Computers:

++
Back up any
important data on disk. Your C drive is not indestructable.



++
Keep an extra
power supply around, you never know when yours will blow.



++
If you're on
a budget, use the 'draft' option when printing long documents, it uses
about 1/3 the toner you'd normally use and doesn't look too bad.



++
Don't skimp
on parts. You get what you pay for.



++
Restart once
a week, whether you think you need it or not.



++
Take some time to get to know your computer.
Seriously, it's amazing how many people are impressed by the most basic
computer knowledge. If you know enough and it is known that you are a
"computer geek," people will offer you money to build computers for them
or solve

their computer problems; a very easy way to make a quick buck.



++
Blow the dust
out of your computer. This has magically fixed many overheating problems,
and prolongs the life of almost all your computer

compnents. This goes double if you're a smoker, as the tar in cigarette
smoke will coat PCBs and the components on them and cause lots of overheating
and damage over time.



++
Back up all of your important files onto
something external (CDR/RW, DVDR/RW, or external hard drive; not a floppy)
fairly often. These things are dirt cheap, and hard drives fail a lot.
This leads to a more general statement: Never keep important data in only
one place. This applies logically: keep multiple copies on multiple media
-- and spatially: keep some copies in a place other than your room. Scale
this up depending on how important the data is -- for example, you may
want to keep invaluable, mission-critical data on magneto-optical media
and put one in a safe deposit box, one in your parents' house, and one
with your uncle in New York. But MP3s are probably safe on recordable
CDs or DVDs in a rack next to your computer.



++
Wet a cotton
swab with rubbing alcohol and clean your game cartridge with it. Works
much better than the "blow hard while moving game

up and down" method.



++
Go into a Wal-Mart.
Find the lightbulbs. See that Great Value bulb? See that GE bulb? Both
of those bulbs were made by GE. Probably in the same plant. Lots of store
brand stuff is like this. Over-the-counter pharmacy stuff especially.



++
Make sure your
speakers are magnetically shielded or keep them way far away from your
computer and monitor.



++
Don't open up
a tv and play with it. The capacitor has a deadly charge for a while,
even after it is unplugged.



++
When shopping
for new computer hardware, if the sales guy says "buy basically any brand
but the one in your hand," take his advice.



++
When shopping
for new computer hardware, if the sales guy says "buy this brand, it's
the best," keep looking around.



++
Flatten and reinstall Windows once or twice
a year. If you have a separate partition or drive, you won't have to worry
about losing that 40GB of completely legal MP3 files, and your system
will be squeaky-clean and error free.



++
Write your Windows
CD Key on an address label and stick it to the inside of your case. You
know, just in case (HAR HAR).

Computer buying advice

++
If you have to skimp on something to save
some money, skimp on the CPU. Stepping back a few speeds from the top
will save you a fortune

(often 50-80% of the CPU price), and you probably will never notice the
difference. The CPU is probably the least important component these days
for general usage. (Within reason - obviously you won't want to run Windows
XP on a Pentium 100.) Need high performance? Get as much RAM as you can
afford, up to 512MB or 1GB.



++
Never skimp on the monitor. The monitor is
the single most important component. You stare at it constantly when you're
using your computer, so get one that will fit the amount of space you
have, provide you with enough space to work with all of your programs
comfortably,

and run your intended resolution at or above 85 Hz refresh rate. Lower
than that and you're causing eyestrain.



++
Get a good-quality, comfortable keyboard
and mouse. Again, you'll be touching these things a lot, so you might
as well spend the extra money (from the CPU reduction ) to get nice ones
that fit your hands and your computing style.



++
Laser printers cost more up front, but they'll
save you a bundle over their lifespans. Toner is many, many, many times
cheaper than ink.



++
High-end computer speakers are a waste of
money. If space isn't extremely restricted, the best computer speakers
are regular stereo speakers hooked up to a regular stereo or receiver.
You can connect your computer to the unit's RCA inputs with a $3 cable
from Radio Shack. Even if you don't have a stereo to use for this, buying
one is a lot cheaper than buying high-end computer speakers, which can
run $200-300.



++
When you're thinking about buying a component
upgrade, like a new CPU, give it the following test:

If
someone came into my place when I wasn't here and swapped the new one
out with the one I have now, but everything looked the same,

how long would it take me to notice? If it's
longer than a couple of days, it's probably not worth it.



