INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Unfortunately, you can't use Paint to create a transparent image; since icons are usually partially transparent to allow for the desktop to display behind them, this means that your image will both be square and use different colors in the final product than you used to create the icon.  When using Microsoft Paint to create an icon, it's best to stick to black and white as other colors can appear distorted in the final product. One solution to the transparency issue is to save your Paint project as an image (rather than as an icon) and then use an online converter to turn the image into an icon. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Type in paint, then click Paint at the top of the Start window. This will open the Microsoft Paint program in a new window. This will make it easier to draw your icon:  Click the View tab at the top of the window. Check the "Gridlines" box in the "Show or hide" section of the toolbar. Click the Home tab to return to the main Paint screen. It's in the toolbar at the top of the Paint window. Doing so prompts a pop-up window to appear. This is near the top of the pop-up window. It's near the middle of the window. If your previous canvas size was not square, unchecking this will allow you to create a new canvas size that is the same length on all sides. Type 32 into the "Horizontal" text box. Then type 32 into the "Vertical" text box and click OK at the bottom of the window. Since the 32-by-32 canvas is too small to work on, click seven times the + icon in the lower-right side of the Paint window. This will zoom all the way in on your canvas. Select a color from the top-right side of the window, then click and drag across your canvas to create your icon. If necessary, you can change your brush size by clicking the Size option in the toolbar and then clicking the correct thickness in the drop-down menu. If you want to convert the icon later, just click File, click Save, select a save location, and click Save; otherwise, to save the image as an icon file, do the following:  Click File. Select Save as, then click Other formats in the pop-out menu. Type in whatever you want to name your icon followed by .ico (e.g., a Word icon which is named "Word alternate" would be "Word alternate.ico"). Click the "Save as type" drop-down box, then click 256 Color Bitmap in the drop-down box. Select a save location on the left side of the window. Click Save, then click OK when prompted. If you saved your Paint image as an image file (e.g., a PNG or a JPEG), you can convert it into an icon by using the free ICO Convert website:  Go to http://icoconvert.com/ in your computer's web browser. Click Choose file. Select your Paint JPEG, then click Open. Click Upload. Crop your image as needed, then scroll down and click Select None. Scroll all the way down and click Convert ICO. Click the Download your icon(s) link when it appears. . Once you've saved the icon, you're free to assign it to a shortcut on your computer.

SUMMARY: Understand Microsoft Paint's limitations. Open Start . Open Paint. Enable gridlines. Click Resize. Check the "Pixels" box. Uncheck the "Maintain aspect ratio" box. Set the canvas size to 32-by-32. Zoom all the way in. Draw your icon. Save your icon. Convert an image file into an icon. Use your icon as a shortcut


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can use any oil you like, but vegetable, canola, and peanut oil are all great options for frying because they have high smoke points. Pour the oil into the skillet and turn the burner up to high.  Start off with about a tablespoon of cooking oil. You can add more as needed. To avoid burnt food and fire hazards, make sure the oil you use has a smoke point of 400°F (204°C) or higher. Other good choices include corn oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, and sunflower oil. The oil is hot enough for frying when you can flick a drop of water into it and the oil sizzles. Carefully drop the sirloin into the hot oil, taking care not to cause any oil splatter. Use a spatula to stir the beef continuously as it fries in the oil. You should be able to cook all of the meat in 1 large skillet. If you’re using a small skillet, you may need to fry the beef in 2 batches. Continue moving the meat around with the spatula as you fry it. Fry the beef slices until they’ve browned on all sides and the edges are just starting to crisp up. This usually takes about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove all of the fried beef from the skillet. Spoon the beef onto a clean plate and set the plate aside. Do not turn off or lower the heat under the skillet.

SUMMARY: Heat up the cooking oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the beef slices to the skillet. Fry the beef for 10 minutes until it’s browned and cooked through. Remove the beef from the skillet.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Holding a mallet is like holding a drumstick or bike handle. Use your thumb to support the outside of the mallet. Wrap your index finger around the other side. This finger should not be on top of the mallet. Move your other fingers under your index finger. Your grip should be about halfway up the mallet shaft. One way to check your grip is to open up your hand. Try to balance the mallet on your index finger. The spot where the mallet feels balanced is where your grip should be. Stay relaxed as you move the mallets towards the glockenspiel. Hold the mallets about three inches (7.62 cm) above the keys at all times. Adjust your hands so that the mallets are level with the ground. Try striking one of the keys. Listen as the note vibrates cleanly. Striking near the ends of the bars produces a more muted sound. The key to good sound is a gentle strike. Don’t use force. Instead, bring the mallet down gently and allow the impact with the bar to bounce it back into position. Striking too hard will also cause the bar to vibrate too much and produce a muted sound. Don’t draw back when the mallet rebounds off the bar. Return it to a holding position right above the keys. As long as you keep the mallets about three inches above the keys, you’ll be able to play notes in rapid succession. Strike the second note with your other hand. If you hit the first one with your left, hit the next one with your right. If you hit it with your right, switch to your left. You will need to cross over your arms as you play. As you advance, you may need to play two notes with the same hand. You do this to minimize crossovers between your hands. Alternating technique is needed for playing two nearby notes very quickly.

SUMMARY:
Pick up the mallets between your thumb and index finger. Hold the mallets straight and over the glockenspiel. Aim for the middle of the bar. Bounce the mallet off the bar. Keep the mallet near the bars. Alternate hands when playing notes.