I stopped worrying about junk mail a long time ago. Yes, there are all sorts of ways that you can reduce the amount of junk mail that you receive by opting out of various lists and being careful who you give your information out to, but is this really going to reduce the stress in your life.

When we were kids, we used to love getting mail. Because when you’re a kid - you don’t. Remember how exciting it was to get the mail and find something addressed to you, not your parents? That’s how I try to look at the trip to the mailbox these days. What treasures am I going to find today? And more importantly, what can I do with them?

1. Let’s start off by ‘recycling‘ the junk mail that you do receive.

Instead of getting annoyed with the fliers and coupons and other crap you receive in the mail, send it back out. I don’t like to throw away perfectly good envelopes, especially if the postage is paid for - that would be tragic!

So, if today you got an offer for a credit card that you simply don’t need or want, take the postage paid reply envelope and stuff it with the fliers for the ham that’s on sale for .69 cents a pound. Lick it and send it for free!

If by some chance you didn’t receive any flyers or other material to send to the credit card company, take a post-it and write a note. Perhaps - “Hope your having a fantastic day!” That ought to brighten up the day of whoever’s job it is to open all those things for mega-bank.

Sometimes instead of a note I’ll send some cheerios or whatever else is handy. I just like to make sure there’s something in the envelope for somebody to enjoy.

2. Now, if you’re like me you like free stuff. Free stuff is awesome.

Probably once a month I’ll take an hour or two and spend it on one of the many free sample sites on the web. I’m sure you’ve seen them, they’re the sites that list various free offers from companies and free products.

I like to fill out a bunch of them all at once, and then for the next month or two every few days at the mailbox I’ll find a small box or large envelope with a free sample. The great thing about this is that I often forget what I’ve ordered, so each box is like a little prize. I’ve received a number of free razors this way - and not the cheap kind, I’m talking the 7 bladed kind that cost 15 bucks to buy refill cartridges. I get all sorts of shampoo samples, make up for the wife, I even recently got a cool little ash tray that I never use since I don’t smoke. It’s like Christmas everyday at my mailbox.

As I fill out the samples, I also like to use variations of my name. Different middle initials, different spellings, my dog’s name, etc. It can be interesting to see the path that that info is sold. I don’t worry too much about giving out my address to these companies - mainly because I don’t worry too much about getting junk mail.

My phone number is a different matter. You can get a free disposable phone number here. That way you can give out a valid number, but not have to worry about sales calls.

3. And this one is for the kids, if you have any.

This is a fun mail project for the kids that you can help them with, especially if they get excited about getting mail.

Go to this State Tourist Information site. This page lists all the states links to pages where you can request tourist information from each state. This is good stuff. Some states will send you a small brochure - other states will send you history of the state, historical sites, tourist attractions, everything you could possibly want to know about the state.

It’s a good free and fun way to help your kids learn about the different states. Plus they’ll be excited about getting all this stuff in the mail.

So, instead of getting angry about your box being filled with junk, take a few minutes and giggle to yourself as your filling a credit card offer’s postage paid envelope with a silly nonsense note or a cd for a free trial of AOL.

Don’t forget to enter How2Blogger’s $100 Contest if you haven’t already!

Seeing as how it’s the holiday season and How2Blogger’s main goal is to help people out, I’m launching How2Blogger’s Super Sexy Holiday ‘How To’ Contest.

Ok, I know you’re saying “How2Blogger, we understand “Super” and “How To” and “Holiday,” but how is this contest “Sexy?”

Well, it’s not everyday that I wear a bikini. So enjoy.

How To Win $100 In How2Blogger’s Super Sexy Holiday ‘How To’ Contest

1. Read these instructions carefully. Might want to do it twice - cuz we’re going to find out who’s nau…

2. The winner of the $100 dollars in the Super Sexy Holiday ‘How To’ Contest will be determined by a random drawing on Dec. 29th (which happens to be the same day as How2Blogger’s birthday (pure coincidence) ).

3. You can earn entries into the contest in the following Super Sexy ways:

• 10 Entries - Write a ‘How To’ article on your blog. The ‘How To’ article can be about anything your little heart desires. Possible ideas, I’m just throwing these out here:
  • How To Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
  • How To Play Greensleeves on the Flute
  • How To Make Money Online Without Removing Any Clothing
  • How To Survive in the Wilderness for 2 Weeks With Only A Pocket Knife and Ball of Silly Putty
  • How To Draw A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in Photoshop (I only put this one on here because I’ve been having the darndest time with this one).

  Now, like I said, your ‘How To’ post can be about anything you want. It doesn’t have to be about any of the above topics. But! It must contain the following sentence at the beginning of the article:

This article is part of How2Blogger’s Super Sexy Holiday ‘How To’ Contest which you can see at How2Blogger’s ‘How To’ site.

Please link to How2Blogger’s Site and contest post. If you’re still confused, here’s an example of a ‘How To’ Post by a reader and one by me, and another by me.

• 5 Entries - Subscribe to How2Blogger via RSS or Email. I think we all know how to do this - if not, leave a comment and perhaps we’ll set up a private tutoring session for you with How2Blogger and his bikini.
• 3 Entries - Stumble this post.
• 3 Entries - Stumble your favorite post on this site besides this one.
• 2 Entries - Leave a comment on a post besides this one.
• 1 Entry - Call your mother and tell her about How2Blogger.

4. Leave a comment on this post about your entries, link to your post if you like. We’re going to be going on the honor system as far as the stumbles, subscriptions, and calling your mother. So if it seems as though people might be fudging entries I might actually check up on those things. So you might need to leave your mother’s number as well.

