How to Fold an Origami Heart

Completed Heart

How to Fold an Origami Heart

User-Submitted Article

I often find myself in need of an original way to fold a letter to my loved one. This easy trick adds a little romance to my notes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• one piece 8 1/2 by 11 paper
• flat surface

1. 1
   
   Written note
   Write note on letter-size piece of paper.
   
2. 2
   
   Top right corner comes down to the left
   Fold right top corner down to the left, matching edges.
   
3. 3
   
   Top left corner comes down to the right
   Unfold right corner and repeat step 2 for left top corner. You have made an "x" in creases.
   
4. 4
   
   Top is folded back
   Unfold left corner and fold top half of the x backwards. Unfold again, then push back the center point of the x.
   
5. 5
   
   The top should be at a point
   Take the two ends of the horizontal crease and bring them together underneath the top half of the "x".
   
6. 6
   
   The bottom of the paper meets the bottom of the x
   Fold up the bottom of the paper so that it hits the bottom of the x.
   
7. 7
   
   Both sides fold up evenly
   Fold up the two bottom points of the triangle to meet the top point of the triangle.
   
8. 8
   Bring the two sides of the bottom in to meet each other.
   
9. 9
   Flip over and fold down the top point halfway.
   
10. 10
    Fold up and tuck in the two bottom corners.
    
11. 11
    Fold down and tuck in the top two corners.
    

How to Email Oprah Winfrey and Get Noticed

Email Oprah Winfrey

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

User-Submitted Article

Have you ever asked yourself, "How can I send an email to Oprah Winfrey?" The fact is, just like every other major celebrity, Oprah is protected behind a massive, protective firewall of agents and PR representatives. No one, except for her very closest friends and relatives, have a direct point of contact for Oprah Winfrey. However, the good news is that if you want to email Oprah Winfrey and get her to notice your email, it really is possible if you follow the simple steps outlined in this article.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Computer
• An Email Account
• Decent Writing Skills

1. 1
   If you hope to email Oprah Winfrey, the very first thing you'll need is the contact information. Keep in mind that Oprah has a major magazine, a popular cable television show, and a virtual world of media at her fingertips. How you contact her depends greatly upon what exactly you want to tell her. If it's her show that you're interested in, you can always hand write a letter to Oprah through the show representatives. The show's public address is: PO Box 909715, Chicago, Illinois 60690-9715. The address for her publicist is: Lisa Halliday, Harpo Productions, Harpo Studios, 110 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL 60607-2146
   
   Phone: 310-278-5559 110 N Carpenter St., Chicago, Illinois 60607-2146. Either address will work, but you're likely to have more success with the first.
   
2. 2
   
   Email Oprah about Her Show
   If you're more interested in electronic communication, you can email Oprah Winfrey at https://www.oprah.com/plugform.jsp?plugId=220, which is a form where you can give Oprah feedback about her show, or you can simply tell her what's on your mind. The truth is, if you're a very good writer and you're able to put together some very powerful and poignant prose - you just might have a chance to get your email in front of the eyes of Oprah Winfrey herself...and she could even read what you wrote to her on the show. It's true!
   
3. 3
   
   Email the Oprah Producers
   Another way to email Oprah Winfrey is through another form at the Oprah website (https://www.oprah.com/ord/plugform.jsp?plugId=216) where you can email the producers of the show. The same rules apply here - if you really want to get on the show, then all you need to do is impress the producers. While Oprah certainly has a lot of pull regarding who shows up on the show and what the theme of each show will be, you can be sure that the Producers of the show also have some say in the matter. Email your powerfully written email to the producers, and your words could impress them enough so that they show it to Oprah.
   
4. 4
   Another way to contact Oprah is through her Agent. His name is Kevin Huvane and he lives in California. You can write directly to Kevin at: Kevin Huvane, Creative Artists Agency, 2000 Avenue Of The Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Or call him at: (424)-288-2000. Just remember that if Kevin is very likely an extremely busy man, so unless your later can make a very good case for him to pass on your message to Oprah, it's likely to get ignored. So make it short and powerful - and capture his attention at the very start of the letter.
   
5. 5
   
   Email Oprah about Her Magazine
   If you're a fan of Oprah's magazine, then the online form that you want to check out is the magazine opinion form (https://www.oprah.com/ord/plugform.jsp?plugId=505). You can use this form, just like the show's feedback form, to email Oprah Winfrey related to your ideas regarding her magazine. Again, don't bother emailing Oprah using these forms unless you can put your words together in a way that tells a compelling tale and will attract the attention of the Magazine staff who will first read it. If you can win over the hearts and minds of the staff, then you may get your email to Oprah.
   
