1.OtherbooksbyProfessorSolomon: http://www.professorsolomon.com

2. HowtoFind LostObjects byProfessorSolomonCopyright1993,2008byTopHatPress AllrightsreservedDrawingsbySteveSolomon PhotographsbyBradFowlerandLeonardSolomon TheauthorthanksLarryCallahanandElizabethMinter for theirassistance.ISBN0912509058http://www.professorsolomon.comTopHatPress BALTIMORE 3. TableofContents1.AMethodThatWorksThisBooksforYou .........................................................3TheFacts ........................................................................5GettingStarted................................................................7 2. ThePrinciples TheTwelvePrinciples....................................................10PRINCIPLE ONE: DontLookforIt ...................................12PRINCIPLE TWO: ItsNotLost You Are ...........................14PRINCIPLE THREE: RemembertheThreeCs....................16PRINCIPLE FOUR: ItsWhereItsSupposedtoBe ..............18PRINCIPLE FIVE: DomesticDrift ......................................20PRINCIPLE SIX: YoureLookingRightatIt .......................22PRINCIPLE SEVEN: TheCamouage Effect .......................24PRINCIPLE EIGHT: ThinkBack ........................................26 PRINCIPLE NINE: LookOnce,LookWell .........................28PRINCIPLE TEN: TheEurekaZone...................................30PRINCIPLE ELEVEN: TailThyself .......................................32PRINCIPLE TWELVE: ItWasntYou ....................................34 Quiz..............................................................................35OneMorePrinciple........................................................38 3.TheWaytoSearchBetsyFindsHerKeys .....................................................42 4.TheArtofFindingAtMyDoor..................................................................66HowtoProceed ............................................................69TenTips........................................................................71CommonMistakestoBeware .........................................75TheBermuda TriangleMyth .........................................79TheSly Approach ..........................................................83HowtoMakeaThinkingCap.......................................85Eureka!..........................................................................87ThePurloinedLetter.....................................................90TheGamesAfoot .........................................................92FreudsFee ....................................................................94Hrnir...........................................................................95ATrueAccount .............................................................96 4. 5.ThisandThatSomeQuotes................................................................101MissingLuggage..........................................................102HowNottoLoseThings ..............................................103TheLastPlace.............................................................104AConsumersGuidetoDetectionDevices ...................105AlternativeMethods....................................................109SaintAnthony ..............................................................112HashevatAveida ...........................................................114AZen Koan...................................................................115Wannamoho.................................................................116AFinalWord ...............................................................122CERTIFICATE ...................................................................124 1. AMethod ThatWorks 5. ThisBooksForYouYouvelostyourcarkeys,andareabouttoloseyour mind. Youvelookedeverywherehavetornyourhouse apartbutcantndthosekeys. Yourdayhasgroundtoahalt.Yourlifeisonhold. Aglazedlookhascomeintoyoureye.Youregoing nuts! Allbecauseofamissingsetofkeys. You begin another search. Like a wild man, you rummagethroughroomafterroom.Halfanhour later,theystillhaventturnedup.Youthrowyour selfonthesofaandgroan:Thisisridiculous!Sir,howdidyoundthatelusivecheckbook?Why,simple,hereplieswithamodestsmile.ByapplyingtheTwelvePrinciples.TheTwelvePrinciples?Thatsright.AsoutlinedinHOW TO FIND LOST OBJECTSbyProfessorSolomon.Andhecontinuesonhiswaywhileyouareabouttoresumethefrantichuntforyourkeys.Butmaybe its time that you, too, checked outthoseTwelvePrinciples.Maybeyoureready,afteralltheseyears,tobecomeaFinder,notaLoser.Ifyouthinkyoumightbeifyoureseriouslyinterestedin locatingwhatyoulose thisbooksforyou. Finally,youcheckyourpocket.Forthekeys?No, forthebusfareyouregoingtoneedtogettowork. Itscometothat. Talkaboutfeelingfoolish. Meanwhile,yourneighborhasmislaidhischeck book. Less than a minute later, he has found it, and is coollywalkingouthisfrontdoor. Howdidhedoit?Howdidheavoidthefrustra tionthe inconveniencethe loss of timeso oftencausedbymisplacedobjects? Letsaskhim. 34 6. TheFactsYoungandold,richandpoor,cityfolksandfarm erswereallconstantlylosingthings. Its an ageold problemas old as the pyramids. Andonethatsnotabouttogoaway.Yes,lostobjectscanbefound.Howisitdone? Byfollowingmymethod. Interested? Readon.Everydaymillionsofobjectsaremisplacedinthe UnitedStates.Amongthemarewallets,rings, keys, scissors, sweaters, notebooks, eyeglasses, theatre tickets, important documentsyou name it. (A circuselephantissaidtohavebeenlostrecentlyin Florida!)Manyoftheseobjectsareneverrecovered possiblyabilliondollarsworthannually.(Their sentimentalvalue,ofcourse,isincalculable.)Even moredisturbingisthetimespentlookingforsuch objects.Theaveragepersoncouldspendupto two months ofhislifesearchingoftenfruitlesslyfor thingshehaslost. Thentheresthenuisancefactorassociatedwith missingobjects.Thecarsthatcantbestarted.The booksthatcantberead.Thebusinessthatcantbe conducted.MillionsofAmericansexperiencesuch frustrationsdaily.Itissomethingthattoucheseach ofourlives,andthatcanmakeanightmareofan ordinarydaythatcandriveustodistraction! Buttheincrediblefactisthis: Eachandeveryone ofthoseobjectsthetickets,the eyeglasses,theelephantcouldhavebeenfound. Easily.Withinminutes. 