| How to Make Bottle Penguins Posted: 28 Jan 2018 04:00 PM PST There are lots of ways to recycle plastic soda bottles, and turning them into adorable penguins is one of them. With a little bit of paint, time, and creativity, you can turn 2 plastic soda bottles into an adorable penguin. If you have a lot of plastic soda bottles then you can create an entire penguin family! EditAssembling the Base - Find 2 plastic soda bottles. The large, 2-liter (67.2-oz) bottles will work the best for this, but you can use smaller soda bottles too. Look for the kind that have the 4 bumps on the bottom. These bumps will make the feet and the hat.
- The color of the bottles does not matter. You will be painting it.
- Remove the labels and wash the bottles. Peel the labels off first, then wash the bottles inside-out with soap and warm water. Be sure to remove all sticker residue. Dry the bottles with a towel.
- Wipe the bottles down with rubbing alcohol as well. This will remove any oils that might keep the paint from sticking. Let the bottles dry; this should only take a few seconds.
- Cut the bottles in half and recycle the top sections. A craft blade will work the best for this, but you can do it with a sharp pair of scissors too. Young children should be supervised during this step.[1]
- If the cut edge is jagged, cut it smoother with a pair of scissors.
- For a smaller penguin, cut the bottom off of the first bottle, and cut the second bottle in half. The shorter half will make the bottom.[2]
- Tuck 1 bottle inside the other to make a capsule. Turn the bottles so that the cut edges are facing one another. Slide the first bottle into the second bottle by about . If the bottles won't fit inside one another, cut a slit into 1 of the bottles first; place this edge on the inside.[3]
- Make sure that the 4 bumps on the top and bottom of the capsule line up.
- Glue the bottles together, if desired. If the bottles are loose, glue them together with tacky glue or super glue. Pull the bottles apart, and paint the inside rim of 1 bottle with glue. Slide it over the other bottle.[4]
- Hot glue is not recommended because it is too bulky.
- Alternatively, you can keep the bottles loose, and use the penguin as a gift box.
EditPainting the Penguin - Paint the entire capsule black, then let it dry. Take the capsule outside or into a well-ventilated area. Set it down on a sheet of newspaper, then coat it with black spray paint. Let the paint dry for 15 to 20 minutes, then turn the capsule over. Spray paint the bottom and let it dry completely.
- Hold the can from the capsule, and spray using a side-to-side motion.
- If the paint is too thin, let it dry completely, then apply another coat of paint.
- If you don't have spray paint, paint the capsule using black acrylic craft paint and a paintbrush.
- Paint the penguin's face and belly white, then allow them to dry. Use a pointed paintbrush and white acrylic craft paint to outline the white face and belly of the penguin. Fill your outline in using a flat paintbrush. Let the paint dry, then add another layer if the first layer is too thin. Let the second layer dry too, if you added it.
- Look at pictures of real or cartoon penguins to get ideas for the placement of the white parts.
- Make sure that 2 of the bumps on the base of the capsule line up with the bottom of the penguin's belly. These are its feet!
- If you are making a smaller penguin, use the shorter half to make the bottom.[5]
- Give the penguin a widow's peak, if desired. Use a pointed brush and black acrylic craft paint to draw a V-shape at the top of the penguin's white face. Fill the V-shape in with black paint so that it blends in with the body. For an even nicer finish, made the sides of the V-shape curved so that it looks like Mickey Mouse's widow's peak. Let the paint dry before moving on.[6]
- Paint 2 eyes and a beak using acrylic craft paint. Use a yellow upside-down triangle for the beak, and 2 black dots for the eyes. For a more realistic beak, paint a yellow or orange circle, then draw a horizontal black line going through the middle.
- Look at pictures of cartoon penguins to get ideas.
- You can also hot glue 2 buttons or 2 googly eyes for the eyes.
