Here are this week’s Life Pro Tips.
01. Turn your headlights on in any type of inclement weather even if you can see fine
They’re not for you to see, they’re for others to see you better in any type of weather. I shake my head at people driving around in (dense) fog without headlights. This is also true at dusk. Drivers can see fine with the daylight remaining and street lights, but their car might be much less obvious to others on the road, especially those with grey cars.
02. Guys who are growing out their beards or scruff….
When trimming/grooming never trim your beard directly along your jawline. It’ll you look like you have a double chin. You should leave at least a quarter to a half inch of hair on the neck. If you want a perfect example of WHAT NOT to do, see the above picture of George Lucas.
Many new beard growers make the mistake of shaving their necklines way too high, often shaving off the hair on their necks completely to avoid acquiring the dreaded neck beard status. They’ll usually trace their beard directly along their jawline since this is the easiest point of reference to follow. However, doing this actually creates the illusion of a double chin and just generally looks bad. Instead, the neckline of your beard should follow a gentle curve traced from the back of your ear, which will leave some hair on the neck itself.
03. If you ever come across an old coin collection…
In your life you may come across an old coin collection (e.g. after the death of a grandparent). Always resist the temptation to clean the coins. You will destroy their value.
Even if you’re not a coin collector, at some point you will almost certainly come into contact with old (and potentially valuable) coins. It can be tempting to try and shine them up before you take them in to get appraised, but don’t! Cleaning a coin will destroy up to 50% of its numismatic (coin collecting) value. Cleaned coins don’t look as nice. If the coin was cleaned chemically (e.g. by using silver polish), it will have a very unnatural and unattractive color to it. If it was cleaned physically (e.g. by scrubbing) it will have scratches all over it.
A cleaned coin stands out like a sore thumb to a collector, and for that reason most collectors don’t want them as part of their collection. Note that cleaning won’t affect face value (the value stamped on the coin) or bullion value (the value of the metal in the coin), it will only affect the numismatic value. But for old and/or rare coins the numismatic value greatly exceeds those values anyway. So take care not to reduce it!
04. What you should actually do if you find a lost dog
You find a lost dog. You’re a good person, so you want to get the little guy/gal back to their rightful owner. Do NOT post a picture of the dog when advertising that you have found a lost dog. Simply post (via facebook, craigslist, fliers) that you have found a lost dog and to call/email you with your information. When someone calls you about the dog, have them describe the dog to you. Because not everyone is as honest as you are, and certain breeds are desirable for various reasons (greyhounds, pitbulls…). Plus, if someone is looking for their lost dog, they wouldn’t need a picture of their dog, they’d be checking every found-dog ad within a 5 mile radius.
Also, if it doesn’t have an id, call your nearest vet or shelter and ask them if they will scan it for a microchip. Most will do it for free. I did this one time with a dog that showed up in my yard with no collar on. The dog had a chip which came back with the owner’s number, and she was home within the hour.
05. If you pay off a bill that’s in collection…
Ask the agency for a “pay for delete written agreement.” Depending on the agency, for a small fee, you can pay to have the bill be taken off your credit report completely. This is best if you had numerous late payments on the bill. You have to bring it up, otherwise they won’t mention it.
