| How to Cancel an Appointment Posted: 02 Apr 2018 05:00 PM PDT Whether it's because of an unexpected delay, travel issues, or a schedule mix-up, canceling plans is sometimes inevitable. Breaking the news to the person you are missing an appointment with can be daunting, but if you are honest and polite and let them know as soon as possible, they will most likely be understanding. Reschedule at the same time you cancel or as soon as you can, and offer to meet somewhere closer to where they are to make rescheduling more convenient for them. EditCanceling Your Appointment Politely - Contact the person your appointment is with as soon as you can. The longer you wait to cancel your appointment, the more you are inconveniencing the person you are meeting with. Giving plenty of notice will show that you respect them and their time.
- Call to cancel your appointment personally if you are giving short notice. If you are giving less than a day's notice, you should call the person your appointment is with directly. Emailing, texting, or having an employee notify them for you can come off as inconsiderate when you are inconveniencing them with a last-minute change.[1]
- Offer a sincere apology. Even if you are giving plenty of notice, let them know you are sorry for canceling the appointment. They may have given up other plans to meet with you, and you may have caused them an inconvenience by canceling.[2]
- A brief, simple apology is enough, like "So sorry I can't make it work this time."
- Avoid using vague language or saying that you "might" not be able to make the appointment. It's better to be straightforward and honest.
- Explain briefly why you can't make it. If you have a good reason, like travel problems or a sickness, simply let them know that's why you had to cancel. If you have a less acceptable reason, like you just forgot about the appointment or accidentally double-booked yourself, give a general explanation such as "Something came up that I can't get out of."[3]
- There's no need to go into great detail about why you are canceling, even if you're being honest. Elaborating too much can make it seem like you're making something up.[4]
- Never say that "something more important came up," or anything to that effect.
- Don't make up excuses. You'll run the risk of the other person finding out you weren't honest, which could worsen the situation.
- Let them know you value their time. Make sure to emphasize that you appreciate them scheduling the appointment with you, and that you regret having to cancel. Make it clear that you recognize their time is not unlimited.
- This is especially important if the other person was meeting with you as a favor, like a professional in your field with more experience.[5]
EditRescheduling for Another Time - Offer to reschedule when you cancel. Not only will this save you the hassle of trying to reschedule later, it will show that you are still interested in the appointment. When you call or email to cancel, you should end by saying that you would like to reschedule at the other person's convenience.[6]
- List a few time slots you are available to meet in. You should do your best to accommodate the other person's schedule, but it's helpful to give them a few options to choose from. Figure out 3 or 4 times you are available, and ask whether those times are convenient for them.[7]
- For instance, you could say, "I'm free Friday after 2pm, anytime Monday, or Tuesday between 1pm and 5pm. Do any of those work for you, or is there another time that would be more convenient?"
- Offer to meet somewhere closer to them. To compensate for canceling your first meeting, it's a good idea to try and make the rescheduled appointment more convenient for them somewhere. Offer to meet them at their office or somewhere close to where they will already be at that time.[8]
- You can also suggest meeting by Skype or Google Hangouts if the person you are trying to reschedule with is very busy or far away.[9]
- Choose a time when you know you can make it. After canceling once, it may be even more irritating or inconvenient to cancel again, and you may damage your standing with the person your appointment is with. Look at your schedule carefully and make sure the time you agree to will work for you, and there is not a strong chance of anything unexpected coming up during that time.
- If you don't have anything booked in December, for instance, but you know that your schedule tends to fill up around the holidays, it's best not to reschedule your appointment for that time.