56 7. GettingStartedMymethodisunique,amazing,andeasytolearn. ItisbasedonwhatIcalltheTwelvePrinciplesa setofpreceptsdesignedtoleadyou directly toany lostobject.Likeabloodhound! I discovered these principles after years of bitter experience.ForI,too,wasonceaLoserandaWeeper. I,too,wasconstantlybeingmockedbymisplaced keys,books,manuscripts,pajamatops.Mycapwould vanish.Mypenwouldhidefromme.Thelistwas endless.tionsthatseemparticularlyrelevanttoyourownmisplacementprole.Then,thenexttimeyoulosesomething,openthisbookandmaketheTwelvePrinciplesworkforyou.Icanalmostguaranteetheywill.Areyouready?Letslearnhowtondlostobjects.OntothePrinciples. ButthenIrealizedthatlostobjects can befound. Ifthesearchisconductedsystematically,andmind fulofafewbasicideas. ItwasntlongbeforeIwasndingmythingswith an ease that seemed miraculous. Yet no psychic powers,expensiveequipment,orspecialskillswere involved. Simply a method. I also began to help friends nd their lost items. Astounded at the results,theyurgedmetowritethisbook. Youllbeastounded,too,asmissingobjectsvirtu ally lineup tobefound! I recommend that you start by reading the book throughfrombeginningtoend.Introduceyourself tothePrinciples.FollowBetsyasshesearchesfor herkeysthewrongwayandtherightway.Geta feelformytipsandtechniques.Andmarkanysec 7 8 8. TheTwelve PrinciplesMymethodisbasedonthe TwelvePrinciplesaset of fundamentalguidelines forndinglostobjects. TheTwelvePrinciplesare:2. The Principles1.DontLookforIt 2.ItsNotLost Are You 3.RemembertheThreeCs 4. ItsWhereItsSupposedtoBe 5.DomesticDrift 6.YoureLookingRightatIt 7.TheCamouflageEffect 8. ThinkBack 9. LookOnce,LookWell 10. TheEurekaZone 11. TailThyself 12. ItWasntYou ThesePrinciplesarethecoreofmymethod.Soget acquaintedwiththem.Learnthem.Masterthem. Then,wheneversomethingcantbefound,simply applythePrinciples. Soletsgetrightintothem.10 9. PRINCIPLEONEDontLookforIt Somethingslost,andyourrstthoughtyourbasic instinctistolookforit.Yourereadytostartrum maging about. To hunt for it in a random, and increasinglyfrenetic,fashion.Toransackyourown house. This is the most common mistake people make. Anditcandoomtheirsearchfromthestart. Iknowyoureeagertondthatlostitem.Butnot yet.Dontlookforityet. Waituntilyouhavesomeidea where tolook.12 10. PRINCIPLETWOItsNotLost You Are Have you ever stopped to think that maybe its you thatarelostnotthosekeysorthatumbrella? Becauseafundamentaltruthisthis: There are no missing objects. Only unsystematic searchers. Acceptthatcopyitdownandtapeittoyourmir rorandyoullsoonbendingthingswithease.14 11. PRINCIPLETHREERemembertheThreeCs To nd a lost object, you must be in the proper frameofmind.Andthatmeanspayingattentionto theThreeCs. Theyare: COMFORT Startbymakingyourselfcomfortableinanarm chairorsofa.Haveacupoftea,perhaps,orastick ofgum. CALMNESS Next,emptyyourmindofanyunsettlingthoughts. Pretendthattheseaislappingatyourfeet.Orthat youresittinginagardenfullofbirdsandowers. CONFIDENCE Finally, tell yourself you will locate that missing object.(Toenhanceyourcondence,youmightwant todonathinkingcap.Seeinstructionsonhowto makeone.)Nowyoureready.Tobegina systematic search.16 12. PRINCIPLEFOURItsWhereItsSupposedtoBe Believeitornot,thingsareoftenrightwheretheyre supposedtobe. Isthereaplacewhereyourmissingobjectisnor mallykept?Aparticularrack,orshelf,ordrawer? Ifso,lookthererst.Youmayactuallyhavehung upyourcoatlastnight.Orputthedictionaryback ontheshelf.Orreturnedthetapemeasuretothe tooldrawer. Evenifyoudidnt,someonemayhavedoneitfor you.18 13. PRINCIPLEFIVEDomesticDrift Manyobjectsdohaveadesignatedorcustomary placewheretheyarekept.Buttherealityisthat theyarentalwaysreturnedthere.Instead,theyare left whereverlastused. SuchobjectshaveundergoneDomesticDrift.They couldbeanywhereinthehouse,oroutintheyard. Relax.Getcomfortable.Pouryourselfacupofcof fee. Nowtrytoremember.Wherewereyoulastusing thatpliers,ortapemeasure,orfountainpen? Where didyoulast have it? Becausethatspreciselywhereitstillmaybe.20 14. PRINCIPLESIXYoureLookingRightatIt Allright.Youcheckedwhereitssupposedtobe, whereitwaslastused,orwhereitmighthavebeen casuallytossed.Anditwasntthere. Orwasit? Itispossibletolook directly atamissingobjectand notseeit.Thisisduetotheagitatedstateofmind thatoftenaccompaniesamisplacement.Goback andlookagain.Itmaybestaringyouintheface. Occasionally,ourdistressissuchthatnotonlydo weoverlookanobjectweforgetwhatwerelook ingfor!Toavoidthis,repeatedlymurmurthename oftheobject.(Potholder,potholder,potholder.) Butwhytheagitation?Haveweforgottenthesec ondC?Returntoyourarmchairandgetcalm.22 15. PRINCIPLESEVENTheCamouageEffect Dontbefooled.Yourobjectmayberightwhere youthoughtitwasbutithasbecomehiddenfrom view. Besuretocheckunderanythingthatcould be covering yourobject,havinginadvertentlybeen placedontopofit. IcallthistheCamouageEffect.Amongthemost commonoffendersarenewspapersandsombreros.24 16. PRINCIPLEEIGHTThinkBack Youwerethereatthesceneofthemisplacement. Youweretherewhentheobjectwasputdown wasleftinanobscurelocationwasconsignedto oblivion. Youweretherebecauseyoudidit! Soyoumusthaveamemoryhoweverfaintof wherethishappened. Areyoupreparedto thinkback,andretrievethat memory? Ifso,youmaysoonbecryingoutOfcourse!and makingabeelinetothatforgottenplace.26 17. PRINCIPLENINELookOnce,LookWell Dontgoaroundincircles.Onceyouvecheckeda site,dontgobackandcheckagain.Nomatterhow promisingasiteiftheobjectwasnttheretherst time,itwontbetherethesecond. Assuming, of course, that your first check was thorough.28 18. PRINCIPLETENTheEurekaZone Themajorityoflostobjectsarerightwhereyoug ureonceyoutakeamomenttostopandgure. Others,however,areinthe immediatevicinity ofthat place.Theyhaveundergoneadisplacementashift inlocationthat,althoughminor,hasservedtoren dertheminvisible. Someexamples: Apencilhasrolledbeneathatypewriter. Atoolhasbeenshovedtotherearofadrawer. A book on a shelf has gotten lodged behind other books. Afolderhasbeenmisled,severalfoldersawayfrom whereitbelongs.Objectsareapttowander.Ihavefound,though, thattheytendtotravelnomorethaneighteeninches fromtheiroriginallocation.Tothecircledescribed bythiseighteeninchradiusIhavegivenaname.I callittheEurekaZone. With the aid of a ruler (or a EurekaStiksee later), determine the Eureka Zone of your lost object.Thenexploreit.Meticulously.30 19. PRINCIPLEELEVENTailThyself Ifyoustillhaventfoundyourobject,itmaybetime toRecreatetheCrime. Removeyourthinkingcapanddonyourdetectives cap.Foryouareaboutto followyourowntrail. Letscreateatypicalscenario.Youcomehomefrom workandndaletterinthemail.Sometimelater yourereadytoreaditbutitsmissing.Youreper turbedandperplexed.Wheresthatletter? Okay,startatthedoorandretraceyourstepssince returninghome.Whereinthehousedidyougo? Towhatspeciclocations?Stopateachofthemand lookfortheletter. Hmm,acoatthrownacrossachair.Youwerehere. (Checkunderthecoatandinitspockets.) Adepressioninthesofa.Youwerehere. Onthekitchencounter,aglass.Youwerehere. Onthetablebythearmchair,candywrappersand anovel.Youwerehere. Andmarkingyourplaceinthenovelaha!That missingletter. Goodwork,gumshoe. 