| How to Connect Alexa to a Car Posted: 10 Aug 2019 05:00 PM PDT Imagine you're jamming to a song on Amazon Prime Music and don't want the tunes to stop between the living room and car. Amazon Alexa will follow you and play your favorite tunes no matter where you go. If your car isn't already a connected car, there are other ways to get Alexa to work for you.[1] You'll need Echo Auto (or some third-party gadgets like the Garmin Speak with Alexa), which is a car accessory that will get Alexa to work in your car. You'll also need a smartphone with the Alexa app. This wikiHow teaches you how to connect Alexa to a car with an Echo Auto. [Edit]Setting up Your Echo Auto - Plug in the Echo Auto to your car.
- The power adapter is included with the Echo Auto purchase. One end of this power adapter fits into the 12V socket (also known as the cigarette lighter) and the other is a micro-USB dong that fits into the side of the Echo Auto. You can also detach the USB from the 12V socket adapter so you can connect the Echo Auto via USB.
- You can leave the Echo Auto plugged in when you're not in the car, but if the car is parked for an extended period of time, you should un-plug the device.
- Mount the Echo Auto to your dashboard. The Echo Auto comes with its own mount, so you won't need to purchase any additional hardware.
- To mount the device, make sure your space is clean, take the plastic off the mount and place the sticky side onto your dashboard where you want your Echo Auto to mount. Make sure the LED light is facing you. The mount has a magnetic strip that keeps the Echo Auto in place as you drive.
- The LED light along the front of the Echo Auto will communicate its status. A blue light moving from right to left indicates the device is in the process of starting up. Blue lights moving to the center of the light strip lets you know that Alexa is processing your request. A blue light sliding left and right indicates that the device is waiting for a Bluetooth connection. And an orange light moving from left to right indicates the device is ready for setup.[2]
- Set your car's stereo input to Aux or Bluetooth, whichever you will be using.
- Connect your Echo Auto to your car via Bluetooth or with an auxiliary cable.
- Connecting via Bluetooth works through your phone, and the process involves turning on Bluetooth on both your car and phone and entering a number displayed on your car's media display.
- Connecting with an auxiliary cable includes adding a cable from your AUX port to the Echo Auto.[3]
- Open the Alexa app on your phone. This app icon looks like a blue speech bubble in a white circle on a blue background.
- If you do not have the Alexa app on your phone, you can download the app for free in the Google App Store or the App Store .
- Select the icon that looks like a house silhouette with plugs inside it. You'll find this in the lower right. A page with existing Amazon devices and groups will load.
- Tap the plus icon (+).
- Tap . A list of Amazon speakers will load.
- Tap . The page will load new options.
- Tap .
- Follow the on-screen steps to connect your Echo Auto. You might need to allow the app to access information on your phone like location or microphone.
[Edit]Pairing your Echo Auto with Your Smartphone - Say "Pair". You should be in your car with your Echo Auto powered on. Your Echo Auto will begin looking for nearby Bluetooth devices.
- Navigate to your phone's Bluetooth Settings.
- For Android phones, go to the Settings app or swipe down from the top of your screen and tap the gear icon in the top left. Tap and make sure the switch is in the ON position .
- For iPhones, go to Settings and tap . Make sure the switch is in the ON position . Your iPhone Settings menu may have the Bluetooth settings inside a tab, depending on the iOS version you are using.
- Tap from found Bluetooth devices.
- Alexa will tell you when the connection is successful.[5]
[Edit]Using Alexa in Your Car - Say, "Alexa, navigate to Starbucks." Make sure you say "Alexa" before a command to activate Alexa first. If you just said, "Navigate to Starbucks," Alexa wouldn't know you spoke a command and wouldn't respond to you.
- Alexa will access your default navigation app on your phone (like Google Maps) and direct you to the nearest Starbucks.
- Say, "Alexa, text mom." Alexa will launch your default texting app and ask what you'd like the text to say. Answer when prompted and Alexa will send your text.
- You can also tell Alexa to read your text for you when you hear the message come back from your mom.
