These are the most common ways to find a partner
“How did you meet?” The familiar question has historically been answered with romantic or quirky tales of mutual friends and chance encounters, all of which compel a chorus of oohs and aws. But, in recent times, those tales have taken a drastic turn—whether for better or worse remains unclear. For a very long time, likely since the very beginning of time, close friends and family have been the most prominent way to establish new connections with other people. From the end of World War II until 2013, most heterosexual Americans were still meeting their romantic partners through friends, family, school, work, and so forth. It seems, however, that those networks are becoming increasingly more irrelevant. According to a dataset analysis, the internet may have largely replaced friends and family as a way for couples to meet. Online dating is revolutionizing romance. We’ve looked extensively at how technology has changed the way we interact with others, but not as much at how it changes who we interact with. Particularly in the realm of romantic relationships, there’s a notable shift happening that affects many parts of dating. Check out this gallery to see how couples are meeting, and why meeting on the internet is so appealing.
2024-02-14T11:25:12Z
Books everyone lies about having read
The older you get, the wiser people assume you are. That’s all good and fine until they want to discuss impressive books. You know the ones: written many years ago, canonized in our culture, etched permanently into the student reading lists. But while you panic and lie about having read whichever extremely long novel you thought you'd escaped after high school, don’t be so hard on yourself. As it turns out, a whole lot of other people are lying about having read those books too. The books people usually lie about reading are the ones considered to be classics, the foundational literature that has changed our world, immovable parts of the social zeitgeist. But who has time to read all those books and also read things written this decade? Maybe you lied because you watched the movie, but we all know that doesn’t count. That being said, there are quite a few cases when the film is actually better than the book. Sometimes you just want to read clear, easy prose, perhaps by writers who have experienced more of the same things you have. It could also be the case that these canonical books just won’t be your cup of tea! That’s a hard thing to accept, especially when you’re tens of thousands of words deep. Few and far between are the people who have actually read all of the classics, and it’s likely they’ll be having too hard of a time keeping the plot lines and characters straight to see through your lies. And there are so many liars! In a poll with more than 83,000 voters, hosted by Ranker, people came clean (anonymously, of course) about the books they lie about having read the most. Check out this gallery to see how you compare.
2024-01-31T19:48:01Z
These Insanely Helpful Garden Plants Keep the Mosquitoes Away
Say goodbye to the outdoor pests. Bugs come with the territory when you’re outdoors, but some are more tolerable than others. If it feels like mosquitoes are invading your yard, it’s understandable to want to do what you can to get rid of them. Enter mosquito repellent plants. Here’s the thing: Experts say that the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay is to use personal repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But if you want to go a more natural route, you may be interested in selecting certain plants—they’re just not necessarily guaranteed to work as well as a spray. “The idea that planting certain plants around your home will successfully repel mosquitoes is only supported by anecdotal evidence and not empirical evidence,” says Eva Buckner, Ph.D., assistant professor and state extension specialist at the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. It’s important to note, though, that there is some evidence that certain plants may help discourage certain mosquitoes from setting up camp in your yard—they just don’t work as well as a chemical or spray. If it feels like your outdoor space is a haven to mosquitoes, it’s a good idea to “eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on and around your property by draining standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, grill covers, baby pools, and other sources,” says Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Using a small fan outside may also help keep mosquitoes away since “they are not strong flyers,” Fredericks says. But if you like the look and smell of certain plants and want to see if they keep the mosquitoes away, too, there’s no reason not to try them. These are the plants fans swear are most likely to help get rid of mosquitoes. Snap up one or a few to enhance your outdoor space.
2023-06-26T20:04:01Z