Sometimes the hardest part is breaking the ice; then the rest is smooth sailing. For example, attempt to shake someone's hand first, say hello to someone first, or go up to someone and introduce yourself. It's normal to fear approaching someone you don't know because you may bother him or her. However, people tend to enjoy talking with strangers, both the person initiating conversations and the person being approached. You may make someone's day! Smiling helps break any tension between you and the person you're talking to. Smiling with a twinkle in your eye allows you to appear open and welcoming. When you feel tense or nervous, smile and tell yourself it'll be okay. Don't forget, the person you're speaking with may be nervous like you. Smiling can make both you and the person you're talking to feel more at ease. While going up to someone on the subway and introducing yourself may be a bit odd, introducing yourself to someone at a party, business or networking event is completely appropriate. When you introduce yourself, give a little information about yourself that is context-appropriate. For instance, if you're at a party, introduce yourself and say who you know. If you're at a business or networking event, introduce yourself and say what company/specialty you are associated. To strangers or friends of friends at a social function, say, "Hi, I'm Ana. I'm friends with Svetlana. Did she invite you, too?" To business colleagues, say, "Hello, I'm Pedro. I work in marketing. What department do you work at?" Generally, people love to receive compliments. If you want to break the ice and make someone feel good, pay a compliment. Keep compliments sincere and not fake for the sake of trying to impress someone. If you want to start a conversation, you can follow up on your compliment, such as, "I really like your jacket, where did you get it?" or "That's a great painting, did you paint it?" While compliments can be nice, they can also reach a creepy level when pursued heavily, overly-repeated, or overly-given. Stick with one compliment. Asking a question is a great way to an "in" with conversation. If you're new to a gym, ask where the locker room is, or where you can find a towel, or what exercise class is best. If you're buying a gift for someone, ask a stranger her opinion on an item. Even asking small questions to people you don't know can help you boost your confidence in being around strangers. You can ask questions to get to know someone, too. Some standard questions to say when you first meet someone are, "Where are you from?" or "What do you do for a living/what do you study in school?" or "What do you do for fun?" For more help in asking questions, check out How to Ask Open Ended Questions. There are lots of things that can unite strangers, from working at the same company, sharing a vegetarian diet, having a dog or cat, and living in the same neighborhood. Capitalize on these similarities and strike up a conversation. It feels good to connect with someone you share similarities with, and who knows, maybe you'll make a new friend. If you see someone else with a dog while you're outside with your own dog, you can stop and ask about the dog. Often people who love animals love to talk about their pets and relate with other people who have a pet. You may notice someone's shirt that's from the same university you attended, or see someone wearing a sweatshirt that supports the same sports team you love. Ask "When did you go to university?", "What did you study? and "What activities did you participated in while at school?" There's plenty to connect you!

Summary: Make a move. Smile. Introduce yourself. Pay a compliment. Ask a question. Connect on a common bond.

This instrument will help you determine the direction from which the wind is blowing. The direction of the wind is an important element of predicting the weather, as the wind brings the weather to a certain area. The wind vane works by spinning and pointing in the direction from which the wind is blowing. This instrument has 2 parts or ends, 1 that is shaped like an arrow and turns into the wind and 1 wide end that catches the breeze. The arrowed end will indicate which direction the wind is blowing, for example, North, South, East, or West. You must be aware of where North, South, East, and West are relative to your location to use a wind vane properly. To make a wind vane at home, you will need the following supplies: A manila file folder A pin A pair of scissors Glue A pencil with an eraser A straw Modeling clay A paper plate Use the manila folder to cut out an arrow point that is 5 centimetres (2.0in) long and 5 centimetres (2.0in) wide at the base. Then, cut out a tail for the arrow that is 7 centimetres (2.8in) long and 7 centimetres (2.8in) wide. Take the straw and make 1 centimetre (0.39in) cuts on each end of the straw. Form the arrow by sliding the arrow point on 1 end of the straw and the arrow tail on the other end of the straw. Do this by pushing the pin through the middle of the straw and then into the eraser on the pencil. Push the sharp end of the pencil into a small lump of modeling clay to form the base of the wind vane. Take the paper plate and write the 4 directions, North, South, East, and West on each end of the plate. Place the clay base, with the arrow attached, in the center of the paper plate. You can do this by blowing directly on the wind vane and noting if the arrow spins freely when you blow on it. You can also use a compass to determine the wind direction outside. Do this by placing the wind vane and the plate outside on a flat surface. Then, use the compass to determine where North is and set the plate so it faces the correct direction. Observe the wind vane. If it becomes very windy, hold down the paper plate so the vane does not blow away. Note the direction the arrow points to as the wind blows and check the direction on the paper plate to determine the wind direction outside. For example, if the arrow is pointing west, the wind is blowing from the west.

Summary: Recognize the purpose of a wind vane. Gather your supplies. Make the arrow. Create the base of the wind vane. Note the 4 wind directions on the paper plate. Try out the wind vane.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, a FMV is an estimate of the sales amount that a private seller and buyer would agree to for a vehicle. In contrast, a trade-in value is what a dealership would offer. It's also important to note that the FMV is calculated based on the actions of willing buyers/sellers, not ones under duress. Trade-in values for used cars are also often altered by dealers to boost vehicle sales. An FMV estimate is more consistent. If you are looking up an estimate for someone else or if you are researching an older vehicle, you may not know every detail requested by the website. That's okay. Enter in a number of years or a series of options to create a workable value range. For example, if you know that the car was made in the late 1990s, enter in 1996, 1997, 1998, and, 1999. Note how the values differ with each year. Look at the automobile listings in your local newspaper. Or, go to a used auto sales website such as www.autotrader.com, enter in your zipcode, and search for similar cars in your area. Make note of the asking prices for cars that are similar to your own. For example, if you are selling a 1999 Mustang and see a 2000 model in your local paper, note the price. It's probably a bit higher than your car's FMV, but may be pretty close to it.
Summary: Recognize that FMV is different than trade-in value. Enter in reasonable comparison details if you don't know the exact information. Compare your car to others currently for sale.