How to Forgive your Bus Driver

Let's give Larry here a chance.

        Growing up in various public schools, I've had my fair share of ups and downs, bests and worsts with bus drivers and their behavior. There were the shouty ones, the stand-uppy ones, and the call-your-parents-over-nothing sort. I'm not saying that I'm some guru here who's ridden every bus on the Western side of the world (though that would be fun), but I'm hoping y'all can relate here. One thing that I've always had trouble doing since I was 5 has been dealing empathy to the bus driver.
        A few days ago, I was waiting for a bus on a route I hadn't taken before. I was sitting indoors in a Boscov's, and I happened to be the only one at the stop. Two minutes behind schedule, I noticed the characteristic engine noises and waited for the bus to come to a stop and check for any passengers. It did not stop. I went outside, thinking it would just readjust somewhere more convenient, but even after noticing me flail my arms around, it kept making its way out of the parking lot. In the end, I flagged down the bus and got into it a little out of breath, and a little ticked. The driver made no acknowledgement of me, and when I asked what the fare was he only made a subtle gesture to the post. I was not aware the machine did not give change (in my defense, I felt a little rushed), so I lost an extra $3.30 that the bus company probably appreciated. As I went to take my seat, all I received from the bus pilot was a dirty, unforgiving stare.
         So, not that pleasant an experience. But later on, I saw the bus driver conversing with a mentally retarded passenger about sports, after receiving a very pleasant "good day, how are you?" Then, I noticed him lower the bus elevation in order to accommodate an elderly lady. In retrospect, I had been more at fault here than I realized. As human beings, it can be very easy for us to only consider ourselves when we feel like we've been wronged by others. But there's true practice in compassion when we stop to consider how it all feels from the perspective of the waitress, the custodian, the bus driver.
          Bus drivers have to go through a lot. First of all, they get stress out the bum, just considering:

• Constant pressure to be on time
• Traffic, and of course assholes
• Asshole passengers 
• Hardly any assistance from the assholes up top
• Physical assault and crime (by assholes)
• Being, essentially, isolated and alone on the job



Something like this?

          Now for the physical perks of being a bus driver:



•  A hunch that rivals that of the Hunchback if you're tall
•  A pedal or two that are awkwardly tucked away from you
•  Minimal calorie expenditure from sitting down all day 
•  Very few, short breaks

           The childhood lesson of "taking a walk in someone else's shoes" is so applicable here. When we're not put under the same circumstances as the driver, it's easy to be cold, judging, and inconsiderate. But the easiest way to forgive your bus driver of their transgressions is to simply love them. Love them for getting you where you need to go, for being reliable and cheap, and just for being them! So take a second to understand them, and quit being an asshole and have a nice conversation with them. We all have our good and bad days, and sometimes we could use a little boost from a stranger.
           My bus driver's name was James. He has a wife and two kids, and the older can kick a soccer ball like it's his job. He's been obsessed with the Olympics recently, is voting for Obama, and has been having lumbar pains a lot recently. He plays a mean game of gin rummy. I think you'd like him, and who knows? One day, you might meet him. So will you remember who he is, or will you just pay attention to what he is?


    P.S. Bus drivers are damn good at what they do. I can't even begin to count the number of close turns and snap decisions I've seen them make.

          Have any stories, jobs, or people to contribute? Please do.

How to Solve Sudoku Puzzles

Y u no love Japan?!?!

   
        "Why the (insert swear word here) would I want to do a Sudoku puzzle?" Well, I can't force you to try one out, but virtually everyone I've introduced a Sudoku to said that it was easier and more rewarding than they thought. Yes, I promise, no math! Give it a try, and if you don't feel that sense of accomplishment when you complete one (and yes, you *will* succeed), then sue me.

I repeat, no math!

Your life goal.

What are the rules?

• The numbers 1-9 (including 1 and 9) must all be present in a row, no repeats
• 1-9 must also be in every column, no repeats, no exceptions
• 1-9 must ALSO be in the nine 3x3 boxes, no repeats, no exceptions!
• That's about it.

