| How to Determine if Someone Is Trustworthy Posted: 08 Apr 2017 05:00 AM PDT When you are in the process of hiring someone or when you meet someone new, it can be difficult to determine if they are trustworthy. Though you may have a good first impression of the person, first impressions can often be wrong or ill informed.[1] To best determine if the person is worth trusting in a professional or personal role, you should observe her behavior and obtain proof of her character in the form of references, referrals, and testimonials. EditObserving the Person's Behavior - Watch her eyes. Many people believe that you can tell if someone is lying by the direction of where their eyes go: up to the right for the truth, up to the left for a lie. Unfortunately, studies have found no evidence to support this.[2] Maintaining eye contact also does not mean the person is telling the truth; liars don't necessarily avert their gazes.[3] However, you can keep an eye on the person's pupils: people who aren't telling the truth tend to have increased pupil size, which indicates tension and concentration.[4]
- Both liars and trustworthy people will likely look away when you ask them a difficult question, because thinking of a response requires concentration. However, people who are lying may only briefly look away, whereas people who are telling the truth may take more time to compose their answer.[5]
- Although eye contact isn't the sole determiner of trustworthiness, a person who makes good eye contact is more likely to be a good communicator, and may be more comfortable feeling vulnerable.[6]
- Note her body language. A big part of telling if people are trustworthy is to study their body language and how they present themselves to others. However, body language must be taken with a grain of salt; most of these language cues indicate tension and nervousness, which might indicate lying or might just indicate that the person feels uncomfortable.[7]
- Most trustworthy individuals will display open body language, with their hands at their sides and their body turned towards you. Note if the person crosses her arms, slouches or turns her body away from you when you are speaking to her. These could be signs that she is not sure of herself and may not be as engaged and committed to you or potentially hiding something.[8]
- If her body language appears tense, be wary. She might simply be nervous, but research shows that people are more physically tense when they're lying.[9]
- People who are lying may press their lips together when you ask a sensitive question. They may play with their hair, groom their nails, or gesture toward themselves.[10]
- Observe whether she upholds commitments. Often, trustworthy individuals will show up to work or to a date on time to show that they value everyone else's time. If the person often shows up late without calling to let you know she is running late, or fails to show up at all, these may be signs that she is not someone you can trust to uphold her commitments.[11]
- As well, if she often cancels plans or changes meeting times without letting others know, she may not value other people's time as much as she should and may have an issue with time management. In a work setting, such behavior is not only untrustworthy, it is also unprofessional. In a casual setting, between friends, flaking out on plans can show that the person does not place value on your time and may not be someone you can count on.
EditInterpreting Your Interactions - Pay attention to how he responds to difficult or challenging questions. If you are talking to the person during a job interview, you may want to pose a difficult or challenging question and take note of how he responds. The questions do not have to be aggressive or misleading. Instead, focus on questions that are open-ended but also require critical thinking and analysis. You should always give the person an opportunity to answer your questions openly and honestly.[12]
- For example, you may ask what he believes his greatest challenge was in his previous job or you may ask if he struggled with any skills or expectations in his previous role. The person may take some time to answer, but note if he changes the subject or avoids answering the question. This may be an indication that he is hiding something about his previous job or he is not willing to engage in critical thinking about his previous role.
- Ask open-ended personal questions. Open-ended questions require the person to provide more detail.[13] Questions like "Can you tell me more about….?" and "Tell me about…." are good prompts. If you're suspicious that the person may be lying, ask general questions and then get more specific. Watch for inconsistencies in the details. It's hard for liars to keep their stories straight, especially once they get more complex.
- People who are lying are more likely to redirect the conversation back to you.[14] If you feel like you don't really know much about the person after several conversations, or that you are disclosing more about yourself than you're learning about the other person, this could be a warning sign.
- Listen to him speak. Research suggests that people who are lying have several verbal tics. Keep an eye on not only what he says, but how he says it. Here are some things to watch for:[15]
- Fewer first-person pronouns. People who are lying don't usually use "I" pronouns as often. They may avoid taking responsibility for their behavior, try to keep a distance between themselves and their stories, or avoid sounding too invested.
