How to Do Cool Tricks With a Slinky

If you love your slinky but you're tired of the same old tricks, like flipping it between your hands and walking it down the stairs, there are a variety of cool tricks you can try out! Impress your friends and family with advanced tricks like The Energy Beam, The Escalator, and the Slingshot and Flip! Perform these tricks in the order they appear, since they gradually increase in difficulty.

EditSteps

EditThe Energy Beam

1. Grab the bottom 2 to 3 slinky coils with your left hand. Collapse the slinky and hold it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Get a good grip on the bottom 2 or 3 coils with that hand. Hold the slinky out in front of you at about chest level.^[1]
   
   • It doesn’t matter which hand is your dominant hand, since you’ll be manipulating the slinky equally with both hands.
2. Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Keeping the slinky collapsed and vertical, simply grab onto the top of the slinky with your right hand. Grip onto the top 2 to 3 coils. Don’t move your bottom (left) hand at all.^[2]
   
3. Whip your top hand up and to the right to create an arc. Use your right (top) hand to quickly whip the top of the slinky up about and then out to the right, so that you’re creating a small arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Both hands should be approximately even with each other.^[3]
   
   • It will look like you’re holding a small rainbow in front of you.
4. Wait for the slinky to start the bounce back to your left hand. When you whip the slinky to the right, it uncoils and expands. As soon as your right hand stops and the slinky makes the arc, the slinky’s body will immediately want to bounce back to the left like a spring. Keep both hands in position and wait for the moment it starts the bounce back.^[4]
   
5. Give the slinky a short, quick tug with your left hand. As soon as the slinky starts to bounce back to the left, whip your left wrist a few inches forward and to the left, like you’re giving the slinky a little tug. Return your left hand to its former position. Aside from the tug, keep your left hand in the exact same position.^[5]
   
   • Do not let go of either end of the slinky! Your hands will stay in the arc position the entire time.
6. Let the slinky’s body bounce back to the right side of the arc. After you tug it, the slinky’s body expands forward and to the left to mimic the movement. When you return the left hand to its former arc position at chest level, the slinky lines back up with your right hand. Visually, the slinky creates a cool swirl motion. Then the slinky’s body starts bouncing back to the right side of the arc.
   
   • Try not to push or pull with either of your hands. Let the slinky’s body move naturally on its own.
7. Give the slinky another quick tug with your right hand. As soon as the slinky’s body starts bouncing back to the right, give it a tug with your right hand. This is basically the exact same thing you did with your left hand, except you’re thrusting slightly to the right instead of the left this time. The slinky will make another cool swirl movement on the right side.^[6]
   
8. Keep alternating hands and tugging to create the Energy Beam. Do not let go of the slinky at any point, and keep your hands at about chest level the entire time. It will sort of look like you’re juggling. If you’re having trouble maintaining the Energy Beam, try slowing down to the slowest speed the slinky will allow.^[7]
   

EditThe Escalator

1. Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed vertically on it. Collapse the slinky and hold it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Your left palm should be facing up and outstretched, so that you’re creating a little table for the collapsed slinky to sit on. Hold it at about chest level.^[8]
   
2. Grab the top 2 coils with your right hand. Grab onto the top of the slinky with your right hand. Grip firmly onto the top 2 coils. Don’t move your bottom (left) hand and all. Keep it in the “table” position.
   
3. Whip your top hand up and to the right to create an arc. Use your top hand to quickly whip the top of the slinky up about and then out to the right, so that you’re creating a small arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Both hands should be approximately even with each other at chest level.^[9]
   
4. Let the slinky’s body bounce the right side of the arc. The slinky will start pulling itself to the right naturally as it coils in that direction. Instead of continuing to hold both ends like you did with the Energy Beam, let the slinky pull itself off of your left hand.^[10]
   
5. Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist. When the slinky pulls itself off of your left hand, that end of the slinky will pull itself directly over your right hand. Its momentum to the right side will naturally continue, and the loose end of the slinky will flop over your right hand and start creating another arc to the right.
   
6. Bounce the slinky off of your right hand. As the slinky’s natural momentum pulls itself to the right in another arc, let it lightly bounce off of your right hand. Don’t hold on to it – let the slinky pull itself off of your right hand.
   
7. Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand “table.” As the slinky arcs to the right, quickly move your left hand, which is now free, over to the right side of your right wrist. Position your left hand about below your right hand. The slinky will bounce off of your right hand, and your left hand will be there to catch it.
   