        If that sounds next to impossible, or somehow reminds you of the matrix, let me reassure you that it's easier than you think. Ready?

     
     
How to Succeed:


         1. Pick out your enemy. Size him up. If it's your first Sudoku, I recommend a beginner or easy puzzle.

You're going down, Websudoku.com.

        2. Use the rules of the game to win the game. What do I mean? Well, if you remember, a number cannot appear more than once in any row or column, so we can use this to imagine lines where 3's cannot go. Like so.

Using the 3's "line of sight" to see where that gets us.

        3. If we look at the box in the center, we can see that it is lacking a three, and that there is only one place for that 3 to go. So, we've solved that box! Go ahead and fill that in, and enjoy a little rush of dopamine.

1 down, 42* to go.

        4. Try that strategy with whatever numbers you like. On the easiest of puzzles, that should be enough. After going through a full cycle of all the numbers, you might want to check for newly forced boxes.

4's, yo.

Using the newly discovered 4's in a chain reaction.

          5. Looking at this situation right here, we can see that in the third row there is only one number missing. After quick analysis, it becomes apparent that the only number missing is 9. So put the nine where it belongs and dance a jig, dingus.

Mad skills.

        6. We didn't forget the rule about 3x3 boxes, did we? If you recall, boxes must also follow the 1-9 rule. Since we found a 9 for the box in the top left corner already, none of the other squares in that box can have a 9. So we can combine our box rule here with our "missing number" strategy from step five, and conveniently place a different nine on the board.

Ooh, purple!

       6.5. Then, we can go back and finish off the column with ease!

          7. I promise, you'll pick up speed as you do more boxes, and after a while you'll be solving these puzzles like this:

Rain Man speeds, it's how we do.

       And this:

Almost there...

         8. Fill in the last box with pride, and show everyone in the immediate vicinity your accomplishment! Then, sit back and remark on your logic abilities, and see if you can do another one more quickly.

Brain training games? Pssht, I do Japanese logic brain training.

         

          You may get stuck at points, where finding the next number might take a long while. It happens, just make sure you try different strategies, and look through every possible outcome. If you're looking for more advanced strategy for more difficult puzzles, check out this article.

             

         

                                                                                                 P.S. - The last number was an 8!

6 Ways to Regain Focus

        Humans are bad at multitasking. I still find myself attempting to do twenty things at once, though, and to no avail. If you're crazy like me, you strive to knock out too many goals at one time, and usually make little to no progress in all of them. At times like this, it's important to remember that focus is an essential tool to productivity. Many things can distract us from our goals, such as jobs, occupations, errant thoughts, illnesses, etc. but luckily, we can do something about it. Let me show you what I mean:

Sorry, junk food bouquets don't count.

1. Eat! (Easy enough, right?)
     
         Price-worthy and effective brain foods are simply too abundant to not take advantage of. As long as you know where to look. Research shows that fish, nuts, caffeine, blueberries, and other foods are all good for mental health in their own ways (just check out what the professionals say).

2. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

         Nothing fancy or quantitatively scientific here, just plain determination and willpower at work. When you are constantly reminded of your intentions, it becomes easier to invest more energy into them. It's usually not enough to just think about them, however. Stating your plans for the day again and again as soon as you wake up can help drill you into the driven mood, and writing your ambitions and your reasons down where you know you'll see them often (on your door, desk, car) will help to steer you back on track should you become distracted. You'll find that motivation and inspiration come more readily when you solidly know what you want, and why you want it.

3. Narrow your field of view (literally!)

       When staring down a single task at hand, it can be useful to physically stare at it and only it. Use your hands to block off some of your field of vision. This works since your brain and eyes are so interconnected. Also, over time your mind will associate your hands blocking your peripheral vision to your desire for sharper focus (the Pavlov effect).

Feel the invisible block of wood...

4. Meditate

     Focus follows awareness, and meditation is all about awareness. Meditation has been around for thousands of years, and it's proven to heighten mental function. Plus, it has a way of simply making you feel refreshed and ready for more. Take as few as ten or so minutes and zone out everything in your head. If you can't exactly meditate, or would rather just calm yourself, sites like Calm.com are great! (The page even comes in different versions, and guidance; I thought that was pretty nifty.)

