Berry Survival

If you’re tempted to eat those red berries in the wild, they could be the last thing you ever eat...

If you had to survive in the wild – would you know which berries you could eat? Former Green Beret Myke Hawke has rhyme to help us out:

White and yellow, kill a fellow.
Purple and blue, good for you.

Red, could be good, could be dead.

If you’re still tempted to give those red berries a try, skip them if they’re growing in a cluster. Your odds of survival are higher with single red berries. Also, if you see birds or animals eating a berry, that’s no guarantee that it’s safe for humans.

Skin Saver

Your sunscreen already has SPF. It should have this too...

The next time you buy sunscreen – look beyond the SPF. Try to find a brand that has antioxidants in there too. The SPF protects us from UVB rays and immediate sunburn. It doesn’t protect us from the free radicals out there that can also cause cancer and wrinkles. If you see a brand of sunscreen or moisturizer that has got vitamins C and E in there, you’ll be getting that extra layer of antioxidant protection.

There’s one more thing to check for on the label – UVA. If it just says UVB protection, it’s not good enough, it has to have both. Look for the term “broad-spectrum UVA/UVB.”

Dumb Diet

If you’re just TOO smart – have some fast food...

That drive through could be dumbing you down. New research revealed animals given fast food which was high in fructose corn syrup, saturated fat and trans fats had a 15% decline in memory and problem-solving skills after just 9 days. Human tests are underway on the short-term memory effects of fast food.  Lets hope the participants remember to show up.

Less Sleep

Some people do just fine on just 4 to 6 hours of sleep. Or do they?

We should all be getting about 8 solid hours of sleep each night. That’s the general professional consensus. So what about people who say they do just fine on just 5 hours? Researchers put them to the test. The volunteer sleepers did their thing in a controlled sleeping environment for 2 weeks. Those who slept 8 or 9 hours did just fine on the cognitive testing. The group who slept just 4 to 6 hours a night flunked. Their cognitive skills results were impaired to the equivalent of being legally drunk.

The study found that when we get less than 8 hours of sleep at night our attention spans and reaction times are the first skills to take a significant hit. Even getting 7 hours is not enough. One hour less nightly accumulates to a noticeable sleep debt.

Source: Walter Reed Research Institute

Best Pet Food

If you’ve got a pet – buy the food and treats here...

Pet food and supplies can really add up. Consumer Reports put some different options to the test and came up with the best places to buy pet stuff. The big chain stores like Target and Walmart won paws down. You might think specialty pet supply stores would have the best deals – but they don’t. Their prices were considerably higher, by about $2 per standard bag of food and about $4 for a big box of biscuits. 

Buying pet supplies online turned out to be a not-so-great option either. Prices at the biggest online retailer were about 50% higher than the chain stores.

Tucking Tips

Hey guys, do you always tuck your shirt in?

If you wear a suit to work – hopefully you tuck your shirt in. According P.K. Lassiter, style contributor to Man of the House, some guys are just tucking to tight or too often. Here are a few of his tucking guidelines:

• The button down: Unless you’re ultra-fit, tight tucked in button down's are NOT flattering. If you’re not wearing a jacket – loosen it up a bit.

• The T-shirt: Regardless if it’s high-end or your favorite rag – it’s should NOT be tucked in – period.

• The team jersey: Unless you’re suiting up for a big league game – leave it UNtucked. Not only does it look ridiculous – it usually precedes a request for spare change. Better yet, leave the jersey in the locker until game time.

• The sweater: Look around. If you can find a guy with a sweater tucked in – there’s a 99% chance it looks bad.

Car Sick?

If someone in your car is prone to motion sickness – here's some relief...

If you’re headed on a long trip or drive – have some ginger handy. Ginger tea or chews can be as effective as over-the-counter remedies for motion sickness. Peppermint helps too. Here are some more suggestions if someone in your car starts to complain:

• Look off into the distance and focus on a steady point – it can really help.

• Keep your head as still as possible – sudden movements can make things worse.

• If the front seats are taken - the middle seat in the back of the car is best. The more you can see in front of you, the better.

Those motion sickness wristbands really help some people too. If you don’t have one handy, try applying pressure with your thumbs on the inner arm just above the wrist crease.

Letter of Reference

If someone asks you to write a letter of recommendation...