8. Repeat the same movement as you alternate hands. Continue letting the slinky bounce off each palm as you quickly move your free hand to the other side of your wrist to catch the other end. It will arc over each time. This looks just like a slinky that’s going down a flight of stairs, except you’re creating the stairs with your hands!^[11]
   

EditSlingshot and Flip

1. Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed on it. Collapse the slinky and stack it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Your left palm should be facing up and outstretched, so that you’re creating a platform for the collapsed slinky to sit on. Hold your left hand at about chest level.^[12]
   
2. Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Don’t move your bottom (left) hand and all. Simply grab onto the top 2 or 3 coils of the slinky with your right hand.^[13]
   
3. Whip your top hand up and to the right to create a basic arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Let the slinky’s body expand into the basic arc shape. Both hands should be approximately at the same height and even with one another.^[14]
   
4. Let the slinky’s body bounce over to the right side of the arc. The slinky’s natural momentum will start pulling the body to the right as it coils in that direction. Let the left side of the slinky lift off your left palm – don’t hold on to it! It will pull itself right off your hand.
   
5. Drop your right hand about . Keep your right hand firmly gripped onto the slinky – you will not be letting go of it. This is just like the beginning of The Escalator except when you drop your right hand, the slinky’s momentum to the right increases even more and it expands with more force.
   
6. Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist and hit the ground. The extra momentum gives the slinky enough power to flop itself all the way over your right wrist and touch the ground. Let it expand how much it needs to in order to touch the ground. Continue holding it firmly with your right hand.
   
7. Give a little tug toward yourself with your right hand. As soon as the loose end of the slinky makes contact with the ground, quickly tug your right hand just a few inches closer to your body. It doesn’t take much tugging, because the slinky naturally wants to spring back up!
   
8. Let the slinky pull itself into a full left arc. After you tug, the loose end of the slinky will begin a large arc to the left because of its natural momentum. Let it bounce all the way up and over your right wrist so that it completes the arc to the left. Do not let go with your right hand!
   
9. Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand. Once the left arc completes, catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand at about chest level. Both hands should now be at chest level again, returning you to the original arc position.^[15]
   

EditRelated wikiHows

• Play the "I've Never" Game
• Play Tic Tac Toe

EditSources and Citations

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How to Find Parking on Google Maps on PC or Mac

This wikiHow teaches you how to use Google Maps on your PC or Mac to find parking spots near a location.

Edit10 Second Summary

1. Open Google Maps.
2. Type parking near (location) and press Enter.
3. Click a result.

EditSteps

1. Open Google Maps. You can find parking locations by visiting https://maps.google.com in any web browser on Windows or macOS.
   
2. Type into the search bar and press or . Replace (location) with the area in which you want to find parking. A list of nearby parking lots will appear in the left column.
   
   • If you’re looking for parking spots near your current location, type .
   • If no results appear, there may not be any known parking lots in that area.
3. Click a result. This pins the location to the map. To get directions to this location, click Directions, or click Send to Your Phone so you can get them when you’re on the road.
   

How to Live Off Interest

With careful planning, it is possible to live off the interest from your investments. The more money that you can invest upfront, the more interest you will be able to collect as income. If you can't live entirely off of your interest earnings, you may be able to collect enough from small scale investments to cover some living expenses.

EditSteps

EditMaking an Investment Strategy

1. Create an investment plan. Taking your salary and expenses into account, make a plan for earning and investing money. Look at your monthly income and necessary expenditures, such as rent and utility bills, to see how much money you can spare for investments. Decide how much money you will invest each month, and how much you will keep for travel, entertainment, and other indulgences.^[1]
   
2. Consult with a financial advisor. Setting up your investments so that you can live off interest requires careful planning, which will be made easier with the help of an expert. Visit with a financial advisor who can provide advice about your savings and investment choices. You can find a financial advisor through your bank, insurance company, or an independent financial consulting company.^[2]
   
3. Make investments that will pay off at different times of the year. To ensure that you can live off interest year-round, build a portfolio with a mix of trusts, funds, and other income-paying investments. Choose investments that pay dividends at different points of the year so that your earnings will be spread out. This will not guarantee even payments throughout the year, but it will ensure that you have income to live off of.^[3]
   
4. Sell off bad investments. It is not prudent to hold onto investments that bring you big losses in the hope that they will improve. Sell bad investments to strengthen your overall portfolio. Avoid holding on to investments for reasons of loyalty or sentimentality (e.g. your company's stock, or stock you once thought had great promise.)^[4]
   

EditGetting an Annuity

1. Purchase an immediate annuity to get income right away. An annuity is essentially an insurance contract that guarantees that you will have money throughout your retirement. For a lump sum you can get an immediate annuity, which will generate payments right away. The payments received will depend on the lump sum you invest, current inflation rates, and your age.^[5]
   
