pileofcrapola

Whether you’re gearing up for the Renaissance fair, Halloween, or you just feel like putting on a play, this massive collection of free costume patterns will help you out.

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You’ve fixed the water leak or other cause of water damage, but that water stain is still there. You might not have to repaint or fix the ceiling, though. Try spraying bleach on the spot.

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Editor’s Note: Healthy Paws is a column sponsored and written by the owners of Clarendon Animal Care, a full-service, general practice veterinary clinic. The clinic is located 3000 10th Street N., Suite B. and can be reached at 703-997-9776.

Boarding & Alternatives

The winter holiday season is amongst the busiest times of year for boarding facilities and dog-sitters, so it’s a great time to address boarding/pet-sitting and how to make these experiences as safe, happy, and stress-free for both you and your pets.

Should I board or have someone come to pet-sit?

The answer to this really depends on your individual pet’s personality.  Social, active, or younger dogs may do better in a boarding situation where they will get to interact and play with other dogs. However, older, more reserved, shy, or easily stressed dogs may do better staying in their home environment and having someone come in to care for them (or even stay with them at the house).

Cats tend to do best staying in their home environment, or boarding somewhere with a dedicated space for cats. Barking dogs and lots of commotion can understandably be very stressful for them.

How do I decide where to board my pet(s)?

A recommendation from a trusted source is a great place to start. If time permits, you may want to schedule a visit to the facility to check it out ahead of time and address any questions in person.

What should I look for in a pet-sitter?  

Again, a recommendation from a friend, veterinarian, or other trusted source is a good starting point. However, we do recommend checking references, as you are entrusting someone to come into your home. If you are working with a company you are unfamiliar with, we recommend checking references and going with a company that is licensed, bonded, and insured.

Are there alternatives to boarding or having someone come to the house?

With a bit of research, you may be able to find someone that will take your pet into their home while you are away. This is a good option for pets that do not do well in a boarding facility or when someone coming to the house is not an option.

How early do I need to make a reservation?

This depends on the time of year. If you are looking to reserve a spot for your pet for the winter holiday season you need to do so now as this is the busiest time of year.

What should I bring with my pet to the boarding facility?

We recommend talking to the boarding facility directly to find out if you are able to bring your pet’s own bed, toys, etc. We do recommend bringing their own food, as sudden diet changes are one of the reasons that diarrhea is more common in boarding or recently boarded dogs.

If your pet is on medication, make sure the boarding facility/pet sitter is comfortable giving medications and is aware of the underlying conditions for which your pet has been placed on medications. Make sure they know what complications or problems might arise from your pets underlying condition as well as the medications they are on.

What are the potential health risks with boarding?

Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms we see in dogs that are boarding or have recently boarded. While it would seem logical that this is because of increased exposure to viruses and bacteria, it more often is due to a “nervous belly,” causing an upset in the normal bacterial flora in the GI tract and leading to “stress colitis.” For dogs that we know have a history of diarrhea or soft stool while boarding, starting a probiotic a day or two beforehand and continuing during the time away from home may help control symptoms. Bringing his or her own food can also help decrease the likelihood of GI upset.

Tracheobronchitis (aka “Kennel Cough”) is perhaps the most well-known health condition associated with boarding. The symptoms of kennel cough — a harsh, dry, upper airway cough — can be caused by many different viruses and bacteria, not just Bordetella bronchiseptica, the main bacteria protected against by the “kennel cough vaccine.” (Some kennel cough vaccines also include Parainfluenza and Adenovirus Type 2).

This is most likely why we still see cases of kennel cough in dogs that are vaccinated appropriately — there are lots of players involved! If you know your pet is particularly susceptible to kennel cough, a pet-sitter may be a good option for them instead of the kennel.

With just a bit or preparation on your part, your pets can have a happy and healthy getaway or “staycation” while their family is away!

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

The post Healthy Paws: Should They Stay Or Should They Go…to the Kennel? appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON – The devotion that a pit bull in Landover Hills showed after a house fire on Wednesday attracted a lot of attention, but that got her taken out of her home. Now, she’s got a new place to live.

Precious stood guard over her injured and unconscious owner after their house burned on Wednesday, and wouldn’t move. Firefighters told NBC Washington that they needed to use a fire extinguisher to get Precious away.

Pit bulls are illegal in Prince George’s County, however, so Precious and her puppy, Molly, were taken to an animal shelter, NBC Washington reports.

The owner’s sister stepped in, though, adopting Precious and bringing her to a new home in Montgomery County, where pit bulls are legal.

The owner and her father, who were both hurt in the fire, are expected to be OK, NBC Washington reports.

The post Md. pit bull who guarded owner in a new home appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — An outbreak of E. coli linked to Chipotle restaurants has now expanded into Maryland, federal officials announced Friday.

An update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that one case had been reported in the state. No other details were provided.

Illinois and Pennsylvania have also been added to the list of states reporting illnesses from E. coli infections, bringing the total number of states to nine.

The CDC is still investigating to determine what specific food could be causing the infections. Not all of the 52 people who have become ill ate at Chipotle.

Most of the cases were reported in Oregon and Washington state in October.

The post Md. case of E. coli infection linked to Chipotle outbreak reported appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — A Montgomery County ferry broke free from its cable Friday afternoon with a dozen cars and passengers on board.

