| How to Be a Matchmaker at School Posted: 04 Oct 2021 05:00 PM PDT Maybe your classmate hasn't gone on a date in a while, or your lab partner is still recovering from a brutal break-up. You'd like to nudge your friends in the right direction, but you don't want to make things uncomfortable, either. Don't worry—you've come to the right place. Being a matchmaker isn't hard, as long as you take the right precautions. We're here to help you every step of the way, so you can set your friends and classmates up for success. [Edit]Ask for permission. - A single friend isn't necessarily an unhappy friend. Always check in with your friends and classmates before you start playing Cupid. Some people just aren't looking for a relationship, while others may still be coping with a break-up. Before you get the ball rolling, ask something like this:[1]
- "Hey Amber! I think you'd be a really great match with this guy from my math class. Would you like me to try and set something up?"
- "Hi Dan! This might sound crazy, but I think Kelsey from our physics class really likes you. Would you like me to scope things out?"
[Edit]Match people who have shared interests. - Being single doesn't count as common ground. Every person is incredibly unique, from their hobbies and passions to their favorite music group. Matching people on a random whim is just asking for trouble.[2] Instead, match up your friends and classmates who have something significant in common.[3]
- Try pairing 2 classmates who have the same sense of humor.
- Set up a date between 2 peers who are aspiring doctors.
- Match up a member of the lacrosse team with a member of the field hockey team.
- Don't put too much pressure on yourself to create a perfect match. You're never going to find someone who's 100% perfect for another person.[4]
[Edit]Scope out potential compatibility issues. - Pairing a player with someone hoping to go steady is a recipe for disaster. Before you make a move, do a little research first. If your match-up offers more long-term risks than rewards, it probably isn't worth pursuing.[5]
- If you don't know a lot about your match-up, ask some other peers for advice. You might say, "Do you think Hannah and Derek would be a good couple?" or "Has Sarah dated anyone recently?"
[Edit]Ask yourself if the relationship could cause drama. - Do a little extra research if both people are from the same friend group. Did either person date someone else in the friend group? If so, did the relationship end on good terms? Don't set up a match that's destined to be overshadowed by jealousy and hurt feelings.[6]
- If Jack used to date Maria's best friend, setting up Jack and Maria may not be a good idea.
- If Sam has an on-again/off-again relationship with a guy on the basketball team, you shouldn't set her up with a different guy on the team.
[Edit]Tune in to your feelings. - Ask yourself if you're crushing on 1 of the people you're matching up. Do you genuinely think these people would make a good couple, or are you repressing your own feelings by putting them together? Don't sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of someone else.[7]
[Edit]Get to the point instead of making a sales pitch. - You're setting up a date, not auditioning for an infomercial. Chances are, your classmate isn't interested in a list of adjectives about why someone is "perfect" for them. Instead, focus on the person's morals and values, and why you think they'd be compatible with your friend. While you're at it, use this conversation to share any possible dealbreakers, so your peer knows exactly what they'd be getting into. Try saying something like:[8]
- "Cliff really cares about the environment and spends most of his weekends volunteering. I know you spend a lot of time at the local animal shelter, so I think you'd be a great match."
- "I'm pretty sure that Jessica lives on the other side of town. I don't know if location is a big dealbreaker for you, but I just wanted to let you know."
[Edit]Arrange the date. - Plan something that both people will like. Maybe you'll invite them both to a small party, or set up a date at a nearby cafe. Once you've settled on a time and place, offer to show up at the date yourself, which may help make things less awkward. When both people seem comfortable, you can leave them on their own.[9]
- Remember—you aren't trying to blindside them. Say something like, "Jane is definitely interested in hanging out with you. Would you be interested in grabbing coffee this Saturday around 11?"
- Or, you might say, "Rob said that he'll be shooting hoops at the community center tomorrow night. Would you like to meet him there?"
