Flying the flag at half-staff means flying it halfway up the flagpole. You should fly the flag at half-staff on Memorial Day and whenever the president or your state governor declares a period of mourning. Do the same when you go to lower the flag from half-staff at the end of the day. If there are any other flags around, they should be raised after the American flag and lowered before it so the American flag is flown the longest. Always be prepared to grab the flag with your hands when it reaches the bottom of the pole.

Summary: Fly the flag at half-staff on special occasions. Raise the flag to the peak of the staff first before flying it at half-staff. Raise the American flag first and lower it last. Never let the flag touch the ground when it’s being lowered.


An addendum is an addition to an already agreed upon contract. The addendum can be used to add to, subtract from, or compliment the agreement that is already in place. The document will modify the terms of the original agreement and will legally control whatever its subject matter is about. Unlike an addendum, an amendment to a lease involves changing the original contract itself. While addenda and amendments are similar, they are not the same. Whether you are a landlord or tenant, you should always get legal advice before changing the terms of an existing lease. This is the case because an addendum will affect your legal rights. When you are looking for a lawyer, try to find a transactional lawyer comfortable drafting and executing lease agreements and addenda. In a lot of situations, a lawyer will only represent landlords or tenants, not both. Make sure you find the best fit for your needs.  Start your search by asking friends and family for lawyer recommendations. Lawyers rely on referrals, and it is a great way to find a trustworthy one. If you cannot find a lawyer through referrals, contact your state bar association's lawyer referral service. After answering a few general questions, you will be put in contact with multiple qualified lawyers in your area. In a lot of situations, the original lease will have a provision specifying when addenda are allowed, what they can cover, who can execute them, and how they need to be drafted. Review the original contract to make sure the addendum you want to draft is allowed.  For example, your lease might state that no addenda are allowed. In this case, you will have to perform under the original lease or negotiate a new one. In some cases, addenda may only be allowed to cover certain things (e.g., pets) but not others (e.g., extra roommates). An addendum is technically a legal contract on its own, and it therefore must meet all the requirements of a valid contract. Generally speaking, a valid contract is formed when both parties are competent and when you have an offer, acceptance, and consideration.  Parties are competent when they are over 18 years of age and free from any mental impairment (e.g., being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, having a mental disability). The offer, acceptance, and consideration can be summed up to say that both parties need to mutually agree to do something, or refrain from doing something, and that the parties must exchange something of value. For example, if you sign an addendum to allow a pet in one of your units, you are giving the tenant that right in exchange for a pet deposit or increased rent. This is consideration.

Summary: Understand the purpose of an addendum. Contact a qualified lawyer. Check your original lease for an amendment or addendum provision. Make sure the addendum will meet all the basic requirements of a contract.


Your learned helplessness may have taken root due to the circumstances of your development. Try to find the root of your learned helplessness. Think back on events in your early life that may have contributed to the way you think today.  For instance, in childhood, you may have been neglected or abused by your parents, and, therefore, learned that you could not expect adults to help. Or, you may have been raised by adults who felt crippled by the system and unable to improve their lives (and had learned helplessness themselves). Reflect on your early experiences to identify the starting point of your beliefs. You may even ask friends or loved ones about your behavior to see if they can spot a common denominator that influenced who you are today. Bring awareness to how learned helplessness affects your daily life. You can do this by recognizing the beliefs that influence your behavior. You should also observe your use of self-defeating, helpless language. By identifying this pessimistic language, you can work to change it.  Grab a notebook and write out some of your general beliefs about life. These might sound like “if you’re not born wealthy, you’ll never have wealth” or “good people always finish last.” Take note of your self-talk by writing down thoughts you have along the lines of “I’m a loser,” “I’ll never get that promotion,” or “if I was beautiful, maybe guys would notice me.” Your thoughts and beliefs have the ability to shape who you are as a person. How you think can influence what goals you set, what career you pursue, and even the kind of people you date. Even though you might want more for your life, your thoughts may have handicapped you into settling. For instance, from the earlier example, you believed “If you’re not born wealthy, you’ll never have wealth.” If you allow this belief to take root, it may unfold just that way in your own life. You might mess up opportunities to make more money or stay in a constant cycle of debt.

Summary: Look for the source of your learned helplessness. Spot negative beliefs that keep you stuck. Beware of self-fulfilling prophecies.


Once you've established yourself as a popular, fashion-conscious person, you may find yourself starting trends without realizing it. Just wear whatever you want and think looks nice. Your peers are likely to adopt aspects of your personal style to be more like you. If enough people follow suit, a new trend is born. One popular strategy among fashionistas is to be a contrarian. Look at whatever trends are hot in the mainstream and craft a look around something completely different. More people will notice your look and are more likely to think of you as a trendsetter instead of a follower.  For example, if everyone is wearing baggy pants, try wearing skinny jeans. Or, if you notice many of your classmates with the same short pixie haircut, consider getting long hair extensions. Don't go too overboard. If dark colors and long pants seem on trend, don't start wearing bright yellow shorts in the middle of winter. Make sure to maximize visibility for whatever look you want to trend. If it's something simple and not too flashy, such as a dark pair of pants, you can wear it up to once a week. However, if it's more memorable, such as a bright patterned blouse, make sure to bring it out only about once every two weeks. Consider getting multiple versions of your item of choice that look different enough that people won't think you're constantly wearing the same thing. For example, if you want a certain style of shoe to catch on, buy pairs in multiple colors. That way, you can encourage the trend every day. Setting trends is a creative process. You will need quiet time to take in and process all of the information you absorb in a day. Getting too caught up in forcing yourself to come up with the next big thing may actually stifle your ability to do so. If you have a sizable following or friends list online, you can start trends without leaving your house. Start posting about or reblogging things related to whatever trend you want to start. Mention how much you and your friends love the potential trend. Think of it as a method of marketing where the product you're selling is something's popularity. Be sure to also keep posting your usual content to avoid losing followers.
Summary: Be yourself. Do the opposite of what's in style. Wear an item of clothing frequently if you want it to catch on. Take time to be creative. Use your own social media influence.