A Compliment?

This past Monday was Compliment Day.

There are several tools at that site I found to be encouraging. In fact, I felt a little better about myself just reading them!

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A guest preacher was called upon to fill in for the regular minister, who had gone away on vacation.

The substitute preacher began his message by explaining a little more about what "substitute" meant.

"If you break a window," he explained, "and then place cardboard there instead, that is a substitute. Not as good as a real replacement, but one that'll do in a pinch." He then went on to give a rousing good sermon.

After the service, one woman shook hands with him vigorously and exclaimed, "Wonderful! Let me give you a compliment, young man ... you were no substitute, you were a real pane!"

[Net 153s Smile A Day; retold by Mark Raymond]

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WORD for YOUR WEEK: In the realm of polite Christianity, when something isn't very good yet the occasion calls for us to pay a compliment to the thing's creator or performer, we tend to fall back on saying something like, "Well, that was certainly unique." The word, as so many do, has its basis in Latin - it originates in the word "unus," which means "one." (Think union, unite, unanimous, even "E Pluribus Unum," which is on American currency. It means "Out of Many, One.") When you use the word unique, you are saying something is one of a kind.

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Einstein's Advice

That Einstein fellow, he knew a thing or two.

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10 LIFE LESSONS from ALBERT EINSTEIN

1. Follow your curiosity.
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."

2. Perseverance is priceless.
"It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer."

3. Focus on the present.
"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."

4. The imagination is powerful.
"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge."

5. Make mistakes.
"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."

6. Live in the moment.
"I never think of the future ... it comes soon enough."

7. Create value.
"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value."

8. Don't do the same thing and expect different results.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

9. Knowledge comes from experience.
"Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience."

10. Be better at the game.
"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."

[by Mr. Self Development via Dumb Little Man blog; all quotations from Albert Einstein; tiny little editing tweaks by MR]

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Tomorrow I have a band gig, a union meeting, and a baby shower. All at the same time. I really wish they'd get that instant transporter technology perfected.

(sigh) I'll see you on Monday.

Mark

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WEB SITE of the WEEK: What do you do when a family member borrows money and won't pay it back? What's a good answer for people who get too nosy about your personal life? How should you handle that rude person in the office? Find the time-honored advice of Emily Post and the folks working for the Emily Post Institute at http://www.etiquettedaily.com/. Also check out http://www.thegiftofgoodmanners.com/, a companion blog.

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Mark's Musings is sent each weekday using Ezine Director and I pay a little more to make sure my posts are certified by Habeas to be a safe source of e-mail. That means no ads, no spam, and no worries. Subscribe, view past issues in my Archives, and do other things over at my web site. To contact me and someday get a reply, click here. I know it's hard to believe, but I am wrong on occasion. You can forward or reprint Mark's Musings freely but please keep the credits attached. The credits never get grumpy about being left off the post, but I sure do. Original material and musings © 2010 by Mark Raymond. I update this blog with a copy of my e-mail post daily (plus I often add graphics) and very occasionally with "bonus material" whenever the mood or muse strikes. Look for the label that says "bonus" and you can bring all that extra material up with one click. My personal mission statement remains John 3:30. Find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/baldmark/. This post is magically delicious.

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WORDS for YOUR WEEKEND: "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." (Ellen Parr)

Mrs. Rosenberg

Sorry I didn't get today's post done earlier. Today is "Free Shipping Day" with promises from 745 online retailers to have it to you by Christmas Eve.

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Many years ago, when prejudicial ways and policies were prevalent in society, Mrs. Rosenberg found herself stranded for the night and the only hotel nearby was an upscale number known for not allowing Jews to spend the night.

Nevertheless, Mrs. Rosenberg went in, asked for a room, and after filling out her reservation card, the clerk looked deeply embarrassed but stammered, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, but apparently I was mistaken. We have no rooms this evening."

"But your sign says you have vacancies!" Mrs. Rosenberg protested.

Stuttering in fear, the clerk replied, "Yes. But unfortunately, we have a strict policy about admitting Jews. I'm sure you could find a room in some other establishment."