32 20. PRINCIPLETWELVEItWasntYou Whenallelsehasfailed,explorethepossibilitythat yourobjecthasntbeenmisplaced.Rather,itsbeen misappropriated. Perhaps someone you know has borrowed your umbrella.Oreatenyourdoughnut.Ortakenyour magazineintoanotherroom. Approach that person and inquire if such might not be the case. (Have you by any chance seen my?isatactfulwaytophrasethis.)34 21. 8.Therearetwelvemonthsintheyear,twelvemembersofQuizajury,twelvesignsofthezodiac,andNinePrinciplesfor ndinglostobjects. trueLetsseeifyouhavemasteredthePrinciples.Check trueorfalsetoeachofthefollowingstatements:falseWhenyouhavecompletedthequiz,turnthepage.1. Ifyoumisplacesomething,searchyourentirehousefor it.Dosoinafrenzied,unsystematicfashion.Do not use theTwelvePrinciples. truefalse2. Nevercheckunderasombreroforamissingobject. truefalse3.TheThreeCsareConfusion,Consternation,andDis comfort. truefalse4.TheEurekaZoneisamountainousareaoftheYukon,in whichgoldwasdiscoveredin1848. truefalse5. Poltergeists,gremlins,andothersupernaturalbeingsare responsibleforthemajorityoflostobjects. truefalse6. DomesticDriftisatermusedbybureaucrats,toreferto housesthatoatoffduringaood. truefalse7. Amisplacedelephantcannotbefound. truefalse 3536 22. OneMorePrincipleThefollowingprincipleisaspecialone. Icallitthe THIRTEENTH PRINCIPLE. AndIhavekeptit apart from the others to underscore its use in a certaindiresituationonly. Thesituationisthis: Youveappliedeachof theTwelve Principles,andstillhaventfoundyourobject. Thatshouldrarelyhappen.Butwhenitdoes,you havearecoursetheTHIRTEENTH PRINCIPLE. Okay,turnthepageandtakealook. If you answered false to each of the eight questions,congratulations!Youhavemastered theTwelvePrinciples.Welcometotheranksof thosewholocatewhattheylose.3738 23. THETHIRTEENTHPRINCIPLEQuSer,Ser HaveyoubeenapplyingthePrinciples?Ifso,you shouldhavefoundyourobjectbynow. Butoccasionally,Fatechoosestoseparateusfrom oneofourpossessions.Whenthatseemstobethe case,itstimeto calloffthesearch. Yourmissingobjectmayeventuallyturnup.Until then,acceptthatyouarebeingofferedalesson:in patienceorhumilityornonattachmenttothe thingsofthisworld. Andifnot,sowhat?Lostkeys,books,eyeglasses evenelephants!canbereplaced.Suchlossesare inconvenientandvexing.Yetsurelytheyhavetheir placeintheinscrutableeconomyoftheUniverse. Youvedonewhatyoucan.Sorelax,andwitha shrugofresignationacceptthefateofyourobject. Quser,ser.Whatwillbe,willbe.40 24. BetsyFindsHerKeysLetsfollowBetsyassheconductsasearchrst thewrongway,thentherightway! 3. TheWay toSearchBetsyreadsProfessorSolomons HOW TO FIND LOST OBJECTS. She is intrigued by his method, and is sureitwillsomedaycomeinhandy. 42 25. Afewdayslater,sheisabouttoleaveforwork, whenshecantndherkeys.Theymustbeinhere,shemutters,andempties herbriefcaseontheoor.4344 26. Nope.Shelookseverywhere.4546 27. 4748 28. Where are they?shewonders.Hastheshgotthem?4950 29. Urghh!Shesgoingnuts.5152 30. ItsProfessorSolomon, 53takingastroll. 54 31. Ofcourse,saysBetsy.Iforgotallabouthismethod. TheTwelvePrinciples!Mykeysarentlost, I am.Shebeginsbyapplyingthe3Cs.5556 32. ThenitsTailThyself.Betsyclosesinonthoseelusivekeys.5758 33. DeterminingherEurekaZone.Exploringit.5960 34. Eureka!Shesmightypleased.6162 35. Anditsofftowork.Nexttime,saysBetsy,IlltrytheTwelvePrin ciples rst.6364 36. AtMy Door 4. TheArt ofFindingPeopleshowupatmydoor,tellmetheyvelostthisorthatvitalpossession,andpleadwithmetohelpthemndit.Iaskthem:Whatwastherstthingyoudidwhenyourealizeditwasmissing?Theyshrugandreply:Ilookedaroundthehouseforit.Ithoughtso,Isay,shakingmyheadsadly.Well,youcommittedtheBasicBlunder.Neverlookaroundforalostobject.Thatthrowsthemforaloop.Theystareatmeandmutter:Dontlookaroundforit?Youheardme.ThenwhatamIsupposedtodo?FollowmeandIllshowyou.I take them into the yard, where I make myselfcomfortableinalawnchair.This is how, I say to them. How I nd lostobjects.Butyourejustsittingthere.Notatall.Imhardatwork.Thatswork?Indeeditis.Imtryingtondyourlostobject.Youare?Buthow?ByapplyingtheThreeCs:Comfort,Calmness,66 37. genie were at your command, magically locating yourobject.Yetnomagicwillbeinvolvedjusta method. Amethodthatworks.andCondence.Bytheway,whatsizeheaddoyou have?Wellwanttomakeyouathinkingcap. Atthispoint,manygrowdubiousandleave.Inever seethemagain.Othersdecidetostickaround and learnmymethod. Ifyouvecomethisfarinthebook,youreobviously amongthelatter.YouvemasteredtheTwelvePrin ciples,andarereadynowforacomprehensivelook attheartofnding. Thesectionsthatfollowwilldealwithavarietyof lostobjectsituations.Studythesesections.Become familiar with the ins and outs of nding. Get a practicalsenseofwhatitsallabout. Then, the next time you lose something, you shouldbeabletonditwithease.Itwillbeasifa 6768 38. HowtoProceedHowshouldyougoaboutusingmymethod?What specicstepsshouldyoutake,inordertorecover yourobject?Howexactlyisasearchtobeconduct ed?Instead,heiscoolandcollected.Hesitsandponders, likeapoetlostinreverie.Helistenstomemories, brainstorms,hunches.Andhesearcheswithcon dence. Butmostofall,he appliesthePrinciples. IfyouproceedasIhaveoutlined,youshouldhave notroubleintrackingdownyourobject.Theresnooneanswertothat.Findingisanart; andeveryFinderdevelopsastyleanapproach a modus operandiof his own. Moreover, every misplacementisunique,andmustbesolvedinan ad hoc fashion. But basically, heres what I tell people: Sitdown,makeyourselfcomfortable,takeadeep breathortwoand ponder.Askyourself:Where is thatobject?Inwhatobviousplace?Trytorecallor gureoutitswhereabouts.Andthemosteffective means of doing that? The Twelve Principles, of course.Simplygothroughthem,onebyone,and seewheretheyleadyou.(Ifyouhaventyetmemo rizedthePrinciples,positionmybookinfrontof you.Itsbeendesignedtolieat,opentoapartic ularPrinciplewhileyousipcoffee,think,scratch yourhead,rereadthePrinciple,stareoffintospace, sigh,rackyourbrains,etc.) Whenapossiblelocationpopsintomind,gocheck itout.Ifitsadud,returntoyourseatandcontinue asabove. Remember,yourframeofmindduringthisprocess iscritical.Anxiety,selfreproach,hasteaFinder willhavenothingtodowithsuchDefeatFactors. 69 70 39. TenTips 4. Oneofthemostcommonrecoveryareasforlost objectsistheautomobile.Yourobjectmaysimply belyingonthecarseat,whereyouleftit.Oritmay have become wedged between cushions, or have fallenontheoor.Ifyouweretravelinginanauto mobile,checktheseplaces.