   • Ask an agent form your insurance company to outline your annuity options to invest your savings wisely.
   • These payments can be received monthly, quarterly, or annually.
   • You can choose to get payments up until a certain age, or until death.
   • For older people, the annual payout of an immediate annuity can be as high as 10%.^[6]
2. Get a deferred annuity if you are still years away from retirement. if you do not need to earn an income from interest right away, opt for a deferred annuity. This will give you time to invest tax deferred money from each paycheck while you are working, which will grow tax free for you to collect, in regular payments, starting at a later date. See what deferred annuity options your insurance company offers to start building your financial security as early as possible.^[7]
   
   • Contributions to your deferred annuity do not have to happen at regular intervals or in equal amounts. There is no yearly contribution limit so you can invest large sums whenever you want to have them build interest, tax free.
3. Choose a variable income annuity to diversify your investment. With a variable annuity, the money you invest will be split between different bonds, stocks, according to your risk level and preferences. There is a minimum income generated, which depends on variables like your age and the nature of the investments you've chosen. Ask your insurance provider about setting up a variable income annuity if you want your investment to be split into several subgroups with multiple opportunities for growth.^[8]
   

EditEarning Interest to Cover Certain Expenses

1. Sign up for a high yield online savings account to earn 1% interest. Online savings accounts can offer interest rates of 1% or more since they don't have to maintain branch locations. Transfer money from your regular savings account into one of these high yield accounts, or save money gradually with each paycheck. Depending on how much you save, your interest money could cover certain living expenses like groceries or utilities.^[9]
   
2. Get a credit card that offers cash-back on your purchases. Cash-back credit cards can offer up to a 5% return on your total purchases in cash or gift cards of equivalent value. Using these cards to pay for everyday expenses is a good way to yield money without any extra effort or risk. Speak to a representative at your bank or credit card company to find a card that will yield you the biggest cash benefits.^[10]
   
   • Be sure to read the fine print on your credit card agreement before signing up for a new card.
   • Some cards may have a limit for yearly cash-back earnings.
   • Certain cards only offer cash-back for specific categories of purchases, such as restaurants or gas stations.
3. Buy U.S. treasury bonds to earn interest bi-annually. Investing with the government treasury is entirely safe and the interest that you yield will be exempt from state and municipal taxes. Interest is paid every 6 months at a fixed rate. Purchase treasury bonds directly through the U.S. Treasury website at https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/products/prod_tbonds_glance.htm.
   
   • Treasury bonds have maturities of 30 years, but they can be sold before then.
   • Interest earned on treasury bonds is still subject to federal taxation.

EditSources and Citations

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How to Feed Butterflies

Butterflies are unique, delicate insects that come in many different beautiful colors and patterns. If you have some butterflies that you need to regularly feed or you just want to provide a snack for the butterflies that pass through your yard, there are ways that you can do so. What kind of food you feed butterflies and how you should feed them depends on whether they’re injured, in nature, or in a habitat.

EditIn a Hurry?

To feed butterflies that are sick or young, soak a paper towel in either children’s juice, cola, or fruit punch. Place the paper towel in a dish. With dry hands, carefully pinch together the tips of a butterfly’s wings when they’re already closed. Pick up the butterfly and set it onto the paper towel. Use a toothpick to lower its proboscis if it doesn’t do so on its own. To learn how to feed butterflies in nature or in a habitat, scroll down!

EditSteps

EditHelping Injured Butterflies Eat

1. Opt for liquids like warm children’s juices, colas, and fruit punches. Children’s juices, colas, and fruit punches make for the best first aid treatment for hurt, sick, or young butterflies. Use these as food if possible, and make sure to provide them at room temperature or warmer.^[1]
   
2. Soak a paper towel with the liquid food and place it in a dish. Decide which kind of food that you’d like to go with and then soak up the liquid with a paper towel. This will allow the butterflies to eat the food without getting their feet extremely wet.^[2]
   
3. Pick up each butterfly and set it onto the soaked paper towel. First, make sure your hands are completely dry. When one of your butterflies closes its wings, pinch them together extremely carefully at the tips. Lift the butterfly up and place it onto the paper towel so that it can taste the food on it. Continue doing this with all of your butterflies.^[3]
   
   • If you aren’t gentle, you can very easily seriously injure the butterflies by picking them up. It’s very important to be careful when handling them.
   • It’s necessary to do it this way because butterflies taste with their feet.
4. Lower the butterfly's proboscis with a toothpick if it doesn’t do so itself. Once they’re placed on the paper towel, the butterflies will likely recognize that food is available and automatically lower their proboscises to consume it. If one of the butterflies doesn’t do this, very carefully take a toothpick or a paperclip and lower the butterfly’s proboscis towards the food yourself.^[4]
   