Mrs. Rosenberg stiffened noticeably and said, "I'll have you know I converted to *your* religion."

The desk clerk paused, sniffed, then said, "Really. Let me give you a little test. Describe the birth of Jesus."

Mrs. Rosenberg smiled and said, "He was born to a virgin named Mary in a town called Bethlehem."

"Very good," replied the clerk. "Tell me more."

"He was born in a manger."

"Yes, that's right," says the clerk. "Can you tell me why?"

At this point, Mrs. Rosenberg raised her voice so all in the lobby could hear her cry, "Because a jerk like you in the hotel wouldn't give a nice Jewish lady a room for the night!"

[Pastor Tim's Pearly Gates List]

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WISDOM for YOUR WEEK: "...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' " (Matthew 1:20-21)

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Mark's Musings rides an RSS Feed and is available via Facebook Note if you click my profile and *also* comes via e-mail each weekday. Check in your own subscription by clicking here.

Women and Men

So my band was asked to play for the Flint and Lansing area "Iron Sharpens Iron" Conference for Men at the end of March and April. We were politely asked to disinvite the two women who sing with us from the event, so we've replaced them with a couple of excellent male singers. Hey, we're not called "Subject to Change" for nothing!

Now, we could make a whole big post about the unfairness or seeming archaicness of that policy, but that's not where I want to go today.

The whole thing has me thinking about men and women and how we interact with one another. And I had a conversation with my wife the other day about how to motivate a man. (We needed to get some stuff done that we'd been putting off for awhile.)

So, in the hopes this helps, here's what I said about how to motivate a man. Ladies, if you need a man to do something for you, remember this: A man is only interested in doing something if it falls into one of these four categories:

It feels good.
It tastes good.
It pays good.
It will lead to one of those other three.

Take that to the bank. This may be one reason why we will never *voluntarily* do the dishes. And no, that wasn't the stuff we'd been putting off, in case you were wondering. But now you have the key that will unlock a man's motivation.

Now, for further understanding, here's a video from Mark Gungor's "Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage" ... a shortened version of it made the rounds of the Web about a year ago. This is the extended version and runs a little shy of eleven minutes. If I haven't helped to clear things up for you, ladies, then he will, I'm certain.

And guys, pay attention, too. There's some sage words of wisdom in here for all of us, as well.

Tobacco Warnings

Today is the "Great American Smokeout" event, a national anti-smoking campaign.

There's just no doubt, none at all, that smoking is harmful to both yourself and everyone around you. You know you should quit, and you know the people you love want you to quit, and hey, *I* want you to quit. I don't want to lose even one of my readers. I love all y'all.

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CIGARETTE WARNINGS TOBACCO EXECUTIVES WOULD LIKE TO SEE

Medical studies have proven you can still live a productive life with only one lung.

Most forms of cancer are treatable ... at least for awhile.

Smoking does not affect the fetuses of women who aren't pregnant.

Secondhand smoke only affects those who may breathe it.

Cigarettes don't kill people, matches do.

This is only one of *hundreds* of products that are slowly killing you.

[selected from cyberis.net; edits by Mark Raymond]

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WISDOM for YOUR WEEK: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2)

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Mark's Musings - choke, gasp - is also sent each weekday - wheeze - via email. Kaff! Kaff! (waving hand in front of face) Hey, put that thing out and then get your own subscription - for free - by clicking here.

Bean Soup

This Just In Dep't: Fellow list owner, list member, missionary, and all-around-good-guy Dave Aufrance reports an important new medical finding. Hydrogen Sulfide has been shown to reduce hypertension.

In laymen's terms, then: the stink in your farts helps keep your blood pressure low.

This is possibly the best news I've heard in years. No longer do we have to blame it on the dog. "Don't look at me like that, honey, I'm just staying healthy!"

And you thought I was kidding.

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Back in the 30s, Mrs. O'Malley arrived from Ireland and settled in Boston. In no time at all, her bean soup made her the talk of New England society.