(Andremember,check thoroughly. A cursory examination can be disas trousaswillbeexplainedinCommonMistakes toBeware.)Areyouoneofthosepeoplewholiketosprawlon thesofa?Andyourwalletwhichyoucarryina pantspocketismissing?Maybeitfelloutonthe sofa.Golook. Itshouldbenotedthatdroppingthingsisnotthe same as misplacing them: no lapse of memory is involved.Soifasetofkeyshasfallenfromyour pocket, or an earring from your ear, most of the Principleswillnotberelevant.Onethatwillbe, however,isTailThyself.Simplyfollowyourtrail aboutthehouse,closelyexaminingtheoor,stairs, seatcushions,etc.2. 5. 1. Instead of being where its supposed to be, your objectmaybewhere somethingelse issupposedto be.Whathappenedwasamentallapse,inwhich oneroutinemotiongotsubstitutedforanother.For example,yourscissorsarenormallykeptinajaron thekitchencounter;butmindlessly,youreturned themtothetooldrawer.Toreducethelikelihoodofamisplacement,andto facilitateanysearchesthatbecomenecessary,keep yourhomeneatandorderly.Rememberthemaxim: A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE.6.Whatwereyouwearingwhenyoulastremember havingtheobject?Thinkback,thengosearchthe pocketsofthoseclothes.Andbemeticuloussearch every pocket.Theoneyouskipcouldbetheone youreafter.If a loss is thought to have occurred outside the home,sitdownandreviewyourmovementsdur ingtheday.Thentelephonearound,toseewhether the item has been found. If its a wallet, bag, or briefcasethatmayhavebeenleftinastore,have them check near the cash register: while paying, youmayhaveputitdown,thenleftitbehind.Or ifyoudroppedsomething,agoodSamaritanmay7172 3. 40. havefounditandleftitwiththecashier.Inthecase ofinstitutionsschools,communitycenters,the atresaskiftheyhavealostandfound. Shouldthisphonesearchprovefruitless(ornotbe feasible),leavethehouseandreturntotheloca tionsyouvisitedduringtheday.Ateachofthem retraceyourstepskeepingasharpeyeoutforthe object. Butremember:neitheroftheaboveshouldbere sorted to prematurely. First search your house search yourownimmediatesurroundings. Forthats usuallywhereamissingobjectis. Dont racebackin apanictothesupermarketonlytodiscoveryour wallet tucked away in the wrong section of your purse.7. 9.As you sit and ponder the whereabouts of a lost object,yourstateofmindshouldbelikethatofa daydreamer:relaxedandcontemplative.Butwhen yougetuptogocheckasite, shiftgears.Bealert, energetic,andthoroughyoureadetectivenow.10.Wherehasthisobjectbeenfoundbefore?Towhat location does it seem to gravitate? Where has it turnedupagainandagain? Routinely,objectsaremislaidinthesameplace thesameobviousplace.Keysareleftinlocks.Brief casesincars.Eyeglassesatopheads. Trylookingtherebefore youransackthehouse.Objectsdodisappearthankstothieves,traderats, leprechauns,andthelike.However,suchincidents areinfrequent;andtheirslightpossibilitymustnot provide an excuse for abandoning the search. Be steadfast.Thatdiamondringhassimplybeenmis laid,andcanbefoundifyouarepersistentand methodical.8.Besureyourenotlookingforaphantomposses sion:somethingyouhadplannedtopurchasebut thenneverdid.(Orsomethingyouacquiredina dream.) 7374 41. CommonMistakestoBewareIseethesamemistakesbeingmade,againand again, inconnectionwithlostobjects.Amongthemare:ThePanickyPresumption Pitythepoorsoulwhogoesthroughwastebaskets orgarbagebagsorevenracestothetowndump! insearchofsomethingthatsrightwhereitssup posedtobe.TheRashAccusation Whosgotmycoffeemug?(orstaplerornewspa perorelephant)wedemand,afteronlyasupercial search.Arashaccusationinwhatwillprobably proveacaseofmeremisplacement.TheManiacalSearchOurmisplacementthrowsusintoafrenzy;andlike awildmanwesearchtheentirehouse.Westalk about, riing through drawers, emptying boxes, turning things inside outand utterly neglecting theTwelvePrinciples. Maniacalsearchesareundigniedandexhausting. Worseyet,theytendtofail:anagitatedeyewillpass rightoveritsquarry. ApplythePrinciples!MistakenImageofanObject Ioncehelpedafriendsearchhisbookshelvesfor a particular book. He had described it to me as a hardback. So thats what we looked forat length and in vain. Finally, I grew suspicious of hisdescription,andbegantoexaminethepaper backsaswell.Andthereitwas,inplainsight.Our false image of the book had prevented us from ndingit.WildGooseChaseSuspicion Weareabouttosearchourhouseforanobject.Yet wesuspectthatitsnotinthehouse,andthatwe areembarkingonaWildGooseChase. Sowesearchhalfheartedlycausingustoover looktheobject.Which convinces usthatitsnotin thehouse.7576 42. InitialDiscouragementWevemisplacedsometinyitemapill,say,ora screwanditcouldbeanywhereinthehouse.We considernotevenattemptingasearch.Imnotgo ingtondit,wemurmur.Thatdarnthings gone forever. No!Sayinstead:Itisheresomewhere,andIshall succeedinfindingit.Why?BecauseIvegotthe TwelvePrinciples.Principlesthatwork.immediately intothesearch.(Dontgooffandsurveyother rooms,lestyoufailtoreturntothisoneaQuickLook afterall!)QuickLookTheQuickLook Aswesitandponderthewhereaboutsofanobject, a number of possible sites come to mind. So we take a Quick Looka mere glanceinto those nearestathand.Theideaistomoveontomore promising sites. These initial ones, we tell our selves,canalwaysbereturnedtoforacloser inspec tion. Aharmlessexpedient?Notifitresultsinanover lookedobject.Forwemay misremember thoseinitial sites as having been closely inspected, and never returntothem.CoolOnceoverNOTE:TheQuickLookisnottobeconfusedwiththeCoolOnceover. The Cool Onceover is a legitimate shortcut, and should precede any meticulous search. It works like this: Yoususpectanobjecttobesomewhereinaparticularroom, andareabouttosearchthatroom.Beforedoingso,giveit ageneralsurveyanalertrovingoftheeyeaCoolOnce over.Yourobjectmaybesittinginplainsight.Ifso,you will spot it and avoid a meticulous search. If not, move 77 78 43. TheBermudaTriangleMythCanourpossessionsdropoffthefaceoftheearth? Isthereamysteriousregionintowhichtheyvan ish,nevertobeseenagain?Dosupernaturalforces orbeings causethedisappearanceofsomeobjects?TheTreasureTroveSyndrome Wehidesomevaluablesinadistinctiveplacealocationsouniquethatitwillbesuretostickinourmemory.Ohyeah?Theyrestillthere. RingORuption Wearemakingahouseholdrepair,whenthetele phonerings.Rushingtoanswerit,wedropthetool we were using on the rst surface that presents itself. Itsstillthere.Ofcoursenot(thoughan occasional leprechaunmay pilferthingsfromthekitchenatnight).Rather,one ofthefollowingphenomenamaybeinvolved:PocketGobble Absentmindedly, we slip something into one ofourpockets.Itsstillthere.7980 44. TheHandsFullSituation LoanOLoss Returninghomewithgroceries,drycleaning,and briefcase, we nd our hands full. So in order to unlockthedoor,wesetdownoneofthoseitems. Justforasecond. Itsstillthere.Weloansomethingtoafriend,thenforgetthatwedidso.Shesstillgotit. BeRightBack Avariationoftheabove.Ratherthansetsomething down,westruggletounlockthedoorthenleave thekeysinthelock,intendingtoreturnimmedi atelyandfetchthem. Theyrestillthere.81Themindwantstobelievethatthingsmysteriously disappearthat they are spirited away by super naturalforcesorbeings.But(exceptforthatpilfer ingleprechaun),itjustisntso.Mostlostobjectsare somewherenearathandwaitingtobefound. Yourtaskistondthem.82 45. TheSlyApproachYoumightwanttotry outwitting yourobject.As yousitandponder,mutterthatyouhaventaclue astoitswhereabouts.Orpretendnottocaremuch aboutndingit.Theideaistolulltheobjectinto afalsesenseofsecurity. Thensaunterovertowhereyoususpectittobe andpounceonit!Step2Step18384 46. HowtoMakeaThinkingCapAthinkingcapcanboostyourcondence,andfocus yourmentalenergies.Hereshowtomakeone. 