In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: As soccer is a year-round sport, you will have many occasions to follow matches on screen. Follow one or several of the top European leagues, as the world’s most entertaining soccer games are played in these leagues. Alternatively, find out which leagues are televised at a convenient time of the day for you. You can also start by watching soccer with your friends or other locals in pubs. Watching games together with other people will give you a lot of energy that will easily trigger your interest in the sport. Each country’s league has its own characteristics and styles of play. Find out which align with your own tastes. It will help to watch games from several countries to get a feel for the contrast in styles. Start by watching the top five European leagues.  The English Premier League is known for its physical, fast-paced style of play with higher scoring. Italy's Serie A is known for being technical with possession-based defensive styles. Spain’s La Liga is known for quick passing, with scoring levels in between the English and Italian leagues. It also has two of the most exciting teams in the world, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Germany's Bundesliga is known both for physicality and technique, with stronger teams through the middle of the table. France's Ligue 1 is a solid step below the other four, but with some big spenders in Paris Saint-Germain who are entertaining when in their stride. USA and Canada’s top league is a good option based on your timezone. While the level is not as high as in the European leagues, the games are often fast, physical and the fans are not as snobby. Following local games can help you better understand the grassroots appeal of the game which underpins all of the big money and glamour of the international scene. Being there and experiencing the games in person offers valuable lessons on the true feeling of the sport.
Summary: Start watching games on TV. Get informed about the different leagues. Watch the MLS. Go to local games in your hometown.

Determine what kind of alloy a ring is made of by reading labels and talking to a jeweler. An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals, in this case used to make the platinum harder. Platinum rings should be marketed listing the quantity of other metals, especially if there is less than 90% pure platinum in the ring.  A 950PLAT ring will typically be alloyed with cobalt, copper (or a combination of the two), iridium, palladium, ruthenium, or tungsten, which makes up the other 50 parts of 1000. If this other 5% is from the platinum metal group (iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium), the ring can be considered 100% precious.  A 900PLAT ring will usually be alloyed with iridium or palladium. Sometimes it will be listed as IRIDPLAT to indicate a mix of 100 parts iridium and 900 parts platinum. An 850PLAT ring will usually be alloyed with palladium. Less than 85% platinum will often be listed with the quantity of palladium or other metal, such as "585PLAT 415PALL." Once you know the content of other metal present in a platinum ring, you can make choices based on the quality that each type yields. Find an alloy that will have the finish and durability you desire.  A composition of 950 parts platinum and 50 parts cobalt is often considered the finest alloy quality for platinum rings. This combination creates an extremely strong and durable ring with a very bright finish, looking almost as if it has been lit from the inside. A ring with 950 parts platinum and 50 parts ruthenium is very durable and almost scratch-resistant, so it is a very fine quality choice. It also has a high shine mirror-like finish. A 950 parts platinum and 50 parts iridium is perhaps the most common alloy sold in platinum rings, but it is not the highest quality. It yields a softer metal which is prone to scratches, pits, and bends, leading to a duller finish over time. Choose a platinum alloy with a certain type of metal if you have a known allergy to one of the common base metals. Note that any ring with a high percentage of pure platinum should not cause negative skin reactions, as platinum is hypoallergenic.  Avoid cobalt in alloys with a lower amount of platinum, as those with a cobalt allergy may be sensitive. However, in a quality PT950/Cobalt alloy, allergic reactions are very rare.  Copper is also a fairly common metal allergy. Steer clear of rings with copper or copper-cobalt platinum alloys, especially in lower grades, if you have a known reaction. An allergy to any metal in jewelry will show up as a red, itchy rash or blisters on the skin that comes in contact with the jewelry. Test out wearing a piece of copper or cobalt jewelry for 24-48 hours, if you can, to determine if you will have a negative reaction.
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One-sentence summary -- Find out what metal the platinum is mixed with. Understand what alloys yield the best quality. Consider possible allergens in metal alloys.

Problem: Article: By layering one color on top of another, you can lighten or darken it to accomplish the hue you have in mind. This should be done lightly and with as few strokes as possible. You can always add more of your layer color, but once added, it'll be difficult, if not impossible, to remove. You can lighten dark colors with a layer of a lighter color, like white, over top. This can also help with softening colors, like the one found in skin tones. This tool looks like a clear colored pencil and it is intended specifically for blending colored pencils. It is sometimes referred to as a colorless blender. Rub this tool firmly upon the colors you are trying to blend and pass it back and forth until the desired level of blending is reached. By spreading a thick layer-color over a base-color with your blender pencil, you can create a glaze effect over top the base. This will also impart a blended effect to your artwork. With a moderately stiff bristle brush, you can drag colors you've already applied to the page around it. Thin coverage will give your colors a lighter tone; thick concentration will intensify the color. Colors spread together will blend.  You may have to experiment with this and get some experience before you become fully comfortable with the technique. You should choose your brush with regard to the paper you have used. Thicker paper may allow you to use stiffer brushes for easier blending. Thinner paper might require a soft bristle brush and gentle blending over time. You should also be able to use a tortillion to push colors around the page to create either increased or decreased brightness. Though paper and tortillions won't be effective for blending, a cloth can be used to smudge colors together to attain this look. You may want to start by smudging a small, inconspicuous area with a tiny piece of cloth to see how the colors blend before attempting to blend the main parts of your art. Some cloth might blend differently than others or create a unique effect in your drawing. Testing your cloth beforehand can prevent unintended effects when blending.
Summary:
Layer your colors to create a blending effect. Utilize a blender pencil. Spread colored pencil with a bristle brush. Smudge colors to imitate blending.