| How to Adopt a Highway Posted: 26 May 2020 01:00 AM PDT Adopting a highway, also known as committing to keeping a section of public roads litter-free, is a popular service program in the United States (and other countries), as well as a great way to give back to your community. Fortunately, if you're part of an organization that wants to adopt a highway, it's very easy to get involved in this kind of program! All you have to do is file the right paperwork with your local government, then follow the proper guidelines on cleanup day! [Edit]Filing the Proper Paperwork - Choose the section of roadway you'd like to adopt. Most adopt-a-highway programs ask you to pick a stretch of road to adopt, although the specific length will vary from place to place. Note that if you're in the U.S., you're not allowed to adopt a stretch of interstate, due to federal safety laws.[1]
- It's a good idea to pick a primary stretch of roadway to adopt, as well as 1 or 2 back-ups that you could also adopt if for some reason your first choice wasn't available.
- Check with your local Department of Transportation to see if there are any guidelines for picking your roadway. For example, in South Carolina, the DoT asks that you adopt a rural road where there's relatively little traffic.
- Contact your Department of Transportation to ask for registration forms. The local department will provide you with the proper paperwork that you're required to fill out to adopt your stretch of highway. They will also put you in touch with a local coordinator who will be your main contact throughout your adoption term.[2]
- This coordinator will be able to answer any questions you might have about the registration process or about the guidelines to your local government's adoption program.
- Note that depending on where you live and which section of highway you selected, you may be required to pay a fee to cover the costs of erecting your group's adoption sign on the side of your adopted highway.
- Fill out and submit these forms to your coordinator to begin your term. Once you submit your paperwork to your coordinator, your adoption term will officially begin. Most adoptions are between 2 and 4 years, so be prepared to commit to your highway adoption when you go to submit this paperwork.[3]
- You'll also have to submit the name of the group that you would like to have posted on signs along your stretch of highway.
- You may also have to fill out some safety waivers and permits, depending on your local government statutes.
- Sign for and pick up your required cleanup materials. These will usually include regulation cleanup bags and safety vests that members of your group will be required to wear. They may also include things like safety signs, work gloves, and trash pickers.[4]
- The safety signs are the collapsible signs that some governments require you to post along the side of the road on your cleanup days.
- Submit a renewal form at the end of your term, if desired. This is the form you'll submit if you want to continue your highway adoption for another 2 to 4 years. As long as your group is in good standing, most governments will allow you to renew your term as many times as you'd like.[5]
- What it means to be in "good standing" will vary from program to program, but most will require you to meet your quarterly cleaning commitments and not have any major rule violations.
[Edit]Following Program Guidelines - Hold regular cleanup days for your group per your program's guidelines. Most highway adoption programs require your group go out to pick up litter at least 4 times a year, although some have less stringent requirements. If your stretch of highway has a high volume of regular traffic, you may be required to hold your cleanup days more frequently than this.[6]
- The specific requirements for your stretch of highway will be spelled out in the guidelines for your local government's adoption program. If you have any questions about them, feel free to ask your local coordinator.
- You may also be required to give advance notice of your cleanup days to the Department of Transportation, so they can coordinate garbage collection with your efforts.
- Wear appropriate work clothes and follow the program's dress code. Your local adoption program may require members of your group to not wear certain items of clothing, such as open-toed shoes. Group members should also wear sturdy footwear, work gloves, and brightly colored clothes that are easy for oncoming drivers to see.[7]
- If your group is working in a very sunny area, members may also be advised to wear long-sleeve shirts and wide-brimmed hats to help prevent sunburn.
- Wearing long jeans is a good way to avoid irritation from plants and insects.
- Every member of your group will also be required to wear the safety vests that your local program provides for you.
- Complete a report card at the end of each cleanup day, if necessary. Depending on your local program's guidelines, you may be required to submit a report to your local coordinator that details what you did on your cleanup day. These typically have to be submitted within 1 week of cleanup day.[8]
- Your program's guidelines will state whether or not you have to complete a report card for each cleanup. If you're not sure about this requirement, you can also ask your coordinator for clarification.
- If you're required to file a report, the cards will be provided to you when you first enroll in the program.
[Edit]Staying Safe - Use your safety signs and vests at all times during a cleanup. Cleaning up the side of a highway means working in close proximity to oncoming cars. These signs and vests will help members of your group be as visible as possible to the drivers of these cars.[9]
- Don't allow children to participate if they're too young. Each program has a different minimum-age rule. Some programs say group members have to be at least 7 years old, while others say no one under the age of 13 can participate. Check with your local coordinator to find out what your program's specific age guidelines are.[10]
- Any participants under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult at all times during your cleanup days.
- Walk and work in the direction of oncoming traffic. This way, you'll be better able to maintain awareness of cars that are coming in the direction of your group. Keep your group on one side of the highway so you can all move in this same direction at the same time.[11]
- Because traffic conditions can suddenly change, always be ready to react to changing or dangerous conditions on the road (such as an oncoming car driving erratically).