6. 6
   Again, if you don't mind using snail-mail (which, in many ways can be far more effective at reaching Oprah Winfrey than otherwise), then you can send a letter to the Oprah Magazine at: 300 W 57th Street, Floor 36, New York, New York 10019-3741. Again, take the time to write a well written and compelling letter. Make sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors, and write two or three drafts before you send it. Good writing makes the best impression, and if you can tell your story in a way that can move the emotions of the people who filter out emails and regular mail for Oprah, then you'll be able to win the attention with the Queen of Media herself.
   
7. 7
   
   Join Oprah's Angel Network
   Of course, if you really want to catch the attention of Oprah herself, join up with the Oprah's Angel Network (http://www.oprah.com/entity/angelnetwork) and do something that makes a significant impact on the community where you live. If you think big, and you can do something unique and different - you may very well find yourself sitting on the Oprah Winfrey show! If you want to email Oprah Winfrey, there's no reason why you shouldn't Even if people tell you that she'll never read your email or letter, ignore them. If you write your story, and your story is real, heart wrenching and very moving, she could very well read the words that you put down on paper. So go ahead and give it a shot - you never know unless you try.
   

Secret Tips for Buying a Car

Buying a car can have several pitfalls for the unsuspecting buyer. Used cars may have hidden faults and unscrupulous sellers have a variety of tricks to make a bad car look good. Learning how to identify if a car has been involved in an accident, has incorrect mileage or is stolen can help you avoid expensive repair bills for your new purchase or losing your cash to a crooked seller.

Clocking

If the car is advertised as having a low mileage there a several checks you can make to ensure the displayed mileage is correct. Excessive wearing of the driver's seat, shiny steering wheel or worn peddle rubbers could indicate the car has a high mileage. Check the front of the vehicle for stone chips, one or two chips is excusable, but if the car has several it probably means that most of its life has been spent driving long distances on roadways. Contact the previous owner shown on the vehicle documents and examine the service history for missing pages or inconsistent mileage readings. If you feel the mileage has been altered, keep your money in your pocket and walk away.

Clone

Stolen cars can be given the identity of a legitimate vehicle of the same model. This practice is known as "cloning" and you can lose your car with no compensation. Check to make sure the vehicle identification number (VIN) matches the vehicle's registration document. The VIN is usually found stamped on a special plate within the engine compartment. Check with a reputable dealer where the VIN is located on the model you want to purchase. The VIN should not have been tampered with in any way. Do not even think about buying the car if there are any discrepancies with the VIN or if the vehicles registration document is missing.

Bodywork

The bodywork should be in a condition that matches the age and mileage of the vehicle. Check for mismatching paintwork on body panels that could indicate collision damage. A good way to spot mismatching paintwork is to take the car on a test drive at night. Stop in a service station and inspect it under the artificial light. Mismatched panels will stand out against the original bodywork. If a car has had a recent full body spray, it may be to hide rusting bodywork. Take a small magnet and test to see if there are areas where it is not attracted to the body work. The magnet will fall away from areas that have been filled with body filler. If the seller has been honest about repairs to bodywork, decide if you are happy to purchase an accident damaged car and try to get a discount.

Manual Shift

If the car you want to buy has a manual shift gearbox, you can test to see if the clutch is in good condition with this simple test. Start the engine, select second gear and leave the handbrake on. Carefully try to pull away, if the car judders and the engine stalls then the clutch is good, if the engine revs rise and the car does not move then it is a sign that the clutch is slipping. If you like the car, find out how much a new clutch will cost and, negotiate a deal with the seller based on this information.

 

How to Find a Car You Want

Consider how a vehicle will meet your needs rather than its aesthetic appeal.

a car in a car show image by Gary from Fotolia.com

Car ownership is an exciting and challenging venture. Owning your own car provides the freedom of transportation and the ability to get where you need to go with ease while allowing the flexibility of selling or keeping your car as long as you wish. With the joys of car ownership come equal responsibilities. Practical and financial factors should be taken into consideration to ensure you are purchasing a vehicle that meets your requirements. Whether you are a seasoned car buyer or are purchasing your first vehicle, adhere to these guidelines to successfully purchase the car you desire.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 1
   Identify your needs. Consider whether or not you need a standard or automatic vehicle, cargo and hauling capacity and four-wheel or all-wheel drive. Establish how often you will drive, the terrain you will be driving on and how much room you will need for passengers. Make a checklist, paper or mental, and consider these requirements during your quest for a suitable vehicle.
   
2. 2
   Establish a budget. The Wartburg College website states that monthly car payments should not exceed 20 percent of your take-home pay. Determine the highest possible payment that can realistically fit into your budget and perform your search based on those figures. Don't forget to factor in any hidden costs, such as damage repairs and gas mileage.
   