5.Foldthelowercornersto thebottomoftheband.6.Foldtheflapupover theband. 7.Foldthetopoftheflap downintotheband.8.Foldthepeakofthe capdowntothebottom oftheband.Tuckitin.9. Openthecapandflatten itstop.Foldthepointed endsdownintotheband.1.Takeafoldedsheet ofnewspaperandlocateitscenterline.Foldtheuppercornersdowntomeetthecenterline. 10.Donthecapand yourereadyto think.3.Folditupagaintocreatethebandofthecap. 2.Foldthetopsheetuptomeetthebaseofthetriangle. 4.Turnthecapoverandfoldtherightandleftedgessothattheymeetatthecenterline.(Foralargesizecap,letthemfallaninchshortofthecenter line.)8586 47. 15 12InspecteveryinchofthatZoneeverynookand cranny.Checkunderandbehindthings.Anddont14Andlo,aEurekaStik.Alignitszeromarkwiththe spotfromwhichtheobjectissuspectedofhaving beendisplaced.Nowrotatethearrow(seeFigure1). ThecircledescribedisyourEurekaZone.A131.Foldalongdottedline. 2.FoldtabAovertabB. 3.Tapethemtogether. 4.Slideattachmentontoendofruler. 5. Tapeitthere.16TheresaconvenientwaytodetermineyourEureka Zone; and thats by using a EurekaStik. Theyre easytomakeallyouneedisanordinaryruler,the attachment on the next page, scissors, and tape. Startbycuttingouttheattachment.Then:Figure187EurekaStik17InPrincipleTenwelearnedabouttheEurekaZone thatlimitedareainwhichdisplacedobjectstend tobefound.Itwasdescribedasacirclewhosecen teristheoriginallocationoftheobject,andwhose radiusiseighteeninches..........................................................................................................................................................Eureka! B 48. befooledbyverticaldisplacementchecktheoor, too.(Seenote.) Remember,yourEurekaStikcanbehelpful,butits notamagicwand. How yougoaboutsearchingis whatwillmakethedifference. NOTE: Thateighteeninchesassumesasimplecaseofhori zontal displacement. But a vertical displacement may be involvedaswell(forexample,agolfballrollingoffadesk anddroppingtotheoor),followedbyasecondaryhori zontaldisplacement(theballbouncingoffsomewhere).In suchcases,usetheformulaEZ =18+ d +bf where EZ istheEurekaZone, d isthedistancetheobject drops,and bf isthebouncefactor.(Bouncefactorsrange from250tozero.Seetablebelow.) Also,incasesofoversizedobjects(brooms,ladders,surf boards,etc.),useasearchradiusofeighteen feet. Andfor missingles,checkvefoldersineitherdirection.SomeSampleBounceFactors Object bf(ininches) Rubber ball......................................................250 Lemon...............................................................10 Glassheirloom.....................................................0ThePurloinedLetterHidden objectsresemblemisplacedonesinmany respects,andmaybesearchedforinalikemanner. TheclassictaleofsuchasearchisThePurloined LetterbyEdgarAllanPoe.Itgoesasfollows: TheParispolicearetryingtorecoveracompromis ingletterthathasbeenstolenfromaroyalperson age. Believingittobeconcealedinthehomeofa certaingovernmentofcial,theyundertakeasearch ofthepremises. Theirsearchismeticulous.Everysquareinchofthe apartmentisscrutinized,everyconceivablehiding place looked into. Drawers are emptiedchairs are dismantledcushions are probed with long needles.Theoors,walls,andceilingsareexam inedwithamicroscope,forsignsofreplastering. Yetthelettercannotbefound. C.AugusteDupin,anaristocraticsleuth,isbrought intothecase.Usinghispowersofanalysis,hecon ductsasearchofhisownandlocatestheletter almostimmediately. Whenhedeliversittothepolice,theyareamazed. Wherewasit?theywanttoknow.Howcouldtheir minuteexaminationoftheapartmenthavefailed touncoverit? Dupin smiles languidly, and explains that the ofcialawarethatameticuloussearchwouldbe conducted for the letterhad resorted to the89 90 49. comprehensive and sagacious expedient of notattemptingtoconcealitatall.Instead,theman hadleftit inplainsight, crumpledupasifunim portantandthrustcarelesslyintoarack. Andtherethepoliceignoredit.Afterall,theletter theywereseekingwouldhavebeencarefullypre servedandtuckedawayinsomesecretplace. HadDupinbeenfamiliarwiththeTwelvePrinci ples,hemighthavetoldtheredfacedgendarmes: Messieurs,youwerelookingrightatit.91 TheGamesAfoot InTheManwiththeTwistedLip,SherlockHolmes isengagedtolocateahusbandwhohasmysteri ouslydisappeared.Watsongivesthisdescriptionof Holmessolvingthecase: A large and comfortable doublebedded room had beenplacedatourdisposal,andIwasquicklybetween thesheets,forIwaswearyaftermynightofadventure. SherlockHolmeswasaman,however,who,whenhe hadanunsolvedproblemuponhismind,wouldgofor days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every pointofviewuntilhehadeitherfathomeditorcon vincedhimselfthathisdatawereinsufcient.Itwas soonevidenttomethathewasnowpreparingforan allnightsitting.Hetookoffhiscoatandwaistcoat, putonalargebluedressinggown,andthenwandered abouttheroomcollectingpillowsfromhisbedand cushionsfromthesofaandarmchairs.Withthesehe constructed a sort of Eastern divan, upon which he perchedhimselfcrosslegged,withanounceofshag tobaccoandaboxofmatcheslaidoutinfrontofhim. Inthedimlightofthelamp,Isawhimsittingthere, an old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes xed vacantlyupontheceiling,thebluesmokecurlingup from him, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strongset aquiline features. So he sat as I droppedofftosleep,andsohesatwhenasuddenejac ulationcausedmetowakeup,andIfoundthesum mersunshiningintotheapartment.Thepipewasstill betweenhislips,thesmokestillcurlingupward,and theroomwasfullofadensetobaccohaze,butnothing remainedoftheheapofshagwhichIhadseenupon thepreviousnight. 