- You could set up an outdoor date, too! That might feel more fun and laid-back than something like a dinner date.[10]
[Edit]Stay calm instead of gushing about the date. - At the end of the day, you can't control how people feel about each other. As excited as you might be, don't overhype the date or put extra pressure on your classmates. Maybe the date will be a huge success, or maybe they'll realize they have nothing in common. Regardless, no amount of excited, overzealous questions will change anything. Try to keep your comments as neutral as possible.[11]
- "Just see how the date goes!" is much more neutral than "I'm so excited for your date on Friday. You guys are gonna have a blast!"
- "What do you think of Maya?" is a much better question than "So, do you love Maya or what?"
[Edit]Offer support after the date. - One or both of them may want to share their thoughts. As a matchmaker, your job is to see the date through to the very end. Offer a listening ear and let your classmates speak their mind. Then, feel free to offer some advice. You could say:[12]
- "It sounds like you aren't sure about how you feel. It probably wouldn't hurt to go on another date and see if there's actually a connection there."
- "It's okay if you don't like them! Just be honest about your feelings and let them know that it's nothing personal."
[Edit]Don't force an unsuccessful match. - It can be frustrating to see all your hard work and planning amount to nothing. That's okay! Don't try to force your classmates on a second date if the sparks weren't flying on the first one. Instead, just let it go and focus on setting up your next match.[13]
[Edit]References |
| How to Plant Garlic in the Fall Posted: 04 Oct 2021 09:00 AM PDT Garlic is a very beloved part of many dishes, and can be readily found at most grocery stores. You can take your cooking to the next level by planting and growing your very own garlic. Even if you don't have a lot of gardening experience, you will find that garlic is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to grow. [Edit]Preparing the Soil - Find a well-lit bed of soil where you can plant your garlic. While you don't have to live on a farm to plant your own garlic, you will need a designated space for the cloves to grow. Find an area of loose soil to use when planting your garlic cloves.[1]
- If you do not have space to grow garlic outside, you should be able to find soil, planting containers, and other garden supplies at any store that sells gardening tools (i.e, Walmart, Lowes).
- Pull out all weeds from the soil. Weeds will steal valuable nutrients from the growing garlic, which may have a negative effect on the crop's quality.[2] Adding mulch later on will help to keep any weeds from growing around the garlic plants.
- Apply a layer of compost to the soil. Composting involves taking natural materials and reusing them as a source of nutrients for soil. Save any organic trash to use for your compost layer (i.e, coffee grounds, eggshells, teabags).[3] Use a scoop to evenly spread the compost into the soil.[4]
- It does not matter how much compost you use, as long as it is evenly spread throughout the soil.[5]
- There are free tools online that can help you figure out how much compost you should use given the size of your garden.[6]
- You can use a large bucket to compile your compost. Any fluid that comes from the composting process is referred to as tea.[7]
- Add slow-growing fertilizer to the soil bed. You want to add 2 tablespoons of fertilizer to each spot where you plan to plant a garlic clove,[8] as this will provide your garlic with nourishment.[9] Since the garlic is planted before winter, you don't want your plants to be sprouting in the middle of December.[10]
- Don't worry about not using enough fertilizer. In the warmer spring months, you will have plenty of time to give your garlic plants more.[11]
[Edit]Planting the Clove - Assemble individual garlic cloves for planting. Unlike other common fruits and vegetables, garlic does not have a traditional seed. Instead, you will plant a garlic clove. Remove the outer layer of skin from a normal garlic plant to reveal the cloves inside. Don't remove the skin from any of the small cloves.[12]
- Determine if you are planting softneck or hardneck garlic cloves. While similar, these two types of garlic have distinct differences between clove quantity and overall storage time.[13]
- Planting larger cloves is likely to yield a larger garlic plant.[14]
- Buy your garlic cloves from a plant nursery or seed company to ensure that the cloves are compatible with the soil in your area.[15]
- Wait for the first autumn frost to occur. Unlike other plants, garlic requires a cold temperature in order to grow properly. Planting your garlic in the fall will allow your plants to get cold naturally.[16]
- If you live in a colder region, you should wait up to 3 weeks after the first fall frost before planting your garlic.[17]
- Plant the cloves at least apart in the soil bed. You will want to ensure that your garlic has plenty of room to grow by placing each clove at least apart. The rows of garlic should be at least apart.[18]
- If you are planting hardneck cloves, make sure that they are planted in an upright position. Softneck cloves can be planted with more flexibility.[19]
- Cover the cloves with of soil. Garlic does not need to be planted deeply, so you only need to push about into the soil to plant the clove.[20] Depending on how wet your soil is, you can place your cloves closer to the surface and put of soil on top of them.[21]
- Monitor the soil's moisture levels and water it when necessary. Every few days, touch the soil with your figures to make that it's not dry. Garlic plants do not need to be watered unless the weather is abnormally dry. Only add water to the plants as needed.[22]
- It's normal to see small sprouts appearing from the garlic before the winter season. This won't affect their quality when it comes time to harvest.[23]
[Edit]Adding the Mulch - Create mulch from leftover leaves and grass in your yard. Since the garlic plants will be in the ground for the entirety of the winter, you will want to insulate them with a layer of mulch. You can use dead leaves and cut grass to create your own mulch, or you can purchase it from any store that sells gardening supplies.[24]
- You can also use a wood chipper to create your own mulch.[25]
- Place a layer of mulch over the fertilized soil. Once you have enough mulch, begin layering it on top of the soil. Ideally, the mulch layer should be at least deep, especially if you live in a colder area.
