Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Do not pick at vesicles. Soak the infected area. Add soap to the water for open blisters. Apply magnesium sulphate paste. Use an ice pack. Reduce your stress levels.

Answer: You may be tempted to pick at or try to burst the vesicles, just as people can't resist the urge to pop pimples. However, this makes the wound open to bacterial infection. Furthermore, the released fluid carries the virus, and can spread the viral infection further. Warm water can provide pain relief from whitlow. This is best used when painful lesions start appearing on the infected area. You can add salt or epsom salt to the water to help with relief. The concentrated salt will diminish swelling in the effected area.  Fill a container deep enough for the infected area with warm water. Soak the infected area for 15 minutes. Repeat as the pain reoccurs. When finished, wrap the area with a dry bandage wrap to prevent disease transmission. If you've tried to burst or drain a vesicle, you can add regular or antibacterial soap to the warm water when you soak the area. While you may opt for antibacterial soap, studies suggest that regular soap works just as well at protecting against bacteria and infection. Keeping soap in the water can help prevent the spread of the condition as fluid from the infection mixes in with the water. Magnesium sulphate paste can help with the pain and swelling associated with whitlow. Though this is widely documented, the exact reason behind this effect is still unclear. In a study published 2008, a group of patients with HSV 1 or 2 were treated with a mixture that included magnesium. The results showed that over 95% had resolution of symptoms within 7 days.  To properly use magnesium paste, first clean the infected area using a suitable antiseptic. Examples include isopropyl alcohol, alcohol prep pad or soap. Apply a generous amount of magnesium sulphate paste. You can buy this product at any pharmacy. Cover the pasted area with lint or cotton wool, then bandage it. Change the bandage daily, and applying fresh paste each time. The extreme cold will numb the nerves in the surrounding area, relieving the pain. It will also slow blood flow to the area, reducing any inflammation or swelling that would contribute to the pain. You can either buy an ice pack from the pharmacy, or just wrap some ice cubes in a towel. Gently apply the pack to the infected area. This can be challenging, but making an effort can help prevent future outbreaks. HSV can lie dormant in nerve cells for quite some time, but stress can activate it. Thus, avoiding stress can be the key to avoiding whitlow. Some options to deal with stress and boost the immune system include eating healthier, getting a good night sleep, and exercising regularly.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Form the eyes. Make a nose. Hollow out the mouth area. Fill out the face. Fix any mistakes. Add any finishing touches.

Answer: Using a small spoon or rounded tool, start forming the eye sockets just under the eye-line. Take care not to gouge the clay.  Work carefully and take your time. Try to keep your tool flat on the clay and use small circular movements. Smooth the clay out as you work. The sockets should be deep enough so that the eyes do not protrude from the sculpture. Add brow bones by rolling two small cylinders of clay and attaching them just above the eye sockets. Make sure the clay is workable so you can blend it onto the face. Using a small spatula, slowly work the brow bone into the forehead creating a small ridge. Work until you can't see any creases between the forehead and the brow bone. Form eyelids in much the same way as you made brow bones. Take two small cylinders of clay and place them just under the brow bone and into the eye sockets. Smooth out any seam lines to blend the eyelids into the rest of the face. Repeat the process to form the bottom eyelids. Roll small balls of clay to place into the eye sockets to act as the eyes. Round off the ball and form each eye in its socket. Try to keep the eyes symmetrical as you form them. Form a pyramid from a separate piece of clay and attach it between the eyes. Blend the clay into the face, paying special attention to the bridge of the nose. The bridge should blend evenly with the brow-bones.  As you make the nose check the profile of your sculpture. Some noses stick out further than others, and some turn up slightly. Refer to your photo reference to make sure you get the nose just right. The shape of a nose lends character to a face. Play around with different types of noses to see what effects you can create. To make a mouth on your sculpture, scoop out a little clay below the nose. Only take enough clay to form the inside of the mouth. You'll be adding lips to your face with separate pieces of clay.  Using the same technique as you did to form the brow bone and the nose, add some clay to form the lips. Roll out a small cylinder and blend it into the face to form the upper lip. Forming a mouth takes a lot of practice. Keep referring to your photo reference and don't be afraid to start over if you need to. To form the bottom lip, leave some excess clay from the upper lip and bend it down, forming a horseshoe shape. Roll another cylinder of clay and attach it beneath the upper lip. Leave a little space between the two lips to make it appear as though the mouth is slightly open. Blend the clay until all the seams are gone. Once you've added eyes, a nose, and a mouth, you might need to go back and build out the rest of the face. Add clay to make a chin, cheeks, hair, or even bulk up the forehead if you need to.  When adding clay to your face, make sure you keep blending to make a seamless sculpture. It helps to work the clay a little to warm it up. This way it's easier to mold when you add it. Add ears by making small flat circles and attaching them to the side of the face. Keep the earlobe above the jawline, and connect the top part of the ear on the same path as the eye-line. Sculpt the details of the ear with a small spatula or needle. Before you finish your sculpture, compare it to your photo reference. If you find anything you aren't happy with, go back and re-work it. Stay patient and think of your mistakes as opportunities to improve your skill. Once you're happy with everything, do a final blending pass over your sculpted face. Smooth out any seams, remove any excess clay, and clean up the sculpture. Depending on the clay you used, you can either bake it off to finish your sculpture, or form a mold. Feel free to paint your sculpture, or add decorations to bring your art to life.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Network with current MVPs and Microsoft employees. Secure a nomination for an MVP award. Provide documentation that supports your nomination when requested. Answer any relevant questions posed by the awards committee.

Answer:
To be considered for a Microsoft MVP award, you must first be nominated by either a current MVP or a current Microsoft employee. Therefore, the more connections you make with people in these categories, the more likely it is that you’ll be noticed—and, hopefully, nominated—by one or more of them.  If you attend tech conferences, you’re sure to run into people who fit into one of these categories. Don't be shy about introducing yourself and giving an "elevator pitch" that lays out your MVP-worthy credentials. You can search a list of all current MVPs (which number 3223 as of June 2019) at https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/MvpSearch. If you manage to sufficiently impress a current MVP or Microsoft employee, they may choose to submit your name as a nominee to the awards committee. This is an achievement in itself, but it's also only the first step toward the coveted MVP award.  There's nothing inherently wrong with asking to be nominated, but use your own best judgment about whether this is a good idea. Some potential nominators may be fine with this tactic, while others may take offense. Most people in these categories will know how to go about nominating you. If not, direct them to the nominating portal at https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-US/Nomination/nominate-an-mvp. Be sure to thank your nominator personally and profusely. After all, they've done you a great service! If you pass an initial screening after being nominated, you’ll receive a request for supporting documentation from the awards committee. They’re looking for tangible evidence that you deserve an MVP award, so be sure to make a great case for yourself!  The initial screening, along with the entire decision-making process for MVP awards, is intentionally cloaked in secrecy by Microsoft. They simply don't want potential recipients to know exactly how the process works. You might do the following to support your case: list the conferences you’ve spoken at, and estimate the number of people in attendance at your sessions; tally up your YouTube tutorials and the number of views; identify your written work in your contribution areas; and point out several of your best-received message board answers. After your supporting documentation has been reviewed, it’s possible that a member of the awards committee will contact you with follow-up questions. Answer fully and truthfully, while also showing the confidence to tout your achievements and your passion for sharing your expertise.  They may, for example, want further clarification on the topics of some of your conference panels, or they may want to know more about your views on a particular Microsoft product in your area of expertise. The awards committee frequently deals with a backlog of nominations, so you should expect the entire process (from nomination to final decision) to take 90 days or more.