++
Similarly, ask yourself the following question,
especially when deciding between a high-end part and a regular part:



++
This will give me a X% increase in whatever,
Y% of the time. Is X% for Y% of the time worth the $P cost? Actually,
apply that to everything you buy, not just computers.



++
Never buy high-end cables, and never buy
cables at retail. Cables have higher profit margins than almost everything
except extended

warranties. Despite what the marketing and sales people will tell you,
there is no difference. It's been scientifically proven many

times. It's all placebo. Hooking up some speakers? Get lamp cord at a
hardware store by the foot from the big reels. Need a computer

cable? Order it from a wholesaler online such as Newegg. That USB cable
that your printer requires will cost you $25 at Staples and

$1.50 at Newegg.

School / Career

++
High school teachers are pretty wise to whole "increase
font size" or "increase margins" thing, but none of them seem to get the
whole "increase space between letters ever so slightly, making the paper
pages longer" thing.



++
Sometimes, if you have a term like 1+((1-n)/n)
you can write it as (n+1-n)/n = 1/n making the whole calculation a lot
easier.



++
Avoid cliches like the plague.



++
Learn to speak from the diaphragm. It'll
take time, but after a few lesssons you can find yourself sticking with
it; try singing your favourite song thinking about your throat, then do
it again imagining your voice rising up from as far deep in your chest
as you can; imagine it, feel it. The tone may change, and you'll find
your voice bouncing off of the walls. Do it whenever you can; when you're
walking, whenever. You'll be known as the guy with the booming voice once
speaking from the diaphragm becomes part of you.



++
Don't base your college/professional career
on the potential for money, but rather on the level of interest you have
in the subject at hand.



++
In college, always check the library to see
if the teacher is using a test bank.



++
Try to avoid starting sentences with the
word "this" when you write. Your style will generally improve. On a similar
note, for essays, when you finish, try replacing your opening paragraph
with your closing paragraph and see if the essay improves.



++
Always keep a current resume handy.



++
Never use a generic cover letter, it's way
more important than you think it is. Never describe yourself as a team
player, someone who works well with others, "motivated" or any of the
other cliches you're usually advised that people want to see.



++
In general, if you aren't inspired to do
homework, the best thing to do is just start working anyways.



++
If you are a freshman in college, talk to
the seniors about professors before you get your classes for the next
semester. Getting a good prof is extremly important.



++
If you're a
college student and you want to get on the good side of a professor, find
a common interest and discuss it with them.



++
Showing up to
class is half the battle in college.

Security

++
Always keep a photocopy of the cards and IDs in
your wallet. That way, if it's ever stolen, or lost, you'll not only know
everything you lost, but also your ID numbers, as well as important numbers
to call.



++
If you need to leave your car in an area
where you think it might get stolen, remove some small but vital part
like the fuse for the fuel pump.



++
Open a bank account, put a hundred dollars
in it. Then put the atm card in a box somewhere. Having a hundred dollars
that no one knows about could save your life.



++
Go to a shooting range and learn how to load
and fire a pistol and a shotgun. Even if you are vehemently opposed to
firearms, knowing how they work won't kill you. It will cost around 50
bucks to rent the guns and then buy some ammo.



++
If you or someone you know gets mugged, has
their purse snatched, whatever, if you look around in dumpsters and trash
cans within the next block or two you'll probably find the wallet/purse.
It won't have any cash in it (and maybe not any credit cards), but at
least you won't have to replace your driver's license, ID cards, library
cards, whatever, which is 99% of the pain in the neck about being robbed
(aside from the victimization thing).



++
I've heard that
keeping a second, cheapo wallet with a few twenties in it is good for
muggers. "Give me your wallet!" and you hand them the crappy wallet. Meanwhile,
your good wallet with all the stuff and, in fact, most of your money is
safe in some non-obvious spot.



++
If you're ever
going through a bad neighborhood on a bus, don't sit in the back. You'll
be more susceptible to robbery.

Social

++
The nicer you are to your parents, the nicer they
will be to you (for the most part).



++
Make friends as soon as possible with a new
neighbor. You have no idea how much this will ease certain encounters
in the future. It's easier to have a big party or just generally be loud
in your room if you know that the upstairs (or wherever) neighbor is cool
with you.



