Featured Rule of Thumb                 Surprise Me! 27 Gambling WINNING AT BLACKJACK If the dealer has an upcard of 5, don't take any new cards because the dealer will probably bust. Norman Brenner, Fleetwood, New York Current Rating: 6.2 out of 10 based on 47 reviews Comments (2) You must login to Rate.

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5263 Restaurants
RESTAURANTS THAT ARE OPEN 24 HOURS
Avoid restaurants that are open 24 hours. The food is overpriced, because the restaurant has to pay a 24-hour staff. Also, most restaurants get a thorough daily cleaning while they're closed. When does a 24-hour restaurant get cleaned? Ick.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 2.1 out of 10 based on 7 reviews
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5262 Movies and Film
WHY MOST MOVIE ACTORS CAN'T ACT
There are so many aspiring actors who want to be in films that there's no need for any of them to "act," i.e. convincingly pretend to be someone else. Instead, casting directors just audition actors until they find someone whose natural personality pretty much matches the character. Because of this, actors don't tend to get parts that let them develop their acting skills. Likewise, actors tend to get famous not because of their mastery of acting, but because their natural personality happens to be in high demand at the moment they come along.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 5.3 out of 10 based on 9 reviews
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5261 Automobiles
CAR COLOR
Silver cars are easiest to keep clean, but cheap cars look better in black.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 5.8 out of 10 based on 8 reviews
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5260 Books
JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER
The adage that "you can't judge a book by its cover" may be true metaphorically but it's not true literally. Publishers spend a lot of money on book covers because they want the covers to influence buyers. So judge all you want.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 4.1 out of 10 based on 8 reviews
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5259 Business
THE REPRESENTATION PARADOX
If you're looking for someone to represent you — an agent, a manager, a publisher — you'll first think you want someone who's more accomplished than you in that industry. True, but that's also what these folks think when they're picking their clients. So hire someone who's less accomplished than you. You'll have more negotiating leverage and they'll work harder because your career is an opportunity for them. When your career outstrips their abilities, fire them and find someone else.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 2.6 out of 10 based on 8 reviews
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5258 Business
THE REPRESENTATION PARADOX
If you're looking for someone to represent you — an agent, a manager, a publisher — you'll first think you want someone who's more accomplished than you in that industry. True, but that's also what these folks think when they're picking their clients. You're unlikely to be interesting to them. So hire someone who's less accomplished than you. You'll have more negotiating leverage and they'll work harder because your career is an opportunity for them. When your career outstrips their abilities, fire them and find someone else.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 2.6 out of 10 based on 8 reviews
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5257 Mail
EMAIL RESPONSE TIME
People who are making money off you, or think they can make money off you, will respond to your email within 24 hours.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 7 out of 10 based on 9 reviews
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5256 Writing
THE (AUTO)BIOGRAPHY RULE
All capsule biographies — like those found on book jackets, websites, etc. — are written by the subject of the Rolex Daytona réplique. That is, they are actually capsule autobiographies. This is true even if the biography is stated in the third person.
Matthew Butterick, writer
(71) Contributions from this contributor since (2011-01-08)
Current Rating: 5.2 out of 10 based on 8 reviews
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