Featured Rule of Thumb                 Surprise Me! 2971 Politics CALCULATING ERROR MARGINS IN POLLS Reported error margins in polls and surveys are always under-estimates of the true error margin. According to the American Statistical Association: "Multiply the currently reported margin of error associated by 1.7 to obtain a more accurate estimate of the margin of error." OntologicalDoubt, Psychologist, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Current Rating: 6.9 out of 10 based on 14 reviews Comments (2) You must login to Rate.

This Column: New Rules Pending

Rate these new Rules IN or OUT of the Main Collection!

IN=5 out of 10 or higher based on first 10 reviews

4725 Containers
RIGHTY TIGHTY - LEFTY LOUSEY
Homemakers and Plumbers alike use the rule of thumb, "Righty tighty - Lefty Lousey in determining the direction to turn a container cap or a pipe fitting.
Dave Agresti, Prof Criminology (retired), Tampa, Florida, United States
(13) Contributions from this contributor since (2008-04-15)
Current Rating: Unrated
Comments (0)   You must login to Rate.

4724 Entertainment
BENNY HILL
If you tell an Englishman that you like Benny Hill, there is a good chance that the reaction will be one of disdain/disgust, even if he/she professes to enjoying British comedy.
Wankel, Computer analyst
(13) Contributions from this contributor since (2009-06-07)
Current Rating: 4.5 out of 10 based on 2 reviews
Comments (0)   You must login to Rate.

4723 Cooking
GRILLING AND SMOKE
When setting up your grill position your back to the wind. This will blow the smoke away from you.
Robbie , Chef, New Albany , Indiana, usa
(1) Contributions from this contributor since (2009-06-30)
Current Rating: 8.6 out of 10 based on 3 reviews
Comments (0)   You must login to Rate.

4722 Travel
IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA...
... in any public gathering of people, more men will react (turn their heads toward you) if you shout "Buddy!" as opposed to any other name.
Wankel, Computer analyst
(13) Contributions from this contributor since (2009-06-07)
Current Rating: 3 out of 10 based on 5 reviews
Comments (1)   You must login to Rate.

4721 Automobiles
PADIDDLE OBSERVATION 1 IN 100
In the U. S. vehicles with a single headlight visible (a padiddle to some) and the other headlight not lit occur about 1 in 100 vehicles. It is slightly more common for the right lamp to be out than the left one.
Dave Agresti, Prof Criminology (retired), Tampa, Florida, United States
(13) Contributions from this contributor since (2008-04-15)
Current Rating: 5 out of 10 based on 3 reviews
Comments (1)   You must login to Rate.

4720 Gardening
SNAKEPLANTS
The person who must buy artificial snakeplants for decoration has a brown thumb indeed...
Wankel, Computer analyst
(13) Contributions from this contributor since (2009-06-07)
Current Rating: 4.8 out of 10 based on 5 reviews
Comments (0)   You must login to Rate.

4719 Miscellaneous
WHEN YOU SHOULD TOSS A CARD
You can toss out a card once you have kept it for 3 weeks. At 2 weeks is too soon because the person who gave you the card will think you didn't appreciate their thought. At 4 weeks it looks as though you forgot to do something with it and it is clutter and just hanging around.
Danica
(1) Contributions from this contributor since (2009-06-26)
Current Rating: 7 out of 10 based on 5 reviews
Comments (0)   You must login to Rate.

4718 Body Rules
MOST PEOPLE LISTEN WITH THEIR RIGHT EAR
Most people prefer to be addressed in their right ears in everyday settings and are more likely to do a favor when the request is received in their right ears rather than their left ones
Scott Parker
(72) Contributions from this contributor since (2008-01-30)
Current Rating: 6.2 out of 10 based on 5 reviews
Comments (2)   You must login to Rate.