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Disclaimer: I in no way represent Manga Fox, only me. Come after me if you take serious issue with what I say.
197. "You are never given a wish without the power to make it true. You may have to work for it however." -Illusions, R. Bach. I have found this to be completely true.
198. If at all possible, avoid any surgery on the feet, especially the bottom. The bones there are in a cycle, of constantly being broken down and being rebuilt, and do not react well to having it disrupted.
199. Sometimes, the best thing for a couple is to end the relationship. The caregiver can only give so much before they are sacrificed completely in the act of caring for the other. Be selfish at times like this because it is necessary. This is the one piece of my own advice which I will not follow.
200. I could never do justice to G'kar(Andreas KatsulasB5) as he spoke of God and Truth but here is it's text: "If I take a lamp and shine toward the wall, a bright spot will appear on the wall. The lamp is our search for truth, for understanding. Too often we assume the light on the wall is God, but the light is not the goal of the search, it is the result of the search. The more intense the search, the brighter the light on the wall. The brighter the light on the wall, the greater the revelation upon seeing it. Similarly, someone who does not search, who does not bring a lantern with him, sees nothing. What we perceive as God is the by-product of our search for God. It may simply be an appreciation of the light, pure and unblemished. Not understanding that it comes from us, sometimes, we stand in front of the light and assume we are the center of the universe. God looks astonishingly like we do. Or we turn to look at our shadow and assume all is darkness. If we allow ourselves to get in the way, we defeat the purpose - which is use the light of our search to illuminate the wall in all its beauty and all it flaws, and in so doing, better understand the world around us." His followers could not grasp that and asked again What is God? A river. What is Truth? the mouth of the river. The crowd was more please with the second answer. I was more impressed with first.
201. For those who have no choice. "We only say we have no choice when we've already made one."-Luaxona Troi. Try determinism.
202. The oddest thing happened in Semptember of 2001. Stores sold out of flags. It was the saddest thing I heard. The surge in patriotism reminded me of someone rooting for a football team after they win the superbowl. Now that everyone has their flag, follow the code. Never at night unless under light. Never in storm. Never let it touch the ground, get torn, or get dirty. Despite the attempts to ban the burning of the flag by constitutional amendment, you are suposed to burn it respectfully when it needs to be retired.
203. During a history test on FDR's 3R's (Relief, recovery, and reform for post depression), I forgot the last R. Rather than leave it blank I wrote about Rogaine with Minoxadil, as I had seen a bunch of backhistory on it the night before on TV (something about it being the same chemicals as in rat droppings). The teacher was not pleased. My father got a kick out of it though and, on reflection, so do I.
204. Be aware that what is stapled together legally becomes one document. Use paper clips to keep documents separate. Put cute stuff on a stickynote, that way it doesn't end up where it shouldn't. Beware the staple.

more to come...

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205. Ethanol might work, but not with corn, and not forever. Making Ethanol from corn yields about a liter for every nine/tenths of a liter. Switchgrass and some other sources could yield closer to 20 liters. We're still using petroleum for the fertilizer.
206. People in relationships. Look and do not touch. When you look, do not get caught. Honor another's vows and yours should be honored as well.
207. Grandma and D&D. Three other guys and I gathered around a table. Throwing fortune telling devices. She thought we were doing something demonic. We were bonding and arguing various theories, many of which were religious.
208. To prepare myself for marriage, I learned to sit down at home. The toilet seat never rises. It is far less effort and saves much trouble later. I also slept with a row off pillows to keep me from tossing and turning at night. It seemed to work.
209. I once hired myself out to help housewives hook up their digital cameras to their computers and other technical issues. On one such occasion the housewife in question spent the majority of the two hours alotted ordering a young lady in the proper organization of an eight foot high chest of drawers that contained only socks. She paid me fifty dollars an hour. There is such a thing as too much.
210. When you shake someone's hand, do not give them a wet fish. I have no idea what this means but I think about it every time someone grips me really hard during a handshake.


more to come...........

[Koiya]

Wow some pretty good advice... some i have already told to others but if i think of something good to add ill send you a pm but i think you've just about covered it.

peice of advice that came in handy when i was younger...

" when up to you nose in sh!t dont open your mouth!! "

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211. Get to work early. If you think it takes you fifteen minutes to get to work and you're always late; leave earlier. Figure out the traffic patterns. If it means you get there early, then do so and wait patiently.
212. History has shown that you can change the world with a bullet in the right place. This change has often caused the masses to suffer. For the record I do not own any bullets... nor have I 'rented' any either.
213. If you believe in Democracy than you must respect the vote of the people; even when you think they voted the wrong way. It's the rules.
214. For those in dorms, as I'm sure you have a microwave, keep around microvable popcorn. It burns on occasion and could just as easily have set off the smoke detector.
215. At my job, I ask for an ID a lot. When I see a military ID, I remember that part of their job involves killing people. Unlike cops, they don't get free coffee and fewer places give a military discount than they should. Respect them.

More to come soon...

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216. If you ever wish to know who is the one in control in relationship, figure out which one has the least to lose when it ends. This is not the same as the one who has nothing to lose.
217. When making funeral preparations, do not ever presume that they will have the remotest clue what the deceased's natural look (or smile) was. This applies to taxidermy as well.
218. Do not commit software piracy. The various levels of middle management in the enertainment industry have suffered enough. There the artist to consider as well but that isn't the focus in the equation.
219. While remembering the word is good, knowing how to untie knots is 'safer.'
220. There are at least two meanings of every word. One is in the dictionary (denotation). The other is a perceived conception (connotation). Not everyone has the same connotation. Harbinger of spring or of death. Which do you think of first? This is occurs in everyday communication as well. Idea(A) in the mind when spoken can become idea(B) in the mind of the recipient. Not everyone uses the same dictionary either.
221. When going on vacation, do not repeat yourself too often, especially every summer. I can never go to the beach as I associate it with my parents in bating suits. This is not a vacation.
222. Bumblebee was a yellow VW 'bug', not a Camaro. Later, he was in fact referred to as Goldbug. Never was a GM car. Sorry, I'm a purist.

more to come....