- Put a layer of straw on top to insulate the mulch. Adding a layer of straw on top of the mulch will provide your garlic plants with extra protection from the cold winter weather. You can use less straw if you live in a warmer area.
- Remove any excess shoots that begin to appear in the spring, as they decrease the size of your harvested garlic.[26]
- Wait to harvest the garlic. While the planting process stretches over fall and winter, you will not be harvesting your garlic plants until at least June. Dig up a single plant and to physically examine it before harvesting the rest of the crop.[27]
- Ripe garlic will have prominent cloves sticking out and will be covered in a layer of skin.[28]
- Don't use too much force when you go to harvest the garlic.[29]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Soil
- Compost
- Slow-growth fertilizer
- Garlic cloves
- Mulch
- Straw
- Double check a soil map to get more exact information on the planting climate and soil temperatures of your location.[30]
[Edit]References __ |
| How to Tie Braided Line to a Hook Posted: 04 Oct 2021 01:00 AM PDT When you have a fish on the line ready to reel in, the last thing you want to feel is the line snap and go slack. A well-tied braided line keeps your hook in place, making it more likely that you'll successfully bring in any fish you snare. Braided lines cast a lot further than mono lines, and they don't stretch, which makes it easier for your hook to catch in a fish's mouth. But, braided lines don't hold knots as well because they're a little slippery, which is where the modified uni knot and palomar knot come into play—they're strong knots that can withstand a lot of pressure, and they're easy to make. Switch out your entire reel for braided line and get your hook in place with one of these knots before going on your next fishing excursion![1] [Edit]Modified Uni Knot - Thread the braided line through the eye of the fishing hook. The shorter end of the line pulled through the eye is called the "tag." The longer stretch of line connecting to your fishing pole is called the "main" or "standing" line.[2]
- The modified uni knot is great for sea fishing or fly fishing with a braided line. You can also use this knot to secure bobbers and lures.
- Make sure to use the right line for where you'll be fishing—saltwater lines are typically best for more tropical waters, for instance.[3]
- Put the tag line through the eye of the hook a second time. Braided lines are slipperier than mono (unbraided) lines. It's important to add this second pass-through to your process to make the knot as secure as possible.[4]
- The uni knot is super strong and popular among fishers. It maintains about 82% of your line's strength, which is important when you're trying to reel in a fish.[5]
- Pull the tag end, so you have of length to work with. Position the line so that the tag end and main line are parallel to each other with the tag end laying closest to your body.[6]
- It's okay if you pull a little extra line through the hook. Anything leftover at the end gets trimmed away.
- Fold the tag line in half so the end is pointing toward the hook. Before folding, position the hook and line so that the hook is on your lefthand side and the tag line is closest to your body.[7]
- Check that the tag line and main line are both still to the right of the hook.