++
Make friends at the university. This is especially
important for you career-minded individuals. Getting on a professor's
good side is one of the most important things you can do at university.
If you see someone sitting in the lunch room by themselves and they aren't
studying or doing homework, go sit at their table and talk to them. Get
their name and what they're studying and BAM, you've got an aquaintance.
Then, when you see them around campus/town again, say 'hi'.



++
Even though you may be nervous about talking
to random people, the worst you can get is "Go away."



++
Making friends with janitors at school is
a great hint. Feel like having a day off school? Do it. He'll write you
a note, because even though he's kinda weird, he's pretty cool.



++
If you're in a large group that's singing,
and you know the tune of the song but not the words, you can just mouth
"Watermelon" over and over. No one watching will be able to tell, except
the deaf.



++
Guys, when everything is going perfectly
with your relationship, send your girlfriend flowers or a Vermont Teddybear.
If you can do it well, cook her a surprise meal.



++
If you're standing in a line at the grocery
store or wherever, turn to the person behind you and make small talk.

++
Do not
buy your girlfriend or wife flowers in an attempt to make nice after you
pissed her off. Every time she looks at the flowers, she will just be
reminded that you pissed her off, unless she has the memory span of a
goldfish.



++
If you occasionally feel like feeding the
hungry looking guy with the sign at the intersection, don't give him money.
Your desire to help him get some hot food may end up being exploited to
get things you don't intend. Carry meal coupons to local restraunts. Its
real hard to exchange a $5.00 Quiznos coupon for alchohol or drugs, but
it will get them a toasted sub.



++
Learn to apologize. Swallow your pride and
do it. It will make your life so much better in the end.



++
Repair your messed up relationships if at
all possible.



++
If you're at a party and you don't know anyone,
make it a point to meet the host and introduce yourself. The host can
introduce you to other guys/girls and it scores you points so you get
invited back.



++
Don't loan money to friends.



++
Spend some effort staying in touch with friends.



++
If you're in a foreign country, never assume
that a particular type of humor is universal. Your clever sarcastic comment
might not go over well at all if the listener isn't familiar with the
concept of sarcasm.



++
Remember when you were little and were intimidated
by adults and big kids? Play with little kids and don't think they're
dumb, they're smarter than you think. Kids will listen and behave better
around you if you do that.



++
Have a firm handshake.



++
Relearn childhood skills or hobbies that
you decided were stupid. They'll often inexplicably impress people later
on.



++
Pay attention to how your coworkers treat
waitstaff. It's is generally a good indicator of how they'll treat people
they feel they have some power or control over.



++
Take your hat off during dinner of say, a
significant other, or a friend's family that you aren't too comfortable
with yet. It just looks bad to be an impolite punk who doesn't show any
manners.



++
If you get in trouble with an authority figure,
be as nice as possible, sometimes they let you off if you display that
you have regretted your mistake or are willing to accept consequences.

Stains and smells



++
If you don't have a dishwasher, do yourself
a favor and rinse the dishes before you leave them in the sink.



++
You can throw clothes in the dryer for about
5 minutes or so to get wrinkles out.



++
If you ever spill red wine on light carpet,
shaving cream will get the stain out pretty well.



++
The best way to get out red wine from carpet
is to pour white wine on the spill.



++
Taco Bell hot sauce is very good at cleaning
pennies.



++
Drinking coffee or tea at a restaurant, and
there's a bit of liquid in the saucer under your cup that keeps dripping
when you drink? Tear off a bit of napkin and put it in the saucer -- instant
drip-proofing.



++
Put the smelly shoes in a plastic bag and
put it in the freezer overnight. The smell is caused by bacteria, which
will die when deep frozen.



++
Lemons can be used for a lot of things. Make
shoes look like new, get rid of coffee/tea stains on old mugs, rust (put
a lemon drenched cotton ball on the rust spot overnight), polish copperware,
etc.



++
Rubber Dish Gloves get cat hair off of furniture
very well.



++
To get candle wax off carpet, use newspaper
and a warm iron once you've chipped off what you can. Put the newspaper
down and run the iron over it - the wax gets absorbed into the paper.
You need patience, but it does work.



++
Want to keep your car smelling fresh without
having to buy those stupid pine tree air freshners that smell like crap?
Take a dryer sheet and place it under your seat. April freshness!



++
Super cleaning, sticker removal, stain removal
and more! -- Lighter Fluid, the kind you put in your zippo. Its a great
solvent, it cleans plastics, melts the glue on stickers and always evaporates
away to nothing. It's good at getting tar and oil out of clothes, and
its a great degreaser for mechanical stuff. Its also cheap. Brilliant
for taking the price tags off gifts, even book covers.