92 50. Awake,Watson?heasked.Yes.Gameforamorningdrive?Certainly.Thendress....Hechuckledtohimselfashespoke,hiseyestwinkled,andheseemedadifferentmantothesomberthinkerofthepreviousnight. WhatbetterexampleofsomeoneapplyingtheThree CsComfort,Calmness,andCondenceashe beginsahunt!FreudsFeeAccordingtoFreud,objectsmaybeintentionally misplaced.We want toforgetwhereweleftthem. We want tooverlookthem. InThePsychopathologyofEverydayLife, hedescribes the unconscious dexterity with which an object is mislaid on account of hidden but powerful motives.Thesemotivesinvolvethelowestima tion in which the lost object is held, or a secret antipathytowardsitortowardsthepersonthatit camefrom. Freudtellsofapatientwhocouldnotndthekeys to his desk, despite a painstaking search of his apartment.Sensingthatthelosswasintentional asymptomaticactthepatienthadhisservant takeupthesearch.Theservantfoundthekeys. Thepatientthendelvedintohisunconscious.Why, hewondered,hadhebeenunabletolocatethekeys? Whathadbeenhissecretmotive?Coulditrelatesome howtohistreatmentsessionwithFreud,scheduled forthefollowingday? Suddenly,itdawnedonhim.Theirlosshadpre ventedacertaindrawerfrombeingopenedthe drawerinwhichthemoneyforhistreatmentwas kept.Hismotiveforlosingthekeys?Secretrage,he realized,athavingtopayFreudsohighafee! Ifyoususpectyourownmisplacementtobeinten tional,haveafriendjoininthesearch.93 94 51. Hrnir ATrueAccount In his story Tln, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius, Jorge Luis Borges tells of a world where (among other marvels)lostobjectsduplicatethemselves.Thus,a searchermaycomeupontheobjectitselformay havefounditsduplicate.Knownas hrnir,these duplicatesareusuallymistakenfortheobject.They arenot,however,exactcopies.A hrn maybeslight lylargerthantheoriginal,andwillpossesssome imperfectionofform.ThefollowingletterisfromLarryCallahan, an artist inSouthernCalifornia,whomIhad introducedto theTwelvePrinciples:Therearealso hrnir thatbarelyresembletheob jectthatengenderedthem.Instead,theyfulllthe searchersdesiresinregardtothatobject. Forexam ple,helosesapencilandndsafountainpen. Intherealworld, hrnir shouldntbeaproblem. Butdotakecaretosearchfortheactualobject not(asinmysearchforthesupposedlyhardcover book)anidealizedimageofit.95 DearProfessorSolomon,Ihadanexperiencerecentlythatinvolvedyourmethod.Afriendneededarentalcar;andIagreedtodrivehimtotheairporttopickoneup.Ihadsomeerrandsto runletterstomailatthepostofce,andchecksto depositatmybanksoIdecidedtodoitallinasin gletrip.Iplacedthelettersandcheckstogetherinone pile(awarethatthiswasreckless,buttrustingmyself toseparatethemattheappropriatemoment),grabbed mycarkeys,andsetout. Myrststopwasthepostofce,whereIdepositedthe lettersinacurbsidemailbox.ThenIpickedupmy friendandproceededtotheairport. Attherentalagencyhewentinside,whileIwaitedto makesuretherewasnoproblem.AsIsatinmycar,I noticedanaccumulationoftrashontheoor.Why notputtheseidleminutestouse,Isaidtomyself,and dosomecarcleaning?SoIgatheredupthetrash bags,iers,newspapers,andwhatnotanddropped itintoareceptacleoutsidetheagency. Myfriendemergedwithasetofkeysandarentalcon tract.Isaidgoodbyeanddroveoff,headednowformy bank. AtthebankIparkedandlookedaboutforthosechecks. Theywerenowheretobeseen.Frowning,Ichecked mypockets.Ipeeredintotheglovecompartment.I pokedaboutontheoorandundertheseat.Alltono avail.Thecheckshaddisappeared. I tried not to panic. My anxiety level was rising, 96 52. thoughwhenIrecalledyourmethod.TheTwelvePrinciples,Imurmured.Whynotgivethematry?TherstthatcametomindwasDontlookforit.Too late thereI had already searched the car. ImovedontoThethreeCsadjustingtheseattogetcomfortable,takingdeepbreathstocalmmyself,and telling myself that the checks had to be SOME Igroaned.Itwasobviouswhathadhappened.Ihaddropped the whole pile into the mailboxjust as IhadknownIwascapableofdoing.Whataridiculousthingtohavedone!Mychecksweregone,swallowedupbythepostalsystem.Butwaitmaybetheywereretrievable.Aleviathanhadswallowedthem;butmaybeIcoulddescendintoitsbellyandgetthemback.Itwasworthatry.Ourlocalpostofceisasmall,friendlyplace.Conceivably,theywouldtakepityonme.Tryingtostaycalm,Ireturnedtothepostofceandexplainedtoapostalemployeewhathadhappened.Otheremployeesgatheredtolisten,andtoshaketheirheads at my blunder. Was there any way to get thechecksback?Iasked.Iwastoldthataproceduredidexistforretrievingmail.Iwouldhavetolloutaform,andpayasmallcharge,foreachitemreturnedtome.Letsgoforit,Isaid,tryingtosoundjocular.Firstwelookedthroughthehampersinthebackroom.Plenty of mail, but no loose checks. Then we wentoutside,openedthemailboxes,andcheckedtheircontents.Stillnochecks. Irackedmybrains.Whereelsecouldtheybe?Thinkback.I thought backand saw myself gathering up thattrashinmycar.Ono.Thechecksmusthavefallenontheoor,andbeeninwiththetrash.Thatsit!Icried.Theyreinthetrashcan!Idescribedthisnewtheorytothepostalemployees.Theybegantolookatmefunny.Biddingthemahastyfarewell,Idashedtomycaranddrovebacktotheairport.AttherentalagencyIgotoutofmycarandeyedthetrash receptacle. I removed its lid and looked in.There was nothing inside. The receptacle had beenemptiedsincemydeparture.Bythegaragewereapairofrubbishbins.Iapproachedthem,hoistedmyselfupononeofthem,andpeeredinsideatamassofrubbish.Inthesebinstheagencyemptieditstrash;andinthesebins,Iwasconvinced,weremychecks.Omy,whatwasItodo?Icoulddothesensiblethingandadmitdefeat.Afterall,thecheckswerereplaceable.Itwouldbetiresomeand embarrassing; but I could contact each client,explainmyblunder,andaskforanewcheck.Ortheindignitybedamned!Icouldsearchthroughthebins.Idecidedtosearch.Takingadeepbreath,Iclimbedintothebinandsankkneedeep in trash. The agency disposed of a largequantityofcomputerprintouts;andhaditnotbeenfor the coffee grounds, pencil shavings, and snackremainsmixedin,Imighthaveenjoyedasalarkmydescent into this binful of paper. But I persevered.Finding nothing in the rst bin, I hopped out andclimbedintothesecond.Incredibly,afterabitofdigging,Ifoundmychecks.Theywereamongsomecontractformsandcrushed 9798 WHERE. NextcameYourelookingrightatit.Iwas?Thecheckswererightinfrontofme?Iglaredatanemptydashboard.ThenIrememberedthePrincipleaboutthinkingback.SoIthoughtback,tryingtopicturewhatIhaddonewith the checks. AND I SAW MYSELF PUTTING THEMTOGETHERWITHTHELETTERS! 