- If you don't have yellow paint, cut a triangle out of yellow paper, and glue that on instead.[7]
EditAdding Optional Details - Give your penguin character with lashes, eyebrows, and/or blush. You don't have to do any of these, but they can really give your penguin personality. Use a very thin brush for the lashes and/or eyebrows, or a paint pen. Use a larger pointed brush to apply pink paint for the blush.
- If you want to give your penguin visible yellow feet, paint the 2 bumps in the front (under the white bellow) with yellow acrylic craft paint.
- Paint the top half of the bottle to turn it into a hat. The 4 bumps on top of your penguin's head can easily turn into a hat. Paint a line around the penguin's head, just above the eyes, then fill in everything above that line. Use whatever color you want.[8]
- If you have a molded line just below the bumps, you can use that as a guide instead.
- Let the hat dry, then add some details. You can make the hat look more hat-like by painting or drawing some stripes or spots onto it. Use a thin, pointed paintbrush and acrylic craft paint in a contrasting color to do this. Let the paint dry when you are done.
- Use a paint pen for thin stripes or small dots.
- Glue a pompom to the top of the hat, if desired. You can make the pompom yourself out of yarn, or you can buy it from the kids section of a craft store. Hot glue the pompom to the top of the hat, right between all 4 bumps.[9]
- Choose a pompom color that matches the designs on your hat. If you did not add designs, then use a contrasting color instead.
- Tie ribbon around the neck to make a scarf. Find some ribbon that goes well with the hat. Wrap the ribbon around the penguin's neck, then cross the left end over the right end. Bring the left end up through the gap, then tighten it. This is just like starting to tie a pair of shoes![10]
- Glue both ends of the ribbon to the penguin so that they stay down.
- If you are turning this into a gift box, make sure that you keep the ribbon below the seam.
- You can also cut a long, skinny strip out of felt, and use that instead of ribbon. Cut fringes into each end for additional charm.[11]
- If you want your penguin to have a pointy hat, discard 1 of the bottom halves and keep 1 of the top halves. Use the top half as the hat.
- Use paintbrushes made from sable or taklon bristles. Do not use boar bristle, horsehair, or camelhair.
- Spray the penguin with varnish or sealer, if desired. Do this after you finish painting, but before you add pompoms and scarves.[12]
- You can spray the capsule with paint primer first to help the paint stick better.[13]
- If you are worried about the paint chipping, spray the capsule with paint primer before you start painting.[14]
- Use low-temp hot glue guns to avoid blisters and burns. Do not use high-temp hot glue guns.
EditThings You'll Need - 2 plastic soda bottles
- Craft blade
- Black spray paint
- Acrylic craft paint (white, yellow, and black)
- Acrylic craft paint, 2 contrasting colors
- Flat and pointed paintbrushes
- Ribbon or felt
- Pompom
- Hot glue
- Tacky glue or super glue
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| How to Unblock a Number on Android Posted: 28 Jan 2018 08:00 AM PST This wikiHow teaches you how to remove a phone number from any Android's block list. EditUsing the Google Phone App - Open the Phone app. It's the icon of a phone receiver on the home screen. If you don't see it there, check the app drawer. This method should work on any Google, Motorola, OnePlus, or Lenovo phone.
- Tap . It's at the top-left corner of the screen.
- Tap .
- Scroll down and tap . A list of blocked phone numbers will appear.
- If you don't see this option, return to the Phone app and tap ⁝ (at the top-right corner), select Settings, then Call blocking.[1]
- Tap the number you wish to unblock. A confirmation message will appear.
- If you see a small X to the right of the phone number, tap that instead.
- Tap . Calls from this phone number will once again come through to your phone.
EditUsing a Samsung Galaxy - Open the Phone app. It's the phone receiver icon typically found near the bottom of the home screen.
- Tap . It's at the top of the screen.[2]
- Tap .
- Tap .
- Tap the (minus) next to the number you wish to unblock. This removes the phone number from the blocked list.
EditUsing an HTC - Open your HTC's phone dialer. It's the phone receiver icon typically found on the home screen.
- Tap . It's at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap . A list of blocked numbers will appear.
- Tap and hold the number you wish to unblock. A menu will expand.
- Tap . A confirmation message will appear.
- Tap . The selected contact is now unblocked.
EditUsing an Asus Zenfone - Open the Phone app. It's the phone receiver icon typically found on the home screen.
- Tap . It's at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap . A list of blocked contacts and phone numbers will appear.
- Tap . A confirmation message will appear.
- Tap . This contact or phone number is no longer blocked.
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| How to Recognize Symptoms of Hypothyroidism Posted: 28 Jan 2018 12:00 AM PST Hypothyroidism is a condition arising from insufficient thyroid hormone production, affecting 4.6% of those over age 12 in the U.S.[1] Hypothyroidism can result from iodine insufficiency (especially in developing countries), exposure to radioactive iodine-131, autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland (known as Hashimoto's disease), or absence of the thyroid gland altogether (e.g. from surgical removal or missing at birth). Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to serious consequences, including a life-threatening myxedema coma, although this is rare.[2] Because thyroid hormones regulate many systems of the human body, symptoms of hypothyroidism are diverse. EditEvaluating Early Symptoms - Recognize your risk of getting hypothyroidism. If you know you're at risk for a disease, you are much more likely to pay attention to its symptoms. This is especially important with hypothyroidism because the thyroid gland affects the entire body, making symptomatic identification alone difficult—blood tests are required to confirm it. Women are more likely to develop it, as are people over age 60. You are also more likely to develop hypothyroidism if you have one of the following conditions:[3]
- Have delivered a baby (or been pregnant) in the last six months
- Have previously experienced problems with the thyroid gland
- Have another autoimmune disease (lupus, type 1 diabetes, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)
- Have had the thyroid gland removed
- Have received radiation to the thyroid, chest, or neck
- Have the female genetic disorder Turner syndrome
- Thyroid diseases runs in your family
- Have received surgery to correct a thyroid problem
- Watch for constipation. Hard stools or trouble pushing stools out (constipation) can indicate hypothyroidism because when your body doesn't get enough thyroid hormone, its processes start slowing down, including digestion.[4]
- Measure your sensitivity to cold. As hypothyroidism progresses, you may notice an increased sensitivity to cold temperatures wherever you are located.[5] This is due to the body's processes slowing down from lack of thyroid hormone.[6]
- Notice if you feel fatigued. You may also continue to feel tired and lethargic as hypothyroidism progresses because the lack of thyroid hormone causes your metabolism to slow down.[7] Hypothyroidism can also cause sleep apnea and anemia, both of which cause fatigue.
- Look for irregular periods (if you're a girl). In females, the decrease in thyroid hormone causes irregular periods and can lead to a reduction or impairment of fertility, the ability to get pregnant.[8] It can also cause periods with really heavy flow.
- Look out for sex-related problems (if you're a man). Many men with untreated hypothyroidism experience decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and delayed ejaculation. If you're suffering from a combination of these problems, you should go to your doctor to get tested for hypothyroidism.
- Watch for brittle fingernails. Hypothyroidism can cause brittle nails, or cause fingernails to split from the nail bed through the nail plate.[9] Brittle nails are an irritating, discouraging result of body systems slowing down as hypothyroidism begins to affect the body.
- Hypothyroidism can also cause dry, brittle hair and hair loss.
- Notice if you feel weak. Feeling weak goes hand-in-hand with feeling fatigued and lethargic, which are a result of the body's systems slowing down as it gets low (or no) levels of the thyroid hormone. Feeling weak means that you experience reduced strength in various muscle groups.[10]
- Watch for a pale or dry complexion. Although a pallid complexion alone does not indicate that you have hypothyroidism, paleness combined with general dry skin is a symptom of hypothyroidism.[11] If you have to repeatedly apply moisturizing creams, be aware that this can be a result of a bigger problem within your body.