- Inform your coordinator about any hazardous materials on the road. These include materials like syringe needles, car batteries, and drink bottles with liquids inside them. When you come across materials like these, flag them and contact your coordinator or your local Department of Transportation to have them professionally removed. Do not try to handle them yourself.[12]
- Depending on your program's guidelines, you may also be asked to not handle broken glass. Check with your local coordinator to find out the rules in your specific program.
- If you are expected to clean up broken glass, be sure to handle it with extreme caution, as it can cut you pretty deeply.
- Refrain from going out into the street to pick up litter. Always stay at least away from the edge of the pavement at all times on your cleanup days. Members of your group should only cross the road when absolutely necessary.[13]
- Avoid picking up trash on steep slopes or in overgrown areas. It's very easy to lose your footing and fall when walking along a steep slope. Meanwhile, areas with overgrown grass or shrubs may contain hazards that are difficult to see because of the overgrowth.[14]
- Depending on your jurisdiction, you may be required to hold safety briefings for all participants on cleanup days.
[Edit]Warnings - Note that individuals who have been convicted of a violent crime within the last 10 years may not be eligible to adopt a highway. This would also extend to whatever organization the individual is a part of.
[Edit]References |
| How to Tie Dye with Bleach Posted: 25 May 2020 05:00 PM PDT Tie dyeing is a fun way to give new life to clothes, but darker colors don't always take dye very well. If you're looking for a way to update your dark clothes, try tie dyeing with bleach! You'll get a cool white design that stands out well against dark or bright colors. [Edit]Finding a Garment and Work Area - Work outside or in a well-ventilated area. The fumes from bleach are extremely strong and they can be dangerous, so make sure you set up your project in an area with plenty of fresh air. If you can, try to work outside. If that's not an option, choose a large room and open a window or turn on a fan.[1]
- Protect your hands with heavy rubber gloves. Bleach is a strong chemical. Even when it's diluted it can cause chemical burns on your skin. Be sure to wear heavy rubber gloves (like the kind used for cleaning) to protect your skin while you're tie dyeing your clothes with bleach. You can get these wherever cleaning supplies are sold.[2]
- Choose cotton clothing in a dark color. Black is the best color for tie dyeing with bleach because you will get the best contrast, but you can use any color as long as it's dark enough to produce an effect. Experiment with different colors to find what you like![3]
- Avoid garments made from delicate or synthetic fabrics. Bleach won't affect synthetic materials like polyester because they are designed to be colorfast. In addition, bleach can damage more delicate fabrics such as silk.[4]
- Lay down old towels or a drop cloth. If you're working inside, you'll need to protect your work surface from bleach, so cover it with a drop cloth or old towels that can get messed up. If you're using an absorbent material like a towel, be sure it doesn't get soaked or the bleach will seep through and ruin whatever's beneath it.[5]
- If you're working outside, you'll want to have something laid on the ground to protect your garment from getting dirty during the tie dyeing process.
[Edit]Creating Cool Designs - Twist your garment to create a pattern and secure it with rubber bands. Space the rubber bands several inches apart. The parts of your garment that are rubber-banded will stay the original color, while the exposed fabric will turn white when you bleach it.[6]
- You can get creative with your designs or you can just bunch up the fabric and put rubber bands on it to get a random and totally unique look.
- As closely tied as the rubber band or the string you use will be, the tenser removing it will become. If you want, instead of removing, you can cut off the rubber bands carefully, in the end.
- Twirl the garment to create a spiral pattern. To create a traditional spiral tie-dye pattern, hold your garment with 2 fingers and twirl it so it twists tightly. Keep twirling until the entire garment is twisted into a tight knot. Secure the twirl with several rubber bands, then apply your bleach mixture. You can use a string to tie it up too. The tighter the spirals are secured, the better the distinction between darker and lighter areas will be formed.[7]
- Create several patterns on the same garment with knots. If you want to create a haphazard tie-dye, try using rubber bands to create several tight, small knots on the garment. Bunch these all together and secure with more rubber bands, then apply the bleach. Secure them tightly so the bleach doesn't seep through the knots.
- Relocate the rubber bands and re-spray for a multi-hue effect. If you want to create a layered look, twist up your garment and apply rubber bands, then apply bleach to your fabric and let it sit for about 5-6 minutes. Take all of the rubber bands off your garment, twist your garment again, put the rubber bands back on, and re-spray the garment with the bleach mixture. Leave the second batch on for the 8-10 minutes, then rinse.[8]
- Create an ombre effect on your garment by dipping it in a bleach mixture. After you've tie-dyed your garment, you can make a cool faded effect by dip-dyeing the fabric. In a large bucket, dilute another mixture of 1/2 bleach and 1/2 water. Dip the bottom few inches of your garment in the bucket and leave it for 5-10 minutes to create an ombre effect.[9]
[Edit]Applying the Bleach - Fill a spray or squeeze bottle with a mixture of 1/2 bleach and 1/2 water. You can get a bottle for your project at almost any store which sells cleaning supplies. You can use either a spray bottle or a squeeze bottle. A squeeze bottle may produce a slightly more precise effect than a spray bottle, but the results will be similar with either one.[10]
- Apply the bleach mixture to the exposed fabric of the garment. Spray or squeeze the bleach mixture from your bottle onto your garment. You can vary the amount of bleach that you use depending on how intense you want the color change to be. A heavier application of bleach will cause the fabric to lighten more, and you can create different looks by applying the bleach only to some areas and not to others.[11]
- Allow the bleach to sit on the fabric for 8-10 minutes. You should be able to see the bleach changing the color of the garment within about 2 minutes, but it will take 8-10 minutes for the bleach to really seep into the fabric. If you leave it on much longer the bleach could damage your garment.[12]
- Wash the garment in mild detergent when the time is up. Remove all the rubber bands. You want to wash your garment right away to stop the chemical bleaching process. You can either put your clothing in the washing machine with a mild detergent or you can hand wash it in your sink or bathtub.[13]
- If you hand wash your garment, make sure to leave on your gloves until you've finished rinsing it so you don't come into contact with any bleach.