At a party celebrating the sale of her recipe to a fancy Charles Street restaurant, an old matron approached Mrs. O'Malley and said, "My dear girl, you simply *must* tell me the secret of your soup."

Mrs. O'Malley replied, "Faith and Begorrah, but 'tis a simple thing. The secret to me soup is that I use only and exactly two hundred and thirty nine beans to make it."

"But why only two hundred and thirty nine beans?"

"Because, lass, one more would make it too farty."

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I was shocked when I heard the fart emanate from the sugar bowl on my breakfast table. Honestly, from now on I'm only going to buy *refined* sugar.

[JokeMaster and Ruminations]

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WISDOM for YOUR WEEK: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1)

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Mark's Musings is also available each weekday via email. Smell that? That's the subscription you get for free by clicking here.

Common Sense Laws

Sorry today's post is late, troops. I went to bed early last night instead of writing to work in some extra sleep so my body could try and get rid of the dregs of my bronchitis. Sadly, no such luck.

Anyway, I was thinking about common law marriage recently, though I don't remember why. After you've lived with the same person for seven straight years - and you're both adults, of course - the law considers you a married couple.

Which is really just common *sense* law marriage. And that set me to thinking about....

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IDEAS THAT SHOULD BE "COMMON SENSE" LAWS

If you bring a baby into a theater, every other person there has the right to slap you.

If you borrow my clothes, but they look better on you, you get to keep them.

If you speed around me only to slow down and turn at the very next corner, your license is revoked and your name goes in the paper under "Today's Idiots."

If you use a cell phone while conducting a public transaction (bank, post office, grocery check-out aisle), the clerk has the right to short-change you and you give up any right to complain about customer service.

If you dump your vehicle's ash tray in a parking lot, everyone else who parks there can dump theirs in your car.

If you stay thin no matter what you eat, you will be required to wear a fat suit while dining in public if ordering anything other than a salad.

If you produce one more reality television show that involves any kind of voting, you must be publicly flogged ... during prime time.

[written by Mark Raymond and Tim Dutil; add to this list!]

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WONDER for YOUR WEEK: Why is simple common sense so darn uncommon?

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Mark's Musings is also sent each weekday via email and it only makes sense to get your very own subscription by clicking here. It is, after all, free.

Man Skills III (The Last)

I don't think I've ever heard of a kilt being referred to as an "unbifurcated garment," but that's what Dean Peterson calls them.

Then again, he's also leading the fight to have kilts added as a uniform option for U.S. Postal Service letter carriers, so I suppose he has to make them sound more "government-y."

And hey, speaking of manly things like kilts, here's your final installment....

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SKILLS A MAN SHOULD MASTER
Part the Last (of Three)

Break up a fight - Work in pairs, if possible. Don't get between people, at least initially. Use the back of the collar, pulling and urging the person downward. If you can't get him or her down, work at getting distance.

Point to the north at any time - Here's a tip: If you wear a watch, point the hour hand at the sun. The point directly between the hour hand and the "12" on the face of your watch is south. North is, of course, the exact opposite of that. After dark, you're on your own.

Explain what a light year is - It's a measure of the distance light travels over 365.25 days.

Avoid boredom - As long as you have enough to eat and the ability to move, you have freedom of choice. You don't always have to be delighted, but there's no reason to be bored.

Write a thank-you note - Make a habit of it. The first line is thesis statement. The second line is evidentiary. The third is a kind of assertion. Close on the upbeat. Like this: "Thanks for having me over to watch Game Six of the World Series. Even though they won, it's clear the Red Sox are a soulless, overmarketed contrivance of Fox TV. Still, I'm awfully happy you have that huge high-def set. Next time I really will bring something to drink."

Be brand loyal to at least one product - It says a lot about who you are and where you came from.

Cook bacon - Lay it out on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Hold a baby - Newborns should be wrapped tight and held against the chest. They like tight spaces (consider their previous circumstances) and rhythmic movements, so hold them snug. Tuck them into the crook of your elbow or neck. Rock your hips like you're bored and have nothing to do but stand there. No one has to notice except the baby. Don't breathe all over them.