- Say, "Alexa, call mom's mobile," or "Alexa, call mom's home." Your default phone app will open and Alexa will dial the contact. If your contact has multiple numbers like mom, you have to specify which number for Alexa to call, like home, mobile, or work.
- Say, "Alexa, play The Doors." Alexa will access your default music player and play The Doors' discography unless you specify a specific song or album.
- There are many more commands you can give Alexa, including shutting the garage door or turning on the porch light. [6]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Clean a Curling Iron Posted: 10 Aug 2019 09:00 AM PDT If you use your curling iron often, you may not even notice that it's building up gunk and grime. Curling irons pick up oils and dirt from your hair, as well as gunk from hairspray and gels. Try to quickly clean your curling iron at least once a week with simple products you have around your home. If your curling iron has layer of grime on it, opt for something slightly more abrasive, such as baking soda or a melamine sponge. [Edit]Removing Gunk - Rub the barrel with a paste of baking soda and water for a natural cleaner. In a small bowl, mix together 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Stir the mixture together with a spoon, then use a rag or paper towel to scrub down the barrel. This will provide a light abrasive action. Always use a clean, damp cloth to remove the solution at the end.[1]
- The measurements don't need to be precise; you just need a thick paste.
- Scrub the barrel down with a clean toothbrush. If a rag or paper towel isn't providing enough friction, you can use a toothbrush. Dip it in your preferred cleaning solution, then run it over the barrel in small circular motions to help take the gunk off.[2]
- Make sure you don't use the toothbrush for anything else!
- Apply acetone for 10 minutes to remove harder-to-clean gunk. Rub down the barrel with a rag dampened in acetone. Leave the acetone on for 10 minutes so it can dissolve the gunk. Try not to leave it on longer, as it might damage the surface.[3]
- Try a melamine sponge or steel wool for gunk that won't come off. Pick a melamine sponge for nonstick surfaces or steel wool for other surfaces. Dip it in the cleaning solution of your choice or even just water, and scrub the barrel, moving from one end to the other. Use a circular motion to help take off the gunk, concentrating a bit more on the grimiest areas. Don't forget to work on the handle, too, and to get under the clamp if yours has one.[4]
- Melamine works on a micro level to remove the grime, but it usually won't scratch the surface. Steel wool provides a more powerful abrasion, but it can scratch nonstick surfaces.[5]
- Dry your iron completely before use. A damp curling iron can be dangerous. Besides the fact the electronics and water don't mix, it could spit off hot water at you, which no one wants! Dry it thoroughly with a towel before you use it.
[Edit]Cleaning a Smelly Curling Iron - Wipe the iron down with rubbing alcohol for an easy cleaning solution. Dip a paper towel or cotton pad in rubbing alcohol. Don't soak the cloth completely; just dampen it. Run the towel over the barrel, making sure to go over and under the clamp, as well. The rubbing alcohol will help take hair products and other dirt off your curling iron.[6]
- You may need to go over the barrel several times. Don't forget to clean the handle, too.
- Wrap the iron in a lemon-juice soaked rag for 15 minutes for a hands-off solution. You can use bottled lemon juice if you prefer. Either way, lemon juice is acidic, and it can cut through the gunk and smell. Make sure the rag is well-soaked enough to be damp and wrap the whole barrel in the rag.[7]
- If you don't have lemon juice, try vinegar instead.
- Wipe the barrel clean once you're done applying the cleaning solution. Unwrap the barrel and set it down. Rinse out the rag thoroughly or get a clean one and dampen it with water. Wipe the lemon juice, vinegar, acetone, or rubbing alcohol off the barrel with the damp rag.[8]
- Never put the barrel under running water. You could get water in places you don't want it, causing your curling iron to malfunction.
[Edit]Keeping Your Iron Clean - Clean the iron once a week. That will prevent hairspray and other products from caking onto the iron, which could be a hazard. Plus, the curling iron will perform better if you keep it as clean as possible![9]
- Keep your curling iron in a drawer when it's not in use. That way, you won't splash your curling iron with products or assault it with makeup, which would lead to more gunk. Put it in a drawer without leaking toothpaste tubes and other products that could get on the iron.