53. cups.IemergedfromthatbinknowingmorethanI caredtoabouttheunderbellyofthecarrentalbusi ness.ButIhadmychecks. WithoutthePrinciplesIwouldneverhavefound them. Yourmethodisinvaluable,forpeoplelikemewhenwe dosomethingstupid!Muchthanks. Yours, LarryTheaboveisatestimonial,whichIappreciate.But itisalsoacautionarytale.Forthetruthisthat Larry waslucky. Letstakealookathiscase. Yes,heemergedfromtherubbishbintriumphantly clutchinghischecks.Theywereinthere.Butthey couldjustaseasilyhavebeenunderhiscarseat, betweenthecushions,intheglovecompartment, orinoneof hispockets.Whilehemayhavelooked intheseplaces,hedoesnotseemtohavelooked well.IcheckedIpeeredIpokedabout,hetells usdescribingasearchthatsoundstomecursory andincomplete. Inotherwords,heshouldhavebegunwitha metic ulous search of his car. Instead, he took a Quick Look, then succumbed to one Panicky Presump tionafteranother.Theyreinthemailbox!hecried no,thetrashcan!no,thebin!Thatoneofthese longshotshappenedtopanoutdoesnotjustifyhis failuretohaveeliminatedrstthemorelikelysites. Descendingintoarubbishbinmustalwaysremain alastresort.99 5. Thisand That 54. SomeQuotesThereisnosuchthingasalostmovieonlymislaid movies.AndIshallndthem. MILES KREUGER,FILM HISTORIAN LastSaturdaymorning,Iconcludedthatthereisnoth ing harder to nd than a bottle of pancake syrup reshelvedsixinchesawayfromitsaccustomedspot. BURTON HILLIS,COLUMNIST FOR BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Havingnothing,nothingcanhelose. SHAKESPEARE Whendoesapoormanrejoice?Whenhelosessome thingandndsitagain. YIDDISH PROVERB Thequickestwaytondsomethingyouvelostormis placedistopurchaseanotherjustlikeit.MissingLuggageIfanairline,railway,orbuslinehaslostyour lug gage,youandtheycanworktogethertondit. Forexample,IoncetookatraintoCharlottesville, Virginia.Tomydismay,mycheckedbaggagefailed toarrivewithme.TheclerkatAmtrakattempted totrackitdown;butseveraldayswentbyandstill nobaggage.Finally,Ihappenedtolookcloselyat myclaimcheck,andsawthatitread Charlotte. I pointed this out to the clerk, who contacted the stationinCharlotte,NorthCarolina.Andyes,my baggagewasthere. Anothertime,IarrivedinSantaMonica,California, bybus;andthebaggageclerkwasunabletonda pairofboxesIhadchecked.Myheartsank;andI was resigning myself to never again seeing those boxeswhenamadhopegrippedme.IaskedifI mightenterthebaggageroomandlookaboutfor them.Theclerkallowedmetodosoandthere weremyboxes,sittingonarack.Somehowhehad overlookedthem. IneachcaseIhadfearedtheworst:thedisappear anceofmystuffintosomeblackholeforluggage. Yetacooperativeeffortledtorecovery.GEORGE BERGMAN101102 55. HowNottoLoseThingsSomeofusarepronetolosingthings.Friendslaugh andsay:Hedlosehisheadif itwerentnailedon. Maybethatsnotsuchabadidea. Topreventpensfromwalkingaway,bankschain themtothecounter.Andsomemencarryawallet thatischainedtotheirbelts. Ifyourpossessionstendtodriftoff,considertying themdown. Themanpicturedbelowsaysheneverlosesany thing.103TheLastPlaceIhadthefollowingconversationwithadentist,as hecleanedmyteeth: DENTIST: Doyouknowwherealostobjectalwaysis? PROF.SOLOMON: Where? DENTIST: Inthelastplaceyoulook. PROF.SOLOMON: Youmean,thelastplaceyoudthink oflooking? DENTIST: No,thelastplaceyoulook.Becauseassoon asyoundit,youstoplooking. PROF. SOLOMON: Thatsprettygood.MayIuseitin mybook? DENTIST: Sure.104 56. AConsumersGuide toDetectionDevicesKeyBeeper Attached to your key ring, this device will beep repeatedly in response to a clapthus revealing thelocationofyourkeys.Unfortunately,anyclap willdo;andakeybeepermaygooffunexpectedly.Lookingforalostobjectdetectiondevice?Consider thefollowing:TheFindometerLarryCallahan(thatartistwhodescendedintoa rubbishbin)hasdesignedtheabovecontraption. Heclaimsthatmisplacedobjectsdisturbtheenergy flowofaroomaphenomenonthathismachine wouldbeabletodetect.Thehand,hesays,would rotateinthedirectionofthedisturbance. HowwouldtheFindometerwork?Byapplyingmod ernelectronicstofangshui,theancientChineseart ofgeomancy. Soundsgood. 105106 57. DiviningRods KneePadsandMinersLamp Welldiggers,prospectors,treasurehunters,andother practitionersof dowsingswearbythese.Indthem unreliable.Still,theyrelightweightandeasytouse. Gripthehornsrmly.Thenjustwanderaboutuntil youfeelatwitch.These are for crawling about on your hands and knees,asyousearchforsomething.Diviningrodshavebeenaroundforthousandsof years. The Egyptians used them to foretell the future; the Romans located precious metals with them. Traditionally,theyarefashionedfromthebranchof ahazeltree.Aplasticversionmaybefoundinnov eltyshops.Butwhyareyoucrawlingabout?Gondacom fortablechair,andapplythePrinciples!The MOC Ifyouvedroppedasmallobjectcontainingiron, youmightwanttotryaMOC, orMagneticObject Collector.(Itsbasicallyjustamagnet.)Dragitabout thegeneralareaofyourloss,untilthe MOC picks upyourobject. Canbeattachedtothefamilydog.107108 58. AlternativeMethodsTherearemethodsbesidesmyownforndingalost object(althoughnoneofthemcanrivaltheTwelve Principlesforefcacy,reliability,andeaseofappli cation).Youmightwanttotryoneofthefollowing:GrandmasPrinciple AfriendinOntariowrites: When my grandmother wanted to nd something thatwaslost,shewouldstopinthemiddleoftheroom and askherselfoutloud,NowifIwerea(whatever waslost),wherewouldIgo?Shedmuseonthatone, andproceedtowherevershedecidedthethingwould havegonetoandthereitwas!Hypnosis HandTremblers Membersof theNavahotribeconsultaHandTrem bler.Thequiveringof hishandsleadsthemtolost objects.Dreams Shouldbeadministeredbyaqualiedprofessional.It is not unknown for the location of a missing objecttoberevealedinadream.Sokeepaneyeout evenwhileasleep.MemoryElixirs109110 59. StorefrontPsychics They will employ their mystic powers to locate yourobject.SaintAnthony Oureffortstotrackdownalostobjectbywhat evermethodaresometimesdoomedtofailure. Whenthathappens,itmaybetimetoturntoa HigherPower. Catholics have traditionally prayed to Saint Anthony for the restoration of lost objects. A promiseissometimesmadethatinreturnforhis servicesa donation will be made to the poor. These donations are known as Saint Anthonys Bread. Childrenchanttherefrain: SaintAnthony,please,comearound Somethingsbeenlostandcantbefound.SaintAnthonymayalsobecalleduponincasesof lostfaith,hope,orlove.111112 60. HashevatAveidaTheTalmudcontainsasetoflawsregardinghashe vataveida,orthereturnoflostobjects.Essentially, a person is bound to returnor make a serious attempttoreturnanylostobjecthehasfound. Normayheacceptarewardforthisservice. Thereare,ofcourse,exceptionsandcomplications. Thedutyiswaivediftheobjectsownercanbeex pectedtohavegivenuphopeforitsreturn.Andone mustbesuretheobjectwaslost.Iftherearesigns of its having been deliberately left where found, thentheobjectmustnotberemovedsincetodo sowould cause itsloss. Butthebasicideaisthatndersare not keepers inorderthatlosersnotbeweepers. This mitzvah (commandment,obligation,gooddeed) hasledtotheestablishmentinJewishcommunities of special bulletin boards, on which people who havelostorfoundsomethingmayputupnotices. One such bulletin