- Negative emotion words. Research suggests that people who have truth issues are often anxious and feel guilty. This shows up in their vocabulary, which tends to involve more negative emotion words such as "hate, worthless and sad."
- Fewer exclusionary words. These words, such as except, but, or nor, indicate that the person is making a distinction between what did and didn't happen. People who are lying have more trouble with this complexity, and they don't use these words as often.
- Unusual detail. People who lie may use less detail than usual when talking about something.[16] They also may give justification for their answers even if they haven't been asked.[17]
- Look for mutuality. People who are trustworthy generally respect mutuality and collaboration in communication. If you feel like you always have to ask for important information, chase down personal revelation in conversations, or can't get help when you ask for it, you may not be dealing with a trustworthy person.[18]
- Consider how fast he moves. Moving into a relationship too quickly is a warning sign of a person who may be abusive.[19] If he presses you for quick commitment, constantly flatters you, or tries to distance you from friends and family to have you "all to himself," he is most likely not trustworthy.
- Watch how he treats others. Sometimes, untrustworthy people may make a special effort to prove themselves to you, and the interactions between you seem fine. However, keeping up the facade is a lot of work, and it will often slip. Watch how the person interacts with other people. Does he gossip about coworkers behind their backs? Treat the waitstaff at a restaurant poorly? Lose control of his emotions with other people? These are signs that the person is not trustworthy.[20]
EditObtaining Proof of The Person's Character - Check out social media. It can be difficult to keep up a dishonest facade, especially when we're all plugged into social media so often. Research suggests that Facebook profiles, for example, are more likely to reflect a person's true personality than the persona they might present in person.[21] If you have reservations about whether a person is trustworthy, check his social media accounts. See whether they're consistent with the picture of the person you have met.[22]
- Research suggests that most people tell "white lies," especially on dating sites. These are usually minor attempts to present themselves in the best possible light, like underestimating your weight or age or overstating your height or income. People are more likely to lie when looking for a mate than in most other social situations. However, major lies aren't that common.[23]
- Ask for at least three references. If you are interviewing the person for a job or are considering hiring the person for a position, you should request at least three references, two professional references and one personal reference.[24]
- You should note if the person refuses to provide references once you request them or if she avoids giving you her references. Often, a trustworthy candidate will be more than willing to provide references as they are not worried about what their references are going to say about them.
- Be wary of candidates that give you personal references like a family member, a spouse, or a close friend. The best personal references will be a person the candidate knowns on a personal and a professional level who can speak to her character with unbiased examples.
- Get character testimonials from her references. Once you have her references, take the time to contact each person and ask them some basic questions to get a better sense of the candidate's character. These can include basic information such as how they known the candidate, in a professional and/or personal manner, and how long they have known the candidate. You can also ask the reference why they would recommend the candidate for the position and any examples they can provide that illustrate why the candidate is the right fit.[25]
- Note if the reference says anything disparaging about the candidate or gives any information that may put the candidate's trustworthiness in question.[26] You should reach out to the candidate and ask them about the reference's comment so you can give the candidate a chance to explain herself, especially if you are seriously considering hiring the candidate.
- Request other personal information, such as a background check or a list of previous employers. If you still are not sure about the character of the person, you can ask for more personal information in the form of a background check or a list of the person's previous employers. Most people should not be afraid of a background check if they have a clean record and have nothing to hide.[27]
- The list of the person's previous employers, as well as their contact information, can be used to show the person has nothing to be ashamed of in terms of her employment history and is willing to have her previous employers speak with you.
