This is a key rule when meeting new people. You may be obsessed with reporting the coolest fact you read on the news or you may want to wow your new acquaintance with your extensive knowledge of Italian cuisine, but if you want to have a positive social interaction, you should focus on showing interest in the other person's life instead of talking on and on about yourself. Here are some ways to show interest without coming on too strong at the beginning of a conversation:  If the person is reading a book, ask him how he likes it. If the person is wearing a sweater with a college's name on it and you know something about the school, ask if the person went there and talk about what he thinks of it. You can ask the person where he or she is headed if you bump into each other, and that can strike up a conversation about that person's interests. Ask the person about his or her plans for the weekend. When you should interest in a person, you shouldn't just ask any question that comes to your mind or the person will think you're being random or even rude. Ask questions that can lead to a long answer and show that you're putting in some effort in getting to know the person. Don't ask a question that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" unless you have an immediate follow-up. Here are some ways to pose a thoughtful question:  "Nice tennis racket. How long have you been playing?" "Mary always throws the best parties. How do you know her?" "I love Catcher in the Rye. Are you reading that for fun, or for school? What do you think of it?" "What did you think of Mr. Peterson's test? I couldn't believe how hard it was." To get to know new people, you have to master the art of small talk. Small talk may sound silly, but it's exactly what gets you to know a person and to be able to have a more meaningful discussion as the conversation progresses. Making small talk just means being able to keep up the flow of a conversation, to learn to build from one topic to the next, and to read social cues to see what the person really want to talk about. Here are some things to keep in mind as you try to make small talk:  Make the person comfortable. Put the person at ease by smiling, not leaning in too close, and giving him all of your attention. Reveal something small about yourself. Say that you love watching hockey, that you grew up in Brooklyn, or that your favorite subject is history -- just give the other person something small to work with. Be a good listener. If the person mentions that he has a sister in passing, you can circle back to it if the subject of siblings come up; then, you can say, "You mentioned you had a sister. Are you close in age?" and the person will be impressed that you remembered. Engage the person. Make sure that you're asking questions and keeping the conversation moving back and forth without dominating the conversation or letting the person do all the talking. As you and the other person get to know each other, you can start to talk about more personal topics. At first, though, it's better to steer clear, or you'll risk making the other person uncomfortable. One of the reason people feel awkward is because they bring up a subject that clearly makes the other person uncomfortable but they don't know why. Here are some topics to avoid when you're talking to a person for the first time:  Serious breakups The death of a loved one Sexual experience Health problems you may be having Deep personal struggles Embarrassing moments Oversharing is related to getting too personal. You may be the kind of awkward person who sees that the other person has nothing to say, and then compensates by talking nonstop, wondering, "How the heck did I end up talking about my grandmother's bronchitis?" Though you may think that talking about anything that comes to your mind will make the conversation keep going, it's actually better to pause and redirect the conversation in a more comfortable way. Here are some other things you should avoid mentioning to a new person unless you want to risk oversharing:  Your deepest longings Your deep-seated issues with your parents Your unsatisfying childhood Your feelings of sadness, loneliness, alienation, or any other deeply negative emotion The weird rash on your arm That time you got so drunk that you threw up You should get a sense of what the new person is like before you try out your raunchiest jokes or start harshly criticizing a past president. Remember that every person is different, and that not everybody shares your perspective on politics, religion, or even sports. Remember that you and the new person may be in a similar social circle, but that this doesn't mean that the person has the same perspective on all the people around you. Here are some topics to avoid so you don't offend a new person:  Any lewd jokes Harsh criticism of the current or past president Comments on the undoubtable/impossible existence of God Criticism of a person you both know Criticism of all the fans of an "inferior" sports team that the person might like Inside jokes that you share with other people Any general comments that would make the person think, "I guess I have to get to know this person for that weird comment to make sense..."

Summary: Be interested -- not interesting. Ask thoughtful and open-ended questions. Master the art of small talk. Avoid personal subjects at first. Don't overshare. Read the person to avoid offending him or her.


9-Ball is usually played one-on-one. If you have more than two people, divide into two teams. In a friendly game, you can play with three or more teams. This is not recommended if some of you are much better at pool than others. You can just flip a coin, but "lagging" is a more entertaining way to decide the first player. On an empty table, every player places a ball just behind the head string. Each player hits his ball at the same time. The goal is to have your ball touch the far end of the table, then bounce back as far as possible without touching the near end or the sides. Whoever gets closest gets to break (see below). Try again if two of the balls touch each other, or if no one manages to hit the end without touching another side. . Pick out the nine balls numbered 1 through 9, and place them inside the rack. Arrange them in a diamond shape, with the 9-ball in the center and the 1-ball closest to the shooter. Place balls in the rest of the diamond at random.  The rack goes in the usual place, with the closest point on top of the foot spot. If you can find a diamond-shaped 9-ball rack, use it. If you have to use a triangular 15-ball rack, just make the diamond shape as tightly packed as you can. . Have the first player set down the white cue ball anywhere behind the head string. That player hits the cue ball at the 1-ball to break. The break should pocket one ball, and/or send at least three balls to any rail (side). If neither of these happens, set up the rack again and let the next player break instead.

Summary: Choose teams. Decide who goes first. Set up nine balls inside the rack Break


Let the professor know up front that you are requesting a letter of recommendation. This tells them your email is timely and lets them know what to expect from your email. Your subject line might read, “Request for a letter of recommendation for graduate school.” This makes it easy for your professor to read your request. Don’t put the request in an attachment, which makes it harder for your professor to open and read it. No matter how well your professor knows you, it’s unlikely they’ll remember everything about you. Your professor will be able to write a better letter if they have a list of your achievements, work history, and educational background in front of them. Attaching them to your request allows your professor to review them along with your request. You might also attach samples of your work and a draft of your application essay. This will help your professor tailor your letter to your application. Sending in your letter will be easier if your professor knows exactly when the letter is due and where to send it. Provide the address for a written letter or the digital link for an electronic letter.
Summary: Use a professional subject line that clearly states your request. Include your written request in the body of the email. Attach a list of accomplishments and your resume or CV. Attach a list of due dates and where to send the letter.