The White’s Ferry car carrier broke loose from its cable at about 3 p.m. Friday, and the current carried the boat down the Potomac River. There were 12 cars on the ferry at the time, says Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Spokesman Pete Piringer.

Other boats came to the rescue and pulled the boat — named after the confederate Civil War leader Gen. Jubal A. Early — to shore, where it was secured.

All passengers and pedestrians were removed from the boat and there were no injuries, Piringer says. The ferry stopped running Friday following the incident so that cable could be fixed.

It’s still unclear what caused the ferry to break off the cable, which the boat follows across the Potomac.

White’s Ferry carries passengers from Whites Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland, to Whites Ferry Road in Loudoun County, Virginia. It costs cars $5 to go one way or $8 for a round trip. It is one of the last of 100 ferries that used to operate on the Potomac River, according to Poolesville, Maryland’s website.

The post White’s Ferry breaks free from cable, floats down river with cars on board appeared first on WTOP.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Virginia hired Bronco Mendenhall as its football coach in a surprise move Friday, luring him away from BYU after an 11-year run with the Cougars.

There had been numerous reports about various coaches such as former Georgia coach Mark Richt, California coach Sonny Dykes and Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm being linked to the vacancy at Virginia, but Mendenhall’s name had never come up.

As they did with basketball coach Tony Bennett, the Cavaliers pulled a surprise.

“Bronco Mendenhall’s teams have consistently won at a high level and he’s demonstrated the ability to create a strategic vision to build a program and then implement his plan to be successful,” Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage said in a statement. “His emphasis on the overall development of student athletes and a commitment to academic achievement is in line with our goals of uncompromised excellence. We’re excited to begin a new era of Virginia football and support Bronco and his staff.”

Virginia finished 4-8 this season and fired Mike London after six seasons, during which he had only one winning record.

Mendenhall was 99-42 with the Cougars, including splitting a home-and-home series with Virginia, and took the Cougars to a bowl game every season while never having a losing record. The Cougars are one of only 11 teams to advance to a bowl game in each of the past 11 seasons.

Mendenhall reached a five-year agreement with Virginia that starts at $3.25 million per year.

“Professionally and personally I seek to embrace the highest standards in college sports, on and off the field, and I love the high standards both academically and athletically at Virginia,” Mendenhall said. “I am excited to not only help provide the continual growth and development of the student athletes academically but also re-establish Virginia as a consistent winner with a fiercely competitive and winning product on the football field.”

BYU went 9-3 this season and Mendenhall will coach the Cougars in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 19.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with Bronco as our head football coach. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of our student-athletes to give them the best possible collegiate experience, on and off the field. Bronco has been loyal through and through to BYU,” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said. “I’m grateful for everything he’s done for the football program.”

The post Virginia hires BYU’s Mendenhall to be new head coach appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs employees guilty of severe misconduct on the job — including having sex and selling drugs — maintained their employment, while others who attempted to help reform the troubled agency were squeezed out, according to a report by NBC 4 Washington, WTOP’s television news partner.

 

The NBC 4 investigation team, scouring agency discipline records and documents from the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates retaliation against federal whistleblowers, found numerous examples of leniency against employees after serious breaches of conduct. This included an employee who was caught high on cocaine on the job, and another who had brought a loaded gun and knife onto VA grounds.

On the other hand, the Office of Special Council found that employees who had come forward with complaints about mismanagement and other potential abuses were punished, some forced into retirement , in violation of federal whistleblower protections. This, amid a wave of scandals plaguing the VA system across the country.

Read more here.

The post Report: VA employees guilty of misconduct keep jobs, while whistleblowers punished appeared first on WTOP.

Washington Post

Why the Pentagon opening all combat roles to women could subject them to a ... Washington Post Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter's landmark decision Thursday to open all jobs to women in the military was greeted by many as a sign of changing times and a move toward true gender equality. But it also raises a related question: Will women be ... White House to explore whether to make women eligible for military draftWashington Times Pentagon chief to military: Open all combat jobs to womenU.S. News & World Report Overnight Defense: Pentagon opens all combat jobs to womenThe Hill Air Force Link -NPR all 1,208 news articles »

With all the mergers – or would-be mergers – floating around out there, Fiat Chrysler is going in the opposite direction: spinning off its Ferrari division and dropping talks of a hostile takeover of rival General Motors. 

Reuters reports that Fiat Chrysler’s investors approved the move to separate Ferrari from the mothership on Thursday, paving the way for the company to distribute its 80% share in the company to its shareholders next month.

By spinning off the luxury brand, Fiat Chrysler plans to allow the division to undergo an aggressive growth strategy.

“This separation will better enable the company to realize its full potential …. Ferrari will be able to pursue its business strategies with grater operational and financial independence,” FCA Chief Executive and Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne said during the meeting.

Under the growth plan, Ferrari would move the brand beyond cars that can top $1 million and begin selling everything from T-shirts to pens.

It has licensed the brand to companies ranging from children’s toy maker Lego to high-end Italian shoe manufacturer Tod’s, the Wall Street Journal reports.

In other FCA news, the company dropped its hostile takeover attempt of General Motors. Reuters reports that instead of pursuing the merger, the automaker will instead focus on its own growth until the right partner comes along.