- If you have deep reservations about a person you've encountered in a social setting, you can usually run private background checks online.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Juice Wheatgrass Posted: 08 Apr 2017 01:00 AM PDT While there isn't strong scientific evidence one way or another, many people believe that wheatgrass can help improve digestion, detoxify the body, clean the liver, purify the blood, and boost the production of hemoglobin.[1] Many health food stores carry pre-made wheatgrass juice, but you can also make your own without much difficulty -- or without shelling out too much money. Grinding the wheatgrass into juice using a mortar and pestle produces the most nutritious results. You can also use a blender to make wheatgrass juice, or use a juicer. EditIngredients Makes about 2 servings - Wheatgrass, enough to make about 1/2 cup (113.4 grams) when cut and chopped
- 2 to 3 cups (500 to 750 milliliters) water
- Lemon
EditPreparing the Wheatgrass - Harvest wheatgrass by snipping the blades about one 1/2-in. (1 1/4-cm.) above the ground. Use a clean knife or pair of scissors. The blades should be about 8 inches (20 1/3 cm.) tall, having grown for about a week after the wheat grains were sown. If you're not growing your own wheatgrass, you can purchase it in a health food store or some grocery stores.
- Wash the blades under clean, running water. Place the wheatgrass blades inside a strainer and run cool to lukewarm tap water over the grass and through the strainer to remove any dirt, insects, or bacteria.
- Chop the wheatgrass using a sharp knife. Place the wheatgrass on a cutting board and give the blades a rough chop. The smaller the pieces are, the easier it will be to grind or blend them and create the juice.
- Collect enough chopped wheatgrass to fill at least 1/2 cup (113 grams). You can work in smaller or larger batches, if desired, but this amount should be enough for about two servings. This will be enough to give you a healthy dose of all of the wonderful properties that wheatgrass has in store for you.
EditUsing a Mortar and Pestle - Place enough chopped wheatgrass into the mortar to fill the bottom. Do not fill the mortar more than 1/4 full. If it's too full, then you won't be able to fully grind it.
- Grind the blades. Use the pestle to thoroughly grind the blades until they begin to stick together and smear along the bottom of the mortar. Apply the pestle using a stirring motion, and press with enough force to crush the grass. This will take a few minutes, and more than a bit of effort, so be prepared.
- Add a little water. Equal parts water should be sufficient for this method. Mash the water into the crushed wheatgrass using the same forceful stirring motion as described above. Continue mixing until a fine paste forms. The water will help you sufficiently grind down the blades of grass.
- Empty the contents of the mortar into a clean muslin cloth. Twist the top of the cloth to prevent the paste from escaping, but do not tie it. This will allow you to extract the juice from the wheatgrass.
- Press on the cloth to drain the wheatgrass juice out into a clean glass. Apply pressure to the cloth directly above the clump of wheatgrass paste, squeezing in a downward motion. A bright green liquid should drip out. Continue squeezing until no further liquid drains.
- Return the wheatgrass clump to the mortar. Repeat the grinding process until the blades turn white, adding a little extra water each time to create a paste of the same consistency.
- After your initial batch of wheatgrass turns white, add fresh chopped wheatgrass to the mortar and begin the grinding process again. Continue until your full 1/2 cup (113 grams) has been used. This process does take a while, (at least 10-15 minutes for 1/2 a cup), but it'll be worth it. It's much better than paying $300-$400 for a fancy wheatgrass juicer.
EditUsing a Blender - Put 1/2 cup (113 grams) of chopped wheatgrass into a blender with 2 to 3 cups (500 to 750 milliliters) of filtered water. If you prefer a stronger, more concentrated taste, stick with only 2 cups (500 milliliters) of filtered water. If you are unaccustomed to the taste of wheatgrass, however, or if you find it overpowering, dilute the juice more by using 3 cups (750 milliliters) of water instead. If you like, you can substitute the water with fresh-squeezed orange juice or coconut juice instead. This can give the wheatgrass shot you'll be preparing a bit more flavor.
- Blend the wheatgrass and water together using the highest speed. Blending for about 60 seconds should suffice. You should be left with an emerald green juice with chunks of pulp floating at the surface.
- Note that the grass may get tangled around the blades of the blender if the blades of grass are too long. This will not be an issue in most cases, and you can simply clean the blades of your blender after you finish getting the juice out. Pay attention to possible signs of trouble, though, like a slowing blade or the sounds of a struggling motor. If you suspect that the wheatgrass is clogging your blender, you may need to fish out the wayward wheatgrass before you continue blending.