3. 3
   Decide if you are going to buy a new or used vehicle. New vehicles have lower gas mileage than most used vehicles and are easy to re-sell after purchase. In addition, new vehicles from car dealerships don't require as much background research as used cars. If purchasing a used car, make sure it comes with a manufacturer's or extended warranty. Warranties can be transferred into the new car owner's name to ensure liability protection.
   
4. 4
   Compare similar vehicles and perform background research. Perform an Internet search and find similar vehicles by make and model. Look up a vehicle's true market value and bring this information with you to the dealership so you don't forget it. This will expand your options and ensure that you are snagging a fair price at the dealership.
   
5. 5
   Make initial dealership contact via telephone. Familiarize yourself with the dealership's method of handling business and make sure your car is available on the lot.
   
6. 6
   Schedule back-to-back test-driving appointments during the same day at each dealership you are considering buying from. You will immediately detect subtle handling differences from vehicle to vehicle.
   
7. 7
   Inspect the car thoroughly. Check for evidence of exterior and tire damage, engine leakage and interior damage. Note any discrepancies between gas mileage and vehicle description in official documents versus the car's physical appearance. Record each vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) number, which can be found on a sticker on the interior driver's side door or on a metal plate on the dashboard. Note any varying VIN numbers, as this is a sign that the vehicle was severely damaged in the past. If in doubt, a mechanic can run a diagnostic check for a humble $40 to $70, according to the University of Iowa website.
   

Dangers With New Car Technology

Infotainment

1. Manufacturers are integrating digital gadgets to promote car sales and refer to the devices as "infotainment systems." According to "Despite Risks, Internet Creeps Onto Car Dashboards," by New York Times writers Ashlee Vance and Matt Richtel, critics counter by saying such devices prevent drivers from paying attention to traffic.

Features

2. Some devices are increasingly resembling PCs, offering Wi-Fi capability and Web access to maps and restaurant reviews. Safety testing still remains the responsibility of car manufacturers, rather than the government.

Regulations

3. Regulations concerning the use of digital devices while driving are spotty. Laws lag behind the technology, even though research linking more accidents to the use of digital devices by drivers dates back to 2003.

How to Parallel Park a Tractor With a Trailer

Trailers add another layer of difficulty to parallel parking a tractor.

tractor image by PeteG from Fotolia.com

Given the proper instruction, most people who can drive a car can park a tractor in reverse. Throw a trailer into the mix and it can be enough to leave even veteran drivers in a state of frustration. Sometimes the only way to park a tractor with a trailer is by parallel parking, which presents its own particular problems. Knowing how to properly visualize the process and adjust for the movement of both the tractor and trailer can help make parallel parking a tractor with a trailer a bit easier.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 1
   Drive the tractor alongside the spot where you wish to park. Stop when the rear end of the trailer aligns with the front end of the spot.
   
2. 2
   Turn the tractor's steering wheel hard to the left and reverse.
   
3. 3
   Stop when the trailer is pointing approximately 45 degrees to the parking spot.
   
4. 4
   Turn the tractor's steering wheel hard to the right and reverse until the trailer is almost parallel in the parking spot.
   
5. 5
   Turn the tractor's steering wheel hard to the left and reverse, gradually turning the wheel back toward center position until the tractor is also parallel in the parking spot.
   

: How to Format a Hard Drive With Windows XP

If you want to format a hard drive while using or installing Windows XP, you've come to the right place. This can be very useful for clearing everything off a secondary drive or when installing a fresh copy of Windows. Formatting a computer hard drive is simple and can help eliminate viruses, storage issues and other hard-to-resolve problems.

From Quick Guide: Computer Troubleshooting

• 
  
  

Preparation

1. Step 1
   When you format a computer hard DRIVE you will lose everything that is on the drive. Therefore, it is very important to back up anything you might want later. Additionally, if you are going to be formatting and installing XP you need to make sure you have the discs for any applications or third party hardware you use since you will need to re-install your programs and drivers after re-installing Windows.
   
2. Step 2
   Take a moment to think of anything that you have on the computer that you wouldn't want to lose. Generally, you probably want everything in your My Documents folder, and you also want to save things like your favorites or bookmarks from your Web browser. Remember that each user on the computer has his or her own My Documents folder, Desktop items and Favorites/Bookmarks.
   