“We are not choking. We are in relatively decent shape,” Marchionne said. “This is not an indiscriminate dating game. I’m not willing to go with anybody to get it done. We have been publicly rebuffed, we have been rejected and you cannot force these things. I don’t want to. At the moment, we have no intention to do anything hostile.”

Fiat Chrysler shareholders approve de-merger of Ferrari from group [Reuters]
Fiat Chrysler to focus on growth plan as GM merger hopes fade [Reuters]
Fiat Chrysler Approves Ferrari Spinoff [The Wall Street Journal]

Chipotle is preparing for the worst when it comes to a six-state E. coli outbreak: anticipating that additional cases and more states may enter the contamination fray. 

The company said on Friday that additional reports of illnesses may soon come to light as states continue reporting data to federal agencies, Bloomberg reports.

The outbreak, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously linked to Chipotle restaurants, occurred from Oct. 13 to Nov. 7. So far, there has been no additional evidence of people getting sick since that November date, however the CDC indicated it’s still possible more cases will be found.

Issues for the fast Mexican restaurant began over Halloween when the company temporarily closed their restaurants in the Seattle and Portland, Oregon metropolitan areas, saying that they were protecting the public from an E. coli outbreak that had been linked to eating at Chipotle, but not to any particular food.

The CDC put the total at 36 cases in Washington, and 13 in Oregon. Sixteen people were hospitalized, but none developed the serious kidney condition that can be a complication of E. coli, especially in young children, and none of the patients died.

Since then, the issue has seeped past the regional area with two patients each in California and in Minnesota, and one each in New York and Ohio.

And that’s only the people who visited a medical professional and had samples taken: there are usually many more people who were sick but never made it to see a medical professional, instead choosing the “Netflix and ginger ale” treatment method.

While the CDC and Chipotle continue to investigate the outbreak, searching for the root cause, the restaurant has started to revamp its food-supply standards, Bloomberg reports.

Chipotle, working with Seattle-based IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group, announced a new program aimed at improving its supply chain and doing DNA testing of produce — a procedure that could better determine possible contamination.

It also plans to retool its training to help employees handle food more carefully.

“While it is never possible to completely eliminate all risk, this program eliminates or mitigates risk to a level near zero, and will establish Chipotle as the industry leader in this area,” Mansour Samadpour, head of IEH Laboratories, tells Bloomberg.

Chipotle Says More Cases May Be Reported in E. Coli Outbreak [Bloomberg]

More than a year after Macy’s agreed to pay $650K to settle allegations of racial profiling in its stores and promised it would incorporate more staff training to combat such behavior, a woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against the department store, claiming it unfairly detains minority shoppers and puts them in holding cells, whether they’ve done anything wrong or not. On top of that, the complaint claims, Macy’s then extorts those people for bogus fines.

In the complaint [PDF] the woman says the retailer imprisons minority shoplifters in special holding cells.

“This coercive collection practice or scheme has become so profitable that Macy’s…has dedicated an entire unit within its existing store, which operates like a typical jail, equipped with holding cells, where alleged shoplifters are held for hours on end, and are pressured, threatened, and often harassed until they find no reprieve but to make civil penalty payments to [Macy’s],” the suit states.

The plaintiff says that she was detained at Macy’s flagship Herald Square location in New York City back in July 2014. She claims that a guard took her to the cell under suspicion that she was planning to steal a set of shirts. According to the complaint, she was kept in that cell and questioned for three hours, without being given the chance to call a lawyer or her family, and forced to sign papers admitting her guilt. She accuses the retailer of making her pay $100 fine in cash before she was turned over to police.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because Macy’s has been here before: an investigation into the retailer by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office concluded back in 2014 that the retailer’s “loss prevention employees at the store tracked and followed African-American, Latino, and other minority customers much more frequently than white customers.”

Schneiderman’s office reviewed 18 complaints from 2007 to 2014 involving minority customers who claimed to have been held wrongly for shoplifting at the Herald Square store. Investigators found that Macy’s detained 1,947 people in a one-year period at the store, compared to about 6,000 total at Macy’s other 42 stores in New York state.

A Macy’s spokesperson told TIME it rejects the lawsuit’s claims and that the company is in full compliance with the law.

“Our company takes great pride on the proactive steps we have taken in recent years as an industry leader in shopping equality,” the spokesperson said. “In fact, we sponsored a first-ever symposium hosted last fall at John Jay College by the Retail Council of New York State to discuss how all retailers can improve the shopping experience across all segments of the population.”

Chicken of the Sea and Bumble Bee will be leaving their underwater wedding separately despite going steady since 2014: the two tuna companies won’t be merging into one giant can of fish after the U.S. Justice Department put the kibosh on their planned union.

The DOJ announced on Friday that the merger — proposed a year ago between Thai Union Group, owner of Chicken of the Sea and Bumble Bee — is kaput, saying it would’ve hurt competition in the U.S. canned tuna market.

If the two tuna companies had united forces, it would have combined the second- and third-largest sellers of tinned tuna in the U.S. That’s a big deal when you consider that there are really only three major players in the canned fish business in the country, with the first-largest seller being Starkist.

“Consumers are better off without this deal,” Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer said in a statement, adding that the two companies shouldn’t be surprised. “Our investigation convinced us – and the parties knew or should have known from the get go – that the market is not functioning competitively today, and further consolidation would only make things worse.”