- Place a mesh strainer over a clean glass bowl. The strainer should have fine gaps, and it should be no larger than the mouth of the bowl you place it over.
- Line the strainer with cheesecloth. The cheesecloth should be large enough to hang over the sides of your strainer.
- Pour the wheatgrass from your blender through the cheesecloth and strainer. Most of the liquid should flow through without much effort on your part.
- Using a rubber spatula, press down on the wheatgrass pulp to squeeze out additional juice. This juice should also flow through the cheesecloth and into the container. Continue pressing down on the wheatgrass until no more juice comes out.
- Squeeze juice from a lemon half into the bowl of wheatgrass juice. The lemon is only optional, but it enhances the flavor of the wheatgrass while preserving the juice a little longer. Mix with a spatula or spoon to combine. This can be especially useful if you stick to water instead of using juice for your blended mix.
- Transfer the wheatgrass from the container into glasses to enjoy. Serve it chilled or with ice. Wheatgrass can be best enjoyed in shot form.
EditUsing a Juicer - Prepare your wheatgrass. Prepare as much chopped wheatgrass as you want to use. You'll need to feed it into your juicer.
- Prepare your juicer. Every juicer is different, so you'll have to set it up according to the instructions in your manual. Manual wheatgrass juicers can look a bit like meat grinders, and tend to include a handle that you grind, along with a pestle-type implement to push the grass down. Manual wheatgrass juicers can sometimes only be really used for wheatgrass, so if you splurge on a juicer, you may want to get an electric juicer so you can use it for juicing other vegetables as well. Electric juicers blend the grass more easily, but they require a bit more cleanup.[2]
- If you get an electric juicer, make sure you get a masticating one. A centrifugal juicer will not juice wheatgrass at all.
- Feed the wheatgrass into the juicer. Now, just feed the wheatgrass into the juicer. For most juicers, you'll have to fill them a little bit at a time, so you don't cram the juicer and make it difficult to juice the wheatgrass. The juicer will then have a place for the juice to be collected, as well as a place for the pulp to go.
- Pour the juice from the juicer into a glass and enjoy. You should be all done juicing your wheatgrass. Though a juicer for wheatgrass or a juicer in general can get a bit pricy, if you're really committed to juicing wheatgrass regularly, it can make a real difference in your life. After you pour it into a glass and enjoy a portion of delicious wheatgrass juice, all you have to do is clean up your juicer and you're all done.
- You can also strain wheatgrass juice out of a blender by slipping over a cut piece of clean nylon stocking over the mouth of the blender. Secure the stocking in place, tip the blender upside down, and gently squeeze the juice and pulp into a cup.
- There are special juicers available for purchase that are designed to juice wheatgrass. Both manual and electric versions are available. If you plan on drinking a lot of wheatgrass juice, it may be worthwhile to invest in one of these wheatgrass juicers. Simply follow the instructions the juicer comes with to prepare your juice.
- Drink the wheatgrass juice within 12 hours. After 12 hours, it will break down and go bad. For the best taste and most nutrition, fresh wheatgrass juice should be consumed within 30 minutes.
EditThings You'll Need - Scissors
- Sharp knife
- Strainer
- Mortar
- Pestle
- Blender
- Spatula
- Spoon
- Clean glasses and clean containers
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Know if Baking Soda Is Still Good Posted: 07 Apr 2017 09:00 PM PDT Most people don't realize it, but baking soda has a limited shelf life. Though leavening products like baking soda and baking powder don't technically expire, they can lose their effectiveness over time once they've been opened, which could leave you with flat or strange tasting confections. If you're unsure whether it's okay to use a package of baking soda that's been sitting for a while, there's a simple test you can perform that will tell you what you need to know instantly—simply add a little bit of acid to the baking soda and watch to see if it reacts. EditTesting Baking Soda for Freshness - Pour vinegar into a large open container. Add roughly three tablespoons of some acidic ingredient, such as distilled white vinegar or lemon juice. Baking soda needs to come into contact with an acid in order to start a reaction, which is how you can determine its status, so the ingredient you use will provide the base for the test.[1]
- Make sure the container you pick out is big enough to contain potential messes.