5. Get away from your distractions

      While this may seem like common sense, far too many people (including myself) have issues concentrating when around electronics or noisy people. Just being around a computer or TV, without paying much attention to it, can have detrimental effects on your productivity. Think of the high school student who takes six hours to finish a 15 minute assignment because they were popping in and out of Facebook. The solution for some may be as easy as turning electronics off, but for others it may be necessary to be isolated in an outlet-less room. Figure out what works for you, and stick with it despite the temptations of the modern world.

6. Take a break!

    Sometimes, the best way to increase performance is to stop performing for a little while! According to the Pomodoro Technique, we perform our best in 25-minute intervals, so try taking a relaxing 25-minute bath, engaging in a little walk, or playing Chinese Poker with a few friends, and get back to work later. Just make sure not to slack off for too long. ;)

25 Quotes to Live By

        It's easy to let a bad experience or unfortunate situation get the best of us, but freeing your mind of constraints is essential to getting shit progress in your avocations and priorities done. I find that whenever I need to make a serious decision (Pizza Hut or Dominoes?), or whenever I need some serious motivation, there's a quote serendipitously  there for me. Hopefully, this will be just what you need.

1. "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now." 
-Chinese Proverb

2. "It is a risk to love. 
What if it doesn't work out? 
Ah, but what if it does?" 
-Peter McWilliams

Physicist, life master, and sexy beach babe.

3. "A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."                
-Grace Murray Hopper


4. "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."  
-Albert Einstein



5. "If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have gotten anywhere." 
-Marilyn Monroe

6. "Amateurs started Google and Apple. Professionals built the titanic." 


7. "All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come out of it.” 
-Matt Damon

8. "Between saying and doing many a pair of shoes are worn out." 
- Indian Proverb

9. "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." 
- Dr. Seuss


10. "You've got to dance like nobody's watching and love like it's never going to hurt." 
-Ann Wells


11. "Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt." 
-African saying

12. “I failed in some subjects in exam, but my friend passed in all. Now he is an engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft.” 

-Bill Gates

13.“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” 

-Eleanor Roosevelt

14. "You can do anything, but not everything."

-David Allen

15. "The most important actions are never comfortable."

-T. Ferriss

16. "If you love two people at the same time, choose the second one because if you really loved the first one you wouldn't have fallen for the second." 

-Johnny Depp

17. "I don't want to make money. I just want to be wonderful." 

-Marilyn Monroe

18. “It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like 'What about lunch?'”

-Winnie the Pooh

19. "If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize."

-Muhammad Ali

20. "My music will go on forever. Maybe it's a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever."

-Bob Marley

21."Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."


-Oprah Winfrey

22. "Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity. Reduce selfishness, have few desires."

-Lao Tzu

23. "Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working."

-Pablo Picasso

24. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

-Mahatma Ghandi

25. "In three words I can sum up everything I know about life: it goes on."

-Robert Frost

Shit on Your Neighbor

Everybody loves Dinkleberg.

          This is a game that I love to play with a large group of people who "deny" being card players. It's simple, takes five minutes to learn, and despite the title's appearance, is actually appropriate for people of any age. This game doubles as a conversation piece, but beware: you may end up making as many enemies as friends. You may or may not lose your existing friends as well. Sometimes I play this game by myself.

The Basics:

• At least 1 deck of cards, without jokers
• 2+ players; better with more people!
• 3 tokens per person (e.g. quarters, chips)
• Objective: Be the last person with tokens by never having the lowest card.
• The morality of a competitive arse

Gameplay:

1. One player, the dealer, gives one card face-down to everyone at the table, including his or her self.  The dealer rotates each game.
2. The player left of the dealer begins. After looking at their card, they can decide whether or not to trade with the person to their left ("shitting"). Aces are low.
3. If the neighbor has a King, they can reject the trade by flipping it over, and saying whatever derogatory phrase they want. Otherwise, they are forced to give up their card.
4. Each player has this choice until play goes to the dealer. 
5. On the dealer's turn, he or she can either keep their card or take the top card off of the remaining deck.
6. All of the cards are then flipped over, and the player(s) with the lowest value must throw a chip into the pot. 
7. In the case of a tie between two people who are both on their last token, another game is played.
8. The player with the last token gets everyone else's.