Writing a good letter of recommendation can certainly help someone out – and it reflects on you as well. To write a REALLY good recommendation, you’ll need a copy of the job description and of the person’s resume. Vague or generic recommendations don’t help much. You’ll need to compare the person to others you have worked with and then find an example or two of how they stood out. Your letter should be short but specific with a brief summary of how you know them and two or three qualities they have that would suit the position.

If you don’t have time for all that – or can’t honestly recommend the person – don’t do it. Try explaining why you wouldn’t make a good reference and suggest a more appropriate one if you can.

Plug It In

Wireless everything sure is convenient – but is it really bad for us?

Most of us are pretty much wireless most of the time. According to Camilla Rees, author of “Public Health SOS,” the fewer wires we have the more radiation we’re exposed to. WiFi signals are a strong source of electromagnetic radiation. As long as we’re using a device without wires, we’re being exposed. That goes for computers, smartphones, and even cordless phones.

It’s actually better to hardwire our stuff whenever possible. If you just can’t stand wires – consider keeping your router as close as possible to the equipment it’s feeding. If you’re already hardwired, don’t forget to disable the WiFi settings on your devices so they’re not constantly searching for a signal.

Buy Now

If you’re thinking about buying a new refrigerator – do it now...

Are you in the mood for some refrigerator shopping? If so, you’re in luck. May is the best month to buy a new one. That’s because new models come out in the summer and retailers need to free up some space in the showrooms and warehouses. If you’d rather buy a new computer – try to hold off until August. That’s when the back-to-school sales kick in. You’ll not only get a better price but perhaps a printer or other component thrown in as well.

If you’re in the market for a lawn mower or barbeque grill – I’ve got some bad news. After Labor Day is the best time to buy those.

Source: Mark Di Vincenzo, author of “Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon”

Staying Power

What do Jerry Seinfeld and the Beatles have in common?

Seinfeld was such a hugely popular show. So why did it end when it did? Jerry Seinfeld explains. He says he always loved the Beatles, and when it all ended for them after 9 years, he was left wanting more. Jerry says 10 years sounds like such a long time, and since the 9 year thing worked so well for the Beatles' staying power, it helped him make the decision to pull the plug on his show at the 9 year mark.

Jerry used Mark Knopfler as an example too. “It’s what makes him such a great guitarist. He doesn’t play quite as much as you want him to. You want him to play more and he doesn’t. That’s what makes you love it.”

Measuring Up

If you need to measure something and don’t have ruler handy...

You don’t need to guess at that measurement – you’ve probably got a ruler right in your pocket. Any bill will do. U.S. currency is exactly 6” long. Fold it in half and you’ve got exactly 3 inches. If you’re broke – hopefully you have a standard size business card, that’s 3 ½ x 2 inches.

It’s good to know some of your personal measurements, like your arm span, finger span, or length of your foot in inches. They’re all handy measuring tools and you’ll have them wherever you go.

Seasonal Change

Now that you’ve changed out your seasonal wardrobe – change some other stuff...

If you’d like to shed a few pounds along with the sweaters and jackets this spring – change up your workout. Triathlete Mark Allen has some motivational tricks that really work:

• If you walk for exercise – change direction. Walk the opposite route and you’ll be more mentally engaged.

• Take advantage of the extra daylight by adding an activity in the morning or after work.

• Get on the bike. If that errand is under a mile, consider riding or walking it instead of jumping in the car.

• Put more walk into your commute. Park farther from the door and enjoy a few more steps in the fresh air each day.

Cool Eyes

Before you crank that AC up in your car – check the vents...

The AC in your car could be hurting your eyes. Before you turn that fan up – make sure the vents are adjusted so they blow the cool air down. Avoid using that console vent too. That cool dry air sucks the moisture away from your eyes which could actually lead to some long term damage. Dry eyes are not just an annoyance – it can lead to corneal abrasions and have a permanent effect on your vision.

The same rule should apply with heat in the winter and even wind. Protect your eyes – and your long term vision with sunglasses whenever you’re out in the elements.

Allergic or Intolerant?

Are you allergic – or just intolerant?

If you suddenly develop a reaction to a certain food or beverage – you’re probably intolerant, not allergic. Allergies generally start in childhood, and might even disappear over time. They involve the immune system and are generally more serious. Food intolerances tend to increase with age, are more of a digestive matter and are usually just a nuisance.

The most common food intolerances are lactose, gluten and MSG. A lot of people develop intolerance for sulfites too. That’s a compound found in beer, wine and champagne and is sometimes added to dried fruit or canned foods as a preservative. If any of those make you itchy, congested or swollen, you’re intolerant.