- Have your bathtub rinsed well if you washed in it.
- Hang your garment to air-dry or place it in the dryer. Once your garment is thoroughly rinsed, you can either air-dry it or put it in the dryer, depending on how you normally prefer to dry your clothes. After it's dry, it's ready to wear, so put it on and enjoy your new style!
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Bleach
- Water
- Heavy rubber gloves
- Rubber bands
- Spray bottle/squeeze bottle
- Old towels or drop cloth
- Clean colored T-shirt
- Mild laundry detergent
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Identify a Shiba Inu Posted: 25 May 2020 09:00 AM PDT The Shiba Inu is a Japanese breed that has been around since ancient times.[1] A member of the non-sporting group of dogs,[2] they are small in size, but lovable and confident. If you're aware of the breed's temperament and characteristics, you will be able to get a better idea of whether a dog is a Shiba Inu. [Edit]Knowing the Structure - Look at the size of the dog. Shiba Inus are the smallest native Japanese dog breed,[3] with a standard weight of about for males and for females.[4] The Shiba Inu's breed standard states that the dogs stand from tall.[5]
- See if the dog has pricked ears. Shibas have small, perked up ears that resemble that of a wolf.[6] The ears are triangular in shape and are angled forward atop the dog's head.[7]
- Notice a brushy and curly tail. Most Shiba Inus have curled tails, but your dog may have a less common tail type called a sickle tail. Both tail types curl towards the dog's back, but the sickle tail is less curled.[8]
- Curled tails, or "ringed tails," are more commonly seen in purebred dogs such as the Shiba Inu. These tails are shaped as a small curl over the dog's back.
- Sickle tails are similar to curled tails; however, sickle tails are less curled. Sickle tails are part of the AKC standard[9] but are not as desirable as curled tails.
- Pay attention to the dog's eye color. The AKC standards list that the eyes of a Shiba Inu should be dark brown in color with black rims. They are described as being somewhat triangular.[10]
- Look at the muzzle of the dog. A Shiba's muzzle should be round and firm with a black nose. The jawline is strong and gives the dog a powerful expression. The muzzle can take up approximately 40% of a Shiba Inu's face.[11]
- Notice the shape of the dog's paws. Shibas have round paws. These circular paws are catlike in appearance. The pads at the bottom of the paws are thick.[12]
- See if the dog has a muscular build. Though small, Shiba Inus have a well-muscled body. They have a sturdy build that compliments their smooth gait.[13]
[Edit]Taking a Close Look at the Coat - Analyze the texture of the dog's coat. Shiba Inus have thick double coats. Their fur is moderately straight and short in length. The undercoat is soft, while the top coat is more coarse.[14]
- Recognize the dog's fur color. Shiba Inus have four possible coat colors: red, black and tan, cream, and sesame.[15]
- Red is the most commonly seen coloring of a Shiba Inu. It is the preferred coat color of the AKC for this breed. Black and tan Shiba Inus are also popular.[16][17]
- Cream Shiba Inus are frowned upon by the AKC and go against the breed standards.[18]
- Sesame Shiba Inus are the least commonly seen. Some Shibas resemble the sesame coat pattern but are actually more of a red with black tips.[19]
- Look for the urajiro markings. This Japanese word refers to a Shiba Inu's white marks. These appear on places such as the face, neck, stomach, legs, and tail.[20][21]
- Because the urajiro markings can't appear on an already cream colored coat, the cream variant of this breed is not recognized by the AKC.[22][23]
[Edit]Accessing Temperament - Watch for confidence. Shiba Inus are bold dogs full of confidence. They act independent in spirit. This can lead them to being difficult to train.[24]
- Notice an abundance of energy. Shibas are very lively and energetic. They are swift runners and should be watched while off leash.[25]
- See if the dog is clever. With their intelligence, Shiba Inus are prone to getting into trouble when left alone. Because of this, they work best in houses with large fences.[26]
- Look for a hunting instinct. Being bred as hunting dogs, Shiba Inus will have a strong, natural hunting instinct.[27] They may chase other animals, such as other dogs, cats, or birds.[28]
- Pay attention to the dog's attention level. Shiba Inus are attentive and alert. See if the dog has the attentiveness to match the Shiba Inu's bold personality.[29]
- If you wish to know the breed of your dog, consider using a DNA test. Taking a DNA test will confirm your dog's breed.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário