If you drink wine like 75% of people, you’ve no doubt come across a situation where you screw something up. Years of experience as a sommelier have taught me how to handle most of those situations. Before you panic, here is the trick to open wine without an opener and other hacks to keep handy.
The Fresh Toast – You have been there, so here is a the trick to open wine without an opener and other hacks
Unchilled wine
Probably the most common issue that people have is they realize that, at the exact moment that they want a glass of rosé, the only bottle they have is at room temperature. If patience isn’t a virtue you possess, the absolute fastest method I’ve found to chill down a bottle without access to heavy machinery is to fill a large bucket with ice, add in half cup or so of salt (rock salt is perfect), and then fill about halfway with water. Put the bottle in, and turn it every 30 seconds or so. You should have a chilled bottle within about 5 minutes, though for sparkling wine you’d probably want to give it more like 10; the thicker bottles take longer to chill.
I face this one pretty regularly on the floor of the restaurant, and I have a range of tools at my disposal. Assuming you’re limited to standard wine openers, techniques here vary based on how badly broken the cork is. If the remaining part appears to still be solid, I’d just dive back in: this is where a waiter’s corkscrew comes in handy. If the cork is crumbling though, I often make the decision to just push the cork down into the wine. Some people would then filter the wine through a coffee filter, cheesecloth, or strainer, but I prefer to decant the wine into a clean vessel, and then pour it into another decanter: this allows me to get all or virtually all of the cork out without damaging the wine.
No wine opener
We’ve all been there: a bottle of wine and nothing to open it with. The best approach I’ve found is to us a fairly long key: your car key, perhaps, and to slowly work it into the cork. Once it’s in as far as it will go, you slowly twist the bottle while very gently pulling up. It can take a while, but it’s the safest method I’ve found, both for you and the bottle.
This does require at least a small bit of foresight: cleaning glasses is much easier if you don’t let the wine totally dry out, so at least putting some water in the glass at the end of the night will make your life a lot easier. I then like to use a wet cloth or rag, and no soap if I can avoid it, as I find that soap tends to leave streaks and stains on most wine glasses. If you have a hanging drying rack that’s ideal, but if that’s not an option then I start my glasses face down and then flip them about an hour later. I usually still have to polish them if I want them spotless (and by all means spend $8 on an actual polishing cloth), but it helps minimize the water spots.
Anxiety is a struggle for many – and Gen Z especially. But this fun habit can make a difference.
Dating can be tough, and not everyone is an expert. While Gen Z is drifting away from apps, most of the rest of the population is still strong. In fact, 349 million people worldwide using dating apps. The vast majority of matchmaking is done on mobile devices. Over 50% of individuals who met someone on a dating app said it led to a romantic, exclusive relationship.
We interviewed the founders of Konvo Dating and discovered the number one complaint from men is frustration over not getting responses to their messages to women. It’s hard to get noticed, especially when most men swipe indiscriminately at women they find attractive. This strategy partly explains why women are inundated with matches, and a man’s message is easily missed. Here are their tips for guys to get a dating app response. Here are tips for for guys to get a dating app response.
A generic “Hey” or “What’s up?” will likely go unnoticed in a sea of similar messages. Women on dating apps receive many such messages, and the key to catching her attention is personalizing your approach. Take the time to read through her profile and find something unique to mention. Maybe she’s passionate about a particular hobby or traveled somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit. Referencing something specific shows that you’ve paid attention and that your message isn’t just a copy-paste.
Why It Works: Personalizing your message makes her feel seen and appreciated for more than just her appearance. It tells her you’re genuinely interested in who she is, not just looking for a casual match.
Example: “I noticed you love hiking—have you been to [local trail]? I’ve been looking for new places to explore!”
Keep It Light and Playful
When starting a conversation, being lighthearted can help ease any initial awkwardness. Humor is an excellent tool for breaking the ice and creating a relaxed atmosphere. A playful comment or a light joke can set the tone for a fun conversation she wants to engage in. Just be mindful of your humor—keep it respectful and avoid anything that could be misinterpreted.
Why It Works: Playful conversations stand out because they’re enjoyable and easygoing. Women are more likely to respond to someone who can make them smile, especially in the often-serious world of online dating.
Example: “Your profile says you love dogs—does that mean you’ve mastered the art of the perfect dog selfie?”
Compliment Her Interests, Not Just Her Looks
Complimenting a woman’s appearance is fine, but leading with or only focusing on her looks might make it seem like you’re more interested in the surface-level aspects of who she is. To stand out, shift the focus to her hobbies, personality, or achievements. Compliment her based on her passion and show genuine curiosity about those interests.
Why It Works: Complimenting her interests makes her feel valued beyond her appearance, highlighting your interest in a deeper connection. It also allows her to talk more about something she cares about, making it easier to continue the conversation.
Example: “I’m impressed by your photography skills—how you captured [location] is incredible. How long have you been doing photography?”
Instead of Talking About Your Ex, Talk About How You’ve Grown
Bringing up past relationships, especially in a negative light, can be a big red flag in early conversations. It signals unresolved issues and can create an uncomfortable dynamic. Instead of focusing on what went wrong in the past, share how you’ve grown and learned from those experiences. If the topic arises, frame your response positively, highlighting personal growth and looking forward to new opportunities.