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223. Some businesses (and some post offices) require that you sign your credit or debit card before using it. This is because it specifically says "not valid unless signed" on the card. If you want the clerk to check your ID, write that with the signature.
224. If you combine advice #100 and #112, you'll see a need for a paper verified voting system. Sorry trees, but we can recycle it after it's been verified.
225. There is such a thing as Zen driving. You arrive at your destination without recalling how you get there. Sleeping is an entirely different matter altogether.
226. If you went back in time several thousand years and explained modern evolutionary theory to the people then, how well would they understand it and be able to pass the information on (telephone game). Could primordial ooze be the same as 'made from mud'?
227. Long-haired, anal retentive people should trim it before it grows past the waste line. It's just a good idea.
228. Religion is best for those new to life or close to death. The rest of the time we're too busy with practical questions than those with complex and difficult answers.

more later...

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229. Show your ID when asked. They might read it but not always. They've let me into plenty of movies that they shouldn't have simply because I wasn't deterred.
230. The principles of the Art of War are taught to our generals but not to our politicians. Sun Tzu tells the reader about the proper means to fighting a war. Raising treasure and growing the army are generally part of proper domestic planning during wartime. Another understanding of war is the just war theory. It attempts to annalyze war according numerous factors (necessity, proportionality, defense,etc.). #102.
231. You are only loitering if you haven't spent money. Buy something that you can easily return. Movie tickets work especially well as you have a reason to be waiting.
232. Gravity affects your CD's and DVD's. Store them perpendicular to the horizon. They can droop over time and that damages the information.
233. Sometimes the auction does not go in your favor. Learn what you can, spin what you can, and move on. It could allow you to claim less value later.
234. You never know where you'll end up. I ended up working in the camera retail industry for three quarters of a decade to keep a potential roommate from getting a potential job (my wife instructed me to take the job as the roommate was into photography). The worst part is I hate having my picture taken. At one point I was ready to move up or move out of that store. I said as much to the busier store manager,; he said that since no one would want to leave that someone would have to die. An opening became available the next day; brain aneurysm. Who am I to argue with fate?
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more to come soon. #75

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235. Health care professionals no longer trust the populace in using Qtips in their ear canals (the professionals still use them for that purpose though). An alternative to the ear cleaning solutions: equal parts of rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar. Use an ear dropper to flush out your ears. Curling irons are still not intended for internal use, no bending of the rules there, please.
236. The grass may be greener in the other lawn, but play only where you're alowed to. People are paranoid out there, some paid early attention to advice #21, additional suggestion for gremlin's advice would be a can opener or a good #51 with that option.
237. There is no difference between Cat Advantage ( Cat needs about .5mL) and Dog Advantage, with the exception of price and quatity. A similar thing occurs with house paint and nail polish. It's all packaging. Be aware.
238. If you wish to have a better understanding of dealing with death, watch for the tatoo in the movie, Harold and Maude.
239. To be Epicurean is to have a taste for the finer things but that does not represent Epicurus. He told his students: Do not fear the gods (he viewed them as functioning on a separate plane of existence), do not fear death. (you cease to be, so nothing to fear) What's good is easy to get(good is food for the starving, not luxury), what's terrible is easy to endure(it's quick or it kills you, and ceasing to exist removes the suffering). History has an effect on words. Tyrant originally meant "one who comes to power quickly". Oedipus Rex and Oedipus Tyrannus are equivalent titles for the play.
240. These words from G'kar(B5) have made it into some religious sermons: "The Universe speaks in many languages, but only one voice. ... It speaks in the language of hope; It speaks in the language of trust; It speaks in the language of strength, and the language of compassion. It is the language of the heart and the language of the soul. But always, it is the same voice. It is the voice of our ancestors, speaking through us, And the voice of our inheritors, waiting to be born. It is the small, still voice that says: We are one. No matter the blood; No matter the skin; No matter the world; No matter the star; We are one. No matter the pain; No matter the darkness; No matter the loss; No matter the fear; We are one. Here, gathered together in common cause. we agree to recognise this singular truth, and this singular rule: That we must be kind to one another, because each voice enriches us and ennobles us, and each voice lost diminishes us. We are the voice of the Universe, the soul of creation, the fire that will light the way to a better future. We are one." You will find wisdom all around you. Look and #102.

More to come...Including how to take over the world starting with drunken idiots with sticks

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241. Cut a loose thread rather than pull it. Things will come undone if you rush. #51
242. The tortoise and the hare. The proper lesson is to stop goofing off until after you win. The slow and steady thing is nice too, but it doesn't really apply to things like racing.
243. Do not threaten to end a relationship (quit or divorce) unless you really mean it. It can make you appear weaker, especially when it is a ploy.
244. Teachers are forced to teach to the test and not to the student. Education is about encouraging thought and creativity and not preparing us for corporate life. My High School changed to a more stringent dress code to include tucking in shirts and belts as the clothing demanded. As my pants fit already, I cut off the beltloops and needed no belt. Rebel.
245. If you cannot find the TV remote, stand up. You're probably sitting on it or that thing that fell from your lap was it.
246. Using a fork or knife on a toaster works perfectly fine if you unplug it first. this is also true of the cut potato trick to remove a broken light bulb. Unplug it first. CD tray not for drinks.

more soon...

[Xela42b]

OMG that was so cool and a little weird.
thank you.