Additional Notes:

        Some people I play with play on their honor, in which a person's "honor" (nothing) is their last token. My mama raised me not to throw away my honor that quickly, though.

Clarifications, questions, or comments? Always willing to help.

Simon Sinek with Advice for Leaders

          Oftentimes I've asked the same question that Simon asks in this video: How do companies like Apple outshine their competitors, year after year? Even with technical problems being common, and product reviews not the highest, Apple still manages to sell its products to the masses. Apple has access to the same resources as its competitors, so why don't we feel inclined to buy an mp3 player from Dell, or Gateway? According to Sinek, the answer is that Apple consumers buy the products because they agree with its maxim, its mission statement, and not because they go for the product's features. Just look at one of their commercials, here. Apple promotes keeping family and friends close together by using their products. How could you disagree with human interaction?
           In this video, TED speaker Simon Sinek simply and elegantly orates the power of the "golden circle", and explains how you can use this knowledge in your own life, regardless of what you do.

10 Life Lessons from Calvin and Hobbes

This guy is a six-year-old?

       I don't know about you, but my all-time favorite children's comic is by far Calvin and Hobbes, drawn and written by Bill Watterson. While other comics make me laugh (not that this one doesn't), I really enjoy the depth and thoughtfulness present in a handful of lines (okay,  understatement of the day). But please, allow me to show you what I mean now:



10. The simplest things are the most relate-able.


It's easy to forget that other people, especially strangers, probably don't want to discuss Multi-level Marketing, or polynomial approximation of functions. But it stands true that one of the best ways to connect with people is in the little things. Calvin and Hobbes teaches us what Facebook statuses and Twitter updates have recently caught up on; there's a lot to share in life's simple nuances.

Too relatable.

9. It's easy to get worked up over the details.


I used to hate strongly dislike checklists in school, but never knew why. Now I know that it's because they provide little to no room for creative freedom. This whole system teaches us at a young age to focus on the details, and sometimes forget about the big picture.

Schools are different in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

8. To be creative, one must embrace the new. 

As Pablo Picasso says,  “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once the child grows up.” The world we live in today educates children out of their creativity, by punishing mistakes and faulty ideas, and embracing one standard. For an inspiring and entertaining talk on the subject by a knight with a cool accent, check this out.

Art has many forms.

7. Possessions are destructive.


I'm sure we all were read this riot act at some point in our childhood. Not to be an extremist here, but there's definitely truth to the statement that possessions own us.

Too bad Dad didn't know where to look for the best deals on binoculars.

6. Experience is only what you make of it.


Age and maturity are simply numbers. I know of teenagers who act like they're 40, and 40-year-olds who act like they're 8. You can have all the experience in the world, but unless you digest it, you're liable to make the same mistakes over and over again.

5. Time, all the time, is precious.


I never listened to this when I was younger, but life really does go faster the older I get. I remember how summer breaks kept getting shorter and shorter as I went through public education, and how I used to be constantly bored, without a clue on what to do next with my life. It's crucial to appreciate the down time that we get, no matter what we do with our lives.

"Give up on that sissy lighter fluid."

4. Control is an illusion.

No matter how skilled or talented we are, there will always be an element of our lives that is beyond our grasp. It's important to realize when time and energy are wasted on something that we really shouldn't have control over. Whether you believe in religion, chance, or fate, denying the presence of outside influence is futile.

Mad with power already?

3. Live, attempt, fail, learn, try again.


Max was a character that Watterson experimented with, seeing if he could add a new element to the comic strip in its earlier days. However, Watterson then reasoned that Max "didn't bring out anything new in Calvin," and was, therefore, redundant. What this indirectly teaches us, though, is that creativity is all about the release of inhibitions, the freedom to make mistakes and then learn from them.

You can almost feel the awkwardness.

2. Life is simple, focus on the basics.


Of all of the life lessons discussed in the strip, this is my favorite. I think that as we get older, it's easy to overcomplicate things and forget how simple life really is. We eat, metabolize, sleep, and (if we're lucky) reproduce. Everything else that derives from that- i.e., money- is secondary. So why not enjoy life the whole nine yards? The promotion won't make you as happy as you think it will in the long term if your motivation is only to profit. Wealth is measured in the ability to have freedom, but Americans tend to sacrifice their freedom for it. Don't be one of the herd.

My life story.

1. Children are imaginative, creative, under-appreciated, and inspiring.

This should go without saying, but for some reason, it doesn't.

Arise from the grave at midnight as a flesh-eating zombie? Typical.

Chinese Poker

None of this.

         Whenever I attempt to explain this game, most people's eyes glaze over. Hopefully from now on I can just redirect them to this blog, and save myself the breath. Before we begin, let me assure you, this game does not involve any ancient Chinese proverbs, poorly translated movies, or bizarre finger traps. In fact, there's not much ethnic about this game at all, besides me learning it from my Asian mom, who learned it from her Asian mom. Just saying, I've managed to integrate this game to my white friends, and I think you'll like it, regardless of race.


                                                                     

The Basics:

• 2 standard decks (with jokers) are recommended
• 2-5 players (though we've broken that rule a few times)
• No poker chips needed.
• Objective: get rid of all of your cards first.
• Knowledge of poker hands is a prerequisite (we've got you covered, though! Five card draw guide here.)
• Aces are high or low, straights can go roundabout

Gameplay:

1. The dealer hands out fifteen cards face-down to each player before the game begins. The remaining cards are discarded.

2. As per Chinese custom (I lied, I'm a filthy liar) the player with the three of hearts goes first. If there are multiple 3-hearts out, we go by Chinese Food Friday custom: an intense game of rock-paper-scissors is played until a winner is determined.


3. The first player decides what poker hand to lay down first -i.e. a pair of 6s. (Note: only the pair is played, no other cards.) Play goes clockwise.


4. The next player, in order to play anything, must lay down a better hand of the same kind* -i.e. a pair of 7s. Otherwise, he passes.


5. When everyone passes, the player who laid down the best hand can decide what to play next. Play goes until someone successfully rids their hand of cards.


*The only exception to this rule is if the hand played is a single card. At any point on a single card, a player may play a full house (this is referred to as "stabbing") or a four of a kind with a kicker (this is loosely referred to as "exploding") on top. After that, better five card hands must be played on top.

What now?

The winner of the round gets his very own trump value (first win- 3, last win- Ace). Everyone plays the next round with the trump value being higher than ace (still lower than joker). The goal of the match is to raise your trump value to ace and then win a final time. However, you can stop whenever.


A bit confusing? An example of a real game can be found here: ____________






Suggestions, questions, comments? Reach us. (info in the "About Me" section)
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Five Card Draw... for Dummies

          To be honest, I don't play poker games (except this) all that much. It's not that they're not fun, I just don't like to gamble away my money on games too often -i.e. I'm spineless. However, this is still a game that everyone should have in their repertoire. For those of you who are a little more daring with your cash, this game can be a great way to have a good time and swindle others out of their money.

The Basics:

• 2-6 players recommended
• The objective is to have the best five-card hand at the table.
• Standard 52-card deck(s)
• Cash, fake or real, required
• A "dealer chip" required

The Gameplay:

1. Each player antes, or puts a set amount of cash into the pot. This is the money to be won by the player with the best poker hand.
2. The cards are dealt out, five to each player.
3. The player to the left of the dealer decides whether to bet, or check (not bet) depending on their cards. Betting goes clockwise, with subsequent players deciding whether to raise call (match) a bet, or fold (give up). This continues until everyone is satisfied with their bets. Note that folding does not result in a refund of one's money.
4. All those who are still playing determine how many of their cards they wish to replace. This is done in a clockwise fashion.
5. Another round of betting occurs, just like in step 2. 
6. The poker hands are turned over, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.