5. After a few entries have come in I’ll be putting up a post listing the ‘How To’ article entries. So if you think about it dude, nobody loses! We all can’t be $100 dollar winners, but at least you’ll get a stinking link out of it!

6. That’s it. Get to it.

Every once in a while it’s important to show the people in your life just how important they are to you. You could make their favorite meal or give them an extra hug, maybe write them a card. Or, you could do something really awesome and buy them something they probably never knew they needed.

It’s lucky Christmas was invented just for that reason.

So, without further ado - we give you How2Blogger’s Super Special Blogger Christmas List. Put together especially for that Super Special Pajama Wearing Ramen Eating Mountain Dew Drinking No Leaving The Computer Except To Pee Pee Blogger in your life.

1. Does your blogger have problogger aspirations? Do they hope to someday buy a house or a car with the money earned from blogging? Then they’ll especially love this USB R/C Mini Car with Garage for $29.99. No worrying about car payments or insurance - and washing it’s a breeze. And with this car, your blogger won’t even have to leave the computer to take it for a spin.

2. Growing up did your blogger own the calculator watch? Or rather, is he still wearing it today?

Probably.

If that’s the case, it might be time to upgrade. Here’s two great options for the Calculator Watch Guy in the 21st century.

First, we have the Touchscreen Cell Phone/PDA Wristwatch for $249.99. How awesome is that!? Not only is it a phone, but you can tell the time with it as well! What will they think of next? And look at all the awesome stuff it comes with:

Or, if your blogger already has a phone or a watch or both - think about getting them this one:

It’s the Hero Digital Wrist Camera for $139.99. Unfortunately, the Wrist Camera doesn’t have a “tell time” function just yet, but perhaps the next model will have a built in watch as well! We can only hope. For now though, your blogger will be the coolest kid in the class when he shows up with his Digital Wrist Camera.

Who knows, maybe by next Christmas they’ll have a Camera Phone on the market.

3. Perhaps you’re looking for something a little more practical for your blogger. In that case, consider purchasing the USB Desk Vacuum for them. For $19.99 you won’t ever have to worry about cleaning up after your blogger again following a late night blogging session. And no more worries about crumbs from sandwiches or chips or other dinner items getting on the keyboard or desk. All they’ll have to do is plug in their USB Vac and voila! Clean as a whistle.

4. Does your blogger get picked on more than his fair share? Are self-defense classes not an option? Help your blogger protect his workspace with the USB Laser Guided Missile Launcher for $39.99. Yes, I said Laser Guided. Not one of these chintzy missile launchers, but a Laser Guided Missile Launcher.

It’s great for shooting friends or the dog. Or even changing the channel on the t.v. if the remote is out of reach. Dude, did I mention it was Laser Guided.

Hope these help with your shopping this year, and good luck finding the perfect gift for your blogger friends!

We’re back with another edition of How2Blogger’s ‘How To‘ links and no, it’s not because we’ve been out all day running errands and fighting crowds and traffic and are now too tired to even make macaroni and cheese. No, it’s simply because occasionally How2Blogger enjoys letting other blogger’s do his ‘How To’ work for him. Duh.

So, here’s Vol. 2 of How2Blogger’s ‘How To’ links.

• Beth of AFrogToKiss starts us off with her article 10 Ways How To Make It Through A Head Cold. Unfortunately for her but good for you, she’s writing and taking part in the germ warfare first hand.

• Shifting gears towards some holiday themed ‘how to’ advice, Amy of Geek Parenting shows us How To Shop For Your Oddball Child. This is good for all you parents of oddball children, us parents with ‘normal’ kids can check out the next one.

• Wendy of EMomsAtHome gives us How To Teach Your Kids About Business With 14 Educational Games. If I start now I figure in about 5 years I’m going to have the first successful 7 year old internet marketing guru blogger surely to rival Mr Chow.

• Photojojo shows everyone How To Make Your Own Photo Snow Globe (In 15 Minutes!). Now I don’t know about you, but this solves a very big problem for me. For all those people on my list that I hadn’t decided on a gift for yet - I hope you like snow globes…

If you’d like to be included in a future How2Blogger ‘How To’ Links update - let me know!

How To Effectively Neutralize A Mugger

1. Remove nun-chucks from your belt.

2. Strike mugger in temple with nun-chucks.

3. If you have forgotten your nun-chucks or the mugger is able to disarm you, do not panic. The human body has a number of vital points that will render your mugger ineffective.

How To Effectively Neutralize A Mugger Without Nun-Chucks

1. When the mugger approaches, disarm him of any weapons he may be brandishing.

2. Take both of your thumbs and jam them quickly and sharply into mugger’s eyes.

3. If he is wearing sunglasses or similar eye protection, take two fingers and jam them up the mugger’s nostrils, with your palm facing upwards. Yank and pull on the nose as you jam the fingers further upwards. This does not feel good.

4. If the mugger is wearing some sort of helmet or face guard like a hockey mask and you have zero access to the muggers facial orifices, do not panic. Get in close to the mugger and raise one knee quickly and violently upwards. Your knee will be like a cobra striking the testes of your mugger. At which point you will be able to rip off the helmet or hockey mask and continue with steps 2 or 3.

The important thing to remember is that your mugger chose you for a reason. Maybe he liked your coat, or perhaps your shoes. Whatever the reason, remember to have no mercy as you neutralize your mugger, you may be very well preventing your mugger from striking again.