INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Floating row covers are basically tiny greenhouses made of plastic that cover an entire row. They let light, water, and air in, but they keep pests out.  When placing row covers, cover the edges with soil so that the beetles can't get underneath them and into your plants. Remove them when your plants start to flower so that pollinators can visit the blooms and pollinate your plants. Kaolin clay is a natural deterrent that creates a surface the beetles don't like. Mix 3 cups (0.71 L) of the powdered clay with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water. Spray the clay on the plant, making sure to get both sides of the leaves and the stems.  This amount of spray will cover about 400 square feet (40 sq. m) of plants. Pick a cloudy day to spray so the water doesn't magnify the sun, burning the leaves. After a heavy rain, check to see if you need to reapply the mixture. Kaolin clay is even safe to spray on the cucumbers. Just wash it off before eating the vegetable. It's also good for other pests, such as grasshoppers, squash bugs, and other beetles so consider applying it to other plants. Eggplants, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts may benefit from being sprayed. If you've seen these beetles on your plants, they'll likely pop up in your garden next year, too. After you harvest your cucumbers, take away sites that these beetles would hide in over the winter, such as dense grass, and you'll end up with fewer next spring. Also clear away any leaves or other garden trash. Basically, you don't want to leave hiding places near the cucumbers for these beetles to hang out in.

SUMMARY: Add floating row covers to keep the beetles out. Spray kaolin clay on plants. Remove dense grass after you harvest cucumbers.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Studying a specific form of self-defense or martial arts allows you to focus on a single method of fighting so you can master the techniques. Taking a class also lets you have a coach or trainer that can help you with your form and give you additional tips. Look for martial arts or self-defense classes in your area and look into the style that they teach. Choose a style that best fits your needs for fighting.  Pick boxing if you want to focus on footwork and punches. Try Muay Thai, or kickboxing, to incorporate punches and kicks into your fights. Practice Brazilian jiu jitsu if you want to try takedowns and grappling. Choose karate if you want to practice a more traditional martial art. Punching is one of the most common techniques in fighting and is used in all forms of martial arts. Stand within arm’s reach of the punching bag, and make your hands into tight fists in front of your face. When you throw a punch, twist your hips toward your opponent and extend your arm straight out in front of you. Quickly pull your arm back in front of your face so you can defend yourself.  When you’re in a fight, aim for your opponent’s face or stomach since these are vulnerable areas. If you want to try throwing a hook, lock your wrist and swing at your opponent from the side. Alternate which arms you punch with to practice putting them together into different combinations. Stand with your nondominant leg in front of you and your body turned to the side. Twist your nondominant foot away from your other leg to spin your body toward your opponent. As you spin, lift your dominant leg and aim your kick with your knee. Just as you’re about to make contact, extend your dominant leg straight to get the most power. Practice kicking at different heights on a punching bag or dummy so you can land kicks on your opponent’s chest or head. Protect your head from punches and kicks by keeping your arms up in front of your face. When you see your opponent coming for a hit, tuck your head down closer to your chest and use your forearms to deflect the hit. Make sure you always keep your eyes on your opponent so you can watch their next movement and prepare for the attack. Alternatively, if your opponent swings at you, you can try pushing your forearm into the crook of their elbow to prevent the blow from hitting you. This works well if your opponent is attacking you with a weapon. While practicing with a punching bag or a dummy works well for developing technique, fighting against a human opponent can help you get real experience. Ask other people that you train with or a coach to spar with you so you can work on blocking hits and protecting yourself. Don’t use your full power while you’re sparring with someone since you could seriously injure them.
Summary: Take self-defense or martial arts classes if you want to learn a specific style. Practice throwing punches on a punching bag. Work on body kicks so you’re more versatile in a fight. Learn how to block hits so you don’t get hurt as much. Find a sparring partner if you want to practice fighting with another person.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Look for a kitten that doesn’t seem shy or quiet and that has plenty of energy. Kittens with these personalities will adapt the best to homes with other friendly pets such as cats or dogs. They enjoy homes with plenty of entertainment and people to play with. Consider your existing cat when you are choosing a kitten. If your existing cat is very shy, poorly socialized, or doesn’t respond well to other pets then it may be best not to get a new kitten. Shy and quiet kittens do best in homes with little noise and bustle. If you live alone or in a quiet household, then a shy or quiet kitten would be an ideal match. These kittens often form close bonds with their owners and can be playful at times as well as making good lap cats. Older kittens that are almost adults tend to be more mature and less rambunctious than when they are young. This makes them ideal for smaller children as they are likely to be more patient and less frightened of all of the attention.  If you have young children, older and neutered male kittens are often the best choice. This is because they tend to be the most laid back. They also tend to tolerate being handled better than females, which is important as small children will naturally be very inquisitive and want to be involved. For elderly people, older kittens also tend to be a good choice. This is because young kittens are more energetic and more easily get underfoot. The characteristics of your existing cat are important when choosing the right kitten for your home. Younger, playful male cats get on well with energetic male kittens. Older female cats tend to respond the best to young and calm female kittens. Playful adult females enjoy the company of energetic female kittens.  Laid back, older male cats that have been neutered tend to respond well to both male and female kittens. Male kittens tend to be more playful with other cats and with people than female kittens. Sometimes older female cats can become irritated by male kittens due to their playful nature. Many long-haired cats require regular brushing whereas short-haired cats usually require far less grooming and maintenance. Think about if you will have the time to commit to the grooming requirements of a long-haired kitten. Choose a short-haired kitten if you are unsure.

SUMMARY:
Pick a confident, playful kitten if you have other pets at home. Consider a shy kitten if you don’t have small children or other pets. Get an older kitten if you have small children living in your home. Get a kitten that's the same sex as your existing cat if you have one. Choose a short-haired kitten if you're worried about shedding or grooming.