- Make a note of the time you choose to meet. Once you decide on a time to reschedule your appointment for, put it into your calendar. You may also want to make a physical note and put it somewhere you will see it to remind yourself.[10]
- Thank them for their patience when you do meet. Start your appointment off by thanking the person or people you are meeting with for rescheduling. There's no need to apologize again, but showing that you appreciate them for working with your schedule will indicate that you value their time.[11]
- You should avoid canceling appointments whenever possible, as it can reflect badly on you and may damage your connections.[12]
- If you are meeting with someone whose services you are paying for, like a consultant, check to see whether they have a cancellation policy.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Dance the Jitterbug Posted: 02 Apr 2018 09:00 AM PDT The jitterbug, also called single time swing, is a lively dance that originated in the early 1900s and is still popular today. With its smooth, simple steps and upbeat music, this light, fun dance can be enjoyed by dancers of all ages. EditIn a Hurry? The best way to learn the jitterbug is to learn the basic rhythm and rock-step. Bend your knees and tilt your back slightly forward. Step to one side and bend your knees a little deeper, then repeat on the other side, to a count of "1 and 2 and." Add in the rock-step by moving one foot back, quickly lifting the front foot, and then moving the back foot forwards again to a quick count of "1, 2, 1." Practice without music first, learning the rhythm in your body, then turn on the tunes! To learn how to do a turn, handpass, and swing hammerlock as both the leader and the follower, read on! EditMastering the Basic Single Swing - Bend your knees and tilt forward. You should have a strong core and light legs while you're doing the jitterbug. Bend up and down at the knees, keeping your body aligned. Keep your back straight but tilt it forward from the hips, at about a 60-degree angle.[1]
- This will be your general body position when you're doing the jitterbug. It should feel easy, loose, and natural for your body.
- Pulse slightly at your knees with your weight in the balls of your feet. To get comfortable in the position, gently bounce up and down on your knees, like you're bouncing to music. Keep your weight in the balls of your feet, but don't rise up onto your toes; let your heels remain on the ground.[2]
- You can lift one heel off the ground, then the other, to make sure that you're fully balanced on the balls of your feet.
- Shift your weight from one foot to the other, pulsing in time. Take a small step with one foot, then bend your knees and drop your weight slightly. Repeat with your other foot. If you're practicing the leader's steps, you'll move your left leg first; if you're practicing the follower's, start with your right.[3]
- To give yourself a slight rhythm to rock to, you can say "1 and 2 and," stepping when you say a number and rocking when you say "and."
- This is one of your basic movements in the jitterbug, often called the "slow" movement because you're moving right in time with the beat.
- Remember to maintain your balance and center. To take a step, simply lift your heel up gently and set it down. When you shift your weight, you should be moving your knees from a bent position to an even deeper bend.
- Practice the rock-step by stepping one foot backwards. To move into the second basic step, move one foot slightly behind you. If you're dancing as the leader, step your left foot back. If you're the follower, step your right foot back.[4]
- When you're dancing, you'll move the same foot back every time.
- Lift your front foot, then your back foot. Lift your front foot, springing lightly off the ball of the foot, then lift your back foot. You can lift your knee just slightly as well. Keep your chest and top half still and relaxed.[5]
- Although this is called the "rock-step," you won't actually being rocking your weight back and forth--when you're dancing to music, you won't have time! Instead, stay centered and balanced.
- Go back to your pulse step and shift once to either side. Pop your knees up a bit, letting your body feel the rhythm. Shift back and forth once, moving naturally.[6]
- Step 1 foot back and do 1 rock-step. Put the rock-step together with your pulse by stepping back with one foot. Lightly lift the front foot, then move the back foot forward again.[7]
- If you're leading, move your left foot back; if you're following, step back with your right.
- Count out loud to get the timing down. You should move faster through your rock-step than in your pulse. If you're using the "1 and 2 and" count for your pulse, you can use "1, 2, 1," for your rock-step to pick up the pace.
- Step backwards on 1, lift your front foot on 2, and move your back foot forward on 1.
- Return to your beginning pulse position and repeat. You should end your rock-step back in your beginning position, with both feet spread about shoulder-width apart. Go back into your pulse, doing one count on each side, then try the rock-step again.
- The more you move through these beginning 2 steps, the better you'll get at feeling the jitterbug rhythm. The more advanced steps play off of these, so make sure you feel comfortable with them before moving on!