Why It Works: Talking about personal growth rather than past drama shows emotional maturity and self-awareness, both attractive qualities. It shifts the focus away from the baggage and toward future possibilities.
Example: “I’ve learned a lot from my past relationships, especially about communication and understanding. I look forward to finding a fresh start and building something meaningful.”
Stay Positive and Optimistic
A positive attitude is incredibly appealing. Women are more likely to respond to someone who seems upbeat and optimistic about dating. Avoid complaining about your previous experiences with dating apps or expressing negativity. Instead, show excitement and a lighthearted attitude toward meeting new people. Positive energy is contagious and makes the conversation feel more enjoyable for both of you.
Why It Works: Positivity sets a welcoming tone and creates a comfortable space for conversation. Women are more inclined to engage with someone who radiates enthusiasm and doesn’t take things too seriously.
Example: “I’m new to this app and excited to meet interesting people. How’s your experience been so far?”
Navigating the world of dating apps can be tricky, but using these five tips from Konvo can set you apart and increase your chances of making a genuine connection. Personalizing your messages, staying playful, complimenting her interests, focusing on growth rather than baggage, and maintaining a positive attitude will improve your chances of a reply and set the stage for meaningful interaction.
Patience and understanding is a essential, KONVOdating.com has more tips.
Anxiety is a struggle for many – and Gen Z especially. But this fun habit can make a difference.
Everyone has anxiety at times, but having it longer term can cause more issues. Insomnia, depression, gastrointestinal issues and more can result. Gen Z is seeing higher stress levels than older generations. 18 to 34-year-olds say their average stress level is a 6 out of 10, compared with a 3.4 among people ages 65 and older. APA’s 2023 Stress in America survey found. Last year, the younger generation shared their average stress was a 5.8. But a fun habit can help calm anxiety and can be done in most places.
Listening to music can relax you and calm you down. Research confirms these personal experiences with music. Current findings indicate that music around 60 beats per minute can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat causing alpha brainwaves (frequencies from 8 – 14 hertz or cycles per second). This alpha brainwave is what is present when we are relaxed and conscious.
Another study, published in the journal Plos One and conducted by a group of Canadian researchers from Ryerson University, utilized music and Auditory Beat Stimulation (ABS), a sound combines tones and plays them in one ear or another, stimulating the brain. ABS is an interesting method, one which seeks to provide anxiety relief in the least invasive form possible, disregarding medications.
The research examined 163 patients who were already taking anti-anxiety medication. They were instructed to listen to relaxing music, ABS sessions, both, or “pink noise,” a sound similar to white noise. Participants listened to these sessions for 24 minutes, with an artificial intelligence device selecting the music depending on the participant’s mood.
Researchers found that participants with moderate levels of anxiety experienced the most benefits after listening to music and ABS. Participants who had high levels of anxiety reaped more benefits from listening to music only when compared to the group who listened to ABS.
“The findings from this research are exciting as they indicate personalized music shows great promise in effectively reducing anxiety in specific segments of the population that suffer from anxiety,” wrote the researchers.
Music has long been associated with anxiety-relieving properties, but there haven’t been many studies that look at it through a scientific lens. Nowadays, when there are so many options for remote and digital treatment, the exploration of auditory stress-relieving tools sounds like something worth investigating, that could provide relief to large amounts of people.
Cannabis has become popular for every adult age group- but the surprise is Gen Z and Boomers are using it for similar reasons.
Cannabis is fully legal to over 50% of the population and all groups are embracing its use. Proven healthier than alcohol, it has become much more common in all sets. Even Florida looks like it is going to vote for recreational cannabis. Long stigmatized as a way to get high, be lazy and lay about on the couch, it turns out it is become part of every day life…and part of a health regime. An example of how it is being used, Boomer and Gen Z consume marijuana for similar reasons.
It is become so accepted, AARP did a study about use among Boomers. AARP is the largest print magazine with 38 million readers…and their bulletin has 33 million. A huge validator for the demographic. It also shows they are more open to more mainstream cannabis. This falls in line by the positions of the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians.
The AARP study revealed 21 percent ages 50-plus used some form of cannabis — be it food, drink, flower or another type— at least once in the last year, a report from the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging found. That’s up from 1 in 8 (12 percent) in 2021. In 2015 and 2016, roughly 3 percent of adults 65 and older used cannabis, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Roughly 68% of poll respondents who used cannabis products did so for help with sleep, the researchers found. Many also cited pain relief (63 percent), mental health, anxiety, and mood (53 percent) and relaxation (81 percent) as reasons for using cannabis.
What is interesting is Gen Z, the youngest adult generation, Gen Z, is an also a big fan of marijuana. They helped fuel the California Sober trend where you reduce or stop drinking and use weed instead. One reason Gen Z has embraced weed is it helps with anxiety and mood. They also use it for relaxation, way more so than other generation who tend to lean into alcohol.
What is interesting is some Boomers and Gen X are consume marijuana in a more traditional way by smoking. Gen X and Boomers new to consuming tend to vape and use gummies. The later two are more “on the go” and discreet and doesn’t have the smell. It is interesting the marijuana is bonding together two generations.