Deliver a eulogy - Take the job seriously. It matters. Speak first to the family, then to the outside world. Write it down. Avoid similes. Don't read poetry. Be funny.

Iron a shirt.

Know some birds - If you can't pay attention to a bird, then you can't learn from detail, you aren't likely to appreciate the beauty of nature, and you don't have a clue how bird-like your own habits may be. You've been looking at them blindly for years, now. Get a guide.

Stock an emergency kit for the car - Blanket. Heavy flashlight. Hand warmers. Six bottles of water. Six packs of beef jerky. Atlas. Reflectors. Gloves. Socks. Bandages. Neosporin. Inhaler. Benadryl. Motrin. Hard candy. Telescoping magnet. Screwdriver. Channel-Locks. Crescent Wrench. Ski hat. Bandanna.

[Abridged for length and family-friendliness by Mark Raymond from an article by Leif Parsons in Esquire magazine; my thanks to list member Lavonne T. for bringing the original to my attention. The entire piece can be found here.]

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My father -- after having several gall bladder attacks involving ambulances and hospital visits in the past two weeks -- is finally having the furshlugginer thing out today. By the time most of you read this, I'll be at his side and will stay there all weekend

Which means I'll see you on Monday.

Mark

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WEB SITE of the WEEK: With my Dad's surgery and my wife and I traveling soon, here's a timely pick: check out http://www.airmed.com. This is an air transportation and medical service that will take you from wherever you are in the world back to your own hospital bed and physicians at home. No co-pays, no deductibles, no disqualifying "pre-existing condition" clauses. You can also consult with Air Med's "travel medical professionals" and find qualified care right where you are. Plans start at $95 for short term trips.

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Mark's Musings is a Habeas-certified spam free mailer. Subscribe, view past issues in the Archives, and help defray publishing costs at my web site. To contact Mark, click here. Testing, testing, 1,2,3. Is this thing on? You can forward or reprint "Mark's Musings" freely but please keep the credits attached. The credits like you better if you leave them on the post. And so do I. Original material and commentary © 2008 by Mark Raymond. I update this blog with a copy of the post daily and occasionally bonus material on the weekends. Look for the label that says "Weekend" and you can bring them all up with one click. My personal mission statement is John 3:30. Processed Cheese.

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WORDS for YOUR WEEKEND: "The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected." (Cousin Woodman)

Man Skills II

Q. I used to find "Mark's Musings" in my Inbox first thing every morning. Now it shows up at all manner of odd times during the day. What's up with that?

A. When I can, I write and schedule the post to be delivered around 2:00 a.m., give or take a few minutes, when Internet traffic is generally lighter. And it used to be that no matter how hard or how long my day was, I would still stay up - often into the wee hours of the morning - to make sure your post was there fresh and early every day. But lately I've decided to try and treat myself a little better, in hopes of living longer, and that means getting a little more sleep, and *that* means writing the post when I can find a hole in my schedule. I'll try to get it there for you as soon each day as I can, but there will be some days (like today), when it will come when I finish writing, whenever that may be. Thanks to everyone who wrote to ask about me!

Meanwhile, here's part two of a post that looks like it's written for men, but I have a hunch most women could take these tips to heart, as well.

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SKILLS A MAN SHOULD MASTER
Part the Second (of Three)

Understand quantum physics - Enough so that you could accept a quarter might, at some point, pass straight through the table when dropped. Read "The Quantum World: Quantum Physics for Everyone" by Kenneth W. Ford.

Feign interest - Good place to start? Quantum physics.

Make a bed.

Describe a glass of wine in one sentence without using the terms "nutty, fruity, oaky, finish, or kick" - I once stood in a wine store in West Hollywood where the owner described a pinot noir he favored as, "a night walk through a wet garden." I bought it. I don't know which was more right, the wine or the vision that he placed in my head.

Shuffle a deck of cards - I play cards with guys who can't shuffle, and they lose. Always.