++
If you have a stone countertop with a stain
in it, make a paste using bleach and flour. Smear the paste on top of
the stain, and then cover it with saran wrap and tape down the edges.
Let it sit overnight, and in the morning you should be able to wipe the
paste off, which should have absorbed the stain. If it is really bad,
you may need to do it a couple of times. If you own a pool, Diametrecious
Earth (the white powder stuff you use for the filters) works a lot better
than flour.



++
If you feel the need to spit into the sink,
run a little water in it the instant before you expectorate. It will all
go right down.



++
In an emergency, saliva is a pretty awesome
cleaning agent. Good for things like blood in clothes.



++
If you smoke in your car, put one of those
silicone absorber packets underneath the ashtray. It will make a big difference
in the smell in your car.



++
If you use a kettle to boil water you know
it collects a white scum in the interior. Boil some vinegar and it dissolved
instantly.



++
If you have a pot or pan with crap stuck
to the bottom, put water in the pot and put it on the stove on high heat
for a while. If that doesn't work add a splash of alcohol. Then try vinegar.
You've pretty much covered all of your bases for solubility, so you can
be pretty sure that whatever was down there will dissolve.



++
Vinegar makes for a good Windex substitute.
Vinegar will also clean hard water residue much better than commercial
cleaners, but for truly streak-free windows, use newspaper instead of
towels.



++
If you ever get blueberry juice on anything,
immediately pour boiling water over the stain. Don't put anything else
on it first, or it'll set permanently. Boiling water, mind. This works
like a charm.



++
Bloodstains, I find, come out best if you
pour ice cold water through the fabric. Like the berry stains, don't get
anything else on it until you can get the ice cold water, or that stain
is set.



++
Guitarists: Rub the tips of your fingers
on your fretting hand on the sides of your nose, natural grease will get
you moving a little faster. Just be sure to clean your strings often.



++
If you have a long-haired pet, don't use
finely-toothed combs or brushes to groom it; they pull and tangle fur.
Get an English rake (check Google) instead.



++
Also, when packing lunches in plasticware,
it can help your clean up later if you line your tupperware with a tortilla
before you dump in the spaghetti or the cheese doodle casserole. Most
of the time, what you pack for lunch won't be ruined by the addtion of
a tortilla, and it will reduce how much dried cheese or tomato stains
you will have to clean out of the container later.



++
If you go fishing, or handle sardines or
whatever, and want to get that fishy smell off, you will find washing
with soap does not get rid of it, even after several tries. Put abunch
of toothpaste in your hand and rub it in good, the antiodor ingredients
will remove the stink in 1 wash.



++
Pert Plus will clean the grimiest of bathtubs.
Squirt product on affected surface, allow to streak downward and apply
moderate scrubbing vigor.



++
Toothpaste will take scratches out of CDs.
Buff from the centre outward with a clean, soft cloth or sock. Only regular
toothpaste, not the gelly kind.



++
Axe Deoderant
is a good cleaning agent. When using a plunger to unstop your pipes, the
secret to quickly getting the job done is to put your force on the pull
rather than the push. Push in slowly, then pull out quickly and with some
force. Also, make sure there is a good amount of liquid around the drain
you're plunging. This will assist with the suction. If plunging a double-sink,
have someone hold a stopper in the other side. When plunging a bathtub,
tape some cling-film around the overflow (usually where the shower/spigot
selector is).



++
If you get yellow
arm pit stains on your clothes dilute some asprin into water and soak
the shirt over night.

Remedies and cures

++
Brush your teeth twice a day. Floss, too. Not only
will your mouth feel cleaner, it will actually be cleaner.



++
To stop a coughing fit (when you swallow
liquid): breathe in deeply and hold your breathe for ten seconds, then
you should feel ready to make one good cough to clear your throat. Breathe
in and out slowly until the spasm passes.



++
Fish oil pills really do reduce cholesterol.



++
For the flu, sleep as soon as you feel it
coming get home and get sleeping, force yourself to sleep as much as you
possibly can. Two parts LemSip (or Theraflu for Americans), maybe a little
honey if you want it sweeter, will help you sleep very well. With enough
sleep, you can kill flu in 48 hours.



++
If you ever feel sick to your stomach, suck
on an orange peel. The acid will reduce the sick feeling.



++
Sleep more than you think you should, always.
Don't wake yourself up in the middle of a sleep cycle unless you have
to get up, it will mess you up worse than anything else.



++
Taking vitamin B-6 and Vitamin C will reduce
risk of a lot of diseases.



++
If you can't get rid of a cough you have,
drinking a tablespoon of cod liver oil. It'll go away instantly.



++
To clear your sinuses, eat a lot of wasabi.
It will hurt tons, but your sinuses clear almost instantaneously.



++
The cure for the ice cream headache:

1. Cup your hands against your face, covering your mouth and nose.

2. Breathe very slowly out of your mouth, so hot air enters your nostrils.

3. Count to 3-Mississippi in your head.



++
If you need to look at something in a dark
room and your eyes haven't yet adjusted to the darkness, look directly
to either side of what you're trying to see. You'll see the object better.



++
Don't eat food after 6pm.



++
Grape and cranberry juice makes climbing
stairs a cinch.



++
For sore throats & canker sores, gargle with
warm salt water.



++
Clip your nails after you've had a shower.
They're all soft and much easier to cut.



++
Do stretches in the morning and night. Not
only does it ease the future tension that you'll be forcing on your joints
throughout the day (stronger muscles = less pressure on joints), increasing
blood flow works wonders for your body.



++
Drink water whenever you're studying. Studies
show that most people can concentrate and learn much more if they keep
their brains hydrated. It helps flush out your filthy system- why not,
then?



++
Use warm water to brush your teeth, it softens
the bristles so you can have an easier time massaging the gumline. Then
rinse with cold water, which refreshes and makes everything contract back
up.

Hiccups

++
This requires another person who is participating.
Say to the other person, "Okay. I'm going to tell you the next time I
have to hiccup." Now, you must plan on doing this. Should you feel like
having a hiccup, say something. Chances are, though, you won't feel the
need to say anything. You concentrate on the other person and your hiccups,
then a minute later, they're gone.



++
Swallow when
you feel a hiccup coming.



++
Hold your breath
and press your earlobes against your eardrums. Keep holding your breath
for 30 to 45 seconds. You look like a moron, but it works for some. Hold
your breath and don't think about your hiccups.



++
A teaspoon of
white vinegar will cure hiccups sometimes.



++
Put a spoonful
of sugar on the roof of your mouth.



++
Drink a glass
of water upside-down, if you really think it'll work.



++
Play a really
scary game. Games with zombies help.



++
The cure is
peanut butter.

Games and sports

++
When playing rock paper scissors, 90% of humanity
goes scissors on first turn.



++
Never hit in blackjack if the dealer has
a 2-6 showing and you have a hand of over 11. If you hit and get a 10
and bust, the guy next to you will punch you in the face since he only
had an 8 or something and really needed that card. The dealer will most
likely bust in this scenario anyway.



++
The best way to score a point at air hockey
is to hit it straight into the goal directly. It is unexepected by your
opponent because he assumes, like most, that you will try to bank it off
the side. Always hit it as hard as you can. This tends to scare the crap
out of them because if it is done right, the puck may fly off the table
and the fear that it will nail him in the face is there causing him to
turn his head or wince at every shot you make. Make the person cry for
his mom.



++
Tighten fishing knots inside your mouth --
just utterly swamp them in spit. This reduces friction damage to the nylon
line so you end up with a stronger knot.



++
If you go snowshoeing, make sure you pack
light. And leave room in your pack for the clothes you're going to be
taking off.



++
In chess, opening with king's pawn frees
your bishop and queen, if you like to get them out early.



Don't move your rook's pawns early in the game if you can help it. You'll
be left with less defense if you need to castle.



++
If you're canoeing, make sure you put your
car keys in a watertight vessel that floats.



++
During many a Monopoly game, you will have
a choice between making a risky deal that has a small chance of winning
you the game, or dying a slow death, because you haven't the properties
to win the marathon.



++
Screw moleskin, duct tape the hotspots on
your foot. This will completly prevent any friction on your skin. This
can be used both before and after blisters form. Wool socks are always
a good idea too, as they draw sweat away from your foot.



++
On a long hike, bring some corn with you.
After three days of walking you'll love your fresh popcorn.



++
There are powdered drinks (just add water)
you can buy in pharmacies meant for people recovering from diarrhea. Add
some of that to your water bottle. Not only will it help cover up the
taste of your chosen purification method, but it will give you extra elctrolytes
and vitamins.