   • The butterfly may be resistant at first and try to push the toothpick or paperclip away. Be persistent for a couple of minutes. If the butterfly is still resisting at this point, stop and try again in 1-2 hours.
5. Offer the butterflies food at least once each day. Pick up each butterfly carefully by the tips of its wings and place it onto the food-soaked paper towel at least once a day. If you struggle to get a butterfly to eat, give it a few more chances throughout the day. Even your butterflies who eat willingly may eat at these other opportunities too, as butterflies tend to prefer spaced out feeding times.^[5]
   

EditFeeding Butterflies in Nature

1. Provide flower nectar for butterflies in nature. Naturally, butterflies survive by consuming the nectar provided by different types of flowers. The best kind of food you can give them is this nectar. Milkweed, zinnias, and marigolds are popular with butterflies -- try planting these in your yard to attract and feed butterflies.^[6]
   
2. Use canned fruit nectar as an alternative to flower nectar. If you don’t want to grow and take care of flowers, purchase some canned fruit nectar instead. To successfully serve canned fruit nectar, pour some into a plastic bottle cap or saturate a tissue in it and set it out in a butterfly feeder, on a porch railing, or somewhere similar.^[7]
   
3. Give butterflies sugar water if you don’t have any nectar. This acts as makeshift nectar. Mix 1 part white cane table sugar with 4 parts warm water until the sugar dissolves completely. This should provide nutrition and energy for your butterflies so that they can thrive.^[8]
   
   • White cane table sugar provides the best nutrients for butterflies and also dissolves easily, compared to other forms of sugar.^[9]
4. Feed butterflies rotting fruit as an alternative. Slice up some fruit that’s going bad to give to your butterflies. They especially like to eat rotting grapefruits, oranges, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, apples, and bananas. Add a little bit of water or fruit juice to your sliced fruit to keep it desirably moist.^[10]
   
5. Make a butterfly feeder. The best way to feed butterflies in nature is to buy or create some sort of butterfly feeder. You can do this is several different ways, whether you want to hang a plastic water bottle full of food from a tree, or set a shallow plate with a base among your garden. Get crafty and make a desirable feeder to draw in as many butterflies as possible.
   

EditFeeding Butterflies in a Habitat

1. Use Gatorade or fruit juice as an easy solution. The easiest way to feed butterflies in a habitat is with Gatorade or another already-prepared juice drink. As is, Gatorade and fruit juice have the sugar and water needed in order to provide nutrients to your butterflies. Use these for food if you want to be able to feed your butterflies quickly and easily.^[11]
   
2. Make your own creative butterfly food solution to get the best results. If you’re willing to put a little more time and effort into your butterfly food to ensure maximum nutrition, make your own food solution. Mix 3 ounces (88.7 ml) of water or Gatorade with of simple syrup. Then, add in 6 drops of soy sauce.^[12]
   
   • To make your own simple syrup, add of sugar to of water. Almost bring the mixture to a boil, but remove it from heat just before it starts to boil.
3. Serve liquid food in a small, shallow container for easy access. To make the food appealing to your butterflies, you’ll need to serve it in a proper container. The smaller and shallower the container is, the better. Opt for a saucer or bottle lid if possible. Simply fill the dish or container, lower it into the habitat, and close the habitat.^[13]
   
   • You can also use a small cup or a candle votive, but since these options are deeper, make sure to fill the container with marbles for the butterflies to stand on while they eat.
4. Provide skewered fresh fruit when you have several butterfly species. Fruit serves as an adequate food source for all different types of butterflies, so this might be the best option if you have a variety of species in your habitat. Take a skewer or a piece of bamboo and slide chunks of fruit onto it. Then, set it in the habitat.^[14]
   
   • If the fruit won’t stay on the skewer, secure a bread twist tie underneath the bottom piece of fruit.
5. Place fruit in the brightest area of the habitat. Butterflies instinctually gravitate towards bright areas, so they’ll have an easier time finding the fruit if it’s located in a brighter part of their habitat.^[15] Place fruit skewers horizontally on the butterflies’ habitat floor or set them up vertically in a corner in the brightest part of the habitat. They should be able to find and consume the food themselves.^[16]
   

EditWarnings

• Butterflies have extremely delicate bodies, and you may severely injure or kill them accidentally if you mishandle them. To avoid this, make sure you know exactly how to touch them and interact with them safely before attempting to.

EditThings You'll Need

EditHelping Injured Butterflies Eat

• Children’s juices, colas, or fruit punches
• Paper towels
• Dish
• Toothpick or paperclip (optional)

EditFeeding Butterflies in Nature

• Flowers
• Canned fruit nectar
• Bottle cap or tissue
• White cane table sugar
• Warm water
• Butterfly feeder

EditFeeding Butterflies in a Habitat

• Gatorade or fruit juice
• Simple syrup
• Soy sauce
• Small, shallow container
• Marbles (optional)
• Skewer or bamboo
• Fresh fruit chunks
• Bread twist tie (optional)

EditSources and Citations

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