The Hands:

(unless you're this guy)

• Four of a Kind with a Kicker- (ex. K K K K A) Less than 1 in 1000 of your hands should actually produce this. Pretty self-explanatory. If you play against someone with this hand, give up the fight of your life.
• Full House- (ex. 3 3 3 2 2) This hand is rarer than it may seem, and I assure you, it's really quite good. Kick ass and relax with this hand. A triplet and a pair make a really good team.
• Flush - (ex. 2 5 7 J A of hearts) You're pretty well off if you've got this. This trumps everything lower on the list, and consists of five cards of the same suit. In the case of a tie, the highest card of the flush counts for the win, and so on and so forth.
• Straight- (ex. 5 thru 9, off suit) Not a bad hand at all. 5 cards with their values in a row, but not all of the same suit. The highest card in the straight is used as a tie-breaker. 
• Three of a Kind- A fairly uncommon and decent hand that can lure someone with a two pair out of a lot of money. The other two lone cards are used as tie breakers.
• Two Pair- (ex. two 6's, two 9's) A somewhat common hand that can usually win the round. In the case of a dispute, the highest pair overall wins. A single card tiebreaker is used if necessary.
• Double Card/Pair- A very common hand, and therefore the second worst. If the win comes to a tie between pairs, the higher value pair wins. If the pairs are the same value, then the rest of the cards are used in a single card tiebreaker.
• Single Card/High Card- It's  impossible to not have this hand- which is why it is so worthless. If no player has a rarer hand, the winner is determined by who has the highest value single card. If there is a tie, the second highest card is used, then third, etc. On the off-chance that everything is a tie, those two players will split the pot.

Tips and advice to come. Clarifications, questions, or comments? We're always willing to help.

Bartok

    We're not really sure what language Bartok comes from, or what it means, but it's one of our favorite games. There's tons of room to be creative, and this game (sometimes called Shithead, by the way) always results in a lot of laughs and (friendly or not-so-friendly) yelling. Ideally, Bartok takes over an hour, and gets more fun as the game goes on. An outlandish party game which we hope you'll give a chance.

The Basics:

• 2-4 players ( two decks for up to 6 players)
• Standard 52-card deck(s)
• The objective is to get rid of all of your cards.
• You may play 1 card at a time
• When the game begins, you may not tell any lies or ask any questions.
• Breaking the above rule results in the drawing of one card per offense.
• The winner of each round gets to make a new rule which can be anything
• ANY rule can be created, modified, deleted, etc. unless declared utterly stupid by everyone.

Gameplay:

• Seven cards are dealt out to every player before the game begins, and the top card of the pile is turned face up. 
• The dealer announces when the game begins, and the player to their left must place a card of the same suit or value (i.e. on a 6 of spades, a spade or a 6 may be played). If they cannot play a card, they must draw a card and their turn is over.
• Play goes clockwise. 
• The penalty for breaking any of the rules (e.g. the no question rule) is drawing a card.
• When a player is down to one card, he or she must announce "Bartok." If they are caught not doing so, they must draw X amount of cards. (We usually use 3)
• When a player plays the last card in their hand, the round has ended and they win. Gameplay is paused for shuffling and rule-making.

Some of our Favorite Rules:

1. Snaps 
   • If a player has a card in their hand of the same value as the one out, they can lay it down regardless of whose turn it is and declare "Snap!" 
   • Saying "Aww snap!" or some other variation of the phrase is acceptable.
2. 5-second rule
• For all those masterminds who like to plan out the whole game in advance on their turn, we invented this time limit. 
• Those who take longer than 5 seconds per turn will draw a card and have their turn skipped.
3. Strip Bartok
• Winner of the round chooses one loser to remove an article of clothing. Keep it classy.*
4. Taboo Words
• Certain words or types of words are not permitted during gameplay.
• Our favorites are "you" and pronouns
5. Card Values
• e.g. Aces reverse the direction of play, 2's make the next player draw two cards
6. Jokers Wild
• Jokers may be played on top of any card, and the player may declare a different suit.
7. Gestures and Actions
• Great for being an asshole. Sometimes we like to be fancy and ban elbows on the table.

*optional

Any suggestions, questions, or comments? Email us.