++
The higher you go, the less air and clouds
there is to block out UV radiation. It may be -10C out, but you will burn
at 5000 metres. Wear strong sunblock.



++
Walking poles, especially the spring loaded
variety, take a lot of the weight off of your legs when hiking. They also
help you breathe more efficiently as your arms are elevated. Get some
with a tungsten carbide tip. Trust me when I say that they may save your
life someday. When you're wearing a heavy pack and traversing difficult
terrain you do not want to fall.



++
Look out for your friends when climbing.
If they're complaining of a bad headache they may be on the verge of acute
mountain sickness. Stop where you are and administer diamox if necessary.
Climb high, sleep low.



++
Keep a tin of altoids with you, and right
before you take a big drink of water, put it in your mouth and chew it
up. When you drink the water, it will feel a lot cooler than it really
is.



++
If you want to build muscle mass, work out
in short reps that are difficult/heavy.



++
If you want to tone, work out for a long
time with easier runs/lighter weights.



++
A good trick to exercising is to work different
sections of the body different days. That way you can work on your arms
as you give your stomach time to heal.



++
There is always time for a few sets of pushups
and sit-ups in the morning, and they're free.



++
It�s a lot easier to work out if you do it
with a partner or a group. You will get a much better workout and always
show up. You can�t just decide not to show up if someone else is counting
on you.



++
When working out, be aware of the pain that�s
going to make you stronger and the pain that will break you. Don�t work
out on a torn muscle, but when those acids in your body build up from
the strain, work through it.



++
Nike and Saucony shoes run thin. New Balance
shoes run wide.



++
Don't play basketball in running shoes or
you risk twisting your ankle.



++
When spelunking, always wear a helmet, and
always have a spare flashlight. Caves are one of the few placse you can
see absolute darkness, and it sure isn't a place you want to be stuck.
Go with a friend, and make sure people know where you are.



++
Running is bad
for your knees over a long period of time. Biking is better.



++
If you're going
to the gym or running, tie your key in your shoe laces. Make sure to double
knot.

Cleanliness

++ Lay down some toilet paper in the bowl before you sit down. This greatly reduces the risk of splashback and noise. Especially useful in public restrooms.

++ Make a conscious effort to smell good. Don't kill yourself with aerosol deodorants like that kid in the UK did, but shower daily, wear a deodorant, brush your teeth/tongue, etc. Smell works in your favor on a subconscious level. You don't have to actually stink for it to work against you. On a subconscious level, you might just smell "wrong." You're not trying to smell like perfume, you're just shooting for "pleasant," or at the very least "unobtrusive."

++ Brush your tongue if you want your bad breath to go away. Not the front, way in the back. If you want to eat spicy foods but are a total wuss, do not let the hot part of the food touch the rear sides of your tongue because that is where the tastebuds that detect spiciness reside.

++ Toothpaste makes a simple pimple cleaning agent if you don�t feel like giving your money to Oxy.

++ If you want the freshest breath ever, use a really strong mint mouthwash like Listerine until you can't bear it anymore, then immediately rinse out your mouth with the hottest water you can stand.

++ If you want to wear cologne/perfume, do not use a scented bodywash unless it is made to compliment the cologne/perfume (ie Victoria's
Secret Very Sexy II for Him Bodywash and Cologne). After drying off, but before putting on any clothes, spray the cologne once or twice in front of you and walk through it. Put clothes on afterwards. This prevents the "smell cloud" effect, people smell it when getting close, but not when passing you in the hallway.

++ Put a layer of antipersperant on first, and then a layer of deoderant. Deoderant alone does not reduce sweating, and may result in slight pitstains, especially if you're nervous.

++ When you blow your nose, keep your mouth open a bit. You can actually pop (as in, put a hole in) your eardrum if you do not.

++ Orbitz spearmint gum has an incredible fresh breath smell range.

++ If you are like me and get shocked constantly no matter where you are, ground yourself with a little slap against whatever metal object instead of just touching. You'll feel the tap more than the shock.

++ Buy a styptic pencil from a nearby drugstore. It may sting a little, but it will instantly close up any shaving cuts.

++ If you get one of those annoying cuts on your hands or fingers that don't really hurt but don't want to stop bleeding, go ahead and put super glue or krazy glue on it to seal it right up.