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s formal $107 billion bid to acquire SABMiller is far from a done deal: federal regulators will likely be combing through the details of the proposal for quite some time to determine how it will affect the global beer markets, and consumers’ wallets. But it looks as if lovers of the sudsy drinks are a bit ahead of the game, filing a lawsuit to stop the mega-merger.

Bloomberg reports that nearly two dozen consumers filed a joint lawsuit against AB InBev in an attempt to stop the deal, claiming it would force them to pay more for a lower quality product.

Among other things, the suit claims the merger between the world’s largest and second largest brewer would create an illegal monopoly.

The 23 consumers who filed the complaint in Oregon say they have purchased products from both SABMiller and InBev in the past.

For its part, AB InBev maintains that the lawsuit’s claims are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself and the billion-dollar deal, Bloomberg reports.

“The U.S. beer market has never been more competitive, with strong growth from craft brewers, and nothing in this transaction will change that fact,” the company said in a statement to Bloomberg on Thursday.

SABMiller declined to comment on the suit.

Antitrust experts have expressed concerns over the merger ever since the rumblings of the deal first made waves in the fall, noting that most plausible scenarios would spell higher prices, fewer choices, and a harder life for smaller craft brewers.

Last month InBev attempted to squash those concerns when it announced a finalized deal outlining plans for SABMiller to sell its 58% stake in MillerCoors to its joint-venture partner Molson Coors Brewing, which already owns 42% of the brand, for $12 million.

The companies say the massive sell-off plan [PDF] is meant to “promptly and proactively address regulatory considerations.”

The fate of the MillerCoors brand was one of the largest concerns for antitrust experts who widely agreed that regulators would not approve the deal without the divestiture. If AB InBev and SABMiller were to merge without selling off that stake in MillerCoors, the combined company would control an astounding 70% of the U.S. beer market.

The deal to sell MillerCoors to Molson is contingent on the completion of the SABMiller/AB InBev deal and is expected to close in mid-2016.

Beer Drinkers Sue to Stop AB InBev’s $110 Billion SABMiller Deal [Bloomberg]

Brakes are meant to slow, stop or keep a vehicle from moving when the driver doesn’t want it to, making them an integral part of the automobile. So when there’s a problem with the system, that’s a pretty big deal. And for that reason, Fiat Chrysler issued a recall for more than 121,000 vehicles. 

The Associated Press reports that the carmaker plans to recall 121,600 model year 2013 and 2014 Dodge Darts with 2-liter and 2.4-liter engines.

The recall was initiated because oil can get on parts of the vehicles’ braking systems, degrading parts and making it more difficult to brake.

So far, the company says it’s aware of two minor injuries and seven accidents related to the issue.

Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted and dealers will provide a fix.

Fiat Chrysler recalls 121,603 Dodge Darts for brake issue [Associated Press]

You may soon see semi-trucks cruising around the highways and byways of America branded with the Amazon logo, not because the company is going to start delivering its own stuff, but because it wants to become more efficient at how its inventory gets from one company facility to another.

Amazon is planning to unleash thousands of the branded tractor trailers onto roads to help it shuttle products around, in an effort to be more involved in its shipping processes, reports the Wall Street Journal‘s Digits blog.

Though the trucks won’t be making any deliveries itself, from a marketing perspective, it won’t hurt for customers to see the trucks roaming about.

In the future, we may see Amazon trucks making everyday package deliveries, as well as dropping off food or ferrying flowers, as the company works on new ways to take more control over the “last mile” step in a package’s journey from its warehouses to customers’ doorsteps.

To that end, back in April 2014, Amazon tested using its own delivery trucks in San Francisco. And more recently, it tried out using Chicago Tribune newspaper delivery trucks with extra space to ferry goods to customers.

The new trucks emblazoned with the Amazon smile logo will be deployed around the country, Amazon says.
The new truck trailers will bear the familiar Amazon logo with a smile on the side and be deployed around the U.S., the company said.

Hours after Chipotle said it was bracing for additional illnesses to be linked to an ongoing E. coli outbreak, health officials confirmed that the contamination now spans nine states — three more than previously reported. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that one illness in each Pennsylvania, Maryland and Illinois have been added to the ongoing investigation.

In addition to the new illnesses in these states, investigators say four people have reported becoming sick. Those consumers are located in Ohio (2), Washington (1), and California (1).

“Among people for whom information is available, illnesses started on dates ranging from Oct. 19, 2015 to Nov.13, 2015,” the CDC says. “Of the three most recent illnesses reported.. only one ill person reported eating at Chipotle Mexican Grill in the week before their illness began.”

To date, 47 of 52 people interviewed about their illness reported eating at a Chipotle restaurant in the week before they got sick.

The CDC warns that even more illnesses could be added to the outbreak list, as those that occurred after Nov. 11 might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when person becomes ill and when the illness is reported — which can take an average of two to three weeks.

“CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill people and to interview them,” the agency says.

The French braid is both beautiful and classic. Although its intricate weave may appear complicated, creating your own French braid is simple. Once you've gotten the basics of a traditional braid down, try a French or French lace braid on for size.

