20 things everyone should know how to do
Via Jason Kottke, The Independent asked various experts what the 20 things every person should know how to do are and then had them describe what "knowing" each thing really means. Here's the list, along with whether or not I actually know how to do it. 1. Change a tire. Yes I can do this, though not very quickly but I can get the job done. 2. How to sleep. I'm very skilled at this. 3. How to build a fire. With matches I can do this quite well. Without I'd be a little lost. 4. How to shine shoes. Don't really know how to do this but I figure its not that hard. 5. How to make a martini. I can make damn good martinis. 6. How to apply lipstick. This seems gender-specific (not forgetting drag queens though) and so I'm clueless 7. How to negotiate. Not very good at this. 8. How to scramble eggs. I can hold my own. 9. How to hang a picture. No idea. 10. How to ask for a raise or a promotion. Never been in this position but since it seems tied into "How to negotiate" I'd say I wouldn't be good at this either. 11. How to use chopsticks. I can hold my own with chopsticks but prefer the knife and fork. 12. How to iron a shirt. Can do this. 13. How to shave. I am the world's worst shaver and generally choose not to when I can but I can still manage. 14. How to hit a tennis ball. Yup, though my tennis game is based more on speed and power then skill. 15. How to listen. I'm a very good listener. 16. How to ask someone out. I'm a rookie in this department. 17. How to learn a foreign language. I speak spanish decently, though failed miserably in my attempts at german. 18. How to shake hands. No problems here. 19. How to buy a diamond. No clue. 20. How to conduct a background investigation. This is a weird one and I can say that if they mean anything more extensive then googling someone I can't do it. So whats my final scorecard? I can honestly say I know how to do 12 out of 20 with 1 kinda. Thats not too bad I guess.
This was interesting. It’s a strange list and I’m sure my list would be different. Interesting though.