++ Never cut your toenails so they are rounded (the way you cut your fingernails). They are more brittle and if you cut them with too rounded of a shape you can get ingrown toenails.

++ Shave in the shower -- shaving is best accomplished when your skin is moist and soft, and the hot water and steam of a hot shower is the best time for this. Get yourself a small hangable fog-free mirror (see below) and keep it in there, along with your razor.

++ Many haircare and shaving products have water repellent properties. You can apply these to your mirror and glasses to keep them from misting up. Shaving cream, hair spray, mousse style hair control stuff, etc. -- all of these can be applied to your glasses and/or mirrors so you can see clearly to take care of what you need to in a misty post-shower bathroom.

++ After shaving, store your razor with the blade dunked in rubbing alcohol. This keeps it from rusting and you can get many more good shaves before changing blades.

++ Do not shake nail polish before applying them, doing so makes air bubbles appear. Roll them gently in your hands instead.

++ Always wait for your moisterizer to be completely absorbed before applying foundation, that way your "face" won't slide off in the middle of the day.

++ Sharpen your eye and lip liner pencils before and especially after you use them. It stops nasty bacteria from growing on them, and if you are in a hurry to use them they are already sharpened from last time.

++ Press a liberal amount of face powder under your eyes before applying eyeshadow. Brush the extra powder off with the fallen eyeshadow, and you won't look like a panda. Rest your right pinky on your face and look down into a mirror when you apply eyeliner.

++ For long lasting lip color, use a lip pencil in a similar shade to your lipstick all over your lips, apply a thin coat of lipstick, blot with a single ply of tissue, then apply again.

++ Spray perfume into your hair for long-lasting fragrance, but don't use too much as alcohol is drying.

++ Ever pop a zit only to have a red mark appear that's just as bad as the zit itself? Buy some eyedrops and spread a single drop on the red area. A lot of eyedrop brands out there (especially the cheap ones) merely have chemicals that shrink blood vessels, hence "getting the red out." After a few minutes of sitting on your skin, the liquid should help diminish the redness.

++ If you wear contacts that are not specifically designed to be worn while sleeping, for God's sake, take them off. I don't care how lazy you are. It destroys your eyesight.

++ Keep your bathroom in good shape and try to make sure you match your towels and stuff. Being mismatched and untidy is a sign of someone
who doesn't care, and guests will notice this.

++ Don't mix bleach and amonia. Ever. This means don't use bleach in your toilet bowl, because urine has ammonia in it.

++ When packing your bathroom stuff for a trip, be it via car or plane, always pack your bottles of stuff in Ziploc bags, seperate if possible. That way, if one gets bumped and the cap opens, you don't end up with shampoo/soap all over everything.

++ Irritability is often the first sign of dehydration.

Cars and driving

++
When purchasing a car, pick the model you want from
the lot/showroom and take notes (make, model, color, options, price etc.)
Ask questions of a sales rep if you need to, but don't enter his office
or sign anything. Visit several other dealerships and do the same thing.
Take note of the lowest price. Wait a day or so, then call all the dealerships,
starting with the highest-priced one, and ask them to meet or beat the
lowest price you recorded. They'll all ask you to come to them to discuss
the matter; refuse. Work your way down the list, then start over with
the current highest-priced dealer. Keep calling until you can't get a
lower price.



++ In the same vein, when making any major
purchase like a car or a house, bring a calculator and check the dealer's
math. Learn the formula for compound interest (write it down if you must).
If you find the dealer playing fast and loose with the numbers, call him
on it and make as big a fuss as possible, ideally involving his manager.



++
Always learn the side-streets
if you travel on a major thoroughfare. They can, occasionally, be less
congested.



++
Keep in mind that when the
light turns red the other guys' light doesn't usually turn green for at
least a second or so. Plus, they have to accelerate and get out to the
middle of the intersection. So its actually safer in some circumstances
(you're going too fast, the yellow light is short or you didn't notice
it till late) to just slightly run the red light. to avoid real unsafety,
i usually think of red lights as being bad only if it's red before you're
halfway through the intersection. Note, however, that I'm not actually
condoning breaking the law, merely advocating safety.



++
If you need to leave your car
in an area where you think it might get stolen, remove some small but
vital part like the fuse for the fuel pump.



++
When changing your oil, take
the filler cap off before removing the drain plug.



++
A very good tip for long distance
(travelers) drivers: For every 2 hours of driving take at least a 10 minute
break, even if you don't have to go to the bathroom, or aren't hungry.



