, try to get lost in what’s happening around you. Listen closely to what your scene partner is saying and pay attention to what they are doing. As much as possible, react to what’s happening rather than planning what you will do or say next. This will be easier if you have taken time to rehearse the scene and know your lines by heart. While crying is a great way to convey powerful emotion as an actor, it won’t feel authentic if you force it. Instead of focusing on making yourself cry, try to reach a level of emotion that will allow it to happen naturally. The most important thing is to let yourself be emotionally vulnerable. Even if you don’t actually cry, the audience will be able to tell if you’re really feeling something.

Summary: Get hydrated before your performance. Immerse yourself in the moment as you perform. Focus on feeling genuine emotion rather than on the act of crying.


If you decide to breed your Corydoras, you of course need to know that you have both males and females. The differences are easy to notice, and you can check them by looking at your fish from above. Females will be a little larger, with a rounder and broader body, while males tend to have slightly larger pectoral fins.  If you intend to breed your Corydoras, you should try to get a ratio of two or three males for each female. If your fish are ready to spawn, you will notice the males chasing the females and mating in the T position. Once they have mated, the female will lay her eggs against the aquarium glass, or among the leaves of the plants in your tank.  In the wild, Corydoras usually spawn during the rainy season, so you can encourage mating by simulating these conditions. If you begin to notice your Corydoras engaging in spawning behavior,  perform a water change with slightly cooler water. Once you notice eggs in the tank, you should separate them from the parents. Corydoras will eat their own and each other’s eggs, so if you want new Corydoras, you should make sure the eggs and parents are in different tanks.  One way to do this is to move the Corydoras to a separate breeding tank when you start to notice them spawning. Once the females lay eggs in the tank, you can move the fish back into their regular tank, and let the eggs hatch in peace. You can also remove eggs to their own hatching and raising tank after they have been laid. Keep the water conditions as similar as possible. If the eggs were laid in the plants, you can simply transfer the plants. If you’d prefer not to remove the whole plant, it is fine to cut off the parts where the eggs are and just move that. If the eggs are on the side of the tank, remove them by rolling your finger over them. Eggs are tough, so you shouldn’t do any damage removing them this way. The eggs should hatch in three to five days. Once that happens, the new hatchlings, called “fry,” will be able to survive on their yolk sac until they start swimming freely. Once that happens, provide some brine shrimp nauplii (a type of larva) or decomposing plant material for them to eat. After about a week, you can start including microworms into their diet.

Summary: Check the sex of your fish. Watch for your fish to spawn. Separate the eggs from the parents. Feed the new fish.


Mix together 2 teaspoons (11 g) of sea salt, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of fresh cracked pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons (3 g) of paprika, 1 tablespoon (6 g) of dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon (2 g) of cayenne. Lay 1 to 2 pieces of opah on a plate and brush 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 mL) of melted butter or olive oil over the fish. Spread the blackening seasoning evenly over the fish. Use your fingers to rub the seasoning into the fish and set it aside while you heat the grill. Turn a gas grill to high or heat a full chimney of briquettes. Once the briquettes are hot and lightly covered in ash, dump them in the center of the grill grate. Brush a little canola or vegetable oil on the grate to prevent the fish from sticking to it. Lay the seasoned opah on the grill so it's directly over the briquettes or the hottest part of the grill. Cook the opah for 5 minutes so it blackens on the bottom. Use tongs to flip the fish over and grill it until it's cooked on the outside. The opah will be medium-rare after 3 to 5 minutes, but you could cook it 2 to 3 more minutes, if you prefer your fish well-done. If the fish is medium-rare, it will be soft and tender. Well-done fish will be completely dry, firm, and flaky. Remove the opah from the grill and serve it immediately. Blackened opah goes well with steamed rice, cabbage, or roasted vegetables. Refrigerate leftover blackened opah in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Summary: Combine the blackening seasoning in a small bowl. Brush the opah with butter or oil and rub the blackening seasoning over it. Heat a gas or charcoal grill. Grill the opah for 5 minutes. Flip and grill the opah for 3 to 5 more minutes. Serve the blackened opah.