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Cold is often accompanied by low humidity. The wood in your dulcimer can get so dry in this condition that its fret board can get a slight curl, the wood's vibrations can change, etc. It begins to sing the Winter Blues all by itself!. There are humidifying devices made especially for stringed instruments. For example, The Snake is a long tube filled with foam which you dampen with water and slip inside an instrument through the sound hole. Other devices can simply sit inside the case. Try one of these if your dulcimer seems to be "off its feed" in extremely cold weather.

Heat can cause a lot of damage to finishes and glues in a dulcimer. Most modern glues don't set into a thoroughly solid state; they remain flexible and plastic. In ordinary conditions (those you find comfortable) this is a benefit--a shock cannot knock a joint apart if the glue has this resiliency. But as the heat rises, the plasticity increases in these glues. And at really elevated temperatures, above about 115 F, even hide glue can suddenly let go of its molecular bonds. There are many sad tales about musical instruments totally disintegrating in high heat.

(Answer : Ear of Corn)

Below are seven countries, whose letters have been scrambled. Once you have unscrambled the letters, the first letters of each of the countries can then be scrambled to make another country. Can you find this country?

AADNORR
AEHIIOPT
CEEEGR
AAAACDGMRS
ANORWY
AAIMNOR
EEMNY

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