O's 101 Best Pieces of Advice

Advice Hall of Fame

Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.

—Henry James

Advice Hall of Fame

A good time to laugh is anytime you can.

—Linda Ellerbee

Advice Hall of Fame

Be the heroine of your life, not the victim.

—Nora Ephron

How to Fly Cheaper

To find the cheapest day to fly, go to matrix.itasoftware.com, select "simple search options," then "see calendar of lowest fares," and enter your destination.

Before you buy a ticket, google "coupon code" and the airline name to see what deals turn up.

Upgrades can cost less than you might think. For example, with a full-fare economy ticket from American Airlines, you can request an upgrade on aa.com before you fly for $30 per 500 miles.

—Stephanie Rosenbloom, the Getaway columnist for The New York Times

How to Buy Great Wine

See if an expensive wine's producer also makes a value bottle—it's likely to be crafted with the same care.

Serve wine with food from its region. For pasta, look to an Italian bottle. For paella, go Spanish.

If all else fails, try Malbec from Argentina, Merlot from France, Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy, and Chardonnay from Australia. Pinot Noir pairs with almost anything. And you can't go wrong with bubbly.

—Sheri Sauter Morano, Institute of Masters of Wine

How Not to Waste Time at Your Computer

Disable e-mail sounds. That ding! is a Pavlovian cue to procrastinate, and once you're distracted, it takes 15 minutes to return to being productive.

Create a second log-in, with a different name, theme, and background than your personal account. Use only this one when you're working.

Download Freedom, a program that will block you from going online for whatever length of time you set. (macfreedom.com)

—Piers Steel, PHD, author of The Procrastination Equation

How to Avoid a Deadly Infection

Get vaccinated for the flu.

Certain germs—including the superbug MRSA—thrive in warm, moist conditions, so wipe down gym equipment before you use it (even your own).

Use hand sanitizer often. It's likely to prevent many respiratory infections and may reduce the risk of some serious bacterial infections.

Any cut, even a minor one, can become infected with staph or even flesh-eating bacteria (though that disease is rare). Clean the wound, then watch for pus, redness that spreads, and fever.

Never get a tattoo in another country unless you're sure they sterilize their instruments.

—David Thomas, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Division of Infectious Diseases

How to Keep the Faith

The draft lasts seven rounds, and I knew I wasn't going to be in the top 100 guys, but I was sure a team would call and say they wanted me by early in the sixth round. When the sixth round ended and my phone still hadn't rung, for a second I thought, This is the worst day of my life. But I'd had a pretty cool college career, and I'd done well in tryouts. Plus, my girlfriend and my family were right there all day telling me I was a great player. I realized then that you can't be successful on your own; you need a supportive loved one and some spiritual guidance. I knew I was meant to play football, and if you know your purpose, and you're patient, the ball will eventually bounce your way.

—Chandler Harnish, Indianapolis Colts draft pick and 2012's Mr. Irrelevant, the name given to the last of the 253 players selected in the NFL draft

How to Experience Any City Like a Local

Dress the part. I see a lot of tourists who look as if they're hiking in Colorado no matter where they are. Adopt the style of the locals and you're more likely to be treated as one.

Avoid exhaustive itineraries. Follow your whims and explore a city on foot—especially the areas where the artists are living. That's where you'll find the most fantastic souvenirs, like a really cool blouse or ceramic vase.

The best way to get recommendations is to strike up conversations. Baristas and bartenders usually have great tips. And nighttime security guards know the best places for breakfast, always.

—Samantha Brown, Travel Channel host

How to Worry Less About Offending People

All you can do is keep your motives pure. If you do offend, you've likely hit on something they need to look at—in which case you've done a good deed.

—Joy Behar, host of Current TV's Joy Behar: Say Anything