EditSteps

EditCreating a Classic French Braid

1. Brush your hair back, or part it if you are making two braids.^[1] Make sure that your hair is smooth, and tangle-free. For a single braid going down the back of your head, brush it back and away from your forehead. For two braids, part your hair down the middle. You will need to do this method two times—once for each side.
   
2. Gather a small chunk of hair at the top of your head.^[2] Try to make the chunk no wider than your hand. All the hair in this chunk should come from the same level. You don't want to grab strands from higher up or lower down.
   
   • If you have bangs, you can leave them loose or include them in the chunk. If they don't stay down, use a little hairspray or styling cream.
   • Don't worry if the section feels thin. The braid will grow thicker as you add more hair.
3. Separate the chunk into three, even strands, just like with a traditional braid. Hold the left and middle strands in your left hand. Keep the right strand in your right hand.
   
4. Start doing a traditional braid. Take the right strand and place it between the other two strands. Then, take the left strand and place it between the other two strands.
   
5. Gather a small section of hair from the right side of your head and add it to the right strand. Make an L-shape with your left hand, and scoop some hair from your hairline. The section you are taking shouldn't be thicker than your finger.
   
6. Pull the now-thicker right strand over so that it ends up between the left and middle strands. What used to be the middle strand will now be the right strand. What used to be the right strand is now the middle one.
   
7. Gather a small section of hair and add it to the left strand. Make an L shape with your hand and use that same scooping motion as you did for the other side.
   
8. Bring the left strand over so that it ends up between the middle and right strands.
   
9. Keep gathering small sections of hair and alternating sides until you reach the base of your head. You should have almost no more hair left to gather.
   
10. Gather the remaining hair into the left, right and middle strands. Pull all the loose hair on the left side of your head into the left strand. Pull all the loose hair on the right side of your head into the right strand. All the loose hair underneath the braid will go into the middle strand.
    
11. Continue doing a traditional braid.^[3] You won't need to gather any more hair, because all your hair should already be in the left, right, and middle strands. Keep braiding your hair until you have about an inch (2.54 centimeters) left.
    
12. Wrap a hair tie around the end of your braid. ^[4] You can also take a small strand from the bottom of your braid and wrap it around the hair tie to hide it; secure the strand with a bobby pin.
    
    • Avoid using rubber bands. They can break or tear your hair when you take them out.^[5]

EditCreating a French Lace Braid

1. Understand how a French lace braid works. This style is sometimes called the "half French braid" because it is similar to, but still different, from the classic French braid.^[6] In the French braid, you add hair from both sides of your head. In the French lace braid, you only add hair from one side of the braid.^[7] Because the new hair only comes in from one side, you have to make your lace braid across the side of your head, not the back of it.
   
2. Make sure your hair is tangle-free, and part it.^[8] You can part your hair right down the middle, or kist off to the side. It does not matter which side.
   
3. Grab a small section of hair from one side of the part. Try to grab it from as close to the part as you can.^[9] The larger section you grab, the thicker your braid will be. Most French lace braids start with a 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick section. If you want a delicate one, you can grab less hair.
   
4. Split this section into three smaller sections. Angle these sections downward so that your are next to your face. Don't pull them back towards the back of your head.^[10] You will end up with a top, middle, and bottom section.
   
5. Start with a traditional braid. Take the top section and bring it over between the left and middle sections. Then, take the left sections and cross it over so that it ends up between the other two sections.
   
6. Take a small strand of hair from above the braid and add it to the top section. You will only be adding new hair from above the braid to whatever is the current top strand.
   
7. Move the top section so that it ends up between the other two.
   
8. Move the bottom section up so it ends up between the middle and top sections. Do not add new hair to the bottom section.
   
9. Keep adding new hair to the top section as you continue to braid. It is just like French braiding, except that you are only adding hair to the top section, and not the bottom one.
   
10. Tie the braid off whenever you want. Once you reach your ear or the back of your head, you can wrap a hair tie around the braid, and let the strands fall naturally.
    
    • You can also take the top, middle, and bottom sections and finish braiding them in the traditional style until you have about an inch (2.54 centimeters) left of hair. Tie the braid off with a hair tie and let it drape down against your hair.
11. Consider doing a second French lace braid on the other side of your head. You can have the strands meet in the back of your head. At this point, you can pull them together into a ponytail and wrap a hair tie around them. You can also combine the tail ends of the French lace braids, and continue with a traditional braid until you have an inch (2.54 centimeters) left of hair. Wrap a hair tie around the braid and let it fall against the rest of your hair.
    