- Hold one hand with your partner if you're dancing as a couple. Most moves in the jitterbug are easy to do by holding just one hand in the "open" position. Stand facing your partner and join hands, with the leader holding with their left and the follower with their right. Stand close enough together that you can join hands with your arms bent.[8]
- If you're the leader, curl your hand over your partner's so that it's almost sideways. Lay your thumb on top of your partner's hand. The hold should be light and relaxed.
- If you're the follower, lay your hand palm-down in your partner's.
- Try the steps a few times while facing each other. Let your hand move towards your partner while you're moving backwards in the rock-step, staying relaxed and not pulling on your partner's arm.
- Try the step in closed position to dance closer together. The leader's right hand will go around the follower's upper back, while the follower's left hand goes on the outside of the leader's shoulder. You'll still be holding your other hands together, joining the leader's left and the follower's right hand.[9]
- When you do your rock-step, step your front foot back at an angle and rotate your body to open your chest up. Don't step straight back, as this would separate you from your partner.
EditTrying the Follower's Underarm Turn - Start with a basic back and forth and rock-step. Hold your partner's hand and start by doing your back and forth pulse and rock-step. Relax and settle into a rhythm together.
- Remember that you're doing 1 pulse step and 1 rock-step each time. Count out loud so that you and your partner are on the same beat.
- Continue pulling the follower's arm gently forward to start the spin. When you move your back foot forward out of the rock-step, take a larger step forward and pull the follower's arm slightly forward. This will show the follower that you're going to start a spin and help them start their momentum.[10]
- Don't start to lift your arm or spin the follower yet; simply draw them forward by their arm.
- As the follower, step out of the rock-step in the direction that you're being pulled.[11]
- Lift your shoulder up to gently spin the follower. Keep your elbow down to maintain a graceful line, lifting gently from the shoulder and raising your palm just over the follower's head. They will spin out naturally as you raise your hand, then gently bring it back down.[12]
- Raising your elbow and whole arm will make your turn look sloppy. Instead, focus on keeping your elbow bent and raising your palm to just above the follower's head.
- Cross behind the follower as they spin. Take one step as the follower spins, bringing your feet to a natural shoulder-width position. You should be facing your partner as they come out of the spin.[13]
- This isn't strictly necessary--you can do the turn while standing still and your partner will simply spin around fully to face you, but it looks smoother and more graceful to move with them.
- Come out of the spin into a rock-step and continue the dance. Now that you and your partner are facing each other again, come back together rhythmically with a quick rock-step. Transition into the side-to-side pulse to continue the dance.[14]
- If you're a beginner, you can also take a quick break after the turn. Talk to your partner and see how they felt about it and if you can do anything to improve.
- Start your spin with your resting elbow and shoulder as the follower. As the follower, once the leader lifts their arm to start the spin, draw up your free elbow and bend it across your chest. This will help to get your momentum moving in a spin. [15]
- To get into the spin as the follower, simply follow the leader's movements.
- Follow this movement with your upper body as the follower. As your elbow pulls across, allow your shoulders and upper body to follow, then your hips. Turn your back knee towards your front knee and spin on 1 foot, with the other poised behind on the toe.
- Mentally separate your shoulders from your hips. Each part of your body should move separately, following each other naturally.
- You will end the spin facing the leader and ready to keep dancing!
EditDoing an Underarm Turn for the Leader - Start with a side to side step and rock-step. Hold one hand with your partner and get into the rhythm with a few simple side to side step and rock-step combinations. Loosen up your knees and arms and relax into the movements.
- Step out of the rock-step towards the follower's arm. The leader can also spin through an underarm turn! To initiate one, step slightly towards the follower's arm as you come out of a rock-step. At the same time, gently pull their hand towards your opposite shoulder.[16]
- This will let the follower start to move away and behind you, giving you room to start your turn.
- Lift your arm and spin your hand so the palm faces up. Lift the arm that's holding the follower's hand and start to turn your body. This will lift the follower's arm as well, giving you room to rotate underneath. Spin your lifted hand so the palm is facing up, which gives you more flexibility to rotate.[17]
- Bend your knees and move lightly on the balls of your feet as you turn.