Tell a joke - Here's one: Two guys are walking down a dark street when a mugger approaches them and, brandishing a gun, demands their money. They both grudgingly pull out their wallets and begin removing their cash. Just then, one guy turns to the other, hands him a bill, and says, "Here's that $20 I owe you." [Or any other joke you've read in Mark's Musings -- MR]

Speak to an eight-year old so they will hear you - Use his first name. Don't use baby talk. Don't crank up your energy to match his. Ask questions and wait for answers. Follow up. Concentrate on seeing the child as a person of his own.

Speak to a waiter so he will hear you - You don't own the restaurant, so don't act like it. You own the transaction. Don't speak into the menu. Make eye contact. Be confident. All restaurants have secrets - let it be known you expect to see some of them.

Speak to a dog so it will hear you - Go ahead, use baby talk.

Ask for help - Guys who refuse to ask for help are the most cursed men of all.

Say no.

Recite one poem from memory - Here's a good one by William Yeats:

When you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

[Abridged for length and family-friendliness by Mark Raymond from an article by Leif Parsons in Esquire magazine; Part the Last next Friday]

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Again, sorry the post is so late today ... I've been putting in a ton of overtime at the office, and I have to be there early again Saturday morning, plus our band concert last night sucked up a lot of my time and energy. No excuses, just explanations. I'll try to do better.

And I'll see you on Monday.

Mark

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WEB SITE of the WEEK: Check out NASA's "virtual tour" through 50 years of space flight history at http://www.nasa.gov/50years. But drag your mouse around because there are hidden "Easter eggs" of material in each decade.

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Mark's Musings is a Habeas-certified spam free mailer. Subscribe, view past issues in the Archives, and help defray publishing costs at my web site. To contact Mark, click here. To keep retail store personnel from asking if you need help, pick up or put at least one thing in your hand or basket. You can forward or reprint "Mark's Musings" freely but please keep the credits attached. The credits should never be given a day off. Original material and commentary © 2008 by Mark Raymond. I update my blog with a copy of this post daily and extra thoughts, the occasional video, and other things that go bump in the night on the weekends. Look for the label that says "Weekend" and you can bring them all up with one click. My personal mission statement is John 3:30. Keep those questions coming, folks!

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WORDS for YOUR WEEKEND: "An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it." (Jef Mallett)

Man Skills I

Dep't of Aaaargh: Here all week long I've been complimenting the folks at Google, and then they turn around and do this. Apparently you can view my blog, but I can't add any more posts to it until the owned-by-Google Blogger folks determine I'm not a spammer. Hopefully it will be back soon, mirroring the post with extra goodies thrown in here and there and on the weekends to reward those who take the time to look.

In fact, I have a picture to post there to go along with today's item. Seems that Tania Ledger, from South London, grew tired of her plain, ordinary lawn. So she hired Chris Naylor - a "3-D Art Expert" - to cut a replica of the Mona Lisa into it.

And you thought I was kidding.

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SKILLS A MAN SHOULD MASTER
Part the First (of Three)

Give advice that matters in one sentence - I got run out of a job I liked once, and while it was happening, a guy stopped me in the hall. Smart guy, but prone to saying too much. I braced myself. I didn't want to hear it. I needed a white knight, and I knew it wasn't him. But he just sighed and said, "When nobody has your back, you gotta move your back." Then he walked away. Best advice I ever got. One sentence.

Score a baseball game - Scoring a game is an exercise in ciphering, creating a shorthand of your very own. In this way, it's a private language as much as a record of the game. The only given is the number of the positions and the use of the diamond to express each batter's progress around the bases. I black out the diamond when a run scores. I mark an RBI with a tally mark. Each time you score a game, you pick up on new elements to track: pitch count, balls and strikes, foul balls. It doesn't matter that this information is available on the Internet in real time. Scoring a game is about bearing witness, and expanding your own ability to observe.

Name a book that matters - "The Catcher in the Rye" does not matter. Not really. You gotta read.

Write a letter - So easy. So easily forgotten. A five-paragraph structure works pretty well. Tell why you're writing. Offer details. Ask questions. Give news. Add a specific memory or two. If your handwriting is terrible, type. Always close formally.