EditVideo

EditTips

• Try adding a bow, hair clip, or flower to the bottom of the braid for a cute, chic look.
• Have a tiny elastic so it looks neat and clean.
• Add the same amount of hair each time, as changing the thickness can make the braid look lopsided. The thickness of sections also affects the style of the braid. Thin sections make a braid look more intricate, and thick sections make a braid look simpler.
• Try to make it as tight and snug as possible. If you want a more casual look, you can massage it between your hands. Keep in mind that your braid will also loosen naturally throughout the day.
• Consider standing with your back towards a mirror and having another mirror in front of you. This will allow you to see what you are doing.
• Always brush out tangles first.
• Never forget hairspray! It gives a proper, settled look to your hair.
• Try not to get your hair tangled, you may have to start over!
• This hairstyle is great for activities like dancing or cheerleading. Try to start the braid high on your head and secure it with bobby pins as you go.
• When you add more sections of hair, smooth them out with your hand or a comb so the braid isn't lumpy.
• Try finishing your hair into a bun or ponytail instead of completing the braid.
• Try using hair oil and water, a comb and several hair ties. You might want to wash your hair before. If you did it correctly, it will be twisted and braided neatly without hair sticking out.
• For casual or messy look, try massaging the braid between your hands. You could also tug loose a few strands of hair at the front of your head.
• Consider braiding your hair when it is wet. This will give you soft, pretty waves when you take our the braid(s) later.
• Consider making an upside-down lace French braid, where you grab hair from below the braid instead of above it. Just be sure you always grab hair from the bottom.
• It's easier to do the braid when your hair is wet.
• Try to make sure you're braiding straight, or else the braid will look messy and lopsided!

EditWarnings

• Your arms may get tired while braiding your hair. Bend forward to release tension or rest your arms on a surface behind you (ex. a headboard or backrest).
• Be careful not to let go of your hair while French-braiding it, or you may have to start over!

EditRelated wikiHows

• How to Make a Fishtail Braid
• How to Make a Rope Braid
• How to Make a Braid Using More Than Three Strands
• How to Make French Braid Pigtails
• How to Style 2 French Plaits
• How to Make a Braided Hairband Using Your Hair
• How to Do Different Braids
• How to Do a Reverse French Braid

EditSources and Citations

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An immersion chiller cools hot liquids quickly by running cold water through a coiled copper pipe that’s immersed in the liquid. You can make this DIY model to whatever size fits your needs.

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I’m always saving empty spice and salt grinders for a vague “future use.” Well, I finally know what that use is: I’m going to fill them with Doritos and grind delicious Dorito essence all over my food.

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If you grew up in the 1990s, you practically absorbed a degree in AIDS studies just by existing—or at least that’s what it felt like. The years since then have brought better tests and treatments, and we now know more about the virus, but that information isn’t common knowledge. HIV and AIDS have fallen off our radar.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — One of two women caught on surveillance video making advances at and inappropriately touching a man at a D.C. gas station convenience store has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of sexual abuse.

Prosecutors said in a statement that 22-year-old Ayanna Marie Knight, formerly of Las Vegas, entered the plea Wednesday in Superior Court.

Knight was arrested last month after police released video of the incident. In the video, two women in short, tight dresses and heels make advances at a man near the store’s counter, grabbing or touching him as he tries to move away. The man later contacted police.

Sentencing was set for Monday. No other arrests have been made in the case.

A telephone message seeking comment left early Thursday for Knight’s attorney was not immediately returned.

The post Woman pleads guilty to charge of sex abuse at DC gas station appeared first on WTOP.

Washington Post

White House holiday: 70000 ornaments, 500-pound gingerbread house, 2 yarn dogs Washington Post At White House holiday season No. 7, the Obamas appear to have this gig down. By now, Michelle Obama is a pro in dressing up the place. Rocking a Grinch-green sleeveless jacquard party dress from the fall 2015 Michael Kors collection, gold stilettos ... Designers of first lady's clothes decorate White HouseU.S. News & World Report Military families get first peek at White House ChristmasWashington Times Snow People, Snowflakes Star in White House Holiday DecorCBS Local WTOP -Department of Defense all 200 news articles »

In 2009, lawmakers passed a massive set of reforms for the credit card industry – known as the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) — aimed at protecting consumers though transparency, fairness, accountability and better access to an array of financial products. A new report from the agency tasked with enforcing these rules, finds that nearly six years after implementation, consumers have saved nearly $16 billion in fees. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which didn’t even exist at the time the law was passed, released a report [PDF] this morning detailing how the CARD Act has changed the landscape of credit card use.

Since the reform law went into effect, the CFPB found that total costs to consumers have fallen with the elimination of certain back-end pricing practices such as over-limit fees.

According to the report, consumers have avoided more than $9 billion in over-limit fees since 2009.

Prior to the CARD Act [PDF], card issuers were able to charge users back-end fees that they may not have noticed unit they owed money. Card issuers could authorize transactions that put consumers over their credit limit and then charge a typical $35 over-limit fee

Under the CARD Act, issuers are required to get an affirmative opt-in from customers to be charged for exceeding their credit limits.

Additionally, the report found that consumers have saved more than $7 billion in late fees under protections that require that penalty fees be “reasonable and proportional” to the relevant violation of accounts.

Overall, the credit card landscape is more favorable for users since rules went into effect, with the total cost of credit roughly 2% lower than prior to the Act.

And while a CFPB report in 2013 found that access to credit was more difficult for some people to obtain under the regulations, the Bureau now says that the situation has improved.

The latest report found that available credit has increased 10% since 2012. In total, consumers had access to nearly $3.5 trillion in credit as of early 2015, the Bureau says, noting that the figure represents an increase of nearly $325 billion — or 10% — since early 2012.

Increase in the availability of credit has translated in to more credit cards in consumers’ wallets, according to the report.

More than 100 million credit card accounts – many of which offer free access to credit reports – were opened in 2014.

While the protections under the CARD Act have translated to fewer costly fees and better access to fair credit, regulators still have concerns regarding risky practices, especially when it comes to subprime credit and deferred-interest promotions.

