Share The Wisdom Poll: Good Stuff

In My Humble Opinion
1

Okay, there are plenty of ripoffs in this hard, cold, cruel world. But a lot of things are great, too.

To be honest, some of the best advice I’ve found came from the SDMB. Others are just results of dumb luck and hard experience. So I thought it might be useful to share again, especially since there are so many new voices to join in.

FWIW, the following are solely consumer-based; I have absolutely no financial interest in terms of profit. Well, other than not blowing my money on overpriced and overhyped stuff that doesn’t work.

(I don’t think this violates board rules; there have been similar threads before. It isn’t intended to sell, just offer hard-won experience.)

So to start…

  • spray oil bottles: great for dressing salads, sauteeing, etc., not to mention a damned sight cheaper and fresher than canned aerosols.

  • home dryer dry-cleaning stuff: a SDMB bolt of brilliance. I’ve saved a mint on dry-cleaning bills, and don’t worry about buying “dry clean only” clothes anymore. A silk dress on sale? No problem; I can wear it, enjoy it and maintain it without going broke.

  • Neosporin: a pal saved a trip for me when I walked an open blister in my heel; a doctor friend of hers recommended it. It honestly disinfects and heals quickly. (Omni and Alpha can gag; I carry a tube in my purse.) This stuff kicks ass.

  • John Deere lawnmowers: I’m tired and sore, but my lawn looks great. After wrestling, cussing and kicking wannabes, this sucker kicks. It won’t stall, hasn’t rusted and even I can maintain it. The tractors used to be called, “Johnny Poppers” ‘cause they’d just keep going. Same goes. Nuthin’ runs like a Deere.

That’s just for starters; I could add bunches o’ books (see Diane’s home remedies thread) but you get the idea.

What works and makes your life better and easier?

Veb

2

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from TV ads, it’s that you can learn nothing from TV ads.

Except for the Ronco Pocket Fisherman.

3

Desiderata (something desired as essential)

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world…

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

–Max Ehrmannn, 1927. © Robert L. Bell

4

My own thought: “Wisdom is when you know to NOT ask the question you really don’t want to know the answer to.”

5
  1. Always buy thick socks.
  2. If you like a garment, buy two.
  3. Use corn oil to instead of turps on your hands, face, legs, arms, feet, shoes and clothes. Especially on Minwax non-water based products. Use a squirt of liquid dish detergent to get the oil off/out.
  4. Before you start a messy job put on gloves, if no gloves, slop on lots of hand lotion.
  5. Buy used books.
  6. Swap paperbacks.
  7. Never pass up a chance to make friends with a dog.
6

Um, Veb? Not to rain on your parade or anything, concerning home dry cleaning, but I just had an interesting talk last week with the dryer repairman while he was replacing the igniter on my gas dryer. He gestured contemptuously towards the Dryel kit on top of the dryer and said, chortling, “You don’t think those work, do you?” I said, “ummm…” He said confidently, “They’re just perfume, all they do is refresh the clothes, they don’t actually get any dirt out.” He went on to say that since most people use antiperspirant anyway, your clothes aren’t really very dirty to begin with. I said, “Oh.” But I didn’t promise to stop using it, and it’s none of his beeswax anyway, if I want my clothes “refreshed” and not deep down sparkly clean. And what am I supposed to do, just throw it away?

BTW, he also told me that carbon tetrachloride, which they used to use for commercial dry cleaning, has now been outlawed, even for commercial dry cleaners. Should I believe that? Dunno.

What makes my life easier is finally realizing that it’s okay to throw things away, like McDonalds styrofoam containers and margarine tubs. I had an especially tough time breaking myself of the habit of keeping Cool Whip and yogurt containers, but I think I have the problem under control. I figure, “Hey, it’ll just go in the landfill, and if future generations ever need some plastic, all they have to do is go dig it out.” I think of it as a long-term storage facility, rather than a garbage dump.

Also 2-liter pop bottles. I made a lamp out of one, but how many weird-looking lamps do you need?

7

Believe it. Carbon tet is highly toxic and classified as hazardous waste. According to one site (http://www.eco-usa.net/toxics/ccl4.html), they’ve been phasing it out in dry cleaning since the 1960s. According to another, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts30.html>, "High exposure to carbon tetrachloride can cause liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. These effects result from either eating, drinking, or breathing it, and possibly from exposure to the skin. The liver is especially sensitive to carbon tetrachloride because it swells and cells are damaged or destroyed. Kidneys are also damaged, causing a buildup of wastes in the blood. If exposure is low and then stops, the liver and kidneys can repair the damaged cells and function normally again.

Nasty stuff.

8

So what do they use at professional dry cleaners now?