- Pull the end of the tag line up over the main line to make a loop. Check that the tag line is crossing over itself and the main line. If it helps, lay your hook and line on a table so you can more easily see what you're doing. Pinch the lines together where the loop intersects, and leave the end of the tag line sticking up, away from your body.[8]
- At this stage, the top of the loop is made of 2 threads. The bottom of the loop is 1 thread.
- Wrap the tag line around the top of the loop 8-10 times. Pass the end of the tag line through the inside of the loop. Bring it back up, then pass it through the loop again. Keep repeating this movement until you've wrapped it around the braided line a total of 8-10 times.[9]
- A normal uni knot only wraps around 5 times, but since you're working with a braided line, it's smart to do it a few additional times for extra strength.
- Check that the wraps are going in one direction and don't overlap each other.
- Pull on both the tag line and main line to tighten the knot. Pinch the tag line and main line together. Start tugging on them to make the big loop get smaller while the wrapped section's small loops get closer and closer together. Keep pulling until you start to feel a lot of resistance.[10]
- Don't be afraid to put some muscle into it. The line is really strong and can withstand a lot of pressure.
- Wet the line when you notice resistance, then continue pulling. Either use saliva or a little bit of water to moisten the section with the small loops wrapped along the line. Doing this lubricates the line a little and helps the knot slip along it more easily so you can secure it as tightly as possible.[11]
- It isn't possible to make the line too wet, so don't worry about that!
- Pull the main line to move the knot down to the hook. Release the tag line and pull on just the main line. The knot will slip down until it meets the top of the eye of the hook.[12]
- This part of the process is very similar to how you would adjust a slipknot.
- Trim the tag end to finish your uni knot. Once the knot is flush with the hook, all that's left is to trim away the excess line of the tag end. Use a pair of scissors, and be careful not to cut the main line accidentally.[13]
- This modified uni knot can withstand about of pressure.[14]
[Edit]Palomar Knot - Measure of braided line and make a fold. Crease the fold to form a nice, sharp point. Keep the line folded so you have 2 parallel threads next to each other.[15]
- "Palomar" is pronounced "PAHL-oh-mahr," just in case you want to sound like you know your knots when talking with other fishers.[16]
- Folding the line doubles its width and will make your knot even stronger.
- Thread the end of the line through the eye of the hook . About half of the doubled-up line should be on either side of the hook. The short working end is called the "tag" line, and the long line is called the "standing" or "main" line.[17]
- Tie an overhand knot with the tag line and main line and pull it tight. Lay the tag end over the main line to make a loop, then tuck the end through the loop. Pull the knot tight to secure the braided line to the hook.[18]
- One of the reasons the palomar knot is so popular is because it's made up of a few simple steps. It's strong and doesn't take long to make, making it easy to do even when it's dark or cold out.
- Open the tag end and loop it around the hook. The tag end is made of 2 parallel lines of thread—separate them so you have a circle of braided line to work with. Take that circle and simply pull it over the body of the hook.[19]
- Be careful not to snag your fingers on the hook!
- Pull the main line until the loop tightens against the hook. Gently tug on the main line. As you do so, the loop will start getting smaller and smaller, until eventually, it's just a small knot against the line. Keep pulling until the knot is flush against the eye of the hook.[20]
- If the knot seems stuck, you can lubricate it a little with saliva or water to help it along.[21]
- Trim the excess line on the tag end to finish your palomar knot. Take a pair of scissors and carefully cut off any leftover string on the tag end. Be careful not to cut the main line![22]
- The palomar knot can withstand about of pressure.[23]
- You can tie a braided line to a mono line, but the chance of that connection breaking is pretty high. It's smarter and more reliable to use braided line on your entire reel, so make sure to change that out before getting your knot in place.[24]
- Both the modified uni knot and the palomar knot work great with braided lines. The uni knot is ultimately the strongest, though, so use it if you're going after bigger fish![25]
- Practice your knots before getting out on the water. You'll feel more confident if you've done a few practice runs first.
- If you're not sure what type of line to use, visit a fly shop in the area where you'll be fishing and ask them what they recommend.[26]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Modified Uni Knot - Braided line
- Fish hook
- Scissors
[Edit]Palomar Knot - Braided line
- Fish hook
- Scissors
[Edit]References |
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