- If you're the follower, keep your palm facing down. Take one step behind the back of the leader so that you're facing them as they come out of the turn.
- Try the handpass for a simple, stylish variation. As you come out of your rock-step, take the top of the follower's wrist with your right hand and let go with your left. Step across so that your back is facing your partner and pass their arm around behind you. Switch hands behind your back so that you're holding hands with your left hand again, then spin around to face each other.[18]
- As the follower, follow naturally around the leader's back and slide around to face them as they turn.
- The handpass can be a fun way to mix things up if you and your partner already feel comfortable doing a regular turn.
EditDoing a Swing Hammerlock - Hold both of your partner's hands as you start to dance. Start in the open position and hold both of your partner's hands, instead of just one. Begin by doing some easy side-to-side steps and rock-steps.[19]
- You'd typically hold just one hand in the open position, but for this move, you'll need to be holding both.
- Twist the follower's shoulders slightly one way, then the other. First, do 1 side-to-side step. Then, pull the follower's right arm towards you gently, then push it back while pulling their left arm towards you.[20]
- This twist will help the follower build up some momentum to go into their spin.
- As the follower, swivel your shoulders and hips and allow your body to open up as you turn. You can move your right foot back, then forwards as you turn from side to side.
- Spin the follower from their bent elbow while still holding both hands. From this position, one of the follower's arms will be straight, while the other will be bent. Lift their bent arm and initiate the turn while still holding onto their other hand.[21]
- As the follower, spin from your shoulders and upper body, then your hips and knees. Your other arm will be turning behind your back, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable.
- Flip the follower's bent arm behind their back as they turn. As you turn the follower with your top hand, draw their other arm across their back with your bottom hand. You should rotate your wrist around, flipping their hand so that their palm is facing out.[22]
- Flipping their hand like this makes the turn more comfortable for them and for you.
- End the spin with one arm across the follower's body, holding hands. At the end of the spin, the arm that the follower didn't use to spin around should be crossed behind their back. You should be holding that hand at their opposite hip, reaching across their body.[23]
- Your other hand will still be holding the follower's hand, and you'll both be facing each other.
- Do a rock-step while pushing slightly against the follower's hip. From this slightly twisted position, start a rock-step. When you step forward, push back on the follower's hip at a slight angle, opening up their body.[24]
- This tells the follower that you're about to turn them out of this position. It also helps give them some momentum to carry them out of the turn.
- Spin the follower from her bent arm to come out of the twisted position. As you rock back in the rock-step, gently pull the follower along with you with the hand on their hip. Lift up your other hand as you do so, allowing her to turn underneath it and naturally spin out of the twist.[25]
- Since you've helped the follower gather some momentum by angling their hip, you can try to turn this move into a double turn. Simply continue to hold your hand up as they turns, leading them into a second spin.
- You can let go of their other hand as you turn them, so that you end up in the traditional open position with a one handed hold.
EditPolishing Your Steps - Practice your basic steps without any music first. Before you start dancing to music, make sure you've got the basic steps down. Count out loud to help you find a rhythm and concentrate on perfecting each movement of your body.
- It might feel awkward at first, but mastering the moves without music will create the muscle memory to let you dance smoothly with music and other distractions.
- Dance to upbeat swing music once you feel comfortable. After you've got the basic steps and turns down, you can start putting your moves to music. Look up songs online or look for jive, jitterbug, or swing CDs to try multiple different songs.
- If you're looking for music online, look up "jitterbug music" or "swing dance music."
- Find an instructor at a dance studio to try more advanced steps. If you've gotten down the basic steps and turns and want even more of a challenge, look for a dance studio near you that offers lessons. You can also look online for helpful videos, or buy a DVD that teaches you more advanced moves.
- Search for "jitterbug dance lessons near me" online to find a dance studio that offers lessons. If you can, call ahead of time to see what moves will be taught and whether they'll be challenging enough for you.
- Try out your steps at a swing club to dance with others. When you're ready to show off your moves to others, head to a local swing club with a partner, or couple up once you get there. Swing dance clubs are lively places to try out an older but fun way of dancing, so don't worry if you're not an expert yet--just have fun!