Swim three different strokes - The Dog Paddle doesn't count.

Show respect without being a suck-up - Respect the following, in this order: age, experience, record, reputation. But don't mention any of it.

Calculate square footage - Width times length.

Speak a foreign language - Pas beaucoup. Mais faites un effort. (Not a lot. But make an effort.)

Sew a button.

Be loyal - You will fail at it. You already have. A man who does not know loyalty - from both ends - does not know men. Loyalty is not a matter of give-and-take. No, no, no. It is the recognition of a bond, the honoring of a shared history, the reemergence of the vows we make in the tight times. It doesn't mean complete agreement or invisible blood ties. It is a currency of selflessness, given without expectation and capable of the most stellar return.

[Abridged for length and family-friendliness by Mark Raymond from an article by Leif Parsons in Esquire magazine; Part the Second next Friday]

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Hmmm. Seems to me most of that is pretty good advice for women, also.

Hey, the GKR of '08 is nearly complete. I will have pictures updated on my website - at least *that's* still up and running - by the middle to the end of next week. Meanwhile, there's more overtime on tap this weekend.

I'll see you on Monday.

Mark

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WEB SITE of the WEEK: Do you get catalogs from advertisers? I know we do. And if we happen to buy something out of one of them, the number of catalogs hitting our mailbox triples in short order. While I love the job security they provide - I am a postal employee, after all - I'm kind of not liking the number of trees that have to give their lives so these glossy pitches for conspicuous consumerism can tease our wallets. So go to http://catalogchoice.org and join their organization (it's free), then run down their list of catalogs and check off the ones you're receiving and no longer wish to receive.

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Mark's Musings is a Habeas-certified spam free mailer. Please let the people at Blogger know. Subscribe, view past issues in the Archives, and help defray publishing costs at my web site. To contact Mark, click here. If you have an idea for this spot, click the previous link. You can forward or reprint "Mark's Musings" freely but please keep the credits attached. When it comes to the credits, you have only one skill to master: pass 'em on. Original material and commentary © 2008 by Mark Raymond. I update my blog with a copy of this post daily (or whenever they let me), and extra thoughts, the occasional video, and other things that go bump in the night on the weekends. Look for the label that says "Weekend" and you can bring them all up with one click. My personal mission statement is John 3:30. What's yours?

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WORDS for YOUR WEEKEND: "To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee." (William H. Walton)

Rules of Civility

This past Monday was President's Day here in the U.S., the day we set aside to remember the legacies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, specifically, and all Presidents in general.

I let it slip by, unremarked upon. Perhaps because I was sleeping in and taking in a movie with my daughter.

At any rate, let's talk for a moment about George Washington. Apparently, when he was a teenager he painstakingly copied down 110 "rules" from a French pamphlet written in 1595, called "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation" and then actually proceeded to attempt to live his life by their precepts.

Today I feature just a few, with thanks to the editors at the Mental Floss website. Some, of course, are obviously dated.

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SELECTIONS FROM "RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECENT BEHAVIOR IN COMPANY AND CONVERSATION"

Every action in company ought to be done with some sign of respect to those that are present.

Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not on when others stop.

Spit not into the fire, nor stoop low before it, neither put your hands into the flames to warm them, nor set your feet upon the fire, especially if there be meat before it.

Read no letters, books, or papers in company, but when there is a necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave.

Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave.

To one that is your equal, or not much inferior, you are to give the chief place in your lodging, and he who 'tis offered ought at the first to refuse it, but at the second to accept though not without acknowledging his own unworthiness.

Tell not your dreams but to your intimate friend.

Look not nigh when another is writing a letter.

Be apt not to relate news if you know not the truth therof.

Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust.

Feed not with greediness. Lean not on the table, neither find fault with what you eat.

Shew not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

[selected from Mental Floss Magazine blog, via CNN's Living]

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WONDER for YOUR WEEK: How come every time history repeats itself, the price goes up?

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