DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTIC RECORDS

 
The 4,040 Rules of Art Conduct 

The Preparations -  0001-0199
        Preparation \Prep`a*ra"tion\, n. [F. pr['e]paration, L. praeparatio. See Prepare.] 1. The
        act of preparing or fitting beforehand for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous arrangement or adaptation; a making ready; as, the preparation of land for a crop  of wheat; the preparation of troops for a campaign.
        2. The state of being prepared or made ready; preparedness; readiness; fitness; as, a
        nation in good preparation for war.
        3. That which makes ready, prepares the way, or introduces; a preparatory act or
        measure.
        I will show what preparations there were in nature for this dissolution. --T. Burnet.
        4. That which is prepared, made, or compounded by a certain process or for a particular  purpose; a combination. Specifically: (a) Any medicinal substance fitted for use. (b)  Anything treated for preservation or examination as a specimen. (c) Something prepared  for use in cookery.
        I wish the chemists had been more sparing who magnify their preparations. --Sir T.
        Browne.
        In the preparations of cookery, the most volatile parts of vegetables are destroyed.
        --Arbuthnot.
        5. An army or fleet. [Obs.] --Shak.
        6. (Mus.) The holding over of a note from one chord into the next chord, where it forms a  temporary discord, until resolved in the chord that follows; the anticipation of a discordant note in the preceding concord, so that the ear is prepared for the shock. See Suspension.
        7. Accomplishment; qualification. [Obs.] --Shak. 
                                                        Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

        Preparation n 1: the activity of preparing [syn: readying] 2: a substance prepared
        according to a formula [syn: formulation] 3: the cognitive process of thinking about what  you will do in the event of something happening; "his planning for retirement was hindered  by several uncertainties" [syn: planning, provision] 4: activity leading to skilled behavior  [syn: training, grooming] 5: preparatory school work done outside school (especially at  home) [syn: homework, prep] 
                                                                       Source: WordNet ® 1.6

5th Rule - Never take yourself too seriously (ct)

COMMENT
The fifth rule, is an old joke about a young british civil servant who 
is called to the carpet by an elder mandarin in the foriegn office, and 
told,  

"Young man, you have broken the fifth rule." 

"Which rule is that, sir?" 

"You have taken yourself too seriously." 

"I see, I'll try to be more observent in the future. By the way, what are 
the other rules?" 

"There are no other rules." 

So in honor of this joke, The 4,040 Rules of Art Conduct begin with the Fifth Rule. 

Rule #0006 - When you wake up, forget everything you figured out yesterday and look for a fresh solution.