++
Your car battery is getting
old, hmmm? Not a lot of cranking power left, and it's cold out. AND you
have to fire that sucker up and be on your way at 3 a.m. Try this: before
turning the key, turn the headlights on for a few seconds. It might seem
counter-intuitive, but it works. This process is called "boot-strapping,"
as in "picking yourself up by the bootstraps." It warms the battery slightly
and provides a bit more cranking amps for the initial starting attempt.



++
If you live in a part of the
country where snow is a regular thing during the winter, do yourself a
favor and find a large, open parking lot the next time you get an inch
or two. Drive up there, and practice inducing spins and then steering
out of them. At minimum, half an hour of this is as good as gold, but
ideally you should do it until it becomes second nature for either direction
at most any speed. It's a lot more helpful than reading a description
of how to do so.



++
Before embarking on a long
drive, give your car a once over: check tires, lights, fluids, and make
sure to have a spare tire -- A real one and the stuff to change it with,
not just a donut.



++
Try to keep a "go bag" in your
vehicle. Include 20 bucks emergency money, a blanket, a full change of
clothes, lighter, bottled water, some sort of non-perishable food (MRE's
are perfect if you can get them), flashlight and batteries, a jacknife,
bungie cords or a good length nylon rope, and anything else you can possibly
think of that you might need. If you ever need to take off in a hurry,
you've got pretty much everything you might need already in the car. This
also makes a good emergency kit.



++
Keep a blanket and a snack
in your car, not just for emergencies, but for whatever.



++
At strip malls, and most stores,
for that matter, there is almost always parking in the back, regardless
of the fact that you'd have to kill someone to get a space in the front.
It might be for employee parking, but there usually aren't signs that
say so.



++
Keep a disposable camera in
your glove compartment.



++
Learn how to use basic hand
tools. This can prove to be near-infinitely useful.



++
Don't baby your car during
the break in period. It is not bad to bring the engine to redline every
now and then. It is actually good for the engine, proven by many people,
that the engine seals expand much better when it is exposed the full range
of what it is capable of. The thing you don't want to do is keep it under
3000 rpm during break-in, because I guarantee you that your piston rings
wont seat evenly. Highway driving is bad for new cars, because usually
you'll drive at a fixed RPM, which means again, the piston rings will
not seal fully and you'll burn oil in the later days.



++
The break-in period is typically
about 500 miles. After this, highway driving is better for your engine
than stop-and-go city driving.



++
Higher octane doesn't do anything
for your car if it doesn't need it. Don't put 93 octane gas in your car
if it doesn't need it. It will not give you more horsepower. Instead it'll
leave deposits in your engine.



++
Have a stubborned oil filter
and it's too tight to get a wrench in there? Use sandpaper to grip it.



++
If you get into a car crash,
don't shrug it off just because you can't feel anything. An injury (i.e.
whiplash) can cause a world of hurt later on. As you age, these injuries,
which usually don't heal 100%, turn into something much worse.

--
Tips for Getting Out of a Ticket

1.
Pull over ASAP, but not if it's dangerous. Turn into a non-busy parking
lot if you can, or if you can turn onto a side road without driving too
far, do it. Don't forget the officer has to get in behind you. Take that
into account. Also, pull over as far as possible. The officer will not
pull over as far because they use their patrol car as a shield to deflect
oncoming traffic.



2. Turn your parking lights on and your engine off. Roll down your windows
and turn on all the lights in your car. Stay in your car. Keep your hands
where the officer can see them, but not on your roof, felon. The top of
your steering wheel is fine. Turn your stereo off.



3. You never know why you were pulled over unless it's painfully obvious.
Ask permission and/or tell the officer everything you are doing; "My license
is in my pocket, let me grab that for you." "My wallet is in my gym bag
in back, mind if I grab it?" "My registration is in my glove box, let
me grab that." (leave the glove box open until your registration is back
in it) Do things slowly, but promptly.



4. Above all, be polite! Address The officer as "Officer" Not "sir" or
"ma'am."



5. Acknowledge that you may have broken the law, but not intentionally.
"I don't normally take this route, officer, I must have missed the sign,"
NEVER "I was in a hurry." Don't blame your car, your thottle, cruise control.
That's a good way to get an additional fix-it



Just keep in mind, the officer is just doing his job. If you get a ticket,
suck it up and learn from your mistakes.