Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life. To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades. Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.

While not totally comprehensive , here is a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do.

1. Build a Fire — Fire produces heat and light, two basic necessities for living. At some point in your life this knowledge may be vital.

2. Operate a Computer — Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days. Please, help those in need.

3. Use Google Effectively — Google knows everything. If you’re having trouble finding something with Google, it’s you that needs help.

4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver — Someday it may be your wife, husband, son or daughter that needs help.

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5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle — There will come a time when you’ll be stuck without this knowledge.

6. Do Basic Cooking — If you can’t cook your own steak and eggs, you probably aren’t going to make it.

7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention — If you can’t captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath.

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8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight — Either way, you win.

9. Deliver Bad News — Somebody has got to do it. Unfortunately, someday that person will be you.

10. Change a Tire — Because tires have air in them, and things with air in them eventually pop.

11. Handle a Job Interview — I promise, sweating yourself into a nervous panic won’t land you the job.

12. Manage Time — Not doing so is called wasting time, which is okay sometimes, but not all the time.

13. Speed Read — Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago.

14. Remember Names — Do you like when someone tries to get your attention by screaming “hey you”?

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15. Relocate Living Spaces — Relocating is always a little tougher than you originally imagined.

16. Travel Light — Bring only the necessities. It’s the cheaper, easier, smarter thing to do.

17. Handle the Police — Because jail isn’t fun… and neither is Bubba.

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18. Give Driving Directions — Nobody likes driving around in circles. Get this one right the first time.

19. Perform Basic First Aid — You don’t have to be a doctor, or genius, to properly dress a wound.

20. Swim — 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Learning to swim might be a good idea.

21. Parallel Park — Parallel parking is a requirement on most standard driver’s license driving tests, yet so many people have no clue how to do it. How could this be?

22. Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits — Otherwise you may wind up like this charming fellow.

23. Select Good Produce — Rotten fruits and vegetables can be an evil tease and an awful surprise.

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July 28, 2010

The Best of Mark