Things I learned lately - 29 Aug

• Google has a hate-on for Flash, and starting in September, will disable flash advertising in their Chrome browser.
• The Metro in Montreal has the second highest ridership per capita in North America, with only New York having higher.
• There are 24 Tesla Supercharger stations in the UK, with more coming online each year.
• The price of gasoline in Britain is CAD$2.43
• The Queen song '39 is a science fiction story.
• If you're trying to find something, try looking right to left as opposed to left to right. Your eyes tend to skim over things if you search in the direction you are used to reading in, so skim the opposite way. It takes me a bit more effort to do this, but you'll notice more details.
• When walking through large crowds of people, to avoid walking into anyone, simply stare at your destination. Look no one in the eyes. People actually watch your eyes and they avoid the direction you are going. If you look into people's eyes as you are walking toward each other, you are more likely to collide. Let people know where you intend to go with your eyes.
• If you ask a question, and receive only a partial answer, respond with polite silence. Simply wait. A more complete answer will usually follow.
• When talking to someone, if you copy their posture, they will subconsciously perceive you as a friendlier person.
• If you're in a crowded social group, restaurant, bar, party etc... and you want to know if someone is checking you out try this: Turn sideways from them (they will be either 90 degrees right or left of you), then very obviously, look at your watch (even if you don't wear one, lift your wrist) then point at your watch and nod thoughtfully. Over acting is perfectly acceptable. If they are keeping tabs on you, even peripherally, they will have a sudden urge to know the time and will either look at their own watch, cell phone, or casually look at the various obvious places where someone would put a clock.
• Have someone lay on their back on the ground and hold their legs straight up, so their body is making a 90 degree angle. Have them close their eyes and relax their body completely. Hold that position for about 60 seconds, then very slowly start lowering their legs towards the ground. It's critical they keep their eyes closed and ask them to tell you to stop when they feel their legs are about to hit the ground. They will always say stop way before it hits the ground, and then you say "well now I'm going to drop your legs through the floor" and keep lowering their legs down onto the ground slowly. It feels really weird and always works but I guess it's more of a mind/body trick (the blood drains out of their legs and with their eyes closed they can't get a good read on where their legs are).
• When trying to convince somebody to do something...offer them two options...either of which is OK with you. Humans have a hard time selecting outside of the given options. Example: So, did you want me to pick you up at 7:00 or 7:30? Did you want me to pick up the $50 one or the $35 one?