- You can search online for swing dance clubs by searching "swing dance clubs near me."
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Take Action to Solve the Water Crisis Posted: 02 Apr 2018 01:00 AM PDT Access to clean water is a global concern; currently there are many areas in the world that face clean water shortages. The number of people this affects each year is expected to rise continuously for multiple reasons, including climate change/pollution, population growth, depletion of groundwater, and poor water infrastructure. Fortunately, there are many ways you can take action to help the global water crisis. EditReducing Personal Water Consumption - Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. If you wet your toothbrush when applying toothpaste to it, turn the water back off while you're scrubbing your teeth. Turn it back on when you're ready to rinse your mouth and toothbrush.[1]
- Similarly, when you wash your hands or face at the sink, wet your hands and face, then turn the water off. Apply your soap and scrub for the recommended time then turn the water back on to rinse.
- Take 5-minute showers. Standard shower heads use of water per minute. That means an 8-minute shower uses of water! If you cut back just 3 minutes of your shower time and aim to take 5-minute showers instead, the amount of water you'll save will really add up.[2]
- To take 5-minute showers, try one of the following: use a shower timer or set 5 minutes on your phone alarm, listen to a 5-minute song, sing the ABC's 10 times then stop on M on the 11th time, or count backwards from 300 during your shower.
- Collect cold shower water or install a water-saving showerhead. Many people wait for hot water before even getting into the shower. If you do this, collect the clean cold water with a bucket and use it for watering plants or rinsing dishes. To adjust the speed at which water comes out of your showerhead, invest in a water-saving showerhead.[3]
- Use biodegradable cleaners. Some household cleaning products require a lot of water because of their foaming agents and harmful chemicals. The amount of water needed to rinse them is higher than those of organic or natural cleaners. Look for natural commercial "green" cleaners helps to decrease the amount of water you'll need to use while cleaning.[4]
- To save money on buying commercial green cleaners, make your own cleaning products with vinegar and baking soda.
- Fix your leaky pipes and faucets. Household leaks account for nearly 1 trillion gallons of wasted water per year. Check your faucets for drips; even if they are slow, you should repair that faucet. Fixing other leaky pipes promptly will not only save water but will also save you money on water damage in the long run.[5]
- Listen for drips in the walls or floor after you use the sink, tub, or toilet. If you hear anything that sounds like dripping, consult a plumber.
- To test your toilet tank for leaks, put a few drops of food coloring in your tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without you flushing, you probably need to replace the flapper in your tank.
- Replace your toilet with a water-saving toilet. Regular toilets flush enormous amounts of otherwise clean water per day. "Water-saving," or "dual-flush" toilets are available at many hardware and home-improvement stores. Once you have your new toilet, consult a plumber if you need help on how to install it.[6]
- Some home improvement stores will install new appliances you buy from them for an extra fee.
- Harvest rainwater for your garden. If you water your garden plants or grass, place a rain barrel beneath your gutters on the side of your home. Fill your watering canisters with this water by dipping them in the barrel and using the water on your garden. Or connect a manual pump hose to spray the water from the barrel onto your yard.[7]
- Do not drink rainwater that is untreated, as it is considered unsafe to drink.
- Take advantage of water-saving yard incentives. If you live in a drought-prone area, there may be cash incentives available for replacing the grass on your property with more sustainable, native plants. One example of this is the California "Cash for Grass" program, which provides homeowners with money to replace their grass with native plants that require less water to maintain.[8]
- Contact your local urban development agencies to see if a water-saving program like this exists in your area.
EditProtecting Drinking Water Sources - Use and dispose of harmful materials properly. Hazardous waste that gets dumped on the ground contaminates the soil, which in turn can contaminate groundwater or nearby surface water. Don't ever dump hazardous wastes like motor oil, leftover paint or paint cans, household cleaners, or medicines onto the ground.[9]
- Check with your local sanitation or trash removal agency about guidelines before putting hazardous wastes into the trash.