- A measuring cup or mixing bowl will make for a good test site.[2]
- Shake in a small amount of baking soda. You'll only need to add about a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to the acid to find out whether it's still good. Dump in all of the baking soda at once, and be prepared to note what happens to it.[3]
- Using more baking soda than necessary will likely just result in an overflow.
- Watch for the baking soda to react. Fresh baking soda will begin to bubble and froth when it comes into contact with the vinegar or lemon juice. If the reaction you witness is underwhelming, or if nothing happens at all, your baking soda is probably past its prime.[4]
- If there's any doubt about whether or not a particular batch of baking soda is still good, it's usually safest just to pick up a fresh package.
- After the initial reaction has had time to die down, you can dispose of the vinegar-baking soda mixture down the drain.
- Throw out bad baking soda. There's no reason to hold onto baking soda that has lost its potency. Not only does it take up shelf space unnecessarily, it also won't produce the desired effect in the kitchen, meaning the foods you make won't rise, set or taste like they're supposed to.[5]
- An open container of baking soda may have no longer be good, even if it hasn't passed its listed expiration date.
- It's a good idea to test the freshness of your baking soda anytime you cook with it.[6]
EditStoring Baking Soda Properly - Keep your baking soda in a cool, dry place. Baking soda should be stored somewhere with a mild, consistent temperature. A normal pantry or cupboard is the best option, but it may also be okay in a covered jar on the countertop if you tend to reach for it frequently. Excess heat or cold or drastic changes in temperature can deaden the chemical agents that allow baking soda to react properly, rendering it useless.[7]
- Store your baking soda away from the oven, stovetop or broiler.
- Leave the package sealed until you need it. Contrary to popular belief, baking soda does have a lifespan, and the countdown quickens as soon as you open the box. Once air has had a chance to get in, it can bring moisture and other conditions with it that can cause baking soda to deteriorate.[8]
- After opening your baking soda, consider transferring it to another lidded container such as a condiment jar or piece of Tupperware. This will protect it from exposure and let you get more use out of it.[9]
- Try to only keep one package of baking soda in your pantry at a time. This will ensure that you're getting fresh baking soda every time you go to buy more.
- Avoid exposing the baking soda to moisture. Steamy kitchens or humid earthen cellars are not the best environment for baking soda, which should ideally stay dry. To prevent moisture from ruining your baking soda, keep it covered and store it a safe distance away from sinks and other water sources.[10]
- Measure out the baking soda you need for a given recipe, then put the package away rather than leaving it to sit out.
- Clumping is a clear sign that your baking soda is beyond saving.
- Renew your supply of baking soda once a year. Baking soda typically loses its utility at around the 18 month mark, but this estimate can be much lower depending on its storage conditions. Fortunately, baking soda tends to be inexpensive, so there's no reason not to keep a fresh stash on hand for all your favorite recipes. Consider buying small amounts if you usually end up throwing away more than you use.[11]
- Test your baking soda whenever you suspect its reaching the end of its shelf life.[12]
- You should dispose of old baking soda and purchase new about twice a year if you cook with it regularly.
- Be sure to use an acidic ingredient like vinegar or lemon juice to run your experiment—baking soda won't react with plain water.
- Don't confuse baking soda for baking powder, which is a separate leavening agent with an entirely different set of properties.
- It's not recommended that you store baking soda in the refrigerator, as the cold air being pumped in contains moisture that cause it to go bad faster.
- Baking soda absorbs odors, so create space between it and other more fragrant items to keep them from influencing the finished flavor of a dish.
- Keep an eye on the freshness of your baking soda so that you don't get stuck without it when it comes time to whip up a birthday cake or special meal.
EditThings You'll Need - Baking soda
- Vinegar, lemon juice or other mild acid
- Large open container
- Measuring spoons
- Airtight storage container (optional)
EditSources and Citations
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