- Alternatively, hang the iron by the clamp on a set of metal shelves.[10]
- Keep the curling iron unplugged when it's not in use. It's not enough to just flip the power switch off (if yours even has one), especially when you're cleaning it. Since you're going to be applying liquid to the curling iron, you need to unplug it completely. Electricity and liquid don't mix![11]
- Let the curling iron cool completely before storing it or cleaning it. While some tips suggesting cleaning a warm iron, it's best to let it cool completely. You don't risk burning yourself, and using cleaners on a warm iron could affect the surface, particularly if yours has a non-stick coating.[12]
- Hold your hand near the iron to see if it's warm. Don't try to touch it if you don't know if it's still hot.
- Replace your curling iron when it starts showing signs of wear and tear. If you notice fraying cords or a burnt odor (that's not your hair!), it's definitely time to get a new iron. Similarly, if the plates start getting dented or scratched, you may want to hit the stores. Finally, if your iron isn't heating the same as it did, either getting too hot or not hot enough, you may want to opt for a new one.[13]
- If you can't get the gunk off your old iron, you may also want a new one.
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| How to Become an Umpire Posted: 10 Aug 2019 01:00 AM PDT Being an umpire is a tough and rewarding job. As an umpire, you're in charge of making a variety of subjective calls and rulings over the course of a baseball game. While this can be a lot of fun, it can also be quite challenging. To be an umpire, you have to have thick skin and the ability to deal with adversity and conflict. Once you've learned the game inside and out, you can look for positions at a park district or little league association. With some experience, you can move up to high school or collegiate ball before attending an umpire school. With enough hard work and dedication, an umpire school may recommend you for the professional leagues! [Edit]Studying the Craft - Learn the rules of the game by studying them. Anyone that has played or watched a lot of baseball should be familiar with the rules surrounding strikes, balls, walks, hits, and runs. However, as an umpire you'll need to learn the more complex rules surrounding balks, ejections, and live balls. Look through the official rules of baseball by downloading them from the MLB's website.[1]
- MLB is an acronym for Major League Baseball, the official governing body of the sport of baseball.
- You can search for examples of strange and obscure rulings online to watch game footage of professional umpires handling odd scenarios.
- Watch a lot of baseball and study the umpires by taking notes. You'll learn a lot about what it takes to be an umpire by following and tracking the umpire's behavior while you're studying games. Watch professional games to get a sense for how umpires signal and put the ball into play. Keep a notepad nearby and jot down anything that you notice about how umpires position themselves behind the plate, or handle difficult situations to reference later as you develop your skills.
- Pay close attention to how umpires shift behind the plate to get a better view of the strike zone.
- You'll probably notice that each umpire has different signals or styles. Try replicating an umpire's motions in the privacy of your own home to get a sense for how each signal feels.
- Attend a class or workshop for local umpires to learn the basics. Little league organizations, minor league teams, and park districts all host rules clinics for potential umpires. For most people attending, these clinics are a form of professional development, but they'll serve as an excellent forum to begin practicing your skills and learning how to handle tough situations.[2]
- Local workshops also serve as an excellent opportunity to network and learn about potential opportunities.
- Develop and memorize your hand signals by practicing. There are 7 key hand signals that you'll need to memorize if you want to be an umpire: out/strike, timeout/dead ball, time out, foul tip, safe, fair ball, and play ball. Each signal can be modified to fit your personal style and levels of comfort, but they need to be easily distinguishable from one another and resemble the standard signals used in the professional leagues.[3]
- Practice vocalizing your calls loudly and with authority. Every signal an umpire makes must be accompanied by a verbal announcement. So if you want to call a strike, you must shout "strike!" as you make the hand signal for a strike. Each call must be made loudly and with confidence or you'll seem unsure about your call. Practice matching your hand signals to strong announcements at home.[4]
- Try not to bother your neighbors by practicing when they're at work.
- You may notice that umpires use a distinct voice to make announcements (it sounds kind of like an old-time southern accent). Umpires use this voice so that players farther away from the plate can hear each vowel sound, making it easier to deduce a call if you can't quite make out the hand signal.
