Number 7 in the greatest tools of all time list is that weightiest of tools known as the Tie-Rod Separator. This hard forged tool is reminiscent of nothing so much as a giant tuning fork and its use will bring music to your ears. It is no less than twelve inches in length and has…

The gigantic standard screwdriver is number 6 on my “Greatest Tools of All Time List.” But, it needs to be a Craftsman so that you can take advantage of that wonderful “no questions asked” tool replacement guarantee. Here are a few of the greatest uses. Prying Chiseling Lifting Splitting Mutilating Jamming through a stubborn oil filter Throwing to stick in the ground. Holding your…

Number 5 on the Greatest Tools of All Time List is the Plastic Zip Tie. This magnificent invention can turn a quagmire of electronics cables into a beautiful braid of streaming efficiency. Here are 10 of its greatest uses. Auto wiring. With a few of these beauties you can quickly tame the most unruly…

Number 4 of 10 on the Greatest Tool of All Time List. The only known protection to the hole in the time space continuum is the clear-lidded-empty-margarine-tub. Without it all of your smaller than a breadbox items will be lost forever. What is it good for? Keep the needle for your basketball safe inside. Corral your lose paper clips…

Number 3 on the list of the 10 greatest tools of all time is that wonderful little spray lubricant known as WD-40. What does the WD stand for? I thought you would never ask. In the 1950′s a chemist named Norm Larsen was working on a product to prevent corrosion. Since water is a major culprit…

Up in the Sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s that champion of champions Super Vise-Grip. Actually it’s my vise-grip on a piece of kite string held aloft by my head shaking wife, while I lay on my back in the drive to photograph it against the sky (why don’t wives get the humor…

I believe the merits of duct tape should be shouted from the mountaintops. The longer I live the more uses I find for this invaluable resource. Here is a list of my favorite few. Securing computer cables. It is great for splicing wires because it is wider and more sturdy than black electrical tape. Emergency luggage patch. Repairing and marking…

Aguments are an all too common part of life. They should be avoided if possible. But, if you can’t avoid them you may as well win. Here’s how. Never Accuse your opponent of being wrong. If you realize you made a mistake admit it immediately. Be pleasant. Get your opponent saying “yes” It is a proven technique. Let them talk. “Enough…

Based on a comment from one of the LifeHack readers (Thank you Viviane) I decided to follow up my “Is He Following Me?” article with a piece on cyberstalking. Here is the result. I conducted a review of the legal status,techniques to avoid and steps you can take to preserve your safety in cyber…

There is a huge upset going on just now about the bomb plot foiled by the MI5 security branch in the UK. First of all, I want to say, “Great Job MI5!” The backlash is a lot of folks complaining about not getting to take the mouthwash on board the plane. Here is why they should hush. I once…

If you pay much attention to media trends (Especially Oprah Winfry and Bill Gates who is king of the geeks) you’ll notice a growing fervor concerning the state of education in America. They site falling test scores and dropping graduation rates as proof of their claims. Their solution… more time in the class room more classes in general better…

Empathetic Listening is a technique which can help you manage and avoid disruptive and assaultive behaviors. The foundation of the technique can be summarized in 5 simple steps. Provide the speaker with your undivided attention.This is one time “multi-tasking” or “rapid refocus” will get you in trouble. Be non-judgemental. Don’t minimize or trivialize the speakers issue. Read the…

First of all I would like to thank Leon, Chris, and the crew for inviting me to contribute. I’ll try to keep my work up to the high standards they have established. I work a great deal with deviant behaviors, both as a counselor to the perpetrators as well as the victims. So, I get a…