Whenever I start thinking that I'm the most miserable creature in the Universe, or a boss at work asks me to do something tedious and menial, thinking of Marvin the paranoid android from Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy always cheers me up a bit. I love the idea of the Electric Monk in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency too (a labour saving device which believes things for you, to save you the bother of having to believe them yourself.)
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When you are fighting an invisible monster, first throw a bucket of paint over it.