Here are some of Sam’s tools for reading people:

1. Don’t make assumptions based on a single item. Look for trends and themes. (And definitely eye the trash can.)
2. First impressions are often accurate but be ready to update them quickly. Extroversion and self-esteem are easy to spot. Clothing can clue you in to narcissism.
3. Personal websites, Facebook profiles and email sigs can generally be trusted.
4. Homes and offices can tell you who is extroverted, conscientious and open to new experiences. Look at which direction things are facing. The more private a room, generally the more accurate it is.

i glance at my trashcan, which is just an open box containing a cut 2x4 with nails protruding, chunks of drywall, globs of dried plaster, a sandwich wrapper, used paper towels...  yup, you nailed it: this woman is in the middle of a construction project!  the dryer lint indicates that the washer and dryer have been installed, but the wet wipes will clue you in to the fact that there is still no sink!

Elementary, dear Watson. Elem-Emily!

hahaha!

Or should I write it Elememily? 😊

elememily.  you coined a word!  a tongue-twister, no less!  i love it!

Easier to say than...

I am not the pheasant plucker,

I'm the pheasant plucker's mate.

I am only plucking pheasants

Because the pheasant plucker's late.

And...

I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit;

and on the slitted sheet I sit.

the sheet one!  i first heard it in "the jerk" and it's been my go-to tongue twister whenever i need to impress people.  ;)

Ha! I gave up after trying many times and always getting it wrong. You're good you!

hahaha!  i just used it night before last to impress my kids.  they loved it!!

my ace in the hole...  ;)

...and if you mess up, hilarity ensues.

her accent makes it!!

Heh. Yes, that's why I picked that one instead of the many others on YouTube. 😊

I enjoyed the clip.

so did i.

I've never watched a full episode of the show Sherlock but it looks quite entertaining.

it does!  i might have to give it a go...

Cool, please let me know what you think.

Also worth reading:

http://www.cracked.com/article_20214_5-so-called-signs-genius-that-any-idiot-can-learn_p2.html

that article was funny.  :)  i liked the sherlock part where we learn how to impress people with the fake knowledge we have of them by being vague and selling it hard, because we are all suckers who like to hear about ourselves!!

"What Forer was really researching was the gullibility of people when reading descriptions of themselves, and what he found was this: We are so good at providing a coherent picture of what we hear and see that we flat out don't mind if the stuff we're told is vague and inconsistent. We're more than happy to fill in the blanks as long as the information is about us."

Isn't this the essence of astrology and psychic readings?

yes!  we are happy to fill in the gaps to make the general message about us, even when it's not.

Because what we're really looking for is assurance and confidence?

yeah, that sounds about right.  we are so adorable and insecure.  and we love to talk about ourselves!

We just have to remember not to believe so much that we get taken advantage of!

indeed!