Roadtrips are great things, for there is a great deal of time spent with others in which to talk lots of smack. Talking smack is actually a good thing, despite what you might think, for it is equal parts social bonding and education. From a person's sense of humor and their ribbing, you can learn a great deal about a person's personality, as well as a few interesting "facts" along the way.

One such "fact" that came up over the weekend concerned advice, and why never to give it. Giving advice is entering a no-win scenario. Nobody ever follows your advice, they always do what they think is best, so you're already wasting your time and breathe in giving advice. If your advice was correct, you will be resented for being right while they were wrong. And if your advice was incorrect, then your opinions will never be trusted again.

I, of course, don't mind being resented, for I am already, so I will give you a piece of advice that I happened to pick up during the weekend's smack talk. If you are sitting with a room full of immigrants and children of recent immigrants, do NOT forcefully impart your political views against open immigration. Unless you happen to want to quiet the whole room.