- Use pesticides and fertilizers only when necessary. Many pesticides and fertilizers contain harmful chemicals that contaminate ground water. If you must use pesticides or fertilizers, use them sparingly or check the ingredients to use ones that are made from all-natural ingredients. Or try making your own pesticides out of organic ingredients like neem oil, Epsom salts, or citrus.[10]
- Make your own neem oil pesticide by mixing of neem oil with soap and of warm water.
- To make an Epsom salt spray, dissolve into of water. Or simply sprinkle Epsom salts around the bases of your plants instead of making a spray.
- Citrus is especially effective against aphids. To make a citrus spray, grate the rind from 1 lemon and add it to boiling water. Allow this to steep overnight then strain the liquid from the lemon rinds.
- Check to see if the plants you grow need a fertilizer to thrive in your garden before automatically using them.
- Organize a storm drain stenciling project. Stencil a message next to a storm drain, reminding people not to dump waste into a street drain because that water drains to a river. Use simple images like fish, a faucet with water drops, or a person throwing away trash, and include a simple message like "Protect Your Water" or "Drains Directly To Rivers."[11]
- Get permission to stencil storm drains in your area by contacting your local Department of Public Works. Search your closest city or town along with "Department of Public Works" online to find their phone number and tell them you're interested in doing a storm drain stenciling project.
- To create the stencils, draw and cut out your design on a piece of paper, then spray paint the design on or near a storm drain.
- Call your local elected officials with concerns within your area. If you are concerned about clean water shortages in your area, contact your elected officials to voice your water concerns and ask that action is taken. The website at https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials directs you to your state and local elected officials like governors, mayors, and county executives within the U.S.[12]
- To contact officials outside of where you live, search the name of the town, for instance "Flint, MI," along with "ways to help."
- For contacting elected officials outside the U.S., conduct a google search on "contacting my elected officials" or "who are my government representatives."
- Contact the EPA to take action in a specific U.S. region. The Environmental Protection Agency oversees environmental issues like clean water protection and accessibility within the U.S. Their website has many resources about clean water issues and allows you to ask them questions. You can also find source water protection coordinators in your area and report environmental law violations that may contribute to decreased clean water through their website.[13]
EditSpreading the Word - Start a social media campaign to help communities in need. People often don't know about a problem unless it's directly affecting them. If you know of a water crisis happening in a nearby community, get on social media to see how you can help. Look for ways to join people who are already taking action, or start your own group.[14]
- Ask for volunteers on your social media page to help you start a group dedicated to helping a particular affected region.
- Ask people in surrounding areas to donate water in jugs to designated drop-off centers within the affected area.
- Contact companies and businesses on social media and ask them to donate or help transport water to areas that are running low.
- Raise money at school or work to donate to communities without water. Start a fundraiser to benefit a specific non-profit that's working to alleviate a clean water crisis in a specific area. Organize a small concert, open-mic, or talent show where people have to pay for admission and you donate the door money to a specific group.[15]
- The groups Blood:Water, Lifewater International, and Water for Good are groups that partner with underserved communities facing water crisis in Africa.
- Generosity.org brings safe water to areas in Haiti, Ghana, Uganda, and India.
- Convoy of Hope and the Flint Water Fund are organizations helping with the crisis in Flint, Michigan.
- Host a workshop to educate people about the water crisis. Bring your knowledge about the global water crisis to people who want more information. Choose a place to host your event. Plan out the information you want to share and invite guest speakers who are knowledgeable about the subject to speak at your workshop.[16]
- Once you have some guest speakers interested, get them to commit to a date for your event.
- Create flyers to advertise your event and hang them up nearby the event's location. Create an event page on social media and invite people to come.
- Consider providing some refreshments during the event by making them yourself or asking for donations from a local restaurant or café.
- Be sure to provide resources like pamphlets, phone numbers, and websites for various ways people can help after they leave your event.
- Start conversations with friends or people at work or school about your interest in helping the water crisis. Discuss an article you read or where you've heard about places facing water shortages. You may know other people with similar concerns who would like to help you take action.
EditSources and Citations
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