Dating? Here's some advice on pickup lines, blind dates and the personals from the book "How to Survive Dating" (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $12.95), straight from people who've done it:

  "Don't overlook the online personals, or a newspaper's classified sections. Don't be too proud to use these tools, because they allow you to bypass singles scenes and bars, and they don't put you at the mercy of your friends. I was too embarrassed to do personals for a while, then I tried it and met the most amazing woman I've ever known. And she was absolutely drop-dead gorgeous."
  M.T., Chicago
 
  "Pickup lines absolutely turn me off. I think a guy should be original and spontaneous. If you can't do that, you're not the kind of guy I want to be hanging out with anyway."
  A.W., Swainsboro, Ga.
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  "Just be approachable. Opening lines never work _ that's the problem. Opening lines are for suckers. I stay away from that."
  Ryan Sieveking, Athens, Ga.
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  "If I want to talk to someone, I'll look at him and smile. If he doesn't come over, there's nothing else I can do."
  Kayze, Baltimore
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  "I think people only use actual pickup lines in the movies. The real business of conversations starting between strangers is usually a slow, boring, predictable ritual, and not worthy of an audience."
  Shauna McKenna, St. Paul, Minn.
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  "If someone catches your eye, don't be afraid to go talk to him. Most of the guys that are worth talking to are not the ones that will approach you right away, ready to pounce with a cheesy pickup line. The worthwhile guys _ the keepers _ stand back from the crowd."
  Jennifer D., Park City, Utah
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  "Always have stock things you can talk about _ this is critical in bar situations. I'm not going to bring up my secret ones but you can ask something like, `Who's your favorite Muppet?' That's one that everyone can talk about. Or, `What celebrity do you look like?'"
  E.R., Atlanta, Ga.
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  Hundreds of Heads Books' survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life's biggest challenges and have insight to share. Visit www.hundredsofheads.com to share your advice or get more information.
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  (c) 2008, Hundreds of Heads Books, Inc.