3. Step 3
   Save everything to a CD, DVD or a hard drive that you won't be formatting.
   

Formatting a Secondary Hard Drive

4. Step 1
   Right-Click on the "My Computer" icon either on your desktop or in the Start Menu and select "Manage."
   
5. Step 2
   A new window titled "Computer Management" comes up. Select "Storage" from the left hand side by clicking it once, then select "Disk Management(local)" from the right side by double-clicking it.
   
6. Step 3
   Now in the lower part of the main frame (right side) of the window you should see a nice visual of all your hard drives. Each line is a different drive. Each box on a line (with a colored bar at the top and a size displayed in MB or GB) is a partition on the drive. Partitions are separations of space on a drive. Unless you are doing something specific that requires multiple partitions, you only want one partition per drive.
   
7. Step 4
   First you must delete any existing partitions on the drive you are going to format. Do this by right-clicking on the partition's box and selecting "Delete Partition..." Since you already know that you will be deleting everything on the drive, and have already backed everything up, you can safely say yes to any warning the computer presents you with.
   
8. Step 5
   
    
   If there are multiple partitions make sure you have saved everything off them since they might each have different drive letters (i.e. "D:" or "F:"). Then repeat the above step for each of them. If you only want to format one partition that is OK and you can continue to the next step without deleting the other partitions.
   
9. Step 6
   The box for the drive to be formatted should now have a black bar at the top of it and should say "Unallocated" under its size (see picture). Right click on it and select "New Partition..." The New Partition Wizard comes up.
   
10. Step 7
    In the New Partition Wizard click next. On the next page make sure "Primary Partition" is selected and click next. Now make the size equal to the maximum (it should already be set to it), and click next again. On the next page the computer will automatically choose the first available drive letter for the new drive. However, if you like you can choose another drive letter from the drop-down menu, and then click next.
    
11. Step 8
    Finally the New Partition Wizard asks if you would like to format the new partition and if so what format. Choose "NTFS" as it is faster and more secure. Leave the "Allocation unit size" as "Default." In the "Volume label" field enter whatever name you want the drive to have. Simple is better. Avoid using spaces. Lastly, if the drive is brand new and has never been used before check the "Perform a quick format" box. If the drive has been used before leave this box unchecked. Leave the "Enable file and folder compression" box unchecked and click next. Then on the next page click finish.
    
12. Step 9
    The wizard will now spend a little while formatting the drive. On old or large drives this may take a while. Do not close the "Computer Management" window until it finishes. You will know it is done when the word under the size of the drive changes from "Formatting" to "Healthy" and the name and drive letter you chose for the new drive show up. After it is finished you can proceed to use your newly formatted drive.
    

Formatting and Installing from the Windows XP CD

13. Step 1
    This section explains how to reformat a drive from the Windows XP installation CD. This can be used when installing a fresh copy of Windows onto a computer. Here it is especially important to backup all of your important information because upon formatting you will lose EVERYTHING that used to be on the drive. This includes all applications and device drivers, so you must back up everything you can.
    
14. Step 2
    Insert your Windows XP installation disc into your CD drive (Home or Pro--it does not matter).
    
15. Step 3
    Now as you computer boots a little more it will say "Press any key to boot from CD.." press a key to do so.
    
16. Step 4
    The CD will load up a blue screen and then spend a while loading files it needs. When it is finished it will list a few options, mainly "Press ENTER to set up Windows XP." Press Enter or Return.
    
17. Step 5
    Now you will be at a screen to select where to install Windows to. This is where you can delete old partitions and format drives. The box in the bottom half of the screen shows all your drives and the partitions that exist on them. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to highlight your "C:" partition and press the 'D' key (if all that shows up is "Unpartitioned space" and you have no C: or D: partitions, skip this step). On the next screen press the 'L' key to finalize deleting the partition.
    
18. Step 6
    Now you are back on the screen to choose where to install Windows. The box on the lower half of the screen should no longer show a partition but simply have an entry "Unpartitioned space xxxxxMB." Select this with the arrow keys and press the 'C' key to create a partition on the drive. The next screen tells you the minimum and maximum sizes the partition can be and lets you pick the size. The default size is the maximum, but double check that the number entered is the maximum and hit enter.
    
19. Step 7
    Now you will again be back at the choose where to install Windows screen. But this time you will have a partition that looks something like this "C: Partition1 [New (Raw)]xxxxxxMB." Highlight this entry and press enter.
    
20. Step 8
    The next screen lets you choose which file system to format the drive with. Choose NTFS as it is faster and more secure. If the drive is brand new and has never been used before then use one of the options that ends in "(Quick)." Or, choose one of the lower down options. Use the arrow keys to select the proper one and press Enter or Return.
    
21. Step 9
    From here you are all set and the installation of Windows will proceed starting with a format of your drive. This will take a while (over half an hour) so you can take a little break.