- You may also sweat less if you have hypothyroidism.
- Pay attention to weight gain. Abnormal or rapid weight gain can indicate hypothyroidism because hormone fluctuation or a decrease of hormones—e.g., lack of thyroid hormone—causes unintentional or unexplained weight gain.[12]
- Stay vigilant about joint or muscle pain. You can start to experience pain in your joints and muscles as the body is affected by reduction in thyroid hormone. This pain often translates as stiffness and tenderness in the muscles and stiffness and swelling, or general pain, in your joints.[13]
- Be aware of feelings of sadness. Women suffering from hypothyroidism after delivering a baby can be misdiagnosed as having baby blues or postpartum depression because some of the symptoms are the same—moodiness and depression.[14] A woman within 6 months of being pregnant or having a baby should see a doctor about hypothyroidism if they suspect they are developing post partum depression, or if fatigue and lethargy don't disappear within a few months.
- Hypothyroidism can also cause a "mental fogginess."
EditEvaluating Late Symptoms - Discern if you have a decreased sense of taste. If hypothyroidism goes untreated, the lack of thyroid hormone in the body starts to affect more systems. If you have a decreased sense of smell and taste, this is an indication that you aren't getting enough thyroid hormone.[15]
- Watch for puffiness in the hands and feet. If hypothyroidism goes untreated, lack of thyroid hormone can progress to a point of affecting your face, hands, and feet by making them puffy.[16] If you notice puffiness in all three of these areas, by this point you are probably experiencing a host of other symptoms and you should get to a doctor as soon as possible.
- When you have hypothyroidism, your sweating generally does not "pit," meaning that when pressure is applied to the swollen area, an indention is not typically left.
- Pay attention to difficulty speaking. Hoarseness is a symptom of untreated hypothyroidism.[17] This happens as a result of the body's processes slowing due to lack of thyroid hormone.
- Notice if your skin gets thicker while your eyebrows get thinner. Thinning hair in general is a symptom of hypothyroidism, and by the time it reaches your eyebrows, you know you've got some thyroid issues. Also, as your body suffers from lack of thyroid hormone, your skin can start to become thicker.[18]
- Pay attention to a slower heart rate. Again, as the body suffers from lack of thyroid hormone, its systems are affected. The heart, the most important system in the body, will begin to slow, a noticeable system in untreated hypothyroidism.[19]
- You can tell your resting heart rate is slowing down by taking note of your heartbeat when you wake up every morning. This might be a smart thing to start chronicling if you suspect your body of not producing enough thyroid hormone.
- Watch for a hoarse voice. Changes in the way you talk can also be a symptom of untreated hypothyroidism. One result of a slow metabolism is a decreased ability to speak clearly.[20] If you notice a hoarse quality to the way you talk, this can be an indication that hypothyroidism is advanced.
- Since the thyroid gland is located at the base of the throat, it is not surprising that hoarseness is a symptom.[21]
EditSeeking Help for Your Symptoms - See a doctor if symptoms accumulate. If you start to notice that you're having more than one or two of these symptoms, it is probably time to make a doctor appointment. It is especially important to be seen if you start to see signs of late stage hypothyroidism, such as a slower heart rate and decreased senses of smell and taste.
- At the onset of hypothyroidism, you may not notice it because it just looks like a bit of weight gain and fatigue, symptoms that also come with aging. You will develop further symptoms, however, as your metabolism slows down.[22]
- Expect to be examined thoroughly. A doctor will ask very specific and thorough questions about your symptoms before moving to the next stage of diagnosing hypothyroidism, which is blood tests. Be prepared for these questions by taking detailed notes of your symptoms before arriving at the doctor's office.
- You may consider typing your symptoms as you notice them into the Notes feature in your phone, or downloading a symptom tracker app.