- Learn to deal with adversity and conflict. Umpires have to make a lot of subjective calls over the course of a baseball game. Because the nature of the sport requires so many judgement calls, you will discover quickly that umpires are frequently yelled at and argued with. Players, coaches, and spectators will often disagree with you, so make sure that you're emotionally capable of handling the stress.[5]
- If you tend to escalate conflicts when you're angry, you may not have the right disposition for umpiring. Umpires have to work hard to handle disagreements professionally, even if the other party involved is acting aggressively.
[Edit]Working at the Amateur Level - Inquire about openings at a local park district. Park districts often have their own in-house baseball leagues, and umpires are hard to find. Call or visit your local park district and explain that you're interested in becoming an umpire. Most park districts will have a short training program and orientation that you can participate in with no experience necessary.
- You will have to complete a background check before umpiring youth sports.
- You typically don't need to bring a resume or interview for umpiring positions at the park district level.
- Youth umpires typically make between 15-50 dollars a game.
- Start off with Little League to get experience handling pressure. If you've never umpired before, request to start with younger players. The parents and players will be less likely to take things seriously, and won't lose their mind if you make a mistake or get a ruling wrong. If you're umpiring a tee-ball team, try to be positive and take the pressure off of the players by making calls calmly.[6]
- Every Little League organization has their own set of unique rules and requirements. You will have to complete an orientation or class before starting out as a Little League umpire.
- Contact high school and collegiate leagues to find new positions. Once you have some experience and have gotten used to the tempo of making calls, determining strikes, and dealing with criticism, you can try to move up to high school or collegiate games. You will need to interview and prepare a resume that highlights your work experience and interests before starting at a new position.
- High school and collegiate umpires typically work for companies that hire out umpires on a contractual basis, so start by reaching out to local umpiring firms, not schools.
[Edit]Advancing to the Minor and Major Leagues - Become a member of an umpire association. Starting around the collegiate level, join a professional umpire association to network and learn about new opportunities. Groups like the Southern Collegiate Umpires Association, Umps Care, and Association of Minor League Umpires will provide professional development opportunities as well. To join a group, find a local umpiring group or association and contact them directly.[7]
- Most umpiring groups have open membership as long as you have some work experience and pay a small fee.
- Participate in umpire clinics to improve your skills. Local umpiring associations, park districts, and even the MLB host clinics and professional development sessions for umpires. These provide excellent opportunities to meet new potential employers and improve your skills. Sign up for every clinic available, especially if they're free.[8]
- Major League Baseball holds free clinics in Atlanta, Georgia every year where they train umpires and scout for potential employees.[9]
- The MLB have a rotating schedule of paid clinics as well, usually hosted at professional baseball stadiums.[10]
- Get certified as a professional umpire by attending umpire school. You cannot become a Major or Minor League umpire without attending umpire school. You'll need to graduate from an approved program in order to get a full-time position as an umpire. To register, you'll need to present your high school diploma, fulfill the physical requirements, prove that you have 20/20 vision, and interview.[11]
- The 2 major umpire schools in the united states are Umpire Training Academy and the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Both are located in Florida and it will take 240 hours (or 30 days) to complete the licensing curriculum.
- Get placed in a Rookie League and perform consistently. After you graduate from umpire school, you will be placed in 1 of the Rookie Leagues—the Gulf Coast League or the Arizona League. Both leagues form the lowest rung of the Minor Leagues, but they're the starting point for all professional umpires. If you perform consistently and make few mistakes, you will be moved up through the Minor Leagues just like the players.[12]
- The graduation rate for umpire school is around 96%, but you could face stiff competition when it comes to advancing in the minor leagues.
- Work hard for 5-10 years to get called up to the MLB. Major League Baseball calls up umpires from Triple-A (the highest tier in the minor leagues). To get called up, you'll need to acquire 5-10 years of experience and prove your skills as a consistent and fair umpire that can handle complex and difficult situations. If you show up on time, are respectful, know how to handle conflict, and enforce the rules of the game consistently, you could get called up to the Major League one day![13]
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