Consumers looking to tangle with subprime credit card companies, should be aware that the total cost can be excessively high thanks in part to companies charging more for origination and maintenance fees.

“This puts consumers at risk of more of their monthly payments going toward fees and interest charges, instead of the principal balance,” the CFPB warns. “Subprime companies also tend to have longer, more complicated agreements.”

And while deferred-interest promotions promising “0% interest for 12 months” or “special financing” may be alluring, they often leave consumers with unexpected expenses if they miss the fine print.

In many cases, if the balance of a deferred-interest card is not paid in full by a given date, the accumulated interest is assessed retroactively.

“Given that the interest rate on these cards is generally around 25%, the magnitude of the interest charge — if and when it is assessed – can be substantial,” the report states.

Other issues that remain to be tackled include rewards programs with obscure or incomplete terms and conditions, debt collection practices used by credit card issuers and long, complex agreements with card issuers.

“The law made it easier for consumers to evaluate costs and risks by eliminating the worst back-end pricing practices in the market,” CFPB director Richard Cordray said in a prepared statement. “There is more work to do. But with commonsense rules in place, credit cards are safer and more affordable, credit is more available, and companies remain profitable with improved customer satisfaction.”

Some airlines aren’t living up to their obligation to compensate passengers for damage to their luggage, recent inspections by the Department of Transportation found. Now, the agency is warning carriers that if their policies and trainings don’t fall in line with federal regulations by Jan. 9, they could face fines and other enforcement action. 

The DOT released a notice last week reminding carriers that they are required to compensate passengers for damage to wheels, straps, zippers, handles and other protruding parts of checked baggage beyond normal wear and tear.

Inspections by the department’s Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings at airports around the country in September found that certain airlines may be refusing to accept reports of such damage.

“The inspections have been helpful in determining whether airlines are treating consumers fairly and providing them the services to which they are entitled under the law,” the DOT said in a statement.

The inspectors are expected to release their findings in a report next month. However, the DOT is saying now that a number of carriers are under investigation for potential violations of consumer protection and civil rights requirements.

The agency did not elaborate on which carriers were being probed or specify what requirements may be violated. It noted that any enforcement action related to the investigations will be made public in the future.

For now, the DOT’s notice warns airlines to immediately review and revise their baggage policies to ensure compliance with the law.

As part of the notice, the DOT directs carriers to ensure that costumer-facing employees such as gate agents understand the rules and don’t turn away travelers who bring complaints of damaged luggage.

The Aviation Enforcement Office says it intends to take enforcement action against airlines that are not in compliance by Jan. 9, 2016.

“We will continue to strengthen how we monitor and enforce compliance with air travel consumer protection and civil rights rules,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.

[via Time]

Playing fetch is a great way to exercise your dog and strengthen your bond with him at the same time. Many dogs are naturally good at chasing something that is thrown to them, but they may not always be good at bringing and giving it back. Teaching your dog how to complete the fetching process will help to make the game of fetch more fun for the both of you.

EditSteps

EditTeaching Your Dog to Drop His Toy

1. Use the “Drop it” command with a treat. Your dog may be good at catching and bringing the toy back to you, but may not know that he needs to drop it. To teach him how to drop his toy, hold a treat in one hand. With your dog sitting or standing in front of you, start shaking his favorite toy in your other hand until he gets excited (eg, wagging his tail). As you’re shaking the toy, give the verbal command “Take it.” After your dog is excited and you’ve given the command, allow him to take the toy from your hand with his mouth.^[1]
   
   • After a few seconds, give him another verbal command– “Drop it”– to drop the toy.^[2]
   • Your dog will probably not drop the toy once he has it in his mouth (at least not initially), which is why you’ll need the treat. Hold the treat close to his nose. Once he drops the toy, immediately reward him with the treat.^[3]
2. Use the “Drop it” command without a treat. Put the treat in your pocket. When he has his toy in his mouth, hold your hand in front of his nose as if you have the treat in your hand and give him the “Drop it” command. When he drops his toy, reward him with the treat.^[4]
   
   • Eventually, your dog should be able to drop his toy with only the verbal command to do so.^[5]
3. Increase the time that your dog holds his toy in his mouth. Gradually increase the amount of time that he must hold his toy before you give him the “Drop it” command.^[6] The longer he can hold his toy in his mouth, the easier it will be for you to him teach him the next parts of the fetching process. Increase the time by a few seconds each time you practice.
   
   • If he drops the toy before you command him to do so, start again shorten the period of time that he has to hold it.^[7]
   • Remember to reward him each time he drops his toy at your command.
   • Practice the “Drop it” command each day until your dog is comfortable with it and has mastered it. This part may take longer if he is reluctant to give up his toy once he has it in his mouth. Practice in short intervals (5 to 15 minutes) several times a day.