- You should also give the doctor a detailed medical history, such as past issues with your thyroid gland (including any surgeries or other symptoms and treatments), family history with the thyroid gland, and any general medications you have taken recently.[23]
- Anticipate having blood tests. Since hypothyroidism cannot be determined by symptoms alone, the doctor must take blood tests to measure your thyroid hormone levels. Hypothyroidism symptoms also tend to be similar to symptoms of other diseases, so blood tests are truly the best way to determine hypothyroidism.[24]
- One test is the TSH test. The TSH is a very sensitive test that measures thyroid activity. A reading of "above normal" indicates hypothyroidism, and a reading of "below normal" indicates hyperthyroidism.
- Another is the T4 test. The T4 test measures the level of thyroid hormone in the blood. A reading lower than normal indicates hypothyroidism.
- A common test is the thyroid autoantibody test. Thyroid autoantibodies are only present in the blood if a person's hypothyroidism is cause by Hashimoto's disease, so while this test unequivocally proves that someone has hypothyroidism, if autoantibodies are not present, a person may still have hypothyroidism caused by something else.
- Be prepared to start taking thyroid medicine. Once you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, most doctors will put you on medication. Hypothyroidism is a condition that cannot be cured, so hormone replacement is the only way to help the body regulate TSH and T4. Your medication will be pills containing T4, also known as thyroxine.[25]
- You must be careful to take the exact dosage prescribed. Taking too little of the medication will make your hypothyroidism persist, and taking too much can make you develop the opposite condition, hyperthyroidism.
- Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include rapid heartbeat, inability to sleep, nervousness, increased appetite, and feeling shaky.
- Follow up to see if you need medicine changes. At first, you may need to increase your dosage of T4 based on symptoms. Every time your doctor increases your dosage of T4, you need a blood test 6 to 10 weeks afterward in order to ensure that your T4 levels are normal.[26]
- Eventually you and your doctor will feel comfortable about the dosage you're taking, and you can get your T4 levels checked only once a year.
- Babies and young children must strictly maintain their medication regimes or risk intellectual/developmental disability and stunted growth.
- Stay alert about possible medication complications. Everyone is different, so you must pay attention to your body. You may have to return to the doctor if complications arise, or if you start to take other medications that interfere with your T4 medicine.[27]
- Pay attention to a return or worsening of symptoms. This may mean that you aren't taking enough medicine.
- Other issues that may arise with taking T4 can include taking medicines that prevent your body from absorbing T4 like calcium-based antacids, iron tablets, or medications that contain estrogen.
- If you notice a weight gain or loss of 10 or more pounds when you aren't trying to, it may indicate an issue with your thyroid medication.
- Hypothyroidism can also be a result of drug interference with medicines that seem to have nothing to with the thyroid. If you take the following drugs, watch for symptoms of hypothyroidism:[28]
- amiodarone (for heart problems)
- interferon alpha (for cancer)
- lithium (for bipolar disorder)
- interleukin-2 (for kidney cancer)
- Newborns who have missing or malfunctioning thyroid glands are identified during the newborn screening in developed countries. Untreated hypothyroidism in infants can lead to intellectual/developmental disability and stunted growth. Look for symptoms like jaundice, a large tongue, facial puffiness, and frequent choking, but always ask your pediatrician if you see any symptoms in your baby.[29]
- The information in these steps is for educational purposes only. Always seek a healthcare professional for confirmation of symptoms and treatment.
- Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to a lot of complications, including:[30]
- a goiter in the neck (an enlarged thyroid gland) which affects appearance and ability to breathe and swallow
- heart problems, because it increases the amount of bad cholesterol in the body
- depression
- slowed mental processing
- peripheral neuropathy, where your Central Nervous System ceases to control parts of your body, ultimately causing loss of muscle control
- Disability (which can be reduced with therapy)
- myxedema, a rare development wherein a patient suffers a coma because of the slow-functioning body systems, only occurring in patients with long term untreated hypothyroidism
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