board in Jerusalem is a city blocklong!114 61. AZen Koan Wannamoho Amonkhadmisplacedhisricebowlsomewhere inadarkroom.Hewasgropingabouttheroomin searchofit,whentheabbotofthemonasterycame in and asked what he was doing. The monk explained.Iwouldliketoconcludewithatale.ItsaboutLone Cloud,andhowhelearnedthatsomelostobjects shouldstaylost!Whydontyougooutsideandlookforit?saidthe abbot.Theresmorelightoutthere.115 OnedayLoneCloudgotlostintheforest.Onandonhewalked,surethathewouldsooncomeuponapath.Buttheforestgrewdenser,theshadowsdeeper.Nowandagainrosethecryoftheravenaneeriesoundinthispathlessplace.AndLoneCloudbegantofeelanxious.Imtrulylost,hethought.Thentheforestcametoanend;andLoneCloudfoundhimselfdescendingintoavalley.Onlygrassgrewinthis valley. Winding its way through the grass was astream.Ashewalkedalong,LoneCloudwassurprisedbywhathesawscatteredinthegrass.Foreverywherewerearticlesofdailylifebows,arrows,traps,pots,bowls,balls,whistles,bracelets,cloaks,moccasins.Lone Cloud noticed the raven, perched on a basket.WhereamI?heaskedthewisestofcreatures.InWannamoho,saidtheraven,theValleyofLostThings.Strewnaboutyouarethemissingpossessionsofyourpeople.Ourmissingpossessions?Yes.Theyhavebeencominghereforcountlessgenerationseversincetherstofyourancestorsmislaidsomething.Buthowdotheygethere?116 62. Theyarebroughtbythe WindThatLaughs.Themomentsomethingisgivenupforlost,helaughsandwaftsittothisvalley.LoneCloudwhohadneverheardof Wannamohogazedaboutinwonder.TheValleyof LostThings!Andhe recalled a pouch he had lost years before. Richlyembroidered,ithadcontainedanepipeandpowerfultobacco. Howpreciousthatpouchhadbeentohim,andhowhewouldlikeitback!ThepouchImislaiditishereinthisvalley?Itis.Show me where. I shall retrieve it and take it backwithme.Iwouldntdothat.YourpouchbelongsnowinWannamoho. To remove it could bring bad luck uponyou.Nonsense, said Lone Cloud. And he insisted theravenleadhimtohispouch.So the raven ew into the air, circled about, and uttereddowntothegrass.LoneCloudcamerunning overandtherewashislostpouch. Aha! he cried, grabbing it up. He opened it and beheldhispipeandtobacco.Amazingly,thetobacco wasstillpungent. Pleased to have regained his pouch, Lone Cloud departedfrom thevalleyandwanderedtheforest.At lasthecameuponapath,andbyduskwasbackathis hut. Thatnighthelledthepipeandsmokedit.Andhe was pufng away and murmuring pleasurably and thinkingthatthisindeedwashowtospendhiseve nings(andmaybehisdays,too)whenhishutcol lapsedabouthim! Dazed,LoneCloudcrawledoutoftheruins.Andhe wondered:Couldthisbethatbadluckofwhichthe ravenhadwarned? ThenextdayLoneCloudwasgatheringnutswhen thegroundopenedandheplungedintoabeartrap! Bruisedandabashed, heclimbedout. Morebadluck?117118 63. Andthenextdayhewokeupitching.Arashcoveredhisbodypoisonivy.It is as the raven said, lamented Lone Cloud. Hewarnedmethatreclaimingmypouchmightbringbadluck.Andsoithas.LoneCloudsearcheduntilhefoundtheraven,perchedinanoak.Youwereright,hesaid.Ihavebroughtbadluckuponmyself.TellmewhatImustdotogetridofit.ThepouchmustgobacktoWannamoho,saidtheraven.Onlythenwillthisbadluckleaveyou.SoLoneCloudroamedtheforest,lookingfortheValleyofLostThings.Hewantedtoreturnthepouchtowherehehadfoundit.Buttryashemight,hecouldnotlocatethatstrangevalley.WhatamItodo?hegroaned.UntilthispouchisbackinWannamoho,misfortunewillhoundme.Returningtotheruinsofhishut,hefoundtheravenperchedthere.Wisestofcreatures,saidLoneCloud,Ilookedandlooked,butcouldnotndWannamoho.Itishardtond.How then am I to return this pouch? Perhaps youcouldtakeitbackforme?saidLoneCloud,holdingoutthepouch.Ono,saidtheraven.ThenwhatamItodo?Gohelpthebeaver.Strange advice, thought Lone Cloud. But he walkedalong the river until he found the beaver, who wasdraggingatreeintothewater.Letmehelpyou,hesaidtothemostindustriousofcreatures. Icouldusesomehelp,saidthebeaver.Come,lendmeahand.So Lone Cloud put down his pouch and joined thebeaver. All day they labored togetherfelling trees,draggingthemtotheriver,andbuildingadam.Theworkwasstrenuous,andLoneCloudwantedtoquit.Buthewasdeterminedtodoastheravenhadadvised.Finally,thebeaverthankedhimandswamoff.LoneCloudsighedwithrelief.Hewastiredandhungry;itwastimetogohomeandeat.Helookedaboutforhispouch.But where was it? He had left it by the riverbutwhereexactlyhecouldntrecall.Wheresthatpouch?criedLoneCloud.Upanddowntheriverhesearchedforit.Heseemedtorememberhavingleftitunderabushbutwhichbush?Foralongtimehesearched,butwithoutsuccess.Finallyhegaveup,ploppedtotheground,andsattherefrowning.Awindrustledinthetrees.Butthenhisfrowndissolved,andagleamenteredhis 119120 64. eye.Forherealizedhehadlostthepouchagain. AndthatmeantitwasbackinWannamoho. LoneCloudjumpedforjoy,gladtobefreeoftheill luckthathadplaguedhim.AFinalWord Ihopethisbookhastaughtyouhowtolocatewhat youlose. Ifithas,enteryournameonthecerticate.Youare nowaFinder,notaLoser.Youareamasterofthe right waythe effective wayto search for lost objects. Remember,lostobjects can befound.They want tobefound.Andthey will befoundbySYSTEMATIC SEARCHERS.Searchersforwhomndingthingsisnotachore, butachallenge. Searchers whoinstead of ransacking their own housesitdown,dontheirthinkingcap,takeasip oftea,halfclosetheireyes,andmurmur: Allright,thegamesafoot! Searcherslikeyourself.121122 65. Professor Solomon has mastered the TWELVE PRINCIPLES, and is qualied to search for Lost Objects.This is to Certify thatCerticate of Prociency 66. AlsobyProfessorSolomon:HowtoMaketheMostofaFlying SaucerExperience AcomprehensiveandentertainingguidetoUFOs. Includestalesofcontactees,factsabouttheSpacePeople, andnumerousillustrations.Plus,ProfessorSolomonstips formakingthemostofaflyingsaucerexperience!AlsobyProfessorSolomon:ConeyIsland AhistoryandprofileofthelegendaryamusementareaTodownloadafreecopyofthisbook,goto:http://www.professorsolomon.com/cibookpage.htmlTodownloadafreecopyofthisbook,goto:http://www.professorsolomon.com/ufobookpage.html 67. JapaninaNutshell byProfessorSolomon Atlast,theunknownJapan.ThetraditionalJapan.The real Japan.Inthiseruditeyetentertainingwork,the ProfessorexploresaJapanofwhichfewofusareaware. Foratourofauniquecultureafascinatinglookatits diversewaysandwondersjoinhim. TheBookofKingSolomon AlifeofKingSolomon,writtenbyhiscourthistorian! TranslatedandAnnotatedbyProfessorSolomon Anengagingbookhighlyrecommended to anyone wanting tolearnmoreaboutthewisestofmen,hisplaceinhistory, andhisrelevancetoday.Todownloadafreecopyofthisbook,goto: http://www.professorsolomon.com/kingsolomonpage.html Todownloadafreecopyofthisbook,goto:http://www.professorsolomon.com/japanbookpage.html