*image by Ben Harubin

How To Avoid The Plagues Without Outside Assistance
Outlined In The Following Outburst:

When you've changed your name to Rat Droppings,
you don't have to have an unlisted phone number.

More Regarding Foolin' Around With The Mind And Thoughts:
If you go into combat believing that there is a bullet with your name on it…
guess what? -- there is.

There was an ancient civilization on Earth at one time who taught each other
(and themselves of course) that everybody's house is "haunted," but that you
have a choice (sorta) of having a whole multitude of various ghosts spookin'
your residence or just one.
But! if you take the "just one" route, there is a risk; there is the danger that
you might eventually see how to get rid of it.
...(No wonder they were ancient! -- gone and good riddance, wouldn't you
say? Hah, be rid of it, indeed. Hah! and permanent press, and contoured corners, hah!)

How To Find What You're Looking For, Revealed In A Brief Sentence:
How can you tell a bird not to fly over the edge of the sky?

There are two basic ways to get by in this life:
one is to not know what you're doing,
and the other is to be aware that you don't originally know
and then go on to try to know...(and of course, not to mention,
to be a pitiful failure thereat.)

And a boy asked his father, "Was that The Joke For The Day?"
To which the taller of the two replied, "How come you think
ever'thing's gotta be a joke? Huh? Why?"
And the lad said to himself, "Well Jeeze, it was just a joke."
At which point the heavier of them said, "Are you talking to yourself again?"
And the absolutely astounded boy exclaimed, "How'd you know?"
"Just a joke," he responded, "same as everything else -- just a joke."
And hearing this, the smaller of the two was, to a reasonable degree, relieved.
(That is, until the old man realized what'd occurred and slapped the relief right out'im.)
"Phew, thanks," said the boy.
"Yeah, I know," said the father, "we both needed that."
"Wow, I'll say," said the kid, determined to have the last word...at least where possible...
like in a fictional story like this.
(Wow, I'll say.)

Meanwhile, on the other side of Gotham City (near the frontal lobe section),
another young lad was saying to his older brother:
"Hey, let's play Bat Droppings and Robin."
But the prior-in-line sibling noted that a reference to Rat Droppings
Had already occurred in tonight's show, and reminded the younger of the depth
of disdain in which their father held the use of other people's material.
And this oh-so-true admonishment so shamed the lad that he reflexively cried out,
"Well slap my face and chide me mercilessly!"
So the older brother slapped his face, and chided him mercilessly.