EditTeaching Your Dog To Bring His Toy Back To You

1. Play ‘Bait-and-Switch’ with your dog. If you notice that your dog chases after his toy but doesn’t bring it back to you, try playing fetch with two of his favorite toys. To play the ‘bait-and-switch’ game, throw his first toy. When he fetches this toy, call him to get his attention. Once he starts turning to you, throw his second toy in the opposite direction that you threw the first toy. He’ll probably drop the first toy to go chase after the second one.^[8]
   
   • When he’s chasing the second toy, run and get his first toy. Call his name, and repeat the process. Your dog probably sees this as a fun game of chase, but you are teaching him to turn back to you.^[9]
   • After doing this a few times, throw your dog’s first toy again. Call his name, but do not throw the second toy yet. When he gets closer to you with the first toy in his mouth, give him the “Drop it” command and show him the second toy. When he drops his first toy, throw the second one. When he chases after the second toy, pick up his first toy and repeat the process.^[10]
   • Eventually, your dog will learn will learn to bring his toy back to you after you throw it to him, without the need for the second toy.^[11]
2. Play ‘Catch Me If You Can’ with your dog. This is another game to teach your dog to give his toy back to you. Attach a leash or rope to his toy and throw the toy. If your dog catches it but doesn’t bring it back, wiggle the leash or rope and start running in the opposite direction. Chances are that your dog will start chasing you with the toy still in his mouth. Give him a treat if he does so.^[12]
   
   • If your dog initially drops the toy and doesn’t chase after it, wiggle the leash or rope a little more and start running away. Eventually, he should try to chase after and catch the toy. Give him a treat when he gets closer to you with the toy. ^[13]
   • After a few weeks’ time, your dog will learn that he should bring his toy back to you after you throw it to him.^[14]
3. Teach your dog to bring his toy closer to you. If your dog tends to drop his toy before bringing it all the way to you, stand in place and say “Bring it” just as he reaches the point where he usually drops it. Wave your arm to gesture that he should follow you, and then start walking away from him. When he starts to follow you and reaches the place where you were originally standing, say “Drop it” and walk back towards him to pick up the toy.^[15]
   
   • It may take a few weeks before your dog understands the “Bring it” command, so be patient with him.^[16]

EditTips

• There are many reasons why a dog may not want to fetch or isn’t very good at it. For example, he may have a medical issue such as arthritis that would make running back and forth difficult. He may also perceive the returning and dropping of his toy as punishment, or think that fetching simply isn’t as fun as other activities.^[17]
• Keeping your training sessions short will keep both you and your dog from getting tired and/or frustrated with the training process.
• Other than treats and verbal praise, you can also reward your dog with extra play time. Every dog is different, so identify what type of reward works best for your dog and use it throughout the training process.^[18]
• You can also teach your dog to fetch different types of objects, including the newspaper.^[19]
• Be patient. Not all dogs take to fetching readily, and even those who do often need a little help on one of the steps.
• Training a dog to fetch takes time. Try to practice several times a day. Be ready to spend several days to a week on each step.

EditRelated wikiHows

• How to Teach a Dog How to Catch a Frisbee
• How to Adopt a Dog from a Breed Rescue
• How to Train Your Dog to Hunt
• How to Train Your Dog to Play Fetch
• How to Crate Train Your Dog or Puppy

EditSources and Citations

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WASHINGTON — Sometimes it’s the most unusual professions that bring in the business. And the woman affectionately known in Montgomery County, Maryland, as the Potomac Lice Lady says she’s busier than ever.

“Well, I’m the Potomac Lice Lady,” Lauren Salzberg says cheerfully.

Salzberg is the first to admit that she never thought she’d be nitpicking all day. It just happened.

“I was kind of known as someone who is not a doctor but I play one on TV! People would come to me with everything,” she says.

It started when she worked as a preschool teacher. And after having three kids, she says, nothing fazes her. A friend convinced her to turn her good deeds into a business model. It started as a mobile business, and years later, she says, her home salon is seeing more cases than ever.

“That’s in part because the lice are really resistant to the pesticides and over-the-counter products available,” she says.

“There used to be a no-nit policy in place and now there really isn’t a policy in place. Children can go to school with lice. They don’t have to be 100 percent clean,” Salzberg says.

Montgomery County Schools changed its policy in 2007, which now allows nits found more than a half-inch from the scalp.

And while most of her clients are kids, she says lice don’t take a winter break.

“People think that it’s only a winter thing. Some people think it’s only a summer thing. We see it all the time,” she says.

She says prevention is the best method, which can be done by checking children with a professional lice comb. But if a child or adult already has lice, her advice is simple.

“Comb, comb, comb. Comb it out. It’s not worth the chemicals. It’s not worth the risk of putting the chemicals on your child’s head. All you need to get rid of lice is a good quality lice comb and patience,” she says.

The post Md. woman known as the ‘lice lady’ nitpicking more than before appeared first on WTOP.

Washington Post

Annual Celtic Christmas music and poetry event returns to Georgetown Washington Post Christmas is a time of tradition, and one of Georgetown's most venerable ones is a program of music and poetry by the Barnes and Hampton Celtic Consort. The duo has done the program at Dumbarton United Methodist Church for 25 years, but that's not the ...

Washington Post

Judge says paramedic not negligent for ambulance running out of gas at White House Washington Post The summer of 2013 delivered one public relations punch after another to the D.C. fire department. Top officials admitted they didn't know how many vehicles they had. Ambulances were catching fire idling at emergency calls. Delays getting patients to ...

If your pets tend to drink from places other than their water bowl, then you need to do a little extra work when setting up your Christmas tree. Chemicals from the fertilizers used on the tree can transfer to the water in the stand, and you don’t want your pets drinking that.

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